Calibration and validation of an algorithm for remote sensing of turbidity over La Plata river estuary, Argentina

The La Plata River, located at 35°S on the Atlantic coast, is one of the largest waterways of South America. It carries a large amount of suspended particulate and dissolved organic matter, and is considered among the most turbid waters of the world. Very high values of total suspended matter have been reported in this region, with mean values ranging from 100 to 300 g m-3 and extreme concentrations up to 400 g m-3. Satellite sensors have shown to be the best tools available to map river plumes and to study their influence on the adjacent ocean. However, global algorithms for remotely estimating sediment concentration are not currently available. Moreover, such high sediment loads represent a challenge to atmospheric correction algorithms which usually rely on the assumption of zero water-leaving reflectance in the near infrared or short wave infrared part of the spectrum (black pixel assumption). In the extremely turbid waters of La Plata Estuary such assumptions are not valid. A two band algorithm to estimate turbidity using near infrared and the short wave infrared bands (858 nm and 1240 nm) of the MODIS-Aqua sensor is presented. The model is calibrated using in situ reflectance and turbidity measurements from turbid waters of the Southern North Sea and Scheldt River (Belgium) and then applied to MODIS imagery of La Plata River estuary (Argentina). A good correlation was found between modelled and in situ turbidity values when the algorithm was applied to concurrent MODIS imagery. Moreover, satellite-derived turbidity maps show a spatial distribution of sediment consistent with patterns and characteristic features of the estuary

Spawning and fecundity of the white croaker Micropogonias furnieri Desma rest, 1823 of the Rio de la Plata estuary, Argentina

Se estima la fecundidad parcial y relativa de la corvina rubia Micropogonias furnieri Desmarest, 1823 del Río de la Plata, se calcula su frecuencia reproductiva y se analizan los movimientos de los grupos desovantes durante la reproducción. El estudio se realizó en la zona común de pesca argentino-uruguaya (Atlántico sudoccidental, 34°-39° 30'S) durante el mes de noviembre. Se utilizaron 373 hembras para el análisis histológico de los ovarios, de las que se seleccionaron 31 ejemplares en estadio de hidratación ovocitaria para la determinación de la fecundidad a partir del conteo de ovoritos hidratados por el método gravimétrico. La frecuencia reproductiva se estimó calculando el porcentaje de hembras con folículos postovulatorios en las muestras. El desove de la corvina rubia se concentra en el sector interno del estuario del Río de la Plata en coincidencia con el frente salino de fondo. En el resto del estuario las hembras se encuentran activas, en fase de recuperación gonadal, desplazándose posteriormente hacia el sector interno, donde completan la maduración y desovan. La frecuencia reproductiva promedio fue de 12 días; la fecundidad parcial varió entre 50 000 y 750 000 ovocitos para un rango de tallas entre 31 cm y 62 cm de longitud total, observándose un ajuste de tipo potencial en relación con la longitud total y un ajuste lineal en relación con el peso total (libre de ovamos). La fecundidad relativa presentó un valor promedio de 232 ovocitos por gramo de hembra (libre de ovarios), encontrándose una relación positiva con la talla de los ejemplares.Relative fecundity, batch fecundity and spawning frequency of white croaker Micropogonias furnieri Desmarest, 1823 of the Rio de la Plata estuary were estimated. Displacements of the spawning groups during the reproductive season were also analysed. The study was carried out in the Argentine-Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone (South-west Atlantic, 34°-39° 3O'S), during November For the histological analysis of ovaries, 373 females were sampled. Thirty-one individuals with hydrated ovaries were selected for the fecundity estimates. The number of hydrated oocytes was determined with the gravimetric method, and the spawning frequency was estimated from the daily proportion of females with postovulatory follicles. Micropogonias furnieri spawns in the inner zone of the Rio de la Plata estuary, in coincidence with the bottom saline front. In the rest of the estuary, the individuals remain in the partially spent stage, moving afterwards to the inner sector where they reach maturity, and spawn. Mean spawning frequency was 12 days, and batch fecundity ranged between 50000 to 750 000 oocytes for females between 31-62 cm, total length. The relationship of batch fecundity vs total length presented a better fit to the potential model, while the regression batch fecundity vs total weight (ovary-free) was lineal. The mean relative fecundity was 232 oocytes per female gram (ovary-free), showing a positive relationship with total length.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

Propriedades físicas de sementes de sorgo.

