Investigating heavy metal concentrations in sea snakes (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae) as an outcome of oil spill exposure.

This study reports the concentration of heavy metals in the tissues of stranded sea snakes that died as a result of exposure to an oil spill on the eastern coast of Sharjah, UAE. Given the limited occurrence of stranded sea snakes observed along Sharjah's eastern coast outside this spill incident, we are using strandings collected from the nearby Arabian Gulf coast of Sharjah to compare the levels of heavy metals in sea snakes affected by the oil spill against their non-oiled counterparts. The sample comprised 14 Arabian Gulf Coral Reef Sea Snakes ), 6 Yellow-bellied Sea Snakes (), and 4 Yellow Sea Snakes ().

Clinging on the brink: Whole genomes reveal human-induced population declines and severe inbreeding in the Critically Endangered Emirati Leaf-toed Gecko (Asaccus caudivolvulus).

Human-mediated habitat destruction has had a profound impact on increased species extinction rates and population declines worldwide. The coastal development in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the last two decades, serves as an example of how habitat transformation can alter the landscape of a country in just a few years. Here, we study the genomic implications of habitat transformation in the Critically Endangered Emirati Leaf-toed Gecko (Asaccus caudivolvulus), the only endemic vertebrate of the UAE.

Integrating genomics and biogeography to unravel the origin of a mountain biota: The case of a reptile endemicity hotspot in Arabia.

Advances in genomics have greatly enhanced our understanding of mountain biodiversity, providing new insights into the complex and dynamic mechanisms that drive the formation of mountain biotas. These span from broad biogeographic patterns to population dynamics and adaptations to these environments. However, significant challenges remain in integrating large-scale and fine-scale findings to develop a comprehensive understanding of mountain biodiversity.