Annual Cycle Research Articles

Implementation and assessment of a model including mixotrophs and the carbonate cycle (Eco3M_MIX-CarbOx v1.0) in a highly dynamic Mediterranean coastal environment (Bay of Marseille, France) – Part 2: Towards a better representation of total alkalinity when modeling the carbonate system and air–sea CO2 fluxes

Abstract. The Bay of Marseille (BoM), located in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea, is affected by various hydrodynamic processes (e.g., Rhône River intrusion and upwelling events) that result in a highly complex local carbonate system. In any complex environment, the use of models is advantageous since it allows us to identify the different environmental forcings, thereby facilitating a better understanding. By combining approaches from two biogeochemical ocean models and improving the formulation of total alkalinity, we develop a more realistic representation of the carbonate system variables at high temporal resolution, which enables us to study air–sea CO2 fluxes and seawater pCO2 variations more reliably. We apply this new formulation to two particular scenarios that are typical for the BoM: (i) summer upwelling and (ii) Rhône River intrusion events. In both scenarios, our model was able to correctly reproduce the observed patterns of pCO2 variability. Summer upwelling events are typically associated with a pCO2 decrease that mainly results from decreasing near-surface temperatures. Furthermore, Rhône River intrusion events are typically associated with a pCO2 decrease, although, in this case, the pCO2 decrease results from a decrease in salinity and an overall increase in total alkalinity. While we were able to correctly represent the daily range of air–sea CO2 fluxes, the present configuration of Eco3M_MIX-CarbOx does not allow us to correctly reproduce the annual cycle of air–sea CO2 fluxes observed in the area. This pattern directly impacts our estimates of the overall yearly air–sea CO2 flux as, even if the model clearly identifies the bay as a CO2 sink, its magnitude was underestimated, which may be an indication of the limitations inherent in dimensionless models for representing air–sea CO2 fluxes.

Synergistic atmosphere-ocean-ice influences have driven the 2023 all-time Antarctic sea-ice record low

Antarctic sea ice extent (SIE) reached a new record low in February 2023. Here we examine the evolution of the coupled ocean-atmosphere-sea ice system during the 12 months preceding the record. The impact of preceding conditions is assessed with observations, reanalyses, and output from the regional ocean-sea ice coupled model NEMO3.6-LIM3. We find that the 2022-2023 sea ice annual cycle was characterized by consistently low SIE throughout the year, anomalously rapid sea ice retreat in December 2022, and nearly circumpolar negative SIE anomalies in February 2023. While advection-induced positive air temperature anomalies inhibited the sea ice growth in most regions, strong southerly winds in the Amundsen-Ross Sea caused by an anomalously deep Amundsen Sea Low in spring transported notable volumes of sea ice northward, triggering an unusually active ice-albedo feedback onshore and favoring accelerated melt towards the minimum. This study highlights the impacts of multifactorial processes during the preceding seasons to explain the recent summer sea ice minima.

The cost-effectiveness of semaglutide in reducing cardiovascular risk among people with overweight and obesity and existing cardiovascular disease, but without diabetes.

The Semaglutide Effects on Cardiovascular Outcomes in People with Overweight or Obesity (SELECT) trial demonstrated significant reductions in cardiovascular outcomes in people with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and overweight or obesity (but without diabetes). However, the cost of the medication has raised concerns about its financial viability and accessibility within healthcare systems. This study explored whether use of semaglutide for the secondary prevention of CVD in overweight or obesity is cost-effective from the Australian healthcare perspective. A Markov model was developed based on the SELECT trial to model the clinical outcomes and costs of a hypothetical population treated with semaglutide versus placebo, in addition to standard care, and followed up over 20 years. With each annual cycle, subjects were at risk of having non-fatal CVD events or dying. Model inputs were derived from SELECT and published literature. Costs were obtained from Australian sources. All outcomes were discounted by 5% annually. The main outcome of interest was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in terms of cost per year of life saved (YoLS) and cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. With an annual estimated cost of semaglutide of A${\$}$4175, the model resulted in ICERs of A${\$}$99853 (US${\$}$143504; £40873) per YoLS and A${\$}$96055 (US${\$}$138046; £39318) per QALY gained. Assuming a willingness-to-pay threshold of A${\$}$50000, semaglutide is not considered cost-effective at the current price. A price of≤A${\$}$2000 per year or more targeted use in high-risk patients would be needed for it to be considered cost-effective in the Australian setting.

