Sampling errors in anchovy egg abundance estimates using the PAIROVET net

A replicate haul experiment was carried out using the verticallytowed PAIROVET net in an area of high abundance of anchovy eggsin the Bay of Biscay. The main aim of the experiment was tocompare the performance of ships of different size working inthe same area. In addition, we tested the performance of thePAIROVET net and the deployment methodology used to sample anchovyeggs for biomass assessment purposes. We concluded that underthe experimental conditions experienced in this cruise, differentships yield similar performances of the vertically towed PAIROVETnet if the methodology is kept similar. The ANOVA suggests thatthe systematic central sampling (SCS) scheme currently in usefor the Bay of Biscay anchovy biomass estimations (one stationout at 3 miles) adequately represents the surrounding area alongthe transect line. The among-station component of variance withinthe unit sampling area of the current SCS turned out to be comparableand, in some cases, smaller than the within-station variance.Consequently, the spatial design of the SCS adopted during routinesurveys appears to be a reliable strategy for sampling anchovyeggs in areas of high egg abundance, as in this experiment.In addition, it ensures fairly independent data units. In thearea of the experiment, the most disperse egg stages (like 2-and 3-day-old eggs) show a larger within-station component ofvariance than the spatial component of variance within the rectanglesof the current SCS. This suggests that for these stages, thesampling can still be improved cheaply by increasing the precisionof egg abundance estimates per station with larger sample sizes,without changing the spatial sampling scheme or the number ofstations. However, the benefits of this strategy will hardlyaffect the precision of the 1-day-old egg estimates becauseof their patchy distribution.     

The temperate-tropical gradient of planktonic Protozoa and Rotifera

Many flagellates, ciliates and rhizopods appear to be cosmopolitan, at least when considered at the morphospecies level. There are indications of tropical endemics among the ciliates and the rhizopods, but the percentage of endemics appears to be low. Among the rotifers there is a well marked latitudinal gradient, but the picture is complicated by the occurrence of warm water species during hot summers in temperate regions. A further complication has been introduced by the artificial development of heated water associated with power stations. The characteristic rotifer associations of the tropics are governed largely by temperature and salinity. A study of the altitudinal distribution of rotifers in Africa reveals an interplay between latitude and altitude in determining the similarities of the associations to those found in the temperate Old World.     

The use of simultaneous sampling bottle and vertical net collections to describe the dynamics of a zooplankton population

Simultaneous collections of zooplankton were made at four stations in the Plover Clove Reservoir using Friedinger sampling bottles and vertical Nakai plankton net hauls. Comparison of the results obtained revealed certain obvious numerical and spatial anomalies, and it is suggested that these result from inherent characteristics of the two types of apparatus together with behavioural responses and physical attributes of the individual zooplankton species. Statistical correlation between these two methods was generally good in terms of the seasonal patterns of distribution of the population, but in terms of depth distribution and the relative abundance of the individual species of the population few significant correlations resulted. It is therefore suggested that unless merely seasonal trends are required, it is advisable to use more than one sampling apparatus to obtain valid data concerning the overall dynamics of such a zooplankton population.Department of Botany, University of Hong Kong     

Effects of sample size on fish parasite prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity estimates

This study considers the effects of sample size on estimates of three parasitological indices (prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity) in four different host–parasite systems, each showing a different pattern of infection. Monte Carlo simulation procedures were used in order to obtain an estimation of the parasitological indices, as well as their variance and bias, based on samples of different size. Although results showed that mean values of all indices were similar irrespective of sample size, estimates of prevalence were not significantly affected by sample size whereas mean abundance and mean intensity were affected in at least one sample. Underestimation of values was more perceptible in small (<40) sample sizes. Distribution of the estimated values revealed a different arrangement according to the host–parasite system and to the parasitological parameter. Monte Carlo simulation procedures are, therefore, suggested to be included in studies concerning estimation of parasitological parameters.     

