Distribution, Abundance and Size Structure of Arrow Squid (Nototodarus sp.) off New Zealand

Two species of arrow squid (Nototodarus sp.) were sampled with bottom trawl during nine research surveys along the north and east coast of South Island, New Zealand, from January 1982 to March 1983. There was minimal overlap between the two species. Species 1 was associated with subtropical water along the north coast (Tasman Bay) of South Island and Species 2 with the Subtropical Convergence Zone and subantarctic water along the east coast. Catches of Species 2 varied markedly with geographic location, depth (from 50 to 500 m) and sampling period, but were consistently lowest in January of both years. Differences in the size composition of Species 2 with depth were associated with differences in the relative abundance of juveniles. Juveniles of Species 2 were most abundant at 50 and 100 m and were rare or absent at 30 and 500 m. Size distributions of males and females of both species were generally similar for each depth and sampling period. Modal sizes (dorsal mantle length) of Species 1 indicated growth rates of 3.0-4.5 cm per month for three cohorts which were separated by about 6 months. Spawning of Species 1 probably occurs around November and April of each year, and maximal size (about 40 cm) is attained in about 1 year. Size distributions of Species 2, were polymodal and did not give clear indications of growth or spawning period. This may be due to a mixture of several subpopulations of Species 2 along the east coast of South Island, differing in age structure, spawning period and growth rate

MLIP genotype as a predictor of pharmacological response in primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Predicting the therapeutic response to ocular hypotensive drugs is crucial for the clinical treatment and management of glaucoma. Our aim was to identify a possible genetic contribution to the response to current pharmacological treatments of choice in a white Mediterranean population with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OH). We conducted a prospective, controlled, randomized, partial crossover study that included 151 patients of both genders, aged 18 years and older, diagnosed with and requiring pharmacological treatment for POAG or OH in one or both eyes. We sought to identify copy number variants (CNVs) associated with differences in pharmacological response, using a DNA pooling strategy of carefully phenotyped treatment responders and non-responders, treated for a minimum of 6 weeks with a beta-blocker (timolol maleate) and/or prostaglandin analog (latanoprost). Diurnal intraocular pressure reduction and comparative genome wide CNVs were analyzed. Our finding that copy number alleles of an intronic portion of the MLIP gene is a predictor of pharmacological response to beta blockers and prostaglandin analogs could be used as a biomarker to guide first-tier POAG and OH treatment. Our finding improves understanding of the genetic factors modulating pharmacological response in POAG and OH, and represents an important contribution to the establishment of a personalized approach to the treatment of glaucoma

Is it adaptive to disengage from demands of social change? Adjustment to developmental barriers in opportunity-deprived regions

This paper investigates how individuals deal with demands of social and economic change in the domains of work and family when opportunities for their mastery are unfavorable. Theoretical considerations and empirical research suggest that with unattainable goals and unmanageable demands motivational disengagement and self-protective cognitions bring about superior outcomes than continued goal striving. Building on research on developmental deadlines, this paper introduces the concept of developmental barriers to address socioeconomic conditions of severely constrained opportunities in certain geographical regions. Mixed-effects methods were used to model cross-level interactions between individual-level compensatory secondary control and regional-level opportunity structures in terms of social indicators for the economic prosperity and family friendliness. Results showed that disengagement was positively associated with general life satisfaction in regions that were economically devastated and has less than average services for families. In regions that were economically well off and family-friendly, the association was negative. Similar results were found for self-protection concerning domain-specific satisfaction with life. These findings suggest that compensatory secondary control can be an adaptive way of mastering a demand when primary control is not possible

Temporal allocation of foraging effort in female Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus)

