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Underwater drilling and blasting techniques have been developed to overcome the challenges posed by various subaquatic operations, including marine construction, oil and gas exploration, and underwater mining, demolition, dredging and excavation, seismic surveys and marine research. The drilling operation is followed by underwater blasting, which involves the creation of boreholes in submerged surfaces, such as sea beds or riverbeds. Specialized drilling equipment is utilized, which can operate in aquatic environments. To ensure efficient and reliable performance, the drilling equipment is designed to withstand the pressures and corrosive nature of seawater. Once the desired depth is reached, underwater blasting is utilized to break the rock or seabed. The primary objective of blasting is to loosen the substrate and create a cavity for subsequent operations. Safety is a crucial factor in underwater drilling and blasting operations. To safeguard personnel involved and prevent accidents during drilling and blasting activities, strict safety measures are implemented. In addition to human safety, precautions are taken to minimize the environmental impacts of underwater drilling and blasting, including measures to prevent pollution, protect marine life, and preserve the underwater ecosystem. In this article, the core elements of underwater drilling and blasting operations are outlined. Despite notable progress in this domain, the paper highlights the enduring constraints and obstacles, underscoring the need for continued investigation and understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesia's deep-sea microbial communities remain poorly understood, prompting the need for comprehensive investigations. This study aimed to assess the bacterial and archaeal diversities in northwestern Arafura deep-sea sediments, spanning depths of 100 to 1,457 m using a 16S rRNA based-metagenomic sequencing approach, without technical and biological replicates. Principal component analyses based on the Bray–Curtis dissimilarity index indicated that most of the bacterial and archaeal communities were habitat-specific and influenced by depth. The most prevalent known bacterial phylotypes were detected from all samples belonging to the phylum of Desulfobacteriota, Pseudomonadota, and Firmicutes. In addition, the samples also harbored diverse members of the Archaea domain, including Crenarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota and Haloarchaeota. Notably, the sequencing data revealed the significant presence of rare prokaryotic taxa, including uncultured counterparts with less than 1% abundance. The findings suggest that novel and rare prokaryotic taxa are abundant in northwestern Arafura deep-sea ecosystem, offering unique opportunities for further bioprospecting and functional ecology studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful management of ASS-affected brackishwater aquaculture ponds necessitates overcoming associated environmental limitations. This study investigated the potential application of nano-biosilica from rice husk ash (RHA) and soil remediation techniques to improve the environmental quality of ASS-affected brackishwater ponds. The study followed a completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments and three replicates. The treatments comprised applying soil remediation, nano-biosilica fertilizer, and their combination. The study generally revealed that the combination of soil remediation technique and RHA-driven nano-biosilica improved the water quality of ASS-affected brackishwater ponds. Soil remediation improved water quality by reducing acidity levels. However, excessive lime application as an integral part of the remediation might release acidity and toxic metals into water, potentially increasing calcium-phosphorus fixation. Despite liming potential negative consequences, if mixed with nano-biosilica could increase diatom-phytoplankton growth by reducing dissolved Al and Fe levels while boosting P and Si availability. Liming could also help boost diatom photosynthesis and inhibit unwanted algae blooms by decreasing water turbidity and increasing sunlight penetration. This study emphasized that the effectiveness of nano-biosilica in promoting diatom growth depends on appropriate nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations and ratios, which should not be a limiting factor. However, the required N/P concentration and ratio are only met if the remediation method is effectively implemented. The combination of nano-biosilica and soil remediation treatment maintained SiO 2 concentrations above the average natural seawater concentration; however, availability may be limited due to complexes containing Ca, Al, Mg, and Fe. Regularly applying cost-effective nano-biosilica fertilizer in combination with N and P fertilizers is recommended to enhance water remediation efficiency by boosting Si availability and decreasing the toxicity of dissolved toxic metal