We are now into the second season of our FISHBIO Farms experiment (as scientists, pretty much everything we do is an experiment!), and this spring has hatched a new project. The vegetable garden is producing well and the chickens are laying more than a dozen eggs per day—but our newest additions are about 18 turkey chicks. Last year we purchased about a half-dozen Eastern Wild Turkey poults with the intent of fattening them up for Thanksgiving dinners. But when November rolled around, they didn’t seem quite large enough to slaughter. After being fed through the winter, the hens started laying eggs this spring. Lo and behold, four weeks later we had chicks breaking out of their shells!

In a matter of days, more than a dozen chicks were scurrying around inside our turkey coop. Our staff have been making more frequent visits outside to the garden area for a peek at the expanding flock—and who can blame them? The chicks are extremely entertaining. Turkeys are social creatures that go into a panic when they realize they’ve wandered too far from their siblings. Turkeys are great at scavenging insects in the yard, and it’s hilarious watching the little chicks chasing flies. But as fun as they are to watch, we will certainly have our hands full with so many turkeys…

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Catching a big fish requires a big trap. FISHBIO recently initiated a trapping and tagging study of striped bass on the San Joaquin River, and we’re using fyke traps to catch these large, anadromous predators. Fyke traps have been used around the globe for centuries to catch a variety of aquatic species. A fyke trap is essentially a pen or cage with a funnel-shaped opening that narrows toward the interior of the structure. Migrating fish follow the funnel and swim into the opening of the trap. Once inside, they have a difficult time finding the opening to escape because they tend to keep close to the outer walls of the trap.

We opted to use a trap design that the Department of Fish and Wildlife (formerly Department of Fish and Game) has used in the Sacramento River since the 1950s, first to estimate salmon and steelhead runs and later to estimate striped bass populations (Hallock et al. 1957). The fyke traps are large cylinders 10 ft. in diameter and 20 ft. long—and unfortunately, they are not readily available for purchase.

With a little research and a visit to see CDFW’s traps, our Fablab made quick work of building a couple of fykes. They started by rolling and welding steel pipes into 10 ft.-diameter circles for the frame and smaller circles for the interior cones. Then they welded the frame together, forming something resembling the nosecone of a rocket. Our technicians stitched together and cut plastic fencing to form the cone shape of the fykes. The design we used includes two fykes within the trap that feed one into the other. The inner funnel has a smaller opening that leads to the trap livewell, making it more difficult for the trapped bass to find an exit. We wrapped the entire cylindrical structure with chain-link fencing and added a couple of access doors to the sides of the trap. Once completed, these behemoth fyke traps were loaded onto trailers, transported to our sampling sites, and rolled into the deepest portion of the river channel. Watch for future posts on the success of our trapping effort!

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The Mekong River is home to many imperiled living treasures: unique fish species of great cultural, economic, and conservation value that are now endangered. The Jullien’s Golden Carp (Probarbus jullieni) and its cousin the Thicklipped Barb (Probarbus labeamajor) are some of the largest freshwater fishes in Southeast Asia, and are both listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Though these fishes were once found throughout Southeast Asia, the Mekong basin is the last remaining location of relatively robust populations. Jullien’s Golden Carp were reported as “extremely abundant” in the Mekong as recently as 1989, but both species are believed to have declined by more than 50% throughout their ranges (Baird 2011, Hogan and Baird 2011). Historical reports tell of these fish reaching a hefty 60 kg (132 pounds); however, individuals caught in recent years weigh in closer to 20 kg (44 pounds) (Hogan and Baird 2011).

A number of factors have likely contributed to these fishes’ decline, including alterations to their freshwater habitat and increased gill net fishing. Despite their international conservation status, demand for these favorite food fishes remains high: their large size and succulent flesh make them highly sought after. While fishers catch individuals of all sizes, the larger bodied specimens are the most commercially valuable, and egg-bearing females fetch the highest prices at market. Because of the higher value of breeding fish, fishers in northern Lao PDR target the spawning areas of these fishes during the December-February spawning season, using large-mesh gill nets designed to catch Probarbus species. Harvesting fish before they can reproduce has had devastating effects on their populations. Dams pose another concern, as they may impede movement to spawning grounds. Adult fish need deep pool habitats, but cannot reproduce in reservoirs (Baird 2006).

