In 2006, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) accepted an industry proposal called the Commercial Groundfish Integration Pilot Program (CGIPP), which integrated each of the seven commercial groundfish fisheries in British Columbia. The industry proposal, developed by the Commercial Industry Caucus (CIC), was the result of guiding principles developed by DFO that focused on the conservation of certain rockfish species on the Pacific Coast. If industry had not developed a plan, DFO would have developed an alternative fishing plan (AFP). This thesis evaluates whether DFOs conservation objectives were met under the CGIPP and if there were any social and economic impacts. These same impacts are compared to what may have occurred under the AFP. The results of this thesis indicate that the CGIPP is a sustainable template for multi-species commercial fisheriesa first step in achieving an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management.

In 2006, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) accepted an industry proposal called the Commercial Groundfish Integration Pilot Program (CGIPP), which integrated each of the seven commercial groundfish fisheries in British Columbia. The industry proposal, developed by the Commercial Industry Caucus (CIC), was the result of guiding principles developed by DFO that focused on the conservation of certain rockfish species on the Pacific Coast. If industry had not developed a plan, DFO would have developed an alternative fishing plan (AFP). This thesis evaluates whether DFOs conservation objectives were met under the CGIPP and if there were any social and economic impacts. These same impacts are compared to what may have occurred under the AFP. The results of this thesis indicate that the CGIPP is a sustainable template for multi-species commercial fisheriesa first step in achieving an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management.

Recently, it has been shown that the high species richness in western Amazonia is related to habitat heterogeneity. Some habitats are rapidly disappearing or deteriorating as a result of anthropogenic activities, resulting in loss of species. One such unique habitat is white-sand forest (hereafter WSF), which is patchily distributed and restricted to a few areas in the northern Peruvian Amazonia. Although it is known that these unique forests are rich in endemic plants, very few studies of the fauna or ecology of these habitats have been conducted. I evaluated and determined the species composition of the avifauna of the white-sand forests at five localities in the region. I sampled the surrounding habitats and determined that a group of birds is restricted to white-sand habitats. Thirty-two bird species, belonging to thirteen families, were found to have some degree of specialization on white-sand forests: nine were classified as "obligate" white-sand forest specialists, thirteen as "near-obligate" white-sand forest specialists, and ten as "facultative" white-sand forest users. I also documented patterns of local distribution of Zimmerius villarejoi and Percnostola arenarum within distinguishable types of WSF and demonstrated that both species are restricted to certain types of white-sand forests in which two species of plants, a palm and a leguminous tree, are dominant. The assessment of the uniqueness and restricted distribution of the WSF avifauna will facilitate the determination of the biological importance of this habitat and will help to promote conservation and management measures.

Compositions of wintering waterbird communities are dependent upon food accessibility (via water depth), biomasses and sizes of their invertebrate prey, which in turn are influenced by the hydrology and sediments of wetland habitats. The hydrology and sediments of marsh ponds on the Gulf Coast Chenier Plain probably are affected by structural marsh management (levees, water control structures and impoundments; SMM) and salinity; therefore, SMM and salinity ultimately may affect wintering waterbird communities. Accordingly, I measured sediment and hydrologic variables, biomasses and sizes of common aquatic invertebrates, and densities of common wintering waterbird species in ponds of impounded freshwater (IF), impounded oligohaline (IO), impounded mesohaline (IM), and unimpounded mesohaline (UM) marshes during winters 1997-1998 to 1999-2000 on Rockefeller State Wildlife Refuge, near Grand Chenier, Louisiana. SMM affected sediment and hydrologic variables, which negatively affected biomasses of Nematoda and secondarily increased those of Ostracoda. However, few waterbird species possess the capacity to capture these small prey; consequently, I predicted that avian species that consume invertebrates would not be among those differentiating waterbird communities between ponds of IM and UM marshes. Comparisons of waterbird densities provided inconsistent results with this prediction because some shorebird and waterfowl species that feed heavily on invertebrates were those that primarily differentiated waterbird communities between ponds of IM and UM marshes. My comparison of IF, IO, and IM marsh ponds indicated that, except for salinity, they differed little in sediment and hydrologic variables. Accordingly, these marshes only differed in biomass of Oligochaeta; consequently, I predicted that avian species that consume invertebrates would not be among those differentiating waterbird communities among ponds of IF, IO, and IM marshes. Accordingly, their waterbird communities primarily differed in densities of waterbird species that feed on vegetation. In conclusion, some waterbird species exclusively used ponds of UM marshes rather than ponds of IM marshes, and most species had highest densities in IF marshes when water depth favored those that maximized their densities. Consequently, My results suggest that marsh managers should focus on the preservation of UM and IF marshes for the conservation of wintering waterbird populations of the Gulf Coast Chenier Plain.

