Age, growth, mortality and population structure of the oyster, Crassostrea madrasensis, in the Moheskhali Channel (southeastern coast of Bangladesh)

The population structure, age, growth, mortality and harvest intensity of the oyster Crassostrea madrasensis were examined in the Moheskhali Channel, Bangladesh between June 2003 and May 2004. The channel is a representative habitat for the area. C. madrasensis monthly length frequency data were analyzed using FiSAT software for estimating population parameters, including asymptotic length ( L _∝ ), growth co-efficient ( K ) and recruitment pattern to assess the status of the stock. Asymptotic length ( L∝ ) and growth co-efficient ( K ) were 20.88 cm and 0.35 year⁻¹, respectively. The growth performance index (φ') was calculated with 2.18. The growth pattern showed negative allometric growth ( b  < 3), with an asymptotic weight ( W _∝ ) of about 1124.6 g. The oyster attained an average length of 6.17 cm at the end of 1 year. Total mortality ( Z ) by length-converted catch curve was estimated at 1.78 year⁻¹, fishing mortality ( F ) at 0.77 year⁻¹, and natural mortality ( M ) at 1.01 year⁻¹. The exploitation level ( E ) of C. madrasensis was 0.43, while the maximum allowable limit of exploitation ( E _max) was 0.45 for the highest yield. The recruitment pattern was continuous, displaying a single major peak event per year. Habitat temperatures were 25.5–31.0°C (mean ± SD, 29 ± 1.62°C); salinity range was from 12.36 to 26.0 ppt (mean ± SD, 19.6 ± 4.7 ppt). The exploitation level (0.43) indicated that the oyster stock was exploited at almost maximum yield in this channel.     

Variability in growth of longfinned eels among coastal catchments of south‐eastern Australia

Longfinned eels Anguilla reinhardtii were captured by both fishery‐dependent and independent sampling methods from three rivers in New South Wales, south‐eastern Australia. Growth rates were examined in two zones (fresh water and tidal) in the Hacking, Hawkesbury and Clarence Rivers. Mean annual growth increments of sampled longfinned eels ranged from 30 to 60 mm year⁻¹ using age‐length analyses and up to 167 mm year⁻¹ based on tag‐recapture model estimates (GROTAG), with both methods showing high intra‐ and inter‐population variability. Growth was significantly faster in younger (5–15 years) fish than older (>15 years) fish, with females growing an average 10 mm year⁻¹ faster than males of similar age and capture location. Longfinned eels found in tidal areas grew significantly faster than those in non‐tidal freshwater areas as a result of longer growing seasons in the highly productive estuarine habitats. Other possible factors influencing variability in growth rates for this species include habitat preference, density and fishing pressure.     

Paleolimnology and trends in the phosphorus and iron budgets of an old man-made lake, Barton Broad, Norfolk

SUMMARY. Barton Broad, Norfolk is a shallow, eutrophic lake. During the last 30 years submerged macrophytes have declined and phytoplankton numbers have increased. This change is traced through the stratigraphy of a 60-cm mud core. Diatom frustule counts of 1-cm sections of the core showed that an epiphyte-dominated diatom community was replaced by a planktonic community. From chemical analysis and radio-isotope dating of the core, sedimentation rates and past phosphorus and iron loadings are estimated. Sedimentation rates were between 1.2 mm and 3.1 mm year⁻¹ during the early part of the core but doubled in the 1950s to 5 mm year⁻¹, doubled again in the 1960s and have increased to 12 mm year⁻¹ in the 1970s. Retention of phosphorus in the sediment increased from 0.5 g m⁻² year⁻¹ to 18–21 g m⁻² year⁻¹ in two steps. A similar trend is shown for iron. The diatom species composition and chemistry of the core sections are correlated with increased nutrient loading and the decline of macrophytes. Contemporary phosphorus and iron budgets are calculated from inflow–outflow data and balanced using sediment retentions estimated from the core data. It is believed a large proportion of phosphorus and iron enters the Broad by movement of sediment along the river bed. A reduction of 25% of the 1975 phosphorus loadings would probably permit re-establishment of some macrophytes. The present chemistry and algal communities of Barton Broad and the River Ant are described.     

