Hasil untuk "Natural history (General)"

Zhihong Hu, Jihao Zhan, Zelan Li et al.

This article proposes an improved algorithm for the parameter identification of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs). An enhanced raccoon optimization algorithm (EROA) was formed by combining the raccoon optimization algorithm (ROA) with the adaptive exploration radius, raccoon-washing-food-inspired, and escaping-predator strategies. First, using some of the functions in IEEE CEC2015, the EROA solution has a large improvement in convergence speed and solution accuracy compared with other algorithms. Second, the EROA solution is more stable under the same conditions, as demonstrated by MATLAB parameter identification simulation. Finally, EROA is applied to motor parameter identification through motor control experiments.

Irit Ittner, Anna‐Katharina Hornidge

This study analyses marine governance and knowledge politics of sediments in the Borkum Reef Ground from a historical and German perspective, as well as in the context of litigation against marine gas production from transboundary Dutch and German fields. The authors analysed interview transcripts, project documents, environmental media campaigns, and notes originating from participant observation and stakeholder engagement. The study employs the science and technology and sociology of ignorance approaches. It asks which implications for biodiversity protection and ocean governance derive from administrative fragmentation and knowledge politics by a diverse set of actors. National divisions and prioritised knowledge production led to a shift in perception of the area from a transboundary seabed habitat to two distinct national marine areas and resulted in a fragmented Schutzgebietskulisse including marine protected areas, restoration zones, and unprotected zones. The study illustrates how the prioritisation of mapping marine protected areas may backfire on knowledge gain in potential industrial zones and overall marine protection.

Andrew C. Katsis, Lauren K. Common, Jonas Lesigang et al.

The decision to flee from an approaching threat represents a trade‐off between the costs and benefits of flight. In research to date, particular interest has been given to the effects of urbanisation on predator escape behaviour. However, these differences are most often studied at the population rather than individual level, which makes it difficult to disentangle whether site‐specific differences in predator avoidance are due to behavioural plasticity or non‐random distribution of behavioural phenotypes. In this study, we measured flight initiation distances – a widely used proxy for fearfulness or boldness – in a free‐roaming, human‐habituated, and colour‐banded population of greylag geese Anser anser. First, we tested whether individuals flexibly adjusted their flight initiation distance based on environmental context by approaching the same individuals at two sites with different levels of human presence. Second, we examined whether flock members show consistent differences in their flight initiation distance towards unfamiliar humans. Our results suggest that greylag geese can adjust their behaviour based on environmental context and show individual differences in flight initiation distance that are consistent both within and across years. When individuals regularly move between foraging sites, establishing site‐specific responses to potential threats may allow them to optimise their escape response and thereby avoid unnecessary energetic and opportunity costs. Keywords: Anser anser, behavioural plasticity, boldness, escape behaviour, flight initiation distance

Alun Morgan, Charlotte B. Braungardt

This article makes a valuable contribution to the emerging field of marine social sciences by focusing on the potential contribution of learning theory and praxes in promoting ocean literacy, marine identity, and marine citizenship. These are advocated as important social dimensions of the changes and outcomes required to promote sustainability and resilience of marine environments and, by extension, terrestrial environments, across a range of scales from local to planetary. This is because the factors that compromise marine resilience are largely anthropogenic, and a consequence of the negative outcomes of human disassociation from the ocean. From another perspective, the article is equally concerned with how to promote personal resilience and ocean stewardship as positive personal and social outcomes exhibited by people, especially young people. A synergy is noted between outdoor adventurous education and inquiry‐based science learning in marine contexts, with sail training being identified as particularly effective as a marine‐oriented experiential learning approach and context. These insights are exemplified through a case study of sail training programmes developed and operated in the UK. Preliminary findings from trainee questionnaires support the contention that sail training is a powerful vehicle for personal growth across the range of learning dimensions (upward, outward, inward, and downward personal growth). Feedback also indicates the development of ocean literacy, marine identity, and marine citizenship amongst some participating trainees which, together, promote personal resilience and a commitment to marine stewardship (advocates of and active agents for promoting ocean sustainability).

Alicia M. Dimovski, Aimee J. Silla, Emily Nimmo et al.

