Latitudinal and bathymetric distribution of the most abundant and frequent species in the shrimp bycatch from the Gulf of California, Mexico

The Gulf of California is one of the most mega-diverse regions in the world, for which few fishery information is available. We present here latitudinal and bathymetric distribution of the most abundant and frequent bycatch species from the Gulf of California. The samples were obtained from a total of 111 hauls taken during seven research cruises of the closed shrimp season (2002-2005-2007), and also, from research cruises made at depths up to 90 m. Due to the high variety species in this experimental shrimp bycatch, only those with highest biological value index (BVI) were selected. A total of fifteen species had the highest BVI and represented about 60% of the total abundance. A total of 16 508 organisms were analyzed, representing 243 fish, crustacean, mollusk and echinoderm species. Fish were the most abundant, being the most frequent species: Urobatis halleri, Synodus scituliceps, Diplectrum pacificum, Haemulopsis nitidus and Eucinostomus argenteus. A wide latitudinal distribution of these species along the study area, as well as a bathymetric distribution from 9 to 67 m depth, was observed. Two of these species were found at 325 m depth. Due to the wide bathymetric distribution obtained, total abundances and sizes for each species by depth strata should be determined, and one can assume that deeper than 25 m, the capture of these species decreases, and these areas can be used as natural repopulation areas, for depths where they are mainly captured by the commercial shrimp fishery.     

思茅松定名质疑

本文从形态差异、地理分布及森林遗传等方面分析了思茅松、卡西松和朗边松之间的关系,认为思茅松就是卡西松(Pinus kesiga Royle ex Gord.)而不是朗边松(Pinus kesiga Roylc ex Gord var.langbianensis (A.Chev.)Gaussen)。     

Occurrence and abundance of three larval codlet species (Bregmacerotidae, Teleostei) in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean (12–22°S)

There are still only a few studies related to Bregmacerotidae larvae in Brazil, although these larvae are frequently collected in oceanic ichthyoplankton samples. Thus this study analyzes the occurrence and abundance of Bregmaceros larvae along the Brazilian central coast and describes larval characteristics. During three oceanographic cruises samples were collected between the Real River (12°S) and the São Tomé Cape (22°S). Oblique hauls were conducted from a maximum depth of 200 m, using bongo nets of 330‐ and 500‐μm mesh size. Among the 951 bregmacerotids collected, three species were identified corresponding to 89%Bregmaceros atlanticus, 8%Bregmaceros cantori and 3%Bregmaceros n. sp. B. atlanticus was widely distributed along the study area and was more frequent in stations situated beyond the 200‐m isobath; this species was more abundant during the winter, showing a peak of density between Vitória and the São Tomé Cape (355 larvae per 10 m²). Bregmaceros cantori densities were very similar during the three cruises; the highest value (25.6 larvae per 10 m²) was recorded during the winter and higher concentrations were observed in neritic stations along the 200‐m isobath. Bregmaceros n. sp. was rare in collections made during the three cruises; it was concentrated along the Bahia coast (12–18°S), and was more frequent in stations situated in the oceanic region. Bregmaceros atlanticus varying from 2.0 to 6.0 mm and Bregmaceros n. sp. larvae varying from 3.0 to 6.0 mm were present in all cruises, indicating that they spawn year‐round. Bregmaceros cantori did not show a distribution pattern among the different length classes, probably associated with the fact that this species has a coastal distribution.     

Planktonic herbivorous food webs in the catalan Sea (NW Mediterranean): temporal variability and comparison of indices of phyto-zooplankton coupling based on state variables and rate processes

