bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Good news, bad news: global fisheries discards are declining, but so are total catches
Authors: Zeller Dirk , Pauly Daniel 
Published: June 2005

Ghoti papers  Ghoti aims to serve as a forum for stimulating and pertinent ideas. Ghoti publishes succinct commentary and opinion that addresses important areas in fish and fisheries science. Ghoti contributions will be innovative and have a perspective that may lead to fresh and productive insight of concepts, issues and research agendas. All Ghoti contributions will be selected by the editors and peer reviewed. Etymology of Ghoti  George Bernard Shaw (1856‐1950), polymath, playwright, Nobel prize winner, and the most prolific letter writer in history, was an advocate of English spelling reform. He was reportedly fond of pointing out its absurdities by proving that ‘fish’ could be spelt ‘ghoti’. That is: ‘gh’ as in ‘rough’, ‘o’ as in ‘women’ and ‘ti’ as in palatial.AbstractDuring fishing operations, fish are often caught that were not targeted. When the species in question are of low value, or protected, this ‘by‐catch’ is often thrown overboard as ‘discards’, the retained part of the catch constituting the landings. The amounts of fish discarded are generally highly area‐ and gear‐specific, but can be high; for example, discards in tropical shrimp trawl fisheries may be one order of magnitude higher than the retained catch. The latest analysis undertaken by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations suggests that global discards have declined in recent years, indicating that wastage is being reduced in global fisheries operations. By all accounts, reducing waste is a good thing, and hence good news. Nevertheless, if one considers this decline in discards in conjunction with the reported decline in global fisheries landings over the last decade, it becomes evident that total global fisheries catches (consisting of landings plus discards) might have declined at a substantially steeper rate than previously thought. This could be bad news, if it is indicative of declining total availability of fish. While acknowledging the high uncertainty in both discard and landings data at the global scale through time, the present observation may serve as an urgent reminder that global fisheries may be in more trouble than we thought previously.
The dynamics of collapse in world fisheries
Authors: Mullon Christian , Fréon Pierre , Cury Philippe 
Published: June 2005

AbstractThe fear of a rapid depletion of world fish stocks because of over‐exploitation is increasing. Analysis of 1519 main series of the FAO world fisheries catch database over the last 50 years reveals that 366 fisheries’ collapses occurred, that is nearly one fishery of four. The robustness of this result is tested by performing several complementary analyses using different conservative options. The number of collapses has been stable through time since 1950s indicating no improvement in the overall fisheries management. Three typical patterns emerge from the analysis of catch series during the period preceding the collapses: smooth collapse (33%), i.e. a long regular decline, erratic collapse (45%), i.e. a fall after several ups and downs, and a plateau‐shaped collapse (21%), i.e. a sudden fall after a relatively long and stable persistence of high level of catches. Using a simple mathematical model, we relate the plateau‐shaped collapses (which are, by nature, the most difficult to predict) to surreptitiously increasing exploitation and a depensatory mechanism at low population levels. Thus, a stable level of catch over several years is shown to conceal the risk of a sudden collapse. This jeopardizes the common assumption that considers the stability of catch as a goal for fisheries sustainability.
Managing by‐catch and discards: how much progress are we making and how can we do better?
Authors: Hall Stephen J. , Mainprize Brooke M. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractThere appears to be considerable potential for further reduction in global by‐catch. This reduction is most likely to be achieved by focusing even greater attention on the technical, regulatory and social approaches that are currently practiced. With respect to the technical approaches, meta‐analysis indicates that overall reductions in by‐catch of between 25% and 64% could be achieved if global fishing fleets could match somewhere between the minimum and median performance of gear modifications used in experimental studies. If such benefits are to be delivered, however, engaging fishers more comprehensively in solving the problems will be essential. Further developing legislative and institutional arrangements will also assist. However, notwithstanding the potential gains that can be achieved, it must be recognized that careful analysis will often be required to ensure that a proposed measure will achieve the desired objective at an acceptable cost.
Genetic, abiotic and social influences on sex differentiation in cichlid fishes and the evolution of sequential hermaphroditism
Authors: Oldfield Ronald George 
Published: June 2005

