Search

Polychaete worms of the genus Scolelepis are one of the most abundant members of beach ecosystems worldwide. Along the Atlantic coast of North America, specimens of Scolelepis inhabiting high-energy beaches have long been erroneously identified as the European species Scolelepis squamata (O.F. Müller, 1806). In this study, we examined specimens of Scolelepis collected from Massachusetts to Virginia, finding they match Scolelepis agilis (Verrill, 1873), originally described from beaches in New Jersey. Scolelepis agilis can be most easily distinguished from S. squamata based on differences in palp ciliary pattern, morphology of neuropodial lamellae, and the quantity and start of both notopodial and neuropodial hooded hooks. Live specimens of S. agilis collected from New York were also examined to provide data on their reproduction and morphometric analyses. In addition, molecular data (18S, 28S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase I and 16S rRNA) showed that specimens of S. agilis from the north to mid-Atlantic coast formed a monophyletic group (p-distance ≤ 0.004 for MA, RI, NY and VA populations) and were distinct from S. squamata (p-distance ≥ 0.196 (0.03 SE)). The molecular data also suggest the presence of several misidentified or undescribed species of Scolelepis, highlighting the need for additional taxonomic work on the genus from these localities as well as others (e.g. South Africa) where the worms have been incorrectly identified as S. squamata. A key to species of Scolelepis from the east coast of the United States is provided and a lectotype and paralectotypes for S. agilis are herein designated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rakaia River in the South Island of New Zealand is a unique catchment in which to trace active detrital gold transport, deformation and concentration from near-coeval orogenic sources. The catchment hosts widespread small late Cenozoic hydrothermal alteration zones, some of which are gold-bearing, in actively rising and eroding mountain headwaters. Detrital gold liberated from the sources is distinctively porous with abundant micron-scale silicate inclusions, especially albite. Fine gold (∼200–100 µm) has been transported >100 km downstream, but coarse gold remains highly diluted in proximal fluvial sediments. Fine gold is also diluted by coarse fluvial sediments that form the upper kilometre of the Canterbury sedimentary basin southeast of the mountain front. Minor re-concentration of fine gold occurs in a bedrock gorge at the mountain front, and on steep ocean beaches beyond the river mouth. Despite the long-distance transport, the fine gold particles have been only superficially modified by surface smearing and minor flattening. The gold may have travelled in suspension in the river, buoyed by electrostatically adhering fine micas, in contrast to detrital garnets that were rounded in bed-load. In contrast, detrital gold on the western side of the mountains has been flattened to thin flakes during bed-load transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coasts are settlement areas that attract human for many years. Türkiye, geographically located on Mediterranean Basin and Asian Continent passage with unique climate regime, has a great coastal zone. The mid-latitude geographic setting makes possible to experience coastal recreation and tourism activities for almost all year along. Among all activities sun, sea and sand tourism can be placed on the first stage. Recent changes in local climate of the Black Sea such as rising mean atmospheric temperatures and increasing number of sunny days have triggered touristic beach activities in the region. In the literature, there are different techniques for grading and classifying coastal beaches. In this study, as an integral part of coastal landscape formation Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) structure is linked to landscape value and regarded as cover changes that determines landscape pattern of the area under investigation. The research rationale of this study is based on an assumption of Southern Black Sea coastal blue flag beaches are under severe anthropogenic pressure. For this purpose, 15 blue flag beaches which are located on the Black Sea coast of Türkiye were selected based on their morphological dimensions. To determine landscape changes and potential human induced effects on selected beaches for the last 35–40 years period, georeferenced, atmospherically corrected Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 8 OLI-TIRS satellite images were used. Furthermore, carrying capacities for all researched beaches were calculated and documented in order to find the actual human usage frequencies during the high season. According to results of the study, it is clearly observed that all beach areas are under anthropogenic pressure. The most important evidence of this situation is the proportional increases in the IS (Impervious Surface) cover class in the classified images between 1984 and 1985 and 2021 in all 15 beaches. Moreover, these increases have reached up to 5–6 times for some beaches. As inferred, from the field surveys, beach carrying capacities were also exceeded for the most of the beaches under investigation. This means the blue flag beaches of Southern Black Sea are not only affected by construction and urbanization but also under intense pressure of overuse during the high seasons. It is revealed that these areas should be carefully managed with state-of-the-art techniques that prioritize adaptive planning that takes into account all stakeholders participation. Moreover, the activities, authorization and attitudes of municipalities regarding the coastal zones must be limited and inspected by a higher organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the Caribbean region, coastal areas are of vital importance for national incomes from the tourism industry. However, accelerated coastal development has impacted the coastal ecosystems, including the beaches, and deterioration of the shore results from cumulative impacts on both marine and coastal ecosystems. It is essential to identify the areas that need special attention for targeted management plans and actions, especially in areas with high anthropogenic pressure. This research proposes an integrated assessment of the conservation state of shore and coastal ecosystems in the Puerto Morelos National Reef Park (PNAPM) in the Mexican Caribbean, through the spatial monitoring of key parameters. A Geographic Information System (GIS) was employed to analyze the land use on the shore, foredune condition, morphological characteristics of the beaches, shoreline evolution, and the condition of coral reefs and seagrass meadows. The analysis identified the most critical areas in relation to shore deterioration and priority areas for the preservation of ecosystems. The spatial data obtained for the PNAPM can serve as a basis for ongoing shore monitoring, and targeted management actions through the designation of areas that require either preservation or ecosystem restoration practices. This methodology can be applied to other reef systems in the Caribbean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, most seashores are experiencing increased erosion and retreat. To a large extent, this applies to coasts subjected to the influence of high-amplitude sea tides, which is extremely negatively manifested on the accumulative coasts of oceanic islands. The problem of their dynamics, the theoretical foundations of which are still in the development stage, can only be solved on the basis of wide-regional studies. This study is aimed at elucidating the specific features of the dynamics of such a coast with a case study of the key region of a large oceanic island. The main reasons for its degradation are identified, recommendations are given for stabilizing the coastline, and the development trend according to the natural scenario is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shorelines face growing threats due to climate change and diminishing sand supply. Coastal headlands, common rocky features along coastlines, are crucial in shaping hydrodynamics and sediment transport. Yet, the influence of future climate conditions, including sea‐level rise (SLR) and intensified storm energy on complex shorelines with headlands has remained relatively unexplored. In this study, we model changes in hydrodynamics and headland bypassing under different SLR and higher storm wave scenarios. Our findings reveal the formation of circulation cells on both sides of a headland, where wave energy converges around the headland zone. Future climate conditions result in larger storm waves on the beach. However, SLR enhances nearshore currents through a landward shifting of the circulation cells, while higher storm waves intensify offshore flow currents due to the seaward movement of the cells. This effect, in turn, increases the potential for headland sediment bypassing. Plain Language Summary: Coastal headlands, prominent rocky features along open coastlines, play a crucial role in protecting nearby beaches from strong waves and erosion. They also affect how sand is exchanged between different beaches. We use a model to explore how future climate conditions including sea‐level rise (SLR) and larger storm waves influence coastal waves, littoral currents, and the transport of sand around headlands. Our findings reveal that headlands converge wave energy forming circulation flow cells. SLR results in stronger nearshore currents, driven by the landward movement