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Management and Evaluation of Environmental Impacts in the Marine Environment

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Oceans and Coastal Zones".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2022) | Viewed by 9030

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
Interests: marine biology; coastal impacts; seagrasses; macrophytes; exotic species; bioindicators; mitigation impacts
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Guest Editor
Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
Interests: marine environmental impacts; desalination; sewage; polychaetes;

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Guest Editor
Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
Interests: aquaculture environmental interactions; fisheries; marine resources; environmental management; exotic species.

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Marine ecosystems are being critically impacted by several human activities, such as coastal development, urban and industrial sewage, fishing and aquaculture. These activities may cause perturbations and irreversible changes in marine biodiversity, as well as in the ecosystem structure and its functions. The evaluation and monitoring of these impacts have become increasingly important for scientists and ecosystem managers in order to conserve the marine environment and prevent irreversible changes.

This Special Issue aims to collect the current research about the assessment and monitoring of marine environmental impacts, which can include the use of biotic and abiotic indicators, long-term studies, new statistical analyses or ground-breaking methodologies. Other potential topics of the present issue are field or manipulative studies pertaining to the resilience, mitigation and restauration of marine ecosystems. Papers focused on the conservation and management of these ecosystems may also be integrated into this Special Issue

 
 

Prof. Dr. Yolanda Fernández Torquemada
Prof. Dr. Yoana del Pilar-Ruso
Dr. Kilian Toledo-Guedes
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • impacts on marine ecosystems
  • monitoring
  • mitigation
  • management
  • biotic and abiotic indicators
  • resilience

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 3350 KiB  
Article
On the Presence and Ubiquity of the Exotic Batophora (J. Agardh) in the Mar Menor Lagoon (SE Spain)
by Marc Terradas-Fernández, Miguel Valverde-Urrea, Federico López-Moya and Yolanda Fernández-Torquemada
Water 2022, 14(18), 2909; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14182909 - 17 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2518
Abstract
We first report the presence of a species of the genus Batophora in the Iberian Peninsula, in the Mar Menor lagoon (Murcia, SE Spain). We detected this macroalga in November 2021. However, according to some observations, it could have been present in the [...] Read more.
We first report the presence of a species of the genus Batophora in the Iberian Peninsula, in the Mar Menor lagoon (Murcia, SE Spain). We detected this macroalga in November 2021. However, according to some observations, it could have been present in the lagoon at least since 2016, being described as a “rare” form of Dasycladus vermicularis. A further survey made during May 2022 confirmed the presence of this species in much of the perimeter of the Mar Menor. Morphologic analyses are not conclusive regarding the species description, but most traits point to Batophora occidentalis or Batophora occidentalis var. largoensis. A consensus sequence from the rbcL barcode gene was compared by the Blastn tool showing its closeness to other Batophora specimens, yet the specific level was unresolved. The recent confirmation of a Batophora species in a littoral lagoon from Formentera (Balearic Islands) with similar morphologic characteristics could indicate that both putative introductions are connected. Further morphologic and genetic analyses are required in order to know the origin and expansion of this genus along the Mediterranean coasts. Full article
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13 pages, 1880 KiB  
Article
Influence of Urbanization on Patterns of Variability of Mytilus galloprovincialis Populations
by Puri Veiga, Juan Moreira, Leandro Sampaio and Marcos Rubal
Water 2022, 14(10), 1570; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14101570 - 13 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1672
Abstract
Urbanization is currently one of the most widespread disturbances urgently requiring empirical data regarding its effects on coastal ecosystems. The aim of this study was to compare patterns of variability in populations of the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, between urban and non-urban [...] Read more.
Urbanization is currently one of the most widespread disturbances urgently requiring empirical data regarding its effects on coastal ecosystems. The aim of this study was to compare patterns of variability in populations of the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, between urban and non-urban intertidal rocky shores, over a temporal scale of 12 months and multiple spatial scales (from cm to 10 s of km). For this, variance components associated with percentage cover, spat and total density, condition index, shell length and clump thickness of mussels were compared. Different patterns emerged depending on the response variable and the spatial and temporal scale. There was in general, a higher variability in urban than in non-urban shores, particularly for shell length, spat and total density that can be interpretated as a first stage of degradation, before noticing changes in mean values of these variables. Moreover, the most relevant scales of variability of total and spat density changed with urbanization (10 s of km in urban; 10 s of cm/m in non-urban). Results highlight the need for adopting proper management plans that should include the relevant spatial and temporal scales of variability; otherwise, they will fail in ameliorating urbanization effects on intertidal ecosystems. Full article
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9 pages, 1692 KiB  
Article
The Cost of Brine Dilution in the Desalination Plants of Alicante
by Rubén Navarro, Adoración Carratalá and José Luis Sánchez Lizaso
Water 2021, 13(17), 2386; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13172386 - 30 Aug 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3942
Abstract
To reduce the environmental impact of desalination plants, a good dilution of the brine is needed. Brine dilution may be carried out using diffusers, by mixing the concentrate with other effluents, or with seawater bypassing. Seawater bypassing increases the energy consumption of the [...] Read more.
To reduce the environmental impact of desalination plants, a good dilution of the brine is needed. Brine dilution may be carried out using diffusers, by mixing the concentrate with other effluents, or with seawater bypassing. Seawater bypassing increases the energy consumption of the plant but, thus far, this energy consumption has not been estimated. The environmental impact statement (EIS) of desalination plants in Alicante establishes a system of seawater bypassing for diluting brine and protecting the Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows. The aim of this paper is to quantify the energy consumption of brine dilution, which was necessary for meeting the environmental requirements from 2012 to 2018. During the research period, the plants’ operation was variable, as it depended on the supply needs. The results indicate that the energy consumption of the dilution systems fluctuated between 2,135,315 kWh in 2012 and 685,988 kWh in 2013, with an average consumption of 1,205,952 kWh for the selected period. The energy cost in 2012 was EUR 179,556, while that for 2013 was EUR 60,787, with an average annual cost of EUR 91,690. This interannual variability is due to the difference in the production values of the plants and in the dilution ratio, which oscillated between 2.5 and 7.5 seawater:brine. In addition, the dilution showed an additional cost of the energy consumed by the desalination plants of around 1.7% on average. However, it also allowed the fulfillment of the established requirements in the EIS and the protection of the Posidonia oceanica seagrass from the discharge of the desalination plants. Full article
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