Evidence of estuarine nursery origin of five coastal fish species along the Portuguese coast through otolith elemental fingerprints

Connectivity is a critical property of marine populations, particularly for species with segregated juvenile and adult habitats. Knowledge of this link is fundamental in understanding population structure and dynamics. Young adults of commercially important fish species Solea solea, Solea senegalensis, Platichthys flesus, Diplodus vulgaris and Dicentrarchus labrax were sampled off the Portuguese coast in order to establish preliminary evidence of estuarine nursery origins through otolith elemental fingerprints. Concentrations of Li, Na, Mg, K, Mn, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ba and Pb in the otolith section corresponding to juvenile's nursery life period were determined through laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Element: Ca ratios in coastal fish differed significantly amongst collection areas, except for Platichthys flesus, and were compared with the elemental fingerprints previously defined for age 0 juveniles in the main estuarine nurseries of the Portuguese coast. Identification of nursery estuaries was achieved for four of the species. Assigned nursery origins varied amongst species and differences in the spatial scale of fish dispersal were also found. Diplodus vulgaris was not reliably assigned to any of the defined nurseries. Overall, results give evidence of the applicability of estuarine habitat tags in future assessments of estuarine nursery role. Research developments on the links between juvenile and adult habitats should contribute for the integrated management and conservation of nurseries and coastal stocks.     

Juvenile fish condition in estuarine nurseries along the Portuguese coast

Connectivity between estuarine fish nurseries and coastal adult habitats can be affected by variations in juvenile growth and survival. Condition indices are renowned proxies of juvenile nutritional status and growth rates and are valuable tools to assess habitat quality. Biochemical (RNA:DNA ratio) and morphometric (Fulton's condition factor K) condition indices were determined in juveniles of Solea solea, Solea senegalensis, Platichthys flesus, Diplodus vulgaris and Dicentrarchus labrax collected in putative nursery areas of nine estuaries along the Portuguese coast (Minho, Douro, Ria de Aveiro, Mondego, Tejo, Sado, Mira, Ria Formosa and Guadiana) in the Spring and Summer of two consecutive years (2005 and 2006) with distinct climatic characteristics. Individual condition showed significant variation amongst species. The combined use of both condition indices highlighted the low correlation between them and that RNA:DNA had a higher sensitivity. RNA:DNA varied between years but overall the site relative patterns in condition were maintained from one year to the other. Higher RNA:DNA values were found in Spring than in Summer in most species. Intra-estuarine variation also occurred in several cases. Species specific trends in the variability of condition amongst estuaries were highlighted. Some estuaries had higher juvenile condition for more than one species but results did not reveal an identical trend for all species and sites, hindering the hypotheses of one estuarine nursery promoting superior growth for all present species. Significant correlations were found between condition indices, juvenile densities and environmental variables (water temperature, salinity and depth) in the estuarine nurseries. These influenced juvenile nutritional condition and growth, contributing to the variability in estuarine nursery habitat quality. Management and conservation wise, interest in multi-species approaches is reinforced as assessments based on a single species may not reflect the overall nursery habitat quality.     

Relative importance of estuarine nurseries for species of the genus Diplodus (Sparidae) along the Portuguese coast

The relative importance of estuarine nursery areas for species of the genus Diplodus and their relations with several environmental variables was evaluated along the Portuguese coast. Nine estuarine systems were sampled with beam trawl surveys. Species of the genus Diplodus were only present in estuaries south of the Ria de Aveiro (40°38′). A latitudinal gradient of increasing species richness and abundance towards the south was found. Estuarine nurseries of Diplodus vulgaris, Diplodus sargus and Diplodus puntazzo were characterized by mud substrate, lower salinity and lower dissolved oxygen, with the exception of Ria Formosa. Diplodus bellottii was associated with estuaries with large areas and high volumes, the Tejo and the Sado. Diplodus bellottii nursery grounds were characterized by low depth. Diplodus annularis was associated with seagrass and saltmarsh habitats, certainly because it is the only species of the genus Diplodus which recruits exclusively to seagrass meadows. Diplodus annularis nursery grounds were also characterized by sand substrate, higher salinity and higher dissolved oxygen. Niche breath varied widely amongst species and location. Diplodus vulgaris generally presented the highest values of niche breath, except when D. bellottii was present. Niche overlap was not high, the highest value being that between D. vulgaris and D. sargus in the Mira estuary, with 76% spatial niche overlap. Considerations were made on these species progress towards the north in a climate warming context, taking into account the habitat associations described here.     

