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The European eel (Anguilla anguilla (L.)) is a unique catadromous euryhaline fish and the only anguillid eel species classified as 'critically endangered'. The Baltic Lakeland area contains naturally recruited and introduced eels. There is great uncertainty regarding a baseline for the location and number of naturally dispersed eels in the region. Little is known about the genetic structure of the European eel populations in Baltic countries. The estimation of population genetic structure is important for the efficient management of naturally recruited and introduced eels. Two mitochondrial regions were used to investigate the genetic structure within and between eel samples from 11 waterbodies. In this study, new, unique, and widely distributed haplotypes were revealed. The studied eel population in the Baltic Lakeland shows high genetic diversity, which is possibly a result of intensive restocking programs. Sequences characterized for Anguilla rostrata were revealed in both mitochondrial regions. Understanding the genetic structure of eel populations worldwide is crucial for conservation efforts. Eel restocking in waterbodies where natural migration is restricted contributes to diversity loss for the world gene pool of eels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Releasing farmed mallards into the wild is a common practice in wildlife management worldwide, involving millions of birds annually, and is mainly carried out to increase hunting opportunities. Ringing and previous research show that released mallards have low survival also outside the hunting season, and that survivors may compromise migration habits, morphology, and adaptations of the wild population. Detailed local movements of released mallards have not been studied before, despite the importance of spatiotemporal patterns for understanding the impact of releases and their utility for hunting. We studied local movements in August–October of 11 wild and 44 released mallards caught in the same wetland in southern Sweden and provided with GPS tags. Wild mallards moved longer distances than farmed, over the whole diel cycle, as well as during three out of four separate periods of the day (dawn, day, and dusk). Mallards of both origins moved the longest distances during dusk and dawn, and the shortest during the night. Males and females did not differ significantly in distance moved, regardless of origin (wild versus farmed). Our study demonstrates large differences in spatiotemporal movement patterns between wild and farmed mallards. The typical day of wild mallards included movements between wetlands in the landscape, likely to foraging sites known from previous experience. However, wild mallards frequently returned to the study wetland, probably attracted by supplementary bait. On the other hand, farmed mallards seldom left the study wetland, despite the possibility of accompanying wild birds to other sites. The sedentary behavior of farmed mallards and the fact that wild birds come to join them are both beneficial for hunting purposes. Limited movements of farmed mallards, together with their low survival, could also be positive as they limit hybridization between wild and farmed mallards, as well as dispersal of nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fishery of the river prawn Cryphiops caementarius in semiarid basins of northern Chile constitutes a small‐scale artisanal activity, developed in fragmented habitats with extended periods of drought, which represents a severe threat for the conservation of its populations. Fishers filed an environmental complaint for massive prawn mortalities caused by river channellings in the Choapa River basin. The government promoted a participatory program with fishers to carry out a restocking initiative in this basin, releasing ~4000 hatchery reared juveniles. The aim of this study was to evaluate site selection criteria for the releases, which included ecological variables relevant to the life habits of juveniles. These criteria incorporated background of the natural history of the species, seasonal monitoring of habitat indicators (fluvial habitat index and hydraulic stress index) and recommendations of fishers (traditional ecological knowledge). This study demonstrated that the integration of these criteria and restocking sciences based on aquaculture is beneficial when selecting the release site, with a high coincidence of ecological characteristics for C. caementarius to thrive. The results of this experience are discussed, emphasizing the pioneering character of this type of measure in freshwater crustaceans in Chilean basins, the ecological framework used to responsibly assist these measures in basins with intense anthropogenic impacts and recommendations that allow the improvement of the releases and monitoring efforts of this species, considering the drought scenario that affects this region of Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restocking initiatives have the potential to help conserve populations of threatened species, and there is a growing interest in applying this approach to marine fish. Sciaena umbra and Dentex dentex are two coastal fish species that inhabit the Mediterranean Sea and are categorized as 'Vulnerable' according to the IUCN Red List. This study investigated the performance of S. umbra and D. dentex hatchery-reared juveniles feeding on live prey. We evaluated whether 6 days of training and body size had an impact on feeding performance and behaviour. In both species, we found that training had a positive effect on fish feeding performance by (1) significantly increasing mean number of prey eaten, (2) decreasing the latencies before first attack and first ingestion and (3) increasing attack efficiency. In addition, there was a significant increase in the number of S. umbra individuals that ingested at least one prey item over the 6 training days. The percentage of fish that ingested at least one prey item did not, however, increase significantly for D. dentex individuals over this period; instead juveniles either (1) attempted to eat novel prey, succeeded and displayed an improvement of their feeding efficiency through training, or (2) did not forage or eat over the 6 training days. The high number of individuals exhibiting the second response could be linked to several factors, including fear, personality or the type of prey used in this study. In S. umbra , individuals from the [50–60[ mm total length size class outperformed other size classes. Our findings highlight differences in feeding behaviour between the two species and the positive impacts of training on feeding performance. Our results should be taken into account when developing release protocols for potential restocking programmes. • Training had a positive effect on feeding performance of both species. • Nearly all Sciaena umbra juveniles ate at least one prey after 6 days of training. • A majority of Dentex dentex juveniles did not eat prey during all tests. • S. umbra from the [50–60[ mm size class exhibited better feeding performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Hatchery-reared Rainbow trout are released into freshwater systems, often to support recreational fishing, but the best age to release fish to maximise their chances of survival is unknown. Using laboratory tests of fish behaviour at six ages, we report age-related changes in emergence, exploration, food neophobia, habitat choice and predator avoidance. We suggest that an understanding of age-related changes in behaviour should be applied to support management decisions around the best age to release Rainbow trout. Millions of hatchery-reared Rainbow trout are currently released in Australian waters to support recreational fisheries objectives, yet many of these fish die soon after release. In addition, little is known whether these fish harbour parasites that can potentially threaten freshwater ecosystems and human health. Here, we tested the behaviour of hatchery-reared trout using six tank-based tests at six different ages to evaluate their chances of survival and then dissected fish to investigate parasite prevalence. At 7 weeks of age fish readily emerged from a hide and showed the greatest number of startle responses to predators. Behaviour around 25–29 weeks of age was relatively "shy", staying in shelter and avoiding open water. At around 37–41 weeks of age though, behaviour changed, with fish emerging from a hide more readily and exploring the environment. Interestingly, at 58 weeks of age fish were slower to initiate exploration, possibly indicating a return to "shyer" behaviour. All fish underwent thorough parasite examination, revealing no infections. We conclude that knowledge of the behaviour of hatchery-reared fish at different ages is useful for decisions around the timing of release that balance the needs of recreational fishers whilst managing the impact on freshwater ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) is an economically important crustacean with increasing consumption demands, while wild stock is declining. Therefore, a crab bank project has been initiated to restore crab resources. The crab bank, which has been operating for at least 10 years, collects berried females, hatches their eggs to the zoea stage, and release them into the sea. However, the project’s success has not been evaluated. This study investigates the genetic diversity of berried females from the crab bank project and wild crabs in Trang and Krabi provinces. The nucleotide sequences within the mitochondrial DNA control region of P. pelagicus were analyzed. We found that 65.72% of wild crabs in Trang and 39.72% in Krabi shared haplotypes with berried females from the crab bank project. This indicates a division within the P. pelagicus population, forming two distinct groups corresponding to Trang and Krabi. The demographic history analysis suggests a period of population expansion. Based on these genetic diversity findings, we propose management strategies for the crab bank projects in both areas. However, this study is preliminary, and further research incorporating additional genetic markers from the nuclear genome and more samples from areas beyond Trang and Krabi is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responsible stock enhancement initiatives require baseline data of wild population demographic conditions that can be used in testing management outcomes. This study provides the first fishery-independent assessment of length- and age-based biological characteristics of exploited populations of Platycephalus fuscus in eastern Australia prior to stock enhancement. Sampling was conducted over seven estuaries spanning seven degrees of latitude and the geographical range of proposed stock enhancements. Populations in all estuaries showed evidence of length and age truncation, especially those subject to commercial fisheries where young individuals of both sexes dominated populations. Maximum longevities were 12 and 11 years for females and males respectively, but few females >5 years and males >3 years were generally sampled. Females dominated populations, and on average, the mean lengths and ages of females were greater than males within each estuary and across all age classes. Sexually dimorphic variation in growth was evident across all estuaries, with females attaining greater maximum lengths than males. Estuary-specific differences in individual growth were not identified. On average, over 50% of females sampled in each estuary were > the minimum legal length (MLL), but the opposite was evident for males. In contrast, over 25% of males in each estuary were > the mean length at maturity (L50), whereas in all but one estuary the L50. Stocked male and female P. fuscus should recruit to the fishery in 2 and 3 years, and contribute to the spawning stock in 1.5 and 4.5 years, respectively. This study provides important historical baseline data that can contribute to testing stock enhancement outcomes on populations.

