Coastal Marine Environments Research Articles

The Marine Coastal Scenic Landscape as an Input for the Socio-Environmental Conservation of Coastal Marine Environments: The Case of Playa Peña Blanca, Mexico

Examines in Marine Biology & Oceanography The Marine Coastal Scenic Landscape as an Input for the Socio-Environmental Conservation of Coastal Marine Environments: The Case of Playa Peña Blanca, Mexico” Omar Cervantes1*, Sosa-Argáez I3, Olivos-Ortiz A2, Silvestre-Campos A3 And Verduzco-Zapata G1 1Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad de Colima, México 2Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Universidad de Colima, México 3Facultad de Turismo y Gastronomía, Universidad de Colima, México *Corresponding author: Omar Cervantes, Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad de Colima, Manzanillo, México Email: omar_cervantes@ucol.mx Submission: February 06, 2023;Published: February 09, 2023 DOI: 10.31031/EIMBO.2023.05.000615 ISSN 2578-031X Volume5 Issue3

Baseline Assessment of Ecological Quality Index (EQI) of the Marine Coastal Habitats of Tonga Archipelago: Application for Management of Remote Regions in the Pacific

The loss of coral habitats and associated biodiversity have direct effects both on the physical dynamics of the coast and on natural resources, threatening the survival of local populations. Conservative actions, such as the creation of new Marine Protected Areas, are urgent measures needed to face climate change. Managers need fast and simple methods to evaluate marine habitats for planning conservation areas. Here, we present the application of an Ecological Quality Index (EQI), developed for regional-scale habitat maps of the Atlas of the Marine Coastal Habitats of the Kingdom of Tonga, by processing Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery. Both the habitat mapping classification and the EQI application were focused on the importance of coral reef, seagrass and mangrove habitats, both as natural defense and sustenance for the local populations. Twelve main Pacific reef habitats were evaluated through a three-level EQI score assigned to six parameters: nursery ground, connectivity, species reservoir, fish attraction, biodiversity and primary production. The EQI was integrated into a developed georeferenced database associated to the QGIS software providing the ability to identify on the maps the area of interest and the associated habitats, and to quantify their ecological relevance. The EQI is proposed as a tool that can offer to stakeholders and environmental managers a simple and direct indicator of the value of the marine coastal environment. The index may be handled for management purposes of vast areas with remote and uninhabited islands.

How environmental factors determine mussel metal concentrations? A comparative study between areas facing different pressures

This study examines mussel accumulation capacity in relation to metal concentrations in the marine environment as well as mussel food availability in the coastal marine environment. Field data obtained from mussel-farms facing different natural and/or human derived pressures (Thermaikos gulf receiving river discharges and Elefsis bay receiving industrial effluents). Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn concentration in mussels and seawater (particulate phase) chlorophyll α, particulate organic carbon and suspended particulate matter (SPM), seawater temperature and salinity were measured. Median mussel metal concentrations measured as μg g−1 dw were 0.62 for Cd, 5.6 for Cu, 2.8 for Cr, 5.0 for Ni, 129 for Zn, 311 for Fe and 12.4 for Mn. The corresponding concentrations in SPM expressed as μg L−1 were 0.004 for Cd, 0.33 for Cu, 1.14 for Cr, 0.31 for Ni, 3.60 for Zn, 46.0 for Fe and 1.63 for Mn. Mussel metal concentrations were higher at the industrial site. Metals in the seawater particulate phase were higher in the estuary front, which was attributed to higher SPM levels from river discharges. Due to the limited nutritional value of the SPM in the industrial area, mussels were exposed to elevated metal load by both the anthropogenic activities and the slower and more effective digestion of their potential food in order to optimize available organic matter exploitation from restricted and low nutrition value food.

Settlement and the exploitation of aquatic resources in the Eastern Lower Papaloapan Basin, Veracruz, Mexico

Research conducted since 2003 in and around the regional center of Tres Zapotes, Veracruz documents the importance of aquatic resources and transportation routes for subsistence and settlement over more than two millennia. Systematic archaeological survey over more than 400 km2 in the surrounding Eastern Lower Papaloapan Basin details a persistent focus of major settlements on streams and other bodies of water that would have provided an abundance of food and opportunities for water-born transport. Excavations at Tres Zapotes further indicate that exploitation of aquatic fauna was a significant component of a mixed subsistence strategy for the Olmec and Epi-Olmec inhabitants of the site, who obtained fish, turtles, and waterfowl from streams, lakes, estuaries and coastal marine environments over a range extending no less than 20 km from the center. Artifact inventories and landscape features further suggest an associated subsistence technology that included weighted nets and retention ponds in seasonally flooded areas.

