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Impact of Climate Change on Marine Ecosystems

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Biodiversity and Functionality of Aquatic Ecosystems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 May 2025 | Viewed by 2936

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Marine Research (INMAR), Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Science, University of Cádiz, Puerto Real, Spain
Interests: climate change; global change; biodiversity; ecosystem functioning; marine and coastal ecosystems; ocean acidification; marine invertebrates; invasive species
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Marine ecosystems are among the most diverse on the planet, playing crucial roles in maintaining global biodiversity and supporting vital ecosystem services. However, climate change is increasingly disrupting these ecosystems, leading to shifts in species distribution, alterations in marine food webs, and declining ecosystem health. This Special Issue aims to explore the wide-ranging impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems, with a focus on biodiversity, species interactions, and ecosystem functionality. We welcome submissions in key areas such as the effects of temperature rise on marine biodiversity, the role of ocean acidification in altering marine habitats, the interaction between climate change and anthropogenic activities, and changes in primary production and nutrient cycling. Studies that propose adaptive strategies or mitigation approaches to counteract the negative impacts of climate change are also of great interest.

Dr. Md Khurshid Alam Bhuiyan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
  • global change
  • marine pollution
  • fisheries and food security

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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13 pages, 2881 KiB  
Article
Can Climate-Resilient Tilapia Cage Culture Support Sustainable Livelihoods in Flood-Prone Bangladesh?
by Mohammed Ariful Islam, Mrityunjoy Kunda, Ahmed Harun-Al-Rashid, Atiqur Rahman Sunny, Mahmudul Hasan Mithun, Sharif Ahmed Sazzad and Md Khurshid Alam Bhuiyan
Water 2025, 17(4), 585; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17040585 - 18 Feb 2025
Viewed by 644
Abstract
The Haor region in northeastern Bangladesh, characterized by seasonal wetlands and a heavy reliance on fisheries, faces significant challenges due to climate change. Erratic rainfall, prolonged flooding, and ecosystem degradation threaten traditional fishing practices and community livelihoods. This study investigates the potential of [...] Read more.
The Haor region in northeastern Bangladesh, characterized by seasonal wetlands and a heavy reliance on fisheries, faces significant challenges due to climate change. Erratic rainfall, prolonged flooding, and ecosystem degradation threaten traditional fishing practices and community livelihoods. This study investigates the potential of climate-resilient cage aquaculture as a sustainable, alternative income-generating solution for vulnerable Haor communities. An 80-day experiment was conducted in five villages of Sunamganj district, Sylhet division, Bangladesh, where tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry were reared in climate-resilient floating cages at five stocking densities: T1 (800 fry/m3), T2 (900 fry/m3), T3 (1000 fry/m3), T4 (1100 fry/m3), and T5 (1200 fry/m3). Key environmental parameters, including temperature (28.12–29.55 °C), dissolved oxygen (4.61–6.55 mg/L), pH (7.53–7.72), and ammonia (0.05–0.76 mg/L), remained within optimal ranges across treatments. Growth performance, survival rate, and economic feasibility were evaluated with T5 yielding the highest gross production (51.77 ± 4.80 kg/m3) and net benefits (7500 ± 500 BDT/m3), achieving a benefit–cost ratio of 1:2.86. The survey findings revealed that a majority of fishers (82%) identified tilapia cage culture as a promising alternative livelihood, yet financial constraints and limited access to credit hinder adoption. Despite these socioeconomic challenges, our findings suggest that tilapia cage culture offers a viable income-generating solution, particularly during flood periods. The study highlights floating cage aquaculture as a climate-resilient strategy to mitigate climate impacts, enhance food security, and improve economic resilience in flood-prone and ecologically sensitive regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Climate Change on Marine Ecosystems)
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18 pages, 276 KiB  
Conference Report
New Frontiers in the Law of the Sea and Policy Integration
by Kangjie Sun, Muneeb Khan, Aiman Bibi and Yen-Chiang Chang
Water 2025, 17(3), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17030444 - 5 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1123
Abstract
As global advancements accelerate, modernisation and technological developments are transforming the ocean sector, bringing new opportunities while also posing significant challenges. Nevertheless, these developments have exposed gaps in the existing legal framework of ocean governance—the law of the sea—which has yet to fully [...] Read more.
As global advancements accelerate, modernisation and technological developments are transforming the ocean sector, bringing new opportunities while also posing significant challenges. Nevertheless, these developments have exposed gaps in the existing legal framework of ocean governance—the law of the sea—which has yet to fully address many emerging complexities and new frontiers. Addressing these gaps requires rigorous gap analyses and collaborative discourse. To this end, the 11th Ocean Law and Governance International Symposium, themed “New Frontiers and the Law of the Sea”, was held in Dalian, China, on 27–28 September 2024, in a hybrid format—online and offline. The event was co-hosted by the School of Law and the National Institute of Ocean Governance at Dalian Maritime University, with support from Zhejiang University and the Chinese Society of the Law of the Sea. The symposium brought together 22 experts and scholars from around the world to discuss critical topics, including high seas and seabed governance, climate litigation, digitalisation, law enforcement, and pressing issues, such as BBNJ and MPP. The symposium provided essential interdisciplinary legal insights, laying a robust foundation for fostering new discourse in the academic arena, which, in turn, advances future research while informing the development of marine policies aimed at achieving sustainable ocean governance. This study critically evaluates whether the symposium successfully bridged gaps in the existing academic landscape and explores whether it offers a way forward for addressing the challenges associated with new frontiers and the law of the sea. Through empirical legal analysis, this study aims to assess the impact of the symposium in promoting further discussions and policy innovations necessary to meet evolving ocean governance needs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Climate Change on Marine Ecosystems)
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