An annual cycle of recruitment,growth and production in a Malaysian population of the trochacean gastropod Umbonium vestiarium (L.)

From July 1981 to July 1982 Umbonium vestiarium (L.) on a north Penang sand shore numbered 573–11 077 m^?2 (mean 4126 or 53·1 g dry tissue) near MLWN and 2164–12 414 m^?2 (mean 6500 or 59·8 g dry tissue) further downshore. Heavy recruitment of young became evident in June and July 1982 and a closely corresponding cohort of young was present in July 1981. Progression of this cohort indicated that young settling in May–June grew to full size (11–13 mm diameter) by January–March the following year and that virtually all died during their second year, presumably having spawned in March–May. Recruitment of young was chiefly on the lower shore but adults came to be more abundant and predominant on the upper shore. There is some evidence of migration upshore during growth.Production is estimated at 105·4 g dry tissue m^?2 y^?1 (2118 kj) at the lower shore level and this is almost double the 58·8 g m^?2 y^?1 (1176·6 kj) at the higher level. These values represent almost the entire secondary production across much of the sand flats.Possible causes of such a marked annual cycle in the very weakly seasonal tropics of the Malacca Strait are considered and it is suggested that monsoonal changes in wind, wave action and salinity might be involved.     

Comparison of the biology, dynamics, and secondary production of Talorchestia brito (Amphipoda, Talitridae) in Atlantic (Portugal) and Mediterranean (Tunisia) populations

The biology, population dynamics, and production of Talorchestia brito were studied at two sandy beaches located on the Atlantic (Portugal) and on the Mediterranean (Tunisia) coasts, respectively. The seasonal variation in abundance and the overall densities were similar in both populations. Reproduction occurred from February to September in the Atlantic, and from March to early November in the Mediterranean. The sex ratio was male biased in the Atlantic, and female biased in the Mediterranean. Based on data from the Atlantic population, both abundance and the proportion of reproductive females were positively correlated with temperature, while the proportion of juveniles in the population was positively correlated with temperature and sediment moisture. On average, individuals from the Atlantic were larger than the ones from the Mediterranean. Life span was estimated at six to nine months in the Atlantic, and five to eight months in the Mediterranean. Talorchestia brito was shown to be a semiannual species, with iteroparous females producing two broods per year, and exhibited a bivoltine life cycle. The minimum age required for males' and females' sexual differentiation and for female sexual maturation was shorter in the Mediterranean. Growth production (P) was estimated at 0.19 g m⁻² y⁻¹ ash free dry weight (AFDW; 4.3 kJ m⁻² y⁻¹) in the Atlantic population, and 0.217 g m⁻² y⁻¹ AFDW (4.9 kJ m⁻² y⁻¹) in the Mediterranean one. Elimination production (E) was estimated at 0.35 g m⁻² y⁻¹ AFDW (7.9 kJ m⁻² y⁻¹) in the Atlantic, and 0.28 g m⁻² y⁻¹ AFDW (6.3 kJ m⁻² y⁻¹) in the Mediterranean. The average annual biomass ( ) (standing stock) was estimated at 0.032 g m⁻² in the Atlantic beach, and 0.029 g m⁻² in the Mediterranean one, resulting, respectively, in ratios of 5.9 and 7.5 and ratios of 10.8 and 9.6. Like other talitrids, T. brito exhibited geographic variation in morphometrical characteristics, sex ratio, growth rates, life span, and reproduction period, with the Atlantic population presenting a slower life history.     

Life history and productivity of Pectinaria koreni Malmgren (polychaeta)

Growth, survivorship, reproduction and productivity of a Pectinaria (Lagis) koreni population was studied in Colwyn Bay, from July 1975 to August 1976. The cephalic disc diameter of the worms was chosen as an index of size, after the relations between linear and weight measurements of the body were established. Settlement of Pectinaria was estimated to have occured at the beginning of June, and the whole population had disappeared by April. Growth was initially fast but it ceased completely during the winter, probably due to low temperatures and disturbance by storms. Bundles of gametes first appeared in the coelomic fluid in November, but maturation was not completed before May. Mature ova, 60–65 μ in diameter, were released individually: sperms, a few microns in diameter, were released in bundles. The highest standing crop, 47·5 g m^?2 was present in September and the total production of the cohort during its lifetime was 138·8 g m^?2. The ratio between total production and mean biomass was given by P/B: 7·3.     

