Mark-recapture validates the use of photo-identification for the widely distributed blue-spotted ribbontail ray, Taeniura lymma

The ability to identify individual animals can provide valuable insights into the behaviour, life history, survivorship, and demographics of wild populations. Photo-identification (photo-ID) uses unique natural markings to identify individuals and can be effective for scalable and non-invasive research on marine fauna. The successful application of photo-ID requires that chosen distinguishing markings are unique to individuals and persist over time. In this study, we validate the use of dorsal spot patterns for identifying individual blue-spotted ribbontail rays (Taeniura lymma) in conjunction with traditional tagging methods. Spot patterns were unique among T. lymma with 90.3% of individuals correctly identified using I3S photo-matching software from images taken up to 496 days apart. In comparison, traditional physical tagging methods showed a tag loss rate of 27% and a maximum tag retention period of only 356 days. Our findings demonstrate the effectiveness of photo-ID as a tool to monitor populations and better understand the ecology of the blue-spotted ribbontail ray without the need for physical tagging. The validation of photo-ID for this widespread species is important as it enables behavioural and demographic changes to be easily tracked in relation to coastal threats such as human development and habitat degradation.</p

Home sweet home: spatiotemporal distribution and site fidelity of the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) in Dungonab Bay, Sudan

© The Author(s), 2022. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Knochel, A. M., Hussey, N. E., Kessel, S. T., Braun, C. D., Cochran, J. E. M., Hill, G., Klaus, R., Checkchak, T., Elamin El Hassen, N. M., Younnis, M., & Berumen, M. L. Home sweet home: spatiotemporal distribution and site fidelity of the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) in Dungonab Bay, Sudan. Movement Ecology, 10(1), (2022): 22, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00314-9.Background Reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) populations along the Northeastern African coastline are poorly studied. Identifying critical habitats for this species is essential for future research and conservation efforts. Dungonab Bay and Mukkawar Island National Park (DMNP), a component of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sudan, hosts the largest known M. alfredi aggregation in the Red Sea. Methods A total of 19 individuals were tagged using surgically implanted acoustic tags and tracked within DMNP on an array of 15 strategically placed acoustic receivers in addition to two offshore receivers. Two of these acoustically monitored M. alfredi were also equipped with satellite linked archival tags and one individual was fitted with a satellite transmitting tag. Together, these data are used to describe approximately two years of residency and seasonal shifts in habitat use. Results Tagged individuals were detected within the array on 96% of monitored days and recorded an average residence index of 0.39 across all receivers. Detections were recorded throughout the year, though some individuals were absent from the receiver array for weeks or months at a time, and generalized additive mixed models showed a clear seasonal pattern in presence with the highest probabilities of detection occurring in boreal fall. The models indicated that M. alfredi presence was highly correlated with increasing chlorophyll-a levels and weakly correlated with the full moon. Modeled biological factors, including sex and wingspan, had no influence on animal presence. Despite the high residency suggested by acoustic telemetry, satellite tag data and offshore acoustic detections in Sanganeb Atoll and Suedi Pass recorded individuals moving up to 125 km from the Bay. However, all these individuals were subsequently detected in the Bay, suggesting a strong degree of site fidelity at this location. Conclusions The current study adds to growing evidence that M. alfredi are highly resident and site-attached to coastal bays and lagoons but display seasonal shifts in habitat use that are likely driven by resource availability. This information can be used to assist in managing and supporting sustainable ecotourism within the DMNP, part of a recently designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.This research was supported by The Deep Aquarium (Grant # 00176; http://www.thedeep.co.uk) and The Darwin Initiative (Grant # 21–019; http://www.gov.uk/government/groups/the-darwin-initiative) in addition to baseline funding from MLB

Correction: Home sweet home: spatiotemporal distribution and site fidelity of the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) in Dungonab Bay, Sudan (Movement Ecology, (2022), 10, 1, (22), 10.1186/s40462-022-00314-9)

Following publication of the original article [1], it was noted that due to a typesetting error, a duplicated version of Figure 6 was published as Figure 5. The correct Figure 5 has been included in this Correction and the original article has been corrected. The publisher apologises to the authors and readers for the inconvenience caused by the error

