It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Friday, May 26, 2023
Algae combined with visible light may create ink for cultured meat
POHANG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (POSTECH)
IMAGE: PHOTOCROSSLINKABLE NATURAL CARBOHYDRATE ALGINATE-BASED 3D-PRINTED BIOINKview more
CREDIT: POSTECH
A few years ago, a French daily newspaper published an article titled “Korea’s Utilization of Algae as a food ingredient for the Earth”. The article highlighted the ecological potential of algae, which Westerners typically find unappealing due to its soft and pulpy consistency. Algae possesses the ability to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide and generate significantly less carbon emissions. Consequently, the mere act of consuming algae could play a constructive role in environmental protection. Nonetheless, advancements have been made in the production of cultivated meat using algae, thus presenting a novel approach for Earth preservation. Furthermore, algae can also be utilized in the engineering of artificial organs for those who are suffering from organ failure.
The research team led by Professor Hyung Joon Cha from the Department of Chemical Engineering and the School of Convergence Science and Technology, and PhD candidate Sangmin Lee and Dr. Geunho Choi from the Department of Chemical Engineering at POSTECH have developed a bioink characterized by enhanced cell viability and printing resolution. This accomplishment was achieved through the utilization of alginate derived from algae, a natural carbohydrate, and a harmless visible light. The research findings have been published in Carbohydrate Polymers, an international journal in the field of biomaterials.
3D bioprinting is a methodology employed in the fabrication of artificial organs or tissues through the use of bioinks1) which contain cells. This technique holds significant promise in the realms of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine while also attracting considerable attention within the foodtech sector due to its potential to produce cultivated meat, an emerging concept in future food production. Nevertheless, currently available bioinks exhibit limitations, impeding cell mobility and resulting in low cell viability and printing resolution.
To address these challenges, the research team devised a microgel utilizing a photocrosslinkable2) alginate. Then, they developed a 3D-printed bioink capable of facilitating free cell movement and proliferation by using this photocrosslinkable alginate microgel. This microgel bioink loaded with cells led to a 4-times increase in cell proliferation compared to conventional bioinks. Furthermore, the microgel demonstrated reduced viscosity when subjected to external forces over a specified period, promptly recovering its initial shape even after deformation. These characteristics significantly increased the resolution and lamination capacity of the printing outcomes.
Professor Hyung Joon Cha who led the research explained, “We engineered functional tissue structures by employing a biomaterial-based bioink with exceptional and stable cell-loading capabilities for practical 3D printing.” Expressing optimism for the future, he added, “Future research and refinement of this technology are expected to propel its widespread adoption in the engineering of artificial organs and the production of cultivated meat.”
The research was sponsored by the Creative Innovation Program of POSCO Holdings and the Value-added Foodtech Development Program of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Tsukuba, Japan—Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are important immature blood cells in bone marrow that can be triggered to develop into any blood cell type. HSC transplants can be used to treat conditions where bone marrow is damaged and no longer able to produce healthy blood cells, but the widespread and safe use of HSCs is limited by barriers to cell growth and expansion in the lab (i.e. ex vivo). Now, a team led by researchers at the University of Tsukuba has established a novel culture system that supports long term ex vivo expansion of HSCs.
Human HSCs are frequently and easily obtained from umbilical cord blood, but this yields an insufficient number of HSCs for proper transplantation. Though ex vivo HSC expansion is clearly necessary, this goal has been difficult to achieve. In previous research, cell signaling molecules called cytokines and a protein called albumin have frequently been used to stimulate HSC expansion, but only have short-term success.
"Other teams have shown promising results using novel approaches for HSC ex vivo expansion, including the addition of small molecules, certain hydrogels, various growth factors, or small molecule inhibitors to the cell culture media" explains Professor Satoshi Yamazaki, senior author of the study.
Though cytokines were once believed to be indispensable for ex vivo HSC growth, the research team hypothesized other new approaches as suitable alternatives. Starting with mouse HSCs, they previously found that albumin could be replaced by a synthetic polymer. This not only overcame the albumin-related problem of variability between batches used in different experiments, but also prevented the negative effects of impurities that commonly arise.
