Conservation of Marine Foundation Species: Learning from Native Oyster Restoration from California to British Columbia

AbstractMarine foundation species are critical to the structure and resilience of coastal ecosystems and provide key ecosystem services. Since many have suffered severe population declines, restoration of foundation species has been undertaken worldwide. The Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) is a foundation species, and the restoration of depleted populations is a priority for maintaining ecosystem function of estuaries along the west coast of North America. Here, we synthesize all native oyster restoration projects conducted from California, USA, to British Columbia, Canada, and analyze project goals, methods, and outcomes. Currently, restoration projects are spread unevenly across the species’ range, driven by locally varying goals and implemented with contrasting approaches. We highlight the value of regional strategic planning and decision support tools to evaluate project design and methods for restoration, including the selection of substrates and the targeted use of aquaculture. We recommend future investment in larger projects, which our analysis found were more cost-effective, but which have been relatively rare for this species. We also recommend that funders support monitoring over broader temporal and spatial scales than in the past to better characterize long-term effects of restoration on oyster populations and the services they provide beyond the project footprint. We found that most projects successfully supported native oysters and engaged local communities, and recommend similar efforts to continue to enhance understanding of Olympia oysters, which remain unfamiliar to many coastal residents. We believe that the results of this synthesis are broadly applicable to marine foundation species generally, and can inform restoration and conservation efforts worldwide.

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Worldview-2 and Landsat 8 Satellite Data for Seaweed Mapping along Karachi Coast

Pakistan Journal of Engineering Technology & Science ◽

10.22555/pjets.v5i2.920 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Muhammad Danish Siddiqui ◽

Arjumand Z Zaidi

Keyword(s):

Satellite Data ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Economic Value ◽

Vegetation Indices ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Geographical Information ◽

Landsat 8 ◽

Coverage Area ◽

Breeding Sites ◽

Marine Plant

Seaweed is a marine plant or algae which has economic value in many parts of the world. The purpose of this study is to evaluate different satellite sensors such as high-resolution WorldView-2 (WV2) satellite data and Landsat 8 30-meter resolution satellite data for mapping seaweed resources along the coastal waters of Karachi. The continuous monitoring and mapping of this precious marine plant and their breeding sites may not be very efficient and cost effective using traditional survey techniques. Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) can provide economical and more efficient solutions for mapping and monitoring coastal resources quantitatively as well as qualitatively at both temporal and spatial scales. Normalized Difference Vegetation Indices (NDVI) along with the image enhancement techniques were used to delineate seaweed patches in the study area. The coverage area of seaweed estimated with WV-2 and Landsat 8 are presented as GIS maps. A more precise area estimation wasachieved with WV-2 data that shows 15.5Ha (0.155 Km2)of seaweed cover along Karachi coast that is more representative of the field observed data. A much larger area wasestimated with Landsat 8 image (71.28Ha or 0.7128 Km2) that was mainly due to the mixing of seaweed pixels with water pixels. The WV-2 data, due to its better spatial resolution than Landsat 8, have proven to be more useful than Landsat 8 in mapping seaweed patches

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A synthesis of scale-dependent ecology of the endangered mountain caribou in British Columbia, Canada

Rangifer ◽

10.7557/2.28.1.150 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 33

Author(s):

Robert Serrouya ◽

Bruce N. McLellan ◽

Clayton D. Apps ◽

Heiko U. Wittmer

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Rangifer Tarandus ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Population Level ◽

Limiting Factors ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Integrative Approach ◽

