Drivers of fine-scale avian functional diversity with changing land use: an assessment of the effects of eco-estate housing development and management

Landscape Ecology - The effects of changing land use, and especially urbanisation, on species and functional diversity are of global concern. Eco-estates are a form of urban housing development...     

Mammary carcinoma arising in an adenoma in a ewe

A large, firm, multi-cystic mammary gland mass grew slowly over 4 y in a 12-y-old, female Finn–Shetland cross sheep. A diagnosis of epithelial malignancy was suspected following fine-needle aspiration cytology at 30 mo after initial observation. The sheep was euthanized when the flock was downsized 18 mo later. A field postmortem examination revealed a large mammary mass, but an absence of metastases to internal organs. Imprint cytology of the mammary tissue supported a benign proliferative process. Histologically, mammary tissue was obliterated by cystic, tubular, and papillary adenomatous arrangements of mammary epithelium, with an anaplastic component, consistent with mammary carcinoma arising in an adenoma. IHC showed strong nuclear positivity to the antibody against progesterone receptor and minimal positivity to the antibody against estrogen receptor alpha expression. Intrinsic subtyping for basal or luminal epithelial origin was attempted through adaptation of companion animal IHC classification panels; high- and low-molecular-weight cytokeratins (CK5, CK8, CK18) failed to stain, but p63 expression for basal epithelium was positive.     

A fresh look at inland fisheries and their role in food security and livelihoods

The role of inland fisheries in livelihoods, food security and sustainable development is often overshadowed by the higher profile interest in ocean issues. Whilst inland fisheries' catch and contribution to global nutrition, food security and the economy, are less than that of marine fisheries, global‐level comparisons of fish production obscure considerable livelihood impacts in certain countries and sub‐national areas. To highlight these contributions, this paper synthesizes recent data and innovative approaches for assessing such livelihood contributions and their importance in countries with limited access to ocean resources and aquaculture. Inland fisheries are crucial for many socially, economically and nutritionally vulnerable groups of people around the world, but the challenges in monitoring inland fisheries preclude a complete understanding of the magnitude of their contributions. This situation is rapidly improving with increasing recognition of inland fisheries in development discourses, which has also encouraged research to enhance knowledge on the importance of inland fisheries. We review this work, including collated information published in a recent Food and Agriculture Organization report, to provide an up to date characterization of the state of knowledge on the role of inland fisheries.     

The release and uptake of metals from potential biofilm inhibition products during spiny lobster (Sagmariasus verreauxi,H. Milne Edwards 1851) culture

Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are strong inhibitors of bacterial biofilms in aqueous solutions, but are known toxins of crustaceans. A new metal application method; cold‐sprayed metal embedment, known to modulate metal release, was tested for its applications in crustacean larval culture systems. Cold‐spray technology allows metal particles to bond to plastics, while modulating metal ion release and biocide activity to the substrate boundary. In this study, Eastern spiny lobster (Sagmariasus verreauxi) larvae (phyllosoma) were cultured in the presence of cold‐sprayed Zn and Cu metal surfaces. Metal loss was monitored gravimetrically on embedded surfaces, assessment of water ion concentrations and analysis of phyllosoma body content were undertaken. Phyllosoma moulting, deformity and mortality patterns were monitored. Cold‐sprayed Zn‐ and Cu‐embedded surfaces were depleted with losses of 0.69% and 31.2% noted respectively. Culture water concentrations of these metals were elevated and accumulation by phyllosoma occurred. Water Zn concentrations of 18.5 μg L^?1 were associated with chronic eyestalk moult deformities; the first report of Zn causing a non‐lethal moult deformity in crustacean larvae. The Cu surface lost a third of its metal mass with a water concentration of 40 μg L^?1 causing acute toxicity and localization of composite granules in the midgut gland. Cu associated mortality was noted by Day 2 of culture with a LD 50 experienced by Day 9. Future work on the use of bioactive metals in aquaculture systems will focus on a range of different metal alloys, and improved modulation of ion release mechanisms through increased particle embedment depth and separation.     

Ecoviability for ecosystem‐based fisheries management

Reconciling food security, economic development and biodiversity conservation is a key challenge, especially in the face of the demographic transition characterizing many countries in the world. Fisheries and marine ecosystems constitute a difficult application of this bio‐economic challenge. Many experts and scientists advocate an ecosystem approach to manage marine socio‐ecosystems for their sustainability and resilience. However, the ways by which to operationalize ecosystem‐based fisheries management (EBFM) remain poorly specified. We propose a specific methodological framework—viability modelling—to do so. We show how viability modelling can be applied using four contrasted case‐studies: two small‐scale fisheries in South America and Pacific and two larger‐scale fisheries in Europe and Australia. The four fisheries are analysed using the same modelling framework, structured around a set of common methods, indicators and scenarios. The calibrated models are dynamic, multispecies and multifleet and account for various sources of uncertainty. A multicriteria evaluation is used to assess the scenarios’ outcomes over a long time horizon with different constraints based on ecological, social and economic reference points. Results show to what extent the bio‐economic and ecosystem risks associated with the adoption of status quo strategies are relatively high and challenge the implementation of EBFM. In contrast, strategies called ecoviability or co‐viability strategies, that aim at satisfying the viability constraints, reduce significantly these ecological and economic risks and promote EBFM. The gains associated with those ecoviability strategies, however, decrease with the intensity of regulations imposed on these fisheries.     