Edição dos Anais do XIX Congresso Brasileiro de Sementes, Foz do Iguaçu, 2015

Nursing Diagnosis Risk for falls: prevalence and clinical profile of hospitalized patients

Objectives: to identify the prevalence of the Nursing Diagnosis (ND) Risk for falls in the hospitalizations of adult patients in clinical and surgical units, to characterize the clinical profile and to identify the risk factors of the patients with this ND. Method: a cross-sectional study with 174 patients. The data was collected from the computerized nursing care prescriptions system and on-line hospital records, and analyzed statistically. Results: the prevalence of the ND Risk for falls was 4%. The patients’ profile indicated older adults, males (57%), those hospitalized in the clinical units (63.2%), with a median length of hospitalization of 20 (10-24) days, with neurological illnesses (26%), cardio-vascular illnesses (74.1%) and various co-morbidities (3±1.8). The prevalent risk factors were neurological alterations (43.1%), impaired mobility (35.6%) and extremes of age (10.3%). Conclusion: the findings contributed to evidencing the profile of the patients with a risk of falling hospitalized in clinical and surgical wards, which favors the planning of interventions for preventing this adverse event

Bycatch of franciscana dolphins Pontoporia blainvillei and the dynamic of artisanal fisheries in the species' southernmost area of distribution

Na Argentina, a toninha é um dos cetáceos mais vulneráveis devido às capturas por rede de pesca artesanal. O presente estudo teve como objetivo estimar as capturas acidentais no sul da província de Buenos Aires, através de entrevistas aos capitães de barcos de pesca artesanal, entre os anos 2006-2009. As capturas foram reportadas para redes de emalhe e de camarão; com as mais altas frequências entre outubro e fevereiro, a 5 km da costa e 10-20 m de profundidade. A mortalidade acidental média anual estimada foi de 107 golfinhos (IC 95% = 87-129), 92 em redes de emalhe (IC 95% = 73-112) e 15 em redes de camarão (IC 95% = 8-25), com uma captura de 0,029 golfinhos/km de rede de emalhe (IC 95% = 0,023-0,036) e 0,024/rede de camarão (IC 95% = 0,012-0,035). As flutuações anuais responderam principalmente às diferenças nos dias de pesca. Considerando o último levantamento estimativo feito para o norte costeiro da província, estima-se uma mortalidade entre 360-539 golfinhos/ano em toda a província de Buenos Aires. Esses valores correspondem de 2,5-3,7% da abundância populacional da Argentina; o que traria como consequência um declínio populacional da espécie, tornando-se fundamental encontrar alternativas de pesca para a área.In Argentina, the franciscana dolphin is one of the most vulnerable cetaceans regularly entangled in coastal artisanal fishery nets. The aim of this paper is to estimate the species' incidental mortality on the Southern coast of Buenos Aires province through interviews with the captains of artisanal fishing vessels, in the period 2006-2009. Franciscana bycatch was reported for gillnets and shrimper gear all year round but it occurred more frequently between October and February, at 5 km offshore and 10-20 m depth. The estimated mean annual incidental mortality was 107 dolphins (CI 95% = 87-129), 92 caught in gillnets (CI 95% = 73-112) and 15 in shrimpers' gear (CI 95% = 8-25) with a capture per unit effort of 0.029 dolphins per km of gillnet (CI 95% = 0.023-0.036) and 0.022 per shrimpe r's net (CI 95% = 0.012-0.035). Annual fluctuations were due to differences in the number of gillnetting fishing days. If mortality estimates for the Northern coast are also taken into account, values attain a maximum of 360-539 dolphins bycaught in the entire Buenos Aires province, representing 2.5-3.7% of the species' abundance in Argentina. This will inevitably lead to the decline of franciscana dolphin populations in the near future unless alternative fishing grounds are identified and alternative gearadopted