Inter- and intra-estuarine fish assemblage variability patterns along the Portuguese coast

Estuaries along the Portuguese coast differ considerably in terms of their structure, geomorphologic and hydrologic characteristics. They play an important ecological role for different fish species, namely acting as important nursery areas. The fish assemblages of nine estuaries of the Portuguese coast were investigated in order to evaluate their main inter- and intra-estuarine variability patterns. Fish sampling surveys were conducted in May and July 2006, covering the full estuarine gradient. The different saline areas in each estuary were mapped using a Geographic Information System and fish assemblages’ were described and compared using a functional guilds approach. Generalized linear models were used to relate fish species richness to geomorphologic, hydrologic and environmental characteristics of the estuaries considered and correspondence analyses were performed to evaluate similarities in fish assemblages’ structure. At a large scale, river flow was the most important factor explaining the variability in species richness in estuaries along the Portuguese coast. At a regional scale, different abiotic factors explained the occurrence and abundance of fish species in the estuaries. Nonetheless, the overall role of the estuary was strongly related with the dominant saline zone within each estuary.     

Nursery function of mangrove: A comparison with mudflat in terms of fish species composition and fish diet

Shallow soft-bottom habitats including mangroves and mudflats provide important nursery functions for juvenile fishes, but little information exists concerning the relative nursery value of these habitats for juvenile fishes. We compared the potential of a mangrove and a mudflat in a semi-enclosed bay in Hong Kong to serve as fish nurseries by measuring species composition, dietary composition, gut fullness and diet breadth of juvenile fishes. Fish abundance was higher in mangrove than mudflat, but species richness was almost similar between the two habitats. After excluding Ambassis gymnocephalus, which was found mainly in the mangrove, difference in fish abundance between the two habitats was small. The gut fullness and diet breath of most species did not differ between mangrove and mudflat, suggesting that the two habitats were very similar in terms of providing feeding opportunity for juvenile fishes. While the importance of mangrove as nursery of fishes has been repeatedly emphasized, our data suggest that other soft-bottom habitats, such as mudflats, are also important and need to be protected.     

Impact of climate and hydrology on juvenile fish recruitment towards estuarine nursery grounds in the context of climate change

Larvae of various coastal fish undergo immigration from spawning grounds towards estuarine nurseries. Several environmental factors can have an important impact on survival at this stage making it crucial for recruitment. Generalized linear models were applied in order to investigate the relation between river drainage, sea surface temperature (SST), NAO index and the North-South wind component intensity, over the two months prior to the estuarine colonization peak, and the densities of Platichthys flesus, Dicentrarchus labrax, Diplodus vulgaris and Diplodus bellottii in the nursery grounds based on a discontinuous historical dataset (from 1978 to 2006), for the Tagus estuary. The relation between SST over the 12 months prior to the estuarine colonization peak and fish densities in the nurseries was also investigated, as it integrates the periods of spawning stock maturation, spawning and larval immigration. While SST over the prior 12 months was negatively correlated with the abundance of P. flesus, it was positively correlated with the abundance of D. bellottii. Abundance of D. vulgaris was positively correlated with SST in the two months prior to the estuarine colonization peak, while the abundance of D. labrax was positively correlated with river drainage. The relations between SST and the abundance of P. flesus, a cold-water species with declining densities, and the subtropical species D. bellottii and D. vulgaris, which are increasing in abundance, are indicative of species abundance alterations related to climate warming. Dicentrarchus labrax will probably also be affected by climate change because of lowered precipitation and consequently river drainage.     

