Ontogenic shifts in predatory roles involving two invasive species

The red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, and the eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki have been introduced worldwide, but the interactions between these invasive species are not well known. The effects of crayfish presence, crayfish size and water depth on the consumption of G. holbrooki by P. clarkii were analyzed, as were the effects of mosquitofish presence and water depth on the consumption of recently hatched crayfish (RHC) by mosquitofish. To better understand this subject we conducted aquaria and open air mesocosm experiments simulating a rice field section. Aquarium experiments showed that P. clarkii consumes G. holbrooki and that G. holbrooki consumes RHC. Adult crayfish size did not significantly affect the consumption of mosquitofish and water depth had no effect on the consumption of G. holbrooki by P. clarkii and vice versa. In the outdoor mesocosm experiments P. clarkii caused no statistically significant effect on G. holbrooki numbers or biomass when compared with controls without crayfish. In spite of this, the analysis of crayfish stomach contents clearly demonstrated that several G. holbrooki individuals were consumed, indicating that crayfish can profit from the presence of G. holbrooki. Results from our study suggest that in shallow pools there are strong interactions between the two invasive species since adult crayfish predate mosquitofish and mosquitofish predate recently hatched crayfish. Therefore, there are bidirectional trophic interactions between these invasive species which change depending on their relative size. We believe that these interactions should become more relevant in confined areas such as small shallow pools formed during the late summer and autumn.     

Two New Fossil Lacewing Species from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, China (Neuroptera: Grammolingiidae)

Two new species of lacewings are described and illustrated from the Jiulongshan Formation (Middle Jurassic) of Inner Mongolia, China: Leptolingia calonervis sp. nov. and Litholingia ptesa sp. nov. (Grammolingiidae). The species can be distinguished by the following features: the outermost branch of MP2 on the hind wing did not reach the margin of wing in Leptolingia calonervis sp. nov.; the second branch of Rs forked deeply while other branches of Rs forked much later in Litholingia ptesa sp. nov..     

New Fossil Xyelidae (Insecta, Hymenoptera) from the Yixian Formation of Western Liaoning, China

In this paper one new genus and two new species, Brachyoxyela brevinodia sp. nov. and Brachyoxyela gracilenta sp. nov., in the subfamily Macroxyelinae of the family Xyelidae, are described and illustrated. The specimens were collected from the Yixian Formation, the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous, of Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, northeastern China. The new genus is established based on the characters that vein Sc meets R only beyond origin of Rs, third antennal segment is almost equal in length to the rest flagellomeres combined, terminal flagellomeres increasingly shortened toward apex, and vein 2r-rs inclined toward the apex of wing.     

Influence of submersion season on the development of test panel biofouling communities in a tropical coast

The effect of test panel submersion season on the colonization of biofouling communities in a tropical coast revealed that the effects of panel submersion time should be taken into consideration for modelling fouling community recruitment dynamics in coastal systems or during the field trials of antifouling coatings. Wooden test panels fitted onto a raft were submerged during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons for the development of the biofouling community. Results showed considerable variation in the colonization of fouling communities on test panels submerged during different seasons. Barnacles, tubeworms, ascidians and seaweeds were the major fouling communities that colonized the test panels. The total biomass of the fouling communities that settled on the post-monsoon season panels varied from the initial value of 2.72 g dm⁻² to a maximum of 44.5 g dm⁻². On the panels submerged during monsoon season, the total biomass of fouling communities varied between 0.78 g dm⁻² and 69.9 g dm⁻². The total fouling biomass on the pre-monsoon season panels varied between 2.95 and 33.5 g dm⁻². Barnacles were the initial colonizers on the panels submerged during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Soft-bodied organisms such as ascidians dominated the monsoon season-initiated panel series during the initial period.     

Size-differential feeding in Pinna nobilis L. (Mollusca: Bivalvia): Exploitation of detritus,phytoplankton and zooplankton

The endangered fan shell Pinna nobilis is a large bivalve mollusc (<120 cm shell length) endemic to the Mediterranean that lives one-third buried in soft substrata, generally in shallow coastal waters. We hypothesised that P. nobilis of different sizes would ingest different food sources, because small fan shells will inhale material from closer to the substratum than do large fan shells. We studied stomach contents and faeces of 18 fan shells, 6 small (mean 23.0 cm length), 6 medium-sized (mean 41.5 cm length) and 6 large (mean 62.7 cm length) living in a small area of a low-energy coastal detritic bottom characterised by mud, sand and macroalgae at Mali Ston Bay, Croatia. We found that all P. nobilis ingested copious quantities of undetermined detritus (probably at least 95% of ingested material), phytoplankton, micro and mesozooplankton and pollen grains. Large P. nobilis stomach contents showed a preponderance of water column calanoid copepods, while small fan shells had higher numbers of bivalve larvae. All fan shells took in high numbers of harpacticoid copepods that are benthonic, feeding on microbial communities of detritus and benthic vegetation. There was also a significant selection of phytoplankton species, some apparently occurring between inhalation and ingestion. The stomach contents of small P. nobilis had a higher organic matter content than either medium-sized or large fan shells; this indicated that small fan shells ingested detritus of higher organic content than did larger P. nobilis. As the faeces of all P. nobilis had similar organic matter content, this also indicates higher assimilation efficiencies in small fan shells. The demonstration of differential dietary selectivity by different sized animals has implications for future trophic studies of this endangered species. This study also provides the first demonstration of predation on zooplankton by P. nobilis.     