In addition to their IUCN Red List endangered classification, both species of Probarbus are ostensibly protected under Lao fisheries law, which allows for local consumption of the species outside of their spawning season, but prohibits their sale (Baird 2006). Despite this, large individuals of both species are regularly seen in markets in district and provincial capitals. FISHBIO staff observed Jullien’s Golden Carp for sale in Lao PDR at a large market in the capital of Vientiane, as well as at a remote roadside stall while making a field visit to Bolikhamxay province. Of particular concern, we spotted a mature female fish for sale that was ready to lay eggs (photo above). FISHBIO is currently working to advance the study and conservation of Probarbus populations.

This post featured in our weekly e-newsletter, the Fish Report. You can subscribe to the Fish Report here.

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During Southeast Asia’s dry season in January when the mango is ready to fruit, many people in the Mekong region rotate their dinner menu from wild fish to ant eggs. This is especially common for people in Lao PDR who depend on natural resources for food. Ant eggs are predominantly found in wetland areas with many trees or shrubs. Local people are experienced at finding ant nests and collecting the eggs, as well as simple ways to protect themselves from ant bites. After finding an ant nest, they first use the tip of a bamboo branch to check the quality of the nest, making sure the eggs are large and numerous enough to harvest, and have not yet developed into larvae. If the harvester approves of the eggs’ quality, he or she will hold a bamboo basket or water bucket hanging on a stick and shake the ant’s nest until the eggs fall into the basket.

Many ants will also fall into the basket or bucket with the eggs and may try to attack the harvester. One way to thwart them is to shake the basket repeatedly while walking. Another is placing branches into the basket, letting the ants walk on them, then tossing the branches into the bushes. Taking care not to kill the ants will allow them to lay more eggs. Some people who can afford it may buy tapioca powder to help them get rid of the ants. After harvesting the eggs, local people use them to cook various favorite foods, such as snakehead fish soup or leaf tree (Acacia) soup with ant eggs, fish salad with ant eggs, or simply fried ant eggs. Selling surplus harvest at the market can serve as an important source of income, particularly for women, and the eggs can also be used as fishing bait. Although fish are less abundant during the dry season, people can supplement their diet with ant eggs, then switch to harvesting wild mushrooms and bamboo shoots from April to June.

Insects play a vital role in sustaining food security around the world, according to a report recently released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Worldwide, ants and their relatives (wasps and bees) are among the most commonly consumed insects, after beetles and caterpillars. Between 150 and 200 species of insects are consumed in Southeast Asia alone (see Little fishers). Although Westerners largely regard insects with disgust, the report emphasizes that in the rest of the world, insects are not a food of last resort – rather, people eat them by choice for their nutrition and taste. Food can take on many forms for the resourceful.

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At first glance, the little raised dots on the head of this Sacramento splittail might resemble small pimples, but they are actually structures called nuptial tubercles: small, raised, and sometimes hardened bumps of skin. In many species, males develop these adornments during the reproductive season, often accompanied by brightened colors in their body and fins. Induced largely by hormonal changes, the appearance of the tubercles is clearly associated with reproduction, yet the exact role of these structures remains largely unclear. Some potential purposes include facilitating contact between individuals during breeding, providing tactile stimulation during reproduction, or being used as displays of dominance among males (e.g. Wendekind et al. 2008). Furthermore, some research suggests the amount and size of the tubercles may be an indicator of the individual’s condition and parasite load (Wendekind 1992, Taskinen and Kortet 2002, Kortet and Taskinen 2004). While no one has investigated whether this is the case for the Sacramento splittail, at least in some species a plethora of pimples signals maturity and health to available ladies.

