Participatory Risk Assessment of Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) Bycatch in Northern Peru

Uncertainties about the magnitude of bycatch in poorly assessed fisheries impede effective conservation management. In northern Peru, small-scale fisheries (SSF) bycatch negatively impacts marine megafauna populations and the livelihoods of fishers which is further elevated by the under-reporting of incidents. Within the last decade, accounts of entangled humpback whales (HBW) (Megaptera novaeangliae) off the northern coast of Peru have increased, while Eastern Pacific leatherback turtles (LBT) (Dermochelys coriacea) have seen over a 90% decline in nesting populations related in large part to bycatch mortality. By leveraging the experience and knowledge of local fishers, our research objectives were to use a low-cost public participation mapping approach to provide a spatio-temporal assessment of bycatch risk for HBW and LBT off two Peruvian fishing ports. We used an open-source, geographic information systems (GIS) model, the Bycatch Risk Assessment (ByRA), as our platform. Broadly, ByRA identifies high bycatch risk areas by estimating the intersection of fishing areas (i.e., stressors) with species habitat and evaluating the exposure and consequence of possible interaction between the two. ByRA outputs provided risk maps and gear risk percentages categorized as high, medium, and low for the study area and seven subzones for HBW in the austral winter and LBT in the austral summer. Overall, the highest bycatch risk for both species was identified within gillnet fisheries near the coast. Bycatch risk for most gear types decreased with distance from the coast. When we separated the ByRA model by port, our map outputs indicate that bycatch management should be port specific, following seasonal and spatial variations for HBW, and specific fishing gear impacts for HBW and LBT. Combined with direct bycatch mitigation techniques, ByRA can be a supportive and informative tool for addressing specific bycatch threats and marine megafauna conservation goals. ByRA supports a participatory framework offering rapid visual information via risk maps and replicable methods for areas with limited resources and data on fisheries and species habitat.

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IMPACT ASSESSMENT ON STORM SURGE RISKS TO CONTAINERS CONSIDERING GLOBAL WARMING

Proceedings of International Conference "Managinag risks to coastal regions and communities in a changinag world" (EMECS'11 - SeaCoasts XXVI) ◽

10.21610/conferencearticle_58b4315a27744 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Rikito Hisamatsu ◽

Kei Horie ◽

Kei Horie

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Global Warming ◽

Storm Surge ◽

Storm Surges ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

Inundation Depth ◽

Risk Assessment Tools ◽

Risk Maps ◽

The Impact ◽

Vulnerability Functions

Container yards tend to be located along waterfronts that are exposed to high risk of storm surges. However, risk assessment tools such as vulnerability functions and risk maps for containers have not been sufficiently developed. In addition, damage due to storm surges is expected to increase owing to global warming. This paper aims to assess storm surge impact due to global warming for containers located at three major bays in Japan. First, we developed vulnerability functions for containers against storm surges using an engineering approach. Second, we simulated storm surges at three major bays using the SuWAT model and taking global warming into account. Finally, we developed storm surge risk maps for containers based on current and future situations using the vulnerability function and simulated inundation depth. As a result, we revealed the impact of global warming on storm surge risks for containers quantitatively.

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Cognitive map formation through haptic and visual exploration of tactile city-like maps

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-94778-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Loes Ottink ◽

Marit Hoogendonk ◽

Christian F. Doeller ◽

Thea M. Van der Geest ◽

Richard J. A. Van Wezel

Keyword(s):

