Status of marine protected areas in Egypt

Egypt has sought to protect its natural resources and marine biodiversity by establishing a network of six MPAs that are generally located in the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea; most of them include interconnected marine and terrestrial sectors based on conserving coral reefs and accompanying systems. We assessed the present status of MPA networks that showed a set of important results manifested in some strengths (i.e. proper selection according to specific criteria, management plans, etc.), and also some weaknesses (i.e. a relatively small protected proportion of the Egyptian marine territorial waters, significant pressures mainly by tourism activities, etc.). Finally, some recommendations are proposed from this work (i.e. incorporate more habitats that are not well represented in the network, especially on the Mediterranean Sea; establishing a touristic carrying capacity of each area; etc.) to improve the current situation. Key words: Marine reserves, Fishing, Tourism, Conservation, Sustainable development, Egypt.Egipto ha establecido una red de seis áreas marinas protegidas (AMPs), situadas principalmente en el Golfo de Aqaba y el mar Rojo para proteger sus recursos naturales y su biodiversidad marina. La mayoría incluyen sectores terrestres y marinos interconectados con el fin de conservar los arrecifes de coral y otros sistemas acompañantes. El estado actual de la red de AMPs se manifiesta mediante algunos puntos fuertes (selección basada en criterios apropiados, existencia de planes de gestión, etc.) y también algunos puntos débiles (protección de una proporción relativamente pequeña de las aguas territoriales egipcias; presiones significativas de algunas actividades, principalmente el turismo, etc.). Finalmente, se proponen algunas recomendaciones (incorporación de más hábitats que no están bien representados en la red actual, particularmente en el Mediterráneo; establecimiento de una capacidad de carga turística para cada área; etc.) para mejorar la situación actual. Palabras clave: Reservas marinas, Pesca, Turismo, Conservación, Desarrollo sostenible, Egipto.Egypt has sought to protect its natural resources and marine biodiversity by establishing a network of six MPAs that are generally located in the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea; most of them include interconnected marine and terrestrial sectors based on conserving coral reefs and accompanying systems. We assessed the present status of MPA networks that showed a set of important results manifested in some strengths (i.e. proper selection according to specific criteria, management plans, etc.), and also some weaknesses (i.e. a relatively small protected proportion of the Egyptian marine territorial waters, significant pressures mainly by tourism activities, etc.). Finally, some recommendations are proposed from this work (i.e. incorporate more habitats that are not well represented in the network, especially on the Mediterranean Sea; establishing a touristic carrying capacity of each area; etc.) to improve the current situation. Key words: Marine reserves, Fishing, Tourism, Conservation, Sustainable development, Egypt

Effect of a possible interaction between pH and salinity on the growth of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, 1813.

Reverse osmosis seawater desalination is a steadily growing industry in Mediterranean countries, but little information is available regarding its potential adverse environmental impact. Brine discharge from these plants has high salinity and a relatively low pH. The present paper describes mesocosm experiments carried out to determine the effect of a possible interaction between this simultaneous pH reduction and increase in salinity and the growth of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, 1813. Our results did not show any effect from the interaction between these two factors, although we did detect a significant growth reduction in plants when high salinities and low pH values occurred separately.La desalación de aguas marinas mediante ósmosis inversa es una actividad en desarrollo en la cuenca mediterránea cuyos posibles impactos ambientales son poco conocidos. El agua de rechazo de dichas plantas posee una elevada salinidad y un pH relativamente bajo. En el presente trabajo se realizaron experimentos en mesocosmos para estimar el efecto de una posible interacción entre dicho descenso del pH y el incremento de la salinidad sobre el crecimiento de la fanerógama marina Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, 1813. En los resultados obtenidos no se observó un efecto de la interacción entre ambos factores, pero sí una reducción significativa del crecimiento de la planta frente al aumento de la salinidad y al descenso del pH por separado.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

