MAP CAMP Project "Lebanon": final integrated project document

(287 page document)

Using Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Technologies to Detect and Map Two Aquatic Macrophytes

This paper describes the light reflectance characteristics ofwaterhyacinth [Eichhornia crassipes (Mort.) Solms] and hydrilla [Hydrilla verticillata (L.F.) Royle] and the application of airborned videography with global positioning system (GPS) and geographic information system (GIS) technologies for distinguishing and mapping the distribution of these two aquatic weeds in waterways of southern Texas. Field reflectance measurements made at several locations showed that waterhyacinth generally had higher near-infrared (NIR) reflectance than associated plant species and water. Hydrilla had lower NIR reflectance than associated plant species and higher NIR reflectance than water. Reflectance measurements made on hydrilla plants submerged below the water surface had similar spectral characteristics to water. Waterhyacinth and hydrilla could be distinguished in color-infrared (CIR) video imagery where they had bright orange-red and reddish-brown image responses, respectively. Computer analysis of the imagery showed that waterhyacinth and hydrilla infestaions could be quantified. An accuracy assessment performed on the classified image showed an overall accuracy of 87.7%. Integration of the GPS with the video imagery permitted latitude/longitude coordinates of waterhyacinth and hydrilla infestation to be recorded on each image. A portion of the Rio Grande River in extreme southern Texas was flown with the video system to detect waterhyacinth and hydrilla infestaions. The GPS coordinates on the CIR video scenes depicting waterhyacinth and hydrilla infestations were entered into a GIS to map the distribution of these two noxious weeds in the Rio Grande River.

Plan of the Lune Fishery District. Map of District sealed by the Board of agriculture & fisheries

Historic map of the River Lune Fishery District.

Patterns of scale-dependency and the influence of map resolution on the seascape ecology of reef fish

Detection and perception of ecological relationships between biota and their surrounding habitats is sensitive to analysis scale and resolution of habitat data. We measured strength of univariate linear correlations between reef fish and seascape variables at multiple spatial scales (25 to 800 m). Correlation strength was used to identify the scale that best associates fish to their surrounding habitat. To evaluate the influence of map resolution, seascape variables were calculated based on 4 separate benthic maps produced using 2 levels of spatial and thematic resolution, respectively. Individual seascape variables explained only 25% of the variability in fish distributions. Length of reef edge was correlated with more aspects of the fish assemblage than other features. Area of seagrass and bare sand correlated with distribution of many fish, not just obligate users. No fish variables correlated with habitat diversity. Individual fish species achieved a wider range of correlations than mobility guilds or the entire fish assemblage. Scales of peak correlation were the same for juveniles and adults in a majority of comparisons. Highly mobile species exhibited broader scales of peak correlation than either resident or moderately mobile fish. Use of different input maps changed perception of the strength and even the scale of peak correlations for many comparisons involving hard bottom edge length and area of sand, whereas results were consistent regardless of map type for comparisons involving area of seagrass and habitat diversity.

Pathogenicity of Aeromonas sobria to Thai silver barb (Barbodes gonionotus Bleeker) and its sensitivity to some antibiotic agents

Five isolates of Aeromonas sobria, collected from the diseased fish were selected for detection the pathogenicity following water-born infection method on silver barbs (Barbodes gonionotus) at the selected exposure dose 2.5x10⁸ CFU/ml which was standardized by preliminary test. In the experimental condition lesion and mortality were found in fishes. Among the isolate, Ass17 Ass19, Ass31 and Ass36 were successfully infected 20-60% fishes. Another isolate Ass20 was found non-pathogenic. Drug sensitivity test was performed by six antibiotics viz. Oxytetracycline, Oxolinic acid, Chloramphenicol, Stilphamethozazole, Streptomycin, Erythromycin. All the isolates showed variable reaction patterns to antibiotics. Most of the isolates were found sensitive to Oxytetracycline (OT), Oxolinic acid (OA) and Chloramphenicol (C) but resistance to Erythromycin and Sulphamethoxazole (SXT). Isolate Ass31 found resistant to Oxolinic acid.

A report on the fisheries of Uganda investigated by the Cambridge Expedition to the East African Lakes, 1930-31

There was very little previous information to use as a basis for work on Lakes Edward and George, but fortunately the region had been mapped in some detail by the Uganda-Congo Boundary Commission of 1906-08. This map served as a satisfactory foundation, but the western Congo shoreline of Lake Edward was inserted only by a dotted line, and a number of inaccuracies, particularly with regard to the islands and littoral of L. George, came to light during our survey.

Studies on phenolase enzyme in prawns. II. The inhibitory action on the enzyme by certain chemical agents

The effect of certain chemical agents on dopa oxidation by phenolases has been examined. Sulphur containing amino carboxylic acids are inhibitory agents for dopa oxidation. Tyrosine, a substrate for the enzyme also acts as an inhibitor for dopa oxidation by the enzyme. The possible mode of action has been discussed. The function of diethyl dithiocarbamate in suppressing the display of enzyme activity has been detailed and its behaviour has been compared to the other chemical agents studied.

