Comparison of ecophysiological characteristics between introduced and indigenous mangrove species in China

Due to its rapid growth, the introduced mangrove species Sonneratia apetala from Bangladesh has been widely used in mangrove restoration in southeastern China since 1985. As an indigenous mangrove species in Hainan, China, Sonneratia caseolaris was also planted in Guangdong Province for afforestation purposes. Both species have developed well in their new habitats, but their ecophysiological differences with the native mangrove species have not been studied. In this study, leaf gas exchange, water and nitrogen use efficiencies of two Sonneratia species were compared with those of selected native mangrove species (Avicennia marina, Aegiceras corniculatum, Kandelia candel, and Excoecaria agallocha) in Hainan and Shenzhen. The introduced S. apetala maintained lower carbon assimilation rate (A) and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) than the indigenous S. caseolaris. In Shenzhen, the two introduced Sonneratia had comparable photosynthetic rates and water use efficiency (WUE) with the native mangrove species, except that PNUE in S. caseolaris was significantly higher than in the native mangrove species. The two Sonneratia species showed significant overlap in PNUE and long-term WUE. Photosynthetic parameters derived from leaf photosynthetic light–response curves and A–C_i curves also suggested lower carbon assimilation capacities for the introduced Sonneratia than for the native mangrove species in both study sites. The lower light compensation point (LCP) of two introduced Sonneratia in both study sites also indicated a better adaptation to a low light regime than the native mangrove species. The results of photosynthetic capacities indicated that the introduced mangrove species have little competitive advantage over local native mangrove species in their respective new habitats.     

Monitoring salmon aquaculture waste: The contribution of First Nations’ rights, knowledge, and practices in British Columbia, Canada

British Columbia's current approach to monitoring salmon aquaculture waste is disconnected from political and legal trends towards the recognition of Aboriginal rights in Canada. Drawing on insights from collaborative monitoring in northern Canada and interviews with 23 Kwakwaka’wakw clam-diggers and cultural specialists (2006–2007), preliminary directions for integrating First Nations’ values, knowledge and stewardship practices into marine environmental monitoring are identified. Kwakwaka’wakw monitoring practices include the use of qualitative individual, community and population scale indicators and the integration of traditional knowledge as baseline data about the healthy conditions of traditional food resources.     

Socio-economic implications of the KwaZulu-Natal sardine run for local indigenous communities

The economic and social effects of the annual sardine run on the indigenous community on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, were assessed using data gathered from questionnaires and personal interviews with 329 members of the community. Their knowledge, perceptions and attitudes about the sardine run, as well as their level of involvement in, and the financial benefits accrued from it, were also assessed. Although around two-thirds of those interviewed were aware of the sardine run and just over half participated in it, only some 17% benefited financially from it. However, despite this low level of participation, the financial benefit to the community could amount to R17–18 million, and as much as R34–54 million if a multiplier effect of 2–3 is applied. There was a high level (over 70%) of willingness to learn more about the event, and to become more involved in training exercises that would allow local people to take advantage of opportunities arising from the sardine run. It is recommended that management strategies and development plans should be implemented towards assisting the indigenous communities to become more involved in the sardine run.     

The North Sea regime shift: Evidence, causes, mechanisms and consequences

This paper focuses on the ecosystem regime shift in the North Sea that occurred during the period 1982–1988. The evidence for the change is seen from individual species to key ecosystem parameters such as diversity and from phytoplankton to fish. Although many biological/ecosystem parameters and individual species exhibited a stepwise change during the period 1983–1988, some indicators show no evidence of change. The cause of the regime shift is likely to be related to pronounced changes in large-scale hydro-meteorological forcing. This involved activating of complex intermediate physical mechanisms which explains why the exact timing of the shift can vary from 1982 to 1988 (centred around two periods: 1982–1985 and 1987–1988) according to the species or taxonomic group. Increased sea surface temperature and possibly change in wind intensity and direction at the end of the 1970s in the west European basin triggered a change in the location of an oceanic biogeographical boundary along the European continental shelf. This affected both the stable and substrate biotope components of North Sea marine ecosystems (i.e. components related to the water masses and components which are geographically stable) circa 1984. Large-scale hydro-climatic forcing also modified local hydro-meteorological parameters around the North Sea after 1987 affecting the stable biotope components of North Sea ecosystems. Problems related to the detection and quantification of an ecosystem regime shift are discussed.     

