Long-term changes in rocky intertidal macrobenthos during the five years after the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hebei Spirit</Emphasis> oil spill,Taean, Korea

The Hebei Spirit oil spill reached the west coast of Taean County, Korea, on December 7, 2007. At that time, this was the largest oil spill that had occurred in the country. The incident devastated local marine ecosystems. In this study, we examined changes in these ecosystems and the recovery pattern on impacted rocky shores. Macrobenthos monitoring of polluted and control sites was performed seasonally from January 2008 through October 2013. At polluted sites, ecological indices increased gradually from 2009, thereby providing evidence of recovery. However, the mean density of macrobenthos was still less than 50% of the level at the control site, indicating that the ecological status of the polluted sites has still not recovered to that which prevailed before the oil spill. Although densities of the most dominant species were higher in the control site than in polluted sites, the densities of Lottia spp. and Odostomia aomori were higher in polluted sites. These two taxa were found in lower numbers at the control site, where they were out-competed by Chthamalus challengeri. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination divided the macrobenthic community structure into three clusters according to differences in the abundance of dominant species over the 6 years after the oil spill. An ANOSIM test detected significant differences between the polluted and control sites. Consistent long-term differences indicate that complete recovery had not occurred during the duration of our study.     

Interranual variability in horizontal patterns of larval fish assemblages in the northeastern Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean) during early summer

Larval fish community structure was studied in the northeastern Aegean Sea (NEA) over an area influenced by the advection of Black Sea water (BSW). Sampling was carried out in early summer during a period of 4 years (2003–2006). Taxonomic composition and abundance presented high variability in space that remained relatively constant among years. Tow depth and indicators of trophic conditions in the upper water column (i.e., zooplankton displacement volume, fluorescence) explained significantly the structure of larval assemblages during all surveys. The northern continental shelf (Thracian and Strymonikos shelf), where a large amount of enriched, low salinity BSW is retained, was dominated by larvae of epipelagic species, mainly anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus). Interannual changes in horizontal extension of the BSW seemed to match closely observed changes in the distribution of anchovy larvae. Mesopelagic fish larvae were particularly abundant beyond the continental shelf (over the North Aegean Trough) where a strong frontal structure is created between the low salinity waters of BSW origin and the high salinity waters of the Aegean Sea. Larvae of certain mesopelagic species (e.g., Ceratoscopelus maderensis) may occasionally be transported inshore when the prevailing current meanders towards the coast or feeds anticyclonic gyres over the continental shelf.     

The contribution of rare species to coastal phytoplankton assemblages

Analysis of quantitative and qualitative composition of rare phytoplankton species was performed using a data set collected over a large geographic area (four eutrophic gulfs of the Aegean Sea, E. Mediterranean Sea) during 2002–2003. We examined the effects of excluding rare species on comparisons of species richness, diversity, similarity and niche breadth as well as the regional and seasonal contribution of rare species to cell abundance and carbon biomass. Overall, the total of 401 species included 182 rare species contributing 45.1% of the total species number. However, there was a considerable variation in this relationship among the other parameters, as rare species contributed only 6.4% of total cell abundance, 13.1% of total species diversity, 21.2% of total cell biovolume and 16.6% of total carbon biomass. The results showed that rarity may be a significant issue in studies detecting and quantifying phytoplankton community structure.     

Numerical Study of the Oil Spill Trajectory in Bohai Sea,China

Sixteen numerical experiments are conducted using the General NOAA Operational Modeling Environment (GNOME) to numerically study the oil spill trajectory in the Bohai Sea, China, for the purpose of providing information for the oil cleanup and disaster mitigation. High resolution coastline and topography data investigated by China's 908 Program are used to accurately describe the regional geographic feature of the Bohai Sea. Currents and waves required by GNOME are generated by the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model and Simulating Wave Nearshore, respectively. Experimental results show that oil spilled in different seasons and at different locations will result in completely different spilling trajectories, traveling distances, and polluting areas. Knowing that information comprehensively is vital to pollution control. Another important goal of this work is to provide users with simulated oil spill trajectory information through China Digital Ocean Prototype System (CDOPS), a grand marine information platform for managing, displaying, and public sharing of the data investigated by the China 908 Program. Users can obtain the trajectory, spreading, and potential impact area of the spilled oil through the oil spill module in CDOPS.     

Bohai Sea oil spill model: a numerical case study

An operational Bohai Sea oil spill serving module (BSOSSM) that can provide users with trajectory and movement information of the released oil is developed for the purpose of informing mitigation of oil spill incidents in the Bohai Sea, China. BSOSSM is one of the serving modules that had been integrated in China digital ocean prototype system, a marine information platform for managing, displaying and disseminating all the data investigated by China 908 Program. The oil spill trajectory is calculated by an oil spill model (OSM), which serves as a component in BSOSSM. The impacts of wind, current, as well as Stokes drift on oil spill trajectory are studied by sensitivity experiments conducted using OSM. Simulation results indicate that wind forcing is the most important factor in controlling the oil trajectory at the sea surface in Bohai Sea, whereas current and Stokes drift play relatively less important roles. However, because the direction of waves generally follows that of the wind, Stokes drift does lead to an increase in oil drift and spreading velocity. Case studies of the Penglai 19-3 oil spill incident (June 2011) and Xingang oil spill (April 2005) demonstrate that OSM can generally reproduce the oil spreading, and is therefore capable of supporting the emergency response of future oil spills in the Bohai Sea through BSOSSM.     

同化技术在渤海溢油应急预报系统中的应用

溢油应急预报对溢油事故现场处理具有重要指导意义。国内外已开展大量溢油数值预报技术研究,但由于各类误差的引入(尤其风和流数值预报误差的引入)以及模型本身的不完善等各种原因导致溢油数值预报无法满足日益提高的溢油预报精度需求。随着现场观测技术和监测水平的提高,如何充分利用实时观测数据提高业务化溢油应急预报精度,并满足应急预报迅速快捷的要求,成为目前业务化溢油应急预报的首要问题。国家海洋环境预报中心于2008年实现了渤海溢油业务化预报系统的建立和业务化应用,本文针对当前渤海溢油业务化应急预报中存在的现实问题,利用已有渤海海上5个石油平台从2010年1月至2011年2月的风场观测数据,初步开展最优插值方法(optimal interpolation assimilation method,OI)同化技术在国家海洋环境预报中心渤海溢油应急预报系统风场订正的应用研究。本文采用交错订正方法,确定了OI同化技术中相关尺度因子的选取,从而实现在这5个观测站地理分布情况下,OI同化技术应用中参数的最优化,之后在理想实验和实际案例的应用中,该同化方法明显提高渤海溢油预报精度。本文为如何进一步利用同化方法迅速快捷地实现溢油应急预报精度的提高提供了一定研究基础。     

Numerical Simulation of Bohai Oil Spill in the Winter Sea Ice Period

The Bohai Sea is a seasonal icy sea area that has the lowest latitude of any sea experiencing icing in the northern hemisphere, and simulation studies on oil spills during its sea ice period are the key to analyzing winter oil spill accidents. This study applied the three-dimensional free surface to establish a high-resolution hydrodynamic model and simulate tidal distributions in the Bohai Sea. Then, the oil spill model of the open sea area and thermodynamic model were combined to establish a numerical model for the Bohai oil spill during the winter sea ice period. The hydrodynamic model and sea ice growth and melting model were verified, and the parameters were adjusted based on the measured values, which indicate that the numerical model established in this paper is of high accuracy,stability and ubiquity. Finally, after checking the calculations repeatedly, the diffusion coefficient for the Bohai Sea was determined to be 1.0×10~(–7 )m~2/s. It is better that the comprehensive weathering attenuation coefficient is lower than that of a non-winter oil spill, with 1.3×10~(–7 )m~2/s being the most appropriate coefficient. This study can provide the reliable technical support for the operational safety and reduction in losses caused by winter oil spill accidents for the petroleum industry.     

