Northern Islands Research Articles

A wide distribution of Beiji nairoviruses and related viruses in Ixodes ticks in Japan

Beiji nairovirus (BJNV), in the family Nairoviridae, the order Bunyavirales, was recently reported as a causative agent of an emerging tick-borne zoonotic infection in China. This study investigated the prevalence of BJNV in ticks in Japan. Screening of over 2,000 ticks from multiple regions revealed a widespread distribution of BJNV and BJNV-related viruses in Japan, particularly in the northern island, and in other high altitude areas with exclusive occurrence of Ixodes ticks. Phylogenetic analysis identified three distinct groups of nairoviruses in ticks in Japan: BJNV, Yichun nairovirus (YCNV) and a newly identified Mikuni nairovirus (MKNV). BJNV and YCNV variants identified in ticks in Japan exhibited high nucleotide sequence identities to those in China and Russia with evidence of non-monophyletic evolution among BJNVs, suggesting multiple cross-border transmission events of BJNV between the Eurasian continent and Japan. Whole genome sequencing of BJNV and MKNV revealed a unique GA-rich region in the S segment, the significance of which remains to be determined. In conclusion, the present study has shown a wide distribution and diversity of BJNV-related nairoviruses in Ixodes ticks in Japan and has identified unique genomic structures. The findings demonstrate the significance of BJNV as well as related viruses in Japan and highlight the necessity of monitoring emerging nairovirus infections and their potential risks to public health.

Distribution of the black grouse, capercaillie, and hazel grouse (Tetraonidae) at the northern edge of their species range in the Nenets Autonomous Area

This paper presents data on the distribution of the black grouse Lyrurus tetrix (L., 1758), capercaillie Tetrao urogallus (L., 1758), and hazel grouse Tetrastes bonasia (L., 1758) in the Nenets Autonomous Area (the northeast of the European Russian Federation). The study has revealed trends indicating an expansion of the distribution range of these species to the north. According to our observations, black grouse, capercaillie, and hazel grouse in the Malozemelskaya Tundra are located further north than in the published data – about 40 km for black grouse, 20 km for capercaillie, and 20 km for hazel grouse. In the Malozemelskaya Tundra, the northernmost black grouse and capercaillie were found in spruce forest islands, while the hazel grouse inhabited riverine floodplain forests. In the Bolshezemelskaya Tundra, the capercaillie was the only grouse bird found further north compared to the published data, in the extremely northern islands of the forest within the Shapkina River valley. In the Bolshezemelskaya Tundra, new registrations of the grouse (200 km) and ruffed grouse (100 km) were noted to the east of the known data, indirectly indicating an expansion of the distribution area of these birds to the north in the regions adjacent to the Nenets Autonomous Area. It was noted that the trends of expansion of the range of distribution of black grouse to the north are unidirectional with positive trends in air temperature in the Nenets Autonomous Area and with the processes of gradual overgrowth of woody vegetation in treeless areas located between the forest tundra and northern spruce forest islands.

Cementless total knee arthroplasty in young patients using tantalum trabecular implants results in significantly lower rates of aseptic loosening.

The mean age of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has reduced with time. Younger patients have increased expectations following TKA. Aseptic loosening of the tibial component is the most common cause of failure of TKA in the UK. Interest in cementless TKA has re-emerged due to its encouraging results in the younger patient population. We review a large series of tantalum trabecular metal cementless implants in patients who are at the highest risk of revision surgery. A total of 454 consecutive patients who underwent cementless TKA between August 2004 and December 2021 were reviewed. The mean follow-up was ten years. Plain radiographs were analyzed for radiolucent lines. Patients who underwent revision TKA were recorded, and the cause for revision was determined. Data from the National Joint Registry for England, Wales, Northern Island, the Isle of Man and the States of Guernsey (NJR) were compared with our series. No patients in our series had evidence of radiolucent lines on their latest radiological assessment. Only eight patients out of 454 required revision arthroplasty, and none of these revisions were indicated for aseptic loosening of the tibial baseplate. When compared to data from the NJR annual report, Kaplan-Meier estimates from our series (2.94 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24 to 5.87)) show a significant reduction in cumulative estimates of revision compared to all cemented (4.82 (95% CI 4.69 to 4.96)) or cementless TKA (5.65 (95% CI 5.23 to 6.10)). Our data (2.94 (95% CI 1.24 to 5.87)) also show lower cumulative revision rates compared to the most popular implant (PFC Sigma Cemented Knee implant fixation, 4.03 (95% CI 3.75 to 4.33)). The prosthesis time revision rate (PTIR) estimates for our series (2.07 (95% CI 0.95 to 3.83)) were lower than those of cemented cases (4.53 (95% CI 4.49 to 4.57)) from NJR. The NexGen trabecular (tantalum) cementless implant has lower revision rates in our series compared to all cemented implants and other types of cementless implants, and its use in younger patients should be encouraged.

