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Tropical cyclones have become more frequent as a result of climate change and the associated temperature rise in the ocean surface, wreaking havoc on both natural and man-made elements. The most recent storm, Yaas, has had a wide-spread impact on coastal areas, with high-intensity wind, rainfall, and, most significantly, inundation in Odisha and West Bengal coastal region. Yaas formed over east central Bay of Bengal as a depression and gradually intensified to VSCS and finally made landfall near Balasore of Odisha coast, with a wind speed of 130–140 km/h. on 26th May, 2021. The present study is, therefore, aimed to characterize the cyclone Yaas and to investigate the expansion of cyclonic inundation in different sector of coastal West Bengal. Several space-borne data sets were employed in this study, including GPM data to illustrate precipitation variability, Sentinel-1 images for inundation mapping, and Sentinel-2 data to determine MNDWI for both pre- and post-cyclonic periods. The results show that during this cyclonic period, hundreds of km2 of land in West Bengal, including blocks of South 24 parganas, East Medinipur and North 24 parganas such as Sagar (37.10 km2), Namkhana (78.12 km2), Pathar Pratima (58.74 km2), Ramnagar I (15.24 km2) and II (19.62 km2), Khejuri (22.27 km2), and other blocks were inundated by cyclonic surge and about a total of 1195 mm of rainfall. Eventually, people have lost their homes, properties have damaged, and many agricultural fields have become barren by salt water accumulation.

Introduction. The Shchuchiy Bay is located in the western part of the skerry area of Lake Ladoga near the town of Priozersk. For almost 20 years, the bay has experienced an anthropogenic impact from the ingress of untreated wastewater from the Priozersk Pulp and Paper Mill (PPM). Systematic microbiological studies of the Shchuchiy Bay ecosystem were started in the middle of the 1970s by the Institute of Limnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences and continued after the PPM closure in 1986. Materials and methods. The ecosystem of the bay was studied in detail during the growing season of 2013–2014; periodic studies were carried out in 2015–2018. Retrospective data were also used for the analysis. Water samples were taken at four stations from the surface horizon. The following microbiological indicators were determined: the abundance of bacterioplankton and the percentages of various morphological types of bacterial cells. Results and discussion. A comparison of the quantitative level of development of the bacterial community in the bay in different periods showed a gradual decrease in the abundance of bacterioplankton as the anthropogenic impact weakened after the closure of the Priozersky PPM from 12.40 million cells ml–1 in 1987 to an average value of 2.62±1.03 million cells ml–1 in 2013–2018. A positive correlation was found between the concentration of bacteria and water temperature. The percentage of rod-shaped microorganisms in the water of the bay also decreased as the anthropogenic impact weakened from 73.4 % in 1987 to 53.1±7.6 % in 2013–2018, which indicated an improvement in water quality. Conclusion. A stable decrease in the abundance of bacteria from the level characteristic of highly polluted and eutrophic water bodies to the level characteristic of mesotrophic and mesotrophic-eutrophic water bodies is a reliable criterion for the restoration of the ecosystem of the Shchuchiy Bay to the state characteristic of similar bays of Lake Ladoga.

Under the 1987 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the lower Green Bay and Fox River estuary have been labeled as areas of concern due to the contamination of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from industrialization. These pollutants pose substantial health and environmental hazards for the Green Bay region. The PCBs reported in this region, including Aroclor 1242, are known to trigger carcinogenic responses in animals and mercury targets the central nervous system and vital organs. Furthermore, these compounds are extremely difficult to remove from the environment once introduced. Extensive remedial actions have been implemented including dredging sediments in the Lower Fox River from DePere to Green Bay. The purpose of this study is to assess the concentration and distribution of Aroclor 1242 and total mercury in the Green Bay region sediments and pore waters and to assess the impact of interventions and the natural rates of change previously found. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-021-16417-6.

Histopathologies are widely recognized as biomarkers of environmental pollution. In this sense, we evaluated the putative relationship of gill histopathologies and distinct ecological impacts in two regions of Todos os Santos Bay (BTS), Brazil, the largest bay in Northeastern Brazil, South Atlantic. We compared the presence and concentration of metals (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn) in water, sediments, and gills and gill histopathologies of a demersal fish (Diapterus rhombeus) and a benthic fish (Ogcocephalus vespertilio). As expected, fish and sediment samples from historically contaminated areas (Aratu) showed more remarkable traces of metals than apparently low-impact areas (Jaguaripe). Likewise, the DTC (degree of tissue change) index and the volume densities were higher in fish caught in Aratu. In addition, the Diapterus rhombeus species showed more potential than Ogcocephalus vespertilio for risk assessment as it showed more responses to the environment reflected on more histopathologies. These data support the effectiveness of incorporating functional gill morphology to monitor impacts on estuarine biota that can be used as a reference to improve the management of ecosystems and prevent harm to human health.

As an emerging pollutant, the presence of microplastics in marine organisms has been concerned increasingly. Shellfish, which are both economically and ecologically important, are of particular concern. In this study, we investigated the microplastic pollution in wild and farmed oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) in the Jiaozhou Bay, China, for the first time. We found the microplastic pollution in shellfish in Jiaozhou Bay was at a moderate level. The abundance of microplastics in shellfish ranged from 0.16 to 12.09 items/g (wet weight, ww) or 1 to 9 items/ind. The average abundance of the ingested microplastics was 1.21 items/g (or 2.17 items/ind.) in all shellfish, 1.51 items/g (or 2.00 items/ind.) in clams and 0.92 items/g (or 2.34 items/ind.) in oysters. The abundance of microplastics in clams was significantly higher than that in oysters. Most microplastics (92.97%) were fibers, followed by fragments. The predominant color of the microplastics was black (42.97%), followed by blue, transparent, and red. Cellophane and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) dominated the microplastic composition. According to shellfish consumption, it can be inferred that the average microplastic consumption through Chinese diet is 1.27×103 items per capita per year.

The 239+240Pu concentrations and 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in seawater from the eastern Indian Ocean were determined to identify their Pu sources and to propose the transport pathway of Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG)-derived Pu into the studied area. This is the first study by anyone on these Pu atom ratios in the Indian Ocean. In the West Australia Basin, the 239+240Pu concentration was 2.89 mBq m-3 in the surface water and increased with depth; a subsurface maximum was identified at 200 m depth and then decreased gradually with depth; its water column inventory was 32.8 Bq m-2. The inventory-weighted mean 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios were 0.208 in the South Australia Basin, 0.226 in the Perth Basin, 0.242 in the West Australia Basin, 0.232 in the Bay of Bengal, and 0.225 in the Andaman Sea. The obtained 240Pu/239Pu ratios were clearly greater than the mean global fallout ratio of 0.18. These high atom ratios proved the presence of close-in fallout Pu from PPG nuclear tests. The relative contribution of global and PPG fallouts was evaluated using the two-end-member mixing model. The 239+240Pu inventories originating from the PPG fallout were calculated as 2.9-14.9 Bq m-2, which corresponded to 20-46% of the total 239+240Pu inventory. A significant amount of the PPG-derived Pu has been transported to the eastern Indian Ocean. The proposed transport pathway accounting for the high 240Pu/239Pu ratio is the transportation of PPG-derived Pu by the North Equatorial Current followed by the Mindanao Current, Indonesian Throughflow, and then spreading over the Indian Ocean by its surface circulation system.

