Abstract: Improving the effectiveness of marine spatial management is crucial to preserve marine ecosystems and also to support the fisheries economy. In this study, we aimed to determine the spatial distribution and suitable habitats (spawning and nursery sites) of Sciaena umbra and Dentex dentex using catches data in Corsica Island. Random forest models have been used as they are highly accurate and are suited to predict rare species distribution. Predictive maps of spatial distribution based on presence/absence data showed a high degree of spatial variability between species. Suitable habitats were close to shore in shallow waters for S. umbra and deeper and further offshore for D. dentex. We also observed that spawning sites were mainly located on the west coast, while nursery areas were distributed all around the island for D. dentex. In addition, we demonstrated the important contribution of environmental factors and local habitats (depth and Posidonia oceanica meadows) in the selection of their suitable habitats. Our results provide new knowledge for understanding ecological processes such as the selection of suitable habitats by fish species. Based on this information, spatial mapping can be implemented to improve the effectiveness of resource management over the long term.

Abstract: Let us first express our respectful thanks to the founder of Journal Dr. R. C. Dalela, who has entrusted us the responsibility to look after the Processing and Editing of research papers submitted to the Journal of Environmental Biology. We have humbly accepted the responsibility and are committed to follow his footsteps to further enhance the scientific quality and popularity of the Journal of Environmental Biology. Journal's launching: In 1975, there were only a few research Journals available in India to the researchers of Biological Sciences. To cater to the needs of Environmental Biologists, Dr. Dalela mooted the idea of introducing research Journal in 1975 & after a pan India consultation launched the title “Journal of Environmental Biology ” after due registration with the Government of India. The International Editorial Board of Journal was constituted, the Editorial Policy and Guidelines for authors were prepared and the first issue was released on 7th October 1978 in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. Since then, the Journal is being published uninterruptedly in-spite of varied problems and difficulties faced time to time. In the beginning most of the research papers received were from Indian researchers but with passage of time overseas research papers started pouring. Gradually, Journal became a favored choice of the International Scientific Community. From 1978 to 1997, the periodicity of Journal was quarterly and currently, it is bimonthly i.e. six issues in a year. The Journal is sponsored by Dalela Educational Foundation (DEF) - a charitable educational trust. The Journal neither receives any financial grant from Government nor from Non-government organizations. The Journal is independent and financially depends largely upon subscriptions and the publication fees. . Growth and Progress: In 1997, the Registered Office and the secretariat of the Journal was shifted from Muzaffarnagar to Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh. The worldwide acceptance of our Journal grew exponentially because of its scientific merit, print quality and its double-blind peer review system. Peer-review system and editing of research papers became more intense and recommendations of reviewers became the sole criterion for publication of research papers. The Marketing & Distribution of the Journal was given to Triveni Enterprises - an educational setup, to make this important task efficient. As the Journal's credibility grew over a period of time, new policies were promulgated to meet the increasing needs of International Scientific community. These are as follows: 1) Website: In 2001, Journal developed its website (www.jeb.co.in), where in all relevant information of the Journal and the published papers were uploaded. Open Access of research papers was made available. 2) R & D Division: In 2008, Journal established its own Research & Development (R & D) division under the guidance of a consultant and scientists to scrutinize all submitted manuscripts for unethical practices and recommend ways to improve quality and scientific merit. Looking to its relevance, the reviewer selection and monitoring of the review process were also handed over to this division. Our reviewers, Editorial Board members and R & D experts voluntarily and generously contribute their expertise to upscale the Journal. We highly value their role. The contributions of the reviewers are appropriately acknowledged by publishing their names in the Reviewer's Panel of the Journal. 3) Digital Object Identifier: Journal took the membership of Crossref in 2016, so as to allot the DOI number to each paper published in the Journal of Environmental Biology. 