Particle image velocimetry and numerical simulations of the hydrodynamic characteristics of an artificial reef

This article reports a particle image velocimetry study and the comparative results of a numerical simulation into the hydrodynamic characteristics around an artificial reef.We reveal the process of flow separation and vortex evolution,and compare the force terms generated by our artificial reef model.The numerical simulation agrees well with experimental results,showing the applicability of computational fluid dynamics to the hydrodynamics of an artificial reef.Furthermore,we numerically simulate the hydrodynamics of the reef model for seven velocities.The results show that the drag coefficient is approximately 1.21 in a self-modeling region for Reynolds numbers between 2.123×104and 9×104.Therefore,the upwelling height and current width of the flow field do not change significantly when the inflow velocity increases.Our study indicates that computational fluid dynamics can be applied to study the hydrodynamics of an artificial reef and offer clues to its construction.     

Physical habitat and social conditions across a coral reef shape spatial patterns of intraspecific behavioral variation in a demersal fish

As coral reef ecosystems decline in health worldwide, reef‐associated fishes are being impacted by changes to their coral reef habitats. While previous studies have shown coral reef structure to affect the demography of reef fishes, changes in reef conditions may also impact the behavior of reef fishes as they cope with altered habitats. In this study, we examined spatial patterns of intraspecific behavioral variation in the bicolor damselfish (Stegastes partitus) across the fringing reefs of Curaçao (Caribbean Sea), and explored how this behavioral variation associated with physical and social conditions on the reef. Principal components analysis (PCA) condensed physical parameters of the reef into principal component 1 (PC1), comprising depth, coral cover (%), rugosity, and average hole size (cm²), and principal component 2 (PC2), which represented the number of holes. PC1, but not PC2, increased spatially across the reef as the habitat transitioned from coral rubble in the shallows to live coral on the reef slope. This transition in reef structure was paralleled by changes in social conditions including decreases in bicolor damselfish density in habitats with higher PC1 values. The behavior of bicolor damselfish also varied spatially with greater aggression and more frequent shelter use in habitats with lower PC1 values. Path analysis revealed robust associations between this behavioral variation and physical habitat conditions of the reef, indicating that physical – rather than social – habitat variation is the primary determinant of these spatial patterns of intraspecific behavioral variation. Taken as a whole, this coupling between physical reef structure and behavior suggests that reef fish may show altered behaviors on coral reefs degraded by anthropogenic impacts.     

Mooring tension and motion characteristics of a submerged fish reef with net in waves and currents using numerical analysis

A numerical model was used to analyze the motion response and mooring tension of a submerged fish reef system. The system included a net attached to a rigid structure suspended up from the bottom with a single, high tension mooring by fixed flotation. The analysis was performed by using a Morison equation type finite element model configured with truss elements. Input forcing parameters into the model consisted of both regular and irregular waves, with and without a steady current. Heave, surge and pitch dynamic calculations of the reef structure were made. Tension response results of the attached mooring line were also computed. Results were analyzed in both the time and frequency domain in which appropriate, linear transfer functions were calculated. The influence of the current was more evident in the tension and heave motion response data. This is most likely the result of the large buoyancy characteristics of the reef structure and the length of the mooring cable. Maximum mooring component tension was found to be 13.9 kN and occurred when the reef was subjected to irregular waves with a co-linear current of 1.0 m/s velocity. The results also showed that the system had little damping (in heave) with damped natural periods of 2.8 s. This combination of system characteristics promotes a possible resonating situation in typical open sea conditions with similar wave periods.     

海水环境下钢筋混凝土人工鱼礁的耐久性寿命预测

根据人工模拟的流动海水环境(流速约为0.15m/s)下的混凝土侵蚀试验测得的混凝土中氯离子质量分数,分别测定了腐蚀350,380,400d后混凝土的氯离子扩散系数,并计算和预测了混凝土人工鱼礁的耐久性寿命。研究结果表明:氯离子在混凝土人工鱼礁中的扩散规律基本上遵循Fick第二定律;钢筋混凝土人工鱼礁的耐久性寿命与保护层厚度的平方成正比;海水盐度对混凝土人工鱼礁的耐久性寿命影响较大。     

Generalized Lyzenga's Predictor of Shallow Water Depth for Multispectral Satellite Imagery

Multispectral satellite remote sensing can predict shallow-water depth distribution inexpensively and exhaustively, but it requires many in situ measurements for calibration. To extend its feasibility, we improved a recently developed technique, for the first time, to obtain a generalized predictor of depth. We used six WorldView-2 images and obtained a predictor that yielded a 0.648 m root-mean-square error against a dataset with a 5.544 m standard deviation of depth. The predictor can be used with as few as two pixels with known depth per image, or with no depth data, if only relative depth is needed.     

