Nutrient enhanced coastal ocean productivity in the north Gulf of Mexico: understanding the effects of nutrients on a coastal ecosystem

The continental shelf adjacent to the Mississippi River is a highly productive system, often referred to as the fertile fisheries crescent. This productivity is attributed to the effects of the river, especially nutrient delivery. In the later decades of the 2oth century, though, changes in the system were becoming evident. Nutrient loads were seen to be increasing and reports of hypoxia were becoming more frequent. During most recent summers, a broad area (up to 20,000 krn2) of near bottom, inner shelf waters immediately west of the Mississippi River delta becomes hypoxic (dissolved oxygen concentrations less than 2 mgll). In 1990, the Coastal Ocean Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration initiated the Nutrient Enhanced Coastal Ocean Productivity (NECOP) study of this area to test the hypothesis that anthropogenic nutrient addition to the coastal ocean has contributed to coastal eutrophication with a significant impact on water quality. Three major goals of the study were to determine the degree to which coastal productivity in the region is enhanced by terrestrial nutrient input, to determine the impact of enhanced productivity on water quality, and to determine the fate of fixed carbon and its impact on living marine resources. The study involved 49 federal and academic scientists from 14 institutions and cost $9.7 million. Field work proceeded from 1990 through 1993 and analysis through 1996, although some analyses continue to this day. The Mississippi River system delivers, on average, 19,000 m3/s of water to the northern Gulf of Mexico. The major flood of the river system occurs in spring following snow melt in the upper drainage basin. This water reaches the Gulf of Mexico through the Mississippi River birdfoot delta and through the delta of the Atchafalaya River. Much of this water flows westward along the coast as a highly stratified coastal current, the Louisiana Coastal Current, isolated from the bottom by a strong halocline and from mid-shelf waters by a strong salinity front. This stratification maintains dissolved and particulate matter from the rivers, as well as recycled material, in a well-defined flow over the inner shelf. It also inhibits the downward mixing of oxygenated surface waters from the surface layer to the near bottom waters. This highly stratified flow is readily identifiable by its surface turbidity, as it carries much of the fine material delivered with the river discharge and resuspended by nearshore wave activity. A second significant contribution to the turbidity of the surface waters is due to phytoplankton in these waters. This turbidity reduces the solar radiation penetrating to depth through the water column. These two aspects of the coastal current, isolation of the inner shelf surface waters and maintenance of a turbid surface layer, precondition the waters for the development of near bottom summer hypoxia.

Scientific assessment of hypoxia in U.S. coastal waters

The occurrence of hypoxia, or low dissolved oxygen, is increasing in coastal waters worldwide and represents a significant threat to the health and economy of our Nation’s coasts and Great Lakes. This trend is exemplified most dramatically off the coast of Louisiana and Texas, where the second largest eutrophication-related hypoxic zone in the world is associated with the nutrient pollutant load discharged by the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. Aquatic organisms require adequate dissolved oxygen to survive. The term “dead zone” is often used in reference to the absence of life (other than bacteria) from habitats that are devoid of oxygen. The inability to escape low oxygen areas makes immobile species, such as oysters and mussels, particularly vulnerable to hypoxia. These organisms can become stressed and may die due to hypoxia, resulting in significant impacts on marine food webs and the economy. Mobile organisms can flee the affected area when dissolved oxygen becomes too low. Nevertheless, fish kills can result from hypoxia, especially when the concentration of dissolved oxygen drops rapidly. New research is clarifying when hypoxia will cause fish kills as opposed to triggering avoidance behavior by fish. Further, new studies are better illustrating how habitat loss associated with hypoxia avoidance can impose ecological and economic costs, such as reduced growth in commercially harvested species and loss of biodiversity, habitat, and biomass. Transient or “diel-cycling” hypoxia, where conditions cycle from supersaturation of oxygen late in the afternoon to hypoxia or anoxia near dawn, most often occurs in shallow, eutrophic systems (e.g., nursery ground habitats) and may have pervasive impacts on living resources because of both its location and frequency of occurrence.

Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) demographic structure in the northern Gulf of Mexico based on spatial patterns in growth rates and morphometrics

Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) in the United States waters of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) has been considered a single unit stock since management of the species began in 1991. The validity of this assumption is essential to management decisions because measures of growth can differ for nonmixing populations. We examined growth rates, size-at-age, and length and weight information of red snapper collected from the recreational harvests of Alabama (n=2010), Louisiana (n=1905), and Texas (n =1277) from 1999 to 2001. Ages were obtained from 5035 otolith sections and ranged from one to 45 years. Fork length, total weight, and age-frequency distributions differed significantly among all states; Texas, however, had a much higher proportion of smaller, younger fish. All red snapper showed rapid growth until about age 10 years, after which growth slowed considerably. Von Bertalanffy growth models of both mean fork length and mean total weight-at-age predicted significantly smaller fish at age from Texas, whereas no differences were found between Alabama and Louisiana models. Texas red snapper were also shown to differ significantly from both Alabama and Louisiana red snapper in regressions of mean weight at age. Demographic variation in growth rates may indicate the existence of separate management units of red snapper in the GOM. Our data indicate that the red snapper inhabiting the waters off Texas are reaching smaller maximum sizes at a faster rate and have a consistently smaller total weight at age than those collected from Louisiana and Alabama waters. Whether these differences are environmentally induced or are the result of genetic divergence remains to be determined, but they should be considered for future management regulations.

Integrated aquaculture-agriculture adoption and impact in rainfed farming systems in Sakata, Malawi

ICLARM introduced integrated aquaculture-agriculture (IAA) in Sakata, Malawi three years ago. Since that time, and without extension support, the number of farmers with ponds increased from 4 in 1993/94 to 12 in 1995/96. To learn why and how IAA is spreading, a study of impact and adoption was conducted in the 1995/96 production season. Interviews were conducted with farmers to discuss lAA and collect data on farm function through the use of bioresource flow diagrams. Motivations given by farmers as to why they adopted IAA were to improve household nutrition and income. Constraints to adoption identified by farmers were availability of labor and capital to purchase inputs

Nutrient Enhanced Coastal Ocean Productivity (NECOP). Data report: CTD and hydrographic data, R/V Pelican cruise, April 3-11, 1993

The Nutrient Enhanced Coastal Ocean Productivity (NECOP) Program is a component of NOAA's Coastal Ocean Program. The central hypothesis of this research is: Anthropogenic nutrient inputs have enhanced coastal ocean productivity with subsequent impacts on coastal ocean water quality, living resource yields, and the global marine carbon cycle. The initial study area for this program is the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Outflow and adjacent Louisiana shelf region.

Techniques for the transport and maintenance of scleractinian coral

Several small scleractinian coral colonies were collected from a remote reef and transferred [to] the Louisiana Universities Marine Center (LUMCON) for in vitro reproductive and larval studies. The species used here were Porites astreoides and Diploria strigosa. Colony size was ~20 cm in diameter. Colonies were brought to the surface by liftbag and stored in modified ice coolers. They were transported from Freeport, TX to Cocodrie, LA by truck for nearly 15 hours where field conditions were simulated in waiting aquaria. This document describes the techniques and equipment that were used, how to outfit such aquaria, proper handling techniques for coral colonies, and several eventualities that the mariculturist should be prepared for in undertaking this endeavor. It will hopefully prevent many mistakes from being made.

Role of the state and financial institutions in financing the fishing industry

The experience of the Government in the recovery of loans for 28 foot mechanized vessels has been unsatisfactory. The author examines the various aspects which have contributed to this situation, and considers arrangements for financing purchase of such vessels. The risks associated with the investment in 38 foot vessels are high, and it seems that the reluctance of private investors to make the required contribution from personal funds is a result of fear of the unknown. Current incentives provided by the Government to the private sector for the purchase of 38 foot vessels are considered to be adequate.

