IFAW and the USM Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Conduct Urgent Study of Endangered Whale Sharks in Oiled Waters

/PRNewswire/ -- International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) scientists are concerned that the protected whale shark, the world's largest fish, may be a quiet victim of the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. IFAW is responding to an urgent appeal for assistance from the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (USM-GCRL) to conduct research on whale shark biology, behavior and movement patterns in the Gulf before it's too late.

The newly discovered essential whale shark feeding area may already be contaminated. It's been three weeks with very few sightings of whale sharks in what are usually normal congregate areas of the northern Gulf of Mexico, leading scientists to worry they may be the unseen victims of the Gulf oil spill.

Not only are whale sharks the biggest fish in the sea but they may also be one of the most vulnerable to the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Despite their large size, whale sharks feed on the tiniest of creatures -- plankton, fish larvae and small crustaceans. However, whale sharks in the northern Gulf may be adding oil and toxic oil dispersant chemicals to their diet as they have been found in areas within and surrounding oiled waters.

"These whale sharks are facing a lethal one-two punch," said IFAW biologist Jacob Levenson. "First is the impact on the animal's ability to breathe as a result of the oil physically coating its gills and secondly is the long term impacts of passively accumulating toxins from oil and liberal dispersant use."

Unlike birds, fish, mammals and other animals, because sharks are negatively buoyant and lack a gas-filled swim bladder, they quietly sink into the depths when they die, never to be seen again. Other than a few accounts of their occurrence, in aggregations, information is scant for whale sharks in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Levenson is joining scientist, Dr. Eric Hoffmayer of the USM-GCRL to conduct research that is crucial to understand how the toxic oil is impacting whale sharks and deciding what can be done to save them before time runs out. The information gathered by the team is also critical to ensure that government and oil companies have accurate information to best protect this species. Currently, there are no provisions in place in BP's spill response plan to protect these beautiful and rare animals.

Levenson and Hoffmayer will make several day trips offshore in boats with aircraft support to gather data and tag animals for future satellite tracking.

"Figuring out what happens to these goliath fish is not just good science, it's important to understand how this toxic cocktail moves through the food chain. Whatever happens to whale sharks is likely to be experienced by manta rays and other animals not normally tested as part of NOAA's Seafood Monitoring Program," added Levenson.

So far, Dr. Hoffmayer has been able to deploy a few satellite tags when he encountered an aggregation of over 100 whale sharks this past June. He is currently tracking one shark with a surface satellite tag in the offshore waters of the Gulf. So far the shark has stayed away from the area impacted by the oil spill. He is hoping to tag several others to determine their daily movements.

-----
Community News You Can Use
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

EDF Applauds New National Catch Share Policy

/PRNewswire/ -- A policy released today by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) charts an historic new course for the nation's fish stocks, giving hope for the recovery of struggling fishing communities and depleted fish resources. NOAA is seeking to correct decades of failed management that has resulted in economically depressed, unsafe, and unsustainable fisheries around the country.

The policy promotes greater use of "catch shares," an innovative fisheries management approach proven to improve fishermen's lives and livelihoods and restore fish populations. In the five years after catch share implementation in the U.S., per boat revenues increased an average of 80 percent. NOAA's policy builds upon this success and the efforts of fishermen, fishing communities, scientists, fishery managers, and conservationists to design and implement catch shares. The policy has been released in draft form but will take effect immediately. NOAA will take public comments for the next 120 days through a new web site.

"This policy will help reverse the freefall that U.S. fish stocks have been in for decades," said David Festa, vice-president at Environmental Defense Fund. "It moves fisheries management into the 21st century."

Catch shares work for fishermen and fish populations because they include science-based annual catch limits, accountability measures to ensure compliance with those limits, and effective enforcement. At the same time, catch shares give fishermen greater flexibility for how to run their businesses which improves economic performance

Catch shares are not a one-size-fits-all management system. They can be designed to fit the needs of individual fisheries, which set them apart from conventional management. Catch shares have been implemented in more than 300 fisheries around the world from New Zealand to Namibia to Norway, in fisheries large and small. Today there are more than a dozen catch shares in the U.S. and many more under development.

"Catch shares have brought job stability and security to our longline fishing fleet," said Bob Alverson, manager of the Fishing Vessel Owners Association whose members fish for halibut and sablefish in the North Pacific. "Catch shares have helped increase the dock-side value of our catch by more than 150 percent while improving the quality, eliminating dangerous derby fishing and bringing job stability to vessel owners, crews and communities."

