Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Song Xu, Laura A. Essex, Joseph Q. Nguyen, Phillip Farias, Joseph W. Ziller, W. Hill Harman, William J. Evans
Summary: The combination of boron Lewis acid and decamethyl-samarocene allows for cooperative reductive capture of N-2 in toluene. The product crystallizes as a salt with an (N[double bond, length as m-dash]N)(2-) moiety sandwiched between a [(C5Me5)(2)Sm-III](1+) metallocene cation and a diboraanthracene ditopic Lewis acid.
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Soumen Sinhababu, Maxim R. Radzhabov, Joshua Telser, Neal P. Mankad
Summary: This study reveals a method to activate CO2 and other substrates through cooperative behavior of two radical intermediates. The mechanistic studies show that the Al-Fe bond dissociates homolytically to generate metalloradicals, which add to the substrate in a pairwise fashion. The redox noninnocent nature of L-dipp is crucial in stabilizing the Al-II intermediates and giving them Al-III-like physical character.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Janusz Kloskowski
Summary: In monogamous birds, the maintenance of pair bond relies on previous breeding success and parental effort. Red-necked grebes, a long-lived species with parent-fed young, showed high pair fidelity regardless of recent breeding success. The study revealed that early brood abandonment by females may confer fitness benefits to males and reflect cooperation rather than conflict.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Political Science
Diego Fernando Cano Cuevas, Andres Hernandez Cubides
Summary: This article analyzes Colombia's adoption of the concept of cooperative security in the defense and security policy proposed in the National Development Plan 2018-2022. It questions whether this concept is sufficient for the current post-agreement stage and examines the limitations faced in implementing it during the current conflict.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Masayuki Wasa, Ahmet Yesilcimen
Summary: In this article, the development of multi-catalyst systems is highlighted for promoting enantioselective transformations of C-H bonds in carbonyl compounds and N-alkylamines, overcoming the formation of inert Lewis adducts. Such methods were achieved through the identification of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) formed by catalyst/substrate combinations.
JOURNAL OF SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY JAPAN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ciemon F. Caballes, Vanessa Messmer, Maia L. Raymundo, Morgan S. Pratchett
Summary: Spatial and temporal stochasticity play an important role in the abundance and population dynamics of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS). This study found that COTS collected from reefs within Marine National Park Zones, where fishing is prohibited, had a higher prevalence of sublethal injuries compared to reefs where fishing is permitted but regulated. Severity of injuries did not differ significantly between management zones. However, there was a higher frequency of individuals with between one and three injured arms in no-take reefs compared to those from open fishing reefs. The study also found that medium-sized COTS were more likely to have sublethal injuries compared to larger COTS. These findings highlight the benefits of established marine reserves in reducing the impact of COTS and coral loss.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Magena R. Marzonie, Line K. Bay, David G. Bourne, Andrew S. Hoey, Samuel Matthews, Josephine J. Nielsen, Hugo B. Harrison
Summary: Scleractinian coral populations are facing increasing exposure to temperatures above their upper limits, leading to declines in coral reef ecosystem health. Variations in thermal tolerance exist among species, individual coral colonies, and populations. This study conducted heat stress experiments to assess heat tolerance across a large environmental gradient. The results showed variations in heat tolerance among species and within reefs, with mild heatwave exposure positively correlated with heat tolerance over the past 35 years, but recent severe heatwaves showing a negative relationship. These findings suggest that marine heatwaves are selecting for tolerant individuals and populations, but recent severe heatwaves may compromise this adaptive potential.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Timothy D. Clark, Hanna Scheuffele, Morgan S. Pratchett, Michael R. Skeeles
Summary: This study reveals the unexpected lack of behavioral thermoregulation in aquatic ectotherms in controlled heterothermal environments. A new controlled system was introduced to allow large aquatic ectotherms to freely roam in a tank at sub-optimal temperatures, using thermal refuges to increase body temperature.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. I. Blandford, K. B. Hillcoat, M. S. Pratchett, A. S. Hoey
Summary: The combined effects of global climate change and local anthropogenic stressors are leading to loss and fragmentation of habitats, which in turn influence the survival of coral reef fish populations. The degree of habitat fragmentation affects the early post-settlement survival of reef fish, with moderate levels having the greatest influence.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Bethan J. Lang, Ciemon F. Caballes, Sven Uthicke, Peter C. Doll, Jennifer M. Donelson, Morgan S. Pratchett
Summary: Research has shown that ocean warming has negative impacts on the settlement and metamorphic success of crown-of-thorns starfish, and even cooler temperatures can affect their survival rates. In warmer ocean environments, metamorphic success and early post-settlement survival are significantly reduced, potentially presenting a bottleneck for recruitment in coral reefs.
