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Marine heatwaves (MHWs) have increased worldwide in intensity, frequency, and duration, often with severe impacts on ecologically and socio-economically important coastal habitats. Most MHW studies have focused on summer events in specific regions or global open-water analyses with little consideration to seasonality or spatial biogeography of the nearshore zone. We address this research gap by analysing changes to MHWs across seasons and ecoregions, within 12 nautical miles (NM) of New Zealand's coastline, an area with high biodiversity and endemism. We used season-specific linear trend analysis with temporal breakpoints between 1982 and 2021 to identify the number of MHW events and MHW days, and mean, maximum, and cumulative intensity of MHWs for New Zealand coastal ecoregions. Across ecoregions, 69.5% of 200 trend analyses increased significantly whereas the remaining 30.5% were unaffected. For the significant increases, temporal breakpoints occurred between 1994 and 2012. We conclude that MHWs have become stronger, longer and more frequent across coastal New Zealand, but with some variability within and between regions. Our trend-analyses could enable retrospective analyses of biological tipping-points and inform management practices that may enhance the resilience of ecoregions yet to face MHW breakpoints or those in the initial stages of major climatic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of along‐front wind forcing on chlorophyll‐a (Chl‐a) at the Otago Shelf Break (OSB) in southeast Aotearoa/New Zealand using remotely‐sensed and in situ data. Summer wind stress over the OSB was shelf‐aligned, oscillating between upfront and downfront. Surface Chl‐a concentrations along the OSB were shown to increase episodically (≤10 days duration) following upfront wind stress. This response occurred over most of the 350 km long shelf break, and was most intense north of the Otago Peninsula. Peak Chl‐a enhancement at the shelf break occurred following periods of upfront winds, exhibiting a lagged response of approximately 5 days. Moored thermistor data indicated that upfront wind events were followed by increased thermal stratification over the mid‐shelf, whereas downfront wind events were followed by a well‐mixed water column. In situ temperature, salinity, and nutrient measurements suggested an offshore movement of the surface expression of the front following upfront winds, and a reduction in nitrate over the shelf break. From these observations a model of Ekman restratification driven by upfront winds is proposed for this system, wherein off‐shelf Ekman transport converts strong horizontal isopycnal gradients at the shelf break front into vertical stratification. This stratification holds phytoplankton in the upper water column, allowing increased access to light, which is marked by the increased drawdown of nitrate at the shelf break. Downfront winds break down this stratification, move the shelf break front onshore, and mix phytoplankton through the water column, reducing the surface expression of chlorophyll. Plain Language Summary: The southeast coast of Aotearoa/New Zealand has a relatively near‐shore "shelf break," the area where shallow continental shelf seas (<200 m) slope steeply toward the deeper ocean (>1,000 m). Here lighter shelf waters meet more‐dense off‐shelf waters, forming a "shelf break front." Satellite images show large phytoplankton blooms occurring over the whole shelf break front in summer months, but researchers have not yet explored the factors that cause these short‐lived events. Understanding phytoplankton patterns and the ocean processes driving them is key to our knowledge of this ecosystem, which is home to endangered marine species and commercial fisheries. This study uses satellite images of chlorophyll‐a and winds, in tandem with in‐person ship and mooring data to explore how winds influence chlorophyll‐a at this front. Winds that are aligned with the shelf break (here southwest/northeast) are focused on due the cross‐shelf movement they can generate. This study finds that northeast winds cause increases in chlorophyll‐a at the front, which we believe to result from increased water column stability when light waters move over dense waters. This stratification provides a near‐surface layer with abundant light. During southwest winds, this stability is believed to be broken down, mixing phytoplankton away from the surface. Key Points: Remotely‐sensed summer chlorophyll‐a concentrations are enhanced at the southeast shelf break of Aotearoa/NZ following upfront wind stressSurface chlorophyll‐a was reduced at the shelf break following downfront wind stress, despite relatively elevated nitrate concentrationsEkman restratification by upfront wind stress is proposed as a likely mechanism for episodic summer shelf break chlorophyll‐a enhancements [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During austral warm seasons (November - March, NDJFM) of 1934/35, 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2021/22 the New Zealand (NZ) region experienced the most intense coupled ocean/atmosphere (MHW/AHW) heatwaves on record. Average temperature anomalies over land and sea were +1.2 to 1.4°C above average. Common to all four events were maximum sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies to the west of the South Island of NZ. Atmospheric circulation anomalies showed a pattern of blocking high pressure over the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean to the south, and southeast of NZ, and reduced trough activity over and to the east of NZ, accompanied by strongly positive Southern Annular Mode conditions. Hindcasts for 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2021/22 