Digital Commons Network^™

Community, Culture, And Capacity: Transformative Governance In The Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve, Kizzy Beaumont, Andrew Mckinnon, Scott Gillies

School of Art, Design and Architecture

Executive summary This report presents findings from interviews and a focus group held in September 2024 with stakeholders involved in the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve (WSR). Participants shared perspectives on the evolution of the WSR, its governance structures, and its role in balancing surf culture, community needs, and environmental sustainability on one of Australia’s most urbanised coastlines.Participants praised the WSR Stewardship Committee, Council leadership, and strong data partnerships with universities. However, concerns were raised about increasing surf congestion, tourism pressure, development impacts, and the lack of formal legal protections for surf zones. The region’s surf culture was described as …

How Do Human-Induced Environmental Stressors Shape The Distribution, Physiology, And Behaviour Of The Lemur Leaf Frog?, Benjamin Hough

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

The Lemur leaf frog (Agalychnis lemur) is a critically endangered species of anuran whose survival is increasingly threatened by human-induced environmental stressors, such as habitat loss, fragmentation, and climate change. This study investigates how those stressors shape the physiology, distribution, and behaviour of the species through combinations of physiological and distributional modelling and a behavioural trial. The study uses a novel approach into understanding how future risk posed by climate change could impact Lemur leaf frogs. By using field spatial data combined with physiological mechanistic modelling, the study is able to predict how Lemur leaf frogs body temperature and geographical …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of Brewers’ Yeast-Derived Functional Feed Additives In Mitigating Soybean Meal-Induced Enteritis In Atlantic Salmon, Taofik Adeiza Momoh

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Aquaculture continues to expand as a vital contributor to global food security, yet this growth introduces new challenges including the need to replace fishmeal with plant-based ingredients without compromising intestinal health. In Atlantic salmon aquaculture, one of the main constraints to plant protein inclusion is soybean meal-induced enteritis (SBMIE), a diet-related inflammatory condition that impairs mucosal function. Meanwhile, the use of functional feed additives such as those derived from brewers’ yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) have emerged as a promising strategy to mitigate such diet-induced pathologies and support immune regulation. This thesis investigates the efficacy of structurally distinct brewers’ yeast-derived additives, including …

Understanding The Evolution Of The Apical Organ In The Early Branching Metazoan, Nematostella Vectensis, Eleanor Gilbert

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

The apical organ is a key sensory structure in marine invertebrate larvae that is involved in sensory processing and neural coordination, thereby influencing larval locomotion, settlement, and metamorphosis. This thesis explores the evolution, development, and function of the apical organ and wider apical domain in cnidarian larvae, with a particular focus on Nematostella vectensis. As an early-branching metazoan, N. vectensis is a unique model for studying evolution of the apical organ, and subsequently the origins of the nervous system. Through generating tissue-specific transcriptomes and integrating this data with an existing single-cell RNA sequencing dataset, this research identified a distinct neuronal …

Prediction Of Compressive Strength Of Fly Ash-Recycled Mortar Based On Grey Wolf Optimizer–Backpropagation Neural Network, Jing Jing Shao, Lin Bin Li, Guang Ji Yin, Xiao Dong Wen, Yu Xiao Zou, Xiao Bao Zuo, Xiao Jian Gao, Shan Shan Cheng

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

The evaluation of the mechanical performance of fly ash-recycled mortar (FARM) is a necessary condition to ensure the efficient utilization of recycled fine aggregates. This article describes the design of nine mix proportions of FARMs with a low water/cement ratio and screens six mix proportions with reasonable flowability. The compressive strengths of FARMs were tested, and the influence of the water/cement ratio (w/c) and age on the compressive strength was analyzed. Meanwhile, a backpropagation neural network (BPNN) model optimized by the grey wolf optimizer (GWO), namely the GWO-BPNN model, was established to predict the compressive strength of FARM. The input …

State Space Model Of Airflow In The Human Vocal Apparatus, Ian Howard

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

To simulate both airflow and air pressure required for speech production, we developed a nonlinear state-space model of airflow in the human speech apparatus. We modeled the lungs as a mechanical, force-driven piston pump venting into a simplified larynx model, represented as a valve with time-varying resistance to airflow. The pump incorporates the effects of elasticity, viscosity, friction, and inertia, as well as differential air pressure. To maintain a constant target airflow through the larynx, a proportional-derivative (PD) controller applies force and regulates the piston. The model was implemented in MATLAB. Simulation results demonstrate that the model can maintain a …

