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Background Frailty refers to the reduction in homeostatic reserve resulting from an accumulation of physiological deficits over a lifetime. Frailty is common in older patients undergoing surgery and is an independent risk factor for post-operative mortality, morbidity and increased length of hospital stay. In frail individuals, stressors, such as surgery, can precipitate an acute deterioration in health, manifesting as delirium, falls, reduction in mobility or continence, rendering these individuals at an increased risk of adverse perioperative outcomes. However, little is known about how frailty affects the patient experience, functional ability and quality of life (QoL) after surgery. In addition, the distribution of frailty in this population is unknown. Methods We will conduct a multi-centre observational trial to investigate the relationship between patient reported outcome measures and preoperative frailty. We aim to recruit approximately two-hundred patients with operable, potentially curative colorectal cancer. Eligible patients will be identified at three hospital sites. QoL and functional ability (measured using EORTC QLQ-C30 and WHO-DAS 2.0 respectively) will be recorded at the pre-operative assessment clinic, and at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Frailty scores including the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) and Rockwood clinical frailty scale (CFS) will be calculated both preoperatively, and at 12 weeks post-operatively. Secondary outcome measures including post-operative morbidity and mortality will be measured using Clavien Dindo classification and 90-day mortality. Discussion This observational feasibility study seeks to define the prevalence of frailty in older (> 65 years) colorectal cancer patients and understand how frailty impacts on patient reported outcome measures. This information will help to inform larger studies relating to treatment decision algorithms and promote shared decision making in this population.

The cryptic nature ofHomaruslobsters has restricted past behavioural studies to aquaria, mesocosms, or shallow coves. As such, spatial overlap and interactions between free-rangingHomaruslobsters have received little attention. However, it is clear that dominance behaviours directly affect their probability of capture, negatively affecting catch and complicating population monitoring. This study describes lobster behaviour at a scale that could not be achieved in aquaria or mesocosms. Home-range overlap and contact rates among free-ranging, acoustically taggedH. gammarus(n = 44) were assessed at multiple spatial scales. Data were analysed as unique pairings of lobsters (dyads), which could be single- or mixed-sex pairings. If home-range overlap between tagged lobsters occurred, interactions between lobsters were classified as attraction or avoidance. The number of times a lobster overlapped with the home range of another lobster was related to the mean substrate hardness within the home range of the focal lobster. Fewer interactions occurred between female lobsters, compared to males and mixed-sex pairings. Interactions between lobsters that occurred at 10 m, and interactions between mixed-sex pairs at 5 m, were identified as attractions. Interactions between male lobsters at 5 m were largely identified as avoidance and may indicate small-scale spatial exclusion. Understanding the drivers of movement and behaviour in wild free-ranging lobster populations is relevant to stock assessments, disease management, protected areas designation, and the development of sustainable evidence-based fisheries.

We consider the motivations, strategies, and costs involved in invasive mammal management undertaken in the UK. Widespread established invasive mammals require long‐term management to limit damage or spread, but ongoing management is costly and complex. Long‐term management is most effective where it is applied at a landscape scale, but this requires overarching co‐ordination between multiple stakeholders. Five challenges for successful long‐term management of invasive mammal species are identified as follows: defining landscape‐scale strategies, management co‐ordination, stakeholder and community engagement, sustainable funding, and evidence requirements. We make recommendations on the supportive infrastructure needed for effective landscape‐scale management of invasive mammals to fulfil long‐term conservation aims, as follows. 1. There is a need for evidence‐based Invasive Species Action Plans to provide strategy for the long‐term ongoing management of prioritised species at appropriate scales. 2. Where possible, multispecies approaches to invasive species management should be adopted. 3. Trusted leadership should be identified to take ownership of Action Plans and provide an overarching co‐ordination to bring individuals, organisations, and funders together. 4. Support for a centralised hub for training, data, and knowledge flows will greatly improve scientific outcomes through a searchable evidence base, and via best practice and knowledge sharing.

1. We are entering an era where species declines are occurring at their fastest ever rate, and the increased spread of non-native species is among the top causes. High uncertainty in biological processes makes the accurate prediction of the outcomes of management interventions very challenging. Adaptive management (AM) offers solutions to reduce uncertainty and improve predictability so that the outcomes of interventions can continuously improve. 2. We quantitatively assess the extent to which AM is used for managing vertebrates, with a focus on invasive non-native species (INNS). Using the Web of Science, we evaluated 3992 articles returned by the search terms ‘adaptive management’ or ‘adaptive harvest management’ against seven recommended elements of AM (engagement with stakeholders, defining objectives, forecasting and estimating uncertainty, implementing management, monitoring populations, adjusting management in response to monitoring, and improving forecasting and reducing uncertainty in response to monitoring populations). 3. The use of AM for vertebrates was reported in 56 (1%) of the evaluated studies; including four for managing INNS. Of these, ten studies excluding INNS and no studies of INNS management implemented all seven recommended elements of AM. Those elements infrequently implemented were: the use of analysis or models to forecast and represent uncertainty (44%) and the feedback of monitoring data to improve forecasting and reduce uncertainty (25%). 4. Complete active AM has rarely been implemented and reported for managing INNS, despite the significant advantages it offers. Among studies purporting to have implemented AM, most did not use analyses or models to forecast and represent uncertainty, while most defined objectives, implemented management, and monitored populations. 5. Improvements to ongoing control programmes and much broader adoption of the AM approach are required to increase the efficiency and success of INNS management campaigns and reduce their negative impacts on native species.

