Lessons from established breeding programs: terrestrial and aquatic animals

Some relevant components of selection program theory and implementation are reviewed. This includes pedigree recording, genetic evaluation, balancing genetic gains and genetic diversity and tactical integration of key issues. Lessons learned are briefly described – illustrating how existing method and tools can be useful when launching a program in a novel species, and yet highlighting the importance of proper understanding and custom application according to the biology and environments of that species.

Aquatic ecology, economy and society: the place of aquatic ecology in the sustainability agenda

This article explores aspects of sustainability and the importance of sustainable development, including the place of the crucially important resource of fresh water and of freshwater ecosystems. It examines the treatment of natural resources by the economic system that underpins global business, outlines some progress towards more sustainable approaches to business, and recommends steps to re-establish science as the driver of wise policies that contribute to sustainable development.

Aquatic ecology monitoring: water quality, fish, fish catch, sanitation and disease vectors: monitoring No. 5, 6th-9th October 2009

The survey covered by this report was undertaken between 6 th and 9th October 2009 as a follow-up on the during construction surveys of the Bujagali Hydropwer Project (BHPP). In addition to two pre-construction baseline surveys in April 2000 and April 2006, four monitoring surveys have so far been undertaken i.e. in September 2007, April 2008, April 2009 and the present one, in October 2009. The 2009 biannual monitoring surveys were conducted at an upstream and a downstream transect of the BHPP with emphasis on the following aspects: 1. water quality determinants 2. biology and ecology of fishes and food webs 3. fish stock and fish catch including economic aspects of catch and 4. sanitation/vector studies (bilharzias and river blindness)

Aquatic ecology monitoring: water quality, fish, fish catch, sanitation and disease vectors: monitoring no. 8, 6– 10th April 2011

The result reported were from a monitoring survey no.8 undertaken between 6th and 10th April 2011 during construction period of the Bujagali Hydropwer Project (BHPP). Two pre-construction, baseline surveys in April 2000 and April 2006 were conducted and so far,durin construction phase of the project, seven monitoring surveys have been undertaken i.e. in September 2007, April 2008, April 2009,October 2009, April 2010, September 2010 and the present one, in April 2011. Since 2009 biannual monitoring surveys have been conducted at an upstream and a downstream transect of the BHPP with emphasis on the following aspects: Water quality determinants Biology and ecology of fishes and food webs Fish stock and fish catch including economic aspects of catch and Sanitation/vector studies (bilharzias and river blindness)

Aquatic ecology monitoring: water quality, fish, fish catch, sanitation and disease vectors: monitoring no. 10 and reservoir baseline, 23rd – 30th April 2012

The results reported on were from a monitoring survey No. 10 undertaken between 23 rd and 29th April 2012 during construction period of the Bujagali Hydropower Project (BHPP). Two pre-construction, baseline surveys in April 2000 and April 2006 were conducted and so far, during construction phase of the project, nine monitoring surveys have been undertaken i.e. in September 2007, April 2008, April 2009, October 2009, April 2010, September 2010, April 2011, September 2011and the present one, in April 2012. Since 2009 biannual monitoring surveys have been conducted at an upstream and a downstream transect of the BHPP with emphasis on the following aspects: water quality determinants biology and ecology of fishes and food webs fish stock and fish catch including economic aspects of catch and sanitation/vector studies (bilharzias and river blindness) During this survey, baseline assessment of the above mentioned studies was conducted in the reservoir behind the dam, including studies on algae, zooplankton and benthic macroinvertebrates which had been restrained since April 2008. The findings of baseline assessment of the reservoir are also contained in this report and are compared with those obtained from Transect 1(Upstream) and Transect 2 (Downstream).

Aquatic ecology monitoring, water quality, fish, fish catch, sanitation and disease vectors: monitoring no. 11, 4th – 9th September 2012

This monitoring survey No. 11 undertaken between 4th and 9th September 2012 is the second one to be conducted after completion of construction of Bujagali Hydropower Dam. Two pre-construction baseline surveys in April 2000 and April 2006 were conducted and during construction phase, eight monitoring surveys (September 2007, April 2008, April 2009, October 2009, April 2010, September 2010, April 2011, September 2011) were conducted.

