Community forestry shifts power of management of forest from government to the community. At the ... more Community forestry shifts power of management of forest from government to the community. At the same time, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15(2) aims at sustainable forest management. This study aims at implementing SDG-15 through community forestry management in Nepal. Questionnaire survey method was applied for generating the qualitative data from the members of the Tarpakha Community Forest User Group along with interviews with concerned stakeholders of the forest user groups and field observation for understanding the real scenario of the forest and its surrounding. Out of information acquired from the survey, dependent and independent variables were categorized. For checking the effectiveness of one set of variables for sustainable management of forest, the variables were cross tabulated using Pearson's Chi square to test association and Phi and Cramer's V were used for further verification. Inspection of forests, plantation of forest, fire control, imposition of fines has been effective ways for sustainable forest management. Similarly, the conservation and management of forest resources are influenced by socioeconomic benefits that are delivered to the people and the inclusive policies that are implemented in management approach. More enhancement in activities of community forestry user groups will surely help in achieving SDG-15(2) by targeted period.
Microplastics have been found to accumulate in freshwater, marine ecosystems, and biological orga... more Microplastics have been found to accumulate in freshwater, marine ecosystems, and biological organisms. The frequency of studies on microplastic contamination in organs has increased recently, although there have been relatively fewer investigations on fish eggs in Thailand. To extract microplastics from catfish samples for laboratory analysis (Osteogeneiosus militaris), we used 10% potassium hydroxide in the digestion process. A needle penetrated the fish eggs to investigate microplastic contamination. We examined microplastics under a stereomicroscope and used Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to determine the type of polymer. We found microplastic contamination in organs, most commonly in the stomach (0.91 ± 0.13 items/g), followed by tissue (0.53 ± 0.09 items/g), and gills (0.30 ± 0.03 items/g) at the level of significance p < 0.01. We found a total of 349 fish eggs with 27 items of microplastic. The dominant microplastic we found in the stomach, tissue, and gills of th...
Background Microplastics (MPs) are pollutants in rivers and marine environments. Rivers can be so... more Background Microplastics (MPs) are pollutants in rivers and marine environments. Rivers can be sources and sinks of MPs that enter the biota. Previous studies focusing on freshwater species are quite limited, especially for gastropods. Freshwater gastropods are essential to aquatic ecosystems because they are food to other aquatic animals, such as fish, shrimp, and crabs. They are a crucial link in the food chain between water resources and human food. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate MP accumulation in freshwater gastropods, commonly known as snails (Filopaludina sumatrensis speciosa and Pomacea canaliculata), in a river flowing into a shallow coastal lagoon. Method In this study, snail tissue samples were digested with 30% hydrogen peroxide. The mixture was heated at 60 °C for 24 h. MP particles were identified, counted, and characterized (shape, size, and color) by visual identification under a stereomicroscope. Furthermore, polymer-type identification was performed usi...
Increasing levels of greenhouse gases lead to ocean warming, which affects a range of marine orga... more Increasing levels of greenhouse gases lead to ocean warming, which affects a range of marine organisms. Corals live in a narrow temperature range and become stressed when the temperatures change. Bleaching occurs when the temperature exceeds the coral’s threshold, and can be severe when this is combined with other stressors such as light. In order to understand how temperature and light affect corals in their physiological responses and photosynthetic performance, Pocillopora acuta from Maiton Island (MT) and Panwa Cape (PW), representing different environments, were investigated. The results show that light and temperature had by regime different effects on Symbiodiniaceae photosynthesis and the coral growth rate. There was a synergistic effect of elevated temperature and light on photosynthesis, as observed in the photochemical efficiency and pigment contents, suggesting photo-damage. A higher growth rate in Panwa corals was observed in control, and while elevated temperature redu...
The Thailand national lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic lasted for several months. Ko Y... more The Thailand national lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic lasted for several months. Ko Yo is one of the tourist attractions in Songkhla province due to its unique culture, environment, and businesses. The lockdown has changed the local lifestyle together with its socioeconomic and environmental impacts. This study aimed to integrally investigate the impacts of the COVID-19 related societal responses on the coastal environment and activities and the adaptive capacity of businesses on Ko Yo Island in Songkhla province. The results showed negative impacts of the COVID-19 on restaurants, homestays, and aquaculture businesses due to the Governmental emergency decrees. Aquaculture was the most affected business. Despite the reduced number of customers and transportation problems, some restaurants and homestays have provided delivery services and fishing areas as novel services available to their customers. The decrease in coastal activities had positively affected some environmen...
We examined the survival of juvenile coral colonies following the 2010 coral bleaching event at e... more We examined the survival of juvenile coral colonies following the 2010 coral bleaching event at eight study sites in the Similan Islands, the Andaman Sea. Density of juvenile corals differed significantly between time, location and major genera. The lowest bleaching impact on juvenile coral colonies was recorded at Christmas Point Rock, a deep study site (2025 m) on the west of the Similan Islands. Most juvenile coral colonies of Pavona spp., Diploastrea heliopora, Leptastrea spp. and Cyphastrea spp. were the least impacted. There was also high survival of juvenile coral colonies of Goniastrea spp., Fungia spp., Acropora spp. and Porites spp. and large coral colonies (>5 cm diameter) of Dendrophyllia micranthus, Fungia fungites and Porites lutea. The findings of this study suggest a high potential for coral recovery at temporarily closed diving sites because of the large number of juvenile colony survivors. It is necessary to implement science-based management plans for marine pr...
Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 2013
ABSTRACT A long-term study of coral reef ecology in the Gulf of Thailand provides a good opportun... more ABSTRACT A long-term study of coral reef ecology in the Gulf of Thailand provides a good opportunity to examine the temporal variation on the impact of mass coral bleaching at those reef sites. We compared the bleaching and mortality of corals between the mass bleaching events in 1998 and 2010 at a coral community in the Western Gulf of Thailand. The aim was to identify the coral species which were most likely to suffer from (and to be able to tolerate) changes in seawater temperature. Significant differences in the susceptibility of the coral taxa to bleaching events between the years 1998 and 2010 and among coral species were documented. Bleaching was significantly different between the most dominant corals. Diploastrea heliopora was the most resistant coral to bleaching in both years. Some coral species showed more resistance to bleaching in 2010. The coral mortality following the mass bleaching events in 1998 and 2010 varied significantly between the years and the coral taxa. Mortality of some dominant coral taxa was also lower in 2010. Seven coral species, i.e. Astreopora myriophthalma, Pachyseris rugosa, Turbinaria mesenterina, Goniastrea pectinata, Favia pallida, F. maritima, Favites halicora, Platygyra daedalea and Galaxea fascicularis, were tolerant to the coral bleaching events. An ecosystem-based approach to managing coral reefs in the Gulf of Thailand is needed to identify appropriate marine protected area networks and to strengthen marine and coastal resource policies in order to build coral reef resilience.
Tropical shallow-water habitats represent the marine environments with the greatest biodiversity;... more Tropical shallow-water habitats represent the marine environments with the greatest biodiversity; however, these habitats are the most vulnerable to climate warming. Corals, seagrasses, and macroalgae play a crucial role in the structure, functions, and processes of the coastal ecosystems. Understanding their growth and physiological responses to elevated temperature and interspecific sensitivity is a necessary step to predict the fate of future coastal community. Six species representatives, including Pocillopora acuta, Porites lutea, Halophila ovalis, Thalassia hemprichii, Padina boryana, and Ulva intestinalis, collected from Phuket, Thailand, were subjected to stress manipulation for 5 days. Corals were tested at 27, 29.5, 32, and 34.5°C, while seagrasses and macroalgae were tested at 27, 32, 37, and 42°C. After the stress period, the species were allowed to recover for 5 days at 27°C for corals and 32°C for seagrasses and macroalgae. Non-destructive evaluation of photosynthetic ...
