Exploring the Spatiotemporal Changes and Driving Forces of Ecosystem Services of Zhejiang Coasts,China,Under Sustainable Development Goals

Ecosystem services(ESs)refer to the continuous provisioning of ecosystem goods and services that benefit human beings.Over recent decades,rapid urbanization has exerted significant pressure on coastal ecosystems,resulting in biodiversity and habitat loss,environmental pollution,and the depletion of natural resources.In response to these environmental challenges,the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)were proposed.Given the pressing need to address these issues,understanding the changes in ESs under the SDGs is crucial for formulating specific ecological strategies.In this study,we first analyzed land use and cover change in the Zhejiang coasts of China during 2000–2020.Then,we investigated the spatiotemporal configuration of ESs by integrating carbon storage(CS),soil retention(SR),habitat quality(HQ)and water yield(WY)using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs(InVEST)model.The driving mechanisms of ESs,which varied by space and time,were also explored using the Geo-detector method.The results revealed that,over the past two decades:1)the Zhejiang coasts have experienced a significant increase of 2783.72 km^(2) in built-up land areas and a continuous decrease in farmland areas due to rapid urbanization;2)owing to higher precipitation,extensive vegetation cover,and reduced anthropogenic disturbances,forests emerge as a crucial land use type for maintaining ecosystem services such as HQ,CS,WY,and SR;3)ESs have generally declined across the entire Zhejiang coasts,with a significant decrease observed in the northern areas and an increase in the southern areas spatially;4)the expansion of built-up land areas emerged as the primary factor affecting ecosystem services,while the vegetation factor has been increasingly significant and is expected to become predominant in the near future.Our study provides insights of understanding of ecosystem service theory and emphasizing the importance of preserving biodiversity for long-term sustainable development,and valuable scientific references to support the ecological management decision-making for local governments.

Marine Species Introduced on the French Channel-Atlantic Coasts: A Review of Main Biological Invasions and Impacts

The impacts of anthropogenisation modify permanently the distribution patterns of brackish and marine species. Globalization leads to a rapid increase of the numbers of introduced species anywhere in the world. Biological invasions often result in significant losses in the economic value, biological diversity and function of invaded ecosystems. This review presents the main pathways of introduction of non-indigenous species and the main benthic taxonomic groups being established and/or invasive along the French Channel-Atlantic coasts. A focus is put on main invasive marine species in the intertidal and subtidal zones of Brittany (France), among macroalgae (Sargassum muticum, Grateloupia turuturu, Undaria pinnatifida, Codium fragile and Gracilaria vermiculophylla), halophytes (Spartina alterniflora) and benthic invertebrates (Mollusks: Crepidula fornicata, Crassostrea gigas and Venerupis philippinarum). The species biology, introduction vectors, reproductive and dispersal capacities are considered, together with proliferation patterns along the Channel-Atlantic coasts. The ecological impacts of these species on the environment are also described, as well as the European regulations existing to limit alien species introduction and some examples of struggle against the invaders including eradication trials and biomass valorization. Last, the on-going impacts of global changes on alien species invasiveness along the Channel-Atlantic coasts are discussed.

The morphological identification of Protoperidinium(Peridiniales, Dinophyceae) species on the coasts of China

The classification and identification for Protoperidinium species are the most difficult work during its taxonomic study. In this research, taxonomic status of Protoperidinium was clarified by tracing its taxonomic history, 23 species belong to genus Protoperidinium on the coasts of China were preliminarily identified, and morphological description and plate patterns were given for each species. The key differences of similar species were also discussed in this study, we believe that P. oceanicum and P. murry, P. tumidum and P. fatulipes, P. globules and P.majus are separate species; P. diabolum should be treated as the valid name instead of the reported names Peridinium globosum or Peridinium longipes; the taxonomic relationship between P. punctulatum and P.subinerme requires further study.

10th International Conference on Asian and Pacific Coasts(APAC2019),Hanoi, Vietnam, September 25–28, 2019

Introduction The International Conference on Asian and Pacific Coasts(APAC)is an international conference to promote academic and technical exchange on coastal related studies that include coastal engineering and coastal environmental problems,among the Asian and Pacific countries/regions.APAC

Similarities Between Granites on the East and West Coasts of the Pacific Ocean

The traditional idea proposes that granites on the east and west coasts of the Pacific Ocean are different. According to field investigations of the geology of the western United States coupled with the authors' long-term studies on granites in South China, granites both in eastern China and in the western United States are similar.