Prioritization of knowledge-needs to achieve best practices for bottom trawling in relation to seabed habitats

Management and technical approaches that achieve a sustainable level of fish production while at the same time minimizing or limiting the wider ecological effects caused through fishing gear contact with the seabed might be considered to be ‘best practice’. To identify future knowledge-needs that would help to support a transition towards the adoption of best practices for trawling, a prioritization exercise was undertaken with a group of 39 practitioners from the seafood industry and management, and 13 research scientists who have an active research interest in bottom-trawl and dredge fisheries. A list of 108 knowledge-needs related to trawl and dredge fisheries was developed in conjunction with an ‘expert task force’. The long list was further refined through a three stage process of voting and scoring, including discussions of each knowledge-need. The top 25 knowledge-needs are presented, as scored separately by practitioners and scientists. There was considerable consistency in the priorities identified by these two groups. The top priority knowledge-need to improve current understanding on the distribution and extent of different habitat types also reinforced the concomitant need for the provision and access to data on the spatial and temporal distribution of all forms of towed bottom-fishing activities. Many of the other top 25 knowledge-needs concerned the evaluation of different management approaches or implementation of different fishing practices, particularly those that explore trade-offs between effects of bottom trawling on biodiversity and ecosystem services and the benefits of fish production as food.Fil: Kaiser, Michel J.. Bangor University; Reino UnidoFil: Hilborn, Ray. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Jennings, Simon. Fisheries and Aquaculture Science; Reino UnidoFil: Amaroso, Ricky. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Andersen, Michael. Danish Fishermen; DinamarcaFil: Balliet, Kris. Sustainable Fisheries Partnership; Estados UnidosFil: Barratt, Eric. Sanford Limited; Nueva ZelandaFil: Bergstad, Odd A. Institute of Marine Research; NoruegaFil: Bishop, Stephen. Independent Fisheries Ltd; Nueva ZelandaFil: Bostrom, Jodi L. Marine Stewardship Council; Reino UnidoFil: Boyd, Catherine. Clearwater Seafoods; CanadáFil: Bruce, Eduardo A. Friosur S.A.; ChileFil: Burden, Merrick. Marine Conservation Alliance; Estados UnidosFil: Carey, Chris. Independent Fisheries Ltd.; Estados UnidosFil: Clermont, Jason. New England Aquarium; Estados UnidosFil: Collie, Jeremy S. University of Rhode Island,; Estados UnidosFil: Delahunty, Antony. National Federation of Fishermen; Reino UnidoFil: Dixon, Jacqui. Pacific Andes International Holdings Limited; ChinaFil: Eayrs, Steve. Gulf of Maine Research Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Edwards, Nigel. Seachill Ltd.; Reino UnidoFil: Fujita, Rod. Environmental Defense Fund; Reino UnidoFil: Gauvin, John. Alaska Seafood Cooperative; Estados UnidosFil: Gleason, Mary. The Nature Conservancy; Estados UnidosFil: Harris, Brad. Alaska Pacific University; Estados UnidosFil: He, Pingguo. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth; Estados UnidosFil: Hiddink, Jan G. Bangor University; Reino UnidoFil: Hughes, Kathryn M. Bangor University; Reino UnidoFil: Inostroza, Mario. EMDEPES; ChileFil: Kenny, Andrew. Fisheries and Aquaculture Science; Reino UnidoFil: Kritzer, Jake. Environmental Defense Fund; Estados UnidosFil: Kuntzsch, Volker. Sanford Limited; Estados UnidosFil: Lasta, Mario. Diag. Montegrande N° 7078. Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Lopez, Ivan. Confederacion Española de Pesca; EspañaFil: Loveridge, Craig. South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation; Nueva ZelandaFil: Lynch, Don. Gorton; Estados UnidosFil: Masters, Jim. Marine Conservation Society; Reino UnidoFil: Mazor, Tessa. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research; AustraliaFil: McConnaughey, Robert A. US National Marine Fisheries Service; Estados UnidosFil: Moenne, Marcel. Pacificblu; ChileFil: Francis. Marine Scotland Science; Reino UnidoFil: Nimick, Aileen M. Alaska Pacific University; Estados UnidosFil: Olsen, Alex. A. Espersen; DinamarcaFil: Parker, David. Young; Reino UnidoFil: Parma, Ana María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Penney, Christine. Clearwater Seafoods; CanadáFil: Pierce, David. Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries; Estados UnidosFil: Pitcher, Roland. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research; AustraliaFil: Pol, Michael. Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries; Estados UnidosFil: Richardson, Ed. Pollock Conservation Cooperative; Estados UnidosFil: Rijnsdorp, Adriaan D. Wageningen IMARES; Países BajosFil: Rilatt, Simon. A. Espersen; DinamarcaFil: Rodmell, Dale P. National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations; Reino UnidoFil: Rose, Craig. FishNext Research; Estados UnidosFil: Sethi, Suresh A. Alaska Pacific University; Estados UnidosFil: Short, Katherine. F.L.O.W. Collaborative; Nueva ZelandaFil: Suuronen, Petri. Fisheries and Aquaculture Department; ItaliaFil: Taylor, Erin. New England Aquarium; Estados UnidosFil: Wallace, Scott. The David Suzuki Foundation; CanadáFil: Webb, Lisa. Gorton's Inc.; Estados UnidosFil: Wickham, Eric. Unit four –1957 McNicoll Avenue; CanadáFil: Wilding, Sam R. Monterey Bay Aquarium; Estados UnidosFil: Wilson, Ashley. Department for Environment; Reino UnidoFil: Winger, Paul. Memorial University Of Newfoundland; CanadáFil: Sutherland, William J. University of Cambridge; Reino Unid

