Publications

ABSTRACT Microbial communities underpin biogeochemical processes in Blue Carbon Ecosystems (BCEs); however, a comprehensive review of geographic patterns in microbial diversity, microbial functions, and distribution is currently lacking. Here, for the first time, we have analysed 70 years (1930–2020) of archaeal, bacterial, and fungal diversity and functions in mangrove, saltmarsh, and seagrass ecosystems to elucidate publication and geographic trends in reporting data in BCEs and to identify knowledge gaps. Of the 649 journal articles analysed, research on BCE microbial communities has focused overwhelmingly on assessing bacterial richness and functions in BCEs. Our gap analysis revealed that only ~25%–50% of the countries that have BCEs have been represented, suggesting that our understanding of archaeal, bacterial, and fungal geographic diversity in BCEs is still incomplete. In the context of taxonomic‐based limitations in our study's approach, we have identified gaps of knowledge in archaeal and fungal sediment biodiversity in saltmarsh and seagrass ecosystems. This significantly impacts our ability to forecast ecosystem services amid current and future human and climate pressures in BCEs. The results from this synthesis could serve as a useful reference for microbial baseline data and research trends in BCEs to develop novel hypothesis‐testing research.

In intertidal systems, the type and role of interactions among sediment microorganisms, animals, plants and abiotic factors are complex and not well understood. Such interactions are known to promote nutrient provision and cycling, and their dynamics and relationships may be of particular importance in arid microtidal systems characterized by minimal nutrient input. Focusing on an arid mangrove ecosystem on the central Red Sea coast, we investigated the effect of crab bioturbation intensity (comparing natural and manipulated high levels of bioturbation intensity) on biogeochemistry and bacterial communities of mangrove sediments, and on growth performance of Avicennia marina, over a period of 16 months. Along with pronounced seasonal patterns with harsh summer conditions, in which high sediment salinity, sulfate and temperature, and absence of tidal flooding occur, sediment bacterial diversity and composition, sediment physicochemical conditions, and plant performance were significantly affected by crab bioturbation intensity. For instance, bioturbation intensity influenced components of nitrogen, carbon, and phosphate cycling, bacterial relative abundance (i.e., Bacteroidia, Proteobacteria and Rhodothermi) and their predicted functionality (i.e., chemoheterotrophy), likely resulting from enhanced metabolic activity of aerobic bacteria. The complex interactions among bacteria, animals, and sediment chemistry in this arid mangrove positively impact plant growth. We show that a comprehensive approach targeting multiple biological levels provides useful information on the ecological status of mangrove forests. IMPORTANCE Bioturbation is one of the most important processes that governs sediment biocenosis in intertidal systems. By facilitating oxygen penetration into anoxic layers, bioturbation alters the overall sediment biogeochemistry. Here, we investigate how high crab bioturbation intensity modifies the mangrove sediment bacterial community, which is the second largest component of mangrove sediment biomass and plays a significant role in major biogeochemical processes. We show that the increase in crab bioturbation intensity, by ameliorating the anoxic condition of mangrove sediment and promoting sediment bacterial diversity in favor of a beneficial bacterial microbiome, improves mangrove tree growth in arid environments. These findings have significant implications because they show how crabs, by farming the mangrove sediment, can enhance the overall capacity of the system to sustain mangrove growth, fighting climate change.

16 Symposium of Aquatic Microbial Ecology (SAME16), “From Boat to Bench”- Integrating field observation with lab experiments, 1-6 September 2019, Potsdam, Germany.-- 1 page

Canopy-forming seaweeds, as primary producers and foundation species, provide key ecological services. Their responses to multiple stressors associated with climate change could therefore have important knock-on effects on the functioning of coastal ecosystems. We examined interactive effects of UVB radiation and warming on juveniles of three habitat-forming subtidal seaweeds from Western Australia–Ecklonia radiata, Scytothalia dorycarpa and Sargassum sp. Fronds were incubated for 14 days at 16–30°C with or without UVB radiation and growth, health status, photosynthetic performance, and light absorbance measured. Furthermore, we used empirical models from the metabolic theory of ecology to evaluate the sensitivity of these important seaweeds to ocean warming. Results indicated that responses to UVB and warming were species specific, with Sargassum showing highest tolerance to a broad range of temperatures. Scytothalia was most sensitive to elevated temperature based on the reduced maximum quantum yields of PSII; however, Ecklonia was most sensitive, according to the comparison of activation energy calculated from Arrhenius’ model. UVB radiation caused reduction in the growth, physiological responses and thallus health in all three species. Our findings indicate that Scytothalia was capable of acclimating in response to UVB and increasing its light absorption efficiency in the UV bands, probably by up-regulating synthesis of photoprotective compounds. The other two species did not acclimate over the two weeks of exposure to UVB. Overall, UVB and warming would severely inhibit the growth and photosynthesis of these canopy-forming seaweeds and decrease their coverage. Differences in the sensitivity and acclimation of major seaweed species to temperature and UVB may alter the balance between species in future seaweed communities under climate change.

Aquaculture has existed for millennia, reaching industrial scales in recent decades, and will play an increasingly important role in feeding the world (1–6). As this industry grows, we must ensure that it is ecologically and socially sustainable. However, the current production process for the food given to farmed fish still threatens coastal ecosystems and the livelihoods of local fishers, especially in the Global South (2–7). Before aquaculture is scaled up further, its global environmental and socioeconomic footprint should be carefully reimagined.

Abstract. We assessed the relationship between zooplankton metabolism (respiration and inorganic N and P excretion) and "in situ" temperature through a grid of stations representing a range of natural temperature variation during the ATOS-Arctic cruise (July 2007). The objective was to explore not only the direct effects of temperature on O2 consumption and NH4-N and PO4-P excretion, but also to investigate the possible relationships between temperature and the stoichiometry of the metabolic products. Zooplankton metabolic rates increased according to the rising temperature conditions, following the Arrhenius equation. However, the activation energy differed for the various metabolic processes considered. Respiration was the metabolic activity less affected by temperature, followed by NH4-N and PO4-P excretion, and as a consequence the values of the C : N, C : P and N : P quotients of the metabolic products were inversely related to temperature. The effects of temperature on the stoichiometry of the excretion products would contribute to modify the nutrient pool available for phytoplankton and induce qualitative and quantitative shifts in the characteristics of primary producers that could possibly translate into the whole Arctic marine food web.