Reproductive biology of the mackerel scad Decapterus macarellus from Cabo Verde and the implications for its fishery management

The mackerel scad Decapterus macarellus is of great social and economic importance to Cabo Verde citizens; however, in recent years catches have shown an unexplained decline. The harvest is regulated by way of a minimum legal size and a seasonal closure, with both measures based on the results of reproductive studies that did not consider the microscopic characteristics of the gonads. This study aimed to analyse the gonads microscopically in order to classify the sexual development stage of individuals and to estimate the size at first maturity and the reproductive season. This information was then used to analyse the match between the reproductive parameters and the management measures. The samples comprised 284 females (20–36 cm fork length [FL]) and 85 males (21–35 cm FL). The annual variation in gonadosomatic index and the monthly frequencies of mature phases suggest that the reproductive season occurs from March to October, with two spawning peaks, one in March and another from July to October. The current seasonal closure (from July to September) covers the main reproductive period. However, the species has a long spawning period and the timing of peaks can vary between years; hence, a reassessment of this management measure is recommended. The sizes at first maturity were estimated at 24.1 cm FL for females, and 26.6 cm FL for males. These values are higher than the minimum legal size (20 cm FL) currently established for management of the species at Cabo Verde; thus, we strongly recommend an increase in the minimum legal size in an attempt to reduce catches of immature individuals.     

遮浪湾浮游幼虫的季节分布

本文分析遮浪湾浮游幼虫的季节分布及其与环境因子的关系,并讨论其它有关生态问题。湾内浮游幼虫总数量和主要类群数量的季节变化呈现典型的亚热带海区的双周期型,数量的平面分布随离岸距离增加而增多,水温过低或过高和低盐度均对幼虫的生长活动不利。湾中甲壳动物的无节幼虫最丰富,多毛类和棘皮动物的浮游幼虫次之。     

Phosphorus and nitrogen cyclings in the pelagic system of hiroshima bay: Results of numerical model simulation

A numerical ecosystem model expressing both phosphorus and nitrogen cyclings in the pelagic system of Hiroshima Bay, Japan, was developed in order to investigate the seasonal variations of these elements and their annual budgets. Based on the geophysical and chemical structures of the bay, Hiroshima Bay was divided into northern and southern boxes, themselves divided into two layers of an upper 5 m and a lower layer according to the stratification of the water column. The model consists of equations representing all relevant physical and biological processes. The results revealed that the internal regeneration of materials was an important source of bioavailable nutrients for phytoplankton growth in the water column. The incorporation of phytoplankton aggregation improved the accuracy of the outputs in comparison to the observed data, especially during the stratified summer season. The results also indicated that phosphorus limitation of phytoplankton growth occurs in the upper layer during summer while light limitation occurs in the lower layer. In addition, physical processes such as diffusion and advection were also important as they ensured that most of regenerated nutrients in the lower layer were transported to the upper layer. Thus, these processes might support the high primary production and the production of oysters that are extensively cultured in this bay. Considering the informative results obtained, the model used in this study provides a sound basis and tool to describe the dynamics of phosphorus and nitrogen cyclings in Hiroshima Bay.     

The State of the Adriatic Sea Centered on the Small Pelagic Fish Populations

Abstract. The paper provides an overview of the state of the small pelagic fish in the Adriatic Sea. The North Adriatic is reviewed for the 1976–1998 period and the South Adriatic for the 1987–1998 period. First the fluctuations in time and in space of the pelagic biomass, as a whole and per species, are presented. Then the dramatic collapse of anchovy stock and its apparent association with the decrease of surface temperature is discussed. Finally the changes of the anchovy and sardine catches are compared and analysed with respect to their abundances in the sea. The conclusion is that acoustic and satellite methods are able to provide a large amount of information on the variability in the pelagic populations; this is essential for an appropriate management of these resources. There is still a need, however, to refine the methods and to integrate this kind of information with further environmental data (including natural predators).     

闽东北外海渔场捕捞中上层鱼类的渔具,渔法研究

本文分析了闽东北外海渔场资源特点，并就不同类型的拖网、围网渔具的适渔性对比试验进行了研究，认为以主机功率330.75kw及以上的拖网渔船，使用四片式疏目拖网和以主机功率183．75kw及以上的围网渔船，使用250m×150m的无囊灯光围网，于春、夏汛时在该渔场100m等深线附近海域能较有效地捕捞鲐鲹等中上层鱼类。     

湛江湾浮游动物群落结构特征及其周年变化

2010年10月至2011年9月对湛江湾浮游动物进行了周年调查,研究了其群落结构的周年变化及影响因素。结果共检出浮游动物87种和29类浮游幼虫,隶属于16大类群,群落结构主要由桡足类(30种)、浮游幼虫(29类)和原生动物(23种)所组成,分别占总种类数的25.86%、25.00%和19.83%。浮游动物种类数以4月最多,2月和3月最少,4~9月的总种类数均高于其他月份。湛江湾浮游幼虫以底栖动物幼虫为主,在4月种类最多,5月丰度最高,4~7月为湛江湾海洋动物的繁盛时期。浮游动物优势种共有22种(类),其中浮游幼虫9类,原生动物7种,桡足类3种,水母类、毛颚类、被囊类各1种,以12月、4月和5月优势种最多(8种),2月最少(2种),无全年优势种,群落结构明显趋于小型化。各相邻月份的共有种类数在18~33种,物种更替率R的范围为37.25%~73.61%,多样性指数H'、均匀度J及丰富度d的年均值较低,分别为2.64、0.54和3.32。在调查期间,湛江湾浮游动物丰度出现了3个高峰,且分别由不同的浮游动物类群组成,其中12月份的高峰主要由原生动物组成,2月份的高峰主要由桡足类组成,而5月份的高峰则主要由浮游幼虫组成,3大类群共同主导湛江湾浮游动物群落结构;浮游动物生物量仅在2月和9月出现高峰,呈现月份双峰型变化。湛江湾浮游动物的周年变化主要受水温、食物及摄食压力的影响。     

答《关于深海锰结核中“纳米级超微生物化石”的思考和建议》一文

本文详细讨论了东太平洋深海锰矿结核中新发现的中华微放线菌和太平洋螺球孢菌究竟是不是超微结构，首先，它们是笔者根据形态，结构和元素成分作为超微生物化石进行鉴定的，其次，透射电子显微镜中可以清楚地区分出完整的微生物结构，包括菌丝，孢子，孢囊和菌落等，它们之间的尺寸比例也是适当的，此外，透射电子显微像还揭示，深海锰质叠层石的纹层就是这些超微生物韵律性生长的结果，与滨海叠层中的纹层十分相似，笔者认为，已知微生物的最小尺寸不能作为否定新发现的超微生物化石的依据。本文还讨论了超微生物化石的术语问题。     

Food-web traits of the North Aegean Sea ecosystem (Eastern Mediterranean) and comparison with other Mediterranean ecosystems

A mass-balance trophic model was built to describe the food-web traits of the North Aegean Sea (Strymonikos Gulf and Thracian Sea, Greece, Eastern Mediterranean) during the mid-2000s and to explore the impacts of fishing. This is the first food-web model representing the Aegean Sea, and results were presented and discussed in comparison to other previous ecosystems modelled from the western and the central areas of the basin (South Catalan and North-Central Adriatic Seas).