Erdmann, W.; Kelletat, D., and Kuckuck, M., 2017. Boulder ridges and washover features in Galway Bay, Western Ireland.

Boulder deposits of the Aran Islands in the Galway region (western Ireland) have been under investigation for more than 10 years, whereas marine and littoral deposits inside Galway Bay have only been mentioned cursorily. The aim of this study is to investigate all coastal deposits along the most exposed bay coasts from the opening of South Sound to Black Head 25 km inside Galway Bay. Long ridges with imbricated large boulders exist near the surf belt, whereas boulder deposits in clifftop positions are mostly chaotic. The size of individual boulders is similar to those on the exposed island sites of the Aran archipelago. Landward of boulder ridges, stratified fine sediments occur that point to quiet sedimentary conditions. Two more forms and deposits are mapped that are rarely mentioned for western Europe: boulder ridges with crossway secondary ridges and tonguelike washover deposits of medium boulders, both from extraordinary flow events. Dating of all units resulted in ages back to the first half of the Holocene and mid-Holocene times. During the older periods, sea level in the area was several meters lower than today and the coastline was farther west. Dislocation of very large boulders some thousands of years ago was higher and farther inland than by the strongest storms of recent times. This requires interpretation with respect to formation processes and their results in exposed and more sheltered littoral environments.

Peterson, C.D.; Erlandson, J.M.; Stock, E.; Hostetler, S.W., and Price, D.M., 2017. Coastal eolian sand-ramp development related to paleo-sea-level changes during the latest Pleistocene and Holocene (21–0 ka) in San Miguel Island, California, U.S.A.

Coastal eolian sand ramps (5–130 m elevation) on the northern slope (windward) side of the small San Miguel Island (13 km in W-E length) range in age from late Pleistocene to modern time, though a major hiatus in sand-ramp growth occurred during the early Holocene marine transgression (16–9 ka). The Holocene sand ramps (1–5 m measured thicknesses) currently lack large dune forms, thereby representing deflated erosional remnants, locally covering thicker late Pleistocene sand-ramp deposits. The ramp sand was initially supplied from the adjacent island-shelf platform, extending about 20 km north of the present coastline. The sand-ramp deposits and interbedded loess soils were ¹⁴C dated using 112 samples from 32 archaeological sites and other geologic sections. Latest Pleistocene sand ramps (66–18 ka) were derived from across-shelf eolian sand transport during marine low stands. Shoreward wave transport supplied remobilized late Pleistocene sand from the inner shelf to Holocene beaches, where dominant NW winds supplied sand to the sand ramps. The onset dates of the sand-ramp deposition in San Miguel are 7.2 ± 1.5 ka (sample n = 14). The internal strata dates in the vertically accreting sand ramps are 3.4 ± 1.7 ka (n = 34). The sand ramps in San Miguel show wide-scale termination of sand supply in the latest Holocene time. The sand-ramp top dates or burial dates are 1.7 ± 0.9 ka (n = 28). The latest Holocene sand ramps are truncated along most of the island's northern coastline, indicating recent losses of nearshore sand reserves to onshore, alongshore, and, possibly, offshore sand sinks. The truncated sand ramps in San Miguel Island and in other sand-depleted marine coastlines provide warnings about future beach erosion and/or shoreline retreat from accelerated sea-level rise accompanying predicted global warming.

Liu, H.; Zhang, X.; Yang, Q.; Zuo, T., and Quigg, A., 2017. Mesozooplankton dynamics in relation to environmental factors and juvenile fish in a subtropical estuary of the Gulf of Mexico.