4) JEB International Awards: In 2018, the Journal introduced “JEB - International Award (IA)” for the best paper published in a calendar year to recognize and appreciate the outstanding research paper published in the Journal. In 2019, the Journal introduced, “Young Researcher Award (YRA)” – another International Award for innovative research paper published by a young research scholar. The papers are evaluated by an International Scientific Committee and the awardees are given “Certificate of Excellence” and cash prizes of USD 500 to IA and USD 200 to YRA, respectively. Scientific Leadership: In September 2020, the National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), Hyderabad organized an online training program and the JEB editor was invited as an expert in a panel discussion on "Science of Writing Good Research Papers". Dr. Sumati Gaumat, Editor-JEB based on her vast experience highlighted many short comings normally committed by the young research scholars while writing research papers and what should they do to avoid rejection. COPE Membership: In December - 2020, we have applied for the registration of Journal for the membership of “Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)” to follow the highest standards of ethics for scholarly publication. Year 2020, has been the most challenging and disruptive year for the entire world due to Covid-19 global pandemic. The pandemic and various regulations of the Government to curtail the pandemic have affected the normal working of secretariat. The secretariat is slowly resuming the regular functioning. Our priority now is to enhance efficiency of Editorial office and to clear the backlog of accumulated research papers. Further, we are keen to work with more enthusiasm to attract high level, innovative and impactful researches for publication in the Journal. Future Strategies: We are pleased to share that our current research credibility & acceptance has made the Journal one of the most acceptable International Research Journal for publication of scientific research related to Environmental Sciences and Toxicology. We wish to concentrate on the following in 2021: 1. To seek more active participation of Editors of JEB. 2. To attract more authentic and transparent research for publication. 3. To follow the best publication practices and ethics laid down by COPE for scholarly publication. 4. To accord priority to innovative research. 5. To adopt stricter review and editing systems of papers. We acknowledge the efforts of all the contributors, readers, researchers, scientists and subscribers of the Journal - Libraries, organizations and laboratories for their continued cooperation and support. We also thank the members of the Editorial Board, for rendering their expertise voluntarily to the Journal and also the reviewers for their robust and critical review of papers. The services of Information System Consultant are sincerely acknowledged for supervising the designing and for managing Journal's website. The reputation and popularity of Journal is due to hard and sincere working of the secretariat staff. At last but not the least, we express our highest gratitude to the Managing Editor of the Journal for her constant support and encouragement.

Abstract: Food webs are central entities mediating processes and external pressures in marine ecosystems. They are essential to understand and predict ecosystem dynamics and provision of ecosystem services. Paradoxically, utilization of food web knowledge in marine environmental conservation and resource management is limited. To better understand the use of knowledge and barriers to incorporation in management, we assess its application related to the management of eutrophication, chemical contamination, fish stocks, and non-indigenous species. We focus on the Baltic, a severely impacted, but also intensely studied and actively managed semi-enclosed sea. Our assessment shows food web processes playing a central role in all four areas, but application varies strongly, from formalized integration in management decisions, to support in selecting indicators and setting threshold values, to informal knowledge explaining ecosystem dynamics and management performance. Barriers for integration are complexity of involved ecological processes and that management frameworks are not designed to handle such information. We provide a categorization of the multi-faceted uses of food web knowledge and benefits of future incorporation in management, especially moving towards ecosystem-based approaches as guiding principle in present marine policies and directives. We close with perspectives on research needs to support this move considering global and regional change.

Abstract: The ability of management strategies to achieve the fishery management goals are impacted by environmental variation and, therefore, also by global climate change. Management strategies can be modified to use environmental data using the “dynamic B0” concept, and changing the set of years used to define biomass reference points. Two approaches have been developed to apply management strategy evaluation to evaluate the impact of environmental variation on the performance of management strategies. The “mechanistic approach” estimates the relationship between the environment and elements of the population dynamics of the fished species and makes predictions for population trends using the outputs from global climate models. In contrast, the “empirical approach” examines possible broad scenarios without explicitly identifying mechanisms. Many reviewed studies have found that modifying management strategies to include environmental factors does not improve the ability to achieve management goals much, if at all, and only if the manner in which these factors drive the system is well known. As such, until the skill of stock projection models improves, it seems more appropriate to consider the implications of plausible broad forecasts related to how biological parameters may change in the future as a way to assess the robustness of management strategies, rather than attempting specific predictions per se.

