Distinct Assembly Processes Structure Planktonic Bacterial Communities Among Near- and Offshore Ecosystems in the Yangtze River Estuary.

The estuarine system functions as natural filters due to its ability to facilitate material transformation, planktonic bacteria play a crucial role in the cycling of complex nutrients and pollutants within estuaries, and understanding the community composition and assembly therein is crucial for comprehending bacterial ecology within estuaries. Despite extensive investigations into the composition and community assembly of two bacterial fractions (free-living, FLB; particle-attached, PAB), the process by which bacterioplankton communities in these two habitats assemble in the nearshore and offshore zones of estuarine ecosystems remains poorly understood. In this study, we conducted sampling in the Yangtze River Estuary (YRE) to investigate potential variations in the composition and community assembly of FLB and PAB in nearshore and offshore regions. We collected 90 samples of surface, middle, and bottom water from 16 sampling stations and performed 16S rRNA gene amplicon analysis along with environmental factor measurements. The results unveiled that the nearshore communities demonstrated significantly greater species richness and Chao1 indices compared to the offshore communities. In contrast, the nearshore communities had lower values of Shannon and Simpson indices. When compared to the FLB, the PAB exhibit a higher level of biodiversity and abundance. However, no distinct alpha and beta diversity differences were observed between the bottom, middle, and surface water layers. The community assembly analysis indicated that nearshore communities are predominantly shaped by deterministic processes, particularly due to heterogeneous selection of PAB; In contrast, offshore communities are governed more by stochastic processes, largely due to homogenizing dispersal of FLB. Consequently, the findings of this study demonstrate that nearshore and PAB communities exhibit higher levels of species diversity, while stochastic and deterministic processes exert distinct influences on communities among near- and offshore regions. This study further sheds new light on our understanding of the mechanisms governing bacterial communities in estuarine ecosystems.

Performance of a One-Dimensional Model of Wave-Driven Nearshore Alongshore Tracer Transport and Decay with Applications for Dry Weather Coastal Pollution.

Dry weather pollution sources cause coastal water quality problems that are not accounted for in existing beach advisory metrics. A 1D wave-driven advection and loss model was developed for a 30 km nearshore domain spanning the United States/Mexico border region. Bathymetric nonuniformities, such as the inlet and shoal near the Tijuana River estuary mouth, were neglected. Nearshore alongshore velocities were estimated by using wave properties at an offshore location. The 1D model was evaluated using the hourly output of a 3D regional hydrodynamic model. The 1D model had high skill in reproducing the spatially averaged alongshore velocities from the 3D model. The 1D and 3D models agreed on tracer exceedance or nonexceedance above a human illness probability threshold for 87% of model time steps. 1D model tracer was well-correlated with targeted water samples tested for DNA-based human fecal indicators. This demonstrates that a simple, computationally fast, 1D nearshore wave-driven advection model can reproduce nearshore tracer evolution from a 3D model over a range of wave conditions ignoring bathymetric nonuniformities at this site and may be applicable to other locations.

A study on microzooplankton community from the coastal waters of eastern Arabian Sea: emphasis on the dominance of heterotrophic dinoflagellates.

We studied the community composition of microzooplankton (MZP) from the surface waters off Candolim, Goa. The MZP communities were examined for the year 2013, covering different seasons and four stations (Near-shore: G3 & G4, offshore: G5 & G6). A total of 30 species belonging to 24 genera were recorded, which include loricate ciliates (LC: 14 species of 13 genera), aloricate ciliates (ALC: 5 species of 3 genera), heterotrophic dinoflagellates (HDS: 11 species of 8 genera), and copepod nauplii. The MZP abundance in the coastal waters varied spatially irrespective of different seasons, with higher abundance in the offshore stations (G5 & G6, 38-127 cells L-1) and lower abundance in the near-shore stations (G3 & G4, 20-97 cells L-1). The MZP community composition showed the dominance of HDS (16-85%) in the near-shore stations during most of the seasons and inferiority during NEM (16-18%). Moreover, all the coastal waters (near and offshore) were dominated by HDS (58-85%) during spring inter-monsoon. The dominant species of HDS were Dinophysis apicata, Dinophysis caudata, Prorocentrum micans, Protoperidinium breve, Protoperidinium latistriatum, and Protoperidinium granii. The statistical analysis (Canonical correspondence analysis and Spearman's rank correlation) depicts that the MZP abundance and community composition were mainly controlled by salinity (r = 0.4-0.7). Whereas the dominance of HDS in the coastal waters could be the reason for its mixotrophic nature and diverse feeding mechanism. Thus, a strong positive correlation between the HDS and LC (r = 0.73-0.92) showed the feeding ability of HDS in their relative community.

