Coral assemblages at higher latitudes favour short-term potential over long-term performance

The persistent exposure of coral assemblages to more variable abiotic regimes is assumed to augment their resilience to future climatic variability. Yet, while the determinants of coral population resilience across species remain unknown, we are unable to predict the winners and losers across reef ecosystems exposed to increasingly variable conditions. Using annual surveys of 3171 coral individuals across Australia and Japan (2016-2019), we explore spatial variation across the short- and long-term dynamics of competitive, stress-tolerant, and weedy assemblages to evaluate how abiotic variability mediates the structural composition of coral assemblages. We illustrate how, by promoting short-term potential over long-term performance, coral assemblages can reduce their vulnerability to stochastic environments. However, compared to stress-tolerant, and weedy assemblages, competitive coral taxa display a reduced capacity for elevating their short-term potential. Accordingly, future climatic shifts threaten the structural complexity of coral assemblages in variable environments, emulating the degradation expected across global tropical reef

Minimal and mild paediatric brain injury: A 3-year cohort of consecutive presentations

OBJECTIVE: To determine the number of children with minimal and mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their demographic factors, causes, associated signs/symptoms and management. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of consecutive presentations to a tertiary paediatric centre. RESULTS: There were 2043 presentations of minimal and mild TBI over 3 years (minimal TBI = 79.7% [n = 1628]; mild TBI = 20.3% [n = 415]). Mean age was 5.12 years (SD = 5.14) with children ≤3 years comprising 53.2% (n = 1086). There was a bimodal distribution in mild TBI with peaks at 0-2 and 13-15 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1.6:1. Only 34.6% of GCS scores were documented. Falls caused most injury. Overall, 6.3% (n = 129) required hospital admission and 29.1% (n = 594) were reviewed clinically. CONCLUSION: Minimal and mild TBI is common, representing a significant burden on individuals, families and healthcare providers. High rates of follow-up impact on the healthcare system and warrant further investigation.Remo Nunzio Russo, James Rice, Phei Ming Chern, Jeremy Rafto