Trends in Ostreopsis proliferation along the Northern Mediterranean coasts

14 pages, 6 figures, 2 tableHarmful benthic microalgae blooms represent an emergent phenomenon in temperate zones, causing health, ecological and economic concern. The main goal of this work was to compile records of Ostreopsis at large temporal and spatial scales, in order to study the relationship between cell abundances, the periodicity and intensity of the blooms and the role of sea water temperature in 14 Spanish, French, Monegasque and Italian sites located along the northern limits of the Mediterranean Sea. General trends were observed in the two considered basins: the north-western Mediterranean Sea, in which higher cell abundances were mostly recorded in mid-summer (end of July), and the northern Adriatic Sea where they occur in early fall (end of September). The sea-water temperature does not seem to be a primary driver, and the maximal abundance periods were site and year specific. Such results represent an important step in the understanding of harmful benthic microalgae blooms in temperate areas, and provide a good base for policy makers and managers in the attempt to monitor and forecast benthic harmful microalgae bloomsThe research of the Barcelona group was financed by the national project CTQ 2008-06754-C04-04 EBITOX (Study of the biological and toxinologic aspects of benthic dinoflagellates associated with risks to the human health). We also acknowledge the support given by the CatalanWater Agency (Generalitat de Catalunya), and the facilities kindly offered by the family Aceña from the Restaurant Pins Mar (Sant Andreu de Llavaneres). The research of the French groups was supported by the national program MediOs 2 (LITEAU-Ministère de l’Ecologie, Conseil Général des Alpes-Maritimes, Agence de l’Eau Rhône Méditerrannée et Corse), by a researchers exchange program Galilée (Université franco-italienne, Egide, Ministère des Affaires Etrangères) and by the Monaco Environmental Agency. The research of the Italian groups was supported by the national project “Marine biotoxins in Italian coastal waters: characteristics, origin, actions”, (PRIN 2007), MURST, by the project “Ostreopsis ovata e Ostreopsis spp.: nuovi rischi di tossicità microalgale nei mari italiani”, ISPRA-Italian Ministry of Environment, by the project “Qualità ecologica e fioriture di Ostreopsis in Liguria” of the Genova University and by a researchers exchange program Galileo (Università franco-italiana, CRUI)Peer reviewe

Implementing and Innovating Marine Monitoring Approaches for Assessing Marine Environmental Status

Danovaro, Roberto ... et al.-- 25 pages, 9 figures, 2 tablesMarine environmental monitoring has tended to focus on site-specific methods of investigation. These traditional methods have low spatial and temporal resolution and are relatively labor intensive per unit area/time that they cover. To implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), European Member States are required to improve marine monitoring and design monitoring networks. This can be achieved by developing and testing innovative and cost-effective monitoring systems, as well as indicators of environmental status. Here, we present several recently developed methodologies and technologies to improve marine biodiversity indicators and monitoring methods. The innovative tools are discussed concerning the technologies presently utilized as well as the advantages and disadvantages of their use in routine monitoring. In particular, the present analysis focuses on: (i) molecular approaches, including microarray, Real Time quantitative PCR (qPCR), and metagenetic (metabarcoding) tools; (ii) optical (remote) sensing and acoustic methods; and (iii) in situ monitoring instruments. We also discuss their applications in marine monitoring within the MSFD through the analysis of case studies in order to evaluate their potential utilization in future routine marine monitoring. We show that these recently-developed technologies can present clear advantages in accuracy, efficiency and costThis manuscript is a result of DEVOTES (DEVelopment Of innovative Tools for understanding marine biodiversity and assessing good Environmental Status) project, funded by the European Union under the 7th Framework Programme, “The Ocean of Tomorrow” Theme (grant agreement no. 308392) (http://www.devotes-project.eu). Further financial assistance was provided to VS and ER by the European Union under the ENPI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme (Sustainability and Tourism in the Mediterranean—S&T Med Strategic Project)Peer Reviewe

Gymnodinium chlorophorum causante de proliferaciones de altas biomasas en aguas recreativas de las Islas Baleares (veranos 2004-2006)

[ESP] Diversas playas del archipiélago Balear sufren discoloraciones asociadas a las proliferaciones del dinoflagelado Alexandrium taylori. El fenómeno es recurrente y conocido por la población y administración locales. Los resultados del presente trabajo muestran por primera vez la presencia, en la cuenca Calatano-Balear, de Gymnodinium chlorophorum, un dinoflagelado gymnodial productor de proliferaciones de altas biomasas y discoloraciones desde el año 82 en las costa francesas del Atlántico. La concentración máxima (12·106 células L-1) fue registrada en Eivissa, el verano de su primera detección (2004). Durante los veranos 2005 y 2006, el fenómeno parece recurrente, ampliándose a varias playas. La especie puede provocar proliferaciones monoespecíficas y mantenerse durante un mes con concentraciones superiores a 105 células L-1.Al Convenio para la evaluación y monitorización de la calidad de aguas costeras de las Islas Baleares (2004-2006) por la concesión de una beca predoctoral a Hassina Illoul. Agradecimiento a J-M Fortuño (microscopia electrónica CMIMA, Barcelona)