Visitation patterns of endangered grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) in a forest clearing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus), once abundant, has become increasingly threatened due to the combined effects of capture for the global pet trade and habitat loss. Although grey parrots are well studied in captivity, effective conservation efforts require a better understanding of their ecological requirements in the wild. The aim of this paper is to quantify grey parrot behaviours across the annual cycle. To do that, we studied groups of grey parrots gathering in a natural forest clearing in the Nkuba Conservation Area, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Using parrot counts and focal sampling, combined with descriptive statistics, we found that an average of 40 grey parrots visited the clearing each day, following a regular pattern in which they first perched in the trees surrounding the clearing, vocalizing loudly, until the group landed in the clearing to feed, drink and interact with each other. Generalized linear models (GLMs) and generalized additive models (GAMs) showed that the time at which parrots arrived, landed at, and left clearings was influenced by the weather, seasonality and the month of the year. We also found that parrots shortened their visits when disturbed by predators or the presence of humans. Although the underlying mechanisms for grey parrot visits to forest clearings remains unclear, the consistency of this behaviour observed elsewhere in Africa and the feeding observed in the clearing in this study suggest that these area support important foraging habitat for the wild grey parrots. Therefore, ensuring the availability of such clearings is paramount to the long-term survival of the species. We suggest that future efforts to protect grey parrots in their native habitats focus on identifying clearings visited by parrots, monitoring these clearings and allowing parrots to visit them without disturbance or risk of capture.

Association of microbial community structure with gill disease in marine-stage farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar); a yearlong study

BackgroundUnderstanding the relationship between resident microbiota and disease in cultured fish represents an important and emerging area of study. Marine gill disorders in particular are considered an important challenge to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture, however relatively little is known regarding the role resident gill microbiota might play in providing protection from or potentiating different gill diseases. Here, 16S rRNA sequencing was used to examine the gill microbiome alongside fish health screening in farmed Atlantic salmon. Results were used to explore the relationship between microbial communities and gill disease.ResultsMicrobial community restructuring was observed throughout the sampling period and linked to varied drivers of change, including environmental conditions and severity of gill pathology. Taxa with significantly greater relative abundance on healthier gills included isolates within genus Shewanella, and taxa within family Procabacteriaceae. In contrast, altered abundance of Candidatus Branchiomonas and Rubritalea spp. were associated with damaged gills. Interestingly, more general changes in community richness and diversity were not associated with altered gill health, and thus not apparently deleterious to fish. Gross and histological gill scoring demonstrated seasonal shifts in gill pathology, with increased severity of gill damage in autumn. Specific infectious causes that contributed to observed pathology within the population included the gill disorder amoebic gill disease (AGD), however due to the uncontrolled nature of this study and likely mixed contribution of various causes of gill disease to observed pathology results do not strongly support an association between the microbial community and specific infectious or non-infectious drivers of gill pathology.ConclusionsResults suggest that the microbial community of farmed Atlantic salmon gills undergo continual restructuring in the marine environment, with mixed influences upon this change including environmental, host, and pathogenic factors. A significant association of specific taxa with different gill health states suggests these taxa might make meaningful indicators of gill health. Further research with more frequent sampling and deliberate manipulation of gills would provide important advancement of knowledge in this area. Overall, although much is still to be learnt regarding what constitutes a healthy or maladapted gill microbial community, the results of this study provide clear advancement of the field, providing new insight into the microbial community structure of gills during an annual production cycle of marine-stage farmed Atlantic salmon.

