The inhibitory degree between Skeletonema costatum and dinoflagllate Prorocentrum donghaiense at different concentrations of phosphate and nitrate/phosphate ratios

Interactions between Skeletonema costatum (S. costatum) and Prorocentrum donghaiense (P. donghaiiense) were inves-tigated using bi-algal cultures at different concentrations of phosphate (PO4-P) and nitrate/phosphate (N/P) ratios. Experiments were conducted under P-limited conditions and the Lotka-Volterra mathematical model was used to simulate the growth of S. costatum and P. donghaiense in the bi-algal cultures. Both of these two species were inhibited significantly in bi-algal culture. The results of the simulation showed that the inhibitory degree of S. costaum by P. donghaiense was high when the concentration of PO4-P was low (0.1μmolL-1/2 d), but that of P. donghaiense by S. costaum was high with increased PO4-P supply (0.6μmolL-1/2 d). At low concen-tration of PO4-P (0.1μmolL-1/2 d), or high concentration of PO4-P (0.6μmolL-1/2 d) with high N/P ratio (160), the interactions be-tween S. costatum and P. donghaiense were dependent on the initial cell densities of both species. At high concentration of PO4-P (0.6μmolL-1/2 d) with low N/P ratio (25 or 80), S. costatum exhibited a survival strategy superior to that of P. donghaiense. The de-gree of inhibition of P. donghaiense by S. costaum increased with elevated N/P ratio when the medium was supplemented with con-centration 0.1μmolL-1/2 d of PO4-P. The degree of inhibition to P. donghaiense by S. costaum increased with elevated N/P ratio at low concentration of PO4-P (0.1 μmolL-1/2 d). This trend was conversed at high concentration of PO4-P (0.6μmolL-1/2 d). However, the degree of inhibition of S. costaum by P. donghaiense increased with the increased N/P ratio at different PO4-P concentrations (0.1μmolL-1/2 d and 0.6μmolL-1/2 d). These results suggested that both phosphate concentration and N/P ratio affected the competition between S. costaum and P. donghaiense: P. donghaiense is more competitive in environments with low phosphate or high N/P ratio and the influence of N/P ratio on the competition was more significant with lower phosphate concentration.     

First report of the genus Lysippe Malmgren, 1866 (Polychaeta: Ampharetidae) from Chinese waters

The ampharetid genus Lysippe Malmgren, 1866 is reported for the first time from Chinese waters. The identification was based on material deposited in the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Qingdao). A new species, Lysippe trichobranchia sp. nov. is described. The new species is widely distributed in shallow waters of the Bohai Gulf, the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea at depths of 10-40 m.     

Vegetation and Community Changes of Elm （Ulmuspumila） Woodlands in Northeastern China in 1983-2011

Elm (Ulmus pumila), widely distributed in the north temperate zone, contributes to a special savanna-like woodland in typical grassland region in the northeastern China. This woodland performs a variety of ecological functions and environmental significance, such as decreasing soil erosion, stabilizing sand dunes, preserving species diversity. However, in the last approximate 30 years, the species composition, productivity and distribution area of elm woodland has decreased severely. A series of studies have been carried out to find out whether the climate changes or human disturbances caused the degradation of elm woodland and how these factors affected elm woodland. In this study, undisturbed, plowing and grazing elm woodland were investigated in 1983 and 2011 by using Point-Centered Quarter method. The relationship between vegetation changes and environmental factors was analyzed by Bray-Curtis ordination. The results show that in 2011, species diversity and understory productivity of undisturbed elm woodland decrease slightly compared to those of undisturbed elm woodland in 1983. However, nearly 60% of the species is lost in the plowing and grazing elm woodland relative to the species undisturbed elm woodland in 1983. Interestingly, plowing stimulates the growth of elm and certain understory species through furrowing soil and accelerating soil nutrient turnover rate. Grazing disturbance not only leads to species loss and productivity decrease, but also induces changes in elm growth (small, short and twisted). The mean age of the elm was 29 ± 2 yr in undisturbed and plowing elm woodland, while only 15 yr in the grazing elm woodland. The results of Bray-Curtis ordination analysis show that all sample stands clustered to three groups: Group I including the undisturbed sample stands of 83UE (undisturbed elm woodland in 1983) and 11UE (undisturbed elm woodland in 2011); Group II including sample stands of PE (elm woodland disturbed by plowing); Group III including samples stands of GE (elm woodland disturbed by grazing). The results indicate that the long time disturbance of the plowing and grazing have converted elm woodland to different community types. Climate change is not the primary reason causing the degradation of elm woodland, but plowing and grazing disturbance. Both plowing and grazing decrease the vegetation composition and species diversity. Grazing further decreases vegetation productivity and inhibits the growth of elm tree. Therefore, we suggest that reasonable plowing and exclusive grazing would be favorable for future regeneration of degraded elm woodland.     

Composition and distribution of diatom assemblages in the surface sediments of the Bering Sea

Diatoms collected from the top 1 cm of the surface sediment layer at seven Bering Sea stations during the Fourth Chi- nese National Arctic Research Expedition （4th CH1NARE-Arctic） in 2010 were studied. In total, 101 taxa belonging to 38 genera were found. The species were divided into four groups： eurythermal species, boreal-temperate species, polar species, and sea-ice species. The diatom assemblages at the stations in the southwestern basin area were primarily composed of boreal-temperate species, such as Neodenticula seminae, Thalassiosira trifulta, Rhizosolenia hebetata f. hiemalis, and Actinocyclus curvatulus. The northeastern shelf stations were dominated by polar species, including Fragilariopsis oceanica, Thalassiosira antarctica spora, Thalassiosira nordensldoeldii, and Thalassiosira hyalina. The overall abundance was highest at the basin stations with 3.7 ×10^6 cells·g^-1 of wet sediment, whereas the eastern shelf stations had the lowest abundance of 0.7×10^6 cells·g^-1 of wet sediment （excluding the resting spores of Chaetoceros spp.）. The relationship between the distribution of the surface sediment diatom assemblages and the environment is discussed.     

