Western Sites Research Articles

A Survey of Sediment Fineness and Moisture Content in the Soyang Lake Floodplain Using GPS Data

Abstract Soyang Lake is the largest lake in Republic of Korea, bordering Chuncheon, Yanggu, and Inje in Gangwon Province. It is widely used as an environmental resource for hydropower, flood control, and water supply. Therefore, we conducted a survey of the floodplain of Soyang Lake to analyze the sediments in the area. We used global positioning system (GPS) data and aerial photography to monitor sediment deposits in the Soyang Lake floodplain. Data from three GPS units were compared to determine the accuracy of sampling location measurement. Sediment samples were collected at three sites: two in the eastern region of the floodplain and one in the western region. A total of eight samples were collected: Three samples were collected at 10 cm intervals to a depth of 30 cm from each site of the eastern sampling point, and two samples were collected at depths of 10 and 30 cm at the western sampling point. Samples were collected and analyzed for vertical and horizontal trends in particle size and moisture content. The sizes of the sediment samples ranged from coarse to very coarse sediments with a negative slope, which indicate eastward movement from the breach. The probability of a breach was indicated by the high water content at the eastern side of the floodplain, with the eastern sites showing a higher probability than the western sites. The results of this study indicate that analyses of grain fineness, moisture content, sediment deposits, and sediment removal rates can be used to understand and predict the direction of breach movement and sediment distribution in Soyang Lake.

Conservation planning in an uncertain climate: Identifying projects that remain valuable and feasible across future scenarios

Abstract Conservation actors face the challenge of allocating limited resources despite uncertainty about future climate conditions. In many cases, the potential value and feasibility of proposed projects vary across climate scenarios. A key goal is to identify areas where conservation outcomes can balance both environmental and human needs. We developed a conservation prioritization framework that jointly considers the value and feasibility of candidate projects across future climate scenarios. We then applied this framework to the challenge of meeting environmental flow targets across the Red River basin of the south‐central United States. To estimate the conservation feasibility of meeting environmental flow goals in a river reach in each climate scenario, we used a basin‐wide hydrologic planning tool to quantify the reduction in societal water usage needed to meet environmental flow targets. To estimate the biodiversity value of each river reach in each climate scenario, we used climate‐driven species distribution models and species’ conservation status. We found that river reaches in the east‐central portion of the basin may be good candidates for conservation investments, because they had high biodiversity value and high sociopolitical feasibility in all future climate scenarios. In contrast, sites in the arid western reaches of the basin had high biodiversity value, but low feasibility of achieving environmental flow goals. Our framework should have broad applicability given that the value and feasibility of conservation projects vary across climate scenarios in ecosystems around the world. It may serve as a coarse filter to identify sites for more detailed analyses and could be integrated with complementarity‐based approaches to conservation planning to balance species’ representation across projects. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

High Dengue Burden and Circulation of 4 Virus Serotypes among Children with Undifferentiated Fever, Kenya, 2014-2017.

Little is known about the extent and serotypes of dengue viruses circulating in Africa. We evaluated the presence of dengue viremia during 4 years of surveillance (2014–2017) among children with febrile illness in Kenya. Acutely ill febrile children were recruited from 4 clinical sites in western and coastal Kenya, and 1,022 participant samples were tested by using a highly sensitive real-time reverse transcription PCR. A complete case analysis with genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analyses was conducted to characterize the presence of dengue viremia among participants during 2014–2017. Dengue viremia was detected in 41.9% (361/862) of outpatient children who had undifferentiated febrile illness in Kenya. Of children with confirmed dengue viremia, 51.5% (150/291) had malaria parasitemia. All 4 dengue virus serotypes were detected, and phylogenetic analyses showed several viruses from novel lineages. Our results suggests high levels of dengue virus infection among children with undifferentiated febrile illness in Kenya.

