bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ice over troubled waters: Navigating the Northwest Passage using Inuit Knowledge and scientific information
Authors: Panikkar Bindu , Lemmond Benjamin , Else Brent , Murray Maribeth
Published: July 2018

Sea ice throughout the Arctic is undergoing profound and rapid change. While ice conditions in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago have historically been more stable than conditions in the open ocean, a growing body of evidence indicates that the major thoroughfares in much of the western and central Canadian Arctic, including the Northwest Passage, are increasingly vulnerable to climatic forcing events. This is confirmed by the observations of Inuit elders and experienced hunters in the communities of Cambridge Bay, a hamlet along Dease Strait, and Kugluktuk, a hamlet situated at the mouth of the Coppermine River where it meets Coronation Gulf. People in these hamlets now face new navigational challenges due to sea-ice change. Navigation practices described by elders and hunters reflect an intimate knowledge of the land and ice topography, currents, and weather conditions for hundreds of kilometers around their communities, although people reported increasing unpredictable weather and ice conditions, making travel more treacherous. Many emphasized the importance of traditional knowledge and survival skills as necessary to adapt to ongoing and impending changes. They expressed particular concern that younger generations are untrained in traditional navigation practices, landscape- and weather-reading abilities, and survival practices. However, elders and hunters also stressed the need for more localized weather information derived from weather stations to help with navigation, as current weather and ice conditions are unprecedented in their lifetimes.
Halfway to Sustainability: management lessons from community-based, marine no-take zones in the Mexican Caribbean
Authors: Ayer Austin , Fulton Stuart , Caamal-Madrigal Jacobo Alejandro , Espinoza-Tenorio Alejandro
Published: July 2018

Spatial closure regimes such as marine protected areas (MPAs) have emerged as a prominent tool in the effort to balance ecosystem health and fishery productivity. As MPAs have proliferated, the conservation community has begun to supplement traditional biological metrics with social and community considerations in the way it seeks to manage and evaluate such tools. To assess management outcomes and opportunities for a network of community-based, marine no-take zones (NTZs) in the Mexican Caribbean, semi-structured interviews were carried out with fishers and key management stakeholders. Findings indicate that the community-based management strategy has inherent tradeoffs between community engagement and conservation potential. Managers have succeeded in fostering high levels of community support for the initiative, but significant challenges remain, most notably the high presence of illegal fishing within NTZs. Successes and challenges of the community-based management strategy are documented and evaluated within a fisheries resource management framework. As the NTZ network undergoes legal renovation following the completion of its initial five-year term, this work serves as an important resource for both reflection on, and adaptation of, the community-based NTZ management regime.
Financing Fisheries Reform: Blended Capital Approaches in Support of Sustainable Wild-Capture Fisheries
Authors: Fund Environmental Defense , University Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duk
Published: July 2018

Overfishing is one of the persistent environmental challenges of our time. Almost one third of the world’s assessed commercially exploited marine fish stocks are considered overfished. This report, co-authored by researchers at the Environmental Defense Fund and the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, introduces the idea of a blended capital approach to fill the all-too-common finance gap that may hamper recovery of many fisheries. The report describes the categories of investment required to attain fisheries sustainability at each stage of the recovery process, identifies where within this framework there is likely to be the biggest funding gap, and suggests possible approaches for philanthropic and public capital to leverage private capital to help fill the gap. The authors suggest that if we are able to increase the types and amount of capital available to fund fisheries reform—and utilize one to leverage the others where needed—blended capital approaches may send clearer signals to decision makers that change is not only possible but in everyone’s best interests. In aggregate, such signals could help move us closer to advancing a suite of Sustainable Development Goals that would result in thriving, resilient oceans that support more fish, feed more people, and improve prosperity.
'A sea of troubles': Brexit and the fisheries question
Authors: Phillipson Jeremy , Symes David
Published: July 2018

Brexit poses a major challenge to the stability of European fisheries management. Until now, neighbouring EU Member States have shared the bounty of the living resources of the seas around Britain. Taking full responsibility for the regulation of fisheries within the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone will cut across longstanding relationships, potentially putting at risk recent recovery and future sustainability of shared fish stocks. The paper considers the meaning of Brexit in relation to fisheries and the issues that will need to be resolved in any rebalancing of fishing opportunities within the UK EEZ. It examines the longer term implications for the governance of fisheries and the likely restructuring of institutional and regulatory arrangements, emphasising the prior need for a shared vision and robust modus operandi for collaboration between the UK and EU to ensure the sustainability of resources, viability of fishing activity and the health of marine ecosystems.
Managing the spread of pathogens and aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes recreational fishery: An application of the drivers-pressures-state-impacts-responses framework
Authors: Heck Nadine , Lauber T. Bruce , Stedman Richard C.
Published: July 2018

