Jenny Thyer, Sian Morrison-Rees, Sean Scully
et al.
Objective
To examine the characteristics of farming households that have no off-farm income, and how they compare to farming households containing at least one person employed in a non-farming occupation.
Approach
This research uses the AD|ARC dataset for Wales held in the SAIL databank at Swansea University. This Research Ready Dataset, created by the research team, is comprised of population census data and existing agricultural datasets.
Individuals were split into two groups, those in households where all individuals were primarily employed in farming or unemployed, and those in households where at least one individual was in a non-farming occupation.
Results
Comparing these groups, our findings show:
• There are 8135 farming households with at least one person in a non-farming occupation, and 5415 households with no off-farm income.
• Households with off-farm income are on average 65% larger than households with no off-farm income.
• 33% of farming only households consist of a single person; 73% of these farmers are male, and the average age is 62.
• The average age for farming-only households is 45, and the average age of households with non-farming occupations is 36.
• We will present detailed findings on the socio-economic and farm business characteristics of these groups.
Conclusion
Understanding differences between households with and without off-farm income provides insights on farm types and households most impacted by changes in agricultural policies and subsidies. This can inform policy design and help authorities deliver commitments on just transitions in a targeted and efficient manner.
With more than half the world's population living in cities, the 21st century is known as the urban century. However, in an urbanized world that goes hand in hand with a growing world population, a "silent" process of urban shrinkage has occurred for some time. In the first decades after the Second World War, the decline of cities was initially limited to the old urbanized regions of the world. In the late 20th and early 21st century, it spread to developing countries and has become a global phenomenon. The Serbian urban population grew from the 1960s to the 1980s, and stagnating in the 1990s. Complex spatial-demographic and socio-economic changes during the post-socialist transition have determined the demographic development of urban settlements in Serbia towards shrinkage. At the beginning of the 21st century, the urban population in Serbia has slightly decreased and the disproportions in population development between urban settlements have deepened, reinforcing the previously existing urban polarization. In the last decade, a negative average annual rate of change in the urban population in Serbia was recorded. As a result, more than 80% of urban settlements in Serbia are affected by urban shrinkage. The paper analyses the development of the total population in 167 urban settlements in Serbia from 1961 to 2022. The paper aims to identify trends in population dynamics in Serbia, focusing on the phenomenon of urban shrinkage in the 21st century.
José Henrique Costa Monteiro da Silva, Helena Cruz Castanheira
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems for tracking and monitoring mortality outcomes during a public health crisis, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Alternative mortality data sources, such as censuses and surveys, offer an opportunity to assess the impact of health crises on countries with incomplete CRVS systems. OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to show that data on retrospective household deaths collected in household surveys produce informative adult mortality numbers that can be useful in estimating mortality in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in countries with incomplete CRVS systems, such as Peru. METHODS: Using data on household deaths in the previous five years from the National Demographic and Family Health Surveys of Peru (ENDES) from 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022, we estimate the probability of dying between ages 20 and 64 (45q20) and compare the results with estimates from the World Population Prospects (WPP) 2022 revision and with estimates attained using the sibling survival method. RESULTS: We verify that 45q20 estimates from ENDES household death information fall close to those reported by the WPP 2022. However, these estimates have high confidence intervals due to the small sample size. The sibling survival method consistently estimates lower adult mortality probabilities, even in pandemic years. Despite the difference in magnitude between the WPP 2022 estimates and those from household deaths, both provide a picture of an increase in the probability of dying among adults during the pandemic period. This is not reflected in estimates made using the sibling survival method. CONTRIBUTION: Despite small sample size and irregularities in age-specific estimates, our work shows that survey questions on household deaths have a great potential for informing adult mortality over time in countries with deficient CRVS systems.