Spatially distributed water quality responses to freshwater discharge in a tropical estuary, Hilo Bay, Hawai'i.

Hilo Bay, Hawai'i, is an estuary of great importance to its neighboring coastal community, but it is threatened by impaired water quality indicated by excessive turbidity and chlorophyll a associated with river discharges of sediments and nutrients. The Wailuku River in the western half of the bay is the primary source of freshwater discharge, hypothesized here to form a surface water-dominant half of the bay with different water quality traits than the groundwater-dominant, eastern half of the bay where the spring-fed Wailoa River discharges. The water quality of both halves of the bay over different flow conditions of the Wailuku River is examined in this study using spatially distributed water quality sampling which collects hundreds of samples in either half of the bay at a distance of about every 40 m. The dense sample shows significant differences between the two halves of the bay, with greater salinity dilution and turbidity in the surface water-dominant area. Both salinity and turbidity have a predictable relation to discharge, with salinity decreasing and turbidity increasing in higher flow conditions. Chlorophyll a, however, has a more complex relation to discharge, as chlorophyll a concentrations are greatest in high-flow conditions, but this may be because the water quality samples were collected in different seasons. Furthermore, significantly greater chlorophyll a concentrations in the groundwater-dominant half of the bay in low-flow conditions show that discharge may be spuriously correlated to chlorophyll a, and further studies of the effects of surface water discharge on chlorophyll a concentrations are warranted.

Equivocal associations between small-scale shoreline restoration and subtidal fishes in an urban estuary.

Restoration of degraded coastal and estuarine habitats owing to human activities is a major global concern. In Puget Sound, Washington, U.S.A., removal of hard armor from beaches and intertidal zones has become a priority for state and local agencies. However, the effectiveness of these shoreline restoration programs for subtidal habitats and fish is unknown. We surveyed six restoration sites in Puget Sound over 2 years to evaluate associations between shoreline restoration and subtidal fish abundance. We measured the abundance of juvenile salmonids and forage fishes along armored, restored, and reference shorelines. Bayesian generalized linear models showed limited support for associations between shoreline restoration and these fishes in the 3-7 years since armor removal. Pacific herring were more abundant at reference shorelines; the shoreline effect for surf smelt varied by survey site. Shoreline restoration was not an important predictor of salmonid abundance; the best models for Chinook and chum salmon included predictors for survey site and eelgrass, respectively. The retention of survey site in several species' top models reveals the influence of the broader landscape context. We also found seasonal variation in abundance for chum salmon and surf smelt. Our results suggest that juvenile forage fish and salmonids in estuaries likely have unique responses to shoreline features, and that the positive effects of armor removal either do not extend into subtidal areas or are not detectable at local scales. To be most effective, coastal restoration programs should consider broader landscape patterns as well as species-specific habitat needs when prioritizing investments.

Nearshore Contamination Monitoring in Sandy Soils Using Polymer Optical Fibre Bragg Grating Sensing Systems.

Civil engineering assets and geo-structures continually deteriorate during their lifetime, particularly in harsh environments that may be contaminated with corrosive substances. However, efficient and constant structural health monitoring and accurate prediction of the service-life of these assets can help to ensure their safety, performance, and health conditions and enable proper maintenance and rehabilitation. Nowadays, many of the largest cities throughout the world are situated in coastal zones, leading to a dramatic increase in the construction of nearshore geo-structures/infrastructures which are vulnerable to corrosion attacks resulting from salinity contamination. Additionally, seawater intrusion can threaten the quality and the sustainability of fresh groundwater resources, which are a crucial resource in coastal areas. To address these issues, detection of salinity in soil utilizing a novel polymer optical fibre Bragg grating (POFBG) sensor was investigated in this research. Experiments were carried out at different soil water contents with different salinities to assess the sensor's response in a representative soil environment. The sensitivity of the POFBG sensor to salinity concentrations in water and soil environment is estimated as 58 ± 2 pm/%. The average standard error value in salinity is calculated as 0.43% for the samples with different soil water contents. The results demonstrate that the sensor is a promising and practical tool for the measurement and monitoring with high precision of salinity contamination in soil.

Immediate Impact of Hurricane Lane on Microbiological Quality of Coastal Water in Hilo Bay, Hawaii.

