- Department:(Dept. 4) Fish Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Global participation in and public attitudes toward recreational fishing: international perspectives and developments
The literature on global trends in recreational fishing, the determinants of participation and its social embedding in the public eye are reviewed across the world. In western countries, a sustained shift in public values from anthropocentric to more biocentric viewpoints is documented. This shift elevates biodiversity conservation toward a key goal of contemporary fisheries management.
Phenol-rich fulvic acid as a water additive enhances growth, reduces stress, and stimulates the immune system of fish in aquaculture
The study showed that immunostimulation via gills is possible with fulvic acid, and the high phenolic content improved overall health and stress resistance of fish.
Parasite infection disrupts escape behaviours in fish shoals
The authors show that three-spined stickleback infected with tapeworm Schistocephalus solidus can disrupt the transmission of flight responses within a shoal, thereby not only increasing their own predation risk but also that of their uninfected shoal members. The study uncovers a potentially far-reaching fitness consequence of grouping with infected individuals.
The combined effects of climate change and river fragmentation on the distribution of Andean Amazon fishes
Combining species distribution models and functional traits of Andean Amazon fishes, coupled with dam locations and climatic projections, the authors evaluated the potential impacts of future climate on species ranges, investigated the combined impact of river fragmentation and climate change and tested the relationships between these impacts and species functional traits.
On the conservation value of historic canals for aquatic ecosystems
The authors reviewed ecological studies in historic canal systems, examined the potential of historic canals to contribute to aquatic biodiversity conservation, and provided suggestions to promote biodiversity conservation given the opportunities and challenges in canal management (e.g., nature conservation vs historic preservation).
The role of connectivity in the interplay between climate change and the spread of alien fish in a large Mediterranean river
Dams exacerbate the consequences of climate change on river fish: A potential response of river fish to environmental changes is to colonise new habitats. Dams restrict the habitats of fish, but do not necessarily prevent the spread of invasive species, as Johannes Radinger and his team found.
Pragmatic animal welfare is independent of feelings
In this Letter to Science the researchers argue that effective application of animal welfare in conservation is also possible if it is based on objective and measurable parameters of animal welfare – without relying on concepts such as consciousness, sentience or pain.
Knowledge gaps and management priorities for recreational fisheries in the developing world
A survey with fisheries experts to gather information on recreational fisheries in developing countries shows that recreational fishing is socially important and is expected to grow in most countries. Recreational fisheries were described as mainly consumption oriented. Most often, tourists use marine waters, whereas resident recreational fishers use fresh waters.
The sterlet sturgeon genome sequence and the mechanisms of segmental rediploidization
Researchers have succeeded in sequencing the sturgeon genome, delivering a missing piece of the puzzle essential to understanding the ancestry of vertebrates. The genetic material of the sterlet has undergone very little change over the past 300 million years or more.