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There are two Triassic vertebrate sites in Villány Hills (Southern Hungary), where productive and continuous excavations have been carried out in the last six years resulting in a rich and diversified assemblage of shallow marine to coastal animals. The studied formations belong to the Villány–Bihor Unit of the Tisza Megaunit, which was located at the passive margin of the European Plate during the Triassic. The relatively diverse vertebrate assemblage was collected from a Road-cut on Templom Hill and a newly discovered site at a construction zone located on the Somssich Hill. Four main lithofacies were identified and interpreted in the newly discovered Construction vertebrate site consisting of dolomite (deposited in a shallow, restricted lagoon environment), dolomarl (shallow marine sediments with enhanced terrigenous input), reddish silty claystone (paleosol) and sandstone (terrigenous provenance) indicating that the sediments of the Construction vertebrate site were formed in a subtidal to peritidal zone of the inner ramp environment, where the main controlling factor of the alternating sedimentation was the climate change. However, the recurring paleosol formation in the middle part of the section also indicates a rapid sea-level fall when the marine sediments were repeatedly exposed to subaerial conditions. In the Road-cut site the siliciclastic sediments of the Mészhegy Sandstone Formation are exposed, representing a nearshore, shallow marine environment characterized by high siliciclastic input from the mainland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the Sympistis badistriga species-group, Sympistis eleaner Adams, sp. n. is described from Sapelo Island, a back-barrier island in coastal Georgia, United States of America. Adults and genitalia of S. eleaner are illustrated, in addition to adults of similar species in the Sympistis badistriga species-group. The composition of this species-group is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cohoke Mill Creek in King William County, Virginia was selected in the early 1990s as a reservoir site to serve the water needs of the growing human population in the City of Newport News. It would have flooded 890 ha of the watershed. At the request of the company overseeing the environmental assessment, we conducted field research during 1994 to document the herpetofauna in terrestrial and wetland habitats. We searched 12 study sites scattered throughout the watershed using multiple techniques and found 23 species of amphibians (14 anurans, 9 salamanders) and 20 species of reptiles (8 turtles, 4 lizards, 8 snakes). We provide an annotated checklist that summarizes our observations on habitat occurrence, activity times, body sizes, weights by sex, clutch size, hatchling emergence times, and prey. Two forested wetlands (seasonally flooded and semi-permanently flooded) contained the highest herpetofaunal diversity of all the sampled wetland types. The herpetofaunal diversity of the Cohoke Mill Creek watershed is typical of the Coastal Plain fauna in the Virginia portion of the mid-Atlantic region. Museum specimens provided the first voucher documentation for amphibians and reptiles in this heretofore unsurveyed watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural conservation of coastal lagoons is important not only for their ecological importance, but also because of the valuable ecosystem services they provide for human welfare and wellbeing. Coastal lagoons are shallow semi-enclosed systems that support important habitats such as wetlands, mangroves, salt-marshes and seagrass meadows, as well as a rich biodiversity. Coastal lagoons are also complex social-ecological systems with ecosystem services that provide livelihoods, wellbeing and welfare to humans. This study assessed, quantified and valued the ecosystem services of 32 coastal lagoons. The main findings of the study are: (i) the definitions of ecosystem services are still not generally accepted; (ii) the quantification of ecosystem services is made in many different ways, using different units; (iii) the evaluation in monetary terms of some ecosystem service is problematic, often relying on non-monetary evaluation methods; (iv) when ecosystem services are valued in monetary terms, this may represent very different human benefits; and, (v) different aspects of climate change, including increasing temperature, sea-level rise and changes in rainfall patterns threaten the valuable ecosystem services of coastal lagoons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbes are the ‘gatekeepers’ of the marine carbon cycle, yet the mechanisms for how microbial metabolism drives carbon sequestration in coastal ecosystems are still being defined. The proximity of coastal habitats to runoff and disturbance creates ideal conditions for microbial priming, i.e., the enhanced remineralisation of stored carbon in response to fresh substrate availability and oxygen introduction. Microbial priming, therefore, poses a risk for enhanced CO 2 release in these carbon sequestration hotspots. Here we quantified the existence of priming in seagrass sediments and showed that the addition of fresh carbon stimulated a 1.7- to 2.7-fold increase in CO 2 release from recent and accumulated carbon deposits. We propose that priming taking place at the sediment surface is a natural occurrence and can be minimised by the recalcitrant components of the fresh inputs (i.e., lignocellulose) and by reduced metabolism in low oxygen and high burial rate conditions. Conversely, priming of deep sediments after the reintroduction to the water column through physical disturbances (e.g., dredging, boat scars) would cause rapid remineralisation of previously preserved carbon. Microbial priming is identified as a process that weakens sediment carbon storage capacity and is a pathway to CO 2 release in disturbed or degraded seagrass ecosystems; however, increased management and restoration practices can reduce these anthropogenic disturbances and enhance carbon sequestration capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Inland and coastal waterbodies are critical components of the global biosphere. Timely monitoring is necessary to enhance our understanding of their functions, the drivers impacting on these functions and to deliver more effective management. The ability to observe waterbodies from space has led to Earth observation (EO) becoming established as an important source of information on water quality and ecosystem condition. However, progress toward a globally valid EO approach is still largely hampered by inconsistences over temporally and spatially variable in‐water optical conditions. In this study, a comprehensive dataset from more than 250 aquatic systems, representing a wide range of conditions, was analyzed in order to develop a typology of optical water types (OWTs) for inland and coastal waters. We introduce a novel approach for clustering in situ hyperspectral water reflectance measurements (n = 