A structured approach to using biological and environmental parameters to forecast anchovy recruitment

Simulation studies have indicated that a valuable increase in mean annual yield could be achieved in the South African anchovy, Engraulis capensis , fishery if below-average recruitment could be forecast at the start of the fishing season, 6 months before recruitment can he reliably measured. This paper reports on initial investigations into biological and environmental indicator- which could be used to make such forecasts. Valid estimates of recruitment strength in the species are available from 1985 to 1992 and the environmental and biological indicators of interest have been monitored for periods starting from between 1984 and 1988, to the present. Most of the data were obtained from monitoring on anchovy spawner biomass surveys which have been undertaken each November since 1984.
A conceptual model of the factors influencing the recruitment process was constructed and the available data were examined for empirical evidence of the importance of each event included in the model. Fluctuations in copepod biomass and production on the spawning grounds, the incidence of oocyte atresia in adult females, the incidence of southerly winds at Cape Point and the distance offshore of the 16°C isotherm at Cape Columbine were associated with fluctuations in anchovy recruitment. It is suggested that particular attention should be paid to monitoring of these variables to investigate further these associations. If persistent relationships are found, it may be possible to construct an expert system to forecast recruitment from observed values of these variables at the start of a fishing season. A preliminary set of three decision rules is presented.     

The slow rise of technology: Computer vision techniques in fish population connectivity

1. Technological advancements in data collection and analysis are producing a new generation of ecological data. Among these, computer vision (CV) has received increased attention for its robust capabilities for rapidly processing large volumes of digital imagery.
2. In marine ecosystems, the study of fish connectivity provides fundamental information for assessing fisheries stocks, designing and implementing protected areas and understanding the impact of habitat loss. While the field of fish connectivity has benefited from technological advancements, the extent to which novel techniques, such as CV, have been utilized has not been assessed. To inform future directions and developments, this study reviewed the current use of CV in fish connectivity research, quantified how the implementation of such technology in fish connectivity research compared with other areas of marine research and described how this field could benefit from CV.
3. The review found that the use of remote camera systems in fish connectivity research is increasing, but the implementation of automated analysis of digital imagery has been slow. Successful implementation and expansion of CV frameworks in aquaculture and coral reef ecology suggest that CV techniques could greatly benefit fish connectivity research.
4. A case study of potential use of CV in fish connectivity research, scaling up optimal foraging models to predict marine population connectivity, highlights how beneficial it could be.
5. The capacity for CV techniques to be adopted alongside traditional approaches, the unparalleled speed, accuracy and reliability of these approaches and the benefits of being able to study ecosystems along multiple spatial–temporal scales, all make CV a valuable tool for assessing connectivity. Ultimately, these technologies can assist data-driven decisions that directly influence the health and productivity of marine ecosystems.

     

Introduction of genetic engineering in aquaculture: Ecological and ethical implications for science and governance

Within aquaculture, genetic engineering (GE) is emerging as a powerful method for breeding of fish and shellfish, and for developing alternative sources of feed and vaccines to combat diseases. On the other hand, the use of GE in aquaculture raises ecological, ethical and economic concerns. For instance, genetically modified (GM) feed could be spread to the aquatic environment and consumed by other marine organisms, and horizontal gene transfer may conceivably occur from DNA in feed or vaccines to a recipient genome or by faeces to the environment. Numerous reports have described beneficial effects such as viral disease resistance following DNA vaccination. However, side effects, such as activation of other genes than those which are central in immune defence mechanisms, may occur and warrant further investigations. In order to achieve sustainable introduction of GE, it is crucial that appropriate scientific investigations and ethical considerations are done prior to large-scale introduction of GE products such as DNA/GE vaccines and GM feed in commercial fish farming. This may result in a solid basis for the avoidance of potentially undesirable health and environmental effects. If GE can help make aquaculture a sustainable industry, this opens the possibility of positive market and consumer responses. This can best be achieved by involving the stakeholders from the conceptual stage to the commercial stage by facilitating a transparent process whose purpose is to inform research, to identify decision stakes, and to influence design, adoption and implementation of pro-active policy.     

