Channel Islands Research Articles

Revision of Microasydates, New Nearctic Genus of Soft-Winged Flower Beetles (Coleoptera: Melyridae: Dasytinae: Listrini)

A group of four North American dasytine species is carved from the genus Trichochrous Motschulsky, 1860. The genus Microasydates Gimmel and Mayor, new genus (type species: Pristoscelis umbratus LeConte, 1866) is created for these species. This new genus is clearly defined based on several adult male characters, including the presence of a field of coarse black setae concentrated medially on abdominal ventrite 4, slender tibial spurs in combination with the head not distinctly enlarged, lack of a basal strut on abdominal sternite VIII, tegmen membranous apically, and ventral teeth on the median lobe of the aedeagus. Species are distinguished primarily by characters of pronotal shape, setation, female pygidium, and the median lobe of the male aedeagus. Previously described are Microasydates punctipennis (LeConte, 1866), new combination and Microasydates umbratus (LeConte, 1866), new combination. Newly described are Microasydates sanclemente Gimmel and Mayor, new species and Microasydates santabarbara Gimmel and Mayor, new species. The only widespread mainland species is M. umbratus, which occurs almost throughout California across the Great Basin into Utah, while the remainder of the diversity is in the California Channel Islands and Santa Ynez Mountains in Santa Barbara County. Upon examination of type material, Trichochrous indigens Casey, 1895, Trichochrous nubilatus Casey, 1895, Trichochrous separatus Casey, 1895, Trichochrous suffusus Casey, 1895, Trichochrous testaceus Casey, 1895, and Trichochrous pratensis Blaisdell, 1924 are all considered new junior subjective synonyms of M. umbratus. Trichochrous fulvovestitus Casey, 1895, status restored, and its junior synonym, Trichochrous propinquus Casey, 1895, are removed from synonymy with M. umbratus and retained in the genus Trichochrous. Adults of Microasydates are active during mid to late summer, and aggregate, often in large numbers, on the flowers of a wide variety of mostly perennial plants, where they mate and apparently feed on pollen, nectar, and occasionally small arthropods. Seasonality data and known host plant associations are provided along with species treatments.

Exploring marine mammal presence across seven US national marine sanctuaries

The United States of America’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) hosts 15 National Marine Sanctuaries (NMS) and two Monuments in its waters. Charismatic marine megafauna, such as fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), and various delphinid species frequent these areas, but little is known about their occupancy. As part of a national effort to better understand the soundscapes of NMS, 22 near-continuous passive acoustic bottom mounted recorders and one bottom-mounted cable hydrophone were analyzed within seven NMS (Stellwagen Bank, Gray’s Reef, Florida Keys, Olympic Coast, Monterey Bay, Channel Islands, and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuaries). The daily acoustic presence of humpback and fin whales across 2 years (November 2018–October 2020) and hourly presence of delphinids over 1 year (June 2019–May 2020) were analyzed. Humpback whales showed variability in their acoustic presence across NMS, but in general were mostly present January through May and September through December, and more scarce or fully absent June through August. Consecutive days of humpback whale vocalizations were greatest at sites HI01 and HI05 in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale NMS and fewest at the Channel Islands NMS. Fin whales exhibited a similar seasonal pattern across the West Coast NMS and Stellwagen Bank NMS. Monterey Bay NMS had the greatest number of median consecutive presence of fin whales with fewest at Stellwagen Bank NMS. Delphinid acoustic presence varied throughout and within NMS, with sites at the Channel Islands and Hawaiʻi NMS showing the highest occupancy. All NMS showed distinct monthly delphinid acoustic presence with differences in detected hours between dayversusnight. Sixteen sites had medians of delphinid presence between one and three consecutive days, while three sites had 5 days or more of consecutive presence, and one site had no consecutive delphinid presence, showing clear variation in how long they occupied different NMS. Marine mammals utilized all NMS and showed a wide range of occupancy, emphasizing the importance of understanding species use across different NMS as biological areas for migration, breeding and foraging.

Pollination Ecology of Island Endemic Plants: A Case Study on the California Channel Islands

Comprender los requisitos de polinización de las especies amenazadas es fundamental para alcanzar el éxito en las estrategias de conservación a largo plazo. En una serie de experimentos en invernadero, evaluamos los efectos de diferentes tratamientos de polinización, incluyendo autogamia, autogamia facilitada y polinización cruzada, en la producción de frutos y semillas durante 2 generaciones de una planta endémica rara de la isla. El berro de roca de la isla de Santa Cruz, Sibara filifolia (Brassicaceae), es una hierba anual escasa y en peligro de extinción que es endémica de las Islas del Canal (Channel Islands) de California. Aunque se está intentando monitorear y conservar esta especie vegetal poco común, se sabe poco acerca de su biología de polinización. Cuantificamos el índice de autocompatibilidad y adecuación multiplicativa. También, evaluamos cómo el tratamiento de la planta materna influyó en la germinación de las semillas y en las tasas de supervivencia de las plántulas. Si bien S. filifolia es totalmente autocompatible, demostramos que los tratamientos de polinización facilitada y entrecruzamiento afectaron positivamente a todas las medidas de rendimiento reproductivo y de adecuación de las plantas de primera generación. Las medidas de adecuación pre-dispersión (por ejemplo, producción de frutos y semillas) en la generación F2 también aumentaron significativamente en respuesta a la polinización facilitada y al cruce. Mientras que, nuestros datos sugieren que la fecundidad de S. filifolia aumenta con el entrecruzamiento, observamos menores beneficios de la autogamia facilitada y del entrecruzamiento en la producción de semillas F2. Esto destaca la dificultad de proporcionar recomendaciones específicas cuando las consecuencias del entrecruzamiento podrían no detectarse hasta generaciones posteriores. Se necesitan más estudios para confirmar que múltiples generaciones de flujo genético interpoblacional pueden mejorar efectivamente la viabilidad de la población y disminuir la erosión genética.

Enterprising Émigrés of the Channel Islands

During the French Revolution, thousands of French refugees migrated through the Channel borderlands. At least four thousand settled there. The Channel Island of Jersey served as the loci of migration where economic life operated under “refugeedom,” a polity both apart from and particular to state authority. Refugeedom—in its alterity—suggests a matrix of economic conditions, legal codes, and social relations that can explain the lives of people in the French Revolution’s emigration. This study of economic migration offers a way to reframe the French emigration as opportunism and resilience. Refugeedom serves as the analytic framework to understand economic migration, not only as a political crisis of displaced people in the midst of revolution—those seeking refuge from war, persecution, famine, and other hardships—but also as part of a strategy of survival, one that includes the economic migration of labor.

Leaving more than footprints: Anthropogenic nutrient subsidies to a protected area

AbstractMobile animals that traverse ecosystem boundaries can fundamentally reshape environments by providing critical nutrient and energy inputs to the ecosystems they inhabit. In particular, aggregations of seabirds often transform coastal and island ecosystems through large amounts of nutrient‐rich guano deposition. Anthropogenically driven losses of these subsidies can occur through changes in abundance of mobile species, including seabirds, and have been shown to drive whole‐scale ecosystem state change on islands. However, even though many species that forage on anthropogenic food sources are highly mobile and may thus play important roles in moving nutrients from urban systems to otherwise conserved ecosystems, the impacts of anthropogenic supplements on spatial subsidies have been largely ignored. Here we examine the effects of large nesting colonies of Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis), a generalist carnivore known to forage on human refuse, on the Channel Islands of California. Specifically, we explore how their foraging on human subsidies may change nutrient deposition patterns at their relatively remote and protected breeding islands. We equipped gulls with GPS loggers to assess the frequency of urban foraging, and we partnered this tracking data with bird density data to estimate the rate of wild and urban‐derived guano deposition on two different islands. Consistent with research on other gull species, we found high (up to 40%) but island‐specific rates of urban foraging, resulting between 66 and 93 kg ha−1 of guano in these two sites during the breeding season, a level greater than half the amount of fertilizer applied annually in typical commercial agricultural settings and likely the primary source of nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to this system. Specifically, we estimate that 27 kg ha−1 year−1 of nutrient‐rich guano is shuttled to these otherwise isolated islands from anthropogenic sources. This research highlights the large shadow (i.e., footprint) that human activity can cast on even remote ecosystems by driving significant nutrient enrichment through impacts on animal behavior and connectivity.