Estimates of quantities needed to plan invasive species control, such as population size, are always uncertain; this is an issue that can become a problem when mishandled in ecological science and its communication. The complexities of incorporating uncertainty into sophisticated decision‐support tools may be a barrier to their use by decision makers, leading to decisions being made without due regard to uncertainty and risking misplaced certainty of predicted outcomes. We summarise ways in which uncertainty has been incorporated into and used to advise decisions on the management of invasive non‐native species and other problem species, and offer a simple conceptual model for accommodating and using uncertainty at the planning stage. We also demonstrate how frequently uncertainty has been misused and miscommunicated in the wildlife management literature. We contend that uncertainty in estimates of natural quantities must be acknowledged, can inform decisions and can be made to derive decisions, and should not be ignored if invasive species policy is to be delivered effectively. Uncertainty must be communicated thoroughly and correctly by scientists if decision makers are to understand its consequences for planning and resourcing control programmes.

We describe the first use of fertility control to manage a free-living mammal population in Europe. An immunocontraceptive vaccine (GonaCon) was used to reduce female fertility in an invasive feral goat Capra hircus population. Adaptive management was implemented to assess the feasibility of fertility control and to allow prediction of the required level of vaccination to limit goat numbers. The individual probability of breeding success decreased for two years following treatment. Understanding the population demographics alongside modelling of the individual and population-level responses to the vaccine are important for future management.

The timing of biodiversity managers’ interventions can be critical to the success of conservation, especially in situations of conflict between conservation objectives and human livelihood, i.e., conservation conflicts. Given the uncertainty associated with complex social-ecological systems and the potentially irreversible consequences of delayed action for biodiversity and livelihoods, managers tend to simply intervene as soon as possible by precaution. However, refraining from intervening when the situation allows it can be beneficial, notably by saving critical management resources. Here, we introduce a strategy for managers to decide, based on monitoring, whether intervention is required or if waiting is possible. This study evaluates the performance of this waiting strategy compared to a strategy of unconditional intervention at every opportunity. We built an individual-based model of conservation conflict between a manager aiming to conserve an animal population and farmers aiming to maximize yield by protecting their crop from wildlife damage. We then simulated a budget-constrained adaptive management over time applying each strategy, while accounting for uncertainty around population dynamics and around decision-making of managers and farmers. Our results showed that when the decision for the manager to intervene was based on a prediction of population size trajectory, the waiting strategy performed at least as well as unconditional intervention while also allowing managers to save resources by avoiding unnecessary interventions. Under difficult budgetary constraints on managers, this waiting strategy ensured as high yields as unconditional intervention while significantly improving conservation outcomes by compensating managers’ lack of resources with the benefits accrued over waiting periods. This suggests that waiting strategies are worth considering in conservation conflicts, as they can facilitate equitable management with a more efficient use of management resources, which are often limiting in biodiversity conservation.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T12:36:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-02-03 UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) UK's Department for Food Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Brazilian Government Programme Science Without Borders There have been significant declines in population numbers of many bat species in the United Kingdom, including Natterer's bats Myotis nattereri, over the last century, largely due to anthropogenic changes. The philopatry, which temperate-zone bats often exhibit to their natal landscapes, in combination with anthropogenic threats, can lead to fragmentation, isolation and sub-division of populations. This may result in bottlenecks and declines in genetic diversity. Multi-scaled research is required to disentangle how the variation in the physical traits of bat species (e.g. affecting flight), as well as their social and behavioural traits (e.g. community size, migration, breeding systems), may affect the genetic health of populations and provide a potential buffer against fragmentation. We used microsatellite markers to characterise the genetic diversity and population structure present in Natterer's bat colonies to determine whether summer roosting bat colonies were spatially differentiated or part of a meta-population. Analyses of population structure and measures of genetic relatedness suggest spatially differentiated populations of bats exhibit long term site fidelity to summer roosting sites, whilst high genetic diversity at sites indicates gene exchange occurs via swarming sites. Natterer's bats in northern England may travel greater distances to swarming sites than has been previously documented. Newcastle Univ, Sch Nat & Environm Sci, Ridley Bldg, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 7RU, Tyne & Wear, England Univ Sheffield, Dept Anim & Plant Sci, NERC Biomol Anal Facil, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, S Yorkshire, England Natl Wildlife Management Ctr, APHA, York YO41 1LZ, N Yorkshire, England Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Biol, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Biol, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC): NBAF874 UK's Department for Food Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA): SE0430

Coral reef predators are overwhelmingly sustained by offshore pelagic plankton sources rather than by reef-based sources., Coral reefs were traditionally perceived as productive hot spots in oligotrophic waters. While modern evidence indicates that many coral reef food webs are heavily subsidized by planktonic production, the pathways through which this occurs remain unresolved. We used the analytical power of carbon isotope analysis of essential amino acids to distinguish between alternative carbon pathways supporting four key reef predators across an oceanic atoll. This technique separates benthic versus planktonic inputs, further identifying two distinct planktonic pathways (nearshore reef-associated plankton and offshore pelagic plankton), and revealing that these reef predators are overwhelmingly sustained by offshore pelagic sources rather than by reef sources (including reef-associated plankton). Notably, pelagic reliance did not vary between species or reef habitats, emphasizing that allochthonous energetic subsidies may have system-wide importance. These results help explain how coral reefs maintain exceptional productivity in apparently nutrient-poor tropical settings, but also emphasize their susceptibility to future ocean productivity fluctuations.

Prioritizing the management of invasive alien species (IAS) is of global importance and within Europe integral to the EU IAS regulation. To prioritize management effectively, the risks posed by IAS need to be assessed, but so too does the feasibility of their management. While the risk of IAS to the EU has been assessed, the feasibility of management has not. We assessed the feasibility of eradicating 60 new (not yet established) and 35 emerging (established with limited distribution) species that pose a threat to the EU, as identified by horizon scanning. The assessment was carried out by 34 experts in invasion management from across Europe, applying the Non-Native Risk Management scheme to defined invasion scenarios and eradication strategies for each species, assessing the feasibility of eradication using seven key risk management criteria. Management priorities were identified by combining scores for risk (derived from horizon scanning) and feasibility of eradication. The results show eradication feasibility score and risk score were not correlated, indicating that risk management criteria evaluate different information than risk assessment. In all, 17 new species were identified as particularly high priorities for eradication should they establish in the future, whereas 14 emerging species were identified as priorities for eradication now. A number of species considered highest priority for eradication were terrestrial vertebrates, a group that has been the focus of a number of eradication attempts in Europe. However, eradication priorities also included a diverse range of other taxa (plants, invertebrates and fish) suggesting there is scope to broaden the taxonomic range of attempted eradication in Europe. We demonstrate that broad scale structured assessments of management feasibility can help prioritize IAS for management. Such frameworks are needed to support evidence-based decision-making. ispartof: GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY vol:26 issue:11 pages:6235-6250 ispartof: location:England status: published

