Does one size fit all? An evaluation of length–weight relationships for New Zealand's freshwater fish species

Length–weight relationships are a fundamental tool for assessing populations and communities in fisheries science. Many researchers have collected length–weight data throughout New Zealand, yet parameters describing these relationships remain unpublished for many species of freshwater fish. We compiled 285,124 fish records from researchers and institutions across New Zealand to parameterise length–weight equations, using both power and quadratic models, for 53 freshwater species belonging to 13 families. The influence of location and sex on length–weight relationships was also assessed. Location, in particular, generated different length–weight relationships for 65% of the species examined. Length–weight equations were validated by comparing predicted weights against independently measured weights from 25 electrofished sites across New Zealand and the equations were highly accurate (R²>0.99). Recommendations are made about how to robustly apply this new resource which should assist freshwater fisheries researchers throughout New Zealand.     

Estimating periphyton standing crop in streams: a comparison of chlorophyll a sampling and visual assessments

Periphyton standing crop is often measured as chlorophyll a but there is increasing interest in using visual assessments of periphyton cover. Visual methods are rapid and require no sample analysis, but can be regarded as subjective with high inter-operator variability. We investigated variability in periphyton standing crop across operators, rivers and time, as determined visually and from chlorophyll a measurements. We found that visual assessments (comprising percentage cover estimates of up to eight periphyton categories) distinguished sites and occasions as effectively as chlorophyll a. Furthermore, an estimate of chlorophyll a could be derived from the visual assessments. Because our surveys were conducted in only three rivers, general applicability of the derivation of estimated chlorophyll a from the visual assessments warrants further investigation. The current recommendation of 20 views was sufficient for realistic visual assessments of average cover. Overall, our results indicated that inter-operator variability in visual assessments need not be a major concern, given adequate training.     

The intensity variations of solar and galactic cosmic rays with azimuthal angle in the polar region

A balloon-born multidirectional detector is used to measure the intensity variation of galactic and solar cosmic rays with the azimuthal angle, the zenith angle being maintained at 60°. In polar regions, the intensity towards the north is found to be 20% larger than that towards the south. It is shown that this anisotropy does not originate in interplanetary space and is not produced by a magnetospheric source. It is suggested that the effect is due to propagation effects within the magnetosphere.     

八达岭基性岩和高Ba—Sr花岗岩地球化学特征及成因探讨：华北和大别—苏鲁造山带中生代岩浆岩的对比

八达岭杂岩侵位于华北北部，由辉长闪长岩岩、石英闪长岩、石英二长岩、二长闪长岩、二长花岗岩、碱长花岗岩和石英正长岩等组成，主要属高钾钙碱性系列。除了含V-Ti磁铁矿的堆晶辉长闪长岩，整套岩石的主量元素变化范围较大，SiO2=46.5%-75.3%,MgO=5.6%-0.2%，中酸性岩石的K2O/NaO为0.59-1.09。碱长花岗岩和少数石英二长岩Ba和Sr含量较低，且具有明显（Eu）负异常。大多数中酸性岩石（高Ba-Sr花岗岩）具有如下显著的微量元素地球化学特征：Ba,Sr和轻稀土（LREE）富集，Y和重稀土（HREE）亏损，LREE/HREE强烈分离，Sr/Y和La/Yb比值较高；在原始地幔标准化的蛛网图中具有显著的Nb,Ta和Ti亏损，不具明显的Sr和Eu亏损。在Harker图解中，基性岩石和高Ba-Sr花岗岩的主量元素相关性明显，两者还具有相似的微量元素和稀土（REE）分配特征，并且，REE,Y,Sr,P和Ti含量从基性到酸性逐渐降低。辉长闪长岩和高Ba-Sr花岗岩的Sr-Nd同位素初始值呈EMI特征（Isr=0.7051-0.7068,εNdi=-8.2-20.2），大致呈负相关。地球化学特征表明基性岩浆为富集的大陆岩石圈地幔部分熔融形成，而高Ba-Sr花岗岩则为基性岩浆通过陆壳混染和结晶分离形成；富P和Ti的副矿物（如磷灰石和的榍石）的分离结晶导致了REE,P和Ti丰度的逐渐降低。另外，华北板块内部和大别-苏鲁造山带基性岩和高Ba-Sr花岗岩分别具有相似的地球化学特征，这表明，上述地区燕山期大规模岩浆活动具有相似的地球动力学机制，大别-苏鲁造山带岩浆岩的地球化学特征并不反映其地幔源区一定受到过来自深俯冲的扬子板块的流体的富集作用。岩石圈的拆沉和减簿作用可能导致了华北板块和大别-苏鲁造山带下古老岩石圈地幔的部分熔融，岩石圈地幔的富集作用可能主要性发生于元古代。