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All the world’s a fishbowl for an aquarium fish set free. As anyone whose pet fish has defied the odds can attest, aquarium fish are bred to be hardy survivors. Unfortunately, this trait makes it easier for the onetime pets to thrive in an unfamiliar place if their well-meaning owners decide to turn them loose. As an example, gargantuan goldfish pulled from the depths of Lake Tahoe captured public fascination earlier this year. Goldfish (Carassius auratus) are now found in most of California’s freshwater habitats, largely as a result of pet releases. Freed from the cramped confines of a fishbowl, goldfish may grow to well over a foot (40 cm) in length in the wild (McGinnis 2006). We at FISHBIO have netted a few massive specimens, like the one shown above, during a survey of Alameda Lake in Santa Clara County.

Although bright and unusual additions to the fish community, goldfish fortunately have not exerted significant damage on native species or habitats compared to other introduced fishes (McGinnis 2006). However, some ornamental species with voracious appetites have a dangerous potential to invade and alter new environments. Researchers at UC Davis released a report earlier this year that found 9 ornamental marine species have successfully colonized California waters. The list includes snails, worms, and crustaceans, but no fish as yet. However, with as many as 179 marine species passing through San Francisco in a single day for the aquarium trade, researchers are on alert for the escape of highly invasive fish species, such as the lion fish that has infested Caribbean waters largely unchecked. The phenomenon is a global problem: introduced ornamental fishes now swim through waters around the world, including the Mekong River (see The Mekong’s Amazon exotics).

The aquarium trade is just one route for non-native fish to enter California’s waterways. Introduced species already dominate California’s freshwater habitats (see graph below), and the majority were intentionally stocked by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, formerly the Department of Fish and Game (Dill and Cordone 1996). An eight-year survey of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta yielded only 8 native species, and each was less than 0.5% of the total catch (Feyrer and Healy 2003). Other potential entry paths for introduced species include aquaculture, live seafood, and live bait species. While aquarium releases are far from the biggest threat to California’s native fishes, they are one more source of stress on highly altered ecosystems. So however much your fish looks like it longs for open water, do native fishes a favor and keep it in the tank.

This post featured in our weekly e-newsletter, the Fish Report. You can subscribe to the Fish Report here.

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We have featured the artistic creations of our fisheries technicians before, such as a gate with a riverscape scene or iron yard art (Artistic Outlet), but our design capabilities don’t stop there. When it came to furnishing the inside of our offices, we wanted something more original than typical particleboard tables and desks. We opted for concrete because of the flexibility it offers. With each new piece of furniture our designs become more creative, from a salmon silhouette embedded in the center of a table, to polished stones forming a meandering stream across a countertop, to painted steel trout cutouts adorning the base of a desk. We find we are constantly surrounding ourselves with reminders of the habitat and wildlife that we so enjoy working with.

The process of making a concrete tabletop starts with building a form out of melamine panels and sealing the seams and corners with silicone caulking. Inside the form we construct a wire or rebar skeleton to give strength to the thin concrete slab. Anything that we want to embed in the tabletop, such as wood, stones, or precast designs, is placed in the bottom of the form facing downward. We use a high strength concrete mix, like Quikrete® 5000, and combine it with water and coloring until it achieves a stiff, moldable consistency. The mix is then poured into the form and thoroughly tamped or vibrated to remove air pockets. We level the surface using a straight board (screed) to scrape off any excess mix. As the concrete begins to set, the surface, which will become the underside of the tabletop, can be smoothed with a trowel. After a week of curing the concrete slab can be turned over and the form removed. To get a smooth finish on the tabletop, we wet sand it with increasingly finer grit sanding disks, and then apply a water sealer. With some imagination and ingenuity, the design possibilities are limitless.

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Standing just 24 feet tall, Daguerre Point Dam on the Yuba River is a dwarf compared to most mainstem dams on California’s Central Valley rivers, which tower more than 500 or 600 feet. Though short in stature, the dam has become a sizable point of contention. Built at the beginning of the 20^th century to prevent mining debris from washing into the Feather and Sacramento rivers, the dam provides hydraulic head for irrigation diversions. Two fish ladders, one on each side of the river, were added in 1937 to allow salmon and steelhead access to the reaches between Daguerre and the Englebright dam upstream.