Uncovering potential mangrove microbial bioindicators to assess urban and agricultural pressures on Martinique island in the eastern Caribbean Sea

Martinique's mangroves, which cover 1.85 ha of the island (<0.1 % of the total area), are considerably vulnerable to local urban, agricultural, and industrial pollutants. Unlike for temperate ecosystems, there are limited indicators that can be used to assess the anthropogenic pressures on mangroves. This study investigated four stations on Martinique Island, with each being subject to varying anthropogenic pressures. An analysis of mangrove sediment cores approximately 18 cm in depth revealed two primary types of pressures on Martinique mangroves: (i) an enrichment in organic matter in the two stations within the highly urbanized bay of Fort-de-France and (ii) agricultural pressure observed in the four studied mangrove stations. This pressure was characterized by contamination, exceeding the regulatory thresholds, with dieldrin, total DDT, and metals (As, Cu and Ni) found in phytosanitary products. The mangroves of Martinique are subjected to varying degrees of anthropogenic pressure, but all are subjected to contamination by organochlorine pesticides. Mangroves within the bay of Fort-de-France experience notably higher pressures compared to those in the island's northern and southern regions. In these contexts, the microbial communities exhibited distinct responses. The microbial biomass and the abundance of bacteria and archaea were higher in the two less-impacted stations, while in the mangrove of Fort-de-France, various phyla typically associated with polluted environments were more prevalent. These differences in the microbiota composition led to the identification of 65 taxa, including Acanthopleuribacteraceae, Spirochaetaceae, and Pirellulaceae, that could potentially serve as indicators of an anthropogenic influence on the mangrove sediments of Martinique Island.

Indices and methods for evaluating gross ecosystem product in sea areas: a case study in Changdao County, China

IntroductionCoastal nations heavily rely on their sea areas to achieve sustainable socioeconomic development. Sea areas offer abundant marine ecosystem products and services that are difficult to substitute with industrial goods. Although considerable research has been performed to evaluate the contribution offrom the marine ecosystems to human well-being, systematic and measurable indices are lacking.MethodsTo address this knowledge gap, ecosystem service theory was used to establish a framework for assessing the gross ecosystem product (GEP) of a sea area, which represents the total monetary value of final ecosystem products directly and indirectly used by people within a specific administrative jurisdiction in one year. To evaluate marine GEP, three primary indices, i.e., material products, regulating products, and cultural products, were employed, and they consist of eight secondary indices. Material products in the sea area include aquatic products and oxygen products; regulating products include carbon sequestration, climate regulation, waste treatment, and coastal protection; and cultural products include leisure and recreation, and seascape-added value. The marine GEP was calculated for the administrative sea areas of Changdao County, which is located in the Yellow Sea-Bohai Sea transitional zone.Results and discussionOur analysis indicated that from 2017 to 2019, the marine GEP in Changdao ranged between 32.59 and 33.35 billion Chinese yuan (CNY). Regulating products contributed two-thirds of this total value. However, over the three-year period, the marine GEP underwent a 5.64% decrease in Changdao. Specifically, the value of material products increased by 38.85% while that of regulating and cultural products decreased by 9.16% and 15.87%, respectively. Notably, the spatial distribution of ecosystem product values in Changdao displayed two prominent trends: (1) higher values along the coastal sea areas of islands and lower values in offshore sea areas; and (2) higher values in coastal areas of southern islands and lower values in coastal areas of northern islands. Marine GEP may serve as a comprehensive indicator for assessing the sustainability of marine ecosystem. Combining the assessment of both marine and terrestrial GEP facilitates an understanding of how marine and terrestrial ecosystems interact in coastal regions. Furthermore, the combined use of marine GEP and GDP helps better evaluate and sort the level of green development of coastal nations and regions.

