How U.S. ocean policy and market power can reform the coral reef wildlife trade

As the world’s largest importer of marine ornamental species for the aquaria, curio, home décor, and jewelry industries, the United States has an opportunity to leverage its considerable market power to promote more sustainable trade and reduce the effects of ornamental trade stress on coral reefs worldwide. Evidence indicates that collection of some coral reef animals for these trades has caused virtual elimination of local populations, major changes in age structure, and promotion of collection practices that destroy reef habitats. Management and enforcement of collection activities in major source countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines remain weak. Strengthening US trade laws and enforcement capabilities combined with increasing consumer and industry demand for responsible conservation can create strong incentives for improving management in source countries. This is particularly important in light of the March 2010 failure of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to take action on key groups of corals.     

Deep-sea reef fish assemblage patterns on the Blake Plateau(Western North Atlantic Ocean)

Deep‐water coral habitats are scattered throughout slope depths (360–800 m) off the Southeastern United States (SEUS, Cape Lookout, North Carolina, to Cape Canaveral, Florida), contributing substantial structure and diversity to bottom habitats. In some areas (e.g. off North Carolina) deep corals form nearly monotypic (Lophelia pertusa) high profile mounds, and in other areas (e.g. off Florida) many species may colonize hard substrata. Deep coral and hard substrata ecosystems off the SEUS support a unique fish assemblage. Using the Johnson‐Sea‐Link submersible (in 2000–2005, 65 dives), and a remotely operated vehicle (in 2003, five dives), fishes were surveyed in nine deep reef study areas along the SEUS slope. Forty‐two benthic reef fish species occurred in deep reef habitats in these study areas. Species richness was greatest on the two coral banks off Cape Lookout, North Carolina (n = 23 and 27 species) and lowest on the two sites off Cape Canaveral, Florida (n = 7 and 8 species). Fish assemblages exhibited significantly (ANOSIM, Global R = 0.69, P = 0.001) different patterns among sites. Stations sampled off North Carolina (three study areas) formed a distinct group that differed from all dives conducted to the south. Although several species defined the fish assemblages at the North Carolina sites, Laemonema barbatulum, Laemonema melanurum, and Helicolenus dactylopterus generally had the most influence on the definition of the North Carolina group. Fish assemblages at three sites within the central survey area on the Blake Plateau were also similar to each other, and were dominated by Nezumia sclerorhynchus and L. melanurum. Synaphobranchus spp. and Neaumia sclerorhynchus differentiated the two southern sites off Cape Canaveral, Florida, from the other station groups. Combinations of depth and habitat type had the most influence on these station groups; however, explicit mechanisms contributing to the organization of these assemblages remain unclear.     

An overview of socio-economic and ecological perspectives of Fiji's inshore reef fisheries

This paper reviews the socio-economic and ecological context of Fijian reef fisheries. This review is deemed necessary because improved understanding of the state and trends of Fiji's coral reef fisheries on a national level is required for designing an effective management plan for Fiji's inshore reef fisheries. The most important point that emerges from our review is that despite numerous studies of Fiji's reef fisheries, the current status of reef-associated fisheries at the national level is still uncertain due, mainly, to the lack of dependable data on the subsistence fisheries. This in turn leads to uncertainty about how the continuation of fishing, in particular, fishing focused on target species for the coral reef resources trade, will affect fishing communities and the ecosystem.     

The impact of artisanal fishing on coral reef fish health in Hat Thai Mueang,Phang-nga Province,Southern Thailand

This study investigates whether there has been a decline in fish stocks of a coral reef in Thailand, and if so, whether that decline is due to small-scale fishing. The research methods used included fish sampling by UVC, interviews and questionnaires with key informants and artisanal fishers. The results confirmed that there has been a decline in piscivores and carnivores (though not herbivores), and the main perceived threat came not from artisanal but from commercial fishing. Recommendations are to replace the largely unrestricted fishery with a more regulated regime backed by effective enforcement.     