As an alternative to chemicals used in the industry, the use of enzymes is gradually increasing, with their high reaction specificity and their ability to show minimal by-product formation. In the detergent industry among the industrial areas where enzyme use is widespread; due to high washing temperatures, loss of activity of the detergent and high energy consumption, cold active enzymes that exhibit high catalytic activity at low temperatures and have the potential to save energy are noteworthy. As one of these enzymes, α-amylase is intensely produced by marine bioluminescent microorganisms that show optimum microbial activity at 20°C. However, since the enzyme production differs among microorganisms, selection of the most suitable microorganism to be used in production is very important. In this study, based on the idea that bioluminescence will benefit by facilitating the selection of microorganisms that will come to the fore for α-amylase production, the relationship between bioluminescence and the production of extracellular α-amylase enzyme of Vibrio gigantis strains, which were obtained from the sources of our country, were isolated from Izmir Bay and were determined to have a high rate of α-amylase production, and which was the first record in terms of bioluminescent properties, was investigated. Among 20 V. gigantis strains, 2 different microorganisms, which are thought to be more advantageous in terms of enzyme production and bioluminescence, were selected and the extracellular protein and α-amylase production amounts of these organisms as well as the amount of bioluminescence were measured. By evaluating the data obtained as a result of the studies carried out, further studies were carried out with 2 strains, S2W42 and FU-9 gill, which exhibit both low and high enzyme activity. Also, an inverse relationship was observed between α-amylase enzyme activity and bioluminescence. It has been determined that both microorganisms used are effective in α-amylase production and can be used as model organisms in cold active enzyme production. For this reason, it is thought that our study will shed light on comprehensive studies to be carried out in the relevant field.

This study was carried out to determine the age, growth, mortality rate, and exploitation rate of Redcoat, Sargocentron rubrum from Iskenderun Bay, Northeastern Mediterranean. A total of 331 individuals were examined by sampling monthly from September 2017 to August 2018 in the years. The examined samples were 143 (43.20%) females and 188 (55.13%) males. S. rubrum specimens ranged from 10.0 to 21.5 cm, TL with an average of 16.07 +/- 0.12 cm and from 17.40 to 196.016.86 g, TW with an average of 85.04 +/- 2.05 g. The age ranged from 1 to 4 years for females and males and the 3 age group was dominant in the population. The minimum length was found as 10.00 cm for 1 age group while the maximum length was found as 21.50 cm for 4 age group. The mean length at the end of each year of life for all individuals of S. rubrum was calculated 11.78, 14.52, 16.39, and 19.07 cm for 1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd), and 4(th), years of life respectively. The length-weight relationships were computed for female, male and combined sexes respectively as; W= 0.0129xL(3.1453), R-2= 0.968, W= 0.0118xL(3.1742), R-2= 0.966 and W= 0.0124xL(3.1576), R-2= 0.967. von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated as L-infinity= 35.64 cm, K= 0.110 year(-1), t(0)= -1.015 years for females, L-infinity= 35.36 cm, K= 0.112 year-(1), t(0)= -1.065 years for males, and as L-infinity= 35.53 cm, K= 0.113 year(-1), t(0)= -1.112 years for combined sexes. The growth performance index (o') was found to be 2.149 for combined sexes and the obtained growth performance index for this study was compared with those reported by different authors. Fulton's condition (CF) factor values were determined 1.933 for females and 1.923 for males of S. rubrum. The total mortality rate (Z) of the S. rubrum individuals was 1.38, the natural mortality rate (M) was 0.99, and the fishing mortality rate (F) was determined to be 0.39. The exploitation ratio (E) was calculated as 0.28, and this result revealed that the S. rubrum population was not over-exploited. The comprehensive biological characteristics of this species for the first time have been examined in the Northeastern Mediterranean, Turkey. Thus, this study will provide an important contribution to the science and fisheries management applications for this species.

Remnant natural populations of greater bilbies (Macrotis lagotis) are confined to the Australian arid zone where bilbies construct and shelter in multiple burrows within their home range. We investigated burrow use behaviour of bilbies in a translocated population in temperate southern Australia to determine if behaviour differed in this climatic zone. Over a 12 month period, 43 adult bilbies at Venus Bay Conservation Park were spool-and-line tracked to 118 burrows. Active burrow density was 0.55 per ha, and bilbies at the site used multiple burrows (up to 13 for males and 8 for females) and regularly moved between diurnal burrows. Male bilbies had significantly larger burrow ranges (10.2 ± 5.8 ha, MCP100, mean ± s.d.) than females (2.6 ± 1.8 ha), and were similar in size to those recorded in an arid zone population. Males’ burrow ranges tended to overlap with the burrow range of multiple other males and females. The density of burrows in the current study suggests that bilby burrows were likely to have been a common landscape feature within the southern parts of the species range prior to their local extinction. Further research is needed to determine the impact of the loss of bilby burrows from southern Australia on other burrow commensal species.

There is a lack of literature on the effects of physical activity and depression on resilience in women living with HIV. This cross-sectional study examined the associations of sociodemographic factors, physical activity, and depression on resilience among 97 women living with HIV using linear regression models. Among these women, the mean resilience score was 70.7 (SD 16.3), the majority were insufficiently active (67.0%), and 45.4% had a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score that indicated at least moderate depression. In a multivariable analysis, depression was negatively associated with resilience, and education was positively associated with resilience (p < .0001; p = .031). There was no significant correlation between physical activity and depression or resilience. An exploratory analysis did not indicate that depression mediated the relationship between physical activity and resilience. There is a need to address low levels of physical activity in women living with HIV. Interventions that address resilience and depressive symptoms may lead to improved mental health.

The rapid growth of tech company headquarters such as Apple, Facebook, and Google could potentially put new pressure on the housing market in adjacent residential neighborhoods, in the form of housing price appreciation and real estate speculation. This article examines the relationship between the big tech corporate campuses and Silicon Valley/San Francisco housing markets using the Zillow (ZTRAX) transaction and tax assessor data. The authors compare real estate activity adjacent to new company locations with activity in nearby areas, conducting a difference-in-differences analysis to estimate changes in housing prices and speculation. They find that housing prices increase overall by an additional 7.1% in the immediate vicinity of the tech campus 2 years after arrival, with wide variation across campuses. The authors also identify significant real estate speculation occurring prior to firms’ arrival. This suggests that cities should take a proactive role in mitigating tech firm impacts on vulnerable adjacent neighborhoods.