Soft–bottom sipunculans from San Pedro del Pinatar (Western Mediterranean): influence of anthropogenic impacts and sediment characteristics on their distribution

We analysed the distribution of soft bottom sipunculans from San Pedro del Pinatar (Western Mediterranean). This study was carried out from December 2005 to June 2010, sampling with biannual periodicity (June and December). Physical and chemical parameters of the sediment were analysed (granulometry, organic matter content, pH, bottom salinity and shelter availability). Nine different species and subspecies were identified, belonging to five families. Aspidosiphon muelleri muelleri was the dominant species, accumulating 89.06% of the total abundance of sipunculans. Higher sipunculan abundances were correlated with stations of higher percentage of coarse sand, empty mollusc shells and empty tubes of the serpulid polychaete Ditrupa arietina, where some of the recorded species live. Sediment characteristics played the main role controlling the sipunculans distribution. Anthropogenic impacts could be indirectly affecting their distribution, changing the sediment characteristics. Key words: Sipuncula, Aspidosiphon muelleri, Mediterranean, Anthropogenic impact, Soft–bottom.Se analizó la distribución de los sipuncúlidos de fondos blandos de San Pedro del Pinatar (Mediterráneo occidental). Este estudio se llevó a cabo entre diciembre de 2005 y junio de 2010, muestreando con periodicidad semestral (junio y diciembre). Se analizaron parámetros físicos y químicos del sedimento (granulometría, contenido de materia orgánica, pH, salinidad de fondo y disponibilidad de refugio). Nueve especies y subespecies diferentes fueron identificadas, pertenecientes a cinco familias. Aspidosiphon muelleri muelleri fue la especie dominante, acumulando el 89,06% de la abundancia total de sipuncúlidos. Las mayores abundancias de sipuncúlidos se correlacionaron con las estaciones con mayores porcentajes de arena gruesa, conchas de moluscos vacías y tubos vacíos del poliqueto serpúlido Ditrupa arietina, donde viven algunas de las especies registradas. Las características del sedimento jugaron el papel principal en el control de la distribución de sipuncúlidos. Los impactos antropogénicos podrían estar afectando indirectamente su distribución, cambiando las características del sedimento. Palabras clave: Sipuncúlidos, Aspidosiphon muelleri, Mediterráneo, Impacto antropogénico, Fondos blandos.We analysed the distribution of soft bottom sipunculans from San Pedro del Pinatar (Western Mediterranean). This study was carried out from December 2005 to June 2010, sampling with biannual periodicity (June and December). Physical and chemical parameters of the sediment were analysed (granulometry, organic matter content, pH, bottom salinity and shelter availability). Nine different species and subspecies were identified, belonging to five families. Aspidosiphon muelleri muelleri was the dominant species, accumulating 89.06% of the total abundance of sipunculans. Higher sipunculan abundances were correlated with stations of higher percentage of coarse sand, empty mollusc shells and empty tubes of the serpulid polychaete Ditrupa arietina, where some of the recorded species live. Sediment characteristics played the main role controlling the sipunculans distribution. Anthropogenic impacts could be indirectly affecting their distribution, changing the sediment characteristics. Key words: Sipuncula, Aspidosiphon muelleri, Mediterranean, Anthropogenic impact, Soft–bottom

Seasonal changes in feeding habits of Diplodus annularis (L., 1758) off southeast Iberian Peninsula

