Availability of Coastal and Marine Data and Potential Applications for Development Co-operation

This report summarise the availability of coastal and marine data and highlights some of the potential applications such data may have in the context of development co-operation. The focus is on the data and the applications which already exist at the Global Environment Monitoring (GEM) Unit of the Institute of Environment and Sustainability (IES), and is not intended as a global overview of all possible use of data. The report also emphasises some potential new activities targeted to provision of information relevant for thematic policies and actions in EC and beneficiary countries and regions.JRC.H.3-Global environement monitorin

Cumulative Human Impacts on Mediterranean and Black Sea Marine Ecosystems: Assessing Current Pressures and Opportunities

Management of marine ecosystems requires spatial information on current impacts. In several marine regions, including the Mediterranean and Black Sea, legal mandates and agreements to implement ecosystem-based management and spatial plans provide new opportunities to balance uses and protection of marine ecosystems. Analyses of the intensity and distribution of cumulative impacts of human activities directly connected to the ecological goals of these policy efforts are critically needed. Quantification and mapping of the cumulative impact of 22 drivers to 17 marine ecosystems reveals that 20% of the entire basin and 60-99% of the territorial waters of EU member states are heavily impacted, with high human impact occurring in all ecoregions and territorial waters. Less than 1% of these regions are relatively unaffected. This high impact results from multiple drivers, rather than one individual use or stressor, with climatic drivers (increasing temperature and UV, and acidification), demersal fishing, ship traffic, and, in coastal areas, pollution from land, accounting for a majority of cumulative impacts. These results show that coordinated management of key areas and activities could significantly improve the condition of these marine ecosystems.JRC.H.1-Water Resource

Large-scale exome-wide association analysis identifies loci for White Blood Cell Traits and Pleiotropy with Immune-Mediated Diseases

White blood cells play diverse roles in innate and adaptive immunity. Genetic association analyses of phenotypic variation in circulating white blood cell (WBC) counts from large samples of otherwise healthy individuals can provide insights into genes and biologic pathways involved in production, differentiation, or clearance of particular WBC lineages (myeloid, lymphoid) and also potentially inform the genetic basis of autoimmune, allergic, and blood diseases. We performed an exome array-based meta-analysis of total WBC and subtype counts (neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, basophils, and eosinophils) in a multi-ancestry discovery and replication sample of ∼157,622 individuals from 25 studies. We identified 16 common variants (8 of which were coding variants) associated with one or more WBC traits, the majority of which are pleiotropically associated with autoimmune diseases. Based on functional annotation, these loci included genes encoding surface markers of myeloid, lymphoid, or hematopoietic stem cell differentiation (CD69, CD33, CD87), transcription factors regulating lineage specification during hematopoiesis (ASXL1, IRF8, IKZF1, JMJD1C, ETS2-PSMG1), and molecules involved in neutrophil clearance/apoptosis (C10orf54, LTA), adhesion (TNXB), or centrosome and microtubule structure/function (KIF9, TUBD1). Together with recent reports of somatic ASXL1 mutations among individuals with idiopathic cytopenias or clonal hematopoiesis of undetermined significance, the identification of a common regulatory 3 UTR variant of ASXL1 suggests that both germline and somatic ASXL1 mutations contribute to lower blood counts in otherwise asymptomatic individuals. These association results shed light on genetic mechanisms that regulate circulating WBC counts and suggest a prominent shared genetic architecture with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases

NAT-FISH, a SPACC Affiliated Project in the Northwest African Upwelling Area.

Abstract not availableJRC.H-Institute for environment and sustainability (Ispra

Mediterranean Sea Surface Warming 1985 - 2006

Satellite observations from 1985¿2006 indicate that in the last 2 decades the temperature in the upper layer of the Mediterranean Sea has been increasing at an average (±SD) rate of 0.03± 0.008°C yr¿1 for the western basin and 0.05 ± 0.009°C yr¿1 for the eastern basin. The increases in temperature are not constant throughout the year but occur primarily during May, June and July. Maximum increases of 0.16°C yr¿1 are found in June in the Tyrrhenian, Ligurian and Adriatic Seas and close to the African coast. The Aegean Sea shows maximum change in sea surface temperature during August. Only the statistically significant results are presented.JRC.H.3-Global environement monitorin

Remote Sensing and Numerical Modelling of Sea Surface Temperature Distribution during Coastal Upwelling

Abstract not availableJRC.(IRSA)-Institute For Remote Sensing Application

Phytoplankton Pigment Patterns in the Canary Islands Area as Determined Using Coastal Zone Colour Scanner Data

Abstract not availableNA-NOT AVAILABL

Environmental Conditions of Fluctuations in Recruitment and Distribution of Small Pelagic Fish (ENVIFISH).

Abstract not availableJRC.H-Institute for environment and sustainability (Ispra

Editorial: an EU/Southern African Collaborative Project Investigating Environmental Causes of Pelagic Fisheries Variability.

Abstract not availableJRC.H-Institute for environment and sustainability (Ispra

Sea Surface Temperature Variability Off Northwest Africa: 1981-1989

A temporal and spatial Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis has been performed on monthly maximum Sea Surface Temperature (SST) satellite data over eight years (July 1981 - August 1989) to examine the SST patterns of variability off northwest Africa. Only these two first temporal and spatial EOF modes are significantly above the noise level. The EOF method is efficient in compressing monthly SST satellite imagery off northwest Africa, with a great percentage of the total variance being accounted by only two modes.JRC.(SAI)-Space Application Institut