Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2023-11"
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- Brand assets: a prerequisite to promoting a developing destinationPublication . Turgambekova, Zhansaya; Kozak, Metin; Correia, AntóniaPurposeThe purpose of this study is to develop and test a practical model to identify a developing destination's assets. Using the existing destination branding concepts and theories in the research, this study aims to identify how the assets of a developing destination differ from those of a developed destination.Design/methodology/approachThe study followed the "practical model for determining destination assets" proposed in the article. The first stage includes collecting the information on the tourism potential of the destination. In the second stage, in-depth interviews were carried out with information carriers of a developing destination and analyzed by highlighting keywords in the responses. The following stages include the questionnaire survey, factor analysis and segmentation analysis.FindingsThe following conclusions can be drawn from the results of the study. First, the assets of a developing destination, recreation areas, attractive visitor facilities and obligatory additional services are rational. Second, the assets used for destination branding are based on their unique character. According to the analysis results, the Almaty region's unique character is associated with natural resources. The direction of recreation in the Almaty region boils down to two components: cognitive tourism and sports tourism.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. First, given that external tourism faced significant constraints during the pandemic, we must acknowledge that a study of destination branding may be more appropriate before or after the pandemic. Second, the survey was conducted online in connection with the introduction of quarantine measures. Third, the assets of a developing destination were selected based on the results of the interviews. In future studies, including other attributes may allow the identification of new assets for branding.Practical implicationsThe practical destination branding model presented in the study has practical implications for destination authorities. Using the proposed model, assets of other destinations can be identified. In addition, the results of the analysis of the Almaty region as a developing destination will be effective for destination authorities in developing their tourism programs. Recreation areas, attractive tourism facilities and obligatory additional services can be used in destination branding.Social implicationsThis study drew on the experience of the population's ambassador activity. The in-depth interview was obtained from the destination's tourism informants, and the survey aimed to identify public opinion. The residents who participated in the interview and survey perform an ambassadorial function in strengthening the identified assets of the destination and implementing tourism programs. Accordingly, there is a growing sense of pride in being a resident of the destination.Originality/valueThe study has both theoretical and practical significance with the following results. First, it provides insights on enhancing public participation from the beginning of the destination branding process and respecting the continuation of its ambassadorial activities, provided that the identified destination assets are rational. Second, destination asset associations for developing destinations are presented. Third, the study creates a realistic picture of the Almaty region as a destination for visitors and destination authorities.
- Non-indigenous seaweeds in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and Macaronesia: a critical synthesis of diversity, spatial and temporal patternsPublication . van der Loos, Luna M.; Bafort, Quinten; Bosch, Samuel; Ballesteros, Enric; Bárbara, Ignacio; Berecibar, Estibaliz; Blanfuné, Aurélie; Bogaert, Kenny; Bouckenooghe, Silke; Boudouresque, Charles-François; Brodie, Juliet; Cecere, Ester; Díaz-Tapia, Pilar; Engelen, Aschwin; Gunnarson, Karl; Shabaka, Soha Hamdy; Hoffman, Razy; Husa, Vivian; Israel, Álvaro; Karremans, Mart; Knoop, Jessica; Le Gall, Line; Maggs, Christine A.; Mineur, Frédéric; Parente, Manuela; Perk, Frank; Petrocelli, Antonella; Rodríguez-Prieto, Conxi; Ruitton, Sandrine; Sansón, Marta; A Serrao, Ester; Sfriso, Adriano; Sjøtun, Kjersti; Stiger-Pouvreau, Valérie; Surget, Gwladys; Taşkin, Ergün; Thibaut, Thierry; Tsiamis, Konstantinos; Van De Weghe, Lotte; Verlaque, Marc; Viard, Frédérique; Vranken, Sofie; Leliaert, Frederik; De Clerck, OlivierEffective monitoring of non-indigenous seaweeds and combatting their effects relies on a solid confirmation of the non-indigenous status of the respective species. We critically analysed the status of presumed non-indigenous seaweed species reported from the Mediterranean Sea, the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and Macaronesia, resulting in a list of 140 species whose non-indigenous nature is undisputed. For an additional 87 species it is unclear if they are native or non-indigenous (cryptogenic species) or their identity requires confirmation (data deficient species). We discuss the factors underlying both taxonomic and biogeographic uncertainties and outline recommendations to reduce uncertainty about the non-indigenous status of seaweeds. Our dataset consisted of over 19,000 distribution records, half of which can be attributed to only five species (Sargassum muticum, Bonnemaisonia hamifera, Asparagopsis armata, Caulerpa cylindracea and Colpomenia peregrina), while 56 species (40%) are recorded no more than once or twice. In addition, our analyses revealed considerable variation in the diversity of non-indigenous species between the geographic regions. The Eastern Mediterranean Sea is home to the largest fraction of non-indigenous seaweed species, the majority of which have a Red Sea or Indo-Pacific origin and have entered the Mediterranean Sea mostly via the Suez Canal. Non-indigenous seaweeds with native ranges situated in the Northwest Pacific make up a large fraction of the total in the Western Mediterranean Sea, Lusitania and Northern Europe, followed by non-indigenous species with a presumed Australasian origin. Uncertainty remains, however, regarding the native range of a substantial fraction of non-indigenous seaweeds in the study area. In so far as analyses of first detections can serve as a proxy for the introduction rate of non-indigenous seaweeds, these do not reveal a decrease in the introduction rate, indicating that the current measures and policies are insufficient to battle the introduction and spread of non-indigenous species in the study area.
