Fin Ray Chemistry as a Potential Natural Tag for Smallmouth Bass in Northern Illinois Rivers

Natural chemical markers in otoliths and fin rays have proven useful for describing environmental history of fishes in a variety of environments. However, no studies have evaluated smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) pectoral fin ray chemistry as a non-lethal alternative to otolith chemistry. We evaluated the trace element composition of smallmouth bass fin rays collected from northern Illinois rivers and determined the accuracy with which fish could be classified to their environment of capture using pectoral fin ray strontium:calcium (Sr:Ca) and barium:calcium (Ba:Ca) ratios. Fish were collected from nine sites during summer 2008. Fin ray Sr:Ca differed among some sites, reflecting previously observed differences in water and otolith chemistry for other fish species. Fin ray Ba:Ca did not differ among sites. Classification accuracy for individual fish to location of capture based on fin ray Sr:Ca was relatively poor when data from all nine sites in different watersheds were included. However, individual fish captured from the upper Illinois River watershed were accurately assigned to the river in which they were collected when data were restricted to these sites. Natural chemical signatures in fin rays will likely be effective for reconstructing environmental history of smallmouth bass when spatial differences in water chemistry are present, enabling investigations of stock mixing and recruitment sources for this species

Evaluation of a Stable Isotope Labeling Technique for Mass-Marking Fin Rays of Age-0 Lake Sturgeon

The effectiveness of marking age-0 lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens Rafinesque, pectoral fin rays with a stable strontium isotope was evaluated. Age-0 lake sturgeon were reared in water spiked with 0 (control), 25, 50, or 100 μg L-1 86SrC03 for 10 and 24 d; fish from each treatment group were retained for up to 120 d post-labeling to assess mark retention. Enriched isotope marks imparted to fin rays were distinct from fin ray 88Sr/86Sr ratios of control fish immediately following marking, with the 100 μg L-1 86SrCO3 treatments consistently yielding the highest rate of marking success (83-92%). Lower marking success (25-69%) was observed with the 25 and 50 μg L-1 86SrCO3 treatments. Isotopic marks in fin rays were retained for 120 d post-labeling. Immersion marking of juvenile fish pectoral fin rays with distinct strontium isotope ratios is possible and does not require sacrificing fish to check for marks

Trace element and Stable Isotopic Signatures in Otoliths and Pectoral spines as Potential Indicators of Catfish Environmental History

Natural chemical markers in otoliths and fin rays have proven useful for retrospectively describing environmental history of fishes in a variety of environments. However, no studies have applied this technique to catfishes or evaluated catfish pectoral spine chemistry as a nonlethal alternative to otolith chemistry. We characterized relationships between water, otolith, and pectoral spine (articulating process) chemistry for channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris, and blue catfish I. furcatus and determined the accuracy with which fish could be classified to their environment of capture using otolith and pectoral spine chemical signatures. Fish and water samples were collected from nine sites during 2009. Otolith, spine, and water samples were analyzed for Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca; otolith δ18O and δ13C and water δ18O were also measured. Water, otolith, and spine Sr:Ca were highly correlated, as were water and otolith δ18O. Relationships between water, otolith, and spine chemistry did not differ among species. Otolith Sr:Ca, δ18O, and δ13C and spine Sr:Ca differed among sites, reflecting geographic differences in water chemistry. Neither otolith nor spine Ba:Ca differed among sites despite inter-site differences in water Ba:Ca. Both otolith Sr:Ca, δ18O, and δ13C and fin spine Sr:Ca classified fish to their environment of capture with a high degree of accuracy, except in the middle and lower Mississippi River where many recent immigrants appeared to be present. Natural chemical signatures in otoliths or pectoral spines will likely be effective for reconstructing environmental history of catfishes when spatial differences in water chemistry are present, enabling investigations of stock mixing and recruitment sources for these species

Integrating affect and impulsivity: The role of positive and negative urgency in substance use risk