4045) from multiple sources based on a functional data analysis. The resulting classification algorithm identified 13 spectrally distinct clusters of measurements in inland waters, and a further nine clusters from the marine environment. The distinction and characterization of OWTs was supported by the availability of a wide range of coincident data on biogeochemical and inherent optical properties from inland waters. Phylogenetic trees based on the shapes of cluster means were constructed to identify similarities among the derived clusters with respect to spectral diversity. This typification provides a valuable framework for a globally applicable EO scheme and the design of future EO missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to develop a simple index for ranking birds' environmental sensitivity to oil in which birds are used as biological indicators. The study area consisted of both the Santos Estuarine System (SES), and the Laje de Santos Marine State Park (LSMSP), located in Southeastern Brazil. Information on the bird species and their feeding and nesting behaviors were obtained from the literature and were the basis of the sensitivity index created. The SES had a higher number of species, but only about 30% were found to be highly sensitive. The LSMSP presented a much lower number of species, but all of them were considered to be highly sensitive to oil. Due to its simplicity, this index can be employed worldwide as a decision-making tool that may be integrated into other management tools, particularly when robust information on the biology of birds is lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to use acoustic telemetry to elucidate the small-scale habitat-utilization patterns of Sphyrna tiburo (Bonnethead Shark, hereafter, Bonnethead) in relation to diel and tidal cycles in a shallow tidal creek system along the coast of Georgia. We found that Bonnetheads utilized the main channel of a tidal creek at night, dawn, and during ebb and low tides. In addition, we found the first evidence of Bonnetheads utilizing smaller 3rd-order creeks. Bonnetheads used these tributaries at night and dawn, during flood and high tides when the water level facilitated access. The movement patterns of these Bonnetheads could be representative of those in other areas with semidiurnal tides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon uptake rates in a tropical eutrophic estuary (Cochin estuary) and the adjacent coastal Arabian Sea were measured for the first time using C-NaHCO labeling technique. The rates in the estuarine water (pre-monsoon 3.0-20.4; monsoon 2.55-12.4; post-monsoon 3.1-16.3 μmol C l h) were significantly higher than the coastal locations (pre-monsoon 0.02-0.1; monsoon 0.13-3.1; post-monsoon 0.007-0.032 μmol C l h). The measured primary productivity in the estuary was relatively higher at mesohaline locations influenced with lateral inputs and TN:TP close to the Redfield ratio (16:1). It suggests that in nutrient replete tropical systems, TN:TP plays a major role in controlling the primary productivity rates. The primary productivity data from the coastal Arabian Sea suggests the effect of estuarine discharge on the carbon uptake rate at nearshore regions and ability of anthropogenic inputs to modulate the coastal biogeochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massive tsunamis induce catastrophic disturbance in marine ecosystems, yet they can provide unique opportunities to observe the process of regeneration. Here, we report the recovery of fauna after the 2011 tsunami in northeast Japan based on underwater visual censuses performed every two months over five years. Both total fish abundance and species richness increased from the first to the second year after the tsunami followed by stabilization in the following years. Short-lived fish, such as the banded goby Pterogobius elapoides, were relatively abundant in the first two years, whereas long-lived species, such as the black rockfish Sebastes cheni, increased in the latter half of the survey period. Tropical fish species were recorded only in the second and third years after the tsunami. The body size of long-lived fish increased during the survey period resulting in a gradual increase of total fish biomass. The recovery of fish assemblages was slow at one site located in the inner bay, where the impact of the tsunami was the strongest. Apart from fish, blooms of the moon jellyfish Aurelia sp. occurred only in the first two years after the tsunami, whereas the abundances of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus and abalone Haliotis discus hannai increased after the second year. Although we lack quantitative data prior to the tsunami, we conclude that it takes approximately three years for coastal reef fish assemblages to recover from a heavy disturbance such as a tsunami and that the recovery is dependent on species-specific life span and habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal sharks face increasing pressure from anthropogenic impacts and environmental change. Estimated population declines in some species have created uncertainty about the effectiveness of existing management approaches. In particular, there are scarce data on the benefits of marine protected areas (MPAs) for sharks, including whether they can be used to conserve multiple sympatric species comprising diverse life histories and habitat use patterns., This study used fishery-independent longline and gill-net surveys to investigate the effects of sub-bay-sized MPAs ( c. 100-300 km2) on the abundance and community structure of tropical coastal sharks. In addition, tag-recapture data from fishery-dependent and fishery-independent sources were used to investigate the movements of individuals across MPA boundaries., Species composition varied significantly between management zones, and overall shark abundance on longlines was higher inside MPAs., Length-frequency distributions of blacktip ( Carcharhinus tilstoni/Carcharhinus limbatus) and pigeye ( Carcharhinus amboinensis) sharks inside MPAs included a greater proportion of sharks larger than c. 800 mm compared with those in open zones, although results varied between gear types for pigeye sharks., Tagging and recapture locations indicated repeated and potentially long-term use of MPAs by individuals of some species., Although the potential benefits of MPAs were not equal for all species, coastal MPAs may increase the survival of young sharks to maturity, or shelter parts of breeding stocks, and therefore do not necessarily need to be large to provide benefits., Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to analyse the growth pattern, to allow biomass estimates and consequently to subsidize the ecosystem modelling, the length-weight relationships (LWR) of 39 fish species from the Araçá Bay, a subtropical coastal area chosen as model for a holistic study comprising environmental, social and economic aspects have been estimated. The objective of this study was to provide LWR for the fishes from the area