Why fish? Using entry-strategies to inform governance of the small-scale sector: A case-study in the Bijagós Archipelago (West Africa)

Should rural commercial small-scale fishing opportunities be closed to minimise effort and safeguard marine resources or open to offer livelihood support? In the Bijagós Archipelago (Guinea-Bissau) investigating employment pathways indicates that the sector is encouraging a diversity of institutions to flourish, reaffirming our understanding of the critical ‘safety-net’ function small-scale fishing affords. Results support the need to examine developing country smaller-scale fisheries in terms of wider social opportunities and not purely in terms of their own limitations.     

Mangrove habitat use by fishes in Southeastern Brazil: are there temporal changes in the structure of the community?

We compared fish community structure in Guaratiba Mangrove, SE Brazil, among three seasons of the hydrological cycle [(i) spring, increasing temperature and rainfall, decreasing salinity; (ii) summer/early fall, high temperature and rainfall, intermediate salinity; (iii) late fall/winter, low temperature and rainfall, high salinity] and between the years 2002–2003 and 2008–2009. The aim was to test the hypothesis that the fish community structure changes seasonally, associated with seasonal changes in environmental conditions, and that changes occurred between the two yearly periods because of increased anthropogenic activities. The sampling protocol for the two surveys was identical. A total of 63 species was recorded, with 38 species occurring in 2002–2003, and 53 species in 2008–2009. The main changes in the mangrove's fish assemblage between 2002–2003 and 2008–2009 were (i) an increase in species richness, fish density and total biomass; and (ii) an increase in the zoobenthivorous species of gerreids Eucinostomus argenteus, Diapterus rhombeus and Ulaema lefroyi, and a decrease in the planktivorous clupeid Harengula clupeola. Other abundant species, such as the opportunistic atherinopsid. Atherinella brasiliensis, the detritivorous mullet Mugil liza and the zoobenthivorous pufferfish Sphoeroides testudineus did not differ in abundance between the two yearly periods. Ten species occurred only in 2002–2003, and 23 species only in 2008–2009, indicating significant changes in community structure over the 6‐year period. Seasonal changes in community structure were more conspicuous in 2008–2009, when species abundance and richness were greatest. The highest fish abundance was recorded in spring and in summer/early fall, and the lowest in late fall/winter. The increased abundance and richness over time may be at least partially attributable to protection policies because of the effective implementation of a biological reserve in the area.     

Studies on the absorption and utilization of amino acids in the test diets by the prawn Penaeus orientalis

This experiment was conducted to study the characteristics of absorption of amino acids by different regions of the alimentary tract and the utilization of free amino acids in the test diets of the prawn, Penaeus oricntolis.The midgut gland is the principal site of nutrient absorption. In the foregut, the digestibility coefficient of 15 amino acids tested accounted for 52.5% of the total digestibility coefficient in the entire alimentary tract. In the midgut, the digestibility coefficient was 47.5 % of the total. There was no evidence of the hindgut assimilating amino acids.The free amino acid in the test diet, methionine, was almost absorbed before entering the midgut. Methionine could not be absorbed synchronously with other amino acids bound in the dietary protein, but it did affect the synchronization of other essential amino acids. [3H]-lysine, incorporated into the test diet, was almost totally assimilated within the midgut gland. Five and a half hours after feeding, the labelled amino acid had be     

Measurements of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in sea water by high temperature combustion method

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is the largest organic carbon reservoir in sea water and plays an imporrant role in the marine carbon cycle and other biogeochemical processes in the ocean. Accurate and precise determinalion of the bOC concentration in sea water is thus a prerequisite for any interpretation of DOC biogeochemistry. A key factor in analytical quality control is an accurate determination of the blank. The assessment and distinction of DOC blanks are essential for the precise measurements of oceanic DOC. The total DOC blank includes instrument and water blanks in the high temperature catalytic oxidation (HTCO) method. DOC can be measured accurately using the HTCO method only when the instrument blank is correctly distinguished from the total DOC blank and corrected in the sample measurements. Low DOC blanks can be achieved by extensive conditioning of new catalysts and the whole instrument system, whereas instrument blanks can be quantified by subtracting the water blank from the total DOC blank. We have been able to produce low carbon nanopure water [≤2μmol/dm³(C)] and have a low instrumental blank [< 5-6 μmol/dm³(C)] when using the HTCO method. Results of concentrations and distributions of DOC in the Gulf of Mexico and the North Atlantic are oceanographically consistent. Results from DOC measurements on samples from the international DOC methods comparison program further confirmed our low values of both nenopure water and the instrument blank.     