Developing An Artificial Intelligence Framework For Identifying Fusion Blood-Based Biomarkers In Alzheimer's Disease, Ali H. Al-Nuaimi, Mohammed Kamal Nsaif, Shaymaa Al-Juboori

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is an irreversible neurological disorder, a major cause of disability among the elderly, with no effective therapeutic options currently available. It is an asymp-tomatic disease in the prodromal stages and begins many years before clinical appearances. Early diagnosis of AD allows patients to obtain appropriate healthcare assistance, accelerating the development of new medications. A biomarker that evaluates the alterations in the brain cells produced by AD in its preliminary periods might be significant for its early identification. Blood-based biomarkers (BBBMs) facilitate the early detection of AD. The BBBMs detection procedure is cost-efficient and minimally invasive. The aim …

Artificial Intelligence Powered System For Epilepsy Detection Using Eeg Biomarkers, Ali H. Al-Nuaimi, Shaymaa Al-Juboori

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

One of the most prevalent neurological disorders is epilepsy. Epileptic seizures can occurrepeatedly in people with the condition for no recognisable reason. The diagnostic methodsdependent on EEG are promising. EEG has uncovered the dynamic functioning of all brain areasthroughout time. Its low cost, non-invasiveness, and simply make it crucial for clinicalevaluations of brain function. Integrating multiple EEG biomarkers as a compound biomarkercould provide a high performance that may accelerate the diagnosis speeds. Artificial intelligencetechniques such as machine learning and deep learning provide a significant result in healthcareapplications. Logistic Regression (LR), Naive Bayes (NB), and Neural Network (NN) wereevaluated using a …

Advancing Point-Of-Care Testing With Nanomaterials-Based Screen-Printing Electrodes, S. Nazir

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Although numerous studies have been conducted on multiple screen-printing electrodes (SPEs), little emphasis has been placed on systematically assessing scholarly work on nanomaterial-equipped SPEs in bioanalytical research. The fabrication of state-of-the-art portable screen-printing measuring devices represents significant disease monitoring and diagnosis advancements. This review classifies screen-printing electrodes based on the nanomaterials used. It discusses cost, regulatory approvals for portable screen-printing electrodes in point-of-care diagnostics, sensitivity, specificity, size reductions, and proposed solutions. It looks into the significance of new nanomaterials and substrates in fabricating point-of-care diagnostic devices and miniaturisation techniques. The review primarily focuses on the recent downsizing advances that have …

From Attention To Action: Advancing Inclusivity In The Landscape Of Anatomy Education, Siobhan M. Moyes, Lily Evans, Katie Snow, Aiden Jayanth

Peninsula Medical School

Conversations about inclusivity in anatomy education are at a critical juncture. While the need for a more equitable discipline is widely recognised, significant challenges remain. As this project aimed to reimagine what a truly inclusive learning experience could like and how it might be best achieved, an inclusive approach to research methodology was essential to ensure robust and representative results. Due to the paucity in anatomical literature on this topic, the authors applied concepts from sociological research methodology and innovative methods of demographic data collection to their own discipline.

The study utilised questionnaires and focus groups to collect diverse data …

Evidence For Alcohol-Mediated Hemolysis And Erythrophagocytosis, Chaowen Zheng, Siyuan Li, Johannes Mueller, Cheng Chen, Huanran Lyu, Guandou Yuan, Ane Zamalloa, Lissette Adofina, Parthi Srinivasan, Krishna Menon, Nigel Heaton, Stephan Immenschuh, Ines Silva, Vanessa Rausch, Seddik Hammad, Steven Dooley, Shilpa Chokshi, Antonio Riva, Songqing He, Sebastian Mueller

Peninsula Medical School

Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is the most common liver disease worldwide; however, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we identify ethanol-mediated hemolysis and erythrophagocytosis as major contributors to ALD pathogenesis using both in vitro and in vivo models, as well as surrogate markers such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and CD163, a scavenger receptor for hemoglobin-haptoglobin complexes. A key initial observation was the direct optical evidence of serum hemolysis in heavy drinkers, which diminished after one week of alcohol withdrawal. In parallel, soluble CD163 (sCD163) levels declined during alcohol detoxification correlating with liver damage and fibrosis stages. Moreover, red …

Shifting Attention: Assessing Antennular ‘Gaze’ In The Hermit Crab Pagurus Bernhardus, Ari Drummond, John Spicer, Lucy Turner, Alexander Wilson, Mark Briffa