Oxygen and irradiance constraints on visual habitat in a changing ocean: The luminoxyscape

Oxygen and irradiance constraints on visual habitat in a changing ocean: The luminoxyscape

The socio-economic impact of Marine Protected Areas in Jersey: A fishers’ perspective

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are advocated as tools to support sustainable fisheries and biodiversity by excluding the most destructive fishing practices. Some MPAs protect the whole-site of habitat mosaics from bottom-towed fishing but most only restrict damaging activities from specific evidenced conservation features. Social and economic factors influence the success of an MPA but the impact of spatial management changes to local fisheries is rarely captured in post MPA designation monitoring. In Jersey, Channel Islands, two offshore MPAs were designated in 2017 that are managed following the whole-site approach. This study provides an insight into the overall economic importance of key fishery species (whelk (Buccinum undatum), brown crab (Cancer pagurus), scallop (Pecten maximus), lobster (Homarus gammarus), and spider crab (Maja brachydactyla) to local fishing fleets and the impact of the MPAs on local, small-scale fishers in Jersey. Total landings (kg and £) in Jersey pre and post MPA designation were calculated from logbook and primary sales data and a structured interview was developed and tested as a research tool to document the impact (positive and negative) of the MPA designation on local fishers. Specific questions were designed to elicit both quantitative and qualitative data relating to the participants (n = 21) fishing activity; support for the MPAs; income and job satisfaction; subjective well-being and current sales strategies. The results demonstrate that one mobile gear vessel respondent was displaced from traditional fishing grounds as a result of the MPA designation. Fishers also reported an increase in static fishing inside the MPAs, post designation. Generally, there are high levels of support for the MPA from static fleet respondents. In the first year since designation there have been no reported changes to catch (kg, £). Mobile gear fishers reported a lower subjective wellbeing and satisfaction with their job and income than static gear fishers, despite greater profits. The major concern reported by the mobile fleet that contributed to their stress levels, was not attributed to the MPA designations but related to conflict with French static net fisheries operating outside of the MPAs. Ongoing support for Jersey’s fishers and securing a sustainable and fulfilling livelihood will require further spatial management of fisheries outside of the MPAs with a possibility of setting gear or effort limits on static fishereis within the MPAs.

A complex record of last interglacial sea-level history and paleozoogeography, Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands National Park, California, USA

Studies of marine terraces and their fossils can yield important information about sea level history, tectonic uplift rates, and paleozoogeography, but some aspects of terrace history, particularly with regard to their fossil record, are not clearly understood. Marine terraces are well preserved on Santa Rosa Island, California, and the island is situated near a major marine faunal boundary. Two prominent low-elevation terraces record the ∼80 ka (marine isotope stage [MIS] 5a) and ∼120 ka (MIS 5e) high-sea stands, based on U-series dating of fossil corals and aminostratigraphic correlation to dated localities elsewhere in California and Baja California. Low uplift rates are implied by an interpretation of these ages, along with their elevations. The fossil assemblage from the ∼120 ka (2nd) terrace contains a number of northern, cool-water species, along with several southern, warm-water species, a classic example of what has been called a thermally anomalous fauna. Low uplift rates in the late Pleistocene, combined with glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) processes, could have resulted in reoccupation of the ∼120 ka (MIS 5e), 2nd terrace during the ∼100 ka (MIS 5c) high-sea stand, explaining the mix of warm-water (∼120 ka?) and cool-water (∼100 ka?) fossils in the terrace deposits. In addition, however, sea surface temperature (SST) variability during MIS 5e may have been a contributing factor, given that Santa Rosa Island is bathed at times by the cold California Current with its upwelling and at other times is subject to El Niño warm waters, evident in the Holocene SST record. Study of an older, high-elevation marine terrace on the western part of Santa Rosa Island shows more obvious evidence of fossil mixing. Strontium isotope ages span a large range, from ∼2.3 Ma to ∼0.91 Ma. These analyses indicate an age range of ∼500 ka at one locality and ∼ 600 ka at another locality, interpreted to be due to terrace reoccupation and fossil reworking. Consideration of elevations and ages here also yield low, long-term uplift rates, which in part explains the potential for terrace reoccupation in the early Pleistocene. In addition, however, early Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles were of much shorter duration, linked to the ∼41 ka obliquity cycle of orbital forcing, a factor that would also enhance terrace reoccupation in regions of low uplift rate. It is likely that other Pacific Coast marine terrace localities of early Pleistocene age, in areas with low uplift rates, also have evidence of fossil mixing from these processes, an hypothesis that can be tested in future studies.

