Fishes of the Darkness : Water colour-regulated competitive interactions in humic lakes

Humic lakes are abundant in the temperate and cold regions of the Boreal Zone. High levels of water colour and strong thermal stratification of humic lakes limit the potential fish habitats and give a special role to the intraspecific and interspecific interactions. Water colour has different effects on species depending on species-specific life-history traits and trophic interactions. Fish species whose success in predation is based on visual cues are more susceptible to suffer in competition. The main aim of the thesis was to demonstrate the effects of water colour on European perch (Perca fluviatilis) in humic lakes. The contribution of water colour to diet, feeding, growth and competitive interactions of fish was studied both in laboratory and in small humic lakes with varying levels of water colour. The main findings of the thesis were that water colour has different effects on species, depending on species-specific life-history traits and trophic interactions. Water colour affected visually-oriented perch feeding and growth negatively, and the prolonged benthic feeding phase of perch resulting from the increased water colour could increase intraspecific competition in perch populations and may result in a partial bottleneck in growth for perch. Moreover, water colour may act as a proximate factor behind the population dependency of sexual growth dimorphism in perch.

Crystal and Molecular Structure of Sclerophytin F Methyl Ether from the Soft Coral Cladiella krempfi

new cembranoid diterpene was isolated from the soft coral Ckdiella h p f ifrom Minicoy Island (India), and its structure was established by X-ray crystallography to be sclerophytin F methyl ether (21 with the R absolute configuration at all six epimeric centers,assuming a configuration similar to that of sclerophytin C. Compound 2 may be an artifact of the isolation process.

Coral diseases are major contributors to coral mortality in Shingle Island, Gulf of Mannar, southeastern India

The present study reports coral mortality, driven primarily by coral diseases, around Shingle Island, Gulf of Mannar (GOM), Indian Ocean. In total, 2910 colonies were permanently monitored to assess the incidence of coral diseases and consequent mortality for 2 yr. Four types of lesions consistent with white band disease (WBD), black disease (BD), white plaque disease (WPD), and pink spot disease (PSD) were recorded from 4 coral genera: Montipora, Pocillopora, Acropora, and Porites. Porites were affected by 2 disease types, while the other 3 genera were affected by only 1 disease type. Overall disease prevalence increased from 8% (n = 233 colonies) to 41.9% (n = 1219) over the 2 yr study period. BD caused an unprecedented 100% mortality in Pocillopora, followed by 20.4 and 13.1% mortality from WBD in Montipora and Acropora, respectively. Mean disease progression rates of 0.8 +/- 1.0 and 0.6 +/- 0.5 cm mo(-1) over live coral colonies were observed for BD and WBD. Significant correlations between temperature and disease progression were observed for BD (r = 0.86, R-2 = 0.75, p < 0.001) and WBD (R-2 = 0.76, p < 0.001). This study revealed the increasing trend of disease prevalence and progression of disease over live coral in a relatively limited study area; further study should investigate the status of the entire coral reef in the GOM and the role of diseases in reef dynamics.

Exploring the Colour of 3d Transition-Metal Ions in Trigonal Bipyramidal Coordination: Identification of Purple-Blue (CoO5) and Beige-Red (NiO5) Chromophores in LiMgBO3 Host

In an attempt to develop new coloured inorganic oxides, we have investigated the substitution of 3d transition-metal ions in LiMgBO3 host where Mg-II has a trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) oxygen coordination]. We find that single-phase materials are formed for (LiMg1-xCoxBO3)-B-II (0 < x 1.0), (LiMg1-xNixBO3)-B-II (0 < x 0.1), (LiMg1-xCuxBO3)-B-II (0 < x 0.1) and also (Li1-xMg1-xFexBO3)-B-III (0 < x 0.1) of which the Co-II and Ni-II derivatives are strongly coloured, purple-blue and beige-red, respectively, thus identifying TBP CoO5 and NiO5 as new chromophores for these colours.

