Abstract

The generation and propagation of waves towards the coastal regions during storm events can substantially increase coastal hazards associated with extreme sea levels. While the Mediterranean Sea is characterized by a fetch-limited environment, the progression of extra-tropical cyclones over its surface often engenders powerful waves. As climate numerical models consistently converge towards a global warming climate over the past few decades, the present wave climate is expected to undergo alterations. However, the reliability of the model projections differ among climate variables, exhibiting for instance higher confidence in the temperature than in precipitation variables. This study investigates future changes in the wave climate across the Mediterranean region using an extensive ensemble of wave numerical simulations.

These simulations were forced with wind fields from thirty-one GCM-RCMs (general circulation - regional climate models) of the European Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (EURO-CORDEX), integrating WaveWatch III and SCHISM numerical models. Future changes in the mean and intense (quantile 0.95) wave climate of significant wave height (Hs), peak wave period (Tp), peak wave direction (Dp) are assessed. Furthermore, we evaluate changes in 100-year return levels of Hs toward the end of the century. Extreme events from each GCM-RCM are aggregated into a single coherent distribution, following a bias correction procedure assuming the Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) of extreme events to adhere to either a parametric Gumbel or Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) CDF, individually for each model. Return levels are then computed by fitting a GEV distribution to the unified distribution for both historical and future periods.

Our findings reveal an intensification of extreme waves towards the end of the century in several areas of the Mediterranean basin. Despite limitations inherent to bias-correction methods and return level computation, our study underscores the contrasting outcomes between analyzing the entire statistical distribution versus focusing solely on the tail, emphasizing the importance of considering both aspects in wave climate projections.

Abstract

The ability of marine bacteria to direct their movement in response to chemical gradients influences inter-species interactions, nutrient turnover, and ecosystem productivity. While natural chemical hotspots produce gradients comprised of hundreds to thousands of different chemical compounds, we do not know how this chemical diversity affects the chemotactic responses of bacteria. I will present results from two studies that reveal some unexpected responses when bacteria are exposed to complex chemical mixtures. Using in situ and laboratory-based assays, we show that marine bacteria are strongly attracted to the abundant algal polysaccharide laminarin, but chemotaxis towards this large molecule is enhanced by dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), another ubiquitous algal-derived metabolite. Our results indicate that DMSP acts as a methyl donor for marine bacteria, increasing their gradient detection capacity and facilitating their access to polysaccharide patches. Using a novel chemotaxis choice assay, we then directly expose a model marine bacterium to four potent chemoattractants simultaneously (i.e., one monosaccharide and three amino acids). Although the bacterium is strongly chemotactic to each of these molecules in isolation, when these four molecules are provided simultaneously, the cells exhibit a striking response by swimming towards only one of them. These results start shedding light on the synergistic effects (e.g., laminarin and DMSP) and sharp chemical preferences modulating the behaviours of bacteria.

Abstract

Establishing root systems in rhizome fragments of Posidonia oceanica presents a significant challenge for its restoration. Rhizome fragments of this slow-growing seagrass require robust rooting for successful anchorage and nutrient absorption from the environment. Controlled experiments have demonstrated that the use of plant growth regulators, such as the auxins α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), stimulates rooting in P. oceanica cuttings. However, this effect has not been tested in a marine environment. In this study, rhizome fragments were exposed to varying concentrations of NAA and IBA for 24 hours before transplanting into a dead matte area in the Bay of Pollensa (Mallorca, Spain). After one year, all fragments survived; however, contrary to expectations, no significant differences emerged in the growth and biomass of roots, rhizomes (orthotropic and plagiotropic), and leaves between treated and untreated fragments. This implies that applying auxins to P. oceanica rhizome fragments may not offer an advantage when rooting transplants in the marine environment. Future studies should explore how other environmental conditions can influence rooting and interactions with auxin effects over time.