Advances in Understanding the Drivers of Change and Potential Conservation Actions for Pacific Herring in the Salish Sea

Advances in Understanding the Drivers of Change and Potential Conservation Actions for Pacific Herring in the Salish Sea This session offered the latest results from researchers in the USA and Canada based upon cutting-edge approaches to understanding what limits Pacific herring populations in the Salish Sea, which are in decline in many places, and what management actions can be taken to ensure their recovery and conservation. Margaret (Megsie) Siple described the importance of population diversity in Pacific herring for maintaining their overall stability (i.e., portfolio effects), and presented population model results showing increased adult mortality and age truncation (i.e., loss of older ages) over recent decades. Lorenz Hauser showed the most recent genetic microsatellite support for metapopulation structure in Puget Sound herring, i.e., subpopulations going extinct and recolonizing, driven by a combination of spawn timing and geographic distance, potentially with learned social migration behavior. Herring genetic diversity based upon spawn timing was further supported by Eleni Petrou’s work; Petrou used an advanced restriction site-associated (RAD) sequencing approach to determine that genetic differentiation increases with difference in spawn timing. Petrou’s results also supported the idea that populations with similar spawn timing are connected by migration. Finally, two presentations shed new light on potential challenges to early life stages of herring. Brooke Love presented recent research showing that high temperatures result in larval mortality and abnormalities, while adding acidified conditions (high pCO2 levels) to high temperatures additionally led to respiratory difficulties, suggesting that both warming and acidification are factors that negatively affect herring development. Louisa Harding presented results showing for the first time that herring are also negatively impacted by stormwater runoff: inability to mobilize yolk energy stores, and cardiac stress when exposed to stormwater. Together, these results fill some major gaps in our understanding about limitations to recovery for herring in the Salish Sea, and suggest potential ways forward

Key factors influencing change in Pacific herring populations: a qualitative network model approach

Pacific herring are a foundational species in the Salish Sea, providing important cultural, social, economic, and ecological benefits throughout the ecosystem. While herring are common across the Salish Sea, patterns of their abundance in recent years vary spatially. Herring are subject to many factors that may influence their abundance and distribution, but there is no agreement on what the key factors are or, therefore, how to address local declines and support herring resilience. Here, we present results from a qualitative network model of the herring ecological system evaluating the relative support for the influence of different possible factors on herring populations in the Salish Sea. Expert elicitation and data synthesis were used to develop a conceptual model of herring, their food web, environmental drivers (including plankton), and hypotheses about key stressors on herring populations, including shoreline development, disease, predation, fishing, and prey limitation. Based on this conceptual model, a qualitative network model is developed, which directly connects ecosystem components using positive, negative, or neutral links. By simulating perturbations via an increase in one or more nodes, and comparing predicted outcomes to data observations, the model evaluates the relative support for each potential stressor, and multiple stressors in aggregate, as limiting factors for herring populations in the Salish Sea. By accounting for indirect effects and positive and negative feedbacks, the qualitative network model allows for comparisons between scenarios under which individual and multiple factors have direct impacts on herring at different life stages. This tool will thus identify which are the key factors linked to observed changes in the abundance and distribution of herring, and therefore what management actions can be taken to ensure the resilience of this critical resource

Gaucher disease and the synucleinopathies: refining the relationship

Gaucher disease (OMIM 230800, 230900, 231000), the most common lysosomal storage disorder, is due to a deficiency in the enzyme glucocerebrosidase. Gaucher patients display a wide spectrum of clinical presentation, with hepatosplenomegaly, haematological changes, and orthopaedic complications being the predominant symptoms. Gaucher disease is classified into three broad phenotypes based upon the presence or absence of neurological involvement: Type 1 (non-neuronopathic), Type 2 (acute neuronopathic), and Type 3 (subacute neuronopathic). Nearly 300 mutations have been identified in Gaucher patients, with the majority being missense mutations. Though studies of genotype-to-phenotype correlations have revealed significant heterogeneity, some consistent patterns have emerged to inform prognostic and therapeutic decisions. Recent research has highlighted a potential role for Gaucher disease in other comorbidities such as cancer and Parkinson's Disease. In this review, we will examine the potential relationship between Gaucher disease and the synucleinopathies, a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the development of intracellular aggregates of α-synuclein. Possible mechanisms of interaction will be discussed

Synthesis of Results from Twelve Puget Sound Regulatory Effectiveness and Incentive Investigations

Between 2011 and 2014, the Puget Sound Marine and Nearshore Grant Program funded twelve projects relating to shoreline regulatory and incentive programs. Here we provide an overview of overarching themes that emerged from a review of the projects in aggregate. Despite the different approaches to problem identification, data collection, and analysis in these investigations, the conclusions reached and recommendations made are remarkably similar. Key findings and implications of our analysis relate to: (1) armoring compliance rates; (2) compliance monitoring methodologies; (3) local Shoreline Master Program (SMP) capacity limitations; (4) SMP implementation improvements; and (5) incentive programs to encourage the use of alternative shore protection techniques. This type of synthesis and analysis of program results is a critical component of adaptive management. Findings are being used to inform next steps for Puget Sound recovery efforts funded under the National Estuary Program

