ALBERT

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 28 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Daniel E. Hewitt, Timothy M. Smith, Vincent Raoult, Matthew D. Taylor, Troy F. Gaston〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Estuaries represent highly important nursery habitats for a range of species, with refuge and nutrition being two key benefits derived from estuaries. Quantifying these benefits provides us with a means for enhancing fisheries productivity. 〈em〉Metapenaeus macleayi〈/em〉 (School Prawn) and 〈em〉Penaeus plebejus〈/em〉 (Eastern King Prawn) are two commercially and recreationally important species in New South Wales that utilise estuarine nurseries throughout their life history. In this study, stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur were used to determine the proportional contribution of primary producers to prawn nutrition in Brisbane Water (NSW). Both the saltmarsh grass 〈em〉Sporobolus virginicus〈/em〉 and seagrass 〈em〉Zostera muelleri〈/em〉 were found to support a high trophic contribution to prawns (up to 53% and 40%, respectively). The contributions of other primary producers such as mangroves, fine benthic organic matter (FBOM) and C〈sub〉3〈/sub〉 saltmarsh plants were generally found to be much lower (0.7–15%). Such findings are generally consistent with patterns observed in other south-east Australian estuaries, however such a dominant role of saltmarsh in the presence of seagrass is a novel finding. These results highlight linkages between habitats of conservation concern and highly valuable fisheries species, and the benefit of using sulfur as an additional marker in Bayesian mixing models examining mixing in estuary food webs.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 27 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Lanli Guo, Yongsheng Wu, Charles G. Hannah, Brian Petrie, David Greenberg, Haibo Niu〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The dynamics of M〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 and K〈sub〉1〈/sub〉 ocean tides in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) have been investigated using a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model, which uses an unstructured mesh with a horizontal resolution ranging from 0.5 km in narrow channels to 10–40 km in the open ocean. The model is evaluated against observed tidal elevations and tidal currents, and the evaluation indicates that the model is able to reproduce the observations at the tidal gauge sites, particularly those in the narrow straits of the CAA. In order to examine the interactions between the Arctic and the Atlantic tides in the CAA, idealized experiments were conducted by considering tidal effects through the open boundary on the Arctic and the Atlantic sides separately. The results show that the Atlantic tide is strong throughout the CAA but deceases rapidly when it encounters the open Arctic shelf for both M〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 and K〈sub〉1〈/sub〉 tides; on the other hand, the Arctic tide is mainly confined to the Arctic Ocean and Amundsen Gulf; it has a minor influence in the Baffin Bay. Nonlinear interactions between the Arctic and Atlantic tides are generally weak except local areas in the southern and northern CAA, where the nonlinear contribution is able to reach 10–20% of the tidal variability. Using the model results, the tidal energy flux was also analyzed, and the analysis indicated that the Lancaster Sound and Jones Sound are main pathways of the tidal energy from the Baffin Bay to the CAA, and the energy is dissipated due mainly to the vertical diffusion and the bottom friction.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 28 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Wei Zhong, Longhai Zhu, Ping Dong, Rijun Hu, Jianzheng Wu, Yingtao Zhu, Haiqin Duan〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉This paper investigates sediment trapping in coastal embayments during summer seasons based on observation data obtained from two instrumented tripods that were placed at the mouth of Weihai Bay on north coast of Shandong Peninsula, China, over a 15-day period between 5 and August 20, 2018. The data consisted of time series of water depths, current profiles, wave parameters, near-bed flow velocities, turbidity, water salinity and temperature. Distributions of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and water temperature in the bay and adjacent sea areas were also investigated at 87 grid stations from July 31 to August 4, 2018. From these data the bed shear stresses, residual currents and suspended sediment fluxes (SSF) were calculated. The results indicated that the variability in the SSC at the northern mouth was mainly controlled by local sediment resuspension while at the southern mouth horizontal advection due to the SSC gradient was the dominant mechanism. To identify the main drivers of the sediment transport, the SSF was analyzed using the decomposition method. The seaward advective transport due to residual flow and landward tidal pumping effect dominated the total near-bed sediment transport at the northern and southern mouths, respectively. Therefore, trapping processes occurred mainly through the southern mouth. The suspended sediment fluxes (SSF) during neap and spring tides at the southern mouth were 0.053 and 0.321 g m〈sup〉−2〈/sup〉 s〈sup〉−1〈/sup〉, respectively, while during moderate wave conditions (H〈sub〉s〈/sub〉 〉 0.8 m), the SSF was two times larger than the spring tide. In summer, the fine-grained sediments trapped in the bay were mainly derived from resuspension off the eastern tip of the Shandong Peninsula and thus is indirectly from the Yellow River. During such sediment transport and trapping processes, upwelling and winds can also play important roles.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 25 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): F. Sedano, C. Navarro-Barranco, J.M. Guerra-García, F. Espinosa〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Ocean sprawl is leading to the introduction of multiple artificial structures into the marine environment. However, the biota on these novel habitats differ from that on natural hard substrates. Amphipods, despite their ecological importance, are usually overlooked when comparing benthic assemblages on artificial and natural hard substrates. So as to assess the effects of artificial structures on amphipod assemblage and to identify the main factors involved, the amphipod assemblage structure was studied in five different substrates (seawalls, cubes, acropods, rip-raps and natural rock). Abiotic measurements of each substrate (complexity, rock composition, and age) were related to the ecological patterns. Complexity measurements seemed to affect the amphipod community structure, highlighting the need to consider physical complexity in eco-engineering actions. Amphipod assemblages were also affected by the secondary substrate (sessile biota), suggesting that artificial structures are indirectly shaping amphipod assemblages by firstly shaping the sessile biota. Future research should study the same secondary substrates across different artificial structures to separate the direct effects (caused by the artificial structures) from the indirect effects (caused by the sessile biota).〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉 〈h5〉Graphical abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉〈figure〉〈img src="https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0272771419310790-fx1.jpg" width="500" alt="Image 1" title="Image 1"〉〈/figure〉〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 26 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Shiwei Zhou, Jingjing Wu, Xiaoli Bi〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Woody plant encroachment into grasslands is a worldwide phenomenon. Still, there is a research gap in quantifying the ecological processes of coastal wetland ecosystems. Here, we combined soil stable isotope technology with geostatistical methods to quantify the spatial characteristics of soil δ〈sup〉13〈/sup〉C and δ〈sup〉15〈/sup〉N in a coastal wetland experiencing native shrub 〈em〉Tamarix chinensis〈/em〉 encroachment in the Yellow River Delta (YRD), China, and to clarify the possible mechanisms by which shrub-induced successional processes determined the spatial distribution of soil δ〈sup〉13〈/sup〉C and δ〈sup〉15〈/sup〉N. The results showed that soil δ〈sup〉13〈/sup〉C and δ〈sup〉15〈/sup〉N significantly decreased from bare land to grass and to shrub at the vegetation type level. Pearson correlation showed that soil δ〈sup〉13〈/sup〉C and δ〈sup〉15〈/sup〉N were positively related to soil salinity, but negatively related to plant variables (grass cover, shrub crown width and above-ground biomass). Scaling method indicated that soil δ〈sup〉13〈/sup〉C variation occurred at two different scales, 40 m and 150 m, representing influences of shrub 〈em〉T. chinensis〈/em〉 and environmental heterogeneity, respectively. Soil δ〈sup〉15〈/sup〉N variation was observed to occur at the 75 m scale, suggesting the combination effect of 〈em〉T. chinensis〈/em〉 and 〈em〉Suaeda glauca〈/em〉-dominated grass species. Furthermore, other soil and plant variables also exhibited two-scale characteristics similar to soil δ〈sup〉13〈/sup〉C. Therefore, the vegetation succession processes of coastal wetlands experiencing shrub encroachment could be understood well by combining soil stable isotope with GIS spatial tools. The spatial characteristics of soil stable isotopes help us establish strategies for protecting and managing coastal wetlands.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 25 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Almir Nunes, Magnus Larson, Carlos Ruberto Fragoso〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉In the present study, a morphological model based on the main governing processes of inlet channels was developed for application in long-term simulations, requiring minimum data on forcing and only key information on the inlet geometry. The model considers the balance between the inlet sand transport due to tides and river flows and the longshore transport due to breaking waves. The resulting equations were numerically implemented and validated first through schematic simulations and then through an application to a real inlet. For the schematic simulations, the sediment transport rates in the inlet and alongshore were maintained constant and the behavior during evolution towards equilibrium was investigated and qualitatively assessed. Then, the model was applied to Mundaú Lagoon inlet (Brazil), a natural inlet sheltered by reefs and with a marked seasonality in river runoff. Thus, the model performance was validated for a complex setting over time scales of decades through comparisons with the observed inlet evolution determined from satellite images. The calculated results of inlet channel morphological evolution exhibited satisfactory agreement with observations. The computational efforts were low making the model suitable for long-term simulations where many alternative scenarios may be explored in a probabilistic manner. In conclusion, the developed model yielded robust and reliable simulation results having the potential for use in the assessment of long-term inlet channel evolution.