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is an endangered species native to the Iberian Peninsula, playing a vital ecological role in Mediterranean ecosystems as prey for several threatened predators. Conservation efforts have been implemented to halt its decline, with a particular focus on the Iberian rabbit subspecies (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus). Many conservation programmes involve restocking and habitat management, including the construction of artificial warrens to provide essential refuge sites. In this study, we examined the use of four types of artificial warrens (logs, Mayoral®, pallets and tubes) by a restocked Iberian rabbit population within a fenced park in southern Portugal. We investigated the factors influencing warren use, basing our analysis on faecal pellet counts at the entrances of artificial warrens. We analysed spatial and temporal patterns in warren use using a generalised additive mixed model. Additionally, we determined the efficiency of each type of artificial warren by computing the ratio between the costs of building the warren and the level of warren use by the rabbits. Our results indicate that Mayoral, tube and log warrens are significantly less used compared to pallet warrens (Logs: β=-0.171±0.041; Mayoral: β=-0.149±0.058; Tube: β=-0.240±0.071). Moreover, pallet warrens were found to be more cost-effective compared to other types analysed. Furthermore, rabbits preferred artificial warrens surrounded by a higher proportion of shrubs (β=0.132±0.037). Artificial warren use exhibited seasonal variation, declining gradually during the winter and early spring, and recovering in late spring, coinciding with the expected breeding peak. Based on our findings, we recommend the implementation of pallet warrens in rabbit restocking programmes to provide immediate shelter and breeding sites for the released rabbits. Furthermore, artificial warrens should be strategically located near shrub patches to facilitate safe access to vital resources such as food and water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responsible stock enhancement initiatives require baseline data of wild population demographic conditions that can be used in testing management outcomes. This study provides the first fishery-independent assessment of length- and age-based biological characteristics of exploited populations of Platycephalus fuscus in eastern Australia prior to stock enhancement. Sampling was conducted over seven estuaries spanning seven degrees of latitude and the geographical range of proposed stock enhancements. Populations in all estuaries showed evidence of length and age truncation, especially those subject to commercial fisheries where young individuals of both sexes dominated populations. Maximum longevities were 12 and 11 years for females and males respectively, but few females >5 years and males >3 years were generally sampled. Females dominated populations, and on average, the mean lengths and ages of females were greater than males within each estuary and across all age classes. Sexually dimorphic variation in growth was evident across all estuaries, with females attaining greater maximum lengths than males. Estuary-specific differences in individual growth were not identified. On average, over 50% of females sampled in each estuary were > the minimum legal length (MLL), but the opposite was evident for males. In contrast, over 25% of males in each estuary were > the mean length at maturity (L50), whereas in all but one estuary <13% of the females were > the L50. Stocked male and female P. fuscus should recruit to the fishery in 2 and 3 years, and contribute to the spawning stock in 1.5 and 4.5 years, respectively. This study provides important historical baseline data that can contribute to testing stock enhancement outcomes on populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restocking European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is generally considered as a conservation action, but its true conservation value remains unknown and is currently debated over. Estimation of the biomass of escaping silver eels is one way to partially measure the success of restocking. Tuvikene et al. in a comment to Rohtla et al. criticize the data that were used to reach the conclusion that eel conservation goals in a fully restocked eel management unit in Estonia are not being met. While acknowledging some potential and unavoidable sampling biases in our study that need to be addressed in the future, we stand by our general conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European eel (Anguilla anguilla (L.)) is a unique catadromous euryhaline fish and the only anguillid eel species classified as ‘critically endangered’. The Baltic Lakeland area contains naturally recruited and introduced eels. There is great uncertainty regarding a baseline for the location and number of naturally dispersed eels in the region. Little is known about the genetic structure of the European eel populations in Baltic countries. The estimation of population genetic structure is important for the efficient management of naturally recruited and introduced eels. Two mitochondrial regions were used to investigate the genetic structure within and between eel samples from 11 waterbodies. In this study, new, unique, and widely distributed haplotypes were revealed. The studied eel population in the Baltic Lakeland shows high genetic diversity, which is possibly a result of intensive restocking programs. Sequences characterized for Anguilla rostrata were revealed in both mitochondrial regions. Understanding the genetic structure of eel populations worldwide is crucial for conservation efforts. Eel restocking in waterbodies where natural migration is restricted contributes to diversity loss for the world gene pool of eels.

