Nature-based solutions to the management of legacy plastic pollution: Filter-feeders as bioremediation tools for coastal microplastics.

Plastics are one of the most topical pollutants occurring in our ocean. Given concern regarding the impacts of both macro- and micro-plastics on environmental and human well-being, a range of management approaches are required. Key in the management of microplastics will be curative measures that facilitate the removal of legacy plastics from the environment as, without their removal, impacts will continue for centuries.

Temperature-dependent responses and trophic interaction strengths of a predatory marine gastropod and rock oyster under ocean warming.

Predator-prey interactions are important in shaping ecosystem structure. Consequently, impacts of accelerating global warming on predators will have notable implications. Effects are likely to be particularly marked for tropical organisms which are anticipated to be sensitive to further thermal stress.

Too hot to handle? An urgent need to understand climate change impacts on the biogeochemistry of tropical coastal waters.

Tropical regions contain ecologically and socio-economically important habitats, and are home to about 3.8 billion people, many of which directly depend on tropical coastal waters for their well-being. At the basis of these ecosystems are biogeochemical processes.

Marine heatwaves of different magnitudes have contrasting effects on herbivore behaviour.

Global climate change is leading to shifts in abiotic conditions. Short-term temperature stresses induced by marine heatwaves (MHWs) can affect organisms both during and after the events. However, the recovery capacity of organisms is likely dependent on the magnitude of the initial stress event.

Microplastics, both non-biodegradable and biodegradable, do not affect the whole organism functioning of a marine mussel.

Microplastics are ubiquitous in the marine environment, and their uptake by many organisms has been well documented. Concern about increasing plastic waste in ecosystems and organisms has led to the production of biodegradable alternatives. However, long breakdown times of biodegradable plastics in natural environments mean they still have the potential to induce ecological impacts.

Stay clean: direct steam exposure to manage biofouling risks.

Biofouling by marine organisms can result in a variety of negative environmental and economic consequences, with decontamination procedures remaining problematic, costly and labour-intensive. Here, we examined the efficacy of direct steam exposure to induce mortality of selected biofouling species: Mytilus edulis; Magallana gigas; Semibalanus balanoides; Fucus vesiculosus; and an Ulva sp. Total mortality occurred at 60-sec of steam exposure for M.

Using functional responses and prey switching to quantify invasion success of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas.

Invasive alien species continue to proliferate and cause severe ecological impacts. Functional responses (FRs) have shown excellent utility in predicting invasive predator success, however, their use in predicting invasive prey success is limited. Here, we assessed invader success by quantifying FRs and prey switching patterns of two native predators, the common sea star, Asterias rubens, and the green crab, Carcinus maenas, towards native blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, and invasive Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas.