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Non-indigenous Species (NIS) pose significant threats to marine biodiversity globally, especially in ecologically sensitive habitats such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This study uses data collected in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (North Atlantic), Portugal, to create a spatial model aiming to (1) develop a spatially explicit index of NIS dispersal from known hotspots such as ports, harbours, marinas, and anchoring areas; (2) assess the relative vulnerability of Madeira's MPAs to local NIS dispersion and establishment; and (3) provide insights for a scalable NIS monitoring framework and evaluating invasion risks. The spatial model integrates maritime traffic intensity and proximity to NIS hotspots, using a straightforward approach that can be applied in data-limited contexts. While designed to address Madeira's regional challenges, the model is adaptable to other biogeographic contexts and can incorporate additional complexity, such as species-specific traits or ecological layers, to suit different settings. Our findings underscore the role of maritime infrastructure and vessel traffic in NIS spread, revealing the vulnerability of Madeira's MPAs due to insufficient ecological monitoring and the absence of NIS monitoring and early detection programs. This study provides practical recommendations for improving MPA management and mitigating NIS risks, contributing to regional conservation efforts. Additionally, it establishes a baseline risk assessment approach that can be customised and expanded to guide NIS management and biodiversity conservation in other regions, particularly those with similar challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to effectively solve coal mine water penetration accident and improve emergency rescue capability and evaluation accuracy, a emergency rescue capability evaluation model of coal mine water penetration accident is proposed, which combines an improved combination weighting method with the marine predator algorithm (MPA) optimizing BP neural network (BPNN). First of all, the evaluation index system of emergency rescue capability of coal mine water penetration accident is constructed, including four primary indicators, emergency rescue prevention capability, emergency rescue preparation capability, emergency rescue response capability, rehabilitation recovery capability, and sixteen secondary indicators. Secondly, the subjective and objective weighting of the evaluation indicators are determined by the best worst method (BWM) and the criteria importance though intercrieria correlation (CRITIC) method. Lagrange function is introduced to build a decision model, and combination weighting are obtained by coupling the subjective and objective weighting through the euclidean distance function. Thirdly, the combined weight value is used as the input of the MPA-BPNN model, and the expected value as the output for linear regression prediction. Finally, the model is applied in a coal mine in Shanxi and compared with the BPNN model, GA-BPNN model, and PSO-BPNN model. The results show that mean absolute error of MPA-BPNN model has decreased by 6.5%, 4.3% and 3.5% respectively compared with other models, which proves the effectiveness and accuracy of the model. Therefore, MPA-BPNN is applicable to the evaluation of emergency rescue capability for coal mine water penetration accident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An S-band antenna has been designed, developed, measured, space-qualified, and integrated into the INTA ANSER satellite constellation and the future ANSER-AT mission. This antenna will be part of the space-to-ground communication link for the constellation, which consists of one Leader and two Followers. The novel antenna, mounted on the Leader, has been designed and manufactured with materials and processes specifically tested for space. It features dual circular polarization over a wide band without requiring a phase-shifting network, making it very compact and straightforward. Additionally, its gain patterns are highly stable within the desired band, improving its link capacity compared to the UHF monopole alternative used in the previous Leader. Currently, the antenna has been qualified and installed on INTA's Leader-S, set to launch in January 2025, as well as on the future ANSER-AT mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to create predictive models for PA guidelines by using ML and examine the critical determinants influencing adherence to the PA guidelines. 11,638 entries from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Variables were categorized into demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle categories. 18 prediction models were created by 6 ML algorithms and evaluated via accuracy, F1 score, and area under the curve (AUC). Additionally, we employed permutation feature importance (PFI) to assess the variable significance in each model. The decision tree using all variables emerged as the most effective method in the prediction for PA guidelines (accuracy = 0.705, F1 score = 0.819, and AUC = 0.542). Based on the PFI, sedentary behavior, age, gender, and educational status were the most important variables. These results highlight the possibilities of using data-driven methods with ML in PA research. Our analysis also identified crucial variables, providing valuable insights for targeted interventions aimed at enhancing individuals' adherence to PA guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic induction (MI)-operated wireless sensor networks (WSNs), due to their similar performance in air, underwater, and underground mediums, are rapidly emerging networks that offer a wide range of applications, including mine prevention, power grid maintenance, underground pipeline monitoring, and upstream oil monitoring. MI-based wireless underground sensor networks (WUSNs), utilizing small antenna coils, offer a viable solution by providing consistent channel conditions. The cross-layer protocols address the specific challenges of WUSNs, leading to improved network performance and enhanced operational capabilities in real-world applications. This work proposes a distributed cross-layer solution, leveraging the hybrid marine predator naked mole rat algorithm (MPNMRA) for MI-operated WUSNs. The solution, called DECMN (distributed energy-throughput efficient cross-layer network using MPNMRA), is designed to optimize the MI communication channels, MI relay coils (MI waveguide), and MI waveguide with 3D coils to fulfill quality of service (QoS) parameters, while achieving energy savings and throughput gains. DECMN utilizes the interactions between various layers to develop cross-layer protocols based on MPNMRA. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of DECMN, offering energy savings, increased throughput, and reliable transmissions within the performance limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore disease characteristics, renal involvement and induction treatment strategies over the last decades and evaluate relapse rates and renal outcomes in ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV). We retrospectively analyzed remission, relapse rates and the occurrence of the composite endpoint (comprising death and renal failure) in newly diagnosed AAV cases in four tertial referral centers in Germany and Switzerland diagnosed between 1999 and 2022. Hazard ratios were computed by Cox proportional hazard and Kaplan–Meier curves were plotted to compare therapeutic strategies after propensity-matching. In our cohort of 358 AAV patients, 203 (58.1%) were classified as granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) based on the novel 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria, 139 (38.8%) as microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). The proportion of MPA cases among all AAV patients increased from 28.9% between 1999 and 2013 up to 46.7% thereafter. Cyclophosphamide (CYC) was chosen most frequently for remission induction (74.8% before 2013 and 57.3% thereafter), whereas the