Life Sciences Commons^™

Sar Ship Detection Based On Shallow Feature Guidance, Chenxu Xia, Peng Chen, Ya Zhang, Ying Li

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Maritime ship detection is of great significance for both military security and civilian applications. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), with its all-weather and all-day imaging capability, plays a vital role in maritime surveillance. Nevertheless, SAR ship targets typically appear small in scale, embedded in complex backgrounds, blurred at boundaries, and easily confused with near-shore features, which pose substantial challenges for accurate detection. To address these issues, we propose a SAR ship detection network that integrates dual enhancements of small-object representation and edge information. The network introduces two key components: the Small Target Refine Pyramid (STRP) to strengthen shallow feature representation for …

Wildfire And Fuel Treatments In Utah: A Practical Guide And Outcomes From An Oak-Maple Ecosystem, Annie E. Prescott

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Wildfire is a natural part of Utah’s landscapes, but as wildfires become more extreme and communities continue to expand into wildland areas, it is increasingly important to understand how wildfires behave and how their negative effects can be mitigated. One way to reduce wildfire risks and protect life, property, and ecosystem services is through fuel treatments — actions that reduce the amount and arrangement of flammable vegetation through mechanical removal, wildland fire, or other methods.

Information on wildfire behavior and fuel treatments is abundant but often scattered, ecosystem-specific and difficult to access. In addition, most research in the Western U.S. …

Toward Optimizing Fruit Production In Utah Soils: Apple Salt Tolerance Screening And Tart Cherry Fertility Management, Kaitlin Dabbs

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Fruit production in Utah can be challenging due to local climate and soil conditions. Tart cherries and apples are major fruit crops in Utah, and improvements to these cropping systems would be beneficial for farmers and local consumers. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate desired improvements for these crops. The first study looked for salt tolerance in ten new apple rootstocks. Salty soils can be found throughout the state limiting the land suitable for apple production. When grown in salty soils apple trees often have reduced growth and production potential. A specialized drip irrigation system was constructed in a greenhouse …

Long-Term Analysis Of Pm2.5 Elemental Composition And Source Contributions In Coastal Urban Environments Of Corpus Christi And Houston In Texas, Sai Deepak Pinakana, Jeremy A. Sarnat, Amit U. Raysoni

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Long-term assessments of fine particulate matter play a key role in identifying persistent and emerging emission contributors. Coastal urban areas are highly susceptible to transboundary dust and wildfire events in addition to local pollution sources. Multi-decadal assessments in these regions using chemical speciation data could offer insights into major pollutant sources and their trends. This study utilizes nearly two decades of PM2.5 elemental composition data at two major coastal cities in Texas: Houston and Corpus Christi. Fourteen trace elements were analyzed to characterize the seasonal variability and long-term source evolution using a combination of Spearman’s correlation analysis, principal component analysis, …

Evaluating The Transformation Of Land Cover, Land Surface Temperature, And Urban Heat Island In Sylhet Division Through Geospatial Analysis, Md Fazle Rabbi Joy, Md Abdur Rahim, Md Mahfuzar Rahman, Sumiaya Amin Preota, Mohammed Mahathee Hossain

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Rapid and unplanned urbanization has significantly transformed land use/land cover (LULC), contributing to increased land surface temperature (LST) and the emergence of urban heat islands (UHIs), especially in ecologically fragile regions. This study focuses on the Sylhet Division of Bangladesh, assessing LULC changes, LST dynamics, and UHI expansion from 1994 to 2024 using Landsat satellite imagery, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized difference water index (NDWI) indices, and field-based LST validation. Unsupervised classification reveals a 191.75% increase in settlement areas and a 25.65% loss in forest cover. Correspondingly, the highest LST zones (> 30 °C) were absent in 1994 but …

Harnessing Digital Twin (Dt) Technology For Food Security And Climate Resilience In Sub-Saharan Africa (Ssa), Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Francis Chianu, Siyabusa Mkuhlani, Francis Muthoni, John Michael Humphries Choptiany, Franck B.N. Tonle, Bonoukpoe M. Sokame, Mercy Lung’Aho

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces chronic food insecurity despite possessing approximately 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land. Field trials generate evidence but are costly and insufficiently scaled to address accelerating climate and demographic pressures. Digital twin (DT) technology, defined as the continuous, bidirectional virtual replication of physical systems using real-time data, supports monitoring, modelling, and optimisation of agrifood systems. To our knowledge, however, no published synthesis has examined DT agriculture research through the lens of SSA food systems or smallholder farming realities. A PRISMA-compliant systematic review was conducted across bibliographic databases using a pre-defined Boolean search and adapted PICOS eligibility …