Rangifer Tarandus Caribou ◽

Multi Scale

Mountain caribou are an endangered ecotype of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) that live in highprecipitation, mountainous ecosystems of southeastern British Columbia and northern Idaho. The distribution and abundance of these caribou have declined dramatically from historical figures. Results from many studies have indicated that mountain caribou rely on old conifer forests for several life-history requirements including an abundance of their primary winter food, arboreal lichen, and a scarcity of other ungulates and their predators. These old forests often have high timber value, and understanding mountain caribou ecology at a variety of spatial scales is thus required to develop effective conservation strategies. Here we summarize results of studies conducted at three different spatial scales ranging from broad limiting factors at the population level to studies describing the selection of feeding sites within seasonal home ranges of individuals. The goal of this multi-scale review is to provide a more complete picture of caribou ecology and to determine possible shifts in limiting factors across scales. Our review produced two important results. First, mountain caribou select old forests and old trees at all spatial scales, signifying their importance for foraging opportunities as well as conditions required to avoid alternate ungulates and their predators. Second, relationships differ across scales. For example, landscapes dominated by roads and edges negatively affect caribou survival, but appear to attract caribou during certain times of the year. This juxtaposition of fine-scale behaviour with broad-scale vulnerability to predation could only be identified through integrated multi-scale analyses of resource selection. Consequently we suggest that effective management strategies for endangered species require an integrative approach across multiple spatial scales to avoid a focus that may be too narrow to maintain viable populations. Abstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag:Skala-avhengig økologi og truet fjellvillrein i Britisk ColumbiaFjellvillreinen i de nedbørsrike fjellområdene i sørøstre Britisk Columbia og nordlige Idaho som er en truet økotype av skogsreinen (Rangifer tarandus caribou), har blitt kraftig redusert både i utbredelse og antall. Mange studier har vist at denne økotypen er avhengig av vinterføden hengelav i gammel barskog hvor det også er få andre klovdyr og dermed få predatorer. Slik skog er også viktige hogstområder, og å forstå økologien til fjellvillreinen i forskjellige skaleringer er derfor nødvendig for å utvikle forvaltningsstrategier som kan berge og ta vare på denne reinen. Artikkelen gir en oversikt over slike arbeider: fra studier av begrensende faktorer på populasjonsnivå til studier av sesongmessige beiteplasser på individnivå. Hensikten er å få frem et mer helhetlig perspektiv på fjellvillreinen og finne hvordan de begrensende faktorene varierer etter skaleringen som er benyttet i studiet. Oversikten vår frembragte to viktige resultater; 1) Uansett skalering så velger dyrene gammel skog og gamle trær. 2) Dyrenes bruk av et område kan variere med benyttet skalering, for eksempel vil landskap utbygd med veier og hogstflater være ufordelaktig for overlevelsen, men synes likevel å kunne tiltrekke fjellvillreinen til visse tider av året. Forholdet mellom atferd ut fra fin-skalering og stor-skalering sårbarhet hva gjelder predasjon, ville kun blitt avdekket ved flere-skaleringsanalyse av hvordan ressursene benyttes. Ut fra dette foreslår vi at forvaltningsstrategier for truete bestander som eksempelvis fjellvillreinen, må baseres på tilnærminger ut fra ulike skaleringer for å hindre at et for snevert perspektiv kan begrense muligheten for vedvarende levedyktighet.

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Changes in landscape composition influence the decline of a threatened woodland caribou population

10.26686/wgtn.12971855 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Heiko Wittmer ◽

B McLellan ◽

R Serrouya ◽

C Apps

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Apparent Competition ◽

Timber Harvesting ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Vital Rates ◽

Population Declines ◽

Woodland Caribou ◽

Habitat Alterations

Large-scale habitat loss is frequently identified with loss of biodiversity, but examples of the direct effect of habitat alterations on changes in vital rates remain rare. Quantifying and understanding the relationship between habitat composition and changes in vital rates, however, is essential for the development of effective conservation strategies. It has been suggested that the decline of woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou populations in North America is precipitated by timber harvesting that creates landscapes of early seral forests. Such habitat changes have altered the predator-prey system resulting in asymmetric predation, where predators are maintained by alternative prey (i.e. apparent competition). However, a direct link between habitat condition and caribou population declines has not been documented. We estimated survival probabilities for the threatened arboreal lichen-feeding ecotype of woodland caribou in British Columbia, Canada, at two different spatial scales. At the broader scale, observed variation in adult female survival rates among 10 distinct populations (range = 0.67-0.93) was best explained by variation in the amount of early seral stands within population ranges and population density. At the finer scale, home ranges of caribou killed by predators had lower proportions of old forest and more mid-aged forest as compared with multi-annual home ranges where caribou were alive. These results are consistent with predictions from the apparent competition hypothesis and quantify direct fitness consequences for caribou following habitat alterations. We conclude that apparent competition can cause rapid population declines and even extinction where changes in species composition occur following large scale habitat change. © 2007 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2007 British Ecological Society.

