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Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences

Marine and Freshwater Research

Marine and Freshwater Research

Marine and Freshwater Research is a multidisciplinary journal publishing original research and reviews on all aquatic environments and subject areas. Read more about the journalMore

Editors-in-Chief: Shokoofeh Shamsi and Vinicius Farjalla

Publishing Model: Hybrid. Open Access options available.

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Latest

These articles are the latest published in the journal. Marine and Freshwater Research is published under a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.


A photograph of a platypus foraging in a Tasmanian stream.

Time-lapse cameras were used to describe how platypus activity patterns changed during a cease-to-flow event lasting nearly 2 months along a normally reliably flowing Tasmanian stream. The findings indicate that the platypus’s ability to survive extended dry periods relies on its having access to sufficiently large and productive refuge habitats. (Photograph by Simon Roberts.)

Published online 12 May 2025

MF24259Historical changes in marine communities uncovered in diverse data sources highlight impacts over half a century

John W. Turnbull 0000-0002-8935-1012, David J. Booth and Graeme F. Clark
 

An illustration showing differences between marine communities at Shiprock, near Sydney, before and after the 1980s.

Historical records can provide invaluable insights into long-term changes in marine communities, but they are limited by the methods used at the time. In this study, we have highlighted how the marine life at a popular site in Sydney has changed over 58 years, owing to the efforts of citizen scientists. (Image credit: Jordana Costa.)

Published online 01 May 2025

MF24287Ramsar on repeat: quantifying US policy action by political party

James C. Whitacre 0000-0001-9455-7667
 

A diagram showing government timeline, party majority and environmental conventions index scores in the USA.

Statistically, US support for the Ramsar Convention has been bipartisan, and neither Democratic nor Republican majorities in the House or Senate correlated with better implementation. This finding jumpstarts a re-thinking of political affiliation and conservation goals, amid the incoming US Presidential administration. Globally, a new body of comparative research is possible using empirical data from the environmental conventions index (ECI). (Image credit: custom graphic: Design Crowd; designer: Rickyy.)

Published online 01 May 2025

MF24216SARAS: a tool for the assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services in semiarid dam reservoirs

Betsy Dantas de Medeiros 0000-0002-3747-9962, Magnólia de Araújo Campos, José Etham de Lucena Barbosa, Gislayne Kerliny de Aquino Queiroz, Maria João Feio and Daniele Jovem-Azevêdo
 

The semiarid reservoirs assessment system (SARAS) tool was developed with the aim of broadly assessing the quality of reservoirs. To do this, it takes into account the score obtained from provided benefits, those called ecosystem services (ES), their biodiversity and ecosystem functions and habitat. The final score makes the classification of the ecosystem possible.

Published online 16 April 2025

MF25022Environmental drivers shaping mayfly assemblages in a Ramsar-declared Danube floodplain

Marina Vilenica 0000-0003-2053-2461, Viktorija Ergovic 0000-0003-4580-3221, Antun Alegro, Vedran Šegota, Anja Rimac, José Manuel Tierno de Figueroa 0000-0003-1616-9815, Manuel Jesús López-Rodríguez 0000-0001-6707-0992 and Zlatko Mihaljevic
 

Floodplains play an important role in regulating regional water and nutrient cycles in riverscapes, also supporting high biodiversity. Owing to limited knowledge about aquatic insects’ ecological requirements in such habitats, mayfly assemblages were studied in anthropogenically disturbed and near natural habitats in a Danube floodplain. The species-poor assemblages were influenced by water quality and aquatic macrophyte assemblages. Our results confirmed the high value of habitat heterogeneity for the aquatic macroinvertebrate conservation in extreme habitats such as large river floodplains.

Published online 14 April 2025

MF24172Mitochondrial genetic divergence of Chiton articulatus (Polyplacophora: Chitonida) in the Mexican Tropical Pacific

Thelma A. Aguilar-Rendon, Omar Hernando Avila-Poveda 0000-0002-4411-0602 and Nancy C. Saavedra-Sotelo 0000-0001-9277-0675
 

The chiton Chiton articulatus is an endemic species of the Mexican Tropical Pacific, inhabiting rocky intertidal zones. Its short-lived planktonic larvae limit connectivity among populations across this region. As a result, most localities show clear genetic differences, except for two central sites where populations appear more connected. These findings highlight the need for wildlife managers to consider this genetic structure when developing conservation strategies.

