Article
Engineering, Environmental
Biao Li, Hongwei Wang, Anxing Lai, Jingya Xue, Qiong Wu, Chunyan Yu, Ke Xie, Zhendu Mao, Huabing Li, Peng Xing, Qinglong L. Wu
Summary: This study investigated the diffusive flux of methane (CH4) and its stable carbon isotope signature (delta C-13-CH4) in the Yangtze River. The results showed that the diffusive CH4 flux was 27.9 +/- 11.4 mu mol/m(2)/d and 36.5 +/- 24.4 mu mol/m(2)/d in wet season and dry season, respectively. The stable carbon isotope signature indicated that the river-estuary continuum is dominated by hydrogenotrophic methanogens.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tatiparthi Srinivas, Soniya Sukumaran, K. Ramesh Babu
Summary: Stable isotopic methods are used to study food webs and quantify carbon sources in animal diets. This study focused on four abundant amphipod species in the Vashishti estuary and found that seasonal variations significantly affected isotopic values of organic matter, but not of individual amphipod species. The differences in isotopic values between amphipod species indicated species-specific diets, and the mixing model showed discrepancies in seasonal food preferences. The trophic level values of all amphipod species varied seasonally, with lower values after the monsoon, possibly due to anthropogenic nitrogen input.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Mehta Bulbul, Yadav Ankit, Sayak Basu, Ambili Anoop
Summary: A multiproxy study was conducted on surface sediments from the Mandovi estuary in Goa, India, revealing higher terrigenous organic matter accumulation in the upper reaches and intense human activity in the lower estuary with petroleum contamination. Grain size was found to play a significant role in the distribution of organic matter along coastal margins.
APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ke Pan, Wenlu Lan, Tianshen Li, Ming Hong, Xiaoyan Peng, Zhifang Xu, Wenjing Liu, Hao Jiang
Summary: Although the role of oysters in remediating estuarine eutrophication has been controversial, this study found that oysters can effectively suppress phytoplankton blooms in a nutrient-enriched estuary, impacting pelagic nitrogen cycling significantly. The research provides implications for restoring oyster reefs to mitigate the symptoms of estuarine eutrophication.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Qiong Wang, Hao Xu, Dazhen Tang, Pengfei Ren
Summary: This study investigates the composition and formation mechanisms of coalbed gas (CBG) in the Miquan and Fukang areas of the southern Junggar Basin. It is found that there are significant differences in the CBG composition between the two areas. The CBG in the Fukang area is mainly methane, while the CBG in the Miquan area has a high CO2 concentration. The production pathways of biogas also differ between the two areas, with the Fukang area mainly using the CO2 reduction pathway and the Miquan area mainly using the acetic acid/methyl fermentation pathway. This study clarifies the fate of CO2 in the Miquan area and highlights the influence of exogenous CO2 on microbial methanogenic pathways.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Niall C. Slowey, Edwin B. Pinto
Summary: The Guayas estuary is a significant estuarine system on the western coast of South America, with this study investigating its water sources and environmental processes through the collection and analysis of water samples. Utilizing Van Dorn bottles to collect samples and measuring them in onshore laboratories, the results support conclusions regarding the origins of water sources as presented in the associated research article.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Lu Yan, Xianjun Xie, James W. Heiss, Kang Peng, Yamin Deng, Yiqun Gan, Qinghua Li, Yanpeng Zhang
Summary: In this study, the sources, preservation, and degradation of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) in the Dongzhai Harbor estuary were investigated using stable isotopes, spectral techniques, and hydrogeochemical analysis. The results showed that aquaculture, C3 mangrove forests, and marine plankton were the main sources of SOM along the estuarine gradient. Moreover, the preservation and degradation of SOM were controlled by sedimentation, hydrodynamic conditions, and geochemical reactions. These findings contribute to a better understanding of SOM dynamics in estuarine mangrove ecosystems and have implications for their protection and management.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel Bouchard, Patrick Hohener, Didier Gori, Daniel Hunkeler, Tim Buscheck
