Distribution, movements, and habitat use of small striped bass (Morone saxatilis) across multiple spatial scales

Distribution, movements, and habitat use of small (<46 cm, juveniles and individuals of unknown maturity) striped bass (Morone saxatilis) were investigated with multiple techniques and at multiple spatial scales (surveys and tag-recapture in the estuary and ocean, and telemetry in the estuary) over multiple years to determine the frequency and duration of use of non-natal estuaries. These unique comparisons suggest, at least in New Jersey, that smaller individuals (<20 cm) may disperse from natal estuaries and arrive in non-natal estuaries early in life and take up residence for several years. During this period of estuarine residence, individuals spend all seasons primarily in the low salinity portions of the estuary. At larger sizes, they then leave these non-natal estuaries to begin coastal migrations with those individuals from nurseries in natal estuaries. These composite observations of frequency and duration of habitat use indicate that non-natal estuaries may provide important habitat for a portion of the striped bass population.

Comparative feeding ecology of two elasmobranch species, Squalus blainville and Scyliorhinus canicula, off the coast of Portugal

The small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) (Linnaeus, 1758) and the longnose spurdog (Squalus blainville) (Risso, 1826) are two species occurring in the European and western African continental shelves with a wide geographical distribution. In this study, the diet of S. blainville and S. canicula off the Portuguese western Atlantic coast was investigated in 2006 by collecting monthly samples of these two species from local fishing vessels. In the stomachs of both species, crustaceans and teleosts were the dominant prey items, and molluscs, polychaetes, echinoderms, and sipunculids were found in lower abundance. In S. canicula, urochordate and chondrichthyan species were also observed in stomachs and were classified as accidental prey items. Scyliorhinus canicula consumed a broader group of prey items than did S. blainville. A significant diet overlap was observed, despite both species occupying different depth ranges over the continental shelf. Scyliorhinus canicula exhibited a consistency in diet composition among seasons, sexes, and maturity stages. Nonetheless, for both adults and juveniles, an increase in relative abundance of teleosts in the diet was observed in the spring and summer. This study provides evidence of the importance of S. canicula and S. blainville as benthic and pelagic predators along the western Atlantic coast.

Life-stage recruitment models for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) on Georges Bank

Ichthyoplankton surveys have been used to provide an independent estimate of adult spawning biomass of commercially exploited species and to further our understanding of the recruitment processes in the early life stages. However, predicting recruitment has been difficult because of the complex interaction of physical and biological processes operating at different spatial and temporal scales that can occur at the different life stages. A model of first-year life-stage recruitment was applied to Georges Bank Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) stocks over the years 1977–2004 by using environmental and densitydependent relationships. The best lifestage mortality relationships for eggs, larvae, pelagic juveniles, and demersal juveniles were first determined by hindcasting recruitment estimates based on egg and larval abundance and mortality rates derived from two intensive sampling periods, 1977–87 and 1995–99. A wind-driven egg mortality relationship was used to estimate losses due to transport off the bank, and a wind-stress larval mortality relationship was derived from feeding and survival studies. A simple metric for the density-dependent effects of Atlantic cod was used for both Atlantic cod and haddock. These life stage proxies were then applied to the virtual population analysis (VPA) derived annual egg abundances to predict age-1 recruitment. Best models were determined from the correlation of predicted and VPA-derived age-1 abundance. The larval stage was the most quantifiable of any stage from surveys, whereas abundance estimates of the demersal juvenile stage were not available because of undersampling. Attempts to forecast recruitment from spawning stock biomass or egg abundance, however, will always be poor because of variable egg survival.