Semidiurnal radiational tides along the coasts of China

An improved procedure for extracting the radiational S2 tide from analyzed S2 is presented in this paper. The major improvement is that the nonlinear constituents are eliminated from the analyzed principal semidiurnal tides on the basis of the 'credo of smoothness' of admittance before using the procedure given by Zetler. The semidiurnal radiationai S2 tides for 42 stations along China's coasts are calculated using the method presented in this paper, and, for comparison, the results from Zetler's method are also given. In addition, the radiational S2 tides for 10 stations are analyzed with the response method. The results show that the mean amplitude ratio (radiational to gravitational) is 0. 17, the mean phase difference (radiational minus gravitational) is 119° for China's coasts.

Call for Paper of the 7th International Conference on Asian and Pacific Coasts (APAC2013)

The 7th International Conference on Asian and Pacific Coasts （APAC2013） will be held in Bali, Indonesia in September 2013. The aim of the conference is to promote scientific advancement, technological progress, information exchange, and cooperation among engineers and researchers in coastal, port, and ocean engineering and other related fields

Sixth International Conference on Asian and Pacific Coasts December 14-16, 2011

Summary Report The 6^th International Conference on Asian and Pacific Coasts, organised by the Department of Civil Engineering and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, was held in the Sheraton HK Hotels ＆ Towers, Hong Kong during December 14-16, 2011.

A study on Holocene aeolian shell-clastic sandstonesalong the coasts of South China andthe analysis of its formation

The Holocene aeolian shell-clastic sandstones at 13 places along the coasts of Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan Provinces are studied in the following respects; describing their features from both macroscopic and microscopic views, listing their distributions, altitudes and forming ages, and discussing the nomenclatures of this kind of rock and its differences from beach rock.

Assessment of the Moroccan Mediterranean Coasts Contamination by Hydrocarbons (Non Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Linear Alkylbenzenes)

In order to evaluate the contamination of the Moroccan Mediterranean coasts by persistent organic pollutants we studied hydrocarbons and linear alkylbenzenes in bivalve tissues (cockles) collected seasonally from several points along the western Moroccan coasts in the Mediterranean Sea. Two fractions corresponding to non aromatic and aromatic hydrocarbons were analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. Non aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations vary in the range of 24.1 - 2731 μg/g dry weight (dw) while total n-alkanes vary from 2.2 to 68.2 μg/g. Few exceptions were noted with values up to 243 μg/g (dw), which is high compared to other Mediterranean sites. The presence of an important unresolved complex mixture (UCM) indicated a significant petroleum contamination, confirmed by the identification of 17α(H), 21β(H) hopanes. Biogenic contributions were also detected within the n-alkane distribution (n-C17, n-C18, n-C27, n-C29, n-C17, /Pr, n-C18, /Ph) and by the presence of alkenes. C13, and C14, linear alkylbenzenes were found at concentrations of 478 - 1954 ng/g. and point to pollutant inputs from wastewaters. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were present in low concentrations below the GC detection limit. The observed seasonal and spatial variations were linked to the magnitude of inputs from marine and land-based pollutant discharges.

Feeding Habits of the Red Porgy Pagrus Pagrus （Linnaeus, 1758） from Benghazi Coasts, Libya

The feeding habits of 500 specimens of Pagrus pagrus （family： Sparidae）, inhabiting Benghazi Mediterranean Coast, were studied monthly from January to December 2008. The annual diet composition, monthly variations in the diet composition, the variations of diet with length and the intensity of feeding were studied. Pagruspagrus feed on a wide variety of prey types： crustaceans （38.3%）, molluscs （13.2 %）, echinoderms （11.4%）, polychaetes （10.7%）, digestive food （10.3%）, fish parts （7.1%）, seagrasses （6.4%） and sediments （2.7%）. The crustacean was the major food item all year round and it was found in all length groups. In the present study crustaceans, polycheates, seagrasses and sediments decreased as the size increased while molluscs, echinoderms, digestive food and fish parts increased as the fish size increased. The feeding intensity was quite high during the summer and early autumn.

The age of the "old red sand" on the coasts of south Fujian and west Guangdong, China

The sedimentary strata and deposition ages of the 'old red sand' distributed along the coasts of south Fujian and west Guangdong are determined by lithostratigraphy, magnetic stratigraphy and earth chemistry combined with TL, ESR and 14C-dating techniques. The research shows that the 'old red sand' was aeolian sediments deposited from 55 400 to 9 000 aBP, the last glacial period in the middle and later age of Late Pleistocene. Most of them deposited in two periods of 56-42 ka and 30-10 ka. The 'old red sand' deposited in the period of 30-10 ka, the later Wurm glacier substage (Q33), developed on the largest scale with the widest distribution.