Species composition of planktonic Rotifera, Cladocera and Copepoda in the littoral zone of Lake Ladoga

In Mexico, more than 40 000 ha of dams, lakes, canals and drains are infested with waterhyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). To prevail over the problems resulting from this infestation, specific management programs are needed. Under a national program to control the waterhyacinth, guidelines to deal with the related ecological, social, technical and economic factors, and specific strategies to reduce coverage were developed. The ecological factors which were noted include the identification of the most affected areas and the consequences of proposed treatments. The social aspects embraced the stimulation of user awareness as to the importance of water quality, the creation of organizations to coordinate user-sponsored control activities, and the awakening of a community identity. Basic to all are the technical and economic aspects which make the activities feasible and operational. Examples are given of control by means of water level management, mechanical controls using trituration, and the application of chemical and biological agents, all of which may be combined in an integral program.     

Effects of sampling regime on the mean and variance of home range size estimates

1. Although the home range is a fundamental ecological concept, there is considerable debate over how it is best measured. There is a substantial literature concerning the precision and accuracy of all commonly used home range estimation methods; however, there has been considerably less work concerning how estimates vary with sampling regime, and how this affects statistical inferences. 2. We propose a new procedure, based on a variance components analysis using generalized mixed effects models to examine how estimates vary with sampling regime. 3. To demonstrate the method we analyse data from one study of 32 individually marked roe deer and another study of 21 individually marked kestrels. We subsampled these data to simulate increasingly less intense sampling regimes, and compared the performance of two kernel density estimation (KDE) methods, of the minimum convex polygon (MCP) and of the bivariate ellipse methods. 4. Variation between individuals and study areas contributed most to the total variance in home range size. Contrary to recent concerns over reliability, both KDE methods were remarkably efficient, robust and unbiased: 10 fixes per month, if collected over a standardized number of days, were sufficient for accurate estimates of home range size. However, the commonly used 95% isopleth should be avoided; we recommend using isopleths between 90 and 50%. 5. Using the same number of fixes does not guarantee unbiased home range estimates: statistical inferences differ with the number of days sampled, even if using KDE methods. 6. The MCP method was highly inefficient and results were subject to considerable and unpredictable biases. The bivariate ellipse was not the most reliable method at low sample sizes. 7. We conclude that effort should be directed at marking more individuals monitored over long periods at the expense of the sampling rate per individual. Statistical results are reliable only if the whole sampling regime is standardized. We derive practical guidelines for field studies and data analysis.     

Seasonal distribution,composition and abundance of the planktonic Ciliata and Testacea of Cayuga Lake

The planktonic protozoans (Ciliata and Testacea) of Cayuga Lake were studied from September 1974 through July 1975. Monthly collections were taken at four depths (surface, 15,31 and 92 m) at each of seven stations along the 125 m depth contour. All samples were collected with a 6-liter Van Dorn bottle sampler. Densities and biomass were determined for total protozoans and total zooplankton at each depth on each sampling date. Temperature profiles at one-meter intervals were also determined on or within a few days of the zooplankton sampling.The vertical distribution of the total protozoans was directly related to temperature; maximum densities corresponded to high summer surface temperatures. Dominant protozoan taxa included Didinium nasutum, Stokesia vernalis, Codonella cratera, Strobilidium gyrans, Strobilidium sp., Strombidium viride, Paradileptus canellai, Difflugia limnetica, and unidentified ciliates belonging to the families Halteriidae, Holophryidae, Epistylidae, and Vorticellidae. Protozoans composed 69% or more of the total zooplankton density on nine of eleven dates. Protozoan dominance was most evident during winter and spring, corresponding to the near absence of rotifers and microcrustaceans. Protozoans accounted for 30% or more of the zooplankton biomass from April through June, reaching 47% in May.     