The Great Lakes are one of the most invaded aquatic ecosystems in the world, and the spread of fish pathogens and aquatic invasive species (AIS) has become a serious issue for fishery management in the Great Lakes. Our study applies the Drivers-Pressures-State-Impacts-Responses model (DPSIR) to identify social-ecological linkages in the spread of pathogens and AIS by anglers, boaters, and bait dealers in the Great Lakes. We developed a conceptual DPSIR model based on input by staff members in governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations that have been involved in the management of pathogens and AIS. The integration of managers' input to develop the model is a novel approach for understanding fisheries. Most previous studies using the DPSIR framework did not account for natural resource managers' input even though the DPSIR framework is frequently applied to provide information to these groups. The identified relationships in our model provide multiple entry points for empirical, interdisciplinary research. These studies would help understand the effectiveness of management responses to change human behaviors, and to understand and predict changes in the Great Lakes ecosystem and fishery. The model could also be used to promote understanding of the impacts of pathogens and AIS on the fishery, and to increase awareness of human behaviors that contribute to the continued spread. Future studies could further expand or replicate the model with input by other stakeholder groups such as bait dealers and/or anglers and boaters to identify if these groups share an understanding of the management problem and responses.
Indonesia's globally significant seagrass meadows are under widespread threat
Authors: Cullen-Unsworth Leanne
Published: July 2018

Indonesia's marine ecosystems form a fundamental part of the world's natural heritage, representing a global maxima of marine biodiversity and supporting the world's second largest production of seafood. Seagrasses are a key part of that support. In the absence of empirical data we present evidence from expert opinions as to the state of Indonesia's seagrass ecosystems, their support for ecosystem services, with a focus on fisheries, and the damaging activities that threaten their existence. We further draw on expert opinion to elicit potential solutions to prevent further loss. Seagrasses and the ecosystem services they support across the Indonesian archipelago are in a critical state of decline. Declining seagrass health is the result of shifting environmental conditions due largely to coastal development, land reclamation, and deforestation, as well as seaweed farming, overfishing and garbage dumping. In particular, we also describe the declining state of the fisheries resources that seagrass meadows support. The perilous state of Indonesia's seagrasses will compromise their resilience to climate change and result in a loss of their high ecosystem service value. Community supported management initiatives provide one mechanism for seagrass protection. Exemplars highlight the need for increased local level autonomy for the management of marine resources, opening up opportunities for incentive type conservation schemes.
Improving knowledge exchange among scientists and decision-makers to facilitate the adaptive governance of marine resources: A review of knowledge and research needs
Authors: Cvitanovic Chris , Hobday Alistair , van Kerkhoff Lorrae , Wilson Shaun , Dobbs Kirstin , Marshall Nadine
Published: July 2018

The science-based management of natural resources requires knowledge exchange between scientists and environmental decision-makers, however, this exchange remains a significant challenge. Rather, evidence suggests that decision- makers rely on individual experience or other secondary sources of knowledge in isolation from scientific evidence when formulating decisions, potentially compromising the effectiveness of their decisions. As a result a new field of research broadly characterised as ‘knowledge exchange’ has emerged, focused largely on identifying and overcoming the barriers to knowledge exchange among scientists and decision-makers. More recently knowledge exchange research has also begun to explore the relationship between science and decision-making specifically in relation to marine ecosystems and resources. The aim of this paper is to review the literature in relation to knowledge exchange for natural resource management, with a focus on recent evidence in relation to the management of marine resources. This review identifies critical barriers inhibiting knowledge exchange among marine scientists and decisions-makers, such as the inaccessibility of science to decision-makers as well as institutional barriers that limit the extent to which scientists and decision-makers can prioritise knowledge exchange activities. Options for overcoming these barriers, such as novel approaches to knowledge exchange (e.g.- knowledge co-production, knowledge brokers and boundary organisations) and the enabling environments and institutional reforms needed to complement efforts to improve knowledge exchange, are also identified. This review concludes by articulating the gaps in our understanding of knowledge exchange, to help guide future research in this field and improve the sustainable management of marine resources.
A novel approach to model exposure of coastal-marine ecosystems to riverine flood plumes based on remote sensing techniques
Authors: Álvarez-Romero Jorge Gabriel , Devlin Michelle , da Silva Eduardo Teixeira , Petus Caroline , Ban Natalie , Pressey Robert L. , Kool Johnathan , Roberts Jason Jeffrey , Cerdeira-Estrada Sergio , Wenger Amelia , Brodie Jon
Published: July 2018

