Polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) oil spill detection parameters conformity coefficient (μ), Muller matrix parameters (|C|, B₀), the eigenvalues of simplified coherency matrix (λ_nos) and the influence of SAR observing parameters, ocean environment and noise level are investigated. Radarsat-2 data are used to make systematic analysis of polarimetric parameters for different incidences, wind speeds, noise levels and the ocean phenomena (oil slick and look likes). The influence of the SAR observing parameters, the ocean environment and the noise level on the typical polarimetric SAR parameter conformity coefficient has been analyzed. The results indicate that conformity coefficient cannot be simply used for oil spill detection, which represents the image signal to the noise level to some extent. When the signals are below the noise level for the oil slick and the look likes, the conformity coefficients are negative; while the signals above the noise level corresponds to positive conformity coefficients. For dark patches (low wind and biogenic slick) with the signal below the noise, polarization features such as conformity coefficient cannot separate them with oil slick. For the signal above the noise, the oil slick, the look likes (low wind and biogenic slick) and clean sea all have positive conformity coefficients, among which, the oil slick has the smallest conformity coefficient, the look likes the second, and the clean sea the largest value. For polarimetric SAR data oil spill detection, the noise plays a significant role. So the polarimetric SAR data oil spill detection should be carried out on the basis of noise consideration.

The daily and monthly-mean characteristics of cold water patches (CWPs) off the Jiangsu coast in 35 a of 1982–2016 are examined based on advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) data. Most of the CWPs are found to occur in the warm and hot months (May–September), with some CWPs in the cool and cold months (October–April). The average radius and intensity of the monthly-mean CWPs are about 81 km and 0.6°C, respectively. The average difference in the sea surface temperature (SST) between the centers of the CWPs and the nearshore is about 2.0°C. The correlation analysis between the CWPs, winds and tides indicates that most of the CWPs occurred during the southerly winds, with some CWPs occurring during the northerly winds. The average intensity of the CWPs during spring tides is slightly stronger than that during neap tides in the warm and hot months, and the difference is very small in the cool and cold months.

Marine plastic debris has been a pervasive issue since the last century, and research on its sources and fates plays a vital role in the establishment of mitigation measures. However, data on the quantity of plastic waste that enters the sea on a certain timescale remain largely unavailable in China. Here, we established a model using material flow analysis method based on life cycle assessment to follow plastic product from primary plastic to plastic waste with statistical data and monitoring data from accurate sources. This model can be used to estimate and forecast the annual input of plastic waste into the sea from China until 2020. In 2011, 0.547 3–0.751 5 million tons of plastic waste entered the seas in China, with a growth rate of 4.55% per year until 2017. And the amount will decrease to 0.257 1 to 0.353 1 million tons in 2020 under the influence of governmental management. The amount of plastic waste discharged from coastal areas calculated in this study was much larger than that from river, thus it is suggested to strengthen the governance and control of plastic waste in coastal fishery activities in China in order to reduce the amount of marine plastic waste input.

The living morphology and infraciliature of six spirotrichous ciliates collected from the coastal South China Sea were investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation. These are Euplotes woodruffi Gaw, 1939, Hemigastrostyla enigmatica (Dragesco and Dragesco-Kernéis, 1986) Song and Wilbert, 1997, Neourostylopsis flavicana (Wang et al., 2011) Chen et al., 2013, Protogastrostyla pulchra (Perejaslawzewa, 1886) Gong et al., 2007, Pseudoamphisiella alveolata (Kahl, 1932) Song and Warren, 2000, and Pseudokahliella marina (Foissner et al., 1982) Berger et al., 1985. Among these, Protogastrostyla pulchra, Pseudoamphisiella alveolata and Pseudokahliella marina are reported from the South China Sea for the first time, which manifest obvious differences apart from other Chinese populations. As new contribution, the detailed description of isolates from mangrove habitat of E. woodruffi and H. enigmatica, and aquaculture pond isolate of N. flavicana, are present.