Global amphibian populations are declining, driven by a complex interplay of stressors including habitat destruction, climate change, pollutants, invasive species, and emergent diseases. Understanding the physiological response of amphibians to these stressors is critical, and hormones offer a powerful lens into their reproductive health and stress resilience. However, our knowledge of amphibian physiology and endocrinology remains limited, largely due to the lack of suitable non-invasive monitoring tools. Here, we present an innovative, non-invasive hormone monitoring method using small, temporary dermal patches. First, we evaluated six patch materials and two extraction techniques for their effectiveness in measuring corticosterone and testosterone. Our results indicate that patch performance varied depending on both the hormone type and extraction method. Second, to biologically validate this approach for monitoring dermal androgens, we monitored changes in testosterone levels in the Blue Mountains tree frog (Dryopsophus citropa) following the administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Dermal patches successfully detected biologically relevant increases in testosterone post-stimulation, confirming their utility for monitoring reproductive hormones. This novel technique provides a viable, non-invasive approach for assessing amphibian steroid hormones, creating new opportunities to advance amphibian physiological research, ecological monitoring, and conservation management.

Amanda K. Martin, George C. Brooks, Houston C. Chandler et al.

Abstract The degradation and loss of suitable breeding habitat can be a major driver of amphibian declines. In the southeastern United States, historical fire suppression resulted in overgrown wetlands (i.e., high shrub and tree cover and low herbaceous ground cover) that no longer serve as suitable breeding sites for specialist amphibians. Over the past 14 years, extensive wetland restoration efforts have been conducted at Eglin Air Force Base (Eglin), located in the Florida Panhandle, to improve Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma bishopi) breeding habitat. However, the response of salamander populations to these habitat changes has yet to be quantified. Here, we used dynamic, spatially explicit occupancy models to (1) document trends in wetland occupancy by flatwoods salamanders over time, and (2) evaluate the key drivers that influence occupancy. We also provide details of habitat restoration practices in an appendix. Overall, the total acreage of suitable habitat has doubled on Eglin in recent years, resulting in a subsequent tripling of the total number of wetlands occupied by flatwoods salamanders. Specifically, the average number of wetlands with larvae detected each year on Eglin has increased from 2.7 in the 7 years of monitoring before habitat management (2003–2009) to 10.4 within the last 7 years (2018–2024). Furthermore, our results confirm that spatial connectivity among wetlands and the availability of suitable habitat are the best predictors of salamander occupancy. Therefore, conservation and management actions should focus on improving habitat quality, especially in areas with high densities of wetlands.

Md. Abdur Rahman, Md. Abdur Rahman, Dawei Pan et al.

Due to coastal development expansion, an increasing influx of pollutants enters the sea through riverine input and land runoff, threatening coastal ecosystems and posing a risk of eutrophication. In this study, trace metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn), and nutrients (constituents of N, P, and Si) were assessed in the summer surface seawater of Yantai Sishili Bay (YSB), Northern China focusing on the determination of concentration, spatial-temporal distribution and sources identification, while exploring their correlations. It also aimed to clarify the eutrophication status and evaluate the linear relationships between eutrophication, trace metals, and nutrients in YSB. Over three years (2021–2023), the total dissolved concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn ranged from 4.79–26.71, 0.19–6.41, 0.26–1.53, and 0.74–13.12 µg/L, respectively. Concurrently, nutrient concentrations including NO2-, NO3-, NH4+, PO43-, and DSi exhibited a range of 0.37–11.66, 2.04–178.30, 1.69–70.01, 0.02–16.68, and 0.02–0.71 µg/L respectively. These concentrations revealed a gradual decrease from nearshore to offshore and the temporal variation also showed significant patterns from year to year, indicating distinct regional variations. The primary contributors to the trace metals and nutrients in the study region were recognized as external contributions stemming from natural, anthropogenic, and atmospheric deposition through correlation and principal component analysis. More specifically, riverine input and coastal farming contributed large amounts of nutrients to coastal waters, threatening a potential risk of eutrophication. The eutrophication evaluation expressed below the mild eutrophication level and was far lower than the other global and Chinese bays. The linear correlation between eutrophication and trace metals revealed a weak positive correlation but a significant correlation with nutrients. Despite the absence of significant eutrophication in the bay, potential risks were identified due to identifiable sources of nutrient and trace metal inputs. The findings provided insights to guide efforts in preventing and mitigating coastal eutrophication, as well as nutrient and trace metal pollution, in coastal cities.

