Search Results (50)

Marine pollution incidents pose significant threats to marine ecosystems and coastal communities across Pacific Island nations, necessitating advanced predictive capabilities for effective environmental management. This study analyzes 8133 marine pollution incidents from 2001–2014 across 25 Pacific Island nations to develop predictive models for pollution type classification, hotspot identification, and seasonal pattern forecasting. Our analysis reveals Papua New Guinea as the dominant pollution hotspot, experiencing 51.9% of all regional incidents, with plastic waste dumping comprising 78.8% of pollution events and exhibiting pronounced seasonal peaks during June (coinciding with critical fish breeding periods). Machine learning classification achieved 99.1% accuracy in predicting pollution types, with material composition emerging as the strongest predictor, followed by seasonal timing and geographic location. Temporal analysis identified distinct seasonal dependencies, with June representing peak pollution activity (755 average incidents), coinciding with vulnerable marine ecological periods. The predictive framework successfully distinguishes between persistent geographic hotspots and episodic pollution events, enabling targeted conservation interventions during high-risk periods. These findings demonstrate that pollution type and location are highly predictable from environmental and temporal variables, providing marine conservationists with tools to anticipate when and where pollution will most likely impact fish populations and ecosystem health. The study establishes the first comprehensive baseline for Pacific Island marine pollution patterns and validates machine learning approaches for proactive pollution monitoring, offering scalable solutions for protecting ocean ecosystems and supporting evidence-based policy formulation across the region. Full article

Food price volatility is a persistent challenge in Indonesia, where agriculture is central to food security and rural livelihoods. While price transmission has been studied, little is known about how volatility spreads sub-nationally in archipelagic economies with fragmented infrastructure. This study applies a Dynamic Conditional Correlation GARCH (DCC-GARCH) model to monthly rural producer price data from 2009 to 2022 for six commodities: rice, chicken, eggs, chili, cayenne, and shallots. Results show that Java functions as the core volatility transmitter, with long-run conditional correlations exceeding 0.92 in Sumatra, 0.91 in Kalimantan, and 0.90 in Papua, reflecting strong and persistent co-movements. Even in low-production regions such as Maluku, significant volatility linkages reveal structural dependence on Java. Volatility clustering is particularly intense for perishables like chili and shallots. The findings highlight the need for spatially differentiated stabilization policies, including upstream interventions in Java and cooperative-based storage systems in outer islands. This study is the first to apply a DCC-GARCH framework to rural producer price data in an archipelagic context, capturing volatility transmission across regions. Its novelty lies in linking these spillovers with regional market dependence, offering new empirical evidence and actionable insights for designing inclusive and geographically responsive food security strategies. Full article

Drought is a complex and impactful natural hazard, with sometimes catastrophic impacts on small or subsistence agriculture and water security. In Pacific Island countries, there lacks an agreed approach for monitoring agricultural drought hazard with satellite-derived remote sensing data. This study addresses this gap through a framework for agricultural drought monitoring in the Pacific using freely available space-based observations. Applying World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) recommendations and a set of objective selection criteria, three remotely sensed drought indicators were chosen and combined using fuzzy logic to form a composite drought hazard index: the Standardised Precipitation Index, Soil Water Index, and Normalised Difference Vegetation Index. Each indicator represents a subsequential flow-on effect of drought on agriculture. The index classes geographic areas as low, medium, high, or very high levels of drought hazard. To test the drought hazard index, two case studies for drought in the western Pacific, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and Vanuatu, are assessed for the 2015–2016 El Niño-related drought. Findings showed that at the height of the drought in October 2015, 58% of PNG and 72% of Vanuatu showed very high drought hazard, compared to 6% and 40%, respectively, at the beginning of the drought. The hazard levels calculated were consistent with conditions observed and events that were reported during the emergency drought period. Application of this framework to operational drought monitoring will promote adaptive capacity and improve resilience to future droughts for Pacific communities. Full article

Seven new species of the genus Cherax from the western region of Western New Guinea, Indonesia, are described and illustrated. All new species—Cherax veritas n. sp. from the southeastern part of Misool Island of Raja Ampat Regency, Southwest Papua; Cherax arguni n. sp. and Cherax kaimana n. sp. from the northern part of Kaimana Regency, West Papua; Cherax nigli n. sp. from the southeastern part of Kaimana Regency, West Papua; Cherax bomberai n. sp. from the northeastern part of the Fakfak Regency, West Papua; Cherax farhadii n. sp. and Cherax doberai n. sp. from the Teluk Bintuni Regency, West Papua—belong to the northern group of Cherax. The new species are compared with their closest relatives, from which they can all be easily distinguished by morphological characters, such as the shape of the chelae, rostrum, body, and by their coloration. A molecular phylogeny based on a mitochondrial gene fragment, 16S, supports the morphology-based description of the seven new species, which can also be clearly distinguished by sequence differences. Full article