Regional variation in the annual feeding cycle of juvenile walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) in the western Gulf of Alaska

Juvenile fish in temperate coastal oceans exhibit an annual cycle of feeding, and within this cycle, poor wintertime feeding can reduce body growth, condition, and perhaps survival, especially in food-poor areas. We examined the stomach contents of juvenile walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) to explain previously observed seasonal and regional variation in juvenile body condition. Juvenile walleye pollock (1732 fish, 37–250 mm standard length) of the 2000 year class were collected from three regions in the Gulf of Alaska (Kodiak, Semidi, and Shumagin) representing an area of the continental shelf of ca. 100,000 km2 during four seasons (August 2000 to September 2001). Mean stomach content weight (SCW, 0.72% somatic body weight) decreased with fish body length except from winter to summer 2001. Euphausiids composed 61% of SCW and were the main determinant of seasonal change in the diets of fish in the Kodiak and Semidi regions. Before and during winter, SCW and the euphausiid dietary component were highest in the Kodiak region. Bioenergetics modeling indicated a relatively high growth rate for Kodiak juveniles during winter (0.33 mm standard length/d). After winter, Shumagin juveniles had relatively high SCW and, unlike the Kodiak and Semidi juveniles, exhibited no reduction in the euphausiid dietary component. These patterns explain previous seasonal and regional differences in body condition. We hypothesize that high-quality feeding locations (and perhaps nursery areas) shift seasonally in response to the availability of euphausiid

Ontogenetic patterns and temperature-dependent growth rates in early life stages of Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus)

Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) is an important component of fisheries and food webs in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. However, vital rates of early life stages of this species have yet to be described in detail. We determined the thermal sensitivity of growth rates of embryos, preflexion and postflexion larvae, and postsettlement juveniles. Growth rates (length and mass) at each ontogenetic stage were measured in three replicate tanks at four to five temperatures. Nonlinear regression was used to obtain parameters for independent stage-specific growth functions and a unified size- and temperature-dependent growth function. Specific growth rates increased with temperature at all stages and generally decreased with increases in body size. However, these analyses revealed a departure from a strict size-based allometry in growth patterns, as reduced growth rates were observed among preflexion larvae: the reduction in specific growth rate between embryos and free-swimming larvae was greater than expected based on body size differences. Growth reductions in the preflexion larvae appear to be associated with increased metabolic rates and the transition from endogenous to exogenous feeding. In future studies, experiments should be integrated across life transitions to more clearly define intrinsic ontogenetic and size-dependent growth patterns because these are critical for evaluations of spatial and temporal variation in habitat quality.

Distribution and life history of two diminutive flatfishes, Citharichthys gymnorhinus and C. cornutus (Pleuronectiformes: Paralichthyidae), in the western North Atlantic

Citharichthys cornutus and C. gymnorhinus, diminutive flatfishes inhabiting continental shelves in the western Atlantic Ocean, are infrequently reported and poorly known. We identified 594 C. cornutus in 56 different field collections (68–287 m; most between 101–200 m) off the eastern United States, Bahamas, and eastern Caribbean Sea. Historical records and recently captured specimens document the northern geographic range of adults on the shelf off New Jersey (40°N, 70°W). Citharichthys cornutus measured 17.2–81.3 mm standard length (SL); males (20.0–79.1 mm SL) and females (28.0–81.3 mm SL) attain similar sizes (sex could not be determined for fish <20 mm SL). Males reach nearly 100% maturity at ≥60 mm SL. The smallest mature females are 41.5 mm SL, and by 55.1 mm SL virtually all are mature. Juveniles are found with adults on the outer shelf. Only 214 C. gymnorhinus were located in 42 different field collections (35–201 m, with 90% between 61 and 120 m) off the east coast of the United States, Bahamas, and eastern Caribbean Sea. Adults are found as far north as the shelf off Cape Hatteras, NC (35°N, 75°W). This diminutive species (to 52.4 mm SL) is among the smallest flatfishes but males (n=131; 20.3–52.4 mm SL) attain a slightly larger maximum size than that of females (n=58; 26.2–48.0 mm SL). Males begin to mature between 29 and 35 mm SL and reach 100% maturity by 35–40 mm SL. Some females are mature at 29 mm SL, and all females >35.1 mm SL are mature. Overlooked specimens in museum collections and literature enabled us to correct long-standing inaccuracies in northern distributional limits that appear in contemporary literature and electronic data bases for these species. Associated locality-data for these specimens allow for proper evaluation of distributional information for these species in relation to hypotheses regarding shifts in species ranges due to climate change effects.