Summary: Several types of laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate isotope fractionation caused by phase transfer process for a selection of common environmental contaminants. Carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation caused by vaporization of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL), volatilization from water, and dissolution into an organic solvent (TGDE) were investigated. The results showed significant isotope fractionation during NAPL vaporization and volatilization from water, while no significant fractionation was observed during the air-TGDE partitioning process, except for certain compounds.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Qibin Lao, Guoqiang Liu, Jingsong Gao, Youli Shen, Qizhong Su, Chunqing Chen, Fajin Chen
Summary: Isotope measurements in the northeastern Beibu Gulf of China revealed that nitrate sources primarily originated from local pollution sources, with seasonal variations and significant impacts from human activities on the marine ecosystem, resulting in excessive nutrient levels.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yo Han Yang, Sae Yun Kwon, Martin Tsz-Ki Tsui, Laura C. Motta, Spencer J. Washburn, Jaeseon Park, Min-Seob Kim, Kyung-Hoon Shin
Summary: By analyzing the nitrogen and mercury isotopes of eels and pike, we found that pike has consistent mercury concentration and ecological traits, making it an effective bioindicator for mercury. Eels, on the other hand, better capture site-specific mercury sources based on their mercury concentration and feeding behavior.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Yuntao Wu, Xiaodong Zhang, Zhaoliang Song, Changxun Yu, Man Liu, Yidong Wang, Qian Hao, Qiang Li, Xiangwei Zhao, Lele Wu, Xia Wang
Summary: This study investigates the spatial patterns and driving factors of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in plant-soil systems of grasslands in northern China. The results provide important references for future research on biogeochemical cycles in temperate grasslands.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Maodian Liu, Robert P. Mason, Penny Vlahos, Michael M. Whitney, Qianru Zhang, Joseph K. Warren, Xuejun Wang, Zofia Baumann
Summary: This study investigated the seasonal and tidal variations of mercury and methylmercury in Long Island Sound, revealing that the riverine input of organic matter and inorganic mercury stimulates methylmercury production, and tidal cycles further contribute to the remobilization of deposited mercury. The findings highlight the significance of water column biogeochemical processes in regulating methylmercury levels in temperate estuarine ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Eric Bollinger, Jochen P. Zubrod, Marco Konschak, Ralf Schulz, Mirco Bundschuh
Summary: Stable isotope analysis is an important technique in food web ecology, but its effectiveness can be unclear in complex systems. The use of heavy isotope tracers has been suggested as a way to enhance the utility of stable isotope analysis, but this study found that labeling could potentially affect isotopic fractionation and bias conclusions. While the physiological and activity levels of organisms in autotrophy-based and detritus-based aquatic food webs were not significantly affected by labeling, the study supported the isotopic redundancy hypothesis, which suggests that metabolic processes can be altered by discrete quantum mechanical states.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Justin M. Mathias, Tara W. Hudiburg
Summary: The use of stable isotopes to understand plant physiological processes has become common in ecology. However, there is currently no standardized tool to calculate isotope-derived plant physiological indices. In response, we developed isocalcR, an R package that provides functions and reference data to simplify the use of stable isotope data in plant tissues.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Wenhong Johnson Qiu, Mei-Fu Zhou, Xiaochun Li, Fang Huang, John Malpas
Summary: The study investigates the formation of sediment-hosted stratiform sulfide (SHSS) deposits using Fe, S, and C isotopes. It found that pyrite grains in laminated ores and black shales from the Devonian Dajiangping SHSS-type pyrite deposit in South China exhibit different isotopic compositions, with positive Fe isotopic values in black shales indicating gradual crystallization from sediment-derived iron and negative Fe isotopic values in laminated ores due to kinetic fractionation in hydrothermal plumes.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Sara Shaeri Karimi, Neil Saintilan, Li Wen, Jonathan Cox
Summary: Monitoring floodplain vegetation response to water availability is crucial for sustainable water resource management. The research found that vegetation dynamics in semi-arid floodplains are highly influenced by irregular rainfall patterns, soil moisture, and inundation frequency. Different vegetation types show varied responses to these factors, highlighting the importance of considering groundwater and lagged effects of rainfall and flow in environmental water monitoring programs.