Global abundance of planktonic heterotrophic protists in the deep ocean

The dark ocean is one of the largest biomes on Earth, with critical roles in organic matter remineralization and global carbon sequestration. Despite its recognized importance, little is known about some key microbial players, such as the community of heterotrophic protists (HP), which are likely the main consumers of prokaryotic biomass. To investigate this microbial component at a global scale, we determined their abundance and biomass in deepwater column samples from the Malaspina 2010 circumnavigation using a combination of epifluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. HP were ubiquitously found at all depths investigated down to 4000 m. HP abundances decreased with depth, from an average of 72±19 cells ml⁻¹ in mesopelagic waters down to 11±1 cells ml⁻¹ in bathypelagic waters, whereas their total biomass decreased from 280±46 to 50±14 pg C ml⁻¹. The parameters that better explained the variance of HP abundance were depth and prokaryote abundance, and to lesser extent oxygen concentration. The generally good correlation with prokaryotic abundance suggested active grazing of HP on prokaryotes. On a finer scale, the prokaryote:HP abundance ratio varied at a regional scale, and sites with the highest ratios exhibited a larger contribution of fungi molecular signal. Our study is a step forward towards determining the relationship between HP and their environment, unveiling their importance as players in the dark ocean''s microbial food web.     

The distribution and abundance of planktonic penaeid larvae in Tudor creek,Mombasa, Kenya

The temporal distribution and abundance of penaeid prawn larvae in surface waters of Tudor creek were studied. Only late mysis and early post mysis stages of development were encountered in the creek waters with a descending gradient from the mouth station (station 1) to the innermost station 5. Larval encounter incidence (% incidence) was highest in plankton tows taken during night spring tides (59%) followed by night neap tides (45.4%), day spring tides (34.9%) and day neap tides (21.4%). This encounter incidence was more skewed towards the seaward stations (1 and 2) during the neap tides than during spring tides. Likewise, larval density (mean catch/standard 5 min. tow) decreased less steeply up the creek during spring tides than it did during neap tides. Higher catch rates were in general obtained in night samples than in day samples at each station and in each neap/spring phase. The diel cycle had a greater effect on both incidence and abundance of larvae than did the tidal cycle.Intensified larval incursion into the creek was observed between March and June.     

Role of anaerobic ciliates in planktonic food webs: abundance, feeding, and impact on bacteria in the field

We studied the dynamics of two populations of anaerobic ciliates, Plagiopyla sp. and Metopus sp., and of their potential prey, heterotrophic and phototrophic purple bacteria, in Lake Cisó throughout a 1-year cycle. The abundance of both ciliates was very low (less than 2 individuals per ml). During mixing, Plagiopyla ciliates exhibited high clearance rates (about 100 nl ciliate h), its integrated abundance increased with a net doubling time of 47 days, and its potential doubling times, as calculated from the number of bacteria consumed, ranged between 5 and 8 days. During stratification, the activity of Plagiopyla ciliates was reduced and the population decreased; this was related to the higher amounts of sulfide present. The impact of predation by the Plagiopyla population on bacterioplankton was found to be insignificant, less than 0.1% of bacterial biomass consumed per day. Thus, anaerobic ciliates cannot control the bacterioplankton in Lake Cisó because of both the low abundance over the period studied and the low feeding rates during certain periods. A review of available field studies suggests that this conclusion can be extrapolated to most other anoxic systems.     

A review of glass eel migratory behaviour,sampling techniques and abundance estimates in estuaries: implications for assessing recruitment,local production and exploitation

Recruitment of the three northern hemisphere eel species (European eel Anguilla anguilla, American eel Anguilla rostrata and Japanese eel Anguilla japonica) has reduced significantly over the past thirty-five years. The stock of the European eel is described as being outside safe biological limits, with urgent action required by European Union Member States to assist recovery of the panmictic stock. Stock recruitment models and estimates of silver eel output from a river catchment are strongly influenced by the degree of certainty in estimating key population parameters of each life history stage. Therefore, management decisions aimed at enhancing eel populations rely on sound scientific evidence, based upon a fundamental understanding of the complex anguillid eel life cycle. This review paper focuses on the estuarine entry phase of the eel life cycle and synthesises the current scientific knowledge with regard to glass eel migratory behaviour, sampling methods and abundance estimates within estuaries. Although the behavioural and environmental processes modulating glass eel migration patterns are reasonably well understood, site specific factors play a significant role in determining fine scale distribution patterns at an individual estuary level. Given the large resource commitment required to adequately sample this key life history stage, behavioural studies of migration patterns on a local scale are crucially important to aid the design of robust sampling programmes aimed at quantifying seasonal abundance and annual recruitment.     

