South Shore Research Articles

A Fisherman's Perspective

A Fisherman's Perspective

Jamestown Canyon Virus: A Potential Cause for Acute Inflammatory Polyneuropathy? (P03.256)

Objective: To describe the first case reports of human infections with Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV), an emerging viral pathogen, in Nova Scotia. Background JCV is a mosquito-borne zoonosis belonging to the California serogroup of bunyaviruses, endemic in North America. Although seroprevalence data suggests that up to 88% of deer along the south shore region of Nova Scotia (NS) have been infected by JCV, human infections have not been reported. Design/Methods: The clinical and demographic data of our cases were reviewed. Serologic testing for JCV infection was done at the National Microbiology Laboratory using plaque reduction neutralization (PRNT). PubMed search was performed to determine the typical clinical manifestations of JCV in humans. Results: Two human cases of probable JCV infection were identified in 2010 and 2011 in NS presenting as acute polyneuropathies with cognitive changes. CSF showed an inflammatory reaction with lymphocytic pleocytosis and elevated protein. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies demonstrated acute polyneuropathy in both, with prominent demyelination in one. Microbiologic investigations including culture, PCR for HSV, and enteroviruses were negative. Serology for typical arboviruses were negative. Serum IgM and PRNT for JCV was positive. Both cases were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin with improvement, but deficits from the polyneuropathy persisted. Literature review indicated that JCV infection is often limited to a mild febrile illness which can progress to an encephalitis and/or meningitis. No reports of demyelinating polyneuropathy as a result of JCV were previously identified. Conclusions: These are the first reported probable cases in humans in NS. The atypical nature of these presentations suggests that JCV may cause a greater spectrum of neurologic disease than previously described. Clinicians should consider JCV in their differential of patients presenting with inflammatory polyneuropathies in NS and other areas with high prevalence in their zoonotic reservoir. Disclosure: Dr. Rasool has nothing to disclose. Dr. Benstead has nothing to disclose. Dr. Drebot has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hatchette has nothing to disclose.

French Polynesia

French Polynesia Lorenz Gonschor (bio) Click for larger view View full resolution Crucifixion, by Andy Leleisi'uao. 2010. Acrylic on canvas, 76 cm x 156 cm A crucifixion takes place in a cryptid world. This dire chapter of the Bible is reenacted with strange creatures replacing humans. [End Page 171] The period under review was not particularly rich in new events. While no economic recovery was in sight, local politicians, fed by French subsidies, continued their games of making and unmaking majorities in the Assembly of French Polynesia, culminating in the eleventh change of government since 2004. The only possibly interesting development is that the new pro-independence majority now wants to internationalize the country's problems and get it out of the grip of Paris. As the review period started, the ongoing political instability continued to worsen as President Tong Sang's minority government became more and more immobilized. Tong Sang had been leading a coalition government between his own To Tatou Aia (Our Country) party and Gaston Flosse's Tahoeraa Huiraatira (People's Rally) since November 2009, but the coalition virtually broke apart in April 2010. However, there had not been a motion of no confidence against Tong Sang because Tahoeraa could not agree on a common platform with the opposition Union Pour La Démocratie (UPLD, Union for Democracy), led by Oscar Temaru. Cabinet ministers from Tahoeraa refused to resign, even though the party leadership claimed Tahoeraa to be an opposition party. During a budgetary debate on 2 August, Tahoeraa representatives charged Tong Sang with incompetency to lead the country and called on him to resign (TP, 2 Aug 2010). Tahoeraa's confusing attitude of attacking the president and demanding his resignation, while at the same time allowing its members to keep their cabinet portfolios, can only be understood by looking at the peculiarities of French Polynesia's political system. As long as Tong Sang did not resign, he could only be overthrown by a constructive vote of no confidence, which would require an overall majority and entail the automatic election of a successor. A resignation, on the other hand, would provoke a new presidential election, which could take up to three rounds of voting. In this scenario, Flosse, through clever tactics, might have had a chance to become president once more, since a relative majority would be sufficient in the third round (see articles 1 and 5 of the 2007 Organic Law of French Polynesia). While the stalemate continued at home, the battleground for Tahitian politics was temporarily shifted overseas. During the annual Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu, on 3-6 August, Vice President Edouard Fritch asked that his country finally be granted full membership. After having been granted observer status in 2004, French Polynesia [End Page 172] became an associated member in 2006, which Fritch considered an unjust, second-class status since it precluded the country's representatives from participating in some of the Forum's important political and economic discussions. The request for full membership was denied by the majority of Forum member countries because, according to the Forum's statutes, full membership is limited to independent or fully self-governing countries (such as those in free association), while French Polynesia is considered only a partially autonomous territory under French sovereignty. Assembly Speaker Oscar Temaru, who also attended the Forum meeting, underlined that as long as the country was not independent, full membership was not possible (TP, 4 Aug, 8 Aug 2010). In this sense, Fritch and the other pro-French politicians have been acting hypocritically—at home they staunchly refuse independence from France while at international meetings they act as if their country is a sovereign state. At the same time, irresponsible behavior had been common in domestic issues as well. In mid-August, the employees of the municipal administration of Teva I Uta on Tahiti's south shore went on strike because UPLD Mayor Tina Cross had demanded that her employees accept a reduction in salaries after misspending by the previous Tahoeraa municipal administration had brought Teva I Uta to the brink of bankruptcy (TPM, Sept 2010). It was nearly three months before the conflict was resolved and municipal...

