Off‐reef planktivorous reef fishes respond positively to decadal‐scale no‐take marine reserve protection and negatively to benthic habitat change

The effects of no‐take marine reserve (NTMR) protection and changes in benthic habitat on fusiliers (family Caesionidae) were investigated at four small Philippine offshore islands on time scales of 10–31 years. Fusiliers are highly mobile, schooling, medium‐sized planktivorous fish that generally feed “off‐reef.” For these reasons, and given the small size of the NTMRs (3.6–37.5 ha) in this study, it was predicted that fusilier density would be unlikely to show clear effects of NTMR protection, or to respond to changes in benthic habitat. In contrast to predictions, clear NTMR effects were observed on fusilier density at three of the four NTMRs, with durations of protection from 14 to 31 years. Furthermore, the study provided strong evidence that benthic variables, specifically cover of live hard coral and dead substratum, affect the density of fusiliers. This effect of benthic habitat on density was highlighted by several major environmental disturbances that caused shifts in the benthic habitat from live hard coral to dead substratum. For two of the three most abundant species of fusiliers individually, and for all three of them combined (Pterocaesio pisang + Caesio caerulaurea + Pterocaesio digramma/tessellata), as live hard coral cover decreased, fish density decreased. It is hypothesized that these “off‐reef” daytime feeders may have such a strong association with live hard coral cover because they use this habitat as nocturnal sleeping sites. Multivariate analyses indicated that, across all sites and times sampled, cover of live hard coral and dead substratum accounted for 38% of the variation in fish assemblage structure. These results are important as there are very few reports in the published literature of strong effects of NTMR protection or changes in benthic habitat on the density and assemblage structure of fusiliers.     

SCUBA divers above the waterline: Using participatory mapping of coral reef conditions to inform reef management

Coral reefs provide important ecological services such as biodiversity, climate regulation, and cultural benefits through recreation and tourism. However, many of the world's reefs are declining, with Caribbean reefs suffering a significant decline in living corals over the past half century. This situation emphasizes the need to assess and monitor reef conditions using a variety of methods. In this study, a new method for assessing reef conditions to inform management using participatory mapping by coral reef “experts” in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) is described. Occupational SCUBA divers were recruited (n=87) to map coral reef conditions, uses, and threats (stressors) using an internet-based mapping website. The data reveal an uneven geographic distribution of reef conditions in the USVI with the most frequently mapped perceived healthy reef characteristics being: large amount of physical reef structure (n=872 markers); endangered or threatened species present (n=721); and large amount of live coral cover (n=615). The greatest perceived threats were: invasive species (n=606); water pollution (n=234); and unsustainable fishing (n=200). Areas of important reef characteristics, perceived threats to reefs, and perceived recovery potential were plotted to identify areas requiring critical management attention. The authors found that perceptions of healthy reef conditions outnumbered perceptions of reef threats for nine of the ten most familiar coral reefs; the most frequent activity type within the coral reefs was tourism diving; and for the most familiar coral reefs, the divers perceived a high recovery potential. Given the novelty of participatory mapping methods to assess coral reefs, the strengths and weaknesses of the method is evaluated. The authors further propose a management typology for categorizing reef areas to inform their future management. In the absence of primary data, or, as a supplement to underwater surveys and remotely-sensed data on reef condition, participatory mapping can provide a cost-effective means for assessing coral reef conditions while identifying place-specific reef locations requiring management attention.     

基于多波束声呐的人工鱼礁区地形特征分析

建设人工鱼礁(Artificial Reef,AR)是恢复和养护近海渔业资源的重要措施。尽管中国沿海各地人工鱼礁规模宏大,但对于鱼礁投放后的监测明显不足。传统调查方法存在效率低、成本高等缺点,多波束测深系统(Multibeam Echo Sounder,MBES)为探测鱼礁区地形地貌提供了一种有效的技术手段。本文利用高分辨率的多波束测深系统,获取礁区详细的测深数据,快速确定鱼礁位置、形态等信息;应用地形分析工具提取地形变量(坡度、曲率、粗糙度、地形耐用指数及地形起伏度),分析投石后海底地形特征。研究表明,礁石投放后海底地形发生显著变化(水深5~10 m),礁石发生沉降现象(下沉深度约0.45 m),礁石周围出现冲淤地形(礁石堆高1.65 m,影响范围5 m左右)。分析人工鱼礁引起的微地形地貌的变化,可以为鱼礁的监测与效果评估工作提供一种新的技术方法,具有较强的现实意义。     