The policy does not mandate catch shares for fisheries but rather makes important changes in NOAA strategy and operations, providing incentives and support for fishery managers who pursue catch shares. In particular, the draft policy:

-- Promotes the consideration and adoption, where appropriate, of catch
share programs in federal fisheries.
-- Removes technical and administrative impediments to catch shares.
-- Provides technical and other support to those regional fishery
management councils that choose to pursue catch shares.
-- Enhances outreach, education and assistance to stakeholders.
-- Promotes the development of technical guidance on specific program
design elements.
-- Supports adaptive management through new research and performance
monitoring of catch share programs over time.


"New England loses a half-billion dollars of potential income every year just in its groundfishery through poor management," said David Preble, a long-time commercial and recreational fisherman who serves on the New England Fishery Management Council. "Catch shares can return prosperity to fishermen."

In the Gulf of Mexico, a catch share implemented in 2007 for commercially caught red snapper immediately extended the fishing season from a few months to year round and significantly reduced the amount of fish that fishermen were required to throw overboard dead or dying. The success of the snapper catch share led commercial fishermen to pursue a catch share for grouper and tilefish that will go into effect Jan. 1. The region's fishery council is now exploring a catch share for all remaining reef fish.

"This policy is a giant victory for the oceans and for fishermen," said Diane Regas, associate vice-president for Oceans at EDF. "Catch shares blow away the myth that healthy oceans and vibrant fisheries are incompatible."

In contrast to catch shares, conventional fishery management has failed in most fisheries to maintain healthy fish populations and the fishing communities that depend on them. In New England alone, the collapse of the North Atlantic cod fishery in the early 1990s resulted in the loss of an estimated 20,000 jobs and $349 million from the economy. In the Pacific halibut fishery, conventional management shrank a full year's fishing down to just 12 hours in some parts of Alaska.

Today over 50 federally managed stocks are overfished or experiencing overfishing. Under current management, meeting a Congressionally mandated deadline to end overfishing by 2011 will mean ever-shorter fishing seasons and long-term closures for many prized species which will have a devastating impact on coastal communities. Catch shares allow continued fishing even while fish stocks recover.

A leading national nonprofit organization, Environmental Defense Fund represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. Twitter twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund. Blog http://blogs.edf.org/edfish/. Visit www.edf.org.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Fishing by the Rules: Sport Fishermen Embrace Sustainable Techniques

/PRNewswire/ -- Unlike commercial fishing, the major player in depleted fish populations, sport fishing makes up less than 12 percent of the global harvest. And though they are equipped with the latest tools and technology to increase their haul, today's sport fisherman embodies a surprising combination of conservation and conquest.

With one eye on environmental responsibility and the other on sportsmanship, most sport fishers have adopted a plethora of sustainable fishing techniques. From reduced-impact gear like lead-free lures to biodegradable bait and hooks, recreational fishermen now have ample opportunities to land their next big catch while preserving big game fish populations for future anglers.

An ardent proponent of aquatic habitat conservation, the International Game Fish Association supports fishermen with guidelines that promote ethical sport fishing practices, including instructions for the best catch-and-release tactics.

"Releasing fish is important, but more important is the way fish are caught and released. Using circle hooks with bait and fish-friendly handling practices that minimize slime loss and damage to the fish help ensure that released fish have the chance to reproduce, and perhaps be caught again," says Jason Schratwieser, Conservation Director for IFGA.

"In my experience, 90 percent of sport fishermen follow the rules," says Captain Lee A. Campbell of the Panama Big Game Fishing Club in Boca Chica, Panama, where sport fishing is a huge draw for serious marine fishermen. In order for the region to maintain its status as a sport fishing hotspot, Panama players like Campbell stress the importance of sustainability.

"Panama is lucky to have a great population of fish, and we want it to stay that way," says Campbell. "If sustainable practices are followed and commercial fishing is banned, Panama could remain one of the best sport fishing destinations in the world. It's too late for many fishing destinations which have already depleted their fish, but for Panama there's still time."

Amble Resorts, an environmentally responsible real estate development company, supports sustainable sport fishing for their new Panama eco resort, The Resort at Isla Palenque. Amble President Ben Loomis notes, "Done correctly, sport fishing is very sustainable. Certainly catch-and-release fishing has a limited impact. But even if we're catching several tuna or Wahoo and taking them back home to share, our impact is nothing compared to commercial fishermen."

