Health Of Local Population Research Articles

Gender and sustainability at the heart of the Amazon: a look at the bioentrepreneurs

The popular and solidarity economy (PSE) aims to achieve collective well-being through activities based on solidarity. The Amazon region of the Republic of Ecuador is closely linked to extractive activities, which risk affecting the health of local populations and accelerating forest degradation. Furthermore, poverty in this region affects 57% of the population, forcing families to engage in harmful forestry activities with significant environmental consequences. International cooperation, providing financing to promote bioenterprises, has generated sustainable alternatives for these populations. In this context, associativity emerges as a mechanism that generates sources of income for families dedicated to the preservation of forests, presenting itself as a viable solution to this problem. This research aims to determine how the financing of international cooperation influences the associative processes of the PSE, taking as a case study the Association of Wayusa Producers of Limoncocha, Ecuador. This association is part of the " Proamazonía " project financed by the Ecuadorian government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Data was collected through semi-structured surveys and focus groups with key stakeholders. The results suggest that it is possible to achieve both economic and social benefits through the associative process. These include empowering Indigenous women, integrating them into the production process under fair conditions and preserving local culture. Consequently, this improves the quality of life of families and, at the same time, prevents the expansion of the agricultural frontier, promoting the economic and environmental sustainability of the area.

Does the health of local populations modify occupational differences in employment rates of older workers? Findings from the ONS Longitudinal Study 2001–2011

Poor health is a key reason for early exit from the labour market. Few studies have explored how the health of local populations is related to occupational differences in employment outcomes among older people. Our study used data for England and Wales from the ONS Longitudinal Study linked with 2001 Census measures of the health of the older working age population at local authority level. We included 128,710 people aged 40-64y in 2001 who were in paid work in the previous five years. We investigated the associations of both occupation and area level with two employment outcomes ten years later (in 2011): i) in paid work or not; ii) economic activity (employed (reference), unemployed, retired, sick/disabled, other). People in elementary occupations were more likely to not be in paid work in 2011 compared to those in managerial occupations (RRR 1·55 [95%CI 1·47,1·64]). Compared to the healthiest third of local authority areas, being resident in the unhealthiest third was associated with greater likelihood of not being in paid employment ten years later (RRR 1·25 [95% CI 1·18,1·33]). While area level health was associated with employment outcomes for all major occupation groups, the gap between the healthiest and unhealthiest areas was most marked for skilled trades; process, plant and machine operatives; and elementary occupations. Occupational differences for the economic activity outcome were most marked for the sick/disabled category. Policies to improve the health of local populations may support retention and reduce occupational inequalities in employment rates of older workers.

Metal accumulation in fish species of a vast hydrographic network in the Moyen-Ogooué and Haut-Ogooué Provinces of Gabon: Implications for human health

With an obsolete livestock sector, Gabon relies on its huge hydrographic network rich in fish to supply its populations with animal proteins. This study aimed to conduct metal analyses in four fish species (Oreochromis niloticus, Clarias gariepinus, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, Polydactylus quadrifilis) frequently consumed by human populations in the Moyen-Ogooué and Haut-Ogooué Provinces of Gabon and infer the potential human health risks for those populations who rely on these freshwater produces as a source of proteins. Fish were sampled from Ezanga, Oguemoué, Onangué, Nguenè (Moyen-Ogooué) and Grand Poubara (Haut-Ogooué) Lakes during the high flow period (HF) and low flow period (LF) from 2021 to 2022, and analysed for seven heavy metals (HMs) using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) techniques. Throughout the flow periods, and regardless of the lake and fish species, Fe was found to have the highest concentration, followed by Al > Mn > Hg > Pb> As> Cd. The relatively high concentration of Hg was recorded in the muscle tissues of C. gariepinus (6.65mg. kg−1) sampled during the LF period at Grand Poubara. The concentrations of Hg found in the muscle of all fish species also exceeded the maximum acceptable limits set by the American Environmental Protection Agency. The concentrations of Fe in C. gariepinus (Grand Poubara, LF) and O. niloticus (Onangué, LF), and those of Al in O. niloticus (Nguenè, HF), P. quadrifilis (Onangué, HF) and C. nigrodigitatus (Oguemoué, LF) were amongst the highest concentrations ever reported on the African continent. Health risk assessments indicated a heightened risk of cancer for local populations consuming the fish species from all the lakes investigated. There is a need to implement an increased surveillance programme at national level in order to raise awareness and improve the management of fishery resources while preserving the environment and the health of local populations that rely upon these resources for their subsistence.