Borehole image-based evaluation of coral reef porosity distribution characteristics

In this study, we used digital borehole image camera to obtain images of porosity distribution in coral reefs in South China Sea, and developed an effective evaluation system for such distributions. First, the original images are preprocessed, allowing the pore regions to be automatically detected. The depth and sectional functions are established to measure five parameters: pore count, pore radius, radius concentration rate, total pore area ratio, and fractal dimension count. These are used to calculate the characteristic values of porosity distributions, and their fuzzy relationships are used to build the evaluation model, determine the Hamming distances between distributions, and establish the relationships between the characteristics and coral rock classifications. Test results from applying the method on a deep borehole image segment show the results to be consistent with other methods, and the following conclusions can be reached: (1) the porosity evaluation model is a viable way to analyze porosity distribution characteristics; (2) the resulting classification method is viable; and (3) porosity distribution analysis on coral reefs has important implications.     

贵州紫云晚二叠世-早三叠世初火山作用与生物礁的沉积演化

晚二叠世长兴期是华南地区重要的成礁期,也是火山事件频发的一个时期。生物礁是一种对海洋环境十分敏感的生态系,晚二叠世的火山作用势必影响到当时生物礁的生长和沉积相的演化。然而,前人有关晚二叠世火山事件的研究主要集中在二叠系与三叠系界线附近,而对整个长兴期生物礁的演化与火山事件关系的研究则较少。选择贵州紫云的台地边缘礁为研究对象,通过大量磁化率的测试,分析整个晚二叠世生物礁的沉积演化与火山作用的关系。分析结果显示,长兴早期和末期岩石的磁化率值明显偏高,反映较强的火山活动。在这两个时期,造架生物相对不发育。长兴中期,岩石的磁化率值相较于长兴早期和长兴晚期总体偏低,表明火山活动相对较弱,导致生物礁的快速生长。但长兴中期生物礁灰岩中夹有几层生物碎屑灰岩,其磁化率值有小幅度的升高,说明短时期小规模的火山作用虽然导致了生物礁生长的暂时中断,但礁相动荡的环境使得火山灰中细小的铁磁性物质难以沉积下来。研究发现,尽管早三叠世早期泥岩具有高的磁化率值,但泥质岩中多层火山黏土具有异常高的磁化率值,火山灰物质对磁化率大小的影响远远超过陆源物质的贡献。     

桂中坳陷泥盆纪层序岩相古地理与孤立丘台礁滩发育特征

桂中坳陷属于古生代南盘江盆地靠近江南古陆南缘的一个次级沉积坳陷,其后期构造稳定,成藏条件优越,为具有较好潜力的勘探新区.在总结前人研究的基础上,运用野外露头剖面观测、测录井、地震相分析等技术手段,研究了本区层序岩相古地理特征和沉积演化史,分析认为桂中坳陷经历加里东期隆升后,在海西早期(D-C)的拉张背景下,演变为“台—盆”相间的沉积格局,期间沉积多个孤立丘台.孤立丘台发育有生物礁滩,发育时间从中泥盆世早期一直延续至中泥盆世晚期,礁滩发育具有垂向上“三种五期”叠置加积的特征.     

塔里木盆地HD23井区中奥陶统生物礁滩体的识别与研究

礁滩体储层是中国目前碳酸盐岩勘探的重点。塔里木盆地奥陶系礁滩复合储集体发育,中奥陶统生物礁发育层位主要在一间房组,发育区集中分布在塔北、巴楚等地,并以开阔台地台内点礁方式出现。HD23井区内共有奥陶系探井4口,其中HD17井、HD13井、YW2井在中奥陶统一间房组都钻遇了托盘类瓶筐石（Calathium）障积礁,礁的厚度约5 m,礁的上下地层均为砂屑鲕粒灰岩和砂砾屑灰岩等滩相沉积,形成礁滩复合体。文中通过钻井资料和地球物理资料,深入研究了HD23井区礁滩体的特征与分布。三维地震解释显示一间房组地层中存在一个厚度异常体,经分析认为该异常体就是局部异常发育的瓶筐石生物礁滩复合体,该生物礁滩体横向连片,有一定的分布范围和规模。对该井区内中奥陶统一间房组的生物礁滩体加以研究,将为下一步奥陶系的油气勘探提供依据。     