Freshwater shrimps of the family Atyidae of New Guinea, including those from the Indonesian province of Papua, the Aru Islands, and the country of Papua New Guinea, are reviewed. A taxonomic synopsis is given to the 35 species identified so far, including two new species, namely Caridina iriana and C. yapenensis. Six species are recorded for the first time from New Guinea, namely Caridina mertoni, C. neglecta, C. brevicarpalis, C. endehensis, C. appendiculata, and C. cf. sikipozo. Seven landlocked species are found to be endemic to New Guinea, namely C. demani, C. cognata, C. fecunda, C. rouxi, C. buergersi C. elisabethae, and Parisia holthuisi. Biogeographically, apart from 11 species endemic to New Guinea, the majority of the amphidromous atyid shrimp species are found to be either restricted to the Island Chain of West Pacific (8 species) or restricted to the Indo-Australian Archipelago region, with New Guinea/Solomon Islands being the eastern and India/Sri Lanka being the western limits of their ranges (8 species), and five are restricted to the West Pacific, with Sulawesi/Philippines their western limit. Only three species are widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific region. Descriptions/diagnoses for the new, taxonomically important or poorly known species, taxonomic discussions, habitat and distribution information for all species are presented. Full article

Often referred to as ‘the last unknown’, Papua New Guinea’s largely unexplored environments across its four distinct regions, the Highlands, New Guinea Islands, Momase, and Southern, exhibit remarkable diversity. Understanding this diversity is significant in contextualising the risk factors associated with developing non-communicable diseases. This review aims to map and summarise the literature to provide region-specific prevalence data for risk factors and non-communicable diseases. Four databases and grey literature were searched. Two reviewers completed the screening and data extraction. Twenty-one studies were included, with five reporting the data by region and the remaining reporting the data nationwide. Six studies reported on risk factors, thirteen reported on non-communicable diseases, and two reported on risk factors and non-communicable diseases. The Southern region, which includes the Capital, Port Moresby, reported the highest prevalence for most risk factors: anthropometric (overweight, obesity, and waist circumference), lifestyle (betel nut, alcohol, unhealthy diet, and stress), and biochemical (cholesterol, triglycerides, HbA1c, and metabolic syndrome). The findings of this review highlight the limited evidence base for region-specific risk factor data and the lack of objective diagnosis of non-communicable diseases. There were variations in the prevalence of specific risk factors by region; however, the Southern region stands out as requiring immediate attention for health promotion program interventions. Full article

All known bioluminescent fungi are basidiomycetes belonging to the Agaricales. They emit 520–530 nm wavelength light 24 h per day in a circadian rhythm. The number of known bioluminescent fungi has more than doubled in the past 15 years from 64 to 132 species. We currently recognize five distinct lineages of bioluminescent Agaricales belonging to the Omphalotaceae (18 species), Physalacriaceae (14), Mycenaceae (96), Lucentipes lineage (3), and Cyphellopsidaceae (1). They are distributed across the globe with the highest diversity occurring on woody or leafy substrates in subtropical closed canopy forests with high plant diversity. With the caveat that most regions of the world have not been extensively sampled for bioluminescent fungi, the areas with the most known species are Japan (36), South America (30), North America (27), Malesia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia (26), Europe (23), Central America (21), China (13), Africa (10), Australasia, Papua New Guinea, and New Caledonia (11), and the Pacific Islands (5). Recent studies have elucidated the biochemical and genetic pathways of fungal bioluminescence and suggest the phenomenon originated a single time early in the evolution of the Agaricales. Multiple independent evolutionary losses explain the absence of luminescence in many species found within the five lineages and in the majority of Agaricales. Full article

This study investigates the use of participatory geographic information systems (PGIS) for hazard assessment in small island developing states (SIDS), with a focus on spatial literacy and community-based disaster management. By partnering with the Lavongai community on Papua New Guinea, this research aimed to empower community members through skill development in geodata processing. The program leveraged local knowledge and the global positioning system to create participatory maps, enhancing both community capacity and researcher data quality. Workshops and focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted to assess the community’s understanding of spatial concepts related to disaster risks. The core objective was a preliminary assessment of the community’s social and economic vulnerability to coastal disasters, using household data and GIS analysis. The results showed varied vulnerability levels within the community, highlighting the need for targeted disaster mitigation training and nature-based solutions. High-resolution satellite imagery and a simple bathtub model simulated sea level rise, identifying land-uses at risk. The program concluded with a community presentation of thematic maps, fostering collaboration and transparency. Future projects will address environmental challenges identified by local leaders and prioritize skill development, social data collection, and water resource mapping. Full article

