Variation and taxonomic changes in the family Retropinnidae (Salmonoidea)

The family Retropinnidae contains one monotypic genus, Stokellia, in New Zealand, and nine nominal species of Retropinna: five in New Zealand, three in Australia, and one on Chatham Island. Four Chatham Island populations contain much of the recorded range of variation for the family for head length in standard length ratios, numbers of dorsal and anal rays, and numbers of scale rows. These characters are analysed for 29 populations incorporating five nominal species from New Zealand and Chatham Island. When interrelated these characters are shown to be linked (loosely) and high values are typical of coastal populations. When related to latitude their values increase to the south. The reverse trend is found with increase in altitude. Decrease in salinity depresses the values. Area of the lake habitat has little effect.

Observations suggest that size of fish and numbers of teeth vary predictably. Thus all observed variation is related to environmental conditions. The four nominal lake species are submerged in Retropinna retropinna (Richardson), the type species of the genus, which is considered to be highly adaptable rather than highly variable. R. osmeroides Hector is recognised as distinct from R. retropinna on one character and on sympatric distribution. Records of Australian and Tasmanian species suggest that R. victoriae Stokell differs fundamentally from all other species but that R. semoni Weber and jR. tasmanica McCulloch do not differ greatly from R. retropinna Similar environmentally correlated variation is suggested to relate some diadromous species of Galaxias and their lacustrine isolates.     

Avoidance behaviour of freshwater fish and shrimp exposed to ammonia and low dissolved oxygen separately and in combination

Abstract

The responses of common smelt (Retropinna retropinna Richardson), inanga (Galaxias maculatus Jenyns), common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus McDowall), and shrimp (Paratya curvirostris Heller) to ammonia and low dissolved oxygen (DO), separately and in combination, were measured in a fluvarium. Only common smelt avoided high or low ammonia (c. 8.5 and 2.0 g m^?3 NH3, respectively) and low DO (c. 2 g m^?3) alone and in combination. Shrimp avoided high ammonia and low DO+ammonia but not low DO on its own. Inanga and bullies showed no significant negative response to either contaminant; rather, inanga were strongly attracted to low ammonia and bullies to low DO. These results parallel those from toxicity experiments that show common smelt and shrimp are usually among the most sensitive native species to various contaminants. The consistent and appropriate avoidance behaviour shown by common smelt, in particular, suggests this species would be a good indicator organism for assessing the health of lowland waterways.     

Some pathological abnormalities of New Zealand fishes

A number of pathological abnormalities previously unrecorded in New Zealand fishes are described. A silver trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex) captured from the Bay of Islands exhibited swim bladder ectasia. Black oreo (Allocyttus niger) and smooth oreo (Pseudocyttus maculatus) had cysts of unknown aetiology (CUEs) in the gills at prevalences up to 76% and 81%, respectively, in some fishing areas. The CUEs appear long lived and may have some utility for stock discrimination. A hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae) with X‐cell pseudotumours in the gill was recorded from the Chatham Rise. Alfonsino (Beryx splendens) had conspicuous Kudoa sp. cysts in the gills at prevalences of up to 28%. Smelt (Retropinna retropinna) from the Waikato River were infected with a xenoma forming, Glugea‐like microsporidian.     

Analysis of marine DOC using a dry combustion method

As part of a continuing effort to verify and improve measurements of marine dissolved organic carbon (DOC), we combusted dried sea salts + adhered organic matter to assay DOC concentrations in representative samples from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Combustions were performed overnight at 580 °C in sealed tubes, and oxidation of organic materials occurred via a novel mechanism, thermal sulfate reduction: 2H₂SO₄ + CH₂O → 2SO₂ + 3H₂O + CO₂Measured DOC concentrations ranged from 43 to 114 μM C, with highest values observed in inshore surface samples from Woods Hole Harbor, and lowest values observed in twelve deep offshore Atlantic and Pacific waters. Stable carbon isotope values determined for all samples were near − 22%., consistent with a predominantly marine phytoplankton origin for DOC. A seasonal study in Woods Hole Harbor showed no significant temporal trend in nearshore DOC concentrations. Problems associated with sample storage and contamination during drying steps prevented highly precise (± 1 μM) DOC concentration determinations; however, an improved drying and measurement system is outlined (Appendix A) for possible future dry-combustion studies of DOC concentrations.     

