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The ship tracking and mapping capabilities that geospatial technology provides create an opportunity to observe fishing vessels as they move through established maritime boundaries. This paper connects data availability to ground-truthing research and explores the limits of vessel movement mapping in representing worker abuse at sea through three related themes. First, a conceptual background links the advancements in maritime remote sensing to critical GIS scholarship and provides a background on worker abuse aboard Taiwanese fishing vessels. Second, the paper examines the potential of machine learning algorithms to represent worker abuse at sea, arguing that more extensive ground-truthing research with workers could help address variations in the data and limited data sets. Third, I use remote sensing data to identify and unpack Taiwanese fishing across the three EEZs with the most concentrated Taiwanese fishing activity: starting with Taiwan, followed by the Falkland Islands, and Seychelles. I argue that fishing activity and the digital representation of vessel movements are governed by terrestrial geopolitics and subject to manipulation by ship captains. Finally, the conclusion offers recommendations for how future research can capitalize on the capabilities of AIS, particularly with respect to addressing problems of working conditions and abuse at sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue carbon has been proposed as a nature-based solution for climate change mitigation; however, a limited number of published works and data and knowledge gaps hinder the development of small island developing states' (SIDS) national blue carbon resources globally. This paper reviews the blue carbon ecosystems of Seychelles as a case study in the context of SIDS, comparing estimations by the Blue Carbon Lab and recent blue carbon (mangrove and seagrass) evaluations submitted to the Seychelles national government. Mangroves (2195 ha, 80% in Aldabra Atoll) and seagrasses (142,065 ha) dominate in Seychelles, with coral reefs having the potential for carbon sequestration (169,000 ha). Seychelles is on track to protecting its blue carbon, but these systems are threatened by rising sea levels, coastal squeeze, erosion, severe storms, and human activities. The importance of carbon inventories, accounting institutions, and continuous monitoring of blue carbon systems is discussed. Blue accounting is necessary for accurate accounting of carbon sequestration and carbon storage, generating carbon credits, and representing impactful reductions in greenhouse gases for NDCs. Challenges and opportunities include policy legislation regarding ownership rights, accreditation and certification for carbon credits, sustainable financing mechanisms like natural asset companies and blue tokens, local engagement for long-term success, and carbon market dynamics following COP27. The restoration and regulation of blue carbon resources for optimal ecosystem services delivery, carbon inventories, and blue carbon policy are recommended development priorities. Blue carbon ecosystems have the potential to contribute to NDCs of SIDS while simultaneously offering sustainable development pathways for local communities through the multiple ecosystem services they provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a financing method providing financial support for environmental protection, debt-for-nature swaps (DFNS) have been implemented for nearly forty years. DFNS have covered marine protected areas (MPAs) in four countries since 2015. Although extensive literature discusses the various issues surrounding DFNS, only some researchers have connected the topics of DFNS and MPAs to evaluate the performance of implementing DFNS for financing MPAs. This paper contributes to filling this gap by analyzing the performance of the DFNS for financing MPAs from economic, legal, and environmental aspects by case studies from Seychelles and Belize. It aims to find an answer to the research question of whether the implementation of DFNS is a viable option for financing MPAs by exploring the current performance and discussing the future development of implementing the DFNS for MPAs. The DFNS has played a positive role in establishing MPAs in Seychelles and Belize by providing stable financial support for MPAs and improving the debt sustainability of debtor countries to some extent. However, there are various barriers from a legal perspective in reaching a swap agreement, ensuring the effective implementation of the agreement, and improving the transparency construction. With the trend of increasing scale and amount of debt relief and funding, the DFNS is expected to play an important role in promoting the establishment of MPAs, realizing the economic benefits, and having a satisfactory performance by legal measures. It concludes that with the transparency construction of information disclosure, special legislation on DFNS, an appropriate scale of debt for conversion determined by considering the debt sustainability, an adaptation to the innovation of the contractual approach of sovereign debt restructuring, and complementary assistance from different levels, the implementation of DFNS can be a viable option for financing MPAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury (Hg) is a chemical of health concern worldwide that is now being acted upon through the Minamata Convention. Operationalizing the Convention and tracking its effectiveness requires empathy of the diversity and variation of mercury exposure and risk in populations worldwide. As part of the health plenary for the 15th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP), this review paper details how scientific understandings have evolved over time, from tragic poisoning events in the mid-twentieth century to important epidemiological studies in the late-twentieth century in the Seychelles and Faroe Islands, the Arctic and Amazon. Entering the twenty-first century, studies on diverse source-exposure scenarios (e.g., ASGM, amalgams, contaminated sites, cosmetics, electronic waste) from across global regions have expanded understandings and exemplified the need to consider socio-environmental variables and local contexts when conducting health studies. We conclude with perspectives on next steps for mercury health research in the post-Minamata Convention era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Seychelles magpie‐robin's (SMR) five island populations exhibit some of the lowest recorded levels of genetic diversity among endangered birds, and high levels of inbreeding. These populations collapsed during the 20th century, and the species was listed as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List in 1994. An assisted translocation‐for‐recovery program initiated in the 1990s increased the number of mature individuals, resulting in its downlisting to Endangered in 2005. Here, we explore the temporal genomic erosion of the SMR based on a dataset of 201 re‐sequenced whole genomes that span the past ~150 years. Our sample set includes individuals that predate the bottleneck by up to 100 years, as well as individuals from contemporary populations established during the species recovery program. Despite the SMR's recent demographic recovery, our data reveal a marked increase in both the genetic load and realized load in the extant populations when compared to the historical samples. Conservation management may have reduced the intensity of selection by increasing juvenile survival and relaxing intraspecific competition between individuals, resulting in the accumulation of loss‐of‐function mutations (i.e. severely deleterious variants) in the rapidly recovering population. In addition, we found a 3‐fold decrease in genetic diversity between temporal samples. While the low genetic diversity in modern populations may limit the species' adaptability to future environmental changes, future conservation efforts (including IUCN assessments) may also need to assess the threats posed by their high genetic load. Our computer simulations highlight the value of translocations for genetic rescue and show how this could halt genomic erosion in threatened species such as the SMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: When COVID-19 hit the world in 2019, an enhanced focus on diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 was essential for a successful pandemic response. Testing laboratories stretched their capabilities for the new coronavirus by adopting different test methods. The necessity of having external quality assurance (EQA) mechanisms was even more critical due to this rapid expansion. However, there was a lack of experience in providing the necessary SARS-CoV-2 EQA materials, especially in locations with constrained resources. Objective: We aimed to create a PT (Proficiency testing) programme based on the Dried Tube Specimens (DTS) method that would be a practical option for molecular based SARS-CoV-2 EQA in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Methods: Based on previous ISO/IEC 17043:2010 accreditation experiences and with assistance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Supranational Reference Laboratory of Uganda (adapted the DTS sample preparation method and completed a pilot EQA program between 2020 and 2021. Stability