The COVID-19 pandemic showed major impacts, on societies worldwide, challenging healthcare systems, economies, and daily life of people. Geoepidemiology, an emerging field that combines geography and epidemiology, has played a vital role in understanding and combatting the spread of the virus. This interdisciplinary approach has provided insights into the spatial patterns, risk factors, and transmission dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic at different scales, from local communities to global populations. Spatial patterns have revealed variations in incidence rates, with urban-rural divides and regional hotspots playing significant roles. Cross-border transmission has highlighted the importance of travel restrictions and coordinated public health responses. Risk factors such as age, underlying health conditions, socioeconomic factors, occupation, demographics, and behavior have influenced vulnerability and outcomes. Geoepidemiology has also provided insights into the transmissibility and spread of COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission, super-spreading events, and the impact of variants. Geoepidemiology should be vital in understanding and responding to evolving new viral challenges of this and future pandemics.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous countries implemented lockdown measures, which significantly impacted individuals' mental well-being, particularly older adults. As a pervasive medium, television constitutes a vital resource upon which this demographic relies, and is posited to bolster their psychological health. Given the rapid growth of the aging population in China and the ongoing implementation of the Dynamic Covid-zero strategy, it becomes imperative to examine the preferences and motivations underlying television consumption amongst older adults during this era, an aspect often neglected in extant literature. In the present investigation, semi-structured interviews employing qualitative methodologies were conducted with a sample of 19 older adults, followed by tertiary coding utilizing NVivo software. The findings reveal a substantial increase in television viewership among older Chinese adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key motivations underpinning their television consumption include recreation, information acquisition, social engagement, and educational purposes. Furthermore, their programmatic preferences encompass news, dramatic productions, variety programs, and sporting events.
Between 2009 and 2018, the total fertility rate fell in most European countries. In 2018, fertility was below the replacement level throughout Europe. Net migration was positive for two-thirds of European countries. This paper illustrates the implications for long-run population growth of observed net migration-fertilitymortality combinations in 20 European countries over the 2009–18 period by comparing the observed net migration to a zero population growth-related ‘replacement level’ for net migration. The results show that in several northern and north-western European countries, the net migration level has been consistently above this replacement level: if the net migration level and fertility and mortality rates remain constant, the population would increase. However, the findings also indicate that in all of the eastern European countries covered, the net migration level has been consistently below the net migration replacement level. The results further show that in Finland, Norway and Switzerland, the long-run implications of having constant fertility-mortality-net migration levels change from leading to population growth to leading to population decline. The opposite pattern is observed in Germany. The feasibility of preventing long-run population decreases through changes in net migration levels is discussed in light of the results.
Purpose: The present study compares the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of Lupin’s biosimilar ranibizumab with that of Lucentis® in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Methods: This prospective, double-blind, multi-centric phase-III study was conducted across 19 centers in India. A total of 202 patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration were randomized (1:1) to receive either Lupin’s biosimilar ranibizumab or Lucentis®, 0.5 mg, as an intravitreous injection once every month for 3 months. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients who lost fewer than 15 letters from baseline in best-corrected visual acuity. The safety profile included assessment of adverse events, ophthalmic examination, physical and systemic examination, and vital parameters. The immunogenicity assessment was based on evaluation of anti-drug antibodies. Results: Overall, 174 patients (87 [86.14%] in each group) completed the study. The demographics and baseline characteristics were comparable between the treatment groups. The proportion of patients losing fewer than 15 letters from baseline best corrected visual acuity score in the study eye was comparable between two groups. The difference between Lupin’s ranibizumab and Lucentis® for the proportion of patients who lost fewer than 15 letters was within the predefined equivalence margin (intention-to-treat population: 1.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI], −3.3% to 5.4% and per protocol population: 1.2%; 95% CI, −3.2% to 6.4%). The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was comparable, and 11 (10.89%) patients in Lupin’s ranibizumab and 19 (18.81%) patients in Lucentis® group had at least one treatment-emergent adverse event. The immunogenicity incidence as assessed by proportion of patients with positive anti-drug antibodies was numerically lower in Lupin’s ranibizumab (4.95%) than Lucentis® (12.87%). Conclusion: Lupin’s biosimilar ranibizumab demonstrated therapeutic equivalence, desirable safety, and favorable immunogenicity profile compared to Lucentis®.
