Study on the layer structure of W/C multilayers deposited by magnetron sputtering using x-ray reflectivity

A study on the layer structure of W/C multilayers deposited by magnetron sputtering is reported. In the study, soft x-ray resonant reflectivity and hard x-ray grazing incidence reflectivity of the W/C multilayers were measured. The imperfections at the interface such as interdiffusion and formation of compounds were dealt with by two methods. On analyzing the experimental results, we found that the incorporation of an interlayer was a more suitable method than the traditional statistical method to describe the layer structure of a W/C system we fabricated. The optical constants of each layer at a wavelength of 4.48 nm were also obtained from the analysis. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

River Kent salmon action plan - consultation draft

In February 1996, the National Salmon Management Strategy was launched by the Environment Agency's predecessor the National Rivers Authority (NRA, 1996). The strategy concentrates on four main objectives for the management of salmon fisheries in England and Wales. These are primarily aimed at securing the well being of the stock, but in doing so will improve catches and the associated economic returns to the fisheries. The four main objectives are : (i) Optimise the number of salmon returning to home water fisheries, (ii) Maintain and improve fitness and diversity of salmon stocks. (Hi) Optimise the total economic value of surplus stocks, (iv) Ensure necessary costs are met by beneficiaries

Biomasses du phytoplancton et du zooplancton dans l'Atlantique tropical le long du méridien 1O' W (Résultats de la campagne Capricorne 7314)

The standing stock of chlorophyll, the quantities of copepods collected with a 30 liter Niskin bottle and the standing stock of zooplankton collected with a 'Bongo' net were measured from 0 to 200 m depth during a cruise along 10' W from 1' N to 12' S. These parameters are correlated to hydrological conditions measured simultaneously. 6 zonal areas have been delimited and described; the north equatorial convergence, the northern flow of the south equatorial counter-current, the trade winds drift, the south equatorial counter-current and the Benguela's drift.

The calibration of a semi-quantitative approach to fish stock assessment in the North West Region of the NRA

(1) A total of 45 sites was sampled, each being fished using the semi-quantitative and quantitative techniques. (2) A significant relationship existed between the semi-quantitative and Quantitative results for all age groups of salmonids (R2 83.4% to 96.1%, p < 0.0001). (3) The results from each site were categorised according to an existing classification system for quantitative and semi-quantitative data. The semi-quantitative component of this system was modified using the results of this investigation. The degree of error associated with sites classified semi-quantitatively was found to be slightly less when using the modified system for 0+ salmon, > 0+ salmon and 0+ trout, ranging from 10.5% to 30%. (4) Insufficient data points were available for the analysis of coarse fish data.

Report on sonic tracking of salmon - Ribble Estuary, 1980-82

The report looks at trials and results of sonic tracking devices. The report includes an appendix on a salmon tracking exercise using oxygen sensing ultrasonic transmitting tags which was carried out on the Ribble Estuary during the period 8th July 1982 to 19th July, 1982. The tags used were developed and manufactured by Aberdeen University and Zootelemetry Research Laboratory Ltd. of Aberdeen, working under contract from the Water Research Centre.

NRA North west salmonid microtagging programme 1987-1994

The microtagging programme began in 1987 using hatchery reared salmon originating from the rivers Caldew and Hodder and subsequently included the Lune (1988) and Ribble (1989). Microtagging of sea trout began in 1991 for the Lune and in 1993 for the Hodder. The report explores the NRA North west salmonid microtagging programme looking at methods, results and recommendations. The report provides salmon microtagging data and returns from 1987 to 1994.

An investigation into the effects of electric fishing equipment on salmon and sea trout within the area of the Lancashire River Board.

The report looks at experiments into electric fishing equipment and effects on salmon and trout within the Lancashire River Board. Experiments include obtaining information on voltage gradients, ascertaining what damage to fish of the larger size groups resulted from electric fishing, determining whether or not fractures could occur in coarse fish and brown trout,similar to those occurring in salmon and sea trout, and effects low temperatures have on electrofishing techniques.

Population structure of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in British Columbia and Washington, determined with microsatellites

Population structure of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) from British Columbia and Washington was examined with a survey of microsatellite variation to describe the distribution of genetic variation. Variation at 16 microsatellite loci was surveyed for approximately 46,500 pink salmon sampled from 146 locations in the odd-year broodline and from 116 locations in the even-year broodline. An index of genetic differentiation, FST, over all populations and loci in the odd-year broodline was 0.005, with individual locus values ranging from 0.002 to 0.025. Population differentiation was less in the even-year broodline, with a FST value of 0.002 over all loci, and with individual locus values ranging from 0.001 to 0.005. Greater genetic diversity was observed in the odd-year broodline. Differentiation in pink salmon allele frequencies between broodlines was approximately 5.5 times greater than regional differentiation within broodlines. A regional structuring of populations was the general pattern observed, and a greater regional structure in the odd-year broodline than in the even-year broodline. The geographic distribution of microsatellite variation in populations of pink salmon likely ref lects a distribution of broodlines from separate refuges after the last glaciation period.