Estuaries are physically dynamic and biologically productive but are also vulnerable to human activities and natural stressors. Zooplankton are sensitive to environmental changes and play a pivotal role in the transfer of the energy from primary producers to fish in marine ecosystems. Focusing on a subtropical estuary of Galveston Bay (Texas) in the northern Gulf of Mexico, the seasonal variations of species composition, abundance, and diversity of mesozooplankton in relation to environmental factors were examined, and the trophic interactions between zooplankton and juvenile fish were explored for the period of 2008 and 2009. The results showed that copepod nauplii, Acartia tonsa, Paracalanus spp., and Oithona spp. were the numerically dominant taxa in the bay. Zooplankton abundance was significantly and positively correlated to seawater temperature, whereas zooplankton diversity was positively related to salinity. When focusing on copepods only, their abundance was significantly and positively related to temperature, and the abundance and species diversity of copepods were positively and significantly related to salinity, implying that tidal advection of coastal ocean water likely carries diverse copepod species into the estuary. The relative abundance of the young of year (YOY) forage fish of Bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) and Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) exhibited synchronous (no lag) significant associations with the abundance of zooplankton and the abundance and diversity of copepods. YOY of Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), with a lag of 3 months, was significantly correlated with the abundance of zooplankton. Given the limited relevant research in the Gulf estuaries, the role of mesozooplankton in relation to environmental factors and the implications for juvenile fish in subtrophical estuaries need to be more fully assessed.

Marcomini, S.; López, R.; Picca, P.; Madanes, N., and Bertolín, L., 2017. Natural coastal dune-field landforms, plant communities, and human intervention along Buenos Aires northern aeolian barrier.

The dune field that stretches NE of Buenos Aires coast has been altered by urbanization since the early 20th century, with a maximum urban growth reached in 1970 that generated important changes in natural dune landforms and vegetation cover. The introduction of some exotic shrub and tree species has increased dune-field stabilization and changed wind transport rates on it and toward the beach. This lack of aeolian sediment supply to the beach caused subsaturation in marine littoral drift currents, increasing beach erosion along several resorts located along the northern Buenos Aires coast. Additionally, some native herbaceous species, at some time dominant in the past in dune communities, have been replaced by these foreign woody plants, altering consequently the structure and composition of the original plant communities and, indirectly, dune growth, activity, and mobility. The purpose of this paper is to study the original geomorphology and some basic attributes of the natural plant communities that characterize the coastal dune field to establish the relationship between the original aeolian dynamics and man-induced changes in the evolution of the coastal system. This study documents dune morphology and salient aspects of the associated vegetation (floristic composition, abundance of each species) over an original dune field and discusses the impacts of afforestations accompanying dune-field real-state developments. In the future, coastal management should regulate the expansion of forested areas in the dune barriers and preserve natural dune fields as potential reserves of sand for beach equilibrium.

Hart, E.A.; Stapor, F.W.; Enrique Novoa Jerez, J., and Sutherland, C.J., 2017. Progradation of a beach ridge plain between 5000 and 4000 years BP inferred from luminescence dating, Coquimbo Bay, Chile.

Luminescence dating was carried out to determine the depositional history of a 2-km-wide, shore-parallel, beach ridge sequence at Coquimbo Bay, Chile, for which no direct dating had previously been done. The beach ridge plain at Coquimbo Bay represents one of the most extensive Holocene depositional features preserved along the Pacific Coast of South America. Both optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) dates indicate a rapid period of beach ridge progradation lasting approximately 1000 years at an average rate of 2 m y⁻¹. However, based on previously reported luminescence deficiencies of geologically “young” quartz, it is proposed that IRSL dates are more representative of the actual depositional age of the beach ridges. These IRSL ages indicate that the beach ridge plain at Coquimbo Bay was formed between ca. 5000 and 4000 years BP, after the hiatus of eustatic sea-level rise in the mid-Holocene, and that a relatively stable shoreline location has likely prevailed over the last 4000 yrs. The height of beach ridges 8 to 10 m above modern sea level is difficult to interpret but is likely the result of several factors, including the build-up of an eolian cap on each beach ridge at the time of its formation, the height of wave runup, and tectonic uplift. Although uncertain, the cumulative effect of all three of these factors appears to be insufficient to account for all of the present beach ridge elevation, and thus a fall in sea level after the mid-Holocene at this location cannot be ruled out. Archaeological and geomorphic evidence support the idea of a mid-Holocene sea-level high stand and a 1 to 2 m mid-Holocene high stand is well established at many other circum-Pacific, far-field locations.

Aragonés, L.; López, I.; Villacampa, Y., and Navarro-González, F.J., 2017. Using the presence of seagrass Posidonia oceanica to model the equilibrium profile parameter A of sandy beaches in Spain.

