Tagging Returns, Age Studies and Fluctuations in Abundance of Lake Winnipeg Whitefish, 1931–1951

1954 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. A. Kennedy

On the basis of 2,003 lake whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis, tagged in 1938, of which 126 were recovered during the next five years, there is evidence that fish released together tend to stay together for years, and that the proportion of a population captured during a certain time by a unit amount of fishing effort can fluctuate greatly (a plausible explanation is the effect of variations in weather conditions). On the basis of age determinations of 12,975 whitefish in samples taken annually from 1937 to 1951, growth rate was determined, the total annual mortality rate among fully exploited fish was calculated to be 64 per cent over several years, and it appeared that all year-classes had been of about equal strength in recent years. The generally accepted idea that fluctations in fishing success correspond to fluctuations in abundance of whitefish is probably erroneous. Possibly the Lake Winnipeg whitefish are underfished.

<em>Abstract</em>.—Paddlefish <em>Polyodon spathula </em>vanished from areas of the upper Tombigbee River basin in Mississippi and Alabama during the 1950s, long before channelization and damming associated with construction of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (TTW) were completed in 1984. This study was undertaken to assess distribution and population dynamics of any remaining stock. Paddlefish were not captured in upstream impoundments, but an unexploited remnant population was located in the downstream impoundment: Demopolis Lake, Alabama. Paddlefish in Demopolis Lake were characterized by a population density of 2.6 fish/ha, high growth rate relative to more northern populations, and natural annual mortality rate (<em>A </em>= 0.406) similar to other southern populations. Two wintering habitats (cutoff bendways) were heavily utilized by paddlefish. Large males primarily inhabited the more lotic bendway while females and small males were more common in the more lentic bendway, indicating differential importance of habitats among demographic groups. The restricted distribution of TTW paddlefish and demographic differences between habitats suggest that areas heavily utilized by paddlefish should be protected from further degradation. Sedimentation has resulted in reductions of bendway depth and reduced connectivity of backwaters, reducing availability of suitable paddlefish habitat. Restoring connectivity of bendways through dredging could reverse this trend and provide other benefits to fisheries.


1985 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Desharnais ◽  
David W. Foltz ◽  
E. Zouros

Associations between heterozygosity at one or more electrophoretically detected enzyme loci and growth rate have been reported for several species of plants and animals, including several commercially important species of finfish and shellfish. The general pattern is for heterozygotes to grow faster than homozygotes, although there is some variation in growth response even within a species. Regardless of the physiological or biochemical basis of genotype-dependent growth, polymorphism at a locus affecting growth rate in an overdominant manner may be lost if larger individuals have a greater mortality rate than smaller ones. In an exploited population, mortality of this sort is likely to result from size-selective fishing pressure. Using a continuous-time single-locus model of natural selection, we have related the maintenance of polymorphism at a locus to two measures of fishing effort: β, the legal minimum size below which there is no mortality, and f, an instantaneous mortality rate owing to fishing (above the legal minimum size). We considered two different models of fishing mortality. In model 1, fishing mortality above the legal minimum size is constant; in model 2, fishing mortality is a linear function of size (above β). Numerical analysis of model 1 indicates that maintenance of polymorphism requires either a low rate of fishing mortality or a value of β that is close to zero or close to the maximum attainable size. Analysis of model 2 gives similar results, suggesting that the conclusions are not dependent on the exact form of the mortality function.Key words: heterozygosity, growth, size, mortality.


1953 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 413-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. A. Kennedy

Ages were determined of 6,571 whitefish for which sizes were recorded. A length-weight relationship, the percentage of both sexes mature at each age, the sex ratio, the proportion of mature females that spawn annually and the relationship between size of fish and number of eggs were determined from smaller samples.Growth rate is difficult to assess because of net selection, but it seems to be slower than in more southerly lakes. Growth appears to be limited to the period June to September inclusive.The total annual mortality rate of 61 per cent represents the unexploited condition—four years of commercial fishing with 51/2-inch mesh gill-nets produced no obvious change. A moderate mortality rate acting at all ages will easily account for thousands of eggs being produced for every whitefish that survives to maturity—it is unnecessary to assume a low percentage of eggs fertilized or excessive mortality among fertilized eggs or among young fish.A more intensive fishery would probably increase sustained yield.


