Changing structure of benthic foraminiferal communities: implications from experimentally grown assemblages from coastal Georgia and Florida,USA

Environmental changes such as ocean warming or sea‐level rise have a profound impact on shallow‐water coastal environments. Benthic foraminifera have long been successfully used as indicators for ecologic responses. The propagule method is a useful tool to evaluate the reactions of entire assemblages of foraminifera when exposed to different environmental conditions. Here we present results from growth experiments of foraminiferal assemblages from three sites in coastal Georgia and Florida (USA) under different temperatures (18, 24 and 30 °C) and salinities (15 and 35). Results show that assemblages grown at the higher temperatures had greater abundances of foraminifera, whereas salinity was the primary factor in shaping the composition of the experimentally grown assemblages from the three sites. We also show that experimentally grown assemblages contain high numbers of ‘exotic’ species that result from successful propagule recruitment from outside of the original environments (e.g. the open shelf). Overall, opportunistic and previously termed ‘pioneer species’ proved to be the most successful constituents of the experimental assemblages, showing that reactions of foraminiferal assemblages to environmental changes can appear remarkably quickly (e.g. in the course of several weeks). Our observations on the faunal reactions to different temperatures and salinities indicate that ongoing environmental alterations of coastal areas will likely result in significant changes in the shallow‐water foraminiferal assemblages of the coasts of Georgia and Florida. As such, our study provides general insights into the ecologic effects of current climate change.     

Hierarchical analysis of the population genetic structure in Concholepas concholepas,a marine mollusk with a long‐lived dispersive larva

For most marine invertebrate species, dispersal is achieved mainly or exclusively by pelagic larvae. When the duration of the pelagic larval stage is long, genetic homogeneity over large geographic scales is expected. However, genetic structure has often been reported over small spatial scales, suggesting that more complex processes occur than a simple positive relationship between pelagic larval duration and gene flow. Concholepas concholepas has a larval stage that can last up to 3 months in the water column with a wide distributional range covering from 6°S to 56°S. We used a hierarchical sampling technique to test if the genetic homogeneity of this highly dispersive species is maintained throughout its total geographic range in spite of environmental heterogeneity. In the three studied regions (Antofagasta Bay, Valdivia and Patagonia), a spatial pattern of isolation by distance in conjunction with a spatial genetic structure was observed. Within each region, different spatial genetic patterns were detected. In Antofagasta Bay and Valdivia there was evidence of substantial gene flow among populations, whereas in Patagonia, populations showed genetic structure and a unique, genetically isolated location was identified. These results revealed the existence of spatial differences in the genetic patterns among regions with different coastal topographies in C. concholepas, and give us new insights into the inter‐relationships of larval dispersal potential, actual larval dispersal and physical processes. Regarding the sustainable management of C. concholepas, two important issues are derived from this study: (i) to highlight the need for a regional context in the management of C. concholepas, (ii) to determine the distinctiveness of the most austral population and to focus on the conservation efforts due to the relevance of this area.     

Natal site fidelity by breeding female southern elephant seals in relation to their history of participation in the winter haulout

Of the four types of terrestrial haulout periods undertaken by southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina, only the purpose of the winter haulout is unknown. Returning to a haulout site from distant pelagic foraging grounds bears significant costs in terms of increased energy expenditure, reduced foraging time and increased exposure to predation; therefore, each haulout must serve a purpose. We examined the hypothesis that the winter haulout serves to maintain familiarity with the natal site, thereby increasing site fidelity. To this end, we analysed a long-term mark-recapture dataset for female southern elephant seals at Marion Island, Southern Ocean. Results indicate that, whereas greater natal site fidelity as primiparous females was associated with recorded presence ashore at the study site during the winter haulout as immatures, this was not the case for multiparous females. Furthermore, recorded presence ashore during both the moult haulouts as immatures, and all haulouts as immatures, irrespective of haulout type, was also associated with increased site fidelity. This suggests that any haulout at the natal island as an immature seal, whether for the moult or winter haulout, assists in maintaining site fidelity. Therefore, while the winter haulout facilitates greater natal site fidelity, whether this is the sole reason for this terrestrial period remains uncertain.     

基于线粒体DNA控制区的南四湖湖鲚(Coilia ectenes taihuensis)群体遗传结构和种群扩散

为推断南四湖湖鲚种群来源,采用线粒体控制区(D-loop)基因序列测定技术,对3个不同水域湖鲚(Coilia ectenes taihuensis)种群的遗传结构特征及其变异进行研究,并分析它们之间的系统发育关系.结果表明3个不同湖鲚种群的平均单倍型多样性和核苷酸多样性分别为0.9646和0.0097,除3个单倍型共享外,不同地理单元中具有较高的单倍型多样性.AMOVA和成对Fst值分析均表明,不同湖泊群体间未发现明显的遗传分化,各地理单元中的单倍型相互散布在不同的种群中.系统发育分析结果显示,不同湖泊湖鲚种群的单倍型形成3个分支,但每一地理群体没有显示出明显的地理位置与单倍型间的对应关系.结合南四湖历史资料和当前渔业监测结果,推测湖鲚为2002年实施长江向南四湖应急补水时洪泽湖湖鲚迁移扩散进而在南四湖建群的.     

基于天气雷达的人工消雨催化剂量估算技术

准确获取人工消雨所需催化剂量极其困难,本文试着从另一种角度估算人工消雨催化剂量,即利用天气雷达探测的低于-5℃以下的回波,将其等价为等量的液态水,并将液态水分解为若干个小直径雨滴(如直径为100μm雨滴)视为起到消雨作用,进而计算出消雨所需AgI催化剂量最大和最小值。利用该方法,将北京南郊CINRAD/SA多普勒天气雷达以半径230km探测范围内划分为不同网格大小的若干个网格,并给出每个网格消雨所需催化剂量的最大和最小值,供消雨作业指挥参考。     

水动力及种源高程对盐沼植物定植初期种子扩散影响

不同的水动力条件及种源高程会影响盐沼植物定植初期的种子扩散活动，导致盐沼不同的扩张格局，进而影响其对潮滩防护工程补充保护的作用。以崇明东滩优势先锋种——海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter)作为研究对象，基于无网格数值模拟方法，研究不同波高(0.01 m~0.11 m)、水深 (0.3 m~2.5 m)、种源所处高程(1.3 m~3.1 m)等条件对定植初期种子扩散活动的影响。结果表明：种子在海陆方向和沿岸方向上的扩散距离与波高呈高度正相关，且当波致切应力达到一定值时，种子在两方向上均存在扩散距离突变现象；种子在海陆方向和沿岸方向上的扩散距离与水深呈显著负相关，且随水深增大种源扩散前端位置离岸距离减小；此外，种子在海陆方向和沿岸方向上扩散距离与种子所处高程均呈负相关。研究结果解释了盐沼植物种子扩散活动的机制，从而为以种子为生态修复材料，以“机会窗口”为概念的生态修复工程提供科学解释。