- Holisticscape – the extended servicescape to influence tourists’ holistic health. From a systematic literature review to a research agendaPublication . Valente Pedro, Cristina; Matos, Nelson; Patrícia Valle, Patrícia Oom do ValleAlthough the influence of environmental stimuli on tourist behaviour has been studied extensively in relation to the experiences in tourism, it remains a reality and needs to be fully addressed. This paper presents a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed articles on tourism's environmental stimuli using three main search streams: atmospherics; servicescape; and experiencescape. Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched, and 66 papers referring to the stimuli elements in the tourism setting were identified and classified into three dimensions: physical; social; and experience. The results indicate that environmental psychology is complemented by marketing to explain the servicescape from the experience economy perspective. Based on the topic's gaps and trends, the authors propose the novel construct of a "holisticscape" as an extension of the servicescape to influence tourists' holistic health (body, mind, and spirit). Furthermore, a research agenda with three propositions is proposed to deepen the knowledge on holisticscape. The systematisation of the setting stimuli developed in this study can guide researchers and practitioners to design and operationalise the experiences for positive post-consumption behaviour.
- Estimating excess noise from deep sea mining: a simulated test casePublication . Jesus, Sergio; Rodríguez, Orlando C.There at least two major potential consequences of deep sea mining: sediment plumes and energy input into the ocean. One of the major forms of energy input is ocean noise generated by the mining process. Project TRIDENT was set up under the Horizon Europe framework of the European Union, with the aim of contributing to a sustainable exploitation of seabed mineral resources, by developing a reliable, transparent and cost-effective system for prediction and continuous environmental impact monitoring of exploration and exploitation activities in the deep sea. Among the parameters monitored under TRIDENT there is ocean sound by means of in-situ, middle field and far-field fixed water column acoustic recorders and moving acoustic gliders. The area chosen for TRIDENT activity and system demonstration is the Tropic seamount, located to the south of Canary Islands. This paper sets up the modelling tools to determine to which extent the noise generated by a continuous mining activity on top of the Tropic seamount couples into the sound channel and propagates to the surrounding area. The difference between the measured (or modelled) ocean sound with and without mining activity is usually called excess noise level and is instrumental for developing indicators of environmental impact to sensitive species within acoustic range of the mining site.
