Diving into the vertical dimension of elasmobranch movement ecology

Knowledge of the three-dimensional movement patterns of elasmobranchs is vital to understand their ecological roles and exposure to anthropogenic pressures. To date, comparative studies among species at global scales have mostly focused on horizontal movements. Our study addresses the knowledge gap of vertical movements by compiling the first global synthesis of vertical habitat use by elasmobranchs from data obtained by deployment of 989 biotelemetry tags on 38 elasmobranch species. Elasmobranchs displayed high intra- and interspecific variability in vertical movement patterns. Substantial vertical overlap was observed for many epipelagic elasmobranchs, indicating an increased likelihood to display spatial overlap, biologically interact, and share similar risk to anthropogenic threats that vary on a vertical gradient. We highlight the critical next steps toward incorporating vertical movement into global management and monitoring strategies for elasmobranchs, emphasizing the need to address geographic and taxonomic biases in deployments and to concurrently consider both horizontal and vertical movements

Fine-scale habitat preference of green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) within three spawning locations in the Sacramento River, California

Vast sections of the Sacramento River have been listed as critical habitat by the National Marine Fisheries Service for green sturgeon spawning (Acipenser medirostris), yet spawning is known to occur at only a few specific locations. This study reveals the range of physical habitat variables selected by adult green sturgeon during their spawning period. We integrated fine-scale fish positions, physical habitat characteristics, discharge, bathymetry, and simulated velocity and depth using a 2-dimensional hydraulic model (FaSTMECH). The objective was to create habitat suitability curves for depth, velocity, and substrate type within three known spawning locations over two years. An overall cumulative habitat suitability score was calculated that averaged the depth, velocity, and substrate scores over all fish, sites, and years. A weighted usable area (WUA) index was calculated throughout the sampling periods for each of the three sites. Cumulative results indicate that the microhabitat characteristics most preferred by green sturgeon in these three spawning locations were velocities between 1.0-1.1 m/s, depths of 8-9 m, and gravel and sand substrate. This study provides guidance for those who may in the future want to increase spawning habitat for green sturgeon within the Sacramento River.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Influência do peso inicial de pintos de corte sobre o desempenho e o rendimento de carcaça de frangos e a viabilidade econômica da produção Effect of broiler chicken initial weight on performance, carcass yield and economic viability

Este estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do peso corporal ao primeiro dia de idade sobre o desempenho, o rendimento de carcaça e dos cortes e a viabilidade econômica da produção de frangos de corte. Foram utilizados 1.984 pintos AgRoss 308, machos e fêmeas, com diferentes pesos iniciais (32, 35, 40 e 49 g), distribuídos em um delineamento em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial com oito tratamentos (dois sexos x quatro pesos iniciais), quatro repetições e 62 aves por parcela. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias foram comparadas pelo teste Tukey a 5% para os diferentes pesos iniciais. Não houve interação significativa sexo <FONT FACE=Symbol>&acute;</FONT> peso inicial do pinto. Os frangos machos apresentaram melhor desempenho em todos os tratamentos e períodos estudados. O peso inicial do pinto influenciou o peso vivo, o ganho de peso e o consumo de ração nos diferentes períodos de crescimento, além do índice de eficiência produtiva (pintos mais pesados apresentaram, aos 47 dias de idade, melhores resultados de desempenho), mas não alterou o rendimento de carcaça ou de partes. Quanto aos aspectos econômicos, pintos mais pesados proporcionaram maior rendimento econômico.<br>The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of body weight (BW) of 1-d chicks on performance, yields of carcass and prime cuts and economic viability. One thousand, nine hundred and eight-four AGRoss 308 chicks (males and females) with different initial BW (32, 35, 40 and 49 g) were allotted to a randomized block design with a 2 x 4 (two sexes and four initial BW) factorial arrangement with eight treatments, four replicates and 62 birds per experimental per plot. Data were submitted to variance analyses and the means, compared by Tukey test (5%). No significant sex <FONT FACE=Symbol>&acute;</FONT> chick initial BW interaction was observed. Males showed better performance than females in all treatments and periods. Treatment effect on body weight, weight gain and feed intake was noticed in all periods. It was also observed treatment effect on productive efficiency index (the heaviest chicks showed the best performance results at 47 days of age), but there was no effect on yields of carcass and prime cuts. Regarding the economic viability, the heavier chicks showed the best results

Effects of subsurface drip irrigation rates and furrow irrigation for cotton grown on a vertisol on off-site movement of sediments, nutrients and pesticides

Abstract – Subsurface drip irrigation can reduce off-farm movements of fertilizers and pollutants and improve the water use efficiency of irrigated agriculture. Here we compared the effects of furrow and subsurface drip at different irrigation rates, based on a percentage of daily crop-evapotranspiration rates (ETc), on run-off and off-site movement of suspended sediment, nutrients and pesticides from cotton crops grownon a vertisol. Our results show that furrow irrigation significantly increased suspended soil loss, of 5.26 t ha−1, compared to that of subsurface drip irrigation at 120% of ETc, of 2.53 t ha−1, whereas no erosion was recorded with deficit subsurface drip irrigation. Off-site movement of nitrogen in furrow, of 18.63 kg ha−1, was five times greater than subsurface drip irrigation at 120% ETc. It was much less with 105% ETc(0.37 kg ha−1) and 90% ETc (0.15 kg ha−1), and absent for 75% and 50% of ETc. Phosphorus loss from furrow, of 778 g ha−1, was greater than for the wetter subsurface drip treatments that gave 23 g ha−1 for 90% ETc and 19 g ha−1 for 120% ETc. No P loss was recorded from drier subsurface drip irrigation rates. Herbicides such as atrazine and diuron were applied in the year prior to the experiment, but considerable amounts were recorded in furrow run-off in both years, but only at 90 and 120% ETc subsurface drip irrigation in the first year. Concentrations of applied herbicide residues in the runoff exceeded the minimum threshold level for 99% species protection and, although the total amount of herbicide movement was higher in furrow, at times the concentration was greater for wetter subsurface drip irrigation run-off. Residues of insecticides, such as endosulphan applied in a previous year and dimethoate applied in the current years, were recorded in runoff from subsurface drip at 120% and furrow irrigation. Their concentrations in each year exceeded minimum threshold level. Subsurface drip irrigation at 75% ETc offered the best trade-off between off-site run-off, erosion and pesticide movement and yield and water use efficiency