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MODELLING LANDSCAPE MORPHODYNAMICS BY TERRESTRIAL PHOTOGRAMMETRY: AN APPLICATION TO BEACH AND FLUVIAL SYSTEMS

ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences ◽

10.5194/isprsarchives-xli-b8-1175-2016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol XLI-B8 ◽

pp. 1175-1182 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

E. Sánchez-García ◽

A. Balaguer-Beser ◽

R. Taborda ◽

J. E. Pardo-Pascual

Keyword(s):

Morphological Changes ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Point Clouds ◽

Field Work ◽

Fluvial Systems ◽

Natural Systems ◽

3D Point Clouds ◽

Pilot Channel ◽

Terrestrial Photogrammetry

Beach and fluvial systems are highly dynamic environments, being constantly modified by the action of different natural and anthropic phenomena. To understand their behaviour and to support a sustainable management of these fragile environments, it is very important to have access to cost-effective tools. These methods should be supported on cutting-edge technologies that allow monitoring the dynamics of the natural systems with high periodicity and repeatability at different temporal and spatial scales instead the tedious and expensive field-work that has been carried out up to date. The work herein presented analyses the potential of terrestrial photogrammetry to describe beach morphology. Data processing and generation of high resolution 3D point clouds and derived DEMs is supported by the commercial Agisoft PhotoScan. Model validation is done by comparison of the differences in the elevation among the photogrammetric point cloud and the GPS data along different beach profiles. Results obtained denote the potential that the photogrammetry 3D modelling has to monitor morphological changes and natural events getting differences between 6 and 25 cm. Furthermore, the usefulness of these techniques to control the layout of a fluvial system is tested by the performance of some modeling essays in a hydraulic pilot channel.

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EEG Based Detection of Alcoholics

Substance Abuse and Addiction ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-7666-2.ch007 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 141-160

Author(s):

T. K. Padma Shri ◽

N. Sriraam

Keyword(s):

Human Brain ◽

Imaging Techniques ◽

Cost Effective ◽

The Body ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Positron Emission ◽

Signal Processing Algorithms ◽

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽

Neuro Imaging

The short term and long term effects of alcohol on various organs of the body, especially on the human brain is well established by numerous studies. Invasive methods such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and non invasive imaging techniques such as Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and functional MRI activated electro-encephalogram (EEG) have been used to study the changes in EEG activity due to alcoholism. Even with the advent of neuro imaging techniques, EEG happens to be an important tool for brain study providing a non- invasive and cost effective method to detect the effects of alcohol on the human brain. This paper discusses the harmful effects of alcohol on different organs of the body. The advances in the development of EEG signal processing algorithms over the past decade for alcoholic detection are reviewed and their limitations are reported. Further the use of EEG for mass screening of alcoholics and biometric application is discussed in detail.

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Comprehensive Energy Systems Analysis Support Tools for Decision Making

Intelligent Information Systems and Knowledge Management for Energy ◽

10.4018/978-1-60566-737-9.ch010 ◽

2010 ◽

pp. 272-295

Author(s):

C. Cosmi ◽

S. Di Leo ◽

S. Loperte ◽

F. Pietrapertosa ◽

M. Salvia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Environmental Planning ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Energy Systems ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Sustainable Resource Management ◽

International Projects ◽

Planning Methods ◽

Decision Making Processes ◽

Environment Agency

Sustainability of energy systems is a common priority that involves key issues such as security of energy supply, mitigation of environmental impacts - the energy sector is currently responsible for 80% of all EU greenhouse gas emissions (European Environment Agency, 2007), contributing heavily to the overall emissions of local air pollutants - and energy affordability. In this framework, energy planning and decision making processes can be supported at different stages and spatial scales (regional, national, pan-European, etc.) by the use of comprehensive models in order to manage the large complexity of energy systems and to define multi-objective strategies on the medium-long term. This Chapter is aimed to outline the value of model-based decision support systems in addressing current challenges aimed to carry out sustainable energy systems and to diffuse the use of strategic energy-environmental planning methods based on the use of partial equilibrium models. The proposed methodology, aimed to derive cost-effective strategies for a sustainable resource management, is based on the experiences gathered in the framework of the IEA-ETSAP program and under several national and international projects.

