90 research outputs found
Downstream of the experts: Trust-building and the case of MPAs
No full textIn this paper Dr. Fellow's examines Grasswick’s theory of trust-building through knowledge-sharing across the scientific–lay divide. Dr. Fellows applies this theory to the case of scientific–lay interactions in the development of marine protected areas (MPAs). This case-study not only supports Grasswick’s work, but suggests one friendly amendment to her theory. When it comes to trust-building through knowledge-sharing, the case of MPAs demonstrates that this sharing must be reciprocal.Peer reviewedFinal article published
Development and evaluation of CO2 transport in MPAS-A v6.3
No full text© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.Chemistry transport models (CTMs) play an important role in understanding fluxes and atmospheric distribution of carbon dioxide (CO2). They have been widely used for modeling CO2 transport through forward simulations and inferring fluxes through inversion systems. With the increasing availability of high-resolution observations, it has been become possible to estimate CO2 fluxes at higher spatial resolution. In this work, we implemented CO2 transport in the Model for Prediction Across Scales – Atmosphere (MPAS-A). The objective is to use the variable-resolution capability of MPAS-A to enable a high-resolution CO2 simulation in a limited region with a global model. Treating CO2 as an inert tracer, we implemented in MPAS-A (v6.3) the CO2 transport processes, including advection, vertical mixing by boundary layer scheme, and convective transport. We first evaluated the newly implemented model's tracer mass conservation and then its CO2 simulation accuracy. A 1-year (2014) MPAS-A simulation is evaluated at the global scale using CO2 measurements from 50 near-surface stations and 18 Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) stations. The simulation is also compared with two global models: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) CarbonTracker v2019 (CT2019) and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Integrated Forecasting System (IFS). A second set of simulation (2016–2018) is used to evaluate MPAS-A at regional scale using Atmospheric Carbon and Transport – America (ACT-America) aircraft CO2 measurements over the eastern United States. This simulation is also compared with CT2019 and a 27 km WRF-Chem simulation. The global-scale evaluations show that MPAS-A is capable of representing the spatial and temporal CO2 variation with a comparable level of accuracy as IFS of similar horizontal resolution. The regional-scale evaluations show that MPAS-A is capable of representing the observed atmospheric CO2 spatial structures related to the midlatitude synoptic weather system, including the warm versus cold sector distinction, boundary layer to free troposphere difference, and frontal boundary CO2 enhancement. MPAS-A's performance in representing these CO2 spatial structures is comparable to the global model CT2019 and regional model WRF-Chem
Spear fishing ban in MPAs: the rational choice?
No full textNo abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author. Spear fishing is currently banned from most of the world MPAs. We reviewed the literature and found that a significant number of works supporting this exclusion are overly speculative or had notable flaws in their methodology. We combined interviews to spear fishers with an historical archive of spearfishing competitions to investigate the actual effects of this activity. In Galicia (NW Spain) spear fishers caught 16% of the annual landings on the common species to the commercial fisheries and had a relevant impact on top-predators. However, their exploitation costs (-5.47 €·kg-1) was higher than those of the commercial fishery (-3.67 €·kg-1). These expenses could benefit local economies near MPAs if controlled admission is granted, particularly if spear fishers pay for access
Technical descriptions of the experimental dynamical downscaling simulations over North America by the CAM5.4-MPAS4.0 variable-resolution model
No full textComprehensive assessment of climate datasets is important for communicating to stakeholders model projections and associated uncertainties. Uncertainties can arise not only from assumptions and biases within the model but also from external factors such as computational constraint and data processing. To understand sources of uncertainties in global variable-resolution (VR) dynamical downscaling, we produced a regional climate dataset using the Model for Prediction Across Scales dynamical core coupled to the Community Atmosphere Model version 5.4 (CAM-MPAS). This document provides technical details of the model configuration, simulations, computational requirements, post-processing, and data archive of the experimental CAM-MPAS downscaling data.
The CAM-MPAS model is configured with VR meshes featuring higher resolutions over North America, as well as quasi-uniform resolution meshes across the globe. The dataset includes multiple uniform- (240 and 120 km) and variable-resolution (50–200, 25–100, and 12–46 km) simulations for both the present-day (1990–2010) and future (2080–2100) periods, closely following the protocol of the North American Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment. A deviation from the protocol is the pseudo-warming experiment for the future period, using the ocean boundary conditions produced by adding the sea surface temperature and sea ice changes from the low resolution version of the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase five to the present-day ocean state from a reanalysis product.
