Search

The incidental capture (bycatch) of seabirds is a global conservation issue and a top threat to European species that demands urgent conservation and management action. Here, we present the first European review of seabird bycatch data, considering all fishing gears and data collection methods available in the region. We calculate seabird bycatch numbers per species, family, country and European marine region and assess the reliability of the data available. The cumulative bycatch estimate extracted from this review suggests that about 195,000 seabirds (ranging from around 130,000 to 380,000) are bycaught in European waters annually. The most affected seabird species is the Common Guillemot Uria aalge with over 31,000 birds killed per year. The marine region with the highest bycatch estimate is the Northeast Atlantic (over 115,000 seabirds year−1). Gillnet fisheries are responsible for the highest bycatch levels, with over 95,000 seabirds year−1, followed by longline fisheries. The families most affected by bycatch are Anatidae and Alcidae. These numbers are likely an underestimation since we were unable to find bycatch estimates, or to extrapolate estimates from available bycatch data for 12 (out of 34) European coastal states. Our assessment also identified significant data gaps in key areas such as Gran Sol (in the north‐east Atlantic), the central and Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Combining systematic data collection with immediate implementation of mitigation measures will be crucial to fill in knowledge gaps, reduce current mortality levels and meet international conservation commitments such as those of the European Union and the Convention on Migratory Species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The western Atlantic Ocean harbors a diverse fauna of squat lobsters, particularly in the family Munidopsidae. This study introduces Munidopsis sedna sp. nov., a species only found in the Gulf of Mexico and the first species reported to be endemic to cold seeps in the western Atlantic. Our investigation incorporates morphological analyses including micro-CT scanning evidence, multilocus molecular phylogeny, and mtDNA phylogeography, as well as ecological data derived from in situ observations and geographic distribution patterns to substantiate the recognition of the new species. Shallow molecular divergences and multiple morphological differences differentiate the new species from its closest relative, M. longimanus (A. Milne-Edwards, 1880). Additionally, we explore the potential scenario for ecological speciation within this newly identified taxon and discuss its significance in the context of conservation efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the results of a high-resolution pollen study covering the 8720-7990 cal yr BP time interval from a well-dated core of lacustrine sediments in Lake Amalvas, southwest Lithuania, supplemented by loss-on-ignition and magnetic susceptibility analyses. The 20-25-year interval between samples allows for a temporally-detailed investigation of changes in sedimentation in the lake's catchment and vegetation in its surroundings. Key findings include a marked increase in magnetic susceptibility and a simultaneous decrease in organic matter values at 8650 cal yr BP, indicating landscape instability due to local hydrological changes. An increase in alder pollen during 8510-8260 cal yr BP suggests heightened humidity, while a slight rise in birch pollen from 8530 to 8430 cal yr BP and a nearly simultaneous decrease in thermophilous tree pollen imply a cooling trend, probably linked to broader climatic fluctuations preceding the 8.2 ka event. Notably, evidence of the 8.2 ka event itself is negligible from the Lake Amalvas sediments, indicating a mild environmental impact in southern Lithuania. The precise dating of the Early Holocene hazel maximum (8640-8590 cal yr BP) and a notable increase in pine pollen between 8200 and 8160 cal yr BP provide valuable regional chronological markers. These findings enhance our understanding of Holocene environmental dynamics in southern Lithuania and offer reference points for future paleoenvironmental research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mesopelagic zone represents one of the few habitats that remains relatively untouched from anthropogenic activities. Among the many species inhabiting the north Atlantic mesopelagic zone, glacier lanternfish (Benthosema glaciale) is the most abundant and widely distributed. This species has been regarded as a potential target for a dedicated fishery despite the scarce knowledge of its population genetic structure. Here, we investigated its genetic structure across the North Atlantic and into the Mediterranean Sea using 121 SNPs, which revealed strong differentiation among three main groups: the Mediterranean Sea, oceanic samples, and Norwegian fjords. The Mediterranean samples displayed less than half the genetic variation of the remaining ones. Very weak or nearly absent genetic structure was detected among geographically distinct oceanic samples across the North Atlantic, which contrasts with the low motility of the species. In contrast, a longitudinal gradient of differentiation was observed in the Mediterranean Sea, where genetic connectivity is known to be strongly shaped by oceanographic processes such as current patterns and oceanographic discontinuities. In addition, 12 of the SNPs, in linkage disequilibrium, drove a three clusters' pattern detectable through Principal Component Analysis biplot matching the genetic signatures generally associated with large chromosomal rearrangements, such as inversions. The arrangement of this putative inversion showed frequency differences between open‐ocean and more confined water bodies such as the fjords and the Mediterranean, as it was fixed in the latter for the second most common arrangement of the fjord's samples. However, whether genetic differentiation was driven by local adaptation, secondary contact, or a combination of both factors remains undetermined. The major finding of this study is that B. glaciale in the North Atlantic‐Mediterranean is divided into three major genetic units, information that should be combined with demographic properties to outline the management of this species prior to any eventual fishery attempt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the differences between scholarly collaboration on slave trading in the Atlantic World, on the one hand, and similar activities in the wider Indian Ocean, on the other, needs to begin with an assessment of the relative importance of slave trading in the two oceans. Both oceans saw a maritime slave trade that drew heavily on sub–Saharan Africa. But while almost all captives arriving in the Americas came from Africa, in the Indian Ocean World there was a significant, probably majority, traffic in non-Africans, especially if one includes the South China Sea, as indeed most assessments of the Indian Ocean World slave trade do. Focusing on Africa alone initially, scholars who have made their name in the Atlantic World have tended to support the idea that the combined numbers of the Sahara Desert and Indian Ocean slave trade over two millennia were about the same as the volume of the transatlantic slave trade in its 360 years of existence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Diablotin or Black-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasitata is an endangered gadfly petrel found in the western North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and northern Gulf of Mexico. An estimated ~2000 pairs nest at five known sites on Hispaniola, Greater Antilles, although only 120 nests have been located to date. We collected breast feathers and feces from breeding adults in the Dominican Republic in April 2018 (n = 10) and from non-breeding adults at sea offshore of North Carolina, USA, in May 2019 (n = 10). We measured mercury burden in feathers and used fecal DNA metabarcoding to compare diets. We found higher concentrations of total mercury compared to other Pterodroma petrels worldwide, with mean concentrations of 30.3 ± 11.1 ppm dry weight (range: 15.2-53.9; n = 20). Diet was dominated by fish, including a high proportion of mesopelagic groups such as myctophids, as well as fishes of interest to artisanal and commercial Caribbean fisheries. These results confirm earlier suggestions of elevated ingestion of mercury by Black-capped Petrels, likely through the consumption of mesopelagic prey or fishery discards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Seabird colonies with long-term monitoring records, i.e., > 50 years, are rare. The population data for northern gannets (Morus bassanus) in Cape St. Mary’s (CSM) Ecological Reserve (Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada) is robust, extending back to 1883 when the colony was presumed established. We inferred the colony’s historical population shifts by measuring ornithogenic proxies in a dated sediment record collected from a nearby pond. Our record extended to the early eighteenth century, but the proxy data only began to show significant signs of seabird presence between ca. 1832 and 1910, aligning with the period gannets were first observed at CSM. Through the twentieth century, we observed significant increases in δ15N, P, Zn, Cd, and chlorophyll a, coeval with a shift in the dominant diatom species, indicating rapid colony growth. The proxies were overall highest in ca. 2005, corresponding to the reported historical maximum of the gannet colony in 2009. Our results validate that paleo-reconstructions using ornithogenic proxies can accurately reflect population trends and provide a stronger understanding of the colony’s establishment and growth. This study highlights the value of applying paleolimnological methods in seabird population studies to frame the history of a colony’s dynamics and inform conservation efforts.

