Chronic sublethal effects of the water soluble fractions of no. 2 fuel oils on the marine isopod, Sphaeroma quadridentatum

Two series of experiments were carried out to assess the long-term effects of the water soluble fractions (WSF) of fuel oils on the marine isopod, Sphaeroma quadridentatum. In one experiment, juvenile isopods (one month old) were exposed to sublethal concentrations (0·1% to 15% WSF) of a fuel oil (Baytown, Exxon) at room temperatures of 24 ± 1–6°C for nine months. These isopods survived to maturity and reproduced. However, growth rate was adversely affected at concentration ≥ 3% WSF and fecundity was depressed at concentrations ≥ 1% WSF. Survival of offspring in clean seawater was dependent to a large extent on the history of the previous generation. Offspring from groups exposed to ≥ 1% WSF experienced high mortality (> 70% within five weeks) even in clean seawater. This may imply that a population of Sphaeroma exposed to WSF as low as 0·2 ppm may eventually disappear, although animals can grow to maturity and reproduce at concentrations < 3 ppm.In another experiment, adult Sphaeroma (three months old) were subjected to the WSFs of four fuel oils (Baton Rouge, Baytown, Montana and New Jersey) for one month. Fecundity was depressed at a concentration > 15% WSF, regardless of the kind of fuel oil. On the other hand, the number of young produced bythe surviving females varied with the type of fuel oil for the same level of WSF. This may be attributed to different relative amounts of toxic components present in the WSF.     

Effects of dietary and water-borne oil exposure on larval pacific herring (Clupea harengus pallasi)

Pacific herring (Clupea harengus pallasi) larvae were exposed either directly to the water-soluble fraction (WSF) of crude oil or indirectly via oil-contaminated prey (OCP) (Artemia salina) for <- 28 days, to determine the relative effects of diet and water as routes of contamination. Larvae were affected rapidly by 0·9 ppm WSF, which caused high larval mortality, reduced swimming ability and rapid reductions in feeding rates. Larval length was significantly reduced by 0·7 ppm WSF in 7 days and by 0·3 ppm WSF within 14 days. The WSF exposure also caused similar reductions in larval weights. Highly contaminated prey (6 ppm prey exposure) caused significant mortality, but surviving larvae appeared robust. The OCP did not affect swimming, feeding, or growth. Exposure of larvae was not significantly extended by OCP, which rapidly depurated WSF in clean water (98% in 1 day). Therefore, OCP is probably not an important source of low molecular weight petroleum contamination to larval fish in the marine environment.     

The effects of used ferrochrome lignosulphonate drilling muds from a Santa Barbara channel oil well on the development of starfish embryos

The effects of water-soluble fractions (WSF) of thirteen used ferrochrome lignosulphonate muds on developing embryos of Patiria miniata were studied. The muds were collected during the drilling of a single slant well from Platform Hondo in the Santa Barbara Channel, California, at drilling depths of 4220 to 9858 ft. None of the embryos survived 48 hours' exposure in 25 % WSF of the muds (25,000 ppm mud added (v/v)). Significant reduction in growth and high abnormalities (up to 100%) were observed in the 15% WSF. In lesser concentrations the effects varied from significant reduction of growth, down to 0·5% for three muds, to significant enhancement of growth for several muds in some dilutions. The EC₅₀'s ranged from 5% to greater than 15% WSF. In the 5% WSF, decreased embryo growth was correlated with increasing Cr concentrations and possibly also with total organic carbon (TOC). Although experiments carried out with NaOH addition to simulate the strong alkalinity of the muds showed increased abnormalities and decreased embryo growth with increasing pH, in the chemically complex WSF (5% dilution) the opposite effect occurred. Dissociation of chrome lignosulphonate molecules from particulates may occur with increasing acidity and explain the relationship between pH and toxicity in dilute WSF. The results of these experiments are discussed in terms of the effects of dispersions of drilling muds in the oceanic environment. It is concluded that water column effects on organisms during the dumping of such muds are only likely within short distances of the discharge pipes of offshore drill rigs.     

