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Open research questions in Marine Ecology and Invasive Species

131 gap statements mined from Marine Ecology and Invasive Species papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 548 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The genetic structure of the common myna in Oman is unknown. The invasion dynamics of the common myna in Oman are not well understood. There is a need for effective management and conservation strategies for the common myna in Oman.

    The genomic footprint of myna invasion in Oman showcases desert isolation and urban connectivity · 2026 · DOI

  • Sampling was conducted on a punctual basis rather than a fixed temporal frequency, with field efforts concentrated during warmer periods. The study focuses on the Moroccan Mediterranean coast, leaving gaps in knowledge about other regions of the Mediterranean basin. No comprehensive data on the ecological or economic impacts of M. romulea.

    The Westernmost Record of the Invasive Isopod Mesanthura romulea from the Moroccan Coast of the Mediterranean Sea: An Overview of Its Spread · 2026 · DOI

  • Further research could focus on improving the model's performance on larger datasets. Exploring other object detection algorithms for microalgae detection. Investigating the application of the proposed model in other fields.

    Microalgae Detection in Ship Ballast Water Based on YOLOv8 for Small-Object Detection · 2026 · DOI

  • It mentions the need to account for multicollinearity and variance inflation in environmental variables.

    Projected Habitat Expansion of the Invasive Striped Eel Catfish Plotosus lineatus in the Mediterranean Sea Under Future Climate Conditions · 2026 · DOI

  • It highlights the need to evaluate the current distribution and future invasion potential of the species.

    Projected Habitat Expansion of the Invasive Striped Eel Catfish Plotosus lineatus in the Mediterranean Sea Under Future Climate Conditions · 2026 · DOI

  • Need to account for the complexity of fouling communities on artificial substrates.

    Non-Indigenous Species in Four Major Greek Marinas: A Closer View of Polychaeta · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited understanding of the diversity and abundance of non-indigenous species in Greek marinas. Need for integrated, multi-method monitoring to enhance early detection and impact assessment.

    Non-Indigenous Species in Four Major Greek Marinas: A Closer View of Polychaeta · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of understanding of the impacts of biological invasions on Mediterranean ecosystems. There is a need to investigate the ecological and socio-economic implications of invasive crustaceans on local fisheries. The study aims to fill this gap by providing quantitative data and local ecological knowledge.

    Ecological and Socio-Economic Impacts of Invasive Crustaceans on Sicilian Fisheries: Replacement of Native Species and Emergence of Novel Resources · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to investigate the impact of invasive rabbitfish on native herbivore communities. The study highlights the importance of considering the effects of climate change and habitat degradation on herbivore community structure.

    Impacts of Invasive Rabbitfish Species on Native Herbivore Communities in Eastern Aegean Coastal Ecosystems · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper highlights the need for continued sampling and monitoring to improve the accuracy and completeness of the checklist.

    An Update to the Critical Checklist of the Marine Fishes of Malta and Surrounding Waters · 2026 · DOI

  • The knowledge of the fish present in Maltese waters remains incomplete and uneven. The literature on Maltese fishes has historically been dominated by popular and semi-popular accounts, with a lack of comprehensive and evidence-based assessments. The critical checklist of Borg et al. (2023) provided a foundation for further work, but new data and molecular analyses are needed to update and refine the checklist.

    An Update to the Critical Checklist of the Marine Fishes of Malta and Surrounding Waters · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of effective MPA management and the need for adaptive management. The challenge of assessing the resilience of Mediterranean MPAs to global threats.

    Epibenthic Invertebrate Diversity on Sublittoral Rocky Habitats in Marine Protected Areas of the North Aegean Sea After a Severe Heatwave Event · 2026 · DOI

  • The developmental data for salp embryogenesis remain sparse. There is a lack of standardized descriptions and inter-species comparisons in the salp lineage. The fate of the calymmocytes during salp embryogenesis has been a topic of considerable debate.

    Comparative embryogenesis of two salp species reveals rogue development and evolutionary divergence from sessile tunicates · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper notes the need to consider environmental and temporal variability when interpreting relationships between eDNA concentration and species abundance.

    The phenology of environmental DNA detection for coastal aquatic invasive species · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of standardization in the use of ascidians in ERAs. The challenges posed by marine ecosystems, including the interaction of pollutants and abiotic factors. The need for consideration of long-term effects and the development of a broader range of tests employing diverse, sensitive animal models.

    Harnessing Ascidians as Model Organisms for Environmental Risk Assessment · 2024 · DOI

  • Yet, knowledge on its predation efficacy in the non-native range remains limited, and little is known about potential sex-specific differences in functional responses.

    Sex-specific predation of the non-native invasive American blue crab Callinectes sapidus on the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis · 2026 · DOI

  • Nonindigenous marine species are a growing threat to coastal ecosystems, but invasive dynamics are understudied in marine environments.

    Patterns in Marine Fungal Diversity and Community Structure on Native Versus Invasive Macroalgae at a Local Geographic Scale · 2026 · DOI

  • The study was conducted in a limited area around Lipsi Island in the Aegean Sea. The study was conducted over a short period (Spring 2023). The study did not account for potential long-term effects of invasive herbivores on native communities. The study did not consider other potential drivers of change, such as overexploitation and habitat degradation.

    Impacts of Invasive Rabbitfish Species on Native Herbivore Communities in Eastern Aegean Coastal Ecosystems · 2026 · DOI

  • Utilize field exclusion experiments and trophic niche analyses to quantify the impact of M. romulea. Integrate targeted molecular approaches for more precise tracking of invasive species.

    The Westernmost Record of the Invasive Isopod Mesanthura romulea from the Moroccan Coast of the Mediterranean Sea: An Overview of Its Spread · 2026 · DOI

  • The survey did not include direct measurements of absolute income or CPUE, - No information on the absolute numbers of native and invasive species, - Limited to a four-year interval, - No information on other potential factors influencing the shift in species…

    Ecological and Socio-Economic Impacts of Invasive Crustaceans on Sicilian Fisheries: Replacement of Native Species and Emergence of Novel Resources · 2026 · DOI

  • MPA management is oriented on local protection measures, - Lack of clear planning integrating synergistic multi-stressors, - Limited spatial variability of physical and chemical parameters of the water…

    Epibenthic Invertebrate Diversity on Sublittoral Rocky Habitats in Marine Protected Areas of the North Aegean Sea After a Severe Heatwave Event · 2026 · DOI

  • Studies of thaliacean tunicates are limited, likely because of the difficulty of collecting and maintaining or culturing laboratory samples - Historical studies are available for some thaliacean tunicates, but they are often contradictory, contain low-resolution images, and exhibit limited intra-and interspecific…

    Thaliacean tunicates, vertebrate sisters regained lifelong mobility · 2026 · DOI

  • Future studies grounded in these foundations will reveal how organisms adapt their characteristics flexibly in response to their environments over evolutionary time - Research foundations for this animal group are needed to enable systematic…

    Thaliacean tunicates, vertebrate sisters regained lifelong mobility · 2026 · DOI

  • Establish standardized testing protocols for ascidians, - Choose the most suitable ascidian species for inclusion in ERAs, - Develop a broader range of tests employing diverse animal…

    Harnessing Ascidians as Model Organisms for Environmental Risk Assessment · 2024 · DOI

  • Limited access to samples - Tissue penetration issues at later stages - The cellular duration of apoptosis remains constant…

    Comparative embryogenesis of two salp species reveals rogue development and evolutionary divergence from sessile tunicates · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Marine Ecology and Invasive Species

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) The genetic structure of the common myna in Oman is unknown (“The genomic footprint of myna invasion in Oman showcases desert isolation and…”, 2026); (2) Further research could focus on improving the model's performance on larger datasets (“Microalgae Detection in Ship Ballast Water Based on YOLOv8 for Small-Object…”, 2026); (3) There is a lack of understanding of the impacts of biological invasions on Mediterranean ecosystems (“Ecological and Socio-Economic Impacts of Invasive Crustaceans on Sicilian…”, 2026); (4) There is a need to investigate the impact of invasive rabbitfish on native herbivore communities (“Impacts of Invasive Rabbitfish Species on Native Herbivore Communities in…”, 2026); (5) The literature on Maltese fishes has historically been dominated by popular and semi-popular accounts, with a lack of comprehensive and evidence-based assessments (“An Update to the Critical Checklist of the Marine Fishes of Malta and…”, 2026). 131 gap statements have been mined from Marine Ecology and Invasive Species papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 548 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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