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 25 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Hiroto Higa, Shogo Sugahara, Salem Ibrahim Salem, Yoshiyuki Nakamura, Takayuki Suzuki〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Blue tide, which occurs in eutrophic semi-enclosed bays, is recognized as an important environmental problem because it causes mass mortality of fish and shellfish. In Tokyo Bay, which is a typical eutrophic semi-enclosed bay in Japan, fishery damage due to blue tide is frequently reported. Continuous monitoring is needed for effective water environment management and conservation because blue tides can be too short in duration to observe in the course of field observations. The aim of this study is to develop a model for estimating the distribution of blue tide based on sulfur concentration, which is a key element associated with blue tide. Using real-time data from the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) to estimate sulfur concentrations, we can clearly identify the spatial distributions of blue tides. We developed an empirical model using 〈em〉in situ〈/em〉 measurement of sulfur and remote sensing reflectance to obtain sulfur concentration (R〈sup〉2〈/sup〉 = 0.851). The developed model was applied to GOCI images acquired shortly after field observations during a blue tide on 24 August 2015 in Tokyo Bay in order to validate the accuracy of the sulfur estimation. Estimated and measured sulfur concentration showed less difference when the time between the start of field observations and GOCI image capture was comparatively small (R〈sup〉2〈/sup〉 = 0.704). Further, the blue tide distributions could be estimated by applying the developed model to other images acquired during blue tide occurrences at other dates and years. In conclusion, spatial distributions of blue tide in Tokyo Bay can be adequately estimated based on sulfur concentration determined from GOCI images.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 25 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Rafaela B. Salum, Pedro Walfir M. Souza-Filho, Marc Simard, Carlos Alberto Silva, Marcus E.B. Fernandes, Michele F. Cougo, Wilson do Nascimento, Kerrylee Rogers〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Tree height is a key parameter to accurately quantify above ground biomass (AGB) of trees. Approaches that integrate airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) with mapped extents of forests may improve estimation of mangrove heights by providing considerably more measurements of mangrove tree heights than can be achieved using field based measurements alone. In this study, we present a validated method for quantifying mangrove AGB that was demonstrated for a mangrove forest at Guarás Island, Brazil. The application of LiDAR to estimate mangrove height was confirmed by correlating 89 tree heights measured in the field with LiDAR-derived mangrove heights, resulting in highly robust relationships for 〈em〉A. germinans〈/em〉, 〈em〉L. racemosa〈/em〉 and 〈em〉R. mangle〈/em〉 (R〈sup〉2〈/sup〉 = 0.90–0.97, RMSE of 1.24–0.67 m and RMSE% of 11.26%–25.97%). These relationships were used to calibrate a LiDAR-derived canopy height model (CHM) and develop robust relationships between the calibrated-CHM and field-based estimates of AGB (R〈sup〉2〈/sup〉 = 0.85–0.92, RMSE of 3.1 kg–42.53 kg, RMSE% of 20.66%–43.81%). This relationship was then applied to the CHM whilst accounting for tree density to estimate mangrove AGB. Total mangrove AGB per hectare was estimated to be 246.26 t ha〈sup〉−1〈/sup〉, corresponding closely with previous mangrove AGB measurements within the region. This study found that mangrove height and AGB are statistically related and these relationships can be applied to allometric equations for specific species to improve mangrove AGB estimates. This study demonstrates the capacity for LiDAR-derived tree heights to replace traditional approaches to estimating AGB and improving estimates of mangrove blue carbon storage. Application of LiDAR to determine tree heights will be particularly useful where mangrove is extensive and/or remote.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉 〈h5〉Graphical abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉〈figure〉〈img src="https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0272771419306134-fx1.jpg" width="487" alt="Image 1" title="Image 1"〉〈/figure〉〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 26 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Liqiang Zhao, Kotaro Shirai, Kentaro Tanaka, Stefania Milano, Tomihiko Higuchi, Naoko Murakami-Sugihara, Eric O. Walliser, Feng Yang, Yuewen Deng, Bernd R. Schöne〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Ocean acidification can negatively impact marine bivalves, especially their shell mineralization processes. Consequently, whether marine bivalves can rapidly acclimate and eventually adapt in an acidifying ocean is now increasingly receiving considerable attention. Projecting the fate of this vulnerable taxonomic group is also pivotal for the science of sclerochronology – the study which seeks to deduce records of past environmental changes and organismal life-history traits from various geochemical properties of periodically layered hard tissues (bivalve shells, corals, fish otoliths, etc.). In this review, we provide a concise overview of the long-term and transgenerational responses of marine bivalves to elevated 〈em〉p〈/em〉CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 manifested at different levels of biological organization, with a specific focus on responses of geochemical properties (stable carbon and oxygen isotopes, minor and trace elements and microstructures) of their shells. Without exception, positive transgenerational responses to an elevated 〈em〉p〈/em〉CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 scenario projected for the year 2100 have been found in all five bivalve species hitherto studied, under the umbrella of two non-genetic mechanisms (increased maternal provisioning and epigenetic inheritance), suggesting that marine bivalves have remarkable transgenerational phenotypic plasticity which allows them to respond plastically and acclimate rapidly in an acidifying ocean. Rapid transgenerational acclimation, especially in terms of physiological processes, however, hinders a reliable interpretation of proxy records. Transgenerationally acclimated bivalves can actively modify the calcification physiology in response to elevated 〈em〉p〈/em〉CO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉, which in turn affects the processes of almost all geochemical proxies preserved in their shells. In particular, stable carbon isotopes, metabolically regulated elements (Na, K, Cu, Zn, Fe, etc.), and shell microstructures can be highly biased. In this context, we propose a number of challenges and opportunities the field of sclerochronology may face.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 23 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Ben Liu, Yuxin He, Yanzhen Zhang, Yongge Sun, Yuntao Wang, Ding He〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Organic matter (OM) cycling between coastal wetlands and their connected rivers is poorly constrained due to difficulties in assessing the composition of different OM sources (natural vs. anthropogenic). Bulk characteristics and lipid biomarkers were analyzed to distinguish different sources of OM in the sediments and soils of Liao River Delta, Northeast China, including Liao River Wetland, its connected Liao River, and nearby Daliao River. A similar range of stable carbon isotopic values (δ〈sup〉13〈/sup〉C〈sub〉org〈/sub〉) was observed in wetland soils (−27.8‰ to −22.6‰) and river sediments (−26.0‰ to −23.3‰). In contrast, significantly higher stable nitrogen isotopic values (δ〈sup〉15〈/sup〉N) were observed in Daliao River sediments (5.8‰–7.7‰) than both Liao River and wetland soils. Lipid biomarkers, especially 〈em〉n〈/em〉-alkyl lipids, phytosterols, triterpenoids, isoprenoids, monoalkyl glycerol ethers, and monoacylglycerols, indicated that the natural OM input in Liao River Delta was mainly of terrestrial origin, followed by 〈em〉in situ〈/em〉 aquatic and microbial inputs. In addition to natural OM, anthropogenic influences in the form of sewage and petroleum inputs were evidenced by the detection of fecal sterols, plasticizers, and petrogenic biomarkers. Biomarker distributions in samples from Liao River and Liao River Wetland suggested similar OM sources or close interaction between them, which may be caused by lateral transport considering the low elevation delta exposed to strong tidal effects. In contrast, significantly higher anthropogenic inputs were detected in Daliao River, with no connectivity to the Liao River wetland. Taking advantage of isotopic and biomarker data, the principal component analysis further suggests that both the natural wetland distribution and anthropogenic activities may affect the OM sources and distribution in coastal rivers, which serve as an important transit of OM to coastal oceans.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉 〈h5〉Graphical abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉〈figure〉〈img src="https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0272771419306183-fx1.jpg" width="367" alt="Image 1" title="Image 1"〉〈/figure〉〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 23 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Larissa Dsikowitzky, Trà My Iveta Nguyen, Leonard Konzer, Hongwei Zhao, Dao Ru Wang, Fei Yang, Jan Schwarzbauer〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉 〈p〉Tropical coastal ecosystems are particularly at threat from land-sourced pollution, resulting from the input of harmful substances from a multitude of emission sources. Although not intensively studied to date, this concerns also the contamination of coral reefs with pesticide classes apart from the frequently reported organochlorine pesticides. We therefore investigated the occurrence and spatial distribution of these compounds in water samples from the northeast coast of Hainan, a tropical Chinese island. The study area included two sensitive coastal habitats: a shallow bay and fringing coral reefs with seagrass beds.