Recruitment of coastal fishes and oceanographic variability in central California

Recruitment of pelagic larval fishes to the nearshore environment is dependent on a suite of biological and physical processes operating at many spatial and temporal scales. Nearshore circulation processes associated with coastal upwelling are widely upheld as major determinants of year class strength for many rockfishes (Sebastes spp.), but the mechanism by which these processes drive recruitment is largely unknown. We used Standard Monitoring Units for the Recruitment of Fishes (SMURFs) to monitor recruitment of two rockfish complexes (Sebastes spp.) and cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) from March to September of 2004 and 2005 at 3 sites along the central California coast. We examined the relationship between recruitment of these fishes and measurements of oceanographic variability associated with upwelling dynamics, including in situ water temperature, AVHRR sea surface temperature, the Bakun upwelling index, and an index of alongshore surface water transport. We found that rockfish comprising the KCGB complex (Sebastes atrovirens, Sebastes caurinus, Sebastes carnatus, Sebastes chrysomelas) recruit during early summer, while fishes of the BYO complex (Sebastes melanops, Sebastes flavidus, Sebastes serranoides), as well as cabezon recruit during late summer. Our results provide limited support for an association between the arrival of juvenile pelagic rockfish and cabezon to the nearshore environment and physical processes related to upwelling and relaxation. Beyond the limitations of our bimonthly sampling scheme, the lack of a clear pattern may be related to the near absence of upwelling–relaxation cycles along this stretch of coast during these two study periods. Moreover, the settlement and recruitment of nearshore fishes may be closely tied to processes occurring earlier in the larval stage.     

Flow separation and vertical motions in a tidal flow interacting with a shallow-water island

This paper reports on the case study of Rattray Island (Great Barrier Reef, northeast Australia), lying perpendicular to tidal flow in shallow waters. At ebb and flood, attached (stable) eddies develop in the wake where swirls of turbidity suggest that sediment-laden waters are brought to the surface as a result of vertical transport. Both eddy and tip upwellings are encountered in the tidal flow around Rattray Island but there is currently no clear-cut answer as to which secondary flow generates upwelling with the largest intensity. This paper addresses this specific issue through idealized and realistic high-resolution numerical experiments. The analysis is supported by physical arguments based on the theory of flow separation. Given Rattray's geometry and surrounding bathymetry, the mechanism of flow separation in shallow waters helps explain the asymmetry in size of the eddies and their intensity. The results of idealized numerical experiments also suggest that eddy and tip upwellings may be of similar intensity at Rattray Island.     

Meteorologically-induced mesoscale variability of the North-western Alboran Sea (southern Spain) and related biological patterns

Hydrographic mesoscale structures in the North-western Alboran Sea show a high variability induced by a number of different factors. One of the most important is the differences in atmospheric pressure over the Mediterranean basin when compared to the Gulf of Cádiz. This difference modulates the zonal wind field in the Alboran Sea and the intensity of the Atlantic inflow through the Strait of Gibraltar, also affecting the formation and extension of the Western Alboran Gyre (WAG). When westerly winds are dominant, lower atmospheric pressure in the Mediterranean enhances the inflow of Atlantic waters causing the Atlantic Jet to be located in the vicinity of the Spanish shore, creating a well-defined frontal zone in front of Estepona Cove. In this situation, the coastal upwelling is enhanced, leading to a minimum in sea surface temperature and a maximum of surface nutrient concentrations located in the coastal area. The vertical position of the chlorophyll maximum found in these circumstances appeared to be controlled by the nutrient availability. On the other hand, when easterly winds prevail, higher atmospheric pressure in the Mediterranean leads to a reduced inflow and the oceanographic and biological structures are clearly different. The Atlantic Jet moves southward flowing in a south-eastern direction, changing the structure of the currents, resulting in an enhanced cyclonic circulation extending throughout the North-western Alboran Sea basin. These physical alterations also induce changes in the distribution of biogeochemical variables. Maximum nutrient and chlorophyll concentrations are located further off the coast in the central area of the newly created cyclonic gyre. During these easterlies periods coastal upwelling stops and the distribution of phytoplankton cells seems to be mainly controlled by physical processes such as advection of coastal waters to the open sea.     

