Investigation of nematode Eustrongylides larvae infections in mudfish Clarias gariepinus and C. anguillaris from Bida floodplain of Nigeria

This is the first report and record of the determination whether mudfish Clarias were infected with the larvae of the nematode Eustrongylides. Also, documented the assessment of the socio-economic perceptions of three groups of fisher folks on the economy of infected mudfish Clarias fishing activities. Fifty-six (67.5%) of 83 mudfish Clarias caught by artisanal fisher folks were examined for the presence of the larvae of the nematode Eustrongylides. All the 8 sampled fishing localities in Bida floodplain of Nigeria had a mean intensity and abundance of at least 3 and 1 worm per fish per site, respectively. Two hundred and one (96.2%) of 209 worms recovered were from the musculatures at different depths resulting in undulations on the skin surfaces as grub-like presentations. The three groups of fisher folks assessed encountered economic losses from nematode infected mudfish Clarias which attract much debates or rejections during marketing due to its aesthetically displeasing appearance, faster deterioration, higher fragility in smoked form coupled with poorer taste compared to the wholesome ones. Infected female mudfish Clarias had higher worm burden than the males, for each fishing locality

The effects of brood stock size on the economy of catfish (Clarias anguillaris) fry production using the hormone induced natural breeding technique

89 ripe female brooders of the catfish, Clarias anguillaris (Body wt. Range 150g-1, 200g) were induced to spawn by hormone (Ovaprim) induced natural spawning technique over a period of 10 weeks. Matching ripe males were used for pairing the females at the ratio of two males to a female. Six ranges of brood stock body weights were considered as follows; <200g; 200g-399g; 400g-599g; 600-799g; 800g-999g; > 1000g and the number of fry produced by each female brooder was scored/recorded against the corresponding body weight range. The number of fry per unit quantity of hormone and the cost of production a fry based on the current price of Ovaprim (hormon) were determined so as to ascertain most economic size range. The best and most economic size range was between 400g-599g body weight with about 20,000 fry per ml of hormone and N0.028 per fry, while the females above 1000g gave the poorest results of 9,519 fry per ml of hormone and N0.059 per fry. For optimum production of Clarias anguillaris fry and maximum return on investment female brooders of body weights ranging between 400g-599g are recommended for hormone induced natural breeding exercises

The survival and growth of hybrid Clarias gariepinus and Heterotis longifilis fed with live and frozen Dapthnids

Six glass tanks, each containing dechlorinated tap water and stocked with 3-day-old Heterobranchus, larvae hybrid between, Heterobranchus longifilis (male and Clarias gariepinus (female) were administered two types of feeding trials viz: live and frozen Dapthnids. Each treatment was replicated three times. The larvae were each fed approximately 50 Dapthnids per feeding time for fifteen days. Morphometric measurements of weigh and total length were taken before and after the experiment, and water quality parameters were monitored throughout the experimental period. At the end of the experiment, fish larvae fed frozen, Dapthnids, showed higher survival rate than Heterobranchus fed live Dapthnids. Even though the statistical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in survival. However, the Heteroclarias fed live dapthnids performed better in terms of growth rate than Heteroclarias fed frozen dapthnids. The statistical analysis did not show significant difference (P>0.05) between the final length and weight of two treatments. Heteroclarias fed live dapthnids had higher length and weight than Heteroclarias fed frozen dapthnids. It was therefore concluded that based on this experiment there is the likelihood that frozen zooplankton (Daphnids) do not encourage growth of Heteroclarias, but improves its survival. However, it's suggested that frozen zooplankton can be used to supplement live zooplankton in situation of sacrcity

Assessment of access to health services and vulnerabilities of female fish traders in the Kafue Flats, Zambia: analysis report

Under the regional programme Fisheries and HIV/AIDS in Africa: Investing in Sustainable Solutions, the WorldFish Center conducted this study on access to health services and vulnerabilities of female fish traders in the Kafue Flats floodplains in Zambia. This report outlines and analyses the particular vulnerabilities of female fish traders in the Kafue Flats fishery and formulates recommendations to facilitate stakeholder uptake of strategic responses to tackle the drivers of the epidemic in fishing communities and improve the livelihoods of fisher folk and fish traders in the Kafue Flats and other fisheries in Zambia. (pdf contains 55 pages)

Soundings: the Newsletter of the Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Cetacean Society. 2009

(PDF contains 88 pages.)

Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Affects Environmental: presented at American Society of Civil Engineers National Water Resources Engineering Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona, 14 January 1971

The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal is a man-made waterway connecting the upper Chesapeake Bay with the Delaware Bay. It started in 1829 as a private barge canal with locks, two at the Delaware end, and one at the Chesapeake end. For the most part, natural tidal and non-tidal waterways were connected by short dredged sections to form the original canal. In 1927, the C and D Canal was converted to a sea-level canal, with a controlling depth of 14 feet, and a width of 150 feet. In 1938 the canal was deepened to 27 feet, with a channel width of 250 feet. Channel side slopes were dredged at 2.5:1, thus making the total width of the waterway at least 385 feet in those segments representing new cuts or having shore spoil area dykes rising above sea level. In 1954 Congress authorized a further enlargement of the Canal to a depth of 35 feet and a channel width of 450 feet. (pdf contains 27 pages)

Reproduction in Gammarus (Crustacea, Amphipoda): female strategies

This paper attempts to review the literature on Gammarus and examine how it allocates its internal resources when producing eggs. There is an extensive literature on the fecundity of freshwater species but almost nothing is known about the sizes and energy contents of the eggs. More is known for saltwater species, in which the mean number of eggs per brood is inversely proportional to mean egg size and directly proportional to the female's body size. Theoretical aspects of egg size, numbers and reproductive effort are examined, along with the relation between sizes of eggs, broods and female body size. The reproductive effort and breeding cycles of both saltwater and freshwater species are reviewed, and reproductive strategies assessed.

Aquatic ecology, economy and society: the place of aquatic ecology in the sustainability agenda

This article explores aspects of sustainability and the importance of sustainable development, including the place of the crucially important resource of fresh water and of freshwater ecosystems. It examines the treatment of natural resources by the economic system that underpins global business, outlines some progress towards more sustainable approaches to business, and recommends steps to re-establish science as the driver of wise policies that contribute to sustainable development.

Soundings: the Newsletter of the Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Cetacean Society. 2010

(PDF contains 92 pages.)

Sexualidade, corpo e saúde masculinos: transformações e permanências nos discursos de homens e da revista Mens Health.

O estudo analisa os discursos de homens e da revista Mens Health acerca do corpo, saúde e sexualidade. Para a construção dos discursos dos homens, realizamos entrevistas semi-estruturadas com 19 homens leitores e nove não leitores. E dois eventos de grupos focais que reuniram 11 homens no total. Foi entrevistado também o editor da revista. Os principais conceitos norteadores deste trabalho foram os de gênero, sexualidade, poder e masculinidades hegemônicas e subalternas. Evidenciou-se que a revista está fortemente atrelada à sociedade de consumo ao estimular a inserção dos homens em um mercado de produtos e serviços até então estranhos a esse gênero. E que suas concepções sobre saúde estão relacionadas a de bem-estar e de individualização que se articulam com os discursos hegemônicos que vêm dando sentido às concepções de saúde e doença atualmente. A publicação investe fortemente na ideia de um corpo musculoso que proporcionará ganhos sociais, sexuais e profissionais aos sujeitos, nem sempre atrelado às questões de saúde. Ela ratifica a heterossexualidade do leitor projetado, expondo o corpo feminino e o sexo heterossexual e silenciando sobre outras formas de sexualidade. Por isso consideramos que a revista se vincula a uma concepção tradicional da masculinidade. Seus discursos, no entanto, não são monolíticos ou isentos de contradição, e também manifestam nuances relativas a um modelo mais contemporâneo de masculinidade, como quando apresenta a ideia de uma nova pedagogia da sexualidade e a valorização dos cuidados estéticos e de saúde com o corpo, aspectos considerados pouco próximos da masculinidade tradicional. Com relação aos discursos dos homens, evidenciou-se que a classe social e a geração são as variáveis mais importantes nas suas concepções sobre corpo, saúde e sexualidade masculina. Que, entre os não leitores, de modo geral, há evidências mais fortes de flexibilização com relação aos padrões mais tradicionais entre os homens mais jovens e/ou de classes mais altas. Enquanto os homens com idade acima dos 30 anos e das classes populares estão mais atrelados às concepções tradicionais. Entre os leitores, observou-se uma grande reflexividade com relação aos discursos da revista demonstrando que eles vêm se apropriando de forma importante dos discursos da revista e ressignificando suas concepções e práticas sobre os três temas da pesquisa a partir desses discursos. E, assim como os discursos da revista, os discursos dos homens, leitores ou não, também apresentaram aspectos contraditórios, ora demonstrando mais afiliação a um novo modelo de masculinidade, ora ao modelo mais tradicional.

'Fa Tsai', a Chinese edible Nostoc in market. [Translation from: Bulletin of the Japanese Society of Phycology 8 124-126, 1960. ]

The Nostoc 'Fa Tsai' is sometimes seen in Chinese cooking materials stores. It is investigated what 'Fa Tsai' consists of and where it originates.