Loomis concludes, "Isla Palenque is a great jumping-off point for sport fishing throughout Panama's Gulf of Chiriqui, and we want to protect that. We're less than two hours from famous sites like Hannibal Bank, and we've got a number of other great locations within 45 minutes, like Ladrones or Islas Secas. With sustainable practices, this will remain a fishing paradise for a long time."

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

UGA College of Veterinary Medicine researchers lead team in discovery involving freshwater fish parasite, 'Ich'

Researchers from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine have made an unexpected dual discovery that could open new avenues for treating Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, or “Ich”, a single-celled protozoan parasite that commonly attacks freshwater fish.

With the aid of whole-genome sequencing, researchers found that Ich harbors two apparently symbiotic intracellular bacteria: Bacteroides, which are usually found free-living, and Rickettsia, which are obligate intracellular bacteria.The two bacteria represent new species.

Five researchers from the college’s department of infectious diseases worked on the project in collaboration with two researchers from the department of microbiology and immunology at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and a researcher from the J. Craig Venter Institute. Their initial intent was to map the genome of Ich; the DNA sequencing was done by JCVI and funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Their study is published in the December 2009 issue (Issue 23) of Applied and Environmental Microbiology with an image from the study on the cover.

It was the presence of Rickettsia DNA sequences found in the initial genome data that provided scientists with a clue that bacteria might live inside of Ich.Intracellular bacteria have been described in free-living ciliates such as Paramecium, but never in Ich, which is an obligate parasite.

“It was unexpected; it was stunning to find bacteria in Ich.And, it came about due to the genome sequencing,” said Harry W. Dickerson, a co-author who has been studying Ich in the veterinary college for more than 20 years and a member of the UGA Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, which has a focus on parasitic diseases, primarily of humans. “Ich occurs world-wide and is one of the most common protozoon pathogens of freshwater fish.It is easily recognized by most aquarists, and fish farmers often are confronted with massive epizootic outbreaks to devastating economic effect.”

Ich (which causes “white spot disease”) is a ciliated protozoan parasite that bores into the skin and gills of fish where it feeds, destroying tissue and thereby blocking exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, usually leading to death of the host.Each parasite grows on the fish from roughly 40 microns, which cannot be seen by the naked eye, to approximately one millimeter in diameter, which can easily be seen as a white spot. The parasites leave the fish in about 5-6 days (a ciliate with its typical large nucleus is shown in the image). Each cell then divides multiple times to produce up to 1000 more infective organisms.The entire life cycle takes about 6-7 days.With subsequent rounds of infection the number of parasites continues to increase, and each wave of re-infection becomes more deadly than the last.By the second or third re-infection the fish population is usually overwhelmed and fish begin to die.Fish that survive mild infections can develop immunity.

There are currently no drugs or chemicals that kill Ich while it resides in the fish skin or gills; they can only kill Ich when the parasite is in the water, and therefore all current therapies require a cyclical re-treatment program.

The first major outbreak of Ich in North America was recorded at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.Ich is a well-known problem for aqua-culturists, aquarium owners, pond owners, hobbyists and retailers of freshwater fish.People and birds can also carry the parasite, unknowingly, from pond to pond.

“Work to sequence the genome of this parasitic protozoan unexpectedly revealed that bacterial DNA sequences were also present,” noted Craig Findly, one of the college’s researchers on the project.“Following up this discovery led to our demonstration that two new species of intracellular bacteria use Ich as their host.We now need to determine if these intracellular bacteria play a role in infection.”

Next, the researchers will try to determine what role the two organisms play in the physiology of Ich and whether Ich remain infective if the bacteria are removed.The scientists hope their finding takes them a step closer to developing better treatments for Ich.

The UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1946, is dedicated to training future veterinarians, to conducting research related to animal diseases, and to providing veterinary services for animals and their owners.Research efforts are aimed at enhancing the quality of life for animals and people, improving the productivity of poultry and livestock, and preserving a healthy interface between wildlife and people in the environment they share.The current Teaching Hospital, built in 1979, serves more than 18,000 patients per year in one of the smallest teaching hospitals in the United States.The college is currently working to raise $15 million toward building a new Veterinary Medical Learning Center, which will include a new teaching hospital as well as classrooms and laboratories that will allow for the education of more veterinarians. More veterinarians are needed to promote food safety and protect public health and to provide veterinary services for farm and companion animals owned by a rapidly growing regional population.The college enrolls 102 students each fall out of more than 550 who apply.The goal is to increase enrollment to 150 when the Veterinary Medical Learning Center is built.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Fish Vision Discovery Makes Waves in Natural Selection

Emory University researchers have identified the first fish known to have switched from ultraviolet vision to violet vision, or the ability to see blue light. The discovery is also the first example of an animal deleting a molecule to change its visual spectrum.

