Influence of Climatic Conditions on the Time Series Fluctuation of Yellowfin Tuna <i>Thunnus albacares</i>in the South Pacific Ocean

Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) is one of the most commercially important fish species for South Pacific island nations and territories and for effective conservation efforts it is important to understand the factors which affect its time series pattern. Our research was aimed at elucidating the climatic factors which affected the trajectory of the yellowfin tuna stock in the Eastern and Western South Pacific Ocean. We utilized various climatic factors for the years t - n with n = 0, 1, ..., 8 and investigated their statistical relationship with the catch per unit effort (CPUE) of yellowfin tuna stock from 1957-2008 for three South Pacific zones ranging from the East to the West Pacific Ocean within the coverage area of the Western and Central Pacific Convention Area. Results showed that the climatic conditions of: (i) the global mean land and ocean temperature index (LOTI), (ii) the Pacific warm pool index (PWI) and (iii) Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) had significant relationship with the CPUE of yellowfin tuna in all three zones. LOTI, PWI and SOI were used as independent variables and fitted through modeling to replicate the CPUE trajectory of the yellowfin tuna in Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3. Model selection was based on significant parameter estimates (p < 0.05), Akaikes Information Criterion (AIC) and R2 values. Models selected for all three zones had LOTI, PWI and SOI as the independent variables. This study shows that LOTI, PWI and SOI are climatic conditions which have significant impact on the fluctuation pattern of the yellowfin tuna CPUE in the Eastern and Western South Pacific Ocean. From the findings of this study it can be recommended that when management decisions are made for yellowfin tuna fishery conservation and sustainability in the Eastern and Western South Pacific, it is imperative to take the effect of climatic factors into account.

Estimation of the Scale of Artificial Reef Sets on the Basis of Underwater 3D Reconstruction

The creation of three-dimensional models from an unorganized set of points is an active research area in computer graphics.One of the purposes of this study is to explore the 3D reconstruction of a cube-type artificial reef(CTAR)set by linear structured light and binocular stereo vision technology in an underwater environment.The experimental setup is composed of two ca-meras in a stereo vision configuration.The alpha shapes method can be used to construct a surface that most closely reflects the arti-ficial reef set described by the points.A parameter study is conducted to assess the scales of the set(i.e.,usable volume,surface area,projected area,height,and base diameter)on the basis of 3D reconstruction.Experimental results show that the quality of 3D recon-struction in an underwater environment is acceptable for estimating the scale size of the CTAR set.According to the measurement of the scale sizing of the CTAR set,the relationships between the parameters of the CTAR set and the number of CTAR modules were determined.Moreover,the usable volume of the CTAR set can be estimated depending on the basis of the number of CTAR modules.

Supplementation of Yeast Extract to Practical Diet Improves the Growth, Anti-Oxidative Capacity and Intestinal Morphology of Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Two control diets based on the commercial formula were designed to contain high(27%,D1)and low(22%,D2)levels of fish meal,respectively.Into D2,500,1000 and 1500 mg kg 1 of yeast extract were added,respectively,yielding three experimental diets(YE1 through YE3).Shrimp(initial body weight 0.30 g±0.02 g)were fed with the experimental diets,five tanks each diet and 30 shrimp individuals each tank,for 8 weeks,and then challenged with Vibrio parahaemolyticus.The results showed that the specific growth rate(SGR)of shrimp in D2 was significantly lower than that of shrimp in D1(P<0.05).The SGR of shrimp in YE3 was similar to that of shrimp in D1.The feed intake of shrimp was similar between D1 and D2.The feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio of shrimp were similar among all diets(P>0.05).YE significantly improved the activity of glutathione S-transferase.The concentration of glutathione(GSH)and the total serum anti-oxidative capacity(T-AOC)of D1 were significantly higher than those of shrimp feeding other diets(P<0.05).The content of serum malondialdehyde of shrimp feeding YE2 and YE3 was signifi-cantly lower than that of shrimp feeding D2(P<0.05).The thickness of intestine muscular layer of shrimp feeding YE1 and YE2 was similar to that of shrimp feeding D1.The shrimp feeding YE1 showed the highest villus height of intestine among all groups.The cumulative mortality after challenging was similar among all groups(70.00%86.67%)(P>0.05).In conclusion,1000 1500 mg kg 1 of YE was suggested to be supplemented into the practical diets to improve the growth,anti-oxidative capacity and intestinal mor-phology of shrimp L.vannamei.

Impact of Climatic Factors on Albacore Tuna <i>Thunnus alalunga</i>in the South Pacific Ocean

Over the years there has been growing interest regarding the effects of climatic variations on marine biodiversity. The exclusive economic zones of South Pacific Islands and territories are home to major international exploitable stocks of albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga);however the impact of climatic variations on these stocks is not fully understood. This study was aimed at determining the climatic variables which have impact on the time series stock fluctuation pattern of albacore tuna stock in the Eastern and Western South Pacific Ocean which was divided into three zones. The relationship of the climatic variables for the global mean land and ocean temperature index (LOTI), the Pacific warm pool index (PWI) and the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) was investigated against the albacore tuna catch per unit effort (CPUE) time series in Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3 of the South Pacific Ocean from 1957 to 2008. From the results it was observed that LOTI, PWI and PDO at different lag periods exhibited significant correlation with albacore tuna CPUE for all three areas. LOTI, PWI and PDO were used as independent variables to develop suitable stock reproduction models for the trajectory of albacore tuna CPUE in Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3. Model selection was based on Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), R2 values and significant parameter estimates at p < 0.05. The final models for albacore tuna CPUE in all three zones incorporated all three independent variables of LOTI, PWI and PDO. From the findings it can be said that the climatic conditions of LOTI, PWI and PDO play significant roles in structuring the stock dynamics of the albacore tuna in the Eastern and Western South Pacific Ocean. It is imperative to take these factors into account when making management decisions for albacore tuna in these areas.