scholarly journals Integrating economic dynamics into ecological networks: The case of fishery sustainability

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (45) ◽  
pp. eaaz4891
Author(s):  
Paul Glaum ◽  
Valentin Cocco ◽  
Fernanda S. Valdovinos

Understanding anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems requires investigating feedback processes between ecological and economic dynamics. While network ecology has advanced our understanding of large-scale communities, it has not robustly coupled economic drivers of anthropogenic impact to ecological outcomes. Leveraging allometric trophic network models, we study such integrated economic-ecological dynamics in the case of fishery sustainability. We incorporate economic drivers of fishing effort into food-web network models, evaluating the dynamics of thousands of single-species fisheries across hundreds of simulated food webs under fixed-effort and open-access management strategies. Analyzing simulation results reveals that harvesting species with high population biomass can initially support fishery persistence but threatens long-term economic and ecological sustainability by indirectly inducing extinction cascades in non-harvested species. This dynamic is exacerbated in open-access fisheries where profit-driven growth in fishing effort increases perturbation strength. Our results demonstrate how network theory provides necessary ecological context when considering the sustainability of economically dynamic fishing effort.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Glaum ◽  
Valentin Cocco ◽  
Fernanda S. Valdovinos

Summary/AbstractUnderstanding and sustainably managing anthropogenic impact on ecosystems requires studying the integrated economic -ecological dynamics driving coupled human-natural systems. Here, we expand ecological network theory to study fishery sustainability by incorporating economic drivers into food-web models to evaluate the dynamics of thousands of single-species fisheries across hundreds of generated food-webs and two management strategies. Analysis reveals harvesting high population biomass species can initially support fishery persistence, but threatens long term economic and ecological sustainability by indirectly inducing extinction cascades in non-harvested species. This dynamic is exacerbated in open access fisheries where profit driven growth in fishing effort increases perturbation strength. Results demonstrate the unique insight into both ecological dynamics and sustainability garnered from considering economically dynamic fishing effort in the network.One Sentence SummaryIntegrating economic drivers into ecological networks reveal non-linear drivers of sustainability in fisheries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1949) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Östergren ◽  
Stefan Palm ◽  
John Gilbey ◽  
Göran Spong ◽  
Johan Dannewitz ◽  
...  

Intra-species genetic homogenization arising from anthropogenic impacts is a major threat to biodiversity. However, few taxa have sufficient historical material to systematically quantify long-term genetic changes. Using archival DNA collected over approximately 100 years, we assessed spatio-temporal genetic change in Atlantic salmon populations across the Baltic Sea, an area heavily impacted by hydropower exploitation and associated with large-scale mitigation stocking. Analysis was carried out by screening 82 SNPs in 1680 individuals from 13 Swedish rivers. We found an overall decrease in genetic divergence and diminished isolation by distance among populations, strongly indicating genetic homogenization over the past century. We further observed an increase in genetic diversity within populations consistent with increased gene flow. The temporal genetic change was lower in larger wild populations than in smaller wild and hatchery-reared ones, indicating that larger populations have been able to support a high number of native spawners in relation to immigrants. Our results demonstrate that stocking practices of salmon in the Baltic Sea have led to the homogenization of populations over the last century, potentially compromising their ability to adapt to environmental change. Stocking of reared fish is common worldwide, and our study is a cautionary example of the potentially long-term negative effects of such activities.


2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 153-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Cassell ◽  
R. L. Kort ◽  
D. W. Meals ◽  
S. G. Aschmann ◽  
J. M. Dorioz ◽  
...  

The principles of mass balance, compartment-flux diagramming, and dynamic simulation modeling are integrated to create computer models that estimate phosphorus (P) export from large-scale watersheds over long-term futures. These Watershed Ecosystem Nutrient Dynamics (WEND) models are applied to a 275,000 ha dairy-documented watershed and a 77,000 ha poultry-dominated watershed in northeastern USA. Model predictions of present-day P export loads are consistent with monitoring data and estimates made using P export coefficients. For both watersheds P import exceeds P export and P is accumulating in the agricultural soils. Agricultural and urban activities are major contributors to P export from both watersheds. Continued urban growth will increase P export over time unless wastewater management is substantially enhanced and/or rates of urban growth are controlled. Agriculture cannot rely solely on the implementation of increasingly stringent conservation practices to reduce long-term P export but mustconsider options that promote P input/output balance. The WEND modeling process is a powerful tool to integrate the diversity of activities in watersheds into a holistic framework. Model outputs are suited to assist managers to explore long-term effects of overall watershed management strategies on P export in comparison to environmental and economic goals.