Climatological Aspects of Notable Tornado Events in Chile

Abstract Tornadoes in Chile seem to develop in what are called “high-shear, low-CAPE” (HSLC) environments. An analysis of convective parameters from the ERA5 reanalysis during 16 notable tornadoes in Chile showed that several increased markedly before the time of the reports. The significant tornado parameter (STP) was able to discriminate the timing and location of the tornadoes, even though it was not created with that goal. We established thresholds for the severe hazards in environments with reduced buoyancy (SHERBE) parameter (≥1) and the STP (≤−0.3) to further identify days favorable for tornado activity in Chile. The SHERBE and STP parameters were then used to conduct a climatological analysis from 1959 to 2021 of the seasonal, interannual, and latitudinal variations of the environments that might favor tornadoes. Both parameters were found to have a strong annual cycle. The largest magnitudes of STP were found to be generally confined to south-central Chile, in agreement with the (sparse) tornado record. The probability of a day with both SHERBE and STP values beyond their thresholds was greatest between May and August, which aligns with the months with the most tornado reports. The number of days with both SHERBE and STP beyond their respective thresholds was found to fluctuate interannually. This result warrants further study given the known interannual variability of synoptic and mesoscale weather in Chile. The results of this study extend our understanding of tornado environments in Chile and provide insight into their spatiotemporal variability.

The Coastal Sea‐Level Response to Wind Stress in the Middle Atlantic Bight

AbstractAnalysis of 40 years of tide gauge data and reanalysis wind stresses from the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) indicate that along‐shelf wind stresses are a dominant driver of coastal dynamic sea level (sea level plus atmospheric pressure) variability at daily to yearly time scales. The sea‐level response to along‐shelf wind stress varies substantially along the coast and is accurately reproduced by a steady, barotropic, depth‐averaged model (Csanady, 1978, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520‐0485(1978)008<0047:tatw>2.0.co;2, Arrested Topographic Wave). The model indicates that the sea‐level response in the MAB depends primarily on the along‐shelf distribution of the along‐shelf wind stress, the Coriolis frequency, the bottom drag coefficient, and the cross‐shelf bottom slope. The along‐shelf wind stress varies along the MAB shelf due primarily to changes in the shelf orientation. The sea‐level response depends on both the local and upstream (in the sense of Kelvin wave propagation) along‐shelf wind stresses. Consequently, sea‐level variability at daily, monthly and yearly time scales along much of the central MAB coast is more strongly driven by upstream winds along the southern New England shelf than by local winds along the central MAB shelf. The residual coastal sea‐level variability, after removing the wind‐driven response and the trend, is roughly uniform along the MAB coast. The along‐coast average of the residual sea level at monthly and yearly time scales is caused by variations in shelf water densities primarily associated with the large annual cycle in water temperature and interannual variations in salinity.

Influence of Reservoir Salinity, Mineralogy, Temperature, and Pressure on Geochemical Hydrogen Loss in Depleted Carbonates

Summary Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) is a cost-effective and safer system vital for the growth of the hydrogen market and its role as an essential transitional fuel. Presently, depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs (DHR) account for more than 75% of all UHS sites due to their higher prevalence and readiness for use. However, hydrogen (H2) loss primarily due to abiotic interactions poses a significant challenge to the integrity of DHR sites, and while the underlying conditions have been investigated in some studies, the conclusions have been inconsistent, particularly for carbonate reservoirs. In this study, we analyzed the impact of reservoir physical and chemical parameters, (i.e., salinity, mineralogy, temperature, and pressure) on H2-brine-mineral interactions and the extent of H2 loss in carbonate formations. Static batch simulations were performed using PHREEQC and MATLAB® for a 1-year storage cycle period with three different brine and rock samples at 50–130°C and 15–30 MPa. The results showed that the dissociation of H2 and formation of CH4 and H2S increased with increasing temperature, at a two times higher rate compared to pressure. Also, markedly, in various brine compositions and reactive mineralogy, a 20% or less H2 loss could be attained in temperatures <50°C and 115–130°C, with pressure below 17 MPa; meanwhile, the pressure condition 18 MPa and greater (at 50°C) would risk at least 50% loss, with >86% from 19 MPa. Second, H2 loss increased to 80% after about 50 days for all the brines, and pressure and temperature conditions in the mineral sample with the largest composition of reactive minerals (i.e., pyrite, anhydrite, etc.) suggested a 50% loss risk in such mineralogy during the storage cycle period of about 1 month. Lastly, in the mineral sample with >90 wt% calcite and 0–2 wt% reactive minerals composition, H2 molality increased at least fourfold on average across the storage period and reservoir brine/temperature/pressure conditions. This result further indicates that reactive mineralogy has a more significant effect on the stability of hydrogen relative to temperature and pressure in a carbonate UHS formation. In summary, the findings suggest that a minimal reactive mineral composition, 100°C or higher, and 17 MPa or lower constitutes a set of reservoir physical and chemical conditions with the potential for a limited risk of H2 loss (<20%) in carbonate DHR. However, the extension of the present work to the dynamic UHS conditions is necessary to further ascertain these conclusions.