Rights and ownership in sea country: implications of marine renewable energy for indigenous and local communities

The adoption of UN Convention of the Law of the Sea in 1982 created optimism for indigenous peoples and marginalised coastal communities that they may (re)gain control of, or improve access to, marine resources. However concerns were also raised that opening the seas to industrial development might create threats for traditional users of the sea. Twenty-five years later the potential enclosure of large areas of coastal seas to marine renewable energy development is reigniting debates about marine governance, access and control over marine resources. Case studies in Scotland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia reveal a dynamic tension between: an economic development ‘blue growth’ agenda requiring the creation of private rights in the sea; and socio-political drivers which seek to address historic injustices and increase access to natural resources by indigenous and marginalised coastal communities. As yet there is little evidence of this tension being adequately addressed by emerging institutional frameworks for managing marine resources.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface seawater and in indigenous mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from coastal areas of the Saronikos Gulf (Greece)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were identified and measured in surface seawater and in the tissues (gills and mantle) of indigenous black mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, collected from three coastal sites of Saronikos Gulf (Greece), a gulf that exhibits high levels of pollution. The total PAHs measured by spectrofluorometry in the surface seawater were found in the range of 425–459 ng L⁻¹ at the most polluted sites 1 and 2 (Elefsis Bay–Salamis Island) and in the range of 103–124 ng L⁻¹ at site 3 (Aegina Island). PAHs' sources in seawater were identified by application of specific PAH ratios, such as phenanthrene/anthracene and fluoranthene/pyrene. Levels of PAHs in soft tissues (gills and mantle) of indigenous mussels were much higher than those reported for seawater. Total PAH concentrations in mantle tissues were in the range of 1300–1800 ng g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) tissue at sites 1 and 2 and approximately 380 ng g⁻¹ dw at site 3. In gill tissues total PAH concentrations were in the range of 1480–2400 ng g⁻¹ dw at sites 1 and 2 and approximately 430 ng g⁻¹ dw at site 3. PAHs composition was dominated by two-, three- and four-ring compounds in seawater, where 17 different PAH compounds were identified and measured in mussel tissues. Mussels can be used as sentinel organisms to monitoring PAHs' contamination, since they concentrate PAHs from the surrounding water media and therefore making the chemical analysis simpler and less prone to error than that for water. In surface seawater possible weathering and photodegradation due to hot climates contribute to reduced PAHs concentrations.     

Iron and phosphorus effects on the growth of Cryptomonas sp. (Cryptophyceae) and their availability in sediments from the Pearl River Estuary, China

Based on lab-culture experiments analyzing limitation and combination of iron and phosphorus on the growth of Cryptomonas sp. (Cryptophyceae), and the study of accumulation and release of Fe-bound P in sediment cores collected from the marine region of the Pearl River Estuary, China, reasons for the high frequency of phytoplankton bloom therein are discussed. Results show that the combined effect of Fe and P can obviously accelerate algal development, and the optimum culture conditions maintaining maximum growth rate are 0.05 μM Fe and 50 μM P. Cellular contents of Fe and P is consistent and the P:Fe molar ratio is 159:1. The optimum range of the P:Fe molar ratio in culture experiments for cell incubation is 500–1400. The vertical trends of total Fe and total P variations in sediments are parallel. Fe-bound P is the main species of inorganic sedimentary P. Through continuous leaching with agitation, 34–80% of exchangeable P and 4–23% of exchangeable Fe are concurrently released from the surficial sediments. This is a possible way by which nutrients are made available to phytoplankton. These factors might be responsible for a high frequency of harmful algal blooms in the Pearl River Estuary.     

