Growth and Respiration of the Cold-Water Corals Tethocyathus endesa and Caryophyllia huinayensis in the Fjord Comau, Chile Wachstum und Respiration der Kaltwasserkorallen Tethocyathus endesa und Caryophyllia huinayensis im chilenischen Comau-Fjord

The ongoing anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) release into the atmosphere is leading to a concurrent increase of CO2 in the oceans, resulting in a reduction of pH through ocean acidification. Though cold-water corals are thought to be highly vulnerable, previous studies have shown that some of them may be resilient to lower pH values. Chile's Comau fjord shows a pronounced horizontal pH gradient, partly reaching such low pH values as they are predicted for most oceans by the end of the century, offering the opportunity to conduct in situ experiments investigating the effects of reduced pH regimes. Two coral species that are abundant and ecologically important in the fjord Comau, Tethocyathus endesa and Caryophyllia huinayensis, were used in a reciprocal cross-transplantation experiment in 2014 - 2016 between sites of high and low pH to investigate the influence of different pH regimes on the corals. An interspecific comparison of the respiration rates, mass and calyx surface area increase in 2015 - 2016 and the mortality of the two species was carried out. Results for the respiration rates of T. endesa and C. huinayensis were similar between the species, but were strongly elevated compared to studies from previous years. The transplant from low to high pH showed a higher carbonate accretion rate for T. endesa, suggesting that higher pH regimes may be favoured by this species. Results for the calyx surface area increase corresponded to the results in mass increase for both species, though C. huinayensis even showed negative results. The physical environment at the investigated sites was compared through pH, oxygen and temperature data. Sites of low pH showed similar pH and oxygen values that were lower than those at the site of high pH at rising tide. Furthermore, the mass increase was intraspecifically compared between the two years. T. endesa showed a reduced mass increase in the second year at the site of low pH, whereas C. huinayensis showed similar results for all treatments in both years. As ocean acidification will require long-term adaptions, this suggests that C. huinayensis may be able to adapt to different pH regimes better than T. endesa and over a longer period of time

A multicentre, patient- and assessor-blinded, non-inferiority, randomised and controlled phase II trial to compare standard and torque teno virus-guided immunosuppression in kidney transplant recipients in the first year after transplantation:TTVguideIT

Background: Immunosuppression after kidney transplantation is mainly guided via plasma tacrolimus trough level, which cannot sufficiently predict allograft rejection and infection. The plasma load of the non-pathogenic and highly prevalent torque teno virus (TTV) is associated with the immunosuppression of its host. Non-interventional studies suggest the use of TTV load to predict allograft rejection and infection. The primary objective of the current trial is to demonstrate the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of TTV-guided immunosuppression. Methods: For this purpose, a randomised, controlled, interventional, two-arm, non-inferiority, patient- and assessor-blinded, investigator-driven phase II trial was designed. A total of 260 stable, low-immunological-risk adult recipients of a kidney graft with tacrolimus-based immunosuppression and TTV infection after month 3 post-transplantation will be recruited in 13 academic centres in six European countries. Subjects will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio (allocation concealment) to receive tacrolimus either guided by TTV load or according to the local centre standard for 9 months. The primary composite endpoint includes the occurrence of infections, biopsy-proven allograft rejection, graft loss, or death. The main secondary endpoints include estimated glomerular filtration rate, graft rejection detected by protocol biopsy at month 12 post-transplantation (including molecular microscopy), development of de novo donor-specific antibodies, health-related quality of life, and drug adherence. In parallel, a comprehensive biobank will be established including plasma, serum, urine and whole blood. The date of the first enrolment was August 2022 and the planned end is April 2025. Discussion: The assessment of individual kidney transplant recipient immune function might enable clinicians to personalise immunosuppression, thereby reducing infection and rejection. Moreover, the trial might act as a proof of principle for TTV-guided immunosuppression and thus pave the way for broader clinical applications, including as guidance for immune modulators or disease-modifying agents.</p

Working group on cephalopod fisheries and life history (Wgceph; outputs from 2022 meeting)