and panel validation testing was conducted on the designed materials before shipping to pilot participants in six African countries. Participants received a panel containing five SARS-CoV-2 DTS samples, transported at ambient conditions. Results submitted by participants were compared to validation results. Participants were graded as satisfactory (≥ 80%) or unsatisfactory (< 80%) and performance reports disseminated. Results: Our SARS-CoV-2 stability experiments showed that SARS-CoV-2 RNA was stable (-15 to -25 °C, 4 to 8 °C, (18 to 28 °C) room temperature and 35 to 38 °C) as well as DTS panels (4 to 8 °C, 18 to 28 °C, 35 to 38 °C and 45 °C) for a period of 4 weeks. The SARS-CoV-2 DTS panels were successfully piloted in 35 test sites from Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Seychelles. The pilot results of the participants showed good accuracy, with an average of 86% (30/35) concordance with the original SARS CoV-2 expectations. Conclusion: The SARS-CoV-2 DTS PT panel is reliable, stable at ambient temperature, simple to prepare and requires minimal resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Seychelles blue bond is an innovative finance mechanism that has played a pivotal role in shaping the global landscape of blue bonds. Seychelles leadership in the blue economy sets a significant precedent. However, this precedent has also raised concerns among various stakeholders. This study evaluates of Seychelles' sovereign blue bond, which was co-developed by the government of Seychelles and the World Bank. Three themes are explored, how the blue bond relates to other actors and donors in the blue economy space of Seychelles; how the blue bond contributes to advancing the national agenda and blue economy of Seychelles; and the key strengths, enablers and weaknesses of the blue bond. A series of considerations for future blue financing and blue bond mechanisms are presented, based on the findings of this study, to ensure that financing extends beyond blue washing and contributes meaningfully to the holistic transition to a sustainable blue economy. Our findings imply significant considerations for stakeholders in sustainable finance, suggesting ways to enhance the efficacy of blue bonds and emphasising the need for further research on their long-term impact and integration with other financial instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine the comovements and volatility spillovers of four US dollar exchange rates for four African currencies in the period of the Sub-Saharan African Eurobond issue. The currencies considered are the US dollar exchange rates for the Ghana Cedi (GHS), Nigeria Naira (N), The Kenyan Shilling, and the South African Rand (ZAR). We considered exchange rate data from 2006 (the year the first Eurobond was issued by Seychelles on the SSA) to January 2021. This period is divided into three subperiods, which are the period of Light Eurobond Issue, the Period of Heavy Eurobond Issue, and the Period of Global Financial Crisis (GFC). We observe different correlation dynamics and volatility spillovers across the period of our study. Specifically, significant comovements and volatility spillovers were recorded in the Light Eurobond Issues and the Global Financial Crisis Period. The conditional correlation and the volatility spillovers are not well pronounced in the Heavy Eurobond Issue Period. This implies that individual currency US dollar exchange rates are behaving idiosyncratically. The findings provide diversification opportunities for forex market players and investors looking into the African continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blue bond market has emerged as one of the latest additions in the sustainable debt market. Its goal is to channel funding toward sustainable blue economy projects related to the ocean and freshwater. While the protection of hydric resources has gained importance within the problem of climate change, Sustainable Development Goals linked to water remain the most underfunded. Since the issuance of the first blue bond in the Seychelles in 2018, multiple public and private organizations have turned to the blue bond market to raise funds. However, unlike the green bond market, no comprehensive market overview exists, preventing stakeholders from judging whether this label has been effective in protecting water resources and drawing conclusions on its future potential. This paper draws on an extensive review of academic research and complements it with a unique and comprehensive analysis of blue bonds issued to date, providing a contribution to the literature on sustainable finance. Between 2018 and 2022, 26 blue bond transactions took place, amounting to a total value of USD 5.0 billion, with a 92% CAGR between those years. Currently, blue bonds represent less than 0.5% of the sustainable debt market. The use of proceeds has mostly focused on waste management, biodiversity, and sustainable fisheries, but also ranges across other areas of the sustainable blue economy. Only two-thirds of blue bond issuers report on impact metrics, providing further opportunity to add detail and rigor. We draw comparisons to the more mature green bond market and conclude that a lack of standardized definitions, metrics, and expertise by issuers and investors are significant barriers to the blue bond market. Resolving these barriers is crucial to attract corporations and ensure continued growth of the blue bond market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper applies the Integrated Threat Theory as a framework for an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach to examine the impacts of tourism on Seychelles' residents. In-depth interviews of 28 informants revealed residents' perceptions of tourism's negative impacts. Findings were combined with factors from previous studies in a quantitative survey of 281 respondents for a more comprehensive view. Results revealed that residents perceived restricted access to beaches near hotels, the strain on public infrastructure, economic leakages, and unfavourable employment prospects (vis-a-vis expatriate staffers) as unsavoury aspects of tourism. These impacts notwithstanding, Seychellois remain positively disposed to tourism and hold favourable attitudes towards tourists. Thus, while realistic and symbolic threats were confirmed, they did not translate into intergroup anxiety and negative stereotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful design, implementation and management of the institutional arrangements for climate change adaptation are critical components of sustainable development. This is especially true for small island developing states (SIDS), a group of 58 countries spread across three main geographic regions, which are acknowledged as being disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In many instances, the dynamics of these arrangements in SIDS are poorly understood and documented. This study helps to fill this gap by identifying and analyzing "networks of action situations" through semi-structured interviews with 14 national and international climate change officials and practitioners in four SIDS (Comoros, Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore) in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans region. We find that there are a few strategic actors involved in multiple, mutually reinforcing and sometimes conflicting arrangements, which are simultaneously being shaped and reshaped at different scales. We also find varying patterns of power, politics and participation that act as both drivers of and barriers to adaptation in these countries. By deconstructing institutional interlinkages and strategic feedback loops, this paper contributes to a broader understanding of the complexities of environmental governance in small jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alcohol consumption has become very common among adolescents in recent years and its prevalence varies in different countries. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of alcohol consumption and related factors in adolescents aged 11 to 16 years. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 288385 adolescents (girls, 53.9% of total) aged 11 to 16 years. In the present study, the GSHS data (2003–2018) available to public on the websites of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO was used. To investigate the factors affecting alcohol consumption, univariate and multivariate logistics models with 95% confidence limits were used. Results: The overall prevalence of alcohol consumption in adolescents was 25.2%, which was 28.3% and 22.4% in boys and girls, respectively. Among the surveyed countries, the highest prevalence was in Seychelles (57.9%) and the lowest in Tajikistan (0.7). Multivariate analysis showed that the Age for 16 and more than 16 years old (OR = 3.08,95%CI: 2.54–3.74), truancy for more than 10 days (OR = 1.24, 95%CI: 1.08–1.43), loneliness at sometimes of the times (OR = 1.04, 95%CI: 1.01–1.07), insomnia at most of the times (OR = 1.85, 95%CI: 1.70–2.01), daily activity (OR = 1.03, 95%CI: 1.00–1.07), bullied for 1–9 Days in a month (OR = 1.24, 95%CI: 1.09–1.40), cigarette (OR = 4.01, 95%CI: 3.86–4.17), used marijuana for more than 10 days in a month (OR = 5.58, 95%CI: 4.59–7.78), had sex (OR = 2.76, 95%CI: 2.68–2.84), and suicide plan (OR = 1.48, 95%CI: 1.42–1.54) were important factors affecting drinking alcohol. (Table 4). In this study, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 42.79%, 93.96%, 70.80%, and 82.75. Conclusions: According to the results of the present study, the prevalence of alcohol consumption among teenagers was high. Therefore, it is suggested that demographic, family, and psychological factors should be taken into consideration in health programs for the prevention and treatment of alcohol consumption in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along the boundary between the Precambrian basement and the Permo-Mesozoic sedimentary basin of northernmost Madagascar, an extensive network of epigenetic quartz-barite veins can be found. The veins are extensional in nature and show a polyphase paragenesis. Some of the veins, especially in the northern part of the district, hold some minor Zn-Pb sulfides and erratically distributed, native gold mineralization. The latter has been exploited in the past and is currently subject to artisanal mining activity. Saline aqueous fluid inclusions in the various quartz and barite vein generations indicate involvement of a relatively cool (<100 °C), high-salinity (~24 eq. wt% NaCl) fluid and a hotter fluid (>160 °C) of lower salinity (~5 eq. wt% NaCl). Analyses of fluid inclusion leachates suggest that the high-salinity end member was a bittern brine, residual to seawater evaporation, whereas the low-salinity end member was a hydrothermal, metal-bearing fluid that had been sourced from the crystalline basement. Sporadic aqueous-carbonic fluid inclusions possibly represent involvement of a third fluid component of metamorphic or magmatic affinity that might have been responsible for the minor gold mineralization. The δ34S composition of the barites averages 20.6 ± 2‰ V-CDT and is indicative for a seawater origin of sulfur. Sulfate was sourced either from evaporite minerals (e.g., gypsum) present in the Early Mesozoic sedimentary sequence or was originally concentrated in the bittern brine. While the timing of mineralization remains enigmatic due to the lack of reliable radiometric age determinations, the metallogenic constrains support vein formation during or shortly after the establishment of evaporitic conditions, likely around the Middle Jurassic, in the intracratonic rift basin that developed between the East African and Madagascar-Seychelles-India plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contains 142 Campylopoideae records from 10 collecting trips of the author with his colleagues in the East African islands. Among the 27 taxa 15 records were new to a certain island, of which 4 were known before only from continental Africa. With these the known number of species on the Indian Ocean islands raises from 30 to 34. Observations on the ecology, distribution and illustrations of most species are also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Besides access to climate finance and capacity building, developing countries, comprised mainly of least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS) have negotiated for increased technology transfer to support their climate change adaptation. The Global Environment Facility has been supporting LDCs and SIDS to develop technology needs assessments (TNAs) to leverage international climate finance, and 62 countries have conducted a TNA to date. Ten SIDS are currently completing their TNAs, and 9 more will start the process in 2021. The focus of this paper is on in-country processes that have not received much attention to date. We find that an efficient TNA process is characterized by the adoption of an inclusive multi-stakeholder process, using existing institutional structures to increase ownership, and applying a learning-by-doing approach. An effective TNA process supports the formulation of national climate change policies and strategies and importantly enables the country to leverage international climate finance. For the latter, an effective TNA should address more closely the investment criteria of the Green Climate Fund. The lessons learned are shared to better inform forthcoming TNA processes in SIDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brett, M.R., 2021. How important is coastal tourism for island nations? An assessment of African and Indian Ocean islands. Journal of Coastal Research, 37(3), 568–575. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Coastal tourism is an important component of the global tourism industry, particularly for island nations where the tourism sector often exceeds 40% of gross domestic product. For African island and Indian Ocean island nations, the tourism sector's economic contribution has not received as much attention. This paper analyses the economic contribution of tourism to the economies of African island nations and analyzes tourism statistics from the World Travel and Tourism Council annual reports. Tourism is a major economic factor for the island nations and is concentrated in the coastal zone. The data indicates that islands with larger and more diversified economies performed better in terms of tourism receipts than did islands with less developed economies. The results show that the average per capita income on the islands is more than six-fold greater than the average for the African continent. To test the importance of the coastal zone, tourist infrastructure was mapped on two African island nations, Mauritius and the Seychelles. Given the predominance of tourist infrastructure in the coastal zone, and the importance of tourism to the economies of many of the African island nations, a rise in sea-level even of 0.5 to 1 meters poses a serious threat to the existence of these island nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) can improve the resilience of farming systems in the face of climate-related shocks, providing a win–win for food security and environmental protection. Despite such promising benefits, its level of adoption, as well as the drivers of adoption, are still not well understood due to insufficient scholarship in this domain. This study assesses the determinants of the adoption of five CSA practices among 247 randomly selected farmers across five agricultural zones in Seychelles. A multivariate probit model was used to evaluate the determinants of adoption, allowing for the examination of synergies and trade-offs between the CSA practices. These practices include crop and livestock diversity, agroforestry, irrigation, and shade houses. Though the adoption rate varied, all farmers have adopted at least one of five CSA practices. The level of adoption of shade houses was low at 18.2%, while crop diversity recorded a high of 92.7%. Some practices, such as agroforestry and livestock diversity, irrigation, and crop diversity, and the use of shade houses and irrigation, complemented each other. Trade-offs were observed between irrigation and livestock diversity. The number of years of schooling, household size, and resources such as land tenure, farm size, use of hired labor, livestock, and nature of farmland, and farm location were crucial drivers of the adoption of CSA practices among the surveyed farmers. Agricultural strategies should recognize the complementarity of CSA practices to enhance its intensity of adoption in Seychelles. We recommend re-evaluating the current CSA technologies and identifying new technologies to ensure optimal production in an island state with a limited land area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teenage childbearing interferes with girls' educational attainment in many settings, as it frequently marks the end of their basic education. In Seychelles despite numerous laws and policies to facilitate and support teenage mothers' schooling, the number of teenage mothers returning to school remains low. We are unaware of the factors that may be hindering their return to their studies. An exploratory, qualitative study was conducted aimed at exploring the factors influencing Seychellois teenage mothers' return to school after childbirth. A semi-structured interview guide was used during individual in depth interviews with a sample of six teenage mothers who returned and six who did not return to school, as well as four key informants. This paper reports only on the data on the barriers to school return. The findings suggest that the complex realities of teenage mothers' lives are insufficiently considered, limiting young mothers' educational options. It recommends measures to improve young school-going mothers' return to school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species are facing environmental challenges caused by rapidly changing environments. Globally, extreme weather events, like droughts or extreme rainfall, are increasing in frequency. Natural selection usually acts slowly, while adaptations through phenotypic plasticity are limited. Therefore, organisms may utilise other mechanisms to cope with such rapid change. Cooperative breeding is hypothesised to be one such mechanism, as helpers could increase survival probabilities of offspring, especially in harsh years. Rainfall is a cue for onset of breeding in many tropical species, to ensure young are born when food abundance is highest. Using 21 years of data, we investigate the effect of rainfall on social behaviour and life history in the