A social scientist's perspective on the Census of Marine Life

Over 300 natural scientists in 53 nations are taking part in the Census of Marine Life (CoML) to investigate what lived, what lives, and what will live in the oceans. The CoML is a scientific experiment that is exploring the limits of ocean science. The paper discusses the potential applications of CoML research and the mechanisms by which the potential benefits can be measured and preserved. I recommend developing and integrating policy advisory committees with the natural science activities to both maximize the benefits of the research and to avoid unintended consequences.     

广东雷州珍稀海洋生物国家级自然保护区水体和沉积物中石油类含量与分布特征

为了探讨广东雷州珍稀海洋生物国家级自然保护区海域水体和沉积物中石油类的含量及其分布特征,文章于2017年和2018年分别对保护区海域的石油类进行了调查。结果表明,保护区表层水体石油类含量为0.003~0.066mg/L,平均含量为0.015mg/L,平均污染指数为0.30,保护区水体中的石油类基本符合一类海水水质标准。保护区表层沉积物中石油类含量为3.0~54.8mg/kg,平均值为11.109mg/kg,符合海洋沉积物第一类质量标准。保护区水体和沉积物中石油类含量的变化规律基本相似,但是沉积物中石油类含量的变化更大。根据调查数据分析,保护区水体中石油类的主要来源是保护区社区小型渔船航行排放的石油类,以及保护区周边渔船在航行过程排放的石油类扩散到保护区海域。     

三种海洋硅藻胞外多聚物形态、微细结构及组成的初步研究

利用光镜和扫描电镜对厦门近海三种常见附着硅藻——爪哇曲壳藻亚缢变种(Achnanthes javanica var．subconstricta)、咖啡形双眉藻(Amphora coffeaeformis)和多枝舟形藻(Nav-icula ramosissima)胞外多聚物(Extracellular polymeric substances,EPSs)的形态和微细结构进行了研究,并初步分析了其化学组成。结果表明,A．javanica var．subconstricta的胞外多聚物为透明的长柄,分为领、柄及垫状物三部分,电镜显示其徽细结构为由许多纤维组成的双层实心管;Amphora coffeaeformis分泌的EPS为由串连的小节组成的实心管状结构,许多管交织成厚的胶质块;Navicula ramosissima的EPSs则为透明的薄膜并形成胶质膜。三种硅藻胞外多聚物的水溶性和水不溶性的主要成分均为多糖类,达总量的70％以上,蛋白质含量次之．不含脂类物质,但不同藻类EPS的组成差异较大。此外,还探讨了EPSs的功能及其分泌机理。     

Management of the commons for biodiversity: lessons from the North Pacific

The North Pacific has the world's largest groundfish fisheries, with a value in excess of $1 billion annually. The North Pacific also is home to the largest population of Steller sea lions (SSL), an ancient species that is now endangered. Decline of the western stock of SSL in the 1970–1990s coincided with the US nationalization and exponential growth in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands groundfish fishery.The article treats five aspects of the competition between the fishery and protection of the endangered species. First, we analyze competition of interests in the use, management, and preservation of the North Pacific commons, including offshore and near-shore fisheries, environmental organizations, governments (federal, state, and local), and the scientific community. Second, the article compares and contrasts provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Magnuson–Stevens Act (as amended in 1996 by the Sustainable Fisheries Act).Third, we examine the regulatory environment with a focus on the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and its relationship to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. We illustrate how NMFS establishes fishery management plans and the methods, such as crafting biological opinions and environmental-impact-statements, it uses to resolve conflicts. Fourth, we investigate how the dual pressures on the agency—to increase fisheries production for the benefit of the industry and to preserve endangered marine species—have affected its culture (behavioral norms and operational codes). Then, the article explains agency changes in terms of crises, competition among affected interests, and development of new scientific knowledge.The article concludes by drawing lessons from the SSL controversy in the North Pacific which may pertain to national and global biodiversity conflicts. These concern the role of law in biodiversity protection, the role of science, and agency capacity for change.     

两株琼胶酶高产细菌的筛选和鉴定

从海洋环境中筛选得到两株琼胶酶的高产菌株，通过形态观察和生理生化反应，确定它们属于弧菌属，通过BIOLOG细菌鉴定系统鉴定，并同弧菌属标准菌株分析比较，确定上方宝剑两株菌都是塔式弧菌（Vibrio tubiashii)，这两株菌在碳源利用方面存在差别。     

UV-B辐射对海洋微藻抗氧化系统的影响

研究了UV－B辐射对两种海洋微藻－小新月菱形藻（Ntzschia closterlum)和亚心形扁藻（Platymonas subcordiforming)的抗氧化系统的影响。结果表明：在本实验的辐射剂量范围内，随着UV－B辐射剂量的增强，两种藻的抗氧化防御系统的非酶性组分还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）和类胡萝卜素（CAR）的含量随之下降；抗氧化防御系统的酶性组分超氧化歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）的活性逐渐降低。加入外源性抗氧化剂GSH可减轻UV－B辐射对藻的伤害。分析表明海洋微藻的UV－B伤害是由于抗氧化防御系统遭到破坏而导致活性氧积累的结果。     

