The three screen doors: can marine "protected" areas be effective?

The great majority of marine protected areas (MPAs) fail to meet their management objectives. So MPAs can be effective conservation tools, we recommend two paradigm shifts, the first related to how they are located and the second related to how they are managed. MPAs are unlikely to be effective if they are located in areas that are subject to numerous, and often uncontrollable, external stressors from atmospheric, terrestrial, and oceanic sources, all of which can degrade the environment and compromise protection. MPA effectiveness is also limited by low institutional and community capacity for management and inappropriate size with respect to ecological needs. In particular, the check list approach to management does not ensure that key threats are dealt with, or that management expenditures provide a quantifiable return. We recommend a business planning approach to MPA management, in which managers focus on the viability of the management system, i.e., the ability of the MPA to provide ecological goods and services to its target users over the long term.     

东南太平洋热液区硫化物样品富集培养物中Fe3＋还原细菌的多样性分析

采集了东南太平洋热液区DYl15-20V一$35一TVGl7站位的沉积物硫化物样品,其含有76．717％（m／m）强还原性的磁性良好的黄铁矿．以乳酸钠为电子供体,不溶性的氢氧化铁为电子受体,对该样品进行Fe¨还原细菌的定向富集培养．通过构建该茵群的16SrDNA基因文库,随机挑选82个阳性克隆子进行群落结构多样性分析．研究结果表明：82个克隆代表的6种基因型分别属于4个主要类群,其中ε一变形杆菌占有绝对优势,达到55．2％．此外其还包括厚壁菌门、β一变形杆菌和仅．变形杆菌,克隆子比例依次为27．6％、10．3％、6．9％．在富集产物中还原氢氧化铁的功能菌群主要是具有硫还原作用的ε一变形菌中的硫还原菌．     

Evolution of depositional settings in the Torrey area during the Smithian (Early Triassic,Utah, USA) and their significance for the biotic recovery

This work focuses on well‐exposed Lower Triassic sedimentary rocks in the area of Torrey (south‐central Utah, USA). The studied Smithian 8 deposits record a large‐scale third‐order sea‐level cycle, which permits a detailed reconstruction of the evolution of depositional settings. During the middle Smithian, peritidal microbial limestones associated with a rather low‐diversity benthic fauna were deposited seaward of the tidal flat siliciclastic red beds. Associated with siliceous sponges, microbial limestones formed small m‐scale patch reefs. During the late middle to late Smithian interval, the sedimentary system is characterized by tidal flat dolostones of an interior platform, ooid‐bioclastic deposits of a tide‐dominated shoal complex, and mid‐shelf bioclastic limestones. Microbial deposits, corresponding to sparse stromatolites formed in the interior platform, are contemporaneous with a well‐diversified marine fauna living in a seaward shoal complex and mid‐shelf area. The nature and distribution of these Smithian microbial deposits are not related to any particular deleterious environmental condition, highlighting that observed patterns of biotic recovery after the end‐Permian mass extinction were directly influenced by depositional settings. Facies evolution and stratal stacking patterns allow us to identify large, medium and small‐scale, as well as elementary depositional sequences. Large‐ and medium‐scale sequences are consistent with sea‐level changes, whereas small‐scale and elementary sequences are better explained by autocyclic processes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Marine Biotic Index to Establish the Ecological Quality of Soft-Bottom Benthos Within European Estuarine and Coastal Environments

In this paper, a marine Biotic Index (BI) for soft-bottom benthos of European estuarine and coastal environments is proposed. This is derived from the proportions of individual abundance in five ecological groups, which are related to the degree of sensitivity/tolerance to an environmental stress gradient. The main difference with previously published indices is the use of a simple formula that produces a continuous Biotic Coefficient (BC) – which makes it more suitable for statistical analysis, in opposition with previous discreet biotic indices – not affected by subjectivity. Relationships between this coefficient and a complementary BI with several environmental variables are discussed. Finally, a validation of the proposed index is made with data from systems affected by recent human disturbances, showing that different anthropogenic changes in the environment can be detected through the use of this BI.     