Two new species of free-living marine nematodes of the genus Wieseria are described from the sublittoral sediment of the Jiaozhou Bay in Qingdao. Wieseria sinica sp. nov. is characterized by having short labial and cephalic setae in a backward direction; oblong amphidial foveas with double contour; arcuate spicules with alea; ring-like guberculum; and clavated tail. Wieseria tenuisa sp. nov. is characterized by its very large “a” value (133.6), long labial setae in a forward direction; spicules with alea and hooked proximal end; rodlike gubernaculums; and relatively longer clavated tail (7.9 a.b.d. long). It differs from Wieseria sinica sp. nov. mainly by the longer labial setae, slightly straight spicules with hooked proximal end, and its thinner body. Amended dichotomous key to male species of Wieseria is provided.

One strain of unicellular greenish algae embedded by mucilage was successfully isolated from equatorial area in the Indian Ocean. Microscopic observation, ultrastructure features and genetic identification confirmed that the strain was closely related to Cyanothece sp., which was a cyanobacteria species with great ecological significance. Cells were solitary with oval or bacilliform shapes. Diameters of this strain were relatively small, ranging from 2.5 to 6.5 μm on average. Ultrastructure of cells was simple. Thylakoids were arranged parietal and keritomized content were observed in the thylakoid region. Various electron-transparent granules with low electron-dense region as well as cyanophycin or glycogen granules-like organelle and carbonxysomes were also observed. For pigment composition, the dominant pigments were chlorophyll a, β-Carotene, Zeaxanthin and an unknown pigment, contributing 23.8%, 26.1%, 14.7% and 15.7% to total pigments respectively. The phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene and nifH gene confirmed that Strain EIO409 was closely related with Cyanothece sp. .

Two new species of free living nematodes Tripyloides mangrovensis n. sp. and Tripyloides amoyanus n. sp. of genus Tripyloides de Man, 1886 are described from mangroves of the Tong’an Bay and Haimen Island in the Xiamen Bay, China. The two species are both characterized by six stout outer labial setae, male without preanal papillae, tail conico-cylindrical without swollen terminally. Tripyloides mangrovensis n. sp. can be additionally by its buccal cavity consisting of two parts, amphid circular, distinct proximal conical and distal slender cylindrical portions, 2/3 of the tail cylindrical. Tripyloides amoyanus n. sp. is distinguished by buccal cavity consisting of three parts with small tooth, amphid small, rounded, like a comma-shaped loop, 1/3 of the tail cylindrical, gubernaculum with four denticles.

One strain of unicellular flagellated yellow-green algae was successfully isolated from the coastal area near Tianjin in the Bohai Sea in May 2015. The strain ranged from round to elongated in shape. Most of the cells possessed active motility, and some cells formed non-motile aggregation. Based on evidences from morphology, ultrastructure and molecular analysis, we identified the strain as Pavlova pinguis which belonged to Pavlovophyceae, Haptophyta. For Pavlovophyceae, only Pavlova viridis (Diacronema viridis) was reported in China seas prior to this study and it played an important role in aquaculture. This is the first record of Pavlova pinguis in Chinese waters.

Actinonema falciforme sp. nov. was discovered from the continental-shelf sediments of the East China Sea. It is characterized by six outer labial setae and four cephalic setae in one circle, complex and heterogeneous cuticular ornamentation with lateral differentiation, large and conspicuous amphideal fovea which is transversely oval-shaped, a single anterior testis, two opposed reflexed ovaries, falciform telamon (lateral pieces of gubernaculum), and the lack of spicule and gubernaculum. Within the genus Actinonema, only A. longicaudatum and the new species possess telamon and lack spicule and gubernaculum. Actinonema falciforme sp. nov. can be easily differentiated from A. longicaudatum by its much shorter body length, the peculiar shape of the telamon and a shorter tail.

Foraminiferal oozes were sampled from the tropical West Pacific seamount and seabed of deep sea, by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) in December 2014 and March 2016. Using standard morphological method, four Miliolinella species, including Miliolinella obesa, M. circularis, M. suborbicularis and M. subrotunda were described. Among the four species, M. obesa is a new species. It is a large member (about 500 μm in length) of the genus. This species is characterized by having a very stout and transverse broadly circular outline, and its body width is greater than the body length. In addition, its chamber demarcations are obscure from the exterior appearance. Three chambers are unclearly visible on one side and two chambers are visible on the opposite. Finally, we provided very detailed taxonomic microphotographs and the ecological distribution information for each species.