Research Fronts

Further Wetland Research in China

This Research Front extends our knowledge of wetland research in China and, in particular, builds on the special issue published in Volume 69, issue 5 following the 10th INTECOL International Wetlands Conference in Changshu, China, 19–24 September 2016, hosted by Nanjing University. The Conference also produced the Changshu Declaration on Wetlands. In response to the Declaration and recognising the value of sharing information about wetlands in China, this Research Front contains a further five manuscripts.

Translating Seagrass Science into Action

This Research Front comprises papers that emphasise the applicability of seagrass research to management practices, examine the impacts of human activities, and look at seagrass from a conservation perspective.

Keith Hunter Dedication

This Research Front is dedicated to Keith Hunter, one of the most distinguished environmental chemists in marine science. He was a strong supporter of this journal where he served as co-Editor between 2008 and 2011. The articles published in this Research Front cover a small range of Keith’s research interests and include articles on marine chemistry with specific emphasis on the marine carbonate system, ocean acidification, trace metal biogeochemistry and trace metal speciation.

Irrigation and Fisheries for Sustainable Development

The water–food–energy nexus is central to sustainable development. Demand for all three is increasing, driven by a rising global population, rapid urbanisation, changing diets and economic growth. In response, many countries are expanding irrigation infrastructure to produce food, and building dams to secure water and generate power. In some instances, this can create pressure for other food resources, such as fish. This Research Front explores the concept that irrigation and fisheries must advance collaboratively if the Sustainable Development Goals are to meet their intended goals of no poverty and zero hunger.

Water Ecology of China's Pilot Cities

This Research Front comprises papers on a range of different studies on aquatic ecosystems of the first pilot cities project to build healthy water ecological communities (WECs) in China. These studies assessed water ecosystem health and its heterogeneity at different spatial and temporal scales, analysed hydrological and water quality niches of biota, identified driving factors for water ecological communities and identified regions for WEC restoration.

Climate Impacts on Marine System Structure and Function: Molecules to Ecosystems

This Research Front comprises papers that detail how the integration of inter-disciplinary, multi-scale information can result in more holistic climate change stories that scientists can effectively communicate with stakeholders and the broader community.

New Diagnostics for Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems

This Research Front comprises papers on new diagnostics for marine and freshwater systems and evolves from a workshop held in Sydney in September 2014. The workshop explored the application of new ecosystem observation technologies, and how their systematic application can support improved understanding of the complex causes of ecosystem change, and humanity’s role as a significant driver of that change.

Linking Science to International Wetland Policy – the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

This Research Front comprises papers that address the links between science and international wetland policy as shown through formal decisions taken by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The papers cover three very different topics – water quality, ecosystem services and wetland monitoring.