of the rotating flow cells. In contrast, larger storm waves can move the rotating flow cells seaward, thereby increasing offshore current strength and the potential for sand transport around the headland. Understanding how coastal waves, flow and sediment transport change under future climate conditions will help determine coastal resilience. Key Points: The formation of circulation cells and wave energy convergence around headlands during storms reduce bottom shear stress at the beachSea‐level rise increases wave heights, currents, and bed shear stress in the nearshore because of landward shifting of the circulation cellsHigher storm waves expand the surf zone, shift circulation cells seaward, and enhance potential headland sediment bypassing [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Placer gold on beaches on either side of a major active mountain belt has strongly contrasting compositions and morphologies. Pleistocene-Holocene beach gold placers have formed along the West Coast where silver (Ag)-bearing gold has been eroded from mountains via steep rivers and glaciers, followed by rapid burial in the abundant associated coastal sediments. Deformation along transport pathways has produced flattened gold flakes, but some primary crystalline shapes are preserved. Internal deformation of particles has caused recrystallisation to fine-grained (µm scale) grain structures including mylonitic banding. However, only minor localised (µm scale) Ag leaching has occurred on some particle margins. In contrast, Pleistocene beach placers formed on the southern side of the mountains contain flattened gold particles with a complex transport history involving long-distance (hundreds of km) fluvial transport since Cretaceous. Most primary Ag has been leached from this gold during transport-related recrystallisation to fine (5–20 µm) internal grains. Sand-blasting on the southern beaches with low sediment supply has resulted in further deformation and leaching of Ag to form toroidal shapes with Ag-free delicate extremities. Placer gold which has undergone rapid transport and deposition is useful as a prospecting tool for bedrock deposits in glaciated terranes around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collapse of the bank slope of the floodplain in the lower reaches of the Yellow River has compressed the production space of the people in the floodplain and caused great economic losses. Therefore, based on the survey, sampling and indoor geotechnical tests of the beach from Wantanzhen to Liuyuankou, the soil composition and structural characteristics of the beach were analyzed, and the influence of water content changes to the soil strength was studied. Then, Optum G2 was used to study the influence of soil strength changes to the stability of multi-layer soil beaches. The results show that the beach bank in the section from Wantanzhen to Liuyuankou of the Yellow River is composed of clay and silt soil, and exhibits an alternating layered structure; with the increase of water content, the cohesion of clay and silt will increase first and then decrease, and the internal friction angle will gradually decrease; moisture content has a significant impact on the strength of bank slope soil, water content increases from 18% to 40%, the cohesion of the clay layer decreases by 80%, and the internal friction angle decreases by about 87%; the slope stability of the beach-bank combination decreases, and the slope stability coefficient first increases and then decreases with the increase of water content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper measured the evolution and wave data of the nourished beach, estimated the contributions of erosion amount and effective wave height to beach erosion by taking the West Beach of Beidaihe as an example. The results show that the beach has an overall erosion trend after the nourishment, with the maximum erosion height of 1.7 m. The cumulative influence of the wave height on the beach erosion is an exponential distribution. Although large waves with lower recurrence frequencies (significant wave height>0.6 m) can cause greater beach erosion, their cumulative contribution to the total beach erosion is only about 25%, while the contribution of regular waves with heights of 0.3 m to 0.6 m can reach 75%. This study can provide reference for maintaining the quality of artificial beach, and beach evolution prediction after artificial nourishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulee Lheue Beach in Banda Aceh was developed for tourism. The macroalgae and seaweed species found in this area have been widespread but never exploited. Among these species is the green seaweed, Ulva lactuca, commonly known as sea lettuce. The physiological variations and genetic features of the seaweed can be attributed to the variations in the coastal environment. This study aims to describe the molecular identity of the genetic diversity of U. lactuca from the intertidal zone at Ulee Lheue Beach. The development of molecular biotechnology has enabled identification the gene expression through genomic DNA to PCR amplification. Genetic distance was determined using UPGMA. The results from 600-bp fragments were analyze the genetic diversity. A total of 15 (31%) expression identified as polymorphic (>0.500). Heterozygosity (He) and allelic differential (Na) diversity were found of 1.500-3.000. The highest PIC was observed in the rbcL1, with a correlation between subpopulations of 0.459. PCR amplification using the degenerate primer rbcL1 produced fragments ranging from 300 to 460 bp, whereas the expression of UL2 was detected at 448 and 500 bp using the rbcL2 primer. The phylogenetic identify are shown two (2) clusters. The populations of UL1, UL3, and UL4 were found a close relationship. Furthermore, the UL1 and UL2 populations were further divided into distinct clusters but related to the main branch of UL3. Based on this research, the concern of U. lactuca species for industrial and biotechnology destinations, we can describe a suitable method for obtaining he genetic distances between species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I expose the effect of beach areas modernization in Mexico, that is, their transformation into international tourist destinations, as well as the role they played in the introduction of new social practices, in the revolution of customs, and in the change or reinforcement of emotional regulations that would be welcomed by some national visitors. My analysis focuses on Acapulco, the first international tourist center in the country. Through the study of its evolution as a vacation destination, and a brief tour of some films of the time and tourist propaganda that took place in the mentioned port, it is possible to observe the transfer of American "beach culture" to tourists from the Mexican coasts, the role they played in the resignification of the exhibition of the semi-naked bodies of young women and in the intergender interactions between members of said age group, which would have visible effects in the 1960s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mismanagement of waste and subsequent presence of litter in the environment is an increasingly significant problem. Globally, rivers have been shown to be a major pathway for mismanaged waste. We investigated the distribution of macro, meso and micro litter along the Belize river basin. The North-East Atlantic OSPAR beach litter monitoring protocol was adapted for Belize, taking into account local issues such as mangroves and Sargassum sp. accumulations. On average, 77.3% of litter items consisted of plastic, and the most common items categories were unidentifiable plastic pieces (0–2.5 and 2.5–50 cm), broken glass, and metal bottle caps. The study indicated that there is an increase in the litter load as you move from catchment to coast, with both Plastic Pieces (PP) and Fishing Related (FR) items also increasing in numbers down the system. Additionally, microplastics abundance was determined in riverine sediments and in the riverine fish Cichlasoma synspilum (n = 22). All sediment samples contained microplastics, with a concentration of 200–6500 particles per kg dry sediment. Microplastics were found to be present in 36% of the riverine fish. The data from this study will provide evidence for the formation of Belizean legislation to reduce marine litter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution by microplastics (MPs) has become a growing concern, and not only professional researchers but also the citizenry are needed to understand the pollution situation and to confirm the decreasing trend of MP pollution as a result of the global reduction in plastic use. In this study, the author evaluated the accuracy of a simple method of investigating MPs on sandy beaches that can be conducted even by high school students. In a land survey using simple tools such as a tape measure and cardboard, the maximum coefficient of variation is approximately 1%. Even without heavy liquid, 89% of MPs could be recovered using only seawater. An investigation of MP content by sampling 0.5 cm of the surface layer of sand could explain more than half of the MP content when the sand was sampled to a depth of approximately 50 cm below the surface layer. A method in which the recovered MPs are not visually sorted but floating matter after boiling is considered as MPs is acceptable. If there was no concern about pumice contamination, the overestimation was approximately 1.5 times. Simple laboratory equipment such as buckets, sieves, seawater, hot