A salmon ecosystem conceptual foundation for estuary restoration

Vital Signs: Deficiencies in Environmental Control Identified in Outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease—North America, 2000–2014

Bone and tooth microstructure in extinct and extant mammals and implications for growth and life history evolution, with an emphasis on cervids as a case study

As one of the most widely established freshwater fishes globally, the invasive success of common carp, Cyprinus carpio, is beyond dispute. Although detailed knowledge on its biology would assist in its management, relatively few life history studies have investigated C. carpio outside of its natural range. The present study analyses the life history and population structure of exotic C. carpio in a 364 km2 African impoundment. We used whole astericus otoliths to show that C. carpio attained ages of up to 7 years and grew more rapidly than has been recorded for any population from Europe or Australia. Macroscopic staging of gonads indicated protracted spawning, with highest reproductive activity observed during late spring and early summer. Total mortality, natural mortality and fishing mortality rates were estimated at 0.72, 0.60 and 0.12 year–1 respectively. Life history comparisons across the species’ global distribution showed large variations in growth and longevity, whereas early maturation (2–3 years) appeared to be a rather conservative trait. The combination of early maturity, fast growth and relatively high natural mortality rates suggests a rapid population growth potential associated with high resilience to management interventions once C. carpio has been introduced.

Migratory histories of three types of Cottus pollux, the small-egg type (SE type), middle-egg type (ME type), and large-egg type (LE type), were studied by examining strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) in their otoliths with wavelength dispersive X-ray spectrometry on an electron microprobe. The Sr : Ca ratios in the otoliths changed both with ontogenetic development and with salinity of the habitat. Otolith Sr : Ca ratios of LE-type samples and the ME-type samples from the Honmyo River, Kyushu Island, showed consistently low ratios, averaging 1.8 × 10−3 and 2.4 × 10−3 from the core to the edge, respectively. In contrast, otolith Sr : Ca ratios of SE-type samples and the other four ME-type samples from Hokkaido and Honshu Islands fluctuated strongly along the life history transects in accordance with migration patterns from freshwater to the sea and vice versa. The otolith Sr : Ca ratios of SE-type samples showed low ratios from the core to a point around 15 μm, averaging 1.5 × 10−3, and subsequently increased sharply with a high Sr : Ca ratio phase to a point around 400 μm, averaging 5.5 × 10−3, and followed again a low ratio phase to the edge with averages of 3.1 × 10−3. Similar fluctuation patterns in otolith Sr : Ca ratios were found for the four ME-type samples. These findings clearly demonstrated that otolith Sr : Ca ratios reflected the sculpin's life histories, as being fluvial for the LE type and the Honmyo River ME type and amphidromous for the SE type and the other four populations of ME type.

The interaction between an organism and its environment is a major determinant of an individual’s growth rate, longevity, and fitness. Such interactions and resultant variation in growth is particularly prevalent in salmonids where a diversity of life history types and morphotypes can be observed within a single ecosystem. Lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush, are typically considered freshwater residents. However, three life history types within the Husky Lakes estuary and connected lakes, NWT were recently documented, including semi-anadromous, brackish-water resident, and freshwater resident. To understand how use of brackish-water environments influences growth and longevity in lake trout, we assessed otolith increment widths, as a proxy for annual fish growth, and age-at- capture among life history types. Assessment of increments indicated that growth increased in brackish water for semi-anadromous lake trout, and that growth was faster for semi-anadromous and brackish-water residents than for freshwater residents (70 mm larger on average at age 15). In addition, age at capture was significantly older in brackish-water residents (3.8 years older) when compared to the other life histories. Together these results indicate that life in brackish water can have positive effects on growth and longevity for lake trout.

The two land snail species Trochulus striolatus (C. Pfeiffer, 1828) and Xerocampylaea erjaveci (Brusina, 1870) are distantly-related within the Hygromiidae, and while geographically separated, have similar habitats. They are conchologically very similar in their shape. The growth, reproductive strategies and life histories of these species reared under constant laboratory conditions were studied in order to detect any similarities and differences between the species. In both species, isolated individuals did not reproduce; thus, uniparental reproduction appears not to occur. While morphological characteristics, such as the egg size and number of whorls at hatching and at sexual maturity, were relatively constant and similar in both species, there were differences in terms of the growth rate, age at first reproduction, output of eggs over the lifespan and in the pattern of mortality. While the range of variation within species was much greater in relation to these traits, it appears that X. erjaveci grows faster than T. striolatus: they become adults earlier; they have a shorter lifespan as adults, but less juvenile mortality; and individuals lay many more clutches, over a similar time span, laying more than five times as many eggs as T. striolatus over the course of the experiment. Under these admittedly artificial conditions, the individuals of both species (although more so in X. erjaveci) can lay more than one clutch over a period of more than two years, in an environment where no winter conditions were imposed. These results, which can also be compared with similar data for Trochulus hispidus, a species closely-related to T. striolatus, emphasise the fact that life histories, even among species of a similar size and habitat, may differ considerably. They also illustrate the difficulties inherent in laboratory studies of life histories.