Increased loads of land-based pollutants are a major threat to coastal-marine ecosystems. Identifying the affected marine areas and the scale of influence on marine ecosystems is critical to assess the ecological impacts of degraded water quality and to inform planning for catchment management and marine conservation. Studies using remotely sensed data have contributed to our understanding of the occurrence and influence of river plumes, and to our ability to assess exposure of marine ecosystems to land-based pollutants. However, refinement of plume modeling techniques is required to improve risk assessments. We developed a novel approach to model exposure of coastal-marine ecosystems to land-based pollutants. We used supervised classification of MODIS-Aqua true-color satellite imagery to map the extent of plumes and to qualitatively assess the dispersal of pollutants in plumes. We used the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), the world's largest coral reef system, to test our approach. We combined frequency of plume occurrence with spatially distributed loads (based on a cost-distance function) to create maps of exposure to suspended sediment and dissolved inorganic nitrogen. We then compared annual exposure maps (2007-2011) to assess inter-annual variability in the exposure of coral reefs and seagrass beds to these pollutants. Our findings indicate that classification of true-color satellite images is useful to map plumes and to qualitatively assess exposure to land-based pollutants. This approach should be considered complementary to remote sensing methods based on ocean color products used to characterize surface water in plumes. Observed inter-annual variation in exposure of ecosystems to pollutants stresses the need to incorporate this temporal component into plume exposure/risk models. Our study contributes to our understanding of plume spatial-temporal dynamics of the GBR and offers a method that can improve plume exposure models. Our method can also be applied to monitor exposure of coastal-marine ecosystems to plumes and explore their ecological influences.
Mapping nearly a century and a half of global marine fisheries: 1869 to 2015
Authors: Watson Reg , Tidd Alex
Published: July 2018

Understanding global fisheries patterns contributes significantly to their management. By combining harmonized unmapped data sources with maps from satellite tracking data, regional tuna management organisations, the ranges of fished taxa, the access of fleets and the logistics of associated fishing gears the expansion and intensification of marine fisheries for nearly a century and half (1869–2015) is illustrated. Estimates of industrial, non-industrial reported, illegal/unreported (IUU) and discards reveal changes in country dominance, catch composition and fishing gear use. Catch of industrial and non-industrial marine fishing by year, fishing country, taxa and gear by 30-min spatial cell broken to reported, IUU and discards is available. Results show a historical increase in bottom trawl with corresponding reduction in the landings from seines. Though diverse, global landings are now dominated by demersal and small pelagic species.
PARTICIPATORY ARTISANAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN ISLANDS: APPLICATION TO THE CANARY ISLANDS (SPAIN)
Authors: Corral Serafin , Manrique David Romero
Published: July 2018

Socio-economic development of small-island fishing communities is greatly dependent on local coastal and marine resources. However, illegal fishing and aggressive practices in insular ecosystems lead to over-exploitation and environmental deterioration. Moreover, a lack of scientific data increases uncertainty and prevents the adequate monitoring of marine resources. This paper focuses on the integration of local fishing communities into decision-making processes with the aim of promoting artisanal fishing on the Island of Tenerife (the Canary Islands), as a way to preserve the marine ecosystem and socio-economic development of traditional cofradias (fishers' organisations). A qualitative methodological framework, based on participatory problem-solution trees and focus groups, was used to identify the main factors impeding the sustainable development of the artisanal fishing sector on the island and to elaborate collective proposals with policy implications. The fishing community involved identified four main issues that are maintaining an unsustainable island fishery: 1) Over-exploitation; 2) Poor self-management of cofradias and commercialisation problems; 3) Fisher individualism and low co-management strategies, and 4) Illegal fishing increase vs. artisanal fishing decline. Results show the required policy enhancements to tackle them and the need to adapt regulations to the local situation.
Managing for change: Using vertebrate at sea habitat use to direct management efforts
Authors: Arthur Benjamin , Hindell Mark , Bester Marthan , De Bruyn P.J. Nico , Goebel Michael E. , Trathan Phil , Lea Mary-Anne
Published: July 2018

