Digital Commons Network^™

How To Engage With, And Have Impact On, Marine Governance: A Practical Guide For Early-Career Researchers, Denis B. Karcher, Christopher Cvitanovic, Melanie C. Austen, Aislinn F. Dunne, Louisa Evans, Rebecca Gruby, Nicole Malinconico, Shannon Mclaughlin, E. J. Milner-Gulland, Nathalie A. Steins

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Early-career researchers (ECRs) are at the forefront of producing the knowledge and solutions needed to address contemporary ocean challenges. Their work is often highly inter- and transdisciplinary, generating insights that are critical for informed decision-making, and effective and equitable marine governance. Yet, despite this potential for impact, many ECRs lack access to the tools, training, and institutional support necessary to engage meaningfully with governance processes. Such structural complexities are further compounded by practical constraints that ECRs experience such as short project timelines and limited networks, making engagement with governance particularly intimidating and/or difficult for ECRs. This commentary seeks to empower …

Um–Protoshare: Unet-Guided, Multi-Scale Shared Prototypes For Interpretable Brain Tumour Classification Using Multi-Sequence 3d Mri, Ali Golbaf, Vivek Singh, Swen Gaudl, Emmanuel Ifeachor

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Deep learning shows strong promise in brain tumour classification using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), although limited interpretability constrains clinical translation. Most interpretability methods are post-hoc and yield visual attribution maps that are only weakly connected to the decision process. Clinicians prefer decisions built from evidence they can recognise and verify on MRI, rather than post-hoc explanations. Case-based models embed reasoning by comparing image evidence with learned prototypes, yielding “this looks like that” rationales at decision time and mirroring clinical reasoning. Building on this paradigm, we introduce UM–ProtoShare, which compares the input multi-sequence 3D brain MRI with a bank of shared, …

Constructing A Lower-Bound Estimate Of The Global Number Of Insect Species On A Hyperdiverse Empirical Foundation, Robert Colwell, Laura Melissa Guzman, Dirk Steinke, Anne Chao, Daniel H. Janzen, Winnie Hallwachs, Austin Baker, Jose L Fernández-Triana, Paul D.N. Hebert, Frank Joyce, Robert Puschendorf, Donald L.J. Quicke, Rodolphe Rougerie, M. Alex Smith, Nelson Zamora, Michael J. Sharkey

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Estimating the number of insect species on Earth is a daunting challenge. The current consensus estimate—about six million species—is likely far too low, as we will show. Our estimate of the global number of insect species rests on a sample of more than 1,600,000 DNA-barcoded insect specimens representing 53,945 species from 15 “core” Malaise traps deployed in dry forest, cloud forest, and rainforest ecosystems of the Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in Costa Rica. Even this massive sample fails to reveal the full extent of ACG insect species richness. To estimate total ACG insect richness, we adjust the observed count …

Role Of Guidelines, Legislation, Litigation And Mechanisms For Sudep Communication In The Uk And In The Usa: A State-Of-The-Art Review, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

IntroductionSudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) remains a leading cause of premature mortality in people with epilepsy despite decades of research and guideline development.MethodsThis state-of-the-art narrative review synthesises multidisciplinary evidence from clinical guidelines, epidemiology, legal frameworks, policy initiatives, and advocacy sources in the United Kingdom (UK) and United States of America (USA). The review is structured to examine current practice (“where are we now”), evolution of influencing mechanisms (“how did we get here”), and future directions for improving SUDEP prevention (“where should we go next”).ResultsWhere are we now SUDEP risk communication remains inconsistent despite clear guideline recommendations. Implementation is hindered …

A Systematic Survey Of Brachyuran Land Crabs In The Online Tropical Aquarium Trade, Ella Xanthe Whitaker, David L. Roberts, John I. Spicer, Lucy Millicent Turner

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Globally the tropical aquatic aquarium trade is a multi-million-dollar industry. Although marine ornamental fish and invertebrates are the main focus, tropical freshwater ornamental species including invertebrates (classed by the sector as semi-aquatic, such as land crabs) are also traded. Land crabs include both brachyurans (true crabs) and anomurans (false crabs, including hermit crabs). These are sourced from wild populations and/or tank-bred for use as ornamental commodity species. This global trade is unregulated and the full extent of the brachyuran land crab trade is unknown. Land crabs are important ecosystem engineers, and collection for the tropical freshwater/semi-aquatic aquarium industry is believed …