Visual Information ◽

Spatial Information ◽

Cognitive Map ◽

Visual Exploration ◽

Distinct Advantage ◽

Small Scale ◽

Map Learning ◽

Scale Models ◽

Spatial Tasks ◽

Tactile Maps

AbstractIn this study, we compared cognitive map formation of small-scale models of city-like environments presented in visual or tactile/haptic modalities. Previous research often addresses only a limited amount of cognitive map aspects. We wanted to combine several of these aspects to elucidate a more complete view. Therefore, we assessed different types of spatial information, and consider egocentric as well as allocentric perspectives. Furthermore, we compared haptic map learning with visual map learning. In total 18 sighted participants (9 in a haptic condition, 9 visuo-haptic) learned three tactile maps of city-like environments. The maps differed in complexity, and had five marked locations associated with unique items. Participants estimated distances between item pairs, rebuilt the map, recalled locations, and navigated two routes, after learning each map. All participants overall performed well on the spatial tasks. Interestingly, only on the complex maps, participants performed worse in the haptic condition than the visuo-haptic, suggesting no distinct advantage of vision on the simple map. These results support ideas of modality-independent representations of space. Although it is less clear on the more complex maps, our findings indicate that participants using only haptic or a combination of haptic and visual information both form a quite accurate cognitive map of a simple tactile city-like map.

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Gross morphology and microstructure of type locality ossicles of Psephophorus polygonus Meyer, 1847 (Testudines, Dermochelyidae)

Geological Magazine ◽

10.1017/s001675681200091x ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 150 (5) ◽

pp. 767-782 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

MASSIMO DELFINO ◽

TORSTEN M. SCHEYER ◽

FRANCESCO CHESI ◽

TAMARA FLETCHER ◽

RICHARD GEMEL ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Middle Miocene ◽

Ventral Surface ◽

Dive Depth ◽

Type Locality ◽

Dermochelys Coriacea ◽

Compact Layer ◽

Leatherback Turtle ◽

New Diagnosis ◽

First Time ◽

Growth Centres

AbstractPsephophorus polygonus Meyer, 1847, the first fossil leatherback turtle to be named, was described on the basis of shell ossicles from the middle Miocene (MN6–7/8?) of Slovakia. The whereabouts of this material is uncertain but a slab on display at the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien is considered the neotype. We rediscovered further type locality ossicles in four European institutions, re-evaluated their gross morphology and described for the first time their microstructure by comparing them with Dermochelys coriacea, the only living dermochelyid turtle. The gross morphology is congruent with that already described for P. polygonus, but with two significant exceptions: the ridged ossicles of P. polygonus may have a distinctly concave ventral surface as well as a tectiform shape in cross-section. They do not develop the external keel typical of many ossicles of D. coriacea. Both ridged and non-ridged ossicles of P. polygonus are characterized by compact diploe structures with an internal cortex consisting of a coarse fibrous meshwork, whereas the proportionately thinner ossicles of D. coriacea tend to lose the internal cortex, and thus their diploe, during ontogeny. The ossicles of both P. polygonus and D. coriacea differ from those of other lineages of amniotes whose carapace is composed of polygonal ossicles or platelets, in having growth centres situated at the plate centres just interior to the external bone surface and not within the cancellous core or closer to the internal compact layer. The new diagnosis of P. polygonus allows us to preliminarily re-evaluate the taxonomy of some of the Psephophorus-like species. Despite some macro- and micromorphological differences, it seems likely that Psephophorus was as cosmopolitan as extant Dermochelys and had a broadly similar ecology, with a possible difference concerning the dive depth.

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Arsenic compounds in tissues of the leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315400039503 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 74 (2) ◽

pp. 463-466 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

J.S. Edmonds ◽

Y. Shibata ◽

R.I.T. Prince ◽

K.A. Francesconi ◽

M. Morita

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽

High Performance ◽

Pectoral Muscle ◽

Dermochelys Coriacea ◽

Aqueous Extracts ◽

Arsenic Compounds ◽

Leatherback Turtle ◽

Inductively Coupled ◽

Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Examination of extracts of tissues of a leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea (L.) (Reptilia: Dermochelyidae) by high-performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry has demonstrated the presence of arsenobetaine, arsenocholine and inorganic arsenate in heart muscle and liver, and arsenobetaine and inorganic arsenate in pectoral muscle. Although arsenobetaine was the major form in all tissues, inorganic arsenate and arsenocholine accounted for 50% and 15% respectively of arsenic in aqueous extracts of the liver.

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Risk assessment and management during the implementation process of a small scale hydropower plants

2021 6th International Symposium on Environment-Friendly Energies and Applications (EFEA) ◽

10.1109/efea49713.2021.9406220 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Angel Terziev ◽

Hriso Beloev ◽

Iliya Iliev

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Implementation Process ◽

Small Scale ◽

Hydropower Plants ◽

Risk Assessment And Management

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Distribution, contents and health risk assessment of metal(loid)s in small-scale farms in the Ecuadorian Amazon: An insight into impacts of oil activities

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.246 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 622-623 ◽

pp. 106-120 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

F. Barraza ◽

L. Maurice ◽

G. Uzu ◽

S. Becerra ◽

F. López ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Health Risk ◽

Health Risk Assessment ◽

Small Scale ◽

Ecuadorian Amazon ◽

Insight Into

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Nesting and Nest Success of the Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) in Suriname, 1999–2005

Chelonian Conservation and Biology ◽

10.2744/1071-8443(2007)6[87:nansot]2.0.co;2 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 87-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Maartje L. Hilterman ◽

Edo Goverse

Keyword(s):

Nest Success ◽

Dermochelys Coriacea ◽

Leatherback Turtle

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Behavior of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae (Cetacea: Balaenopteridae): comparisons between two coastal areas of Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Zoologia ◽

10.1590/s0101-81752008000200001 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 159-164 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Diana G. Lunardi ◽

Márcia H. Engel ◽

Regina H. F. Macedo

Keyword(s):

Group Composition ◽

Coastal Areas ◽

Reproductive Period ◽

The State ◽

Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽

Humpback Whales ◽

Behavior Patterns ◽

Northern Coast ◽

Behavioral Differences

Behavior of humpback whales was observed during the reproductive period off the northern coast of the state of Bahia (NB, n = 378 groups) and at the Abrolhos Bank (AB, n = 919) to compare patterns and group composition between the two locations. Alone individuals and dyads were most often encountered in both areas, although mother-calf pairs were more common in AB. While these two regions comprise distinct concentrations of humpback whales, with intrinsic environmental differences, behavior patterns were quite similar. The only behavioral differences found where for "tail up" and "resting". The patterns found here may reflect differences in the protection status of the areas or intrinsic environmental differences.

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Designing locally-appropriate conservation incentives for small-scale fishers

10.31219/osf.io/bxzfs ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hollie Booth ◽

M Said Ramdlan ◽

Ayesha Hafizh ◽

Karto Wongsopatty ◽

Susana Mourato ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cost Effective ◽

Marine Conservation ◽

Small Scale ◽

Marine Animals ◽

Small Scale Fisheries ◽

Outcome Goals ◽

Use Values ◽

Combination Of Methods ◽

Marine Megafauna ◽

Business As Usual

Large, long-lived marine animals (‘marine megafauna’) play critical roles in ocean ecosystems, however, they are threatened by overfishing. Technologies and practices that reduce fisheries’ impacts on marine megafauna are well documented, yet less is known about how to encourage their adoption. This is particularly challenging in small-scale fisheries (SSFs), where endangered species can have important consumptive use values. We used a novel combination of methods – scenario interviews with contingent valuation (CV) – to investigate how incentive-based interventions might influence fisher behaviour and reduce mortality of Critically Endangered taxa (hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna spp.) and wedgefish (Rhynchobatus spp.)) in two case study SSFs in Indonesia. Scenario interviews revealed that positive performance-based incentives were almost unanimously supported (98% and 96% of fishers would stop landing hammerheads and wedgefish, respectively). This is in contrast to 1% and 6% under a business as usual control scenario, and 52% and 46% in response to a regulation with a fine. Using CV, we estimated that an incentive-based scheme for catch mitigation of all hammerheads and wedgefish across both sites could cost US$71,620-298,820 annually, and save up to 18,500 hammerheads and 2,140 wedgefish relative to current catch baselines. This study provides empirical evidence that performance-based payments could offer a cost-effective, legitimate and socially-just approach for marine conservation in SSFs, and support “a sustainable and equitable blue economy” and “living in harmony with nature”. This is particularly important with the growing adoption of net-outcome goals for biodiversity, with studies such as this providing the basis for locally-appropriate investment ready schemes for bycatch-neutral seafood supply chains.

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