The study of equilibrium profile is a fundamental concept in beach morphodynamics and necessary in the design of nourishment. For this reason, it is important to introduce new modelling methodologies that are capable of analysing its behaviour. The aim of the research was to generate mathematical models for obtaining parameter A of the potential function, which describes the equilibrium beach profile on the coast of Valencia and Alicante, using only those variables that are easy to obtain. The presence of Posidonia oceanica in the study area was also taken into account, and on the basis of that, the energy reduction coefficient (K_v) was included as an independent variable in the models. To select the optimal model, the volume error, root mean-square error, mean error, and relative error percentage have been used. Finally, the sensitivity of the models against small perturbations in the independent variables was studied and the models were validated with experimental data obtained from a set of beaches with similar characteristics located outside the study area.

Dong, L.; Li, X.; Liu, X.; He, K., and Jiang, X., 2017. Determining the effects of major cations (K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) and pH on Scirpus mariqueter to assess the heavy metal biotoxicity of a tidal flat ecosystem.

The biotic ligand model (BLM) as a mechanistic bioavailability model has been used to assess the risk of metals on various ecosystems. In this study, the effects of major cations (K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) and pH on root elongation of the salt marsh plant Scirpus mariqueter were investigated by laboratory experiments, and then a tidal flat sediment–BLM was developed successfully to assess heavy metal biotoxicity on a tidal flat ecosystem for the first time. The results showed that the increase of Na⁺ activities could decrease Cu²⁺ toxicity to S. mariqueter. A nonlinear relationship was observed between the median effective concentration (EC50) and H⁺ activity over the pH range (5.55–8.22). The results indicated that H⁺ did not compete with Cu²⁺ for the binding sites within the roots of S. mariqueter under pH < 7.0 (5.55–6.62), while Cu²⁺ and CuCO_3(aq), as toxic species, competed for binding sites of the biotic ligands (BL) with Na⁺ under pH > 7.0 (7.03–8.22). The following conditional binding constants for the binding of Cu²⁺, CuCO_3(aq), and Na⁺ to biotic ligands were obtained: log K_CuBL = 6.60, = 6.20 and log K_NaBL = 1.778. The developed Cu-BLM for S. mariqueter in this study was validated so that it could provide accurate predictions of Cu toxicity. This developed model could provide a scientific and reasonable basis for an environmental quality standard to assess risk in an estuarine tidal flat wetland.

Faulkes, Z., 2017. The phenology of sand crabs, Lepidopa benedicti (Decapoda: Albuneidae).

Albuneid sand crabs are widespread on sandy beaches around the world, but because they conceal themselves by digging in sand and are often found at low densities, little is known about their basic biology. Lepidopa species were collected from the beaches of South Padre Island, Texas, on the western coast of Gulf of Mexico, a location that had previously been suggested to act as a population sink. The site contained Lepidopa benedicti and L. websteri, although the latter was extremely rare (collected three times in 5 years). There was significant variation in abundance across the year, with higher densities in summer and lower in winter. Ovigerous females, carrying up to almost 2000 eggs, were found from late spring through summer, with most of the young of the year appearing in autumn. The sex ratio was biased toward females. The average size of L. benedicti in South Texas was smaller than individuals in Florida, but the population density appeared to be higher in Texas. The presence of reproductive individuals and even distribution of size classes weakens an earlier hypothesis that the western Gulf of Mexico acts as a population sink for L. benedicti. The changes in abundance suggest that the L. benedicti actively repositions itself at different depths in the swash zone at different times of the year, possibly for reproduction.

Pappalardo, M.; Cappietti, L.; Arozarena Llopis, I.; Chelli, A., and De Fabritiis, L., 2017. Development of shore platforms along the NW coast of Italy: The role of wind waves.

This paper investigates whether waves are active morphologic agents capable of shaping the small shore platforms that characterize the rocky coast of NW Italy. Two study areas have been selected along this coastal tract: Calafuria (Livorno) and Lerici-Tellaro (La Spezia), located ca. 120 km apart, the first being shaped in sandstone and the second in dolomite bedrock. Propagation of waves in the nearshore has been simulated by numerical modeling. From wave model results, validated with data from an offshore wave meter buoy, it is inferred that waves break directly on the coast or very close to it at Calafuria, whereas for Lerici-Tellaro shores, waves mostly break up to 150 m seaward of the shore platform. This implies that the amount of energy delivered on the platform is much greater in the first case than in the second case. Given breaking depths and the height of breakers, maximum pressure and shear stress released at the breaking point were calculated for both areas. The results showed that wave forces released onto the shore platforms both at Calafuria and at Lerici-Tellaro never exceeded the compressive strength of the platform rocks, assessed using the Schmidt hammer test. It is concluded that, in the study area and with the present oceanographic conditions, wave forces are not directly capable of causing erosion on shore platforms.

