Penaeus monodon, the Asian black tiger shrimp is one of the most widely consumed marine crustaceans worldwide. In this study, we examine and compare the fecal microbiota of P. monodon from highly polluted waters around Jakarta Bay, with those of less polluted waters of Bali. Using next generation sequencing techniques, we identified potential bacterial pathogens and common viral diseases of shrimp. Proteobacteria (96.08%) was found to be the most predominant phylum, followed by Bacteriodetes (2.32%), Fusobacteria (0.96%), and Firmicutes (0.53%). On the order level, Vibrionales (66.20%) and Pseudoaltermonadales (24.81%) were detected as predominant taxa. qPCR profiling was used as a confirmatory step and further revealed Vibrio alginolyticus and Photobacterium damselae as two potential pathogenic species present in most of the samples. In addition, viral diseases for shrimp were discovered among the samples, WSSV in Jakarta free-living samples, YHV in Bali free-living samples and IHHNV in both.

Echinometra mathaei is a common echinoid on tropical reefs and where abundant plays an important role in the control of algal communities. Despite high prevalence of E. mathaei on southern Persian/Arabian Gulf reefs, their abundance and distribution is poorly known. Spatial and temporal patterns in population abundance were examined at 12 sites between breakwater and natural reef habitats in Dubai (UAE) every 3months from 2008 to 2010. Within the breakwater habitat, densities were greatest at shallow wave-exposed sites, and reduced with both decreasing wave-exposure and increasing depth. Interestingly, E. mathaei were significantly more abundant on exposed breakwaters than natural reef sites, presumably due to differences in habitat structure and benthic cover. Population abundances differed seasonally, with peak abundances during summer (July–September) and lower abundances in winter (December–February). Seasonal fluctuations are likely the result of peak annual recruitment pulses coupled with increased fish predation from summer to winter.

Parrotfishes (f. Labridae) are a unique and ubiquitous group of herbivorous reef fishes. We compared the distribution and ecosystem function (grazing and erosion) of parrotfishes across 75 reefs in Arabia. Our results revealed marked regional differences in the abundance, and taxonomic and functional composition of parrotfishes between the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Arabian Gulf. High densities and diversity of parrotfishes, and high rates of grazing (210%year−1) and erosion (1.57kgm−2year−1) characterised Red Sea reefs. Despite Arabian Sea and Red Sea reefs having broadly comparable abundances of parrotfishes, estimates of grazing (150%year−1) and erosion (0.43kgm−2year−1) were markedly lower in the Arabian Sea. Parrotfishes were extremely rare within the southern Arabian Gulf, and as such rates of grazing and erosion were negligible. This regional variation in abundance and functional composition of parrotfishes appears to be related to local environmental conditions.

This study aims to determine fine particles (PM2.5) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bounded with PM2.5 emitted from incense burning at shrine to assess human health risk. The PM2.5 samples were collected by a mini volume air sampler during special occasions and normal period at a shrine located in the city center of Chiang Mai, Thailand. The samples were analyzed for 16-PAHs by GC–MS. The descending order of 8- and 24-hrs PM2.5 concentrations (μg/m3) were 625 ± 147 and 406 ± 159 (Chinese New Year) > 184 ± 85 and 133 ± 71 (other special occasions) > 100 ± 35 and 50 ± 20 (normal period). Their concentrations in each occasion were significantly different due to number of visitors and amount of incense being burned. Total PAHs concentrations (ng/m3) for 8- and 24-hrs in descending order were 90 ± 41 and 45 ± 29 (Chinese New Year), 71 ± 30 and 30 ± 12 (other special occasions) and 25 ± 15 and 14 ± 9 (normal periods). Correlation between PM2.5 and total PAHs concentrations was relatively strong. In addition, PM2.5 concentrations were highly correlated (r = 0.618) with carcinogenic PAHs (c-PAHs) indicated that carcinogenic compounds were dominant in particulate PAHs and generated from incense burning. The values of toxicity equivalent concentration (TEQ) indicate human health risk from PAHs inhalation. According to European guideline, it should be less than1 ng/m3 in ambient air. During Chinese New Year, they were relatively high (32 ± 27 ng/m3 (8 h) and 10 ± 4 ng/m3 (24 h)). Moreover, the isometric ratio analysis revealed that emission from incense burning was the main source of PM2.5 and PM2.5-bound PAHs.