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Attention (focused information gathering) is crucial for many cognitive processes. Traditionally dichotomised as reflexive or voluntary, behavioural research often relies on vision for assessments of attention. However, invertebrate information acquisition often utilises chemosensation or mechanosensation, potentially limiting the efficacy of a vision-based approach. We examined attention in Pagurus bernhardus hermit crabs, using antennules (the crustacean first antennae) as indicators of attentional shifts. Considering a change in flicking direction as analogous to a shift in gaze, we examined if hermit crabs show evidence of reflexive or voluntary attention. We exposed crabs to a chemosensory stimulus while manipulating factors influencing vulnerability (i.e., …

Metal Contamination In Sediments Of An Estuary Impacted By Discharges Of Antifouling Waste (Yealm, Southwest England), Oliver Bradley, Gillian A. Glegg, Geoffrey E. Millward, Andrew Turner

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The Yealm is a small, protected estuary in southwest England. A paint-testing laboratory on the estuary operated from the 1920s until 2011 but sometime in 2015 or 2016, an unauthorised discharge of antifouling waste occurred. In this study, concentrations of metals and forms thereof associated with contemporary and historical antifouling formulations (As, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sn, Zn, organic Hg, organic Sn), along with other elements of geochemical or anthropogenic interest, were measured in fractionated (<180 μm) surface sediments at different distances from the discharge. Close to the discharge, concentrations of organic-Sn, representative of tributyltin, exceeded a level that requires material disposal in landfill; here and upestuary, concentrations of Cu and Hg exceeded respective predicted effect levels for estuarine sediments. Analysis of paint flakes isolated from sediments outside the laboratory revealed similar chemical signatures (high concentrations of Cu in most flakes and high levels of Hg and Sn in several cases), consistent with antifouling paint being the cause of contamination. Concentrations of Cu, Hg and organic Sn in sections of a dated core sampled close to the discharge exhibited enrichment since the opening of the laboratory nearly 100 years ago, with distinctive peaks for Hg and organic Sn coincident with periods shortly after these biocidal metals began to be phased out or restricted. These observations suggest that historical waste discharges may have been important and that any remediation measures will be challenging. The general observations might also be applicable to other facilities where contemporary and legacy antifouling waste is commonly discharged to sediments (e.g., boatyards).

Conservation Planning For Promoting Ecosystem Service Provisioning Outside Protected Area Networks, Florence Godfrey Tarimo, Francis Moyo, Claire Kelly, Linus Kasian Munishi

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Among factors that contribute to global biodiversity loss, habitat loss through unsustainable land use and land cover changes has gained prominence, with impacts being exacerbated by increasing human populations. Establishing protected area networks (PANs) is strongly advocated by national and international mechanisms, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), as a primary strategy to guide biodiversity conservation and management; however, this can undermine conservation efforts outside protected areas. Understanding how people and biodiversity overlap and interact outside protected area networks (OPAN areas) is essential for setting realistic, sustainable targets to guide biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service provision beyond PAN. …

Productivity History Of The Central Okhotsk Sea And Northeast Russia During The Mid-Pleistocene Transition, Li Lo, Wei Zhu Chen, Julie Lattaud, Yi Hsueh Tsai, Simon T. Belt, Lukas Smik, Yuen Tung Kiki Wan

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Biological productivity, shaped by climate and environmental factors, is critical to climate feedback mechanisms and the global carbon cycle. This study investigates the measurement of six phytosterols (β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, dinosterol, epi-brassicasterol, and 24-methylene cholesterol) from core MD01-2414 in the central Okhotsk Sea, covering the past 1.5 million years (Ma). These sterols serve as proxies for terrestrial and marine productivity in the central Okhotsk Sea and northeast Siberia. Sterol concentrations reflect global glacial/interglacial cycles between 1.2 and 0.6 Ma, with higher and lower values during interglacial and glacials intervals, respectively. X-ray fluorescence (Ba/Ti) and total organic carbon/total nitrogen (TOC/TN) ratios …

Tracking Palaeotemperatures In Coniacian–Maastrichtian Seas, Gregory D. Price, Bryan Low Kai Sheng