use of rituximab (RTX) increased from 5 to 26% within these periods. GPA patients had a higher relapse rate as compared to MPA patients (41.3% vs. 25.9%, p = 0.006). However, in AAV patients with renal involvement, renal events (i.e. end-stage kidney disease or a persistent drop in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 15 ml/min/1.73 m2) occurred more frequently in MPA patients, particularly under RTX treatment as compared to matched CYC counterparts (11.8% vs. 7.5%, p = 0.011). In our cohort, GPA patients exhibited frequent relapses, advocating for a more intense and extended treatment. MPA patients had lower relapse rates, however, RTX was less effective to prevent renal endpoints in MPA as compared to CYC, highlighting the need to further investigate additional treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of marine protected areas (MPAs) is expanding around the world. MPAs can have a wide variety of objectives (e.g., science, conservation, food security, cultural value), and scientific guidance on how to design MPAs to achieve objectives is often based on simulation modeling. Many different models may all provide an answer to questions such as the predicted change in population biomass and fisheries catches resulting from th implementation of an MPA. When multiple levels of model complexity are all in theory capable of answering the same question, and the models cannot be confronted with data directly, the decision of what level of model complexity to use can be ad hoc. In this, paper I compare the predicted effects of MPAs on catch and biomass produced by a spatially explicit age-structured multi-species and multi-fleet (High-definition) model to the predictions generated by a two-patch surplus production (Low-definition) model, fitted to emulate the High-definition model. I found that in many cases, the predictions made by the two models were markedly different, with the Low-definition model frequently predicting substantially higher biomass benefits from MPAs than the High-definition model, and in some cases incorrectly estimating the direction (positive or negative) of the MPA effects. However, I also found that the Low-definition model has strategic value for broad classification and ranking exercises. My results show that care should be taken in selecting and interpreting the results of MPA simulation models and that research is needed to understand what models are best suited to what policy recommendations when multiple viable options exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spillover is a term commonly applied to the dispersal of fish and/or larvae from inside a closed area to areas open to fishing. The presence of spillover is often quantified by measuring gradients in attributes such as abundance or catch rates near the boundaries of closed areas or by measuring higher abundance inside closed areas compared to outside. It is commonly assumed that such gradients or ratios indicate that the closed area has benefitted the fishery and the total abundance of fish. We explore this assumption using a spatially explicit model of closed areas with different intensities of fishing and fish movement, and we find that such gradients will be expected any time there is higher abundance inside the closed area. However, such gradients do not necessarily indicate a benefit to the fishery either in terms of total catch or catch rate, and unless pre-closure fishing was intense, total abundance is not expected to rise significantly. We examine case studies that argue that spillover exists and leads to fishery benefits. We then evaluate the evidence for net benefits in these case studies and find those with evidence of net benefits all come from places where fishing pressure was intense. While most analysis come from quite small coastal closed areas, two studies of very large open-ocean closed areas are discussed, and we find that both suggest little overall impact on the tuna populations that support the main commercial fisheries affected by the closures in question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transient electromagnetic method (TEM) is an efficient physical detection method widely used in underground space detection. However, electromagnetic noise interference poses significant challenges, as the TEM late signal is often submerged in noise, severely impacting the detection accuracy and depth. Therefore, this study proposes a TEM data noise suppression method based on the marine predators algorithm (MPA) to optimize variational mode decomposition (VMD) combined with singular value decomposition (SVD). Firstly, MPA is employed to select the main parameters of VMD. Secondly, the noisy data are decomposed into several intrinsic mode functions using the adaptive variational property of VMD. Finally, the mode containing signal information undergoes SVD to remove residual noise, after which the denoised TEM signal is reconstructed. This study simulates TEM signals with different noise levels for testing. The proposed method is compared to stacking-averaging, wavelet threshold denoising, SVD, empirical mode decomposition, and unoptimized VMD. The results showed that the model exhibits superior noise reduction performance. In addition, measured noise experiments are conducted to verify the practicability of the method. Simulation and field experiments indicated that MPA-VMD-WTD is an effective method for suppressing TEM data noise.

This research suggests a robust integration of artificial neural networks (ANN) for predicting swell pressure and the unconfined compression strength of expansive soils (PsUCS-ES). Four novel ANN-based models, namely ANN-PSO (i.e., particle swarm optimization), ANN-GWO (i.e., grey wolf optimization), ANN-SMA (i.e., slime mould algorithm) alongside ANN-MPA (i.e., marine predators' algorithm) were deployed to assess the PsUCS-ES. The models were trained using the nine most influential parameters affecting PsUCS-ES, collected from a broader range of 145 published papers. The observed results were compared with the predictions made by the ANN-based metaheuristics models. The efficacy of all these formulated models was evaluated by utilizing mean absolute error (MAE), Nash–Sutcliffe (NS) efficiency, performance index ρ, regression coefficient (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), ratio of RMSE to standard deviation of actual observations (RSR), variance account for (VAF), Willmott's index of agreement (WI), and weighted mean absolute percentage error (WMAPE). All the developed models for Ps-ES had an R significantly > 0.8 for the overall dataset. However, ANN-MPA excelled in yielding high R values for training dataset (TrD), testing dataset (TsD), and validation dataset (VdD). This model also exhibited the lowest MAE of 5.63%, 5.68%, and 5.48% for TrD, TsD, and VdD, respectively. The results of the UCS model's performance revealed that R exceeded 0.9 in the TrD. However, R decreased for TsD and VdD. Also, the ANN-MPA model yielded higher R values (0.89, 0.93, and 0.94) and comparatively low MAE values (5.11%, 5.67, and 3.61%) in the case of PSO, GWO, and SMA, respectively. The UCS models witnessed an overfitting problem because the aforementioned R values of the metaheuristics were 0.62, 0.56, and 0.58 (TsD), respectively. On the contrary, no significant observation was recorded in the VdD of UCS models. All the ANN-base models were also tested using the a-20 index. For all the formulated models, maximum points were recorded to lie within ± 20% error. The results of sensitivity as well as monotonicity analyses depicted trending results that corroborate the existing literature. Therefore, it can be inferred that the recently built swarm-based ANN models, particularly ANN-MPA, can solve the complexities of tuning the hyperparameters of the ANN-predicted PsUCS-ES that can be replicated in practical scenarios of geoenvironmental engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a time of accelerated species and habitat loss, understanding and protecting species and habitats that contribute to biodiversity is critical. A unique strain of the widespread