BACKGROUND: The personality traits of positive and negative urgency refer to the tendencies to act rashly when experiencing unusually positive or negative emotions, respectively. METHODS: The authors review recent empirical work testing urgency theory (Cyders and Smith, 2008a) and consider advances in theory related to these traits. RESULTS: Empirical findings indicate that (a) the urgency traits are particularly important predictors of the onset of, and increases in, substance use in both children and young adults; (b) they appear to operate in part by biasing psychosocial learning; (c) pubertal onset is associated with increases in negative urgency, which in turn predict increases in adolescent drinking behavior; (d) variation in negative urgency trait levels are associated with variations in the functioning of an identified brain system; and (e) variations in the serotonin transporter gene, known to influence the relevant brain system, relate to variations in the urgency traits. CONCLUSION: A recent model (Carver et al., 2008) proposes the urgency traits to be markers of a tendency to respond reflexively to emotion, whether through impulsive action or ill-advised inaction (the latter leading to depressive symptoms); this model has received empirical support. The authors discuss new directions for research on the urgency traits

Childhood Drinking and Depressive Symptom Level Predict Harmful Personality Change

Personality traits in children predict numerous life outcomes. Although traits are generally stable, if there is personality change in youth, it could affect subsequent behavior in important ways. We found that the trait of urgency, the tendency to act impulsively when highly emotional, increases for some youth in early adolescence. This increase can be predicted from the behavior of young children: alcohol consumption and depressive symptom level in elementary school children (fifth grade) predicted increases in urgency 18 months later. Urgency, in turn, predicted increases in a wide range of maladaptive behaviors another 30 months later, at the end of the first year of high school. The mechanism by which early drinking behavior and depressive symptoms predict personality is not yet clear and merits future research; notably, the findings are consistent with mechanisms proposed by personality change theory and urgency theory

Pilot Study: Implementing a Brief DBT Skills Program in Schools to Reduce Health Risk Behaviors Among Early Adolescents

A significant proportion of youth engage in health risk behaviors, which are of concern, as they are associated with adverse health consequences across development. Two factors associated with engagement in such behaviors are emotion dysregulation and impulsivity. Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is an effective intervention that enhances emotion regulation skills to reduce problem behaviors among adolescent populations; however, limited research has been conducted implementing the program within school settings. The current study was a 9-week DBT skills group conducted among 80 middle school youth, with pre–posttest data among 53 students. Findings indicated feasibility to implement the program in schools and preliminary evidence of efficacy in decreasing youth’s likelihood to engage in risky, particularly among youth high on an emotion-based impulsivity trait. Brief DBT skills group may be an effective program to be utilized by school nurses and health-care teams to reduce health risk behaviors among school-aged youth

Identification of Stocked Muskellunge and Potential for Distinguishing Hatchery-Origin and Wild Fish Using Pelvic Fin Ray Microchemistry

The effectiveness of pelvic fin ray microchemistry of muskellunge Esox masquinongy Mitchill to identify stocked individuals along with the potential to identify naturally reproduced fish were evaluated. Fish and water samples were obtained from one hatchery and seven lakes with natural differences in water Sr:Ca to determine whether location-specific environmental signatures were recorded in sectioned muskellunge pelvic fin rays, including fish of known environmental history. Water and fin ray Sr:Ca were strongly correlated. Six lakes in Illinois possessed Sr:Ca signatures that were distinct from the hatchery where muskellunge were raised, resulting in pronounced shifts in Sr:Ca across sectioned fin rays of stocked fish. Hatchery and lake-specific Sr:Ca signatures were stable across years. Sixteen of 19 individual fish known to have been stocked based on PIT tags implanted at stocking were correctly identified as hatchery-origin fish using fin ray core Sr:Ca. Results also indicated that the hatchery Sr:Ca signal can be retained for at least seven years in fin rays of stocked fish. Fin ray microchemistry is a non-lethal approach for determining environmental history of muskellunge that could be used to assess movement patterns in lake and river systems and the degree to which muskellunge populations are supported by natural reproduction and stocking