Information about the reproductive biology of the threatened limpet Patella ferruginea has been historically restricted to some of the few enclaves where healthy and conspicuous populations still persist, all located on the African coasts of the Alboran Sea, at the extreme south west of the species' distribution range, in the western basin of the Mediterranean.This paper provides data on sex ratio by size and sex change of the species from specimens in the northernmost extreme of its distribution, between the north east of Sardinia (Italy) and the Gulf of Genoa (Liguria, Italy), where much more restricted and small populations are found.In the study area, the population parameters were found to be quite similar to those known from the Alboran Sea: The ratio between males and females tends to decrease with size and the prevalence of females versus males (i.e. >50% females) from the 60–65 mm size class upwards.Notwithstanding the small sample size (n = 13), several sex changes were observed in 38.5% of specimens. Noteworthy is that this change not only occurred in the male to female direction (considered 'normal' for limpet species) but was also recorded in the female to male direction, confirming the complexity of the reproductive mode of P. ferruginea.The evidence of regular gonadal maturation of specimens and the occurrence of sex changes in the area investigated supports the potential viability of the species at its northernmost limit of distribution, where the species has only recently been reported. Such evidence provides important information for the implementation of management and conservation actions, such as restocking initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endangered endemic species Sevan trout (Salmo ischchan Kessler, 1877) is under the threat of extinction and its survival is dependent on restocking by smolts. Thus, there is an urgent need to find an effective solution for restocking wild populations. After developing a theoretical methodology to reveal the most suitable parts of spawning rivers for natural reproduction, we consider the incubation of eggs in the wild as an appropriate method for the validation of the results of the theoretical assessment. Thus, we estimate the eggs' survival differences in the wild and microcosm conditions which found significant differences in the sac-fry emergence rate in the zones assessed as "partly suitable" and "unsuitable". Also, the results show that the emergence of eggs in the wild was less than in the microcosm conditions and the success rate of emergence of eyed eggs in the wild was higher than that of the green eggs. The results of one-way ANOVA, correlation and general linear mixed model analyses have in general proven the theoretical assessment but raise some questions on the completeness of using a set of abiotic criteria as the range of success during different experiments varies significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: A significant opportunity remains to further increase the supply of premium sheepmeat products to Australia's customers, which requires a more rapid rebuilding of the national sheep flock. To help meet this challenge, developing relevant information for sheep producers to assist them to achieve a profitable flock-rebuilding outcome is viewed as highly desirable. Aims: (1) Develop flock-rebuild scenarios that track inventory, cashflow, profit and loss, and the overall balance sheet over a 5-year projection. (2) Model the impact on flock-rebuilding pathways of exposure to variation in supplementary-feed costs, purchase of stock and price received for sale animals and flock structure. (3) Model variation in benefits and costs for a range of production zones, enterprise types and flock-age profiles. Methods: Fourteen flock-rebuilding pathways were assessed for up to nine flock types, using a spreadsheet model that tracked inventory, cashflow, profit and loss, and the overall balance sheet over 5 years. Key results: The top four pathways for profitability and capacity to rapidly rebuild flock numbers include retention of more older ewes, purchasing young ewes, purchasing older ewes (mostly 5–6-year olds) in Merino and Merino-cross flock types only and joining ewe lambs in Maternal and Cleanskin flock types only. These pathways were not sensitive to variation in the cost of supplementary feed, stock prices or flock structure, although joining Merino ewe lambs became one of the top four pathways when feed costs were lower. Conclusions and implications: The well established practices of retaining ewes for longer and purchasing ewes, especially young ewes, have the most potential to both rapidly and profitably rebuild flock numbers. However, joining ewe lambs, particularly in Maternal and Cleanskin flocks, can also profitably contribute to rapid flock rebuilding. While reducing reproductive wastage or increasing reproductive potential were mostly profitable, they could not rapidly rebuild flock numbers. In contrast, accelerated lambing systems can rapidly rebuild flock numbers, but are only marginally profitable. The outlook for Australia's sheepmeat industry is very positive, with a significant opportunity available to further increase the supply of premium sheepmeat products to customers, by more rapidly rebuilding the national flock. This paper presents the findings of a study focussed on providing the confidence and material to sheep producers to choose optimal pathways to rebuild their flocks. At least 6 of the 14 alternatives investigated were deemed suitable for commercial use and not sensitive to variations in supplementary-feed costs, stock-purchasing and -sale prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millions of hatchery-reared Rainbow trout are currently released in Australian waters to support recreational fisheries objectives, yet many of these fish die soon after release. In addition, little is known whether these fish harbour parasites that can potentially threaten freshwater ecosystems and human health. Here, we tested the behaviour of hatchery-reared trout using six tank-based tests at six different ages to evaluate their chances of survival and then dissected fish to investigate parasite prevalence. At 7 weeks of age fish readily emerged from a hide and showed the greatest number of startle responses to predators. Behaviour around 25–29 weeks of age was relatively “shy”, staying in shelter and avoiding open water. At around 37–41 weeks of age though, behaviour changed, with fish emerging from a hide more readily and exploring the environment. Interestingly, at 58 weeks of age fish were slower to initiate exploration, possibly indicating a return to “shyer” behaviour. All fish underwent thorough parasite examination, revealing no infections. We conclude that knowledge of the behaviour of hatchery-reared fish at different ages is useful for decisions around the timing of release that balance the needs of recreational fishers whilst managing the impact on freshwater ecosystem.