The taxonomic status of butterfly rays within the genus Gymnura remains a subject of ongoing debate among researchers. Some authors recognize up to five valid species for the Americas, while others considered several to be synonyms, which has posed a persistent challenge. We aimed to shed light on this complexity by employing molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) based on the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI). Genetic sequences were obtained from fresh muscle tissue collected in the marine ecoregions corresponding to the type locality from all the nominal butterfly ray species distributed along the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP). Our results unveiled compelling findings; all the species delimitation models used consistently identified seven MOTUs for the American continent and an extra G. altavela MOTU restricted to Africa. In addition, our results and models exceeded the worldwide accepted interspecific threshold of 2.0%. Remarkably, our results support the taxonomic reinstatement of Gymnura afuerae (Hildebrand, 1946) as a valid species, with a range expanding into the ETP in the Southern Hemisphere. Similarly, our data support the recent suggestion of resurrecting Gymnura valenciennii (Duméril, 1865) as a valid species in the western Atlantic. These findings urge a reassessment of the conservation status and a comprehensive taxonomic revision of American butterfly rays.

Seabird colonies with long-term monitoring records, i.e., > 50 years, are rare. The population data for northern gannets (Morus bassanus) in Cape St. Mary's (CSM) Ecological Reserve (Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada) is robust, extending back to 1883 when the colony was presumed established. We inferred the colony's historical population shifts by measuring ornithogenic proxies in a dated sediment record collected from a nearby pond. Our record extended to the early eighteenth century, but the proxy data only began to show significant signs of seabird presence between ca. 1832 and 1910, aligning with the period gannets were first observed at CSM. Through the twentieth century, we observed significant increases in δ15N, P, Zn, Cd, and chlorophyll a, coeval with a shift in the dominant diatom species, indicating rapid colony growth. The proxies were overall highest in ca. 2005, corresponding to the reported historical maximum of the gannet colony in 2009. Our results validate that paleo-reconstructions using ornithogenic proxies can accurately reflect population trends and provide a stronger understanding of the colony's establishment and growth. This study highlights the value of applying paleolimnological methods in seabird population studies to frame the history of a colony's dynamics and inform conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies related to monitoring changes in frequency, intensity and duration of precipitation extremes are key to creating efficient climate change measures and forest conservation policies. This study describes new insights into rainfall precipitation extremes over the Amazon basin (AB) during the last four decades (1981–2021) from the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPSv2). Here we analysed the trends of daily extreme precipitation indices proposed by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI) at the seasonal scale, using the trend‐empirical orthogonal function (TEOF). Our results indicate that the frequency of precipitation extremes increased over Peruvian Amazonia and northeastern Brazilian Amazonia, and reduced in the centre of AB, mainly during the first seasons of the year: December–January–February (DJF) and March–April–May (MAM). The cooling trend over the eastern and central tropical Pacific and the warming trend over the tropical and western subtropical Pacific could associate with the increase in frequency of precipitation extremes in DJF. Furthermore, during June–July–August (JJA) and September–October–November (SON), rainfall intensity indices showed a decrease in Colombia and the Bolivian Amazon; in contrast, northern and southern Peru delivered an increased pattern. The trend pattern in the JJA and SON seasons could be associated with a warming trend over most of the North Atlantic and a cooling in the 40°–60° S band. Our results demonstrate that the precipitation extremes over the AB have spatially varying trends. These heterogeneous trends over the space might be take into account for robust adaptation policies over the countries that are parts of the AB, such as Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Perú, Surinam and Venezuela. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomic status of butterfly rays within the genus Gymnura remains a subject of ongoing debate among researchers. Some authors recognize up to five valid species for the Americas, while others considered several to be synonyms, which has posed a persistent challenge. We aimed to shed light on this complexity by employing molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) based on the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI). Genetic sequences were obtained from fresh muscle tissue collected in the marine ecoregions corresponding to the type locality from all the nominal butterfly ray species distributed along the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP). Our results unveiled compelling findings; all the species delimitation models used consistently identified seven MOTUs for the American continent and an extra G. altavela MOTU restricted to Africa. In addition, our results and models exceeded the worldwide accepted interspecific threshold of 2.0%. Remarkably, our results support the taxonomic reinstatement of Gymnura afuerae (Hildebrand, 1946) as a valid species, with a range expanding into the ETP in the Southern Hemisphere. Similarly, our data support the recent suggestion of resurrecting Gymnura valenciennii (Duméril, 1865) as a valid species in the western Atlantic. These findings urge a reassessment of the conservation status and a comprehensive taxonomic revision of American butterfly rays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is an epilogue to the collection of essays devoted to Indigenous Americans and the Atlantic World. It focuses on two core arguments found in the papers featured in the forum. The first is the extraordinary mobility of Native people in the Atlantic world – Native people and stories span a vast geographical and temporal span. The second is the bare and scattered archival fragments that are often the only records of these peoples' complicated lives – Native people and stories are thus hard to find and reconstruct. This tension between Native peoples' impressive mobility and their fragmented archival footprint opens-up larger questions about how Indigenous Americans reshaped Atlantic histories and why Atlantic histories must center Indigenous Americans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diurnal cycles of near‐surface velocity and temperature, also known as diurnal jet and diurnal warm layer (DWL), are ubiquitous in the tropical oceans, affecting the heat and momentum budget of the ocean surface layer, air‐sea interactions, and vertical mixing. Here, we analyze the presence and descent of near‐surface diurnal shear and stratification in the upper 20 m of the equatorial Atlantic as a function of wind speed using ocean current velocity and hydrographic data taken during two trans‐Atlantic cruises along the equator in October 2019 and May 2022, data from three types of surface drifters, and data from Prediction and Research Moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic (PIRATA) moorings along the equator. The observations during two seasons with similar mean wind speeds but varying surface heat fluxes reveal similar diurnal jets with an amplitude of about 0.11 m s−1 and similar DWLs when averaging along the equator. We find that higher wind speeds lead to earlier diurnal peaks, deeper penetration depths, and faster descent rates of DWL and diurnal jet. While the diurnal amplitude of stratification is maximum for minimal wind speeds, the diurnal amplitude of shear is maximum at 6 m depth for moderate wind speeds of about 5 m s−1. The inferred wind dependence of the descent rates of DWL and diurnal jet is consistent with the earlier onset of deep‐cycle turbulence for higher wind speeds. The DWL and the diurnal jet not only trigger deep‐cycle turbulence but are also observed to modify the wind power input and thus the amount of energy available for mixing. Plain Language Summary: During daytime, solar radiation leads to the formation of a thin warm layer at the ocean surface which can trap heat and wind‐forced momentum. Both heat and momentum are transported in the deeper ocean during the evening and night by turbulent mixing. The associated diurnal variation of temperature, current velocity, and their vertical gradients, stratification and velocity shear, are thus relevant for understanding ocean‐atmosphere interactions. This study investigates how the diurnal variation in stratification and velocity shear is influenced by the wind speed. For that, basin‐scale observations of velocity and temperature, which were collected in the equatorial Atlantic during two trans‐Atlantic equatorial cruises and by instruments installed at long‐term moorings along the equator, are analyzed. These observations reveal that the wind speed influences the amplitude, the timing, and the vertical structure of the diurnal variation in stratification and velocity shear. Wind speed also influences how deep and how fast this variation propagates from the surface downward. The study concludes that the diurnal variation of stratification and velocity shear impacts first the input of mechanical energy from the atmosphere into the ocean and second the process of turbulent mixing below the night‐time mixed layer. Key Points: Basin‐scale in‐situ data show the evolution of diurnal warm layer and diurnal jet in the upper 15 m of the equatorial Atlantic OceanHigher wind speeds lead to earlier diurnal peaks, deeper penetration depths, and faster descent rates of the diurnal jetWind speed dependence of descent rates of diurnal shear and stratification can explain the varying onset of deep‐cycle turbulence [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early stages of developing wave energy converter (WEC) projects, a quantitative assessment of component failure consequence costs is essential. The WEC types, deployment site features, and accessibility should all be carefully considered. This study introduces an operation and maintenance failure consequence cost (O&M-FC) model, distinct from conventional O&M models. The model is illustrated with case studies at three energetic Atlantic sites, each of which considers two types of generic floating WECs: a 300 kW point absorber (PA) with a hydraulic power-take-off (PTO) and a 1000 kW oscillating water column (OWC) with an air-wells-turbine PTO. This study compares 39 failure modes for PA and 27 for OWC in terms of direct repair costs and indirect lost production costs, examining the impact of location accessibility, capacity factors, and the mean annual energy production. The discussion revolves around the sensitive parameters. Recommendations for failure mitigations are presented, and the impact of planned maintenance (PM) during the operational phase is examined for 20 MW PA and OWC WEC projects. For a given WEC type, the method thoroughly evaluates how the location affects performance metrics. It offers a decision-making tool for determining optimal PM intervals to meet targets such as O&M costs, operating profit, or availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new neotypes designations are proposed for the species Siboglinum besnardi and Siboglinum nonatoi, based on specimens collected from the Southwestern Atlantic deep waters, type locality of both species. This designation is necessary due to the loss of the original type series for both species. Species identities were validated through morphological analyses, and comprehensive redescriptions are conducted for both species, which not only expand upon the original descriptions but also introduce additional diagnostic characters, including stereomicroscope and SEM images. In addition, genetic material from a specimen of Siboglinum besnardi was obtained, enabling a molecular phylogenetic analysis utilizing COI, 16S and 28S molecular markers. This analysis confirmed not only the species placement within the family Siboglinidae but also provided substantial support for the monophyly of the Frenulata, Vestimentifera, Monilifera and Osedax groups within the annelid family Siboglinidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benthic δ18O stacks are the benchmarks by which paleoceanographic data are stratigraphically aligned and compared. However, a recent study found that between 1.8 and 1.9 million years ago (Ma) several Ceara Rise records differed substantially from the widely used LR04 global stack. Here, we use new Bayesian stacking software to construct regional stacks and demonstrate a geographical divergence in benthic δ18O features from 1.8 to 1.9 Ma. The pattern of isotopic stage features observed in the Ceara Rise is widespread throughout the Atlantic and differs notably from Pacific records. We propose that this regional difference in isotopic stages may be the result of relatively strong precession forcing and weaker obliquity forcing between 1.8 and 1.9 Ma. In accordance with the Antiphase Hypothesis, our results highlight a period of apparent sensitivity to regional precession forcing that is masked during most of the 41‐Kyr world due to the amplitude modulation of obliquity forcing. Plain Language Summary: To determine the age of deep‐sea sediments, often the oxygen isotope ratios of microfossils are measured and compared to a previously compiled global benchmark. Recently, one of the most widely used oxygen isotope benchmarks has been challenged based on a comparison with several Atlantic records. In this study we assess several lines of evidence including utilizing newly available data and software. We confirm the challenge to the global oxygen isotope benchmark and find that it is more widespread than originally realized. Particularly, we find that oxygen isotope records display different patterns between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans from 1.8 to 1.9 million years ago (Ma). We propose that this difference is the result of the opposing seasonal solar radiation anomalies received by the northern and southern hemispheres, which exhibited particularly large amplitudes during this time. Our study adds supporting evidence to a hypothesis that explains the dominant frequency of oxygen isotopic cycles from 1.2 to 2.6 Ma. Key Points: New Atlantic and Pacific benthic δ18O stacks show different patterns between 1.8 and 1.9 MaThe Atlantic‐Pacific difference in this portion of the 41‐Kyr world may be caused by regional sensitivity to relatively strong precessionRegional benthic δ18O stacks are preferable to global stacks for stratigraphic alignment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we analyse the trajectory of men who left Ponte de Lima, in the north of Portugal, and headed for Bahia, the capital of