Pacific Populations Research Articles

Long-term trends in cervical cancer: Incidence rates and impact of human papillomavirus testing and vaccination in the United States (343)

<b>Objectives:</b> Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with the development of most cervical cancers (CCs). HPV testing and vaccination have been available since 2003 and 2006, respectively, in the United States (US). In this study, we investigate the long-term trends of CC annual incidence rates in relation to the introduction of HPV testing and HPV vaccination in the US. <b>Methods:</b> This study analyzed data in the US National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Age-adjusted annual CC incidence rates were calculated for the overall population or for each race from 1992 to 2017. Additionally, we calculated incidence rates stratified by age group for three stage levels. Joinpoint log-linear regression analysis was used to assess temporal trends in annual CC incidence rates. The average annual percentage change (APC) in incidence was calculated using the weighted least-squares method. <b>Results:</b> In patients aged 30-64 years, we found a statistically significant decrease in the incidence rate of CC between 1992 and 2017 (APC: -2.57% [1992-2006]; APC: -0.95% [2006-2017]; p<0.05; decreased from 17.6 to 11.1 per 100,000 population). We also found a significant decrease in the incidence of localized CC (APC: -4.66% [1998-2004]; APC: -1.11% [2004-2017]; p<0.05; decreased from 8.8 to 6.2 per 100,000 population). The incidence of regional CC decreased at a much slower pace (APC: -1.58%; p<0.05; decreased from 6.5 to 3.8 per 100,000 population), and the incidence of distant CC did not change significantly (APC: 0.54%; p>0.05; increased from 1.3 to 1.5 per 100,000 population). The incidence of CC decreased in all races for which data were available, with the sharpest decrease among the populations with the greatest incidence in 1992: the Black population (APC: -3.37%, p<0.05; decreased from 19.8 to 8.5 between 1992 and 2017) and the Asian or Pacific Islander population (APC: -4.57%, p<0.05; decreased from 17.1 to 8.8 between 1992 and 2008). <b>Conclusions:</b> The overall decrease in APC could be explained partially by the effectiveness of HPV testing, which enables early treatment of HPV infection to prevent tumor development, as well as HPV vaccines, which prevent infection. The decrease is more evident in localized CC stages.

Predicting the habitat suitability for populations of Pacific cod under different climate change scenarios considering intraspecific genetic variation

Several studies have demonstrated the importance of integrating intraspecific genetic variation in forecasting the habitat suitability of species under climate change scenarios. The Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) is an economically important fish species in the North Pacific that can be classified into western and eastern populations based on molecular phylogeographic data. Herein, we first quantified the realized niche of the two Pacific cod populations using n-dimensional hypervolumes and estimated the niche differentiation between the populations. We then projected the habitat suitability based on the georeferenced occurrence records and environmental predictors using species distribution models (SDMs) at the population and species levels. The low niche overlap demonstrated the marked niche differentiation between the two populations. The distinct responses of the populations to climate predictors implied that the population-level SDM produced more reliable projections than the corresponding species-level SDM. The model indicated that the eastern population expanded its suitable area northward, while maintaining most of its current habitat and exhibited resilience to climate impacts. However, the western population lost much of its current suitable area, while colonizing a new habitat in a small section of the offshore waters of the Japanese Sea, implying the vulnerability of this population to climate change. This study highlights the necessity of incorporating intraspecific genetic variation into SDMs to predict the habitat suitability of Pacific cod on the global scale. The spatiotemporal predictive maps of habitat suitability provide crucial information for designing climate-adaptive conservation and management strategies based on more precise taxonomic units for the sustainability of Pacific cod.

Length-Based Assessment Methods for the Conservation of a Pelagic Shark, Carcharhinus falciformis from the Tropical Pacific Ocean

The silky shark, Carcharhinus falciformis is one of the most heavily exploited sharks, being the main by-catch species in both tuna longline and purse-seine fisheries in tropical waters worldwide. Despite this severe exploitation, little is known about the species’ life history and population status. Silky sharks, like many other sharks, exhibit slow growth and low fecundity, indicating the urgency of developing assessment studies to aid in the implementation of conservation plans for their stocks. Because information on the catch and effort of this species is scarce, some length-based data-limited methods were applied in the present study to provide estimates of the status of the tropical Pacific silky shark population. As evident from the LBSPR analysis, the current spawning potential ratio (SPR) was found to be below the target reference point of SPR 40% and slightly above the limit reference point of SPR 20%. In addition, the LBB model also confirmed that this stock’s status is overfished with relatively low biomass levels. Furthermore, both models showed estimates of size selectivity at 50% and 95% that were lower than the estimated size at sexual maturity. In conclusion, the data-limited models developed in this study indicated that the silky shark stock in the tropical Pacific Ocean may be at risk of further decline. Additionally, the results show that growth and recruitment overfishing may be occurring in the silky shark’s population calling for immediate intensification of monitoring programs for these sharks as a pre-requisite to develop efficient management and conservation plans in the Pacific Ocean.

Identifying a pathway towards recovery for depleted wild Pacific salmon populations in a large watershed under multiple stressors

Abstract Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) support coastal and freshwater ecosystems, economies and cultures, but many populations have declined. We used priority threat management (PTM), a decision‐support framework for prioritizing conservation investments, to identify management strategies that could support thriving populations of wild salmon over 25 years. We evaluated the potential benefits of 14 strategies spanning fisheries, habitat, pollution, pathogens, hatcheries and predation management dimensions on 19 conservation units (CUs)—genetically and ecologically distinct populations—of the five Pacific salmon species in the lower Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada. The PTM assessment indicated that under the current trajectory of ‘business as usual’, zero CUs were predicted to have &gt;50% chance of thriving in 25 years. Implementation of all management strategies at an annual investment between 45 and 110 million CAD was, however, predicted to achieve &gt;50% chance of thriving for most CUs (n = 16), with nearly half (seven CUs) having a &gt; 60% chance, indicating there is a pathway towards recovery for most populations if we invest now. In fact, substantial gains could be made by investing in five combined habitat strategies, costing 20M CAD annually. These habitat strategies were estimated to bring 14 of 19 salmon CUs above this 50% threshold. Co‐governance between First Nation and provincial and federal Canadian governments to manage salmon populations and harvest, and improved CU‐level monitoring emerged from the expert elicitation as critical ‘enabling’ strategies. By improving the feasibility of different management options, co‐governance brought an additional five CUs above the 60% threshold. Synthesis and applications. Supporting wild salmon in the face of cumulative threats will require strategic investment in effective management strategies, as identified by this priority threat management (PTM) assessment. PTM uses the best available data to objectively assess the potential outcomes of management alternatives. With renewed commitments from provincial and federal Canadian governments to protect and restore salmon populations and their habitats, positive conservation outcomes following implementation of targeted management strategies may be within reach.

Five decades of change in somatic growth of Pacific hake from Puget Sound and Strait of Georgia.

Declines in fish body size have been reported in many populations and these changes likely have important ramifications for the sustainability of harvested species and ecosystem function. Pacific hake, Merluccius productus, have shown declines in size over the last several decades for populations located in Puget Sound (PS), Washington, USA, and Strait of Georgia (SoG), British Columbia, Canada. To examine this decrease in size, we used archived otoliths from both populations to assess when the decrease in somatic growth occurred and explored what factors and processes might explain the decline, including otolith microchemistry to infer the environment experienced by fish at different ages. Results indicated that substantial changes in juvenile somatic growth have occurred across decades. The divergence in body size occurred in the second summer, whereby SoG fish grew, on average, 18% more than PS fish. Within the PS population, somatic growth differed significantly among fish that hatched in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2010s, such that the more recently hatched fish grew 26% more in their first summer and 71% less in their second summer relative to those that hatched in the 1980s. In comparison, growth of SoG fish did not differ between those that hatched in 1970s and 1990s. For both populations growth in the first and third summer was positively and negatively related, respectively, to the abundance of harbor seals, while growth in the first and second summer was negatively related to salinity. Overall, this study highlights the complicated nature of Pacific hake population recovery under dynamic, and typically uncontrollable, variation in biotic and abiotic conditions.