Private sector to invest in off-shore fishing and to encourage the financial incentives to be introduced for deep-sea fishing in Sri Lanka

The author discusses the financial aspects of private sector investment in off-shore fishing, with particular attention to tax incentives, such as those offered to tourist hotels, which are considered applicable to the current case of fishing vessel purchase, and the operation of the vessels themselves, hiring, publicity and profitability. Tax incentives which were introduced to encourage investment in the tourist industry should be introduced to encourage investment in the fishing industry on the lines presented. It is essential that wide publicity be given for the incentives introduced so as to achieve the desired results.

Household consumption pattern and buying behavior for fish in an area Mymensingh, Bangladesh

The study was conducted on 238 households in Bangladesh Agricultural University campus and its adjoining areas in Mymensingh. The household were divided into four groups based on their per capita income. Monthly expenditure on fish, income elasticity of demand and marginal propensity to consume were calculated. 'Weighted average' method was used to study the level of preference for fish by sex and age groups and frequency of its purchase. The per capita monthly expenditure on fish of overall households was found to be Tk. 178.83. The consumption increased considerably between and among the income groups rising from Tk. 63.95 in the lowest income group to Tk. 249.11 in the highest income group. Based on income elasticity the proportion of income spent on fish was found to be greater than the proportion of increase in income for lower middle and upper middle income groups. However, percent expenditure decreased from 8.15 in lowest to 5.49 in the highest income group. Female members between 20 and 40yrs had the highest preference for fish in general followed by male members of above 40 yrs. Children (0 to 8 yrs), on the other band, had the least preference for fish, Sing and Magur (Catfishes) were the most preferred fish species for each age and sex group. Rui, a carp, was the single most purchased fish while the introduced exotic fishes were the least bought. Freshness was found to be the most important factor followed by the appearance and taste perception that positively affected the fish purchase.

Marketing of small indigenous species of fish (SIS) in three selected fish markets of Mymensingh

A socio-economic survey was conducted round the year in three fish markets at Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The selected markets were categorized as rural market (Sutiakhali market), a peri-urban market (Kamal Ranjeet market, BAU) and an urban market (Notun Bazar market, Mymensingh town). It was learnt from the survey that the availability of Small Indigenous Fish Species (SIS) declined to a great extent over the last few years and at presently many of such fish species are either threatened or at the edge of extinction. The supply of SIS was highest in KR market (37% of total) and more or less similar in Notun Bazar and Sutiakhali fish market (25 and 27% respectively). The total supply of SIS fluctuated from 25% to 35% throughout the year in these markets. About 48 SIS were found in the sampled markets over the survey period. The highest number of species (45) was found in KR market followed by Notun Bazar (42) and Sutiakhali (37) fish markets. During the survey, three critically endangered species namely, schilbid catfish, garua catfish and rita were found in these markets. Beside these, other 11 and 10 species were listed to be endangered and vulnerable respectively. The biodiversity of 21 SIS found in three markets were no threat at all. Three species (guntea loach, Indian glass barb and flying barb) were 'data deficient' as reported by the IUCN Red Book (IUCN-Bangladesh 2000). From the supply point of view small prawn, spotted snakehead, stinging catfish, pool barb, striped dwarf catfish, Gangetic mystus, walking catfish and tank goby were the prominent fish. The least available species found in this survey were lesser spiny eel, barred spiny eel, Gangetic ailia, freshwater garfish, zig-zag eel, flying barb, Ganges river sprat, freshwater river shad and dwarf gourami. The weight of SIS available in Notun bazar was highest and nearly double than other two markets. There was no significant difference recorded in the supply of SIS in Sutiakhali and KR markets. The average monthly SIS supply was 185, 192 and 467 kg in KR, Sutiakhali and Notun Bazar, respectively; therefore, the cumulative average supply was 844 kg per month in three markets. The price of SIS ranged widely from taka 50-450/kg depending on species, location of market, time of purchase and the condition of fish. In general small prawn, ticto barb, dwarf gourami, Gangetic leaffish, and Annandale loach were sold at a lower price (ranged taka 50-100/kg) and these species could be considered at the bottom of the market-price list. Other SIS like walking catfish, climbing parch, butter catfish, cotio and schilbid catfish valued as highest price (ranged taka 150-450/kg). There was no specific marketing chain for SIS in Mymensingh region. The components of marketing channels and their expansion varied with seasons and locations. The general pattern, however, was as this - after buying fish from fish farmer/fishermen, middlemen (locally known as Foria) used to buy fish to wholesale market and sell to the wholesalers. The retailers used to buy fish from wholesaler through auction to the highest bidders. The retailers then send the fish to particular market where the fish reached the consumers. The livelihood strategy of SIS retailers in three fish markets showed that socio-economic constraints such as low income, poor educational background, low economic status and lack of capital are the main constrains [sic]. Most of the retailers proposed that government should control the fish price throughout the year, so that the producers can get reasonable and stable price. Construction of cold storage and preservation facilities at market sites, improvement of road and communication, improvement of physical market facilities and reduction of market chain is essential. Credit facilities, improvement of their standard of living, health and sanitary condition, housing condition, children education and access to drinking water facilities were identified as additional aspects to improve socio-economic condition of SIS retailers.