ions., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Mangrove forests are the dominant vegetation growing on low wooded islands, which occur in the Caribbean, Indian and Pacific Oceans. In the northern Great Barrier Reef, we map remarkable, undocumented mangrove forest extension on 10 low wooded islands in the Howick Group that collectively equates to an area of 667 000 m2 (66.7 ha). We combine extensive field survey with canopy height models derived from RPA imagery and allometric scaling to quantify above ground biomass in both old (pre-1973) and new (post-1973) forest areas. Forest expansion added approximately 10 233 tonnes of new biomass since the early 1970s. We suggest that such substantial expansion of mangrove forest has occurred within a short time span in response to changing environmental controls. These may include sea-level rise, sediment transport and deposition, cyclone impact and the development of associated reef flat sedimentary landforms including unconsolidated and lithified shingle ridges, which influence reef flat hydrodynamics. Our observations highlight the globally dynamic response of mangrove distribution and forest structure to environmental change and provide timely new estimates from understudied reef island settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic sewage is a rich source of nutrients and hence has been often used for intensive aquaculture as well as abating the eutrophication of polluted waters. As enzymes have become sensitive tools in metabolic reactions of any living organisms, they can be used as indicators of the growth of fishes in ecologically challenged water bodies, including sewage oxidation ponds. We have investigated the distribution of 5 enzymes: acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, glucose-6- phosphatase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in the liver, kidney, and muscles of Cyprinus carpio and Labeo rohita, grown in tropical sewage oxidation ponds and compared with those grown in freshwater control pond. This is the first study, where carps cultured in domestic sewage oxidation ponds have been subjected to their enzyme analysis. It was observed that all the fishes that grew well in the sewage oxidation ponds had gained higher weights as compared to those cultured in the freshwater control pond. Similarly, the concentration of all the enzymes, except alkaline phosphatase, in fish grown in sewage oxidation ponds was found to increase in comparison to fishes grown in control freshwater pond. The results demonstrate that there was an excessive availability of nutrients in the oxidation ponds. The findings are significant with regard to the assessment of the excessive growth of carps observed in sewage oxidation ponds, which can be a viable source of protein production as well as abatement of pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety is a mental disorder with a growing worldwide incidence due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic. Pharmacological therapy includes drugs such as benzodiazepines (BDZs) or azapirones like buspirone (BUSP) or analogs, which unfortunately produce severe adverse effects or no immediate response, respectively. Medicinal plants or their bioactive metabolites are a shared global alternative to treat anxiety. Palmitone is one active compound isolated from Annona species due to its tranquilizing activity. However, its influence on neural activity and possible mechanism of action are unknown. In this study, an electroencephalographic (EEG) spectral power analysis was used to corroborate its depressant activity in comparison with the anxiolytic-like effects of reference drugs such as diazepam (DZP, 1 mg/kg) and BUSP (4 mg/kg) or 8-OH-DPAT (1 mg/kg), alone or in the presence of the GABAA (picrotoxin, PTX, 1 mg/kg) or serotonin 5-HT1A receptor antagonists (WAY100634, WAY, 1 mg/kg). The anxiolytic-like activity was assayed using the behavioral response of mice employing open-field, hole-board, and plus-maze tests. EEG activity was registered in both the frontal and parietal cortex, performing a 10 min baseline and 30 min recording after the treatments. As a result, anxiety-like behavior was significantly decreased in mice administered with palmitone, DZP, BUSP, or 8-OH-DPAT. The effect of palmitone was equivalent to that produced by 5-HT1A receptor agonists but 50% less effective than DZP. The presence of PTX and WAY prevented the anxiolytic-like response of DZP and 8-OH-DPAT, respectively. Whereas only the antagonist of the 5-HT1A receptor (WAY) inhibited the palmitone effects. Palmitone and BUSP exhibited similar changes in the relative power bands after the spectral power analysis. This response was different to the changes induced by DZP. In conclusion, brain electrical activity was associated with the anxiolytic-like effects of palmitone implying a serotoninergic rather than a GABAergic mechanism of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal contamination from upstream river water is a threat to