The tunnels are a prerequisite for living here: lessons from the Faroe Islands on how push-pull factors affect populations in small remote communities

Small remote communities in the Nordic countries face unique challenges due to their geographical isolation, limited resources, and sparse population. The latter is affected by migration, which can have both positive and negative implications for communities’ development, and so understanding the factors influencing migration patterns is essential for ensuring balanced regional development. This paper focuses on the population trends over the last two centuries in the Faroe Islands; more specifically, in the two small remote communities Hvannasund and Viðareiði in the Northern Islands. The overall theoretical framework applied is the push-pull migration concept. By examining the push-pull factors that drive migration patterns in these communities, the paper explores the impact on socio-economic development, and by analysing the interplay between these factors, this study aims to provide insights into the dynamics of movements and their implications for the development of small remote communities. The main findings are that economic factors are the main push-pull factors to explain the population changes in the investigated communities, while the social/demographic, political, and environmental factors to a lesser degree can explain the fluctuations but impact the more linear trends over time.

Clonal dissemination of Acinetobacter radioresistens among Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) inhabiting a barren northern Peruvian island.

Acinetobacter spp. are often isolated from natural sources, but knowledge about their presence in wild animals is fragmented and uncomplete. The present study aimed to characterize a series of Acinetobacter radioresistens isolated from Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti). Fifteen Humboldt penguins from an inhabited northern Peruvian island were sampled. Microorganisms were identified byMALDI-TOF MS. Antibiotic susceptibility to 12 antimicrobial agents was established, and clonal relationships were determined. A representative isolate was selected for whole genome sequencing (WGS). A. radioresistens were isolated from the feces of 12 (80%) Humboldt penguins, being susceptible to all the antimicrobial agents tested, except eight cefotaxime-intermediate isolates. AllA.radioresistens were clonally related. WGS showed that the isolate belonged to ST1972, the presence of two chromosomal encoded carbapenemases (blaOXA-23 and a putative subclass B3 metallo-β-lactamase), and a series of point mutations in antibiotic-resistance related chromosomal genes, which were considered as polymorphisms. In addition, a few virulence factors, including acapsule-encoding operon, superoxide dismutases, catalases, phospholipases and a siderophore receptor were identified. The present results suggest that A. radioresistens may be a common member of the gut microbiota of Humboldt penguins, but further studies in other geographical areas are needed to establish this finding.

Place attachment, storms, and climate change in the Faroe Islands

Globally, people have always had to deal with climate-related hazards, and in the majority of places, they have adapted gradually. However, these gradual adaptations may not be enough to withstand the expected intensity of climate-related hazards in the future. In this paper, our focus is on the effect of storms in the Faroe Islands. The islands are highly exposed to storms, which are projected to increase in intensity and potentially also in frequency in this region. The islands are characterized by being small, remote, and with a rough terrain, which makes it difficult for external actors to provide assistance. As a result, the civilian population—especially in the outer regions—often have to deal with storms and their consequences themselves. The geographical focus in this paper is the Northern Islands, and in particular the communities of Viðareiði and Hvannasund. The approach applied is qualitative, and the central question this paper tries to answer is how aspects of place attachment (social, physical, functional) affect the way in which the local population handle storms. The findings show communities that are impacted by storms, but also that their previous experiences with storms have led to an improved adaptation level, which today enables them to cope with more severe storms. The attachment they have to where they live will assist them in coping with future storms, although it can also be a hindrance to the implementation of the necessary adaptation and preparedness measures, since they presume that they are already safe.

First evidence of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) outside of Hokkaido Island in Japan

ABSTRACT Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an infection of the central nervous system caused by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). TBE is endemic in parts of Europe and Asia. TBEV is transmitted to humans primarily by Ixodes ticks. There have been 5 TBE cases identified in Japan, all on the northern island of Hokkaido. Rodents with TBEV antibodies and Ixodes ticks have been identified throughout Japan, indicating that TBEV infection might be undiagnosed in Japan. Residual serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected in 2010–2021 from 520 patients ≥1 year-of-age previously hospitalized with encephalitis or meningitis of unknown etiology at 15 hospitals (including 13 hospitals outside of Hokkaido) were screened by ELISA for TBEV IgG and IgM antibodies; TBEV infection was confirmed by the gold standard neutralization test. Residual serum was available from 331 (63.6%) patients and CSF from 430 (82.6%) patients; both serum and CSF were available from 189 (36.3%). Two patients were TBE cases: a female aged 61 years hospitalized for 104 days in Oita (2000 km south of Hokkaido) and a male aged 24 years hospitalized for 11 days in Tokyo (1200 km south of Hokkaido). Retrospective testing also identified a previous TBEV infection in a female aged 45 years hospitalized for 12 days in Okayama (1700 km south of Hokkaido). TBEV infection should be considered as a potential cause of encephalitis or meningitis in Japan. TBE cases are likely undiagnosed in Japan, including outside of Hokkaido, due to limited clinical awareness and lack of availability of TBE diagnostic tests.

