The Hidden Forests Below: A Review of the Ecology and Evolution of Wood Falls on the Deep Seafloor

Marine Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 46(2)

Published: March 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Wood falls—parcels of wood that sink to the deep‐sea floor—represent unique and dynamic ecosystems support a highly diverse evolutionarily distinct assemblage faunal communities. The fauna inhabiting falls exhibit high degree endemism, with many species using not only as substrate habitat but also direct or indirect source organic matter. Xylophagous play critical role in breaking down wood, creating complex food webs contributing nutrient cycling environment. composition communities associated sunken is influenced by several factors, including physical properties itself, such species, mass, surface area, well environmental conditions like water depth, geographic location, stage ecological succession. These factors interact shape biodiversity processes within falls, making them temporally spatially finite habitats. Their boundaries lifespans are tightly linked rate degradation, primarily driven specialized wood‐boring organisms. Despite their significance, most knowledge about wood‐fall comes from experimental studies rather than observations naturally occurring falls. This has left significant gaps our understanding natural variability roles these systems deep sea. scarcity records poses challenges for fully grasping contribution biodiversity, carbon cycling, biogeography. In this review, we synthesize current state on ecosystems. We explore potential applications research broader ecological, industrial, contexts. offer valuable insights into ecosystem functioning, maintenance, evolution.

Language: Английский

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Promoting socially responsible governance of new marine climate intervention

Cell Reports Sustainability, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 100366 - 100366

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Exploring Site‐Specific Carbon Dioxide Removal Options With Storage or Sequestration in the Marine Environment – The 10 Mt CO₂ yr⁻¹ Removal Challenge for Germany

Earth s Future, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract Marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) and geological storage in the marine environment (mCS) promise to help mitigate global climate change alongside drastic emission reductions. However, implementable potential of mCDR mCS depends, apart from technology readiness, also on site‐specific conditions. In this work, we explore different options for mCS, using German context as a case study. We challenge each option remove 10 Mt CO 2 yr −1 , accounting 8%–22% projected hard‐to‐abate residual emissions Germany 2045. focus environmental, resource, infrastructure requirements individual at specific sites, within jurisdiction when possible. This serves an entry point discuss main uncertainty factors research needs beyond and, where possible, cost estimates, expected environmental effects, monitoring approaches. total, describe options; four aim enhancing chemical uptake ocean through alkalinity enhancement, blue ecosystems' sink capacity, two employ off‐shore storage. Our results indicate that five out would potentially be jurisdiction, three them could meet challenge. exercise example how creation more tangible CDR can provide basis assessment socio‐economic, ethical, political, legal aspects such implementations. The approach presented here easily applied other regional or national capacity considerations.

Language: Английский

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eDNA metabarcoding shows highly diverse but distinct shallow, mid-water, and deep-water eukaryotic communities within a marine biodiversity hotspot

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13, P. e19249 - e19249

Published: April 22, 2025

As the impact of human activities continues to move beyond shallow coastal waters into deeper ocean layers, it is fundamental describe how diverse and distinct eukaryotic assemblages from deep layers are compared ecosystems. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has emerged as a molecular tool that can overcome many logistical barriers in exploring remote areas. We analyzed water samples (<30 m) collected via SCUBA diving adjacent (mid-water 30–150 m, deep-water >200 obtained with Niskin samplers within 16 locations recognized hotspot marine biodiversity (Gulf California, Mexico). sequenced an eDNA library targeting fragment COI gene eukaryotes. demonstrated diversity operational taxonomic units (OTUs) did not peak at regions mid-water benthic pelagic had similar levels sites, but detected significant vertical zonation between habitats. Our results suggest refugia hypothesis, which posits environments protect during environmental changes, enabling species survive repopulate shallower regions, supported for most taxa only applies about third (34.9%) 5,495 OTUs identified were shared layers. In comparison, rest exclusive either (30.8%) or zones (34.28%). The observation communities rich quite supports extending spatial management conservation tools habitats include fraction unique phylogenetic functional diversity.

Language: Английский

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Ocean-based negative emissions technologies: a governance framework review

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: Aug. 16, 2023

The model pathways of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) timely achievement global climate targets, especially target limiting warming to 1.5°C compared pre-industrial levels, suggest need safeguarding and enhancing carbon sink. Experts argue that deployment so-called negative emissions technologies large-scale dioxide removal holds potential keeping temperature in line with limits set by Paris Agreement. Ocean-based (ONETs) intend enhance sequestration storage ocean, e.g., changing ocean’s physical or biogeochemical properties. But addition these intended effects, ONETs may also cause unintentional impacts on condition related coastal marine ecosystem services are relevant attainment a range policy goals. This article links direct indirect, intentional eight environment regulations goals international environmental agreements current ocean governance regime. results thereof outline direct, implicit indirect framework ONETs. Hereby, broader perspective concept (global) is adopted wider network goes beyond explicit regulation within realm governance. first-order assessment derives gaps challenges existing framework, as well needs opportunities comprehensive technologies. It determined while inclusion strategy be deemed necessary reaching net zero emission targets future, trade-offs other considered dealt when deploying ONETS mitigation. Further, foresight-oriented adaptive mechanisms appear imperative bridge resulting from extensive uncertainties unknowns linked ONET and. identified reiterates governance, instance fragmentation, but represents an opportunity synergistic integrated approach future

Language: Английский

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