Biodiversity conservation in Sydney Harbour

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne L. Banks ◽  
Pat Hutchings ◽  
Belinda Curley ◽  
Luke Hedge ◽  
Bob Creese ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Recreational Fishing ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
The Public ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Sydney Harbour ◽  
Metal Organic ◽  
Planning Strategies ◽  
Non Indigenous Species

Biodiversity conservation is a major issue in ports and harbours as scientists, managers and the public become increasingly aware of the importance of healthy ecosystems to the wellbeing of urban populations. Sydney’s Harbour provides essential environmental, social and economic values to community, government and industry. Recent systematic reviews of the biological and physical characteristics of Sydney Harbour revealed high environmental and conservation value, especially considering the large numbers of people using its resources. However, like many coastal areas, the harbour has been subject to stressors such as habitat loss, metal, organic and nutrient pollution, the introduction of non-indigenous species, foreshore construction and commercial and recreational fishing. Here we outline the environmental assets of the harbour and the major threats, and report on current and developing conservation strategies. By learning about the progress of environmental management in Sydney Harbour, the difficulties faced and new planning strategies implemented, coastal and harbour environmental managers within the region can be better prepared when faced with similar challenges.

Sydney Harbour: a review of anthropogenic impacts on the biodiversity and ecosystem function of one of the world

2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (12) ◽  
pp. 1088 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Mayer-Pinto ◽  
E. L. Johnston ◽  
P. A. Hutchings ◽  
E. M. Marzinelli ◽  
S. T. Ahyong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Habitat Modification ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Benthic Community Structure ◽  
Organic Contamination ◽  
The World ◽  
Sydney Harbour ◽  
Biodiversity And Ecosystem Function ◽  
Non Indigenous Species

Sydney Harbour is a hotspot for diversity. However, as with estuaries worldwide, its diversity and functioning faces increasing threats from urbanisation. This is the first synthesis of threats and impacts in Sydney Harbour. In total 200 studies were reviewed: 109 focussed on contamination, 58 on habitat modification, 11 addressed non-indigenous species (NIS) and eight investigated fisheries. Metal concentrations in sediments and seaweeds are among the highest recorded worldwide and organic contamination can also be high. Contamination is associated with increased abundances of opportunistic species, and changes in benthic community structure. The Harbour is also heavily invaded, but invaders’ ecological and economic impacts are poorly quantified. Communities within Sydney Harbour are significantly affected by extensive physical modification, with artificial structures supporting more NIS and lower diversity than their natural equivalents. We know little about the effects of fishing on the Harbour’s ecology, and although ocean warming along Sydney is among the fastest in the world, we know little about how the ecosystem will respond to warming. The interactive and cumulative effects of stressors on ecosystem functioning and services in the Harbour are largely unknown. Sustainable management of this iconic natural system requires that knowledge gaps are addressed and translated into coherent environmental plans.

Potential risks of trophic impacts by escaped transgenic salmon in marine environments

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
LINGBO LI ◽  
TONY J. PITCHER ◽  
ROBERT H. DEVLIN
Keyword(s):  
Genetically Modified Organisms ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Ecosystem Effects ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Complementary Approach ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
Non Indigenous Species

SUMMARYThere is significant concern about potential ecological effects of introduced organisms, including non-indigenous species and those created by genetic modification. This paper presents an Ecopath with Ecosim modelling approach, designed to examine long-term trophic effects of growth hormone (GH) transgenic coho salmon should they ever escape to a coastal salmonid ecosystem, namely the Strait of Georgia in British Columbia (Canada). The model showed that the effects of introduced GH transgenic coho salmon varied with their biomass, diet, structure of the invaded ecosystem, and environmental conditions. Occasional escapes of non-reproductive salmon did not have a significant impact on the example ecosystem. However, effects of GH coho salmon varied with their diet when large numbers of these fish were present in the simulated ecosystem (for example, when they constituted 20% of total current aquaculture production in the area). Further, climate-driven changes in the biomass of low trophic levels (bottom-up effects) could have a greater impact on the ecosystem than the introduction of large numbers of GH coho salmon. A new version of Ecopath with Ecosim's Monte Carlo approach showed that the model predictions were robust to GH coho salmon's Ecopath parameters, but more sensitive to vulnerabilities of prey to GH coho salmon. Modelling ecosystem effects of genetically modified organisms provides a complementary approach for risk assessments when data from nature are not readily obtainable.