Policy implications and reconstruction of marine institutional architectures: the regional indigenous organization (RIO) option

Global marine policy-making and related institutional architectures have been within the domain of the United Nations system in general and its specialized agencies (FAO, IMO, UNESCO/IOC, UNEP) in particular. At the regional and country levels there are a large number of organizations and agencies that are involved in various marine issues in the programme areas of Regional Indigenous Organizations (ASEAN, CARICOM, SPF., organizations belonging to these regions). The paper reveals that the United Nations system represents a top-down policy making and institutional approach, whereas a combination of nation-state and their regional indigenous organizations represents a bottom-up approach. The paper outlines some inefficiencies of the United Nations system and provides an option for improving the effectiveness of regional indigenous organizations.     

Accumulation of Cu and Zn in discarded antifouling paint particles by the marine gastropod, Littorina littorea

The short-term (5 day) accumulation of Cu and Zn in different tissues of the marine gastropod, Littorina littorea, has been studied in the presence of 10 mg l⁻¹ of antifouling paint particles and pre- or simultaneously contaminated algal food (Ulva lactuca). Accumulation of Cu was observed in the head–foot, digestive gland–gonad complex and gills to extents dependent on how and when food was contaminated and administered. However, retention of Zn was only observed in the gills and only when L. littorea and U. lactuca were simultaneously exposed to paint particles. Relative to the alga, faecal material was highly enriched in Zn, suggesting that the animal is able to rapidly eliminate this metal, most likely through the formation and egestion of insoluble phosphate granules. Thus, L. littorea is a useful biomonitor of marine contamination by antifouling applications in respect of Cu but not Zn.     

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.     

Linkages between Alaskan sockeye salmon abundance, growth at sea, and climate, 1955–2002

We tested the hypothesis that increased growth of salmon during early marine life contributed to greater survival and abundance of salmon following the 1976/1977 climate regime shift and that this, in turn, led to density-dependent reductions in growth during late marine stages. Annual measurements of Bristol Bay (Bering Sea) and Chignik (Gulf of Alaska) sockeye salmon scale growth from 1955 to 2002 were used as indices of body growth. During the first and second years at sea, growth of both stocks tended to be higher after the 1976–1977 climate shift, whereas growth during the third year and homeward migration was often below average. Multiple regression models indicated that return per spawner of Bristol Bay sockeye salmon and adult abundance of western and central Alaska sockeye salmon were positively correlated with growth during the first 2 years at sea and negatively correlated with growth during later life stages. After accounting for competition between Bristol Bay sockeye and Asian pink salmon, age-specific adult length of Bristol Bay salmon increased after the 1976–1977 regime shift, then decreased after the 1989 climate shift. Late marine growth and age-specific adult length of Bristol Bay salmon was exceptionally low after 1989, possibly reducing their reproductive potential. These findings support the hypothesis that greater marine growth during the first 2 years at sea contributed to greater salmon survival and abundance, which in turn led to density-dependent growth during later life stages when size-related mortality was likely lower. Our findings provide new evidence supporting the importance of bottom-up control in marine ecosystems and highlight the complex dynamics of species interactions that continually change as salmon grow and mature in the ocean.     