Their findings on scabbardfish, linking molecular evolution to functional changes and the possible environmental factors driving them, were published Oct. 13 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"This multi-dimensional approach strengthens the case for the importance of adaptive evolution," says evolutionary geneticist Shozo Yokoyama, who led the study. "Building on this framework will take studies of natural selection to the next level."

The research team included Takashi Tada, a post-doctoral fellow in biology, and Ahmet Altun, a post-doctoral fellow in biology and computational chemistry.

Vision ‘like a painting'

For two decades, Yokoyama has done groundbreaking work on the adaptive evolution of vision in vertebrates. Vision serves as a good study model, since it is the simplest of the sensory systems. For example, only four genes are involved in human vision.

"It's amazing, but you can mix together this small number of genes and detect a whole color spectrum," Yokoyama says. "It's just like a painting."

The common vertebrate ancestor possessed UV vision. However, many species, including humans, have switched from UV to violet vision, or the ability to sense the blue color spectrum.

From the ocean depths

Fish provide clues for how environmental factors can lead to such vision changes, since the available light at various ocean depths is well quantified. All fish previously studied have retained UV vision, but the Emory researchers found that the scabbardfish has not. To tease out the molecular basis for this difference, they used genetic engineering, quantum chemistry and theoretical computation to compare vision proteins and pigments from scabbardfish and another species, lampfish. The results indicated that scabbardfish shifted from UV to violet vision by deleting the molecule at site 86 in the chain of amino acids in the opsin protein.

"Normally, amino acid changes cause small structure changes, but in this case, a critical amino acid was deleted," Yokoyama says.

More examples likely

"The finding implies that we can find more examples of a similar switch to violet vision in different fish lineages," he adds. "Comparing violet and UV pigments in fish living in different habitats will open an unprecedented opportunity to clarify the molecular basis of phenotypic adaptations, along with the genetics of UV and violet vision."

Scabbardfish spend much of their life at depths of 25 to 100 meters, where UV light is less intense than violet light, which could explain why they made the vision shift, Yokoyama theorizes. Lampfish also spend much of their time in deep water. But they may have retained UV vision because they feed near the surface at twilight on tiny, translucent crustaceans that are easier to see in UV light.

A framework for evolutionary biology

Last year, Yokoyama and collaborators completed a comprehensive project to track changes in the dim-light vision protein opsin in nine fish species, chameleons, dolphins and elephants, as the animals spread into new environments and diversified over time. The researchers found that adaptive changes occur by a small number of amino acid substitutions, but most substitutions do not lead to functional changes.

Their results provided a reference framework for further research, and helped bring to light the limitations of studies that rely on statistical analysis of gene sequences alone to identify adaptive mutations in proteins.

"Evolutionary biology is filled with arguments that are misleading, at best," Yokoyama says. "To make a strong case for the mechanisms of natural selection, you have to connect changes in specific molecules with changes in phenotypes, and then you have to connect these changes to the living environment."

From eScienceCommons

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.artsacrossgeorgia.com
Arts Across Georgia

Web Site Offers First Complete Look at Georgia's Freshwater Fishes

This is no fish tale: A new Georgia Museum of Natural History Web site offers the most complete look at Georgia fishes, what they are and where they’re found.

“There has never been anything this comprehensive,” said Brett Albanese, a senior aquatic zoologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Fishes of Georgia is the work of Albanese, Museum of Natural History Director Bud Freeman and Carrie Straight, a research professional with the University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology. The Web site at http://fishesofgeorgia.uga.edu/ went online in March. Behind the lists, photographs and distribution maps are thousands of hours spent studying records, sampling streams and inspecting fish preserved in jars.

Results include a Fishes of Georgia Atlas database that features more than 159,000 fish records from 19,028 collections, and an easy-to-use Web site that documents the state’s deep lineup of freshwater fish. A 1997 publication reported 219 native freshwater fishes for Georgia. Through the atlas project, that total now stands at 265, placing Georgia among the top three U.S. states for freshwater fish diversity.