To understand and predict current and future distributions of animals under a changing climate it is essential to establish historical ranges as baselines against which distribution shifts can be assessed. Management approaches also require comprehension of temporal variability in spatial distributions that can occur over shorter time scales, such as inter-annually or seasonally. Focussing on the Southern Ocean, one of the most rapidly changing environments on Earth, we used Species Distribution Models (SDMs) and satellite ocean data to reconstruct the likely historical foraging habitats of Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) from three populations during the non-breeding winter (Marion Island, Bird Island and Cape Shirreff), to assess whether habitat quality has changed in recent decades. We then quantified temporal variability in distributions to assess overlap with management areas (CCAMLR – Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) and the potential for competition with fisheries. Despite notable physical ocean changes, the quality of foraging habitat during the non-breeding season has remained relatively consistent over 20 years at Marion and Bird Islands, but less so at Cape Shirreff, where reduced sea ice cover has improved habitat accessibility. Spatio-temporally explicit SDMs identified variability in habitats across the winter. Some areas overlapped significantly with fisheries activities, suggesting a potential for competition for prey resources at several key periods. A significant component of core habitat at all populations was not within the CCAMLR Convention Area. Although organisations such as CCAMLR adopt a precautionary, ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, changes to the physical environment and developments in the fishing industry can affect how dependant species are impacted. The hindcasting of historical spatial distributions shown here are baselines against which future changes can be assessed. Given recent proposals for a system of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Southern Ocean, our results can be used in the design and evaluation of MPAs, be they static or dynamic. Our study also demonstrates that the core habitat of species may fall outside of areas of active management, providing an important context for the interpretation of monitoring programs and management efforts.
A new approach to assess marine opportunity costs and monetary values for spatial planning and conservation; the case study of Gulf of Naples, Mediterranean Sea, Italy
Authors: Appolloni Luca
Published: July 2018

Conservation actions (as Marine Protected Areas) are key tools to maintain coastal ecosystems. However, many reserves are characterized by several problems related to inadequate zonings that preclude important areas from economic activities, determining a strong hostility by local populations. Thus, estimations of marine economic values-in-use are needed for protection of marine ecosystem in order to find the best compromise between conservation priorities and local population needs. Algorithms to estimate monetary values of the main human activities in marine territories (large scale and small scale fishings, aquaculture, beach resorts, yachting, diving and commercial shipping) are here implemented using Gulf of Naples (centre Tyrrhenian sea, Italy) as study area example. These algorithms are based on different sources data (questionnaires, monitoring activities, official local authority reports, web and scientific literature). They can also be compared with each other being their outputs all expressed in the same measure unit. During the models development process a new flexible approach, called “Systematic Costs Assessment” (SCA), to assess opportunity costs in systematic conservation planning process was developed and applied. Results show that the total turnover in the Gulf of Naples is 3,950,753,487 € per year and 747,647,887 € per year excluding small scale fishing estimation, and one hectare of marine territory is worth 40,672 € and 7,696 € per year excluding small scale fishing activity. In particular, excluding small scale fishing activity, beach resort and yachting show the highest values referred to one hectare of marine territories. In conclusion, SCA is a flexible approach where no long and costly sampling campaigns are always needed, provided that two assumptions have to be taken into account, in order to estimate credible values-in-use costs: i) do not use economic activities data and ecosystem services data in the same assessment layer, since it could lead to costs overestimation and ii) SCA method are efficient when used by operators with strong knowledge of the study area, since they are able to recognize parameters affecting economic activities of local population.
Evaluating the potential for transboundary management of marine biodiversity in the Western Indian Ocean
Authors: Levin NOam
Published: July 2018

The economic and socio-political interactions between countries can have major impacts on transboundary conservation decisions and outcomes. Here, we examined for 14 Western Indian Ocean (WIO) continental and island nations the extent of their marine coral reef species, fisheries and marine protected areas (MPAs), in the context of their geopolitical and socio-economic connections. We also examined the role of external countries and organisations in collaboration within the region. We found large variation between the different countries in their protected area size, and management, which result from different interests in establishing the MPAs, ranging from fisheries management, biodiversity conservation to asserting sovereignty claims. Seventy-four per cent of the 154 MPAs in the region belong to island nations; however, the largest MPAs in the WIO were established by European powers, and include Mayotte and Glorioso Islands (France) and Chagos (UK). While the majority of MPAs are managed by individual countries, between-country collaboration within and outside the region is key if the aim is to achieve effective conservation of ecosystems and species across the island and mainland nations in the region. This may be advanced by creating transboundary MPAs and by regional conservation investment by external powers that benefit from the region’s resources.
Iron Profile of Octopus Hubbsorum (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) for Enrichment of the Mexican Diet
Authors: Palacios-Abrantes Juliano , Ruiz Virginia melo , Diaz-Garcia Rafael , Gazga-Urioste Cesar , Urbano Brian
Published: July 2018

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) declared that 12% of the world’s population is undernourished while in Mexico the number is around 5%. Minerals are essential for the daily diet; iron (Fe) is an important mineral on human welfare because it has a main role on the function of the immune and central nervous systems, among others. Most Mexicans fulfill their iron requirements from vegetables, which are poorly absorbed; nevertheless, in coastal populations, where seafood-rich in iron- is available, it is not consumed on a regular diet. The aim of this work was to analyze minerals, focusing on the iron content of Octopus hubbsorum B (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae), an animal of the Mexican Pacific coast. Three specimens were analyzed, two from the north and one from central Pacific Ocean. Data obtained for the central Pacific Octopus was 0.008% and data for the North Pacific were 0.008% and 0.011%, repectively. In conclusion, the supply of iron for the Mexican diet provided by Octopus hubbsorum B is significant, therefore is recommended to consume more of this resource, to diminish iron deficiency, a world-wide problem, and to improve human health
Comparative Study of the Length-Weight Relationships of Some Fish Species along the Turkish Coasts
Authors: Gündogdu Sedat , Baylan Makbule , Çevik Cem
Published: July 2018

