Levels and drivers of fishers' compliance with marine protected areas

Effective conservation depends largely on people's compliance with regulations. We investigate compliance through the lens of fishers' compliance with marine protected areas (MPAs). MPAs are widely used tools for marine conservation and fisheries management. Studies show that compliance alone is a strong predictor of fish biomass within MPAs. Hence, fishers' compliance is critical for MPA effectiveness. However, there are few empirical studies showing what factors influence fishers' compliance with MPAs. Without such information, conservation planners and managers have limited opportunities to provide effective interventions. By studying 12 MPAs in a developing country (Costa Rica), we demonstrate the role that different variables have on fishers' compliance with MPAs. Particularly, we found that compliance levels perceived by resource users were higher in MPAs (1) with multiple livelihoods, (2) where government efforts against illegal fishing were effective, (3) where fishing was allowed but regulated, (4) where people were more involved in decisions, and (5) that were smaller. We also provide a novel and practical measure of compliance: a compound variable formed by the number illegal fishers and their illegal fishing effort. Our study underlines the centrality of people’s behavior in nature conservation and the importance of grounding decision making on the social and institutional realities of each location

Cohort Study Examining the Association of Optimal Blood Pressure Control at Entry With Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Growth

Background and Aim: The benefit of controlling cardiovascular risk factors in slowing the progression of small abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is controversial. This study investigated the association of optimal blood pressure control at entry with the growth of small AAA. Methods and Results: A total of 1,293 patients with initial AAA diameter <50 mm were followed by a median 5 (inter-quartile range, IQR, 3–7) ultrasound scans for a median of 3.6 years (IQR 1.8, 5.3). Optimal blood pressure control was defined as blood pressure ≤140/90 mmHg at recruitment. The association of optimal blood pressure control at entry with AAA growth was assessed using linear mixed effects models adjusted for established risk factors of AAA growth and factors which were unequally distributed among the blood pressure groups. Optimal blood pressure control at entry was not significantly associated with AAA growth. In the risk factor adjusted model the mean difference in AAA growth between blood pressure groups was 0.04 mm/year (95% CI −0.20, 0.13; p = 0.65). The results were similar in sensitivity analyses excluding outliers or focused on systolic or diastolic blood pressure alone. Conclusions: This observational study suggests that optimal blood pressure control at entry is not associated with slower AAA growth

Plasma ferritin concentrations are not associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm diagnosis, size or growth

Background and aims: Experimental studies using a rodent model have suggested that iron overload may contribute to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) pathogenesis. Methods: We assessed the association of total body iron, as measured by plasma ferritin, with AAA diagnosis, size and growth in 4024 community-dwelling older men screened for AAA, using logistic regression and linear mixed effects models. Results: Plasma ferritin concentrations were similar in men who did (n = 293) and did not (n = 3731) have an AAA (median [inter-quartile range] concentrations 115.4 [63.0–203.1] and 128.5 [66.1–229.1] ng/mL respectively, p = 0.124). There was no association between plasma ferritin concentration and AAA diagnosis in unadjusted logistic regression (odds ratio (OR) for a 1 standard deviation increase: 0.880 [95%CI: 0.764–1.015]; p = 0.078), or when adjusting for AAA risk factors and factors known to influence circulating ferritin (OR for a 1 standard deviation increase: 0.898 [95% CI: 0.778–1.035]; p = 0.138). Iron overload prevalence (plasma ferritin concentrations >200 ng/mL) was lower in men with an AAA (25.3%) than those without (30.8%; p = 0.048), but was not associated with AAA diagnosis after adjusting as above (OR: 0.781 [95% CI:0.589–1.035]; p = 0.086). The association of iron overload with AAA growth was investigated in 265 men with small AAAs who received at least 1 repeat ultrasound scan in the 3 years following screening. We saw no difference in AAA growth between men who did and did not have iron overload (n = 65 and 185 respectively, p = 0.164). Conclusions: Our data suggest that iron overload is unlikely to be important in AAA pathogenesis

