We investigated the phenology and spatial patterns in Halophila decipiens by assessing biomass, reproduction and seed density in ~400 grab samples collected across nine sites (8 to 14m water depth) between June 2011 and December 2012. Phenology correlated with light climate which is governed by the summer monsoon (wet period). During the wet period, sedimentary seed banks prevailed, varying spatially at both broad and fine scales, presenting a source of propagules for re-colonisation following the unfavourable growing conditions of the monsoon. Spatial patterns in H. decipiens biomass following monsoon conditions were highly variable within a landscape that largely comprised potential seagrass habitat. Management strategies for H. decipiens and similar transient species must recognise the high temporal and spatial variability of these populations and be underpinned by a framework that emphasises vulnerability assessments of different life stages instead of relying solely on thresholds for standing stock at fixed reference sites.

A study of the total benthic foraminifera was carried out in 173 surficial sediment samples collected from the north Minjiang River Estuary and two bays. Foraminiferal assemblages are dominated by Ammonia tepida and subordinately by Elphidium advenum. Trace metal analyses reveal that the study area is unpolluted to moderately polluted with As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. The metal distribution has an affinity with fine-grained sediment. Five metal groups are recognized based on their distribution patterns: (1) As, Cr, Cu, Ga, Ni, V, and Zn, (2) Hg, Pb, and Sb, (3) Ba and Zr, (4) Rb and Y, and (5) Sr. The species-environment relationship showed that the species composition is adversely influenced by Cr, Cu, Ga, Pb, Rb, Zn, and Zr, whereas sand may exert a positive influence on Quinqueloculina. This study supports the adaptability of using benthic foraminifera as bio-monitors of trace metal pollution in marginal marine environments.

In this study, we evaluate the influence of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) on bacterial communities of sediment core from an estuary formed during the period of 1960–2011. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that o,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDD (mitotane), and depth had important influences on bacterial community distributions (p<0.05). Furthermore, our results found variance explained by all variables was 82.9%, while that by o,p′-DDD was 24.4%, and that of o,p′-DDT was 9.8%, indicating that o,p′-DDD had a greater influence on sediment-dwelling bacteria than o,p′-DDT. Also, bacterial diversity was affected and the Shannon index was significantly negatively correlated with total HCHs (r=−0.579, p<0.05) and total DDTs (r=−0.607, p<0.01), respectively. Furthermore, our results showed that Flavobacteria and Clostridia content can be considered an indicator of pollution of HCHs and DDTs in sediment core samples.

The spatiotemporal distribution and their mass accumulation rate (MAR) of heavy metals were investigated to evaluate the time-dependent historical trends of heavy metal concentration. The three short cores used for this study were collected from the catchment area (MS-PC5, 60cm length), the central part (MS-PC4, 40cm length) and the offshore (MS-PC2, 60cm length) of the Masan Bay, Korea. The concentration of heavy metals (Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr and Pb) in catchment area is as much as 1.5–2 times higher than central part of the Bay, and about 2 times higher than offshore area approximately. In particular, MAR of metals (Cu, Zn and Pb) show clear spatiotemporal variation, so that MAR’s of heavy metal may provide more accurate information in evaluating the degree of pollution. Temporally, the heavy metal concentration had been increased since the late 1970s, but it seems to decrease again since the 2004yr in catchment area. This may came from concentrated efforts for the government to reduce industrial waste release.

In this study, reusable poly(alkoxysilane) organogels with high absorption capacities were synthesized by the condensation of a cyclo aliphatic glycol (UNOXOL™) and altering the chain length of the alkyltriethoxysilanes. The structural and thermal properties of cross-linked poly(alkoxysilane) polymers were determined by FTIR, solid-state 13C and 29Si CPMAS NMR and TGA. The oil absorbency of poly(alkoxysilane)s was determined through oil absorption tests, absorption and desorption kinetics. Results showed that the highest oil absorbency capacities were found to be 295% for hexane, 389% for euro diesel, 428% for crude oil, 652% for gasoline, 792% for benzene, 792% for toluene, 868% for tetrahydrofuran, and 1060% for dichloromethane for the poly(alkoxysilane) gels based on UNOXOL™ and dodecyltriethoxysilane. Owing to their hydrophobic structure, the poly(alkoxysilane) organogels can selectively absorb crude oil from water. The reusability of the absorbents was quantitatively investigated, demonstrating that absorbents can be used effectively at least nine times.

