Polar Data Forum IV – An Ocean of Opportunities

This paper reports on the Hackathon Sessions organised at the Polar Data Forum IV (PDF IV) (20–24 September 2021), during which 351 participants from 50 different countries discussed collaboratively about the latest developments in polar data management. The 4th edition of the PDF hosted lively discussions on (i) best practices for polar data management, (ii) data policy, (ii) documenting data flows into aggregators, (iv) data interoperability, (v) polar federated search, (vi) semantics and vocabularies, (vii) Virtual Research Environments (VREs), and (viii) new polar technologies. This paper provides an overview of the organisational aspects of PDF IV and summarises the polar data objectives and outcomes by describing the conclusions drawn from the Hackathon Sessions

The International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean Version 2 (IBCSO v2)

The Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica is a region that is key to a range of climatic and oceanographic processes with worldwide effects, and is characterised by high biological productivity and biodiversity. Since 2013, the International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO) has represented the most comprehensive compilation of bathymetry for the Southern Ocean south of 60°S. Recently, the IBCSO Project has combined its efforts with the Nippon Foundation – GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project supporting the goal of mapping the world’s oceans by 2030. New datasets initiated a second version of IBCSO (IBCSO v2). This version extends to 50°S (covering approximately 2.4 times the area of seafloor of the previous version) including the gateways of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and the Antarctic circumpolar frontal systems. Due to increased (multibeam) data coverage, IBCSO v2 significantly improves the overall representation of the Southern Ocean seafloor and resolves many submarine landforms in more detail. This makes IBCSO v2 the most authoritative seafloor map of the area south of 50°S

International trends in polar data management Perspectives from the Standing Committee on Antarctic Data Management

極域データの保全・公開と利活用に関する研究集会-II 日時：2021年10月12日（火）13:00～18:00場所：オンライン開

Connectivity and Genetic Structure in Coral Reef Ecosystems: Modeling and Analysis

This dissertation examines aspects of the relationship between connectivity and the development of genetic structure in subdivided coral reef populations using both simulation and algebraic methods. The first chapter develops an object-oriented, individual based method of simulating the dynamics of genes in subdivided populations. The model is then used to investigate how changes to different components of population structure (e.g., connectivity, birth rate, population size) influence genetic structure through the use of autocorrelation analysis. The autocorrelograms also demonstrate how relationships between populations change at different spatial and temporal scales. The second chapter uses discrete multivariate distributions to model the relationship between connectivity, selection and resource use in subdivided populations. The equations provide a stochastic basis for multiple-niche polymorphism through differential resource use, and the role of scale in changing selective weightings is also considered. The third chapter uses matrix equations to study the expected development of genetic structure among Caribbean coral reefs. The results show an expected break between eastern and western portions of the Caribbean, as well as additional nested structure within the Bahamas, the central Caribbean (Jamaica and the reefs of the Nicaraguan Rise) and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. The matrix equations provide an efficient means of modeling the development of genetic structure in subdivided populations through time. The fourth chapter uses matrix equations to examine the expected development of genetic structure among Southeast Asian coral reefs. Projecting genetic structure reveals an expected unidirectional connection from the South China Sea into the Coral Triangle region via the Sulu Sea. Larvae appear to be restricted from moving back into the South China Sea by a cyclonic gyre in the Sulu Sea. Additional structure is also evident, including distinct clusters within the Philippines, in the vicinity of the Makassar Strait, in the Flores Sea, and near Halmahera and the Banda Sea. The ability to evaluate the expected development of genetic structure over time in subdivided populations offers a number of potential benefits, including the ability to ascertain the expected direction of gene flow, to delineate natural regions of exchange through clustering, or to identify critical areas for conservation or for managing the spread of invasive material via elasticity analysis

An object-oriented, individual-based approach for simulating the dynamics of genes in subdivided populations

An object-oriented, individual-based simulation framework was developed for modeling the diffusion of genetic material in subdivided populations. Objects representing individual organisms were defined, each with a unique genotype composed of gene objects. The organisms mate and reproduce, and progeny disperse or recruit back to their native population through the use of a Movement interface. The object-oriented approach is also linked to analytical theory through the development of matrix-based equations. An\ud implementation of the model demonstrates how changes to basic population parameters affect spatial and temporal genetic structure. Scalar changes to the system affect the duration over which processes occur as well as the degree of variance, but appear to leave overall structural patterns unchanged. Object-oriented programming provides some unique advantages for modeling population genetic processes, including the use of abstraction and implementation, as well as the ability to accommodate complex, heterogeneous behavior

Environmental Indicators on Selected Issues for Latin America and the Caribbean

This report represents a selection and analysis of key indicators that bear upon the particular set of issues that the IDB borrowing member countries are facing at this point. Some of the indicators presented in this report document the main pressures caused by economic development on the environment

Ridges to Reefs Conservation for Solomon Islands

This study provides a comprehensive review of conservation information for Solomon Islands in support of Solomon Islands’ commitment towards the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). We provide a GAP analysis of the natural resources of Solomon Islands, reviewing both terrestrial and marine habitats, and the degree to which they fall under existing conservation management. The information is also used to identify potential areas for action based on two divergent scenarios: avoidance of conflict, and seeking out areas requiring imminent action.\ud \ud Key recommendations from the study include: \ud \ud • Developing a mechanism for coordinating and collecting information regarding local management efforts\ud • Updating and improving habitat data collections \ud • Collecting information regarding species distributions and ecosystem services\ud • Investigating the potential effects of climate change\ud • Collecting information regarding social linkages between communities\ud • Evaluating that the results of the prioritization through community consultation\ud \ud We also recommend supporting and reinforcing existing management areas and activities, and also increasing the effectiveness of local conservation efforts by coordinating local management activities

Large-sample-size assessment of socioeconomic predictors of community-level resource management occurrence

Community-level resource management efforts are cornerstones in ensuring sustainable use of natural resources. Yet, understanding how community characteristics influence management practices remains contested. With a sample size of ≥725 communities, we assessed the effects of key community (i.e., socioeconomic) characteristics (human population size and density, market integration, and modernization) on the probability of occurrence of fisheries management practices, including gear, species, and spatial restrictions. The study was based in Solomon Islands, a Pacific Island country with a population that is highly dependent on coastal fisheries. People primarily dwell in small communities adjacent to the coastline dispersed across 6 island provinces and numerous smaller islands. We used nationally collected data in binomial logistic regression models to examine the likelihood of management occurrence, given socioeconomic context of communities. In contrast to prevailing views, we identified a positive and statistically significant association between both human population size and market integration and all 3 management practices. Human population density, however, had a statistically significant negative association and modernization a varied and limited association with occurrence of all management practices. Our method offers a way to remotely predict the occurrence of resource management practices based on key socioeconomic characteristics. It could be used to improve understanding of why some communities conduct natural resource management activities when statistical patterns suggest they are not likely to and thus improve understanding of how some communities of people beat the odds despite limited market access and high population density