Lead and cadmium accumulation in anuran amphibians of a permanent water body in arid Midwestern Argentina

Heavy metals have been detected in water and sediments from the Embalse La Florida, an artificial lake in the arid region of San Luis province, Argentina, representing one of the few sources of permanent water for reproduction of native anuran species. This study assesses lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in the anuran species found in this water reservoir as well as differences between compounds, species and sites of collection. Adult anuran amphibians were collected on the north and south shores of the Embalse La Florida and Pb and Cd concentrations were measured in whole body homogenates digested using wet ashing techniques. All individuals of the six species assayed had detectable levels of Pb and Cd that ranged from 1.19 to 5.57μg/g dry mass and from 1.09 to 6.86μg/g dry mass, respectively. Anuran amphibians collected in the more contaminated south shore accumulated 21% more Cd and 40% more Pb than individuals from the less altered north shore. Cd and Pb accumulation was not significantly correlated with the concentration in water at the site of collection. Amphibians of the Embalse La Florida accumulate Cd and Pb. Between and within species, differences were detected in Cd and Pb concentrations. Differences in metal concentrations between species, metals, and individuals collected on shores of the Embalse La Florida with different contamination, were detected. Therefore, it is crucial to implement adequate policies to protect amphibians from the accelerated urban development experienced in this location.

Evidence for middle Cretaceous accretion at Santa Elena Peninsula (Santa Rosa Accretionary Complex), Costa Rica

An oceanic assemblage of alkaline basalts, radiolarites and polymictic breccias forms the tectonic substratum of the Santa Elena Nappe, which is constituted by extensive outcrops of ultramafic and mafic rocks of the Santa Elena Peninsula (NW Costa Rica). The undulating basal contact of this nappe defines several half-windows along the south shores of the Santa Elena Peninsula. Lithologically it is constituted by vesicular pillowed and massive alkaline basaltic flows, alkaline sills, ribbon-bedded and knobby radiolarites, muddy tuffaceous and detrital turbidites, debris flows and polymictic breccias and megabreccias. Sediments and basalt flows show predominant subvertical dips and occur in packages separated by roughly bed-parallel thrust planes. Individual packages reveal a coherent internal stratigraphy that records younging to the east in all packages and shows rapid coarsening upwards of the detrital facies. Alkaline basalt flows, pillow breccias and sills within radiolarite successions are genetically related to a mid-Cretaceous submarine seamount. Detrital sedimentary facies range form distal turbidites to proximal debris flows and culminate in megabreccias related to collapse and mass wasting in an accretionary prism. According to radiolarian dating, bedded radiolarites and soft-sediment-deformed clasts in the megabreccias formed in a short, late Aptian to Cenomanian time interval. Middle Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous radiolarian ages are found in clasts and blocks reworked from an older oceanic basement. We conclude that the oceanic assemblage beneath the Santa Elena Nappe does not represent a continuous stratigraphic succession. It is a pile of individual thrust sheets constituting an accretionary sequence, where intrusion and extrusion of alkaline basalts, sedimentation of radiolarites, turbidites and trench fill chaotic sediments occurred during the Aptian-Cenomanian. These thrust sheets formed shortly before the off-scraping and accretion of the complex. Here we define the Santa Rosa Accretionary Complex and propose a new hypothesis not considered in former interpretations. This hypothesis would be the basis for further research.

