Icebergs south‐East of New Zealand in 1967 (note)

Sightings of 85 icebergs south‐east of New Zealand in February and March 1967 are reported, with associated sea surface temperatures.     

A glaring omission in Australia’s marine conservation planning

The primary goal of Australia’s National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA) is to establish a comprehensive, adequate and representative system of MPAs. This study identifies a glaring contradiction to this policy. The provinces of Christmas and Cocos Islands are among the most unique and threatened marine bioregions in Australia, yet receive no protection from the NRSMPA. The lack of protection appears to be due to difficulties with multiple governance arrangements and other political priorities. These issues have already caused biodiversity loss in the terrestrial environment of these bioregions. The Australian Government must include the Christmas and Cocos provinces in the NRSMPA otherwise it risks irreversible loss of marine biodiversity in these unique bioregions.     

Synthetic shorelines in New Zealand? Quantification and characterisation of microplastic pollution on Canterbury's coastlines

Microplastics are persistent environmental contaminants found in marine environments worldwide. Microplastic particles isolated from coastlines in the Canterbury region of New Zealand were quantified and characterised. Sediment samples were collected from 10 locations representing exposed-beach, estuarine and harbour environments in both urban and non-urban settings. Particles were isolated from sediments using an NaCl density-separation procedure and quantified and characterised with a combination of optical/fluorescence imaging and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Microplastics were detected at eight out of 10 locations, at concentrations ranging from 0–45.4 particles kg^?1 of dry sediment. The majority of microplastics were identified as polystyrene (55%), polyethylene (21%) and polypropylene (11%). Microplastic concentrations in exposed-beach environments were significantly greater than in harbour and estuarine environments.     

Evidence for seiches and short‐period internal waves in lake Tekapo,South Island,New Zealand

Vertical temperature profiles obtained in April 1971 along the length of Lake Tekapo suggest the presence of an internal seiche. A simple model gives a theoretical period of 48 h. Successive vertical temperature profiles made at 5‐min intervals over 70 min showed in‐phase fluctuations in the isotherms both above and below the thermocline. The fluctuations had an average period of 12.7 min and could have been generated by a surface sieche operating between the southern end of the lake and Motuariki Island, situated about 7.6 km from the southern end.     

El Niño and decadal effects on sea‐level variability in northern New Zealand: A wavelet analysis

Sea‐level data from two sites in northern New Zealand, along with the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), are analysed for interannual and decadal variability using wavelets. The analysis shows, using statistically significant wavelet power, there is a significant relationship between mean sea level (MSL) and SOI. However, the relationship is highly variable, both in magnitude and in the range of time‐scales over which it occurs. This non‐stationarity necessitates the use of techniques such as wavelets for analysis. An interdecadal response in MSL around northern New Zealand has been isolated, with shifts occurring in 1950 and the late 1970s. This behaviour in MSL appears to coincide with shifts in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, thought previously to be largely centred in the North Pacific. A strong correlation between SOI and sea surface temperature (SST) is also demonstrated. This relationship appears to be stable in magnitude (a large change in SOI produces a large change in SST) and to occur over the same range of time‐scales. More SST and MSL data are required for other parts of New Zealand to determine whether these findings apply elsewhere.     

Velocity measurements in the East Auckland Current north‐east of North Cape,New Zealand

Flow in the East Auckland Current (EAUC) system to the north‐east of North Cape, New Zealand is examined using data from two current meter mooring arrays, with supporting data from conductivity/temperature/depth (CTD) and satellite altimetry. Variable currents up to 45 cm s_–1 were observed. The variability was partly attributable to changes in position and strength of the North Cape Eddy whose centre lies some 150 km offshore. The observed flows across the mooring line correlate well with those estimated from satellite altimetry. This gives confidence in the use of the satellite data to estimate the transport variability in the EAUC in the 1992–2001 period. No seasonal cycle was found in the volume transports but rather broadband variability at periods longer than 100 days.     