Managing Collaboration Under Conservation Crisis: Trust, Risk, And Control In The Gulf Of Maine Fishery Management Network, Evelyn Roozee, Owen Temby, Dongkyu Kim, Antonia Sohns, Anthony Rocha Lima, Jasper R. De Vries, Gordon M. Hickey

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Transboundary fishery management and the intertwined conservation of critically endangered species represent significant governance challenges that require ongoing inter-organizational communication, collaboration, and collective action to achieve shared objectives. Previous research suggests that inter-organizational collaborative performance depends heavily on different dimensions of trust and complementary control mechanisms to mitigate the perceived risks of collaborating and enable the reciprocal sharing of resources and the coordination of activities. However, it is unclear how proposed relationships between trust, risk, and control are shaped by disruptions to established transboundary management networks. This study presents the results of survey research conducted in the Gulf of Maine …

The Structure And Regulatory Mechanism Of The Emrb Rna Motif In Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Isabella J. Mezzenga, Brian M. Lee

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporters aid bacteria in expelling toxic compounds such as antibiotics, bile acids, and other substances. Previous bioinformatic studies identified the emrB motif as a potential regulatory RNA element. In Lactobacillus, this RNA motif is generally found in the intergenic region upstream of an MFS transporter gene with homology to the emrB gene from Escherichia coli. Secondary structure predictions of the intergenic region were used to define the structural features of this RNA motif. The emrB motif comprises two hairpins, though inclusion of neighboring regions is predicted to stabilize alternative secondary structures. A potential rho independent terminator …

Cropland Change And Prime Farmland In Calloway County, Kentucky, 2015–2025: A Gis Analysis Of Corn And Soybean Fields, Shiba Hari Dhakal Shiba

Scholars Week

Understanding where cropland change occurs relative to soil quality helps indicate whether farmland is being used on the most productive land. This study used GIS-based change detection analysis to evaluate changes in corn and soybean fields in Calloway County, Kentucky, between 2015 and 2025 and to test whether new corn and soybean fields were located on prime farmland. USDA Cropland Data Layer maps for 2015 and 2025 (30 m resolution) were reclassified into seven classes and compared in ArcGIS Pro, and the results were overlaid on USDA NRCS gSSURGO farmland classification. Combined corn and soybean area declined about 19% from …

Autofield-Poa: A Hybrid Automl–Metaheuristic Framework For Automated Feature Selection In Recommender Systems, Mohammed Dheyaaldeen Taha, Waleed Kareem Ahmed, Rana Saad Mohammed, Zied O. Ahmed

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

The problem of automated feature selection is one of the most important aspects of modern recommender systems, as overestimating the number of feature fields used, which can increase model complexity, inference latency, and performance degradation due to redundancy and noise. Although differentiable Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) based feature selection methods, including AutoField, are effective, they remain susceptible to initialization and local optima. Conversely, population-based metaheuristic algorithms are effective at global exploration, but are often inefficient in high-dimensional discrete spaces when randomly initialized. This paper presents AutoField-POA, a hybrid AutoML-metaheuristic framework that combines a differentiable controller with the Pelican Optimization Algorithm …

A Yolov8x Framework For Breast Lesion Localization Using Real-World Mammographic Images, Hadeel Abdul Majeed Ghazi, Yarub Alazzawi, Hussein Hasan Nsaif

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality among women worldwide, and early and accurate mammographic assessment is important for timely diagnosis and improved patient survival. However, accurate breast lesion detection requires overcoming the issues of low lesion contrast, dense breast tissue, image noise, and variation in mammographic acquisition. In this study, we present a YOLOv8x-based computer-aided detection framework for automated breast lesion localization in full-field digital mammography (FFDM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) images acquired under heterogeneous clinical conditions. The framework was developed and evaluated using 501 clinical mammographic images obtained from multiple mammography systems, namely GE …

An Object-Level Semantic Video Transmission Framework For Iomt Based On Lightweight Yolo And Motion Triggering, Iman Kadhum Abbood, Alaa Shawqi Jaber