Hurricanes and associated stormwater runoff events are expected to greatly impact coastal marine water quality, yet little is known about their immediate effects on microbiological quality of near-shore water. This study sampled Hilo Bay immediately after the impact of Hurricane Lane to understand the spatial and temporal variations of the abundance and diversity of fecal indicator enterococci, common fecal pathogens, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Water samples from seven sampling sites over 7 days were collected and analyzed, which showed that the overall microbiological water quality parameters [enterococci geometric mean (GM): 6-22 cfu/100 mL] fell within water quality standards and that the temporal dynamics indicated continuing water quality recovery. However, considerable spatial variation was observed, with the most contaminated site exhibiting impaired water quality (GM = 144 cfu/100 mL). The Enterococcus population also showed distinct genotypic composition at the most contaminated site. Although marker genes for typical fecal pathogens (invA for Salmonella, hipO for Campylobacter, mip for Legionella pneumophila, and eaeA for enteropathogenic Escherichia coli) were not detected, various ARGs (ermB, qurS, tetM, blaTEM, and sul1) and integron-associated integrase intI1 were detected at high levels. Understanding the temporal and spatial variation of microbiological water quality at fine granularity is important for balancing economic and recreational uses of coastal water and the protection of public health post the impact of major hurricane events.

Design and Performance Evaluation of a "Fixed-Point" Spar Buoy Equipped with a Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Unit for Floating Near-Shore Applications.

In the present work, a spar-buoy scaled model was designed and built through a "Lab-on-Sea" unit, equipped with an energy harvesting system. Such a system is based on deformable bands, which are loyal to the unit, to convert wave motion energy into electricity by means of piezo patch transducers. In a preliminary stage, the scaled model, suitable for tests in a controlled ripples-type wave motion channel, was tested in order to verify the "fixed-point" assumption in pitch and roll motions and, consequently, to optimize energy harvesting. A special type of structure was designed, numerically simulated, and experimentally verified. The proposed solution represents an advantageous compromise between the lightness of the used materials and the amount of recoverable energy. The energy, which was obtained from the piezo patch transducers during the simulations in the laboratory, was found to be enough to self-sustain the feasible on-board sensors and the remote data transmission system.

Microplastic Pollution in Nearshore Sediment from the Bohai Sea Coastline.

Microplastics are recognized as an emerging global issue in marine environments. In this study, microplastic pollution in subtidal sediments from nine typical stations in the Bohai Sea was investigated. The mean concentration was 458.6 ± 150.0 items/kg of dry weight, varying from 280.0 to 773.4 items/kg. All of the microplastics were categorized according to shape, color and size. Among these microplastics, fiber (77.1%), white/blue/black (85.0%) and small microplastics (< 1500 µm) (82.9%) were the most abundant types. Seven polymer types were identified and were, in decreasing order of abundance, rayon > PE > PS > PP > PET > ABS > PA. The microplastics abundance was of the same order of magnitude as that of other similar areas. The microplastic characteristics suggest that tourism, maritime activities and sewage discharge are possible sources. Our results provide useful information for performing an environmental risk assessment of microplastic pollution in this area.

Nearshore Zone Dynamics Determine Pathway of Organic Carbon From Eroding Permafrost Coasts.

Collapse of permafrost coasts delivers large quantities of particulate organic carbon (POC) to Arctic coastal areas. With rapidly changing environmental conditions, sediment and organic carbon (OC) mobilization and transport pathways are also changing. Here, we assess the sources and sinks of POC in the highly dynamic nearshore zone of Herschel Island-Qikiqtaruk (Yukon, Canada). Our results show that POC concentrations sharply decrease, from 15.9 to 0.3 mg L-1, within the first 100-300 m offshore. Simultaneously, radiocarbon ages of POC drop from 16,400 to 3,600 14C years, indicating rapid settling of old permafrost POC to underlying sediments. This suggests that permafrost OC is, apart from a very narrow resuspension zone (<5 m water depth), predominantly deposited in nearshore sediments. While long-term storage of permafrost OC in marine sediments potentially limits biodegradation and its subsequent release as greenhouse gas, resuspension of fine-grained, OC-rich sediments in the nearshore zone potentially enhances OC turnover.

Correlation of history and physical examination with imaging in traumatic near-shore aquatic head and spinal injury.