Predators on coral reefs play an important ecological role structuring reef fish communities and are important fishery targets. It is thought that reef predator assemblages increase in density and diversity from inner lagoonal to outer edge reefs. Oceanic atolls may differ though, as nutrients are available throughout. Reef predator populations are declining, but there is little known about how their distributions may vary across oceanic atolls. Using a combination of underwater visual census and baited remote underwater video, this study aimed to compare reef predator populations between inner and outer reefs of North Malé Atoll (Maldives) and determine which reef metrics may drive any differences in assemblage structure. We found that predator assemblages were significantly different between inner and outer atoll. Body sizes of several predator families were consistently larger in the outer atoll, however, abundance, biomass and species richness were similar between outer edge reefs and inner lagoonal reefs suggesting atoll lagoons may be undervalued habitats. Depth and complexity were consistently important predictors of the predator assemblage. Inner atoll lagoonal habitat is equally as important for reef predator assemblages as outer reef slopes, although the dominant species differ. This study provides important information on reef predator populations in the Maldives, where detailed assessments of the reef predator assemblage are lacking but the reef fishery is thriving and annual catch will continue to increase.

Sympatric species may partition resources to reduce competition and facilitate co‐existence. While spatial variation and specialization in feeding strategies may be prevalent among large marine predators, studies have focussed on sharks, birds, and marine mammals. We consider for the first time the isotopic niche partitioning of co‐occurring, teleost reef predators spanning multiple families. Using a novel tri‐isotope ellipsoid approach, we investigate the feeding strategies of seven of these species across an atoll seascape in the Maldives. We demonstrate substantial spatial variation in resource use of all predator populations. Furthermore, within each area, there was evidence of intraspecific variation in feeding behaviors that could not wholly be attributed to individual body size. Assessing species at the population level will mask these intraspecific differences in resource use. Knowledge of resource use is important for predicting how species will respond to environmental change and spatial variation should be considered when investigating trophic diversity., Food web dynamics are driven by resource availability, and sympatric species may partition resources to facilitate co‐existence. Using a novel tri‐isotope ellipsoid approach, we consider for the first time the isotopic niche partitioning of co‐occurring reef predators spanning multiple families. We demonstrate substantial spatial and intraspecific variation in resource use that is not attributable to body size. Assessing species at the population level may mask intraspecific differences in resource use where predators play vastly different ecological roles. Furthermore, knowledge of resource use is important for predicting how species will respond to environmental change.

Indonesia's fisheries sector is contributing significantly to the strategy of national sustainable development, not least because regulations have been developed by the government to manage and maintain its tuna resources. One of these regulations was a moratorium established on fishing licences for foreign and ex-foreign fishing vessels in the Indonesian fisheries management area from 3rd November 2014–31 st October 2015, the rationale being to reduce illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities. Since the impact of this moratorium on small-scale coastal tuna fisheries has not yet been investigated, this research aimed to explore any short-term effects on pole-and-line tuna production by analysis of data on tuna landings and fishers’ perceptions in selected sites in eastern Indonesia. The landings of the pole-and-line tuna fishery decreased during the moratorium in Larantuka but no impact was found in Pulau Bacan or Sorong. However, the vast majority of fishers perceived that the moratorium had benefited their catch rates. The verdict on the effect of the moratorium on foreign and ex-foreign fishing vessels on the pole-and-line fishery in Indonesia is therefore moot, although it is conceivable that the main effect was to demonstrate engagement of the government with the international importance of this fishery.

Conservation planning plays an instrumental role in facilitating progress towards biodiversity targets by providing practitioners with the tools required to allocate resources and implement actions. However, the utility of a burgeoning scientific literature to on-the-ground conservation has been questioned. Given such criticisms, and the lack of progress towards the global Aichi Biodiversity Targets, we aim to assess the contribution of scientific research to the field of conservation planning. We applied topic modelling to a body of literature consisting of 4471 articles pertaining to conservation planning published between 2000 and 2016. We quantified changes in topic popularity, and assessed the extent to which different topics were addressed within the same articles. We found that research into the status of species and habitats was most prevalent, the process of action planning received considerably less attention, and implementation attracted the least research of all. The scientific literature was thus dominated by biological rather than socio-political research, and furthermore showed a general lack of inter-disciplinary research, which is problematic given that ultimately it is the socio-political context that will determine the success of conservation efforts. The number of publications on implementation and monitoring declined over time, suggesting a waning interest in publishing evidence of plan effectiveness, and that limited efforts have been made to address the “implementation crisis”. We suggest that filling research gaps, through integration of the social sciences and placing greater value on evidence syntheses, would push scientific research towards greater applicability and help to provide the necessary information to achieve global biodiversity targets.

