The first conference on the Marine Biology of the South China Sea was convened in Hong Kong in 1990, to celebrate the opening of the Swire Institute of Marine Science. The second was convened in Guangzhou, China, in 1993. The third conference returned toHong Kong in 1996 and, in a continuing pattern of growth, was attended by 127 scientists and students from 14 countries and territories. Of the 1O4 keynote addresses, papers and posters presented at the meeting, 42 are published here, following critical peer review, under the symposium categories of Taxonomy and Biological Diversity, Biology and Ecology and Coastal Zone Management and Conservation of the Biological Resources, of the South China Sea.Each conference sets its own symposia themes but in view of the rapid, perceived, decline in the marine environment of the South China Sea and the overexploitation of its resources, the 1996 meeting focused its attention on these issues.There are many meetings related to marine science convened by the countries of the South China rim. Some are national, others are international, but most are typically convened by agencies and attendance is restricted to an invited few, usually senior scientists. Europe hosts a European Marine Biology Symposium, that is convened in a different country each year and which sets the meeting's themes. The proceedings of those meetings constitute one of the most authoritative accounts of the marine biology of European waters. The meeting itself provides a forum for scientists and students, so that international collaborative research is now a key feature of European marine science. First convened in 1996, the 32 symposia are a tribute to international co-operation in research in a marine environment that, of itself, knows no boundaries.The South China Sea countries also need such a forum, free of political dogma. This conference proceedings is the third to help promote such an event, hopefully, one day, at a greater frequency than three years. The fourth conference is to be convened in the Philippines in 1999.This volume then is an international perspective on the South China Sea by scientists who research it and are concerned for its future. It contains information that should appeal to marine biologists throughout the world and, in particular, to those in Asia.

New Paradigms in Environmental Biomonitoring Using Plants highlights and explores the importance of biomonitoring methodologies and the latest updates in the field. The book presents a holistic approach toward the different aspects of biomonitoring, focusing mainly upon the inclusion of newly emerging concepts of environmental genomics, metabarcoding, and cheminformatics and biomarkers, among other technologies; helping to explore and establish a new outlook for biomonitoring frameworks. This book compiles all aspects of biomonitoring including traditional and modern techniques, using a multidimensional approach without focusing on any specific pollutant. Most biomonitoring programs implemented until now have focused more on traditional methods. This book covers new approaches to biomonitoring that could improve on the currently limited capabilities of existing schemes. The book highlights the possible scope for enriching existing datasets and characterizing biodiversity in situ in a far more complete way than has been possible previously. New Paradigms in Environmental Biomonitoring Using Plants will be important for researchers, academics, postgraduates and undergraduate students in environmental, plant, crop and soil sciences, to provide up-to-date and emerging technologies in biomonitoring for environmental assessment, leading to a new vision of biomonitoring. It will also be helpful for risk assessment professionals and stakeholders involved in planning the future biomonitoring programs. - Forms a cohesive source of information for technologies of use in environmental monitoring. - Discusses newly emerging techniques in biomonitoring, including cutting-edge advances in ecology and genomics. - Covers current biomonitoring concepts and programs, and also includes a holistic approach for biomonitoring.

Biomarkers in Environmental and Human Health Biomonitoring: An Integrated Perspective provides a holistic view of the biomonitoring of environmental degradation, accumulated toxicity, and associated human health concerns. The book incorporates theoretical and practical aspects of the biomonitoring of environmental pollution and the health surveillance of ecological communities using samples from living organisms which are analyzed for contaminants and toxin levels. In the first half, the book provides a general overview if the different types of biomarkers, their significance as bioindicators for contaminants and detection of toxicity, as well as how they can be utilized in the restoration of degraded ecosystems. The second half of the book discusses molecular biomarkers and how they are used as diagnostic and prognostic tools for pollution monitoring. It also reviews analytical tools used to validate the biomarkers in the detection and monitoring of pollution and disease. Finally, the book delves into how novel approaches like genetic ecotoxicology; Big Data, and artificial intelligence calculates the potential consequences of environmental pollution on the ecosystems and on human health. - Covers the fundamentals, types, significance, and limitations of biomarkers - Examines various types of plants, animals, and secondary metabolites in identifying and monitoring toxicity in different ecosystems and potential impacts on health - Reviews biomarker-based and bioinformatic tools in the detection and monitoring of environmental pollution and associated human health

This volume reviews recent hydrological and environmental issues resulting from human-induced water pollution practices while providing case studies on the physical, chemical, and eco-biological techniques used to mitigate the impacts of river ecosystem pollution in South Asian countries. The book demonstrates the key methods of measurement, monitoring, mapping, and modeling of river water quality and how it is impacted by pollution and incorporates contemporary geospatial technological applications for the management and sustainability of future water resources. The major topics that the book addresses are the fundamental concepts of river ecosystem health, riverine ecology and habitats, risk assessment of riverine pollution, and technology-based river pollution control strategies. The book will serve as an interdisciplinary guide for researchers, students, and GIS specialists working in various disciplines, including pollution hazards, river ecosystem restoration, water quality, remote sensing, zoology, natural resources management, and environmental geography.

The book embodies the detailed account about unique symbionts i.e. LICHENS in ecosystem monitoring. The first chapter deals with unique characteristics features of lichens which facilitate their survival in extreme climates and makes them an ideal organism for ecosystem monitoring. Biosynthesis of secondary metabolites are known to protect lichens against increasing environmental stresses therefore second chapter provides insight into various chromatographic and modern spectroscopic techniques involved in separation and characterization of lichen substances. The third chapter elaborates the criteria for selection of biomonitoring species and characters of host plant that influences lichen diversity and details about different lichen species utilized for biomonitoring. One can retrieve preliminary information about the air quality based on the lichen community structure and distribution of bioindicator species as lichen communities/indicator species provides valuable information about the natural/anthropogenic induced changes in the microclimate and land-use changes due to human activity. Therefore, for identification of species, a key to genera and species provides concise information to identify the lichen species based on their morphological and anatomical characters and chemicals present. Keys provided in Chapter 4 will help the beginners to identify some common lichen species based on the distribution in different climatic zones of India. The section also provides comprehensive information about the bioindicator communities and bioindicator species from India. Chapter 5 provides the details of factors affecting the ecosystem (natural as well as anthropogenic disturbances) and role of lichens in ecosystem monitoring in India has been discussed in detail. Chapter 6 discusses the need and utility of indicator species especially lichen biomonitoring data in sustainable forest management and conservation. The content about lichens in biomonitoring will be a valuable resource for researchers from different fields and will provide an essential reference for people interested in lichens and its role in ecosystem monitoring. The book will also hopefully popularize lichenological studies in India and will generate more active participation of lichen biomonitoring studies in management and conservation of natural resources in India.

Monitoring of Air Pollutants: Sampling, Sample Preparation and Analytical Techniques provides a comprehensive reference on air pollutant monitoring, addressing experimental approaches to sampling and sample preparation, as well as analytical technologies (instrumental methods) which are applicable to a wide range of topics. The book's purpose is to provide an in-depth resource on the monitoring of ambient air pollutants that covers the basic principles, recent developments, and important applications in the field. Current trends and recent advances are discussed, both with respect to analytical techniques and target air pollutants. All aspects of air pollutant monitoring, from sampling, to sample preparation, and analysis, are covered, making this the book of choice for consultation by air monitoring practitioners. - Contains all the information needed for air pollutant monitoring from sampling, to sample preparation, to analysis - Provides guidance on the best analytical approach for a target pollutant - Presents the pros and cons of included techniques to enable informed decisions - Includes case studies based on published practical applications