Article
Forestry
Marcelle Lock, Iris van Duren, Andrew K. Skidmore, Neil Saintilan
Summary: This research evaluated the gaps in harmonization between Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs), RS/eDNA biodiversity products, and forest conservation indicators. The study found that RS/eDNA biodiversity products can provide more comprehensive information on biodiversity, while forest conservation indicators are lacking in reflecting ecosystem function.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kerrylee Rogers, Atun Zawadzki, Laura A. Mogensen, Neil Saintilan
Summary: This study examines the fate of mangroves and saltmarshes in Westernport Bay, Australia under conditions of accelerating sea-level rise. The results show that sedimentation and surface elevation gain vary spatially based on hydrodynamic conditions, sediment supply, and available accommodation space. Sea-level rise will generally deepen substrate positions for mangroves, while saltmarshes may be able to maintain or even advance under certain conditions but will likely retreat under a high sea-level rise scenario.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Seftiawan Samsu Rijal, Tien Dat Pham, Salma Noer'Aulia, Muhammad Ikbal Putera, Neil Saintilan
Summary: This study used novel Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) analyses to estimate mangrove Above-Ground Carbon (AGC) in Loh Buaya, Komodo National Park, Indonesia, by integrating multiple sources of remote sensing data. The hybrid XGB-GA model outperformed other machine learning models and provided reliable estimates of mangrove AGC, which can be valuable for global carbon accounting in tropical mangrove ecosystems.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shanshan Song, Yali Ding, Wei Li, Yuchen Meng, Jian Zhou, Ruikun Gou, Conghe Zhang, Shengbin Ye, Neil Saintilan, Ken W. Krauss, Stephen Crooks, Shuguo Lv, Guanghui Lin
Summary: Blue carbon benefit has not been compared between mangrove reforestation and afforestation pathways at the global scale. This study shows that mangrove reforestation has a greater carbon storage potential per hectare than afforestation, mainly due to favorable intertidal positioning, higher nitrogen availability, and lower salinity. Reforestation of deforested mangrove regions worldwide could lead to a global uptake of 671.5-688.8 Tg CO2-eq over a 40-year period, 60% more than afforesting the same global area on marginal tidal flats.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marcelle Lock, Neil Saintilan, Iris van Duren, Andrew Skidmore
Summary: The Australian New South Wales Estuary health assessment and biodiversity monitoring program has set state-wide targets for estuary health. In this study, the use of remote sensing derived data for monitoring water quality indicators in selected lakes along the coast was investigated. The results showed that the remote sensing products were partly successful in predicting chlorophyll a concentration and water clarity, but varied across years and lakes. It is likely that the physical differences between the systems influence the algorithm's output, suggesting the need for a tailored monitoring approach.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Tien Dat Pham, Nam Thang Ha, Neil Saintilan, Andrew Skidmore, Duong Cao Phan, Nga Nhu Le, Hung Luu Viet, Wataru Takeuchi, Daniel A. Friess
Summary: Blue carbon ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrasses, and saltmarshes, are highly productive habitats and are crucial for climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, quantifying blue carbon stocks using remote sensing faces challenges such as cloud coverage and limitations of sensors. Recent advances in multispectral and SAR imagery, LiDAR data, and machine learning techniques offer opportunities to quantify blue carbon. Nevertheless, atmospheric correction, data dimensionality, and the limitations of training samples remain as major difficulties in accurately estimating blue carbon stocks.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jasmin C. Martino, Jagoda Crawford, Patricia Gadd, Jesmond Sammut, Neil Saintilan, Debashish Mazumder
Summary: Elemental profiling is a powerful tool for authenticating food origins, but its adoption is hindered by analytical delays and inaccessibility. We evaluated a handheld XRF scanner as a rapid approach for discerning prawn provenance in Australia. Our results showed that harvest site had the biggest influence, and raw samples were better suited for provenance determinations. Machine learning classification models demonstrated high accuracies, showing the practicality of this technology for provenance in supply chains.