Sachi Prasad Ray-Chaudhuri: Drosophila Genetics And Mutagenesis In Indian Science, Rajiva Raman, Awadhesh Jha

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

This article summarizes the scientific contributions of Professor Sachi Prasad Ray-Chaudhuri and his unwavering commitment to advancing research and teaching in mutagenesis and genetics in post-independence India, following his postgraduate training in the United Kingdom under the mentorship of Professor H. J. Muller. His contributions in basic mutagenesis, radiation protection, animal cytogenetics, and population genetics using a range of model and native species laid the foundation of scientific research in India in these contemporary fields. This played a pivotal role in advancing genetics and biological sciences in India at a time when scientific infrastructure and resources were limited. He also …

Skilful Attacking Trades Off With Defensive Ability In Hermit Crabs, Joshua Le Pla, Sarah M. Lane, Mark Briffa

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The ability to win contests is crucial for securing the valuable resources individuals need to survive and reproduce. Fighting ability can thus be a vital determinant of fitness, and much research has been carried out to characterize the traits that influence fighting ability, or resource-holding potential (RHP). RHP is known to be influenced by a wide range of traits including morphology, physiology, vigour and, more recently, skill. These traits are typically analysed in isolation to identify their individual contributions to winning fights. However, relatively little is known about how different RHP traits may interact and potentially trade off against one …

Mapping The Evidence Base Of Kidney, Prostate And Urinary Tract Tumours To Inform The Who Classification Of Tumours, Sophie Gruber, Karolina Worf, Inga Trulson, Laura Knoblauch, Tobias Gruber, Kirstina Schwamborn, Fiona Campbell, Richard Colling, Alex Inskip, Elena Plans-Beriso, Oana M. Craciun, Magdalena Chechlińska, Magdalena Kowalewska, Kateryna Maslova, Puay Hoon Tan, Harshima Wijesinghe, Ian A. Cree, Dilani Lokuhetty, Blanca Iciar Indave Ruiz, Stefan Holdenrieder

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundThe project ‘World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumours (WCT): a Living Evidence Gap Map by Tumour Type’ applies the Evidence and Gap Map (EGM) methodology to systematically synthesise evidence to support iterative refinements of the WCT. As part of this work, we created the first EGM for the WCT of Urinary and Male Genital Tumors, covering clear cell renal cell carcinoma, non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma, glandular neoplasms of the prostate and urothelial tumours.MethodsSystematic searches in PubMed and Ovid Embase were conducted and harmonised to a 2020 to 2024 publication time period. Following title and abstract screening, reviewers coded …

Exploring The Interactions Between Student–Teacher Relationships, Teacher Passion, And Student Intrinsic Motivation: A Critical Examination Of The Hierarchical Model Of Inspirational Teaching, Stephen W. Rowcliffe

Plymouth Interdisciplinary Education Open Journal

This study critically examines the Hierarchical Model of Inspirational Teaching (Rowcliffe, 2022), a conceptual framework proposing that pedagogical competence, student-teacher relationships, and teacher passion are associated with student intrinsic motivation. Although the model has previously been presented conceptually, it has not been subjected to quantitative scrutiny.

Data were collected from 369 students and 33 teachers across two international post-16 schools. Student questionnaires assessed perceptions of student-teacher relationships, teacher passion, and intrinsic motivation, while teacher questionnaires examined burnout. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to examine construct structure, followed by correlation, regression, and mediation analyses to explore relationships among variables. …

Obesity And Keratoconus: A Mediation Study Based On The Chinese Keratoconus Cohort, Kaili Yang, Anqi Chang, Runqi Tu, Liyan Xu, Yuwei Gu, Qi Fan, Shanshan Yin, Yi Yuan, Yifan Wang, Chenchen Yin, Yonghao Zang, Changxiu Li, Chenjiu Pang, Daniela Oehring, Yibin Hao, Shengwei Ren

School of Health Professions

Purpose: Growing evidence indicates a strong association between obesity and keratoconus (KC), although the potential mediating factors remain largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the potential pathways through which corneal biomechanical and topographic parameters might link obesity and KC using structural equation modeling (SEM). Methods: This case-control study included 759 participants (363 patients with KC and 396 controls) from the Chinese Keratoconus (CKC) Cohort Study. Associations among body mass index (BMI), corneal biomechanical parameters, topographic parameters, and KC were analyzed using generalized linear regression models. SEM was used to construct latent variables for corneal biomechanical and topographic parameters. Three …

