Submarine groundwater springs are characterized by distinct fish communities

The inflow of terrestrial groundwater into the ocean is increasingly recognized as an important local source of nutrients and pollutants to coastal ecosystems. Although there is evidence of a link between fresh submarine groundwater discharge (SGD)-derived nutrients and primary producer and primary consumer abundances, the effects of fresh SGD on the productivity of higher trophic levels such as ichthyofaunal communities remain unclear. To further investigate this relationship, we sampled three sites inside a coral reef lagoon in Mauritius: One site entailing six distinct groundwater springs, a site highly influenced by freshwater influx through the springs, and a strictly marine control site. Using remote underwater video surveys, we found that fish abundances were significantly higher at the groundwater springs than at the other two sampling sites.Principal component analyses showed that the springs and the spring-influenced part of the lagoon were best described by elevated water nutrient loadings, whereas the control site was characterized by higher water salinity and pH. Macroalgae cover was highest at the control site and the springs. Herbivores and invertivores dominated the fish community at the springs, in contrast to generalists at the control site. At the spring-influenced site, we mainly encountered high coral/turf algae cover and high abundances of associated fish feeding groups (territorial farmers, corallivores). Our results provide evidence of a fresh SGD-driven relationship between altered hydrography and distinct fish communities with elevated abundances at groundwater springs in a coral reef lagoon. These findings suggest that the management and assessment of secondary consumer productivity in tropical lagoons should take into account the effects of groundwater springs.     

A potential new threat on the coral reefs of Puerto Rico: The recent emergence of Ramicrusta spp.

The rapid appearance of Ramicrusta spp. is described and analyzed from 40 permanent monitoring coral reef stations in Puerto Rico. Before 2016, Ramicrusta had not been observed from any of the reef monitoring stations. By 2018, it was present at 76% of all the monitoring stations. Ramicrusta was the dominant substrata type at all of the shallow reef sites sampled on the east coast (e.g., Fajardo, Culebra, and Vieques), reaching a cover (±SE) as high as 63.0 ± 5.8%. The spread of Ramicrusta occurred at the expense of historically resilient living benthic elements, such as turf algae. Since its detection in 2016, colonization of hard substrata by Ramicrusta remained constant, with the exception of two shallow reefs in Fajardo and Culebra, where the cover was significantly reduced by the scouring and or abrasive effects of two major hurricanes. The ecological implications of Ramicrusta prevalence on Puerto Rican reefs remain unclear; however, increasing herbivory might be a useful mitigation tool in the reduction of Ramicrusta abundance on coral reefs.     

南海九章环礁中牛轭礁和西门礁新生沙洲沉积特征与动态

南沙群岛的珊瑚礁以环礁形式存在, 拥有各具特色的地貌形态。九章环礁中的牛轭礁和西门礁是两座发育有新生沙洲的环礁, 代表灰沙岛形成前一个重要的过渡性地貌演化阶段。这两处新生沙洲表层沉积物样品的粒度分析表明: 沉积物主要组分为珊瑚碎屑, 长轴中值粒径在14~45mm之间, 属于砾石级别; 样品分选系数在4.5~31之间, 分选性很差; 球度值为0.52~0.68, 球度差。粒度特征值中, 中值粒径具有随着到水边线距离的增大而升高的趋势, 而分选性和球度与距水边线距离关系不大。整体上中值粒径与分选系数呈正相关关系, 而与球度呈负相关关系。历史文献记载和卫星图像表明, 牛轭礁和西门礁上的新生沙洲都是近年来才形成的, 与风暴过程及冬季风有关。牛轭礁上沙洲向北迁移, 同时其长轴向东南方向延伸; 西门礁上沙洲整体向东南方向迁移, 并形成回弯形沙嘴形态。新生沙洲的出现与珊瑚碎屑物质供给变化或风暴浪作用变化的关系还需进一步探讨。     