Risk factors for acute rheumatic fever: A case-control study

SummaryBackgroundAcute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remain an inequitable cause of avoidable suffering and early death in many countries, including among Indigenous Māori and Pacific populations in New Zealand. There is a lack of robust evidence on interventions to prevent ARF. This study aimed to identify modifiable risk factors, with the goal of producing evidence to support policies and programs to decrease rates of ARF.MethodsA case-control study was undertaken in New Zealand using hospitalised, first episode ARF cases meeting a standard case-definition. Population controls (ratio of 3:1) were matched by age, ethnicity, socioeconomic deprivation, location, sex, and recruitment month. A comprehensive, pre-tested questionnaire was administered face-to-face by trained interviewers.FindingsThe study included 124 cases and 372 controls. Multivariable analysis identified strong associations between ARF and household crowding (OR 3·88; 95%CI 1·68-8·98) and barriers to accessing primary health care (OR 2·07; 95% CI 1·08-4·00), as well as a high intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (OR 2·00; 1·13-3·54). There was a marked five-fold higher ARF risk for those with a family history of ARF (OR 4·97; 95% CI 2·53-9·77). ARF risk was elevated following self-reported skin infection (aOR 2·53; 1·44-4·42) and sore throat (aOR 2·33; 1·49-3·62).InterpretationThese globally relevant findings direct attention to the critical importance of household crowding and access to primary health care as strong modifiable causal factors in the development of ARF. They also support a greater focus on the role of managing skin infections in ARF prevention.FundingThis research was funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) Rheumatic Fever Research Partnership (supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Health, Te Puni Kōkiri, Cure Kids, Heart Foundation, and HRC) award number 13/959.

Ancient DNA reveals five streams of migration into Micronesia and matrilocality in early Pacific seafarers.

Micronesia began to be peopled earlier than other parts of Remote Oceania, but the origins of its inhabitants remain unclear. We generated genome-wide data from 164 ancient and 112 modern individuals. Analysis reveals five migratory streams into Micronesia. Three are East Asian related, one is Polynesian, and a fifth is a Papuan source related to mainland New Guineans that is different from the New Britain-related Papuan source for southwest Pacific populations but is similarly derived from male migrants ~2500 to 2000 years ago. People of the Mariana Archipelago may derive all of their precolonial ancestry from East Asian sources, making them the only Remote Oceanians without Papuan ancestry. Female-inherited mitochondrial DNA was highly differentiated across early Remote Oceanian communities but homogeneous within, implying matrilocal practices whereby women almost never raised their children in communities different from the ones in which they grew up.

Presence of Southeast Pacific blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) off South Georgia in the South Atlantic Ocean

AbstractThe Southeast Pacific (SEP) or Chilean blue whale population is largely distributed between Northern Chilean Patagonia and the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Off South Georgia (SG), the majority of blue whales caught were Antarctic blue whales, but recent genetic and acoustic records indicate the possible presence of SEP individuals. To assess the presence of SEP blue whales off SG, we carried out new analyses of acoustic data previously reported as containing pygmy blue whale song and analyzed the length frequencies from 20th century catch data. The month of acoustic data reported to contain the presumed pygmy blue whale song was examined (August 2006), and 13 days were found to have songs which visually and quantitatively matched SEP2 songs from Northern Chilean Patagonia. The fundamental frequency of SEP2 song off SG, however, was not in line with the predicted frequency shift trend of the SEP2 songs in the SEP. A mixture analysis of lengths in historic whaling catches indicated that 3.3% of the catches from SG could be SEP blue whales, although this declined to 0.6%, 95% CI [0.0, 2.6] when fit to nonrounded lengths. Our results suggest that any SEP blue whales off SG are likely rare vagrants, at the edge of an endangered population.

Balancing conservation and commerce: A shadow value viability approach for governing bycatch

The losses from extinction events are not well-known, making an expected net benefits approach to conservation problems difficult to implement. A viable control strategy instead focuses on limiting the risk of extinction to some acceptably low level at the least possible cost. Here we describe a shadow value viability approach for solving conservation problems with irreversible thresholds with dynamic programming. A social planner calculates the minimal (virtual) level of loss from extinction that would trigger sufficient action to avoid extinction with the desired confidence. The cost-effective policy then arises from acting as if the resulting shadow value is real. We demonstrate the method in a numerical application to the conservation of the Pacific leatherback turtle population, which co-mingles with the Pacific swordfish fishery. We show how the cost-effective outcome can be achieved among decentralized fishers by using the planner’s shadow value to set market-based instruments for managing turtle bycatch. This approach translates the species viability objective into economic terms so conservation and commercial harvest can be rationally integrated.

Generation of a chromosome-level genome assembly for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) and characterization of its sex-determining genomic region.

The Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) is a key species in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea ecosystems, where it also supports important fisheries. However, the lack of genomic resources limits our understanding of evolutionary, environmental and anthropogenic forces affecting key life history characteristics of Pacific halibut and prevents the application of genomic tools in fisheries management and conservation efforts. In the present study, we report on the first generation of a high‐quality chromosome‐level assembly of the Pacific halibut genome, with an estimated size of 602 Mb, 24 chromosome‐length scaffolds that contain 99.8% of the assembly and a N50 scaffold length of 27.3 Mb. In the first application of this important resource, we conducted genome‐wide analyses of sex‐specific genetic variation by pool sequencing and characterized a potential sex‐determining region in chromosome 9 with a high density of female‐specific SNPs. Within this region, we identified the bmpr1ba gene as a potential candidate for master sex‐determining (MSD) gene. bmpr1ba is a member of the TGF‐β family that in teleosts has provided the largest number of MSD genes, including a paralogue of this gene in Atlantic herring. The genome assembly constitutes an essential resource for future studies on Pacific halibut population structure and dynamics, evolutionary history and responses to environmental and anthropogenic influences. Furthermore, the genomic location of the sex‐determining region in Pacific halibut has been identified and a putative candidate MSD gene has been proposed, providing further support for the rapid evolution of sex‐determining mechanisms in teleost fish.

Head and Neck Cancer Stage at Presentation and Survival Outcomes Among Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Patients Compared With Asian and White Patients

Research studies often group Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander individuals together with Asian individuals despite being consistently identified as having worse health outcomes and higher rates of comorbidities and mortality. Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander individuals also have high incidence rates of oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer compared with the general population; however, disparities in clinical presentation and survival outcomes of head and neck cancer squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) among this population have not been investigated nor compared with those of other races. To determine the association of race with cancer stage at diagnosis and survival outcomes among Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander patients with HNSCC compared with Asian and non-Hispanic White patients. This was a retrospective population-based cohort study using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 database. Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and non-Hispanic White adult patients diagnosed in 1988 through 2015 with HNSCC of the oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx were included; any patient whose record was missing data on disease or demographic information was excluded. Cancer stage at presentation was compared among Asian, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and non-Hispanic White patients using a multivariable logistic regression model. Survival outcomes were compared among these racial groups using Cox regression models. Data analyses were performed from July 1, 2021, to March 20, 2022. The total study population comprised 76 473 patients: 4894 Asian (mean [SD] age at presentation, 60.7 [14.6] years), 469 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (57.8 [12.3] years), and 71 110 non-Hispanic White (62.2 [12.1] years) individuals. Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander patients were more likely to present with advanced-stage HNSCC (odds ratio [OR], 1.38; 95% CI, 1.12 -1.72) compared with non-Hispanic White patients. Asian patients presented with similar stage disease (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.97-1.11) compared with non-Hispanic White patients. Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander patients had worse disease-specific survival (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.02-1.36) compared with non-Hispanic White patients after adjusting for clinical and demographic factors. In contrast, Asian patients had improved disease-specific survival (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.88-0.98) compared with non-Hispanic White patients. This retrospective population-based cohort study suggests that Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander race was associated with more advanced HNSCC, and worse disease-specific survival compared with non-Hispanic White race, while Asian race was associated with improved survival. This study highlights the importance of disaggregating Asian from Pacific Islander data when assessing health disparities, and the need for culturally sensitive interventions to promote earlier detection of head and neck cancer and improved survival among the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population.

Development and validation of a 40-K multiple-SNP array for Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai)

High-throughput genotyping tools are essential for genetic research and genomic selection applications, especially in economically important species. In this study, genotyping by target sequencing (GBTS) system and capture-in-solution technology were utilized to develop a multiple single-nucleotide polymorphism (mSNP) liquid array, named “Baoxin-I,” for genome-wide evaluation of allelic variation in Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai), an economically important mollusk species widely farmed in East Asia. A total of 1059 Pacific abalone individuals were selected for whole-genome resequencing and over 1.67 million SNPs were identified. A subset of 87,959 SNPs that were evenly distributed across the genome were selected from the 40-K target genomic regions. The performance evaluation of Baoxin-I was conducted with a commercial Pacific abalone population, two closely related Haliotis species, and one hybrid. In total, 73.66% of the array loci were of high quality and could be successfully genotyped with 97.41% calling rates, with a 54.26%–94.94% polymorphic SNP rate across species. The Baoxin-I SNP array was then applied in a population separation test and a genomic selection program to validate efficiency and accuracy: (1) the population separation test showed that Baoxin-I could distinguish four closely species; and (2) the prediction accuracy for 10 growth-related traits of Pacific abalone obtained using Baoxin-I genotyping data was consistent with that obtained using whole-genomic resequencing data, validating the performance of Baoxin-I in genomic selection. In summary, the Baoxin-I SNP array will provide a useful platform for high-quality genotyping that may be beneficial to the genomic selective breeding of Pacific abalone.

