About Book

Marine mammal biology studies mammals such as whales, seals, polar, bear, etc. that rely on the aquatic ecosystem for their existence. These animals are grouped together as they have a paraphyletic relation or share a common ancestor. Water provides more resistance than air so marine mammals have evolved extremely streamlined bodies in order to move efficiently through the water. Beneath the surface layers of water light levels are very low.The level of dependence on the marine environment varies considerably with species. Marine mammals may be increasingly exposed to these compounds due to agricultural runoff reaching the world's oceans. This book is a valuable compilation of topics, ranging from the basic to the most complex theories and principles in the field of marine mammal biology. It focuses on aflatoxin research, morbillivirus receptor, skin biopsy, sperm cryopreservation, bioactive peptides, sediment dynamics and marine biodiversity.Also included in this book is a detailed explanation of the various concepts and insights of aquatic ecosystem. The contents of this book are of utmost significance and are bound to provide incredible insights to the readers. It attempts to assist those with a goal of delving into the field of aquatic biology.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Impact of Oil Spills on Marine Life......................................................1

Abstract...................................................................................................1

1. Introduction............................................................................................2

2. Major oil spills related to marine environments............................3

3. Crude oil and its properties...............................................................6

4. Fate of oil spills in the marine habitats...........................................9

5. Communities at risk of marine oil spills/anticipation and

preparation...........................................................................................21

6. Economic impact of oil spills in the Gulf......................................23

7. Conclusion............................................................................................24

Acknowledgements.............................................................................25

Chapter 2 Marine Biodiversity and Chemodiversity — The Treasure Troves of the Future..............................................................................................36

1. Introduction..........................................................................................36

2. Early chemodiversity was non-biotic..............................................38

3. Chemodiversity explodes with the emergence of life.................46

4. Marine biodiversity and chemodiversity today............................48

5. Uses of marine natural products.....................................................53

6. Management of biodiversity and chemodiversity........................57

7. Pollution................................................................................................59

8. Rearranging clouds in times of global changes?..........................60

Acknowledgements.............................................................................63

Chapter 3 Skin Biopsy Applications in Free Ranging Marine Mammals: A

Case Study of Whale Skin Biopsies as a Valuable and Essential

Tool for Studying Marine Mammal Toxicology and

Conservation...............................................................................................68

1. Introduction ........................................................................................68

2. Materials and methods .....................................................................70

3. Results ..................................................................................................73

4. Conclusions .........................................................................................80

Acknowledgement .............................................................................82

Chapter 4 Host-Virus Specificity of the Morbillivirus Receptor, SLAM, in

Marine Mammals: Risk Assessment of Infection Based on Three-

Dimensional Models................................................................................84

1. Introduction..........................................................................................84

2. Morbillivirus infection and its impact on marine mammals ....86

3. SLAM, a receptor of morbillivirus .................................................88

4. Risk assessment of morbillivirus infection based on SLAM

interface structures ..........................................................................100

5. Conclusion .........................................................................................101

Acknowledgement ...........................................................................102

Chapter 5 Modelling Cohesive Sediment Dynamics in the Marine

Environment.............................................................................................111

1. Introduction........................................................................................111

2. Sediment transport models.............................................................112

3. Physical processes for cohesive sediments in the marine

environment.......................................................................................116

4. Characteristic applications...............................................................134

5. Conclusions........................................................................................142

Chapter 6 Marine Flatfish-Derived Bioactive Peptides: From the Ocean to

the Bedside...............................................................................................149

1. Introduction and Relevance............................................................149

2. Physical properties of cationic antimicrobial peptides..............150

3. Distribution and expression of cationic antimicrobial

peptides...............................................................................................151

4. Mode of action of cationic antimicrobial peptides.....................153

5. Biological activities and therapeutic applications of cationic

antimicrobial peptides......................................................................156

6. Isolation and discovery of cationic antimicrobial peptides......162

7. Production of cationic antimicrobial peptides............................164

8. Modifications to enhance biological activity and stability.......166

9. Advantages and limitations of cationic antimicrobial

peptides...............................................................................................169

10. Clinical use and commercialization..............................................171

11. Conclusions........................................................................................172

Chapter 7 Marine Fish Sperm Cryopreservation and Quality Evaluation in Sperm Structure and Function ...........................................................191

1. Introduction ......................................................................................191

2. Sperm cryopreservation and quality evaluation .......................193

3. Conclusion .........................................................................................202

4. Acknowledgment .............................................................................202

Chapter 8 New Development in Aflatoxin Research: From Aquafeed to

Marine Cells.............................................................................................208

1. Introduction ......................................................................................208

2. Impact of Aflatoxins in aquatic species........................................209

3. Case report in aquaculture: Contaminated feeds .....................211

4. New models of study: Primary cultures of marine teleostean

hepatocytes ........................................................................................219

5. AFB1 exposure in two in vitro systems ......................................224

6. Conclusion .........................................................................................233

Citation......................................................................................................243

Index...........................................................................................................245

About Author

Paul Faraday received his M.Sc. in Freshwater and Marine Ecology from Public Science University, Birmingham. He serves as an Associate Lecturer at Community College, Rotterdam. His areas of interest are freshwater usage and habitat loss. He holds prominent memberships of international ecological associations and has been an active participant at international conferences and forums. Faraday has excelled in his professional life, and is currently working for the progress of the scientific community. He has authored and edited more than 57 articles, journal papers and book chapters in the field of marine mammals and their habitats.