scholarly journals Annual coral bleaching and the long-term recovery capacity of coral

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1819) ◽  
pp. 20151887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verena Schoepf ◽  
Andréa G. Grottoli ◽  
Stephen J. Levas ◽  
Matthew D. Aschaffenburg ◽  
Justin H. Baumann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Species ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Energy Reserves ◽  
Recovery Capacity ◽  
Orbicella Faveolata ◽  
N Isotopes ◽  
C And N ◽  
The Impact

Mass bleaching events are predicted to occur annually later this century. Nevertheless, it remains unknown whether corals will be able to recover between annual bleaching events. Using a combined tank and field experiment, we simulated annual bleaching by exposing three Caribbean coral species ( Porites divaricata , Porites astreoides and Orbicella faveolata ) to elevated temperatures for 2.5 weeks in 2 consecutive years. The impact of annual bleaching stress on chlorophyll a , energy reserves, calcification, and tissue C and N isotopes was assessed immediately after the second bleaching and after both short- and long-term recovery on the reef (1.5 and 11 months, respectively). While P. divaricata and O. faveolata were able to recover from repeat bleaching within 1 year, P. astreoides experienced cumulative damage that prevented full recovery within this time frame, suggesting that repeat bleaching had diminished its recovery capacity. Specifically, P. astreoides was not able to recover protein and carbohydrate concentrations. As energy reserves promote bleaching resistance, failure to recover from annual bleaching within 1 year will likely result in the future demise of heat-sensitive coral species.

scholarly journals Between Foragers and Farmers: Climate Change and Human Strategies in Northwestern Patagonia

Quaternary ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Adolfo F. Gil ◽  
Ricardo Villalba ◽  
Fernando R. Franchetti ◽  
Clara Otaola ◽  
Cinthia C. Abbona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Population ◽  
Probability Distributions ◽  
Southern Annular Mode ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
N Isotopes ◽  
Wild Resources ◽  
C And N

In this paper we explore how changes in human strategies are differentially modulated by climate in a border area between hunter-gatherers and farmers. We analyze multiple proxies: radiocarbon summed probability distributions (SPDs), stable C and N isotopes, and zooarchaeological data from northwestern Patagonia. Based on these proxies, we discuss aspects of human population, subsistence, and dietary dynamics in relation to long-term climatic trends marked by variation in the Southern Annular Mode (SAM). Our results indicate that the farming frontier in northwestern Patagonia was dynamic in both time and space. We show how changes in temperature and precipitation over the last 1000 years cal BP have influenced the use of domestic plants and the hunting of highest-ranked wild animals, whereas no significant changes in human population size occurred. During the SAM positive phase between 900 and 550 years cal BP, warmer and drier summers are associated with an increase in C4 resource consumption (maize). After 550 years cal BP, when the SAM changes to the negative phase, wetter and cooler summer conditions are related to a change in diet focused on wild resources, especially meat. Over the past 1000 years, there was a non-significant change in the population based on the SPD.

Schoolinary art: practical cooking skills issues for the future

2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 629-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawn Mc Dowell ◽  
Una McMahon-Beattie ◽  
Amy Burns
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Home Economics ◽  
Structured Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cooking Skills ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider the importance of structured and consistent practical cookery skills intervention in the 11-14-year age group. This paper reviews the impact and development of statutory and non-statutory cooking skills interventions in the UK and considers limitations in relation to life skills training. Currently practical cooking skills are mainly derived from two sources namely the non-statutory sector (community cooking interventions) and the statutory sector (Home Economics teaching). Design/methodology/approach – The paper compares the two interventions in terms of effective long-term outcomes. Non-statutory cooking interventions are generally lottery funded and therefore tend to be single teaching blocks of, on average, six to eight weeks targeting mostly low-income adults and the literature emphasises a deficit of empirical measurement of the long-term impact. In contrast Home Economics classes offer a structured learning environment across genders and socio-economic groups. In addition it is taught over a substantial time frame to facilitate a process of practical skills development (with relevant theoretical teaching), reflection, group communication and consolidation, where according to current educational theory (Kolb, 1984) learning is more thoroughly embedded with the increased potential for longer term impact. Findings – The review identifies the limitations of too many community initiatives or “project-itis” (Caraher, 2012, p. 10) and instead supports the use of the school curriculum to best maximise the learning of practical cooking skills. Originality/value – This review will be of particular value to educationalists and health policy decision makers.