Determinación de la implementación de buenas prácticas pecuarias, para el proceso de rastreabilidad de carne en fincas ganaderas de "El Coral", Chontales

Este trabajo se llevó a cabo en el Municipio de “El Coral”, localizado al sureste de la ciudad de Managua. Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron: a) Elaborar el Protocolo de Buenas Prácticas Pecuarias; b) Determinar el grado de cumplimento de BPP en fincas ganaderas del municipio de “El Coral”; y c) Elaborar una estrategia para la implementación del programa de rastreabilidad de carne bovina. La metodología utilizada para el primer objetivo consistió en una revisión de fuentes secundarias y una encuesta a personal clave en tres aspectos de los ítems del Manual de BPP y se abordó tres aspectos: si están de acuerdo con cada ítem, si es exigible y si tienen otro ítem que agregar al protocolo; en el caso del segundo objetivo consistió en un diagnóstico modificado de PROGANIC, con preguntas cerradas aplicado a 70 fincas y su procesamiento en un programa de cómputo Excel; y en el caso del tercer objetivo se aplico una matriz de estrategia para la determinación del rol y proceso de implementación. Se obtuvo como resultado de 29 personas claves que fueron encuestadas, 55 (98%) de los 56 (100%) ítems en total del protocolo propuesto obtuvieron un consenso positivo de parte de los encuestados, para que estos ítem fueran aplicados en el diagnóstico de finca y se resulto un “Protocolo de BPP” de 50 ítem en total, de un total de 72 ítem que tenia el “Manual de BPP de la producción primaria” de la resolución 117-2004 de la Asamblea Nacional. El diagnóstico practicado a 70 fincas ganaderas que representan el 21% del municipio, mostró que el 100% de las fincas ganaderas no cumplen con las BPP definidas en el protocolo de BPP, siendo 9 ítems sobre manejo los que más afectan el no cumplimiento de las BPP. El resultado de la matriz de estrategia muestra que se debe organizar, definir el rol y establecer un mecanismo para la implementación del sistema de rastreabilidad de carne bovina en “El Coral”. Se concluye: a) El “Protocolo de Buenas Prácticas Pecuarias” aplicado en este estudio es apropiado y valido para fincas ganaderas; b) Ninguna de las fincas ganaderas cumple con las BPP para fincas ganaderas; d) Las principales causas de la no aplicación de las BPP son: el desconocimiento de las mismas; la falta de asistencia técnica directa y el bajo incentivo de la producción y e) la principal estrategia para la implementación del programa de rastreabilidad en el municipio, es la sensibilización a todos los actores locales que participaran en el programa.

Evaluacion del efecto de anabolicos de crecimiento (Zeranol over, Overmax L.A. Premium y Zeranol implante) en novillos de engorde en un periodo de cien dias en la finca El Rastro, El Coral, Chontales

Para el estudio se utilizaron 68 novillos producto del cruce de la raza Pardo Suizo x Brahman con un peso inicial de 230 ± 33 kg, con el objetivo de evaluar el efecto de tres tratamientos anabólicos sobre la ganancia de peso total en pastoreo libre durante un periodo de 100 días, siendo los tratamientos los siguientes: T 1 (Zeranol implante: Zeranol Over®), T2 (Zeranol Over® formulación tixotrópico), T3. (Overmax® LA Premium: Zeranol + ivermectina 3.15%), comparado con el T4 Testigo o Control (Sin implante). A los animales pesados y organizados en tres grupos con características semejantes, se les aplicó los tratamientos y cada grupo estuvo conformado por 17 novillos; de igual manera, fueron desparasitados con Vermectina La Premium 3. 15 %, a razón de 1ml por cada 50 kg de peso vivo (kg p.v), antes de aplicar los agentes anabólicos. Se determinó el incremento en peso a partir del peso final e inicial, y se calculó la Ganancia Media Diaria (GMD) en cada uno de los tratamientos. Para el diseño de dos vías se utilizó el test de Fisher (Análisis de Varianza) y el Test de Friedman, y categorización estadística mediante la Mínima Diferencia Significativa (DMS, P=O.OS). El análisis estadístico determinó efecto altamente significativo (P=O.OOl) en la GMD, en donde la GMD fue de 739, 624, 590 y de 536 gramos para los tratamientos T3 (Overeas® LA Premium: Zeranol + ívermectina), TI (Zeranol implante: Zeranol Over®), T2 (Zeranol Over'l formulación tixotrópica) y el Control, respectivamente. El implante Overmax® LA Premium (Zeranol+ivermectina3.15%) superó en más de 27 % al tratamiento sin implante, siendo este el tratamiento de mayor rentabilidad, con 83.43 dólares en ganancia de peso por animal, y una relación Beneficio/Costo de 1.27 por cada unidad monetaria invertida.