Irish moss (Chondrus crispus), the giant Irish moss, is found exclusively in an Atlantic Canada Marine Protected Area. This strain lacks a holdfast, but its strands entangle with blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) to create small complex habitats (clumps) surrounded by extensive bare sediments, which may contribute to local invertebrate biodiversity. This study used a field survey to examine the community of macroinvertebrates that colonize giant Irish moss-mussel clumps (IMBM) and blue mussel clumps (BM) in comparison to those colonizing bare sediments. In addition, a field experiment quantified colonization rates on clumps prepared with live mussels and giant Irish moss and on artificial mimics of both types of clumps. Two hypotheses were tested: that more complex habitats support higher levels of invertebrate diversity, and that living clumps support higher diversity levels than mimics. The results supported both hypotheses. The survey showed that the most complex habitats (IMBM) are colonized by more diverse and abundant assemblages than BM clumps and bare sediments, and that the three of them differed in species composition and abundance. The results of the field experiment showed that living clumps supported greater diversity and abundance than mimics for both IMBM and BM habitats. Overall, giant Irish moss-blue mussel associations provided the best habitat for diverse and abundant local communities, so efforts to restore these near extinct patchy habitats should be further supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flamanville marine protected area (MPA) located in Normandy, France, was created in 2000 to sustain the local crustacean fishery. In 1985, an annual survey targeting crustacean populations (e.g. European lobster Homarus gammarus , edible crab Cancer pagurus , and European spider crab Maja brachydactyla) that include the future MPA started. The MPA implementation effects were investigated in this study. The sampling design allowed the integration of spatial and temporal covariances to estimate the MPA effects. With respect to the initial objective, the MPA significantly improves the most economically valuable species, H. gammarus , abundance. Lobster catch per unit effort increased by 597% in the MPA, whereas outside it only increased by 156%. The MPA creation also led to an increase in lobster size inside the protected area. Furthermore, a few years after the MPA implementation, lobster catches showed a significant non-linear decline with distance from the centre of the reserve, suggesting a spillover effect. However, the edible crab catches were halved following the MPA implementation suggesting an opposite effect. Spider crab abundance seemed unaffected. Finally, the MPA implementation had no effect on edible crab and spider crab sizes. These differential responses appear to result from these species' variable movement and competitive abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many bacteria possess proteasomes and a tagging system that is functionally analogous to the ubiquitin system. In this system, Pup, the tagging protein, marks protein targets for proteasomal degradation. Despite the analogy to the ubiquitin system, where the ubiquitin tag is recycled, it remained unclear whether Pup is similarly recycled, given how the bacterial proteasome does not include a depupylase. We previously showed in vitro that as Pup lacks effective proteasome degradation sites, it is released from the proteasome following target degradation, remaining conjugated to a degradation fragment that can be later depupylated. Here, we tested this model in Mycobacterium smegmatis, using a Pup mutant that is effectively degraded by the proteasome. Our findings indicate that Pup recycling not only occurs in vivo but is also essential to maintain normal pupylome levels and to support bacterial survival under starvation conditions. Accordingly, Pup recycling is an essential process in the mycobacterial Pup‐proteasome system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Marine Predators Algorithm (MPA) is among the recently proposed metaheuristic algorithms (MAs), and it got its inspiration from the ocean predators' foraging behaviour based on Brownian and Levy motions. Good exploration, convergence accuracy, ease of implementation, easy parameter settings, fewer parameters, etc., are some of its strengths. Nevertheless, it experiences premature convergence and local optima trapping sometimes. The Competitive Swarm Optimiser (CSO) is a Particle Swarm Optimiser (PSO) variant. It got its inspiration from the social groups' collective decision-making and social behaviour. Good exploitation, a balance between exploitation and exploration, low premature convergence, algorithmic simplicity, etc., are some of its strengths. However, it has a loss of diversity and premature convergence. Aiming at solving the MPA's weaknesses and utilising the complementary strengths of MPA and CSO, an improved hybrid MPA has been proposed and it's named ICSOMPA. The MPA was first improved by utilising a chaotic mapping strategy for the MPA initialisation, utilising an adaptive convergence factor (CF) for step size control aiming at striking a balance between local exploitation and global exploration, utilising the Weibull distribution in place of Brownian motion aiming at preventing algorithm local trapping, and utilising chaotic sequences in the MPA's early stages as opposed to using random numbers to avoid overlap and uneven agent distribution. The improved MPA was then hybridised with the CSO aiming at leveraging the MPA's and CSO's strengths to provide higher convergence accuracy, convergence speed, and avoiding local optima trapping. The proposed algorithm's performance was tested and validated using the Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC) suites and engineering design problems. The CEC2014, CEC2017, CEC2020, CEC2022, and the 3 most employed engineering design problems have been utilised. Six different sets of experiments have been conducted utilising different dimensions of the CEC suites by carrying out convergence accuracy analysis, convergence rate analysis, the Wilcoxon test, the Friedman test, and the Bonferroni-Holm test. Some of the state-of-the-art and variant MAs have been utilised for comparison purposes. From the experimental results, the ICSOMPA had a superior performance compared to the MAs used for comparison. The experiments on the CEC suites showed that it can strike a good balance between exploration and exploitation. In general, it also has higher convergence accuracy and rate. The statistical analyses conducted showed a significant difference between the results obtained by the ICSOMPA and the other algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-polarizer array (MPA) is the core optical component of the Division of Focal-Plane (DoFP) imaging system, and its design is very important to the system's performance. Traditional design methods rely on theoretical analysis and simulation, which is complicated and requires designers to have profound theoretical foundations. In order to simplify the design process and improve efficiency, this paper proposes a 2 × 2 MPA reverse-design strategy based on particle swarm optimization (PSO). This strategy uses intelligent algorithms to automatically explore the design space in order to discover MPA structures with optimal optical properties. In addition, the all-pass filter is introduced to the MPA superpixel unit in the design, which effectively reduces the crosstalk and frequency aliasing between pixels. In this study, two MPA models were designed: a traditional MPA and an MPA with an all-pass filter. The Degree of Linear Polarization (DOLP) image contrast is used as the evaluation standard and compared with the traditional MPA; the results show that the contrast of the newly designed traditional MPA image is increased by 21%, and the MPA image with the all-pass filter is significantly increased by 82%. Therefore, the reverse-design method proposed in this paper not only simplifies the design process but also can design an MPA with