Marine biology education presents unique challenges due to the complexity and vastness of underwater ecosystems. Traditional teaching methods often lack the visual and interactive elements needed to effectively engage students and convey the depth of marine life knowledge. To address this gap, we propose an Augmented Reality (AR)-based game designed to enhance marine biology education within the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) framework. The application leverages AI-generated 3D models of marine species, allowing students to explore dynamic and immersive underwater environments. Using Unity and advanced generative techniques such as GANs and neural rendering, lifelike octopuses, corals, and fish are visualized in AR scenarios aligned with curriculum standards. Students interact with marine ecosystems through gameplay that reinforces learning objectives, such as ecological balance, food chains, and environmental threats. The game includes assessments embedded within the experience to measure student progress and adapt learning paths accordingly. This approach not only supports knowledge retention through visualization and interactivity but also fosters curiosity and critical thinking. The integration of AR and AI technologies into game-based learning aims to revolutionize marine science education, making it more accessible, engaging, and impactful. The project contributes toward a sustainable and digitally-enhanced future for STEM/STEAM learning environments.

Our research, based at the Laboratory of Biodiversity and Environment, Interactions - Genomes (LBEIG), USTHB, aims to significantly increase the number of Digenea species. Digenea are flatworm parasites that live mainly in the digestive tracts of teleost fish. However, our understanding of these parasites along the Algerian coast is limited. A parasitological investigation of diagenetic trematodes in three fish species from Algeria marine fish was conducted from 2022 to 2023. The study identified three trematodes species belonging to the Opecoelidae family, and their identification was based on morphological data with key identification. We have given a very detailed morphological description, illustrating for the first time the male and female genitalia with the whole body. Gaevskajatrema perezi (Mathias, 1926), Gibson & Bray, 1982, was found in the intestines of the Symphodus tinca Linnaeus, 1758 (Labridae); Allopodocotyle israelensis, Fischthal (1980), was recorded from the intestine in the Pomadasys incisus (Bowdich, 1825). Additionally, Bathycreadium elongatum (Maillard, 1970), Bray, 1973, was recorded in the intestine of the Phycis phycis (Brünnich) (Gadiformes: Phycidae); all of these parasites were recorded for the first time in Algeria. This study contributes to the knowledge of Digenean diversity by documenting newly recorded species in Algerian waters, either through new host associations or from previously unreported localities. The morphological data are provided to support this new host and locality record, enriching the parasitological inventory of Mediterranean marine fish.

New Records of Digenea (Platyhelminthes) in Labrid Fishes from the Algerian Coast

A study was conducted to investigate the biodiversity of Digenea (Metazoa, Platyhelminthes), intestinal mesoparasites infecting two teleost fish species of the family Labridae: Symphodus tinca (Linnaeus, 1758) and Xyrichtys novacula (Linnaeus, 1758). Between 2019 and 2022, the intestines of 243 Labridae specimens, belonging to these two species, were examined for the presence of Digenean parasites. Fish were collected from several localities along the Algiers coast, located in the southwestern Mediterranean Sea.

A detailed taxonomic and morpho-anatomical analysis of the recovered parasites led to the identification of four Digenean species: Proctoeces maculatus Looss, 1901; Gaevskajatrema perezi Mathias, 1926; Helicometra fasciata Rudolphi, 1819; and one unidentified species of the genus Helicometra (Helicometra sp.). These parasites were assigned to two families: Opecoelidae Ozaki, 1925 and Fellodistomidae Nicoll, 1909. Although previously recorded in other parts of the Mediterranean Sea, these species are reported here for the first time in teleost hosts from Algerian coastal waters.

These new records broaden our current understanding of the geographic distribution, host range, and biodiversity of Digenean parasites in North African marine ecosystems.

Our project, based at the Biodiversity and Environment: Interactions–Genomes (LBEIG), aims to significantly increase the number of Digeneans known from Algeria through an intensive survey of teleost fishes.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a linear biopolymer naturally found in animal cells that functions as a lubricant, shock absorber, stabilizer of joint structure, and plays an important role in many biological signalling processes. However, the molecular weight of HA directly influences its physiochemical properties and determines its suitability for specific applications. As such, precise control over HA molecular weight during production or postproduction is essential to meet specific functional requirements. While chemical and physical methods to cut down HA are cheap, they allow low control of the molecular weight, can lead to environmental issues, and may be time consuming. Therefore, enzymatic treatment may be an effective alternative method to cut down HA to specific molecular weights. A promising and sustainable solution lies in the use of marine bacteria, which have the potential to produce novel enzymes that can depolymerize HA into defined lower molecular weight fragments. Due to the environment where they live in, marine microorganisms produce putatively more robust enzymes than terrestrial counterparts and may be more suitable for industrial applications.
This study aimed to identify marine bacterial strains capable of producing enzymes that selectively depolymerize HA into defined molecular weight fragments. Following the isolation of several marine bacteria, screening demonstrated that several species produced enzymes that were able to cut down high molecular weight HA. Notably, a Bacillus salacetis strain showed complete depolymerization efficiency. This strain was further evaluated in a membrane bioreactor system, where the cells were physically separated from the reaction medium. Even under these conditions, the strain achieved 100% conversion of high molecular weight HA into lower molecular weight fragments.