活立木生物电及其环境因子远程监测系统的设计

针对活立木与土壤之间存在的生物电实时测量困难的问题,介绍一种活立木生物电及其环境因子远程监测系统。该系统主要包括对活立木生物电信号及其周围环境因子进行采集的下位机系统、进行无线通信的GPRS网络以及对数据进行显示、处理和分析的上位机系统。通过分析位于北京林业大学校内的美桐树进行实验所得到的数据表明,该测量系统能够准确测量活立木生物电信号及周围环境因子,并能将数据实时传送至远程服务器端,可以满足实时测量要求,为后续活立木生物电信号的深入研究和利用奠定了基础。     

环境应激对肉鸡的影响和对策

在规模化养殖模式下,肉鸡不可避免地受到不同环境因子的影响而产生应激,环境应激直接影响肉鸡养殖的生产性能和产品质量.本文总结了几种常见环境应激因子对肉鸡健康状况、生产性能、免疫性能、血液生理生化指标、肉品质和机体器官等的影响以及降低肉鸡环境应激的主要技术措施,为有效降低环境应激、提高肉鸡养殖效益提供参考.     

我国农药地下水环境风险评估场景体系的建立

根据国际通用的标准场景和环境脆弱性概念,利用GIS技术,以我国气象、土壤、农业生产等数据为基础,构建农药环境风险评估过程"现实中最糟糕的情况"。针对旱地作物和地下水这一环境系统,将我国划分为6个农药地下水环境风险评估场景区,并在此基础上构建了11个标准场景点,从而形成针对旱地作物的我国农药地下水环境风险评估场景体系。利用欧盟农药环境暴露模型PEARL测试该场景体系,运行结果显示该场景体系科学可行。该场景体系的建立既为运用定量模型进行我国农药环境风险评估奠定了重要基础,也为我国农药环境风险管理、农药登记管理工作提供了技术支持和科学依据。     

资源环境约束下的内蒙古自治区粮食增产问题研究

"十年九旱"的内蒙古,为粮食增产付出的资源和环境成本巨大。因为资源和环境已成为粮食增产的双重瓶颈,又是内蒙古经济社会可持续发展的主要瓶颈。由此,内蒙古要切实加快25°以上坡耕地的退耕还林还草,改善生态环境,发展内涵式的粮食生产方式和节粮型畜牧业,发挥农牧结合的优势,顺应气候变化,从而逐步缓解资源和环境的瓶颈,保障粮食增产,提高农民收入。     

董事会特征与公司负债水平关系的实证研究——以房地产上市公司为例

董事会是公司内部治理的决策机构,董事会特征影响公司内部治理的资本结构。债务作为资本结构的组成部分,对上市公司的管理者有潜在的制约。因此,采用因子分析以及多元回归的方法,对57家中国房地产上市公司的董事会特征与资本结构选择的关系进行实证研究。研究结果表明,董事会规模与负债水平正相关;独立董事占全体董事成员的比例与负债水平正相关;董事激励与负债水平正相关;董事长和总经理两职兼任与负债水平负相关;董事会会议频率与负债水平负相关。     

孔雀石绿在养殖水和底泥中的残留消除规律

【目的】掌握养殖水体和底泥中孔雀石绿残留的消除规律,为其环境污染治理提供参考依据。【方法】通过人工模拟养殖生态系统,采用正交试验设计探讨不同光照强度（1025、5320、12000 lx）、扰动强度（50、100、200 r/min）和p H（6.0、8.0、10.0）对孔雀石绿在养殖水体和底泥中残留与消除规律的影响。【结果】随着时间的推移,养殖水体中孔雀石绿残留量呈逐渐减少的变化趋势,而底泥吸附的孔雀石绿残留量呈降低—回升—降低的变化趋势。孔雀石绿在养殖水体和底泥中的残留量均是在光照强度12000 lx、扰动强度200 r/min、pH 8.0的条件下消除最快。方差分析结果显示,光照强度是影响孔雀石绿在养殖水体中残留消除的主效环境因子,光照强度与扰动强度是影响孔雀石绿在底泥中残留量消除的主效环境因子,p H变化对孔雀石绿在养殖水体和底泥中的残留量均无显著影响（P〉0.05）。【结论】不同环境因子对养殖水体和底泥中孔雀石绿残留消除的影响作用表现为：光照强度〉扰动强度〉p H,因此清除水产养殖环境中的孔雀石绿残留应从底泥入手,通过暴晒和翻耕等方法制造高光照强度、高扰动强度条件以加速底泥中孔雀石绿的降解。