〈/p〉 〈p〉The results revealed the occurrence of photosystem(II) triazine herbicides at most sampling stations in the coastal waters, especially of prometryn (maximum concentration 440 ng L〈sup〉−1〈/sup〉). A chemical characterization of aquaculture pond waters gave evidence that aquaculture was the source of this contamination. Prometryn was detected in many sampled ponds and could thus be useful as source-specific molecular indicator to trace aquaculture emissions in coastal areas. Concentrations of triazine herbicides in the study area (〈10–440 ng L〈sup〉−1〈/sup〉) were lower than reported acute effect concentrations for dinoflagellates, seagrass and algae. Thus, no acute toxic effects on local coral reefs and seagrass beds are expected. Chronic exposures of sensitive species to low concentrations of the detected triazine herbicides have to date not been studied. Therefore, we cannot exclude deteriorating effects in the long-term, especially in combination with other stressors such as rising sea surface temperature, which can enhance the sensitivity to pollutants. Future studies in other world regions should consider prometryn and further triazine herbicides as harmful pollutants from aquaculture emissions.〈/p〉 〈/div〉 〈/div〉 〈h5〉Graphical abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉〈figure〉〈img src="https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0272771419303671-fx1.jpg" width="277" alt="Image 1" title="Image 1"〉〈/figure〉〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Candela Marco-Méndez, Luis Miguel Ferrero-Vicente, Kenneth L. Heck〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉While it has been well established that waterbirds can consume substantial amounts of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) on their wintering grounds, relatively little is known about their effects on SAV in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM). We measured the impact of wintering American coot (〈em〉Fulica Americana〈/em〉) foraging on native wild celery (〈em〉Vallisneria americana〈/em〉) and exotic Eurasian water milfoil (〈em〉Myriophyllum spicatum〈/em〉) using caging experiments at two locations in upper Mobile Bay during winter 2013–2014. We also determined feeding preferences using tethering experiments, and monitored the location of coots and the feeding behavior of individual birds. Coots were significantly more abundant over Eurasian watermilfoil than native wild celery. Caging experiments usually showed higher SAV biomasses in exclusion cages, and suggested a larger impact of coot foraging on milfoil than wild celery. Video recordings confirmed that coots were responsible for the SAV losses detected with both caging and tethering experiments, and dietary analyses supported experimental results and highlighted the role of milfoil in the coot's diet (86.9 ± 8.9% of stomach contents). Tethering results showed a preference for wild celery over milfoil, which is likely explained by the higher nutritional quality of wild celery (19.26 ± 1.21 C:N ratio) compared to Eurasian milfoil (25.01 ± 2.45 C:N ratio). Overall, our results are similar to those of several prior seagrass herbivory studies in showing that herbivores do not always feed on their preferred food, presumably because other factors, such as proximity of refuges from predators or competition for food resources, are of overriding importance.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Yue-hua Huang, Larissa Dsikowitzky, Fei Yang, Jan Schwarzbauer〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉 〈p〉Wastewater treatment plants in large urban agglomerations are worldwide among the main sources of emerging contaminants in aquatic systems. The present study is a first comprehensive characterization of potentially harmful emerging contaminants in sewage of a Chinese urban area. The study area Haikou City is located at the coast of tropical Hainan Island. A GC/MS based non-target screening approach for the identification of a wider range of lipophilic to semi-polar organic sewage constituents was applied. Pollution originating from sewage was tracked in the urban coastal waters by using selected source-specific indicators.〈/p〉 〈p〉A set of sewage constituents with a high structural diversity was identified comprising both, industrial and household chemicals. Ingredients of personal care products, pesticides and pharmaceuticals were found, that were rarely reported from other regions of the world. This observation might be attributed to different environmental legislation and consumption habits in China. Exceptionally high concentrations of the illegal drug ketamine with up to 1100 ng L〈sup〉−1〈/sup〉 were detected, suggesting its high popularity and consumption rate. Noteworthy, sewage constituents reported here for the first time were the pharmaceuticals marmesin, oxolamine and ansimar also with high concentrations of up to 1200 ng L〈sup〉−1〈/sup〉.〈/p〉 〈p〉Elevated concentrations of sewage indicators in the main city area suggest the overflow of the sewage system, in particular in the period of a typhoon event. Tracing the sewage contamination in the surface water system of the coastal urban area of Haikou revealed a lower level of pollution. The concentration ranges point to no acute risks for the coastal ecosystem due to sewage inputs from the city area.〈/p〉 〈p〉Generally, the detected spectrum of municipal emerging contaminants has to be considered for the testing and technical improvement of wastewater treatment techniques, for regular monitoring of the surface water quality and for environmental impact assessment in China. Furthermore, the compound spectrum reported here is a good reference point for the composition of municipal sewage in other emerging economies.〈/p〉 〈/div〉 〈/div〉 〈h5〉Graphical abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉〈figure〉〈img src="https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0272771419305372-fx1.jpg" width="500" alt="Image 1" title="Image 1"〉〈/figure〉〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 22 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Si Son Tong, Jean Paul Deroin, Thi Lan Pham〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Tidal flats on the north coast of Vietnam suffer diurnal tide with a tide range varying between 0.3 m and 3.5 m. Along the 350 km long coastline, the diversity of environmental conditions induces various tidal flats with different characteristics. This study applies the waterline method for multi-temporal satellite images to build Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) of tidal flats during the last 25 years. 117 Landsat images acquired with TM, ETM+, and OLI have been processed to construct tidal flat DEMs in 1989, 2000, and 2014. Waterlines extracted from single spectral bands (near-infrared [NIR], short wave infrared [SWIR]) or band ratios (normalized difference water index [NDWI], normalized difference vegetation index [NDVI], Green/SWIR) of the Landsat data have been compared with waterlines digitalized on Spot, Aster and Worldview 2 images. This experiment allows us to determine the best band (or band ratio) for extracting waterlines depending on local conditions. Consequently, the study shows that the Green/SWIR ratio image is a good solution for extracting waterlines in the black coal tidal flats of Cam Pha. However, the NDWI index appears to be a better choice for the other parts of the study area. The vertical accuracy of the tidal flat DEMs reaches 0.144 m. The change analysis of the DEMs also emphasizes the tidal flat evolution in both vertical and horizontal dimensions, i.e. erosion or accretion. The erosion of the tidal flats along the northern coast of Vietnam is particularly developed in the area extending from Yen Hung to Mong Cai, especially in Mong Cai with an amount of about 50 × 10〈sup〉6〈/sup〉 m〈sup〉3〈/sup〉 of sediments lost between 1989 and 2014. On the contrary, the tidal flats in the south of the study area show a high rate of deposition due to the sediments fed by Red and Thai Binh rivers. About 35 × 10〈sup〉6〈/sup〉 m〈sup〉3〈/sup〉 of sediments deposited in the tidal flat surrounding the Red River mouth between 1989 and 2014. This study represents a development of the waterline extraction method to investigate the evolution of tidal flat at a large scale and a diversified coastal environment using optical satellite images and fieldwork.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Emily Russ, Cindy Palinkas〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Like many estuaries, the upper Chesapeake Bay effectively traps sediment from its tributaries and shorelines. However, evolving sediment dynamics from human influences such as increased soil conservation, dam construction (and subsequent infill), and increased shoreline stabilization have altered sediment loads to the Bay. Sediment budgets are important tools for evaluating sediment dynamics through identifying sources, sinks, and transport pathways. The most recent upper Bay sediment budget was developed 〉25 years ago and does not reflect the evolution of sediment delivery. The objective of this study is to develop an updated sediment budget through quantitative analysis of the upper Bay's major sediment sources (Susquehanna River and shoreline erosion) and sinks (deposition in the Susquehanna Flats region and mainstem Bay). Results indicate that Susquehanna River input to upper Bay has decreased during low flows, due to implementation of conservation-management strategies, but increased during high flows, from infilling of the Conowingo Reservoir. Inputs from shoreline erosion have decreased due to increased shoreline stabilization. Mass accumulation rates in the upper Bay generally decrease with distance downstream, but elevated sedimentation rates occur in deeper water, and possibly represent sediment focusing near channels. Insights gained from this study not only inform sediment management strategies in the Bay and similar systems, but also can help forecast potential future trajectories from environmental and anthropogenic drivers. For example, changing climate is projected to increase precipitation, storminess, and sea-level rise (SLR), which would increase both Susquehanna River and shoreline erosion sediment inputs. These changes could help the sedimentation rates keep pace with SLR but also may degrade downstream ecosystems due to increased fine-sediment input and turbidity. Shoreline stabilization will also likely increase, which would reduce shoreline erosion and thus sand inputs necessary for some nearshore benthic habitats to keep pace SLR.