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        <title>Frontiers in Marine Science | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Marine Science | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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        <pubDate>2026-05-15T07:04:21.82+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1839741</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1839741</link>
        <title><![CDATA[China’s marine carbon sink capacity assessment and potential projection: a machine learning approach]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-15T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Chunlin Li</author><author>Ning Yan</author><author>Yixiong He</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The intensification of global climate change poses severe challenges to ecosystems and human development. Marine carbon sinks, as a critical natural climate solution, have placed their potential assessment and trend prediction at the centre of global climate governance and policymaking. As the world’s largest carbon emitter, China urgently requires scientifically grounded identification of the incremental potential and regulatory pathways of marine carbon sinks to achieve its “Dual Carbon” goals. This study employs panel data from 11 coastal provinces and municipalities in mainland China, specifically Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan (2005–2022) and integrates multidimensional indicators spanning environmental conditions, human activities, and policy measures. In this study a predictive framework that combines machine learning with interpretability tools was also developed. Using XGBoost to capture complex nonlinear relationships, the model achieves a prediction accuracy of 95.7%, and SHAP analysis was applied to quantify the marginal contributions and threshold effects of key drivers. Key findings include the following: (1) The number of natural reserves, mariculture areas, and total wastewater discharge are identified as core drivers, while chlorophyll-a concentration and the number of research personnel serve as important moderators—each exhibiting distinct “ecological thresholds”. (2) Multi-scenario projections for 2023–2032 indicate that the Green Development scenario yields the highest annual carbon sink potential (4.0061 million tC), surpassing the Business-As-Usual (3.2133 million tC) and Economy-Priority (3.0872 million tC) scenarios. The latter shows an initial decline of 13.4% due to deviation from ecological thresholds. (3) Significant regional heterogeneity is observed: the Northern Coastal Economic Belt is dominated by mariculture, with EP ≈ BAU > GP; the Eastern Coastal Economic Belt is primarily driven by urbanisation rate. With GP substantially outperforming others, the Southern Coastal Economic Belt follows a dual-core-driven pattern of mariculture and sea surface temperature, where GP demonstrates both optimal and stable outcomes. This research provides a scalable, data-driven approach for projecting marine carbon sink dynamics, offering actionable insights for adapting coastal management to climate change and evidence-based policy formulation in China and for other maritime regions.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1822127</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1822127</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The marine fisheries resources in The Bahamas: reconstructed catches 1950–2022 and status of traditionally and recreationally important species]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-15T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Maria Lourdes D. Palomares</author><author>Vina Angelica Parducho</author><author>Luisa Abucay</author><author>Krista Sherman</author><author>Craig Dahlgren</author><author>Daniel Pauly</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Fisheries provide critical economic, cultural, and ecological benefits to developing coastal countries such as The Bahamas. However, effective management remains challenging, particularly for traditional species such as spiny lobster, queen conch, and Nassau grouper. Despite existing regulations, overfishing and habitat degradation from both commercial and recreational sectors continue to threaten these populations, while limited data on stock size and total catch constrain assessment efforts. To address these gaps, we conducted stock assessments for key traditional and recreational species by reconstructing catch time series and analyzing them using the CMSY++ stock assessment model, which is suited for data-limited contexts. Twelve species were evaluated, including two invertebrates (queen conch and Caribbean spiny lobster), two large pelagic fishes (wahoo and dolphinfish), and eight demersal species (groupers, snappers, and hogfish), using a combination of fishery-dependent and fishery-independent data on historical exploitation and relative abundance. The resulting biomass trajectories indicate strong stock depletions for most of these species. These findings highlight an urgent need for improved management and provide a scientific basis for targeted conservation strategies for the resilience, and long-term sustainability of Bahamian fisheries under increasing environmental and anthropogenic pressures.