Hwang, S.-W.; Choi, K.-H., and Hwang, S.-D., 2017. Comparison of fish assemblages in two adjacent macrotidal estuaries altered by diking.

This study characterized fish species composition and assemblage structure of two adjacent macrotidal estuaries that had been altered by diking. From February to December 2004, monthly fish samples were collected from the Geum River and Mangyeong River estuaries using stow nets. Coastal migrant fish and brackish-water fish represented 95.5% of species. Interestuary species composition similarity was relatively low between estuarine habitats (36.4%). The proportion of brackish-water fish was significantly higher in the Mangyeong River estuary (MRE) than in the Geum River estuary (GRE). This result may reflect the variability in the fish community associated with diking, which may have affected fish migration pathways. In the GRE, the estuary dike might have limited the access of brackish-water fish to brackish water. In contrast, in the MRE, it appears that movement of coastal migrant fish toward brackish waters was restricted by diking the estuary. The present study provides useful information for safeguarding the sustainability of estuarine ecosystems.

Rochín-Bañaga, H.; Bollmann, J.; Cortés, M.Y., and Aguirre-Bahena, F., 2017. First account of Parmales (Chrysophyceae) in sediment trap samples from the Alfonso Basin, Gulf of California, Mexico.

The flux of Parmales was analyzed from samples collected by a sediment trap deployed at 300 m depth in Alfonso Basin, Bay of La Paz. Twelve time-series samples were collected from September 2011 to September 2012 with a monthly resolution. Tetraparma insecta was the only species identified in this study. Its total fluxes varied considerably, with a minimum flux of 1 × 10⁶ individuals m⁻² d⁻¹ in spring-summer and maximum flux of 66 × 10⁶ individuals m⁻² d⁻¹ in autumn. The maximum flux was associated with warm water conditions (28°C). The observation of T. insecta in sediment traps suggests that this species might also be preserved in the sediment record at the Alfonso Basin.

Simpson, L.T.; Osborne, T.Z., and Feller, I.C., 2017. Establishment and biomass allocation of black and red mangroves: Response to propagule flotation duration and seedling light availability.

Global climate change is driving the expansion of mangroves into salt-marsh habitats around the world, and the ability of mangroves to displace salt marsh is attributable to a combination of factors. Early life history is critical to initial establishment; the mangroves' hydrochorous propagules allow for long-distance dispersal, and plasticity allows for establishment in varying environmental conditions. To examine differences in propagule flotation duration and the influence of light availability on seedling establishment and growth, the growth dynamics of Avicennia germinans (black mangrove) and Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove) seedlings were documented in a manipulative laboratory experiment. Propagules were collected on the Atlantic coast of Florida and were grown under two light levels (sun and shade) after being floated in full-strength seawater for varying lengths of time (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks). Seedling establishment was best after 1 week of flotation, and seedling productivity decreased the longer the propagule floated. Total biomass (g) and root:shoot ratio were significantly higher in the sun than in the shade for both species, whereas seedlings in the shade were significantly taller, with larger and more nitrogen-rich leaves. Total biomass was shaped by a two-way interaction between light and flotation duration; seedlings grew more in the sun, and growth decreased over time. This study suggests that mangroves will do best after short distance-dispersal events and that the plastic nature of mangrove biomass partitioning is highly advantageous to establishment in the salt marsh because of the varying canopy conditions that seedlings may encounter.

Hanamgond, P.T.; Gawali, P.B.; Lakshmi, B.V.; Mahesh Babu, J.L.V., and Deendayalan, K., 2017. Sediment texture and geochemistry of beaches between Redi-Vengurla, Sindhudurg, west coast of India.