1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 2255-2276 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Marchal

Most of the Northeast Atlantic stocks are currently fished above the biological reference points (e.g., Fmax). In attempting to achieve such targets, advisers and managers have faced two main problems. First, it is impractical to (i) simultaneously maximize yields, stabilize fisheries, and safeguard stocks and (ii) optimize both short- and long-term outcomes for the industry. Second is the lack of predictability, several years ahead, in factors influencing decisions. This study addresses these twin issues by exploring the relative performances of various multiannual and compromise (or composite) management strategies. Multiannual fishing efforts are set in advance for a ``resolution'' period of several years, at the end of which they are updated. They are calculated to satisfy a prior weighted compromise amongst three criteria: (i) minimizing fishing effort variability, (ii) minimizing catch variability, and (iii) reaching a ``mobile target:'' the latter is defined with a second weighted compromise between the long-term target and the fishing effort at the beginning of the resolution period. A safe and optimal balance between all the short- and long-term fishery outcomes is found with a 5-year resolution period, during which the mobile target is split into 40-60% of the long-term target, and 60-40% of the fishing effort at the start of the resolution period, while criteria i, ii, and iii are weighted equally.


2019 ◽  
pp. 39-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Volkova ◽  
V. N. Khramtsov

The article is devoted to the vegetation mapping of the “Levashovskiy les”— a large forest-mire massif located in the northern part of St. Petersburg (Fig. 1). It continues a series of articles on the vegetation of existing and proposed specially protected natural areas of St. Petersburg (Volkova, Khramtsov, 2018). Large-scale map of modern vegetation (Fig. 2) is presented; the map legend includes 67 main numbers, the signs and numeric indexes at the numbers made it possible to show 93 mapping units (associations and their variants). Brief description of the main types of plant communities (spruce, pine, birch, aspen, gray alder and black alder forests; raised bogs, transitional mires and fens, floodplain and upland meadows) reveals the content of the legend. Vegetation cover is characterized by the dominance of secondary communities. The main anthropogenic impacts on modern vegetation are following: drainage reclamation, deforestation and former agricultural use, forest fires, gas pipelines, highways. Most of the forest communities are secondary ones; they have grown under the pressure of various anthropogenic factors and at different time. Nowadays an active process of natural regeneration of conife­rous (mainly spruce) trees goes in the forests. Plant community structure and species composition were taken into account as well as their dynamic state. To assess the degree of disturbance of plant communities and the potential for their restoration, the analysis of all mapped vegetation categories with respect to their position in the ranks of restorative successions was made. Then an assessment map “Dynamic state of plant communities” (Fig. 3) was compiled. The map shows following categories of dynamic types of communities: conventionally primary; relatively long-term secondary and stable long-term secondary (Sukachev, 1938; Isachenko, 1964; Karpenko, 1965; Gribova, Isachenko, 1972); short-term secondary that were divided into 3 categories representing different stages of restorative series. Present state of the vegetation cover of the “Levashovskiy les” can be determined by the ratio of the areas of conventionally primary and secondary communities. Areal analysis of dynamic categories of plant communities showed that only a bit more than 20 % of the territory is occupied by conventionally primary communities and about 60 % – by short-term secondary ones with good restorative potential. Without strong anthropogenic and natural disturbances, a significant part of the disturbed plant communities will be able to self-restore to their natural state. The establishment of a specially protected natural area as well as the regulation of conservation regime will support restoration process of nature ecosystems.


2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamrul Laila ◽  
Eliza Roy ◽  
Md Habibur Rahman ◽  
Ranjit Ranjan Roy

Background: A large number of children with Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) are seen in the community by general practitioners , but there is frequently delay in treatment and not all are referred for further investigations. There is evidence that many cases are misdiagnosed. It is important to optimize diagnostic and management strategies. Result: UTI is an important cause of acute illness, it may be a marker of underlying urinary tract abnormality. Bacteria causes the large majority of UTI in children- Escherichia coli is the most common (90%) bacterial cause. Urine culture & sensitivity is the gold standard for the diagnosis and mandatory for confirmation of UTI. On culture, a colony count of more than 105/ml organisms of a single species is considered confirmatory of UTI. But there is a strong recommendation that , presence of both pyuria and at least 50,000 Colony Forming Unit (CFU) / ml of a single uropathogen in an appropriately collected specimen makes the diagnosis . There is a recommended imaging schedule in childhood UTI to detect anatomical abnormality. Management depends on type of infection. There is no role of prophylactic antibiotics to prevent febrile recurrent UTI without VUR. Conclusion: UTI is a very common disease and may be associated with renal abnormalities and long term squeale. There is debate about best investigation and management strategies. The greatest potential for prevention of renal damage lies in increased awareness, better diagnosis and management of young children with UTI in primary healthcare. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjch.v36i2.13085 Bangladesh J Child Health 2012; Vol 36 (2): 90-97