连云港近海紫菜养殖区遥感识别、空间变异和驱动分析

为了科学有效地掌握海域使用信息、管理海域权属,为海域资源调查、管理、规划、保护、合理利用提供服务,为违法、违规、违章用海项目得到有效遏制,减少用海矛盾,有必要开展海域使用动态监测,作者以连云港近海为研究区,利用4个时相Landsat遥感影像(2002、2008、2013、2016年)通过面向对象算法提取弱水背景下的紫菜养殖区信息,揭示空间分异规律,并分析其驱动原因。研究结果表明:4期影像提取连云港近海紫菜养殖区信息的精度分别是87.5%、92%、91.7%和94.6%。紫菜养殖区空间分布的变化规律为紫菜养殖面积不断增加且整体向深海方向推进。赣榆港口航运区和田湾核电站特殊利用区存在少量紫菜养殖区,项目用海不符合连云港市海洋功能区划(2016～2020年)。连云港近海紫菜养殖区空间分异的驱动因子主要是自然条件、养殖技术、海洋经济和社会发展四大因素。     

Reclaiming the ancestral waters of indigenous peoples in the Philippines: The Tagbanua experience with fishing rights and indigenous rights

This paper discusses the impact of local and national policies in the Philippines on the participation of indigenous peoples in relation to fisheries management. Specifically, this research focuses on the Tagbanua, an indigenous group in Coron Island, Palawan, on the western side of the Philippines. The struggle of the Tagbanua in reclaiming their ancestral title to the land and sea reflects broader moves toward self-determination, which is critical not only to their ancestral lands and waters, but also to their survival. Indigenous rights are essential in addressing social justice and in giving a greater voice that encourages indigenous peoples towards self-governing institutions and common management of resources. Significantly, the fundamental development of indigenous peoples lies in the recognition of their rights in their ancestral domain and the preservation of their culture, tradition, system, practices and their natural resources. This paper examines the Tagbanua experience, through a critical exploration of institutions and property rights, with attention to corresponding effects in reducing conflict with other stakeholders in the area, and in affecting the sustainability of fishery resources.     

Seasonal differences in catches of leptocephali in the East China Sea and Suruga Bay, Japan

The species composition, distribution, and size of eel larvae, or leptocephali, caught near the continental shelf in subtropical and temperate regions of East Asia were compared between two seasons (May–Jun and Oct–Dec) to learn about the seasonality of reproduction of marine eels. There was greater species richness and evidence of spawning by more species of marine eels during the late autumn surveys in both the East China Sea (ECS) and in Suruga Bay along the east coast of Japan. Small leptocephali <10 mm TL and a wide range of sizes of various taxa were collected during both seasons along the outer edge of the continental shelf in the ECS, indicating that some marine eels may spawn there all year. The lack of small leptocephali during the spring survey in Suruga Bay suggested that most eels have a clear seasonal cycle of summer or autumn spawning at the higher latitudes of coastal Japan where there is much greater fluctuation of water temperature throughout the year than in the ECS. At lower latitudes such as in the ECS, and in tropical areas where water temperatures are higher and more constant, some marine eels may spawn all year round.     

Fish assemblage structure of Koycegiz Lagoon–Estuary, Turkey: Spatial and temporal distribution patterns in relation to environmental variation

Spatial and temporal variation in fish assemblage structure of Koycegiz Lagoon–Estuarine System (KLES), located on the northwestern Turkish coast of Mediterranean, was investigated along an estuarine gradient where salinity ranged from 5 in upper reaches to 40 in lower reaches during October 1993–September 1994. Throughout the study, 42 species, consisting of marine (25), marine–estuarine-dependent (12), freshwater (3), catadromous (1), and estuarine resident (1) forms, were collected in trammel nets. Although species richness of marine species was greater than that of other groups, numerical contribution by marine species to the total catch was only 16%. Tilapia spp., the most abundant species mostly during summer and early spring at upper reaches, contributed 17% of the total samples. Among the seven species of Mugilidae, which contributed 42% of the total catch, Mugil cephalus, Liza aurata, and Liza salines contributed 10, 13, and 10% of the total catch, respectively. Consistent with findings from other studies, species richness and abundance were highest during late spring and summer and the lowest during winter and early spring. Samples from sites at or near the sea had more marine species. Samples from upper reaches had more freshwater and marine–estuarine-dependent species. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that salinity and turbidity were the most important environmental parameters affecting fishes. Sites near the sea were associated with high salinity and low turbidity, and sites in upper reaches had low salinity and high turbidity. Thus, the pattern observed in fish assemblage structure appears to be strongly influenced by species' responses to dominant salinity and turbidity gradients.     