Abstract: The fisheries sector is crucial to the Bangladeshi economy and wellbeing, accounting for 4.4% of national gross domestic product and 22.8% of agriculture sector production, and supplying ca. 60% of the national animal protein intake. Fish is vital to the 16 million Bangladeshis living near the coast, a number that has doubled since the 1980s. Here, we develop and apply tools to project the long-term productive capacity of Bangladesh marine fisheries under climate and fisheries management scenarios, based on downscaling a global climate model, using associated river flow and nutrient loading estimates, projecting high-resolution changes in physical and biochemical ocean properties, and eventually projecting fish production and catch potential under different fishing mortality targets. We place particular interest on Hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha), which accounts for ca. 11% of total catches, and Bombay duck (Harpadon nehereus), a low price fish that is the second highest catch in Bangladesh and is highly consumed by low-income communities. It is concluded that the impacts of climate change, under greenhouse emissions scenario A1B, are likely to reduce the potential fish production in the Bangladesh exclusive economic zone by & lt;10%. However, these impacts are larger for the two target species. Under sustainable management practices, we expect Hilsa shad catches to show a minor decline in potential catch by 2030 but a significant (25%) decline by 2060. However, if overexploitation is allowed, catches are projected to fall much further, by almost 95% by 2060, compared with the Business as Usual scenario for the start of the 21st century. For Bombay duck, potential catches by 2060 under sustainable scenarios will produce a decline of & lt;20% compared with current catches. The results demonstrate that management can mitigate or exacerbate the effects of climate change on ecosystem productivity.

Abstract: Mundy, P. R., and Evenson, D. F. 2011. Environmental controls of phenology of high-latitude Chinook salmon populations of the Yukon River, North America, with application to fishery management. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 1155–1164. Phenologies of a number of anadromous fish species have been demonstrated to vary in concert with environmental factors that change with global warming, such as water and air temperatures. Anadromous fishery managers will need advice from models of phenology, or migratory timing, as functions of environmental factors in those harvest areas where annual migratory timing can vary sharply. Such models are also necessary to advise fishery managers on how and when global warming projections of the IPCC model ensemble should be factored into regulatory decisions. Specifically, we demonstrate that the annual timing of marine exit of Yukon River Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) at 63°N 165°W for 1961–2009 varied in close concert with modelled sea surface temperature, air temperature, and sea ice cover. The best linear model for 1961–2009 combines sea surface and air temperatures to explain 59% of the annual variability in migratory timing (ice cover is available only for 1970–2009). Changes in phenology of high-latitude Chinook salmon are expected in response to global warming. As average temperatures increase, the frequency of earlier migrations is expected to increase, making management of the fishery more challenging.

Abstract: States have committed to “not undermine” relevant existing legal instruments, bodies, and frameworks in their negotiations over a new, legally binding instrument concerning biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). An agreed interpretation of “not undermine” will most likely be expressed through the institutional model adopted by this new instrument. Potential models should be evaluated in light of limitations on existing regional and sectoral ocean governance organizations, which may suggest governance gaps that the new instrument may fill. This article revisits the textual analysis of “not undermine” undertaken by Scanlon (2018) to explore its implications for the institutional models available to the new instrument. It reviews the practice of regional fishery management organizations as presented by Scanlon to identify areas where the new instrument might address persistent challenges. Finally, it suggests several potential models for the new instrument that might avoid “undermining” whereas improving governance outcomes in ABNJ. It concludes that a global institution with consultative links to existing organizations may provide the most logical means of implementation.

Abstract: We examined a case study where a successful wildlife‐friendly model for intensively managed hayland was developed from field data and implemented locally as policy by a federal agency. Farmers were ensured a first hay‐harvest with high protein content; after a 65‐day delay (compared to the normal 35–40‐day cutting cycle) farmers took a second harvest of greater quantity but decreased quality. Farmers were paid $247–333/ha in 2008–2010 to offset costs associated with the decreased nutritional content caused by the approximately 25‐day second harvest delay. Bobolink ( Dolichonyx oryzivorus ) reproductive rates improved from 0.0 to 2.8 fledglings per female per year. Creation and implementation of this policy required communication among scientists, federal agricultural agencies, farmers, and state and federal fish and wildlife departments. Data collection, analyses, and communication processes served as an effective global model for practitioners to apply to other agricultural products and taxa. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.