the South American colony, crossing and making a life on the other side of the Atlantic, manuscript sources from the local Misericórdia archive, which we have analysed qualitatively. With very similar life journeys, although with several differences, these men achieved what they wanted, leading a path of social ascent, made up of work and professional networks and trust. Once they had crossed the Atlantic and achieved success, they planned to distribute their wealth distribution of their wealth, benefiting family, friends and the poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding prehistoric sites, on the sea floor off the United States, has proven to be a difficult task. Over four decades of innovative attempts have produced few discoveries. This discussion outlines the difficulties in finding submerged prehistory on the sea floor, examines current methodology(ies), and presents a new methodology that demonstrates promise based on research conducted over the past decade. The purpose of this discussion is to outline the problems facing archaeologists searching the sea floor for archaeological sites. It is less of a critique of past efforts and methodologies used in those attempts. Without those efforts, a reason for developing a different methodological approach would be unnecessary. Any "one size fits all" methodology is limiting, and the scant number of marine archaeological sites located off the shores of the United States can attest to the need for practitioners to continue refining their methods. This is especially the case on the continental shelf of the eastern United States, where sediment cover is often meters, or several meters, thick. This opportunistic methodology developed on the continental shelf of the Georgia Bight, western Atlantic Ocean, has located intact paleo-landforms with in situ, palaeoecological remains thereby offering promise for future archaeological discoveries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: Marine rocky outcrops are model systems of community assembly under harsh conditions. The prevailing environmental conditions that determine a coast–inland gradient of stress and disturbance impose a strong environmental filter on community assembly. However, the Atlantic rocky outcrops of Uruguay challenge this assumption as they exhibit high plant diversity at small spatial scales. We investigated this study system to answer: (1) which environmental factors determine diversity at the local scale; (2) and how does the regional pool influence species composition along the coast–inland gradient? Methods: We analyzed the local and regional determinants of plant community assembly in four rocky sites along the Uruguayan coast. Through a random sampling approach stratified by distance to the coast, we recorded species occurrences and microenvironmental conditions. Observed taxa were assigned into different species assemblages according to their typical vegetation type. Generalized Linear Model (GLM)–Poisson regression, quantile regressions and hierarchical cluster analyses were used to identify the factors underlying local richness and the spatial vegetation structure. Results: Nine different vegetation types generate a mass effect that enhances local diversity. Unexpectedly, 56% of the species are from non‐marine environments — e.g. grasslands or hydrophilous herblands. Species assemblages were spatially clustered, with a turnover of these clusters along the coast–inland gradient. Elevation, distance to the coast and vegetation cover promoted richness, likely due to an attenuation of marine filters. Meanwhile, substrate availability reduced richness, likely due to competitive exclusion as a result of more resources and homogeneous microenvironmental conditions. Conclusions: The high local diversity along the marine rocky outcrops of Uruguay is best explained by a functionally diverse regional species pool, which interacts with local heterogeneity, and by conditions that enhance or attenuate the effect of marine stress. Effective conservation and management strategies are key to minimize the detrimental effects of urbanization, fragmentation, and non‐native plant invasions on these diverse habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The mesopelagic zone represents one of the few habitats that remains relatively untouched from anthropogenic activities. Among the many species inhabiting the north Atlantic mesopelagic zone, glacier lanternfish (Benthosema glaciale) is the most abundant and widely distributed. This species has been regarded as a potential target for a dedicated fishery despite the scarce knowledge of its population genetic structure. Here, we investigated its genetic structure across the North Atlantic and into the Mediterranean Sea using 121 SNPs, which revealed strong differentiation among three main groups: the Mediterranean Sea, oceanic samples, and Norwegian fjords. The Mediterranean samples displayed less than half the genetic variation of the remaining ones. Very weak or nearly absent genetic structure was detected among geographically distinct oceanic samples across the North Atlantic, which contrasts with the low motility of the species. In contrast, a longitudinal gradient of differentiation was observed in the Mediterranean Sea, where genetic connectivity is known to be strongly shaped by oceanographic processes such as current patterns and oceanographic discontinuities. In addition, 12 of the SNPs, in linkage disequilibrium, drove a three clusters' pattern detectable through Principal Component Analysis biplot matching the genetic signatures generally associated with large chromosomal rearrangements, such as inversions. The arrangement of this putative inversion showed frequency differences between open‐ocean and more confined water bodies such as the fjords and the Mediterranean, as it was fixed in the latter for the second most common arrangement of the fjord's samples. However, whether genetic differentiation was driven by local adaptation, secondary contact, or a combination of both factors remains undetermined. The major finding of this study is that B. glaciale in the North Atlantic‐Mediterranean is divided into three major genetic units, information that should be combined with demographic properties to outline the management of this species prior to any eventual fishery attempt.

Finding prehistoric sites, on the sea floor off the United States, has proven to be a difficult task. Over four decades of innovative attempts have produced few discoveries. This discussion outlines the difficulties in finding submerged prehistory on the sea floor, examines current methodology(ies), and presents a new methodology that demonstrates promise based on research conducted over the past decade. The purpose of this discussion is to outline the problems facing archaeologists searching the sea floor for archaeological sites. It is less of a critique of past efforts and methodologies used in those attempts. Without those efforts, a reason for developing a different methodological approach would be unnecessary. Any “one size fits all” methodology is limiting, and the scant number of marine archaeological sites located off the shores of the United States can attest to the need for practitioners to continue refining their methods. This is especially the case on the continental shelf of the eastern United States, where sediment cover is often meters, or several meters, thick. This opportunistic methodology developed on the continental shelf of the Georgia Bight, western Atlantic Ocean, has located intact paleo-landforms with in situ, palaeoecological remains thereby offering promise for future archaeological discoveries.

