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The Galapagos Islands (Galapagos Province, Ecuador) are an archipelago located in the eastern Pacific, about 560 miles west from the Ecuadorian coast. Known for their unique biodiversity and for the visit of Charles Darwin in 1835 aboard the HMS Beagle , the islands are currently a highly protected area and, at the same time, witness to strong tourist pressure. The local population is about 25,000 stable inhabitants, all of them subject to severe regulations. In such a territory—full of debates and contradictions related, above all, to conservation policies—libraries and spaces for building knowledge, recovering memories, and debating informed decisions have been practically nonexistent. This article chronicles the implementation of the first mobile library program in the archipelago, emphasizing the natural and social contexts and the author's personal impressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNMT1 is an essential DNA methyltransferase that catalyzes the transfer of methyl groups to CpG islands in DNA and generates a prominent epigenetic mark. The catalytic activity of DNMT1 relies on its conformational plasticity and ability to change conformation from an auto-inhibited to an activated state. Here, we present four cryo-EM reconstructions of apo DNMT1 and DNTM1: non-productive DNA, DNTM1: H3Ub2-peptide, DNTM1: productive DNA complexes. Our structures demonstrate the flexibility of DNMT1's N-terminal regulatory domains during the transition from an apo 'auto-inhibited' to a DNA-bound 'non-productive' and finally a DNA-bound 'productive' state of DNMT1. Furthermore, we address the regulation of DNMT1's methyltransferase activity by a DNMT1-selective small-molecule inhibitor and ubiquitinated histone H3. We observe that DNMT1 binds DNA in a 'non-productive' state despite the presence of the inhibitor and present the cryo-EM reconstruction of full-length DNMT1 in complex with a di-ubiquitinated H3 peptide analogue. Taken together, our results provide structural insights into the reaction cycle of DNMT1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the relationship between pumice formation and long-term floatability in seawater is becoming increasingly important in terms of eruption dynamics, material cycles, biological and environmental effects, and ocean hazards. Pumice rafts were produced during the 2021 eruption of the Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba submarine volcano in the Pacific Ocean, far from the Japanese archipelago. The pumice rafts reached the Amami-Ōshima and Okinawa Islands approximately two months after the eruption and continued to cover the sea surface at several bays and ports, providing a great opportunity to study the characteristics of raft pumices. Sieve analysis of the floating pumice indicated that the pumice rafts characteristically contained several millimeter-sized particles with a peak at 2–4 mm. This evidence raises an important question why the millimeter-sized, Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba 2021 pumice particles were able to float for over two months, which exceeds the floatation time shown in previous studies. To answer this question, a porosity measurement technique for millimeter-to-centimeter-sized pumice particles was established and applied to drifting pumice that erupted during the Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba 2021 eruption. The total, connected, and isolated porosities (including errors) were acquired for floating and sunken pumice particles. As studied for the floating pumice from past submarine eruptions, most floating pumice particles contain a high amount of isolated porosity (> 30 vol%) and are thus unsinkable even when the pumice size is in the millimeter scale. This study emphasizes that skeletal density is a useful measure for the determination of pumice floatability (sinkable or unsinkable). As the particle size decreases, crystals are lost from the floating pumice particles, suggesting that the particle size of the floating pumice is affected by its petrological properties (crystal content and size). A comparison with natural pumices from subaerial eruptions and experimental pumices from magma decompression experiments suggests that the Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba 2021 pumices contain abundant isolated pores due to the suppression of expansion after fragmentation by quenching in seawater, and that the relatively low to moderate crystal content in the magma (< 17 vol%) may contribute to favorable conditions to produce abundant, millimeter-sized, unsinkable pumice. Most floating pumices have lower saturation density than seawater due to abundant isolated porosity (> 30 vol%) and are thus unsinkable even when the pumice size is in the millimeter scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio‐logging has revealed much about high‐latitude seabird migratory strategies, but migratory behaviour in tropical species may differ, with implications for understanding nutrient deposition. Here we use combined light‐level and saltwater immersion loggers to study the year‐round movement behaviour of adult red‐footed boobies Sula sula rubripes from the Chagos Archipelago, tropical Indian Ocean, to assess migratory movements and estimate nutrient deposition rates based on the number of days they spent ashore. Light levels suggest that red‐footed boobies are resident in the Chagos Archipelago year‐round, although there are large latitudinal errors this close to the equator. Immersion data also indicate residency with tracked birds returning to land every one or two days. Spending an average of 79.86 ± 2.80 days and 280.84 ± 2.64 nights per year on land allows us to estimate that the 21 670 pairs of red‐footed boobies deposit 37.34 ± 0.56 tonnes year−1 of guano‐derived nitrogen throughout the archipelago. Our findings have implications for tropical seabird conservation and phylogenetics, as well as for assessing the impact of seabird nutrients on coral reef ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kerguelen archipelago in the Southern Indian Ocean was never militarised and never posed a realistic naval threat to Australia or the British Empire during the twentieth century. However, there were two episodes, once in the Federation Era and during the Second World War, when there was debate within Australia as to whether this outlying French possession posed a threat to Australian security. By examining these periods of Australian anxiety surrounding the Kerguelen archipelago, it becomes possible to see that these concerns were more reflective of Australian strategic angst than any tangible threat posed by a remote, unpopulated, nominal French possession. This episode is an example of a broader Australian angst in the early and mid‐twentieth century that remote colonial possessions could be weaponised to isolate Australia and threaten it. The Kerguelens represent one of the most peculiar examples of the manifestations of Australian strategic insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The island syndrome is a widespread biological phenomenon that describes a suite of morphological, behavioural, demographic and life‐history changes associated with island dwelling. These similar evolutionary responses among disparate groups of animals and plants represent a remarkable case of convergent evolution. Among animals, birds are a highly suitable group to study the island syndrome; they are a comparatively data‐rich taxon, are frequent island colonisers, and sometimes display extreme adaptations such as the loss of flight. However, the avian island syndrome literature is fragmented, and multiple components are rarely considered together even though many are inextricably linked. We reviewed multi‐species comparative studies, single‐species or population‐level studies and anecdotal accounts, to summarise and assess the support for individual components of the island syndrome for birds, and to identify suites of traits that should be considered together. The weight of evidence for island syndrome patterns in morphology is substantial, but is more partial or even anecdotal for various aspects of behaviour, life history and physiology. Full validation of the island syndrome in birds will require the less‐studied components to be treated in a comparative framework, and for covarying components to be examined in an integrated way. An improved description of the scope of the syndrome will pave the way to understanding its drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Flower traits are critical to the mutualistic networks that underpin ecosystem function. However, the broad‐scale drivers of flower traits are unclear. Using the megadiverse islands of Malesia, we test three hypotheses: (1) Flower size, openness and colourfulness (i.e. the trend from white to colourful flowers) will decrease with increasing temperature, but not with increasing precipitation seasonality. (2) Flower size, openness and colourfulness will increase with island area, and decrease with isolation. (3) Models parameterised by climate, rather than