An Estimate of the Scale and Composition of the Hedgehog (Erinaceus europeaus) Rehabilitation Community in Britain and the Channel Islands.

The conservation benefits of wildlife rehabilitation are equivocal, but could be substantial for formerly common species that are declining rapidly but are still commonly admitted to wildlife centres. We used a questionnaire survey to estimate the number of practitioners rehabilitating West European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Britain and the numbers entering hospitals/centres in one benchmark year (2016); practitioners were identified using an internet search and snowball sampling. Overall, 304 rehabilitators were identified: 148 supplied data on their structure, and 174 outlined the number of hedgehogs admitted in 2016. The former comprised 62.6% small (≤50 hedgehogs admitted year-1), 16.7% medium-sized (51-250 yr-1), and 20.7% large (>250 yr-1) hospitals; however, these accounted for 4.8%, 12.4%, and 82.8% of hedgehog admissions, respectively. Small hospitals were less likely to be registered as a charity, have paid staff, have a social media account, to record admissions electronically, or to conduct post-release monitoring. However, they were more likely to operate from their home address and to have been established for ≤5 years. Extrapolations indicate that this rehabilitation community admitted >40,000 hedgehogs in 2016, of which approximately 50% could have been released. These figures suggest that wildlife rehabilitation has potentially been an important factor in the dynamics of hedgehog populations in Britain in the last two decades.

Mesoscale Variability of Surface Ducts During Santa Ana Wind Episodes

AbstractMesoscale variability of the marine boundary layer characteristics and the corresponding radio wave ducting conditions over the Southern California Bight (SCB) during three Santa Ana wind events have been examined based on the analysis of field observations and diagnosis of mesoscale model simulations. Under the influence of a dry and the stably stratified airflow from inland, a shallow moist internal boundary layer (MIBL) develops over the coastal waters. The MIBL consists of a thin well‐mixed moist layer capped by an inversion layer where the specific humidity decreases with height sharply. Accordingly, a surface duct (SD) is virtually ubiquitous with its depth compared with the MIBL depth. The wind direction and the SD characteristics exhibit diurnal variations over the SCB area associated with land and sea breezes. In addition, the MIBL interacts with the coastal topography, Channel Islands, and sea surface temperature gradients, resulting in spatial mesoscale variabilities in SD characteristics. Specifically, the SD height and strength grow with the offshore distance owing to the surface latent heat flux over sea, and in the meantime, exhibit substantial along‐shore variations. The shallow MIBL tends to split and flow around the higher elevation of the islands, leading to the formation of wakes with reduced modified refractivity. These island wakes may extend dozens of kilometers downstream with the SD height and strength growing accordingly.

Near‐shore island lizard fauna shaped by a combination of human‐mediated and natural dispersal

AbstractAimIsland biotas provide opportunities to study colonization and adaptation to novel environments. Islands, especially near‐shore islands, may have a long record of human habitation such that some lineages result from human‐assisted introductions. Here, we combine phylogenetic analyses with fossil data and historical specimen records to reconstruct colonization histories, characterize among‐island divergence and assess the role of humans in shaping the evolutionary history of lizards inhabiting a near‐shore island archipelago.LocationChannel Islands and adjacent mainland of California, United States.TaxaWestern fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), southern alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata), common side‐blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana).MethodsWe sequenced mitochondrial DNA (ND1, cyt‐b) from each of three lizard species, covering their entire island distributions plus the adjacent mainland. For each, we estimated diversity within and among each island, obtained maximum likelihood bootstrapped phylogenies, constructed haplotype networks and tested for population expansion. We used museum specimen records and microfossil evidence to infer colonization scenarios.ResultsSceloporus occidentalis is characterized by a single island‐colonization event, and exhibits the deepest divergences from mainland relatives and the highest among‐island divergence. Elgaria multicarinata and Uta stansburiana each have at least three distinct colonization events, with fossil and historical data indicating that some of these occurred after humans arrived to the islands.Main ConclusionsThe evolution of Channel Island lineages for two lizard taxa has been mediated by ancient and contemporary anthropogenic activity, while the evolution of the third is shaped by natural dispersal and vicariance caused by sea‐level rise. Genetic divergence corroborates the treatment of S. occidentalis as an endemic island species, Sceloporus becki. The unique histories of these three taxa are synthesized with other Channel Island lineages highlighting that taxa inhabiting islands with long histories of human activity should be carefully studied to assess the role of people in facilitating colonization and subsequent gene flow.