Dietary Hermetia Illucens Larvae Meal Enhances Growth Performance, Intestinal Health And Modulates Intestinal Microbiota Of Juvenile Mirror Carp (Cyprinus Carpio), Sahya Maulu, Ben Eynon, Glenn Harper, Owen Day, Leona Emenike, Mark Rawling, Daniel Merrifield

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

As global aquaculture expands, sustainable alternative feed ingredients are needed to reduce reliance on fishmeal (FM) and conventional plant proteins. Herein, this study evaluated defatted black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens) larvae meal as a replacement mainly for soybean meal (SBM) and soy protein concentrate (SPC) in juvenile mirror carp diets. Fish (initial weight: 7.28 ± 0.09 g) were reared in a recirculating aquaculture system and fed for 8 weeks on either a control diet or diets containing 20% (BSF20) or 40% (BSF40) BSF meal. After the trial, growth performance was significantly improved in BSF-fed groups, with higher final weight, …

Programmes That Integrate Parenting Support And Financial Well-Being Support: A Systematic Scoping Review, Eleanor F. Bryant, Morwenna Rogers, Amy Bond, Georgia Smith, Rebecca Summers, James Hall, Kristin Liabo, Iain Lang, Vashti Berry, Nick Axford

Peninsula Medical School

Childhood experiences of economic disadvantage have harmful and long-lasting effects on child health. Early intervention can reduce some harms but it is unclear whether addressing economic disadvantage alongside psychosocial support yields additional benefits. This systematic scoping review aimed to identify evaluated programmes that integrate parenting support (PS) and financial well-being support (FWbS) for parents of children aged 0–19. The objectives were to describe programmes, relevant components, evaluation designs and impact on outcomes, and to consider if any programmes merit replication and testing in a UK context. Outcome or implementation evaluations of integrated PS and FWbS programmes published in English were …

Crowd-Sourced Glacier Mapping As A Tool For Enhancing Climate Literacy And Data Generation, Caroline Clason, Sally Rangecroft, Shaun Lewin, Gina Kallis, Tom Mullier, Will Blake, Iain Stewart

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Citizen science approaches are increasingly used to support data generation and public engagement across the environmental sciences, yet their wider pedagogical value within physical geography remains underexamined. To explore the value of mapping-based citizen science for both glaciological investigation and geographical learning, we developed GlacierMap, an interactive online tool enabling participants to map glacier change in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca over a 34-year period. GlacierMap was designed not only to assess the feasibility and value of crowd-sourced glacier mapping, but also as a vehicle to support experiential learning of the trends in, and impacts of, tropical mountain glacier retreat. Participants mapped …

Translating Science Into Evidence-Based Policy For The Protection And Restoration Of Essential Fish Habitat, Olivier Le Pape, Benjamin J. Ciotti, Karen E. Van De Wolfshaar, Rochelle D. Seitz, Julia Friese, David Eggleston, Elliot J. Brown, Rachel M. Turnbull, Filipe Martinho, Adam Waugh, Francisco E. Werner, Kenneth A. Rose

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Coastal and estuarine ecosystems are vital as essential fish habitat (EFH). Given accelerating climate- and human-driven environmental change, conserving these habitats is increasingly urgent to ensure the sustainability of marine populations and their associated fisheries. This paper examines how scientific knowledge is being used to support management of EFH in the USA, Europe, and elsewhere. We find that while scientific knowledge to identify and quantify important habitats has rapidly increased, the transfer of this knowledge to management practice has been limited and slow, resulting in important habitats being vulnerable to degradation. Through an international review of EFH concepts and their …

Temporal And Spatial Variation In Temperature And Oxygen At The Microscale: Key Niche Axes For Aquatic Life, W. C.E.P. Verberk, David T Bilton

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

To understand animal adaptations, we need accurate estimates of the ecological factors impacting organisms in nature. While temperature is a well-established driver of physiological performance, its effects in aquatic systems are closely linked to water oxygenation. Oxygen levels are expected to differ spatially and fluctuate temporally much more strongly in water than on land, but our understanding of variation in temperature and oxygen levels in freshwaters remains limited. It is essential that environmental variation is recorded at spatial and temporal resolutions relevant to the organism. Here, we analyse spatial and temporal variation in water temperature and oxygenation across running and …

