Marine Wildlife Bycatch Under the CMS: Progress and Prospects

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-240
Keyword(s):  
Marine Species ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Migratory Species ◽  
Considerable Potential ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Incidental Capture ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Marine Wildlife

AbstractThis article explains the provisions of the Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and its subsidiary marine wildlife instruments as they relate to bycatch management. The CMS was primarily developed with the purpose of protecting and conserving migratory species and their habitats. The Convention was initially regarded as little more than a paper accord. Since its inception the CMS has undergone gradual significant changes not only in its scope but also in its geographical coverage. There are ten subsidiary instruments currently in force under the CMS which include regional accords on a wide range of marine species such as cetaceans, marine turtles and pinnipeds. These agreements have considerable potential for regulating the incidental capture of marine wildlife in fisheries. Issues of interest in regard to these agreements include the use of non-binding instruments, and mechanisms for coordination between accords. This article examines the CMS and its subsidiary instruments; it identifies challenges facing the Convention, and provides options for the development of more comprehensive approaches to the management of bycatch.

scholarly journals Plastic ingestion by freshwater turtles: a review and call to action

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam G. Clause ◽  
Aaron J. Celestian ◽  
Gregory B. Pauly
Keyword(s):  
Marine Species ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Freshwater Turtle ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Implementation Quality ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Conservation Concern

AbstractPlastic pollution, and especially plastic ingestion by animals, is a serious global issue. This problem is well documented in marine systems, but it is relatively understudied in freshwater systems. For turtles, it is unknown how plastic ingestion compares between marine and non-marine species. We review the relevant turtle dietary literature, and find that plastic ingestion is reported for all 7 marine turtle species, but only 5 of 352 non-marine turtle species. In the last 10 years, despite marine turtles representing just 2% of all turtle species, almost 50% of relevant turtle dietary studies involved only marine turtles. These results suggest that the potential threat of plastic ingestion is poorly studied in non-marine turtles. We also examine plastic ingestion frequency in a freshwater turtle population, finding that 7.7% of 65 turtles had ingested plastic. However, plastic-resembling organic material would have inflated our frequency results up to 40% higher were it not for verification using Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, we showcase how non-native turtles can be used as a proxy for understanding the potential for plastic ingestion by co-occurring native turtles of conservation concern. We conclude with recommendations for how scientists studying non-marine turtles can improve the implementation, quality, and discoverability of plastic ingestion research.

Directional freezing of spermatozoa and embryos

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Arav ◽  
Joseph Saragusty
Keyword(s):  
Cooling Rate ◽  
Drop Size ◽  
Mechanical Damage ◽  
Rapid Freezing ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Microscope Slide ◽  
Freezing Method ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Sexed Semen ◽  
Directional Freezing

Directional freezing is based on a simple thermodynamic principle whereby the sample is moved through a predetermined temperature gradient at a velocity that determines the cooling rate. Directional freezing permits a precise and uniform cooling rate in small- and large-volume samples. It avoids supercooling and reduces mechanical damage caused by crystallisation. Directional solidification was used to date for slow and rapid freezing, as well as for vitrification of oocytes and embryos by means of the minimum drop size technique: small drops are placed on a microscope slide that is moved at high velocity from the hot base to the cold base. Sperm samples from a wide range of domestic and wild animals were successfully cryopreserved using the directional freezing method. The bovine sexed semen industry may benefit from the increased survival of spermatozoa after directional freezing.

scholarly journals Estimation of mean movement rates for blue sharks in the northwestern Pacific Ocean

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikihiko Kai ◽  
Yuki Fujinami
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Movement Direction ◽  
Northwestern Pacific ◽  
Migratory Species ◽  
Northwestern Pacific Ocean ◽  
Movement Rate ◽  
Movement Rates ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract Background The blue shark Prionace glauca is a highly migratory species with a circumglobal distribution. Mean movement rate, defined by the horizontal tracking distance between two data points over the duration of time, is commonly used to understand the horizontal displacement of highly migratory species across a wide range. However, the estimation of mean movement rates for blue sharks has never been conducted using a statistical model. We therefore investigated the mean movement rates using a generalized linear mixed model with data from satellite tags to estimate the range of mean movement rates for 10 blue sharks in the northwestern Pacific Ocean and to reveal the interaction of mean movement rate with several factors. Results (1) Estimations of mean movement rates for the 10 blue sharks were significantly influenced by behavioral differences among individuals; (2) uncertainty in the estimation (i.e., predictive and confidence intervals) of mean movement rates for these blue sharks was larger over shorter time periods, and (3) the predictive intervals of mean movement rates for the sharks ranged widely from 0.33 to 5.02 km/h. Conclusion Blue sharks are considered to opportunistically change their mean movement rates regardless of differences in sex, movement direction, or season.