insectivorous Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis), a facultative cooperative breeder. We found that low rainfall is associated with reduced reproductive output and possibly with decreased survival. However, there were no statistical differences in response between groups with helpers, groups with only non-helping subordinates, and breeding pairs without subordinates. With low rainfall, more sons (the sex less likely to help) were produced, and those subordinate males already present were less likely to help. Thus, in contrast to expectations, cooperative breeding does not seem to buffer against harsh environments in Seychelles warblers, indicating that group living may be costly and thus not a mechanism for coping with changing environments. Our study showed that the interaction between the environment and life histories, including social behaviour, is complex, but that this interaction is important to consider when studying the impact of changing environments on species survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrasses provide ecosystem services worth USD 2.28 trillion annually. However, their direct threats and our incomplete knowledge hamper our capabilities to protect and manage them. This study aims to evaluate if the NICFI Satellite Data Program basemaps could map Seychelles' extensive seagrass meadows, directly supporting the country's ambitions to protect this ecosystem. The Seychelles archipelago was divided into three geographical regions. Half-yearly basemaps from 2015 to 2020 were combined using an interval mean of the 10th percentile and median before land and deep water masking. Additional features were produced using the Depth Invariant Index, Normalised Differences, and segmentation. With 80% of the reference data, an initial Random Forest followed by a variable importance analysis was performed. Only the top ten contributing features were retained for a second classification, which was validated with the remaining 20%. The best overall accuracies across the three regions ranged between 69.7% and 75.7%. The biggest challenges for the NICFI basemaps are its four-band spectral resolution and uncertainties owing to sampling bias. As part of a nationwide seagrass extent and blue carbon mapping project, the estimates herein will be combined with ancillary satellite data and contribute to a full national estimate in a near-future report. However, the numbers reported showcase the broader potential for using NICFI basemaps for seagrass mapping at scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem-based management is widely recognized as the path to achieve sustainability of ecosystem services. Tuna Fisheries Management Organizations have incorporated an ecosystem approach into their mandate, but their decision-making process essentially relies on individual stock assessments. This study investigates possible unintended consequences of management measures that primarily focus on single target species. In 2016, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) adopted a plan for rebuilding yellowfin tuna stock. We examined the impacts that this measure might have had on the fishing strategy of purse seine fleets and on silky shark mortality, their main elasmobranch bycatch. The economic dimension of this possible ecological impact was also explored. Logbook and observer data from the French fleet, coupled with IOTC data from Spain, Seychelles and Mauritius, were used. After the implementation of the measure, an increase on the number of fish aggregating device (FAD) sets and an expansion of the fishing effort were observed. These resulted in a 35% increase on silky shark bycatch for the French fleet and a 18% increase for all fleets combined. Based on the estimated catches, the mean forgone consumptive value of silky shark bycatch was evaluated at US$ 1.6 million. Taking the conservation value into account, the social cost of this forgone ecosystem service could increase up to USD 14 million. This work is a first exploration into to the socioeconomic dimension of trade-offs between the use of FADs in tuna purse seine fisheries and shark bycatch and can be applied to other FAD-associated species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between microbiota, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and obesity remains enigmatic. We employ amplicon sequencing and targeted metabolomics in a large (n = 1904) African origin cohort from Ghana, South Africa, Jamaica, Seychelles, and the US. Microbiota diversity and fecal SCFAs are greatest in Ghanaians, and lowest in Americans, representing each end of the urbanization spectrum. Obesity is significantly associated with a reduction in SCFA concentration, microbial diversity, and SCFA synthesizing bacteria, with country of origin being the strongest explanatory factor. Diabetes, glucose state, hypertension, obesity, and sex can be accurately predicted from the global microbiota, but when analyzed at the level of country, predictive accuracy is only universally maintained for sex. Diabetes, glucose, and hypertension are only predictive in certain low-income countries. Our findings suggest that adiposity-related microbiota differences differ between low-to-middle-income compared to high-income countries. Further investigation is needed to determine the factors driving this association. Here, using amplicon sequencing and metabolomics in a large multi-country cohort, the authors find that adiposity-related microbiota differences differ between low-to-middle-income compared to high-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predatory innovations impose reciprocal selection pressures upon prey. The evolution of snake venom alpha-neurotoxins has triggered the corresponding evolution of resistance in the post-synaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of prey in a complex chemical arms race. All other things being equal, animals like caecilians (an Order of legless amphibians) are quite vulnerable to predation by fossorial elapid snakes and their powerful alpha-neurotoxic venoms; thus, they are under strong selective pressure. Here, we sequenced the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha-1 subunit of 37 caecilian species, representing all currently known families of caecilians from across the Americas, Africa, and Asia, including species endemic to the Seychelles. Three types of resistance were identified: (1) steric hindrance from N-glycosylated asparagines; (2) secondary structural changes due to the replacement of proline by another amino acid; and (3) electrostatic charge repulsion of the positively charged neurotoxins, through the introduction of a positively charged amino acid into the toxin-binding site. We demonstrated that resistance to alpha-neurotoxins convergently evolved at least fifteen times across the caecilian tree (three times in Africa, seven times in the Americas, and five times in Asia). Additionally, as several species were shown to possess multiple resistance modifications acting synergistically, caecilians must have undergone at least 20 separate events involving the origin of toxin resistance. On the other hand, resistance in non-caecilian amphibians was found to be limited to five origins. Together, the mutations underlying resistance in caecilians constitute a robust signature of positive selection which strongly correlates with elapid presence through both space (sympatry with caecilian-eating elapids) and time (Cenozoic radiation of elapids). Our study demonstrates the extent of convergent evolution that can be expected when a single widespread predatory adaptation triggers parallel evolutionary arms races at a global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to multiple indexes, including the E.I.U. Democracy index, Mauritius is among the strongest democracies in the world, making it a notable regional outlier when compared to the other governments of sub-Saharan Africa. The intent of this research is to discern the conditions and explanations for Mauritius' democratic formation durability. Using a mostly similar systems case study comparison with Seychelles, the research tested the validity of the National Identity Theory of democratic formation as well as other Mauritius-specific theories found in the literature on the subject. Ultimately, the research found soft rejections of the National Identity Theory, as well as of the British Constitutionalism and Coalition-Building Theories, while finding support for the Civil Society Theory. The research also proposes differences in geopolitical standing and early leadership as potential explanations for this outcome, leading to avenues for further research into those topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports new mineral and whole-rock geochemical data on the acid volcano-plutonic rocks of the Tusham Ring Complex (TRC) from the Neoproterozoic Malani Igneous Suite (MIS), northwestern Peninsular India and discusses their magmatic evolution, tectonic implication, and geodynamic history. Geochemically, the investigated rocks have the characteristics of hypersolvus, high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic, peraluminous and A-type granitoids and they are enriched in SiO2, (Na2O + K2O), Fe/ Mg, Ga/Al, Th, U, REE (except Eu), LILE + HFSE, halogens (F and Cl) and depleted in CaO, MgO, Sr, Cr, Ni, P, Ti and Eu abundances. They also