Geographic variation in host instar and species preference of Microplitis demolitor (Wilkinson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) towards two of its native hosts, Helicoverpa punctigera (Wallengren) and Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Ovipositing females of the parasitoid Microplitis demolitor discriminated between larvae of two major Australian lepidopteran pest species, Helicoverpa armigera (corn earworm) and Helicoverpa punctigera (native budworm). Parasitoid populations from different geographical locations differed in their host preferences. The pattern of variation showed consistent change of preference with latitude and suggested that evolution of this preference may be driven by the hosts' local abundance and seasonal phenology. Microplitis demolitor showed a strong preference for second- and third-instar host larvae over all other host larval instars. This preference probably represented a compromise between the improved host survivorship provided by older larvae and the low risk of injury to the ovipositing parasitoid when attacking younger larvae

Phenotypic plasticity in field populations of the tropical butterfly Hypolimnas bolina (L.) (Nymphalidae)

Phenotypic plasticity may enable organisms to maximize their fitness in seasonally variable environments. However, in butterflies, seasonal polyphenism is often striking but functionally obscure. This paper addresses the possible adaptive significance of phenotypic variation in the tropical butterfly Hypolimnas bolina (L.) (Nymphalidae). Plasticity in body size and wing coloration can be elicited in this species under laboratory conditions, however it is not known how this plasticity is expressed in the wild. Moreover, adult H. bolina spend the winter dry season in a reproductive diapause, which allows certain predictions regarding the occurrence of seasonal plasticity. Based on consideration of the requirements of diapausing and directly developing individuals, we predicted that if seasonal plasticity in phenotype were adaptive, then overwintering individuals should be larger and darker than their directly developing counterparts. This prediction was largely - although not entirely - fulfilled. Dry season butterflies were duller and darker than their wet season counterparts (this plasticity was superimposed on a genetic colour polymorphism), however size plasticity varied geographically. Dry season adults were consistently larger than wet season adults in the tropical north, but not in the south. We use these findings to discuss the possible adaptive significance of seasonal variation in the colour and size of this tropical butterfly

Humidity-terminated diapause in the tropical braconid parasitoid Microplitis demolitor

1. Microplitis demolitor, a solitary braconid parasitoid of Helicoverpa armigera and Helicoverpa punctigera, uses an increase in relative humidity to signal the end of diapause and the re-establishment of direct development.\ud \ud 2. Photoperiod and temperature changes appear not to have a direct influence on the duration or termination of diapause in this species.\ud \ud 3. Once diapause termination is signalled, the adult parasitoids emerge approximately 38 days later.\ud \ud 4. The cue for diapause termination in M. demolitor is different from that used by its hosts and ensures that the parasitoid emerges to find a population of nonmigrating hosts.\ud \ud 5. It appears that the cocoon surrounding the diapausing parasitoid plays a role in diapause termination; parasitoids emerge earlier from diapause if the cocoon is removed but the weight of the intact cocoon does not appear to influence the length of time the parasitoid is in diapause

Diapause termination in two species of tropical butterfly, Euploea core (Cramer) and Euploea sylvester (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

This study examined the factors used as cues for diapause termination by two Euploea species. Euploea core and E. sylvester were collected from two overwintering sites at Chillagoe, Queensland. Under tropical wet-season conditions, more butterflies terminated diapause (approximately 60%) than those kept under dry-season conditions (approximately 40%). However, 100% diapause termination occurred only when butterflies were kept under wet-season conditions and were fed with honey. For reproductive success, Euploea species need to terminate diapause rapidly to synchronise oviposition with fresh, rapid growth of their larval host plants, which often occurs after rain. The presence of rainfall, increased temperature and long days alone is not a fail-safe set of cues for this event. Our results suggest that food (as nectar), in conjunction with these combined environmental factors, provide Euploea species with a reliable signal that larval host resources are available for oviposition

Rates of metabolism in diapausing and reproductively active tropical butterflies, Euploea core and Euploea sylvester (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Although the ecology of diapause has been widely studied in the field, the underlying physiological responses occurring in tropical diapausing insects remain virtually unexplored. This is especially the case with rates of respiration in diapausing tropical insect species. The present study compares rates of metabolism, as assessed by measurement of carbon dioxide production, between two species of diapausing and reproductively active tropical butterflies, Euploea core (W.S Macleay) and Euploea sylvester (Fabricius), independent of temperature. Measurement of metabolism over a day-time/night-time regime confirms that these tropical butterflies display a diurnal rhythm in accordance with many other tropical and temperate insect species, regardless of developmental state. In addition, diapausing Euploea butterflies display rates of carbon dioxide production only 28% lower than those of reproductively active butterflies, and can terminate diapause within days of receiving the correct cues. Maintaining a similar metabolic rate throughout diapause, as well as a rapid termination of diapause, would enable these tropical butterflies to respond immediately to larval host plant resources, without the disadvantage of missing optimum conditions, allowing the species to maximize their reproductive potential

