A Survey report on the socio-economic conditions of two fishing communities in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka.

Poor people will not buy the concept of management unless it improves their livelihood. To encourage a community based approach to fisheries management practices the socioeconomic conditions of the fisher communities should therefore be improved. This paper aims to describe and summarize the socioeconomic conditions, fishing practices and income of two fishing communities in the Batticaloa district. Data were collected in the year 2006 through a semi-structured, predominantly qualitative but also quantitative, questionnaire at an interview. Forty eight, mainly, lagoon fishermen from the Koddaimunai Fishermen's Cooperative Society (FCS) and 51 mostly sea fishers from the tsunami housing scheme Swiss village (Palameenmadu FCS) were questioned. Ethnicity, religion, occupation, gender, age, ownership of boat/gear and family size were addressed as they are related to willingness to participate in fisheries management. Regularity, frequency and duration of fishing, the distance travelled into sea or lagoon, the types of gears and boats used, experience in fishing, the needs and problems of the fishing communities and their marketing strategies were surveyed as they influence the average income of the fishermen. Results were summarized as bar charts, box-plots, histograms and bivariate scattergrams. Statistical Analysis was carried out using MINITAB (Version 14), EXCEL (2. l) and modified Nomographs (to test percentages). The two communities differed (P<0.05) in their average age and experience in terms of number of years of fishing. The Koddaimunai FCS fishermen used more thornies, castnets, traps while the Swiss village fishermen used more outboard motor boats with line and drift nets (P<O. 10). In communities housing, loan facility, FCS help, pension, safety at work, training received are unsatisfactory. The daily average percapita income was significantly different (P<O. 10) from Rs. 75.00 (Koddaimunai FCS) to 100 (Palameenmadu FCS) which was above the national poverty line (Rs 46.00 day-I personl ) for the year 2006/2007. For both communities the income was unstable and insufficient and extra income from fishery non related activity or the ability to save money was not possible. In both communities, capital and labour expenditure were high followed by expenditure for fuel, repair and license. Auctioning heaped fish was the preferred style of marketing. Scatterplots of daily per-capita income against fishing experience, duration of fishing, ownership of boats/gears and types of boats/gears did not show much difference, with the income always centering around Rupees 0.00 to 100.00. Non availability of credit facility, technical training and fishing rights and high fuel prices, poor marketing strategies and greedy middlemen are a threat to good management practices. Strengthening of the FCS ought to be the first step towards developing a community based fisheries management in these communities

Assessing undergraduate performance of biology students at Faculty of Applied Sciences, SEUSL

The present study aimed to correlate the raw marks obtained by the lsl, 2nd and 3rd year Biology undergraduates for short analytical answers and problem based assignments and the corresponding end of semester examination GPAs with scores obtained from an analytical rubric. Rubrics give descriptions of student performance that are separated into levels of performance for a given task. Each performance level is associated with a numeric and qualitative rating scale. Data were summarized as scatter plots and frequency histograms. Pearson Correlation coefficient and student t- test were used to compare performance for different tasks. The mean rubric scores varied between 2(weak) and 4(good). The correlation between rubric scores and traditionally given marks was high for the third year assessments only (r = 0.867 &0.815) but low among the first year students (r = 0.692) and poor in the second year assessments( r = 0.288). The mean rubric scores of first, second and third year students for the entire rubric and for each criterion used lay between a score of 2 (weak) and 4 (good). The significance of variations between year of study and type of task did not show consistent results. The correlation between GPA and rubric scores was low for the first and second year short answer assessments (r = 0.65 & 0.58) but high in the third year short answer and problem solving assessments ( r = 0.83,0.82 & 0.73). The results indicate the ability to answer logically was mainly seen among the third year students The trend over years in end of semester examination GPAs also seem to reflect the ability of students to answer logically which was indicated by the rubric scores

Spectral fluctuations and 1/f noise in the order-chaos transition regime

Level fluctuations in quantum system have been used to characterize quantum chaos using random matrix models. Recently time series methods were used to relate level fluctuations to the classical dynamics in the regular and chaotic limit. In this we show that the spectrum of the system undergoing order to chaos transition displays a characteristic $f^{-\gamma}$ noise and $\gamma$ is correlated with the classical chaos in the system. We demonstrate this using a smooth potential and a time-dependent system modeled by Gaussian and circular ensembles respectively of random matrix theory. We show the effect of short periodic orbits on these fluctuation measures.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. Modified version. To appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Effect of harbour construction on the length weight relationship of pony fish Secutor ruconius (Hamilton-Buchanan)