enhanced optical performance, which has obvious advantages over the traditional method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomic composition, structure, and distribution patterns of the macrobenthos associated with Corallium rubrum were studied along the coast of Taranto (Ionian Sea), together with the main features of their red coral population. Underwater video transects were performed by professional divers at three sites in correspondence with coralligenous formations at depths from 50 to 65 m. The results revealed a patchy distribution of red coral, with colonies predominantly located in cavities on sub-vertical cliffs and large boulders. Biometric analysis indicated that young colonies predominated at all sites, while older colonies were lacking, likely because of illegal harvesting. The lower density values were recorded at S1, while S2 and S3 presented higher values. A total of 76 taxa were recorded. S1, the shallowest site, showed a prevalence of calcareous algae, while S2 and S3 showed a greater abundance of filter-feeding invertebrates (Porifera and Cnidaria) with the highest presence of Porifera at S3. The results emphasize the heterogeneity of the macrobenthos together with the high vulnerability of the red coral population, highlighting the necessity of site-specific conservation strategies to contribute to the conservation and management of benthic ecosystems in the northern Ionian Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of the seven species of Pacific rockfish declared overfished in the California Current in 2008, yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus) is the only remaining overfished rockfish species. Part of the original rebuilding plan included designation of a yelloweye rockfish conservation area, a rocky reef closed off the Central Coast of Oregon that is closed to bottom fishing. The yelloweye rockfish conservation area’s ability to help rebuild the population, is predicated on the theory that demersal rockfishes are relatively sedentary. However, in the years since being declared overfished, acoustic tagging studies suggested yelloweye rockfish did not remain in the yelloweye rockfish conservation area. However, where they went remained a mystery. In this paper we describe the use of pop-off satellite tags to conduct a mark-recapture study of 11 yelloweye rockfish tagged within the Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area. We used back-in-time particle tracking coupled with an ocean circulation model in an attempt to increase the precision in the location at which each tag shed off the fish, and further validated that location by associating it to the underlying seafloor habitat type. Ten out of eleven tags were shed from the fish while it was outside the Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area’s boundary. While most fish remained within 50 km of the Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area, one tagged fish swam to an offshore reef off Central Washington (~40 km from the shore). Backtracked locations were more likely over rock than the initial satellite transmission, indicating the method was effective at identifying tag shed locations. We found no relationship between days at large, fish sex or length and the distance between release site and shed location. Our work supports a growing body of work that suggests yelloweye rockfish have less site fidelity than previously hypothesized.

Abstract In practical engineering applications, factors like dust adhesion and environmental changes can cause photovoltaic arrays to exhibit multiple peaks in output power. An optimization algorithm with global optimization capability is needed to track its maximum power. In this regard, this paper proposes an improved marine predator algorithm (IMPA) to extract the maximum power point of photovoltaic system under complex solar irradiation conditions. To overcome the issues in the traditional marine predator algorithm (MPA), the opposition-based learning(OBL) strategy is introduced in IMPA, and the sine cosine algorithm (SCA) is integrated into the iteration stage to enhance the search ability of the algorithm. Furthermore, the low-order converter in the traditional MPPT control system is replaced by the Zeta converter, which increases the operating voltage range. Ultimately, simulation results demonstrate that the MPPT based on IMPA has higher tracking efficiency and shorter response time.The experimental results also indicate the practical feasibility of this method, as well as its high level of stability and robustness.

Networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) are being increasingly implemented worldwide as conservation management tools. We report here on MPA effectiveness using data from a 17‐year long remotely operated vehicle (ROV) monitoring program spanning mesophotic (~ 20–130 m) depths in 26 MPAs across California's MPA network. We utilize a spatial modeling approach that includes important environmental covariates as well as spatial dependence in the data, and allows the separation of statewide and regional trends in the abundance of focal species from additional trends specific to MPAs. We demonstrate that there have been statewide and/or regional recoveries in abundance for the majority of our 10 focal demersal fish species, with all four statewide species assessments and 18 out of 22 species‐region combinations assessed displaying positive trends. We also demonstrate that MPA protection has had an additional positive effect on the abundance of the majority of these focal species inside MPAs compared with reference areas, with positive effects for all four statewide species, and 18 out of 22 statewide/regions assessed showing positive effects, four showing no statistically detectable differences, and no negative MPA effects found. Comparisons with theoretical expectations of MPA recovery for our focal species showed that 2 out of 4 statewide, and 11 out of 17 species‐region combinations assessed displayed higher mean MPA effects than expected. Our results highlight strong trajectories of increasing abundance and additional MPA effects for many of our focal species, demonstrating that MPAs are having positive effects in mesophotic depths across the network as well as at previously reported shallower depths, and that image‐based platforms such as ROVs provide an important tool to support timely reporting on the effectiveness of MPA networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In practical engineering applications, factors like dust adhesion and environmental changes can cause photovoltaic arrays to exhibit multiple peaks in output power. An optimization algorithm with global optimization capability is needed to track its maximum power. In this regard, this paper proposes an improved marine predator algorithm (IMPA) to extract the maximum power point of photovoltaic system under complex solar irradiation conditions. To overcome the issues in the traditional marine predator algorithm (MPA), the opposition-based learning(OBL) strategy is introduced in IMPA, and the sine cosine algorithm (SCA) is integrated into the iteration stage to enhance the search ability of the algorithm. Furthermore, the low-order converter in the traditional MPPT control system is replaced by the Zeta converter, which increases the operating voltage range. Ultimately, simulation results demonstrate that the MPPT based on IMPA has higher tracking efficiency and shorter response time.The experimental results also indicate the practical feasibility of this method, as well as its high level of stability and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are widely promoted as effective tools for conserving biodiversity and safeguarding ecosystem services. However, MPA success can be hindered by a lack of legitimacy and low social support because of perceived negative effects on ecosystem services and human well-being. Despite these social challenges, the social dimensions of marine conservation, such as the effects of MPAs on coastal livelihoods and local communities' perceptions of these effects, are often overlooked in