181 research outputs found

    Evolution of realized Eltonian niches across Rajidae species

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    The notion that closely related species resemble each other in ecological niche space (i.e., phylogenetic dependence) has been a long-standing, contentious paradigm in evolutionary biology, the incidence of which is important for predicting the ecosystem-level effects of species loss. Despite being examined across a multitude of terrestrial taxa, many aspects of niche conservatism have yet to be explored in marine species, especially for characteristics related to resource use and trophic behavior (Eltonian niche characteristics, ENCs). We combined ENCs derived from stable isotope ratios at assemblage- and species-levels with phylogenetic comparative methods, to test the hypotheses that benthic marine fishes (1) exhibit similar assemblage-wide ENCs regardless of geographic location and (2) display phylogenetically dependent ENCs at the species level. We used a 12-species sub-set of the monophyletic group Rajidae sampled from three independent assemblages (Central California, Gulf of Alaska, and Northwest Atlantic), which span two ocean basins. Assemblage-level ENCs implied low trophic diversity and high evenness, suggesting that Rajidae assemblages may exhibit a well-defined trophic role, a trend consistent regardless of geographic location. At the species level, we found evidence for phylogenetic dependence of ENCs relating to trophic diversity (i.e., isotopic niche width; SEAc). Whether individuals can be considered functional equivalents across assemblages is hard to ascertain because we did not detect a significant phylogenetic signal for ENCs relating to trophic function (e.g., trophic position). Thus, additional, complimentary approaches are required to further examine the phylogenetic dependence of species functionality. Our approach illustrates the potential of stable isotope-derived niche characteristics to provide insight on macroecological processes occurring across evolutionary time, which could help predict how assemblages may respond to the effects of species loss

    Separation of realized ecological niche axes among sympatric tilefishes provides insight into potential drivers of co-occurrence in the NW Atlantic

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    Golden and Blueline Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps and Caulolatilus microps) are keystone taxa in northwest (NW) Atlantic continental shelf-edge environments due to their biotic (trophic-mediated) and abiotic (ecosystem engineering) functional roles combined with high-value fisheries. Despite this importance, the ecological niche dynamics (i.e., those relating to trophic behavior and food-web interactions) of these sympatric species are poorly understood, knowledge of which may be consequential for maintaining both ecosystem function and fishery sustainability. We used stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) to build realized ecological niche hypervolumes to serve as proxies for diet and production use patterns of L. chamaeleonticeps and C. microps. We hypothesized that: (a) species exhibit ontogenetic shifts in diet and use of production sources; (b) species acquire energy from spatially distinct resource pools that reflect a sedentary life-history and differential use of the continental shelf-edge; and (c) species exhibit differentiation in one or more measured niche axes. We found evidence for ontogenetic shifts in diet (δ15N) but not production source (δ13C) in both species, suggesting a subtle expansion of measured ecological niche axes. Spatial interpolation of stable isotope ratios showed distinct latitudinal gradients; for example, individuals were 13C enriched in northern and 15N enriched in southern regions, supporting the assertion that tilefish species acquire energy from regional resource pools. High isotopic overlap was observed among species (≥82%); however, when hypervolumes included depth and region of capture, overlap among species substantially decreased to overlap estimates of 15%–77%. This suggests that spatial segregation could alleviate potential competition for resources among tilefish species inhabiting continental shelf-edge environments. Importantly, our results question the consensus interpretation of isotopic overlap estimates as representative of direct competition among species for shared resources or habitats, instead identifying habitat segregation as a possible mechanism for coexistence of tilefish species in the NW Atlantic

    Digital Signal Processing

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    Contains reports on twelve research projects.U. S. Navy - Office of Naval Research (Contract N00014-75-C-0951)National Science Foundation (Grant ENG76-24117)National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NSG-5157)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAABO7-76-C-1400)U.S. Navy-Office of Naval Research (Contract N00014-77-C-0196)Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionU. S. Navy - Office of Naval Research (Contract N00014-75-C-0852)Department of Ocean Engineering, M.I.T.National Science Foundation subcontract to Grant GX 41962 to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institutio

    Spatiotemporal Overlap Of Spiny Dogfish (Squalus Acanthias) And Commercial Fisheries In The Northeast Us Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem

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    Commercial fishermen have argued that localized concentrations of spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) in the northeast U.S. shelf large marine ecosystem (NES LME) have impeded their fishing operations when monitoring surveys estimated lower relative abundances. Fishery-dependent and -independent data were analyzed simultaneously to examine whether increased spatial overlap between spiny dogfish and commercial fisheries may explain high catches of this species on fishing grounds. Spatial overlap was quantified between spiny dogfish distribution and commercial fisheries from 1989 to 2009 during autumn and spring in the NES LME. Combined, the sink gillnet (SGN) and otter trawl (OT) fisheries accounted for the majority of spiny dogfish catch (autumn: 85%; spring: 92%), either retained (SGN) or discarded (OT). Centers of spiny dogfish abundance illustrated spatial differences in local density within the NES LME and revealed seasonal differences in spiny dogfish density. Recent increases in spatial overlap indicate that a growing portion of the spiny dogfish stock was available to each fishery over the time series. Availability, estimated as the percentage of spiny dogfish present on fishing grounds, also increased and was generally higher during autumn than spring. Abundance of mature (total length.80 cm) female spiny dogfish was significantly related to availability, but trends were variable between fisheries and seasons. Although recent increases in abundance indicate recovery, research regarding the mechanisms behind these changes may help explain why abundance in the NES LME appears highly variable

