­On two new species of Nannopus Brady, 1880 (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Nannopodidae) from intertidal mudflats of the Korean west coast (Yellow Sea)

Two new species in the genus Nannopus Brady, 1880 (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from intertidal mudflats of the Yellow Sea along the Korean peninsula, Nannopus cylindricus sp. nov. and N. robustus sp. nov., are described. Nannopus cylindricus belongs to the group of Nannopus species with seven elements on P4 exp-3. Within this group, it is closest to a cryptic species complex related to N. ganghwaensis Vakati, Kihara & Lee, 2016 based on an inflated caudal seta IV. However, N. cylindricus differs from the other species in this complex with respect to caudal seta V (inflated and heavily cylindrical at its base in N. cylindricus, inflated only in the N. ganghwaensis cryptic complex). Nannopus robustus belongs to the group of species displaying two setae on P2 enp-2. Within this group, N. robustus is closely related to N. serratus Vakati & Lee, 2017 based on the presence of one endopodal naked seta arising from a stem-like protrusion on the mandibular palp. However, N. robustus can be distinguished from N. serratus based on the following characters: outermost distal spine on P2 exp-3 (extremely strong, smooth and recurved in N. robustus, moderately strong, denticulate and normal-shaped in N. serratus, and spine 1.6 times as long in N. robustus as in N. serratus), P2 exp-2 inner seta (absent in N. robustus, present in N. serratus), shape of caudal seta V (anterior part distinctly cylindrical in N. robustus, normal-shaped in N. serratus), and ornamentation of caudal seta VI (naked in N. robustus, pinnate in N. serratus). An updated key to the 17 valid species of Nannopus is provided.

Building for Nature: Preserving Threatened Bird Habitat in Port Design

The fast economic development of the People’s Republic of China has created an increasing demand for usable land, resulting in large-scale land reclamations along the coastal zone. One of these regions is Tongzhou Bay (Jiangsu coast), a region characterized by large intertidal mudflats and deep tidal channels with potential for the development of agri-aquaculture and the construction of a deep-sea port. However, these intertidal mudflats also provide vital ecosystem services and support many wildlife species, including several endangered migratory shorebirds within the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. With increasing realization of the importance of maintaining such ecological values, a more integrated coastal development strategy is needed. This study aims to develop a sustainable integrated design for the Tongzhou Bay port, following a “Building with Nature” approach. We use a morphodynamic model to compute habitat suitability for two shorebird species (Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris and Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica). Several port configurations were developed on the basis of three design criteria: (1) create area for future port development, whilst (2) preserving existing high-value ecotopes for shorebirds and (3) enhance the natural accretion rate of such ecotopes. Simulation results showed a clear difference in siltation patterns, preservation and enhancement of preferred ecotopes. This work therefore demonstrates the potential and importance of morphological and habitat suitability modelling when designing large-scale reclamations and port constructions, especially in dynamic areas such as Tongzhou Bay.