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1794793</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1794793</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Seasonal changes in phytoplankton community of the Straits of Florida near the Florida Keys]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-15T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Sebastian Di Geronimo</author><author>Anna Hope Finch</author><author>Enrique Montes</author><author>Frank Muller-Karger</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Traditional phytoplankton characterization based on morphology is often labor-intensive and requires specialized taxonomic expertise. CHEMTAX, a chemotaxonomic identification method, offers a more efficient process for assessing phytoplankton composition, providing a better alternative for long-term sampling studies. Hence, this study describes seasonal phytoplankton communities within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) from 2016 to 2021, using CHEMTAX. Phytoplankton biomass and community composition were analyzed across four seasons at nearshore and offshore locations using high-performance liquid chromatography to quantify the concentration of chlorophyll-a and other pigments. Results showed small but significant seasonal variability in phytoplankton biomass with no clear inter-annual trends. Total biomass and community composition differed between nearshore and offshore sites. Cyanobacteria-2 (i.e. Synechococcus) dominated across all sites (27% - 40% of Tchl a), while diatom-1 (e.g. Chaetoceros), dinoflagellates, and prasinophytes were consistently low (2% - 6%). Dinoflagellates and prasinophytes showed the least seasonal variability with standard deviations less than 5%. The nearshore sites had higher proportions of diatom-1 (11.9 ± 10.7%), diatom-2 (e.g. Pseudonitzschia, 13.7 ± 6.6%), and dinoflagellate (7.4 ± 4.3%), whereas offshore sites had higher proportions of cyanobacteria-4 (i.e. Prochlorococcus, 17.7 ± 9.0%) and haptophyte-8 (i.e. Phaeocystis, 11.0 ± 4.2%). Nearshore vs offshore components influenced community composition three times more than seasonality. Our findings establish a baseline for seasonal abundance and distribution patterns of phytoplankton pigment groups derived from CHEMTAX analysis within the FKNMS.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1828921</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1828921</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A climate change profiteer? Temperature and light effects on primary production in non-native Vaucheria sp. turfs in the European Wadden Sea]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-15T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Ronny Steinberg</author><author>Antje-Marie Mischke</author><author>Christian Buschbaum</author><author>Kai Bischof</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Climate change profoundly impacts coastal ecosystems by altering temperature, light, and nutrient conditions that regulate primary production. In the European Wadden Sea, seawater temperatures have risen by nearly 2 °C over the past 60 years, promoting shifts in macroalgal communities, including the recent spread of the non-native yellow-green alga Vaucheria sp. (Xanthophyceae). We investigated how temperature and light affect Vaucheria sp. primary production under controlled laboratory conditions. Therefore, we measured the O2 concentration in the water as a proxy for primary production using fiber-optic oxygen meter. Primary production increased with temperature and reached a maximum at 32 °C, though individual variability was high. At high light intensities (500 and 900 µmol photons m-² s-¹), primary production increased with temperature, whereas at low light (100 µmol photons m-² s-¹), the highest values occurred at 16 °C. Photosynthetic parameters were stable between 20 °C and 32 °C but declined sharply at 36 °C, when thalli were nearly degraded. These results indicate a broad thermal tolerance and strong photo acclimation capacity of Vaucheria sp. Its ability to maintain high productivity under elevated temperature and irradiance suggests that it may benefit from regional warming. However, as extreme heat events could even exceed the high thermo-tolerance of Vaucheria sp., the need to understand its long-term acclimation potential and ecological impacts in a rapidly changing Wadden Sea is indispensable.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1814806</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1814806</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Moving beyond controversy: is the chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) stock recovering?]