Determination of Region of Influence Obtained by Aircraft Vertical Profiles Using the Density of Trajectories from the HYSPLIT Model

Aircraft atmospheric profiling is a valuable technique for determining greenhouse gas fluxes at regional scales (104–106 km2). Here, we describe a new, simple method for estimating the surface influence of air samples that uses backward trajectories based on the Lagrangian model Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model (HYSPLIT). We determined “regions of influence” on a quarterly basis between 2010 and 2018 for four aircraft vertical profile sites: SAN and ALF in the eastern Amazon, and RBA and TAB or TEF in the western Amazon. We evaluated regions of influence in terms of their relative sensitivity to areas inside and outside the Amazon and their total area inside the Amazon. Regions of influence varied by quarter and less so by year. In the first and fourth quarters, the contribution of the region of influence inside the Amazon was 83–93% for all sites, while in the second and third quarters, it was 57–75%. The interquarter differences are more evident in the eastern than in the western Amazon. Our analysis indicates that atmospheric profiles from the western sites are sensitive to 42–52.2% of the Amazon. In contrast, eastern Amazon sites are sensitive to only 10.9–25.3%. These results may help to spatially resolve the response of greenhouse gas emissions to climate variability over Amazon.

How does the stand structure of treeline-forming species shape the treeline ecotone in different regions of the Nepal Himalayas?

Stand structure dynamics are considered as major happenings in any forest as a response to environmental changes. However, this important topic is underrepresented in the treeline studies in the Nepal Himalayas. We aimed to investigate site- as well as species-specific changes in morphometric features (basal diameter, crown cover, density, and height) along the elevational gradient across treeline ecotones in response to recent environmental changes. The stand structure characteristics of Abies spectabilis, Pinus wallichiana, and Betula utilis across the treeline ecotone of three study sites in Eastern (Barun), Central (Manang), and Western (Dhorpatan) Nepal were analyzed to elucidate structural heterogeneities. Altogether, eight transects (20 m × (60–250 m)) across the treeline ecotone were established. Trees of all life forms, trees (> 2 m), saplings (0.5–2 m), and seedlings (< 0.5 m), within each transect were enumerated and sampled for the morphometric features and age. Site-specific and species-specific stand structure dynamics were found. The rate of basal area increment was higher in Barun, but the Manang treeline, despite profound regeneration in recent years, had a low annual basal area increment. Moreover, the altitudinal distribution of age and morphometry were not consistent among those ecotones. Furthermore, intra-specific competition was not significant. The site-specific stand structure dynamics explain why treelines do not respond uniformly to increasing temperature. It invokes, in further studies, the incorporation of the tree’s morphometric adaptation traits, phenotypic plasticity, and interactions between species genotype and the environment.

Population genetic structure of the great star coral, Montastraea cavernosa, across the Cuban archipelago with comparisons between microsatellite and SNP markers

Coral reef habitats surrounding Cuba include relatively healthy, well-developed shallow and mesophotic (30–150 m) scleractinian communities at the cross-currents of the Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA). However, Cuba’s coral communities are not immune to the declines observed throughout the TWA, and there is limited information available regarding genetic connectivity, diversity, and structure among these populations. This represents an immense gap in our understanding of coral ecology and population dynamics at both local and regional scales. To address this gap, we evaluated the population genetic structure of the coral Montastraea cavernosa across eight reef sites surrounding Cuba. Colonies were genotyped using nine microsatellite markers and > 9,000 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers generated using the 2bRAD approach to assess fine-scale genetic structure across these sites. Both the microsatellite and SNP analyses identified patterns of genetic differentiation among sample populations. While the microsatellite analyses did not identify significant genetic structure across the seven shallow M. cavernosa sampling sites, the SNP analyses revealed significant pairwise population differentiation, suggesting that differentiation is greater between eastern and western sites. This study provides insight into methodological differences between microsatellite and SNP markers including potential trade-offs between marker-specific biases, sample size, sequencing costs, and the ability to resolve subtle patterns of population genetic structure. Furthermore, this study suggests that locations in western Cuba may play important roles in this species’ regional metapopulation dynamics and therefore may merit incorporation into developing international management efforts in addition to the local management the sites receive.

Population Genetic Structure and Demography of the Critically Endangered Chequered Blue Butterfly (Scolitantides orion) in a Highly Isolated Part of Its Distribution Range.