Interannual variation in the larval development of a coral reef fish in response to temperature and associated environmental factors

Climate change is predicted to increase ocean temperatures and influence weather patterns. Here, we examine the influence of temperature and other environmental variables on key early life traits of the coral reef damselfish, Pomacentrus moluccensis, based on ten cohorts of newly settled fish collected over 13 years from around Lizard Island (Great Barrier Reef, Australia). Pelagic larval duration (PLD), larval growth and size at settlement were estimated through otolith microstructure analysis. Multiple regression techniques were used to measure the strength of the associations between these traits and developmental temperature, rain, wind speed and solar radiation. Temperature accounted for 18.4, 26.7 and 25.0 % of the variability in PLD, growth rates and settlement size, respectively. PLDs generally declined and growth rates generally increased with increasing temperatures to ~28 °C, above which PLDs tended to increase and growth rates tended to decrease. Size at settlement did not differ between ~25 and ~28 °C, but tended to decrease with increasing temperature above ~28 °C. Together rain, wind speed and solar radiation explained 6.3, 26.3 and 33.7 % of the remaining variability in PLD, growth rates and size at settlement, respectively. Higher wind speeds were generally associated with longer PLDs. Increasing wind, high rainfall and increasing solar radiation were associated with slower growth rates and smaller sizes at settlement. Overall, results suggest that ~28 °C is likely to be a thermal optimum for larval development for this species and other environmental factors associated with climate change including rainfall, wind speed and solar radiation should be considered in predictions of effects on larval fish

Optimizando la Coacción y el Cumplimiento en Áreas Marinas Protegidas Oceánicas: el caso del Parque Nacional Isla del Coco, Costa Rica

El uso ilegal de recursos naturales es un factor central en la degradación ambiental a nivel global. La eficacia de las medidas de conservación, como las áreas marinas protegidas (AMP), se basa en el cumplimiento de regulaciones por parte de los usuarios. A pesar de que el cumplimiento puede ser impulsado por normas sociales (e.g., presión de grupo y legitimidad), generalmente algún grado de coacción es necesario. La coacción en las AMP oceánicas es económicamente costosa; pero los costos se pueden optimizar al mismo tiempo que se incrementa la efectividad de las medidas de conservación. Aquí presentamos un estudio de caso del Parque Nacional Isla del Coco, Costa Rica, una AMP oceánica y Patrimonio Mundial Natural que enfrenta presión de pesca ilegal. Analizando registros de patrullaje determinamos la distribución espacial y temporal de la pesca ilegal, y su relación con el esfuerzo de patrullaje. La pesca ilegal se concentró alrededor de un monte submarino dentro del Parque y alcanzó su punto máximo en el tercer trimestre del año, probablemente debido a las condiciones oceanográficas. Además el ciclo lunar, junto con el momento del año, jugó un papel importante en la incidencia de pesca ilegal. La previsibilidad de la pesca ilegal en el espacio y el tiempo permite optimizar el esfuerzo de patrullaje. Los pescadores ilegales reincidentes son comunes en el Parque Nacional Isla del Coco, y la dificultad para aplicar los reglamentos y una gobernanza débil son, en parte, causantes del problema. Subrayamos que el patrullaje—si bien puede mejorar—no es el eslabón débil en la cadena de coacción, sino los procesos subsiguientes que están principalmente en manos de la fiscalía. Con el fin de mejorar el cumplimiento de regulaciones por parte de los pescadores, ofrecemos una serie de recomendaciones para la distribución eficiente del esfuerzo de patrullaje en el espacio y el tiempo, el establecimiento de sistemas adecuados de gobernanza y de políticas, y la zonificación de un área que rodea el Parque. Nuestros métodos y recomendaciones son aplicables a otras áreas protegidas (terrestres y marinas) y al manejo de otros recursos naturales