Biomass and estimated production rates of metazoan zooplankton community in a tropical coral reef of Malaysia

Quantitative research on composition, biomass and production rates of zooplankton community is crucial to understand the trophic structure in coral reef pelagic ecosystems. In the present study, micro‐ (35–100 μm) and net‐ (>100 μm) metazooplankton were investigated in a fringing coral reef at Tioman Island of Malaysia. Sampling was done during the day and night in August and October 2004, and February and June 2005. The mean biomass of total metazooplankton (i.e. micro + net) was 3.42 ± 0.64 mg C·m^?3, ranging from 2.32 ± 0.75 mg C·m^?3 in October to 3.26 ± 1.77 mg C·m^?3 in August. The net‐zooplankton biomass exhibited a nocturnal increase from daytime at 131–264% due to the addition of both pelagic and reef‐associated zooplankton into the water column. The estimated daily production rates of the total metazooplankton community were on average 1.80 ± 0.57 mg C·m^?3·day^?1, but this increased to 2.51 ± 1.06 mg C·m^?3·day^?1 if house production of larvaceans was taken into account. Of the total production rate, the secondary and tertiary production rates were 2.20 ± 1.03 and 0.30 ± 0.06 mg C·m^?3·day^?1, respectively. We estimated the food requirements of zooplankton in order to examine the trophic structure of the pelagic ecosystem. The secondary production may not be satisfied by phytoplankton alone in the study area and the shortfall may be supplied by other organic sources such as detritus.     

Abundance,breeding and growth of the ocypodid crab Dotilla myctiroides (Milne-Edwards) on a West Malaysian beach

The ocypodid crab, Dotilla myctiroides, was studied on the south-west coast of peninsular Malaysia. The mean numbers and biomass over a year along a transect from high to low water ranged from 37·5 to 579 crabs m^?2 and from 2·22 to 50·79 g m^?2 (wet weight) respectively. Berried females were found in all months of the year but two peaks of activity were apparent, from November to February and May to July. It is suggested that this may be related to changes in food abundance associated with the effects of monsoon winds on sea currents. Laboratory growth studies indicated that maximum life span was approximately 13 months (from first crab stage) for males and 10 months for females. Growth rate decreased with increasing size of crab. Egg number increased with size of female.     

Nitrogen excretion by the Cape rock lobster Jasus lalandii and its possible contribution to the inshore Benguela System

The Cape rock lobster Jasus lalandii is a major predator in the inshore Benguela system. The mean density and biomass at Oudekraal is 0,48 individuals ·m^?2 or 49,75 g dry mass ·m^?2. The main component of its diet is Aulacomya ater, the ribbed mussel, which has a mean biomass of 1,15 kg dry mass ·m^?2. Daily consumption of carbon and nitrogen from this source reaches a maximum in summer and, when J. lalandii feed on mussels, 14,1 per cent of the flesh is lost to the environment as a result of "messy feeding". The absorption efficiency of ingested nitrogen is 86,2 per cent. Ammonia and urea excreted in the first 12 h after feeding represent 6,7 and 1,6 per cent respectively of the nitrogen ingested. Endogenous nitrogen excretion has a mean rate of 1,9 μg N·g (dry mass)^?1·h^?1 The range of estimates for combined figures of kelp and phytoplankton nitrogen requirements are 76,4 – 86,7 g N·m^?2·year^?1 J. lalandii returns 6,3 g N·m^?2·year^?1 to the system, accounting for 7,2 – 8,2 per cent of annual kelp and phytoplankton requirements. This could be of particular importance during downwelling when the supply of new nitrogen is limited.     