coastal and estuarine ecosystem. The present study was undertaken to unveil sedimentation processes and patterns of heavy metal deposition along the salinity gradient of a tropical estuary and its mangrove ecosystem. Sediment columns from three representative sites of differential salinity, anthropogenic interference, and sediment deposition pattern were sampled and analyzed for grain size distribution and metal concentrations as a function of depth. Sediments were dominantly of silty-medium sand texture. A suite of fluvial and alluvial processes, and marine depositional forcing control the sediment deposition and associated heavy metal loading in this estuary. The depth profile revealed a gradual increase in heavy metal accumulation in recent top layer sediments and smaller fractions (silt + clay), irrespective of tidal regimes. Alluvial processes and long tidal retention favor accumulation of heavy metals. Enrichment factor (0.52–15), geo-accumulation index (1.4–5.8), and average pollution load index (PLI = 2.0) indicated moderate to higher heavy metal contamination status of this estuary. This study showed that alluvial processes acted as dominant drivers for the accumulation of metals in sediments, which prevailed over the influence of marine processes. Longer tidal retention of the water column favored more accumulation of heavy metals. Metal accumulation in the sediments entails a potential risk of bioaccumulation and biomagnification through the food web, and may increasingly impact estuarine ecology, economy, and ultimately human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several brachiopod-rich mud mounds occur in the upper Visean (Brigantian) of the Derbyshire Carbonate Platform succession in UK. The re-evaluation of the lithofacies architecture of a Derbyshire mud mound complex, developed in an intraplatform middle-ramp environment, led to the recognition of three lithofacies associations: (a) a 10 m thick basal unit of automicrite boundstone with siliceous sponge spicules and brachiopod–bryozoan packstone to wackestone beds; (b) a 10 m thick, 250 m wide, lens-shaped, convex-up massive core of clotted peloidal micrite and fenestellid bryozoan boundstone with sponge spicules; (c) inclined brachiopod–bryozoan–crinoid packstone flank beds. In the mud mound complex core, most of the carbonate mud with clotted peloidal and structureless micrite fabric is the result of biologically induced and influenced in-situ precipitation processes (automicrite). Brachiopods are not, as previously thought, limited to storm-scoured “pockets” in the mud mound complex core but are abundant and diverse in all lithofacies and lived on the irregular mud mound complex surface concentrating in depressions sustained by automicrite boundstone and the growth of bryozoans and sponges. The upper Visean Derbyshire mud mounds are, thus, representatives of a newly defined fenestellid bryozoan–brachiopod–siliceous sponge mud mound category, occurring in various middle–upper Visean Western European sites, a sub-type of the fenestellid bryozoan–crinoid–brachiopod Type 3 buildups of Bridges et al. (1995). These mud mounds, and other types of brachiopod-rich buildups, developed in carbonate platform settings between fair-weather and storm wave base, in dysphotic environments with dispersed food resources during the Visean. Brachiopod mud mound colonisation was favoured by moderate water depth, availability of food resources, and diverse substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To mitigate the serious environmental problems caused by aquaculture wastewater discharge, the development of improved aquaculture systems with more self-purification capacity and less environmental impact has become essential. A novel recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) with ecological ponds was introduced. However, the mechanism of how the ecological ponds decompose the nutrients from the residual feed and excrement of fish is still unclear. Therefore, we designed a seven-week field experiment to explore the dynamic of water quality and the shift of bacterial communities during the initial stage of the RAS ecosystem to maintain the stability of the system. According to the result, the dissolved oxygen concentration maintained at 5.63 to 10.22 mg·L−1 in aquaculture water, and electrical conductivity increased by 100% to over 800 μs·cm−1. High-throughput sequencing showed that the abundance and diversity of the bacterial communities in sediment samples were significantly higher than in water samples, and the Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, and Actinobacteria were dominant phyla in all samples. The relative abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria was lower than 0.10, but rising. Redundancy analysis suggested that TOC, EC, NO3−, and NO2− were the most important factors shaping the bacterial communities in aquaculture water. Our studies assessed the RAS with ecological ponds for the first time based on water quality parameters and