OBJECTIVE: It remains unclear whether clinicians can rely on specific symptoms and signs to detect or exclude serious head and spinal injury sustained during near-shore aquatic activities. Our study investigated patients' history of present illness (HPI) and physical examination (PE) for their utility in detecting serious head and spinal injury. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective comparative analysis of adult patients who were transported from the beach in Ocean City, Maryland, to three nearby emergency departments for possible spinal injury from 2006 through 2017. Patients suspected to have any spinal injury from beach activities were eligible. We excluded patients who could not verbalize their symptoms or with insufficient emergency department records. We compared components of each patient's HPI and PE with radiologic evidence of spinal injury. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive likelihood ratios (LRs). RESULTS: We analyzed 278 patients with suspected spinal injury. Midline spinal tenderness was associated with increased likelihood of thoracic (LR+ 2.6) and lumbar spinal fractures (LR+ 3.5). HPI complaints of paralysis (LR+ 13.9) and sensory loss (LR+ 5.8) had strong associations with spinal cord injuries. Weakness found through PE was also associated with spinal cord injury (LR+ 5.3). CONCLUSIONS: We identified several components of the clinical evaluation that had clinically significant association with spinal injuries from beach-related trauma. While prospective studies are needed to confirm our observations, clinicians may consider these high-risk features in patients with beach-related trauma and adjust testing and level of care appropriately.

Environmental determinants in morphospace and diet of the larval blenny Calliclinus geniguttatus from an upwelling ecosystem.

The effects of two contrasting environmental conditions in nearshore waters off central Chile on the diet and morphospace of two cohorts of larval labrisomid blenny Calliclinus geniguttatus were studied using geometric morphometrics and gut content analysis. The two environmental conditions corresponded to (a) a cold period with upwelling-favourable southwesterly winds and a mixed water column of cooler water and (b) a warm period with calm winds and stratified warmer water. During the cold period, fish larvae had a more hydrodynamic head shape, longer jaws and a higher feeding incidence, suggesting a greater food supply due to upwelling events and a possible increase in encounter rates in the turbulent environment. In contrast, the larvae from the warm period had a more robust head shape with smaller jaws and a lower feeding incidence, which was related to higher water temperatures and lower wind intensities. The present study suggests that larvae have a rapid response to environmental changes on a short time scale (i.e., from weeks to months), showing a link between environmental conditions and changes in the phenotypic traits and diet of the larval stages of this cryptobenthic species.

Azo dye degrading bacteria tolerant to extreme conditions inhabit nearshore ecosystems: Optimization and degradation pathways.

Nearshore ecosystems are transitional zones, and they may harbor a diverse microbial community capable of degrading azo dyes under extreme environmental conditions. In this study, thirteen bacterial strains capable of degrading eight azo dyes were isolated in nearshore environments and characterized using high throughput 16 S rRNA sequencing. The results of this study demonstrate that the biodegradability of azo dyes was influenced by their chemical structure and position of functional groups as well as the type of bacteria. The decolorization rate of Methyl Orange (95%) was double that of the heavier and sterically hindered Reactive Yellow 84 (<40%). Shewanella indica strain ST2, Oceanimonas smirnovii strain ST3, Enterococcus faecalis strain ST5, and Clostridium bufermentans strain ST12 demonstrated potential application in industrial effluent treatment as they were tolerant to a wide range of environmental parameters (pH: 5-9, NaCl: 0-70 g L-1, azo dye concentration: 100-2000 mg L-1) including exposure to metals. Analysis of the transformation products using GC-MS revealed that different bacterial strains may have different biotransformation pathways. This study provides critical insight on the in-situ biotransformation potential of azo dyes in marine environments.

Factors influencing recruitment and appearance of bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana (phylum Ochrophyta).

The dynamics of annual species are strongly tied to their capacity for recruitment each year. We examined how competition and propagule availability influence recruitment and appearance and tracked survivorship of an annual species of marine macroalgae, the bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana), which serves as major biogenic habitat in the Salish Sea of Washington State. We hypothesized that (i) juvenile N. luetkeana would exhibit a seasonal appearance as a cohort in the spring and (ii) competition for space would be more limiting than propagules (spores) to recruitment at sites adjacent to established N. luetkeana beds. We tagged N. luetkeana recruits in the field to track appearance and survivorship across seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter), using a two-factor crossed design to assess effects of competition and propagule availability on appearance of new N. luetkeana sporophytes. Survivorship of N. luetkeana recruits was low and, whereas most new individuals arose in the spring, some appeared in every season. New N. luetkeana recruits also appeared the earliest (median 8 weeks vs. >20 weeks) after experimental "seeding" in the spring as compared to other seasons. Eliminating macroalgal competitors ("clearing") influenced the appearance of recruits more than enhancement of propagules in the spring. An improved understanding of factors regulating the seasonal appearance of new N. luetkeana sporophytes furthers our understanding of this crucial foundation species' appearance and persistence across seasons, which is increasingly important as global ocean conditions change, and highlights the importance of studying organisms with complex life histories across multiple stages and geographical regions.