Published online 09 April 2025

MF23250Investigation of Bara-Baruga (mangrove) ecosystem recovery after a hail storm in Boambee Creek, Gumbaynggirr, NSW

Kirsten Benkendorff 0000-0003-4052-3888, Robert Briggs, Stefano Caraco, Jesse Shilling, Muhammad Islami, Adam Davey, Elani Boland-Hoskins and Ashley Dowell
 

This study applied traditional science, with indigenous participation, to investigate the causes and ecological impacts of a mangrove die-off in Boambee Creek, Gumbaynggirr Country, Australia. A severe hail storm defoliated mangroves at two sites in 2021. By 2023, one site recovered but the other remained unhealthy. Chemical contaminants were found in the water, sediment and mangrove roots. The unhealthy site had fewer aerial roots, seeds and seedlings and a lower diversity of invertebrates, confirming a loss of ecological integrity.

This article belongs to the collection: Science in Sea Country.

Published online 09 April 2025

MF24179Nuanced influences of subtidal artificial shellfish structures on nekton communities in urbanised estuaries

Brad Martin 0009-0008-7429-1724, Charlie Huveneers 0000-0001-8937-1358, Simon Reeves and Ryan Baring
 

Urbanised estuaries are increasingly the focus for restoration structures including oyster reefs. However, human activities have altered these environments, which potentially limit restoration outcomes for nekton communities. We found that seasonal variation in environmental conditions had a greater influence on species distributions than small-scale restoration activities. Although high abundances of harvestable fishes were detected throughout the study and across survey sites. The restoration footprint and environmental conditions affected nekton communities.

Published online 09 April 2025

MF24117Braiding Indigenous oral histories and habitat mapping to understand urchin barrens in southern New South Wales

Kyah Chewying 0009-0004-4767-5352, Walbunja Traditional Owners , Mitchell Gibbs, Rachel Przeslawksi 0000-0003-0269-3755 and Kerrylee Rogers 0000-0003-1350-4737
 

The proliferation of Centrostephanus rodgersii (long spined sea urchin) contributing to the formation of urchin barrens in New South Wales has prompted debate of whether the current densities are natural or exacerbated through overfishing and climate change. This study braided Traditional Knowledge and habitat mapping data through aerial imagery and underwater visual census imagery to analyse the spatiotemporal dynamic of barrens.

This article belongs to the collection: Science in Sea Country.

Published online 31 March 2025

MF25007Phylogeography of the freshwater glassfishes (Ambassidae) of eastern Australia: cryptic species and hybrid zones

Peter J. Unmack 0000-0003-1175-1152, Michael P. Hammer, Rachael K. Remington, Jerald B. Johnson and Mark Adams
 

Australian freshwater glassfishes are difficult to identify and have a confusing history, with changing species names and distributions. We examined the eastern Australian species Ambassis agassizii to clarify its taxonomy and distribution. Detailed genetic analyses identified two species within A. agassizii and found complex patterns of interbreeding with species from surrounding river basins along with intricate and often unique biogeographic patterns.

Published online 24 March 2025

MF24149A review of urchin barrens and the longspined sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) in New South Wales, Australia

Rachel Przeslawski 0000-0003-0269-3755, Rowan C. Chick 0000-0002-9397-6664, Tom Davis 0000-0003-0199-2024, Jeremy K. Day, Tim M. Glasby, Nathan Knott 0000-0002-7873-0412 and Maria Byrne
 

This review indicates that the presence, persistence and role of barrens and the longspined sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) seem unique in New South Wales, south-eastern Australia, and likely warrant unique management strategies between the north and far south of the state and among neighbouring jurisdictions as the species shifts its distribution.

The evaluation of the management effectiveness of the Moulouya River Estuary in north-eastern Morocco, by using the Ramsar Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (R-METT), has shown that management effectiveness of this site of biological and ecological interest (SIBE) is inadequate, requiring significant government conservation intervention with the support of conservation partners.

Published online 20 March 2025

MF24205A consistent vegetation classification for wetland conservation and management in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia

Yiwen Chen 0000-0002-2090-6788, Matthew J Colloff 0000-0002-3765-0627, Michael D Doherty and Jamie Pittock 0000-0001-6293-996X
 

We provide a basin-wide wetland vegetation classification that is simple, consistent, and reproducible, to support wetland conservation in the Murray–Darling Basin. We mapped the extent and distribution of wetland vegetation using ArcGIS Pro. We found that very few wetlands are recognised as protected areas and are unlikely to be managed through environmental flows.

Published online 20 March 2025

MF24247Indigenous Ecological Knowledge of marine and freshwater organisms and ecosystems on Sea Country: from past absences to future inclusion

Mitchell C. Gibbs, Raphaela S. Rotolo-Ross, Laura M. Parker, Elliot Scanes, James Gibbs and Pauline M. Ross 0000-0002-8714-5194
 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia have lived on Sea Country for greater than 60,000 years. It is important that the ‘ecological’ in Indigenous Knowledge is prioritised in marine and freshwater research to repair, restore and sustain marine and freshwater organisms and ecosystems on Sea Country.

This article belongs to the collection: Science in Sea Country.

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