This study presents 738 length-weight relationships for 242 species found in Turkish seas. All length-weight relationships presented were collected from a total of 33 studies. These studies were all performed in Turkish coastal waters between 1997 and 2013. For all studies, the median of a value was calculated as 0.014 and the median of b value was calculated as 3.016.
Building trust among marine protected area managers and community members through scientiﬁc research: Insights from the Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia
Authors: Cvitanovic Chris , van Putten Ingrid , Hobday Alistair , Kelly Rachel , Mackay Mary , McDonald Jan , Waples Kelly , Barnes Peter
Published: July 2018

The success of participatory marine governance arrangements is inﬂuenced by the levels of trust that exist between decision-makers and diverse stakeholder groups within the community. While the beneﬁts of high levels of trust among these groups is well established, speciﬁc approaches to building trust remain largely unknown. The aim of this study is to understand the extent to which scientiﬁc research programs can enhance trust among marine protected area (MPA) managers and community members via an evaluation of the Ningaloo Research Program - a large-scale program of marine research in the Ningaloo Marine Park. Results from a survey of 125 local residents show that community members along the Ningaloo coast believe that scientiﬁc research is important for the management of the marine park, and strongly support government investment in scientiﬁc research in the region. Results also suggest that science undertaken through the Ningaloo Research Program has increased the extent to which community members trust local managers, which study participants believe has led to improved social and environmental outcomes in the region. Finally, additional opportunities are identiﬁed to maintain and further enhance trust between community members and MPA managers, via targeted communication and engagement programs that account for diﬀerent personality ‘types’. In particular, the establishment of citizen science programs might further build trust. These results suggest that scientiﬁc research could be used as a means to increase trust among decision-makers and community members when coupled with an eﬀective communication and outreach program, thus enhancing the success of participatory marine governance arrangements.
A Review of Ocean Management and Integrated Resource Management Programs from Around the World
Authors: SeaPlan
Published: July 2018

This draft report is one of several prepared under contract to the Massachusetts Ocean Partnership (MOP) to support the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) in its development of the integrated coastal ocean management plan mandated by the Massachusetts Oceans Act of 2008.  The purpose of this report was to inventory and review ocean management and integrated resource management programs from around the world, including the United States, Europe, Australia, and elsewhere, and ultimately to inform the development of a framework for integrated ocean planning and management suitable for Massachusetts.  Drawing from these reviews, this report identifies applicable approaches to ocean management planning and examines their relevance to Massachusetts. The information gathered from the program reviews (displayed in tables) primarily focuses on the following factors: planning authority, stakeholder participation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and adaptation, financing, and research.  Information from these reviews was used to develop the related report, “Planning Framework Options for The Massachusetts Ocean Plan,” which provides a more in‐depth look at the applicability of certain planning framework options for Massachusetts.  This report was prepared for Massachusetts ocean planning purposes but contains information that may be useful to coastal ocean resource managers in other locations.
Trophic transfer of microplastics and mixed contaminants in the marine food web and implications for human health
Authors: Carbery Maddison , O'Connor Wayne , Thavamani Palanisami
Published: July 2018

Plastic litter has become one of the most serious threats to the marine environment. Over 690 marine species have been impacted by plastic debris with small plastic particles being observed in the digestive tract of organisms from different trophic levels. The physical and chemical properties of microplastics facilitate the sorption of contaminants to the particle surface, serving as a vector of contaminants to organisms following ingestion. Bioaccumulation factors for higher trophic organisms and impacts on wider marine food webs remain unknown. The main objectives of this review were to discuss the factors influencing microplastic ingestion; describe the biological impacts of associated chemical contaminants; highlight evidence for the trophic transfer of microplastics and contaminants within marine food webs and outline the future research priorities to address potential human health concerns. Controlled laboratory studies looking at the effects of microplastics and contaminants on model organisms employ nominal concentrations and consequently have little relevance to the real environment. Few studies have attempted to track the fate of microplastics and mixed contaminants through a complex marine food web using environmentally relevant concentrations to identify the real level of risk. To our knowledge, there has been no attempt to understand the transfer of microplastics and associated contaminants from seafood to humans and the implications for human health. Research is needed to determine bioaccumulation factors for popular seafood items in order to identify the potential impacts on human health.
Marine environment microfiber contamination: Global patterns and the diversity of microparticle origins
Authors: Barrows Abigail , Cathey Sara E. , Petersen Christopher W.
Published: July 2018