The goals of this thesis were to: 1) induce tetraploidy in zebrafish; 2) characterize single-female spawning in Nile tilapia for egg collection; 3) design and construct hatching systems for tilapia eggs; 4) induce tetraploidy in Nile tilapia. Tetraploidy was induced in zebrafish Danio rerio, by applying a 41 C heat shock to eggs for 2 min at 11, 13, 15, 17, or 20 min after fertilization (AF). A trend of increasing percent tetraploid yield occurred the later the shocks were applied. Shocks applied at 11 min AF yielded 1% tetraploidy and shocks applied at 20 min AF yielded 10%. There were no significant differences (P = 0.20) in induction among treatments. This is the first report on induction of tetraploidy in zebrafish. Stocking of single-female Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus in ten 80-L aquaria yielded a reliable supply of eggs for polyploidy research conducted in this study. In one year, 72 spawns were recorded, yielding ~90,000 eggs. Peak spawning occurred in summer. The two egg hatching systems for artificial incubation of tilapia eggs proved to be effective, with 75% of control fish surviving to hatch. Methylene blue and ultraviolet sterilization reduced losses of eggs to disease and use of glass test tubes as hatching vessels allowed for constant rolling of the eggs and easy viewing and access. The systems occupied little space (< 1 m²) and could accommodate up to 30 treatments of eggs. The use of egg baskets allowed for rapid and uniform heat shocking of multiple treatments of Nile tilapia eggs for polyploidy induction experiments. Tetraploidy and triploidy were induced by application of 42.8 ± 0.2 C heat shocks to eggs for 3 min at 22, 24, 26 and 28 min AF. Shocks applied at 24 min AF resulted in the highest tetraploid yield (10%) while shocks applied at 22 min AF resulted in the highest triploid yield (7%). This is the first study to report the simultaneous induction of tetraploidy and triploidy in Nile tilapia within treatments from a single spawn and raises questions about technical, maternal and genetic effects on synchrony of zygotic development in this species.

The two biggest flocks of Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) wintering in Louisiana are located in Cheneyville and Holmwood, LA. Resident Sandhill Cranes were once located in Louisiana, but because of habitat loss and over harvest these residents were extirpated from Louisiana in the early 1900s. In the 1960s, migrating Sandhill Cranes had returned to LA and were wintering in Cheneyville. Observations and habitat characteristics were conducted on these two flocks in the winter of 2002 and 2003 because of the lack data on these flocks. The two flocks contained about 1,300 individuals with four other known flocks throughout Louisiana ranging from 16-400 individuals. There were an estimated 2,200 Sandhill Cranes wintering in Louisiana. Morphometric measurements for eight birds fell within the range of the Greater Sandhill Crane (G. c. tabida) subspecies. Middle toe imprint measurements in the winter of 2003 showed no difference in size of cranes in the two flocks during January and February, however there was a difference in middle toe size in December. One radio-marked bird was radio tracked to Cheneyville and Holmwood. Cranes selected roost sites in rice fields with water less than 20 cm deep. Cranes feeding in Cheneyville selected rice fields and corn fields, while the Holmwood birds used rice fields and pastures. Fecal analysis showed that nutsedge tubers (Cyperus spp.), rice (Oryza sativa), and corn (Zea maize) were the major foods consumed in Cheneyville, while the Holmwood birds used mostly nutsedge tubers and rice. Rice was found in feces earlier in the winter and nutsedge was found more frequently later in the winter.

The goal of this project was to integrate cryopreservation into the hybridization of sunfishes. The first objective was to evaluate the conditioning of sunfishes to spawn in cages in warmwater ponds. Bluegill and green sunfish were stocked in cages in ponds heated to 27 C by geothermal water. Fish in heated ponds did not spawn on artificial nests in cages. Fish were also brought into the laboratory for artificial spawning. There were 22 spawns yielding 47 ± 19% (mean ± SD) fertilization. The second objective was to develop methods for the refrigerated and frozen storage of sperm of bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus. Sperm were stored in Hanks balanced salt solution prepared at 300 mOsmol/kg, and activated with solutions prepared at 80 mOsmol/kg. Sperm stored at 4 C maintained motility for as long as10 d, but the optimum use of sperm was on the day it is collected. Cryopreserved sperm should be thawed in a 40 C water bath for 7 s. The motility of cryopreserved sperm lasted for less than 1 min. Cryopreserved sperm of bluegill and green sunfish were able to fertilize green sunfish eggs. The third objective was to improve methods of cryopreservation of sperm of bluegill and coppernose bluegill Lepomis macrochirus purpurescens to produce hybrids with green sunfish. Sperm were exposed to five concentrations of five cryoprotectants and motility was estimated at 10 min intervals for 30 min. There were concentration-dependent effects on motility over time. One concentration of each cryoprotectant was used for cryopreservation. Sperm cryopreserved with methanol had the highest post-thaw motility while sperm cryopreserved with propylene glycol yielded the highest fertilization. Sperm of bluegill and coppernose bluegill were cryopreserved and used to fertilize eggs of the same green sunfish. There were no significant differences between the subspecies for motility before freezing (P = 0.4704), post-thaw motility (P = 0.5841), fertilizing ability (P = 0.1351) and hatch (P = 0.1133).