Exploitable wave energy assessment based on ERA-Interim reanalysis data—A case study in the East China Sea and the South China Sea

Wave energy resources assessment is a very important process before the exploitation and utilization of the wave energy. At present, the existing wave energy assessment is focused on theoretical wave energy conditions for interesting areas. While the evaluation for exploitable wave energy conditions is scarcely ever performed.Generally speaking, the wave energy are non-exploitable under a high sea state and a lower sea state which must be ignored when assessing wave energy. Aiming at this situation, a case study of the East China Sea and the South China Sea is performed. First, a division basis between the theoretical wave energy and the exploitable wave energy is studied. Next, based on recent 20 a ERA-Interim wave field data, some indexes including the spatial and temporal distribution of wave power density, a wave energy exploitable ratio, a wave energy level, a wave energy stability, a total wave energy density, the seasonal variation of the total wave energy and a high sea condition frequency are calculated. And then the theoretical wave energy and the exploitable wave energy are compared each other; the distributions of the exploitable wave energy are assessed and a regional division for exploitable wave energy resources is carried out; the influence of the high sea state is evaluated. The results show that considering collapsing force of the high sea state and the utilization efficiency for wave energy, it is determined that the energy by wave with a significant wave height being not less 1 m or not greater than 4 m is the exploitable wave energy. Compared with the theoretical wave energy, the average wave power density, energy level, total wave energy density and total wave energy of the exploitable wave energy decrease obviously and the stability enhances somewhat. Pronounced differences between the theoretical wave energy and the exploitable wave energy are present. In the East China Sea and the South China Sea, the areas of an abundant and stable exploitable wave energy are primarily located in the north-central part of the South China Sea, the Luzon Strait,east of Taiwan, China and north of Ryukyu Islands; annual average exploitable wave power density values in these areas are approximately 10–15 k W/m; the exploitable coefficient of variation(COV) and seasonal variation(SV)values in these areas are less than 1.2 and 1, respectively. Some coastal areas of the Beibu Gulf, the Changjiang Estuary, the Hangzhou Bay and the Zhujiang Estuary are the poor areas of the wave energy. The areas of the high wave energy exploitable ratio is primarily in nearshore waters. The influence of the high sea state for the wave energy in nearshore waters is less than that in offshore waters. In the areas of the abundant wave energy, the influence of the high sea state for the wave energy is prominent and the utilization of wave energy is relatively difficult. The developed evaluation method may give some references for an exploitable wave energy assessment and is valuable for practical applications.     

Ecological characteristics of Ostracoda in the South Huanghai Sea and East China Sea

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A study on zooplankton distribution patterns and indicator species in Kuroshio upstream area and adjacent East China Sea

On the basis of the data of zooplankton biomass and three major taxa—— Copepoda, Chaetognatha andSiphonophora of May-June 1986, July-August and December 1987, the distributional patterns and the indicator species of zooplankton in the Kuroshio and adjacent waters of the East China Sea are preliminarily studied. The results are as follows:The horizontal distribution of zooplankton biomass and the abundance of copepods, chaetognaths and siphonophores arecurred in the continent area northwest of Taiwan and the south-centre section of the East China Sea continent, which are the mix front of different waters. Zooplankton in the water area inside of Ryukyu Islands presented low abundance and high diversity. There are clear seasonal variations in zooplankton biomass and abundance in the study area. The strength or weakness of different water masses and fronts is the basic reason for the variations of zooplankton biomass and abundance.The species composition of zooplankton in the study area is complex and var     

A note on the fauna of a ripple‐marked sandy sediment in western cook strait,New Zealand

Photographs of a ripple‐marked sea bed are reproduced together with the results of a mechanical analysis of the sediment and a list of the animals found. The sparseness of the fauna is attributed to the mobility of the substrate.     

An evaluation of self-governance in the New Zealand Bluff oyster fishery – The indicator system approach

The use of self-governance as a fisheries management tool is increasing in New Zealand and elsewhere. Researchers argue that in theory self-governance can lead to improved outcomes, but evaluating actual benefits is difficult because of the need to distinguish self-governance impacts from other influences on fisheries performance. An indicator system was developed in this paper to evaluate the contribution of selfgovernance to the performance of the Bluff Oyster fishery (OYU5), which is also managed under New Zealand's Quota Management System. There is evidence that self-governance makes a positive contribution to economic efficiency, institutional effectiveness and resource preservation in the Bluff Oyster fishery.     