Fish are aquatic organisms and are often used as biological indicators of heavy metals in waters, because fish belong to the highest trophic level and their nature is to settle in certain habitats. This research aims to explore the Cu content in milkfish from the Bima Bay milkfish aquaculture to determine the copper content in milkfish from the Bima Bay milkfish aquaculture. The usefulness of this research is to provide information on the Cu content of milkfish aquaculture in Bima Bay. This research was conducted for four months, starting from February - June 2021. Sampling was carried out by purposive sampling at 2 location points with three repetitions. Samples were analyzed at BLKPK NTB Province using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry tool. The results showed that the Cu Content in Palibelo ranged from 0.814 mg/kg (ppm) to 0.915 mg/kg (ppm), so that an average of 0.856 mg/kg (ppm) was obtained. Meanwhile, the Cu Content in Melayu ranged from 0.351 mg/kg (ppm) to 0.441 mg/kg (ppm), so that an average of 0.387 mg/kg (ppm) was obtained. The average total Cu content in milkfish in the Bima Bay area is 0.621 mg/kg (ppm). Based on these results, it can be concluded that the Cu content in milkfish meat from milkfish aquaculture in Bima Bay is 0.621 mg/kg (ppm). The content is very far below the threshold according to the Regulation of the Dirjen POM No.03725/B/SK/VII/89 which is 20 mg/kg so that it is safe for consumption by the public.

New data on the distribution of the bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica (Linnaeus, 1758) and red-throated diver Gavia stellata (Pontoppidan, 1763) on the Crimean Peninsula are presented. Against the backdrop of aquatic and coastal ecosystems’ transformation under natural and anthropogenic impact, even single finds of hydrophilic avifauna representatives in atypical spatiotemporal conditions are of interest for the analysis of emerging trends in migration phenology and abundance of both separate species and taxonomic and ecological groups of birds. The aim of the study was to clarify the distribution boundaries and terms of stay on the Crimean Peninsula of two hydrophilic bird species: semiaquatic species, bar-tailed godwit, and true water bird, red-throated diver. Bird observations were carried out during scheduled accountings on the Isthmus of Ak-Monay (March 2012) and in the Kruglaya Bay (Sevastopol) (July 2019). The bar-tailed godwit is registered in Crimea during spring and autumn migration periods. For the first time, it was found in the north of the Crimean Peninsula in 1972; later, there were an increase in its abundance and expansion of a distribution area. Recent records of this species in southern Crimea significantly expanded the known boundaries of its distribution on the peninsula during the migration period. The observation of the bar-tailed godwit in eastern Crimea on 14 March, 2012, specified the date its spring migration begins; the observation in Sevastopol (western foothill) on 27 July, 2019, was the first one in Mountain Crimea. Off the Crimean coast, the red-throated diver is a rare overwintering and migratory bird. The find of the red-throated diver individual in the Kruglaya Bay on 19 January, 2020, was the third reliable record of this species overwintering in Crimea and the first one in Sevastopol area. The registration of the red-throated diver at a considerable distance from its usual overwintering areas (off the southwestern coast of the Black Sea), along with numerous facts of the expansion of nesting or winter ranges of different bird species northward, confirms the ongoing climatic and ecological changes. Particular attention should be focused on the problem, associated with low ecological culture of the use and disposal of fishing tackles, which have a detrimental effect on hydrophilic birds. Measures have to be developed to regulate fishing with nets, hooks, and line tackles in the areas of bird mass overwintering and seasonal migrations.

We investigated how the nutrient status of Matsushima Bay was affected when a wastewater plant was destroyed by a tsunami in March 2011. The nutrient concentrations in the seawater and the treated water from the wastewater plant increased just after the tsunami, but decreased again to pre-tsunami levels after 2013. The amount of untreated water that passed through the wastewater plant decreased just after the tsunami. It was estimated that approximately 40.7 × 103 m3/day of the treated water from the wastewater plant was discharged to Matsushima Bay; therefore, the quantity of effluent from the wastewater plant was less than one percent of the water inflow from Takagi River and Sendai Bay (which are outside Matsushima Bay) to Matsushima Bay. The nutrient concentrations of seawater in Sendai Bay were lower than those in Matsushima Bay. The results suggest that nutrient concentrations in Matsushima Bay after the tsunami did not increase because any untreated or poorly treated effluent was easily diluted by the river flow and the inflow of seawater. Many people were concerned about eutrophication, therefore, because of the decreased functioning of the wastewater plant in Matsushima Bay. Marked eutrophication in the bay was not observed after August 2011.

The intertidal serpulid polychaete Spirobranchus kraussii was originally described from South Africa and has since been reported in numerous sub (tropical) localities around the world. Recently, however, S. kraussii was uncovered as a complex of morphologically similar and geographically restricted species, raising the need to revise S. cf. kraussii populations. We formally describe S. cf. kraussii from Singapore mangroves as Spirobranchus bakau sp. nov. based on morphological and molecular data. Despite their morphological similarities, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses of 18S and Cyt b DNA sequence data confirm that S. bakau sp. nov. is genetically distinct from S. kraussii and other known species in the complex. Both analyses recovered S. bakau sp. nov. as part of a strongly supported clade (96% bootstrap, 1 posterior probability), comprising S. sinuspersicus, S. kraussii and S. cf. kraussii from Australia and Hawaii. Additionally, paratypes of S. kraussii var. manilensis, described from Manila Bay in the Philippines, were examined and elevated to the full species S. manilensis. Finally, we tested the hypothesis that fertilisation and embryonic development of S. bakau sp. nov. can occur under the wide range of salinities (19.6–30.9 psu) and temperatures (25–31°C) reported in the Johor Strait. Fertilisation success of ≥70% was achieved across a temperature range of 25–32°C and a salinity range of 20–32 psu. Embryonic development, however, had a narrower salinity tolerance range of 27–32 psu. Clarifying the taxonomic status of S. cf. kraussii populations reported from localities elsewhere in Singapore and Southeast Asia will be useful in establishing the geographical distribution of S. bakau sp. nov. and other members of the S. kraussii-complex.

The contribution of macroalgae to the removal process of diesel fuel from the Kola Bay of the Barents Sea was estimated. The calculations were based on the results of: 1) recent expeditionary observations of the reserves, spreading, and biomass of algae macrophyte of the phyla Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta, as well as the class Phaeophyceae of the phylum Ochrophyta, inhabiting three bay areas; 2) laboratory research of the ability of macroalgae Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosus, F. distichus, F. serratus, Saccharina latissima, Palmaria palmata, and Ulvaria obscura to neutralize the toxic effect of diesel fuel. As shown, the total contribution of the algae studied into bioremediation of diesel fuel in the bay was of 312 kg·day−1. The differences in the absorption capacity of algae macrophyte were revealed. This process was most efficiently carried out by S. latissima; the minimum efficiency of participation in bioremediation was determined for U. obscura. It was concluded that the existing littoral and sublittoral thickets of marine macroalgae of the Kola Bay can be considered as the key element in the implementation of the preventive, daily cleaning of coastal water from the petroleum products. The inclusion in the calculations of data on the ability of other representatives of the bay phytobenthos to neutralize diesel fuel may increase the role of algae macrophyte in cleaning the coastal marine areas from the petroleum products. As concluded, the thickets of brown algae can be considered as the key component of repair and homeostasis in coastal ecosystems. The destruction of even a part of algae natural communities can change the ecosystem balance.