Anchovy spawning in relation to the biomass and the replenishment rate of their copepod prey on the western Agulhas Bank

Anchovy biomass and copepod standing stocks and growth rates on the Agulhas Bank were compared during the peak spawning period (November) in 1988 and 1989. In 1988, copepod biomass over the western Agulhas Bank was low (1,0 g dry mass·m^?2) relative to anchovy biomass there (14,7 g dry mass·m^?2). In November 1989 in the same area, fish biomass was much lower (5,7 g dry mass·m^?2), following a recruitment failure, and copepod biomass was higher (2,4 g dry mass·m^?2), possibly as a result of lesser predation by anchovy. By contrast, the eastern Agulhas Bank had a larger biomass of copepods (4–6 g dry mass·^?2) and a lower biomass of anchovy during both years. Knowing, from laboratory studies, that a prey biomass of 0,78 g·m^?2 is required for fish to obtain their daily maintenance ration, it is suggested that spawning on the western Agulhas Bank was food-limited in 1988. Copepods on the western Bank may be replaced by local growth or transport from the eastern Bank. Growth rates of copepods on the western Bank were 10–50 per cent of maximum in 1988, but total production (c. 100 mg dry mass·m^?2·day^?1) was low, primarily because biomass was low and less than the rate of consumption by anchovy (243 mg copepod dry mass·m^?2·day^?1). On the eastern Bank, copepod production exceeded anchovy consumption and it is concluded that the flux of copepod biomass onto the western Bank may be as important as local growth in replenishing copepod stocks there. Feeding conditions for anchovy on the western Agulhas Bank are often marginal compared to the situation on the eastern Bank, and it is suggested that the selection of the western Bank as the major spawning area is related more to the success of transport and survival of eggs and larvae on the West Coast recruiting grounds than to feeding conditions per se.     

Estimates of phytoplankton and bacterial biomass and production in the northern and southern Benguela ecosystems

Available data on phytoplankton and bacterial abundance and production off the coasts of southern Africa (to the 500 m depth contour) have been assembled and analysed for a network analysis of carbon flow in the Benguela ecosystem. Phytoplankton carbon biomass (from measurements of chlorophyll a) in the northern Benguela (2 558 300 tons) was considerably higher than in the southern Benguela (671 420 and 516 400 tons for the West and South coasts respectively). However, overall annual production (from C¹⁴-uptake measurements) was similar, 77 416 608, 76 399 973 and 78 988 020 tons C·year^?1 respectively. Phytoplankton respiration and sedimentation losses were calculated as functions of primary production and therefore followed similar trends. From the most conservative estimates (mean bacterial biomass of 10 mg C·m^?3 and average P:B of 0,2·day^?1) bacterial biomass is 2–7 per cent of phytoplankton biomass in the northern and southern Benguela, and bacterial production is 3–5 per cent of primary production. Assuming a net growth yield of 30 per cent, bacteria would need to consume 9–15 per cent of the total primary production in order to meet their requirements for carbon consumption. Calculations based on a mean bacterial biomass of 40 mg C·m^?3 and a mean growth rate of 0,5·day^?1 in the upper 30 m of the water column show bacterial biomass to be 8–27 per cent of phytoplankton biomass and bacterial production to be 26–44 per cent of phytoplankton production. Bacterial carbon consumption requirements at these rates amount to 86–147 per cent of total primary production.     

Chlorophyll distribution in continental shelf sediments off West Palm Beach,Florida and west end,Bahamas

Measurements were made of chlorophyll-a and phaeophytin-a in calcareous sediments along transects off the east coast of Florida (75–190 m) and the west coast of Grand Bahama Island (170–300 m). Solvent partitioning showed that chlorophyll-a concentrations never exceeded 0·1 mg m^?2 at either location, most as degradation products. Total pigment concentrations (chlorophyll and phaeopigments) ranged from 0·18–1·83 mg m^?2 in sediments off Grand Bahama Island and 2·50 to 20·65 mg m^?2 off West Palm Beach. Pigments, expressed per gram dry weight of sediments, increased with depth across the Florida Continental Shelf. This is probably due to differences in sediment character between near-shore and off-shore sediments.     

