bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oyster Beds and Reefs of the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Bejarano Ivonne , Mateos-Molina Daniel , Knuteson Sandra L. , Solovieva Nadia , Yaghmour Fadi , Samara Fatin 
Published: October 2023

AbstractOyster habitats in the United Arab Emirates are highly diverse marine ecosystems with fascinating historical cultural and fisheries importance for pearls, but also for provisioning local people with food and materials for direct consumption and income. Their hard structure protects coastal areas and human populations and their assets, while their strong filtering activity promotes clean waters and healthy and productive marine ecosystems. Oyster habitats in the UAE occur on both the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman coasts. They form oyster beds and oyster reefs and are distributed across coastal and offshore areas. These oyster habitats support hundreds of marine species that include valuable commercial species such as hamours (groupers), emperors (Lethrinidae), and snappers (Lutjanidae). The water quality in oyster ecosystems of Sharjah, Ajman and Umm al Quwain reflects good environmental conditions, yet the presence of microplastics in the sediment and oyster tissue evidence some pollution. Phytoplankton in these areas is diverse and includes several harmful algal bloom species. The current status and extent of oyster habitats in the UAE is known only for some emirates, but there is local scientific and management interest in addressing this gap for the conservation and restoration of these valuable habitats for the nation.
Terrestrial Mammals of the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Judas Jacky 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe United Arab Emirates (UAE) holds a fascinating mammalian diversity, highly adapted to its harsh arid environment. In total, 58 mammal species have been reported. Seven are now extinct, four are feral, and 10 are introduced non-native species. Of the 37 currently living native species, seven have been added to the national list in the past 15 years. More species likely await discovery, particularly among bats, the most diverse taxonomic group with 13 species reported for the UAE. Rodents, carnivores and ungulates are the three next most diverse groups. To cope with high temperatures and prolonged droughts, UAE mammals have developed a range of morphological, physiological and behavioural adaptations. However, they are not well adapted to face the numerous threats caused by human development. Except for a few species that benefit from urban expansion or conservation programmes, most are experiencing shrinking ranges and populations. Today, 20% of UAE native mammal species are classified as threatened globally, and 41% at the national level following IUCN red list criteria. National conservation programmes, and creation of new protected areas might contribute to improving their status along with increased scientific research efforts to fill the knowledge gaps on their status and ecology.
An Introduction to the Birds of the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Campbell Oscar 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe United Arab Emirates may be a small, arid country but is home to a surprisingly diverse and interesting range of birds that occur as breeders, migrants and winter visitors. The majority of bird species in the UAE occur as migrants and/or winter visitors; of those that breed the majority are cosmopolitan or Saharo-Sindian in biogeographic origin. The country’s avifauna can be broadly related to seven major habitats. To survive the extreme climatic conditions prevalent, birds show remarkable adaptations, both behavioural and physiological. Ornithology is an evolving science in the UAE and new discoveries continue to be made.
Terrestrial Reptiles and Amphibians of the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Els Johannes , Carranza Salvador , Gardner Andrew 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAmong the diverse habitats of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), 60 terrestrial reptiles and 2 amphibian species have been recorded, of which 1 is endemic to the country, 59 are native and 3 are introduced. The highest diversity is in the northeast of the country and the highest level of endemism is within the Hajar Mountains which are shared between Oman and UAE. The only UAE endemic vertebrate is the Emirati Leaf-toed Gecko, which along with 13 other reptile species is endemic to Hajar Mountains (Oman and UAE). Despite development being considered as the largest threat to terrestrial reptiles and over utilization of surface freshwater for amphibians, many of the widespread species have benefited from the protection provided by the protected areas distributed across the country. Species with restricted or fragmented distribution ranges require additional conservation efforts.
Terrestrial Arthropod Diversity in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Howarth Brigitte 
Published: October 2023

