Oceanographic And Biological Aspects Of The Red Sea

This book includes invited contributions presenting the latest research on the oceanography and environment of the Red Sea. In addition to covering topics relevant to research in the region and providing insights into marine science for non-experts, it is also of interest to those involved in the management of coastal zones and encourages further research on the Red Sea

Our oceans are changing. Elevated greenhouse gases caused the increase of Earth’s average temperature (or global warming) and contributed to what we now know as climate change. This in turn has a big influence on the oceans and the organisms that live in them. Given that oceans are changing so rapidly, how are marine organisms affected by this? Can they adapt? How can we study those adaptations? Where should we start? In between Africa and Asia, in the Middle East region, lies a vast mass of seawater connected to the Indian ocean by its southern end. This water body is called the Red Sea, some say because of the presence of a reddish-brown cyanobacteria in its waters, others say because red was the color representing “south” (of the Mediterranean civilization) in ancient times. Its location makes it a unique environment with high temperatures and salinities (the amount of salt dissolved in water), creating a complex environmental gradient from north to south in its more than two thousand kilometers of length. Despite these harsh, almost alien conditions, the Red Sea is home to large green mangroves and seagrass meadows, more than a thousand species of fish (many of them unique to the Red Sea), hundreds of species of corals and countless invertebrates. At the microscopic level, we make new discoveries every day so that our knowledge on the diversity of bacteria, microalgae, and viruses is constantly increasing. But if it is so difficult to sustain life in the Red Sea, how do all these organisms still prosper in it? This is one of many questions scientists are trying to answer by studying how abiotic factors such as temperature, salinity and nutrients of the Red Sea can affect its organisms (or biota). Moreover, due to its extreme conditions, the Red Sea can also act as a unique laboratory to study and learn about the future impacts of climate change on ecosystems: it represents a time machine that allows us to look into the future of tropical oceans and lets us understand how organisms thrive in environmental extremes. The aim of this collection is to explore the current knowledge we have on the Red Sea biodiversity and its adaptability to environmental change. From coral reefs and the mutual beneficial relationships (symbiosis) between organisms, to seagrasses and brine pools, we aspire to learn how life can find a way to flourish even when the odds seem to be against it. More importantly, by understanding the present conditions of the Red Sea, we might be able to predict how organisms from other regions will adapt to fast changing climate.

The Red Sea is a unique and fragile environment. All but landlocked between Africa and Arabia, its peculiar oceanographic conditions, its geographical position and its geological history all conspire to make it particularly vulnerable to the side-effects of human civilization. In places, it is already a key environment under threat. What makes the Red Sea unique? What are the threats to this environment? Where should future research be directed? These are just three of the major questions addressed by the scientists contributing to this book.

Growth and Decay of Coral Reefs: Fifty Years of Learning describes how coral reefs have alternately flourished and declined over the last 50 years and the dynamics of these changes. The study is based on recordings at 30 different locations along the Sudanese coast, visited by the author between 1971 and 1973. Beyond the Red Sea's desert shores lie some of the richest and most diverse coral reefs on our planet. Over a thousand species of reef fishes, matched by a similar abundance of living corals, creating habitats scientists were only just beginning to understand. The complexity of the inter-relations was truly mesmerizing. A single intervention, such as removal of a key species, could cause the whole community to collapse. Healthy corals were transformed into green weed-smothered reefs, accompanied by the loss of both corals and fish. Based on the author’s observations of how knowledge and perspectives have changed over the last 50 years, this book highlights lessons learned from historical records that may help maintain and reestablish coral reefs in the years to come. Topics covered include: CORAL REEF FISH Fish surveys CORAL REEF PROFILES Coral growth rates Coral distribution Corals on 'Cousteau garage' CORAL THREATS Climate change Coral bleaching Coral diseases Coral sponges Terpios hoshinota Coral predators Coral urchins CORAL – ALGAE CORAL RESEARCH and more . . .

Oceanographic and Marine Environmental Studies around the Arabian Peninsula presents studies on a range of topics related to the marine environment of the Red Sea and Arabian (Persian) Gulf. This book contains invited and peer-reviewed chapters from diverse researchers active in their respective fields. The chapters offer new data and include a comprehensive lists of references. Some of the main topics included in the book are pollution from heavy metals and petroleum, hydro-environmental characteristics of the seas, conservation of marine ecosystems, risk of climate change on the Red Sea region, and the mangrove environment. With new developments occurring in the coastal regions in recent decades, the book will be not only a helpful resource to researchers but also be a valuable reference for anyone curious about managing the marine and littoral environment of these two unique seas.

Rifting and Sediments in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf Regions is a unique text that covers a wide range of topics related to the tectonics and geology of the Red Sea and Arabian (Persian) Gulf region. This book is a collection of invited and peer-reviewed chapters contributed by active researchers around the world. The topics covered in this book include tectonics, magmatism, and lithology, particularly in the Red Sea area. The book also delves into the sediments and evaporites of the Red Sea and Gulf. As the area around the Arabian Peninsula is prone to earthquakes, the seismic hazard estimated in the Red Sea region is also covered by several chapters. Each chapter presents new data and offers extensive lists of references for the reader to explore further. With the ongoing debates regarding the structure of the Red Sea, this book serves as an excellent resource for researchers and any individuals interested in the geology of these two unique seas.

This book focuses on tropical coasts, which are highly vulnerable due to a multitude of stressors. Population growth is substantial, habitats are lost and biodiversity is reduced at an alarming rate, severely affecting many ecosystem services. This situation calls for sound coastal management and the effective engagement of all relevant stakeholders. About two decades ago the M.Sc. program ISATEC (International Studies in Aquatic Tropical Ecology) was created at Bremen University (Germany) to train young scientists for a professional engagement in the complex field of tropical coastal and resource management. This book provides a platform for those Alumni to report on their work experiences and findings in their home countries and covers all regions of the tropical belt. Part I of the book provides a short review of the state of the tropical ocean and its resources and of international attempts towards sustainable ocean management starting with the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development in 1992. Part II deals with country case studies, and part III focuses on an evaluation & synopsis of those contributions. Emerging key issues for management and conservation of the tropical coastal environments are presented and critical challenges on the path towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are discussed, as are the needs for enhancing research and capacity development.

This volume is a complete review and reference work for scientists, engineers, and students concerned with coral reefs in the Red Sea. It provides an up-to-date review on the geology, ecology, and physiology of coral reef ecosystems in the Red Sea, including data from most recent molecular studies. The Red Sea harbours a set of unique ecological characteristics, such as high temperature, high alkalinity, and high salinity, in a quasi-isolated environment. This makes it a perfect laboratory to study and understand adaptation in regard to the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems. This book can be used as a general reference, guide, or textbook.