Area usage estimation and spatiotemporal variability in distribution patterns of southern right whales,Eubalaena australis,of southern Brazil

Southern right whales—Eubalaena australis (Desmoulins, 1822)—migrate seasonally from high‐latitude feeding grounds to coastal breeding and calving grounds at lower latitudes such as the southern coast of Brazil. Understanding how these whales are distributed along the coast is important for monitoring their postwhaling recovery and defining management strategies. In this study, we applied Kernel density estimators to aerial survey data to determine main occurrence and concentration areas of right whales in southern Brazil and investigate inter‐ and intra‐annual distribution patterns between 2003 and 2012. Our results show considerable variation in area usage within and among years, and changes in the general distribution pattern of right whales in the last years of the study. Intra‐annually, higher concentration area tended to expand from July to September and decrease in November. Some areas stood out as high‐density areas for right whales: Ribanceira/Ibiraquera, Itapirubá Sul/Sol, and from Arroio to Gaivota. Some evidences also suggest preferential areas for mother–calf pairs. The higher concentration area of right whales in southern Brazil was estimated at 52,541 km² and the occurrence area was 682.69 km², which is the whole study area. As right whale distribution in the region is likely expanding due to this population's current recovery, our study provides essential information for management plan of the Right Whale Environmental Protection Area.     

Scales of predator detection behavior and escape in Fissurella limbata: A field and laboratory assessment

The consumptive effects of predators are widely acknowledged, but predation can also impact prey populations through non‐consumptive effects (NCEs) such as costly antipredator behavioral responses. The magnitude of antipredator behavioral responses by prey is determined by an assessment of risk using sensory cues, which in turn is modulated by the environmental context. We studied the detection behavior and escape response of the keyhole limpet Fissurella limbata from the predatory sea star Heliaster helianthus. Through laboratory and field experimental trials, we quantified the distance and time of predator detection behavior by the prey, and measured their active escape responses when elicited. We found that predator detection by the limpet was chiefly mediated by distance, with experimental individuals capable of detecting predator presence effectively up to distances of at least 50 cm in the field and 70 cm under laboratory conditions. Our results indicate that this prey species is able to evaluate the proximity of its predator and use it as an indication of predation risk; therefore, predator–prey distance appears to be a primary predictor of the magnitude of the antipredator response. Given the tight relationship between predator distance and prey movement and the important role herbivores can play, particularly in this ecosystem, we expect that NCEs will cascade to the patterns of abundance and composition of rocky shore communities through changes in prey foraging behavior under risk.     

基于碳、氮稳定同位素的雅浦海沟底栖生物食物来源和营养级初探

为了分析雅浦海沟中底栖生物群落的食物来源和营养级,本研究分析了雅浦海沟真光层中浮游植物和浮游动物、海底沉积物和巨型底栖生物（海绵、海参、海蛇尾、海星、海葵和钩虾）中的碳、氮稳定同位素组成。研究发现雅浦海沟真光层中的浮游植物和浮游动物δ13C值[（-22.8±0.4）‰和（-21.8±0.8）‰]和δ15N值[（5.4±0.4）‰和（6.8±0.2）‰]与巨型底栖生物的δ13C值（-20.1‰~-16.8‰）和δ15N值（11.9‰~17.9‰）的差异超过了一个营养级,表明作为底栖生物的初始食物来源的浮游植物和浮游动物在向下输送的过程中经历了食物链传递和细菌的降解。巨型底栖生物的δ15N和δ13C值之间无显著的相关性,此外不同物种之间营养级也存在明显差异,表现为海绵的营养级相对较高（3.4~4.7）,海参（3.3~3.6）、海蛇尾（3.4~3.5）和海星（3.2~3.7）的营养级较为接近,钩虾（2.9~3.3）和海葵（3.1）的营养级则相对略低,反映了底栖生物不同物种之间食物来源的多样化。     