Comprehensive geophysical surveys including magnetotelluric, seismic, and aerial gravity–magnetic surveys are essential for understanding the history of Antarctic tectonics. The ice sheet and uppermost structure derived from those geophysical methods are relatively low resolution. Although ice-penetrating radar can provide high-resolution reflectivity images of the ice sheet, it cannot provide constraints on subice physical properties, which are important for geological understanding of the Antarctic continent. To obtain high-resolution images of the ice sheet and uppermost crustal structure beneath the Larsemann Hills, Prydz Bay, East Antarctica, we conduct an ambient noise seismic experiment with 100 short-period seismometers spaced at 0.2 km intervals. Continuous seismic waveforms are recorded for one month at a 2 ms sampling rate. Empirical Green’s functions are extracted by cross correlating the seismic waveform of one station with that of another station, and dispersion curves are extracted using a new phase-shift method. A high-resolution shear-velocity model is derived by inverting the dispersion curves. Furthermore, body waves are enhanced using a set of processing techniques commonly used in seismic exploration. The stacked body-wave image clearly shows a geological structure similar to that revealed by the shear-wave velocity model. This study, which is the first of its kind in Antarctica, possibly reveals a near-vertical intrusive rock covered by an ice sheet with a horizontal extent of 4 km. Our results help to improve the understanding of the subice environment and geological evolution in the Larsemann Hills, Prydz Bay, East Antarctica.

Ankistromeces Nolan & Cribb, 2004 and Phthinomita Nolan & Cribb, 2006 are sister genera of threadlike blood flukes (Trematoda: Aporocotylidae) infecting teleost fishes of the tropical Indo-west Pacific. Here, we report new collections of these genera from Australia, Indonesia, and Japan. A new species of Ankistromeces, Ankistromeces kawamurai n. sp., is described from Siganus spinus (Linnaeus) off Okinawa, Japan, and a new species of Phthinomita, Phthinomita abdita n. sp., from Choerodon cephalotes (Castelnau), in Moreton Bay, Australia; the new species are morphologically cryptic within their respective genera and are delineated by molecular and ecological data. Ankistromeces olsoni Nolan & Cribb, 2006 is reported from Siganus fuscescens (Houttuyn) off Heron Island (southern Great Barrier Reef), Lizard Island (northern Great Barrier Reef), and Okinawa and Wakayama Prefectures, Japan and from Siganus spinus (Linnaeus) from off Bali, Indonesia. Ankistromeces mariae Nolan & Cribb, 2004 is re-reported from the type-host, Meuschenia freycineti (Quoy & Gaimard), from a new location, Gypsy Bay, Tasmania. Phthinomita poulini Nolan & Cribb, 2006 is re-reported from its type-locality, Lizard Island, from a range of mullids, including five new host species, and its range is extended to include Moreton Bay. Phthinomita symplocos Nolan & Cribb, 2006 is reported from Bali and P. hallae Nolan & Cribb, 2006, P. jonesi Nolan & Cribb, 2006, P. littlewoodi Nolan & Cribb, 2006, and P. munozae Nolan & Cribb, 2006 are each re-reported from their type-host and type-localities. New cox1 mtDNA data were generated for all known species of these two genera from new and archival material. Analyses of these data enabled an evaluation of all known Phthinomita species; P. robertsthomsoni Nolan & Cribb, 2006 is synonymised with P. adlardi Nolan & Cribb, 2006, and P. brooksi Nolan & Cribb, 2006 is synonymised with P. sasali Nolan & Cribb, 2006. We highlight the failure of ITS2 data to delineate closely related aporocotylid species. In contrast, cox1 sequence data are proving reliable and effective in this context and we recommend their incorporation in future studies of blood fluke taxonomy.

Grunts (family Haemulidae) are among the most commercially important fish in Bangladesh. This paper provides brief diagnostic characters of five previously reported grunt species: Plectorhinchus pictus (Thunberg, 1792); Pomadasys andamanensis McKay et Satapoomin, 1994; Pomadasys argenteus (Forsskål, 1775); Pomadasys argyreus (Valenciennes, 1833); Pomadasys maculatus (Bloch, 1793) and two new distributional records: Pomadasys guoraca (Cuvier, 1829) and Plectorhinchus macrospilus Satapoomin et Randall, 2000. The fishes were collected from the Saint Martin’s Island coral reef-like ecosystem and the adjacent sea of the Sundarbans mangrove forest of Bangladesh. The examined specimens were identified and diagnosed based on their morphometric characters and DNA barcoding COI gene. The new records of Pomadasys guoraca and Plectorhinchus macrospilus from Bangladesh greatly extend their distributional range in the Bay of Bengal. An updated checklist of grunts of Bangladesh is provided.

Structures installed to modify hydrology in waterways such as culverts can cause fragmentation across intertidal and subtidal areas, leading to increased habitat patchiness of previous interconnected habitats. This study aimed to understand the potential impacts of a 268-m culvert on habitat parameters in a large tidal bay and a coastal lagoon in Southern California. We analyzed key habitat characteristics of both sites including water conditions and sediment characteristics as well as biotic communities including zooplankton, benthic macroinvertebrate, and fish communities. As compared to the tidal bay, the lagoon had more extreme temperature differences, decreased dissolved oxygen and salinity, and lower zooplankton abundance. The composition of zooplankton, benthic macroinvertebrates, and small fish communities also differed between the two habitats, suggesting higher habitat heterogeneity than might be expected given their proximity. Removing the culvert that connects these habitats and returning it to an earth-lined open channel would decrease fragmentation between the two habitats and improve trophic quality while retaining the estuarine characteristics of the overall system.

Selected biological collections of the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, are presented. The collection of fungi deposited in the Department of Algology and Mycology, consisting of ca. 60,000 vouchers, is one of the largest and most valuable in Poland. It contains macromycetes, plant parasitic fungi, lichens (lichenized fungi), lichenicolous fungi and fungus-like slime molds. Most of them come from various regions of Poland, as well as from Europe and America. The collection of invertebrates of the Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology counts over 1,000,000 specimens. These are freshwater invertebrates (mainly insects, annelids and mollusks) and marine animals (polychaetes, crustaceans, echinoderms). The collection includes materials from different regions of Poland, the Balkans, the Pontic-Caspian region and North Africa. Marine animal collections come mainly from the Antarctic region and the Bay of Biscay. The collections of the Natural History Museum have not only great scientific, but also historical and exhibitional value. The museum has a paleontological collection, a collection of skeletons, a collection of mammals and birds, and a collection of invertebrates, especially insects coming from various regions of the world. In total, over 100,000 specimens have been collected, including exhibits rarely found in other Polish museums.