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

In Internet of Multimedia Things (IoMT) environments, video capture and frame transmission consume substantial sensor energy and impose considerable network overhead because of redundant data transmission. Traditional approaches often rely on repeated pixel-level operations and frequent execution of deep segmentation models, thereby increasing computational and transmission costs. This paper proposes an Object-Level Semantic Video Transmission Framework (OSVT) for resource-constrained IoMT environments in which high-definition visual data must be transmitted over low-bandwidth wireless multimedia sensor networks (WMSNs). The proposed OSVT incorporates a dual-stage wake-up mechanism that remains in sleep mode during static scenes, thereby reducing transmission load. The high-power YOLOv11-seg module …

Phenological Flexibility In Nesting Grassland Birds Over A Half Century Informs Timing Of Management, Kristin S. Ellis, Michael J. Anteau, Lawrence D. Igl, Garrett J. Macdonald, Neal D. Niemuth, Aaron T. Pearse, Jill A. Shaffer, Christine A. Ribic, Josh L. Vest, Masanori Abe, Daniel S. Ackerman, Marissa A. Ahlering, Johanna N. Alpert, Anahit Amiri, Kent Andersson, Jacqueline K. Augustine, Kristel K. Bakker, Jeffrey L. Beck, Adam C. Behney, Jacy S. Bernath-Plaisted, Todd R. Bogenschutz, Eric K. Bollinger, Lauren E. Bortolotti, Andy J. Boyce, Jeffrey D. Brawn, Fred C. Bryant, Andrew J. Campomizzi, Jay D. Carlisle, J Matthew Carroll, Rachel Carroll, John P. Carroll, Justin R. Clarke, Michael R. Conover, Reesa Y. Conrey, Jaime J. Coon, Kyle A. Cutting, Stephen K. Davis, Dawn M. Davis, Duane R. Diefenbach, Jonathan B. Dinkins, R Andrew Dreelin, Victoria J. Dreitz, Courtney J. Duchardt, Michael W. Eichholz, Susan N. Ellis-Felege, Kevin S. Ellison, Bradley C. Fedy, Samantha D. Fino, Robert J. Fletcher Jr, Dillon T. Fogarty, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, Pamela R. Garrettson, Robert J. Gates, Erin L. Gelling, James J. Giacomo, Alex Glass, Cheri L. Gratto-Trevor, Ryan D. Haffele, Christian A. Hagen, Vanessa B. Harriman, Samuel W H Harryman, David A. Haukos, Robert T. Haynam, Heather A. Herakovich, James R. Herkert, Fidel Hernandez, Jason M. Hill, H Jeffrey Homan, Torre J. Hovick, Jonathan A. Jenks, William E. Jensen, Aaron N. Johnston, Sydney-Marie Jones, Carly S. Kelly, Kaylan M. Kemink, Silka L F Kempema, Dylan C. Kesler, Christopher P. Kirol, Robert W. Klaver, Page E. Klug, Jesse L. Kolar, Nicola Koper, Kyle J. Kuechle, Jonathan D. Lautenbach, Zoe M. Lebrun-Southcott, David W. Londe, Scott R. Loss, Cullen M. Mackenzie, Patrick A. Magee, Douglas L. Manzer, John P. Mccarty, Gywm Mckee, Ann E. Mckellar, Lance B. Mcnew, James R. Miller, Megan C. Milligan, Ashlee K. Minor, Rocco J. Murano, Les D. Murray, David E. Naugle, Clayton K. Nielsen, Christopher J. Norment, Sarah B. Ogden, Lindsay A. Parsons, Brian D. Peer, Noah G. Perlut, James C. Pittman, Christopher D. Pollentier, Larkin A. Powell, Aaron C. Pratt, John P. Pulliam, Nancy M. Raginski, Dan R. Reinking, Kaitlyn M. Reintsma, Terry Z. Riley, Kevin M. Ringelman, Joseph R. Robb, Scott K. Robinson, Andres N. Rosales, Charlotte L. Roy, Kayla A. Ruth, Brett K. Sandercock, Kevin K. Sedivec, Steve K. Sherrod, Justin J. Shew, Mason L. Sieges, Jenny L. Sika, Susan K. Skagen, Cassandra G. Skaggs, Joseph Smith, Jennifer A. Smith, Kurt D. Smith, Alex J. Solem, Joshua D. Stafford, Glenn E. Stauffer, Matthew D. Stephenson, Lee Sutcliffe, Amber E. Swicegood, Jason Tack, Evan P. Tanner, Catrina V. Terry, Wendy P. Tori, Ashley M. Unger, Kelly R. Vanbeek, William E. Vetter, Jay A. Vonbank, Brett L. Walker, Michael D. Whitson, Maiken Winter, Kimberly A. With, Donald H. Wolfe, Amy A. Yakel Adams, Benjamin Zuckerberg