    Telemetry-validated nitrogen stable isotope clocks identify ocean-to-estuarine habitat shifts in mobile organisms

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    Throughout their life history, many animals transition among heterogeneous environments to facilitate behaviours such as reproduction, foraging and predator avoidance. The dynamic environmental and biological conditions experienced by mobile species are integrated in the chemical composition of their tissues, providing retrospective insight into movement. Here, we present a unique application of nitrogen stable isotope clocks (‘isotopic clocks’), which integrate tissue turnover rates, consumer stable isotope ratios and habitat-specific isotope baselines to predict time-since-immigration and the timing of habitat shifts in a migratory species. Nitrogen stable isotope values of blood plasma collected from juvenile sand tiger sharks Carcharias taurus, a species known to undertake seasonal movements between ocean and estuarine environments, were used to derive estimates of time-since-immigration and the timing of seasonal habitat shifts undertaken by this species. Nitrogen isotopic clocks estimated for 65 juvenile sand tiger sharks sampled across 6 years indicated that individual sharks predominantly arrived to estuarine habitats between June and July, with some individuals arriving as early as mid-May. These estimates were validated by comparing isotope-derived estuarine arrival times with those from acoustically tracked individuals. The median estuarine arrival day estimates from our isotopic approach aligned with estimates from acoustic telemetry for each sampling population. Sensitivity analyses indicated that isotopically inferred time-since-immigration and estuarine arrival estimates were robust to variation in isotopic turnover rate and diet tissue discrimination factors under multiple modelling scenarios. This suggests that parameterization of the nitrogen isotopic clock provides reliable estimates of time-since-immigration and day of arrival into new habitats if isotopic variation exists between origin and new locations. Our study presents a unique application of telemetry-validated isotope clocks to derive retrospective estimates of time-since-immigration and timing of habitat shifts for animals that seasonally traverse heterogeneous environments. This approach can be readily applied across many temporal and spatial scales, and to other species and ecosystems, to facilitate rapid assessment of changes in animal habitat use and broader ecosystem structure

    Lessons from seventy-five years of ecosystem modeling in the Northeastern US Shelf

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    As fisheries management agencies move toward an ecosystem-based management framework it has become common to develop large and complex models to investigate the dynamics of marine systems. We review the published literature using ecosystem models for the Northeastern US Shelf (NEUS) to identify trends in modeling practices, model complexification, model application, and model evaluation over the last seven decades. We reveal that NEUS ecosystem modeling efforts have focused primarily on the effects of commercial fisheries on individual stocks but rarely addressed questions related to climate change impacts. Additionally, we determined that only 14 of the 67 NEUS publications include model validation or evaluation, and we stress the importance of validation and evaluation for future NEUS ecosystem models. We compare modeling efforts in the NEUS to two other US large marine ecosystems, the California Current System and the Gulf of Mexico, to compare trends in model complexification and identify modeling techniques that could be applied in the NEUS. Finally, we draw on our synthesis of 75 years of NEUS ecosystem modeling to recommend modeling techniques and applications that have the potential to move NEUS fisheries management toward ecosystem-based management frameworks

    Diel Variations in Survey Catch Rates and Survey Catchability of Spiny Dogfish and their Pelagic Prey in the Northeast US Continental Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem

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    This study examines the potential uncertainty in survey biomass estimates of Spiny Dogfish Squalus acanthias in the Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (NES LME). Diel catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) estimates are examined from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center bottom trawl surveys conducted during autumn (1963-2009) and spring (1968-2009). Influential environmental variables on survey catchability are identified for Spiny Dogfish life history stages and five pelagic prey species: Butterfish Peprilus triacanthus, Atlantic Herring Clupea harengus, shortfin squid Illex spp., longfin squid Doryteuthis spp., and Atlantic Mackerel Scomber scombrus. Daytime survey catchability was significantly higher than nighttime catchability for most species during autumn and for mature male Spiny Dogfish, shortfin squid, and longfin squid during spring in the NES LME. For most stages and species examined, breakpoint analyses identified significant increases in CPUE in the morning, peak CPUE during the day, and significant declines in CPUE in the late afternoon. Seasonal probabilities of daytime catch were largely driven by solar zenith angle for most species, with stronger trends identified during autumn. Unadjusted CPUE estimates appear to overestimate absolute abundance, with adjustments resulting in reductions in absolute abundance ranging from 41% for Spiny Dogfish to 91% for shortfin and longfin squids. These findings have important implications for Spiny Dogfish regarding estimates of population consumption of key pelagic prey species and their ecological footprint within the NES LME

    Educação integral, institucionalização do tempo livre: outras lógicas educacionais no contexto Luso-Brasileiro

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    A finalidade principal do presente artigo é refletir sobre os debates que circundam a educação integral. Baseado em revisão bibliográfica de estudos específicos sobre essa temática, propõe um breve diálogo entre concepções de educação integral no Brasil e em Portugal, articulando-as com propostas no campo da educação não formal. São apresentadas observações sobre as peculiaridades da educação integral em ambos os países, atentos para outros jeitos de organizar o processo educacional, escapando de uma única lógica e do risco de institucionalização cada vez maior do tempo livre.The main purpose of the article is to reflect on the debates surrounding full-time education, and based on a bibliographical review of specific studies on the subject, to propose a brief dialogue between the conceptions of full-time education in Brazil and Portugal, articulating them with proposals in the field of non-formal education. Observations on the peculiarities of full-time education in both countries are presented here, attentive to other ways of organizing the educational process, escaping from a single logic and the risk of institutionalization of free time. Keywords: Full-time education; Non-formal and informal education; Community interventio
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