Movement patterns of surf-zone fish species in a subtropical marine protected area on the east coast of South Africa

A long-term mark-recapture study was used to assess the movement patterns of surf-zone fishes in the St Lucia Marine Reserve, a marine protected area within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site on the east coast of South Africa. Between 2001 and 2013, 6 613 fish from 71 species, caught by hook and line, were tagged at four sites within and adjacent to a no-take marine sanctuary area. A total of 1 004 (15.2%) recaptures were made from 17 species. The majority (82.4%) of these species displayed station-keeping behaviour, whereas only three were classified as wider-ranging species, and no species with discernible migratory behaviour was observed. Findings for five species with the highest recapture rates, namely Pomadasys furcatus, Epinephelus andersoni, E. marginatus, Dinoperca petersi and Lutjanus rivulatus, are presented in greater detail. Recapture rates ranged from 7% to 50% and time at liberty from 0 to 3 163 days. Individuals of all five species displayed station-keeping behaviour, with the 95th percentile of intra-study-site movements varying between 200 and 1 025 m (linear distance). However, four of the five species also displayed some ranging behaviour and made exploratory excursions ranging from 3.5 to 125 km, in both northerly and southerly directions. The dominance of station-keeping behaviour suggests that the St Lucia Marine Reserve sanctuary zone provides an important refuge for these species, with some export to adjacent areas.     

Distinctive stable isotope ratios in important zooplankton species in relation to estuarine salinity gradients: Potential tracer of fish migration

To assess the potential of stable isotope ratios as an indicator of fish migration within estuaries, stable isotope ratios in important zooplankton species were analyzed in relation to estuarine salinity gradients. Gut contents from migratory juveniles of the euryhaline marine fish Lateolabrax japonicus were examined along the Chikugo River estuary of the Ariake Sea, which has the most developed estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) in Japan. Early juveniles in March and April preyed primarily on two copepod species; Sinocalanus sinensis at lower salinities and Acartia omorii at higher salinities. Late juveniles (standard length > 40 mm) at lower salinities preyed exclusively on the mysid Acanthomysis longirostris until July and complementarily on the decapod Acetes japonicus in August. These prey species were collected along the estuary during the spring–summer seasons of 2003 and 2004, and their carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) were evaluated. The δ¹³C values of prey species were distinct from each other and were primarily depleted within and in close proximity to the ETM (salinity < 10); S. sinensis (−26.6‰) < Acanthomysis longirostris (−23.3‰) < Acartia omorii (−21.1‰) < Acetes japonicus (−18.5‰). The overall gradient of δ¹³C with salinity occurred for all prey species and showed minor temporal fluctuations, while it was not directly influenced by the δ¹³C values in particulate organic matter along the estuary. In contrast to δ¹³C, the δ¹⁵N values of prey species did not exhibit any clear relationship with salinity. The present study demonstrated that δ¹³C has the potential for application as a tracer of fish migration into lower salinity areas including the ETM.     

Impact of salinity on early life history traits of three estuarine fish species in Senegal

The adaptive mechanisms on the early life stages of fishes to hypersaline stress are still poorly understood and probably determine the resistance of a population to disruption, compared with other less plastic species. The Casamance River in Senegal is an ideal location to test the adaptation to salinity as a dam was built in 1998 to exclude saline water intrusion. This lowered the salinity from 70 to 5 upstream and 60 downstream. The salinity influence on the growth in the early life of three West African fish species (Ethmalosa fimbriata, Sarotherodon melanotheron, and Tilapia guineensis) was studied using the width of microstructures in the otoliths and the individual migratory behaviour analysed from strontium (Sr) to calcium (Ca) ratios in the otoliths. The Sr:Ca ratio was quantified along individual transects measured from the posterior edge of the otolith to the core. The fishes were sampled on both sides of the dam that separated water with low salinity upstream from metahaline and hyperhaline water downstream.The results showed that salinity has different influence on the growth of each species. Ethmalosa fimbriata has the highest growth during the first 180 days in the freshwaters, indicating growth inhibition in the hyperhaline areas. For the two other species no growth difference were found. The Sr/Ca ratio varied widely, in Tilapia and Sarotherodon from below the dam. Individual life histories were more heterogeneous than upstream and showed a crossing of the dam for some individuals which could reach half of the fishes analysed. On the contrary in E. fimbriata, despite the large range of salinity, identical Sr/Ca profiles were found both upstream and downstream. This indicated that Sr/Ca ratio was not appropriate to evaluate life history patterns linked to salinity for this specie.     