Variation in the isotopic signatures of juvenile gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) from five southern Florida region

Measurements of 18O/16O and 13C/12C ratios in the carbonate of juvenile gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) sagittal otoliths collected during 2001–2005 from different southern Florida regions indicated significant variations in the ratios between Florida Bay and surrounding areas. Annual differences in isotopic composition were also observed. Classification accuracy of individual otoliths to a region averaged 80% (63% to 96%), thereby enabling the probability of assigning an unknown individual to the appropriate juvenile nursery habitat. Identification of isotopic signatures in the otoliths of gray snapper from Florida Bay and adjacent ecosystems may be important for distinguishing specific portions of the bay that are crucial nursery grounds for juveniles. Separation of gray snapper between geographic regions and nursery sites is possible and has the potential to establish a link between adult gray snapper present on offshore reefs and larvae and juveniles at nursery habitats in Florida Bay or adjacent areas.

Diet composition and prey selection of the introduced grouper species peacock hind (Cephalopholis argus) in Hawaii

The introduced grouper species peacock hind (Cephalopholis argus), was the dominant large-body piscivore on the Main Hawaiian Island (MHI) reefs assessed by underwater visual surveys in this study. However, published data on C. argus feeding ecology are scarce, and the role of this species in Hawaiian reef ecosystems is presently not well understood. Here we provide the first comprehensive assessment of the diet composition, prey electivity (dietary importance of prey taxa compared to their availability on reefs), and size selectivity (prey sizes in the diet compared to sizes on reefs) of this important predator in the MHI. Diet consisted 97.7% of fishes and was characterized by a wide taxonomic breadth. Surprisingly, feeding was not opportunistic, as indicated by a strongly divergent electivity for different prey fishes. In addition, whereas some families of large-body species were represented in the diet exclusively by recruit-size individuals (e.g., Aulostomidae), several families of smaller-body species were also represented by juveniles or adults (e.g., Chaetodontidae). Both the strength and mechanisms of the effects of C. argus predation are therefore likely to differ among prey families. This study provides the basis for a quantitative estimate of prey consumption by C. argus, which would further increase understanding of impacts of this species on native fishes in Hawaii.

Dietary variations in three co-occurring rockfish species off the Pacific Northwest during anomalous oceanographic events in 1998 and 1999

Stomach samples from three rockfish species, yellowtail (Sebastes f lavidus), widow (S. entomelas), and canary (S. pinniger) rockfish, seasonally collected off the Pacific Northwest in 1998 and 1999, provided quantitative information on the food habits of these species during and after the 1997–98 El Niño event. Although euphausiids were the most common major prey of all three predators, gelatinous zooplankton and fishes were the most commonly consumed prey items during some seasonal quarters. The influence of the El Niño event was evident in the diets. Anomalous prey items, including the southern euphausiid species Nyctiphanes simplex and juveniles of Pacific whiting (Merluccius productus) frequently appeared in the diets in the spring and summer of 1998. The results of stomach contents analyses, based on 905 stomach samples from 49 trawl hauls during seven commercial fishing trips and from 56 stations during research surveys, were consistent with the timing of occurrence and the magnitude of change in biomass of some zooplankton species reported from zooplankton studies in the northern California Current during the 1997–98 El Niño. Our findings indicate that the observed variations of prey groups in some rockfish diets may be a function of prey variability related to climate and environment changes.