non‐climatic island characteristics will have the greatest predictive capacity as climate affects both pollinator communities and energetic/physiological constraints upon flower traits. Location: Fourteen Malesian islands. Taxon: Angiosperms. Methods: We applied Bayesian phylogenetic models of occurrence for >2500 species in 400 m elevation bands, across islands, as a function of flower trait interactions with either climatic variables or islands characteristics. We compare predictive capacity of models based on climate versus island characteristics using Leave One Out‐Cross Validation. Results: All six flower traits examined varied with at least temperature, precipitation seasonality, island area and isolation. Flowers are larger in cold environments. The lowland tropics are mostly inhabited by white flowered species. At cold high elevations, red and pink flowered species are more frequent whereas green and purple flowered species increase in the drought‐prone seasonally dry tropics. Flower openness declined with precipitation seasonality and increased with isolation. Models parameterised by climate performed best for perianth length, red and white flowers, whereas pink flowers and flower openness were better predicted using island characteristics. Main Conclusions: There are relationships between flower traits and climatic gradients within Malesia. However, island characteristics have also left a legacy upon current flower trait distributions. These island biogeographical impacts are likely key for the eco‐evolutionary drivers of flower traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses how the Chagos Archipelago Advisory Opinion (2019) has contributed to the determination of the role of General Assembly resolutions in the identification of customary norms. By exposing, firstly, the many theories on the weight of these international organisations' instruments and, secondly, which of these conclusions are considered customary (by the International Law Commission's work on Identification of Customary Law and by the International Court of Justice's jurisprudence); it defends that the Chagos advisory opinion has innovated in three main points. Firstly, the resolutions were not subsidiary evidence, but rather the central point of analysis for establishing the existence and scope of the right to self-determination. Secondly, the Court has offered more elements to be observed in these instruments than it ever did. Thirdly, although maintaining the focus on State practice, the Court acknowledged the role of the General Assembly, as one collective organ, on decolonisation as relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects geographically separated into island and mainland populations often exhibit phenotypic variations, a phenomenon known as insular conditions. These conditions can lead to rapid evolutionary changes that affect the morphological characteristics of mosquito vectors. Nevertheless, studies that specifically examine phenotype differences between island and mainland mosquito populations have been limited. In this study, wing variation in size and shape was investigated using the geometric morphometric (GM) technique in two dominant mosquito vectors, Aedes albopictus and Armigeres subalbatus, in the Ranong and Trat archipelagos of Thailand. Significant differences in average wing centroid size (CS) were found in 6 out of 15 population pairs for Ae. albopictus (p < 0.05) and in 5 population pairs for Ar. subalbatus (p < 0.05). After removing the allometric effect, canonical variate analyses (CVA) based on wing shape analysis revealed overlap across all populations for both Ae. albopictus and Ar. subalbatus. However, the statistical analysis indicated that Ar. subalbatus exhibited wing shape differences across all populations (p < 0.05), and most Ae. albopictus populations also displayed distinct wing shapes (p < 0.05), except for the populations from Chang Island and the mainland of Ranong, which showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). These findings enhance our understanding of mosquito adaptability in island regions and provide valuable data for the surveillance and monitoring of vector evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals that colonize islands often undergo significant evolutionary changes in comparison with their continental counterparts as a response to specific island conditions. The pace of such changes can be relatively fast, which poses challenges in the evaluation of the taxonomic status of island taxa. The Japanese and Manchurian Bush Warbler species complex (Horornis diphone–canturians), which breeds in East Asia and the Japanese Archipelago, is such an avian example. This species complex exhibits significant morphological differentiation between different taxa, and the taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationships within the complex are debated. Here, we updated the taxonomy of this species complex and shed insight on its evolutionary history using multi‐locus phylogeographic and acoustic analyses. Our results support the conventional treatment of the two continental taxa borealis and canturians as subspecies of H. canturians, contrary to some recent proposals that they are affiliated to H. diphone. We also document a reduction in body size, that is dwarfism, and vocal divergence in the nominate subspecies H. d. diphone, which is endemic to the remote and isolated Ogasawara Islands. These changes may have happened following colonization of these islands, which was estimated to have taken place approximately 0.2 million years ago. Although H. d. diphone is clearly distinctive and deserves recognition as an evolutionarily significant unit, H. d. diphone and other H. diphone samples were not reciprocally monophyletic. Because of this lack of reciprocal monophyly and a relatively recent divergence time, we advocate maintaining its current subspecies status. We also detected reduced genetic diversity, measured as heterozygosity, in H. d. diphone. We suggest that conservation efforts in the Ogasawara Islands should prioritize the protection of this endemic subspecies. Collectively, our findings suggest that the separation between the populations on the East Asian continent and the Japanese Archipelago, followed by colonization of remote oceanic islands through long‐distance dispersal, underlie rapid phenotypic and genetic diversification of the Horornis diphone–canturians species complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recognition of low-density urbanisation has been important in documenting how diverse human settlements generated enduring social and economic change. In tropical regions, the key challenges to studying low-density urbanisation have been the difficulty in acquiring past built environment data and integrating the frameworks that illuminate the social behaviours intrinsic to urbanisation. The introduction of lidar mapping and urban science methods has proven revolutionary in our understanding of low-density urbanisation as demonstrated by emerging research on settlements and states in Mesoamerica and Southeast Asia. These studies draw on urban theory to highlight patterns in the built environment associated with profound societal changes including the rise of social institutions, agglomeration effects, and ongoing settlement growth. Here, we present an approach that combines lidar survey and archaeological fieldwork with recent developments in urban science to understand the built environment of Tongatapu; the location of an archaic state whose influence spread across the southwest Pacific Ocean between the thirteenth and nineteenth centuries a.d. Quantitative results show—for the first time—that settlements on a Pacific island were urbanised in a distinct low-density form and that the processes of urbanisation began prior to state development. This study highlights the potential contribution of Pacific landscapes to urban science and the low-density settlement phenomena given the presence of large populations, hierarchical societies, and vast distributions of archaeological built remains on many island groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: A nested pattern (nestedness) in species composition is a frequent signature of insular communities. However, it remains unclear whether the drivers of nestedness are consistent across multiple island systems. Here, we investigated the pattern and drivers of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic nestedness in terrestrial mammal assemblages from 10 distinct island systems (archipelagos). Location: Global. Time period: Contemporary. Major taxa studied: Terrestrial mammals. Methods: We compiled occurrence data and species traits of terrestrial mammals from 228 islands in 10 distinct island assemblages. We assembled a dataset of island biogeographic characteristics for each of these islands, including island area, isolation index and maximum elevation. For all 10 assemblages, we first tested for significant patterns of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic nestedness. We then examined the associations between nestedness, island biogeographic characteristics and species traits. Results: We detected significant patterns of taxonomic, functional or phylogenetic nestedness in mammal assemblages from all 10 archipelagos. Biogeographic characteristics of islands affecting the rate of extinction in island species, namely, island area and elevation, were significantly associated with the degree of nestedness in these assemblages. Traits associated with the extinction probability of a species, such as litter size, further drove the nested pattern in some assemblages. Main conclusions: All analyses pointed to selective extinction as a main mechanism shaping the observed nested patterns in island mammal assemblages. From a conservation point of view, different management strategies should be implemented for mammal assemblages in these island systems by identifying the drivers of species extinction rates specific to each island system and species occurring on these islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the transpacific crossings of beetle borer at several sugar transplantations in Hawaii. Topics mentioned include a description of beetle borer's parasitoid called tachinid fly, the history of sugar, the physical and socioecological geographies of the Pacific Ocean, the examination of insects as coconsumers and coproducers, and the birth of the Hawaiian sugarcane.

