Development and Evaluation of Methods for Surveying Fish Populations in Nearshore Waters

Nearshore areas provide critical habitat for a range of fish species targeted by commercial and recreational fisheries, both of which make an important contribution to local economies in rural areas. However, established trawl survey methods are not suited to many nearshore areas, owing to shallow depths, obstructions on the sea bed or vulnerable habitats, so there is a lack of information on fish abundance in these areas. The aim of the present project was to develop and test survey methods applicable to Scottish inshore waters, focussing on baited underwater cameras, fish traps, systematic rod-and-line surveys and observations of fish bycatch in crustacean trap fisheries, and to carry out associated studies of fish movements. A lightweight baited underwater camera system was developed that could be deployed by two persons from inshore fishing vessels and small boats. The system consisted of a digital camera and strobes in underwater housings, mounted on a frame of aluminium alloy tubing, suspended above the seabed by sub-surface floats on one leg of a J-shaped mooring. The camera was baited with oily fish and a standardized 1 hour deployment period was used, to minimize variability in results due to changing tidal currents and bait degradation. Photographs were taken at 30 second intervals throughout the deployment period. On retrieval, the photographs were examined to derive indices of fish abundance, such as the time to first arrival of particular species (TFA) and the maximum number of individuals seen in the field of view at any time during the deployment (MaxN). The BUC system was developed and tested in the Firth of Clyde and then deployed at a range of other locations in Lamlash Bay, Arran, the Firth of Lorn, the Sound of Mull, Loch Sunart, Loch Etive, around Skye, Galloway and in Orkney. The BUC system was successfully deployed from a range of types of vessel in depths down to 40 m. Over thirty species of fish were recorded in total, including species of commercial interest, with lesser spotted dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula, being the most commonly recorded. The number of species and indices of abundance were highest at sites on the Galloway peninsula. When compared within a single area, BUC detected more species than angling or fish traps, but less than in visual transects by SCUBA divers. BUC shows great potential as a cost-effective survey method, able to show relative differences in abundance between areas. It is likely that it would also be effective in detecting temporal trends, though this was outside the scope of the present project. A Norwegian design of collapsible cod trap, Roscoff traps designed for common prawns and Norway lobster creels were investigated as fish traps. There were differences in catch rates and species composition related to the trap design. Roscoff traps appeared to be suitable for sampling juvenile cod (Gadus morhua) in complex habitat in shallow water, whereas collapsible cod traps are suitable for larger fish, but need to be fished in greater numbers to obtain sufficient data. Creel fisheries were surveyed by questionnaire and by on-board catch sampling. A range of fish species is taken as bycatch in creels, with some obvious differences in species composition between crab fishing and Norway lobster fishing in relation to the depths and ground types fished. The present results suggest that the catch rates of commercial fish species may be too low for creeling to be a useful way of monitoring fish stocks, but sampling throughout the year in different areas would be desirable to assess this more fully. A small-scale pilot study in Galloway indicated some potential for rod-and-line surveys to generate useful information on the abundance of certain fishes. The Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network and the Scottish Shark Tagging Project already collect information on catches of angling target species and on tagging and recaptures of tagged fish. This would be augmented by encouraging anglers to submit returns with an indication of fishing duration even when they have not caught anything. However, we were unsuccessful in recruiting volunteers to participate in a randomized angling survey. Further work is required to develop statistically robust angling surveys in which volunteer anglers would be willing to participate. Experience indicates that payment of expenses would be required for volunteers to agree to fish according to a survey protocol. To study movements of a species of interest to recreational sea anglers, spurdog (Squalus acanthias), ten specimens in Loch Etive were tagged with data storage tags designed to record water temperature and depth. To date, one tag has been recovered and the downloaded data shows an interesting pattern of nocturnal movements into shallow water. More information should become available when more of the tagged spurdog are recaptured. The following recommendations arise from the present study: To improve our understanding of baited methods of surveying fish and to develop improved estimates of abundance, modelling studies of bait odour dispersal and fish responses are required, building on previous work in this area. Further trials of baited underwater cameras at different sites and under different conditions are required to assess the degree of variability in the different types of abundance index that can be derived. Further work to compare different survey methods is required at sites with greater fish abundance, e.g. at sites around the Galloway peninsula. A BUC system with greater depth limit (e.g. 200 m) should be developed to extend the range of habitats in which it can be used to include other species of interest. Further work is required to assess the size and species selectivity of different designs of fish trap. An intensive pilot survey of an area of interest, such as an actual or proposed marine protected area, by BUC and fish traps would provide a good test of the ability of these methods to generate data of use to inshore fishery managers and conservation interests. Seasonal sampling of fish bycatch in Norway lobster and crab creel fisheries is desirable to further assess the potential for creel fisheries to be used to monitor fish populations. Ongoing analysis of recreational sea-angling catch and tagging records should be encouraged and supported by Marine Scotland. There should be continued engagement between recreational sea-anglers and fishery scientists in Marine Scotland and universities