itself, accurately based on the life stages of fish populations present there. Particularly for Albula vulpes, Trachinotus carolinus, T. falcatus, Archosargus rhomboidalis and Kyphosus sectatrix these are the first records of LWR in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal Brook Trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis) populations are found from northern Canada to New England. The extent of anadromy generally decreases with latitude, but the ecology and movements of more southern populations are poorly understood. We conducted a 33-month acoustic telemetry study of Brook Trout in Red Brook, MA, and adjacent Buttermilk Bay (marine system) using 16 fixed acoustic receivers and surgically implanting acoustic transmitters in 84 individuals. Tagged Brook Trout used the stream, estuary (50% of individuals) and bay (10% of individuals). Movements into full sea water were brief when occurring. GAMM models revealed that transitions between habitat areas occurred most often in spring and fall. Environmental data suggest that use of the saline environment is limited by summer temperatures in the bay. Movements may also be related to moon phase. Compared to more northern coastal populations of Brook Trout, the Red Brook population appears to be less anadromous overall, yet the estuarine segment of the system may have considerable ecological importance as a food resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill released a large volume of 13 C and radiocarbon depleted organic matter to the northern Gulf of Mexico. Evidence of petroleum-derived carbon entering the offshore planktonic foodweb, as well as widespread oiling of coastal areas documented in previous studies suggests that hydrocarbons could have entered the near shore foodweb. To test this hypothesis, we measured radiocarbon ( Δ 14 C%) and stable carbon isotopes ( δ 13 C) in an assortment of fish tissue, invertebrate tissue and shell samples collected within a year of the spill at seven sites from Louisiana to Florida USA across the northern Gulf of Mexico. We observed a west–east gradient with the most depleted radiocarbon values found in Terrebonne Bay, Louisana and increasingly enriched radiocarbon values in organisms collected at sites to the east. Depleted radiocarbon values as low as −10% in invertebrate soft tissue from Terrebonne suggest assimilation of fossil carbon (2.8±1.2%), consistent with the hypothesis that organic matter from petrochemical reservoirs released during the Deepwater Horizon spill entered the coastal food web to a limited extent. Further there was a significant correlation between radiocarbon and δ 13 C values in invertebrate tissue consistent with this hypothesis. Both oyster tissue and hard head catfish tissue collected in impacted areas of coastal Louisiana were significantly depleted in 14 C and 13 C relative to organisms collected in the unaffected Apalachicola Bay, Florida ( p <0.014). Alternative explanations for these results include the influence of chronic hydrocarbon pollution along the western gulf coast or that the organisms ingest carbon derived from 14 C depleted organic matter mobilized during the erosion of coastal marshes in southern Louisiana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Gulls ( Larus spp.) commonly roost in large numbers on inland and coastal waters, yet there is little information on how or where gulls choose sites for roosting. Roost site selection can lead to water quality degradation or aviation hazards when roosts are formed on water supply reservoirs or are close to airports. Harassment programs are frequently initiated to move or relocate roosting gulls but often have mixed results because gulls are reluctant to leave or keep returning. As such, knowledge of gull roost site selection and roosting ecology has applied and ecological importance. We used satellite telemetry and an information-theoretic approach to model seasonal roost selection of ring-billed ( L. delawarensis) and herring gulls ( L. argentatus) in Massachusetts, USA. Our results indicated that ring-billed gulls preferred freshwater roosts and will use a variety of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Herring gulls regularly roosted on fresh water but used salt water roosts more often than ring-billed gulls and also roosted on a variety of land habitats. Roost modeling showed that herring and ring-billed gulls selected inland fresh water roosts based on size of the water body and proximity to their last daytime location; they selected the largest roost closest to where they ended the day. Management strategies to reduce or eliminate roosting gulls could identify and try to eliminate other habitat variables (e.g., close-by foraging sites) that are attracting gulls before attempting to relocate or redistribute (e.g., through hazing programs) roosting birds. © 2016 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estuarine and shallow coastal systems (ESCS) are recognized as not only significant organic carbon reservoirs but also emitters of CO to the atmosphere through air-sea CO gas exchange, thus posing a dilemma on ESCS's role in climate change mitigation measures. However, some studies have shown that coastal waters take up atmospheric CO (C), although the magnitude and determinants remain unclear. We argue that the phenomenon of net uptake of C by ESCS is not unusual under a given set of terrestrial inputs and geophysical conditions. We assessed the key properties of systems that show the net C uptake and found that they are often characteristic of human-dominated systems: (1) input of high terrestrial nutrients, (2) input of treated wastewater in which labile carbon is highly removed, and (3) presence of hypoxia. We propose that human-dominated ESCS are worthy of investigation as a contributor to climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malcolm, H.A., Jordan, A., Schultz, A.L., Smith, S.D.A., Ingleton, T., Foulsham, E., Linklater, M., Davies, P., Ferrari, R., Hill, N., and Lucieer, V., 2016. Integrating seafloor habitat mapping and fish assemblage patterns improves spatial management planning in a marine park. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 1292 - 1296. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are important spatial mechanisms for managing human activities, if effectively planned. The Solitary Islands Marine Park (SIMP), covering 720 km2 of coastal waters in New South Wales, Australia, includes reef and unconsolidated habitats up to 17 km from shore and 75 m depth. When established in 1991, there was limited knowledge of biotic patterns, seafloor habitats and habitat-biotic relationships in the multiple-use SIMP, which constrained effective conservation planning. Subsequent mapping of sub-tidal habitats from aerial photography and single-beam acoustics improved habitat representation following rezoning in 2002 using Comprehensive, Adequate, Representative (CAR) principles and assisted site selection for diver surveys of fishes, a key surrogate taxon. In 2006, a swath acoustic mapping program commenced, which mapped ~35% of the MPA. This has produced high-resolution data on seafloor habitats, including depths >50 m. Bathymetry and backscatter layers have facilitated targeted deployment of Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) to test hypotheses about associations between fishes and physical habitat characteristics. Strong and persistent patterns in fish assemblage composition in relation to particular habitat characteristics provided the basis for a Habitat Classification Scheme (HCS) to be refined with the following categories: substratum (consolidated, unconsolidated), cross-shelf position (inshore, mid, offshore) and depth (shallow, intermediate, deep). Further refinement of unconsolidated substratum into gravel and sand habitats, which were mapped using backscatter layers, improves this classification. The HCS, which integrates habitat and biotic patterns, greatly increases the potential for effective spatial management planning in the SIMP when used with spatial planning tools (e.g. Marxan). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural and anthropogenic changes in the marine environment can strongly influence the biology and behaviour of coastal organisms. Understanding how animals that rely on these habitats respond to environmental change is crucial to inform when management actions should be implemented to mitigate or reduce impacts. Here passive acoustic telemetry was used to monitor the movements of spine-bellied sea snakes ( Hydrophis curtus ) within a coastal ecosystem to define activity patterns in relation to environmental conditions. Presence, movement and three-dimensional home range metrics calculated from monitoring data were tested against environmental (water temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind speed, accumulated rainfall and tidal range) and biological (snout-vent length) factors on daily and monthly temporal scales to identify key environmental drivers of movement and the use of space. A generalised linear mixed model (GLMM) framework using Akaike information criterion (AIC) indicated that tidal reach and atmospheric pressure strongly influenced the daily presence and movements of tagged individuals, respectively. Accumulated rainfall significantly influenced the volume of space used on a monthly timescale. This study presents first estimates of three-dimensional home ranges of sea snakes as well as novel information on how environmental variables influence daily and monthly presence, movements and use of space of coastal sea snakes. These data are important in further understanding the ecology of sea snakes and can inform future management actions for this poorly studied taxon in the light of increased environmental and anthropogenic disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

North America’s coastal mountains are particularly vulnerable to climate change, yet harbour a number of endemic species. With little room “at the top” to track shifting climate envelopes, alpine species may be especially negatively affected by climate-induced habitat fragmentation. We ask how climate change will affect the total amount, mean patch size, and number of patches of suitable habitat for Vancouver Island White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura saxatilis; VIWTP), a threatened, endemic alpine bird. Using a Random Forest model and a unique dataset consisting of citizen science observations combined with field surveys, we predict the distribution and configuration of potential suitable summer habitat for VIWTP under baseline and future (2020s, 2050s, and 2080s) climates using three general circulation models and two greenhouse gas scenarios. VIWTP summer habitat is predicted to decline by an average of 25%, 44%, and 56% by the 2020s, 2050s, and 2080s, respectively, under the low greenhouse gas scenario and 27%, 59%, and 74% under the high scenario. Habitat patches are predicted to become fragmented, with a 52–79% reduction in mean patch size. The average elevation of suitable habitat patches is expected to increase, reflecting a loss of patches at lower elevations. Thus ptarmigan are in danger of being “squeezed off the mountain”, as their remaining suitable habitat will be increasingly confined to mountaintops in the center of the island. The extent to which ptarmigan will be able to persist in increasingly fragmented habitat is unclear. Much will depend on their ability to move throughout a more heterogeneous landscape, utilize smaller breeding areas, and survive increasingly variable climate extremes. Our results emphasize the importance of continued monitoring and protection for high elevation specialist species, and suggest that White-tailed Ptarmigan should be considered an indicator species for alpine ecosystems in the face of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the assemblage structure, spatial distributions, and habitat associations of mountain whitefish ( Prosopium williamsoni) morphotypes and size classes. We hypothesised that morphotypes would have different spatial distributions and would be associated with different habitat features based on feeding behaviour and diet. Spatially continuous sampling was conducted over a broad extent (29 km) in the Calawah River, WA ( USA). Whitefish were enumerated via snorkelling in three size classes: small (10-29 cm), medium (30-49 cm), and large (≥50 cm). We identified morphotypes based on head and snout morphology: a pinocchio form that had an elongated snout and a normal form with a blunted snout. Large size classes of both morphotypes were distributed downstream of small and medium size classes, and normal whitefish were distributed downstream of pinocchio whitefish. Ordination of whitefish assemblages with nonmetric multidimensional scaling revealed that normal whitefish size classes were associated with higher gradient and depth, whereas pinocchio whitefish size classes were positively associated with pool area, distance upstream, and depth. Reach-scale generalised additive models indicated that normal whitefish relative density was associated with larger substrate size in downstream reaches ( R2 = 0.64), and pinocchio whitefish were associated with greater stream depth in the reaches farther upstream ( R2 = 0.87). These results suggest broad-scale spatial segregation (1-10 km), particularly between larger and more phenotypically extreme individuals. These results provide the first perspective on spatial distributions and habitat relationships of polymorphic mountain whitefish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful management of shark populations requires juvenile recruitment success. Thus, conservation initiatives now strive to include the protection of areas used by pre-adult sharks in order to promote juvenile survivorship. Many shark species use inshore areas for early life stages; however, species often segregate within sites to reduce competition. Using a fisheries-independent gillnet survey from the Northern Gulf of Mexico (2000-2010) we describe