Dose responses of tsetse flies (Glossina) to carbon dioxide, acetone and octenol in the field

ABSTRACT Studies were conducted in Zimbabwe of the catch of Glossina pallidipes Austen from an electric net plus target baited with mixtures of acetone plus carbon dioxide or 1-octen-3-ol (octenol) plus carbon dioxide. For acetone dispensed alone at 5–50, 000 mg h^-1, ten-fold increments in the dose increased the catch 1.7 times. For carbon dioxide dispensed alone, dose increments from 12 to 1201 h^-1 doubled the catch, but the catch was not further increased by dispensing carbon dioxide at 600–1200 1 h^-1. For mixtures of these two odours, ten-fold increments in the dose of carbon dioxide between 12 and 12, 0001 h^-1 increased the catch c . 2.5 times if acetone was also dispensed at >50 mg h^-1; changes in the dose of acetone between 50 and 50 000 mg h^-1 did not affect the catch. The addition of octenol (0.05 mg h^-1) to carbon dioxide (12–12001 h^-1) doubled the catch. Ten-fold increments in the dose of octenol between 0.05 and 5 mg h^-1 did not increase the catch significantly and the catch was independent of changes in the dose of carbon dioxide between 120 and 12001 h^-1. The behavioural basis of the dose-response curves was investigated using an incomplete ring of electric nets to assess the flight orientation of tsetse in different odours. Upwind flight was not elicited by acetone or octenol alone, or by carbon dioxide unless it was at very high doses, however, mixtures of carbon dioxide with acetone or octenol elicited upwind flight. It is suggested that the attractiveness of mixtures of acetone and carbon dioxide is a function of the region of overlap of these two odours at above threshold concentration. Acetone and octenol on their own appear to increase the responsiveness of flies to visual cues.     

Population structure, growth, mortality and estimated stock size of the introduced tench, Tinca tinca (L.), population in Lake Beyşehir, Turkey

Population structure, growth, length–weight relationship, mortality and stock size of tench, Tinca tinca (L.), was studied in Lake Beyşehir, Turkey in 2005. Totals of 3360 tench (1865 males; 1795 females) were captured with gill- and trammel-nets of various mesh sizes. Male to female ratio was 1.04 : 1. The study covered length year classes. Fork lengths and total weights ranged from 9 to 37 cm and 13 to 815 g. For all individuals, the von Bertalanffy growth equation and length–weight relationship were L _t = 54.2[1−exp(−0.1350( t  + 1.0281)] and W  = 0.0151  L ^2.9993, respectively. Growth performance index and mean condition factor of the tench population were 2.598 and 1.513, respectively. Mortality rates were Z  = 1.97 year⁻¹, M  = 0.29 year⁻¹ and F  = 1.68 year⁻¹ for total, natural, and fishing mortality, respectively. The exploitation rate was E  = 0.85, and the percentage of surviving fish was 13.9%. Tench stock was assessed as about 6–7 million individuals and 1450–1500 tonnes in biomass. It was determined that maximum sustainable yield could be obtained with an 80% level of the current fishing effort.     

Depth distribution and biological characteristics of the European eel Anguilla anguilla in Lough Ennell, Ireland

Using a longline survey, a total of 196 European eels Anguilla anguilla were collected at different depths in Lough Ennell (maximum depth 30 m), central Ireland. The catch per unit of effort of A. anguilla that were caught from 1 to 25 m depths was lowest at 0·5–5·0 m and greatest at the deepest depth range (22·5–25·0 m). Sub-samples of A. anguilla from depths of <15 m showed little or no difference in size, sex ratio, age, growth rate, condition factor, length–mass relationship, gonado-somatic index, fin index or eye index with fish from depths of >15 m. All fish examined were female yellow-phase A. anguilla that had ages from 7 to 20 years (mean ± s . d . = 10·3 ± 2·9 years), with growth rates from 24·0–60·8 mm year⁻¹ (mean ± s . d . = 40·7 ± 8·5 mm year⁻¹). Variations in the growth rates were greater in the shallow group than that of the deep group. This study suggested that deeper regions are important feeding habitats for A. anguilla and that fish in this lake were growing moderately fast compared to similar habitats and areas in the species' range.     