When the research team applied this method to human HSCs, they noted less robust proliferation than in mouse HSCs. After molecular analysis, they observed decreased activity of vital signaling molecules called PI3K and AKT. To address this, they found that adding chemicals for activating PI3K and AKT could significantly improve human HSC growth.
"We also found that adding a receptor agonist chemical known as butyzamide could stimulate cell proliferation, providing a good alternative to cytokines that were commonly used in the past," describes Professor Yamazaki.
Adding a compound called UM171, as well as a specific polymer, improved the results by supporting long-term HSC expansion. Using a technique known as RNA sequencing, the team confirmed the successful effects of this system on gene expression in individual cells. Furthermore, transplanting the HSCs into mice supported engraftment and growth of the cells that were expanded using their new culture system.
Given the importance of ex vivo expansion of human HSCs, the newly established system using an optimal chemically-defined cell culture medium provides a suitable alternative to systems using typical cytokine-containing media. This work may help advance various HSC-related therapeutics in clinical development and potentially save lives.
Original Paper
The article, "Chemically-defined cytokine-free human hematopoietic stem cell expansion," was published in Nature at DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05739-9
Chemically defined cytokine-free expansion of human haematopoietic stem cells
A simple method to reduce alcohol absorbed from alcohol-based disinfectants used on incubators
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba showed the association between the concentration of evaporated alcohol from alcohol-based disinfectants used for incubators and the amount of alcohol absorbed by premature infants
Tsukuba, Japan—Neonatal incubators are considered the first home of infants born prematurely, keeping them warm and protecting them from possible infections. To further protect them from infectious pathogens, alcohol-based disinfectants are frequently used. However, new research from the University of Tsukuba has found an association between the concentration of evaporated alcohol from alcohol-based disinfectants in incubators and the amount of alcohol in premature infants.
The use of alcohol-based disinfectants (ABDs) in products, such as alcohol hand sanitizers and alcohol prep pads, is the best defense against infection which must be avoided when caring for premature babies in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). "One problem is that confined areas exposed to noxious compounds, such as alcohol, can have harmful effects on the infants," explains Clinical Assistant Professor Satoshi Fujiyama, senior author of the study. But to date, no studies had investigated the level of alcohol exposure in infants in incubators.
To determine the amount of alcohol that evaporates from alcohol-based disinfectants that are systematically absorbed by premature infants, the researchers measured the blood alcohol concentration in premature infants and in the air of neonatal incubators. The researchers also introduced a new alcohol-based disinfectant practice (ABD-PRAC) that reduced the evaporation of alcohol from ABDs inside the incubators without affecting infection control and determined its association with decreasing alcohol exposure in premature infants less than 34 weeks old. The changes in alcohol concentration in the infants' blood and in the air of the incubators were then measured.
Results showed that alcohol was continuously detected in the blood samples taken from the infants, and its concentration was primarily associated with the evaporated alcohol from the ABDs in the incubators. The key factors affecting alcohol absorption in premature infants included their airways and immature skin. Hence, it was concluded that decreasing the alcohol concentration inside the incubators through ABD-PRAC is a simple way of reducing the amount of evaporated alcohol.
"Our study showed that reducing the exposure of infants to evaporated alcohol can be an easy task," says Professor Hidetoshi Takada, senior author.
This research has identified the risks to premature infants posed by certain measures, which were intended to keep them safe. It has also shown how easily these risks can be reduced by a change in practice within the neonatal infant care units. Adoption of these simple practices in NICUs will reduce the risks to premature babies associated with their care in hospital, ensuring that the optimal disinfectant used is based on its efficacy and safety.
