Seasonal differences in catches of leptocephali in the East China Sea and Suruga Bay, Japan

The species composition, distribution, and size of eel larvae, or leptocephali, caught near the continental shelf in subtropical and temperate regions of East Asia were compared between two seasons (May–Jun and Oct–Dec) to learn about the seasonality of reproduction of marine eels. There was greater species richness and evidence of spawning by more species of marine eels during the late autumn surveys in both the East China Sea (ECS) and in Suruga Bay along the east coast of Japan. Small leptocephali <10 mm TL and a wide range of sizes of various taxa were collected during both seasons along the outer edge of the continental shelf in the ECS, indicating that some marine eels may spawn there all year. The lack of small leptocephali during the spring survey in Suruga Bay suggested that most eels have a clear seasonal cycle of summer or autumn spawning at the higher latitudes of coastal Japan where there is much greater fluctuation of water temperature throughout the year than in the ECS. At lower latitudes such as in the ECS, and in tropical areas where water temperatures are higher and more constant, some marine eels may spawn all year round.     

The ‘suitcase hypothesis’: Can entrainment of meroplankton by eddies provide a pathway for gene flow between Madagascar and KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa?

Similarities in the marine fauna found off the coasts of southern Madagascar and KwaZulu-Natal Province (KZN), South Africa, led to the development of the ‘suitcase project,’ with the aim of establishing whether eddies that form off southern Madagascar may package and transport biological material across the Mozambique Channel, facilitating connectivity and gene flow. Meroplankton (larval stages of fishes and benthic invertebrates) were collected on the Madagascan shelf and along a transect through a cyclonic eddy in the Mozambique Channel. The samples were analysed using microscopy and DNA barcoding, seeking to identify species known to be common to both the southeast coast of Madagascar and the east coast of South Africa and thereby to reveal potential indicators of connectivity between these regions. The greatest zooplankton biovolume in the upper 200 m occurred on the shelf, followed by in the western part of the eddy and in the region outside the eddy to the west, and was lowest in the region outside the eddy to the east. The meroplankton were dominated by taxa of coastal origin and these were also most abundant on the shelf and in the western part of the eddy, with the lowest abundances in the region outside the eddy to the east. The findings show greater zooplankton biovolumes and larval abundances and the presence of reef-associated larval assemblages on the Madagascan shelf and along the transect through the cyclonic eddy, providing support for the suitcase hypothesis that planktonic organisms are entrained within eddies as they propagate south-westwards of the Madagascan shelf.     

A western boundary current east of New Caledonia: Observed characteristics

Waters from the South Equatorial Current (SEC), the northern branch of the South Pacific subtropical gyre, are a major supply of heat to the equatorial warm pool, and have an important contribution to climate variability and ENSO which motivated the Southwest Pacific Ocean and Climate Experiment (SPICE, CLIVAR/WCRP). Initially a broad westward current extending from the equator to 30°S, the SEC splits upon arriving at the major islands and archipelagoes of Fiji (18°S, 180°E), Vanuatu (16°S, 168°E), and New Caledonia (22°S, 165°E), resulting in a complex system of western boundary currents and zonal jets that feed the Coral and Solomon Seas. We focus here on the formation of one specific jet feeding the Coral Sea, the North Caledonian Jet (NCJ). Using a combination of recent oceanographic cruises, we describe the ocean circulation to the northeast of New Caledonia, where the SEC forms a western boundary current that ultimately becomes the NCJ. This current, which we document for the first time and propose to refer to as the East Caledonian Current (ECC), has its core located 10-100 km off the east coast of New Caledonia, and extends vertically to at least 1000 m depth. Water mass properties show continuous westward transports through the ECC, from the SEC to the NCJ in both the South Pacific Tropical Waters in the thermocline and Antarctic Intermediate Waters near 700 m depth. The ECC extends about 100 km horizontally; its average 0-1000 m transport was estimated at 14.5±3 Sv off the north tip of the New Caledonian reef, with a maximum of 20 Sv in May 2010. South of that the upstream branch of the ECC east of the Loyalty is close to 8 Sv suggesting an important additional contribution from central Pacific waters carried by the SEC at 16°S and diverted to our region through the western boundary current system east of Vanuatu.     

