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Effect of Human Activities on Marine Ecosystems
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Effect of Human Activities 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: 10 June 2025 | Viewed by 2318

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiyang Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
Interests: marine conservation biology; marine pollution; environmental risk assessment; marine mammal research; cetaceans; marine biodiversity; environmental DNA
Dr. Xian Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
Interests: conservation biology; wildlife biology; biodiversity; ecological restoration; aquaculture; environmental science; resource conservation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Marine ecosystems play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and yield significant ecological, economic, and societal advantages. However, these invaluable habitats are facing unprecedented threats from anthropogenic activities, including pollution, overfishing, habitat destruction, and climate change. Recognizing the urgent need to protect and restore these vulnerable ecosystems, this Special Issue specifically focuses on the effect of human activities on marine ecosystems as well as the preservation and restoration of marine ecosystems. The primary aim of this Special Issue is to exchange insights, innovations, and success stories among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers concerning the protection and rehabilitation of marine ecosystems. This Special Issue covers a broad spectrum of topics, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Effect of human activities on marine ecosystems;
  • Technological advancements in monitoring marine biodiversity;
  • Identifying the drivers of degradation and loss of marine biodiversity;
  • Assessing and monitoring marine ecosystem health;
  • Development of conservation and management strategies;
  • Design, effectiveness, and management of marine protected areas;
  • The restoration of degraded marine ecosystems.

Dr. Xiyang Zhang
Dr. Xian Sun
Guest Editors

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

  • marine ecosystems
  • human activities
  • biodiversity
  • pollution
  • overfishing
  • protection
  • restoration
  • marine protected areas
  • management strategies

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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30 pages, 6843 KiB  
Article
Integrated Modeling Techniques for Understanding the Distribution and Impact of Human Activities on the Bryde’s Whale (Balaenoptera edeni) in the Sichang Islands, Thailand
by Wanchanok Umprasoet, Yongtong Mu, Chalatip Junchompoo, Zhen Guo and Zhiwei Zhang
Water 2025, 17(6), 889; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17060889 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 326
Abstract
The degradation of marine and coastal resources, caused mainly by human activities, underscores the urgent need for conservation. In waters around the Sichang Islands, the Bryde’s whale is listed as an endangered marine species. The extensive human activities in this area have raised [...] Read more.
The degradation of marine and coastal resources, caused mainly by human activities, underscores the urgent need for conservation. In waters around the Sichang Islands, the Bryde’s whale is listed as an endangered marine species. The extensive human activities in this area have raised serious concerns about the possible negative influence on this species. To conserve the species effectively and efficiently, we need to understand where it distributes and how human activities influence its distribution. For this purpose, we use spatial modeling techniques alongside diverse databases encompassing various spatial and ecological factors to analyze the distribution of, and human activities’ impact on, the Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) in the Sichang Islands, Thailand. We also use the MaxEnt model to predict habitat suitability and the result reveals key factors influencing whale occurrence across seasons. During the dry season, TSS (32.8%), chlorophyll-a (20.1%), and DO (15.9%) levels play significant roles, while DO (29.9%), NH3 (29.4%), and distance to shore (13.3%) are crucial in the wet season. Furthermore, the Species Risk Assessment (SRA) model indicates the mooring area (14.95%) is the high-risk area for the Bryde’s Whale, particularly during the wet season. In contrast, moderate risks are observed during the dry season, notably in fishing zones (99.68%) and mooring areas (99.28%). The study also highlights that the factors mentioned above influence prey availability and habitat suitability for the Bryde’s whale and identifies potential threats posed by human activities, such as fishing and other maritime operations, that are likely to decrease water quality and prey abundance. These results are useful information for identifying sensitive areas and measures for risk mitigation, thus supporting the development of MSP or MPA plans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Human Activities on Marine Ecosystems)
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Review

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18 pages, 2847 KiB  
Review
Trends and Perspectives of Marine Sports Tourism: A Bibliometric Analysis and Systematic Review
by Shuai Guo, Xiaoli Feng and Bing Zhou
Water 2024, 16(19), 2757; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16192757 - 27 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1360
Abstract
Marine sports tourism has emerged as a significant niche within the broader tourism industry, offering unique opportunities for economic development, social well-being, and environmental sustainability. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of marine sports tourism research, examining publications up to July 2024 [...] Read more.
Marine sports tourism has emerged as a significant niche within the broader tourism industry, offering unique opportunities for economic development, social well-being, and environmental sustainability. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of marine sports tourism research, examining publications up to July 2024 from the core collection databases of the Web of Science. The analysis assesses the productivity, research themes, and emerging trends within this field. The results indicate significant growth in research output over the past three decades. Saayman M., Giglio V. J., and Van der Merwe P. are identified as the most productive authors, while Australia, the United States, China, and the United Kingdom demonstrate high levels of research productivity and impact. Ocean & Coastal Management is recognized as the most impactful journal. Keyword co-occurrence and clustering analysis revealed four major research clusters: Environmental Impacts and Community Interaction, Conservation and Ecological Impacts, Behavioral Studies and Perceptions, and Management and Scuba Diving. Topic trend analysis highlights a shift in research focus from the environmental impacts of marine sports tourism to a more integrated approach that considers environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Based on the current research landscape and developmental trajectory, the study proposes future research directions, including addressing identified research gaps, enhancing the resilience of marine sports tourism activities, and developing holistic approaches to sustainable tourism from an interdisciplinary perspective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Human Activities on Marine Ecosystems)
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