Simple SummaryThe disappearance of many butterfly species is currently observed in Europe, as most of them display strict habitat preferences and/or food specializations. A good example of such a species is the chequered blue butterfly (Scolitantides orion), whose caterpillars feed only on a few species of sedum and are guarded by ants. In Poland, this butterfly has survived only in one region and it is critically endangered. It is important to examine the genetic condition and demography of its extant populations, to help to create an effective conservation plan for the species. We studied the demography and genetic structure of the two largest populations inhabiting opposite banks of the Vistula River. Captured individuals were marked and released to estimate population sizes. Both populations were small, and they fluctuated in numbers, but adults were twice as numerous on the western riverbank. Analyses of various genetic markers have shown that the genetic variation is low in each population. Likewise, the genetic diversity between the two populations is low, which indicates that the gene flow exists, despite the river acting as a geographical barrier. The occasional migration occurs more frequently from the west to the east, which is consistent with the dominant regional wind direction.Scolitantides orion is a butterfly species threatened in many European countries. In Poland, it survived in a single highly isolated area (Vistula River valley), which is an example of the dramatic decline in the population number. We studied the two largest remaining populations inhabiting opposite banks of the river. Mark-release-recapture studies showed that both populations were small, and they fluctuated in numbers, but adult individuals were twice as numerous on the western site. Genetic analyses were carried out using a mitochondrial (COI, ND5) and nuclear markers (Wgl, EF-1α, and microsatellite loci). We found out that genetic variation was low at both sites but higher in the smaller eastern population. This pattern is likely to be better explained by past distribution, when the butterfly, as a continental species used to be much more widespread in the east. However, the genetic differentiation between populations was low. This could suggest that the existing gene flow is facilitated by dominant regional wind direction, which may also contribute to a better genetic condition of the western population. Finally, a comparison of the obtained COI sequences with others available enabled us to reveal the phylogeographic pattern of the S. orion from different localities within its range.

Elevation and accretion dynamics at historical plots in the Biloxi Marshes, Mississippi Delta

The objectives of this study were to examine changes in accretion and elevation change over periods of up to 15 years for the Biloxi marsh complex (BMC) in southeastern Louisiana, part of the Mississippi Deltaic Plain, identify factors affecting accretionary dynamics, and put these findings in the context of ongoing restoration. We present elevation and accretion data from Surface Elevation Table (SET) and feldspar marker horizon sites first established in 2003. The sites were clustered in two areas (East and West) in the central BMC on the eastern edge of the Mississippi delta. Accretion markers were used in conjunction with elevation measurements to calculate shallow subsidence. These data were analyzed along with similar data from nearby Coastwide Reference Monitoring System (CRMS) sites located around the periphery of the BMC. Elevation decreased at the Western sites by −0.35 ± 0.13 cm/yr, and increased at the Eastern and CRMS sites by 0.40 ± 0.03 cm/yr and 0.72 ± 0.09 cm/yr, respectively. The rate of accretion was similar at the Western (0.49 ± 0.14 cm/yr) and Eastern (0.64 ± 0.07 cm/yr) sites, and over twice as much (1.30 ± 0.11 cm/yr) at the CRMS sites. Shallow subsidence, calculated as the difference between vertical accretion and surface elevation change, was 0.76 ± 0.49 cm/yr at the Western sites, 0.23 ± 0.06 cm/yr at the Eastern sites, and 0.58 ± 0.11 cm/yr at the CRMS sites. These trends are consistent with the observation that sediment is brought in from Chandeleur Sound to the east and is attenuated as deposition occurs across the landscape from east to west, and that levee flank depressions associated with Bayou La Loutre, an abandoned Mississippi River distributary ridge, are causing locally high subsidence in the Western region. Without intervention, these localized areas of the Western region will be submerged within the next several decades at current rates of elevation loss and eustatic sea-level rise, while the Eastern sites and the wetlands on the periphery of the BMC are likely to keep pace with sea level rise well into the second half of this century. These results demonstrate the importance of accurate knowledge of both subsidence and accretionary dynamics in determining coastal wetland sustainability and restoration approaches.