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Dong-Jin Kwak</author><author>Do-Hoon Kim</author><author>Kyounghoon Lee</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) is a commercially significant and highly migratory species in the Northwest Pacific. Despite various management efforts, previous stock assessments have yielded inconsistent results, leading to ongoing debates regarding its stock status. To provide a robust assessment, this study employed two complementary models: CMSY++, which utilizes an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to objectively estimate prior biomass ranges, and a Bayesian State-Space (BSS) model. Crucially, the BSS model incorporated a correction for technical creep to address biases in Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) data—a factor frequently overlooked in previous research. The results from both models were consistent. In 2024, the relative biomass (B/BMSY) was estimated at 0.63 (CMSY++) and 0.59 (BSS), indicating that the stock remains overfished and below the Biomass at Maximum Sustainable Yield (BMSY). Kobe plot analysis further revealed that sustained high fishing mortality since the early 2000s has impeded recovery. This study demonstrates CMSY++ as an effective tool for reconciling discrepancies in data-limited assessments and underscores the necessity of correcting for technical creep to ensure accurate management decisions. Enhanced scientific surveys and the systematic collection of high-quality fisheries data are essential for the sustainable management of this transboundary stock.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1810562</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1810562</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Navigating marine litter governance: loopholes and strategic recommendations for the EU policy framework]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Policy and Practice Reviews</category>
        <author>Demetra L. Orthodoxou</author><author>Xenia I. Loizidou</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Marine litter is a systemic problem, rooted in prevailing production and consumption patterns, material and product design choices, waste management structures, and behavioural practices. Addressing it requires a response that spans the entire lifecycle of materials and products, from design choices to robust end-of-life management. The European Union has positioned itself as a global frontrunner in the fight against marine litter, adopting an ambitious policy framework encompassing circular economy principles, zero pollution objectives and environmental protection goals. Nonetheless, there is a persistent misalignment between policy intent, implementation, and the scale and complexity of the marine litter challenge. The continued accumulation of marine litter in the ocean and on European and global coastlines suggests that there are structural and operational weaknesses to be identified and addressed. This paper analyses key European and selected international policy instruments relevant to marine litter prevention and management. The qualitative review of legislative instruments, supported by literature and available data, identifies structural weaknesses and implementation challenges. These include, inter alia, an insufficient focus on waste prevention, regulatory loopholes that enable the emergence of unsustainable product substitutes, disparities in waste management infrastructure across EU Member States, and a lack of harmonised and up-to-date data to support decision-making. Drawing on expert knowledge and insights, the identified policy gaps and weaknesses are translated into targeted, evidence-based, and actionable recommendations. The findings highlight the need to move beyond fragmented responses towards a more coherent policy framework that prioritises upstream interventions and strengthens enforcement towards a truly circular approach to addressing marine litter.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1860947</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1860947</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Correction: Optimization of the protein requirement of Channa striata larvae fed graded levels of protein diet]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Correction</category>
        <author>Nambiyur Boopathymani Komuhi</author><author>Amit Ranjan</author><author>Mir Ishfaq Nazir</author><author>Nathan Felix</author><author>Elangovan Prabu</author><author>Pushparaj Chidambaram</author><author>Venkatachalam Kaliyamurthi</author><author>Albin Jemila Thangarani</author><author>Arumugam Uma</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1870254</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1870254</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Correction: A meta-analysis on the effects of temperature and salinity on Scylla spp. larvae]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Correction</category>
        <author>Justine T. Gevana</author><author>Fredson H. Huervana</author><author>Mark Henry F. De Leon</author><author>Ivy S. Arizapa</author><author>Alan N. Failaman</author><author>Rex Ferdinand M. Traifalgar</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1831949</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1831949</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Genomic insights into population structure and somatic condition in the European sardine]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Marta Caballero-Huertas</author><author>Judith Ollé-Vilanova</author><author>Marc Palmada-Flores</author><author>Xènia Frigola-Tepe</author><author>Marta Muñoz</author><author>Jordi Viñas</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The European sardine is experiencing a decline in somatic condition and body size, raising