Spatial patterns of biodiversity in the Black Sea: An assessment using benthic polychaetes

The current study broadens the biodiversity information available for the Black Sea and neighbouring regions and improves our knowledge about the polychaete biogeographic patterns to be discerned in them. There appears to be a well-defined zoogeocline from the Marmara Sea and Bosphorus Strait to the inner parts of the region (Azov Sea), depicted both as a multivariate pattern and in terms of species (or taxa) numbers. The emergent multivariate pattern complies, to a certain extent, with Jakubova’s (1935) views: three main sectors can be defined in the basin: (a) Prebosphoric, (b) the Black Sea and, (c) the Azov Sea, whereas the Bosphorus Strait and Marmara Sea show less faunal affinities with the afore-mentioned sectors. Patterns derived both from the cosmopolitan and Atlanto-Mediterranean species closely follow the one coming from the polychaete species and genera inventories. As a general trend, species numbers decrease along with the decrease in salinity towards the inner parts of the region. The trend is homologous to that seen in the benthic invertebrate inventories of all the major European semi-enclosed regional seas. Salinity and food availability appear to be the dominant abiotic factors correlated, though weakly, with the various patterns deriving from the taxonomic/zoogeographic categories. With the exception of the Anatolia, polychaete inventories from all sectors appear to be random samples of the total inventory of the region, in terms of taxonomic distinctness values. Therefore, these sectoral inventories can be used for future biodiversity/environmental impact assessment studies. A massive invasion of Mediterranean species after the opening of the Black Sea, in the lower Quaternary period, appears to be the likely biogeographic mechanism through which the old Sarmatic fauna was almost completely replaced by species of marine origin.     

基于信息扩散原理的渤、黄海沿岸风暴潮灾害风险分析

根据收集的渤、黄海沿岸主要海洋站(塘沽、羊角沟、烟台、威海、乳山口、青岛和日照)1950年以来各年最高潮位资料(个别站位资料样本较小),应用能优化处理小样本的基于信息扩散原理的模糊风险评估模型,对渤、黄海沿岸各海洋站年最高潮位的多年一遇极值情况进行了超越概率计算,并与《港口工程技术规范》推荐的极值I型(Gumbel曲线)方法进行比较。除羊角沟站误差3%外,其它站误差均在2%及以下,表明文中基于信息扩散原理的风险评估模型在兼顾小样本条件下所给结果是比较可靠的。这对于潮位等水文实测资料短缺的新建或拟建工程区进行工程水文要素设计重现期的推算将有较好的帮助。     

Contaminants and habitat choice in the Baltic Sea: Behavioural experiments with the native species, Monoporeia affinis, and the invasive genus, Marenzelleria

The invasive polychaete genus, Marenzelleria and the native amphipod, Monoporeia affinis are food and habitat competitors in the Baltic Sea. Previous studies have shown that moderate densities of Marenzelleria can affect the behaviour of M. affinis. To examine the short-term interactive effects of interspecific habitat choice and environmental contaminants a series of habitat colonisation experiments were performed. The contaminants examined included harbor sediments and sediment spiked with the antifouling substances, Cu, Zn and Irgarol. Polychaetes and amphipods were exposed to contaminants in single-species and two-species experiments. In spiked-sediment experiments, M. affinis showed clear dose-dependent response. These experiments verified that behavioural response of M. affinis to different habitats is a sensitive method for testing toxicity under controlled conditions. In experiments with three different harbor sediments and reference sediment both species showed the lowest preference for the reference sediment. This sediment also had the lowest content of quality food, indicating that factors such as food quality and quantity may override the disturbing effects of contaminants in natural sediments. The presence of Marenzelleria spp. did not affect amphipod habitat choice, indicating no short-term effects, which implies that both species can co-exist provided sufficient food is available.     

黄海南部野生银鲳和鮸鱼的耳石元素微化学研究

利用电子显微探针元素分析技术(EPMA)对黄海南部野生银鲳和鮸鱼的耳石进行了锶和钙沉积特征的初步分析。定量线分析结果表明,两种鱼类耳石的Sr/Ca之间存在显著的种间差异。银鲳耳石Sr/Ca比,在耳石核心及相邻处为低值区(5.86±0.92);3段Sr/Ca高值区分别为近核心部(7.88±1.28)、第1龄处(9.44±1.82)及耳石边缘(7.91±1.38);揭示银鲳孵化和早期发育应需要盐度适中的生境,当龄鱼在后期的生长中需洄游经过两段高盐生境(其中之一在第1龄时)。鮸鱼耳石Sr/Ca比波动表现为耳石核心处(7.72±0.97)高于其余部分,反映了鮸鱼孵化及初期发育阶段可能生活在高盐度生境,而当龄鱼随后阶段的生长和发育过程则会洄游至盐度有所降低的生境中进行。     

南黄海夏季微微型浮游植物丰度的分布

2008年8月中韩合作对南黄海生态系统进行了整体调查,调查站位共计37个。利用流式细胞仪测定了南黄海微微型浮游植物丰度,结合理化环境因子,分析了它们在夏季南黄海的分布特征。所测微微型真核浮游植物丰度平均值为1.9×103个/mL,最大值为2.4×104个/mL;聚球藻丰度平均值为5.3×104个/mL,最大值为5.1×105个/mL;从河口近岸到南黄海中部的宽阔海域,随着环境因子的变化,微微型浮游植物在各海区的分布明显不同,表现为河口近岸区域丰度大,离岸丰度小的特点;各站位丰度垂直分布主要趋势是上大下小,在跃层突出。根据分布趋势,聚球藻可分为两种垂直分布类型,微微型真核浮游植物分为三种。这些分布差异源于长江冲淡水和黄海冷水团的影响。     

南海东北部春季海表pCO_2分布及海-气CO_2通量

2013年南海东北部春季共享航次采用走航观测方式,现场测定了表层海水和大气的二氧化碳分压(pCO2)及相应参数。结合水文、化学等同步观测要素资料,对该海域pCO2的分布变化进行了探讨。结果表明,陆架区受珠江冲淡水、沿岸上升流及生物活动的影响,呈现CO2的强汇特征;吕宋海峡附近及吕宋岛西北附近海域受海表高温、黑潮分支\"西伸\"、吕宋岛西北海域上升流等因素影响,呈现强源特征。根据Wanninkhof的通量模式,春季整个南海东北部海域共向大气释放约4.25×104 t碳。     

Spatial and temporal variation of Palaemon adspersus, Palaemon elegans, and Crangon crangon (Decapoda: Caridea) in the southern Black Sea

In order to characterize the seasonal, bathymetric, and spatial distribution of the species, Palaemon adspersus, Palaemon elegans, and Crangon crangon, shrimps were sampled with a beam trawl in four stations at depths between 1 and 30 m from February 2002 to January 2004 on the Sinop Peninsula coasts of the southern Black Sea. One-way analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) results demonstrated that the caridean composition was significantly different (p < 0.001) between seasons and between sampling areas. No significant relationship of the caridean composition was evident between depth zones ranging from 1 to 30 m. These three carideans occurred together in 28.5% of the sampling occasions. Different seasonal migration pattern was evident for all the three species. Palaemon adspersus migrated inshore during relatively higher water temperatures, whereas C. crangon density decreased in the shallow waters during the same period, and P. elegans population was mostly observed at depth zones of 5–10 m and was only observed in the 30 m depth zone in winter. The abiotic factors that characterize the coexistence of these three carideans were primarily determined by the habitat types and bottom structures.     

Spatial variability of epifaunal communities from artificial habitat: Shipwrecks in the Southern Bight of the North Sea

We investigated the cover, community structure and abiotic environment of nine shipwrecks lying at increasing distance from the Belgian coast. Results indicated that all shipwrecks were strongly dominated by cnidarians in terms of biomass and by amphipods in terms of abundances. Based on their epifaunal composition, three groups of shipwrecks could be determined. Metridium senile dominated a species poor community of the coastal sites. On the same sites, a Tubularia larynx community with a more species-rich assemblage was also developing. The T. larynx community had a lower biomass value (102 g AFDW m⁻²) and significantly lower species richness compared to the other sites. The coastal sites were characterized by periodic salinity decreases, large seasonal temperature fluctuation, high total suspended matter load and reduced current velocity. Channel water masses influence the offshore sites causing a more stable temperature and salinity environment, less turbid waters and high current speed. Tubularia indivisa dominated this community, with an average biomass of 229 g AFDW m⁻². Intermediate sites were also dominated by T. indivisa, but a higher biomass (424 g AFDW m⁻²) was observed. They showed intermediate results for the abiotic parameters and fast current velocities. Hypotheses for the observed variation in community structures are discussed in the light of the abiotic characterization of the shipwrecks.     

Erodibility of a mixed mudflat dominated by microphytobenthos and Cerastoderma edule, East Frisian Wadden Sea,Germany

Sediment erodibility and a range of physical and biological parameters were measured at an intertidal site in the German Wadden Sea area in June, September and November 2002 and February and April 2003 in order to examine the influence of macrozoobenthos and microphytobenthos on sediment erodibility and the temporal variation. The study site was a mixed mudflat situated in the mesotidal Baltrum–Langeoog tidal basin at the East Frisian barrier coast. The mud content at the site was about 35% and the filter-feeding cockle Cerastoderma edule was the dominating macrozoobenthic species (by biomass). The erodibility of the sediment showed strong temporal variation with high erosion thresholds in spring and late summer and significantly lower thresholds during the rest of the study period. The erosion thresholds were strongly dependent on the contents of chlorophyll a (chl a) and colloidal carbohydrates, both indicators of the content of microphytobenthos, in this environment primarily benthic diatoms. The content of microphytobenthos was high in September 2002 and April 2003, and regression analysis indicated that this was the only likely reason for the low erodibility found at these times. A biostabilisation index of about 4.5 was found for a situation with both abundant biofilms and cockles.     

The global potential for whale watching

Whaling as a commercial enterprise is now defunct, not least due to the moratorium placed on it by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) almost 20 years ago. However, two distinct groups, one in favor of ‘sustainable’ whaling and one completely opposed to any killing of whales, continue to argue at the IWC and other political arenas. Almost ignored in this debate is the current growth of the whale watching industry, a logical alternative use for whale populations. Based on ecological and socio-economic criteria, the potential for whale watching is estimated for maritime countries that do not currently engage in this industry. Results suggest that whale watching could generate an additional 413 million USD (2009) in yearly revenue, supporting 5,700 jobs. Together with current global estimates, this would bring the total potential for the whale watching industry to over 2.5 billion USD in yearly revenue and about 19,000 jobs around the world. These results are discussed from an economic and conservation policy perspective, with emphasis on potential benefits and limitations.     

东海南部海洋净初级生产力与鲐鱼资源量变动关系的研究

海洋初级生产力决定海洋渔业资源的潜在产量,我国应用海洋初级生产力方法估算渔业资源量亦已取得不少研究成果,但海洋生态系统中的营养控制机制复杂多样,将影响海洋初级生产力与鱼类资源量的关系。本文利用中国大型灯光围网渔业在东海南部渔场的鲐鱼(Scomber japonicus)捕捞数据与海洋净初级生产力的遥感资料分析了鲐鱼资源量变化与净初级生产力的关系,探讨了其生态系统营养控制机制。研究结果表明,净初级生产力与标准化CPUE(Catch Per Unit Effort)不存在显著的线性关系(P>0.05),但呈显著非线性关系(P<0.05),且这种非线性关系表现为倒抛物线,即鲐鱼资源量随净初级生产力的增加而提高,但当净初级生产力进一步增加,鲐鱼资源量则呈下降趋势。净初级生产力与标准化CPUE呈显著的倒抛物线关系表明生态系统存在上行控制机制,但并非受该机制完全控制。种间竞争或浮游动物资源量的变动均可能引起鲐鱼资源的相对丰度与净初级生产力呈倒抛物线关系。