Waterscape in Hjari Veraldar The 'Last Habitable Edge of the Earth'

Iceland is a geologically active land and home to some of the world’s most active volcanoes and the largest glaciers in Europe. Due to its harsh environmental circumstances, its inhabitants’ living conditions are unpredictable. Icelanders live in a sort of ‘rescue mood’, ready to face a variety of natural disasters, such as avalanches, flooding, heavy storms, eruptions, landslides and earthquakes. In this northern sea island, water is the most influential element in culture, language, economy, leisure, landscape, planning strategy, and islanders’ everyday life. Water comes in all forms, both as a provider and a threat. Based on this premise, this commentary is a synthesis image of the forms of water from an outlander point of view, reading an alien landscape in which the forms of water are one of the most enchanting interpretation experiences in the landscape. This anecdote is a narration of the forms of water concerning urbanisation, land and human in different subtle layers of Icelandic culture, economy and landscape design

Modeling of tsunami wave height distribution functions along the east coast of Sakhalin Island

The functions of the distribution of tsunami wave heights along the eastern coast of Sakhalin Island from sources located along the Kuril Islands are being studied. Known information about the tsunami on Sakhalin is given. Many of them were modeled numerically, which made it possible to assess the hazard of tsunami waves. The present work focuses on the functions of distributing the heights of tsunami waves, which were not previously calculated for this region at all. To this case, calculations were made of the propagation of tsunami waves from hypothetical strong earthquakes with M = 8.2 located in the regions of the Northern, Middle and Southern Kuril Islands. These calculations were carried out using the NAMI-DANCE computational code, which solves non-linear shallow water equations using nested grids with a minimum grid is about 9 m. Having no reliable coastal topography, the modeling was carried out to a depth of about 3 m. The results of the calculations confirmed that the calculated functions of the distribution of tsunami wave heights along the eastern coast of Sakhalin are well approximated by the lognormal function. The parameters of these distributions depend on the location of the source even with the same earthquake parameters, which once again emphasizes the significant role of seabed bathymetry on the characteristics of a tsunami on the shore.

PENGARUH SENGKETA BATAS WILAYAH ANTARA INDONESIA DAN MALAYSIA DI PULAU SEBATIK TERHADAP KEHIDUPAN SOSIAL EKONOMI

Many boundary disputes are caused by many factors, therefore boundary arrangement is very important to do. Sebatik Island is one of the small islands of tens of thousands of islands owned by the Indonesian state. Sebatik Island is divided into two parts, one part of the northern island goes into Malaysian territory, and the other part is the southen part into Indonesian territory. Because this island is the border of the country, the location of Sebatik is very strategic for both countries and makes Sebatik Island prone to conflict. In conducting research this Journal Article used is a mixed research method, which is a research method that combines two qualitative and quantitative research methods in a research activity.&#x0D;

The vowel inventory of Nakanamanga

Nakanamanga is an Oceanic language spoken by approximately 10,000 speakers in central Vanuatu (Lynch and Crowley, 2001), including northern Efate island and Nguna and other small islands to the north. Previous work on Nakanamanga indicates that it has five distinctive vowel qualities (/i,e,a,o,u/), as is typical of Oceanic languages, and some evidence of long vowels (Schütz, 1969). However, whether vowel length is contrastive remains unclear, and there are suggestions that vowel length exhibits complex relationships with consonantal and prosodic patterns (Schütz, 1969; McClintock, 1991; Schmidt, 2023). We present findings of a pilot study targeting vowel length in Nakanamanga, based on phonological evidence and acoustic phonetic data. A wordlist consisting of words of CVCV structures was designed after consultation with a native speaker, and recorded with the speaker in Mere-Sauwia village on Nguna. Data was processed and analysed using Praat, EMU-SDMS and R (Boersma and Weenink, 2023; Winkelmann et al., 2017; R Core Team, 2023). Results for vowel duration and first and second formant frequency at vowel midpoints provide strong evidence that Nakanamanga has ten distinct vowels, with a length contrast for all five vowel qualities. Findings lay the groundwork for larger-scale investigations of the phonetics and phonology of Nakanamanga.

