Detecting fish aggregations from reef habitats mapped with high resolution side scan sonar imagery

As part of a multibeam and side scan sonar (SSS) benthic survey of the Marine Conservation District (MCD) south of St. Thomas, USVI and the seasonal closed areas in St. Croix—Lang Bank (LB) for red hind (Epinephelus guttatus) and the Mutton Snapper (MS) (Lutjanus analis) area—we extracted signals from water column targets that represent individual and aggregated fish over various benthic habitats encountered in the SSS imagery. The survey covered a total of 18 km2 throughout the federal jurisdiction fishery management areas. The complementary set of 28 habitat classification digital maps covered a total of 5,462.3 ha; MCDW (West) accounted for 45% of that area, and MCDE (East) 26%, LB 17%, and MS the remaining 13%. With the exception of MS, corals and gorgonians on consolidated habitats were significantly more abundant than submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) on unconsolidated sediments or unconsolidated sediments. Continuous coral habitat was the most abundant consolidated habitat for both MCDW and MCDE (41% and 43% respectively). Consolidated habitats in LB and MS predominantly consisted of gorgonian plain habitat with 95% and 83% respectively. Coral limestone habitat was more abundant than coral patch habitat; it was found near the shelf break in MS, MCDW, and MCDE. Coral limestone and coral patch habitats only covered LB minimally. The high spatial resolution (0.15 m) of the acquired imagery allowed the detection of differing fish aggregation (FA) types. The largest FA densities were located at MCDW and MCDE over coral communities that occupy up to 70% of the bottom cover. Counts of unidentified swimming objects (USOs), likely representing individual fish, were similar among locations and occurred primarily over sand and shelf edge areas. Fish aggregation school sizes were significantly smaller at MS than the other three locations (MCDW, MCDE, and LB). This study shows the advantages of utilizing SSS in determining fish distributions and density

Patterns of Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) Postlarval Recruitment in the Carribbean: A CRTR Project

As part of the Coral Reef Targeted Research (CRTR) Program, a partnership between the Global Environment Facility and the World Bank, our research team examined the recruitment patterns of Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) postlarvae among regions in the Caribbean, with a particular focus on Mesoamerica. Our goal was to collect comparable information on postlarval supply among regions and to provide data to test predictions of connectivity generated from a coupled biophysical oceanographic model of lobster larval dispersal. Here we present the results of the postlarval recruitment monitoring program. We monitored the catch of postlarvae on Witham-style collectors at sites in the Caribbean from March 2006 to May 2009, although the duration and frequency of sampling varied among locations. Recruitment varied considerably among months and locations. It peaked in the Western Caribbean in the fall (Oct - Dec), whereas in Florida, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela peaks were in spring (Feb - April) with a smaller peak in the fall. Sites generally fell into two groups with respect to monthly variability in recruitment: low variability sites (e.g., Honduras, southern Mexico, Venezuela) and high variability sites (e.g., Florida, San Andres Islands, Puerto Rico, northern Mexico). Recruitment magnitude varied locally, but generally increased (lowest to highest) from Puerto Rico, San Andres Islands, Honduras, Mexico, Venezuela, to Florida. Recruitment trends mirrored fishery catch in some locations, implying a recruit-to-stock linkage. Recruitment was significantly correlated among several sites, suggesting similarity in their larval sources and oceanographic regimes

Mapping the evidence of the effects of environmental factors on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in the non-built environment: Protocol for a systematic evidence map

Background: Human, animal, and environmental health are increasingly threatened by the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. Inappropriate use of antibiotic treatments commonly contributes to this threat, but it is also becoming apparent that multiple, interconnected environmental factors can play a significant role. Thus, a One Health approach is required for a comprehensive understanding of the environmental dimensions of antibiotic resistance and inform science-based decisions and actions. The broad and multidisciplinary nature of the problem poses several open questions drawing upon a wide heterogeneous range of studies. Objective: This study seeks to collect and catalogue the evidence of the potential effects of environmental factors on the abundance or detection of antibiotic resistance determinants in the outdoor environment, i.e., antibiotic resistant bacteria and mobile genetic elements carrying antibiotic resistance genes, and the effect on those caused by local environmental conditions of either natural or anthropogenic origin. Methods: Here, we describe the protocol for a systematic evidence map to address this, which will be performed in adherence to best practice guidelines. We will search the literature from 1990 to present, using the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, Embase, and the Web of Science Core Collection as well as the grey literature. We shall include full-text, scientific articles published in English. Reviewers will work in pairs to screen title, abstract and keywords first and then full-text documents. Data extraction will adhere to a code book purposely designed. Risk of bias assessment will not be conducted as part of this SEM. We will combine tables, graphs, and other suitable visualisation techniques to compile a database i) of studies investigating the factors associated with the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in the environment and ii) map the distribution, network, cross-disciplinarity, impact and trends in the literature.This work was supported by funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement No 773830: One Health European Joint Programme. The funder had no role in the development of this protocol.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Relationship between Population Structure and Aluminum Tolerance in Cultivated Sorghum

