Application of Drifting Buoy Technologies for Coastal Watershed and Ecosystem, Ann Arbor, Michigan, June 5-7,2005: workshop proceedings

The Alliance for Coastal Technologies (ACT) Partner University of Michigan convened a workshop on the Applications of Drifting Buoy Technologies for Coastal Watershed and Ecosystem Modeling in Ann Arbor, Michigan on June 5 to 7,2005. The objectives of the workshop were to: (1) educate potential users (managers and scientists) about the current capabilities and uses of drifting buoy technologies; (2) provide an opportunity for users (managers and scientists) to experience first hand the deployment and retrieval of various drifting buoys, as well as experience the capabilities of the buoys' technologies; (3) engage manufacturers with scientists and managers in discussions on drifting buoys' capabilities and their requirements to promote further applications of these systems; (4) promote a dialogue about realistic advantages and limitations of current drifting buoy technologies; and (5) develop a set of key recommendations for advancing both the capabilities and uses of drifting buoy technologies for coastal watershed and ecosystem modeling. To achieve these goals, representatives from research, academia, industry, and resource management were invited to participate in this workshop. Attendees obtained "hands on" experience as they participated in the deployment and retrieval of various drifting buoy systems on Big Portage Lake, a 644 acre lake northwest of Ann Arbor. Working groups then convened for discussions on current commercial usages and environmental monitoring approaches including; user requirements for drifting buoys, current status of drifting buoy systems and enabling technologies, and the challenges and strategies for bringing new drifting buoys "on-line". The following general recommendations were made to: 1). organize a testing program of drifting buoys for marketing their capabilities to resource managers and users. 2). develop a fact sheet to highlight the utility of drifting buoys. 3). facilitate technology transfer for advancements in drifter buoys that may be occurring through military funding and development in order to enhance their technical capability for environmental applications. (pdf contains 18 pages)

Contributions to the biology of the engraulid Anchoa naso (Gilbert and Pierson, 1898) from Ecuadorian waters

ENGLISH: One phase of the duties of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission is the gathering and interpretation of data concerning the life history of the commercially important bait species throughout the Eastern Pacific Ocean. During 1958 the Commission established a laboratory in Manta, Ecuador to study tuna. It was subsequently found that this fishery was dependent upon one species of anchovy, Anchoa naso, which was locally referred to as "colorado." During the calendar year 1959 approximately 380,000 scoops of bait were taken by the Manta tuna fleet (Schaefer, 1960), which at that time numbered about 23 vessels. Since then the fleet has increased by about 25 per cent and it is probable that the bait catch has increased also. Virtually nothing has been reported concerning the life history of this species. Hildebrand (1943) reviewed its taxonomy and reported standard lengths ranging from 32 to 135 mm. Peterson (1956) examined specimens from Central America and found them to range from 27 to 66 mm. He also indicated that the species spawned over a long period of time. The present report describes some aspects of the life history of Anchoa naso in Ecuadorian waters. The findings are based on 121 collections taken during the period March 1959 through June 1961. SPANISH: Una fase de las obligaciones de La Comisión Interamericana del Atún Tropical es la obtensión e interpretación de los datos concernientes a la historia natural de las especies de carnada comercialmente importantes en todo el Océano Pacifico Oriental. En el año de 1958 la Comisión estableció un laboratorio en Manta, Ecuador, para estudiar el atún. Se encontró subsecuentemente que esta pesquería dependía de una especie de anchoa, Anchoa naso, conocida localmente con el nombre de colorado. Durante el año calendario de 1959, la flota atunera de Manta, que en ese tiempo alcanzaba a unos 23 barcos, obtuvo aproximadamente 380,000 copas (scoops) de carnada (Schaefer, 1960). Desde entonces la flota ha aumentado en un 25 por ciento, y es probable que la captura de peces-cebo haya aumentado también. Nada se ha informado virtualmente sobre la historia natural de esta especie. Hildebrand (1943) revisó su taxonomia e informó sobre su longitud estándar, que varia entre los 32 y 135 mm. Peterson (1956) examinó especímenes de la América Central, y encontró que variaban entre los 27 y 66 mm. También indicó que la especie desova durante un largo periodo de tiempo. El presente informe describe algunos aspectos de la historia natural de la Anchoa naso en aguas ecuatorianas. Los hallazgos están basados en 121 recolecciones hechas durante el periodo de marzo de 1959 a junio de 1961. (PDF contains 30 pages.)

Spawning pattern of the Nematopalaemon hastatus (Crustacea: Palaemonidae) (Aurivilius, 1898), exploited in the artisanal shrimp fishery in the outer Cross River estuary

Some aspects of the reproduction of Nematopalaemon hastatus in the artisanal shrimp fishery in the outer Cross River estuary (Nigeria) was investigated. 2 kg samples were taken from the daily catch of the N. hastatus fishery on a twice-weekly basis. The N. hastatus in the sample were then observed for gravidity, using a hand lens, and their post-orbital carapace length (POCL) taken. This was done over a 12-month period. The eggs in formalin-fixed samples showed colour changes from light orange to dark brown with maturation. Gravid females with eggs in different stages of maturation, from light orange to dark brown were observed in the samples. The reproduction occurs all year-round. The proportion of gravid females observed in samples had two distinct peaks in June and November, and two distinct troughs in May and October. The lowest length at which gravidity was observed was 6.0 mm POCL. There were no Penaeus notialis in the samples

Species of the rougheye rockfish complex: resurrection of Sebastes melanostictus (Matsubara, 1934) and a redescription of Sebastes aleutianus (Jordan and Evermann, 1898)(Teleostei: Scorpaeniformes)

The widespread and commercially important rougheye rockfish, Sebastes aleutianus (Jordan and Evermann, 1898), has been considered a single variable species, with light- and dark-colored forms, found on the outer continental shelf and upper slope of the North Pacific Ocean. Genetic analysis of 124 specimens verified the presence of two species in new specimens collected from Alaska to Oregon, and the two species were analyzed for distinguishing color patterns and morphological characters. Characters distinguishing the two were extended to an analysis of 215 additional formalin-fixed specimens representing their geographic ranges. Sebastes aleutianus is pale, often has dark mottling on the dorsum in diffuse bands, and does not have distinct dark spots on the spinous dorsal fin; it ranges from the eastern Aleutian Islands and southeastern Bering Sea to California. Sebastes melanostictus (Matsubara, 1934), the blackspotted rockfish, ranges from central Japan, through the Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea, to southern California. It is darker overall and spotting is nearly always present on the spinous dorsal fin. Sebastes swifti (Evermann and Goldsborough, 1907) is a synonym of S. aleutianus; S. kawaradae (Matsubara, 1934) is a synonym of S. melanostictus. The subgenus Zalopyr is restricted to S. aleutianus and S. melanostictus. Nomenclatural synonymies, diagnoses, descriptions, and distributions are provided for each species.