Digital Commons Network^™

The Future Of Citizen Science For Marine Litter Research, Kayleigh Wyles, Matthew Peacock

Faculty of Health Datasets

citizen science professional's perceptions towards citizen approach for marine litter research (n = 56, qualitative data)

Monitoring Morphological Variability Of Gravel Barrier Typologies Using 2d Lidar, Robert Jones, Nieves Valiente, Chris Blenkinsopp, Mark Davidson

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Not Just A Health Kick: Time To Re-Evaluate The Role Of Smoothies In Glycaemic Response And Healthy Eating, Kathy M. Redfern, Thomas H. Walter, Gail A. Rees, Nathaniel J. Clark

School of Biomedical Sciences

In recent years, there has been a rise in popularity and subsequent consumption of both commercial and home-prepared smoothies due to the perceived health benefits of increasing fruit and vegetable intake in this way [1]. Under current public health guidance in the UK and Europe, smoothies are considered as fruit juices and should be limited to <150 ml/day and can only count towards one portion of fruit and vegetables. The current advice is largely based on the perceived ability of juiced fruits to increase the bioaccessibility of free sugars in the gut, resulting in faster uptake into the blood compared to whole foods and causing an elevated post prandial glycaemic response. However, there is a key difference between juiced fruits, such as orange juice, where the pulp of the fruit is removed, and smoothies, where the whole fruit is blended and consumed. The logic here is that by ingesting whole fruit, the digestive processes to break this down and release the equivalent free sugars is slower and results in a smaller glycaemic response. The issue is that recurrent elevated glycaemic response is a key risk factor for declining metabolic health, leading to conditions such as type 2 diabetes [2]. However, recent studies have suggested that consuming fruits in their blended form, such as smoothies, may not be detrimental for glycaemic control, and in some cases, may improve it by up to 57% [3, 4]. As adults in the UK do not currently eat enough fruit and vegetables, with only 33% of adults meeting the 5 a day recommendation [5], the potential for smoothies to increase fruit consumption whilst not adversely affecting metabolic health will require a change in public health advice.

Predicting The Distribution Of Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems In The Chagos Archipelago, Clara Diaz, Kerry L. Howell, Kyran P. Graves, Adam Bolton, Phil Hosegood, Edward Robinson, Nicola L. Foster

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

To support conservation efforts, accurate mapping of marine organism community’ distribution has become more critical than ever before. While previous mapping endeavours have primarily focused on easily accessible shallow-water habitats, there remains limited knowledge about the ecosystems lying beyond SCUBA diving depths, such as mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs, ~30–150 m). MCEs are important habitats from an ecological and conservation perspective, yet little is known about the environmental factors that shape these ecosystems and their distribution, particularly in the Indian Ocean region. The goals of this study are to (1) predict the spatial distribution and extent of distinct benthic communities and …

Eight Weeks Of High-Intensity Interval Training Alters The Tongue Microbiome And Impacts Nitrate And Nitrite Levels In Previously Sedentary Men, Annabel Simpson, Andrea M. Pilotto, Lorenza Brocca, Raffaele Mazzolari, Bob T. Rosier, Miguel Carda-Dieguez, Patricia Casas-Agustench, Raul Bescos, Simone Porcelli, Alex Mira, Chris Easton, Fiona L. Henriquez, Mia Burleigh

School of Health Professions

Nitric oxide (∗NO) is a key signalling molecule, produced enzymatically via ∗NO synthases (NOS) or following the stepwise reduction of nitrate to nitrite via oral bacteria. Exercise training upregulates NOS expression and improves systemic health, but its effect on oral health, and more particularly the oral microbiome, has not been investigated. We used an exercise training study design to investigate changes in the tongue dorsum microbiome, and in nitrate and nitrite levels in the saliva, plasma and muscle, before, during and after an exercise training period. Eleven untrained males (age 25 ± 5 years, mass 64.0 ± 11.2 kg, stature …

Trapping The Effects Of Tobacco Smoking: The Regulation And Function Of Acp5 Expression In Lung Macrophages, Suzanne H. Willems, Shilei Qian, Pernilla Lång, Bjarne E. Overtoom, Sina Alimostafazadeh, Rocío Fuentes-Mateos, Gwenda F. Vasse, T. Anienke Van Der Veen, Jelmer Vlasma, Marina H. De Jager, Victor Guryev, Gyorgy Fejer, Göran Andersson, Barbro N. Melgert