Non-volatile Hydrocarbon Chemistry Studies Around a Production Platform on Australia's Northwest Shelf

In September 1994 and 1995, scientists from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and the Australian Geological Survey Organization (AGSO) conducted surveys aboard the RV Lady Basten to determine the dispersion, fates and effects of produced formation water (PFW) discharged from the ‘ Harriet A ’ oil production platform near the Montebello Islands. This report is one of four related papers and describes the non-volatile hydrocarbon chemistry studies. The dispersion of the PFW into dissolved and particulate fractions of seawater were measured using moored high volume water samplers, surface screen samplers and moored and drifting sediment traps. Bio-accumulation was studied using transplanted oysters, and dispersion measured into sediment with benthic grabs.Results showed enrichment in non-volatile hydrocarbons in surface microlayer samples to a distance of 1·8 km in the direction of tidal flow. Concentrations in surface microlayers near the platform varied by an order of magnitude and corresponded to when a surface slick was visible or not visible. Concentrations of oil in seawater ranged from 2·0 to 8·5 μg l⁻¹at near stations to 1·3 μg l⁻¹at 1·8 km. Water column samples showed the processes of desorption from particles for soluble components occur within the range of 1·8 km. Most particulate hydrocarbons drop out of suspension within c. 1 to 2 km from the platform. Fluxes of particulate hydrocarbons through the water column at c. 1 km, as estimated by moored sediment traps in 1995, were 138 to 148 ng cm⁻²day⁻¹. A decrease in sediment concentrations within c. 1 km of the platform was measured as 2·45±1·29 μg g⁻¹dry wt (n=15) in 1994 to 0·86±0·54 μg g⁻¹dry wt (n=21) in 1995, after the platform installed a centrifugal separator in the discharge treatment process. Thus the residence time of this relatively low molecular weight oil was estimated in the coarse aerobic sands surrounding the platform to be less than one year. Oysters suspended near the platform bio-accumulated hydrocarbons and other lipophilic organics in their tissues. Uptake rates and bio-concentration factors of hydrocarbons indicated potential toxicity at the near-field stations within c. 1 km radius.A mass balance was constructed to show the partitioning of the input of hydrocarbons from the PFW into the surrounding marine ecosystem. The rates of dissipation processes were estimated as follows: dilution from tidal currents>degradation in the water column>sedimentation>evaporation. The calculations based on maximum concentrations measured in the environmental samples accounted for 85% of the daily input suspended within a 1 km radius.It is estimated that the potential zone of toxic influence in the water column extends to a distance of approximately 1 km. Concentrations of oil in sediments were too low to indicate potential toxicity. By the collaborative application of oceanographic and geochemical techniques to marine environmental problems, we endeavour to provide effective feedback to the oil industry to gauge the effectiveness of their operational strategies in minimizing impact in these pristine regions.     

大黄鱼(Larimichthys crocea)白细胞介素10(IL-10)基因克隆及溶藻弧菌(Vibrio alginolyticus)侵染后表达变化分析

白细胞介素10(interleukin10,IL-10)是鱼类先天性免疫因子之一,在炎症反应和免疫调节中有着重要作用。本研究获得大黄鱼(Larimichthys crocea)IL-10基因cDNA序列,由899个核苷酸组成,含1个555bp的开放阅读框、编码184个氨基酸,预测编码蛋白分子量为21.24kDa、N端有22个氨基酸组成的信号肽序列。氨基酸序列多重比对表明大黄鱼IL-10具有IL-10家族特征性序列和构成2对二硫键的4个保守性半胱氨酸,与欧洲鲈(Dicentrarchuslabrax)IL-10序列相似性最高(78.5%);系统进化树分析显示大黄鱼IL-10和其他鱼类IL-10形成一个大簇,与欧洲鲈进化关系最近。荧光定量PCR(quantitative real-time PCR, qRT-PCR)检测结果显示健康大黄鱼IL-10基因在鳃和肠中高表达,肝和头肾中低表达;溶藻弧菌(Vibrio alginolyticus)侵染后大黄鱼肠、脑、脾、肝和头肾中IL-10基因表达量均显著上调(P0.05),其中头肾和肝中上调幅度最大(分别为菌侵染前的10.06倍和8.79倍)。综上,大黄鱼IL-10基因表达与病原菌感染密切相关,为深入研究大黄鱼IL-10的生物学功能及免疫机制提供了基础资料。     