山东宁津附近海域大型底栖动物群落结构及季节变化

根据2009年11月至2010年8月在山东宁津附近海域进行4个季度月航次调查所得大型底栖动物采泥资料,运用优势度指数、物种多样性指数及Cluster聚类和MDS排序等方法,分析了该海域的大型底栖动物群落特征和季节变化。结果表明:4个航次在底泥样品中共鉴定大型底栖生物11门159种,其中,多毛类动物73种,是主要的优势类群,甲壳动物39种,软体动物25种,棘皮动物9种,其他类群共13种。主要优势种有拟特须虫、丝异蚓虫、索沙蚕、轮双眼钩虾等。宁津邻近海域年平均生物量和丰度分别为9.144g/m~2和233.90ind./m~2,均较低且存在季节性差异。丰富度指数(D)、均匀度指数(J)和多样性指数(H′)的年平均值分别为2.436、0.800和2.924,次级生产力较低,平均值仅为1.903g(AFDW)/(m~2·a)。聚类分析结果表明,秋、春航次群落分布格局均包含近岸群落和远岸群落,但各群落间界线不明显,群落结构受扰动情况不明显。     

Restoration of Deep-Sea Macrofauna after Simulated Benthic Disturbance in the Central Indian Basin

ABSTRACT

Macrofaunal communities of the Central Indian Basin (CIB) were sampled with a spade before (June 1997), and immediately after (August 1997), and 44 months (April 2001) after a simulated benthic disturbance for polymetallic nodule mining. The average density recorded down to a sediment depth of 40 cm ranged from 89 to 799 ind·m^?2 (mean: 373 ± 221 SD; n = 12) and 178–1066 ind·m^?2 (mean: 507 ± 489 SD; n = 3) in the test and reference area, respectively. Most of the macrobenthic animals (64%) were concentrated in the upper 0 to 2 cm sediment layers, whereas, sizeable fauna (6%) inhabited the 20–40 cm sediment section and the deepest 5 cm section from 35–40 cm contributed only about 2% to the total population density. The fauna, comprised of 12 groups, were dominated by the nematodes, which constituted 54% of the total population. The macrofaunal density in the test site showed a significant increase (x:400 ind·m^?2) in the 44 months postdisturbance sampling (x:320 ind·m^?2). The population of nematodes and oligochaetes was nearly restored after 44 months, but the polychaetes and crustaceans did not reach the baseline populations measured in June 1997. The top 0–2 cm sediment layer was severely affected by the disturber, and the study suggests that physically disturbed deep-sea macrofauna may require a longer period for restoration and resettlement than normally believed.     

Low calcification rates and calcium carbonate production in Porites panamensis at its northernmost geographic distribution

Porites panamensis is a hermatypic coral present in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Skeletal growth parameters have been reported, but studies of the relationship between annual calcification rates and environmental controls are scarce. In this study, we investigated three aspects of the annual calcification rates of P. panamensis: growth parameters among three P. panamensis populations; the sea surface temperature as a calcification rate control spanning a latitudinal gradient; and calcium carbonate production among three sites. Growth parameters varied among the sites due to the colony growth form. Massive colonies in the north showed a higher calcification rate than encrusting colonies in the south (mean: 1.22–0.49 g CaCO₃ · cm^?2 · yr^?1), where variations in calcification rates were related to growth rate (0.91–0.38 cm · yr^?1) rather than to skeletal density differences (overall mean ± SD, 1.31 ± 0.04 g CaCO₃ · cm^?3). Our results showed a positive linear relationship between annual calcification rates and sea surface temperatures within these P. panamensis populations. Differences were related to distinct oceanographic environments (within and at the entrance of the Gulf of California) with different sea surface temperature regimes and other chemical properties. Different populations calcified under different environmental conditions. Calcium carbonate production was dependent upon the calcification rate and coral cover and so carbonate production was higher in the north (coral cover 12%) than in the south (coral cover 3.5). Thus, the studied sites showed low calcium carbonate production (0.25–0.43 kg CaCO₃ · m^?2 · yr^?1). Our results showed reduced calcification rates, regional temperature regime control over calcification rates, different growth forms, low coral cover and low calcium carbonate production rates in P. panamensis.     

