Movement patterns of an endangered fishery species,Lithognathus lithognathus (Sparidae), and the role of no-take marine protected areas as a management tool

Understanding movement behaviour is essential for effective management of fishery species. Dart tags were used to study coastal movement patterns of white steenbras Lithognathus lithognathus, an overexploited seabream (Sparidae) in South Africa. In total, 6 962 fish (190–1 080 mm fork length) were tagged throughout the species’ distributional range, in four long-term fish-tagging programmes. The predominant behaviour recorded was residency, with relatively short-ranging movements. More than 60% of the 351 recaptured fish were recaptured within 1 km of their tagging site, some of which were at liberty in excess of three years. Most of the juveniles (93.9%), subadults (71.7%) and adults (64.0%) were recaptured within 10 km. Occasional long-distance movements of up to 800 km were recorded. Recapture distances were positively, but weakly, correlated with fish fork length (n = 257 fish measured at recapture; r² = 0.166, p < 0.001). Low levels of connectivity among coastal areas suggest that large-scale annual spawning migrations, as previously hypothesised for this species, are unlikely, which raises the possibility of multiple spawning sites. Seventy-seven percent of L. lithognathus tagged within three marine protected areas (MPAs) were recaptured within the same MPA, suggesting that area closures provide protection for L. lithognathus through the post-estuarine juvenile, subadult and adult life stages. We confirm that the country’s current network of coastal MPAs plays a vital role in sustaining this species, and suggest that additional closures, or otherwise substantial reductions in catch rates, are necessary for the species’ recovery.     

Estuarine and coastal connectivity of an estuarine-dependent fishery species,Pomadasys commersonnii (Haemulidae)

Understanding the level of connectivity between estuarine and coastal waters is essential for appropriate management of estuarine-associated taxa. Most studies have focused on the role of a single estuary, while limited research exists on the importance of multiple estuaries to individuals of estuarine-associated species. This study used acoustic telemetry to assess the usage of multiple estuaries and coastal waters by the estuarine-dependent spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonnii. Twenty-six adult fish were tagged with acoustic transmitters in the Kariega and Bushmans estuaries, South Africa, and their movements along a 300-km stretch of Indian Ocean coastline were monitored for up to 17 months. Tagged individuals spent most of their time in the estuary where they were tagged (55% and 85% for fish tagged in the two estuaries, respectively), followed by time in the sea (30% and 15%) and in other estuaries (15% and <1%). The mean durations of sea trips for fish tagged in the Kariega Estuary or Bushmans Estuary, respectively, were 25 days (range 3–55) and 12 days (range 2–22). Of the fish that went to sea, 93% from the Kariega Estuary and 60% from the Bushmans Estuary visited other estuaries. Most visits were undertaken to the Swartkops, Bushmans and Kowie estuaries, although the longest durations were spent in the Sundays Estuary. Individuals moved to estuaries up to 130 km away. The total distance travelled between estuaries by an individual during the study was ～529 km, with means of 201 and 184 km, respectively, for fish tagged in the Kariega and Bushmans estuaries. Despite covering large distances between estuaries, individuals often returned to their tagging estuary. Residency in their tagging estuary, combined with frequent visits to a neighbouring estuary, highlights the importance of estuarine habitats for this popular fish species, even after reaching maturity.     

南美地区铀矿床类型、成矿区带及找矿前景

南美地区蕴藏了丰富的铀矿资源。通过对砂岩型、石英卵石砾岩型、钙质结砾岩型、火山岩型、花岗岩型、交代岩型6种类型11个矿区进行研究,总结了它们的地质特征,初步划分出中安第斯、阿根廷北部、丘布特和南美东部4个铀矿成矿带,优选出几处铀矿资源潜力区,希望对"走出去"铀矿地质研究工作提供参考。     

东昆仑南缘韧性剪切带变形特征及其形成时代的限定

中生代巴彦喀拉-松潘甘孜地体向东昆仑地体斜向俯冲,在东昆仑南缘形成一条巨型的韧性剪切带。剪切带中发育的旋转碎斑、书斜构造、解理阶步、云母鱼、S-C组构、不对称褶皱、雁列脉等宏微观构造,显示剪切带兼具右行和左行的特征,且右行早于左行剪切,但总体以左行剪切为主。对西大滩糜棱岩化花岗岩和小南川未变形花岗岩进行了LA-ICP-MS锆石UPb测年,西大滩岩体侵位于199.3±2.2Ma,小南川岩体形成于196.4±1.3Ma。西大滩与小南川岩体中的锆石为典型的岩浆锆石,其年龄代表了岩体侵位的时代。鉴于2个岩体的变形程度完全不同,东昆仑南缘在199~196Ma之间发生了左行韧性剪切。     

