Application of the weight-of-evidence approach to assess the decline of brown trout ( Salmotrutta ) in Swiss rivers

Abstract.: To assess potential causes for the decline in catch of brown trout and their impaired health status in Switzerland, a 5-year multidisciplinary research project was conducted. Multiple causal hypotheses were postulated and investigated in a variety of laboratory and field studies. We present here the application of a weight-of-evidence analysis to evaluate the results of these studies and to assess the causes for decline in brown trout abundance. Based on human health epidemiological criteria, the method considers the exposure situation, the correlation between causes and effects, specificity of effects, and amelioration due to removal. For our evaluation, we concentrated on four test rivers and included data on fish health and population density, water quality, and habitat parameters. Our results showed that proliferative kidney disease (PKD) caused by a parasite and clinical outbreak supported by other factors is a very probable single parameter for the decline of brown trout abundance at the sites of the test rivers where it occurs. Elevated levels of nitrogen compounds may also be posing a serious risk at several sites, in particular those downstream of sewage treatment plants. Several habitat parameters, such as large width, low percentage of riffles or elevated winter temperatures, were identified as factors likely contributing to impaired health, recruitment, and abundance at single sites. At most sites, more than one factor must be acting jointly to cause the observed decline in brown trout abundanc

Climate and land-use changes affecting river sediment and brown trout in alpine countries—a review

Background, aim, and scope: Catch decline of freshwater fish has been recorded in several countries. Among the possible causes, habitat change is discussed. This article focuses on potentially increased levels of fine sediments going to rivers and their effects on gravel-spawning brown trout. Indications of increased erosion rates are evident from land-use change in agriculture, changes in forest management practices, and from climate change. The latter induces an increase in air and river water temperatures, reduction in permafrost, changes in snow dynamics and an increase in heavy rain events. As a result, an increase in river sediment is likely. Suspended sediment may affect fish health and behaviour directly. Furthermore, sediment loads may clog gravel beds impeding fish such as brown trout from spawning and reducing recruitment rates. To assess the potential impact on fine sediments, knowledge of brown trout reproductive needs and the effects of sediment on brown trout health were evaluated. Approach: We critically reviewed the literature and included results from ongoing studies to answer the following questions, focusing on recent decades and rivers in alpine countries. Have climate change and land-use change increased erosion and sediment loads in rivers? Do we have indications of an increase in riverbed clogging? Are there indications of direct or indirect effects on brown trout from increased suspended sediment concentrations in rivers or from an increase in riverbed clogging? Results: Rising air temperatures have led to more intensive precipitation in winter months, earlier snow melt in spring, and rising snow lines and hence to increased erosion. Intensification of land use has supported erosion in lowland and pre-alpine areas in the second half of the twentieth century. In the Alps, however, reforestation of abandoned land at high altitudes might reduce the erosion risk while intensification on the lower, more easily accessible slopes increases erosion risk. Data from laboratory experiments show that suspended sediments affect the health and behaviour of fish when available in high amounts. Point measurements in large rivers indicate no common lethal threat and suspended sediment is rarely measured continuously in small rivers. However, effects on fish can be expected under environmentally relevant conditions. River bed clogging impairs the reproductive performance of gravel-spawning fish. Discussion: Overall, higher erosion and increased levels of fine sediment going into rivers are expected in future. Additionally, sediment loads in rivers are suspected to have considerably impaired gravel bed structure and brown trout spawning is impeded. Timing of discharge is put forward and is now more likely to affect brown trout spawning than in previous decades. Conclusions: Reports on riverbed clogging from changes in erosion and fine sediment deposition patterns, caused by climate change and land-use change are rare. This review identifies both a risk of increases in climate erosive forces and fine sediment loads in rivers of alpine countries. Increased river discharge and sediment loads in winter and early spring could be especially harmful for brown trout reproduction and development of young life stages. Recently published studies indicate a decline in trout reproduction from riverbed clogging in many rivers in lowlands and alpine regions. However, the multitude of factors in natural complex ecosystems makes it difficult to address a single causative factor. Recommendations and perspectives: Further investigations into the consequences of climate change and land-use change on river systems are needed. Small rivers, of high importance for the recruitment of gravel-spawning fish, are often neglected. Studies on river bed clogging are rare and the few existing studies are not comparable. Thus, there is a strong need for the development of methods to assess sediment input and river bed clogging. As well, studies on the effects to fish from suspended sediments and consequences of gravel beds clogging under natural conditions are urgently neede

Discutindo a educação ambiental no cotidiano escolar: desenvolvimento de projetos na escola formação inicial e continuada de professores