The Community Earth System Model version 1 (CESM1) and version 2 (CESM2)'s abilities to simulate the impacts of Atlantic multidecadal variability (AMV) and Pacific multidecadal variability (PMV) on South American precipitation and temperature have not been assessed, and how the AMV and PMV modulate each other's influences on South American climate is not well understood. Here we use observations, reanalyses, and CESM1 and CESM2 simulations from 1920 to 2015 to study those problems. The models can reproduce the observed precipitation and temperature responses to AMV well, but can only roughly reproduce such responses to PMV. The precipitation response over the South Atlantic convergence zone (SACZ) is better simulated by CESM2 compared to CESM1, which is associated with an improved horizontal moisture flux over this region. However, the models cannot accurately simulate the observed differences between the influences of Pacific interannual and multidecadal variability on South American precipitation and temperature. The impacts of AMV and PMV on South American precipitation are modulated by the other mode via changes in horizontal moisture flux over the SACZ and River Plate basin in summer, as well as changes in vertical motion over the equatorial regions in winter. Similarly, the impacts of AMV and PMV on South American temperature are also modulated by the other mode. Over water‐limited regions, such as northeastern Brazil and southern Argentina, the precipitation and temperature responses are anti‐correlated, possibly via surface evaporation. Plain Language Summary: How the Community Earth System Model version 1 and version 2 simulate the influences of Atlantic and Pacific multidecadal sea surface temperature variations on South American climate has not previously been examined, and how the Atlantic and Pacific multidecadal variability (AMV and PMV) modulates the effects from the other basin on South American precipitation and temperature is unclear. In this study, we analyze historical observations and model simulations during 1920–2015 to investigate those problems. The general patterns of the precipitation and temperature responses to AMV are well simulated by both versions of the model, but the patterns of the responses to PMV are only roughly reproduced by the models. The precipitation response over the South American monsoon region is better represented in the model's version 2 than in version 1. The Atlantic and Pacific variability modulates each other's impacts on South American precipitation and temperature. The variations in the patterns of precipitation response are related to changes in horizontal moisture transport over subtropical regions in summer and vertical motion over equatorial regions in winter. The precipitation and temperature responses are anti‐correlated over relatively dry regions, such as northeastern Brazil and southern Argentina, possibly through surface evaporation. Key Points: The Community Earth System Model version 2 improves monsoon rainfall response to Pacific and Atlantic variability compared to version 1Precipitation anomaly patterns over South America are related to anomalous subtropical moisture flux and equatorial vertical motionOver water‐limited regions, anomalies in temperature and precipitation are anti‐correlated, possibly due to surface evaporative cooling [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Knowledge gaps and sampling bias can lead to underestimations of species richness and distortions in the known distribution of species. The goal of this study is to identify potential gaps and biases in marine organisms sampling at the Western Atlantic Ocean, determine their causes and assess its effect on biodiversity metrics. We tested the potential interference of this bias with the representation of environmental conditions, potentially affecting biodiversity model predictions. Location: Western Atlantic Ocean. Methods: This study compiled data of marine species in online and institutional databases. The analysis of sampling effort and bias was conducted by mapping the density of records. A spatial autoregressive model (SAR) was employed to investigate the influence of accessibility as a determinant factor of the sampling bias. We tested whether the effect of the sampling bias could result from environmental bias in the samples, contrasting the environmental variables of the study area with those present in the biodiversity records. We examined the correlation between sampling effort in species richness and endemism. Results: The USA has the highest number of records and density of records. There was a low correlation between the vertebrates, invertebrates and algae sample density patterns. Accessibility was identified as one of the main causes of sampling bias. The analysis of environmental bias indicated that the records do not represent all conditions present in the environment. Sampling density showed a strong relationship with endemism and a weaker relationship with species richness. Main Conclusions: We have identified a strong sampling bias related to ease of access that equally affects vertebrates, invertebrates and algae, resulting in a skewed sampling of the environmental conditions where species occur. Sampling patterns differ among the groups. The intensity of sampling effort significantly impacts measures of richness and endemism, potentially undermining the accurate recognition of real biological diversity patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of the prey of three amphiatlantic dolphin species, Tursiops truncatus, Stenella coeruleoalba and Delphinus delphis, is carried out. The main objective of this work is to review the feeding of these species in the Atlantic in order to assess the degrees of trophic competition and speciation pressure. A total of 103 fish families, 22 cephalopod families and 19 crustacean families have been counted, from which the species identified to the genus level only included seventy-one fish, twenty cephalopods and five crustaceans, and the total species identified included three-hundred-one fish, fifty cephalopods and twenty-six crustaceans. The most consumed prey were fish, followed by cephalopods and crustaceans. The exclusive prey consumed by each of the three dolphin species, as well as those shared by all or at least two of them, have also been counted. T. truncatus is the most general; however, the western Atlantic populations exhibit high dietary specialization compared to the eastern Atlantic populations, reflecting strong speciation pressure on both sides of the Atlantic. D. delphis and S. coeruleoalba, despite their amphiatlantism, have hardly been studied in the western Atlantic, except for a few references in the southern hemisphere, so the fundamental differences between the two species and their comparison with T. truncatus have been established with records from the eastern Atlantic. All three dolphin species have been observed to be expanding, especially D. delphis. This northward expansion and that of their prey is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Similar to other coastal regions worldwide, forests created by brown macroalgae have severely declined in recent decades across the Macaronesian oceanic archipelagos (northeastern Atlantic), eroding the provision of ecosystem services. However, the putative effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors (both local and global) on such declines across spatial and temporal scales remain unresolved. Our research endeavored to investigate the connection between local and global stressors and the distribution and extent of the brown macroalgae Gongolaria abies-marina in the rocky intertidal and adjacent subtidal zones of Gran Canaria over the past four decades. We also quantified the presence of populations at small scales, according to local micro-habitat topography (“open rock” versus “refuge”). Through herbarium records, we additionally analyzed the historical variation in the thallus size of the species. Finally, we experimentally assessed the thermotolerance of embryonic stages to warming. The main environmental drivers explaining the regression of G.abies-marina were the increasing number of marine heatwaves, while the number of local human impacts (quantified through the HAPI index) also accounted for further regression in the extent of marine forests. Warming experimentally reduced the survival and size of macroalgal embryos. A progressive miniaturization of the species, currently restricted to micro-habitat refuges as a survival strategy, seems likely to be the final stage in the progressive disappearance of this macroalgae from the island’s rocky shores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports the occurrence of several specimens of the penaeid shrimp Penaeus notialis in the Gulf of Cadiz (Spain). The southern pink shrimp is a penaeid originating from east and west Atlantic tropical coastal waters. New observations of tropical species in temperate waters have increased in the last 20 years. This species may have been able to expand successfully northward to European waters, probably favored by global warming, although an accidental introduction by ballast waters cannot be completely discarded. The widespread presence of African biota such as P. notialis in the Gulf of Cadiz ecosystem underscores the necessity of establishing a long-term monitoring program that focuses on this and other currently established non-native species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isostichopus badionotus (Selenka, 1867) is distributed in the Atlantic Ocean. It has been recognized as a species with highly variable intraspecific coloration. To clarify taxonomic confusion and show the characters for correct identification of this valuable species, mitochondrial DNA (16S and COI), color patterns, external and internal morphology, ossicles, and habitat were examined in specimens from museum collections and from original sampling. As part of the revision, I. fuscus (Ludwig, 1875) from the Eastern Pacific Ocean and I. macroparentheses (Clark, 1922) from the Caribbean Sea, the only other two species currently recognized in the genus Isostichopus, were included. It was concluded that I. fuscus and I. macroparentheses are distinct and valid species, and that I. badionotus consists of two species: I. badionotus and I. maculatus (Greeff, 1882), previously synonymized as I. baqdionotus by Clark (1922). Isostichopus maculatus includes two subspecies, the nominal I. maculatus maculatus (Greeff, 1882) and I. maculatus phoenius (Clark, 1922), described as Stichopus badionotus var. phoenius Clark, 1922. Isostichopus maculatus maculatus, distributed in the East Atlantic, is very similar to I. maculatus phoenius, but differs in DNA characters, color pattern, and the size and shape of the tables in the dorsal papillae. Isostichopus maculatus phoenius, widely distributed in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, is sympatric with I. badionotus, has similar ossicles but is clearly distinguished by its DNA sequences, color patterns, and habitat preferences. For the first time, ossicles from internal organs are described for Isostichopus, enhancing original species descriptions. Distribution maps, habitat, biology, conservation status, and a taxonomic key for distinguishing these species to aid their fishery management and aquaculture are presented.