Phylogeny Of The Cenozoic Planktonic Foraminifera, Grace S. Lamyman, Barry G. Fordham, Paul N. Pearson, Bridget S. Wade, Adam Woodhouse, Jeremy R. Young, Tracy Aze

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Here we present a comprehensive revision of the phylogeny of Cenozoic planktonic foraminifera. It integrates stratigraphic ranges, morphological traits and evolutionary relationships, resulting in an updated phylogenetic framework. The work expands the previous taxonomic coverage to include microperforate clades, adding 136 morphospecies and 29 new genera, while removing 15 previously included species. Stratigraphic ranges have been calibrated to the latest Geologic Time Scale (GTS2020), providing a more accurate timeline for evolutionary events. The digital phylogeny visualization using TimeScale Creator allows users to interact with these data, including morphospecies images and ecological information, facilitating further research into macroevolutionary processes. This resource …

The Mascarene Archipelago, A Data-Poor Region For Mobulid Rays: First Records, Seasonal Patterns And Conservation Implications, Joanna Harris, Estelle Crochelet, Prashant Mohesh, Guy M.W. Stevens

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The distribution and seasonal occurrence of manta and devil rays (mobulids) remain poorly understood across much of the Western Indian Ocean, particularly within remote island systems. Here, we present the first synthesis of species-level mobulid records for the Mascarene Archipelago (La Réunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues) using a combination of direct and passive citizen-science observations collected between 2014 and 2026. A total of 107 sightings were documented from 75 sighting events, comprising Mobula birostris (n = 29), M. thurstoni (n = 40), M. alfredi (n = 5), M. tarapacana (n = 2) and unidentified Mobula spp. (n = 31). One M. …

Driving Innovation: Transatlantic Attitudes To The Bionics Bus As A Vehicle For Health Transformation And Stem Engagement, Christopher James, Sarang Shankar, Madeleine Dale, Bhathika Perera, Richard Laugharne, Matthew Allen, Maria Feijoo‐Renones, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

Emerging mobile health and STEM engagement platforms are increasingly recognised as catalysts for improving public understanding of biomedical technologies and supporting digitally enabled models of healthcare delivery. The Bionics Bus (https://bionicsbus.org/) is a novel mobile laboratory designed to democratise access to robotics, artificial intelligence, prosthetics and digital diagnostics by delivering hands-on experiences directly to schools, communities and healthcare settings. This study provides the first transatlantic comparison of public attitudes toward the Bionics Bus within the United Kingdom and the United States of America (USA), two countries with contrasting healthcare systems and digital transformation priorities. Using a mixed-methods cross-sectional design, 78 …

A Folk Taxonomy Of Magic, Gustav Kuhn, Cyril Thomas, Griffiths Thomas

School of Psychology

Magic tricks provide a uniquely powerful window onto the boundaries of what people consider possible, and the ways in which those boundaries can be challenged. Although there exists an effectively infinite variety of magic tricks, relatively little is known about how different magical effects relate to one another at a psychological level. Previous attempts to classify magic have largely relied on the judgments of a small number of expert magicians, rather than capturing people’s intuitive understanding of magical phenomena. Here, we introduce a new multi-dimensional taxonomy of magic that treats the observable effect (e.g., an object vanishing) and the attributed …

The Effect Of Face Masks On The Perception Of Trustworthiness And Competence In Individuals With Autistic Traits, Farid Pazhoohi, Maryam Rostami-Aghoui, Leilani Forby, Keina Aoki, Alan Kingstone

School of Psychology

Facial expressions play a crucial role in social communication, influencing judgments of trustworthiness and competence. While previous research has examined how face masks affect trust and competence in general populations, little is known about their impact on individuals with high autistic traits, who often rely more on the mouth region for social cue interpretation. The present study investigates the effects of face masks on perceptions of trustworthiness and competence as a function of high and low autistic traits. Results show that masked faces are generally perceived as more trustworthy and competent than unmasked faces. The effect of mask wearing on …

Common Octopus (Octopus Vulgaris) Blooms Off The Southwest Of The Uk: History, Trends, Causes And Consequences.: Report On Work Package 2: Fisheries Independent Estimates Of Octopus Abundance And Behaviour., Bryce Stewart, Alice Hall, Tully Osmond, Keith Hiscock, Simon Thomas, Emma Sheehan

