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Abstract The ecological mechanisms driving an observed decline in the mean size-at-age of adult Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) in the eastern North Pacific Ocean have yet to be defined. Here, we present the results of a study designed to investigate the relationship between one potential mechanism — diet — and size-at-age using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. Our results indicate significant differences in the skeletal muscle δ13C and δ15N values between size-at-age categories for each sex, with larger-size-at-age fish consuming diets with higher δ15N values, indicating higher trophic level feeding. Analysis of Bayesian standard ellipse areas showed that for females, intermediate size-at-age categories have the largest dietary range. For males, the largest dietary range was observed in the largest size-at-age category. Our results suggest a size-based stratification in dietary strategy for Pacific halibut with implications for observed declines in size-at-age.
Mountain areas often hold special species communities and are thus in the high priority list of conservation. Changes in human land use, such as grazing pressure and afforestation, and especially in climate have been suggested as major threats for biodiversity in the mountain areas, because species have difficulties to find new suitable habitats in circumstances. Despite the special species communities very little is known about the population trends of species in mountain areas [1,2]. Here we studied population trends of 44 bird species in four major European mountain regions: Fennoscandia, UK upland, south-western (including Pyrenees) and south-central mountains (including Alps), covering 12 countries. We predicted that more species should show negative trends due to unfavourable environmental conditions. We also predicted the declines to be more severe in mountain specialists compared to mountain generalists, which are also found in the lowlands. We found in accordance with our predictions that mountain bird species have experienced significant declines (c. -7%) during 2002–2014. Mountain specialists showed a significant c. -10% decline in population numbers, and the slope for generalists was also negative but not significantly so. The slopes of specialists and generalists did not differ from each other. Fennoscandian and south-western populations were on average declining, but UK or south-central mountain birds showed on average stable situations. Our findings support the hypothesis that mountain species are declining. Thus more efforts should be undertaken to identify the causes of decline in order to protect these populations. [1] Lehikoinen, A., Green, M., Husby, M., Kålås, J. A. & Lindström, Å. 2014: Common montane birds are declining in northern Europe. Journal of Avian Biology 45: 3–14. [2] Scridel, D., Brambilla, M., Martin, K., Lehikoinen, A., Iemma, A., Anderle, M., Jähnig, S., Caprio, E., Bogliani, G., Pedrini, P., Rolando, A., Arlettaz, R. & Chamberlain, D. E.: The effect of climate change on holarctic mountain and upland birds: a review and meta-analysis. Ibis (in press).
Abstract Introduction: There is an increase in cases of mothers using opioids during pregnancy in the United States but research investigating mothers’ psychosocial environments along with individual variability among this high-risk group of women is scarce. Methods: This mixed-methods study aims to examine the complex interplay of contextual risks and experiences of opioid-using mothers. A sample of 50 opioid-using biological mothers of infants diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) were studied using a set of standardized and open-ended questions, along with medical records extraction. Results: A high-risk subgroup of 36 mothers was identified using cluster analysis, characterized by a distinct profile of psychosocial risk. Thematic content analysis revealed four themes: (1) barriers to communication and mistrust of health professionals, (2) limitations of access to health care and the amplification of disadvantages related to COVID-19, (3) lifelong consequences of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and (4) intimate partner violence and its influence on drug use. Conclusion: Our findings highlight important information toward health services provision for opioid-using women of childbearing age. Efforts to reduce opioid usage in mothers need to consider psychosocial and contextual risks.