EVALUATION OF THE TOLERANCE THRESHOLD OF THE MARINE BENTHIC DIATOM PLEUROSIGMA AESTUARII (BRéB. IN KüTZ.) W. SMITH, 1853 (BACILLARIOPHYTA) UNDER THE IMPACT OF COPPER (II) IONS

Copper compounds accumulate in marine bottom sediments as the result of human activity and, being highly toxic, affect microphytobenthos. Evaluation of the tolerance ranges of benthic diatoms to copper pollution is important for biotesting and assessment of coastal marine environment. This work is aimed to reveal the dynamics of growth and cell death of marine benthic diatom Pleurosigma aestuarii (Bréb. in Kütz.) W. Smith, 1853 under the impact of a wide range of copper (II) ions concentrations over the course of a 10-day experiment in clonal culture, as well as to identify a tolerance threshold for this species, critical for its survival when exposed to the toxicant. The study has focused on assessment of the changes in the proportion (%) of alive cells, absolute cell number and specific growth rate of the culture at different exposure durations and concentrations of Cu2+ ions (32-1024 μg/L) and was meant to evaluate the applicability of this species as a new test object for ecotoxicology. In the control culture and in the cultures exposed to Cu2+ in the range of concentrations 32-256 μg/L, the proportion of alive cells did not change over the course of the experiment (95-99 %). At Cu2+ concentration 320 μg/L, the proportion of alive cells decreased to 23 % on the 3rd day and to 10 % on the 5th day, which provided a basis to consider this value as a threshold one for P. aestuarii survival. At Cu2+ concentrations 384 μg/L and higher, up to the maximum one (1024 μg/L), drastic inhibition of the culture was recorded as early as on the 1st day, and on the days 3-5, all the cells died. The increase in the absolute cell number in the concentration range 32- 256 μg/L were consistent with the dose-response sigmoid model. Over the timespan of days 1-7, the cell number increased by 3-5 times, reaching its maximum, and then it decreased by 10-12 % by the 10th day. At Cu2+ concentrations 320 μg/L and higher, the increase in the cell number was strongly suppressed since the 1st day. Within the 32-256 μg/L range, the test culture is characterized by positive specific cell growth rate for the period up to 7 days; at the threshold concentration 320 µg/L and higher, this test parameter becomes negative. Thus, P. aestuarii should be recommended as a new appropriate test object both for toxicological experiments and for monitoring of coastal marine environment affected by technogenic pollution.

Spatio-Temporal Study of Phytoplankton Groups from Inherent Optical Properties (Iops) in The Ivorian Marine Coastline from 2010 To 2020

Today global warming affects all environments including coastal marine environments. Climate change also affects the development and proliferation of phytoplankton groups often leading to the massive production of phytoplankton groups in marine waters. Itis with this in mind that the study on the determination of phytoplankton groups from optical properties in Ivorian marine waters was initiated.This study showed a great diversity of phytoplankton in the Ivorian marine domain during the years 2010 and 2020. The data used in these studies are geospatial data (remote sensing) of the optical properties of theoceans, in particular the IOPs (inherent optical properties). These are the fusion data from the various SeaWiFS, MODIS, MERIS, VIIRS sensors from 2010 to 2020 from the various OrbView 2, NOAA, ENVISAT and AQUA satellites, in particular the absorption coefficient data for dissolved and detrital matter at 443 nm (adg ), phytoplankton absorption coefficient data at 443 nm (aph), and dissolved and detrital particulate backscatter coefficient data at 443 nm (bbp).For the processing of these data the pixel-oriented classification method was used for the identification of phytoplankton groups. The SeaDAS v 7.4 software, allowed to process and analyze the data and the Envi 5.3 software allowed to perform the data classification. Thevalues of inherent optical properties (IOPs) were obtained as well as the spatial distribution of phytoplankton groups, thus allowing the production of maps of IOPs and the production of spatio-temporal distribution maps of cyanobacteria and diatoms.

