Estimations of free fatty acids (FFA) as a reliable proxy for larval performance in Mediterranean octocoral species

The survival, behavior, and competence period of lecithotrophic larvae depends not only on the energy allocation transferred by maternal colonies, but also on the amount of energy consumed to sustain embryonic, larval, and post-larval development. The objective of the present work is to understand the effect of energy consumption on the performance of lecithotrophic larvae. To this aim, we analysed free fatty acid (FFA) content and composition of the larvae of three Mediterranean octocorals (Corallium rubrum, Eunicella singularis, and Paramuricea clavata) as a proxy for energy consumption. Results showed that C. rubrum larvae consume more FFA than P. clavata, whereas the energy consumed by E. singularis larvae is high but highly variable. These results are in accordance with the larval behavior of these three species, since C. rubrum larvae are characterized by their high swimming activity frequency, P. clavata larvae are almost inactive, and the swimming activity frequency of E. singularis larvae is high, although variable. The differences in FFA composition of the larvae suggest contrasting energetic strategies that could explain the differences in survival and recruitment rates. In fact, high dispersal and recruitment capacities for E. singularis larvae can be inferred from the FFA composition, whereas the high spatial and temporal variability of recruitment observed in C. rubrum may be related to the non-selective transfer of fatty acid (FA) from maternal colonies. Finally, the high recovery rates after mass mortality events observed in P. clavata could be favored by the presence of a specific FA [22:6(n-3)] related to adaptation mechanisms under environmental stresses during the first developmental stages

Demographic parameters of two populations of red coral (Corallium rubrum L. 1758) in the North Western Mediterranean

n/

Highly catalytically active CeO2-x-based heterojunction nanostructures with mixed micro/meso-porous architectures

Achieving high densities of accessible active sites in catalysts, which depend principally on the architecture of nanostructures, is critical to obtain enhanced performance. The present work introduces a template-free, high-yield, and flexible approach to fabricate 3D, mesoporous, CeO2-x nanostructures in centimeter-scale that are comprised of extremely thin holey 2D nanosheets. The method involves conversion of a stacked, 2D, Ce-based coordination polymer by controlling the removal kinetics of organic species. The resultant polycrystalline 2D-3D CeO2-x exhibits a large density of defects as well as outstanding surface areas of 251 m2 g-1. This mesoporous nanomaterial yields superior CO conversion performance (T90% = 148°C). Further improvements in catalysis were attained by synthesis CeO2-x -based transition metal oxides (TMOs) hetero-nanostructures, for which structural analyses and first principles simulations revealed active sites associated with the TMOs. This versatile fabrication technique delivers new pathways to engineer nanostructures and advance their functionalities for catalysis.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Cold-water corals research in the lab and in the field: (1) growth rates of four CWC species maintained in aquaria, (2) new research areas: the Galicia Bank and the Avilés canyon (Atlantic and Cantabrian Sea), a scientific and methodological approach

Growth rates of 4 Cold-water Coral (CWC) species (Madrepora occulata, Lophe/ia pertusa, Desmophyllum cristagalli and Dendrophyllia cornigera) from the Mediterranean Sea have been measured under the same and controlled laboratory conditions over a nine months period. Results showed that M. occulata grew faster than the other three species, which presented similar growth rates. These results are discussed and also compared with the growth of tropical coral species maintained in aquaria, but in different light and temperature conditions, which corresponded to the usual culture conditions of these corals. It appeared that the zooxanthellate tropical coral Galaxea fascicularis exhibited similar growth rates than the CWC M. oculata. Further we present new research areas on the Atlantic and Cantabrian continental margin, the Galicia Bank and the Aviles canyon, which are part of the zones studied in the Spanish LIFE project INDEMARES, as well as possible targets as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for the NATURA 2000 network. Both areas are studied considering an ecosystem approach, aboarding an integrated study of the physical scenario (hydrography, geomorphology), all ecosystem compartments (fish, endo-, epi-, and suprabenthic and benthopelagic fauna) and the trophic relationships between them. All this information, together with the study of the impact of the fisheries working in the areas, will be integrated in a trophodynamic mass-balance model and will be used to identify vulnerable ecosystems (VE) (as the CWC habitats are) and essential fish habitats (EFH). This methodological approach offers a holistic view of these deep-sea ecosystems and can be used to design more effective and successful management strategies for MPA

A well-kept treasure at depth: precious red coral rediscovered in Atlantic deep coral gardens (SW Portugal) after 300 years