Lauro Travassos Filho

Em nosso trabalho de 1938, interpretamos como "cones pilosos" certas formações abdominals de Corematura chrysogastra. Mais tarde, quando nos foi possível melhor analisar estes orgãos, verificamos que estes "cones pilosos" nada mais sao do que os sacos odoriferos abdominais, caráter sexual dos machos, os quais, quando retraídos na cavidade abdominal, mostram aquele aspecto por ficarem com os pelos justapostos. No presente trabalho corrigimos o erro de interpretação comentado. Ainda em nosso trabalho de 1938, interpretamos erradamente como "harpa" a porção dorsal da valva, e a isso fomos levados por uma excessiva diafanização das genitálias examinadas. Reestudando o material constatamos o erro, e apresentamos as figuras agora corrigidas. Outro erro em nosso trabalho de 1938, acha-se na sua estampa I, fig. 1, em que foi por nos apresentado como?, o exemplar $, n. 14.269 — I.O.C. A verdadeira 2 de C. chrysogastra e figurada no presente trabalho, na fig. 1, da estampa 1. Mas, esse reestudo do material do nosso trabalho anterior e seu confronto com novos exemplares, de outras proveniencias, veio evidenciar a existência de uma espécie muito próxima a chrysogastra, mas de distribuição geográfica mais meridional. Relacionamos esses exemplares à espécie que Guerin descreveu de um exemplar da Bolívia., com o nome de postflava, e que mais tarde foi considerada sinônima de chrysogastra, o que se verificou certamente por só terem sido comparadas nos característicos cromáticos, pois são tão semelhantes as duas espécies, que apenas pelos característicos da genitália dos machos podem ser facilmente separadas. Nada podemos dizer quanto às fêmeas, pois só nos foi possível examinar uma, de chrysogastra, por nos assim considerada por ser da mesma procedência que uma grande serie de machos; acreditamos, contudo que as fêmeas das duas espécies devam ser extraordinariamente semelhantes.