First assessment of microplastics in offshore sediments along the Lebanese coast, South-Eastern Mediterranean

Few studies on microplastics (MPs) in the marine environment have been conducted along the Eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea and even fewer along the Lebanese coast. This study aims to determine MPs contamination for the first-time in coastal and continental shelf sediments collected along the Lebanese shores, South-Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Sediments were collected as transects in 10 sites with a total of 23 samples between 2 and 120 m depth and suspected MPs were assessed by moving farther from land-based sources. Microplastics concentrations ranged between 0 and 4500 MPs/kg of dry sediment (1126 ± 1363 MPs/kg). Polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene were the polymers identified on micro-Raman. Coastal landfills and raw sewage effluents were identified as the main sources and routes for MPs into the Lebanese coastal marine environment. This study serves as the first database reporting MPs in continental shelf sediments in the South-Eastern Mediterranean.

How Can Climate Change Limit the Distribution of Cooperative Pseudoscorpions in Brazil?

Pseudoscorpions are arachnids that inhabit all terrestrial ecosystems, and are distributed in the tropical, subtropical, and even circumpolar regions. Paratemnoides nidificator (Balzan, 1888) was originally distributed in the continental zone of South America, but subsequently dispersed to Centraland NorthAmerica and the Caribbean. This species was also recorded in coastal marine environments and forest areas in continental and insular regions. Paratemnoides nidificator is the only cooperatively social pseudoscorpion species recorded in South American. However, its distribution limitations are poorly understood. In this study, we used ecological niche models to investigate this species' current and future distribution potential. Similarly, we defined range limits and demonstrated the potential species distribution towards the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes in the Brazilian territory in future scenarios of climate change, and land use and land cover changes. The annual mean temperature was the most important variable, suggesting that a physiological limitation prevents P. nidificator from occupying areas with extreme mean temperatures. Furthermore, the loss of vegetation cover and the expansion of agricultural frontiers may reduce the occurrence of P. nidificator in environmentally unstable areas because P. nidificator is sensitive to anthropogenic activities. Therefore, the biological response is the relationship between the tolerance limit of P. nidificator and the predicted amplitude of the factor, which appears to lie in its maximum tolerance range.

Global occurrence of the bacteria with capability for extracellular reduction of iodate.

The γ-proteobacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 reduces iodate to iodide extracellularly. Both dmsEFAB and mtrCAB gene clusters are involved in extracellular reduction of iodate by S. oneidensis MR-1. DmsEFAB reduces iodate to hypoiodous acid and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Subsequently, H2O2 is reduced by MtrCAB to facilitate DmsEFAB-mediated extracellular reduction of iodate. To investigate the distribution of bacteria with the capability for extracellular reduction of iodate, bacterial genomes were systematically searched for both dmsEFAB and mtrCAB gene clusters. The dmsEFAB and mtrCAB gene clusters were found in three Ferrimonas and 26 Shewanella species. Coexistence of both dmsEFAB and mtrCAB gene clusters in these bacteria suggests their potentials for extracellular reduction of iodate. Further analyses demonstrated that these bacteria were isolated from a variety of ecosystems, including the lakes, rivers, and subsurface rocks in East and Southeast Asia, North Africa, and North America. Importantly, most of the bacteria with both dmsEFAB and mtrCAB gene clusters were found in different marine environments, which ranged from the Arctic Ocean to Antarctic coastal marine environments as well as from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Widespread distribution of the bacteria with capability for extracellular reduction of iodate around the world suggests their significant importance in global biogeochemical cycling of iodine. The genetic organization of dmsEFAB and mtrCAB gene clusters also varied substantially. The identified mtrCAB gene clusters often contained additional genes for multiheme c-type cytochromes. The numbers of dmsEFAB gene cluster detected in a given bacterial genome ranged from one to six. In latter, duplications of dmsEFAB gene clusters occurred. These results suggest different paths for these bacteria to acquire their capability for extracellular reduction of iodate.