School of Biomedical Sciences

Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase [TRAP, gene acid phosphatase 5 (Acp5; gene name for TRAP)] is highly expressed in alveolar macrophages with proposed roles in lung inflammation and lung fibrosis development. We previously showed that its expression and activity are higher in lung macrophages of smokers and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), suggesting involvement in smoke-induced lung damage. In this study, we explored the function of TRAP and regulation of its different mRNA transcripts (Acp5 201-206) in lung tissue exposed to cigarette smoke to elucidate its function in alveolar macrophages. In mice exposed to cigarette smoke or air for 4–6 …

Investigating Appropriate Artificial Intelligence Approaches To Reliably Predict Coastal Wave Overtopping And Identify Process Contributions, Michael Mcglade, Nieves Valiente, Jennifer M. Brown, Christopher Stokes, Tim Poate

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Predicting coastal wave overtopping is a significant challenge, exacerbated by climate change, increasing the frequency of severe flooding and rising sea levels. Digital twin technologies, which utilise artificial intelligence to mimic coastal processes and dynamics, may offer new opportunities to predict coastal wave overtopping and flooding reliably and computationally efficiently. This study investigates the effectiveness of training various artificial intelligence models using wave buoy, meteorological, and recorded coastal wave overtopping observations to predict the occurrence and frequency of overtopping at 10-minute intervals. These models have the potential for future large-scale global applications in estimating wave overtopping and flood forecasting, particularly …

Effective Protection Of Essential Fish Habitat Requires Understanding Fish Spatial Ecology - Lessons Learnt From Protected European Bass Nursery Areas, Thomas Stamp, Elizabeth West, James E Stewart, Shaun Plenty, Tim Robbins, Emma Sheehan, Jonathan Grabowski

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Spatial management is a widely used technique to protect sessile species or habitats. Protection of essential fish habitat is increasinglybeing recognized globally within fisheries management policies, requiring further practical assessments within temperate fisheries. Weprovide a case study for the efficacy of spatially protecting nursery sites for a highly mobile species—the European bass (Dicentrarchuslabrax). Using acoustic telemetry, 146 individual fish were tracked for up to 812 days across three independent protected bass nurseryareas in the Southwest UK. Within site boundaries commercial fisheries are seasonally restricted to protect vulnerable life stages.Tagged fish were re-detected >5 million times. Detections at receivers highlighted activity …

Navigating The Complexities Of End-Stage Kidney Disease (Eskd) From Risk Factors To Outcome: Insights From The Uk Biobank Cohort, Debasish Kar, Richard Byng, Aziz Sheikh, Mintu Nath, Bedowra Zabeen, Shubharthi Kar, Shakila Banu, Habibur Rahman, Navid Khan, Durjoy Acharjee, Shafiqul Islam, Victoria Allgar, Jose Ordonez-Mena, Aya El-Wazir, Soon Song, Ashish Verma, Umesh Kadam, Simon De Lusignan

Peninsula Medical School

BACKGROUND: The global prevalence of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is increasing despite optimal management of traditional risk factors such as hyperglycaemia, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia. This study examines the influence of cardiorenal risk factors, socioeconomic status, and ethnic and cardiovascular comorbidities on ESKD outcomes in the general population.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study analysed data from 502,408 UK Biobank study participants recruited between 2006 and 2010. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to assess risk factors for ESKD, with results presented as adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

RESULTS: A total of 1191 (0.2%) of the study participants …

Tucatinib And Trastuzumab In Her2-Mutated Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Phase 2 Basket Trial., Okines Afc, G Curigliano, N Mizuno, Oh Dy, A Rorive, H Soliman, S Takahashi, T Bekaii-Saab, Burkard Me, Chung Ky, Debruyne Pr, Fox Jr, V Gambardella, Pohlmann Pr

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2, also known as ERBB2) signaling promotes cell growth and differentiation, and is overexpressed in several tumor types, including breast, gastric and colorectal cancer. HER2-targeted therapies have shown clinical activity against these tumor types, resulting in regulatory approvals. However, the efficacy of HER2 therapies in tumors with HER2 mutations has not been widely investigated. SGNTUC-019 is an open-label, phase 2 basket study evaluating tucatinib, a HER2-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in combination with trastuzumab in patients with HER2-altered solid tumors. The study included a cohort of 31 heavily pretreated female patients with HER2-mutated metastatic breast …

A 3-Week Pause Versus Continued Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Use During Covid-19 Vaccination In Individuals With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (Improve Trial): A Randomised, Open-Label, Superiority Trial, Helen M. Parry, Claire Hutchinson

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is the commonest leukaemia and is associated with profound immunosuppression. Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) have revolutionised chronic lymphocytic leukaemia management; however, therapy impairs vaccine-induced immunity. We evaluated whether a 3-week pause of BTKi treatment improved spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) immunity to SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccination while maintaining disease control. Methods: We performed an open-label, two-arm, parallel-group, randomised trial in secondary-care haematology clinics in 11 UK hospitals. Participants aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, and currently taking BTKi therapy (frontline or relapsed setting) for at least 12 months were eligible. Participants …

“Combined With Homelessness, It’S Just A Nightmare”: A Qualitative Study Exploring How People Experiencing Homelessness Perceive Mental Health And Mental Health Services, Simone Stedmon, Pete Keohane

School of Psychology

People experiencing chronic homelessness (PECH) have relatively poor mental health. Whilst trauma and psychologically informed services are becoming more commonplace and demonstrate positive outcomes, they are still underutilised by PECH. Furthermore, little is known about how PECH understand their own mental health. This qualitative study explores PECH’s perceptions of mental health, mental health services, and any perceived barriers or facilitators to access. Eleven PECH participated in semi-structured interviews. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to make sense of the transcripts, and five overarching group experiential themes were created: ‘Origins of Mental Health’, ‘Understanding of Mental Health Difficulties’, ‘Experiences of Help-Seeking and …

A Common Terminology To Unify Research And Conservation Of Coralline Algae And The Habitats They Create, Victor L Jardim, Jacques Grall, M.  Beatriz Barros-Barreto, Anaëlle Bizien, Thomas Benoit, Juan C Braga, Juliet Brodie, Thomas Burel, Andrea Cabrito, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Patrick Gagnon, Jason M Hall-Spencer, Mathieu Helias, Paulo Antunes Horta, Siddhi Joshi, Nick A Kamenos, Regina Kolzenburg, Erik C Krieger, Erwann Legrand, Tessa M Page, Viviana Peña, Federica Ragazzola, Lina M Rasmusson, Francesco Rendina, Nadine Schubert, João Silva, Frederico T  S Tâmega, Adeline Tauran, Heidi L Burdett

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Linguistic uncertainty is a prime source of uncertainty pervading ecology and conservation. Coralline algae are a widespread and diverse group of calcifying red macroalgae that underpin coastal ecosystem function and service provision. Recent increasing interest in coralline algae in the scientific literature has revealed a diverse but confusing terminology at organism to habitat scales. Coralline algal research and conservation are international and multidisciplinary, so there are geographic and disciplinary imbalances in research and conservation efforts. To reach consensus and reduce uncertainty, we propose a unified terminology. We review trends in cultural and scientific use of coralline algal terms and propose …

Long Lashes, Mixed Signals: Investigating The Effect Of Eyelash Length On Perceived Health, Attractiveness, And Sexual Receptivity, Farid Pazhoohi

School of Psychology

Eyelashes have evolved as a protective feature for the eyes, offering defense against external dangers such as contamination, excessive evaporation, and shear stress from airflow. They may also serve as indicators of an individual’s health, since various diseases, both congenital and non-congenital, can influence eyelash length. Building on the argument of evolutionary functionality, recent research into human preferences for eyelash length, from an evolutionary perspective, has identified an inverted-U preference pattern across all ethnic groups. However, this research primarily focused on the attractiveness of eyelash length, leaving questions about the alignment of health perceptions and attractiveness and how eyelash length …

An Investigation Of The Acute Effects Of Dance On Heart Rate Variability In People With Parkinson’S, Mirza M F Subhan, Jaspreet Kaur, Sophia Hulbert, Ruth Way

School of Biomedical Sciences

Background: There is limited research investigating heart rate variability (HRV) in Parkinson’s during dance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dance on HRV in people with Parkinson’s (PwP). Methods: Ten PwP were recruited from a Parkinson’s dance class and completed six sessions; the first half was danced sitting down, while the latter half was standing up. Breathing rate, skin temperature and HRV data were collected and analysed by repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: Analysing all six sections together showed skin temperature (p < 0.001), heart rate (HR; p = 0.029), short-term HRV (SD1; p = 0.025), normalised standard deviation of all the R-R intervals (nSDRR; p = 0.028), and breathing rate (BR; p = 0.001) were significantly different. Conclusions: Significant changes in HR, SD1, nSDRR, BR and skin temperature of PwP occurred during all sections, showing dance improved autonomic function. Further work examining the long-term effects of HRV in a community setting is needed to understand the potential benefits of dance for PwP.

