Plastiskin: A new form of plastic pollution affecting rocky shore organisms.

Plastic pollution has become a significant environmental concern, with profound consequences for ecosystems worldwide, particularly for marine systems. Our study introduces 'plastiskin', a newly identified plastic pollution type encrusting intertidal organisms. Found on mussels and macroalgae, 'plastiskin' was composed of polypropylene and polyethylene.

Bioaccumulation of trace metal elements and biomarker responses in caged juvenile flounder at a polluted site: Effects of fish density and time exposure.

This study investigates the effect of fish density and exposure duration on trace metal elements (TME) bioaccumulation and several biomarkers response. Juvenile flounders were caged at low, medium and high densities and exposed during 15 or 30 days in the Seine estuary. The concentrations of the TME measured in the muscle of the caged fish were all in agreement with their bioavailability percentage in the sediments.

Single toxicity of arsenic and combined trace metal exposure to a microalga of ecological and commercial interest: Diacronema lutheri.

Eco-toxicological assays with species of economic interest such as Diacronema lutheri are essential for industries that produce aquaculture feed, natural food additives and also in drug developing industries. Our study involved the exposure of a single and combined toxicity of arsenic (As V) to D. lutheri for the entire algal growth phase and highlighted that a combined exposure of As V with other essential (Copper, Cu; Nickel, Ni) and non-essential (Cadmium, Cd; Lead, Pb) trace metals reduced significantly the cell number, chlorophyll a content, and also significantly increased the de-epoxidation ratio (DR) as a stress response when compared to the single toxicity of As V.

Photophysiology and daily primary production of a temperate symbiotic gorgonian.

Gorgonians are one of the most important benthic components of tropical and temperate areas, and play a fundamental role as ecosystem engineers. Although global warming and pollution increasingly threaten them, the acquisition of nutrients, which is a key process in fitness and stress resistance, has been poorly investigated in such species. This study has thus used an advanced in situ incubation chamber for the first time with gorgonians, to assess the daily acquisition of nutrients and the photophysiology of the Mediterranean symbiotic species, Eunicella singularis.

Decline in Kelp in West Europe and Climate.

Kelp ecosystems form widespread underwater forests playing a major role in structuring the biodiversity at a regional scale. Some seaweeds such as Laminaria digitata are also economically important, being exploited for their alginate and iodine content. Although some studies have shown that kelp ecosystems are regressing and that multiple causes are likely to be at the origin of the disappearance of certain populations, the extent to which global climate change may play a role remains speculative.

The response of the scleractinian coral Turbinaria reniformis to thermal stress depends on the nitrogen status of the coral holobiont.

The physiological response of the scleractinian coral Turbinaria reniformis to ammonium enrichment (3 μmol l(-1)) was examined at 26°C as well as during a 7 day increase in temperature to 31°C (thermal stress). At 26°C, ammonium supplementation had little effect on the coral physiology. It induced a decrease in symbiont density, compensated by an increase in chlorophyll content per symbiont cell.