Temporal variation of ophiuroids associated with the macroalga Amphiroa fragilissima on a Southwest Atlantic coral reef

The species of Ophiuroidea that commonly occur on coral reefs can be found on different substrates and associated with other organisms including algae, sponges, and corals. This study evaluated the temporal variability of the ophiuroid fauna associated with the alga Amphiroa fragilissima on the Ponta Verde coral reef on the coast of Maceió in Alagoas, Northeastern Brazil. Replicate samples of algal substrate were collected at low tide during in the dry and rainy seasons, over a 10‐year period, from 1998–2007. Eight species of Ophiuroidea were identified, with a total of 8736 individuals associated with A. fragilissima. The most dominant and frequent species of Ophiuroidea were Amphipholis squamata and Ophiactis savignyi; all other species were rare. Cluster analysis and nMDS detected four groups, with two groups each occurring only in summer or winter periods, as well as other groups occurring in both periods.     

钙质砂室内载荷试验研究

为保护和开发海洋资源,在珊瑚礁上进行工程建设时必须要查明岛礁上钙质砂地基的承载力和变形特性。室内载荷试验的结果表明,相同密实度的钙质砂具有比石英砂大得多的承载力和变形模量,变形量则小得多;钙质砂的承载力随着相对密实度的增大而增大,破坏时的变形量显著减小;相同密实度下饱和钙质砂比干燥钙质砂的承载力和变形模量低很多。钙质砂地基中土压力随深度急剧衰减,荷载的有效影响深度为2～3倍基础宽度;随着荷载的增大,土压力从表层逐渐传递到更深的土层。     

Monitored and modeled coral population dynamics and the refuge concept

With large-scale impacts on coral reefs due to global climatic change projected to increase dramatically, and suitability of many areas for reef growth projected to decrease, the question arises whether particular settings might serve as refugia that can maintain higher coral populations than surrounding areas. We examine this hypothesis on a small, local scale in Honduras, western Caribbean. Dense coral thickets containing high numbers of the endangered coral Acropora cervicornis occur on offshore banks while being rare on the fringing reef on nearby Roatán. Geomorphological setting and community dynamics were evaluated and monitored from 1996 to 2005. A model of population dynamics was developed to test assumptions derived from monitoring. Coral cover on the fringing reef declined in 1998 from >30% to <20%, but the banks maintained areas of very dense coral cover (32% cover by A. cervicornis on the banks but <1% on the fringing reef). Bathymetry from satellite images showed the banks to be well-separated from the fringing reef, making asexual connectivity between banks and fringing reef impossible but protecting the banks from direct land-runoff during storms. Exposure to SE tradewinds also causes good flushing. Only four A. cervicornis recruits were recorded on the fringing reef over 6 years. Runoff associated with hurricanes caused greater mortality than did bleaching in 1998 and 2005 on the fringing reef, but not on the banks. Since 1870, our analysis suggests that corals on the banks may have been favored during 17 runoff events associated with tropical depressions and storms and potentially also during five bleaching events, but this is more uncertain. Our model suggests that under this disturbance regime, the banks will indeed maintain higher coral populations than the fringing reef and supports the assumption that offshore banks could serve as refugia with the capacity to subsidize depleted mainland populations.     

三亚海岸珊瑚礁地层成因演化与工程地质分区

珊瑚礁是一类特殊的工程建设场地,受地质成因、生物作用、海洋水动力环境和地质环境演化等多方面影响。开展珊瑚礁场地工程地质分区研究,不仅对认识珊瑚礁岩土层的成因和变化规律、分析评价珊瑚礁场地的工程地质条件等具有重要的理论意义,而且对未来南海岛礁工程建设具有重要指导作用。在现场地质调查的基础上,采用现场原位测试、室内试验和钻探岩芯分析等综合技术手段,分析了三亚珊瑚礁地层的演化历史,对地层结构特征、矿物成分、化学成分和土层物理力学性质进行了深入分析,将三亚海岸珊瑚礁场地划分为泻湖沉积区、砂坝堆积区和水下珊瑚生长堆积区;对各工程地质分区的工程特性和建设适宜性进行了分析评价。研究成果可以对珊瑚礁场地的地质调查、工程规划和设计提供指导和借鉴。