Birds, seals and the suspension culture of mussels in Bantry Bay, a non-seaduck area in Southwest Ireland

Concerns about the environmental impacts of mariculture have grown in recent years in response to the rapid expansion of the industry. The blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) is the main product of shellfish mariculture in the Northeast Atlantic and Baltic Sea, with approximately one third of the harvest cultured using suspended longlines within sheltered marine areas. The main aim of this study was to examine the interactions, and assess the impacts (if any) of mussel suspension culture on the seabird and seal community, employing a simultaneous study of culture and control sites. The study spanned a 20-month period (from November 2001 to August 2003) and encompassed six sites in Bantry Bay (Southwest Ireland).There was no significant difference in species richness between mussel and control sites. Similarly, species diversity did not significantly differ between the mussel and control sites although control sites were generally more diverse than mussel sites, the latter particularly dominated by large numbers of Laridae.Significantly higher numbers of Phalacrocoracidae, Laridae and Alcidae were recorded in mussel sites than in control sites. However, no significant difference was found between Gaviidae or common seal (Phoca vitulina) numbers in mussel and control sites. Seasonal patterns of abundance were similar in mussel and control sites, with peak numbers of most species groups occurring in spring.Mussel suspension culture does not appear to have an adverse effect on the abundance of seabirds or common seals in this area. The safe perching platforms provided by suspension culture floats, combined with a number of other factors, contribute to an increased abundance of a number of seabird species, particularly Laridae. The possible interactions between vertebrate predators and mussel suspension aquaculture are discussed and possible explanations for the increased seabird abundance observed in these areas are offered.     

Community structure in mussel beds at Logatchev hydrothermal vents and a comparison of macrofaunal species richness on slow- and fast-spreading mid-ocean ridges

Species lists for vent fields on the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge (MAR) from 14°N to 38°N suggest that there is a northern (>27°N), shallow (<2000 m) fauna and a southern (<27°N), deeper (>3000 m) endemic vent fauna, but little is known about how community structure varies along the ridge axis. In this study, quantitative samples of macrofaunal invertebrates associated with mussels (Bathymodiolus puteoserpentis) were collected at Logatchev (14°45′N), the southern‐most explored vent field on the MAR. Community structure (including species composition, species richness, diversity, and relative species abundances) in mussel beds at Logatchev was compared with that of Snake Pit (23°22′N) and Lucky Strike (37°17′N) mussel beds. The most striking feature of the Logatchev mussel‐bed macrofaunal invertebrate community was the tremendous abundance (up to 2390 individuals per liter of mussel‐volume sampled) and biomass of the ophiuroid, Ophioctenella acies. Logatchev and Snake Pit mussel beds share >50% of their associated macrofaunal species; these two sites share only 20–25% of their macrofaunal species with Lucky Strike. Species–effort curves and univariate measures of diversity (H′, J′) do not support the claim that diversity of vent organisms on the MAR is highest at Logatchev, at least when one assesses this within a habitat type. Multivariate analysis readily differentiates the species‐abundance characteristics of Logatchev, Snake Pit, and Lucky Strike mussel‐bed macrofaunas. The relationship between sea‐floor spreading rate and diversity was explored through comparison of species richness in mussel‐bed habitats on slow‐spreading (MAR), fast‐spreading [northern East Pacific Rise (EPR)], and ultra‐fast‐spreading (southern EPR) mid‐ocean ridges. Species richness was greater in samples from the faster‐spreading ridge axes, where vents are more closely spaced but shorter lived, than on slow‐spreading centers, where vents are further apart but longer lived.     