The impact of long-term elevated CO2 on C and N retention in stable SOM pools

2007 ◽  
Vol 303 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 311-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Anne De Graaff ◽  
Chris van Kessel ◽  
Johan Six
Keyword(s):  
Elevated Co2 ◽  
N Retention ◽  
C And N ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Accounting for heterogeneity in wild adult samples to measure insecticide resistance in Anopheles malaria vectors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inga E. Holmdahl ◽  
Caroline O. Buckee ◽  
Lauren M. Childs
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Structure ◽  
Insecticide Resistance ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Malaria Vectors ◽  
Bed Nets ◽  
Insecticide Exposure ◽  
Mosquito Collection ◽  
The Impact

Background Systematic, long-term, and spatially representative monitoring of insecticide resistance in mosquito populations is urgently needed to quantify its impact on malaria transmission, and to combat failing interventions when resistance emerges. Resistance assays on wild-caught adult mosquitoes (known as adult-capture) offer an alternative to the current protocols, and can be done cheaply, in a shorter time frame, and in the absence of an insectary. However, quantitative assessments of the performance of these assays relative to the gold standard, which involves rearing larvae in an insectary, are lacking. Methodology/Principal findings We developed a discrete-time deterministic mosquito lifecycle model to simulate insecticide resistance assays from adult-captured mosquito collection in a heterogeneous environment compared to the gold standard larval capture methods, and to quantify possible biases in the results. We incorporated non-lethal effects of insecticide exposure that have been demonstrated in laboratory experiments, spatial structure, and the impact of multiple exposure to insecticides and natural ageing on mosquito death rates during the assay. Using output from this model, we compared the results of these assays to true resistance as measured by the presence of the resistance allele. In simulated samples of 100 test mosquitoes, reflecting WHO-recommended sample sizes, we found that compared to adult-captured assays (MSE = 0.0059), larval-captured assays were a better measure of true resistance (MSE = 0.0018). Using a correction model, we were able to improve the accuracy of the adult-captured assay results (MSE = 0.0038). Bias in the adult-capture assays was dependent on the level of insecticide resistance rather than coverage of bed nets or spatial structure. Conclusions/Significance Using adult-captured mosquitoes for resistance assays has logistical advantages over the standard larval-capture collection, and may be a more accurate sample of the mosquito population. These results show that adult-captured assays can be improved using a simple mathematical approach and used to inform resistance monitoring programs.

scholarly journals Low regeneration of lesions produced by coring inOrbicella faveolata

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa E. Rodríguez-Martínez ◽  
Adán Guillermo Jordán-Garza ◽  
Eric Jordán-Dahlgren
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Regeneration ◽  
Coral Species ◽  
Tissue Loss ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Common Procedure ◽  
Live Tissue ◽  
Coral Colony ◽  
Orbicella Faveolata ◽  
Regenerate Tissue

The extraction of tissue-skeleton cores from coral colonies is a common procedure to study diverse aspects of their biology, water quality or to obtain environmental proxies. Coral species preferred for such studies in Caribbean reefs belong to the generaOrbicella. The long term effects of coring in the coral colony are seldom evaluated and in many Caribbean countries this practice is not regulated. We monitored 50 lesions produced onOrbicella faveolatacolonies by the extraction of two centimeter-diameter cores to determine if they were able to heal after a four year period. At the end of the study 4% of the lesions underwent full regeneration, 52% underwent partial regeneration, 14% suffered additional tissue loss but remained surrounded by live tissue, and 30% merged with dead areas of the colonies. Given the low capacity ofOrbicella faveolatato regenerate tissue-skeleton lesions, studies that use coring should be regulated and mitigation actions, such as using less destructive techniques and remediation measures after extraction, should be conducted to facilitate tissue regeneration.