Original Paper'
The article, "Assessment of Alcohol Exposure From Alcohol-Based Disinfectants Among Premature Infants in Neonatal Incubators in Japan," was published in JAMA Network Open at DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.0691
IMAGE: DATA SOURCE: MINISTRY OF ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT, UNPUBLISHED DATA.view more
CREDIT: THE AUTHORS
In a new research perspective published in Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, the research team emphasizes that the key to this approach lies in understanding that carbon dioxide and air pollutants predominantly originate from the same sources, namely, the combustion and use of fossil fuels. Therefore, policies designed to mitigate climate change and control air pollution can generate considerable synergies. In particular, as China has committed to peaking its CO2 emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, the team believes that these goals can serve as powerful drivers for future air quality improvement.
To facilitate the tracking and analysis of the synergistic governance of air pollution and climate change, the researchers developed a suite of 18 indicators. These indicators span five critical areas: air pollution and associated weather-climate conditions; progress in structural transition; sources, sinks, and mitigation pathway of atmospheric composition; health impacts and benefits of coordinated control; and synergistic governance system and practices.
One of the key insights from the research perspective is the recognition of the intricate links between climate change and air pollution. Changes in meteorological factors induced by climate change can significantly impact the formation, accumulation, and dispersion of air pollution. Simultaneously, these changes can affect emissions from natural sources like vegetation, dust, and wildfires, which significantly contribute to air pollution.
In terms of public health, both climate change and air pollution pose substantial risks. Increased frequency of extreme weather events, higher risk of infectious diseases, and exposure to air pollutants can all lead to increased mortality and morbidity. Recognizing this, the researchers argue that public health protection should serve as the starting point for coordinated governance.
The researchers further underline the importance of aligning the control measures for greenhouse gases and air pollutants, given their shared sources and processes. Strategies that target the reduction of fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions will inherently mitigate air pollutant emissions, offering synergistic benefits for air quality improvement. However, the team also cautions that future carbon sink changes should be factored into planning carbon reduction pathways to avoid compromising air quality.
The research perspective also identifies considerable health and economic benefits that can arise from a synergistic approach to addressing climate change and air pollution. These include reducing the incidence of extreme weather events, saving pollution control costs, improving the structure of the economy, promoting new industries, and creating jobs.
In terms of governance, the researchers advocate for a system that coordinates climate change mitigation and air pollution control, integrating strategic planning, laws, regulations, standards, and economic policies. They recommend piloting this approach in select cities and industries to gain practical experience before a broader implementation. The research team's ultimate goal is to establish a theoretical framework for the synergetic governance of carbon neutrality and clean air, identify potential challenges in developing a synergetic roadmap for China, and provide corresponding policy recommendations. This comprehensive, synergistic approach could be a game-changer in China's ongoing battles against air pollution and climate change.
A synergy pathway for carbon neutrality and clean air in China.
The circle and triangle markers represent CO2 emissions and the population-weighted PM2.5 concentration, respectively. Figure adopted and revised from Cheng et al., 2021
CREDIT
The authors
Reference
Title of original paper: Synergetic roadmap of carbon neutrality and clean air for China
Environmental Science and Ecotechnology (ISSN 2666-4984) is an international, peer-reviewed, and open-access journal published by Elsevier. The journal publishes significant views and research across the full spectrum of ecology and environmental sciences, such as climate change, sustainability, biodiversity conservation, environment & health, green catalysis/processing for pollution control, and AI-driven environmental engineering. ESE received its first impact factor of 9.371 (partial), according to the Journal Citation ReportTM 2022.
Funding information: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Energy Foundation China.
IMAGE: THE RECONSTRUCTED SEASONAL TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE (BLACK LINE) AND ITS TRENDS (RED LINES) FOR EAST ASIA AS WELL AS THE TIME OF ONSET OF SUSTAINED WEAKENING TREND (BLUE VERTICAL LINE) AND THE TIME OF CLIMATE EMERGENCE (GREEN VERTICAL LINE)view more
The research was jointly led by Prof. Jianglin Wang (Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China) and Prof. Bao Yang (Nanjing University, China) with coauthors Dr. Zhiyuan Wang (Zhejiang Normal University, China), Prof. Jürg Luterbacher (World Meteorological Organization, Switzerland), Prof. Fredrik Charpentier Ljungqvist (Stockholm University, Sweden).