Evaluation of bioelectrical impedance analysis and Fulton’s condition factor as nonlethal techniques for estimating short-term responses in postsmolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to food availabili

We evaluated measures of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and Fulton’s condition factor (K) as potential nonlethal indices for detecting short-term changes in nutritional condition of postsmolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Fish reared in the laboratory for 27 days were fed, fasted, or fasted and then refed. Growth rates and proximate body composition (protein, fat, water) were measured in each fish to evaluate nutritional status and condition. Growth rates of fish responded rapidly to the absence or reintroduction of food, whereas body composition (% wet weight) remained relatively stable owing to isometric growth in fed fish and little loss of body constituents in fasted fish, resulting in nonsignificant differences in body composition among feeding treatments. The utility of BIA and Fulton’s K as condition indices requires differences in body composition. In our study, BIA measures were not significantly different among the three feeding treatments, and only on the final day of sampling was K of fasted vs. fed fish significantly different. BIA measures were correlated with body composition content; however, wet weight was a better predictor of body composition on both a content and concentration (% wet weight) basis. Because fish were growing isometrically, neither BIA nor K was well correlated with growth rate. For immature fish, where growth rate, rather than energy reserves, is a more important indicator of fish condition, a nonlethal index that reflects shortterm changes in growth rate or the potential for growth would be more suitable as a condition index than either BIA measures or Fulton�

Effects of starvation on energy density of juvenile chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) captured in marine waters of Southeastern Alaska

We conducted laboratory starvation experiments on juvenile chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) captured in the neritic marine waters of northern Southeast Alaska in June and July 2003. Temporal changes in fish energy density (whole body energy content [WBEC], cal/g dry weight), percent moisture content, wet weight (g), length (mm), and size-related condition residuals were measured in the laboratory and were then compared to long-term field data. Laboratory water temperatures and salinities averaged 9°C and 32 psu in both months. Trends in response variables were similar for both experimental groups, although sampling intervals were limited in July because fewer fish were available (n= 54) than in June (n=101). Overall, for June (45-d experimental period, 9 intervals), WBEC, wet weight, and condition residuals decreased and percent moisture content increased, whereas fork length did not change. For July (20-d experimental period, 5 intervals), WBEC and condition residuals decreased, percent moisture content and fork length increased, and wet weight did not change. WBEC, percent moisture content, and condition residuals fell outside the norm of longterm data ranges within 10–15 days of starvation, and may be more useful than fork length and wet weight for detecting fish condition responses to suboptimal environments.

Spatial and temporal distribution and the potential for estuarine interactions between wild and hatchery chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) in Taku Inlet, Alaska

We investigated estuarine spatial and temporal overlap of wild and marked hatchery chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) fry; the latter included two distinct size groups released near the Taku River estuary (Taku Inlet) in Southeast Alaska (early May releases of ~ 1.9 g and late May releases of ~ 3.9 g wet weight). Our objectives were to compare abundance, body size, and condition of wild chum salmon fry and hatchery chum salmon fry raised under early and late rearing strategies in different habitats of Taku Inlet and to document environmental factors that could potentially explain the distribution, size, and abundance of these chum salmon fr y. We used a sampling design stratified into inner and outer inlet and neritic and littoral habitats. Hatchery fry were rare in the inner estuary in both years but outnumbered wild fry 20:1 in the outer estuary. Hatchery fry were significantly larger than wild fry in both littoral and neritic samples. Abundances of wild and hatchery fry were positively correlated in the outer inlet, indicating the formation of mixed schools of hatchery and wild fry. Spatial and temporal overlap was greatest between wild and early hatchery fry in the outer inlet in both habitats. The early hatchery release coincided with peak abundances of wild fry in the outer inlet, and the distribution of wild and early hatchery fry overlapped for about three weeks. Our results demonstrate that the timing of release of hatchery fry may affect interactions with wild fry.

