Juniper Publishers-Oceanography Open Access Journal

  Juniper Publishers -  Journal of Oceanography Abstract Coastal urbanization is often accompanied by the replacement of natural substrata by artificial structures, which causes coastal habitat modifications, losses of species richness, diversity and microhabitats diversity and favours the settlement of non-native species. The impact that coastal defence structures cause in the intertidal community is further favoured by the anthropic pressures produced in heavily populated areas (such as pollution or the collection of intertidal organisms). Among these, the effect of artificial lights on intertidal communities is practically unknown, even though that the behaviour of many intertidal vagile organisms is synchronized with circatidal and circadian rhythms. Considering that large areas of natural and artificial habitats are exposed to artificial illumination, this review exposes the current knowledge in this matter in order to evaluate the importance of this disregarded impact. N...

  Juniper Publishers -  Journal of Oceanography Abstract Antarctica is one of the most surprising places in terms of biodiversity, and is one of the regions less affected by humans. The study of pollution in Antarctica can help us understand the real influence of human activities on the environmental pollution from polar regions. Trace elements are worrisome to biota for their effects on health and ecosystems. These chemicals enter the water through natural processes and human activities, and can affect wildlife and humans. The northern of Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland islands are particularly vulnerable because of their proximity to the continent and for having major human pressure. Our studies have focused on the determination of metals in penguin excreta, as they are non-invasive materials which can be suitable for the monitoring of chemicals in the environment. Go to Introduction Heavy metals (or most recently known as trace elements) are chemicals whose expos...

  Juniper Publishers -  Journal of Oceanography Abstract The study examines the ecological and economic implications of dredging activities on fishing sites in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria. Data from secondary sources were empirically analysed and results show that dredging operations have significant effect on fishing sites. These are revealed by the magnitude of ecological and economic implications to the region, which is reflected by the level of economic value of damage caused by dredging in the area, the number of fishing sites and farm lands affected by the dredging operations. The study concludes that even though dredging is imperative for the economic survival of the area, there is need for routine studies to be conducted prior to the operations so as to ensure that dredging activities are executed in the most environmentally friendly manner in accordance to international best practices in order to mitigate ecological imbalance in the basin. Keywords:  Ecology;...

  Juniper Publishers -  Journal of Oceanography Abstract For many decades the State of North Carolina (NC) witnessed fish kills in its coastal waters, particularly its inshore coastal estuarine and riverine waters. This study looks at fish kill data collected from two adjacent coastal rivers, the Neuse River and the Pamlico River, which both experienced fish kills over an 11 year period, and looks at possible naturally occurring abiotic environmental factors which may have contributed to or been responsible for the documented numbers of fish kill events and the sizes of those individual and collective events. In our study, naturally occurring abiotic environmental factors, including excessive precipitation or the lack thereof, and seasonal atmospheric wind fields, and subsequent estuarine circulations, were found to be responsible for creating strongly vertically salt stratified conditions in both river- estuaries, lowering dissolved oxygen levels in the bottom layers in the t...