Abstract Benthic δ18O stacks are the benchmarks by which paleoceanographic data are stratigraphically aligned and compared. However, a recent study found that between 1.8 and 1.9 million years ago (Ma) several Ceara Rise records differed substantially from the widely used LR04 global stack. Here, we use new Bayesian stacking software to construct regional stacks and demonstrate a geographical divergence in benthic δ18O features from 1.8 to 1.9 Ma. The pattern of isotopic stage features observed in the Ceara Rise is widespread throughout the Atlantic and differs notably from Pacific records. We propose that this regional difference in isotopic stages may be the result of relatively strong precession forcing and weaker obliquity forcing between 1.8 and 1.9 Ma. In accordance with the Antiphase Hypothesis, our results highlight a period of apparent sensitivity to regional precession forcing that is masked during most of the 41‐Kyr world due to the amplitude modulation of obliquity forcing.

Catch, bycatch and discard information is important for the assessment and management of fisheries. Using Chinese pelagic tuna longline observer data from 2010 to 2018, we studied the catch composition in the Chinese pelagic tuna longline fisheries in Atlantic targeting bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) and bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), and analyzed the survival status and discard rates of common bycatch species. A total of 55 species, including tunas, billfishes, sharks, sea turtles, cetaceans, seabirds, and other pelagic species, were observed. The results indicated that the catch composition of the Chinese pelagic tuna longline fishery targeting bigeye tuna was significantly different from that targeting bluefin tuna. The annual discard rates of common species decreased over this period. Discard rate by length and discard mortality for common species were varied among species. This is the first study to estimate catch, bycatch, and discard using Chinese pelagic tuna longline observer data in the Atlantic Ocean, which is important for the management of Chinese tuna longline fisheries in Atlantic Ocean.

The Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) is often used for subseasonal forecasting of tropical cyclone (TC) activity. However, TC activity still has considerable variability even given the state of the MJO. This study evaluates the connection between MJO propagation speed with Atlantic TC activity and possible physical mechanisms guiding this relation. We find the Atlantic sees the highest accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) during MJO phase 2. However, the odds of above average ACE in the Atlantic is greatest during slow MJO propagation. We find that slow propagation of the MJO results in lower vertical wind shear anomalies over the Caribbean and main development region compared with typical MJO propagation. Typical MJO propagation produces an amplified height pattern and lower height anomalies along the region of the tropical upper tropospheric trough which is known to impede Atlantic TC activity. Slow MJO propagation sees weaker height anomalies over the Atlantic. Plain Language Summary: The Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) is a large region of storminess and winds that moves slowly eastward from the Indian ocean eastward into the Pacific over the course of 40–90 days. When the MJO is over the Indian Ocean it produces more hurricanes in the Atlantic because it reduces wind shear which is the difference in winds at different heights of the atmosphere. When the MJO moves slowly or is nearly stationary over the Indian Ocean there is even more hurricane activity in the Atlantic. When the MJO moves at a normal pace, it influences the jet stream which can then dip into the Atlantic creating high wind shear. When the MJO moves slowly there is less shear over the Atlantic. Key Points: The Atlantic basin sees the most subseasonal tropical cyclone activity when the Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) is moving slowly prior to entering phase 2Under normal MJO propagation higher shear occurs in the main development region than during slow propagating MJOsUnder slow propagating MJO regimes the 500 mb geopotential height pattern has smaller wavelengths and weaker anomalies over the Atlantic [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: The eastern provinces of Canada exhibit a heightened prevalence and mortality rate of lung cancer compared to their western counterparts. While established risk factors for lung cancer exist in Canada, there remains ambiguity regarding the underlying provincial and territorial trends. This review aims to identify and analyze potential contributors to healthcare inequality, guiding policymakers towards a strategic and sustainable approach at the provincial level. Recent Findings: Existing studies emphasize the significant roles played by socio-economic and environmental factors in influencing lung cancer disparities across Canadian provinces. However, a noticeable research gap persists, particularly in systematically examining the factors that amplify geographical disparities in lung cancer incidence and mortality rates within Canada. Summary: This review underscores the disparities in lung cancer prevalence and mortality rates between eastern and western Canadian provinces. While socio-economic and environmental factors have been identified as influential, there is an evident need for further research to comprehensively understand and address the underlying contributors to these geographical discrepancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea surface currents probably are the most relevant essential ocean variable affecting diverse societal challenges concerning the marine environmental (as, for example, safe and efficient navigation, marine pollution and ecological connectivity). This work introduces a climatological Atlas (monthly resolution) of currents in the Mediterranean and Canary–Iberian–Biscay basins, based on today's state of the art reanalyses of the ocean circulation. The focus is on surface and subsurface reanalyses (here understood as $z\sim 0.5$ z ∼ 0.5 and $z\sim 15$ z ∼ 15 m, respectively) provided by the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS). The climatological values are computed from the median of the empirical probability density functions and the Atlas also includes the variance matrix and a bimodality index to have quantitative information on their variability. For both domains, the subsurface climatological fields are reasonably consistent with circulation schemes proposed in the previous literature but clearly improving the time and space resolution of the emerging patterns. For the Canary–Iberian–Biscay domain, the monthly climatological surface currents capture accurately the characteristic seasonal signal and its transition between a favourable and non-favourable upwelling regime. In the Mediterranean basin, differences between the near-surface and the 15 m velocity fields suggest a non-negligible role of winds over the variability of the uppermost ocean layer, specially in the Eastern Mediterranean basin. This is, up to our knowledge, the first time that such near-surface climatological patterns are computed. It has been found that, in general, the resulting patterns agree with surface drifter trajectories. In