Some unique aspects of global VR models are evaluated to provide background knowledge to data users and to explore good practices for modelers who use VR models for regional downscaling. In the coarse-resolution domain, strong resolution-sensitivity of the hydrological cycles exists over the tropics but does not appear to affect the mid-latitude circulations in the Northern Hemisphere including the downscaling target of North America. The pseudo-warming experiment leads to similar responses of large-scale circulations to the imposed radiative and boundary forcings in the CAM-MPAS and MPI models, but their climatological states in the historical period differ over various regions including North America. Such differences are carried to the future period, suggesting the importance of the base state climatology. Within the refined domain, precipitation statistics improve with higher resolutions, and such statistical inference is verified to be negligibly influenced by horizontal remapping during post-processing. Limited (≈ 50 % slower) throughput of the current code is found on a recent many-core/wide-vector High Performance Computing system, which limits the lengths of the 12–46 km simulations and indirectly affects the uncertainty from sampling. Our experience shows that global and technical aspects of VR downscaling framework require further investigations to reduce uncertainties for regional refinement.This preprint is from Sakaguchi, K., Leung, L. R., Zarzycki, C. M., Jang, J., McGinnis, S., Harrop, B. E., Skamarock, W. C., Gettelman, A., Zhao, C., Gutowski, W. J., Leak, S., and Mearns, L.: Technical descriptions of the experimental dynamical downscaling simulations over North America by the CAM5.4-MPAS4.0 variable-resolution model, EGUsphere [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1199, 2023. © Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
A Question of Scale: Evaluating the impact of marine protected areas off of New England on groundfish productivity
No full textNo abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author. In this study, we examined the effect of MPAs in New England waters on Atlantic cod, yellowtail flounder, and haddock using before-after-control-impact (BACI) analysis of bottom trawl survey data from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. We critically evaluated the spatial scale for assessing impacts (as individual MPAs or networks of MPAs) and how we define control areas for comparison with MPAs (habitat within the same survey strata or within a certain distance from a MPAs boundary). We identified positive effects of certain MPAs on abundance and biomass indices of specific groundfish. In some cases, the significance of the response depended on the spatial and temporal scale of the analysis. Comprehensive evaluation of the appropriate spatial and temporal scales for assessing MPA impacts is needed for robust evaluation the effectiveness of MPAs in achieving management goals
Using elemental microchemistry, fatty acids content and capitulum shape to identify goose barnacle populations from MPAs
No full textNo abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author. The Berlengas Natural Reserve (BNR) is a Portuguese archipelago and MPA where the goose barnacle Pollicipes pollicipes is exploited. The species is the most heavily exploited intertidal biological resource in the Iberian Peninsula, resulting on overexploitation of stocks. In the BNR goose barnacle’s harvesting is strictly regulated however, making it a good example of marine resources management. Analytical methods able to identify the origin of goose barnacle would be an important tool to help the management of the trade. For such purpose, we investigated whether goose barnacles have site-specific differences based on its elemental microchemistry (EM), fatty acid content (FA) and capitulum shape (CS). The analysis was performed on specimens collected from 3 sites in the BNR and 7 along a 300 km stretch of the Portuguese coast. For each individual we analysed the largest lateral shell for EM using ICP-MS, the FA content of the muscle using GC-FID, and the CS using geometric morphometrics. Discriminant function analyses (DFA) for both EM and FA separately provided a high reclassification success (77.6% and 99% respectively, of crossvalidated cases correctly classified), while for EM combined with FA allowed for a 100% reclassification success. DFA analysis based only on CS, had a low classification success (29.6%). These results show that EM and FA signatures can be a powerful tool to infer goose barnacles origin, helping in establishing an origin certificate and incrementing the value of biological resources from Portuguese MPAs
Minor physical anomalies: potentially informative vestiges of fetal developmental disruptions in schizophrenia
No full textMinor physical anomalies (MPAs) are subtle signs of developmental deviation that are observed at anelevated frequency among patients with schizophrenia. These minor morphological abnormalities of the craniofacial region and limbs arise during fetal development and represent a set of risk markers for schizophrenia. Although MPAs are not specific to schizophrenia, established findings about MPAs vis-a-vis schizophrenia include the replicated findings that MPAs are more prevalent among individuals with schizophrenia than healthy controls, MPAs are more prevalent among individuals with schizophrenia than unaffected relatives, and MPAs are not consistently associated with symptom domains or other risk markers, such as neurological soft signs. Unresolved questions include whether or not MPAs are more prevalent among unaffected relatives than healthy controls, and which specific MPAs are most associated with schizophrenia. This overview presents three promising avenues of further research on MPAs, including: (1) studies relying on traditional summary scores that combine multiple MPAs, which may have a role in prospective risk stratification in conjunction with other risk markers and endophenotypes; (2) research on specific, quantitatively assessed MPAs (especially in specific craniofacial structures) that may inform neurodevelopmental understandings of schizophrenia; and (3) genetic studies aimed at identifying the heritable and nonheritable determinants of specific MPAs, which may increase the field's understanding of the origins of MPAs and the nature of their association with schizophrenia. (C) 2010 ISDN. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Human,climatic and oceanographic influences on the marine environment of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia
No full textFile PB200200 could not be included in folder EFR1. Full data available on disc with print copy held at the University of Waikato Library.Coral reefs and marine resources are culturally, as well as economically, vital to Pohnpei, situated in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Farming and fishing are the main sources of livelihood for most Pohnpeian communities. Pohnpei has eleven Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) where nine are situated in the Pohnpei Island Lagoon and two MPAs on the outer low-lying atolls. Like many other Pacific Island countries Pohnpei is on the verge of creating more MPAs. However, the marine environment continues to be significantly threatened by human and natural influences. The recognised threats are yet to be methodically investigated.