Investigation of Thermal Ageing in Long Term Operated RPV Materials

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles C. Eiselt ◽  
Günter König ◽  
Hieronymus Hein ◽  
Maxim Selektor ◽  
Martin Widera
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Thermal Ageing ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Low Alloy Steels ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
The Impact

The phenomenon of thermal ageing of low alloy steels comes more into focus in terms of long term operation of nuclear power plants (NPP). Safety-relevant components such as the RPV or the pressurizer have to bear the respective loads at elevated temperatures for longer times. However the mechanical properties of the applied materials might experience certain degradations such as a decrease of the impact energy levels and a shift in the ductile to brittle transition temperature (e.g. T41) leading to higher ductile-brittle reference temperatures and a reduction of material toughness. In terms of a safe long term operation it is important to understand in how far thermal ageing alone, meaning for the RPV without the cumulative damaging effects through neutron irradiation, has detrimental influences on the respective materials of interest. First of all an overview is provided of the current state of the art with respect to thermal ageing by describing influencing mechanisms, its implementation into different nuclear codes, standards and selected experimental investigations in this field. Following this, the test results of the thermal surveillance sets from three German PWRs are presented and discussed. The tested Charpy-V specimens, taken from representative RPV base and weld metals (22NiMoCr3-7 / NiCrMo1UP) as well as their heat affected zones, were exposed to ∼290°C for ∼30 years on the cold leg of the according plants’ main coolant loops. The obtained results are compared with the existing thermal aging data base (baseline and ∼7 years data) of the materials concerned. Finally, the role of thermal ageing particularly with respect to RPV irradiation surveillance will be assessed.

scholarly journals OP0213 THE IMPACT OF TNFΑ INHIBITORS ON GLUCOCORTICOIDS USE AMONG PATIENTS WITH ARTHRITIS

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 132.2-133
Author(s):  
R. Hafthorsdottir ◽  
A. Gunnarsdottir ◽  
T. Love ◽  
G. Gröndal ◽  
B. Gudbjornsson
Keyword(s):  
Osteoporosis Treatment ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Topical Steroids ◽  
Defined Daily Dose ◽  
Tnfα Inhibitors ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Osteoporosis Prophylaxis ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Background:Glucocorticoid steroid (GC) use among patients with arthritis is common. The introduction of TNFα inhibitors (TNFi) has been a breakthrough in the treatment of arthritis leading to remission for many patients. However, there is scarce information on the impact of TNFi on the use of GC among patients with inflammatory joint diseases.Objectives:To explore oral GC use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) before and after the initiation of TNFi therapy. Furthermore, to evaluate if patients on long term GC treatment were receiving active preventive osteoporosis treatment and how treatment with TNFi affected the use of topical steroids in patients with PsA.Methods:Clinical data on patients with RA, PsA and axSpA who initiated TNFi therapy with etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab or golimumab for the first time between 2005-2015 was collected from the ICEBIO registry. ICEBIO is a nationwide registry on all patients treated with biologics for rheumatologic disorders in Iceland. The use of oral GC, topical steroids and bisphosphonates was collected from the Icelandic Prescription Medicines Registry (IPMR) for a period of four years, two years before and after the initiation of TNFi. Medication use was then evaluated by counting the number of individuals receiving a medication in a given year, the total number of prescriptions, and the defined daily dose (DDD). Five controls were randomly selected from IPMR and matched on age, sex and time frame.Results:621 patients with RA, PsA or axSpA received 2630 prescriptions (4.2 prescription per patient; 3105 controls received 1337 prescriptions or 0.4 prescription per individual) for GC during the study period. GC use varied between patient groups (Figure 1). The total GC use (DDD) doubled over the two-year period leading up to TNFi treatment but decreased sharply after the initiation of TNFi. The number of individuals on GC decreased by one third after initiating TNFi therapy and the majority of those who continued GC treatment were patients with RA (Figure 1). Of those patients on long term GC treatment (>7.5 mg/day for three months) 38% were receiving bone protective therapy against corticosteroid induced osteoporosis. The use of topical steroids decreased by half among PsA patients and one third discontinued the treatment after initiating TNFi (Figure 2).Conclusion:TNFi therapy does impact GC use among patients with arthritides, however a large portion of RA patients are still on GC two years after initiating TNFi therapy. Better osteoporosis prophylaxis and treatment is warranted for those patients on long term GCDisclosure of Interests:Rebekka Hafthorsdottir: None declared, Anna Gunnarsdottir: None declared, Thorvardur Love: None declared, Gerdur Gröndal: None declared, Björn Gudbjornsson Speakers bureau: Novartis and Amgen

The Implications of Climate Change for the Actuarial Profession. A Discussion Meeting

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-145
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Research Group ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Considerable Impact ◽  
To Come ◽  
Risk Managers ◽  
The Impact

