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Ocean warming can have significant negative impacts on population genetic diversity, local endemism and geographical distribution of a wide range of marine organisms. Thus, the identification of conservation units with high risk of extinction becomes an imperative task to assess, monitor, and manage marine biodiversity for policy-makers. Here, we surveyed population structure and genetic variation of the red seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla along the coast of China using genome-based amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) scanning. Regardless of analysis methods used, AFLP consistently revealed a south to north genetic isolation. Populations at the southern coast of China showed unique genetic variation and much greater allelic richness, heterozygosity, and average genetic diversity than the northern. In particular, we identified a geographical barrier that may hinder genetic exchange between the two lineages. Consequently, the characterized genetic lineage at the southern coast of China likely resulted from the interplay of post-glacial persistence of ancestral diversity, geographical isolation and local adaptation. In particular, the southern populations are indispensable components to explore evolutionary genetics and historical biogeography of G. vermiculophylla in the northwestern Pacific, and the unique diversity also has important conservation value in terms of projected climate warming.

Due to frequent viral disease outbreaks, a large proportion of shrimp aquaculture in South-East Asian countries has switched from black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) to P. vannamei, an exotic species originally imported from Latin America. One of the causes of disease outbreaks is thought to be poor water and sediment conditions in the shrimp ponds, which may aggravate disease symptoms. To obtain basic information for co-culture methods of black tiger shrimp and sandfish (Holothuria scabra) for possible mitigation of shrimp-pond eutrophication and prevention of disease outbreaks, basic laboratory experiments were conducted at the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center—Aquaculture Department in Iloilo, the Philippines. A feeding trial of juvenile sandfish showed that they do not grow well with fresh shrimp feed on hard substrate. Another trial indicated that sand substrate enhances the growth of juvenile sandfish fed with shrimp feed. A feeding trial using shrimp tank detritus, shrimp faeces and Navicula ramosissima (a benthic diatom) as food sources showed that sandfish grew fastest with the faeces, followed by detritus and N. ramosissima. Dissolved oxygen consumption and acid-volatile sulfur levels in the shrimp tank detritus were reduced by sandfish feeding. This suggests that sandfish are capable of growing with organic matter in shrimp ponds, and can bioremediate shrimp-pond sediment.

The effects of salinity and acclimation time on the net photosynthetic responses of 3 estuarine red algae, Bostrychia radicans Mont., Caloglossa leprieurii (Mont.) J. Ag., and Polysiphonia subtilissima Mont., from Great Bay Estuary, New Jersey, USA, were investigated. The algae were cultured in a series of synthetic seawater media of 5, 15, 25 and 35% S for acclimation periods of 0, 2, 4, 8, and 16 days prior to determining their photosynthetic responses. All species were euryhaline, and demonstrated photosynthesis at all the above salinities. B. radicans, which was more common towards the mouth of the estuary, had a maximum photosynthetic rate at 25% S, whilst C. leprieurii and P. subtilissima, which were more common towards the head of the estuary, had photosynthetic maxima between 15 and 25%, and at 15%, respectively. The curves relating net photosynthesis to salinity were usually similar within a species at different acclimation periods, although statistically significant differences were sometimes noted. The acclimation periods producing maximal net photosynthesis were 0, 2 and 4 days for B. radicans, and 4 days for C. leprieurii, whilst for P. subtilissima there was no significant difference in response for any acclimation period over the range of salinities studied.The effects of salinity and acclimation time on the net photosynthetic responses of 3 estuarine red algae, Bostrychia radicans Mont., Caloglossa leprieurii (Mont.) J. Ag., and Polysiphonia subtilissima Mont., from Great Bay Estuary, New Jersey, USA, were investigated. The algae were cultured in a series of synthetic seawater media of 5, 15, 25 and 35% S for acclimation periods of 0, 2, 4, 8, and 16 days prior to determining their photosynthetic responses. All species were euryhaline, and demonstrated photosynthesis at all the above salinities. B. radicans, which was more common towards the mouth of the estuary, had a maximum photosynthetic rate at 25% S, whilst C. leprieurii and P. subtilissima, which were more common towards the head of the estuary, had photosynthetic maxima between 15 and 25%, and at 15%, respectively. The curves relating net photosynthesis to salinity were usually similar within a species at different acclimation periods, although statistically significant differences were sometimes noted. The acclimation periods producing maximal net photosynthesis were 0, 2 and 4 days for B. radicans, and 4 days for C. leprieurii, whilst for P. subtilissima there was no significant difference in response for any acclimation period over the range of salinities studied.

To bring our interconnected food and climate systems within a ‘safe operating space’ for people and the planet, the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change has outlined seven major areas for policy action. Over the past year, I have worked with my colleagues on the Commission to harvest the practical solutions detailed in the many recent authoritative reports on food security and climate change. By combining this thorough review of the substantive evidence base with the diverse perspectives and disciplinary expertise of the 13 Commissioners, we have crafted a succinct roadmap for policy makers. We offer no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions, but rather point the way forward to foster national, regional and sectoral innovation that can aggregate up to meaningful global change.