Coralligenous habitat in the northern Adriatic Sea: an overview

The rocky outcrops irregularly scattered in the sandy‐muddy sea bed of the Northern Adriatic, formed by a base rock and a superimposed concretion of vegetal and animal organisms, are considered an infralittoral coralligenous habitat, according to the most recent definition. In the last four decades, research has mainly concentrated on their geology because of the question of the origin of the base rock – very similar to beachrock – which has only recently been attributed to sedimentary cementation induced by methane seeps. Studies on their macrobenthic assemblages have also been published recently, but true comparisons among them are difficult because they mostly refer only to a few selected phyla or to short‐term observations. Very few papers deal with the whole of the animal and plant communities, including all taxonomic groups and the most important environmental variables. On the basis of the literature data concerning several outcrops in the Gulf of Venice, we suggest that the Adriatic reefs differ slightly from the classic deeper coralligenous assemblages around the Mediterranean coast because they have smaller concretions of algae builders. We also suggest that the Northern Adriatic coralligenous reefs are younger than the other reefs occurring in the Mediterranean Sea.     

The onset of fish colonization in a coastal defence structure (Chioggia,Northern Adriatic Sea)

Coastal defence structures constitute the most extensive hard substrates of the Northwestern Adriatic Sea and are known to sustain rich benthic and nektonic communities. To appreciate the pattern of colonization, we studied the fish assemblage of a recently deployed breakwater. We compared observations from two years, the different sides (landward and seaward) of the barrier, and the two fringes, characterized by timing of work completion. The results indicate that colonization, still in process, follows different patterns among species. Benthic and necto-benthic species presented a striking increase in abundance and richness in the second year of colonization, while more mobile species did not evince any variation between years. Differences in mobility among species suggest that the latter group may have reached the breakwater from nearby artificial substrates, whereas the former colonized the new structure as recruits. In addition, fish assemblages differed between the two sides, likely due to variation in the environmental characteristics, and according to depth, reflecting species preferences.     

Distribution of phytoplankton community in relation to environmental parameters in cage culture area of Sepanggar Bay,Sabah, Malaysia

This paper covers spatial and temporal variation in phytoplankton communities and physico-chemical water properties in the cage culture area of Sepanggar Bay, Sabah, Malaysia based on field measurement conducted during July 2005 to January 2006 to study the spatial and temporal variation in phytoplankton communities and physico-chemical water properties of the bay. Phytoplankton samples and water parameters data were collected from five different stations located inside the bay during Southwest, Interseasonal and Northeast monsoons. Forty phytoplankton genera, representatives of 23 families, were found in the study area with a mean abundance of 1.55 ± 1.19 × 10⁶ cells L⁻¹. Most of these genera belong to diatoms (82.17%), Dinoflagellates (17.55%) and cyanobacteria (0.29%). Three genera were found to be dominant (>10%) in phytoplankton abundance and these were Coscinodiscus spp. (36.38%), Chaetoceros spp (17.65%) and Bacteriastrum spp. (10.98%). The most dominant genus was Coscinodiscus spp. which showed high abundance during all monsoons and stations (except Station 3). Among the seven environmental parameters tested in this study, water temperature, pH and suspended sediment concentration were found to be significantly different between monsoons. On the other hand, no significant differences were found between stations for the studied physico-chemical parameters. A clear differences in phytoplankton densities were observed between monsoons and stations with higher mean abundances during interseasonal monsoon (2.40 ± 1.37 × 10⁶ cells L⁻¹) and at station five (2.05 ± 0.74 × 10⁶ cells L⁻¹), respectively. Conversely, the diversity indices, both Shannon–Wiener (H^′)$\left(H^{\prime }\right)$ and Pielou (J^′)$\left(J^{\prime }\right)$, showed no significant difference throughout stations and monsoons (except (H^′)$\left(H^{\prime }\right)$ for monsoons). Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) results demonstrated temporal differences in phytoplankton community structure with highly diverse phytoplankton assemblage. Through cluster analysis five groups of phytoplankton were attained (at 40% similarity level) though no marked separation of the taxonomic classes pointed towards the constant pattern of the phytoplankton assemblage in the studied area.     

琉球群岛东部海区表层沉积物中浮游有孔虫分布及指示意义

对琉球群岛东部海区123个表层沉积物样品中浮游有孔虫因子分析结果表明,浮游有孔虫组合在溶跃面以上表现为Globigerinoides ruber-Globigerinata glutinata组合,溶跃面以下为Globorotalia inflata-Neoglobo-quadrina pachyderma (dex.)组合,局部受黑潮影响区域黑潮标志种Pulleniatina obliquiloculata含量相对丰富,为Neogloboquadrina dutertrei-P.obliquiloculata组合;表层沉积物中浮游有孔虫的丰度及组合分布特征对于碳酸盐溶跃面深度及碳酸盐补偿深度有一定的指示意义。另外,碳酸盐保存特征研究表明,该区域现代碳酸盐溶跃面深度约为3100 m,碳酸盐补偿深度约为4300 m。     

南黄海陆架中部沉积物反射率光谱的影响因素分析

利用Minolta CM-2002光谱光度计对南黄海陆架136个短柱样品20~25cm段的沉积物进行了颜色反射率数据测量,通过化学元素、粒度、磁化率等来确定影响沉积物颜色反射率变化的成分和因素,介绍了反射率光谱的一阶导数和因子分析的方法。分析结果表明,南黄海陆架沉积物颜色反射率受控于沉积物中的铁氧化物、有机质以及粘土矿物和钙质生物碎屑含量。主因子F1指示氧化环境,并与陆源物质相关,F2指示弱氧化环境,F3指示弱还原环境,主因子的波长范围分别是405~445 nm和495~595 nm,605~695 nm,445~485 nm。     