ali aqajani

Introduction: The relationship between ethics and politics and political ethics is one of the old and very broad concepts in the field of human mental issues. However, in the new era and with new perspectives, its rereading has gained double importance. Today, political ethics is in complete correspondence with related concepts such as religion, spirituality, government, secularism and other concepts and forms one of the challenges in the field of understanding politics. Al-Farabi (870-950 A.H.) has occupied a very high and irreplaceable place in the history of Islamic philosophy. Farabi's coverage of various sciences in the realm of the Islamic world is amazing. The depth of thinking and the breadth of Farabi's intellectual horizon in terms of philosophy, especially political philosophy, is exemplary and rare. He is a creative and innovative philosopher and offers new and profound products to the world and scholars of thought, including in ethics, politics and their relationship. Based on this, the hypothesis of the article is that the practical manifestation and intersection of the relationship between ethics and politics in Farabi's political philosophy should be found in some hybrid concepts. On this basis, why and how the relationship between ethics and politics is one of the problems and theoretical and practical issues of political science and ethics science, which various approaches and different viewpoints have been used to celebrate it. One of the most important efforts is related to the prominent Muslim political philosopher Abu Nasr Farabi. The hypothesis of the article seeks to answer the question of Farabi's approach to the relationship between ethics and politics based on the theoretical framework that the concepts of utopia, happiness, government legitimacy, justice and citizenship rights are the manifestation and operational intersection of the relationship between ethics and politics in Farabi's political philosophy. Method:Theoretical Framework The theoretical framework of the article is a combination of three questions and four approaches. which the article measures and clarifies Farabi's point of view towards them: 1: Three questions: The relationship between ethics and politics can be questioned in three ways. (Kechoyan 1382: 14). The first direction is whether politics, as a public sphere of human life, can basically pursue moral goals in the private sphere? The second question is whether the field of politics, ethics, or in more general terms, has its own prescriptive requirements in distinction from ethics and individual prescriptions or not? The third question refers to the field of tools and methods or the way of pursuing and applying the policies and goals of the public domain (ibid. 15). Do we necessarily have to use ethical methods in politics, or is the way of achieving and pursuing goals in politics independent of moral judgments (ibid., 15). Four theories: On another level, the relationship between ethics and politics can be gathered and analyzed in four theories. Theories of separation of ethics from politics, compliance of ethics with politics, two-level ethics and the unity of ethics and politics (Islami 2013: 26). The fourth theory is the unity of ethics and politics (Islami 2013: 26). According to this theory, ethics is individual politics and politics is collective ethics. Ethics and politics are both branches of practical wisdom and seek to ensure human happiness. Discussion:  Farabi has divided civil science into two theoretical and practical parts. He considers ethics as a theoretical part and politics as a practical part. In Farabi's commentary, Ibn Rushd clearly spoke about the separation of the two sciences. But Farabi himself did not try to separate the theoretical aspect from the practical aspect. The relationship between ethics and politics was considered from several angles. From one point of view, several questions were raised to which Farabi's answer should be received. The first question was whether politics, as a public sphere of human life, should pursue moral goals in the private sphere or not? Farabi's answer to this question is positive. Unlike today's political philosophy in the West, they do not believe in the separation of public and private spheres and consider them to be the same. Therefore, it should be said that according to him, ethics and politics are a science that has a single subject and goal. According to him, the goal of ethics and politics is happiness. The second question was whether politics, as a public sphere, morally creates a sphere independent of the private sphere with its own special logic or not? According to Farabi, the individual moral sphere is not separate from the social moral sphere, and the principles governing them and the goals and objectives of both are common. The complexity of social issues is more than individual issues, but this cannot create a distinct morality. Another question was whether ethical methods must be used in politics or whether having ethical goals is enough and whether a politician should act ethically. From Farabi's point of view, the science of ethics is not limited to individual moral reform, but also includes social reform, and the duty of the ruler and government in the society is to develop moral values, which must necessarily be attributed to it. On this basis, from Farabi's point of view, the theories of separation of ethics from politics, subordination of ethics to politics, are completely rejected; Two-level ethics is also not acceptable and the principles governing both the fields of ethics and politics are the same. Therefore, he believes in the unity and similarity of ethics and politics, in the sense of subordination of politics to ethics (in the sense of consistent moral standards). Farabi considers the necessity of community to be certain, but what does he consider its origin? Is it natural, natural, voluntary or rational or instinctive? Farabi, except for the first point of view, which considered social life not natural but caused by external emergency. It accepts the rest of the approaches. But in general, he has an instrumental attitude towards society and considers it a means to achieve perfection and happiness. Farabi introduces will as having three branches. The first branch of passion comes from feeling. The second category of excitement is caused by imagination. The third branch of passion comes from speech and thinking, which Farabi calls this kind of free will. Like Aristotle, Farabi believes that moderation is a virtue. Conclusion: Farabi is a creative and innovative philosopher and offers new and profound products to scholars and scholars of thought, including ethics, politics and their relationship, which is one of the ancient and very broad concepts. The article measures Farabi's view on the relationship between ethics and politics (issue) based on the theoretical framework of the article, which is a combination of three questions and four approaches: the separation of ethics from politics, the subordination of ethics to politics, two-level ethics, and the unity of ethics and politics (method). The hypothesis of the article, which is the second innovation of the article compared to homogeneous articles, considers some concepts such as utopia, happiness, government legitimacy, justice and citizenship rights as the manifestation and operational intersection of the relationship between ethics and politics in Farabi's political philosophy. (innovation) Based on this, Farabi considers the goal of ethics and politics to be the same; Ethics has a political nature and politics has a moral nature. The theories of the separation of ethics from politics, the subordination of ethics to politics, have been completely ruled out; Two-level ethics is also not acceptable and the principles governing both the fields of ethics and politics are the same. Therefore, he believes in the unity and similarity of ethics and politics in the sense of following politics from ethics (in the sense of compatible ethical standards). (Findings) According to this, Farabi is a philosopher who does not find force and domination, conquest and the sword as a way to build an ethical culture. It considers happiness both in terms of belief and in relation to society. The government is morally based on public opinion and will. He based his utopia on voluntary justice based on virtue and rejects natural justice, and in his opinion, all citizens have rights and have a fair share in society. (Result)

Iva Kolářová, Isabelle Florent, Andrea Valigurová

Parasitic protists cause some of the most well-known human and animal diseases such as malaria, toxoplasmosis, amoebic meningitis, sleeping sickness, leishmaniosis, and diarrheal illness of protozoan origin (e [...]

Caixia Zhang, Juanjuan Chen, Juanjuan Chen et al.

