Participation, Process Quality, and Performance of Marine Protected Areas in the Wider Caribbean

Throughout the wider Caribbean, marine protected areas (MPAs) are rapidly gaining momentum as a conservation tool, but management performance of existing MPAs is considered low. To enhance MPA management performance, stakeholders are increasingly being invited to discuss, debate, and develop rules about how people should interact with marine ecosystems. Using social and ecological data from a rapid assessment of 31 MPAs and their associated communities in the wider Caribbean, this study investigates stakeholder participation in MPA planning and management, and how participants' views of process quality relate to MPA performance. Findings indicate that (1) participants tended to be male, resource users, participate in community organizations, and have lived fewer years in the community associated with an MPA than non-participants; (2) simply participating was not associated with perceptions of the social and ecological performance of MPAs, however, perceptions of process quality were positively related to views of performance; and (3) resource users' perceptions of an MPA's ecological performance were likely shaped by a variety of factors. Conservation practitioners should be aware that participatory MPA processes are complex and require careful planning if they are to contribute positively to marine conservation efforts.     

Bacillus thuringiensis pesticide exposures reported to Texas poison centers

One of the most common types of microbial pesticides used is Bacillus thuringiensis. Although generally considered safe, exposures to B. thuringiensis pesticide do occur where management by healthcare providers is sought. The objective of this investigation was to describe B. thuringiensis pesticide exposures reported to Texas poison centers. Cases were all B. thuringiensis pesticide exposures reported to Texas poison centers during 2000–2010. The distribution of cases was determined for various demographic and clinical factors. Of 115 total cases, 64% occurred during May–July. The rate per 1,000,000 population was 14.3 in central Texas and 4.4 in the rest of the state. Of the patients, 56% were of an age 20 years or older and 55% were male. The exposure routes were 57% by ingestion, 30% by dermal contact, and 11% by inhalation. The patient was managed on site in 93% of the exposures and only one exposure was judged to be potentially serious. B. thuringiensis pesticide exposures reported to Texas poison centers were more frequently reported from the central region of the state. The majority of exposures occurred during April–July, involved adults and males, occurred by ingestion or dermal route, were managed on site and did not result in serious outcomes.     

Effects of Stock Use and Backpackers on Water Quality in Wilderness in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, USA

During 2010–2011, a study was conducted in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (SEKI) to evaluate the influence of pack animals (stock) and backpackers on water quality in wilderness lakes and streams. The study had three main components: (1) a synoptic survey of water quality in wilderness areas of the parks, (2) paired water quality sampling above and below several areas with differing types and amounts of visitor use, and (3) intensive monitoring at six sites to document temporal variations in water quality. Data from the synoptic water quality survey indicated that wilderness lakes and streams are dilute and have low nutrient and Escherichia coli concentrations. The synoptic survey sites were categorized as minimal use, backpacker-use, or mixed use (stock and backpackers), depending on the most prevalent type of use upstream from the sampling locations. Sites with mixed use tended to have higher concentrations of most constituents (including E. coli) than those categorized as minimal-use (P ≤ 0.05); concentrations at backpacker-use sites were intermediate. Data from paired-site sampling indicated that E. coli, total coliform, and particulate phosphorus concentrations were greater in streams downstream from mixed-use areas than upstream from those areas (P ≤ 0.05). Paired-site data also indicated few statistically significant differences in nutrient, E. coli, or total coliform concentrations in streams upstream and downstream from backpacker-use areas. The intensive-monitoring data indicated that nutrient and E. coli concentrations normally were low, except during storms, when notable increases in concentrations of E. coli, nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, and turbidity occurred. In summary, results from this study indicate that water quality in SEKI wilderness generally is good, except during storms; and visitor use appears to have a small, but statistically significant influence on stream water quality.     

Lupine calls to Texas poison control centers, 1998–2005

Many lupine species (Genus Lupinus) contain toxic compounds, although the amount of these substances varies by the plant part and species. This investigation described the epidemiology of 138 lupine exposures reported to Texas poison centers during 1998–2005. Almost 88% of the lupine exposure calls occurred in March and April, and 90% of the calls came from the central portions of the state. Sixty-one percent of the calls involved female patients, and 91% of the patients were age <6 years. The lupine exposure occurred at the patient's own residence in 79% of the cases. Of the reported lupine exposures, 93% were handled outside of health care facilities, and, of those cases with a known medical outcome, few moderate or major effects, and no deaths, were reported. The most frequently noted clinical effect among cases during 2000–2005 was vomiting, affecting 8% of the cases. In conclusion, most reported lupine exposures in Texas came from the central parts of the state, occurred in spring, and involved young children. Typical reported lupine exposures in Texas were not likely to have adverse outcomes.     

Pattern of lionfish envenomations reported to Texas poison control centers, 1998–2006

The purpose of this study was to describe a large number of lionfish envenomations reported to poison control centers. Cases were lionfish envenomations reported to Texas poison control centers during 1998–2006. The distribution of cases was determined for selected parameters. A total of 188 cases were identified. Of the cases with a known location of envenomation, 94% involved the finger or hand. The patient was male in 72% of the cases, and the mean age was 32 years (range 4–65 years). The most frequently reported adverse clinical effects were dermal pain (89%) and a puncture or wound (66%). The most commonly reported treatments were immersion in hot water (84%) and tetanus antitoxin/status (48%). Patients with lionfish envenomations reported to Texas poison control centers were most often adults and males. The reported adverse clinical effects were typical of lionfish envenomations, and the treatments were generally consistent with the recommended guidelines.     

A computer simulation study of stochastic models to investigate the population dynamics of the screech owl (otus asio) under increased mortality

The work reported in this paper complements an earlier study in which deterministic models were used examine the effects of additional mortality imposed on a Screech Owl, Otus asio, population. Interest lay in the compensatory mechanisms that the owls might be able to adopt in their population dynamics to counteract the overall effect of the additional mortality imposed, in particular when only a part of the population is affected. Stochastic models are used here to address the same questions, and to give more detailed information about the likely behaviour of the owl population than the information an average sizes provided by the deterministic approach.     

A comparison of four process-based models and a statistical regression model to predict growth of Eucalyptus globulus plantations

In forest management and ecological research, consideration of the impacts and risks of climate change or management optimisation is complex. Computer models have long been applied as tools for these tasks. Process-based forest growth models claim to overcome the limitations of empirical statistical models, but the capacity of different process-based models and modelling approaches have rarely been compared directly. This study evaluates stepwise multiple regression models in comparison to four process-based modelling approaches (3-PG, 3-PG+, CABALA and Forest-DNDC) for greenfield predictions of Eucalyptus globulus plantation growth from 2 to 8 years after planting throughout southern Australia.