Food energy requirements of the harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) population in the Barents and White Seas

The harp seal ( Phoca groenlandica ) population of the Barents and White Seas has probably decreased from about one million individuals to half this size the last few years. Energy requirements of the population have been estimated by use of the simulation model SEAERG. In this model the energy requirements of an individual seal from each age group is multiplied with the group size and summed to provide the requirements of the population. In addition to population size and age structure the total food and energy requirement is sensitive to individual activity levels as well as metabolic levels and other specified physiological functions. The interactions between the seal population and fisheries depends on the caloric density of the prey species which varies with season and location. Realistic simulations of interactions between seals and fisheries require more information about spatial and temporal variations in the prey selection of harp seals than is available today.
Present estimates indicate average maintenance requirements of about 13,600 and ll,150kcal/day for adult female and male harp seals respectively. The high value for the females is due to the costs of pregnancy and lactation. With a mean energy density of prey of 1500 kcal/kg, the corresponding food consumption is 9 kg/day for females and 7.4 kg/day for males.     

Gastroliths in the harp seal Phoca Groenlandica

An adult harp seal, caught by accident in a gill net during the peak of the seal invasions along the northern coasts of Norway (1986/87), was found to have eaten 2.466 kg of stones with masses up to 265 g. Different theories to why harp seals on occasion deliberately eat stones, with particular emphasis on the hypothesis that these may aid in the physical breakdown of fish flesh and hard fish bones, are discussed.     

Feeding habits of harp and hooded seals in drift ice waters along the east coast of Greenland in summer and winter

Results of analyses of stomach and intestinal contents from hooded ( Cystophora cristata ) and harp ( Phoca groenlandica ) seals captured in the pack ice belt of the Greenland Sea in summer (July-August) in 2000 and winter (February-March) in 2001 revealed that the diet of both species were comprised of relatively few prey taxa. Pelagic amphipods of the genus Parathemisto , the squid Gonatus fabricii , polar cod ( Boreogadus saida ) and capelin ( Mallotus villosus ) constituted 63-99% of the observed diet biomass in both seal species, irrespective of sampling period, but their relative contribution to the diet varied both with species and sampling period/area. For hooded seals, G. fabricii and capelin were the dominant food items in winter 2001, but the summer 2000 diet comprised a mixture of this squid and polar cod. Parathemisto was most important for the harp seals during summer 2000; in winter 2001 the contribution from krill and capelin were comparable to that of Parathemisto . Multivariate analyses revealed differences in the intestinal contents of hooded and harp seals in areas where the two species' occurrence spatially overlapped. Different foraging depths of the two species may have contributed to the observed differences in diets.     

Oakes Bay 1: A Preliminary Reconstruction of a Labrador Inuit Seal Hunting Economy in the Context of Climate Change

Geografisk Tidsskrift—Danish Journal of Geography 110(2):245–259, 2010

This paper presents results of recent archaeological research at the site of Oakes Bay 1 (HeCg-08), on Dog Island, Labrador, dated from the late 17th to late 18th century. Analyses of faunal remains provide a means of reconstructing the site's subsistence economy. The site's inhabitants practiced a very consistent mode of hunting throughout this time period, depending heavily on adult ringed seals taken on the fast ice in winter and spring. Juvenile ringed seals, taken at the ice edge in the spring were a secondary resource. A lack of evidence for the hunting of harp seals in the fall and of ringed seal pups in late spring suggests that the site had a relatively short season of occupation. The consistent pattern of hunting through time suggests that the impacts of climatic variability on Inuit subsistence in the Nain region were relatively limited, moderated by their capacity for mobility on the sea ice rather than by whole scale changes in hunting practices and species choice. The Oakes Bay 1 site presents an example of a different subsistence economy than that seen at other recently examined sites in Labrador, suggesting that the impacts of the so-called Little Ice Age were not global or uniform.     

Seasonal distribution of harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) in the Barents Sea

The distributional patterns of Barents Sea harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) throughout the year are presented based on existing literature and recent Norwegian and Russian field observations. The harp seals breed in February-March in the White Sea. Moulting occurs during April to June in the White Sea and southern Barents Sea. Feeding.behaviour is closely related to the configuration and localisation of the drifting sea-ice during summer and autumn (June-October) when the seals follow the receding ice edge, retiring gradually northwards and northeastwards in the Barents Sea. The southward movement of the population in autumn probably takes place in November prior to the advance of the ice edge, and is likely related to food-search. Apparently, most Barents Sea harp seals seems to concentrate at the southern end of their range in winter and spring.     

2016年夏秋季南极布兰斯菲尔德海峡威氏棘冰鱼脂肪酸组成及其食性指示研究

作为20世纪70年代末期底拖网渔业的主要捕捞对象以及近年来南极磷虾渔业的兼捕对象之一,威氏棘冰鱼(Chaenodraco wilsoni)在海洋捕食者与饵料生物之间的能量流动中起着重要的传递作用,而目前针对该鱼种的营养特性及其食性的研究却十分有限。为此,本研究分析了布兰斯菲尔德海峡威氏棘冰鱼肌肉组织中脂肪酸的含量及其组成,并进一步探讨特征脂肪酸对食性的指示。结果表明,体长范围为4.8—30.7 cm、质量范围为0.3—250.5 g的威氏棘冰鱼肌肉样本中共检测出29种脂肪酸,其中含量较高的脂肪酸包括C16:0,C18:0,C18:1n9c,C20:5n3(EPA)以及C22:6n3(DHA),各类脂肪酸类型含量由高至低依次为多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA),饱和脂肪酸(SFA)以及单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA)。威氏棘冰鱼多种特征脂肪酸含量与体长之间不具显著的相关关系,表明其摄食并不随着个体的生长而发生较大的变化。秋冬季威氏棘冰鱼呈现杂食性特性,主要摄食以硅藻为食的生物,如南极磷虾(Euphausia superba); 同时对底栖生物和海底碎屑也有一定的摄食,并会摄食一定量的桡足类生物。)     

Preliminary study on plasma membrane fluidity of Psychrophilic Yeast Rhodotorula sp.NJ298 in low temperature

The ability of cell to modulate the fluidity of plasma membrane was crucial to the survival of microorganism at low temperature.Plasma membrane proteins,fatty acids and carotenoids profiles of Antarctic psychrophilc yeast Rhodotorula sp.NJ298 were investigated at-3 ℃,0 ℃ and 8 ℃.The results showed that plasma membrane protein content was greater at-3 ℃ than that at 8 ℃,and a unique membrane polypeptide composition with an apparent molecular mass of 94.7 kDa was newly synthesized with SDS-PAGE analysis;GC analysis showed that the main changes of fatty acids were the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids(C18:1 and C18:2) and shorter chain saturated fatty acid(C10:0) increased along with the decrease of the culture temperature from 8 ℃ to-3 ℃;HPLC analysis indicated that astaxanthin was the major functional carotenoids of the plasma membrane,percentage of which increased from 54.6±1.5% at 8 ℃ to 81.9±2.1% at-3 ℃.However the fluidity of plasma membrane which was determined by measuring fluorescence anisotropy was similar at-3 ℃,0 ℃ and 8 ℃.Hence these changes in plasma membrane's characteristics were involved in the cellular cold-adaptation by which NJ298 could maintain normal plasma membrane fluidity at near-freezing temperature.     

