Marine organisms contribute to many important biogeochemical processes while their ecological functions provide resources for human activity not only as food sources but also through natural products, and tourism. Despite their importance, the distribution patterns and migration history of many marine organisms are still unknown. Often even fish that are well-known for their importance to aquaculture and fisheries have unclear distribution patterns due to the difficulty of accessing their marine habitat. We need to clarify how marine organisms dictate their distribution and how they respond to external factors, especially in light of environmental changes such as global warming and ocean acidification.
The distribution of marine organisms has traditionally been determined through field surveys using SCUBA diving, and shipboard surveys, such as observation of larval dispersion. Their migration histories have been further investigated using genetic relationships, and the analysis of hard tissues such as otoliths, statoliths, and vertebrae for fish, squid, and mammals respectively. Modeling or numerical simulations of fish growth and ocean physics help to reproduce fish migration histories and larval dispersion.
Recently, due to the innovation of stable isotope analytical methods (C, N, S, O, Nd, Sr, etc.), improvements in micro-milling techniques for hard tissue, and progress in numerical modeling accuracy, new methodologies for the
investigation of the above topics are developing. New studies which are combinations of numerical modeling and chemical analysis of hard tissues such as otolith, vertebra, spine or eye lenses are bringing new insights into these migration questions.
Moreover, maps of isotope distribution (Isoscapes) are becoming increasingly helpful in elucidating distribution patterns and the migration histories of marine organisms. New techniques are being developed to build isoscapes using observational data and numerical models.
In addition, environmental DNA is being developed as a new, powerful monitoring tool for mapping the distribution of marine organisms. However, there are still several unknown mechanisms such as quantifying the degradation and dispersion of DNA in marine ecosystems. Many researchers are working on new techniques to obtain and conserve environmental DNA for use in this research.
This Research Topic is aimed at collecting related research on the distribution patterns and migration history of marine organisms, not only fish but also other marine organisms.
To this end, we welcome submissions on the following topics, for example:
- Improvement of currently used techniques.
- Novel methodologies for conducting field surveys
- The development of isoscapes in conjunction with observational data and numerical models
- Novel approaches to using environmental DNA for monitoring distribution patterns
Other related topics are welcome, feel free to contact the editorial team if you have any questions
Marine organisms contribute to many important biogeochemical processes while their ecological functions provide resources for human activity not only as food sources but also through natural products, and tourism. Despite their importance, the distribution patterns and migration history of many marine organisms are still unknown. Often even fish that are well-known for their importance to aquaculture and fisheries have unclear distribution patterns due to the difficulty of accessing their marine habitat. We need to clarify how marine organisms dictate their distribution and how they respond to external factors, especially in light of environmental changes such as global warming and ocean acidification.
The distribution of marine organisms has traditionally been determined through field surveys using SCUBA diving, and shipboard surveys, such as observation of larval dispersion. Their migration histories have been further investigated using genetic relationships, and the analysis of hard tissues such as otoliths, statoliths, and vertebrae for fish, squid, and mammals respectively. Modeling or numerical simulations of fish growth and ocean physics help to reproduce fish migration histories and larval dispersion.
Recently, due to the innovation of stable isotope analytical methods (C, N, S, O, Nd, Sr, etc.), improvements in micro-milling techniques for hard tissue, and progress in numerical modeling accuracy, new methodologies for the
investigation of the above topics are developing. New studies which are combinations of numerical modeling and chemical analysis of hard tissues such as otolith, vertebra, spine or eye lenses are bringing new insights into these migration questions.
Moreover, maps of isotope distribution (Isoscapes) are becoming increasingly helpful in elucidating distribution patterns and the migration histories of marine organisms. New techniques are being developed to build isoscapes using observational data and numerical models.
In addition, environmental DNA is being developed as a new, powerful monitoring tool for mapping the distribution of marine organisms. However, there are still several unknown mechanisms such as quantifying the degradation and dispersion of DNA in marine ecosystems. Many researchers are working on new techniques to obtain and conserve environmental DNA for use in this research.
This Research Topic is aimed at collecting related research on the distribution patterns and migration history of marine organisms, not only fish but also other marine organisms.
To this end, we welcome submissions on the following topics, for example:
- Improvement of currently used techniques.
- Novel methodologies for conducting field surveys
- The development of isoscapes in conjunction with observational data and numerical models
- Novel approaches to using environmental DNA for monitoring distribution patterns
Other related topics are welcome, feel free to contact the editorial team if you have any questions
