The influence of an offshore artificial reef on the abundance of fish in the surrounding pelagic environment

2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly E. Scott ◽  
James A. Smith ◽  
Michael B. Lowry ◽  
Matthew D. Taylor ◽  
Iain M. Suthers
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Reef ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Pelagic Environment ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Small Scale Effect ◽  
Total Fish ◽  
Seriola Lalandi ◽  
Natural Reefs ◽  
Sydney Australia

Artificial reefs are a popular fisheries management tool, but the effect of these reefs on the abundance of fish in the surrounding pelagic environment is uncertain. Pelagic baited remote underwater video (PBRUV) was used to observe the fish assemblage surrounding an offshore artificial reef (OAR), near Sydney, Australia. PBRUVs were deployed at three distances (30, 100, 500m) from the OAR, and compared with a drop camera deployed directly over the OAR. There was a significantly greater abundance of fish on the OAR, but no significant difference in abundance at the 30-, 100- or 500-m distances. Two highly mobile non-resident species (Seriola lalandi, Pseudocaranx dentex) were significantly more abundant on the OAR, but this association was not detected 30m away. The lack of a significant difference in total fish abundance, or in assemblage composition, between the 30-, 100- and 500-m distances suggests that any association with the OAR is on a localised scale (<30m). One exception was the ocean leatherjacket (Nelusetta ayraudi), which had an association detected 100m from the OAR. This predominantly small-scale effect may be influenced by the proximity of this OAR to numerous natural reefs.

scholarly journals Assessment of the Performance of an Artificial Reef Made of Modular Elements through Small Scale Experiments

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Dea Cardenas-Rojas ◽  
Edgar Mendoza ◽  
Mireille Escudero ◽  
Manuel Verduzco-Zapata
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Reef ◽  
Artificial Reefs ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Beach Profile ◽  
Transmission Coefficients ◽  
Wave Flume ◽  
Ecological Performance ◽  
Limited Success ◽  
Hydrodynamic Function ◽  
Natural Reefs

Artificial reefs have proven to be an optimal and effective solution in stabilizing coastlines around the world. They are submerged structures that imitate the protection service provided by natural reefs accomplishing the functions of dissipating wave energy and protecting beach morphology, but also being an ecological solution. In this paper, 2D small-scale experiments were performed to analyze the hydrodynamic, morphological, and ecological behavior of an artificial reef constructed of modular elements. Two typical beach-dune profiles were constructed in a wave flume over which two locations of an artificial reef were tested. From these tests, transmission coefficients were obtained as well as the beach profile response to the presence of the artificial reef. These results are used to discuss about the hydrodynamic, morphological, and ecological performance of the artificial reef. The proposed artificial reef showed good morphological performance while its hydrodynamic function had limited success. In turn, the ecologic performance was theoretically addressed.

scholarly journals Improved Antioxidant Capacity of Black Tea Waste Utilizing PlantCrystals

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham M. Abraham ◽  
Reem M. Alnemari ◽  
Jana Brüßler ◽  
Cornelia M. Keck
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Capacity ◽  
Aqueous Media ◽  
Natural Antioxidants ◽  
Black Tea ◽  
Pharmaceutical Products ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Alternative Source ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Plant Waste

Antioxidants are recommended to prevent and treat oxidative stress diseases. Plants are a balanced source of natural antioxidants, but the poor solubility of plant active molecules in aqueous media can be a problem for the formulation of pharmaceutical products. The potential of PlantCrystal technology is known to improve the extraction efficacy and antioxidant capacity (AOC) of different plants. However, it is not yet proved for plant waste. Black tea (BT) infusion is consumed worldwide and thus a huge amount of waste occurs as a result. Therefore, BT waste was recycled into PlantCrystals using small-scale bead milling. Their characteristics were compared with the bulk-materials and tea infusion, including particle size and antioxidant capacity (AOC) in-vitro. Waste PlantCrystals possessed a size of about 280 nm. Their AOC increased with decreasing size according to the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) assays. The AOC of the waste increased about nine-fold upon nanonization, leading to a significantly higher AOC than the bulk-waste and showed no significant difference to the infusion and the used standard according to DPPH assay. Based on the results, it is confirmed that the PlantCrystal technology represents a natural, cost-effective plant-waste recycling method and presents an alternative source of antioxidant phenolic compounds.