Extreme Seasonal Droughts and Floods in the Madeira River Basin, Brazil: Diagnosis, Causes, and Trends

The Madeira River, a major tributary of the Amazon River, often undergoes severe flood and drought conditions. This study seeks to investigate the climate processes associated with the opposing extreme precipitation events in the Madeira River basin and to relate them to river discharge variability based on a flood awareness dataset. Despite the uncertainty in the observational datasets, the annual precipitation cycle exhibits a rainy season from November to March. A significant result is the high correlation between the rainy season variability in the Madeira River basin and the sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the tropical North Atlantic Ocean and the southwestern South Atlantic Ocean. This result indicates that improving the Atlantic SST representation in climate modeling allows for capturing extreme precipitation events in the region. In addition to this impact, certain Madeira River tributaries present significant climate trends. The river discharge variability reveals an increase in hydrological extremes in recent years in the upper sector, but more significantly, in the lower basin, where it has reduced by more than 400 m3/s per decade. These findings highlight the need to improve in situ data and climate and hydrological modeling, with a focus on describing the intense climate variability and trends in river discharges.

THE ISSUES OF MEDIEVAL RITUAL OAKS IN THE MIDDLE AND UPPER DNIEPER BASIN

In 2023 the abstracts of N. Khamayko, O. Pashkovsky, P. Goldin, M. Kubliya, and E. Yanish «Scientific studies of the cult “Oak of the Slavs» were published. The publication is focused on three pagan ritual oaks that were discovered in the Dnieper and Desna interfluve in 1909, 1975 and 1978/1979. The mandibles of pigs were embedded into these trees. The last two oaks, according to 14C indicators, are dated within the third quarter / late 7th — late 10th / mid-11th centuries. The main part of the mentioned publication is the results of laboratory archaeozoological research of animal remains from an oak trunk raised from the bottom of the Dnipro in 1975 conducted by employees of the Institute of Zoology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in 2020 and 2023. The researches have shown that the bones belong mainly to domestic or hybrid (semi-domestic/semi-wild) sows; the age of most animals is up to 3 years or more; the time of death of three animals falls on the second half of the annual cycle, and in two cases the period of death is determined by the winter season. According to most laboratory indicators, the bone remains of animals from the oak of 1975 were similar or identical to the corresponding indicators of the pig mandibles from the oaks of 1978/1979 maintained by the Institute of Zoology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in 1987. This proves the similarity between the analyzed specimens not only at the level of the main zoological and biological components. One can see the similarity or identity at the level of the content of the pagan ritual, during which the jaws of sows were inserted into tree trunks. The main indicators of archaeozoological and dendrological (regarding the oak in 1978/1979) research, as well as historical and ethnographic research, convince that the mentioned ritual trees are the realities of the calendar rituals of the autumn and winter seasons (in particular, perhaps, the rituals of productive magic) of local agrarians, and not the rituals of traveling merchants-wives, as was considered until recently. In the mentioned publication, the authors also touched upon the question of the ethnocultural attribution of the analyzed ritual oaks. Having based on a number of facts mainly of a general historical nature, in particular: 1) the appearance of the Vikings on the lands of the Lower Desna — the Middle Dnieper in the period of early Rus’; 2) the spread of the cult of trees and animals among pagan Scandinavians; 3) calibrated dating range of ritual oaks in 1975 and 1978/1979 within 776—938 years, i.e. largely within the Early Rus area; 4) change in the 10th century Slavic archaeological cultures of the Middle Dnieper region to the archaeological culture of Old Rus, they put in doubt (although not directly) the probable belonging of these trees to the local Slavs. However, this attempt lacks concrete and therefore convincing evidence of a historical, archaeological or historical-ethnographic nature. There is no reason to assume a significant influence of the Scandinavian newcomers on the spiritual sphere of the autochthons, especially on their calendar rituals of the agricultural cycle.

