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Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the seasonal and spatial variations in the concentrations of a widely used organophosphorous pesticide (OPP), diazinon, and the associated risk posed by this OPP in the surface water from the three largest rivers located in the northern province of Iran: the Haraz, the Talar and the Babolrood rivers. These rivers are located in the agriculture province of Mazandaran, and are exposed to high doses of organophosphorus pesticides, especially diazinon. The concentration of diazinon was determined using gas chromatography, while the potential risk posed by diazinon was elucidated using a Risk Quotient (RQ) calculated for general (RQm) and worst-case (RQex) scenarios. The obtained results demonstrated that the average diazinon concentrations ranged from 41 ± 76 ng/L in the Talar River and 57 ± 116 ng/L in the Haraz River, to 76.5 ± 145 ng/L in the Babolrood River, with a significant difference noted between summer and autumn seasons for all three rivers. For some stations, the concentration of diazinon is higher than the standard guidelines of Australian/New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (FMWQ) and the United States Criteria Maximum Concentration (CMC). The calculated RQs indicated a medium risk of diazinon, RQm = 0.73 and RQex = 2.27, in the Talar River; RQm = 1.02 and RQex = 2.49 in the Haraz River; and RQm = 1.35 and RQex = 4.54 in the Babolrood River. The overall exposure of diazinon was defined to have a high risk (RQm and RQex > 1); however, the summer sampling revealed a high risk (RQm and RQex > 1), while the autumn had a medium risk (RQm and RQex < 1). The obtained results revealed not only elevated concentrations of diazinon in the studied rivers but most importantly the high risk posed by this OPP for the aquatic organisms and the wellbeing of the whole river ecosystem. The current study showed that development and implementation of appropriate standards and regulations toward diazinon in countries such as Iran are required to reduce the pollution levels and risks related to elevated concentrations of the studied pesticide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is one of the fastest growing anthropogenic disturbances to animals across many ecosystems, yet little is known about how ALAN influences fish and aquatic ecosystems. Our current understanding of the effects of ALAN on fish behavior and physiology tend to be based on research conducted during night, with comparatively little research on whether ALAN influences subsequent behavior during diurnal periods. We used wild-caught Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus as a model to assess whether ALAN of differing intensities comparable to what would be experienced in the wild near human-altered landscapes (i.e., 0.5 lux, 4 lux, 9 lux) alters subsequent diurnal behavior relative to controls (i.e., dark, 0 lux). We assessed a number of behavioral traits in a laboratory setting known to relate to performance and fitness in wild teleost fish including exploration, activity levels, space usage, and risk aversion. Exploration behavior, space use, and risk-taking behaviors were similar among treatments. Only locomotor activity differed among treatments with Bluegill in the 0.5 and 9 lux treatments swimming significantly less than controls after being exposed to ALAN overnight. This difference in behavior was found at light intensities commonly found at waterways today and thus may already be affecting fish communities and aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofloc technology (BFT) is an approach in the rearing of fish and shrimp as a means to support intensive culture, maintain optimum water quality, recycle the nutrients and reduce feed costs. The technology is primarily based on the principle of recycling nitrogenous wastes into microbial biomass that can be assimilated by the cultured animals as feeds or facilitates in maintaining good water quality. The rearing of larvae and juveniles of ornamental fish is confronted with issues on low survival rate, poor water quality and high incidence of diseases. These problems can be mitigated through the use of biofloc technology. From a number of studies reviewed, BFT offers a viable approach in ensuring sustainable production of ornamental fish. The benefits of using this technology include enhancement of water quality by reducing the levels of nitrogenous wastes, efficient feed conversion resulting in better growth and reduction in production costs and better immune response that will enable the fish to have higher resistance against infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated circuit boards are component of most Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). These are generated worldwide at an alert rhythm and their recycling is done to a small extent (about 20%). The paper presents an experimental simulation of the presence of printed circuit board waste (PCBs), from end-of-life computers, in three aquatic environments with different pH (pH 4.00, pH 5.63 and pH 8.00). After stagnation for 17 weeks, values of the concentrations of heavy metals released by the PCBs in the solutions were obtained. These indicated that the presence of these boards in aquatic media may impair water quality by inducing moderate risks for surface water and lower risks for groundwater bodies. Heavy metals such as copper and lead, especially in acidic and neutral environments, fell into the worst quality class for surface water and exceeding of the maximum allowable value for the reference groundwater body (ROSO12) were recorded for copper in the acid and neutral initial solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the phylogeography of the only southern African freshwater crab listed as Vulnerable (VU) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, Potamonautes lividus, was investigated by surveying several localities in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu‐Natal provinces in South Africa. Both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (nDNA and mtDNA) markers were used and, as it was hypothesized that marked genetic differentiation should be present, niche modelling was undertaken to explore the distribution of the species along the east coast of South Africa. In addition, shortfalls in the present approach to IUCN Red Listing, as illustrated by this Vulnerable species of crab, are discussed.Results from the mtDNA revealed the presence of two haploclades, confined to specimens from the two provinces, respectively, and the general absence of maternal dispersal, a fact that was further validated by the fixation index (FST) data and high ΦST values. Within the Eastern Cape haploclade, low‐frequency maternal dispersal occurred, corroborated by the low value of FST. In contrast, no haplotypes were shared in the KwaZulu‐Natal haploclade, as corroborated by the marked differences in FST.The microsatellite data demonstrated the presence of higher frequency, possibly paternally biased, dispersal of specimens between the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu‐Natal provinces. The results suggest the presence of two distinct management units within P. lividus. An estimate of divergence time suggests a late Pleistocene cladogenesis between the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu‐Natal haploclades.Considering the presence of P. lividus in several newly formed nature conservation areas in both provinces, and its potential presence in the intermediary area, based on maximum entropy (Maxent) niche modelling, our data suggest that the species status in the IUCN Red List should be downgraded to Least Concern.A comparison of all the Endangered, Vulnerable, and Critically Endangered IUCN Red Listed freshwater crabs for the entire Afrotropical region reveals the lack of recent sampling in the three biodiversity hot spots in West, Central, and East Africa, with mountainous areas containing a disproportionate number of species but with most species being devoid of phylogeographical study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robust impact evaluations are needed for conservation to learn and grow as a field. Currently we lack a large body of evidence on