An introduction to articles published within the issue is presented including one about oceanic connectivities, island iconographies, and the geospatial dimensions of the Pacific Ocean.

AbstractSeed features are a useful and relevant source of taxonomic information, especially when evaluated based on morphometric and micromorphological approaches. Here, we studied 21 populations from four out of the five species of the Mediterranean Linaria purpurea group (Plantaginaceae). Linaria capraria (endemic to Tuscan Archipelago) and L. cossonii (endemic to Sardinia and Tunisia) are easily recognizable based on overall morphometry and SEM analysis, respectively. On the contrary, L. arcusangeli (endemic to southern Sardinia) and L. purpurea (endemic to peninsular Italy and Sicily) show very similar seeds, whose features do not guarantee a reliable identification, although these two species are otherwise well distinct for their habit and flower features. Accordingly, by integrating all the available information, all four species are well supported on morphological grounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori, are often excluded and underserved by hearing health services that often neglect their cultural values and needs. In response to this, we aimed to advance the delivery of culturally appropriate services with Māori clients through the validation of a te reo Māori hearing screening test. A He Awa Whiria: Braided rivers framework was applied to weave Māori knowledge and cultural values into this audiological research and to support the collaboration of Māori and non-Māori researchers through a Kaupapa Māori approach stream. While the validation of the screening test was interrupted due to COVID-19, we discuss in detail the approach stream used in this study. Together the approach and validation streams form the foundation of an ongoing research initiative aimed at addressing Western biomedical approach limitations, expanding the hearing health sector's knowledge base to deliver culturally responsive care, and in a small way contributing to the revitalisation of te reo Māori.Glossary of Māori words: Ahitereiria ki te Hauāuru: Western Australia; atua: ancestor with continuing influence; Aotearoa: North Island of New Zealand - now used as the Māori word for New Zealand; hapū: sub-tribal, clans, wider whānau descent or political units; hongi: traditional Māori greeting; He Awa Whiria: braided rivers approach; hui: meeting; ia: Te reo Māori pronoun for everyone; iwi: tribe; kai: food; Kai Tahu/Ngai Tahu: tribal group of the South Island; kanohi kitea: the seen face; kanohi ki te kanohi: face-to-face; karakia: incantation, chant, thought, or prayer; kaumātua: Māori elder/s; kaupapa: topic, policy, matter of discussion; Kaupapa Māori: a philosophical approach using Māori knowledge and values; kete: woven basket/s; Kohanga Reo: Māori language preschool; kōrero: narratives and prose; koringo-tangi-roa: the wooden flute or trumpet of Ngongo; kūmara: wweet potato; Kura Kaupapa: Māori language immersion schools; kupu: word, vocabulary; manaakitanga: the process of showing respect, generosity and care for others; Māori: Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand; marae: a significant Māori community complex of buildings; mātauranga Māori: Indigenous Māori knowledge; Ngā Rauru: an iwi of Taranaki; Ngāpuhi: a tribal group situated in the top of the North Island; Ngāti Hau: people of the Whanganui River; Ngāti Porou: a tribal group of the East Coast of the North Island; Ngāti Whātua: tribal group between the Hokianga Harbour and Tāmaki; Ōtautahi: traditional name known now as Christchurch; Pākehā: New Zealander with European descent, non-Māori; Papatūānuku: Earth mother; pihoi: inattentively deaf; pūwharawhara: deaf; Rakinui/Ranginui: Sky father; Rehua: a deaf atua associated with kindness, a child of Pāpātuanuku and Rakinui; tāhorehore: deaf as if the ears were cropped; Takaroa/Tangaroa: an atua of the sea; Taki-ao-terangi: daughter of Rehua; Tāmaki: Auckland; Tāne-tūturi: a deaf child of Ranginui and Papatūānuku; Tangata Tiriti: people of Te Tiriti, referring to all non-Māori citizens and residents of Aotearoa; tangata whenua: people of the land, Indigenous peoples, local people, hosts; taonga: treasure of social or cultural value; tapu: sacred, spiritual restriction containing a strong imposition of rules and prohibitions; taringa kōhatu: deaf, stubborn; taringa muhu kai: ear listening for food - a person whose only concern is when food is served; taringa puta iti: little ear orifice, inattentive; taringa turi: deaf; teina: young, less skilled learner; te Ao Māori: the Māori world; te reo Māori (te reo): the Māori language, Indigenous language of Aotearoa; Te Tiriti o Waitangi: Signed in 1840 this is the Māori language version of an agreement between two internationally recognised sovereign nations, Māori, as tāngata whenua, and the British Crown; Te Waipounamu: the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand; Te Whakamātautau Whakarongo o Aotearoa: Te Reo Māori Digit Triplet Test, TRMDTT; tikanga Māori: Māori customs, procedures, protocols, practices, system of values, the Māori way; tīpuna: ancestors; tohunga: priest, practitioner, expert; tuakana: mentors; turi: deaf; turikere: deafened; waiata: songs and chants; wairuatanga: spiritual well-being; Waitaha: traditional name for region known as Canterbury; wānanga: to meet and discuss, Māori learning, educational forum; whakamā: shame, embarrassment, guilt; whakapapa: To place in layers, to recite genealogies, lineage; whakarongo: an intransitive verb that can mean to listen but may also be used to ready the senses such as to smell, touch or feel; whakataukī: proverb, significant saying; whakawhanaungatanga: an indigenous process of creating relational connection; whānau: immediate and extended family and friends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-scale representation of remote sensing images provides various levels of image information crucial for decision-making in GIS applications and plays a significant role in information processing, data analysis, and geographic modeling. Traditional methods for multi-scale representation of remote sensing images often struggle to simplify local details of individual targets while preserving the overall characteristics of target groups. These methods also encounter issues such as transitional texture distortion and rough final boundaries. This paper proposes a novel multi-scale representation method for remote sensing images based on computer vision techniques, which effectively maintains the overall characteristics of target groups. Initially, the K-means algorithm is employed to distinguish between islands and oceans. Subsequently, a superpixel segmentation algorithm is used to aggregate island groups and simplify the generated boundaries. Finally, texture synthesis and transfer are applied based on the original image to produce the aggregated island images. Evaluation metrics demonstrate that this method can generate multi-scale aggregated images of islands, effectively eliminate redundant information, and produce smooth boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the human-mediated dispersal of snake species in the Aegean Islands. The region's diverse herpetofauna is a result of its geographical location and historical factors. Human activities, particularly trade routes, have played a role in the movement of snakes in the area. The study focuses on two snake species, Telescopus fallax and Natrix tessellata, and uses DNA sequences to examine the genetic relationships and biogeographic history of specific island populations. The findings reveal distinct genetic groups and differences between populations in different parts of the Aegean. The article emphasizes the importance of further research to better understand the impact of human-mediated snake dispersal in the region. [Extracted from the article]