米草属植物在中国海岸带的分布现状

结合遥感调查、现场定位,辅以文献检索、函调、电子邮件、电话等调查方式分析了4种米草属植物自引种以来在我国海岸带分布的历史及现状,结果表明,因人类围垦活动、大米草(Spartina anglica)的自身退化以及与互花米草存在生态位竞争关系,大米草在全国海岸带的分布面积不足16hm2,呈退化趋势。大绳草(Spartina cynosuriodes)尚未在实验地种植,狐米草(Spartina patens)仅在苏北、天津市的部分区域有少量种植。这两种米草没有对本土生态系统造成入侵威胁。互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)自1979年引种以来在全国海岸带被广泛种植,后经自然扩散,目前面积已达34451 hm2。结合我国的海岸带特征与互花米草的生态位,可以把其生长区域明显分为三部分:一是福建省福鼎市以南的海岸带滩涂,可能与红树林潜在的生态位竞争有关系;二是河口区域,如在长江口的崇明东滩,互花米草与本土植物表现出明显的竞争关系;三是在其他滩涂区域,该物种可能对本土生态系统造成一定程度的影响,在某些区域可能已经表现出一定的入侵性,但是其带来的促淤造陆、保滩护岸等巨大的生态效益也不应忽视。由于我国海岸带地质地貌类型复杂,互花米草在不同区域表现出不同的定植和扩散能力,与本土植被的竞争关系也明显不同。因此,在评价互花米草所造成的生态后果时,应从不同的角度出发进行全面、系统、客观、公正地评价。     

Geographical ecology of the symbiotic crabs Libinia ferreirae and Libinia spinosa: Distributional patterns in south and south-eastern coast of Brazil

The Brazilian coast is home to two species of Majoid crabs: Libinia ferreirae and Libinia spinosa, with similar habits, as they live in symbiosis with the jellyfish Lychnorhiza lucerna during their juvenile stage and dwell on the bottom of the ocean near the coast when adults. This study investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of L. ferreirae and L. spinosa during different ontogenic phases on the south and south-eastern coast of Brazil, between latitudes 22º and 27ºS. Our results showed that both species have different distributions during their development in the three studied regions. Libinia ferreirae were more abundant associated with jellyfish, and L. spinosa were more abundant in the free-living phase. Environmental factors, especially temperature and salinity, for associated and free-living crabs, respectively, are the main factors that need to be supported for the establishment of these specimens. We were able to identify that the presence or absence of hosts (given the ecological interactions between the species) is determinant in finding the associated crabs. Geographical variations (morphology of the regions, marine currents and the strength of the tide) are linked directly to the movement of the jellyfish hosts to the coast, influencing the abundance of L. fereirae and L. spinosa populations and affecting their distribution patterns. We can infer that both species are connected with other populations because of the association with the jellyfish, crabs could be passively transported along the south and south-eastern coast of Brazil, maintaining the connection between metapopulations.     

台湾海峡西岸两个典型复合型海滩砂泥转换带对比研究

根据福建沿海砂泥复合型海滩的分布特征,选取闽江口左坑和九龙江口南太武两个典型砂泥复合型海滩作为研究对象,开展SMT土力学和空间分布特征初步研究。基于两个海滩SMT位置及两侧共6个柱状沉积物样品的土力学性质分析,完善了砂泥转换带(sand-mud transition,简称SMT)野外判定方法;结合SMT空间分布特征及洪、枯两季差异分析,初步探讨了影响SMT分布的主要因素及控制过程。研究结果认为,对于表层砂泥分界明显的海滩,可根据SMT的定义结合沉积物粒度变化快速判定;而对于无法直接判定SMT位置的复合型海滩,可将海滩表层沉积物抗剪强度作为快速准确判定SMT位置的辅助指标,本次研究取15 k Pa作为SMT判定阈值。闽江口左坑和九龙江口南太武海滩SMT高程及其空间分布特征有明显差异,这种差异在洪、枯水季又发生一定改变,主要与泥沙物源和水动力条件变化有关,SMT具体变化情况由砂质和泥质的输运或水动力强度决定。     

Ichthyoplankton in a southern african surf zone: Nursery area for the postlarvae of estuarine associated fish species?