天津大神堂海域人工鱼礁区砂壳纤毛虫群落的季节变化

于2015年夏季、秋季和2016年春季在天津大神堂海域人工鱼礁区进行砂壳纤毛虫群落的调查。3个季节共鉴定出砂壳纤毛虫10属31种,拟铃虫属（Tintinnopsis）种类最多,夏季砂壳纤毛虫种类最多。砂壳纤毛虫丰度、生物量和群落多样性指数存在明显的季节差异。砂壳纤毛虫丰度夏季最高[（379±355）个/L],秋季最低[（173±190）个/L];生物量夏季最高[（2.74±2.82）μg C/L],秋季最低[（0.23±0.21）μg C/L]。砂壳纤毛虫壳的平均口径夏季最大[（49.64±6.90）μm],秋季最小（26.76±4.55 μm）。砂壳纤毛虫群落Shannon多样性指数夏季最高（2.025±0.574）,春季最低（0.922±0.437）;Pielou均匀度指数秋季最高（0.682±0.276）,春季最低（0.448±0.266）。春季鱼礁区和对照区砂壳纤毛虫优势种存在差异,夏季和秋季鱼礁区和对照区砂壳纤毛虫优势种相同;3个季节鱼礁区第Ⅰ优势种的优势度均明显高于对照区。3个季节鱼礁区砂壳纤毛虫丰度和生物量均高于对照区,这可能是由于投礁后砂壳纤毛虫的适口饵料——nano-浮游植物丰度增加导致;3个季节鱼礁区Shannon多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数均低于对照区,可能是因为本次调查是在投礁1~2 a后开展的,时间较短,鱼礁区砂壳纤毛虫群落尚不稳定,鱼礁区独特生态系统的变化尚需更长的时间来进行跟踪监测。     

The morphodynamic responses to deposition-promoting projects in island and reef coasts of the Zhoushan Archipelago,China

China's island and reef coasts are mainly distributed along the coasts of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces. These areas have favorable deep-water conditions and great development potential. The Zhoushan Archipelago is a typical island and reef coast. In the midst of the islands, there are many tidal channels with high water depth and high current velocity. Daishan Island is located on the northern part of the Zhoushan Archipelago. The sea north of Daishan Island can be characterized as having great water depth (generally between 10 and 20 m), high current velocity (the maximum measured value is about 2 m/s), and hyperconcentrated suspended sediment (annual average concentration under normal weather conditions is about 0.6 kg/m3). Sediment transport is influenced by the co-action of waves and currents. Land reclamation can ease the contradiction between the desire for development and the land resource shortage on island and reef coasts. Land reclamation generally starts from deposition-promoting projects on island and reef coasts with hyperconcentration of suspended sediment with the aim of reducing the reclamation cost. Based on the morphodynamic characteristics of the sea area near north of Daishan Island, a two-dimensional mathematical model was developed to analyze the co-action of current and waves and the model was verified for spring as well as neap tides in 2007 and 2012. The simulated values of tidal stages, tidal current velocities, tidal current directions, and suspended sediment concentration at 15 stations in 2007 and 9 stations in 2012 were in good agreement with the in-situ measured values. Furthermore, the simulated magnitude and pattern of erosion and sedimentation agreed well with the observations. This model was used to evaluate the effects of a proposed siltation scheme on the hydrodynamic environment and morphological change of the study area. The results of this study can inform the protection, development, and utilization of shoal-channels on island and reef coasts, as well provide a scientific basis for comprehensive maritime protection and development.     

Planimetric and volumetric changes of reef islands in response to wave conditions

Reef islands are morphologically dynamic features located on atolls and platform reefs that are very sensitive to wave‐induced processes on different timescales. The planform morphological evolution of reef islands is widely described; however, the mechanisms of the volumetric variations in response to wave energy are still poorly documented. To assess their multitemporal vertical and horizontal mobility, we performed a series of synchronous measurements of the volumetric changes and incident wave energies at two reef islands and a shingle bank at the Rocas Atoll in the South Atlantic Ocean. The results show the differences in the magnitudes and locations of the sediment mobility between the reef islands. Whereas one island remained stable on all timescales, with only small volumetric changes concentrated at its extremities, the other island (Farol Island) showed high mobility, especially during the energetic northern swell season. The gross volumetric change reached 10.03 × 10³ m³ (5% of the total island volume) on a daily timescale; however, on a seasonal scale, the gross erosion was compensated by the gross accretion, indicating a cyclical seasonal pattern. Moreover, the observed volumetric changes induced by the waves on both daily and seasonal timescales did not result in large shoreline displacements. However, long‐term oceanward erosion and substantial lagoonward accretion were observed at Farol Island on a decadal scale, resulting in a pronounced change in its planform morphology. This appears to be promoted by at least three sediment transport pathways induced by waves at the atoll, including sediment adjustment between the reef islands. Our results show that reef islands on the same atoll can have very distinct morphological behaviors on daily, seasonal and decadal scales in response to the same boundary conditions. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