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): K.D. Huguenard, D.J. Bogucki, D.G. Ortiz-Suslow, J.H. MacMahan〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The nearshore response to synoptic meteorological patterns called Cold Air Outbreaks (CAOs) was studied with a cross-shelf mooring array located 7 km west of an estuarine outflow in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. The array consisted of 6 stations that spanned the nearshore measuring waves, currents, temperature, and salinity for a two-week period in December 2013. CAOs are prevalent during winter and are characterized by the passage of atmospheric cold fronts with offshore winds known to cool coastal waters. The prefrontal phases of CAOs coincided with downwelling favorable winds and westward flow that introduced a river plume into the nearshore. Offshore winds during the high pressure phase formed a two-layer circulation with offshore flow in the surface layer and onshore flow beneath, which was moderated by a river plume. The downwind advection of the river plume tended to enhance surface transport until the plume was flushed out of the nearshore, which formed adverse density gradients that reduced surface transport through vertical mixing. When the plume was not fully flushed out of the inner shelf, surface transport remained enhanced during the high pressure phase due to stratification that limited the formation of adverse density gradients. When the plume was initially shore detached at the onset of the high pressure phase, offshore flow was not enhanced by the downwind advection of the plume due to the existence of initial adverse density gradients. These results highlight the effects of nearshore river plumes in regulating inner shelf circulation during cold fronts.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Lorenzo Melito, Matteo Postacchini, Alex Sheremet, Joseph Calantoni, Gianluca Zitti, Giovanna Darvini, Pierluigi Penna, Maurizio Brocchini〈/p〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The evolution of different wave components as they propagate within a microtidal inlet during a storm occurring from 24–26 January 2014 is analysed, in order to improve knowledge on how microtidal river mouths typical of the Adriatic Sea behave. For the first time, the “low-pass filter” mechanism previously ascertained at several macrotidal oceanic inlets around the world has been observed in the field with remarkably specific hydrodynamic conditions, i.e. low tide excursion, permanent connection with the sea and generally milder wave climate than in the ocean. Sea/swell (SS) waves were strongly dissipated before entering the river mouth, through the combined action of wave breaking due to reducing depths and opposing river currents enhanced by rainfall. Infragravity (IG) waves propagated upstream and significant IG wave heights of up to 0.4 m, about 13% of the local water depth, have been observed 400 m upriver (about 10 times the local SS peak wavelength) during storm climax. The IG wave energy here represented over 4% of the maximum offshore storm energy. IG wave components travelled upriver at estimated velocities between 3.6 m/s and 5.5 m/s (comparable with speeds of nonlinear long waves) during intense storm stages up to 600 m into the river channel (about 15 times the local SS peak wavelength), and are enhanced by tide-induced increase in water depths. It is estimated that tide-induced excursion accounted for about 80% of the total mean water elevation at storm peak at about 400 m into the river. Finally, tidal oscillations are detected up to 1.5 km upstream (about 40 times the local SS peak wavelength). This study highlights the dominance of astronomical tide over both wave setup and storm surge in controlling the upriver propagation of IG waves, even in a microtidal environment.〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 17 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Liju Wang, Lingling Xie, Quanan Zheng, Junyi Li, Mingming Li, Yijun Hou〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Using mooring-observed horizontal velocities and temperature from July 28 to August 2, 2005, this study analyzes the temporal-vertical variation of the diagnostic vertical velocity and mass transport during passage of tropical storm Washi (2005) over the northwestern continental shelf of the South China Sea (SCS). The results show that the total vertical velocity is of the order of 〈em〉O〈/em〉(1〈math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" altimg="si1.svg"〉〈mrow〉〈mo linebreak="goodbreak" linebreakstyle="after"〉×〈/mo〉〈/mrow〉〈/math〉10〈sup〉−4〈/sup〉) m s〈sup〉−1〈/sup〉 in the mixed layer above 25 m, and of 〈em〉O〈/em〉(1〈math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" altimg="si1.svg"〉〈mrow〉〈mo linebreak="goodbreak" linebreakstyle="after"〉×〈/mo〉〈/mrow〉〈/math〉10〈sup〉−5〈/sup〉) m s〈sup〉−1〈/sup〉 in the lower layer. Dynamically, the geostrophic advection and unsteady behavior of density induced by near-inertial oscillation are dominant factors in the upper and lower layers, respectively. As tropical storm Washi (2005) passed by from July 29 to 31, 2005, the upward vertical velocity was dominant and significantly enhanced to the order of 〈em〉O〈/em〉(1〈math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" altimg="si1.svg"〉〈mrow〉〈mo linebreak="goodbreak" linebreakstyle="after"〉×〈/mo〉〈/mrow〉〈/math〉10〈sup〉−3〈/sup〉) m s〈sup〉−1〈/sup〉. The diagnosed vertical velocity in the upper layer is one order greater than the averaged Ekman pumping velocity, which occurred one day earlier. The vertical advection transport calculated from the diagnosed vertical velocity reaches 〈em〉O〈/em〉(1〈math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" altimg="si1.svg"〉〈mrow〉〈mo linebreak="goodbreak" linebreakstyle="after"〉×〈/mo〉〈/mrow〉〈/math〉10〈sup〉−5〈/sup〉) kg s〈sup〉−1〈/sup〉m〈sup〉−3〈/sup〉, one order greater than that induced by turbulent mixing. Time-averaged transports by vertical advection and mixing are both upward in the layer above the thermocline during the storm passage.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Celine E.J. van Bijsterveldt, Bregje K. van Wesenbeeck, Daphne van der Wal, Norma Afiati, Rudhi Pribadi, Benjamin Brown, Tjeerd J. Bouma〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉 〈p〉Globally, erosion of muddy tropical coasts that are dominated by aquaculture ponds, is an increasing problem. Restoration of mangrove greenbelts may counteract such erosion, by restoring the sediment balance. Hence, we aim to unravel the processes controlling natural mangrove regeneration in both “landward” (i.e., into aquaculture ponds) and seaward direction, using the fast eroding coastline of Demak (Indonesia) as case study. Firstly, we investigated which physical and chemical factors drive landward mangrove expansion by relating them to the presence/absence of mangrove seedlings in abandoned aquaculture ponds. Secondly, we investigated which physical parameters control seaward mangrove expansion by relating them to expansion and retreat at the sea-side of mature mangrove stands.〈/p〉 〈p〉Landward mangrove expansion into abandoned aquaculture ponds was positively related to both emergence time (%) and sediment stability (i.e., shear strength), which are in turn both associated to bed level elevation and pond drainage. Surprisingly, there was no effect of soil chemistry. Seaward expansion of existing mangrove stands was strongly associated to foreshore morphology. Mangroves only expanded in the presence of an elevated mudflat, whereas the absence of a mudflat in combination with a concave (hollow) profile was associated with mangrove retreat. Our findings suggest that restoration of a mangrove greenbelt can be stimulated landward by improving drainage of abandoned aquaculture ponds. This enhances sediment stability and allows ponds to accrete. Seaward expansion can be induced by restoring foreshore morphology. Present results are discussed in the context of large-scale applications.〈/p〉 〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Kai Wang, Yijun Hou, Shuiqing Li, Mei Du, Jinrui Chen, Jiuyou Lu〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The coastal regions of the East China Sea are frequently threatened by the increased sea level induced by intense tropical cyclones. In this study, a coupled wave-circulation model ADCIRC + SWAN is used to investigate the spatial and temporal characteristics of storm surges and wave setup heights in the southeastern coastal area of China during two severe weather events with different tracks: Typhoon Saomai, which made direct landfall, and the bypassing Typhoon Chan-hom. By definition, the storm surge is attributable to the wind forcing, while the wave setup results from the wave radiation stress. The simulated sea levels agree well with the observations, with improved results when the wave setup was considered. The simulation results showed clearly different spatial patterns depending on the track type. The maximum storm surge resulted from the cumulative effect of the local onshore wind forcing, occurring on the right side of the Typhoon Saomai track and the left side of the Typhoon Chan-hom track. Significant surge levels along the coast on the left side of the typhoon track were well observed in both cases, resulting from the coastal-trapped shelf waves. The Saomai track type is more likely to cause extremely high storm surges along the coast due to the stronger cumulative effect of the onshore wind forcing. The maximum wave setup was governed by the swell and slope of the sea floor. The locations of the maximum wave setup and surge level were spatially close during Typhoon Saomai, but they were separated during Typhoon Chan-hom.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Marco Boeri, Tim A. Stojanovic, Lucy J. Wright, Niall H.K. Burton, Neal Hockley, Richard B. Bradbury〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Biodiversity is valuable to society, including through its contribution to cultural benefits: “the non-material benefits people obtain from biodiversity and ecosystem services through spiritual enrichment, cognitive development, reflection, recreation, and aesthetic experiences”. Biodiversity encompasses numerous measures, but the distinct values of these measures have been little studied. We conducted a discrete choice experiment to elicit respondents’ (n = 3000) willingness to pay for increases in four measures of bird diversity in UK coastal ecosystems: number of bird species (species richness), number of individual birds (abundance), probability of seeing rare or unusual bird species, and probability of seeing large flocks of birds (wildlife spectacles). Respondents had a positive willingness to pay (through one-time voluntary donations) for increases in all four measures (mean £3 to £5 per household). However, using latent class analysis we found considerable heterogeneity of preferences, identifying four classes of respondents with strikingly different levels of marginal willingness to pay for the four measures. Income, age, environmental activity, visits to environmental settings, and gender were important determinants of class membership. While focussing on birds, our results demonstrate the importance of a multi-dimensional conceptualisation of biodiversity in broader ecosystem management, rather than focussing on a single aspect such as species richness or abundance. Our findings also highlight the implications of heterogeneous public preferences for biodiversity for conservationists, planners, shoreline managers and developers. These need to be considered in the development of new frameworks for ecosystem services, and when planning and funding conservation actions so that the cultural benefits will accrue across a range of social groups.