Review
Fisheries
T. P. Stelling-Wood, P. E. Gribben, G. Birch, M. J. Bishop, C. Blount, D. J. Booth, C. Brown, E. Bruce, A. B. Bugnot, M. Byrne, R. G. Creese, K. A. Dafforn, J. Dahlenburg, M. A. Doblin, T. E. Fellowes, A. M. Fowler, M. C. Gibbs, W. Glamore, T. M. Glasby, A. C. Hay, B. Kelaher, N. A. Knott, A. W. D. Larkum, L. M. Parker, E. M. Marzinelli, M. Mayer-Pinto, B. Morgan, S. A. Murray, M. J. Rees, P. M. Ross, M. Roughan, N. Saintilan, E. Scanes, J. R. Seymour, N. Schaefer, I. M. Suthers, M. D. Taylor, J. E. Williamson, A. Vila Concejo, R. J. Whittington, W. F. Figueira
Summary: By systematically reviewing published literature and traditional ecological knowledge, this review highlights the extensive amount of knowledge that exists for Gamay, but also identifies key gaps that need to be filled for effective management.
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Karthik Gopi, Debashish Mazumder, Jagoda Crawford, Patricia Gadd, Carol V. V. Tadros, Armand Atanacio, Neil Saintilan, Jesmond Sammut
Summary: As demand for seafood increases, so does seafood fraud. This study presents the development of a database using isotopic and elemental fingerprints of the black tiger prawn to determine its provenance. The models built using the database achieved over 80% accuracy in determining the origin of the prawn. The scalability of the database allows for the inclusion of additional regions, species, or methodologies, providing a valuable tool to combat fraudulent seafood labeling.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Nondita Malo, Debashish Mazumder, Jagoda Crawford, Patricia Gadd, Karthik Gopi, Neil Saintilan, Jesmond Sammut
Summary: Seafood elemental profiling (SEP) is a useful method for analyzing elements in seafood to determine their origin and quality. Traditional methods have limitations, but portable handheld X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis shows promise as an alternative. This study demonstrates the potential of pXRF for industry-level analysis, but further improvements are needed for instrument calibration to account for factors that can affect the results.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Li Wen, Tanya J. Mason, Shawn Ryan, Joanne E. Ling, Neil Saintilan, Jose Rodriguez
Summary: This study investigates the long-term condition dynamics of six vegetation communities in the Macquarie Marshes using a time series of Enhanced Vegetation Index derived from Landsat imagery. The results show that the EVI is a useful metric for monitoring wetland condition and its response to climatic and hydrological drivers. Wetland communities are responsive to river flow and seasonality, while terrestrial communities are responsive to climate and seasonality. There is no long-term trend of declining condition, but an increase in condition variability towards the end of the time series requires continued monitoring.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Gao, Jiquan Chen, Neil Saintilan, Bin Zhao, Zutao Ouyang, Tingting Zhang, Haiqiang Guo, Yingying Hao, Feng Zhao, Jianyi Liu, Sikai Wang, Ping Zhuang
Summary: This study investigates the lateral hydrological carbon flux for an estuarine marsh over the course of a year. The results show a significant correlation between imported and exported dissolved organic carbon and dissolved inorganic carbon, but not for particulate organic carbon. The marsh appears to be a net exporter of dissolved organic carbon and dissolved inorganic carbon, but a net sink of particulate organic carbon. The findings highlight the importance of lateral hydrological inflows/outflows in wetland carbon budgets, especially in the meta-ecosystem framework.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Laely Nurhidayah, Peter Davies, Shawkat Alam, Neil Saintilan, Annisa Triyanti
Summary: Coastal cities in Indonesia are facing multiple challenges due to population growth, industrialization, climate change, and subsidence. Policy solutions to address sea level rise have often failed due to ineffective governance framework and conflicting interests among different levels of government and stakeholders. This article also emphasizes the opportunities for community and civil society participation in nature-based solution practices.
Article
Fisheries
Neil Saintilan, Emma Asbridge, Richard Lucas, Kerrylee Rogers, Li Wen, Megan Powell, Matthew J. Colloff, Jose F. Rodriguez, Patricia M. Saco, Steven Sandi, Tien Dat Pham, Leo Lymburner
Summary: Climatically driven perturbations can lead to ecosystem collapse, but recent research on Australian ecosystems suggests that dieback and defoliation may not always result in reduced vegetation cover, but could indicate increased tree colonization and range infilling as a response to climate change.
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
(2022)