The intensity and frequency variability of cyclones in the North Indian Ocean (NIO) have been amplified over the last few decades. The number of very severe cyclonic storms (VSCSs) over the North Indian Ocean has increased over recent decades. “Phailin”, an extreme severe cyclonic storm (ESCS), occurred during 8–13 October 2013 over the Bay of Bengal and made landfall near the Gopalpur coast of Odisha at 12 UTC on 12 October. It caused severe damage here, as well as in the coastal Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and adjoining regions due to strong wind gusts (~115 knot/h), heavy precipitation, and devastating storm surges. The fidelity of the WRF model in simulating the track and intensity of tropical cyclones depends on different cloud microphysical parameterization schemes. Thus, four sensitivity simulations were conducted for Phailin using double-moment and single-moment microphysical (MP) parameterization schemes. The experiments were conducted to quantify and characterize the performance of such MP schemes for Phailin. The simulations were performed by the advanced weather research and forecasting (WRF-ARW) model. The model has two interactive domains covering the entire Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal Odisha on 25 km and 8.333 km resolutions. Milbrandt–Yau (MY) double-moment and WRF single-moment microphysical schemes, with 6, 5, and 3 classes of hydrometeors, i.e., WSM6, WSM5, and WSM3, were used for the simulation. Experiments for Phailin were conducted for 126 h, starting from 00 UTC 08 October to 06 UTC 13 October 2013. It was found that the track, intensity, and structure of Phailin are highly sensitive to the different microphysical parameterization schemes. Further, the precipitation and cloud distribution were studied during the ESCS stage of Phailin. The microphysics schemes (MY, WSM3, WSM5, WSM6), along with Grell–Devenyi ensemble convection scheme predicted landfall of Phailin over the Odisha coast with significant track errors. Supply of moisture remains a more crucial component than SST and wind shear for rapid intensification of the Phailin 12 h before landfall over the Bay of Bengal. Finally, the comparison of cyclone formation between two decades 2001–2010 and 2011–2020 over the Bay of Bengal inferred that the increased numbers of VSCS are attributed to the supply of abundant moisture at low levels in the recent decade 2011–2020.

Foraminifera are found in all marine environments, but they are very particular about the congenial environment for their reproduction, diversity and abundance. To understand the influence of bottom water parameters on the distribution of foraminifera from the shallow shelf region of Bay of Bengal, off Tiruchendur, Southeast Coast of Tamil Nadu, sediment and bottom water samples were collected at 27 stations, along three traverses viz. from off Veerapandianpattinam, off Tiruchendur and from off Alandurai, ranging in depths from 1.6m to 18.5m. The samples were collected during three seasons representing, summer (May 2016), pre monsoon (October 2016) and winter (January 2017) and thus the total samples amounted to 81. A total of 105 species of foraminifera have been identified from 47 genera, 32 families, 16 superfamilies and 4suborders. Among these 105 foraminiferal species, five were found to be widespread and abundant viz. Ammonia beccarii, A. tepida, Asterorotalia inflata, Nonioniodes boueanum and Quinqueloculina seminulam. Various bottom water parameters such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH were determined and correlated with the foraminiferal population. Temporally, higher temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH of bottom water observed during summer (May 2016) were congenial for higher population in the study area. Optimum conditions for the higher population and abundance of foraminifera are: Temperature: > 32.0°C, Dissolved oxygen: >6.0 mg/l, Salinity: >32 ppt and pH>8.1.

Combining documentary analysis with hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), we conduct a comparative study of innovation policies in two municipalities included in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) initiative—the Chinese government’s plan to link eleven cities into an economic and business hub. After identifying innovation policies/agencies in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, we apply the HCA to compare similarities and differences between their innovation policies and assess how these policies align with the ‘cross-border regional innovation system’ (CBRIS) conceptual approach. We find that Hong Kong’s innovation policies are multitudinous, fragmented, and overlapping, whereas Shenzhen’s innovation policies are more targeted and more clearly differentiated, with a strong focus on strategic emerging industries. The two cities could strengthen their developing but weakly integrated CBRIS by collaborating in four areas of innovation policy: talent recruitment, joint R&D activities, enterprise competitiveness, and support for start-ups. The GBA initiative can succeed by driving innovation from a CBRIS perspective.

This study aimed to characterize the dynamics of sheltered beaches in the Paraty area and their susceptibility to storm events. The adopted methodology consisted of 40 beach topographic profiles, collection of 38 samples for granulometric and morphoscopy analysis, and calculation of the emerged volume of sediments. The sheltered beaches in Paraty have low-energy waves, which reach about 0.5 m under stormy conditions. These beaches have different levels of exposure to storm events, which is directly associated with the direction of wave incidence, bay entrance orientation, and the presence of islands. There are records of wave transposition, damage to urban structures, and erosion, which point to the susceptibility of this coast to storm events. Washover deposits were observed at Sao Goncalo, Taquari, and Prainha. On Jabaquara, there is erosion, with a reduction in the sediment volume at the southern end of the beach, with concomitant destruction of buildings and fallen trees. The erosion process in Jabaquara is associated with the low sediment exchange; storm waves, responsible for removing sediment from the beaches, without subsequent replacement (post-storm); and the interventions carried out in the area, which may have altered the local hydrodynamics. The sediments of these beaches vary widely in size, from gravel and sands to mud in areas near mangroves, increasing from the backshore to the nearshore zone. The quartz grains of the sands are in general sub-angular, showing the low maturity of these materials, which is common on coasts subject to the offer of sediments from local fluvial influence.

Coastal regions are vulnerable areas with often high population density, as well as tourism and maritime activities that may have negative impact on the environment. From a physical point of view, coastal areas may be characterized by high gradient topography and irregular coastline shapes resulting in complex dynamic systems. The monitoring of coastal circulation becomes necessary to support coastal management and to understand the high variability of the dynamics. The simultaneous use of comprehensive observational systems and numerical models may compensate the drawback of each method used separately. The Toulon coastal area is under investigation in this paper by means of HF RADAR and ADCP observations coupled with nested models. The integration of the different data sets allows the monitoring of the coastal ocean continuum from regional oceans and shelf areas. Summer and winter 2018 data are analyzed to depict the seasonal variability of the regional circulation mainly characterized by the geostrophic Northern boundary Current, the wind-driven bay circulation and the connectivity between the bay, the surrounding Marine Protected Area and the open sea.