Local Climate Change Adaptation under the Lenses of Public Health: A Case Study from Porto, Portugal

Introduction: Climate change is a pressing public health issue. Urban populations, especially in coastal areas, are highly vulnerable. As climate change progresses, local adaptation becomes increasingly important. We present a case study about the inclusion of public health concerns in local climate change adaptation in Porto (Portugal). Methods: We analysed two local adaptation plans using qualitative content analysis and conducted semi-structured interviews with a purposeful sample of 6 key stakeholders with different profiles. We did a qualitative content analysis of the respective transcripts. Results: Porto is undergoing health-relevant consequences of climate change, which are expected to worsen further in the future. Porto’s geographical and demographic characteristics and urban environment make its population highly vulnerable to climate change-related health risks. Public health is recognized as a central element in local adaptation efforts. Drivers for integrating health concerns include growing climate change awareness, a sense of urgency, social capital, institutional networks, access to resources, and political commitment. Nevertheless, challenges like data limitations, resource constraints, climate knowledge gaps, communication issues, and political cycles hinder both local adaptation and the integration of health considerations. Discussion/Conclusion: In Porto, health seems both a powerful mobilizing issue and a central topic concerning local adaptation. However, the complex and long-term nature of climate change and the associated uncertainty hinder adaptation efforts. High-quality data about both the local climate and population health are thus essential. The transversal nature of risk is recognized and multi-sectorial approaches, public participation, mainstreaming, and policy integration are necessary to prevent imbalances. Local adaptation efforts, including health-related efforts, are shaped by the international (belonging to the European Union), national, and local contexts. Successful local adaptation and inclusion of health aspects require mainstreaming and policy integration across different areas and involvement of multiple stakeholders, including the population, in order to maximize resources and avoid undesired trade-offs.

Brief communication: Small-scale geohazards cause significant and highly variable impacts on emotions

Abstract. The impact of geohazards on the mental health of local populations is well recognised but understudied. We used natural language processing (NLP) of Twitter (now known as X) posts (n=10 341) to analyse the sentiments expressed in relation to a pre-eruptive seismic unrest and a subsequent volcanic eruption in Iceland in 2019–2021. We show that although these geohazards were of a small size and caused negligible material damage, they were associated with a measurable change in expressed emotions in the local population. The seismic unrest was associated with predominantly negative sentiments (positive-to-negative sentiment ratio of 1:1.3), but the eruption was associated with predominantly positive sentiments (positive-to-negative sentiment ratio of 1.4:1). We demonstrate a cost-effective tool for gauging public discourse that could be used in risk management.

Syndromic Surveillance in Public Health Emergencies: A Systematic Analysis of Cases Related to Exposure to 2023 Floodwaters in Romagna, Italy.

In May 2023, Romagna, Italy, faced a devastating flood resulting in 16 fatalities, forced displacement of 26,000 citizens, and significant economic losses. Due to potential water contamination, implementing public health strategies became imperative for the Local Health Authority to mitigate the health consequences, analyze the flood's impact on the local population's health, and detect early anomalies requiring timely public health interventions. Between June and July 2023, general practitioners who were part of the RespiVirNet surveillance network completed weekly structured forms. These forms collected data on individuals exposed or not to floodwaters and clinical syndromes. Rates per 1000 resident population aged > 14 were stratified by district, week of observation, and symptomatology. Missing data were addressed by imputation using second-order autoregressive modeling. An incidence of 3.52 syndromes potentially related to flood water exposure per 1000 individuals (95% CI 2.82-4.35) was estimated. Ravenna, the city most affected by the flood, recorded the highest rate (6.05 per 1000, 95% CI 4.59-7.82). Incidence decreased in the weeks post-event. Anxiety, or trauma and stress symptoms, exhibited higher rates among the exposed, diminishing over weeks. The incidence for the non-exposed (12.76 per 1000, 95% CI 10.55-15.29) showed no significant territorial differences compared to the exposed ones. Syndromic surveillance provided timely information on the flood's health impact, revealing a higher incidence of individual syndromes among the non-exposed. This study contributes to guiding the implementation of future public health preparedness and response strategies for populations facing similar natural disasters.