Theory links dispersal and diversity, predicting the highest diversity at intermediate dispersal levels. However, the modulation of this relationship by macro-eco-evolutionary mechanisms and competition within a landscape is still elusive. We examine the interplay between dispersal, competition and landscape structure in shaping biodiversity over 5 million years in a dynamic archipelago landscape. We model allopatric speciation, temperature niche, dispersal, competition, trait evolution and trade-offs between competitive and dispersal traits. Depending on dispersal abilities and their interaction with landscape structure, our archipelago exhibits two 'connectivity regimes', that foster speciation events among the same group of islands. Peaks of diversity (i.e. alpha, gamma and phylogenetic), occurred at intermediate dispersal; while competition shifted diversity peaks towards higher dispersal values for each connectivity regime. This shift demonstrates how competition can boost allopatric speciation events through the evolution of thermal specialists, ultimately limiting geographical ranges. Even in a simple landscape, multiple intermediate dispersal diversity relationships emerged, all shaped similarly and according to dispersal and competition strength. Our findings remain valid as dispersal- and competitive-related traits evolve and trade-off; potentially leaving identifiable biodiversity signatures, particularly when trade-offs are imposed. Overall, we scrutinize the convoluted relationships between dispersal, species interactions and landscape structure on macro-eco-evolutionary processes, with lasting imprints on biodiversity. This article is part of the theme issue 'Diversity-dependence of dispersal: interspecific interactions determine spatial dynamics'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, climate extremes have been grabbing attention as important drivers of environmental change. Here, we assemble an observational inventory of energy and mass fluxes to quantify the ice loss from glaciers on the Russian High Arctic archipelago of Novaya Zemlya. Satellite altimetry reveals that 70 ± 19% of the 149 ± 29 Gt mass loss between 2011 and 2022 occurred in just four high-melt years. We find that 71 ± 3% of the melt, including the top melt cases, are driven by extreme energy imports from atmospheric rivers. The majority of ice loss occurs on leeward slopes due to foehn winds. 45 of the 54 high-melt days (>1 Gt d−1) in 1990 to 2022 show a combination of atmospheric rivers and foehn winds. Therefore, the frequency and intensity of atmospheric rivers demand accurate representation for reliable future glacier melt projections for the Russian High Arctic. Moist, warm air from mid-latitudes lead to a speed-up of glacial ice loss in Novaya Zemlya, High Russian Arctic. Foehn winds enable especially high melt rates. These conditions became more frequent over the past decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aim Location Time Period Major Taxa Studied Methods Results Main Conclusions We map global patterns of taxonomic and functional change between past (pre‐human impacts) and present (after anthropogenic extinctions and introductions) in large oceanic island bird assemblages and investigate if these patterns can be explained by island characteristics and anthropogenic factors.Sixty‐four oceanic islands (>100 km2).Late Holocene.Terrestrial and freshwater bird species.We compiled information on extinct, extant native and introduced bird species for all islands and used a probabilistic hypervolume approach to build a multi‐dimensional trait space and calculate several functional diversity metrics before and after extinctions and introductions. We identified which islands are global hotspots of human‐induced transformation by mapping multiple facets of biotic change and investigated intrinsic island characteristics and anthropogenic factors as drivers for these observed patterns.The Hawaiian and Mascarene islands stand out as hotspots of taxonomic and functional change, but all islands changed taxonomically and functionally, mostly gaining species but losing functional richness. Taxonomic and functional changes vary across islands but are often consistent within the same archipelago. Island isolation and surface can explain some of the observed variations, but anthropogenic factors, namely human occupation, also shaped both taxonomic and functional changes. Islands with higher human pressure, as well as larger islands with high elevation ranges, tended to have greater losses in functional richness.Most biodiversity change assessments are still largely based exclusively on taxonomic diversity, which is particularly worrying in the case of oceanic islands given that the magnitude of functional diversity change is often considerably larger. We call for comprehensive assessments of changes in both taxonomic and functional diversity across oceanic islands in order to better understand the drivers of these changes and, in turn, predict future trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing in part on the work of Édouard Glissant, this article explores how the Raizal population of the San Andrés Archipelago in the Caribbean mobilises the concept of maritorio as an archipelagic geopoetic vessel with emancipatory potential. This concept disrupts dominant land/sea binaries that result from and are rooted in geopolitical mechanisms and colonial fantasies. The San Andrés Archipelago is administratively and politically part of Colombia, but the Raizal people of the Archipelago share a long colonial and postcolonial history with Black Creole people elsewhere in the Anglophone Caribbean, especially the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, based on diverse forms of economic, familial, and cultural exchange and marine mobilities. For many years, the status of the Archipelago was the basis of a dispute between Nicaragua and Colombia at the International Court of Justice, who ruled in 2012 that the islands were in fact Colombian while Nicaragua gained 75,000 km2 of sea. This ruling was devastating for the Raizales, fragmenting their maritorio and further thwarting Black mobilities and cultural exchange across the region. Legal‐geopolitical dislocations applied to the islands and the sea exacerbated structural conditions of racial and environmental injustice, while geopoetic responses by Raizal people to this state of affairs serve to confront colonial dispossession, ecological damage, and the ideological fixities of the Eurocentric nation‐state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In their claim to distance from reality, maps seek power from representation. Maps are constituted by a particular set of practices that are enmeshed within wider social relations. Maps, then, are a powerful vantage point for understanding the geometries of power. Under settler colonialism, geography is constantly reshaped and reconfigured by expansionist and eliminatory logics. Such is the case in Palestine, where Israeli settler colonialism has fragmented the map of historic Palestine into messily separated archipelagos. As Palestinian geographies are constantly being reconfigured under Israeli settler colonialism, can maps catch up? How do we locate Palestine on the map? I take up these questions by focusing on the 1948 and 1967 Palestinian territories as two spatio‐temporally differentiated locations of settler colonial spatial reconfiguration. Using a counter‐map designed by Palestinian artist Haya Zaatry, I highlight the importance of counter‐mapping in bringing into sharp relief the conjunctural layering of dispossession in Palestine. If dominant colonial maps are about the neat packaging of lived realities into dominant spatio‐temporal demarcations, counter‐maps are about highlighting the ghostly stories and embodied spatial practices and processes of living within and beyond such demarcations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bahamas is a relatively small archipelago challenged by a broad spectrum of diverse, complex, and consequential national security threats that extend to the ‘unknown’ of a global security threat equation. To address the threat spectrum, Bahamian policymakers incorporated the National Crime Intelligence Agency (NCIA) within the national security architecture. For various reasons, Bahamians are sceptical about, scared of, and uncomfortable with the idea or reality of the NCIA. As such, the NCIA has to pass the legitimacy test as it steps out of the shadows. This article provides a preview into the legitimacy test of The Bahamas’ professional secret intelligence service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species experience a variety of environmental and anthropogenic conditions across their ranges leading to spatial variation in population dynamics. Understanding population dynamics under different conditions is important but it is challenging to allocate limited effort to spatial and temporal subpopulation monitoring. Using GLMMs, we