several regions, interannual variability foster bimodal and multimodal probability distributions. The Atlas has been conceived with the purpose of providing a first quantitative assessment on the surface circulation, thus being a complementary tool of real-time ocean forecasting systems. The Atlas is distributed following the FAIR principles and is accompanied with a digital version, with enhanced visualization capabilities for both research and assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato (Solanum tuberosum, L.) is one of the most responsive crops to fertilizer application, which drives the need to rationalize and make the most of nutritional resources in efficient and sustainable management. Based on the hypothesis that the organomineral is a great alternative to increase potato productivity (Ágata and Atlantic cultivars) and that it can be indicated as a substitute for mineral fertilizers, this study aims to evaluate the effect of organomineral doses applied in the planting furrow on potato productivity to identify the best level of mineral fertilizer replacement. A study was conducted in the city of Cristalina (state of Goiás, Brazil), evaluating the replacement of 40, 60, 80, and 100% of mineral fertilizer (standard) provided via organomineral fertilizer in two widely cultivated varieties. The total productivity and the productivity in classes were monitored, as well as the nutrient contents in the leaves. The results showed that the organomineral is a great alternative to increase potato productivity and can be indicated as a substitute for mineral fertilizers. For the cultivar Ágata, an organomineral dose of 80% is recommended concerning mineral fertilization. On the other hand, for the Atlantic cultivar, the same dose of mineral fertilizer is recommended. In both cultivars, there was an increase in tuber size with organomineral fertilization, which indicates greater efficiency in tuber productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Documentation of Echinorhinus brucus, (Bonnaterre, 1788) in the western Atlantic primarily relies on chance observations. Georeferenced records in this area remain notably scarce. This study contributes the second Venezuelan and seventh Caribbean Sea specimens, increasing the western Atlantic count to 15 individuals. All specimens gathered here were sexually mature, with a slight dominance of females. Our bramble shark record appears to be driven more by the interplay of its biology and environmental factors than being a deliberate deep‐sea fishery activity, which likely occurs in the Southern Caribbean area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is a central component of the atmospheric general circulation, but remarkably little is known about the dynamical and thermodynamical structure of the convergence zone itself. This is true even for the structure of the low‐level convergence that gives the ITCZ its name. Following on from the major international field campaigns in the 1960s and 1970s, we performed extensive atmospheric profiling of the Atlantic ITCZ during a ship‐based measurement campaign aboard the research vessel SONNE in summer 2021. Combining data collected during our north–south crossing of the ITCZ with reanalysis data shows the ITCZ to be a meridionally extended region of intense precipitation, with enhanced surface convergence at its edges rather than in the center. Based on the location of these edges, we construct a composite view of the structure of the Atlantic ITCZ. The ITCZ, far from being simply a region of enhanced deep convection, has a rich inner life, that is, a rich dynamical and thermodynamic structure that changes throughout the course of the year, and has a northern edge that differs systematically from the southern edge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haminoea are herbivorous, coastal snails occurring in temperate and tropical waters of the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific oceans, with one species present in temperate South Africa (Indian Ocean). The genus is taxonomically difficult as several available nominal species were introduced based on shell descriptions alone, or described based on subtle differences in morpho‐anatomical features, without a phylogenetic molecular framework. Fifteen species are currently accepted as valid in recent scientific literature and field guides (eight Eastern Atlantic, one temperate Indian Ocean, four Western Atlantic and three Eastern Pacific). Here we generate the first complete phylogeny (Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood) of this genus based on multilocus molecular data (COI, 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, 28S rRNA) using a taxon set accumulated over a period of 15 years, coupled with species delimitation analyses methods (ABGD, ASAP, bPTP) and morpho‐anatomical studies. The goal of this study is to provide insights into the taxonomy, phylogenetic relationships and geographical distributions of species while generating a framework for future systematic reviews of the genus, as well as to study speciation and historical biogeography. Our results rendered four possible hypotheses of species diversity: with 14, 15, 19 and 20 candidate species and point to the fact that several taxa presently regarded as valid might be conspecific (e.g. H. orteai–H. templadoi–H. exigua; and H. alfredensis–H. antillarum–H. orbignyana), while highlighting the existence of a complex of four or five species often identified as H. elegans. Pervasive nomenclatural problems in the genus, including with the type species H. hydatis, are highlighted and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biologie Aujourd'hui is the property of EDP Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Despite decades of research, the cause of deglaciations is not fully understood, leaving a critical gap in our understanding of Earth's climate system. During the most recent deglaciation (Termination I (T I)), abrupt declines in the stable carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) of benthic foraminifera occurred throughout the mid‐depth (1,500–2,500 m) Atlantic. The spatial pattern in δ13C anomalies was likely due to Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) weakening and the accumulation of respired carbon, which also yields negative excursions in carbonate ion concentration (CO32− $\left[{{\text{CO}}_{3}}^{2-}\right]$). To investigate whether a similar pattern occurred during prior deglaciations, we developed δ13C and CO32− $\left[{{\text{CO}}_{3}}^{2-}\right]$ records from 1,800 and 2,300 m water depth in the Southwest Atlantic spanning the last 150 ka. The new records reveal negative δ13C and CO32− $\left[{{\text{CO}}_{3}}^{2-}\right]$ anomalies during Termination II (TII) and the smaller deglaciations of Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 4/3, 5b/a, and 5d/c, suggesting AMOC weakening is a common feature of deglaciation. The anomalies are more pronounced in the shallower core following MIS 2, 4, and 6 and in the deeper core following MIS 5b and 5d. The depth‐dependent pattern is most likely due to shoaling of Northern Source Water during glacial maxima and deepening during interglacial intervals. Comparison of CO32− $\left[{{\text{CO}}_{3}}^{2-}\right]$ records from TI and TII suggests similar levels of carbon accumulation in the mid‐depth Atlantic. The