We assessed predator acclimation as a technique to improve the poststocking survival of juvenile muskellunge Esox masquinongy and tiger muskellunge (muskellunge × northern pike E. lucius) in laboratory, pond, and lake experiments. For all experiments, a subset of esocids was exposed to feeding largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (250-300 mm total length). In laboratory pools containing simulated vegetation (50% of pool), we tested the vulnerability of predator-acclimated and naive muskellunge and tiger muskellunge to largemouth bass predation. For both species, survival rates were similar regardless of predator experience. Predator-acclimated esocids, however, spent more time in the vegetation, indicating that exposure to predators may alter some behaviors. We also introduced equal numbers of naive and predator-acclimated tiger muskellunge into ponds and lakes containing largemouth bass. To determine the number of surviving fish, ponds were drained after 7 d, whereas lakes were sampled immediately after stocking and throughout the fall. We found similar survival rates between naive and predator-acclimated individuals, suggesting that predator acclimation techniques that are successful with other species are not effective in reducing losses of stocked muskellunge and tiger muskellunge.
We evaluated the effect of adding artificial vegetation to the rearing environment on behavior, habitat selection, and growth of hatchery esocids in laboratory experiments. First, Muskellunge Esox masquinongy and the hybrid Tiger Muskellunge (Muskellunge × Northern Pike E. lucius) resided separately in pools either with or without artificial vegetation (250 stems/m2) for 2 weeks. Both taxa raised in vegetated pools dispersed and spent more time away from the sides of the pools than did individuals residing in open pools. Tiger Muskellunge in vegetated pools also startled less often than fish in open pools, whereas vegetation did not decrease Muskellunge startle behavior. We next examined habitat selection between esocids raised in tanks with and without vegetation. Fish were tested in semivegetated pools, and for Tiger Muskellunge acclimated in vegetation, more fish (80%) used the vegetated half of the pool compared with fish raised in open tanks (61%). Muskellunge, regardless of treatment, spent a high proportion (>90%) of time in vegetation. Finally, growth of both taxa was similar between esocids reared in vegetated tanks compared with esocids reared in open tanks. The presence of artificial vegetation in tanks caused changes in behavior for both esocid taxa, but Tiger Muskellunge were more flexible in modifying their behavior. Behavioral responses resulting from exposure to vegetation could increase survival after stocking in lakes.
Program Description: Declining reimbursement over many years now threatens the viability of physician practices across specialties and practice settings. This miniseminar will outline the efforts of our Academy, specifically the Physician Payment Policy Work Group (3P), to advocate for fair reimbursement for our members in increasingly challenging public and private payer environments. Topics include updates on government health care reform, the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Relative Value Update Committee (RUC) processes, coding and reimbursement for new technology, and new public and private payment models including the Accountable Care Organization concept. Strategies will be described as to how members can become actively involved to make a difference for our specialty. Program Description: Following errors and adverse events, the traditional legal and risk management advice to physicians has been to refrain from any disclosure or apology which might be used against the physician legally. Other factors which may inhibit disclosure and apology include a medical culture of perfection and a lack of experience with effective communication techniques. An increasing body of work has shown that the traditional technique of stonewalling is naturally infuriating to patients and is much more likely to lead to lawsuits. In addition, it places physicians in an intolerable position, since the natural human impulse of the caregiver is to apologize for mistakes and then to do everything possible to make things right. A number of non-profit organizations and a few forward-thinking malpractice carriers and institutions are now encouraging prompt, honest disclosure of adverse events, and apology when a genuine error has occurred. Experience to date has been that this more honest process is tremendously relieving to patients and physicians, and that malpractice suits and losses are substantially less when patients are treated honestly. In this miniseminar, three national experts on errors, disclosure, and apology, will discuss the ethical imperative for disclosure and the data that support this approach, both from a patient/provider satisfaction standpoint and a risk reduction standpoint. Doug Wojcieszak, the founder of Sorry Works! will speak about the advantages of disclosure and (when appropriate) apology from a patient perspective. Linda Kenney of Medically Induced Trauma Support Services will speak to how a culture of secrecy around errors harms both patients who are kept in the dark and physicians who aren't able to be honest with their patients. Rob Hanscom, Vice President of Loss Prevention of Risk Management Foundation (a branch of Harvard's medical malpractice carrier), will explain why insurance carriers may support thoughtful disclosure and apology policies. A discussion period will cover the issues of what and when to disclose to patients about adverse events, and the difficult question of when an apology is and is not appropriate. We will also present effective techniques for both disclosure and (when ...
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