About this Research Topic
Marine invertebrates account for over 50% of the marine species documented in European waters. The species belonging to this group are pioneers and responsible for the constitution of marine ecosystems. Understanding the role of invertebrates in marine ecosystems is particularly important because the systems themselves are at risk. The risk comes mainly from human pressure, due to the chronic exposition to anthropogenic contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. Some authors have also reported disturbance responses of crustaceans after exposure to anthropogenic physical stressors, such as sounds and behavioral changes in cephalopods to pure tone acoustic stimuli. The actual literature shows a limited amount of work regarding the potential effects of physical and chemical stressors on marine invertebrates, taking into account the effects on their reproductive capacity.
This Research Topic aims to improve the knowledge of physiological and biochemical responses of marine invertebrates related to the exposure of chemical pollutants and physical stressors and their implication on reproductive characteristics. The Research Topic encourages research works that employ combined approaches including field observations and laboratory experiments.
The Research Topic welcomes research based on the utilization of innovative analytical and molecular methodologies. Epidemiological studies on the accumulation of xenobiotic substances are also welcome in order to check the threshold levels able to induce potential effects on the reproductive patterns of marine invertebrates.
The research topic aims to deepen the knowledge on the effects of contaminants exposition and physical stressors on the reproduction aspects of different marine invertebrates taxa (mollusks, cnidarian, arthropods, echinoderms).
Contributions would address :
· Effect of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POP) on the reproductive parameters of echinoderms;
· Disturbance responses of marine invertebrates after exposure to anthropogenic sounds;
· Behavioral changes in marine invertebrates to acoustic stimuli and other physical stressors;
· Possible morphological changes of marine invertebrates after chronic exposure with (POP) and other chemicals.
We welcome different types of manuscript submissions, including original research articles and up-to-date reviews.
Keywords: Marine invertebrates, chemical contaminants, physical stressors, reproduction
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