The Influence of Dynamical Downscaling and Boundary Layer Selection on Egypt’s Potential Evapotranspiration using a Calibrated Version of the Hargreaves-samani Equation: RegCM4 Approach

Potential Evapotranspiration (PET) is an important variable for monitoring daily agricultural activity as well as meteorological drought. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the influence of different options of the physical dynamical downscaling and boundary layer schemes on the simulated PET. Using the RegCM4 regional climate model, four simulations were conducted (two for each case) in the period 1997 to 2017. In all simulations, the RegCM4 was configured with 25 km resolution and downscaled by the ERA-Interim reanalysis dataset. To ensure a reliable estimation of the PET, a calibrated version of the Hargreaves-Samani equation was adopted. A high-resolution product of the ERA5 was used as the observational dataset. Results showed that the simulated PET is insensitive either to the dynamical downscaling or the boundary layer options. Concerning the annual climatological cycle, the RegCM4’s performance varies with month and location. Quantitatively, a root mean square error lies between 1 mm and 1.6 mm day-1, the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency between 0.2 and 0.6, and the coefficient of determination between 0.5 and 0.75. Additionally, the Linear Scaling (LS) method showed its added value in the evaluation/validation periods. In conclusion, the RegCM4 can be used to develop a regional PET map of Egypt using the LS either in the present climate or under different future scenarios.

Climatic characteristics and meteorology-sensitivity of surface solar radiation in reanalysis products compared to observations and satellite data over China

Due to the significant role of the surface solar radiation (SSR) in climate, hydrological, and biogeochemical cycles, this study evaluates the climatology, annual cycle, and interannual variability and meteorological sensitivity (total cloud cover (TCC), aerosol optical depth (AOD), and precipitable water (PW)) of six reanalysis SSR datasets (GLDAS, ERA5, NCEP1, NCEP2, JRA55, and MERRA2) using a satellite dataset (CERES SYN), and 130 radiation stations in China during 2001–2020.The results show that the climatology (R = 0.88–0.93) and annual cycle (R = 0.92–0.98) of the SSR datasets exhibit better spatial characteristics in these products compared to interannual variability (EOF1: R = 0.03–0.88; EOF2: R = 0.27–0.83). The GLDAS has relatively small estimation SSR error in the climatology but is limited to reproduce interannual variability (EOF1: R = 0.08). As the concentration of meteorological elements increases, the sensitivity of most SSRs errors to TCC increases, while the trend of sensitivity to AOD and PW decreases due to the mitigating effect of the corresponding tendency of TCC error reduction. The importance of PW for estimating SSRs increased significantly in high altitude, ranging from 29.5 to 53%. Overall, ERA5 is the most consistent in quality of the three time-scales and high-meteorological variability.

Anchovy and sardine condition and energy content in the North Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean) in relation to their contrasting reproductive strategies.

