It's about time: new beginnings and old good ideas in fisheries science

Views about aquatic resource management are changing, particulaly now that resource yields from world fisheries have been shown to be not only unsustainable, but steadily declining under conventional management practice. There is ample reason for re-examination, and more pragmatic definitions of what is meant by sustainability There have nearly always been clear, reasonable means for making appropriate decisions that would have safeguarded most of the ocean's living resources, hut in general greed and lack of societal will, as articulated it national governmental levels, have promoted the present resource deterioration. I also posit that the underlying science in support of sustainable fisheries decision-making has been responsible for a great proportion of this deterioration. Revitalization of fisheries science, indeed rehabilitating the affected fisheries, will he required to regain the losses in credibility of the agencies and of the underlying science. This will depend upon resumption of integrated environmental monitoring, more enlightened application of what is already known, and reconnection of the science to the several industries involved, i.e. fishing, processing and marketing. Management implemented at the market place may be one of the few remaining options to secure the sustainability of natural resources     

Characterization and quantitative assessment of interspecific and intraspecific penetration of below-ground vegetation by cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.) rhizomes

Cogongrass ( Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv.), an invasive C4 perennial grass, negatively influences native plant communities by forming dense monotypic stands that alter ecosystem properties and lower local species diversity. A hypothesized mechanism by which cogongrass achieves competitive dominance is a novel use of below-ground vegetative disturbance of neighboring vegetation (i.e. puncturing). However, very little empirical evidence is found in the peer-reviewed literature to quantify this phenomenon, much less establish it as a true form of competitive interaction. The present field study was conducted to quantify the occurrence of rhizome-mediated, below-ground vegetative penetration, both interspecifically and intraspecifically, document how this phenomenon is influenced by spatial location relative to the cogongrass stand, and determine the role that above-ground and below-ground biomass might have in the process. Analyses of 100 sod samples indicated that rhizome-mediated, below-ground vegetative penetration is a much larger intraspecific phenomenon than an interspecific one. The data also strongly suggested spatial location as a significant factor, with most penetrations occurring in the interior of a cogongrass stand as opposed to the advancing border. Significant correlations between rhizome-mediated, below-ground vegetative penetration and above-ground cogongrass biomass were found in the overall plot analysis and most strongly in the advancing border of the cogongrass stands.     

Comparison of High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Immunoassay Methods for Measurement of Cyclosporine A Blood Concentrations After Feline Kidney Transplantation

Objective —To compare two methods of whole blood cyclosporine A (CsA) measurement in cats.
Study Design —Whole blood samples were analyzed for CsA concentrations with use of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and monoclonal immunoassay methods.
Animals —Blood (n = 36 samples) was obtained from six cats after renal transplantation.
Methods —Results were compared by linear regression analysis using both pooled and individual patient data. Eight samples were off-scale on the immunoassay and were excluded.
Results —There was significant correlation between CsA measured using HPLC and immunoassay methods ( P < .001; r = .942; r²= .887). However, individuals varied nonrandomly from the mean pooled patient data. Correlation between the assay methods was higher for individual patients using data only from that specific individual (mean r value = .976; r²= .955). Clinical utility of the immunoassay (ie, results would prompt an appropriate CsA dosage adjustment) was good when based on individually derived conversion factors (27 of 28 [96.5%] of decision events).
Conclusion—HPLC is superior for measurement of blood CsA concentrations in cats after kidney transplantation. However, an immunoassay may provide reliable information for CsA management if a comparative database (HPLC v immunoassay) has been previously determined in a specific patient.
Clinical Relevance —Locally available monitoring of CsA by immunoassay in cats may provide significant advantages when shipping of blood samples to distant locations is required to obtain analysis by HPLC. These advantages may include cost and timeliness of results in circumstances where daily blood CsA concentrations may be desired, such as when managing an acute rejection reaction.     

Tree growth and stand development of four Populus clones in large monoclonal plots

Four clones of Populus were planted in replicated monoclonal plots near Olympia, WA, to evaluate their suitability for use in short-rotation culture. All clones were easily established and had minimal problems from damaging agents during the first five years. Observed differences among clones in pattern and amount of growth appeared to be associated with differences in number and density of buds, sylleptic branching, and phenology. In addition, differences in drought tolerance and stockability may also have influenced clonal differences in annual growth and stand productivity. Individual tree growth was limited by the dense 1.0-m spacing, but the best-growing clones averaged 13 to 16 m tall, 7 to 9 cm in breast-high diameter (1.3 m), and produced stand basal areas exceeding 38 m²ha^-1at 8 years. Mortality was negligible for 7 years, after which various combined effects of competition, stem borer damage (Cryptorhyncus lapathi), and a severe windstorm caused mortality ranging from 18 to 36% in the three fastest growing clones.     