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Since early 2025, a nearly unprecedented bloom of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) has occurred off the southwest UK coast. Although native to UK waters, the species is usually rare, making this the largest bloom recorded in at least 75 years. While many octopus have been commercially landed, they have also preyed heavily on economically important shellfish species, including brown crab, European lobster and king scallop. Landings of these species declined sharply in 2025, causing significant hardship for many in inshore fishing communities. In response, a rapid research project was commissioned in August 2025 to investigate the history, causes and impacts …

The Importance Of Scale In The Future Of Mangrove Blue Carbon Under Sea-Level Rise, Arya Iwantoro, Dunia Urrego, Danghan Xie, Andrew Nicholas, Kartika Anggi Hapsari, Alexandra Rodriguez, Juan Camilo Restrepo, Jaime Polania, Rolf Aalto, Luisa Gómez Vargas, Barend Van Maanen

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

As efficient carbon sinks, mangrove forests are crucial for climate change mitigation. However, their vulnerability to sea-level rise (SLR) and human activities influencing sediment supply introduces significant uncertainty regarding their future carbon storage capacity. Given the complexity of mangrove landscapes, current projections may be limited in their ability to capture the broad range of potential responses. Here we investigate the distinct drivers of local- and landscape-scale changes in mangrove carbon accumulation under SLR and changing fluvial sediment supply, by developing a novel eco-carbon-morphodynamic model. The model incorporates interactions between hydro-morphodynamic processes, mangrove dynamics, and carbon dynamics while tracking changes in …

Operationalising Equity In Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management, Riley Bibaud, Tom Mullier, Matthew Ashley, Holly Niner, Lauren Stewart, Siân Rees

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Equity is increasingly recognised as a critical dimension of sustainable ocean governance, yet operational frameworks for incorporating equity considerations into marine governance remain limited. Fisheries management practices have traditionally concentrated on stock sustainability and commercial extraction, often without fully addressing the broader ecosystem dynamics that underpin fish populations throughout key life stages. This study explores how Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) can support more equitable outcomes by applying a beneficiary-centric natural capital framework to the Celtic Sea and Western Channel Pelagic Fisheries Management Plan. A typology of beneficiaries was developed to assess the distribution of ecosystem service benefits, followed by a …

The Development Of The Daughter-Guarding Scale: An Exploratory And Confirmatory Factor Analytic Study, Ray Garza, Farid Pazhoohi

School of Psychology

Fathers represent one of the earliest opposite-sex relationships for daughters, and it has been suggested that fathers may shape their daughters' developmental trajectory. Fathers are often stricter with their daughters compared to sons in monitoring and correcting behaviors, most notably in the avenue of social and sexual monitoring. Nonetheless, there are no valid measurement tools for capturing the different factors associated with daughter-guarding by fathers. The current study proposed an instrument for addressing daughter-guarding as reported by fathers. In Study 1, an exploratory factor analysis showed that 3-underlying factors were present in daughter-guarding, such as social monitoring of friends, guarding …

The Color Of Combat: How Subtleties Of Resource Value Alter The Effects Of Fighting Ability In Hermit Crab Contests: How Subtleties Of Resource Value Alter The Effects Of Fighting Ability In Hermit Crab Contests, Thomas M. Chatfield, Mark Briffa

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

During contests over resources, the intensity of fighting and the outcome is often influenced by an interaction between the difference between opponents in the fighting abilities (resource holding potential [RHP]) and the difference in how they subjectively value the resource. Additionally, because fighting can involve vigorous activity, engaging in a fight can make the opponents more noticeable to predators. Thus, predation risk, alongside resource value (RV), may interact with the effects of RHP difference. During hermit crab contests over the ownership of empty gastropod shells attackers perform vigorous shell rapping, whereas defenders adopt a protective posture inside their shells. This …

Developing The Evidence And Associated Service Models To Support Older People Living With Frailty To Manage Their Pain And To Reduce Its Impact On Their Lives: A Mixed Method, Co-Design Study (The Poppy Study).: The Poppy Study, Lesley Brown, Deborah Antcliff, Andrew Clegg, Anne Grice, Pat Schofield, Asim Suleman, Amanda Williams, Nikki Harrison, Nicky Kime, Alan Wright, Natalie Lam, Dan Howdon, Davide Tebaldi, Rahena Mossabir, Sarah Hallas, Thomas F Crocker, Anne Forster