Developpement de la peche artisanale dans les eaux Burundaises du Lac Tanganyika

A light fishery for "Ndagala" (Strolothrissa tanganicae) has been practised for many years on Lake Tanganyika. Initially this had a low catch rate, but has since been developed by the introduction of an artisanal fishery unit based on the catamaran. A unit consists of a pair of metal canoes joined together. The fish are attracted by three lights mounted on the structure, and are caught with a pyramid-shaped lift net. Selected beaches have been reserved for the artisanal fishery and the numher of units operating has increased from 12 in 1957 to 538 in 1972. The mean annual catch per unit is 11,000 kg, which is not sufficient for the fishery to be economic. However, prediction of a possible mean catch as high as 40 tons year encouraged the Burundi Government to launch a project with help from the Freedom from Hunger Campaign. This was designed to develop the fishery by the creation of artisanal fishing centres, and to make available a large number of fully equipped catamarans which could be paid for by a system of hire-purchase. The success of the project has illustrated that the furnishing of adequate equipment can bring about a transformation of the traditional fishery.

Simulating early adoption of alternative fuel vehicles for sustainability

We quantify the conditions that might trigger wide spread adoption of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) to support energy policy. Empirical review shows that early adopters are heterogeneous motivated by financial benefits, environmental appeal, new technology, and vehicle reliability. A probabilistic Monte Carlo simulation model is used to assess consumer heterogeneity for early and mass market adopters. For early adopters full battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are competitive but unable to surpass diesels or hybrids due to purchase price premium and lack of charging availability. For mass adoption, simulations indicate that if the purchase price premium of a BEV closes to within 20% of an in-class internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, combined with a 60% increase in refuelling availability relative to the incumbent system, BEVs become competitive. But this depends on a mass market that values the fuel economy and CO2 reduction benefits associated with BEVs. We also find that the largest influence on early adoption is financial benefit rather than pro-environmental behaviour suggesting that AFVs should be marketed by appealing to economic benefits combined with pro-environmental behaviour to motivate adoption. Monte Carlo simulations combined with scenarios can give insight into diffusion dynamics for other energy demand-side technologies. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.

Steering manufacturing firms towards service business model innovation

Increasingly, manufacturing firms are turning to services as a new way of creating and capturing value. Despite its potential benefits, many new product-service providers struggle to deploy service activities effectively, not least because they fail to refect the presence of service activities in their performance management systems. This article reports the results of an in-depth case study, which examines how manufacturers can steer the transition towards services. It shows that manufacturing firms need to emphasize two separate but related dimensions of the market performance of service activities: "service adoption," refecting the proportion of customers who purchase the manufacturer's services; and "service coverage," signaling the range of service elements or the comprehensiveness of the service contract that customers opt for. These two indicators, refecting service market performance, should be supplemented with a "complementarity index" designed to disclose whether the relationship between products and services is reinforcing or substitutive. When combined, these indicators allow manufacturing firms to deploy a service-based business model in an integrated and sustainable manner. © 2013 by The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Guidewire retention following central venous catheterisation: a human factors and safe design investigation.