Grazing impact of mesozooplankton in an upwelling region off northern California, 2000–2003

Mesozooplankton (>200 μm) grazing impact (% phytoplankton standing crop consumed d⁻¹) was determined by the gut fluorescence method during three springs (2000, 2001 and 2002) and two winters (2002 and 2003) in a coastal upwelling region off northern California. Wind events, in terms of both magnitude and duration, varied inter-annually and seasonally and included both upwelling-favorable and relaxation events. Grazing impact of mesozooplankton also varied inter-annually and seasonally, and was highest during June 2000 (mean=129% of standing crop d⁻¹), a prolonged period of wind “relaxation” and phytoplankton bloom. In contrast, mean grazing impact was lower during periods of stronger, more persistent winds, more active upwelling, greater cross-shelf transport, and lower chlorophyll concentration (25% and 38% in May–June 2001 and 2002, respectively). Wintertime conditions (January 2002 and 2003) were characterized by weakly upwelling or downwelling-favorable winds, low chlorophyll concentration, and lower mean mesozooplankton grazing impact (13% and 12%, respectively). The larger (>500 μm) size class contributed proportionally more to total mesozooplankton (>200 μm) grazing impact than the smaller (200–500 μm) size class during all sampling periods except spring 2002. These results suggest that mesozooplankton grazing impact is higher in spring than in winter, and that during the spring upwelling season, grazing is higher during periods of wind relaxation (weak upwelling) than during periods of stronger upwelling. Further, these results suggest an important role of mesozooplankton grazers on phytoplankton dynamics in the upwelling region off northern California.     

人工鱼礁对渔业资源和海洋生态环境的影响及相关技术研究

介绍了国内外在不同水深海域实施人工鱼礁工程的现状。分析并研究了不同水深海域人工鱼礁工程的建筑和投放技术,分析并研究了与人工鱼礁工程相关的一些问题及解决这些问题的途径,分析并研究了人工鱼礁区渔业资源增值和改善海洋生态环境的机理。分析得出的结论是:人工鱼礁工程在增值渔业资源和改善海洋生态环境方面是很有发展前景的。     

2006年夏季粤东至闽南近岸海域上升流的特征

利用2006年夏季粤东至闽南近岸海域海水的实测温度、盐度资料和海表温度、叶绿素0含量的卫星遥感资料,分析了该海域的上升流现象．结果表明：上升流区水体具有低温、高盐特征,其中心区域位于汕头至东山一带近岸海域．在汕头以西海域,外海深层低温高盐水沿海底地形向岸爬升形成上升流．汕头以东近岸海域的上升流为爬升至惠来近岸的外海水随沿岸流向东北方向运动,并在各地沿海底地形爬升所致．研究海域上升流区的水体属同一来源,均来自汕头西南外海．汕头以东近岸海域的上升流强度大于汕头以西,水温低于23．0℃、盐度高于34．00的外海水仅爬升至汕头以西近岸海表以下25m左右,但可出现在汕头以东近岸10m以浅海域．以研究海域海表温度低于27．5℃的沿岸低温区的面积来反映上升流的强度,通过对海表温度遥感数据的分析可知：7月初至7月中旬和7月28日至8月上旬,低温区域面积较大且较为稳定,上升流强度较大;7月19—27日期间和8月中旬以后,低温区域面积较小或短暂消失,上升流强度较弱．该上升流在2006年7—8月期间经历了强一弱-强．弱的短期变化过程．     

西南季风不同阶段南海北部珠江口外断面水文调查分析

根据2000年7月及2001年5月南海北部珠江口外断面CTD调查资料、同期气象资料,并结合该海域历史资料,对调查断面珠江冲淡水扩展范围、跃层变动情况及上升流特征进行了分析,观察到对应于夏季西南季风的不同阶段,调查断面跃层分布与珠江冲淡水影响范围均发生明显变动,升降流的影响也呈现出不同特征：(1)西南季风较强时,断面陆架区上表层受冲淡水影响明显,海区的层化结构明显加强;(2)西南季风较强时．调查断面出现上升流和下降流。研究结果表明：(1)局地风应力与热通量的变化控制了调查断面跃层或混合层的温度和深度的变化,影响着珠江冲淡水的扩展范围,西南季风较强时珠江冲淡水扩展范围变大,调查断面跃层或混合层强度变大,深度变深;(2)夏季西南季风强时调查断面存在上升流,其形成机制为风产生的离岸水体Ekman输运的补偿效应,底地形的变化虽然也造成较弱的外海次表层水涌升,但可能只是加强了上升的速度或强度;(3)夏季西南季风强时调查断面上存在上升流区与下降流区毗邻的现象,下降流成因可能有二,一为近岸流和陆坡流呈相反方向运动形成弱的反气旋涡,二为“上升与下降因相互水体补充的需要而共生”。     

闽南-台湾浅滩表层沉积物中底栖有孔虫分布及其环境特征

本文分析了闽南-台湾浅滩表层沉积物样品中的底栖有孔虫计有132属、328种。根据种类组成及分布特征,可将海区划分为6个动物群区,每个动物群区各有自己的环境特点。文中分析了动物群种类组成特征与其所赋存的环境之间的关系,并讨论了浅滩西南303站底栖有孔虫的分布与上升流的关系。