scholarly journals A Threat of Farmers’ Suicide and the Opportunity in Organic Farming for Sustainable Agricultural Development in India

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karthikeyan Mariappan ◽  
Deyi Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Conventional Farming ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Input Cost

Agriculture is the main sources of income for humans. Likewise, agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. In India, Tamil Nadu regional state has a wide range of possibilities to produce all varieties of organic products due to its diverse agro-climatic condition. This research aimed to identify the economics and efficiency of organic farming, and the possibilities to reduce farmers’ suicides in the Tamil Nadu region through the organic agriculture concept. The emphasis was on farmers, producers, researchers, and marketers entering the sustainable economy through organic farming by reducing input cost and high profit in cultivation. A survey was conducted to gather data. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) has been used to test the hypothesis regards the cost and profit of rice production. The results showed that there was a significant difference in profitability between organic and conventional farming methods. It is very transparent that organic farming is the leading concept of sustainable agricultural development with better organic manures that can improve soil fertility, better yield, less input cost and better return than conventional farming. The study suggests that by reducing the cost of cultivation and get a marginal return through organic farming method to poor and small scale farmers will reduce socio-economic problems such as farmers’ suicides in the future of Indian agriculture.

Individual Versus Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Partner-Violent Men: A Preliminary Randomized Trial

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15-16) ◽  
pp. 2846-2868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Murphy ◽  
Christopher I. Eckhardt ◽  
Judith M. Clifford ◽  
Adam D. LaMotte ◽  
Laura A. Meis
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Behavioral Approach ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Individual Treatment ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Relationship Functioning ◽  
Significant Difference

A randomized clinical trial tested the hypothesis that a flexible, case formulation–based, individual treatment approach integrating motivational interviewing strategies with cognitive-behavioral therapy (ICBT) is more efficacious than a standardized group cognitive-behavioral approach (GCBT) for perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV). Forty-two men presenting for services at a community domestic violence agency were randomized to receive 20 sessions of ICBT or a 20-week group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program. Participants and their relationship partners completed assessments of relationship abuse and relationship functioning at baseline and quarterly follow-ups for 1 year. Treatment uptake and session attendance were significantly higher in ICBT than GCBT. However, contrary to the study hypothesis, GCBT produced consistently equivalent or greater benefits than ICBT. Participant self-reports revealed significant reductions in abusive behavior and injuries across conditions with no differential benefits between conditions. Victim partner reports revealed more favorable outcomes for group treatment, including a statistically significant difference in psychological aggression, and differences exceeding a medium effect size for physical assault, emotional abuse, and partner relationship adjustment. In response to hypothetical relationship scenarios, GCBT was associated with greater reductions than ICBT (exceeding a medium effect) in articulated cognitive distortions and aggressive intentions. Treatment competence ratings suggest that flexible, individualized administration of CBT creates challenges in session agenda setting, homework implementation, and formal aspects of relationship skills training. Although caution is needed in generalizing findings from this small-scale trial, the results suggest that the mutual support and positive social influence available in group intervention may be particularly helpful for IPV perpetrators.

Small-scale effect on the mechanical properties of metallic nanotubes

2012 ◽  
Vol 101 (9) ◽  
pp. 093109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Zhang ◽  
Chengyuan Wang ◽  
Rajib Chowdhury ◽  
Sondipon Adhikari
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Scale Effect ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Small Scale Effect

Sediment transport modifications induced by submerged artificial reef systems: a case study for the Gulf of Venice

2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Bonaldo ◽  
Alvise Benetazzo ◽  
Andrea Bergamasco ◽  
Francesco Falcieri ◽  
Sandro Carniel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sediment Transport ◽  
Coastal Zone Management ◽  
Artificial Reef ◽  
Sediment Concentration ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Zone Management ◽  
Basin Scale ◽  
Scale Modelling ◽  
Maritime Spatial Planning