AbstractGenetic and environmental factors may interact to control sex determination in fishes. A common pattern of initial female differentiation and subsequent male transformation before maturation in non‐hermaphroditic fishes and after maturation in sequentially hermaphroditic fishes has suggested that changes in developmental timing may be responsible for the evolution of various expressions of sexual lability. Sequential hermaphroditism is rare in freshwater fishes, but investigators report degrees of sexual lability at four distinct life stages in cichlid fishes. Some cichlids undergo genetic sex determination and are not labile. Lability at the larval stage allows temperature or pH to determine sex. Social interactions apparently determine sex at the juvenile stage in the Midas cichlid (Amphilophus citrinellus). Most reports of post‐maturational sex change in cichlids are anecdotal or unsubstantiated. The common occurrence of same‐sex spawning suggests that many species are incapable of sex change. Sequential hermaphroditism is concluded not to be typical, except for the checkerboard cichlid (Crenicara punctulata), which regularly undergoes functional female‐to‐male transformation. Expression of sexual lability at four life stages in one family of fishes corroborates a role for developmental timing in the evolution of sequential hermaphroditism as well as environmentally controlled sex determination. The broad phylogenetic distribution of sexual lability in cichlids indicates that processes capable of producing sex change are generally present. The rarity of sequential hermaphroditism in cichlids and possibly other freshwater fishes is likely due to unpredictability of food and therefore potential mate distributions compared with coral reef habitats.
Using fishers’ anecdotes, naturalists’ observations and grey literature to reassess marine species at risk: the case of the Gulf grouper in the Gulf of California, Mexico
Authors: Sáenz–Arroyo Andrea , Roberts Callum M. , Torre Jorge , Cariño‐Olvera Micheline 
Published: June 2005

AbstractDesigning fishing policies without knowledge of past levels of target species abundance is a dangerous omission for fisheries management. However, as fisheries monitoring started long after exploitation of many species began, this is a difficult issue to address. Here we show how the ‘shifting baseline’ syndrome can affect the stock assessment of a vulnerable species by masking real population trends and thereby put marine animals at serious risk. Current fishery data suggest that landings of the large Gulf grouper (Mycteroperca jordani, Serranidae) are increasing in the Gulf of California. However, reviews of historical evidence, naturalists’ observations and a systematic documentation of fishers’ perceptions of trends in the abundance of this species indicate that it has dramatically declined. The heyday for the Gulf grouper fishery occurred prior to the 1970s, after which abundance dropped rapidly, probably falling to a few percent of former numbers. This decline happened long before fishery statistics were formally developed. We use the case of the Gulf grouper to illustrate how other vulnerable tropical and semi‐tropical fish and shellfish species around the world may be facing the same fate as the Gulf grouper. In accordance with other recent studies, we recommend using historical tools as part of a broad data‐gathering approach to assess the conservation status of marine species that are vulnerable to over‐exploitation.
Resistance to cassava mosaic disease in transgenic cassava expressing antisense RNAs targeting virus replication genes
Authors: Zhang Peng , Vanderschuren Hervé , Fütterer Johannes , Gruissem Wilhelm 
Published: June 2005

