Abundance of the introduced seastar, Asterias amurensis, and spatial variability in soft sediment assemblages in SE Tasmania: Clear correlations but complex interpretation

The northern Pacific seastar, Asterias amurensis, was first collected in southeast Tasmania in 1986. Mistaken for the endemic asteroid Uniophora granifera, its true identity was not realised until 1992. It is now a conspicuous predator in soft sediment habitats in this region, and is considered a major threat to native assemblages and commercial species. We examined the structure of soft sediment assemblages at different spatial scales in southeast Tasmania, and correlated spatial variation in community composition with seastar abundances. We found that the structure of soft sediment assemblages is highly variable at a range of spatial scales from metres to tens of kilometres. Clear differences in the composition of assemblages and abundances of major taxa were detected between areas with and without seastars and between areas with low and high seastar densities. However, the nature of these patterns suggests that they are more likely due to differences in sediment characteristics than due to impacts of the seastar. Thus, spatial differences in soft sediment assemblages might have been erroneously attributed to seastars without detailed information on important physical factors such as sediment characteristics. A second survey, using larger sampling units (1 m²) but across a more limited spatial extent, targeted bivalves and heart urchins that were identified as important prey of the seastar in observations of feeding and in experimental studies. Large-scale patterns of abundance and size structure were consistent with seastar effects anticipated from small-scale experimental and feeding studies for some, but not all, species. While the field survey ultimately provided evidence about the presence or absence of seastar impacts at large-scales, the identification of key ecological variables in experimental and feeding studies proved crucial to both the design and interpretation of patterns observed in the large-scale surveys. Overall, this work highlighted the necessity to consider multiple lines of evidence rather than relying on a single ‘inferential’ test, in the absence of pre-impact data.     

中国近海的天然气勘探

据最新勘探资料，在综合分析中国近海海域天然气勘探现状、资源潜力及其区域分布规律的基础上，分析了我国近海海域天然气勘探的有利区带及目前比较现实的勘探目标，展示了我国近海海域天然气勘探的良好前景。     

天然气水合物成矿的沉积控制因素

天然气水合物是一种非常规的天然气矿藏，其形成与分布除了需要特定的温压条件外，还需要合适的沉积条件。截止2002年底，世界上共有l16处已直接或间接发现水合物，直接见到水合物样品的只有23处(海洋20处、陆地3处)，所以对水合物沉积条件的系统研究处于比较薄弱的阶段，文献报道也较少，目前认为其形成的沉积控制因素主要有岩性、沉积速率、有机碳含量、沉积环境及沉积相等4方面。     

我国陆上大中型气田分布规律与有利勘探区带优选

“八五”、“九五”期间我国天然气探明储量幅度增长,大中型气田分布规律的深化研究密切关系到天然气储量的增长势头。克拉通盆地下层序古隆起控气理论和上层序非构造圈闭控气机理是克拉通大中型气田富集分布的基本规律,前陆盆地是我国富气盆地类型之一,其冲断带下盘大型造圈闭群、前缘斜坡岩性尖灭区带与浅层次生气藏、前缘隆起上的断块圈闭群等是该类盆地有利的天然气富集区带。依据充分的地质资料,结合我国天然气勘探实际,提     

苏北盐城凹陷复合含油气系统

苏北盐城凹陷含油气系统可划分为上、下2个复合含油气系统。上复合含油气系统，即Pz、K2p、K2t(生)-K2t、E1f1(储)一E1f1 E1f2(盖)，古生界、中生界浦口组和泰州组为烃源岩层，泰州组和阜宁组一段为储集层，阜宁组一段顶部至二段暗色泥岩为区域盖层，油气沿深大断裂运移，油气成藏关键时刻在古近纪晚期至新近纪早期，有利勘探区在深大断裂附近的中、新生界发育地区；下复合含油气系统，即Pz、K2p(生)-Pz、K2p(储)-K2p3 K2p4(盖)，油气通过断层或不整合运移，油气大量生成的关键时刻为古近纪早期，该系统中气藏分布在古生界被中生界覆盖地区。     

Optimum Sample Size to Detect Perturbation Effects: The Importance of Statistical Power Analysis – A Critique

Abstract. The current article describes statistical power analysis as an efficient strategy for the estimation of the optimum sample size. The principle aim is constructively to criticise and enrich the results presented by Mouillot et al. (1999) , who estimate the optimum sample size for evaluating possible perturbations. The authors did not make any reference to statistical power analysis, even though their objective clearly went beyond a simple stock evaluation to assess management strategies in a particular marine ecosystem. Surprisingly, they proposed (a priori) an ANOVA design to test a hypothesis considering both space and temporal scales. However, the authors did not cover important topics related with power analysis and the precautionary principle, both used into environment impact assessment programmes for marine ecosystems. Based on their results and on statistical power analysis, it is demonstrated that the variability (dispersion statistics), a key factor they used to estimate the sample size, is less relevant than the magnitude of perturbation (effect size). Therefore, a greater effort must be devoted to estimate the effect size of a particular phenomenon rather than a desired variability.     

Surface circulation of the Levantine Basin: Comparison of model results with observations

The eastern Mediterranean (Levantine Basin) hydrography and circulation are investigated by comparing the results of a high-resolution primitive equation model with observations. After a 10-year integration, the model is able to reproduce the major water masses and the circulation patterns of the eastern Mediterranean. Comparisons with the POEM hydrographical observations show good agreement. The vertical distribution of the water masses matches that of the observations quite well in terms of monthly mean. The model surface circulation is in agreement with circulation schemes derived from recent observations. Some well-known mesoscale features of the upper thermocline circulation are also realistically reproduced. In agreement with satellite observations, the model shows that high-energy mesoscale eddies dominate the upper thermocline circulation in the southern and the central parts of the Levantine Basin. Most of the Atlantic Water follows the north African coast and forms a strong coastal jet near the Libyan coast rather than forming the Mid-Mediterranean Jet described by several authors. The sub-basin circulation shows a strong seasonal signal. A strong and stable current flows along the isobaths in winter, becoming weaker and with more meanders in summer. The mesoscale eddies throughout the whole basin are more energetic in summer than in winter.