Temporal and spatial changes in milfoil distribution and biomass associated with weevils in Fish Lake, WI

During the course of an eight year monitoring effort, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources documented a significant decline in milfoil biomass and distribution in Fish Lake, Wisconsin. Average milfoil biomass declined by 40- 50% from 374-524 g dw m -2 during 1991-93 to 265 g dw m -2 during both 1994 and 1995. Milfoil recovered fully in 1996- 98 to 446- 564 g dw m -2 . The size of the milfoil bed, as discerned from aerial photographs, shrank from a maximum coverage of 40 ha in 1991 to less than 20 ha during 1995. During the “crash” of 1994-95, milfoil plants exhibited typical signs of weevil-induced damage, including darkened, brittle, hollowed-out growing tips, and the arching and collapse of stems associated with loss of buoyancy. Monitoring of weevils and stem damage during 1995-98 showed highest densities and heaviest damage occurred near shore and subsequently fanned out into deeper water from core infestation sites each spring. The extent of milfoil stem damage was positively correlated with weevil densities (monthly sampling). However, weevil densities and stem damage were lower during 1995 (when milfoil biomass was in decline) than during 1996-98 (when milfoil biomass was fully recovered).

Seepage beneath Hoover Dike southern shore of Lake Okeechobee, Florida

Future water needs in southern Florida call for an increase in the storage capacity of Lake Okeechobee. Seepage from the lake is expected to increase as a result of raising the lake level. Data concerning the occurrence and amounts of seepage are needed for the design and operation of flood-control works which will remove excess water from the rich agricultural lands along the southern shore. Intensive studies at five sites along the southern shore of Lake Okeechobee between the Caloosahatchee Canal and the St. Lucie Canal indicate that seepage occurs chiefly through beds of shell and limestone which underlie the Hoover Dike at shallow depth. Seepage rates at the five sites range from about 0.1 to 0.9 cfs per mile per foot of head across the dike. Seepage beneath the 50-mile length of dike should increase from about 22 to 50 cfs if the average stage of the lake is raised from 14 to 16.5 feet. Seepage is greatest between Moore Haven and Clewiston, where deep borrows have been excavated on the landward and lakeward sides of the dike. Most of the seepage from the lake can be controlled by properly spaced toe ditches which would intercept the seepage and return it to the lake. (PDF contains 108 pages.)

Observaciones sobre las especies de truchas criollas.

The genus Percichthys (Serranidae) includes three nominal species in Argentina, trucha, vinciguerrae and altispinis. The authors of this paper examine materials from: 1: the Río Negro river in its inferior course, in front of Viedma; 2: lake Pellegrini, near Neuquén, where the rivers Neuquén and Limay meet and form the Negro; 3: Plottier, near the place just named; 4: Colorado river, in Fortín Uno; 5: Curacó river, a tributary to the Colorado, now cut into separate sections since years ago on account of the lack of water; this river normally would connect the Colorado with the rivers up to the San Juan where the « trucha » lives; 6: Luro or La Salada lagoon, formed by the Colorado river near its mouth; 7: Argentino lake, in the southern Patagonia. These fishes are known as « trucha criolla » or « native trout » although the old Spanish name was « perca », more appropiate. Percichthys altispinis Regan 1905 is a good species ; it has been re-found in the Colorado river, at Fortín Uno. An illustration of it is given, characters of four specimens and a note on its scales. P. trucha C. V. reveeals itself on close examination as a complex species or linnean species (linneon) ; with several combinations of characters, but even more materials are needed to establish if there are geographical races (subspecies). A new examination of the Chilean materials is required (former authors considered them jointly with the Atlantic versant or Argentine materials). Some of the infraspeciíic forms are prognathous, and low finned ; others, the contrary; the head may be normal, or conical and bony; etc. As to P. vinciguerrae its standing as a valid species is doubtfull; perhaps, with P. laevis Jenyns it is a southern form. In the same reduced habitat (lagoon, or isolated course) diversified forms are present; some show parallelism with those of other places ; it is supposed that they show ecological influences according to the year or season of birth or developpment. A thorough study of the scales is given, with epidological characteristics and general conciusions as to the method of measuring and comparing their « reading». There are some marked differences even in the same habitat.

A sub-regional management framework for South Pacific longline fisheries

The principal objective of this study was to determine if additional net benefits can be derived from the sub-regional longline fishery by the introduction of a new management agreement that would centre on the provision of licensing arrangements that would allow access by eligible longline vessels to multiple Exclusive Economic Zones, i.e. Multi-zone Access. [90pp.]