Correction
Biology
Danielle L. Dixson, Geoffrey P. Jones, Philip L. Munday, Serge Planes, Morgan S. Pratchett, Maya Srinivasan, Craig Syms, Simon R. Thorrold
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sven Uthicke, Barbara Robson, Jason R. Doyle, Murray Logan, Morgan S. Pratchett, Miles Lamare
Summary: The study demonstrates that eDNA monitoring can improve the detection probability of Crown-of-Thorns Seastar (CoTS), especially at intermediate to high densities. Both copy number and presence/absence methods have their advantages and disadvantages, but site-specific CoTS density has a more significant impact on eDNA copy numbers.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Sarah Lok Ting Kwong, Cecilia Villacorta-Rath, Morgan Pratchett, Sven Uthicke
Summary: Population irruptions of crown-of-thorns seastar pose a perennial threat to Indo-Pacific coral reefs. Telomere length can be used to estimate age in CoTS, with adult individuals generally exhibiting shorter telomeres than juveniles. However, there is variation within age groups and no significant relationship has been found between telomere length and external features indicating age. Additionally, sub-optimal diet results in accelerated telomere attrition in CoTS.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joshua S. Madin, Michael McWilliam, Kate Quigley, Line K. Bay, David Bellwood, Christopher Doropoulos, Leanne Fernandes, Peter Harrison, Andrew S. Hoey, Peter J. Mumby, Juan C. Ortiz, Zoe T. Richards, Cynthia Riginos, Nina M. D. Schiettekatte, David J. Suggett, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
Summary: Humans have focused on restoring species, but little attention has been given to selecting the best subset of foundation species for maintaining threatened ecosystems. We propose a two-part hedging approach that prioritizes phenotypic traits and ecological characteristics. By applying this approach to reef building corals, we found that current restoration programs could be improved by including species with different traits.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
So Young Jeong, Paul W. Gabrielson, Jeffery R. Hughey, Andrew S. Hoey, Tae Oh Cho, Muhammad A. Abdul Wahab, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido
Summary: Porolithon is an ecologically important genus of crustose coralline algae, distributed abundantly in tropical and subtropical shallow margins of coral reefs. Sequence comparisons of type specimens and field-collected specimens reveal four unique genetic lineages, suggesting the absence of P. gardineri and P. craspedium in eastern Australia. Furthermore, four new species are discovered, distinguished by growth form, margin shape, and medullary system. Urgent documentation of the taxonomic diversity of Porolithon species is necessary due to their ecological importance and sensitivity to ocean acidification.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jessica Zamborain-Mason, Joshua E. Cinner, M. Aaron Macneil, Nicholas A. J. Graham, Andrew S. Hoey, Maria Beger, Andrew J. Brooks, David J. Booth, Graham J. Edgar, David A. Feary, Sebastian C. A. Ferse, Alan M. Friedlander, Charlotte L. A. Gough, Alison L. Green, David Mouillot, Nicholas V. C. Polunin, Rick D. Stuart-Smith, Laurent Wantiez, Ivor D. Williams, Shaun K. Wilson, Sean R. Connolly
Summary: Sustainably managing fisheries requires evaluation of stock status, but many multispecies reef fisheries lack research and monitoring capacity to assess stocks against sustainable reference points. In this study, fish biomass data from >2000 coral reefs were used to estimate site-specific sustainable reference points for coral reef fisheries. The results show that >50% of sites and jurisdictions with available information have stocks of conservation concern. The study highlights the ecological benefits of increasing sustainability and provides a promising means for enhancing the sustainability of global coral reef fisheries.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Bethan J. Lang, Jennifer M. Donelson, Kevin R. Bairos-Novak, Carolyn R. Wheeler, Ciemon F. Caballes, Sven Uthicke, Morgan S. Pratchett
Summary: Rising ocean temperatures pose a threat to marine species, with ectothermic organisms being particularly vulnerable. A meta-analysis of 85 studies reveals that ocean warming generally accelerates metabolic rate and reduces survival in echinoderms, with subtropical and tropical regions being the most vulnerable. The analysis also highlights the significant vulnerability of echinoderm larvae and starfish under elevated temperatures.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Morgan S. Pratchett, Ciemon F. Caballes, Jean-Paul A. Hobbs, Joseph D. DiBattista, Brock Bergseth, Peter Waldie, Curtis Champion, Samuel P. Mc Cormack, Andrew S. Hoey
Summary: This study explored the variation in physiological condition of common coral trout on Australia's Great Barrier Reef after severe mass bleaching and coral loss. The results showed that fish condition was largely influenced by fish size and varied with latitude, while there was no apparent effect of recent coral bleaching on the physiological condition of the fish. However, further changes to the environmental conditions and reef habitat may impact these important fisheries species.
Article
Biology
Peter C. Doll, Sven Uthicke, Ciemon F. Caballes, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Muhammad A. Abdul Wahab, Bethan J. Lang, So Young Jeong, Morgan S. Pratchett
Summary: Population irruptions of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) can cause extensive degradation of coral reefs, threatening their structure and function. Our findings demonstrate that various coralline algae species play a role in inducing COTS larvae to settle, but their effectiveness varies greatly. Considering larval behavior and algal ecology, this study highlights the ecological significance of coralline algae communities in driving COTS recruitment patterns.