INTRODUCTION The results from the phase 3 study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of tedizolid phosphate, an oxazolidinone drug, for the treatment of gram-positive ventilated hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (vHABP)/ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP) compared with linezolid (VITAL study), have been previously reported. We conducted a subgroup analysis to report the data obtained from Japanese patients enrolled in this study. METHODS Patients aged ≥18 years with vHABP/VABP likely to be caused by gram-positive cocci were randomized 1:1 to tedizolid phosphate 200 mg once daily for 7 days or linezolid 600 mg twice daily for 10 days. In both treatment groups, patients with concurrent gram-positive bacteremia were treated for 14 days. Primary efficacy endpoints were day 28 all-cause mortality (ACM) and investigator-assessed clinical response at test-of-cure (TOC) in the intention-to-treat population. Safety outcomes included assessment of treatment-emergent adverse events. RESULTS Fifty-three Japanese patients were randomized at received study drug (tedizolid, n = 28; linezolid, n = 25). Demographics and characteristics were generally similar between treatment groups. Rates of day 28 ACM were 10.7% and 20.0% with tedizolid and linezolid, respectively (difference, 9.3%; 95% CI, -10.1 to 28.7). Rates of investigator-assessed clinical cure at TOC were 78.6% and 72.0% with tedizolid and linezolid, respectively (difference, 6.6%; 95% CI, -16.7 to 29.8). Tedizolid phosphate was generally well tolerated and no new safety concerns were observed in the Japanese subgroup. CONCLUSION The results from this subgroup analysis suggest generally favorable efficacy and safety of tedizolid in adult Japanese patients with vHABP/VABP. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02019420).
M. Dheresa, Tesfaye Assebe Yadeta, Tariku Dingeta
et al.
Background Despite registering tremendous improvement as part of the Millennium Development Goals, Ethiopia has still one of the highest numbers of maternal mortality. Although maternal mortality is one of the commonest indicators for comparison or measuring progress, its measurement remained a challenge. In a situation where, vital registration is not in place and only few women gave birth in facilities, alternative data sources from population-based surveys are essential to describe maternal deaths. In this paper, we reported estimates of maternal mortality and causes in a predominantly rural setting in eastern Ethiopia. Methods Data were used from the ongoing prospective open cohort of Kersa Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), located in eastern Ethiopia. At enrolment, detailed sociodemographic and household conditions were recorded for every member, followed by household visit every six months to identify any vital events: births, deaths, and migration. Whenever a death was reported, additional information about the deceased – age, sex, pregnancy status, and perceived cause of deaths – were collected through interview of the closest family member(s). Then, the probable cause of death was assigned using an automated verbal autopsy system (InterVA). In this paper, we included all deaths among women during pregnancy, childbirth or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy. To describe the trends, we calculated annual maternal mortality ratio (MMR) along with their 95% Confidence Interval (CI). Results From 2008 to 2019, a total of 32 680 live births and 720 deaths among reproductive age women were registered. Of the 720 deaths, 158 (21.9%) were during pregnancy or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, corresponding with an MMR of 484 per 100 000 live births. The three leading causes of deaths were pregnancy related sepsis, obstetric haemorrhage and anaemia of pregnancy. There was non-significant reduction in the MMR from 744 in 2008 to 665 in 2019, with three lowest ratios recorded in 2013 (172 per 100 000 live births), 2009 (280 per 100 000 live births) and 2016 (285 per 100 000 live births). Conclusions There was no significant decrement of MMR during the study period. Most deaths occurred at home from pregnancy related sepsis and haemorrhage implicating the unfinished agenda of ensuring skilled delivery and appropriate postnatal management.
Flávia Jôse Oliveira Alves, Luis F Castro-de-Araujo, Erika Fialho Morais Xavier
et al.
Background
Almost twenty percent of women worldwide experience mental health disorders following childbirth. Despite their importance and consequences, postpartum psychiatric disorders are still under-investigated. In Brazil, studies are restricted to state capitals and are not representative of the country as a whole. Understanding the factors associated with postpartum psychiatric disorders can provide insights for adequate maternal mental health screening. This study was conducted with the objective of evaluating factors associated with postpartum psychiatric disorders in Brazil.