The effect of beet cyst nematode, Heterodera schachtii, on the yield of sugar beet in organic soils

In ten experiments on commercial sugar-beet crops grown on organic soils in 1984–86, a Genstat programme was used to examine the relationship between the initial population of Heterodera schachtii and sugar-beet root yield using the equation
Y = Ymin + (Ymax - Ymin) Z^pi-T
Fixing T = 200 eggs + juveniles 100 g^-1 soil and Z^T= 0.95, estimated values of Ymax varied from 49.2–67.1 t ha^-1 (129– 155% of the national average root yield for the years in which the experiments were carried out) and estimates of Ymin varied from 14.5–53.9 t ha^-1 (27–94% of Ymax). The estimated average root yield loss caused by the nematode was 6.95 t ha^-1.     

Comparative size and composition of yield from six Fijian reef fisheries

The size and composition of finfish yield from six Fijian reef fisheries was determined using catch records from a voluntary logbook scheme. A total of 172 logbooks were issued for 30-day periods in October 1992 and February and June 1993 and they provided information on 1369 fishing trips. Catch records were weighted, using the results of contemporaneous fishing activity and fleet size surveys, to provide yield estimates for each fishing ground ( qoliqoli ). Yield from all qoliqoli was dominated by Serranidae and Lethrinidae which were favoured for consumption and sale. Yields were expressed on the basis of reef area for fish from different trophic groups. Macroinvertebrate-feeders and piscivores accounted for more than half the yield in all qoliqoli and there were significant differences in area specific yield between qoliqoli. There was no evidence of fishers adopting more powerful fishing techniques or catching fish from lower trophic levels in order to maintain yield from any qoliqoli. This suggested that the fisheries examined were all capable of sustaining the reported yields of up to 3.4 tonne km⁻² qoliqoli year ⁻¹ or 10.2 tonne km⁻² coral reef year ⁻¹ and that in sites where yields were less they might be increased sustainably.     

The energy balance of the Australian brine shrimp, Parartemia zietziana (Crustacea : Anostraca)

SUMMARY. Assimilation budgets (i.e. assimilation = respiration + excretion + production) are presented for cohorts of P. zietziana in two salt lakes. Shrimps in Pink Lake had an assimilation rate of 1631.6 kJ m⁻² year ⁻¹, those in Lake Cundare 212.1 kJ m⁻² year⁻¹. In both lakes, respiration accounted for 60–80% of assimilation. Assimilation rates for individuals (derived as assimilation = ingestion minus faecal output) are also given and compared with respiratory rates of individuals. The comparisons indicated that energy was often consumed at a higher rate by respiration than it could be supplied by assimilation. Starvation due to a low assimilation efficiency was suggested as a cause of the consistent mortality, variable growth rate of individuals and unpredictable recruitment which were characteristic of the cohorts of P. zietziana in both lakes. An analysis of mortality showed that the young had the poorest survival, as predicted by a theoretical model of a starving zooplankter and a comparison of the increase with weight of ingestion and respiration. Gross growth efficiency (production: assimilation) was 15–30%, about the same as published data on Anostracans. Net growth efficiency (production : consumption) was 5–12% and generally lower than published values reflecting the difficulty P. zietziana has in balancing its budget.     

Estimates of catch and potential yield for the riverine artisanal fishery in The Gambia, West Africa

The limnological characteristics of the Gambia River have resulted in a seasonally dynamic fish composition and a complicated artisanal fishery. The estimate of catch (2700t year⁻¹) for the fishery during 1980 is low compared to potential yield as predicted by empirical relations with river channel length, drainage basin area, floodplain area, and the morphoedaphic index. A decrease in catch per unit effort was weakly correlated to increasing effort during March-July in the lower river. For the overall Gambian fishery, however, temporal changes in catch per unit effort were not correlated with changes in effort. Predictions of yield are consistently higher than catch estimates for the fishery and suggest underexploitation of the stocks. Many assumptions of the predicting techniques, however, are unsatisfied, and the year-to-year variability of the Gambia River catch is unknown. Consensus seems to emerge if only crude evaluations of a fishery are needed, but the predicting techniques do not provide the degree of resolution required for most management decisions.     