Gathering baseline data on ecology is essential for sustainable development in order to predict and minimize any future negative effects on living organisms. Dredging of harbour causes loss of benthic habitat and Secutor ruconius, (Pug nose pony fish) being a schooling Demerol omnivore is a very likely candidate to reflect any effects of harbour building activities. In this study, therefore, the size and length weight relationship of the beach seine pony fish Secutor ruconius was examined in the Ampara district, in the month of October, 2010, at a site near the Oluvil harbour, prior to commencement of operations and at a relatively undisturbed control site in Maruthamunai, 20 km north of the harbour site. At each site, according to a stratified random sampling method , two boats were sampled in the morning, at about the same time of the day, to examine intra and inter site variations in estimates. From each boat 100-200 individuals of Secutor ruconius were collected for length and weight comparisons. Total length of Secutor ruconius was measured to the nearest 0.1 cm using a foot ruler and weight was measured on an electronic balance to the nearest 0.1 gm. The mean lengths and weights of Secutor ruconius in samples from undisturbed Maruthamunai site did not differ between boats but those of the disturbed Palamunai boat samples were different between themselves. However, the mean length and weight estimates of Secutor ruconius from the disturbed Palamunai site were always higher than those from the undisturbed Maruthamunai site (P<O.OI). Length weight regressions for Secutor ruconius from all study sites showed a positive correlation and an overall significant relationship (P<O.OI). In comparison of regression slopes there was no strong evidence against null hypothesis as P value was always < 0.01. The regressions of both populations had the same slope but differed in the range of size they occupied. Regression slopes were less than 3 (body length increases faster than weight), ranging from 2.48 to 2.81. These values tally with the findings of other researchers. Apart from their food value, examining pony fish populations for impacts of harbour construction is useful because they play an important role in the food chains of commercially exploited fish species (tuna, mackerel, trevally). However, further monitoring may be worthwhile after the commencement of operation of the harbour. This study is only a preliminary exploratory investigation but it provides important base line ecological data which was hitherto non existent

A preliminary study of the effects of Oluvil harbor construction on marine beach seine fish catch diversity and length frequency distribution (Ampara district)

This study assessed the impacts of Oluvil harbour construction on beach seine fish by comparing fish from disturbed (Palamunai 1) and undisturbed (Neelavani 1 to Maruthamunai 1) areas. Harbour development affects marine fin fish fishery. (Freitaset al, 2009; Tuya et al, 2002). 2256 fish belonging to 32 families were collected from 9 hauls. (6-15mm bag and 1,4,6,9, inches wings). Two of the 9 hauls were taken at Navalady, Batticaloa (60 km north of harbour site) Fish abundance, diversity, eveness and dominance indices of fin fish and length frequency distribution of pony fish Secutor ruconius were estimated from random samples. Munro (2000) was used in fish identification. Four species were common (50-90%,), 5 species occurred occasionally (21-50%), rest were sporadic (<0.2%). Shannon Diversity and Eveness Indices showed moderate diversity. (Maruthamunai, 1.5 Neelavani, 1.7,1.3 ,1.1& Navalady,2.15, 1.6, Palamunai 2.2,0.6, 1.8). Sorenson similarity indices, were low, indicating dissimilarity among all locations (0.25, 0.01,0.113,0.036, 0.229,0.045,0.33,0.47). ANOVA & Student T test showed insignificant differences for within boat and between boats at the same site( F 1,198 = 0.0008; P=0.91, P> 0.05; P=0.67,P > 0.05) and significant differences between undisturbed and disturbed sites. ( F, 1,198 = 841.3, P=0.0000,P<0.05). Pony fish may influence commercially exploited fish species by being their food item. In the tropics Pony fish are marketed either fresh or dried. The results reported should be subjected to further systematic investigations

A missed scalp laceration causing avoidable sequelae

Introduction: We present the case of an overlooked scalp laceration in an 81-year-old lady who presented with polytrauma following a fall down stairs. Complications that developed required more extensive treatment compared to what would have sufficed with early identification. Presentation of case: Imaging on admission to hospital showed multiple vertebrae and rib fractures as well as a large cranial subcutaneous haematoma with no intracerebral bleed. Before the laceration was identified, the patient developed acute anaemia requiring transfusion. Continued reduction in haemoglobin levels called for a more thorough examination of the scalp. Investigation, following copious irrigation, revealed a large laceration. The presence of infection and necrotic tissue necessitated a general anaesthetic for debridement and closure. Disscussion: Diagnostic errors are more common in patients presenting with multiple or severe injuries. Initial management in trauma cases should focus on more evident or life threatening injuries However, it is important that reflections and recommendations are continually made to reduce diagnostic errors, which are higher in polytraumatised patients. Various factors including haemodynamic instability and patient positioning added to the elusive nature of this wound. Adequate examination of lacerations requires thorough cleaning as coagulated blood and other material may obscure findings. This is particularly important in scalp lacerations where the overlying hair can form a barrier that is effective at hiding the wound edges. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of a thorough secondary survey; an effective examination technique would have avoided the need for extensive treatment to manage the sequelae of the missed scalp laceration