Soft bottom benthos and responses to climate variation and eutrophication in Skagerrak

Skagerrak has been subject to several anthropogenic influences over the past decades, with climate change and eutrophication being considered as the most serious and large-scale disturbance factors. The present study reports monitoring data from six soft bottom stations in 50–380 m depth at the Norwegian Skagerrak coast aimed at investigating to which degree changes in environmental conditions have affected species communities and diversity. Sampling was carried out yearly in the period 1990–2010. Links between benthic community patterns and climate factors and physicochemical variables from the water mases were examined using uni- and multivariate statistical methods. Throughout the period species richness gradually increased. Although all stations showed distinct species assemblages, the community composition gradually changed towards increased importance of sensitive small molluscs and tube-building annelids concurrent with a general temperature increase and reduction of nutrients in the water masses. The trend was largely similar over the stations, indicating that large-scale changes in the Skagerrak water masses were driving factors compared to possible influences from local sources. The faunal changes during the study period thus indicate an improved status of the soft bottom benthos, which possibly could be related to a reduction in the eutrophication. On a shorter scale, species richness was found to vary in relation to North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) Index in the previous year (decline), nutrient concentrations in spring (decline), and winter water temperature (incline).acceptedVersio

Repeated environmental baseline survey at AF Miljøbase Vats in conjugation with the Ekofisk cessation EPRD project

In this study, the environmental contamination by AF Environmental Base Vats (AFEBV) was assessed before and after the facilities demolition activities in the Ekofisk cessation EPRD project. Seafloor debris and contaminant concentrations in soil, groundwater and fjord sediments were measured in 2015 and compared with similar data from the 2009 baseline study. ROV inspections found generally normal biological conditions of the algae and benthic animals but also much anthropogenic scrap at the seabed, although the amount has decreased by 2015 in comparison to 2009 as a result of clean-up operations. The survey revealed that soil in the ultimate vicinity of the base has become more contaminated with PAHs, metals and mercury in particular. The annual monitoring programme revealed peak concentrations in moss and soil samples in 2010, but subsequent actions to reduce spreading of dust from the working area have resulted in decreasing contaminant levels in both types of samples. Assessment of groundwater samples showed low levels of all contaminants, indicating that the impermeable deck at the base prevents contaminant transfer. Sediments collected in the fjord adjacent to the demolition plant showed PAH levels largely in class II, but one PAH component and TBT was in class IV. Similar findings of TBT and PAH have been reported before 2009 and no evidence was found for a consistent change in the level of these contaminant between 2009 and 2015. Levels of PCB7, mercury and other metals were generally low (class I) in sediment samples from all fjord stations.AF Offshore Deco

Changes in pulmonary function and feasibility of portable continuous laryngoscopy during maximal uphill running

Objective To evaluate changes in pulmonary function and feasibility of portable continuous laryngoscopy during maximal uphill running. Methods Healthy volunteers participated in an uphill race. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were obtained before and 5 and 10 min after finishing the race. Capillary blood lactate concentration ([BLa-]) and Borg score for perceived exertion were registered immediately after the race. One participant wore a portable video-laryngoscope during the race, and the video was assessed for technical performance. Results Twenty adult subjects participated with a mean (SD) age of 40.2 (9.7) years. Mean (SD) race duration and post-exercise [BLa-] was 13.9 (2.3) min and 10.7 (2.1) mmol/L, respectively, and the median (range) Borg score for perceived exertion was 9 (5–10). Mean percentage change (95% CI) 5 and 10 min post-exercise in FEV1 were 6.9 (3.7 to 10.2) % and 5.9 (2.7 to 9.0) %, respectively, and in FVC 5.2 (2.3 to 8.1) % and 4.7 (1.6 to 7.9) %, respectively. The recorded video of the larynx was of good quality. Conclusions Maximal aerobic field exercise induced bronchodilatation in the majority of the healthy non-asthmatic participants. It is feasible to perform continuous video-laryngoscopy during heavy uphill exercise.publishedVersio

Revisjon av fjæreindeksen i Nordsjøen sør – Norskehavet sør, og av referanseverdier for bløtbunnsfauna i Skagerrak