conservation initiatives. In this study, we use a mixed methods approach, combining qualitative thematic analysis and quantitative network analysis derived from interviews and focus group discussions, to examine the perceptions of key stakeholder groups about the Litoral Norte MPA in Portugal. Our findings reveal that most stakeholder groups hold more negative than positive views about the governance and management of the MPA. Key concerns include unsatisfactory participation in MPA decisions and perceptions that the MPA fails to deliver positive social and ecological outcomes, such as increased community involvement, fair income distribution, and enhanced fish abundance. Policy makers and managers need to address these negative perceptions to improve conservation governance and management. By considering the stakeholder feedback presented in this study, such as fostering better engagement with the local community and transforming conflicts into opportunities for co-developing new conservation actions with local resource users, policy makers and managers can increase support for Litoral Norte and enhance the social and ecological outcomes of the MPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective seabird conservation requires understanding their marine spatial ecology. Tracking can reveal details of their foraging ecology and habitat use, as well as the suitability of marine protected areas for at-sea conservation, but results are often regionally specific. Here we characterised the foraging behaviour of tropical breeding brown boobies Sula leucogaster in the Chagos Archipelago, Western Indian Ocean, and tested habitat requirements. GPS tracking of thirteen individuals from two colonies, located 142 km apart on the same atoll (Great Chagos Bank), showed similar foraging effort and habitat preferences despite differences in season and breeding stage. Brown boobies from both tracked populations foraged close to the colony along the atoll shelf edge, avoiding deep oceanic areas and shallow waters of the Great Chagos Bank atoll, but within the Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area. Sea-level height anomaly and sea surface temperature were important foraging predictors at both sites, although birds experienced distinct environmental conditions between colonies. These results suggest that while brown boobies have colony-specific at-sea foraging areas, similarities in habitat drivers of distribution and foraging behaviour can inform predictions of distributions at other colonies within the archipelago, with important benefits for at-sea conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral reef ecosystems are facing severe degradation due to anthropogenic activities at both local and global scales. In response, extensive restoration efforts are underway, aiming to bolster coral cover and enhance reef fish communities to foster facilitation between fish and corals. This reciprocal relationship is anticipated to improve overall restoration efficacy and enhance coral reef resilience in the face of global warming. Here, we investigate the impact of coral restoration using out-planted Acropora cervicornis colonies attached to raised domes on the associated fish community on the isolated, well-protected reef of Little Cayman Island in the Central Caribbean. Surveys were conducted immediately preceding out-planting, five days later, and 85 days later to capture temporal changes in the fish community. After 85 days of out-planting, there were no changes in fish biomass, abundance, or species richness for the entire fish community. This pattern was consistent for selected fish functional groups. Additionally, no significant differences were observed in the fish community before outplanting, five days after out-planting, or 85 days after out-planting of restoration domes. Our results underscore the limited impact of coral restoration for influencing fish communities in the isolated and highly protected reef of Little Cayman over an 85-day period. Consequently, our findings have implications for using coral restoration as a mechanism to enhance fish populations, particularly in marginally disturbed regions where structural complexity has not been lost. Future restoration programs should therefore incorporate local knowledge of environmental history and restoration needs along with an increased data-driven understanding of the intricate interaction between fish and coral populations to be successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seamounts are biodiversity hotspots that face increasing threats from anthropogenic activities. Seamounts host diverse sessile suspension-feeding organisms such as sponges and anthozoans, which are crucial for seamount ecosystems as they construct three-dimensional habitats utilized by numerous other animals. Therefore, accurate identification of seamount fauna, in particular of sessile suspension-feeding organisms, is of paramount importance for robust conservation efforts. This study focused on Zoantharia, a sessile anthozoan group, and specifically the family Parazoanthidae, known for associations with many different host taxa, prominently including octocorals and sponges. We collected Parazoanthidae specimens from northwestern Pacific seamounts and formally describe a new species, Vitrumanthus flosculus Kise & Reimer, sp. nov., based on morphological and molecular analyses. We also report the complete mitochondrial genomes of this new species and the related species Churabana kuroshioae. Our results reconfirm the phylogenetic positions of these two species within Parazoanthidae, while demonstrating much remains to be learned about the benthic diversity of northwestern Pacific seamounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the ACR/EULAR 2022 criteria for ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV) classification and compare them with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) algorithm and with classification based only on ANCA serology. Methods In the analysis, 374 cases (47% female) were classified according to the EMA algorithm, ANCA serology and ACR/EULAR criteria. The agreement rate was calculated using the kappa (κ) statistic. Results Under EMA, 192 patients were classified as granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), 159 as microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and 23 as eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). The ACR/EULAR criteria classified 199 patients as GPA, 136 as MPA and 22 as EGPA. Four patients (1.1%) met criteria of two disease categories, and 13 (3.5%) were unclassifiable. The observed agreement between EMA and ACR/EULAR was 85% for GPA, 75% for MPA and 96% for EGPA. The unweighted κ statistic was 0.66 (95% CI: 0.60, 0.74). Of the 188 PR3-ANCA positive patients, 186 (98.9%) were classified as GPA using ACR/EULAR criteria, and 135 of 161 (83.9%) MPO-ANCA positive patients were classified as MPA. With a classification solely based on ANCA specificity, agreement with ACR/EULAR was 99% for GPA and 88% for MPA. Conclusions EMA and ACR/EULAR classification give similar results. A small proportion of patients cannot be classified or fall into two categories. Some patients exhibiting granuloma, a key feature of GPA, are nevertheless classified as MPA, conflicting with the current view of histopathology of AAV. There is high agreement of ANCA-based classification with that of ACR/EULAR, reflected in the considerable weight granted to ANCA in the new criteria. These crucial elements within the new criteria necessitate a consensus discussion among field experts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-pyramid copper molds are critical components in the preparation of high-precision optical elements, such as light-trapping films and reflective films. Their surfaces are composed of micro-pyramid arrays (MPAs). The surface roughness and edge burrs of MPAs seriously affect the optical properties of optical elements. To reduce the surface roughness, as well as the sizes of the edge burrs, the longitudinal ultrasonic vibration-assisted planing (LUVP) method for processing MPAs