distribution patterns and preferred habitat features of the juveniles of six shark species. Our results suggest that multiple shark species concurrently use the area for early life stages and although they overlap, they exhibit distinct habitat preferences characterized by physical variables. Habitat suitability models suggest that temperature, depth, and salinity are the important factors driving juvenile shark occurrence. Within each site, across the sampled range of physical characteristics, blacktip shark ( Carcharhinus limbatus) preferred higher temperature (>30 °C) and mid-depth (~5.5 m); bonnethead shark ( Sphyrna tiburo) preferred higher temperature (>30 °C) and mid-salinity (30-35 PSU), finetooth shark ( Carcharhinus isodon) preferred low salinity (<20 PSU) with mid-depth (~4 m), scalloped hammerhead shark ( Sphyrna lewini) preferred high temperature (>30 °C) and salinity (>35 PSU), Atlantic sharpnose shark ( Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) preferred high temperature (>30 °C) and deep water (>6 m), and spinner shark ( Carcharhinus brevipinna) preferred deep water (>8 m) and high temperature (>30 °C). The other investigated factors, including year, month, latitude, longitude, bottom type, inlet distance, coastline and human coast were not influential for any species. Combining habitat preferences with the sampled environmental characteristics, we predicted habitat suitability throughout the four sites for which physical characteristics were sampled. Habitat suitability surfaces highlight the differences in habitat use between and within sites. This work provides important insight into the habitat ecology of juvenile shark populations, which can be used to better manage these species and protect critical habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humpback dolphins (genus Sousa) use shallow, near-shore waters throughout their range. This coastal distribution makes them vulnerable to recreational and commercial disturbances, especially near heavily populated and industrialized areas. Most research focusing on Sousa and human activities has emphasized direct impacts and threats, involving injury and death, with relatively little focus on indirect effects on dolphins, such as changes in behaviour that may lead to deleterious effects. Understanding behaviour is important in resolving human-wildlife conflict and is an important component of conservation. This chapter gives an overview of animal behavioural responses to human activity with examples from diverse taxa; reviews the scientific literature on behavioural responses of humpback dolphins to human activity throughout their range, including marine vessel traffic, dolphin tourism, cetacean-fishery interactions, noise pollution, and habitat alteration; and highlights information and data gaps for future humpback dolphin research to better inform behaviour-based management decisions that contribute to conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) has been studied in several range states in the Southwest Indian Ocean, however little information exists on populations in Madagascar. Here, we review available literature and describe a study on S. plumbea conducted between 2004 and 2013 on the west coast of Madagascar, involving boat-based field surveys in the southwest and northwest regions, and interview surveys with local fishers from villages along most of the west coast. Field surveys in the southwest region of Anakao/St. Augustine Bay revealed low encounter rates and mean group size, and markedly declining trends in both from 1999 to 2013. Conversely, in the northwest region around Nosy Be and Nosy Iranja, encounter rates were higher, as were mean group sizes, suggesting an apparently more abundant and less impacted population. Interview surveys revealed by-catch of coastal dolphins along the entire west coast, including S. plumbea, as well as other species. Directed hunting, including drive hunts of groups of dolphins, was reported primarily in the southern regions, in the range of the Vezo Malagasy ethnicity; however, there was evidence of hunting starting in one area in the northwest, where hunting dolphins is normally considered taboo for the predominant Sakalava ethnicity. Thus, the conservation status of S. plumbea in Madagascar appears to be spatially heterogeneous, with some areas where the local population is apparently more impacted than others. Conservation measures are recommended to mitigate further decline in the southwest of Madagascar, while protecting habitat and ensuring resilience in the northwest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groenvlei is a coastal, near-freshwater lake in the Garden Route region of South Africa, which became isolated from the ocean about 4,000 years ago due to sea level regression. It contains only two native fish species- Atherina breviceps and Gilchristella aestuaria-and several non-native species, including the illegally introduced common carp ( Cyprinus carpio). Options for controlling this highly invasive species in Groenvlei are presently being considered and as such, it is pertinent that the conservation status of native species be assessed. Mitochondrial DNA analyses support significant divergence of both native fish species inhabiting Groenvlei from nearby populations. Additionally, genetic structuring of A. breviceps populations inhabiting other sampling localities was also detected. In Groenvlei, populations of both species displayed slightly lower haplotype diversity and much lower nucleotide diversity than those inhabiting nearby estuaries. Given the level of genetic divergence, native fish populations in Groenvlei should be recognised as a distinct management unit. It is acknowledged that invasive species, such as carp, pose a serious threat to the Groenvlei ecosystem. However, the divergence of the Groenvlei populations-as evidenced by this study-implies that any large-scale actions aimed at removing invasive ichthyofauna should not impact the native species because the unique evolutionary signals of both populations could be destroyed. Our results highlight the importance of incorporating a genetic approach to understanding the evolutionary history of southern African estuarine species and decision-making processes supporting conservation of biodiversity in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To delineate the biogeographical regions of the continental shelf of the Mediterranean Sea based on the spatial distributions of coastal marine fishes and their evolutionary relationships, with a view to furthering our capacity to answer basic and applied biogeographical, ecological and evolutionary questions. Location Mediterranean Sea. Methods We used a dataset summarizing the occurrences of 203 coastal Mediterranean fishes (0.1° resolution grid system) and a molecular phylogenetic tree to quantify both compositional and phylogenetic dissimilarity (or beta diversity) between cells. We then applied multivariate analyses to delineate biogeographical regions and to evaluate how they