Productivity of dinoflagellate blooms on the west coast of South Africa,as measured by natural fluorescence

The biomass and productivity of phytoplankton populations inshore on the west coast of South Africa were investigated towards the end of the upwelling season, a period when high-biomass dinoflagellate blooms are common. Productivity was estimated from natural fluorescence measurements (P_NF ), using photosynthesis (P) v. irradiance (E) relationships (P_E ) and by means of the in situ ¹⁴C-method (P_C ) A linear regression of P_NF productivity against P_C and P_E productivities yielded a slope of 0.911 and an r ₂ of 0.83 (n = 41). Physical and biological variability was high inshore, reflecting alternating periods of upwelling and quiescence. Mean chlorophyll inshore (within a 12 m water column) ranged from 0.7 to 57.8 (mean = 8.9) mg·m^&minus3, mean P_NF productivity ranged from 8.4 to 51.0 (mean = 24.6) mgC·m^?3·h^?1 and daily integral P_NF productivity from 0.8 to 4.8 (mean = 2.3) gC·m^?2·day^?l. Transects sampled during active and relaxation phases of upwelling had different chlorophyll distributions. High chlorophyll concentrations (sometimes >50 mg·m^?3) were associated with surface blooms within the region of the upwelling front. Estimates of daily water-column P_NF productivity within these frontal blooms ranged from 4.0 to 5.6 gC·m^?2·day^?1. With relaxation of wind stress, blooms dominated by dinoflagellates flooded shorewards and often formed red tides. Chlorophyll concentrations of > 175 mg·m^?3 and productivity rates > 500 mgC·m^?3·h^?1 and 12 gC·m^?2·day^?1 were measured during a particularly intense red tide. Offshore, the water column was highly stratified with a well-defined subsurface chlorophyll maximum layer within the pycnocline region. Estimates of daily water-column P_NF productivity ranged from 2.4 to 4.0 gC·m^?2·day^?1 offshore. The high productivity of shelf waters on the West Coast in late summer can be ascribed largely to dinoflagellate populations and their success in both upwelling systems and stratified conditions.     

Studies of a mangrove basin,Tuff Crater,New Zealand: I. Mangrove biomass and production of detritus

The mangrove, Avicennia marina var. resinifera in a tidally-flooded explosion crater, Tuff Crater, near the southern latitudinal limit of mangroves in New Zealand adopts two distinct growth forms, taller tree-like mangroves up to 4 m tall along the banks of the tidal creek, and low stunted shrub mangroves less than 1 m tall on the mudflats. Twelve trees were felled and on the basis of a biomass/height relationship for the taller trees and a biomass/canopy width relationship for the lower, above-ground biomass (excluding pneumatophores) was estimated. Average above-ground biomass for the taller mangrove was estimated to be 104·1 t ha^?1 and for the lower 6·8 t ha^?1. While the value for the taller mangroves is similar to figures reported for more complex tropical mangroves, the fact that 94% of the basin is covered by low generally sparse mangroves means that total biomass for the basin is estimated to be 153 t, an average of only 7·6 t ha^?1. Litter-fall beneath the taller mangroves is estimated as 7·6±2·5 t ha^?1 a^?1 and beneath the lower mangroves 3·3±0·5 t ha^?1 a^?1. The value for the taller mangroves is similar to that reported from mangroves in many other parts of the world, but because of the extensive low sparse mangroves the total for the basin is estimated as 53·7 t a^?1, an average rate of 2·7 t ha^?1 a^?1, a very low rate of litter-fall when compared with elsewhere. Decomposition of mangrove leaves occurs relatively rapidly with leaves losing half their dry weight in 10 weeks and then continuing to degrade but at a slower rate. Substrate sediment samples contain high organic matter content, and although some organic matter appears to be exported via the tidal creek, a proportion of the detrital production is evidently recycled in situ.     

Enteromorpha and the cycling of nitrogen in a small estuary

The nitrogen relations of Enteromorpha spp. growing on intertidal mud flats have been examined over a twelve-month period. Nitrogen assimilation rates using ¹⁵N have been used to calculate the production of the alga and were between 0·046 and 0·217 mg $\text{NH}{}_4{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{N}$ (g dry wt alga)^?1 h^?1 A considerable quantity of the alga was buried beneath the sediment over the growth season and was calculated to be equivalent to an input of up to 9·52 g N m^?2 per month and 32 g N m^?2 over one complete growth season. Based on carbon, this latter value represented an input of approximately 320 g C m^?2 annually. Low rates of nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) were found to be associated with the Enteromorpha. The organisms responsible for the nitrogenase activity were probably heterotrophic bacteria but they did not contribute significant quantities of nitrogen to the alga.     