Tricleocarpa fragilis (L.) Huisman & R.A. Townsend (1993) is a species of calcified red seaweed found in tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as in the Mediterranean Sea. T. fragilis presence in the Mediterranean is likely the result of Lessepsian migration through the Suez Canal. In this region, it is typically found as small, isolated individuals inhabiting the infralittoral zone, attached to rocks, dead corals, and mollusk shells. Despite its presence, no in-depth studies of the species have been conducted in the Mediterranean Sea to date as it has never shown a significant role in benthic habitats. The objective of this study is to provide the first description of a newly observed habitat characterized by the density and persistence of T. fragilis large beds (~14700 m²) that have remained stable over time in specific areas within the Columbretes Islands Marine Reserve. To characterize this habitat we have described its depth range (24-38 m), area coverage (~100%), size of individuals (up to 20 cm), height of the algal coverage (10-20 cm) and associated community. Additionally, we have mapped the location of the meadows within the Marine Reserve. Next steps will focus on laboratory analysis of collected samples to determine the size and weight of T. fragilis specimens as well as to identify associated species of microorganisms aiming to delve deeper into its ecological importance, including its potential function as a recruitment site for other species. The presence of T.fragilis forming a fully calcareous habitat in the Columbretes Islands Marine Reserve shows a new and unique formation for this population. Furthermore, its location inside a marine protected area makes it an especially valuable habitat for future monitoring in a changing ocean.

In the open ocean, seamounts hold high ecological relevance for local communities. Zooplankton aggregations are often observed above these topographic features, supporting the spawning and foraging of a wide diversity of species. This study provides novel insights into the zooplankton communities inhabiting the Madeira-Tore seamount complex, located in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. The findings contribute valuable information to ongoing efforts in biodiversity assessment and marine conservation planning. Zooplankton samples were collected from the neustonic layer of the Madeira-Tore region using a Manta trawl net, during an oceanographic research survey conducted in 2022. The organisms were morphologically identified, and taxonomic analyses revealed highly diverse communities, including copepods, gelatinous zooplankton, decapod larvae, amphipods, polychaetes, and fish larvae. Notably, several species rarely observed in coastal areas, and some newly recorded for the region, were documented, highlighting the uniqueness and ecological value of these offshore habitats. In selected cases, integrative taxonomy was applied, combining morphological observations with molecular tools to confirm the species identity and resolve taxonomic uncertainties. The findings emphasized the ecological significance of the Madeira-Tore complex and added important data to understand the dynamic and understudied ocean–atmosphere interface. This study underscores the need to integrate zooplankton data into marine spatial planning and the designation of Marine Protected Areas, while also contributing to a broader understanding of trophic dynamics and biogeochemical cycling in open-ocean ecosystems.

Nowadays, seaweeds play a grand role in digestive health because they are a valuable source of dietary fibers, especially insoluble fibers that have potential industrial applications. This study aims to evaluate the insoluble fiber content of three seaweed species classified as brown, green, and red algae using the acid detergent fiber (ADF) method with 0.5 M H2SO4. The outcomes demonstrated significant variations in fiber content among species, with brown algae displaying the highest levels. Fucus vesiculosus, as a brown algae, was found to have the highest fiber content at 42.73%. Across the algae, red algae Prophyra dioica showed an average fiber content of 36.24%, while the green algae Ulva Lactuca contained 33.85% fibers. Statistical analysis was conducted with Python version 3.9 software, incorporating the NumPy and SciPy libraries. A two-way analysis of variance was performed for each experiment to determine the differences between the experimentally acquired ADF values and those reported in the literature, highlighting inconsistencies in fiber quantification methods. These discrepancies demonstrate the superiority of using consistent measurement techniques and underscore the need for further investigation into the functional properties of seaweed fibers. The ADF method for insoluble fiber was validated by direct comparison with the standard AOAC enzymatic–gravimetric dietary fiber procedure on the same seaweed samples, obtaining less than a 5% difference between the AOAC enzymatic–gravimetric and the ADF method. The high-level fiber content in brown algae illustrates them as favorable candidates for the development of functional foods and other industrial applications, in addition to emphasizing the potential of seaweeds as sustainable sources of dietary fiber.