Brazil Margin δ13C and CO32− $\left[{{\text{CO}}_{3}}^{2-}\right]$ results indicate the AMOC plays a key role in the series of events causing deglaciation, regardless of differences in orbital configuration, ice volume, and mean global temperature. Key Points: Brazil Margin δ13C and CO32− $\left[{{\text{CO}}_{3}}^{2-}\right]$ records suggest the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation weakened during each deglaciation of the last 150,000 yearsMovement of northern source water yields larger δ13C and CO32− $\left[{{\text{CO}}_{3}}^{2-}\right]$ anomalies at 1,800 m during MIS 2, 4, and 6 and at 2,300 m during MIS 5The dynamic nature of Atlantic watermass structure complicates the diagnosis of overturning patterns on glacial‐interglacial timescales [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the Morisco Qasim al-Hajari's (Kitab) The Supporter of Religion against the Infidel 1611–13 for its diplomatic merit within the rubric of the Islamic Maghreb. In particular, it sheds light on how a scene from Spain's colonial expansionist encounters with native Americans is utilized within an Arabophone context of the early modern Islamicate world. Al-Hajari Islamizes the momentous and violent imperial encounter between the Aztec king Moctezuma and the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés (1519) in Mexico. Additionally, he juxtaposes such a scene with Spain's violation of the treaties with Muslim Andalusians (1492–1609) and its incursions upon its neighboring Protestant powers. Al-Hajari's account not only indicates the itinerant condition which characterizes the circulation of ideas between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean but also demonstrates how imperial episodes acquire different meanings, through diplomatic endeavors and within different hermeneutic communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summer extreme heat events happen frequently in northern China during recent decades, which have serious impacts on the society and ecosystem. The present study reveals that there is a synergistic effect of the preceding winter positive mid-latitude North Atlantic SST anomaly (pMNA SSTA) and summer negative tropical eastern Indian Ocean SST anomaly (nTEI SSTA) on strengthening the summer extreme heat events in northern China. The extreme heat events are stronger and more frequent when the two factors cooccur, and the probability of a strengthened extreme heat events is higher, which indicates a synergistic effect of the two factors. The preceding winter pMNA SSTA and summer nTEI SSTA exert their synergistic effect through a series of coupled oceanic-land-atmospheric bridges. The preceding winter pMNA SSTA could lead to an anomalous anticyclone over central Asia via the eastward propagating Rossby wave, which decreases snowfall and the subsequent snow cover there. The negative snow cover anomaly may persist into spring and induce a local anomalous anticyclone in spring via the snow-hydrological effect, which decreases the precipitation over the southern flank of the anomalous anticyclone. The decreased soil moisture persists into summer and induces the eastward propagating Rossby wave, and favors the increase of atmosphere thickness over northern China. The summer nTEI SSTA can also induce the anomalous anticyclone over northern China via the northeastward Rossby wave propagation. Thus, the two factors exhibit evident synergistic effect on the atmospheric circulation anomaly over northern China. The anomalous anticyclone corresponds to the increased atmosphere thickness, which favors the increase of air temperature in northern China and strengthening of extreme heat events. Therefore, the preceding winter pMNA SSTA and summer nTEI SSTA have significant synergistic effect on strengthening the summer extreme heat events in northern China.

Five species of Platorchestia Bousfield, 1982, are described and figured from Atlantic Ocean shores (including the Caribbean, Baltic, and Mediterranean seas). Four of these are new to science. All five species had previously been illustrated in the literature but four of them had incorrectly been allocated to either Orchestia platensis Krøyer, 1945 or O. monodi Mateus, Mateus & Afonso, 1986.

After Christopher Columbus’s 1492 landfall on the island of Guanahaní, artistic representations over the next century worked to visualize the Americas from a Eurocentric perspective. The male explorers associated with “discovery” such as Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci were bonded to the intellectual creation of “America” happening in early modern Europe and were often visualized in littoral spaces to convey their arrival. This essay analyzes the role of the explorer as an essential instrument in the place-making of the Americas. It examines the ways in which the European navigator, through his positioning in coastal areas and the deep sea, became a figure visually bound to green land and blue waters and inserted into developing narratives of the “New World.”

In the early stages of developing wave energy converter (WEC) projects, a quantitative assessment of component failure consequence costs is essential. The WEC types, deployment site features, and accessibility should all be carefully considered. This study introduces an operation and maintenance failure consequence cost (O&M-FC) model, distinct from conventional O&M models. The model is illustrated with case studies at three energetic Atlantic sites, each of which considers two types of generic floating WECs: a 300 kW point absorber (PA) with a hydraulic power-take-off (PTO) and a 1000 kW oscillating water column (OWC) with an air-wells-turbine PTO. This study compares 39 failure modes for PA and 27 for OWC in terms of direct repair costs and indirect lost production costs, examining the impact of location accessibility, capacity factors, and the mean annual energy production. The discussion revolves around the sensitive parameters. Recommendations for failure mitigations are presented, and the impact of planned maintenance (PM) during the operational phase is examined for 20 MW PA and OWC WEC projects. For a given WEC type, the method thoroughly evaluates how the location affects performance metrics. It offers a decision-making tool for determining optimal PM intervals to meet targets such as O&M costs, operating profit, or availability.

Abstract The Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) is often used for subseasonal forecasting of tropical cyclone (TC) activity. However, TC activity still has considerable variability even given the state of the MJO. This study evaluates the connection between MJO propagation speed with Atlantic TC activity and possible physical mechanisms guiding this relation. We find the Atlantic sees the highest accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) during MJO phase 2. However, the odds of above average ACE in the Atlantic is greatest during slow MJO propagation. We find that slow propagation of the MJO results in lower vertical wind shear anomalies over the Caribbean and main development region compared with typical MJO propagation. Typical MJO propagation produces an amplified height pattern and lower height anomalies along the region of the tropical upper tropospheric trough which is known to impede Atlantic TC activity. Slow MJO propagation sees weaker height anomalies over the Atlantic.