show high heat production (HHP) affinity and high mineralization potential. The high abundances of fluorine (0.80–7.11 wt %) and chlorine (0.44–1.56 wt %) in biotite and the geochemistry of the studied rock types indicate that the acid volcanics and granite massifs of TRC were derived from a halogen-enriched magmatic source under low degree partial melting of crustal protolith. The field, petrography, mineral chemistry, whole-rock geochemistry of the rocks under study, in combination with their tectonic and petrogenetic signatures have proposed that the rift-related Neoproterozoic magmatism of MIS has close linkage with geodynamic evolution of Nagarparkar, Seychelles and Madagascar A-type granitoids during Rodinia breakup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether or not the Altyn Tagh terranes in northwest China were part of the Rodinia supercontinent is unclear due to the apparent absence of rift-related igneous rocks. We present U-Pb geochronology, mineral chemistry, whole-rock major and trace element and Sr-Nd isotope data for the Yapuqiasayi mafic dykes in the North Altyn Tagh. Zircon and baddeleyite from a mafic dyke sample yield indistinguishable U-Pb results and a weighted mean 207Pb/206Pb date of 740 ± 11 Ma, interpreted as the igneous crystallization age. The dykes are tholeiitic in composition, with high TiO2, Zr/Sm and Zr/Y, resembling intraplate basalts. Whole-rock major and trace elements, together with Sr and Nd isotope data, indicate that the dyke magmas originated by 3–5% partial melting of a garnet-poor (<1%) asthenospheric mantle source and were variably modified by crustal contamination. These features, together with mineral chemistry and field observations, indicate that these mafic dykes formed in a continental rift setting, possibly induced above a mantle plume. We show that the Yapuqiasayi dykes are similar in age and petrogenetic characteristics to mafic igneous rocks in Australia, South China, Seychelles, Laurentia, and Tarim, and speculate that their emplacement in North Altyn Tagh was associated with rifting and break-up of the Rodinia supercontinent above a Neoproterozoic superplume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African agriculture is bound to face challenges for its future food systems development and economic transformation. Indoor vertical farms with artificial lighting represent an opportunity that has been gaining relevance worldwide, thanks to their potential to enable high productivity rates, food quality and safety, year-round production, and more sustainable use of water and mineral nutrients. The present study assesses the potential for vertical farming technology integration within the African continent, targeting the countries where a more sustainable approach could be achieved. A deep analysis of each territory's major opportunities and challenges was built through an updated database of 147 development indicators from 54 African states. Countries such as South Africa, Seychelles, Egypt, Mauritius, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Cape Verde, and Nigeria showed the best prospective for indoor vertical farming implementation. Moreover, Seychelles, South Africa, and Egypt resulted to be the countries where vertical indoor farming could be more sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African agriculture is bound to face challenges for its future food systems development and economic transformation. Indoor vertical farms with artificial lighting represent an opportunity that has been gaining relevance worldwide, thanks to their potential to enable high productivity rates, food quality and safety, year-round production, and more sustainable use of water and mineral nutrients. The present study assesses the potential for vertical farming technology integration within the African continent, targeting the countries where a more sustainable approach could be achieved. A deep analysis of each territory's major opportunities and challenges was built through an updated database of 147 development indicators from 54 African states. Countries such as South Africa, Seychelles, Egypt, Mauritius, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Cape Verde, and Nigeria showed the best prospective for indoor vertical farming implementation. Moreover, Seychelles, South Africa, and Egypt resulted to be the countries where vertical indoor farming could be more sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leafless Vanilla species complex from the South‐West Indian Ocean (SWIO) region has long been a taxonomic challenge, due to limited patterns of morphological differentiation and an absence of variation within chloroplast sequences. This complex includes seven known morphospecies: V. madagascariensis, V. bosseri, V. decaryana, and V. perrieri endemic to Madagascar, V. humblotii presumed as endemic to the Comoros Archipelago, but also present in Madagascar, V. roscheri from the East African coast, and V. phalaenopsis endemic to Seychelles. A previous population genetic study using microsatellite markers allowed us to distinguish, in addition to the five recognized Malagasy taxa, two other genetic clusters present in the East of the island. An integrative taxonomy approach was therefore conducted by combining microsatellite and morphological data used in the previous study with new data sets, and by adding ITS sequencing data, to validate the taxonomic level of these Malagasy genetic clusters and unravel phylogenetic relationships between SWIO species. As a result, based on phylogenetic, genotypic and morphological evidence, nine species were discriminated in the SWIO region, including seven in Madagascar, with two new eastern species. The leafless Vanilla group originated and diversified in Madagascar, from an ancestor of African descent, with three subsequent independent colonization events from Madagascar to the other territories of SWIO within the two main lineages (white versus yellow flower species). The new Malagasy species, V. allorgeae Andriamihaja & Pailler sp. nov., and V. atsinananensis Andriamihaja & Pailler sp. nov., are described and a new identification key is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Considerable research has focussed on the importance of bacterial communities within the vertebrate gut microbiome (GM). However, studies investigating the significance of other microbial kingdoms, such as fungi, are notably lacking, despite their potential to influence host processes. Here, we characterise the fungal GM of individuals living in a natural population of Seychelles warblers (Acrocephalus sechellensis). We evaluate the extent to which fungal GM structure is shaped by environment and host factors, including genome-wide heterozygosity and variation at key immune genes (major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and Toll-like receptor (TLR)). Importantly, we also explore the relationship between fungal GM differences and subsequent host survival. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the genetic drivers and fitness consequences of fungal GM variation have been characterised for a wild vertebrate population. Results: Environmental factors, including season and territory quality, explain the largest proportion of variance in the fungal GM. In contrast, neither host age, sex, genome-wide heterozygosity, nor TLR3 genotype was associated with fungal GM differences in Seychelles warblers. However, the presence of four MHC-I alleles and one MHC-II allele was associated with changes in fungal GM alpha diversity. Changes in fungal richness ranged from between 1 and 10 sequencing variants lost or gained; in some cases, this accounted for 20% of the fungal variants carried by an individual. In addition to this, overall MHC-I allelic diversity was associated with small, but potentially important, changes in fungal GM composition. This is evidenced by the fact that fungal GM composition differed between individuals that survived or died within 7 months of being sampled. Conclusions: Our results suggest that environmental factors play a primary role in shaping the fungal GM, but that components of the host immune system—specifically the MHC—may also contribute to the variation in fungal communities across individuals within wild populations. Furthermore, variation in the fungal GM can be associated with differential survival in the wild. Further work is needed to establish the causality of such relationships and, thus, the extent to which components of the GM may impact host evolution. 