Emerging fisheries,emerging fishery interactions with sea turtles: A case study of the large-mesh gillnet fishery for flounder in Pamlico Sound,North Carolina,USA

Emerging fisheries and changes in fishery practices are not always readily apparent, nor are their impacts on non-target species such as seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals. Data from several different sources led managers to discover high rates of sea turtle bycatch in an inshore large-mesh gillnet fishery in North Carolina, USA, particularly the emerging deep-water gillnet fishery. This paper reviews the history of how increased numbers of observed stranded sea turtles in 1999 led to the discovery that turtles were becoming entangled in the large-mesh gillnet fishery in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina. It also demonstrates how a variety of data sets from fisheries observers, aerial surveys, and fisheries statistics programs contributed to shaping management of the large-mesh gillnet fishery in Pamlico Sound to decrease turtle bycatch and now point towards the need of additional assessment of gillnet bycatch in other parts of North Carolina. Finally, potential approaches are discussed for a more timely detection of future fishery conflicts and development of a plan to reduce otherwise inevitable bycatch and disruptions to fishing effort.     

福建省主要海湾浮性鱼卵和仔稚鱼的种类组成与丰度分布

根据2007年8月至2009年10月期间在福建省主要海湾的调查资料,对其浮性鱼卵和仔稚鱼的种类组成与数量分布特点进行初步研究和探讨.结果表明,本调查海域共出现鱼卵和仔稚鱼68种,隶属于29科,主要是近海中上层鱼类、浅海底层鱼类和港湾河口型鱼类3个生态类型.各站鱼卵总平均丰度是497.5粒/网,仔稚鱼总平均丰度50.8个/网.优势种明显,占总量比例大;不同季节和不同海湾的种类数相差不大;数量平面分布呈现不同季节不同海湾差别较大,规律性不强,偶然性大等特点.     

中西太平洋金枪鱼延绳钓渔获组成及其多样性分析

根据2009年6～11月金枪鱼延绳钓观察员海上采集的数据,对中西太平洋S2°05′～S7°51′,W159°48′～W168°10′海域的延绳钓渔获物组成进行了分析.126个站点(钩次)的种类组成分析表明,该作业区域的渔获物有鱼类35种,隶属于9目22科30属;鲸类2种,隶属于1目2科2属;龟鳖类1种.反映种类组成多样...     

中国木叶鲽属鱼类一新纪录种

2008年8月,在浙江舟山附近海域(东海)采集到4尾木叶鲽属鱼类,经鉴定为中国鱼类新纪录种——长木叶鲽,其主要特征为:体棕褐色,有眼侧和无眼侧颞上枝前端有小分枝,鳞片小但不狭长,背鳍鳍条数72~74(73.3);臀鳍鳍条数56~59(57.5);有眼侧胸鳍鳍条数8~10(8.8),无眼侧胸鳍鳍条数为8;有眼侧与无眼侧腹鳍鳍条数均为6;尾鳍鳍条数19~20(19.5),脊椎骨数为36;鳃耙数为3+7。基于线粒体COI基因片段得到的长木叶鲽与角木叶鲽的K2P遗传距离为9.4%,2种间遗传分化达到了种间水平。     

基于幂函数法则对放牧梯度上种群空间异质性的定量分析

 在呼伦贝尔草原的克氏针茅群落选择轻牧、中牧、重牧3个不同的放牧梯度,沿着50 m样线设置100个50 cm×50 cm的L型样方,每个L型样方内划分4个25 cm×25 cm的S型样方,以物种出现的频度（p）作为植被空间分布的观测指标,采用幂函数法则对放牧梯度上草原植物群落物种的空间异质性进行了定量研究。结果表明,在不同放牧强度下,种类结构发生明显改变,轻度放牧区羊草和星状刺骨藜、中度放牧区藜和糙隐子草、重度放牧区猪毛菜和多根葱具有高的出现频度,群落物种数随着放牧压力的增大而减小。整体来看,放牧梯度上物种的空间分布呈现明显的聚集分布,物种空间异质性（δi）随着放牧强度的增大而增加,拟合于幂函数规律曲线;群落的空间异质性（δc）随着轻牧-中牧-重牧放牧演替的进展呈现降低趋势,种群个体分布呈现片断化特征。在群落内部各个种群具有不同的异质化分布特点,物种结构主要表现出密集型种群和疏散型种群两大类型。这些趋势与种群的繁殖策略、生活史对策、群落的再生产策略等生理与生态特性密切相关。