岱衢族大黄鱼(Pseudosciaena crocea) 线粒体基因组全序列的扩增及其特异鉴别引物的开发

采用PCR扩增、克隆获得了岱衢族和闽-粤东族大黄鱼(Pseudosciaena crocea)线粒体基因全长序列,并扩增了各25条样本的高变区域,测序结果可分成3个操作分类单元(Operational Taxonomic Unit,OTU);闽-粤东族含3个类型:D1-N1、D1-N2和D2型;而岱衢族样品均为D1-N1型;设计出能区分不同分型的鉴别引物J1和J2,且优化了鉴别条件。结果表明:根据凝胶电泳的图片,如果样品分型为D1-N2和D2型,则100%为闽-粤东族;如果样品分型为D1-N1型,则该样品为岱衢族的概率为86.2%,为闽-粤东族的概率为13.8%。研究结果为岱衢族大黄鱼的种质资源保护、良种选育和市场销售等方面提供技术支持。     

The influence of dissolved petroleum hydrocarbon residues on natural phytoplankton biomass

The effect of dissolved petroleum hydrocarbons in the environment on phytoplankton biomass measured as chlorophyll a was studied near the oil tanker route in the southern Bay of Bengal. In the transect from 5° N, 77° E to 5° N, 87° E the concentrations of dissolved petroleum hydrocarbons were negatively correlated with phytoplankton biomass, whereas in the 0° N, 87° E to 1° N, 79° E transect they were positively correlated with phytoplankton biomass. The mean petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in the two transects were 12·12 ± 4·67 μg litre⁻¹ and 11·23 ± 4·5 μg litre⁻¹, respectively.It is surmised that the effect of dissolved petroleum hydrocarbons on phytoplankton biomass varies depending on the nature rather than the quantity of petroleum hydrocarbons present. Culture studies with unialgal Nitzschia sp. in seawater collected from selected stations in the study area as well as in artificial seawater spiked with the water-soluble petroleum hydrocarbon fraction of light Arabian Crude support this.     

光照强度对番红砗磲外套膜颜色变化的影响

以蓝色、棕黄色和绿色三种不同外套膜颜色的番红砗磲(Tridacna crocea)为实验对象,设置5000 lx、10000 lx和15000 lx三组光照强度,探究了番红砗磲外套膜颜色变化与光照强度的相关性.结果表明:(1)在不同光照强度下,蓝色个体外套膜颜色加深,棕黄色个体颜色变化不大,而绿色个体外套膜颜色变浅.(...     

Higher plant n-alkane average chain length as an indicator of petrogenic hydrocarbon contamination in marine sediments

The n-alkane average chain length (ACL) is the weight-averaged number of carbon atoms of the higher plant C₂₅–C₃₃ n-alkanes. The abundance of individual n-alkanes from higher plant sources generally increases with increasing carbon number in coastal marine sediments around Taiwan, but this trend is reversed for petrogenic hydrocarbons. The ACL would potentially be lowered if petrogenic hydrocarbons were added to sediments containing biogenic hydrocarbons alone. To test this idea, a marine environment off southwestern Taiwan known to contain both biogenic and petrogenic hydrocarbons and two nearby rivers were selected for investigating possible difference in ACL values between their sediments. The average CPI of C₂₅–C₃₃ n-alkanes was 4.08 ± 2.04 (range 1.90–8.96, n = 15) for the river sediments and 1.70 ± 0.16 (range 1.43–1.97, n = 15) for the marine sediments. The ACL of C₂₅–C₃₃ n-alkanes for river sediments ranged from 29.2 to 30.5 (average 29.9 ± 0.4), and for marine sediments from 28.4 to 29.3 (average 28.9 ± 0.3). The ACL difference between marine and river sediments was significant (Student's t test at 99% confidence) although it appeared small. It is suggested that the ACL can be an additional indicator for detection of petrogenic hydrocarbons in coastal marine sediments.     

Toxicity of a fuel oil to the eggs of parhyale hawaiensis and amphithoe valida (amphipoda)

Experiments were carried out on the toxicity of a fuel oil to developing embryos and juveniles of two marine amphipods. Parhyale hawaiensis eggs were able to develop from early germinal disc stage (early eggs) to juvenile form in concentrations of 10 (2 ppm) up to 40% (8 ppm) WSF, but deleterious effects were evident in hatching success of eggs and survival of juveniles at concentrations ≥ 10% WSF. The juveniles that hatched from those eggs in higher WSFs had greater mortality than the juveniles that hatched from the eggs exposed to lower WSFs. Survival of juveniles from late eggs (cephalic region differentiated) was also greater than those from early eggs. Amphithoe valida eggs were more sensitive to the WSF of fuel oil than the eggs of P. hawaiensis; < 10% of the test eggs hatched in the 4 ppm WSF compared with 66% of P. hawaiensis eggs at the same concentration. The toxicity of fuel oil to the two amphipod eggs is therefore dependent on the concentration and duration of exposure on the one hand, and on the developmental stages and probably the nature of the egg case on the other.     