A presente pesquisa buscou discutir como a Educação Ambiental (EA) vem sendo trabalhada, no Ensino Fundamental e como os docentes desta escola compreendem e vem inserindo a EA no cotidiano escolar., em uma escola estadual do município de Tangará da Serra/MT, Brasil. Para tanto, realizou-se entrevistas com os professores que fazem parte de um projeto interdisciplinar de EA na escola pesquisada. Verificou-se que o projeto da escola não vem conseguindo alcançar os objetivos propostos por: desconhecimento do mesmo, pelos professores; formação deficiente dos professores, não entendimento da EA como processo de ensino-aprendizagem, falta de recursos didáticos, planejamento inadequado das atividades. A partir dessa constatação, procurou-se debater a impossibilidade de tratar do tema fora do trabalho interdisciplinar, bem como, e principalmente, a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado de EA, vinculando teoria e prática, tanto na formação docente, como em projetos escolares, a fim de fugir do tradicional vínculo “EA e ecologia, lixo e horta”.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

La psychothérapie positive: Une méthode de thérapie brève incluant une gestion de qualité par ordinateur

In den letzten Jahren haben die Forderungen nach einer Qualitätssicherung im Bereich der Psychotherapie von Seiten der Kostenträger zugenommen. Demnach sollte Psychotherapie effektiv und ökonomisch sein.Die von Dr. N. Peseschkian Ende der 60er Jahre begründete Positive Psychotherapie versucht, diesem Anspruch gerecht zu werden. Die Positive Psychotherapie ist eine Kurzzeitpsychotherapieform unter einem transkulturellen und interdisziplinären Gesichtspunkt und wird den tiefenpsychologisch fundierten Verfahren zugeordnet.Im Rahmen einer Wirksamkeitsstudie zur Positiven Psychotherapie, die der Wiesbadener Weiterbildungskreis für Psychotherapie und Familientherapie (WIPF), unter der Leitung von Dr. Peseschkian, in Zusammenarbeit mit der Universität Erlangen durchgeführt hat, fanden sich beeindruckende Ergebnisse:Insbesondere im Bereich des Erlebens und Verhaltens (VEV) fand sich eine Effektstärke von 1.24, was für eine deutliche Befindlichkeitsverbesserung der Patienten (n = 402) spricht.Auf der Basis der in der Studie verwendeten Testbatterie wurde zudem eine erweiterungsfähige Software entwickelt, die eine kontinuierliche Qualitätssicherung ermöglicht.Schlüsselwörter: Positive Psychotherapie, Qualitätssicherung, Wirksamkeitsstudie, Kurzzeitpsychotherapie.Positive Psychotherapy is a form of shortterm psychotherapy based on a in-depth psychological approach, resulting from cross-cultural psychotherapy. It is prepared to integrate other models of therapy into its theory. Some central elements of the study are discussed in this paper.The presentation of psychotherapy and family therapy needs a development of methods which are at the same time economical and efficient. Under the direction of Dr. N. Peseschkian, the Wiesbaden Institute for Psychotherapy and Family Therapy for Postgraduates (WIPF) and in a cooperation with the University of Erlangen-Nurnberg a study of the effects of Positive Psychotherapy with 402 patients have been started in 1995. The results of this study are impressing: Inparticular the effect size of the VEV of 1.24 shows a good development of the patients well-being. The average treatment duration for the study which is 30,5 hours. The main results correspond to the future standards of a modern psychotherapy.A user-friendly software program has been developed for clinics and practice on the basis of applied methodological instruments for investigation of the effectivity study. The program also offers the option to integrate further specific tests when they are needed and makes a current analysis of therapy-effects possibleKeywords: Positive Psychotherapy, quality assurance, effectivity, short-term-psychotherapy.Au cours de ces dernières années, les demandes de garantie de qualité formulées par les instances remboursant les traitements psychothérapeutiques n’ont fait qu’augmenter. Dans la situation actuelle, les exigences posées à une psychothérapie moderne peuvent être formulées comme suit: elle doit être brève, efficace et transparente, donc vérifiable au niveau méthodique comme au niveau théorique. La psychothérapie positive élaborée par N. Peseschkian à la fin des années soixante tente de satisfaire à ces exigences. Elle est une forme de psychothérapie de brève durée, centrée sur les ressources et placée sous le signe d’une approche transculturelle et interdisciplinaire; on la classe dans la catégorie des méthodes basées sur la psychologie des profondeurs. La perspective transculturelle et plus particulièrement interdisciplinaire qui la caractérise permet d’intégrer des formes de traitement empruntées à la psychanalyse, à la psychologie des profondeurs, à la thérapie du comportement, à la thérapie de groupe, à l’hypnothérapie et à la pharmacothérapie, ainsi qu’à la physiothérapie. La démarche se fonde sur une conception théorique dynamique, appliquant un “modèle en cinq étapes” (1. observation/distanciation; 2. établissement d’un inventaire; 3. encouragement dans le contexte situationnel; 4. verbalisation et 5. élargissement des objectifs). Le noyau théorique de la psychothérapie positive est constitué d’un recensement des contenus conflictuels à partir de la question suivante: “Quels sont les éléments communs à tous les êtres humains et quels sont ceux qui les différencient ?”