bacterial communities, which indicates that decomposition capacity is insufficient but improved at the initial stage of the operation, and potential risks like eutrophication require attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large amounts of organic carbon buried in mangrove wetlands are well recognized, but the lateral dissolved carbon export and greenhouse gas (GHGs) outgassing are often overlooked. In this study, we carried out seasonal observations of dissolved carbon and GHGs in an estuarine mangrove wetland with high input of riverine nitrogen in southeast China in 2019–2020. The results showed that the tidal range and season were the two main factors controlling the lateral dissolved carbon export including total alkalinity (TA), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The positive correlations between the average offsets of DIC, TA, DOC and tidal range confirmed the hydrological controls on the exchange of dissolved carbon between the mangrove creek and the estuary. The seasonal variability in temperature, groundwater export and freshwater input resulted in a larger carbon offset during low tidal range in spring and a smaller offset during high tidal range in fall. The mangrove creek acted as a net source of DIC, DOC, TA and GHGs. When the emissions of GHGs were calculated as CO2-equivalents, the average emission of CO2 was four times higher than that of N2O and the average emission of N2O was six times higher than that of CH4. In contrast with pristine mangroves, denitrification in mangrove wetlands with high input of riverine nitrogen played a crucial role in mineralization processes, leading to the production of DIC, TA and N2O. These biogeochemical processes may not be conducive to the blue carbon sequestration in mangrove soils. These findings suggested that there are mutual benefits between the reduced loss of blue carbon and the mitigation of eutrophication when restoring mangrove wetlands and reducing nitrogen pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salvia amarissima Ortega is an endemic species of Mexico used in folk medicine to alleviate pain and as a nervous tranquilizer. The S. amarissima extract and one of its abundant metabolites, identified and isolated through chromatographic techniques, were investigated to obtain scientific evidence of its potential effects to relieve nociplastic pain such as fibromyalgia. Then, the extract and amarisolide A (3–300 mg/kg, i.p.) were pharmacologically evaluated in reserpine-induced fibromyalgia-type chronic pain and in depressive-like behavior (as a common comorbidity) by using the forced swimming test in rats. The 5-HT1A serotonin receptor (selective antagonist WAY100635, 1 mg/kg, i.p.) was explored after the prediction of a chemical interaction using in silico analysis to look for a possible mechanism of action of amarisolide A. Both the extract and amarisolide A produced significant and dose-dependent antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects in rats, as well as significant antidepressive behavior without sedative effects when the antinociceptive dosages were used. The 5-HT1A serotonin receptor participation was predicted by the in silico descriptors and was corroborated in the presence of WAY100635. In conclusion, S. amarissima possesses antihyperalgesic, antiallodynic, and anti-depressive activities, partially due to the presence of amarisolide A, which involves the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor. This pharmacological evidence suggests that S. amarissima and amarisolide A are both potential alternatives to relieve pain-like fibromyalgia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shrimp farming increases the nutrients, especially nitrogen in the water resources reducing water quality. This study was conducted to evaluate the nitrogen dynamics in white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) farms and the role of artificial lagoon (24 ha) in reducing nitrogen levels in Gomishan coastal wetland, the eastern Caspian Sea. The results indicated that at the end of the 4-month breeding period, the amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus introduced into Gomishan wetland were calculated as to 220.157 and 39 tons, respectively in a breeding area covering 830 hectares. Nitrogen values (based on nitrate) calculated based on the relationship between the basin and the discharge of the outlet channel of the site at the time of complete emptying of the farms, were calculated to be approximately 121.8 tons per breeding time that it had an important role in eliminating about 45% of nutrient pollution and reducing the concentration of dissolved nitrogen. Moreover, nitrogen isotopic trace was observed in shrimp samples, in similar levels in the samples of both shrimp pond and lagoon, which emphasizes the role of feeding from natural food, especially benthic fauna. Overall, due to the decline of Caspian Sea water level, Gomishan coastal wetland is drying, and the output of shrimp farms is currenly the only