MS-222对大黄鱼(Larimichthys crocea)麻醉保活运输效果研究

为优化大黄鱼(Larimichthyscrocea)麻醉运输技术,提高保活率,以不同浓度MS-222麻醉剂对其运输存活率、呼吸代谢、鱼体生理生化指标的影响展开研究。结果显示:(1) 12 h模拟运输后,10mg/L麻醉组大黄鱼存活率显著高于其他实验组(P<0.05),30mg/L麻醉组积累死亡率已高于50%;(2)呼吸频率随麻醉剂浓度的升高显著降低(P<0.05),各组水体溶解氧含量随运输时长增加均呈下降趋势;(3) 10和20 mg/L麻醉组大黄鱼复苏率分别为89%±10%和63%±19%,且均显著高于30 mg/L麻醉组(P<0.05);(4)随麻醉剂浓度的升高,大黄鱼血清中皮质醇、谷草转氨酶、乳酸脱氢酶、葡萄糖-6-磷酸酶水平逐渐降低,其肌肉乳酸水平显著降低(P<0.05),其肌糖原水平显著升高(P<0.05)。结果表明:高浓度(30mg/L)MS-222处理会引起大黄鱼呼吸抑制,造成运输存活率下降,不适合应用于大黄鱼的保活运输;低浓度(10mg/L)MS-222处理可以达到降低鱼体拥挤胁迫、应激反应及呼吸代谢的效果,并可以有效降低大黄鱼死亡率,保活...     

大黄鱼(Pseudosciaena crocea)细胞色素P450 CYP4F7基因的克隆及表达分析

CYP4F7是细胞色素P450超基因家族中CYP4F亚家族中的同工酶之一,而细胞色素P450在通过电子传递参与生物体代谢和转化内源和外源化合物方面起着重要的作用。以本实验室构建的大黄鱼消减杂交cDNA文库中623bp的CYP4F7片段设计引物,以大黄鱼的总RNA为模板,利用RACE-PCR的方法,克隆鉴定出了大黄鱼细胞色素P450 CYP4F7基因。结果表明:基因全长1934bp,5'端非编码区59bp,3'端非编码区264bp,开放阅读框1611bp,编码536个氨基酸。序列分析表明大黄鱼的CYP4F7氨基酸序列与舌齿鲈的相似性为91%。利用RT-PCR方法研究CYP4F7在大黄鱼各组织中的表达特征,结果表明CYP4F7在肝脏、脾脏中表达量最高,在心脏、肾脏、头肾、鳃丝中表达量次之。另外,CYP4F7在注射了细菌脂多糖的大黄鱼各组织中的表达量均低于正常的大黄鱼,认为细菌脂多糖可能是CYP4F7表达的抑制剂,说明CYP4F7可能与鱼类免疫反应有一定相关性。     

南海3种小型砗磲的外壳形态差异分析

本研究对中国南海3种小型砗磲(Tridacnaspp.)[番红砗磲(Tridacnacrocea,包括2种外壳形态)、长砗磲(Tridacna maxima)和诺亚砗磲(Tridacna noae)]的外壳形态性状进行生物统计学差异分析。研究表明,4组砗磲外壳存在显著形态学差异。单因素方差分析发现9个外壳比例性状能够较好区分3种砗磲,且2种不同外壳形态的番红砗磲在壳宽/壳长、足丝孔宽/壳长、壳质量/壳长和左右壳厚比壳长存在显著性差异(P<0.05);在基于欧氏距离Ward法且指定聚类数k=4的条件下,4组砗磲层次聚类效果较好;主成分分析提取3个主成分建立散点图,累计主成分贡献率73.85%,各主成分贡献率依次为50.47%,13.78%和9.60%;线性判别分析得出3个判别函数,方差解释率依次为70.13%、20.97%和8.90%。3种多元统计方法从不同角度解释各组砗磲的外壳形态差异,结果均显示两组番红砗磲的外壳形态更为接近,同时长砗磲与诺亚砗磲的外壳形态较为接近。     

Protecting window‐size female American lobster,Homarus americanus,to increase egg production