Textural and geochemical determinations were carried out on three beaches (Vengurla, Aravali, and Redi) of the Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, west coast of India. Seasonal sediments from the beach were collected during 2003–04 to understand the sediment dynamics (texture, dispersal pattern, depositional environment, etc.) and geochemical characteristics. In general, a seaward grain size fining is seen along Vengurla beach (swash-backwash phenomenon), with a coarsening seaward trend along Aravali and Redi beaches (high-energy conditions). The CM pattern studies reveal traction currents as the transport mechanism. Thus, the sediments of the study area are deposited under moderate to high-energy conditions. The geochemical study shows that the percentages of V, Cr, and Zr are greater in premonsoon; Si, Al, K, Sr, Mn, Ti, and P are greater in monsoon; and Mg, Ca, K, Mn, Na, S, Cl, and P are greater in postmonsoon at Vengurla beach. At Aravali beach, the percentages of Si and Al are more than those observed at Vengurla or Redi beaches. The percentages of Mn, Na, S, and Cl are greater premonsoon; Si, Al, Fe, K, Ti, Cr, and Zr are greater in monsoon compared with the other two seasons; and Mg, Ca, Sr, Mn, P, and V are greater in postmonsoon. At Redi, Cr and Ca are greater than at the two other beaches. Percentage of Fe is greater in all the seasons at Redi. Mn and Ti are quantitatively greater in premonsoon; Si, Al, Fe, and K are greater in monsoon; and Fe, Mg, Ca, Sr, Na, S, Cl, P, V, Cr, and Zr are greater in postmonsoon. These seasonal changes can be attributed to changing wind, wave, and current regimes prevalent in this coastal tract, which seem to be dissimilar even though the three beaches are adjacent (but separated by headlands or a creek).

Guo, J.; Yu, K.; Wang, Y.; Xu, D.; Huang, X.; Zhao, M.; Yang, H., and Zhang, R., 2017. Nutrient distribution in Coral Reef degraded areas within Sanya Bay, South China Sea.

An investigation was conducted in August 2014 to explore the spatial distribution of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphate ( ) in overlying water, pore water, and surface sediment from Sanya Bay and living coral cover on Luhuitou fringing reef. Generally, nutrient contents gradually decreased from the estuary to the central bay, which confirmed that terrigenous inputs from Sanya River and Sanya Harbor were the primary nutrient sources. The results of K-means cluster analysis suggested the Luhuitou fringing reef is in danger of being affected by the pollution source. The results of nutrient diffusive fluxes at the sediment-seawater interface indicated diffusion from pore water to overlying water. Compared with other coral reef areas around the world, nutrient levels in Luhuitou fringing reef were at the medium level. Significant correlation between temporal variation of nutrients and living coral cover was not found, which suggests that low nutrient enrichment, ranging from 1.89 to 2.89 μmol/L for DIN and from 0.1 to 0.49 μmol/L for , may not be responsible for the coral reef decline on Luhuitou fringing reef from 2002 to 2014.

López-Dóriga, U. and Ferreira, Ó., 2017. Longshore and cross-shore morphological variability of a berm–bar system under low to moderate wave energy.

The morphological variability of a berm–bar system is highly dependent on wave conditions with direct consequences for the evolution of the nearby coast; however, an understanding of this variability based on field measurements is still lacking, in particular with respect to the assessment of both longshore and cross-shore components. In this study, the berm–bar morphological changes were assessed by simultaneously measuring longshore and cross-shore variability as well as the forcing mechanisms (i.e. wave conditions). A sandy beach in southern Portugal (Tavira Barrier Island, Ria Formosa) was surveyed from the dune crest to 20-m depth along six profiles over a period of 16 months. Wave time series between surveys were analysed to obtain relationships between wave conditions, the depth of closure, and berm–bar variations. For the surveyed period, waves approached mainly from the W–SW (78% of the time) and E–SE (18%), and eight moderate storms were recorded. Results show that the active zone of the profiles descends to 6 m below mean sea level (MSL), the maximum depth of closure registered. On the basis of the pattern of vertical variability, the profiles can be divided into three cross-shore sectors: A (emerged beach and berm), B (subtidal terrace), and C (submerged longshore bar). A new index (longshore vs. cross-shore [LvC]) is proposed, relating the dominance of longshore or cross-shore processes to volumetric changes resulting from sediment transport. In the study area, cross-shore sediment transfer (LvC ∼ 0) dominated when the largest and longest storms occurred and is associated with storm erosion and poststorm recovery. Longshore dominance (LvC ∼ −1 and 1 for erosion and accretion, respectively) occurred during periods with smaller and shorter storms. The proposed index allows the relative roles of cross-shore vs. longshore processes in coastal areas with berm–bar interaction to be distinguished.