The structural properties and functional relationships betweenphyto- and zooplankton were studied during two cruises, FR92(October–November 1992) and ME93 (June 1993), at two fixedstations placed in a transect crossing the Catalan density front(NW Mediterranean), one located in the vicinity of the densityfront and another offshore. Both stations were sampled at variableintervals during each cruise in order to determine possibletendencies in the temporal changes in the phyto-zoo-planktoncoupling. This coupling (i.e. the matter and energy transferthrough planktonic herbivorous food webs) was estimated by meansof two categories of quantitative indicators: (i) structuralindices, based on the relationships between state variablesof producers and consumers; (ii) functional indices, based ontheir rate processes. Structural indices showed lower temporalvariability, both at a short time scale (within cruises) andinterannually (amongst cruises), than those based on rate processes.The values of both categories of indices at offshore stationscoincided for the two cruises, and were similar to the averagevalues for the whole area observed in previous cruises. At stationsnear the front, while structural indices suggested a more intensephyto-zooplankton coupling during FR92 (although differencesbetween cruises were not statistically significant), functionalindices indicated an opposite trend, being significantly higherduring ME93. The different functional indices allowed coincidenttendencies on the phyto-zooplankton coupling and seemed to respondfaster to any change in the relative importance of planktonicfood webs than structural ones. This suggests that the relativeimportance of planktonic herbivorous food webs can be betterestimated through the relationships between rate processes ofproducers and consumers, than through the relationships betweenmore conservative state variables, like biomass or communitystructure.     

Haltung und Zucht von Schläfenfleckspechten (Melanerpes pucherani)

Many unique natural habitats have already been disturbed by mankind. At the same time a lot of animal- and plant species have reach the point of no return and so their extinction. The human private efforts for conservation are becoming more and more important.In these efforts zoological gardens as international conservation organisations and private initiatives should go hand in hand.About the breeding of woodpeckers for instance, literature does not show that much. In this case it would be of highly importance in publishing any experience in this matter.The breeding of the Black-cheeked woodpecker is more or less uncomplicated. In spite of his tropical origin, this species is not that sensitive against coldness as other South-American birds. Soft food, fruit and mealworms will be a decent basic food. Even during the breeding-season this kind of food will be totally ok. In the birds enclosure, only a single bird or a couple should be put in. Probably because of their territorial claim, they will become aggressive otherwise. Also very important for this species will be to keep them out of sight from each other. Even housing at hearing distance could be problematic for the brood. To keep this species with other bird species in a community will be possible. In literature until four eggs per brood could be possible. However, even in separated enclosures as mentioned above, these results have never been reached until now.     

Haltung und Zucht von Schläfenfleckspechten (Melanerpes pucherani)

Many unique natural habitats have already been disturbed by mankind. At the same time a lot of animal- and plant species have reach the point of no return and so their extinction. The human private efforts for conservation are becoming more and more important.In these efforts zoological gardens as international conservation organisations and private initiatives should go hand in hand.About the breeding of woodpeckers for instance, literature does not show that much. In this case it would be of highly importance in publishing any experience in this matter.The breeding of the Black-cheeked woodpecker is more or less uncomplicated. In spite of his tropical origin, this species is not that sensitive against coldness as other South-American birds. Soft food, fruit and mealworms will be a decent basic food. Even during the breeding-season this kind of food will be totally ok. In the birds enclosure, only a single bird or a couple should be put in. Probably because of their territorial claim, they will become aggressive otherwise. Also very important for this species will be to keep them out of sight from each other. Even housing at hearing distance could be problematic for the brood. To keep this species with other bird species in a community will be possible. In literature until four eggs per brood could be possible. However, even in separated enclosures as mentioned above, these results have never been reached until now.     