Microplastic and microfiber pollution has been documented in all major ocean basins. Microfibers areone of the most common microparticle pollutants along shorelines. Over 9 million tons of fibers areproduced annually; 60% are synthetic and ~25% are non-synthetic. Non-synthetic and semi-syntheticmicrofibers are infrequently documented and not typically included in marine environment impactanalyses, resulting in underestimation of a potentially pervasive and harmful pollutant. We present themost extensive worldwide microparticle distribution dataset using 1-liter grab samples (n ¼ 1393). Ourcitizen scientist driven study shows a global microparticle average of 11.8 ± 24.0 particles L?1(mean ± SD), approximately three orders of magnitude higher than global model predictions. Open oceansamples showed consistently higher densities than coastal samples, with the highest concentrationsfound in the polar oceans (n ¼ 51), confirming previous empirical and theoretical studies. Particles werepredominantly microfibers (91%) and 0.1e1.5mm in length (77%), a smaller size than those captured inthe majority of surface studies. Using mFT-IR we determined the material types of 113 pieces; 57% wereclassified as synthetic, 12% as semi-synthetic, and 31% as non-synthetic. Samples were taken globally,including from coastal environments and understudied ocean regions. Some of these sites are emergingas areas of concentrated floating plastic and anthropogenic debris, influenced by distant wastemismanagement and/or deposition of airborne particles. Incorporation of smaller-sized microfibers inoceanographic models, which has been lacking, will help us to better understand the movement andtransformation of synthetic, semi-synthetic and non-synthetic microparticles in regional seas and oceanbasins.
Predictors of local support for a seawater desalination plant in a small coastal community
Authors: Heck Nadine , Paytan Adina , Potts Donald , Haddad Brent
Published: July 2018

Seawater desalination is increasingly being pursued to address freshwater shortages. In California, multiple coastal seawater desalination facilities have been proposed to diversify water portfolios and to increase reliability of water supply. This paper explores local residents support for a newly constructed desalination plant in Carlsbad, a small coastal community in Southern California. The plant is the first high-capacity desalination facility in California and started operation in December 2015. We found strong support for the desalination plant as 71.9% of residents reported support for the plant. Only 15.5% of respondents were undecided indicating that residents had a clear opinion on the plant. Perceptions about local water resources were significant predictors of support. Attitudes may change over time if the state of water resources and perceptions thereof change. Expected outcomes of the plant also predicted support. An increase in available drinking water was a positive predictor, while environmental and social impacts were negative predictors. Economic impacts in terms of an increase in the price of water did not influence local support. Ethnicity and age were the only socio-demographic variables that had an effect on support suggesting that the socio-demographic profile of a community may not be a good predictor of community support or rejection of this water supply technology.
Trends of the Large Marine Ecosystem assessment and management approach as reflected in the literature
Authors: Kelley Emma , Sherman Kenneth
Published: July 2018

The advancement and expansion of a scientific field depends on its ability to organize its findings and establish a basis in the professional literature. In late 2015, a review was undertaken to examine the body of literature regarding the Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) of the world. Trends in the literature were studied to explore this approach as a means for implementing ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine resources. Since 1995, there has been an increase in the number of peer-reviewed, scientific journal articles related to the LME approach, termed “LME articles.” Based on this review, we observed that between 1983 and early 2016, 392 LME journal articles were published. In the examined literature, there is a strong focus on fisheries-related considerations and concerns, with 59% of the most relevant journal articles focused on fish or fisheries. Future publications should draw on the experience of past and current LME projects to inform and provide tools for future projects to address the socioeconomic aspects of implementing ecosystem-based management. This review also highlights a connection between investments in LME projects by the Global Environment Facility and the amount of corresponding publications regarding the supported LMEs.
How many pellets are too many? The pellet pollution index as a tool to assess beach pollution by plastic resin pellets in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Authors: Fernandino Gerson , Elliff Carla Isobel , Silva Iracema Reimão , Bittencourt Abílio C.S.P.
Published: July 2018

Plastic pellets are significant components of marine litter and can be found floating in the sea or stranded on beaches. How- ever, current assessments of this issue lack standardization to allow comparisons of pellet pollution levels between different locations. Thus, the present study proposes the Pellet Pollution Index (PPI) to classify beaches based on the amount of pellets found in a given area of superficial sand. Pellets were sampled from 24 sites (P01 – P24) along the municipality of Salvador, Brazil, within a quadrat of 1 x 1 x 0.05m on the strandline and backshore. Twenty-two sites were located along the oceanic coastline, while the remaining 2 sites were within the Todos os Santos Bay. Results showed that, considering the coastline of Salvador as a whole, the PPI indicated a very low degree of pollution. This approach should aid future attempts of locating and removing the plastic anthropogenic component of the sediment on beaches and in marine environments.
Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for efficient beach litter monitoring
Authors: Martin Cecilia , Parkes Stephen , Zhang Qiannan , Zhang Xiangliang , McCabe Matthew F. , Duarte Carlos M.
Published: July 2018