Prosjektleder: Janne GitmarkDe reduserte artslistene som benyttes for å beregne fjæreindeksen (RSLA/RSL) i økoregionene Nordsjøen sør, Nordsjøen nord og Norskehavet sør er revidert basert på fjæresonedata fra 356 stasjoner (totalt 663 undersøkelser). Tester viste at de reviderte artslistene kan benyttes uten å endre de eksisterende klassegrensene. Det er gjort nye beregninger av referanseverdiene for tilstandsklassifisering av bløtbunn, hvor trålpåvirkning er oppgitt som en faktorvariabel. Analysene er gjort med utgangspunkt i de samme datasett og modeller som ble benyttet for å beregne grenseverdiene gitt i Veileder 02:2018. Resultatene tilsier at det ikke er behov for å endre på referanse- og grenseverdiene.MiljødirektoratetpublishedVersio

Prediction of long-term remission in patients following discontinuation of anti-TNF therapy in ulcerative colitis: a 10 year follow up study

Background - The long-term outcomes of Ulcerative colitis (UC) after discontinuation of biological therapy are largely unknown. There is also a lack of accurate and validated markers that can predict outcome after withdrawal accurately. The aims of this study were to describe the long-term outcomes in UC patients following cessation of anti-TNF therapy and explore potential biomarkers as an approach towards precision medicine. Methods - Seventy-five patients with moderate to severe UC treated to remission with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were included in the study. This is a follow-up of previously reported UC outcomes. The patients were categorized as either “Remission” or “Relapse”. The “Relapse” group was divided into subgroups determined by the highest treatment level needed to obtain remission the last 3 years of observation: non-biological therapy, biological therapy or colectomy. Remission were divided in long term remission (LTR), those using immunomodulating drugs (LTR + imids) and those using only 5-amino-salicylate (5-ASA) treatment (LTR) for the past 3 years. Analyses of mucosal gene expression by real-time PCR were performed. Results - The median (IQR) observation time of all patients included was 121 (111–137) months. Of the 75 patients, 46 (61%) did not receive biological therapy, including 23 (31%) in LTR ± imids. Of these 23 patients, 16 (21%) were defined as LTR with a median observation time of (IQR) 95 (77–113) months. In total 14 patients (19%) underwent colectomy during the 10 years after first remission. Mucosal TNF copies/µg mRNA  Conclusion - In this 10-year follow-up of UC of patients with moderate to severe disease, 61% of patients experience an altered phenotype to a milder disease course without need of biological therapy. Twenty-one percent of the patients were LTR without any medication except of 5-ASA. Mucosal TNF gene expression and IL1RL1- transcripts may be of clinical utility for long term prognosis in development of precision medicine in UC

Genetic diversity of the NE Atlantic sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis unveils chaotic genetic patchiness possibly linked to local selective pressure

We compared the genetic differentiation in the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis from discrete populations on the NE Atlantic coast. By using eight recently developed microsatellite markers, genetic structure was compared between populations from the Danish Strait in the south to the Barents Sea in the north (56–79°N). Urchins are spread by pelagic larvae and may be transported long distances by northwards-going ocean currents. Two main superimposed patterns were identified. The first showed a subtle but significant genetic differentiation from the southernmost to the northernmost of the studied populations and could be explained by an isolation by distance model. The second pattern included two coastal populations in mid-Norway (65°N), NH and NS, as well as the northernmost population of continental Norway (71°N) FV. They showed a high degree of differentiation from all other populations. The explanation to the second pattern is most likely chaotic genetic patchiness caused by introgression from another species, S. pallidus, into S. droebachiensis resulting from selective pressure. Ongoing sea urchin collapse and kelp forests recovery are observed in the area of NH, NS and FV populations. High gene flow between populations spanning more than 22° in latitude suggests a high risk of new grazing events to occur rapidly in the future if conditions for sea urchins are favourable. On the other hand, the possibility of hybridization in association with collapsing populations may be used as an early warning indicator for monitoring purposes.publishedVersio

