Studies on Factors Influencing Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Plates Used in Artificial Reefs

As a simplified model of artificial reefs, a series of plate models punched with square or circular openings are designed to investigate the effects of openings on the hydrodynamic characteristics of artificial reefs. The models are grouped by various opening numbers and opening-area ratios. They are physically tested in a water flume or used in the numerical simulation to obtain the drag force in the uniform flow with different speeds. The simulation results are found in good agreement with the experimental measurements. By the non-dimensional analysis, the drag coefficient specified to each model is achieved and the effects of openings are examined. It is found that the key factor affecting the drag coefficient is the open-area ratio. Generally, the drag coefficient is a linear function of the open area ratio with a minus slope. The empirical formulae for the square and circular openings respectively are deduced by means of the multiple regression analysis based on the measured and numerical data. They will be good references for the design of new artificial reefs. As a result of numerical simulation, the vorticity contours and pressure distribution are also presented in this work to better understand the hydrodynamic characteristics of different models.     

A Comparative Study of Fish Assemblages Near Aquaculture,Artificial and Natural Habitats

Habitat plays a critical role in regulating fish community structure. Using the data collected from a monthly trammel net survey in Ma’an archipelago off the east coast of China, we evaluated impacts of five different habitats(artificial reefs, mussel farms, cage aquaculture, rocky reefs and soft bottom) on fish assemblages. This study suggests that artificial reefs(AR) have significantly higher species richness, abundance and diversity than mussel farms(MF) or soft bottom(SB) habitats during most seasons, and that fish taxa in the AR habitats are similar to those in the rocky reef(RR) habitats. Two different fish assemblage patterns were revealed in the study area using non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination: an assemblage dominated by reef fishes(especially by Scorpaenidae species) in AR, RR and cage aquaculture(CA) habitats and an assemblage dominated by Sciaenidae species in MF and SB habitats. We suggest that reef fishes play a key role in differentiating fish community structures in the study area. Although few differences in fish abundance and diversity were found between the CA and SB habitats, a more diverse age structure was observed in the CA habitats. A much more complex fish assemblage and enhanced population of local species were established as a result of the presence of both floating and fixed artificial structures, probably through improved survival rates.     

Effects of an artificial reef system on demersal nekton assemblages in Xiangshan Bay,China

In 2012, an artificial reef system was deployed in Xiangshan Bay, China, to enhance its fishery resources. To determine the effect of the artificial reef system on the demersal nekton assemblages, a beforeafter- control-impact study design was applied. Comparisons of assemblages from impact and control habitats revealed that the assemblage in the impact area had a gradual response to reef deployment. The assemblages in the impact and control areas changed in different ways after reef deployment. During the study period, total biomass, species richness and average body weight in the control area remained relatively stable, whereas there were significant increases in these indicators in the impact area. Responses to the reefs differed among nekton species, inducing assemblage succession in the reefs post-deployment. Sparus macrocephalus and Cynoglossus abbreviatus benefited most from reef deployment. Conversely, smallsized shrimp Palaemon gravieri showed a progressive decrease in biomass following reef deployment. Overall, the artificial reef system diversified the demersal nekton assemblage, enhanced the total biomass, and increased the proportion of large-sized species.     

日照市海洋牧场示范区人工鱼礁选址适宜性分析

海洋牧场是改变近海生态环境和增养殖水产资源的渔业模式,其聚鱼效应、改善海域生态环境及增殖渔业资源效果明显。该文选用海水深度及质量、海底地形、地层结构、沉积物类型、水动力条件等指标对日照市海洋牧场示范区人工鱼礁选址适宜性进行评价,评价结果显示:日照市4个国家级海洋牧场示范区和8个省级海洋牧场示范区中,不适宜建设人工鱼礁的海洋牧场有5个,适宜的有7个,主要位于日照市北部的两城镇东南侧海域和南部的涛雒镇东侧海域。7个海洋牧场所在海域离岸3～20km,水深6～22m,沉积物以砂为主,海底地势平缓,海底表面承载力为5～6t/m~2,流速介于0.2～0.8m/s,海水水质清洁,饵料生物丰富。     

