Scientific watch

Debate continues around the efficacy of marine protected areas (MPAs) for managing and maintaining exploited fish stocks. Fish are generally larger in MPAs, and a recent metanalysis showed that larger fish produce disproportionately (hyperallometrically) more offspring than smaller fish; however,

Fish stocks are managed within national boundaries and by regional organizations, but the interdependence of stocks between these jurisdictions, especially as a result of larval dispersal, remains poorly explored. This study combined oceanographic and life history data for 706 species

For many species, reproductive failure may occur if abundance drops below critical Allee* thresholds for successful breeding, in some cases impeding recovery. At the same time, extreme environmental events can cause catastrophic collapse in otherwise healthy populations. Understanding what natural

Spatial protection measures have become ubiquitous in fisheries management and marine conservation. Implemented for diverse objectives from stock rebuilding to biodiversity protection and ecosystem management, spatial measures range from temporary fisheries closures to marine protected areas (MPAs) with varying levels

Growing global trade and environmental change accentuate the spread and intensity of marine biological invasions, rendering their management a priority. Fast management responses require the prioritization of actions based on their effectiveness, technical feasibility, social acceptance, impacts, and costs. In

Extreme ocean warming events, known as marine heatwaves (MHWs), have been observed to perturb significantly marine ecosystems and fisheries around the world. The main objective of this study was to investigate the future evolution (until 2100) of sea surface temperature

The Mediterranean Sea is now recognized as a hotspot of global change, ranking among the fastest warming ocean regions. In order to project future plausible scenarios of marine biodiversity at the scale of the whole Mediterranean basin, the current challenge

The pollution of the oceans by anthropogenic litter has been identified as one of the major environmental threats of the twenty-first century. Every year, millions of tons of solid waste are discharged into the sea with harmful environmental implications. Abundance

Tropical and temperate biogenic reefs are among the most important benthic ecosystems and their conservation is a major challenge for the maintenance and management of coastal marine systems. These reefs, because constituted by calcareous organisms, are sensitive to both anthropogenic

Easy to reach and rich in biodiversity, shallow waters not only provide a wide range of ecosystem services to citizens but they are also particularly suitable as open-air laboratories to study how biological diversity is affected by changing environmental conditions.