SummaryAfrican cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) is a major contributor to cassava mosaic disease (CMD), the economically most important and devastating disease of cassava in Africa. We have developed transgenic cassava plants with increased ACMV resistance using improved antisense RNA technology by targeting the viral mRNAs of Rep (AC1), TrAP (AC2) and REn (AC3). Viral DNA replication assays in detached leaves demonstrated that replication of two ACMV isolates was strongly reduced or inhibited in most transgenic lines. After ACMV infection of plants using biolistic inoculation, several lines remained symptomless at lower infection pressure (100 ng viral DNA/plant). Symptom development was reduced and attenuated even at higher DNA doses. Transgenic ACMV‐resistant plants had significantly reduced viral DNA accumulation in their infected leaves. Short sense and antisense RNAs specific to AC1 were identified in transgenic lines expressing AC1 antisense RNA, suggesting that the short RNAs mediate interference by post‐transcriptional gene silencing. Our results demonstrate that resistance to ACMV infection of cassava can be achieved with high efficacy by expressing antisense RNAs against viral mRNAs encoding essential non‐structural proteins, providing a new tool to combat CMD in Africa.
Rapid generation of plant traits via regulation of DNA mismatch repair
Authors: Chao Qimin , Sullivan Christine D. , Getz John M. , Gleason Kathryn B. , Sass Philip M. , Nicolaides Nicholas C. , Grasso Luigi 
Published: June 2005

SummaryThe reversible inhibition of DNA repair is a novel approach to maximize genetic diversity within a plant's genome in order to generate offspring exhibiting important de novo output traits. This process is based on the inhibition of the evolutionarily conserved mismatch repair (MMR) system. In this process, a human dominant negative MMR gene allele is introduced into the germline of a target plant, yielding progeny that can be screened to identify variants with commercially important agronomic output traits. Using this novel strategy, we generated MMR‐deficient Arabidopsis thaliana plants that showed genome‐wide instability of nucleotide repeats associated with chromosomal microsatellites, in addition to base substitution mutations. Functional screenings of the MMR‐deficient Arabidopsis offspring identified variants expressing selectable traits (ethylene insensitivity and salt tolerance), as well as plants exhibiting altered morphologic traits (albinos and dwarfs). We determined by segregation analyses of variant plants that the de novo phenotypes were due to both recessive and dominant genetic mutations. Mutations caused by MMR deficiency showed a different spectrum compared with those derived using ethylmethane sulphonate (EMS) mutagenesis. Our finding demonstrates the feasibility of using reversible MMR deficiency via transient expression of a single human gene product to enhance genetic diversity in plants.
Manipulation of plant tolerance to herbicides through co‐ordinated metabolic engineering of a detoxifying glutathione transferase and thiol cosubstrate
Authors: Skipsey Mark , Cummins Ian , Andrews Christopher J. , Jepson Ian , Edwards Robert 
Published: June 2005

SummaryThe diphenyl ether herbicide fomesafen can be used selectively in soybean (Glycine max) due to its rapid detoxification by tau class glutathione transferases (GmGSTUs) which preferentially utilize the endogenous thiol homoglutathione (hGSH) as cosubstrate. Soybean cDNAs encoding GmGSTU21, which is highly active in detoxifying fomesafen, and an hGSH synthetase (GmhGS) have been cloned and functionally identified in Escherichia coli. Tobacco plants, which have limited GST activities towards fomesafen and which accumulate glutathione (GSH), rather than hGSH, have been transformed with either GmhGS alone, or a dual construct of GmhGS‐GmGSTU21, both under the control of constitutive promoters. Using either construct, the transgenic tobacco accumulated hGSH, with a concomitant increase in GSH content. Segregating T1 plants were analysed for thiol content and GST activity towards fomesafen with GSH and hGSH as cosubstrates, and then scored for photobleaching injury caused by applications of fomesafen. These studies showed that hGSH accumulation alone gave no significant protection against the herbicide and that tolerance was only seen in plants which contained appreciable concentrations of hGSH and GmGSTU21 activity. Tolerance in the dual transformants was associated with the metabolism of radiolabelled fomesafen to inactive hGSH‐derived conjugates, while susceptible lines were unable to detoxify the herbicide. These studies confirm the combined importance of specific GSTs and their preferred thiol cosubstrates in conferring herbicide selectivity traits in planta.
The wheat Em promoter drives reporter gene expression in embryo and aleurone tissue of transgenic barley and rice
Authors: Furtado Agnelo , Henry Robert James 
Published: June 2005