9CdzjevkYdspZSC-kwkuzt Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benthic components of tropical mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) are home to diverse fish assemblages, but the effect of multiscale spatial benthic characteristics on MCE fish is not well understood. To investigate the influence of fine‐scale benthic seascape structure and broad‐scale environmental characteristics on MCE fish, we surveyed fish assemblages in Seychelles at 30, 60 and 120 m depth using submersible video transects. Spatial pattern metrics from seascape ecology were applied to quantify fine‐scale benthic seascape composition, configuration and terrain morphology from structure‐from‐motion photogrammetry and multibeam echosounder bathymetry and to explore seascape–fish associations. Hierarchical clustering using fish abundance and biomass data identified four distinct assemblages separated by the depth and geographic location, but also significantly influenced by variations in fine‐scale seascape structure. Results further revealed variable responses of assemblage characteristics (fish biomass, abundance, trophic group richness, Shannon diversity) to seascape heterogeneity at different depths. Sites with steep slopes and high terrain complexity hosted higher fish abundance and biomass, with shallower fish assemblages (30–60 m) positively associated with aggregated patch mixtures of coral, rubble, sediment and macroalgae with variable patch shapes. Deeper fish assemblages (120 m) were positively associated with relief and structural complexity and local variability in the substratum and benthic cover. Our study demonstrates the potential of spatial pattern metrics quantifying benthic composition, configuration and terrain structure to delineate mesophotic fish–habitat associations. Furthermore, incorporating a finer‐scale perspective proved valuable to explain the compositional patterns of MCE fish assemblages. As developments in marine surveying and monitoring of MCEs continue, we suggest that future studies incorporating spatial pattern metrics with multiscale remotely sensed data can provide insights will that are both ecologically meaningful to fish and operationally relevant to conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of the representative cartographic techniques demonstrated that there are still considerable challenges facing the methods of marine geodetic, geophysical and bathymetric data visualisation. In an oceanic seafloor formation, the interaction between the geological structural elements and topographical relief can be analysed by advanced mapping. In present study, a correlation between geodesy, geophysics and topography has been examined including the following variables: geological structure, coastal topography and bathymetry, geophysical fields, free-air gravity anomalies and geoid undulation, sediment thickness, bathymetric patterns, and extension of the transform faults. The variables were visualised on the high-resolution raster grids using Generic Mapping Tools (GMT) scripting toolset. The study area is located in the Seychelles and the Somali Sea segment of the Indian Ocean. The data incorporates satellite-derived gravity grid, EGM-2008, geological structures, topography from GEBCO grid and GlobSed sediment thickness, processed by GMT scripts. The results demonstrated that western continental slope of Somalia is wide, gently declining to the seafloor at depths exceeding -5000 m. Kenya and Tanzania present a wide continental foot with depths ranging from -3500 to -5000 m. The Somali Sea basin shows low sedimentation lower than 500 m, while ridges and island chains have higher sediment influx (1,000-2,000 m). The Mozambique Channel has dominating values at 2,500-3,500 m. Higher values are noted near the Reunion and Mauritius islands until the Seychelles via the Mascarene Plateau (500-1,000 m) against the <500 m in the areas of the Mid-Indian Ridge, Carlsberg Ridge and open water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a Small Island Developing State, Seychelles is disproportionately affected by climate change, and enhancing her adaptive capacity is a national priority. Identifying and integrating local capacity needs into policy measures can improve multilevel governance and the effective implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), given that local governments have contextual knowledge about their territories and the climate change challenges affecting them. Based on the Capital Approach Framework (CAF), this study carries out an analysis of local governance capacity needs for implementing climate change adaptation in Seychelles. Data were collected using two methods: (i) questionnaire-led interviews among twenty-four district administrators (DAs), and (ii) an interactive workshop involving thirty-one participants, of which twenty-six were DAs and five were members of the National Climate Change Committee. The CAF was measured in two ways: (i) through descriptive statistics such as frequencies based on interview data, and (ii) through the ranking of types of capital to assess their weightings across four categories using a consensus approach during the participatory workshop. The findings of this study indicate significant political, financial, and human resource capacity gaps, which collectively hinder local adaptation. The critical shortcomings identified include the low participation in national-level decision-making processes, the inability to access external funding sources, and the lack of technical know-how. Through a participatory approach involving the local government representatives and the National Climate Change Committee, ten recommendations for policy measures that can enhance the effectiveness of local governance in climate change adaptation were co-developed. Seven of these recommendations partly address issues related to political capital. These recommendations highlight that a siloed approach cannot effectively address the impacts of climate change. For example, one of the recommendations stated that land-use planning should be guided by location-specific vulnerabilities, as these differ across districts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: approximately eighty million people around the world are living with hepatitis C, and 700,000 people die every year, due to hepatitis C related complications. In Seychelles, a total of 777 cases of hepatitis C were reported from 2002 to 2016, but up to mid of 2016, the cases were not being treated. Treatment with Harvoni, a combination of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir (SOF/LDV), is now being offered on the condition that the patient does not, or has stopped, injecting drugs. This paper is the first to establish the cost effectiveness of treating all cases of hepatitis C in Seychelles with Harvoni, as compared to no treatment. Methods: data extracted from literature was used to populate an economic model to calculate cost-effectiveness from Seychelles' government perspective. The model structure was also informed by the systematic review and an accompanying grading of economic models using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standard (CHEERS) checklist. A Markov model was developed, employing a lifetime horizon and costs and benefits were analysed from a payer's perspective and combined into incremental cost effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Results: the direct-acting antiviral (DAA), Harvoni, was found to be cost-saving in Seychelles hepatitis C virus (HCV) cohort, as compared to no treatment, with an ICER of € 753.65/QALY. The treatment was also cost-saving when stratified by gender, with the ICER of male and female being € 783.74/QALY and € 635.20/QALY, respectively. Moreover, the results obtained from acceptability curves showed that treating patients with Harvoni is the most cost-effective option, even for low thresholds. Conclusion: treating hepatitis C cases in Seychelles is costsaving. It is worth developing a treatment programme to include all cases of hepatitis C, regardless of status of drug injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reassesses the historical connections linking Seychelles and Reunion Island from the 1770s to the 1900s. It highlights the contributions of Reunion people in the early development of Seychelles as a case of mutual self-interest cooperation rooted in history. Reunionese migrated to Seychelles during the French period, which lasted from 1770 to the 1810s. In addition to their contribution to the settlement of the then uninhabited archipelago, Reunion people introduced new crops. Despite the parceling out of these two island societies between the British and French empires in 1815, no complete interruption occurred. In the second half of the nineteenth century, Reunion's impact on Seychelles society evolved to more specialized areas. As such, the story constitutes a valuable and instructive chapter in trans-imperial and inter-colonial cooperation within the Indian Ocean. Ultimately, the promotion of this shared heritage is an asset for regional cooperation today in various ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles are at the center of industrial tuna extraction in the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO). In this paper, we show that, while a discourse of regionalism between the three islands is prominent, the possibilities of regionalism face deep challenges in relation to the tuna industry. This is due to three factors. First, local perceptions, especially amongst those working in and on the tuna industry, are in disconnection with an 'Indianoceania' vision. Second, the geopolitics between coastal states and distant water fishing nations creates various entanglements including through fishing access revenue and foreign aid. Finally, the materiality of tuna can at times create competition as countries seek to individually maximize benefits from the industry. We argue that the active reinforcement of regional identity and collaboration around this resource is necessary to sustain local benefits into the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2005, there were outbreaks of febrile polyarthritis due to Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in the Comoros Islands. CHIKV then spread to other islands in the Indian Ocean: La Réunion, Mauritius, Seychelles and Madagascar. These outbreaks revealed the lack of surveillance and preparedness of Madagascar and other countries. Thus, it was decided in 2007 to establish a syndrome-based surveillance network to monitor dengue-like illness. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the use of capillary blood samples blotted on filter papers for molecular diagnosis of CHIKV infection. Venous blood samples can be difficult to obtain and the shipment of serum in appropriate temperature conditions is too costly for most developing countries. Methodology and principal findings: Venous blood and dried-blood blotted on filter paper (DBFP) were collected during the last CHIKV outbreak in Madagascar (2010) and as part of our routine surveillance of dengue-like illness. All samples were tested by real-time RT-PCR and results with serum and DBFP samples were compared for each patient. The sensitivity and specificity of tests performed with DBFP, relative to those with venous samples (defined as 100%) were 93.1% (95% CI:[84.7–97.7]) and 94.4% (95% CI:[88.3–97.7]), respectively. The Kappa coefficient 0.87 (95% CI:[0.80–0.94]) was excellent. Conclusion: This study shows that DBFP specimens can be used as a cost-effective alternative sampling method for the surveillance and monitoring of CHIKV circulation and emergence in developing countries, and probably also for other arboviruses. The loss of sensitivity is insignificant and involved a very small number of patients, all with low viral loads. Whether viruses can be isolated from dried blood spots remains to be determined. Author Summary: Chikungunya is a mosquito-transmitted viral disease. No treatment is currently available. The only way to prevent infection is to avoid mosquito bites. Surveillance of circulation by early diagnosis is useful to prevent or limit outbreak. CHIKV, like all RNA viruses, is heat-labile. Consequently, confirmatory diagnosis classically requires blood samples that are transported in appropriate conditions (i.e. at 4°C within 48 hours, in liquid nitrogen, or frozen at −80°C and transported on dry ice) to prevent false negative results. This is not always possible in field conditions in low income countries. Dried blood spots are already used to diagnose parasitic, bacterial and viral infection. We compared venous sample to dried blood sample to make diagnosis of Chikungunya infection. We demonstrate the usefulness of this sampling method for the molecular diagnosis of Chikungunya infection. In particular, dried blood spots were very nearly as suitable as frozen serum specimens for the diagnosis of recent infection by CHIKV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparative pore water-sediment studies are crucial to trace biogeochemical and early diagenetic interactions between mineral and fluid phases. They are commonly conducted in stable environments with long-time diagenetic reactions between sediment and pore water. In contrast, this work presents a comparative study within the Cinq Cases pool system, a shallow and saline water body, with occasional marine influx and short-time diagenetic reactions between sediment and pore water. Cinq Cases is located on the Aldabra atoll in the western Indian Ocean. Sediments span ca. 3800 years and indicate three environmental stages: (i) An initial, at least temporary anoxic, palustrine environment, including meteoric diagenesis (Unit III), (ii) slow marine flooding, with cyanobacteria and sponge blooms (Unit II), and (iii) lagoon flooding, including oxic conditions within the sediment (Unit I). Such frequent changes in diagenetic environments of small water bodies can be retraced by three different proxies representing partially overlapping but different time scales: (i) sediments reflect ancient processes (ii) pore waters are influenced by recent processes, and (iii) bacterial communities reflect an overlay of ancient and recent processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global Red List assessments are powerful tools for informing large-scale conservation decision-making processes, however, they can also be used to inform more localised research and conservation priorities. Here, a conservation status assessment was conducted for the marine vertebrate biodiversity of two recently designated marine protected areas in the Republic of Seychelles. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessments were compiled and trends in data analysed for the 524 species recorded locally. Findings suggest that 5.5–23.1% of all marine vertebrate biodiversity at the site is threatened or near-threatened with extinction (combined as 'elevated risk'), and highlights sharks and rays as contributing two thirds (67.9%) to the 'elevated risk' biodiversity of the site. Fishing activities constitute the largest threat to every 'elevated risk' species using the site, with sharks and rays being most impacted. Species richness analysis across major habitat types evidence the high value of coral reef areas to almost all species and the importance of adjacent deep-water areas for 'elevated risk' species. Theoretical national assessments showed that the majority of globally ER species remained in the same Red List category in their respective national assessment. This study demonstrates the value of global Red List data for optimising research efforts and conservation practices on a localised scale and for informing the design and zonation of marine protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both in Guadeloupe and in the Seychelles a French-based Creole coexists with French. In addition to this shared main ecological parameter, the two areas diverge in several other points of their contact ecology: First, due to the different timing of French colonization, the French variety exported to Guadeloupe in the 17th century differed from the variety exported to the Seychelles a century later. Second, while the Seychelles were a British colony from 1814 to independence in 1976, Guadeloupe always remained French and is still a French overseas department. Therefore, the contact ecology in Guadeloupe may be characterized as a reciprocally dominant monocontact situation (see Gadet/Ludwig/ Pfänder 2009), while the situation in the Seychelles is one of polycontact (Seychelles' Creole-English-French), with Seychelles' Creole and English being dominant in their influence on French (while the reverse is not the case). Using data from several corpora of spoken and written French in the Seychelles and Guadeloupe, this paper shows instances of code copying (e.g. Johanson 2002, Kriegel/Ludwig/Henri 2009) from the two Creole languages (and English) on the morphosyntactical level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both in Guadeloupe and in the Seychelles a French-based Creole coexists with French. In addition to this shared main ecological parameter, the two areas diverge in several other points of their contact ecology: First, due to the different timing of French colonization, the French variety exported to Guadeloupe in the 17th century differed from the variety exported to the Seychelles a century later. Second, while the Seychelles were a British colony from 1814 to independence in 1976, Guadeloupe always remained French and is still a French overseas department. Therefore, the contact ecology in Guadeloupe may be characterized as a reciprocally dominant monocontact situation (see Gadet/Ludwig/Pfänder 2009), while the situation in the Seychelles is one of polycontact (Seychelles' Creole-English-French), with Seychelles' Creole and English being dominant in their influence on French (while the reverse is not the case). Using data from several corpora of spoken and written French in the Seychelles and Guadeloupe, this paper shows instances of code copying (e.g. Johanson 2002, Kriegel/Ludwig/Henri 2009) from the two Creole languages (and English) on the morphosyntactical level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the downwelling Rossby waves in the south Indian Ocean (IO)-induced spring asymmetric mode and the relationship with the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) event based on observations and reanalysis datasets. The westward downwelling Rossby waves favor significant sea surface temperature (SST) warming in the Seychelles thermocline dome that triggers atmosphere response and the asymmetric mode in spring. The zonal sea level pressure gradient causes anomalous easterly winds in the central and eastern equatorial IO, cooling the SST off Sumatra–Java. Meanwhile, the remainder of the downwelling Rossby waves reach the west coast, transform to northward coastal-trapped waves, and then reflect as eastward downwelling Kelvin waves along the equator. The downwelling Kelvin waves reach the Sumatra–Java coast during late spring to early summer, favoring SST warming in the southeastern tropical Indian Ocean. Thus, there are two types of ocean–atmosphere response almost at the same time along the equator. The final SST status depends on which process is stronger and, as a consequence, triggers a negative or a positive phase of the IOD event in the fall season. The results show four positive and three negative IOD events related to the above processes from 