concerns about the long-term viability of its populations. Despite its ecological and economic importance, population structure and adaptive variability in this species remain insufficiently understood. We used a genomic approach to investigate population structure and examine associations between genetic markers and somatic condition across six locations in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Based on 5,506 SNPs, we identified strong genetic differentiation between the Atlantic–Alboran group and the remaining Mediterranean populations. We also detected weaker but significant structure within the Mediterranean. The Almeria–Oran Front was confirmed as a major biogeographical barrier, while the Adriatic population showed evidence of genetic admixture, consistent with a transitional role between the western and eastern Mediterranean. Although population differentiation was detected using both neutral and selected loci, outlier SNPs (2.3% of all loci) contributed disproportionately to divergence (FST = 0.242), highlighting the role of local adaptation. Estimates of effective population size (Ne) are affected by chromosomal inversions, as linked loci within these regions bias Ne downward, with a pronounced reduction in Ne in Mediterranean populations. Using two complementary approaches, we identified four SNPs (potentially up to 30) significantly associated with somatic condition (Kn). Together, these results provide new insights into the genetic structure and adaptive potential of European sardines and represent the first genomic evidence linking specific loci to somatic condition. Our findings highlight the value of integrating genomic and phenotypic data to inform conservation and management strategies.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1728210</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1728210</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Patterns of coral disease distribution, frequency, and host susceptibility along Oman’s northern coast]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Thangadurai Thinesh</author><author>Greta Smith Aeby</author><author>Sergey Dobretsov</author><author>Antoine O. H. C. Leduc</author><author>Radhouan Ben-Hamadou</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Coral diseases are emerging as a significant global threat; however, their distribution and species susceptibility patterns remain understudied in many regions, including Oman’s reefs. To address this gap, we surveyed ten northeastern Omani reef sites, and documented disease types, spatial patterns, their frequency, and genus-specific susceptibility. We found five disease types: black band disease (BBD), white syndromes (WS), endolithic hypermycosis (EH), growth anomalies (GA), and focal bleached patches (fBL). These diseases affected nine out of 21 recorded coral genera. Overall, disease abundance was low, averaging 0.17 cases/m² across all sites, with the highest abundance at Inner Island (1.2 cases/m²), followed by Fahal Island East (0.11 cases/m²). GA were the most common lesions (82%), followed by tissue loss (6%), fBL (5%) and BBD (3.6%). GA affected Porites, Acropora, and Platygyra, while BBD, and tissue loss affected Porites, and Goniopora. The most frequently observed diseases were Platygyra GA, Porites GA, and Porites WS, each at 50% of surveyed sites, followed by Astreopora GA (40%), Porites BBD, and Porites fBL (30% of sites). Relative disease susceptibility varied across coral genera, with Porites, Platygyra, and Acropora exhibiting vulnerability to five, three, and one disease types, respectively. This baseline study on coral disease in Omani waters provides the first quantitative baseline assessment of coral diseases in the country and serves as a critical foundation for ongoing monitoring and conservation programs.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1771071</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1771071</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Gender, technology, and labor in small-scale aquaculture in Chile]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Constantino Villarroel</author><author>Katina Roumbedakis</author><author>Julia T. Verba</author><author>Angelo Araya-Piñones</author><author>Gillian B. Ainsworth</author><author>Valeria Burgos-Fuster</author><author>Nancy Chandía</author><author>Niris Cortes</author><author>Andrés Hurtado</author><author>Veronica Relano</author><author>Jaime Aburto</author><author>Sebastian Villasante</author><author>José Bakit</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Small-scale aquaculture (SSA) has been promoted as a “blue transformation” strategy to achieve sustainable development. However, it remains unclear how these initiatives contribute to transforming gender relations in coastal communities. This study examines the case of Caleta Buena (Chile), where an SSA project is being implemented with the technical support of researchers. A qualitative methodology was employed using semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and photographic records, combined with content analysis and Structural Topic Modeling (STM), to analyze the differences between men’s and women’s narratives around the adoption of SSA. The findings highlight that SSA fulfills a dual