基于AMBI和M-AMBI指数的黄河口及邻近海域底栖生境质量评价

The protection of the biological diversity and the maintenance of the regional ecological integrity for the Huanghe （Yellow River） Estuary and its adjacent areas are practically significant and valuable. However, frequent human activities and natural climate changes have caused vigorous disturbances on the ecosystem in these sea areas. An objective assessment on the benthic habitat quality （BHQ） of the Huanghe Estuary and its adjacent areas is conducted, using AZTI＇s Marine Biotic Index （AMBI） and multivariate AMBI （M-AMBI） based on the data of macrobenthos in May and August 2011. The results show that both the indices do not correlate significantly, and their assessment results are greatly different. All of the samples assessed using the AMBI were ＂high＂ or ＂good＂, because the ecological group I （EGI） and the ecological group II （EGII） were dominant macrobenthic ecological groups in the research area. Owing to a low species＇ richness and a high individual abundance in some samples, the BHQ levels using the M-AMBI were worse than those of the AMBI. Significant correlations are observed between the M-AMBI, water depth, bottom water salinity and dissolved inorganic nitrogen, thus the M-AMBI could sensitively respond to environmental changes and distinguish influences from uninfluenced stations, but the AMBI could not. The consistent results between the AMBI and the M-AMBI mainly appeared in the uninfluenced （undisturbed or slightly disturbed） sta- tions. Therefore, the M-AMBI is more effective than the AMBI in assessing the benthic habitat quality in the Huanghe Estuary and its adjacent areas. Using the M-AMBI to assess the BHQ of the Huanghe Estuary and its adjacent areas, the results show that 3% of the stations are undisturbed and the BHQs are ＂high＂, and 61% of the stations are slightly disturbed and those of the BHQ are ＂good＂, and the rest are meanly disturbed and those of the BHQ are ＂moderate＂.     

Spatiotemporal variations of benthic macrofaunal community in the Xiamen Amphioxus Nature Reserve, eastern South China Sea

In order to realize the spatiotemporal variations of benthic macrofaunal communities at the "Amphioxus Sand"habitat, six surveys including four seasons and three consecutive summers(i.e., 2014, 2015 and 2016) were conducted in two core sites, i.e., Huangcuo(HC) and Nanxian-Shibaxian(NX), in the Xiamen Amphioxus Nature Reserve in China. A total of 155 species of macrofauna were recorded, therein, polychaetes were dominant in terms of species number and density. Significant spatiotemporal variations of macrofaunal communities were observed. The density of polychaetes and the biomass of molluscs in the HC site were higher than those in the NX site. Macrofauna were more diverse and abundant in the cold seasons(winter and spring) than that in the warm seasons(summer and autumn). The annual variations of macrofaunal communities may be attributed to the changes in sediment texture among the three years of the survey. The variations in macrofaunal communities were mainly related to the proportion of polychaetes within the community. In addition, the density of amphioxus(include Branchiostoma japonicum and B. belcheri) was negatively correlated to that of polychaetes, bivalves, and crustaceans. Amphioxus was less likely to be found in the sediments with higher silt and clay content. Five biotic indices including Margaref's richness index(d), Peilou's evenness index(J′), Shannon-Wiener diversity index(H′),AMBI and M-AMBI were calculated in the present study. AMBI seems suitable in assessing benthic health at the"Amphioxus Sand" habitat, and a potential risk of ecological health in Xiamen Amphioxus Nature Reserve should be aware.     

胶州湾浮游动物生物完整性指数的建立

为补充中国海湾环境质量状况评估方法,作者通过整理和综合胶州湾常规监测项目中6年(2003~2008)的监测数据,经数据整理与综合、生境区域划分、评价因子选择、因子阈值确定、指数建立、指数验证与应用6个过程,初步建立了胶州湾浮游动物生物完整性指数(指数存在季节性差异,本实验以夏秋季节为例)。指数建立过程中将生境区域通过溶解性无机氮(DIN)、磷酸盐(PO_4)及透明度3项指标划分为参照区和受损区,低营养盐、高透明度海域划为参照区,相反则划为受损区。通过检验11项浮游动物因子参照区与受损区的差异性,最终确定7项为指数建立的评价因子。对7项评价因子得分加权平均即得胶州湾浮游动物生物完整性指数得分。将指数得分划分为5个等级,分别表征不同的浮游动物要素质量状况。胶州湾浮游动物生物完整性指数的建立为从浮游动物角度评估胶州湾环境质量提供了新的方法,是对胶州湾生态环境质量综合评价的良好补充,能够更全面地反映海区浮游动物的质量状况,同时为发展和完善海湾生态系统质量综合评价体系奠定良好基础。     

