Baobab Index

Marine megafauna species are affected by a wide range of anthropogenic threats. To evaluate the risk of such threats, species' vulnerability to each threat must first be determined. We build on the existing threats classification scheme and ranking system of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species by assessing the vulnerability of 256 marine megafauna species to 23 at-sea threats. The threats we considered included individual fishing gear types, climate-change-related subthreats not previously assessed, and threats associated with coastal impacts and maritime disturbances. Our ratings resulted in 70 species having high vulnerability (v > 0.778 out of 1) to at least 1 threat, primarily drifting longlines, temperature extremes, or fixed gear. These 3 threats were also considered to have the most severe effects (i.e., steepest population declines). Overall, temperature extremes and plastics and other solid waste were rated as affecting the largest proportion of populations. Penguins, pinnipeds, and polar bears had the highest vulnerability to temperature extremes. Bony fishes had the highest vulnerability to drifting longlines and plastics and other solid waste; pelagic cetaceans to 4 maritime disturbance threats; elasmobranchs to 5 fishing threats; and flying birds to drifting longlines and 2 maritime disturbance threats. Sirenians and turtles had the highest vulnerability to at least one threat from all 4 categories. Despite not necessarily having severe effects for most taxonomic groups, temperature extremes were rated among the top threats for all taxa except bony fishes. The vulnerability scores we provide are an important first step in estimating the risk of threats to marine megafauna. Importantly, they help differentiate scope from severity, which is key to identifying threats that should be prioritized for mitigation. Vulnerabilidad de la megafauna marina ante las amenazas antropogénicas globales en el mar VanCompernolle et al. Resumen Las especies de megafauna marina se ven afectadas por una amplia gama de amenazas antropogénicas. Para evaluar el riesgo de dichas amenazas, primero se debe determinar la vulnerabilidad de las especies a cada una de ellas. Nos basamos en el esquema de clasificación de amenazas y el sistema de clasificación existentes de la Lista Roja de Especies Amenazadas de la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN) para evaluar la vulnerabilidad de 256 especies de megafauna marina ante 23 amenazas marítimas. Las amenazas que consideramos incluyeron tipos de pesquerías individuales, subamenazas relacionadas con el cambio climático sin evaluación previa y amenazas asociadas con impactos costeros y perturbaciones marítimas. Nuestras calificaciones dieron como resultado que 70 especies tenían una alta vulnerabilidad (v > 0.778 de 1) a al menos una amenaza, principalmente los palangres de deriva, las temperaturas extremas o las artes de pesca fijas. También se consideró que estas tres amenazas tenían los efectos más graves (i. e., las disminuciones más pronunciadas de la población). En general, se consideró que las temperaturas extremas y los plásticos y otros residuos sólidos afectaban a la mayor proporción de poblaciones. Los pingüinos, los pinnípedos y los osos polares fueron los más vulnerables a las temperaturas extremas; los peces óseos, los más vulnerables a los palangres a la deriva y a los plásticos y otros residuos sólidos; los cetáceos pelágicos, a cuatro amenazas de perturbación marítima; los elasmobranquios, a cinco amenazas relacionadas con la pesca; y las aves voladoras, a los palangres a la deriva y a dos amenazas de perturbación marítima. Los sirénidos y las tortugas fueron los más vulnerables a al menos una amenaza de las cuatro categorías. A pesar de no tener necesariamente efectos graves para la mayoría de los grupos taxonómicos, las temperaturas extremas se clasificaron entre las principales amenazas para todos los taxones, excepto los peces óseos. Las puntuaciones de vulnerabilidad que proporcionamos son un primer paso importante para estimar el riesgo de las amenazas para la megafauna marina. Es importante destacar que ayudan a diferenciar el alcance de la gravedad, lo cual es clave para identificar las amenazas que deben priorizarse para su mitigación.

We present a genome assembly from an individual female

The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) is known for its high diversity of chondrichthyans (sharks, rays, and chimaeras). However, intense fishing pressure has led to severe population declines and local extinctions of several species. The Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) process is a collaborative, evidence-based approach used to identify critical habitat for chondrichthyans. We analysed ISRAs across the WIO to quantify the diversity of research methods used to identify them, evaluate spatial overlap with designated marine protected areas (MPAs), model the influence of several species- and jurisdiction-specific variables on ISRA delineation, and explore the importance of incorporating unpublished data into the delineation process. In total, 125 ISRAs (covering > 2.8 million km

This study investigated how doping-modified copper sulfide (CuS) micronanoparticles (MNPs) influence tomato resistance against fungal pathogens. Three cuboidal CuS MNPs─undoped (CuS), iron-doped (Fe-CuS), and cerium-doped (Ce-CuS)─were foliarly applied to

