Assessing inter-beach differences in semi-terrestrial arthropod assemblages on Maltese pocket sandy beaches (Central Mediterranean)

The distinctiveness of macrofaunal assemblages on different sandy beaches in the Maltese Islands was previously suggested by different single-season studies. A multi-seasonal sampling programme using pitfall trapping was implemented on four Maltese beaches to test the occurrence of this phenomenon. A total of 29,302 individuals belonging to 191 species were collected over a 2-year period, during which the beaches were sampled once per calendar season. A total of 77 species were recorded from single Maltese beaches only, of which nine were psammophiles. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analyses of pitfall trap species-abundance data resulted in a weak separation pattern, with samples grouping mainly in terms of beach and island rather than in terms of season or year of sampling, No physical variable could conclusively explain these patterns. It is concluded that although operating on Maltese beaches, macrofaunal assemblage distinctiveness is weaker than originally thought and can be attributed to the presence/absence or abundance of just a few psammophilic species. It is postulated that this phenomenon may be related to the ‘pocket beach’ nature of Maltese beaches, where headlands on either side of the beach to a large extent prevent the occurrence of longshore currents, resulting in semi-isolation of the populations of psammophilic species. A large number of single-beach records reported in this study highlight the high degree of beta diversity and spatial heterogeneity of Maltese beaches, and the conservation importance of the individual beach macrofaunal assemblages.peer-reviewe

The data we have and the information we still need... lessons from SHAREMED consultation

10 Mediterranean Operational Network for the Global Ocean Observing System (MONGOOS) Workshop, 10 Years of Operational Oceanography in the Mediterranean Sea - Towards a Full Ocean Data Integration, 26-27 October 2021Scientific research priorities and the need for assessing the marine environmental status and appropriately manage natural resources have encouraged the development of multidisciplinary and a wide range of observing capabilities, ranging from discrete in situ sampling to the use of large scale satellite remote sensing. In addition, long-term efforts have been made by the EU as well as by international organisations (EMODnet, Copernicus, OBIS, IODE, Reef Check ¿) to collect, harmonise and make data and information available to different types of end-users. However, due to the complex and rapidly changing dynamics of marine ecosystems, current monitoring procedures in the Mediterranean need to be revised to address current and most urgent environmental threats. The Interreg Med project SHAREMED (Sharing and enhancing capabilities to address environmental threats in the Mediterranean Sea) organized a virtual workshop aimed to share knowledge on the state of the art of observation systems and to identify the main environmental threats in the Mediterranean Sea. Leading representatives of major international projects and initiatives in marine observation systems and relevant to address the main environmental threats the Mediterranean Sea participated in the workshop. Also, a wide range of stakeholders (research institutions, national, regional and local authorities, NGOs) across the Mediterranean region attended the online workshop while others were contributed through a SHAREMED online survey. The information gathered helped to compare data and information available from current observation systems with the needs to address present and future threats, and thus to identify and prioritise gaps that should be addressed in designing a future transnational joint observation system. The outcomes of the SHAREMED stakeholder consultation highlighted the need to improve, upgrade and integrate physical, biological and chemical observations and assessment systems to cover from high-resolution/small-scale to large scale processes. In addition, the results from this poll highlighted the need for more efficient governance, the establishment of cooperation frameworks, increase data sharing among different entities involved in marine monitoring and assessment and between neighbouring countries, as well as ensuring long-term sustainability of the transnational joint observation syste

Global, Regional, And National Consumption Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, Fruit Juices, And Milk: A Systematic Assessment Of Beverage Intake In 187 Countries

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Correction to: Impact of nonoptimal intakes of saturated, polyunsaturated, and trans fat on global burdens of coronary heart disease. [J Am Heart Assoc. (2016) 5, e002891.] Doi:10.1161/JAHA.115.002891.

In the article by Wang et al, "Impact of Nonoptimal Intakes of Saturated, Polyunsaturated, and Trans Fat on Global Burdens of Coronary Heart Disease," which published online January 20, 2016, and appeared in the January 2016 issue of the journal (J Am Heart Assoc. 2016;5:e002891 doi:10.1161/ JAHA.115.002891), the full list of the Global Burden of Diseases Nutrition and Chronic Diseases Expert Group (NutriCoDE) group were erroneously listed as authors in the HTML version of the article. The publisher regrets the error. The online version of the article has been updated and is available at http://jaha.ahajournals.org/content/5/1/ e002891. © 2016 The Authors

Impact of nonoptimal intakes of saturated, polyunsaturated, and trans fat on global burdens of coronary heart disease

Background: Saturated fat (SFA), x-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fat (PUFA), and trans fat (TFA) influence risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), but attributable CHD mortalities by country, age, sex, and time are unclear. Methods and Results: National intakes of SFA, n-6 PUFA, and TFA were estimated using a Bayesian hierarchical model based on country-specific dietary surveys; food availability data; and, for TFA, industry reports on fats/oils and packaged foods. Etiologic effects of dietary fats on CHD mortality were derived from meta-analyses of prospective cohorts and CHD mortality rates from the 2010 Global Burden of Diseases study. Absolute and proportional attributable CHD mortality were computed using a comparative risk assessment framework. In 2010, nonoptimal intakes of n-6 PUFA, SFA, and TFA were estimated to result in 711 800 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 680 700-745 000), 250 900 (95% UI 236 900-265 800), and 537 200 (95% UI 517 600-557 000) CHD deaths per year worldwide, accounting for 10.3% (95% UI 9.9%-10.6%), 3.6%, (95% UI 3.5%-3.6%) and 7.7% (95% UI 7.6%-7.9%) of global CHD mortality. Tropical oil-consuming countries were estimated to have the highest proportional n-6 PUFA- and SFAattributable CHD mortality, whereas Egypt, Pakistan, and Canada were estimated to have the highest proportional TFA-attributable CHD mortality. From 1990 to 2010 globally, the estimated proportional CHD mortality decreased by 9% for insufficient n-6 PUFA and by 21% for higher SFA, whereas it increased by 4% for higher TFA, with the latter driven by increases in low- and middle-income countries. Conclusions: Nonoptimal intakes of n-6 PUFA, TFA, and SFA each contribute to significant estimated CHD mortality, with important heterogeneity across countries that informs nation-specific clinical, public health, and policy priorities. © 2016 The Authors