However, these fish passage facilities prove inadequate under certain flow conditions, and the National Marine Fisheries Service identified the dam as a major stressor to native anadromous fish populations in a biological opinion issued last year. Motivated by the aspiration of healthy salmon populations, various entities now advocate removing the structure, while others maintain the barrier serves as an important water diversion to the valuable local agricultural industry, and also blocks predatory fish (such as striped bass) from accessing salmonid rearing habitat above the dam.

A proposed hydropower project at this site recently stirred up new controversy over the future of the structure. Some see the dam as an outdated remnant of a time when the ecological impacts of development were not adequately considered. Concerned parties worry about continued and even additional fisheries impacts of the proposed hydropower facility, while advocates promise renewable energy, job creation, and improved fish passage. Such debate underscores that Daguerre Point Dam, despite its modest size, continues to be more than a small obstacle on the road to developing or restoring the Yuba River.

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Mongabay: How did you start working in the Mekong?

Harmony Patricio: So many people told me about the amazing fish diversity in the Mekong, how little is known about the lifecycles of most species, how important the fish are for the people living in the Mekong Basin, and how many big changes were on the horizon in Southeast Asia. I had a feeling that the Mekong would be the next hotspot for fish conservation… FISHBIO’s primary goal for our international work is to share our technical expertise in the places where it’s most needed. I felt like the Mekong region, and Lao PDR in particular, had a high need for technical capacity building to support local scientists.

Mongabay: What makes the Mekong River special in terms of fish?

Harmony Patricio: It has the second largest number of fish species of any river on earth, only after the Amazon River. More than 850 species have been described, and researchers estimate there could be over 1200 species. As a comparison, the whole state of California has about 67 freshwater fishes…What’s also special is how important the fish are for the people. There are over 60 million people that depend on the fish for protein and income, and the economic value of the fisheries is as much as $3.8 billion US dollars per year on first sale. So the river’s fish are highly diverse, feed a lot of people, and are worth a lot of money.

Mongabay: What do you hope to achieve with your new project, the Mekong Fish Network?

Harmony Patricio: The main goal of the Mekong Fish Network is to help people working with fish in the different countries of the Mekong Basin collaborate across national borders and share information so we can better understand what’s happening with Mekong fishes throughout the basin…We also hope to develop and implement standardized fish sampling methods throughout the basin to build a long-term monitoring program that studies how these fish populations change over time. No basin-wide program like this currently exists, and we need it if we want to achieve more sustainable fisheries management, conserve some of these rare or migratory species that are on the brink of extinction, and sustain the river’s productivity that people rely on for food and income.

Read the full interview>

This post featured in our weekly e-newsletter, the Fish Report. You can subscribe to the Fish Report here.

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Travelers venturing abroad to regions like Southeast Asia will often get this piece of advice: Don’t drink the water. The warning comes with good reason: a number of diseases and illnesses can result from drinking contaminated water. The risk is higher in undeveloped areas, where a host of bacteria, viruses, and amoebas can lurk in water tainted with human or animal waste. Drinking contaminated tap water or eating food washed in it can wreak intestinal inconveniences like traveler’s diarrhea, or inflict more serious ailments like typhoid or Hepatitis A. Although many large Southeast Asian cities have modernized their sanitation and improved their water quality, when we travel in rural areas for our Mekong program, bottled water is usually our safest bet. Or it’s an excuse to sample another bottled beverage, like one of the local beers, and indulge in some cultural exchange.

But when safety is not an issue, a glass of tap water and a glass of beer are far from equal choices when it comes to the amount of resources they take to produce. Water is used throughout the beer making process, from growing hops and barley in the field, to brewing the beer itself, to packaging the bottles. This all adds up to create an item’s water footprint, which is about 20 gallons of water for a single glass of beer. Other drinks also pack hefty water footprints, such as 30 gallons of water for a glass of wine, or 35 gallons of water for a cup of coffee (see more at the Water Footprint Network). Whatever we choose to satisfy our thirst, we usually take a lot for granted about our drink in hand, like its safety or resource use. It’s something to think about before you take a sip.

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