There is a lack of information on many biological and ecological aspects of the critically endangered European eel during its growth phase in inland waters, such as when the sedentary life stage begins, mobility according to age and response to habitat alteration. We used mobile radio frequency identification (RFID) telemetry technology to track tagged eels over 6 years after their restocking as glass eels in six typologically different rivers. We also cross-referenced telemetry data with those of several electrofishing monitoring sessions to better understand the mobility and behaviour of eels. The relative abundance (maximum 52 individuals km−1) and detection rate (maximum 28%) of eels were not significantly correlated with the time/age after restocking. Eels were present in all restocked rivers, but their abundance was low and mobility was high in a slightly acidified, oligotrophic river that had experienced a great loss of fish habitat heterogeneity. This loss of habitat heterogeneity was due to flooding events and machinery works in riverbeds to restore the altered riverbanks. Four years after glass eel release, restocked eels became sedentary and moved from shallow to deep microhabitats with riverbeds dominated by blocks as the bottom substrate. After this age, they exhibited high fidelity to the residence site. This study provides new insights concerning the biology and ecology of eels restocked as glass eels in freshwaters, which should lead to improved management plans for the species through the implementation of more effective conservation measures and strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endangered endemic species Sevan trout (Salmo ischchan Kessler, 1877) is under the threat of extinction and its survival is dependent on restocking by smolts. Thus, there is an urgent need to find an effective solution for restocking wild populations. After developing a theoretical methodology to reveal the most suitable parts of spawning rivers for natural reproduction, we consider the incubation of eggs in the wild as an appropriate method for the validation of the results of the theoretical assessment. Thus, we estimate the eggs’ survival differences in the wild and microcosm conditions which found significant differences in the sac-fry emergence rate in the zones assessed as “partly suitable” and “unsuitable”. Also, the results show that the emergence of eggs in the wild was less than in the microcosm conditions and the success rate of emergence of eyed eggs in the wild was higher than that of the green eggs. The results of one-way ANOVA, correlation and general linear mixed model analyses have in general proven the theoretical assessment but raise some questions on the completeness of using a set of abiotic criteria as the range of success during different experiments varies significantly.

Restocking of fish in Small Water Bodies (SWBs) is one of the technologies that can be used to enhance fish-food production for post Covid recovery and growth in food security, and national development. The current study aimed at assessing the socioeconomic impact and stock performance of restocked Nile tilapia fingerlings in SWBs in 15 counties in the Western and Central regions where the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP) is implemented. The study employed both primary and secondary data from socioeconomics, environmental characteristics and fisheries and aquaculture aspects. There was no restocked dam with a low (

Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) evaluates the performance of alternative management strategies. However, the potential ecosystem effects of the management procedures (MPs) are less evaluated. As one of the four top commercial marine fisheries of China, the fishery of the large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea (LYC) collapsed in the late 1980s due to the exceeded fishing pressure on spawning and over-wintering aggregations. Long-term and large scale restocking programs for the recovery of LYC fishery have been conducted widely along the eastern coast of China, but its ecosystem impacts and ecological carrying capacity (ECC) were not well understood and assessed. The species-specific assessment and management for LYC fishery were lack due to limited data availability. In this study, an Ecopath model was built as the operating model in MSE to evaluate the effects of MPs for the LYC fishery and estimate the LYC ECC in the Min River Estuary to explore the optimal management measure. A total of 12 candidate MPs were identified and tested, including 5 input controls (2 fishing-effort-based and 3 length-based) and 7 catch-based output controls. A 20-year simulation showed that only 4 MPs fully achieved the performance criteria in maintaining biomass and avoiding further overfishing, including curE75 (75 % of current fishing effort levels), minlenLopt1 (the minimum length of retention for maximizing biomass), matlenLim (fishing retention-at-length related to the maturity curve: 100 %) and matlenLim2 (fishing retention-at-length related to the maturity curve: 110 %). The Min River Estuary ecosystem could support up to 17 kg/km2 of LYC. The Ecosim model projects that the LYC biomass increased over 20 % after the application of curE75, and over 37 % with the combination of curE75 and national fishing moratorium policy after the 20-year simulation. The combination of releasing, fishing effort reduction and fishing moratorium is the optimal measure within current management systems for the recovery of LYC fishery in the Min River Estuary. This study provides an ecosystem-based fishery management approach to plan and evaluate restocking programs using data-limited methods and MSE for the LYC and other fisheries.

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The purpose of this paper is to identify challenges and opportunities for exploring Lean approaches in managing instore logistics processes of a hypermarket, wherein data collection made to quantify the state of the system, methods, and instruments will be applied to improve picking and restocking processes between the two main stock areas, the store and the warehouse. This article reports on a case study work, comprising direct observation, and analysis of the data collected, which was developed in three main phases: identification and characterization of problems, improvements in management of stock and restocking information, and finally improvements in the picking and restoking processes and teams. After analysing the hypermarket, some problems were found such as a high percentage of non-productive time in restocking, a daily average of 132 products to be restocked, a lack of standardization of tasks in the warehouse, and outdated restocking management system. Therefore, there will be some proposals to change the restocking management system, the picking and restocking work method and the warehouse layout, which makes it possible to decrease stock breaks in the store by 17%, the number of employees dedicated to these processes from 14 to 11, and finally, to reduce 2 daily hours of non-adding value time. This work makes an innovative contribution to fulfil a lack of publications dedicated to hyper-market inbound logistics between the warehouse and the store. Thus, it reveals the significant importance of focusing on instore logistics to the point of sale, concerning the efficiency, the lean production, and social benefits to the retail hypermarket, from the reception of products in the hypermarket warehouse until they are placed on the store shelves.

The sabaleta, Brycon henni, is a medium-size fish species found in the Andean range of the Magdalena-Cauca river basin in Colombia, where it is a fishery resource. Recruitment of sabaleta has affected construction of dams with unknown consequences on its genetic diversity and structure. Understanding the current genetic architecture in the dam-influenced areas compared to non-regulated water flow systems is crucial to diagnose the impact of human interventions and formulate proper management strategies. In this study, we evaluated the genetic structure and diversity of B. henni by using a set of microsatellites in individuals from 14 localities to identify the number of distinct genetic pools. We used various approaches to compare populations between regulated and non-regulated areas in the Magdalena-Cauca basin, and identified eleven well-differentiated and highly diverse population groups with marked genetic structures at local and regional levels. Genetic diversity of B. henni was very similar among non-regulated and dam-regulated water flow areas; however, one of the populations in non-regulated areas showed evidence of a founder effect associated with recent introductions. The effect of dams on the genetic structure of B. henni in the Magdalena-Cauca basin was negligible, probably due to their recent construction. Future reduction of genetic diversity and the loss of unique populations is expected due to the combined effect of geographic isolation and population declines. Thus, monitoring programs are necessary to detect changes in the genetic structure of fish populations to develop useful conservation actions.