滇西南澜沧江带红豆山铜矿花岗斑岩地质地球化学特征及成岩时代

南澜沧江火山弧带红豆山花岗斑岩属于过铝质钾玄岩性S型花岗岩,SiO_2含量为71.1%~74.4%,全碱含量高(K_2O+Na_2O=8.4%~9.4%),富钾(K_2O/Na_2O=3.9~5.0),铝饱和指数(A/CNK)为1.06~1.21;具轻稀土元素富集特征,负Eu异常(δ Eu=0.53~0.74);相对富集大离子亲石元素(LILE,如Rb、Ba、Th、U等),但亏损Sr、P、Ti等元素。地球化学特征表明,红豆山花岗斑岩具火山弧花岗岩与同碰撞花岗岩的特征,为活动大陆边缘弧的产物。红豆山花岗斑岩的LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为220.3±3.6Ma,形成于晚三叠世。红豆山花岗斑岩的地球化学特征和形成时代与小定西组基性火山岩非常相似,两者是同一期岩浆活动不同阶段的产物。     

西沙海域南部多边形断层的发现及其分布特征与控制因素

根据新采集的三维地震资料,在西沙海域南部发现了多边形断层,其发育分布具有层控特征明显、在富泥地层中发育、多方位走向、纵向断距小、平面延伸长度小且形态为不规则多边形等特征。由于研究区东西两侧应力条件的差异,导致多边形断层发育特征的差异明显。通过对多边形断层发育控制因素的分析,认为地层岩性(特别是西沙海域上构造层的远源细粒沉积物)是其发育的主控因素之一,同时水道砂岩、成岩作用及构造作用等也是影响其发育分布的因素。多边形断层可以作为流体运移的通道,它与下部构造断层连接可将深部烃源岩中的油气运移到上部储层中聚集,或继续向上运移到浅部地层中形成天然气水合物。     

南海海底地震仪异常数据的分析和处理

海底地震仪(Ocean Bottom Seismometer,OBS)数据处理至关重要,是获取深部地壳结构的基础与前提.2006年实施OBS2006-2测线时,有2台OBS(OBS03,OBS06)数据出现异常,无法使用.由于海上航次花费巨大,采集到的数据弥足珍贵.本文采用数据格式检查、邻近台站对比分析、重采样等方法,成功地对这2台OBS数据进行了解编处理,得到了这两个台站的综合地震记录剖面;利用上述方法对2011年实施的OBS973-3测线中的异常台站OBS03进行了分析处理,同样得到了OBS03台站的综合地震剖面;通过查看两次海上实验班报发现,OBS2006-2测线之OBS06与OBS973-3测线之OBS03内部Sedis编号相同,为同一台记录仪器,再一次验证上述处理方法正确可行;然后对OBS2006-2测线2个台站进行震相识别与走时拾取后,利用前人纵波速度模型开展了射线追踪与走时模拟.此次对异常OBS数据的重新处理工作,不仅为OBS探测提供了宝贵的数据处理经验,而且将提高OBS2006-2测线地壳结构的可靠性和约束性,具有重要的研究意义.     

西沙群岛西科1井晚中新世-上新世生物礁沉积的磁性地层学初步结果

本文对西沙群岛西科1井钻孔岩心晚中新世-上新世生物礁沉积进行了详细的岩石磁学、磁性扫描与磁性地层学研究.结果显示,西科1井生物礁相沉积中的载磁矿物主要是磁铁矿.我们推测,这些磁铁矿的微小颗粒主要来自海水中含有的陆源物质,在生物生长过程中通过珊瑚体或其它寄生生物对海水的过滤与吸附作用保存在生物礁沉积中.进一步的磁性地层学研究及其与地磁极性年表的对比发现,在上新统莺歌海组、上中新统黄流组内部可获得多个年龄控制点,并对莺歌海组和黄流组的底界位置给出了初步制约.其中,莺歌海组记录了C2An.3n和C3n.4n,黄流组记录了C3An.2n至C5n.2n.虽然这一对比方案存在一定不确定性,但是在现阶段生物地层年代及其它年代学资料相对匮乏的情况下,我们认为本项研究的磁性地层学结果能为西沙群岛晚中新世以来的生物礁沉积提供更多可靠的年龄控制点,并为今后的区域地层对比提供磁性地层年代学依据.     