Growth of cultured mammalian cells on secondary glucose sources

Mammalian cells can grow in culture at very low glucose concentrations. They can also grow using starch or maltose as secondary sources of glucose if hydrolytic enzymes (amylase and/or maltase) are available to release the glucose. The serum supplement in the culture medium provides these enzymes in amount adequate to permit growth at as rapid a rate as when free glucose is added. Owing to the relatively slow liberation of glucose from the secondary sources, the cells produce less lactic acid, and the culture medium does not become acidic.If the amount of hydrolytic enzyme in the serum supplement is reduced by heat inactivation, the rate of glucose liberation is further reduced. As a result, glucose continues to be released into the medium even at high cell densities, when all glucose added directly to control cultures has been consumed at a time. For this reason, the cells survive longer at high density on secondary glucose sources than on free glucose. Use of such a culture system should have important practical advantages in maintaining dense cultures of any mammalian cell type.Medium containing secondary glucose sources and serum whose hydrolytic enzymes have been completely inactivated should be a selective medium for the corresponding cellular enzymes. Attempts to select for cell lines able to grow using their own amylase or maltase were not successful, but calculations based on embryonic pancreatic cells, known to synthesize amylase, showed that the amount of enzyme required should be quite low in comparison with that present in the differentiated state. The possibilities of selection for a differentiated function in cell culture have been very little explored, and such an approach may be fruitful if applied to the right cell types.     

Tomographie à émission de positons et lymphomes

There is an abundant literature dealing with FDG PET imaging in lymphomas and Hodgkin's disease. Several meta-analysis are available, along with international recommendations. In this concise review, we will discuss the major indications of the technique. FDG PET/CT imaging should be performed as part of the initial staging of Hodgkin's disease and potentially curable non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and possibly for the follicular lymphomas as well. Although the clinical impact at initial diagnosis is fairly limited, the initial metabolic picture will be of great value for assessing the response to treatment. Indeed, FDG PET/CT has become the cornerstone for evaluating the disease status after completion of treatment. Although a negative PET study has a very high predictive value and does not need any further confirmation, a positive PET study cannot be relied upon solely to modify the treatment and a confirmatory biopsy should be performed whenever possible. Furthermore, the predictive value of an interim PET study, performed early on during treatment i.e. after two or three courses of chemotherapy, appears very high, probably higher than when the PET is performed after treatment. However, the available data are not sufficient to support altering the treatment scheme depending on the PET results only. Several large studies are nevertheless under way, which should provide further clarifications in the near future.     

Phytoplankton observations in the Eastern Caribbean Sea

A total of 88 taxa were noted in these samples, of which there were 44 diatoms, 41 pyrrhophyceans, 2 cyanophyceans and 1 silicoflagellate. Totals of 37 and 38 different phytoplankters were observed during cruises E46K-67-68 and E1-C-70, respectively, with 58 species noted in the extensive samplings of E 5013-68-69. A diatomaceaous flora predominated in each series of collections. The phytoflagellates were well represented, but in low numbers. The overall phytoplankton concentrations were low for each of the areas studied during these three January cruises. Even the preliminary data on the coccolithophore concentration does not indicate a major development at this time of the year. Generally, phytoplankton counts were lowest at stations most distant from the island complex and especially in the shallow waters that passed between the islands, directly from the north Atlantic into the Caribbean Sea. Results from the 1969 and 1970 collections west of the Lesser Antilles correspond closely to the findings reported by Hargraves et al. (1970). There was considerable diversity of phytoplankton species, but they were present in low numbers. They have related this condition to the low nutrient concentrations in the oceanic waters of the Lesser Antilles region.The writer thanks Duke University Marine Laboratory for the use of the facilities of the R/V EASTWARD on cruises E46K-67-68, E50D-68-69, and E1C-70, in the Cooperative Oceanographic Program supported through National Science Foundation grant G17669.     

The host plant and the nematodes

Parasite selection by the host would be expected and is frequently found amongst the specialized plant parasitic nematodes and on perennial plants. Hijink & Oostenbrink (1968) showed that annual cropping could establish distinct nematode communities and such communities can become quickly established (Green, 1975). In carrot crops Aphelenchoides and Rotylenchus species became a larger proportion of the community very early in the growth of the crop (Green, 1976). Stabilization of communities in this way indicates a very close relationship between the nematodes and the host plants even when specialized feeding is not apparent. Cropping alters the plant community so that even these nematodes with a wide host range become dependant on the one host, provided weed control is efficient. Spacing of the crop further restricts the nematodes so they become more dependant on individual plants. Nematode attacks on crops are notable for two features. The hosts appear under-exploited, that is there are few individual hosts with many parasites but many with few and, the hosts are rarely killed.     