Recruitment dynamics and fishery characteristics of juvenile goatfishes Mulloidichthys spp. in Hawai'i.

The most common goatfishes in Hawai'i, Mulloidichthys flavolineatus and M. vanicolensis, comprise a unique resource due to their cultural, ecological and biological significance. These species exhibit pulse-type recruitment to nearshore areas during the summer months. Such pulses of juvenile fishes provide prey for pelagic and nearshore fishes and support a popular directed fishery. However, limited scientific information exists on juvenile stages of these fishes, known locally as oama, despite their contribution to coastal ecology and the extensive nearshore fisheries. Here we resolve growth rates, habitat preferences, hatching dates, size and age structure, as well as fishing catch rates based on new recruits in 2014 and 2015. We sampled 257 M. flavolineatus and 204 M. vanicolensis to compare ecological and fisheries characteristics between species and years. Both show strong habitat segregation, with M. vanicolensis found almost exclusively on hard and M. flavolineatus on soft substrates. Oama recruited in anomalously high numbers in 2014, a trend reflected in a higher catch per unit effort. In contrast, 2015 recruits grew faster, were heavier on average and hatched later than during 2014. Both species have calculated hatch dates in March to July, with M. vanicolensis hatching earlier, recruiting earlier and being consistently larger than M. flavolineatus. This baseline information regarding recruitment and early life-history characteristics can enhance management for other data-limited species that comprise a substantial component of nearshore fisheries in Hawai'i.

Anthropogenic disturbance homogenizes seagrass fish communities.

Anthropogenic activities have led to the biotic homogenization of many ecological communities, yet in coastal systems this phenomenon remains understudied. In particular, activities that locally affect marine habitat-forming foundation species may perturb habitat and promote species with generalist, opportunistic traits, in turn affecting spatial patterns of biodiversity. Here, we quantified fish diversity in seagrass communities across 89 sites spanning 6° latitude along the Pacific coast of Canada, to test the hypothesis that anthropogenic disturbances homogenize (i.e., lower beta-diversity) assemblages within coastal ecosystems. We test for patterns of biotic homogenization at sites within different anthropogenic disturbance categories (low, medium, and high) at two spatial scales (within and across regions) using both abundance- and incidence-based beta-diversity metrics. Our models provide clear evidence that fish communities in high anthropogenic disturbance seagrass areas are homogenized relative to those in low disturbance areas. These results were consistent across within-region comparisons using abundance- and incidence-based measures of beta-diversity, and in across-region comparisons using incidence-based measures. Physical and biotic characteristics of seagrass meadows also influenced fish beta-diversity. Biotic habitat characteristics including seagrass biomass and shoot density were more differentiated among high disturbance sites, potentially indicative of a perturbed environment. Indicator species and trait analyses revealed fishes associated with low disturbance sites had characteristics including stenotopy, lower swimming ability, and egg guarding behavior. Our study is the first to show biotic homogenization of fishes across seagrass meadows within areas of relatively high human impact. These results support the importance of targeting conservation efforts in low anthropogenic disturbance areas across land- and seascapes, as well as managing anthropogenic impacts in high activity areas.

Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) Restoration in Puget Sound: Development of a Site Suitability Assessment Process.

The restoration of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) is a high priority in Puget Sound, Washington, United States. In 2011, the state set a restoration target to increase eelgrass area by 4,200 ha by 2020, a 20% increase over the 21,500 ha then present. In a region as large, dynamic and complex as Puget Sound, locating areas to restore eelgrass effectively and efficiently is challenging. To identify potential restoration sites we used simulation modeling, a geodatabase for spatial screening, and test planting. The simulation model of eelgrass biomass used time series of water properties (depth, temperature, and salinity) output from a regional hydrodynamic model and empirical water clarity data to indicate growth potential. The GIS-based analysis incorporated results from the simulation model, historical and current eelgrass area, substrate, stressors, and shoreline manager input into a geodatabase to screen sites for field reconnaissance. Finally, we planted eelgrass at test sites and monitored survival. We screened 2,630 sites and identified 6,292 ha of highly to very highly suitable conditions for eelgrass-ample area for meeting the 20% target. Test plantings indicated fine-scale data needs to improve predictive capability. We summarized the results of our analysis for the majority of the ~3,220 km of shoreline in Puget Sound on maps to support restoration site selection and planning. Our approach provides a process for identifying and testing potential restoration sites and highlights information needs and management actions to reduce stressors and increase eelgrass area to meet restoration objectives.

