Biology subjects

Livore, J. P.

Publications and source records attributed to Livore, J. P..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Air temperature in fringe habitats: performance of climate reanalysis on Atlantic Patagonian rocky shores

Climate change and particularly the frequency and intensity of extreme events is affecting the distribution and abundance of species, with drastic consequences on ecological processes and community structure. Long-term records of environmental parameters are indispensable in climatological studies in order to better understand the processes involved. However, such data is usually unavailable for many geographic areas and certain environments, like Patagonian intertidal shores in the Southwestern Atlantic. The use of reanalysis products can help elucidate the climate of the past when in situ information is missing. In this work, we test the performance of reanalysis datasets in reproducing air temperature patterns and extreme hot events (heatwaves) on rocky intertidal environments of Atlantic Patagonia. Thus, we evaluate the degree of correlation between different reanalysis products and air temperature data from loggers placed on rocky shores. We also test whether those products accurately detect the duration, frequency and number of heatwaves and look for historical trends in their features. Our results showed that reanalysis products perform well for assessing broad-scale changes in air temperature patterns. Products were also capable of detecting heatwaves, with little variation in their features for the period 1960-2024. Additionally, real-time field temperatures to which intertidal organisms are exposed were obtained for the first time in the area; reporting heatwaves events. Thereby, reanalysis products complement local data, providing key information to understand the role that temperature increases and extreme heat can have in events like mussels mass mortalities reported locally. In this sense, our results suggest that heatwaves alone wouldnt be explaining the observed mussel losses. This work provides empiric evidence on the usefulness of reanalysis products of intertidal habitats and encourages similar approaches in order to properly understand climatological patterns that can drive ecological processes on coastal habitats.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2020

Mass mortality of foundation species on rocky shores: another reason why monitoring programs are relevant

Global concern around substantial losses of biodiversity has led to the development of a number of large-scale long-term monitoring programs. In the past few decades, networks were established to obtain appropriate data on the spatial and temporal variation of marine species on rocky shores. Recently, the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network Pole to Pole of the Americas program (MBON P2P) was established and is coordinating biodiversity surveys along coastal areas throughout the continent. In this context, the goal of this paper was to demonstrate whether the proposed MBON P2P sampling protocol is capable of detecting rapid declines in cover of foundation species on Patagonian rocky shores. Changes in mussel beds cover were studied on monitored sites in northern Patagonia. Concurrently, long-term mussel bed dynamics were assessed based on existing data. Results showed that a mussel mortality event could be detected with this methodology. It took less than a year for mussel cover to drop from 90 to almost 0% despite the fact that significant changes in mussel bed cover were not registered in the previous 20 years at the study area. Therefore, yearly monitoring is needed, as a minimum, in order to timely perceive this kind of process. Real-time detection offers the opportunity of properly understanding the causes that lead to the loss of key community components such as these foundation species. Furthermore, it would provide early warning to decision makers enhancing the chances of conservation of natural environments and their key ecosystem services.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Undaria pinnatifida exudates trigger shifts in seawater chemistry and microbial communities from Atlantic Patagonian coasts

The invasive kelp Undaria pinnatifida has spread from northeastern Asia to temperate coastal environments worldwide, with profound effects on colonized ecosystems. In this work, we analyzed the effect of exudates from U. pinnatifida on the chemical and microbial properties of seawater from a semi-enclosed gulf from Atlantic Patagonia. Exudates of U. pinnatifida, consisting mainly of carbohydrates, were released at a rate of 1.6 {+/-} 0.8 mg C g-1 algae day-1, affecting the quality and optical properties of seawater in experimental incubations. Parallel factor analysis based on excitation-emission matrices collected from exudates revealed the presence of two humic-like and one non-humic fluorescent components. Exudate release stimulated microbial growth and polysaccharide degrading activity in seawater. After a 7-day incubation of fresh seawater with the exudates, changes in microbial community structure were analyzed by large-scale 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Copiotrophic and fermentative genera such as Spirochaeta (Spirochaetes) and Propionigenium (Fusobacteria) increased in the incubations with algal exudates. Genomic potential prediction revealed that the selected bacterial community could have higher ribosome content - an indicator of the potential for reaching higher metabolic rates - and genes for the degradation of complex organic compounds such as polysaccharides and other carbohydrates present in the exudates. Nutrient addition triggered the emergence of other microbial populations with different ecophysiological niches: unclassified Flavobacteriales, unclassified bacteria related to the recently described Phylum Kiritimatiellaeota, as well as potential pathogens such as Vibrio (Gammaproteobacteria) and Arcobacter (Epsilonproteobacteria), suggesting potential synergistic effects between invasive macroalgae and human activities.

microbiology↗