Factors controlling the timing of major spring bloom events in an UK south coast estuary

Factors controlling the timing of major (>10 mg chlorophyll a m⁻³) spring bloom events in the estuarine waters of the Solent, on the south coast of the UK, have been investigated. Winter to summer variations in chlorophyll a concentration together with relevant meteorological and hydrographical data have been analysed for 5 years (1988, 1992, 2001, 2002 and 2003). Mean water column irradiance is demonstrated to be the main factor controlling the timing of the first major spring bloom event, usually dominated by large chain-forming diatoms. When chlorophyll a concentration first exceeds 10 mg m⁻³ in spring (usually in May) the mean water column photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) averaged for one week prior to the sampling date was always >380 W h m⁻² d⁻¹. Prior to the main spring bloom event surface incident radiation and water turbidity combine to limit chlorophyll a concentration to levels <10 mg m⁻³. Chlorophyll a concentrations >10 mg m⁻³ do not occur in the Solent until almost the entire 10 m water column is within the euphotic zone (i.e. above 1% light level) and light extinction coefficient (k) is ca. ≤0.5 m⁻¹. Statistically, river flow explains the largest percentage of the variations in k and the delayed bloom in June 2002 is due to increased cloud cover and high levels of rainfall in May, which caused a reduction in surface incident irradiance and increased turbidity. Chlorophyll a peaks during these major bloom events generally occur on spring tides when increased mixing rates favour net growth of diatoms.     

Saldanha Bay,South Africa II: estimating bay productivity

Saldanha Bay is a narrow-mouth bay on the west coast of South Africa linked to the southern Benguela upwelling system. Bay productivity was investigated by use of the conventional light-and-dark bottle oxygen method, and, for comparison, through assimilation of the stable isotope tracer ¹³C. Gross community production GCP and net community production NCP, as determined from the oxygen method, were respectively 2.6 and 2.4 times higher than estimates determined from the stable isotope method. Chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations increased with the onset of spring and well-defined subsurface maxima developed in association with increasingly stratified conditions (mean water column Chl a concentrations ranged from 5.4 to 31.5?mg m^?3 [mean 15.5?mg m^?3; SD 7.6]). A sharp decline in photosynthetic rates P* (GCP normalised to Chl a concentration) with depth was attributed to light limitation, as demonstrated by the high vertical attenuation coefficients for downward irradiance K_d, which varied from 0.29 to 0.70?m^?1 (mean 0.48?m^?1; SD 0.12). Productivity maxima were consequently near-surface despite the presence of deeper subsurface biomass maxima. The community compensation depth Z_cc, where gross community production balances respiratory carbon loss for the entire community, ranged from 2.9 to 9.2?m (mean 5.8?m; SD 2.2), and was typically shallower than the 1% light depth for PAR (photosynthetically available radiation), Z1%PAR, which is traditionally assumed to be the depth of the euphotic zone and which ranged from 6.6 to 15.9?m (mean 9?m; SD 2.6). Autotrophic communities, where organic matter is produced in excess of respiratory demand, were confined on average to the upper 5.8?m of the water column, and often excluded the bulk of the phytoplankton community, where light limitation is considered to lead to heterotrophic community metabolism. Estimates of integrated water column productivity ranged from 0.84 to 8.46?g C m–2 d^?1 (mean 3.35?g C m^?2 d^?1; SD 1.9).     

