On the Variation in Bottom Fauna and Fish Yield in Relation to Trophic Level and Lake Dimensions

1957 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. Hayes

The relation of area to depth was studied for 500 lakes. Up to 0.3 km.2 the mean depth is constant at 3 to 4 m. This is probably an artifact due to omission of shallow lakes from study. From 0.3 to 300 km.2 the relation of depth to area is linear on a log—log plot. In the largest lakes the depths increase less proportionally.Of the three ways to study fish productivity in lakes, one, the estimate of standing crops, is usually attempted at mean depths around 1 m. Another, angling returns, centers on lakes of 3.5 m., while commercial reports come from lakes of 6.5 m. average depth, and extend to the deepest lakes.Fish records can be conveniently divided into three trophic levels, short food chain, e.g. carp, intermediate, e.g. bluegills and long, e.g. trout, bass. Records are interconvertible by use of factors. By factoring, a productivity index is calculated for some 150 lakes.The productivity index is found to be inversely proportional to mean depth on a log—log plot. Thus by correction of the PI it is possible to derive a theoretical value, called the quality index, for a standard lake 5 m. deep.The QI is intended to screen the effect of depth out of the PI and so disclose the inherent capacity of the lake. The QI values vary around unity. Lakes of mean depth under 2.5 m. are factored as of that depth, it being assumed that primary productivity due to photosynthesis goes on all the way to the bottom.A study of bottom fauna in 250 lakes in several regions gave no indication of a relation between depth and productivity.

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Li Wang ◽  
Yong Zhou ◽  
Qing Li ◽  
Tao Xu ◽  
Zhengxiang Wu ◽  
...  

Constructing a scientific and quantitative quality-assessment model for farmland is important for understanding farmland quality, and can provide a theoretical basis and technical support for formulating rational and effective management policies and realizing the sustainable use of farmland resources. To more accurately reflect the systematic, complex, and differential characteristics of farmland quality, this study aimed to explore an intelligent farmland quality-assessment method that avoids the subjectivity of determining indicator weights while improving assessment accuracy. Taking Xiangzhou in Hubei Province, China, as the study area, 14 indicators were selected from four dimensions—terrain, soil conditions, socioeconomics, and ecological environment—to build a comprehensive assessment index system for farmland quality applicable to the region. A total of 1590 representative samples in Xiangzhou were selected, of which 1110 were used as training samples, 320 as test samples, and 160 as validation samples. Three models of entropy weight (EW), backpropagation neural network (BPNN), and random forest (RF) were selected for training, and the assessment results of farmland quality were output through simulations to compare their assessment accuracy and analyze the distribution pattern of farmland quality grades in Xiangzhou in 2018. The results showed the following: (1) The RF model for farmland quality assessment required fewer parameters, and could simulate the complex relationships between indicators more accurately and analyze each indicator’s contribution to farmland quality scientifically. (2) In terms of the average quality index of farmland, RF > BPNN > EW. The spatial patterns of the quality index from RF and BPNN were similar, and both were significantly different from EW. (3) In terms of the assessment results and precision characterization indicators, the assessment results of RF were more in line with realities of natural and socioeconomic development, with higher applicability and reliability. (4) Compared to BPNN and EW, RF had a higher data mining ability and training accuracy, and its assessment result was the best. The coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.8145, the mean absolute error (MAE) was 0.009, and the mean squared error (MSE) was 0.012. (5) The overall quality of farmland in Xiangzhou was higher, with a larger area of second- and third-grade farmland, accounting for 54.63%, and the grade basically conformed to the trend of positive distribution, showing an obvious pattern of geographical distribution, with overall high performance in the north-central part and low in the south. The distribution of farmland quality grades also varied widely among regions. This showed that RF was more suitable for the quality assessment of farmland with complex nonlinear characteristics. This study enriches and improves the index system and methodological research of farmland quality assessment at the county scale, and provides a basis for achieving a threefold production pattern of farmland quantity, quality, and ecology in Xiangzhou, while also serving as a reference for similar regions and countries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1427
Author(s):  
Kasturi Devi Kanniah ◽  
Chuen Siang Kang ◽  
Sahadev Sharma ◽  
A. Aldrie Amir