A new conservation measure aimed at protecting the larger broodstock (females with a carapace length between 115 and 129 mm, i.e., window‐size females, WSF) to enhance egg production was implemented in 2003 for the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. To assess the effectiveness of this new measure, a tagging project was carried out between 2004 and 2007 in the Hillsborough Bay area with the collaboration of local harvesters. Based on a single mark‐recapture Petersen model, the estimated catch rates of WSF not carrying eggs under the abdomen in the study area varied between 40% and 53%. The catch‐per‐unit‐effort (animals per 100 traps) of both berried (egg‐bearing) and non‐berried WSF increased from 0.2 to 0.8 and 1.0 to 1.6, respectively, between 2004 and 2007. Based on the estimated number of non‐berried WSF in the population observed during the spring fishery between 2004 and 2007, the potential total egg production for WSF was estimated at 1.1 billion in the study area. From this total, 515 million eggs would have been produced by WSF directly protected by the conservation measure, i.e., females that would have been harvested if not for the new regulation. Finally, the contribution of berried WSF to the annual egg production in the study area increased from 4% to 23% between 2003 and 2007 based on the at‐sea sampling programme and the fecundity curve. WSF that represented 10% of the total berried female population in 2007 contributed 23% of the annual egg production. Hence, the protection of WSF seems to be an effective conservation measure to increase egg production based on the catch‐per‐unit‐effort and egg production.     

大黄鱼野生与养殖群体遗传结构的比较研究

采用垂直板型不连续聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳技术对福建野生与养殖大黄鱼(Pseudosciaena crocea)4个群体(湄洲野生群体、宁德野生群体、宁德养殖群体、连江养殖群体)的遗传结构进行了比较研究。结果表明,4个大黄鱼群体的平均每位点有效等位基因数为1.1250～1.1293,多态位点百分数为12.50%～18.75%,观察杂合度为0.1250,期望杂合度为0.0636～0.0677。湄洲湾野生群体的遗传多样性高于养殖群体。4个大黄鱼群体间的遗传分化很低,4个大黄鱼群体间遗传距离在0.0000～0.0001,平均遗传距离为0.0005,遗传分化系数(Fst=0.0004)低,基因流(Nm=609.6667)大。     

A comparison of two voltammetric techniques for determining zinc speciation in Northeast Pacific Ocean waters

Two independent voltammetric techniques, differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry (DPCSV) and differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV), determined that 95% of the dissolved zinc is organically complexed at two depths (60 and 150 m) within the surface euphotic zone at an open ocean station in the Northeast Pacific. Average values for the concentrations of the natural zinc-complexing organic ligands (C_L) obtained from duplicate determinations at these two depths by DPCSV versus DPASV are in excellent agreement: 1.60 ± 0.01 versus 1.76 ± 0.03 nM at 60 m, and 2.14 (n=1) versus 2.22 ± 0.06 nM at 150 m. Average values for the conditional stability constants (with respect to free Zn²⁺) of the natural zinc-organic complexes (log K^′_ZnL) from duplicate determinations at both depths by DPCSV versus DPASV are 10.3 ± 0.2 versus 11.2 ± 0.2. Additional research is required to assess the significance of the difference in the conditional stability constants determined by these two techniques. These results confirm recent observations that strong zinc complexes formed with an organic ligand class existing at nanomolar concentrations dominates zinc speciation in the North Pacific.     

Seasonal phytoplankton composition, productivity and biomass in the Neuse River estuary, North Carolina

Phytoplankton community composition, productivity and biomass characteristics of the mesohaline lower Neuse River estuary were assessed monthly from May 1988 to February 1990. An incubation method which considered water-column mixing and variable light exposure was used to determine phytoplankton primary productivity. The summer productivity peaks in this shallow estuary were stimulated by increases in irradiance and temperature. However, dissolved inorganic nitrogen loading was the major factor controlling ultimate yearly production. Dynamic, unpredictable rainfall events determined magnitudes of seasonal production pulses through nitrogen loading, and helped determine phytoplankton species composition. Dinoflagellates occasionally bloomed but were otherwise present in moderate numbers; rainfall events produced large pulses of cryptomonads, and dry seasons and subsequent higher salinity led to dominance by small centric diatoms. Daily production was strongly correlated (r = 0·82) with nitrate concentration and inversely correlated (r = −0·73) with salinity, while nitrate and salinity were inversely correlated (r = −0·71), emphasizing the importance of freshwater input as a nutrient-loading source to the lower estuary. During 1989 mean daily areal phytoplankton production was 938 mgC m⁻², mean chlorophyll a was 11·8 mg m⁻³, and mean phytoplankton density was 1·56 × 10³ cells ml⁻¹. Estimated 1989 annual areal phytoplankton production for the lower estuary was 343 gC m⁻².     