1973 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 1667-1682 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. B. Davidoff ◽  
R. W. Rybicki ◽  
K. H. Doan

Whitefish catches have fluctuated since 1952, and except in 1964 each successive peak has decreased in magnitude. Recently the overall trend has been a diminishing fishery with increasing effort.There has been a drastic change in age composition with time. Age-groups 5, 6, and 7 accounted for 81% of the catch from 1944 to 1948, age-groups 4, 5, and 6 for 89% from 1949 to 1955, age-groups 4 and 5 for 86% from 1959 to 1968, and age-groups 3 and 4 for 88% in 1969. The fishery is now dependent upon two age-groups instead of three. Natural failure of one or more important year-classes would result in a serious decline in catch, and partial or complete collapse of this fishery.Annual survival rate decreased from 34%, 1944–48 to 12%, 1959–69. Instantaneous natural mortality rate was estimated to be 0.72, and may be overestimated. The 1938–39, 1945–47, 1949, and 1957 year-classes were strong, while the 1940–44, and 1956, 1958, and 1961 year-classes were weak. The 1959 and 1960 year-classes appeared to be somewhat above average. Examination of data on total dissolved solids and temperature indicated that ecological changes were not responsible for the decline of whitefish in Lake Winnipeg.We judge that the optimum rate of fishing has been exceeded, and that the fishery itself is largely responsible for the depleted condition of the whitefish stocks in Lake Winnipeg. Fishing effort must be reduced to the point where the fishery is again dependent upon three year-classes. This should result in higher catches, and provide less fluctuation in annual catches.


Author(s):  
Théophile Aké Bédia ◽  
Bakari Coulibaly ◽  
Yao Aristide Konan ◽  
Essetchi Paul Kouamelan ◽  
Valentin N’douba

The study evaluated some population parameters of Polydactylus quadrifilis within Ebrié lagoon (Potou sector). Samples were obtained using artisanal gillnet fishery from April 2004 to March 2006. A total of 741 individuals of P. quadrifilis ranged from 11 to 70 cm were examined. Population parameters were estimated where asymptotic length (L∞) was found 60 cm, growth rate (K) 0.33 per year, the longevity (T max) 9.09 years, and growth performance index (Φ′) 3.06. The length at first capture (Lc50 = 10.60 cm) was lower than the length at first maturity (Lm50 = 40 cm). Total mortality rate (Z) was calculated as 1.10 per year including natural mortality and fishing mortality. The exploitation rate (E=0.36) was found to be less than the maximum exploitation rate (E max = 0.44) and indicated that P. quadrifilis is not overexploited. The current exploitation rate should be maintained by sustainable fisheries measures including monitoring of fishing effort.


Hypertension ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly Kramer ◽  
Adam Bress ◽  
Srinivasan Beddhu ◽  
Paul Muntner ◽  
Richard S Cooper

Background: The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) trial randomized 9,361 adults aged ≥50 years at high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk without diabetes or stroke to intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) lowering (≤120 mmHg) or standard SBP lowering (≤140 mmHg). After a median follow up of 3.26 years, all-cause mortality was 27% (95% CI 40%, 10%) lower with intensive SBP lowering. We estimated the potential number of prevented deaths with intensive SBP lowering in the U.S. population meeting SPRINT criteria. Methods: SPRINT eligibility criteria were applied to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2006, a representative survey of the U.S. population, linked with the mortality data through December 2011. Eligibility included (1) age ≥50 years with (2) SBP 130-180 mmHg depending on number of antihypertensive classes being taken, and (3) presence of ≥1 CVD risk conditions (history of coronary heart disease, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 20 to 59 ml/min/1.73 m 2 , 10-year Framingham risk score ≥15%, or age ≥75 years). Adults with diabetes, stroke history, >1 g/day proteinuria, heart failure, on dialysis, or eGFR<20 ml/min/1.73m 2 were excluded. Annual mortality rates for adults meeting SPRINT criteria were calculated using Kaplan-Meier methods and the expected reduction in mortality rates with intensive SBP lowering in SPRINT was used to determine the number of potential deaths prevented. Analyses accounted for the complex survey design. Results: An estimated 18.1 million U.S. adults met SPRINT criteria with 7.4 million taking blood pressure lowering medications. The mean age was 68.6 years and 83.2% and 7.4% were non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black, respectively. The annual mortality rate was 2.2% (95% CI 1.9%, 2.5%) and intensive SBP lowering was projected to prevent 107,453 deaths per year (95% CI 45,374 to 139,490). Among adults with SBP ≥145 mmHg, the annual mortality rate was 2.5% (95% CI 2.1%, 3.0%) and intensive SBP lowering was projected to prevent 60,908 deaths per year (95% CI 26, 455 to 76, 792). Conclusions: We project intensive SBP lowering could prevent over 100,000 deaths per year of intensive treatment.