Is there a reliable taphonomic clock in the temperate North Atlantic? An example from a North Sea population of the mollusc Arctica islandica

Two hundred and seventy-seven shells of the long-lived bivalve mollusc Arctica islandica, collected from the Fladen Ground, northern North Sea, were radiocarbon dated and their taphonomic condition assessed, in order to determine whether taphonomic condition might provide a reliable indication of time since the death of the animal. With nine stations from across the Fladen Ground sampled, some strong geographic biases in 14C ages were apparent, with living and modern (post-bomb pulse) material found in the northern part of the Fladen Ground while older material (first half of the last millennium and Early Holocene/Lateglacial) was concentrated in the central and western sites. Samples from the south and east Fladen Ground were sparse and were dominated by material from the second half of the last millennium. This south-north distribution is interpreted as the result of environmental change over millennial time-scales in the North Sea causing a gradual northward shift of living A. islandica populations and is not thought to be related to post mortem transport of shells to the south and east. Taphonomic condition, assessed using discriminant analysis and principal component analysis of five characteristics (amount of remaining periostracum, presence and condition of the ligament, extent of erosion at the shell margin, amount of bioerosion, and condition of the inner shell layer), appeared to be a generally unreliable indicator of time since the death of the animal. Based on these five taphonomic characteristics, discriminant analysis placed 81.1% of post-bomb shells, 39.6% of shells from the period 0–500 yr BP, 68.0% of shells from the period 500–1000 yr BP and 20.0% of shells from the Early Holocene/Lateglacial group into the correct radiocarbon age grouping, providing no support for the idea that this method can be used to triage shells for chronology construction as an alternative to radiometric dating.

Decolonizing Deliberative Democracy: Perspectives from Below

In this paper I provide a decolonial critique of received knowledge about deliberative democracy. The question of colonial difference has generally been overlooked in theories of democracy. These omissions challenge several key assumptions of deliberative democracy. I argue that deliberative democracy does not travel well outside Western sites and its key assumptions begin to unravel in resource extraction zones in the ‘developing’ regions of the world. The rationale for a decolonial critique of deliberative democracy is the violent conflicts over resource extraction between Indigenous communities, states and multinational corporations that are ongoing in the former colonies of Africa, Asia and Latin America. I argue that deliberative processes cannot take into account the needs of marginalized stakeholders who are defending their lands and livelihoods. Power asymmetries between key actors in the political economy can diminish the welfare of communities impacted by extraction. The paper contributes to the literature by (1) offering a critique of hegemonic models of democracy that cannot address issues of inequality and colonial difference and (2) offering possibilities to imagine counterhegemonic alternatives for a democratization of democracy from below.

Colonization history affects heating rates of invasive cane toads

Amphibians in hot climates may be able to avoid high temperatures by controlling their rates of heating. In northern Australia, invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) experience hot dry conditions in newly-colonized (western) sites but milder conditions in longer-occupied (eastern) sites. Under standardized conditions, toads from western sites heated less rapidly than did conspecifics from an eastern site. The availability of free water slowed heating rates of eastern but not western toads. Thus, the colonization of climatically extreme sites has been accompanied by a rapid shift in the toads’ ability to remain cool under hot conditions, even when free water is not available.

Stable-isotope based trophic metrics reveal early recovery of tropical crustacean assemblages following a trawl ban