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

In this study the stable isotopes of belemnites, are presented from the Coniacian–Maastrichtian interval (∼76–66 Ma) derived from the chalks of Yorkshire and Norfolk, UK, deposited on the western North Atlantic shelf. Cathodoluminescence and elemental geochemistry of the belemnites reveals that most of the rostra were well preserved. If interpreted in terms of temperature, our oxygen isotope record reveals that during the Coniacian (at ∼43 °N) the climate was relatively warm, with maximum mean temperatures of ∼26 °C, followed by cooling to <∼21 °C during the Campanian and Maastrichtian. This overall stratigraphic trend is similar to other records, suggesting that the cooling pattern was not a regional trend and, therefore, driven predominantly by global mechanisms. Within our belemnite data, we also observe a decline in δ¹³C at the Campanian- Maastrichtian boundary, again consistent with other records. This trend has been interpreted as …

Canopy Functional Trait Variation Across Earth’S Tropical Forests, Jesús Aguirre-Gutiérrez, Sophie Fauset, Sami W. Rifai, Xiongjie Deng, Hans Ter Steege, Eleanor Thomson, Jose Javier Corral-Rivas, Aretha Franklin Guimaraes, Sandra Muller, Joice Klipel, Angelica F. Resende, Göran Wallin, Carlos A. Joly, Katharine Abernethy, Stephen Adu-Bredu, Celice Alexandre Silva, Edmar Almeida De Oliveira, Danilo R. A. Almeida, Esteban Alvarez-Davila, Gregory P. Asner, Timothy R. Baker, Maíra Benchimol, Lisa Patrick Bentley, Erika Berenguer, Lilian Blanc, Damien Bonal, Kauane Bordin, Robson Borges De Lima, Sabine Both, Jaime Cabezas Duarte

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Tropical forest canopies are the biosphere’s most concentrated atmospheric interface for carbon, water and energy1,2. However, in most Earth System Models, the diverse and heterogeneous tropical forest biome is represented as a largely uniform ecosystem with either a singular or a small number of fixed canopy ecophysiological properties3. This situation arises, in part, from a lack of understanding about how and why the functional properties of tropical forest canopies vary geographically4. Here, by combining field-collected data from more than 1,800 vegetation plots and tree traits with satellite remote-sensing, terrain, climate and soil data, we predict variation across 13 morphological, structural …

Determination Of Titanium Speciation In Consumer Plastics By Raman Microspectroscopy, Johanna Brazard, Takuji B.M. Adachi, Andrew Turner, Montserrat Filella

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The main component of objects made of plastic is an organic polymer matrix, but plastics also contain a wide range of other chemicals, such as additives, processing aids and unintentionally added substances. At present, the scientific and regulatory communities face challenges due to the lack of access to basic information on their quantity and identity, which is crucial in relation to potential toxicity, management, recycling, environmental fate and resource uses. Moreover, an additional problem is that some additives, such as titanium oxide (TiO₂), can be present in different crystallographic forms, which makes it necessary to characterise not only …

A Systematic Review Of Biomonitoring Microplastics In Environmental Matrices: Emphasis On Airborne Particles, Dry Deposits, And Comparative Analysis With Traditional Methods, Faezeh Jahedi, Neamatollah Jaafarzadeh Haghighi Fard, Andrew Turner

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The use of plastics continues to rise each year due to their versatility and essential role in industries like manufacturing, agriculture, and food packaging. However, plastics present a serious environmental challenge because they take over 500 years to decompose. During this time, they break down into tiny particles known as microplastics (MPs), which are now found everywhere, water, soil, and even the air we breathe. Recently, researchers have even detected MPs in clouds, making their presence in the atmosphere a growing concern for both the environment and public health. Traditional methods for sampling MPs in the air, such as active …

Interactions Of Anthropogenic Microfibres With The Marine Macroalga, Ulva Lactuca, Adam Collins, Andrew Turner

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Little information exists on the interactions between microfibres (MFs) and marine macroalgae. In this study, the translucent green seaweed, Ulva lactuca, has been exposed to ∼2 mg L⁻¹ suspensions of MFs prepared from dryer lint under controlled conditions, with MFs on the alga surface and remaining in seawater subsequently counted and characterised. MFs were mainly <2 mm and cellulosic, and contained various additives and chemicals used in textile treatment. Interactions of MFs with U. lactuca were spatially heterogeneous but correcting for pre-existent MFs on the surface, mean trapping efficiencies on a dry mass and surface area basis were 252 mL g⁻¹ and 0.858 mL cm⁻², respectively. Despite this heterogeneity, there was evidence of differential trapping based on fibre colour and length. Interactions between the amphiphilic algal surface and MFs are likely both hydrophobic and electrostatic and are not fully reversible, with only …

