Rapid compositional analysis of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) using visible‐near infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Rapid measurement of salmon flesh quality parameters (>400 samples day^?1) was demonstrated in the laboratory and remotely at industrial sites. Visible‐near infrared spectroscopy (VNIRS) was applied to predict astaxanthin (AX) and fat content in farmed Atlantic salmon. Fish were sampled from thirteen batches (1–6 kg whole weight, containing 2.3–16.3% fat and 1.2–12.5 μg g^?1 AX), and models validated on small (average ± SD: 1.4 ± 0.4 kg) and large fish (4.2 ± 0.9 kg). Both constituents were well predicted in minced Norwegian Quality Cutlet (NQC) samples (r² ≥ 0.86; standard error of prediction (SEP) ≤0.7% for fat and ≤0.7 μg g^?1 for AX). Comparable metrics were observed for AX prediction in whole NQCs (r² = 0.80–0.88; SEP 0.7 μg g^?1). Fat was better predicted in small fish than large fish for whole NQCs (r² = 0.82, SEP 1.0% cf r² = 0.59, SEP = 0.59%) and non‐destructive scanning through the skin of whole, gutted fish (r² = 0.77, SEP = 1.2% cf r² = 0.49, SEP = 1.5%). Models were also developed for screening polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations, e.g. in NQCs for docosahexaenoic acid (r² = 0.73) and n‐3:n‐6 PUFA (r² = 0.89).     

Otolith chemistry of triplefin Forsterygion nigripenne indicates estuarine residency

Fisheries Science - Understanding the role different habitats play in the life histories of fishes is important for the development of holistic aquatic ecosystem management plans. We used otolith...     

Localisation of iron in wheat grain using high resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry

Insufficient iron (Fe) is one of the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies in humans, with billions of people affected. Cereal grains are an important source of Fe for humans but the bioavailability of Fe in cereals is generally low. Information regarding the cellular and sub-cellular localisation of Fe in wheat grain will aid optimising nutrient delivery for human health. In this study high resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) was used to map the distribution of Fe in the aleurone layer and in the endosperm of immature wheat grain. Iron was shown to be localised strongly in the phytin globoids in the aleurone cells and to a lesser extent in the cytoplasm around the starch granules in the endosperm.     

Factors influencing the association between active ingredient and adjuvant in the leaf deposit of adjuvant-containing suspoemulsion formulations

BACKGROUND: For an oil adjuvant to enhance uptake of a particulate active ingredient (AI), it is hypothesised that closer association between the two should result in higher uptake. Accordingly, factors important for the spray deposit size on grapevine leaves have been investigated for a series of model suspoemulsion formulations containing colloidal crystalline AI or fluorescent pigment particles and an emulsion of an oil adjuvant with different degrees of wetting and different spray volumes. RESULTS: Low spray volumes (<100 L ha(-1)) produced small deposits with high particle-adjuvant association. Complementary uptake studies showed increased uptake with decreasing deposit size, in agreement with the above hypothesis. Higher spray volumes produced larger deposits that consisted of annuli formed by pinning of the contact line by particles. Low surfactant concentrations favoured particles in the annulus and adjuvant separated in the centre. Intermediate surfactant concentrations produced annuli containing both particles and adjuvant, while with high surfactant concentrations the deposits were large with few annuli.CONCLUSIONS: Small deposits result in high AI-adjuvant association. With larger deposits, annulus structures allow for enhanced AI-adjuvant association (5-20 times greater). The formation of annuli appears to be important in enhancing the biodelivery of particulate AIs in adjuvant-containing suspoemulsion formulations at intermediate spray volumes.     

Fire history of coniferous riparian forests in the Sierra Nevada

Fire is an important ecological process in many western U.S. coniferous forests, yet high fuel loads, rural home construction and other factors have encouraged the suppression of most wildfires. Using mechanical thinning and prescribed burning, land managers often try to reduce fuels in strategic areas with the highest fuel loads. Riparian forests, however, are often designated as areas where only limited management action can take place within a fixed-width zone. These highly productive forests have developed heavy fuel loads capable of supporting stand-replacing crown fires that can alter wildlife habitat and ecosystem function, and contribute to stream channel erosion. Objectives of this study were to determine whether adjacent coniferous riparian and upland forests burned historically with different frequencies and seasonalities, and whether these relationships varied by forest, site, and stream characteristics. We measured dendrochronological fire records in adjacent riparian and upland areas across a variety of forest, site and stream conditions at 36 sites in three sampling areas in the northern Sierra Nevada.     

Is risk consistent across tier‐based harvest control rule management systems? A comparison of four case‐studies

There can be substantial differences in data quality and quantity among fished species. Consequently, the quality and type of assessments can also vary substantially. However, all species, especially those that are targeted, need to be managed. Several jurisdictions have developed hierarchical tier systems that categorize stocks based on, for example, the data available for assessment purposes and/or the extent to which quantities on which management advice is based can be estimated. Four case‐studies (Australia's Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery, the USA west coast groundfishery, the USA Alaskan crab fishery and EU fisheries) are used to contrast the types of hierarchical tier systems available, and to assess the extent to which each system constrains risk to be equivalent among the tiers (termed risk equivalency). Only the Australian system explicitly aims to achieve risk equivalency. However, this intent has not been fully operationalized. Our review reveals that best practice is not to define tiers simply on data availability, but also on what the assessments based on those data are capable of estimating. In addition, clearly differentiating the quantification of uncertainty from how decision‐makers wish to address that uncertainty would simplify justification of buffers (the gap between the assessment‐produced target catch or effort and the final management decision that accounts for uncertainty and risk). Risk equivalency can be achieved using management strategy evaluation to select the values for control variables, which determine the buffer given the uncertainty associated with the assessment.