role: materially, by diversifying production and income, and symbolically, by redefining community and gender roles. The women’s narratives emphasize quality of life and collective well-being, whereas the men’s discourse focuses on organizational strengthening and market integration. Although women gain autonomy and visibility through their participation in the aquaculture project, their empowerment remains partial and ambivalent, rooted in tasks historically associated with femininity. The study’s implications reveal an incipient agency that challenges the symbolic boundaries between masculine and feminine, opening a window of opportunity for more equitable institutional initiatives. The case study demonstrates the need to translate Chilean regulations on gender equality in artisanal fisheries into effective practices within these communities.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1768666</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1768666</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Hurricane impacts on oyster reef habitat in a large, wind-driven estuary]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Daniel J. Bowling</author><author>Olivia N. Caretti</author><author>David B. Eggleston</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Coastal ecosystems vary in their resistance and resilience to the frequency, intensity, structural characteristics, and path of tropical cyclones. The successive passages of Hurricanes Florence and Dorian, and Tropical Storm Michael during the 2018 and 2019 hurricane seasons coincided with long-term monitoring of water quality and oyster reefs in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, USA, providing a unique opportunity to examine storm impacts on estuarine ecosystems. Storm characteristics, reef depth, and reef structure strongly influenced outcomes. Deep-water reefs (~4.5–7 m) experienced degraded water quality, heavy sediment burial, and substantial oyster mortality, whereas shallow reefs (~1.5–3 m) in protected embayments exhibited minimal changes in water quality, limited sedimentation, and only minor impacts to oyster density and size structure. Hurricane Florence, a slow-moving, precipitation-heavy storm, caused widespread sediment burial, hypoxia, and near-total loss of oysters on deeper reefs. In contrast, Hurricane Dorian was fast-moving, with strong winds that mixed the water column and minimized oxygen depletion but resuspended sediments that buried low-relief reefs. Management and restoration strategies aimed at resilience to tropical cyclones should explicitly account for reef setting and structure. Deep areas of Pamlico Sound, which naturally accumulate sediment, are particularly vulnerable to storm-driven sediment resuspension that can bury nearby oyster reefs and should be avoided for restoration. Oyster reefs located in relatively shallow depths and embayments sheltered from high wind fetch may provide relatively stable reef structure in response to tropical cyclones. Reef heights are also critical: low-relief reefs are highly susceptible to burial, whereas maintaining a vertical relief of at least 20 cm improves long-term persistence. Continued monitoring and adaptive management are essential as changing storm regimes under climate change increase risks to oyster populations. Incorporating storm vulnerability into restoration planning, preserving no-harvest sanctuaries, and prioritizing resilient reef settings will be key to sustaining oyster populations in dynamic estuarine environments under increasing tropical storm frequency and intensity.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1784650</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1784650</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Islands of biodiversity created by remote Arctic kelp forests of the central Kitikmeot Sea]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Camille Lavoie</author><author>Amanda M. Savoie</author><author>Roger D. Bull</author><author>John Lyall</author><author>Khashiff K. Miranda</author><author>Christopher W. McKindsey</author><author>Kimberly L. Howland</author><author>Karen Filbee-Dexter</author><author>Philippe Archambault</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Large brown algae known as kelp cover extensive areas of Arctic coastlines and can form underwater forests that support diverse faunal communities. In many ice-scoured environments, where shallow subtidal habitats are structurally simplified, kelp may act as the primary foundation species, yet their ecological role across Arctic seascapes remains poorly resolved. Using baited cameras, diver surveys, habitat mapping, and satellite remote sensing, we assessed kelp distribution and associated biodiversity in the central Kitikmeot Sea, a near-estuarine, nutrient-poor system of the Northwest Passage. Across our study area ~80% of the seascape was bare, with kelp restricted to ~9 discrete, low-canopy forests (max ~0.6 km2) located in hydrodynamically exposed areas with earlier spring ice opening. Epifaunal communities differed among habitat types, with kelp and understorey algae supporting disproportionately higher invertebrate richness and densities than bare and kelp-adjacent habitats (up to 900 ind. m-2). Faunal assemblages also differed among individual kelp forests, amplifying biodiversity at the seascape scale. Distribution of larger motile fauna (mainly fish and crabs) was driven primarily by temperature rather than habitat: Gadus ogac sightings and foraging increased above water temperatures of 2.5 °C, whereas Hyas alutaceus occurred mainly below 0 °C; fish sightings in kelp forests increased with temperature. Together, these results identify kelp forests of the Kitikmeot Sea as spatially isolated yet functionally important “islands of diversity,” highlighting the role of habitat-forming macrophytes in polar coastal seascapes with limited benthic productivity and providing a baseline for anticipating change as ice and circulation regimes evolve.