the effects of behaviour change interventions in social‐ecological systems. By uncovering mechanistic relationships and establishing causality we can refine future programmes to enhance likelihood of effectiveness. Although a range of sophisticated methodological approaches to evaluation have been developed, conceptually linking project outcomes with conservation impacts remains difficult in complex systems.For example, sea turtles are one taxon in which unsustainable harvesting has been a particular problem. There have been a number of campaigns to reduce demand for sea turtle products, but we still have little evidence documenting their outcomes. We conducted the first formal impact evaluation of a conservation marketing campaign aimed at reducing the consumption of sea turtle meat and eggs. The campaign took place on the island of São Tomé, Central Africa, and included traditional mass media advertisements as well as community events. This is one of few demand reduction evaluations that has assessed both human behaviour and biological conservation outcomes. It benefited from an advantageous setting for evaluation, as nesting sea turtles are relatively easy to monitor and the island's small size and geographic isolation increased the detectability of potentially confounding factors. We found a decrease in self‐reported sea turtle egg consumption and a decrease in poaching of adult sea turtles.However, multiple unforeseen difficulties arose which complicated attempts at causal attribution. We were hampered by spatial spillovers, design effects from the sensitive questioning technique, concurring law enforcement and changes in biological monitoring effort. These challenges highlight the difficulties faced by practitioners seeking to apply impact evaluations in the field. We reflect on what this means for future impact evaluations of behaviour change interventions in conservation. Our recommendations include combining multiple outcome measures to triangulate hard‐to‐measure behaviours and theory‐based evaluation methods to explore causal impacts. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auxotrophy, or an organism's requirement for an exogenous source of an organic molecule, is widespread throughout species and ecosystems. Auxotrophy can result in obligate interactions between organisms, influencing ecosystem structure and community composition. We explore how auxotrophy-induced interactions between aquatic microorganisms affect microbial community structure and stability. While some studies have documented auxotrophy in aquatic microorganisms, these studies are not widespread, and we therefore do not know the full extent of auxotrophic interactions in aquatic environments. Current theoretical and experimental work suggests that auxotrophy links microbial community members through a complex web of metabolic dependencies. We discuss the proposed ways in which auxotrophy may enhance or undermine the stability of aquatic microbial communities, highlighting areas where our limited understanding of these interactions prevents us from being able to predict the ecological implications of auxotrophy. Finally, we examine an example of auxotrophy in harmful algal blooms to place this often theoretical discussion in a field context where auxotrophy may have implications for the development and robustness of algal bloom communities. We seek to draw attention to the relationship between auxotrophy and community stability in an effort to encourage further field and theoretical work that explores the underlying principles of microbial interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive fish culturing systems depend on provides optimal water quality conditions. Hence, the most important aquaculture practices are the removal of contamination elements related not only to the water quality parameters unacceptable for aquatic species but also to the undesirable effect on the health of fish and consumers. During the last three decades, common applications and production of pesticides have amplified progressively. Due to the excessive use of imidacloprid as a highly effective insecticide, elevated accumulation is expected in an aquatic environment. A large part of applied pesticides emitted into the environment and only a small portion of them reach the final biological target, where it caused several hazards, such as accumulation and toxicity to non‐target creatures. Plant‐derived secondary metabolites are getting great attention due to their safety and therapeutic functions. Also, several feed additives in animal diets can act as chemopreventive agents, which have the potential to decrease the toxicity risk of many pollutants and detoxification of activated metabolites. Understanding the internal action mechanisms of various safe feed additives could lead to the novel therapeutic approaches for acute and chronic pesticide toxicity. This review intends to summarize how safe feed additives alter or mitigate the toxic effects of imidacloprid in farmed fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standard ecological risk assessment practices often rely on larval and juvenile fish toxicity data as representative of the amphibian aquatic phase. Empirical evidence suggests that endpoints measured in fish early life stage tests are often sufficient to protect larval amphibians. However, the process of amphibian metamorphosis relies on endocrine cues that affect development and morphological restructuring and are not represented by these test endpoints. The present study compares developmental endpoints for zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis), 2 standard test species, exposed to the herbicide trifluralin throughout the larval period. Danio rerio were more sensitive and demonstrated a reduction in growth measurements with increasing trifluralin exposure. Size of X. laevis at metamorphosis was not correlated with exposure concentration; however, time to metamorphosis was delayed relative to trifluralin concentration. Gene expression patterns indicate discrepancies in response by D. rerio and X. laevis, and dose‐dependent metabolic activity suggests that trifluralin exposure perturbed biological pathways differently within the 2 species. Although many metabolites were correlated with exposure concentration in D. rerio, nontargeted hepatic metabolomics identified a subset of metabolites that exhibited a nonmonotonic response to trifluralin exposure in X. laevis. Linking taxonomic distinctions in cellular‐level response with ecologically relevant endpoints will refine assumptions used in interspecies extrapolation of standard test effects and improve assessment of sublethal impacts on amphibian populations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1797–1812. Published 2020. This article is a US government work and is in the public domain in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immatures of the biting midge Dasyhelea silvatica are described and illustrated for the first time and a complete description of the adult male and female are provided using scanning electron and compound microscopes. The specimens were collected from flooded soil near a pond in Guizhou Province, China, and reared in the laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is an urgent need for the discovery and/or development of novel antibiotics. We report an exploration of "slow"-growing bacteria, which can be difficult to isolate using rich media as they are usually outcompeted by "fast"-growing bacteria, as potential sources of novel antimicrobials. Results: Pseudomonas sp. RIT 623 was isolated using pond water agar from a pond located on the campus of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). The genome was sequenced and analyzed for potential secondary metabolite gene clusters. Bioinformatics analysis revealed 14 putative gene clusters predicted to encode pathways for the anabolism of secondary metabolites. Ethyl acetate extracts from spent growth medium of Pseudomonas sp. RIT 623 were tested against two Gram-negative (E. coli ATCC 25922 and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853) and two Gram-positive (B. subtilis BGSC 168 and S. aureus ATCC 25923) type strains to assess antibiotic activity. The antibiotic assays demonstrated that extracts