Fluctuations in the herring and pilchard fisheries of devon and cornwall linked to change in climate since the 16th century

Abstract

edited by J. E. Thorpe October 1978, x+312pp., £11.50 0.12.690650.5Living organisms respond in a rhythmic way to the regular oscillations of their environment. The perception of rates of change of physical variables such as light intensity or the exposure to total quantities of solar energy may initiate a train of physiological events which serve to meet the biological consequences of a changing environment. This adaptive function is itself achieved through rhythmic endocrine control. Although much of the evidence for cyclically repetitive behaviour patterns and their control mechanisms in animals has been obtained from terrestrial forms, information on rhythmicity of activity in fishes is accruing rapidly. This book -the proceedings of a symposium organised by the Fisheries Society of the British Isles -presents review papers contributed by sixteen experts. Four main topics were discussed at the meeting: the endocrine basis of rhythmic behaviour; physiological and behavioural rhythms; temporal aspects of community structure; and methods and instrumentation for use in the investigation of problems in these areas. This book will be of considerable value to fish physiologists, behaviourists and ecologists, freshwater and marine biologists, animal physiologists interested in biorhythms and anyone involved in the fish industry. The Plymouth Laboratory was opened in June 1888, and, since that date, considerable additions have been made to the buildings, including a library, lecture-hall, and extensive laboratory accommodation with up-to-date equipment. Additional sea-water reservoirs have also been built, and an aquarium, modernized in 1959, opened to the public. Academic Press London New York San FranciscoSince its foundation the Association has been supported by subscriptions and donations from private members, universities, learned societies, the Fishmongers' Company and other public bodies. For some time past, however, the main financial support for the work of the Plymouth Laboratory has come from Government funds, and since 1965 the Laboratory has been grant-aided through the Natural Environment Research Council.The Marine Biological Association, under the direction of its Council, undertakes research in all branches of marine science and the main results are published in this journal. Accounts of the laboratory and aquarium are to be found in Vol. 27 (p. 761), Vol. 39 (p. 391) and Vol. 43 (p. 281), and summaries of the activities and research of the Association are given annually in the Report of the Council in the November issue of the Journal.The laboratory is open throughout the year and its work is carried out by a fully qualified research staff under the supervision of the Director. The names of the members of the staff will be found on the inner page of the front cover. Accommodation is available for British and foreign scientific workers who wish to carry out independent research in all branches of marine science. Arrangements are made for courses for advanced students, and marine animals and plants are...

Interannual variation in the composition of the assemblages of medusae and ctenophores in St. Helena Bay, Southern Benguela Ecosystem

“…Long-term studies have begun to show that shifts in the structural composition of pelagic communities might be "normal" for the pelagic marine ecosystem (Russell et al, 1971;Southward, 1980;Southward et al, 1988). Aside from work on fishes and copepods, there are few pluriannual observations of gelatinous zooplankton.…”

Long-term increases in prevalence of North Sea fishes having southern biogeographic affinities

“…Over the last millennium, fluctuations of pelagic, demersal and shellfish stocks all around the globe have been regularly observed. There are numerous records, for example, of herring, mackerel, sardine and anchovy fisheries suddenly emerging in certain areas only to disappear again (Cunningham 1889-90, Parrish & Saville 1965, 1967, Southward et al 1988, Alheit & Hagen 1997. Similarly, demersal fish stocks have experienced population expansions followed by rapid collapses.…”

Modelling food web interactions, variation in plankton production, and fisheries in the western English Channel ecosystem

“…The western English Channel ecosystem is considered an important biogeographic boundary between northern Boreal and southern Lusitanian fauna and has been subject to many studies regarding the effects of climate change on the abundance of fish and invertebrate species (see Southward et al 1988, 1995, Hawkins et al 2003, Genner et al 2004). This region has been subjected to major climatic shifts, with mean sea temperature fluctuating with a range of 1.8ºC over the last century (Southward et al 2005).…”