Abstract: The Western Ghats, a range of ancient hills extends between 8° N and 21° N latitude, and 73° E and 77° E longitude(from the tip of peninsular India at Kanyakumari to Gujarat). The Western Ghats runs parallel to the west coast of India, covering approximately 160,000 sq. km, which constitutes less than 5% of India's geographical extent. Numerous streams originate in the Western Ghats, which drain millions of hectares, ensuring water and food security for 245 million people and hence are aptly known as the water tower of peninsular India(Ramachandra and Bharath, 2019; Bharath et al., 2021). The region is endowed with diverse ecological regions depending on altitude, latitude, rainfall, and soil characteristics. The Western Ghats are among the eight hottest hotspots of biodiversity and 36 global biodiversity hotspots with exceptional endemic flora and fauna. Natural forests of Western Ghats have been providing various goods and services and are endowed with species of 4,600+ flowering plants (38% endemics), 330 butterflies (11% endemics), 156 reptiles (62% endemics), 508 birds (4% endemics), 120 mammals (12% endemics), 289 fishes (41% endemics) and 135 amphibians (75% endemics). The Western Ghats, gifted with enormous natural resource potential, and the mandate of sustainable development based on the foundation of prudent management of ecosystems, is yet a reality. Various unplanned developmental programs, which are proclaimed to be functioning on sustainability principles, have only been disrupting the complex web of life, impacting ecosystems, and causing a decline in overall productivity, including four major sectors: forestry, fisheries, agriculture, and water (Ramachandra and Bharath, 2019).The prevalence of barren hilltops, conversion of perennial streams to intermittent or seasonal streams, frequent floods and droughts, changes in water quality, soil erosion and sedimentation, the decline of endemic flora, and fauna, etc. highlights the consequences of unplanned developmental activities with a huge loss to the regional economy during the last century. The development goals need to be ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable, which can be achieved through the conservation and prudent management of ecosystems. Sustainability implies the equilibrium between society, ecosystem integrity, and sustenance of natural resources. Water sustenance in streams and rivers depends on the integrity of the catchment (watershed), as vegetation helps in retarding the velocity of water by allowing impoundment and recharging of groundwater through infiltration (Ramachandra et al., 2020). As water moves in the terrestrial ecosystem, part of it is percolated (recharging groundwater resources and contributing to sub-surface flow during post-monsoon seasons), while another fraction gets back to the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration. Forests with native vegetation act as a sponge by retaining and regulating water transfer between land and the atmosphere. The mechanism by which vegetation controls flow regime is dependent on various bio-physiographic characteristics, namely, type of vegetation, species composition, maturity, density, root density and depth, hydro-climatic condition, etc. Roots of vegetation help (i) in binding soil, ii) improve soil structure by enhancing the stability of aggregates, which provide habitat for diverse microfauna and flora, leading to higher porosity of the soil, thereby creating the conduit for infiltration through the soil. An undisturbed native forest has a consistent hydrologic regime with sustained flows during lean seasons. Native species of vegetation with the assemblage of diverse native species help in recharging the groundwater, mitigating floods, and other hydro-ecological processes (Ramachandra et al., 2020; Bharath et al., 2021). Hence, it necessitates safeguarding and maintaining native forest patches and restoring existing degraded lands to sustain the hydrological regime, which caters to biotic (ecological and societal) demands. A comparative assessment of people's livelihood with soil water properties and water availability in sub-catchments of four major river basins in the Western Ghats reveals that streams in catchments with 〉 60% vegetation of native species are perennial with higher soil moisture (Ramachandra et al., 2020). The higher soil moisture due to water availability during all seasons facilitates farming of commercial crops with higher economic returns to the farmers, unlike the farmers who face water crises during the lean season. In contrast, streams are intermittent (6-8 months of water) in catchments dominated by monoculture plantations and seasonal (4 months, monsoon period) in catchments with vegetation cover lower than 30%. The study highlights the need to maintain ecosystem integrity to sustain water. Also, lower instances of COVID 19 in villages with native forests emphasize ecosystems' role in maintaining the health of biota. The need to maintain native vegetation in the catchment and its potential to support people's livelihood with water availability at local and regional levels is evident from the revenue of Rs. Rs.2,74,658 ha-1 yr-1 (in villages with perennial streams and farmers growing cash crops or three crops a year due to water availability), Rs. 1,50,679 ha-1 yr-1 (in villages with intermittent streams) and Rs. 80000 ha-1 yr-1 (in villages with seasonal streams). Also, the crop yield (at least 1.5 to 1.8 times) is higher in agriculture fields due to efficient pollination with the prevalence of diverse pollinators in the vicinity of native forests. The study emphasizes the need for maintaining the natural flow regime and prudent management of watershed to i) sustain higher faunal diversity, ii) maintain the