Previous studies have shown that ocean acidification has little effect on adult Tigriopus japonicus copepods, and mainly impairs the early development and reproduction of females. This study investigated the possible interactive effect between CO2-induced seawater acidification and food availability on larval development and reproductive output in T. japonicus. Copepods were exposed to either pH8.1 or pH7.3 under different food concentrations (0.5×104–80.0×104cells/mL). Both the development of nauplii and copepodites was delayed at pH7.3 with a greater effect at lower food concentrations. The reproductive output followed a bell-shaped curve with the highest reproductive output at food concentrations between 30×104 and 40×104cells/mL. As an indicator of oxidative stress, the activity of superoxide dismutase increased at lower pH, with a greater increase at lower food concentrations. Therefore, the effect of elevated pCO2 on T. japonicus was food dependent.

The environmental impact caused by thermal discharge waters of power plants is of global concern since thermal discharge directly affects the environmental situation near power plants. The present study used the vital stain neutral red to identify live and dead zooplankton collected from stations at the intake and the outlet of two nuclear power plants (NPPs). Significantly higher mortalities occurred at the outlet station than at the intake station (p < 0.01) at both NPPs. The mortalities of most zooplankton taxa and all zooplankton assemblages were significantly positive correlated to differences of water temperature (ΔT) at NPP I (p < 0.05), whereas it was not significantly positive correlated with ΔT at NPP II (p > 0.05). The weight of organic matter of zooplankton fragments was higher at the outlet station than at the intake station at both NPPs, indicating the physical damage of zooplankton when passing the cooling system.

The continued rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels is driving climate change and temperature shifts at a global scale. CO2 Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies have been suggested as a feasible option for reducing CO2 emissions and mitigating their effects. However, before CCS can be employed at an industrial scale, any environmental risks associated with this activity should be identified and quantified. Significant leakage of CO2 from CCS reservoirs and pipelines is considered to be unlikely, however direct and/or indirect effects of CO2 leakage on marine life and ecosystem functioning must be assessed, with particular consideration given to spatial (e.g. distance from the source) and temporal (e.g. duration) scales at which leakage impacts could occur. In the current mesocosm experiment we tested the potential effects of CO2 leakage on macrobenthic assemblages by exposing infaunal sediment communities to different levels of CO2 concentration (400, 1000, 2000, 10,000 and 20,000 ppm CO2), simulating a gradient of distance from a hypothetic leakage, over short-term (a few weeks) and medium-term (several months). A significant impact on community structure, abundance and species richness of macrofauna was observed in the short-term exposure. Individual taxa showed idiosyncratic responses to acidification. We conclude that the main impact of CO2 leakage on macrofaunal assemblages occurs almost exclusively at the higher CO2 concentration and over short time periods, tending to fade and disappear at increasing distance and exposure time. Although under the cautious perspective required by the possible context-dependency of the present findings, this study contributes to the cost-benefit analysis (environmental risk versus the achievement of the intended objectives) of CCS strategies.

137 coastal sites located along the Caribbean coast of Colombia were surveyed to determine scenic quality, litter content, and typology. Scenic evaluation categorized sites into five classes. 26 appeared in Class I; 18 in Class II; 19 in Class III; 30 in class IV; and 44 in Class V. Beach type was categorized into urban (31), resort (18), rural (46), village (32) and remote (10). Litter gave 17 sites an “A” grade (excellent); 34 sites a “B” grade; 53 sites a “C” grade and 33 locations a “D” grade (poor). Almost all sites surveyed have a low scenic quality and also significant litter content. Currently, litter directly produces aesthetic problems along the study area, and improvements are necessary to favor coastal scenic quality. Stakeholders should make a significant effort to improve the scenic human parameters along the study area, litter removal and prevention being the most important.

We analysed with multigene (18S and COI) metabarcoding the effects of the proliferation of invasive seaweeds on rocky littoral communities in two Spanish Marine Protected Areas. The invasive algae studied were Caulerpa cylindracea, Lophocladia lallemandii and Asparagopsis armata. They are canopy-forming, landscape-dominant seaweeds, and we were interested in their effects on the underlying communities of meiobenthos and macrobenthos, separated in two size fractions through sieving. A new semiquantitative treatment of metabarcoding data is introduced. The results for both markers showed that the presence of the invasive seaweed had a significant effect on the understory communities for Lophocladia lallemandii and Asparagopsis armata but not for Caulerpa cylindracea. Likewise, changes in MOTU richness and diversity with invasion status varied in magnitude and direction depending on the alga considered. Our results showed that metabarcoding allows monitoring of the less conspicuous, but not least important, effects of the presence of dominant invasive seaweeds.