Ocean warming is increasing the frequency, extent, and severity of tropical-coral bleaching and mortality. During 2014-2017, marine heatwaves caused the Third Global Coral Bleaching Event. We analyze data from 15,066 reef surveys globally during 2014-2017. Across all surveyed reefs, 80% and 35% experienced moderate or greater (affecting >10% of corals) bleaching and mortality, respectively. We assess the global extent of coral bleaching and mortality by applying bleaching response curves calibrated from surveyed reefs to predict bleaching globally, based on comprehensive remote-sensing of heat stress. These models predict that 51% and 15% of the world's coral reefs suffered moderate or greater bleaching and mortality, respectively, during one or multiple years, surpassing damage from any prior global coral bleaching event. Our findings demonstrate that the impacts of ocean warming on coral reefs are accelerating, with the near certainty that ongoing warming will cause large-scale, possibly irreversible, degradation of these essential ecosystems. With heat stress levels during this event surpassing those observed previously, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration developed more extreme Bleaching Alert levels that are now being used during the ongoing Fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event.

Global warming and rising sea temperatures are pushing many reef-building coral species towards extinction. As thermal tolerance in corals is partially heritable, identifying genes under thermal selection is critical for targeted biodiversity management. However, it remains unclear how large connectivity breaks (> 100 km of open sea) might affect the spread of adaptive alleles for different coral species in discontinuous reef networks such as the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). To address this, we applied a seascape genomics approach to model (i) population structure and (ii) thermal adaptive potentials for two keystone coral species,

This systematic review protocol describes the proposed method for evaluating evidence from original articles to understand the benefits, opportunities, and challenges of using data science for non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and control in Africa. Literature searches will be implemented in five scientific databases and one search engine using predefined keywords/ MeSH terms to identify relevant articles. At least two reviewers will independently screen, appraise, extract, and summarise data from eligible articles using predefined inclusion criteria. This systematic review will consider primary studies from articles that applied data science methods (such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and risk or prognosis model algorithms, among others) to address NCD prevention and control exclusively among Indigenous Africans. Findings from this systematic review could serve as a roadmap to guide future initiatives to apply data science methods to revolutionise NCD prevention and control in Africa.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked neuromuscular disorder that leads to increasing muscle weakening and early death. Steroids, the standard treatment of choice in slowing down disease progression, are plagued with adverse effects. Anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic effects and enhancement of muscle regeneration biomarkers after oral consumption of Twenty-seven patients with DMD were included in the study (control (n=9), N-163 (n=18)). Whole-genome metagenomic sequencing was performed in pre-N-163 and post-N-163 intervention faecal samples of each of these participants. After N-163 beta-glucan administration, the constitution of the gut microbiome in all the participants was modified to one with positive outcomes on health. There was an increase in butyrate-producing species such as Beneficial reconstitution of the gut microbiome after Neu REFIX beta-glucan administration and its safety have been confirmed. These outcomes correlating with the anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic effects along with increase in dystrophin in skeletal muscle and plasma, reported earlier make us recommend further in-depth exploration on its role in epigenetic manipulation which when found encouraging might help other genetic diseases as well. CTRI/2021/05/033346.

Northern public beaches are popular recreational and touristic destinations in Mauritius. However, rapid urbanization and coastal development in the region raise concerns about the microbial quality and safety of nearshore waters, which may deteriorate without effective surveillance and management. This could be exacerbated by the occurrence of marine, human pathogenic Vibrio, which may harbor genes conferring virulence and antimicrobial resistance. The aim of the study was thus to assess the microbiological safety and sanitary quality of Northern coastal seawater. The specific objectives were to (i) monitor the population of total Vibrio and hygiene indicator organisms over a ten-month period, and (ii) identify and genetically characterize any human pathogenic Vibrio isolates. Briefly, samples of seawater were collected at four public beaches (La Cuvette, Péreybère, Trou aux Biches and Mont Choisy) at different sampling points over a ten-month period (March - December) and subjected to microbiological and physicochemical analyses. Representative Vibrio isolates were subsequently analyzed by Whole Genome Sequencing for taxonomic identification and to reveal any virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes. Coliform counts varied significantly (P < 0.001) over the 10-month period. Mean coliform counts remained within the permissible limit (< 1000 CFU/100 ml) during most months, except for September and October. Vibrio counts were also higher during the period of September-December, compared to all other months. Three V. alginolyticus and one V. parahaemolyticus isolates were identified. V. parahaemolyticus ST 1498 was found to harbor genes imparting virulence (tdh + /trh+) and resistance to various antimicrobials (tetracycline, penicillin and β-lactam antibiotics). Findings of this exploratory study highlight the presence of human vibrios of suspected pathogenic potential, that warrants further investigation to understand their associated public health risks.

Species in the genus