Alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity was studied on homogenates of particulate material in relation to the concentrations of AP-hydrolysable (DOPpa) and AP-non hydrolysable (DOPr) phosphorus. AP activity had high and low Km components. The high affinity activity came from ectoenzymes. It was negatively and significantly correlated with DOPr as with the sum of DIP and DOPr, but not with DOPpa. However negative correlations with DOPpa existed when DIP concentrations decreased. Significant correlations with the sum of DIP and DOPpa attest of additive effects of DIP and DOPpa. The low affinity activity came from “endoenzymes”. This activity was also negatively correlated with DOP (DOPpa and DOPr). DOPpa and to a lesser extent DOPr influenced also positively the protein and/or Chlorophyll biomasses of the particulate material. We hypothesize that the correlations of the AP activity with DOP come from regenerated phosphate sequestered in cells and not released in the environment with DIP.

Surface sediments collected from 2001 to 2011 were analyzed for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and five heavy metals. The sediment concentration ranges of TPH, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Hg were 6.3–535μg/g, 58–332μg/g, 7.2–63μg/g, 4.3–138μg/g, 0–0.98μg/g, and 0.10–0.68μg/g, respectively. These results met the highest marine sediment quality standards in China, indicating that the sediment was fairly clean. However, based on the effects range-median (ERM) quotient method, the calculated values for all of the sampling sites were higher than 0.10, suggesting that there was a potential adverse biological risk in Bohai Bay. According to the calculated results, the biological risk decreased from 2001 to 2007 and increased afterwards. High-risk sites were mainly distributed along the coast. This study suggests that anthropogenic influences might be responsible for the potential risk of adverse biological effects from TPH and heavy metals in Bohai Bay.

Derelict crab traps impact the coastal ecosystem through continued catch of target species and species of conservation, economic, or recreational importance. During volunteer-supported crab trap cleanups in 2012 and 2013, we quantified ghost fishing activity in derelict crab traps in coastal Louisiana through a citizen scientist program. Volunteers removed 3607 derelict traps during these events, and over 65% of traps analyzed by citizen scientists were actively ghost fishing. Additionally, volunteers identified 19 species enmeshed in derelict traps, including a combination of fresh and saltwater species. We also detected a significant difference in the number of blue crab in actively ghost fishing derelict traps across removal locations with estimated catches varying between 2.4 and 3.5 crabs/trap. Our instantaneous estimates of ghost fishing activity are greater than those previously thought in Louisiana, further justifying current derelict crab trap prevention and removal extension and outreach programs in Louisiana and throughout the Gulf of Mexico.

We conducted the first quantitative assessment of coral breakage along a gradient of diving activities in Hong Kong, the most densely populated city in southern China. A survey of six 1×25m transects at seven sites revealed a total of 81 broken corals, among which 44% were branching, 44% plate-like and 12% massive. There were 3–19 broken colonies per site. At most study sites, the percentage of broken corals exceeded the recommended no-action threshold of 4%, suggesting that management intervention is justified. There was a significant positive correlation between the number of broken coral colonies and the number of divers visiting the site. The branching Acropora and the plate-like Montipora suffered from much higher frequency of damage than their relative abundance, raising the concern that the cumulative impact of such differential susceptibility to breakage may affect coral community composition.

Surface sediments collected from Zhelin Bay, the largest mariculture base of eastern Guangdong Province, were analyzed for total metal concentrations and chemical speciation. The results demonstrated that the average total concentration (mg/kg) ranges were 36.7–65.8 (Pb), 53.8–98.8 (Cr), 39.0–87.1 (Ni), 50.9–144.5 (Cu), and 175.0–251.2 (Zn), which were clearly higher with respect to their corresponding benchmark values. The predominant speciation of Pb was reducible and comprised a residual fraction, whereas a major portion (57.6–95.4%) of Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn was strongly associated with the residual fractions. Taking as a whole, surface sediments of Zhelin Bay had a 21% probability of toxicity based on the mean effects range–median quotient.