1960 to 2019. The strong downwelling Rossby waves are easier to induce an intense asymmetric mode and negative IOD event, usually associated with preceding strong El Niño in the Pacific. In contrast, the weak downwelling Rossby waves tend to induce a weak asymmetric mode and positive IOD event, usually associated with preceding weak El Niño or anomalous anticyclonic atmospheric circulation in the southeastern IO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused over 500 million cases and over six million deaths globally. From these numbers, over 12 million cases and over 250 thousand deaths have occurred on the African continent as of May 2022. Prevention and surveillance remains the cornerstone of interventions to halt the further spread of COVID-19. Google Health Trends (GHT), a free Internet tool, may be valuable to help anticipate outbreaks, identify disease hotspots, or understand the patterns of disease surveillance. We collected COVID-19 case and death incidence for 54 African countries and obtained averages for four, five-month study periods in 2020–2021. Average case and death incidences were calculated during these four time periods to measure disease severity. We used GHT to characterize COVID-19 incidence across Africa, collecting numbers of searches from GHT related to COVID-19 using four terms: 'coronavirus', 'coronavirus symptoms', 'COVID19', and 'pandemic'. The terms were related to weekly COVID-19 case incidences for the entire study period via multiple linear and weighted linear regression analyses. We also assembled 72 variables assessing Internet accessibility, demographics, economics, health, and others, for each country, to summarize potential mechanisms linking GHT searches and COVID-19 incidence. COVID-19 burden in Africa increased steadily during the study period. Important increases for COVID-19 death incidence were observed for Seychelles and Tunisia. Our study demonstrated a weak correlation between GHT and COVID-19 incidence for most African countries. Several variables seemed useful in explaining the pattern of GHT statistics and their relationship to COVID-19 including: log of average weekly cases, log of cumulative total deaths, and log of fixed total number of broadband subscriptions in a country. Apparently, GHT may best be used for surveillance of diseases that are diagnosed more consistently. Overall, GHT-based surveillance showed little applicability in the studied countries. GHT for an ongoing epidemic might be useful in specific situations, such as when countries have significant levels of infection with low variability. Future studies might assess the algorithm in different epidemic contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The paper is based on a doctoral action research project in which three ESL teachers and the author in one secondary school in the Seychelles focused on strategy instruction in the process approach to writing instruction with the aim of helping students become effective writers. The project enabled the author to establish relationships with the participating teachers as educator, facilitator and collaborator. To ensure the trustworthiness of the research, the author needed to clarify and explore the complex relationships to the setting and participants being studied. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach - In this paper, the author reflexively discusses the development nature of my research: language learning strategies (LLS) and draw upon my experience of working with three ESL Seychellois teachers in the reflection and planning stage of the Core Action Research project to critically reflect on the negotiation of my position in practice. Findings - Reflecting on the author's positionality in relation to how the teacher participants constructed the identity has helped the author to be more reflexive and engage with the research process in a more meaningful way. Originality/value - The author's experience suggests that one's positionality is never fixed and stable, but rather may be characterized as changing and fluctuating according to the context, content, feelings and ideas expressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The gut microbiome (GM) can influence many biological processes in the host, impacting its health and survival, but the GM can also be influenced by the host's traits. In vertebrates, Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes play a pivotal role in combatting pathogens and are thought to shape the host's GM. Despite this—and the documented importance of both GM and MHC variation to individual fitness—few studies have investigated the association between the GM and MHC in the wild. Results: We characterised MHC class I (MHC-I), MHC class II (MHC-II) and GM variation in individuals within a natural population of the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis). We determined how the diversity and composition of the GM varied with MHC characteristics, in addition to environmental factors and other host traits. Our results show that the presence of specific MHC alleles, but not MHC diversity, influences both the diversity and composition of the GM in this population. MHC-I alleles, rather than MHC-II alleles, had the greatest impact on the GM. GM diversity was negatively associated with the presence of three MHC-I alleles (Ase-ua3, Ase-ua4, Ase-ua5), and one MHC-II allele (Ase-dab4), while changes in GM composition were associated with the presence of four different MHC-I alleles (Ase-ua1, Ase-ua7, Ase-ua10, Ase-ua11). There were no associations between GM diversity and TLR3 genotype, but GM diversity was positively correlated with genome-wide heterozygosity and varied with host age and field period. Conclusions: These results suggest that components of the host's immune system play a role in shaping the GM of wild animals. Host genotype—specifically MHC-I and to a lesser degree MHC-II variation—can modulate the GM, although whether this occurs directly, or indirectly through effects on host health, is unclear. Importantly, if immune genes can regulate host health through modulation of the microbiome, then it is plausible that the microbiome could also influence selection on immune genes. As such, host–microbiome coevolution may play a role in maintaining functional immunogenetic variation within natural vertebrate populations. 6pCJo_ud_f-NPN_tGFHK9C Video abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many tropical islands, including Aruba, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Pacific Island countries, are entirely dependent on importing fossil fuels to meet their energy demands. Due to global warming, improving energy use efficiency and developing regionally available renewable energy resources are necessary to reduce carbon emissions. This review analyzed and identified biomass feedstocks to produce liquid biofuels targeting tropical islands, particularly focusing on Hawaii as a case study. Transportation and energy generation sectors consume 25.5% and 11.6%, respectively, of Hawaii's imported fossil fuels. Various nonedible feedstocks with information on their availability, production, and average yields of oils, fiber, sugars, and lipid content for liquid biofuels production are identified to add value to the total energy mix. The available biomass conversion technologies and production costs are summarized. In addition, a section on potentially using sewage sludge to produce biodiesel is also included. Based on a comparative analysis of kamani, croton, pongamia, jatropha, energycane, Leucaena hybrid, gliricidia, and eucalyptus feedstock resources, this study proposes that Hawaii and other similar tropical regions can potentially benefit from growing and producing economical liquid biofuels locally, especially for the transportation and electricity generation sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The failure to meet global biodiversity targets clearly indicates the need for biodiversity management and conservation efforts to be more effective, and this in turn requires better understanding of the current barriers to success. Islands are known as biodiversity hotspots but nowhere has biodiversity loss been so acute as in island ecosystems. To identify the barriers to effective island ecosystem conservation, we conducted 32 semistructured interviews with conservation and management practitioners from island nations in the Western Indian Ocean region. Practitioners described 33 barriers to meeting their objectives under 12 overarching topics and suggested 14 solutions to these. Most barriers described by interviewees existed at organization level (55%), followed by national (24%) and site/project level (21%). Of the 33 barriers described by practitioners, the most commonly associated cause was limited capacity (23.5%), followed by lack of government coordination and limited resources (both 21.6%), lack of incentives (11.8%), poor leadership (11.7%), and finally interpersonal issues interfering with progress (9.8%). Most solutions centered around bridging capacity gaps. By defining these barriers, we can bring them forward for discussion and allocate resources and efforts to bridging them. Only by doing so can we increase the effectiveness of our management efforts and maximize our chances of achieving global biodiversity targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]