. La notion de contenu conflictuel est en rapport avec deux “capacités fondamentales” qui sont considérées comme innées: une “capacité à l’amour” et une “capacité à la cognition”. Sur cette base, l’être humain acquiert tout au long de son développement des “capacités actuelles” individuelles, qui toutefois appartiennent toutes aux deux grandes catégories indiquées plus haut. Selon Peseschkian, des conflits naissent entre autres d’une disparité entre les manifestations individuelles de ces deux capacités. C’est au niveau des capacités actuelles que se situent ce que Peseschkian appelle les “microtraumatismes”. En effet, ces derniers correspondent à des blessures psychiques relativement limitées mais durables, portant atteintes aux valeurs individuelles définies par les capacités actuelles. Ils provoquent une disposition psychique à des conflits spécifiques. Peseschkian résume sa théorie en neuf thèses fondamentales; l’article présente celles-ci plus en détail. Compte tenu des exigences posées aux méthodes modernes de psychothérapie, les résultats d’une étude consacrée à l’efficacité de la “psychothérapie positive” sont présentés; le travail a été effectué par le ‘Wiesbadener Weiterbildungkreis für Psychotherapie und Familientherapie (WIPF)’, en collaboration avec l’Université d’Erlangen. L’enquête s’est intéressée à 402 patients souffrant de troubles de types névrotique et psychosomatique, pour la plupart chroniques. Des mesures pré-post ont été effectuées sur un échantillon de 110 patients, en utilisant une batterie de tests correspondant aux standards internationaux. Un groupe de réserve (n = 54) a servi de contrôle, avec un autre groupe comportant 17 patients dont le diagnostic a été formulé sur une base purement somatique et qui n’ont pas suivi de traitement psychothérapeutique. Une enquête rétrospective a été en outre menée auprès des patients (n = 231) qui avaient terminé un traitement selon la méthode de la psychothérapie positive. De ceux-ci un premier groupe (n =84 patients) a été étudié 3-10 mois après la fin de la thérapie. Un second groupe (n = 91) après une période de 10 mois à 4 ans et un troisième (n = 46) 4-5 ans après la fin du traitement. C’est au niveau du vécu et du comportement (‘Erleben und Verhaltens’, VEV) que les résultats sont particulièrement impressionnants (quotient d’efficacité 1.24). A titre de comparaison, les métaanalyses portant sur l’efficacité des traitements utilisant des méthodes de types behavioro-cognitif et dynamico-humaniste ont produit des quotients allant de 1.08 (Shapiro et Shapiro, 1993) à 0.64 (Smith et al., 1980). Concernant les symptômes (SCL 90-R) nous obtenons un chiffre de 0.48, ce qui correspond à une amélioration moyenne. Compte tenu de ces résultats, il est légitime de considérer que du point de vue de son efficacité, la psychothérapie positive ne le cède en rien aux méthodes établies. Pour tenir compte d’aspects économiques, il faut ajouter qu’en moyenne la durée des traitements menés selon cette méthode est de 30.5 séances. Une première version d’un logiciel a été développée sur la base de la batterie de tests utilisée pour l’enquête; il permet un contrôle de qualité continu

Virtopsy: forensic traumatology of the subcutaneous fatty tissue; multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as diagnostic tools

Traumatic lesions of the subcutaneous fatty tissue provide important clues for forensic reconstruction. The interpretation of these patterns requires a precise description and recording of the position and extent of each lesion. During conventional autopsy, this evaluation is performed by dissecting the skin and subcutaneous tissues in successive layers. In this way, depending on the force and type of impact (right angle or tangent), several morphologically distinct stages of fatty tissue damage can be differentiated: perilobular hemorrhage (I), contusion (II), or disintegration (III) of the fat lobuli, and disintegration with development of a subcutaneous cavity (IV). In examples of virtopsy cases showing blunt trauma to the skin and fatty tissue, we analyzed whether these lesions can also be recorded and classified using multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MSCT has proven to be a valuable screening method to detect the lesions, but MRI is necessary in order to properly differentiate and classify the grade of damage. These noninvasive radiological diagnostic tools can be further developed to play an important role in forensic examinations, in particular when it comes to evaluating living trauma victims