Soft coral (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea) diversity and distribution along a latitudinal environmental gradient and the role of their chemical defense against predatory fish in the Red Sea

The Red Sea located between 30°N and 12°30’N separates Africa and Asia. It has a length of 1,840 km, an average width of 280 km and a total area of approximate 4,600,000 km2. The Red Sea harbors complex ecosystems such as coral reefs, sea grass beds and mangrove forests. Soft corals are an important component of the reef communities and contribute substantially to the biological diversity in coral reefs of tropical Indo - Pacific region, and indeed globally. This study not only assessed the soft coral distribution along the Saudi Arabian Red Sea including diversity, abundance and coverage but also valuated their relation with environmental parameters along the large scale latitudinal gradient and at the local scale. Moreover, this study asks whether the conspicuous dominance of xeniid soft corals in the Red Sea reef systems may be due to their chemical defenses against predator reef fishes. Rapid ecological assessments (REA) and line intercept transect (LIT) methods were used in the field along the Saudi Arabian coast to record the cover and abundance of soft coral species. For a comprehensive diversity assessment, around 1,000 soft coral samples were collected at 24 sites along the Saudi Arabian coast from shallow (1 m) to deep reefs (38 m) during three subsequent field trips. Further, the environmental parameters such as nutrients, temperature, sedimentation, turbidity and reef types were also recorded during these expeditions. The field surveys were carried out in February and September 2011, and February/March 2012 and the laboratory experiments were conducted from September 2013 to March 2014 at GEOMAR in Kiel, Germany. Seventeen genera of alcyonacean soft corals belonging to five families were found along the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast by REA: Tubipora, Rhytisma, Klyxum, Cladiella, Sarcophyton, Lobophytum, Sinularia, Anthelia, Xenia, Ovabunda, Heteroxenia, Paralemnalia, Litophyton, Sterenonephtya, Nepthea, Dendronephthya and Siphonogorgia. The highest numbers of genera (fifteen genera) were found in the northern reefs. The southern reefs featured the lowest number of soft corals with eight genera. The most abundant genera throughout the Red Sea included, Sinularia, Xenia/Ovabunda, Sarcophyton and Tubipora. These were found at all reef sites. In contrast, the genera Cladiella, Stereonephtya, Heteroxenia and Siphonogorgia were found in few areas only. Overall, the genera Xenia/Ovabunda and Sinularia featured highest abundances contributing most to the coverage of soft corals throughout the Red Sea. The LIT determined the average soft coral areal cover was 11% (± 3.8 SE), relative cover was lowest at southern reefs (Farasan: 0.6% ± 0.9) and highest in the northern reefs (Al-Wajh: 27% ± 2.1). Eightytwo soft coral species were identified belonging to Alcyoniidae (six genera, 40 species), Xeniidae (five genera, 24 species), Nephtheidae (six genera, 15 species), Nidaliidae, Briareidae and Tubiporidae (one species each). This study reported new distribution of soft coral species records for the Red Sea. Bray-Curtis clustering of soft coral species composition and abundance grouped the sites into three main clusters: representing northern (Maqna and Al-Wajh), central (Yanbu, Jeddah, Rabigh, Mastura and Al-Lith) and southern (Doga and Farasan) reef areas respectively. The factors affecting the pattern of soft coral communities along coastal reefs of Saudi Arabia are substrate, depth, slope morphology, temperature, nutrients, sedimentation and turbidity. These factors, in combination, explained 65% of the total variation in soft coral community structure. The northern section had highest soft coral coverage (27% ± 4.1 SE) and diversity (44 species) and was characterized by lowest temperatures, low nutrient concentrations, steep reef slopes and low sedimentation. The southern section had lowest soft coral coverage (0.6% ± 0.9) and diversity (26 species), and was characterized by high temperature, high nutrient concentration, mostly shallow reef slopes and high sedimentation. The central section was intermediate in cover, diversity and the key environmental factors. Xeniids, notably Xenia/Ovabunda species, were important components of soft coral communities in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea. Xeniids occupied 80% of soft coral cover in some areas. The relative coverage of xeniids ranged from 7.5% (± 2.1 SE) to 14.4% (± 1.9) in the off-shore reefs, and from 0.6% (±1.1) to 8.5% (±3.3) in the near-shore reefs, in response to major differences in water quality parameters. Eighteen species were recorded at the off-shore sites and 13 species in near-shore locations at Al-Wajh, Yanbu, Mastura/Rabigh and Jeddah. Multivariate analyses showed that xeniid communities differed between the eight reef sites surveyed. The xeniid communities were significantly different between inshore and offshore at Yanbu, Mastura/Rabigh and Jeddah reefs. They not only differ in coverage but also in the predominating genera and species diversity varies under different habitat conditions. Community composition partly varied according to anthropogenic impacts at some locations. The crude extract of two xeniid species deterred reef fishes in the field at the Red Sea to 86% (Ovabunda crenata) and 92% (Heteroxenia ghardaqensis. In the laboratory, natural concentration of crude extract deterred the reef fish Thalassoma lunare (moon wrasse) to 83% and 85%, respectively. Crude extract still showed unpalatable for moon wrasse even when reduced to 12.5% of the natural concentration in both species. While Heteroxenia ghardaqensis lacking sclerites, the sclerites of Ovabunda crenata species did not deter moon wrasses in the laboratory even under the increasing double natural concentration suggesting that sclerites provide structural support rather than antifeeding defenses. We conclude from that, the role of chemical defense against predation contributes to the conspicuous abundance of these soft coral species in the Red Sea