Two new species of the marine genus Limnodriloides and a record of Tubificoides fraseri Brinkhurst (Oligochaeta: Tubificidae) from New Zealand

We characterised seasonal and ontogenetic changes in diet and prey energy density of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Lake Rotoiti, New Zealand, to better understand the prey requirements of trout in central North Island lakes. Common smelt (Retropinna retropinna) was the dominant prey item of rainbow trout larger than 200 mm (77.8% of diet by weight), followed by kōura (freshwater crayfish Paranephrops planifrons; 6.3%), common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus; 5.5%), and kōaro (Galaxias brevipinnis; 3.4%). Juvenile rainbow trout (<200 mm) consumed amphipods, aquatic and terrestrial insects, oligochaetes, tanaid shrimps, and smelt. Trout consumed kōaro only in autumn and winter; consumption of other species did not vary seasonally. The maximum size of smelt consumed increased with increasing trout size, but trout continued to consume small smelt even as large adults. Consumption of larger prey items (kōaro and kōura) also increased with increasing trout size. This study indicates the importance of smelt for sustaining rainbow trout populations, as predation on other species was relatively low. These findings provide a basis for bioenergetic modelling of rainbow trout populations in lakes of the central North Island of New Zealand.     

Summer spatial patterns of the fish community in a large,shallow, turbid coastal lake

Several water quality parameters, marginal vegetation, and the fish community in Lake Ellesmere, a large, shallow, turbid lake situated on the east coast of the South Island, New Zealand, were sampled along selected transects in late summer to determine species spatial patterns. Thirteen species offish were caught, with seven of them comprising major populations, although only four of these were adequately sampled by the method used—they included inanga (Galaxias maculatus), common smelt {Retropinna retropinna), shortfinned eel (Anguilla australis), and common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus). Inanga were almost exclusively confined to areas on the western side of the lake which has a convoluted shoreline with a variety of small embayments with scattered vegetation along the margins. Common smelt occupied both marginal and offshore areas, but they too were more abundant along the margins particularly on the western side. Both the common bully and shortfinned eel were widespread and abundant in the lake, although their abundance and biomass were higher within the vicinity of the lake outlet, major inflowing tributaries, and other marginal habitats. All three species of flounders of the genus Rhombosolea were poorly represented in our samples. However, in commercial catches they were reasonably abundant, with the sand flounder (R. plebeia) and yellowbelly (R. leporina) being more common in offshore than inshore catches, whereas the black flounder (R. retiaria) showed no difference in the catches between areas. Our overall findings are consistent with the hypothesis that bottom‐dwelling species (eels, bullies, flounders) are more widely distributed than free‐swimming forms (inanga, common smelt), which were largely confined to areas sheltered from prevailing winds. The highly turbid nature of the lake, primarily because of re‐suspension of fine bottom sediments by frequent winds, is considered an important factor in the distribution of the fish fauna.     

Individual variation in patterns of benzo[a]pyrene metabolism in the marine fish scup (Stenotomus chrysops)

The metabolism at specific sites on carcinogenic hydrocarbons such as benzo[a]pyrene (BP) is responsible for activation to the ultimate mutagens and carcinogens, and patterns of metabolism can thus influence the biological effect of such compounds. Marine fish are known to efficiently metabolize BP at the benzo-ring, forming high percentages of the 9,10-dihydrodiol (DHD) and 7,8-DHD, the latter including the penultimate carcinogen.^1,2 Hydrocarbon-induced cytochrome P-450 in fish is responsible for initiating metabolism on the benzo-ring, but epoxide hydrolase (EH) activity is required for DHD formation.^3,4 Both factors could influence formation of the DHD leading to the ultimate carcinogenic diol-epoxide. In the present study, patterns of BP metabolism were evaluated in a number of individual scup Stenotomus chrysops sampled from local Woods Hole waters, and a correlation is described between variation in the DHD formation and EH activity in these feral fish.     

Modeling the tide and wind-induced circulation in Buzzards Bay

Hydrodynamic model application to Buzzards Bay is performed using a three-dimensional Boundary-fitted Hydrodynamic model in this study. The model is forced with observed tidal harmonic constants along the open boundaries and winds on the surface. The main focus of the present study is to model the detailed wind and tide-induced circulation in Buzzards Bay. The observed surface elevations and currents given in [Butman, B., Signell, R., Shoukimas, P., Beardsley, R.C., 1988. Current Observations in Buzzards Bay, 1982–1986. Open File Report 88-5. United States Geological Survey] and the tide and current harmonics given in [Signell, R.P., 1987. Tide- and Wind-forced Currents in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. Technical Report WH-87-15. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts] are used to validate the model predictions. The calibrated model is then used to study the relative contributions of tidal and wind forcing on the instantaneous and residual circulation in Buzzards Bay. The amplitudes and phases of the principal tidal constituents at 10 tidal stations in Buzzards Bay obtained from a harmonic analysis of a 60-day simulation compare well with the observed data. The predicted amplitude and phase of the M₂ tidal constituent of surface elevations at these stations are, respectively, within 4 cm and 5° of the observed data. The errors in the model-predicted M₂ harmonic principal current speeds are less than 6 cm/s, and the principal current directions and phases are within 14° of the observations. The observed surface elevations and currents given in [Butman, B., Signell, R., Shoukimas, P., Beardsley, R.C., 1988. Current Observations in Buzzards Bay, 1982–1986. Open File Report 88-5. United States Geological Survey] are used to validate the model-predicted low-frequency surface elevations and currents. The model predictions in low-frequency surface elevations at Woods Hole closely follow the trends seen in the observations with a correlation coefficient of 0.735, but fail to capture some of the peak surges seen in the observations. The model-predicted low-frequency currents in the east–west direction at stations in Buzzards Bay compare well with the observations with the correlation coefficient exceeding 0.811 and the model capturing the trends seen in the observations, for the most part. However, the model-predicted north–south velocities does not compare well with the observations. The model-predictions agree with the observations that the tidal currents in Vineyard Sound lagged the currents in Buzzards Bay by more than 3 h. The interaction of wind stress with large bathymetric gradients was shown to cause many vortices in Buzzards Bay, as seen from the model predictions. Model simulations show that the winds play a more dominant role than the tides in the generation of the barotropic residual currents in Buzzards Bay, while the model-predicted tide-induced residual current was seen to be small.     

An Ocean Bottom Hydrophone instrument for seismic refraction experiments in the deep ocean

Tests of a new Ocean Bottom Hydrophone (obh) instrument have recently been completed at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. This instrument is designed to float 3 m above the seafloor at depths of up to 6100 m for periods of up to 10 days and continuously records the output of a single hydrophone on a four-channel 0.064 cm/s (1/40 in./s) analog magnetic tape recorder. This instrument has an acoustic transponder and release system and is designed primarily for multiple deployments as a fixed ocean bottom receiver for seismic refraction work.Contribution No. 4174 of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.     

Dispersion relation of internal waves in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean

Based mainly on TOGA COARE data, that is, the CI''D data from R/V Xiangyanghong No.5 (Pu et al.,1993),the temperature and current data from the Woods Hole mooring and other deep current data, the layered numerical profiles of buoyancy frequency and mean current components are figured out.A numerical method calculating internal wave dispersion relation without background shear current, used by Fliegel and Hunkins (1975),is improved to be fit for the internal wave equation with mean currents and their second derivatives.The dispersion relations and wave functions of the long crested internal wave progressing in any direction can be calculated inveniently by using the improved method.A comparison between the calculated dispersion relation in the paper and the dispersion relation in GM spectral model of ocean internal waves (Garret and Munk, 1972) is performed.It shows that the mean currents are important to the dispersion relation of internal waves in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean and that the currents make the wave progressing co-directional with (against) the currents stretched (shrink).The influence of the mean currents on dispersion relation is much stronger than that of their second derivatives, but that on wave function is less than that of their second derivatives.The influences on wave functions result in the change of vertical wavenumber, that is, making the wave function stretch or shrink.There exists obvious turning depth but no significant critical layer absorption is found.     

Submersible structural study of Tamayo transform fault: East Pacific Rise, 23°N (project RITA)

A submersible structural study of Tamayo transform fault, the second field study of an oceanic transform, was conducted with the diving saucer CYANA as part of the international project RITA. On the basis of the surface ship surveys and deep-tow traverses made prior to the diving program, the four successful dives of CYANA established the geometry of the presently active shear zones and demonstrated that the median ridge of the Tamayo transform is tectonically inactive. The dive results require the presence, in an area marked by diapir-like bodies, of an extensional relay zone linking the two offset shear zones which trend about 110°.P. CHOUKROUNE, Laboratoire de Géologie structurale, Université de Rennes I, avenue du Général-Leclerc, 35042-Rennes Cédex, France; P. J. FOX, State University of New York at Alban, Albany, New York, 12222, USA; M. SEGURET, Laboratoire de Géologie structurale Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, Place Eugéne-Bataillon, 34060, Montpellier Cédex, France; J. FRANCHETEAU, H. D. NEEDHAM, Centre Océanologique de Bretagne, B. P. 337, 29273, Brest Cédex, France; T. JUTEAU, Laboratoire de Minéralogie-Pétrographie, Université Louis-Pasteur, 1 rue Blessig, 67084, Strasbourg, Cédex, France; R. D. BALLARD, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 02543, USA; W. NORMARK, United States Geological Survey, Pacific-Arctic Branch of Marine Geology, Menlo Park, California, 94025, USA; A. CARRANZA, Centro de Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico 20 DF, Mexico; D. CORDOBA, J. GUERRERO, Instituto de Geologia, UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico 20 DF Mexico; C. RANGIN, UNAM,now at Université de Paris VI, France.     