中国九龙江河口营养盐基准值研究

One of the key concerns in estuarine and coastal environments is eutrophication, which is known to be closely connected to nutrient enrichment. To control and improve surface water quality, nutrient criteria are recommended in order to provide reference conditions for the environment. However, the current datasets of nutrient criteria in China are either designed for surface water or sea water, and as such these are not suitable for assessing estuarine water quality, especially given the unique ecosystem and dynamic properties of estuaries. To address this issue in current estuarine water management, nutrient criteria have been developed for a local estuary in the southeast of China. Segmentation of the Jiulong River Estuary, China was firstly analysed through field investigations carried out during 2013–2014, which resulted in the delineation of three segments characterized by their distinct properties in relation to salinity, hydrology, ecosystems, etc. Historical records from 1997 to 2014 were then analysed using statistical modelling to develop candidate nutrient criteria for the estuary.This stage of the analysis was undertaken in combination with the study of nutrient status records from the 1980s,which were used to establish a baseline reference condition. The recommended criteria values of dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN) in Segments Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ of the Jiulong River Estuary are 64, 21 and 14 μmol/L,respectively, and the corresponding values for soluble reactive phosphorus(SRP) are 0.89, 0.76 and 0.89 μmol/L,respectively. It should be emphasised that these values are site-dependent, and that different results may be achieved at other locations depending on the physical and biogeochemical characteristics of an estuary, or even a single site within a catchment. It is hoped that by demonstrating a possible methodological approach and methods of nutrient criteria derivation in the Jiulong River Estuary, the current study will offer researchers some fundamental basis from which to begin to develop more complete nutrient criteria indices for the study of nutrient conditions in other estuaries throughout China.     

风和径流量对长江口缺氧影响的数值模拟

受自然和人类活动的影响,海洋缺氧现象日益严重,威胁着海洋生态环境,海洋缺氧问题已经引起了人们的广泛关注。本文应用区域海洋模式并耦合生态模式,对东海的生态系统进行了数值模拟和分析研究。与观测数据比较显示,该模型能较好地模拟长江口外生态变量的分布趋势。另外本文通过设置不同敏感性实验,探讨风和径流量对长江口底层缺氧现象的影响,结果分析表明,风和径流量对长江口外缺氧区的形成有显著的影响。径流量变化虽然对长江口外缺氧区的季节变化影响并不显著,但是对缺氧区域面积却存在显著的影响。径流量增加,水体层化增强,表层叶绿素浓度增加,最终导致缺氧区域范围扩展;径流量减小,水体层化减弱,表层叶绿素浓度减小,缺氧区域范围缩小。风向和风速的改变不仅影响长江口外缺氧区的季节变化,还影响缺氧区域面积。     

浙江朱家尖岛东沙海滩对热带风暴“娜基莉”的响应及风暴后的恢复

海滩对风暴的响应及风暴后海滩的恢复过程一直以来都是国内外海滩研究的热点。本文通过对浙江舟山市朱家尖岛东沙海滩地形地貌的现场调查,对比分析了热带风暴"娜基莉"影响下东沙海滩剖面的蚀积变化,探讨了海滩在热带风暴发生后的恢复情况。结果表明,在"娜基莉"影响期间,因风暴浪为向岸浪,东沙海滩几乎遭受全线侵蚀,12个剖面单宽侵蚀总量为73.46 m3/m,其中海滩直线段较两个遮蔽段侵蚀显著。由于海滩在风暴前进方向的左侧,且"娜基莉"距东沙较远,使得东沙海滩普遍侵蚀但强度较小。东沙海滩在热带风暴后的恢复过程中,不同部位的地貌调整和冲淤变化不同,下岬角遮蔽段基本趋于稳定,直线段和上岬角遮蔽段在恢复过程中因受海滩季节性调整的影响呈现持续侵蚀。     