Forage species with high biomass, such as anchovies and sardines, play a key role in pelagic ecosystems and make up a significant proportion of the world's capture fisheries production. In recent years, condition indices have gained interest as significant indicators for assessing the effects of environmental and human pressures on these species and the quality of their habitats. In the present study, we examined, for the first time in the North Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean), the year-round variation in somatic and gonadal condition, energy density, and percentage of lipid content of anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and sardine (Sardina pilchardus). Energy density was measured with bomb calorimetry and percentage lipid content with the fatmeter, a portable electronic device. Finally, the monthly changes in gonadal and energetic condition were examined in relation to the annual cycle of temperature and mesozooplankton biomass, simulated by the implementation of a coupled hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model (POM-ERSEM). There was a strong relationship between fish energy density (kJ g-1) and percentage dry weight. Furthermore, the mean monthly energy density and fatmeter measurements were strongly correlated, especially in sardine. Overall, the monthly changes in energetic condition were indicative of the species' different strategies for energy acquisition and allocation to reproduction (capital vs. income breeding): sardine exhibited low energy density and percentage lipid content during the winter spawning period (November-March) and markedly higher energetic condition from spring to autumn (April-October). Anchovy spawning period, as inferred from gonadal condition, lasted from April to September, i.e., during the warm period of the year but its energy density and percentage lipid content did not exhibit any seasonal changes and were markedly lower than in sardine from April to October. Finally, the simulated mesozooplankton biomass was higher from January to July, which corresponded to the second half of the spawning season for sardine, but first half of the spawning season for anchovy.

Biological and fishery indicators for the small-scale marble crab fishery in Northern Patagonia: recommendations for improving a monitoring program and stock assessment of a data-limited fishery

Small-scale fisheries have been typically data-limited despite their economic importance for local communities. This is especially true in zones where fishing operations occur in remote areas under harsh weather conditions. Crab fishery in Chile is exclusively artisanal, and marble crab (Metacarcinus edwardsii) has the highest landing records. This species is found in most parts of the coast of Chile, but it is mainly caught in the south of the country (including Patagonia). Fishery management is data-limited, and monitoring has not established the spatial and temporal variability baseline necessary to determine its exploitation status. This fishery is currently evaluated annually under a scheme based on reporting biological and fishery information, primarily from the landing ports and secondarily from fishing grounds. In the present study, we collected data from fishing grounds on board artisanal fishing vessels around 45°S during an annual cycle to establish indicators based on catch per unit effort (above and below minimum legal size), size, sex ratio, and the relationship between weight and size. Our results showed that fishery and biological indicators respond more to seasonal patterns than to expected spatial heterogeneity related to different fishing grounds: proportional stock density (lowest in winter), sex ratio (biased toward males in winter), retained catch (highest in autumn), and released catch (highest in winter), while the average size of the largest 10% of the sample only showed differences between males and females. Additionally, released catch varied according to soak time, which indicates the effectiveness of escape rings incorporated in the traps. These results lead to recommendations related to the current monitoring program, which should include the selection of a limited number of fishing grounds standardized by season and the incorporation of information related to soak time and the presence of escape rings. Finally, this study highlights the importance of on-board scientific monitoring for any fisheries, even those of small scale.

Training Session Models in Endurance Sports: A Norwegian Perspective on Best Practice Recommendations.

Our scientific understanding of the mechanistic and practical connections between training session prescriptions, their execution by athletes, and adaptations over time in elite endurance sports remains limited. These connections are fundamental to the art and science of coaching. By using successful Norwegian endurance coaches as key informants, the aim of this study is to describe and compare best practice session models across different exercise intensities in Olympic endurance sports. Data collection was based on a four-step pragmatic qualitative study design, involving questionnaires, training logs from successful athletes, and in-depth and semi-structured interviews, followed by negotiation among researchers and coaches to assure our interpretations. Twelve successful and experienced male Norwegian coaches from biathlon, cross-country skiing, long-distance running, road cycling, rowing, speed skating, swimming, and triathlon were chosen as key informants. They had been responsible for the training of world-class endurance athletes who altogether have won > 370 medals in international championships. The duration of low-intensity training (LIT) sessions ranges from 30min to 7h across sports, mainly due to modality-specific constraints and load tolerance considerations. Cross-training accounts for a considerable part of LIT sessions in several sports. Moderate (MIT)- and high-intensity training (HIT) sessions are mainly conducted as intervals in specific modalities, but competitions also account for a large proportion of annual HIT in most sports. Interval sessions are characterized by a high accumulated volume, a progressive increase in intensity throughout the session, and a controlled, rather than exhaustive, execution approach. A clear trend towards shorter intervals and lower work: rest ratio with increasing intensity was observed. Overall, the analyzed sports implement considerably more MIT than HIT sessions across the annual cycle. This study provides novel insights on quantitative and qualitative aspects of training session models across intensities employed by successful athletes in Olympic endurance sports. The interval training sessions revealed in this study are generally more voluminous, more controlled, and less exhaustive than most previous recommendations outlined in research literature.