Size, age, growth and site fidelity of anadromous cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii in the Salish Sea.

Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. have been the focus of scientific research for over a century, but anadromous trout in this genus, in particular anadromous coastal cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii, have been neglected. Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii occupy a diverse range of habitats including fresh water, brackish estuaries and marine water, but have a relatively small home range making them ideal for studies of behaviour and movements during ocean residency. In 2015, we sampled O. c. clarkii monthly along a small stretch of beach (47.08° N, 122.98° W) in Eld Inlet, south Puget Sound, Washington using a beach seine. We collected tissue for genetic tagging and stock identification and scales for aging from 427 O. c. clarkii, ranging in size from 118 to 478 mm fork length. Additionally, we enumerated redds in natal streams of those fish tagged to describe inter-habitat movement patterns and investigate site fidelity of juvenile and adult O. c. clarkii in the marine environment. Consistent with other anadromous salmonids, O. c. clarkii captured at our study beach exhibited rapid growth rates, particularly in spring following dispersal into the marine environment (mean ± SD = 0.61 ± 0.29 mm-d ). Genetic tag data revealed that while O. c. clarkii undergo inter-estuarine migrations, O. c. clarkii of all life stages exhibited site fidelity in the marine environment. Twenty-one percent (64/305) of sampled O. c. clarkii were recaptured at least once during the course of the study while multiple fish (n = 3) were recaptured up to five times. These results suggest that O. c. clarkii occupying south Puget Sound reside in or regularly return to a small geographic area in the nearshore environment for much of their life and therefore may be particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbance (development, angling, etc.).

Linking People to Coastal Habitats: A meta-analysis of final ecosystem goods and services on the coast.

Coastal ecosystem goods and services (EGS) have steadily gained traction in the scientific literature over the last few decades, providing a wealth of information about underlying coastal habitat dependencies. This meta-analysis summarizes relationships between coastal habitats and final ecosystem goods and services (FEGS) users. Through a "weight of evidence" approach synthesizing information from published literature, we assessed habitat classes most relevant to coastal users. Approximately 2,800 coastal EGS journal articles were identified by online search engines, of which 16% addressed linkages between specific coastal habitats and FEGS users, and were retained for subsequent analysis. Recreational (83%) and industrial (35%) users were most cited in literature, with experiential-users/hikers and commercial fishermen most prominent in each category, respectively. Recreational users were linked to the widest diversity of coastal habitat subclasses (i.e., 22 of 26). Whereas, mangroves and emergent wetlands were most relevant for property owners. We urge EGS studies to continue surveying local users and identifying habitat dependencies, as these steps are important precursors for developing appropriate coastal FEGS metrics and facilitating local valuation. In addition, understanding how habitats contribute to human well-being may assist communities in prioritizing restoration and evaluating development scenarios in the context of future ecosystem service delivery.

Morphological deformities of benthic foraminifera in response to nearshore pollution of the Red Sea, Egypt.

The Red Sea encompasses a wide range of tropical marine habitats that are stressed due to anthropogenic activities. The main anthropogenic activities are hydrocarbon exploration and important trading harbors. This work aims to assess the influence of the Red Sea coastal heavy metal contamination on the marine meiofauna along three sites (Ras Gharib, Safaga, and Quseir). Eight heavy metal (Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb, Cr, Co, Ni, and Mn) contents are considered in four benthic foraminiferal species (Elphidium striatopunctatum, Amphistegina lobifera, Amphisorus hemprichii, and Ammonia beccarii). Quseir Harbor showed the highest level of pollution followed by Safaga and Ras Gharib sites. The analyzed benthic foraminiferal tests displayed noteworthy high concentrations of Cd, Zn, and Pb in Quseir Harbor which could be attributed to the anthropogenic activities in the nearshore areas. Some foraminiferal tests exhibited abnormalities in their apertures, coiling, and shape of chambers. A comparison between normal and deformed foraminiferal tests revealed that the deformed ones are highly contaminated with elevated heavy metal contents such as Fe, Mn, Ni, and Cd. Statistics in addition to geo-accumulation and pollution load indices reveal a whistling alarm for the Quseir harbor. The present data are necessary to improve conservation and management of the Red Sea ecosystem in the near future.