Using examples, we discuss some aspects of surplus production models. Although the precision of some parameter estimators may appear to be good, the strong asymmetry of confidence intervals and the large impact of the choice of a given formula on those estimators go against this feeling. Models are often formulated with inference to the biological background, but giving a biological meaning to (the estimates of) the parameters may be very dangerous. Fishing effort standardization does not lead necessarily to useful results for management. The fleet dynamics, per se, may not allow equilibrium States. In the context, of general frameworks, where the evaluation of the resource is not the unique objective, surplus production models may be however very flexible tools for fishery analysis, with low parameter requirements.

An experiment to examine the effects of four agrometeorological factors on population fluctuations in legume pod borer, Monica testulalis (Geyer) in two cowpea varieties was carried out under field conditions in Ibadan, Nigeria. Plots, 5 x 10 m each, of cowpea varieties IT84S-2246–4 and Dan ilan were planted fortnightly between 5 May and 5 October 1988 (12 plantings in all for each variety). Three peaks of the pod borer populations were observed on the cowpeas. There were smaller peaks on crops planted between 5 May and 1 June and again between 29 June and 13 July and a larger one on those planted between 24 August and 7 September. These two peaks coincided with the peaks of the rainfall.

Significant relationships were obtained between pod borer counts and (a) cumulative rainfall (R2 = 0.41; P = 0.004) (b) number of rainy days (R2 = 0.17; P = 0.04) from plant emergence to 50% flowering. These results suggest though, the distribution of rainfall over time is more crucial than the total amount in determining the fluctuations of pod borer populations. Thus, the adjustment of planting dates is suggested as an IPM tactic to avoid the development of damaging levels of pod borer infestations.

En el presente trabajo se da a conocer la composición específica y la dinámica poblacional de las bacilario fitas halladas en el plancton limnético del Embalse Río III durante tres años y medio de muestreos. De los 32 taxones identificados las poblaciones más numerosas correspondieron a : Aulacoseira granulata, Aulacoseira granulata var. angustissima, Aulacoseira granulata var. angustissima f. spiralis, Aulacoseira lirata var. alpigena, Actinocyclus normanii f. subsalsa y Cymbella affinis. La flora diatomológica hallada en la represa resultó ser alcalófila, eutrófica y oligohalobia. Este grupo algal en reiteradas oportunidades dominó el fitoplancton del embalse generalmente en períodos otoñales y o invernales. La mezcla isotermal es uno de los principales condicionantes del incremento de las poblaciones de diatomeas en el embalse. Sin embargo A. granulata, que fue la bacilariofita más importante por su numerosidad, biomasa y persistencia en el tiempo, mostró desarrollos masivos durante dos períodos de est ratificaciín térmica.