Live transport of the green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) in air and immersed in seawater and the impact on subsequent roe enhancement after in-water transport

publishedVersio

Effect of Season and Increased Temperature on Survival, Roe Enhancement, and Reproductive Cycle of the Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) Collected from Four Relatively Close Sites in Northern Norway

A series of three trials were conducted in the North of Norway at different times of the year. The trials consisted of harvesting sea urchins from four sites, situated within 5 km of each other and then holding them in land-based enhancement facilities. They were held at ambient seawater temperatures as well as ambient plus 3.0°C. Samples were taken from the wild at the time of collection and at the end of the enhancement period as well as from the enhanced sea urchins from each site. Results showed that utilising the sea urchins from a variety of sites, even from areas where there is an abundance of sea urchins (sea urchin barrens) and the Gonad Index (GI) is almost always low, is viable in terms of the final, post roe enhancement GI. The results of the study indicate that differences in initial and final GI and the increase in GI between the sites, despite the relatively close proximity, show site selection is most likely not as important as ease of harvesting and sea urchin availability and the positive environmental impact from removal of sea urchins and these are the factors that harvesting strategies should focus on. The study has shown that it is possible to have a relatively consistent roe enhancement from S. droebachiensis from the North of Norway regardless of seasonality (time of year), site selection, and initial GI. Relatively small changes (up to 3°C) in the seawater temperature appear to have a slightly negative impact on enhancement efforts. However, this may vary when larger differences in temperature are experienced.Effect of Season and Increased Temperature on Survival, Roe Enhancement, and Reproductive Cycle of the Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) Collected from Four Relatively Close Sites in Northern NorwaypublishedVersio

Effects of Changing Climate and Water Availability on Four Riparian Species in the Southwestern United States

The Lower Colorado River and Rio Grande Basins are home to many riparian species of different degrees of rarity. In our study we focused on two species of birds and two species of gartersnakes that are associated with water: the Yellow-Breasted Chat (Icteria virens), the American Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia), the Mexican Gartersnake (Thamnophis eques) and the Narrow-headed Gartersnake (T. rufipunctatus). While the extent of distributions of these species is relatively large, they are often patchily distributed in populations that are small. To evaluate the vulnerability of these species at a landscape scale due to changes in hydrology, we built models of suitability of current and future landscapes for these species. We relied on climatic and hydrological predictions, developed by the Bureau of Reclamation (as part of the WATERSmart program) and NASA’s Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), to derive spatially-explicit metrics that quantify the greenness of riparian vegetation in time. Using WATERSmart data, we were able to project these metrics into the future. The projected changes in water availability by end of the century will directly affect the availability of permanent water and riparian vegetation that surrounds suitable habitats of our study species. Our results suggest significant changes in future landscape suitability (up to 64% of area) for all species that are in addition to other threats. Best models included riparian vegetation as an important component of the predictions but we note that finer scale examination of hydrology and climate effects on habitats would be more useful for effective management

Final Report: Predicting Effects of Climate Change on Riparian Obligate Species in the Southwestern United States

The Lower Colorado River and Rio Grande Basins are home to many riparian vertebrate species with different degrees of rarity. In our study, we focused on two species of birds and two species of gartersnakes that are associated with riparian areas: the Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens), the Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia), the Northern Mexican Gartersnake (Thamnophis eques megalops) and the Narrow-headed Gartersnake (T. rufipunctatus). While the extent of distributions of these species is relatively large, they are often patchily distributed in populations that are small; in addition, both gartersnake species are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Aside from detrimental effects of direct habitat loss and degradation throughout the southwestern United States, future changes in water availability might threaten the long-term persistence of populations of any one of these species. To evaluate this vulnerability at a landscape scale, we built species distribution models under current and future projected climates for each species. For modeling, we relied on climatic and hydrological predictions (downscaled CMIP3 climate and hydrology projections) developed by the Bureau of Reclamation and its partners as part of the West-Wide Climate Risk Assessments within the WATERSmart initiative. We also relied on NASAs Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to derive a spatially explicit index that quantifies riparian vegetation in space and time. Using downscaled climate projections and other landscape data, we were able to project these riparian vegetation metric forward in time. The projected changes in water availability by end of the century will directly affect the availability of permanent water and riparian vegetation creating the habitats of our study species. Our results suggest significant and negative changes in future landscape suitability for all species (up to 64% loss of suitable area), which are in addition to already identified threats facing these species. Best models included the index of riparian vegetation (linked to water availability) as an important component of the predictions, but we also note that finer scale examination of hydrology and climate effects on habitats would be much more useful for effective management.\u2

of Education or Offices within it. NCEO Core Staff

assessment: Results of a comparative study (Technical Report 64). Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota, National Center on Educationa

Roles of P2 receptors in glial cells: focus on astrocytes

Central nervous system glial cells release and respond to nucleotides under both physiological and pathological conditions, suggesting that these molecules play key roles in both normal brain function and in repair after damage. In particular, ATP released from astrocytes activates P2 receptors on astrocytes and other brain cells, allowing a form of homotypic and heterotypic signalling, which also involves microglia, neurons and oligodendrocytes. Multiple P2X and P2Y receptors are expressed by both astrocytes and microglia; however, these receptors are differentially recruited by nucleotides, depending upon specific pathophysiological conditions, and also mediate the long-term trophic changes of these cells during inflammatory gliosis. In astrocytes, P2-receptor-induced gliosis occurs via activation of the extracellular-regulated kinases (ERK) and protein kinase B/Akt pathways and involves induction of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory genes, cyclins, adhesion and antiapoptotic molecules. While astrocytic P2Y1 and P2Y2,4 are primarily involved in short-term calcium-dependent signalling, multiple P2 receptor subtypes seem to cooperate to astrocytic long-term changes. Conversely, in microglia, exposure to inflammatory and immunological stimuli results in differential functional changes of distinct P2 receptors, suggesting highly specific roles in acquisition of the activated phenotype. We believe that nucleotide-induced activation of astrocytes and microglia may originally start as a defence mechanism to protect neurons from cytotoxic and ischaemic insults; dysregulation of this process in chronic inflammatory diseases eventually results in neuronal cell damage and loss. On this basis, full elucidation of the specific roles of P2 receptors in these cells may help exploit the beneficial neuroprotective features of activated glia while attenuating their harmful properties and thus provide the basis for novel neuroprotective strategies that specifically target the purinergic system

Progress and prospects for event tourism research

This paper examines event tourism as a field of study and area of professional practice updating the previous review article published in 2008. In this substantially extended review, a deeper analysis of the field’s evolution and development is presented, charting the growth of the literature, focusing both chronologically and thematically. A framework for understanding and creating knowledge about events and tourism is presented, forming the basis which signposts established research themes and concepts and outlines future directions for research. In addition, the review article focuses on constraining and propelling forces, ontological advances, contributions from key journals, and emerging themes and issues. It also presents a roadmap for research activity in event tourism