http://hdl.handle.net/1834/1069 2013-05-26T04:58:31Z 2013-05-26T04:58:31Z Stern, A.H. Jacobson, J.L. Ryan, L. Burke, T.A. http://hdl.handle.net/1834/417 2012-06-17T08:59:19Z 2004-01-30T00:00:00Z

Title: Do recent data from the Seychelles Islands alter the conclusions of the NRC Report on the toxicological effects of methylmercury? Authors: Stern, A.H.; Jacobson, J.L.; Ryan, L.; Burke, T.A. Abstract: In 2000, the National Research Council (NRC), an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, released a report entitled, "Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury." The overall conclusion of that report was that, at levels of exposure in some fish- and marine mammal-consuming communities (including those in the Faroe Islands and New Zealand), subtle but significant adverse effects on neuropsychological development were occurring as a result of in utero exposure. Since the release of that report, there has been continuing discussion of the public health relevance of current levels of exposure to Methylmercury. Much of this discussion has been linked to the release of the most recent longitudinal update of the Seychelles Island study. It has recently been posited that these findings supercede those of the NRC committee, and that based on the Seychelles findings, there is little or no risk of adverse neurodevelopmental effects at current levels of exposure. In this commentary, members of the NRC committee address the conclusions from the NRC report in light of the recent Seychelles data. We conclude that no evidence has emerged since the publication of the NRC report that alters the findings of that report.

2004-01-30T00:00:00Z Spencer, Tom Teleki, Kristian http://hdl.handle.net/1834/472 2012-06-17T10:27:24Z 2001-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Reef Systems of the Islands of the Southern Seychelles Authors: Spencer, Tom; Teleki, Kristian Abstract: There are 74 coralline islands in the Southern Seychelles, from which representative reefs have been selected for this report, comprising an atoll (Alphonse), a raised platform island (St Pierre), a carbonate bank (Providence-Cerf) and a drowned atoll (Cöetivy) (Figure 1). Aldabra Atoll is treated in a separate section in this publication (see Teleki et al., this volume). Qualitative observations of reef morphology, coral community composition and reef health in the southern Seychelles were made between March and May 1998 (Southern Seychelles Atoll Research Programme - SSARP), February and March 1999 (Thalassi/Shoals of Capricorn Expedition) and November 1999 (Aldabra Marine Programme – AMP). These observations were supplemented by quantitative descriptions of coral communities at 48 sites at four study locations. Twenty-five meter long transects were set out at water depths, where possible, of 5 m, 10 m, 15 m and 20 m. Transects were surveyed using both a line point intercept method and digital videographic imagery which was subsequently analysed using point sampling to generate estimates of benthic cover. Digital stills of individual coral species were obtained from each site for taxonomic inventory purposes.

2001-01-01T00:00:00Z Klaus, R. Turner, J. Engelhardt, U. http://hdl.handle.net/1834/466 2012-06-17T10:03:17Z 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The Reefs of the Granitic Islands of the Seychelles Authors: Klaus, R.; Turner, J.; Engelhardt, U. Abstract: The status of coral reefs in the granitic islands of the Seychelles archipelago has been assessed by two independent surveys following the mass mortality caused by the 1997/98 bleaching event. Engelhardt (2000), working in collaboration with the Seychelles Department of Conservation surveyed 15 sites located mainly on the north west coast of Mahe during November and December 1999. During January 2000, Turner, Klaus, Hardman and West, working in collaboration with the Seychelles Marine Park Authority, surveyed 46 reef sites mainly to the east of Mahe, including Ste Anne, Ile Moyenne, Ile Cerf, Cousine, Praslin, Curieuse, La Digue, Grand Soeur and Felicite. Reefs around the granitic islands are shallow and rarely exceed 15 m depth. Both surveys aimed to assess reef structure over the full depth range, with corals identified to genus and species where possible, and assessed reef recovery by recording new colonies believed to have established since the bleaching event.

2000-01-01T00:00:00Z Teleki, Kristian Downing, N. Stobart, B. Buckley, R. http://hdl.handle.net/1834/451 2012-06-17T09:41:12Z 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The Status of the Aldabra Atoll Coral Reefs and Fishes Following the 1998 Coral Bleaching Event Authors: Teleki, Kristian; Downing, N.; Stobart, B.; Buckley, R. Abstract: It is important to establish benchmark reef locations that are remote from centres of human activity and free from anthropogenic disturbances, against which human impacts elsewhere can be assessed and rates of recovery evaluated. Aldabra Atoll in the southern Seychelles, is free of anthropogenic disturbances and an ideal location in which to study reefs and adjacent ecosystems. It has further significance with it being in the middle of a region which has been classified as having a number of reefs at high risk (Bryant et al., 1998) and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

2000-01-01T00:00:00Z