A study on suspended matters in the South Huanghai Sea in summer time

A joint investigation of marine geoloy in the South Huanshai Sea was carried out by the Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA during 1983～1984. This paper reports the investigation results of the suspended matters in the water column at 55 stations in July, 1984 (summer time). The highest concentration region where the value is less than 0.5 mg/L, is found in the central part of the study area and the southern part of Shandong Peninsula. The Taiwan Warm Current which might obstruct the discharge of the Changjiang River to the east of the sea, appears in the distribution of the suspended matters outside the Changjiang River Estuary. Although lots of materials are brought into the sea during the high flow period of the Huanghe and the Chansjiang Rivers in July, this does not form the main scarce of the suspended matters. The main source is the resuspension of depesits. The materials brought by rivers come the second, and biogeneons components in the sea co     

Feeding ecology of whelks on an intertidal sand flat in north‐eastern New Zealand

The dispersion patterns and feeding behaviour of intertidal whelks were investigated in north‐eastern New Zealand. Aggregations of whelks feeding on clams occurred regularly, with an average of 15–20 individuals per aggregation. Death of clams was attributable to predation in up to 50% of the aggregations, although scavenging of dead and moribund animals was the main activity of whelks. Laboratory and field studies showed that Lepsiella scobina (generally not considered a soft shore species) was the main whelk predator at Lews Bay, Whangateau Harbour, drilling a small neat hole through the clam shell. The distinction between Cominella spp. as predators or scavengers is not so clear. Reseeding of intertidal clams, Austrovenus stutchburyi, has been proposed as a technique for reestablishing populations in some degraded New Zealand estuaries. The impact of whelk predation has many implications for A. stutchburyi reseeding. Both L. scobina and Cominella adspersa may potentially prey on newly reseeded clams as they preferentially attacked small clams in the laboratory. On‐growing to a larger size before reseeding may be advantageous although large size was not found to protect prey from predation. Additionally, no seasonal trend in whelk activity was found.     

A preliminary analysis on lithospheric thickness and crustal ages in central basin of South China Sea

The models about lithospheric thickness and thermal conduction inside the lithosphere and the top layer ofthe asthenosphere have been proposed in this study for four type regions: the midoceanic ridge, the extinct spreading ridge, the lithospheric fault fissure and the mouth of the extinct submarine volcanoes which are in deep sea bottom. The solutions of the models are found to be the same. The formulas of temperature distribution inside the lithosphere and the top layer of the asthenosphere, the lithospheric thicknesses to the heat flow and the crustal ages to the heat flow are obtained. The crustal ages and the lithospheric thicknesses of the central basin are calculated. And they are used to draw the lithospheric thicknesses and crustal ages maps of the central basin (in this paper both the central basin and the basin are the central basin of the South China Sea). According to their characteristics, the central basin is divided into three regions. The lithospheric thicknesses, crustal ages and heat flow distribution characteristics are discussed respectively. The formation and evolution of the South China Sea are analysed and it is thought that the South China Sea has undergone three episode-seafloor spreadings.     

Impact of Brunswick River Mouth Training Walls on Adjacent Beaches, Brunswick Heads, New South Wales, Australia

1 .IntroductionTheBrunswickbeach barrierbegantodeveloparound 6 50 0yearsagoattheendofthepostglacialmarinetransgression .Onshoreandalongshoretransportofmarinesandsoccurredfollowingthestabi lizationofsealevelresultinginbeachandduneextensionwhichoccurredonmanyNSWbeachesuntilabout30 0 0to 1 0 0 0yearsBP (Roy ,1 980 ) ,followedbyperiodsofstabilitytorecession .TherecessionalongthenorthernNSWandsouthernQLDcoastisattributedtocontinuingnorthwardlongshoresandtransportestimatedatbetween 2 0 0 0 0 0m…     

New records of distribution and co‐occurrence of freshwater calanoid copepods in New Zealand (note)

Calamoecia lucasi was found with Boeckella propinqua in the Kaihoka Lakes, Nelson, and Boeckella hamata with Boeckella triarticulata in Lake Elterwater, Marlborough. These are the first records of C. lucasi in the South Island, New Zealand, and of B. hamata co‐occurring with B. triarticulata.     

