The Pearl River Estuary (PRE) is one of the world’s most urbanized subtropical coastal systems. It presents a typical environmental gradient suitable for studying estuarine phytoplankton communities’ dynamics and photosynthetic physiology. In September 2018, the maximum photochemical quantum yield (Fv/Fm) of phytoplankton in different salinity habitats of PRE (oceanic, estuarine, and freshwater zones) was studied, revealing a complex correlation with the environment. Fv/Fm of phytoplankton ranged from 0.16 to 0.45, with taxa in the upper Lingdingyang found to be more stressed. Community composition and structure were analyzed using 18S rRNA, accompanied by a pigment analysis utilized as a supplementary method. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis indicated differences in the phytoplankton spatial distribution along the estuarine gradients. Specificity-occupancy plots identified different specialist taxa for each salinity habitat. Dinophyta and Haptophyta were the predominant taxa in oceanic areas, while Chlorophyta and Cryptophyta dominated freshwater. Bacillariophyta prevailed across all salinity gradients. Canonical correlation analysis and Mantel tests revealed that temperature, salinity, and elevated nutrient levels (i.e., NO₃⁻-N, PO₄³⁻-P, and SiO₃²⁻-Si) associated with anthropogenic activities significantly influenced the heterogeneity of community structure. The spatial distribution of phytoplankton, along with in situ photosynthetic characteristics, serves as a foundational basis to access estuarine primary productivity, as well as community function and ecosystem health.

Green tides originate from the rapid growth of green macroalgae and their large accumulation. In the past few decades, the severity and frequency of green tides have increased and the range of their geographical distribution has widened. In recent years, Ulva meridionalis Horimoto et Shimada has been reported in many countries. This species has stable morphological characteristics, and its length can reach 3 m in indoor cultures. Its cells contain pyrenoids, and the sporangium and gametangium of each cell contain 8 spores and 16 gametes, respectively, which confer a high proliferation potential. The phylogenetic tree constructed in this study showed that the Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence identified U. meridionalis with a high identification reliability, and the genetic relationship between U. meridionalis and Ulva pertusa in the ITS sequence was close. The haplotype network analysis clarified the relationship of the U. meridionalis samples collected from four different sea areas in China and indicated that they were closely related. Five haplotypes were identified: Hap_2 and Hap_1 were the most frequent, and they were also the haplotypes shared among the three groups. The degree of subspecies formation was not reached among these U. meridionalis samples collected from the Chinese seas. Up to 20 years ago, U. meridionalis had only been recorded in Japan. After 2011, it has been found to be widely distributed in the United States, China, French New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Australia, where it proliferates. It has spread as a new kind of green tide-forming macroalga. The present study found that U. meridionalis is widely distributed in the Chinese seas; specifically, there have been small-scale blooms in the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, and the South China Sea. Further investigations should focus on establishing whether U. meridionalis will cause large-scale green tide events in the future.

Edible mushroom products, encompassing both cultivated and wild varieties, are highly favored by consumers due to their rich nutritional profiles, including significant levels of proteins and amino acids. These mushrooms have extensive applications across the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, making the edible mushroom industry a vital component of global poverty alleviation efforts. Taking China as an example, the country produces over 45 million tons of edible mushrooms annually, accounting for 94.01% of the world’s total production, thereby establishing itself as the leading global producer of edible mushrooms. However, alongside the rapid expansion of this industry, concerns have emerged regarding counterfeit products and incidents of poisoning resulting from the consumption of toxic wild mushrooms. As follows, to advance the development and integrity of the mushroom production and processing industry: (1) This study presents the situation of counterfeit edible mushrooms and elucidates the factors contributing to the production of fraudulent products from both subjective and non-subjective perspectives. (2) We provide a detailed introduction to 22 varieties of freshly cultivated edible mushrooms and commonly encountered wild edible mushrooms in the Chinese consumer market, proposing the application of DNA barcoding, environmental DNA analysis, and other technologies for the future authentication of counterfeit mushroom products. (3) Concurrently, we present an overview of mushroom poisoning incidents in China from 2010 to 2023, emphasizing the challenges in mitigating the risks associated with wild mushroom consumption and preventing food poisoning, thereby necessitating heightened consumer caution. (4) Finally, we offer four recommendations aimed at ensuring the healthy, stable, and sustainable growth of the edible mushroom industry.