Evaluation of Alternative High-Throughput Sequencing Methodologies for the Monitoring of Marine Picoplanktonic Biodiversity Based on rRNA Gene Amplicons

16 pages, 6 figures, 2 tablesSequencing of rRNA gene polymerase chain reaction amplicons (rRNA tags) is the most common approach for investigating microbial diversity. The recent development of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies has enabled the exploration of microbial biodiversity at an unprecedented scale, greatly expanding our knowledge on the microbiomes of marine ecosystems. These approaches provide accurate, fast, and cost efficient observations of the marine communities, and thus, may be suitable tools in biodiversity monitoring programs. To reach this goal, consistent and comparable methodologies must be used over time and within sites. Here, we have performed a cross-platform study of the two most common HTS methodologies, i.e., 454-pyrosequencing and Illumina tags to evaluate their usefulness in biodiversity monitoring and assessment of environmental status. Picoplankton biodiversity has been compared through both methodologies by sequencing the 16 and 18 S rRNA genes of a set of samples collected in the coast of Barcelona (NW Mediterranean). The results show that, despite differences observed in the rare OTUs retrieved, both platforms provide a comparable view of the marine picoplankton communities. On a taxonomic level, there was an accurate overlap in the detected phyla between the two methods and the overall estimates of alpha- and betadiversity were comparable. In addition, we explored the concept of “indicator species” and found that certain taxa (i.e., members of the Gammaproteobacteria among others) as well as the ratio between some phylogenetic groups (i.e., the ratio of Alphaproteobacteria/Gammaproteobacteria, Alteromonas/SAR11, and Alteromonas + Oceanospirillales/SAR11) have potential for being useful indicators of environmental status. The data show that implementing new protocols and identifying indicators of environmental status based on rRNA amplicon sequencing is feasible, and that is worth exploring whether the identified indices are universally applicableThis manuscript is a result of DEVOTES (DEVelopment Of innovative Tools for understanding marine biodiversity and assessing GEnS) project, funded by the European Union (grant agreement no. 308392), and a MINECO Grant GRADIENTS Fine-scale structure of cross-shore GRADIENTS along the Mediterranean coast (CTM2012-39476-C02)Peer Reviewe

Assessment of microbial plankton diversity as an ecological indicator in the NW Mediterranean coast

High-throughput sequencing of microbial assemblages has been proposed as an alternative methodology to the traditional ones used in marine monitoring and environmental assessment. Here, we evaluated pico- and nanoplankton diversity as ecological indicators in NW Mediterranean coastal waters by comparing their diversity in samples subjected to varying degrees of continental pressures. Using metabarcoding of the 16S and 18S rRNA genes, we explored whether alphadiversity indices, abundance of Operational Taxonomic Units and taxonomic groups (and their ratios) provide information on the ecological quality of coastal waters. Our results revealed that only eukaryotic diversity metrics and a limited number of prokaryotic and eukaryotic taxa displayed potential in assessing continental influences in our surveyed area, resulting thus in a restrained potential of microbial plankton diversity as an ecological indicator. Therefore, incorporating microbial plankton diversity in environmental assessment could not always result in a significant improvement of current marine monitoring strategies.Preprint2,35

Similarities between summer nearshore and inner-shelf plankton communities in the Mediterranean Sea

55 Conference Estuarine Coastal Sciences Association (ECSA 55), Unbounded boundaries and shifting baselines: Estuaries and coastal seas in a rapidly changing world, 6-9 September 2015, LondonIn what degree nearshore plankton communities constitute an independent and distinct assemblage from shelf assemblages is a challenging question. Obvious physical and chemical differences exist among both systems but, also, important exchange and interdependencies are depicted by physical forcing. Clues to answer this question can be inferred by analyzing the degree of similarity between both systems and their respective biological communities. We analyze similarities between samples collected in nearshore and shelf waters in Palma Bay during a sampling period extending from April to September 2014. Strong differences between plankton structure at both sites are interpreted on the basis of physical and chemical variations at each site and on the degree of exchange induced by coastal currents and thermocline erosionPeer Reviewe

The role of morbid obesity in the promotion of metabolic disruptions and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by Helicobacter Pylori