Abstract Trawl bans are relatively uncommon, particularly at the level of an entire coastal jurisdiction, and have seldom been studied in the tropics. A permanent territory-wide trawl ban has been implemented in Hong Kong coastal waters since the beginning of 2013. We used isotope-based metrics, in addition to traditional community measurements, to determine whether benthic crustacean assemblages had shown any signs of recovery three years after the trawl ban. We expected increases in species richness, abundance and biomass as well as shifts in trophic structure, including longer food-chain length (FCL) and greater trophic diversity after the ban. We further anticipated that carnivorous crustaceans would have higher mean trophic positions (MTPoC) at the assemblage level, and broader trophic niches at the species level. Sampling was undertaken at six sites in three regions (eastern, western and southern waters) before (in 2012) and after (in 2015) the ban. In general, there were no changes in assemblage total abundance or species richness after the trawl ban, but a decrease in biomass was observed. Isotope-based metrics showed that trophic niches of the crustacean assemblages were, however, broader at all sites after the ban. The FCLs at four sites in the eastern and western waters were longer after the ban, and three of them also showed increased MTPoC. In contrast, declines in FCL and other trophic metrics were recorded at the two southern sites. Among the five most abundant carnivorous crustaceans, all species at one eastern site, three at one western site, and four at three other sites expanded their trophic niches after the trawl ban; no changes were evident at the other eastern site where carnivores were scarce. By using isotope-based trophic metrics, we detected early functional recovery of the crustacean assemblages that cannot be revealed by traditional community analyses, implying that the effectiveness of the trawl ban would be underestimated if the assessment was based on community measurements only. We, therefore, advocate the use of isotope-based trophic metrics in tandem with the community measurements for more comprehensive assessments of ecosystem responses to anthropogenic disturbances and management interventions designed to alleviate them.

Reassessing Particulate Organic Carbon Dynamics in the Highly Disturbed San Francisco Bay Estuary

Environmental research has been shifting toward a new normal in which a primary focus is to capture change that may be accelerating. In this study, we collected particulate samples in the northern San Francisco Bay Estuary (SFBE) in the fall of 2011 through the spring of 2012 in order to assess vascular plant contributions across both time and space, and to compare our findings with a similar set of samples from 1990-92. Across the ~20-year span, we detected 1) decreasing C:Na ratios (averages±SD of 12.5±2.5 vs. 8.8±1.4, significant t-test with p<0.0001), 2) distinct shifts in chlorophyll vs. salinity, with higher chlorophyll concentrations shifting toward freshwater, and 3) greater relative proportions of vascular plant carbon that also appears less degraded (as indicated by lignin measurements) shifting from freshwater toward higher salinities. Lignin compositional data (syringyl:vanillyl and cinnamyl:vanillyl) suggests that increased lignin content in the more saline samples could be derived from wetland materials while a two-endmember mixing model indicates that a significant portion of the POC in the western sites (50-60% as an upper bound, 13-15% as a lower bound) could be wetland-derived. This has potential implications for the lower foodweb, given recent work that demonstrates selective feeding by copepods on wetland detrital material in the northern SFBE. The latter has ramifications for proposed wetland restoration within the SFBE and Sacramento River/San Joaquin River Delta system, namely that restored wetlands could confer important benefits toward the foodweb. Equally important is to prioritize continued monitoring of particulate organic matter cycling in the SFBE system to make sure that changing conditions are accounted for in any management decisions.

Monitoring for the abundance and distribution of phytoplankton along the hypersaline Bardawil Lagoon, in Northern Sinai, Egypt (Multivariate Analysis Approach)

Bardawil Lagoon is a source of wildlife and high-quality fish, so, it is imperative that it should be subject to continuous monitoring of both water quality and the phytoplankton composition. Samples were collected from ten sites representing different habitats of the lagoon, from summer 2017 to spring 2018. The water properties were determined; noticeable low concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients were recorded. A total of 106 species belonging to six groups were recorded, among them Bacillariophyta (69 species) and Dinophyta (26 species). The obtained results clarify that Bacillariophytes prevailed in the eastern sites of Bardawil; on the contrary, Dinophytes occupied the sovereignty in the western sites of the lagoon. The most abundant Bacillariophytes were Licmophora gracilis, Gyrosigma acuminatum, Fragilaria construens, and Nitzschia sigmoidea; which formed more than 50% of total abounded diatoms. While, Protoperidinium leonis, Prorocentrum gracile and Protoperidinium granii were the dominant Dinophytes, giving it maximum at El-Rewak. From reviewing previous studies on the lagoon, it becomes clear that the phytoplankton composition varied widely from previously recorded, including the dominant species and their rates of sovereignty, which reflected economically on its fish productivity. Besides, the water quality in Bardawil fluctuated from slightly-polluted to moderately-polluted according to the diversity index, as a result of the recent, noticeable increase in human activities, especially fishing, which will be in turn reflected in the environment. Therefore, continuous follow-up through ecological assessment and monitoring studies of Bardawil became an urgent necessity.