Population Genetic Structure of Marine Leech, Pterobdella arugamensis in Indo-West Pacific Region

Grouper aquaculture is rapidly expanding in both tropical and subtropical regions. The presence of marine leeches (Pterobdella arugamensis; previously named Zeylanicobdella arugamensis) infesting cultured groupers, however, can have a fatal effect on grouper aquaculture production and cause significant economic loss. Understanding the marine leech’s population structure is therefore important to determine its possible distributional origin and distributional mechanisms, which will help monitor and mitigate the infestation. In this study, a total of 84 marine leeches collected from cultured hybrid groupers Epinephelus spp. in Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Indonesia were identified as P. arugamensis, based on morphological and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequence analyses. These leech samples, together with additional sequences from the GenBank database, were grouped into four genetically distinct haplogroups: (1) Asia Pacific, (2) Borneo, (3) Surabaya and (4) Iran. The four populations were found to be highly diverged from each other. The results also suggested that the samples from the Asia Pacific population could be dispersed and transported from Indonesia.

0162 Sleep in Pacific Ocean Populations: A Scoping Review

Abstract Introduction Sleep research focused on individuals categorized as Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander suggests that sleep deficiencies(short sleep, insomnia symptoms) are highly prevalent among adults. Given the large degree of diversity related to family origin of Pacific ocean populations and assimilation, a more robust understanding of unique risk factors related to sleep challenges for these heterogenous communities is warranted. We are conducting a scoping review of studies that examine associations of health, practice, sociodemographic, and influential mechanisms with sleep in Pacific ocean populations. Methods A literature search conducted in Medline, Embase, Psychinfo, and Cochrane encompassed three domains: sleep-related and sleep-disorder terms, oceanic island and ancestry names, and sub-population names inclusive of the geographic regions of Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. The primary search retrieved 2364 articles. Studies were selected by abstract and full text analysis by one reviewer, followed by independent data extraction by four reviewers. Using a standardized form, synthesis of results and assessment of sample demographics, sampling strategy, sleep data source and findings, theoretical framework, and covariates was conducted per article. Inclusion criteria included articles with at least one quantitative sleep-related finding for a Pacific island population. We excluded non-primary research articles. Studies that categorically combined other racial/ethnic groups with Pacific ocean populations(Asian/Pacific Islander) or geographic regions(Asian-Pacific region) in reporting findings were excluded. Results Of the 99 articles included in the review, 18 included children/adolescents, 56 included adults, 13 included multiple age groups, and 12 reported no or only mean participant age. Seventy-two studies allowed participants to self-identify their major ethnic group as a single race(e.g., Tongan, Kirbati). Seventeen studies included objective methods(e.g., actigraphy). The most common sleep-related factors were issues of sleep patterns(n=51), physical health(n=43), mental health(n=28), socioeconomic deprivation(n=26), daytime sleepiness/fatigue(n=20), sleep disorders or symptoms (snoring)(n=17), sleep-supporting practices(n=9), and integration into main culture/born in US(n=3). Conclusion Preliminary results suggest that few studies have examined identifiable factors that may impact sleep within diverse Pacific ocean communities, with most studies focused on adults, self-reporting, and sleep pattern problems. Future studies should examine underlying mechanisms related to sleep deficiencies in both children and adults to better understand variability in risk across the lifespan. Support (If Any)

Movements and Diving Behavior of the Eastern North Pacific Offshore Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)

