Collaborative Database to Track Mass Mortality Events in the Mediterranean Sea

Anthropogenic climate change, and global warming in particular, has strong and increasing impacts on marine ecosystems (Poloczanska et al., 2013; Halpern et al., 2015; Smale et al., 2019). The Mediterranean Sea is considered a marine biodiversity hot-spot contributing to more than 7% of world's marine biodiversity including a high percentage of endemic species (Coll et al., 2010). The Mediterranean region is a climate change hotspot, where the respective impacts of warming are very pronounced and relatively well documented (Cramer et al., 2018). One of the major impacts of sea surface temperature rise in the marine coastal ecosystems is the occurrence of mass mortality events (MMEs). The first evidences of this phenomenon dated from the first half of'80 years affecting the Western Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea (Harmelin, 1984; Bavestrello and Boero, 1986; Gaino and Pronzato, 1989; Voultsiadou et al., 2011). The most impressive phenomenon happened in 1999 when an unprecedented large scale MME impacted populations of more than 30 species from different phyla along the French and Italian coasts (Cerrano et al., 2000; Perez et al., 2000). Following this event, several other large scale MMEs have been reported, along with numerous other minor ones, which are usually more restricted in geographic extend and/or number of affected species (Garrabou et al., 2009; Rivetti et al., 2014; Marbà et al., 2015; Rubio-Portillo et al., 2016, authors' personal observations). These events have generally been associated with strong and recurrent marine heat waves (Crisci et al., 2011; Kersting et al., 2013; Turicchia et al., 2018; Bensoussan et al., 2019) which are becoming more frequent globally (Smale et al., 2019). Both field observations and future projections using Regional Coupled Models (Adloff et al., 2015; Darmaraki et al., 2019) show the increase in Mediterranean sea surface temperature, with more frequent occurrence of extreme ocean warming events. As a result, new MMEs are expected during the coming years. To date, despite the efforts, neither updated nor comprehensive information can support scientific analysis of mortality events at a Mediterranean regional scale. Such information is vital to guide management and conservation strategies that can then inform adaptive management schemes that aim to face the impacts of climate change.MV-L was supported by a postdoctoral contract Juan de la Cierva-Incorporación (IJCI-2016-29329) of Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. AI was supported by a Technical staff contract (PTA2015-10829-I) Ayudas Personal Técnico de Apoyo of Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (2015). Interreg Med Programme (grant number Project MPA-Adapt 1MED15_3.2_M2_337) 85% cofunded by the European Regional Development Fund, the MIMOSA project funded by the Foundation Prince Albert II Monaco and the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no 689518 (MERCES). DG-G was supported by an FPU grant (FPU15/05457) from the Spanish Ministry of Education. J-BL was partially supported by the Strategic Funding UID/Multi/04423/2013 through national funds provided by FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), in the framework of the programme PT2020

The withdrawal of the lower limit of the Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadow in the Bay of Hyères (NW Mediterranean) : a combination of natural and human-induced recent and ancient phenomena ?

International audienceThe Posidonia oceanicaseagrass meadows are very sensitive to disturbance of human or natural origin. Here we consider the losses of the seagrass localizednear the lower limit of the meadowinthe Bay of Hyères(France). Samples of dead mattewere taken nearand beyond the current lower limit of the meadow, between 26 and 37 m depth. Radiocarbon 14C analyses were used for dating the withdrawal. The death of P. oceanicapossibly occurred between 160±100 (-29 m) and 1050±110 years BP (-37 m). The deeper and the further from the shore the sampled dead mattewas, the more ancient it was. This withdrawal appears to be a general feature, which concerns both highly human-impacted areas (Bay of Hyères)and pristine areas, such as Port-Cros Island (National Park). Several non-mutually exclusive hypotheses might explain this recent vs. ancient and actual vsapparent withdrawal: (i)trawling;(ii)post mortem erosion of the roof ofthe dead matte, by hydrodynamismor trawling; (iii)compaction of dead matteover time; (iv)current andancient rise in sea level; (v)current and past climate changeand/or (vi)human induced changes (e.g. turbidity).The lower limit withdrawal is more markedin highly human-impacted areas than in pristine areas, whereitmayreflect global forcings such as sea level rise, warmingandclimate episodes