Regional hard coral distribution within geomorphic and reef flat ecological zones determined by satellite imagery of the Xisha Islands,South China Sea

Coral reefs in the Xisha Islands(also known as the Paracel Islands in English), South China Sea, have experienced dramatic declines in coral cover. However, the current regional scale hard coral distribution of geomorphic and ecological zones, essential for reefs management in the context of global warming and ocean acidification, is not well documented. We analyzed data from field surveys, Landsat-8 and GF-1 images to map the distribution of hard coral within geomorphic zones and reef flat ecological zones. In situ surveys conducted in June 2014 on nine reefs provided a complete picture of reef status with regard to live coral diversity, evenness of coral cover and reef health(live versus dead cover) for the Xisha Islands. Mean coral cover was 12.5% in 2014 and damaged reefs seemed to show signs of recovery. Coral cover in sheltered habitats such as lagoon patch reefs and biotic dense zones of reef flats was higher, but there were large regional differences and low diversity. In contrast, the more exposed reef slopes had high coral diversity, along with high and more equal distributions of coral cover. Mean hard coral cover of other zones was 10%. The total Xisha reef system was estimated to cover 1 060 km~2, and the emergent reefs covered ~787 km~2. Hard corals of emergent reefs were considered to cover 97 km~2. The biotic dense zone of the reef flat was a very common zone on all simple atolls, especially the broader northern reef flats. The total cover of live and dead coral can reach above 70% in this zone, showing an equilibrium between live and dead coral as opposed to coral and algae. This information regarding the spatial distribution of hard coral can support and inform the management of Xisha reef ecosystems.     

Habitat values for artificial oyster (Crassostrea ariakensis) reefs compared with natural shallow-water habitats in Changjiang River estuary

studies have compared oyster reefs with adjacent natural shallow-water habitats.Here the resident benthic macroinvertebrate communities in an artificial oyster(Crassostrea ariakensis) reef and in adjacent natural estuarine shallow-water habitats(salt marsh,intertidal mudflat,and subtidal soft bottom) in the Changjiang(Yangtze) River estuary were described.The mean total densities and biomass,Margalef’s species richness,Pielou’s evenness and Shannon-Weaver biodiversity indices of the resident benthic macroinvertebrate communities differed significantly among the habitats.Significantly higher densities and biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates occurred in the oyster reef compared with the other three habitats.Ordination plots showed a clear separation in benthic macroinvertebrate communities among the four habitat types.The results demonstrated that the artificial oyster reef supported distinct and unique benthic communities,playing an important role in the complex estuarine habitat by supplying prey resources and contributing to biodiversity.In addition,the results suggested that the oyster reef had been restored successfully.     

Effects of an artificial oyster shell reef on macrobenthic communities in Rongcheng Bay,East China

An artificial oyster shell reef was deployed in Rongcheng Bay, East China. However, the effects of this reef on the surrounding macrobenthic communities were unknown. We compared sedimentary factors, macrobenthic biomass, abundance, and community composition and ecological indicators between the reef and non-reef areas over a one year period. The mean values for chlorophyll a （Chl a）, total organic matter （TOM）, total organic carbon （TOC）, and total nitrogen （TN） content in surface sediments in the reef area were slightly higher than those in the non-reef area. The Chl a levels differed significantly between the two areas, but the TOM, TOC, and TN were not significantly different. The abundance of crustaceans was significantly different between the two areas, but the abundance and biomass ofpolychaetes, echinoderms, mollusk did not differ significantly. The permutational multivariate analysis of variance （PERMANOVA） revealed that the macrobenthic community differed significantly through time and analysis of similarity multivariate analyses （ANOSIM） revealed that the macrobenthic community differed significantly in some months. The ecological indicators revealed that the environmental quality of the reef area was slightly better than that of the non-reef area. Overall, our results suggest that the artificial oyster shell reef may change the macrobenthic community and the quality of the environment. Despite the lack of an effect in the short term, long-term monitoring is still needed to evaluate the effects of artificial oyster shell reefs on macrobenthic communities.     

基于多时间序列Landsat-8遥感影像的珊瑚礁白化监测

近年来, 受人类活动和全球变暖的双重影响, 我国南海区域珊瑚礁生态系统退化, 发生白化现象。利用遥感技术监测和掌握珊瑚礁的白化情况, 对南海生态环境的保护和治理具有重大价值。首先通过多期海表温度数据获取珊瑚礁白化预警的区域, 选定西沙群岛永乐环礁中的羚羊礁作为研究对象; 然后, 提出了一种新型的珊瑚礁白化监测模型, 分别采取水深校正、珊瑚礁分类、反射率调整以及阈值选择等方式对2013-2018年的Landsat-8遥感影像开展了多时间序列的珊瑚礁白化监测研究。最终的结果显示, 该模型能够较为准确地获取珊瑚礁白化区域, 为南海珊瑚礁白化现象的长时间序列监测提供依据。      

Sewage pollution in Negril, Jamaica: effects on nutrition and ecology of coral reef macroalgae

Coral reefs in the Negril Marine Park (NMP), Jamaica, have been increasingly impacted by nutrient pollution and macroalgal blooms following decades of intensive development as a major tourist destination. A baseline survey of DIN and SRP concentrations, C:N:P and stable nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) of abundant reef macroalgae on shallow and deep reefs of the NMP in 1998 showed strong P-limitation and evidence of increasing sewage pollution. In 1999, a sewage collection and treatment project began divertin...     

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Local Scour Around Submarine Piggyback Pipeline Under Steady Current

As a new type of submarine pipeline, the piggyback pipeline has been gradually adopted in engineering practice to enhance the performance and safety of submarine pipelines. However, limited simulation work and few experimental studies have been published on the scour around the piggyback pipeline under steady current. This study numerically and experimentally investigates the local scour of the piggyback pipe under steady current. The influence of prominent factors such as pipe diameter, inflow Reynolds number, and gap between the main and small pipes, on the maximum scour depth have been examined and discussed in detail. Furthermore, one formula to predict the maximum scour depth under the piggyback pipeline has been derived based on the theoretical analysis of scour equilibrium. The feasibility of the proposed formula has been effectively calibrated by both experimental data and numerical results. The findings drawn from this study are instructive in the future design and application of the piggyback pipeline.     

The influence of upstream slope on the local scour at drop structure

The drop structure will fail as a result of local scoring downstream. This paper discusses the influence of a drop structures’ upstream slope to local scour. Empirical equations of the scour hole were developed by laboratory experiment, theoretical assumptions, and regression analysis. These equations include the maximum scour depth and length during the scouring period, the maximum equilibrium scour depth and length, and the unit width scour rate. The four channel slopes (0%, 2%, 4%, and 6%) before the drop structure has been included in the analysis. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted to obtain 48 groups of experiments and 419 scour hole profiles during the scouring period. The material used in the scour section is uniform non-cohesive and with a median diameter of d ₅₀ = 0.5 mm. The results have been used to develop empirical equations via regression analysis to determine the coefficients of theoretical equations. The high correlation coefficient indicates that the equations developed in this study are suitable for verifying the characteristics of a scour hole at drop structure in the sloped channel. The semi-empirical equation is more accurate than the empirical equation. Compared to a horizontal channel, a sloped channel tends to cause a greater equilibrium maximum scour length, shorter equilibrium maximum scour depth, and faster unit-wide scour rate.     

The application of stereo-video technology for the assessment on population change of black rockfish Sebastes schlegeli in a vessel reef area in Haizhou Bay,China

The assessment of population structure and abundance of fish assemblages associated with artificial reefs(ARs) is an important aspect of AR management.In the present study,we used a DiveOperated Stereo Video(stereo-DOV) technique to assess the population structure and abundance of Sebastes schlegeli associated with two metallic,and three wooden,vessel reefs in Haizhou Bay during 2012 and2013.The study used video systems to obtain length measurements and estimates of abundance.The size composition of S.schlegeli differed among reefs and individuals around vessel reefs were all adults,with total lengths(TL) of 20 cm.Juvenile fish were encountered by divers in a rocky area near the island away from the vessel reefs.The largest individual S.schlegeli(with the highest TL) among five reefs were found around a metallic vessel reef in both 2012 and 2013.TL of S.schlegeli from all reefs increased by an average of 3.2 cm(P0.05) from 2012 to 2013,with an estimated mean weight increase of 250.4 g(P0.05).The video survey also indicated a decrease in the biomass of schools near two metallic vessels between the years.Stereo-video technology was found to be suitable for rockfish surveys around the reefs.     

Scour development around submarine pipelines due to current based on the maximum entropy theory

This paper presents the results from laboratory experiments and theoretical analysis to investigate the development of scour around submarine pipeline under steady current conditions. Experiments show that the scour process takes place in two stages: the initial rapid scour and the subsequent gradual scour development stage. An empirical formula for calculating the equilibrium scour depth (the maximum scour depth) is developed by using the regression method. This formula together with the maximum entropy theory can be applied to establish a formula to predict the scour process for given water depth, diameter of pipeline and flow velocity. Good agreement between the predicted and measured scour depth is obtained.     

Numerical Simulation for Shallow Strata Stability of Coral Reef in the Southwest of Yongshu Reef (South China Sea)

In recent years, infrastructure construction on coral reefs has been increasingly developed. Therefore, the shallow strata stability of coral reefs in the South China Sea should be evaluated. This study aims to investigate the profiles for the shallow strata of coral reefs in the southwest of the Yongshu Reef, particularly in the hydrodynamic marine environment, and to establish a geological model for numerical simulation using Geo-Studio. The shallow strata of the coral reefs include mass gravel, sand gravel, mid-coarse sand, silty sand, fine sand, and reef limestone. The shallow reef slope near the lagoon is similar to a ‘layer cake', in which the side close to the sea is analogous to a ‘block cake'. The simulation results showed that coral reef stability depends on wave loads and earthquake strength and on the physical properties of coral reefs. The factor of safety for the outer reef is greater than 10.0 under static, wave, and seismic conditions; this indicated that the outer reefs were less affected by waves and earthquakes. However, the factor of safety next to the lagoon varied from 0.1 to 5.3. The variation was primarily caused by the thick strata of coral reefs close to the sea(reef limestone, typically with the thickness 10 m and equivalent to a block). The soil and rock layers in the coral reef strata with thicknesses 10 m showed weak engineering geological characteristics. Our findings can provide useful information to future construction projects on coral reefs.     

Numerical simulation and experimental study of the hydrodynamics of a modeled reef located within a current

The hydrodynamic forces and flow field of artificial reef models in steady flow were numerically investigated using the RNG k-ɛ turbulent model. The numerical simulation results are consistent with results observed by experimental means. A comparative study indicates that the corresponding errors of forces between calculated values and values observed in the experiment vary in the range of 2.3%–11.2% and that the corresponding errors of velocities vary in the range of 1.3%–15.8%. The flow field numerical results show that upstream and vortices exist when the current passes over and through the surface of the reef model. This study suggests that the numerical simulation method can be applied to predict the forces and flow field associated with artificial reefs.     

Performance of ecological restoration in an impaired coral reef in the Wuzhizhou Island,Sanya, China

Coral restoration is becoming popular to help restoring degraded coral reefs.However,few studies have tried to monitor the long-term recovery of coral reefs,which makes it difficult to assess the performance of the restoration.We monitored the growth of three transplanted Acropora corals and naturally-attached Pocillopora damicornis on artificial reefs(ARs) from October 2014 to September 2018 during which there were several attacks of typhoons.Results show that two staghorn Acropora species had the highest growth rate s(11.0-12.1 cm/a),followed by table coral A.divaricate(5.6 cm/a) and P.damicornis(4.8 cm/a).A linear growth pattern was found for the three Acropora species;the pattern gradually slowed in P.damicornis.There was a strong interspecific competition for space among the corals on ARs,and it led to the sharply declined occurrence of slow-growing P.darmicornis colonies in 2017.Coral recovery was successful at the Wuzhizhou Island and quickly increased AR complexity.However,the ARs made of metal frames fail to resist the direct attack from a catastrophic typhoon.Therefore,concrete and environmentalfriendly materials should be used in future restoration.This study is the first report on long-term monitoring and assessment of coral reef restoration in China.The results offer future guide of reef restoration for impaired coral reefs in regions easily affected by typhoons.     

面向对象的南海珊瑚礁地貌单元提取

南海珊瑚礁地貌信息的提取是珊瑚礁资源利用、生态保护与管理及可持续发展的重要地学基础。本文提出了面向对象的珊瑚礁地貌单元提取模型,针对不同的地貌单元,以不同地貌单元的最优分割尺度、光谱参数、形状参数来分割影像并合并成不同对象,从而获得相应的地貌单元。通过大量实验得出自然地貌的最优分割尺度区间为[140,600],其中附礁生物稀疏带及丛生带、礁坑发育带的光谱参数和形状参数分别为0.9和0.1,其他自然地貌单元的光谱参数和形状参数分别为0.8和0.2;人工地貌的最优分割尺度区间为[25,170],其光谱参数和形状参数分别为0.8和0.2。进一步以南沙群岛簸箕礁WorldView-2高分辨率遥感影像为例提取地貌单元,并结合混淆矩阵和Kappa系数对分类结果进行了精度评价,地貌单元提取总体精度达到了85.75%,Kappa系数为0.8349。结果表明,该方法可有效运用南海珊瑚礁遥感影像的光谱特征、纹理特征,以及影像数据不同波段的组合特性,综合了影像和珊瑚礁地貌的关联特性,充分利用了珊瑚礁不同地貌相带的异质性,获得了理想的南海珊瑚礁地貌的整体信息,满足了我国南海珊瑚礁地貌信息提取和地貌数字产品生成的需求。     

Particle image velocimetry and numerical simulations of the hydrodynamic characteristics of an artificial reef

This article reports a particle image velocimetry study and the comparative results of a numerical simulation into the hydrodynamic characteristics around an artificial reef.We reveal the process of flow separation and vortex evolution,and compare the force terms generated by our artificial reef model.The numerical simulation agrees well with experimental results,showing the applicability of computational fluid dynamics to the hydrodynamics of an artificial reef.Furthermore,we numerically simulate the hydrodynamics of the reef model for seven velocities.The results show that the drag coefficient is approximately 1.21 in a self-modeling region for Reynolds numbers between 2.123×104and 9×104.Therefore,the upwelling height and current width of the flow field do not change significantly when the inflow velocity increases.Our study indicates that computational fluid dynamics can be applied to study the hydrodynamics of an artificial reef and offer clues to its construction.     

Effects of spillway types on debris flow trajectory and scour behind a sabo dam

Debris flows are one of the common natural hazards in mountainous areas. They often cause devastating damage to the lives and property of local people. The sabo dam construction along a debris flow valley is considered to be a useful method for hazard mitigation. Previous work has concentrated on the different types of sabo dams such as close-type sabo dam, open-type sabo dam. However, little attention has been paid to the spillway structure of sabo dam. In the paper, a new type of spillway structure with lateral contraction was proposed. Debris flow patterns under four different spillway structures were investigated. The projection theory was employed to predict trajectory of debris flow out from the spillway and to estimate the incident angle and terminal velocity before it plunged into the scour hole behind the sabo dam. The results indicated that the estimated data were in good agreement with the experimental ones. The discrepancy between the estimated and experimental values of main parameters remained below 21.82% (relative error). Additionally, the effects of debris flow scales under different spillway structures were considered to study the scour law. Although the debris flow pattern and scour law behind the sabo dam under different operating conditions was analyzed in this paper, further study on the scour mechanism and the maximum scour depth estimation based on scour theory is still required in the future.     

Characteristics from a hydrodynamic model of a trapezoidal artificial reef

Flume experiments and numerical simulation were conducted to characterize the hydrodynamics of a trapezoid artificial reef. Measurements in particle image velocimetry were conducted to observe the formation of upwelling and vortices; and forces for the reef model were measured by load cell. The results of flume experiments agree well with the numerical data. In addition, the flow structure around a reef combining trapezoidal and cubic blocks was simulated numerically under two deployment schemes, showing a more complicated flow structure than that of a stand-alone reef. Relationship between drag coefficient and Reynolds number suggest that the degree of turbulence can be assessed from the value of drag coefficient downstream from the reef. The role of the reef in water flow is to reduce flow velocity and generate turbulence.