The Pacific Offshore killer whale population is currently listed as data deficient on the IUCN Red List and Threatened in Canada. The population is estimated at 300 individuals with a range extending from Southern California to the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Only 157 encounters with this ecotype have been photo-documented between 1988 and 2014; consequently, movement and behavioral data are limited and restricted to areas commonly surveyed. To better understand movements, habitat use, and diving behavior, we deployed seven dart-attached satellite tags during two encounters with Offshores off California and one encounter off Washington State in 2013. Group size estimates were 6, 9, and 30 whales, respectively. Transmission durations ranged from 6.3 to 147.4 days providing a combined 2,469 location estimates. Whales tagged in Southern California travelled from 30.7°N to 59.3°N degrees latitude, covering a larger latitudinal range in 75 days than all previous sightings (33.5°N to 60.0°N). Within most of the California Current (southern extent of locations up to 48.5°N), Offshores typically used waters deeper than the 200 m isobath. As they approached the northern extent of the California Current and travelled into British Columbia and Alaska, locations were more common near or inside the 200 m isobath. Individuals tagged in the same group disassociated and re-associated within the tracking duration, with animals tagged together separating by as much 1,339 km. Two of the tags also reported summarized diving behavior, and tags captured 1,110 total dives with median dive depths of 41 m and 100 m for each tagged whale; the maximum dive depth was 480 m. Dives were typically short (median = 3.9 and 4.1 min respectively, max = 12.3). A comparison of dive depths and bathymetry suggests that whales typically dove to or near the seafloor in continental shelf habitat. Despite the small number of tag deployments, these data provide new information on social structure, individual ranges, diving behavior, and habitat use of this seldom encountered killer whale ecotype.

A Polynesian-specific copy number variant encompassing the MICA gene associates with gout.

Gout is of particularly high prevalence in the Māori and Pacific (Polynesian) populations of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). Here, we investigated the contribution of common population-specific copy number variation (CNV) to gout in the Aotearoa NZ Polynesian population. Microarray-generated genome-wide genotype data from Aotearoa NZ Polynesian individuals with (n = 1196) and without (n = 1249) gout were analyzed. Comparator population groups were 552 individuals of European ancestry and 1962 of Han Chinese ancestry. Levels of circulating major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I polypeptide-related sequence A (MICA) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Fifty-four CNV regions (CNVRs) appearing in at least 10 individuals were detected, of which seven common (>2%) CNVRs were specific to or amplified in Polynesian people. A burden test of these seven revealed associations of insertion/deletion with gout (odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.80 [1.01; 3.22], P = 0.046). Individually testing of the seven CNVRs for association with gout revealed nominal association of CNVR1 with gout in Western Polynesian (Chr6: 31.36-31.45Mb, OR = 1.72 [1.03; 2.92], P = 0.04), CNVR6 in the meta-analyzed Polynesian sample sets (Chr1: 196.75-196.92Mb, OR = 1.86 [1.16; 3.00], P = 0.01) and CNVR9 in Western Polynesian (Chr1: 189.35-189.54Mb, OR = 2.75 [1.15; 7.13], P = 0.03). Analysis of European gout genetic association data demonstrated a signal of association at the CNVR1 locus that was an expression quantitative trait locus for MICA. The most common CNVR (CNVR1) includes deletion of the MICA gene, encoding an immunomodulatory protein. Expression of MICA was reduced in the serum of individuals with the deletion. In summary, we provide evidence for the association of CNVR1 containing MICA with gout in Polynesian people, implicating class I MHC-mediated antigen presentation in gout.

Latitudinal cline in the foraging dichotomy of loggerhead sea turtles reveals the importance of East China Sea for priority conservation

AbstractAimQuantifying the importance of habitat areas for conservation of highly migratory marine species with complex life histories can be challenging. For example loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) nesting in Japan forage both oceanically and neritically after their reproductive period. Here, we aimed to quantify the proportions of turtles using these two contrasting habitats (foraging dichotomy) to suggest priority conservation areas.LocationNorth Pacific Ocean.MethodsWe examined the occurrence of foraging dichotomy at three nesting sites (Ishigaki, Okinoerabu Islands and Ichinomiya) based on stable isotope analysis of the egg yolks for 82 turtles and satellite tracking of post‐nesting migration for 12 turtles. Moreover, we used the data of three other sites from previous studies (Yakushima Island, Minabe and Omaezaki).ResultsTwo neritic foraging grounds (East China Sea and the coastal area of the Japanese archipelago), and an oceanic ground (North Pacific Ocean) were identified. We found a latitudinal cline with respect to the occurrence of foraging dichotomy; &gt;84% of the females nesting at southern sites (Ishigaki and Okinoerabu Islands), 73% at middle sites (Yakushima Island and Minabe) and &lt;46% at northern sites (Omaezaki and Ichinomiya) were neritic foragers; the proportion of oceanic foragers increased at northern sites. Based on the annual number of nests in the entire nesting region of Japan, satellite tracking and the latitudinal cline of foraging dichotomy, we estimated that 70% and 9% of annual nesting females in Japan utilize the neritic foraging habitat in the East China Sea and the coastal area of the Japanese archipelago, respectively, and that and 22% utilize the oceanic habitat of the North Pacific Ocean.Main conclusionsThe East China Sea represents a critical foraging habitat for the North Pacific populations of endangered loggerhead sea turtles. Our findings emphasize the need for international management to ensure their protection.

