Total concentrations of Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, Zn, and As together with Sr and Pb isotopic compositions of seabed sediments from the worldwide famous tourist destination of Acapulco Bay, Guerrero (southern Mexico) were determined to reveal the origin of detritus and toxic elements (TEs), their potential natural and anthropogenic sources, elemental distribution and their ecological risk. Sediments derive entirely from the nearby Acapulco Granite and their concentrations of TEs are variable and rather low, although, several are above the Local Geochemical Baseline in some sites of the bay. The enrichment factor (EF) and Pb isotopes indicate that TEs derive from the Acapulco Granite with contributions of an anthropogenic source represented, very likely, by ship-bottom paints. Wastewaters are a significant source of Pb and Cu. The ecological risk of TEs is low and only Cu represents a moderate ecological risk in a few sites.

In this study, we have analyzed how geo-ecological cues for endangered Olive Ridley turtles’ mass nesting behavior got modified by impact of four severe cyclones during 2010-2019 that made landfall in the vicinity of Rushikulya estuary, which is one of the largest mass nesting congregation (arribada) sites in the world. Analyzing last 10 years of shoreline dynamics, we show that even the slightest modification in beach morphology influenced their nesting behavior in Rushikulya rookery. Shoreline change analysis showed periodic phases of high/low erosion and the northward longshore sediment movement, which becomes impeded by the southern spit, the length of which increased by about 1800 m. During the analyzed period, the nesting behavior of Olive Ridley turtle was greatly influenced by changes in land use and land cover pattern around the Rushikulya rookery. Such reductions in tree cover and marshy land areas were majorly driven by anthropogenic activities and extreme weather events, such as cyclones. We also report increased mortality of turtles, no or false mass nesting events due to significant loss and/or erosion of the nesting sites due to cyclones. The results indicate that conservation of Olive Ridley turtles should be more holistic, or ecosystem centric, rather than species centric. It is important to maintain the ecological integrity of their habitat for highly synchronized mass nesting event and eventually their survival.

In this study, we aim to explore the allelochemicals of marine brown algae Sargassum fusiforme and the mechanism of allelopathy effect on Heterosigma akashiwo. Six potential allelopathic substances, palmitic acid, arachidonic acid, α-linolenic acid (ALA), fucosterol, 24-hydroperoxy-24-vinylcholesterol, and saringosterowere, were isolated and identified from S. fusiforme by column chromatography, NMR, TOF-MS and GC‐MS analyses. The ALA and 24-hydroperoxy-24-vinylcholesterol showed remarkable inhibitory activities on H. akashiwo growth. Besides, the allelopathic mechanism between the ALA and H. akashiwo was preliminarily investigated. The results indicated that the activities of SOD and POD of H. akashiwo gradually decreased under high ALA concentration. The reduction of photosynthetic pigments and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, as well as apparent electron transport rate in H. akashiwo cells, aggravated gradually with increasing the concentration of the ALA. In summary, this study revealed the responses of morphology and physiology of H. akashiwo when exposed by ALA, while revealing the potential of macroalgae in red tide control.

This study investigated the microplastic (MPs) contamination of the mussels, P. viridis and P. perna of different sizes, and their environment viz. water and sediment. MPs were recovered from the soft tissues of both species. The mean abundance of MPs ranges from 0.87 ± 0.55 to 10.02 ± 4.15 items/individual; 0.1 ± 0.03 to 2.05 ± 0.33 items/g; 31.57 ± 7.63 to 59.25 ± 14.32 items/l in water, and 79.54 ± 18.66 to 108 ± 40.36 items/kg in sediment. Smaller mussels (3–6 cm) are capable of ingesting higher quantities of MPs per gram of tissue weight, and the rate of MP uptake decreases when the mussels grow in size. These might be due to the faster filtration rate in smaller mussels. MPs of fiber type and blue color in the size range of 500 μm to 1 mm are predominant in mussels. Eleven different polymeric groups were identified, of which PE is the most common, followed by PP. The distribution patterns of MP abundance, shape, size, color, and polymer in mussels more closely resemble those in water. There is no significant difference in MP quantities between P. perna and P. viridis (p > 0.05). FTIR-ATR spectroscopy and SEM analysis show that most of the MPs have been strongly weathered. EDAX analysis detects heavy metals like As, Ni, Fe, Zn, and Cd associated with MPs. This study shows that the MPs contents of both the mussel species are transferred from seawater to their edible meat. This study again proved that mussels can act as bio indicator of MPs pollution.