Environmental consultants, city planners, conservationists and elementary school teachers are all expected to use the site. Species are listed by scientific and common names. Maps show where each fish lives by basin. (Drainage systems often have different fishes.) A tab allows viewers to submit new records.

There are surprises. Twenty-one species listed have not been formally described – or recognized as new species – although many such as the sicklefin redhorse are well known to ichthyologists like Freeman and Albanese. These fish illustrate what is called cryptic, or hidden, diversity.

Factors contributing to a fish species being undiscovered vary, Freeman said. “They may be in hard to sample places. They may look exactly the same, at first glance. They may be different only genetically.”

Anglers who log in will find more bass than expected. The site lists Bartram’s bass, an undescribed species in the Savannah River basin, and splits redeye bass into a species in the Chattahoochee and Flint River basins and another in the Ocmulgee, Oconee and Ogeechee basins, based on research Freeman spearheaded.

The number of state or federally protected fish – 57 – will raise eyebrows. And at least six species are no longer found in Georgia. Conserving the remaining fishes will require watershed-level measures such as protecting streamside forests, preserving natural areas, and managing better the run-off from urban and rural land uses.

The hope is that Fishes of Georgia informs and educates. Straight modeled the site after the museum’s Georgia Wildlife Web, a popular guide to wildlife. She also avoided flashy features that bank on faster Internet connections. “We tried to accommodate as broad a spectrum of users as we could,” Straight said.

She is still adding maps and photographs. Plans include new search functions. Scientists’ comments also will likely change the information, which includes common coastal fishes and 23 non-native species.

The project was funded by the museum, which is part of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at UGA, Georgia DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section and a State Wildlife Grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Fishes of Georgia Atlas was a priority in Georgia’s Wildlife Action Plan, a comprehensive strategy that guides DNR efforts to conserve biological diversity.

The atlas is a significant component of a larger effort to publish a comprehensive book on the state’s fish fauna. Next steps include the development of taxonomic keys and species accounts, a challenge given the number of species involved. Keeping the atlas up-to-date as new information becomes available is also a high priority for the authors.

Each expects the database and Web site to spur more research and understanding of Georgia fishes.



FISHES OF GEORGIA by the numbers

** Web site features 337 species.

** 284 species occur primarily in freshwater or enter freshwater for feeding or breeding.

** 265 of the freshwater species are considered native to Georgia.

** 23 species are introduced or non-native to the state.

** At least six species are extirpated or extinct from Georgia waters.

** 57 are state protected; eight of these are also protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

** 21 have not been formally described by scientists, including some long-recognized species like the sicklefin redhorse and others like a separate species of redeye bass more recently discovered.

** Online: http://fishesofgeorgia.uga.edu/

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.artsacrossgeorgia.com
Arts Across Georgia

New Fish Species Discovered in GA River by UGA

While surveying fishes in Georgia's Flint River, Byron and Mary Freeman noticed that a certain darter fish had a striking orange color in its fins--much different than the Blackbanded darter that is prominent in the southwest Georgia River. The University of Georgia researchers had indeed come across a new species: the Halloween darter or Percina crypta.

"The Halloween darter is a great example of 'cryptic biodiversity' -- species that have gone unrecognized because they look a lot like other species that are known," explained Mary, an ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and the UGA Odum School of Ecology. "Ichthyologists have documented many new fish species in the southeastern U.S., showing that despite nearly 100 years of scientific study of fishes in this region, there are still surprises."

The newly discovered Halloween darter is less than five inches long and upon analysis, was found to have a host of differences from the Blackbanded darter. The fish is common to only a few areas of the Chattahoochee and Flint River systems because it requires habitats with swift water currents over rocky areas--shoals. Findings were reported in a recent issue of prominent zoological journal Zootaxa.

According to Mary, there are far fewer shoals today because of the rise of dams on rivers and streams, as well as the removal of rock shoals to improve rivers for navigation. The discovery of the Halloween darter has definite implications for conservation strategies.

"Keeping track of the status of the Halloween darter, along with other species that require shoal habitats in the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers, will provide information on how shoals as ecological systems are responding to changes in land use, water management and climate," said Mary.