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Eduardo Ramírez-Romero, Juan Carlos Molinero, Ulrich Sommer, Noussaiba Salhi, Ons Kéfi - Daly Yahia, Mohamed Néjib Daly Yahia〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Structural changes in plankton primary producers have large implications for food web dynamics, energy fluxes and the vertical export of biogenic particulate carbon. Here we examine phytoplankton data spanning the period 1993–2008 from the Bay of Tunis, southwestern Mediterranean Sea, in relation to long term hydroclimate variability. We show a conspicuous shift in the structure of the phytoplankton community characterized by an increase of small-sized species and diversity loss, revealing a dominance of smaller blooming diatoms and cyanobacteria. Such changes were concurrent with marked modifications in hydroclimatic patterns experienced in the Bay of Tunis consisting of a shift towards enhanced winter precipitation together with rising temperatures. This novel study shows an overall rise in the proportion of small phytoplankton cells and a decreasing trend in phytoplankton diversity in the southern Mediterranean area. These findings warn of a potential decline of trophic efficiency and lesser food web stability resulting from mean size reduction and the diversity loss.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): F. Otero-Ferrer, M. Cosme, F. Tuya, F. Espino, R. Haroun〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Similar to altitudinal gradients in terrestrial habitats, subtidal habitats experience abrupt environmental gradients across depth. The objective of this study was to understand how variation with depth of environmental factors (water temperature, light availability, water motion and sedimentation) affected the structure (size and morphology) of rhodoliths and the abundances of attached floral and faunal epibionts in a rhodolith bed at Gran Canaria Island (central-eastern Atlantic). Specifically, sampling took place seasonally at three depth strata: 18, 25 and 40 m throughout two successive years. Depth affected the size and morphology of rhodoliths, with bigger and mainly spherical nodules at 25, relative to those at 18 and 40 m depth. Larger biomasses of attached (epiphytic) macroalgae were observed at 18 and 25 m than at 40 m. The presence of hydrozoans living over rhodoliths also changed with depth, including higher abundances at 25 m than at 40 and 18 m, respectively. Wave-induced turbulence in the upper depth layer, and light intensity and sedimentation, in the lower depth layer, are the main environmental drivers regulating the presence, structure and functioning of rhodolith habitats.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Joaquín Moreno, María Ángeles Alonso, Ana Juan〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Salinity and soil moisture are considered main drivers of the plant zonation in Mediterranean saltmarshes. Therefore, both factors could have a remarkable effect on the plant functional structure of these habitats. The aim of this study was to identify the effects of abiotic and biotic factors on the plant functional structure of western Mediterranean saltmarshes. A total of 20 saltmarshes were assessed, and seven plant traits were considered. Community weighted mean and Rao index were used to measure the functional structure of the plant communities. Redundancy analysis was used to estimate the effects of soil variables on the community-weighted mean trait and functional diversity, and standardised effect size was used to assess the effect of biotic interactions. The functional traits showed a clear zonation along the salinity gradient in Mediterranean saltmarshes, mainly related to the electrical conductivity, and mainly gathered in trait syndromes. The succulent nanophanerophytes grew at the highest salinity zones. Salt excretors, both chamaephytes and mesophanerophytes, appeared in the intermediate and lowest salinity zones, respectively. Finally, geophytes with both selective cation root uptake and rhizome were mostly located in the lowest salinity zones. The abiotic factors strongly modulated the biotic interactions, and some convergence patterns were observed. The highest functional diversity was observed in the lowest salinity zones, a marked turnover. These findings indicate that multiple assembly processes determine the plant structure of Mediterranean saltmarshes, yet abiotic environmental filters strongly shape the local species assemblages and functional diversity turnover. Our results support that the whole salinity gradient should be protected to conserve the widest range of functional traits.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉 〈h5〉Graphical abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉〈figure〉〈img src="https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0272771419308546-fx1.jpg" width="306" alt="Image 1" title="Image 1"〉〈/figure〉〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Eric Wolanski, Jonathan Lambrechts〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The 500 km long Far Northern Great Barrier Reef (FNGBR) is a semi-enclosed sea with little connectivity with the rest of the GBR further South. Its mean circulation is controlled by the prevailing southeasterly (northwestward) wind that generates a wind-driven mean longshore flow that is enabled by an inflow of oceanic water in the South. From an examination of single-point, mid-depth current meter data at ten sites over one year, it appears that there is no net current during calm weather, which implies that the northward North Queensland Coastal Current in the adjoining Coral Sea does not intrude in the FNGBR. Only about 20–40% of the wind-driven longshore transport continues northward to exit the FNGBR through Torres Strait because of blockage by reefs, shoals and islands and by the tidal friction effect in shallow waters. The remaining 60–80% of the flow appears to be deflected seaward to the Coral Sea in the North, an observation that appears to be supported by oceanographic modelling. This situation differs from that in the central and southern Great Barrier Reef where the southward flowing East Australian Current intrudes on the shelf and generates a net current even during calm weather.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 May 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 236〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Penelope A. Ajani, Michaela E. Larsson, Stephen Woodcock, Ana Rubio, Hazel Farrell, Steve Brett, Shauna A. Murray〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 18 February 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Lucia Fanini, Omar Defeo, Michael Elliott〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 19 February 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): A. Sierra, D. Jiménez-López, T. Ortega, M.C. Fernández-Puga, A. Delgado-Huertas, J. Forja〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 31 May 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 237〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Davood Mafi-Gholami, Eric K. Zenner, Abolfazl Jaafari, Dieu Tien Bui〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 19 February 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Fatma Abdmouleh Keskes, Najla Ayadi, Abdelfattah Atoui, Mabrouka Mahfoudi, Moufida Abdennadher, Lamia Dammak Walha, Sana ben Ismail, Olfa ben Abdallah, Yosra Khammeri, Marc Pagano, Asma Hamza, Malika Belhassen〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 17 February 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Rodrigo Torres, Brian Reid, Máximo Frangópulos, Emilio Alarcón, Magdalena Márquez, Vreni Häusermann, Günter Försterra, Gemita Pizarro, José Luis Iriarte, Humberto E. González〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 May 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 236〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Cathy Wimart-Rousseau, Katixa Lajaunie-Salla, Pierre Marrec, Thibaut Wagener, Patrick Raimbault, Véronique Lagadec, Michel Lafont, Nicole Garcia, Frédéric Diaz, Christel Pinazo, Christophe Yohia, Fabrice Garcia, Irène Xueref-Remy, Pierre-Eric Blanc, Alexandre Armengaud, Dominique Lefèvre〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 15 February 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): H.J. Walker, Philip A. Hastings, John R. Hyde, Robert N. Lea, Owyn E. Snodgrass, Lyall F. Bellquist〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 14 February 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Eric Wolanski, Gullaya Wattaykorn, Keita Furukawa, Suchana Apple Chavanich〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 8 February 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Xianye Wang, Jianwei Sun, Zhonghao Zhao〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉A tidal creek represents a typical morphologic unit in an intertidal flat. The development and migration of a tidal creek can affect the mass transport, ecological environment, and geomorphologic evolution of the flat. By using field observations, this study links hydrodynamics, sediment transport processes with short-term changes in topography at a typical tidal creek system located at the Chongming Island of the Yangtze River estuary. Hydrodynamic and sediment transport associated with varying tidal cycles across both wet (flood) and dry seasons were measured through the field campaign. The wet and dry seasons represent higher and lower discharges of Yangtze River, respectively. The results indicated that most of the suspended sediment becomes entrained at the beginning of a flood tide. At a fixed point, 7.2 times of suspended sediments, which were entrained out of the creek in wet season, began to be transported along the creek compared to dry season. In the dry season, high flow velocity and shear stress conditions occurred in the tidal creek because the water level was below the top of the flat. In summary, the tidal creeks were found to serve as effective conduits for the transportation of sediments in the wet season, and the secondary flow enhanced the development of tidal meandering. Seasonal variations in creek morphological changes were also continuously monitored over two years at intervals of two months. The change of creek morphology varied from the high level to low level, and tidal meandering was strongly associated with flood and ebb tides.