Numerical Study on the Impact of the Sewage Drainage on Water Quality of Shanghai Water Sources

A 2D current and water quality model was set up with Delft3D-FLOW in this research, which was well calibrated and verified with the observed tidal levels and velocities. Considered with the project of the Qingcaosha Water Source, Pollution concentration distribution caused by sewage outfalls in the south bank of the Yangtze River during a neap tide of dry season is simulated and the computed results show: a high pollution zone appears near the south shore, and moves upward with flood flow and downward with ebb flow, however, it is bounded a limit region around the outfalls. During the tidal period, the water quality of the Qingcaosha water source can be classified as the second class water, which can ensure the normal water supply as the Shanghai water source. It is suggested that the regular monitoring water quality in this high pollution zone should be put into practice to ensure the water quality of water sourecs. The Yangtze River is adjacent to the East Sea and it’s the largest river in China, with obvious seasonal variant runoff and tidal flow. The Yangtze River was bifurcated by Chongming Island to south and north branch from Xuliujing, most of the flow go down through the south branch. The south branch was divided into south and north channel by Changxing Island and Hengsha Island. The south channel was bifurcated by Jiuduansha Shoal to south and north passage, three bifurcation areas and four estuarine outlets were formed (see Fig 1.)

Early Growth of Three Kingfish (Menticirrhus) Species Found in Coastal Waters of the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Southern kingfish (Menticirrhus americanus), gulf kingfish (M. littoralis), and northern kingfish (M. saxatilis) are members of the drum family (Sciaenidae) that are widespread in coastal habitats of the western Atlantic, including in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Despite their economic and ecological importance, little is known about growth of young kingfish. Young kingfish were collected from four different Mississippi shoreline habitats in 2005 and 2006; two associated with barrier islands and two along the mainland. Barrier island habitats included surf zones on the south shore and grass beds on the north shore. Mainland habitats were located along marsh-edges and sandy shorelines. Kingfish growth comparisons were made using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) on 194 aged fish (127 M. americanus, 54 M. littoralis, and 13 M. saxatilis). Growth rates for all three species were generally similar ranging from about 0.7mm/day at 4-6 mm standard length (SL) to 1.9mm/day at 55-60mm SL. In 2005, M. americanus from marsh-edges grew significantly faster than those from sandy shorelines. Size-at-age of M. americanus and M. littoralis was significantly smaller in the spring than in the summer and fall, while both growth rate and size—at—age were similar in the summer and fall.

The psychopharmacology algorithm project at the harvard south shore program: 2012 update on psychotic depression

Background: The Psychopharmacology Algorithm Project at the Harvard South Shore Program (PAPHSS) has published evidence-supported algorithms for the pharmacological treatment of major depressive disorder with psychotic features (psychotic depression) in 1998 and 2008. This article is an update for the 2008 algorithm. Method: Using similar methodology as with the 2008 update, PubMed and EMBASE searches were conducted to identity relevant literature in the English language from November 2007 through July 2012. Articles were evaluated for quality of the data and for whether they provided additional evidence support for previous recommendations or prompted changes to the prior algorithm. Results: Minor changes were made to the algorithm: most prior recommendations were upheld. The most effective treatment for hospitalized, severe psychotic depression patients remains electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The combination of an antidepressant (tricyclic [TCA], selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor [SSRI], or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor [SNRI]) plus an antipsychotic continues to be the preferred pharmacological modality when ECT is an unavailable/deferred option. Since the last update, new evidence tends to support using venlafaxine ER, a SNRI, as the first choice antidepressant. Regarding the antipsychotic, both olanzapine and quetiapine have new data demonstrating efficacy. Nevertheless, it is suggested that it may be reasonable to try other atypical antipsychotics with more benign safety profiles (e.g. ziprasidone, aripiprazole) as the first choice antipsychotic. New data also suggest at least four months of maintenance therapy is effective. If the first antidepressant-antipsychotic combination produces an unsatisfactory outcome, and ECT is still not acceptable or appropriate, the second pharmacotherapy trial can be with a change in the antidepressant, as was recommended in the 2008 algorithm. After two trials of combination therapy have failed (and, again, ECT is not an option), the algorithm continues to recommend augmentation with lithium. Limited evidence also suggests consideration of a switch to clozapine monotherapy. Augmentation with methylphenidate is a newly mentioned possible option based on very small evidence. When combination therapy is deferred, evidence suggests monotherapy with a TCA may be more effective than an SNRI or SSRI. However, safety issues and possible increased risk of psychosis exacerbation are unfavorable factors for TCA monotherapy. ECT or addition of an antipsychotic should be reconsidered if antidepressant monotherapy failed. Conclusion: This heuristic further refines the previous PAPHSS analysis of the available evidence for pharmacological treatment of psychotic depression. The validity of the conclusions is limited by the quality and quantity of the literature available: the number of head-to-head prospective trials in psychotic depression is still relatively small. However, this algorithm m