The highly valuable red coral Corallium rubrum is listed in several Mediterranean Conventions for species protection and management since the 1980s. Yet, the lack of data about its Atlantic distribution has hindered its protection there. This culminated in the recent discovery of poaching activities harvesting tens of kg of coral per day from deep rocky reefs off SW Portugal. Red coral was irregularly exploited in Portugal between the 1200s and 1700s, until the fishery collapsed. Its occurrence has not been reported for the last 300 years.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The effect of flow speed and food size on the capture efficiency and feeding behaviour of the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa

The capture efficiency and feeding behaviour of the cold-water coral (CWC) Lophelia pertusa (Linnaeus, 1758) were investigated considering: (1) different food types, (2) different food sizes and (3) different current speeds and temperatures. This study used two different multifactorial experimental approaches: (1) Corals were subjected to three different flow speeds (2, 5 and 10 cm s− 1) in 5 l volume tanks, and three different food types (alive zooplankton, alive algae, and dry particulate organic carbon) were offered to the corals under each current regime, analysing the capture rates of the corals under these different flow velocities. (2) In a flume, the feeding behaviour of the coral polyps was studied under different current speed regimes (1, 7, 15 and 27 cm s− 1) and a temperature change over a range of 8–12 °C. The obtained results confirm that low flow speeds (below 7 cm s− 1) appear optimal for a successful prey capture, and temperature did not have an effect on polyp expansion behaviour for L. pertusa. In conclusion, flow speeds clearly impact food capture efficiency in L. pertusa, with zooplankton predominantly captured prey at low flow velocities (2 cm s− 1) and phytoplankton captured at higher flow velocities of 5 cm s− 1. This split in capture efficiency may allow corals to exploit different food sources under different tidal and flow conditionsVersión del editor2,263

Growth and Demography of the Solitary Scleractinian Coral Leptopsammia pruvoti along a Sea Surface Temperature Gradient in the Mediterranean Sea

The demographic traits of the solitary azooxanthellate scleractinian Leptopsammia pruvoti were determined in six populations on a sea surface temperature (SST) gradient along the western Italian coasts. This is the first investigation of the growth and demography characteristics of an azooxanthellate scleractinian along a natural SST gradient. Growth rate was homogeneous across all populations, which spanned 7 degrees of latitude. Population age structures differed between populations, but none of the considered demographic parameters correlated with SST, indicating possible effects of local environmental conditions. Compared to another Mediterranean solitary scleractinian, Balanophyllia europaea, zooxanthellate and whose growth, demography and calcification have been studied in the same sites, L. pruvoti seems more tolerant to temperature increase. The higher tolerance of L. pruvoti, relative to B. europaea, may rely on the absence of symbionts, and thus the lack of an inhibition of host physiological processes by the heat-stressed zooxanthellae. However, the comparison between the two species must be taken cautiously, due to the likely temperature differences between the two sampling depths. Increasing research effort on determining the effects of temperature on the poorly studied azooxanthellate scleractinians may shed light on the possible species assemblage shifts that are likely to occur during the current century as a consequence of global climatic change

The Solar Orbiter Science Activity Plan: translating solar and heliospheric physics questions into action

Solar Orbiter is the first space mission observing the solar plasma both in situ and remotely, from a close distance, in and out of the ecliptic. The ultimate goal is to understand how the Sun produces and controls the heliosphere, filling the Solar System and driving the planetary environments. With six remote-sensing and four in-situ instrument suites, the coordination and planning of the operations are essential to address the following four top-level science questions: (1) What drives the solar wind and where does the coronal magnetic field originate?; (2) How do solar transients drive heliospheric variability?; (3) How do solar eruptions produce energetic particle radiation that fills the heliosphere?; (4) How does the solar dynamo work and drive connections between the Sun and the heliosphere? Maximising the mission’s science return requires considering the characteristics of each orbit, including the relative position of the spacecraft to Earth (affecting downlink rates), trajectory events (such as gravitational assist manoeuvres), and the phase of the solar activity cycle. Furthermore, since each orbit’s science telemetry will be downloaded over the course of the following orbit, science operations must be planned at mission level, rather than at the level of individual orbits. It is important to explore the way in which those science questions are translated into an actual plan of observations that fits into the mission, thus ensuring that no opportunities are missed. First, the overarching goals are broken down into specific, answerable questions along with the required observations and the so-called Science Activity Plan (SAP) is developed to achieve this. The SAP groups objectives that require similar observations into Solar Orbiter Observing Plans, resulting in a strategic, top-level view of the optimal opportunities for science observations during the mission lifetime. This allows for all four mission goals to be addressed. In this paper, we introduce Solar Orbiter’s SAP through a series of examples and the strategy being followed