http://www.globalcoral.org/sustainability-02-02919%5B1%5D.pdf

Reply |Bill Allison to Steve, coral-list
show details August 29, 2010

Good-day Steve:

Disclosure is not a novel concept (e.g., Harding, 1949), and is required by
most journals (e.g., Davidoff and DeAngelis, 2001). Is it unreasonable to
expect it in politically and economically freighted discussions on this
list?
Harding, T. S. (1949). “Vested Interests in Scientific Research.” American
Journal of Economics and Sociology 8(2): 181-192.
A prominent industrialist once spoke of scientific research as being “the
first line of defense of the capitalistic dynamic economy as opposed to a
State-planned economy.” Science thus itself becomes propaganda. Very often
what appears to be an authentic scientific publication is nothing but
disguised propaganda.

Davidoff, F., C. D. DeAngelis, et al. (2001). “Sponsorship, authorship and
accountability.” Canadian Medical Association Journal 165(6): 786-788.

What follows was abstracted from the section on publication ethics from the
“Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals:
Writing and Editing for Biomedical Publication”. This was adopted as CMAJ
policy on May 11, 2001.

Financial relationships (such as employment, consultancies, stock ownership,
honoraria, paid expert testimony) are the most easily identifiable conflicts
of interest and the most likely to undermine the credibility of the journal,
the authors, and of science itself. p.787

On Sat, Aug 28, 2010 at 11:15 PM, Steve Mussman <sealab@earthlink.net>wrote:

> Realizing that there is a spirited consensus (based on remarks
> posted in previous discussions) that we keep this list from becoming
> politically charged, I would like to momentarily step between adversaries
> involved in the discussion on the media and oil spill science.
>
> My fear is that without modification we may ultimately lose
> the opportunity to candidly discuss issues that are in vital need
> of being aired among members of this forum.
>
> Considering that there is an obvious call for scientists to communicate
> more directly with the public on so many contemporary issues,
> although fully unauthorized, I would like to make a suggestion.
>
> When participants are identifying themselves (by citing credentials)
> it might help to avoid undue controversy (and the associated
> animus this sometimes creates) if they would freely reveal any
> affiliations that might reflect even the potential for a conflict of
> interest.
>
> In this way, perhaps we can assure the continuation of these much needed
> and valued discussions and, at the same time, be able to more accurately
> assess and evaluate the opinions expressed without eliciting resentment.
>
>
> Steve Mussman
> Totally void of credentials worthy of mention.
> Just an old diver and self-avowed ocean and marine life advocate.

August 30th, Bill provided this additional information:

Here are my notes on the Davidoff article if the elaboration is useful.
Davidoff, F., C. D. DeAngelis, et al. (2001). “Sponsorship, authorship and accountability.” Canadian Medical Association Journal 165(6): 786-788.
What follows was abstracted from the section on publication ethics from the “Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals: Writing and Editing for Biomedical Publication”. This was adopted as CMAJ policy on May 11, 2001. The full revised “Uniform Requirements” will be published later.
Financial relationships (such as employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony) are the most easily identifiable conflicts of interest and the most likely to undermine the credibility of the journal, the authors, and of science itself. p.787
When authors submit a manuscript, whether an article or a letter, they are responsible for disclosing all financial and personal relationships between themselves and others that might bias their work. To prevent ambiguity, authors must state explicitly whether potential conflicts do or do not exist. Authors should do so in the manuscript on a conflict of interest notification page that follows the title page, providing additional detail, if necessary, in the accompanying cover letter. p.788
Biases potentially introduced when sponsors are directly involved in research are analogous to methodological biases of other sorts; some journals therefore choose to include information about the sponsor’s involvement in the methods section of the published paper. p.788
Editors should avoid selecting external peer reviewers with obvious potential conflicts of interest, for example, those who work in the same department or institution as any of the authors. p.788
If a study is funded by an agency with a proprietary or financial interest in the outcome, editors may ask authors to sign a statement such as, “I had full access to all of the data in this study and I take complete responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.” Editors should be encouraged to review copies of the protocol and/or contracts associated with project-specific studies before accepting such studies for publication.
Editors who make final decisions about manuscripts must have no personal, professional or financial involvement in any of the issues they might judge. Other members of the editorial staff, if they participate in editorial decisions, must provide editors with a current description of their financial interests (as they might relate to editorial judgments) and disqualify themselves from any decisions where they have a conflict of interest. p.788
Editors should avoid submitting to their own journal reports of original research to which they have contributed as authors. p.788

>
>Special thanks to Coral-list

Williams GJ, Knapp IS, Maragos JE, Davy SK (2010) Marine Pollution Bulletin 60: 1467-1476
Link to paper through ScienceDirect:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V6N-508TS6R-3&_user=10&_coverDate=09%2F30%2F2010&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1438699607&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=3934b6586f99a20c62e6c4bbd0c02f22
This paper reports on the effects of the late 2009 El Nino on the reefs at Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, Northern Line Islands, Central Pacific.