Materias promas lejanas: Explotación de recursos líticos no locales para la confección de micro-raspadores en el centro de Tierra del Fuego: el caso arqueológico Kami

The objective of this paper is to present the results obtained from the study of a set of micro endscrapers from the Kami 1 archaeological site, located on the south shore of Fagnano Lake. This assemblage presents as an outstanding feature, a high percentage of instruments made in a rock whose origin could be located more than 200 km away from the site. In order to undertake this study, we carried out techno-morphological and functional analysis on these artifacts. It was thus possible to determine the processes of production and use of this series of endscrapers within the operative chain. On the other hand, the analysis of possible supply sources allows us to discuss the role of these resources within the circuits of mobility and exchange of hunter-gatherer societies.

Tay-Sachs and French Canadians: A Case of Gene-Culture Co-evolution?

Tay-Sachs, an inherited neurological disorder, is unusually common among French Canadians from eastern Quebec. Two alleles are responsible, one being specific to the north shore of the St. Lawrence and the other to the south shore. This pattern of convergent evolution suggests the presence of a selection pressure limited to eastern Quebec. Both alleles probably arose after the British conquest of Quebec in 1759 or at least were uncommon previously. To explain the high incidence of Tay-Sachs among Ashkenazi Jews, some authors have invoked heterozygote advantage, i.e., heterozygous individuals enjoy a higher rate of neuronal growth, and thus greater learning capacity, without the neurological deterioration of homozygous individuals. Such an advantage would have helped Ashkenazim perform the mental effort required for work in trade and crafts. A similar situation may have developed in eastern Quebec, where the relative scarcity of British and American merchants made it easier for French Canadians to enter occupations that required literacy, numeracy, and future time orientation.

The influence of streams on nearshore water chemistry, Lake Ontario

Large lakes have characteristics, such as a spring thermal bar; nearshore offshore gradients of nutrients, sediment, and biota; and the development of a nearshore zone often chemically, biologically, and physically different from the offshore region, that are not commonly observed in smaller lakes. The research presented here focuses on the role of rivers affecting the cross margin transport of terrigenous materials delivered during the summer on nearshore waters of Lake Ontario. On the south shore of Lake Ontario, levels of chlorophyll, total phosphorus (TP), and total coliform were higher in the Oak Orchard Creek river plume than out of it. Similarly at the Genesee River polygon, turbidity, specific conductance, temperature, TP, and chlorophyll were substantially higher in the plumes than outside of the plumes. Graphic depictions and the strong correlations (r>=0.70) between specific conductance and TP, soluble reactive phosphorus , temperature, chlorophyll, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, and turbidity indicate the plumes of water are from the Genesee River and Oak Orchard Creek. The load from all creeks on the New York shore of Lake Ontario ranged from ~18 to 25% of the annual phosphorus load of the Niagara River. The cumulative impact of these small streams entering the nearshore and embayments of Lake Ontario is potentially great, as the mixing of plume and lake water appears to be limited to the nearshore areas. Terrigenous inputs likely provide the nutrient, phosphorus, which contributes to the periodic development of benthic algae blooms observed along the south shore of Lake Ontario. The conclusion that river plumes impact and sustain the nearshore of large lakes is suggested by the data.

Nutrient enrichment and depletion on the shoreside of the spring thermal front

A thermal front was evident within the nearshore zone of the south shore of Lake Ontario near Oak Orchard Creek on 28 May 2008. Here, we characterize nutrient concentrations during thermal bar formation on the shoreside and lakeside of the thermal front within a 5×20-km polygon. We observed that total phosphorus levels and turbidity were elevated while silica and nitrate were reduced on the shoreside relative to the offshore of the thermal front. Phosphorus and suspended solid flux from Oak Orchard Creek contributed to elevated turbidity and phosphorus concentrations on the shoreside of the thermal front and were not transported to the lakeside of the thermal front. Two hypotheses, not mutually exclusive, are offered as potential explanations for the observed reduction in silica and nitrate: biological uptake by phytoplankton and benthic algae and long-shore transport of nutrient poor Niagara River water. This work not only demonstrates that nutrient entrapment may occur but also that biological mechanisms function to reduce nutrient levels within the shoreside of the thermal front.