2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 1093-1102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juraci Vieira Sergio ◽  
Antônio Carlos Ponce de Leon

This study analyzes mortality from infectious diarrheic diseases in children under 5 years of age in Brazilian municipalities with more than 150,000 inhabitants, excluding State capitals. The annual mortality rates by municipality from 1990 to 2000 were analyzed using a multilevel model, with years as first level units nested in municipalities as second level units. The dependent variable was the yearly mortality rate by municipality, on the log scale. Polynomial time trends and indicator variables to account for differences in geographic regions were used in the modeling. Time trends were centered on 1995, so they could be modeled differently before and after 1995. From 1990 to 1995 there was a sharp decrease in mortality rates by diarrheic diseases in most Brazilian municipalities, while from 1995 to 2000 the decrease was more heterogeneous. In 1995 the North and Northeast of Brazil had higher mortality rates than the Southeast, and the differences were statistically significant. Most importantly, the study concludes that there was an important difference in the pattern of mortality rate decreases over time, comparing the country's five geographic regions.


1990 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 399 ◽  
Author(s):  
MCL Dredge

Movement, growth and natural mortality rate of the red spot king prawn, Penaeus longistylus, occurring in waters of the Great Barrier Reef off Townsville, Queensland, were investigated in a series of tagging experiments. Adult P. longistylus did not migrate after leaving nursery areas. Their growth rate was slower than that of the conspecific species P. plebejus, and significant inter-annual variation in growth parameters was observed. The natural mortality rate, assessed by sequential tagging experiments that eliminated the possibility of confounding with the rate of fishing mortality, was estimated to be 0.072 (week-1).


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 613-625
Author(s):  
Felipe Lopez ◽  
Jorge Jimenez ◽  
Cristian Canales

Since 1979, southern hake (Merluccius australis) has been exploited in Chile from the Bio Bio to the Magallanes regions, between the parallels 41°28.6'S and 57°S. There is evidence of a constant fishing effort and a sustained reduction of the fish population, consistent with a progressive decrease in total annual catches. Management strategies based on the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and quota assignment/ distribution criteria have not been able to sustain acceptable biomass levels. A non-linear optimization model with two objective functions was proposed to determine an optimal total catch quota for more sustainable exploitation of this fishery. The first function maximizes the total catch over time in response to an optimal assignment of fishing mortality rates per fleet; the second function maximizes the total economic benefit associated with the total catch. The dynamics of the fish population were represented with the equations of a predictive age-structured model. Decision variables were fishing mortality rates and annual catch quotas per fleet, subject to constraints that guarantee a minimum level of biomass escape over a long-term period. The input parameters were obtained from the last stock evaluation report carried out by the Instituto de Fomento Pesquero (IFOP) of Chile. The historical background data of the fishery and the regulatory framework were relevant aspects of the methodology. Five scenarios were evaluated with the two objective functions, including a base scenario, which considered the referential mortality rate as input data as the average mortality rate per fleet from 2007 to 2012. Total economic benefits fluctuate between 102 and USD 442 million for total catches in the range of 108 to 421 thousand tons, which were obtained from maximizing the economic and biological objective functions. Economic benefit/catch ratios were reduced for scenarios with higher constraints on catch limits, and they were more efficient from a biological point of view. Situations with lighter constraints showed in general higher economic benefits and better performance ratios than those with stronger restrictions. The use of optimization models may provide a useful tool to evaluate the effect of regulations for adequate conservation and economical utilization of a limited resource.


1983 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 437-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Modini ◽  
Mario Albertucci ◽  
Franco Cicconetti ◽  
Donatella Tirindelli Danesi ◽  
Renzo Cristiani ◽  
...  

The classification of bronchogenic carcinoma as a function of the prognosis is still an open field. The evaluation of stage, by use of the TNM system, and histologic cell type is not sufficient to guarantee a correct prognosis. The growth rate of the neoplasm is another important parameter. We propose a classification that takes into account the stage (S), histologic cell type (M), immune status (I) and the growth rate of the primary tumor (G): S.M.I.G. We studied 90 lung cancer patients according to the S.M.I.G. classification and we observed that their prognoses were directly correlated with their S.M.I.G. scores (the higher the score, the higher the 10-month mortality rate). The mortality rates within the first 10 months of follow-up were respectively 0%, 0%, 36.36%, 68%, 90.9% for the 5 groups obtained by S.M.I.G. The difference is statistically significant (P < 0.0075) and there is a linear correlation between the mortality rate and the score assigned to each group (R = 0.943; P < 0.05). The S.M.I.G. classification can predict the prognosis more efficiently than the usual classification (TNM) and histological cell type.


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