Seasonal temperature difference (summer-minus-winter), also known as temperature annual cycle or temperature seasonality, is a dominant feature of the Earth’s climate system outside the tropics with important impacts on social and biological systems.
By carefully distinguishing winter or summer temperature sensitive tree ring data, the authors provide new insight into summer and winter temperatures as well as the seasonal difference of the past, beyond the limited historical observational data. They also compared the seasonal temperature reconstructions with climate model simulations.
The results show a sustained warming trend in East Asia largely caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas forcing firstly found in summer as early as the 1830s. In winter, there is a delay of nearly three decades than that in summer. The authors also found evidence of a more significant cooling in summer than winter caused by tropical volcanic eruptions.
In contrast, the reconstructed seasonal temperature difference of East Asia shows a sustained weakening trend as early as the 1870s. The results suggest that anthropogenic radiative forcing had already driven the current seasonal difference outside the range of the natural climate variability of the pre-industrial times.
They found that climate models could generally reproduce the variability and trends of East Asian temperatures observed in seasonal temperature reconstructions, but might largely underestimate the seasonal differences of temperature than those seen in the reconstructed data.
Based on the new findings, the authors inferred a further weakening of seasonal temperature difference in the future as a result of ongoing anthropogenic warming. If it is true, this will have important social and ecological implications, e.g., plant phenology and the transmission of seasonal diseases.
See the article:
Wang J, Yang B, Wang Z, Luterbacher J, Ljungqvist F C. 2023. Recent weakening of seasonal temperature difference in East Asia beyond the historical range of variability since the 14th century. Science China Earth Sciences, 66(5): 1133–1146, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-022-1066-5
Evolution characteristics of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and its thermodynamic and dynamic effects on surface air temperature in the northern hemisphere
IMAGE: AMOC CAN REGULATE WAVE ACTIVITIES OVER THE MID-TO-HIGH LATITUDES IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, WHICH HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON EXTREME WEATHER AT MID-TO-HIGH LATITUDES IN EURASIA (HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE MHEA). DURING BOREAL WINTERS, STRONG AMOC REGULATES THE ROSSBY WAVE TRAIN THAT ORIGINATES FROM THE NORTH ATLANTIC AND CROSSES MID-TO-HIGH LATITUDES, WHICH INCREASES THE VARIABILITY IN THE CIRCULATION ANOMALIES IN THE URAL BLOCKING AREA AND SIBERIA AND CONSEQUENTLY AFFECTS THE VARIABILITY IN THE SAT OVER THE MHEA, LEADING TO AN INCREASE IN BOTH EXTREME COLD AND WARM EVENTS. IN ADDITION, THE DECADAL STRENGTHENING OF AMOC IMPACTS THE INCREASE IN EXTREME COLD EVENTS IN THE MHEA, AS IT ENHANCES THE AA EFFECT BY INCREASING THE MERIDIONAL HEAT TRANSPORT, WHICH IN TURN LEADS TO THE STRENGTHENING OF THE URAL BLOCKING AND FURTHER CONTRIBUTES TO THE INCREASE IN EXTREME COLD EVENTS IN THE MHEA. ALONG WITH THE DIRECT HEATING EFFECT OF GLOBAL WARMING, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE LED TO AN INCREASE IN EXTREME COLD AND WARM EVENTS SINCE 2000.view more
Recently, the journal “Science China Earth Sciences” published a study led by Dr. Wang Huan (Sichuan Normal University) and Professor Zuo Zhiyan (Fudan University). Based on modern observations, historical proxy data, and climate model simulations, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the past, present and future evolution characteristics of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), as well as its impact on the surface air temperature (SAT) at regional and hemispherical scales.
The reconstruction results based on the proxy data indicate that the AMOC has weakened since the late 19th century and experienced overall weakening throughout the 20th century with low confidence. Direct observations show that the AMOC weakened during 2004–2016, but it is not possible to distinguish between its decadal variability and long-term trend. Climate models predict that if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, AMOC will weaken in the future, but there will not be a sudden collapse before 2100.