Nineteen pairs of air and seawater samples collected from the equatorial Indian Ocean onboard the Shiyan I from 4/2011 to 5/2011 were analyzed for PCBs and HCB. Gaseous concentrations of ∑ICESPCBs (ICES: International Council for the Exploration of the Seas) and HCB were lower than previous data over the study area. Air samples collected near the coast had higher levels of PCBs relative to those collected in the open ocean, which may be influenced by proximity to source regions and air mass origins. Dissolved concentrations of ∑ICESPCBs and HCB were 1.4–14pgL−1 and 0.94–13pgL−1, with the highest concentrations in the sample collected from Strait of Malacca. Fugacity fractions suggest volatilization of PCBs and HCB from the seawater to air during the cruise, with fluxes of 0.45–34ngm−2d−1 and 0.36–18ngm−2d−1, respectively.

Analysis of DDT isomers and breakdown products, DDD and DDE, in over 3500 bivalve samples collected from more than 300 locations along the continental United States indicates that concentrations are decreasing. Overall average concentrations for the East (45.8±24.6ng/gdw), Gulf (42.4±21.1ng/gdw), and West (90.9±43.3ng/gdw) coasts are declining with an environmental half-life between 10 and 14years and are predicted to decrease below 10% of today’s concentrations by 2050. Geographically, areas with high and low levels are well identified. Bivalves yielding the highest concentrations were collected in areas linked to areas of DDT production or heavy usage. These areas are clustered in the southern California and San Francisco area, on the West coast; Delaware and Hudson/Raritan Estuary, on the East coast; and in Alabama and northwestern Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico. Statistically significant decreasing trends in ΣDDT concentrations are apparent at most of these locations.

A one-dimensional wave model was used to investigate the reef top wave dynamics across a large suite of idealized reef-lagoon profiles, representing barrier coral reef systems under different sea-level rise (SLR) scenarios. The modeling shows that the impacts of SLR vary spatially and are strongly influenced by the bathymetry of the reef and coral type. A complex response occurs for the wave orbital velocity and forces on corals, such that the changes in the wave dynamics vary reef by reef. Different wave loading regimes on massive and branching corals also leads to contrasting impacts from SLR. For many reef bathymetries, wave orbital velocities increase with SLR and cyclonic wave forces are reduced for certain coral species. These changes may be beneficial to coral health and colony resilience and imply that predicting SLR impacts on coral reefs requires careful consideration of the reef bathymetry and the mix of coral species.

Field experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of Granulated Coal Ash (GCA) on remediation of coastal sediments in terms of removing phosphates and hydrogen sulfide. Phosphate concentrations in the sediment were kept below 0.2mg/l after the application of GCA, whereas those in the control sites increased up to 1.0mg/l. The concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the sediment was maintained at almost zero in the experimental sites (GCA application sites) for over one year, whereas it ranged 0.1–2.4mgSL−1 in control sites. Meanwhile, individual number of benthos increased in the experimental sites by several orders of magnitude compared to the control sites. The major process involved in hydrogen sulfide removal by GCA was thought to be the increase in pH, which suppresses hydrogen sulfide formation. From our findings, we concluded that GCA is an effective material for remediating organically enriched coastal sediment.

Sixty-eight sediment samples collected from Dongjiang River, Xijiang River, Beijiang River and Zhujiang River in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, Southern China, were analyzed for 16 phthalate esters (PAEs). PAEs were detected in all riverine sediments analyzed, which indicate that PAEs are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. The Σ16PAEs concentrations in riverine sediments in the PRD region ranged from 0.567 to 47.3μgg−1 dry weight (dw), with the mean and median concentrations of 5.34μgg−1dw and 2.15μgg−1dw, respectively. Elevated PAEs concentrations in riverine sediments in the PRD region were found in the highly urbanized and industrialized areas. Of the 16 PAEs, diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) dominated the PAEs, with the mean and median concentrations of 1.12μgg−1dw, 0.420μgg−1dw and 3.72μgg−1dw, and 0.429μgg−1dw, 0.152μgg−1dw and 1.55μgg−1dw, respectively, and accounted for 94.2–99.7% of the Σ16PAEs concentrations. Influenced by local sources and the properties of PAEs, a gradient trend of concentrations and a fractionation of composition from more to less industrialized and urbanized areas were discovered. As compared to the results from other studies, the riverine sediments in the PRD region were severely contaminated with PAEs. Information about PAEs contamination status and its effect on the aquatic organisms in the PRD region may deserve further attention.