Marine reserve phenomenon in the Pacific islands

Coinciding with increased numbers of global marine reserves, communities in the Pacific islands are establishing unprecedented number of periodically-harvested and indefinitely-closed marine reserves. An integrated ecological and social comparative methodology is used to examine the motivations and outcomes of reserves in Vanuatu. Communities establish permanent reserves due to concerns about human impacts on reefs, while others establish periodic reserves in response to declining resources. Local knowledge suggests that both reserve types are effective, although validation by underwater surveys was inconclusive. Community support for both reserve types is strong, suggesting that the marine reserve phenomenon in Pacific will continue.     

川东板东构造长兴组生物礁及其地震特征研究

根据板东构造板东4井等长兴组钻探资料,对长兴组的生物礁进行了研究。研究表明板东构造长兴组储集岩有生物（屑）泥晶灰岩-含生物（屑）泥晶灰岩、礁灰岩和白云岩。综合储集岩物性特征、区域钻、测井资料及野外剖面,总结了生物礁的形成与演化模式及模式各部位所对应的岩性和物性。通过地震响应特征、反演等技术建立了长兴组储层识别模式,利用对应速度、Landmark属性提取的储层有效厚度经计算机网格化编制出了长兴组储层厚度分布预测图,与钻测井厚度对比,证实板东4井生物礁为点礁。     

不同形状和材料的鱼礁模型对短蛸诱集效果的初步研究

采用鱼类行为学方法,观测了短蛸(Octopus ocellatus)对同为PVC材质的3种形状的有孔和无孔模型礁以及对同为管状的3种不同材料的单体和叠加模型礁的行为反应,并对各组内模型礁的诱集效果进行了比较.实验结果表明:未投放模型礁条件下短蛸在水槽四角分布率较高,在鱼礁标志区分布率只有0.5%;PVC材质3种形状的模型礁放入后对短蛸的聚集率均在10%以上,其中内部空间最大的正方体模型礁聚集率最大,每种形状的模型礁中有孔模型礁聚集率高于无孔;3种不同材料的管状模型礁放入后诱集效果均较明显,其中陶瓷材质的管状模型礁效果最好,每种材料的模型礁中3单体叠加后的组合礁聚集率明显高于单体,其中叠加后的陶瓷模型礁对短蛸的聚集率达到39.3%;研究发现短蛸的领域行为对鱼礁模型的诱集效果影响较大.     

Pacific coral oxygen isotope and the tropospheric temperature gradient over the Asian monsoon region: a tool to reconstruct past Indian summer monsoon rainfall

Having recognized that it is the tropospheric temperature (TT) gradient rather than the land–ocean surface temperature gradient that drives the Indian monsoon, a new mechanism of El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) monsoon teleconnection has been unveiled in which the ENSO influences the Indian monsoon by modifying the TT gradient over the region. Here we show that equatorial Pacific coralline oxygen isotopes reflect TT gradient variability over the Indian monsoon region and are strongly correlated to monsoon precipitation as well as to the length of the rainy season. Using these relationships we have been able to reconstruct past Indian monsoon rainfall variability of the first half of the 20th century in agreement with the instrumental record. Additionally, an older coral oxygen isotope record has been used to reconstruct seasonally resolved summer monsoon rainfall variability of the latter half of the 17th century, indicating that the average annual rainfall during this period was similar to that during the 20th century. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

中国早石炭世四射珊瑚动物地理分区

 以中国主要地区早石炭世四射珊瑚化石资料为依据,采用传统的综合比较法与二态聚类分析方法相结合,把中国早石炭世四射珊瑚归为两大动物地理区,即特提斯大区和岗瓦纳大区,其中特提斯大区东部中国部分可再分为四个亚区:(1)华南亚区;(2)滇西亚区;(3)西南亚区;(5)北方亚区。     

川东及邻区上二叠统生物礁的白云岩化

白云岩化是川东及邻区上二叠统礁体的重要成岩事件。根据矿物岩石学、X光衍射、流体包裹体、碳氧稳定同位素、微量元素及阴极发光等项目的研究,笔者认为,礁体白云岩主要是埋藏交代成因,礁顶有少量微-粉晶白云岩为潮坪成因。本文着重讨论礁体围岩为生屑灰岩的埋藏压实流体白云岩化模式,简述礁控白云岩储集特征及其成因。在此研究基础上,提出了一个白云石结构成因分类方案。