Long-term qualitative changes in fish populations and aquatic habitat in San Mateo Creek Lagoon, northern San Diego County, southern California, USA.

Observations beginning in 1974 and later surveys of increasing intensity with small seines, traps, and dipnets (1991 to mid-2008) documented patterns of abundance, colonization, and extirpation of 15 species of native and non-native fishes as well as crayfishes, and amphibians in the lagoon at the mouth of San Mateo Creek, northern San Diego County, California. Fish populations varied with Mediterranean climate patterns of stream flow and breaching of the lagoon to the ocean through the barrier sand berm. Two near-record rainfall seasons occurred during this period; the 1997-1998 El Niño due to southern storms and the 2004-2005 winter wet season of more usual storms from the north and northwest. The lagoon stabilized as fresh to brackish in the dry season and for multiple years during successive dry winters. Closed conditions benefitted the native, federally endangered Southern Tidewater Goby, Eucyclogobius n. sp., but were unsuitable for other native estuarine species more common in wetter years. Wet year flows also brought down non-native freshwater species to the lagoon; some thrived and increased predation pressure on the tidewater goby. Historically these exotics were absent and two additional native species were present in the lagoon, Partially Armored Threespine Stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, and the now federally endangered Southern Steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Restoring and maintaining a full suite of native species will require a combination of 1) habitat maintenance, 2) control or management of non-native species, and 3) reintroduction of some native fishes and amphibians to restore the faunal communities of remaining small coastal estuarine systems

A Research on the acceptability of commercial dog food among owners of unregistered dogs from economic brackets AB and C in selected residential areas in Quezon City

The aim of the study was to determine the acceptability of commercially prepared dog food among a cross-section of AB and C respondents in selected residential areas in Quezon City. The study further explored the dog\u27s and the owner\u27s profiles, the dog\u27s feeding habits, the incidence of usage and the buying patterns of dog owners. Results showed that there was a significant difference in the acceptability of commercially prepared dog food among the class AB and C. This signifies that a more receptive AB market could be opted as a target market, in lieu of the C market. The result was further reinforced by the data gathered regarding the incidence of usage and the potential acceptance of commercial dog food. Recommendations were made based on these findings. An in depth discussion of the other variables of the study, specific problems and recommendations were extensively discussed to further assess the market and provide a more comprehensive study

Long-term Qualitative Changes in Fish Populations and Aquatic Habitat in San Mateo Creek Lagoon, Northern San Diego County, California

Volume: 117Start Page: 1End Page: 2