Search

Life-history traits and the ecology of the family Pentacerotidae are known for only a fraction of the 13 species distributed worldwide. The Giant Boarfish (Paristiopterus labiosus) is known for its increasing recreational fishery and for undergoing spawning aggregations in Australasian waters but the biological characteristics remain scarce. Here, we report the capture of a large P. labiosus (962 mm total length and 9.2 kg total weight), close to the reported maximum size of 910 mm total length, from New Zealand waters and its age estimation. An estimated age of 36 years, based on counts of opaque zones in thin otolith sections, provides important information on the potential lifespan of the species, an important step forward to better understand its life history.

Life-history traits and the ecology of the family Pentacerotidae are known for only a fraction of the 13 species distributed worldwide. The Giant Boarfish (Paristiopterus labiosus) is known for its increasing recreational fishery and for undergoing spawning aggregations in Australasian waters but the biological characteristics remain scarce. Here, we report the capture of a large P. labiosus (962 mm total length and 9.2 kg total weight), close to the reported maximum size of 910 mm total length, from New Zealand waters and its age estimation. An estimated age of 36 years, based on counts of opaque zones in thin otolith sections, provides important information on the potential lifespan of the species, an important step forward to better understand its life history.

Long-distance migrants are assumed to be more time-limited during the pre-breeding season compared to the post-breeding season. Although breeding-related time constraints may be absent post-breeding, additional factors such as predation risk could lead to time constraints that were previously underestimated. By using an automated radio telemetry system, we compared pre- and post-breeding movements of long-distance migrant shorebirds on a continent-wide scale. From 2014 to 2016, we deployed radio transmitters on 1,937 individuals of 4 shorebird species at 13 sites distributed across North America. Following theoretical predictions, all species migrated faster during the pre-breeding season, compared to the post-breeding season. These differences in migration speed between seasons were attributable primarily to longer stopover durations in the post-breeding season. In contrast, and counter to our expectations, all species had higher airspeeds during the post-breeding season, even after accounting for seasonal differences in wind. Arriving at the breeding grounds in good body condition is beneficial for survival and reproductive success and this energetic constraint might explain why airspeeds are not maximised in the pre-breeding season. We show that the higher airspeeds in the post-breeding season precede a wave of avian predators, which could suggest that migrant shorebirds show predation-minimizing behaviour during the post-breeding season. Our results reaffirm the important role of time constraints during northward migration and suggest that both energy and predation-risk constrain migratory behaviour during the post-breeding season.

Existing scenarios of biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES) have important limitations and gaps that constrain their usefulness for the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Specifically, they fail to incorporate policy objectives related to nature conservation and social-ecological feedbacks, they do not address the linkages between biodiversity and ecosystem services, and they are typically relevant at only a particular spatial scale. In addition, nature and its benefits are treated as the consequence of human decisions, but are not at the centre of the analysis. To address these issues, the IPBES Scenarios and Models Expert Group initiated the development of a set of Multiscale Scenarios for Nature Futures based on positive visions for human relationships with nature.The first step of this process was a visioning workshop with stakeholders and experts on 4-8 September 2017 in Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 73 participants from inter-governmental organisations, national government organisations, non-governmental organisations, academia and the private sector, from 31 countries, and with a range of sectoral expertise on biodiversity topics, from urban development to agriculture to fisheries, worked together in a visioning exercise. This report documents the results from this visioning workshop to inform further stakeholder consultation and the development of the associated multiscale scenarios by modelers and experts. This creative visioning exercise was carried out in four steps based on a suite of participatory methods that were used to develop visions of alternative futures. First the participants identified important themes to develop the visions. Next, thematic groups identified the main trends for BES in each theme and a set of “Seeds” of emerging initiatives leading to positive futures for our relationship with nature. Implications of what would happen across a range of sectors were identified for each seed. Then a

There may be substantial differences in the chemical composition of technical-grade products of the same active ingredient manufactured under different conditions, from different raw materials, or by different routes of synthesis. Resulting differences in impurity content may significantly affect the toxicological properties of pesticide products. Relevant impurities are those that may exhibit pronounced toxic effects compared to the active ingredient, affect phytotoxicity or physical properties of formulations, result in undesirable residues in food,or cause environmental contamination. The first safety assessment of an active ingredient by a regulatory body considers toxicological data developed on a representative batch of technical products, with the assumption that the material produced commercially by the original or generic manufacturers has an equal or higher content of active ingredient and contains the same or fewer impurities at equal or lower concentrations as the fully characterized technical product used in the toxicological tests. Three steps are essential for ensuring the safety of commercial technical- grade pesticide products, whether produced by the original manufacturer or by generic manufacturers. First, the identity and chemical structure of the impurities must be elucidated.This should include positive identification of major (=1 %) and all toxicologically or environmentally relevant impurities, and characterization of minor impurities (>0.1 %). Second, in addition to recognition of a minimum active ingredient content, official specifications should also list relevant impurities and their maximum permissible concentrations.Implementation of these specifications should be aided by a decision-making scheme for establishing similarity of subsequently evaluated technical products. Third, appropriate analytical methods for the detection and quantification of impurity levels should be developed and employed in a quality-monitoring program associated

The effect of plant and market capacities on invalidating the combined cut off grade value criterion is analysed. An extension to cut off grade theory which encompasses ore bodies with two minerals is derived from the OGRE program (Ore Grades for Resource Exploitation)., The effect of plant and market capacities on invalidating the combined cut off grade value criterion is analysed. An extension to cut off grade theory which encompasses ore bodies with two minerals is derived from the OGRE program (Ore Grades for Resource Exploitation).

The partition properties of trichlorphon between water and carbon tetrachloride were investigated. From the results obtained, using carbon tetrachloride and chloroform as the mobile phase and water as the stationary phase, a partition column was developed. Separation of trichlorphon from other components of formulations was readily achieved on such a column.

The partition properties of trichlorphon between water and carbon tetrachloride were investigated. From the results obtained, using carbon tetrachloride and chloroform as the mobile phase and water as the stationary phase, a partition column was developed. Separation of trichlorphon from other components of formulations was readily achieved on such a column.

The partition properties of trichlorphon between water and carbon tetrachloride were investigated. From the results obtained, using carbon tetrachloride and chloroform as the mobile phase and water as the stationary phase, a partition column was developed. Separation of trichlorphon from other components of formulations was readily achieved on such a column.