A new species of Sphaerephesia (Polychaeta: Sphaerodoridae) from Mamala Bay, south shore of Oahu, Hawaii

A new species of Sphaerephesia (Polychaeta: Sphaerodoridae) from Mamala Bay, south shore of Oahu, Hawaii

Characterization of dissolved organic matter in Lake Superior and its watershed using ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry

With the advent of ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry (MS), recent studies have begun to resolve molecular relationships between terrestrial and aquatic dissolved organic matter (DOM) in rivers, estuaries, mangrove swamps and their receiving oceans and lakes. Here, we extend ultrahigh resolution MS techniques to Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world by area. Solid-phase extracted samples from the western arm of the lake and its watershed, including swamp, creek, river, lake–river confluence and offshore lake sites were compared using electrospray ionization (ESI), Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance MS (FT-ICR-MS). Results were analyzed using cluster analysis and van Krevelen diagrams. Chemical similarity appears related to hydrological proximity, terrestrial impact and flow conditions. For example, higher and lower flow samples from the same stream differ from one another. Toivola Swamp, Lake Superior and the south shore river have diverse arrays of unique molecular formulae relative to the north shore river and stream sampled in the data set. The lake’s unique elemental formulae, relative to its watershed samples, are primarily in the lignin-like and reduced hydrocarbon regions of van Krevelen diagrams. The ESI-amenable lake DOM also has a higher proportion of formulae containing nitrogen or sulfur relative to the other samples. The degree of overlap among formulae within the data set is consistent with previous ESI FT-ICR-MS characterization of terrestrial, estuarine and marine OM. There appears to be a conserved portion of formulae across natural OM samples, perhaps because these compounds are intrinsically refractory or because they are commonly generated as products of natural reworking processes.

Comparison of the interannual variability of spring heavy floods characteristics of tributaries of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec (Canada)

Comparison of the interannual variability of five characteristics (magnitude, duration, timing, frequency, and variability) of spring heavy floods was carried out for 17 natural rivers in Quebec for the period from 1934 to 2004 to detect any effect of climate warming on these characteristics. This was done using the Lombard method and Copula. Changes in the mean and variance of all characteristics of streamflow were observed, and all these changes are abrupt. Whereas little significant change was observed in the magnitude, duration and variability (CV) series of spring flood flows. A significant change was noted in the frequency (diminution) for five rivers and in the timing of spring floods for six rivers. However, the change in mean timing is the only one that has a hydroclimatic significance in time and space. This change was observed, on the one hand, in the Eastern hydrological region, located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, north of 47°N, and characterized by a maritime climate and, on the other hand, in the South-west hydrological region, located on the north shore and characterized by a continental climate. In both cases, the change took place after the second half of the 1970s and is characterized by the early occurrence of spring floods. In addition, in both hydrological regions, the timing of spring floods is correlated with the same hydroclimatic indices, showing a positive correlation with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and a negative correlation with the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). Frequency is the only characteristic for which mean and variance changed significantly over time for the same rivers (4), all located north of 48°N, on both shores of the St. Lawrence. For all flow characteristics, the change in variance can predate, postdate or be synchronous with the change in mean. Finally, the dependence between the various characteristics of spring floods as determined using the Kendall tau statistic remained constant in time for most of the rivers.

Lake Superior: Nearshore variability and a landscape driver concept

Spatial variation is well known to exist in water quality parameters of the Great Lakes nearshore; however, strong patterns for extended reaches also have been observed and found to be robust across seasonal time frames. Less is known about robustness of inter-annual variation within parameters for water quality in the nearshore. We have conducted high-resolution surveys with towed electronic instrumentation in nearshore areas of Lake Superior and have combined several seasons (2001–2005) of measurements from multiple research efforts to investigate how spatial variation compares across years. The combined survey tows ranged across approximately 1200 km of Lake Superior's south shore. In addition to the survey tracks, we also sampled fixed stations to collect calibration data and other parameters not observed by the in situ electronic sensors. The towed sensor data provided information on the spatial and temporal variability of water quality parameters along the nearshore. We found a consistent spatial pattern over time along the south shore of Lake Superior. Nearshore water quality parameters were analyzed with respect to landscape characteristics of the adjacent watersheds (US only) using multivariate stepwise regressions and found to correlate to landscape characterization. The stressor categories of landscape character that best described the nearshore parameters were agriculture-chemical usage and land-cover attributes. Peak nearshore values corresponded with landscape position that had the most altered landuse character (e.g. Duluth/Superior region). The landscape character appears to drive and maintain the spatial pattern in nearshore water quality parameters.