Marine Heat Waves over Natural and Urban Coastal Environments of South Florida

Marine Heat Wave (MHW) events are increasingly recognized as an important factor in the sustainability of coastal environments (both natural and urban), in the context of climate change. They are related to increasing trends of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) at the adjacent ocean waters. SST is an important parameter of the earth’s climate and increasing SST trends have been associated with adverse effects on coastal ecosystems, with important environmental and socioeconomic implications. This study focuses on the SST interannual variability over the coastal marine environment of South Florida, which contains several fragile ecosystems, and draws associate effects with adjacent large urban coastal settlements. The methodology is based on high-resolution satellite-derived SST data during a 40-year period (1982–2021), augmented by recent high-resolution model simulations (2012–2020). A generally increasing trend has been detected in the observations over the entire region (0.19 °C/decade). The unusual temperature levels have been associated with the formation of extensive MHW events, which showed interannual positive trends (0.75 events/decade) during the 40-year study period. Specifically, the six most recent years (2015–2021) were characterized by the strongest formation of MHWs with a peak in 2015, 2019 and 2020, with more than 8 events/year and approximately 70 to 110 days/year duration in total. The Florida Keys, especially along the Straits of Florida (southern island coasts), revealed very strong increasing trends. Miami Beach is also characterized by strong interannual trends (1.1 events/decade and 10 days/decade) compared to the enclosed basin of Biscayne Bay. In addition to the influence of atmospheric conditions over all regions around South Florida, the formation of MHWs near the eastern Florida coasts was also controlled by ocean dynamics, related to the warm Florida Current (FC). The evolution of the FC close to the eastern coasts (e.g., Miami Beach) was found to be a pre-condition of MHW formation. Several disastrous events on the biotic environment of South Florida near large urban settlements have been related to the formation of MHWs. The detected positive trends, and especially the recent high peaks of MHW events, may enhance the loss of specific heat-sensitive species, damaging the biodiversity of this tropical coastal environment and weakening the natural coastal protection against tropical storms. Urban planning for sustainable development in South Florida’s coastal cities must take into account MHW trends.

AM60-AlN Nanocomposite and AM60 Alloy Corrosion Activity in Simulated Marine-Coastal Ambience

The initial stages of AM60-AlN nanocomposite and AM60 corrosion behaviors were compared over 30 days of exposure to solution (NaCl, Na2SO4 and NaHCO3), simulating the marine-coastal environment (SME). The incorporation of AlN nanoparticles (1.0 wt.%) in the AM60 alloy matrix favored the lower roughness of the AM60-AlN, associated with the grain refinement in the matrix. During the immersion of the alloys, pH of the SME solution shifted to alkaline values >9, and therefore, the solubility of AlN aluminum hydroxide phases were raised, followed by a slightly higher release of Mg-ions and corrosion rate increase. The chloride ions attributed to the unstability of the Al-Mn phase and Al(OH)3 corrosion product was formed in a low content. The composite AM60-AlN presented lower value of the electrochemical noise resistance (Rn), suggesting that the corrosion process occurs with less difficulty. The localized corrosion near the Al-Mn cathodes seems to be stronger on the composite surface, in area and depth of penetration. The corrosion current fluctuations suggested that the corrosion is a weakly persistent process, dominated by the fractional Gaussian noise (fGn).

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in water along the entire coastal line of China: Spatial distribution, mass loadings, and worldwide comparisons.

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) have been ubiquitously distributed in water environment worldwide for a long time, especially in the estuaries and coastal areas. In this study, the distribution characteristics of 12 PFAAs in 91 main river estuaries along the entire coast of China were analyzed for the first time, and the riverine PFAAs fluxes into the coastal marine environment were estimated. Based on a mini-review, the PFAAs pollution in the coast of China at a global scale was evaluated, which was intended to reveal the overall level of PFAAs and to provide a science basis for strengthening environmental management along the coast of China. The results showed that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) were dominant in the whole coastal region, which indicated the usage of PFAAs was changing from long-chain PFAAs to short-chain substitutes in China. With regard to the spatial distribution, the high PFAAs concentrations were found in the coastal areas of south Bohai Sea, Shandong Province from the north while those in the south were generally lower when taking the Qinling Mountain and Huaihe River as a dividing line. The estimated PFAAs riverine mass loading in the whole coastal region was 131 tons per year, and the discharge flux of the Yangtze River accounted for more than half (73.5 tons). In comparison with global data, PFAAs concentrations in the coast of China was at a moderate level, and the detected hotspots of high levels were strongly influenced by fluorochemical industries. However, the mass loading of PFAAs was diversified due to geographical differences and abundant river discharges.