plates, dryers, and electronic balances could achieve lower limits of quantification of MPs of 13 mg-MPs/m2-sand and 2 mg-MPs/kg-sand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Searching the key words' wave-beach-dune interactions' in Web of Science, nearly 100 domestical and overseas publications since tlie 1980s have been analyzed and reviewed. This stuyd summarizes major advances at different temporal-spatial scales. The issues of integration between tliem are clarified by sorting the conceptual models and categorizing development stages. Additionally, research opportunities and challenges are identified. Studies on wave-beach-dune interactions have been initiated since 1980s and developed tlirough tlie following tliree stages: theory proposed and improved, expansion of study areas, and in-deptli exploration. The conceptual models have been developed from simple to reliable models across a range of micro-, meso-, and macro-scales. Studies were initially conducted by taking advantage of only field survey and batliyinetry maps. Nowadays, collaborated technology and metliods have been applied in studying coastal landfbnus tlirougli in-situ field monitoring, wind tunnel trial, 3S teclmologies, and numerical simulation. Study areas extended and expanded from southeast Australian coasts to Europe, South and North America, and Asian coasts. Altliougli plenty of relevant reports have been published, some issues exist. Owing to tlieir higlily temporal-spatial heterogeneity, it is difficult to find a universal conceptual model for the worldwide coastal dune systems. At the micro-scale, as the complex process of wave-tide hydrological and aeolian dynamic imposed on surfzone-beach-dune and limitation of monitoring data utility, the existing theoretical model cannot completely reveal tlie mechanism of the terrestri al -marine interface and beach-dune landfbmi response and feedback to wind dynamics. At tlie mesoscale, many mechanisms of dune response to stonn surges have been proposed, but few are from the perspective of the surfzone-beach-dune as a whole system. More case studies based on observation are needed, which will benefit in-depth exploration. Furtliennore, more long-tenn monitoring and refined models are required to build tlie bridge between fundamental process-response dynamics (events scale) and medium-long-tenn landfonns topography changes and evolution. At the macroscale, given the alongshore sediment transport and supply, sea level rise rate, and landward and seaward sediment transport, prediction models of coastal geomorphological changes induced by sea level rise should be tested and supported by multi-temporal-spatial observation and monitoring data. Future studies will continue collaborating tlie historical reports and site monitoring tecliniques with higli-resolution images interpretation to comprehensively understand the relationships between dynamic-response process and landfonns geomorphology evolution by integration of environmental variables and surfzone, beach, and dune landfonns investigation. The numerical simulation will reveal the mechanisms of wave-beach-dune interactions across micro-, meso-, and macro-scales and redefine tlieoretical concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out on four non-tidal sandy marine beaches located on the Polish part of the southern Baltic Sea coast. We applied a LIVE/DEAD™ BacLight™ Bacterial Viability Kit (Invitrogen™) method to determine the abundance of live and dead bacteriopsammon. Live psammon bacteria cells constituted 31–53% of the total number of bacteria inhabiting sand of the studied beaches. Abundance of live and dead psammon bacteria generally differed along the horizontal profile in all beaches. The maximum density of bacteria was noted in the dune and the middle part of the beach (dry zones) and the minimum in wet zones, i.e., under seawater surface and at the swash zone. Generally along the vertical profile, the highest numbers of two studied bacterial groups were noted in the surface sand layer, while with increasing sediment depth their numbers significantly decreased. The abundance of live and dead bacteria showed a distinct seasonal variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to assess the contamination of Arenosols on the beach, for this purpose the soil reaction and the content of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb) were examined. To carry out the study, a municipal beach in Gdansk, Jantarowa Street, N Poland, which is heavily visited by tourists throughout the year, was selected. Twenty samples of sandy soil were taken from the beach, 18 samples from the designated bathing area and 2 control samples 500 meters away. They were taken every 10 meters from the surface layers of sandy soil (0-25 cm) using an Egner's stick. The surveys were performed in the spring of 2022. The construction of the beach was looked at and the possibilities of its economic use were analyzed. It focused on the problem of pollution of beaches around the world and pointed out the small amount of research on the subject, which may be related to the non-use of the beach area for activities other than tourism. Potential sources of pollution were analyzed and the most harmful ones were identifi ed with an indication of the connection to the presence of large industrial plants in the vicinity. It was determined whether the permissible standards for heavy metals and soil pH are exceeded based on the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of September 1, 2016 on how to conduct an assessment of pollution of the earth's surface and the guidelines of the Institute of Fertilization and Soil Science in Puławy. No risk was found on the basis of trace metal limits, and therefore the sandy soil was considered uncontaminated with natural trace metal contents. The average cadmium content in the area is 0.073 mg·kg-1, zinc is 9.34 mg·kg-1, copper is 4.06 mg·kg-1, lead is 4.54 mg·kg-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beaches along the coastal town of Thoothukudi, Veerapandiyapattinam, Kallamozhi and Kulasekharapatnam of Tamil Nadu state, India, were identified for conducting field experiments to understand the tide and wave-induced hydraulic dynamics on the beach groundwater. The stress due to the pressure radiation along the floor of the surf zone is dynamic and consequent to the tide and wave conditions above the surf zone floor. The wave breaks when the trough of the wave amplitude touches the ocean floor resulting in the dissipation of kinetic energy that is directly proportional to factors related to tidal heights, ocean floor slope conditions, ocean floor characteristics and the dynamics of wind and wave energies. To understand the influence of surf zone parameters on the beach groundwater, three piezometric wells were installed perpendicular to the seashore at a distance of 5 m each in the experimental sites to record the beach groundwater fluctuations. A newly built chart recorder was used to continuously record the coastal groundwater fluctuations. The time lag was determined by comparing the sea tide levels with the levels of the beach groundwater in the piezometric wells. The tidal and wave conditions contribute the maximum to the beach groundwater fluctuations and the time lag with the distances from the runoff line of the beach. The time lag in beach groundwater fluctuations between the piezometric wells perpendicular to the coastline is due to the cumulative effect of the surf zone conditions and the nonlinear impermeable beach groundwater table boundary conditions. Hourly data of varying water levels were extracted from piezometric well charts that were later compared with the hourly tidal fluctuations. The porosity and permeability of the beaches were calculated through soil samples of each piezometric well for determining seawater intrusion and beach groundwater discharge rate. The influence of the surf zone stress radiation on the beach groundwater can be understood by comparing the varying energy levels of the surf zone owing to the combined impacts of tides and waves with the fluctuations and the time lag in fluctuations between the evenly spread piezometric wells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As is the case for many others in the world, Mexican seas face complex pollution challenges; two of the contaminants that require special attention for their prevalence, possible chemical interactions, and relation to the country's economy are leaked petroleum and microplastics (MP). This research assessed the sorption of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) as fuel oil on microplastics in laboratory and field scenarios. Preliminary tests allowed the development and validation of a methodology to measure the sorbed fuel oil by Soxhlet extraction, with a 99.65% recovery rate. The amount of TPH sorbed in the lab followed the order LDPE > PS > PP > PVC > PET > HDPE, with the highest concentration found on LDPE. The sorption of fuel oil on microplastics is correlated to the surface area of the plastic particles and could also be related to the crystallinity of plastics. Sorption, for all plastics, was consistent with a second-order kinetic model. The analysis of field samples collected on beaches of the Gulf of Mexico varied from 1660 to 35,258 mg/kg MP. It must be noticed that, unlike others, this research quantified a family of contaminants, which could explain the high concentrations observed on microplastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substantial abundance and diversity of