A global beach litter assessment is challenged by use of low-efficiency methodologies and incomparable pro- tocols that impede data integration and acquisition at a national scale. The implementation of an objective, reproducible and efficient approach is therefore required. Here we show the application of a remote sensing based methodology using a test beach located on the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coastline. Litter was recorded via image acquisition from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, while an automatic processing of the high volume of imagery was developed through machine learning, employed for debris detection and classification in three categories. Application of the method resulted in an almost 40 times faster beach coverage when compared to a standard visual-census approach. While the machine learning tool faced some challenges in correctly detecting objects of interest, first classification results are promising and motivate efforts to further develop the technique and implement it at much larger scales.
Mind wandering and attention during focused meditation: A fine-grained temporal analysis of fluctuating cognitive states
Authors: Hasenkamp Wendy , Wilson-Mendenhall Christine , Duncan Erica , Barsalou Lawrence
Published: July 2018

Studies have suggested that the default mode network is active during mind wandering, which is often experienced intermittently during sustained attention tasks. Conversely, an anticorrelated task-positive network is thought to subserve various forms of attentional processing. Understanding how these two systems work together is central for understanding many forms of optimal and sub-optimal task performance. Here we present a basic model of naturalistic cognitive fluctuations between mind wandering and attentional states derived from the practice of focused attention meditation. This model proposes four intervals in a cognitive cycle: mind wandering, awareness of mind wandering, shifting of attention, and sustained attention. People who train in this style of meditation cultivate their abilities to monitor cognitive processes related to attention and distraction, making them well suited to report on these mental events. Fourteen meditation practitioners performed breath-focused meditation while undergoing fMRI scanning. When participants realized their mind had wandered, they pressed a button and returned their focus to the breath. The four intervals above were then constructed around these button presses. We hypothesized that periods of mind wandering would be associated with default mode activity, whereas cognitive processes engaged during awareness of mind wandering, shifting of attention and sustained attention would engage attentional subnetworks. Analyses revealed activity in brain regions associated with the default mode during mind wandering, and in salience network regions during awareness of mind wandering. Elements of the executive network were active during shifting and sustained attention. Furthermore, activations during these cognitive phases were modulated by lifetime meditation experience. These findings support and extend theories about cognitive correlates of distributed brain networks.
Empathy and nonattachment independently predict peer nominations of prosocial behavior of adolescents
Authors: Sahdra Baljinder K. , Ciarrochi Joseph , Parker Philip David , Marshall Sarah , Heaven Patrick
Published: July 2018

There is a plethora of research showing that empathy promotes prosocial behavior among young people. We examined a relatively new construct in the mindfulness literature, nonattachment, defined as a flexible way of relating to one’s experiences without clinging to or suppressing them. We tested whether nonattachment could predict prosociality above and beyond empathy. Nonattachment implies high cognitive flexibility and sufficient mental resources to step out of excessive self-cherishing to be there for others in need. Multilevel Poisson models using a sample of 15-year olds (N = 1831) showed that empathy and nonattachment independently predicted prosocial behaviors of helpfulness and kindness, as judged by same-sex and opposite-sex peers, except for when boys nominated girls. The effects of nonattachment remained substantial in more conservative models including self-esteem and peer nominations of liking.
Minimal Phenomenal Experience
Authors: Metzinger Thomas
Published: July 2018

This paper sketches a new and empirically testable theory about what "pure consciousness" or the simplest form of phenomenal experience is.
Compassion meditators show less anger, less punishment, and more compensation of victims in response to fairness violations
Authors: McCall Cade , Steinbeis Nikolaus , Ricard Matthieu , Singer Tania
Published: July 2018