Several seaweed species are commercialized worldwide both due to high demand for food and feed and as a raw material for the extraction of phycocolloids such as agar, carrageenan, and alginates that are used broadly in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Chile is the world’s leading marine seaweed biomass producer when it comes to the exploitation of natural kelp beds. This extraction pressure has persisted for decades and has resulted in a reduction in natural stocks along the benthic ecosystems of the Chilean coast. Over the last three decades, several strategies aimed at restoring seaweed stocks have been implemented (i.e., sexual and asexual reproduction, the use of spore-type propagules or fragments of thalli, and entire thallus transplants). Success rates have varied, but the biological feasibility of such strategies has been demonstrated for several species. However, technological improvements must be achieved to move from small-scale, pilot experiments to cost-effective restocking strategies that are easy to transfer to fisher communities and another end-user, scalable to marine field conditions, and socio-ecologically sustainable. Researchers in other geographic areas have explored similar pathways for developing kelp restocking strategies and have tackled the research gaps regarding its massification. This work summarizes the research activities carried out in recent decades in the search for sustainable strategies to restore algal stocks in Chile.

Swimming performance is a well‐established key physiological parameter of fish that is highly linked to their fitness in the wild. In the context of fish restocking purposes, it therefore appears crucial to study this specific behaviour. Here, the authors investigated intra and interspecies differences in the swimming performance of hatchery‐reared post‐larvae and juveniles belonging to two Mediterranean candidate threatened species, the common dentex, Dentex dentex (Sparidae), and the brown meagre, Sciaena umbra (Sciaenidae), with body sizes ranging from 8 to 37 mm total length (TL, from 24 to 58 days post‐hatch). The swimming abilities were estimated through the calculation of their critical swimming speed (Ucrit), their relative Ucrit and their Reynolds number (Re). Two different patterns were observed between D. dentex and S. umbra, showing a different effect of ontogeny on the performance of both species. The relative Ucrit of S. umbra decreased linearly through ontogeny, whereas the relative Ucrit and Ucrit of D. dentex increased linearly through the range of sizes tested. The ontogenetic change in Ucrit of S. umbra occurred in two stages: a first stage of sharp improvement and a second stage of a slow decrease in performance. Both stages were separated by a breakpoint that coincided with the appearance of a refusal to swim behaviour that occurred shortly after the end of metamorphosis and can potentially be associated with the establishment of this species sedentary behaviour. The swimming performance of both species showed ontogenetic differences. Sciaena umbra had the highest relative performance when its body sizes were the smallest, whereas D. dentex showed the highest relative performance when its body sizes were the largest. These results will be linked to future research on both of these species concerning their escape, exploratory and predatory behaviours, and for restocking purposes to draw a more realistic overview of hatchery‐reared juvenile performance. Knowledge of both species' behavioural and swimming performance through ontogeny is important to consider when using hatchery‐reared fish juveniles for restocking, as size‐at‐release can have a large impact on fish survival and thus on restocking success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of viral diseases in eels is suggested to severely affect the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) panmictic population. The European Commission has initiated the Eel Recovery Plan (Council Regulation No. 1100/2007) to try to return the European eel stock to more sustainable levels within that measures eel restocking. However, scientific evidence evaluating the efficacy of stocking remains scarce. In addition, knowledge about the impact and contribution of eel stocking on the distribution of infectious diseases is insufficient. In this study, we aimed to investigate virus infections in batches of eels intended for restocking. We analysed samples of glass eels from certified fisheries and farmed European eels from different aquaculture farms. All analysed eels were purchased within a North Rhine Westphalian conservation program. Via a combination of cell culture and qPCR‐based techniques, we detected infections of glass eels with the rhabdovirus Eel Virus European X and anguillid herpesvirus 1 infections in farmed eels (10–15 cm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Trauma centers are required to have immediate availability of resources to stabilize traumatic injuries. However, maintaining trauma room organization can be challenging in the fast turnaround environment of trauma care. Implementation of 5S methodology has shown success in standardizing processes to maintain organized, efficient workspaces. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the implementation of 5S methodology on trauma resuscitation room organization, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. METHODS: This quality improvement pre- and postintervention study assessed the impact of 5S methodology on trauma resuscitation room organization. A 20-question survey was developed and administered to emergency department technicians before and after a multiphase intervention that included strategies for room reorganization, improved signage, creation of workstations, education, and implementation of a log sheet system. A final cost analysis was evaluated upon completion. RESULTS: Emergency department technicians completed n = 26 presurveys and n = 19 postsurveys. Room organization improved from preintervention 31% to postintervention 89%. Restocking with a checklist improved from 46% preintervention to 63% postintervention. A cost analysis summary identified 130 overstocked items equaling a total cost savings of $4,026.82. CONCLUSION: The 5S methodology improved trauma bay organization by sorting, organizing, standardizing, labeling, and color coding resuscitation supplies based on the ABCDE (airway, breathing, circulation, disability, and exposure) of the primary survey. Additional strategies included improved signage, workspace reorganization, staff education, and checklist restocking accountability. The 5S implementation resulted in significant cost savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stocking hatchery propagated long-spined sea urchins Diadema antillarum is a priority option for recovery of this keystone herbivore on Caribbean reefs. However, information on captive culture of D. antillarum is very limited due to historical lack of successful juvenile production from gametes in the hatchery. In this study, hatchery propagated D. antillarum juveniles were cultured using two diets, commercially available herbivore pellets and dried nori, with the presence/absence of stony coral Acropora cervicornis skeleton to understand how diet and habitat complexity affect growth and behavior of juveniles. Juvenile urchin growth, and the diel pattern of feeding and foraging behavior were significantly affected by diet type. Juveniles fed dried nori gained significantly higher live weight and test diameter than those fed herbivore pellets. Juvenile urchins displayed nocturnal feeding and foraging behavior irrespective of diet types and presence/absence of coral structure. Presence/absence of coral structure did not affect growth and diel pattern of feeding and foraging behavior, but modulated habitat usage patterns. Survival of juveniles was neither affected by diet types nor the presence/absence of coral structure. This study concludes that dried nori is a superior diet to herbivore pellets for juvenile urchin culture. Since the presence of coral structure influenced habitat usage patterns, provision of rugose structure in captivity has the potential to convey the innate shelter seeking behavior of juvenile urchins.

The sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) is an important economic resource in Europe, but intense harvesting has led to the collapse of several natural populations. Echinoculture, associated with restocking and stock enhancement practices, is an alternative to this problem. In these procedures, reliable individual identification through tagging is a valuable source of information. However, very few studies address the effect of tagging methods on P. lividus and the tagging of marine invertebrates still presents several challenges: decreased growth, high mortality rates and low tag retention rates. Under laboratory conditions, the present study evaluated the effectiveness of three tagging methods (passive integrated transponders [PIT-tags], coded wire tags [CWTs] and calcein) on wild P. lividus for 60 days in terms of total wet weight, total weight gain (mg ind.−1 day−1), survival and tag retention. The final total wet weight was significantly higher in the untagged (control) group than in the PIT-tagged group. Survival rate was 100% for the PIT-tag, calcein and control groups, and 97% for the CWT group. Tag retention differed significantly according to the tagging method: 100% in the calcein group, 76.7% in the PIT-tag group and 38.0% in the CWT group.