Analysis of the demersal community of fish and cephalopods on the Agulhas Bank, South Africa

The demersal fish and cephalopod communities of the continental shelf and upper slope from 17 to 395m deep were studied during five annual cruises between Cape Agulhas and Port Alfred, South Africa. The cruises showed a consistent pattern of an inshore community (<100m), a shelf community ( c . 90–190m) and a shelf-edge/upper slope fauna (>200m). These groups were identified by dendrograms and multidimensional scaling cluster analysis, which supported on-board observations of catch variation with depth. Although the boundaries are not clearly defined, examination of physical features at the clustered stations suggests that depth, temperature and, to a lesser extent, oxygen concentration are important in the grouping. Occasional, apparently anomalous associations of inshore stations suggested that water temperature and oxygen may over-ride the normal depth distributions of the species groups. This intimates that patterns offish and cephalopod distribution may be dynamic and in part related to the physical parameters of the water body.     

Ethical issues in recommending and offering fetal therapy

Fetal therapy should be offered and recommended for a viable fetus when these criteria are met: invasive therapy is reliably judged to have a high probability of being life-saving or of preventing serious and irreversible disease, injury, or disability for the fetus and for the child it can become; such therapy is reliably judged to involve low mortality risk and low or manageable risk of serious disease, injury, or disability to the viable fetus and the child it can become; and the mortality risk and the risk of disease, injury, or disability to the pregnant women is reliably judged to be low or manageable. When one or more of these criteria are not satisfied, intervention is experimental and can only be offered, not recommended, on the basis of benefit to future patients and the autonomy of the pregnant woman.     

Supporting debottlenecking of global human processes by applying appropriate balances

Global balances form a fundamental framework for evaluating processes. Human activities can be viewed as global processes aiming at generating drinking water, food, and energy as main products. Obviously, these global processes need debottlenecking, since global process environment is no longer capable of sustainably supporting them. Thus, balances are set up, which on one hand are easily understandable to ensure that everyone can comprehend the resulting consequences. On the other hand, these balances are evaluated to allow conclusions on boundary conditions for the debottlenecking. It turns out that even basic balances allow the formulation of significant conclusions, which are fundamental guidelines for future development. This development refers to research in science and technology that should be (further) strengthened as well as to implementation of existing technology. Moreover, very significant ethical questions become obvious. It is, e.g. not clear, if the challenges we are globally facing can be solved simply be applying and developing technology or if more fundamental changes in global society are essential to overcome problems during transition into a sustainable community. These changes address individual behavior concerning reproductive activities and nutritional habits. The reshaping of our economy would need closing the cycles for all essential material fluxes.     

Systematic Artifacts in Support Vector Regression-Based Compound Potency Prediction Revealed by Statistical and Activity Landscape Analysis

Support vector machines are a popular machine learning method for many classification tasks in biology and chemistry. In addition, the support vector regression (SVR) variant is widely used for numerical property predictions. In chemoinformatics and pharmaceutical research, SVR has become the probably most popular approach for modeling of non-linear structure-activity relationships (SARs) and predicting compound potency values. Herein, we have systematically generated and analyzed SVR prediction models for a variety of compound data sets with different SAR characteristics. Although these SVR models were accurate on the basis of global prediction statistics and not prone to overfitting, they were found to consistently mispredict highly potent compounds. Hence, in regions of local SAR discontinuity, SVR prediction models displayed clear limitations. Compared to observed activity landscapes of compound data sets, landscapes generated on the basis of SVR potency predictions were partly flattened and activity cliff information was lost. Taken together, these findings have implications for practical SVR applications. In particular, prospective SVR-based potency predictions should be considered with caution because artificially low predictions are very likely for highly potent candidate compounds, the most important prediction targets.     

Symptoms and signs of malaria.