Rapports Scientifiques du CIEM. Volume 5, nº 1WGCEPH worked on six Terms of Reference. These involved reporting on the status of stocks; reviewing advances in stock identification, assessment for fisheries management and for the Ma- rine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), including some exploratory stock assessments; re- viewing impacts of human activities on cephalopods; developing identification guides and rec- ommendations for fishery data collection; describing the value chain and evaluating market driv- ers; and reviewing advances in research on environmental tolerance of cephalopods. ToR A is supported by an annual data call for fishery and survey data. During 2019–2021, com- pared to 1990–2020, cuttlefish remained the most important cephalopod group in terms of weight landed along the European North Atlantic coast, while loliginid squid overtook octopus as the second most important group. Short-finned squid remained the least important group in land- ings although their relative importance was almost double in 2019–2022 compared to 1992–2020. Total cephalopod landings have been fairly stable since 1992. Cuttlefish landings are towards the low end of the recent range, part of a general downward trend since 2004. Loliginid squid landings in 2019 were close to the maximum seen during the last 20 years but totals for 2020 and 2021 were lower. Annual ommastrephid squid landings are more variable than those of the other two groups and close to the maximum seen during 1992– 2021. Octopod landings have generally declined since 2002 but the amount landed in 2021 was higher than in the previous four years. Under ToR B we illustrate that the combination of genetic analysis and statolith shape analysis is a promising method to provide some stock structure information for L. forbsii. With the sum- mary of cephalopod assessments, we could illustrate that many cephalopod species could al- ready be included into the MSFD. We further provide material from two reviews in preparation, covering stock assessment methods and challenges faced for cephalopod fisheries management. Finally, we summarise trends in abundance indices, noting evidence of recent declines in cuttle- fish and some octopuses of the genus Eledone. Under ToR C, we describe progress on the reviews of (i) anthropogenic impacts on cephalopods and (ii) life history and ecology. In relation to life history, new information on Eledone cirrhosa from Portugal is included. Under ToR D we provide an update on identification guides, discuss best practice in fishery data collection in relation to maturity determination and sampling intensity for fishery monitoring. Among others, we recommend i) to include the sampling of cephalopods in any fishery that (a) targets cephalopods, (b) targets both cephalopods and demersal fishes or (c) takes cephalopods as an important bycatch, ii) Size-distribution sampling, iii) the use of standardized sampling pro- tocols, iv) an increased sampling effort in cephalopod. Work under ToR E on value chains and market drivers, in conjunction with the Cephs & Chefs INTERREG project, has resulted in two papers being submitted. Abstracts of these are in the report. Finally, progress under ToR F on environmental tolerance limits of cephalopods and climate en- velope models is discussed, noting the need to continue this work during the next cycle.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

In situ growth and respiration rates of scleractinian corals from a crosstransplant experiment carried out in Comau Fjord, Chile, 2016

The ongoing anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) release into the atmosphere is leading to a concurrent increase of CO2 in the oceans, resulting in a reduction of pH through ocean acidification. Though cold-water corals are thought to be highly vulnerable, previous studies have shown that some of them may be resilient to lower pH values. Chile's Comau fjord shows a pronounced horizontal pH gradient, partly reaching such low pH values as they are predicted for most oceans by the end of the century, offering the opportunity to conduct in situ experiments investigating the effects of reduced pH regimes. Two coral species that are abundant and ecologically important in the fjord Comau, Tethocyathus endesa and Caryophyllia huinayensis, were used in a reciprocal cross-transplantation experiment in 2014 - 2016 between sites of high and low pH to investigate the influence of different pH regimes on the corals. An interspecific comparison of the respiration rates, mass and calyx surface area increase in 2015 - 2016 and the mortality of the two species was carried out. Results for the respiration rates of T. endesa and C. huinayensis were similar between the species, but were strongly elevated compared to studies from previous years. The transplant from low to high pH showed a higher carbonate accretion rate for T. endesa, suggesting that higher pH regimes may be favoured by this species. Results for the calyx surface area increase corresponded to the results in mass increase for both species, though C. huinayensis even showed negative results. The physical environment at the investigated sites was compared through pH, oxygen and temperature data. Sites of low pH showed similar pH and oxygen values that were lower than those at the site of high pH at rising tide. Furthermore, the mass increase was intraspecifically compared between the two years. T. endesa showed a reduced mass increase in the second year at the site of low pH, whereas C. huinayensis showed similar results for all treatments in both years. As ocean acidification will require long-term adaptions, this suggests that C. huinayensis may be able to adapt to different pH regimes better than T. endesa and over a longer period of time