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2064911
Decline in glass eel catch and by-catch and changes in species composition in the River Minho estuary compared to 40 years ago
The glass eel fishing by-catch in the Minho River was evaluated by assessing its composition during the 2021–2022 fishing season and comparing results with the first data collected during the 1981-1982 season. Results showed that by-catch composition was mainly dominated by fish and crustaceans. Large reductions in glass eel and by-catch yields were observed, with decreases in both fish and invertebrate yields. The largest reductions were recorded for Anguilla anguilla (yellow eel), Atherina boyeri, Saduriella losadai and Palaemon longirostris. On the other hand, a few species showed an increase in both number of catches and yield, such as Crangon crangon and Gammarus spp. Decreases in glass eel and by-catch yields were less pronounced upstream. By-catch is mainly composed of estuarine species, with higher catches of marine species downstream. Most of the marine invertebrate species caught were correlated with the presence of marine red, green and brown algae. Small fish and juveniles of larger species were most commonly caught, with the most common species being Atherina boyeri, Pomatoschistus microps, Syngnathus abaster and Ammodytes tobianus. Similarly, invertebrate species such as Crangon crangon, Eurydice pulchra, Lekanesphaera rugicauda and Gastrosaccus spinifer were also important in the composition of the by-catch. High levels of marine fish stragglers and marine invertebrates associated with marine algae were also observed, in contrast to data collected in the 1980s, suggesting a possible shift in the composition of the lower estuarine fauna over the past 40 years.
The influence of fishing methods on catch size, catch rate, and size distribution of Octopus cyanea (Gray, 1849) in Zanzibar, Tanzania
Octopus cyanea (Gray, 1849) is a benthic and diurnally active species found in tropical and subtropical reefs. It is harvested for commercial and subsistence purposes, but some factors in Zanzibar challenge its catch. This study was conducted to determine variations in O. cyanea catch between on-foot and dive fishing methods in Zanzibar. Information from this study would help in the establishment of management plans, which are still challenging in Zanzibar. The catch size, catch rate, and individual size of octopuses from dive and on-foot fishing were determined. Results revealed that about 54.11 % of all octopuses were caught by on-foot fishing and 45.89 % by dive fishing. However, the average catch size (by weight and length) was lower for on-foot fishing than for dive fishing. Moreover, the catch size and catch rate per fisher were higher for dive fishers than for on-foot fishers. The proportion of octopuses weighing ≥ 1000 g constitutes 49 % and 26 % of the total catch by dive and on-foot fishing, respectively, indicating that dive fishing captures a significantly higher percentage of larger individuals than on-foot fishing. Therefore, the concentrated on-foot fishing in shallow water could affect more recruits and juveniles, while high fishing efforts in deep water by dive fishers could impact more spawners and brooders found in these areas. Given these observations, this study emphasizes the necessity of conducting long-term research to accurately identify the peak breeding, spawning, and recruitment seasons.
Type-based assessment of aerosol direct radiative effects: A proof-of-concept using GEOS-Chem and CATCH
The radiative perturbation of the Earth's energy balance caused by all aerosols, the direct radiative effect (DRE), and anthropogenic aerosols, the direct radiative forcing (DRF), remain major sources of uncertainty in climate projections. Here we propose a method for determining DRE and DRF that makes use of the High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL)-retrieved aerosol loading and derived aerosol types (i.e. dust, marine, urban, smoke, etc.) in combination with aerosol-type specific optical properties. As the global spatiotemporal distributions of HSRL-derived aerosol types are not currently available, the methodology is tested here using a global 3-D model of atmospheric chemistry (GEOS-Chem) along with Creating Aerosols from CHemistry (CATCH) algorithm-generated aerosol types analogous to ones derived by HSRL. In this method, the Rapid Radiative Transfer Model for General Circulation Models (RRTMG) is used to perform radiative transfer calculations with the single scattering albedo (SSA) and asymmetry parameter (g) of atmospheric particles assigned based on the aerosol type in each grid box. Average GEOS-Chem/CATCH-derived all-sky DRE and DRF across the North American domain are estimated to be −1.98 W/m2 and − 0.77 W/m2, respectively between mid-January and early February 2013 and − 4.20 W/m2 and − 1.41 W/m2 respectively between mid-July and early August 2014. Sensitivity studies revealed that the scheme may produce up to about ±0.42 W/m2 and ± 0.21 W/m2 uncertainty in DRE and DRF, respectively, related to variability in aerosol type-specific optical properties. This study presents a new way of determining DRE and DRF estimates once global retrievals of aerosol intensive parameters by HSRL become available.
Effects of hook size on the catch variation, size selectivity, and bycatch of the bottom set longline fisheries targeting nemipterid fishes in the Philippines
In the Philippines, nemipterid fishes hold substantial economic importance due to their high market value. However, the local longline fisheries lack specific regulations for managing the capture of these fishes. This study aimed to determine the optimum hook size for increasing catchability in nemipterid fishing while minimizing bycatch, thus promoting sustainable fisheries. We conducted experimental fishing at three depth ranges, using Mustad J-type hooks of 11 different sizes, ranging from #562, the largest, to #572, the smallest. All Mustad J-type hooks utilized medium-sundried Sardinella lemuru as bait. Seven Nemipteridae species and 31 other bycatch species were collected, with Nemipterus nematophorus emerging as the predominant species, constituting 61.96% and 56.99% of the catch by count and weight, respectively. The largest hook size (#562) demonstrated the lowest catch in both fish count and weight, revealing its inefficacy in capturing a wider size variation of fish. However, larger fish were collected with larger hooks, as suggested by the generalized additive model (GAM). In contrast, the generalized additive model suggested that middle-sized hooks (#566 to #568) yielded the highest catches but with an increased bycatch. Thus, these hook sizes, commonly used by many fishermen, were identified as the most exploitative and risky in terms of increasing bycatch. Using large hooks, preferably #562 to #565, would lead to an increase in the individual catch size for nemipterids, to reduce the small-size fish, and to minimize bycatch. These results suggest that regulating hook sizes is essential for sustainable fishing, which can result in a potential short-term reduction in catch rates but offer long-term benefits for nemipterid fisheries management.
Burden of HPV-induced diseases and cost effectiveness of catch-up vaccination in Czech Republic: a model-based study
Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are highly prevalent sexually transmitted infections, notably associated with various cancers. This study analyses the health and economic impacts of HPV-associated diseases in the Czech Republic and evaluates the cost-effectiveness of a catch-up vaccination program.Methods: Utilizing a Markov multistate model, the study assesses the lifetime impacts and costs related to HPV infections. Cohorts of ages 15–21 were simulated to assess the impact of catch-up vaccination outside the 11-year-old age group.Results: The total quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for the female and male cohorts (together 119,362 individuals) were higher in the vaccination scenario compared to the non-vaccination scenario. The increase in QALYs was 122,246 and 200,852 respectively, when considering the actual vaccination rates. Across both cohorts, 329 cancer-related deaths were prevented. In the probabilistic sensitivity analysis for the female population, vaccination was the dominant strategy in 99.3% of iterations. In the male population, vaccination was the dominant strategy in 80.3% of iterations. The implementation of catch-up vaccination for the 15–21 age group significantly increased QALY gains and reduced life-years-lost (LYLs). In the female cohort, all analysed rates of catch-up vaccination were the dominant strategy, while in the male cohort, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) remained consistently below 42,000 CZK/QALY.Conclusions: The catch-up vaccination program for 15-21-year-olds is cost-effective and can prevent a significant number of HPV-related cancers in both men and women.