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Selected Feature Papers in Marine Environmental Science
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Selected Feature Papers in Marine Environmental Science

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Environmental Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 August 2026 | Viewed by 3347

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Ramūnas Povilanskas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Social Geography and Tourism, Klaipeda University, 92294 Klaipėda, Lithuania
Interests: recreational use of coastal forests; cross-border socio-ecological integrity of transboundary transitional waters; coastal and marine conservation; coastal and marine tourism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the launch of a new Special Issue focused on marine environmental science. This Special Issue will contribute to the publication of high-quality research focused on all of the main aspects of marine environmental science, including coastal and marine resource management, environmental aspects of oceanography, fisheries science, marine biotechnology, marine ecosystems, marine pollution, and environmental toxicology, to mention just a few. Submissions of high-quality original research on all of the branches of marine environmental science mentioned above, as well as other relevant topics, are welcome and encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Ramūnas Povilanskas
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • marine environmental science
  • coastal and marine resource management
  • environmental aspects of oceanography
  • fisheries science
  • marine biotechnology
  • marine ecosystem
  • marine pollution and environmental toxicology

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 597 KB  
Article
Chemical and Bioactivity Profiling of the Invasive Macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae Collected in Southern Portugal Supporting Biotechnological Valorisation Approaches
by Amandine D’Unienville, Lucas Lasnel, Wadi Macquigneau, Riccardo Trentin, Adriana C. S. Pais, Maria João Rodrigues, Sónia A. O. Santos and Luísa Custódio
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(7), 683; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14070683 - 7 Apr 2026
Viewed by 358
Abstract
The invasive brown macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae has rapidly expanded across the Mediterranean–Atlantic region, generating severe ecological impacts. Nevertheless, the considerable amount of biomass available creates opportunities for valorisation within circular bioeconomy frameworks. This study provides an integrated characterization of the chemical profile and [...] Read more.
The invasive brown macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae has rapidly expanded across the Mediterranean–Atlantic region, generating severe ecological impacts. Nevertheless, the considerable amount of biomass available creates opportunities for valorisation within circular bioeconomy frameworks. This study provides an integrated characterization of the chemical profile and bioactivities of freshly collected floating biomass of R. okamurae from southern Portugal. Proximate composition was determined, and lipophilic (hexane) and hydrophilic (water) extracts were analyzed by GC–MS and spectrophotometric methods. Antioxidant activity was assessed using complementary radical-scavenging, reducing power, and metal-chelation assays, and enzyme inhibition was evaluated against targets associated with neurodegenerative, metabolic, and dermatological disorders. The lipophilic fraction was dominated by long-chain alkanes (≈101 mg/g extract) and sterols, particularly fucosterol (≈43 mg/g extract), but exhibited low radical-scavenging capacity (no EC50 reached in DPPH or ABTS assays), and no relevant enzyme inhibition. In contrast, the water extract contained measurable phlorotannins (6.61 mg PGE/g extract) and showed moderate antioxidant (ABTS: EC50 = 5.17 mg/mL; FRAP: EC50 = 0.78 mg/mL) and enzyme inhibition activities (BChE: IC50 = 5.17 mg/mL; tyrosinase: IC50 = 0.78 mg/mL). Compared with previous studies on R. okamurae, this work applies a systematic fractionation of biomass from southern Portugal into polar and non-polar fractions and, for the first time, correlates the resulting detailed chemical profiles with multiple bioactivities. This approach revealed a clear functional differentiation between fractions, with bioactivity being mainly associated with polar metabolites. Overall, these findings highlight the value of structured extraction strategies for biomass valorisation and support the sustainable management of R. okamurae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Feature Papers in Marine Environmental Science)
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25 pages, 3863 KB  
Article
Tidal Dynamics Shaped the Dissolved Organic Carbon Fate and Exchange Flux Across Estuary-Coastal Water Continuum in Zhanjiang Bay, China
by Xiao-Ling Chen, Peng Zhang, Ying-Xian He, Lin Zhou and Ji-Biao Zhang
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(2), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14020123 - 7 Jan 2026
Viewed by 673
Abstract
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is central to biogeochemical cycles in estuarine-coastal zones, with its source-sink dynamics linking regional ecological functions to global carbon budgets. As a typical semi-enclosed bay in southern China, Zhanjiang Bay (ZJB) features intense tidal mixing and significant seasonal runoff [...] Read more.