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The timing of biological events for wildlife species reflects and influences ecological and evolutionary processes and helps guide management actions to meet conservation objectives. Climate change may cause phenological shifts across trophic levels and ecosystems, which can have broad ecological impacts. Shifts may also result in mistiming between management practices based on historical conditions and current biological events, reducing the effectiveness of natural resource management and conservation efforts. We analyzed nesting phenology patterns over recent decades across North America for 44 species of grassland-nesting birds, including waterfowl, upland gamebirds, shorebirds, and passerines, many of which have experienced precipitous population declines. …

Calculation Of Alpha-Decay Half-Lives Using A Numerical Approach, Daniel Suescún-Díaz, Rosemberg Gómez-Noguera, Diego Rasero-Causil

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

This study introduces a numerical approach for estimating alpha-decay half-lives of alpha-emitting nuclei using a modified five-parameter Woods-Saxon potential. The radial Schrödinger equation is solved with the Numerov method to calculate the wave function and the barrier transmission probability, without relying exclusively on the WKB approximation. The calculations were performed for 398 nuclides taken from the NUBASE2020 database. Of these, 264 nuclides were used for the MWS5 parameter-adjustment stage, whereas the remaining 134 nuclides were reserved for an independent evaluation of the model. The results were compared with those obtained from two reference models: the modified Gamow-Like Model (MGLM) and …

Antioxidant, Anti-Tyrosinase, Anti-Elastase, And Anti-Collagenase Activities Of Propolis Extracts From The Stingless Bee Tetragonula Laeviceps (Smith, 1857), Tri Hadi Handayani, Dimas Andrianto, Sih Kahono, Pamungkas Rizki Ferdian, Raden Lia Rahadian Amalia, Muhamad Ridwan

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Stingless bees incorporate propolis into their nest as a structural and protective material. Information remains limited on how solvent fractionation affects the antioxidant and enzyme-inhibitory activities of propolis produced by Indo nesian Tetragonula laeviceps. This study examined a crude extract prepared with 70% ethanol together with the n- hexane, ethyl acetate, and water fractions obtained from it. The analysis comprised total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), three antioxidant assays (ABTS, CUPRAC, TBARS), and inhibition of tyrosinase, elastase, and collagenase. The largest TPC and TFC values were obtained from the ethyl acetate fraction, at 85.93 ± 1.28 mg GAE/g …

Agrivoltaics: Combining Food And Solar Power On Agricultural Lands, Dharla Soteros, Kendall Becker, Spencer J. Good, Ngoni Mufute, Matt Yost, Logan Mitchell, Scott Hotaling

All Current Publications

Utah’s ranchers and farmers face pressure to sell land to developers, conserve water, and manage increasing production costs (Li et al., 2019). One way producers can keep growing food while diversifying and increasing revenue is by integrating agriculture and solar electricity generation on the same land, a practice known as agrivoltaics. In this fact sheet, the authors describe agrivoltaic setup options, summarize agrivoltaics' impacts on livestock and crop production, and discuss implementation economics.

Carbamate Toxicosis In Carnaby’S Cockatoos (Zanda Latirostris) In A Drying Climate, A Le Souef, Z M. Kissane, David Forshaw, K J. Riley, K Payne, T Hawkins, J Coggins, J M. Shephard, R Vaughn-Higgins, K S. Warren

Climate Science Research Articles

Pesticide exposure poses a growing threat to the health of wild avian populations worldwide. This report documents the first detections of agricultural chemicals in the tissues of wild Carnaby’s cockatoos (Zanda latirostris) in Western Australia. The events, characterised by morbidity and mortality, occurred in a national park near Perth, following periods of elevated summer temperatures over two seasons. Toxicological analysis of liver and digestive tract contents identified multiple pesticides and an herbicide, including methomyl, a highly toxic carbamate insecticide. Hot weather conditions preceding the events potentially increased the cockatoos’ use of alternative water sources for drinking, such as those in …

Restructuring Our Agriculture Industry To Reduce The Eutrophication Of The Great Lakes, Kathryn B. Dunn

Tredway Library Prize for First-Year Research

No abstract provided.