The first recorded occurrence of the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) in Ireland, genetic evidence for a continued single invasion across Europe

The first record of the Asian/yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) in Ireland was reported in April 2021, when a single female individual was discovered in Dublin. Vespa velutina has been present in mainland Europe since 2004 and in the UK since 2016 and poses an enormous threat to European apiculture and bee-mediated pollination services. Three mitochondrial genes were sequenced from the Irish specimen to determine whether the specimen originated from the established European population or signified a new point of entry from its native range in China. Additionally, specimens from Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, and the Channel Islands were sequenced at these three genes to build on previous studies which have asserted, based solely on Cytochrome Oxidase 1 (COI) analysis, that the entire range of V. velutina in Europe represents a single invasion which has proliferated since the first record in France. Further data were retrieved from GenBank for comparison. Results reveal that the mtDNA lineage observed in Dublin is the same as that seen throughout Europe, and therefore the arrival of this species in Ireland likely represents a further spread of the ongoing European invasion.

Multi-Year Sea Ice Conditions in the Northwest Passage: 1968–2020

ABSTRACT The Northwest Passage is often referred to as the “Holy Grail” of ship navigation as it provides a shorter route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans compared to the Northern Sea Route, Panama Canal, Suez Canal, and transiting around Cape Horn. Here, we summarize 52 years of observed multi-year ice (MYI) conditions from 1968 to 2020 in the western Canadian Arctic regions of the Northwest Passage updating a previous study that considered 1968–2006. Results indicate that on average, MYI area anomalies during the shipping season were +28% from 1968 to 2006 but −33% from 2007 to 2020 relative to the 1991–2020 climatology. The frequency of negative MYI area anomalies from 2007 to 2020 was unprecedented over the 52-year record. 13 of the past 14 years were negative in the Beaufort Sea, Franklin, and the Western Arctic Waterway; 10 of the past 14 years were negative in Western Parry Channel and Queen Elizabeth Islands; and 9 of the past 14 years were negative in the M’Clintock Channel. Despite strong and frequent negative MYI anomalies from 2007 to 2020, MYI recovery from first-year ice (FYI) aging and MYI dynamic import continued, but was reduced by 47% and 22%, respectively compared to 1968–2006. We demonstrate that from 2007 to 2020 (i) MYI dynamic recovery decreased because Arctic Ocean MYI has been primarily flowing into the Canadian Arctic via the smaller apertures in the Queen Elizabeth Islands and not from the Beaufort Sea via the M’Clure Strait and (ii) FYI aging decreased because recent changes in thermodynamic forcing have contributed to more melt. Overall, our results re-affirm that light MYI years in the Northwest Passage may occur more frequently as the Arctic continues to warm, but MYI recovery will continue to present a significant hazard to navigation for the foreseeable future.

Population Genetics of California Gray Foxes Clarify Origins of the Island Fox.

We used mitochondrial sequences and nuclear microsatellites to investigate population structure of gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and the evolutionary origins of the endemic island fox (Urocyon littoralis), which first appeared in the northern Channel Islands <13,000 years ago and in the southern Channel Islands <6000 years ago. It is unclear whether island foxes evolved directly from mainland gray foxes transported to the islands one or more times or from a now-extinct mainland population, already diverged from the gray fox. Our 345 mitochondrial sequences, combined with previous data, confirmed island foxes to be monophyletic, tracing to a most recent common ancestor approximately 85,000 years ago. Our rooted nuclear DNA tree additionally indicated genome-wide monophyly of island foxes relative to western gray foxes, although we detected admixture in northern island foxes from adjacent mainland gray foxes, consistent with some historical gene flow. Southern California gray foxes also bore a genetic signature of admixture and connectivity to a desert population, consistent with partial replacement by a late-Holocene range expansion. Using our outgroup analysis to root previous nuclear sequence-based trees indicated reciprocal monophyly of northern versus southern island foxes. Results were most consistent with island fox origins through multiple introductions from a now-extirpated mainland population.