Catch per unit effort is a cost-effective index of abundance and fishing effort, and an integral part of many fisheries stock assessments. Trap fisheries data are often generated using non-standardised methodology and the information to improve the accuracy of estimates is not always available due to current ecological knowledge gaps. Despite its economic importance, the European lobster Homarus gammarus has been relatively understudied compared to the closely related H. americanus. Previous studies investigating behaviour of Homarus spp. in relation to bait sources have been undertaken in aquariums or mesocosms rather than on free-ranging lobsters in the field. This study uses fine-scale acoustic telemetry data, and a null model approach to investigate free-ranging H. gammarus behaviour and movement in relation to baited commercial traps. The distribution of lobsters $${\textit{n}} = 11$$ was largely similar in the presence and absence of traps. The time spent within 20 m of a trap ranged from 3 min to 16 h 55 min ( $${\textit{n}} = 27$$ ), and the distance at which lobsters began approaching a trap varied considerably (5.40 m to 125 m, $${\textit{n}} = 22$$ ); the mean distances were larger than calculated by previous studies. A fifth of trap approaches resulted in movement against the current indicating a potential olfactory response to a bait plume. A pre-existing non-random association with a trap location may increase the time spent near the trap and reduce the minimum distance between the lobster and the trap. This is the first study to assess the movement patterns of free-ranging H. gammarus in relation to a bait source. The larger approach distances in this study were likely due to the unrestricted ranging behaviour of the tagged lobsters. Aquarium and mesocosm studies provide greater experimental control, but may restrict movement and underestimate the area of bait influence. The use of null models to infer movement patterns of free-ranging lobsters has many advantages over aquarium-based studies. These include better highlighting of individual variability in behaviour, and the potential to elucidate the effects of bait plumes on catchability. Wider application of this approach can be used to improve estimates of catch and stock assessments.

As part of an ecosystem based approach to fisheries management (EBFM), the heterogeneity of biological communities, key ecological processes and human uses must be understood. Although fishing effort distribution and marine habitat distribution and use are increasingly well understood, little research has quantified spatio-temporal changes in fishing effort or investigated drivers of these changes. Here, a holistic approach was taken to investigate socio-economic, environmental and technological drivers of change in fishing effort distribution of the Northumberland pot-fishery (2004–2014) using Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) analyses. BBNs were populated using large-scale high resolution spatial and temporal fisheries monitoring data, quantitative and qualitative interviews with fishers and expert opinion. Increases in fishing effort over time were explained by a combination of changes in fleet composition and fishers’ behaviour. Increasing vessel and engine sizes, combined with an increased uptake of improved fishing technology have resulted in a greater ability for vessels to fish a greater number of pots. This increase in vessel and fishing capability has resulted in fishers’ increased ability to fish in harsher weather conditions, as well as target specific areas or habitats quickly and opportunistically. Non-technological factors, such as declines in stocks of finfish and nephrops and the increasing operational costs of participating in these fisheries may have resulted in fishers solely fishing in the less regulated pot-fishery, targeting high value European lobster on a full-time basis. Increasing costs of pot-fishing in Northumberland coupled with stagnating crab and lobster landings prices may have resulted in increased fishing effort to maintain profitability.

Habitat and fisheries usage data are key components for ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management (EBFM). Significant gaps in knowledge remain for fisheries–habitat interactions, particularly in inshore fisheries where vessels are

Impacts of mobile fishing gears on habitat and benthos have been well-documented; in contrast, less studied physical impacts of static fishing gear on benthic habitats are still debated. Pot fishing, is a growing sector in the UK and evidence of any impacts is needed to inform management. This study simulated high intensity experimental pot fishing on the epibenthos of two common UK reef habitats in Northumberland, UK. Single tethered pots were fished in intensively and lightly fished areas over the course of 2 months. Within each area, three experimental sites and control sites were surveyed before and after fishing using photoquadrats (n = 240 per 290 m2 site) collected by scuba divers. PERMANOVA analysis indicated no evidence of epibenthic species abundances decreasing due to physical crushing or abrasion from potting on either intensively or lightly fished reefs. A shift in community composition over time was detected but was attributed to natural change as epibenthos in control sites shifted similarly. Experimental pot impacts far exceeded those of the local commercial pot fishery, providing relevant evidence for statutory governing bodies revisiting current fisheries management. Results are applicable across Western Europe due to the selection of habitats with abundant and commonly distributed benthic species.

The grey squirrel is an invasive pest species in the United Kingdom and populations are controlled to protect timber crops and native fauna. Although animals are culled using a variety of methods, there are few data available on the relative efficiency of different trap designs, and in particular spring traps. We compared grey squirrel captures in Magnum 116 spring-traps set within Fineren boxes against captures in a single entry live capture trap design. Trapping was conducted in mature mixed woodland in North Wales. No significant difference in the frequency of grey squirrel captures or body mass of trapped individuals between trap designs was observed. Despite the Fineren box design limiting access by non-target species, by-catch was recorded. We make recommendations for future research to minimise this and also compare our results for Magnum 116 traps with data available on captures in Fenn IV spring traps. The findings have broad relevance to the control of grey squirrels across their wider i...

Although sera are most commonly used in serological diagnostic tests for dengue, sometimes only plasma containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) may be available. When we studied the performance of a widely used noncommercial dengue ELISA in the detection of reactive IgG in sera and plasma from the same individuals, we found no significant differences in the diagnostic performance of the assay. The inter-specimen coefficient of variation (CV) of the optical density was 0.081 and the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) was 0.92, showing a very strong agreement between the two matrix specimens. The intra-specimen CV and CCC were higher for plasma than for serum at low dilutions, but similar at high dilutions. Overall, our results show that the performance of a widely used in-house ELISA using plasma containing EDTA is equivalent to serum with the recommendation to assay the plasma specimens in duplicate to reduce variability of results at lower dilutions.