BACKGROUND: Central Venous Catheterisation (CVC) has occasionally been associated with cases of retained guidewires in patients after surgery. In theory, this is a completely avoidable complication; however, as with any human procedure, operator error leading to guidewires being occasionally retained cannot be fully eliminated. OBJECTIVE: The work described here investigated the issue in an attempt to better understand it both from an operator and a systems perspective, and to ultimately recommend appropriate safe design solutions that reduce guidewire retention errors. METHODS: Nine distinct methods were used: observations of the procedure, a literature review, interviewing CVC end-users, task analysis construction, CVC procedural audits, two human reliability assessments, usability heuristics and a comprehensive solution survey with CVC end-users. RESULTS: The three solutions that operators rated most highly, in terms of both practicality and effectiveness, were: making trainees better aware of the potential guidewire complications and strongly emphasising guidewire removal in CVC training, actively checking that the guidewire is present in the waste tray for disposal, and standardising purchase of central line sets so that differences that may affect chances of guidewire loss is minimised. CONCLUSIONS: Further work to eliminate/engineer out the possibility of guidewires being retained is proposed.

海洋沉积物中磷化氢的分布、释放与转化研究

磷化氢（PH3）是磷循环的气相载体，以气体自由态和基质结合态（MBP）两种形式存在于环境中。自然环境中磷化氢的发现是对磷生物地球化学循环的重要补充，它在磷循环中的地位和作用及产生机制开始成为人们关注的热点。目前国内外在湖泊、陆地土壤及大气中已开展了较为广泛的研究，但是关于海洋中的研究还较少。开展磷化氢在海洋沉积物中的分布特征，及其释放通量、与其它磷形态的转化、对微藻生长的影响等行为研究对弄清海洋环境中磷化氢的迁移转化机制及其在磷循环中的作用和地位具有重要的科学意义。 本论文以不同环境条件下的海洋沉积物为研究对象，采用野外实验与室内模拟相结合的方法，运用改进的柱前二次低温冷阱富集和气相色谱-氮磷检测器联用技术等分析手段，系统研究了海洋沉积物中磷化氢的分布特征、环境因子对其分布的影响、沉积物磷化氢向水体、大气中的释放、迁移、转化规律；初步了解了海洋沉积物中结合态磷化氢的分布特征及其释放通量；揭示了磷化氢对海洋环境的可能影响。主要研究结果如下： MBP广泛存在于海洋沉积物中。