Mapping of mudflats with UAV images in La Bocana de Iscuandé, Colombian Pacific coast

Conservation planning for marine-coastal environments requires updated and detailed maps; the aim of this work is to generate detailed maps for two mudflats in the Iscuandé River Delta (Bocana de Iscuandé) in the Colombian Pacific Coast (Department of Nariño). These are important areas for fauna, especially migratory shorebirds. To address this problem, this study investigated the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as an alternative for collecting detailed mapping information in areas of difficult access using photogrammetric methodsand a geographic information system (GIS). UAV images were used to generate maps with a high level of detail at a scale of 1:10,000 that include detailed information about environments such as mudflats and mangroves which had not been mapped before. UAVs are a practical tool for mapping places where weather and access conditions hinder the use of satellite images or conventional aerial photography. They are also useful for mapping areas with high temporal and spatial variability, such as mudflats, where other platforms may not reveal their short-term dynamics. Our results show that this technique has a high potential for mapping such environments, and reveal that the Iscuandé mudflats aremaintained by a relative equilibrium between the ebb and flow of waves and tides, and are also influenced by the local climate. This type of application provides critical data for conservation and management strategies of areas with great ecological importance.

Effects of watershed land use on coastal marine environments: A multiscale exploratory analysis with multiple biogeochemical indicators in fringing coral reefs of Okinawa Island.

The analytical spatial scale and selection of biogeochemical indicators affect interpretations of land-use impacts on coastal marine environments. In this study, nine biogeochemical indicators were sampled from 36 locations of coral reefs fringing a subtropical island, and their relationships with watershed land use were assessed by spatial autoregressive models with spatial weight matrixes based on distance thresholds of a few to 30km. POM-relevant indicators were associated with agricultural and urban lands of watersheds within relatively small ranges (6-14km), while the concentrations of inorganic nutrients were associated with watersheds within 20km or more. The macroalgal δ15N showed a strong relationship with agricultural lands of watersheds within 7km and urban/forest lands of watersheds within 24km. These results demonstrate significant effects of land use on the coral reef ecosystems of the island, and the importance of appropriate combinations of analytical scales and biogeochemical indicators.

PALEOPROTEROZOIC STRUCTURE OF THE WINDY BELT - UNRESOLVED ISSUES

The Windy Belt rift was formed in the Baltic Shield in the Early Proterozoic as a result of the destruction of the continental crust. Investigations of its sedimentary-volcanogenic complex have shown that the belt was formed on the continental crust within the Karelian craton. Sediments and volcanics were formed in an intraplate coastal-marine environment. Reconstruction of the sedimentation sources for clastic formation indicates continental conditions all along the formation of the structure. However, comparison of the section of the Windward Belt with analogous depressions of the Baltic Shield still allows us to question the accepted stratigraphic sequence of its associations.

Towards the identification of humic ligands associated with iron transport through a salinity gradient

Humic ligands from boreal rivers have been identified as important sources of iron-binding ligands to the coastal marine environment but remain poorly characterized. A novel method using Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to identify and quantify iron-binding ligands present in a boreal river in Newfoundland, Canada. 20 to 35% of the total iron load was carried through an artificial salinity gradient, and remained in solution at 35 salinity. Using FTIR combined with linear regression and 2D correlation analysis, we identified two pools of organic ligands, with different behaviour with regards to iron across the salinity gradient. The weaker ligand pool consisted of alkenes, ethers, and esters, and was found to release iron to flocculation at low salinities, and not contribute to iron transport into the marine environment. The stronger ligand group contained carboxylic acids and aliphatic functional groups. This group appears to contain two subgroups, one which was able to retain iron in the dissolved phase at 35 salinity, and another that flocculated out with iron across the salinity gradient. The strong ligands that retain iron in solution through the salinity gradient provide a much-needed source of the micronutrient to the coastal and marine environment, while the other subgroup sequesters iron and carbon in estuarine sediments. The balance between these two subgroups appears to be controlled by the hydrographic and weather conditions at the time of sampling, suggesting a dynamic ligand-iron relationship throughout the year, impacting the biogeochemical cycles of both iron and carbon in contrasting ways.

Engineering coastal structures to centrally embrace biodiversity

Global environmental factors (e.g., extreme weather, climate action failure, natural disasters, human environmental damage) increasingly threaten coastal communities. Shorelines are often hardened (seawalls, bulkheads) to prevent flooding and erosion and protect coastal communities. However, hardened shorelines lead to environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. Developmental pressures that are growing in scale, scope, and complexity necessitate the development of sustainable solutions to work with, rather than against, nature. Such nature-based solutions (NBS) provide protection and improve environmental quality and enhance biodiversity. To further this pressing need into action, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) began the Engineering With Nature (EWN) initiative to balance economic, environmental, and social benefits through collaboration with partners and stakeholders. This work shows how engineering practice can be advanced through structured decision-making and landscape architecture renderings that include ecological sciences and NBS into an integrated approach for enhancing biodiversity in coastal marine environments. This integrated approach can be applied when designing new infrastructure projects or modifying or repairing existing infrastructure. To help communicate designs incorporating NBS, drawings, and renderings showcasing EWN concepts can aid decision-making. Our experiences with implementing EWN in practice have revealed that involving landscape architects can play a crucial role in successful collaboration and lead to solutions that protect coastal communities while preserving or enhancing biodiversity.