health of water body, and iii) sustain people's livelihood with higher revenues. Hence, the premium should be on conserving the forests with native species to sustain water and biotic diversity in the water bodies, vital for food security. There still exists a chance to restore the lost natural ecosystems through appropriate ecological restoration approaches, with location-specific conservation and management practices to ensure adequate and clean water for all. GDP (Gross Domestic Product), a measure of the current economic well-being of a population, based on the market exchange of material well-being, will indicate resource depletion/degradation only through a positive gain in the economy and will not represent the decline in these assets (wealth) at all. Thus, the existing GDP growth percentages used as yardsticks to measure the development and well-being of citizens in decision-making processes are substantially misleading, yet they are being used. The traditional national accounts need to include resource depletion or degradation due to developmental activities and climate change. The country should move toward adopting Green GDP by accounting for the environmental consequences of the growth in the conventional GDP, which entails monetizing the services provided by ecosystems, the degradation cost of ecosystems, and accounts for costs caused by climate change. The forest ecosystems are under severe threat due to anthropogenic pressures, which are mostly related to the GDP.The appraisal of forest ecosystem services and biodiversity can help clarify trade­-offs among conflicting environmental, social, and economic goals in the development and implementation of policies and to improve the management in order biodiversity.Natural capital accounting and valuation of ecosystem services reveal that forest ecosystems provide (i) provisioning services (timber, fuelwood, food, NTFP, medicines, genetic materials) of Rs 2,19,494 ha-1 yr-1, (ii) regulating services (global climate regulation - carbon sequestration, soil conservation, and soil fertility, water regulation and groundwater recharge, water purification, pollination, waste treatment, air filtration, local climate regulation) of Rs 3,31,216 ha-1 yr-1 and (iii) cultural services (aesthetic, spiritual, tourism and recreation, education and scientific research) of Rs.1,04,561 ha-1 yr-1. Total ecosystem supply value (TESV), an aggregation of provisioning, regulating, and cultural services, amounts to Rs. 6,56,172 ha-1 yr-1, and the Net Present Value (NPV) of one hectare of forests amounts to 16.88 million rupees ha-1. NPV helps in estimating ecological compensation while diverting forest lands for other purposes. The recovery of an ecosystem with respect to its health, integrity, and sustainability is evident from an initiative of planting (500 saplings of 49 native species) in a degraded landscape (dominated by invasive species) of two hectares in the early 1990s at the Indian Institute of Science campus (Ramachandra et al., 2016),and the region has now transformed into a mini forest with numerous benefits such as improvements in groundwater at 3-6 m (compared to 30-40 m in 1990), moderated microclimate (with lower temperature) and numerous fauna (including four families of Slender Loris). While confirming the linkages of hydrology, ecology, and biodiversity, the experiment advocates the need for integrated watershed approaches based on sound ecological and engineering protocols to sustain water and ensure adequate water for all. A well-known and successful model of integrated wetlands ecosystem (Secondary treatment plant integrated with constructed wetlands and algae pond) at Jakkur Lake in Bangalore (Ramachandra et al., 2018) provides insights into the optimal treatment of wastewater and mitigation of pollution. Complete removal of nutrients and chemical contaminants happens when partially treated sewage (secondary treated) passes through constructed wetlands and algae pond (sedimentation pond), undergoes bio-physical and chemical processes. The water in the lake is almost potable with minimal nutrients and microbial counts. This model has been functioning successfully for the last ten years after interventions to rejuvenate the lake. This system is one of the self-sustainable ways of lake management while benefitting all stakeholders - washing, fishing, irrigation, and local people. Wells in the buffer zone (500 m), now have higher water levels and are without any nutrients (nitrate). Groundwater quality assessment in 25 wells in the same region during 2005 (before the rejuvenation of Jakkur Lake) had higher nitrate values. Adopting this model ensures optimal sewage treatment at decentralized levels, and letting treated water to the lake also provides nutrient-free and clean groundwater. The Jal Shakti ministry,the Government of India, through Jal Jeevan Mission, has embarked on the noble and novel mission of providing tap water supply to all rural households and public institutions in villages such as schools, health centers, panchayat buildings, etc. The success of this program depends on the availability of water. The imminent threat of acute water scarcity due to climate changes with global warming necessitates implementing integrated watershed development (planting of native species in the watershed of water bodies), rainwater harvesting (rooftop harvesting at individual household levels, and retaining rainwater in rejuvenated lakes, which also helps in recharge of groundwater) and reuse of wastewater through treatment at decentralized levels (a model similar to Jakkur lake at Bangalore). These prudent management initiatives at decentralized levels throughout the country aid in achieving the goals of providing clean and adequate water to the local community.