- Dynamics of Decapoda larvae communities in a southwest Iberian estuary: Understanding the impact of different thermal regimesPublication . Monteiro, Marta; Cruz, Joana; Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Marques, Sónia Cotrim; Baptista, Vânia; Teodosio, MariaEnvironmental conditions play a pivotal role in shaping the dynamics of meroplanktonic communities, which represent a vital life stage, crucial for successful recruitment. Specifically, temperature can impact the survival and duration of larval development in decapod crustacean species. The objective of this study is to analyze the community of decapod larvae in the Guadiana estuary, located in southwest Iberia. The analysis focuses on the community's taxonomic composition, temporal variability, and the influence of environmental factors. Particularly, the study emphasizes investigating the impacts of different thermal regimes on the abundance of these assemblages. A comprehensive zooplankton sampling program was conducted at a single station in the lower estuary, from 2014 to 2022. The decapod larvae assemblages are dominated by Upogebia spp., followed by Diogenes pugilator, Panopeus africanus, Afropinnotheres monodi, and Polybius henslowii species. The results of structural equation modeling unveiled a strong influence of water temperature and salinity on the community, while chlorophyll-a concentration, river runoff, and the large-scale climatic mode North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) revealed no impact on the abundance of these assemblages. Overall, the community and the main taxa displayed a positive linear trend in response to increased salinity. However, the effect of increasing temperature varied among species. In the current climatic scenario, water temperature emerges as a critical factor in predicting seasonal variation of the assemblages' abundances, exhibiting a marked seasonality during spring and summer. Predictive models used to investigate future scenarios, Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6 and RCP 8.5, defined by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), where the temperature is expected to rise 2 degrees C and 4.3 degrees C by 2100, suggest the possibility for an alteration in assemblages' composition, where the abundances of D. pugilator, the second most abundant species, tend to decrease abruptly. Reported evidence, coupled with the typical Mediterranean climate of the region, where extreme climatic events, like marine heatwaves, are becoming more frequent, the high connectivity with the Mediterranean Sea, where invasion by non-indigenous species is increasing, also connected with changes in freshwater discharges, may trigger significant alterations in species dominance and abundance, with ecological and socio-economic implications.
- Underwater acoustic spiral source: pool tests and calibrationPublication . Viegas, Sergio; Zabel, Friedrich; Silva, AntónioUnderwater acoustic spiral sources are able to generate spiral acoustic fields where the phase depends on the bearing angle. It allows to estimate the bearing angle relatively to a receiver by subtracting the phases of a spiral and a circular wavefront, and can be used to estimate bearing angles with a single hydrophone/projector pair, e.g., for unmanned underwater vehicles localization. The developed spiral source comprises four monopoles/quadrants and it will be shown that the spiral source behavior is linear, which means that the generated acoustic signals are the sum of the four acoustic signals from each separate monopole, for any amplitude value. This work presents two calibration methods for spiral acoustic sources and the linearity evaluation for the used spiral source. Unlike the calibrations performed on signal reception, the two proposed calibration methods adjust the phase of the emitted signals to form the acoustic spiral field. The first calibration method rectifies the phase of one quadrant based on the contribution of the four quadrants. This method was tested and presented a performance lower than the performance of the calibration on the receiving side. After evaluating the linearity, a new calibration approach is suggested. This new approach uses the signals from separate quadrants instead of the contribution of the four quadrants. This method needs to be tested experimentally to check its validity.
- Marine heatwaves can limit the role of surfgrasses as biofilters for wastewatersPublication . Bonet-Melià, Paula; Sandoval-Gil, Jose Miguel; Samperio-Ramos, Guillermo; Vivanco-Bercovich, Manuel; Canino-Herrera, Sergio R.; Durazo, Reginaldo; Camacho-Ibar, Víctor F.; Alexandre, AnaMarine heatwaves (MHWs) can have detrimental effects on seagrasses, but knowledge about the impacts on their ecosystem services remains scarce. This work evaluated Phyllospadix scouleri (surgrass) as a biofilter for wastewater discharges, and how warming associated with MHW may affect this ecological function. The nitrogen uptake kinetics and assimilation abilities for ammonium, nitrate, and urea were examined under two different warming scenarios (single and repeated events) simulated in a mesocosm. N-uptake kinetics were related to urban sewage discharges close to surfgrass meadows. Our results revealed that surfgrasses can serve as effective biofilters because of their high nitrogen uptake rates and above-average canopy biomass. Nonetheless, exposure to both experimental warmings resulted in a significant decline in their ability to incorporate and assimilate nitrogen. Consequently, MHWs may reduce the capacity of surfgrasses to function as nitrogen sinks and green filters for sewage waters, jeopardizing their role as Blue Nitrogen systems.