For the thermodynamic effects of AMOC, the increased surface heat flux release and meridional heat transport over the North Atlantic associated with the strong AMOC cause an increase in the hemispherical SAT. At the millennial scale, climate cooling (warming) periods correspond to a weakened (strengthened) AMOC. The enhanced MHT of a strong AMOC can affect Arctic warming and thus influence regional SAT anomalies and SAT extremes through mutual feedback between Arctic sea ice and AMOC. In terms of dynamic effects, a strong AMOC modulates the Rossby wave trains originating from the North Atlantic and spreading across mid-to-high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere and causes an increase in the variabilities in the circulation anomalies over the Ural and Siberian regions. Ultimately, a strong AMOC significantly affects the frequencies of extreme cold and warm events in the mid-to-high latitude regions over Eurasia. In addition, AMOC can also influence regional and global SAT anomalies through its dynamic adjustment of planetary-scale circulation. Decadal variation in AMOC is closely related to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). During positive phases of AMO and AMOC, enhanced surface heat fluxes over the North Atlantic lead to abnormal warming in the Northern Hemisphere, while during negative phases, the reverse case occurs.
Under high emission scenarios in the future, the possibility of AMOC collapse increases due to freshwater forcing. However, most advanced climate models underestimate the strength of the AMOC and its impact on the AMO and relevant climate change, which presents a major challenge for future understanding and prediction of the AMOC and its climate effects.
See the article: Wang H, Zuo Z, Zhang K, Bu L, Xiao D. Evolution characteristics of the atlantic meridional overturning circulation and its thermodynamic and dynamic effects on surface air temperature in the northern hemisphere. Science China Earth Sciences, 66, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-022-1102-y
Study fids association between long-term exposure to air pollution and severe COVID-19
Greater exposure to PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide and black carbon found to be associated with a higher risk of admission to hospital or an intensive care unit and death
A long history of exposure to air pollution is associated with a higher risk of developing severe disease, admission to hospital or an intensive care unit (ICU) and death by COVID‑19 according to a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a research centre supported by the ”la Caixa” Foundation. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, was based on a large cohort of4,660,502 adults resident in Catalonia in2020, the year the Spanish autonomous community had a high incidence of COVID-19.
The researchers determined the mean annual levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5,particleswith an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2.5 µm), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), black carbon (BC)andozone (O3) at the residential address of each participant. They also collected data on severe cases of COVID-19 in 2020, including the number of hospital and ICU admissions, length of hospital stay, and COVID-19 related deaths. An analysis of this data revealed the followingassociations:
An increase in exposure to PM2.5 of 3.2 µg/m3 was associated with a 19% increase in hospital admissions.
An increase in exposure to NO2 of 16.1 µg/m3 was associated with a 42% increase in ICU admissions.
An increase in exposure to BC of 0.7 µg/m3 was associated with a 6% increase in mortality.
“Our findings add further compelling evidence on the importance of reducing levels of air pollution to improve the health of the population in general and, in particular, to reduce the incidence of severe acute respiratory infections,” concludes Otavio Ranzani, ISGlobal researcher and first author of the study.
Possible Explanations for the Association
There are several biological mechanisms that may explain why long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of severe COVID-19.
One hypothesis is that exposure to air pollution increases the individual’s risk of developing chronic comorbidities associated with severe COVID-19, such as hypertension.
Another hypothesis is that air pollution may facilitate the infection, as there is published evidence that exposure to fine particulate matter increases the expression of the receptors the SARS-CoV-2 virus binds to, particularly in the lung.
Exposure to air pollution has also been associated in another study with changes in the immune defences key to mitigating SARS-CoV-2, such as a decrease in the type II interferon response to SARS-CoV-2 and the antibody response.
Nonetheless, the study authors believe that more research is needed to gain a better understanding of the main biological pathways involved.