Azov is freezing sea it means that forecast of the time of the beginning and the end of ice fields formation needs. The ice condition limited of maritime safety. Modern condition of ice regime in the Azov Sea has been considered. The navigation of the Ukrainian ports Berdjansk and Mariupol depends on ice regime, duration and ice cover thickness. For the passage of vessels along the sea approach channels and recommended courses in the winter, the use of icebreakers is required. The demolition of confining buoys by ice fields and their restoration is reflected in the economic opportunities of the ports. Purpose of the article is to establish the characteristic winter periods of the last decade, taking into account the climatic changes for the rational using of the results of the impact on the economic activity of the marine infrastructure and hydrographic services. The specific purpose of this publication is to evaluate the displacement of the means of navigation equipment – buoys in the winter, taking into account meteorological factors. The authors set the following tasks: 1) to identify periods and vectors of buoys; 2) to define wind and ice characteristics in separate periods; 3) to reveal the basic meteorological cause of the movement of the buoys. It is important to note that there are no similar publications concerning this region. It became very actual after the climate change period was marked. The reserach is based on the data of direct and remote observations, the dates of ice formation in the area of seaports of Ukraine (Berdyansk and Mariupol) the characteristics of ice, the end of freezing, the opening and clearing of ice from the water areas of ports and bays and using the information from NAVTEX warning system, the archival materials of the weather site meteo.ua. The features of the physicochemical properties of sea water during ice formation and the general circulation of the waters of the Azov Sea are examined, which is linked with the influence of fresh runoff of Don and Kuban rivers. In the period 2013–2021 the observations were made on the displacement of navigation aids (buoys) during the winter periods from the approach channels of the port of Mariupol and Berdjansk as well as noticed buoys from the Azov-Don Marine Channel (Russian Federation). The characteristic of winter periods and conditions during the last decade are considered taking into account the influence of climatic changes. It is noted that the ice regime of the Sea of Azov is closely related with the sum of average daily air tem peratures over the sea for the season and wind power. According to this criterion, winters are usually divided into three types: severe, moderate and mild. Over the past 30 years, there were only two severe winters in the Azov Sea in 2005–2006 and 2011–2012. During these winters, the Azov Sea was completely ice covered. The influence of the ice regime to the coastal zone was examined, because it is very important for the industrial and economic needs of state building. To maintain the safety of navigation and reduce economic losses, it is necessary to consider the possibility of removing buoys, which are most often displaced by ice drift. Long-term average observations indicate the beginning of ice formation in Mariupol on December 14, and in Berdyansk on December 20. The Taganrog Bay and the ice accumulation areas are cleared of ice most recently – March 20–28. Under modern climatic changes (increasing the frequency of mild winters, actual costs for the operation of ships, hydrographic, icebreakers, etc.) are expected to be an order of magnitude lower than standard indicators.

Understanding the transport of sediments in urban estuaries and their effects on water quality and microorganisms is a convergent challenge that has yet to be addressed especially as a result of natural hazards that affect the hydrodynamics of estuarine systems. This study provides a holistic view of the longitudinal nature and character of sediment in an urban estuary, the Galveston Bay Estuary System (GBES), under daily and extreme flow regimes and presents the results of water and sediment sampling after Hurricane Harvey. The sediment sampling quantified total suspended sediment (TSS) concentrations, metal concentrations, and the diversity of microbial communities. The results revealed the impact of the substantial sediment loads that were transported into the GBES in terms of sediment grain type, the spatial distribution of trace metals, and the diversity of microbial communities. A measurable shift in the percentage of silt relative to historical norms was noted in the GBES after Hurricane Harvey. Not only did sediment metal data confirms this shift and its ensuing impact on metal concentrations; microbial data provided ample evidence of the effect of leaks and spills from wastewater treatment plants, superfund sites, and industrial runoff on microbial diversity. The research demonstrates the importance of understanding longitudinal sediment transport and deposition in estuarine systems under daily flow regimes but more critically, following natural hazard events to ensure sustainability and resilience of systems such as the GBES that encounter numerous acute and chronic stresses.

This case study presents findings from an analysis of the emergency preparation and response for Hurricane Irma, the most recent hurricane impacting the Tampa Bay region. The Tampa Bay region, in particular, is considered one of the most vulnerable areas in the United States to hurricanes and severe tropical weather. A particular vulnerability stems from how all petroleum fuel comes to the area by marine transport through Port Tampa Bay, which can be (and has been in the past) impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms. The case study discussed in this paper covers previous fuel challenges, vulnerabilities, and lessons learned by key Tampa Bay public agency fleets during the past 10 years (mainly as a result of the most recent 2017 Hurricane Irma) to explore ways to improve the area’s resilience to natural disasters. Some of the strategies for fuel-supply resiliency include maintaining emergency fuel supply, prioritizing fuel use, strategically placing the assets around the region to help with recovery, investing in backup generators (including generators powered by alternative fuels), planning for redundancies in fuel supply networks, developing more efficient communication procedures between public fleets, hurricane preparedness-planning, and upgrading street drainage systems to reduce the threat of local flooding.

The Bay of Bengal covers a vast expanse of area, it being warmer, holds signatures of climate change. Its impact and the parameters have been studied in terms of rise in temperature, sea level change, increased rainfall, drought, heat waves, the intensity of tropical cyclones, ocean acidification and ocean productivity. In the last 45 years, sea surface temperature (SST) has risen by 0.2 to 0.3°C and is projected to rise further by 2.0 to 3.5°C by the end of this century. As a result, the sea level is expected to also rise 37 cm by 2050. The Bay of Bengal is witnessing an increase in the intensity of cyclones in the last two decades. Floods and droughts have increased over the years and are a growing threat to plant and animal life. Ocean acidification and increase in the sea surface temperature have made many fish species a major part of the coastal food chain vulnerable to its productivity. Hence, the collection of real time data and its continuous monitoring of the Bay of Bengal is essential to predict and project the future climate change to its accuracy both in space and time.

Bottom sediments from Lake Pervoe Starushechye, on the White Sea shore, near Korabelnaya Bay, Chupa Town, 500 m from an archaeological site, were analyzed. The aim of our studies was to determine the position of the sea shoreline, to correlate archaeological sites relative to it, to date ancient settlements, and to reconstruct the paleoclimatic conditions and habitats of ancient people. Spore and pollen, diatom, and radiocarbon (14C) analyses were done. New evidence for the time of retreat of the seashore, the isolation of Lake Pervoe Starushechye from it and the time of the possible invasion of the area by ancient people was obtained. People were shown to inhabit the area from 3970 ± 120 to 3250 ± 120 14С y.a., when the sea shoreline reached modern levels of 19–22 m. The lake was then a ~8 m deep White Sea bay, in which marine gyttja was deposited. These events are reflected in the stratigraphy of the sequence and supported by the results of diatom and spore and pollen analyses. About 3500 y.a., mean annual temperatures in North Karelia were 2°С and annual precipitation ~50 mm/year higher than modern values. Spruce and pine-spruce forests with aspen and alder patches grew on the shore. A favorable climate and exuberant vegetation attracted people. Therefore, it is at the Atlantic-Subboreal boundary that the archaeological sites located at the above altitudes could arise. The lake separated from the White Sea 3020 ± 90 14С y.a. Freshwater sapropel was deposited in the isolated lake, as indicated by the composition of diatom flora and spore and pollen spectra. The sea shoreline declined to 17–16 m. Light-coniferous pine lichen-green moss forests with light-loving oligotrophic grasses were spreading actively throughout the study area.