Intertidal macroalgae have adapted to deal with environmental stresses, in particular desiccation. The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays an important role in the regulation of a suite of critical responses in plants, including desiccation tolerance. The red alga Neoporphyra haitanensis contains a high level of ABA, but its mechanism of action in N. haitanensis is unknown. In this study, the effect of ABA treatment on the relative water content of thalli during the dehydration-rehydration cycle was evaluated and it was identified that ABA treatment resulted in decreased thalli water loss and an accelerated rehydration process. The effects of addition of ABA upon the activation of antioxidant responses, photosynthetic parameters and gene transcription profiles of N. haitanensis were also evaluated. The results revealed that exogenous ABA regulated the activation of the antioxidant system, including by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, increasing the concentrations of ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH), as well as upregulating the expression of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes and enzymes that synthesize AsA and GSH. ABA treatment also inhibited photosynthesis by reducing light capture and down-regulating the Calvin cycle to save energy; ABA supplementation further simultaneously activated repair mechanisms to avoid excessive DNA and protein damage. The results presented herein demonstrate that ABA plays a crucial role in the regulation of stress tolerance in seaweeds, which may be of great importance when examining the adaptation of this organism to the intertidal environment.

Equipe Editorial

Ferhat Karakas, Jordan Wingate, Leocadio Blanco-Bercial et al.

Swimming and sinking behavior by pelagic snails is poorly studied but is important in their ecology, predator-prey interactions, and vertical distributions. We used a low magnification, high speed stereophotogrammetry system to study the swimming and sinking kinematics of nine warm water pelagic snail species (seven thecosomes, one gymnosome, and one heteropod). As different thecosomatous pteropod species may have coiled, elongated, or globular shell morphologies, we focused on how the shell shape, body geometry, and body size affect their swimming behavior from a fluid mechanics perspective. In addition, ZooScan image analysis and metabarcoding of archived vertically stratified MOCNESS samples were used to relate swimming behaviors to night time and daytime vertical distributions. While different large scale swimming patterns were observed, all species exhibited small scale sawtooth swimming trajectories caused by reciprocal appendage flapping. Thecosome swimming and sinking behavior corresponded strongly with shell morphology and size, with the tiny coiled shell pteropods swimming and sinking the slowest, the large globular shelled pteropods swimming and sinking the fastest, and the medium-sized elongated shell pteropods swimming and sinking at intermediate speeds. However, the coiled shell species had the highest normalized swimming and sinking speeds, reaching swimming speeds of up to 45 body lengths s–1. The sinking trajectories of the coiled and elongated shell pteropods were nearly vertical, but globular shell pteropods use their hydrofoil-like shell to glide downwards at approximately 20° from the vertical, thus retarding their sinking rate. The swimming Reynolds number (Re) increased from the coiled shell species [Re ∼ O(10)] to the elongated shell species [Re ∼ O(100)] and again for the globular shell species [Re ∼ O(1000)], suggesting that more recent lineages increased in size and altered shell morphology to access greater lift-to-drag ratios available at higher Re. Swimming speed does not correlate with the vertical extent of migration, emphasizing that other factors, likely including light, temperature, and predator and prey fields, influence this ecologically important trait. Size does play a role in structuring the vertical habitat, with larger individuals tending to live deeper in the water column, while within a species, larger individuals have deeper migrations.

Mariana A. Soppa, Vasileios Pefanis, Vasileios Pefanis et al.

The presence of optically active water constituents is known to attenuate the light penetration in the ocean and impact the ocean heat content. Here, we investigate the influence of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and total suspended matter (TSM) on the radiative heating of the Laptev Sea shelf waters. The Laptev Sea region is heavily influenced by the Lena River, one of the largest river systems in the Arctic region. We simulate the radiative heating by using a coupled atmosphere-ocean radiative transfer model (RTM) and in situ measurements from the TRANSDRIFT XVII expedition carried out in September 2010. The results indicate that CDOM and TSM have significant influence on the energy budget of the Laptev Sea shelf waters, absorbing most of the solar energy in the first 2 m of the water column. In the station with the highest CDOM absorption (aCDOM(443) = 1.77 m−1) ~43% more energy is absorbed in the surface layer compared to the station with the lowest aCDOM(443) (~0.2 m−1), which translates to an increased radiative heating of ~0.6°C/day. The increased absorbed energy by the water constituents also implies increased sea ice melt rate and changes in the surface heat fluxes to the atmosphere. By using satellite remote sensing and RTM we quantify the spatial distribution of the radiative heating in the Laptev Sea for a typical summer day. The combined use of satellite remote sensing, RT modeling and in situ observations can be used to improve parameterization schemes in atmosphere-ocean circulation models to assess the role of the ocean in the effect of Arctic amplification.