Meta-analysis on the ecological impacts of widely spread non-indigenous species in the Baltic Sea

2021 ◽  
pp. 147375
Author(s):  
Henn Ojaveer ◽  
Jonne Kotta ◽  
Okko Outinen ◽  
Heli Einberg ◽  
Anastasija Zaiko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Non Indigenous Species

scholarly journals First Record of the Alien Species Procambarus virginalis Lyko, 2017 in Fresh Waters of Sardinia and Insight into Its Genetic Variability

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 606
Author(s):  
Daria Sanna ◽  
Ilenia Azzena ◽  
Fabio Scarpa ◽  
Piero Cossu ◽  
Angela Pira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variability ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Procambarus Clarkii ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
First Record ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Fresh Waters ◽  
Mediterranean Island ◽  
Marbled Crayfish ◽  
Non Indigenous Species

In the fresh waters of Sardinia (Italy), the non-indigenous crayfish species Procambarus clarkii has been reported from 2005, but, starting from 2019, there have been several reports of a new non-indigenous crayfish in southern and central areas of this Mediterranean island, and its morphology suggests that this species may be the marbled crayfish Procambarus virginalis. Forty-seven individuals of this putative species were analyzed, using the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I as molecular marker to identify this crayfish and investigate the level of genetic variability within the recently established population. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses were carried out on a dataset including sequences from the Sardinian individuals and from all congenerics available in GenBank. Results showed that the new Sardinian crayfish belong to the species P. virginalis. All the sequences belonging to P. virginalis from European countries are identical, with only few exceptions found among Sardinian individuals. In conclusion, this paper highlights the occurrence of a new further alien species in the Sardinian fresh waters, which are already characterized by the high presence of non-indigenous species.

scholarly journals Humane Slaughter of Edible Decapod Crustaceans

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1089
Author(s):  
Francesca Conte ◽  
Eva Voslarova ◽  
Vladimir Vecerek ◽  
Robert William Elwood ◽  
Paolo Coluccio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Capacity ◽  
Decapod Crustaceans ◽  
The Public ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Increasing Demand

Vast numbers of crustaceans are produced by aquaculture and caught in fisheries to meet the increasing demand for seafood and freshwater crustaceans. Simultaneously, the public is increasingly concerned about current methods employed in their handling and killing. Recent evidence has shown that decapod crustaceans probably have the capacity to suffer because they show responses consistent with pain and have a relatively complex cognitive capacity. For these reasons, they should receive protection. Despite the large numbers of crustaceans transported and slaughtered, legislation protecting their welfare, by using agreed, standardized methods, is lacking. We review various stunning and killing systems proposed for crustaceans, and assess welfare concerns. We suggest the use of methods least likely to cause suffering and call for the implementation of welfare guidelines covering the slaughter of these economically important animals.

RELIGIOUS CHANGE AND THE TIMING OF BAPTISM IN ENGLAND, 1538–1750

2009 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. KITSON
Keyword(s):  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Early Modern ◽  
Early Modern Period ◽  
Religious Change ◽  
Public Performance ◽  
The Public ◽  
Modern Period ◽  
Medieval Church ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Common Prayer

ABSTRACTThe religious reforms of the sixteenth century exerted a profound impact upon the liturgy of baptism in England. While historians' attention has been drawn to the theological debates concerning the making of the sign of the cross, the new baptism liturgy contained within the Book of common prayer also placed an innovative importance on the public performance of the rite in the presence of the whole congregation on Sundays and other holy days. Both religious radicals and conservatives contested this stress on ceremony and publicity throughout the early modern period. Through the collection of large numbers of baptism dates from parish registers, it is possible to measure adherence to these new requirements across both space and time. Before the introduction of the first prayer book in 1549, there was considerable uniformity among communities in terms of the timing of baptism, and the observed patterns are suggestive of conformity to the requirements of the late medieval church. After the mid-sixteenth century, parishes exhibited a range of responses, ranging from enthusiastic adoption by many communities to complete disregard in religiously conservative parts of Lancashire and Cheshire. Additionally, the popularity of saints' festivals as popular days for baptism fell markedly after 1660, suggesting a decline in the observance of these feasts.

The value of agrobiodiversity: an analysis of consumers preference for tomatoes

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Chiara M. Posadinu ◽  
Monica Rodriguez ◽  
Fabio Madau ◽  
Giovanna Attene
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Plant Genetic Resources ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Agrobiodiversity Conservation ◽  
Planning Strategies ◽  
Direct Use ◽  
Willingness To Contribute

Abstract The valorization of plant genetic resources and their direct use in local markets can make a significant contribution to the preservation of agrobiodiversity, while also contributing to the sustainability of rural communities. Indeed, plant genetic resources are a precious source of genes, and they represent an important crop heritage for the quality and sensory characteristics that are required by both farmers and consumers. However, an efficient strategy of agrobiodiversity conservation is strictly connected to product marketability and to consumer preferences. In the present study, choice experiments that involved 920 consumers were carried out to determine their willingness to pay for ancient local tomato varieties (landraces) rather than commercial varieties based on their preferences, and to determine how much they valued these products. The results obtained indicate that consumers are willing to pay premium prices for ancient local tomato varieties (an additional €0.90 kg−1), thus demonstrating their increasing attention to sustainable food and the willingness to contribute to agrobiodiversity conservation and enhancement. These results provide the basis for planning strategies and programs to support the cultivation of these landraces and the development of regional and national markets to acknowledge their characteristics, which will considerably increase the effectiveness and efficiency of conservation strategies.

scholarly journals Economic and Environmental Impacts of Harmful Non-Indigenous Species in Southeast Asia

PLoS ONE ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. e71255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Le T. P. Nghiem ◽  
Tarek Soliman ◽  
Darren C. J. Yeo ◽  
Hugh T. W. Tan ◽  
Theodore A. Evans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Non Indigenous Species
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