Identifying optimal feeding habitat and proposed Marine Protected Areas (pMPAs) for the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) suggests a need for complementary management approaches

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are an important conservation tool. For marine predators, recent research has focused on the use of Species Distribution Models (SDMs) to identify proposed sites. We used a maximum entropy modelling approach based on static and dynamic oceanographic parameters to determine optimal feeding habitat for black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) at two colonies during two consecutive breeding seasons (2009 and 2010). A combination of Geographic Positioning System (GPS) loggers and Time-Depth Recorders (TDRs) attributed feeding activity to specific locations. Feeding areas were <30 km from the colony, <40 km from land, in productive waters, 25–175m deep. The predicted extent of optimal habitat declined at both colonies between 2009 and 2010 coincident with declines in reproductive success. Whilst the area of predicted optimal habitat changed, its location was spatially stable between years. There was a close match between observed feeding locations and habitat predicted as optimal at one colony (Lambay Island, Republic of Ireland), but a notable mismatch at the other (Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland). Designation of an MPA at Rathlin may, therefore, be less effective than a similar designation at Lambay perhaps due to the inherent variability in currents and sea state in the North Channel compared to the comparatively stable conditions in the central Irish Sea. Current strategies for designating MPAs do not accommodate likely future redistribution of resources due to climate change. We advocate the development of new approaches including dynamic MPAs that track changes in optimal habitat and non-colony specific ecosystem management.

Diet of Black-legged Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) feeding chicks at two Irish colonies highlights the importance of clupeids

We examined regurgitates from Black-legged Kittiwakes during the early chick-rearing period over two breeding seasons at two colonies in Ireland where diet has not been studied previously. Clupeids were the dominant food source at both colonies, which contrasts with other studies throughout the British Isles that suggest Kittiwakes feed mainly on sandeels during this period. Our study is limited
by sample size and restricted to the early breeding season, but suggests a link between reproductive success and dietary composition which should be investigated further.

Seasonal and gestation stage associated differences in aflatoxin exposure in pregnant Gambian women

Objective: Aflatoxin is known to cross the placental barrier and exposures in utero could influence genomic programming, foetal growth and development, resulting in long-term health effects. We aimed to determine aflatoxin exposure in Gambian women at two stages of pregnancy and during the rainy and dry seasons.

Methods: We examined aflatoxin exposure in pregnant Gambian women at early (<16 weeks) and later (16 weeks onward) stages of pregnancy and at different times of the year, during the rainy (June to October 2009) or dry (November to May 2010) season, using aflatoxin–albumin adducts (AF-alb).

Results: Mean AF-alb was higher during the dry season than in the rainy season, in both early and later pregnancy although the difference was strongest in later pregnancy. There was a modest increase in AF-alb in later than early pregnancy (geometric mean 41.8 vs. 34.5 pg/mg, P < 0.05), but this was restricted to the dry season when exposures were generally higher.

Conclusions: The study confirmed that Gambian pregnant women were exposed to aflatoxin throughout the pregnancy, with higher levels in the dry season. There was some evidence in the dry season that women in later pregnancy had higher AF-alb levels than those in earlier pregnancy. Further research on the effects of exposure to this potent mutagen and carcinogen throughout pregnancy, including the epigenetic modification of foetal gene expression and impact on pre- and post-natal growth and development, are merited.

Validation of a regional Indonesian seas model based on a comparison between model and INSTANT transports

The International Nusantara Stratification and Transport (INSTANT) program measured currents through multiple Indonesian Seas passages simultaneously over a three-year period (from January 2004 to December 2006). The Indonesian Seas region has presented numerous challenges for numerical modelers - the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) must pass over shallow sills, into deep basins, and through narrow constrictions on its way from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. As an important region in the global climate puzzle, a number of models have been used to try and best simulate this throughflow. In an attempt to validate our model, we present a comparison between the transports calculated from our model and those calculated from the INSTANT in situ measurements at five passages within the Indonesian Seas (Labani Channel, Lifamatola Passage, Lombok Strait, Ornbai Strait, and Timor Passage). Our Princeton Ocean Model (POM) based regional Indonesian Seas model was originally developed to analyze the influence of bottom topography on the temperature and salinity distributions in the Indonesian seas region, to disclose the path of the South Pacific Water from the continuation of the New Guinea Coastal Current entering the region of interest up to the Lifamatola Passage, and to assess the role of the pressure head in driving the ITF and in determining its total transport. Previous studies found that this model reasonably represents the general long-term flow (seasons) through this region. The INSTANT transports were compared to the results of this regional model over multiple timescales. Overall trends are somewhat represented but changes on timescales shorter than seasonal (three months) and longer than annual were not considered in our model. Normal velocities through each passage during every season are plotted. Daily volume transports and transport-weighted temperature and salinity are plotted and seasonal averages are tabulated.