Rumolo, P.; Carannante, M.; Gherardi, S.; Tamburrino, S.; Vallefuoco, M.; Migliaccio, R.; D'Argenzio, C., and Barra, M., 2017. Measuring stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in Mytilus galloprovincialis to elucidate the sources of organic matter in three different nearshore marine environments.

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were used to elucidate the sources of sedimentary organic matter in nearshore marine environments at three different locations: (1) Naples harbour, (2) Formia harbour, and (3) Gulf of Gaeta (Tyrrhenian Sea). The sites showed different environmental characteristics, with the latter one considered as the control site, because it hosts “mussel farms” cultivated for human food. Significant differences in both δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N were found at Naples harbour compared to the other two sites. In particular, the lowest δ¹⁵N (>4‰) and the highest δ¹³C (≥1.6‰) values were found in mussels collected in Naples harbour, while similar δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values were detected in Formia harbour and in the Gulf of Gaeta. As shown by a Stable Isotope Analysis in R (SIAR)-mixing model, ¹⁵N-depleted and ¹³C-enriched mussels highlight the influence of anthropogenic inputs on this area, particularly of organic fertilizers.

Chun, H. and Ahn, K., 2017. Storm waves on the east coast of Korea: 20 years of wave hindcasting.

This paper presents 20 years of wave hindcasting in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) to estimate return periods of storm waves at the east coast of South Korea for coastal risk management. The numerical results were validated against the measured data obtained at eight wave stations in the East Sea. The comparison of correlation coefficients of significant wave heights and wave periods, 0.81–0.95 and 0.70–0.88, respectively, between the numerical results and the measured data shows good agreement. Note that the numerical results agree well with the measurements despite the large computational grid size used. The storm waves on February 2008 were successfully simulated in the present study, and the computed peak periods at Gangneung Port showed good agreement with those measured, even though the coefficients of whitecapping dissipation were not modified. On the basis of 20 years of wave hindcasting results, extreme wave analysis was carried out using the peak-over-threshold method and the generalized Pareto distribution function. According to the extreme wave analysis, significant wave heights occurred at Sokcho and Gangneung on 23 October 2006, and were estimated to have a return period of 100 years. It was found that the waves generated by Typhoon Nabi (T0514) were the most severe in the East Sea during the simulation period. During this typhoon period, a 50-year wave appeared at Pohang, the southern East Sea.

Yang, X. and Wang, Z.-L., 2017. Distribution of dissolved, suspended, and sedimentary heavy metals along a salinized river continuum.

Attention has been increasingly focused on the geochemical behavior of heavy metals in high-salinity estuaries, but how the salinity gradient affects the behavior of heavy metals in low-salinity rivers is not clear. In this paper, the distribution of Cr, Cu, Co, and Ni were assessed according to the proportions in three phases (dissolved, suspended particle, and surface sediment) along the Jiyunhe River in northern China. Dissolved heavy metals had a significantly positive correlation with salinity (p < 0.01), increasing along a salinity gradient from upstream to the river mouth. Suspended particulate materials were mainly derived from particles like clay rather than algae. With salinity greater than 2‰, suspended heavy metals were released into the water, bringing about an increase in dissolved heavy metal content. High deviations of Cr from conservative mixing behavior occurred downstream of an urban area. In the low-salinity area, heavy metals were mainly released from particles and increased along a salinized and degraded river continuum. The distribution coefficient implied that under a salinity effect, Cr and Cu exhibited higher ecological risk and mobility, whereas Co and Ni seemed to be more conservative in the sediment of the Jiyunhe River.

Fernández Severini, M.D.; Villagran, D.M.; Biancalana, F.; Berasategui, A.A.; Spetter, C.V.; Tartara, M.N.; Menéndez, M.C.; Guinder, V.A., and Marcovecchio, J.E., 2017. Heavy metal concentrations found in seston and microplankton from an impacted temperate shallow estuary along the southwestern Atlantic Ocean.

Heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were studied in the Bahía Blanca Estuary (BBE), one of the most anthropogenically disturbed estuaries in the SW Atlantic Ocean. This study evaluated metal concentrations in the microplankton and seston for the first time, as well as their role in the transport of contaminants in a disturbed coastal environment of the SW Atlantic. Spatial patterns of metals in suspended particulate matter (SPM; seston > 0.45 μm) and microplankton (20–200 μm) were analyzed at sampling sites located at sewage or industrial discharges and, also far from this area, during warm months in 2012 and 2013. Dissolved inorganic nutrients, particulate organic matter (POM), and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) were also analyzed. The POM and Chl-a concentrations were higher near to the sewage discharges; however, metals showed different concentrations between sampling site stations. Those located far from human disturbances showed similar levels to the sites at the sewage or industrial discharges in some cases. In general, the SPM had higher concentrations of metals than the microplankton. In particular, Cr presented important levels in this fraction, which was potentially associated with industrial discharges. On the other hand, a contrasting partition was found for Pb, Zn, and Cu that exhibited higher levels in the microplankton-net material. The high levels of Pb in the microplankton of the BBE may indicate a high availability of this metal in the environment and high uptake rates, with potential health risks to humans and marine life attributable to its toxic effects.

Cho, J.-S.; Lee, J.-S., and Kim, J.-W., 2017. Distribution of Phragmites australis communities with different habitat salinity.

To analyze vegetation distribution and environmental factors, 22 regions containing Phragmites australis communities were selected from the west to south coastline of South Korea. In the studied soil environments, the average moisture content was 28.07%, soil salinity was 5.86 ppt, and total nitrogen was 1.02 mg/g. In water environments, the average dissolved oxygen was 9.04 mg/L, water salinity was 13.66 ppt, nitrate nitrogen (NO_x–N) was 1.0712 mg/L, and ammonia nitrogen (NH₄ –N) was 0.3790 mg/L. The correlation analysis of P. australis communities revealed that there was a relatively strong negative correlation between soil salinity and annual production (r = −0.584, N = 22). The ordination using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of edaphic factors and water quality factors showed that soil salinity, water salinity, and water nitrate–nitrogen play important roles in types of P. australis communities. It was separated as three coastal habitat Phragmites community types by cluster analysis and three Phragmites community types including brackish water group in both freshwater and seawater groups by CCA. The understanding of Phragmites distribution in three habitat types would help inform successful management.

Simarro, G.; Ribas, F.; Álvarez, A.; Guillén, J.; Chic, Ò., and Orfila, A., 2017. ULISES: An open source code for extrinsic calibrations and planview generations in coastal video monitoring systems.

Video monitoring systems have become a powerful and low-cost tool in coastal studies. Extrinsic calibration of the cameras is compulsory to get quantitative information from the images. This paper presents an Open Source Software for extrinsic calibration and for the generation of related products such as planviews and time stacks. The methodology employed for extrinsic calibration minimizes errors comprising ground control points, the camera position, and, whenever is available, the horizon line. The dip of the horizon due to Earth curvature is corrected for. Planview generation is performed in such a way that the user can decide the smoothing degree in the transition zone between cameras. Time stack generation has been designed to save the minimum number of pixels in order to obtain the desired transect in the real world. The reader will find a versatile software meant to manage large data sets in a simple way.

Leatherman, S.B., 2017. Rip current measurements at three South Florida beaches.

Rip current measurements in South Florida were undertaken at three locations: Miami Beach, Haulover Park, and Riviera Beach. Rip speeds, measured by GPS drifters and fluorescein tracer dye as imaged by a quadcopter, ranged from 0.1 to 0.5 m/s in response to low-energy incident waves, which are common for this area. The purpose of this research is to provide a better understanding of the physical aspects of rip currents in a highly populated area that is also the destination for millions of visitors each year; this information will help lower the loss of life, which is presently quite high. The behavior of rip currents in South Florida was not known because there has been no previous field research conducted in this area. Rip currents, while weak, are hazardous because the wave conditions during these events do not seem threatening to beachgoers.