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1827717</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1827717</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A case study of sea turtle hybridization in the north-western Caribbean verified by mitochondrial and multilocus nuclear sequences]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Brief Research Report</category>
        <author>Iván G. Hernández-Ávila</author><author>Danielle E. Leeman-Suastegui</author><author>Víctor H. Beltrán-Ramírez</author><author>Juan C. Sanabria-Juárez</author><author>Jatziri Y. Montero-Bautista</author><author>Gerardo A. Rivas-Hernández</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThe family Cheloniidae includes seven species of marine turtles, separated by tens of millions of years from their common ancestor. Despite this, there have been remarkable cases of hybridization between different species within this lineage. Herein, a case study of a specimen found near Cancun (Yucatan Peninsula, NW Caribbean, Mexico) is described.MethodsA juvenile specimen was brought to the marine turtle hospital facility at Parque Ecoarqueológico Xcaret for treatment of a severe case of fibropapillomatosis. PCR amplification and sequencing were performed to identify species parental ancestors. One mitochondrial locus (D-loop) and five nuclear loci (R35, BDNF, CMOS, RAG1, and RAG2) were analyzed on the hybrid specimen and 15 reference specimens (RS) of E. imbricata (N = 7) and C. mydas (N = 8) from different locations on the Yucatan Peninsula.ResultsThe specimen showed mixed morphological features of both Eretmochelys imbricata and Chelonia mydas. Genetic analyses showed that the hybrid specimen has a mitochondrial haplotype affiliated to C. mydas. In four nuclear loci (R35, BDNF, RAG1, and RAG2), the genotypes were heterozygous, with one allele affiliated to E. imbricata RS and the other to C. mydas RS. For the CMOS locus the results were inconsistent throughout C. mydas RS and the hybrid specimen. The results of other loci were consistent with a first-generation hybrid between a C. mydas female and E. imbricata male.ConclusionIn the Caribbean, few confirmed cases of hybridization had been reported. This record contributes to monitoring interspecific reproductive interactions of Caribbean sea turtles.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1804298</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1804298</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Auction-based comparisons of landings, revenue and price structures between Bonanza (Sanlucar de Barrameda) and Isla Cristina (Gulf of Cadiz, SW Spain) in 2024]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Juan Vidal</author><author>Andres Chover</author><author>Daniel Coronil</author><author>Jose Juan Alonso</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study compares landings, revenues, and price structures between two major Andalusian first-sale auctions in the Gulf of Cadiz (SW Spain): Bonanza (Sanlucar de Barrameda) and Isla Cristina. Using 2024 auction records aggregated at the vessel–species level, we analyse how outcomes differ across ports and whether contrasts are driven by species composition, within-species pricing, or scale (lot-size) effects. Descriptive statistical indicators, non-parametric inference (Mann–Whitney tests) and effect-size measures are complemented with alternative price models (log-OLS, Gamma-GLM and GAM) to assess the robustness of the price–quantity relationship. Results indicate that Bonanza tends to exhibit stronger performance for the typical vessel (higher landings, higher revenues, and greater species diversification), whereas Isla Cristina concentrates a larger share of total activity, consistent with a more scale-oriented structure dominated by a subset of high-throughput vessels. Differences in average unit values between ports are largely explained by species mix and volume weights (i.e., the relative importance of high- versus low-value taxa), while composition-controlled models point to a smaller within-species port effect for Isla Cristina that varies with landed quantity. Overall, routinely collected auction data provide a consistent basis for comparing port-level market outcomes and for distinguishing whether cross-port differences arise primarily from composition, pricing, or both.