The Kepler-10 Planetary System Revisited by HARPS-N: A Hot Rocky World and a Solid Neptune-Mass Planet

Kepler-10b was the first rocky planet detected by the Kepler satellite and confirmed with radial velocity follow-up observations from Keck-HIRES. The mass of the planet was measured with a precision of around 30%, which was
insufficient to constrain models of its internal structure and composition in detail. In addition to Kepler-10b, a second planet transiting the same star with a period of 45 days was statistically validated, but the radial velocities were only
good enough to set an upper limit of 20 M⊕ for the mass of Kepler-10c. To improve the precision on the mass for planet b, the HARPS-N Collaboration decided to observe Kepler-10 intensively with the HARPS-N spectrograph
on the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo on La Palma. In total, 148 high-quality radial-velocity measurements were obtained over two observing seasons. These new data allow us to improve the precision of the mass determination for Kepler-10b to 15%. With a mass of 3.33 ± 0.49 M⊕ and an updated radius of 1.47+0.03 −0.02 R⊕, Kepler-10b has a density of 5.8 ± 0.8 g cm−3, very close to the value predicted by models with the same internal structure and composition as the Earth. We were also able to determine a mass for the 45-day period planet Kepler-10c, with an even better precision of 11%. With a mass of 17.2 ± 1.9 M⊕ and radius of 2.35+0.09 −0.04 R⊕, Kepler-10c has a density of 7.1 ± 1.0 g cm−3. Kepler-10c appears to be the first strong evidence of a class of more massive solid planets with longer orbital periods

Arsenic in Rice Grown in Low-Arsenic Environments in Bangladesh

It has previously been reported that rice grown in regions of Bangladesh with low-arsenic (As) concentrations in irrigation water can have relatively high concentrations of As within their grains. This study aims to determine how widespread this issue is, and determine the seasonal variation in grain As in these regions. Levels of As were measured in shallow tube well (STW) water, soils, and rice grains collected during the Boro (dry) and Aman (wet) seasons from six Upazilas (sub-districts) of Bangladesh where As levels in groundwater were known to be low. In all the Upazilas, the As concentrations in STW water were <50 mu g L-1. The As levels in soil samples collected from the Upazilas ranged between 0.2-4.0 mgkg(-1) in the sam-ples collected during the Boro season, and 0.4-5.7 mg kg(-1) in the samples collected in the Aman season. Levels of As in both Boro and Aman rice grain varied widely: in Boro 0.02-0.45 mg kg(-1), and in Aman 0.01-0.29 mg kg(-1). Additionally, a household survey of dietary habits was also conducted in one Upazila by estimating As ingestion by 15 head female members. On average, the women consumed 3.1 L of water, 1.1 kg of cooked rice, and 42 g dry weight of curry per day. The total As ingestion rates ranged from 31.1-129.3 mu g day(-1) (mean 63.5 mu g kg(-1)). These findings indicate that the major route of As ingestion in low groundwater As areas of Bangladesh is rice, followed by curry and then water.

Fingerprint Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) analysis in Goat’s Milk and Halloumi Cheese as Marker for Authentication of Region of Origin

Goats’ milk is responsible for unique traditional products such as Halloumi cheese. The characteristics of Halloumi depend on the original features of the milk and on the conditions under which the milk has been produced such as feeding regime of the animals or region of production. Using a range of milk (33) and Halloumi (33) samples collected over a year from three different locations in Cyprus (A, Anogyra; K, Kofinou; P, Paphos), the potential for fingerprint VOC analysis as marker to authenticate Halloumi was investigated. This unique set up consists of an in-injector thermo desorption (VOCtrap needle) and a chromatofocusing system based on mass spectrometry (VOCscanner). The mass spectra of all the analyzed samples are treated by multivariate analysis (Principle component analysis and Discriminant functions analysis). Results showed that the highland area of product (P) is clearly identified in milks produced (discriminant score 67%). It is interesting to note that the higher similitude found on milks from regions “A” and “K” (with P being distractive; discriminant score 80%) are not ‘carried over’ on the cheeses (higher similitude between regions “A” and “P”, with “K” distinctive). Data have been broken down into three seasons. Similarly, the seasonality differences observed in different milks are not necessarily reported on the produced cheeses. This is expected due to the different VOC signatures developed in cheeses as part of the numerous biochemical changes during its elaboration compared to milk. VOC however it is an additional analytical tool that can aid in the identification of region origin in dairy products.

