A Standardized Workflow Based on the STAVIRO Unbaited Underwater Video System for Monitoring Fish and Habitat Essential Biodiversity Variables in Coastal Areas

Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBV) related to benthic habitats and high trophic levels such as fish communities must be measured at fine scale but monitored and assessed at spatial scales that are relevant for policy and management actions. Local scales are important for assessing anthropogenic impacts, and conservation-related and fisheries management actions, while reporting on the conservation status of biodiversity to formulate national and international policies requires much broader scales. Measurements must account for the fact that coastal habitats and fish communities are heterogeneously distributed locally and at larger scales. Assessments based on in situ monitoring generally suffer from poor spatial replication and limited geographical coverage, which is challenging for area-wide assessments. Requirements for appropriate monitoring comprise cost-efficient and standardized observation protocols and data formats, spatially scalable and versatile data workflows, data that comply with the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles, while minimizing the environmental impact of measurements. This paper describes a standardized workflow based on remote underwater video that aims to assess fishes (at species and community levels) and habitat-related EBVs in coastal areas. This panoramic unbaited video technique was developed in 2007 to survey both fishes and benthic habitats in a cost-efficient manner, and with minimal effect on biodiversity. It can be deployed in areas where low underwater visibility is not a permanent or major limitation. The technique was consolidated and standardized and has been successfully used in varied settings over the last 12 years. We operationalized the EBV workflow by documenting the field protocol, survey design, image post-processing, EBV production and data curation. Applications of the workflow are illustrated here based on some 4,500 observations (fishes and benthic habitats) in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans, and Mediterranean Sea. The STAVIRO’s proven track-record of utility and cost-effectiveness indicates that it should be considered by other researchers for future applications.publishedVersio

Évaluation de scénarios de gestion des ressources du lagon Sud-ouest de la Nouvelle-Calédonie : Intégration des connaissances et modélisation spatialement explicite

Thesis on different resource management scenarios of the southwestern lagoon of New CaledoniaThèse portant sur différents scenarios de gestion des ressources du lagon Sud-ouest de la Nouvelle-Calédoni

Evaluating Management Scenarios for Fished Resources of the New Caledonian Lagoon Using a Spatially-Explicit Model

In the New Caledonian lagoon, fish populations live in a highly-fragmented habitat and seascape, and many are exploited by commercial, recreational and subsistence fishers. Although fishing has been increasing over decades, fisheries sustainability has not been assessed. We used the ISIS-Fish tool to build a spatially-explicit dynamic model for two major fish resources: spangled emperor and coral trout. The model was constructed and parameterized from many existing data habitat, fish populations, and fishing pressures. After calibration, it was used to simulate the outcomes of several management scenarios including MPA, size limitation, and increase in commercial fisher number. Results showed that depending on the species, an MPA could result in a significant resource increase within its boundaries. Size limitation highly reduced line fishing catches, but its benefits depended on the survival rate of released fish. Increasing the number of commercial fishers significantly affected spangled emperor but not coral trout.Dans les lagons de Nouvelle-Calédonie, les populations de poissons vivent dans un habitat et un paysage marin très fragmentés, et les ressources sont exploitées par des pêcheurs commerciaux, récréatifs et de subsistance. Bien que la pêche ait augmenté au fil des décennies, la durabilité de la pêche n'a jamais été évaluée. Nous avons utilisé l'outil ISIS-Fish pour construire un modèle dynamique spatialement explicite pour deux principales ressources halieutiques: le bec de cane et la saumonée. Le modèle a été construit et paramétré à partir de nombreuses données existantes sur l'habitat, les populations de poissons et les pressions de pêche. Après calibration, il a été utilisé pour simuler les résultats de plusieurs scénarios de gestion et d'évolution, notamment des AMP, la limitation de la taille et l'augmentation du nombre de pêcheurs commerciaux. Les résultats ont montré que, selon l'espèce, l'instauration d'une AMP entraînerait une augmentation significative des ressources en son périmètre. La limitation de la taille réduit fortement les prises de pêche à la ligne, mais ses bénéfices dépendent du taux de survie des poissons relâchés. L'augmentation du nombre de pêcheurs commerciaux impacte considérablement le bec de cane mais pas la saumonée

Decadal increase in the number of recreational users is concentrated in no-take marine reserves

In coastal areas, demographic increase is likely to result in greater numbers of recreational users, with potential consequences on marine biodiversity. These effects may also occur within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which are popular with recreational users. Our analysis builds on data collected over a ten-year period during three year-round surveys to appraise changes in recreational boating activities in coral ecosystems. Results show that the number of boaters has greatly increased, particularly so within MPAs during weekends and the warm season, when peaks in boat numbers have become more frequent. We also observed that the number of anchored boats has increased over the period. These changes may be resulting in biophysical impacts that could be detrimental to conservation objectives in MPAs. This steady increase over time may cause changes in the spatial and temporal distribution of users and in their practices, thus highlighting the importance of monitoring recreational activities

Avantages et inconvénients de la stéréo vidéo : applicabilité au protocole pour STAVIRO

La stéréo vidéo repose sur l’utilisation synchronisée de 2 caméras permettant de produire une image en 3 dimensions. Elle permet par triangulation d’obtenir une estimation précise de la taille de chaque individu et de mesurer les distances. En 2007 en Nouvelle Calédonie l’ IFREMER a développé des systèmes mono-vidéo autonomes et rotatifs (STAVIRO et MICADO). La caméra est déployée 12 minutes depuis un bateau sans immersion de plongeurs, le temps d’effectuer 3 rotations complètes. L’objectif de l’étude est de réaliser un bilan comparatif entre l’utilisation d’un système STAVIRO classique et l’utilisation d’un système équipé en stéréo vidéo. 59 stations ont été réalisées entre le 2 et le 13 juin 2014 dans le lagon sud ouest de la Nouvelle Calédonie

Genetic analyses of the electrocardiographic QT interval and its components identify additional loci and pathways

The QT interval is an electrocardiographic measure representing the sum of ventricular depolarization and repolarization, estimated by QRS duration and JT interval, respectively. QT interval abnormalities are associated with potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmia. Using genome-wide multi-ancestry analyses (>250,000 individuals) we identify 177, 156 and 121 independent loci for QT, JT and QRS, respectively, including a male-specific X-chromosome locus. Using gene-based rare-variant methods, we identify associations with Mendelian disease genes. Enrichments are observed in established pathways for QT and JT, and previously unreported genes indicated in insulin-receptor signalling and cardiac energy metabolism. In contrast for QRS, connective tissue components and processes for cell growth and extracellular matrix interactions are significantly enriched. We demonstrate polygenic risk score associations with atrial fibrillation, conduction disease and sudden cardiac death. Prioritization of druggable genes highlight potential therapeutic targets for arrhythmia. Together, these results substantially advance our understanding of the genetic architecture of ventricular depolarization and repolarization