Spatial-temporal variations and trends predication of trace metals in oysters from the Pearl River Estuary of China during 2011–2018

Estuaries are often considered to be the filters of pollutants from the land-derived outflows of freshwater to open seawater. Oysters are efficient bioaccumulators of metals in the estuarine environment, however, little information is available on the long-term tissue variability of metals in a large dynamic estuary under complex urbanized and anthropogenic impacts. Thus, an eight-year biomonitoring study of metals (Ag, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in the oysters from 10 sites were carried out to reveal the highly spatial-temporal variations in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) of China during 2011–2018. Cd, Cu, and Zn in oysters were significantly correlated with the dissolved metals in seawater. Geographically, Ag, Cd, and Cr were higher in the western sites, and Cu, Ni, and Zn were higher in the eastern sites. High seasonal variations of Ag, Cu, and Zn were found in the wet season. The calculated annual change rates (vc) of Cd, Cu, Zn, Ag, Pb, Ni, and Cr in the oysters were −1.1, −45, −48, 0.338, −0.216, −2.2, and −2.8 μg/g/y, respectively. If such decreasing rates of vc (or natural logarithm rates v) were maintained, Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Ni in oysters from PRE would be expected to recover to the national 50% concentrations in years 2022 (2024), 2045 (2079), 2073 (2110), 2021 (2023), and 2019 (2020), respectively. Long-term series observations of metals in organisms reflected the real bioavailability of metals, pollution status, and trends for environmental management and control in a large dynamic and contaminated estuary.

Climatic factors controlling Pinus sylvestris radial growth along a transect of increasing continentality in southern Siberia

The forest-steppe ecotone in southern Siberia is characterized by a strong dependence of tree growth on summer drought, which is expected to increase under ongoing climate change, with potential consequences for regional and global water and carbon cycles. Since climate conditions control tree secondary growth throughout the growing season, it is assumed that climate change will differently impact the formation of particular tree-ring sectors.In this study, we evaluated spatiotemporal trends in Pinus sylvestris L. tree-ring traits: tree-ring (RW), earlywood (EW) and latewood (LW) widths, as well as their climate response in order to understand potential reactions of P. sylvestris radial growth to climate change along a 4900 km longitudinal transect of increasing continentality in southern Siberia.Results indicated an increasing tree radial growth from the West to the East along the transect. Tree-ring parameters were sensitive to drought, showing a temporal delay in the climatic signals of LW (summer) relative to EW (spring). Climate control of tree growth was stronger at the western site, while it was alleviated over time in eastern sites.This study highlighted the wide plasticity of P. sylvestris to thrive within a wide range of climatic conditions, also suggesting that future drought, as predicted by climate change simulations, will potentially impact P. sylvestris growth differently along the studied gradient, being more susceptible at the western sites due to the current growth limitation.

50 shades of colour: how thickness, iron redox and manganese/antimony contents influence perceived and intrinsic colour in Roman glass

Roman glass is studied here by means of optical absorption spectroscopy, in order to provide an objective method to quantitatively evaluate colour. The dataset is composed of 165 soda-lime silicate glass samples from various western European sites, mainly dated from the first to fourth century AD, and containing variable amounts of iron, manganese and/or antimony. Iron redox ratios and colour coordinates (based on the CIELab colour system) are determined and put in relation with the thickness of samples and their manganese/antimony contents. Results reveal thickness as a crucial parameter when discussing glass hues, thus leading to a differentiation between the ‘intrinsic’ and ‘perceived’ colour of glass objects (i.e. the colour of the object with the thickness normalised to 1 mm, and that with its original thickness, respectively). Apart from HIMT and purple glass, the concentration of ferrous iron appears to be correlated with a* — a colourimetric parameter determining how green the glass is. Significant relations of antimony/manganese contents versus iron redox and glass colour are also considered, resulting in quantitative arguments to entitle antimony-decoloured glass as the most oxidised and colourless glass.