Some observations on phytoplankton species composition,biomass, and productivity in Kenepuru Sound,New Zealand, 1982–83

Phytoplankton species composition, biomass, and rates of primary production were determined at two sites within Kenepuru Sound, New Zealand, in spring, summer, and autumn of 1982–83. Microflagellates and ultraplankton (< 5–10 μm) were numerically very abundant on each occasion and small gymnodinoid nanno‐planktonic (< 10–15 μm) dinoflagellates were likewise always a common component of the populations. The dinoflagellate, Prorocentrum gracile, made a substantial contribution to the total biomass in summer. The diatom community changed from mainly small chain forming species (Chaetoceros spp., Leptocylindricus spp.) in spring to small solitary centric and pennate forms (Nitzchia longissima, Coscinodiscus spp.) in summer, to a diversity of larger taxa (Coscinodiscus concinnus, Eucampia zoodiacus) in autumn. The autotrophic ciliate Mesodinium rubrum was a particularly important member of the autumn photo‐autotrophic assemblage. Both phytoplankton biomass and productivity increased from spring to autumn. In situ rates of primary production ranged from 15 to 1420 mgC m^‐2h^‐1 and chlorophyll a concentrations ranged from 6.9 to 258.5 mgChl a m^‐2. A gross primary production rate, in summer, was estimated at 0.57 gC m^‐2 d^‐1. Phytoplankton production and biomass appeared to be related to dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations as a result of variations in the freshwater inflow. A tentative comparison between the rates of phytoplankton and cultivated mussel production is made.     

Phosphorus and nitrate run‐off in hill pasture and forest catchments,Taita, New Zealand

Abstract

Phosphorus and nitrogen were measured in stream run‐off from the four catchments of the Taita Experimental Basin (41° 11′ S, 174° 58′ E). The land is used as exotic conifer forest, native forest, and hill pasture. Multiple regression analysis was used to estimate chemical losses per unit area in floods and at low flows.

At low flows, the hill pasture (fertilised with lime at 630 kg·ba^?1·y^?1, and superphosphate at 380 kg·ha^?1·y^?1) tended to lose more phosphorus and nitrate than the forested land, but differences were small, and not always significant. During large floods, the hill pasture (No. 5 Catchment) lost about 3 times as much reactive phosphate and 2–5 times as much total phosphorus as the forested land, and 130–190 times as much nitrate as land in the Exotic Forest and Native Forest 2 Catchments. Nitrate losses from land in the No. 4 Catchment (mainly native forest) were as high as those from the hill pasture, so high nitrate loss is not associated solely with agriculture.

Losses of total phosphorus via the catchment streams were estimated as: No. 5 Catchment (hill pasture), 293 g·ha^?1·y^?1; Native Forest 2 Catchment, 201 g·ha^?1·y^?1; No. 4 Catchment, 124 g·ha^?1·y^?1; Exotic Forest Catchment, 71 g·ha^?1.y^?1. Nitrate‐N losses were estimated to have been 1356 g·ha^?1·y^?1, 11.5 g·ha^?1·y^?1, 1436 g·ha^?1·y^?1, and 44 g·ha^?1·y^?1 respectively. Phosphorus and nitrate concentrations were similar in the Exotic Forest and Native Forest 2 streams, but the Exotic Forest tended to lose smaller amounts because it yielded about 50% less water per unit area.

Over the 2‐y study, an estimated 47–70% of phosphorus losses and up to 83% nitrate losses occurred in large floods; 31% and 48% respectively were apparently lost from the hill pasture catchment in a single flood. Less than 20% of estimated phosphorus losses and as little as 1% of nitrate losses occurred at low flows.

Run‐off of phosphorus and nitrate was spasmodic, and this should be considered in assessing the impact of surface run‐off on the biology and chemistry of receiving waters.