Search

Ecosystems worldwide are suffering from climate change. Coral reef ecosystems are globally threatened by increasing sea surface temperatures. However, gene expression plasticity provides the potential for organisms to respond rapidly and effectively to environmental changes, and would be favored in variable environments. In this study, we investigated the thermal stress response in Pocillopora coral colonies from two contrasting environments by exposing them to heat stress. We compared the physiological state, bacterial and Symbiodiniaceae communities (using 16S and ITS2 metabarcoding), and gene expression levels (using RNA-Seq) between control conditions and heat stress (the temperature just below the first signs of compromised health). Colonies from both thermal regimes remained apparently normal and presented open and colored polyps during heat stress, with no change in bacterial and Symbiodiniaceae community composition. In contrast, they differed in their transcriptomic responses. The colonies from Oman displayed a more plastic transcriptome, but some genes had a higher basal expression level (frontloading) compared to the less thermotolerant colonies from New Caledonia. In terms of biological functions, we observed an increase in the expression of stress response genes (including induction of tumor necrosis factor receptors, heat shock proteins, and detoxification of reactive oxygen species), together with a decrease in the expression of genes involved in morpho-anatomical functions. Gene regulation (transcription factors, mobile elements, histone modifications and DNA methylation) appeared to be overrepresented in the Oman colonies, indicating possible epigenetic regulation. These results show that transcriptomic plasticity and frontloading can be co-occurring processes in corals confronted with highly variable thermal regimes.

The different characteristics and atmospheric forces over the Sea of Oman and the Arabian Sea are assumed to influence zooplankton seasonality and community structure. This work aimed to characterize the abundances and seasonality of coastal and surface mesozooplankton communities in the Sea of Oman (Muscat) and the Arabian Sea (Salalah), and the effects of environmental factors on their distribution. Zooplankton samples two contrasting coastal regions; 22 in the Sea of Oman, and 20 in the Arabian Sea, were collected during 2013-2014 from the surface and analyzed. Total zooplankton abundance was divided by the number of samples to obtain the monthly average abundance per meter cube (ind•m-3) of sea water. A total of 91 species were observed from all 42 samples of which 58 were copepods, among which 47 were calanoid copepods. Species composition varied significantly between the two locations. The similarity between the two communities was highest (samples were closest to each other) during the winter, and showed the largest differences in composition in the summer. The seasonal changes in community structures were most significant for copepods and calanoid copepods (p= 0.0002 and p= 0.0003 respectively) and less significant for non-copepods (p= 0.0057). Only few species (17 in the Sea of Oman and 20 in the Arabian Sea) represented more than 90% of the total zooplankton abundance. There was a distinct pattern of seasonal variation in the abundance of zooplankton in the Arabian Sea, especially copepods and meroplankton, but there was no such pattern in the Sea of Oman. Some successful species such as Temora turbinata and Penilia avirostris in the Sea of Oman, and Oithona spp. in the Arabian Sea seem able to exploit a wide range of prey from phytoplankton to small ciliates and thus feed through the microbial loop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dense aggregations of serpulid worms were encountered in the Daymaniyat Islands (Gulf of Oman) from 10 to 20 m depth, over the period January–March, 2021. The species responsible for these aggregations belongs to the Filograna/Salmacina-complex (Annelida: Serpulidae). This species has been present in the area and observed along the Oman coastline, but high-density aggregates like this have not been reported before. The most probable cause of the aggregations, supported by field observations and Aqua-MODIS satellite data, was natural eutrophication with a subsequent algal bloom linked to the local winter monsoon. This observation emphasises the importance of documenting biodiversity and dynamics of reef communities along the Oman coastline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To assess the consumption, willingness to consume, availability and knowledge of people about the whole grain food products across the Sultanate of Oman. Methods: A self-administered survey was conducted among a convenience sample of adults to assess the consumption, willingness to consume, availability and knowledge about whole grain products across all the nine Governorates of Oman. Results: Almost all respondents (99%, n = 1891) reported that they consume rice and bread at least 4 days per week. Less than 5% of adults indicated that they consume brown rice, whereas 20% to 90% consume whole grain bread. Forty percent of the respondents indicated that they did not know, which type of bread or rice either white or brown, is healthier. Only 20% to 30% of the respondents reported that brown rice or whole wheat bread was available in the market all the time. The various indexes (0 to 1, where 0 as nil and 1 as maximum) developed based on the survey results for the availability, knowledge and willingness to consume whole grain products were 0.36 to 0.87, 0.35 to 0.64 and 0.51 to 0.57 respectively, in different Governorates of Oman. Conclusion: The results indicated that there is an urgent need to educate the Omani people about the nutritional and health benefits of consuming whole grain products and to improve the availability of whole grain food products across Oman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of the current status and future potentials of nature-based tourism in the Sultanate of Oman with particular focus on sea turtles at Ras Al Hadd. The paper uses objective yardsticks such as inbound tourist arrivals, nationality and spending patterns, seasonality, employment, as well as gross domestic product contribution derived from secondary data from national and international sources to appraise the current situation. Additionally, based on the review of relevant literature, a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis is used to summarize relevant socioeconomic, political, environmental, and regulatory issues. While there is strong evidence of government commitment to develop nature-based tourism in the country, a number of key issues related to tourist facilities, human activities, environmental conditions, economic research, and capacity development are highlighted for further attention. Most importantly, the analysis suggests a potential to increase the contribution of sustainable sea turtle tourism to Oman's gross domestic product. To realize this potential the sector needs to (1) consider the seasonal variation of tourists, (2) develop its accommodation capabilities especially at sites with ecological uniqueness while ensuring minimum negative impacts on biodiversity, (3) increase the number of Omani nationals employed in the tourism industry and improve their skills through training, (4) develop marketing tools to attract the dominant inbound ecotourism groups to the country, (5) enhance sustainable planning implementation in the Omani tourism sector, and (6) most importantly ensure an effective implementation of legislation protecting sea turtles and their habitats. It is hoped that policymakers can use these findings to set a direction on sustainable sea turtle tourism in Oman, while promoting the effective conservation of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most organisms, specific structures are responsible for detecting light patterns and vision. Several species of sea urchins appear to have a diffuse photoreceptor system that enables them to detect light and in some cases objects. The presence of extraocular vision was investigated on a sea urchin common in northern Oman,Diadema setosum. Urchins from 8- to 10-m deep coral communities were used in controlled experiments that quantified the orientation response of the urchins to various visual cues: size, contrast and colour of circular targets simulating urchins’ outlines. Urchins responded to black discs down to 11° initial visual angle but not to smaller discs. The minimum grey-scale value triggering a response was between 50 and 37% black. Urchins responded to red targets but not to green or blue ones. An average angular distance between spines of 5.3° suggested a visual acuity of about 10.6°.D. setosumthus showed extraocular vision allowing them to detect objects of different sizes, contrasts and to some extent colour, supporting the hypothesis that the whole sea urchin’s body acts as a single large compound eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]