Artificial Reefs in the Low Productive Marine Environments of the Southeastern Mediterranean

Abstract. Fishery yields in the oligotrophic waters of the Southeastern Mediterranean arc low due to habitat and food limitations. A four year study of a complex of artificial structures established in the coastal waters of Israel points to several possible solutions to these problems. One approach is the artificial enrichment of the man-made reef with trash fish. This, together with the configuration of the reef, caused a significant increase in the abundance of fish predators such as groupers of the genus Epinephclus. Omnivores and herbivores were attracted only by the presence of artificial structures. Some species, such as the slipper lobster Scyllurides lulus, only use the man-made reef for shelter during part of the day or season; they forage over a much larger area the rest of the time and are important "importers" of food to the artificial habitat. Artificial kelp were effective in recruiting juveniles and small fishes to the site.     

Evidence for the grazing hypothesis: Grazing reduces phytoplankton responses of the HNLC ecosystem to iron enrichment in the western subarctic pacific (SEEDS II)

A mesoscale iron-enrichment study (SEEDS II) was carried out in the western subarctic Pacific in the summer of 2004. The iron patch was traced for 26 days, which included observations of the development and the decline of the bloom by mapping with sulfur hexafluoride. The experiment was conducted at almost the same location and the same season as SEEDS (previous iron-enrichment experiment). However, the results were very different between SEEDS and SEEDS II. A high accumulation of phytoplankton biomass (∼18 mg chl m⁻³) was characteristic of SEEDS. In contrast, in SEEDS II, the surface chlorophyll-a accumulation was lower, 0.8 to 2.48 mg m⁻³, with no prominent diatom bloom. Photosynthetic competence in terms of F _v/F _m for the total phytoplankton community in the surface waters increased after the iron enrichments and returned to the ambient level by day 20. These results suggest that the photosynthetic physiology of the phytoplankton assemblage was improved by the iron enrichments and returned to an iron-stressed condition during the declining phase of the bloom. Pico-phytoplankton (<2 μm) became dominant in the chlorophyll-a size distribution after the bloom. We observed a nitrate drawdown of 3.8 μM in the patch (day 21), but there was no difference in silicic acid concentration between inside and outside the patch. Mesozooplankton (copepod) biomass was three to five times higher during the bloom-development phase in SEEDS II than in SEEDS. The copepod biomass increased exponentially. The grazing rate estimation indicates that the copepod grazing prevented the formation of an extensive diatom bloom, which was observed in SEEDS, and led to the change to a pico-phytoplankton dominated community towards the end of the experiment.     

Responses of phytoplankton and heterotrophic bacteria in the northwest subarctic Pacific to in situ iron fertilization as estimated by HPLC pigment analysis and flow cytometry

To verify the hypothesis that the growth of phytoplankton in the Western Subarctic Gyre (WSG), which is located in the northwest subarctic Pacific, is suppressed by low iron (Fe) availability, an in situ Fe fertilization experiment was carried out in the summer of 2001. Changes over time in the abundance and community structure of phytoplankton were examined inside and outside an Fe patch using phytoplankton pigment markers analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and flow cytometry (FCM). In addition, the abundance of heterotrophic bacteria was also investigated by FCM. The chlorophyll a concentration was initially ca. 0.9 μg l⁻¹ in the surface mixed layer where diatoms and chlorophyll b-containing green algae (prasinophytes and chlorophytes) were predominant in the chlorophyll biomass. After the iron enrichment, the chlorophyll a concentration increased up to 9.1 μg l⁻¹ in the upper 10 m inside the Fe patch on Day 13. At the same time, the concentration of fucoxanthin (a diatom marker) increased 45-fold in the Fe patch, and diatoms accounted for a maximum 69% of the chlorophyll biomass. This result was consistent with a microscopic observation showing that the diatom Chaetoceros debilis had bloomed inside the Fe patch. However, chlorophyllide a concentrations also increased in the Fe patch with time, and reached a maximum of 2.2 μg l⁻¹ at 5 m depth on Day 13, suggesting that a marked abundance of senescent algal cells existed at the end of the experiment. The concentration of peridinin (a dinoflagellate marker) also reached a maximum 24-fold, and dinoflagellates had contributed significantly (>15%) to the chlorophyll biomass inside the Fe patch by the end of the experiment. Concentrations of 19′-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin (a prymnesiophyte marker), 19′-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin (a pelagophyte marker), and alloxanthin (a cryptophyte marker) were only incremented a few-fold increment inside the Fe patch. On the contrary, chlorophyll b concentration reduced to almost half of the initial level in the upper 10 m water column inside the Fe patch at the end of the experiment. A decrease with time in the abundance of eukaryotic ultraphytoplankton (<ca. 5 μm in size), in which chlorophyll b-containing green algae were possibly included was also observed by FCM. Overall, our results indicate that Fe supply can dramatically alter the abundance and community structure of phytoplankton in the WSG. On the other hand, cell density of heterotrophic bacteria inside the Fe patch was maximum at only ca. 1.5-fold higher than that outside the Fe patch. This indicates that heterotrophic bacteria abundance was little respondent to the Fe enrichment.     