Soft coral (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea) diversity and distribution along a latitudinal environmental gradient and the role of their chemical defenses against predatory fish in the Red Sea

The Red Sea located between 30°N and 12°30’N separates Africa and Asia. It has a length of 1,840 km, an average width of 280 km and a total area of approximate 4,600,000 km2. The Red Sea harbors complex ecosystems such as coral reefs, sea grass beds and mangrove forests. Soft corals are an important component of the reef communities and contribute substantially to the biological diversity in coral reefs of tropical Indo - Pacific region, and indeed globally. This study not only assessed the soft coral distribution along the Saudi Arabian Red Sea including diversity, abundance and coverage but also valuated their relation with environmental parameters along the large scale latitudinal gradient and at the local scale. Moreover, this study asks whether the conspicuous dominance of xeniid soft corals in the Red Sea reef systems may be due to their chemical defenses against predator reef fishes. Rapid ecological assessments (REA) and line intercept transect (LIT) methods were used in the field along the Saudi Arabian coast to record the cover and abundance of soft coral species. For a comprehensive diversity assessment, around 1,000 soft coral samples were collected at 24 sites along the Saudi Arabian coast from shallow (1 m) to deep reefs (38 m) during three subsequent field trips. Further, the environmental parameters such as nutrients, temperature, sedimentation, turbidity and reef types were also recorded during these expeditions. The field surveys were carried out in February and September 2011, and February/March 2012 and the laboratory experiments were conducted from September 2013 to March 2014 at GEOMAR in Kiel, Germany. Seventeen genera of alcyonacean soft corals belonging to five families were found along the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast by REA: Tubipora, Rhytisma, Klyxum, Cladiella, Sarcophyton, Lobophytum, Sinularia, Anthelia, Xenia, Ovabunda, Heteroxenia, Paralemnalia, Litophyton, Sterenonephtya, Nepthea, Dendronephthya and Siphonogorgia. The highest numbers of genera (fifteen genera) were found in the northern reefs. The southern reefs featured the lowest number of soft corals with eight genera. The most abundant genera throughout the Red Sea included, Sinularia, Xenia/Ovabunda, Sarcophyton and Tubipora. These were found at all reef sites. In contrast, the genera Cladiella, Stereonephtya, Heteroxenia and Siphonogorgia were found in few areas only. Overall, the genera Xenia/Ovabunda and Sinularia featured highest abundances contributing most to the coverage of soft corals throughout the Red Sea. The LIT determined the average soft coral areal cover was 11% (± 3.8 SE), relative cover was lowest at southern reefs (Farasan: 0.6% ± 0.9) and highest in the northern reefs (Al-Wajh: 27% ± 2.1). Eightytwo soft coral species were identified belonging to Alcyoniidae (six genera, 40 species), Xeniidae (five genera, 24 species), Nephtheidae (six genera, 15 species), Nidaliidae, Briareidae and Tubiporidae (one species each). This study reported new distribution of soft coral species records for the Red Sea. Bray-Curtis clustering of soft coral species composition and abundance grouped the sites into three main clusters: representing northern (Maqna and Al-Wajh), central (Yanbu, Jeddah, Rabigh, Mastura and Al-Lith) and southern (Doga and Farasan) reef areas respectively. The factors affecting the pattern of soft coral communities along coastal reefs of Saudi Arabia are substrate, depth, slope morphology, temperature, nutrients, sedimentation and turbidity. These factors, in combination, explained 65% of the total variation in soft coral community structure. The northern section had highest soft coral coverage (27% ± 4.1 SE) and diversity (44 species) and was characterized by lowest temperatures, low nutrient concentrations, steep reef slopes and low sedimentation. The southern section had lowest soft coral coverage (0.6% ± 0.9) and diversity (26 species), and was characterized by high temperature, high nutrient concentration, mostly shallow reef slopes and high sedimentation. The central section was intermediate in cover, diversity and the key environmental factors. Xeniids, notably Xenia/Ovabunda species, were important components of soft coral communities in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea. Xeniids occupied 80% of soft coral cover in some areas. The relative coverage of xeniids ranged from 7.5% (± 2.1 SE) to 14.4% (± 1.9) in the off-shore reefs, and from 0.6% (±1.1) to 8.5% (±3.3) in the near-shore reefs, in response to major differences in water quality parameters. Eighteen species were recorded at the off-shore sites and 13 species in near-shore locations at Al-Wajh, Yanbu, Mastura/Rabigh and Jeddah. Multivariate analyses showed that xeniid communities differed between the eight reef sites surveyed. The xeniid communities were significantly different between inshore and offshore at Yanbu, Mastura/Rabigh and Jeddah reefs. They not only differ in coverage but also in the predominating genera and species diversity varies under different habitat conditions. Community composition partly varied according to anthropogenic impacts at some locations. The crude extract of two xeniid species deterred reef fishes in the field at the Red Sea to 86% (Ovabunda crenata) and 92% (Heteroxenia ghardaqensis. In the laboratory, natural concentration of crude extract deterred the reef fish Thalassoma lunare (moon wrasse) to 83% and 85%, respectively. Crude extract still showed unpalatable for moon wrasse even when reduced to 12.5% of the natural concentration in both species. While Heteroxenia ghardaqensis lacking sclerites, the sclerites of Ovabunda crenata species did not deter moon wrasses in the laboratory even under the increasing double natural concentration suggesting that sclerites provide structural support rather than antifeeding defenses. We conclude from that, the role of chemical defense against predation contributes to the conspicuous abundance of these soft coral species in the Red Sea