Development and growth of hatchery-reared larval Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus)

Although the Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) is a prime candidate for aquaculture, the problematic production of juveniles remains a major impediment to commercial culture of this species. In order to improve the understanding of larval development and to refine hatchery production techniques, this study was conducted to characterize development and growth of Florida pompano from hatching through metamorphosis by using digital photography and image analysis. Newly hatched larvae were transparent and had a large, elongate yolk sac and single oil globule. The lower and upper jaws as well as the digestive tract were not fully developed at hatching. Rotifers were observed in the stomach of larvae at three days after hatching (DAH), and Artemia spp. were observed in the stomach of larvae at 14 DAH. Growth rates calculated from total length measurements were 0.22 ±0.04, 0.23 ±0.12, and 0.35 ±0.09 mm/d for each of the larval rearing trials. The mouth gape of larvae was 0.266 ±0.075 mm at first feeding and increased with a growth rate of 0.13 ± 0.04 mm/d. Predicted values for optimal prey sizes ranged from 80 to 130 μm at 3 DAH, 160 to 267 μm at 5 DAH, and 454 to 757 μm at 10 DAH. Based on the findings of this study, a refined feeding regime was developed to provide stage- and size-specific guidelines for feeding Florida pompano larvae reared under hatchery con

Assessment of habitat quality for juvenile California halibut (Paralichthys californicus) in a seasonally arid estuary

We evaluated habitat quality for juvenile California halibut (Paralichthys californicus) in a Pacific Coast estuary lacking in strong salinity gradients by examining density, recent otolith growth rates, and gut fullness levels of wild-caught and caged juveniles for one year. Juveniles <200 mm standard length were caught consistently in the inner, central, and outer sections of the estuary. The density of juveniles was two times higher in the inner estuary during most of the year, consistent with active habitat selection by part of the population. A generalized linear model indicated temperature, sampling time, and the interaction between salinity and temperature were significantly related to density. However, the model explained only 21% of the variance. Gut fullness levels of wild-caught juveniles were highest during the summer, but recent otolith growth rates were not related to temperature. The proportion of individuals feeding successfully indicated that seasonal differences in food availability are more important than spatial variation in prey abundance in driving feeding success. Feeding success of caged fishes was limited, precluding the use of growth rates as indicators of local habitat quality. However, marginal increment widths were reliable indicators of somatic growth at low growth rates over two-week periods. The relatively high growth rates and abundance of small wild-caught juveniles found throughout the estuary indicates that the entire estuary system has the potential for serving as nursery habitat.

Biological response to changes in climate patterns: population increases of gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) in Texas bays and estuaries

The increase in the abundance of gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) in Texas bays and estuaries over the past 30 years is correlated to increased wintertime surface water temperatures. Trends in the relative abundance of gray snapper are evaluated by using monthly fishery-independent monitoring data from each of the seven major estuaries along the Texas coast from 1978 through 2006. Environmental conditions during this period demonstrated increasing annual sea surface temperatures, although this increase was not seasonally uniform. The largest proportion of temperature increases was attributed to higher winter temperature minimums since 1993. Positive phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation, resulting in wetter, warmer winters in the eastern United States have occurred nearly uninterrupted since the late 1970s, and unprecedented positive index values occurred between 1989 and 1995. Increases in water temperature in Texas estuaries, beginning in the early 1990s, are postulated to provide both favorable over-wintering conditions for the newly settled juveniles and increased recruitment success. In the absence of cold winters, this species has established semipermanent estuarine populations across the entire Texas coast. A shift to negative phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation will likely result in returns to colder winter temperature minimums that could reverse any recent population gains.

Fishes associated with pelagic Sargassum and open water lacking Sargassum in the Gulf Stream off North Carolina