AbstractDespite harsh climatic conditions and low and erratic rainfall patterns, the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) terrestrial arthropod fauna is diverse and extremely well adapted to the local environment, with some species occurring in high abundance. Until recently, the UAE’s terrestrial arthropods were poorly studied. The past two decades have seen the knowledge of arthropod diversity increase dramatically, with more than 4000 species now known to occur in the Emirates, including hundreds of species that were previously unknown for the UAE and had never been recorded globally. With so many species recently added to the inventory of the nation, their ecology (i.e., life cycles, interactions, habitat needs) are yet to be studied. This presents a challenge for conservation planning, but also offers many opportunities for further study of these organisms. Where the life-histories of species are known, they demonstrate that arthropods of the UAE are an integral part of local food webs and contribute essential ecosystem services. As is the case globally, the UAE’s arthropods are under threat from habitat loss and destruction. The lack of long-term monitoring programs means that it is currently not possible to assess whether the trend of arthropod biodiversity loss seen worldwide is echoed in the UAE.
Geography and Geology of the United Arab Emirates: A Naturalist’s Introduction
Authors: Feulner Gary R. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe main geographical divisions of the UAE include many sub-environments that nurture the country’s diverse plant and animal life. The UAE’s biogeographical position enhances its potential natural biodiversity. The beaches and sabkha of the Coastal Plains are punctuated by lagoons, mangroves, and even rocky headlands. The Sand Deserts grade from quartz sand megadunes inland to white carbonate sands along the Gulf. To the northeast, where they merge with the Alluvial Plain, they are increasingly well-vegetated. The Mountain Regions feature great diversity along many parameters. The Hajar Mountains are composed primarily of a suite of rocks, collectively called ‘ophiolite’, that once formed part of the ocean crust and upper mantle. Ophiolite rocks are associated elsewhere with low botanical diversity and high endemism. Hajar Mountain wadis sustain discrete freshwater habitats with a diverse array of life. The carbonate mountains of the Ru’us Al Jibal range (the Musandam mountains) and Jebel Hafeet differ significantly—physiographically, geochemically, hydrologically and floristically—from the Hajar Mountains. The tectonic collision of Arabia with Eurasia, commencing ca. 30 mya, enabled the extensive exchange of terrestrial and freshwater organisms. The Arabian Gulf is a shallow continental depression that has been emergent repeatedly during glacially lowered sea stands.
Sharks and Rays of the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Henderson Aaron C. , Al Hameli Shamsa 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe waters of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are home to a wide variety of shark and ray species, many of which are unique to the region and about which relatively little is known. Research efforts to date have focused primarily on identifying the species that occur locally and their importance to fisheries, but further research is required to understand their inherent biological and ecological traits. Decades of heavy fishing pressure and coastal development have impacted shark and ray populations to the extent that some, once common species, are now considered rare. Encouragingly, the UAE has adopted a National Plan of Action for the Conservation of Sharks to guide researchers and policy makers in their efforts to ensure that the nation’s shark and ray populations are effectively managed and conserved.
Cities as Ecosystems in the Emirates
Authors: Burt John A. , Campbell Oscar , Judas Jacky 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe United Arab Emirates (UAE) has had dramatic economic and population growth since its 1971 federation, with the built environment, green spaces, water features and other urban amenities growing to support its burgeoning population. These features, in turn, often provide unique habitats and microenvironments for a wide variety of resident and migratory species that benefit from their association with urban ecosystems, both on land and in nearshore coastal environments. While urbanization has undoubtedly caused important environmental challenges that should not be discounted, our growing cities have developed unique and important ecologies, much of which remains underappreciated and understudied in the UAE. Here we summarize the current understanding of urban ecology in the Emirates, providing insights into features that make cities amenable environments for organisms, particularly in the context of the UAE’s extreme environment. We also discuss several representative groups of organisms that benefit from the artificial environments provided by cities in both terrestrial and marine urban settings.
The Emirates at 2050: Balancing Development and Environmental Stewardship
Authors: Burt John A. , Al-Mansoori Noura , Bejarano Ivonne , Brown Gary , Campbell Oscar , Els Johannes , Feulner Gary R. , Friis-Montoya Guillermo , Henderson Aaron , Howarth Brigitte , John David M. , Judas Jacky , Mateos-Molina Daniel , Mitchell Matthew , Natoli Ada , Paparella Francesco , Yaghmour Fadi 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe United Arab Emirates (UAE) faces the challenge of balancing rapid economic development with environmental preservation and conservation in the Anthropocene era. The nation’s unique ecosystems, characterized by arid desert, rugged mountains, and diverse marine habitats, are vulnerable to disturbances such as urbanization, habitat degradation, groundwater extraction and climate change. To chart a more sustainable course for the Emirates by 2050, the paper proposes policy recommendations such as adopting a national strategy for sustainable development, strengthening environmental policies, investing in urban planning and design, promoting sustainable water management, encouraging use of nature-based solutions, addressing climate change, fostering environmental education, supporting research in environmental sciences, encouraging national and regional cooperation, promoting sustainable business practices in the private sector, and monitoring the progress of environmental policies. By embracing a vision of development that respects the natural environment and safeguards its plant and animal life, the UAE can demonstrate its commitment and serve as a model for other nations to follow, becoming a shining example of responsible development by 2050.
The Marine Environment of the Emirates
Authors: Burt John A. , Paparella Francesco 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe United Arab Emirates (UAE) is bordered by two very different marine systems, the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Both lie within the arid sub-tropical high pressure zone, but they are characterized by markedly different environmental conditions. Today’s Gulf is a shallow, enclosed sea (average depth < 30 m) that has only existed since the last ice age, and the modern Gulf coastline was established only about 6000 years ago. The waters of the UAE’s Gulf coast are characterized by extreme temperatures across seasons, evaporation-driven hyper-salinity, complex tides, high turbidity, and occasional low oxygen, among other stressors. The Sea of Oman, in contrast, is over a kilometer deep and is well mixed with the offshore waters of the Indian Ocean, experiencing essentially normal sub-tropical oceanic conditions as a result. Regional winds such as ‘shamals’ and the Indian Ocean monsoon play important roles in creating and structuring marine environmental conditions. Given the prospect of global climate change, the future of marine systems across the Emirates, including organisms and ecosystems, will largely depend on how regional winds will change in the coming decades.
The Vegetation of the United Arab Emirates and Ecosystem Management Issues
Authors: Brown Gary , Feulner Gary R. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis chapter discusses the terrestrial vegetation of the United Arab Emirates, and the main units are described in the context of broad habitat types. Despite the huge increase in human activity over the past decades, natural terrestrial habitat types continue to occupy, by far, the larger part of the country. However, they are often severely degraded. The main issues affecting the flora and vegetation are largely the same as in other arid parts of the world, with overgrazing remaining a serious challenge. With regard to tackling these major issues, the various emirates have begun to create a network of protected areas. Effective management plans are required to ensure that they fulfil their role in protecting the natural heritage of the country. If rigorously implemented, the recently introduced ‘grazing law’ in Abu Dhabi emirate could create a useful blueprint for a sustainable grazing regime outside of the protected areas, leading to an enhancement of ecosystem functioning over the longer term.
The Mountain Regions of the United Arab Emirates: An Ecosystem Perspective
Authors: Feulner Gary R. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe mountains of the eastern UAE and northern Oman have long been recognized as a distinct biogeographical province hosting a mix of regional, endemic and relict species. This chapter treats the mountain regions of the UAE for the first time as an ecological unit in their own right, independent of generalizations often primarily rooted in Oman-based studies. They are recognized as a system of interrelated but geologically, physiographically, geochemically, hydrologically, floristically, and sometimes faunistically discrete sub-units: the Hajar Mountains, the Ru′us Al Jibal, the Dibba Zone, Jebel Hafeet and related Foreland Ridges, and the Alluvial Plains. Wide-ranging field investigations have shown that the mix of plant species varies significantly among these ecological sub-units. The Hajar Mountains feature the world’s most extensive exposures of ultrabasic bedrock, which elsewhere have been associated with low botanical diversity and high endemism. Such relationships in the Hajar Mountains have been largely ignored, although recent fieldwork has identified a dozen or so species evidently sensitive to ultrabasic geochemistry. UAE mountain flora and fauna vary significantly with latitude, corresponding to both regional factors and higher elevations in the northerly Ru′us Al Jibal. Temporal change is accelerated by human activity, including the proliferation of dams and other infrastructure.
Mangrove Ecosystems of the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Friis Guillermo , Killilea Mary E. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractGray mangroves (Avicennia marina) represent the only evergreen forests of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where they occur at the northern edge of the species’ range and are subject to extreme environmental conditions. Mangroves occur both throughout the western and eastern coasts of the seven Emirates, either in natural or restored populations. They act as ecosystem engineers, creating a habitat that is exploited by a wide variety of organisms, including species of conservation concern. As the only mangrove species of the Arabian Gulf, the gray mangroves represent a relevant asset for local communities. They provide numerous ecosystem services of cultural and socioeconomic importance, from their aesthetics and recreational uses in urban spaces to their role as carbon sinks or nursery habitats for species targeted for commercial fishing. Thanks to successful afforestation programs, the UAE mangroves are experiencing a steady recovery after severe cover losses resulting from the intense urban development that followed the 1970s oil boom, and nowadays they represent more than half of the total mangrove cover in the Arabian Gulf. However, national mangrove forests still face considerable threats derived from human activities. Active, long-term policies and management will be needed to ensure the survivorship of these critical ecosystems.
Coastal Lagoons (Khors) of the Emirates
Authors: Mateos-Molina Daniel , Pittman Simon J. , Antonopoulou Marina , Carpenter Stephen , Möller Mona , Muzaffar Sabir Bin , Bejarano Ivonne 
Published: October 2023