The influence of sampling strategy on the apparent population dynamics of planktonic rotifers

Rotifer composition and density, chlorophyll-a content, secchi depth and temperature were investigated with high sampling frequency (every third day in summer, weekly in winter) in the eutrophic lake Bielersee from April 1981 to April 1982. Long intervals between sampling, especially from spring to autumn, lead to contradictory interpretation of abundance dynamics of both total rotifer community and single species. Short intervals between sampling revealed a sequence of mass developments of the different species. As an example, alternating gradation phases are shown for Synchaeta grandis and Synchaeta stylata.     

Relative effect of taphonomy on calcification temperature estimates from fossil planktonic foraminifera

This paper explores the effects of preservation and taphonomy on the ultrastructure of recent and fossil (Quaternary and Neogene) Globigerinoides using scanning electron microscopy and thin section petrography. We show preservation states from: pristine (plankton tow) specimens that are “glassy”, have a microcrystalline test structure, and bear sharply defined interpore ridges with delicate spines; through core top and fossil specimens that have gametogenic calcite veneers of euhedral or lumpy deposits covering the interpore ridges and spine bases; to fossil material with extensive dissolution of the test wall and diagenetic calcite formed during shallow burial (less than 300 m below the sea floor). The latter produce a “grainy” texture to the test. Although we cannot unravel the precise effects of ecology and taphonomy on calcification temperature at every site, we show that for well-preserved fossil material with gametogenic calcite, temperature estimates are typically 2-3 °C cooler than modern sea surface, and are similar to those recorded using the δ¹⁸O of core top material from tropical latitudes. In contrast, at tropical sites with poor fossil preservation, estimates of calcification temperature are significantly cooler, sometimes by more than 10 °C than expected from present observations.     

Effect of count duration on abundance estimates of Black-capped Vireos

ABSTRACT.   Distance sampling applied to point count surveys (point transects) has become a common method for estimating the absolute abundance of birds. When conducting point transects, detections of focal species are typically recorded during a fixed time interval. However, count duration has varied among studies and the effect of such variation on the resulting abundance estimates is unclear. My objective was to examine the effect of count duration on abundance estimates of male Black-capped Vireos ( Vireo atricapilla ). The abundance of these vireos in a 349-ha area in central Texas was estimated using 3-, 5-, and 6-min point transects and results were then compared to actual number present as determined by banding and territory mapping. The 3-min counts provided an estimate that was 26% greater than the actual number of male Vireos present ( N = 201), but this number was within the corresponding 95% confidence interval ( N = 157–413). Confidence intervals for the 5- and 6-min counts did not include the actual number of vireos present. The shortest count duration may have provided the most accurate abundance estimate because male Black-capped Vireos are typically active, sing intermittently, and sometimes move tens of meters between songs. Thus, shorter-duration counts may also yield the most accurate abundance estimates for other species that exhibit similar behavior. However, because behavior varies among species, I recommend that investigators collect preliminary data to establish an appropriate count duration when accurate estimates of absolute, rather than relative, abundance are important.     

Catches of invertebrate drift by pump and net

Catches of invertebrate drift by pump and surface net were compared. Faunal composition was similar in the two methods but pump catches of drifting benthos, micro-crustaceans and suspended solids were significantly greater than those by nets.     

Measurement of larval striped bass (Morone saxatilis) net avoidance using evasion radius estimation to improve estimates of abundance and mortality

Net avoidance rate increases as a function of larval striped bass size.This causes under-estimation of abundance and overestimation of mortalityrate. We modeled net avoidance by assuming that fish avoid the net byswimming a radial distance at a right angle to the net axis. This distance,the evasion radius, was estimated by comparing the calculated densities ofstriped bass larvae from a series of paired tows involving a large and asmall net. Iteration and solution models were used to estimate the evasionradius for each millimeter size group of fish in order to estimate theactual density in the environment. Avoidance of the nets increased withfish length. The ratio of actual density in the environment to the measureddensity in the small net was used to adjust abundances measured in ourichthyoplankton surveys. After adjusting for net avoidance, mortality ratesof striped bass larvae from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Estuary were reducedby 10% compared to the unadjusted rates.     