Origins and pathways of the subsurface and intermediate water masses of the Indonesian Throughflow derived from historical and Argo data

On the basis of Argo data and historic temperature/salinity data from the World Ocean Database 2001 （ WOD01 ）, origins and spreading pathways of the subsurface and intermediate water masses in the Indonesian Throughflow （ITF） region were discussed by analyzing distributions of salinity on representative isopyenal layers. Results were shown that, subsurface water mostly comes from the North Pacific Ocean while the intermediate water originates from both the North and South Pacific Ocean, even possibly from the Indian Ocean. Spreading through the Sulawesi Sea, the Makassar Strait, and file Flores Sea, the North Pacific subsurface water and the North Pacific Intermediate water dominate the western part of the Indonesian Archipelago. Furthermore as the depth increases, the features of the North Pacific sourced water masses become more obvious. In the eastern part of the waters, high sa- linity South Pacific subsurface water is blocked by a strong salinity front between Halmahera and New Guinea. Intermediate water in the eastern interior region owns salinity higher than the North Pacific intermediate water and the antarctic intermediate water （ AAIW）, possibly coming from the vertical mixing between subsurface water and the AAIW from the Pacific Ocean, and possibly coming from the northward extending of the AAIW from the Indian Ocean as well.     

基于历史资料和Argo资料的印尼贯通流次表层和中层水起源与路径探讨

利用Argo资料和《世界海洋数据集2001版》(WOD01)温盐历史资料,通过对代表性等位势面上盐度分布的分析,探讨了次表层和中层等不同层次上印尼贯通流(ITF)的起源与路径问题.分析结果表明,ITF的次表层水源主要来自北太平洋,中层水源地既包括北太平洋、南太平洋,同时也不能排除有印度洋的可能性.在印度尼西亚海域西部,ITF的次表层和中层水源分别为北太平洋热带水(NPTW)和中层水(NPIW),经苏拉威西海、望加锡海峡到达弗洛勒斯海,层次越深特征越明显.在印度尼西亚海域东部,发现哈马黑拉-新几内亚水道附近存在次表层强盐度锋面,阻隔了南太平洋热带水(SPTW)由此进入ITF海域;中层水具有高于NPIW和来自南太平洋的南极中层水(AAIW)的盐度值,既可能是AAIW和SPTW在当地发生剧烈垂直混合而形成,也可能是来自印度洋的AAIW向北延伸进入ITF的结果.     

Habitat use by the European eel Anguilla anguilla in Irish waters

The apparent use of marine and freshwater habitats by European eel Anguilla anguilla was examined by analyzing the strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) concentrations in otoliths of the eels collected from Irish coastal and fresh waters. The age and growth of eels were also examined using their otolith annuli. The sizes and ages of the female eels were greater than those of the males. The somatic growth rates ranged from 15 to 62 mm/year, which is typical for Ireland and other European countries. Analyses of Sr:Ca ratios along a life history transect in each otolith showed peaks (maximum more than 25 × 10⁻³) between the core and elver mark corresponding to the period of their leptocephalus and early glass eel stages in the ocean. Outside the elver mark, the Sr:Ca ratios indicated that eels had remained in different habitats that included freshwater (average Sr:Ca ratios, 0.98–1.78 × 10⁻³) and areas with relatively high salinities (average Sr:Ca ratios, 6.73–8.89 × 10⁻³). Some individuals showed clear evidence of shifts from sea to fresh waters. These findings suggest that Irish eels have the same behavioral plasticity regarding whether or not to enter freshwater or remain in marine environments as has been recently documented in this species and several other temperate anguillid species. However, patterns of habitat use in Irish waters were somewhat different than those previously reported for other habitats.     

Iron, manganese and aluminum in upper waters of the western South Pacific Ocean and its adjacent seas

Total dissolvable iron, manganese and aluminum distributions in upper waters were determined in the western South Pacific, Solomon Sea, Coral Sea, and Tasman Sea. In these oceanic regions, the surface aluminum distributions well reflect the atmospheric deposition pattern of mineral dust in the western South Pacific reported previously. Surface manganese distributions derive mainly from lateral transportation from the coastal sediments of western tropical islands. Compared to Mn and Al, the Fe distributions reflect the nutrient cycle in upper waters. Iron limitation over the vast South Pacific, as revealed by physiological features of phytoplankton, seems to be caused by low atmospheric dust deposition and low Fe:N ratios in deep waters. In the western South Pacific, with its unique geographic and oceanographic settings, the local sources of trace metals might considerably affect their biogeochemical cycles.     

吕宋海峡附近海域水团分布及季节变化特征

利用2003年2月至2009年4月期间在吕宋海峡附近海域由Argo剖面浮标观测的温、盐度资料,对该海域的水团分布及季节变化特征进行了探讨.结果表明,在120.5°-122.75°E、19°-23°N范围内,水团特征介于南海水和北太平洋水之间,而19°N以南区域的水交换并不显著.北太平洋热带水(NPTW)和北太平洋中层水(NPIW)通过吕宋海峡入侵南海的趋势在夏季较弱.秋季,NPTW入侵南海的趋势增强,而到了冬季,受东北季风控制,北太平洋水的入侵程度最强,然而并无NPIW进入南海的迹象.值得指出的是,整年没有发现明显的NPIW进入南海,而南海中层水可以通过海峡流入太平洋,其强度在秋、冬季节达到最大.     

三沙市南海诸岛底栖海藻区系调查及其与其它相关区系的比较分析

我国海岸线绵长,所属岛屿众多,除了台湾岛和海南岛两个大岛外,还有数以千计的中小沿海岛屿及众多的珊瑚岛,如我国三沙市的南海诸岛—西沙群岛、南沙群岛、东沙群岛和中沙群岛等。根据多年来我国科研人员在该海区的调查研究,对我国三沙市南海诸岛海区的海藻区系进行初步的植物地理学研究,以探讨我国该海域海藻区系的温度性质,以及与邻近海区海藻区系的关系。研究结果表明,我国三沙市南海诸岛底栖海藻区系与北太平洋西部海藻相同种数最多的是区系性质为热带性的南海南区,因此海藻区系的温度性质具有很明显的热带性。另外,三沙市南海诸岛海藻区系与印度洋海藻区系有很多共同成分,两地共有种数高达184种,为南海诸岛海藻总数的63%,进一步证明我国三沙市南海诸岛区系属于暖水性印度—西太平洋区,印—马亚区。     

Regional variation in springtime ichthyoplankton assemblages in the northeast Pacific Ocean

The coastal regions of the northeast Pacific support large, economically valuable fishery resources and provide nursery areas for many fish species. Over the last few decades, there have been dramatic shifts in species abundance and composition in this area. In this paper, we examine the springtime spatial patterns in the ichthyoplankton of three oceanographically different regions, the Southeast Bering Sea, the Gulf of Alaska and the U.S. West Coast. The data examined are a subset of a larger database (comprising data from cruises conducted from 1972 to 1997) that is being used to investigate spatial, seasonal and interannual patterns in ichthyoplankton of the northeast Pacific in relation to environmental conditions. Ichthyoplankton were collected during seven cruises using 60-cm bongo nets. Spatial patterns of ichthyoplankton were examined using both classification and ordination techniques. Relative Bray-Curtis dissimilarity coefficients calculated from the log₁₀ (n+1) of abundance data were used as input to the numerical classification of species and stations. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling was also applied to the abundance data to examine geometric patterns in the data. The numerical analyses of the species abundance data sets for each cruise revealed spatial patterns in the ichthyoplankton that suggest the occurrence of geographically distinct assemblages of fish larvae in each region. For all three sampling regions, the assemblage structure is primarily related to bathymetry, and Shelf, Slope, and Deep-Water assemblages are described. This shallow to deep-water gradient in species occurrence and abundance reflects the habitat preference and spawning location of the adult fish. Another degree of complexity is superimposed on this primary assemblage structure in each region and seems to be related to local topography and the prevailing current patterns. The patterns in ichthyoplankton assemblages of the three regions in the northeast Pacific Ocean described here form the basis for future investigations of spatial and temporal patterns in the ichthyoplankton of the subarctic Pacific.Regional Index Terms: Northeast Pacific Ocean, Southeast Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, U.S. West Coast.     

基于个体模型的东海鲐鱼渔场形成机制研究

鲐鱼Scomber japonicus资源丰富,在我国近海渔业中占有重要地位。其渔场的形成受海洋环境的制约,本文确定鲐鱼运动和物理环境之间的响应关系,建立起了基于个体的东海鲐鱼生长洄游模型。结果显示,鲐鱼集群分布与捕捞生产渔场基本吻合,鲐鱼聚集主要受台湾暖流、大陆沿岸水、黑潮影响,往往集群在一定温度范围内并在冷暖交汇区温盐梯度大偏暖水一侧。在台湾暖流和沿岸水交汇的锋面附近、台湾暖流暖水舌前端、黑潮与中国大陆沿岸水形成的潮境区域均有大量的鲐鱼聚集,并形成渔场。产卵位置的变动使偏西产卵位置的鲐鱼由于受台湾暖流影响较大,鲐鱼会呈长带状大量聚集在台湾暖流和沿岸水的锋面附近,并使在台湾暖流暖水舌前端的聚集数量增多,而偏东的产卵的鲐鱼受黑潮影响较大,聚集分布范围较大,会使黑潮形成的锋面附近聚集数量增多,而使台湾暖水舌的前端的聚集量减少。正常产卵位置在生存率方面是最佳产卵位置。研究表明鲐鱼所处空间位置不同,会影响其集群的位置,用数值模型验证了物理环境会对鲐鱼的洄游和渔场的形成产生影响。     

中法南太平洋地区海洋治理合作：内在逻辑与现实选择

为推动中法在南太平洋地区的海洋治理合作,进一步构建海洋命运共同体,文章考察中法在南太平洋地区海洋治理的动因,并尝试提出双方合作的现实选择。研究结果表明：中法应联合设立应对南太平洋地区气候变化的资金平台,规范融资机制;推动建立海洋生物多样性保护机制;联合开展海草床和珊瑚礁等典型海洋生态系统的监视监测、健康评价和保护修复;加强蓝碳治理合作;以南太平洋区域环境署为平台,推动中法在南太平洋海洋环境保护方面的合作。     

Basin-scale distribution of prokaryotic phylotypes in the epipelagic layer of the Central South Pacific Ocean during austral summer

In the present study, we used catalyzed reporter deposition-fluorescence in situ hybridization to quantify the abundance of five bacterial (Alphaproteobacteria, SAR11, Gammaproteobacteria, SAR86, and Bacteroidetes) and two archaeal (Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota) phylotypes in the epipelagic layer (0–200 m) of the Central South Pacific Ocean along 170°W from 0° to 40°S. We found that the distribution patterns of these phylotypes differed from each other. All phylotypes except Gammaproteobacteria were particularly abundant at the surface water of the equatorial region, whereas Gammaproteobacteria was relatively abundant in the area from the southern part of the South Pacific Ocean. SAR11, affiliated with Alphaproteobacteria was the dominant phylotype at all depths, throughout the study area. The abundance of SAR11 significantly increased with chlorophyll a concentration, suggesting that phytoplankton could affect their distribution pattern. There was a positive correlation between Bacteroidetes abundance and water temperature, suggesting that the temperature gradient could be a critical factor determining their distribution in the South Pacific Ocean. Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota were more abundant at the equatorial region than in other study areas. Euryarchaeota abundance significantly decreased with depth, and increased with chlorophyll a concentration. This suggests that there was ecological interaction between Euryarchaeota and phytoplankton in the equatorial surface. Our data indicate that distinct hydrographic properties such as seawater temperature, salinity, and the concentrations of chlorophyll a and nutrients can principally control the basin-scale distribution of different prokaryotic phylotypes in the epipelagic layer of the Central South Pacific Ocean.     

Evaluating the relationship between spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability of larval fish assemblages in a coastal marine ecosystem (Haizhou Bay,China)

In coastal marine ecosystems, spatial patterns of larval fish assemblages (LFAs) tend to exhibit geographic stability because of relatively stable spawning site selection and predictable oceanographic phenomena such as eddies. To evaluate the relationship between spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability of LFAs, we conducted a high spatiotemporal resolution ichthyoplankton survey from April to July in 2013 in the shallow waters (<20 m) of Haizhou Bay, China. Our analysis indicated three distinct assemblages, which were stable geographically but exhibited a gradual and directional change of species composition and abundance over our study period. Sea surface temperature was the most important environmental co‐variate for determining temporal variability of LFAs, likely owing to temperature effects of species composition and spawning period selection of adult fish, along with known temperature‐dependent survival rates of larval fish. Study of LFA spatiotemporal dynamics is essential for improved understanding of adult fish spawning behavior, and has potential to inform design and implementation of conservation and management measures (e.g. marine protected areas) in coastal systems.     

南海次表层盐度的低频变化及与太平洋年代际振荡的关系

南海是西北太平洋最大的边缘海, 是联系北太平洋和北印度洋的关键通道。黑潮北上经过吕宋海峡时会将来自西太平洋的信号传入南海, 进而影响南海的水动力环境。研究了南海次表层盐度的空间分布特征、低频变化规律及其与太平洋年代际振荡(Pacific Decadal Oscillation, PDO)的关系, 并进一步探究了次表层盐度近年来的变化。结果显示: 1)南海次表层高盐水的位势密度主要介于24~26σ_θ, 受次表层气旋式环流所驱动, 盐度气候态空间分布北高南低, 以吕宋海峡处为起点, 呈逆时针自北向南逐渐降低。2)次表层盐度低频变化显著, 与PDO呈显著的正相关关系。当PDO处于正位相时, 吕宋海峡处西向平流输送加强, 次表层盐度升高; 当PDO处于负位相时, 吕宋海峡处西向平流输送减弱, 次表层盐度降低, 盐度的变化受到水平环流场的直接影响。3)近年来, 南海次表层盐度呈现先降低后升高再降低的趋势, 滞后PDO约10个月, 2006— 2014年初, 盐度呈下降趋势; 2014—2017年初, 盐度呈上升趋势, 且上升速率远大于先前下降的速率; 2017年后盐度再次逐渐降低。     

CERTAIN PROPERTIES AND CAUSES OF VARIATIONS OF THE SOUTH EQUA-TORIAL COUNTERCURRENT IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN

Marine investigations were carried out in the western Central Equatorial Pacific region from 1976 to 1979 by three Chinese research vessels "Xiangyanghong 05", "Xiangyanghong 09" and "Shijian" belonging to the National Bureau of Oceanography. The data of currents, surface wind, drift of the ship, temperature, salinity, and so on, were obtained during the investigations, which provides more reliable basis for further studies on the South Equatorial Countercurrent in the Pacific Ocean. In this paper certain properties and causes of variations of the South Equatorial Countercurrent in the Pacific Ocean are analysed according to the above-mentioned data.     