In addition to asking their patients about recent foreign travel, Canadian doctors need to be aware of what features to ask about in considering imported illnesses. Of these illnesses, malaria is one of the most common and serious. Because of its cerebral renal, pulmonary and intestinal complications, falciparum malaria must be distinguished from non-falciparum forms. Anyone with a fever who has arrived recently from an endemic area should be tested for malaria. In addition, headache, malaise, myalgias, arthralgias, low back pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or cough should raise suspicion. Malaria should be remembered as a cause of coma. Persons taking any form of drug prophylaxis for malaria are not protected absolutely and those who are semi-immune can become severely ill occasionally.     

Temporal and spatial variation of plankton abundance in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia 1975-1977

The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large (ca. 3.7 x 10⁵ km²) shallow(<70 m) embayment in tropical northern Australia lying between11 and 17.5°S latitude. Although it contains a multi-speciespenaeid prawn fishery which is Australia's largest and mostvaluable fishery its hydrology and planktology are largely unknown.As a background to a study of the larval ecology of penaeidstocks, ten Gulf-wide survey cruises, sampling the planktonand hydrography, were undertaken over a twenty month periodfrom August 1975 to May 1977. Though comparisons with otherstudies are difficult because of variations in sampling techniquesand biomass estimation methods, the plankton biomass in theGulf of Carpentaria appears to be high by comparison with otherareas around Australia. The mean estimate over all stationsand all cruises of 77 mg/m³ dry weight (1880 mg/m²) compareswith the very high abundances found only in seasonal upwellingareas south of Java and off the northwest shelf of Australia.Further, the Gulf of Carpentaria standing stocks of planktoncompare with other coastal areas supporting important fisheriesoff the west coast of North America, the eastern North AtlanticOcean and some European waters. Because of its depth, relativelyhigh temperature and primary production rates, secondary productionrates are assumed to be high as well but as yet are unmeasured. ^*Microfiche of station list available upon request. CSIRO MarineLaboratories Reprint No. 1280     

Captive breeding—a useful tool in the preservation of biodiversity?

Within the next decades species extinction may eliminate between 20 and 50% of the Earth's species. Captive breeding has often been claimed to be a useful tool in preservation of biodiversity. The role of zoos in conservation work and the value of captive breeding are discussed; the latter exemplified by the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Programme and the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) Programme. Captive breeding programmes are very resource demanding and can only be afforded for a very small number of species, which limits their value significantly. Zoos deal mainly with vertebrates, but these comprise less than 3% of the described species, and although the 878 zoos considered hold more than 20 000 specimens of 140 threatened mammal species, they probably only contribute to the conservation of 20 full species. The situation for birds, reptiles and amphibians is even worse. Zoos face serious problems with minimum viable population sizes and hybridization. However, zoos can make a major contribution to preservation of biodiversity through educating and informing the public. Today, where the crisis of extinction of species has reached such daunting dimensions, captive breeding and otherex situ conservation tools should be the last resort for preserving biodiversity, and captive breeding must not become an excuse to avoid dealing with preservation of habitats.     

Some theoretical insights into the hologenome theory of evolution and the role of microbes in speciation

Research on symbiotic communities (microbiomes) of multicellular organisms seems to be changing our understanding of how species of plants and animals have evolved over millions of years. The quintessence of these discoveries is the emergence of the hologenome theory of evolution, founded on the concept that a holobiont (a host along with all of its associated symbiotic microorganisms) acts a single unit of selection in the process of evolution. Although the hologenome theory has become very popular among certain scientific circles, its principles are still being debated. In this paper, we argue, firstly, that only a very small number of symbiotic microorganisms are sufficiently integrated into multicellular organisms to act in concert with them as units of selection, thus rendering claims that holobionts are units of selection invalid. Secondly, even though holobionts are not units of selection, they can still constitute genuine units from an evolutionary perspective, provided we accept certain constraints: mainly, they should be considered units of co-operation. Thirdly, we propose a reconciliation of the role of symbiotic microorganisms with the theory of speciation through the use of a developed framework. Mainly, we will argue that, in order to understand the role of microorganisms in the speciation of multicellular organisms, it is not necessary to consider holobionts units of selection; it is sufficient to consider them units of co-operation.