Bat populations have declined globally over the last century largely due to anthropogenic change. Many temperate forest species of bat appear loyal to their foraging sites however, conservation of these sites rather than just habitat types is rarely considered and is essential to protect bat populations. It is not clear whether site fidelity in bats is species-specific or a more general trait or why it is exhibited but behaviour patterns could be important for conservation and management objectives. Foraging variation may occur due to ‘individual specialisation’, such that individuals differ significantly in their prey or habitat utilisation, independent of class-effects. If bats do exhibit individuality in their habitat choice, then protection of a mosaic of habitats rather than single preferred habitat per species may be critical to their conservation.The goal here was to determine whether Natterer’s bats show fidelity in their foraging choices and whether they show individual specialisation in their foraging habits.Thirty-four individual bats were tracked for at least one full night, from two different sites.Site fidelity in Natterer’s was consistent across a range of intervals (months and years) despite contrasting seasonal contexts. Individuals repeatedly exploited specific foraging locations and showed individual specialisation in their habitat use which is consistent with the behaviour of a territorial species.Studies designed to inform conservation and management of temperate bats should attempt to maximize the number of individuals from which movement data is sought, whilst ensuring that data represent a coherent and meaningful measure of behaviour such as a single full night. Bat conservation may need to shift from general descriptions of habitat preferences to considering individual specialisation in habitat use. Designing conservation strategies resilient to environmental change might then advocate protecting a mosaic of habitats to preserve the habitat specialisms of many individuals and enhance their productivity rather than advocating the preservation of a single preferred habitat only suited to a few individuals.

Coral reef food webs are complex, vary spatially and remain poorly understood. Certain large predators, notably sharks, are subsidized by pelagic production on outer reef slopes, but how widespread this dependence is across all teleost fishery target species and within atolls is unclear.North Malé Atoll (Maldives) includes oceanic barrier as well as lagoonal reefs. Nine fishery target predators constituting ca. 55% of the local fishery target species biomass at assumed trophic levels 3–5 were selected for analysis. Data were derived from carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N) and sulphur (δ34S) stable isotopes from predator white dorsal muscle samples, and primary consumer species representing production source end‐members.Three‐source Bayesian stable isotope mixing models showed that uptake of pelagic production extends throughout the atoll, with predatory fishes showing equal planktonic reliance between inner and outer edge reefs. Median plankton contribution was 65%–80% for all groupers and 68%–88% for an emperor, a jack and snappers.Lagoonal and atoll edge predators are equally at risk from anthropogenic and climate‐induced changes, which may impact the linkages they construct, highlighting the need for management plans that transcend the boundaries of this threatened ecosystem., All sampled fishery target coral reef predators predominantly (65%–88%) relied on planktonic food sources to sustain their biomass in North Malé Atoll, Maldives. Planktonic reliance was equally high inside the atoll lagoon, highlighting the importance of reef–pelagic connectivity and the need for management plans that transcend habitat boundaries.

This paper is a study of stakeholders’ perceptions of the reliability of landings data obtained by governments on fish stocks. The case studied is the tuna fishery in Indonesia, which is the country’s most important fisheries sector in terms of income and employment, but poses particular difficulties for landings data collection because Indonesia is an archipelago made up of 17,500 islands making data collection a very complex, time-consuming, and costly process because of the large number of ports and the need to employ a considerable team of enumerators to collect the data. This study is not an enquiry into whether the officially recorded data are reliable, but whether fishers and other stakeholders believe them to be reliable. We carried out a survey of 921 respondents (724 tuna fishers; 154 live-bait fishers; 16 policy makers; 16 public sectors and 11 private sectors) to investigate their perceptions of the way landings data on tuna are obtained and collated by Indonesian government officials. The results indicate there is considerable scepticism about the accuracy of these fisheries data. Respondents said there was inadequate funding for data collection; the enumerators were poorly trained; and there were few incentives for checking the results of surveys. These and other criticisms raise serious doubts about the efficacy of the management of the tuna fisheries in Indonesia. Stakeholders’ perceptions on how to improve their confidence in the data collected include greater involvement of individual fishers and the private sector.

Numerous examples exist of successful mammalian invasive alien species (IAS) eradications from small islands (

The research was conducted to investigate the oceanographic characteristics at three traditional anchored Fish Aggregating Device (FADs) sites for tuna pole-and-line fishery in eastern Indonesia. The FADs locations, and sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (chl-a), salinity (sal), wave height (wav), wind (win) current (cur) were examined using a geographic information system (GIS). Relationships between Catch-per-Trip (CPT) with oceanographic characteristics (SST, chl-a, sal, wav, win and cur), were analysed using correlation and generalised additive models (GAMs) analyses. Correlation analyses was used in order to determine how strongly pairs of variables were related to one another, and generalised additive models (GAMs) were used in order to model relationships between Catch-per-Trip (response variable) and the oceanographic variables SST, chl-a, sal, wav, win and cur (predictor variables). Correlation analyses showed that significantly negative correlations were found in entire locations between SST and chl-a while in contrarily, the lowest correlation was found between CPT and chl-a. Furthermore, the GAM plots indicated that a positive association was observed between catch-per-trip and SST with approximately >26.5 °C, chl-a was 33 to 0.23 for Sorong and >0,87 (m) in Larantuka and 4.1 m/s in entire research sites while cur had a positive effect on CPT occurred at

This research is a study of the way the small-scale pole-and-line tuna fishery in Sorong, Indonesia by examining official records of supply chains; key informant and fishers’ perceptions of marketing; and personal observations of landings and selling. The main finding of the study is that the pole-and-line fishers in Sorong have made strenuous efforts to escape the constrictions of middlemen by direct selling to processors.

Between 2007 and 2014, 337 free-living red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) on Jersey, Channel Islands, were examined post mortem as part of a mortality and disease surveillance scheme. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) were attributable for 50.7 per cent (171/337) of the casualties, 34.4 per cent (116/337) succumbed to diseases including fatal exudative dermatitis (FED), 7.1 per cent (24/337) to predation, 6.5 per cent (22/337) to other trauma and 1.2 per cent (4/337) to suspected poisoning. Cat predation accounted for 5 per cent (17/337) of mortalities. Pathologies were diverse and individual animals were often identified with more than one disease process. Squirrelpox virus (SQPV) particles were not detected in selected cases examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Amyloid was identified in 19.3 per cent (65/337) of squirrels, often in conjunction with inflammatory lesions like hepatic capillariasis. A consistent cause of amyloid accumulation was not identified, although there was a significant association of amyloidosis with hepatic capillariasis and FED. In addition to RTAs, amyloidosis and FED have been identified as important causes of squirrel morbidity and mortality on Jersey, while the underlying aetiology and predisposing factors for these two disease complexes are presently unclear. Disease, fragmented woodlands, an increasingly suburban habitat, along with various anthropogenic factors, may jeopardise the long-term viability of this island red squirrel population.