In order to evaluate the levels and the influence on phytoplankton productivity of dissolved nutrients, concentrations and distribution of N, P and Si were studied in coastal areas profoundly influenced by human activities in Guangdong Province, South China. Generally, concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen were high in wet periods because of the inputs from strong seasonal land runoff. Si and P concentrations were generally low in summer due to the consumption by phytoplankton growth. Dissolved organic N and P were important in study area. Chl a and primary productivity (PP) were relatively high and showed seasonal and geographical variations. Concentrations of Chl a were the highest in summer, and the high water temperature and sufficient illumination accelerated the growth of phytoplankton, especially in surface water. Additionally, water stratification in summer decreased mixed layer depth and trapped PP in upper layer.

The combination of the sensitive characteristics of the Baltic Sea and the intense maritime traffic makes the marine environment vulnerable to anthropogenic influences. The theoretical scenario calculated in this study shows that the annually generated food waste onboard ships in traffic in the Baltic Sea contains about 182tonnes of nitrogen and 34tonnes of phosphorus. Today, all food waste generated onboard can be legally discharged into the marine environment at a distance of 12NM from the nearest land. The annual load of nitrogen contained in the food waste corresponds to 52% of load of nitrogen from the ship-generated sewage. Future regulations for sewage discharge in the Baltic Sea will require significant reduction of total nitrogen and phosphorus released. The contribution of nutrients from food waste compared to sewage will therefore be relatively larger in the future, if food waste still can be legally discharged.

The aim of the present study was to determine the antibiotic resistance patterns and distribution of heavy-metal resistance in Shewanella putrefaciens strains isolated from shellfishes collected from West Sea; and to determine the relationship, if any, between antibiotic and heavy-metal resistance in these strains. Among the 15 strains isolated, two strains, SY1 and SY2, showed heavy-metal resistance in addition to high resistance to seven antibiotics: cephalothin, gentamicin, erythromycin, vancomycin, ampicillin, rifampicin, and streptomycin. We conclude that heavy-metal contamination imposes long-term, widespread, and recalcitrant selection pressure, which potentially contributes to the maintenance and spread of antibiotic resistance factors in bacteria. Moreover, this fact holds both environmental and clinical importance.

This study aims to evaluate the nutrient removal potential and carrying capacity of green mussel cultivation by using the mass balance model. The developed model takes into consideration the green mussel growth rate, density and chlorophyll a concentration. The data employed in this study were based on culture conditions at Sriracha Fisheries Research Station, Thailand. Results show that net nutrient removal by green mussel is 3302, 380, and 124mg/year/indv for carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus respectively. The carrying capacity of green mussel cultivation was found to be 300indv/m2 based on chlorophyll a concentration which will not release phosphorus in the water environment beyond the standard (45μg-PO4−3-P/L). Higher chlorophyll a concentration results in lowered green mussel carrying capacity. This model can assist farm operators with possible management strategies for a sustainable mussel cultivation and protection of the marine environment.

Based upon surveys conducted in November 2012 and June 2013, the distribution and dynamics of aragonite saturation state (Ωarag) were investigated in the southern Yellow Sea (SYS) of China. In summer, surface water Ωarag ranged from 2.1–3.8 and enhanced biological production fueled by Changjiang River freshwater input increased Ωarag to 3.8 in the southern SYS. However, subsurface water Ωarag was <2.0 in the central SYS. During autumn, surface water Ωarag was 2.0–2.9, lower than that in summer due to ventilation between surface and low Ωarag (1.0–1.4) subsurface waters in the central SYS. Community respiration and/or aerobic remineralization dominated low Ωarag in subsurface waters, while water stratification influenced the level and scale of acidity accumulation. By the end of this century, waters with Ωarag>2.0 could disappear from the SYS with increasing atmospheric CO2, while bottom waters Ωarag may become undersaturated due to the impact of eutrophication.

Concentrations of 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air–seawater interface were measured over 1year in the coastal region of Incheon, South Korea. Most individual PAHs and total PAHs in air displayed statistically significant negative correlations with temperature, but not significant in seawater. Less hydrophobic compounds with three rings were at or near equilibrium in summer, while PAHs with four to six rings were in disequilibrium in all seasons, with higher fugacity gradients in colder seasons and for more hydrophobic compounds. Differently from fugacity gradients, the highest net fluxes occurred for some three- and four-ring PAHs showing the highest atmospheric concentrations. Net gaseous exchange, which was higher in winter, occurred from air to seawater with an annual cumulative flux of 2075μg/m2/year (for Σ15PAHs), indicating that atmospheric PAHs in this region, originating from coal/biomass combustion, can deteriorate the quality of seawater and sediment.