In addition to the Freemans, the research team included Noel Burkhead of the U.S. Geological Survey and Carrie Straight, a Ph.D. student at the UGA Odum School of Ecology.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Ancient Lake Sturgeon No Longer History in Georgia

The once eliminated, prehistoric-looking lake sturgeon is making a return to Georgia’s waters. Decades have passed since these fish, described by some as “shark-like” and “weird,” inhabited their native waters in the Coosa River Basin and Etowah River. Thanks to recent stocking efforts, the species now has a chance to reestablish a population and one day thrive again in these Georgia rivers.

This fall, Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division biologists from Calhoun are stocking 5,000 sturgeon in the Etowah River above Lake Allatoona for the first time. Lake sturgeon stocking efforts began in 2002 in the river system below Allatoona, and the small population has since spread throughout most of the native Coosa River Basin habitat.

“We are hoping eventually to hear reports of lake sturgeon sightings as our stocking efforts begin in the Etowah River,” explains Wayne Probst, Wildlife Resources Division regional fisheries supervisor for northwest Georgia. “We also hope for an increase in sightings throughout the Coosa River Basin as annual stocking efforts continue. Restoring the presence of these prehistoric fish is an important ongoing project for the division.”

Lake sturgeon are long and slender fish with five rows of bony-like plates known as scutes. They are cartilaginous and have dorsal fins similar to a shark, and their toothless tubular mouths are topped with four wiry whiskers. They can live up to 150 years and can weigh 100 or more pounds. In Georgia, they are more likely to reach 40 or 50 pounds.

The 4-6 inch fish biologists will use for stocking came from fertilized eggs received from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The eggs were hatched and raised at Summerville Fish Hatchery in Summerville, Ga. – the only division-operated hatchery in the state currently producing lake sturgeon.

Another hatchery assisting in the restoration effort is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Warm Springs Regional Fisheries Center in Warm Springs, Ga. Hatchery staff assist the division by producing fingerling-size lake sturgeon and helping transport the eggs received from the Wisconsin DNR.

Monitoring studies indicate that stocking efforts in the river system below Allatoona are succeeding. However, because lake sturgeon are long-lived and have a low reproductive capacity, restoration efforts for the species can take decades, and the division anticipates conducting annual sturgeon stocking efforts for the next 15-25 years.

“It is our hope that in time, Georgia’s river systems once again will have a thriving, self-sufficient population of lake sturgeon,” explains Gary Beisser, Wildlife Resources Division biologist. “Successfully re-establishing the species for harvest is the ultimate goal, and anglers can help with this effort by immediately releasing any caught sturgeon and by reporting sightings or catches to a local Wildlife Resources Division Fisheries office.”

For now and during the next decade or two as the species recovers, it is illegal to harvest lake sturgeon. If a sturgeon is accidentally hooked, anglers are advised to immediately release the fish and report the catch details to the division.

The demise of lake sturgeon populations is not limited to Georgia alone. In fact, the species is listed as either threatened or endangered by 19 of the 20 states within its original national range. The construction of dams, pollution and overfishing are blamed for the loss in North America. Division biologists specifically suspect pollution and overfishing as main contributors to Georgia’s loss.

The species truly is an ancient family of fishes. Sturgeon have been recognized since the Upper Cretaceous period (136 million years ago), a time when dinosaurs were at the height of their development. Worldwide there are 29 species or subspecies of sturgeon – nine species exist in North America.

For more information on lake sturgeon or to locate the nearest Wildlife Resources Division Fisheries office, visit www.gofishgeorgia.com or call (770) 918-6406.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Diversity of Plant-Eating Fish May be Key to Coral Reef Recovery

For endangered coral reefs, not all plant-eating fish are created equal.

A report scheduled to be published this week in the early edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that maintaining the proper balance of herbivorous fishes may be critical to restoring coral reefs, which are declining dramatically worldwide. The conclusion results from a long-term study that found significant recovery in sections of coral reefs on which fish of two complementary species were caged.

Coral reefs depend on fish to eat the seaweeds with which the corals compete, and without such cleaning, the reefs decline as corals are replaced by seaweeds. Different fish consume different seaweeds because of the differing chemical and physical properties of the plants.

“Of the many different fish that are part of coral ecosystems, there may be a small number of species that are really critical for keeping big seaweeds from over-growing and killing corals,” explained Mark Hay, the Harry and Linda Teasley Professor of Biology at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “Our study shows that in addition to having enough herbivores, coral ecosystems also need the right mix of species to overcome the different defensive tactics of the seaweeds.”