SUPEROXIDE RADICAL SCAVENGING AND CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT MARINE SPECIES FROM TURKEY'S COASTS

In this study,acetone extracts of thirteen different species distributed in Turkey Coasts including tunicates,sea anemones,sponges and corals were investigated for their superoxide(SO)radical scavenging and cytotoxic activities.VWhile SO radical scavenging activity was tested using alkaline DMSO method,cytotoxic activity was tested by MTT assay against Hep-2 cancer cell line.As a result of bioactivity studies,Paramuricea clavata extract showed

Report on the Diatoms and Dinoflagellates Distribution along the Algerian Coasts: Inter-Region Comparison

The phytoplankton group’s composition is an excellent indicator of the state of coastal waters. The aim of this study is to explore spatial variability of phytoplankton in shallow coastal areas from different regions(East, Center and West) of the Algerian coast. The quantitative and qualitative study of the phytoplankton population was conducted on samples taken during the 2012–2013 period by the research vessel GRINE BELKACEM. The qualitative results show a significant diversity of diatoms and dinoflagellates, which rank first and second in the total flora(Fr > 50%). This finding is also confirmed quantitatively by the abundance values in both 2013 and 2012 samples which largely exceeds the average value in most other areas of the western region(56%) and slightly exceeding 52% in all central areas which represent an equi-distribution between diatoms and dinoflagellates. The Dinoflagellates contribute significantly to the quantitative richness in the eastern region(>60%). The minimum value of Dia/Dino index, recorded in the eastern region confirms the dominance of the dinoflagellates especially in Skikda(0.31)(Skikda).However, our results reveal the presence, in smaller proportion, of other groups such as the cocolithophoridae and euglenophyceae.

Heavy metal concentrations in macroalgae species from Sinop coasts of the Southern Black Sea

Objective:To determine the concentrations of Fe,Zn,Ni,Cu,Mn,Pb,Cd and Co in macroalgae from Sinop coasts of the Sounthern Black Sea.Methods:Chlorophyta-green algae(Chaetomorpha spp.,Cladophora spp.,Ulva linza,Ulva intestinalis,Ulva lactuca,Ulva rigida);Ochrophyta-brown alga[Cystoseira barbata(C.barbata)]and Rhodophyta-red algae(Ceramium spp.,Corallina panizzoi)were collected seasonally in the year 2010 from the upper infralittoral zone of inner harbour,outer harbour,Gerze and Ayancık of Sinop coasts of the Black Sea.The samples were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer in order to determine heavy metal levels in different algal division species along Sinop coasts and to provide information of marine environment quality as marine strategy framework directive is aimed to ensure good environmental status of the seas by 2020 in the European Union.Results:The results showed that metal concentrations in all studied green algae,brown alga and red algae increase in the order:Cd<Co<Ni<Pb<Cu<Zn<Mn<Fe,Cd<Co<Cu<Ni<Pb<Mn<Zn<Fe and Co<Cd<Ni<Cu<Pb<Mn<Zn<Fe,respectively.In all divisions,among the essential elements the highest concentrations exhibited by Fe,in Gerze station-(2328±89)μg/g dry weight in Chaetomorpha spp.;(2143±78)μg/g dry weight in C.barbata and(968±20)μg/g dry weight in Ceramium spp.Conclusions:The highest accumulation of different metals in the analysed algae species were:Fe and Co in Chaetomorpha spp.,Zn in C.barbata,Ni and Cu in Ulva linza,Mn in Ulva intestinalis,Pb and Cd in Corallina panizzoi.

Distribution and Sources of Organic Matter in Surface Sediments of the Karachi Coast,Pakistan

Under the steadily intensifying human activities in coastal areas,it is crucial to distinguish the sources of organic matter(OM)in sediments for better understanding of the environmental change.In this study,25 surface sediments collected along the harbor and creeks areas off Karachi coast were used for total organic carbon(TOC),total nitrogen(TN),stable carbon(δ^(13)C)and nitrogen(δ^(15)N)isotopic compositions,phytoplankton biomarkers(brassicasterol,dinosterol and cholesterol)and glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers(GDGTs)analyses,to trace the distribution of OM and identify its sources.TOC,TN,δ^(13)C,and δ^(15)N are in the range of 0.04% to 5.28%,0.01% to 0.57%,-17.55‰ to -26.31‰,and 2.83‰ to 6.04‰,respectively.C/N values range from 4.24 to 21.04.The δ^(13)C,δ^(15)N,C/N,BIT(Branched Isoprenoid Tetraether)index together with phytoplankton biomarkers show both marine and terrestrial OM input to the creeks and Harbor stations.In contrast,the stations from Western Coast indicate a marine source predominance.A clearly impact of human activities is seen from sediments near river mouths.