Helicobacter pylory (HP) infection has been associated to an increased rate of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and liver disease through its effect on insulin resistance and systemic inflammation. However, results are inconstant and no studies exist in morbidly obese patients, in which both insulin resistance and inflammation coexist

On Imprimitive Representations of Finite Reductive Groups in Non-defining Characteristic

In this paper, we begin with the classification of Harish-Chandra imprimitive representations in non-defining characteristic. We recall the connection of this problem to certain generalizations of Iwahori-Hecke algebras and show that Harish-Chandra induction is compatible with the Morita equivalence by Bonnaf\'{e} and Rouquier, thus reducing the classification problem to quasi-isolated blocks. Afterwards, we consider imprimitivity of unipotent representations of certain classical groups. In the case of general linear and unitary groups, our reduction methods then lead to results for arbitrary Lusztig series

New tools and recommendations for a better management of harmful algal blooms under the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive

23 pages, 2 figures, supplementary material https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/.2023.1298800/full#supplementary-materialMarine harmful algal blooms (HABs), caused by various aquatic microalgae, pose significant risks to ecosystems, some socio-economic activities and human health. Traditionally managed as a public health issue through reactive control measures such as beach closures, seafood trade bans or closure of mollusc production areas, the multifaceted linkages of HABs with environmental and socio-economic factors require more comprehensive ecosystem-based management approach tools to support policies. This study promotes a coordinated understanding and implementation of HAB assessment and management under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), targeting the achievement of Good Environmental Status (GES) in European marine waters. We introduce two novel tools: GES4HABs (GES for HABs) decision tree, and MAMBO (environMental mAtrix for the Management of BlOoms), a decision support matrix. These tools aim to streamline HABs reporting and prioritize resource allocation and management interventions. The GES4HABs decision tree defines a sequence of decision steps to identify HAB management strategies according to their state (evaluated against predefined baselines) and causes (anthropic or natural). MAMBO is proposed to address different HABs and their interaction with human and environmental pressures. The matrix utilizes two axes: natural trophic status and level of human influence, capturing major aspects such as nutrient supply. While acknowledging the limitations of this simplified framework, MAMBO categorizes marine regions into quadrants of varying management viability. Regions with high human influence and eutrophic conditions are identified as most suitable for effective management intervention, whereas regions with minimal or mixed human influence are deemed less amenable to active management. In addition, we explore and describe various indicators, monitoring methods and initiatives that may be relevant to support assessments of HAB status and associated pressures and impacts in the MSFD reporting. Finally, we provide some recommendations to promote the consideration of HABs in ecosystem-based management strategies, intensify efforts for harmonizing and defining best practices of analysis, monitoring and assessment methodologies, and foster international and cross-sectoral coordination to optimize resources, efforts and rolesThis manuscript is a result of the joint activity of two projects funded by the European Union, under the Horizon Europe program: GES4SEAS (Achieving Good Environmental Status for maintaining ecosystem services, by assessing integrated impacts of cumulative pressures; grant agreement no. 101059877; www.ges4seas.eu) and ACTNOW (Advancing understanding of cumulative impacts on European marine biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services for human wellbeing, grant agreement No. 101060072). JF was financially supported by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (research core funding no. P1-0237). This work by EG, NS, AR, and JC acknowledges the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence' accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S) funded by AEI 10.13039/501100011033 to the Institut de Ciencies del Mar, CSICPeer reviewe

Insights of sand-dwelling dinoflagellate communities combining morphological and metabarcoding approaches

Dinophyte Seminars : International seminar series on dinophytesAround 10% of known marine dinoflagellates species are benthic. However, the diversity of sand-dwelling dinoflagellates remains unexplored in many areas, and little is known about their distribution and ecology. During last years, efforts have been conducted to determine the community composition of sand-dwelling dinoflagellates in the NW Mediterranean Sea combining morphological (light and electron microscopy) and molecular (single-cell PCR, metabarcoding of V4 18S rDNA) techniques. Such approach was also performed in the German Wadden Sea, an area were benthic dinoflagellates are well known. The morphological characterization and molecular information obtained resulted in the description of several new species and genera, and the taxonomic reclassification of some others. The performance of treatments commonly used to retrieve genomic DNA from sediments was then evaluated, determining the accuracy of information obtained by metabarcoding. The molecular characterization of Mediterranean communities allowed the observation of some trends in the temporal dynamics during spring and summer, including the temporality of some species. Additionally, significant differences in the community composition of Wadden Sea locations were observed. All these studies highlight that a better performance is achieved when combining microscopy observations and molecular approaches. In any case, efforts are still needed to characterize sand-dwelling dinoflagellates, and to better understand the spatial and temporal distribution of species and their ecological rolePeer reviewe