- Editorial: Syngnathid fishes: biology, ecology, physiology, conservation and innovative rearing techniquesPublication . Planas, Miquel; Gristina, Michele; Palma, Jorge; Qin, Geng; Rose, Emily; Roth, Olivia; Teske, Peter R.Syngnathids (a bony fish family that includes seahorses, pipefishes and seadragons) have unique morphological and biological traits that include fused jaws, an exoskeleton and male parental care (Ahnesjö and Craig, 2011). They are mostly found in shallow coastal areas, and their unconventional life history renders them particularly vulnerable to population depletion (Foster and Vincent, 2004). Although some species have been listed as Vulnerable, Endangered, and even Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, many are classified as Data Deficient (DD) due to insufficient information (IUCN, 2020; Pollom et al., 2021). Therefore, further research is needed to understand their distribution, population trends and main threats. A significant portion of the research on syngnathids is relatively recent (Cohen et al., 2017; Segaran et al., 2023). This Research Topic provides 12 original research and review contributions that provide an overview of current trends in research related to the biology, physiology, ecology and conservation of syngnathids. We have gained considerable insights into syngnathid evolutionary innovation, particularly concerning the evolution of male pregnancy (Lin et al., 2016; Roth et al., 2020). The review by Parker et al. sheds light on the unique modification of the syngnathid immune system and its associations with physiology and reproduction, and highlights future research objectives.
- Monitoring changes in the volatile profile of ecuadorian cocoa during different steps in traditional on-farm processingPublication . Erazo Solorzano, Cyntia Yadira; Tuárez García, Diego Armando; Edison Zambrano, Carlos; Moreno-Rojas, José Manuel; Rodríguez Solana, RaquelThe present work was conducted to evaluate the volatile profile of Ecuadorian Forastero, CCN-51, ETT103 and LR14 cocoa beans during traditional fermentation in laurel wood boxes followed by a sun-drying process. Fifty-six volatiles were identified with HS-SPME-GC-MS. Aldehydes, alcohols and ketones were the compounds that mainly characterized the fresh cocoa. The main compounds formed during the anaerobic fermentation step were esters and acids, while in the aerobic fermentation step, an increase in ester-, aldehyde- and acid-type compounds was observed. Finally, after the drying step, a notable increase in the acid (i.e., acetic acid) content was the predominant trend. According to the genotypes, ETT103 presented high contents of terpenes, alcohols, aldehydes and ketones and low contents of unfavorable acid compounds. The CCN-51 and LR14 (Trinitarian) varieties stood out for their highest amounts in acids (i.e., acetic acid) at the end of primary processing. Finally, the Forastero cocoa beans were highlighted for their low acid and high trimethylpyrazine contents. According to the chemometric and Venn diagram analyses, ETT-103 was an interestingly high-aromatic-quality variety for cocoa gourmet preparations. The results also showed the need for good control of the processing steps (using prefermentative treatments, starter cultures, etc.) on Ecuadorian genotypes of Trinitarian origin.
- Ochre use at Olieboomspoort, South Africa: insights into specular hematite use and collection during the Middle Stone AgePublication . Culey, J.; Hodgskiss, T.; Wurz, S.; de la Peña, P.; Val, AuroreRecent excavations at Olieboomspoort (OBP) in the Waterberg Mountains of South Africa confirmed previous research at the site that highlighted an abundance of ochre in the Middle Stone Age (MSA) deposits. Here, we report on the results of an analysis of the ochre from the MSA deposits excavated in 2018-2019. Fossilised equid teeth from these deposits were recently dated to approximately 150 ka, an early date for such a sizeable ochre assemblage in southern Africa. Calcium carbonate concretions were removed from ochre pieces using hydrochloric acid. Macro- and microscopic analyses were undertaken to identify raw material types and to investigate utilisation strategies. There are 438 pieces in the assemblage and only 14 of them show definite use-traces. The predominant raw material is a micaceous, hard specular hematite, which is rare at MSA sites elsewhere in southern Africa. A preliminary investigation into the geological nature of the ochreous materials in the archaeological sample and those available in the area was performed using semi-quantitative portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), XRF, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Together with site formation processes, we suggest possible, primarily local sources of the ochre found in the deposits. The data do not support previous suggestions that OBP was used as an ochre caching site that may have formed part of an exchange network during the MSA. Instead, the local abundance of nodules of specular hematite within the Waterberg sandstone, the limited number of used pieces in the assemblage, and the stratigraphic context indicate a more natural, less anthropogenic explanation for the abundance of ochre at the site.