International audience

1. Pelagic and benthic systems usually interact, but their dynamics and production rates differ. Such differences influence the distribution, reproductive cycles, growth rates, stability and productivity of the consumers they support. Consumer preferences for, and dependence on, pelagic or benthic production are governed by the availability of these sources of production and consumer life history, distribution, habitat, behavioural ecology, ontogenetic stage and morphology. 2. Diet studies may demonstrate the extent to which consumers feed on prey in pelagic or benthic environments. But they do not discriminate benthic production directly supported by phytoplankton from benthic production recycled through detrital pathways. The former will track the dynamics of phytoplankton production more closely than the latter. 3. We develop and apply a new analytical method that uses carbon (C) and sulfur (S) natural abundance stable isotope data to assess the relative contribution of pelagic and benthic pathways to fish consumer production. 4. For 13 species of fish that dominate community biomass in the northern North Sea (estimated >90% of total biomass), relative modal use of pelagic pathways ranged from 85%. Use of both C and S isotopes as opposed to just C reduced uncertainty in relative modal use estimates. Temporal comparisons of relative modal use of pelagic and benthic pathways revealed similar ranking of species dependency over four years, but annual variation in relative modal use within species was typically 10-40%. 5. For the total fish consumer biomass in the study region, the C and S method linked approximately 70% and 30% of biomass to pelagic and benthic pathways respectively. As well as providing a new method to define consumers’ links to pelagic and benthic pathways our results demonstrate that a substantial proportion of fish biomass, and by inference production, in the northern North Sea is supported by production that has passed through transformations on the seabed.

Conservation trans-locations using captive bred red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) is increasing in the United Kingdom (UK). However, project managers are often unaware of the risk of pathological adenovirus (ADV) infection. In this study we illuminate the viral threat using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Both techniques were used to screen samples collected from 26 English and Welsh captive red squirrel collections. Of 181 carcasses received between 2002 and 2016, 129 (71%) were suitable for routine surveillance post mortem examination (PME). A range of tissues were examined with ADV identified from a variety of samples by PCR and TEM in 92 (72%) cases encompassing 23 of the 26 study collections (89%). ADV enteritis was histologically confirmed in two deaths (2%) with another 39 (30%) through both laboratory and clinical findings, considered as likely clinically-significant ADV cases, but advanced autolysis precluded accurate assessment and confirmatory histological diagnosis. Other positive cases were more indicative of sub-clinical infection. Clusters of ADV red squirrel deaths were recorded with circumstantial evidence suggesting inter-collection movement of presumed ADV infected donated animals had triggered mortality in recipient collections. During the study, several collections intermittently experienced ADV-associated deaths. Definitive cause of death was not determined in most cases, but a diverse range of diagnoses were recorded in 25 (19%) animals. Implications of these findings for captive United Kingdom (UK) red squirrel husbandry are discussed. It is recommended that protocols be drawn up to minimise potential intra-species ADV infection and highlight the danger of contact with ADV infected wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus).

The release of artificially reared pheasants is a widespread practice in Great Britain, used to increase the number of birds available for hunting. We examined the spatial and temporal patterns of release and shooting between 1960 and 2014 using data from a self-selected sample of 1195 sites. We examined changes in the efficiency of release, the contribution of birds that were not released that year to the numbers shot, and the form of these relationships through time. An annual estimate of the efficiency by which releasing increased the numbers shot was 50% over the period 1960–1990 declining rapidly to 35% by 2005 and reducing more slowly thereafter. There was no obvious regional pattern to this relationship. It has been hypothesised that the efficiency of releasing is lower on sites that release higher densities of pheasants; this study does not support this hypothesis. Annual variation in the density of birds shot in the absence of releasing (1960–1990) was closely correlated with a measure of annual gamebird chick survival. After this date, the relationship was no longer significant, consistent with a decline in wild pheasant stocks and coinciding with the declines in other farmland birds. We highlight increased fox abundance, genetic and behavioural changes arising from the rearing process, and increased shooting in late winter as possible causes for the observed decline in releasing efficiency. We consider the general increase in rearing, habitat changes, increased disease or losses to protected predators as unlikely to have been important causes of the changes in releasing efficiency. Pheasant releasing results in increased numbers for shooting, but has not prevented the wide-scale decline of wild pheasant numbers.

Understanding an animal's movement, distribution and activity pattern is vital for effective delivery of evidence-based management; however, such data are sparse for many eco- nomically important fishery targets, particularly the European lobster Homarus gammarus. This study aimed to elucidate high-resolution movement and activity patterns of a large cohort (n = 44; carapace length = 65�98 mm) of adult European lobsters, using a passive fine-scale acoustic telemetry VEMCO Positioning System (VPS) off Northumberland (UK). This is the first application of VPS on this species and the first offshore VPS study within the UK, providing novel positional data generated via triangulation based on time difference of arrival of acoustic signals. Individual home-ranges using kernel density and minimum convex polygons showed seasonal variation: 95% utilisation distribution ranged from 244 to 7722 m 2 during spring (mean ± SE: 11 104 ± 397 m 2 ), and declined to 237�784 m 2 during autumn (mean ± SE: 455 ± 66 m 2 s.e.). The study also provides evidence of behavioural differences between sexes, with males using more space than females. Daily cumulative step-length and daily minimum convex polygons highlighted that while space-use decreased during the autumn, daily distance moved increased for the majority of lobsters observed, coupled with longer durations of diel activity during autumn. These results suggest that using home-range analyses alone to describe lobster movement may inadequately represent its full behaviour. This study demonstrates the potential for passive acoustic telemetry tracking of otherwise cryptic and difficult to study marine benthic animals.