Multibeam echosounder backscatter strength analysis for seafloor sediment identification in Damar Besar Island Waters, Thousand Islands

The condition of the Indonesian territory surrounded by the ocean requires technology to obtain seabed information to support the development of social, economic, and security activities. One of the technologies that can be used is the multibeam echosounder (MBES) hydroacoustic technology. MBES can scan seabed in a wide range, resulting in bathymetric data and backscatter values. The value of backscatter can be used to identify seafloor sediments. This study compared backscatter intensity values obtained from the MBES survey to the previous study. After identifying the sediment, the data obtained are mapped to produce a sediment distribution map. The types of sediment identified in the Damar Besar Island Waters are fine silt, medium silt, coarsed silt, silty sand, muddy sand, clayed sand, very fine sand, and fine sand with a range of backscatter values from -34,92 to -19,04 dB. Fine sand sediments are nearby the northern island while muddy sands and silty sands are scattered away from the island.

New Australian frontier in freshwater fish invasion via Torres Strait Islands

AbstractAll continents, excluding Antarctica and the Artic, have been affected by incursion from alien freshwater fish species. Australia has not been spared. Four hundred and fifty species have now been declared on the ornamental importation list, making management a real challenge. With approximately 25 non-native species documented, Papua New Guinea (PNG) has likely some problems with invasive freshwater fish. Many of these species have been intentionally introduced to increase access to food as a protein source for remote communities or have spread naturally from western parts of Java and Indonesia, and now constitute a large biomass on some floodplain areas in PNG. The Torres Strait is located between PNG and northern Queensland and was previously a land bridge, though now under higher sea levels the region exists as a series of approximately 300 islands. The threat of further range extension of freshwater fish from PNG into northern Queensland via the Torres Strait Islands is significant, with two invasive fish species already recorded on northern islands of the Torres Strait (climbing perch, Anabas testudineus which has been continually recorded for the past decade; and recently the GIFT tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus). Here we present a case to control further spread of invasive freshwater fish species towards Australia, using a Land and Sea Ranger program, where Rangers are trained to be confident in the identification of pest fish species and to implement strategies to protect their borders from potential future incursions. The success of this program relies on Rangers to continue partaking in surveillance monitoring of coastal waters, checking and controlling for any new invasive species moving from PNG into Australian waters. We outline the biosecurity obligation under Article 14 of the Treaty between the two nations, which identifies the importance of conservation and protection of coastal floodplains from invasive species, and the spread between both nations.

Assembling genetic structure of Gardenia remyi, a critically endangered tree endemic to the Hawaiian Islands

AbstractConservation and restoration planning of extremely rare species relies on an understanding of the genetic diversity and population dynamics within a species to overcome potential inbreeding depression. Nānū or Nāʻū (Gardenia remyi H. Mann.) is an endemic tree native to the Hawaiian Islands and is one of more than 200 endangered plant species in Hawaiʻi with less than 50 individuals remaining in the wild. Efforts to understand the genetic diversity and connectivity between wild populations are foundational to conservation management plans, however little is known of the population structure of the species. In this study we utilize double digest restriction‐site associated sequencing (ddRADSeq) on both historical herbarium specimens and samples from living ex situ collections to: (1) Test the hypothesis that we can capture genetic diversity in herbarium material of G. remyi using ddRADSeq, and (2) test the hypothesis that there are genetically distinct populations or subpopulation units among different Hawaiian islands. Usable sequencing data from thirty‐seven samples of herbarium specimens collected between 1952 and 2017 and twenty wild sourced living collection samples were obtained representing all four islands where G. remyi is known to occur. Phylogenetic and population structure analysis revealed a monophyletic ingroup and a clear division between G. remyi samples of the northern island of Kauaʻi and those from the more southeastern younger islands of Molokaʻi, Maui and Hawaiʻi islands. The Kauaʻi samples were further split into a subpopulation from Southern Kauaʻi and the subpopulations from Northern Kauaʻi. Some admixed samples were detected. Our results are consistent with subpopulations of G. remyi, which needs to be considered in future conservation planning and breeding efforts to minimize inbreeding depression.