was developed during this study. In addition, an experiment was conducted to compare the precision planing and LUVP methods of MPA generation. The results show that the tool nose amplitude of the LUVP experimental platform constructed during this study was 3.3 μm, and that the operating frequency was 19.85 kHz. An MPA processed by LUVP had a smaller surface roughness than that of an MPA produced by precision planing; it also had fewer and smaller edge burrs, and there was slightly less diamond tool wear. The MPA cut using the LUVP method had no corrugation on its surface. This research lays a foundation for developing higher-precision micro-pyramid plastic films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart port is a port concept which is designed and managed efficiently and effectively, which includes various technologies such as the use of automation systems, robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and data analysis. the main service to convert a port into a smart port or Port 4.0. categorized into three main areas: Smart infrastructure is focused on “fixed assets” in ports, such as buildings (e.g. warehouses or stacking areas), cranes, trains, and roads. Smart traffic is focused on “moving assets” such as ships, trucks, trains and containers. Smart trading is focused on the flow of cargo. Digitalization with information and communication technology and automation are fundamental factors in pushing a port towards a smart port. One of the important components in communication technology is the antenna. several devices exchange data for remote monitoring using wireless communication. Antennas are very important in wireless communications. This article explains antenna design and analysis to support Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) in smart ports. This paper designs, simulates, and analyzes a microstrip patch antenna (MPA) for wireless applications. FR-4 (lossy) and Roggers RT/duroid with a dielectric permittivity of 4.3 and 2.2 has been used as a substrate material. The simulation was carried out using computer simulation technology (CST) suite studio 2019 software. Simulation with FR-4 material showed a return loss of -21.23 dB, gain of 2.718 dBi, directivity of 7.525 dBi, voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of 1.1864, bandwidth (BW) is 0.0635 GHz, and Simulation using Rogers RT5880/duroid material showed a return loss of -10.813 dB, gain of 8.084 dBi, directivity of 8.528 dBi, voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of 1.8095, bandwidth (BW) is 0.0441 GHz.

The editorial "Mediterranean coastal fish biology and ecology" published in Frontiers in Marine Science discusses the unique marine ecosystem of the Mediterranean Sea and the threats it faces from human activities, environmental change, and biological invasions. The research highlighted in the editorial focuses on the importance of understanding the biology and ecology of coastal fish populations in the Mediterranean to support conservation efforts. Studies included in the editorial cover topics such as the structure of coastal fish assemblages in marine protected areas, the role of the gut microbiome in fish health, population structure of common sole, and the range expansion of sea chubs in the region. The findings underscore the need for interdisciplinary research and conservation measures to protect the delicate balance of Mediterranean coastal fisheries in the face of climate change and habitat degradation. [Extracted from the article]

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is recognized as a distinct emotional behavior rather than merely a motor control disorder and is influenced by specific conditioning experiences. This study investigates the interrelationships between MPA, self-efficacy, and future career expectations among music students within the Chinese context. The participants of this study were 340 high school students majoring in music education and performance, drawn from three music schools in China. Data were collected using several questionnaires: the MPA Inventory for Adolescents (MPAI-A), the Self-Efficacy Formative Questionnaire, and the Career Futures Inventory (CFI). The findings indicate that MPA is negatively associated with self-efficacy and future career expectations. Additionally, self-efficacy acts as a partial moderator between MPA and career expectations, suggesting that enhancing the self-efficacy of music students can boost their future career aspirations and mitigate the adverse effects of MPA. This research explores the complex relationships among MPA, self-efficacy, and future career expectations, emphasizing the importance of curriculum and pedagogical strategies in music schools. Music students with high levels of self-efficacy may exhibit more confidence and stable performances before audiences. According to the panel regression analysis, self-efficacy significantly positively influences career expectations. An appropriate educational environment and supportive pedagogical approaches to MPA can foster the early career development of musicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is considered part of the ‘Outstanding Universal Value’ characterising the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site (WS WHS). The Trilateral Wadden Sea Plan aims to preserve the conservation status of the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation Area, encompassing the WS WHS. The plan has specified two conservation targets for the harbour porpoise: (1) viable stocks and a natural reproduction capacity and (2) conservation of habitat quality for its conservation. To assess the current occurrence of the harbour porpoise in the Wadden Sea area, we collated and analysed data from regional and national research projects using telemetry, aerial surveys, strandings and passive acoustic monitoring, obtained over the years 1990–2020. The results illustrate that porpoises occur in both offshore and intertidal waters, showing seasonal movements and changes in local occurrence over time. Some porpoises displayed limited home ranges throughout the year, suggesting a possible residency for some of the animals using the Wadden Sea area. We also showed that methods, frequency and spatial coverage of monitoring activities vary among the countries Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. We discuss the suitability of the different methods both regarding the challenges of monitoring in the complex Wadden Sea habitat as well as their ability to target the conservation aims of the WHS. We give several recommendations to assess the status of the species to meet the identified conservation aims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Misty Groupers (Hyporthodus mystacinus) are one of the largest and most geographically widespread grouper species and one of the few grouper species known to occur at depths greater than 200 m. However, aspects of their basic biology, behavior, and ecology remain poorly understood, leaving significant gaps in our ability to evaluate their functional role throughout the vertical water column, as well as our understanding of their conservation needs in a changing ocean. Through in-situ video observation obtained using deep-sea landers in both The Bahamas and Cayman Islands over multiple years, we documented Misty Grouper occurrence up to 470 m depth in the mesopelagic zone. These observations provide a new depth range extension for the species and illuminate the potential importance of deep-water habitats for large grouper species in the wider Caribbean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South China Sea is rich in underwater cultural heritage (UCH), which is suffering serious damage owing to illegal salvage by treasure hunters and unregulated excavation by commercial companies. Differences in the domestic laws of the littoral countries in the South China sea, in development policies, as well as the destruction of World War II shipwrecks are challenges to the protection of the UCH in the South China Sea. In order to ensure the proper protection of the UCH in the South China Sea, this