Inuit spring hunting techniques and local knowledge of the ringed seal in Arctic Bay (Ikpiarjuk), Nunavut

Inuit hunting techniques used to catch ringed seals ( Phoca hispida ) were observed April-June 1993 on the land-fast ice of Admiralty Inlet, Nunavut, and adjoining fjords and bays. In addition, a survey of hunting techniques and knowledge of ringed seal biology and behaviour was conducted in the community of Arctic Bay (Ikpiarjuk), Nunavut, January-February 1994. A total of 246 seal structures were found in 31 days of hunting and 34 successful kills were observed. An experienced Inuk hunter found subnivean structures by sight, by walking on drifts and by probing snowdrifts with a harpoon ( unaaq ). Most structures were found using subtle visual cues. Breaking through the roof of a lair was the most common hunting technique observed in this study. Pups captured in this manner were subsequently used to lure the mother back into the breathing hole where she was harpooned. Ringed seals were also hunted by a number of other methods that have been described previously in the literature. Respondents in the hunter survey indicated that the ringed seal was the most important animal used by Arctic Bay Inuit. They also reported a variety of biological findings about ringed seals including: size differences among seals in different regions of the pack ice; that adult male ringed seals ( tiggak ) emitted a strong, mustelid-like odour from December until late May or early June. Hunters also reported that males were occasionally caught when coming to retrieve pups. All respondents reported seeing increasing frequencies of liver abnormalities in their ringed seal catches.     

Haul-out pattern of itinerant male Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) at Laurie Island, South Orkney Islands

The seasonal haul-out pattern of itinerant male Antarctic fur seals ( Arctocephalus gazella ) was determined by regular counts at Mossman Peninsula, Laurie Island, South Orkney Islands, from 1996 to 2005. Small numbers of animals began to arrive at the beach in late December/early January (mean date 28 December Ø 15 days, n= 10). Peak numbers of animals ashore changed considerably between seasons. In 1996, 1998 and 2001, peak numbers were registered in March (6/3, 18/3 and 6/3, respectively). Numbers peaked in 1997, 1999 and 2005 at the end of January/beginning of February (26/1,2/2 and 28/1, respectively). In 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004 peaks were registered in the third week of February (15/2, 22/2, 14/2 and 20/2, respectively). Peaks in numbers of seals ashore also varied between years, being minimum during 2001 (2531 individuals) and maximum during 2006 (16 610 individuals). In March 1998 the coasts of Laurie Island were surveyed by navigating inflatable boats near the shoreline; 18 haul-out places were identified. The big differences in peak numbers, as well as in the dates of peak events among years, suggest that local conditions could have an effect on the numbers of animals hauled out in a given year. It may therefore be difficult to predict trends from summer censuses in non-breeding places.     

南极海豹类生态学

描述了南极海豹的种类组成、资源量和种类状况等一般性生态学问题,着重讲述了这些海豹在研究全球变化中所起的作用等科学前沿问题;同时,就海豹研究在各国际组织中的地位阐述了意见。     

The ringed seal (Phoca hispida) spring diet in northwestern Spitsbergen, Svalbard

A total of 284 ringed seals (Phoca hispida) were sampled to determine their diet in the spring of 1981 and 1982. Few seals contained identifiable stomach contents. No significant age-or sex-related differences in choice of prey were found. It seems that in spring northwestern Spitsbergen ringed seals prey upon arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) , decapods and larger amphipods.? Diet, ringed seal, Svalbard .     

东南极企鹅和海豹粪土层细菌群落的变化特征

海洋动物粪土是南极陆地生态系统养分的重要来源,粪土层细菌群落对南极苔原碳、氮循环过程起重要作用,但目前对南极海洋动物粪土层中细菌群落的变化特征却鲜有报道。本文采集了东南极四个企鹅、海豹粪土剖面样品,通过酶活性、微生物量碳、微生物熵、土壤呼吸和DNA浓度测定以及16 S r DNA-DGGE分析,探讨了粪土层中细菌群落变化特征及其与环境因子的关系。土壤转化酶、脲酶和磷酸酶活性、微生物量碳、土壤呼吸和微生物熵随深度增加而递减,而代谢熵增加,表明随深度增加,微生物生存环境恶劣,造成细菌丰度和酶分泌量减小,需更多有机碳进行能量代谢。土壤DNA浓度与pH、含水率、TOC、TN、微生物量碳、土壤呼吸以及酶活性呈高度正相关,表明这些因子对粪土层中细菌种群的丰度有重要影响。DGGE图谱分析证实：东南极海洋动物粪土中含丰富的细菌群落结构,随深度增加泳道带型数量和亮度递减,表明细菌多样性和丰度递减。聚类分析表明：四个剖面随深度泳道带型差异明显,细菌遗传相似性为46%,企鹅、海豹粪土细菌群落差异性尤为明显;发现四个粪土剖面中,细菌丰度与企鹅、海豹粪的相对含量呈协调一致性变化,且表层5cm粪土层细菌丰度最高,表明东南极企鹅和海豹排泄物对土壤中细菌群落多样性变化起重要作用。     

基于mtCOI片段序列的南极海域浮游动物DNA条形码研究

极地海区浮游动物对全球气候变化的响应极其敏感,其群落结构已成为研究全球变化对海洋生态系统影响的重要指标,而DNA条形码则是浮游动物种类鉴定的有效工具。采用线粒体细胞色素c氧化酶第一亚基编码基因(mtCOI)特异扩增测序的方法,分析了南大洋32种常见浮游动物的94条DNA条形码序列,其长度分布在830碱基到1050碱基之间。发现南极常见浮游动物种内遗传差异均值为0.67%,分布在0—2.6%之间;同属近源种间遗传差异均值为14.3%,分布在0.1%—29.3%之间。哲水蚤属的近缘哲水蚤(Calanus propinquus)和C.simillimus遗传相似度非常高。考虑到上述两者在形态和遗传上的相似性,本研究认为两种可能为同种异名,有待开展深入研究确认C.simillimus种的地位。除了哲水蚤属的两种外,所有样品种内、种间遗传差异显著,且同种的不同样品都聚到一起形成单系群。结果表明mtCOI序列可以作为DNA条形码实现南极浮游动物常见种的准确鉴定(水母和海樽等胶质浮游动物的有效性未验证)。以上结果也得到了示踪向量分析的证实。本研究新增的DNA条形码数据以及新提供的兼并引物必将推动南极浮游动物环境样品的宏基因组学研究。     

南极海豹内脏组织——肝、脾、胃的蛋白质含量及氨基酸组成测定和比较

南极海豹是南极及南大洋的主要哺乳动物之一,它们在南极及南大洋生态系中占有重要地位,也是南极的主要生物资源之一。 关于南极海豹的数量分布、种群动态、生态习性以及它们之间的相互作用已有不少报导(陈万青,1973;宁修仁,1984;Bengtson, J. L.,Carrick, R.,1962;Erckson,A. W. , 1970,1971;和Davis, R. M. ,1970等)。现有的研究结果表明,在南极繁殖的真正海豹有四种,即锯齿海豹,又名食蟹海豹,其英文名为Crabeater Seal(Lobodon Carcino phagus),这是南极海豹中数量最多的一种,据估计有200—500万头,它们主要以南极磷虾而不是以蟹为食;威德尔海豹,其英文名为Weddell Seal(leptonychotes weddelli),这种海豹的数量占南极海豹第二位,估计有20—50万头;它们主要以乌贼和杜文鱼及磷虾为食;豹形海豹,其英文名为Leopard Seal(Hydrurga leptonyx);罗斯海豹,其英文名为Ross Seal(Ommatophoca ross Gray)。     