Fairness violations elicit powerful behavioral and affective responses. Indeed, people are willing to incur costs to sanction unfair behavior. Here we study the possible impact of long-term mental training in socio-affective capacities such as compassion on altruistic punishment and compensatory behavior in economic games. To this end we recruited a group of long-term meditation practitioners (LTPs) who had engaged in an average of 40 K h of mental training exercises including compassion-related meditation, along with a group of meditation-naïve controls. Participants played several adaptations of the dictator game in which they had the opportunity to punish the dictator both when they were the recipients of the dictator’s offer and when they were third-party witnesses to the dictator’s treatment of an anonymous second player. Compared to controls, LTPs were less likely to punish when they were the victims of fairness violations. However, both groups punished equivalently when they witnessed others receiving unfair treatment. In post-task questionnaires, controls reported signiﬁcantly more anger in response to unfair offers than LTPs, although fairness judgments did not differ between groups. These data suggest that because the LTPs were less angered by unfair treatment of themselves, they punished that behavior less. However, when they witnessed the unfair treatment of others, they engaged in norm-reinforcing punishment. Finally, when participants played an additional game which included the opportunity to recompense victims, LTPs were more likely to do so. Together these data point to differential approaches to justice whereby LTPs engaged less in vengeful, retributive justice and focused more on norm reinforcement and the restoration of equity. These differences suggest that social preferences are plastic and that altruistic responses to unfairness may be shaped by the prolonged cultivation of prosocial motivation, altruism, and compassion.
Defining Contemplative Science: The Metacognitive Self-Regulatory Capacity of the Mind, Context of Meditation Practice and Modes of Existential Awareness
Authors: Dorjee Dusana
Published: July 2018

The term ‘contemplative’ is now frequently used in the fast growing field of meditation research. Yet, there is no consensus regarding the definition of contemplative science. Meditation studies commonly imply that contemplative practices such as mindfulness or compassion are the subject of contemplative science. Such approach, arguably, contributes to terminological confusions in the field, is not conducive to the development of an overarching theory in contemplative science, and overshadows its unique methodological features. This paper outlines an alternative approach to defining contemplative science which aims to focus the research on the core capacities, processes and states of the mind modified by contemplative practices. It is proposed that contemplative science is an interdisciplinary study of the metacognitive self-regulatory capacity (MSRC) of the mind and associated modes of existential awareness (MEA) modulated by motivational/intentional and contextual factors of contemplative practices. The MSRC is a natural propensity of the mind which enables introspective awareness of mental processes and behavior, and is a necessary pre-requisite for effective self-regulation supporting well-being. Depending on the motivational/intentional and contextual factors of meditation practice, changes in the metacognitive self-regulatory processes enable shifts in MEA which determine our sense of self and reality. It is hypothesized that changes in conceptual processing are essential mediators between the MSRC, motivational/intentional factors, context of meditation practice, and the modulations in MEA. Meditation training fosters and fine-tunes the MSRC of the mind and supports development of motivational/intentional factors with the ultimate aim of facilitating increasingly advanced MEA. Implications of the proposed framework for definitions of mindfulness and for future systematic research across contemplative traditions and practices are discussed. It is suggested that the proposed definition of contemplative science may reduce terminological challenges in the field and make it more inclusive of varied contemplative practices. Importantly, this approach may encourage development of a more comprehensive contemplative science theory recognizing the essential importance of first- and second-person methods to its inquiry, thus uniquely contributing to our understanding of the mind.
Structural plasticity of the social brain: Differential change after socio-affective and cognitive mental training
Authors: Valk Sofie L. , Bernhardt Boris C. , Trautwein Fynn-Mathis , Böckler-Raettig Anne , Kanske Philipp , Guizard Nicolas , Collins D. Louis , Singer Tania
Published: July 2018

Although neuroscientific research has revealed experience-dependent brain changes across the life span in sensory,motor, and cognitive domains, plasticity relating to social capacities remains largely unknown. To investigate whetherthe targeted mental training of different cognitive and social skills can induce specific changes in brain morphology,we collected longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data throughout a 9-month mental training interventionfrom a large sample of adults between 20 and 55 years of age. By means of various daily mental exercises and weeklyinstructed group sessions, training protocols specifically addressed three functional domains: (i) mindfulness-basedattention and interoception, (ii) socio-affective skills (compassion, dealing with difficult emotions, and prosocialmotivation), and (iii) socio-cognitive skills (cognitive perspective-taking on self and others and metacognition). MRI-based cortical thickness analyses, contrasting the different training modules against each other, indicated spatiallydiverging changes in cortical morphology. Training of present-moment focused attention mostly led to increases incortical thickness in prefrontal regions, socio-affective training induced plasticity in frontoinsular regions, and socio-cognitive training included change in inferior frontal and lateral temporal cortices. Module-specific structural brainchanges correlated with training-induced behavioral improvements in the same individuals in domain-specificmeasures of attention, compassion, and cognitive perspective-taking, respectively, and overlapped with task-relevantfunctional networks. Our longitudinal findings indicate structural plasticity in well-known socio-affective andsocio-cognitive brain networks in healthy adults based on targeted short daily mental practices. These findings couldpromote the development of evidence-based mental training interventions in clinical, educational, and corporatesettings aimed at cultivating social intelligence, prosocial motivation, and cooperation.