scholarly journals Ocean literacy and scientific data acquisition through citizen science campaigns: a mixed approach in the Maltese Islands to collect information on Pinna nobilis and Pinna rudis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALAN DEIDUN ◽  
MONICA PREVIATI ◽  
ALESSIO MARRONE ◽  
ADAM GAUCI ◽  
AUDREY ZAMMIT ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Multiple Stressors ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Underwater Visual Census ◽  
Ocean Literacy ◽  
Pinna Nobilis ◽  
Scuba Divers ◽  
Mixed Approach ◽  
Recreational Scuba

The genus Pinna includes two species in the Mediterranean Sea: Pinna nobilis and Pinna rudis. Both these species are under threat from multiple stressors. Pinna nobilis, in particular, has been exhibiting mass mortality events (MMEs) since 2016. The population and distribution of these species have never been comprehensively explored in the Maltese archipelago, and in this work, we collate information collected between 2006 and 2019 through a number of SCUBA underwater visual census monitoring programs. The logistical barriers surrounding SCUBA-based sampling techniques and the low-density distribution of these species constitute significant obstacles to  an extensive conventional population assessment. Citizen science was thus also deployed in this study to supplement the data collected through SCUBA surveys: recreational SCUBA divers worked as citizen scientists, providing data on the distribution of these two endangered species from areas never explored before. This information can be used for assessing the conservation status of P. nobilis and P. rudis in Maltese waters, whilst contributing to the next generation of ocean-literate citizens.

scholarly journals Designing a Diving Protocol for Thermocline Identification Using Dive Computers in Marine Citizen Science

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 2315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salih Egi ◽  
Pierre-Yves Cousteau ◽  
Massimo Pieri ◽  
Carlo Cerrano ◽  
Tamer Özyigit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Temperature Changes ◽  
Scuba Divers ◽  
Science Projects ◽  
Specific Protocol ◽  
Accuracy And Precision ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Central Database ◽  
Recreational Scuba

Dive computers have an important potential for citizen science projects where recreational SCUBA divers can upload the depth temperature profile and the geolocation of the dive to a central database which may provide useful information about the subsurface temperature of the oceans. However, their accuracy may not be adequate and needs to be evaluated. The aim of this study is to assess the accuracy and precision of dive computers and provide guidelines in order to enable their contribution to citizen science projects. Twenty-two dive computers were evaluated during real ocean dives for consistency and scatter in the first phase. In the second phase, the dive computers were immersed in sufficient depth to initiate the dive record inside a precisely controlled sea aquarium while using a calibrated device as a reference. Results indicate that the dive computers do not have the accuracy required for monitoring temperature changes in the oceans, however, they can be used to detect thermoclines if the users follow a specific protocol with specific dive computers. This study enabled the authors to define this protocol based on the results of immersion in two different sea aquarium tanks set to two different temperatures in order to simulate the conditions of a thermocline.

Asosiasi ikan pada terumbu buatan di Teluk Tahuna Kabupaten Kepulauan Sangihe

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenseslaus Fransiscus Makawaehe ◽  
Lefrand Manoppo ◽  
Revols D.Ch. Pamikiran
Keyword(s):  
Visual Census ◽  
Underwater Visual Census ◽  
Scuba Divers

Minimnya pengetahuan tentang ekologi terumbu buatan merupakan inti masalah perdebatan penggunaannya dalam manajemen sumberdaya perikanan; dan membatasi aplikasi habitat buatan tersebut sebagai alat mitigasi pada berbagai kerusakan lingkungan. Pemahaman ekologi yang lebih baik akan menuntun pada pembuatan desain dan penggunaan struktur buatan secara lebih efektif dan efisien. Hal ini juga akan menjawab pertanyaan tentang manfaat konstruksi habitat buatan pada berbagai kondisi lingkungan. Asosiasi ikan di terumbu buatan bervariasi, namun perlu dilakukan perbandingan jenis ikan yang berasosiasi pada saat air pasang dan air surut. Oleh karena itu penelitian ini bertujuan untuk Membandingkan struktur asosiasi ikan di terumbu buatan pada saat air pasang naik dan pasang surut di perairan Teluk Tahuna. Penelitian ini dilakukan di perairan Teluk Tahuna, Kabupaten Kepulauan Sangihe pada bulan April–Juni 2015; yang didasarkan pada metode deskriptif. Asosiasi ikan di terumbu buatan diamati dengan teknik Underwater visual census (UVC) oleh dua orang SCUBA divers sebanyak 4 kali. Kelimpahan spesies ikan di terumbu buatan dianalisis dengan indeks keragaman dan indeks dominansi. Berdasarkan jumlah individu total ikan yang berasosiasi dengan terumbu buatan, maka nilai tertinggi terdapat pada bulan purnama saat pasang tertinggi (156 ekor), kemudian diikuti bulan kuartir pasang tertinggi (120 ekor), bulan purnama surut terendah (107 ekor) dan bulan kuartir surut terendah (103 ekor). Keanekaragaman spesies ikan, baik pada bulan kuartir maupun pada bulan purnama masih tergolong sedang dan dominansi spesies tergolong rendah