Multi-colour switching of polymer stabilized chiral nematic liquid crystal devices

We have fabricated a series of polymer stabilized chiral nematic test cells for use as flexoelectro-optic devices. The devices fabricated were based on commercial chiral nematic mixtures which were polymer stabilized so as to enhance the uniformity and stability of the uniform lying helix texture in the cells. During fabrication and test procedures a series of unusual scattering states have been observed within the devices at different viewing angles. The observations made so far indicate that the properties of the scattering state lies somewhere between the focal conic texture and the Grandjean or planar texture and that the devices exhibit both a helical pitch selective reflection and scattering effect. What is even more dramatic is that the wavelength selectivity of the scattering effect can be tuned by an applied field. In addition, we show that it is possible to achieve good uniform lying helix textures from such devices. Moreover, we show that in certain cases the spontaneous alignment of the helix in the plane of the device opens up the possibility of a new mode of switching. Flexoelectric, Redshift, Coloured scattering, Liquid crystal, Polymer-stabilized liquid-crystal;.

Algorithms for colour image processing based on neurological models

373 p. : il., gráf., fot., tablas

Fish Habitat Utilization Patterns and Evaluation of the Efficacy of Marine Protected Areas in Hawaii: Integration of NOAA Digital Benthic Habitat Mapping and Coral Reef Ecological Studies

Over the past four decades, the state of Hawaii has developed a system of eleven Marine Life Conservation Districts (MLCDs) to conserve and replenish marine resources around the state. Initially established to provide opportunities for public interaction with the marine environment, these MLCDs vary in size, habitat quality, and management regimes, providing an excellent opportunity to test hypotheses concerning marine protected area (MPA) design and function using multiple discreet sampling units. NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment’s Biogeography Team developed digital benthic habitat maps for all MLCD and adjacent habitats. These maps were used to evaluate the efficacy of existing MLCDs for biodiversity conservation and fisheries replenishment, using a spatially explicit stratified random sampling design. Coupling the distribution of habitats and species habitat affinities using GIS technology elucidates species habitat utilization patterns at scales that are commensurate with ecosystem processes and is useful in defining essential fish habitat and biologically relevant boundaries for MPAs. Analysis of benthic cover validated the a priori classification of habitat types and provided justification for using these habitat strata to conduct stratified random sampling and analyses of fish habitat utilization patterns. Results showed that the abundance and distribution of species and assemblages exhibited strong correlations with habitat types. Fish assemblages in the colonized and uncolonized hardbottom habitats were found to be most similar among all of the habitat types. Much of the macroalgae habitat sampled was macroalgae growing on hard substrate, and as a result showed similarities with the other hardbottom assemblages. The fish assemblages in the sand habitats were highly variable but distinct from the other habitat types. Management regime also played an important role in the abundance and distribution of fish assemblages. MLCDs had higher values for most fish assemblage characteristics (e.g. biomass, size, diversity) compared with adjacent fished areas and Fisheries Management Areas (FMAs) across all habitat types. In addition, apex predators and other targeted resources species were more abundant and larger in the MLCDs, illustrating the effectiveness of these closures in conserving fish populations. Habitat complexity, quality, size and level of protection from fishing were important determinates of MLCD effectiveness with respect to their associated fish assemblages. (PDF contains 217 pages)

Cruise Report NOAA Ship McARTHUR II Cruise AR-04-04: Leg 2 (June 1-12, 2004): A pilot survey of deepwater coral/sponge assemblages and their susceptibility to fishing/harvest impacts at the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS)