Background: Acid soils comprise up to 50% of the world's arable lands and in these areas aluminum (Al) toxicity impairs root growth, strongly limiting crop yield. Food security is thereby compromised in many developing countries located in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. In sorghum, SbMATE, an Al-activated citrate transporter, underlies the Alt(SB) locus on chromosome 3 and confers Al tolerance via Al-activated root citrate release. Methodology: Population structure was studied in 254 sorghum accessions representative of the diversity present in cultivated sorghums. Al tolerance was assessed as the degree of root growth inhibition in nutrient solution containing Al. A genetic analysis based on markers flanking Alt(SB) and SbMATE expression was undertaken to assess a possible role for Alt(SB) in Al tolerant accessions. In addition, the mode of gene action was estimated concerning the Al tolerance trait. Comparisons between models that include population structure were applied to assess the importance of each subpopulation to Al tolerance. Conclusion/Significance: Six subpopulations were revealed featuring specific racial and geographic origins. Al tolerance was found to be rather rare and present primarily in guinea and to lesser extent in caudatum subpopulations. Alt(SB) was found to play a role in Al tolerance in most of the Al tolerant accessions. A striking variation was observed in the mode of gene action for the Al tolerance trait, which ranged from almost complete recessivity to near complete dominance, with a higher frequency of partially recessive sources of Al tolerance. A possible interpretation of our results concerning the origin and evolution of Al tolerance in cultivated sorghum is discussed. This study demonstrates the importance of deeply exploring the crop diversity reservoir both for a comprehensive view of the dynamics underlying the distribution and function of Al tolerance genes and to design efficient molecular breeding strategies aimed at enhancing Al tolerance.CGIAR[G3007.04]McKnight FoundationFundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq

Los manglares / The swamps

[Spanish] Los manglares de Panama, generalmente, estan constituidos por seis a ocho especies de arboles. sin embargo, Por lo menos dos problemas surgen al tratar de determinar en forma exacta el numero de especies de mangle. Primeramente, existe dificultad en definir que es un arbol de mangle. Segundo, la identificacion de las especies no es clara, aun en las especies mas comunes (Tomlinson 1986;Duke 1992). Aunque este problema no se encuentra completamente superado, estudios realizados recientemente (Keller & Jackson 1993), revelan la existencia de15 taxa en los manglares de panama (Cuadro No 36). En comparacion a otros sitios dentro del Hemisferio Occidental, esta region cuenta con la mayor diversidad de especies dentro del manglar, en parte, como consecuencia de la introduccion de la palma de mangle del gdnero Nypa, que proviene de Oriente (Duke 1991). [English] The mangroves of Panama generally consist of 7 to 8 species of trees. There are uncertainties with these numbers because of the cmall number of field surveys coupled with problems in the taxonomy and descriptions. For instance, Nypa the mangrove palm was discovered only recently in 1991. This chapter describes what is known from recent surveys in the region

Recovery of tropical mangrove forests following a major oil spill: a study of recruitment and growth, and the benefits of planting

In April 1986, a large oil spill on the Caribbean coast of Panama killed approximately 75 hectares of tidal mangrove forests dominated by Rhizophora mangle. Since then, there has been extensive regeneration in sheltered sites, while those exposed to wind and waves were significantly disadvantaged by the scouring action of mobile wood fragments. The present study, conducted four and five years after the spill, compared annual growth of natural seedlings in both habitats with those in un-oiled natural light gaps nearby. Leaf node production rates, were greater in oiled sites, indicating that remaining oil in the substratum did not depress growth, and it was possibly greater because of higher light levels in more open, oil-deforested light gaps. In both places, advanced seedlings were found that appeared to be older than their respective light gaps. This is an important discovery for oiled sites, implying the need for greater care in post-spill clean-up operations, for example. But, the notion of seedlings previously growing under a shaded canopy has other important implications. Primarily, it means that such pre-established recruits have the better chance in filling gaps. For this reason, Rhizophora forests in Panama appear well-prepared for small-scale canopy damage, having this undercanopy community of established recruits in a 'seedling bank'. This bank turns over relatively fast since the plants are essentially shade-intolerant, dying after two or three years where the canopy remains closed. Nevertheless, their numbers are maintained by a seasonal supply of propagules in the second quarter of each year. For the advanced seedlings in light gaps, past growth was followed using the sequence of leaf scar nodes along the main stem, finding height production increased dramatically (4-6 times) after approximately one year following gap creation. This was the case in un-oiled and exposed oil-deforested sites, however, in more sheltered oiled sites, height production was apparently suppressed for two or three years afterwards, depending on the site. The growth of other seedlings in oil-deforested sites were also monitored, comparing natural recruits with those planted soon after the spill in an attempt at large-scale habitat restoration. Accordingly, it was found that planted recruits grew faster than natural ones (12-56%), aided by clean soil and fertilizer. However, this apparent benefit was out-weighed by both abundant natural recruitment and a significant negative effect on site recovery where planting took place. These findings bring into question the value of planting in this case. They also serve to emphasis a greater appreciation of natural recruitment and regeneration in future habitat restoration projects which may inadvertently contribute further to the destruction of already disrupted habitats

Transplante de plántulas de Rhizophora mangle (Rhizophoraceae) en el Parque Nacional Corales del Rosario, Colombia

From November 1984 to July 1985, 130 plantules of Rhizophora mangle (24 cm of mean height) were transplanted from Caño Lequeriquia (Canal del Dique) from upper, middle and lower litoral zones in Arena, Macabi and Pavitos islands, respectively exposed, intermediate exposed and not exposed. Density was 9 ind./m. A 20.80% was established with 21.96 mm mean month growth. The best results were obtained in lower littoral zone, protected island (Pavitos I.). A peak was observed both in leaf production and in mean month growth for all trials in the month that when the rains began