of Pseudomonas sp. RIT 623 were able to inhibit the growth of the four strains. The active compound was separated using diethyl ether in a multi-solvent extraction and reverse phase chromatography. The bioactive compound/s were subsequently eluted in two consecutive fractions corresponding to approximately 16–22% acetonitrile, indicative of polar compound/s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change may facilitate the expansion of non-native invasive species (NIS) in aquatic and terrestrial systems. However, empirical evidence remains scarce and poorly synthesized at scales necessary for effective management. We conducted a literature synthesis to assess the state of research on the observed and predicted effects of climate change on a suite of 398 aquatic and terrestrial NIS now present in or a major threat to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest (PNW), USA and British Columbia. Surprisingly, very few studies (n = 15) have investigated the observed effects of climate change on the distribution, abundance, spread, or impact of the focal NIS, with only five studies focusing on terrestrial (n = 2) or aquatic (n = 3) species within the PNW. Only 93 studies predicted the future dynamics of the focal NIS somewhere in their non-native range using climate model projections, yielding 117 species-specific predictions. However, only 30 of those studies generated predictions that overlapped with the PNW, and only six focused specifically on the expansion or abundance of NIS (n = 11 species) entirely within the region. Although our understanding of how climate change may interact with biological invasions is notably lacking, some evidence suggests that climate-induced NIS expansions are already underway in the PNW, particularly in aquatic ecosystems, and will be exacerbated by future changes in temperature and precipitation regimes. Better information is urgently needed for managers to implement strategic prevention, early detection, and proactive actions that ameliorate ecologically and economically devastating impacts of NIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revija Šport is the property of Sport: Revija Za Teoreticna in Praticna Vprasanja Sporta and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Seven species of the freshwater snail genus Semisulcospira, which are indigenous taxa of the largest lake in Japan, Lake Biwa, have been introduced into 17 localities, including five newly recorded localities. Among these species, S. dilatata Watanabe and Nishino, 1995, S. habei Davis, 1969, and S. rugosa Watanabe and Nishino, 1995 were firstly recorded as introduced species. The alien Semisulcospira snails could be identified based on the combination of three morphological characters: longitudinal ribs number of penultimate whorl of adult shell, spire angle of adult shell, and shell height of the largest embryonic shell. Accordingly, morphological identification of introduced Semisulcospira populations recorded in previously published studies was revisited. The introductions of Semisulcospira snails have been suggested to have occurred due to contamination of seedlings of other shellfish and fishes at most sites. Taking into account the potential impacts of accidental species introductions, seedlings should be carefully managed so as not to unintentionally introduce Semisulcospira snails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With rapid global change, organisms in natural systems are exposed to a multitude of stressors that likely co‐occur, with uncertain impacts. We explored individual and cumulative effects of co‐occurring environmental stressors on the striking, yet poorly understood, phenomenon of facultative migration. We reared offspring of a brown trout population that naturally demonstrates facultative anadromy (sea migration), under different environmental stressor treatments and measured life history responses in terms of migratory tactics and freshwater maturation rates. Juvenile fish were exposed to reduced food availability, temperatures elevated to 1.8°C above natural conditions or both treatments in combination over 18 months of experimental tank rearing. When considered in isolation, reduced food had negative effects on the size, mass and condition of fish across the experiment. We detected variable effects of warm temperatures (negative effects on size and mass, but positive effect on lipids). When combined with food restriction, temperature effects on these traits were less pronounced, implying antagonistic stressor effects on morphological traits. Stressors combined additively, but had opposing effects on life history tactics: migration increased and maturation rates decreased under low food conditions, whereas the opposite occurred in the warm temperature treatment. Not all fish had expressed maturation or migration tactics by the end of the study, and the frequency of these 'unassigned' fish was higher in food deprivation treatments, but lower in warm treatments. Fish showing migration tactics were smaller and in poorer condition than fish showing maturation tactics, but were similar in size to unassigned fish. We further detected effects of food restriction on hypo‐osmoregulatory function of migrants that may influence the fitness benefits of the migratory tactic at sea. We also highlight that responses to multiple stressors may vary depending on the response considered. Collectively, our results indicate contrasting effects of environmental stressors on life history trajectories in a facultatively migratory species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the drivers of decomposition is critical for understanding carbon cycling dynamics in forest ecosystems. Woody biomass is an important pool of carbon, composed of bark and underlying wood which vary in structure, nutrient concentrations and exposure to the environment. We hypothesized that higher nutrient concentrations in bark would speed the decomposition of underlying wood, and that this effect would be greater in streams, where nutrients are less available to decomposers than on land.Replicate branches of three tree species, with and without bark, were placed in streams and on land in a lowland tropical forest in Panama. After 3 and 11 months of decomposition, we measured mass loss and nitrogen (N) concentrations and sequenced the fungal and bacterial communities of both wood and bark tissues.While bark decomposed faster than the underlying wood and had higher N concentrations, bark presence slowed wood mass loss. Nitrogen concentration could account for interspecific variation in wood mass loss, but not bark mass loss. In contrast, bark mass loss, but not wood mass loss, was faster in streams than on land, suggesting fragmentation is more important for bark mass loss in streams. Differences in fungal and bacterial community composition between bark and wood substrates were significant but small.Our results indicate that bark can slow wood decomposition instead of promoting it, and that at least for branch wood, the primary drivers of decomposition differ between bark and wood. Differences in the factors driving decomposition rate between bark and wood suggest that the contribution of bark to the decomposition of woody biomass may depend on habitat. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of non-native plant species established outside of cultivation in the New Zealand archipelago is higher than for any other islands worldwide. Faced with this scale of plant invasions, there has been considerable investment in the scientific and operational aspects of prevention, eradication and control. As a result, New Zealand is ideally placed to illustrate the many challenges that plant invasions present worldwide as well as the possible solutions. New Zealand has been at the forefront of biosecurity policy developments to tackle plant invasions being one of the first countries to: (a) implement national legislation to address the management of non-native plants; (b) establish a national permitted list (white-list) for plant imports; and (c) introduce bans on the sale, distribution, or propagation of non-native plant species. However, these preventative measure are only effective where there are also adequate border inspection regimes, compliance monitoring of the horticulture industry, and surveillance of internet trade. While New Zealand has successfully eradicated several non-native plant species from its territory, the small number of successes reflects the short-term, local and often uncoordinated efforts to manage non-native plants rather than national programmes backed by legislation and financed over several decades. New Zealand supports a world-leading biological control programme, but this has led to sustained, large-scale control for only a handful of species. In natural areas, most management attempts using mechanical or herbicide treatments have failed to achieve control and there has been a progressive reduction in the area, and frequency of these programmes over time. This is illustrative of the challenges facing those responsible for managing non-native plants in any region of the world. A general insight is that a shift in mindset is required that overcomes significant cognitive biases that include succumbing to the pressure to always intervene, underestimating the non-linear trajectories of invasions, failing to articulate the values at stake, and underestimating the time programmes require to succeed. Important lessons of global relevance include the need for managers to: (a) recognise when and where sleeper weeds are likely to become a national issue, especially as a result of climate change; (b) quantify impacts on those values that stakeholders most cherish rather than those that are easy to measure; (c) provide accurate estimates of the potential future extent of the invasion in the absence of management; and (d) identify clear indicators of successful progress over the course of a long-term management programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Fisioterapia Brasil is the property of Atlantica Editora and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background. Kitesurfing is one of the world's fastest growing Olympic aquatic sports. However, previous scientific literature on this sport has mainly focused on acute injuries. The aim of this study was, therefore, to capture a picture of the burden of overuse injuries in kitesurfing. Methods. Active kite-surfers regularly completed an online questionnaire, describing the health of their shoulders, lower back and knees as well as any injury related symptoms. Results. Forty-three participants completed a total of 304 questionnaires, covering a total period of 2,096 distinct person-days. Person-days of reduced participation related to shoulder, lower back and knee problems were 8 %, 3% and 8% of the total respectively. Performance was affected related to shoulder, lower back and knee problems in 11%, 22% and 16% of person-days respectively. Conclusions. Overuse injuries emerged as an important predictor of reduced participation, decreased performance and discomfort in kitesurfing. The prospective survey method captured a picture of overuse injuries in kitesurfing not previously described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our understanding of how ecosystems function has changed from an equilibria-based view to one that recognizes the dynamic, fluctuating, nonlinear nature of aquatic systems. This current understanding requires that we manage systems for resilience. In this review, we examine how resilience has been defined, measured and applied in aquatic systems, and more broadly, in the socioecological systems in which they are embedded. Our review reveals the importance of managing stressors adversely impacting aquatic system resilience, as well as understanding the environmental and climatic cycles and changes impacting aquatic resources. Aquatic resilience may be enhanced by maintaining and enhancing habitat connectivity as well as functional redundancy and physical and biological diversity. Resilience in aquatic socioecological system may be enhanced by understanding and fostering linkages between the social and ecological subsystems, promoting equity among stakeholders, and understanding how the system is impacted by factors within and outside the area of immediate interest. Management for resilience requires implementation of adaptive and preferably collaborative management. Implementation of adaptive management for resilience will require an effective monitoring framework to detect key changes in the coupled socioecological system. Research is needed to (1) develop sensitive indicators and monitoring designs, (2) disentangle complex multi-scalar interactions and feedbacks, and (3) generalize lessons learned across aquatic ecosystems and apply them in new contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM), an increasing health problem worldwide, is associated with severe cardiovascular complications. Then, the aim of this study was to investigate effect of 12 weeks of aquatic aerobic exercises on myocardial structure and function in diabetic female patients with heart failure. Methods: In this semi experimental research, 36 diabetic women with heart failure in age range of 45 to 65 years old referring to shahid Madani medical center in Tabriz voluntarily participated in this study and assigned to one of two groups: control(n=16) and experimental (n=16) group. Aquatic exercises were carried out three sessions a week for 12 weeks, each session lasting 60 minutes with intensity of 5-8 in RPE Borg classification. Patients in control group continued their normal daily living activities. Blood sampling was gathered 48 h before and after training protocol to measure diabetic indexes such as Fasting blood sugar (FBS), serum Insulin, Insulin resistance, HbA1c and diastolic function such as E Velocity (EV), A Velocity (AV), Deceleration Time (DT), E to A ratio (EA), systolic function consisted on Ejection Fraction (EF), Left Ventricular Mass (LVM), Rest Heart Rate (RHR), Systolic pressure (SP) and Diastolic pressure (DP). The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS-18, T independent test at the significant level α<0.05. Results: The results showed that after intervention, LVM (p=0/000), EV (p=0/034), EF (p=0/002) levels were significantly increased and FBS (p=0/006), HbA1c (p=0/012), AV (p=0/002), SP (p=0/042) and RHR (p=0/035) were decreased in Aquatic exercise group. But in DT, EA and DP Levels these differences weren’t significant between two groups (p>0/05). Conclusion: The results showed that aquatic exercises, resistance and aerobic exercises, as a safe and effective exercise Method, could be helpful in improving myocardial structure and function in type 2diabetic females with heart failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To track the peopling of the South Pacific and assess their impact on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Location: Upolu, Samoa. Taxon: Terrestrial and aquatic plants Methods: A sedimentary record covering the last c. 10,500 years was recovered from the volcanic crater that contains Lake Lanoto'o near the centre of Upolu Island. Information on past ecological change was obtained from microscopic and macroscopic remains extracted from the sediments: charcoal (fire history), pollen/spores and plant remains (vegetation history), and lake status (algae/cyanobacteria). Information on the depositional environment and climate was obtained from geochemical and sedimentary analysis: loss‐on‐ignition (sediment composition), cryptotephras (volcanic eruptions) and precipitation regime (Ti/inc). The environmental history developed was compared with the archaeological record from the region. Results: Charcoal material was found in the Lake Lanoto'o sediments at higher abundances and more frequently in samples from the period after the first archaeological evidence of people on Upolu (c. 2900–2700 years ago). No abrupt shift is recognized in the vegetation or aquatic ecosystem assemblages coincident with the arrival of people on the island. Main conclusions: Macrocharcoal is demonstrated to be an effective proxy for detecting human occupation of Upolu around 2,800 years ago. The immediate impact of these settlers on the vegetation seems to have been minimal; however, a subsequent opening up of the landscape is suggested through the gradual increase in ferns. The absence of any significant change in the aquatic community associated with, or after, the arrival of people