Comparison of community structures between particle-associated and free-living prokaryotes in tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean surface waters

The subtropical and tropical regions of the Pacific Ocean are less productive than other oceanic regions. Although particle association should be an important strategy for heterotrophic prokaryotes to survive in such environments, we have little information on particle-associated (PA) prokaryotes in these regions. The specific aim of this study was to determine bacterial and archaeal community structures in the PA assemblage in comparison to the free-living (FL) assemblage in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, the South Pacific Subtropical Gyre, and an eastern equatorial region of the Pacific Ocean. Community profiles and phylogenetic identities were obtained by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, 454-pyrosequencing, and cloning followed by Sanger sequencing of 16Sr RNA gene amplicons. The distribution patterns of some abundant groups in three regions and two lifestyles (PA and FL) are shown in this study. Also, the PA community structures of bacteria differed from the FL ones and exhibited higher diversity than the FL ones, while the archaeal community structures did not show significant differences between PA and FL assemblages. We found that specific phylotypes of Gammaproteobacteria and Flavobacteria were abundant in PA bacterial assemblages, suggesting that they prefer to attach and consume particulate organic matter. In summary, the surface seawater PA assemblages represent very different bacterial and archaeal community structures between three different oceanic regions, each of which had distinct PA and FL community structures. These results imply that environmental factors determine microbial community structures.     

Long‐term changes in hydroid (Cnidaria,Hydrozoa) assemblages: effect of Mediterranean warming?

Marine hydroids are markedly seasonal in temperate seas, being extremely sensitive to climatic changes disrupting seasonal patterns. Modifications in the composition, seasonality, bathymetric distribution and reproductive period of hydroid assemblages are useful to evaluate the influence of global warming on the marine ecosystem. The hydroids on the rocky cliff of the Portofino Promontory (Ligurian Sea, Italy) were carefully studied between 1976 and 1983; in particular, in 1980 the study was carried out along a vertical transect. The hydroids were sampled again throughout 2004, with the same techniques and along the same transect. Species diversity decreased slightly in the 2004 survey. Some species present in 1980 had disappeared in 2004, but other species with southern affinity, never recorded from the area, became abundant in 2004. Species that were present in summer in the first period were also present in winter in the second one. Furthermore, shallow summer species widened their bathymetric distribution, reaching deeper levels. These data strongly suggest that the Portofino hydroid assemblage reacted to the water temperature increase found in the Mediterranean Sea.     

应用Argo资料分析西北太平洋冬、夏季水团

应用Argo剖面浮标观测的温、盐度资料,分析了西北太平洋海域冬、夏季的温、盐度分布、水团结构及其分布。首先采用T-S点聚图法分析了该海域水团分布的基本情况,由点聚分析结果可知,该海域至少存在6种以上水团;再用模糊聚类软化法对水团作进一步划分,分别计算了该海域6至11类水团的F和△F值,结果表明,冬、夏季的△F值都以划分为8类时为最大,这与大洋水团的稳定性是一致的,因此,该海域冬、夏季水团以划分为8类最佳,它们分别是北太平洋热带表层水、北太平洋次表层水、北太平洋中层水、北太平洋副热带模态水、北太平洋深层水和赤道表层水,以及南太平洋次表层水和南太平洋中层水。     

南海深海生物多样性国际研究态势与热点分析

南海是西太平洋边缘海,有陆架、陆坡、岛礁、深海平原、海山、冷泉等多种生境,近10年来南海逐渐成为世界深海研究的热点。南海是中国海洋生物多样性最高的区域,与作为海洋生物多样性中心的印太珊瑚大三角区具有一定的环境与生物连通性,对南海的深海生物探测研究可丰富对西太平洋及印太交汇区生物多样性及地理分布格局的认知。目前有关南海的生物多样性研究主要集中在北部陆架浅海及岛礁,对于深海生物多样性认知明显不足。本研究梳理了全球深海生物多样性的主要国际战略布局,并对南海深海生物多样性SCIE论文发表情况进行了综合分析,探讨了南海深海生物多样性研究态势,对未来南海深海生物多样性调查与研究提出了研究展望和建议。