study assesses the feasibility of three mainstream options, namely, accession to the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (CPUCH) by the littoral states of the South China Sea, the establishment of a regional bilateral or multilateral agreement, and the establishment of a Marine Protected Area (MPA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overgrazing may lead to management intervention (e.g. culling, animal relocation) to try and prevent habitat destruction. Overgrazing leading to seagrass meadow collapse has been recorded for green turtles (Chelonia mydas) at several sites around the world, although the generality of this phenomenon and the need for intervention to prevent widespread seagrass destruction is unknown.Where turtles have degraded seagrass meadows, home‐ranges are expected to be large and turtles will relocate as meadows are destroyed. We used high resolution Fastloc GPS tracking (n = 32 individuals, mean = 171 days per individual, SD = 99) to record the home‐range of adult green turtles at foraging sites spanning 4523 km of longitude across the Western Indian Ocean. Contrary to predictions if overgrazing was occurring, we recorded small home‐ranges and turtles rarely relocated their daytime foraging areas.Based on all locations received, the mean 50% and 95% utilisation distributions (UD50 and UD95) were 2.4 km2 (SD = 2.7) and 15.4 km2 (SD = 17.7). Space use was often particularly small at night, when turtles rest, averaging 11% of the overall space use with the mean night‐time UD50 and UD95 being 0.15 km2 (SD = 0.1) and 1.1 km2 (SD = 0.8), respectively. Variation in home‐range across individuals was not influenced by the data volume (number of locations per day, duration of tracking) or animal size (carapace length) but increased significantly as the distance between the centre of day and night areas increased, that is individuals that had a larger daily commute had the larger home‐ranges.Synthesis and applications. Comparisons with home‐range estimates from 16 previous studies, showed that those we recorded are among the smallest for adult green turtles globally. These results suggest that despite population size increases at several major nesting sites in the Western Indian Ocean, green turtles are generally not destroying the seagrass meadows on which they forage and so management intervention to prevent overgrazing is not needed. In this way, our work illustrates how movement data may inform management decisions for green turtles. Further targeted work on the seagrass ecosystem health could help confirm this suggestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a self-help application to reduce performance-related excitement in students of solo vocals in higher education institutions. The study participants (n = 219) used the mobile application during 6 weeks. Statistically significant effect of the intervention was achieved by Negative cognitions, Psychological vulnerability, and Anxiety perception constructs. The study also examines the influence of sociodemographic and personal characteristics on anxiety. Gender, graduate status, and self-efficacy were statistically significant variables when using the psychological self-help application. The investigation failed to disclose any significant impact of performance experience. Psychological self-help applications can be used in vocal/music education as a low-threshold intervention to reduce anxiety symptoms. The findings of the study introduce new data into approaches to the treatment of anxiety and expand the understanding of the characteristic features of singer training.

Marine fish communities suffer from anthropogenic pressures and climate change, which influence their spatio-temporal dynamics. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been established worldwide to preserve these communities, while mesophotic ecosystems could provide natural refugia. Assessing the extent to which MPAs and deeper ecosystems can mitigate human and climate change impacts requires regular monitoring of temporal community dynamics. Environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys – being time- and cost-effective – can provide valuable insights on biodiversity change. Here, we initiated a long-term study based on eDNA monitoring in an MPA in the north-western Mediterranean Sea that includes areas with various protection levels. Specifically, from June 2021 to January 2023, we collected eDNA samples during the summer, fall, and winter seasons from shallow water (20 m depth), at 40 m depth, and from the mesophotic zone (80 m depth) in a Fully Protected Area (FPA) and in a nearby Lightly Protected Area (LPA) in the Riou archipelago (France). In this short period and relatively small area, we detected a total of 113 actinopterygian and chondrichthyan taxa. Species with high fishing vulnerability had higher detection rates in the FPA than in the LPA, suggesting a positive impact of FPAs on the conservation of these threatened species. A marked seasonal signal in species detections, including significantly lower detections of several species in winter, indicated a combined effect of species biological changes and migration behavior. The seasonality trend was stronger in the FPA than in the LPA, indicating that such areas may modify sub-yearly patterns in communities and ecosystem processes. Fish composition was associated with water depth, with marked species dissimilarities between shallow waters and the mesophotic zone, implying that multiple depths should be considered in MPA monitoring to fully capture the response of biodiversity to management. Our results point to the importance of temporal information combined with extensive sampling across depths and protection levels to fully understand the ecological dynamics and structure of coastal fish communities.

Artificial reefs have been suggested as alternative dive sites to mitigate human pressure on natural reefs. Despite the conceptual appeal of artificial reefs, there is a paucity of empirical evidence regarding their effectiveness in achieving this objective. Here, we report that a small artificial reef deployed adjacent to a local coral marine protected area caused a shift in the routes taken by introductory dives and nearly eliminated their visitations to the natural fringing reef within the MPA. This behavioral shift among divers persisted for more than a decade following the AR deployment. These findings underscore the efficacy of well-designed and appropriately located artificial reefs as valuable instruments in the conservation of coral reefs.

A novel acquisition scheme of pseudo-noise (PN) codes is proposed for spreading satellite communication systems relying on the proposed multi-voter model of this paper. Based on the proposed model, the acquisition of PN codes can be attributed to a voting and selecting mechanism to pick out the erroneous chips. Although message passing algorithm (MPA) is a feasible algorithm for decoding PN codes, MPA does not get good detection performance due to the limited number of parity check equations in the acquisition scheme. To overcome the negative impact of the limited number of parity check equations, this paper proposes single-voter and multi-voter models, which combine chip and sequence estimation on the basis of the chip-flipping (CF). It is known that the bit-flipping (BF), weighted-bit-flipping (WBF) and other algorithms based on BF are credible for low density parity check (LDPC) codes. Because of the lack of research, these algorithms have not been extended to the detection of PN codes. As the same as BF, the inputs of the proposed CF algorithm are the hard-decision samples. For the proposed CF, there exists an optimal flipping-threshold which is similar to the random weight of the WBF. Owing to the low computation complexity of CF, the unlimited number of parity check equations can be enabled in the voting model. The experimental results show that the detection performance of the proposed method of $N > $ 15 is improved by 2 dB compared with MAP-based method and 4 dB compared with LEAP-based method at the detection probability 99%.