Cold-water corals build three-dimensional frameworks that support a wide range of marine life and provide important ecosystem services. These reefs provide a shelter and feeding grounds to myriads of organisms, and they act as long-term carbon stores. Previous modelling work has shown how their survival depends on prey capture within a hydrodynamic Goldilocks zone, where currents are strong enough to deliver food but not so strong that they prevent coral polyps to catch prey. But flow conditions and food availability are only part of the story; ocean acidification is emerging as a serious challenge to the persistence of cold-water coral reefs, threatening their skeletons and putting in danger all the marine life that depends on them.

In aragonite under-saturated waters, dead coral frameworks can dissolve. Experiments have shown that once living tissue is lost, exposed skeleton becomes porous, fragile, and prone to crumbling. This process steadily erodes the complex frameworks that these corals have built over centuries. To explore this mechanism in more detail, a numerical model was developed using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) to capture the balance between reef growth, dissolution, and recovery under different acidification scenarios.

The results reveal that, although living corals can continue to grow, the supporting dead skeleton is far more vulnerable. Once dissolution rates exceed calcification rates, reef accretion becomes negative, and colonies fragment into smaller, isolated patches. Simulations also show that, if acidification pressures ease, surviving colonies can regrow and rebuild lost structure, though recovery times are strongly dependent on the extent of initial damage. In some cases, regrowth is fast early on where the competition is reduced, but long-term recovery depends on whether the reef framework remains intact enough to support additional expansion.

The coupling of reef growth and energetic demands models with dissolution processes offers a more complete perspective on how cold-water corals respond to ocean acidification. It highlights that while colonies can persist and survive, the loss of dead framework leads to a decline in habitat complexity. Future expansion of this model will create a predictive tool for that will be able to guide conservation strategies and inform the design of restoration initiatives, accounting for different environmental stressors.

Monitoring programs are important tools that enable scientists to identify marine species assemblages, to assess their status, and to detect environmental changes or disturbances that might influence benthic communities. The increase in seawater temperature constitutes one of such changes, and it may result in rising proportions of thermophilic biota of marine habitats in temperate regions. The arrival and establishment of tropical and subtropical species, a phenomenon known as tropicalization, has been reported in many areas in the Mediterranean Sea as global warming intensifies. With the aim of evaluating the environmental status of Mediterranean infralittoral rocky bottoms as part of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) (2008/56/EC), underwater visual censuses (UVCs) were conducted in 22 stations of the Balearic Archipelago. At each sampling station, scuba divers surveyed fish and benthic communities along 50-meter transects (four replicates per dive). This study was restricted to rocky bottoms between 5 and 18 m depth. Fish were identified, and their abundance and size were recorded within a 50 x 5 m belt transect. Macroinvertebrates were surveyed using 50 × 50 cm quadrats placed every two meters along each transect. Within each quadrat, species and abundances were recorded. Finally, macroalgae coverage was measured recording the species found every 20 cm along each transect. Surveys were conducted in 2022 and repeated in the same stations in 2025. Comparisons between both periods revealed increases in the frequency of warm-affinity species such as the fish Sparisoma cretense (Linnaeus, 1758) (Teleostea, Scaridae) and Caranx crysos (Mitchill, 1815) (Teleostea, Carangidae); the invertebrates Hermodice carunculata (Pallas, 1766) (Annelida, Polychaeta, Amphinomidae) and Telmatactis cricoides (Duchassaing, 1850) (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Actiniaria); and the algae Penicillus capitatus (Lamarck, 1813) (Chlorophyta, Halimedaceae). Our findings highlight the importance of monitoring programs to identify evidence of processes such as tropicalization and provide timely information to respond to shifting marine ecosystems.

The ocean contains a vast amount of rich and stable remote sensing data. Utilizing these data to realize intelligent real-time recognition of marine organisms is a critical task in marine remote sensing. Especially in complex seabed environments, where monitoring equipment is limited by computing power, oceanographers urgently require a detection algorithm with low computational complexity that can be widely deployed on various simple marine remote sensing devices. This is of great significance for marine remote sensing applications requiring real-time positioning of marine life, such as ecological protection and fishery management. This study proposes SEALNet, a novel fast detection network for seabed objects. The model integrates Mamba and YOLO principles to enable efficient lightweight benthic organism detection. For SEALNet’s neck, the original concatenation modules are improved, which efficiently aggregates feature layer information across backbone stages for cross-scale fusion. To further reduce the computational requirements of SEALNet, a new detection head module based on group normalization and shared convolution operations is designed. These improvements maintain a reasonable computational load while enhancing the precision of the object detection network. EUDD dataset tests indicate SEALNet’s performance: the detection precision achieves 90.6% (sea cucumbers), 91.6% (sea urchins), and 93.5% (scallops). Comparisons with mainstream models confirm its superiority in detecting benthic organisms. This work is expected to provide new insights and approaches for intelligent remote sensing and analysis in marine ranches.