Search

Coccolithophores are calcifying marine phytoplankton of the class Prymnesiophyceae. They are considered to play an import role in the global carbon cycle through the production and export of organic carbon and calcite. We have compiled observations of global coccolithophore abundance from several existing databases as well as individual contributions of published and unpublished datasets. We make conservative estimates of carbon biomass using standardised conversion methods and provide estimates of uncertainty associated with these values. The quality-controlled database contains 57 321 individual observations at various taxonomic levels. This corresponds to 11 503 observations of total coccolithophore abundance and biomass. The data span a time period of 1929–2008, with observations from all ocean basins and all seasons, and at depths ranging from the surface to 500 m. Highest biomass values are reported in the North Atlantic, with a maximum of 127.2 μg C L−1. Lower values are reported for the Pacific (maximum of 20.0 μg C L−1) and Indian Ocean (up to 45.2 μg C L−1). Maximum biomass values show peaks around 60° N and between 40 and 20° S, with declines towards both the equator and the poles. Biomass estimates between the equator and 40° N are below 5 μg C L−1. Biomass values show a clear seasonal cycle in the Northern Hemisphere, reaching a maximum in the summer months (June–July). In the Southern Hemisphere the seasonal cycle is less evident, possibly due to a greater proportion of low-latitude data. The original and gridded datasets can be downloaded from Pangaea (doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.785092).

Managing marine nonindigenous species (mNIS) is challenging, because marine environments are highly connected, allowing the dispersal of species across large spatial scales, including geopolitical borders. Cross-border inconsistencies in biosecurity management can promote the spread of mNIS across geopolitical borders, and incursions often go unnoticed or unreported. Collaborative surveillance programs can enhance the early detection of mNIS, when response may still be possible, and can foster capacity building around a common threat. Regional or international databases curated for mNIS can inform local monitoring programs and can foster real-time information exchange on mNIS of concern. When combined, local species reference libraries, publicly available mNIS databases, and predictive modeling can facilitate the development of biosecurity programs in regions lacking baseline data. Biosecurity programs should be practical, feasible, cost-effective, mainly focused on prevention and early detection, and be built on the collaboration and coordination of government, nongovernment organizations, stakeholders, and local citizens for a rapid response., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Institute of Biological Sciences.)

Under environmental conditions, biofilms can oftentimes be found on different surfaces, accompanied by the structural degradation of the substrate. Since high-copper-content paints were banned in the EU, a solution for the protection of these surfaces has to be found. In addition to hydrophobation, making the surfaces inherently biofilm-repellent is a valid strategy. We want to accomplish this via the metal exchange in calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) substrates with transition metals. As has been shown with Europium, even small amounts of metal can have a great influence on the material properties. To effectively model CSH surfaces, ultrathin CSH films were grown on silicon wafers using Ca(OH) 2 solutions. Subsequently, copper was incorporated as an active component via ion exchange. Biofilm development is quantified using a multiple-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain described as a strong biofilm former cultivated in the culture medium for 24 h. Comprehensive structural and chemical analyses of the substrates are done by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), transmission Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Results do not show any structural deformation of the substrates by the incorporation of the Cu combined with three-dimensional (3D) homogeneous distribution. While the copper-free CSH phase shows a completely random distribution of the bacteria in biofilms, the samples with copper incorporation reveal lower bacterial colonization of the modified surfaces with an enhanced cluster formation.

Surface-anchored, crystalline and oriented metal organic frameworks (SURMOFs) have huge potential for biological applications due to their well-defined and highly-porous structure. In this work we describe a MOF-based, fully autonomous system, which combines sensing, a specific response, and the release of an antimicrobial agent. The Cu-containing SURMOF, Cu-SURMOF 2, is stable in artificial seawater and shows stimulus-responsive anti-fouling properties against marine bacteria. When Cobetia marina adheres on the SURMOF, the framework's response is lethal to the adhering microorganism. A thorough analysis reveals that this response is induced by agents secreted from the microbes after adhesion to the substrate, and includes a release of Cu ions resulting from a degradation of the SURMOF. The stimulus-responsive antifouling effect of Cu-SURMOF 2 demonstrates the first application of Cu-SURMOF 2 as autonomous system with great potential for further microbiological and cell culture applications.