2012年夏季西北冰洋浮游动物群落特征

北冰洋夏季海冰覆盖面积在2012年达到低值。为了了解海冰变化对浮游动物群落的影响, 利用夏季西北冰洋22个站位的网采样品, 通过种类组成和丰度研究了群落的类型、结构和地理分布, 探讨了其分布特征与环境因子的关系。根据记录到的54种(类)浮游动物, 21站位可以划分成在地理上基本隔离的三个浮游动物群落: 楚科奇海南部群落, 藤壶幼体数量占优, 站位丰度百分比在56.6%—79.8%之间, 桡足类次之(18.0%—42.2%), 同时还含有少量的白令海种类;楚科奇海中北部群落以广布性桡足类占绝对优势(62.3%—96.8%), 藤壶幼体次之(0—30.9%);深海群落浮游动物的丰度极低, 组成上以桡足类为主(71.6%—89.8%), 且多数是体型较大极地种。楚科奇海陆坡边缘的M06站丰度较高但是种类组成与深海站位相似, 没有归入任何群落。两个浅水群落优势种都是北极哲水蚤(Calanus glacialis)、伪哲水蚤类(Pseudocalanus sp.)、圆胃住囊虫(Oikopleur vanhoffeni)以及藤壶幼体(Barnacle larva), 但优势度各异。深海群落优势种较多, 北极哲水蚤(Calanus glacialis)、极北哲水蚤(Calanus hyperboreus)、细长长腹水蚤(Metridia longa)以及北极拟真刺水蚤(Paraeuchaeta glacialis)等体型较大的桡足类优势度较高, 体型较小的矮小微哲水蚤(Microcalanus pygmaeus)、长腹剑水蚤(Oithona similis)优势度相对较低。与群落类型按维度和深度的变化趋势一致, 统计分析显示表层温度和表层盐度是最重要的影响因子。与海冰覆盖面积较高的2003年相比, 群落类型和地理分布没有显著变化, 但是楚科奇海浮游动物丰度增加了1—2倍, 深海群落丰度降低而组成上大型种类比例升高。     

北极新奥尔松地区鸟粪土的分子有机地球化学研究

本文研究了位于北极地区的斯瓦尔巴(Svalbard)群岛上的新奥尔松(Ny-lesund)地区的鸟粪土层(YN)的分子有机地球化学组成特征。YN沉积物的烷烃呈双峰分布,奇偶优势不明显,烷烃组分包含UCM(不可分辨成分),姥鲛烷、惹烯是烷烃的主峰,表明烷烃组分受到附近三叠纪含煤地层的强烈影响。脂肪醇类组分偶奇优势明显,主要为现代生物来源。甾醇以谷甾醇为主,由于谷甾醇是草食动物粪便的主要甾醇,所以YN沉积物中谷甾醇可能来源于鸟粪。脂肪酸类组分的偶奇优势同样十分明显,不饱和脂肪酸以C18∶1为主,除脂肪酸外,还检测到β-羟基酸和ω-羟基酸。综合YN生物标志物的组成与分布特征,认为YN既受到附近含煤地层的影响,也受到附近的鸟粪和植被的影响。     

A field investigation into the effects of progressive rainfall-induced soil seal and crust development on runoff and erosion rates: The impact of surface cover

Surface crusts and seals can form from a variety of processes, both physical and biological, and have the potential to alter runoff and erosion, especially in regions with low vegetation covers. Despite the obvious links between seals and crusts these features have rarely been considered together. This study uses rainfall simulation experiments to investigate interrill soil crust and seal development in response to structural (or raindrop-impact-induced) and depositional (or runoff-induced) processes on a semiarid piedmont in southern New Mexico, USA, which has undergone substantive vegetation change (replacement of grasses by shrubs) over the last 100 years. The study design incorporates six double-paired runoff plots divided into four subplots, each of which was exposed to three rainfall simulation events. Crust development on these plots was assessed using penetration-resistance measurements while seal development was assessed using runoff coefficients. The penetration-resistance data indicate that subplots directly exposed to raindrop impacts (uncovered plots) have crusts that are  40% stronger than those positioned beneath a mesh cover (covered plots) that intercepts the kinetic energy of the rainfall. The crusts exposed to raindrop-impacts increased in strength following each simulation, whereas the crusts on the covered surfaces reached a plateau after two events.Runoff data indicate that seal development does not directly mirror crust formation. Runoff coefficients increased after each rainfall simulation event but were not significantly different between the covered and uncovered plots. Rather, the presence of stone lags or litter on the soil surface influenced the relation between runoff and seal development. Sediment yields from uncovered surfaces exceeded those from covered surfaces, indicating that raindrop impacts contribute to the delivery of sediment into flows. The results of this study indicate that the loss of vegetation cover on the piedmont has increased the extent of surface crust and seal development but that those crusts may be playing an important role in mitigating erosion.     

