Conserving indigenous crayfish: stock assessment and habitat requirements in the threatened Austropotamobius italicus

• 1. As part of the Austropotamobius pallipes species complex, the crayfish Austropotamobius italicus is a species of community interest whose preservation requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) (Annex II, EU Habitats Directive). This study aimed at (1) assessing the conservation status of this threatened indigenous species by stock assessment in central Italy and (2) identifying some aspects of its elective habitat.
• 2. Surveys were conducted in nine streams harbouring A. italicus (streams WI) and in 10 streams where crayfish populations became extinct at least 5 years before the study (streams WO).
• 3. The results confirmed that A. italicus is a K‐selected species, with a relatively slow growth rate (males: 0.34; females: 0.37) and a long life expectancy (males: 8.2 years; females: 7.8 years). The extant populations are healthy, showing balanced sex‐ratios and well structured age‐class compositions. Mortality is mainly due to fishing, which is illegal in Tuscany.
• 4. Principal Components Analyses showed that the streams WI and WO differ in the abundance of allochthonous plant detritus but not in the taxonomic composition of their macroinvertebrate communities. Age classes were found to be spatially segregated, juveniles mainly using cobbles as substrates and adults seemingly avoiding them.
• 5. The loss of the pristine riverine landscape seems to have been responsible, together with illegal fishing, for the local extinction of the species. As a consequence, retaining, enhancing, and restoring the habitat and its complexity are required for the preservation of A. italicus.
• 6. The designation of SACs might help in this endeavour if accompanied by programmes aimed at publicizing the need for conservation of this species. Unfortunately, crayfish‐focused projects supported by LIFE in Italy since 1992 (4%) and the SACs involved (1.4%) have been relatively few, despite the poor conservation status of this species and its well recognized ecological role.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Condition assessment of lamprey populations in the Yorkshire Ouse catchment,north‐east England,and the potential influence of physical migration barriers

• 1. River lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) and sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) are designated features of the River Derwent Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Humber Estuary (a possible SAC). This study determined the condition of lamprey populations in the Yorkshire Ouse catchment by assessing the species composition, distribution, abundance and size‐structure of larval (ammocoete) populations in five major tributary rivers (Derwent, Swale, Ure, Nidd and Wharfe).
• 2. According to EU condition assessment criteria, Lampetra populations (assumed to be mostly river lamprey) are at present in favourable condition, with site mean (±SE) densities ranging from 2.7 (±1.2) to 160.3 (±50.5) individuals m^?2 (all river means >2 individuals m^?2), and at least two size (≈age) classes present in optimal microhabitats. By contrast, no sea lamprey larvae were recorded, suggesting that populations of this species are in unfavourable condition.
• 3. Actions to protect and enhance nationally or internationally important stocks must be implemented from at least a catchment perspective, because many of the issues affecting such species are not localized. With respect to lampreys, particular attention should be given to protecting spawning and nursery habitats, improving water quality, reducing impingement at abstraction points, preventing exploitation at spawning grounds and increasing passage at potential physical obstructions.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Foraging specialisms, prey size and life-history patterns: a test of predictions using sympatric polymorphic Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

Abstract –  We use arguments based on optimal foraging theory to predict body size constraints and the consequences of these on a range of life-history traits in three trophic specialist morphs of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus , living in sympatry in Loch Rannoch, Scotland. As predicted, foraging specialists feeding on small prey items with a narrow size range showed evidence of deterministic growth; the ultimate body size of macrobenthos feeders being larger ( L _∞ = 238 mm) than that of planktivores ( L _∞ = 216 mm). In contrast, the piscivorous morph showed no evidence of reaching a maximal body size.
The two size-constrained morphs (benthivores and planktivores) matured earlier and died younger (living for up to 11 and 7 years, respectively, in this study) than did the piscivorous charr which showed continuous growth up to at least 17 years.
The pattern of annual reproductive investment in maturing individuals was complex. Planktivores invested in larger eggs than the other two forms, but benthivores produced a greater number of eggs than planktivores, which in turn produced more than piscivores. Planktivorous males had a greater investment in mean testis weight than the other two forms.
Lifetime reproductive output was the greatest in the benthivorous charr, intermediate in planktivorous and the lowest in the piscivorous charr when measured either as fecundity or as gonadal weight. We conclude that constraints imposed upon foraging specialists by foraging efficiency is a significant driver of body size and ultimately reproductive investment in gape-limited foraging salmonids.     