The Cyrenaican Prehistory Project 2012: the sixth season of excavations in the Haua Fteah cave

The paper reports on the sixth season of fieldwork of the Cyrenaican Prehistory Project (CPP) undertaken in September 2012. As in the spring 2012 season, work focussed on the Haua Fteah cave and on studies of materials excavated in previous seasons, with no fieldwork undertaken elsewhere in the Gebel Akhdar. An important discovery, in a sounding excavated below the base of McBurney's 1955 Deep Sounding (Trench S), is of a rockfall or roof collapse conceivably dating to the cold climatic regime of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 6 (globally dated to c. 190-130 ka) but more likely the result of a seismic event within MIS 5 (globally dated to c. 130-80 ka). The sediments and associated molluscan fauna in Trench S and in Trench D, a trench being cut down the side of the Deep Sounding, indicate that this part of the cave was at least seasonally waterlogged during the accumulation, probably during MIS 5, of the -6.5 rn of sediment cut through by the Deep Sounding. Evidence for human fréquentation of the cave in this period is more or less visible depending on how close the trench area was to standing water as it fluctuated through time. Trench M, the trench being cut down the side of McBurney's Middle Trench, has now reached the depth of the latest Middle Stone Age or Middle Palaeolithic (Levalloiso-Mousterian) industries. The preliminary indications from its excavation are that the transition from the Levalloiso-Mousterian to the blade-based Upper Palaeolithic or Late Stone Age Dabban industry was complex and perhaps protracted, at a time when the climate was oscillating between warmstage stable environmental conditions and colder and more arid environments. The estimated age of the sediments, c. 50-40 ka, places these oscillations within the earlier part of MIS 3 (globally dated to 60-24 ka), when global climates experienced rapid fluctuations as part of an overall trend to increasing aridity and cold.

Seasonal and geographical differences in aflatoxin exposures in Senegal

The aim of the study was to determine the geographical and seasonal variations in aflatoxin dietary exposure levels in adults from Senegal. A total of 168 adults (50% male) were recruited from three districts: Nioro du Rip (n=90), located in the Sudan Savannah agro-ecological zone where rainfall is sufficient for groundnut growth; Saint-Louis (n=40) and Mboro (n=38), located in the Sahel zone where groundnuts are produced under irrigated conditions. Diet information and samples were collected at groundnut harvest and post-harvest seasons. Plasma aflatoxin-albumin adducts (AF-alb) and total aflatoxin in household groundnut samples were measured by ELISA and a quantitative thin layer chromatography method, respectively. The blood AF-alb geometric mean was 45.7 pg/mg albumin (range 5.5-588.2 pg/mg). Nioro du Rip had a higher AF-alb level at harvest than Saint-Louis and Mboro (80.0 vs 15.6 and 33.3 pg/mg, P<0.001). Similar trends were observed at post-harvest (P<0.05). Seasonal trends were not consistent across the districts as Nioro du Rip had a higher AF-alb level at harvest than post-harvest (80.0 vs 58.6 pg/mg, P=0.026), whereas Saint-Louis had a higher level at post-harvest than harvest (25.6 vs 15.6 pg/mg, P=0.032). It is clear that aflatoxin exposure is prevalent in adults from Senegal and that season and geographical location are strong determinants of aflatoxin exposure.

Mentoring the nursing student with dyslexia

Conference Contribution

SN 2009ip at late times - an interacting transient at+2 years

We present photometric and spectroscopic observations of the interacting transient SN 2009ip taken during the 2013 and 2014 observing seasons. We characterize the photometric evolution as a steady and smooth decline in all bands, with a decline rate that is slower than expected for a solely Co-56-powered supernova at late phases. No further outbursts or eruptions were seen over a two year period from 2012 December until 2014 December. SN 2009ip remains brighter than its historic minimum from pre-discovery images. Spectroscopically, SN 2009ip continues to be dominated by strong, narrow (less than or similar to 2000 km s(-1)) emission lines of H, He, Ca, and Fe. While we make tenuous detections of [Fe II] lambda 7155 and [O I] lambda lambda 6300, 6364 lines at the end of 2013 June and the start of 2013 October, respectively, we see no strong broad nebular emission lines that could point to a core-collapse origin. In general, the lines appear relatively symmetric, with the exception of our final spectrum in 2014 May, when we observe the appearance of a redshifted shoulder of emission at +550 km s(-1). The lines are not blueshifted, and we see no significant near-or mid-infrared excess. From the spectroscopic and photometric evolution of SN 2009ip until 820 d after the start of the 2012a event, we still see no conclusive evidence for core-collapse, although whether any such signs could be masked by ongoing interaction is unclear.