Structural, technological and productivity analyses of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) farms in the Marmara region, Turkey

This study analyses the structural, technological performance components and the overall productivity of inland rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) farms in the Marmara region, Turkey. Of 81 active farms, 36 were small scale (1–10 t year⁻¹), 32 medium-sized (11–30 t year⁻¹) and 13 large production units (over 30 t year⁻¹). Sufficient data for this study were collected from 70 farms for inclusion in the analyses; 59.3% were so-called combined farms (hatchery and grow-out), 37.9% on-growing farms (for market production) and 2.9% producing juvenile fish only for stocking or for supply to grow-out farms. Juvenile fish production was largely conducted on large farms. Capacity utilization (102.8%) of the large farms was most similar to their projected capacity. Many large farms (43.9%) use high-tech utilities and tools. Small farms mostly use concrete ponds whereas most medium and large-scale farms use fiberglass tanks. Medium and large-scale farms were found to be more successful in broodstock management, fertilization, hatching success and survival rate of juvenile fish. Fish stocking density in medium-sized farms (21.8 kg m⁻³) was higher than in small-scale (14.5 kg m⁻³) and large-scale farms (15.5 kg m⁻³). Overall feed conversion ratio for all farms was estimated as 1.2. From the survey results it appears that production capacity planning was calculated more accurately in the projection phase for small and large-scale farms rather than for medium-sized farms. Medium and large-scale farms were more successful in terms of performance (good experience, good structural and technological capabilities).     

Biomass and production estimates of a fish community in a small South African estuary

The fish community of the small (17·5 ha) intermittently open East Kleinemonde estuary was sampled between 1994 and 1997 to estimate population size, standing stock, growth and productivity. The estuarine-spawning species were numerically more abundant ( n c . 750 000) but due to their small size contributed only 11·7% to the total biomass. The total annual productivity of all fishes in the estuary ( n c . 890 000), with a standing stock of 28·44 g m ⁻², was calculated at 55·89 g m⁻² year⁻¹. The small sparid Rhabdosargus holubi with a production estimate of 41·35 g m⁻² year⁻¹ accounted for <74% of the total fish production in this estuary.     

Input, movement and exchange of organic matter within a subtropical coastal black water river-flood plain system

SUMMARY. 1. Inputs, movements and exchanges of particulate organic matter were measured on two contrasting floodplains of the Ogeechee River, Georgia, U.S.A. A model, which incorporated measurements of standing crop, respiration, litterfall, inundation, and litter processing rates, was used to estimate annual exchanges of organic matter between the river and floodplains.
2. Annual litterfall was higher on the East floodplain than on the lower elevation West floodplain (902 v. 784 g ash-free-dry-mass [AFDM] m⁻²).
3. Experiments with tagged leaves and sticks demonstrated that litter was readily displaced during floods. The distance and direction of displacement varied within and between floodplains but tended to be higher closer to the river and was generally parallel to the river.
4. The model indicated that both floodplains lost organic matter to the river. The lower elevation floodplain (East) lost more organic matter to the river (208 g AFDM m⁻² year⁻¹) than did the higher elevation (West) floodplain (79g AFDM m⁻² year⁻¹).
5. Inputs of organic matter from the floodplain to the river exceeded the amount of litterfall typically entering heavily forested high gradient headwater streams (5.5 v. 0.4-0.6 kg AFDM m⁻² year⁻¹).
6. Floodplain organic matter inputs may exert a greater influence upon structure and function within these streams than do upstream inputs or primary production. Consequently, current conceptualizations of stream structure and function need to be modified to account for the effects of floodplain inputs on stream channel processes within large, low-gradient rivers.     