Seaweed cultivation holds significant importance in addressing global challenges.On the one hand,it aids in alleviating the food crisis.On the other hand,it offers substantial ecological benefits,such as enhancing carbon sequestration,facilitating nitrogen cycling,and mitigating eutrophication(He et al.,2008;Wu et al.,2015;Mantri et al.,2023).Globally,the dominant cultivated economic seaweeds include Laminaria spp.,Kappaphycus spp.,Gracilaria spp.,Neopyropia spp.,and Undaria spp.(Park et al.,2021;Khan et al.,2024).In 2022,the annual global production of seaweed is estimated to be approximately 36.4 million metric tons(live weight),with red algae accounting for about 55.8% and brown algae for approximately 43.8%(FAO,2024).Asia constitutes the principal region for seaweed cultivation,representing over 97% of global production,with China(about 60%),Indonesia(about 25%),South Korea(about 5%),and the Philippines(about 4%)being the largest contributors to this industry(Khan et al.,2024;Liu et al.,2024).Among them,the Neopyropia species,a type of high-end red algae,is highly favored among consumers(Li et al.,2023)and possesses rich edible and medicinal values(Subramaniyan et al.,2021;Zhao et al.,2023).It is frequently utilized for the production of foods such as laver sushi and laver pancakes.Consequently,the significance of laver cultivation is self-evident.China boasts the world's largest laver cultivation area,with total production reaching 209,939 metric tons(dry weight)in 2023(Fishery Administration Bureau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,2024).The main cultivated laver species include Neopyropia haitanensis,Neopyropia yezoensis,Neopyropia acanthophora,and Neopyropia dentata(Wang et al.,2020).Notably,Jiangsu Province,China,serves as the leading production area for the highly sought-after N.yezoensis(Figure 1).The N.yezoensis aquaculture industry in the Subei intertidal zone of Jiangsu Province originated in the 1970s of the 20th century(Liu et al.,2021a).After more than 50 years of development,the intertidal zone in Jiangsu Province has become the largest global N.yezoensis aquaculture area,leading both nationally and globally.For instance,in 2023,the area of laver cultivation in Jiangsu Province reached 33,393 hectares,approximately 51.81% of the total national laver cultivation area.During the same year,the production of laver in Jiangsu Province reached 35,936 metric tons(dry weight),accounting for about 17.12% of the total national laver production(Fishery Administration Bureau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,2024).The industry is of considerable scale and has comprehensively enhanced the coastal economic development and industrial reputation of Jiangsu Province.Furthermore,many impoverished individuals have achieved poverty alleviation and wealth accumulation through seaweed cultivation(Li et al.,2011).Nevertheless,the laver cultivation industry in Jiangsu Province is progressively encountering certain challenges,such as extreme marine events and disasters.This opinion article aims to identify the key factors affecting laver cultivation in Jiangsu Province and proposes recommendations for its sustainable development.For the growth stages of seaweed,extreme climate changes can lead to cellular and subcellular damage in the thalli,ultimately affecting its growth,quality,and yield(Khan et al.,2024).Currently,the negative impact of climate change on seaweed aquaculture is a long-term and widespread issue encountered in global aquaculture processes(Veenhof et al.,2024),which is difficult to resolve effectively in the short term.Over the past six decades,the sea surface temperature in the Southern Yellow Sea(SYS)has generally shown an increasing trend,with a warming amplitude of approximately 0.61°C.This indicates that under the backdrop of global warming,the SYS region has exhibited a warming trend(Guo et al.,2024).Concurrently,the interannual and multidecadal variability of sea surface temperature in the SYS is also associated with large-scale climatic factors such as El Niño-Southern Oscillation(ENSO)and Pacific Decadal Oscillation(PDO)(Wang & Yu,2014),leading to anomalous warming of regional seawater temperatures in certain years.Elevated seawater temperatures indirectly promote the frequent occurrence of diseases and other factors that hinder the growth of N.yezoensis.Currently,climate warming is leading to frequent occurrences of seedling rot,slow growth,and significant reductions in yield during the cultivation of Neopyropia,resulting in economic losses for the laver cultivation industry in the SYS region in recent years(Figure 2A).For instance,from late 2016 to mid-2017,influenced by factors such as abnormally high temperatures in the Haizhou Bay area,the production of N.yezoensis in Lianyun District,Lianyungang City,Jiangsu Province,was severely reduced,with a decrease of about 60% compared to the previous year(Lianyun District People's Government,2017).Extreme weather events triggered by climate change also warrant attention.At the end of April 2021,an infrequent event featuring extreme winds and thunderstorms occurred in the Subei intertidal zone of the SYS,with wind gusts reaching level 14.This event resulted in direct economic losses exceeding 140 million RMB Yuan in Nantong City,Jiangsu Province(Lu & Du,2022),and the large-scale collapse of Neopyropia cultivation rafts(Lu & Du,2022).Tens of thousands of raft components,including ropes and bamboo poles(Figure 2B),are being swept into the ocean(Sun et al.,2022a),causing economic losses to laver farmers.It affected the smooth progress of the Neopyropia raft recovery operations,and in addition,caused casualties,either directly or indirectly(CCTV,2021).Similarly,in January 2016,Lianyungang City,Jiangsu Province experienced severe sea ice and strong winds caused by extremely cold weather.This affected over 7,000 hectares of N.yezoensis cultivation area,leading to incalculable economic losses...