Tsunami as agents of geomorphic change in mid-ocean reef islands

Low-lying atoll islands appear highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and extreme natural events. Potentially disastrous effects of future sea-level rise have been inferred in many studies, and the actual impacts of tropical storms on island destruction and formation have been well documented. In contrast, the role of tsunami in the geomorphic development of atoll islands has not been investigated. The Sumatran earthquake of 26 December 2004 generated a tsunami that reached the Maldives 2500 km away, with waves up to 2.5 m high. Observations on the geomorphic changes resulting from the tsunami are detailed here, based on pre-and post-tsunami profile measurements of island, beach and reef topography, and GPS surveys of the planform shape of islands and beaches of 11 uninhabited islands in South Maalhosmadulu atoll, Maldives. Erosional and depositional impacts were observed on all islands and these have been quantified. In general the changes were of a minor nature with a maximum reduction in island area of 9% and average of 3.75%. Rather, the tsunami accentuated predictable seasonal oscillations in shoreline change, including localised erosion reflected in fresh scarps and seepage gullies. Depositional features in the form of sand sheets and sand lobes emplaced on the vegetated island surfaces provide clear evidence that the tsunami waves washed over parts of all the islands. Both erosional scarps and overwash deposits were concentrated at the tsunami-exposed eastern sides of the islands. Impacts on leeward shores were primarily accretionary, in the form of spit and cuspate foreland extension. Whereas the nature and magnitude of intra-and inter-island impacts was variable, an east to west decline in aggregate effects was noted. Detailed consideration of the morphodynamic interaction between the tsunami waves and island morphology, show that this cross-atoll gradient resulted not just from the reduction in tsunami energy as it passed through the atoll, but also from variations in elevation of the encircling island ridge, and the quantity and distribution of sediment in the antecedent beach. A conceptual model identifying the sequence of changes to individual islands supports the observational data and the pattern of geomorphic changes resulting from the tsunami. This model leads to consideration of the longer-term impacts of the tsunami on the future stability of islands. Four scenarios are presented, each of which has a different island-beach sediment budget, and different relaxation time to achieve dynamic equilibrium.     

ESR DATING OF CORAL REEFS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

ESR dating of aragonitic and calcitic corals , eolianite , calcrete , and corallineae from coral reefs in the South China Sea was applied to study of Quaternary reef geology . The ESR ages of calcitic corals correlated with the biostratigraphy , lithostratigraphy and geochemistry of Well Xi-Chen-1 and the oxygen-isotope stratigraphy of deep sea sediments, were reliable and up to 1.26 Ma. The selection of signals for dating and other related problems are discussed .     

Reconsidering Melt-water Pulses 1A and 1B： Global Impacts of Rapid Sea-level Rise

Re-evaluation of the post-glacial sea level derived from the Barbados coral-reef borings suggests slightly revised depth ranges and timing of melt-water pulses MWP-1A (96-76m, 14.3-14.0ka cal BP) and 1B (58-45 m, 11.5-11.2ka cal BP), respectively. Ages of non-reef sea-level indicators from the Sunda Shelf, the East China Sea and Yellow Sea for these two intervals are unreliable because of the well-documented radiocarbon (^14C) plateau, but their vertical clustering corresponds closely with MWP-1A and 1B depth ranges. Close correlation of the revised sea-level curve with Greenland ice-core data suggests that the ^14C plateau may be related to oceanographic-atmospheric changes due to rapid sea-level rise, fresh-water input, and impaired ocean circulation. MWP-1A appears to have occurred at the end of Bφlling Warm Transition, suggesting that the rapid sea-level rise may have resulted from lateral heat transport from low to high-latitude regions and subsequent abrupt ice-sheet collapses in both North America-Europe and Antarctica. An around 70 mma^-1 transgression during MWP-1A may have increased freshwater discharge to the North Atlantic by as much as an order of magnitude, thereby disturbing thermohaline circulation and initiating the Older Dryas global cooling.