Spatial variability of ontogenetic patterns in habitat associations by coral reef fishes (Moorea lagoon – French Polynesia)

The present study explored ontogenetic shifts in habitat associations by coral reef fishes between recently settled juvenile and adult life stages (Moorea Island: Tiahura and Papetoai sites). Visual censuses highlighted four ontogenetic patterns in habitat associations: (1) no change in habitat associations between the juvenile and adult stages; (2) a decrease in the number of habitats used by adults compared to juveniles; (3) an increase in the number of habitats used during the adult stage; and (4) use of nursery areas by juveniles followed by an extensive movement to an entirely different adult habitat. The comparative analysis of spatial distribution of fish at Tiahura and Papetoai highlighted no-spatial variability in ontogenetic patterns (i.e., 10 of the 15 recorded species have spatial consistency in ontogenetic patterns). Overall, the shifts in habitat associations are of interest in the perspective of understanding flexibility and adaptation capability of coral reef fish, at least at the settlement time.     

Impact of circulation on high phytoplankton blooms and fish catch in the northern Adriatic (1990–2004)

We analyzed oceanographic, hydrologic and atmospheric conditions in the northern Adriatic (section between the Po River delta and Rovinj) from 1990 to 2004 in which extreme phytoplankton blooms appeared. The largest blooms occurred in February, March, July and October, and were higher in surface layers and in the western, more eutrophic part of the region. They often appeared when the Istrian Coastal Countercurrent (ICCC; strong southward current indicating a “closure” of the northern Adriatic circulation system) was pronounced. They seem to be related to the intensities of surface fluxes and Po River discharge rates. The blooms can float over the northern Adriatic for a long period (up to 30 days; typical for March) and can appear simultaneously in separate circulation systems with a different species distribution. Finally, we present a hypothesis based on comparisons of geostrophic currents and fish stock that specific February northern Adriatic oceanographic conditions play the key role in the Adriatic anchovy stock.     

First Satellite Measurements of Carbon Dioxide in the Earth’s Atmosphere (From the SI-1 Spectrometer Aboard the Meteor Satellite in 1979)

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Spectral measurements of the outgoing thermal IR radiation carried out in 1977 and 1979 (SI-1 instrument, Meteor satellite) are used for estimating the...     

Comparative Analysis of Errors in Monitoring the Earth’s Global Energy Budget by the Lunar Observatory and Orbiters

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The errors in measurements of the energy of the reflected solar radiation and the thermal radiation emitted from Earth entering space in all directions...     

Non-Plate-Tectonic (Autonomous) Folding and Thrusting in the Earth’s Crust

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The formation of fold–thrust dislocations of stratified rocks in the Earth’s crust has been considered as a consequence of the lateral...     

Risk of environmental genotoxicity in the Baltic Sea over the period of 2009–2011 assessed by micronuclei frequencies in blood erythrocytes of flounder (Platichthys flesus), herring (Clupea harengus) and eelpout (Zoarces viviparus)

Environmental genotoxicity was investigated at 82 locations encompassing different regions of the Baltic Sea. Micronuclei (MN) analysis was performed in erythrocytes of 1892 specimens of flounder Platichthys flesus, herring Clupea harengus and eelpout Zoarces viviparus, three of the most common native fish species of the Baltic Sea collected in 2009–2011. MN background levels in fish were determined using data obtained in 2001–2011 from 107 Baltic sites. Extremely high genotoxicity risk zones were found for flounder at 11 stations out of 16 in 2009 and 33 stations of 41 in 2010–2011, for herring, at 5 of 18 stations in 2009 and 20 of 43 stations in 2010–2011, in eelpout only at one out of 29 stations. The sampling stations were restricted mainly to the southern and eastern Baltic Sea offshore zones and in most of them, MN frequencies in flounder and herring significantly exceeded the reference and background levels of micronuclei. This is a first attempt to evaluate the background MN responses, as well as low, high and extremely high genotoxicity risk levels for native fish species.     

Spatial distribution of the crab larvae (Decapoda: Anomura et Brachyura) in Possyet Bay (Peter the Great Bay of the Sea of Japan) in 2000–2001

The analysis of the data obtained during the plankton surveys in Possyet Bay (Peter the Great Bay of the Sea of Japan) in 2000–2001 is presented. The larvae of eight crab species were registered in the plankton: the red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus (Tilesius, 1815), the snow (opilio) crab Chionoecetes opilio (Fabricius, 1780), the Arctic lyre crab Hyas coarctatus ursinus (Leach, 1815), the kelp crab Pugettia quadridens (de Haan, 1839), the helmet crab Telmessus cheiragonus (Tilesius, 1815), the Japanese swimming crab Charybdis japonica (A. Milne-Edwards, 1861), the pea crab Pinnixa rathbuni (Sakai, 1934), and the porcelain crab Pachycheles stevensii (Stimpson, 1858). These species belonged to six families: Lithodidae, Atelecyclidae, Majidae, Portunidae, Porcellanidae, and Pinnotheridae. The role of the variability of some of the hydrological factors in the meroplankton larvae development was studied. In May, the crab larvae were found mostly in the open part of the bay. In June, they were transported by the current to the northern part of the bay. In July, they spread uniformly in all the bay areas; however, patchiness was observed. The maximal population density of the crab larvae was registered for July and varied from 6.8 to 23.3 ind. m⁻³. The crab larvae appeared in the plankton in 2000 and 2001 earlier than for the average season.     