Exposure to nanoparticles coming from road–traffic concerns a large part of urban population in both outdoor and indoor environments leading to the enhancement of short and long–term health problems. The dynamics of such small particles is very sensitive to the turbulent diffusion and Brownian motion. Hence their concentrations are dependent on the flow structure properties (length and time scales). In this paper, a wind tunnel study is conducted to assess the effect of the flow on the dispersion of nanoparticles coming out from tailpipe in the near–wake of a reduced–scale truck model. Particle number concentration (PNC) measurements are achieved at 66 positions downstream of the model. Our results point out that the interaction of the ultrafine particles (UFP) with the vortices appearing in the near-wake of a truck enhances their dispersion in both transversal and vertical directions. Increasing the inflow air velocity strengthens this spreading. Overall, we demonstrate that such wind tunnel measurements are fundamental to improve our knowledge on the existing interaction between road–traffic, turbulence and particle concentration to accurately evaluate human exposure rates to ultrafine particles and their potential consequences.

Marine biological invasions have increased with the development of global trading, causing the homogenization of communities and the decline of biodiversity. A main vector is ballast water exchange from shipping. This study evaluates the use of ecological niche modelling (ENM) to predict the spread of 18 non-indigenous species (NIS) along shipping routes and their potential habitat suitability (hot/cold spots) in the Baltic Sea and Northeast Atlantic. Results show that, contrary to current risk assessment methods, temperature and sea ice concentration determine habitat suitability for 61% of species, rather than salinity (11%). We show high habitat suitability for NIS in the Skagerrak and Kattegat, a transitional area for NIS entering or leaving the Baltic Sea. As many cases of NIS introduction in the marine environment are associated with shipping pathways, we explore how ENM can be used to provide valuable information on the potential spread of NIS for ballast water risk assessment.

Coral reefs in the Gulf of Thailand are highly under-investigated regarding responses to anthropogenic stressors. Thus, this study simulated overfishing and eutrophication using herbivore exclosure cages and slow-release fertilizer to study the in-situ effects on benthic algae and invertebrate settlement in a coral reef of Koh Phangan, Thailand. Settlement of organisms and the development of organic matter on light-exposed and shaded tiles were quantified weekly/biweekly over a study period of 12weeks. Simulated eutrophication did not significantly influence response parameters, while simulated overfishing positively affected dry mass, turf algae height and fleshy macroalgae occurrence on light-exposed tiles. On shaded tiles, settlement of crustose coralline algae decreased, while abundances of ascidians increased compared to controls. An interactive effect of both stressors was not observed. These results hint to herbivory as actual key controlling factor on the benthic community, and fleshy macroalgae together with ascidians as potential bioindicators for local overfishing.

Transfer of organisms with ships’ ballast water is recognized as a major pathway of non-indigenous species introduction and addressed in a few recent legislative initiatives. Among other they imply scientific and technical research and monitoring to be conducted in a efficient and reliable way. The recent development of DNA barcoding and metabarcoding technologies opens new opportunities for biodiversity and biosecurity surveillance. In the current study, the performance of metabarcoding approach was assessed in comparison to the conventional (visual) observations, during the en route experimental ballast water survey. Opportunities and limitations of the molecular method were identified from taxonomical datasets rendered by two molecular markers of different degree of universality – the universal cytochrome oxydase sub-unit I gene and a fragment of RuBisCO gene. The cost-efficacy and possible improvements of these methods are discussed for the further successful development and implementation of the approach in ballast water control and NIS surveillance.

Chelonia mydas is distributed in several regions of the world and they are common in coastal regions and around islands. Between August 2008 and July 2009, 20 specimens of C. mydas were found dead on the beaches of Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. The stomachs were removed and anthropogenic wastes were separated according their malleability and color. Of those animals, nine had ingested marine debris. Soft plastic was the most frequent among the samples and the majority of fragments was white or colorless and was between zero and five cm. Many studies have shown a high incidence of eating waste for some species of sea turtles. The record of ingestion of mostly transparent and white anthropogenic wastes in this study strengthens the hypothesis that these animals mistake them for jellyfish. Although the intake of anthropogenic waste causes impact on the lives of sea turtles, such studies are still scarce in Brazil.