Methods
We used Authorization of Outpatient Procedure data for women who used community mental health services in Brazil between 2008 and 2012. The dependent variable was the diagnosis of mental disorders and behavioural factors associated with the puerperium (ICD-10 code F53). Age categorized in quartiles and Psychosocial Care Centre (CAPS) coverage were covariates considered for the analysis. To partially neutralize the bias from repeated observations, we used the Proximity Index (PP), created through of geographic information for each visit to the level of the patient’s neighbourhood. We used Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale, and Shape (GAMLSS) with double Poisson distribution.
Findings
We identified 6,802 records of mental and behavioural disorders associated with the puerperium diagnoses. Among them, 47.6% of the outpatient records were for diagnosis of ICD F53.1, and 32.09% for ICD-10 F53.0, which correspond to severe and mild mental disorders associated with the puerperium, respectively. Diagnosis for ICD-10 F53.0 was higher between the ages of 26 and 30 (10%), while diagnosis for ICD F53.1 was higher between the ages of 31 and 35 (12.7%). For each increment in the maternal age unit and CAPS coverage percentage, there is an increase of 1.01 (p<0.001) in the occurrence of postpartum psychiatric disorders.
Conclusions
Our results showed that increases in maternal age and municipal CAPS coverage heightened the risk of postpartum psychiatric disorders. With regards to severity, we found that diagnosis for ICD F53.0 (mild mental and behavioural disorders associated with the puerperium) was higher among women aged between 26 and 30, while diagnosis for ICD F53.1(severe mental and behavioural disorders associated with the puerperium) was higher among women aged between 31 and 35. Our findings support the need to improve knowledge of maternal mental health and to integrate routine screening into postnatal care settings, for the early identification of women who are at risk, and to apply timely preventive and therapeutic approaches.
For collaborations please contact: Email: flaviajosy1@gmail.com
PURPOSE High-dose insulin/euglycemia (HDIE) is targeted therapy for β-blocker and calcium channel blocker overdose. A guideline using concentrated insulin infusions (20 units/mL), aggressive monitoring, and supportive recommendations was implemented. We sought to evaluate safety before and after HDIE guideline implementation and describe the patient population, insulin doses, supplemental dextrose, vasopressor use, hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) lengths of stay, and mortality. METHODS Retrospective review was performed of patients receiving HDIE before and after guideline implementation at an academic medical center and community hospital from March 2011 through December 2019. Information on patient and overdose demographics, ingestion data, vital signs, interventions, adverse events, and disposition was collected. Data are presented descriptively with comparisons using Mann-Whitney U analysis and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS During the study period, 27 patients were treated with HDIE, 10 before guideline implementation (37%; mean [SD] initial insulin dose, 0.49 [0.35] units/kg/h; mean [SD] maximum insulin dose, 2.25 [3.29] units/kg/h; median [interquartile range] duration, 10 [5.5-18.75] hours) and 17 after guideline implementation (63%; mean [SD] initial insulin dose, 1.01 [0.34] units/kg/h; mean [SD] maximum insulin dose, 2.99 [5.05] unit/kg/h; median [interquartile range] duration, 16 [11.5-37] hours). Hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, and volume overload occurred in 80% vs 29% (P = 0.018), 40% vs 53% (P = 0.69), and 50% vs 65% (P = 0.69) of patients in the preguideline vs postguideline group, respectively. Most patients received an initial insulin bolus (85%; mean [SD], 70.3 [21.8] units, 0.9 [0.26] units/kg) and vasopressor infusion (85%). More postguideline patients received a dextrose infusion with a concentration of 20% or higher (93% vs 50%, P = 0.015). There were no differences in cardiac arrest, in-hospital mortality, or hospital or ICU length of stay between the groups. CONCLUSION Hypoglycemia was reduced using an HDIE guideline and concentrated insulin.
Anthropometric evaluation of children is among the most vital and widely used instruments of public health and clinical medicine. Anthropometry is used for establishing norms, identifying variations, and monitoring development. Yet the accurate assessment of physical growth and development of children remains a perpetually beleaguering subject. This paper focuses on the evolution of anthropometry as a science and its associated measurements, indices, indicators, standards, references, and best practices. This paper seeks to clarify aspects of the assessment of child growth, explores the historical trajectory of the study of anthropometry and its contemporary limitations, and contributes to the debate surrounding references and standards, and the applicability of international anthropometric standards to an individual's health. Among its findings is a surprisingly nonlinear and contested record of events, up to and including leading contemporary practices and datasets. It contextualizes the legacy of child malnutrition studies in a broad framework, including the linkage between the early eugenics movement and contemporary notions of a “normal” child, the interpersonal and intuitional competition to become the preeminent child growth authority, the obfuscated distinction between reference growth charts and standards of growth, and the hidden consequences of universal growth standards that no longer reflect any observable populations.
<b>Background</b>: Despite the widespread use of assisted reproductive technology (ART), few studies analyse its impact on the total fertility rate (TFR). Furthermore, very little is known about how ART affects fertility at older reproductive ages and contributes to family size. <b>Objective</b>: We aim to quantify the contribution of ART to total and age-specific fertility rates and in relation to the transition to first and subsequent births in Australia. <b>Methods</b>: Using data from a comprehensive clinical registry of ART treatments, age-specific ART and non-ART fertility rates were calculated and used to decompose the change in the TFR between 2010 and 2017 into ART and non-ART components. <b>Results</b>: ART represented an increasing and relevant contribution to the TFR, corresponding to an impact of the order of 4Š to 5Š per annum, or approximately to 1 in 20 births. Increasing fertility rates at age 33 and above exerted a positive effect on the overall TFR, and they were almost entirely attributable to the increasing use of ART. Women resorted to ART especially to have a first child. <b>Contribution</b>: This is the first study to provide a detailed examination of the contribution of ART to age-specific fertility rates and in relation to parity transition. While most studies focus on the impact of ART on the overall TFR, the importance of ART for the recovery of births at older reproductive ages could be underestimated.
Francesca Randazzo Eisemann, Marisol Guerrero, Alma Lorena Córdoba
El propósito de este artículo es dar a conocer los resultados de una investigación cuali-cuantitativa que refleja la acogida de los talleres de la técnica de Estimulación Neural en la comunidad educativa de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH), impartidos para brindar a los participantes alternativas para enfrentar el impacto del estrés en sus vidas, y generar conocimientos para recomendar la implementación de esta técnica, como mecanismo accesible para responder a la escalada de la violencia y su repercusión en el ámbito educativo. La motivación para el desarrollo de los talleres se encuentra en el interés demostrado por los estudiantes en su mayoría de las carreras de Psicología, Medicina y Enfermería. Los hallazgos reflejan que las expectativas de las personas asistentes se centran, en primer lugar, en poder aprender o reforzar conocimientos sobre cómo mejorar su salud física, mental y emocional; y, en segundo lugar, comprender las emociones y los sentimientos de los demás. La violencia estructural se percibe sobre todo como falta de oportunidades, pobreza e injusticia. Los indicadores de estrés más frecuentes son preocupación excesiva, cansancio, falta de energía o concentración y ansiedad.
Coral cover worldwide is in decline largely due to anthropogenic influence. In some areas reefs are transitioning into alternative states dominated by sponges, which remain largely understudied despite their abundance and functional importance. Coral reefs in the Wakatobi National Marine Park (WNMP), Indonesia are among the most diverse in the world but remain vulnerable to a multitude of stressors, including coastal development and the resultant sedimentation. Some degraded reefs are characterized by high levels of sedimentation and low coral cover in this area, but support large populations of the ecologically important giant barrel sponge Xestospongia spp. Giant barrel sponges in the genus Xestospongia may be among the largest benthic invertebrates providing habitat and fulfilling ecosystem services on reefs where coral is declining. The large size of these sponges is of particular importance as body size is mechanistically linked to pumping and nutrient cycling. This thesis examines the demographic structure and connectivity of Xestospongia spp. in four core sites within the WNMP, and attempts to elucidate the mechanisms allowing them to tolerate sedimentation. In my first data chapter I examined the influence of environmental variability on Xestospongia spp. growth and longevity over the course of two years at four sites. Specific growth rate, density, mean volume, and environmental variables were examined and compared. Four candidate growth models were fitted to the volume data each site and compared using Akaike’s Information Criterion. Best fit models were determined using a multi-model inference (MMI) approach. Models were averaged to extrapolate size-at-age, which were validated by sponge growth on an artificial structure of known age. There was no difference in model-averaged growth rates between depths or sites of varying habitat quality despite differences in density and mean volume, perhaps suggesting that Xestospongia spp. may be less reliant on their photosynthetic symbionts and feeding heterotrophically, or are able to switch between these trophic modes to maintain growth. Size-at-age estimates placed the largest measured sponges between 24 and 30 years, in