intertidal invertebrates known as meiofauna are evident on a sandy beach of Sapelo Island, Georgia. Meiofauna are small, benthic, nearly ubiquitous animals. They consume microbes and detritus and are a food source for juvenile fish and ghost shrimp. Meiofauna were manually separated from sand samples collected from three intertidal zones and two depths during low tide in January, March, June, and October, 2017. Fifteen major meiofaunal taxonomic groups were identified in June, while only eight were observed in January; in all, there were sixteen groups observed. Highest meiofauna densities were found in the middle intertidal zone and in the top 5 cm of sand. Abundance was high year-round, and highest in the summer and fall months. Temperature, sand grain size, slope of the beach, and weathering processes may influence this meiofaunal variation. This research could contribute future insight into metazoan food webs and beach disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was performed in the years 2017 and 2018. In this context, the present work had as study area the Ponta Negra beach, which is one of the most significant postcards of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, presenting diversified physical, social, economic and environmental characteristics. The objective of this research consisted in valuing the environmental services present in the area, considering the perspective of Managers and Non-Managers of that location. The methodology adopted included bibliographic surveys, production of reviews, workshops and lectures, preparation of image letter of the environmental services identified by the respective groups, field work with application of the methodology for identifying environmental services and the levels of importance of each one, through the social cartography, as well as laboratory and office work, for meetings and preparation of the respective thematic maps. Finally, we concluded that the regulatory services were more listed by the groups of Managers, and we found that the groups of Non-Managers were able to accurately indicate the location of provision services, mainly due to the fact that they experience the daily dynamics of the beach. In the other hand, the groups of Managers indicated more the regulatory services, which covers the entire spatial area of the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The olive ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea is the most abundant marine turtle species in Guatemala, representing > 99% of all nests. Along with other marine turtles, they are important both culturally and ecologically. Conservation efforts rely almost exclusively on an informal system whereby local residents can harvest olive ridley sea turtle nests on the condition they donate 20% of each nest to a hatchery, where the eggs are incubated and hatchlings later released. This system was initiated in the 1970s and, until recently, no effort has been made to determine its sustainability. In a 2020 publication based on tracks on a single beach in Guatemala and 15 years of egg incubation data from Guatemalan hatcheries, it was concluded that the population had increased. Several weaknesses were detected in this research. To verify the validity of the conclusion, we analysed data from 22 years (2 years are missing) and 11 beaches using several statistical models. We used an intraseasonal model of nesting phenology to fill in missing data for monitored periods during a nesting season, and a new method of spatial and temporal aggregation of nesting seasons. Based on our findings, we reject the hypothesis that olive ridley sea turtle nesting activity is increasing. The total nesting activity for these 12 beaches was stable over the 22-year period. Because of inconsistent hatchery management and the financial dependency of local communities on the sale of turtle eggs, the number of incubated eggs cannot be used as an indicator of the population trend of olive ridley sea turtles in Guatemala. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli contain a high level of genetic diversity and are generally associated with the guts of warm-blooded animals but have also been isolated from secondary habitats outside hosts. We used E. coli isolates from previous in situ microcosm experiments conducted under actual beach conditions and performed population-level genomic analysis to identify accessory genes associated with survival within the beach sand environment. E. coli strains capable of surviving had been selected for by seeding isolates originating from sand, sewage, and gull waste (n = 528; 176 from each source) into sand, which was sealed in microcosm chambers and buried for 45 days in the backshore beach of Lake Michigan. In the current work, survival-associated genes were identified by comparing the pangenome of viable E. coli populations at the end of the microcosm experiment with the original isolate collection and identifying loci enriched in the out put samples. We found that environmental survival was associated with a wide variety of genetic factors, with the majority corresponding to metabolism enzymes and transport proteins. Of the 414 unique functions identified, most were present across E. coli phylogroups, except B2 which is often associated with human pathogens. Gene modules that were enriched in surviving populations included a betaine biosynthesis pathway, which produces an osmoprotectant, and the GABA (gamma-aminobutyrate) biosynthesis pathway, which aids in pH homeostasis and nutrient use versatility. Overall, these results demonstrate that the genetic flexibility within this species allows for survival in the environment for extended periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Paediatric psychotropic prescribing in Australian general practice is increasing. • The adolescent female population are most prominently prescribed antidepressants. • Depression, ADHD, anxiety and autism are the most common indications managed. • Sertraline, fluoxetine and methylphenidate are most commonly prescribed. • The psychotropic medicines prescribed indicate a high rate of off-label use. General practitioner (GP) prescribing of psychotropic medicines to paediatric patients is increasing across countries, sparking the need for additional research into this field. We examined prescribing rates, GP and patient characteristics and indications associated with prescribing psychotropic medicines to paediatric patients in Australian general practice, using data from the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) program. We extracted all encounters with children aged 3 to 17 from 2000 to 2016. Psychotropic medicines were defined as those in the ATC codes N05 (Psycholeptics) and N06 (Psychoanaleptics). Of the 144,397 encounters, GPs prescribed 1829 psychotropic medicines to paediatric patients at an average rate of 1.16 prescriptions per 100 encounters (95% confidence interval 1.09–1.23). We found that the rate of psychotropic medicines prescribed to paediatric patients in Australian general practice increased. Patients who were adolescent, female, socio-economically disadvantaged or from an English-speaking background were significantly more likely to be prescribed a psychotropic medicine. GP practices in remote or regional areas and Australian graduate GPs were more likely to prescribe psychotropic medicines to paediatric patients. Depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and autism were the most common psychiatric indications managed with psychotropic medicines. Antidepressants, psychostimulants, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics and other psychotropic medicines were prescribed, signifying a high rate of off-label use. Sertraline was the most common psychotropic medicine prescribed, followed by fluoxetine and methylphenidate. Future studies involving data from other prescribers, e.g. paediatricians and psychiatrists, and studies linking prescribed medicines to their indications may widen our understanding of psychotropic medicine prescribing in Australian paediatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coast provides an important habitat for insects throughout the world. Some insect taxa are entirely dependent on this continuous but narrow strip of habitat between the land and sea, despite the challenging environmental conditions. In Aotearoa|New Zealand (hereafter Aotearoa), the coastal environment is extensive and varies enormously. Aotearoa is also home to a diverse and predominantly endemic Diptera fauna of roughly 5500 species, and a small but significant proportion of these are found along the coast. Here we provide the first extensive survey of Aotearoa's coastal flies, and describe how the diversity, richness, and abundance of specialised wrack-inhabiting communities vary. Overall, we recorded 257 different species collected from 109 sites from around Aotearoa's three main islands, with highest abundance, species richness and diversity all found at South Island sites. Our surveys are estimated to have captured over 80% of the species occupying the seashore, and 100% of the wrack specialist community, for which we identified a country-wide baseline community. This study has provided new and interesting insights into the distribution and diversity of flies in Aotearoa. It also highlights the importance of carrying out broad community surveys to capture and improve our understanding of our local fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coastal Dune Model, used to examine controls on dune development and evolution, includes