Lack of avian predators is associated with behavioural plasticity in nest construction and height in an island songbird

Orange-crowned warblers, Leiothlypis celata sordida , breeding on the California Channel Islands exhibit remarkable variation in their nest structure and placement, providing an intriguing exception to the general pattern that avian nest structure and nest site selection are highly conserved characters. We examined nest construction at both the population and individual scale to test whether warblers on Santa Catalina Island change their nest construction in response to nest height. At the population level, warblers built both lighter, grass-dominated ground nests and heavier off-ground nests that contained more rigid materials and less grass. The probability of nest success was significantly and positively correlated with nest height. At the individual level, we found the same individuals were capable of building on- and off-ground nests between nesting attempts within the same season. However, nest construction was highly variable among individuals and not significantly correlated with nest success after controlling for nest height. We suggest this observed behavioural plasticity in nest construction and nest height is a hierarchical response to the absence of avian predators. Reduced risk from avian predators appears to allow the warblers to use a variety of nest sites, thereby necessitating increased flexibility in nest construction. • Santa Catalina Island orange-crowned warblers varied in nest construction behaviour. • Off-ground nests were heavier and contained more twigs than ground nests. • Individual females built nests of different materials at different heights. • Nest height, rather than nest construction, was associated with nest success. • Plasticity in nesting behaviour may allow warblers to use a range of nest sites.

Habitat type and environmental conditions influence the age and growth of a temperate marine damselfish

Life history parameters for fishes have generally been applied to species across their entire range, however, different ecological and environmental conditions and processes (e.g., sea surface temperature, habitat, primary productivity, fishing mortality, resource availability) influence life history patterns at smaller spatial scales. By focusing on a historically protected species, we determined how environmental and ecological factors shape patterns in growth and longevity, without the impact of fishing. The Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) is a territorial marine damselfish native to the shallow rocky reefs of southern California. Garibaldi were collected from five mainland locations and five Channel Islands throughout the Southern California Bight. Paired natural reef and artificial reef habitats (i.e., breakwaters and jetties) in each mainland location were sampled. Otolith-based ageing and biological data from these populations were used to assess how age and growth vary by location, reef type (natural/artificial), island or mainland, mean annual sea surface temperature, and/or sex. The annual formation of growth increments in otoliths was validated in-situ using tetracycline mark-recapture methods to confirm that increments are formed annually. Garibaldi grew significantly larger on artificial reefs than on natural reefs but tended to live longer on paired natural reefs. Regionally, growth and longevity followed mean annual sea surface temperature gradients, consistent with Bergmann’s rule. Garibaldi exhibited clear sexual size dimorphism; males grew larger, which is uncharacteristic for both damselfish and other marine fishes from the southern California. The Garibaldi collected for this study had a maximum age of 57 years, which makes this the longest lived damselfish species by two decades.

Hydrodynamics of a tidal inlet under gray to green coastal protection interventions

Structural coastal protection interventions have been implemented worldwide to stabilize channels and shorelines in tidal inlets. Although these conventional “gray” interventions typically attain their goals, there is an increasing interest and need to consider nature-based or “green” interventions that also address system resilience and environmental impacts. For a better implementation of gray to green interventions in tidal inlets, their effectiveness and their effects on the velocity of these dynamic coastal systems need to be understood. The effects on flow velocity of gray to green coastal protection interventions for tidal inlets are assessed here by exploring six interventions intended to protect against erosion on the estuarine-side shoreline near the inlet. A field-calibrated numerical model with Willmott Skill scores rated as excellent for Oregon Inlet located in North Carolina, United States, is used to simulate tidal currents under present conditions and after implementing a seawall, a set of bendway weirs, a terminal groin extension, a dual-jetty system, a flood channel relocation, and an island restoration project. Comparisons of time series of flow velocities in the flood channel along an eroding, estuarine shoreline are used to identify the effectiveness of each coastal protection alternative at reducing erosive velocities. Geospatial difference maps are used to determine velocity changes caused by each alternative throughout the inlet system. With no coastal protection interventions, the velocities along the eroding shoreline exceeded an erosive threshold velocity (defined as 0.2 m/s) during 50% of the simulated period. Alternatives closer to the green side of the coastal protection intervention spectrum, such as channel relocation and island restoration, tend to display the most effectiveness at reducing flow velocities at the eroding shoreline while resulting in minimal inlet-wide hydrodynamic changes. On the other hand, gray alternatives either cause minimal (seawall and bendway weirs) or extreme (jetties) changes in velocities throughout the inlet system. This comparison of gray and green coastal protection interventions in tidal inlets serves as an example to contrast the effectiveness of different coastal protection alternatives at reducing erosive flow velocities and to inform alternative selection at other inlet systems.

