Underwater Noise Pollution as an Ecological Crime: A Global Problem in the Anthropocene

Noise pollution is recognized globally as a genuine environmental pollutant. Its effects are not limited to just terrestrial ecosystems, they can also affect aquatic environments at different levels. The scientific community has provided ample evidence of this. It is essential that legal systems and environmental protection regulations reflect this understanding. The aim of this study is to analyse the evolution of international legislation concerning noise pollution, as a response by legislative bodies to the environmental impacts it can have. These impacts have been classified on the basis of the ecological studies which are the subject of the analysis. Thus, the possible configuration of some types of noise pollution as criminal is analysed according to the concept of Green Criminology. The ecological damage generated at the different levels of the ecosystem approach is the focus of this analysis. This classifying system could allow us to configure an appropriate criminal response to the effects generated by this polluting activity.Lärmbelästigung ist weltweit als Umweltverschmutzung anerkannt. Ihre Auswirkungen beschränken sich nicht nur auf terrestrische Ökosysteme, sondern können auch die aquatische Umwelt beeinträchtigen. Die Wissenschaft hat dies hinreichend bewiesen. Es ist von entscheidender Bedeutung, dass die Rechtssysteme und Umweltschutzvorschriften diese Erkenntnis widerspiegeln. Ziel der Studie ist es, die Entwicklung der internationalen Gesetzgebung zur Lärmbelästigung zu analysieren, die eine Reaktion der Gesetzgeber auf mögliche Umweltauswirkungen darstellt. Diese Auswirkungen wurden auf Grundlage ökologischer Studien, welche Gegenstand der Analyse sind, klassifiziert. So wird die mögliche Einstufung einiger Arten von Lärmbelästigung als Straftatbestand nach dem Konzept der Green Criminology analysiert. Die ökologischen Schäden, die auf den verschiedenen Ebenen des Ökosystemansatzes entstehen, stehen im Mittelpunkt dieser Analyse. Dieses Klassifizierungssystem könnte es ermöglichen, eine angemessene strafrechtliche Antwort auf die Auswirkungen dieser umweltschädigenden Aktivitäten zu finden

Stability Assessment of Rock Slopes Using the Q-Slope Classification System: A Reliability Analysis Employing Case Studies in Ecuador

Q-slope is one of the most recent empirical geomechanical classification systems and the least studied in South America. This study aims to expand the knowledge base regarding the Q-slope geomechanical method and demonstrate its applicability and reliability in rock slopes of Andean countries, such as Ecuador. To this end, thirty rocky slopes have been characterized considering (1) the physical visual approach—geographic location, climate, lithology, alteration, and stability (to obtain values of Jr, Ja, Jwice, and SRFa)—and (2) geomechanical stations and kinematic analysis (for the determination of the type of failure, Jn, O-factor, and SRFc for Q-slope). Field data were collected in contrasting environments (coastal, mountain, and forest), and different failure modes were considered (planar, wedge, block, and flexural topplings) to better understand the method. The results and main contributions of this research are (i) verifying the applicability of the Jwice parameters in different climatic settings and (ii) validating the Q-slope method by applying a confusion matrix to evaluate its reliability for slope stability assessment. The overall accuracy obtained is 80%, placing the Q-slope geomechanical method in the highest evaluation quartile and thus classifying it as very good for slope characterization.This work was partially funded by the University of Alicante (vigrob-157 project), the Prometheus Project of the Secretariat of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of the Republic of Ecuador (for field data acquisition from 2014 to 2015), FCI Projects at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of University of Guayaquil, and by Conselleria de Innovación, Universidades, Ciencia y Sociedad Digital in the framework of the project CIAICO/2021/335

Use of an Inverse Method for Time Series to Estimate the Dynamics of and Management Strategies for the Box Jellyfish Carybdea marsupialis

14 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, supporting Information https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137272Frequently, population ecology of marine organisms uses a descriptive approach in which their sizes and densities are plotted over time. This approach has limited usefulness for design strategies in management or modelling different scenarios. Population projection matrix models are among themost widely used tools in ecology. Unfortunately, for the majority of pelagic marine organisms, it is difficult to mark individuals and follow themover time to determine their vital rates and built a population projectionmatrixmodel. Nevertheless, it is possible to get time-series data to calculate size structure and densities of each size, in order to determine the matrix parameters. This approach is known as a “demographic inverse problem” and it is based on quadratic programming methods, but it has rarely been used on aquatic organisms.We used unpublished field data of a population of cubomedusae Carybdea marsupialis to construct a population projection matrix model and compare two different management strategies to lower population to values before year 2008 when there was no significant interaction with bathers. Those strategies were by direct removal of medusae and by reducing prey. Our results showed that removal of jellyfish fromall size classes was more effective than removing only juveniles or adults.When reducing prey, the highest efficiency to lower the C. marsupialis population occurred when prey depletion affected prey of all medusae sizes. Our model fit well with the field data and may serve to design an efficient management strategy or build hypothetical scenarios such as removal of individuals or reducing prey. TThis This sdfsdshis method is applicable to othermarine or terrestrial species, for which density and population structure over time are availableThis research was carried out under contract LIFE 08 NAT ES 0064 (to CB and VLF) cofinanced by the European Commission (www. cubomed.eu), the Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, the Dirección General del Agua of the Regional Government of Valencia and the Fundación Biodiversidad. This work was also partially supported by Spanish Ministry of Education and Science co-funded by FEDER This research was carried out under contract LIFE 08 NAT ES 0064 (to CB and VLF) cofinanced by the European Commission (www.cubomed.eu), the Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, the Dirección General del Agua of the Regional Government of Valencia and the Fundación Biodiversidad. This work was also partially supported by Spanish Ministry of Education and Science co-funded by FEDERPeer Reviewe