Biodiversity and characteristic of octocoral communities (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea and Gorgonacea) in Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area, Quang Nam province

The article showed the biodiversity and characteristic of Octocoral communities in Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area (MPA). A total of 165 samples were collected and identified as material of the Octocorals from 9 survey sites of Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area. The material represents 45 taxa belonging to 12 genera and seven families. Among them, Sinularia genus has the highest diversity with 19 species, Sarcophyton with 8 species and Lobophytum with 6 species. The other genera have one or two species. The diversity of Octocorals species in Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area is quite high after Nha Trang and Ly Son MPAs. Soft coral cover in Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area is the highest with average coverage 21.2% (±7.0 SE) compared with other MPAs of Vietnam. Distribution of Octocorals in Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area is mainly at 4–6 m (average coverage obtained 30%) and the cover decreases to the end of reef distribution. Our results showed that there are two distinguishing assemblages of Octocoral communities whose differences are the distribution characteristics, dominance of genera and species diversity

ĐÁNH GIÁ HIỆU QUẢ TẠI CÁC MÔ HÌNH DOANH NGHIỆP THAM GIA QUẢN LÝ RẠN SAN HÔ VÌ MỤC ĐÍCH DU LỊCH SINH THÁI Ở VỊNH NHA TRANG

The models of coral reef management for the development of ecological tourism were conducted under the coordination among the 3 businesses (Khanh Hoa Salanganes Nest Company, Vinpearl Nha Trang and Tri Nguyen Tourism), Institute of Oceanography and Khanh Hoa Department of Natural Resources Environment. The analysis of trends of coral cover, density of reef fishes and big size invertebrates at 3 sites allowed assessing effectiveness of 3 years’ management. The stability of hard coral cover, except the decline at southern Hon Tam due to impacts of the typhoon in Nov., 2017 indicated no increased damage to corals from human activities. However, the dominance of small size fish ( 10 cm in length), the decline of density of larger size fish and the poorness of large size invertebrate showed continuous overexploitation at these managed areas.Mô hình quản lý rạn san hô vì mục đích du lịch sinh thái được thực hiện với sự tham gia của Viện Hải dương học, Sở Tài nguyên và Môi trường Khánh Hòa và 3 doanh nghiệp bao gồm Công ty TNHH Nhà nước MTV Yến Sào, Công ty TNHH Vinpearl Nha Trang và Công ty Du lịch Trí Nguyên. Hiệu quả sau 3 năm quản lý được đánh giá thông quan phân tích xu thế biến động về độ phủ san hô, mật độ cá rạn và sinh vật đáy kích thước lớn. Sự ổn định độ phủ san hô ở khu vực Sau Sao - Vinpearl và Bãi Sạn - Hòn Miếu chứng tỏ san hô không bị suy thoái. Trong khi đó, độ phủ san hô ở Nam Hòn Tằm tăng rõ rệt trong giai đoạn 2015–2017 nhưng giảm đột ngột vào năm 2018 do bão số 12 diễn ra vào tháng 11/2017. Tổng mật độ cá rạn biến động không rõ rệt với ưu thế là nhóm cá có kích thước nhỏ hơn 10 cm, trong khi nhóm cá có kích thước lớn suy giảm đáng kể về mật độ. Mật độ động vật đáy kích thước lớn rất thấp và chủ yếu thuộc về các nhóm không có giá trị kinh tế. Phân tích này chứng tỏ rằng hoạt động quản lý đã ngăn chặn được tác động của con người gây suy thoái san hô nhưng chưa có hiệu quả với hoạt động khai thác nguồn lợi quá mức

Coral Communities, in Contrast to Fish Communities, Maintain a High Assembly Similarity along the Large Latitudinal Gradient along the Saudi Red Sea Coast

The Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast is characterized by a strong environmental gradient from north (28.5°N) to south (16.5°N) with challenging conditions for coral growth particularly in the south (high temperature and nutrient input). We investigated whether assemblies of reef-building corals and the distribution of functional groups follow a latitudinal pattern in the Red Sea, and whether these changes affect the assembly structure of coral associated organisms (e.g. fishes). Functional groups were defined based on life-history traits and functional role. 13 reefs along the north-south gradient, including 5 potentially polluted reefs were investigated. Results showed a substantially weaker latitudinal shift in the assembly structure of coral communities than of fishes communities and of other benthic reef taxa. Competitive fast growing branching and tabular species (mainly Acropora), as well as rather stresstolerant slow growing bulky species (e.g. Porites, Goniastrea, Favites, Favia) were fairly evenly distributed along the north-south axis despite strong changes of environmental conditions. This seems on the one hand attributable to the high species richness within a given functional group (functional redundancy) and on the other hand to a high acclimatization / adaptation potential of some Red Sea coral species. The prime ecosystem service of the coral community, the provision of a habitat complex, is thereby maintained throughout the gradient. In contrast to the coral community, the assembly of the fish community shifts along the environmental gradient with higher abundances of small wrasses and butterfly fishes in the north, and overall higher abundance of fishes including large fishes in the south. This shift seems linked to higher food availability in the south. Altered assembly structures of coral communities were found in reefs close to a source of pollution with either an increased relative abundance of stresstolerant species or a general decrease of coral abundance, latter case accompanied by a substantial reduction in fish abundance

Memory in low-grade glioma patients treated with radiotherapy or temozolomide: a correlative analysis of EORTC study 22033-26033.

EORTC study 22033-26033 showed no difference in progression-free survival between high-risk low-grade glioma receiving either radiotherapy (RT) or temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy alone as primary treatment. Considering the potential long-term deleterious impact of RT on memory functioning, this study aims to determine whether TMZ is associated with less impaired memory functioning. Using the Visual Verbal Learning Test (VVLT), memory functioning was evaluated at baseline and subsequently every 6 months. Minimal compliance for statistical analyses was set at 60%. Conventional indices of memory performance (VVLT Immediate Recall, Total Recall, Learning Capacity, and Delayed Recall) were used as outcome measures. Using a mixed linear model, memory functioning was compared between treatment arms and over time. Neuropsychological assessment was performed in 98 patients (53 RT, 46 TMZ). At 12 months, compliance had dropped to 66%, restricting analyses to baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. At baseline, patients in either treatment arm did not differ in memory functioning, sex, age, or educational level. Over time, patients in both arms showed improvement in Immediate Recall (P = 0.017) and total number of words recalled (Total Recall; P < 0.001, albeit with delayed improvement in RT patients (group by time; P = 0.011). Memory functioning was not associated with RT gross, clinical, or planned target volumes. In patients with high-risk low-grade glioma there is no indication that in the first year after treatment, RT has a deleterious effect on memory function compared with TMZ chemotherapy

Memory in low-grade glioma patients treated with radiotherapy or temozolomide: a correlative analysis of EORTC study 22033-26033