SummaryThe early methionine (Em) proteins are members of the late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) group of proteins that have been considered to be embryo specific. The ability of a 646‐bp wheat Em promoter to control green fluorescent protein (gfp) expression was investigated in transgenic barley and rice. Seeds of transgenic plants expressed gfp in the developing embryo but also in the aleurone layer. The 646‐bp Em promoter also directed strong gfp expression in cells comprising the junction between the endosperm transfer cells and cells of the aleurone layer. Em‐gfp expression in transgenic barley showed differences in spatial and temporal control when compared with that observed in transgenic rice. Em‐gfp expression was also detected in mature aleurone cells of transgenic barley and rice with and without abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. Reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) results indicated the presence of Em and Em‐homologous transcript in embryo, aleurone and endosperm tissues of wheat and of barley and rice, respectively. These results suggest that Em proteins may be expressed in both the embryo and aleurone during seed development, possibly providing protection against desiccation in these two tissues that survive seed drying. They may also have a similar role in these tissues during germination. The Em promoter from wheat may be useful in the expression of novel genes in cereal grains, as an embryo‐ and aleurone‐specific promoter complementing other available endosperm‐ and pericarp‐specific promoters to collectively increase the expression of transgenes in seeds.
A novel thiolase–reductase gene fusion promotes the production of polyhydroxybutyrate in Arabidopsis
Authors: Kourtz Lauralynn , Dillon Kevin , Daughtry Sean , Madison Lara L. , Peoples Oliver , Snell Kristi D. 
Published: June 2005

SummaryThe production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) involves a multigene pathway consisting of thiolase, reductase and synthase genes. In order to simplify this pathway for plant‐based expression, a library of thiolase and reductase gene fusions was generated by randomly ligating a short core linker DNA sequence to create in‐frame fusions between the thiolase and reductase genes. The resulting fusion constructs were screened for PHB formation in Escherichia coli. This screen identified a polymer‐producing candidate in which the thiolase and reductase genes were fused via a 26‐amino‐acid linker. This gene fusion, designated phaA‐phaB, represents an active gene fusion of two homotetrameric enzymes. Expression of phaA‐phaB in E. coli and Arabidopsis yielded a fusion protein observed to be the expected size by Western blotting techniques. The fusion protein exhibited thiolase and reductase enzyme activities in crude extracts of recombinant E. coli that were three‐fold and nine‐fold less than those of the individually expressed thiolase and reductase enzymes, respectively. When targeted to the plastid, and coexpressed with a plastid‐targeted polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase, the fusion protein enabled PHB formation in Arabidopsis, yielding roughly half the PHB formed in plants expressing individual thiolase, reductase and synthase enzymes. This work represents a first step towards simplifying the expression of the PHB biosynthetic pathway in plants.
Plant‐derived mouse IgG monoclonal antibody fused to KDEL endoplasmic reticulum‐retention signal is N‐glycosylated homogeneously throughout the plant with mostly high‐mannose‐type N‐glycans
Authors: Triguero Ada , Cabrera Gleysin , Cremata José A. , Yuen Chun‐Ting , Wheeler Jun , Ramírez Nadia I. 
Published: June 2005

SummaryPlants are potential hosts for the expression of recombinant glycoproteins intended for therapeutic purposes. However, N‐glycans of mammalian glycoproteins produced in transgenic plants differ from their natural counterparts. The use of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)‐retention signal has been proposed to restrict glycosylation of plantibodies to only high‐mannose‐type N‐glycans. Furthermore, little is known about the influence of plant development and growth conditions on N‐linked glycosylation. Here, we report a detailed N‐glycosylation profiling study of CB.Hep1, a mouse IgG2b monoclonal antibody (mAb) against hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) currently expressed in tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L.). The KDEL ER‐retention signal was fused to the C‐terminal of both light and heavy chains. The structures of the N‐linked glycans of this mAb produced in transgenic tobacco plants at various growth stages were analysed by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profiling techniques and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization‐time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) and compared with those of murine origin. The high‐mannose‐type oligosaccharides accounted for more than 80% of the total N‐glycans, with Man7GlcNAc2 being the most abundant species. Some complex N‐glycans bearing xylose and small amounts of oligosaccharides with both xylose and fucose were identified. No appreciable differences were detected when comparing glycosylation at different leaf ages, e.g. from seedling leaves up to 8 weeks old and top or basal leaves of mature plants, or between leaves, stems and whole plants. A strict retention of glycoproteins to ER by the use of the tetrapeptide KDEL was not sufficient, even though the majority of the resulting N‐glycosylation was of the high‐mannose type. It is highly likely to be dependent on other factors, which are most probably protein specific.
Review: intellectual property aspects of plant transformation
Authors: Dunwell Jim M. 
Published: June 2005