AbstractCoastal lagoons represent one of the most productive and diverse ecosystems in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to their position at the dynamic transition zone between land and sea. UAE’s coastal lagoons, also known as khors, are home to a diverse assemblage of organisms, including many resident and endangered species that rely on the interconnected mosaics of habitat types (mangroves, seagrass, saltmarshes, mudflats) that also provide a wealth of benefits to society. These ecosystem characteristics, and the need to ensure their sustainable development, have made lagoons a high priority for conservation in the Emirates. Primarily located along the UAE’s Arabian Gulf coast, coastal lagoons have been highly impacted by urbanization that modifies or removes habitats and disturbs wildlife due to increased pollution from artificial light, noise and chemicals. Coastal lagoons in the UAE are in urgent need of protection to ensure that current and future generations continue to enjoy healthy coastal ecosystems. Integrated ecosystem-based management that is supported by local institutions and includes participatory monitoring through citizen science programmes will increase public engagement and advance progress towards the goal of living in harmony with nature.
Currency (Layering)
Authors: Mooij Annelieke 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis chapter discusses the second phase of MLFT, namely layering. Layering is the process of concealing the origins of the funds before integrating them into the legal economy. As stated in the introduction it is not possible to draw clear lines between the phases. Layering is conducted through a combination of anonymous wallets and unregulated currencies. The previous chapter has focused on virtual wallets, this chapter will therefore focus on the currencies themselves. Currencies used in the Metaverse form an alternative to the regulated banking industry. There is therefore the risk that these currencies are not or underregulated. This chapter therefore starts in Sect. 6.2 by discussing cryptocurrencies. This section also includes a discussion on mixing services and decentralized cryptoexchanges (DEX). Section 6.3 continues by discussing the centralized currencies without the status of legal tender. These currencies include gaming currencies and currencies provided by platforms. Section 6.4 then continues by analyzing the currencies with the status of legal tender. These include the central bank digital currencies and cryptocurrencies that are recognized as legal tender such as Bitcoin. The chapter finishes in Sect. 6.5 with the conclusions and recommendations.
Non-fungible Tokens and Stateless Firms
Authors: Mooij Annelieke 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis chapter discusses the additional risks on MLFT that are created by the Metaverse. These two risks as discussed in the introduction are the Non-Fungible Tokens and the anonymity created by the Metaverse. Section 8.1 starts by discussing Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and the specific risk for MLFT. It considers both the risks from a financial aspect as well as the risk it poses for transferring information. Section 8.2 discusses the concept of stateless firms. The construction of the Metaverse makes it possible for firms to remain fully anonymous. Section 8.2 discusses how the risks of these stateless firms can be limited.
Influence of the mating design on the additive genetic variance in plant breeding populations
Authors: Lanzl Tobias , Melchinger Albrecht E. , Schön Chris-Carolin 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Key message
Mating designs determine the realized additive genetic variance in a population sample. Deflated or inflated variances can lead to reduced or overly optimistic assessment of future selection gains.