Summary: The offshore shelf and canyon habitats of the OCNMS (Fig. 1) are areas of high primary productivity and biodiversity that support extensive groundfish fisheries. Recent acoustic surveys conducted in these waters have indicated the presence of hard-bottom substrates believed to harbor unique deep-sea coral and sponge assemblages. Such fauna are often associated with shallow tropical waters, however an increasing number of studies around the world have recorded them in deeper, cold-water habitats in both northern and southern latitudes. These habitats are of tremendous value as sites of recruitment for commercially important fishes. Yet, ironically, studies have shown how the gear used in offshore demersal fishing, as well as other commercial operations on the seafloor, can cause severe physical disturbances to resident benthic fauna. Due to their exposed structure, slow growth and recruitment rates, and long life spans, deep-sea corals and sponges may be especially vulnerable to such disturbances, requiring very long periods to recover. Potential effects of fishing and other commercial operations in such critical habitats, and the need to define appropriate strategies for the protection of these resources, have been identified as a high-priority management issue for the sanctuary. To begin addressing this issue, an initial pilot survey was conducted June 1-12, 2004 at six sites in offshore waters of the OCNMS (Fig. 2, average depths of 147-265 m) to explore for the presence of deep-sea coral/sponge assemblages and to look for evidence of potential anthropogenic impacts in these critical habitats. The survey was conducted on the NOAA Ship McARTHUR-II using the Navy’s Phantom DHD2+2 remotely operated vehicle (ROV), which was equipped with a video camera, lasers, and a manipulator arm for the collection of voucher specimens. At each site, a 0.1-m2 grab sampler also was used to collect samples of sediments for the analysis of macroinfauna (> 1.0 mm), total organic carbon (TOC), grain size, and chemical contaminants. Vertical profiles of salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, and pressure were recorded at each site with a small SeaCat conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) profiler. Niskin bottles attached to the CTD also obtained near-bottom water samples in support of a companion study of microbial indicators of coral health and general ecological condition across these sites. All samples except the sediment-contaminant samples are being analyzed with present project funds. Original cruise plans included a total of 12 candidate stations to investigate (Fig. 3). However, inclement weather and equipment failures restricted the sampling to half of these sites. In spite of the limited sampling, the work completed was sufficient to address key project objectives and included several significant scientific observations. Foremost, the cruise was successful in demonstrating the presence of target deepwater coral species in these waters. Patches of the rare stony coral Lophelia pertusa, more characteristic of deepwater coral/sponge assemblages in the North Atlantic, were observed for the first time in OCNMS at a site in 271 meters of water. A large proportion of these corals consisted of dead and broken skeletal remains, and a broken gorgonian (soft coral) also was observed nearby. The source of these disturbances is not known. However, observations from several sites included evidence of bottom trawl marks in the sediment and derelict fishing gear (long lines). Preliminary results also support the view that these areas are important reservoirs of marine biodiversity and of value as habitat for demersal fishes. For example, onboard examination of 18 bottom-sediment grabs revealed benthic infaunal species representative of 14 different invertebrate phyla. Twenty-eight species of fishes from 11 families, including 11 (possibly 12) species of ommercially important rockfishes, also were identified from ROV video footage. These initial discoveries have sparked considerable interests in follow-up studies to learn more about the spatial extent of these assemblages and magnitude of potential impacts from commercial-fishing and other anthropogenic activities in the area. It is essential to expand our knowledge of these deep-sea communities and their vulnerability to potential environmental risks in order to determine the most appropriate management strategies. The survey was conducted under a partnership between NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) and National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) and included scientists from NCCOS, OCNMS, and several other west-coast State, academic, private, and tribal research institutions (see Section 4 for a complete listing of participating scientists). (PDF contains 20 pages)

An environmental assessment of the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and the Key Largo Coral Reef Marine Sanctuary (Unpublished 1983 Report)

The Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park was established in 1960 and the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary in 1975. Field studies, funded by NOAA, were conducted in 1980 - 1981 to determine the state of the coral reefs and surrounding areas in relation to changing environmental conditions and resource management that had occurred over the intervening years. Ten reef sites within the Sanctuary and seven shallow grass and hardbottom sites within the Park were chosen for qualitative and quantitative studies. At each site, three parallel transects not less than 400 m long were run perpendicular to the reef or shore, each 300 m apart. Observations, data collecting and sampling were done by two teams of divers. Approximately 75 percent of the bottom within the 18-m isobath was covered by marine grasses, predominantly turtle grass. The general health of the seagrasses appeared good but a few areas showed signs of stress. The inner hardbottom of the Park was studied at the two entrances to Largo Sound. Though at the time of the study the North Channel hardbottom was subjected to only moderate boat traffic, marked changes had taken place over the past years, the most obvious of which was the loss of the extensive beds of Sargassum weed, one of the most extensive beds of this alga in the Keys. Only at this site was the green alga Enteromorpha encountered. This alga, often considered a pollution indicator, may denote the effects of shore run off. The hardbottom at South Channel and the surrounding grass beds showed signs of stress. This area bears the heaviest boat traffic within the Park waters causing continuous turbidity from boat wakes with resulting siltation. The offshore hardbottom and rubble areas in the Sanctuary appeared to be in good health and showed no visible indications of deterioration. Damage by boat groundings and anchors was negligible in the areas surveyed. The outer reefs in general appear to be healthy. Corals have a surprising resiliency to detrimental factors and, when conditions again become favorable, recover quickly from even severe damage. It is, therefore, a cause for concern that Grecian Rocks, which sits somewhat inshore of the outer reef line, has yet to recover from die-off in 1978. The slow recovery, if occurring, may be due to the lower quality of the inshore waters. The patch reefs, more adapted to inshore waters, do not show obvious stress signs, at least those surveyed in this study. It is apparent that water quality was changing in the keys. Water clarity over much of the reef tract was observed to be much reduced from former years and undoubtedly plays an important part in the stresses seen today over the Sanctuary and Park. (PDF contains 119 pages)