What new word or phrase would you add to the dictionary to help scientists explain the events of 2020 to future generations?To submit, go to www.sciencemag.org/nextgen-voices Deadline for submissions is 20 November. A selection of the best responses will be published in the 1 January 2021 issue of Science. Anonymous submissions will not be considered.
Tidal marshes are one of the world's most economically valuable habitats, yet they have experienced large and persistent declines globally. Increased knowledge of the ecosystem services delivered by marshes has become a powerful tool to conserve and restore them. But hesitancies regarding valuations and their application in decision making remain. Here we draw on the literature and collective experience of participants in the "Concepts and controversies in 3 tidal Marsh ecology revisited" workshop, November 2 nd and 3 rd 2019, Mobile, Alabama, to provide a concise snapshot of the current field of salt marsh ecosystem service valuation, discuss the possible risks in salt marsh valuation, and the importance of stakeholder engagement to mitigate them. We provide examples of the application of valuation in conservation related decision making, illustrating the growing operationalization of ecosystem services in incentivizing salt marsh conservation and restoration.Ecosystem service quantification and valuation is already playing an important role in decision making by coastal risk managers, insurers, engineers and policy makers. While there are legitimate criticisms of valuation techniques and remaining uncertainties in ecosystem service delivery that arise both through natural variability across space and time and through differing and shifting cultural values, our perspective is that the rise of big data, the development of valuation techniques, a growing understanding and application of environmental justice practices, and increasing interdisciplinarity to tackle these complex issues, are paving the way for valuation to play a critical role in decision making around salt marshes.
Abstract:The culture of a red seaweed Hypnea sp. in three locations of Cox's Bazar coast, Saint Martin Island, Inani and Bakkhali with net method of 4 × 4 m coir rope net was evaluated. Seaweed was partially harvested at 15 days interval during December 2015 to January 2016. Daily growth rate of cultured Hypnea sp. was significantly higher (3.21 ± 0.01% day -1 ) in Saint Martin while Inani had the lowest (0.41 ± 0.06% day -1 ). Biomass yield of Hypnea sp. (3.81 ± 0.04 kg fresh wt.m −2 ) gained highest in Saint Martin than in Bakkhali (3.34 ± 0.10) and Inani (2.70 ± 0.02). Growth rate of seaweeds had a significant correlation with NO3-N (p < 0.05) but not with PO4-P. Culture of seaweed along those sites added a new dimension of prospect and possibility of seaweed mariculture in Bangladesh coast.
Coastal salt marshes are distributed widely across the globe and are considered essential habitat for many fish and crustacean species. Yet the literature on fishery support by salt marshes has largely been based on a few geographically distinct model systems, and as a result, inadequately captures the hierarchical nature of salt marsh pattern, process, and variation across space and time. A better understanding of geographic variation and drivers of commonalities and differences across salt marsh systems is essential to informing future management practices.Here, we address the key drivers of geographic variation in salt marshes: hydroperiod, seascape configuration, geomorphology, climatic region, sediment supply and riverine input, salinity, vegetation composition, and human activities. Future efforts to manage, conserve, and restore these habitats will require consideration of how environmental drivers within marshes affect the overall structure and subsequent function for fisheries species. We propose a future research agenda that provides both the consistent collection and reporting of sources of variation in smallscale studies and collaborative networks running parallel studies across large scales and geographically distinct locations to provide analogous information for data poor locations. These comparisons are needed to identify and prioritize restoration or conservation efforts, identify sources of variation among regions, and best manage fisheries and food resources across the globe.
In this study, we assessed the general marine environmental knowledge and attitudes of university students from eight public universities in Hong Kong. The Ocean Literacy Framework and revised New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) were used as tools for questionnaire development. Data were collected via in-person and online surveys. An in-person survey was conducted at the university canteen from 16 May to 24 May 2017, and an online survey was conducted via email from 1 May to 31 May 2017. A structured questionnaire was provided to interested students from different levels of study and majors. Data obtained from these surveys were summarized based on participants’ correct answers in the general knowledge section and five-point Likert scaling for attitude statements. Results show that Hong Kong university students possess moderate marine environmental knowledge and pro-environmental attitudes. Knowledge scores significantly correlate with demographic variables, such as major of study, gender, institution, and parents’ education. Students’ pro-environmental attitudes are associated with different factors, including participation in various marine recreational activities, taking marine-related courses, and attachment to conservative marine initiatives. The study results have implications regarding the advancement of marine environmental knowledge and the pro-environmental attitudes of university students, such as mapping a well-structured pathway for disseminating marine environmental knowledge, curricular involvement, and the development of an integrated web resource.
Diverse seasonal characteristics of hydro-chemical parameters in the coastal zone are significantly related to aquaculture development. In this paper, general water quality condition derived from laboratory analysis from the coastal waters of Salimpur, Chittagong is presented. Samples were collected from onshore and offshore site of two adjacent coastal locations named as North Salimpur (experimental location) and South Kattoli (control) during a monsoon and a dry season spanning 2013-14. The spatio-temporal variability of studied parameters were found as air temperature 26.5-32.5 ˚C, water temperature 23-33 °C, pH 7.1-7.9, DO 4.29-7.11 mg/L, BOD 1.10-3.25 mg/L, salinity 1.6-21 ppt, EC 3.40-35.68 mS/cm, TDS 2.02-21.99 g/L, TSS 0.62-2.76 g/L, transparency 4.5-14 cm, precipitation 64-1992 mm, NO2-N 1.94-2.58 µg/L, PO4-P 0.45-1.84 µg/L, SiO3-Si 130.46-956.31 µg/L during investigation period. Average values of physicochemical parameters were found to be in compliance with standard guidelines. The ship breaking activities near experimental location possess negative impacts on local geomorphology, freshwater inputs, precipitation and aquatic environment as well. Moreover, wind driven forces, tidal action, wave characteristics and changes in monsoon pattern regulate the coastal processes. This research suggests the importance of regular monitoring to assess present status of water quality and future prospect of aquaculture in the Chittagong coastal zone.
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