Developing a Collaborative Research Program to Evaluate Fine-Scale Groundfish Dynamics in Eastern Maine

Fisheries science conducted and used for management strategies in the Gulf of Maine (GOM) is conducted at broad spatial and temporal scales. There is a tendency for fisheries-independent monitoring programs, which play a critical role in fisheries assessment and management, to miss fine-scale dynamics, especially given the complex hydrographic structures characterizing the GOM. In New England, fishermen participating in a heterogeneous groundfish fishery within the GOM may have varied perceptions of fish abundance or distribution depending on the scale at which they participate in the fishery. Overlooking fine-scale life-history dynamics coupled with scale-mismatch in science and management may perpetuate a cycle of mismanagement and mistrust in the groundfish fishery. We developed and evaluated a collaborative fisheries-independent survey called the Eastern Gulf of Maine Sentinel Survey-Fishery (Sentinel Survey). We used demersal longline gear and jig gear to sample the eastern Gulf of Maine (EGOM), which is an area characterized by unique hydrographic features and complex benthic structure, and is sparsely sampled by regional monitoring programs. The survey has two major objectives: to evaluate fine-scale groundfish dynamics in eastern Maine, and to involve fishermen directly in the data collection and analysis process. The outcomes of the first objective will provide important abundance, distribution, and life-history information for groundfish species in a region not well-covered by existing fisheries-independent monitoring programs, which is useful for stock assessment. Outcomes of the second objective help establish a collaborative framework for evaluating fine-scale groundfish dynamics in the EGOM, align perceptions of scale between fishermen, managers, and scientists, and to build trust between them. Catch data from the Sentinel Survey was evaluated to derive abundance indices and examine distribution for Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua), Atlantic Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), White Hake (Urophysis tenuis), and Cusk (Brosme brosme). This information provides important insight into spatial and temporal variability for groundfish dynamics in the region. To evaluate life-history parameters for these species, we created Weight-Length Relationships (WLRs), then used Fulton\u27s K to evaluate condition factor. Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) were used to evaluate spatial, temporal, and environmental effects on life-history parameters and condition. We then evaluated the Sentinel Survey design using GAMs to identify potential sources of variability affecting catchability for four key groundfish species. We found depth to be the most consistent and significant variable affecting catchability. Additionally, we evaluated and optimized the longline gear used on the Sentinel Survey to alleviate financial and logistical concerns. Finally, we used the Sentinel Survey as a case study to describe how a collaborative research program can be used to identify and evaluate complexity within an ecosystem, align perceptions of scale in science and management, and reconcile mistrust between scientists, fishermen, and managers

A multi-method characterization of Elasmobranch & Cheloniidae communities of the north-eastern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba

The Red Sea is particularly biodiverse, hosting high levels of endemism and numerous populations whose extinction risk is heightened by their relative isolation. Elasmobranchs and sea turtles have likely suffered recent declines in this region, although data on their distribution and biology are severely lacking, especially on the eastern side of the basin in Saudi Arabian waters. Here, we present sightings of elasmobranchs and sea turtles across the north-eastern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba collected through a combination of survey methods. Over 455 survey hours, we recorded 407 sightings belonging to 26 elasmobranch species and two sea turtle species, more than 75% of which are of conservation concern. We identified 4 species of rays and 9 species of sharks not previously recorded in Saudi Arabia and report a range extension for the pink whipray (Himantura fai) and the round ribbontail ray (Taeniurops meyeni) into the Gulf of Aqaba. High density of sightings of conservation significance, including green and hawksbill sea turtles and halavi guitarfish were recorded in bay systems along the eastern Gulf of Aqaba and the Saudi Arabian coastline bordering the north-eastern Red Sea, and many carcharhinid species were encountered at offshore seamounts in the region. Our findings provide new insights into the distribution patterns of megafaunal assemblages over smaller spatial scales in the region, and facilitate future research and conservation efforts, amidst ongoing, large-scale coastal developments in the north-eastern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba

New depth records and novel feeding observations of three elasmobranchs species in the Eastern Red Sea

Understanding the vertical distribution of elasmobranch species and associated ecological dynamics can be a crucial component of developing effective conservation strategies, particularly in light of their global population decline. Previous studies have primarily focused on horizontal extent and movement patterns of elasmobranchs, with limited knowledge about their vertical distribution. This knowledge gap stems from limited access to technological advancements and reliance on surface data from fisheries operations. Today, advancements in observing platforms such as electronic tracking, remotely operated vehicles and submersibles, and reductions in costs for drop cameras and BRUVs, allow for direct observation of animals at great depths, facilitating improved understanding of their ecological and trophic niches. This study reports new global depth records for three elasmobranch species observed in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea (Carcharhinus altimus, Rhinobatos punctifer, Iago omanensis), also presenting ethological evidence on Iago omanensis feeding behavior. Our findings have significant implications for conservation strategies and the development of targeted conservation measures. The provisioning of data on new depth ranges allows places like NEOM to better manage and protect deep sea habitats, due to the presence of species occurring at those depths