on the islands suggests that humans rarely visited the lake. We suggest that on Upolu a simple model of decreasing human impact away from coastal areas is applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new methods to directly measure the radiocarbon age of dissolved and evaded aquatic carbon dioxide has enhanced our ability to understand carbon transport and cycling in the soil–water–atmosphere system. One of the methods involves collecting enough carbon dioxide for radiocarbon dating by allowing carbon dioxide to outgas from the water surface into an enclosed floating chamber, with the gas subsequently trapped onto a zeolite molecular sieve cartridge. There are, however, several different methodological approaches that can be used for the collection of floating chamber samples, and it is currently unknown whether these different approaches influence the isotopic (stable carbon and radiocarbon) composition of the measured sample. Here, we evaluate four different floating chamber approaches and compare the stable and radiocarbon composition of the evaded carbon dioxide. Chamber conditions varied considerably with the different methodologies, with for example, maximum chamber CO2 concentration ranging from approximately 400–6,300 ppm during sampling. Despite the varying chamber conditions, our results indicate no significant differences in the 14C age of evasion (range: 1,276–1,364 years before present) with any of the methodological approaches (in chambers where atmospheric carbon dioxide had been excluded). This confirms the methodologies are both robust and widely applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals are one of the main problems in aquatic systems as they affect the ecological balance of the water body. Biological availability of a metal is dependent on its chemical form. Speciation of metals in aquatic systems is of high importance and can provide a proper framework for managers to determine the probable risks resulted from metals. Therefore, this study was performed in Anzali Wetland to investigate the speciation of heavy metals and metalloids, and determine the factors controlling them. For this purpose, six stations were sampled and the relations among water quality parameters were identified by cluster analysis. Water chemistry software (HSC Chemistry) was used to draw Eh/pH diagrams. According to the results, oxidation–reduction potential (Eh) values ranged from − 280 to + 135 mV. The metals including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), cerium (Ce), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) were affected by Eh and pH. Salinity played a significant role in controlling nickel (Ni), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca) and strontium (Sr) in the water. The HSC Chemistry diagrams showed that all the studied metals were within the two lines of water stability range. As, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, lead (Pb), Al, Ca, Ce, Fe, manganese (Mn), Mg, silicon (Si) and Sr were present in a bioavailable species in the wetland water. Some metals such as As, Cd, Cr, and Fe existed in very toxic forms. It was found that changes in the Eh–pH values as a result of anthropogenic and different activities in the wetland can alter the speciation of metals. Eh/pH diagrams also showed that the elements can exceed the water stability range and become unstable in three states (pH < 5, Eh < − 380 mV or Eh > 780 mV). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Biological Field Station of Paimpont (Station Biologique de Paimpont, SBP), owned by the University of Rennes and located in the Brocéliande Forest of Brittany (France), has been hosting student scientific research and field trips during the last 60 years. The study area of the SBP is a landscape mosaic of 17 ha composed of gorse moors, forests, prairies, ponds and creeks. Land use has evolved over time. Historical surveys by students and researchers focused on insects and birds. With this study, we aimed to increase the range of taxa observations, document changes in species composition and landscape and provide a basis for interdisciplinary research perspectives. We gathered historical data, implemented an all-taxon biodiversity inventory (ATBI) in different habitats of the SBP study area, measured abiotic factors in the air, water and soil and performed a photographical landscape observation during the BioBlitz held in July 2017. New information During the 24 h BioBlitz, organised by the SBP and the EcoBio lab from the University of Rennes and the French National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS), different habitats were individually sampled. Seventy-seven experts, accompanied by 120 citizens and 12 young people participating in the European Volunteer Service, observed, identified and databased 660 species covering 5 kingdoms, 8 phyla, 21 classes, 90 orders and 247 families. In total, there were 1819 occurrences including records identified to higher taxon ranks, thereby adding one more kingdom and four more phyla. Historical data collection resulted in 1176 species and 4270 occurrences databased. We also recorded 13 climatic parameters, 10 soil parameters and 18 water parameters during the BioBlitz. Current habitats were mapped and socio-ecological landscape changes were assessed with a diachronic approach using 32 historical photographs and historical maps. The coupling of historical biodiversity data with new biotic and abiotic data and a photographic comparison of landscape changes allows an integrative understanding of how the SBP changed from agriculturally-used land to a managed natural area within the last 60 years. Hence, this BioBlitz represents an important holistic sampling of biodiversity for studies on trophic webs or on trophic interactions or on very diverse, but connected, habitats. The integration of social, biotic and abiotic data opens innovative research opportunities on the evolution of socio-ecosystems and landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unsustainable wildmeat trade has been long recognized as a threat to wildlife. Yet, its impact on marine species has been underresearched. Sea turtles have been historically threatened by unsustainable trade, but there are few studies of consumer profile, motivations, and preferences. We conducted a survey in São Tomé Island, Gulf of Guinea, West Africa, including eight rural communities (n = 1,160) and the capital city of São Tomé (n = 628). We estimated prevalence of consumption, preference and availability of sea turtle meat and eggs. About 25% of rural and 32% of urban respondents had consumed meat in the past year. Around 25% of rural respondents were egg consumers, whereas little consumption was found in urban areas. Social norms were a predictor of consumption of sea turtle meat and eggs in rural communities but not in São Tomé city. Regarding influencers, teachers and religious leaders were the most trusted sources in rural communities, while teachers and NGOs were most trusted in São Tomé city. Radio and television were the most trusted channels in rural communities, while urban dwellers trusted radio the most. This research showcases how a structured approach to audience research can obtain behavioral insights that can guide behavior change efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through the NAMOS project, our team of biologists and engineers are assisting municipalities in understanding the underlying causes and effects of harmful microalgal blooms. Since early 2007, we have been studying system-level dynamics of the chemical, physical, and biological processes in King Harbor, a shallow, semi-enclosed urban harbor in Redondo Beach, California. For the last two years a network of dock-based water quality sensors in the harbor has continuously provided data on the environmental parameters relevant to bloom formation. Additionally, intensive human-mediated studies of the phytoplankton community distribution and structure are testing several hypotheses on the biological and physical factors affecting algal growth in this system. Recent field experiments have sought to explain the roles of tidal forcing and phytoplankton behavior and physiology in the structuring and distribution of bloom-forming algal communities.