Leukocyte telomeres are longer in African Americans than in whites: the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study and the Bogalusa Heart Study

Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is ostensibly a bio-indicator of human aging. Here we report that African Americans have longer LTL than whites. We studied cross-sectionally 2453 individuals from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Family Heart Study (age = 30–93 years) and the Bogalusa Heart Study (age = 19–37 years), comprising 1742 whites and 711 African Americans. We measured LTL by Southern blots of the terminal restriction fragments length. In 234 participants, telomere repeats were also measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI), the respective leukocyte telomere lengths (mean ± SEM) were considerably longer in African Americans than in whites both in the Family Heart Study (7.004 ± 0.033 kb vs. 6.735 ± 0.024 kb, p  < 0.0001) and the Bogalusa Heart Study (7.923 ± 0.063 kb vs. 7.296 ± 0.039 kb, p  < 0.0001). We confirmed the racial effect on LTL by qPCR (3.038 ± 0.565 T/S units for African Americans vs. 2.714 ± 0.487 T/S units for whites, p  < 0.001). Cross-sectionally, sex- and BMI-adjusted LTL became shorter with age (range 19–93 years) at a steeper slope in African Americans than in whites (0.029 kb year⁻¹ vs. 0.020 kb year⁻¹, respectively, p  = 0.0001). We suggest that racial difference in LTL arises from a host of interacting biological factors, including replication rates of hematopoietic stem cells.     

The fate of a roach Rutilus rutilus stock under an extremely strong fishing pressure and its predicted development after the cessation of mass removal

The effects of very intensive exploitation on a roach stock over 5 years are estimated. The total roach catch of the mass removal carried out with trawls was 507 metric tons (195 kg ha⁻¹, 54% of the total catch). According to the virtual population analysis the biomass of the stock has decreased from 180 kg ha⁻¹ in 1989 to c . 50 kg ha⁻¹ in 1993. The production of the stock has fallen from 64 to 33 kg ha⁻¹. The stock is dominated by younger age groups than before the mass removal. The future development of the stock is predicted by considering different levels of natural and fishing mortality. If the exploitation is stopped totally after 1993, roach biomass is predicted to double in 3 years. A constant fishing mortality rate of 0.3 (yearly catches 45–50 metric tons) would prevent the recovery of the stock, providing that 1–year–old and older roaches are exploited.     

Population variables and life-history characteristics of the alligator pipefish Syngnathoides biaculeatus, in Papua New Guinea

Population structure and life-history variables of the widely distributed alligator pipefish Syngnathoides biaculeatus were characterized in Bootless Bay, Papua New Guinea over the course of 11 months. There was little evidence of seasonality with four focal populations showing no significant change in abundance. Similarly, the sex ratio remained 1:1 for all but 1 month. Reproductive males carrying eggs (148–278 mm in total length, L _T) were found in all months. Brood size was significantly, positively related to male L _T for newly laid broods only. Maximum observed brood size was 351 and mean ± s . d . brood size was 238 ± 57 for newly laid broods. Juveniles and males showed no change in mean L _T over the year while slightly smaller females were captured in November 2006 and September 2007. Males were significantly longer than females so von Bertalanffy growth coefficients were estimated separately for each sex: males L _∞= 285 mm, K = 0·82 year⁻¹ and females L _∞= 261 mm, K = 1·10 year⁻¹. These estimates suggest that this species grows rapidly and has a short-life span. In the context of growing concern about overexploitation of syngnathids, a rapid growth rate combined with year round reproductive activity suggests that the tropical S. biaculeatus may be relatively resilient with regard to fishing pressure.     