Mangrove is classified as an important ecosystem along the shorelines of tropical and subtropical landmasses, which are being degraded at an alarming rate despite numerous international treaties having been agreed. Iskandar Malaysia (IM) is a fast-growing economic region in southern Peninsular Malaysia, where three Ramsar Sites are located. Since the beginning of the 21st century (2000–2019), a total loss of 2907.29 ha of mangrove area has been estimated based on medium-high resolution remote sensing data. This corresponds to an annual loss rate of 1.12%, which is higher than the world mangrove depletion rate. The causes of mangrove loss were identified as land conversion to urban, plantations, and aquaculture activities, where large mangrove areas were shattered into many smaller patches. Fragmentation analysis over the mangrove area shows a reduction in the mean patch size (from 105 ha to 27 ha) and an increase in the number of mangrove patches (130 to 402), edge, and shape complexity, where smaller and isolated mangrove patches were found to be related to the rapid development of IM region. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) products were used to inspect the impact of fragmentation on the mangrove ecosystem process. The mean LAI and GPP of mangrove areas that had not undergone any land cover changes over the years showed an increase from 3.03 to 3.55 (LAI) and 5.81 g C m−2 to 6.73 g C m−2 (GPP), highlighting the ability of the mangrove forest to assimilate CO2 when it is not disturbed. Similarly, GPP also increased over the gained areas (from 1.88 g C m−2 to 2.78 g C m−2). Meanwhile, areas that lost mangroves, but replaced them with oil palm, had decreased mean LAI from 2.99 to 2.62. In fragmented mangrove patches an increase in GPP was recorded, and this could be due to the smaller patches (<9 ha) and their edge effects where abundance of solar radiation along the edges of the patches may increase productivity. The impact on GPP due to fragmentation is found to rely on the type of land transformation and patch characteristics (size, edge, and shape complexity). The preservation of mangrove forests in a rapidly developing region such as IM is vital to ensure ecosystem, ecology, environment, and biodiversity conservation, in addition to providing economical revenue and supporting human activities.


Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 413
Author(s):  
Justin D. Liefer ◽  
Mindy L. Richlen ◽  
Tyler B. Smith ◽  
Jennifer L. DeBose ◽  
Yixiao Xu ◽  
...  

Ciguatera poisoning (CP) poses a significant threat to ecosystem services and fishery resources in coastal communities. The CP-causative ciguatoxins (CTXs) are produced by benthic dinoflagellates including Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa spp., and enter reef food webs via grazing on macroalgal substrates. In this study, we report on a 3-year monthly time series in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands where Gambierdiscus spp. abundance and Caribbean-CTX toxicity in benthic samples were compared to key environmental factors, including temperature, salinity, nutrients, benthic cover, and physical data. We found that peak Gambierdiscus abundance occurred in summer while CTX-specific toxicity peaked in cooler months (Feb–May) when the mean water temperatures were approximately 26–28 °C. These trends were most evident at deeper offshore sites where macroalgal cover was highest year-round. Other environmental parameters were not correlated with the CTX variability observed over time. The asynchrony between Gambierdiscus spp. abundance and toxicity reflects potential differences in toxin cell quotas among Gambierdiscus species with concomitant variability in their abundances throughout the year. These results have significant implications for monitoring and management of benthic harmful algal blooms and highlights potential seasonal and highly-localized pulses in reef toxin loads that may be transferred to higher trophic levels.


