Seasonal and Interannual Variability of Phytoplankton Abundance and Community Composition on the Central Coast of California

Variations in the abundance and composition of phytoplankton greatly impact ecosystem structure and function. Within the California Current System (CCS), phytoplankton community structure is tightly coupled to seasonal variability in wind-driven coastal upwelling, a process that drives changes in coastal water temperatures and nutrient concentrations. Based on approximately a decade (2008-2018) of weekly phytoplankton measurements, this study provides the first characterization of the seasonal and interannual variability of phytoplankton abundance and composition in San Luis Obispo (SLO) Bay, an understudied region within the CCS. Overall, the seasonality of phytoplankton in SLO Bay mirrored that of the larger CCS; diatoms dominated the community during the spring upwelling season, whereas dinoflagellates dominated the community during the fall relaxation period. While we observed considerable interannual variability among phytoplankton taxa, of particular note was the absence of a fall dinoflagellate-dominated period from 2010 through 2013, followed by the return of the fall dinoflagellate-dominated period in 2014. This compositional shift coincided with a major phase shift of both the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO). In addition to exerting a strong influence on the seasonality of phytoplankton community succession and transition between diatom- and dinoflagellate-dominated periods, the state of both the PDO and NPGO also influenced the extent to which environmental conditions (temperature and upwelling winds) could predict community type. These results highlight the importance of long-term datasets and the consideration of large-scale climate patterns when assessing local ecosystem dynamics

White sharks exploit the sun during predatory approaches

There is no conclusive evidence of any nonhuman animal using the sun as part of its predation strategy. Here, we show that the world\u27s largest predatory fish-the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)-exploits the sun when approaching baits by positioning the sun directly behind them. On sunny days, sharks reversed their direction of approach along an east-west axis from morning to afternoon but had uniformly distributed approach directions during overcast conditions. These results show that white sharks have sufficient behavioral flexibility to exploit fluctuating environmental features when predating. This sun-tracking predation strategy has a number of potential functional roles, including improvement of prey detection, avoidance of retinal overstimulation, and predator concealment

Inhibition of NF-κB improves the stress resistance and myogenic differentiation of MDSPCs isolated from naturally aged mice

A decline in the regenerative capacity of adult stem cells with aging is well documented. As a result of this decline, the efficacy of autologous stem cell therapies is likely to decline with increasing donor age. In these cases, strategies to restore the function of aged stem cells would have clinical utility. Globally, the transcription factor NF-κB is up-regulated in aged tissues. Given the negative role that NF-κB plays in myogenesis, we investigated whether the age-related decline in the function of muscle-derived stem/progenitor cells (MDSPCs) could be improved by inhibition of NF-κB. Herein, we demonstrate that pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of NF-κB activation increases myogenic differentiation and improves resistance to oxidative stress. Our results suggest that MDSPC “aging” may be reversible, and that pharmacologic targeting of pathways such as NF-κB may enhance the efficacy of cell-based therapies

Guanosine diphosphatase is required for protein and sphingolipid glycosylation in the Golgi lumen of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Current models for nucleotide sugar use in the Golgi apparatus predict a critical role for the lumenal nucleoside diphosphatase. After transfer of sugars to endogenous macromolecular acceptors, the enzyme converts nucleoside diphosphates to nucleoside monophosphates which in turn exit the Golgi lumen in a coupled antiporter reaction, allowing entry of additional nucleotide sugar from the cytosol. To test this model, we cloned the gene for the S. cerevisiae guanosine diphosphatase and constructed a null mutation. This mutation should reduce the concentrations of GDP-mannose and GMP and increase the concentration of GDP in the Golgi lumen. The alterations should in turn decrease mannosylation of proteins and lipids in this compartment. In fact, we found a partial block in O- and N-glycosylation of proteins such as chitinase and carboxypeptidase Y and underglycosylation of invertase. In addition, mannosylinositolphosphorylceramide levels were drastically reduced

Shipping in the north-east Atlantic : identifying spatial and temporal patterns of change