The release of hatchery-reared fish fry for restocking is important for the enrichment of fishery resources; however, the effective evaluation of the success rate of marking such fish is challenging. We exposed juvenile crucian carp (Carassius carassius) to a single concentration of SrCl2·6H2O for 5 d and evaluated the efficiency of Sr marking of the fish otoliths (sagittae, asterisci, and lapilli) using an electron probe micro-analyzer. Sr marking signatures formed a peak in all otolith types, with a marking success rate of 100%. The ratio of Sr to Ca in the lapilli and sagittae was higher than that in the asterisci. It took 2 d from the beginning of immersion to the deposition of Sr on the lapilli and sagittae, and the time delay for asterisci was 1 d. For the lapilli and sagittae, it took 16 d to terminate Sr marking and fully recover to the pre-marking Sr level, whereas it was 12 d for the asterisci. The application of the Sr dose had no effect on the survival or growth of the carp. This study demonstrated that the lapilli are the most suitable otolith type for Sr marking observations in crucian carp and provides a theoretical basis and technical support for carp restocking using the Sr marking approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild juvenile collection (WJC) from settling larvae has been reported for two temperate holothurians (Apostichopus japonicus and Apostichopus californicus), mainly for the objective of restocking, but its applicability to tropical holothurians is unknown. This study, for the first time, tested the applicability of WJC for tropical sea cucumbers.First, hatchery‐produced larvae of peanutfish (Stichopus horrens) before settlement were introduced in a tank in which bundles of coconut fibre, rolled mesh bags, and oyster shells were suspended to identify the most suitable settlement material. The results showed that the coconut fibre and mesh bags collected more settling larvae than the oyster shells.Second, 25 collectors were installed for 3 months in the field in Nggela, Solomon Islands. The newly designed simple collector comprised between two and four net bags filled with coconut fibre, which were tied to a rope vertically moored between a concrete block anchor and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle floats. A total of 14 juvenile holothurians were collected, including Stichopus cf. horrens, stonefish (Actinopyga lecanora), kingfish (Synapta maculata), and five unidentified species. It is characteristic of tropical WJC that diverse species can be collected simultaneously (including rare, non‐culturable species), which is advantageous over hatchery production for restocking purposes. The total yield corresponded to approximately 1% of the total abundance of the ambient holothurian community, demonstrating potential for restocking, considering the ease of the extension and repetition of the trials. Collection in the inner bay areas was successful, whereas rough weather physically damaged the collectors in areas open to the ocean.These results show that WJC is a viable option for tropical holothurians. Thus, the use of the low‐cost, simple collectors using coconut fibre could be a new conservation measure for endangered holothurian resources, and are manageable by local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The White’s seahorse Hippocampus whitei was listed as an Endangered species in 2020 on Australian state and federal legislation, as a result of population declines across its range attributed to habitat loss over the past decade. A captive-bred reintroduction program has been implemented as a possible management tool for species recovery, however, the viability of such a reintroduction program for seahorses has not been assessed to date. This study implemented a pilot captive-breeding program using adult H. whitei from Sydney Harbour, Australia, as brood stock. A total of 90 captive-bred seahorses were released into the wild on two different artificial habitat types (“seahorse hotels” and protective swimming net). Following release, a monthly post-release monitoring program was implemented for 12 months that involved underwater visual census surveys of the tagged seahorses. Sightings of captive-bred seahorse numbers were found to gradually decline over the 12-month period, with fewer seahorses found on the swimming net compared to the seahorse hotels and higher resighting probability of captive-bred animals on the seahorse hotels. After 12 months, 20% of the captive-bred seahorses were detected on the seahorse hotels, whilst two individuals were still observed 18 months after release on the hotels. Only 2% of captive-bred seahorses were observed on the swimming net after 12 months, with two individuals still detected on the net after two years. Nine of the captive-bred seahorses were found to reproduce in the wild, with two individuals observed mating with the wild population. This pilot study indicates that captive-bred seahorses can survive for up to two years in the wild, as well as contribute to local population recovery through reproductive success. However, while conservation stocking shows promise as a potential management tool to assist with threatened seahorse species recovery, there are several factors such as existing threats to the species that need to be addressed before such a program is implemented.

There is a lack of information on many biological and ecological aspects of the critically endangered European eel during its growth phase in inland waters, such as when the sedentary life stage begins, mobility according to age and response to habitat alteration. We used mobile radio frequency identification (RFID) telemetry technology to track tagged eels over 6 years after their restocking as glass eels in six typologically different rivers. We also cross-referenced telemetry data with those of several electrofishing monitoring sessions to better understand the mobility and behaviour of eels. The relative abundance (maximum 52 individuals km−1) and detection rate (maximum 28%) of eels were not significantly correlated with the time/age after restocking. Eels were present in all restocked rivers, but their abundance was low and mobility was high in a slightly acidified, oligotrophic river that had experienced a great loss of fish habitat heterogeneity. This loss of habitat heterogeneity was due to flooding events and machinery works in riverbeds to restore the altered riverbanks. Four years after glass eel release, restocked eels became sedentary and moved from shallow to deep microhabitats with riverbeds dominated by blocks as the bottom substrate. After this age, they exhibited high fidelity to the residence site. This study provides new insights concerning the biology and ecology of eels restocked as glass eels in freshwaters, which should lead to improved management plans for the species through the implementation of more effective conservation measures and strategies.