1965 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-36
Author(s):  
G. W. Rahnefeld

The relationship between thickness of fat measured at the shoulder, last rib, and loin of live pigs and market weight (86.2 to 95.2 kg) was studied in 1596 pigs from the Lacombe and Yorkshire breeds and their reciprocal crosses. No significant breed or sex differences were found in the proportion of fat at the three sites. Breed and sex differences were evident in the average depth of fat. The regression coefficients for the mean of three fat measurements on market weight were.016 ±.003,.019 ±.007, and.017 ±.004 for Lacombe males, barrows, and females respectively;.039 ±.002,.036 ±.005, and.041 ±.001 for Yorkshire males, barrows and females respectively;.027 ±.005 and.029 ±.004 for barrows and females from the Lacombe male × Yorkshire female mating; and.023 ±.007 and.021 ±.009 for barrows and females from the Yorkshire male × Lacombe female mating. Comparisons between animals measured at a relatively constant weight should be made after the fat measurement is adjusted for variations in body weight. The results of this study indicate that separate corrections should be applied for each breed. Separate corrections for sexes within breeds do not appear warranted.


2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés Felipe Navia ◽  
Paola Andrea Mejía-Falla

<p>During 1995, 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2007; we studied the temporal variation in the structure of the elasmobranch assemblage along the Colombian Pacific coast using: the community index of diversity, heterogeneity, equitability, species composition, average catch sizes, and mean trophic levels. A total of 1 711 specimens from 19 species<br />(7 sharks and 12 rays) were collected during the 90 trawling operations. The number of species captured varied between 7 (1995) and 12 (2007) demonstrating a trend towards an imbalance in the assemblage attributes. In 1995, the mean trophic level (TLm) of the assemblage was 3.60, but in 2007 it decreased to 3.55 when the functional level of large predators was absent (TL ≥ 4). These results suggest changes in species composition, structural attributes, and a reduction of the highest functional level. Alterations to the catch proportions were also found: i.e. a greater abundance of rays of lower trophic levels. This study suggests an effect of trawling on the stability of this tropical coastal ecosystem.</p>


2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 3457-3496 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Juutinen ◽  
M. Rantakari ◽  
P. Kortelainen ◽  
J. T. Huttunen ◽  
T. Larmola ◽  
...  

Abstract. This study explores the variability in concentrations of dissolved CH4 and annual flux estimates in the pelagic zone in a statistically defined sample of 207 lakes in Finland. The lakes were situated representatively in the boreal zone, where the mean annual air temperature ranges from −2.8 to 5.9°C. We examined how lake CH4 dynamics related to regional lake types assessed according to the EU water framework directive. Ten lake types were defined on the basis of water chemistry, color, and size. Lakes were sampled for dissolved CH4 concentrations four times per year, at four different depths at the deepest point of each lake. We found that CH4 concentrations and fluxes to the atmosphere tended to be high in nutrient rich calcareous lakes, and that the shallow lakes had the greatest surface water concentrations. CH4 content in the hypolimnion was related to oxygen and nutrient concentrations, and lake depth or area. The surface water CH4 concentration was related to the depth or area of lake. Methane close to the bottom can be viewed as proxy of lake status in terms of frequency of anoxia and nutrient levels. Median CH4 release from randomly selected lakes was 45 mmol m−2 a−1. Shallow lakes had the highest median CH4 effluxes, with the clear shallow lake type having the smallest median. Our data, combined with other studies, suggest that lake surface area could be used for an approximation of CH4 release from lakes. Shallow small lakes common in boreal and arctic landscapes may have disproportional significance with respect to CH4 release.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Andres Lizarbe Barreto ◽  
Ricardo Chevarria Saravia ◽  
Takeyoshi Nagai ◽  
Takafumi Hirata