Introduced and cryptogenic marine and estuarine species of South Africa

The introduction history, systematics, transport vectors and distribution patterns of 85 introduced and 39 cryptogenic marine or estuarine animals and plants of South Africa are presented. This represents an addition of 93 species compared with previous lists. Taxa covered include protists, dinoflagellates, sponges, cnidarians, annelids, crustaceans, pycnogonids, insects, molluscs, brachiopods, bryozoans, echinoderms, ascidians, fish, algae and higher plants. For each species a justification motivating its inclusion as an introduction into South African shores or its cryptogenic status, is provided. Challenges associated with this type of inventory work are explored and major patterns of bioinvasion within the region are summarized briefly.

Denitrification rates in a Lake Superior coastal wetland

The amount of excess fixed nitrogen removed from the freshwater aquatic nitrogen cycle, particularly by freshwater wetlands, through denitrification (DNF) is largely unknown. Typically, DNF rates increase within sediments that have higher organic content and a source of sufficient NO3−, in this context we measured DNF in organic-rich sediments of Lost Creek wetland on the south shore of Lake Superior, where NO3− concentrations have increased dramatically over the last century. The concentrations of N2, O2, and Ar were determined on intact water-sediment cores. Denitrification and respiration rates were determined using membrane inlet mass spectrometry and N2:Ar and O2:Ar ratios. Nitrogen flux rates measured in August 2000 and 2001 using overlying ambient wetland water, Lake Superior water, and nitrate augmented wetland water ranged from <10 to 78 μmol N m−2 h−1. These rates are low compared to those published for a variety of wetland and aquatic ecosystems. Nonetheless these are the first DNF measurements we know of to assess natural rates in the Lake Superior Basin and they help quantify a missing piece of wetland and lake nitrogen transformations.

The Psychopharmacology Algorithm Project at the Harvard South Shore Program: An Update on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

This project aimed to provide an organized, sequential, and evidence-supported approach to the pharmacotherapy of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), following the format of previous efforts of the Psychopharmacology Algorithm Project at the Harvard South Shore Program. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to determine the best pharmacological choices for PTSD patients and to update the last published version (1999) of the algorithm. We focused on optimal pharmacological interventions to address the prominent symptoms of PTSD, with additional attention to the impact that common comorbidities have on treatment choices. We found that SSRIs and SNRIs are not as effective as previously thought, and that awareness of their long-term side effects has increased. New evidence suggests that addressing fragmented sleep and nightmares can improve symptoms (in addition to insomnia) that are frequently seen with PTSD (e.g., hyperarousal, reexperiencing). Prazosin and trazodone are emphasized at this initial step; if significant PTSD symptoms remain, an antidepressant may be tried. For PTSD-related psychosis, an antipsychotic may be added. In resistant cases, two or three antidepressants may be used in sequence. Following that, or with partial improvement and residual symptomatology, augmentation may be tried; the best options are antipsychotics, clonidine, topiramate, and lamotrigine. This heuristic may be helpful in producing faster symptom resolution, fewer side effects, and increased compliance.

Distribution, relative abundance, and prey demand by double-crested cormorants on Manitoulin Island lakes vs. Lake Huron Coast

An aerial distance sampling survey of double-crested cormorants ( Phalacrocorax auritus) was conducted in the northern region of Lake Huron (North Channel; four largest lakes of Manitoulin Island; South Shore of Manitoulin Is. facing the main body of the lake) to assess the relative distribution, abundance and prey demand by cormorants on inland lake vs. coastal habitat. On a per area basis, the density (approx. 1–2 cormorants ∙ km − 2 ) and prey demand (approx. 1.2 kg ha − 1 ) of cormorants in the four inland lakes matched that of the North Channel. The South Shore had approximately half the density and prey demand as the other two areas. Cormorants on the inland lakes of Manitoulin Island represented 13% early in the season and a high of 33% of the total population for this region of Lake Huron later in the summer. Estimating regional distributions of cormorants within the Great Lakes basin is important because mapped nest colonies and nest counts are not representative of the actual distribution of foraging cormorants during and after the nesting season. There are two general conclusions to emerge from this survey. First, aquatic productivity from both Great Lakes coast and inland lakes contributes to trends in population and distribution of cormorants in the northern region of Lake Huron and perhaps elsewhere. Second, inland aquatic ecosystems are important throughout a season for foraging cormorants from the Great Lakes and may become more important as Great Lake productivity trends downward.