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background: Frailty increases vulnerability to adverse events (falls, illness) resulting in poorer health outcomes in later life. Persistent pain is common and impactful in older adults with frailty. Pain impact is potentially modifiable, and addressing it is important for supporting this population. The Pain in Older People with Frailty study aimed to generate evidence and develop service models to improve pain management for older adults with frailty and inform service provision for this underserved population. Objective(s): Phase 1: Map research evidence and synthesise findings from randomised controlled trials of multi-component pain management programmes and psychological therapies for community-dwelling older adults. …

Developing The Evidence And Associated Service Models To Improve Pain Management In Older People Living With Frailty: A Synopsis Of The Poppy Mixed Method, Co-Design Study: Poppy, Patricia Schofield

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background: Frailty increases vulnerability to adverse events (falls, illness) resulting in poorer health outcomes in later life. Persistent pain is common and impactful in older adults with frailty. Pain impact is potentially modifiable, and addressing it is important for supporting this population. The Pain in Older People with Frailty study aimed to generate evidence and develop service models to improve pain management for older adults with frailty and inform service provision for this underserved population. Objective(s): Phase 1: Map research evidence and synthesise findings from randomised controlled trials of multi-component pain management programmes and psychological therapies for community-dwelling older adults. …

Evidence Distribution Across Osteosarcoma Tumour Types: An Evidence Gap Map To Inform The Who Classification Of Tumours, Oana M. Craciun, Marina Montes-Mota, Ester García-Ovejero, Alex Inskip, Harshima Wijesinghe, Ian A. Cree, Dilani Samarawickrema Lokuhetty, Fiona Campbell, Richard Colling, Puay Hoon Tan, Inga Trulson, Magdalena Chechlińska, Iciar B. Indave, Beatriz Pérez-Gómez, Marina Pollán-Santamaría, Elena Plans-Beriso

Peninsula Medical School

IntroductionOsteosarcomas comprise a heterogeneous group of malignant osteogenic tumours with histopathological, biological and clinical variability. The scientific evidence underpinning different osteosarcoma types varies considerably. The WHO Classification of Tumours (WCT) provides an international standard for tumour classification based on evidence, although published evidence varies in both quantity and quality. Given the implications of osteosarcoma tumour classification for diagnosis, grading and treatment, a systematic overview of the distribution of the evidence is required. This study aimed to map the available evidence for osteosarcoma tumour types to inform the WCT.MethodsAn evidence gap map (EGM) was developed following methodologies adapted from the Campbell …

Movement, Residency, And Behavioral Plasticity Of Reef Manta Rays In The Samarai Islands Of Papua New Guinea, Anna Knochel, Joanna Harris, Shannon Murphy, Annie Murray, Guy M.W. Stevens, Mark Erdmann

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) is a highly mobile pelagic marine ray found throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, but investigation into their behavior and ecology within Papua New Guinea has not been previously undertaken. Furthermore, the home range, dispersal characteristics, and inter-seasonal fine-scale habitat use of this species is limited. To address these data gaps and investigate the vertical and horizontal habitat use of a previously unstudied population, SPLASH10-F-321A pop-off archival satellite tags were used to track ten adult individuals from 4–181 days between 2016–2018 across two distinct monsoonal periods in the Samarai Islands of …

A New Visual Index For Assessing Zooplankton Biomass And Its Utility In Assessing Prey Availability For Megaplanktivores’, Hannah Moloney, Asia O. Armstrong, Guy M.W. Stevens, Christine L. Dudgeon, Joanna Harris, Kathy A. Townsend, Anthony J. Richardson

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Zooplankton are vital links in marine food webs, yet their biomass remains challenging to quantify across broad spatial and temporal scales.This study introduces the Zooplankton Visual Index–a simple, rapid and scalable semi-quantitative method for evaluating zooplankton biomassthrough underwater observations. Following the establishment of a standardized protocol, validation against in situ net samples demonstratedthat indexlevels increased consistently with measured biomass and predictable shifts in community composition. We then applied the validatedindexto a 9-year dataset of reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) sightings in the Maldives. Increased M. alfredi abundance significantly correlated withhigher index levels, confirming that the index effectively captures the food …