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 8 February 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Nino Krvavica, Igor Ružić〈/p〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Understanding the response of estuaries to sea-level rise is crucial in developing a suitable mitigation and climate change adaptation strategy. This study investigates the impacts of rising sea levels on salinity intrusion in salt-wedge estuaries. The sea-level rise impacts are assessed in idealized estuaries using simple expressions derived from a two-layer hydraulic theory, and in the Neretva River Estuary in Croatia using a two-layer time-dependent model. The assessment is based on three indicators - the salt-wedge intrusion length, the seawater volume, and the river inflows needed to restore the baseline intrusion. The potential SLR was found to increase all three considered indicators. Theoretical analysis in idealized estuaries suggests that shallower estuaries are more sensitive to SLR. Numerical results for the Neretva River Estuary showed that SLR may increase salt-wedge intrusion length, volume, and corrective river inflow. However, the results are highly non-linear because of the channel geometry, especially for lower river inflows. A theoretical assessment of channel bed slope impacts on limiting a potential intrusion is therefore additionally discussed. This findings emphasize the need to use several different indicators when assessing SLR impacts.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈h5〉Graphical abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉〈figure〉〈img src="https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0272771419308972-fx1.jpg" width="500" alt="Graphical abstract for this article" title=""〉〈/figure〉〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 May 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 236〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Jiaoqi Fu, Chao Chen, Biyun Guo, Yanli Chu, Hong Zheng〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 31 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): M. Leonardi, A. Bergamasco, S. Giacobbe, F. Azzaro, A. Cosentino, A. Crupi, S. Lanza, G. Randazzo, E. Crisafi〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉 〈p〉The ecosystem changes of “Marinello coastal lakes” - a brackish dynamic area located on the Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily (Italy) - have been examined through the analysis of the adaptive response of mollusc assemblages to the geomorphological and environmental changes. In particular, we have contextually analysed the changes in salinity, mud and organic carbon together with mollusc abundance and distribution, comparing the data sets from several multidisciplinary investigations that we performed in about forty years.〈/p〉 〈p〉Our studies have evidenced that the space-time dynamics of the geomorphological, environmental and trophic parameters have led the progression of Marinello ecosystem, favoring the onset of transient windows of connectivity (TWCs) between different habitats. TWCs, by supporting continuous re-arrangements of mollusc populations, have contributed to increase the functional and ecological complexity of the system. Salinity in particular has proven to be the most affecting factor on the diversification of mollusc assemblages, explaining 63% and 44% of variation for brackish and marine species respectively. In addition, the distribution of both detritus and suspension feeders has been mostly affected by salinity.〈/p〉 〈p〉The interannual analysis of the mollusc assemblages has shown in the whole system a generalised increase in the number of species, likewise, also the species richness recorded in each basin generally increased with the time. Metapopulations in the Marinello ecosystem have shown to be related to significant modifications in the habitat patches, in turn connected to the anthropogenic interventions or to the geomorphological progression of the entire physiographic system.〈/p〉 〈p〉Significant relationships among biotic and abiotic parameters have highlighted important implications on the ecosystem functioning, suggesting their possible application in the improvement of investigation tools for the transitional environments.〈/p〉 〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Vânia Baptista, Francisco Leitão, Pedro Morais, Maria Alexandra Teodósio, Eric Wolanski〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The development of sensorial acuity and swimming capabilities of coastal fish larvae and their responses to coastal nursery cues are essential for recruitment success. Most studies of the response of fish larvae to environmental cues and their recruitment into nursery areas have focused on coral reef fish and only a few studies focused on fish species from temperate regions. The Sense Acuity and Behavioural (SAAB) Hypothesis proposes that fish larvae in temperate regions can sense nursery cues and ingress into estuarine ecosystems by using several active swimming strategies. We tested the SAAB hypothesis by studying the ingress of a temperate fish larvae – white seabream 〈em〉Diplodus sargus〈/em〉 (Linnaeus, 1758) – into a coastal nursery area, the Ria Formosa Lagoon, Portugal. We combined the results from studies of sensory acuity, swimming capabilities and personality traits of post-flexion larvae with a fine-scale biophysical model to quantify the ingress of the white seabream into the lagoon. Data showed that the location of spawning sites and the directional swimming capabilities are both important for the successful ingress of white seabream larvae into the lagoon. Recruitment was higher when spawning grounds were located in areas with depths between 15.1 and 16.9 m and when post-flexion larvae used their directional swimming capabilities. The larvae ingressed passively into the lagoon with the tidal currents at pre-flexion stage and actively by using their directional swimming capabilities at post-flexion stage. Directional swimming also prevented larval export into the coastal area. When spawning occurred away from the seagrass smell plume emanating from the lagoon, the fish larvae were advected away and lost at sea. This work demonstrated the relevance of combining fish larvae behaviour and oceanography processes in modelling the dispersion of fish larvae to estimate recruitment.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): L.T. Simpson, C.E. Lovelock, J.A. Cherry, I.C. Feller〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Rates of litter decomposition, an important component of the global carbon (C) cycle, often depend on litter quality and decomposer activity, which can then drive differences in C sequestration and storage in ecosystems. Nutrient enrichment may alter C storage in wetlands through its effects on litter quality. We investigated the effects of long-term nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) enrichment on 〈em〉Avicennia germinans〈/em〉 litter quality and above- and belowground decomposition rates in a saltmarsh-mangrove ecotone in St. Augustine, Florida, U.S.A. Senescent leaf litter collected from Control, +N-, and +P-fertilized shrubs was placed in litterbags for use in a reciprocal transplant experiment, with each litter treatment placed on the soil adjacent to each fertilized shrub (Control, +N, and +P). Leaf litterbags were collected at 0, 14, 30, 60 and 180 days, while roots collected from a common, unfertilized location were incubated belowground at each shrub for 180 and 365 days to determine mass loss and decay rates. Nutrient enrichment did not alter %N, C:N, or %lignin in treatment leaves, and there were subsequently no significant differences in decay rates of treatment leaves, likely due to the homogeneity of litter quality. Initial decay rates (30 and 60 days) were significantly higher in +N and +P fertilized soils compared to controls, but by 180 days decay rates had stabilized to 0.009 ± 0.0003 〈em〉k〈/em〉 day〈sup〉−1〈/sup〉. Labile fractions were rapidly decomposed and net immobilization of litter was favored after 60 days of incubation irrespective of nutrient treatments. Additionally, belowground root decomposition with roots from unfertilized plants did not vary across nutrient treatments. Thus, nutrient enrichment of 〈em〉A. germinans〈/em〉 did not alter litter quality considerably or increase decomposition in the longer term, and therefore, we do not expect a substantial decline in sediment C sequestration as a result of eutrophication in this mangrove system.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉 〈h5〉Graphical abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉〈figure〉〈img src="https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0272771419309138-fx1.jpg" width="234" alt="Image 1" title="Image 1"〉〈/figure〉〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 11 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Lulu Qiao, Shidong Liu, Wenjing Xue, Peng Liu, Rijun Hu, Huifeng Sun, Yi Zhong〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Suspended sediments are important contributors to the material exchanges between the sea surface and bottom and between the coastal waters and shelf seas. The East China Sea (ECS), connecting the Chinese continent and the western Pacific, receives a large amount of Yangtze River-delivered sediments. However, due to the climate change and intense human activities in recent years, the amount of Yangtze River-delivered sediment decreased by two thirds. Fewer work has been conducted on the accompanying changes of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) over the inner shelf of the ECS. Thus, in this study, based on the long-term water temperature, salinity, and SSC data derived from MODIS during 2003–2018, the spatiotemporal variations of SSC and the effects from oceanic fronts were studied. The results indicated a typical seasonal change of the SSC with the effect of a thermocline in summer and thermal-saline front in winter, respectively. Regarding the long-term variation of the SSC from 2003 to 2018, it displayed significant differences in spatial distribution. The SSC anomaly exhibited the opposite phases between the north and south parts of 28–29°N and between the landside and seaside of the front at the isobaths of 20 m–40 m along the Zhe-Min Coast. In general, wind is the controlling factor that affects the SSC in most area of the Zhe-Min coast, especially in spring and winter seasons.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Ye Chen, Siqi Li, Zhigang Yu, Yangyang Chen, Tiezhu Mi, Yu Zhen〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The phylum Bathyarchaeota, which has high species and functional diversity, is abundant and widespread in marine sediments. In this study, the abundance and communities of Bathyarchaeota in surface sediment samples from the southern Yellow Sea (SYS) and northern East China Sea were investigated. The high numbers of Bathyarchaeota 16S rRNA gene copies indicated that Bathyarchaeota plays an important role in the biogeochemical cycles in these surface sediments. In total, 16 subgroups of Bathyarchaeota were detected, with Bathy-8 having the highest relative abundance in nearshore surface sediment samples. Redundancy analysis showed that the water depth, temperature and salinity were the most influential factors determining the Bathyarchaeota community spatial distribution. In addition, the diversity index and Chao1 estimator values were negatively correlated with the temperature and water depth, respectively (〈em〉P〈/em〉 〈 0.05). Our results improve the understanding of the Bathyarchaeota diversity and the environmental conditions influencing the Bathyarchaeota distribution in surface sediment samples.