related to broad-scale environmental gradients. We also assessed the differences between the biogeographical regions identified using phylogenetic beta diversity versus those obtained using compositional beta diversity. Results The bioregionalization schemes based on phylogenetic and compositional beta diversity identified broadly similar regions, each consisting of six distinct pools of coastal fishes. Clear separations between northern and southern regions were observed, as well as a disjunct between inshore and offshore areas. These beta diversity patterns were mainly related to a north-south gradient in sea-surface temperature and bathymetric constraints. Main conclusions Incorporating phylogenetic information into the measurement of beta diversity did not offer further insights to the bioregionalization scheme based solely on compositional beta diversity. This suggests that evolutionary and historical processes played only a minor role in shaping the contemporary patterns of beta diversity in the Mediterranean coastal fish fauna. However, our results support the view that contemporary environmental conditions play a major role in determining the distribution of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seabird population changes are good indicators of long-term and large-scale change in marine ecosystems, and important because of their many impacts on marine ecosystems. We assessed the population trend of the world’s monitored seabirds (1950–2010) by compiling a global database of seabird population size records and applying multivariate autoregressive state-space (MARSS) modeling to estimate the overall population trend of the portion of the population with sufficient data (i.e., at least five records). This monitored population represented approximately 19% of the global seabird population. We found the monitored portion of the global seabird population to have declined overall by 69.7% between 1950 and 2010. This declining trend may reflect the global seabird population trend, given the large and apparently representative sample. Furthermore, the largest declines were observed in families containing wide-ranging pelagic species, suggesting that pan-global populations may be more at risk than shorter-ranging coastal populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extant estuarine and freshwater animals show a variety of adaptations to marine life, which could reflect transitional stages in a gradual evolution from freshwater to the sea. Our aim was to identify the temporal and spatial environment associated with pig-nosed turtles C arettochelys insculpta coastal nesting in the Kikori Region, Papua New Guinea ( PNG). We also related the use of coastal areas with size within and among different populations of C . insculpta and species of the superfamily Trionychoidea. Throughout its range, C . insculpta nests during the drier months when suitable sandbanks are exposed. In PNG, rainfall in the drier season dilutes salinities and C . insculpta nests in coastal sandbanks. In Australia, high salinities prevail in the river mouths during the nesting season and no coastal use is observed. Trends toward a larger body size in coastal areas suggest that size is an important factor to explore coastal environments. It is unlikely that female C . insculpta with less than 50 cm (curve carapace length) would be able to cope with the Kikori coastal environment. Expanding this trend to its superfamily Trionychoidea, only species larger than 37 cm (leathery carapace length) explore coastal environments. As the Australian coast is not suitable for nesting, the selection for larger body sizes was probably relieved. Of course, the reverse could be true, but our study provides an example of the caution required when placing evolutionary interpretations on life-history traits whose manifestation is studied only within a restricted portion of a species range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coastal Zone of Western Desert (CZWD) Egypt, extended from Alexandria East to Libyan border West, is a hot dry area of <150 mm annual rainfall; the area had faced 14 years of drought from 1995 to 2011. Field survey has been carried out with the Bedouins in the area to assess the effect of such long drought incidence on their socioeconomic vulnerability and livestock production systems, upon which they rely for sustaining their livelihood. The study covered 182 breeders during the Summer 2011, distributed over 3 agro-ecological zones; the rain-fed area (West), the new reclaimed land (East) and Siwa desert oasis (South). The breeders in the rain-fed area who were affected more by the incidence of drought, had to take some radical measures to cope with such prolonged drought. One of which is reducing their flock size from 201 heads, in average, by 1995 to 115 in 2011. Raising more goats was another means in their adaptive strategy to the incidence of long drought. Goat percent in the oasis flocks has been raised from 32 in 1995 to 56% in 2011, and in the rain-fed area from 20.7 to 22.5%. Twenty percent of the breeders in the oasis raised only goats. The situation differs in the new reclaimed lands, with the availability of the cultivated green fodder and crop residues, the breeders increased their flock size from 161 heads in 1995 to 234 in 2011, mostly from sheep. Goats contribute significantly to the nutritional status of the householders in the 3 agro ecological zones; in average family consumed 15% of their goats for the family meat requirement in the rain-fed and oasis areas. More than 50% of the cash income of the breeders in the rain-fed area during 2011 came from selling weaned kids and lambs, 62% in the oasis from early fattened kids and lambs, and 42% in the reclaimed land came from selling late fattening lambs. Raising goats seems to be an effective adaptive process to cope with the long drought incidence in the hot dry region. It contributes significantly to the nutritional status of the family, and an efficient source of income for the householders in the rain-fed area and desert oasis, but not in the reclaimed cultivated lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Beach-hoppers and sandhoppers in the family Talitridae are strongly linked to the supralittoral environment. They are semi-terrestrial animals and because they are direct developers there is potentially no mobility between populations on adjacent beaches. In the case of coastlines fragmented by natural or artificial structures, the assumed lack of inter-connectivity between beaches may represent a severe threat for the resident populations: in case of impacts, they might not be able to recover and the habitat might not be re-colonised. Unless we consider another possible scenario: the potential connectivity of populations via water currents, from individuals swashed accidentally into the sea. We therefore tested two different species, the sandhopper Notorchestia quadrimana and the beach-hopper Platorchestia smithi for features relevant to dispersal and connectivity among