source supplying water for the wetland. Hence, appropriate management strategies could minimize the amounts of nutrients into the natural water whilst aiding wetland's survaival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-cell proteins have a potential source for partial replacement of protein and lipids in animal feed. Also, using microorganisms in fish feed enhanced feed efficiency, growth performance, and disease resistance. The purpose of this study is to see if combining several microorganisms (Azotobacter chroococcum, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and baker's yeast) with sugarcane by-products may produce a low-cost fish feed formulation. A total of twelve treatments were completed (consisting of various microbial biomass combined with sugarcane by-products, and integrated with commercial fish feed in different levels, 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 % w.w-1). Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were evaluated for growth performance, proximate composition, and histopathological examination. Results showed that using low amounts of the experimented formulations (25% and not more than 50% w.w-1) increased fish productivity (weight gain and specific growth rate) and proximate compositions of fish without putting fish at risk. On the other hand, using higher levels from the combined diet (75, 100%) caused fish mortality. Although all the fish experimental treatments showed normal histological structure, the mortality of fish may be due to a lack of nutrients. In conclusion, this study is important for both the environment and the economy. More research is needed to extend the safe application of this study in aquaculture through the evaluation of fish in the field and for prolonged viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangroves are among the most carbon-rich terrestrial ecosystems, primarily attributable to the soil pool. There are substantial differences in soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) due to the disparities in geomorphic settings and ecological drivers, but this insight is drawn primarily from observational studies. An objective inventory of carbon stocks in mangroves of the Rufiji River Delta, Tanzania was conducted. Seventy-five soil cores were collected within a 12,164 ha inventory area, comprising the northern portion of the delta. Cores were collected from intact and dwarf mangroves, agricultural fields, and mudflats. The spatial mean soil organic carbon (SOC) density in mangroves was 16.35 ± 6.25 mg C cm−3. Mean SOC density in non-vegetated mudflats was 12.16 ± 4.57 mg C cm−3, demonstrating that mangroves develop on soils with a substantial soil C stock. However, long-established mangroves had had a higher C density (17.27 ± 5.87 mg C cm−3). Using a δ13C mixing model, the source of soil organic matter in mudflats was primarily marine, while long-established mangroves was predominantly mangrove. There were small differences in SOC among long-established mangrove sites in different geomorphic settings. The proportion of marine-sourced SOC increased with soil depth in mangroves. The SOC and nitrogen of agricultural sites resemble those of mudflats, suggesting those sites are developed from relatively young forests. The SOC and nitrogen density in dwarf mangrove sites were lower than others, perhaps reflecting past disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of coastal aquaculture in recent decades has led to excessive discharge of organic matter and nutrients into surrounding waters, which could result in eutrophication and potentially affect metal cycling. In our study, the influence of algal organic matter on metal accumulation was examined in three coastal sediment cores taken from a tropical region, Hainan Island, China. Overall, metal pollution adjacent to aquaculture ponds remained at low levels on the coast, except Zn, Cd, and Sn were moderately to highly enriched in the Dongjiao sediments. The δ13C values and the atomic C/N ratios indicated a major contribution of phytoplankton to sedimentary organic matter at the Dongjiao site. Moreover, both the algae-derived organic matter and effluent nitrogen were significantly associated with the enriched Zn, Cd, and Sn, suggesting that nutrient-induced phytoplankton growth and its organic matter may act as a "biological pump" to enhance the accumulation of metals. Wastewater treatment for aquaculture ponds should include the control of algal organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Darwin Harbour is a working port and the most populated city in the Northern Territory of Australia. This macrotidal estuary is located in the wet–dry tropics of Northern Australia and notwithstanding mounting development pressures in the region, is largely unmodified. The prevailing oligotrophic condition of estuarine waters suggest that biogeochemical cycling in sediments remain active, buffering the influence of anthropogenic inputs. We tested the hypothesis that nutrient hotspots exist in