Total mercury and methylmercury levels in Brazilian Amazon fish: A scope review with meta-analysis and local population health risk assessment

IntroductionThe Brazilian Amazon has one of the richest biomes and the largest source of freshwater on the planet. However, anthropogenic activities have also turned this region into one of the highest points of human exposure to mercury ever recorded. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to perform a scope review with meta-analysis in order to evaluate the total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) levels in Brazilian Amazon fish, as well as to carry out a local population health risk assessment. MethodsA literature search was systematically performed in research databases and gray literature, remaining 14 studies from 2017 to 2022 for final analysis. The studies were submitted to raw mean and subgroup meta-analysis, followed by a risk characterization and the calculation of a maximum safe consumption of fish for the Amazonian population. ResultsThe selected studies covered 4 Amazonian states, as well as included the analysis of >30 fish species of different trophic levels and sampling in >15 cities. The overall total mercury mean obtained for Brazilian Amazon fish was 0.29 ug g⁻¹. Significant difference was observed between THg levels according to fish trophic level (p < 0.05), which reinforces the MeHg biomagnification. When THg levels from all fish samples were pooled, it was not observed a significant difference among the Amazonian states and the fish sampling season. However, significant variations between microregions and species-specific variations over the seasons should not be discarded. All estimated daily methylmercury intake exceeded the reference dose of 0.1 ug kg BW⁻¹ day⁻¹, resulting in a hazard quotient (HQ) greater than 1 and indicating a risk of chronic exposure by the local population. The maximum safe consumption of fish calculated based on the overall total mercury mean was set as 31, 147 and 173 g week⁻¹ for children, adult women and adult men, respectively, which is much lower than the reality of consumption by the riverside communities (2870 g week⁻¹). ConclusionThere is an urgent need to reduce Hg exposure levels in the region as well as to recommend other protective nutritional strategies to the local population such as defining the fish species with lower mercury contamination levels and their safe weekly consumption.

Incorporating adapted One Health indicators in local Population Health Diagnoses

Incorporating adapted One Health indicators in local Population Health Diagnoses

Environmental regulation effect on health poverty in China

How does government spending on environmental protection benefit people's health? The current paper analyzed 2010 and 2018 data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) database to measure the impact of province-level environmental regulations on the health of local population. The study also applied the Alkire Foster method to develop the multidimensional health poverty (MHP) score, a new index intended to measure the health status of individuals in a holistic manner. Our results indicated that more fiscal spending on environmental regulation could improve health of the local population, especially among low-income population living in the rural areas. Further, the size of health benefit differs by the type of environmental regulation. More specifically, regulations focusing on preventing environmental pollution can achieve more sizable health benefits than remedial ones. Finally, fine inhalable particle (PM2.5) has the largest mediating effect on the relationship between environmental regulation and public health. These results provide several policy implications, which highlight the importance of: scaling up fiscal environmental expenditure and optimizing the structure of environmental expenditure with more emphasis on rural areas where more low-income population are located; shifting from ex-post accountability to ex-ante prevention; and strengthening regional cooperation in environmental protection among local governments, and establishing a cross-regional coordination mechanism.

COVID-19 Pandemic, Economic Livelihoods, and the Division of Labor in Rural Communities of Delta and Edo States in Nigeria

The COVID-19 pandemic affected economic, social, health, and political aspects of most global, national, and local populations, including urban and rural communities. Government measures like lockdowns resulted in the closure of schools and businesses, while social distancing preventing group gatherings impacted public and private spaces. Based on key informants’ interviews with 36 participants drawn equally from three senatorial districts of Edo and Delta states of Nigeria, we analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the type of work men and women do and division of household activities, such as cooking, child, and family care. The findings show that traditional gender role ideology (GRI) defines and shapes rural men’s and women’s work, with women more engaged in farming, rearing livestock, and trading while men are engaged in farming, rearing livestock, and carrying out skilled jobs like carpentry, plumbing, and blacksmithing. The lockdown of schools and workplaces resulted in women disproportionately bearing the burden of cooking and caring for children, the elderly, and the sick. A few rural men shared childcare, while women spent more time on housework and childcare activities than in the pre-pandemic period when children were in school for 6–7 h daily. During the pandemic, rural men and women spent more time with the children, such that rural women stayed at home or took children to the farms and marketplaces where possible. Older siblings and the elderly also provided support for women. In conclusion, work and family activities during COVID were, to an extent, difficult to manage as parents had to cope with increasing food insecurity, economic and transportation costs, and social deprivation fostered by social norms, values, and practices that perpetuate gender inequality and marginalization of women.