Aquatic ecology monitoring: water quality, fish, fish catch, sanitation and disease vectors: monitoring No.7, 4-7th September 2010

The results reported on were from a monitoring survey No.7 undertaken between 4 th and 7th September 2010 during construction period of the Bujagali Hydropower Project (BHPP). Two pre-construction, baseline surveys in April 2000 and April 2006 were conducted and so far, during construction phase of the project, six monitoring surveys have been undertaken i.e. in September 2007, April 2008, April 2009, October 2009, April 2010 and the present one, in September 2010. Since 2009 biannual monitoring surveys have been conducted at an upstream and a downstream transect of the BHPP with emphasis on the following aspects: I. water quality determinants 2. biology and ecology of fishes and food webs 3. fish stock and fish catch including economic aspects of catch and 4. sanitation/vector studies (bilharzias and river blindness)

Aquatic ecology monitoring: water quality, fish, fish catch, sanitation and disease vectors: monitoring no.12, 25th-30th April 2013

Bujagali hydropower dam construction is now completed and a reservoir behind the dam has been created, extending all the way up to Kalange-Makwanzi, an upstream transects. During the 10th monitoring survey-April 2012, a third transect was established in the mid of the reservoir where it runs up to 30 m deep and sampled similarly as at the two original sampling transects, Kalange-Makwanzi and Buyala-Kikubamutwe for comparative purposes. This monitoring survey No. 12 undertaken between 25th and 30th April 2013 is the third one to be conducted after completion of construction of Bujagali Hydropower Dam. Two pre-construction baseline surveys in April 2000 and April 2006 were conducted and during construction phase, eight monitoring surveys (September 2007, April 2008, April 2009, October 2009, April 2010, September 2010, April 2011, September 2011) were conducted. Since 2009 biannual monitoring surveys have been conducted at an upstream and a downstream transect of the BHPP with emphasis on the following aspects: water quality determinants, biology and ecology of fishes and food webs, fish stock and fish catch including economic aspects of catch and sanitation/vector studies (bilharzias and river blindness). In the post-construction monitoring surveys, the assessments of algae, zooplankton and benthic macro-invertebrates which had been restrained since April 2008 were also included.

Aquatic ecology monitoring: water quality, fish, fish catch and parasites: monitoring no.4, 3rd-7th April 2009

The survey covered by this report was undertaken between 3rd and 7th April 2009 as a follow-up on the during construction surveys. Two pre-construction baseline surveys were undertaken in April 2000 and April 2006. During the construction phase which started in 2007, three surveys including the current one have been undertaken i.e. in September 2007, April 2008 and the present one, in April 2009. Unlike in all previous surveys in which monitoring was conducted at one transect upstream and three downstream transects, in the current survey, two transects, one upstream and the other,downstream of the BHPP were sampled with emphasis on the following aspects: 1. water quality determinants 2. biology and ecology of fishes and food webs 3. fish stock and fish catch including economic aspects of catch and 4. sanitation/vector studies (bilharzias and river blindness)

Aquatic ecology monitoring: water quality, fish, fish catch, sanitation and disease vectors: monitoring No.9, 9th – 12th September 2011

The results reported on were from a monitoring survey No. 9 undertaken between 9th and 12th September 2011 during construction period of the Bujagali Hydropower Project (BHPP). Two pre-construction, baseline surveys in April 2000 and April 2006 were conducted and so far, during construction phase of the project, eight monitoring surveys have been undertaken i.e. in September 2007, April 2008, April 2009, October 2009, April 2010, September 2010, April 2011 and the present one, in September 2011. Since 2009 biannual monitoring surveys have been conducted at an upstream and a downstream transect of the BHPP with emphasis on the following aspects: water quality determinants biology and ecology of fishes and food webs fish stock and fish catch including economic aspects of catch and sanitation/vector studies (bilharzias and river blindness)in addition to the above mentioned studies, a soil pH survey was undertaken on 15th October 2011 in the area behind the reservoir whose filling started a week earlier. The findings of pH status in the catchment of the dam are also contained in this report.