depositional low-velocity zones, with a gradient of high to low nitrogen processing from the upper to outer reaches of the estuary. A number of factors were examined for their influence on the effectiveness of denitrification in these depositional zones, a putative key process driving nitrogen removal, with particular emphasis on carbon-loading extremes in tidal creeks, spatial gradients along the estuary and the influence of seasonality. There were significant differences in process rates between hypereutrophic/eutrophic tidal creeks that receive the largest proportion of treated sewage loads in the region and the mesotrophic/oligotrophic tidal creeks that were comparatively undisturbed. Net benthic nutrient fluxes and dinitrogen efflux rates were more than an order of magnitude higher and lower, respectively, in degraded (hypereutrophic/eutrophic) tidal creek systems where denitrification efficiency (DE%) was < 40%. Denitrification (Dinitrogen efflux) rates in tidal creeks (mesotrophic/oligotrophic) and broader estuarine sites were high (~ 8 mmol N m−2 day−1) and denitrification efficiency remained > 65%, particularly during the wet season. On a whole-of-estuary basis, denitrification in conjunction with mechanisms such as burial could feasibly make a substantial impact, abating the influence of anthropogenic inputs. Although considerable variability was encountered, particularly across seasons, the hypothesis of elevated denitrification rates as nutrient hotspots in depositional zones along the estuary was not convincing. More influential are tidal creeks as potential 'reactors' for N cycling and removal, but their capacity can be degraded by overloading with nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a pain syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain and CNS comorbidities. Tilia americana var. mexicana is a medicinal species used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and acute or chronic pain. However, its spectrum of analgesic efficacy for dysfunctional pain is unknown. To investigate a possible therapeutic alternative for FM-type pain, an aqueous Tilia extract (TE) and its flavonoid fraction (FF) containing rutin and isoquercitrin were evaluated alone and/or combined with clinical drugs (tramadol—TRA and pramipexol—PRA) using the reserpine-induced FM model in rats. Chromatographic analysis allowed the characterization of flavonoids, while a histological analysis confirmed their presence in the brain. TE (10–100 mg/kg, i.p.) and FF (10–300 mg/kg, i.p.) produced significant and dose-dependent antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects equivalent to TRA (3–10 mg/kg, i.p.) or PRA (0.01–1 mg/kg, s.c.). Nevertheless, the combination of FF + TRA or FF + PRA resulted in an antagonistic interaction by possible competitive action on the serotonin transporter or µ-opioid and D2 receptors, respectively, according to the in silico analysis. Flavonoids were identified in cerebral regions because of their self-epifluorescence. In conclusion, Tilia possesses potential properties to relieve FM-type pain. However, the consumption of this plant or flavonoids such as quercetin derivatives in combination with analgesic drugs might reduce their individual benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oscillations in rainfall levels are one of the principal factors that determine seasonal shifts in physicochemical and hydrobiological variables, and exceptional climate events can have an enormous effect on the characteristics of small tropical estuaries. Given this, the present study investigated the responses of the physiochemical and hydrobiological variables of a small, shallow, and well-mixed Amazonian estuary with absence of any direct fluvial discharge to different climatic scenarios (typical conditions, and drier events). The study was based on 21 field campaigns conducted between April 2012 and April 2017. During rainy seasons of typical condition, when rainfall levels were higher and salinity lower than 7 (just after a weak La Niña), phytoplankton biomass was affected by increased turbidity (> 400 NTU) of the water, even when nitrogenous compounds were readily available (ammonium: 3.39 ± 1.71 µmol L−1, nitrite 0.90 ± 0.80 µmol L−1, and nitrate (3.91 ± 1.86 µmol L−1). In addition, the absence of any direct fluvial discharge appearance has contributed to the cumulation of phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll-a > 20 mg m−3) into the estuary during the rainy season of the drier events and typical conditions, when turbidity was lower (< 200 NTU). Conversely, during the dry seasons of the drier events, when rainfall levels were lower, and extremes of salinity were recorded (> 38), phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll-a < 10 mg m−3) was affected by the lower levels of nitrogenous compounds, even when phosphorous compounds were largely available. Overall, the present study has shown that extreme oscillations in rainfall levels cause abrupt shifts in the physicochemical