Underwater Noise Pollution as an Ecological Crime: A Global Problem in the Anthropocene

Noise pollution is recognized globally as a genuine environmental pollutant. Its effects are not limited to just terrestrial ecosystems, they can also affect aquatic environments at different levels. The scientific community has provided ample evidence of this. It is essential that legal systems and environmental protection regulations reflect this understanding. The aim of this study is to analyse the evolution of international legislation concerning noise pollution, as a response by legislative bodies to the environmental impacts it can have. These impacts have been classified on the basis of the ecological studies which are the subject of the analysis. Thus, the possible configuration of some types of noise pollution as criminal is analysed according to the concept of Green Criminology. The ecological damage generated at the different levels of the ecosystem approach is the focus of this analysis. This classifying system could allow us to configure an appropriate criminal response to the effects generated by this polluting activity

Retrospective estimation of initial COVID-19 infections in the Santiago Metropolitan Region in Chile

Objetivo: Estimar los casos diarios de COVID-19 durante el primer año de pandemia en Santiago Región Metropolitana (SRM) y en Chile con cifras más realistas que las registradas oficialmente. Método: Estimación retrospectiva de los casos diarios a partir de los datos diarios de fallecimientos por COVID-19, un estudio de seroprevalencia y el algoritmo REMEDID (Retrospective Methodology to Estimate Daily Infections from Deaths). Resultados: En SRM se observa que: 1) el pico máximo de contagios fue superior al doble del registrado en las estadísticas oficiales; 2) dicho pico se alcanzó el 22 de mayo de 2020 (IC95%: 20 a 24 de mayo), esto es, 24 días antes de la fecha oficial del pico de contagios; y 3) el primer contagio estimado tuvo lugar el 28 de enero de 2020 (IC95%: 21 de enero a 16 de febrero), esto es, 36 días antes de la fecha oficial. En Chile, la situación es similar. Durante la primera ola, SRM concentró el 70-76% de los infectados de Chile, mientras que a partir de agosto de 2020 solo concentró el 36-39%. Conclusiones: Los registros oficiales de casos de COVID-19 en SRM y Chile infravaloraron el número real de positivos y mostraron un retraso de alrededor de un mes en la dinámica de contagios. Esta no es una situación aislada, ya que se sabe que también ha sido así en otros países. No obstante, es importante disponer de estimaciones fidedignas para una correcta modelización de la expansión del virus.Objective: Estimate daily infections of COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic in the Santiago Metropolitan Region (SRM) in Chile and Chile that are more realistic than those officially registered. Method: Retrospective estimate of daily infections from daily data on COVID-19 deaths, a seroprevalence study, and the REMEDID (Retrospective Methodology to Estimate Daily Infections from Deaths) algorithm. Results: In SRM, it is observed that: 1) the maximum peak of infections was more than double that registered in the official statistics; 2) such peak was reached on May 22 (95% CI: 20–24 May), 2022, that is, 24 days before the official date of the peak of infections; and 3) the first estimated contagion took place on January 28, 2020 (95% CI: January 21 to February 16), that is, 36 days before the official date. In Chile, the situation is similar. During the first wave SRM accounted for 70%–76% of those infected in Chile, while from August 2020 onwards it accounted for 36%–39%. Conclusions: The official records of COVID-19 infections in SRM and Chile underestimated the real number of positives and showed a delay of about a month in the dynamics of infections. This is not an isolated situation, as it is known to have been the case in other countries as well. However, it is important to have reliable estimates for a correct modeling of the spread of the virus.J. Márquez ha recibido una beca de doctorado otorgada por la Dirección de Cooperación Internacional de la Universidad Viña del Mar, Chile. Este estudio ha estado parcialmente financiado por la Universidad de Alicante (contrato COVID-19 2020-41.30.6P.0016) y parcialmente realizado en el Laboratorio Marino UA-Dénia https://web.ua.es/es/marlabdenia/ (Acuerdo Ajuntament de Dénia-Conselleria de Medio Ambiente, Agua, Infraestructuras y Territorio de la Generalitat Valenciana)

Lifeguard assistance at Spanish Mediterranean beaches: Jellyfish prevail and proposals for improving risk management