analyze survey data of a metapopulation of coconut crabs spanning 7 years and 15 sites in and near the Pemba archipelago, Zanzibar, to estimate trends in population size (based on catch per unit effort), weight and sex ratio at the meta‐ and subpopulation level and investigate anthropogenic drivers of these trends. We found that the overall metapopulation has remained stable in terms of size and composition over the survey period, but observed diverging trends in population size and sex ratio at some subpopulations. Formal protection of sites was associated with positive population trends. Of nine sites for which we could estimate site‐specific trends, three showed increasing and two decreasing trends, whereas four sites had stable subpopulations. Although anthropogenic factors affected the average weight, and the incidence of small and large individuals, we found no temporal trends in any weight‐related measures. Furthermore, there were no apparent patterns between weight‐related measures and subpopulation trends. The metapopulation was biased toward males, and exploitation appeared to be associated with declining trends in the proportion of females, likely an artifact of a strong decline in the proportion of females in one of only two exploited sites in the dataset. Educational campaigns implemented in 2020 at six sites were not related to higher population sizes in later surveys. The variable trends in subpopulation sizes and composition highlight the need for spatially replicated monitoring in metapopulations. The analyses further provide a detailed baseline for future subpopulation studies of this vulnerable species in one of its last remaining metapopulations in the Western Indian Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mimicry, that is, the imitation of any unpalatable or defensive species by another, has been of central interest to evolutionary research since Darwin's lifetime. Two ant species, Camponotus guanchus Santschi, 1908 and Crematogaster alluaudi Emery, 1893, endemic to the Canary Islands, occur in two color‐morphs: While the head of workers is always reddish and the gaster blackish, the mesosoma (inclusive waist) is either fully reddish or fully blackish. In addition to the obvious morphological and coloration similarities, we provide evidence of mimicry: (i) Ca. guanchus was found only within the area of Cr. alluaudi. (ii) Color morphs are geographically non‐randomly distributed: Workers of both species from 16 localities of syntopic occurrences shared in eight cases a blackish and in eight cases a reddish mesosoma. Hence, Ca. guanchus mimics both local color‐morphs of Cr. alluaudi. We consider a fascinating analogy with the Mediterranean mimicry system in Camponotus lateralis (Olivier, 1792) and its model species of the Crematogaster scutellaris (Olivier, 1792) group on an island scale. Additionally, we present two endemic bug species, Perenotus stysi (Ribes et al., 2008) and P. malobae Roca‐Cusachs & Goula, 2016, as mimics of those Cr. alluaudi workers having a reddish mesosoma. Our distribution, coloration, frequency, and behavioral data as well as the analogy with Ca. lateralis and the Cr. scutellaris group suggest a Batesian‐mimicry system in which Ca. guanchus, Perenotus stysi, and P. malobae mimic the unpalatable and aggressive Cr. alluaudi as an antipredator adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduced Japanese weasel, Mustela itatsi, has had a significant negative impact on indigenous terrestrial vertebrates across several islands in the Miyako Group. The present study aimed to assess the current population status of squamate reptiles by investigating the distributions and abundances of three endangered lizards, Plestiodon kishinouyei, Takydromus toyamai, and Emoia atrocostata atrocostata, on Shimojijima Island and Irabujima Island. Route censuses for these species were conducted in the periods from 30 July to 4 August and 8–13 October 2022. Additionally, opportunistic sightings of lizards outside of the designated censuses were recorded. Eight P. kishinouyei, 20 T. toyamai, and seven E. a. atrocostata were recorded along four out of 101 survey routes, six out of 76, and two out of 39, respectively, with one additional E. a. atrocostata sighting at a non-census site. Plestiodon kishinouyei and E. a. atrocostata exhibited highly restricted distribution: the former was exclusively found in the northwestern part of Shimojijima Island, whereas the latter was confined to the southwestern part, with no presence on Irabujima Island. Takydromus toyamai was observed on both Shimojijima Island and Irabujima Island. The frequency of occurrence was low for the two skink populations on Shimojijima Island and T. toyamai on Irabujima Island, suggesting a potential population decline. These findings provide baseline data on the population status of these three lizard species. Such data will be crucial for evaluating their prospects for recovery, particularly considering the ongoing extensive eradication project targeting the introduced Japanese weasel on these islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analysed the pollen and spores extracted from 73 samples of lacustrine sediments from Colesdalen in Svalbard (Lake Tenndammen) as well as 10 soil samples collected from the lake's shores. In total, 56 pollen taxa were recorded from the sediments spanning the last 800 years, whilst 35 pollen types were found in the soil samples. Pollen was categorised as (i) regional (from Svalbard); (ii) exotic to Svalbard today; or (iii) of mixed or unclear origin. Major changes in pollen assemblages after ca 1900 CE were associated with human impact. Around 1920 CE, the first signs of introduced plant taxa were identified, by the presence of Apiaceae and Fabaceae pollen. Additionally, large-sized pollen with a thick exine and annulus diameter of 10.6–13 μm, identified as Poaceae/Cerealia type, was constantly present after ca 1920 CE. Other exotic pollen, including Ulmus, Juglans, and tropical pollen of Albizia/Mimosa type, Eucalyptus type, Acalypha type, and Passiflora type, are found only during the 1930s to 1960s, which is the period associated with the most intensive mining activity and human migration to and from Colesdalen. Furthermore, the repeated occurrence of Myrica (gale) type and Erica type occurring both in the lake sediment and in the soil samples is best explained by the migration of geese from Scotland (UK). Our research demonstrates how precisely human history can be reflected in the lake sediments of the Arctic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) face threats from human exploitation and activity in several regions of the world and crucial information on the ecology of the species is needed. The species is observed at several sites in all parts of the archipelago of New Caledonia where anthropogenic influence is presumed to be minimal. This study is the first to investigate the population of New Caledonia and focuses on its characteristics and its habitat use. Photographs of reef manta rays were collected directly from the authors (14.4%) between 2017 and 2020 and gathered from recreational divers and snorkelers (85.6%) from 11 sites around New Caledonia. The authors used the unique ventral coloration patterns of the manta rays that were clearly identifiable from 1741 of these photographs to identify 391 individuals and record their physical characteristics (sex, injuries, and colour morph) and resighting rates. These results highlight the widespread distribution of the species in the archipelago (11 sites) with little connectivity between all aggregations sites, with only 5.4% of the individuals observed at more than one site. Strong and long-term site fidelity was recorded at all studied sites through re-sighting rates (52.2% overall) and residency analysis. The population also records the world highest known proportion of melanistic manta rays (43%) to date, and a balanced male: female ratio (1.0:1.15). The analysis of injuries reported that 44.8% of all reef manta rays identified (n = 391) had noticeable wounds or injuries with no significant difference in the proportions of males and females injured. From these injured individuals only 9.8% of injuries judged to be of anthropogenic origin and 29.7% from attempted predation. Our study complements and correlates previous findings on this population that revealed strong site fidelity and low connectivity. The different characteristics of this population of reef manta rays also emphasize that concerns about species in New Caledonia are limited and that such favourable context needs to be preserved as reference for conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whiteleg skate (Amblyraja taaf) is a bycatch species commonly discarded in demersal longline fisheries targeting Patagonian toothfish around the Crozet archipelago (Southern Ocean). While there are global conservation issues on elasmobranchs, the post-release survival of this deep-sea species remains unknown. This study is the first tagging programme conducted on Whiteleg skates to investigate their fate after being released at sea. Almost 3000 skates were captured, double-tagged with conventional tags and released between 2020 and 2022 to assess survival using capture–mark–recapture (CMR) models. Our primary result was an estimated annual apparent survival rate higher than 92% for skates released in good condition (with 185 skates recaptured after up to 944 days at liberty). Low detection rate highlighted methodological challenges for CMR models. However, skate size and depth of capture had an effect on apparent survival probability with smaller individuals having lower values (<65 cm; 0.84 ± 0.04) as well as skates caught at shallower depths (<1200 m; 0.83 ± 0.04). Overall, this study suggests that the mandated release of skates in good condition is effective to limit fishing impact on skates in this fishery. To further limit this impact, we recommended changes in fishing practices (hauling speed and soak time). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska, USA, conducted a species status assessment for a petition to list the Alexander Archipelago wolf (Canis lupus ligoni) under the Endangered Species Act in 2020‐2022. This federal undertaking could not be adequately prepared without including the knowledge of Indigenous People who have a deep cultural connection with the subspecies. Our objective is to communicate the authoritative expertise and voice of the Indigenous People who partnered on the project by demonstrating how their knowledge contributed to the species status assessment. The Indigenous knowledge applied in the assessment is the cultural and intellectual property of those who have shared it. We employed rapid appraisal research to expeditiously develop a preliminary and qualitative understanding of Indigenous People's cultural and ecological knowledge of Alexander Archipelago wolves. We used semi‐directed interviewing and inductive coding from grounded theory for text analysis. Indigenous knowledge contributed to the agency's understanding of the Alexander Archipelago wolf in Southeast Alaska and helped the agency with their classification decision. Indigenous research partners explained the rich cultural significance and position of wolves in Tlingit society and described human–wolf relationships and ecological interactions. The agency used a single‐species assessment approach based in species ecology and conservation biology, whereas the Indigenous wolf experts applied a multi‐species, community ecology approach based in a sociocultural context of balance and respect. The Indigenous wolf experts successfully addressed knowledge gaps identified by the agency. The partners were challenged by a short regulatory timeframe that did not allow for comprehensive study of Indigenous knowledge and constrained review and feedback by Indigenous experts. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service learned that its assessment framework was not designed to account for an Indigenous worldview. To level the playing field, the agency and Indigenous experts should discuss how to co‐develop an assessment framework that equitably applies both perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Signals of aggression may potentially reduce the fitness costs of conflict during agonistic interactions if they are honest. Here we examined whether the 'buzz' vocalization in two species of Darwin's finches, the small tree finch, Camarhynchus parvulus , and the critically endangered medium tree finch, C. pauper , found in Floreana Island, Galápagos Archipelago, is a signal of aggression. Specifically, we assessed three criteria for aggressive signalling (context, predictive, and response criteria) in an observational study and a playback experiment. In the observational study, buzzes by the resident male were more common when an intruder was present on the territory in medium tree finches but not small tree finches (context criterion). In the playback experiment, buzzes increased during and after a simulated intrusion for both species (context criterion). Buzzes before the playback period predicted aggressive responses by males (predictive criterion) but buzzes during playback did not. Finally, both species responded more strongly to playbacks of conspecific buzzes compared to conspecific songs and heterospecific buzzes (response criterion). Together the results support the aggressive signal hypothesis for buzz vocalizations, although future studies are needed to understand the evolution and development of this interesting signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study is undertaken using anatomical measurements of specimens attributed to six species of Geospiza, the ground finches from the Galápagos archipelago. In a demonstration of method, a probabilistic approach associated with "sigma taxonomy" is adopted to assess the probability that pairs of specimens are or are not conspecific. We use a definition of a species based on morphometric analyses of the kind previously undertaken on extant vertebrate taxa (including mammals, birds and reptiles), using pairwise comparisons of anatomical measurements in regression analyses of the form y = mx + c from which the log-transformed standard error of the m-coefficient is calculated ("log sem"). The latter statistic is a reflection of variability in morphology. There is a high probability that at a species level, specimens attributed to G. magnirostris are different from those attributed to G. fulginosa, G. difficilis or G. scandens. Results of this study, using probabilistic sigma taxonomy, confirm the refutation of a single species hypothesis. In addition, we apply the log sem method to demonstrate that in case of comparisons between G. fortis and G. scandens (which are known to hybridise), there is a high probability that they are not different at a species level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent research underscores the pivotal role of immune checkpoints as biomarkers in colorectal cancer (CRC) therapy, highlighting the dynamics of resistance and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. The impact of epigenetic alterations in CRC, particularly in relation to immune therapy resistance, is not fully understood. Methods: We integrated a comprehensive dataset encompassing TCGA-COAD, TCGA-READ, and multiple GEO series (GSE14333, GSE37892, GSE41258), along with key epigenetic datasets (TCGA-COAD, TCGA-READ, GSE77718). Hierarchical clustering, based on Euclidean distance and Ward's method, was applied to 330 primary tumor samples to identify distinct clusters. The immune microenvironment was assessed using MCPcounter. Machine learning algorithms were employed to predict DNA methylation patterns and their functional enrichment, in addition to transcriptome expression analysis. Genomic mutation profiles and treatment response assessments were also conducted. Results: Our analysis delineated a specific tumor cluster with CpG Island (CGI) methylation, termed the Demethylated Phenotype (DMP). DMP was associated with metabolic pathways such as oxidative phosphorylation, implicating increased ATP production efficiency in mitochondria, which contributes to tumor aggressiveness. Furthermore, DMP showed activation of the Myc target pathway, known for tumor immune suppression, and exhibited downregulation in key immune-related pathways, suggesting a tumor microenvironment characterized by diminished immunity and increased fibroblast infiltration. Six potential therapeutic agents—lapatinib, RDEA119, WH.4.023, MG.132, PD.0325901, and AZ628—were identified as effective for the DMP subtype. Conclusion: This study unveils a novel epigenetic phenotype in CRC linked to resistance against immune checkpoint inhibitors, presenting a significant step toward personalized medicine by suggesting epigenetic classifications as a means to identify ideal candidates for immunotherapy in CRC. Our findings also highlight potential therapeutic agents for the DMP subtype, offering new avenues for tailored CRC treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a multidimensional urban sprawl assessment in 15 Indonesian island cities using 17 indicators across densities, composition, and configuration dimensions. The analysis utilizes data from the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL). Larger-sized islands serving as provincial capitals or regional activity centers, governed by multidistrict jurisdictions, tend to be more sprawl. Island-level planning and governance are crucial for managing sprawl effectively. The study highlights the coexistence of multiple sprawl typologies within single-island cities and emphasizes the limitations of simplistic binary/linear sprawl assessments. The findings offer insights applicable beyond island contexts, bridging regional and urban units in multilevel settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a central topic in Behavioral Ecology, animal space use involves dynamic responses to social and ecological factors. We collared 22 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) from six groups on Neilingding Island, China, and collected 80,625 hourly fixes over a year. Using this high‐resolution location data set, we quantified the macaques' space use