Metatranscriptomics reveals a shift in microbial community composition and function during summer months in a coastal marine environment

AbstractTemperate coastal marine waters are often thermally stratified from spring through fall but can be dynamic and disrupted by tidal currents and wind‐driven upwelling. These mixing events introduce deeper, cooler water with a higher partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) and its associated microbial communities to the surface. Anecdotally, these events impact shellfish hatcheries and farms, warranting improved understanding of changes in composition and activity of marine microbial communities in relation to environmental processes. To characterize both compositional and functional changes associated with abiotic factors, here, we generate a reference metatranscriptome from the Strait of Georgia over representative seasons and analyze metatranscriptomic profiles of the microorganisms present within intake water containing different pCO2 levels at a shellfish hatchery in British Columbia from June through October. Abiotic factors studied include pH, temperature, alkalinity, aragonite, calcite, and pCO2. Community composition changes were observed to occur at broad taxonomic levels and most notably to vary with temperature and pCO2. Functional gene expression profiles indicated a strong difference between early (June–July) and late summer (August–October) associated with viral activity. The taxonomic data suggest this could be due to the termination of cyanobacteria and phytoplankton blooms by viral lysis in the late season. Functional analysis indicated fewer differentially expressed transcripts associated with abiotic variables (e.g., pCO2) than with the temporal effect. Microbial composition and activity in these waters vary with both short‐term effects observed alongside abiotic variation and long‐term effects observed across seasons. The analysis of both taxonomy and functional gene expression simultaneously in the same samples by environmental RNA (eRNA metatranscriptomics) provided a more comprehensive view for monitoring water bodies than either would in isolation.

Risk assessment of offshore oil spill in the northern South China Sea: A stochastic scenario modeling approach

The coastal area in the northern South China Sea (nSCS) is one of China’s most economically active regions. The fast-growing industry of marine sector and the shipping has increased the probability of oil spill accidents. An oil spill is a usually unexpected incident that is harmful to the ecological environment and marine organisms of the coastal area. As a result, utilizing a numerical model to simulate the fate and transport trajectory of spilled oil and to assess the potential risk of an oil spill accident to the coastal marine environment is of great necessity. The present study aimed to examine the impact of the risk of oil spills on the coastal environment in the nSCS. We built a hydrodynamic model and an oil spill dispersion model based on MIKE21 FM to study the tidal dynamics and oil spill dispersion in the coastal area in the nSCS. Moreover, the stochastic approach was used to simulate and predict the fastest arrival time and the probability distribution of the pollution of the oil film to the surrounding environment in the coastal regions of the nSCS. We examined the mechanisms for the influences of tides and wind on the fastest arrival time of oil film and the spatial distribution of the pollution probability of oil spill incidents at different locations in the nSCS based on the model. The results showed that the wind direction has a dominating effect on the direction of the oil dispersion. Due to the differences in the tidal dynamics in different regions, the migration and dispersion of the oil are also affected by the tidal current. This research provides guidance on the risk assessment of oil spill accidents for marine environmental management.

Documenting, Protecting and Managing Endangered Maritime Cultural Heritage in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region

For millennia, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has been a culturally dynamic zone, bounded by maritime societies dependent on the sea for communication, trade and livelihoods. The archaeological evidence of these past societies represents an extraordinary physical legacy of human endeavour and presence across this region, contributing to senses of place, identity and belonging amongst contemporary coastal communities. However, the coastal landscapes and marine environment of the MENA region are undergoing a period of profound change, associated with large-scale human development and climate change. In order to assess this change and the level of impact on the resource, the Maritime Endangered Archaeology project (MarEA) was established in 2019 to document cultural heritage sites and landscapes across the coastal and near-shore zones of the survey region. This paper introduces the work of the project and outlines a series of case studies presented in this volume that are representative of the variety and depth of work being undertaken within the project.