AbstractThe shallow, gently sloping, sandy-silty seabed of the Venetian coast (Italy) is studded by a number of outcropping rocky systems of different size encouraging the development of peculiar zoobenthic biocenoses with considerably higher biodiversity indexes compared to neighbouring areas. In order to protect and enhance the growth of settling communities, artificial monolithic reefs were deployed close to the most important formations, providing further nesting sites and mechanical hindrance to illegal trawl fishing.In this framework, a multi-step and multi-scale numerical modelling activity was carried out to predict the perturbations induced by the presence of artificial structures on sediment transport over the outcroppings and their implications on turbidity and water quality. After having characterized wave and current circulation climate at the sub-basin scale over a reference year, a set of small scale simulations was carried out to describe the effects of a single monolith under different geometries and hydrodynamic forcings, encompassing the conditions likely occurring at the study sites. A dedicated tool was then developed to compose the information contained in the small-scale database into realistic deployment configurations, and applied in four protected outcroppings identified as test sites. With reference to these cases, under current meteomarine climate the application highlighted a small and localised increase in suspended sediment concentration, suggesting that the implemented deployment strategy is not likely to produce harmful effects on turbidity close to the outcroppings.In a broader context, the activity is oriented at the tuning of a flexible instrument for supporting the decision-making process in benthic environments of outstanding environmental relevance, especially in the Integrated Coastal Zone Management or Maritime Spatial Planning applications. The dissemination of sub-basin scale modelling results via the THREDDS Data Server, together with an user-friendly software for composing single-monolith runs and a graphical interface for exploring the available data, significantly improves the quantitative information collection and sharing among scientists, stakeholders and policy-makers.

scholarly journals Analysis of livestock breeders’ perceptions and their adaptation measures to climate change in Morocco‘s arid rangelands

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Wadii Snaibi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Eastern Morocco ◽  
Climate Analysis

AbstractThe high plateaus of eastern Morocco are already suffering from the adverse impacts of climate change (CC), as the local populations’ livelihoods depend mainly on extensive sheep farming and therefore on natural resources. This research identifies breeders’ perceptions about CC, examines whether they correspond to the recorded climate data and analyses endogenous adaptation practices taking into account the agroecological characteristics of the studied sites and the difference between breeders’ categories based on the size of owned sheep herd. Data on perceptions and adaptation were analyzed using the Chi-square independence and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Climate data were investigated through Mann-Kendall, Pettitt and Buishand tests.Herders’ perceptions are in line with the climate analysis in term of nature and direction of observed climate variations (downward trend in rainfall and upward in temperature). In addition, there is a significant difference in the adoption frequency of adaptive strategies between the studied agroecological sub-zones (χ2 = 14.525, p <.05) due to their contrasting biophysical and socioeconomic conditions, as well as among breeders’ categories (χ2 = 10.568, p < .05) which attributed mainly to the size of sheep flock. Policy options aimed to enhance local-level adaptation should formulate site-specific adaptation programs and prioritise the small-scale herders.

Efficiency and selectivity of the Anomalocardia brasiliana (Mollusca: Veneridae) hand dredge used in southern Brazil

2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (7) ◽  
pp. 1455-1464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo R. Pezzuto ◽  
Caroline Schio ◽  
Tito C.M. Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Management Plan ◽  
Fishing Effort ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Commercial Fisheries ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Fishing Rights ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Experimental Plots

In Florianópolis, southern Brazil, the venerid clam Anomalocardia brasiliana has supported subsistence and small-scale commercial fisheries for decades. The introduction of a hand dredge (gancho) since 1987 led to the development of a significant fishery supplying both local and regional shellfish markets. In 1992 one of the main fishing areas in the region was designated as the first Brazilian Marine Extractive Reserve (Pirajubaé RESEX), a federal form of governance intended to promote sustainable exploitation of natural resources by assigning exclusive fishing rights to traditional users. However, excessive fishing effort, institutional shortcomings and lack of a negotiated management plan have resulted in the overexploitation of the species since 2000. This study was aimed at evaluating the efficiency and selectivity of the hand dredge currently in use at the RESEX, through a field experiment conducted in October 2006. Quantitative samples of A. brasiliana were collected before and after dredging 15 experimental plots. Additional samples were obtained inside the dredge (catch) and respective cover cod-end (discard) for selectivity analysis. A single haul of the hand dredge can dislocate up to 76% of the individuals present in the sediment irrespective of their size, and retain up to 69% of the commercial-sized organisms. The gear has a knife-edge selection pattern, which enables the use of the minimum spacing between the iron bars of the dredge's basket as an effective management tool.

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