The contribution of nano- and micro-planktonic assemblages in the surface layer (0-30 m) under different hydrographic conditions in the upwelling area off Concepción, central Chile

In the highly productive region off central Chile, the structure and temporal and spatial variability of planktonic assemblages, and the factors that determine changes in this structure are poorly understood. In the region, wind-driven upwelling, heating by solar radiation and freshwater inputs are highly seasonal processes, which, together with higher frequency events, can promote changes in the planktonic communities, especially in the upper layer. This study focuses on the structure of nano- through to micro-planktonic assemblages (2-200 μm) of unicellular organisms (protists) in surface waters (0-30 m) during different hydrographic conditions. Samples were taken from a fixed shelf station off Concepción (COPAS time series Station 18) on eight occasions between September 2003 and August 2004. The nano-plankton flagellate-dominated fraction was numerically important during the whole period. Maxima in flagellate abundance and biomass occurred during the upwelling period (November-April samplings) but these maxima appear to be unrelated to the degree of water column stratification. The micro-plankton diatom-dominated fraction was usually the largest component in terms of biomass during the study period and the diatoms made important numerical contributions during the upwelling period, with maxima in abundance and biomass when water column stability was lowest. The dominant genera and morphotypes in each functional group were found throughout the study period, with maxima in abundance and biomass co-occurring under similar environmental upwelling conditions. The mean macro-nutrient concentrations (nitrate and silicate) were relatively high in the top 30 m during both upwelling and non-upwelling periods, and did not explain the maxima in plankton or functional group replacements. The persistence of the dominant taxa in the planktonic assemblages suggests a high degree of flexibility, though probably not at the specific level, to withstand the highly variable environmental conditions in this upwelling area.     

Community Structure and Dynamics of Phytoplankton in the Western Subarctic Pacific Ocean: A Synthesis

The phytoplankton community in the western subarctic Pacific (WSP) is composed mostly of pico- and nanophytoplankton. Chlorophyll a (Chl a) in the <2 μm size fraction accounted for more than half of the total Chl a in all seasons, with higher contributions of up to 75% of the total Chl a in summer and fall. The exception is the western boundary along the Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Islands and the Oyashio region where diatoms make up the majority of total Chl a during the spring bloom. Among the picophytoplankton, picoeukaryotes and Synechococcus are approximately equally abundant, but the former is more important in term of carbon biomass. Despite the lack of a clear seasonal variation in Chl a concentration, primary productivity showed a large seasonal variation, and was lowest in winter and highest in spring. Seasonal succession in the phytoplankton community is also evident with the abundance of diatoms peaking in May, followed by picoeukaryotes and Synechococcus in summer. The growth of phytoplankton (especially >10 μm cell size) in the western subarctic Pacific is often limited by iron bioavailability, and microzooplankton grazing keeps the standing stock of pico- and nano-phytoplankton low. Compared to the other HNLC regions (the eastern equatorial Pacific, the Southern Ocean, and the eastern subarctic Pacific), iron limitation in the Western Subarctic Gyre (WSG) may be less severe probably due to higher iron concentrations. The Oyashio region has similar physical condition, macronutrient supply and phytoplankton species compositions to the WSG, but much higher phytoplankton biomass and primary productivity. The difference between the Oyashio region and the WSG is also believed to be the results of difference in iron bioavailability in both regions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

论宁波东南港湾地区水资源的开发利用途径

本文在１９８９年对宁波市水资源进行调查的基础上，进一步分析了东南港湾地区水资源的特点及利用现状，并由此而提出了解决水源的对策。     

南海季风区地域性大气环流的结构

作者使用 NCEP/ NCAR再分析资料 ,在热带 30°S～ 30°N纬带用谐波分析方法分离出超长波之后 ,再采用环流诊断方法 ,发现南海季风区存在地域性环流系统。文中给出冬、夏季风期该系统的三维空间结构和相应的热源分布 ,讨论了该地域性环流系统对南海季风气候及其异常的作用 ,并探讨夏季风爆发北部先于南部的一种可能的气候原因。     

镇泾地区延长组河流相砂体分布与圈闭形成的关系研究

鄂尔多斯盆地镇泾地区侏罗系地层以三角洲-湖泊沉积体系为主,研究区范围内主要发育主河道和部分分流河道砂体。研究区构造平缓,主要为单斜地层、在东南部存在大型鼻状构造。通过对主要储层段(长6、8油层组)砂体分布及与构造之间关系进行研究,分析砂体走向与构造线方向的关系认为在构造单斜地区,当两者相交时(交角β≠0)是形成圈闭的关键因素之一,在大型鼻状构造地区因构造线的弯曲与河道砂体组合可以形成圈闭。根据研究区砂体分布和构造线组合出4种地层-岩性及岩性圈闭。利用构造图与砂体分布图对主要储层段存在的圈闭确定出长6、8油层组10个层圈闭。     

六道湾煤矿塌陷西区地面沉降监测设计方法探讨

介绍乌鲁木齐市六道湾煤矿塌陷区综合治理过程中地面沉降观测站、观测线的设计方法,所需观测内容,观测方法以及所使用观测仪器的精度。在观测站、观测线设计时综合考虑老采空区变形的影响,并针对该区两个不同时段开采变形观测站布设方法分别进行了设计。其中所介绍的设计方法对其它地区类似煤矿塌陷区综合治理有一定意义。     

苏锡常地区地面沉降风险评价管理模型研究初探

平原区超采地下水引发的地面沉降地质灾害已成为影响这些地区经济可持续发展的重要制约因素,如何从收益、成本、风险三个方面为决策者提供制定地面沉降相关防治措施的综合支持,实现灾害防治从被动应对向主动防御转变,是地面沉降防治研究领域的新课题。在综合考虑苏锡常地区技术、经济、人类活动等因素基础上,从地面沉降总体风险和地区差异水平出发,提出构建地面沉降风险评价模型及决策支持系统的初步研究思路和方法,为实现地面沉降防治的科学化决策管理进行了探索。