原油污染对栉孔扇贝抗氧化酶活性的影响

以原油水溶性成分(water soluble fraction of crude oil,WSF)为污染物,采用暴露实验法,研究了栉孔扇贝(Chlamys farreri)鳃和消化腺组织中超氧化物歧化酶(Superoxide Dismutase,SOD)和过氧化氢酶(Catalase,CAT)活性的变化.结果表明,WSF污染下,鳃和消化腺组织SOD和CAT酶活性随暴露时间增加一般表现为降低-升高-降低的趋势,酶活性达到最高的时间随浓度不同而变化.第1天时消化腺SOD在0.08 mg/L浓度下被诱导,而后随时间增加表现为抑制效应;浓度为0.21和0.88 mg/L时消化腺SOD酶活性被抑制,随暴露时间延长而活性增加.暴露时间为4d时,石油烃浓度在0.08和0.88 mg/L时鳃组织SOD酶活性均被抑制,而浓度为0.21 mg/L时被诱导.消化腺和鳃组织SOD可以作为扇贝被污染胁迫的指标.     

The distribution and population dynamics of O-group plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) on nursery grounds in the Firth of Forth

Midsummer (1 August) population estimates of about 2 million O-group plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) were derived for sandy bays around the Firth of Forth in 1979–1980. This is an order of magnitude less than similar estimates made for the Clyde Sea Area in 1973–1974. Autumn population estimates of 0·4–1·0 million fish were comparable to estimates by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for the area between the Scottish border and Flamborough Head (2·3 million for 1970 and 1973) which represented 4·8% (1973) to 5·3% (1970) of the total number of O-group fish on the English east coast.Largo Bay was the most important nursery area holding 25% of the total population. It is particularly well situated to receive newly metamorphosed plaice carried in water currents along the north side of the Forth from the spawning ground off Fife Ness. Plaice in the Forth are mainly distributed on fine to medium sandy beaches (186–480 μm), the mean number per haul in midsummer (D) being correlated with the median diameter (m.d. in μm) of the low water sediments by the equation: D=−45·7666+0·2327 m.d. (n=11,r=0·68,P<0·02 but>0·01).The shallow inshore water in sandy bays in the outer Firth was well mixed and more marine than estuarine (27·7–35·0‰). The correlation coefficient between fish density and water temperature was low, while that with salinity (S‰) was: D=6·1618+0·2238S (n=23,r=0·62,P<0·005).Regression analysis demonstrated that the relationship between the instantaneous mortality rate (Z) and the initial population density (D_p) was: Z×100=0·7480+0·0546d_p (n=12,r=0·87,P<0·001).The mean mortality rate for the O-group plaice in the Forth nursery areas was 53% month⁻¹.     

Influence of Bottom Stress on the Two-layer Flow Induced by Gravity Currents in Estuaries

Baroclinic circulation in highly stratified and partially stratified estuaries is characterised by a two-layer flow: a bottom salt- water inflow and a surface brackish-water outflow. Tidal period variation of the thicknesses of a two-layer flow is observed to be associated with mixing, bottom stress and hydraulic characteristics of superposed tidal and gravity currents. Here, both analytical two-layer hydraulic equations with weak friction and a numerical model including a turbulence closure were utilised to understand the mechanism of the layer tendency within a two-layer flow under different barotropic flow conditions. It has been found that in the weak bottom friction case, a gravity current has two critical solutions at the layer thickness equal to 0·5Hand 0·292H. The layer thickness towards a particular critical solution is dependent on the sign of the bottom stress, i.e. when the bottom stress is opposite (favor) to the bottom gravity current, its layer thickness converges to 0·5H(0·292H). In the case of strong bottom stress and mixing opposing the gravity current, the solutions of the gravity current layer thickness at 0·5Hand 0·292Hwill not be valid. Both mixing and vorticity produced by bottom stress erode the halocline, and produce a high velocity core in the mid-depth, which leads to the thickness of a bottom gravity current greater than 0·5H. These internal hydraulic tendency and mixing processes, varying with time-dependent barotropic tidal current forcing, determine the tidal period variation of the gravity current structure.