How the Study was Carried Out
The COVAIR-CAT cohort is based on data from the Catalan public health system covering primary care, emergency care and the discharge from hospital of patients with acute conditions. It also includes data from a SARS-CoV-2 surveillance system (SUVEC), which gathered information on PCR and rapid antigen test results in cohort participants in Catalonia.
According to the data analysed in this study, 340,608 people were diagnosed with COVID-19 in Catalonia in 2020. Of these, 14% (47,174) were admitted to hospital and 1.4% (4,699) to an intensive care unit. In total, taking into account inpatients and outpatients, 10,001 COVID-19 related deaths (3%) were recorded.
The meteorological and air pollution data was obtained from the pertinent Catalan and Spanish monitoring networks. These data were cross-checked with the place of residence of the 4,660,502 people in the study cohort.
Study Strengths
“One of the strengths of our analysis is that the population is very well represented. The study covers both large urban conglomerations and rural areas and we were able to obtain detailed individual-level data on the participants’ exposure to ambient air pollution in a country heavily affected by the pandemic in 2020,” explains Cathryn Tonne, an ISGlobal researcher and final author of the study.
While many studies have been published on the effects of short- and long-term exposure to air pollution on chronic respiratory diseases, there is less data available on the effects of long-term exposure on the incidence and severity of acute respiratory infections. Otavio Ranzani concludes, “Our study provides robust evidence that long-term exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with severe COVID-19.”
IMAGE: THE STUDY WARNS THAT EVEN IN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS, THE GENETIC DIVERSITY OF MARINE HABITAT-FORMING SPECIES SUCH AS CORALS, GORGONIANS AND MACROALGAE IS NOT PROTECTED.view more
CREDIT: MEDRECOVER RESEARCH GROUP
Species known as marine habitat-forming species —gorgonians, corals, algae, seaweeds, marine phanerogams, etc.— are organisms that help generate and structure the underwater landscapes. These are natural refuges for other species, and provide biomass and complexity to the seabeds. But these key species in marine ecosystems are currently threatened by climate change and other perturbations derived from human activity. Now, a study published in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography warns that even in the marine protected areas (MPAs) the genetic diversity of structural species is not protected, although it is essential for the response and adaptation of populations to changes that alter the natural environment.
The study was carried out by Laura Figuerola-Ferrando, Cristina Linares, Ignasi Montero-Serra and Marta Pagès-Escolà , from the Faculty of Biology of the University of Barcelona and the Biodiversity Research Institute of the UB (IRBio); Jean-Baptiste Ledoux and Aldo Barreiro, from the Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR) in Portugal, and Joaquim Garrabou, from the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC).
Genetic diversity is also a component of biodiversity
Traditionally, marine biodiversity management and conservation plans have considered factors such as species richness. Genetic diversity —another major component of biodiversity— reflects the genetic variation that exists among organisms of the same species and is a determining factor in the adaptive capacity of populations and their survival. Despite its importance, genetic diversity has so far been overlooked in management and conservation plans.
"Genetic diversity plays a key role in enhancing the ability of species, populations and communities to adapt to rapid environmental changes resulting from climate change and thus increase their resilience", says researcher Laura Figuerola-Ferrando, first author of the study.
“However, —she continues— so far, the vast majority of marine protected areas are implemented based on the presence of several species and habitats, without considering their genetic diversity. Another example would be the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which does not consider genetic diversity either”.
"In recent years, the need to focus conservation efforts on the protection of genetic diversity has been reinforced. Technological progress in the massive development of different techniques to determine genetic diversity (for example, through the use of microsatellites or small DNA fragments), as well as their affordable cost, can help to include genetic diversity in management and conservation plans", says the researcher from the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences of the UB.
From the northwest Atlantic to the Gulf of Guinea
The study applies macrogenetic techniques to identify general genetic patterns of diverse marine species at large spatial scales. The authors have analyzed data from a global database containing genetic diversity information (based on microsatellites) for more than 9,300 populations of 140 species in different marine regions around the globe.