Frequency of Skulls with Lambdoidal Suture Wormian Bones in Two English Historical Ossuaries

Wormian or sutural bones vary in number, size, and arrangement in humans, and are thus sometimes described as “odd”. Currently, there are not reliable data to estimate the frequency at which they are found. Some anthropologists have attempted to assess Wormian bone frequency in different, mostly non‐European human populations hoping to find whether there are differences among peoples of different genetic lineage. However, the sample sizes in these studies are too small to be able to compare such highly variable structures. Wormian bone incidence in skulls in the Paris Catacombs (les catacombes de Paris) [Schmeidler, 2018] and in three Italian anthropological collections [Schmeidler, 2019] have been previously presented, demonstrating Wormian bone occurrence in about 78% of 1100 skulls examined. This contrasts with most published studies that report incidences in the 10–20% range. The Parisian and Italian collections represent European populations, presumably from recent centuries, circa 1700–1900 C.E. These studies have been extended to analysis of mostly medieval, presumed to be mostly circa 1300–1400 C.E. skulls in the only two known extant English church ossuaries, at Hythe and Rothwell. The incidence of Wormian bones in the lambdoidal suture at these two sites is consistent with the other, more recent western European sites in this series. The photographic evidence collected in this project may be used to support further research in human anatomical variation. These findings expand the data set for comparison of Wormian bones from different parts of Europe and to peoples from other regions of the world, serving the greater community by providing a baseline against which smaller sample groups may be compared.

Spatial and Temporal Trends in Diet for Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) from Turtle Grass (Thalassia testudinum) Beds with Contrasting Environmental Regimes in the Lower Laguna Madre, Texas

Seagrass meadows in far South Texas are dominated by turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum), and juvenile pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) are abundant grazers of seagrass epifauna. As they grow, pinfish exhibit an ontogenetic dietary shift and begin consuming increasing amounts of plant material. In this study, contrasting environmental regimes in two seagrass meadows were examined to identify how they might affect pinfish diets, diet shifts, and growth across the growing season. The eastern site was sheltered from prevailing southeasterly winds by a barrier island, while the western site was shallower and subjected to higher wind energy and turbidity. Gut contents from 290 pinfish were quantified from May through October 2016 and multivariate analyses showed strong but overlapping separation of diets and temporal change in feeding habits. Although there were spatial and temporal differences between the two sites, a site by time interaction indicated different temporal trends. Nonetheless, ooze (amorphous detritus) and aquatic invertebrates (primarily amphipods) were the primary diet items consumed at both localities across time. Pinfish at both sites consumed seagrass, which increased in importance as the growing season progressed, although volume and consumption rate did not differ between sites. Growth rates of pinfish were similar at both sites, but pinfish from the western site were larger and fewer in number across the study. Although pinfish diets differed under different environmental regimes, they were generalist consumers in South Texas seagrass meadows with high diet variability that trended towards herbivory in late summer and fall.

Heavy metals contamination of sedimentary microplastics in Hong Kong

This is the first study of heavy metals (As, Zn, Cd, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cu) contamination of microplastics on sandy beaches in Hong Kong. Three study sites are located in the eastern waters (Pak Lap Wan, Stanley Bay, Tung Lung Chau) and the other three in the western waters (Tai Pai Tsui, Ha Pak Nai, Shui Hau Wan). The three most abundant types of microplastics were polyethylene (42.2%), polypropylene (23.3%) and polystyrene (19.5%). The median concentration of Fe (302 mg kg−1) was the highest and followed by Zn (19.6 mg kg−1) and Mn (18.6 mg kg−1). Very low concentrations of Cu (0.89 mg kg−1), Ni (0.15 mg kg−1), As (<LOD) and Cd (<LOD) were measured. The western sites have significantly higher concentrations of Ni, Fe, Mn and Cu than the eastern sites, indicating that Pearl River was likely to be a major source of heavy metals on microplastics. In view of a continual increase in the abundance of microplastics in the marine environment and its potential impacts on marine organisms, immediate actions should be taken in establishing long term monitoring programs for heavy metals associated with microplastics. In-depth research on the mechanisms of adsorption and desorption processes between metals and microplastics will help assess the associated risks to both human health and the environment.