contrast with published estimates of Caribbean Xestospongia muta of over 240 years for sponges of comparable size. My results highlight the accelerated growth of these massive sponges compared to estimates from the Caribbean; these differences have important implications for how these ecologically important species should be managed. In the second data chapter I used empirical data to construct an integral projection model (IPM) to explore population dynamics at two sites. My aim was to quantify the extent that the relationship between sponge size and growth, survival, and fecundity (vital rate parameters) influences population-level outcomes (growth or decline). Indicators of asymptotic population dynamics (stable size distributions and long term growth rate) and elasticities of vital rate parameters were calculated. The importance of recruitment to population growth was examined by simulating demographically open and closed systems. To assess the importance of size-dependent survival on population growth at each site, recruit and adult mortality was simulated for each system. IPM analyses suggest that in the absence of large sponges population growth would show a substantial decline but both populations are resilient to instances of poor recruitment, and that maintaining Xestospongia spp. size should be considered a principal element in management and conservation. Finally, this chapter emphasizes the importance of recruit source to population dynamics on a small scale. The results of this chapter highlight that population biomass at both sites is increasing and Xestospongia spp. are likely to remain the dominant component of these reef system in the WNMP. However, one large-scale mortality event affecting large sponges could severely impact populations with a subsequent slow recovery. My third data chapter examined the physiological effects of short-term exposure of Xestospongia spp. to suspended sediment in an effort to quantify mechanisms of local adaptation. In the Wakatobi National Marine Park, Indonesia, some degraded reefs are characterized by high levels of sedimentation and low coral cover, but support large populations of Xestospongia spp. Respiration rates increased compared to controls when sponges were exposed to environmentally relevant suspended sedimentation concentrations of 75 and 150 mg 1⁻¹. For the first time sponge mucus production was observed as a mechanism to remove settled sediment, and sediment clearance was filmed in situ over the course of 24 h. Sponges produced mucus in response to sediment addition, with a mean clearance rate of 10.82 ± 2.04% h⁻¹ (sediment size fractions 63–250 µm). Mucus production is an effective, but slow mechanism supporting barrel sponge survival in habitats experiencing high levels of sedimentation. My results suggest that there are likely to be energetic consequences for sponges living in sedimented environments, which may influence the energy available for other demographic processes and therefore have implications for barrel sponge population sustainability. My final chapter explored genetic connectivity and structuring of Xestospongia spp. at four sites using nine multilocus microsatellite markers. Genetic analyses demonstrated strong genetic structuring supporting a cryptic species complex of five genetic clusters, likely representing separate species or subspecies. Fine-scale relatedness was measured to identify potential sources of larval recruits using assignment tests, sibship analyses, and maximum-likelihood estimation of relatedness among and between study sites. Mean Maximum-likelihood estimation of relatedness estimates revealed that for three sites self-recruitment does not appear to dominate, but one site was characterized high levels of self-recruitment. In summary, Xestospongia spp. populations in the sites sampled during my study are composed of a species complex, the structure of which appears to be driven by self-recruitment and is heavily reliant upon large sponges. The study site is characterized by the highest levels of settled and suspended sediment features large and stable Xestospongia spp. populations that appear to be tolerant to varying levels of sedimentation, possibly due to the production of mucus as a sediment clearance mechanism. This tolerance comes at a cost, however, and results in elevated respiration rate which may require energy otherwise utilized for demographic processes (growth, reproduction, etc.). Growth curves suggested that sponges at sites of increased sedimentation took longer to grow to an equivalent size, although there was no difference in growth between sites; this may suggest that these sponges can shift to heterotrophic feeding in conditions less favourable to photosynthesis by its symbionts. Xestospongia spp. population dynamics appear to be heavily reliant on large individuals, and the results of my study suggest that management efforts should be targeted accordingly.