Mobile sensor platforms such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and robotic surface vessels, combined with static moored sensors compose a diverse sensor network that is able to provide macroscopic environmental analysis tool for ocean researchers. Working as a cohesive networked unit, the static buoys are always online, and provide insight as to the time and locations where a federated, mobile robot team should be deployed to effectively perform large scale spatio-temporal sampling on demand. Such a system can provide pertinent in situ measurements to marine biologists whom can then advise policy makers on critical environmental issues. This poster presents recent field deployment activity of AUVs demonstrating the effectiveness of our embedded communication network infrastructure throughout southern California coastal waters. We also report on progress towards real-time, web-streaming data from the multiple sampling locations and mobile sensor platforms. Static monitoring sites included in this presentation detail the network nodes positioned at Redondo Beach and Marina Del Ray. One of the deployed mobile sensors highlighted here are autonomous Slocum gliders. These nodes operate in the open ocean for periods as long as one month. The gliders are connected to the network via a Freewave radio modem network composed of multiple coastal base-stations. This increases the efficiency of deployment missions by reducing operational expenses via reduced reliability on satellite phones for communication, as well as increasing the rate and amount of data that can be transferred. Another mobile sensor platform presented in this study are the autonomous robotic boats. These platforms are utilized for harbor and littoral zone studies, and are capable of performing multi-robot coordination while observing known communication constraints. All of these pieces fit together to present an overview of ongoing collaborative work to develop an autonomous, region-wide, coastal environmental observation and monitoring sensor network.

The overarching theme of the Center’s Aquatic application area continues to be the creation and application of a new genre of wireless sensing systems that will provide real-time monitoring capabilities of chemical, physical and biological parameters in freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems. High-resolution temporal and spatial measurements are essential for understanding the highly dynamic nature of aquatic ecosystems and the rapid response of microbial communities to environmental driving forces. Our unique approach to aquatic sensing and sampling, Networked Aquatic Microbial Observing Systems (NAMOS), employs coordinated measurements between stationary sensing nodes (buoys and pier-based sensors) and robotic vehicles (surface robotic boats and autonomous underwater vehicles) to provide in-situ, real-time presence for observing plankton dynamics (e.g. phytoplankton abundance, dissolved oxygen), and linking them to pertinent environmental variables (e.g. temperature, light, nutrients, etc.). Specific projects undertaken in this application area involve the development and deployment of sensor networks to examine harmful algal blooms within King Harbor, City of Redondo Beach, and the construction of mobile sensor networks in open coastal waters off southern California. The latter research involves deployments of autonomous surface and underwater vehicles, and the development of hardware and software for coordinated activities of these robotic vehicles.

Synchronized swimming enjoys worldwide popularity and has been part of the formal Olympic program since 1984. Despite this, relatively little research has been conducted on participant nutrition practices and requirements, and there are significant gaps in the knowledge base despite the numerous areas in which nutrition could affect performance and safety. This review aimed to summarize current findings and identify areas requiring further research. Uniform physique in team or duet events may be more important than absolute values for muscularity or body fat, but a lean and athletic appearance remains key. Synchronized swimmers appear to have an increased risk of developing eating disorders, and there is evidence of delayed menarche, menstrual dysfunction, and lower bone density relative to population norms. Dietary practices remain relatively unknown, but micronutrient status for iron and magnesium may be compromised. More research is required across all aspects of nutrition status, anthropometry, and physiology, and both sports nutrition and sports medicine support may be required to reduce risks for participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Underwater treadmill (UTM) exercise is being used with increased frequency for rehabilitation of injured athletes, yet there has been little research conducted on this modality. Objective: To determine the cardiorespiratoryresponses of UTM vs land treadmill (LTM) exercise, particularly with respect to the relationship between heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption (VO2). Design and Setting: This quantitative original research took place in sports medicine andathletic training facilities at Wake Forest University. Participants: 11 Wake Forest University student athletes (20.8 ± 0.6 y, 6 women and 5 men). Intervention: All participants completed the UTM and LTM exercise-testing protocols in randomorder. After 5 min of standing rest, both UTM and LTM protocols had 4 stages of increasing belt speed (2.3, 4.9, 7.3, and 9.6 km/h) followed by 3 exercise stages at 9.6 km/h with increasing water-jet resistance (30%, 40%, and 50% of jet capacity)or inclines (1%, 2%, and 4% grade). Main Outcome Measures: A Cosmed K4b2 device with Polar monitor was used to collect HR, ventilation (Ve), tidal volume (TV), breathing frequency (Bf), and VO2 every minute. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were also obtained each minute. Results: There was no significant difference between UTM and LTM for VO2 at rest or during any stage of exercise except stage 3. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between UTMand LTM for HR, Ve, Bf, and RPE on any exercise stage. Linear regression of HR vs VO2, across all stages of exercise, indicates a similar relationship in these variables during UTM (r = .94, y = .269x - 10.86) and LTM (r = .95, y = .291x- 12.98). Conclusions: These data indicate that UTM and LTM exercise elicits similar cardiorespiratory responses and that HR can be used to guide appropriate exercise intensity for college athletes during UTM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the design, development, and initial application of a sensor-actuated network for sensing and sampling microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems. The network consists of ten stationary buoys and one mobile robotic boat for real-time, in situ measurements and analysis of chemical and physical factors governing the abundance and dynamics of microorganisms at biologically relevant spatiotemporal scales. The goal of the network is to obtain high-resolution information on the spatial and temporal distributions of plankton assemblages and concomitant environmental parameters in aquatic environments using the in situ presence afforded by the network and to make possible network-enabled robotic sampling of hydrographic features of interest. This work constitutes advances in (1) real-time observing in aquatic ecosystems and (2) sensor actuated sampling for biological analysis.

Abundances of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. and concentrations of particulate domoic acid (DA) were determined in the Southern California Bight (SCB) along the coasts of Los Angeles and Orange Counties during spring and summer of 2003 and 2004. At least 1500 km2 were affected by a toxic event in May/June of 2003 when some of the highest particulate DA concentrations reported for US coastal waters were measured inside the Los Angeles harbor (12.7 μg DA L−1). Particulate DA levels were an order of magnitude lower in spring of 2004 (February and March), but DA concentrations per cell at several sampling stations during 2004 exceeded previously reported maxima for natural populations of Pseudo-nitzschia (mean = 24 pg DA cell−1, range = 0–117 pg DA cell−1). Pseudo-nitzschia australis dominated the Pseudo-nitzschia assemblage in spring 2004. Overall, DA-poisoning was implicated in >1400 mammal stranding incidents within the SCB during 2003 and 2004. Ancillary physical and chemical data obtained during our regional surveys in 2004 revealed that Pseudo-nitzschia abundances, particulate DA and cellular DA concentrations were inversely correlated with concentrations of silicic acid, nitrogen and phosphate, and to specific nutrient ratios. Particulate DA was detected in sediment traps deployed at 550 and 800 m depth during spring of 2004 (0.29–7.6 μg DA (g sediment dry weight)−1). The highest DA concentration in the traps was measured within 1 week of dramatic decreases in the abundances of Pseudo-nitzschia in surface waters. To our knowledge these are the deepest sediment trap collections from which DA has been detected. Sinking of the spring Pseudo-nitzschia bloom may constitute a potentially important link between DA production in surface waters and benthic communities in the coastal ocean near Los Angeles. Our study indicates that toxic blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia are a recurring phenomenon along one of the most densely populated coastal stretches of the SCB and that the severity and magnitude of these events can be comparable to or greater than these events in other geographical regions affected by domoic acid.