Between 2007 and 2014, 337 free-living red squirrels (

Robust tools are needed to prioritise the management of invasive non-native species (INNS). Risk assessment is commonly used to prioritise INNS, but fails to take into account the feasibility of management. Risk management provides a structured evaluation of management options, but has received little attention to date. We present a risk management scheme to assess the feasibility of eradicating INNS that can be used, in conjunction with existing risk assessment schemes, to support prioritisation. The Non-Native Risk Management scheme (NNRM) can be applied to any predefined area and any taxa. It uses semi-quantitative response and confidence scores to assess seven key criteria: Effectiveness, Practicality, Cost, Impact, Acceptability, Window of opportunity and Likelihood of re-invasion. Scores are elicited using expert judgement, supported by available evidence, and consensus-building methods. We applied the NNRM to forty-one INNS that threaten Great Britain (GB). Thirty-three experts provided scores, with overall feasibility of eradication assessed as ‘very high’ (8 species), ‘high’ (6), ‘medium’ (8), ‘low’ (10) and ‘very low’ (9). The feasibility of eradicating terrestrial species was higher than aquatic species. Lotic freshwater and marine species scored particularly low. Combining risk management and existing risk assessment scores identified six established species as priorities for eradication. A further six species that are not yet established were identified as priorities for eradication on arrival as part of contingency planning. The NNRM is one of the first INNS risk management schemes that can be used with existing risk assessments to prioritise INNS eradication in any area.

The North American ruddy duck is an invasive alien species in Europe, which threatens the native white-headed duck through hybridisation. A substantial population established in the UK following escapes and releases beginning in the 1950s. The species then spread widely within Europe, with records across much of the continent, and viable populations established in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Spain. An international plan to eradicate the species from Europe has been adopted, but the approaches and intensity of control have varied widely between countries. We report on progress towards eradication across the continent. Numbers in 2013 were less than 7 % of the 2000 population, although coordinated action is still required to achieve eradication. The European Union is considering a new legislative instrument on Invasive Alien Species, which is likely to place responsibilities on member states to control named species. Coordinated control across those member states with remaining ruddy duck populations is likely to be an early test of any new responsibilities, with the potential to achieve the first continental scale eradication of an invasive alien species.

Summary American foulbrood (AFB), caused by Paenibacillus larvae, is the most damaging bacterial brood disease of the honeybee (Apis mellifera), causing colony deaths on all continents where honeybees are managed. AFB has been a persistent problem in the UK for over 70 years, with a fluctuating number of cases discovered annually. Once diseased colonies are identified, they are destroyed to reduce pathogen spread. We investigated the pattern of AFB cases recorded over the period 1994 to 2012 using spatial-statistical approaches, with a view to identifying the nature of spread across England and Wales. Our results indicated that AFB exhibits significant spatial aggregation at distances from 10 to 30 km, with aggregations lasting between 1 and 5 years. Kernel smoothing indicated areas of elevated relative risk in different years, and these were further detailed by spatial-scan statistics. We identified disease clusters and successfully estimated their size, location and duration. The majority of clusters did not persist in all years, indicating that management measures may lead to localized extinction of the disease. Whilst less common, persistent clusters likely indicate potential endemic or exotic risk points. The application of robust epidemiological approaches to improve the control of AFB is discussed.

WHILE surveys of wild red ( Sciurus vulgaris ) and grey ( Sciurus carolinensis ) squirrels have revealed squirrelpox virus (SQPV) infections in both species (Atkin and others 2010), to date it has been unclear whether maternal transfer of SQPV to juveniles takes place. The observed presence of SQPV antibody in grey squirrel juveniles before leaving the nest and in young red squirrels after leaving the nest could, however, reflect maternal antibody transmission rather than direct disease exposure. We describe what we believe to be the first documented report of maternal transfer of SQPV antibody in wild grey and captive red squirrel juveniles. In the summer and autumn of 2014, a study was undertaken to investigate SQPV presence in grey squirrels that were culled by cranial dispatch from several woodland locations across a large area of northern Gwynedd, adjacent to the Menai Straits. In addition to carcases obtained from trap-based control operations, juvenile grey squirrels still in the nest were taken from nest boxes erected within a mixed deciduous woodland in …

In the Philippines, very high fishing pressure coincides with the globally greatest number of shorefish species, yet no long-term fisheries data are available to explore species-level changes that may have occurred widely in the most species rich and vulnerable marine ecosystem, namely coral reefs. Through 2655 face-to-face interviews conducted between August 2012 and July 2014, we used fishers’ recall of past catch rates of reef-associated finfish to infer species disappearances from catches in five marine key biodiversity areas (Lanuza Bay, Danajon Bank, Verde Island Passage, Polillo Islands and Honda Bay). We modeled temporal trends in perceived catch per unit effort (CPUE) based on fishers’ reports of typical good days’ catches using Generalized Linear Mixed Modelling. Fifty-nine different finfish disappeared from catches between the 1950s and 2014; 42 fish were identified to species level, two to genus, seven to family and eight to local name only. Five species occurring at all sites with the greatest number of fishers reporting zero catches were the green bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum), humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), African pompano (Alectis ciliaris), giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) and mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus). Between the 1950s and 2014, the mean perceived CPUE of bumphead parrotfish declined by 88%, that of humphead wrasse by 82%, African pompano by 66%, giant grouper by 74% and mangrove red snapper by 64%. These declines were mainly associated with excess and uncontrolled fishing, fish life-history traits like maximum body size and socio-economic factors like access to market infrastructure and services, and overpopulation. The fishers’ knowledge is indicative of extirpations where evidence for these losses was otherwise lacking. Our models provide information as basis for area-based conservation and regional resource management particularly for the more vulnerable, once common, large, yet wide-ranging reef finfish species.