There is a rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Papua New Guinea (PNG), adding to the disease burden from communicable infectious diseases and thus increasing the burden on the healthcare system in a low-resource setting. The aim of this review was to identify health and nutrition promotion programs conducted in PNG and the enablers and barriers to these programs. Four electronic databases and grey literature were searched. Two reviewers completed screening and data extraction. This review included 23 papers evaluating 22 health and nutrition promotion programs, which focused on the Ottawa Charter action areas of developing personal skills (12 programs), reorienting health services (12 programs) and strengthening community action (6 programs). Nineteen programs targeted communicable diseases; two addressed NCDs, and one addressed health services. Enablers of health promotion programs in PNG included community involvement, cultural appropriateness, strong leadership, and the use of mobile health technologies for the decentralisation of health services. Barriers included limited resources and funding and a lack of central leadership to drive ongoing implementation. There is an urgent need for health and nutrition promotion programs targeting NCDs and their modifiable risk factors, as well as longitudinal study designs for the evaluation of long-term impact and program sustainability. Full article

The UB Herbarium, located in the Department of Botany at the University of Brasilia (Brasilia, Brazil), was established in 1963. It is the third-largest herbarium in Brazil, housing approximately 277,000 samples. This study presents a quantitative description of the bryophytes collection at the UB Herbarium, which is the second-largest bryophytes collection in Brazil. It contains 31,099 samples, including specimens from all continents and 79 countries, with a focus on specimens from Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, the United States, Chile, Indonesia, South Africa, Ireland, Argentina, and Sweden, as well as various islands and archipelagos. The collection has grown significantly since its creation in 1963, when it initially held 869 specimens; it now contains 31,099 specimens, which is a 59.3% increase. The herbarium holds 95 types of bryophytes. These results were gathered from consultations in the UB Herbarium online database and compiled into an Excel spreadsheet. These findings highlight the importance of our collection, making it a valuable resource for students and researchers interested in exploring and studying a diverse array of specimens. Full article

While a large proportion of the population in Papua New Guinea (PNG) maintain a subsistence lifestyle, exposure to modernisation and industrialisation since European contact has influenced a transition towards Western diets. This review aimed to scope and summarise the published research on dietary intake among Pacific Islander adults in PNG. Four electronic databases and grey literature were searched. Two reviewers completed the screening and data extraction. Fourteen studies were included from the Highlands (n = 7), Southern (n = 5), Momase (n = 1) and both the Highlands/Southern region (n = 1). No studies were from the Islands region. The majority of the studies were published prior to the year 2000 (n = 9). Geographical region and degree of urbanisation had an impact on dietary intake. Urban areas reported higher intakes of energy, protein and fat compared to rural areas. In the Southern region, a variety of foods, including sago, taro, kaukau, cooked banana, coconut and cassava contributed to energy intake, while kaukau was the main energy and protein source in the Highlands. The main foods contributing to protein in the Southern region were fresh fish, land animals and purchased animals. This review highlights an evidence gap regarding dietary intake research. Within the context of international initiatives, there is an urgent call for research aimed at understanding the social and cultural contextualisation of dietary behaviours in PNG. Full article

The genus Dichichthys was resurrected for five species previously allocated to the genus Parmaturus in the family Pentanchidae. Supraorbital crests on the chondrocranium distinguish Dichichthys from Parmaturus and other members of the family Pentanchidae. A new family, Dichichthyidae, has been proposed to contain Dichichthys. The sequence of the NADH2 mitochondrial gene confirms the placement of Dichichthys outside of the Pentanchidae family, as well as separate from the Atelomycteridae and Scyliorhinidae families. Dichichthys albimarginatus was described using a holotype collected off the coast of New Caledonia. A second juvenile specimen collected off the coast of Papua New Guinea was tentatively assigned as D. cf. albimarginatus. Dichichthys bigus is known from the holotype collected in the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland, Australia. A new, parasite-afflicted underwater observation was reported further north of Queensland. The type species Dichichthys melanobranchus, previously only known from juvenile specimens, was redescribed based on adult specimens. Dichichthys nigripalatum is known from the holotype collected off Sumbawa, Indonesia, and a tentatively identified photo record from West Java. Dichichthys satoi n. sp. is described from the West Norfolk Ridge and off the North Island of New Zealand. Members of the genus Dichichthys have unique curved egg cases which have pliable ridges made up of numerous fibres and long coiled tendrils on the posterior end. Full article