深水系泊高强聚乙烯缆绳的蠕变及破断实验研究

相对于同一破断强度的聚酯(polyester)缆绳,高强聚乙烯(HMPE)缆绳具有更高的刚度、更小的自重和直径、更易运输和安装的优点,因此高强聚乙烯缆绳被引入到系泊系统以替代聚酯缆绳。然而高强聚乙烯缆绳又存在易发生蠕变甚至蠕变破断的不利因素,研究其蠕变和蠕变破断的力学特性就显得尤为迫切。首先设计了合成纤维缆绳实验系统,对HMPE子股缆绳开展了系统的蠕变和蠕变破断实验。基于实验数据,分析了HMPE子缆的蠕变和蠕变破断特性;通过调研HMPE试样的蠕变实验数据,提出了HMPE考虑温度和载荷影响的HMPE纱线蠕变率经验公式,采用该经验公式并结合已有的缆绳比尺换算关系,可以推算出HMPE缆绳的蠕变率;此外,基于所获得的蠕变破断实验数据,提出了HMPE缆绳在定常载荷下的蠕变寿命经验公式。这些成果对HMPE缆绳应用于深水绷紧式系泊系统具有重要意义。     

The invasive Asian green mussel Perna viridis in South Africa: all that is green is not viridis

The Asian green mussel Perna viridis is an invasive Indo-Pacific species recently reported from South African harbours. To verify the invasion, a phylogenetic (and morphological) analysis of green-shelled mussels (n = 39), found in six South African harbours, was conducted using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI). Estimates of genetic distances using the neighbour-joining analysis identified P. viridis only from Durban Harbour. All other green mussels were more than 3.2% divergent from P. viridis and were identified as green-shelled variants of indigenous P. perna. The only reliable morphological differences distinguishing the two species were the poorly developed mantle papillae and the wavy pallial line in P. viridis. The confirmed occurrence of P. viridis in a South African harbour suggests that there is a possible threat of the species becoming established and then spreading onto the open coast and competing with indigenous P. perna.     

赤潮多发区塔玛亚历山大藻的麻痹性贝毒预警值研究

以厦门西海域养殖的翡翠贻贝为实验对象,在实验室内对塔玛亚历山大藻(Alexandrium tamarense(Lebour)Balech)采用单种培养技术,运用“麻痹性贝毒小白鼠生物检测法”进行毒性实验,研究了塔玛亚历山大藻对翡翠贻贝的麻痹性贝毒的毒力,藻密度为1×105个/dm3时,白鼠未死亡;藻密度为1×106个/dm3时,白鼠发生死亡.厦门西海域近年来暴发的赤潮一般起始于局部海区无害硅藻类浮游植物,在生态环境恶化下,硅藻类赤潮在生存竞争中消退,最终暴发有害赤潮.以试验结果为依据,根据厦门海域实际情况,参考各国贝毒临界值行动标准,提出适合南方赤潮多发区塔玛亚历山大藻的麻痹性贝毒藻密度预警值为1×105个/dm3.     

三种典型POPs对紫贻贝不同组织DNA损伤的比较研究

采用彗星电泳技术,比较研究了Aroclor 1254、BaP、DDT三种典型POPs对紫贻贝(Mytilus edulis)鳃、性腺、消化腺细胞的DNA损伤效应的差异,以期为进一步评价这三种典型POPs遗传毒理机制及其预警监测提供科学依据.结果表明,Tail DNA%是评价DNA损伤的理想指标,另外,在急性毒性试验中,...     

河蚌养殖对水域环境的影响及养殖模式的优化

综述了河蚌养殖育珠对水域水质影响以及养殖模式优化,指出采用适当的养殖模式养殖育珠,可修复水域环境与改善水质状况.     

枸杞岛海藻场冬季细菌群落结构分析

从枸杞岛海藻场和对照点贻贝场分别采取表层及底层水样,利用细菌通用引物,提取样品总DNA进行聚合酶链式反应(PCR)扩增,采用16SrDNA文库技术,对其细菌群落进行鉴定和分析。结果表明,海藻场表层和底层细菌群落分为5和6个门,贻贝场表层和底层细菌群落分为3和4个门,海藻场中细菌分类门数多于贻贝场内,优势菌均为变形细菌门,分别占克隆文库的比例为40.7%、50%、59.1%和48.1%。γ-变形菌纲为变形细菌门的优势亚群,各个文库中均含有许多未确定其分类的序列,即含有许多未被认知的微生物类群。变形菌门、厚壁菌门和放线菌门为所有水样共有,但在水层垂直分布及不同地理位置间存在较大差异。不同功能类群可能与其特殊生境密切相关。