SUMMARYMPAs are being established worldwide at an increasing rate, however empirical evidence for benefits to mobile species of small areas closed to fishing in temperate regions are little known. Using two North Sea prohibited trawling areas (PTAs) established > 80 years ago, social (fishers’ perceptions), management (fishing effort and compliance) and ecological (fish abundance and size) data were combined to assess the PTAs against their primary societal (conflict resolution) and secondary ecological (stock protection) objectives. Fishers perceived that the PTAs resolved conflicts between static and mobile gear sectors, despite evidence of non-compliance. However, few fishers perceived that they personally benefited from the PTAs. Fish abundance and size data from baited traps (BT) and video (BV) provided no evidence of PTA effects, but trawling effort was a significant predictor of BT fish abundance data and improved the model of BV fish abundance data. The absence of PTA effects on fish is attributable to non-compliance, the high mobility of the fish involved and their continued exploitation within the PTAs using static gear. This points to the need for greater understanding of the behaviour of fishers in relation to closures. The study also highlights the challenges of quantifying possible fishery benefits of small temperate closed areas and questions whether widely advocated fishery benefits may have enhanced initial support, but failure to deliver them may erode faith in such closures as a fisheries management tool.

Under European legislation, the use of anabolic steroids as growth promoters in meat production is prohibited. Currently, there is no internationally accepted method used for the detection of the potentially endogenous steroids nandrolone and boldenone in the ovine. In the current study, a multi-residue GC–MS–MS-based urinary assay has been validated for boldenone as well as the nandrolone metabolites 5α-estrane-3β,17α-diol and epinandrolone. Using a standard addition calibration line approach in pooled bovine urine, the method was linear between the endogenous concentrations and those augmented with 6,000 pg mL−1. The method was then applied to populations of wether (n = 242) and ewe (n = 237) ovine animals in order to establish urinary thresholds for detecting nandrolone and boldenone abuse. A statistical model (the Chebyshev inequality) was used to produce threshold concentrations for each analyte. Adjustment of the nandrolone metabolite data for specific gravity, a measure of the hydration status of the animal, allowed the effective thresholds to be reduced; potentially leading to a lower number of false positives. Furthermore, the proposed epinandrolone confirmatory thresholds (38,628 and 57,950 pg mL−1 in wethers and ewes, respectively) were found to be effective in detecting abuse of nandrolone for at least 1 month post-dose of this steroid. However, further studies would be required to assess the efficacy of the proposed boldenone confirmatory thresholds (19,857 and 56,080 pg mL−1 in wethers and ewes, respectively) since data on its excretion following administration to the ovine are lacking.

SUMMARYWe analysed the incidence of cattle herd breakdowns due to bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) in relation to experimental badger culling, badger populations and farm characteristics during the Randomized Badger Culling Trial (RBCT). Mixed modelling and event history analysis were used to examine the individual risk factors. The interdependencies of covariates were examined using structural equation modelling. There were consistent findings among the different analyses demonstrating that during a badger culling programme farms experiencing: reactive culling, larger herd sizes, larger holdings and holdings with multiple parcels of land were all at greater risk of a herd breakdown. Proactive culling reduced risks within the culling area, but we did not assess any potential effects in the periphery of the treatment area. Badger-related variables measured prior to the start of culling (number of social groups and length of badger territorial boundaries) did not consistently point to an increase in risk, when set against a background of ongoing badger culling. This could be because (1) the collected variables were not important to risk in cattle, or (2) there were insufficient data to demonstrate their importance. Our findings highlight the difficulty in identifying simple predictors of spatial variation in transmission risks from badger populations and the consequent challenge of tailoring management actions to any such field data.

Between 2007 and 2014, 337 free-living red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) on Jersey, Channel Islands, were examined post mortem as part of a mortality and disease surveillance scheme. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) were attributable for 50.7 per cent (171/337) of the casualties, 34.4 per cent (116/337) succumbed to diseases including fatal exudative dermatitis (FED), 7.1 per cent (24/337) to predation, 6.5 per cent (22/337) to other trauma and 1.2 per cent (4/337) to suspected poisoning. Cat predation accounted for 5 per cent (17/337) of mortalities. Pathologies were diverse and individual animals were often identified with more than one disease process. Squirrelpox virus (SQPV) particles were not detected in selected cases examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Amyloid was identified in 19.3 per cent (65/337) of squirrels, often in conjunction with inflammatory lesions like hepatic capillariasis. A consistent cause of amyloid accumulation was not identified, although there was a significant association of amyloidosis with hepatic capillariasis and FED. In addition to RTAs, amyloidosis and FED have been identified as important causes of squirrel morbidity and mortality on Jersey, while the underlying aetiology and predisposing factors for these two disease complexes are presently unclear. Disease, fragmented woodlands, an increasingly suburban habitat, along with various anthropogenic factors, may jeopardise the long-term viability of this island red squirrel population.

The use of anabolic steroids as growth promoting agents in food production is prohibited under European Union legislation, but there is currently no internationally accepted method for detecting the abuse of the anabolic steroid nandrolone in the porcine. Therefore, an analytical biomarker approach based on gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) analysis of the major urinary free fraction nandrolone metabolite 19-noretiocholanolone was developed and validated. The lower and upper limits of quantification of the assay were 25 and 3,000 pg mL−1 respectively. The limit of detection was calculated as 13.2 pg mL−1, which is significantly lower than previously reported methods. When applied to a population of untreated animals, 19-noretiocholanolone distributions in boars and gilt were bimodal, with a small number of concentrations in each sex at around the 1,000 pg mL−1 region and the majority of concentrations closer to the lower end of the calibration range. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out in order to suggest screening and confirmatory threshold approaches for this steroid in the urine of boars and gilts. The adopting of particular screening thresholds would be at the discretion of the individual regulating authorities, but at a false non-compliance rate of 1 in 10,000 of the normal population, the suggested confirmatory thresholds (7,501.6 pg mL−1 for boars and 19,200.4 pg mL−1 in gilts) are able to detect the abuse of nandrolone for several weeks following administration of this steroid.