Active prokaryotic and eukaryotic viral ecology across spatial scale in a deep-sea brine pool

Abstract Deep-sea brine pools represent rare, extreme environments, providing unique insight into the limits of life on Earth, and by analogy, the plausibility of life beyond it. A distinguishing feature of many brine pools is presence of thick microbial mats which develop at the brine-seawater interface. While these bacterial and archaeal communities have received moderate attention, viruses and their host interactions in these environments remain underexplored. To bridge this knowledge gap, we leveraged metagenomic and metatranscriptomic data from three distinct zones within the NEOM brine pool system (Gulf of Aqaba) to reveal the active viral ecology around the pools. We report a remarkable diversity and activity of viruses infecting microbial hosts in this environment, including giant viruses, RNA viruses, jumbo phages, and polinton-like viruses. Many of these form distinct clades – suggesting presence of untapped viral diversity in this ecosystem. Brine pool viral communities exhibit zone-specific differences in infection strategy - with lysogeny dominating the bacterial mat further away from the pool’s center. We linked viruses to metabolically important prokaryotes - including association between a jumbo phage and a key manganese-oxidizing and arsenic-metabolizing bacterium. These foundational results illuminate the role of viruses in modulating brine pool microbial communities and biogeochemistry through revealing novel viral diversity, host associations, and spatial heterogeneity in viral dynamics

The complete mitochondrial genome of Dendrophyllia minuscula (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) from the NEOM region of the Northern Red Sea

The scleractinian coral family Dendrophylliidae is a major component of shallow and deep-water coral ecosystems worldwide, but our knowledge on the evolutionary history of the family remains scarce. Here, we used ezRAD coupled with Illumina sequencing technology and reconstructed the complete mitochondrial genome of Dendrophyllia minuscula (GenBank accession number OL634845), from mesophotic depths in the Red Sea NEOM area. The mitochondrial genome of D. minuscula consisted of 19,054 bp, organized in 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 2 tRNA genes, in agreement with the Scleractinia typical mitogenome organization. This complete mitochondrial genome contributes toward a better knowledge of mesophotic and deep-water coral diversity and evolutionary history

A new species of Bathypathes (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Antipatharia, Schizopathidae) from the Red Sea and its phylogenetic position

A black coral, Bathypathes thermophila Chimienti, sp. nov. is described from the Saudi Arabian coasts of the Gulf of Aqaba and north Red Sea (Neom area) using an integrated taxonomic approach. The morphological distinctiveness of the new species is confirmed by molecular analyses. The species thrives in warm and high salinity waters typical of the Red Sea at bathyal depths. It can form colony aggregations on muddy bottoms with scattered, small hard substrates. Colonies are monopodial, feather-like, and attached to a hard substrate through a thorny basal plate. Pinnules are simple, arranged biserially and alternately, and all the same length (up to approximately 20 cm) except for few, proximal ones. Spines are triangular, laterally compressed, subequal, smooth, and simple or rarely bifurcated. Polyps are elongated transversely, 1.5–2.0 mm in transverse diameter. Large colonies can have one or few branches, whose origin is discussed. The phylogenetic position of B. thermophila sp. nov. within the order Antipatharia, recovered using three mitochondrial markers, shows that it is nested within the family Schizopathidae. It is close to species in the genera Parantipathes, Lillipathes, Alternatipathes, and Umbellapathes rather than to the other available representatives of the genus Bathypathes, as currently defined based on morphology. In agreement with previous findings, our results question the evolutionary significance of morphological characters traditionally used to discriminate Antipatharia at higher taxonomic level

Tsunamigenic Potential of an Incipient Submarine Landslide in the Tiran Straits

The Red Sea is a maritime rift. Tsunamigenic submarine landslides are common in these deep, steep-sided, and seismically active basins. Because the rift is narrow, tsunami formed on one margin dissipate little before impacting the opposite side. Red Sea slope failures are therefore especially hazardous. We examine the tsunamigenic potential of an incipient landslide in the Tiran Straits that started, but then stopped after a short distance. Radiometric and biotic analyses fix the age of this landslide to within the last 500 years. Tsunami modeling of the incipient slide predicts similar to 10 m wave heights on the Egyptian coastline. Of present concern is that the slope will eventually slide to completion with even more hazardous results. Tsunami simulated for this future event are twice as large as that generated by the incipient slide, so the threat posed by a future slide is consequential. Sharm El Sheikh, an Egyptian resort town now lies in its path, as does "The Line," a vast Saudi infrastructure project. This study warns of credible tsunami risk in the rapidly urbanizing Tiran Straits