Abstract
The additive genetic variance $${V}_{A}$$

V
A

inherent to a breeding population is a major determinant of short- and long-term genetic gain. When estimated from experimental data, it is not only the additive variances at individual loci (QTL) but also covariances between QTL pairs that contribute to estimates of $${V}_{A}$$

V
A

. Thus, estimates of $${V}_{A}$$

V
A

depend on the genetic structure of the data source and vary between population samples. Here, we provide a theoretical framework for calculating the expectation and variance of $${V}_{A}$$

V
A

from genotypic data of a given population sample. In addition, we simulated breeding populations derived from different numbers of parents (P = 2, 4, 8, 16) and crossed according to three different mating designs (disjoint, factorial and half-diallel crosses). We calculated the variance of $${V}_{A}$$

V
A

and of the parameter b reflecting the covariance component in $${V}_{A},$$

V
A

,

standardized by the genic variance. Our results show that mating designs resulting in large biparental families derived from few disjoint crosses carry a high risk of generating progenies exhibiting strong covariances between QTL pairs on different chromosomes. We discuss the consequences of the resulting deflated or inflated $${V}_{A}$$

V
A

estimates for phenotypic and genome-based selection as well as for applying the usefulness criterion in selection. We show that already one round of recombination can effectively break negative and positive covariances between QTL pairs induced by the mating design. We suggest to obtain reliable estimates of $${V}_{A}$$

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A

and its components in a population sample by applying statistical methods differing in their treatment of QTL covariances.
Experimental verification of the internal ballistics numerical simulations of classical weapons in Lagrangian coordinates
Authors: Kagankiewicz Filip , Magier Mariusz 
Published: October 2023

AbstractUsing the possibilities of modern science and technology, it can be said that the presented mathematical model has been formulated without significant simplifications, and its (numerical) solution itself will be performed with high accuracy. The main purpose of the work was to create a tool supporting the calculation of the main problem of internal ballistics for barrel propellant systems in order to achieve digital solutions as close as possible to the results obtained using experimental ballistics methods. The scientific hypothesis of the work postulates that the physical model of internal ballistics formulated in Lagrange coordinates will allow to solve the main problem of internal ballistics of barrel systems in a digital way, obtaining such solution results that will satisfactorily reflect the solution results obtained using experimental ballistics methods. The results of digital simulations of physical phenomena of solutions to the main problem of internal ballistics of barrel weapons were compared with the results of experimental tests and the degree of agreement was determined.