The results outline a reference scenario of genetic patterns in marine habitat-forming species (corals, macroalgae, marine phanerogams, etc.) of potential interest for improving marine life management and conservation plans.
The northwest Atlantic provinces and the Bay of Bengal are the regions where the highest genetic diversity in marine landscape species has been identified. Quite high values (above the global average) have also been identified in the Mediterranean. In contrast, the marine provinces with the lowest values of genetic diversity are the Gulf of Guinea and the southwest Atlantic.
The findings also indicate a positive correlation between genetic diversity and species richness of both animal and plant marine habitat-forming species. However, the paper warns of a worrying result: the Network of Marine Protected Areas (RAMP) in the large oceanic ecoregions does not preserve areas where the genetic diversity of marine habitat-forming species is highest.
"What we have seen is that what is not being protected in MPAs is genetic diversity. In the study, the initial hypothesis was that within these areas there would be greater genetic diversity, but this has not been the case. In fact, we have seen, at a global level, that there are no differences in genetic diversity between inside and outside the MPAs", notes Laura Figuerola-Ferrando, who is doing her doctoral thesis under the supervision of Cristina Linares (UB) and Joaquim Garrabou (ICM-CSIC).
A new pattern of equatorial biodiversity at the poles
The authors have also identified a specific pattern in the distribution of genetic diversity of the marine habitat-forming species that differs from the traditional models known to date. “This is a bimodal latitudinal pattern: it is a complex biogeographic model and it implies that if we model how the genetic diversity of these species varies with latitude, we find two peaks in temperate zones and a small dip in genetic diversity at the equator”, notes the ICREA Academia professor Cristina Linares (UB-IRBio), one of the coordinators of the study together with Jean-Baptiste Ledoux (CIIMAR).
This scientific discovery is relevant because until a few decades ago it was considered that the distribution of biodiversity on the planet followed a unimodal pattern, that is, it had maximum values at the equator and decreased towards the poles. "This is not always the case, especially in terms of species diversity in marine ecosystems. For example, in the case of benthic species, this pattern is biomodal rather than unimodal in terms of both species richness and genetic diversity", explains Cristina Linares.
"In our study, the bimodal latitudinal pattern is influenced by taxonomy: in the used model, we found statistically significant differences between animal species (more genetic diversity) and plant species (less genetic diversity). Furthermore, if we explore the latitudinal pattern separating animal and plant species, we can see that a bimodal pattern continues to be observed in animals, but the same cannot be said for plants", adds researcher Jean-Baptiste Ledoux (CIIMAR).
The conclusions of the work recall the need to include the genetic diversity of populations in biodiversity management and conservation plans on the planet. "The importance of having genetic diversity in biodiversity management and conservation plans has just been reinforced with the 'Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework' within the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD/COP/15/L25, 2022). In this context, we believe that the baseline on genetic diversity patterns in marine habitat-forming species defined as our work can be very relevant", notes Jean-Baptiste Ledoux.
This study also reveals that the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions are among the most present in the scientific literature used in this work on macrogenetic patterns of deep-sea structural species.
"On the other hand, if we look at the analyzed taxa, we see that the Mediterranean Sea is the marine province where we have studies of more different taxa (octocorals, hexacorals, sponges, marine phanerogams and algae). In the northern Atlantic there is also quite a variety of taxa (mainly algae, marine phanerogams, but also hexacorals, octocorals, bryozoans and sponges). On the other hand, in the southern Atlantic, studies are mainly focused on algae," the researchers conclude.
The study highlights the relevance of including genetic diversity in marine life conservation and management plans.
The study is led by the University of Barcelona and the Interdisciplinary Center for Marine and Environmental Research (Portugal), in collaboration with the Institute of Marine Sciences.
CREDIT
MedRecover Research Group
The experts Cristina Linares and Laura Figuerola-Ferrando, from the Faculty of Biology of the University of Barcelona and the Biodiversity Research Institute of the UB (IRBio).