Although beaches can be hazardous environments, few studies have identified injuries in broad coastal areas. We performed a retrospective descriptive study of injuries and other services provided by lifeguards during 2012 along the Spanish Mediterranean beaches. The trend in jellyfish stings was also examined for the period 2008–2012 using a standardised Sting Index. Obtaining data relied on voluntary cooperation of local authorities, resulting in data provided from 183 cities out of 234 present in the study area and 760 beach lifeguard stations (LGS) out of about 1200. Lifeguard stations provided an average of 89 days of service per year, from late June to the beginning of September. A total of 176,021 injuries were reported, of which jellyfish stings were the main need for assistance with 59.7% (n = 116,887) of the injuries and 257.0/LGS, followed by wounds (14.4%, 50.9/LGS), and sunburn (3.3%, 15.8/LGS). Apart from attending injuries, beach lifeguard services provided 21,174 other services such as help to disabled people (57.9/LGS), blood pressure measurements (12.7/LGS), rescues at sea (6.5/LGS), lost children (5.7/LGS), and transfers to the hospital (4.6/LGS). Official reported fatalities for all the beaches in 2012 were 24. We proposed a Sting Index (SI) to allow comparisons of the incidence of stings between years and/or localities by standardising jellyfish stings by the total of all injuries. Historical data were consistent enough to calculate SI between 2010 and 2012 and showed an oscillating pattern without a clear trend (2008: 2.4, 2009: 1.3, 2010: 2.4, 2011: 2.0, 2012: 2.6). Estimation of total number of jellyfish stings for all the beaches present in the area would reach 184,558 for 2012. There were very few fatalities in comparison with other coastal regions, probably due to the combination of a calm sea, a low number of high dangerous situations, and a high percentage of lifeguarded beaches during the bathing season. Nevertheless, although Spanish Mediterranean beaches could be described as low risk, we propose measures to facilitate a precautionary management to prevent injuries based on a real-time beach assistance database of injuries to identify high-incidence assistance categories.This research was carried out under contract LIFE 08 NAT ES 0064 (to CB and VF) co-financed by the European Commission (www.cubomed.eu), the Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (Dirección General de Sostenibilidad de la Costa y el Mar) contract 2013/28-5158, the Dirección General del Agua of the Regional Government of Valencia (grant T7588000/512.10) and the Fundación Biodiversidad (grant LIFE Cubomed 2013/2014)

Carybdea marsupialis (Cubozoa) in the Mediterranean Sea: The first case of a sting causing cutaneous and systemic manifestations

A woman stung by the box jellyfish Carybdea marsupialis (Cnidaria, Cubozoa) at a Spanish Mediterranean beach, showed systemic manifestations over several months (pain far from the inoculation point, arthralgia, paresthesia, hyperesthesia, increase of eosinophils and IgE) in addition to the skin condition.This research was carried out under contract LIFE 08 NAT ES 0064 (to CB, JMG and VF) co-financed by the European Commission (www.cubomed.eu), the Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, Fundación Biodiversidad and the Dirección General del Agua of the Regional Government of Valencia

Jellyfish collagen: A new allergen in the beach

Jellyfish stings are a common event in seas worldwide with an estimated 150 million envenomations annually, usually results in acute cutaneous inflammation but some allergic reactions are also documented.CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, a Carlos III Institute of Health initiative, and the Conchita Rábago Foundation

Environmental factors influencing the spatio-temporal distribution of Carybdea marsupialis (Lineo, 1978, Cubozoa) in South-Western Mediterranean coasts

Jellyfish blooms cause important ecological and socio-economic problems. Among jellyfish, cubozoans are infamous for their painful, sometimes deadly, stings and are a major public concern in tropical to subtropical areas; however, there is little information about the possible causes of their outbreaks. After a bloom of the cubomedusa Carybdea marsupialis (Carybdeidae) along the coast of Denia (SW Mediterranean, Spain) in 2008 with negative consequences for local tourism, the necessity to understand the ecological restrictions on medusae abundance was evident. Here we use different models (GAM and zero-inflated models) to understand the environmental and human related factors influencing the abundance and distribution of C. marsupialis along the coast of Denia. Selected variables differed among medusae size classes, showing different environmental restriction associated to the developmental stages of the species. Variables implicated with dispersion (e.g. wind and current) affected mostly small and medium size classes. Sea surface temperature, salinity and proxies of primary production (chl a, phosphates, nitrates) were related to the abundances of small and large size classes, highlighting the roles of springtime salinity changes and increased primary production that may promote and maintain high densities of this species. The increased primary (and secondary) production due to anthropogenic impact is implicated as the factor enabling high numbers of C. marsupialis to thrive. Recommendations for monitoring blooms of this species along the study area and applicable to Mediterranean Sea include focus effort in coastal waters where productivity have been enriched by anthropogenic activities.This study was conducted with the support of the European Commission LIFE program (LIFE08 NAT ES 64 CUBOMED) with the support of the following Spanish public institutions: Fundación Biodiversidad, Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, Generalitat Valenciana, and O.A. Parques Nacionales of Spain

Estudios sobre la ecología de Carybdea marsupialis (Cubozoa) y gestión del riesgo asociado a picaduras de medusas

Programa LIFE Comisión Europea (LIFE NAT 080064 CUBOMED; Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente; Fundación Biodiversidad; Dirección General del Agua, Generalitat Valenciana; Fundació Baleària; El Portet de Denia