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1820102</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1820102</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Short-term and long-term prediction of South China Sea SST based on multiple meteorological factors and machine learning]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Wenya Ji</author><author>Jiyuan Yin</author><author>Jianhu Wang</author><author>Menglu Wang</author><author>Juan Li</author><author>Yiqiu Yang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Sea surface temperature (SST) is a vital component of the climate system, and its spatiotemporal variations significantly influence global climate and ecological equilibrium. Unlike most existing univariate SST prediction models that neglect atmospheric forcing information, this study proposes a machine learning-driven multivariate framework integrating key meteorological variables to learn data-driven, nonlinear relationships for improved SST prediction. Based on the ERA5 reanalysis data, three machine learning algorithms, namely, Random Forest (RF), XGBoost and LightGBM, are used to construct short-term and long-term SST forecast models for the South China Sea. The input feature variables include seven meteorological and hydrological variables such as SST, 10m u-component of wind (U10), 10m v-component of wind (V10), 2m dewpoint temperature (d2m), 2m temperature (t2m), mean sea level pressure (SLP), and total cloud cover (TCC). Correlation analysis revealed that these meteorological factors are significantly correlated with SST, with the strongest correlations observed for 2-meter dew point temperature and 2-meter air temperature. Model performance is assessed using metrics such as Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and the coefficient of determination (R²). The results indicate that the RF model exhibits the highest accuracy for both short-term and long-term forecasting models. Furthermore, this study explores high-resolution SST forecasting models for the South China Sea, revealing that total cloud cover (TCC) contributes more to SST predictions than sea surface salinity (SSS), and the model performs well across most areas of the South China Sea (excluding coastal regions), achieving forecasts with a lead time of at least 20 months. The long lead-time prediction ability derived from a multivariate input design further highlights the advantages of the proposed method over traditional single-factor models. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of machine learning algorithms for SST prediction, providing an efficient approach to understanding future SST changes and their potential impacts, while emphasizing the necessity of integrating multiple meteorological factors to enhance forecasting accuracy.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1763044</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1763044</link>
        <title><![CDATA[From local discovery to global insights: deep-sea amphipod diversity in a high-seas marine protected area and its conservation implications]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Anne-Nina Lörz</author><author>Laura Engel</author><author>Anna M. Jażdżewska</author><author>Stefanie Kaiser</author><author>Martin Schwentner</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The deep ocean, while home to a remarkable diversity of life, remains one of the least understood environments on Earth. This profound lack of information hampers our ability to protect and manage deep-sea ecosystems effectively, especially as they face escalating threats from human activities such as resource extraction, pollution, and climate change. In light of these knowledge gaps, this study investigates the diversity of benthic amphipods collected from abyssal depths within the recently established North Atlantic Current and Evlanov Sea basin (NACES) high-seas marine protected area (MPA). Amphipods, with their brooding reproductive strategy and absence of a dispersive larval stage, are potentially limited in their distribution. This makes them valuable for biogeographic studies as biographic histories are maintained over longer periods of time. A total of 253 amphipod cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences were newly generated; these include 99 from the NACES MPA, 43 from the Labrador Sea, 42 from the Azores as well as 69 eusirids from other populations in the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Antarctic. A single epibenthic sledge haul from the NACES MPA in 3,677 m depth revealed 47 amphipod molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) from 98 sequenced individuals, with Chao1 estimates exceeding 120 species. This highlights unexpectedly high benthic diversity at local scales. The majority of these species could not be unambiguously assigned to known species, but many of these are probably new to science. Two of these species are formally described, Cleonardo helga sp. nov. and Cleonardo davinci sp. nov., and a dichotomous key to all known Cleonardo species worldwide is provided. Biogeographic links were studied for species of the family Eusiridae Stebbing, 1888 by comparing the NACES MOTUs to newly sequenced data from the North Atlantic and all existing COI sequences from GenBank and Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD). Of the eight NACES eusirid MOTUs, four were recorded also from other abyssal regions including the Labrador Sea, the Azores, the Arctic, and North and West Pacific. By linking the discovery of local species to broader global distribution patterns, this research enhances our understanding of deep-sea marine ecosystems and underscores the importance of conservation efforts in safeguarding these vulnerable marine habitats.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1866646</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1866646</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Editorial: Marine ecology: functional symbioses in marine holobionts]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Editorial</category>