Systematic Review Of Paediatric Sudep And Epilepsy-Related Deaths To Inform A Safety Counselling Checklist For Clinical Practice, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundOne in 200 children - in the UK have epilepsy. Approximately, 1 in 1,000 children with epilepsy die yearly from Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), a leading cause of death in epilepsy. Various risk factors contributing to epilepsy mortality particularly SUDEP, some modifiable, have been identified. Structured discussion of risks results in behavioural change that reduces individual risk factors.AimTo investigate and collate risk factors for SUDEP and epilepsy mortality in children to propose a structured communication tool (“Checklist”) for person centred communication.MethodsA Systematic review for children’s epilepsy mortality risk factors was conducted. The search strategy was developed by clinical …

Autolyzed Brewer's Yeast Enhances Growth And Intestinal Health In Early Life Stages Of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus L.), Sheu Odu-Onikosi, Taofik Momoh, Ben Eynon, Nicola Pontefract, Victor Kuri, Holger Kühlwein, Daniel Merrifield

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The early life stages of fish are critical for determining the overall productivity and sustainability of aquaculture operations. This study investigated the effects of dietary autolyzed brewer's yeast (ABY) on the growth performance and intestinal health of Nile tilapia fry (Oreochromis niloticus). A 35-day feeding trial with 480 Nile tilapia fry across 12 experimental tanks tested the effects of diets supplemented with 1, 2, and 4 g/kg of ABY, with a control diet for comparison. The results indicated that the diet which had 1 g/kg ABY supplementation (ABY1) significantly enhanced the weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) while reducing …

Mind The Gap - The Need To Integrate Novel Plankton Methods Alongside Ongoing Long-Term Monitoring, Matthew M. Holland, Luis Felipe Artigas, Angus Atkinson, Mike Best, Eileen Bresnan, Michelle J. Devlin, Dafne Eerkes-Medrano, Marie Johansen, David G. Johns, Margarita Machairopoulou, Sophie Pitois, James Scott, Jos Schilder, Rowena Stern, Karen Tait, Callum Whyte, Claire Widdicombe, Abigail Mcquatters-Gollop

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Changes in plankton have important implications for ecosystem services, including supporting fish stocks, carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and oxygen production. Standard long-term plankton monitoring relies on light microscopy to identify and count plankton taxa, with methods fully supported by international standards, providing high quality trusted data. Novel methods, including imaging and molecular, offer means of collecting select types of plankton data efficiently, filling targeted knowledge gaps left by standard monitoring and generating a more complete picture of plankton dynamics. Standard and novel monitoring methods present different advantages and costs, positioning their suitability to address different management needs. Standard plankton monitoring …

Predicting Dune Evolution On A Regional Scale For Coastal Management, Liane M. Brodie, C. Stokes, G. Masselink, A. Konstantinou, T. Scott, T. Poate

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Dunes provide a range of ecosystem services, including natural resilience against coastal flooding, and it is essential for proactive coastal zone management to forecast future dune behaviour as sea levels rise. However, dunes exhibit dynamic behaviours over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, posing challenges for predicting their evolution. Here we demonstrate a high degree of variability in contemporary dune behaviour along a single coastal region, across 31 sites in Cornwall, southwest England. Rates of change varied widely, with sediment loss ranging from −12.4 m³/m/yr to a gain of +5.1 m³/m/yr, and dune retreat/advancement ranging from −3.7 m/yr …

The Impact Of Led Light Spectra On The Growth, Yield, Physiology, And Sweetness Compound Of Stevia Rebaudiana, Naofel Aljafer, Abdullah Alrajhi, Toby Anderson Von Trampe, William Vevers, Sophie Fauset, Hail Zuhir Rihan

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

This study investigated the effects of several light spectra on Stevia rebaudiana, analysing growth parameters, yield, and physiological responses within a controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) system. The experimental design involved different light treatments, including specific combinations of blue (435 nm and 450 nm), red (663 nm), and ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths (365 nm), to determine their impact on morphological development and biochemical properties, particularly focusing on the production of the sweetening compounds stevioside and rebaudioside A. Stevia rebaudiana plants cultivated from cuttings sourced from a reputable UK nursery (Gardener’s Dream Ltd., Glasgow, UK) were subjected to these spectral treatments over a period …