Community forestry shifts power of management of forest from government to the community. At the ... more Community forestry shifts power of management of forest from government to the community. At the same time, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15(2) aims at sustainable forest management. This study aims at implementing SDG-15 through community forestry management in Nepal. Questionnaire survey method was applied for generating the qualitative data from the members of the Tarpakha Community Forest User Group along with interviews with concerned stakeholders of the forest user groups and field observation for understanding the real scenario of the forest and its surrounding. Out of information acquired from the survey, dependent and independent variables were categorized. For checking the effectiveness of one set of variables for sustainable management of forest, the variables were cross tabulated using Pearson's Chi square to test association and Phi and Cramer's V were used for further verification. Inspection of forests, plantation of forest, fire control, imposition of fines has been effective ways for sustainable forest management. Similarly, the conservation and management of forest resources are influenced by socioeconomic benefits that are delivered to the people and the inclusive policies that are implemented in management approach. More enhancement in activities of community forestry user groups will surely help in achieving SDG-15(2) by targeted period.
Microplastics have been found to accumulate in freshwater, marine ecosystems, and biological orga... more Microplastics have been found to accumulate in freshwater, marine ecosystems, and biological organisms. The frequency of studies on microplastic contamination in organs has increased recently, although there have been relatively fewer investigations on fish eggs in Thailand. To extract microplastics from catfish samples for laboratory analysis (Osteogeneiosus militaris), we used 10% potassium hydroxide in the digestion process. A needle penetrated the fish eggs to investigate microplastic contamination. We examined microplastics under a stereomicroscope and used Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to determine the type of polymer. We found microplastic contamination in organs, most commonly in the stomach (0.91 ± 0.13 items/g), followed by tissue (0.53 ± 0.09 items/g), and gills (0.30 ± 0.03 items/g) at the level of significance p < 0.01. We found a total of 349 fish eggs with 27 items of microplastic. The dominant microplastic we found in the stomach, tissue, and gills of th...
Background Microplastics (MPs) are pollutants in rivers and marine environments. Rivers can be so... more Background Microplastics (MPs) are pollutants in rivers and marine environments. Rivers can be sources and sinks of MPs that enter the biota. Previous studies focusing on freshwater species are quite limited, especially for gastropods. Freshwater gastropods are essential to aquatic ecosystems because they are food to other aquatic animals, such as fish, shrimp, and crabs. They are a crucial link in the food chain between water resources and human food. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate MP accumulation in freshwater gastropods, commonly known as snails (Filopaludina sumatrensis speciosa and Pomacea canaliculata), in a river flowing into a shallow coastal lagoon. Method In this study, snail tissue samples were digested with 30% hydrogen peroxide. The mixture was heated at 60 °C for 24 h. MP particles were identified, counted, and characterized (shape, size, and color) by visual identification under a stereomicroscope. Furthermore, polymer-type identification was performed usi...
Increasing levels of greenhouse gases lead to ocean warming, which affects a range of marine orga... more Increasing levels of greenhouse gases lead to ocean warming, which affects a range of marine organisms. Corals live in a narrow temperature range and become stressed when the temperatures change. Bleaching occurs when the temperature exceeds the coral’s threshold, and can be severe when this is combined with other stressors such as light. In order to understand how temperature and light affect corals in their physiological responses and photosynthetic performance, Pocillopora acuta from Maiton Island (MT) and Panwa Cape (PW), representing different environments, were investigated. The results show that light and temperature had by regime different effects on Symbiodiniaceae photosynthesis and the coral growth rate. There was a synergistic effect of elevated temperature and light on photosynthesis, as observed in the photochemical efficiency and pigment contents, suggesting photo-damage. A higher growth rate in Panwa corals was observed in control, and while elevated temperature redu...