Reproductive season and female maturity size of coconut crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Birgus latro</Emphasis> on Hatoma Island,southern Japan

Information about reproductive season, size at sexual maturity and size-dependent reproductive potentials is important for efficient resource management. Such information is necessary to determine seasonal closures and minimum legal size limits. To conserve resources of coconut crab Birgus latro, which are in danger of extinction due to excessive exploitation, their reproductive season, female size at functional maturity and relationship between female size and reproductive potentials were investigated. The reproductive season started in early June and ended late August, and females with higher reproductive potentials showed a tendency to spawn early in the reproductive season. The prohibition of exploiting the resources during the reproductive season, especially early in the season, would be appropriate for sustainability of high reproductive outputs. Fifty percent of investigated females matured functionally at 24.5-mm thoracic length (TL). However, the size at which all females reached functional maturity was 32.3 mm TL, and there was a wide variation in the size of functional maturity among individuals. We must determine minimum legal size by taking the variation into account to allow all individuals to mate at least once before they are caught, which may prevent serious depression in reproductive rate and genetic diversity.     

辽东湾北部近海海域表层沉积物类型及分布特征

对2004年采自辽东湾北部近海海域的16个表层沉积物样品作了粒度分析和粒度参数计算,并进行了沉积物分类和分布特征的研究,结果表明,辽东湾北部近海的表层沉积物粒度主要由粉砂组成,平均含量65.15%,平均粒径5.031。总的特征是在5~10 m等深线,沉积物粒度的平均粒径由东部的4.530、中部的5.050逐渐增大到西部的6.236。沉积物粒度的组成类型由东向西按粉砂质砂→砂质粉砂→粉砂→砂-粉砂-黏土→黏土质粉砂由粗至细排列。     

饵料种类、温度和规格对硬壳蛤的同化率的影响

试验结果表明,温度和规格对硬壳蛤同化率的影响不显著(P>0.05);饵料种类对硬壳蛤同化率影响显著(P<0.05).其中小球藻和湛江等鞭金藻的同化率显著高于小新月菱形藻(P<0.05),而小新月菱形藻又显著高于扁藻(P<0.05).     

降水、灌溉和品种对玉米产量和水分利用效率的影响

8年田间试验结果表明,玉米产量明显受降水和灌溉的影响。玉米苗期灌溉最为关键,是保证高产的基础。在只灌溉苗水而没有其他灌溉条件下,夏玉米产量与7、8月份降水密切相关,而与生长季节的降水总量关系不明显。除了极干旱年份(季节降雨量小于200 mm)外,随着灌溉量增加,玉米水分利用效率(WUE)降低。玉米最优灌溉制度为:干旱年份,除了苗期的1次灌溉外,在拔节和扬花期分别实施2次灌溉;常年和湿润年份,除了出苗水外,在抽穗到扬花期的8月初实施1次灌溉。3年的田间试验结果表明,当地种植的不同玉米品种之间产量最大相差20%,水分利用效率差异在12%~19%。因此,将适宜的品种与优化的灌溉制度相结合,是提高华北平原夏玉米产量和水分利用效率的有效途径。     

葡萄枝条中淀粉粒形态结构与抗寒力的关系

扫描电镜观察结果表明,越冬期间葡萄枝条组织细胞中淀粉粒的大小、积累数量和转化动态规律与抗寒力密切相关,主要表现为抗寒种类或品种的淀粉粒小,积累早而数量多,水解晚但速度快而较彻底;同一品种采用嫁接栽培可明显增加枝条中淀粉的积累数量,有利于枝芽成熟和越冬。     

Resource patch array use by two squirrel species in an agricultural landscape

Eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) were studied among wooded patches within an agricultural mosaic. Fifteen sites south of Ottawa, Canada, with differing landscape and local features were censused using tracking boards placed in a woods or wooded fencerow. Regression analyses of landscape compositional and physiognomic variables within a 1-km radius isolated the best predictors of grey and red squirrel abundance and activity. Grey squirrels were found in both small woods and fencerows in farm landscapes but were not found in large woods. A polynomial regression of wooded patch size explained 79% of the variance in grey squirrel abundance. Grey squirrel activity was correlated with the percent cover of soybeans in the landscape. Red squirrels were found in fencerows, small and large woods; activity was correlated with the percent cover of both woods and corn crop in the surrounding landscape. These results indicate that distributions of both species are influenced by multiple landscape elements, but that grey squirrels may rely on fragmented agricultural landscapes whereas red squirrels make more use of both native woodland and altered landscapes.