Teeth grow incrementally and preserve within them a record of that incremental growth in the form of microscopic growth lines. Studying dental development in extinct and extant primates and its relationship to life history and ecological parameters (e.g., diet, somatic growth rates, gestation length, age at weaning) holds the potential to yield unparalleled insights into the life history profiles of fossil primates. In this paper, we use the incremental growth record preserved in teeth to reconstruct dental development, and thereby infer the life history of Megaladapis edwardsi, a giant, gorilla-sized, extinct lemur of Madagascar. By examining the microstructure of the first and developing second molars of a juvenile individual, we establish its chronology of molar crown development (M_1 CFT = 1.04 years; M_2 CFT = 1.42 years) and determine its age at death (1.39 years). Crown initiation, formation, and completion times are short compared to Gorilla. Microstructural data on prenatal M_1 crown formation time allow us to calculate a minimum gestation length of 0.54 years for M. edwardsi, compared to 0.70 years in Gorilla. Postnatal crown and root formation in M. edwardsi data allow us to estimate the age at M_1 emergence (∼0.9 years), and to establish a minimum age for M_2 emergence (>1.39 years).If Megaladapis were developmentally similar to large-bodied anthropoids (such as gorillas), we might expect to exhibit slow dental development coupled with relatively early replacement of its deciduous molars. This is not the case. Total molar development is comparatively rapid and poorly explained as a function of adult body mass.Keywordsincremental linesdental developmenteruption schedules Megaladapis gestation

The rational use and reuse concepts as tools for water and wastewater management programs in industry are proposed and evaluated. It is presented and discussed the basic issues related to the needs of developing and implementing a water and wastewater management program and its importance to industry. The evaluation and validation of the proposed tools were based on a Case Study developed at KODAK Brasileira -Indstria e Comrcio Ltda. The main industrial processes were analyzed, in order to identify water demand and major areas for water optimization and reuse opportunities. The results associated with water optimization and reuse, were very satisfactory, both in terms of water consumption reduction as well as productivity increase. The global water reduction potential was estimated at 14,5 %, and the gain on productivity at about 76 hours per month. On the other hand it was verified that wastewater reuse has its own limitations. The results obtained allows for the conclusion that rational use and reuse are basic tools on developing any water and wastewater management program for industry. However the technical and economical limitation should be carefully evaluated.

Influence of a tidal front on zooplankton abundance, assemblages and life histories in Península Valdés, Argentina

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 280:145-161 (2004) - doi:10.3354/meps280145 Life history variation in cupuladriid bryozoans from either side of the Isthmus of Panama Aaron O¹Dea1,2,*, Amalia Herrera-Cubilla1, Helena Fortunato1, Jeremy B. C. Jackson1,2 1Center for Tropical Paleoecology and Archeology, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Box 2072, Balboa, Ancon, Republic of Panama 2Geosciences Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California, San Diego La Jolla, California 92093-0244, USA *Email: odeaa@si.edu ABSTRACT: Cupuladriid bryozoans are able to produce new colonies both sexually through the production of larvae and asexually via fragmentation. The prevalence of asexual propagation and the physical and biological processes of fragmentation in cupuladriid species are currently little understood. In a large survey comprising collections of nearly 32000 cupuladriids from either side of the Isthmus of Panama, patterns of cupuladriid species richness, occurrence and abundance were measured together with levels of asexual propagation, fragmentation and regeneration. The Caribbean side is characterised by greater cupuladriid diversity and dominance of the genus Cupuladria over Discoporella while the eastern Pacific coast is characterised by lower cupuladriid diversity and complete dominance of Discoporella. Life history variation was not found to be constrained by phylogeny and no systematic differences were found in life history or morphologies between Cupuladria and Discoporella to explain the patterns in generic dominance across the isthmus. Nonetheless, striking differences occur in life history strategies across the isthmus. Eastern Pacific species tend to be large, flat and lightly calcified, resulting in high levels of fragmentation and hence asexual propagation. Conversely, Caribbean species produce a wider range of morphologies, including small, highly domed and highly calcified colonies that protect from fragmentation. By correlating colony morphologies with reproductive life histories within species, we show that morphologies, particularly colony strength and size, control levels of fragmentation and thus mode of propagation in cupuladriids. Life history strategies that promote asexual propagation are found to track levels of primary productivity both between oceans across the isthmus and between regions within oceans. KEY WORDS: Asexual · Sexual · Life history · Cupuladriid · Bryozoa · Reproduction · Panama Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 280. Online publication date: October 14, 2004 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2004 Inter-Research.

