Mooring scientific instruments on the seabed-Design, deployment protocol and performance of a recoverable frame for acoustic receivers

Acoustic telemetry is increasingly used to observe and monitor animal movements in aquatic environments. Practical deployment mechanisms are needed to sustain consistent data flows in challenging environments. A tripod frame was developed to facilitate the deployment of acoustic receivers on the seabed, allowing for the recovery of all equipment with an acoustic release system. The procedures of deployment and recovery proved to be practical and efficient during a field trial in the North Sea. Compared to a common cabled design, the tripod frame realized a significantly higher detection probability and performed consistently better at greater distance and louder ambient noise. In the context of ocean observation in challenging environments, the tripod frame is a useful tool for temporary and continuous monitoring of tagged fish presence, potentially fitted with additional instruments

ETN Database

D3.21 ETN Database: Development of a European Tracking Network component of researchers and database, sharing common standards and protocols, data formats and platforms, and interlinked to other existing or developing Atlantic Ocean networks in Canada, the USA, Africa, and South America (starting in Brazil) to provide a global Atlantic tracking network. PM4

ETN Technical Standards Report

Development of technical standards for specific European lines and tagging projects in the form of a report

Tree species selection for land rehabilitation in Ethiopia: from fragmented knowledge to an integrated multi-criteria decision approach

Dryland regions worldwide are increasingly suffering from losses of soil and biodiversity as a consequence of land degradation. Integrated conservation, rehabilitation and community-based management of natural resources are therefore of vital importance. Local planting efforts should focus on species performing a wide range of functions. Too often however, unsuitable tree species are planted when both ecological suitability for the targeted area or preferences of local stakeholders are not properly taken into account during selection. To develop a decision support tool for multi-purpose species selection, first information needs to be pooled on species-specific ranges, characteristics and functions for a set of potentially valuable species. In this study such database has been developed for the highly degraded northern Ethiopian highlands, using a unique combination of information sources, and with particular attention for local ecological knowledge and preferences. A set of candidate tree species and potentially relevant criteria, a flexible input database with species performance scores upon these criteria, and a ready-to-use multi-criteria decision support tool are presented. Two examples of species selection under different scenarios have been worked out in detail, with highest scores obtained for Cordia africana and Dodonaea angustifolia, as well as Eucalyptus spp., Acacia abyssinica, Acacia saligna, Olea europaea and Faidherbia albida. Sensitivity to criteria weights, and reliability and lack of knowledge on particular species attributes remain constraints towards applicability, particularly when many species are jointly evaluated. Nonetheless, the amount and diversity of the knowledge pooled in the presented database is high, covering 91 species and 45 attributes

Toward a roadmap for diadromous fish conservation : the Big Five considerations

Increasing habitat fragmentation is a major contributing factor to dramatic reductions in populations of migratory species worldwide. Diadromous fish species in particular are affected by this anthropogenic disturbance, resulting in historically low population abundances. Despite a plethora of management measures and considerable investment, desired results are often lacking. Here, we highlight five important considerations - the "Big Five" - for diadromous species management: removal of barriers to migration, installation of fish passages, habitat restoration, restocking, and fisheries management. We review current management measures and their effectiveness, and propose a way forward. Current management of diadromous fish populations largely focuses on mitigation of migration barriers, but management will likely fail if other fundamental aspects of diadromous species' life cycles are overlooked or disregarded. We therefore propose an integrated management strategy that takes into account the five major factors influencing diadromous fish species, with the ultimate goal of restoring their populations