The Moving Mandala: Exploring The Pro-Social Effects Of Musical And Non-Musical Synchrony In Children In A Virtual World, Liam Cross, Narcis Pares, Olga Gali, Sena Beste Ercan, Batuhan Sayis, Pamela Heaton, Gray Atherton

School of Psychology

Synchronous movement between individuals has been shown to increase pro-sociality, such as closeness and generosity. To date, synchrony research tests these effects using a variety of movement tasks, including musical and non-musical coordination. However, musical versus non-musical synchrony may have separable pro-social effects. To test this, we had 60 children immersed in an augmented reality space called the 'Moving Mandala' where they moved asynchronously with only visual cues, synchronously with only visual cues or synchronously with musical and visual cues. We then tested for differences in pro-social effects using sharing and proxemics tasks. Results showed that while the synchrony version …

Gamifying Anatomy Outreach: An Underexplored Opportunity, Mikaela L. Stiver, Aamna Naveed, John Chilton, Siobhan M. Moyes

Peninsula Medical School

This article explores the underutilized potential of incorporating gamified approaches into anatomy outreach initiatives. While gamification and game-based learning approaches have been widely adopted in formal educational settings, there is a surprising lack of research on their application for community-based public engagement with anatomy. We emphasize the importance of involving community partners from the outset to co-design gamified outreach activities. A collaborative approach tailors the final products to the needs, preferences, and resources of the target audiences. By actively involving end users, co-design fosters a sense of ownership, relevance, and long-term sustainability for the educational resources. This article also presents …

A Comparison Of Physical Characteristics In Different Brands And Staining Techniques In A Brand Of Lissamine Green Strips, Neema Ghorbani-Mojarrad, James S. Wolffsohn, Jennifer P. Craig, Debarun Dutta, Byki Huntjens, Raheel Hussain, Zarghona Khan, Shoaib Raja, Mohammed Ibrahim, Thomas Godfrey, Alison Alderson, Katharine Evans, Mahesh Joshi, Carole Maldonado-Codina, Manbir Nagra, Elidh Martin, Laura Sweeney, Louise Terry, Dean Dunning, Marta Vianya-Estopa

School of Health Professions

Backgrounds/Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare differences in the physical characteristics of lissamine green (LG) strips and the outcomes of using different staining techniques. Methods: Two separate complementary investigations were conducted. Physical study: Differences between four LG strips were evaluated in terms of material, dye concentration, and dye absorption. In vivo study: Bulbar conjunctival staining was compared for four application methods of I-DEW LG strips presented in a randomized order for twenty-two participants: (1) single application 5 s after wetting (also repeated using GreenGlo for comparison), (2) single application using two strips held together, 5 s after …

The Prevalence Of Weapon Damage: A Proportional Meta-Analysis, Sarah Lane, Erin Mccullough

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Sexually selected weapons are tools that are used in physical fights over mating opportunities. Individuals can face dire fitness consequences if they break their weapon and can no longer fight effectively; however, the costs and consequences of weapon damage have largely been ignored. In this study, the literature was systematically searched to examine the prevalence of weapon damage, and a phylogenetically controlled proportional meta-analysis was conducted to explore factors influencing the patterns of weapon damage across the animal kingdom. A total of 36 suitable studies were identified across 74 species and 13 orders for a total of 82 effect sizes. …

A Coastal Risk Analysis For The Outermost Small Islands Of Indonesia: A Multiple Natural Hazards Approach, Rima Gusriana Harahap, Gerd Masselink, Sarah Boulton

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Coastal risk analysis is important for the sustainable development and resilience of small islands. Even though there is an increasing effort to develop risk analysis at the global scale, the integration of multi-hazard, exposure, and vulnerability for outermost small islands is still rare. This study is the first to address the coastal risk on the outermost small islands of Indonesia, located at the country's territorial edge. The methodology quantifies hazard, exposure, and vulnerability variables, and collating the indices into a risk matrix. The results identify the full range of risk levels on outermost small islands represented in the island dataset, …

Driving Renewable Energy Continuance In Malaysia Through Reinforcement Sensitivity, Technology Infrastructure And Psychological Factors, Rajat Subhra Chatterjee, Siti Norida Wahab, Md. Uzir Hossain Uzir

Plymouth Business School

Purpose: Based on the reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST), this study aims to examine the key factors that influence users’ renewable energy (RE) continuance intention. More importantly, the mediating role of excitement and the moderating role of technology infrastructure (TEC) and anxiety in the renewable energy continuance intention (RECI) is explored. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted among RE users in Malaysia and the results of a questionnaire survey of 397 were analysed using partial least square structural equation modelling. Findings: The study’s findings highlight the significant roles of excitement and anxiety in RE intentions, emphasizing the impact of psychological factors and …

Towards An Inclusive Conference Experience: Evaluation Of The Education And Outreach Symposium At The Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2024, Melissa Lacey, Michael Dillon, Sean Goodman, Victoria Easton, Alison Graham

Peninsula Medical School

The Microbiology Society Education and Outreach Symposium serves as a platform for microbiology educators to share contemporary practices with an international audience. The Symposium is held yearly during the Microbiology Society’s Annual Conference and has become increasingly popular among conference attendees. In an effort to create an inclusive and engaging environment, the 2024 Symposium included contributions from participants at all career stages and from diverse global regions through a variety of presentation formats, including invited talks, offered presentations, flash talks and posters. Cabaret-style seating was used to encourage discussion amongst participants, and digital tools were used for anonymous feedback and …

Variation In Wood Density Across South American Tropical Forests, Martin J. P. Sullivan, Oliver L. Phillips, David Galbraith, Everton Almeida, Edmar Almeida De Oliveira, Jarcilene Almeida, Esteban Álvarez Dávila, Luciana F. Alves, Ana Andrade, Luiz Aragão, Alejandro Araujo-Murakami, Eric Arets, Luzmila Arroyo, Omar Aurelio Melo Cruz, Fabrício Baccaro, Timothy R. Baker, Sophie Fauset, Olaf Banki, Christopher Baraloto, Jos Barlow, Jorcely Barroso, Erika Berenguer, Lilian Blanc, Cecilia Blundo, Damien Bonal, Frans Bongers, Kauane Maiara Bordin, Roel J. W. Brienen, Igor S. Broggio, Benoit Burban

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Wood density is a critical control on tree biomass, so poor understanding of its spatial variation can lead to large and systematic errors in forest biomass estimates and carbon maps. The need to understand how and why wood density varies is especially critical in tropical America where forests have exceptional species diversity and spatial turnover in composition. As tree identity and forest composition are challenging to estimate remotely, ground surveys are essential to know the wood density of trees, whether measured directly or inferred from their identity. Here, we assemble an extensive dataset of variation in wood density across the …

Predicting The Invasiveness Of Alpine Newts In The Uk, Alexandra North, Luke James Sutton, Jason L. Brown, Trenton W.J. Garner, Richard Billington, John W Wilkinson, Robert Puschendorf, Manuela Truebano

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Predicting invasion risk to novel environments is essential for risk management and conservation decision making but the evolutionary lineage at which to make these predictions is often unclear. Here we predict the current suitability across the United Kingdom (UK) for the alpine newt Ichthyosaura alpestris, a species with a complex evolutionary history, a broad native range, a growing number of introduced populations and anecdotal reports of ecological consequences to native amphibian communities. We use species distribution and ecological niche modelling to predict environmental suitability of the alpine newt in the UK at both the species-level and lineage-level and to quantify …

Global, Regional, And National Prevalence Of Child And Adolescent Overweight And Obesity, 1990–2021, With Forecasts To 2050: A Forecasting Study For The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2021, Gbd 2021 Adolescent Bmi Collaborators, Jessica A Kerr, George C Patton, Karly I Cini, Yohannes Habtegiorgis Abate, Nasir Abbas, Abdallah H A Abd Al Magied, Samar Abd Elhafeez, Sherief Abd-Elsalam, Arash Abdollahi, Meriem Abdoun, Deldar Morad Abdulah, Rizwan Suliankatchi Abdulkader, Auwal Abdullahi, Hansani Madushika Abeywickrama, Alemwork Abie, Olumide Abiodun, Shady Abohashem, Dariush Abtahi, Hasan Abualruz, Bilyaminu Abubakar, Eman Abu-Gharbieh, Hana J Abukhadijah, Niveen Me Abu-Rmeileh, Salahdein Aburuz, Ahmed Abu-Zaid, Lisa C. Adams, Mesafint Molla Adane, Isaac Yeboah Addo

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Despite the well documented consequences of obesity during childhood and adolescence and future risks of excess body mass on non-communicable diseases in adulthood, coordinated global action on excess body mass in early life is still insufficient. Inconsistent measurement and reporting are a barrier to specific targets, resource allocation, and interventions. In this Article we report current estimates of overweight and obesity across childhood and adolescence, progress over time, and forecasts to inform specific actions. Methods: Using established methodology from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2021, we modelled overweight and obesity across childhood and adolescence …

