Marine science in the western Indian Ocean responds to population pressures and climate change

摘要

The Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) held its 5th Scientific Symposium in Durban, South Africa, from 22 to 26 October 2007. The theme of the conference was "Science, Policy and Management: Pressures and responses in the Western Indian Ocean region". This Special Issue thus contains three papers on the effects of sewage treatment in mangrove environments within the PUMPSEA project and three on algal responses to environmental change. Applied aspects of long-term reef mapping using remote sensing, food partitioning in delphinids, the feeding ecology of the African black oystercatcher, and various aspects of reproduction in a holothurian are also covered in individual papers. While this represents the growing breadth of marine science in the Western Indian Ocean region, it also highlights the fact that the theme of the symposium was indeed topical.