Effects of cold eddy on phytoplankton production and assemblages in Luzon strait bordering the South China Sea

The biochemical effects of a cold-core eddy that was shed from the Kuroshio Current at the Luzon Strait bordering the South China Sea (SCS) were studied in late spring, a relatively unproductive season in the SCS. The extent of the eddy was determined by time-series images of SeaWiFS ocean color, AVHRR sea surface temperature, and TOPEX/Jason-1 sea surface height anomaly. Nutrient budgets, nitrate-based new production, primary production, and phytoplankton assemblages were compared between the eddy and its surrounding Kuroshio and SCS waters. The enhanced productivity in the eddy was comparable to wintertime productivity in the SCS basin, which is supported by upwelled subsurface nitrate under the prevailing Northeastern Monsoon. There were more Synechococcus, pico-eucaryotes, and diatoms, but less Trichodesmium in the surface water inside the eddy than outside. Prochlorococcus and Richelia intracellularis showed no spatial differences. Water column-integrated primary production (IPP) inside the eddy was 2–3 times that outside the eddy in the SCS (1.09 vs. 0.59 g C m⁻²d⁻¹), as was nitrate-based new production (INP) (0.67 vs. 0.25 g C m⁻²d⁻¹). INP in the eddy was 6 times that in the Kuroshio (0.12 g C m⁻²d⁻¹). IPP and INP in the eddy were higher than the maximum production values ever measured in the SCS basin. Surface chlorophyll a concentration (0.40 mg m⁻³) in the eddy equaled the maximum concentration registered for the SCS basin and was higher than the wintertime average (0.29 ± 0.04 mg m⁻³). INP was 3.5 times as great and IPP was doubled in the eddy compared to the wintertime SCS basin. As cold core eddies form intermittently all year round as the Kuroshio invades the SCS, their effects on phytoplankton productivity and assemblages are likely to have important influences on the biogeochemical cycle of the region.     

Effects of pulsed nutrient inputs on phytoplankton assemblage structure and blooms in an enclosed coastal area

The response of phytoplankton assemblage structure to terrestrial nutrient inputs was examined for the Gulf of Kalloni in the Northern Aegean Sea, a productive semi-enclosed coastal marine ecosystem. The study was focused on a typical annual cycle, and emphasis was placed on the comparative analysis between blooms developing after significant nutrient inputs from the watershed, and naturally occurring blooms. Baseline information was collected on a monthly basis from a network of stations located in the oligotrophic open sea and the interior and more productive part of the embayment. Intensive sampling was also carried out along a gradient in the vicinity of a river which was the most important source of freshwater and nutrient input for the Gulf. Phytoplankton assemblage structure was analyzed from 188 samples using diversity indices (Shannon and Average Taxonomic Distinctness), multivariate plotting methods (NMDS), multivariate statistics (PERMANOVA), and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Three characteristic assemblages were recognized: (1) an autumn assemblage developed under nutrient depleted conditions, having low diversity due to the dominance of two small diatoms, (2) a winter bloom of the potentially toxic species Pseudo-nitzschia calliantha occurring immediately after a nutrient peak and characterized by very low diversity, and (3) a naturally occurring early summer bloom of centric diatoms with relatively high diversity. The results of the study support the view that moderate nutrient inputs may have a beneficial effect on the functioning of coastal ecosystems, stimulating the taxonomic diversity through the growth of different taxonomic groups and taxa. On the other hand, a sudden pulse of high nutrient concentrations may greatly affect the natural succession of organisms, have a negative effect on the diversity through the dominance of a single species, and can increase the possibility of a harmful algal bloom development.     

履带式深海采矿车软底质行走性能分析

海底底质的物理力学参数不同于陆地土壤,其极低的抗剪强度和承压强度对深海采矿车的行走性能提出高要求。分析基于车辆地面力学理论,开展了底质土力学特性试验研究,建立了深海底质力学模型。根据深海重载作业采矿车样机结构参数,在大型动力学仿真软件Recurdyn中建立了仿真模型。通过直线行走多体动力学仿真与直线行走海试试验的对比,验证了仿真模型的准确性。在此基础上开展了采矿车样机在深海软底质上的多种行走工况动力学仿真,分析与评价其行走性能。结果表明,采矿车样机可以顺利完成转弯、爬坡、越障等基本功能。该研究成果可为深海采矿车海底行走性能评估提供理论参考,为深海采矿车和软底质的相互作用力学研究提供借鉴。     

南黄海和东海北部陆架重矿物组合分区及来源

利用大洋-50型海底取样器,在南黄海和东海北部陆架(125°E以西)海上调查获取了海底表层沉积物样品,其中包括1998年以来"黄东海地质地球物理补充调查"和"中韩黄海沉积动力学与古环境演变"2项研究所获得的样品共380个,选取0.063～0.125mm粒级的沉积物,进行碎屑矿物分析,最后选出9个代表性的优势重矿物种的数据为变量,利用Q型聚类(分层聚类)的数学方法,进行聚类组合,在数学统计的基础上,将研究区划分出4个重矿物组合区。客观地反映出黄河物质、长江物质和原地物质的影响范围,同时也体现出物质来源和水动力以及海底风化作用对重矿物分布的影响程度和范围,因而可以得出,在一定的范围内陆架表层沉积物中的重矿物具有趋同的演化效应。     

渤海中、南部表层沉积硅藻的定量分析

对取自渤海中、南部海底表层的44个沉积物样品进行了硅藻分析。样品中共含硅藻20属41种,主要是潮间带、沿岸性底栖或浮游种类,其中尤以具槽直链藻Melosira sulc-ata和小环藻Cyclotella最多见。对本区的表层沉积硅藻用多元统计方法进行分区,共划分出三区、两亚区,井与其他海区进行了比较。