INTRODUCTIONIn our role, as actuaries, as long-term risk managers, climate change may have a considerable impact on some of our work, and, at the very least, we need to be able to answer clients' questions on the issue. The aim of this meeting is to come to a consensus on what that impact might be and how it can be managed. The impact on society and on the economy of climate change is subject to a great deal of uncertainty. We need to ascertain the risks; what they are, the degree of uncertainty, the potential magnitude and the time frame.Earlier, the Environmental Research Group of the Actuarial Profession had conducted a survey of actuaries on climate change and its implications, by means of a questionnaire. The analysis of this questionnaire is printed here, as an indication of the reactions of those actuaries who responded.

scholarly journals Larval longevity and competency patterns of Caribbean reef-building corals

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9705
Author(s):  
Margaret W. Miller ◽  
Allan J. Bright ◽  
Rachel E. Pausch ◽  
Dana E. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Coral Species ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Life History Variation ◽  
Reef Habitat ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Caribbean Reef ◽  
Orbicella Faveolata ◽  
Initial Cohort ◽  
Extended Longevity ◽  
Timing Of Onset

The potential for long-distance larval dispersal depends on the longevity of planktonic, free-swimming larvae and their capacity to successfully recruit to reef habitat. We present multi-year laboratory observations of the persistence of planular larvae and settlement competency over time for cohorts derived from the same parental populations of the most important Caribbean reef building coral species, Orbicella faveolata and Acropora spp. Despite variability among years/cohorts, larvae of both species display capacity for extended longevity (up to 83 d) and competency (demonstrated at up to 48 d). Both species also displayed significantly reduced survivorship and lower realized settlement under elevated temperatures. Although the observed levels of settlement in 24 h competency assays was extremely variable, the timing of onset of competence were highly consistent among years/cohorts but distinct between species. Orbicella faveolata displayed onset of competence during day 3–5 or 4–7 (with or without exposure to positive settlement cue) after spawning; whereas, onset for Acropora spp. was day 7–8 or day 10–11 (with or without cue, respectively). This longer pre-competency period for Acropora spp. nonetheless corresponded to a greater persistence of A. palmata larvae to this age of competence (71–83% of initial cohort compared to 54–55% for O. faveolata). Such life history variation implies meaningful differences in likely dispersal potential between these imperiled reef-building species.

scholarly journals Fish predation hinders the success of coral restoration efforts using fragmented massive corals

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9978 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gammon Koval ◽  
Nicolas Rivas ◽  
Martine D’Alessandro ◽  
Dalton Hesley ◽  
Rolando Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Species ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Complete Removal ◽  
Fish Predation ◽  
Reef Restoration ◽  
Slowing Down ◽  
Early Results ◽  
Orbicella Faveolata ◽  
Propagation Technique ◽  
The Impact

As coral reefs continue to decline globally, coral restoration practitioners have explored various approaches to return coral cover and diversity to decimated reefs. While branching coral species have long been the focus of restoration efforts, the recent development of the microfragmentation coral propagation technique has made it possible to incorporate massive coral species into restoration efforts. Microfragmentation (i.e., the process of cutting large donor colonies into small fragments that grow fast) has yielded promising early results. Still, best practices for outplanting fragmented corals of massive morphologies are continuing to be developed and modified to maximize survivorship. Here, we compared outplant success among four species of massive corals (Orbicella faveolata, Montastraea cavernosa, Pseudodiploria clivosa, and P. strigosa) in Southeast Florida, US. Within the first week following coral deployment, predation impacts by fish on the small (<5 cm2) outplanted colonies resulted in both the complete removal of colonies and significant tissue damage, as evidenced by bite marks. In our study, 8–27% of fragments from four species were removed by fish within one week, with removal rates slowing down over time. Of the corals that remained after one week, over 9% showed signs of fish predation. Our findings showed that predation by corallivorous fish taxa like butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae), parrotfishes (Scaridae), and damselfishes (Pomacentridae) is a major threat to coral outplants, and that susceptibility varied significantly among coral species and outplanting method. Moreover, we identify factors that reduce predation impacts such as: (1) using cement instead of glue to attach corals, (2) elevating fragments off the substrate, and (3) limiting the amount of skeleton exposed at the time of outplanting. These strategies are essential to maximizing the efficiency of outplanting techniques and enhancing the impact of reef restoration.

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