Paediatric tuberculosis can be challenging to diagnose, and various approaches are used in different settings. A retrospective review was conducted on Papua New Guinea (PNG) children with presumptive TB who presented for health care in the Torres Strait Islands, Australia, between 2016 and 2019. We compared diagnostic algorithms including the modified Keith Edwards TB Score, The Union Desk Guide, and the new World Health Organization (WHO) algorithm, with diagnostic practices used in the remote Torres Strait Islands. Of the 66 children with presumptive TB, 7 had bacteriologically confirmed TB. The majority (52%) were under 5 years (median age 61 months), and 45% were malnourished. There was moderate agreement across the diagnostic methods (K = 0.34; 95% CI 0.23–0.46), with the highest concordance observed between The Union Desk Guide and the WHO’s algorithm (K = 0.61). Local TB physicians might have over-diagnosed presumed lymph node TB while under-diagnosing TB overall. Enhancing the precision and promptness of paediatric TB diagnosis using practical tools is pivotal to decrease TB-related child mortality, notably in isolated regions like the Torres Strait and the Western Province of PNG. Full article

Ambitle in the Feni Island Group is located within the NW trending Tabar–Lihir–Tanga–Feni (TLTF) volcanic island chain, Melanesian Arc, northeastern Papua New Guinea. The TLTF chain is renowned for its alkaline magmatism, geothermal activity, copper–gold mineralization, and world-class gold mining. Although its geochemical patterns indicate island arc signatures (i.e., high LILE and depleted HFSE), TLTF volcanism is not directly related to the older Melanesian Arc subduction system. However, it may have been influenced by source mantle metasomatism linked to the older subduction. The purpose of this study is to (1) present and interpret the petrographic, mineralogical, and geochemical data from Feni within the context of the tectonic evolution of the TLTF and (2) propose a geodynamic, petrogenetic model for the Feni volcanic rocks. The key methodologies used in this study are field mapping and sampling, petrographic analysis using the optical microscope, whole-rock geochemical analysis via XRF and ICP MS, and mineralogical analysis using an electron microprobe. The main rock types sampled in this study include feldspathoid-bearing basalt, trachybasalt, phonotephrite, trachyandesite, and trachydacite. Minerals identified include forsteritic olivine, diopside, augite, labradorite, andesine, anorthitic plagioclase, nepheline, and leucite in the primitive mafic suites, whereas the more evolved intermediate and felsic hypabyssal suites contain amphibole, albite, orthoclase, biotite, and either rare quartz or feldspathoids. Amphibole composition is primarily magnesiohastingsite with minor pargasite formed under polybaric conditions. Accessory minerals include apatite, titanite, and Ti-magnetite. We propose that limestone assimilation followed by fractional crystallization are plausible dominant processes in the geochemical evolution of the Ambitle volcanics. Clinopyroxene fractionation is dominant in the mafic volcanics whereas hornblende fractionation is a major petrologic process within the intermediate suites proven by the enrichment of LREE and depletions in MREE and HREE. Feni magmas are also highly enriched in REEs relative to neighboring arcs. This study is globally significant as alkaline magmas are important sources of Cu, Au, and REE as critical elements for green energy and modern technology. Full article

Feni is located at the southeastern end of the NW-trending Tabar–Lihir–Tanga–Feni (TLTF) volcanic island chain, in northeastern Papua New Guinea. This island chain is renowned for hosting alkaline volcanics, geothermal activity, copper–gold mineralization, and mining. There is no agreed consensus on the tectonic and petrogenetic evolution of Feni. Thus, the purpose of our paper is to present the geology of Feni within the context of the regional tectonic evolution of the TLTF chain and offer a succinct and generic geodynamic model that sets the stage for our next paper. The methodologies used in this study include a critical review of published and unpublished literature in conjunction with our geological observations on Feni. The Pliocene-to-Holocene TLTF chain is a younger arc situated within the greater Eocene-to-Oligocene Melanesian Arc bounded by New Ireland to the west, the Kilinailau Trench and Ontong Java Plateau in the east, and the New Britain Trench to the south. The geological units mapped on Feni include a large volume of basaltic lava flow and trachyandesite stocks intruding a limestone and siltstone basement. Younger units include the trachyte domes, pyroclastic flow, and ash fall deposits. The major structures on Feni are normal or extensional faults such as the Niffin Graben. Feni magmatism is attributed to the petrogenetic processes of polybaric or decompression melting and crystal fractionation of magmas previously influenced by sediment assimilation, mantle wedge metasomatism, slab tears, slab melts, and subduction. Deep lithospheric normal faults provide the fluid pathways for the Feni alkaline magmas. Full article