Zygochlamys patagonica beds on the Argentinian shelf. Part II: Population dynamics of Z. patagonica

La dinámica de poblaciones del bivalvo Zygochlamys patagonica se investigo en el banco de moluscos ·' "Reclutas" en la plataforma continental argentina entre 1995 y 1998. Se observó un reclutamiento exitoso en 1994 y menos intenso en 1995 mientras que en 1996 y en 1998 no se detecto reclutamiento. El crecimiento individual se describió mejor con el modelo de von Bertalanffy H1 = 74.70 mm x (1- e-0.4l9 Cr - 0·314)) basado en observaciones de anillos de crecimiento. La formación anual de anillos de crecimiento naturales en la valva se validó con el análisis de isótopos estables (3180 y 313C). La relación producción anual-biomasa (P/B) decreció de 0.693 f 1 en 1995 a 0.638 y-1 en 1998 mientras que la producción aumentó de 21.1 g SFWM-m- -y-1 a 77.2 g SFWM-m-2-y-1. El musculo, el tejido blando y las gónadas contribuyeron con 37 %, 56 % y 7 % a la producción total, respectivamente. En promedio, la relación anual P/B fue 0.679 y-1 y la tasa de morcalidad Z, 1.039 y-1.Population dynamics of the scallop Zygochlamys patagonica were investigated on the scallop bed "Reclutas" on the Argentinian shelf between 1995 and 1998. Successful recruitment was observed in 1994 and to a lesser extent in 1995, whereas no recruitment occurred between 1996 and 1998. Individual .flrowth was described best by the von Bertalanffy growth model, H! = 74.70 mm x (1 - e-0. 9(r - 0.3t4>), based on natural growth rmg readmgs. Annual formation of natural growth rings in the shell was validated by stable isotope (6180 and 613C) analysis. The annual production-biomass ratio (P/B) decreased from 0.693 y-1 in 1995 to 0.638 r1 in 1998, whereas production increased from 21.1 g SFWM-m-2-y-1 to 77.2 gSFWM-m-2-y-. Muscle, soft tissue and gonad contributed 37 %, 56 % and 7 % to total production, respectively. On average, the annual P/B ratio was 0.679 y-1 and the mortality rate, Z was estimated to be 1.039 y-1.Fil: Lasta, Mario. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones y Desarrollo Pesquero; ArgentinaFil: Valero, Juan. Washington State University; Estados UnidosFil: Brey, Thomas. Polar and Marine Research; AlemaniaFil: Bremec, Claudia Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin