Stable isotopes as a useful tool for revealing the environmental fate and trophic effect of open-sea-cage fish farm wastes on marine benthic organisms with different feeding guilds

Environmental fate of fish farm wastes (FFW) released from an open-sea-cage farm at Kat O, Hong Kong was examined by measuring carbon and nitrogen stable isotope (SI) ratios in selected benthic organisms collected along a 2000 m transect from the farm. Our results showed that FFW significantly influenced the energy utilization profile of consumers near the fish farm. Although nitrogen enrichment effect on δ15N was anticipated in biota near the farm, the predicted patterns did not consistently occur in all feeding guilds. Two species of suspension-feeders, which relied on naturally δ15N-depleted sources, were δ15N-enriched near the fish farm. In contrast, both species of benthic grazer and deposit-feeder, which relied on naturally δ15N-enriched algal sources, were δ15N-depleted under the influence of FFW. The SI signatures of biota can, therefore, serve as feasible biomarkers for FFW discharges only when the trophic structure of the receiving environment is fully elucidated.     

Response of meiofaunal community with special reference to nematodes upon deployment of artificial reefs and cessation of bottom trawling in subtropical waters, Hong Kong

The response of meiofaunal communities, especially nematodes, upon the deployment of artificial reefs and cessation of bottom trawling at a designated Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Hong Kong was studied through comparison of meiofaunal samples collected inside and outside the MPA. Total organic carbon (TOC), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus (TP), water content and silt-clay fraction in sediments were also analyzed. The level of TOC and TKN, and total meiofaunal and nematode abundance were significantly lower inside than that outside the MPA. Multivariate analysis also indicated differences in community structure. Biological traits analysis revealed that the proportions of nematodes with a clavate tail shape, longer adult length, stout body shape and k-strategy life history were higher inside than that outside the MPA. Such changes in nematode community structure could be a result of the presence of the artificial reefs and closure of the MPA from bottom trawling.     

The combined effects of oxygen availability and salinity on physiological responses and scope for growth in the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis

Mussels were maintained for 4 weeks under different combinations of dissolved oxygen concentration (1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 mg O2 l(-1)) and salinity (15, 20, 25 and 30) in a 3×4 factorial design experiment. Clearance rate (CR), absorption efficiency (AE), respiration rate (RR) and scope for growth (SFG) decreased with decreasing salinity and dissolved oxygen concentration (DO), while excretion rate (ER) increased with decreasing salinity and increasing DO. The O:N ratio was <10 at salinities of 15 and 20, irrespective of DO levels. SFG was negative in most of the treatments, except for those under 6.0 mg O2 l(-1) or at a salinity of 30 when DO was lower. The results may help explain the distribution pattern of Perna viridis in Hong Kong waters and provide guidelines for mussel culture site selection.     

Effects of heavy metals on the survival and feeding behaviour of the sandy shore scavenging gastropod Nassarius festivus (Powys)

The effects of Cu, Cd, Zn and Cr on the survival and feeding behaviour of the sandy shore scavenging gastropod Nassarius festivus were compared. The 96-h LC₅₀ for Cu, Cd, Zn and Cr were 0.36, 1.52, 1.76 and 36.9 mg l⁻¹, respectively. Four sublethal concentrations of each metal plus a control were prepared and the snails were exposed to experimental solutions for 96 h. Feeding behaviour was studied after the snails were starved for five days. As compared with the control, the number of individuals feeding was significantly reduced by exposure to 0.05 mg l⁻¹ Cu, 0.2 mg l⁻¹ Zn, 0.5 mg l⁻¹ Cd and 5 mg l⁻¹ Cr. The time spent feeding was greater for individuals exposed to greater concentrations of Zn and Cd but no effect was found for Cu and Cr. Chemoreception of food was studied by placing the snails at a fixed distance of 15 cm from the bait. The success rate of reaching the bait was less for individuals exposed to Cr but no effect was found for Zn, Cu or Cd. The time required for an individual to reach the bait decreased as the concentration of Zn increased. In contrast, a longer time was required for individuals exposed to Cr whereas the effect of Cd and Cu was insignificant. The potential of using feeding behaviour and chemoreception in contaminant evaluations is discussed.     

1992年兰德斯（M=7.5）和大熊（M=6.5）地震前的地震平静

1992年6月28日的兰德斯地震之前,位于靠近震中北面约11×23×15km体积内曾出现地震活动率下降75％。此异常从1988年1月开始,直至主震发生持续了4.5年,其中包含了各种大小震级的地震。位于震中南面的一个更小的体积(7×14×15 km),从1989年11月开始地震活动率减小75％。同一天发生的大熊地震之前地震活动率下降了100％,这是在围绕震源的一个约13×22×15 km的体积内出现的。在背景期的9年内该体积内包含了192个M≥1.6的地震,但是从1990年12月至1992年6月27日的1.6年内没有一个地震发生。表征这些地震活动率变化的标准偏差z值是很高的,分别为6.3和12.3,说明这些异常是唯一的,在有效性上没有被南加州地震目录(117°06′W至115°40′W和33°45N′至35°10′N)检验到的其它地震活动率的减小所超过。1992年4月23日M=6.1约书亚特里地震的附近地区没有发现地震活动率有变化。根据震级图象和频度-震级分析,我们的结论是,这两个平静异常不可能是由于震级标度的偏移或压缩所致,我们认为它们是前兆异常。这个分析是借助兰德斯地区的已除去群发事件的地震目录,用0.2和0.1校正值(1985年8月和1990年5月)对两个有怀疑的震级偏移进行了修正。我们用新的显示技术将地震活动率作为时间和空间的函数对它的稳定性和变化情形进行了研究。通过对每一时间间隔以及点(纬度、经度)周围的密集网格的范围把地震活动率变化绘制成z值图,则这种计算机程序使活动率变化程度的光滑等值线图作为一个几乎连续的序列而提供出来。因此任何异常,不论人为的还是实际的,都可以精确地确定出来。     

用不确定的宏观地震数据估算场地地震重复率

提出了一个根据有不确定影响的烈度资料来决定场地地震危险分析的方法。这种方法考虑了烈度的顺序和互不关联的特征，试图避免由于假定强度可以被处理作一个实数（连续分布估计量、衰减关系式等）而导出的错误结果。所提出的公式基于采用一个分布函数，它对每一个地震描述了场地受每一个烈度值影响的可以性。为了得到缺少当地地震资料地区的场地危险的评价，检验了这个分布函数随着到宏观地震震中的距离和震中烈度的变化情况。为了结     

Mechanical features of Shanxi Datong earthquake swarm sequence and their numerical siamulation by using finite element method

ＭｅｃｈａｎｉｃａｌｆｅａｔｕｒｅｓｏｆＳｈａｎｘｉＤａｔｏｎｇｅａｒｔｈｑｕａｋｅｓｗａｒｍｓｅｑｕｅｎｃｅａｎｄｔｈｅｉｒｎｕｍｅｒｉｃａｌｓｉａｍｕｌａｔｉｏｎｂｙｕｓｉｎｇｆｉｎｉｔｅｅｌｅｍｅｎｔｍｅｔｈｏｄＺｈｉ－ＬｉＺＨＡＮＧ，ＨｕａＴ...     

利用卡洪山口科学研究钻孔中应力引起的钻孔崩落估计量大水平主应力值

本文我们利用钻孔岩样的力学性质，详细观察应力引起的钻孔崩落和由水压致裂实验估计的最小水平主应力值Ｓｋｍｉｎ，构成了卡洪山口（Ｃａｊｏｎ Ｐａｓｓ）钻孔直至３．５ｋｍ深的最大水平主应力Ｓｈｍａｘ的垂直剖面。正如基本上与所有其它的钻孔一样，卡洪山口钻孔的水压致裂应力测量得到的，最小水平主应力Ｓｋｍｉｎ数据比最大水平主应力Ｓｈｍａｘ的数据多得多（并且更加可靠）。为利用观察的井壁崩落约束Ｓｈｍａｘ的值，使     

1970年1月5日云南通海地震的震源特征

本文根据长周期地震仪记录的P波资料,研究了通海地震（M_s=7.7）的震源参数和破裂过程。该地震沿着北西西走向的曲江断裂扩展,为非对称的双侧破裂,北西侧为24公里,东南侧为32公里,平均破裂速度为2.3公里/秒;地震矩为4.34×10²⁶达因·厘米,应力降为21巴;地震前后存在无震滑动;余震除沿主破裂面分布外,还大量集中于主破裂面的东南端的扩展分支上,并与主破裂面偏离80°左右。