The surf zone ichthyoplankton of Swartvlei Bay was studied between February 1986 and June 1987, with particular emphasis on its potential role as a nursery area for estuarine associated marine fish species. Larvae and/or postlarvae of 16 families were identified from the surf zone, with the Gobiidae, Soleidae, Sparidae and Mugilidae comprising 85·7% of all teleosts sampled. The postlarvae of several taxa (including the six most common species), which utilize the Swartvlei estuary as a juvenile nursery area, were abundant in the surf zone. Conversely, species which are common in nearshore marine waters as juveniles and adults, but seldom enter estuaries, totalled less than 8% of the surf zone ichthyoplankton assemblage.Larval and postlarval densities peaked during summer when water temperatures exceeded 19°C and the estuary mouth was open. Concentrations of ichthyoplankton were highest at those sampling stations closest to the estuary mouth during the summer period. Diel changes in total catches revealed no significant difference between day and night densities; but of the four major taxa, the Mugilidae and Sparidae tended to be more abundant during the day, the Gobiidae at night and the Soleidae showed no distinct pattern. Results from a 24 h sampling session indicated that tidal phase may also be important in governing ichthyoplankton abundance in the surf zone.     

Diel and seasonal variability in the fish community structure of a mud‐bottom estuarine habitat in the Gulf of Mexico

We hypothesized that temporal variation in fish species composition and community structure in a low complexity habitat in the Pueblo Viejo Lagoon, Mexico, is influenced by diel light/dark cycles and tidal stage, and by seasonal changes in salinity and temperature. We collected a total of 17,661 individuals during 2‐h interval sampling over six bi‐monthly 24‐h sampling cycles representing 53 species, of which 11 (～20%) were previously unknown in the system. Diel variation indicated that significantly higher numbers of individuals and species were caught at night, whereas diversity and evenness were higher during the day. Species richness was significantly higher in July and January, whereas diversity and evenness peaked around May; both were correlated with temperature. Diel variation in species composition was influenced primarily by the light/dark cycle. Cluster analyses of each diel cycle separated fish assemblages from midday samples from those of nocturnal samples, separated by an extended wide transition period as fish moved at dawn and during the late afternoon/dusk. Significant shifts (as determined by MANOVA) in assemblage structure occurred between months. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that temperature and day/night effects were the most important environmental variables structuring the fish community. This constrained ordination also defined species with specific habitat preferences as follows: (i) diurnal, warm temperature species (mainly planktivores) (Brevoortia gunteri, Cetengraulis edentulus, Diapterus auratus, and Membras martinica); (ii) nocturnal, warm temperature species (mainly predators) (Citharichthys spilopterus, Cathorops melanopus, and Bairdiella spp.); and (iii) low temperature, diurnal species (Brevoortia patronus and Mugil curema) or those with twilight and nocturnal distributions (Anchoa mitchilli, the most numerically abundant species). Our results indicate that diel and seasonal changes in fish community structure were mainly related to day/night cycles and temperature regimes.     

黄河口及邻近水域小型鳀鲱鱼类数量分布及其与环境因子的关系

小型鳀鲱鱼类多为浮游生物食性种类;又是多种高营养层次鱼类的饵料生物;作为生态系统中的重要类群;其数量分布对多种生物均具有重要影响。本文根据2013年6月、8月、10月和2014年2月、4月、5月在黄河口及邻近水域进行的渔业资源和环境调查数据;分析了该海域小型鳀鲱鱼类资源数量分布特征;并用广义可加模型研究了其数量分布与时空和环境因子等之间的关系。黄河口及邻近水域小型鳀鲱鱼类相对资源量呈现明显的季节变化;夏、秋季相对资源量明显高于冬、春季。小型鳀鲱鱼类相对资源量具有明显的空间变化;且在不同月份呈现不同的空间分布格局;在4月、5月、6月小型鳀鲱鱼类主要分布于近岸水域;在8月、10月小型鳀鲱鱼类分布外移且范围扩大。GAM分析表明;影响黄河口及邻近水域小型鳀鲱鱼类相对资源量时空分布的主要环境因子包括表层盐度、表层水温、水深和浮游植物丰度等。小型鳀鲱鱼类相对资源量随表层盐度的升高呈现升高的趋势;在盐度达到30时;小型鳀鲱鱼类相对资源量处于最高水平。随表层水温的升高相对资源量有升高趋势;当表层水温达到15℃后;小型鳀鲱鱼类相对资源量增加趋势减缓且丰度较大。小型鳀鲱鱼类相对资源量随浮游植物丰度的增大总体呈现上升趋势;而随水深的变化呈现先降低后升高的趋势。黄河口及邻近水域小型鳀鲱鱼类相对资源量的时空变化与鳀鲱鱼类产卵、索饵和越冬洄游有关;受到季节变化、黄河径流变化以及黄河调水调沙等引起的海洋环境因子变动的影响。     