Co‑creating coastal sustainability goals and indicators

Indicators can be powerful tools to measure progress towards achieving societal goals, and many indicators have been developed for sustainability goals nationally and internationally. When indicators are developed solely through top-down approaches without engaging local knowledge, they often fall short of capturing local perceptions and concerns relevant to decision-making. The aim of this project was to co-create a Coastal Barometer and its component indicators, together with local knowledge-holders and communities, using the Ocean Health Index as a framework. As a frst step, local knowledgeholders from six communities dispersed across Northern Norway were invited to articulate local sustainability goals and the required knowledge for eight broad topics pertaining to global OHI goals: small-scale fsheries, food production, sense of place, tourism, food production, clean waters, carbon storage and economy and livelihoods. In this paper, our main focus is the co-design phase of the Coastal Barometer, namely eliciting sustainability goals. We thus, present locally desired sustainability goals and sub-goals and the process of eliciting these goals. We also include suggestions from local knowledge-holders on how to reach these goals (i.e. proposed management measures), along with researchers’ assessment of data availability (part of the co-production process) for developing indicators to measure progress towards these goals. Finally, we discuss the benefts and challenges of co-developing sustainability goals and indicators with local knowledge-holders. We conclude that co-design can increase the quality of sustainability assessments by enriching the view of coastal sustainability. This knowledge can subsequently be used to align indicators with local sustainability goals as well as to the local context where the indicators will be applied. Blue growth · Ecosystem services · Public participation · Sustainability indicators · Sustainable development goals · Ocean health indexpublishedVersio

Pharmacodynamic mechanisms behind a refractory state in inflammatory bowel disease

Background and aims - Biological therapy for inflammatory bowel disease is efficient in many cases but not all. The underlying molecular mechanisms behind non-response to biological therapy in inflammatory bowel disease are poorly described. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the mucosal cytokine transcript profile in non-immunogenic, non-responder patients with adequate trough level. Material and methods - Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 21) and Crohn’s disease (CD) (n = 12) with non-response to biological therapy (anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or vedolizumab) were included. Reference groups were A: untreated patients with UC or CD at debut of disease who had severe 1-year outcome, B: patients with UC or CD treated to endoscopic remission with biological agents, and C: healthy normal controls. Mucosal transcripts of TNF, interleukin (IL)17 and IL23 were measured by reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results Of the non-responders, 2 out of 12 CD and 1 out of 21 UC patients needed surgery during follow-up. Of the remaining non-responding patients, 8 out of 10 CD and 12 out of 20 UC patients switched biologic treatment. The remaining 2 CD and 8 UC patients continued treatment with the same biological agent with the addition of steroids, immunomodulators (AZA/MTX) and /or local steroids/5ASA. Twelve (8 UC/4 CD) out of 20 IBD patients were still non-responders after changing biological therapy to either anti-TNF (2), vedolizumab (9) or ustekinumab (1). The transcripts of IL17, IL23 and TNF were significantly upregulated in the non-response group compared to normal controls and patients in remission. In UC, 24% of the non-responders had normal mucosal TNF transcript indicating a non-TNF mediated inflammation. No obvious differences in gene expression were observed between primary and secondary non-responders, nor between anti-TNF and vedolizumab non-responders. Conclusions - Mucosal transcripts of IL17 and IL23 are highly associated with non-response to biological therapy, whereas some UC patients may also have a non-TNF mediated inflammatory pathway

Drone and ground-truth data collection, image annotation and machine learning: A protocol for coastal habitat mapping and classification

Aerial drone imaging is an efficient tool for mapping and monitoring of coastal habitats at high spatial and temporal resolution. Specifically, drone imaging allows for time- and cost-efficient mapping covering larger areas than traditional mapping and monitoring techniques, while also providing more detailed information than those from airplanes and satellites, enabling for example to differentiate various types of coastal vegetation. Here, we present a systematic method for shallow water habitat classification based on drone imagery. The method includes: • Collection of drone images and creation of orthomosaics. • Gathering ground-truth data in the field to guide the image annotation and to validate the final map product. • Annotation of drone images into – potentially hierarchical – habitat classes and training of machine learning algorithms for habitat classification. As a case study, we present a field campaign that employed these methods to map a coastal site dominated by seagrass, seaweed and kelp, in addition to sediments and rock. Such detailed but efficient mapping and classification can aid to understand and sustainably manage ecologically and valuable marine ecosystems.publishedVersio

Kartfesting og klassifisering av marin natur på Svalbard – et prosjekt for Svalbards miljøvernfond

Dette prosjektet har hatt som mål å integrere, modellere og tilgjengeliggjøre marine grunnkart for Svalbard. Dyp, strøm, saltholdighet, temperatur, ulike terrengforhold (inkl. skråning, bassenger) og områder med skred og usortert sediment har blitt modellert og/eller avgrenset på grov skala (for hele Svalbard), på mellomskala (for utvalgte fjorder) og/eller på fin skala (for Kongsfjorden). Vi har sammenstilt data på tare og sedimentlevende dyr (infauna) og klassifisert hvilke områder i Kongsfjorden som mest sannsynlig egner seg for tarevekst og som potensielt kan ha over gjennomsnittlig høyt antall individer i sedimentene.publishedVersio