The community structure of fishes associated with pelagic Sargassum spp. and open water lacking Sargassum was examined during summer and fall cruises, 1999–2003, in the Gulf Stream off North Carolina. Significantly more individual fishes (n= 18,799), representing at least 80 species, were collected from samples containing Sargassum habitat, compared to 60 species (n=2706 individuals) collected from openwater habitat. The majority (96%) of fishes collected in both habitats were juveniles, and planehead filefish (Stephanolepis hispidus) dominated both habitats. Regardless of sampling time (day or night), Sargassum habitat yielded significantly higher numbers of individuals and species compared with open-water collections. Overall, fishes collected by neuston net tows from Sargassum habitat were significantly larger in length than fishes collected from open-water habitat with neuston nets. A significant positive, linear relationship existed between numbers of fishes and the quantity of Sargassum collected by neuston net. Underwater video recordings indicated a layered structure of fishes among and below the algae and that smaller fishes were more closely associated with the algae than larger fishes. Observations of schooling behaviors of filefishes (Monacanthidae), dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), and jacks (Carangidae), and fish-jellyfish associations were also recorded with an underwater video camera. Our data indicate that Sargassum provides a substantial nursery habitat for many juvenile fishes off the U.S. southeast coast.

El acceso universitario de las jóvenes de origen magrebí en el País Vasco

En la sociedad vasca, como consecuencia de la globalización y de la intensificación de los movimientos poblacionales, ha ido en aumento el número de personas inmigrantes asentadas en este territorio. Uno de los colectivos cuya presencia más se ha incrementado en los últimos años es el de personas provenientes del Magreb. El hecho de que se trate cada vez en mayor medida de una inmigración permanente hace que sea necesario plantearse el tema de su integración a esta sociedad, sobre todo si tenemos en cuenta que tratándose de un colectivo cuyas raíces culturales y religiosas son muy distintas a las de la sociedad receptora, muchas veces son rechazados por parte de la población autóctona, a lo que se suma que en la mayoría de los casos forman parte de los estratos más bajos de la sociedad, lo cual incide en que puedan verse sumidos en la exclusión social. En este estudio, se parte de la idea de que en la actual sociedad de la información en la que nos encontramos inmersos la educación universitaria se torna cada vez más importante para la integración social de los individuos. En este sentido, y centrado en las hijas de los inmigrantes magrebíes, por sus características particulares de género y porque se estima que van a pasar su futuro en esta sociedad, a través de este trabajo se han analizado cuáles son los factores que dificultan y/o aventajan el acceso de las jóvenes de origen magrebí a educación superior universitaria en la sociedad vasca, tanto en su entorno socio-familiar como en la sociedad en general y en la institución educativa en particular, determinando si el género es una variable importante a la hora de definir dichas ventajas y/o dificultades; para ver con todo ello si realmente las jóvenes de origen magrebí se encuentran en situación de desigualdad en la sociedad vasca en torno al acceso a estudios universitarios.Con todo ello, y siendo este fenómeno relativamente reciente en el País Vasco, se pretende realizar un primer acercamiento a esta realidad que nos ayude a comprender mejor la futura integración de estas jóvenes a la sociedad vasca, la cual inserta en este mundo globalizado, cada vez es más compleja y se requieren mayores niveles de formación. De este modo, se pretende arrojar luz sobre esta realidad para encaminar futuras investigaciones sobre esta temática.

¿Un nuevo actor político emergente? El caso de las plataformas vecinales independientes que gobiernan Euskadi (1991-2015)

