三门湾蓝点马鲛产卵群体结构和个体生殖力

本文据1986年3—5月的调查资料研究了浙江三门湾蓝点马鲛生殖群体的叉长、体重、年龄组成、性比、性成熟系数、产卵类型、个体繁殖力及它们间的相互关系等,讨论了三门湾繁殖场蓝点马鲛的资源状况及资源保护措施。     

花鲈仔稚幼鱼的形态特征及其生态习性的研究

对人工育苗条件下花鲈仔、稚、幼鱼发育过程中的形态特征变化及生态习性进行了观察,结果表明,孵后７～９日龄,卵黄囊消失;３６日龄左右,奇鳍膜开始分化;５６日龄左右,开始出现鳞片;８５日龄左右,鳞片覆盖全身。随着形态特征的变化,与之相适应的习性也发生了变化。     

南海北部陆架区3种鱼类多氯联苯含量分布特征

为探讨南海北部陆架区海洋动物中多氯联苯(PCBs)污染状况,用气相色谱仪-电子捕获检测器测定了1998—2000年在该海域采集的3种金线鱼体内的PCBs。结果表明,在鱼体背部肌肉中PCBs含量(鲜重平均值)深水金线鱼Nemipterus bathybius中较高(6.21ng.g-1),在金线鱼N.virgatus中次之(5.26ng.g-1),在日本金线鱼N.japonicus中较低(4.83ng.g-1)。在台湾浅滩金线鱼PCBs含量(6.05ng.g-1)略高于广东海域(5.61ng.g-1),在远岸海域(5.80ng.g-1)高于近岸海域(4.48ng.g-1)。PCBs含量在深水金线鱼几种组织内的分布与脂肪含量呈正相关,表现为肝(11.9ng.g-1)>腹肌(9.05ng.g-1)>皮(4.79ng.g-1)≈背肌(4.31ng.g-1)>肠(3.53ng.g-1)≈鳃丝(3.45ng.g-1)。3种鱼体内PCBs含量(鲜重)在1.25—16.4ng.g-1范围内,远低于国内外水产品安全限量。     

Spatial distribution and vertical migrations of fish larvae communities off Northwestern Iberia sampled with LHPR and Bongo nets

The spatial distribution and diel vertical migration of fish larvae were studied in relation to the environmental conditions off NW Iberia during May 2002. Larvae from 23 families were identified, the most abundant were the Clupeidae, Gobiidae, Callionymidae, Blenniidae, Sparidae and Labridae. Sardina pilchardus was the most abundant species, mean concentrations 1 order of magnitude higher than the other fish larvae species. Larval horizontal distribution was mainly related to upwelling-driven circulation, resulting in an offshore increase of larval abundance while the vertical distribution was closely associated to the Western Iberia Buoyant Plume. Despite this general trend, taxon-specific relationships between the distribution of larvae and environmental variables were observed, and temperature was an important regressor explaining the distribution of most taxa. A comparison between ichthyoplankton samples collected alternatively with the LHPR and Bongo nets resulted in captures of larvae ≈1 order of magnitude higher for the LHPR, probably related to its higher towing speed. The spatial distribution and relative composition of larvae were also different for both nets, although the most frequent/abundant groups were the same. A fixed station sampled for 69-h showed diel vertical migrations performed by the larvae, with the highest larval concentrations occurring at surface layers during the night and most larvae being found in the neuston layer only during that period.     

