Alien Registration- Hickley, Frank G. (Limestone, Aroostook County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/34178/thumbnail.jp

Development of a Functional Assessment Task for Aphasia Using Dual-Task Methodology

Concurrent task performances may reveal potentially important aspects of cognitive efficiency that are otherwise not tested. We describe the development of a functional task using dual-task methodology – a catalog-ordering task. The task’s lexical and syntactic characteristics are described. Its validity and feasibility were demonstrated based on the performances of 10 adults with aphasia and seven adults without aphasia. An additional 15 adults without aphasia performed the task at two test times separated by six to eight weeks and demonstrated high test-retest reliability. Scoring reliability was also high. The catalog-ordering task holds promise as an outcome tool for aphasia

Seasonal development and pathological changes associated with the parasitic nematode Philometroides sanguineus in wild crucian carp Carassius carassius (L.) in England

Pathological changes associated with the parasitic nematode Philometroides sanguineus (Rudolphi, 1819) are described for the first time from observations of infections in wild crucian carp Carassius carassius (L.) in England. The damage caused by P. sanguineus was influenced strongly by host size, parasite development and the seasonal migrations of female nematodes within host tissues. Male and unfertilized female nematodes located on the swim-bladder wall caused only minor, localized changes. In contrast, the migration of gravid female nematodes into the fins during autumn provoked an acute inflammatory response comprising neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes. This was accompanied by fin distortion, swelling of the dorsal and caudal tissues, degenerative changes and localized oedema. The encapsulation of female nematodes in connective tissue throughout winter limited additional tissue damage. The emergence of gravid nematodes from the fins in spring to facilitate larval dispersal caused necrosis, hyperplasia and loss of skin integrity. This activity was again accompanied by acute inflammatory reactions. Pathological changes were more severe in crucian carp measuring less than 60 mm in length, with no signs of debilitation in larger fish. These observations suggest that any impact of P. sanguineus is strictly seasonal and may be limited to fry. Lesions caused by this parasite, only recently recorded in Britain, may represent an additional pressure upon wild crucian carp populations already threatened by hybridization, competition and habitat loss

Prioritization of fish communities with a view to conservation and restoration on a large scale European basin, the Loire (France)

The hierarchical organization of important sites for the conservation or the restoration of fish communities is a great challenge for managers, especially because of financial or time constraints. In this perspective, we developed a methodology, which is easy to implement in different locations. Based on the fish assemblage characteristics of the Loire basin (France), we created a synthetic conservation value index including the rarity, the conservation status and the species origin. The relationship between this new synthetic index and the Fish-Based Index allowed us to establish a classification protocol of the sites along the Loire including fish assemblages to be restored or conserved. Sites presenting disturbed fish assemblages, a low rarity index, few threatened species, and a high proportion of non-native species were considered as important for the restoration of fish biodiversity. These sites were found mainly in areas where the assemblages are typical of the bream zone, e.g. with a higher number of eurytopic and limnophilic species. On the contrary, important sites for conservation were defined as having an important conservation potential (high RI, a lot of threatened species, and few nonnatives fish species) and an undisturbed fish assemblage similar to the expected community if habitats are undisturbed. Important sites for conservation were found in the Loire basin’s medium reaches which host assemblages typical for the grayling and the barbell zones, e.g. with a higher number of rheophilic species. The synthetic conservation value index could be adapted and completed with other criteria according to management priorities and capacities

Assessing recreational fisheries in an emerging economy: Knowledge,perceptions and attitudes of catch-and-release anglers in India

ABSTRACT: Across the globe, catch-and-release (C&R) angling represents a leisure activity indulged by millions. The practice of C&R is commonly advocated by conservation managers because of its potential to protect local fish populations from a range of anthropogenic threats, including over-fishing. In India, C&R angling in fresh waters has a history dating back to colonial times. Despite this, little is known about the current state of the sector. To address this, an online web-based survey was conducted to target C&R anglers who fish in Indian rivers to assess their knowledge, attitudes and perceptions relating to the status of India's freshwater C&R fisheries. From a total of 148 responses, factors such as angling quality (score of 4.6/5.0); aesthetics of surroundings (4.6/5.0), presence of other wildlife (4.4/5.0), fishery management practices (4.6/5.0) and socioeconomic benefits (4.4/5.0) were evaluated. Over 65% (n = 148) of the anglers reported an observed decrease in the quality of fishing (e.g. a reduction in the size and/or numbers of fish available for capture). Respondents also considered deforestation (score of 4.2/5.0), water abstraction (4.4/5.0), pollution (4.4/5.0), hydropower projects (4.2/5.0) and destructive fishing techniques (4.7/5.0) as factors which threaten both the habitat and species they target. C&R practitioners were largely united regarding the benefits and willingness to contribute both their time and financial input to support conservation initiatives (score of 4.7/5.0). The current study provides the first overview of the status of C&R angling in India and explores challenges, opportunities, and priorities for future resource management

Life history characteristics of a potential invasive Ponto-Caspian goby, Neogobius fluviatilis in natural lakes from its native range (Black Sea region of Turkey)

To fill the gap in and provide baseline knowledge for developing increased understandings of the factors driving the invasiveness of the Ponto-Caspian gobiid Neogobius fluviatilis, their life history traits (as somatic growth and reproduction) were studied in three natural freshwater lakes in its native range. These populations were characterised by slow somatic growth rates, being the slowest reported across all of their native and non-native ranges. Ages were recorded to seven years old. Across the three lakes, there was considerable variability in their sex ratios and reproductive traits (including length at maturity and fecundity at length and age), revealing considerable inter-population variability. These data thus suggest N. fluviatilis has considerable plasticity in the expression of their life history traits, with this plasticity argued as a key factor in facilitating their ability to establish and invade new waters following introductions

Influences of angler subsidies on the trophic ecology of European barbel Barbus barbus

European barbel Barbus barbus is a recreationally important riverine fish that is widely introduced outside of its natural range. Contemporary angling practices for B. barbus involve the use of baits based on marine fishmeal (MF). MF is isotopically distinct from freshwater prey via highly enriched δ13C and thus its dietary influence on B. barbus can be tested via differences in fractionation factors (Δ13C). Correspondingly, stable isotope data from 11 riverine B. barbus populations tested how their trophic ecology varied across populations according to MF from angling. Δ13C of fish with macroinvertebrate prey resources varied within and between populations (range 0.90 to 10.13 ‰) and indicated that, within populations, up to 71 % of B. barbus had relatively high dietary contributions of MF. These contributions were significantly and positively related to fish length, with MF influences increasingly apparent as fish length increased. Population isotopic niche sizes increased as the dietary influence of MF in that population increased. These results indicated that whilst MF from angling can act as a strong trophic subsidy, its influence varies spatially and with fish length, with its use as a food resource by B. barbus generally involving dietary specializations of larger-bodied individuals