Validity, reliability, and cross-validation of a new questionnaire developed using the Theory of Planned Behavior: The Dating Violence Bystander Help-giving Intention Questionnaire (DVBHIQ)

The present study aimed to develop and psychometrically test a scale by using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) comprising two types of measurement (direct and belief-based [indirect]) to assess bystander help-giving intention to victims of dating violence among youth. A two-phase, mixed-method design was adopted. The primary source of the samples was five universities, each in the northern, central, southern, eastern, and outer islands regions of Taiwan. Phase I involved developing an instrument based on the TPB (n = 10) and pilot testing (n = 220). Phase II conducted the psychometric evaluation (n = 622). The study used item analysis, explanatory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, and cross-validation to examine the psychometric properties of the Dating Violence Bystander Help-giving Intention Questionnaire (DVBHIQ) with two types of measure (direct and belief-based). Explanatory factor analysis resulted in a four-factor solution (attitude/behavioral beliefs, subjective norms/normative beliefs, perceived behavioral control/control belief, and intention) of the direct and belief-based measures of the DVBHIQ, accounting for 72.67% and 76.62% of total variance respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis and cross‐validation confirmed the proposed four-factor model and demonstrated good internal consistency reliability. The two types of DVBHIQ had good validity, reliability, and measurement invariance which may help address the core cognitive determinants for bystander help-giving intention. Healthcare providers (e.g., school nurses) could use the DVBHIQ to evaluate how bystander education programs affect youth and conduct related research in the future.

Количественные характеристики гидробионтов и молоди рыб шельфовой зоны Северного Сахалина (обзор) Часть 2.

The article presents a review of published materials and results of specialized ecological and fishery research for the period 1950-2021, containing data on abundance and biomass of the main groups of hydrobionts (phytoplankton, zooplankton, zoobenthos), larvae and young fish in different shelf areas of northern and northeastern Sakhalin Island. Regularities of distribution of different plankton groups by shelf areas and by different water, horizons are considered. Quantitative indicators of systematic groups of hydrobionts and juvenile fish of different shelf areas are compared. The work summarizes the materials on the Zapadno-Shmidtovsky and Deryuginsky license areas, Yuzhno-Kirinsky hydrocarbon field and others.

Summer collection of multiple southern species of ticks in a remote northern island in Japan and literature review of the distribution and avian hosts of ticks.

Expansion of ticks and tick-borne diseases is of increasing concern worldwide. To decrease the risk of ticks and tick-borne diseases to public health, understanding the mechanisms of their current distribution and future expansion is needed. Although tick distribution has been studied globally on continents and large islands that are inhabited by large mammals, less attention has been paid to remote islands. However, small islands are often important stopover sites for migratory birds that may contribute to long-distance dispersal of ticks. Therefore, islands would be a suitable system to rule out potential effects of mammals and to evaluate the contribution of birds to the expansion of ticks and tick-borne diseases. We collected questing ticks by dragging cloths over vegetation on Tobishima Island, northern Japan, in summer 2021, and conducted a literature search of the distribution and avian hosts of hard tick. We found several southern species of ticks (Haemaphysalis hystricis, H. formosensis, H. cornigera, Amblyomma testudinarium, and Dermacentor bellulus) on the island. These species have rarely or never been reported from the mainland of Japan at similar latitudes or higher, where large mammals are found. They are known vectors of tick-borne diseases, such as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome. The present study suggests that migratory birds may contribute to the expansion of ticks and tick-borne diseases, and a remote island may function as a front line and/or a hub for their expansion. Evaluating tick fauna on remote islands used by migratory birds might be useful to monitor the expansion.

Multiscale hydrodynamics modeling reveals the temperature moderating role of the Northern Red Sea Islands

A growing interest in the hydrodynamics of the Red Sea has been observed since the beginning of the 21st century. However, the interaction between the Gulf of Suez (GOS) and the Red Sea along with possible natural mitigation mechanisms of heat stress on its southern coral reef zones have not been adequately investigated. This study evaluated different Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) simulations of the Red Sea using a nesting approach in the southern parts of the GOS to elucidate the three-dimensional nature of thermal variability. The developed regional ROMS model simulated the general circulation patterns and sea surface temperature on the TSUBAME 3.0 supercomputer operated by the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Ultimately, remotely sensed satellite data of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) spanning the period 2016–2020 were used to validate the regional model results. A further challenge posed by the scarcity of distributed depth-varying temperature data on the northern islands' region was overcome by using an offline nesting approach (i.e., incorporating boundary conditions from the parent domain) to simulate the local 3-D thermal regimes. Intriguingly, the results of the nested model scenarios confirmed unique northern islands-enhanced thermal moderating mechanisms where islands act as barriers to the impacts of the relatively warmer water originating from the eastern boundary current. Additionally, this study introduces a new approach to applying higher-resolution models to the precise spatial and temporal representation of thermal indices in a way that surpasses the widely adopted remote sensing approaches. In short, multiscale modeling provides a valuable approach for assessing the thermal regimes around one of the most precious marine ecosystems in the world.