Physical and biological consequences of a climate event in the central North Pacific

Climatic changes over the North Pacific which began in the mid 1970s, peaked in the early 1980s, and ended by the late 1980s, appear to have altered productivity at various trophic levels in the marine ecosystem in the central North Pacific. The climatic change resulted in increased mixed layer depth and the frequency of deep mixing events, particularly during January-March. A number of biological time series for species ranging from primary to apex levels in the North-western Hawaiian Islands, show corresponding declines in productivity of 30–50% from the early 1980s to the present. We hypothesize that during the early 1980s, increased mixing due to the climate event resulted in greater nutrient input into the euphotic zone and ultimately increased ecosystem productivity. Productivity over a range of trophic levels declined when the climate event ended.     

Queen honey bee attractiveness as related to mandibular gland secretion

The termination of mandibular gland secretion by gland removal in living mated queen honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) caused approximately 85 percent loss of queen attractiveness to worker bees. The secretion of attractants in virgin queens increased with age. Old virgins were as attractive as mated queens. A rapid assay for queen attractiveness is described.     

Treatment of Perianal Fistulas With ND: YAG Laser—Results in Twenty Cases

Excision of perianal fistulas using a 1.064 micron wavelength neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (ND:YAG) contact tipped laser with primary wound closure was used to treat 20 dogs with perianal fistulas. Overall, 19 of 20 (95%) dogs had resolution of fistulas after one or more ND:YAG treatments. The period of resolution ranged from 10 to 42 months with a mean of 22.9 months. Sixteen of 20 (80%) dogs had resolved fistulas after one laser excision. Three of the four recurrences underwent additional laser treatments with successful results. The total number of laser procedures ranged from one to three with a mean of 1.2 procedures. Postoperatively, anal tone as judged by digital rectal examination was reduced in about 60% of the cases, but clinical evidence of fecal incontinence only occurred in four of 20 cases. This was managed effectively with diet modification. The tendency toward loss of anal tone or fecal incontinence depended on the severity of preexisting anal stenosis. On a client survey, 19 of 20 owners believed that their animals experienced less pain during defecation after surgery and rated the results as excellent or good. The overall success rate using ND:YAG laser excision compared very favorably with previously reported studies of other methods of treatment for perianal fistulas in dogs.     

Controlled Tissue Expansion in the Distal Extremities of Dogs

Controlled tissue expansion using a 100 cc rectangular silicone elastomer expander was performed in the mid-antebrachium and mid-crus of eight adult mixed-breed dogs. Two expander inflation schedules were followed. Group 1 dogs (n = 4) underwent expander inflation using 10 cc sterile saline every other day, and group 2 dogs (n = 4) underwent expander inflation using 15 cc sterile saline every other day until the nominal volume (100 cc) was attained. Significant mean postexpansion increases in skin surface area of 94.1 cm² (35.9%) and 108.9 cm² (37.3%) were measured in the antebrachium and crus, respectively (p < .05). In a second procedure, the expanders were removed and skin flaps were developed from the redundant tissue generated during the expansion process. Single pedicle advancement flaps and transposition flaps were used to cover surgically created defects measuring 5 times 10 cm in the antebrachium and cms. Single pedicle advancement flaps consistently measured 10 × 10 cm and could be advanced to cover defects involving one third of the mid-antebrachial or mid-crural circumference. Transposition flaps were rotated up to 170 and the donor site defects were easily closed under minimal or no tension. Complications included an abscess in one dog and seroma formation in four dogs. Differences in success or complication rates between group 1 dogs and group 2 dogs were not observed; an accelerated inflation schedule using 15 cc sterile saline every other day was recommended.     

Palmar Digital Neurectomy in Horses 57 Cases (1984–1990)

The medical records of 57 horses that had palmar digital neurectomy performed between 1984 and 1990 were reviewed. Neurectomies were performed either by transection and elec-trocoagulation (47 horses) or by the guillotine technique (10 horses). Middle-aged geldings, Quarter Horses, and Thoroughbreds were significantly over-represented when compared with the hospital population. Horses used as hunter/jumpers also appeared to be over-represented. Complications occurred in 17 (34%) of the 50 horses for which follow-up information was obtained. Recurrence of heel pain was the most common complication (14 horses). Palpable painful neuromas were detected in three horses. One year after neurectomy, 74% of the horses were sound; this decreased to 63% after 2 years.