        <author>Laura Núñez-Pons</author><author>Anna Salvatori</author><author>Valerio Mazzella</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1760679</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1760679</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Long-term changes of summer larval fish community in relation to environmental trends in the NW Mediterranean]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Vanesa Raya</author><author>Ana Sabatés</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This work investigates the main changes undergone by the summer larval fish community over three decades along the Catalan coast, an area characterized by a wide array of environmental conditions. The study was based on nine ichthyoplankton surveys carried out in June, July and September in three decades, 1980s, 2000s and 2010s, covering the same area and applying the same sampling methodology. Throughout the study period, an increase in sea surface temperature, particularly marked in June, and a decrease in surface chlorophyll-a associated with a decline in runoff from the Ebro and Rhone rivers was observed. Marked changes in the composition and abundance of the larval fish community were detected between June and July in the 1980s and the following decades. These changes were mainly due to the presence for the first time in the area of warm-water species, such as Thalassoma pavo and Caranx rhonchus, or to the increase in their abundance, such as Sardinella aurita and Pomatomus saltatrix, in the 2000s in relation to the northward expansion of the adults‘ range. The presence of larvae of warm-water species in the 2000s and 2010s contributed to an increase in specific richness of the larval fish community compared to values obtained in the 1980s. Other species showed a decline in abundance over time, probably due to a decrease in surface chlorophyll-a, e.g. Engraulis encrasicolus, although overexploitation is also an important factor to consider. Larvae of other species, such as coastal and mesopelagic fishes, did not show changes in abundance over the three decades. In a future scenario of increasing sea water temperature and marine heatwaves events, enhanced stratification, and decreasing surface primary production, the changes that may occur in the fish larvae community will largely depend on the adaptive responses of individual species to the new environmental conditions.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1835326</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1835326</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Response of offshore wind turbine monopile-liquefiable seabed-seawater coupled system to vertical and horizontal seismic excitations]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Chen Wang</author><author>Jia-Jia Xu</author><author>Ye-Jun Sun</author><author>Jun Wang</author><author>Fei Cai</author><author>Dong Cai</author><author>Zheng-Hai Sha</author><author>Feng-Xue Jin</author><author>Ling-Yu Xu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[A comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms governing offshore wind turbine (OWT) response in liquefiable seabeds during seismic events remains incomplete, particularly with respect to vertical ground motion components and tripartite seawater-structure-soil interaction dynamics. A 3D integrated monopile-seabed-seawater model for a monitored 6.45-MW OWT is developed, featuring acoustic elements for seawater hydrodynamics, advanced constitutive models for liquefaction and material damping, and coupled vertical-horizontal seismic input. The dynamic characteristic of the OWT is rigorously validated through ​continuous vibration acceleration monitoring. Key findings reveal that: (1) Increasing monopile embedment depth in non-liquefied soil layers effectively mitigates liquefaction-induced residual lateral displacements; (2) Monopile vertical displacement amplitude depends critically on both seismic input frequency and the phase difference between horizontal/vertical peak ground accelerations; (3) Seawater presence restrains monopile displacements, while neglecting seabed-seawater coupling leads to underestimated excess pore water pressure (EPWP) buildup in shallow seabed layers during seismic events; (4) Vertical seismic motion dominates seawater’s influence on OWT seismic response by coupling with hydrodynamic pressure to amplify the EPWP changes in liquefiable seabeds. The results demonstrate that comprehensive consideration of coupled vertical seismic excitation and fluid-soil-structure interaction is essential for accurate liquefaction assessment of OWT foundations.]]></description>
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