The dynamics of murid gammaherpesvirus 4 within wild, sympatric populations of bank voles and wood mice

Murid gammaherpesvirus 4 (MuHV-4) is widely used as a small animal model for understanding gammaherpesvirus infections in man. However, there have been no epidemiological studies of the virus in wild populations of small mammals. As MuHV-4 both infects cells associated with the respiratory and immune systems and attempts to evade immune control via various molecular mechanisms, infection may reduce immunocompetence with potentially serious fitness consequences for individuals. Here we report a longitudinal study of antibody to MuHV-4 in a mixed assemblage of bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) and wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) in the UK. The study was conducted between April 2001 and March 2004. Seroprevalence was higher in wood mice than bank voles, supporting earlier work that suggested wood mice were the major host even though the virus was originally isolated from a bank vole. Analyses of both the probability of having antibodies and the probability of initial seroconversion indicated no clear seasonal pattern or relationship with host density. Instead, infection risk was most closely associated with individual characteristics, with heavier males having the highest risk. This may reflect individual variation in susceptibility, potentially related to variability in the ability to mount an effective immune response.

Stock structure of Atlantic herring Clupea harengus in the Norwegian Sea and adjacent waters

The genetic structure of Atlantic herring Clupea harengus L. was investigated in its north-easterly distribution in the Norwegian Sea and adjacent waters, using 23 neutral and one non-neutral (Cpa111) microsatellite loci. Fish from the suspected 2 main populations - the Norwegian spring-spawning herring (NSSH) and the Icelandic summer-spawning herring (ISSH) - were collected at spawning locations in their respective spawning seasons from 2009 to 2012. Samples were also collected from Norwegian autumn spawning locations, from different local Norwegian fjords such as the inner part of Trondheimsfjorden, Lindås pollene, Landvikvannet and Lusterfjorden, as well as from suspected Faroese spawning components. The observed level of genetic differentiation was significant but low (F_ST = 0.007) and mostly attributable to the differentiation of the local Norwegian fjord populations. The locus Cpa111, which was detected to putatively be under positive selection, exhibited the highest FST value (0.044). The observed genetic patterns were robust to exclusion of this locus. Landvikvannet herring was also genetically distinguishable from the 3 other fjord populations. In addition, the present study does not support genetic structuring among the ISSH and the NSSH.

Case study investigation of indoor air quality in mechanically ventilated and naturally ventilated UK social housing

There is a significant lack of indoor air quality research in low energy homes. This study compared the indoor air quality of eight
newly built case study homes constructed to similar levels of air-tightness and insulation; with two different ventilation strategies (four homes with Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems/Code level 4 and four homes naturally ventilated/Code level 3). Indoor air quality measurements were conducted over a 24 h period in the living room and main bedroom of each home during the summer and winter seasons. Simultaneous outside measurements and an occupant diary were also employed during the measurement period. Occupant interviews were conducted to gain information on perceived indoor air quality, occupant behaviour and building related illnesses. Knowledge of the MVHR system including ventilation related behaviour was also studied. Results suggest indoor air quality problems in both the mechanically ventilated and naturally ventilated homes, with significant issues identified regarding occupant use in the social homes