parameters of the estuary, and affected the phytoplankton biomass, although high turbidity appeared to limit the buildup of this biomass. These effects are manifested immediately in the study area, given that the Taperaçu is a small estuary with a limited freshwater input, and it would seem reasonable to expect similar processes in other minor Amazonian estuaries when subjected to extreme fluctuations in rainfall levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical estuarine environments have been rapidly changing due to deforestation and urbanization. To understand the unique water properties of pristine tropical estuaries and utilize information for future conservation and management, spatial and temporal variations in basic water properties were measured in the Brunei estuary (Brunei Bay and Brunei River) on Borneo, where most of the estuary is still rimmed with humid primary forests such as mangroves. The vertical section profiles of the estuarine water showed a clear gradient of salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen (DO) from the upstream Brunei River to Brunei Bay. In the Brunei River, a clear halocline and pycnocline were observed at a 1–4 m depth in the dry season (May and July), and a pH and DO minimum layer was also observed at a 1–2 m depth, indicating the supply of acidic, oxygen-depleted freshwater from the surrounding forests. In the wet season (January), the surface water pH was much lower than that in the dry season and was the lowest recorded for estuaries in Southeast Asia. This low pH is most likely caused by aerobic and/or anaerobic microbial processes in the surrounding wetlands and forests. These findings showed the unique environmental gradients of the fundamental water properties in this tropical estuary, which is supported by ambient primary forest and mudflat ecosystems. For the sustainable management of tropical estuarine ecosystems, it is important to monitor and maintain this gradient of water quality, while also conserving the surrounding terrestrial ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine ecosystems are structured by coexisting species occurring in adjacent or nested assemblages. Mangroves and corals are typically observed in adjacent assemblages (i.e., mangrove forests and coral reefs) but are increasingly reported in nested mangrove-coral assemblages with corals living within mangrove habitats. Here we define these nested assemblages as "coexisting mangrove-coral" (CMC) habitats and review the scientific literature to date to formalize a baseline understanding of these ecosystems and create a foundation for future studies. We identify 130 species of corals living within mangrove habitats across 12 locations spanning the Caribbean Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and South Pacific. We then provide the first description, to our knowledge, of a canopy CMC habitat type located in Bocas del Toro, Panama. This canopy CMC habitat is one of the most coral rich CMC habitats reported in the world, with 34 species of corals growing on and/or among submerged red mangrove aerial roots. Based on our literature review and field data, we identify biotic and abiotic characteristics common to CMC systems to create a classification framework of CMC habitat categories: (1) Lagoon, (2) Inlet, (3) Edge, and (4) Canopy. We then use the compiled data to create a GIS model to suggest where additional CMC habitats may occur globally. In a time where many ecosystems are at risk of disappearing, discovery and description of alternative habitats for species of critical concern are of utmost importance for their conservation and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands play an important role in the global carbon cycle, but there are still considerable uncertainties in the estimation of wetland carbon storage and a dispute on whether wetlands are carbon sources or carbon sinks. Xiaoxing'anling are one of several concentrated distribution areas of forested wetland in China, but the carbon storage and carbon sink/source of forested wetlands in this area is unclear. We measured the ecosystem carbon storage (vegetation and soil), annual net carbon sequestration of vegetation and annual carbon emissions of soil heterotrophic respiration of five typical forested wetland types (alder swamp, white birch swamp, larch swamp, larch fen, and larch bog) distributed along a moisture gradient in this area in order to reveal the spatial variations of their carbon storage and quantitatively evaluate their position as carbon sink or source according to the net carbon balance of the ecosystems. The results show that the larch fen had high carbon storage (448.8 t ha−1) (6.8% higher than the larch bog and 10.5–30.1% significantly higher than other three wetlands (P < 0.05), the white birch swamp and larch bog were medium carbon storage ecosystems (406.3 and 420.1 t ha−1) (12.4–21.8% significantly higher than the other two types (P < 0.0 5), while the alder swamp and larch swamp were low in carbon storage (345.0 and 361.5 t ha−1, respectively). The carbon pools of the five wetlands were dominated by their soil carbon pools (88.5–94.5%), and the vegetation carbon pool was secondary (5.5–11.5%). At the same time, their ecosystem net carbon balances were positive (0.1–0.6 t ha−1 a−1) because the annual net carbon sequestration of vegetation (4.0–4.5 t ha−1 a−1) were higher than the annual carbon emissions of soil heterotrophic respiration (CO2 and CH4) (3.8–4.4 t ha−1 a−1) in four wetlands, (the alder swamp being the exception), so all four were carbon sinks while only the alder swamp was a source of carbon emissions (− 2.1 t ha−1 a−1) due to a degraded tree layer. Our results demonstrate that these forested wetlands were generally carbon sinks in the Xiaoxing'anling, and there was obvious spatial variation in carbon storage of ecosystems along the moisture gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture is a critical food source for the world's growing population, producing 52% of the aquatic animal products consumed. Marine aquaculture (mariculture) generates 37.5% of this production and 97% of the world's seaweed harvest. Mariculture products may offer a climate-friendly, high-protein food source, because they often have lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emission footprints than do the equivalent products farmed on land. However, sustainable intensification of low-emissions mariculture is key to maintaining a low GHG footprint as production scales up to meet future demand. We examine the major GHG sources and carbon sinks associated with fed finfish, macroalgae and bivalve mariculture, and the factors influencing variability across sectors. We highlight knowledge gaps and provide recommendations for GHG emissions reductions and carbon storage, including accounting for interactions between mariculture operations and surrounding marine ecosystems. By linking the provision of maricultured products to GHG abatement opportunities, we can advance climate-friendly practices that generate sustainable environmental, social, and economic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ) in the north of the Persian Gulf has made major changes to the landscape of the Nayband mangrove forest in Iran, but there have been very few studies on the carbon in mangrove forests of the region. To study the carbon stock of the mangrove forests in Bushehr, and to compare it according to the distance from PSEEZ, some mangrove forests, including 6 stations in Asalouyeh, 2 stations in Basatin (close to PSEEZ), and 1 station in Malegonzeh (far from the PSEEZ) were sampled in November 2018. The carbon of trees was calculated by allometry equations and the carbon of sediment was measured by the Walkley and Black method. The results showed a significant difference between the forests in biomass, carbon of vegetation, and sediments (P < 0.05). The carbon stock of the mangrove vegetation was 34.92, 12.50, and 27.54 t ha−1 in Asalouyeh, Basatin, and Malegonzeh forests, respectively, while the carbon stock of sediments was 867.4, 728.4, and 612.6 t ha−1 in the mentioned forest, respectively. The highest total carbon was observed in the Asalouyeh and the lowest was observed in the Malegonzeh. The pattern of carbon was different in the sediment depth profile in the three forests. The rate of the carbon storage was 6.6 t ha−1 y−1 and 3.33 t ha−1 y−1 in Asalouyeh and Basatin, respectively. The carbon and CO2 sequestration rate in Basatin was lower than Asalouyeh. According to the results, mangrove forests in the area can act as a carbon sequestration service against the CO2 emitted by PSEEZ, if their habitats are not destroyed. The rate of the CO2 sequestration was 22.46 t ha−1 y−1 in Nayband forest. The carbon stock was 640.14–902.32 t ha−1, which was equal to and greater than the carbon stock of the other mangroves in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural complexity provided by the living coral reef framework is the basis of the rich and dynamic biodiversity in coral reefs. In many cases today, the reduction in habitat complexity, from live coral to dead coral and rubble, has altered the abundance and diversity of many reef species with impacts on community structure, food webs and ecosystem functioning. Yet, the complex microhabitat provided by rubble can too support a great density and diversity of reef organisms, often with explicit roles in ecosystem functioning. This literature review synthesises available knowledge on the biology and ecology of coral rubble. We highlight key methodologies used to sample rubble communities, and the biological and ecological consequences of ongoing habitat degradation from coral to rubble reefs under future scenarios. We conclude with a number of key research themes that may enhance our capacity to understand the current contribution of rubble communities to reef functioning and predict their ability to modulate future impacts as net framework erosion amplifies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]