Developing a career and education framework for advanced clinical practice in midwifery.

This study outlines the nature of Advanced Clinical Practice in Midwifery (ACPiM), reporting on a stakeholder analysis as part of a national project to develop a career framework for advanced practice in midwifery on behalf of the National Health Service (NHS) in England. Between June and July 2022, 31 advanced practice midwives were recruited across England within the NHS settings. Convenience sampling was used to identify midwives working as advanced practitioners, and those pursuing this career route. Focus group and one-to-one interviews were conducted, recorded, and transcribed. These stakeholder data were then analyzed using a reflexive thematic approach. ACP midwives were active across many professional settings. The findings resulted in three themes: Midwifery autonomy, Desire for progression, and Avenues of support. Midwifery autonomy highlighted a midwifery desire to utilize specialist skills and expert decision-making to provide holistic care directly to women and families. Desire for progression highlighted that, regardless of career stage, midwives aspired to advance their practice requiring a range of pathways to fulfil career satisfaction and meet local population health needs. Avenues of support discussed the barriers and facilitators to progression, highlighting the need for service vision, a multi-disciplinary approach to facilitate support for individuals, and strong midwifery leadership. Although the ACPiM role is desired by maternity institutions and organizations, midwives remain unclear about how to achieve this position, and employers remain unsure of how an ACPiM could transform services. If midwives are to successfully achieve ACPiM status, organizational support is needed to facilitate individuals drive for career progression, resulting in a strengthened workforce and improved patient experience.

An approach to assess the consequence of a hypothetical radionuclide release in Singapore - a densely populated urban setting

This study is to demonstrate an approach to investigate the consequence of a hypothetical radionuclide release scenario in Singapore, a typical urban setting with high population density. To this end, we made use of MACCS 4.1, a Gaussian-based atmospheric dispersion model to compute the peak dose and the population health effects. We developed the meteorological and site files from data provided by local government agencies. Our investigation showed that the chosen scenario poses very little to negligible risk to the health of local population as the peak dose received across the country is below the radiation safety level recommended by ICRP.

Geo-visualizing the hotspots of smog-induced health effects in district Gujranwala, Pakistan: a community perspective.

This study aims to examine the health effects of smog on different age groups in Gujranwala and its associated health effects. To achieve this, primary data was gathered through a questionnaire survey focused on health issues faced by elderly individuals during the smog season. The results of the survey revealed that older adults in Gujranwala are particularly vulnerable to a range of health problems during this period, including coughing, throat infections, irritated eyes, runny noses, shortness of breath, chest pain while breathing, wheezing, asthma, heart problems, and respiratory issues. In order to analyze the spatial distribution of these health concerns, spatial and geo-statistical methods were employed utilizing ArcGIS 10.5. By integrating field data and secondary sources, hotspot and cold spot zones were identified. Employing the statistical model within ArcMap 10.5, hotspot analysis was performed to determine areas with elevated air quality index (AQI) values and associated health problems. The application of the inverse distance weighted approach, incorporating the Z value, facilitated a visual representation of areas with heightened and reduced AQI and health-related issues. The study's outcomes underscore the prevalence of health challenges among older adults during the winter months in Gujranwala, particularly linked to smog-induced throat infections, irritated eyes, and runny noses. The research identified zones with escalated AQI values, encompassing regions such as Gujranwala, Chandaqella, Alam Chowk, Khali Shahpur, Sialkot Bypass, and Pindi Bypass. It was established that industrial pollutants and vehicular emissions are the primary contributors to smog in the area. Given the detrimental consequences of pollution on individuals of all age groups, it is imperative to take action to mitigate its impact. This can be achieved through addressing pollution sources, implementing effective emission control measures, and fostering public awareness. By adopting proactive measures, the adverse health effects of pollution can be minimized, thereby fostering a healthier and safer environment for the entire population. This study offers valuable insights for policymakers and environmentalists to implement targeted interventions and improve air quality, ultimately safeguarding the health of local populations.