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is central to biogeochemical cycles in estuarine-coastal zones, with its source-sink dynamics linking regional ecological functions to global carbon budgets. As a typical semi-enclosed bay in southern China, Zhanjiang Bay (ZJB) features intense tidal mixing and significant seasonal runoff variations, making it a representative system for understanding DOM dynamics in complex land–sea interaction zones. The migration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is crucial for bay carbon budgets, yet its estimation is constrained by land–water interface dynamics and in situ observation limitations. To clarify the regulation of DOM’s fate and exchange flux in ZJB, this study integrated in situ observations, ultraviolet spectroscopy, and three-dimensional fluorescence techniques to analyze DOM tidal dynamics and net DOC exchange flux. Results indicated terrestrial runoff dominated rainy-season DOC sources, resulting in slightly higher concentrations (1.86 ± 0.46 mg·L−1) compared to the dry season (1.82 ± 0.20 mg·L−1). Terrestrial inputs endowed rainy-season DOM with high molecular weight and aromaticity, with microbial humic substances (C2) accounting for 36%. Tidal fluctuations affected DOC via water exchange: ebb tides diluted concentrations with low-DOC open-ocean seawater, while flood tides increased them through high-DOC bay water discharge. Dry-season DOM relied on in situ biotransformation, characterized by low molecular weight and aromaticity, with the protein-like fraction (C4) accounting for 24.3%. Fluorescence index (FI = 1.77–1.79) confirmed DOM as a mixture of allochthonous and autochthonous sources, with significant in situ contributions and weak humification. Net DOC exchange flux, regulated by terrestrial runoff, was 3.6–4.6 times higher in the rainy season, decreasing from the estuary to the coast. In conclusion, the joint regulation of terrestrial runoff-driven seasonal dynamics and tidal water exchange governs ZJB’s DOM dynamics, providing valuable insights for biogeochemical research in semi-enclosed bays. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Feature Papers in Marine Environmental Science)
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11 pages, 1113 KB  
Article
Heatwaves Affect the Gonadal Maturation of the Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus
by Amalia Amato, Tania Russo, Davide Caramiello, Alberto Macina, Anna Di Cosmo, Gianluca Polese, Valerio Zupo and Maria Costantini
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(12), 2293; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13122293 - 2 Dec 2025
Viewed by 840
Abstract
Climate-induced ocean warming poses a major threat to marine invertebrate reproduction, including the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, a species of considerable ecological, economic, and scientific interest. Its gonads, highly valued as a culinary delicacy, support local fisheries and aquaculture industries, making reproductive [...] Read more.
Climate-induced ocean warming poses a major threat to marine invertebrate reproduction, including the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, a species of considerable ecological, economic, and scientific interest. Its gonads, highly valued as a culinary delicacy, support local fisheries and aquaculture industries, making reproductive health a critical factor for both conservation and commercial viability. The present study reported the effects of elevated seawater temperatures, mimicking marine heatwave (MHW) conditions, on gonadal maturation and fertilization success on P. lividus. Here, adult specimens at the mature stage of gametogenesis were exposed to control (18 °C) and elevated temperature regimes (24 °C) over a six-week period, and key reproductive metrics were assessed, including histological analysis. Morphological analysis showed very evident gonadal retraction, nearly devoid of germ cells, both for males and females, with a significant decrease in the gonadal index. In addition, histological analysis revealed consistent damage to the gonads, with a significantly increase in histopathological index in specimens kept at 24 °C. These findings reinforce the temperature sensitivity of P. lividus reproduction, suggesting that recurrent heatwaves could severely impair its reproductive output and population dynamics with potential cascading effects on benthic community structure in a long-term ocean warming predicted to intensify. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Feature Papers in Marine Environmental Science)
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16 pages, 2825 KB  
Article
Tidal Zonation Shapes Microbial Communities and Sediment Properties in a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Gomso Bay, Korea)
by Maheshkumar Prakash Patil, Sang Ock Ryu, Hee-Eun Woo, Chang-Gun Lee, Ha Neul Oh, So Yun Jang, Jong-Oh Kim and Kyunghoi Kim
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(12), 2222; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13122222 - 21 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 845
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of intertidal zonation on sediment characteristics, organic matter content, and microbial community distribution in Gomso Bay, Republic of Korea—an ecologically significant estuarine system and part of the UNESCO-designated Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats. It was hypothesized that physicochemical properties [...] Read more.
This study investigates the effect of intertidal zonation on sediment characteristics, organic matter content, and microbial community distribution in Gomso Bay, Republic of Korea—an ecologically significant estuarine system and part of the UNESCO-designated Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats. It was hypothesized that physicochemical properties and microbial communities differ significantly among the inner, middle, and outer tidal zones due to variations in tidal exposure, sediment texture, and organic matter accumulation. Sediment samples were collected from nine sites across these zones and analyzed for total organic carbon (TOC), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and trace metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Li, Ni, Pb, Zn), along with sediment texture. Microbial community structure was examined using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to evaluate the influence of zonation on microbial diversity and composition. Results revealed distinct spatial variations along the intertidal gradient. Inner tidal zones with finer sediments showed higher TOC, AVS, and metal concentrations, whereas outer zones with coarser sediments exhibited lower values. Microbial composition also varied, with aerobic microorganisms dominating the high tidal flats and anaerobic taxa prevailing in the low tidal flats. Heterotrophic and autotrophic bacteria were more abundant in the outer zone, while chemolithotrophs predominated in the inner zone. Redundancy and Pearson’s correlation analyses further indicated significant relationships between sediment texture, TOC, AVS, heavy metals, and microbial diversity. Overall, the findings confirm that tidal zonation drives distinct sedimentary and microbial patterns, highlighting the ecological complexity of intertidal ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Feature Papers in Marine Environmental Science)
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