海洋放线菌Y18的分子鉴定、生物活性及其抗菌物质发酵条件优化

从北冰洋楚科奇海海洋沉积物中分离到一株放线菌Y18,其良好生长需要海水。经16S rRNA基因序列分析确定该菌株属于拟诺卡氏菌属(Nocardiopsis),次级代谢产物合成酶基因及抗菌活性筛选发现,它含有聚酮类Ⅱ型(PKSⅡ)和非核糖体含硫多肽类(non ribosome-bound sulfur-containing peptides,NRPS)化合物合成酶基因,并且对枯草芽孢杆菌和白色念珠菌有抑制作用。以枯草芽孢杆菌为指示菌对Y18的发酵条件进行了初步优化,适合的发酵条件为:发酵培养基(蛋白胨2 g,酪素水解物2 g,酵母膏2 g,葡萄糖1 g,海水1 L),种子液接种量4%,发酵温度28℃,发酵培养基初始pH值8.0,培养时间6天,1 000 mL三角瓶装液量20%。并对Y18发酵液稳定性进行了测定,结果显示:发酵液对酸碱、热的稳定性都较强,4℃下贮藏发酵液的抗菌活性保留时间较长。     

土壤CO_2浓度昼夜变化及其对土壤CO_2排放量的影响

对石林地区两个研究点土下20、40和60cm土壤CO2浓度和土壤CO2排放量的昼夜变化进行的研究表明二者之间具有一定的正相关关系,因此土壤CO2排放量除受环境因子影响之外,还受土壤CO2浓度所控制。土壤CO2浓度和土壤CO2排放量之间的相关关系可以用来解释土壤有机碳含量及温度对土壤CO2排放量的影响,即土壤有机碳含量高和温度升高是通过影响土壤空气中CO2的形成速率,导致土壤CO2浓度升高,从而促进土壤CO2的排放。     

南极夏季南设得兰岛海域浮游动物群落垂直分布

浮游动物群落结构的垂直分布研究可以更好地了解其在海洋食物网物质能量循环中的作用。基于2012年1月中国第28次南极考察期间在西南极南设得兰岛海域4个站位Multinet网(200μm,0.5 m2)采集的浮游动物样品资料,运用多元统计方法对浮游动物群落垂直结构及与环境因子关系进行了分析,结果显示:浮游动物可划分为3个群落,群落1由采自上层水体(0—200 m)的样品组成,此群落平均丰度为31 782.02个·1 000 m-3,优势种为桡足类Oithona similis,Ctenocalanus citer,Oncaea curvata,Calanoides acutus,Calanus propinquus及南极大磷虾原蚤状幼体CⅠ-Ⅲ期个体;群落2主要由采自中层水(200—1 000 m)的样品构成,群落平均丰度为22 325.59个·1 000 m-3,其指示物种主要包括桡足类O.curvata,O.similis,Oithona frigida,C.citer,Aetideopsis minor,Bathycalanus bradyi,C.acutus,C.propinquus,Metridia gerlachei,介形类Alacia spp.及箭虫Eukrohnia hamata;群落3由采自较深层水(1 000—2 000 m)的样品组成,群落平均丰度为989.27个·1 000 m-3,其指示种为深水桡足类Bathycalanus bradyi。Bio-Env分析显示叶绿素a和盐度分别是对群落聚类起关键影响的单因子,水深、盐度和叶绿素a的组合则最好地解释了群落的划分。