Economics of Sustainable Intensification of Aquaculture: Evidence from Shrimp Farms in Vietnam and Thailand

There is growing interest in sustainable intensification of aquaculture production. Yet little economic analysis has been done on farm‐level effects of the economic sustainability of production intensification. Data from 83 shrimp farms (43 in Vietnam and 40 in Thailand) were used to identify (through principal component and cluster analyses) 13 clusters of management practices that reflected various scales of production intensity that ranged from 0–1999 kg/ha/crop to 10,000 kg/ha/crop and above, for both Penaeus monodon and Litopenaeus vannamei in Vietnam and Thailand. The clusters identified reflected sets of management practices that resulted in differing yields despite similarities in stocking densities among some clusters. The enterprise budget analysis developed showed that the more intensively managed clusters outperformed the less intensively managed clusters in economic terms. More intensively managed farm clusters had lower costs per metric ton of shrimp produced and were more profitable. The greater yields of shrimp produced per hectare of land and water resources in more intensively managed shrimp farms spread annual fixed costs across a greater volume of shrimp produced and reduced the cost per metric ton of shrimp. Costs per metric ton of shrimp produced decreased from the lowest to the highest intensity level (from US$10,245 at lowest intensity to US$3484 at highest for P. monodon and from US$24,301 to US$5387 for L. vannamei in Vietnam and from US$8184 at the lowest intensity level to US$3817 at the highest intensity level per metric ton for L. vannamei in Thailand). Costs of pond amendments used in shrimp production were particularly high in Vietnam and largely unwarranted, whereas fixed costs associated with the value of land, production facilities, equipment, and labor were sufficiently high in Thailand so that net returns were negative in the long run. Nevertheless, economic losses in Thailand were less at greater levels of intensification. The study demonstrated a clear value proposition for shrimp farmers to use natural resources (such as land) and other inputs in an efficient manner and supports findings from corresponding research on farm‐level natural resource use efficiency. Additional research that incorporates economic analysis into on‐farm studies of sustainable intensification of aquaculture is needed to provide ongoing guidance related to sustainable management practices for aquaculture.     

Resource Use Assessment of Shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei and Penaeus monodon,Production in Thailand and Vietnam

Resource use was investigated at 34 Litopenaeus vannamei and five Penaeus monodon farms in Thailand and 30 L. vannamei and 24 P. monodon farms in Vietnam. Farms varied in water surface areas for production, reservoirs, canals, and settling basins; in pond size and depth; and in water management, stocking density, feeding rate, amendment input, aeration rate, crop duration, and crops per year. Production of L. vannamei averaged 17.3 and 10.9 m.t./ha/yr, and feed conversion ratio averaged 1.49 and 1.33 in Thailand and Vietnam, respectively. On average, production of 1 m.t. of L. vannamei required 0.58 ha land, 5,400 m³ water, 60 GJ energy, and 1218 kg wildfish in Thailand and 1.76 ha land, 15,100 m³ water, 33.7 GJ energy, and 1264 kg wildfish in Vietnam. Resource use per metric ton of shrimp declined with greater production intensity. In Thailand, P. monodon was produced at 0.2–0.4 m.t./ha/yr, with no inputs but water and postlarvae. In Vietnam, P. monodon production averaged 3.60 m.t./ha/yr. Production of 1 m.t. of P. monodon required 0.80 ha land, 36,000 m³ water, 47.8 GJ energy, and 1180 kg wildfish, and resource use per ton production declined with increasing production intensity.     

The use of the hand-held infrared thermometer as an early detection tool for exertional heat illness in Thoroughbred racehorses: A study at racetracks in eastern Australia

Thoroughbred racehorses perform exercise at maximal intensities and typically display a hyperthermic exercise response, which can drive core body temperature to critical levels. Despite extremely efficient thermoregulatory mechanisms, certain weather conditions may affect the horse’s ability to cool and result in a syndrome referred to as exertional heat illness (EHI). This is characterised by central nervous system dysfunction, as well as cytotoxic effects of heat on cells, which can produce deleterious consequences. Early detection of exertional heat illness (EHI) in Thoroughbred racehorses can be difficult because signs are often vague and the measurement of rectal temperature as an indicator of hyperthermia is not practical. Best practice in the treatment of EHI in horses, as in human subjects, centres on early detection, rapid assessment and aggressive cooling. Research in human subjects has shown that EHI is manageable when recognised early and appropriate treatment provided. The aim of this study was to investigate the measurement of skin surface temperature (SST) by an infrared thermometer as an aid in the early detection of EHI. A skin surface temperature ≥39°C in the immediate postrace period is considered to be hot. It reflects the interaction of exercise-related metabolic heat production, physiological adjustments to the skin surface such as vasodilation and sweating, together with the effect of high ambient temperature. Most importantly, high SST is associated with a reduced core-to-skin temperature difference, which retards heat transfer from the deep body tissues to the skin and can hinder heat dissipation. Identification of horses with high SSTs can prioritise them for rapid cooling and curtail possible progression to EHI.