Valuation Methods And Their Relevance In Achieving Marine Protected Areas Targets: A Systematic Review, Jacob Ankamah, Stephen Hynes, Daragh O'Leary

Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics

The prolific human-induced pressures on marine ecosystems leading to negative externalities such as beach erosion, biodiversity loss, and climate change are matters of global concern. Marine protected areas (MPAs) have emerged as a tool to conserve marine biodiversity and support human livelihoods. This paper reviews the global research landscape, the evolution of concepts and the relevance of valuation techniques related to the assessment of the contribution of MPAs to societal welfare. The review indicates that less than 3% of the wider MPA literature explores the economic valuation of MPA designation. Of those, there is an obvious preference for non-market-based methods …

A Sneak Peek Into Prehistory: Curating An Interactive Fossil Display To Spark Interest In The Ua Little Rock Natural History Museum, Syd Joheim, Rene Shroat-Lewis

Research and Creative Works Expo

Arkansas does not currently have a dedicated natural history museum, creating a unique opportunity for UA Little Rock following the recent donation of an expansive fossil collection. In response, the university established a natural history museum initiative intended to benefit both the campus community and the broader public across Arkansas. This initiative provides accessible resources for learning about natural science, evolution, and the state’s prehistoric past, areas that are often underrepresented in informal science education. It also serves as a platform for outreach, student engagement, and undergraduate research, strengthening UA Little Rock’s role in science education, workforce development, and community …

Development Of Gluten-Free Cookies Produced From Blends Of Chickpea Flour And Soybean Flour With Rice Flour, Cao Thi Bich Thao, Diana Widiastuti, Chau Minh Thuan, Nguyen Ngoc Thanh Tien, Pham Van Hung

Chimica et Natura Acta

The incorporation of chickpea and soybean flours may improve the nutritional quality of gluten-free cookies, particularly their protein and resistant starch contents. This study investigated the effects of various levels of chickpea or soybean flour (10%, 30%, and 50% w/w) substituted to rice flour on the physicochemical and pasting properties of composite flours, and cookie quality, resistant starch, and sensory properties of gluten-free cookies were evaluated. Proximate analysis revealed that fortification increased the protein from 6.8% to 22.36% in the composite flours. The composite flours showed lower swelling index and higher water absorption capacity than rice flour and both peak …

Community-Based Water Management Through Cultural Ecosystem Services: Traditional Wisdom And Modern Adaptation In Senjoyo Spring, Indonesia, Puji Winarti, Sri Haryani, Sri Wardani, Langlang Handayani

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Small-scale freshwater ecosystems play vital ecological and cultural roles. However, community-based water management (CBWM) often lacks a clear analytical approach to integrating cultural ecosystem services (CES) and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), limiting the practical understanding of culturally grounded governance. To address this gap, this qualitative study explores the interactions between CES and TEK, analyzes their roles within CBWM, and identifies their implications for sustainable water governance. The integration between cultural value and local ecological knowledge makes Senjoyo Spring an appropriate location for this study. Data were collected through interviews with 20 key informants, field observations, forum group discussions (FGDs), and …

Community-Based Well Testing And Outreach To Mitigate Human Health Risk From Unsafe Drinking Water, W. Adam Sigler, Katharine Sutphen, Margaret J Eggers, Kaleena Miller, Michelle Grocke-Dewey

Journal of Extension

Twenty-two percent of groundwater wells tested nationwide have one or more contaminants above a health threshold, yet many private well owners are unaware of these risks because they have not tested their water. Researchers piloted a community well testing clinic for education/outreach and surveyed participants about outcomes. Two months later, 75% of participants with high or intermediate health risk water quality results had taken action or intended to, indicating that community private well testing clinics can be effective in mitigating human health risks from contaminated drinking water.

Good Governance In The Concept Of Climate Justice: Decarbonisation Policies In Economic Considerations Of Losses And Sacrifices, Daryanti Daryanti, Albertus Sentot Sudarwanto, Erna Dyah Kusumawati, Rosita Candrakirana

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Projections of losses resulting from the impacts of climate change in Indonesia are estimated to reach USD 30.5 million, affecting four key sectors: agriculture, water supply, health, and the maritime sector. This study shows that good governance based on climate justice in the implementation of decarbonization policies is the most important factor in avoiding long-term economic losses caused by the adverse impacts of climate change or investing in climate resilience. This study employed a normative methodology using a statutory approach to examine efforts related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The findings of this research indicate that regulations in Indonesia, …

Radiological And Chemical Safety Assessment Of Drinking Water From Treatment Plants And Rivers In Kut City, Iraq, Ahmed A. Alswaty, Hadi D. Alattabi