The abnormal proliferation of Ulva in the Yellow Sea has instigated the notorious green tide phenomenon. Mitigating this ecological challenge necessitates a holistic comprehension of Ulva’s nitrogen and phosphorus uptake behaviors. Investigating the mechanisms governing nutrient absorption, encompassing factors like concentration, form, and input dynamics, has unveiled their profound influence on nutrient assimilation rates. The nutrient absorption characteristics of Ulva prolifera, including its preference for abundant nutrients, a high nitrogen-to-phosphorus (N/P) ratio, and its ability to efficiently absorb nutrients during pulse nutrient input events, determine its dominant role in the green tide events in the Yellow Sea. Although source control and preemptive salvaging are effective methods for managing green tides, addressing the root causes of these coastal ecological disasters requires the implementation of long-term pollution control strategies that align with sustainable development goals, with a priority on reducing marine eutrophication. This is crucial for the effective management and restoration of the coastal ecosystem in the Yellow Sea.

In 2019, a disease outbreak struck a hybrid sturgeon farm (Huso dauricus ♀ × A. schrenckii ♂) in Tiantai, Zhejiang province, leading to the deaths of 8000 sturgeons. The sturgeons exhibited reduced appetite, lethargic and uncoordinated swimming, and physical signs such as reddish petechiae and ulcers on the body and fins. Hemorrhagic spots were observed on the kidneys, spleen, and gonads, alongside reddish intestines with hemorrhagic ascites in the abdominal cavity. ST-1902 was isolated and identified as Aeromonas hydrophila through physiological and biochemical characterization and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The pathogenicity of ST-1902 was confirmed through a challenge test, with a median lethal dosage (LD50) of 7.9 × 10⁶ CFU/IND. Histopathological examination showed hyperplasia and neoplasm-like changes in the epicedial mesothelial tissues, enlarged and necrosis renal tissue, and serious hemosiderosis in spleen and gills. Virulent genes (Aer, Epa, Alt, Hly, and Act) were detected in ST-1902, corresponding to typical β-hemolysis, extracellular protease, and enterotoxin. Moreover, antimicrobial experiment detection indicated ST-1902 is sensitive to quinolones and phenicols but resistant to sulfamethoxazole, aminoglycoside antibiotics with Sul1, and Intl and Ant (3”)-I. These results suggest that A. hydrophila was the causative agent of the sturgeon disease and highlight the emerging threat it poses to the sturgeon industry.