南沙永暑礁表层珊瑚年代结构及其环境记录

南沙群岛永暑礁7个表层礁坪原生块状珊瑚的高精度TIMS U-Th和12个常规^14C测年结果表明,永暑礁表层礁坪形成于现代,与钻探研究结果吻合。全新世永暑礁系从约7300aBP开始,以现代礁坪面以下17m左右的晚更新世礁灰岩为基底连续发育至今,因此,与南海周边地区的珊瑚礁不同,南沙群岛珊瑚礁的表层块状珊瑚不能够提供全新世高海平面的证据。由于现代珊瑚礁的堆积速率大于地壳沉降速率,可能会形成更多的灰沙洲或灰沙岛。     

侧扫声呐在人工鱼礁跟踪监测中的应用

随着海洋渔业资源的衰退和海洋生态环境的破坏,人工鱼礁技术得到迅速发展,成为海洋牧场建设的重要组成部分。虽然在人工鱼礁的设计时已考虑了防沉降、防倾覆等因素,但在建设过程中仍会面临上述问题,影响礁区的建设效果。利用侧扫声呐对连云港海州湾海洋牧场示范区进行鱼礁数据采集,根据阴影长度计算目标物高度的原理计算目标鱼礁的高度,分析对比鱼礁沉降量,结果表明个别礁体存在破损、倾斜,实际礁体布局与预设布局有一定的偏差,方形礁体抗沉降能力优于“十”字形礁体。     

Discussion on Sedimentary Environments,Origin and Source of Middle Permian Gufeng Formation Bedded Cherts in theNorthern Margin of the Middle-Lower Yangtze Area

Cherts contain important information of paleogeography, paleostructure and paleo-ocean, which is the important means of studying petrotectonics. With regard to the major disputes on the sedimentary environments, origin and source of Gufeng Formation bedded cherts in the northern margin of middle-lower Yangtze area, demonstrations from both forward and reverse aspects from the perspective of the sedimentary-tectonic evolution were given. By summarizing previous views on the genesis of bedded cherts in Gufeng Formation, and extensively collecting published original geochemical data, in the forward demonstrations we created the database of the cherts about rare earth elements to systematically identify the sedimentary environments, origin and source of cherts. By sorting out the time and cause of the main geological events in the middle Permian in south China, in the reverse demonstrations we established the sequence of tectonic evolution to verify or explain the current series of disputes. The results show that:\mathrm{①} Except some areas, such as Guichi-Tangtian, Tongling-Huashupo and Chaohu-Pingdingshan in Anhui province, which were affected by volcanic activities and faults, the bedded cherts of Gufeng Formation in the northern margin of middle-lower Yangtze area are mainly of non-hydrothermal origin or biological origin, and deposited in the passive continental margin deep water environments.\mathrm{②} Paleocontinental uplift in cathaysian and sea level eustacy controlled the input of some terrestrial materials in the the Gufeng Formation bedded cherts in the study area, but the contribution of terrestrial materials to cherts is not obvious.\mathrm{③} The study of cherts in Gufeng Formation is of great significance to the eruption time and dynamic mechanism of Emeishan basalts.     

涠洲岛珊瑚礁生态恢复可行性评估及其恢复策略

广西涠洲岛地处世界珊瑚礁分布的北缘,其造礁石珊瑚具有较高的生态价值和科学研究价值,然而近30年来涠洲岛的造礁石珊瑚资源呈逐年下降趋势,正面临生物多样性衰退和生态服务功能下降的威胁。本研究针对涠洲岛珊瑚礁生态衰退区域,参照珊瑚礁生态恢复潜力评估决策流程进行恢复可行性评估和恢复策略探讨。结果显示,该区域有造礁石珊瑚5科10属21种;表征海水水质质量的6项指标均在I类水质标准范围,且常年处于贫营养化;大型海藻覆盖率不足1.00%,90.00%以上的珊瑚礁鱼类为杂食性,且该鱼类种群结构有利于调控大型海藻的暴发性生长,与大型藻类和浮游动植物的多样性相适应,适宜珊瑚生长。但该区域造礁石珊瑚平均覆盖率仅有5.60%,底质类型57.27%为礁石,34.30%的底质为非稳定的碎石和砂,珊瑚幼体补充量平均为3.17 ind/m²,珊瑚幼体更新缓慢。以上结果表明,涠洲岛珊瑚礁具有一定的自然恢复潜力,但珊瑚覆盖率低、幼体补充量少以及部分底质结构不稳定是限制涠洲岛珊瑚礁自然恢复的主要因素,需要加强人工干预。在减少人类活动干扰的前提下,适时进行园艺式培育珊瑚苗种、批量珊瑚原位种植和构建人工珊...