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): A.M. Ramírez-Pérez, E. de Blas, X.L. Otero〈/p〉 〈h5〉Graphical abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉〈figure〉〈img src="https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0272771419308224-fx1.jpg" width="450" alt="Image 1" title="Image 1"〉〈/figure〉〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Masafumi Natsuike, Yuta Endo, Hiroaki Ito, Manami Miyamoto, Chihiro Yoshimura, Manabu Fujii〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Iron (Fe) uptake kinetics by the coastal micro-algae 〈em〉Skeletonema marinoi-dohrnii〈/em〉 and the macro-algae 〈em〉Eisenia bicyclis〈/em〉 were investigated in the presence of Fe and dissolved organic matter (DOM) originating from terrestrial (mountainous rivers) and coastal bay water in northeast Japan. In addition, a synthetic chelator, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, was tested as a representative Fe-binding organic ligand with a high Fe affinity. 〈sup〉59〈/sup〉Fe uptake assays showed a linear relationship between dissolved Fe concentration and Fe uptake rate by both algae at dissolved Fe concentrations ranging from 1.0 nM to 120 nM, indicating that the Fe uptake rate was limited by the concentration of Fe species. Between 8 and 69% of the Fe fraction remained as dissolved forms when river water samples were mixed with seawater. These dissolved forms were ascribed to fulvic-like components. The uptake rate of dissolved Fe originating from river water was slower than that from coastal water (i.e., ∼1.94 and ∼0.43 log for 〈em〉S. marinoi-dohrnii〈/em〉 and 〈em〉E. bicyclis〈/em〉, respectively) when the same dissolved Fe concentration was compared. Thus, dissolved Fe in river water may be less bioavailable, and the Fe-binding ligand exchange from exogenous to autochthonous DOM may increase bioavailability in coastal seawater. Excitation-emission matrix-parallel factor analysis, DOC measurements, and Fe uptake tests under dark/light incubation with a Fe(II) scavenging agent indicated differences in dominant Fe uptake mechanisms between DOMs originating in river and bay samples, with photochemical reactions greatly contributing to uptake from riverine Fe-DOM and non-chromophoric DOM produced in marine environments playing an important role in coastal seawater.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉 〈h5〉Graphical abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉〈figure〉〈img src="https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0272771419300770-fx1.jpg" width="500" alt="Image 1" title="Image 1"〉〈/figure〉〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Suzanne S.H. Poiesz, Anieke van Leeuwen, Karline Soetaert, Johannes IJ. Witte, David S.C. Zaat, Henk W. van der Veer〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Flatfish species are an important target for fisheries. During their juvenile stage they concentrate in coastal nursery areas. Food conditions in these areas are an important factor determining habitat quality and ultimate survival. Recently, growth reduction in summer has been observed in plaice〈em〉, Pleuronectes platessa〈/em〉, feeding on both epibenthic and benthic prey. In the current study, we test the hypothesis that summer growth reduction is a consequence of a reduced availability of benthic prey by analysing summer growth in a fully benthic feeding flatfish, juvenile sole (〈em〉Solea solea).〈/em〉 Summer growth was studied for contrasting years with respect to preceding winter water temperature conditions to exclude possible irreversible non-genetic adaptations of growth to water temperature. Individual growth, estimated from otolith daily rings, was compared with predictions of maximum growth at the prevailing temperature. In line with expectations, 0-group sole showed strong summer growth reduction, supporting the notion that summer growth reduction is related to feeding modes. Summer growth reduction underlines the importance of a good definition of how and over what time period growth as indicator of habitat quality is estimated and compared.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Manuel M. González-Duarte, Cesar Megina, María Dulce Subida〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉Plant–herbivore interactions are critical for the functioning of ecosystems, particularly when habitat-forming species are involved. Kelp forests are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems in the world and, along the Chilean coast, they have a high economic importance. 〈em〉Lessonia trabeculata〈/em〉 constitutes the main component of the subtidal shallow habitats in Chile. We quantified the consumption of kelp tissues by the snail 〈em〉Tegula tridentata〈/em〉 (one of the most important grazers in Chilean kelp habitats), and the modification in this consumption by a guild of epibiotic hydroids growing on kelps. We performed two different sets of experiments with and without the possibility for the snails to select between kelps with hydroids and kelps without them. The consumption by 〈em〉T. tridentata〈/em〉 on kelps without hydroids was between 3 and 4 times higher than on kelps with hydroids. Kelp is protected from herbivores by hydroids and can gain nitrogen during low concentration periods of this nutrient in water. Hydroids gain a substratum, and an elevated position above the seafloor where particle capture is facilitated by the effect of kelp in water currents. Predictions using densities of 〈em〉T. tridentate〈/em〉 observed in different forests of 〈em〉L. trabeculata〈/em〉 along Chilean coasts, show that herbivory pressure can drastically change depending on this density; in forests with high densities, the presence/absence of hydroids could be crucial. Hydroids have shown to be ubiquitous components of the fauna inhabiting the kelp holdfast and forming a rich community in comparison with other epibionts. Despite its low overall biomass, hydroids can be key elements in kelp productivity (affecting, therefore, the community associated to kelps). The kelp-hydroid mutualistic relationship can change the interactions kelp-herbivore.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉 〈h5〉Graphical abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉〈figure〉〈img src="https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0272771419306328-fx1.jpg" width="351" alt="Image 1" title="Image 1"〉〈/figure〉〈/p〉〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 April 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 235〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Boris V. Divinsky, Ruben D. Kosyan〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉 〈p〉The research presented in this work allowed us to construct climatic fields of wind wave and swell over the entire Black Sea in the period from 1979 to 2018. The results are based on the calculation of climatic characteristics of the medium and maximum wave power. Possible components of the trend in the climatic fluctuations of the average and maximum wave powers were determined. The main research method is numerical modeling.〈/p〉 〈p〉It has been established that there are statistically significant positive trend components in the climatic fluctuations of the average and maximum surface waves. The greatest contribution to the formation of the wave climate is made by the storm conditions in January, March, and October. The increase in the power of the average waves is observed in the northeastern part of the sea (approximately 0.4 percent per year). The maximum power values tend to increase also in the northeastern region (6–7%/year), and in the southern region west (6–7%/year) and east (5–6%/year) of Cape Sinop.〈/p〉 〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 27 February 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): E. Saulnier, H. Le Bris, A. Tableau, J.C. Dauvin, A. Brind’Amour〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 27 February 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Nils Höche, Melita Peharda, Eric O. Walliser, Bernd R. Schöne〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 25 February 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Guido L. Bacino, Walter C. Dragani, Jorge O. Codignotto, Andrés E. Pescio, Marcelo O. Farenga〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 25 February 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): R.E. Rossi, S.K. Archer, C. Giri, C.A. Layman〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 24 February 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Qi Shen, Wenrui Huang, Yuanyang Wan, Fengfeng Gu, Dingman Qi〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 May 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 236〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Xiaodong Zhang, Hongmin Wang, Shumei Xu, Zuosheng Yang〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 May 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 236〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Muhammad Wajid Ijaz, Rasool Bux Mahar, Kamran Ansari, Altaf Ali Siyal, Muhammad Naveed Anjum〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 May 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 236〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Samantha Yeo, Virginie Lafon, Didier Alard, Cécile Curti, Aurélie Dehouck, Marie-Lise Benot〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 May 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 236〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Andrew Swales, Catherine E. Lovelock〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 13 February 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Victor M. Aguilera〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The combined upwelling-El Niño (EN) event regulation of the numerically dominant 〈em〉Acartia tonsa〈/em〉 (Crustacea, Copepoda) reproduction was examined in a year-round upwelling system (23°S) of the Humboldt Eastern Boundary Upwelling System (EBUS) during the EN 2015. A previous analysis of the environmental regulation of this system is extended here by considering complementary oceanographic information (sea level, stratification indexes) and additional reproductive traits, such as maximum (〈sub〉Max〈/sub〉EPR), median (〈sub〉Median〈/sub〉EPR) and prevalence of egg producing females over a period of six months. Furthermore, field minimum-maximum pH levels were reproduced in three 96-h incubation experiments conducted under variable salinity conditions to evaluate copepod mean EPR, egg size and hatching success. Supporting previous assertions, the warm-high salinity EN 2015 was observed in the study site separately from hydrographic conditions associated with upwelling to non-upwelling regimes. Analysis of similarity-distance (Distance based Linear Model (DistLM)) and normalized data (separate-slope comparison under a General Linear Model (GLM)) showed that reproductive traits were regulated by specific combinations of ambient conditions, and that this regulation was also sensitive to the prevailing hydrographic regime. Thus, upwelling to non-upwelling transitions changing the pH, and EN-associated salinity and stratification shifts, were significantly and strongly linked to almost all reproductive traits (DistLM). Slope comparison (GLM) indicated 〈sub〉Max〈/sub〉EPR and 〈sub〉Median〈/sub〉EPR variations also underlie the phenology, highlighting the relationship between pH and salinity with biological variations. In conjunction with experimental observations, the current study consistently suggests that pH-variations in the upwelling realm, and EN hydrographic perturbations might underpin responses of plankton populations to climate change in productive EBUS.