Addressing Marine Wildlife Entanglement in Derelict Fishing Nets Using Community-Based Social Marketing: Case Study and Lessons Learnt

2021 ◽  
pp. 152450042110538
Author(s):  
Maïa Sarrouf Willson ◽  
Craig Turley ◽  
Lamees A. Daar ◽  
Hussein Al Masroori ◽  
Hussain Al Muscati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Social Marketing ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Community Based ◽  
One To One ◽  
Marine Wildlife

Background Entanglement of marine species, particularly endangered sea turtles and cetaceans, in abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear is a major conservation concern. Focus of the Article This case study applies Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) to reduce marine wildlife net entanglement in the waters surrounding Masirah Island, a marine biodiversity hotspot in Oman. Importance to the Social Marketing Field The study demonstrates the use of social marketing tools in biodiversity conservation, bringing new knowledge to the cross-application of these two fields. Methods The CBSM methodology was applied to select behaviours, identify barriers and benefits, develop strategies and design a pilot study. The responsible disposal of derelict nets in skip bins was selected as the target behaviour, and a mix of behavioural change tools was applied to achieve change: convenience (installation of three skip bins), education (installation of informative signs, distribution of awareness posters, one-to-one engagement with fishers on the beaches), prompts (installation of signs and posters on vessels) and social norms (one-to-one engagement with key influencers and decision makers). The monitoring of behaviour change took place through structured observations over 23 weeks, focussing on the number of nets disposed of in the allocated skip bins. Results Results showed a low level of behaviour adoption rate by skiff and launch vessel fisheries, respectively, 5.36% and 2.58%. Positive results were observed for a short time but did not reach the estimated target value throughout the study period. Recommendations for Research Our pilot study did not lead to broad-scale implementation and we recommend further awareness and engagement with the target audience, trials of various behaviour change tools and increase field monitoring time. We further recommend the application and funding of behaviour change methods applied to fishers with the incorporation of conventional financial, conservation and regulatory tools to support resource management. Limitations Our results show that focussing on specific behaviours with appropriate measurement is both resource and time demanding to solve pressing conservation problems, particularly ones generated by complex industries such as fishing. Various lessons, useful for other social marketers, have been drawn from our evaluation of the overall study.

scholarly journals Detection of Pneumocystis in lungs of bats from Brazil by PCR amplification

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 469-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edna Maria Cavallini Sanches ◽  
Susi M. Pacheco ◽  
Alison S. Cericatto ◽  
Rosane M. Melo ◽  
Edson Molleta Colodel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nested Pcr ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Pcr Amplification ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Tadarida Brasiliensis ◽  
Desmodus Rotundus ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Wide Range

Pneumocystis has been isolated from a wide range of unrelated mammalian hosts, including humans, domestic and wild animals. It has been demonstrated that the genome of Pneumocystis of one host differs markedly from that of other hosts. Also, variation in the chromosome and DNA sequence of Pneumocystis within a single host species has been observed. Since information about the occurrence and nature of infections in wild animals is still limited, the objective of this work was to detect the presence of Pneumocystis sp. in lungs of bats from two states from Brazil by Nested-PCR amplification. The bats, captured in caves and in urban areas, were obtained from the Program of Rabies Control of two States in Brazil, Mato Grosso and Rio Grande do Sul, located in the Mid-Western and Southern regions of the country, respectively. DNAs were extracted from 102 lung tissues and screened for Pneumocystis by nested PCR at the mtLSU rRNA gene and small subunit of mitochondrial ribosomal RNA (mtSSU rRNA). Gene amplification was performed using the mtLSU rRNA, the primer set pAZ102H - pAZ102E and pAZ102X - pAZY, and the mtSSU rRNA primer set pAZ102 10FRI - pAZ102 10R-RI and pAZ102 13RI - pAZ102 14RI. The most frequent bats were Tadarida brasiliensis (25), Desmodus rotundus (20), and Nyctinomops laticaudatus (19). Pneumocystis was more prevalent in the species Nyctinomops laticaudatus (26.3% = 5/19), Tadarida brasiliensis (24% = 6/25), and Desmodus rotundus (20% = 4/20). Besides these species, Pneumocystis also was detected in lungs from Molossus molossus (1/11, 9.1%), Artibeus fimbriatus (1/1, 100%), Sturnira lilium (1/3, 33.3%), Myotis levis (2/3, 66.7%)and Diphylla ecaudata (1/2, 50%). PCR products which could indicate the presence of Pneumocystis (21.56%) were identified in DNA samples obtained from 8 out of 16 classified species from both states (5 bats were not identified). This is the first report of detection of Pneumocystis in bats from Brazil.

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