A compendium of ecological knowledge for restoration of freshwater fishes in Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin

Many freshwater fishes are imperilled globally, and there is a need for easily accessible, contemporary ecological knowledge to guide management. This compendium contains knowledge collated from over 600 publications and 27 expert workshops to support the restoration of 9 priority native freshwater fish species, representative of the range of life-history strategies and values in south-eastern Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin. To help prioritise future research investment and restoration actions, ecological knowledge and threats were assessed for each species and life stage. There is considerable new knowledge (80% of publications used were from the past 20 years), but this varied among species and life stages, with most known about adults, then egg, juvenile and larval stages (in that order). The biggest knowledge gaps concerned early life stage requirements, survival, recruitment, growth rates, condition and movements. Key threats include reduced longitudinal and lateral connectivity, altered flows, loss of refugia, reductions in both flowing (lotic) and slackwater riverine habitats, degradation of wetland habitats, alien species interactions and loss of aquatic vegetation. Examples and case studies illustrating the application of this knowledge to underpin effective restoration management are provided. This extensive ecological evidence base for multiple species is presented in a tabular format to assist a range of readers

Recreational Fishing Effort, Catch, and Harvest for Murray Cod and Golden Perch in the Murrumbidgee River, Australia

<div><p></p><p>Recreational fishery management aims to prevent species decline and provide sustainable fisheries. Overfishing has been frequently suggested as a cause of historic fishery declines within the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB), Australia, but there have been few quantitative surveys for providing fishery-dependent data to gauge status. The Murray Cod <i>Maccullochella peelii</i> and the Golden Perch <i>Macquaria ambigua</i> are important species targeted by recreational fishers across the MDB. The fisheries are controlled by size and bag limits and gear restrictions (both species) as well as a closed season (Murray Cod only). A complemented fisher survey design was used to assess the recreational fishery for both species in a 76-km reach of the Murrumbidgee River in 2012–2013. Progressive counts were used to quantify boat- and shore-based fishing effort. Catch and harvest rate information was obtained from shore-based fishers via roving surveys and from boat-based fishers via bus route surveys. Murray Cod catch rates (fish/angler-hour) were 0.228 ± 0.047 (mean ± SE; boat based) and 0.092 ± 0.023 (shore based), and harvest rates (fish/angler-hour) were 0.013 ± 0.006 (boat based) and 0.003 ± 0.001 (shore based). Golden Perch catch rates were 0.018 ± 0.009 (shore based) and 0.002 ± 0.001 (boat based), and harvest rates were 0.006 ± 0.002 (shore based) and 0.001 ± <0.001 (boat based). The Murray Cod fishery had maximal catch and harvest during the 5-month period after the closed season ended. The closed season aims to protect spawning Murray Cod, but this strategy's effectiveness may have been influenced by high fishing effort and deliberate bycatch during the closure period. To sustain and improve these MDB fisheries, we suggest quantification of catch-and-release impacts on spawning Murray Cod, provision of fish passage, re-stocking of Golden Perch, and education on fishing techniques that minimize Murray Cod bycatch during the closed season.</p><p>Received October 22, 2014; accepted March 6, 2015</p></div

Mullerian Inhibiting Substance acts as a motor neuron survival factor in vitro

The survival of motor neurons is controlled by multiple factors that regulate different aspects of their physiology. The identification of these factors is important because of their relationship to motor neuron disease. We investigate here whether Mullerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS) is a motor neuron survival factor. We find that motor neurons from adult mice synthesize MIS and express its receptors, suggesting that mature motor neurons use MIS in an autocrine fashion or as a way to communicate with each other. MIS was observed to support the survival and differentiation of embryonic motor neurons in vitro. During development, male-specific MIS may have a hormone effect because the blood-brain barrier has yet to form, raising the possibility that MIS participates in generating sex-specific differences in motor neurons