Background: EORTC study 22033-26033 showed no difference in progression-free survival between high-risk low-grade glioma receiving either radiotherapy (RT) or temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy alone as primary treatment. Considering the potential long-term deleterious impact of RT on memory functioning, this study aims to determine whether TMZ is associated with less impaired memory functioning. Methods: Using the Visual Verbal Learning Test (VVLT), memory functioning was evaluated at baseline and subsequently every 6 months. Minimal compliance for statistical analyses was set at 60%. Conventional indices of memory performance (VVLT Immediate Recall, Total Recall, Learning Capacity, and Delayed Recall) were used as outcome measures. Using a mixed linear model, memory functioning was compared between treatment arms and over time. Results: Neuropsychological assessment was performed in 98 patients (53 RT, 46 TMZ). At 12 months, compliance had dropped to 66%, restricting analyses to baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. At baseline, patients in either treatment arm did not differ in memory functioning, sex, age, or educational level. Over time, patients in both arms showed improvement in Immediate Recall (P = 0.017) and total number of words recalled (Total Recall; P < 0.001, albeit with delayed improvement in RT patients (group by time; P = 0.011). Memory functioning was not associated with RT gross, clinical, or planned target volumes. Conclusion: In patients with high-risk low-grade glioma there is no indication that in the first year after treatment, RT has a deleterious effect on memory function compared with TMZ chemotherapy. Keywords: chemotherapy; low-grade glioma; memory functioning; radiotherapy

Mapping 123 million neonatal, infant and child deaths between 2000 and 2017

Since 2000, many countries have achieved considerable success in improving child survival, but localized progress remains unclear. To inform efforts towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.2—to end preventable child deaths by 2030—we need consistently estimated data at the subnational level regarding child mortality rates and trends. Here we quantified, for the period 2000–2017, the subnational variation in mortality rates and number of deaths of neonates, infants and children under 5 years of age within 99 low- and middle-income countries using a geostatistical survival model. We estimated that 32% of children under 5 in these countries lived in districts that had attained rates of 25 or fewer child deaths per 1,000 live births by 2017, and that 58% of child deaths between 2000 and 2017 in these countries could have been averted in the absence of geographical inequality. This study enables the identification of high-mortality clusters, patterns of progress and geographical inequalities to inform appropriate investments and implementations that will help to improve the health of all populations

Spatial, temporal, and demographic patterns in prevalence of smoking tobacco use and attributable disease burden in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019 : a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Ending the global tobacco epidemic is a defining challenge in global health. Timely and comprehensive estimates of the prevalence of smoking tobacco use and attributable disease burden are needed to guide tobacco control efforts nationally and globally. Methods We estimated the prevalence of smoking tobacco use and attributable disease burden for 204 countries and territories, by age and sex, from 1990 to 2019 as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study. We modelled multiple smoking-related indicators from 3625 nationally representative surveys. We completed systematic reviews and did Bayesian meta-regressions for 36 causally linked health outcomes to estimate non-linear dose-response risk curves for current and former smokers. We used a direct estimation approach to estimate attributable burden, providing more comprehensive estimates of the health effects of smoking than previously available. Findings Globally in 2019, 1.14 billion (95% uncertainty interval 1.13-1.16) individuals were current smokers, who consumed 7.41 trillion (7.11-7.74) cigarette-equivalents of tobacco in 2019. Although prevalence of smoking had decreased significantly since 1990 among both males (27.5% [26. 5-28.5] reduction) and females (37.7% [35.4-39.9] reduction) aged 15 years and older, population growth has led to a significant increase in the total number of smokers from 0.99 billion (0.98-1.00) in 1990. Globally in 2019, smoking tobacco use accounted for 7.69 million (7.16-8.20) deaths and 200 million (185-214) disability-adjusted life-years, and was the leading risk factor for death among males (20.2% [19.3-21.1] of male deaths). 6.68 million [86.9%] of 7.69 million deaths attributable to smoking tobacco use were among current smokers. Interpretation In the absence of intervention, the annual toll of 7.69 million deaths and 200 million disability-adjusted life-years attributable to smoking will increase over the coming decades. Substantial progress in reducing the prevalence of smoking tobacco use has been observed in countries from all regions and at all stages of development, but a large implementation gap remains for tobacco control. Countries have a dear and urgent opportunity to pass strong, evidence-based policies to accelerate reductions in the prevalence of smoking and reap massive health benefits for their citizens. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe