Genetic stock structure and estimation of abundance of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in South Africa

Targeted fishing for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in South Africa began in the mid-1980s by recreational anglers. The recreational fishery dwindled with the near-shore resources at the onset of experimental pelagic longlining from 1997. The commercial fishery was formalised in 2005 with the issuing of 10-year long term rights to swordfish- and tuna-directed vessels. South Africa's swordfish catches reached a peak in 2002 at 1 187 t, and have been on the decline with average catches of 372 t over the last 5 years. South Africa straddles two ocean basins, the Indian and Atlantic Ocean and currently the jurisdictions of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) are separated by a management boundary at 20°E. Consequently, all tunas and billfish stocks with the exception of the southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii), are artificially divided into Atlantic and Indian Ocean stocks along this boundary, regardless of their true stock structure and distribution. Since questions remain about the origin of South African caught swordfish, it remains uncertain if the artificial split in reporting stock indices indeed reflects a biological meaningful separation of stocks. Previous recent genetics studies have confirmed genetic differentiation between the Atlantic and Indian Ocean stocks though there is no agreement on the direction of gene flow and where, or indeed if, a genetically relevant boundary exists. Eleven microsatellite loci were included in this study of the fine scale population structure of swordfish caught relatively close inshore. Despite the poor quality of the DNA samples, muscle material of 267 swordfish caught in 2005 around the entire range of South Africa's coastline was utilised. A posterior predictive map of admixture proportions produced a potential admixture zone between 14°E and 27°E. There is evidence of gene flow and migration in this area in both directions, though the evidence for weak differentiation suggests that the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean contain separate stocks and that swordfish stocks coexist around South Africa but return to their ocean of origin to reproduce. Due to passive drift of larvae and active dispersal of adults that have wide environmental parameter limits that extend across this area, swordfish would be prone to admixture and genetic homogenisation

Tag, You’re It: Enhancing Access to Graphic Novels

Current users of academic libraries are avid readers of graphic novels. These thought-provoking materials are used for leisure reading, in instruction, and for research purposes. Libraries need to take care in providing access to these resources. This study analyzed the cataloging practices and social tagging of a specific list of graphic novel titles in the academic libraries of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). Results found that of the 668 graphic novel records 68 (10.17 percent) used the genre heading “graphic novel” and 99 (14.8 percent) were tagged. This limited access could be improved by using social tagging and genre heading

Measuring physiological influence in dyads: A guide to designing, implementing, and analyzing dyadic physiological studies.

Scholars across domains in psychology, physiology, and neuroscience have long been interested in the study of shared physiological experiences between people. Recent technological and analytic advances allow researchers to examine new questions about how shared physiological experiences occur. Yet comprehensive guides that address the theoretical, methodological, and analytic components of studying these processes are lacking. The goal of this article is to provide such a guide. We begin by addressing basic theoretical issues in the study of shared physiological states by presenting five guiding theoretical principles for making psychological inferences from physiological influence-the extent to which one dyad member's physiology predicts the other dyad member's physiology at a future time point. Second, keeping theoretical and conceptual concerns at the forefront, we outline considerations and recommendations for designing, implementing, and analyzing dyadic psychophysiological studies. In so doing, we discuss the different types of physiological measures one could use to address different theoretical questions. Third, we provide three illustrative examples in which we estimate physiological influence, using the stability and influence model. We conclude by providing detail about power analyses for the model and by comparing the strengths and limitations of this model with preexisting models. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)

Influencing the physiology and decisions of groups: Physiological linkage during group decision-making