NDJFM indicate that positive temperature anomalies around 1°C occurred in the Tasman Sea, and near 1.5°C for the Chatham Rise. The temperature anomalies in the upper 50m of the ocean are consistent with the 500hPa atmospheric height anomalies. The temperature anomalies in the upper 50m of the ocean are consistent with the 500hPa atmospheric height anomalies and associated winds. The eastern Tasman Sea during August 2021 to July 2022 experienced the highest annual number of MHW days during the satellite-era (1981-present) from OISSTv2.1 data. Under 1.5°C of global warming the four events would have ERIs of 2-3 years, and with 2°C of warming all would be considered cool years relative to the +2°C climate. For the 1957-2022 period, the two most intense heatwaves have ERIs of between 30 to 150 years. Major loss of glacial ice occurred from Southern Alps glaciers with rapid melt of seasonal snow in all cases. Slow advances in grape phenology since 1948 may be associated with increases in temperature over the same period. Cherries and apricot harvest dates advanced by one to two weeks. Marine impacts may be linked to starvation of kororā/Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) chicks in the Bay of Plenty. Chicks weighed less and had a lower body condition score in 2020 and 2021 compared to 2019 and rescue calls in 2021 reached the highest volumes since 2015. The first record of warm-water prey species in the diet of yelloweyed penguins at Moeraki occurred, as well as widespread sea-sponge bleaching around northern and southern NZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we present the first open-access long-term 3D hydrodynamic ocean hindcast for the New Zealand ocean estate. The 28-year 5km×5km resolution free-running ocean model configuration was developed under the umbrella of the Moana Project, using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) version 3.9. It includes an improved bathymetry, spectral tidal forcing at the boundaries and inverse-barometer effect usually absent from global simulations. The continuous integration provides a framework to improve our understanding of the ocean dynamics and connectivity, as well as identify long-term trends and drivers for particular processes. The simulation was compared to a series of satellite and in situ observations, including sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface height (SSH), coastal water level and temperature stations, moored temperature time series, and temperature and salinity profiles from the CORA5.2 (Coriolis Ocean database for ReAnalysis) dataset – including Argo floats, XBTs (expendable bathythermographs) and CTD (conductivity–temperature–depth) stations. These comparisons show the model simulation is consistent and represents important ocean processes at different temporal and spatial scales, from local to regional and from a few hours to years including extreme events. The root mean square errors are 0.11 m for SSH, 0.23 ∘ C for SST, and <1 ∘ C and 0.15 g kg -1 for temperature and salinity profiles. Coastal tides are simulated well, and both high skill and correlation are found between modelled and observed sub-tidal sea level and water temperature stations. Moreover, cross-sections of the main currents around New Zealand show the simulation is consistent with transport, velocity structure and variability reported in the available literature. This first multi-decadal, high-resolution, open-access hydrodynamic model represents a significant step forward for ocean sciences in the New Zealand region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we present the first open access long term 3D hydrodynamic ocean hindcast for the New Zealand ocean estate. The 28 year 5km x 5km resolution free running ocean model configuration was developed under the umbrella of the Moana Project, using the Regional Ocean Model System (ROMS) version 3.9. It includes an improved bathymetry, spectral tidal forcing at the boundaries, and inverse barometer effect usually absent from global simulations. The continuous integration provides a framework to improve our understanding of the ocean dynamics and connectivity, as well as identify long-term trends and drivers for particular processes. The simulation was compared to a series of satellite and in-situ observations, including sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface height (SSH), coastal water level and temperature stations, moored temperature time series, and temperature and salinity profiles from the CORA5.2 dataset - including Argo floats, XBT and CTD stations. These comparisons show the model simulation is consistent and represents important ocean processes at different temporal and spatial scales, from local to regional and from a few hours to years including extreme events. The root-mean-squared errors are 0.11m for SSH, 0.23oC for SST, and <1oC and 0.15g/kg for temperature and salinity profiles. Coastal tides are simulated well, and both high skill and correlation are found between modelled and observed sub-tidal sea level and water temperature stations. Moreover, cross-sections of the main currents around New Zealand show the simulation is consistent with transport, velocity structure, and variability reported in the available literature. This first multi-decadal, high resolution, open access hydrodynamic model represents a significant step forward for ocean sciences in the New Zealand region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mean, interannual variability, decadal variability, and longer-term trends in the across-track geostrophic velocity of the poleward-flowing boundary current along the Fiordland coast (the Fiordland Current, FC) are examined over the altimeter record (September 1992–May 2017). In the mean, the FC is southwestward, with stronger velocities in an inner current near the coast and weaker velocities in an outer current further offshore. Examination of the alongshore momentum balance suggests that the mean flow is driven by a poleward downsloping alongshore pressure gradient. At interannual time-scales, variability in the FC was correlated with the alongshore wind stress, indicating that an equatorward (poleward) wind stress drives an equatorward (poleward) velocity anomaly. At decadal time-scales, variability in the FC was correlated with the South Pacific wind stress curl, indicating that as the wind stress curl increases (decreases) the poleward flow in the FC weakens (strengthens), consistent with the response of a traditional eastern boundary current. Long-term trends show a weakening outer current and strengthening inner current. Increasing flow in the inner current may result in increased transport of subtropical water around southern New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During austral summers (DJF) 1934/35, 2017/18 and 2018/19, the New Zealand (NZ) region (approximately 4 million km2) experienced the most intense coupled ocean-atmosphere heatwaves on record. Average air temperature anomalies over land were + 1.7 to 2.1 °C while sea surface temperatures (SST) were 1.2 to 1.9 °C above average. All three heatwaves exhibited maximum SST anomalies west of the South Island of NZ. Atmospheric circulation anomalies showed a pattern of blocking centred over the Tasman Sea extending south-east of NZ, accompanied by strongly positive Southern Annular Mode conditions, and reduced trough activity over NZ. Rapid melt of seasonal snow occurred in all three cases. For the two most recent events, combined ice loss in the Southern Alps was estimated at 8.9 km3 (22% of the 2017 volume). Sauvignon blanc and Pinot noir wine grapes had above average berry number and bunch mass in 2018 but were below average in 2019. Summerfruit harvest (cherries and apricots) was 14 and 2 days ahead of normal in 2017/18 and 2018/19 respectively. Spring wheat simulations suggested earlier flowering and lower grain yields compared to average, and below-average yield and tuber quality in potatoes crops occurred. Major species disruption occurred in marine ecosystems. Hindcasts indicate that the heatwaves were either atmospherically driven or arose from combinations of atmospheric surface warming and oceanic heat advection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To develop and pilot a diabetes self-management education ( DSME) program specific to the needs of New Zealanders with type 2 diabetes mellitus ( T2DM). Methods There were two parts in the present study. The first was the development of the program. This involved a literature review, consultation with end-user groups and drafting the content of the program. In the second part, the program was tested and modified according to feedback provided by both participants and facilitators. Results The present study achieved its primary goal of developing, piloting and modifying a DSME program specific to the New Zealand population. The DSME program was developed using concepts and content of international DSME programs. The content and concept was extensively tested via discussion groups with 71 individuals with T2DM and practice nurses to ensure the program met the unique cultural needs of New Zealanders with T2DM. Twenty-seven participants with T2DM were recruited into the pilot, of which 13 attended four of six sessions. Feedback from participants, observing nurses and facilitators was incorporated into the final program. Conclusions DSME programs are an effective vehicle for providing individuals with T2DM the initial information and support to start self-managing their diabetes. However, to ensure DSME programs help individuals with the highest rates of diabetes and diabetes-related complications, it is important end-users participate in the development of the program. This DSME program now requires longitudinal trial to determine if in the New Zealand context it is able generate the same improvements in both clinical and qualitative outcomes as seen in similar international programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine heat waves (MHWs) are extended periods of excessively warm water 1 that are increasing in frequency, duration, intensity, and impact, and they likely represent a greater threat to marine ecosystems than the more gradual increases in sea surface temperature. 2,3,4 Sponges are major and important components of global benthic marine communities, 5,6,7 with earlier studies identifying tropical sponges as potential climate change "winners." 8,9,10,11 In contrast, cold-water sponges may be less tolerant to predicted ocean warming and concurrent MHWs. Here, we report how a series of unprecedented MHWs in New Zealand have impacted millions of sponges at a spatial scale far greater than previously reported anywhere in the world. We reported sponge tissue necrosis 12 and bleaching (symbiont loss/dysfunction), 13 which have been previously associated with temperature stress, 6,12,14 for three common sponge species across multiple biogeographical regions, with the severity of impact being correlated with MHW intensity. Given the ecological importance of sponges, 15 their loss from these rocky temperate reefs will likely have important ecosystem-level consequences. • Sponges are important components of temperate marine communities • Sponge bleaching and necrosis were reported for millions of New Zealand sponges • Sponge impact severity was correlated with marine heat wave intensity • The loss of sponges is likely to have ecosystem-wide impacts Bell et al. report how a series of unprecedented marine heat waves in New Zealand have impacted millions of sponges at a spatial scale far greater than previously reported anywhere in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The diagnosis of dry eye is challenging for eye health practitioners (EHP) and recently, a variety of new diagnostic tests have emerged. This study assesses the attitudes of EHP to dry eye and testing and compares these with attitudes in 2003.Methods: An electronic questionnaire was disseminated to EHP in Australasia between December 2020 to March 2021. Participants rated the likelihood that presenting symptoms/signs were associated with dry eye, the utility of diagnostic tests, the value of test characteristics, and their satisfaction with dry eye diagnostics. Qualitative responses were categorised into positive, negative, or neutral themes.Results: 144 responses were received, with 117 (81.3%) from Australia and 27 (18.7%) from New Zealand. Posterior blepharitis was significantly more likely to be associated with dry eye than other factors (p < 0.01). Clinical history, fluorescein staining and FBUT were judged significantly more useful in diagnosing dry eye compared to other tests (p < 0.01). Test validity was judged significantly more important in choosing a test than other qualities. Qualitative attitudes towards dry eye presentations and diagnostic tests were positive in 42.2% and 24.3%, negative in 32.4% and 41.9%, and neutral in 25.5% and 33.8% respectively.Conclusions: The opinions of EHP regarding dry eye tests were variable, but most favour history and corneal staining for diagnosis. Patterns of responses were similar to that reported by Turner et al 16-years ago, however, there is a higher satisfaction with available tests and therapeutic options. There is a need to develop a consensus amongst real-world clinicians regarding an optimum diagnostic pathway for dry eye, particularly in relation to newer diagnostic tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The subtropical front zone (STFZ) is a fundamental feature of the southwest Pacific Ocean. It separates waters in the subtropical gyres from subantarctic waters. In this study we examine a section of the global STFZ that passes around southern New Zealand, using hydrographic sections and remotely sensed sea surface temperature (SST) data collected during the austral autumns of 2007, 2008 and 2011. The STFZ was composed of a single southern subtropical front (S-STF) that marked the poleward edge of the STFZ, while the region north of the S-STF was characterised by a series of shallow fronts (<50m depth) and a freshwater-induced neritic front. The S-STF around southern New Zealand is also distinguished by moderate-to-weak density compensation, in contrast to the strong density compensation to the west and east of New Zealand. We find strong coupling between the surface and subsurface expressions of the S-STF and demonstrate the practicality of tracing the pathway of the front using its surface expression from remotely sensed images. The S-STF is steered by topography as it crosses the Macquarie Ridge close to 49.6°S and to the east of 166°E as it turns equatorward following the upper continental slope. This is contrary to some previous descriptions that placed the S-STF lying across the Snares Shelf close to 47.5°S. Topographic interactions between the S-STF and sharply defined bathymetry around southern New Zealand appear to strongly influence the position of the front in this region. Cross-frontal temperature and salinity gradients at the S-STF were also found to be intensified in regions of shallow bathymetry. Both results are attributed to topographic steering of the front by bathymetry at approximately 500m depth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Introduction: In 2000 a primary care led “Get Checked” programme of free annual diabetes reviews was introduced in New Zealand. This report explores changes in clinical variables over five annual visits in relation to ethnicity. Methods: From 19,054 people in the Wellington region all 2967 with Type 2 diabetes completing five visits between 2000 and 2006 contributed data. This included weight, blood pressure, HbA1c, lipids, and urinary albumin:creatinine ratio. Mixed linear models examined changes in clinical variables by visit and the relationships with ethnicity. Results: Of the 2967, 69.5% were European, 10.0% Maori, 8.6% Pacific and 10.4% Asian. Weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure declined. HbA1c initially declined with time in Maori, Pacific and Asian and then rose. Total cholesterol decreased and HDL cholesterol rose. Urinary albumin:creatinine ratio fell at first and then rose and the degree of change was dependent on ethnicity. Use of diabetes medications and ACE inhibitor prescription increased in all ethnicities. Statin prescriptions rose from 20 to 61%. Current smoking rates fell from 10.7% to 9.4%. Conclusion: This programme showed improvements in intermediate outcomes of diabetes care across all ethnic groups highlighting the benefit of reducing barriers to, and increasing engagement with, good primary health care. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on eco-achievers in New Zealand. Interiors architect Aaron Harvey at Warren and Mahoney made the initial suggestion that led to free screenings of the Al Gore film "An Inconvenient Truth" and the environmental documentary "The 11th Hour." Sara Peary has been working with Beacon Pathway, a research consortium that seeks to change the design, construction and renovation of homes and neighborhoods. Belinda van Eyndhoven is responsible for managing Beca's commitments under the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development.

The article describes a case study on the business operations of Foodstuffs Auckland. Half of the 400 staff at Foodstuffs Auckland have daily contact with the stores, so the communication level is high, as a result they have a better understanding of what is needed and what has to be done. It is an arrangement that has worked well for the 100 percent New Zealand-owned and operated business, with the Foodstuffs group enjoying a 57 percent share of the local grocery market.

The article discusses the increasing number of Western companies that are venturing into the Indian market. It cites the negotiations concerning a free trade agreement between India and New Zealand. It also presents the India New Zealand Business Forum aimed at discussing the situation in India's markets, the pitfalls to avoid, as well as the Indian approach in conducting business. The speakers at the forum include Boston Consulting Group Asia Pacific's Andrew Clark.

The article focuses on fleet management companies in New Zealand. Over the past decade Custom Fleet NZ has grown to take a leading share in the fleet management and leasing market. Part of Custom Fleet's job is to help its clients deal with the impact of increasing costs of petroleum, says Geoff Tipene, managing director of Custom Fleet. FleetSmart is another player in the fleet management business. The company's combination of environmental and economical values has been realized with its EcoFleet service.

Coastal regions of the world's oceans are critical to supporting the fishing sector, recreation, tourism, and the global blue economy. However, there is a paucity of subsurface, in situ ocean measurements in coastal and shelf regions worldwide that corresponds to the region where a majority of commercial fishing occurs. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the Moana Project and technology partner ZebraTech, Ltd. have co-designed a fully automatic system that measures, transmits, processes, and disseminates temperature observations in near real-time with a goal of providing broad-scale coverage of New Zealand's coastal and shelf seas. In the first two years, more than 300 sensors were deployed by over 250 vessels with the cooperation and support of the commercial fishing sector, providing more than one million temperature measurements per month throughout New Zealand's exclusive economic zone. Participation by the fishing sector is critical to program success with continuous improvement based on fishing sector feedback. Here we introduce the fishing-vessel-based temperature and pressure data collection on a national scale and present initial results showcasing a step change in research quality ocean temperature data collection. Next, we highlight the full-circle data pathway including improved ocean forecasts and near real-time return of the data to the vessels that obtained them. Finally, a discussion of key partnerships, use cases, and lessons learned in Aotearoa New Zealand provides a potential framework for deploying similar systems in data-poor regions worldwide with the support of the commercial fishing fleet and citizen scientists. • The Moana Project partnered with fishers and communities for ocean observation. • An automated, purpose-built sensor system provides real-time open-access ocean data. • Hundreds of vessels obtain unprecedented, ongoing, subsurface temperature measurements. • This low-cost, high-quality, crowd-sourcing approach can be implemented globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The near-ubiquitous presence of freshwater over the inner to mid-continental shelf off of the Otago Peninsula in southeast Aotearoa/New Zealand has been previously identified in long-term cross-shelf transects. Occasional influxes of this silicate-rich neritic water past the shelf break and beyond the Subtropical Front have been observed, potentially supporting elevated chlorophyll-a concentrations in SubAntarctic waters. Nearshore salinity variability has been connected to flow rates of the Clutha River, Aotearoa's largest river by discharge, however, other physical mechanisms influencing the structure of freshwater along this coast have not been explicitly explored. A numerical model of Aotearoa's southeast continental shelf forced with realistic discharge from the Clutha River is used to assess the drivers of river plume variability and identify conditions associated with the transport of neritic water beyond the shelf break. Event scale, lagged correlation, EOF, and composite analysis of a model passive dye tracer revealed three generalised plume structures that are dependent on river discharge, along-front wind stress, and shelf current velocities. Downfront wind stress suppresses bulge formation at the river mouth and constrains the river plume against the coast, whereas upfront wind stress causes the river plume to move offshore over the shelf and spread across the upper water column. Rarely, upfront wind stress generates a nearshore current reversal over the shelf, causing the plume to deflect straight off-shelf and across the shelf edge before meeting the frontal current and advecting to the northeast. Future observational work is required to validate the mechanisms described and address the biological implications of these findings. • A regional numerical model well simulates in situ observations of shelf variability. • Along-front winds and river discharge interact to modulate river plume extent. • Upfront wind stress was associated with freshwater intrusion past shelf break front. • Downfront wind stress accelerated nearshore currents and constrained plume to coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are increasing in frequency, duration and intensity, disrupting global marine ecosystems. While most reported impacts have been in tropical areas, New Zealand experienced its strongest and longest MHW in 2022, profoundly affecting marine sponges. Sponges are vital to rocky benthic marine communities, with their abundance influencing ecosystem functioning. This study examines the impact of this MHW on the photosynthetic sponge Cymbastella lamellata in Fiordland, New Zealand. We describe the extent, physiological responses, mortality, microbial community changes and ecological impact of this MHW on C. lamellata. The Fiordland MHW reached a maximum temperature of 4.4°C above average, lasting for 259 days. Bleaching occurred in >90% of the C. lamellata Fiordland population. The population size exceeded 66 million from 5 to 25 m, making this the largest bleaching event of its kind ever recorded. We identified the photosynthetic symbiont as a diatom, and bleached sponges had reduced photosynthetic efficiency. Post-MHW surveys in 2023 found that over 50% of sponges at sampling sites had died but that the remaining sponges had mostly recovered from earlier bleaching. Using a simulated MHW experiment, we found that temperature stress was a driver of necrosis rather than bleaching, despite necrosis only rarely being observed in the field (<2% of sponges). This suggests that bleaching may not be the cause of the mortality directly. We also identified a microbial community shift in surviving sponges, which we propose represents a microbial-mediated adaptive response to MHWs. We also found that C. lamellata are key contributors of dissolved organic carbon to the water column, with their loss likely impacting ecosystem function. We demonstrate the potential for MHWs to disrupt key marine phyla in temperate regions, highlighting how susceptible temperate sponges globally might be to MHWs., (© 2024 The Author(s). Global Change Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: To characterize the frequency and nature of the family history of seizures in probands with epilepsy falling within the epilepsy-aphasia spectrum (EAS) in order to understand the genetic architecture of this group of disorders., Methods: Patients with epileptic encephalopathy with continuous spike-and-wave during sleep (ECSWS), Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS), atypical benign partial epilepsy (ABPE), and intermediate epilepsy-aphasia disorders (IEAD) were recruited. All affected and available unaffected relatives up to three degrees of relatedness underwent phenotyping using a validated seizure questionnaire. Pedigrees were constructed for all families. The proportion of affected relatives according to each degree of relatedness was calculated. The epilepsy phenotypes in close relatives were analyzed. The data were compared to the families of probands with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) using the same methodology., Key Findings: Thirty-one probands, including five ECSWS, three LKS, one ABPE, and 22 IEAD were recruited. The mean age of seizure onset was 3.9 (range 0.5-7) years. A male predominance was seen (68%, 21/31) . Sixteen (51.6%) of 31 had a positive family history of seizures. Among 1,254 relatives, 30 (2.4%) had a history of seizures: 13 (10.2%) of 128 first-degree relatives, 5 (1.7%) of 291 second-degree relatives, and 12 (1.4%) of 835 third-degree relatives. Thirteen had febrile seizures, including two who had both febrile seizures and epilepsy. Of the 19 relatives with epilepsy, 4 had BECTS, 4 epilepsies with focal seizures of unknown cause, 3 IEAD, and 7 unclassified. One had genetic generalized epilepsy. In the families of the BECTS probands, 9.8% of first-degree, 3% of second-degree, and 1.5% of third-degree relatives had seizures, which was not significantly different from the EAS cohort families., Significance: The frequencies of seizures in relatives of probands with EAS suggest that the underlying genetic influence of EAS is consistent with complex inheritance and similar to BECTS. The phenotypic pattern observed in the affected relatives comprised predominantly febrile seizures and focal seizures. These findings suggest that a shared genetic predisposition to focal epilepsies underpins the epilepsy-aphasia spectrum., (Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2013 International League Against Epilepsy.)