negative feedback between the wind and the evolving topography that results in a scale‐invariant beach‐dune profile. While a limited number of reference profiles appear to support the Coastal Dune Model assumption of scale‐invariance, previously published studies and conceptual models suggest that the beach‐dune profile is not scale‐invariant. Using a combination of journal articles, textbooks, and remotely sensed data from Prince Edward Island, Washington state, and Texas, this short communication finds that there is no evidence for a scale‐invariant beach‐dune profile within and between field sites. Variability in the beach‐dune profile is due to site‐specific and scale‐dependent controls on the beach and the dune that are often highlighted in the conceptual models that authors use to depict the controls on sediment supply and transport from the beach to the dune. Results highlight a need to critically evaluate the assumptions and applications of models such as the Coastal Dune Model, and to explore how and when sites can be considered representative and in support of model results. Key Messages: There is no scale‐invariant beach‐dune profile as assumed in recent models.Beach‐dune profiles vary in response to site‐specific and scale‐dependent controls on sediment supply and transport.Further study is required to determine how and when sites can be considered representative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UBathy is an open source software developed for bathymetry estimation from video images. The proposed scheme is based on extracting the wave modes from videos of the nearshore surface wave propagation. These videos can be formed either from raw camera images, which must have been previously calibrated, or from georeferenced planviews. For each wave mode extracted from the videos, the wave frequency and the spatially dependent wavenumbers are obtained. The frequencies and wavenumbers from different videos are used to estimate the bathymetry by adjusting the dispersion relationship for linear surface water waves. The bathymetry at different times can further be weighted and aggregated using the Kalman filter. The new software is suitable for Argus-type video monitoring stations and for moving cameras mounted on drones or satellites, and it is meant for users familiar with coastal image processing and suitable for non-experienced users. The software and an application example are available on the GitHub platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pasir Pandak Beach is close to human settlements, resorts, and food stalls. It becomes a place for gathering of beachgoers especially during weekend. As a result, the beach became polluted with rubbish, particularly plastics (e.g., macro- and micro-plastics). Hence, this study was done to determine the occurrence of macro- and micro-plastics on the Pasir Pandak Beach, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Transect quadrat was used during the samples collection on the beach. The samples were then undergone the wet peroxide oxidation, filtering and classifying under dissecting microscope. Macroplastics were isolated for ATR-FTIR and SEM analyses, while microplastics were separated according to their sizes, colors, and types. Approximately 101.70 items/m2 of macro-plastics and 1084 items/m2 of micro-plastics were found in this study. Clean Coast Index (CCI) was also estimated and the calculated CCI value obtained was >20, which indicated as extremely dirty beach. Fragments of carpet/canvas/mat and hardware crate/item were the most abundance macroplastics found, followed by plastic ropes/fishing lines and bottle caps. HDPE, PES, PP, and PS were the main identified polymers. Fibers, filaments, fragments, and foams were identified for micro- and macro-plastics. Microplastics with smaller sizes of 0.25-0.50 mm were available abundantly and they comprise 63.47 % of the total microplastics found. Clear/white, black, and blue were the main colors for microplastics. SEM images presented that those adhering particles, grooves, pits, fractures, and flakes were the common patterns of degradation. No relationship was apparent between macroand micro-plastics at each station. The abundance of macro- and micro-plastics showed that they were mainly controlled by the land-based input. As Pasir Pandak beach is busy with local communities and beachgoers, the presence of macro- and micro-plastics on the beach posing a severe threat for marine environment, thus further studies on the behavior of this emerging pollutant from beach to the seas are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geological, demographic, climatic (present-day eustasy) and anthropogenic (reservoirs, urban loadings) factors play an active role in the formation of the coastal zone. The anthropogenic factor acts against the background of natural factors and depending on the direction of their vectors increases or decreases. In such circumstances, it is expedient to create a long-term forecast of coastal dynamics using proven methods. In contrast to them, in order to study the anthropogenic factor, i.e., the impact of the reservoir on the state of coastal beaches, a new method for studying the limiting volume of the silting prism of a reservoir has been proposed. Therefore, for the longterm prediction of the dynamics of a specific section of the seashore under the influence of the reservoir, a methodology should be used, that, together with it, combines the research methods of the factors operating in the region. Such a technique has been first tested on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, in the Chorokhi delta, where the sea threatened the city of Batumi with complete destruction after river sediments were blocked in recent years by a cascade of six reservoirs. According to the forecast made by this technique, the coast of the city will no longer receive beach-forming sediments within a millennium. Taking into consideration that the sea annually carries away a large amount of beach-building material from the delta, the city of Batumi and the entire delta are threatened with a complete abrasive collapse. The long-term forecast created using the new method makes it possible to determine timely the duration of the impact of reservoirs on the coast, the risks of natural disasters, and start permanent artificial backfilling of the coast with sediments and its strengthening with appropriate anti-abrasive structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the fidelity of coastal environments depicted in open-world video games, aiming to evaluate the accuracy and representation of various coastal features. Through a systematic analysis of 20 selected video games, encompassing diverse settings and developers, coastal elements such as beaches, cliffs, and tidal marshes were scrutinized. A bespoke asymmetric indicator, tailored to each game's unique coastal landscape, was employed, drawing upon 32 descriptive variables initially proposed by coastal experts. The findings reveal significant variation in the representation of coastal features across different games, with some demonstrating high fidelity, while others exhibit simplifications or omissions. Notably, games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Assassin's Creed series excel in capturing the complexity of coastal environments, while others fall short in their simulation. These findings underscore the potential for video games to serve as immersive educational tools for understanding coastal ecosystems, emphasizing the need for enhanced fidelity and accuracy in their representation. Further research in this domain could contribute to the development of more realistic and educational gaming experiences, fostering greater awareness and appreciation of coastal environments among players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sediment grain size is a critical parameter for sediment mobilization and transport, but often has the highest uncertainty of any coastal sediment transport model input parameter. SandSnap is an initiative to engage the public to amass a beach grain size database by taking photos of the beach sand with a coin in the image for scale and uploading the image to a web application. Images are analyzed with two deep learning convolutional neural networks one to detect the coin and the second to measure the grain size, which is trained on sediment samples within the sand regime. The results for nine gradation metrics are returned to the user within 2 min of image upload. Results from 263 test images have a mean percent error of −6.5% and median absolute error of 22.4% for the median grain size (d 50) with a small fine bias of −0.042 mm. The use of the database is highlighted by applying SandSnap output as an input to the AeoLiS aeolian sediment transport model to predict coastal dune growth at a nearly national scale using the full eight grain size classes (d 10 – d 90) from the SandSnap database. These outputs are used to inform the potential value of having spatially comprehensive grain size distribution information as part of coastal engineering design and planning. Education and outreach techniques for the SandSnap initiative are described in the manuscript. Though some challenges remain, the spatially and temporally robust beach grain size database being developed by SandSnap will help to improve numerous coastal engineering analyses including coastal resilience and vulnerability quantification, beach nourishment life cycle and uncertainty analysis, beach compatibility for the beneficial use of