Across an individual\u27s life, foraging decisions will be affected by multiple intrinsic and extrinsic drivers that act at differing timescales. This study aimed to assess how female Australian fur seals allocated foraging effort and the behavioural changes used to achieve this at three temporal scales: within a day, across a foraging trip and across the final six months of the lactation period. Foraging effort peaked during daylight hours (57% of time diving) with lulls in activity just prior to and after daylight. Dive duration reduced across the day (196 s to 168 s) but this was compensated for by an increase in the vertical travel rate (1500–1600 m•h−1) and a reduction in postdive duration (111–90 s). This suggests physiological constraints (digestive costs) or prey availability may be limiting mean dive durations as a day progresses. During short trips (<2.9 d), effort remained steady at 55% of time diving, whereas, on long trips (>2.9 d) effort increased up to 2–3 d and then decreased. Dive duration decreased at the same rate in short and long trips, respectively, before stabilising (long trips) between 4–5 d. Suggesting that the same processes (digestive costs or prey availability) working at the daily scale may also be present across a trip. Across the lactation period, foraging effort, dive duration and vertical travel rate increased until August, before beginning to decrease. This suggests that as the nutritional demands of the suckling pup and developing foetus increase, female effort increases to accommodate this, providing insight into the potential constraints of maternal investment in this specie

Population biology, thermoregulation and site preference of the New Zealand fur seal, arctocephalus forsteri (lesson, 1828), on the Open Bay Islands, New Zealand.

Population biology, behavioural thermoregulation and site preference of the New Zealand fur seal, Arctocephalus forsteri (Lesson, 1828) are described for the breeding colony on Taumaka, Open Bay Islands, Westland, New Zealand (43°52'S, 168°53'E), from data collected at irregular intervals between October 1974 and February 1977. Sixteen fur seals (6 females : 10 males) were shot and aged by counting growth rings in a canine tooth. The age determinations suggest that females produce their first pup at age 5 years, and that bulls attempt to hold territories by age 8 years, but rarely are successful until about age 10 years. During their delayed 'social maturation', bulls may gain experience necessary to maximize reproductive success once territorial. A bull's territorial success ultimately depends on his fighting ability, which depends largely on the presence or absence of lower canine teeth. Canines are broken off during fighting; bulls without lower canines rarely defeat an opponent. Females prefer sites on the rookery which provide pools of water, shade, and direct access to the sea. Both sexes use water and shade for cooling. The theoretical 'mean' pupping date on Taumaka is 10 December. The sex ratio at birth is about 1:1. Males are heavier than females at birth, and are heavier and larger than females at mean age 55, 140, 235 and 290 days. Pups are weaned at about 300 days. Pup growth rates differed dramatically between 1974/75 and 1975/76. For example, male pups were about 22 percent heavier at 235 days in 1975/76 than in 1974/75. Differential growth rates probably are a consequence of food availability to lactating females and differing environmental temperatures between seasons. Mortality to age 50 days is 20 percent. First year mortality may be 50, percent. Starvation may account for 70 percent of all deaths to age 50 days. Other causes of death include suffocation, drowning, trampling and predation. Human disturbance can kill pups indirectly by causing panic on the rookery. Tagging pups with monel metal cattle ear tags may increase mortality. About 1400 pups are born on Taumaka annually. Using this figure for pup production, and incorporating reproductive data from other fur seal species (where none exist for the New Zealand fur seal), the estimated population of pups, females of breeding age and bulls on Taumaka is about 3700. The estimated population size associated with Taumaka, either through birth or by breeding on the rookery, is about 6000-6500. Using these estimates, and incorporating population data from the Northern fur seal, the estimated population growth rate on Taumaka is about 2 percent per annum

Arrow squids of the genjis Nototodarus in New Zealand waters: systematics, biology, and fisheries

Two species of arrow squid, Nototodarus (Oegopsida: Ommastrephidae), are caught in New Zealand waters. The close similarity in most morphometric characters has lead to confusion over the status of the two species. They are distinguished by the number of pairs of suckers on the first right arm; adult males are distinguished by the number of proximal tubercles and the morphology of the distal part of the hectocotylised arm; fresh or frozen specimens can be identified by gel elec‐trophoresis of the enzyme glycerol‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase. Nototodarus sloanii is found in southern waters and N. gouldi in more northerly waters around New Zealand as well as southern waters of Australia. Differences between the two species are described and notes presented on their biology, abundance, and exploitation