Efeitos genotóxicos e bioquímicos de xenobióticos em animais aquáticos

No presente trabalho, foi estudado um largo espectro de efeitos genotóxicos e bioquímicos na tainha-garrento (Liza aurata). Nos Capítulos II e III são descritos os efeitos de exposição de curta duração ao fenantreno, um hidrocarboneto aromático policíclico (HAP). A exposição de curta duração (16 horas) demonstrou a capacidade deste composto induzir a actividade da enzima de fase I da biotransformação, etoxiresorufina O-desetilase (EROD), provocar decréscimos de integridade no ADN hepático e aumento de anomalias nucleares eritrocíticas (ANE). Em termos de respostas de stresse, os níveis plasmáticos de cortisol e glucose aumentaram face à exposição a este HAP. A exposição ao fenantreno induziu o decréscimo da glutationa peroxidase (GPx) nas guelras, enquanto que no fígado a actividade da GPx aumentou. No rim, a actividade da glutationa S-transferase (GST) foi inibida. Nas guelras, verificou-se um aumento da catalase. O fenantreno demonstrou igualmente a capacidade de induzir um aumento dos níveis de glutationa nas guelras e fígado. Estas respostas demonstraram a sensibilidade de L. aurata, a este HAP, realçando a especificidade das respostas em termos de órgãos. Apesar dos aumentos das defesas antioxidantes, o potencial tóxico deste composto foi demonstrado pelo aumento da peroxidação lipídica nos três órgãos. Nos capítulos seguintes, são descritas as respostas de L. aurata capturada na Ria de Aveiro, em locais com diferentes perfis de contaminação, inicialmente no Outono de 2005 (Capítulos III a IX) e posteriormente analisando respostas sazonais (Capítulos X e XI). A análise de respostas de stresse (cortisol, glucose e lactato) revelou que L. aurata capturada em Vagos (local contaminado por HAPs) apresentava níveis baixos de cortisol, enquanto que no Laranjo (local contaminado por mercúrio) apresentavam elevados níveis de glucose e lactato. Relativamente às hormonas do eixo hipotálamo – hipófise – tiróide (HHT), foram observados elevados níveis plasmáticos da hormona estimuladora da tiróide (TSH) nos organismos capturados no Laranjo, baixos níveis de tiroxina (T4) nos organismos da Barra (local sujeito a tráfego naval) e baixos níveis de triiodotironina (T3) no Rio Novo do Príncipe (próximo de um antigo efluente de pasta de papel), Laranjo e Vagos. A avaliação das defesas antioxidantes, dano oxidativo e genotóxico nas guelras, rim e fígado revelou diferenças significativas nas respostas dos órgãos. L. aurata capturada na Barra apresentou dano oxidativo nas guelras (Capítulo V). No rim foi detectada uma diminuição da integridade do ADN no Rio Novo do Príncipe e Vagos (Capítulo VI), enquanto que no fígado foi observado dano lipídico na Gafanha e Vagos (Capítulo VIII). O dano não esteve sempre associado a um decréscimo das defesas. As análises da água e do sedimento da Ria de Aveiro (Outono de 2005) revelaram elevadas concentrações de metais (Cd, Hg, Cu e Zn),principalmente, no Laranjo e Rio Novo do Príncipe. L. aurata capturada nestes locais apresentou os níveis mais elevados de metalotioninas hepáticas (Capítulo VII) que parecem responsáveis pela inexistência de danos no fígado (Capítulo VIII). O dano oxidativo no ADN, avaliado através da quantificação dos níveis plasmáticos de 8-hidroxi-2-desoxiguanosina (8-OHdG) e o dano clastogénico/aneugénico, avaliado através da quantificação da frequência de ANE, foram estudados, no Outono de 2005, em duas espécies de peixes (L. aurata e Dicentrarchus labrax - robalo) (Capítulo IX). Os resultados revelaram grande sensibilidade de D. labrax em termos de dano oxidativo no ADN na Gafanha, Rio Novo do Príncipe e Vagos, enquanto que L. aurata apresentou dano oxidativo apenas no Laranjo. O aumento da frequência de ANE apenas foi detectado em L. aurata, em Vagos, não se tendo detectado correlação entre estes dois parâmetros. O estudo sazonal (Maio de 2006 a Março de 2007) do dano oxidativo no ADN e frequência de ANE em L. aurata (Capítulo X) demonstrou a variação destes parâmetros com a estação do ano, apesar de não se ter verificado correlação com os parâmetros hidrológicos determinados. No entanto, no local de referência não se verificaram diferenças sazonais, o que sugere que estes biomarcadores reflectem variações de biodisponibilidade de contaminantes. A análise global dos resultados das diferentes estações do ano revelou que L. aurata capturada no Rio Novo do Príncipe e em Vagos apresentou maior susceptibilidade a dano oxidativo no ADN. No entanto, apenas L. aurata capturada em Vagos apresentou frequência de ANE superior à do local de referência. Os dados do estudo sazonal revelaram uma correlação entre dano oxidativo e ANE, sugerindo o stresse oxidativo como um possível mecanismo envolvido na formação de anomalias. A integridade do ADN das guelras, rim, fígado e sangue de L. aurata foi igualmente estudada ao longo de um ano (Capítulo XI), tendo-se verificado uma grande variabilidade ao longo deste período. Não foi demonstrada sensibilidade a um perfil de contaminação específico, tendo-se verificando variabilidade sazonal no local de referência. Globalmente, os resultados demonstraram a importância da utilização de uma bateria de biomarcadores na monitorização ambiental e a especificidade da resposta dos diferentes órgãos de L. aurata.