James Cook University

About: James Cook University is a education organization based out in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Coral reef. The organization has 9101 authors who have published 27750 publications receiving 1032608 citations. The organization is also known as: JCU.

Larval growth predicts the recruitment success of a coral reef fish

Abstract: While growth rates of pelagic larvae have been argued to be one of the principal determinants of the recruitment success of temperate marine fishes, it is not known if this is the case in the tropics. Here, we use lar- val growth histories derived from otoliths of a Caribbean reef fish to show that monthly variation in the intensity of settlement and recruitment of pelagic juveniles onto reefs is positively correlated with variation in growth rates 1-2 weeks after larvae begin feeding. Our results suggest that the processes thought to underlie recruitment of marine fishes in temperate regions may also operate in the tropics and contrasts with current research on the causes of recruitment variability in coral reef fishes, which emphasises the role of larval transport.

Land clearing, climate variability, and water resources increase in semiarid southwest Niger: A review

Abstract: increases aquifer recharge. At the local scale (2 km 2 ), a physically based, distributed hydrological model showed that land clearing increased runoff threefold, whereas the rainfall deficit decreased runoff by a factor of 2. At a larger scale (500 km 2 , 1950–1992 period), historical aerial photographs showed a 2.5-fold increase in the density of gullies, in response to an 80% decrease in perennial vegetation. At the scale of the entire study area (5000 km 2 ), analytical modeling of groundwater radioisotope data ( 3 H and 14 C) showed that the recharge rate prior to land clearing (1950s) was about 2 mm a � 1 ; postclearing recharge, estimated from groundwater level fluctuations and constrained by subsurface geophysical surveys, was estimated to be 25 ± 7 mm a � 1 . This order of magnitude increase in groundwater fluxes has also impacted groundwater quality near ponds, as shown by a rising trend in groundwater nitrate concentrations of natural origin (75% of d 15 N values in the range +4 to +8%). In this well-documented region of semiarid Africa, the indirect impacts of land use change on water quantity and quality are much greater than the direct influence of climate variability.

Enhanced particle-feeding capacity of corals on turbid reefs (Great Barrier Reef, Australia)

Abstract: Reef corals occur across a wide range of habitats, from offshore clear waters to nearshore sediment-laden environments. This study tests the hypothesis that corals from turbid nearshore areas have greater capacity to utilise suspended sediment as a food source than conspecifics from less turbid and midshelf areas. The hypothesis was tested on two common and widespread coral species on the Great Barrier Reef (Pocillopora damicornis and Acropora millepora). The particle clearance rates of samples from more turbid reefs were two-fourfold those of conspecifics from less turbid and midshelf reefs. Rates of sediment ingestion were generally a linear function of sediment load indicating no significant saturation within the concentration range of 1–30 mg dry weight l−1. Estimated assimilation efficiency of particulate 14C varied between 50 and 80%, and was maximised for midshelf A. millepora at the lowest sediment concentration, suggesting that heterotrophy is more efficient in oligotrophic habitats. Based on feeding-response curves, assimilation efficiencies, and published records of ambient particle concentrations, representatives of these species on turbid inshore reefs are 10–20 times more heterotrophic on suspended sediment than their conspecifics on less turbid and midshelf reefs.

A psychoneuroimmunological review on cytokines involved in antidepressant treatment response.

Abstract: Objectives: The literature exploring the role that cytokine functioning plays in the pathogenesis and treatment of depressive illness is reviewed. The review focuses on the influence of antidepressants on cytokines, and on how treatment response might be affected by genetic variants of cytokines. Method: The authors systematically reviewed the scientific literature on the subject over the last 20 years, searching PubMed, PsychInfo, and Cochrane databases. Results: Antidepressants modulate cytokine functioning, and these mechanisms appear to directly influence treatment outcome in depression. Antidepressants appear to normalize serum levels of major inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ). Antidepressants are postulated to modulate cytokine functioning through their effects on intracellular cyclic adenosyl monophosphate (cAMP), serotonin metabolism, the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis or through a direct action on neurogenesis. Preliminary research shows that cytokine genotypes and functioning may be able to help predict antidepressant treatment response. Conclusions: Current literature demonstrates an association between antidepressant action and cytokine functioning in major depression. Improved understanding of the specific pharmacologic and pharmacogenetic mechanisms is needed. Such knowledge may serve to enhance our understanding of depression, leading to promising new directions in the pathology, nosology, and treatment of depression.

Exploring social representations of tourism planning: issues for governance

Abstract: A major challenge for tourism as a social and economic activity and as an academic study is the integration of multiple perspectives into coherent frameworks. This paper explores this challenge and argues that a social representations approach allows for the critical analysis of formal approaches to tourism planning. Special attention is given to tourism development and governance in Africa and other emerging destinations. A content/semiotic analysis was conducted to examine figures summarising tourism planning models presented in the academic and government planning literature. This revealed a dominant social representation of tourism planning in which destination residents play only a minor role and are typically excluded from tourism governance and external agents, from both the private and public sectors, and their views of tourist needs are dominant. Most planning models were narrowly focused, had limited evaluation of all tourism benefits and costs, paid little attention to non-economic factors and ...