莱州湾环境污染遥感信息提取试验

采用Landsat 图像跨度40 多年数据, 利用遥感手段对莱州湾7 大排污口环境污染状况进行了遥感信息提取试验, 结果显示与多年来分析调查的结果一致, 即通过入海排放口水色变化以及像素分析发现自20 世纪90 年代以来, 莱州湾海水污染逐年加重; 通过MODI 数据和ENVISATASAR数据分析提取了莱州湾2011 年的海温变化、叶绿素浓度分布和海面溢油信息, 结果显示该区域近岸海温和叶绿素浓度偏高, 海上溢油风险加大。研究结果表明, 利用遥感技术能有效地提取海区环境污染信息, 可以作为监控海水污染的有效手段之一。     

渤海结冰海区溢油行为数值模拟

基于溢与海冰,水,大气的相互作用原理,建立了渤海结冰海区溢油行为数据模式,该模式模拟子结冰海区中油的输运过程,与国外有关模式相比更加重视冰场和冰速场的作用。海冰及潮流模式及采被实况检验过的渤海海冰数值预报模式。     

Mass mortality of the fan mussel,Pinna nobilis in Turkey (eastern Mediterranean)

This study reported the mass mortality events (MMEs) of Pinna nobilis based on diving surveys in Turkey. Data were collected across 12 sites in the Aegean Sea, and one site in the Sea of Marmara, within the period of June-September 2019. The results showed that a low mortality rate of 10% was found in the Sea of Marmara, and a MME was not detected for this area. In contrast, 97% mortality was recorded for the P. nobilis population distributed in the Turkish Aegean Sea. This discrepancy might be related to the seawater temperature and salinity values of these two seas. The waters of the Sea of Marmara were colder and less salty than the Aegean Sea. The findings highlighted the importance of protecting the healthy population of critically endangered fan mussels in the Sea of Marmara. It was recommended that sound management plans comprising of monitoring, enforcement and public awareness activities could be implemented in order to achieve this.     

An Analysis of the Coastal Fish Assemblage of the Ustica Island Marine Reserve (Mediterranean Sea)

A study of the coastal fish assemblages in the marine park of Ustica Island (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean) was conducted from June 1994 to September 1995 and from June 1996 to September 1997. The principal aims of the research were to: (1) define the faunistic features of local fish communities; (2) assess the effectiveness of the protection regime of the marine park on the fish assemblages ('reserve effect'); (3) provide information on the distribution of some Epinephelus and Diplodus species in the shallowest depth zone of the island. During seasonal surveys, underwater visual censuses were carried out at several sites located in three zones of the island, each with a different level of protection. Observations were made along 250 m² transects at 3–5, 10–15 and 25–30 m depth ranges. Additional surveys were made by SCUBA diving and snorkelling. A statistically significant effect of depth on the fish community parameters was observed, whereas differences linked to protection level, zones, sites and seasons were not significant. The abundance and frequency of occurrence of some species, particularly dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus , were positively correlated with the degree of protection of the different zones of the marine park. Certain sites of the island are important as nursery areas for three species of the genus Diplodus ( i.e., D. puntazzo, D. sargus and D. vulgaris ).     

渤海海域多源遥感溢油风险评价与长序监测

渤海海域溢油事件频发,所以进行海洋溢油风险时空特征分析,对于开展卫星遥感溢油精确监测具有重要意义.作者采用多源高分辨率卫星遥感数据,提取渤海海域船舶及石油平台两类主要溢油风险源分布状况,结合2015—2020年间渤海海域海上溢油卫星遥感监测结果,分析多种传感器下不同类型溢油的成像特征,通过溢油风险源核密度分析方法,获得...     

蓬莱19-3 油田事故溢油数值模拟

利用FVCOM(Finite-volume coastal ocean numerical model)数值模型和MM5风场预报模式,在对渤海海域水动力场进行数值模拟的基础上,基于"油粒子"的欧拉-拉格朗日跟踪法和随机走动原理,并考虑风对溢油油膜漂移扩散的直接作用,建立了海洋溢油油膜漂移轨迹和扩散的数值预测模型。利用建立的模型对2011年6月蓬莱19-3油田事故溢油进行了数值模拟,模拟结果与RADARSAT卫星遥感监测数据相吻合。研究结果表明:在渤海中部地区夏季事故溢油模拟预测中,风漂移因子取0.024最为合理,模型可用于渤海蓬莱19-3油田附近事故溢油轨迹和扩散的快速预报,从而为该区域的溢油事故应急响应提供科学依据。     

Impact of the Sea Empress oil spill on lysosomal stability in mussel blood cells.

Coastal zones are among the most productive and vulnerable areas on the planet. An example of impact on these fragile environments was shown in the case of the "Sea Empress" oil tanker, which ran aground in the Bristol Channel in 1996, spilling 72,000 tons of "Forties" crude oil. The objective was to investigate the sub-lethal cellular pathology and tissue hydrocarbon contamination in marine mussel populations, 4 months after the initial spill, using the neutral red retention (NRR) assay for lysosomal stability in blood cells. NRR was reduced in mussels, and indicative of cell injury, from the two sites closest to the spill in comparison with more distant and reference sites. Lysosomal stability was inversely correlated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in mussel tissues. Reduced lysosomal stability has previously been shown to contribute to impaired immunocompetence and to autophagic loss of body tissues. The use of this type of technique is discussed in the context of cost-effective, ecotoxicological tools for Integrated Coastal Zone Management.     

Changes in zoobenthic community structure after pollution abatement from fish farms in the Archipelago Sea (N. Baltic Sea)

Long-term changes in sediment macrofauna communities at two sites affected by fish farming in the Archipelago Sea, south-west Finland have been investigated. Sampling stations in the S?rk?nsalmi Strait and Kaukolanlahti Bay, previously investigated 1982-1991, were revisited in 1994, 1995 and 1998 to detect signs of recovery following a decrease in organic load since 1990 and 1991, respectively. The results indicate a partial recovery in S?rk?nsalmi during post-pollution years, whereas no improvement has taken place in Kaukolanlahti. The improvement in S?rk?nsalmi is shown by a significant increase in the number of species and total abundance, and by the community structures becoming more similar over time. On the other hand, a significantly decreased number of species, abundance and biomass values over time as well as the occurrence of defaunated anoxic sediments, are clear signs of continued deterioration in Kaukolanlahti. Differences in the recovery potential of the two water areas are interpreted as consequences of topography and water exchange patterns causing differences in oxygen saturation.     

Seasonal and inter-annual dynamics of mesoplankton in the northwestern Japan Sea

Based upon four decades of observations in the northwestern part of the Japan Sea, the seasonal and inter-annual variations of zooplankton abundance and species composition in the epipelagic layer are considered. Seasonal characteristics of the zooplankton community are described in detail for five domains that occur within this part of the Japan Sea. Inter-decadal variation was not significant, but inter-annual variation was considerable and generally opposite to water temperature changes in the upper layer. Exceptional years such as 1996 were noted when a maximum abundance of zooplankton in summer occurred along with a slowing of the seasonal pattern of succession.     

Collapse of zooplankton stocks during Liriope tetraphylla (Hydromedusa) blooms and dense mucilaginous aggregations in a thermohaline stratified basin

A growing number of studies report an increase in jellyfish populations worldwide that may have consequences for marine planktonic food web dynamics. The principal objective of this study was to understand the changes in a zooplankton community during blooms of Liriope tetraphylla and subsequent mucilage events in the Sea of Marmara, a small highly stratified transitional basin between the Black and Aegean Seas. Liriope blooms observed in 2006 and 2007 reached a maximum abundance of 2978 ind.·m^?3, following the species' first observation in 2005. Jellyfish species are known to play a key guild role by restructuring plankton communities and in the Sea of Marmara Liriope caused a temporal regime shift from a crustacean‐ to a jellyfish‐controlled system. A rapid decline in abundance of most important zooplankton species followed the Liriope increase, together with a drastic shift in community structure. The dominant summer–autumn species Penilia avirostris (Cladocera) vanished in the autumn of 2006 and was diminished ~30‐fold in 2007 when compared with years without Liriope. The decline in zooplankton and the devastating effects of mucilage on pelagic ecosystem and socio‐economics through restricting commercial fisheries implied sensitivity of the already perturbed Marmara ecosystem to changes in predator densities and environmental stability.     

