Assessing the effects of line capture and barotrauma relief procedures on post-release survival of key tropical reef fish species in Australia using recreational tagging clubs

Abstract  Common coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus Lacepède, crimson snapper, Lutjanus erythropterus Bloch, saddletail snapper, Lutjanus malabaricus (Bloch & Schneider), red emperor, Lutjanus sebae (Cuvier), redthroat emperor, Lethrinus miniatus (Schneider) and grass emperor, Lethrinus laticaudis Alleyne & Macleay, were tagged to determine the effects of barotrauma relief procedures (weighted shot-line release and venting using a hollow needle) and other factors on survival. Release condition was the most significant factor affecting the subsequent recapture rate of all species. Capture depth was significant in all species apart from L. malabaricus and L. miniatus , the general trend being reduced recapture probability with increasing capture depth. Recapture rates of fish hooked in either the lip or mouth were generally significantly higher than for those hooked in the throat or gut. Statistically significant benefit from treating fish for barotrauma was found in only L. malabaricus , but the lack of any negative effects of treating fish indicated that the practices of venting and shot-lining should not be discouraged by fisheries managers for these species.     

不同含水量天然硫酸盐盐渍土中二氧化碳和氧化亚氮的排放

Soil salinization may negatively affect microbial processes related to carbon dioxide(CO_2) and nitrous oxide(N_2O) emissions. A short-term laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of soil electrical conductivity(EC) and moisture content on CO_2 and N_2O emissions from sulfate-based natural saline soils. Three separate 100-m long transects were established along the salinity gradient on a salt-affected agricultural field at Mooreton, North Dakota, USA. Surface soils were collected from four equally spaced sampling positions within each transect, at the depths of 0–15 and 15–30 cm. In the laboratory, artificial soil cores were formed combining soils from both the depths in each transect, and incubated at 60% and 90% water-filled pore space(WFPS) at 25?C. The measured depth-weighted EC of the saturated paste extract(EC_e) across the sampling positions ranged from 0.43 to 4.65 dS m~(-1). Potential nitrogen(N) mineralization rate and CO_2 emissions decreased with increasing soil EC_e, but the relative decline in soil CO_2 emissions with increasing ECe was smaller at 60% WFPS than at 90% WFPS. At 60% WFPS, soil N_2O emissions decreased from 133 μg N_2O-N kg~(-1) soil at EC_e 0.50 dS m~(-1) to 72 μg N_2O-N kg~(-1) soil at EC_e = 4.65 dS m~(-1). In contrast, at 90% WFPS,soil N_2O emissions increased from 262 μg N_2O-N kg~(-1) soil at EC_e = 0.81 dS m~(-1) to 849 μg N_2O-N kg~(-1) soil at EC_e = 4.65 dS m~(-1), suggesting that N_2O emissions were linked to both soil ECe and moisture content. Therefore, spatial variability in soil EC_e and pattern of rainfall over the season need to be considered when up-scaling N_2O and CO_2 emissions from field to landscape scales.     

Influence of terminal rig configuration on the anatomical hooking location of line-caught yellowfin bream, Acanthopagrus australis

Abstract  Experiments were carried out to test the dependence of anatomical hooking location on terminal rig configuration, and identify strategies by which hook ingestion can be minimised to reduce post-release mortality of angled yellowfin bream, Acanthopagrus australis (Günther). Eighty-five anglers targeted yellowfin bream using different designs and sizes of circle and J hooks and recorded technical, environmental and biological data for each landed fish. Considerably fewer fish (16.6 and 8.5%, respectively) ingested hooks than those hooked in the mouth (82.1 and 88.6%), and a greater percentage of J hooks were ingested than circle hooks or a J hook modified with a 15-mm horizontal bar. Irrespective of hook type, the rate of ingestion also declined with increasing hook weight and decreasing fish size. In cage experiments, significantly more hooks baited with natural soft baits (e.g. intestines and cephalopods) were ingested than those baited with artificial baits, crustaceans or teleosts, while in the field fewer hooks were ingested using artificial bait (e.g. bread and pellets) than terrestrial animals, teleosts, crustaceans, teleost or terrestrial animal intestines, cephalopods or polychaetes. Similarly, rigs with floats, short traces or a sinker only on the hook, along with angling in environments with at least some current reduced ingestion. Based on this study, anglers targeting yellowfin bream should be encouraged to use circle or modified J hooks and, regardless of the hook design, the largest hook size possible attached to short traces or a sinker only and hard baits.     

CHEMICAL FALLOW CONTROL OF NUTSEDGE

Summary. Field experiments were conducted to find a herbicide for complete control of nutsedge ( Cyperus rotundus L.). We applied seventeen herbicides and some of their combinations as chemical fallow. EPTC and CP-31675 (6- tert -butyl-2-chloro-o-acetotoluidide) gave good but only temporary control of nutsedge. Dichlobenil at 2·5 or 5 lb/ac gave fair control for 1 year. Rates of 10 or 20 lb/ac of dichlobenil controlled nutsedge completely for 1 year but severely reduced the yield of oats planted 5 months after application. The highest rate completely killed tubers and prevented reinfestation for 1 year. Analyses indicated no residue of dichlobenil or of its metabolite, 2,6-dichlorobenzoic acid, in vegetative parts and seeds of oats planted 5 months after application of 2.5, 5 or 10 lb/ac of dichlobenil. At equivalent rates the herbicide TH-073-H (N-hydroxymethyl-2,6-dichlorothiolbenzamide) gave control of nutsedge similar to that with dichlobenil. The combinations of 8 lb/ac amitrole-T and 10 lb/ac dichlobenil or TH-073-H were just as effective in controlling nutsedge shoots and tubers as dichlobenil or TH-073-H applied alone. The mixture of dichlobenil plus CP-31675, each at 5 lb/ac, gave excellent control of nutsedge and tubers for 1 year. The herbicides terbacil ( 3-ter -Nbutyl-5-chloro-6-methyluracil) or Du Pont 733 ( 3-tert -butyl-5-bromo-6-methyluracil) at 10 lb/ac provided almost complete control of nutsedge. Application of terbacil to plants aged 4–6 weeks gave better results than application to mature nutsedge in the fall.
La lutte chimique contre le cypirus     

Antifungal activity of bergenin, a constituent of Flueggea microcarpa

The antifungal activity of bergenin against some plant pathogenic fungi, namely, Alternaria alternata , A. brassicae , A. carthami , Fusarium udum , F. oxysporum f.sp. ciceri , Curvularia lunata and Erysiphe pisi , was studied. Bergenin as its monosodium salt was effective against all the fungi and the effective dose for complete inhibition of spore germination varied from 15 μg mL⁻¹ for F. udum to 125 μg mL⁻¹ for E. pisi . Experiments on the effect of bergenin on powdery mildew development under glasshouse conditions revealed that it can control powdery mildew of pea at 2000 μg mL⁻¹ by postinoculation treatment, the results being comparable with those of carbendazim (1000 μg mL⁻¹) and wettable sulfur (2000 μg mL⁻¹). It affected hyphal elongation and the number of primary and secondary branches.