A mild bleaching event occured (9.2% prevalence) in response to the elevated and sustained temperatures and we relate local environmental conditions to spatial patterns of bleaching.

Special thanks to Coral-list and  Gareth J. Williams (on behalf of the authors) who posted this.

(August 2010)

*SUMMARY: *

The Coral Reef Watch (CRW) satellite coral bleaching monitoring shows
sea surface temperatures (SSTs) have been above average throughout the
Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, and are already above the bleaching
threshold in some areas. The CRW Coral Bleaching Thermal Stress Outlook
indicates that there is a high potential for thermal stress capable of
causing coral bleaching in the Caribbean in 2010. The intensity of the
stress is likely to increase until mid-October.

According to the CRW HotSpot, there is currently bleaching-level thermal
stress around a large region in the northwestern Pacific, with the
highest stress currently centered on the Philippines. Note that clouds
have covered these areas for a prolonged time period, so satellite data
have not been updated regularly at many locations in this region. This
may be causing the CRW products to overestimate the thermal stress. The
outlook shows that the thermal stress in the northeastern Philippines is
expected to linger into September. The potential of high thermal stress
is predicted to spread east into Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the surrounding
areas. Dissipation of this thermal stress may begin in mid- to
late-October.

The southern hemisphere and the entire Indian Ocean basin are expected
to remain free from significant bleaching thermal stress through
November 2010.

(See full alert message with figures at
http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/bleachingoutlook/index.html)

***************************************
*Caribbean Analysis and Outlook: *

———————————–
/Current conditions:/

The CRW satellite monitoring shows that the development of thermal
stress has already started in the Caribbean, bearing a similar signature
to the thermal stress observed at the same time period in 2005, the year
of a record mass coral bleaching event. SSTs in most of the Caribbean
region and tropical Atlantic Ocean have been significantly above the
normal for most of 2010. Temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida
Keys increased dramatically in early May, rising nearly 2°C over several
days at some locations. Warming in Florida followed an extreme cold
outbreak in January 2010 that resulted in significant coral mortality..
Two tropical storms (Alex in June and Bonnie in July) and other tropical
depressions have temporarily relieved some thermal stress in the
northern Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Florida Keys. However, the
thermal stress has quickly bounced back in these areas. Bleaching
recently has been reported from parts of Puerto Rico. Degree Heating
Weeks currently show low to medium levels of thermal stress built up in
the northern Bahamas and the central Lesser Antilles island arc,
centered east of Dominica and Guadeloupe. DHWs around 4, high enough to
cause significant bleaching, have been observed on the Caribbean coast
of Panama and Costa Rica.

——————————
/Bleaching outlook: /

The CRW Coral Bleaching Thermal Stress Outlook continues to indicate a
high potential for thermal stress capable of causing significant coral
bleaching in the Caribbean in 2010. The region potentially at greatest
risk fills the region east from Nicaragua past the island of Hispaniola
to Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles, and south along the Caribbean
coasts of Panama and South America. The intensity of the potential
thermal stress is predicted to increase until mid-October. The Caribbean
typically experiences elevated temperature during the second year of an
El Niño event, with the 2009-2010 El Niño ending in May 2010. The region
described here as having the highest potential to experience
bleaching-levels of thermal stress is the same region that has been
anomalously warm for most of 2010.

—————————————————-
/Comparison to the 2005 mass bleaching event: /

In 2005, a record breaking mass coral bleaching event in the Caribbean
along with the most active hurricane season on record in the Atlantic
Ocean followed a similar pre-bleaching season SST anomaly pattern. This
preheating increases the likelihood that temperatures will exceed
bleaching thresholds during the following bleaching season, indicating
high potential for thermal stress above levels required for significant
coral bleaching.