Zonation and spatial distribution of littoral fish communities from the southwestern Finnish coast (Archipelago and Bothnian Sea,Northern Baltic Sea)

The aim of our study was to test whether the distribution of littoral fish assemblages would reflect both their immediate environment with reference to local underwater vegetation, including larger scale geographic archipelagial zonation. A total of 62 locations were sampled using beach seine and underwater video along the southwestern Finnish coastline in summer 2001. At all locations, water temperature, water transparency and benthic vegetation patterns (depth ranges of plant species or taxa) were recorded. Using correspondence analysis, our results showed a clear division of the Archipelago Sea into three separate zones based on littoral fish species assemblages. Overall, fish assemblages formed three distinct site groups, being dominated by pike and cyprinids, by percids and gobies, or by gasterosteids, and showed clear inner, middle and outer archipelago zones respectively, within the study area. Our results suggest that while vegetation in the study sites was diverse, it failed to express the zonation reflected by the littoral fish assemblages, which showed a definite zonation pattern which broadly reflected previous reports using both physical and biological parameters. We interpret our results to show that littoral vegetation is better in expressing small-scale differences between study sites, while littoral fish communities are more robust in detecting changes over a larger geographical scale.     

Artificial reef effect and fouling impacts on offshore wave power foundations and buoys – a pilot study

Little is known about the effects of offshore energy installations on the marine environment, and further research could assist in minimizing environmental risks as well as in enhancing potential positive effects on the marine environment. While biofouling on marine energy conversion devices on one hand has the potential to be an engineering concern, these structures can also affect biodiversity by functioning as artificial reefs. The Lysekil Project is a test park for wave power located at the Swedish west coast. Here, buoys acting as point absorbers on the surface are connected to generators anchored on concrete foundations on the seabed. In this study we investigated the colonisation of foundations by invertebrates and fish, as well as fouling assemblages on buoys. We examined the influence of surface orientation of the wave power foundations on epibenthic colonisation, and made observations of habitat use by fish and crustaceans during three years of submergence. We also examined fouling assemblages on buoys and calculated the effects of biofouling on the energy absorption of the wave power buoys. On foundations we demonstrated a succession in colonisation over time with a higher degree of coverage on vertical surfaces. Buoys were dominated by the blue mussel Mytilus edulis. Calculations indicated that biofouling have no significant effect in the energy absorption on a buoy working as a point absorber. This study is the first structured investigation on marine organisms associated with wave power devices.     

A review of the ecology and management of temporarily open/closed estuaries in South Africa,with particular emphasis on river flow and mouth state as primary drivers of these systems

Research in South African temporarily open/closed estuaries that includes studies on the hydrodynamics, sediment dynamics, macronutrients, microalgae, macrophytes, zoobenthos, hyperbenthos, zooplankton, ichthyoplankton, fishes and birds is used as a basis to review the ecology and management of this estuary type on the subcontinent. Particular attention is given to the responses of the different ecosystem components to the opening and closing of the estuary mouth and how this is driven by riverine and marine events, as well as anthropogenic influences. In addition, the wider implications of these research findings for the management of temporarily open/closed estuaries in terms of freshwater supply are explored, together with the role of government legislation in maintaining the ecological integrity of these important wetland systems.     

Comparing fish communities in sanctuaries,partly protected areas and open-access reefs in South-East Africa

Fish were surveyed by visual census on offshore reefs in Mozambique and eastern South Africa to compare (a) fully-protected ‘sanctuary’ areas, (b) ‘partly protected’ areas where recreational diving and limited fishing are permitted, and (c) ‘open’ unprotected areas. Community composition differed between coral-dominated reefs and those covered mainly by algae and sponges, but not among treatments. Larger size classes were significantly diminished in unprotected areas compared to protected and sanctuary zones. Within coral-dominated reefs, abundances of indicator taxa showed three patterns: (1) greatest abundance in sanctuaries, intermediate in partly protected and least in open areas; (2) greatest abundance in sanctuaries but equal diminishment in partly protected and open areas; and (3) greater depletion in partly protected than either sanctuary or open areas. We conclude that partial protection does not effectively conserve reef fish, and there are indications that partly protected areas concentrate fishing effort on ‘pelagic’ gamefish. Sanctioned shore-angling and offshore ‘gamefishing’, illegal fishing and diver disturbance may collectively undermine the efficacy of partially protected areas. The depletion of reef fish species inside protected areas and reconsideration of the classification of pelagic gamefish require managerial attention. Partly protected areas in Mozambique need to be supplemented with no-take zones.