The taxonomic composition, structure, and distribution patterns of the macrobenthos associated with Corallium rubrum were studied along the coast of Taranto (Ionian Sea), together with the main features of their red coral population. Underwater video transects were performed by professional divers at three sites in correspondence with coralligenous formations at depths from 50 to 65 m. The results revealed a patchy distribution of red coral, with colonies predominantly located in cavities on sub-vertical cliffs and large boulders. Biometric analysis indicated that young colonies predominated at all sites, while older colonies were lacking, likely because of illegal harvesting. The lower density values were recorded at S1, while S2 and S3 presented higher values. A total of 76 taxa were recorded. S1, the shallowest site, showed a prevalence of calcareous algae, while S2 and S3 showed a greater abundance of filter-feeding invertebrates (Porifera and Cnidaria) with the highest presence of Porifera at S3. The results emphasize the heterogeneity of the macrobenthos together with the high vulnerability of the red coral population, highlighting the necessity of site-specific conservation strategies to contribute to the conservation and management of benthic ecosystems in the northern Ionian Sea.

Micro-polarizer array (MPA) is the core optical component of the Division of Focal-Plane (DoFP) imaging system, and its design is very important to the system’s performance. Traditional design methods rely on theoretical analysis and simulation, which is complicated and requires designers to have profound theoretical foundations. In order to simplify the design process and improve efficiency, this paper proposes a 2 × 2 MPA reverse-design strategy based on particle swarm optimization (PSO). This strategy uses intelligent algorithms to automatically explore the design space in order to discover MPA structures with optimal optical properties. In addition, the all-pass filter is introduced to the MPA superpixel unit in the design, which effectively reduces the crosstalk and frequency aliasing between pixels. In this study, two MPA models were designed: a traditional MPA and an MPA with an all-pass filter. The Degree of Linear Polarization (DOLP) image contrast is used as the evaluation standard and compared with the traditional MPA; the results show that the contrast of the newly designed traditional MPA image is increased by 21%, and the MPA image with the all-pass filter is significantly increased by 82%. Therefore, the reverse-design method proposed in this paper not only simplifies the design process but also can design an MPA with enhanced optical performance, which has obvious advantages over the traditional method.

Abstract Background Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk) is an enzyme expressed in leukocytes other than T lymphocytes and plasma cells and involved in B-cell receptor- and Fcγ receptor (FcγR)-mediated signal transduction. Btk inhibitors potentially suppress autoantibody production due to the expected inhibitory ability of B lymphocyte differentiation into antibody-producing plasma cells and reduce FcγR-mediated neutrophil activation, including the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a systemic small-vessel vasculitis characterized by the pathogenic autoantibody, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) that reacts with myeloperoxidase (MPO). MPO and MPO-ANCA immune complex (IC)-induced FcγR-mediated NETs are critically involved in MPA pathogenesis. This study aimed to demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of the Btk inhibitor tirabrutinib on MPA. Methods Various doses of tirabrutinib or vehicle were orally administered to Sprague–Dawley rats daily. Four weeks later, the number of peripheral B lymphocytes was counted, and Btk phosphorylation in B lymphocytes was evaluated by flow cytometry. Human peripheral blood neutrophils were stimulated by MPO and anti-MPO antibody ICs (MPO and anti-MPO-ICs), and Btk and its downstream Vav phosphorylation were assessed by western blotting. The effects of tirabrutinib on MPO and anti-MPO-IC-induced NET formation were examined in vitro. Wistar Kyoto rats were immunized with human MPO to induce experimental MPA and given drug-free or tirabrutinib-containing feed (0.0037% or 0.012%) from day 0 or 28. All rats were euthanized on day 42 for serological and histological evaluation. Results Tirabrutinib inhibited Btk phosphorylation without decreasing B lymphocytes in vivo. Neutrophil Btk and Vav were phosphorylated when stimulated with MPO and anti-MPO-ICs. Tirabrutinib suppressed MPO and anti-MPO-IC-induced NET formation in vitro and ameliorated experimental MPA in a dose-dependent manner in vivo. Although MPO-ANCA production was not affected, NET-forming neutrophils in the blood were significantly reduced by tirabrutinib. Conclusions The Btk inhibitor tirabrutinib suppressed MPO and anti-MPO-IC-induced NET formation in vitro and ameliorated experimental MPA by reducing NET-forming neutrophils but not decreasing MPO-ANCA titer in vivo. This study suggests that Btk is a possible therapeutic target in MPA.

Small no-take marine protected areas (MPAs) in urban settings can fail to adequately protect biodiversity due to the combined effects of illegal fishing and species emigrating outside the protected area boundaries. Further assessment of the effectiveness of these areas is needed to provide insights into how they can best be managed to generate conservation benefits. The Fly Point no-take MPA in Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia, was used as a case study, with the objective of examining whether a small urban no-take MPA can produce conservation benefits, despite the handicaps imposed by its size and location. Diver-based underwater visual census data, recording fish species and abundances, was obtained from 434 surveys conducted in Port Stephens (2009–2022) at three sites within the Fly Point no-take MPA and at three surrounding sites open to fishing. These data were analysed using permutational multivariate analysis of variance to determine whether no-take protection significantly benefited fish species richness and diversity. We found significantly higher species richness for sites in the no-take MPA than in surrounding areas and significant differences in assemblages between no-take and fished areas, driven in part by greater abundances of two fishery-targeted species in the no-take MPA (Acanthopagrus australis and Scorpis lineolata). Generally, fish diversity was also significantly higher for sites within the no-take MPA, although diversity was also high in fished sites adjacent to the no-take MPA. Study results demonstrate that small urban no-take MPAs can provide conservation benefits, especially when these areas have been protected for more than a decade and where high visibility and local stewardship enable adequate enforcement of no-take restrictions. Consequently, planning for MPAs in urban areas should endeavour to ensure high levels of public support and, ideally, should situate MPAs in highly visible locations, in order to maximise their conservation outcomes.

This thesis studies the local governance of the Kalikara Marine Protected Area, on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. The main focus of this research is on the formal/informal institutional arrangements for this area. Although formal institutions are important in setting the rules for natural resource governance, this study finds that informal institutions, specific to the country historical and cultural context, tend to shape the outcomes and objectives of this governance and reflect the socio-economic characteristics of the macro-context in which it takes place.