Growth and survival of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) from Karluk Lake and River, Alaska, in relation to climatic and oceanic regimes and indices, 1922–2000

We examined whether the relationship between climate and salmon production was linked through the effect of climate on the growth of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) at sea. Smolt length and juvenile, immature, and maturing growth rates were estimated from increments on scales of adult sockeye salmon that returned to the Karluk River and Lake system on Kodiak Island, Alaska, over 77 years, 1924–2000. Survival was higher during the warm climate regimes and lower during the cool regime. Growth was not correlated with survival, as estimated from the residuals of the Ricker stock-recruitment model. Juvenile growth was correlated with an atmospheric forcing index and immature growth was correlated with the amount of coastal precipitation, but the magnitude of winter and spring coastal downwelling in the Gulf of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest atmospheric patterns that influence the directional bifurcation of the Pacific Current were not related to the growth of Karluk sockeye salmon. However, indices of sea surface temperature, coastal precipitation, and atmospheric circulation in the eastern North Pacific were correlated with the survival of Karluk sockeye salmon. Winter and spring precipitation and atmospheric circulation are possible processes linking survival to climate variation in Karluk sockeye salmon.

Population structure of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) across the Pacific Rim, determined from microsatellite analysis

The Pacific Rim population structure of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) was examined with a survey of microsatellite variation to describe the distribution of genetic variation and to evaluate whether chum salmon may have originated from two or more glacial refuges following dispersal to newly available habitat after glacial retreat. Variation at 14 microsatellite loci was surveyed for over 53,000 chum salmon sampled from over 380 localities ranging from Korea through Washington State. An index of genetic differentiation, FST, over all populations and loci was 0.033, with individual locus values ranging from 0.009 to 0.104. The most genetically diverse chum salmon were observed from Asia, particularly Japan, whereas chum salmon from the Skeena River and Queen Charlotte Islands in northern British Columbia and those from Washington State displayed the fewest number of alleles compared with chum salmon in other regions. Differentiation in chum salmon allele frequencies among regions and populations within regions was approximately 18 times greater than that of annual variation within populations. A regional structuring of populations was the general pattern observed, with chum salmon spawning in different tributaries within a major river drainage or spawning in smaller rivers in a geographic area generally more similar to each other than to populations in different major river drainages or geographic areas. Population structure of chum salmon on a Pacific Rim basis supports the concept of a minimum of two refuges, northern and southern, during the last glaciation, but four possible refuges fit better the observed distribution of genetic variation. The distribution of microsatellite variation of chum salmon on a Pacific Rim basis likely reflects the origins of salmon radiating from refuges after the last glaciation period.

Dividing population genetic distance data with the software Partitioning Optimization with Restricted Growth Strings (PORGS): an application for Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Vancouver Island, British Columbia

A new method of finding the optimal group membership and number of groupings to partition population genetic distance data is presented. The software program Partitioning Optimization with Restricted Growth Strings (PORGS), visits all possible set partitions and deems acceptable partitions to be those that reduce mean intracluster distance. The optimal number of groups is determined with the gap statistic which compares PORGS results with a reference distribution. The PORGS method was validated by a simulated data set with a known distribution. For efficiency, where values of n were larger, restricted growth strings (RGS) were used to bipartition populations during a nested search (bi-PORGS). Bi-PORGS was applied to a set of genetic data from 18 Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) populations from the west coast of Vancouver Island. The optimal grouping of these populations corresponded to four geographic locations: 1) Quatsino Sound, 2) Nootka Sound, 3) Clayoquot +Barkley sounds, and 4) southwest Vancouver Island. However, assignment of populations to groups did not strictly reflect the geographical divisions; fish of Barkley Sound origin that had strayed into the Gold River and close genetic similarity between transferred and donor populations meant groupings crossed geographic boundaries. Overall, stock structure determined by this partitioning method was similar to that determined by the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA), an agglomerative clustering algorithm.

Determination of population structure and stock composition of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) in Russia determined with microsatellites

Variation at 14 microsatellite loci was examined in 34 chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) populations from Russia and evaluated for its use in the determination of population structure and stock composition in simulated mixed-stock fishery samples. The genetic differentiation index (Fst) over all populations and loci was 0.017, and individual locus values ranged from 0.003 to 0.054. Regional population structure was observed, and populations from Primorye, Sakhalin Island, and northeast Russia were the most distinct. Microsatellite variation provided evidence of a more fine-scale population structure than those that had previously been demonstrated with other genetic-based markers. Analysis of simulated mixed-stock samples indicated that accurate and precise regional estimates of stock composition were produced when the microsatellites were used to estimate stock compositions. Microsatellites can be used to determine stock composition in geographically separate Russian coastal chum salmon fisheries and provide a greater resolution of stock composition and population structure than that previously provided with other techniques.