In 2005, the active hurricane season cooled waters in the Florida Keys
and Gulf of Mexico greatly reducing the coral bleaching stress. However,
the lack of tropical cyclones around the Lesser Antilles contributed to
consistently warm temperatures in the epicenter of the 2005 mass coral
bleaching event. This year, two tropical storms (Alex in June and Bonnie
July) and other tropical depressions have temporarily relieved some
thermal stress in the northern Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Florida
Keys. However, the thermal stress has quickly bounced back in these
areas. Given the record-breaking mass coral bleaching in 2005 and the
similarity in the pattern of the thermal stress between this year and
2005, the development of this year’s thermal stress in the Caribbean
needs to be monitored closely.
****************************************
*Northwestern Pacific Analysis and Outlook: *

—————————
/Current conditions: /

The thermal stress that caused bleaching in Southeast Asia has abated,
but stress has moved into the central and northern Philippines.
Temperatures across much of the western tropical Pacific are above
normal at the moment, especially along the west coast of the Philippines
where bleaching has been reported. However, the Alert Level 2 areas seen
in the Gulf of Thailand and the eastern South China Sea may be over
estimated, as three months of persistent cloud cover have prevented
updates to the satellite SST data since May 2010 at some locations.

—————————
/Bleaching outlook: /

The high temperatures that have caused mass coral bleaching in the
Philippines may persist in the northern-most Philippines into September.
As the summer continues in the northern hemisphere, our outlook shows
that temperatures in the northwestern Pacific will increase during the
next few months. The outlook indicates that there is a high potential of
thermal stress capable of causing bleaching in Guam, CNMI (Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands), FSM (Federated States of Micronesia),
and the surrounding areas until late October and early November.
********************************************
*Indian Ocean 2010 Bleaching Season Retrospective: *

With the 2009-2010 El Niño, the Indian Ocean experienced significant
coral bleaching thermal stress since the beginning of this year in a
spatial pattern similar to that seen in 1998. Most of the northern
Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia regions have been experiencing intensive
thermal stress. Significant bleaching has been reported in the Maldives,
both sides of the Thai Peninsula (Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand),
Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, parts of Indonesia, and the Anilao region
of the Philippines. Bleaching was observed in southwestern and
northeastern Madagascar earlier this year.

The thermal stress has now dissipated in the Indian Ocean and most of
Southeast Asia. Many areas in this region have been experiencing
persistent cloud cover since early May, which should be favorable for
corals’ recovery from the mass bleaching.

The CRW bleaching outlook has been predicting well the overall high
thermal stress in the Indian Ocean since the beginning of 2010,
indicating an active bleaching season. However, our outlook issued
earlier this year under-predicted the high thermal stress observed in
the Bay of Bengal and over-predicted the thermal stress in the region
off Sumatra where low levels of thermal stress were observed. This is
most likely caused by the relatively low skill level of the LIM model
(the SST prediction model of the CRW outlook system) in the Bay of
Bengal and off Sumatra. Further evaluation and testing of a new scheme
to refine the LIM are underway to improve the skill in this region.
*******************************************
[Note: The Bleaching Outlook discussed below is an experimental product
and should be used as an indicator of potential general patterns rather
than a precise predictor of thermal stress at any location. Actual
conditions may vary due to model uncertainty, subsequent changes in
climatic conditions, extreme localized variability, or weather patterns.]
*******************************************
Current HotSpot and Degree Heating Week charts and data formatted for
HDF and Google Earth can be found at:
http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/index.html

Time series graphics for index sites can be found at:
http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/current/sst_series_24reefs.html
and
http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/current/experimental_products.html

You can sign up for automated bleaching alerts at:
http://coralreefwatch-satops.noaa.gov/SBA.html

Please report bleaching events (or non-events) at:
http://www.reefbase.org/contribute/bleachingreport.aspx

============================
NOAA Coral Reef Watch
coralreefwatch@noaa.gov

Special thanks to Coral-list

Hi all,

       I would like to inform you all of a new peer reviewed book just published titled ‘Marine Research and Conservation in the Coral Triangle: The Wakatobi National Park’. This is now available for purchase on Amazon.com etc (see http://www.amazon.com/Marine-Research-Conservation-Coral-Triangle/dp/1616684739/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281435969&sr=8-1 ) with all royalties going to Indonesian conservation related charities.

This book aims to bring together research about marine resources, their biology and sustainable use in the Wakatobi National Park in Indonesia, and places this information in the context of the wider Coral Triangle region.. This is the culmination of over 10 years research by a range of academic researchers, conservation leaders and students.

I and all the editors and authors hope that this will be well recieved and provide some contribution to conservation policy and management in the region.

Thanks

Richard Unsworth

Special thanks to Coral-list