This work was supported by a faculty PhD bursary from the University of Portsmouth. Work was supported by the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme.Maritime traffic is increasing globally, with a four-fold increase in commercial vessel movements between 1992 and 2012. Vessels contribute to noise and air pollution, provide pathways for non-native species, and collide with marine wildlife. While knowledge of shipping trends and potential environmental impacts exists at both local and global levels, key information on vessel density for regional-scale management is lacking. This study presents the first in-depth spatio-temporal analysis of shipping in the north-east Atlantic region, over three years in a five-year period. Densities increased by 34%, including in 73% of Marine Protected Areas. Western Scotland and the Bay of Biscay experienced the largest increases in vessel density, predominantly from small and slow vessels. Given well-documented impacts that shipping can have on the marine environment, it is crucial that this situation continues to be monitored – particularly in areas designated to protect vulnerable species and ecosystems which may already be under pressure.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Conference on Adaptive Management and Global Climate Change

The University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history.Scholars from a variety of disciplines, including Economics, Geography, Political Science, and others, came to Ohio State to discuss the human dimension of climate change during the Adaptive Research and Governance in Climate Change conference. With an eye on the policy-relevant, social scientific study of climate change and attacking the problem with an integrative approach, the conference convened scholars for two days to focus on one question: how to marry the myriad aspects of climate change to develop a policy to improve the current crisis of climate change.Ohio State University. Mershon Center for International Security StudiesEvent webpage, event summary, phot

Future climate doubles the risk of hydraulic failure in a wet tropical forest

Future climate presents conflicting implications for forest biomass. We evaluate how plant hydraulic traits, elevated CO2 levels, warming, and changes in precipitation affect forest primary productivity, evapotranspiration, and the risk of hydraulic failure. We used a dynamic vegetation model with plant hydrodynamics (FATES-HYDRO) to simulate the stand-level responses to future climate changes in a wet tropical forest in Barro Colorado Island, Panama. We calibrated the model by selecting plant trait assemblages that performed well against observations. These assemblages were run with temperature and precipitation changes for two greenhouse gas emission scenarios (2086-2100: SSP2-45, SSP5-85) and two CO2 levels (contemporary, anticipated). The risk of hydraulic failure is projected to increase from a contemporary rate of 5.7% to 10.1-11.3% under future climate scenarios, and, crucially, elevated CO2 provided only slight amelioration. By contrast, elevated CO2 mitigated GPP reductions. We attribute a greater variation in hydraulic failure risk to trait assemblages than to either CO2 or climate. Our results project forests with both faster growth (through productivity increases) and higher mortality rates (through increasing rates of hydraulic failure) in the neo-tropics accompanied by certain trait plant assemblages becoming nonviable

Feasibility Study Youth Work Funding Review: Phase 1, Feasibility Study Report

This report presents the findings from the first phase of a review of youth work funding in Wales carried out on behalf of the Welsh Government, Youth Engagement Branch (WGYEB). The work of the Interim Youth Work Board (IYWB) provides the background to this research. In 2018 the Board was tasked with developing recommendations aimed at achieving a sustainable delivery model for youth work in Wales, and these have provided the impetus for this research. The fourth of its 14 recommendations was to undertake an independent review into the sufficiency, transparency, accountability and effectiveness of funding and expenditure on youth work services across the Welsh Government, local authorities, and voluntary organisations, to assess the effective delivery of outcomes and impact for young people

Astudiaeth Ddichonoldeb Adolygiad o Ariannu Gwaith Ieuenctid Crynodeb Gweithredol

Mae’r adroddiad hwn yn cyflwyno canfyddiadau astudiaeth ddichonoldeb o adolygiad o gyllid gwaith ieuenctid yng Nghymru a gynhaliwyd ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru, y Gangen Ymgysylltu Ieuenctid (WGYEB). Rhwng 2018-2021 cafodd y Bwrdd Gwaith Ieuenctid Interim (BGII) y cyfrifoldeb o ddatblygu argymhellion ar gyfer model cynaliadwy ar gyfer gwaith ieuenctid yng Nghymru. Eu hadroddiad terfynol `Mae’n Bryd Cyflawni dros Bobl Ifanc yng Nghymru’ oedd y symbyliad ar gyfer yr ymchwil hwn. Dywed y pedwerydd o 14 argymhelliad y Bwrdd y: “Dylai Llywodraeth Cymru […] gynnal adolygiad annibynnol i ddigonolrwydd, tryloywder, atebolrwydd ac effeithiolrwydd cyllid a gwariant ar wasanaethau gwaith ieuenctid ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru, awdurdodau lleol a mudiadau gwirfoddol, er mwyn asesu sut y darparwyd deilliannau ac effaith ar gyfer pobl ifanc” (Bwrdd Gwaith Ieuenctid Interim, 2021)