Juvenile salmonid production in a Lake Erie nursery stream

Normandale Creek (2531m²) provides spawning and nursery grounds for lake-run rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, brown trout, Salmo frutta L. , and coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walbaum). Upstream movements are significantly correlated with peak stream discharge (P < 0.05). In 1973–1974, 59 adult salmonids constructed 86 nests of which 60% were disturbed by re-use or sand deposition. From a calculated deposition of 90 400 ova, 483 juveniles, 6 cm in fork length ( f.l. ), were resident in the stream when estimates by electrofishing first became valid. Estimated within-stream (i.e. all sections combined) monthly densities of wild juveniles >6 cm f.l. ranged from six to 22 fish (100 m²)⁻¹, and biomass from 1.3 to 3.1 gm⁻². The highest within-section biomass was 8.3 gm⁻² in November. Additions of hatchery-reared rainbow trout temporarily increased monthly within-stream juvenile density up to 23 fish (100 m²)⁻¹, and biomass to 8.2 g m⁻². Density and biomass were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with both instream and bank cover, and biomass negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with gradient. The importance of substratum and flow characteristics on juvenile density and biomass was strongly indicated although not statistically significant. Annual within-section production of juveniles > 6 cm f.l. ranged from 4.79 to 5.93 g m⁻² year⁻¹ in Sections III and IV, respectively. Inclusion of calculated probable numbers of fish < 6 cm f.l. increased within-section production from 5.93 to 18.65 g m⁻² year^−l in upstream Section IV.     

The global relationship between forest productivity and biomass

Aim  We aim to determine the empirical relationship between above-ground forest productivity and biomass. There are theoretical reasons to assume a relationship between forest structure and function, as both may be influenced by similar ecological factors such as moisture supply. Also, dynamic global vegetation model simulations imply that any increase in forest productivity driven by climate change will result in increases in biomass and therefore carbon storage. However, few studies have explored the strength and form of the relationship between forest productivity and biomass, whether in space or time.
Location Global scale.
Methods  We collated a large data set of above-ground biomass (AGB) and above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP) and tested the extent to which spatial variation in forest biomass across the Earth can be predicted from forest productivity.
Results  The global ANPP–AGB relationship differs fundamentally from the strongly positive, linear relationship reported in earlier analyses, which mostly lacked tropical sites. AGB begins to peak at c . 15–20 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ ANPP, plateaus at ANPP > 20–25 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, and may actually decline at higher levels of production.
Main conclusions  High turnover rates in high-productivity forests may limit AGB by promoting the dominance of species with a low wood density. Predicted increases in ANPP will not necessarily favour increases in forest carbon storage, especially if changes in productivity are accompanied by compositional shifts.     

Preliminary estimates of the population parameters of major fish species in Lake Ayamé I (Bia basin; Côte d'Ivoire)

Length frequency data collected from artisanal fisheries in Lake Ayamé I (Côte d'Ivoire) from August 2004 to 2005 were analysed with F isat software using the E lefan package to estimate the population parameters of 11 fish species. Asymptotic values for total length ( L∞ ) ranged from 20.5 cm for Brycinus imberi to 78 cm for Mormyrops anguilloides . Growth rates ( k ) varied from 0.24 year⁻¹ for Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus to 0.57 year⁻¹ for Hemichromis fasciatus . The growth performance estimates were close to the values found by others authors and reported in FishBase 2008. Fishing mortality ( F ) and exploitation rate ( E ) were found to be below optimum levels of exploitation for most fish species. Recruitment was noted as year–round and bimodal for most studied populations. The data sets were limited in most cases, thus this study provides preliminary population parameters only, but for species for which information is scarce. For application in stock assessment, the growth parameters and especially the natural mortality data require further confirmation.     

Some general and theoretical considerations on the fish yield of African rivers

The factors regulating fish production from river systems remain poorly studied and understood. Rivers conform to physical and chemical laws which determine their morphology. From these laws relationships are calculated which estimate the total length and number of streams of different order on the African continent. Edaphic factors very less than morphological ones and the chemical and physical conditions in the major river channels tend to resemble each other closely. The present catch from African rivers, evaluated from catch statistics, by country and by river system, resembles a theoretical figure derived from the basin area. However, these statistics are drawn only from major fisheries and there remain a very large number of smaller streams whose production does not enter into this calculation. A theoretical approach to this problem is proposed which gives an estimate of annual yield of 530 000 t of fish at present levels of catch. Deviations from the theoretical yield in individual river systems arise from differences in both edaphic and morphological characteristics.