Gaucher Disease and Cancer: Concept and Controversy

Gaucher disease is an inherited disorder caused by a deficiency in the lysosomal hydrolase glucocerebrosidase. There is a wide spectrum of clinical presentations, with the most common features being hepatosplenomegaly, skeletal disease, and cytopenia. Gaucher disease has been classified into three broad phenotypes based upon the presence or absence of neurological involvement: Type 1 (nonneuronopathic), Type 2 (acute neuronopathic), and Type 3 (subacute neuronopathic). The two main treatment options include enzyme replacement therapy and substrate reduction therapy. Recently, discussion has escalated around the association of Gaucher disease and cancer, with conflicting reports as to whether Gaucher patients have an increased risk of malignancy. In this review, we present both the concept and controversy surrounding the association of Gaucher disease with cancer

Biocomplexity in Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) of Puget Sound, USA

Small-scale genetic and demographic diversity can stabilize populations on a larger scale. However, subpopulations of pelagic fish species can be difficult to distinguish. Here, we examine demographic diversity in 21 stocks of Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) in Puget Sound, USA using a multivariate auto-regressive state-space (MARSS) model, and data from both acoustic surveys paired with trawls, and subtidal egg surveys to estimate population growth trends. Herring populations associated with individual spawning beaches are asynchronous, but share a common negative growth rate across the Puget Sound estuary. We found that both survey techniques observe the same underlying demographic processes, and that egg surveys are a more accurate estimator of total spawning biomass. We used states obtained from MARSS analysis to measure portfolio effects in Puget Sound herring, and found that the Puget Sound population as a whole is stabilized by the presence of several separate spawning subpopulations. Available environmental data was not sufficient to explain variations in spawning biomass; however, herring may respond to spawning site conditions that aren’t currently measured

Parent-offspring conflict over reproductive timing: ecological dynamics far away and at other times may explain spawning variability in Pacific herring

Timing of reproduction may be of crucial importance for fitness, particularly in environments that vary seasonally in food availability or predation risk. However, for animals with spatially separated feeding and breeding habitats, optimal reproductive timing may differ between parents and their offspring, leading to parent-offspring conflict. We assume that offspring have highest survival and fitness if they are spawned around a fixed date, and use state-dependent life-history theory to explore whether variation in conditions affecting only parents (food availability and survival) may influence optimal timing of reproduction. We apply the model to Pacific herring (Clupea palasii) in Puget Sound, USA, where 20 subpopulations spawn at different times of the year. Our model suggests that relatively small differences in adult food availability can lead to altered prioritization in the trade-off between maternal fecundity and what from the offspring’s perspective is the best time to be spawned. Our model also shows that observed among-population variability in reproductive timing may result from adults using different feeding grounds with divergent food dynamics, or from individual variation in condition caused by stochasticity at a single feeding ground. Identifying drivers of reproductive timing may improve predictions of recruitment, population dynamics, and responses to environmental change.publishedVersio

Designing and evaluating falls prevention education with residents and staff in aged care homes: A feasibility study

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to co-design a falls prevention education programme with aged care home residents and staff and evaluate its feasibility. The intention of providing the education programme was to assist residents to stay safe and mobile whilst reducing their risk of falling. Design/methodology/approach: A two-phase mixed methods participatory design using a resident (n = 6) and care staff (n = 5) consumer engagement panel, pre- and post-programme resident (n = 35) survey and semi-structured care staff interviews (n = 8) was undertaken in two countries. Findings: A poster, brochure, video and staff education guide featuring 12 safety messages depicting fall prevention behaviours were co-designed. Residents, supported by staff, perceived the falls prevention education programme as enjoyable and informative, but there were no significant differences in capability, opportunity or motivation. However, several residents were observed enacting fall prevention behaviours such as “If I feel unwell, I\u27ll ring the bell” and waiting for staff assistance. Challenges to programme demand, acceptability and implementation which may have impacted residents\u27 exposure and engagement with the programme were identified, along with recommendations to improve feasibility. Practical implications: When developing falls prevention education programmes partnering with residents and staff, providing choices to meet personal and aesthetic preferences along with frequent, shorter duration learning opportunities are important for translating education messages into actions. Originality/value: The use of bespoke resources, novel rhymes, positive messages emphasising safety and co-designing with residents themselves was a welcomed point of programme difference

Evaluation of older people\u27s knowledge, awareness, motivation and perceptions about falls and falls prevention in residential aged care homes: A tale of two cities

Falls prevention strategies can only be effective in reducing falls amongst older people if they are adopted and enacted in their daily lives. There is limited evidence identifying what older people in residential aged care (RAC) homes understand about falls and falls prevention, or what may limit or enable their adoption of strategies. This study was conducted in two countries and explored older people’s knowledge and awareness of falls and their preferences, opportunities and motivation to undertake falls prevention strategies. A cross-sectional survey was administered to participants (N = 70) aged 65 years and over, living in six RAC homes in Perth, Australia and six RAC homes in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Participants had limited knowledge about intrinsic falls risk factors and strategies to address these and frequently expressed self-blame regarding falling. Almost all (N = 67, 95.7%) participants felt highly motivated to maintain their current functional mobility and independence in everyday tasks. Key preferences for receiving falls prevention messages favoured a positive approach promoting wellness and independence (N = 41, 58.6%) via pictorial posters or brochures (N = 37, 52.9%) and small group discussions preferably with demonstrations (N = 18, 25.7%). Findings from this study may assist organisations and staff to more effectively engage with older people living in RAC about falls prevention and design targeted resources to address the motivations and preferences of this population