This thesis used a combination of sediment, coral, fish, climatic, and oceanographic data, and focused on the Pohnpei Lagoon, examining a range of natural and human issues in the marine environment both at the local level (focusing on that within the Pohnpei Lagoon) and regional level (focusing on the western Pacific region).
Evidence from historical, archaeological, and modern experience has influenced various marine impacts that have altered the coastline and the marine environment of the Pohnpei Lagoon. Humans have greatly impacted on the coral diversity and fish populations in the Pohnpei Lagoon by over-fishing and contributing to accelerated sediment inputs. My study findings shows that that increased sea surface temperature (SST) caused by El Ni o events is not the only cause of coral bleaching, but also cooling of SST, and other human factors. However, when corals bleach they recover by symbiont shuffling . This is an ingenious way in which corals host one or more varieties of their zooxanthelle (Symbiodinium symbiont clades) that are more tolerant of the stress caused by increased SST and human factors.
The recognised natural climatic variability, particularly the El Ni o/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), may pose a significant threat to the Pohnpei Lagoon. El Ni o events are associated with: a change in trade winds and stronger wind gusts attributed to typhoons; lower rainfall causing drought; a decrease in SST attributed to cooling of the marine environment; increase of salinity in marine estuaries affecting development and recruitment of marine species communities; and a steep fall in sea level exposing corals to other elements. The various on-going human threats and El Ni o-like conditions have caused giant clams (Tridacna gigas) to become extinct, have endangered herbivorous fish populations, and caused coral bleaching by cooling of SST.
Although high SSTs are normally blamed for coral bleaching, the last major bleaching event in Pohnpei (2002) was likely to be due to a reduction in salinity (freshwater runoff and lower sea level), and there has been strong recovery. However, decreasing water temperatures rather than increases of SSTs may contribute to coral bleaching in the Pohnpei Lagoon and the Micronesian region. The Micronesian region appears to have suffered relatively few episodes of regional coral bleaching events. This is due to the Western Pacific Warm Pool (WPWP) where sea surface temperatures exceed 29 C but also where various feedback mechanisms limit the maximum SSTs.
The management aims of Pohnpei's MPAs are to move forward, while still respecting traditional practices. However, a lack of scientific monitoring, technical support and funding restricts our understanding of human and natural influences on the existing MPAs and the Pohnpei Lagoon. With respect to our policy makers the findings of the present research have implications on the future work in Pohnpei's marine environment and for policy makers, to make more-informed decisions before establishing new MPAs.
My key recommendations were: 1.) Integrate coral and fish monitoring during and after El Ni o events to understand El Ni o effects on the Pohnpei environment. 2.) Undertake herbivorous fish investigation into their populations inside and outside the MPAs. 3.) Do not cut down vegetation along coastline areas, as it prevents erosion 4.) Investigate Symbiodinium coral clades in Pohnpei Lagoon and the outer low-lying atolls
Quality of marine protected areas is critical to achieving global biodiversity targets
No full text\ua9 The Author(s) 2025.Summarising CBD target 3 to “30
7 30” emphasizes area coverage, but conservation success depends on MPA quality. Many existing MPAs are under-protected, and rapidly designating new areas risks creating ‘paper parks’ without ecological or social benefits. Prioritizing strictly or fully managed MPAs, supported by a clear and shared definition, is essential to achieve meaningful biodiversity outcomes. Quality-focused strategies ensure that global targets benefit both nature and people, rather than merely meeting numerical goals. (Figure presented.
Long-term change in coral cover and the effectiveness of marine protected areas in the Philippines: a meta-analysis
No full textAlthough coral declines have been reported from major reefs of the world, region-specific trends still remain unclear, particularly in areas with high diversity such as the Philippines. We assessed the temporal patterns of the magnitude and trajectory of coral cover change in the Philippines using survey data collected from 317 sites. We examined the rate of change in coral cover in relation to time, effects of bleaching and protection against fishing and assessed the efficacy of marine protected areas (MPAs) using meta-analysis. Results showed an overall increase in coral cover in the Philippines from 1981 to 2010. Protection from fishing contributed to the overall increase in the mean annual rate of change as the coral cover significantly increased within MPAs than outside. The significant differences in the rate of coral cover change through time were influenced by chronic anthropogenic stresses, coinciding with the timing of thermal stress and the establishment of MPAs. The rate of change in coral cover was independent of the level of protection and the age and size of MPA
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