Offshore high-grade limemud resources of west coast of India:Economic potential and industrial applications

Limestone is one of the essential raw materials in the cement,paint,steel,ceramic,glass,chemical,pharmaceutical,paper,and fertilizer industries.In India,only 8%of the limestone resources are placed under the reserve category,of which 97%is of cement grade.Thus,India depends on imports to bridge the demand‐supply gap of steel,blast furnace,and chemical‐grade limestone.Efforts of Geological Survey of India(GSI)to locate alternate sources for limestone led to the discovery of enormous quantities of carbonate minerals called limemud from the continental shelf margin of the west coast of India.GSI carried out systematic studies to explore the nature of the disposition,quality,quantity,and suitability of the offshore limemud for various industrial applications.A preliminary estimate of resources using high‐resolution subbottom profiling and sediment core sample studies established the occurrence of more than 172 billion tonnes of high‐grade(The content of CaCO3 is greater than 80 wt%)limemud in 0.4–28.0m thick stratified sediment layers spread over an area of 18000 km2.Chemical,physical,mineralogical,beneficiation,and agglomeration studies found the offshore limemud as a potential replacement for limestone in the cement,filler,blast furnace,steel melting shop,lime production,paint,and Grade‐I steel industries.An assessment of mining and transportation costs indicates that the offshore limemud(USD 5–6/ton)is more cost‐effective than that imported from other countries(USD16‐18/ton).With several advantageous factors like low impurity,mode of occurrence in overburden‐free stratified form,fine‐grained slurry nature,and shallow water depth,sustainable mining of offshore limemud could be a future reality with controllable technological,economic,and environmental challenges.

Eco-Epidemiological Characteristics of Human Rabies in Côte d’Ivoire, 2012-2017

Introduction: Human rabies is a major public health problem in many African countries, including Côte d’Ivoire. The present work aims at describing the eco-epidemiological characteristics of human rabies cases recorded in Côte d’Ivoire. Methods: This was a retrospective and prospective cross-sectional descriptive study based on epidemiological surveillance data that ran from september 2014 to december 2017. The clinical data were extracted from the database of the human rabies epidemiological surveillance management service of the National Institute of Public Hygiene’s rabies centre. These data cover the period from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2017. Results: Human rabies is endemic in Côte d’Ivoire, with most people exposed in the south and especially in the west of the country. There was no association between any of the climatological parameters (temperature, humidity, rainfall) and the occurrence of human rabies during the months of exposure to rabies infection. Conclusion: Ultimately, effective prevention and control of human rabies requires a thorough understanding of the links between climatological parameters and rabies. Health authorities must take ownership of these results if we are to achieve our goal of eliminating rabies by 2030.

Prevalence of Work-Aggravated Asthma among Bakery Workers in Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire)

Introduction: Work-aggravated asthma is pre-existing or concomitant asthma whose symptoms are aggravated by the work environment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of this pathology and its associated factors among bakery workers in Abidjan. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of four (4) months from 18 December 2019 to 18 April 2020. Two questionnaires were used, one on employees and the other on the indoor environment of bakeries. In addition, a spirometry test was performed on all bakery workers. Statistical analysis was performed using stata 15.1 software. Results: A total of 599 bakery employees, including bakers (59.73%), sales assistants/ cashiers (23.52%), cleaners (6.34%) and administrative staff (10.18%), were investigated. The mean age was 30.8 ± 8 years, with a sex ratio (M/F) = 2.2. Asthma symptoms were found in 95 (15.86%) employees, of whom 74 (77.9%) had work-related asthma and 11 (14.9%) had asthma aggravated by work. The factors associated with work-aggravated asthma were personal or family history of allergy or atopy [ORa = 3.75;CI95%: 1.56 - 8.93;p = 0.003], exposure to dust [ORa = 5.01;CI95%: 1.43 - 7.50;p = 0.011] and humidity level (60% - 70%) [ORa = 1.80;CI 95%: 0.99 - 3.28;p = 0.05]. Conclusion: Work-aggravated asthma is a reality in bakeries in Abidjan, with an estimated prevalence of 14.9%. Two of the three factors associated with this condition suggest a link with indoor air pollution. Combating air pollution in these establishments must therefore be a priority for the relevant authorities, in order to provide employees with a working environment that protects their health.