Hydrological Repair And Invasive Grass Removal Restore Rhizophora Racemosa Mangrove Communities In West Africa, Claudia M Agraz Hernández, Ebénézer Houndjinou, Jordan E Reyes Castellanos, Carlos A. Chan Keb, Juan Osti Saénz1, Julio C. Chávez Barrera, Janique Etienne, Romain L Glèlè Kakaï, Robert Puschendorf

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Mangrove ecosystems face significant threats from climate change and human activities. In West Benin, the invasive grass Paspalum vaginatum disrupts sedimentation and hydrology, creating anoxic conditions and nutrient imbalances. To address this, we implemented a cost-effective restoration strategy focused on hydrological repair, engaging local communities to excavate 26 artificial channels and clear 19 existing ones, restoring tidal flow to 30 ha of degraded mangrove forest. Of this, 20 ha were planted with Rhizophora racemosa propagules, while 10 ha remained unplanted due to unsuitable micro-topographic conditions. This intervention, costing $1394.3 USD per hectare, adjusted sediment levels to match natural micro-topography, enabling …

Practical Application Of Artificial Intelligence For Ecological Image Analysis: Trialling Different Levels Of Taxonomic Classification To Promote Convolutional Neural Network Performance, Amelia E.H. Bridges, Eleanor Cross, Kyran P. Graves, Nils Piechaud, Antony Raymont, Kerry L. Howell

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs), into ecological research presents new opportunities for the automated analysis of image-based data. This study explores the practical application of CNNs for ecological image analysis by trialling annotation to different levels of taxonomic classification to determine their impact on model performance. We systematically compare various annotation strategies, evaluating their effects on the accuracy of CNNs in ecological contexts; as well as considering the feasibility of manually annotating training data to different levels. We demonstrate that variation in annotations groupings (animal, phylum or morphology) has little impact on model performance, …

Ecotoxicological Effects Of Sunscreen Derived Organic And Inorganic Uv Filters On Marine Organisms: A Critical Review, Anneliese A. Hodge, Frances E. Hopkins, Mahasweta Saha, Awadhesh N. Jha

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Sunscreens are topical personal care products that provide protection against the sun's ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. Ultraviolet (UV) filters are compounds added to sunscreens to block, absorb, or reflect the sun's UV rays, but are of major emerging concern due to their widespread use and global distribution. They pose a significant risk to marine organisms owing to their chemical properties, including high lipophilicity which increases their bioavailability. The present review identifies and summarises the factors that contribute to UV filter pollution, their sources, pathways, and effects on marine organisms. We identify and evaluate the current knowledge …

Is Sparse Local Ecological Knowledge Accurate Enough For Policy? A Seagrass Mapping Case Study From Five Greek Islands In The Eastern Aegean Sea, Konstantis Alexopoulos, Tim J. Grandjean, Anastasia Miliou, Theodoros Tsimpidis, Abigail Mcquatters-Gollop

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The low cost, high applicability and community-based nature of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) data for mapping marine benthic habitats has become increasingly popular in recent years. Nonetheless, due to persisting technocratic distrust of LEK often stemming from the unquantifiable nature of bias, the embedding of empirical data at policy levels often lags. Currently, protocols rely on high participation from stakeholders, however, such quotas are often unfeasible, with common limiting factors being the low numbers of knowledgeable individuals in remote parts of the world, and the lack of community trust in the conservation mechanism. In this study, we test whether data …

Restoration Of River Connectivity Enables Long-Distance Spawning Migrations In A Potamodromous Fish, Dagmara Błońska, Ali Serhan Tarkan, Demetra Andreou, Jonathan D. Bolland, Peter Davies, Jamie R. Dodd, Phillipa Gillingham, Catherine Gutmann Roberts, Fatima Amat-Trigo, Sadi Aksu, Andrew Hindes, O. Jonas Palder, Mark Yeldham, J. Robert Britton

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Rivers across the world are increasingly fragmented due to anthropogenic barriers, with the restoration of connectivity often using fish passes. Fish passes are, however, usually designed for anadromous species, despite ecologically important non-anadromous species being present in the communities impacted by fragmentation. To assess the outcomes for non-anadromous fishes of the installation of multiple fish passes and weir modifications, the movements of the potamodromous European barbel Barbus barbus were evaluated in the lower River Severn basin, western Britain, which was fragmented by six weirs (two on a tributary, four on the Severn mainstem). Movements of individual fish were measured using …