Towards an urban marine ecology: Characterizing the drivers, patterns, and processes of marine ecosystems in coastal cities

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Wiley via the DOI in this record Human population density within 100 km of the sea is approximately three times higher than the global average. People in this zone are concentrated in coastal cities that are hubs for transport and trade – which transform the marine environment. Here, we review the impacts of three interacting drivers of marine urbanization (resource exploitation, pollution pathways and ocean sprawl) and discuss key characteristics that are symptomatic of urban marine ecosystems. Current evidence suggests these systems comprise spatially heterogeneous mosaics with respect to artificial structures, pollutants and community composition, while also undergoing biotic homogenization over time. Urban marine ecosystem dynamics are often influenced by several commonly observed patterns and processes, including the loss of foundation species, changes in biodiversity and productivity, and the establishment of novel assemblages, ruderal species and synanthropes. Further, we discuss potential urban acclimatization and adaptation among marine taxa, interactive effects of climate change and marine urbanization, and ecological engineering strategies for enhancing urban marine ecosystems. By assimilating research findings across disparate disciplines, we aim to build the groundwork for urban marine ecology – a nascent field; we also discuss research challenges and future directions for this new field as it advances and matures. Ultimately, all sides of coastal city design: architecture, urban planning, and civil and municipal engineering, will need to prioritize the marine environment if negative effects of urbanization are to be minimized. In particular, planning strategies that account for the interactive effects of urban drivers and accommodate complex system dynamics could enhance the ecological and human functions of future urban marine ecosystems.National Research Foundation, Prime Minister’s Office SingaporeUS National Science Foundatio

Development and Application of Environmental DNA (eDNA) Techniques to Detect Rough-Footed and Yellow Mud Turtles: A Seasonal Field Study to Detect Turtle eDNA

The application of environmental DNA (eDNA) has improved the ability of humans to detect the existence and geographical distribution of aquatic organisms. The present study highlights the development and application of eDNA techniques to detect rough-footed mud turtles and yellow mud turtles in different areas in Texas. Both mud turtle species were successfully detected in lakes/resacas using direct eDNA sampling techniques. Moreover, passive eDNA sampling techniques were conducted using different membrane filters to detect mud turtle species. The findings indicated that only the mixed cellulose esters (MCE) filter membranes effectively identified eDNA of yellow mud turtles in the fall, but not in winter. These findings emphasize the importance of considering seasonal variations for detecting mud turtle species using passive eDNA sampling techniques. Finally, a literature review of eDNA applications to detect subterranean and aquatic invasive species has also highlighted its challenges and limitations

Towards an urban marine ecology : characterizing the drivers, patterns and processes of marine ecosystems in coastal cities

Human population density within 100 km of the sea is approximately three times higher than the global average. People in this zone are concentrated in coastal cities that are hubs for transport and trade - which transform the marine environment. Here, we review the impacts of three interacting drivers of marine urbanization (resource exploitation, pollution pathways and ocean sprawl) and discuss key characteristics that are symptomatic of urban marine ecosystems. Current evidence suggests these systems comprise spatially heterogeneous mosaics with respect to artificial structures, pollutants and community composition, while also undergoing biotic homogenization over time. Urban marine ecosystem dynamics are often influenced by several commonly observed patterns and processes, including the loss of foundation species, changes in biodiversity and productivity, and the establishment of ruderal species, synanthropes and novel assemblages. We discuss potential urban acclimatization and adaptation among marine taxa, interactive effects of climate change and marine urbanization, and ecological engineering strategies for enhancing urban marine ecosystems. By assimilating research findings across disparate disciplines, we aim to build the groundwork for urban marine ecology - a nascent field; we also discuss research challenges and future directions for this new field as it advances and matures. Ultimately, all sides of coastal city design: architecture, urban planning and civil and municipal engineering, will need to prioritize the marine environment if negative effects of urbanization are to be minimized. In particular, planning strategies that account for the interactive effects of urban drivers and accommodate complex system dynamics could enhance the ecological and human functions of future urban marine ecosystems.Peer reviewe