Assessing The Impact Of Historic Mining On The Geochemistry Of Sediments In The Camel Estuary, Cornwall, U.K., Gregory Price, Matthew Cleave

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

This investigation focusses on the geochemical properties of surficial sediments in the Camel Estuary, Cornwall, UK. Thegeochemistry of the samples were determined by XRF and data for Sn, As, Cu, Pb and Zn are presented. The data for Pb, Zn andAs shows a down estuary reduction, probably resulting from a combination of increasing distance from a presumed metalliferousmining source and mixing with marine sediments. The highest concentrations for As (48 ppm) and Zn (304 ppm) exceedsediment quality guidelines. Cu and Pb values are below the sediment quality guidelines. Although elevated Sn concentrations areseen in the middle part of the estuary, …

Tropical Forests In The Americas Are Changing Too Slowly To Track Climate Change, Jesús Aguirre-Gutiérrez, Sophie Fauset, Sandra Díaz, Sami W. Rifai, Jose Javier Corral-Rivas, Maria Guadalupe Nava-Miranda, Roy González-M, Ana Belén Hurtado-M, Norma Salinas Revilla, Emilio Vilanova, Everton Almeida, Edmar Almeida De Oliveira, Esteban Alvarez-Davila, Luciana F. Alves, Ana Cristina Segalin De Andrade, Antonio Carlos Lola Da Costa, Simone Aparecida Vieira, Luiz Aragão, Eric Arets, Gerardo A. Aymard C, Fabrício Baccaro, Yvonne Vanessa Bakker, Timothy R. Baker, Olaf Bánki, Christopher Baraloto, Plínio Barbosa De Camargo, Erika Berenguer, Lilian Blanc, Damien Bonal, Frans Bongers

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Understanding the capacity of forests to adapt to climate change is of pivotal importance for conservation science, yet this is still widely unknown. This knowledge gap is particularly acute in high-biodiversity tropical forests. Here, we examined how tropical forests of the Americas have shifted community trait composition in recent decades as a response to changes in climate. Based on historical trait-climate relationships, we found that, overall, the studied functional traits show shifts of less than 8% of what would be expected given the observed changes in climate. However, the recruit assemblage shows shifts of 21% relative to climate change expectation. …

Towards A Realistic View Of Consumer Behaviour, Rod Sheaff

Peninsula Medical School

Marginal utility (MU) theories of consumer demand assume that consumers try to maximise a generic benefit (‘utility’) by selecting purchases giving equal marginal utility per unit of cost, from which are predicted the observed relationships between price changes and quantities of demanded consumer goods. Attempts to remedy the explanatory shortcomings of MU theory usually supplement it with additional assumptions. This paper proposes taking that approach to its logical conclusion by using consumer and psychological research findings not to supplement but to replace the concept of utility entirely with realistic explanations of consumer behaviour.

Towards Greater Standardisation In Benthic Trait Research To Support Application To Environmental Management, Irene Susini, Heidi M. Tillin, Louise Anderson, Craig M. Robertson, Sian Rees, Kerry L. Howell

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Functional trait-based approaches have enriched our understanding of key ecological processes such as species assembly and biodiversity loss. This focus on traits, rather than taxonomy, promotes comparability across spatial and organisational scales, further enabling the application of trait-based methodologies to systems where species identity is difficult to recognise. Among other issues, however, the lack of standardisation is preventing trait-based approaches from unlocking their true potential. Here, 407 published articles (peer-reviewed and grey literature) are reviewed alongside the Biological Traits Information Catalogue (BIOTIC) to document inconsistencies in the understanding and use of trait terminology in the context of marine benthic ecosystems. …

Historical Perspective And Contribution Of Aquaculture To The Amr Global Pandemic, Miriam Reverter, Sarahi Vega-Heredía, Philip Warburton

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The global rise in the emergence and spread of pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites) that have developed or acquired new resistance mechanisms to drugs, commonly referred as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is alarming. The emergence and spread of AMR, which is mostly attributed to the use (often overuse and misuse) of antimicrobial substances such as antibiotics, is not a new phenomenon. In fact, AMR was discovered several decades ago. However, exponential increases in global antimicrobial use have led to a rise in the emergence and spread of AMR, which is nowadays considered as one of the top ten global public …