By knowing which fish are most critical to maintaining coral health, resource managers could focus on protecting and enhancing the highest-impact species. In situations where local peoples depend on fishing, they might better sustain the reefs on which they depend by harvesting only less critical species.

“This could offer one more approach to resource managers,” Hay added. “If ecosystems were managed for critical mixes of herbivorous species, we might see more rapid recovery of the reefs.”

Believed to be the first study to demonstrate the importance of herbivore diversity in enhancing the growth of coral reefs, the research was conducted at the National Undersea Research Center in Key Largo, Florida. It was supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation and the Teasley Endowment at Georgia Tech.

Working 60 feet below the surface near the underwater laboratory Aquarius, Hay and co-author Deron E. Burkpile – who is now at Florida International University in North Miami – constructed 32 cages on a coral reef. Each cage was about two meters square and one meter tall and was sealed so that larger fish could neither enter nor leave.

The number and type of fish placed into each four-square-meter cage varied. Some cages had two fish that were able to eat hard, calcified plants; some had two fish able to eat soft, but chemically-defended plants; some had one of both types, and some had no fish at all. The cages were observed for a period of ten months starting in November 2003, and the change in coral cover and seaweed growth was measured.

“For the cages in which we mixed the two species of herbivores, the fish were able to remove much more of the upright seaweeds, and the corals in those areas increased in cover by more than 20 percent during ten months,” Hay said. “That is a dramatic rate of increase for a Caribbean reef.”

Though the percentage growth was impressive, the actual growth in size of each coral was small, Hay noted. Prior to the experiment, the coral reef areas studied had just four to five percent coverage of live coral. After ten months, the corals caged with the two species showed six to seven percent coverage. Corals caged with just one type of fish or no fish lost as much as 30 percent of their cover during the time period.

Hay and Burkepile attempted to repeat their experiment with a different species of fish, but the underwater cages were wiped away by Hurricane Dennis in July 2005 after only seven months of study.

The researchers studied the effects of the redband parrotfish (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) and the ocean surgeonfish (Acanthurus bahianus) in the first experiment, and the redband parrotfish and princess parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus) in the second. The two fish per cage was at the “high end” of fish density found on present-day Caribbean reefs, but historic densities might have been much higher before extensive fishing of the Caribbean, Hay said.

Just two decades ago, coral coverage in the Caribbean was commonly 40 to 60 percent. Scientists blame many factors – disease, overfishing, pollution, excessive nutrients and global climate change – for the rapid decline, which has also been seen to differing degrees among coral reefs worldwide.

“Some people would argue that coral reefs really don’t exist as functional ecosystems in the Caribbean anymore,” Hay said. “The best reefs we have today are poor cousins to what was only average 20 years ago.”

For the future, Hay would like to expand the experiments to study the effects of additional species, and repeat the studies in different areas, such as the Fiji Islands, where residents are concerned about sustainability of the coral reefs. Though dependent on local fish for their protein, he said the Fiji Islanders may be able to change their fishing habits if researchers can determine which fish must be protected to help the reefs.

“The data we are seeing in Fiji suggests that diversity may be even more important there than it was in the Caribbean,” he said. “There are a lot of different species doing a lot of very different things. These consumers are very important, and in areas where they are over-fished, the reefs are crashing.”

The study provides more proof of how important biodiversity can be to maintaining healthy ecosystems.

“Species diversity is critically important, but we are losing critical components of the Earth’s ecosystem at an alarming rate,” Hay said. “There has been little work on the role of diversity among consumers and the effect that has on communities. This study will help add to our knowledge in this critical area.”

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Bears? Gators? Must be Land of the Trembling Earth

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is a delightful excursion into nature. Take a trip to Folkston to see some of nature's beautiful wildlife. Whether you are an avid photographer, a fisherman, or just someone who wants to experience nature at its finest, the Okefenokee Swamp will provide the perfect thrill for your adventure.

Look for the alligators sunning themselves on the banks of the swamp, or look closely for a bear feeding on the local berries or acorns.

The early Indians called this land, Okefenokee, or Land of the Trembling Earth. Swampy and filled with wildlife, this land is one of the oldest and best preserved of American freshwater.

Click to learn more.

Fayette Front Page Staff Reports

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

DNR Encourages Anglers to Continue Fishing Oconee River

Fishing and swimming in the Oconee River are summertime staples in southeast Georgia, but recently many people in the area have been led to believe that the river is not safe for fish or people. In light of these concerns, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division along with the Environmental Protection Division and scientists from Auburn University have conducted research on fish and the quality of the river water – and to this point, there is no need for alarm.