Projections indicate that the Mediterranean region is an area where drastic changes in climate will occur, which will significantly affect water resources. In a context of increasing pressure on water resources as a result of the reduction in water availability, it is essential and urgent to structure water management in a way that allows for adaptation to the challenges that the changing climate will bring to an already water scarce region. It is necessary to generate experiences and methodologies that are based on real case studies that will lay the foundations for the generalisation of practices of climate change adaptation in water management. In this study, we have developed a ready to use analytical framework to evaluate the coherence of water management plans and programs with climate change adaptation principles. We have tested the applicability of the framework that was developed on the Tordera River Basin Adaptation Plan (TRBAP). The analytical framework has proven to be easy to apply and to allow for identifying the inclusion or exclusion of key climate change adaptation features appropriately. We have structured this analytical framework as a starting point contributing to further assessments of how climate change adaptation is incorporated in water management.

Best water management practices (BMPs) and water treatment technologies in unconventional oil and gas development operations have been evolving since the late 1990s. That evolution underwent two major accelerations: the first started around 1999 when coal bed natural gas water production was climbing and disposal options in several western states was limited and the second started in 2005 with the growing adoption of high volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF). Well drilling, completions and production operations of modern horizontal drilled unconventional plays require large volumes of water during the well lifecycle. The lifecycle cost of water alone for a Marcellus Shale well can exceed $1 million (Shauk 2012). Economic and environmental concerns have provided impetus for a paradigm shift toward the development of pre-planned water management programs that cover the full lifecycle of a field. The goal of such programs is to minimize fresh water use, optimize environmental and safety effects, and reduce costs. This paper will focus on trends in water management programs, water treatment technologies, and water best management practices.

Willingness to participate (WP) in community-based management depends on various factors such as a sense of community, perceptions, beliefs, and demographic characteristics. This study first evaluates the WP of locals (n = 100) in water management in the Ba River Basin – Highlands of Vietnam, where ethnic minority groups are living and working in the agricultural sector. The multivariable linear regression model is applied to explain WP through the factors including the sense of community (SC), dependance on river water (DW), perceptions of current water resource management (PW), level of income (IN), gender (GE), education levels (ED), and place of residence (PR). The results showed that the final regression model explains 67.9% of the variation in WP levels (R2 = 0.679, p < 0.001). The variables SC and PW had a significant level of p < 0.001, while the figures for DW and IN were 0.018 and 0.012 (p < 0.05), respectively, and the p-value of PR was 0.008 (p < 0.01). However, gender and education levels were not statistically significant (p > 0.05) in this model. Sense of community and perceptions greatly influence community participation. To boost willingness, periodic training and campaigns are needed. Additionally, improving legal frameworks can encourage greater community involvement in water management programs.

Earth's Imperiled Rivers and Streams

The underlying mechanisms responsible for ecological plasticity and consequent invasive character of non‐native freshwater fish species, variations in growth and life history traits in gibel carp Carassius gibelio (Bloch) were compared in natural and artificial water bodies of Turkey. Females significantly outnumbered males in all natural and most artificial waters. Discriminate function analysis differentiated gibel populations into three separate groups (natural lakes, artificial water bodies and running waters), with significant differences among separated groups in growth index, standard length and age at maturity, relative fecundity and gonado‐somatic index, but not in egg diameter and both generalised and relative condition. Growth features (e.g. growth index and relative condition) and reproductive features (e.g. relative and absolute fecundity) positively correlated with water body area. No correlations were found for any growth or life history trait with depth, latitude and altitude. With the exception of smaller size at maturity, all traits were higher in populations from artificial water bodies than those inhabiting running waters, suggesting gibel carp is required to exert more reproductive effort to invade natural ecosystems than artificial waters.