Narratives of Resistance, Moral Compromise, and Perpetration: The Testimonies of Julia Brichta, Survivor of Ravensbrück

ABSTRACT Julia Brichta, a Jewish–Hungarian refugee, came to the Channel Island of Guernsey in 1939, a year before the arrival of the German occupying forces. The story of what happened to her during the war in Ravensbrück was told in her own words on several occasions between 1945 and 1965, yet the specifics of her path to Ravensbrück and her role as a camp policewoman there, have hitherto been unclear. Based on surviving archival documents, this paper attempts to untangle the evidence to establish some of the facts behind this ‘grey zone’ survivor of the Holocaust. It examines Julia’s path towards Ravensbrück and the ways in which her pre-camp and camp experiences impacted the ways in which she narrated her story between 1945 and 1965. Whether she was a non-Jewish resistance heroine or a Jewish perpetrator who lied about her wartime activities, this paper argues that in the end, such judgments are simplistic and mask the complexity of survivor stories. Instead, seeking to understand changes in testimony over time based on the audience as well as pre-camp and camp experiences offers a more fruitful path of analysis.

The history, status and conservation management of Cottonweed Achillea maritima (Otanthus maritimus) at Lady's Island Lake, Co. Wexford, Ireland

Cottonweed Achillea maritima (L.) Ehrend. &amp; Y.P. Guo (Otanthus maritimus (L.) Hoffmans. &amp; Link) is a distinctive, perennial member of the Asteraceae found on Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. While formerly recorded from more than thirty coastal sites in Ireland, Great Britain and the Channel Islands it no longer persists at any of these other than at Lady’s Island Lake, Co. Wexford (v.c.H12). Towards the end of the 19th century and during much of the 20th the species was recorded as occurring here in abundance; however, over the last half century this population has declined dramatically both in terms of extent and number of individuals such that as of 2021 only ten naturally-occurring plants remained at the site. This paper describes the history of recording of the species, focussing on sites in Ireland, and provides summary details of the populations recorded by the various botanists who visited and studied them. The various initiatives and conservation actions undertaken over the years in an effort to conserve the species are described and illustrated. Results are provided of recent conservation measures for the species and its habitat at Lady’s Island Lake, including the management and protection of remaining plants, restoration of habitat for the species, collection of seed and cutting material for ex situ propagation and the return of ex situ-raised plants to a specially-prepared part of the site where the species formerly occurred. The population of A. maritima at Lady’s Island Lake in 2021 comprised 10 naturally-occurring and 60 translocated individuals, as well as at least 64 young, self-seeded plants that had arisen from seed produced by translocated plants. The causes of the population decline at Lady’s Island Lake are considered and discussed.

Women Chemists Committee honors award winners

The American Chemical Society’s Women Chemists Committee (WCC) honored several awardees during the ACS Fall 2022 meeting in Chicago. The 2022 Overcoming Challenges Award was presented to Riley Atrops , a recent graduate from California State University Channel Islands. This award is given to undergraduate women chemistry students who have overcome significant obstacles in their pursuit of success in the field of chemistry. Atrops survived a serious automobile accident when she was a child and was diagnosed with a tumor as an undergraduate. The 2022 Merck Research Award, sponsored by Merck & Co, was awarded to eight third- and fourth-year women graduate students. The recipients are Maria Aguilera , University of Rochester; Maria Adrover Castellano , University of Michigan; Sara Dibrell , California Institute of Technology; Olivia Garry , Princeton University; Zhuojun Huang , Stanford University; Irene Manning , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Alena Vasquez , Scripps