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Feasibility, Process, and Effects of Short-Term Calorie Reduction in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: An Integrative Review

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12092823 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 2823

Author(s):

Chia-Chun Tang ◽

Hsi Chen ◽

Tai-Chung Huang ◽

Wei-Wen Wu ◽

Jing-Mei Lin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Integrative Review ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Original Research ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Short Term ◽

Ovid Medline ◽

Potential Benefits

Recent preclinical studies have shown the potential benefits of short-term calorie reduction (SCR) on cancer treatment. In this integrative review, we aimed to identify and synthesize current evidence regarding the feasibility, process, and effects of SCR in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Ovid Medline, PsychINFO, and Embase were searched for original research articles using various combinations of Medical Subject Heading terms. Among the 311 articles identified, seven studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the reviewed studies were small randomized controlled trials or cohort study with fair quality. The results suggest that SCR is safe and feasible. SCR is typically arranged around the chemotherapy, with the duration ranging from 24 to 96 h. Most studies examined the protective effects of SCR on normal cells during chemotherapy. The evidence supports that SCR had the potential to enhance both the physical and psychological wellbeing of patients during chemotherapy. SCR is a cost-effective intervention with great potential. Future well-controlled studies with sufficient sample sizes are needed to examine the full and long-term effects of SCR and its mechanism of action.

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Scales of Food Availability for an Endangered Insectivore, The Hawaii Akepa

The Auk ◽

10.1093/auk/119.1.166 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 119 (1) ◽

pp. 166-174 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. Scott Fretz

Keyword(s):

Food Availability ◽

Prey Availability ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Prey Population ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Population Declines ◽

Loxops Coccineus ◽

A Site

Abstract The Hawaii Akepa (Loxops coccineus coccineus) is an endangered bird that has declined dramatically in the last 100 years, and is now rare or absent from many areas that appear to support suitable habitat. Food availability may play a role in these distribution patterns, but differences in food between sites may arise from different sources. I compared prey availability between a site supporting a large, stable Hawaii Akepa population, and a site from which Hawaii Akepa have declined in the last 100 years for unknown reasons. I used three spatial scales to compare food between sites to explore the basis of differences in food between sites. At a scale appropriate for comparing prey population dynamics (scale 1), I found that prey population densities are similar between sites, suggesting that introduced (or native) predators or parasitoids have not affected prey populations differently between sites. At two larger scales incorporating habitat structure, I found that food availability is much lower at the site of Hawaii Akepa declines. Differences in canopy density per square meter (scale 2), and in canopy cover per square kilometer (scale 3), result in lower food availability that may have effects on individual foraging birds as well as on potential Hawaii Akepa population density. These findings illustrate the importance of explicitly incorporating spatial scale into inquiries about food for Hawaii Akepa, and suggest that the site of population declines may not be suitable habitat with respect to food for this species.

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EEG Based Detection of Alcoholics

International Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Engineering ◽

10.4018/ijbce.2012010105 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 59-76 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

T. K. Padma Shri ◽

N. Sriraam

Keyword(s):

Human Brain ◽

Imaging Techniques ◽

Cost Effective ◽

The Body ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Positron Emission ◽

Cost Effective Method ◽

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽

Neuro Imaging

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Genetic markers reveal high PIT tag retention rates in giant salamanders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis)

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/156853812x641712 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 313-317 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Shem D. Unger ◽

Nicholas G. Burgmeier ◽

Rod N. Williams

Keyword(s):

Cost Effective ◽

Retention Rates ◽

Population Declines ◽

Pit Tag ◽

Amphibian Species ◽

Pit Tags ◽

Tag Retention ◽

Cryptobranchus Alleganiensis ◽

Genetic Tagging ◽

Secondary Methods

Estimation of population size using mark-recapture (MRR) methods are based on the fundamental assumption that individuals retain their marks throughout the course of study. Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags are useful as a cost effective, reliable marking method in many amphibian and reptile species. Few studies however, use secondary methods to evaluate tag retention rates. Failure to do so can lead to biased population estimates, erroneous conclusions, and thus poor management decisions. Surprisingly, estimates of PIT tag retention are currently lacking for the majority of amphibian species, many of which are experiencing population declines. Herein, we use genetic tagging to assess the retention of PIT tags of the eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis). We captured and tagged 78 individuals across 35 sites. Recapture rate was 24% and genetic tagging revealed 100% tag retention across all recaptured individuals.

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