El estudio surge tras identificar la creciente irrupción de “plataformas vecinales independientes” en Euskadi a partir de los años 90; un actor político que cada día obtiene mayor nivel de representatividad y logra más alcaldías en el ya de por sí complicado mapa político vasco. Sin embargo, dada la abundancia de “plataformas vecinales independientes” y las limitaciones de presupuesto y tiempo, esta investigación focalizará su atención en aquellas que hayan alcanzado la makila, siendo la unidad de análisis las “plataformas vecinales independientes” gobernantes entre 1991 y 2015 en Euskadi. Las apreciaciones terminológicas son importantes, puesto que no todas las candidaturas que concurren con siglas ajenas a los grandes partidos deben ser consideradas “plataformas vecinales independientes”. Así las cosas, el primer objetivo de este trabajo es sugerir un modelo terminológico que permita clasificar la complejidad de las diversas agrupaciones electorales vascas; esto es, proponer un criterio de definición y clasificación que permita dividir en subcategorías la heterogeneidad de agrupaciones electorales tomando como referencia el esquema realizado por Gemma Ubasart en el caso catalán, aunque sometiendo el mismo a revisión y adaptación a la CAV para su posterior análisis. Este trabajo tiene además un segundo objetivo: identificar qué tipo de actor colectivo conforman las “plataformas vecinales independientes” vascas, teniendo en cuenta la dificultad de acoplar la unidad de análisis del trabajo en el esquema clásico de Ciencia Política que divide los actores en tres tipos: partidos políticos, grupos de interés y movimientos sociales. Para ello -tras la revisión de la bibliografía existente, los estudios específicos realizados por Ubasart y los resultados obtenidos a partir del trabajo de campo- esta investigación aspira a realizar una aportación teórica interesante: invertir el argumento de los/as teóricos/as de la institucionalización y proponer un proceso de cuasi-movimentización en que las “plataformas vecinales independientes” transitarían de una configuración inicial partidista hacia un modelo más cercano a las características propias de los movimientos sociales. Sin embargo, a pesar de la innovación de esta propuesta, el estudio es exploratorio –aunque con vocación de devenir en descriptivo en un futuro- por lo que ninguna de las conclusiones y hallazgos se presentan como definitivos, sino como el punto de partida hacia debates interesantes –sí- pero abiertos a la revisión y la refutación; es por ello que la presente investigación no aspira a descubrir nuevos horizontes, sino a dibujar posibilidades que susciten nuevas preguntas. Todo ello viene motivado por la cobertura de una laguna de conocimiento muy profunda que se observa tras el análisis de la bibliografía existente, ya que no hay investigaciones que describan, expliquen o analicen la irrupción y crecimiento de las “plataformas independientes vecinales” a nivel local en Euskadi (1991-2015). Si bien es cierto que Gemma Ubasart ha dedicado sendos estudios al municipalismo alternativo y popular en Cataluña, su unidad de análisis no presenta las mismas características que la del presente estudio; ni tampoco el fenómeno que se analiza es mimético –más bien inverso- a lo que hay que añadir la propia delimitación espacial, ya que el caso catalán no es extrapolable al vasco a pesar de que su marco analítico pueda ser tomado como referencia y revisado. Hay que subrayar que el componente original y novedoso intrínseco al tema de esta investigación viene acompañado por el factor de rabiosa actualidad, ya que los recientes resultados de las Elecciones Municipales y Forales vascas de 2015 se han presentado como una excepcional ocasión para reflexionar desde la Academia en torno a este actor político; de hecho, los resultados de los comicios han otorgado aún más sentido al planteamiento de la hipótesis de trabajo y reforzado la idea de emergencia y crecimiento de las “plataformas vecinales independientes”. Se trata además de un actor político que, por otro lado, se inscribe en el marco de un contexto interesante para los/as estudiosos/as de Ciencia Política, ya que la actual coyuntura sociopolítica no hace sino ser testigo de la emergencia de nuevos actores políticos que cada día son más difíciles de identificar, encajar y adecuar a antiguos esquemas rígidos que dividen nítidamente a partidos políticos, grupos de interés y movimientos sociales. En este sentido, la institucionalización del movimiento social 15-M para devenir en un partido como Podemos ha agitado estos cimientos, pero también otros fenómenos menos conocidos y convencionales como el que se analiza en el presente trabajo, donde en vez de institucionalización creemos se ha dado un proceso inverso de cuasi-movimentización. Por último, esta investigación se presenta como un reto tanto personal como profesional, ya que supone el punto de partida de lo que se espera sea un intenso y fructífero viaje académico acompañado de un actor colectivo que necesita de definición y análisis. Este proyecto -sin embargo- no hubiera sido posible sin contar especialmente con la ayuda del director de la investigación, Igor Ahedo, por su implicación y aportaciones, por poner luz en momentos de estancamiento y por creer en el proyecto cuando las dudas se cernían sobre él.