The Early Jurassic to Aalenian paleobiogeography of the Arctic realm: Implication of microbenthos (Foraminifers and Ostracodes)

Stages in evolution of the Early Jurassic to Aalenian foraminifers and ostracodes are established based on the analyzed diversity dynamics of respective microfauna associations. Evolution of foraminifers is divided in two, the Hettangian-initial early Toarcian and the late early Toarcian-Aalenian stages, while the identical first stage in evolution of ostracodes has been followed by the late early Toarcian-Callovian stage. During the Jurassic, periodic migrations of foraminiferal and ostracod genera and species, which were interrelated with large transgressions and climatic changes, took place in the initial late and mid-late Pliensbachian, initial early Toarcian, and the late Toarcian-early Aalenian. Being isolated to the maximum extent in the second half of the late Aalenian, the Arctic basin lost connections with seas of northwestern Europe. The Early Jurassic to Aalenian biogeography of the Arctic basin is established based on the results of cluster analysis (group average link method, Jaccard coefficient, presence or absence of foraminifers and ostracodes genera) with due account for preceding and subsequent formation history of microbenthos structure in biochores. The distinguished biochores are ranked as realms and provinces of foraminifers and ostracodes. As is established, contours of the realms and provinces populated by different groups of microbenthos did not coincide and changed with time. Ecotones between the realms (e.g., the North Sea province) changed their localitization to be a part of the Arctic or Boreal Atlantic realms in different epochs. The Early-Middle Jurassic sedimentary successions of the Arctic basins reveal several levels of sharp taxonomic changes in composition of microbenthos under influence of the first-order abiotic factors.     

Assessing benthic ecological status in coastal area near Changjiang River estuary using AMBI and M-AMBI

The Changjiang （Yangtze） River estuary has been subject to a variety of anthropogenic pressures in recent decades. To assess the ecological health of the coastal benthic ecosystem adjacent to the estuary, three surveys were conducted in 2005, 2009, and 2010. The AZTI＇s Marine Biotic Index （AMBI） and multivariate-AMBI （M-AMBI） were used to analyse the benthic ecological status of this coast. The AMBI indicate that the ecological status of the coast adjacent to the Changjiang River estuary was only slightly degraded in all 3 years. In contrast, the M-AMBI indicated that the ecological status was seriously degraded, a result that is most likely due to pollution and eutrophication induced by human activities. The assessment of the coast＇s ecological status by the AMBI was not in agreement with that of the M-AMBI at some stations because of lower biodiversity values at those sites. The analysis of the two indices integrated with abiotic parameters showed that the M-AMBI could be used as a suitable bio-indicator index to assess the benthic ecological status of the coast adjacent to the Changjiang River estuary. The reference conditions proposed for the coast of the Changjiang River estuary should be further evaluated in future studies. Designation of local species could also provide an important reference for Chinese waters. To improve the reliability of AMBI and M-AMBI, further research into the ecology of local species is required to understand their arrangement in ecological groups.     

贵阳花溪早三叠世遗迹化石及其对二叠纪末生物大绝灭事件后生物复苏的启示?

报道了贵阳花溪下三叠统大冶组中14种遗迹属,它们包括Beaconichnus、Cosmorhaphe、Dendrorhaphe、Gyrochorte、Gordia、Micatuba、Mammillichnis、Megagrapton、Planolites、Palaeophycus、Phycodes、Phycosiphon、Rhizocorallium和Undichna。遗迹化石产出特征为以水平潜穴为主、浅的阶层分布（<4mm）、以觅食迹为主的遗迹组合和小型化的Planolites,这些特征表明经历了P-T事件之后,华南早三叠世浅海生态环境仍处于缺氧异常环境,这种环境直到早三叠世晚期才趋于正常。大冶组遗迹化石发展模式体现出海洋环境群落生态演替特征,造迹生物由早期单一多毛类蠕虫向物种丰富的多毛类发展,再到以甲壳纲动物在沉积物中开辟更大的生态空间和定居。这种绝灭后软躯体动物在崩溃生态系中的发展模式与贵州晚泥盆世弗拉期-法门期之交绝灭界线之上遗迹化石所表现的软躯体动物的演化特征相似。向三度空间开拓发展的复杂遗迹Rhizocorallium,Thalassinoides在绝灭前后世界范围内的分布表明,高纬度区软躯体动物的复苏比低纬度区要快。