Aureococcus anophagefferens, a harmful bloom-forming alga responsible for brown tides in estuaries of the Middle Atlantic U.S., has been investigated by atomic force microscopy for the first time, using probes functionalized with a monoclonal antibody specific for the alga. The rupture force between a single monoclonal antibody and the surface of A. anophagefferens was experimentally found to be 246±11 pN at the load rate of 12 nN/s. Force histograms for A. anophagefferens and other similarly-sized algae are presented and analyzed. The results illustrate the effects of load rates, and demonstrate that force-distance measurements can be used to build biosensors with high signal-to-noise ratios for A. anophagefferens. The methods described in this paper can be used, in principle, to construct sensors with single-cell resolution for arbitrary cells for which monoclonal antibodies are available.

As part of our research, we have designed and developed sensor-actuated network for marine monitoring. The network consists of ten static buoy nodes and one mobile robotic boat for real-time in-situ measurements and analysis of chemical, physical and biologically pertinent phenomena governing the abundance of micro-organisms at relevant spatio-temporal scales. The goal of the network is to obtain high-resolution information on the spatial and temporal distribution of plankton assemblages in aquatic environments using the in situ presence afforded by the network, and to make possible network-enabled robotic sampling of hydrographic features of interest. This work constitutes advances in (1) real-time observing in aquatic ecosystems and (2) sensor- actuated sampling for biological analysis.Ultimately such systems will be able to establish patterns in the sensed data, and use their mobility to adapt sample collection, a major step forward in the use of embedded networked sensing in aquatic ecosystems. The field work has demonstrated the basic functionality of the system. The data collected from the deployments revealed interesting spatio-temporal patterns of chlorophyll, and were useful to validate the design of the buoys and the boat. Static buoys provide low-resolution spatial sampling with high temporal resolution while a mobile robot boat provides high resolution spatial sampling with low temporal resolution.As part of the demonstration, we will be having our robotic boat at the event equipped with its sensor suite. The robotic boat is equipped with sensors for navigation, instrumentation for data gathering (temperature and chlorophyll) and can communicate with other entities in the environment over wireless 802.11b network and exchange information with them. As part of its capabilities, the boat can be hand-driven via an RC- controller or computer interface. Alternately, a user can specify a path for the boat in terms of gps locations to go to (in order) and the boat can than traverse the path autonomously and collect environmental data as it moves which can be streamed back and analyzed.We will also have on display our results from experiments with autonomous boat navigation and navigation improvements by running a simple EKF.

Harmful brown tides caused by the pelagophyte Aureococcus anophagefferens have occurred in mid-Atlantic estuaries for 2 decades. Low grazing rates by microzooplankton have been implicated as a possible cause of these events, but no study to date has concurrently quantified zooplankton population densities and zooplankton grazing rates of A. anophagefferens cells. We conducted field studies from 2002 to 2004 to quantify grazing on the brown tide alga A. anophagefferens by meso-, micro-, and nanozooplankton, while concurrently establishing the composition of the plankton community. Research sites included an estuary that experienced an intense brown tide (Chincoteague Bay, Maryland [MD]; 2004: 2 × 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹) and one that experienced sporadic blooms (Quantuck Bay, New York [NY]; 2002: 8 × 10⁵ cells ml⁻¹; 2003 and 2004: × 10⁴ cells ml⁻¹). The MD site was dominated by small autotrophs (µm), such as A. anophagefferens and other picoeukaryotes, and small heterotrophs, such as Paulinella ovalis, while the NY site hosted a range of large and small autotrophs and zooplankton. Experiments indicated that small zooplankton (3 to 5 µm) were consumers of A. anophagefferens at bloom and non-bloom locations. However, dilution experiments documented active grazing on most picoplankton except A. anophagefferens in MD, while grazing rates on the brown tide alga in NY were comparable to grazing rates on the total phytoplankton community and other picoplankton. Experimental enrichment of estuarine waters with mesozooplankton indicated a preferential avoidance of A. anophagefferens by grazers during intense blooms, but active consumption during non-bloom conditions. Differences in the effect of grazing between sites suggest that zooplankton may be controlling brown tides in NY, but allowing blooms to form due to low grazing pressure in MD. These findings further suggest that the zooplankton community in NY has changed from one which formerly avoided the consumption of A. anophagefferens to one which currently contributes to top-down control of brown tides.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the methods used to evaluate the potential adverse effects of underwater sound from impact pile driving on the marbled murrelet (a seabird that is federally listed as threatened), and to introduce measures that have successfully minimized adverse effects. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has evaluated the effects of pile driving on the marbled murrelet through several recent Endangered Species Act consultations. Over the past few years, there has been increased attention to the potential for impact pile driving to adversely affect fish species. When foraging, marbled murrelets dive in pursuit of prey and can be exposed to the same elevated sound pressure levels that adversely affect fish. Exposure to these sounds could result in mortality, injury, and/or modification of normal behaviors. Marbled murrelets forage in the marine waters throughout Puget Sound. Recent transportation projects that have occurred in Puget Sound include replacement of the Hood Canal Floating Bridge and multiple Washington State Ferry terminal-maintenance and preservation projects. These projects typically use 36-inch and 24-inch hollow steel piles. Impact installation of these piles can produce sound pressure levels of 210 dB peak. Physical injury, including death, may occur in aquatic organisms at sound-pressure levels above 180 dB peak. Sound-pressure levels above 153 dBrms are expected to cause temporary behavioral changes that may negatively affect foraging efficiency. These projects were evaluated by determining the area where sound pressure was expected to exceed the above levels and then estimating the potential for marbled murrelets to be exposed to those sound-pressure levels. When exposure was likely to occur, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service anticipated adverse effects in the form of harm (physical injury) and harassment (modification of normal behavior patterns). Minimization measures focused on reducing that potential exposure. Sound-attenuation devices (bubble curtains) were used to reduce the extent of the geographic area where adverse effects could occur. A hazing program was used to move murrelets out of the area where physical injury was expected. We present the analysis used to evaluate adverse effects to marbled murrelets from pile driving, discuss the method used to estimate the extent of effects, and introduce measures to minimize adverse effects. Finally, we recommend future research needed to better understand and to reduce further these impacts.