dredged sediment, and large-scale coastal morphology modeling. • SandSnap measures the beach grain size using community uploaded smartphone images. • The project is amassing a global beach grain size database. • Imagery from smartphones is processed with AI to measure beach sand grain size. • Class lesson plan and science fair projects were created to use the SandSnap data. • Database gradation values were applied to aeolian model to predict dune growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose was to assess plantar mechanical loading on different surface conditions when performing jumps. Twenty subjects performed standardized drop jumps and countermovement jumps both in shoes and barefoot on a rigid surface and barefoot on a sand surface. Flexible insoles of the Pedar Mobile system (PedarX, Novel GmbH) were used for data collection. The foot was subdivided into eight regions where peak pressures and relative loads were derived. Significant differences were found for several foot areas for both, countermovement and drop jumps. For the sand surface, as compared to the rigid surface, peak pressures were significantly reduced in the hallux&2nd toe, medial/lateral forefoot, and heel but were increased in the medial/lateral midfoot. The relative load shifted significantly from the forefoot to the midfoot area. Substantially different plantar pressure distribution patterns between conditions were observed in jumping. The switch from a rigid to a sand surface is associated with a lower mechanical loading, whereas switching back from sand to an indoor surface potentially increases this loading. Our results show that the observed pressure distribution patterns for different surfaces align with other tasks like playing soccer/running, are in a typical range for these sports and entail a comparable mechanical loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garbage at sea is a growing and worldwide problem. Governador Celso Ramos is located on the central coast of Santa Catarina and has tourism and fishing as the predominant economic activities. This study tested hypotheses regarding seasonal variability and the most likely origin of marine litter through sampling with spatial and temporal replication. The influence of the season on the density of marine litter was not a significant factor across beaches studied. Items probably associated with fishing activity were more present in winter, while items associated with recreational use of the beach were observed in greater numbers in summer. These results may help the municipality to better direct environmental management and education initiatives aimed at combating waste at sea [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A betaproteobacterial chemolithotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacterium designated APG5T was isolated from supralittoral sand of the Edmonds City Beach, WA, USA. Growth was observed at 10–35 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 5–9 (optimum, pH 8) and ammonia concentrations as high as 100 mM (optimum, 1–30 mM NH4Cl). The strain grows optimally in a freshwater medium but tolerates up to 400 mM NaCl. It is most closely related to ‘Nitrosomonas ureae’ (96.7% 16S rRNA and 92.4% amoA sequence identity). The 3.75-Mbp of AGP5T draft genome contained a single rRNA operon and all necessary tRNA genes and has the lowest G+C content (43.5%) when compared to the previously reported genomes of reference strains in cluster 6 Nitrosomonas. Based on an average nucleotide identity of 82% with its closest relative (‘N. ureae’ Nm10T) and the suggested species boundary of 95–96%, a new species Nitrosomonas supralitoralis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Nitrosomonas supralitoralis is APG5T (= NCIMB 14870T = ATCC TSD-116T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green spaces have been shown to have many benefits for physical and mental health. Recently, blue spaces have been introduced as another field of research and have been suggested to have similar health effects. This scoping review summarized the current state of the knowledge on how blue space exposure (views and visits) affects mental health (depression, anxiety, stress, and associated biomarkers). A keyword search was developed for PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO. Identified articles were then imported into Rayyan and put through a title review, an abstract review, and finally a full-text review. Five articles were found to have direct relevance to the study. Two articles showed that blue space visits had benefits to general mental health and possibly depression. Two studies investigated blue space views, one showing benefits for general mental health and the other showing benefits for depression. One study showed that both blue space views and visits had positive impacts on mental health and that blue space visits had a stronger effect than merely viewing blue spaces. However, no articles discussed mental health-associated biomarkers. These studies all provide evidence that blue space exposure has a positive impact on mental health, but based on the small number of articles there is not enough evidence to conclude measurable changes in biomarker responses. Further areas of research include man-made/urban blue spaces, other mental health outcomes, virtual reality, and their effects on biomarkers. Views of and visits to blue space improve mental health. Visiting blue space has greater mental health benefits than blue space views. Blue space results in lower depression symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial communities of sandy beaches are poorly described despite the biogeochemical importance and ubiquity of these ecosystems. Using metabarcoding of the 16S and 18S rRNA genes, we investigated the diversity, microhabitats (with or between sand grains) and intertidal distributions of microorganisms (including meiofauna) from pristine sandy beaches in British Columbia, Canada, and hypothesized that abiotic variations due to microhabitat or intertidal gradients influence the distribution of microorganisms on local scales. Bacterial, archaeal and protistan communities of the sand were clearly distinct from interstitial communities, and from planktonic communities of the overlying seawater, which correlated with differences in function and lifestyle (e.g., sulphur reduction and gliding motility). In contrast, meiofaunal communities could not be distinguished by sample type, suggesting that they are more frequently mobilized between these microhabitats. Across intertidal zones, high intertidal, mid intertidal and low intertidal/swash communities were distinct and correlated with moisture, organic carbon and phosphate content, implying that the distribution of microorganisms is influenced by intertidal abiotic gradients. However, few taxa at the genus or species level individually contributed to this zonation pattern; rather, a unique combination of multiple microbial taxa was probably responsible. Although significant differences in microbial community composition on sandy beaches can be attributed to microhabitat and intertidal gradients, further investigations are needed to assess community assembly processes, the consistency of these distributions, and the functions of the majority of the microorganisms observed in the sand and their effects on the biogeochemistry and ecology of sandy beaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sun and beach tourism is one of the main socioeconomic activities in the Dominican Republic. Air pollution is a determining factor for the health of local communities and tourists visiting a destination. In this sense, the objective of this research is to evaluate the air quality in the northern coastal region of the Dominican Republic, specifically, in the tourist and recreational areas of the city of Puerto Plata. The purpose is twofold: on the one hand, to determine the concentration of PM1, PM2.5, PM7, PM10 and Total Suspended Particles on the beaches of Puerto Plata, the second destination for sun and country beach and, on the other hand, calculate the Air Quality Index of PM10 and PM2.5 in said beaches, following the methodology validated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Data is collected using specialized equipment, tabulated in Excel, and analyzed in the SPSS program. The results indicate that the quality of the beaches of Puerto Plata is good. There are two beaches that present a moderate air quality index (Malecón de Puerto Plata and Playa Dorada), the cause being the proximity to the international airport and the areas traveled by vehicles. The research provides recommendations to improve the Air Quality Regulation of the Dominican Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind tunnel experiments and measurements with the Portable In-Situ Wind Erosion Laboratory (PI-SWERL) were conducted to investigate the effect footprints on a sandy beach have on aerodynamic roughness, physical roughness, and the wind erosion threshold. Footprints parallel and footprints perpendicular to the wind were tested, for bare feet and walking shoes, for a lighter (63 kg) and a heavier (75 kg) person. The data were compared to a flat undisturbed surface, which served as control. Results show that footprints have a significant effect on aerodynamic roughness and on the wind erosion threshold. Aerodynamic roughness is higher, and the wind erosion threshold lower, for footprints parallel to the wind compared to footprints perpendicular to the wind, for footprints produced with bare feet