Temperature, pH and trace elements (F, P, Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) contents were determined in 16 stations as well as in 2 industrial and 2 domestic discharge sources, in the central coastal area of the Gulf of Gabes. Compared to the northern and southern areas of the study area, the highest contents of contaminants were reached in the central area which hosts the coastal industrial complex. The seawater in this central area was also found to be acid and of higher temperature. Based on the Water Pollution Index results, an increasing degradation gradient of the seawater quality was revealed from northern and/or southern stations to central ones, categorized as ‘strongly to seriously affected’. Phosphogypsum wastes dumped by the Tunisian Chemical Group (GCT) seem to have continuously degraded the seawater quality in the study area. A rapid intervention is needed to stop the effects on the marine environment.

An increase in the frequency of hypoxia, mucilages, and sediment pollution occurred in the 20th century in the Adriatic Sea. To assess the effects of these impacts on bivalves, we evaluate temporal changes in size structure of the opportunistic bivalve Corbula gibba in four sediment cores that cover the past ~500 years in the northern, eutrophic part and ~10,000 years in the southern, mesotrophic part of the Gulf of Trieste. Assemblages exhibit a stable size structure during the highstand phase but shift to bimodal distributions and show a significant increase in the 95th percentile size during the 20th century. This increase in size by 2–3 mm is larger than the northward size increase associated with the transition from mesotrophic to eutrophic habitats. It coincides with increasing concentrations of total organic carbon and nitrogen, and can be related to enhanced food supply and by the tolerance of C. gibba to hypoxia.

Virgin polyvinyl chloride (PVC) particles were exposed to heat, ultraviolet B (UVB) and solar radiation either in artificial seawater or in air for different periods of time. The surface and chemical properties of fresh and degraded particle surfaces were determined via image analysis using scanning electron micrographs, a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area analyzer and infrared spectroscopy. Thermal and UVB degradation resulted in unique PVC morphologies. In addition, the increased presences of functional groups were evident as dehydrochlorination and oxidation during the degradation process, which altered the chemical properties of PVC. In contrast, under solar exposure with or without seawater, unevenness to the surface was noted that seems to originate from degradation of the PVC surface; in addition, no new functional groups were found. This suggests that the chemical properties of PVC are stable over extended periods in the marine environment.

The current capacity in the Caribbean region to enhance the knowledge about algal blooms and harmful algal blooms has several logistical constraints. This work aimed to explore the detection of possible algal blooms using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Fluorescence Line Height (FLH) data in the Colombian Caribbean Sea between 2003 and 2013. Monthly FLH images with 4 km of spatial resolution were processed and classified. The relationship between the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and the FLH were explored using a Geographically Weighted Regression. The results showed three areas identified as having possible persistent blooms: the Urabá Gulf (UG), Magdalena Rivermouth (MRM), and Guajira Peninsula (GP). The SST does not have any considerable influence on the variation in the FLH. The supply of nutrients during the rainy season may be causing the frequent massive algae growth. MODIS fluorescence was useful as a screening tool to identify risk areas for potential algal blooms.

The Gulfwatch Contaminants Monitoring Program is part of the Canada-US, Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment (GOMC). Programs monitoring legacy toxic substances, i.e., chemical contaminants, such as Gulfwatch, collect and analyse environmental samples (e.g., blue mussels), interpret the data, and report on chemical levels and trends (spatial and temporal) in coastal waters. This study explored the extent to which its extensive information (data, reports, papers) has been used broadly and by Nova Scotia, a GOMC member. A mixed-methods study was conducted, using quantitative and qualitative metrics. Citations to some Gulfwatch papers and analysis of use of the Gulfwatch website showed that its data and information were accessed, mostly by government departments. However, interviews revealed that the departments were not using the data to inform Nova Scotia provincial coastal policy or practices. Recommendations are presented to improve the visibility and use of information provided by long-term, environmental monitoring programs.