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Climate change and increasing anthropogenic activities, particularly wastewater discharge into rivers, have raised pollution levels in the water sources of Kut City, necessitating an assessment of the radiological and chemical safety of drinking water at the city's treatment plants. Thirteen water samples were collected, comprising ten treated and three raw water samples from the source rivers. An HPGe detector was used to measure the radionuclides ²¹⁴Bi, ²¹⁴Pb, ²¹²Bi, ²¹²Pb, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs. All measured radionuclides were below the minimum detectable activity (MDA). ICP-OES analysis supported these findings, as U concentrations in most samples were …

Fisheries Science Update - Pilbara Demersal Scalefish Resource - October 2026, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Science Updates

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) monitors the status of Western Australia’s demersal scalefish resources by undertaking periodic stock assessments on key indicator species.

This summary provides key outcomes of the 2026 Pilbara red emperor stock assessment (Resource Assessment Report No. 12).

Resource Assessment Report No. 12: North Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource: Pilbara Red Emperor 2026 Assessment, Fabian I. Trinnie, Rubie Evans-Powell, Brett Crisafulli, S. A. Hesp, Ainslie Denham, Dion Boddington, Craig L. Skepper

Resource Assessment Reports

Executive Summary

The North Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource (NCDSR) comprises ecological suites of tropical demersal fish species that occur predominantly in inshore (20–250 m deep) and offshore (> 250 m deep) waters of the North Coast Bioregion (NCB). More than 60 demersal species are landed by fisheries operating in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions of the NCB each year, including higher-valued species, such as red emperor (Lutjanus sebae), goldband snapper (Pristipomoides multidens), rankin cod (Epinephelus rankini), and ruby snapper (Etelis boweni), and lower-valued species, such as bluespotted emperor (Lethrinus punctulatus).

The Pilbara Demersal Scalefish Resource (PDSR) is harvested by the …

First Evaluation Of Contrast-Enhanced Micro-Xct As A Tool For Organismal And Reproductive Trait Observations In Corals Based On Scans Of Thesea Nivea Deichmann, 1936, Erin E. Easton

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Micro-X-ray computed tomography (micro-XCT) with contrast enhancement is considered a non-destructive tool that is increasingly being applied to explore the internal and external structures of vertebrates and invertebrates. Although micro-XCT has been applied to corals to study skeletal features, contrast enhancement has not been applied to evaluate the utility for visualization of soft tissue structures in corals. This study is the first to evaluate the utility of contrast enhancement to visualize internal and external features, including soft tissue features, of octocorals. Contrast staining of a Thesea nivea specimen with 2.5% Lugol's iodine permitted visualization of soft tissues with sufficient density …

Blue Carbon Ecosystems As Climate Solutions: Sequestration Across Coastal And Marine Environments, Allison K. White, Richard J. Kline, Md. Saydur Rahman

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) such as mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses, sequester significant amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. These ecosystems capture and store carbon in biomass and sediments over long periods. Other marine ecosystems, including the open ocean, kelp forests, bivalve reefs, and coral reefs, have been excluded from the BCEs, but they have the potential to serve as crucial blue carbon sinks or to support adjacent BCEs. Climate change, however, poses severe threats to these ecosystems. Rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, and ocean acidification can lead to habitat loss, reduced biodiversity, and impaired carbon sequestration capacity. Consequently, anthropogenic …

Exploring The Significance Of Kenya's Indigenous And Emerging Blue Foods For Sustainable Aquaculture Development. A Review, Jonathan Munguti, Mavindu Muthoka, Domitila Kyule, Esther Magondu, Kevin Obiero, Jimmy Mboya, Menaga Meenakshisundaram, Tanga M. Chrysantus, Gerald Kwikiriza, Francis K. Njonge

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Kenya's aquaculture sector is at a pivotal stage, transitioning from a historical reliance on Nile tilapia and African catfish toward a more diversified production portfolio that integrates indigenous and emerging freshwater and marine species. This shift is increasingly recognized as essential to enhance climate resilience, food security, and ecosystem health. This systematic review synthesizes more than two decades (2000 to 31st January, 2026) of peer-reviewed literature to evaluate the biological suitability, culture performance, and socio-ecological roles of underutilized native taxa, including Ningu (Labeo victorianus), Jipe tilapia (Oreochromis jipe), freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium spp.), rabbitfish (Siganus sutor), marine-acclimatized Nile tilapia, mud crab …