Ontogenetic Variation in Movements and Depth Use, and Evidence of Partial Migration in a Benthopelagic Elasmobranch

Tope (Galeorhinus galeus) is a highly mobile elasmobranch in the temperate to subtropical northeast Atlantic. It is highly migratory and has been shown to display complex movement patterns, such as partial migration, in the southern hemisphere. In the northeast Atlantic, previous mark-recapture studies have struggled to identify movement patterns and the species behavior is poorly described, yet identification of migratory behaviors and habitats of importance for the species is of paramount importance for effective management. Here, we combined fisheries independent survey data with mark-recapture (MR) data to investigate the distribution of different age classes of tope across the northeast Atlantic. We further investigated depth use in detail with archival electronic tags and a pop-up satellite archival tag (PSAT). We suggest previous studies struggling to find consistent movement patterns using MR data were confounded by a combination of site fidelity, partial migration by females, and increasing depth and home range of juveniles. Survey and MR data showed immature tope <40 cm were caught exclusively in continental shelf waters <45 m deep, showing a significant relationship between habitat depth and total length. Immature individuals seemed to remain on the continental shelf, while mature tope of both genders were caught in both shelf and offshore waters. This use of deeper water habitats by mature tope was further supported by archival tags, which indicated individuals use both shallow (<200 m depth) and deep-water habitats, diving to depths of 826 m; the deepest record for this species. The PSAT tag tracked the horizontal movements of an adult male, which confirmed utilization of both shallow inshore and deep offshore habitats. Most tope remained within 500 km of their tagging site, although some mature females had a larger, more southerly range, including connectivity with the Mediterranean. This study clearly demonstrates the highly migratory habits of tope, and suggests larger individuals divide their time between shallow and deep-water habitats. It shows the northeast Atlantic tope population should benefit from consistent management throughout its range

Psychosocial support needs of women with breast cancer in the Waikato region of New Zealand

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women and the third most common cancer in New Zealand (NZ), with more than 3000 registrations and 600 deaths annually.¹ While survival from BC in NZ is better than many other cancers, Māori women—the indigenous peoples of NZ—have a higher mortality rate than NZ European women.² Therefore, for many NZ women, a BC diagnosis still threatens possible mortality, and frequently results in significant psychosocial distress. Indeed, around 20% to 50% of women with BC will develop anxiety or depression within 1 year of diagnosis.

Early response to induction is predictive of survival in childhood Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: results of the Medical Research Council ALL 97 trial

We report on the outcome of children with Philadelphia positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (Ph+ ALL) treated on the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) trial for childhood ALL, MRC ALL 97, between January 1997 and June 2002. Forty-two (2·3%) patients were Ph+. Nineteen (45%) had &lt;25% blasts in bone marrow (BM) within the first 2 weeks of treatment and were defined as a good response group (GRG), the others as a poor response group (PRG). Thirty-six (86%) achieved first complete remission (CR1) at the end of induction, of which 28 underwent BM transplantation (BMT). The median follow-up was 42 months (range, 21–84). The 3-year event-free survival (EFS; 52%, 95% CI, 36–66%) was a considerable improvement on the previous MRC UKALL XI trial (27%). EFS for the GRG and PRG were 68% (43–84%) and 39% (18–59%), respectively (P = 0·03); presenting white cell count &lt;50 × 10^9/l (P = 0·02) was predictive for overall survival. Changes in the MRC ALL97 trial within the study period resulted in some Ph+ ALL receiving daunorubicin and either prednisolone or dexamethasone during induction. Though the use of daunorubicin during induction was not a prospective study question, EFS was significantly better for those whose induction included this drug (P = 0·02). Steroid randomization was not stratified for Ph+ ALL patients and was not predictive for EFS. BMT in CR1 appeared to reduce the risk of a subsequent BM relapse. These results show significant improvement on previous MRC trials; future therapeutic strategies should include early intensive therapy and BMT in CR1

Sympatric speciation in palms on an oceanic island.