Sergiy Kharchuk, Igor Zagorodniuk

The present research is devoted to the review of mammal families the world and to the basics of creation of Ukrainian family vernacular names. This necessity is actualized by the expansion of the range of objects that draw special attention in diversitology in connection with the development of museum expositions, education, educational literature, monitoring programs of alien species and their invasions and expansions, etc. The specifics of formation of typified and unified names for families in the Ukrainian language and the clarity of Ukrainian vernacular names according to the scientific names of corresponding taxa of mammals of the world fauna are considered. All such features are reviewed regarding to the whole set of the modern mammal fauna, including family names initially offered to extinct groups and families in which typical genera are extinct. The basis for the study of the mammal taxonomy was the review of the "Mammal Species of the World" (2005, edited by D. Wilson and D. Reeder) with a number of reconsidered details from other authors, including T. Vaughan with colleagues (2011), S. Kisia (2016), and R. Novak (2018). A list of 16 additions is presented regarding the names of families (one more addition deals with order range) both accepted or (rarely) rejected after the publication of mentioned review of 2005. The generalization of data on typical morphemes in taxonomic names of different ranks and recommendations regarding the formation of vernacular names are made. Similarly to the accepted provisions of the ICZN (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature) concerning scientific names of families presented in Latin or Latinized forms from other languages, the basis for the family name is the name of the type genus of family formatted by the word-forming suffixes "-ov/-ev" in the form of "-ovi" or "‑evi" (for example, the name "vyvirkovi" for the family Sciuridae with the type genus Sciurus, the "inievi" for the Iniidae family with the type genus Inia). Formants "-achi", "-yni" and others (for example, "myshachi", "myshyni") are rejected as unproductive for the formation of group names. A list of mammal families of the world (totally 160) and their type genera and type species is arranged. New names are proposed for taxa, which did not have Ukrainian equivalents to valid scientific names (totally 33). The etymology of scientific and vernacular names for type genera of mammal families of the world is collected.

Carina Sarah Cino

This paper discusses death in Renaissance Europe as a specactle of public punishment. With particular focus on capital punishment in various cities in Italy, this paper argues that public executions were meant as a sign of state power, utilized to control the general public. The ways in which executions were used by both state and community are explored in depth, justifying the connection between power and public violence.

Jia Yang, Lipeng Yu, Shuyan Zhang et al.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Asian warty newt Paramesotriton chinensis was sequenced. The complete mitogenome of P. chinensis is a circular double-stranded DNA sequence that is 16,361 bp long and was biased toward A + T content at 61.3% (33.0% A, 28.3% T, 23.9% C, and 14.7% G). The complete mitogenome of P. chinensis consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 1 ribosomal RNAs (16S rRNA), and 1 putative control region. This study presented the complete mitogenome of P. chinensis and provided essential and important DNA molecular data for further phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis for genus Paramesotriton.

Philip Rosen

Jesús Lescano, Miryam Quevedo, Milagros Ramos et al.