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 May 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 236〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Xingmin Liu, Lulu Qiao, Yi Zhong, Xiuquan Wan, Wenjing Xue, Peng Liu〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: 5 May 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 236〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): M.A. Serrano, M. Cobos, P.J. Magaña, M. Díez-Minguito〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 6 February 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Simona Avnaim-Katav, Ahuva Almogi-Labin, Mor Kanari, Barak Herut〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉 〈p〉The Levantine Basin, the saltiest, hottest and the most ultra-oligotrophic basin in the Mediterranean Sea, continues to be affected by recent anthropogenic changes. That includes the long-term influence of the opening of the Suez Canal and the enhanced oligotrophy in this region due to the damming of the Nile River. This study explores the spatial distribution and diversity patterns of living benthic foraminifera in this impacted SE Levantine shelf, between 40 and 100 water depths at 59 sites, sampled in August 2011 off the Israeli coast.〈/p〉 〈p〉Multivariate statistical analyses resulted in the identification of four distinct benthic foraminiferal assemblages, reflecting their ecological preferences distributed within four coherent biotopes with different environmental settings. Two biotopes were identified along the 40 m depth interval: 1. the middle and the southern shelf in which 〈em〉Deuterammina rotaliformis〈/em〉 accompanied by 〈em〉Eggerelloides scaber〈/em〉 predominate, and their abundance is positively related to Chl-a concentrations and negatively related to total organic carbon (TOC) and fine-grained sediment contents, and 2. the northern middle sandier carbonate rich shelf in which Lessepsian taxa and others calcareous foraminifera such as 〈em〉Quinqueloculina schlumbergeri〈/em〉 and 〈em〉Ammonia tepida〈/em〉 dominate the assemblage. The other two biotopes that occur between 60 m and 100 m water depths consist of high concentrations of fine-grained sediments, relatively rich with TOC. 〈em〉Hanzawaia rhodiensis〈/em〉, 〈em〉Asterigerinata mamilla〈/em〉 and 〈em〉Rosalina〈/em〉 spp. reveal a positive relationship with the carbonate-rich sediments of the northern outer shelf biotope. 〈em〉Lagenammina〈/em〉 sp, 〈em〉Reophax scorpiurus〈/em〉, 〈em〉Glomospira charoides, Valvulineria bradyana,〈/em〉 and 〈em〉Bolivina striatula〈/em〉 exhibit a more positive relationship with higher clayey-silty organic rich sediment of the central-southern outer-shelf biotope.〈/p〉 〈p〉A comparison between the living assemblages investigated in the current study and during a previous study in the late 90s, at the same sites, indicates a prominent foraminiferal response to the ongoing human activity in this region. That includes (I) the expansion of some Lessepsian species into ∼40 m water depths habitats indicating the availability of suitable bottom water conditions for these species attributed to the increase in ultra-oligotrophy at this water depth. (II) the very recent introduction (either by shipping/aquaculture) of 〈em〉Deuterammina rotaliformis〈/em〉 to the Israeli coast, sometime between the late 90s and 2011and its becoming the most dominant species in the southern middle shelf, a region most affected by the ongoing consequences of the damming of the Nile.〈/p〉 〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 30 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): George Papapanagiotou, Konstantinos Tsagarakis, Martha Koutsidi, Evangelos Tzanatos〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The mass-balance-trophic-model Ecopath and its extension Ecopath with Ecosim is very popular for modelling marine ecosystems. In this work, a model of the marine ecosystem of the North Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean) was created, incorporating the use of biological traits in both building and explaining the model. For the former, data regarding a total of 19 biological traits concerning the biology, distribution, ecology and behavior were used for the definition of fish functional groups. Regarding model interpretation, the results were not only analyzed in the functional groups level but also regarding the composition of the resulting biological traits. In total, 41 functional groups were created for this model. Landings data and discards estimations of the year 1993 were used for the Ecopath component. Six different fisheries management scenaria, one retaining a business-as-usual (maintenance of the status quo) approach and the others investigating changes in fishing effort for the period 2018–2033 were simulated with Ecosim. The simulation results indicated a reduction of pelagic species as well as of biological characteristics associated with them. Concurrently, an increase in the biomass of deep-living species and of relevant biological traits was observed. In general, no strong differences were documented among the various simulation scenarios with the exception of the species targeted by the individual fisheries whose fishing effort changed in each scenario and the associated traits. Significant findings pertain to the decrease of thermophilic traits like high optimal temperature and summer spawning in all fisheries management scenaria simulated. These could mitigate the opposite trend expected to be favored by climate change and the decrease of characteristics associated with the r-life strategy, possibly resulting in less resilient future fish communities. In addition, the negative trends of the biological traits that are anyway rare (e.g. low trophic level and small lifespan) may impact ecosystem functioning. The modelling approach used on this work could be adopted to model other marine communities (possibly also using traits for other ecosystem components) to provide interesting insights regarding anthropogenic effects on marine ecosystem functioning.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 28 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Wenjian Li, Zhenyan Wang, Haijun Huang〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉The Yellow Sea is a key area for studying source-to-sink sediment transport systems in East China shelf seas. However, the sediment transport and dispersal patterns in the Yellow Sea are not fully understood because of the significant seasonal variation in ocean circulation. In this study, we identify the ocean circulation patterns in the South Yellow Sea based on temperature, salinity and depth data collected from 52 hydrographic stations during the winter of 2016. The mass concentrations and particle size distributions of suspended particulate matter are also determined to decipher the sediment transport pattern in the South Yellow Sea. The results show that particles from the Yellow Sea Coastal Current and Shandong Peninsula Coastal Current display a bimodal size distribution, with peaks at approximately 2.5 μm and 32–64 μm, while particles from the Yellow Sea Warm Current and residual Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass display a trimodal size distribution, with peaks at 2.5 μm, 32–64 μm and 391 μm. The fine and medium particles (〈256 μm) are mainly inorganic particles, while the coarse particles (〉256 μm) include organic materials. The peak at 391 μm is dominated by organic particles and reflects the influence of the Yellow Sea Warm Current in the surface layer. The Yellow Sea Warm Current enhances the nutrient and temperature conditions in the South Yellow Sea, which facilitates phytoplankton growth under appropriate light conditions. The content of inorganic particles with sizes of 64–159 μm decreases sharply in the central South Yellow Sea, which reflects the transport of suspended particulate matter from the southern study area to the central Yellow Sea mud area. The synthesized evidence suggests that the Yellow Sea Warm Current, as the main driving force, transports particles from the Jiangsu coast or the Changjiang River into the central Yellow Sea mud area in winter.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉

Description: 〈p〉Publication date: Available online 29 January 2020〈/p〉 〈p〉〈b〉Source:〈/b〉 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science〈/p〉 〈p〉Author(s): Z.Y. Xiao, X.H. Wang, D. Song, I. Jalón-Rojas, D. Harrison〈/p〉 〈div xml:lang="en"〉 〈h5〉Abstract〈/h5〉 〈div〉〈p〉A numerical study was conducted to investigate the sediment dynamics in a geographically complex estuary, the Sydney Harbour Estuary (SHE). The SHE is a good example of a microtidal estuary, with irregular shorelines and a complex bathymetry, characterized by many headlands and islands forming a meandering main channel. Horizontal sediment transport showed a local estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) as a result of complex topography, independent of salinity fields and river flows during dry weather. The along-estuary advection of sediment was mainly driven by the mean advection, with a minor contribution by tidal pumping. Mean advection associated with barotropic forcing drives sediment flux seaward in the upper estuary and landward in the middle estuary, leading to a longitudinal convergence of sediment transport, without upstream or downstream migration of ETM during high river flows. The interactions between tidal currents, complex topography and asymmetric vertical mixing led to spring-neap and flood-ebb variations in sediment distribution. The Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) method was used to calculate the relative contributions of the identified environmental forcing frequencies (tidal range, tidal frequency, river discharges, wind stress) to the variability in suspended-sediment concentration. Tidal frequency and river discharges were the major contributors to this variability. Tidal range made the highest contribution in the middle estuary, where the ETM was located, driving the spring-neap cycle of the ETM.〈/p〉〈/div〉 〈/div〉