SummaryOne of the recurring themes of the debates concerning the application of genetic transformation technology has been the role of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). This term covers both the content of patents and the confidential expertise usually related to methodology and referred to as ‘Trade Secrets’. This review explains the concepts behind patent protection, and discusses the wide‐ranging scope of existing patents that cover all aspects of transgenic technology, from selectable markers and novel promoters to methods of gene introduction. Although few of the patents in this area have any real commercial value, there are a small number of key patents that restrict the ‘freedom to operate’ of new companies seeking to exploit the methods. Over the last 20 years, these restrictions have forced extensive cross‐licensing between ag‐biotech companies and have been one of the driving forces behind the consolidation of these companies. Although such issues are often considered of little interest to the academic scientist working in the public sector, they are of great importance in any discussion of the role of ‘public‐good breeding’ and of the relationship between the public and private sectors.
Gregarious emergence of Macrostomion sumatranum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae; Rogadinae) from the mummified, full‐grown larvae of Theretra silhetensis (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)
Authors: MAETO Kaoru , ARAKAKI Norio 
Published: June 2005

AbstractTwenty‐six to 160 adults of Macrostomion sumatranum emerged from a mummified full‐grown larva of a sphingid moth, Theretra silhetensis, on taro in Okinawa‐jima, Japan. This is the first host record of M. sumatranum. The sex ratio was female‐biased in a small brood but less so or even male‐biased in a large brood.
Effect of photoperiod on the development and diapause of the green lacewing Chrysopa pallens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)
Authors: NAKAHIRA Kengo , ARAKAWA Ryo 
Published: June 2005

AbstractTo investigate the physiology of Chrysopa pallens, the effect of photoperiod on diapause and development was examined in a Japanese population (33.4°N). The response stage for diapause of C. pallens was considered to be the prepupal stage. The critical photoperiod for diapause induction at 20.0°C was between 13 h light : 11 h dark (LD 13:11) and LD 14:10. The larval developmental period was affected by photoperiod: larvae in diapause took longer to complete their development. This difference of larval developmental period in relation to photoperiod was considered to be an adjustment of larval diapause timing.
Analysis and understanding of butterfly community composition based on multivariate approaches and the concept of generalist/specialist strategies
Authors: KITAHARA Masahiko , FUJII Koichi 
Published: June 2005

AbstractWe analyzed butterfly community composition using multivariate analyses. The results of principal components analysis showed that the butterfly community was composed mainly of two species groups. This species grouping was also supported by the results of the cluster analysis (unweighted pair‐group method using arithmetic average). Comparing the present results with species classification based on the generalist/specialist concept, the butterfly community was found to be composed of five species groups differing  from  each  other  in  their  ecological  characteristics:  a  specialist  group,  two  intermediate  groups and two generalist groups. By comparison of their characteristics, it was suggested that, in the butterfly community, the positions of the specialist group and one of the generalist groups are the endpoints on the generalist/specialist selection spectrum, and the three other groups are positioned between these two extremes. The multivariate analyses showed that the species grouping with the generalist/specialist concept based only on voltinism and larval diet breadth was not sufficient to classify both intermediate and generalist groups, and also succeeded in extracting a typical generalist group from the butterfly community. From these results, we propose and recommend the synergetic application of the generalist/specialist concept and multivariate approaches to the detailed analysis and deeper understanding of community structure and composition.