Exploitation des ressources halieutiques par la pêche artisanale dans et autour des aires marines protégées : socio-écosystème, conservation et gouvernance

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Numerical approach for Flow/Vegetation interaction with 3D SPH Model

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Functional traits unravel temporal changes in fish biomass production on artificial reefs

International audiencereefs (ARs) are deployed worldwide as they are expected to support fisheries management. 22 While the underlying mechanisms remain widely debated, production was recently determined as 23 the most probable cause of increases in fish biomass. Changes in fish biomass in a temperate AR 24 system were investigated from December 2008 to November 2015 by considering seven distinct 25 functional groups, and isotopic functional indices were used to identify how these changes may have 26 affected organic matter (OM) fluxes. Contrasting patterns of change were observed between 27 functional trophic groups, highlighting that combining the biomass of all species present in a 28 community is inappropriate for assessing AR-induced effects. Benthic sedentary species 29 predominated (>75% of the total biomass) through massive production, with a 68-fold increase in 30 mean biomass over the study period. Mobile species tended to vary seasonally, suggesting only a 31 slight influence of AR. Zooplanktivores biomass decreased over the 6-year period, as a possible result 32 of changes in environmental conditions. Isotopic indices helped to reveal both the community 33 maturation and the importance of local OM sources not only in supporting fish biomass production 34 but also in attracting pelagic species. Our results corroborate that production and attraction are two 35 extremes of a range of contrasting patterns and highlight the importance of considering the specific 36 responses of functional components of fish communities to accurately describe changes in AR 37 functioning. Functional attributes such as trophic traits, habitat use and dispersal abilities must not 38 be overlooked as they modulate fish species responses to the deployment of man-made rocky 39 substrates

Functional traits unravel temporal changes in fish biomass production on artificial reefs

International audiencereefs (ARs) are deployed worldwide as they are expected to support fisheries management. 22 While the underlying mechanisms remain widely debated, production was recently determined as 23 the most probable cause of increases in fish biomass. Changes in fish biomass in a temperate AR 24 system were investigated from December 2008 to November 2015 by considering seven distinct 25 functional groups, and isotopic functional indices were used to identify how these changes may have 26 affected organic matter (OM) fluxes. Contrasting patterns of change were observed between 27 functional trophic groups, highlighting that combining the biomass of all species present in a 28 community is inappropriate for assessing AR-induced effects. Benthic sedentary species 29 predominated (>75% of the total biomass) through massive production, with a 68-fold increase in 30 mean biomass over the study period. Mobile species tended to vary seasonally, suggesting only a 31 slight influence of AR. Zooplanktivores biomass decreased over the 6-year period, as a possible result 32 of changes in environmental conditions. Isotopic indices helped to reveal both the community 33 maturation and the importance of local OM sources not only in supporting fish biomass production 34 but also in attracting pelagic species. Our results corroborate that production and attraction are two 35 extremes of a range of contrasting patterns and highlight the importance of considering the specific 36 responses of functional components of fish communities to accurately describe changes in AR 37 functioning. Functional attributes such as trophic traits, habitat use and dispersal abilities must not 38 be overlooked as they modulate fish species responses to the deployment of man-made rocky 39 substrates

Almost a century of monitoring of the Posidonia barrier reef at Port-Cros (Provence) and the platform reef at Saint-Florent (Corsica).