Metabolism before, during and after anaesthesia in colic and healthy horses

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many colic horses are compromised due to the disease state and from hours of starvation and sometimes long trailer rides. This could influence their muscle energy reserves and affect the horses' ability to recover. The principal aim was to follow metabolic parameter before, during, and up to 7 days after anaesthesia in healthy horses and in horses undergoing abdominal surgery due to colic.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>20 healthy horses given anaesthesia alone and 20 colic horses subjected to emergency abdominal surgery were anaesthetised for a mean of 228 minutes and 183 minutes respectively. Blood for analysis of haematology, electrolytes, cortisol, creatine kinase (CK), free fatty acids (FFA), glycerol, glucose and lactate was sampled before, during, and up to 7 days after anaesthesia. Arterial and venous blood gases were obtained before, during and up to 8 hours after recovery. Gluteal muscle biopsy specimens for biochemical analysis of muscle metabolites were obtained at start and end of anaesthesia and 1 h and 1 day after recovery.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Plasma cortisol, FFA, glycerol, glucose, lactate and CK were elevated and serum phosphate and potassium were lower in colic horses before anaesthesia. Muscle adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content was low in several colic horses. Anaesthesia and surgery resulted in a decrease in plasma FFA and glycerol in colic horses whereas levels increased in healthy horses. During anaesthesia muscle and plasma lactate and plasma phosphate increased in both groups. In the colic horses plasma lactate increased further after recovery. Plasma FFA and glycerol increased 8 h after standing in the colic horses. In both groups, plasma concentrations of CK increased and serum phosphate decreased post-anaesthesia. On Day 7 most parameters were not different between groups. Colic horses lost on average 8% of their initial weight. Eleven colic horses completed the study.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Colic horses entered anaesthesia with altered metabolism and in a negative oxygen balance. Muscle oxygenation was insufficient during anaesthesia in both groups, although to a lesser extent in the healthy horses. The post-anaesthetic period was associated with increased lipolysis and weight loss in the colic horses, indicating a negative energy balance during the first week post-operatively.</p

Human subcortical brain asymmetries in 15,847 people worldwide reveal effects of age and sex

The two hemispheres of the human brain differ functionally and structurally. Despite over a century of research, the extent to which brain asymmetry is influenced by sex, handedness, age, and genetic factors is still controversial. Here we present the largest ever analysis of subcortical brain asymmetries, in a harmonized multi-site study using meta-analysis methods. Volumetric asymmetry of seven subcortical structures was assessed in 15,847 MRI scans from 52 datasets worldwide. There were sex differences in the asymmetry of the globus pallidus and putamen. Heritability estimates, derived from 1170 subjects belonging to 71 extended pedigrees, revealed that additive genetic factors influenced the asymmetry of these two structures and that of the hippocampus and thalamus. Handedness had no detectable effect on subcortical asymmetries, even in this unprecedented sample size, but the asymmetry of the putamen varied with age. Genetic drivers of asymmetry in the hippocampus, thalamus and basal ganglia may affect variability in human cognition, including susceptibility to psychiatric disorders

Videos to BEH 3835

Video 1: Breaching behaviour by Mobula alfredi equipped with a Crittercam in Raa Atoll, Maldives.Video 2: Surface feeding behaviour by Mobula alfredi equipped with a Crittercam in Raa Atoll, Maldives.Video 3: Courtship behaviour as recorded Mobula alfredi equipped with a Crittercam in Raa Atoll, Maldives.Video 4: A reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) equipped with a Crittercam approaches a cleaning station. Species of cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus, Thalassoma amblycephalum, Thalassoma Lunare) can be observed cleaning the mantas.Video 5: Cleaning behaviour by Clarion Angelfish (Holacanthus clarionensis) as recorded by Mobula birostris equipped with a Crittercam in Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico.Video 6: Social cruising behaviour as recorded by Mobula alfredi in Raa Atoll, Maldives.Video 7: Solitary cruising along the seabed by Mobula birostris in Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico.Video 8: Crittercam recording of spinetail devil rays (Mobula mobular) interacting with Mobula alfredi in Raa Atoll, Maldives.Video 9: A crittercam recording of trevally (Caranx ignobilis) interacting with Mobula alfredi in Raa Atoll, Maldives, possibly as an abrasive surface to scratch themselves to remove parasites.</p

Search for W' decaying to tau lepton and neutrino in proton-proton collisions at (s)=\sqrt(s) = 8 TeV

The first search for a heavy charged vector boson in the final state with a tau lepton and a neutrino is reported, using 19.7 fb −1 of LHC data at s=8 TeV . A signal would appear as an excess of events with high transverse mass, where the standard model background is low. No excess is observed. Limits are set on a model in which the W′ decays preferentially to fermions of the third generation. These results substantially extend previous constraints on this model. Masses below 2.0 to 2.7 TeV are excluded, depending on the model parameters. In addition, the existence of a W′ boson with universal fermion couplings is excluded at 95% confidence level, for W′ masses below 2.7 TeV. For further reinterpretation a model-independent limit on potential signals for various transverse mass thresholds is also presented