Changes in wild fish assemblages after the establishment of a fish farming zone in an oligotrophic marine ecosystem

The species composition, abundance and diversity of demersal fish assemblages has been investigated in an oligotrophic coastal bay in the Aegean Sea which is a designated zone for the development of aquaculture. Samples were collected using experimental trawling, before the establishment of fish cages in the area during early June 1987 and after attaining the maximal production of the aquaculture zone in late May 2001. The overall abundance of the fish assemblage increased by a factor of 4 and the average trophic level of the fish community increased from 3.59 to 3.79. Traditional diversity indices showed an increase in dominance but the distinctness measures of biodiversity showed that the overall structure obtained after the establishment of fish farming was not phylogenetically impoverished. Multivariate analysis showed that the community differences between the two periods are quantitative rather than qualitative. Comparisons in length frequencies between the two periods indicated that specimens of the species compared were either similar or larger in the second period. The species favoured by the presence of aquaculture were not the ones normally feeding on the food pellets under the cages but those normally occurring in the fishing grounds of the study. It is concluded that the release of nutrients from fish farming in nutrient-poor systems can have a positive effect on local fisheries with no visible negative change in species composition or biodiversity.     

Spatial macrozoobenthic distribution patterns in relation to major environmental factors- A case study from the Pomeranian Bay (southern Baltic Sea)

The aim of this study was to identify potential environmental “key factors” causing spatial distributions of macrozoobenthic communities to improve our understanding concerning benthic biotic/abiotic interactions and ecosystem functioning. To this end benthic and environmental data, collected over a period of 4 years (2003–2006) at 191 sampling stations in the Pomeranian Bay (southwest Baltic Sea), were analysed. This represents the most comprehensive study performed in this respect in the Baltic Sea up to date and also the necessary first step towards a model able to predict macrofaunal distributions regarding autecological species-environment interactions. Based on species abundances, distinctive macrobenthic community patterns were identified and evaluated via univariate correlation methods, multivariate numerical classification and ordination techniques (e.g. PCA, CCA). These patterns were caused by clear responses of several benthic species to certain prevailing environmental conditions. The observed distribution of selected species followed a strong gradient of depth and was explained best by the sediment parameters total organic carbon (TOC), median grain size and sorting. By using different statistical methods these abiotic/biotic interactions were modelled allowing to extend our knowledge concerning ecosystem functioning, and provide a tool to assess natural and anthropogenic forced changes in species distribution.     

Spatial and temporal variations of macro-and mesozooplankton community in the Huanghai Sea (Yellow Sea) and East China Sea in summer and winter

The study was conducted during two cruises of June–August 2006 (summer),and January–February 2007 (winter) in the Huanghai (Yellow) Sea and East China Sea.Spatial and temporal variations of zooplankton abundance,biomass and community structure and its relation to currents and water masses over the continental shelf were examined.A total of 584 zooplankton species/taxa and 28 planktonic larvae were identified during the two surveys.Copepods were the most abundant component among these identified groups.Zooplankton abundance and biomass fluctuated widely and showed distinct heterogeneity in the shelf waters.Five zooplankton assemblages were identified with hierarchical cluster analysis during this study,and they were Huanghai Sea Assemblage,Changjiang Estuary Assemblage,Coastal Assemblage,East China Sea Mixed-water Assemblage and East China Sea Offshore Assemblage.Seasonal changes of zooplankton community composition and its geographical distribution were detected,and the locations of the faunistic areas overlap quite well with water masses and current systems.So we suggest that the zooplankton community structure and its changes were determined by the water masses in the Huanghai Sea and East China Sea.The results of this research can provide fundamental information for the long-term monitoring of zooplankton ecology in the shelf of Huanghai Sea and East China Sea.