中国沿海表层沉积物中MBP的浓度范围为：0.89-25.86 ng/kg, dry，其分布也表现出一定的空间分布特征，在同一离岸断面上，有近岸浓度高，远岸浓度低的分布规律；在北黄海、南黄海、东海北部海域、东海南部海域和南海海域的平均浓度分别为：5.57±3.78、3.78±2.81、5.27±3.07、5.48±4.05 和 13.52±7.86 ng/kg dry，与其它海域相比，南海海域的MBP浓度要相对较高一些。长江口海域表层沉积物中MBP的浓度范围为：1.93-94.86 ng/kg, dry。其分布也表现出一定的空间和季节分布特征。上游河口沉积物中MBP的浓度要普遍高于下游河口，平均浓度分别为31.34和4.79 ng/kg, dry。靠近石洞口、竹园排污口以及黄浦江口的S3和S4站位处MBP的浓度要显著高于其它站位，季节平均浓度分别为43.01和61.54 ng/kg, dry。MBP浓度的季节差异并不显著，上游河口和下游河口MBP浓度表现出相似的季节变化特征，一般来说8月和11月要稍高于2月和5月。澳大利亚伊拉瓦拉海湾柱状沉积物中的MBP表现出一定的垂直分布特征。两个柱状沉积物样品均在中下层存在MBP的高值区，且该海湾MBP的含量要远高于中国近海及长江口海域MBP的含量，两个柱状沉积物中MBP的平均浓度分别为637.3和542.6 ng/kg, dry。 环境因子与MBP含量关系的研究结果表明：较高的TP、OP、IP、OC、TN含量均有利于高浓度MBP的产生；TP、OP、OC与MBP含量之间存在着较强的线性相关关系，是控制MBP分布的主要因素；氧化还原电位与MBP含量存在着显著的线性负相关，说明还原环境更有利于沉积物中高浓度MBP的存在；平均粒径与MBP含量存在着一定的线性负相关，说明小粒径有利于高浓度MBP的存在；水深、上升流引起的扰动等也是影响MBP分布的可能原因。并且，在本论文对中国沿海沉积物、长江口沉积物和澳大利亚海湾沉积物的研究中，均得到了MBP含量与OP存在着强烈的线性相关关系，而与IP的线性相关关系较弱或不相关的结论，说明海洋沉积物中的MBP更可能来源于微生物对有机磷成分的降解。另外，长江口海域沉积物中MBP含量与上层海水中活性磷酸盐、总磷、叶绿素a的含量也存在着一定的线性相关关系，说明沉积物中磷化氢的释放可能会对上层水环境产生影响。 静态箱法释放通量的研究结果显示，胶州湾海域沉积物存在着磷化氢的释放现象。沉积物-大气界面和水-大气界面磷化氢的释放通量分别为：27.77和17.37 ng/(m2•h)，该结果要高于Louisiana湿地、水稻田和太湖水体磷化氢的排放通量。并据此估算出胶州湾的磷化氢年排放量为75.75kg/y，高于太湖及比利时垃圾填埋场的磷化氢年排放量。不同底质沉积物释放磷化氢的顺序为：虾池沉积物>滩涂沉积物>海滩黑泥沉积物>海滩排污口旁的砂质泥；践踏能显著促进磷化氢的释放。磷化氢的释放通量与沉积物中MBP的含量有显著的线性相关关系；胶州湾养殖池、滩涂沉积物及海域水体是大气中磷化氢的重要来源，沉积物中的磷化氢可连续向上层水体或大气中释放。晴天，胶州湾近海海域空气中磷化氢的浓度范围为1.06-16.90 ng/m3，且表现出早上和傍晚高，中午时分相对较低的变化规律；空气中磷化氢的浓度与光照强度及释放源释放量的大小有关。 利用室内模拟方法，研究了磷化氢在海水中的转化过程及其对海洋微藻生长的影响，并得出了一些初步结论。日光灯照射条件下，通入海水中的磷化氢可部分转化为磷酸盐和总磷，并且转化后主要以磷酸盐的形式存在。环境条件会对该转化过程产生影响，避光条件下，磷化氢的转化率较低，日光灯照射和紫外灯照射均能促进该转化过程，特别是紫外灯照射，促进效果显著；添加氧气或三价铁离子氧化剂也能促进该转化过程。微藻生长实验结果表明，适量磷化氢气体的通入，能显著刺激并促进磷限制条件下东海原甲藻和赤潮异弯藻的生长，但这种刺激作用并不是无限制的，后期刺激生长作用会变弱或停止生长；低量磷化氢气体的通入，刺激作用不明显；高量磷化氢气体的通入，则会抑制两种海洋微藻的生长。东海原甲藻和赤潮异弯藻对通入磷化氢的响应略有差异，后者对磷化氢的反应更为灵敏； 次磷酸盐和亚磷酸盐也都能刺激两种海洋微藻的生长，但与磷化氢相比，其影响作用相对较小。 本论文的初步研究结果表明，在磷的海洋生物地球化学循环中，需要考虑磷化氢的作用，其长期、连续的释放对磷循环的贡献不可忽视，并可能是磷限制海域赤潮形成的补充机制。