at the individual level and tested the ecological constraints model while considering various environmental and human interfering factors. As predicted by the ecological constraints model, macaques in larger groups had longer daily path lengths (DPLs) and larger home ranges. We found an inverted U‐shape relationship between mean daily temperatures and DPLs, indicating that macaques traveled farther on mild temperature days, while they decreased DPLs when temperatures were too high or too low. Anthropogenic food subsidies were positively correlated to DPLs, while the effect of rainfall was negative. Macaques decreased their DPLs and core areas when more flowers and less leaves were available, suggesting that macaques shifted their space use patterns to adapt to the seasonal differences in food resources. By applying GPS collars on a large number of individuals living on a small island, we gained valuable insights into within‐group exploitation competition in wild rhesus macaques. Highlight: By applying GPS collars, we assessed home range quality and space utilization for 22 rhesus macaques in six groups.Our results offered supportive evidence for the ecological constraints model, indicating that within‐group exploitation feeding competition is the predominant factor influencing macaques' space use on Neilingding Island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ios (an island in the Cycladic archipelago, Greece) was the first recognized Aegean metamorphic core complex. There is a paradoxical absence of an age jump in low‐temperature geochronology transects across the Ios Detachment Fault. This paper explains why this is so, by modelling the conductive response to detachment faulting. We demonstrate that transects across detachment faults consistently record age jumps only at shallow palaeodepths. Conductive relaxation of the perturbed geotherm keeps pace with fault movement, so the hangingwall heats just as fast as the footwall cools. Key variables are the fractional depth to the partial resetting zone, d [0.0.1], and the magnitude and rate of slip on the detachment. At shallow palaeodepths (d < 0.3, 10–50 km slip), significant age jumps occur across the actual fault contact. At deeper levels of exposure, this is no longer the case, and the effects of a 'stewing zone' readily become evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A statistical downscaling of wind and wave regimes is presented. The study is around the Cuban archipelago for the mid-term (2031–2060) and the long-term (2061–2090) with respect to the historical period 1976–2005. A multimodel ensemble of CMIP5 models under the RCP4.5 and the RCP8.5 scenarios is used. Projections of the wind and wave regimes are projected through the BIAS correction (delta and empirical quantile mapping), and multiple regression with a determination coefficient of 88.3%, a residual standard deviation of 0.11, and a square mean error of 0.29. According to the statistical downscaling, the mean annual wind speed and the wave height showed significant changes in the western part of the Cuban archipelago. The extreme indicators of climate change referred to significant wave height show similarity in the representation of the future Cuban marine climate, which would have the most accentuated changes on the north coast of the central and eastern regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Matsu Islands Tern Refuge comprises eight reefs located at a relay station on the East Asian bird migration route, and it attracts many transiting, wintering, or breeding birds to inhabit and live on the reefs every year. In order to understand the compositions of plant communities as a breeding habitat for seabirds, we investigated the plant communities of the eight reefs. A total of 130 plots of 10 × 10 square meters were established, from which we found 107 species of plants in 102 genera and 51 families. Among this, we found one critically endangered (CR) species, four vulnerable (VU) species, and three near-threatened (NT) species. The result of two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and indicator value (IndVal) showed 130 samples were divided into 11 vegetation types; most of the vegetation types had significant indicator species. We also use the two-way to present the plot of detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) by vegetation types and reefs. Moreover, this result reveals that these samples were more clearly cluster divided by islands. Our results reveal that the compositions and characteristics of plant communities were related clearly to the environmental factors for each reef in the Matsu Islands Tern Refuge. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that species composition of vegetation yielded high correlation with soil property, especially with soil pH. In addition, we found that the traces of bird activity is relevant to the characteristics and structures of plant communities. We found that the plant communities comprising low-grass shrubs would provide relatively soft nesting materials and sheltering effects for eggs or hatchlings for terns. Compared to low-grass shrubs, the traits of high-grass shrubs would not be beneficial to nest for breeding of terns on the ground, and no nested trace was found in these plant communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The horse (Equus caballus) varieties from Skyros and Rhodes islands (Greece) in the Aegean archipelago are extremely small, reaching shoulder heights of only about 1 m. Furthermore, the Japanese archipelago is home to eight small, native horse breeds. We investigated the evolutionary morphology and provided a review of historical documentations of these horses of cultural interest in Greece and Japan, thus providing a comparison of the independent evolution of small size in islands. We integrate cranial data from historical literature with data from newly gathered and curated skulls and analyse a measurement dataset featuring various domestic and mainland horse breeds and varieties. We use non-invasive imaging to study and measure 3D models of the bony labyrinth, housing the inner ear, and the braincase endocast. When considering the effects of allometry by regressing each PC1 scores (for each set of measurements) with the cranial geometric mean from linear measurements as a body size proxy, we show that size explains a large amount of the shape variation in horse crania, the bony labyrinths and brain endocasts. We found high intrabreed variation in all the analysed datasets. Globally, there are at least 30 distinct horse populations on islands, offering the chance to further study processes of convergence in morphological divergence and evaluate the effect of drift and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first results from the monitoring of local seismicity in Severnaya Zemlya from the end of 2016 to 2023 inclusive as recorded by a single permanent seismic station installed on Bolshevik Island. A total of 73 local seismic events have been identified with P and S phases. We considered the question whether these events could be classified (earthquakes or icequakes) by comparing waveforms and spectral-temporal analysis diagrams with regional earthquakes that have occurred in the archipelago area. The spatio-temporal distribution and the rate of migration for the events show that glacial events can arise by stress release in glaciers as shallow crustal earthquakes occur within ~30 km. It is shown that, when a seismograph network is difficult to deploy, even a single permanent seismic station can furnish useful information on glacial events and crustal earthquakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Island ecological restoration presents challenges in establishing historical frames and reference ecosystems. Our study takes place in the Galapagos Islands and focuses on North Seymour (NS), recognized as a reference ecosystem for Baltra Island, which has suffered significant degradation. We assessed NS's arid plant community, comparing it with early twentieth‐century records. A first survey identified that dominant woody species on NS include native Bursera graveolens, Cordia lutea, Castela galapageia, Parkinsonia aculeata, and Opuntia echios, while Cleome viscosa is the only exotic species registered. A second survey divided both islands into evenly distributed plots, recording adults and juveniles of the five dominant species from the first survey. NS showed a structured community with higher species richness and density compared to Baltra. Castela galapageia prevailed in disturbed areas on Baltra. Juvenile regeneration was scarce on both islands. NS exhibited high species richness throughout, while Baltra had only two areas with similar high richness. Co‐occurrence analysis revealed significant associations between P. aculeata and B. graveolens on both islands. However, Baltra's network displayed missing links, indicating the need for restoration efforts. In conclusion, the structured plant community of NS can serve as one of the reference ecosystems needed for framing a restoration model for Baltra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Red