<p>Detailed information on the anaesthetic and cardiorespiratory effects of drug combinations used for the chemical immobilization of Kinkajous (<em>Potos flavus</em>) is scarce.  This study assessed the effects of ketamine (2.5mg/kg), xylazine (1mg/kg) and midazolam (0.5mg/kg) combination in <em>P. flavus</em>.  Five clinically healthy adult Kinkajous of both sexes were included.  Heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure and body temperature were recorded at five-minute intervals for 25 minutes.  Then, animals received 0.125mg/kg of yohimbine by intramuscular injection.  Anaesthetic depth was assessed based on stimulus response and muscle tone.  Induction, immobilization, and recovery periods were recorded and qualitatively assessed based on the absence of adverse effects.  The durations of the induction, immobilization, and recovery periods were 9.42±1.73, 33.33±2.16, and 31.37±5.82 minutes.  All periods showed good quality and adequate anaesthetic depth was achieved.  Mean heart and respiratory rates were 99±20 beats/minute and 44±9 breaths/minute.  Both parameters decreased over the duration of the anaesthesia but they did not reach levels suggesting either bradycardia or bradypnea.  Mean body temperature was 37.1±1.5 ⁰C and it also showed a decreasing trend over the duration of the anaesthesia.  Mean oxygen saturation was 92±6% and it showed a mildly increasing trend over the duration of the anesthesia.  Mean blood pressure was 129±23 mmHg and mild to moderate hypertension was observed.  No mortality occurred and no adverse effects were observed in any of the individuals during the three months following immobilization.  The assessed anaesthetic combination effectively immobilized the <em>P. flavus</em> individuals, provided good quality and acceptable duration of both induction and recovery periods.  It should, however, not be used in Kinkajous with either known hypertension record or pre-existing target organ disease (e.g., renal failure, retinopathy).</p>

Henry Hägerstrand, Yvette Heimbrand, Erkki Jokikokko et al.

European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) occurs as two ecotypes in the Gulf of Bothnia, Baltic Sea (Fig. 1). The ecotypes, anadromous river spawning and stationary sea spawning whitefish, mix at sea off breeding location and time. They have similar outer features. However, the former group has higher number (29.9±2.14) of gill rakers than the latter one (26.7±2.21), as shown by studies from the Finnish west coast (Himberg et al. 2015). To preserve naturally reproducing whitefish populations and support fisheries, massive stocking of mainly river spawning whitefish into rivers, river estuaries and sea is undertaken. The stocked fish is mainly hatched and raised in freshwater ponds over the summer before being released in the autumn. The ratio of wild-born/stocked adult whitefish caught during migration as well as at feeding grounds remains unknown. Methods to clarify the issue are not well developed. Mass-marking of young fish is a possibility (spray-marking, alizarin), but large scale sampling is needed to give reliable results. In the present study we applied strontium analysis of the otolith core in polished otoliths to shed light on this issue. Materials and methods. The Gulf of Bothnia with its brackish water stretches ~725 km from the Aland Islands in the south, to the Tornio region in the north (Fig. 1). Whitefish was caught in 2013 during ascending to spawn in northern River Tornionjoki and in mixed sea fisheries at southern feeding grounds (Åland Islands, Kobba Klintar). Otoliths were removed from ten fishes from the river (“river spawners”, average gill raker number 30.1±1.2), and from ten fishes caught at sea; five with 27 gill rakers (“sea spawners”) and five with 30 gill rakers (“river spawners”). The otoliths (sagittae) were polished and the strontium concentrations in the core were determined with PIXE (Lill et al. 2015). Results and discussion. The results from the analyses of strontium in the core of the otoliths are intricate (Table 1, Supplemental Data). One of the five fishes with 27 gill rakers caught at sea had spent time as juvenile in fresh water which was revealed by the low strontium concentration (815 µg/g) in the otolith core. This fish was probably a sea spawner from the local hatchery (Guttorp, Åland Islands), where only sea spawners are raised. Interestingly, three fishes out of the five with 30 gill rakers caught at sea showed a fresh water signature in the natal region of the otolith (core strontium ≤1383 µg/g). This result is in line with annual stocking of vast amount of particularly the river spawning type of whitefish in rivers and at sea along the Finnish west coast and in the Archipelago Sea. The strontium concentrations in the otolith cores of whitefish from River Tornionjoki were higher than that of the four otoliths with low core strontium from fishes caught at sea (Table 1). Supposing that this latter group represent stocked fish raised in freshwater ponds, the vast majority of River Tornionjoki whitefish is naturally reproduced fish. This is plausible because in River Tornionjoki, the major whitefish spawning river in Finland, no larger stocking have been made since 1990s (Jokikokko and Huhmarniemi 2014). In conclusion, the concentration of otolith core strontium differs in whitefish hatched in fresh-water and in whitefish hatched in river water or in brackish Baltic Sea water. This difference can be used to reveal stocked whitefish. Barium concentration may be an even better indicator in this respect than strontium, as previous results indicate (Hägerstrand et al., 2015). Stocked river spawning whitefish appear in large amount at the southern feeding grounds around the Åland Islands, as already indicated by e.g. Leskelä et al. (2009).