海水仔稚鱼脂类营养研究进展

近年来国外海水仔稚鱼脂类营养研究取得了重要进展。作者从海鱼鱼卵和早期仔稚鱼阶段的脂肪酸成分、海水仔稚鱼饥饿时脂肪酸的保存、海水仔稚鱼脂类的消化、吸收和运输、饲料中磷脂的作用和影响、饲料磷脂与甘油三酯的效率、饲料的必需脂肪酸、必需脂肪酸的定量需要、高度不饱和脂肪酸以及EPA和DHA比例的重要性等方面综述脂类营养对海水仔稚鱼生长的影响     

Evaluation of mine tailings effects on a benthic marine infaunal community over 29 years

Benthic infaunal and sediment data collected over 29 years were used to examine the extent and geographic range of effects and recovery from submarine tailings deposition. Empirical data were used to determine extreme and moderate effects, and identify near-, mid- and far-field zones. A simple probability test using overlap in frequency distributions was then used to determine less obvious effects, identify "normal" or "reference" conditions, and verify the geographic range of effect zones. Tailings thickness and sediment particulate copper were elevated from the outfall to 16-20 km distant, particularly below discharge depth (50 m). Changes in tailings thickness and copper levels before, during and after mining showed three distinct impact zones below discharge depth: near-field (<5 km from outfall); mid-field (5-16 km); and far-field (20 + km). Consistent faunal declines during mining were noted at sediment particulate copper levels >300 microg g(-1), and sediment tailings thickness > 15-20 cm. Extreme impoverishment at these sediment levels were; < 100 animals/m2, <2.5 g/m2 biomass and <7 taxa per station. No stations with >300 microg g(-1) copper and 20 cm tailings had more than 40 taxa. Amphipods were particularly affected by tailings, with distributions reflecting the instability in sediments from heavy deposition and/or shifting of tailings due to resuspension. The probability testing method assumed that reference conditions existed in far-field stations. There was no difference in abundance distributions between near-, mid- and far-field zones. Total taxa per station during mining was significantly reduced (<45) in both near- and mid-field stations compared with far-field (less than 10% overlap in distributions). One midfield station in Quatsino Sound (23) was in reference condition throughout the study period. Post-closure stations in the near- and mid-field had total taxa numbers approaching far-field conditions (overlap of 62% in distributions). Within 3 years following closure, total taxa values were within the far-field range for all stations sampled. Biomass showed a distinct decline in the near-field during mining, but with more overlap in near-field and far-field distributions (27%) than for total taxa per station, and was returning to far-field conditions in the post-closure years. A multivariate (Bray-Curtis) measure of dissimilarity indicated that the near- and mid-field infaunal compositions were distinct from the far-field during mining (< 10% overlap in distributions). The mid-field composition overlapped more with the far-field in the post-closure years, but the near-field composition did not, suggesting that the mine tailings are still affecting the fauna. The most abundant taxon in each of the reference and near-field station groups both showed significantly distinct relative abundance distributions between near- and far-field stations. In summary, the probability method showed that species richness, biomass, species composition and indicator taxa were useful for differentiating affected and non-affected stations. Polychaetes recolonize stable tailings most quickly, and have dominated the tailings stations in the post-closure years. Amphipods have recolonized sporadically, but seem to be highly sensitive to tailings stability. There was no evidence of recovery in dominant bivalves or echinoderms within three years after mine closure.     

Marine tether dynamics: retrieval and deployment from a heaving platform

A tether management system of a winch module in a marine environment is proposed. For the purpose of this study the subsea body is considered as a mass attached at the free end of a long tether which is wrapped around a circular drum controlled by an external torque. The winch is considered mounted on a heaving platform. The effect of the heaving platform on the motions of the drum, tether and attached mass are studied with respect to the longitudinal vibrations of the tether in one dimension. The hydrodynamic effects are considered on the deployed portion of the tether and the tethered mass, both of which are assumed submerged in otherwise still water. The resulting nonlinear system of equations of motion is developed and solved numerically for an example of a marine tether system. The effect of the tether extensibility on the operation threshold of the system is identified. Comparison with an inextensible tether case is provided. The numerical results and their analysis for the retrieval/deployment of the system are presented.     

Effect of Pollutants on the Physical and Engineering Behavior of Lime-Treated Marine Clay

Rapid industrial growth and increasing population has resulted in the discharge of wastes into the ocean, wastes which ultimately reach the seabed and contaminate the marine sediments. The soil-contaminants interaction, and their associated physico chemical properties with sediments control the behavior of marine clays. Marine clay deposits of low strength and high compressibility are located in many coastal and offshore areas. There are several foundation problems encountered in these weak marine clays. In this study, experimental work was carried out in the laboratory to stabilize soft marine clays using the lime column technique. Also the lime-induced effects on the physical and engineering behavior of marine clays in sulfate-contaminated marine environment was investigated. Consolidation tests indicate that compressibility of the lime-treated samples was reduced to 1/2-1/3 of the virgin soil after 45 days treatment. The test results also suggest that the lime column technique can be conveniently used to improve the behavior of contaminated marine clay deposits.