张裂型盆地地热参数的垂向变化与琼东南盆地热流分布特征

海洋热流数据是开展海洋地球动力学研究和油气资源评价的基础数据.为深入认识琼东南盆地的地热特征,本文首先利用耦合沉积作用与岩石圈张裂过程的数值模型分析了张裂型盆地主要地热参数的垂向变化特征;并通过钻孔资料的详细分析,获得了琼东南盆地44口钻孔的热流数据;结合海底地热探针获取的热流数据,对琼东南盆地地热特征及其主要影响因素进行了简要分析.结果表明:沉积作用的热披覆效应对表层热流有较明显的抑制作用,由于沉积物生热效应与披覆效应的共同作用,同一钻孔处海底表层热流与钻孔深度3000~4000m处热流或与海底间的平均热流差异很小,可以一起用于分析琼东南盆地的热流分布特征;莺歌海组、乐东组热导率随深度变化小于黄流组及其下地层热导率的变化,钻孔沉积层平均热导率约为1.7 W·(m·K)-1,钻孔地层生热率一般低于2.5μW·m-3,平均生热率为1.34μW·m-3,平均地温梯度主要介于30~45℃/km,热流介于50~99mW·m-2,陆架区热流主要集中于60~70mW·m-2,深水区钻孔具有较高的地温梯度和热流值;从北部陆架与上陆坡区往中央坳陷带,热流值从50~70mW·m-2,增高为65~85mW·m-2,并且往东有升高趋势,在盆地东部宝岛凹陷、长昌凹陷与西沙海槽北部斜坡带构成一条热流值高于85mW·m-2的高热流带.进一步分析认为,琼东南盆地现今热流分布特征是深部热异常、强烈减薄岩石圈的裂后冷却作用、晚期岩浆热事件、地壳与沉积层的生热贡献以及沉积作用的热披覆效应等多种主要因素综合作用的结果.     

A 13‐year record of erosion on badland sites in the Karoo,South Africa

Land degradation in South Africa has been of concern for more than 100 years with both climate change and inappropriate land management (overgrazing) being proposed as primary drivers. However, there are few quantitative studies of degradation and, in particular, few of erosion by water. Badlands, taken here to be the landform which results from extreme erosion, have been notably neglected. We report on 13 consecutive years of erosion pin measurements of badland erosion on 10 study sites in the Sneeuberg uplands of the eastern Karoo in South Africa. The study sites are on Holocene colluvium which mantles footslopes. They have been subject to overgrazing for at least 100 years, c. 1850–1950. Currently they are lightly grazed by sheep. The area receives about 500 mm rainfall per year. The sites are remote, with only informal, farmer‐operated, daily raingauges nearby. The nearest sub‐daily raingauge is c. 55 km distant. Also we report on an analysis of the erosion pin data which focuses on establishing the origins and context of the badlands, including the relationship between study sites and adjacent valley‐bottom gully systems; compare erosion rates on our study sites with rates determined by erosion pins on other badland sites; and discuss the implications of these erosion rates for landscape development and off‐site impacts. Net erosion rates on the study sites are relatively high compared with global badland rates and range from 3.1 to 8.5 mm yr^‐1 which may be extrapolated to 53 to 145 t ha yr^‐1 (using a measured bulk density of 1.7 g cm^‐3). However, comparisons with badland sites elsewhere are difficult because of different measuring methodologies, lithologies, climate and dominant processes. Erosion rates on the study sites are strongly influenced by rainfall amounts and, in particular, by daily rainfall events which exceed ~10 mm: this is the threshold intensity at which runoff has been observed to commence on badlands. Of significance, but of lesser influence, is weathering, mainly by wetting and drying: this prepares bare surfaces for erosion. However, questions remain regarding the role of site characteristics, and of processes at each site, in determining between‐site differences in erosion rate. Crude extrapolation of current rates of erosion, in conjunction with depths of incision into the badlands, suggests that badland development started around 200 years ago, probably as a response to the introduction of European‐style stock farming which resulted in overgrazing. We assume, but cannot quantify, the additional influence of periods of drought and burning in the erosional history of the area. Intermittent connection of these badlands to valley‐bottom gullies and therefore to small farm dams and ultimately to large water storage reservoirs increases their impact on local water resources. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.