beaches: 1) survival in sea-water; 2) orientation (baseline and scototaxis) in sea-water and; 3) behaviour in a current. Talitrid populations were sampled from a sheltered beach and an exposed beach along the New South Wales coast. On the sheltered beach both species were found, co-occurring within the same distance from the shoreline. On the exposed beach only P. smithi was found, in a dune slack far away from the shoreline. All individuals tested survived 96h in immersion, and when subjected to a current they were clinging on the edge of the flume apparatus for most of the duration of the test. Differences emerged when comparing orientation, with the sharpest precision towards a dark pattern (positive scototaxis) in P. smithi from the sheltered beach and bimodal orientation (partly scototactic and partly sun compass) in N. quadrimana. The behavioural differences observed are likely developed as risk-related: sandhoppers burrow in the substrate and are less exposed to occasional swash, while beach-hoppers living in cast wrack displayed the ability of swimming quickly towards a floating object, increasing the likelihood of being passively carried from one beach to another. Different ecological groups such “sandhoppers” and “beach-hoppers” showed different behavioural patterns. The consideration of behavioural answers to swash risk highlighted the possibility of the connectivity of talitrid populations across fragmented beaches. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Habitat-forming species on rocky shores are often subject to high levels of exploitation, but the effects of subsequent habitat loss and fragmentation on associated species and the ecosystem as a whole are poorly understood. In this study, the effects of habitat amount on the fauna associated with mussel beds were investigated, testing for the existence of threshold effects at small landscape scales. Specifically, the relationships between mussel or algal habitat amount and: associated biodiversity, associated macrofaunal abundance and density of mussel recruits were studied at three sites (Kidd's Beach, Kayser's Beach and Kini Bay) on the southern and south-eastern coasts of South Africa. Samples, including mussel-associated macrofauna, of 10 × 10 cm were taken from areas with 100 % mussel cover ( Perna perna or a combination of P. perna and Mytilus galloprovincialis) at each site. The amount of habitat provided by mussels and algae surrounding the sampled areas was thereafter determined at the 4.0 m scale. A number of significant positive relationships were found between the amount of surrounding mussel habitat and the abundances of several taxa (Anthozoa, Malacostraca and Nemertea). Likewise, there were positive relationships between the amount of surrounding algal habitat and total animal abundance as well as abundance of mussel recruits at one site, Kini Bay. In contrast, abundance of mussel recruits showed a significant negative relationship with the amount of mussel habitat at Kayser's Beach. Significant negative relationships were also detected between the amount of mussel habitat and species richness and total abundance at Kidd's Beach, and between amount of mussel habitat and the abundance of many taxa (Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Maxillopoda, Ophiuroidea, Polychaeta and Pycnogonida) at all three sites. No threshold effects were found, nor were significant relationships consistent across the investigated sites. The results indicate that the surrounding landscape is important in shaping the structure of communities associated with these mussel beds, with significant effects of the amount of surrounding habitat per se. The strength and the direction of habitat effects vary, however, between shores and probably with the scale of observation as well as with the studied dependent variables (e.g. diversity, abundance, mussel recruitment, species identity), indicating the complexity of the processes structuring macrofaunal communities on these shores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new specialist driftwood talitrid from the Swale, U.K., is figured and described as Neotenorchestia kenwildishi gen. n., sp. n. A further new driftwood talitrid, Macarorchestia pavesiae sp. n., is figured and described from coastal regions in the Adriatic Sea. Orchestia microphtalma Amanieu & Salvat, 1963 from the Atlantic coast of France is re-designated as Macarorchestia microphtalma (Amanieu & Salvat, 1963). A key is provided for the known species of driftwood talitrids in northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean coastal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Holocene New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) bones collected from the north of New Zealand's South Island strengthen existing evidence for the former Holocene presence of breeding colonies ofP. hookerion mainland New Zealand. The taxonomic identity ofPhocarctosbones is confirmed using both morphology and ancient DNA analysis. Five radiocarbon dates on four adult and one pup bone from Creighton's Cave near Paturau, northwest Nelson, ranged from 1290±30 yr BP to 5430±30 yr BP. Three radiocarbon dates on pup bones spanning 20014C yr (1550±30 yr BP to 1390±30 yr BP) reveal that a prehistoric breeding rookery was present at Delaware Bay, Nelson, until shortly before the time of human arrival c. AD 1280 (670 yr BP). The Delaware Bay site in particular provides a valuable ‘snapshot’ of coastal New Zealand faunas shortly before human arrival, one that has potential to enhance our understanding of changes in the endemic coastal fauna associated with human colonisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Off-road vehicles (ORVs) are popular in coastal recreation, although they have negative impacts on sandy shores. In South Africa, ORVs are banned from most coastal areas, while some areas are designated for restricted ORV use, providing an opportunity to assess whether ORV traffic restrictions translate into biological returns. In Sodwana Bay, the impact of ORVs on ghost crab populations was investigated. During Easter 2012, ghost crab burrows were counted on beach sections open and closed to traffic. Burrow density in the Impact section was less than a third that of the Reference section, and by the end of the study burrow size in the Impact section was half that of the Reference section. ORV traffic caused a shift in burrow distribution to the Lower beach. However, differences in burrow densities between sections were 14 times smaller than differences obtained at a time when ORV use in Sodwana Bay was not controlled. While confirming the well-established detrimental effects of ORV use on sandy beach ecosystems, results demonstrated that traffic restrictions on beaches measurably minimize impacts to the fauna, thus translating into clear-cut biological returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The harpacticoid copepod fauna of the Laguna Navio Quebrado, La Guajira, a protected area of the northern Colombian coast, was studied from plankton