Microflora in External Auditory Canals of Recreational Scuba-Divers and Swimmers Related to the Tropical Waterflora of a Coral Island

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 187-193
Author(s):  
T. Haider ◽  
R. Sommer ◽  
G. Stanek
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
External Auditory Canal ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Lagoon Water ◽  
Scuba Divers ◽  
Tropical Coral ◽  
Coral Island ◽  
Recreational Scuba ◽  
The Tropics

Recent studies described the acute diffuse external otitis frequently observed in recreational scuba-divers and swimmers in the tropics. In this study the microflora of the external auditory canal of 90 persons was determined. Additionally, a group of 17 persons was examined before, during and at the end of a two weeks vacation on a tropical coral island as well as three months after. Further, samples from sea, lagoon water and the water supplies used for the showers were microbiologically examined. 14 different and fecultatively pathogenic microorganisms were isolated from the external auditory canals. We found a temporary colonization with those microorganisms during the two weeks. Above all Pseudomonas aeruginosa was predominant during and at the end of the vacation especially in children. Before the vacation and three months after P. aeruginosa could not be found. The samples of sea and lagoon waters did not seem to be noticeably polluted, whereas the samples of the water supply were extremely contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was concluded that besides indirect factors such as tropical climate and intensive exposition to water, the insufficient treatment of the water from the supply could also be a reason for the temporary microbiological colonization of the external auditory canal.

Decompression Sickness in Women Recreational Scuba Divers

1999 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-54
Author(s):  
Jacalyn J. Robert
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Decompression Sickness ◽  
Scuba Diving ◽  
Training Center ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Recreational Sport ◽  
Scuba Divers ◽  
Hyperbaric Environment ◽  
Recreational Scuba

Recreational sport diving is becoming an increasingly popular sport for women. Women now comprise approximately 25% of the diving community according to Divers Alert Network statistics. In the diving literature it has been stated that women are at a greater risk for decompression sickness than men. Most of these statements were derived from high-altitude (hypobaric environment) studies rather than from a scuba diving (hyperbaric) environment. Data from the naval diving and salvage training center were analyzed, and it was found that women are not more susceptible to decompression sickness than men during dives between 4 and 10 atmospheres. More specific studies on sport diving should be completed on factors contributing to underwater decompression sickness in both men and women.

scholarly journals Nurses’ eating habits in Lebanon during the economic and health crises: a cross-sectional study

2022 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Georges Nohra ◽  
Elissa Naim ◽  
Taghrid Chaaban ◽  
Monique Rothan-Tondeur
Keyword(s):  
Eating Habits ◽  
Multiple Stressors ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Hospital Nurses ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Nurses face multiple stressors that can influence their lifestyle, thus affecting their health status. Scarce are the scientific data on the nutritional status of nurses, especially during health crises. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the eating habits of hospital nurses in the context of an exceptional economic situation in Lebanon. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using a web-based questionnaire, targeting a non-random sampling of frontline nurses using the snowball technique. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were carried out. The population of the study included all registered nurses working in the Lebanese hospitals. A total of 533 nurses completed the questionnaire; 500 surveys were selected after excluding the ones presenting conditions that may affect their eating behavior. Results The majority of the respondents were women (78.6%) with a mean age of 33 years [18-60] [SD,7.44 years]. Most of them (57.6%) had a crowding index ≥1. The consumption of different food groups decreased during these crises. There was a significant correlation between stress and deterioration of healthy food consumption, which provides beneficial nutrients and minimizes potentially harmful elements, especially for meat (OR 2.388, CI 1.463 to 3.898, P < 0.001). The decrease in monthly income showed a real impact on the consumption of healthy food such as meat (OR 2.181, CI 1.504 to 3.161, P < 001), fruits (OR 1.930, CI 1.289 to 2.888, P = 0.001), and milk and dairy products (OR 1.544, CI 1.039 to 2.295, P = 0.031). Conclusions The pandemic and in particular the economic crisis has changed the consumption of healthy food among hospital nurses in Lebanon. Similar research and support may be extended to include other frontline health care workers.

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