Protozoan communities serve as a strong indicator of water quality in the Nile River

The relationship between the protozoan communities and environmental variables was studied in the Nile River to evaluate their potential as water quality indicators. Protozoans were sampled monthly at six sampling sites in the Nile's Damietta Branch across a spatial gradient of environmental conditions during a 1-year cycle (February 2016–January 2017). The Protozoa community was comprised of 54 species belonging to six main heterotrophic Protozoa phyla. The abundance (average, 1089 ± 576.18 individuals L−1) and biomass (average, 86.60 ± 106.13 μg L−1) were comparable between sites. Ciliates comprised the majority of protozoan species richness (30 species), abundance (79.72%), and biomass (82.90%). Cluster analysis resulted in the distribution of protozoan species into three groups, with the most dominant species being the omnivorous ciliate Paradileptus elephantinus. Aluminium, fluoride, and turbidity negatively affected abundance and biomass, while dissolved oxygen and potassium positively impacted biomass. Of the dominant species recorded over the study area, the amoebozoa Centropyxis aculeata was associated with runoff variables, while the bacterivorous ciliates Colpidium colpoda, Glaucoma scintillans, and Vorticella convallaria were related to the abundance of heterotrophic bacteria, phytoplankton biomass, and total organic carbon. Total dissolved salts, PO4, NH3, NO2, dissolved oxygen, and total organic carbon were the strongest causative factors for protozoa distribution. The α-Mesosaprobic environment at site VI confirmed a high load of agricultural runoffs compared to other sites. This study demonstrates that protozoans can be a potential bioindicator of water quality status in this subtropical freshwater river system.

Exploring electron backscatter diffraction analysis as a tool for understanding stromatolite: Quantitative description of Cretaceous lacustrine stromatolite reveals formative processes and high‐resolution climatic cycles

AbstractLacustrine stromatolites serve as important archives for recording environmental changes, and the detailed examination of their microfabrics is essential for understanding their formative processes and the environmental changes embedded within them. This study explored the application of Electron Backscatter Diffraction combined with Energy‐Dispersive X‐ray Spectroscopy to investigate a well‐preserved middle Cretaceous lacustrine stromatolite from south‐eastern Korea, unveiling ultra‐high‐resolution sedimentary processes that are often challenging to observe using conventional methods. Two types of microsparitic layers and one type of crystalline layer are distinguished based on their texture, crystal morphology and elemental composition. Both microsparitic layers are micrometre‐thick and are characterized by poorly co‐oriented calcite grains, but differ in their composition. Type 1 is depleted in magnesium but enriched in detrital elements such as silicon and aluminium, likely originating from the trapping and binding of detrital sediments on microbial mats during rainy seasons. In contrast, type 2 is enriched in magnesium but devoid of detrital elements, interpreted to have formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate during dry seasons. The crystalline layers comprise fan‐shaped calcite crystals (ca 500 μm in length) with radiating internal structures, with their c‐axes oriented perpendicular to the stromatolite layers. These structures resemble those observed in some modern freshwater stromatolites, which are interpreted as imprints of cyanobacterial fascicules. While the cyclic occurrence of types 1 and 2 microsparitic layers might imply annual seasonal cycles, the less frequent crystalline layers are interpreted as a result of environmental changes occurring every 27 to 30 years. This is the first study to apply Electron Backscatter Diffraction to stromatolites, showcasing its potential in unravelling both the formative and diagenetic processes of ancient stromatolites.

The Prevalence of Low Energy Availability in Cross-Country Skiers during the Annual Cycle.