The feeding habits of the sparid Diplodus annularis (L., 1758) from two Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, 1813 seagrass beds off Murcia (western Mediterranean), were analysed to determinate seasonal changes. Stomach contents of 289 specimens collected during experimental trawling from August 1993 to May 1994, were analysed. Diet varied seasonally: at Mazarron site, apendicularians and amphipods were more important in autumn, whereas during winter and spring amphipods were more important. At Cape Palos, Posidonia oceanica and algae were more important in summer, algae and hydrozoa in autumn, algae and briozoa in winter and harpacticoid copepods and gammarid amphipods in spring. The results indicate that Diplodus annularis feeds on a wide range of prey items, and could be considered a generalist feeder.Se estudiaron los hábitos alimenticios del espárido Diplodus annularis (L., 1758) de dos praderas de Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, 1813 de Murcia (Mediterráneo occidental) con el fin de detectar cambios estacionales en su dieta. Se analizaron los contenidos estomacales de 289 ejemplares capturados mediante arrastre experimental desde agosto de 1993 a mayo de 1994. La dieta varió estacionalmente; en Mazarrón, las presas más importantes en otoño fueron las apendicularias y los anfípodos, mientras que en invierno y primavera los anfípodos fueron las presas más importantes. En el cabo de Palos, Posidonia oceanica y algas fueron más importantes en verano, algas e hidrozoos en otoño, algas y briozoos en invierno, y copépodos harpacticoides y anfípodos gammáridos en primavera. Los resultados indican que Diplodus annularis se alimenta de una amplia variedad de tipos de presa, por lo que puede ser considerada una especie de alimentación generalista y poco selectiva.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

Temporal coincidence of the annual eelgrass Zostera marina and juvenile scallops Argopecten ventricosus (Sowerby II, 1842) in Bahía Concepción, Mexico

Temporal coincidence of the annual eelgrass Zostera marina and juvenile scallops Argopecten ventricosus (Sowerby II, 1842) in Bahia Concepcion, Mexico

Adapting and validating the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS) for nursing students (HSOPS-NS): A new measure of Patient Safety Climate

Background: Patient Safety Culture and Patient Safety Climate (PSC) are different factors. PSC is the shared perception that is held within a hospital''s area or unit at a specific moment in time. This measure is necessary for designing activities for promoting and improving safety. It must include the perception of all the agents involved, including future nurses throughout their patient safety education. Objectives: The aim was to adapt and validate a new version of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS), targeted specifically at nursing students. It provides a new comprehensive and more complete measure of PSC that contributes to improving patient safety. Methods: Data were obtained from 654 undergraduate and postgraduate nursing students. PSC was tested using factor analyses and structural equation modeling. In order to facilitate the improvement of PSC, we examined differences in climate strength across different academic groups using the Rwg(j) and ICC measures of inter-rater agreement. Results: Factor analyses confirmed a five-factor solution that explained between 52.45% and 54.75% of the variance. The model was found to have adequate fit ¿ 2 (5) = 14.333, p =.014; CFI = 0.99; RMSEA = 0.05. Cronbach''s alphas for PSC were between 0.74 and 0.77. “Teamwork within units” was the highest rated dimension, and “Staffing” the lowest rated. Medium-to-high scores were obtained for PSC. The median of Rwg (j) was high in the five dimensions of the PSC survey, supporting the idea of shared climate perceptions (0.81–0.96) among undergraduate and postgraduate nursing students. Conclusions: HSOPS-NS is a useful and versatile tool for measuring the level and strength of PSC. It screens knowledge regarding patient safety in clinical practice placements and compares nursing students’ perceptions of the strength of PSC. Weaknesses perceived in relation to PSC help implement changes in patient safety learning

Quantifying the effect of Tmax extreme events on local adaptation to climate change of maize crop in Andalusia for the 21st century

Extreme events of Tmax can threaten maize production on Andalusia (Ruiz-Ramos et al., 2011). The objective of this work is to attempt a quantification of the effects of Tmax extreme events on the previously identified (Gabaldón et al., 2013) local adaptation strategies to climate change of irrigated maize crop in Andalusia for the first half of the 21st century

Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change for summer crops on Andalusia: evaluation for extreme maximum temperatures

Evaluate a set of agricultural adaptation strategies to cope with climate change impacts, with focus on the consequences of extreme events on the adaptations proposed in the semi-arid environment of Andalusia (Southern Spain)