2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masud Ara Mome ◽  
Ragnar Arnason

The hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) fishery contributes to the largest single species fishery in Bangladesh. In this paper, a simple bio-economic year-class based model was developed from 1987 & 2007 fishing data to describe the fishery and examine its properties. With the help of this model, the optimum sustainable yield of the fishery was calculated and compared to the existing situation. The model was further used to locate socially and economically reasonable dynamic paths from the current situation to the optimal state. The results indicate that the fishing effort (measured in standardized boat units) required maintaining a maximum sustainable economic benefit is about one-third of the current fishing effort. At this sustainable fishing effort level, annual net economic benefits from the fishery amounted for closed to US$ 260 million compared to virtually nothing at present. The present value of the fishery along a moderate effort adjustment path to this long term equilibrium position was US$ 3,650 million at 6% rate of discount. The dynamic path that maximized the present value of the fishery involved quite dramatic effort reductions for the first two years. Such a path would probably increase the present value of the fishery by perhaps 8-10%.Bangladesh J. Zool. 43(1): 37-53, 2015


2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 729-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zhu ◽  
Feng Xu ◽  
Changming Bai ◽  
Xuan Liu ◽  
Supen Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract For the last decade, chytridiomycosis was considered to be caused by a single species of fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), but a second chytrid species, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bs), was recently isolated from an infected Salamandra salamandra in the Netherlands. To date, Bs has only been found in the Netherlands. To assess whether Bs is present in China, we analyzed a total of 665 samples, including 425 wild samples, 41 preserved specimens, and 199 captive samples, from 30 different species, including both urodeles and anurans. Our sample sites covered 15 provinces in China. All of the samples tested negative for Bs, resulting in a 95% confidence limit for a prevalence of 0.6%. The absence of Bs observed in this large-scale survey in China has significant implications for amphibian conservation and for border trade management strategies intended to control amphibian diseases. We strongly recommend the continued close monitoring of Bs to verify the status of this potentially devastating amphibian fungus in China.


2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 8-12
Author(s):  
Carrie Bishop

Broadening access to the wealth of material held within the archives of galleries and museums has been a long-term goal for many arts institutions, with large-scale digitization projects gathering pace. Concerns regarding copyright, however, have often been cited1 as a barrier to sharing and reuse, and a point of confl ict between user and creator communities. Tate is currently embarked upon the digitization and public release of 52,000 items within its archives including, where possible, releasing material under a Creative Commons licence. What makes the project's scope unique is that the vast majority of the material is still within copyright, providing valuable insights into how the law, Creative Commons and differing community agendas can interact productively to secure public access whilst still respecting rights holders. The article seeks to demonstrate that, for all the importance of legal considerations, relationship management is key not only to best practice but to securing the goals of Open Access.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Couce ◽  
Michaela Schratzberger ◽  
Georg H. Engelhard

Abstract. Fishing – especially trawling – is one of the most ubiquitous anthropogenic pressures on marine ecosystems worldwide, yet very few long-term, spatially explicit datasets on trawling effort exist; this greatly hampers our understanding of the medium- to long-term impact of trawling. This important gap is addressed here for the North Sea, a highly productive shelf sea which is also subject to many anthropogenic pressures. For a 31-year time span (1985–2015), we provide a dataset on the spatial distribution of total international otter and beam trawling effort, for all ICES rectangles (0.5° latitude by 1° longitude) of the North Sea. The dataset was largely reconstructed using compiled effort data from 7 fishing effort time-series, each covering shorter time spans and some of the countries fishing the North Sea only. For the years where effort data for particular countries were missing, the series was complemented using estimated (modelled) effort data. This new, long-term and large-scale trawling dataset may serve the wider scientific community, as well as those involved with policy and management, as a valuable information source on fishing pressure in a Large Marine Ecosystem which is heavily impacted, but which simultaneously provides a wealth of ecosystem services to society. The dataset is available on the Cefas Data Hub at: https://doi.org/10.14466/CefasDataHub.61 (Couce et al., 2019).


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