光周期对罗氏沼虾幼体生长及能量收支的影响

于１９９５年２－５月,在Ｌ：Ｄ为４：２０,８：１６,１２：１２和２４：０四种光周期条件下,用卤虫无节幼体作饵料增减罗氏沼虾幼体,测定其生长能量收支。结果表明,随着光照时间的延长幼体生长率增大,两者关系为：ｇ＝６．５２４５＋３．６０４５ｌｎＴ,但周期对幼体Ｃ,Ｎ含量和Ｃ：Ｎ值没有显著的影响;     

A Sponge-Eating Worm from Bermuda: Branchiosyllis oculata (Polychaeta,Syllidae)*,†

Abstract. Branchiosyllis oculata is a small, errant polychaete that lives only on the surface of sponges: among inshore Bermudian sponges, 9 out of 16 species surveyed were infested. All of these sponges were conspicuously colored, but the bodies and gut contents of associated polychaetes matched the sponge color only for Tedania ignis (red), Cinachyra alloclada (yellow) and Sphecio-spongia othella (brownish-black). For the remaining 6 sponge species, the polychaete bodies were uncolored and the polychaete gut contents were inconspicuously brown or grey. Uncolored polychaetes with grey gut contents were removed from a dark green Tethya actinia and placed on a red Tedania ignis: 2 days later, the polychaete gut contents were red, although the tissues were still uncolored. Acetone extractions of Tedania ignis and Cinachyra alloclada were prepared from sponge tissue and from the gut-free tissue of their respective polychaetes: absorption spectra matched for each sponge/polychaete pair. To test the influence of ingested sponge pigments on polychaete body color, red polychaetes from Tedania ignis were induced to autotomize their posterior ends, transplanted to other sponge species and allowed to regenerate new posterior segments for 20 days. At the end of the experiment the original segments were still red, but the regenerated ones were either yellow (for polychaetes transplanted onto Cinachyra alloclada, on which resident worms are yellow) or colorless (for polychaetes transplanted onto Chondrilla nucula or Tethya actinia, on which resident worms are uncolored). The foregoing observations suggest that (1) the polychaetes consume the soft parts of the sponges on which they live and (2) the pigments vary among sponge species: pigments from some sponges are stored in the polychaete body, while pigments from other sponges are not. Additional information on the morphology, distribution and natural history of Branchiosyllis oculata is presented and discussed.     

Growth of red gurnard (Teleostei: Triglidae) from Pegasus bay,Canterbury, New Zealand

Growth of the red gurnard, Chelidonichthys kumu (Lesson and Garnot), from Pegasus Bay, Canterbury, was measured during 1966–67. Otoliths were used as an indicator of fish growth; mean length‐at‐age data were obtained from back‐calculated fish lengths at the time of formation of successive annual rings in the otoliths. Growth in length was found to be adequately expressed by the von Bertalanffy growth equation :

l_t = 52.0 [1 ‐ e‐^{0.406 (t‐o.291)}]

(where l_t is the fork length in cm at age t). The length: weight relationship was:

w = 78.56 × 10^‐4 l ^3.072

(where w is the weight in grams). From this relationship, growth in weight was described by the equation:

w_t = 1469 [1 ‐ e‐0.406 (t‐0.291)]³.     

ADSORPTION ACTION OF BASIC ZINC CARBONATE ADSORBENT ON URANIUM IN NATURAL SEAWATER

1. The adsorption action of basic zinc carbonate adsorbent on uranium in natural seawater can be expressed with the following formula of adsorption isotherm:C=k(U*)n = 8.51× 10-1(U*)0.49,where C is the concentration of uranium on adsorbent; U* is content of uranium in natural seawater employed.2. when the quantity of basic zinc carbonate adsorbent (T) is constant, with the increase of natural seawater quantity through the adsorption column (G), also increased are the adsorption content of uranium of the adsorbent (U), the concentration of uranium on the adsorbent (C) and the concentration of residual uranium (C0*) in natural seawater after adsorbing uranium, while the rate of recovery of uranium (R) is decreased. With the increase of (G) the coefficient of distribution (Kd) decreases to a certain value and then a little rises again.     

两种美洲瓶螺在香港的发现

于１９８５年７月－１９８８年１０月，在香港新界北部，进行螺类生态调查。对采集的标本鉴定表明，有两种瓶螺－光滑瓶螺、大瓶螺，是在香港首次发现。这对香港地区今后采取生物控制措施、防止近年来引入的孟氏血吸虫的中间宿主－藁杆双脐螺的蔓延具有实际意义。     

氮、磷比对两种赤潮藻生长特性的影响及藻间竞争作用

研究了两种赤潮藻即假微型海链藻(Thalassiosira pseudonana Hasleet Heimdalh)和裸甲藻(Gymnodinium sp.)在不同氮磷比培养条件下的生长特性和藻间竞争作用,探讨了氮磷含量及其比值对赤潮爆发的影响机理.结果表明,在N/P=16条件下,假微型海链藻的最大比增长率最高、相对生长常数最大、平均倍增时间最短,叶绿素a含量最高,说明该N/P值是假微型海链藻最佳生长营养盐条件.对裸甲藻而言,N/P=6是其最佳生长的营养盐条件.叶绿素a含量受N/P值的影响和藻细胞密度所受的影响趋势基本一致.不同N/P值对藻间竞争作用和群落演替的总体影响不明显,都呈现先硅藻后甲藻的群落演替规律.裸甲藻可能具有利用体内磷来维持生长的特点.     

Further planktonic algae of Auckland sewage treatment ponds and other waters

Seventeen species of algae, newly recorded between 1965 and 1968 from sewage treatment ponds around Auckland City, are described together with another 11 species found in eutrophic waters of the area. These latter natural waters are often of a transient nature and usually heavily polluted in some way.

The genera recorded, with number of species (in brackets), are: Flagellata: Euglena (5); Lepocinclis (1); Phacus (3); Trachelomonas (1). Chlorophyceae (Volvocales): Chlamydomonas (1); Pteromonas (1); Pyrobotrys (1); Chloro‐gonium (1) (Chlorocoecales): Coelastrum (1); Tetrallantos (1); Closteriopsis (1) Scenedesmus (5). (Conjugates) : Closterium (3). Myxophyceae: Anabaena (1); Arthrospira (1); Oscillatoria (1).     

Influence of food quality on egg production and viability of the marine planktonic copepod Acartia omorii

Egg production, egg viability and fecal pellet production were determined for individual Acartia omorii, which were fed diets of two species of diatoms (Skeletonema costatum and Phaeodactylum tricornutum) and three species of dinoflagellates (Scrippsiella trochoidea, Heterocapsa triquetra and Cochlodinium polykrikoides). Diets were analyzed for fatty acid content as an indicator of food quality. Depending on the diet, egg production of A. omorii varied over time, diminishing with some diets (S. trochoidea, C. polykrikoides, P. tricornutum). This rate of reduction was much more rapid for a diet of C. polykrikoides, which caused egg production to decrease to ca. 2.4 eggs f⁻¹ d⁻¹ in only four days. As for all diets, egg viability was high at the beginning but with the C. polykrikoides and P. tricornutum diets, it rapidly decreased with time. Fecal pellet production also varied with time, depending on the diet. Egg production rate was closely correlated with fecal pellet production. There was no direct relationship between egg viability and egg production rate, but both egg production and viability were affected by the nutritional quality of food. Egg viability was also highly dependent on the composition of fatty acids in the eggs. Egg viability showed positive correlation with the ratio of ω3:ω6 groups among egg fatty acids, and negative correlation with the ratio of 20:5 (n−3) : 22:6 (n−3). While comparing several diets, egg production rate was higher on diets (H. triquetra and S. trochoidea) containing ample amounts of essential fatty acids such as 18:4 (n−3) and 22:6 (n−3). The results suggest that fertility of A. omorii was dependent upon the quality of the food, and dinoflagellate diets, with the exception of C. polykrikoides, were preferable to diatom diets.     

A freshwater Nereid polychaete from New Zealand

Namalycastis tiriteae, a new species of polychaete (Nereidae: Namanereinae) is described from a freshwater stream in New Zealand. Morphologically it possesses some features intermediate between Namalycastis Hartman and Namanereis Chamberlin as denned by Hartman (1959), but it is placed in the former on the basis of parapodial structure. Notes on physical and chemical conditions in the worm's habitat are also given.