Ecology of Benthos in the Western Taiwan Strait(Ⅰ) Benthic Communities in the Xiamen Harbour

Based on the data of four seasonal surveys in 1980 and 1981,this paper analyses,forthe first time,the structure and distribution of benthic fauna and the relationship betweenbenthic fauna and the environmental factors.The results show that the benthic fauna communities in the survey area are quite complicated with eight community distribution areas,three ecological community types and four community structure types.     

Studies of the planetary atmospheres in Russia (2007–2010)

An overview of results obtained in the field of planetary atmosphere studies in Russia in 2007?C2010 prepared by the Commission on Planetary Atmospheres of the National Geophysical Committee for the National Report on Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences to the XXV General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (Melbourne, 28 June?C7 July 2011) [1, 2] is presented.     

Bacterioplankton production in dilution zone of the Changjiang(Yangtze) Estuary

ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮＮｕｍｅｒｏｕｓｔｉｎｙｂａｃｔｅｒｉａａｒｅｅｘｔｅｎｓｉｖｅｌｙｄｉｓｔｒｉｂｕｔｅｄｉｎｔｈｅｓｅａ .Ｔｈｅｙｄｅｃｏｍｐｏｓｅａｂｕｎｄａｎｔｏｒｇａｎｉｚｍａｎｄｐｌａｎｋｔｏｎｄｅｔｒｉｔｕｓ ,ｔｒａｎｓｆｏｒｍｉｎｇｔｈｅｍｉｎｔｏｉｎｏｒｇａｎｉｃｍａｔｅｒｉａｌｓｉｎｔｈｅｓｅａｗａｔｅｒ .Ｔｈｅｂａｃｔｅｒｉａｕｔｉｌｉｚｅｄｄｉｓｓｏｌｖａｂｌｅｏｒｇａｎｉｃｃａｒｂｏｎ (ＤＯＣ) ;ｔｈｅｐｒｏｔｏｚｏａｎａｔｅｔｈｅｂａｃｔｅｒｉａ .ＡｎｄｔｈｅＤ…     

Absorption of light by phytoplankton,detritus, and dissolved organic substances in the coastal region of the Black Sea (July–August 2002)

We present some results of our investigations of the concentrations of pigments and the biooptical characteristics of suspended and dissolved organic substances in the coastal region of the sea near the coast of the Crimea. Under the conditions of variable meteorological situation, we observe well-pronounced variations of the concentrations of pigments in the surface layer and their different vertical profiles. The inhomogeneity of the distribution of pigments in depth is accompanied by a decrease in the specific coefficients of absorption of light by phytoplankton. In the analyzed case, the contribution of detritus to absorption does not vary with depth and its maximum values are observed under the storm conditions. The dependences of the absorption of light by phytoplankton and suspended substances on the content of pigments and of the absorption of light by dissolved organic substances on the wavelength are established. These dependences are well described by power and exponential functions.Translated from Morskoi Gidrofiziche-skii Zhurnal, No. 4, pp. 39–50, July–August, 2004.     

Influence of Temperature Variability in the Near-Bottom Layer on the Results of Geothermal Measurements in the Kvitøya Trough (Barents Sea)

Oceanology - According to a study of the thermal variability of the water column in the Kvitøya trough (northern part of the Barents Sea), substantial water temperature fluctuations in the...     

Sources and Mechanisms of Seawater Freshening in Tsivolky and Sedov Bays (Novaya Zemlya Archipelago) Based on Isotope Data (δD and δ18О)

Oceanology - Three-year monitoring (2014–2016) of isotope parameters (δD and δ18О) of water in Sedov and Tsivolky bays (Novaya Zemlya Archipelago) freshened by water of...     

Multidisciplinary Program of Field Studies of the Ecosystem in the Atlantic Sector of the Southern Ocean (December 2019–March 2020)

Oceanology - The research program of the dynamics and ecosystem of the Drake Passage and Scotia Sea is scientifically substantiated. Measurements will be carried out by the interdepartmental...