Food Selection in Two Corallivorous Butterflyfishes, Chaetodon austriacus and C. trifascialis, in the Northern Red Sea

Abstract. Using an in situ observational approach, the food preferences among hard corals were examined for the two obligate coral‐feeding butterflyfishes Chaetodon austriacus and C. trifascialis in the Northern Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt. Chaetodon austriacus is a generalist coral feeder that feeds mainly on three genera of abundant hard corals (Acropora, Porites and Pocillopora). In contrast, C. trifascialis is a specialist coral feeder on Acropora spp. and Pocillopora verrucosa. In general, C. austriacus had a lower feeding rate than C. trifascialis (both species in the Northern Red Sea reefs had high feeding rates compared with other reefs). Ivlev's electivity index was calculated for the two species. This index shows that C. austriacus prefers Montipora and Pocillopora, and avoids Lobophyllia and Favites. On the other hand, C. trifascialis prefers Acropora valida and avoids Porites solida. Thus, the feeding preference and avoidance of these chaetodontids depend on both biting rate and food availability in the environment rather than on biting rate alone.     

Trapping of fine sediment in a semi-enclosed bay, Palau, Micronesia

Airai Bay, Palau, is a small (3 km²), semi-enclosed, mangrove-fringed, meso-tidal, coral lagoon on the southeast coast of Palau. It drains a small catchment area (26 km²) of highly erodible soils in an area with high annual rainfall (3.7 m). River floods are short-lived and the sediment load is very large, with suspended fine sediment concentration exceeding 1500 mg l⁻¹. The resulting river plume is about 2 m thick. The brackish water residence time is about 7 days; during this period the plume remains a distinct surface feature even after river runoff has ceased. About 98% of the riverine fine sediment settles in Airai Bay, of which about 15–30% is deposited in the mangroves during river floods. This mud remains trapped in Airai Bay because the bay is protected from ocean swells and the tidal currents and locally generated wind waves are too small to resuspend the mud in quantity. The mud is smothering coral reefs, creating a phase shift from coral to fleshy algae dominance, and is even changing habitats by creating mud banks. The persistence of Airai Bay marine resources may not be possible without improved soil erosion control in the river catchment.     

The Bryozoan Rhynchozoon larreyi (Audouin, 1826)–A Successful Competitor in Coral Reef Communities of the Red Sea

Abstract. Rhynchozoon larreyi (A udouin , 1826) is a successful competitor for space in sessile reef communities at Port Sudan and Eilat (Red Sea). At these localities it has always been found in association with Zanclea sp. The relationship between the two species is regarded as mutualistic. The hydroid benefits through association with a successful spatial competitor; the bryozoan gains advantage through protection of its surface from predation and fouling. Morphological modification of the bryozoan colony in response to this association leads to a highly organized reticulate surface pattern, which provides both symbionts with access to feeding currents.     

The Skeleton Eroding Band Disease on Coral Reefs of Aqaba, Red Sea

Abstract.  The occurrence and distribution of the coral disease Skeleton Eroding Band (SEB) has been studied at the Jordanian coast in the Gulf of Aqaba, the northernmost extension of the Red Sea. The SEB syndrome is caused by the colonial, heterotrich ciliate Halofolliculina corallasia : an advancing front of these protists destroys polyps, coenosarc, and surface of the coenosteum. In recent years SEB was registered in reefs of Australia, Mauritius, and the Red Sea. Along the Jordanian coast, disease frequency at four study sites was investigated and afflicted coral genera and species were documented. The study sites were MSS (Marine Science Station)-north, MSS-south, the tourist area near the middle of the coast, and the industrial area adjacent to the Saudi Arabian border. Corals and infections were counted inside randomly placed 1 m² frames in reef flats and in 5, 10, and 15 m depths. In order of increasing affectedness of sample sites, MSS-south was the healthiest (12%, 4%, 4%, 16% of infected corals from shallow to deep), followed by MSS-north (19%, 28%, 24%, 24%), the tourist area (51%, 23%, 16%, 41%), and the industrial area (14%, 30%, 39%, 31%). By far the most frequently encountered coral species were Acropora spp. and Stylophora sp., while relative infection-rates were highest among Seriatopora sp. (75%), as well as Stylophora sp., Hydnophora sp., and Galaxea sp. (50% each). This was followed in steadily decreasing order from 44% to 5% by Pocillopora , Mycedium , Montipora , Echinopora , Acropora , Lobophyllia , Goniastrea , Millepora , Platygyra , Fungia , Favia , Porites , Goniopora , Favites , and Pavona . SEB was found to a depth of 30 m, but may occur even deeper.     

南沙群岛海底地貌制图研究——以1：100万郑和群礁幅为例

中国海域辽阔，但公开发表和出版的1：100万及更大比例尺的海底地貌图尚属空白。在综合研究已有的海底地貌分类系统的基础上，以南沙群岛郑和群礁幅为实验区，尝试建立了该海区1：100万海洋地貌分类系统，利用历年来南沙群岛海区等深线图（1：50万）、沉积图（1：200万）、地质地球物理图集（1：100万）及各种文献资料和在专家指导的基础上，绘制了该幅的海底地貌图并对该区域的地貌格局进行了分析。实验表明，通过对现有资料的综合进行1：100万海底地貌制图是可行的。实验发现：1）等深线数据如同陆地上的等高线数据，是进行海底地貌制图的基本和主要数据源；2）海底底质和沉积物数据是进行海底地貌成因类型判别的重要依据；3）海底构造格局对海底地貌格局起着根本的控制作用，因此海底地质地球物理数据也是进行海底地貌制图不可或缺的数据之一。     

Use of Cell-Specific PAM-Fluorometry to Characterize Host Shading in the Epiphytic Dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus

Abstract. Cell‐specific fluorescence characteristics were used to characterize the light tolerance of the toxic benthic dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus. The fluorescence parameter F_v : F_m was measured using pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) fluorometry on individual cells collected from foliose red algae growing in the sub‐tidal margin of South Water Cay, Belize. Samples were collected over several days during sunny and cloudy conditions and compared to samples incubated in situ. The data from individual cells were used to generate both F_v : F_m frequency histograms and averages. Maximum individual cell values of F_v : F_m reached 0.81 in pre‐dawn samples, a value near the theoretical maximum for PAM fluorometry. In field samples from macroalgal hosts, average F_v : F_m values declined only slightly during the day, but cells incubated in bottles under 47 % incident sunlight showed a significant mid‐day depression. In freshly collected samples, near‐maximum F_v : F_m values could be found in individual cells during the entire day; however, the frequency histograms indicated a greater range in F_v : F_m values during the afternoon than in the morning. In contrast, cultures of G. toxicus showed a tight distribution around a mean. Field samples showed a rapid recovery to near‐maximum F_v : F_m within 2 min when assayed using a standardized actinic light series. Similar results were obtained in laboratory cultures of G. toxicus grown at 73 µmol photons · m^‐2 · s^‐1, but not at 383 µmol photons · m^‐2 · s^‐1. These data provide empirical support for suggestions that G. toxicus exploits the three‐dimensional structure of the algal host thallus to minimize light exposure. This strategy permits G. toxicus, a high‐light intolerant species in culture, to thrive in shallow, well‐lit tropical seas. It may also partially explain the observed preference of G. toxicus for complex, foliose macroalgae as hosts.     

Water and fine sediment dynamics in transient river plumes in a small, reef-fringed bay, Guam

Fouha Bay is a 400-m-long funnel-shaped, 10-m-deep, coral-fringed embayment on the southwest coast of Guam. It drains a small catchment area (5 km²) of steeply sloping, highly erodible lateritic soils. River floods are short-lived and the sediment load is very large, with suspended sediment concentration (SSC) exceeding 1000 mg l⁻¹. The resulting river plume is about 1 m thick and is pulsing in a series of 1–2 h-long events, with outflow velocity peaking at 0.05 m s⁻¹. Turbulent entrainment results in an oceanic inflow at depth into the bay. As soon as river flow stops, the plume floats passively and takes 5 days to be flushed out of Fouha Bay. The suspended fine sediment flocculates in 5 min and aggregates on ambient transparent exopolymer particles to form muddy marine snow flocs. In calm weather, about 75% of the riverine mud settles out of the river plume into the underlying oceanic water where it forms a transient nepheloid layer. This mud ultimately settles and is trapped in Fouha Bay. Under typhoon-driven, swell waves, the surface plume is at least 7 m thick and bottom entrainment of mud results in SSC exceeding 1000 mg l⁻¹ for several days. It is suggested that successful management of fringing coral reefs adjacent to volcanic islands may not be possible without proper land use management in the surrounding catchment.     

广东省电白县大放鸡岛滨珊瑚的重金属含量及其意义

采用等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)技术，测定了1982-2001年广东省电白县大放鸡岛(111^* 11’E、21^*21’N)滨珊瑚中的Pb、Cd、Cu、Co、Cr、Mn、Ni、Zn重金属元素的含量。结果表明，珊瑚中有高的Ni和Zn含量的平均值，且在1990和2001年Zn的含量高出平均值1．8和2．3倍；1997和1998年，Pb的含量高出平均值3．5和2．3倍；1987年Cu的含量高出平均值1．5倍。这表明珊瑚样品在上述的年段内受到了Zn、Ni、Pb和Cu较显著的污染。其他重金属元素未构成明显的影响。此外，还用多元统计分析的方法，探讨了重金属含量的年际变化率与气候环境和经济环境指标的相关性，以及重金属元素之间的相似性和差异性。     

南沙珊瑚礁对大气CO2含量上升的响应

本文利用南沙海域的碳酸盐化学以及相关调查资料，分析了表层CaCO3饱和度的分布特征，通过碳酸盐的热力学计算模式，定量评估了未来大气CO2增加对表层CaCO3饱和度的潜在影响，利用CaCO3饱和度与珊瑚钙化速率的经验关系式，进一步预测了珊瑚礁对大气CO2上升可能产生的生物地球化学响应．初步结果显示，工业革命前至2100年，南沙海域的CaCO3饱和度将下降43％左右，从而将引起珊瑚礁的平均钙化速率减少33％．如果未来大气CO2浓度继续保持目前的上升趋势，南沙海域珊瑚礁可能会停止生长，甚至某些造礁生物面，临灭绝的危险．     

西沙群岛现代滨岸的风暴沉积

本文仅以1984年10号风暴为例,讨论了风暴前后的水动力条件及路径变化.重点阐述了该次风暴对西沙珊瑚礁区的潮间和潮上带现代砾堤和海滩的影响.描述了珊瑚礁区的砾堤沉积物的空间分布及垂向序列,并对沙质海滩的风暴搬运过程进行了适当的讨论.西沙砾质砾堤和沙质海滩无论从沉积序列上还是从沉积物的结构成份上,都存在着较大的差异,它们是在一种水动力条件下形成的两种不同的沉积体,在沉积过程中各有自身的沉积特点.本文尝试性地从上述角度提出一种沉积序列的空间格局,以便为古代沉积物的研究提供一些滨岸风暴沉积的信息.