The Kuroshio Large Meander (LM) is known to be highly aperiodic and can last from 1 to 10 years. Since a stationary cold core formed between the Kuroshio and the southern coast of Japan off Enshu-Nada and approaching warm saltier water on the eastern side of the LM changes the local environment drastically, many commercially valuable fish species distribute differently from the non-LM period, impacting local fisheries. Despite this importance of the LM, the influences of the LM on the low trophic levels such as phytoplankton and zooplankton have still been unclear. In this study, satellite daily sea surface chlorophyll data are analyzed in relation to the LM. The results show positive anomalies of the chlorophyll-a concentration along the Kuroshio path during the LM periods, 2004–2005 and 2017–2019, from the upstream off Shikoku to the downstream (140°E). These positive anomalies are started by the triggering meander generated off south of Kyushu, which then slowly propagates to the downstream LM region in both the LM periods. Even though the detailed patterns along the Kuroshio region in the two LM periods were different, similar formations of the positive anomalies on the western side of the LM with shallower mixed layer depth are observed. Furthermore, we found clear relationships between the minimum distance from several stations along the coast to the Kuroshio axis and the mean chlorophyll-a anomaly, with significant correlations with the distance from different stations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giselle Prado ◽  
Anna J Nichols ◽  
Mercedes Florez-White ◽  
Francisco Kerdel

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic remitting and relapsing skin disease. For many patients, improved quality of life (QoL) is as important as clinical improvement of lesions.Objective: To review reporting of Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of biologics for adult patients with plaque psoriasis.Methods: A systematic review was conducted in 4 databases for RCTs that measured DLQI at baseline and endpoint. A data collection form was created for collecting study variables. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.Results: Thirty-four RCTs enrolling 16,784 patients were included. Complete baseline and final mean DLQI data was retrieved for 24 studies (70.6%). The mean DLQI at baseline was reported in 79.4% of RCTs. The median at baseline was reported in 14.7% of RCTs. The mean DLQI at endpoint was reported in 23.5% of RCTs and the median DLQI at endpoint was reported in 5.9% of RCTs. The mean change in DLQI was reported in 64.7% of RCTs.Conclusions: DLQI was measured in most clinical trials assessing the efficacy of biologics for psoriasis. Studies did not adhere to uniform standards in publishing results, making analysis of the impact on DLQI challenging.Key Words: plaque psoriasis, quality of life, Dermatology Life Quality Index, Systematic Review, biologic therapy


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Theparambil Mohamed Najmudeen ◽  
Pallangattu Kochukandan Seetha ◽  
Payiyappanal Ulahannan Zacharia

The brushtooth lizardfish Saurida undosquamis (Richardson, 1848) is a high trophic level benthic predator and is one among the most exploited demersal finfish species from eastern Arabian Sea by Indian trawlers. However, in recent years, the landings of many top predator fishes including S. undosquamis showed a declining trend resulting in a steady decline in the mean trophic levels of the fishes caught commercially in the region. We investigated the growth, mortality and stock dynamics of S. undosquamis harvested by mechanised trawls in the southeastern Arabian Sea, using length-based methods for the data collected during 2012–2016. Besides, Bayesian state-space implementation of the Schaefer model (BSM) and catch-based MSY (CMSY) estimation were also made using the data for the period 1985–2016. Total length of the fish ranged from 5.5 to 34.5 cm with average annual mean length of 22.0 cm during 2012–2016. The growth parameters L∞ and K were 37.3 cm and 0.41 year−1, respectively. The natural, fishing and total mortality coefficients were 0.92, 2.58 and 3.5, respectively and exploitation ratio was 0.82. The length at first maturity was estimated at 21.4 cm for females. The mean size in the catch is lower than the optimum length for exploitation. Fisheries reference points (MSY, Fmsy, Bmsy) as well as relative stock size (B/Bmsy) and exploitation (F/Fmsy) estimated from catch data and broad priors for resilience (r), implies an exploitation of 30% below Bmsy level. Results from the length-based Thompson and Bell prediction model indicates that reducing the present level of fishing effort by 40% would lead to a harvest of the species at a sustainable level. As “fishing down food web” is reported in recent years from eastern Arabian Sea, the exploitation of top predators need to be maintained at sustainable levels to prevent ecosystem changes along the region.


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