compared to footprints produced by walking shoes, and for footprints made by a heavier person compared to footprints made by a lighter person. The differences with an undisturbed flat surface, for which aerodynamic roughness is small and the wind erosion threshold high, were found to be substantial. Of the measured physical roughness parameters of the footprints, surface area of the imprint showed the highest correlation with aerodynamic roughness. The effect of the volume and the average depth of the imprint on aerodynamic roughness was much smaller or even not statistically significant. The PI-SWERL measurements also suggested that on dry sandy surfaces foot imprints may rapidly disintegrate, even when the wind is only slightly above the erosion threshold. This study shows that when wind erosion models are used to describe and predict the initial phase of wind erosion on sandy beaches, the process of trampling with footprints should at least be considered. • Pedestrian trampling affects aeolian sand dynamics on beach surfaces. • Footprints affect aerodynamic roughness and the wind erosion threshold. • Footprint orientation affects aerodynamic roughness and the wind erosion threshold. • Bare feet results in higher aerodynamic roughness compared to walking shoes. • Footprints produced by heavier people differ from footprints produced by lighter people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal erosion in 45 sandy beaches covering nearly 2000 km along the tectonically active Chilean coast is assessed during the last four decades. The historical analysis is based on the assessment of decadal changes of the shoreline position extracted from topographic surveys, aerial photographs, satellite images and survey maps using the DSAS software. Results show that 80% of the sites presented erosion rates (>−0.2 m/y), 7% beaches accreted (>0.2 m/y) while 13% remained stable. Eroded beaches include headland bay beaches, embayed and pocket beaches. A discussion on the possible causes explaining these results is conducted. While changes in offshore wave climate are spatially smooth within the region, relative mean sea level changes are highly variable and modulated by tectonic activity; the reduction of the sediment supply explains erosion rates in few cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of two stratigraphic sections of the Tran Formation (upper Carnian–Norian) reveals the presence of a regressive carbonate beach succession. The interpretation of lower shoreface, upper shoreface, foreshore, and backshore deposits is based on field data, microfacies analysis and comparison with Holocene and ancient analogues. The various lower shoreface deposits include automicritic boundstones/cementstones which attest to a temporary establishment of the M factory most likely as an aftermath of the global Carnian Pluvial Episode. The upper shoreface grainstones show trough cross-bedding reflecting deposition by longshore currents. Grainstones/packstones of the foreshore subenvironment have several diagnostic features including low-angle plane lamination, keystone voids, eroded beachrock clasts, and well-sorted textures with marine phreatic and vadose cements. Their deposition was controlled by supply of granular material from the shoreface, incessant wave activity and daily tides, and early lithification protecting them from erosion and remobilization. The backshore strata comprise storm washover deposits (packstones, wackestones), mudstones deposited in marginal ponds, and agglutinated stromatolites (formed by trapping and binding in a tide-influenced setting). Some of the foreshore and backshore sediments were pedogenically modified, resulting in the formation of secondary matrix, root development, desiccation cracking, and grainification. Specific products of the early vadose alteration are laminoid fenestrae with crystal silt and diagenetic grainstones, packstones, and wackestones. The good preservation of the regressive beach succession was favored by late highstand progradation of the shoreline in a low accommodation setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hedonic property value studies of water quality conventionally focus on water quality levels measured nearest a home. This study examines whether water quality at the nearest access point (i.e., a beach) matters more to local residents. We conduct a hedonic analysis of water quality in the Long Island Sound, where an aging infrastructure and heavy precipitation lead to frequent sewage overflows. The analysis focuses on bacteria contamination and beach closures at various access points and monitoring sites. Results suggest that decreases in water quality measured at the nearest beach yield a larger negative effect and impact homes at a farther spatial extent than previously suggested in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, successful germination protocols for the following three coastal dune species are presented: Glaucium flavum, Helichrysum stoechas and Plantago coronopus. It is the first report of germination data for these species in the Italian peninsula. Seeds were collected in coastal dunes along the Tyrrhenian coasts in south Tuscany and north Latium (central Italy). The germination ability was tested at the Tuscia Germplasm Bank (BGT) at constant temperatures (from 5 to 30°C), under both light (with a 12/12h photoperiod) and total darkness. Our results show a high germination ability and germination rate for all the tested species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study proposes a new method for quantification of solid waste deposition in coastal environment. To this end, we compared (l) the usual method of manual collection and (2) the proposed method based on photographic sampling of solid waste deposited. The collections were made at Guanabara beach, located on Ilha do Governador, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. The comparative study showed no statistically significant difference between the two sampling methodologies in relation to the quantification of solid waste. The total amounts of solid waste found through manual collection (n=143) and photographic sampling (n= 118) were statistically compared and showed no significant difference. The results obtained show a series of relative advantages regarding the proposed method: (1) dispenses the collection of the residues, avoiding the exposure to contaminating and cutting products, (2) reduced in approximately 3 times the working time in the field and in the laboratory, (3) dispenses the concern with space for storage, weight and transport of the residues. Thus, photographic sampling becomes a practical, efficient, and easily accessible tool to be used in works of this nature. We hope that this methodology will increase the number of studies, stimulating new works in the area, also acting as a tool for social awareness on the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beras Basah Island is an object pride tourism in Bontang City. The island is located in the middle of the sea and surrounded by beautiful beaches by width about one hectare. In addition from being a beautiful island with white sand, this island is also a water area surrounded by a lot of biodiversity such as a coral reefs, seagrass beds, and various types of fish. This study aimed to find out the Tourism Suitability Index and area supporting effort for coastal tourism on Beras Basah Island, Bontang City, East Kalimantan. This research was conducted in March 2021. The research location was in Pulau Beras Basah city. Analysis of the data used Tourism Suitability Indeks based on the multiplication of weights and skors obtained from each parameter of Depth, Brightness, coast type, coast Width, Coastal Slope, Water Base Material, Current Speed, tracking of Hazardous Biota, Land Closure, Water Availability, and using Area Supporting Effort analysis Based on the size of the seashore area. The condition of the beach tourism suitability index for the four stations on Beras Basah Island is the north station 2,3, 2,5 east, 2,6 south and west station 2,5 the category is very suitable even though the visual conditions in the field actually look general and are suitable for ecotourims and tourims. The total area carrying capacity calculation results are estimated to have a maximum capacity of 202 people/day in 5 hours/person. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vast pain of Marguerite Duras' traumatic past occupies many of her texts. Meyer analyzes the Holocaust's effect on Duras' representation of space, place, and memory in La Douleur (1984) in dialogue with Les Cahiers de la Guerre (2006), her novel Le Ravissement de Lol V. Stein (1964) and Finkiel's film (2017), The tension between trauma which erupts through her texts and memory narrated in often controlled ways seems inextricably linked to the earth (place and space). The mechanisms of trauma which erupts unconsciously through various voids in Duras and in her narrative differ from those of a more conscious manipulation of memory. This article interrogates how the contrast of closing the La Douleur with the expansive beach and endless horizon informs the cramped darkness of ditches, bodies, and domestic spaces which precede them. Is there control (or repression) operating here in an effort to contain trauma that functions differently in her fictive texts? How can the beaches of her fictional Le Ravissement de Lol V. Stein along with Duras' mother's attempts to salvage the family property against the encroachment of the ocean which threatens the family's livelihood, marking the mother's madness in Un barrage contre le Pacifique (1950), help us to reconsider the ways Duras inscribes traumatic memory into her autobiographical texts? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beachgoing experiences are highly desirable among international tourists visiting Australia. Beach use has been popularised in the contemporary Australian imaginary influencing how locals behave at the beach and setting an example to visitors. Many of the behaviours that Australian beach users' display can be classed as risky. How and why tourists enact certain risky behaviours in their attempts to comply with beach going norms in Australia is not well known. The imagined beachgoing psyche of tourists describes a disconnection between pre-conceptions about risk at the beach and the reality of actual risks and hazards. The pursuit of thrill and risk while on holiday work to reconcile tourist attitudes about their often safety-averse behaviours, helping to explain why beach safety is often ignored, accidentally and purposefully. The influence of other social phenomena, such as the amplification of risk, interactive risk and group norms, contribute to tourists' beach behaviours in Australia. Beachgoer questionnaires and interview testimonies triangulated results using a mixed-method-research approach that identifies the mechanisms that lead to an incoherence between understandings of danger and safe behaviours, which were specific to the socio-spatial context of the Australian beach space. There is much ambiguity in the nature of the Australian beach holiday, where the tourist beachgoer can choose between behaviours of escape (to relax) and excite (to take risks). This can lead to the conflation of these contrasting, yet spatially connected, pursuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human health and marine life are being compromised consequent to the accumulation of municipal solid waste on many beaches and the scientific community is seriously concerned about this situation. The present study is the pioneer to determine the abundance and the composition of beach litter along the Aoshan Beach in Qingdao, China. The quantitative survey of the Aoshan Beach was conducted for approximately 3 months (May to July 2019) to evaluate the number of different types of litter. The average litter composition and its weight for 3 months were estimated to be 4441 ± 364.16 items/km with the corresponding weight was 260.52 ± 28.53 kg/km, respectively. The findings demonstrated that plastic litter was the most abundant by count (32.21% of the total account) followed by ropes and cotton (24.92%) and wood (14.20%). The weight of ropes and cotton was the maximum (22.52% of the total account), followed by plastics (20.47%), wood, and glass 14.59 and 14.94%. Moreover, floating litter from the Yellow sea deposited along the coast by high and low tidal waves. It was concluded that mitigation measures must be adopted to decrease littering its source, waste management, recycling, developing efficient tolls, and pursuing a long-term public awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cigarette butts (CBs) were among the main marine litter on beaches of Santos. • A total of 22 cigarettes brands were found in different stages of decomposition. • CBs can reach sediment layers after few days in water column. • Minimal amounts of CBs in leachate induce harmful effects on euryhaline copepods. • Approaches adopted can serve to estimate local impacts of CBs on coastal areas. Cigarette butts (CBs) comprise one of the most relevant categories of marine litter worldwide. This study was structured as a case study simultaneously assessing (i) the occurrence of CBs in a highly urbanized coastal area, (ii) their partitioning in two environmental compartments (water column and sediments) by laboratory settling tests, and (iii) the toxicity produced by the CBs leachates (measured as copepod reproduction). Marine litter was sampled in beaches of the city of Santos (SW Brazil) and CBs were collected for analysis. The characterization showed that CBs were one of the most prevalent items (51.5% in summer and 34.4% in winter) and 22 cigarettes brands were identified at different stages of decomposition. Laboratory settling tests showed that CBs remain in the water column between 3 and 20 days, subsequently reaching the sediments. The toxicity results indicated that CBs the leachates extracted from a small amount of CBs was sufficient to affect copepod reproduction (0.1 and 0.01 CBs L−1). Furthermore, the approaches adopted by the present study can serve as a preliminary assessment to estimate local impacts resulting from inadequate disposal of cigarette butts in coastal areas around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain size, sorting, skewness, and kurtosis studies are of great importance in order to texturally characterize the sedimentary environments. These parameters are useful in order to characterize the dynamic beach environment, which is of potential interest for research on natural resources and to interpret analogous ancient sedimentary environments. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the characteristics and distribution of sediments along Kenitra coast (Morocco) for first time using size grain analysis. Grain size analysis aims to determine physical properties and textural parameters such as mean, sorting, skewness and kurtosis. Samplings were done at different locations on the beaches, which represent low tide line, high tide line, foot dune and dune areas. The observation from this study shows an abundance of the medium sand to fine sand which indicates the prevalence of comparatively moderate-to low-energy condition in the Kenitra area. Linear Discriminant function (LDA) analysis of the samples indicates an aeolian, shallow marine deposition environment and less influence of fluvial (7%) process. Analysis of sediments using Passega's C-M diagram (C = one percentile in microns and M = medium in microns) of the Kenitra coast suggests that sediment deposition is mainly by rolling and graded suspension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black, K.P.; Kulkarni, K.B.; Naik, G.B.; Naik, M., and Mathew, J., 2021. Improving training wall orientation at river and estuary entrances. Journal of Coastal Research, 37(3), 484–493. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Natural river and estuary entrances adjust in response to the prevailing sedimentary and hydrodynamic environment. In India, during the monsoon rains, the ebb jet can be very large, firing water and sediments along a variable orientation to create the associated ebb deltas. However, once the entrance is trained onto a fixed alignment, this powerful jet "pump" can have adverse impacts. Due to downdrift erosion caused by the entrance training walls at the Old Mangalore Port (Karnataka, west coast of India), the breakwater was modified to reorient the ebb jet in the direction of the longshore drift. The goal was to beneficially use the natural pumping action to drive sand across the entrance without mechanical assistance. Three years of monitoring revealed improvements in downdrift beaches and navigational safety, while maintenance dredging has ceased. The entrance region has deepened by 854,166 m3 after reorienting the ebb jet over the period from October 2017 to February 2020. In contrast, the entrance shoaled by 160,305 m3 over the period from September 2008 to October 2017. The results are relevant to river and estuary entrances with moderate to strong river flows and/or tidal prism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodil, I.F.; Long, Z.T.; Fegley, S.R.; Rodriguez, A.B., and Peterson, C.H., 2021. Benthic community responses to the filling of a hurricane-induced barrier island inlet. Journal of Coastal Research, 37(3), 601–610. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel created a new tidal inlet through Hatteras Island, a barrier island of North Carolina (U.S.A.). Within two months, the breach was filled with sand dredged from nearby areas. Subsequent ecological response of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities to the filling differed on shores on opposite sides of the island. Thus, the filled area on the high-energy sandy beach exhibited convergence in community composition and abundance with a nearby reference area within 30 months, whereas the filled area on the lower-energy sound shoreline still possessed a depauperate benthos. The high volume of long-shore sediment transport documented along the ocean beaches of Hatteras Island probably acted quickly to transport benthic macrofauna to the fill along with natural beach sediments, and thereby activating a rapid ecological response of the beach community. The beach community was dominated by annual macroinvertebrate species, which could account for mixing from nearby areas in the rapid macrofauna community response. In contrast, the Pamlico Sound shoreline experiences only local wind-driven waves and modest long-shore currents likely insufficient to import macrobenthos readily. Infrequent passive transport of macrobenthos and persistence of defaunated sediment habitats nearby probably slowed the macrofauna community response on the sound-shore side. Management intervention through habitat restoration would be recommended in the less dynamic sound shore environment compared to the high-energy ocean beach where ecological responses of the invertebrate community occurred rapidly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]