基于SMAP卫星雷达资料的海冰密集度反演技术研究

SMAP是美国于2015年初发射的一颗卫星,搭载了L波段的雷达。它采用圆锥扫描方式,具有固定的入射角、较大的幅宽和千米级的分辨率,在海冰监测方面具有独特的优势。本文利用SMAP卫星雷达资料分别与德国Bremen大学海冰密集度产品和美国国家冰雪数据中心（NSIDC）海冰密集度产品建立3.125 km和25 km匹配数据集,分析了L波段雷达后向散射系数、极化比和归一化极化差与海冰密集度之间相关性,建立基于人工神经网络的海冰密集度反演算法。为了验证SMAP卫星雷达资料反演海冰密集度的精度,本文选择德国Bremen大学和美国冰雪数据中心发布的海冰密集度产品分别与SMAP海冰密集度产品进行对比分析,SMAP海冰密集度与Bremen海冰密集度的偏差为0.07、均方根误差为0.14;与NSIDC海冰密集度的偏差为0.04、均方根误差为0.18,这表明SMAP海冰密集度产品与现有业务化海冰密集度产品具有很好的一致性。     

铜藻(Sargassum horneri)在营养限制胁迫后对NH4-N的超补偿吸收研究

以经济马尾藻铜藻(Sargassum horneri)为研究材料,研究了其在营养限制胁迫后对NH_4-N的超补偿吸收情况。实验分营养限制和恢复营养两个阶段进行,每个阶段均设置饥饿处理组、饱和处理组和正常对照组。铜藻在低营养限制胁迫(饥饿)下培养10天后,恢复营养盐培养3天,分别采用次溴酸盐氧化法和锌镉还原法测定培养液中的NH_4-N和NO_3-N的浓度。本文研究发现,饥饿处理组中铜藻吸收氨氮的速率远高于正常对照组和饱和处理组,在恢复培养第一天时,饥饿处理组对NH_4-N的吸收速率最高为14.94μmol/(g·h),与正常对照组及饱和处理组间差异显著。在恢复培养的后两天,三个处理组中铜藻对NH_4-N的吸收速率差异慢慢变小,直至最后几乎相同。三组对NO_3-N没有表现出较高的吸收,最高仅为6.15μmol/(g·h),结果表明:氮源包括NH_4-N和NO_3-N时,铜藻优先选择吸收NH_4-N。实验后称重测定生长速率:对照组、饥饿处理组和饱和组生长率(SGR)分别为8.48%、8.86%、8.01%,ANOVA方差分析表明,三者存在显著差异(P=0.0320.05),从而证实了铜藻也存在超补偿生长的现象。     

基于连续帧间差分的抛弃式探头三维下沉运动处理方法研究

抛弃式探头由无人机装载,能够在较远目标区域和危险海域开展海洋水文环境剖面参数的测量。通过安装不同传感器,可以实现对温度、盐度的剖面测量,其深度的测量采用数学方法计算得到。针对双摄像机水箱实验获得的5个不同攻角实验结果,分析了常用的运动目标的检测方法,最终选择基于连续帧间差分法,确定探头的三维坐标位置,进而得到探头下沉运动的三维运动轨迹和速度曲线等信息。探头从水面释放后攻角在下沉过程中不断调整,改变运动姿态,同时伴随自身的旋转,抵消水平方向阻力作用,初始攻角产生的深度测量误差主要体现在加速过程,探头达到匀速运动后测量误差不变,在不考虑横流的情况下,探头最后以匀速垂直下落运动。     

LAMOST CCD camera-control system based on RTS2

The Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope(LAMOST) is the largest existing spectroscopic survey telescope, having 32 scientific charge-coupled-device(CCD) cameras for acquiring spectra. Stability and automation of the camera-control software are essential, but cannot be provided by the existing system. The Remote Telescope System 2 nd Version(RTS2) is an open-source and automatic observatory-control system. However, all previous RTS2 applications were developed for small telescopes. This paper focuses on implementation of an RTS2-based camera-control system for the 32 CCDs of LAMOST. A virtual camera module inherited from the RTS2 camera module is built as a device component working on the RTS2 framework. To improve the controllability and robustness, a virtualized layer is designed using the master-slave software paradigm, and the virtual camera module is mapped to the 32 real cameras of LAMOST. The new system is deployed in the actual environment and experimentally tested. Finally, multiple observations are conducted using this new RTS2-frameworkbased control system. The new camera-control system is found to satisfy the requirements for automatic camera control in LAMOST. This is the first time that RTS2 has been applied to a large telescope, and provides a referential solution for full RTS2 introduction to the LAMOST observatory control system.