Desafios e avanços na utilização de DNA ambiental para monitoramento de biomassa de peixes em diferentes sistemas aquáticos

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Antonio OstrenskyTese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Agrárias, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zootecnia. Defesa : Curitiba, 02/09/2024Inclui referênciasResumo: A estimativa precisa da biomassa de organismos aquáticos é fundamental para o manejo eficaz de ecossistemas aquáticos. Tradicionalmente, essa estimativa tem sido realizada por métodos invasivos e custosos. Neste contexto, o DNA ambiental (eDNA) emerge como uma ferramenta promissora, não invasiva e com potencial para revolucionar o monitoramento de ecossistemas aquáticos. Esta tese teve como objetivo avaliar a eficácia do eDNA na estimativa da biomassa de organismos aquáticos, identificando as principais variáveis que influenciam sua detecção e quantificação. Para tanto, foram realizados uma revisão sistemática da literatura e dois estudos de caso. A revisão sistemática abrangeu uma ampla gama de estudos, desde microcosmos até grandes ecossistemas marinhos, evidenciando a versatilidade do eDNA em diferentes ambientes. No entanto, a revisão também identificou a necessidade de padronização dos protocolos de coleta, preservação e análise do eDNA, bem como a importância de considerar as características hidrológicas e ambientais de cada sistema. Os estudos de caso, por sua vez, aprofundaram a investigação sobre a relação entre a concentração de eDNA e a biomassa de peixes em diferentes condições experimentais. O primeiro estudo de caso avaliou a influência da densidade de peixes e das condições ambientais na detecção e quantificação do eDNA, enquanto o segundo estudo investigou a aplicabilidade do eDNA em um ambiente de cultivo comercial. Os resultados dos estudos de caso corroboraram com os achados da revisão sistemática, evidenciando a importância de considerar as características específicas de cada sistema para a interpretação dos dados de eDNA. Em suma, esta tese demonstra o grande potencial do eDNA como ferramenta para a estimativa de biomassa em ambientes aquáticos. No entanto, para a aplicação eficaz da técnica, é fundamental o desenvolvimento de protocolos padronizados e a consideração das características específicas de cada sistema. Os resultados desta pesquisa contribuem para o avanço do conhecimento sobre o uso do eDNA em ecologia aquática e podem ser utilizados para o desenvolvimento de ferramentas de monitoramento mais eficientes e precisasAbstract: Accurate estimation of aquatic organism biomass is crucial for effective management of aquatic ecosystems. Traditionally, this estimation has been conducted using invasive and costly methods. In this context, environmental DNA (eDNA) emerges as a promising, non-invasive tool with the potential to revolutionize aquatic ecosystem monitoring. This thesis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of eDNA in estimating aquatic organism biomass, identifying the main variables influencing its detection and quantification. To achieve this, a systematic literature review and two case studies were conducted. The systematic review covered a wide range of studies, from microcosms to large marine ecosystems, highlighting the versatility of eDNA in different environments. However, the review also identified the need for standardization of eDNA collection, preservation, and analysis protocols, as well as the importance of considering the hydrological and environmental characteristics of each system. The case studies, in turn, delved deeper into the relationship between eDNA concentration and fish biomass under different experimental conditions. The first case study assessed the influence of fish density and environmental conditions on eDNA detection and quantification, while the second investigated the applicability of eDNA in a commercial aquaculture environment. The results of the case studies corroborated the findings of the systematic review, highlighting the importance of considering the specific characteristics of each system for the interpretation of eDNA data. In summary, this thesis demonstrates the great potential of eDNA as a tool for estimating biomass in aquatic environments. However, for the effective application of the technique, the development of standardized protocols and the consideration of the specific characteristics of each system are essential. The results of this research contribute to advancing knowledge about the use of eDNA in aquatic ecology and can be used to develop more efficient and accurate monitoring tool