This study aimed to analyze the heavy metal contamination in sediments and their potential ecological risks. The sediment samples were collected using PVC pipes and grab samplers at nine study sites in Youtefa Bay, namely five sites in the mangrove ecosystem, two sites in the estuary, and two sites in the middle of the bay. The heavy metal content was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The results of the analysis of the heavy metal content in the sediment were in the following order: Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cr > Cd > As > Hg (106.077±98.857, 28.553±30.505, 19.798±11.541, 17.665±11.457, 12.103±0.124, 2.996±1.235, 0.149±0.124, and 0.082±0.047 mg kg-1, respectively). Only the Cd content has exceeded the Threshold Effect Level (TEL) at all study sites. On the other hand, the As and Cr content has not exceeded TEL at any study site. The content of Hg, Cr, Pb, Zn, and Ni has exceeded TEL only at a few study sites. The heavy metal content in estuary sites is higher than in mid-bay and mangrove sites, which can provide the information on the sources of heavy metal contaminants. There is a significant correlation for the content of Cu, As, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Ni which can indicate that the sources of these heavy metals are relatively the same (r = 0.569 to r = 0.950). The CF and Igeo values indicate that there has been contamination of several heavy metals studied. Further analysis (ERI) showed that the heavy metal content in the sediments poses a potentially serious ecological risk. Most of the potential ecological risks are the contribution of Cd and Hg which have high toxicity factors and this should receive special attention from local governments and stakeholders to prevent higher contamination.

The variability of convective activity over the north Indian Ocean (Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea) on inter-annual and longer time scales and their association with the onset, withdrawal, break and seasonal rainfall over India during the monsoon season from June to September (JJAS) has been investigated by using 40-year (1980–2019) monthly mean outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) data. The 40-year period has been divided into two groups of 20 years with the first 20 years from 1980 to 1999 (hereafter called F8099) and second 20 years from 2000 to 2019 (hereafter called L2019). It is seen that the mean sea surface temperature (SST) over the north Indian Ocean shows higher values during period L2019 compared to that in period F8099. The inter-annual variability of SST shows a significant increasing trend both over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal with a comparatively higher rate of increase of SST over the Arabian Sea. Associated with this increasing SST, the degree of moist static convective instability and associated convective rainfall is also increased during period L2019 compared to period F8099 with a magnitude of difference that is higher over the Arabian Sea compared to the Bay of Bengal. On an inter-annual scale, a significant decreasing trend of OLR anomaly (thus, an increase in convective activity) is also noticed mainly over the Arabian Sea, which is correlated with the monsoon rainfall over most of India. The analysis also indicated that there is rapid progress of monsoon to the north after its onset over the southern tip of India leading to early onset over northern India along with delayed withdrawal phase of monsoon from northwest India in period L2019 compared to period F8099 is basically due to the increasing convective activity over the north Arabian Sea and neighbourhood during the onset and withdrawal phase of monsoon, respectively. During the peak monsoon phase of July–August, convective activity over the North Bay of Bengal (NBAY) is correlated positively with the break frequency, whereas the convective activity over the North Arabian Sea (NARA), South Arabian Sea (SARA) and South Bay of Bengal (SBAY) regions are related inversely with the frequency of monsoon break.

Tropical Cyclone (TC) is the most destructive weather phenomenon in the Indian sub-continent. To mitigate the destruction due to TC better prediction is needed. So, the study of sensitivity of different physical schemes in WRF-ARW model with intensification and track of TC is important. In this study, sensitivity of Yonsei University (YSU), Asymmetric Convective Model version 2 (ACM2), Bougeault-Lacarrere (Boulac), Medium-Range Forecast (MRF), Mellor-Yamada Nakanishi and Niino Level 2.5 (MYNN2.5) and Level 3 (MYNN3) Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) schemes are used to simulate the TC ‘Titli’ which made land fall near Palasa in North Andrha Pradesh and South Odhisha coasts at 0000 UTC of 11th October. National center for environmental prediction Global Final Reanalysis (FNL) data have been used as an initial and lateral boundary conditions. Variation of heat flux, latent heat flux and moisture flux with time for these schemes are shown which are responsible to intensify the TC. Model simulated intensity i.e., minimum central pressure, maximum sustained wind speed at the surface (10 m) and track are compared with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) estimated value. It can be specified that the Boulac, MYNN2.5 and MYNN3 schemes simulate the better intensity and track of TC ‘Titli’.

This article presents data on the contents of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, and Cd in the tissues of the tunic, muscular sac, stomach, digestive gland, and gonads of the ascidian Halocynthia aurantium Pallas, 1787 from Peter the Great Bay and Kievka Bay (Sea of Japan). The physiologically important elements Fe, Mn, and Zn prevailed in almost all organs of ascidians in terms of their concentration levels. Patterns of metal distribution in the organs and tissues of H. aurantium were determined depending on their age. The levels of content of Zn, Mn, and Cu were similar in the organs of 2- and 3-year-old individuals. The element concentrations were highest in the digestive gland (Zn), stomach (Zn, Cu), tunic (Mn), and gonads (Cu). The content of Mn in the tunic of H. aurantium from different biotopes was higher compared to other organs. The content of Pb in the tissues of H. aurantium from Kievka Bay was higher than that of the tissues of ascidians from the other studied localities.

The age composition and growth parameters of Red Sea goatfish, Parupeneus forsskali collected from Iskenderun Bay in the northeastern Mediterranean Sea were investigated. A total of 207 specimens ranging from 113 to 264 mm in total length were captured. The population was dominated by males (1.00 : 2.34). Age determination was conducted using the sagitta otoliths, ranged from 0 to 5 years. The age 3 was dominated in the population (71.73%). Value of b was higher than 3 for females (4.15), males (3.26) and combined sexes (3.53). The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated: L-infinity = 358.5 mm, k = 0.122 year (-1), t(0) = -3.90 year for females; L-infinity = 383.5 mm, k = 0.131 year (-1), t(0)= -3.25 year for males and L-infinity = 479.2 mm, k = 0.085 year (-1), t(0)= -3.88 year for combined sexes. The growth performance index (o) was calculated for females, males and combined sexes and found to be 2.19, 2.28 and 2.29, respectively. The maturity ogive (TL50) of P. forsskali was calculated as 189 mm for both sexes.

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) has become part of the largest waste stream globally and many cities are facing the shortage of management capability to treat CDW. These cities seek to transport their CDW to their neighbor cities for recycling or landfilling, which is recognized as the cross-regional management of CDW. However, there were few studies to investigate the mechanism of cross-regional mobility in CDW field. This study developed a model to evaluate the self-fulfillment degree of CDW management capability at regional level based on the Triple-balance theory. Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) was selected as the study case, and the data was collected through on-site surveys, expert interviews, and desktop surveys. The results showed that the self-fulfillment degree of CDW management capability of the cities, such as Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing was high, which meant these cities could well manage the CDW generated within the regions under current situation. The self-fulfillment degree of management capability of Macao, Huizhou, and Zhongshan was evaluated as medium; while the indicators of Hong Kong and Shenzhen fell into low category, which meant they needed to transport surplus CDW to other cities for further treatment. The research is significant as it provides an innovative evaluation model considering the cross-regional mobility for CDW management performance assessment. Besides, the findings could assist the waste management sectors to plan the CDW treatment facilities in GBA, while other cities could also benefit from this study regarding to the cross-regional mobility management of CDW.