First record of manta rays off New Zealand

Three manta rays were seen and photographed in the western Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, in March 1968. Although the species or genus could not be identified, this sighting represents the first substantiated record of the manta ray family (Mobulidae) in New Zealand and confirms the statements of fishermen that, in summer, mantas occasionally appear in offshore game‐fish waters in north‐eastern New Zealand.     

海岸沙地生态系统服务功能研究进展与展望

海岸沙地生态系统是海岸带陆地、海洋和大气交互作用形成的典型生态系统,具有重要的服务功能和价值。本文通过对国内外文献进行综述,认为海岸沙地生态系统主要具有3个功能:(1)海岸地区的天然防护屏障; (2)生物多样性的保护基地; (3)滨海旅游服务的基础。探讨了海岸沙地受到破坏的主要原因及其保护面临的挑战,认为海岸沙地生态系统服务价值评估的不确定性以及构成的不对称性,是其保护面临的最大挑战。未来需要加强对海岸沙地生态系统服务价值的准确评估,在此基础上制定合理的保护政策,将海岸沙地的保护和开发结合起来,充分发挥海岸沙地生态系统的服务功能,为海岸地区的可持续发展提供依据。     

桂林丫吉岩溶区土壤有机碳和pH值与钙形态分布的关系初探

钙是岩溶环境的主要构成元素,是决定岩溶生态系统的结构和功能的关键要素之一。为研究岩溶区土壤有机碳和p H值与钙形态分布的关系,在桂林丫吉岩溶试验场以3个月为周期共2年的时间采集自然植被土壤,利用BCR方法对钙形态进行了研究,结果表明:(1)岩溶区各形态钙中以酸溶态钙含量最多,占土壤全钙的61.63%,表明岩溶区石灰土中钙活跃的迁移状态和生物作用,钙在石灰土中具有较高的活度。并且各形态钙的大小顺序为酸溶态可还原态残渣态可氧化态;(2)除可氧化态钙与土壤有机碳的相关性不显著外,各形态的钙与土壤有机碳之间均呈极显著正相关的关系(P0.01);与土壤有机碳类似,除可氧化态钙与p H值呈不显著的负相关关系外,其余土壤钙形态与p H值均呈极显著正相关关系(P0.01)。(3)利用冗余分析可以对各形态钙与有机碳和p H值的关系大小进行排序,各形态钙与有机碳和p H的关系大小顺序均为:可还原态钙酸溶态钙残渣态钙可氧化态钙。研究结果有助于更清晰的了解钙在岩溶生态系统中的分布和运动特征,为深入理解岩溶区钙循环提供基础数据。     

Pioneering patterns of ballast treatment in the emerging era of marine vector management

Human-mediated transfer and invasions of organisms have permanently altered distribution patterns on a global scale. In response to growing numbers and impacts of invasions, global-scale vector management is advancing to curtail unintentional and unwanted species re-distributions. In marine systems, ocean-going ships have been the major dispersal mechanism across biogeographic barriers, and maritime vector management has become a priority global initiative, including national regulations and recent ratification of an international convention to manage ballast water. This paper provides the first analysis of the pioneering patterns of ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) on board commercial ships, using vessel arrivals to the United States as a model system. Over an opening 28-month period, >200 unique vessels arriving to the U.S. reported BWTS operations, using 58 different systems to treat 4.42 million m³ of discharged ballast water. Although this volume represents <2% of all ballast water discharged in the U.S. per month during this period, there was substantial growth in treated ballast discharge throughout this time. Through 2015, ‘Filtration+UV’ systems were the most common BWTS type installed across all ship types. Currently, BWTSs occur on higher numbers of tankers and bulkers, but a higher proportion of passenger vessels, than other ship types. If BWTSs meet the required discharge standards as intended, this will cause a steep reduction in total discharge of organisms ≥50 µm compared to current practices. While several hurdles in fleet-wide BWTS adoption remain, including the timeline for BWTS installation across the global fleet, we are at a significant milestone in the history and evolution of global shipping, which is undergoing wholesale transition to a new and more effective global-scale ballast vector management strategy.     

Pelagic longline fisheries in southeastern/south Brazil. Who cares about the law?

The fishing industry has been facing problems related to catch yields, predatory competition and economic collapse. Management should be based on substantial scientific studies and the state's ability to implement these. In Brazil, the surface longline fishery has been in existence since the 1950s, and remains of great economic importance. This study analyzes 179 legal instruments (1934–2014), divided into restrictive, administrative and promotional, comparing with catches landed (1996–2011). The results show that there was a complete disrespect for the regulations, wherein fleets continued landing prohibited or size limited species, such as Kajikia albida, Makaira nigricans, Alopias superciliosus, A. vulpinus, Carcharhinus longimanus, Galeorhinus galeus and Xiphias gladius. Furthermore, divergent regulatory provisions have hindered understanding/implementation of regulations by all those involved. Being a country of continental proportions and with different longline fisheries along the coast, conducting scientific studies and the development of normative approaches becomes a huge challenge. In a dynamic activity such as fishing, the constant review of these regulations will allow fisheries management to become more accurate and in accordance with the aspirations of the different interests involved. Despite the surface longline fishery having operated for 60 years in Brazil, the existence of incongruous laws makes the management and control of this activity incompatible with the conservation of species. The lack of regulations governing this fishery creates a "gap", increasing the risk of extinction of species (target and bycatch) and the future collapse of this activity.