The Use of Herbicides to Control Hydrilla and the Effects on Young Largemouth Bass Population Characteristics and Aquatic Vegetation in Lake Seminole, Georgia

From 1997 to 2003, we examined the impacts of two aquatic herbicides, fluridone (Sonar; 1-methyl-3-phenyl-5-[3-(trifluromethl) phenyl]-4(1H)-pyridinone), and dipotassium salt of endothall (Aquathol K; 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid), used to control dense hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata L. f. Royle), on population characteristics of juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides Lacepede) in small coves (<10 ha) in Lake Seminole, Georgia. In addition, we estimated areal coverage and species composition of submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) communities in each cove. Fish and plants were sampled in both control (hydrilla infested)and herbicide treated coves in November and March- April each year. Electrofishing catch-per-effort for both number and weight of age-0 and age-1 fish for the 1997 to 2002 year classes was either the same or higher (p < 0.05) in herbicide treated than in control coves. Age-0 fish were larger (p <0.05) in treated, than in control coves in November, but at age-1 in the following spring, fish were slightly longer (p <0.05) in the control coves. Higher age-0 catches were associated with greater percent reductions in numeric catch between age-0 and age-1 and reduced lengths of fish in November indicating density-dependent effects. Age-0 fish lengths were also negatively correlated to percent cover of both total and native SAV. Total or native SAV coverages were not associated with catch-per-unit effort for number and weight, but nearly all control and herbicide treated coves had total SAV coverage greater than 40%. Applications of both Sonar and Aquathol K reduced total SAV coverage and hydrilla, permitted the establishment of native SAVs, and had either neutral or positive impacts on young largemouth bass in small coves in Lake Seminole. (PDF contains 7 pages.)

Seagrass and Aquatic Habitat Assessment Workshop Summary

Seagrass communities are among the richest and most productive, photoautotrophic coastal systems in the world. They protect and improve water quality, provide shoreline stabilization, and are important habitats for an array of fish, birds, and other wildlife. Hence, much can be gained by protecting and restoring these important living resources. Human’s impact on these vital resources from population growth, pollution, and physical damage from boating and other activities can disrupt the growth of these seagrasses communities and have devastating effects on their health and vitality. Inventory and monitoring are required to determine the dynamics of seagrasses and devise better protection and restoration for these rich resources. The purpose of this seagrass workshop, sponsored by NOAA’s CSC , USGS, and FMRI, was to move toward greater objectivity and accuracy in seagrass mapping and monitoring. This workshop helped foster interaction and communication among seagrass professionals. In order to begin the process of determining the best uniform mapping process for the biological research community. Increasing such awareness among the seagrass and management communities, it is hoped that an improved understanding of the monitoring and mapping process will lead to more effective and efficient preservation os submerged aquatic vegetation. (PDF contains 20 pages)

A survey of aquatic invertebrates of the Somerset Levels, August 13-14, 1981

Since 1975 the wildlife interest of the Somerset Levels and Moors have been assessed. Detailed information has been obtained on the conservation interest of meadows, breeding and wintering bird populations and the botany of aquatic habitats (rhynes). Little work to date has been carried out on the terrestrial and aquatic invertebrate fauna. The prime aim of this survey was to sample a wide variety of rhynes in order to obtain information on the nature and distribution of aquatic invertebrates.

Using wildlife activity and antibiotic resistance analysis to model bacterial water quality in coastal ponds

Models that help predict fecal coliform bacteria (FCB) levels in environmental waters can be important tools for resource managers. In this study, we used animal activity along with antibiotic resistance analysis (ARA), land cover, and other variables to build models that predict bacteria levels in coastal ponds that discharge into an estuary. Photographic wildlife monitoring was used to estimate terrestrial and aquatic wildlife activity prior to sampling. Increased duck activity was an important predictor of increased FCB in coastal ponds. Terrestrial animals like deer and raccoon, although abundant, were not significant in our model. Various land cover types, rainfall, tide, solar irradiation, air temperature, and season parameters, in combination with duck activity, were significant predictors of increased FCB. It appears that tidal ponds allow for settling of bacteria under most conditions. We propose that these models can be used to test different development styles and wildlife management techniques to reduce bacterial loading into downstream shellfish harvesting and contact recreation areas.