Much as Rachel Carson's \"Silent Spring\" was a call to action against the pesticides that were devastating bird populations, Charles S. Elton's classic \"The Ecology of Invasions by Animals and Plants\" sounded an early warning about an environmental catastrophe that has become all too familiar today-the invasion of nonnative species. From kudzu to zebra mussels to Asian long-horned beetles, nonnative species are colonizing new habitats around the world at an alarming rate thanks to accidental and intentional human intervention. One of the leading causes of extinctions of native animals and plants, invasive species also wreak severe economic havoc, causing $79 billion worth of damage in the United States alone. Elton explains the devastating effects that invasive species can have on local ecosystems in clear, concise language and with numerous examples. The first book on invasion biology, and still the most cited, Elton's masterpiece provides an accessible, engaging introduction to one of the most important environmental crises of our time. Charles S. Elton was one of the founders of ecology, who also established and led Oxford University's Bureau of Animal Population. His work has influenced generations of ecologists and zoologists, and his publications remain central to the literature in modern biology. \"History has caught up with Charles Elton's foresight, and \"The Ecology of Invasions\" can now be seen as one of the central scientific books of our century.\"-David Quammen, from the Foreword to \"Killer Algae: The True Tale of a Biological Invasion\

The Ecology of Invasions by Animals and Plants

Many climate change adaptation efforts aim to address the implications of potential changes in the frequency, intensity, and duration of weather and climate events that affect the risk of extreme impacts on human society That risk is determined not only by the climate and weather events (the hazards) but also by the exposure and vulnerability to these hazards Therefore, effective adaptation and disaster risk management strategies and practices also depend on a rigorous understanding of the dimensions of exposure and vulnerability, as well as a proper assessment of changes in those dimensions This chapter aims to provide that understanding and assessment, by further detailing the determinants of risk as presented in Chapter 1 

The first sections of this chapter elucidate the concepts that are needed to define and understand risk, and show that risk originates from a combination of social processes and their interaction with the environment (Sections 22 and 23), and highlight the role of coping and adaptive capacities (Section 24) The following section (25) describes the different dimensions of vulnerability and exposure as well as trends therein Given that exposure and vulnerability are highly context-specific, this section is by definition limited to a general overview (a more quantitative perspective on trends is provided in Chapter 4) A methodological discussion (Section 26) of approaches to identify and assess risk provides indications of how the dimensions of exposure and vulnerability can be explored in specific contexts, such as adaptation planning, and the central role of risk perception and risk communication The chapter concludes with a cross-cutting discussion of risk accumulation and the nature of disasters

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Determinants of risk: Exposure and vulnerability

Seaweed produces metabolites aiding in the protection against different environmental stresses. These compounds show antiviral, antiprotozoal, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. Macroalgae can be cultured in high volumes and would represent an attractive source of potential compounds useful for unconventional drugs able to control new diseases or multiresistant strains of pathogenic microorganisms. The substances isolated from green, brown and red algae showing potent antimicrobial activity belong to polysaccharides, fatty acids, phlorotannins, pigments, lectins, alkaloids, terpenoids and halogenated compounds. This review presents the major compounds found in macroalga showing antimicrobial activities and their most promising applications.

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Antimicrobial Action of Compounds from Marine Seaweed

We report for the first time the ingestion of microplastics by scleractinian corals, and the presence of microplastics in coral reef waters adjacent to inshore reefs on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GRE, 18°31′S 146°23′E). Analysis of samples from sub-surface plankton tows conducted in close proximity to inshore reefs on the central GBR revealed microplastics, similar to those used in marine paints and fishing floats, were present in low concentrations at all water sampling locations. Experimental feeding trials revealed that corals mistake microplastics for prey and can consume up to ~50 μg plastic cm−2 h−1, rates similar to their consumption of plankton and Artemia nauplii in experimental feeding assays. Ingested microplastics were found wrapped in mesenterial tissue within the coral gut cavity, suggesting that ingestion of high concentrations of microplastic debris could potentially impair the health of corals.

Microplastic ingestion by scleractinian corals

Threats to and loss of seagrass ecosystems globally, impact not only natural resources but also the lives of people who directly or indirectly depend on these systems. Seagrass ecosystems play a multi-functional role in human well-being, e.g. food through fisheries, control of erosion and protection against floods. Quantifying these services reveals their contributions to human well-being and helps justify seagrass conservation. There has been no comprehensive assessment as to whether seagrass ecosystem services are perceived to vary over the globe or amongst genera. Our study compiles the most complete list of ecosystem services provided by seagrasses so far, including bioregional- and genus-specific information from expert opinion and published studies. Several seagrass ecosystem services vary considerably in their (known) provision across genera and over the globe. Seagrasses genera are clearly not all equal with regard to the ecosystem services they provide. As seagrass genera are not evenly distributed over all bioregions, the presence of an ecosystem service sometimes depends on the genera present. Larger sized seagrass genera (e.g. Posidonia, Enhalus) are perceived to provide more substantial and a wider variety of ecosystem services than smaller species (e.g. Halophila, Lepilaena). Nevertheless, smaller species provide important services. Our findings point out data gaps, provide new insight for more efficient management and recommend caution in economic valuation of seagrass services worldwide.

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Seagrass Ecosystem Services and Their Variability across Genera and Geographical Regions

Profiling microplastics in the Indian edible oyster, Magallana bilineata collected from the Tuticorin coast, Gulf of Mannar, Southeastern India.

Microplastic and heavy metal distributions in an Indian coral reef ecosystem

Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in the coral reef, sea grass and near shore habitats of Rameswaram Island, India.

Large quantities of commercially important juvenile fishes are fished as bycatches and were discarded as waste. For food control this was utilized for the development of edible fish powder and their quality, shelf life and it was incorporated with normal food items and their consumer acceptance were assessed to eradicate malnutrition.

Utilization of Trash Fishes as Edible Fish Powder and its Quality Characteristics and Consumer Acceptance

The microbial quality of six sun dried seafood species available in Tuticorin dry fish market was analyzed during monsoon, post-monsoon and summer seasons. The microbial quality parameters varied with different seafood's in different seasons and the quality was found to be poor during monsoon season. The bacterial and fungal counts were increased with the increase of humidity of the environment and the moisture content of the dried seafood's. The spoilage indicators TMA-N and TVB-N of the samples didn't exceed the permissible limit except in S. fimbriata. The pathogenic bacteria occurred in different species of seafood's in different season. The MPN readings for fecal indicators varied with the seasons. The fungal species A. niger, A. fumigatus and A. flavus were dominant in the dried sea foods of all the 3 seasons and among them, A. niger and A. flavus showed 18% salt resistance. The poor quality of the dried fishes may be due to unhygienic processing, inadequate salting with poor quality salt and lack of air tight packing of the dried fishes.

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Jamila Patterson

Papers

Profiling microplastics in the Indian edible oyster, Magallana bilineata collected from the Tuticorin coast, Gulf of Mannar, Southeastern India.

Microplastic and heavy metal distributions in an Indian coral reef ecosystem

Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in the coral reef, sea grass and near shore habitats of Rameswaram Island, India.

Utilization of Trash Fishes as Edible Fish Powder and its Quality Characteristics and Consumer Acceptance

Microbial Quality of Salted and Sun Dried Sea Foods of Tuticorin Dry Fish Market, Southeast Coast of India