Spatial patterns and environmental risks of ringnet fishing along the Kenyan coast

Ringnet fishing began in the early 20th century and is practised worldwide, mainly to target nearshore pelagic species. The method was introduced to Kenya’s coastal waters by migrant fishers from Tanzania. However, the impacts of this fishing gear remain poorly assessed. We assessed the spatial distribution of ringnet fishing effort and its possible effects on ecosystem components, such as coral reefs, marine megafauna and marine protected areas, on the south coast of Kenya. We tracked 89 ringnet fishing trips made from December 2015 to January 2016 and used spatial multicriteria analysis to determine hotspots of possible environmental risks. The results showed that habitat type and bathymetric profile influenced the spatial distribution of ringnet fishing effort. Mixed seagrass and coral habitats had the highest concentration of the effort. Most of the habitats in the study area were moderately exposed to the impacts of the ringnet fishery. The study identifies high-risk areas that require spatial measures to minimise possible environmental risks of the gear both to habitats and to endangered sea turtles.     

北部湾大风江与南流江河口红树林空间分布格局研究

生长在潮间带的红树植物在河口植物群落构成、海岸防风消浪中具有重要价值。本文基于本地种桐花树胚胎浸泡下沉实验与北部湾南流江和大风江河口段水体盐度、沿线潮间带植物群落结构与地貌分析,探讨红树林在河口空间分布及影响因素。结果主要表明：南流江河口和大风江河口红树林自海向陆基本展现“红树林纯林(桐花树、秋茄、无瓣海桑种类混生)→红树植物与半红树植物(黄槿、苦朗等)混生→红树植物、半红树植物与非红树植物混生→红树植物镶嵌→稀疏红树林小苗”的分布格局,但大风江河口向陆界限主要以红树、红树幼苗及半红树混生为主。此外,红树被浸淹时长是控制河口红树空间分布结构的主要因素。潮水上溯时长影响红树向陆生长的极限位置,宜林滩地是红树发育生长的必要条件。     

长江口浮游动物生态分布特征及其与环境的关系

采用2002年8月监测资料,对长江口海域的浮游动物生态分布特征(种类组成、群落结构及多样性等)分四个区域进行了分析,并探讨了浮游动物个体数、生物量分布与环境因子的关系。结果表明,调查海域共鉴定出浮游动物74种,桡足类28种,水母类7种,毛颚类6种,另外还鉴定出多种浮游虾类和浮游幼体。长江口外海区浮游动物种类最多,为55种,长江口混合区其次,为42种,长江口南支和南汇嘴附近海域种类较少,分别为11种和13种。长江口南支和南汇嘴附近海域优势种类为火腿许水蚤(Schmackeria poplesia)和虫肢歪水蚤(Tortanus vermiculus),长江口混合区为背针胸刺水蚤(Centropages dorsispinatus)、真刺唇角水蚤(Labidocera euchaeta),而中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)和肥胖箭虫(Sagitta enflata)为长江口外海区的优势种类。浮游动物个体数大小为:长江口南支<长江口混合区<长江口外海区<南汇嘴;而生物量高低依次为:长江口外海区>长江口混合区>南汇嘴>长江口南支。长江口外浮游动物种类丰富,多样性指数较高,均匀度较好。经相关分析结果表明,浮游动物个体数与生物量存在明显的正相关,个体数与Hg呈正相关,与化学需氧量呈负相关;生物量与盐度、酸碱度、叶绿素a呈正相关,与溶解氧、化学需氧量、活性磷酸盐、无机氮表现为负相关。