Delta National Wildlife Refuge (DNWR) is located in the active Mississippi River Delta (MRD). Resource managers at DNWR are implementing a marsh creation program that consists of dredging crevasses (openings) in the natural or man-made levees of major distributaries to divert sediment rich waters in to open bays. The mudflats thus created are colonized by stands of delta duck-potato (Sagittaria platyphylla) and delta three-square (Schoenoplectus deltarum). These plant communities stabilize the mudflats and provide high quality habitat for wintering waterfowl and nutria. Two challenges for the maintenance of these plant communities is disturbance from tropical storms and intense winter grazing. Objectives for my study were to measure initial (fall) density of belowground biomass in tropical storm impact vs. non-impact years and quantify herbivore use of belowground biomass. My study was conducted in 1998-2000 following disturbance by Hurricane Georges in September 1998. Exclosures were used to prevent all grazing or limit grazing to nutria only in two treatments. The third treatment was unrestricted grazing. Twelve replicates were distributed over four crevasse/mudflat complexes. Soil cores were collected in November, January, and March to assess production and use of belowground biomass. A mixed model (PROC MIXED, SAS 1996) was used to analyze treatment effects. Production in November 1998 was less than in November 1999 in both communities. In March of 1999 and 2000, belowground biomass in no grazing treatments was different from open grazing and nutria only grazing treatments, but the open grazing and nutria only grazing treatments did not differ. Disturbance from Hurricane Georges did reduce belowground production in 1998 and winter grazing further depleted belowground biomass, but belowground production in 1999 was greater than 1998. The productivity of these plant communities was capable of sustaining heavy reduction in belowground biomass, yet return to high levels of productivity in the following year.

I compared diets and growth rates of age-0 largemouth bass in the Atchafalaya River Basin (Basin), Louisiana, to determine how hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata densities and drawdown influence bass food habits and growth. To assess hydrilla density effects on diet, I compared food habits of age-0 bass collected in high, intermediate, and low hydrilla densities, as well as in Henderson Lake, a semi-isolated portion of the Basin subject to drawdowns in 2001 and 2002 to reduce hydrilla densities. I also compared diets of age-0 bass from sites sampled in 2001 and 2002 that were also sampled in the mid-1970s before hydrilla had colonized the Basin. Frequency of occurrence and percentage of the diet by weight composed of fish prey consistently decreased as hydrilla coverage increased. Bass switched to a more fish-dominated diet sooner in Lake Henderson after the 2001 drawdown, but the importance of fishes in the diet decreased quickly as hydrilla beds became re-established. Effects of the 2002 drawdown in Lake Henderson lasted much longer, and age-0 bass switched to a piscivorous diet sooner and maintained a more fish-dominated diet throughout the spring and summer relative to bass collected from hydrilla-infested areas of the Basin. Length frequencies and mean length in August revealed smaller bass in areas affected by high hydrilla densities, however, there was no evidence that drawdown resulted in a growth advantage for age-0 largemouth bass. Mean length and weight of age-0 largemouth bass was significantly lower in areas supporting high hydrilla densities compared to habitats with intermediate and low hydrilla abundance. Results indicate high hydrilla coverage has major effects on the diet of age-0 largemouth bass, and those effects are reflected in reduced growth of individuals inhabiting high-density hydrilla beds.

In the United States, damages to buildings from termites and decay fungi cost billions of dollars annually. As a result, there is an urgent need for building construction that will withstand the ravages of these biological pathogens. Chemical modification of building products is one of the techniques for developing durable wood-based construction. This study was conducted to examine the effects of powder zinc borate (ZB) and calcium borate (CB) on resin gel time, strength, swelling, leaching, termite, decay, and mold resistance properties of oriented strandboard (OSB). It was found that gel time of phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin decreased with increased amount of ZB, indicating interaction between the borate and the resin. The reduced gel time was partially recovered by using polyethylene glycol (PEG) in combination with ZB. Although panel stiffness was not affected by borate up to a 3.5 percent boric acid equivalent (BAE) level, ZB and CB showed a negative effect on the bending and internal bond (IB) strength. Thickness swelling (TS) of treated panels after 24-hour water soaking increased with borate level. ZB-treated OSB displayed less TS than CB-treated OSB at an equivalent BAE level. CB with a larger particle size caused significant TS. However, the chemical with a smaller particle size helped bring TS to a stable and acceptable level. A certain portion of borate leached out from OSB samples under the water-soaking conditions. The leaching rate varied with wood species, borate types, and amount. The use of borate with a smaller particle size helped reduce the leaching rate. The relationship between assayed BAE and leaching time followed a decaying exponential function for ZB and a decaying power function for CB. Laboratory termite tests showed that wood weight loss decreased and termite mortality increased with the increased BAE level. At the1% BAE or above, there was little damage on wood samples. There were significant correlations among termite mortality, weight loss, and visual damage ratings. Both borate chemicals provided an excellent decay and mold resistance for OSB. The information on various properties of borate-modified OSB is of significant value for developing durable structural panels from southern wood species.