Cetacean acoustic monitoring across the Hawaiian archipelago: Building on Whitlow Au’s legacy

The Hawaiian islands are home to more than 20 species of cetaceans and are the principal breeding ground of the north Pacific humpback whale population. The archipelago stretches more than 2500 km from Hawaii Island to Kure Atoll, creating a significant challenge for monitoring the occurrence and distribution of cetaceans across such a vast range. To meet this challenge, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Navy have been engaged in a three-year effort to monitor the marine soundscape of the Hawaiian archipelago known as the SanctSound Project. Bottom-moored acoustic recorders were deployed at multiple locations across the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument to examine the occurrence of humpback whales and odontocetes based on the relative prevalence of their acoustic signaling. Anthropogenic sound sources were also studied to understand how these co-occur with cetaceans. Substantial spatial and temporal variability was observed in the prevalence of whale song and dolphin acoustic activity across locations with high cetacean presence sometimes overlapped with elevated anthropogenic activity. This work helps expand our understanding of how cetaceans use the archipelago and builds on the legacy of Whitlow Au, who pioneered cetacean acoustic monitoring in Hawaii.

Updated connectivity assessment for the scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) in Pacific and Indian Oceans using a multi-marker genetic approach

Patterns of genetic connectivity can be used to define the geographic boundaries of fishes and underpin management decisions. This study used a genetic multi-marker approach to investigate the population structure of scalloped hammerheads (Sphyrna lewini) in the Indo–Pacific. Samples from 541 S. lewini were collected from 12 locations across the Indo–Pacific. Samples were analysed using two regions of the mitochondrial genome, nine microsatellite loci and two sets of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP). Our study has four key findings; (1) genetic structure of S. lewini across the Indo–Pacific is affected by oceanic basins and can be separated into four distinct regions. (2) Within the central Indo–Pacific, connectivity is facilitated along continental shelves and strong signals of Isolation-By-Distance (IBD) were observed. (3) Mitochondrial haplotypes previously thought only to exist in the Atlantic Ocean are observed in Indo–Pacific populations, suggesting the haplotype should be reconsidered as more widespread than initially thought. (4) Results from microsatellites and SNPs largely agree, however a few differences are apparent with SNPs identifying more discrete population subdivision. Our findings suggest management at the spatial scales and boundaries identified in this study will necessitate international and national cooperation to conserve S. lewini populations.

Genotype-phenotype correlations in CPT1A deficiency detected by newborn screening in Pacific populations.

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) deficiency is a long chain fatty acid oxidation disorder, typically presenting with hypoketotic hypoglycaemia and liver dysfunction during fasting and intercurrent illness. Classical CPT1A deficiency is a rare disease, although a milder ‘Arctic variant' (p.P479L) is common in the Inuit population. Since the introduction of expanded metabolic screening (EMS), the newborn screening programmes of Hawai'i and New Zealand (NZ) have detected a significant increase in the incidence of CPT1A deficiency. We report 22 individuals of Micronesian descent (12 in NZ and 10 in Hawai'i), homozygous for a CPT1A c.100T>C (p.S34P) variant detected by EMS or ascertained following diagnosis of a family member. No individuals with the Micronesian variant presented clinically with metabolic decompensation prior to diagnosis or during follow‐up. Three asymptomatic homozygous adults were detected following the diagnosis of their children by EMS. CPT1A activity in cultured skin fibroblasts showed residual enzyme activity of 26% of normal controls. Secondly, we report three individuals from two unrelated Niuean families who presented clinically with symptoms of classic CPT1A deficiency, prior to the introduction of EMS. All were found to be homozygous for a CPT1A c.2122A>C (p.S708R) variant. CPT1A activity in fibroblasts of all three individuals was severely reduced at 4% of normal controls. Migration pressure, in part due to climate change may lead to increased frequency of presentation of Pacific peoples to regional metabolic services around the world. Knowledge of genotype–phenotype correlations in these populations will therefore inform counselling and treatment of those detected by newborn screening.