Standing stocks and production rates of phytoplankton and planktonic copepods in the Inland Sea of Japan

Standing stocks and production rates of phytoplankton and planktonic copepods were investigated at 15 stations in the Inland Sea of Japan during four cruises in October–November 1979, January, April and June 1980. The overall mean of phytoplankton biomass was relatively constant during the study period, ranging from 2.3 mg chl.a m^–3 in April to 3.6 mg chl.a m^–3 in October–November. Primary production was low in January (mean: 90 mg C m^–2 d^–1), but higher than 375 mg C m^–2 d^–1 on the other occasions. Integrated annual primary production was 122 g C m^–2 yr^–1. In terms of carbon weight,Paracalanus parvus was the most important copepod species. The variation of the mean copepod biomass (range: 7.6 mg C m^–3 in April to 20.2 mg C m^–3 in June) was smaller than that of copepod production, which was estimated by the Ikeda-Motoda's physiological method. Copepod producion was low in cold seasons (0.6 and 0.9 mg C m^–3 d^–1 in January and April, respectively), and increased, following the elevation of primary production, to 4.9 mg C m^–3 d^–1 in June. Annual copepod production was 33.7 g C m^–2 yr^–1, of which herbivore (secondary) production was 26.4 g C m^–2 yr^–1 (21.7% of primary production). The ratios of pelagic planktivorous fish catch and total fish catch to the primary production were 0.82 and 1.8%, respectively, indicating very high efficiency in exploiting fishery resources in the Inland Sea of Japan.     

Trophic Potential and Photoecology of Endolithic Algae Living within Coral Skeletons

Abstract. The biomass of the endolithic algae Ostreobium quekettii Phyllosiphoniaceae living within skeletons of the scleractinans Mycedium elephantotus and Leptoseris fragilis averages 300 μg protein. cm^-2. This represents approximately 7% of the protein of the zooxanthekie-containing tissue of M. elephantotus and approximately 38% of that of L. fragilis. Oxygen production Pmax_net of 0. querkettii in bare skeletons of M. elephantotus averaged 0.7 μg O₂.cm^-2· h^-1 measured in large skeletal fragments. This amount is approximately 6% of the productivity of the zooxanthellae Symbiodinium microadriaticum living in the same scleractinian species at the same depth Pmax_net 11 μg O₂· Cm^-2· h^-1. Light compensation of O. quekettii - within skeletons - was reached at approximately 10 and saturation at 35 40 μE·m^-2· s^-1. Algae within the M. elephantotus skeletons receive a maximum of 4–6% of the ambient irradiance, which is approximately 0.9 μE · m^-2· s^-1 approximately 0.04% surface irradiance at a depth of 88 m. In L. fragilis at a depth of 145 m, the photon flux decreases to 0.3 μE·m^-2· s^-1, which is less than 0.004% of surface intensity. With increasing depth, the ratio of Chl b to Chl a increased in endolithic algae colonizing L. fragilis, indicating improvement of light harvesting under low light conditions. In free-living O. quekettii cultured at irradiance levels from 0.5–60 μE·m^-2· s^-1, the concentrations of chlorophylls increased and that of siphonein and β-carotene decreased with decreasing photon flux.     

Spatial segregation of two common Gobius species (Teleostei: Gobiidae) in the northern Adriatic Sea

The habitat characteristics and spatial segregation of the two common gobies Gobius fallax Sarato, 1889 and Gobius auratus Risso, 1810 were investigated by fish frequency and abundance estimates through visual counts in the northern Adriatic Sea. The latter species is represented by a recently described, unusual colour morph in the northern Adriatic Sea. Gobius fallax was observed at five of the nine locations examined and its abundance did not differ between two of three transect locations at Piran (Slovenia) and at the western coast of Cres (Kvarner region, Croatia). Gobius auratus was not found in the Gulf of Trieste but was present at several Kvarner locations, and co‐occurred with G. fallax at one location at Cres. Both inhabit rocky substrates but they show different preferences for substrate inclinations and bathymetric segregation. Gobius fallax was most frequent between 2 and 8 m depth and was most abundant on substrate inclining less than 30°. Its highest abundance over entire transects was 0.3 indiv.·m^?2 but within certain transect sections this increased to 1.25 indiv.·m^?2. Gobius auratus attained its highest abundance in depths below 8 m and at substrate inclinations between 30 and 90°. This species attained its highest values at the western coast of Cres, where it reached a maximum of 1.5 indiv.·m^?2 over entire transects but even up to 3.0 indiv.·m^?2 in certain transect sections. At Krk, the maximum abundance over entire transects was only 0.3 indiv.·m^?2.