Giant clam populations in Singapore are endangered due to historical exploitation, habitat loss, and sediment pollution.Transplanting cultured giant clams onto reefs is a potential conservation strategy. This study examined the growth and survival of three initial size classes (50.0–60.0 mm, 60.1–70.0 mm, >70 mm) of cultured juvenile fluted giant clams, Tridacna squamosa, transplanted to three reef sites under two caging treatments (caged and uncaged).After 145 days, there was no significant difference in clam survival within the size classes and within caging treatments across reef sites, even though environmental conditions varied greatly between sites. However, there was a significant effect of initial size class on T. squamosa survival, with higher survival with increasing size class (50.0–60.0 mm: 11.1%; 60.1–70.0 mm: 34.1%; >70.0 mm: 46.9%).Clams in caged treatments had significantly lower survival (16.7%) than uncaged clams (43.1%), likely due to biofouling atop caged treatments reducing light availability. Growth rates in the caged treatment (2.2 ± SD 1.8 mm month−1) were also lower than those in the uncaged treatment (3.9 ± SD 2.2 mm month−1).By optimizing transplant procedures for Singapore's turbid reef conditions, T. squamosa restocking efforts could play an important role in boosting local population numbers to facilitate natural recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass eels, the young life stage of the endangered European eel entering the European continental waters, are exploited for human consumption (direct, or on‐grown) and restocking. Restocking is considered as a potential contribution to the conservation of the stock. For this, the mortality of glass eels during capture should be low. We studied the handling mortality of glass eels obtained by commercial push net fisheries in different rivers in France in 2019 and 2020. The direct mortality of glass eels in 41 fishing trips of 29 boats varied from zero to 3.1% (mean 0.3%). Skin lesions identified by staining occurred in 31% (range: 4%–98%) of the eels. Post fishing mortality of glass eels varied from zero to 67.2%. The mean total fishing mortality was with 7.4% (range 0%–56.2%), considerably lower than in previous studies. The Sustainable Eel Group (SEG) issues certificates to fishers applying best practices for a responsible fishery. Comparing certified to uncertified fishers, the certified fishers have on average significant lower lesions and post‐fishing mortality rates, However, some uncertified fishers have an equal or better glass eel quality than certified fishers. Noting that certified fishers score better on average, and avoid the worst scores, we conclude that the SEG‐certification scheme for responsible fishing is effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European lobster (Homarus gammarus) has been the subject of aquaculture and related research efforts for the last 150 years, due to both the wild fishery and cultural value of the species. Since the middle of the 20th century, increasing anthropogenic pressure has led to a severe decline in wild fish and shellfish stocks, including H. gammarus, with some fisheries yet to recover. H. gammarus is amongst the most exclusive and valuable European shellfish products, and whilst management measures have been implemented to safeguard stocks, H. gammarus aquaculture is an increasingly credible approach to help to secure a sustainable lobster supply. Historically, this has been achieved by relatively small‐scale release of hatchery‐reared juveniles during stock enhancement programmes. Until recently, commercial attempts at farming have not been viable, mainly due to cost‐prohibitive technical challenges. At present, there are several promising approaches to overcome bottlenecks hampering commercialisation of lobster aquaculture. This review summarises new technical and husbandry innovations in H. gammarus culture since the start of the 21st century, including technological innovations, husbandry and expansion of the stock enhancement (release) and farming (production) sectors. Additionally, likely directions for both sectors in the coming decades are summarised, knowledge gaps identified and the societal support required to achieve further potential are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European lobster (Homarus gammarus) forms the base of an important fishery along the coasts of Europe. However, stocks have been in decline for many years, prompting new regulations in the fishery and also restocking efforts. An important feature of any restocking effort is the assessment of success in the number of released juveniles that stay and become adult over time. Here, we tested the power of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) DNA marker panel developed for population assignment to correctly infer parentage on the maternal side of lobster larvae, in the absence of known fathers, using lobsters included in a current restocking effort on the Swedish west coast. We also examined the power to reconstruct the unknown paternal genotypes, and examined the number of fathers for each larval clutch. We found that the 96-SNP panel, despite only containing 78 informative markers, allowed us to assign all larvae to the correct mother. Furthermore, with ten genotyped larvae or more, confident paternal genotypes could be reconstructed. We also found that 15 out of 17 clutches were full siblings, whereas two clutches had two fathers. To our knowledge, this is the first time a SNP panel of this size has been used to assess parentage in a crustacean restocking effort. Our conclusion is that the panel works well, and that it could be an important tool for the assessment of restocking success of H. gammarus in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preserving the genetic diversity of wild fish is an important consideration for restocking programs, as inbreeding can compromise progeny survival as well as impact the resilience of natural populations. Objective: To evaluate the influence of spawning method: semi-natural (SN) or strip-spawning (ST), and the number of breeders (1♀:3♂ and 2♀:6♂) on the reproductive efficiency and genetic diversity of B. orbignyanus progeny destined for restoration of wild stocks. Methods: Rates of fertilization, hatching and broodfish mortality were recorded. For genetic evaluations (allele frequency, observed and expected heterozygosity, Shannon index, inbreeding coefficient, molecular variance analysis, and genetic differentiation), breeders (n=24), and their progenies (90 larvae/treatment) were sampled and analyzed using eight microsatellite markers. Results: Higher fertilization and hatching rates, and lower broodfish mortality were observed for the SN method (p0.05). Interaction between spawning method and number of breeders was not significant (p>0.05). The amplified microsatellite loci produced a total of 30 alleles, with sizes between 80 and 225 bp and their frequencies indicated an increase (p0.05). Conclusion: The spawning methods and number of breeders tested increased equally the genetic diversity of the progeny, with low genetic differentiation between treatments. In contrast, rates of fertilization, hatching and brood fish mortality revealed that the SN method resulted in the best reproductive efficiency due to the handling stress and injuries caused by ST. Thus, SN proves to be the most suitable spawning-method for B. orbignyanus in restocking programs.

Catadromous fish species can be defined important organisms for their ecological, economical, and cultural value. Because of a complex life cycle, catadromous fish species are exhibited to the cumulative effect of multiple anthropogenic threats that resulted in worldwide decline since the beginning of the 20th century. Among the most iconic catadromous species, the European eel Anguilla anguilla has aroused considerable interest, and to date, many aspects of its life cycle remain relatively unknown. Although conspicuous efforts by the research to ensure the perpetuation of the species were conducted, the identification of the best tools to reduce the threats that affect eels remains challenging. In this narrative review, the state of the knowledge and main threats about the life cycle, the habitat occupancy, the recruitment, and migration patterns of the European eel have been reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common practices in current game management are wetland restoration and creation, as well as releases of quarry species. We studied the impact of releases of mallard ducklings on species richness of wild waterbirds and amphibians on three types of wetlands: natural, constructed and restored. Data on species richness, macrophyte cover and water characteristics (total phosphorous and pH) were collected at 32 sites in an agricultural landscape in southern Sweden. In total, 14 species of waterbirds were recorded, ranging from zero to seven per wetland and survey. Amphibians were present in 24 of the 32 wetlands; in total five species were found, ranging from zero to three per wetland. By using generalized linear modelling we found that wetland type best predicted waterbird species richness. Constructed wetlands had significantly more waterbird species, regardless of whether they were used for mallard releases or not. There were breeding amphibians in 62% of natural, 100% of restored and 77% of constructed wetlands. Breeding amphibians were present in 84% of wetlands without, and in 62% of wetlands with releases. However, included variables did not explain amphibian species richness in the wetlands. Releasing large numbers of mallards on a wetland and providing food ad libitum is likely to affect water quality, nutrient availability and predation pressure. Indeed, phosphorous levels were significantly higher in release wetlands, but no differences were found between wetland types.This means that mallard releases may increase nutrient loads in environments that are already eutrophied. However, in our study system releases did not influence species richness of waterbirds and amphibians locally. Constructing wetlands for mallard releases can thus have positive local effects on species richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal of wild sea urchins from S2 ( I N i ~ 150) was carried out before the beginning of the trial to avoid a mixing effect with the reared urchins. These results indicate that reared sea urchins were able to forage once seeded into the wild confirming that sea urchins used the available seaweeds and animal proteins as source of food (Prato et al., 2018). Keywords: aquaculture; overexploitation; Paracentrotus lividus; restocking EN aquaculture overexploitation Paracentrotus lividus restocking 2896 2900 5 05/17/21 20210601 NES 210601 The decrease of marine resources is widespread and concerns also marine invertebrates including sea urchins which are harvested for their prized gonads (Stefánsson et al., 2017). [Extracted from the article]

Italian native populations of Mediterranean brown trout belong to the Salmo trutta complex. This species complex includes many mitochondrial lineages and phenotypes that have caused taxonomic controversies over time. The spatial distribution and the genetic diversity of these fishes are threatened by habitat destruction, global warming and, mainly, by the introduction of domestic trout of Atlantic origin. Indeed allochthonous trouts were massively restocked in Italian rivers for a century and they admixed with native populations. In order to identify residual native populations of Mediterranean brown trout, a genetic analysis of specimens collected within Latium region, on the Tyrrhenian slope of central Italy, was undertaken. To this purpose, 210 trout specimens were collected from six different rivers and analyzed for the identification of their nuclear (LDH-C1* RFLP) and mitochondrial (Control Region sequences) genotypes. Genetic characterization with these molecular markers allowed a quantitative estimate of allochthonous genotypes, which are present in all brown trout populations of the six sites, even if not equally distributed across the sampling area. At least three populations, inhabiting diverse lotic ecosystems (mountain, hilly and coastal streams respectively), are characterized by a high percentage of native nuclear allele *100 at locus LDH-C1* and typical Mediterranean haplotypes (of AD and ME lineages), which can be considered as different management units (MUs). This finding highlighted the aquatic ecosystems of the Latium Region as an important hotspot of salmonid biodiversity within the Italian peninsula, with important implications from a conservation perspective.

The systematic status of the Italian trout in the Salmo trutta L., 1758 complex (including marble, Mediterranean and lacustrine trout), has long been - and is still today – subject of controversies among ichthyologists. The specific name and the taxonomic rank changed several times in the last years, and the natural occurrence of this salmonid fish in some Italian areas was debated due to spread of alien strains. The main difficulty with the taxonomy of the Italian trout stems from the impossibility of disentangling it “on paper” or, even worse, trying to face this systematic issue considering only a very limited (local/national scale) part of the brown trout range. The taxonomy of the Italian trout population is inextricably linked to the necessity of clarifying first phylogeny and phylogeography in an overall Mediterranean context. The opportunity of a non “self-referential” taxonomy is even more fundamental for a vulnerable salmonid like the Italian brown trout, for which there is a very conflicting management problem related to sport fishing and, at the same time, the urgent need for effective conservation measures. It is however necessary to emphasize that conservation is independent from taxonomy but must start from the level of the local population. In fact, management units need stability and they cannot, therefore, coincide with entities – the Linnean species – requiring continuous taxonomic revisions. Modern molecular methods are the best tools for defining these units of management and conservation in an evolutionary perspective.

The release of hatchery-reared fish fry for restocking is important for the enrichment of fishery resources; however, the effective evaluation of the success rate of marking such fish is challenging. We exposed juvenile crucian carp (Carassius carassius) to a single concentration of SrCl2·6H2O for 5 d and evaluated the efficiency of Sr marking of the fish otoliths (sagittae, asterisci, and lapilli) using an electron probe micro-analyzer. Sr marking signatures formed a peak in all otolith types, with a marking success rate of 100%. The ratio of Sr to Ca in the lapilli and sagittae was higher than that in the asterisci. It took 2 d from the beginning of immersion to the deposition of Sr on the lapilli and sagittae, and the time delay for asterisci was 1 d. For the lapilli and sagittae, it took 16 d to terminate Sr marking and fully recover to the pre-marking Sr level, whereas it was 12 d for the asterisci. The application of the Sr dose had no effect on the survival or growth of the carp. This study demonstrated that the lapilli are the most suitable otolith type for Sr marking observations in crucian carp and provides a theoretical basis and technical support for carp restocking using the Sr marking approach.

Summary: Although the population of Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus is significantly increasing in Europe, in Italy the species is still on the Red List as 'Critically Endangered', with the last natural population persisting on the island of Sardinia. Several episodes of poisoning hampered the success of conservation actions implemented in the years 1987–1995. In 2005 there were estimated to be only 31–32 territorial pairs, with the population occupying the territories of Alghero and Bosa. We used a long-term dataset of reproductive records from the Sardinian Griffon Vulture populations to run a population viability analysis (PVA) to evaluate the extinction risk using the Vortex simulation software. The model estimated the probability of extinction over the next five generations (estimated generation time: 11 years, simulation time used: 55 years) as 96.4% for the Alghero population, and near-zero for the Bosa population. We used sensitivity analyses to understand how uncertainty about parameter values affect model outcomes. Population projections were evaluated under different management scenarios tackling the main threats (poisoning and human disturbance) and implementing conservation actions (supplementary feeding and restocking). Our results showed that population size is a critical factor in affecting the projections of population dynamics of Griffon Vultures. Sensitivity analyses highlighted the importance of poisoning events to population persistence and showed that juvenile and adult mortality rates had a secondary impact on population viability. The only conservation measure effective in significantly increasing stochastic growth rates in the Alghero population, whose initial population was set at five individuals, was the complete removal of poisoning events. When targeting the Bosa population (initial population size 94 individuals), supplementary feeding, mitigation of the risk of poisoning episodes, restocking, and mitigation of human disturbance in the reproductive sites significantly increased stochastic growth rate. A cost-effectiveness analysis should be performed to prioritise interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]