International audienceThe dynamics of natural monuments such as the Posidonia oceanica reefs is poorly known. The Posidonia barrier-reef Port-Cros has served as a laboratory for Molinier and Picard back in the 1950s and enabled them to describe the process of building of P. oceanica fringing and barrierreefs, while the Saint-Florent platform-reef, mapped for the first time in the 1980s, appears to be a unique structure the construction of which remains a mystery. The availability of postcards dating from the early 20th century, aerial photographs dating from 1948, and the development of remote sensing and georeferencing techniques associated with the use of drones and 3D models, have made it possible to monitor, for the first time, the precise evolution of these reefs and associated structures. Since the early 20th century, the barrier-reef at Port-Cros has been undergoing a steady decline. Anthropogenic pressures more than natural pressures may underlie this regression. Despite a number of management measures aimed at its protection, regression of the barrier-reef continues inexorably, at an unchanged pace, such that its ultimate disappearance now seems predictable. With regard to the Saint-Florent platform-reef, the surface area covered by Posidonia oceanica has remained stable (around 2.5 ha), although some differences can be observed from year to year; essentially due to the quality and resolution of the aerial images used for analysis. Moreover, the main atoll observed on the platform has regularly increased in size, from 40 m2 in 1948 to the current 189 m2. The conservation of these natural monuments, both included within MPAs, must be given priority by environmental managers

Growth Prior to Thermogenesis for a Quick Fledging of Adélie Penguin Chicks (Pygoscelis adeliae).

International audienceThe evolutionary trade-off between tissue growth and mature function restricts the post natal development of polar birds. The present study uses an original integrative approach as it includes gene expression, plus biochemical and physiological analysis to investigate how Adélie penguin chicks achieve a rapid growth despite the energetic constraints linked to the cold and the very short breeding season in Antarctica. In pectoralis muscle, the main thermogenic tissue in birds, our data show that the transition from ectothermy to endothermy on Day 15 post- hatching is associated with substantial and coordinated changes in the transcription of key genes. While the early activation of genes controlling cell growth and differentiation (avGHR, avIGF-1R, T3Rβ) is rapidly down-regulated after hatching, the global increase in the relative expression of genes involved in thermoregulation (avUCP, avANT, avLPL) and transcriptional regulation (avPGC1α, avT3Rβ) underlie the muscular acquisition of oxidative metabolism. Adélie chicks only become real endotherms at 15 days of age with the development of an oxidative muscle phenotype and the ability to shiver efficiently. The persistent muscular expression of IGF-1 throughout growth probably acts as a local mediator to adjust muscle size and its oxidative capacity to anticipate the new physiological demands of future Dives in cold water. The up-regulation of T3Rβ mRNA levels suggests that circulating T3 may play an important role in the late maturation of skeletal muscle by reinforcing, at least in part, the paracrine action of IGF-1. From day 30, the metabolic shift from mixed substrate to lipid metabolism, with the markedly increased mRNA levels of muscle avLPL, avANT and avUCP, suggests the late development of a fatty acid-enhanced muscle non-shivering thermogenesis mechanism. This molecular control is the key to this finely-tuned strategy by which the Adélie penguin chick successfully heads for the sea on schedule

Five-year mortality in patients with diabetic foot ulcer during 2009–2010 was lower than expected

International audienceAimMortality rates are decreasing in patients with diabetes. However, as this observation also concerns patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), additional data are needed. For this reason, our study evaluated the 5-year mortality rate in patients with DFU during 2009–2010 and identified risk factors associated with mortality.MethodsConsecutive patients who attended a clinic for new DFU during 2009–2010 were followed until healing and at 1 year. Data on mortality were collected at year 5. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards model was used to identify mortality risk factors.ResultsA total of 347 patients were included: mean age was 65 ± 12 years, diabetes duration was 16 [10; 27] years; 13% were on dialysis; and 7% had an organ transplant. At 5 years, 49 patients (14%) were considered lost to follow-up. Total mortality rate at 5 years was 35%, and 16% in patients with neuropathy. On multivariate analyses, mortality was positively associated with: age [hazard ratio (HR): 1.05 (1.03–1.07), P < 0.0001]; duration of diabetes [HR: 1.02 (1.001–1.03], P = 0.03]; PEDIS perfusion grade 2 vs. 1 [HR: 2.35 (1.28–4.29), P = 0.006)]; PEDIS perfusion grade 3 vs. 1 [HR: 3.14 (1.58–6.24), P = 0.001); and ulcer duration at year 1 [HR 2.09 (1.35–3.22), P = 0.0009].ConclusionMortality rates were not as high as expected despite the large number of comorbidities, suggesting that progress has been made in the health management of these patients. In particular, patients with neuropathic foot ulcer had a survival rate of 84% at 5 years