There has been a recent emergence of “road ecology” as a science that looks at the overall impacts of roadway systems on ecological communities in general. The evidence indicates that roadway impacts may extend beyond the operating right of way. To date, few projects have incorporated the idea of landscape ecology in the planning process. The I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East project is breaking new ground in integrating landscape ecology and ecosystem processes into the design of a proposed expansion of the existing highway from four to six lanes for a 15-mile stretch. The project crosses/bisects an area that has been identified as the narrowest band of publicly owned land in the Washington Cascades. To better accommodate the project’s identified ecological connectivity need, the project team has focused on sites called “Connectivity Restoration Areas.” These areas have the highest likelihood of linking aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial habitat of relatively high quality north and south of the highway. Although high-visibility wildlife (such as elk and deer) have been the major focus of most connectivity structures, there is a greater need to restore and enhance ecological processes (such as the regulation of hydrologic flows and soil retention) that often drive the ecosystem in general. This is most evident along the I-90 corridor during periods of snowmelt when water is a dominant feature on the landscape. The I-90 corridor contains numerous high-quality wetlands, some of which have been separated hydrologically by the existing highway. In some cases, the highway has created wetland areas by acting as a dike, interfering with natural-surface and subsurface flow paths. Many stream crossings have constriction points that impact the floodplain connectivity and do not allow for channel meander. Via a collaborative, interdisciplinary process, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), South Central Region has developed guidance for recommending a preferred alternative that will integrate the needs of aquatic, riparian, wetland, and terrestrial ecosystems and the needs of the associated organisms into the design of the new highway expansion. This incorporates not only the area adjacent to the highway and within the operating right-ofway, but expands to look at proper functioning of hydrologic processes at a broader scale. WSDOT also incorporated the work of Singleton and Lehmkuhl (2000) that identified areas of animal movement and landscape permeability within the I-90 corridor. The placement of the structures should provide opportunities for movement of organisms between populations and reduce the risks associated with demographic isolation. Increasing the permeability of the highway should also reduce direct mortality of individuals and increase the likelihood of persistence of local and regional populations that may be genetically distinct. The desired, long-term conditions associated with the highway expansion are a functioning ecosystem with latesuccessional reserve forests, properly functioning streams, and wetlands that provide additional opportunities for species diversity.

There are growing concerns about the potential effects of in-water pile driving on aquatic organisms. These concerns arise from an increased awareness that high-intensity sounds have the potential to harm both terrestrial and aquatic vertebrates (e.g., Fletcher and Busnel 1978; Kryter 1984; Richardson et al. 1995; Popper 2003; Popper et al. 2004). The result of exposure to intense sounds may extend over a continuum running from little or no effects to the death of the ensonified organism. This paper is a brief review of what is known about the effects of pile driving on fish. It also provides some ideas about the design of future experiments that can be used to test these effects. The conclusions and recommendations presented here are explored in far more detail in a recent review on effects of pile driving on fish (Hastings and Popper 2005). In addition, a broader examination of the general effects of sound on fishes can be found in Popper (2003) and Popper et al. (2004). It is widely believed that fish close to pile-driving activities may be killed by exposure to very intense sounds. There is also some evidence that fish at some greater (but undefined) distance may survive exposure to pile-driving activities. However, experimental data are very limited. Moreover, nothing is known about non-life-threatening effects on fish of some (undefined) distance from the pile-driving operation. Such effects may include (a) non-life threatening damage to body tissues, (b) physiological effects including changes in stress hormones or hearing capabilities, or (c) changes in behavior (discussed in Popper et al. 2004). These effects could be temporary (e.g., a temporary loss of hearing that recovers over time) or of sufficient length to lower long-term survival and/or reproductive potential of individual animals or communities. There are also no data on effects of cumulative exposure to pile-driving sounds. The concerns about currently available pile-driving data arise because there is very little quantification and replication of experiments and because the investigators were not able to control the stimulus to which the fish were exposed. Thus, little is known about the stimulus actually received by fish during experiments. It therefore becomes difficult to evaluate the effects of pile driving on fish that are at different distances from the source. Moreover, there are no studies to date that included observations of the behavior of fish during exposure to pile-driving signals (but see paper by Hawkins in this volume). Because of the dearth of data on effects of pile driving on fish, it has been suggested that data from other types of experiments involving intense signals be extrapolated to pile driving. A problem, however, is that the sounds used in other studies, such as the effects of sonar (Popper et al. 2005a), seismic air guns (Pearson et al. 1992; Engås et al. 1996; Wardle et al. 2001; McCauley et al. 2003; Popper et al. 2005b), and pure tones (Enger 1981; Hastings et al. 1996) differ greatly from sounds produced during pile-driving activities. Moreover, there are also concerns about extrapolating effects between species, and particularly between species that have different life styles, sound-detection capabilities, and responses to adverse stimuli (see Hastings et al. 1996; McCauley et al. 2003; Popper et al. 2005b). Furthermore, there is some evidence to suggest that it may not always be possible to generalize the effects of high-intensity sounds between different age classes of the same species (e.g., Popper et al. 2005b). Since there are issues with the way pile-driving experiments have been done to date, it is worth considering how one might design an experiment that would provide the data needed to understand the effects of pile driving or, for that matter, any intense sound, on fish. One caveat with these suggestions, however, is that they require that fish be kept in a limited locale (e.g., a cage or tank) so that they can be observed before, during, and after the sound exposure, and that the fish can be retrieved for physiological and morphological analysis. Such requirements preclude direct observations on how fishes might behave if they were free from constraints or confinement during the exposure to pile driving, as has been done in one study on the effects of seismic air guns on fishes on a reef (Wardle et al. 2001).