Many of the most important decisions in our society are made within groups, yet we know little about how the physiological responses of group members predict the decisions that groups make. In the current work, we examine whether physiological linkage from “senders” to “receivers”—which occurs when a sender’s physiological response predicts a receiver’s physiological response—is associated with senders’ success at persuading the group to make a decision in their favor. We also examine whether experimentally manipulated status—an important predictor of social behavior—is associated with physiological linkage. In groups of 5, we randomly assigned 1 person to be high status, 1 low status, and 3 middle status. Groups completed a collaborative decision-making task that required them to come to a consensus on a decision to hire 1 of 5 firms. Unbeknownst to the 3 middle-status members, high- and low-status members surreptitiously were told to each argue for different firms. We measured cardiac interbeat intervals of all group members throughout the decision-making process to assess physiological linkage. We found that the more receivers were physiologically linked to senders, the more likely groups were to make a decision in favor of the senders. We did not find that people were physiologically linked to their group members as a function of their fellow group members’ status. This work identifies physiological linkage as a novel correlate of persuasion and highlights the need to understand the relationship between group members’ physiological responses during group decision-making

Contagious Anxiety: Anxious European Americans Can Transmit Their Physiological Reactivity to African Americans.

During interracial encounters, well-intentioned European Americans sometimes engage in subtle displays of anxiety, which can be interpreted as signs of racial bias by African American partners. In the present research, same-race and cross-race stranger dyads ( N = 123) engaged in getting-acquainted tasks, during which measures of sympathetic nervous system responses (preejection period, PEP) and heart rate variability were continuously collected. PEP scores showed that African American partners had stronger physiological linkage to European American partners who evidenced greater anxiety-greater cortisol reactivity, behavioral tension, and self-reported discomfort-which suggests greater physiological responsiveness to momentary changes in partners' affective states when those partners were anxious. European Americans showed physiological linkage to African American and European American partners, but linkage did not vary as a function of their partner's anxiety. Using physiological linkage offers a novel approach to understanding how affective responses unfold during dynamic intergroup interactions

Out of the Basement: Partnering to Enhance the Discovery and Use of Graphic Novels

This paper presents a project designed to promote and increase the use of graphic novels, previously a seldom utilized collection, at the University at Albany Libraries. Several units in the Libraries collaborated to add additional graphic novels to the collection, augment bibliographic records with genre headings to enhance discovery, and promote this collection in the University Libraries and online. The Libraries used a variety of marketing techniques, including social media. Circulation statistics were recorded before, during, and after the promotional activities. This collaboration not only resulted in an increase in circulation activity for these titles while they were on display and after they were returned to the stacks, but generated other benefits as well

Go Team! Using Teams to Manage Electronic Resources

The increasing prevalence of electronic journals in library collections has impacted many aspects of library operations. Libraries have had to rethink workflows, processes, staffing needs, and other factors to account for the differences between print and online journals. The management of electronic journals can often cross departmental boundaries and bring into question current workflow. To address the changing landscape of electronic journal management, the University at Albany University Libraries developed two teams: one to implement batchloading electronic journal records and a second to address ongoing management and related policies. As a result of using a team approach for these responsibilities, the University Libraries was able to streamline processes, reduce duplication of effort across departments, coordinate policies and procedures, improve communication, and develop best practices

Go Team! Using Teams to Manage Electronic Resources

The increasing prevalence of ejournals in library collections has impacted many aspects of library operations. Libraries have had to rethink workflows, processes, staffing needs, and other factors to account for the differences between print and online journals. The management of ejournals can often cross departmental boundaries and bring into question current workflow. To address the changing landscape of journal management, the University at Albany Libraries developed two teams: one to implement batchloading ejournal records and a second to address ongoing management and related policies. As a result of using a team approach for these responsibilities, the University Libraries was able to streamline processes, reduce duplication of effort across departments, coordinate policies and procedures, improve communication, and develop best practices

Read Between the Lines: Marketing Graphic Novels

This poster session highlights a marketing initiative for graphic novels, an underutilized collection, at the University at Albany. The marketing initiative was a collaboration between the presenters and the University Library’s Marketing Coordinating Committee. It included an exhibit case, book marks, a library Pinterest page, a designated location for the books with signage to draw attention to the books, writing a piece for the Libraries’ newsletter, creating a promotional slide for the library lobby and website, coordinating with the bibliographer in the Science Library about her graphic novel display, and sending emails notifying staff about the display