EVALUATION OF OXIDATIVE/NITROSATIVE STRESS BIOMARKERS IN KIDNEY, HEART AND MUSCLE TISSUES OF Oncorhynchus mykiss (WALBAUM, 1792) TREATED WITH MERCURY CHLORIDE (HgCl2)

The widespread presence of mercury (Hg) and its derivatives in aquatic environments necessitates the investigation of their toxic effects on fish and the potential risks they pose to the health of local populations. The objective of this study was to investigate the toxic effects of mercury chloride (HgCl2) on Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum. 1792) by examining the dynamics of oxidative and nitrosative stress in muscle, kidney, and heart tissues. The rainbow trout used in the study had an average weight of 125.65±8.30 g. Five experimental groups were created, including a control group and groups exposed to 25% LC50 concentration of HgCl2 for 7 and 14 days, as well as groups exposed to 50% LC50 concentration of HgCl2 for 7 and 14 days. A total of 120 fish, with 40 fish assigned to each tissue (muscle, kidney, and heart), were used in the study. To evaluate oxidative/nitrosative stress, various parameters including ONOOˉ, TOS, TAS, OSI, and MDA levels were measured. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between the experimental groups in terms of TAS, TOS, OSI, ONOOˉ, and MDA levels in all three tissues (muscle, kidney, and heart) (P&lt;0.05). In conclusion, the findings of this study demonstrate that HgCl2 induces stress and toxicity in rainbow trout, as evidenced by increased levels of MDA and ONOOˉ, which are stress indicators in the fish.

Ecological and human health hazards of soil heavy metals after wildfire: A case study of Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, China

Soil samples were collected in at different depths from the conflagration area in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Region, China, to investigate the distribution characteristics and ecological and human health risks of heavy metals after a wildfire. The samples collected comprise wildfire ash (WA) above the soil surface, ash soil (AS) 0–5 cm, and plain soil (PS) 5–15 cm below the soil surface. Additionally, reference soil (RS) was collected from a nearby unburned area at the same latitude as the conflagration area. The results showed that the concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) in the WA and AS were significantly higher than in reference soil (RS) (p < 0.05). Concentrations of Pb in the PS were 2.52 times higher than that in RS (17.9 mg kg−1) (p < 0.05). The AS and WA had the highest Index of potential ecological risks (RI > 600). In addition, The Cd in AS and WA contributed the most to the highest Improved nemerow index (INI) and RI with a contribution of more than 80%. The concentration of heavy metals was used to establish non-carcinogenic effects and cancer risks in humans via three exposure pathways: accident ingestion of soil, dermal contact with soil, and inhalation of soil particles. Hazard index (HI) values of each sample were all less than 1, indicating the non-carcinogenic risk was within the acceptable range and would not adversely affect the local population's health. The Cancer risk (CR) values of Cr, As, Cd, and Ni were all below 1 × 10−6, indicating that heavy metal pollution from this wildfire did not pose a cancer risk to residents.

Systems-Based Practice 20 Years On: Navigating the System for Better Care.

Systems-based practice (SBP) was introduced as 1 of 6 core competencies in 1999 because of its recognized importance in the quality and safety of health care provided to patients. Nearly 25 years later, faculty and learners continue to struggle with understanding and implementing this essential competency, thus hindering the medical education community's ability to most effectively teach and learn this important competency.Milestones were first introduced in 2013 as one effort to support implementation of the general competencies. However, each specialty developed its milestones independently, leading to substantial heterogeneity in the narrative descriptions of competencies including SBP. The process to create Milestones 2.0, and more specifically, the Harmonized Milestones, took this experience into account and endeavored to create a shared language for SBP across all specialties and subspecialties. The 3 subcompetencies in SBP are now patient safety and quality improvement, systems-navigation for patient-centered care (coordination of care, transitions of care, local population health), and physician's role in health care systems (components of the system, costs and resources, transitions to practice). Milestones 2.0 are also now supported by new supplemental guides that provide specific real-world examples to help learners and faculty put SBP into the context of the complex health care environment.While substantially more resources and tools are now available to aid faculty and to serve as a guide for residents and fellows, much work to effectively implement SBP remains. This commentary will explore the evolutionary history of SBP, the challenges facing implementation, and suggestions for how programs can use the new milestone resources for SBP. The academic medicine community must work together to advance this competency as an essential part of professional development.

A School of Local Fish on the School Lunch Menu

School cafeterias in the Canary Islands use mainly seafood that is imported from far-away industrial fishing operations, even though there are several nearby fishing fleets. The nearby fleets fish for tuna the traditional way, catching them one by one off of mostly small-scale fishing boats, with the hook and line technique. These boats are eco-friendly, but they tend to export their tuna—several thousand tons each year—to mainland Spain or other countries. So, in 2018, we started a project to supply local tuna and other fish steaks to about a dozen Canary Islands school cafeterias, in an attempt to reduce fish exports and imports. This is good for the environment because it decreases the amount of fuel used to move food from place to place. We hope our work will not only help school kids to eat healthier, but also improve the eating habits and health of the entire local population.