Effects of 2-phenoxy ethanol and MS-222 on milkfish fingerlings (Chanos chanos) as anaesthetic agents

An experiment was undertaken in order to determine an adequate anaesthetic and optimum concentrations for use in the handling of fingerling milkfish (Chanos chanos). The compounds 2-phenoxy ethanol and MS-222 were investigated. Results show the latter to be adequate with optimum concentrations between 100 and 200 ppm.

A comparative study on the induced breeding and in vitro fertilization performance by various inducing agents in catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

Brood catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis were collected from Tamirabarani river basin of Tamil Nadu, India and kept in cement tanks. Three inducing hormones viz, Ovaprim, Ovatide and WOVA-FH were injected at the rate of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 ml/kg body weight in order to induce oocyte maturation and ovulation. After 10-13h of injection at a water temperature of 27±-0.5°C, stripping of eggs and in vitro fertilization was done. Ovaprim gave maximum (94.67%) hatching rate followed by Ovatide (90.33%) and WOVA-FH (77.33%).

Application of encapsulated nisin and sodium citrate for shelf life increasing of Rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) fillet packaged with MAP and their effect on Staphylococcus aureus

Nisin is a widely used naturally occurring antimicrobial effective against many pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms. It has been proposed that reduced efficacy of nisin in foods can be improved by technologies such as encapsulation to protect it from interferences by food matrix components. The aim of this study was using of spray dried encapsulated nisin with zein in concentration of (0.15 and 0.25 g/kg) and sodium citrate (1.5 and 2.5%) and treatments with both of them to extent the shelf life of filleted trouts packaged by Modified Atmosphere Packaging (45% CO2, 50% N2 ,5% O2) and stored at 4±1 °C for 20 days. Furthermore, to evaluate the antimicrobial efficiency of encapsulated nisin and soudium citrate the trouts fillets was inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus as an index pathogenic bacteria. Assessment of chemical spoilage indexes such as (Proxide value, Thiobarbituric acid, total volatile base nitrogen and pH) , microbial parameters (Total Plate Count, Psychrotrophic count, Lactic acid bacteria count), Staphylococcus aureus cont in treatments which were inoculated with 5 logcfu/g of this bacteria and sensory evaluation of fillets including (smell, color, texture and total acceptability) was carried out in days of 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20. The results revealed that treatment with both exposure of nisin and sodium citrate showed significantly lower chemical spoilage indexes in comparison with controls (vaccum packed and MAP) (P<0.05). Furthermore, (nisin 0.25 g/kg sodium citrate 2.5%) treatment which was exposed to the maximal level used of both materials was significantly the lowest treatment with (Proxide value, Thiobarbituric acid, total volatile base nitrogen and pH) of 9.95 (meq O2/kg) , 1.55 (mgMA/kg), 29.65 (mgN/100g) and 6.65 , respectively and according to the maximal recommended level of this indices , shelf life of fillets in this treatment was esstimated 20 days.The control (vaccum packed) treatment was significantly the highest treatment with (Proxide value, Thiobarbituric acid, total volatile base nitrogen and pH) of 15.17 (meq O2/kg), 3.03 (mgMA/kg), 38.4 (mgN/100g) and 6.95 , respectively and according to the maximal recommended level of this indices , shelf life of fillets in this treatment was estimated 11 days. Also, in microbial point of view (nisin 0.25 g/kg- sodium citrate 2.5%) treatment was the lowest treatment with Total Plate Count, Psychrotrophic count, Lactic acid bacteria count and Staphylococcus aureus count of 6.7, 6.83, 5.25 and 6.04 logcfu/g respectively, and conrol (vaccum packed) treatment was the highest treatment with 9.15, 9.41, 7.7 and 9.01 logcfu/g respectively. According to the lower results of chemical and microbial indices and higher sensory evaluated scores assessed in this research for encapsulated nisin in comparison with free nisin , it was concluded that encapsulation of nisin with zein capsules may improve the efficiency of nisin. The measuremented values of Mass yield, Total solids content of capsules, Encapsulation efficiency, In vitro release kinetics in 200 hour for encapsulated nisin in this study was 49.89, 62, 98.31 and 69% respectively and Encapsulated particle size was lower than 674.21 μm for 90% of particles. As a consequence, nisin , in particular encapsulated nisin, and sodium citrate alone or together with and Modified Atmosphere packaging might be considered as effective tools in preventing the quality degradation of the fillets, resulting in an extension of their shelf life.

Survey of fish factory agents on Lake Victoria, Uganda

The purpose of the survey was to gain a better understanding of the role of factory agents in buying fish and setting prices, and of their place and role in fisheries co-management on Lake Victoria, Uganda.