“We want citizens to understand that we are aware of their concerns and that we are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of the water and the health of the fish,” says John Biagi, Fisheries Chief for the Division. “Right now, we do not see a need to halt fishing or any other water activity on the river.”

Local concern with the health of the river and the fish were first brought to the attention of Division personnel in early June. Sportsmen indicated that they thought they were seeing a relatively high number of diseased (red sores or a white “cotton” appearance) fish, especially in the area of the Oconee River near Dublin.

Immediately following these raised concerns, Division personnel began “sampling” (electro-shocking the water and taking samples of various fish species) the Oconee River fish population in order to assess the occurrence of fish diseases. Fish were collected from Beaverdam Wildlife Management Area (about 9 miles north of Dublin) down river to Pete Davis Landing, near Mount Vernon. These fish samples were provided to Auburn University Fish Disease Laboratory for evaluation. Preliminary results indicate that the diseases seen on these fish are commonly present in fish populations throughout Georgia and the southeast.

Additionally, the Environmental Protection Division (Watershed Planning and Monitoring Program) collected water and sediment samples from two locations along the Oconee River. According to their analysis, organic compounds and metal concentrations both were below minimum detection limits, further emphasizing the safety of the river.

So, what might be causing this large number of fish to appear unhealthy? Many things can cause such outbreaks. Environmental conditions such as water temperature and extreme drought concentrate fish in warmer, smaller bodies of water. Parasites and bacteria flourish in the spring and summer – often before fish immune systems are at their peak. Spawning (reproducing) activities, occurring in spring and summer, create additional stress and reduce natural immune responses.

“A combination of natural issues - drought, naturally occurring bacteria and fish stressed from spawning - could all lead to this somewhat unusual concentration of fish that appear unhealthy,” says Biagi. “And while these fish may look unpleasant, none of the pathogens we are finding pose a threat to public health.”

The Division, along with EPD and Auburn University intend to continue collecting and analyzing fish samples from the Oconee and surrounding rivers to continue to monitor the health of the fish.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Essential Tips For Beginner Fish Keeping

NAPSI-For millions of Americans, aquariums represent an opportunity to put aquatic life on display--a peaceful, relaxing diorama for the home or office. In order to make sure that things go swimmingly, here are some essential tips for selecting and maintaining an aquarium.

1. Choosing an Aquarium and Fish. It is important to select an aquarium that will match the decor of a room while providing a healthy environment for your fish. When choosing a tank, keep in mind that fish will grow. Work with the aquarium expert in your pet store to make sure that the different species you choose will all get along and determine how large your fish will be as adults. Once you know the best aquarium size, Aqueon aquarium kits make starting an aquarium easy and simple. Each kit comes complete with an “Aquarium Set-up & Care Guide” book, premium fish food, water conditioners and a filtration and lighting system.

2. Heaters. When choosing a heater, consider that submersible heaters tend to be the most efficient. Heaters should always be paired with an accurate thermometer to ensure the appropriate temperature range is maintained. Check the heater regularly to ensure that it is working properly and keeping a steady temperature; water that is too warm can result in the fish suffocating.

3. Food. Fish require a diet that contains proper nutrients from quality ingredients, such as krill, kelp and whole fish meal. Feed your aquatic pets a food that is appropriate for their size, feeding level and dietary needs. Check the food packaging for recommendations regarding how much to feed and how often. For instance, Aqueon fish foods have natural ingredients with easy-to-follow instructions that are perfect for the beginner aquarist.

4. Filters. All aquariums accumulate debris from fish waste, uneaten food and plant detritus. This is usually simple to remove with the aid of a mechanical filter. Some things to look for in a quality filter would be flow rate, stages of filtration and noise. To be most efficient, filters should be slightly oversized for the tank they will be placed in. Higher flow rates ensure the amount of water being filtered per hour as well as provide proper circulation and aeration by continually breaking the water surface. Using a multistage filtration system ensures better aeration for healthier, more active fish. Aqueon Power Filters feature four stages of filtration for the cleanest, clearest and healthiest water.

For more basics on keeping fish and maintaining an aquarium, as well as additional information on available supplies and equipment, visit www.aqueonproducts.com.

With just a little effort, aquariums can be a relaxing, enjoyable hobby for the entire family.