The importance of Protozoa in controlling the abundance of planktonic algae in lakes

Apart from ciliates, there are other protozoans which can form an important element in the herbivorous zooplankton of lakes.
The protozoans discussed in this paper feed on colonial algae. They can greatly reduce the numbers of certain Chlorophyta in Windermere, Esthwaite Water and Blelham Tarn, lakes in the English Lake District.
A very short period, often 7–14 days, can suffice for the destruction of more than 99% of an algal population.
Experiments with a species of Pseudospora showed that it would only ingest one out of six green algal species, although, in nature, Pseudosporae which are morphologically similar to this species have been observed in all these algae.
The importance of such protozoans, and of parasitic fungi, has been underrated or neglected in studies of the quantitative relationships between primary and secondary production in the plankton.     

Patterns of planktonic foraminiferal abundance and diversity in surface sediments of the western North Atlantic

Seventy-two core tops and grab samples from the western North Atlantic were analyzed to determine what aspects of planktonic foraminiferal abundance and diversity are most closely related to ocean circulation. Some species appear to be reliable indicators of the Gulf Stream, a warm surface current. Both Globorotalia menardii and Globigerinoides sacculifer have their highest abundances under the main trend of the Gulf Stream. Globorotalia inflata reaches high abundances in the cold slope water north of the Gulf Stream but its distribution is not as continuous as the Gulf Stream indicators.Contoured values of species diversity, the Shannon diversity index, and species equitability also reflect surface circulation. A plot of species diversity (number of species) shows a poorly defined region of high diversity beneath the major trend of the Gulf Stream. Use of the Shannon diversity index enhances and clarifies this region of high diversity. A map of species equitability shows a broad belt of low species dominance (high equitability) beneath the Gulf Stream. North of the Gulf Stream, a tongue of high dominance (low equitability) corresponds to the increased relative abundance of Globorotalia inflata.High diversity of planktonic foraminifera in bottom sediments characterizes the warm shifting surface currents of the Gulf Stream; low diversity is typical of slope and Sargasso Sea waters. Low equitability (high species dominance) indicates either cold currents or gyre center waters. Maps of foraminiferal diversity and equitability for other intervals of geologic time may be useful in tracing the evolution of ocean circulation.     

Relationship between planktonic dinoflagellate abundance, cysts recovered in sediment traps and environmental factors in the Gullmar Fjord, Sweden

In order to study the relationship between planktonic dinoflagellates,cyst production and environmental factors, a sediment trap studywas conducted in the Gullmar Fjord, Swedish west coast, during21 days in May–June 1998. Five locations for sedimenttraps were randomly selected every third day. The traps weremoored at the five locations and moved to new locations after3 days. At every location, a CTD depth profile was obtainedand water samples were collected for plankton, chlorophyll aand nutrient analysis. Meteorological and hydrographic datafor the period were obtained from continuous monitoring. Threedinoflagellate species, which have not previously been recordedfrom the Kattegat or the Skagerrak (Scrippsiella crystallina,Scrippsiella lachrymosa and Scrippsiella trifida), were encounteredduring the analysis of cysts from the sediment traps. The abundanceof the different species in the motile form encountered in thewater column and cyst form encountered in the sediment trapsvaried greatly. The discrepancy between the number and speciesencountered in traps and water samples is discussed. No density-dependentrelationship between the abundance of planktonic cyst-formingdinoflagellates and the number of cysts recovered could be observed.A multiple regression showed that the variation in cyst yieldfrom the traps for the most abundant species was correlatedwith water surface temperature, ambient light radiation andthe depth of the halocline. The nutrient concentrations (NH₄⁺,NO₂^–, NO₃^– and PO₄^3–), which are known toplay a crucial role in induction of sexuality and cyst formationunder laboratory conditions, correlated poorly with the numberof dinoflagellate cysts encountered in the traps.