The origin of species diversity has challenged biologists for over two centuries. Allopatric speciation, the divergence of species resulting from geographical isolation, is well documented. However, sympatric speciation, divergence without geographical isolation, is highly controversial. Claims of sympatric speciation must demonstrate species sympatry, sister relationships, reproductive isolation, and that an earlier allopatric phase is highly unlikely. Here we provide clear support for sympatric speciation in a case study of two species of palm (Arecaceae) on an oceanic island. A large dated phylogenetic tree shows that the two species of Howea, endemic to the remote Lord Howe Island, are sister taxa and diverged from each other well after the island was formed 6.9 million years ago. During fieldwork, we found a substantial disjunction in flowering time that is correlated with soil preference. In addition, a genome scan indicates that few genetic loci are more divergent between the two species than expected under neutrality, a finding consistent with models of sympatric speciation involving disruptive/divergent selection. This case study of sympatric speciation in plants provides an opportunity for refining theoretical models on the origin of species, and new impetus for exploring putative plant and animal examples on oceanic islands

Detrital zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopes and provenance of Late Neoproterozoic and Early Paleozoic sediments of the Simao and Baoshan blocks, SW China: Implications for Proto-Tethys and Paleo-Tethys evolution and Gondwana reconstruction

Early Paleozoic evolution of the northern Gondwana margin is interpreted from integrated in situ U-Pb and Hfisotope analyses on detrital zircons that constrain depositional ages and provenance of the Lancang Group, previously assigned to the Simao Block, and the Mengtong and Mengdingjie groups of the Baoshan Block. A metafelsic volcanic rock from the Mengtong Group yields a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 462 2 Ma. The depositional age for the previously inferred Neoproterozoic Lancang and Mengtong groups is re-interpreted as Early Paleozoic based on youngest detrital zircons and meta-volcanic age. Detrital U-Pb zircon analyses from the Baoshan Block define three distinctive age peaks at older Grenvillian (1200-1060 Ma), younger Grenvillian (960 Ma) and Pan-African (650-500 Ma), with Hf(t) values for each group similar to coeval detrital zircons from western Australia and northern India. This suggests that the Baoshan Block was situated in the transitional zone between northeast Greater India and northwest Australia on the Gondwana margin and received detritus from both these cratons. The Lancang Group yields a very similar detrital zircon age spectrum to that of the Baoshan Block but contrasts with that for the Simao Block. This suggests that the Lancang Group is underlain by a separate Lancang Block. Similar detrital zircon age spectra suggest that the Baoshan Block and the Lancang Block share common sources and that they were situated close to one another along the northern margin of East Gondwana during the Early Paleozoic. The new detrital zircon data in combination with previously published data for East Gondwana margin blocks suggests the Early Paleozoic Proto-Tethys represents a narrow ocean basin separating an 'Asian Hun superterrane' (North China, South China, Tarim, Indochina and North Qiangtang blocks) from the northern margin of Gondwana during the Late Neoproterozoic-Early Paleozoic. The Proto-Tethys closed in the Silurian at ca. 440-420 Ma when this 'Asian Hun superterrane' collided with the northern Gondwana margin. Subsequently, the Lancang Block is interpreted to have separated from the Baoshan Block during the Early Devonian when the Paleo-Tethys opened as a back-arc basin

Tracking India within precambrian supercontinent cycles

The term supercontinent generally implies grouping of formerly dispersed continents and/or their fragments in a close packing accounting for about 75% of earth’s landmass in a given interval of geologic time. The assembly and disruption of supercontinents rely on plate tectonic processes, and therefore, much speculation is involved particularly considering the debates surrounding the applicability of differential plate motion, the key to plate tectonics during the early Precambrian. The presence of Precambrian orogenic belts in all major continents is often considered as the marker of ancient collisional or accretionary sutures, which provide us clues to the history of periodic assembly of ancient supercontinents. Testing of any model assembly/breakup depends on precise age data and paleomagnetic pole reconstruction. The record of dispersal of the continents and release of enormous stress lie in extensional geological features, such as rift valleys, regionally extensive flood basalts, granite-rhyolite terrane, anorthosite complexes, mafic dyke swarms, and remnants of ancient mid-oceanic ridges. Indian shield with extensive Precambrian rock records is known to bear signatures of the past supercontinents in a fragmentary manner. Vast tracts of Precambrian rocks exposed in peninsular India and in the Lesser Himalaya and the Shillong plateau further north and east provide valuable clues to global tectonic reconstructions and the geodynamics of the respective periods. The Indian shield is a mosaic of Archean cratonic nuclei surrounded by Proterozoic orogenic belts, which preserve the records of geologic events since the Paleoarchean/Eoarchean. Here we discuss the sojourn of the Indian plate from the Archean through Proterozoic, in light of available models for supercontinent assembly and breakup in the Precambrian. We also discuss the issues in constraining the configuration, which is mainly due to scanty exposures, lack of reliable paleomagnetic poles from different cratons, and their time of formation or amalgamation. In this chapter, we briefly review Precambrian geology of India to track her participation in the making of the supercontinents through time.Sarbani Patranabis-Deb, Dilip Saha, and M. Santos