In this study, a marine mysid, Neomysis awatschensis, was exposed to 1 × 10³–5 × 10⁵ particles mL⁻¹ of polystyrene microbeads (1 and 10 μm). Exposure to microplastics (MPs) resulted in ingestion and egestion in feces. MPs exposure during the early stage resulted in mortality and oxidative stress, while more mature stages were increasingly tolerant to MPs. Feeding rates were inhibited by MPs, and age-specific oxidative stress was observed. Growth parameters were significantly affected by MPs with lower 20–hydroxyecdysone (20E) concentrations and longer intermolt durations. The number of hatched juveniles from females that were exposed to MPs was significantly lower than the control treatment, but no significant differences were observed between survival rates of newly hatched juveniles in the different treatments. Our results suggest that the detrimental effects of prolonged exposure to MPs could be age- and size-specific and harmful for the maintenance of mysid populations.

This study determines the levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in Baltic fish caught in ICES areas 24, 25, and 26, and the related risk for fish consumers in relation to the newly established Tolerable Weekly Intake dose (TWI) (2 pg WHO-TEQ kg −⁻¹ body weight). The total PCDD/F/DL-PCBs toxic equivalents in the fish muscle ranged from 0.12 to 10.34 pg WHO-TEQ g − ⁻¹ wet weight. Salmon muscles contained the highest average concentration and cod the lowest, below 0.5 pg WHO-TEQ g − ⁻¹ wet weight of total TEQ. The average intake of PCDD/F/DL-PCBs (portion of fish 200 g) was 91–2420% of the TWI for children, and 30–799% of the TWI for adults. It appears that despite the decreased levels of PCDD/F and PCBs in Baltic fish, in relation to the newly established TWI dose, this decrease is not enough to make the Baltic fish safe for frequent consumers.

The temporal, inter-site, and sex-based variation of 19 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in blood plasma samples collected from blue-footed boobies of two islands in Sinaloa, Mexico, was evaluated. The effect of OCPs was evaluated with the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, micronucleated erythrocyte frequency, and scaled mass index. The OCP-group levels decreased as the breeding season progressed, and interannual (but not inter-colony) differences were detected. Intra-annual variation in OCP levels seemed to reflect run-off inputs, although other environmental processes may better explain the variation between years. Sex-based differences in OCP levels were likely related to ecological and physiological processes linked to breeding (e.g., egg-laying and use of lipid reserves). No correlations between OCP-group levels and biomarkers were detected. Small pelagic fishes are the main prey sources of blue-footed boobies and the targets of regional industrial fisheries, and thus blue-footed booby OCP levels could reflect ecosystem health and indicate potential risks for human consumers.

This work analyses the cross-shore (80 m) and long-shore (200 m) spatial and size distribution of macro-litter on coastal dunes, employing a mapping framework based on an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS, aka drone) and a GIS mobile application.Over the cross-shore, plastic percentage increased from 60% to 90% landwards. The largest items (processed wood) were found on the embryo dune. Plastic bottles and paper napkins were trapped by the foredune grass, while the largest fishing-related items were intercepted by the low scrub plant community on the backdune. Over the long-shore, plastic percentage and items size increased from the urbanized area towards the natural dunes.This work assessed the abundance of marine litter on coastal dune sectors, underlining the role of distinct vegetation types in trapping items of different size. The mapping framework can promote further marine litter monitoring programs and support specific strategies for protecting the dune ecosystems.

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in marine environment. The prevalence of MPs in coastal and lagoon sediments, and water were studied in two Marine Protected Areas (MPAs); Bundala National Park (BNP) and Hikkaduwa Marine National Park (HNP) in Sri Lanka. Both areas are important for turtles, birds and coral ecosystems, all of which are particularly threatened by MPs. Abundance of MPs was generally higher in both coastal sediments and waters in HNP (111±29 MPs/m² for sediments and 0.515±0.054 MPs/m³ for water) than in the BNP (102±16 MPs/m² for sediments and 0.276±0.077 MPs/m³ for water). The most common shape and polymer type of MPs were fragments and Polyethylene respectively. This research is the first to survey MPs in MPAs in Sri Lanka and provides a baseline of MPs pollution in these environments for future research and management.