Sea had inimitable geological ancient times and is considered a new ocean basin model. It has many islands of numerous sizes in the southern sector and a widespread group of shoals, such as Farasan (Saudi Arabia) and Dahlak (Eretria), due to its geological setting differences. In this work, a group of applications was used to provide a wider vision of the potential field, as well as to image the thermal and subsurface structures of the study area (Farasan and Dahlak Islands) using available marine potential field datasets (marine gravity and magnetic) and topographic and bathymetric datasets. These datasets were downloaded from the GEOSOFT server (Data sources: http://dap.geosoft.com/). We applied different filters of the marine potential field datasets data (e.g., horizontal gradient filter) to create a subsurface structure image. The horizontal gradient technique was used to locate density edges/boundaries from gravity data. The basement depth was displayed, as it was required during the Curie depth estimation by means of mathematical formulas. The profile ~ 500 km in length was selected to cross the study area and its surroundings so as to perform the joint 2D inversion modeling process. The results showed that the Farasan Islands have a shallower Curie point depth and basement relief than Dahlak Islands, indicating that both island groups were not isolated from each other but molded and formed independently. The results revealed that the islands' different thermal systems were based on heat flow values calculated for each group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zhoushan Archipelago, the largest archipelago in China, harbors a significant tidal stream resource due to robust tidal currents coursing through numerous channels between its islands. Nevertheless, the tidal energy resource in the Zhoushan Archipelago has not been systematically characterized considering both topography and energy flow density. This study presents a modeling study aimed at characterizing the tidal energy resource in the whole Zhejiang coast, including Zhoushan Archipelago, employing a high-resolution tidal hydrodynamic model, i.e. MIKE 21. Through a comparison of the model output with observed data from two tidal stations and three current stations, the accuracy of the numerical model was confirmed. The study identified areas with robust currents and suitable water depths, both essential factors for the advancement of tidal current energy. The findings showed that many channels in Zhoushan Archipelago and Wenzhou Bay in Zhejiang experience the highest tidal power density, reaching nearly 5500 W/m2. Furthermore, the study estimated the theoretical tidal current energy production for the whole area, highlighting Loutou channel, Cezi channel, Taohuagang, and the channel between Xiushan island and Daishan island as regions with high potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) is the most prominent nation with an archipelago. Indonesia has an area of 8,300,000 km2, with 16,056 islands registered. Indonesia's coastline reaches 108,000 km2, the second longest in the world. According to that, Indonesia needs well-developed and efficiently managed seaports. The number of seaports, according to the National Port Master Plan, is 636 Ports, of which the government operates 566 Ports as public ports (Non-Commercial Ports). The utilization of this port is shallow because an adequate market or hinterland does not support it. Non-commercial ports managed by the government must innovate to finance port operations and maintenance of port facilities. Innovations and breakthroughs can be made by improving port governance and optimizing the port service business. Improving port business processes to increase the optimization and utilization of ports requires port development strategies that must be formulated precisely. Port development strategies involve the identification of typologies and mapping the level of utilization of non-commercial ports based on typologies; This study uses machine learning methods to answer research objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical reefs encompass tremendous biodiversity yet are imperiled by increasing natural and anthropogenic disturbances worldwide. Meiobenthic biota on coral reefs, for example, ostracods, may experience substantial diversity loss and compositional changes even before being examined. In this study, we investigated the reefal ostracod assemblages from the highly diverse and productive ecosystem in the Zanzibar Archipelago (Pemba, Zanzibar, and Mafia islands), Tanzania, to understand how their diversity and faunal structure vary in response to water depth, benthic community type, and human impacts. We characterized four distinct ostracod faunas associated with different benthic habitats, which were deep fore reefs, shallow fringing reefs, degraded fringing reefs, and algae-covered intertidal flats. We identified typical ostracod associations, i.e., Bairdiidae versus Loxoconchidae–Xestoleberididae, that showed affinities towards hard corals or algae on the reef platforms, respectively. The highest diversity was found on shallow fringing reefs where coral-affined and algae-affined taxa exhibited maximum overlap of their distributional ranges, while the sand flats, mangrove, and marginal reefs within the intertidal zone had much lower diversity with a high dominance of euryhaline taxa. Along the western coast of Zanzibar Island, coastal development likely resulted in a unique faunal composition and comparatively low diversity of ostracod assemblages among those in reefal habitats, in conjunction with overall reef ecosystem degradation. This study represents the first large-scale assessment of shallow-marine ostracods in the Zanzibar Archipelago. It lays a solid foundation for future research into the ecological significance of ostracods on coral reefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing offshore wind turbines on artificial islands is considered a viable option, but negative skin friction (NSF) is a significant adverse factor that cannot be ignored. The NSF adversely affects the bearing capacity of pile foundations. Currently, design methods for studying the impact of NSF group effects mainly rely on empirical approaches. Moreover, existing experimental studies do not simulate the NSF experienced by offshore wind turbine pile groups on artificial islands. In order to further explore the impact of pile group effects on NSF experienced by offshore wind turbine pile foundations on artificial islands, this study conducted indoor model tests on single piles and 3 × 3 rectangular pile groups in sandy soil under uniformly distributed loading on surrounding soil. The experiment measured the settlement of piles at various positions within single piles and rectangular pile groups, as well as the settlement of the soil surrounding the piles and the NSF. Through calculations, the experiment determined the neutral points and NSF group effect coefficients for each pile. The results indicate that densely spaced pile groups are advantageous in reducing settlement of the surrounding soil, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of NSF. Due to the influence of pile group effects, different positions within the group experience varying degrees of NSF. Consequently, in practical engineering applications, settlement of both the pile groups and the surrounding soil should be calculated separately. Furthermore, design considerations for the uplift forces and neutral points of piles at different positions within the pile group should adhere to distinct standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Baltic Sea is currently classified as 'affected by eutrophication'. In this study, water exchanges and net phosphorus flows in the Archipelago Sea and through the Åland Sea from the Baltic proper was estimated with the aid of a 3-D hydrodynamic model for the years 2000–2021. The modelling configuration is based on the Copernicus regional reanalysis data. W ater flowed from the Baltic proper to the Bothnian Sea at 669 km3/a and out from there at 879 km3/a. The inflow occurred in the deep-water layer (over 40 m), while the outflow occurred in the surface layer (0–40 m). With the inflow, 14,500 tons/a of phosphorus were transported during the years 2000–2014, but the amount increased to 20,300 tons per year from 2015 to 2021. At the same time, the winter-time concentrations of DIP in the Bothnian Sea almost doubled.   In the Archipelago Sea, the main flow direction of water was from south to north from 2000 to 2014. From 2015 to 2021, the net flow direction reversed, and water flowed from the Archipelago Sea to the Baltic proper in the surface layer at a rate of 140 km3/a. At the same time, the background loading of phosphorus entering the Archipelago Sea with the flows decreased significantly and the chlorophyll-a concentration decreased below the threshold for a good ecological status.   The U-turn in surface currents in the Archipelago Sea since 2015 may be related to variations in upwellings caused by climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]