Spatial and temporal variability of shoreline change in the Beaufort-Mackenzie region, northwest territories, Canada

Aerial photographs from 1972, 1985 and 2000 were analyzed to obtain measurements of coastal change in the Mackenzie Delta region of the Beaufort Sea. Changes from 1972 to 2000 are dominated by retreat of the shoreline with average annual retreat rates of –0.6 m a^–1, but ranging as high as –22.5 m a^–1. Rates vary significantly both between and within zones of similar exposure, morphology and coastal geology with the highest average rates located in areas that are most exposed to northwest winds. In general, decadal-scale rates of change have remained constant during the 28 years encompassed by this study.     

Mesozooplankton in the eastern and western subarctic Pacific: community structure, seasonal life histories, and interannual variability

The zooplankton community of the subarctic Pacific is relatively simple, and contains a similar set of major species in all deep water areas of the subarctic Pacific. Their role in the food web varies considerably between coastal and offshore locations. In the oceanic gyres, microzooplankton and other mesozooplankton taxa replace phytoplankton as the primary food source for the dominant mesozooplankton species. Micronekton and larger zooplankton probably replace pelagic fish as major direct predators. Productivity and upper ocean biomass concentrations are intensely seasonal, in part because of seasonality of the physical environment and food supply, but also because of life history patterns involving seasonal vertical migrations (400–2000 m range) and winter dormancy. During the spring–summer season of upper ocean growth, small scale horizontal and vertical patchiness is intense. This can create local zones of high prey availability for predators such as planktivorous fish, birds, and marine mammals. On average, the cores of the subarctic gyres have lower biomass and productivity than the margins of the gyres. There is also some evidence that the Western Gyre is more productive than the Alaska Gyre, but more research is needed to confirm whether this east–west gradient is permanent. There is increasing evidence that the pattern of zooplankton productivity is changing over time, probably in response to interdecadal ocean climate variability. These changes include 2–3 fold shifts in total biomass, 30–60 day shifts in seasonal timing, and 10–25% changes in average body length.     

Habitat use by the European eel Anguilla anguilla in Irish waters

The apparent use of marine and freshwater habitats by European eel Anguilla anguilla was examined by analyzing the strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) concentrations in otoliths of the eels collected from Irish coastal and fresh waters. The age and growth of eels were also examined using their otolith annuli. The sizes and ages of the female eels were greater than those of the males. The somatic growth rates ranged from 15 to 62 mm/year, which is typical for Ireland and other European countries. Analyses of Sr:Ca ratios along a life history transect in each otolith showed peaks (maximum more than 25 × 10⁻³) between the core and elver mark corresponding to the period of their leptocephalus and early glass eel stages in the ocean. Outside the elver mark, the Sr:Ca ratios indicated that eels had remained in different habitats that included freshwater (average Sr:Ca ratios, 0.98–1.78 × 10⁻³) and areas with relatively high salinities (average Sr:Ca ratios, 6.73–8.89 × 10⁻³). Some individuals showed clear evidence of shifts from sea to fresh waters. These findings suggest that Irish eels have the same behavioral plasticity regarding whether or not to enter freshwater or remain in marine environments as has been recently documented in this species and several other temperate anguillid species. However, patterns of habitat use in Irish waters were somewhat different than those previously reported for other habitats.     

Marine archaeology in the UK: A pattern of development

Marine archaeology is a new discipline which seeks to increase knowledge of man's past activities on the sea, through the study of the remains of his ships and other relics on the ocean floor. The author argues that marine archaeology, through its combination of techniques taken from marine ecology, geology, sedimentology and other sciences, has evolved to the point in the UK where it may be classified as a science in its own right. He discusses legal and social problems of the field, and points out the need for a ‘systems approach’ in marine archaeological projects.