iMEco Lab

Hello Twitter! Our lab led by Prof. Stefano Cannicci studies crab and mollusk diversity, the impact of anthropic stressors on community dynamics and #ecosystem function and terrestrialization of crabs using behavioural, ecophysiological and phylogenetic approaches at @SWIMSHKU

This research underscores the urgent need for improved waste management, policy implementation and coastal conservation efforts to safeguard these vital ecosystems #mangroveprotection #HongKongecosystems #MangrovePollution #Debris

Implications: Our results confirm that land-derived debris from mismanaged waste, rather than debris coming from the Pearl River, is the primary source of anthropogenic debris threatening Hong Kong's mangroves. 🚮

3⃣Landward Accumulation: Debris aggregation was highest in the landward zones, aligning with existing research and 4⃣ Seasonal Impact: In the dry season, more debris accumulated in both seaward and landward zones.

Our findings indicate: 1⃣ Spatial Variability: Debris abundance and distribution varied across zones, with plastic being the predominant material. 2⃣Top Contaminants: Both plastic and non-plastic domestic items covered the most surface area (largest potential ecological impact)

Out today fully open access in Marine Pollution Bulletin sciencedirect.com/science/articl… with fantastic colleagues @cnot_paleo_hku @SCannicci - we looked at the drivers of anthropogenic pollution in the peri-urban mangroves of Hong Kong @LabImeco @SWIMSHKU @BioSciUCT

🦀🐚🦞🐠 A brilliant keynote talk at @MeetingMmm6 by @sara_fratini. It was great to hear about the importance of genetic approaches in the #conservation and management of #mangrove fauna

Well done @GeogheganKevin!

🚨Just published open-access🚨. Check out our new paper looking at how fine-scale environmental conditions and thermal tolerance of crab larvae 🦀🦀🦀influence their community dynamics in HK mangroves! @SCannicci @francesca_porri @LabImeco doi.org/10.1007/s10113…

Congratulations to @GeogheganKevin for passing his PhD defense this week, with his thesis titled; "The present and prospective ecology of a rocky shore predator: foraging, physiology and their microbiome". Well done Dr Geoghegan! @SWIMSHKU @BaydenRussell @SCannicci @LabImeco

Fauna is playing a role in the plastic debris degradation Free access to our new publication led by @mandydrms with @SCannicci and @LyleVorsprung 👇👇👇 authors.elsevier.com/a/1eayXzLNSc6d4

Honoured to be part of this review in @ELSenviron examining the roles that macrofauna play in the fragmentation of macro to micro and nano plastics! Led by @mandydrms with @SCannicci and @cnot_paleo_hku it’s available for free for the next ~40 days @LabImeco @SWIMSHKU

Happy #WorldWetlandsDay2022 a day to acknowledge the essential support these ecosystems provide for a healthy planet and society. So let’s work hard to protect these biodiversity reservoirs and their unexpected visitors

Lastly, field research such as this is never done alone, and is a team effort. The authors would like to acknowledge the @HKUSBS ecology and biodiversity and @SWIMSHKU community for their support and assistance in the field.

should be greatly reduced and we should prioritise reducing mismanaged waste from entering the waterways and other aquatic habitats. AMD in our ecosystems is a symptom, and the priority is tackling the source of the problem. 10/

🚨Another new paper alert🚨 Out today in @STOTEN_journal led by @Yiing with @LyleVorsprung, @cnot_paleo_hku @SCannicci highlighting the plight of anthropogenic marine debris (AMD) pollution in Hong Kong’s mangrove forests. Available at authors.elsevier.com/c/1e8aKB8ccr3qu for 40 days 1/n