The Thailand national lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic lasted for several months. Ko Y... more The Thailand national lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic lasted for several months. Ko Yo is one of the tourist attractions in Songkhla province due to its unique culture, environment, and businesses. The lockdown has changed the local lifestyle together with its socioeconomic and environmental impacts. This study aimed to integrally investigate the impacts of the COVID-19 related societal responses on the coastal environment and activities and the adaptive capacity of businesses on Ko Yo Island in Songkhla province. The results showed negative impacts of the COVID-19 on restaurants, homestays, and aquaculture businesses due to the Governmental emergency decrees. Aquaculture was the most affected business. Despite the reduced number of customers and transportation problems, some restaurants and homestays have provided delivery services and fishing areas as novel services available to their customers. The decrease in coastal activities had positively affected some environmen...
We examined the survival of juvenile coral colonies following the 2010 coral bleaching event at e... more We examined the survival of juvenile coral colonies following the 2010 coral bleaching event at eight study sites in the Similan Islands, the Andaman Sea. Density of juvenile corals differed significantly between time, location and major genera. The lowest bleaching impact on juvenile coral colonies was recorded at Christmas Point Rock, a deep study site (2025 m) on the west of the Similan Islands. Most juvenile coral colonies of Pavona spp., Diploastrea heliopora, Leptastrea spp. and Cyphastrea spp. were the least impacted. There was also high survival of juvenile coral colonies of Goniastrea spp., Fungia spp., Acropora spp. and Porites spp. and large coral colonies (>5 cm diameter) of Dendrophyllia micranthus, Fungia fungites and Porites lutea. The findings of this study suggest a high potential for coral recovery at temporarily closed diving sites because of the large number of juvenile colony survivors. It is necessary to implement science-based management plans for marine pr...
Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 2013
ABSTRACT A long-term study of coral reef ecology in the Gulf of Thailand provides a good opportun... more ABSTRACT A long-term study of coral reef ecology in the Gulf of Thailand provides a good opportunity to examine the temporal variation on the impact of mass coral bleaching at those reef sites. We compared the bleaching and mortality of corals between the mass bleaching events in 1998 and 2010 at a coral community in the Western Gulf of Thailand. The aim was to identify the coral species which were most likely to suffer from (and to be able to tolerate) changes in seawater temperature. Significant differences in the susceptibility of the coral taxa to bleaching events between the years 1998 and 2010 and among coral species were documented. Bleaching was significantly different between the most dominant corals. Diploastrea heliopora was the most resistant coral to bleaching in both years. Some coral species showed more resistance to bleaching in 2010. The coral mortality following the mass bleaching events in 1998 and 2010 varied significantly between the years and the coral taxa. Mortality of some dominant coral taxa was also lower in 2010. Seven coral species, i.e. Astreopora myriophthalma, Pachyseris rugosa, Turbinaria mesenterina, Goniastrea pectinata, Favia pallida, F. maritima, Favites halicora, Platygyra daedalea and Galaxea fascicularis, were tolerant to the coral bleaching events. An ecosystem-based approach to managing coral reefs in the Gulf of Thailand is needed to identify appropriate marine protected area networks and to strengthen marine and coastal resource policies in order to build coral reef resilience.
Tropical shallow-water habitats represent the marine environments with the greatest biodiversity;... more Tropical shallow-water habitats represent the marine environments with the greatest biodiversity; however, these habitats are the most vulnerable to climate warming. Corals, seagrasses, and macroalgae play a crucial role in the structure, functions, and processes of the coastal ecosystems. Understanding their growth and physiological responses to elevated temperature and interspecific sensitivity is a necessary step to predict the fate of future coastal community. Six species representatives, including Pocillopora acuta, Porites lutea, Halophila ovalis, Thalassia hemprichii, Padina boryana, and Ulva intestinalis, collected from Phuket, Thailand, were subjected to stress manipulation for 5 days. Corals were tested at 27, 29.5, 32, and 34.5°C, while seagrasses and macroalgae were tested at 27, 32, 37, and 42°C. After the stress period, the species were allowed to recover for 5 days at 27°C for corals and 32°C for seagrasses and macroalgae. Non-destructive evaluation of photosynthetic ...
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