This paper examines the composition of epibiotic algae of four bivalve species, namely, Swift’s scallop, Farrer’s scallop, the Yesso scallop, and the Pacific oyster in the coastal regions of Southern Primorye. Epibiotic flora of the Yesso scallop from 14 areas is composed of 83 species (45 red, 16 brown, and 22 green). The flora of Farrer’s scallop from two areas includes 16 species (13 red, 1 brown, and 2 green). Only nine species of red algae are found on valves of Swift’s scallop from one area. Epibiotic flora of the Pacific oyster from three areas comprises 32 species (20 red, 10 brown, and 2 green). Rhodophyta species are dominant based on the number of species in epibioses of all mollusks in most of the study areas. The high species richness of epibiotic flora of the Yesso scallop is recorded from the mixed colonies of Pos’et Bay (44 species) and the bottom culture of Stark Strait (37). Providing favorable conditions, that is, active hydrodynamics, low water pollution level, and an insignificant deposition of mud, 21 to 25 species of algae occur in natural aggregations of the Yesso scallop. Under unfavorable conditions, the number of species does not exceed 6–12 species. Wild colonies of the two other scallop species are characterized by an even greater Rodophyta dominance based on the number of species. Chlorophyta species (Codium spp.) dominates by biomass in natural epibioses of the Yesso scallop and Farrer’s scallop in clean areas of Peter the Great Bay. Epibiotic flora of the Pacific oyster features the dominance of Phaeophyceae based on the number of species and biomass in the cultivated and biomass in natural colonies.

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of depression among female sex workers (FSW) in an urban coastal city in South Africa, and to explore the relationship between depression and HIV-related social and biobehavioral determinants. A cross-sectional respondent-driven sampling study was conducted with FSW (n = 410), including a sociobehavioral questionnaire, PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) based assessment of depression, and biological testing for HIV and syphilis. The prevalence of HIV in the sample was 64.1%. The estimated prevalence of depression was 28.8%. Depression was associated with social vulnerability such as living alone [adjusted prevalence ratio 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15–2.90] and food insecurity (aPR 2.19, 95% CI 1.42–3.38). A positive syphilis test result (aPR 1.46, 95% CI 1.02–2.09) and self-reported sexually transmitted disease symptoms (aPR 1.78, 95% CI 1.29–2.46) was associated with depression, but self-reported condom use and HIV status was not. FSW were also less likely to disclose their occupational status to health care providers (aPR 0.61, 95% CI 0.42–0.89) or undergo sexually transmitted infection screening in the last 12 months if they are depressed (aPR 0.64, 95% CI 0.43–0.95). The results demonstrate that the prevalence of depression is high among FSW and that depressive symptoms are associated with social covariates and biobehavioral HIV risk factors.

A linear approximation and a finite-element hydrodynamic model ADCIRC were used to study seiche oscillations in the system of Sevastopol bays caused by wave perturbations on the liquid boundary of the model domain. The calculations were carried out for perturbations with periods from 1 to 52 min with impact duration from 4 to 24 h. Resonance periods were found for the bays in the system. The effect of perturbations with a duration of >15 h with periods 1–15 min lead to the generation of intense high-frequency modes with periods 2.0–4.5 min, which become dominant over low-frequency modes (periods >10 min) in all Sevastopol bays, thus creating in them the conditions for harbor seiche formation. The bays interact with one another via energy exchange through their entries, resulting in the penetration of oscillations with periods of characteristics modes of each bay into adjacent bays. The Helmholtz mode of the Bay of Sevastopol (with a period of 48 min) manifests itself in all bays of the system.

Widespread catastrophic fog episodes in polluted northern India have been attributed to tropical cyclone activity in the Bay of Bengal & Arabian Sea; however, limited studies have been conducted on the effect of tropical cyclone intensity (‘T’ Numbers) on different fog characteristics in Indo Gangetic Basin, Northern India. In this study, different characteristics, including persistence, intensity, and areal extension, were analyzed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi during 1998–99, 2013–14, and 2016–17. A high-intensity tropical cyclone (Severe to Very Severe Cyclonic Storm) has been found to significantly increase the persistence, intensity, and areal extension of fog by inducing strong subsidence over the IGI Airport/Indo-Gangetic Basin. This knowledge is vital for improving the short-term forecasting of fog in the Indo-Gangetic Basin of Northern India and will further support the Government agencies to take preventive safety measures and planning well in advance time.

The transport of terrestrial sources of trace elements to the ocean has proven to be crucial in constraining not only their own biogeochemical behaviors but also regulating global carbon cycling and ecosystem changes. Most terrestrial dissolved trace elements are known to be largely scavenged in the estuarine mixing zone or coastal waters before reaching the open ocean, owing to their particle-reactive nature. In this study, we investigated the behavior of trace elements (Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn) and rare earth elements (REEs), together with other biogeochemical parameters, in a coastal embayment, which features a long water residence time. Our results showed intense depletion of inorganic nutrients throughout the bay relative to the fresh and open-ocean water mixing curve. Moreover, REE fractionation also revealed notable particle scavenging with a significant removal of Ce. However, most trace elements (Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn) showed higher concentrations in lower salinity waters and significant positive correlations with humic substances. Thus, we hypothesize that terrestrial trace elements (Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn), associated with terrestrial humic substances, can survive particle scavenging and biological consumption in the coastal mixing zone, and may be important sources of trace elements to the open ocean globally.

Gorgan Bay is one of the unique closed basins in the world and has a special geological and environmental status from a physical oceanographic perspective. In the present case study, local coefficients for heat budget of the area were extracted using in-situ measurements. According to the obtained findings in this study, the shortwave radiation flux, net longwave radiation flux, sensible heat flux, and latent heat flux have been estimated to be about 155 W/m2, −66 W/m2, −20 W/m2, and −187 W/m2, respectively. The rate of heat transfer through Caspian Sea to Gorgan Bay is estimated to be about 1.2 × 109 W. In addition, the rate of the heat transfer through rivers to Gorgan Bay is approximately 2.2 × 106 W, which is negligible. In addition, it was concluded that heat balance, which was investigated for different seasons, is caused by the heat loss through river flows as well as heat exchanges between the Caspian Sea and Gorgan Bay gaps. The amount of advection heat flux is about −31 W/m2, which is equal to the surface heat flux. The mentioned finding indicates that storms not only affect the latent heat flux and sensible heat flux but also have a significant impact on the total heat budget.

Sedimentation in Lake Baikal is significantly affected by continuous seismic activity in the Baikal Rift Zone. Our study shows that historical earthquakes, as well as recent seismic events, considerably influenced sedimentation in this deep tectonic basin. Here we present some of the results of extensive international research activities during the period of 1996–2019. To identify traces of seismic events in the uppermost sediments (