A sustained mismatch between energy intake (EI) and exercise energy expenditure (EEE) can lead to Low Energy Availability (LEA), as well as health and performance impairments characteristic of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). Research in females has identified specific LEA cut-points for the risks of developing physiological and performance disturbances. Cut-points in males have yet to be evaluated; therefore, this study examined the prevalence of LEA in highly trained male cross-country skiers. The key purpose of this study was to analyze EI, resting energy expenditure (REE), EEE, and energy availability (EA) in highly trained cross-country skiers during the preparation and competition periods. The secondary objective of our study was to evaluate the relative contribution of fats and carbohydrates to EI, REE, and EEE. EI was determined by an estimated 24 h diet recall method, REE was assessed by indirect calorimetry, and EEE was estimated from heart rate in 27 cross-country skiers. EI amounted to 4050 ± 797 kcal/day on a typical training day (TD) and 5986 ± 924 kcal/day (p < 0.001) on a typical competition day (CD). REE on TDs (2111 ± 294 kcal/day or 30 ± 6 kcal/day/kg) was higher (p < 0.05) than on CDs (1891 ± 504 kcal/day or 27 ± 7 kcal/day/kg). The EA in the athletes was <15 kcal∙kg FFM-1·d-1 on TDs and <65 kcal∙kg FFM-1·d-1 on CDs. EI was not optimal, as indicated by low EA throughout TDs (June). This could be associated with insufficient EI along with a high amount of EEE (3690.7 ± 485.2 kcal/day). During the transition from TD to CD, an increase in the contribution of fats to EI and EEE was observed in cross-country skiers. The conception of LEA and REDs and their potential implication for performance is underestimated among coaches and athletes. The importance of appropriate dietary strategies is essential to ensure that enough calories are consumed to support efficient training.

Does migration constrain glucocorticoid phenotypes? Testing corticosterone levels during breeding in migratory versus resident birds.

Corticosterone, the main glucocorticoid in birds, is a major mediator of the incredible physiological feat of migration. Corticosterone plays important roles in migration, from preparation to in-flight energy mobilization to refueling, and corticosterone levels often show distinct elevations or depressions during certain stages of the migratory process. Here, we ask whether corticosterone's role in migration shapes its modulation during other life history stages, as is the case with some other phenotypically flexible traits involved in migration. Specifically, we use a global dataset of corticosterone measures to test whether birds' migratory status (migrant versus resident) predicts corticosterone levels during breeding. Our results indicate that migratory status predicts neither baseline nor stress-induced corticosterone levels in breeding birds; despite corticosterone's role in migration, we find no evidence that migratory corticosterone phenotypes carry over to breeding. We encourage future studies to continue to explore corticosterone in migrants versus residents across the annual cycle. Additionally, future efforts should aim to disentangle the possible effects of environmental conditions and migratory status on corticosterone phenotypes; potentially fruitful avenues include focusing on regions where migrants and residents overlap during breeding. Overall, insights from work in this area could demonstrate whether migration shapes traits during other important life stages, identify tradeoffs or limitations associated with the migratory lifestyle, and ultimately shed light on the evolution of flexible traits and migration.

Individualist-collectivist profiles in secondary school: an exploratory study of trait emotional intelligence and academic achievement

An individualist (I) or collectivist (C) cultural orientation affects individuals’ attitudes, behaviours and values. This study aimed to identify the first-year secondary-school students’ I–C profiles and explore their implications for students’ trait emotional intelligence (EI), emotions towards school and academic achievement (GPA) throughout the 3-year secondary-school cycle. A total of 222 secondary-school students (58.6% females; Mage = 15.4; SD = .63 in the 10th grade) were enrolled in a longitudinal study. The cluster analysis identified three distinct I–C profiles: high individualist-low collectivist students, low individualistic-midlevel collectivist students and high individualist–high collectivist students. The results revealed significant differences between the I–C profiles regarding students’ trait EI, emotions towards school and GPA throughout secondary school, in particular favouring the high individualist–high collectivist profile. These findings are discussed based on the practical implications for students’ outcomes in the current secondary school system.