Dynamic assessment of restored ecosystem health based on pressure‐state‐response subsystem‐system model in a karst trough valley

AbstractLimited soil and water resources in a sloping karst trough valley have negatively affected the local population and ecosystem health. A deeper understanding of karst ecosystem health and its driving mechanism are important for ecosystem management and restoration. In recent decades, the karst trough valley has been exposed to multiple threats from various natural and anthropogenic factors. Assessment of which is essential to understand the state of the karst ecosystem and to develop a suitable, scientifically proven management strategy. Based on the pressure‐state‐response‐subsystem‐system (PSR‐SS) model, the restored ecosystem health of karst trough valley was assessed from 2000 to 2015 at the grid scale. The principal component analysis (PCA) method was adopted to explore the factors driving ecosystem health change. It is found that from the years of 2000 to 2015, there was an improvement in ecosystem health in karst trough valley ecosystem. Land use analysis maps indicate a slight decrease in woodland and grassland and increase in cropland and urban buildup, and the Land coverage increased from 84.87% to 87.64%. The area of karst rock desertification decreased by 75.3 km2 from 2000 to 2015. The AEH indices of 0.27 (2000), 0.45 (2005), 0.46 (2010) and 0.68 (2015), which indicate moderate warning, pre‐warning, early warning and generally healthy, respectively. The 17 selected driving factors were grouped into two broad categories by PCA, one is national policy, and the other one is natural condition and local activities. National policy was to be found the most important influence on ecosystem health. Our findings emphasize the key role of government in ecosystem health change, which would give directions to the sustainable development of karst trough valley areas.

Community action projects: community-engaged quality improvement for medical students

ABSTRACT Background Healthcare Quality Improvement (QI) is an essential skill for medical students to acquire, although there is insufficient empirical research which suggests the best educational methods to do this. This study explored the experiences of medical students participating in two versions of a Community Action Project (CAP) which gave medical students the opportunity to learn QI skills in a community setting. The first version (GPCAP) was pre-pandemic where students identified and delivered QI projects on placement in general practice to improve local population health. The second version (Digi-CAP) ran remotely where students worked on QI projects identified by local voluntary sector organisations focused on local community priorities during COVID-19. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with volunteers from the two cohorts of students who had taken part in quality improvement initiatives. Transcriptions were independently coded by two researchers and analysed through thematic analysis. Results Sixteen students were interviewed. Whilst students had mixed experiences of completing their CAP, engagement and successful learning was associated with the following themes from the two versions of QI CAP projects: finding a sense of purpose and meaning in QI projects; preparedness for responsibility and service-driven learning; the importance of having supportive partnerships throughout the project duration and making a sustainable difference. Conclusions and implications The study provides valuable insights into the design and implementation of these community-based QI projects, which enabled students to learn new and often hard to teach skills, whilst working on projects which have a sustainable impact on local community outcomes.

Paired passive acoustic and gillnet sampling reveal the utility of bioacoustics for monitoring fish populations in a turbid estuary

Abstract Estuaries worldwide provide critical habitat to many ecologically and socioeconomically important fish species. However, the high turbidity and strong environmental gradients inherent to many estuaries make the monitoring of fish populations a challenging task. To assess the health and diversity of local fish populations, resource managers often employ fisheries-independent sampling methods, which result in valuable population assessments, but suffer from low-temporal resolution and high rates of mortality. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) provides a near-continuous, non-invasive means for monitoring soniferous fish activity over extended periods, but its utility for quantifying entire fish communities is largely untested, especially in turbid estuaries. Here, we use synchronized acoustic and gillnet sampling at 51 locations in the Mission-Aransas Estuary (TX), across two sampling seasons to test correlations between acoustic indices and gillnet catch. Positive correlations were observed between gillnet catch and sound pressure levels in both broadband (50–22050 Hz) and low-frequency (50–2500 Hz) bands. Additionally, sciaenid calling activity was positively correlated with sciaenid catch during the spring, when most spawning activity occurs. Our results indicate that PAM can be used to monitor the relative abundances of fish in Gulf of Mexico estuaries and beyond, although this is subject to species identity and seasonal dynamics.