samples obtained at littoral areas covered by vegetation (macrophytes and mangroves), and at limnetic habitats close to an oyster bank. A total of 14 species of harpacticoid copepods are reported from die surveyed area. Nine of these species are new to the Colombian copepod fauna: Schizopera knabeni Lang, 1965, Cletocamptus helobius Fleeger, 1980, Quinquelaophonte quinquespinosa (Sewell, 1924), Sarsamphiascus hirtus (Gurney, 1927), Parategastes herteli Jacobi, 1953, Enhydrosoma lacunae Jakubisiak, 1933, Metis holothuriae (Edwards, 1891), Robertsonia propinqua (T. Scott, 1894) and Nitokra taylori Gómez, Carrasco & Morales-Serna, 2012. The first two species have not been hitherto recorded from South America and the last one is reported for the Americas for the first time. Nine of these species are also new records for the Caribbean Sea. This is the first report on the marine benthic harpacticoid Copepoda from northern Colombia. A complete species list plus brief diagnostic descriptions of the new records for the Colombian harpacticoid copepod fauna are provided together with morphologic remarks, notes on the variability of some species and their distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted tethering experiments in the field to evaluate day-night differences in the identity and frequency of predators encountered by the American lobster ( Homarus americanus) in coastal Maine, USA. Separate daytime and nighttime deployments were conducted using tethered lobsters under infrared-illuminated video surveillance. Supplemental tethering trials without video surveillance provided further quantitative information on diel and size-specific predation patterns. We found crabs to be the most common predators during the day, whereas lobsters prevailed at night. Contrary to expectations, we measured higher predation rates at night than during the day, suggesting that nocturnal interactions with conspecifics may play a more important role in lobster population regulation than previously thought when lobster population densities are high and large predatory fish are rare. As large predatory groundfish have been depleted in the Gulf of Maine, lobster populations have reached historic highs, making density-dependent feedbacks such as cannibalism more likely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pollution by metals has been of increasing concern for a number of decades but at present, the mechanism of metal accumulation in sentinel species is not fully understood and further studies are required for environmental risk assessment of metals in aquatic environments. The use of caging techniques has proven to be useful for assessment of water quality in coastal and estuarine environments. This study investigates the application of caging techniques for monitoring uptake of 20 elements [Li, Na, Mg, Al, P, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, As, Sb, Pb, Hg, Cd and Zn] in three marine species namely Nucella lapillus, Mytilus edulis and Crassostrea gigas. Stable isotopes were used to determine predatory effects and also used for modelling metal uptake in test species and to track nutrient assimilation. Metal levels were monitored at three different coastal locations, namely Dublin Bay, Dunmore East and Omey Island over 18 weeks. Significant differences in concentrations of Mn, Co and Zn between mussels and oysters were found. Correlations between cadmium levels in N. lapillus and δ13C and δ15N suggest dietary influences in Cd uptake. Levels of Zn were highest in C. gigas compared to the other two species and levels of Zn were most elevated at the Dunmore East site. Copper levels were more elevated in all test species at both Dublin Bay and Dunmore East. Mercury was raised in all species at Dunmore East compared to the other two sites. Biotic accumulation of metals in the test species demonstrates that caging techniques can provide a valid tool for biomonitoring in metal impacted areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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Abstract: The effect of coastal reefs on seasonal erosion and accretion was investigated on 2km of sandy coast. The focus was on how reef topography drives alongshore variation in the mode and magnitude of seasonal beach erosion and accretion; and the effect of intra- and inter-annual variability in metocean conditions on seasonal sediment fluxes. This involved using monthly and 6-monthly surveys of the beach and coastal zone, and comparison with a range of metocean conditions including mean sea level, storm surges, wind, and wave power. Alongshore ‘zones’ were revealed with alternating modes of sediment transport in spring and summer compared to autumn and winter. Zone boundaries were determined by rock headlands and reefs interrupting littoral drift; the seasonal build up of sand over the reef in the south zone; and current jets generated by wave set-up over reefs. In spring and summer, constant sand resuspension and northerly littoral drift due to sea breezes allowed a sand ramp to form in the South Zone so that sand overtopped the reef to infill the lagoon. This blocked the main pathway for sand supply to downdrift zones which subsequently eroded. In autumn and winter, with the dominance of northwesterly storms and reversal in the direction of littoral drift, the South Zone eroded and sand travelled through the lagoon in the current jet to nourish the northern beaches. Inter-annual and seasonal variation in sea level, storm frequency and intensity, together with pulsational effects of local sand fluxes at Yanchep due to inter-seasonal switching in the direction of littoral drift determined marked differences in the volumes of seasonal sand transport. These seasonal ‘sediment zones’ highlighted interesting and unexplored parallels between coasts fronted seaward by coral reefs and rock formations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Anthemis maritima, a plant which has the ability to colonise different stressful coastal environments, sand dunes and rocky cliff ecosystems, exhibits a high degree of leaf trait plasticity. The key parameters are the regulation of stomatal density and size, the succulence index and the specific antioxidant response. With the aim to explore plant plasticity, we analysed various morphological and physiological traits of the leaves of A. maritima populations dwelling in three different coastal areas of Italy. The highest values of stomatal density, leaf thickness, and succulence index were found in plants living in a sub-arid climate, on rocky cliffs, with the highest soil pH and salinity. Although this population exhibited the highest concentration of oxygen reactive species (hydrogen peroxide), it also had the lowest value of lipid peroxidation, an indicator of oxidative stress. Ascorbate was the main protective molecule in this population, while phenols appeared to carry out this role in plants living on soils with the lowest salinity and highest annual rainfall. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]