Habitat Selection and Space Partitioning among two Mediterranean Blenniid Species

Abstract. The utilization of the spatial resources of two syntopic blenniid species - Blennius cunevue and Blennius incognitas - has been investigated in silu and under laboratory conditions. Both species occupy bore holes of the mussel Lithophugu in the sublittoral zone. B. cunevue dominates the more shallow zone (= 0.68 m) and prefers smaller (= 12.76 mm diameter) and horizontal bore holes. B. incognitus inhabits the same depth range as B. cunevue but occupies larger bore holes (= 14.57 mm) in a deeper zone (= 0.86 m). Individuals of B. incognitus do not prefer a special inclination angle. The two blenniid species defend territories with different intraspecific sizes: the mean territory radius of B. cunevue is 6.87 mm, of B. incognitus = 10.95. Mechanisms to reduce competition include different activity rhythm, interspecific social dominance, and differences in territoriality. B. cunevue is the dominant species; its territories arc defended against conspecifics and against B. incognitus.     

Characteristics of Habitats Used by Enteroctopus dofleini in Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet,Alaska

Abstract. Habitat characteristics associated with the giant Pacific octopus, Enteroctopus dofleini (Wülker 1910), were studied in Prince William Sound and Port Graham, Alaska, from beach walk, SCUBA and submersible surveys at depths of 0 to 197 m. Octopus counts on beach walk transects were positively correlated with soft substrates (sand, gravel or broken rubble), the presence of boulders, and dense kelp cover immediately offshore of the transect; and negatively correlated with depth on SCUBA transects. No significant habitat correlations were found with counts on submersible transects. On beach walks, octopus counts were reduced on hard substrates to 38 % of the counts on soft substrates. Counts increased five‐fold in the presence of boulders over counts in their absence, and increased fifteen‐fold adjacent to dense (> 75 %) kelp cover over counts adjacent to sparse (< 25 %) kelp cover. On SCUBA transects, the average density at less than 5 m depth was over five times that below 5 m. No trends in octopus size or sex ratio were detected with depth. Den use was inversely correlated with depth although there was no indication that den availability declined with depth. Octopuses were found at densities from 0 to 2.5 per 1000 m². These densities were only 1 to 50 % of densities of the same species recorded in British Columbia in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Few data are available to test recruitment, mortality, and habitat selection hypotheses that would account for differences between habitats. However, the presence of the highest octopus densities in intertidal and very shallow subtidal areas indicates the likely importance of near‐shore, shallow‐water habitats, and highlights the vulnerability of octopus populations to changes in these habitats.     

Seasonal dynamics, environmental preferences and habitat selection of John Dory (Zeus faber)

Spatial distribution patterns of John Dory (Zeus faber, L.) were examined in relation to sea bottom temperature, bathymetry, locational covariates and season. Data were collected during a 2-year period (1996–1997) of seasonal sampling using demersal trawl surveys in the Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean). The ecological preferences of the species throughout four seasons were elucidated and the degree in which these environmental relationships might be modulated by the different hydrographic and topographic regime was also considered. Key determinants of the species' spatial aggregation in all four seasons were the water depth, the sea bottom temperature and the latitude. The sea bottom temperature had a significant effect on seasonal John Dory abundance both directly, as a main effect, and indirectly, through its interactive effect with the water depth. John Dory seasonal abundance was consistently greater in the shallower regions of the area having warmer bottom waters. Results indicated a distinct southward shift as progressing through the year, with peak abundances being observed in gradually lower latitudes of shallow areas as seasons evolved. John Dory appeared to avoid the deeper waters regardless of their bottom temperature and geographic position. The present results also suggested a seasonal pattern of habitat associations for specific locations characterised by weak hydrographic activity. John Dory preferences for certain water depth zones, sea bottom temperatures and substrate types are hypothesized to modulate the seasonal spatial aggregation of the species to preferred grounds.     

潮汐海岸等深线变化模式的应用开发

近年来随着河流入海泥沙减少等原因,我国海岸遭侵蚀的现象愈趋突出.研究岸滩演变规律、建立合理可行的预测方法有着重要而迫切的现实意义.运用宇多的等深线变化模型的原理,建立适用于潮汐海岸岸滩演变的预测模型.合理解决沿岸泥沙量沿水深分布的计算问题是建立模型的一个关键,为此引入潮间带破波历时分布的概念,提出了半潮时内的潮间带波浪输沙量及其沿岸滩断面的分布.运用该模型对鲁南侵蚀岸段进行了验证和预测计算,结果表明,计算结果合理,基本反映了该岸段的演变特征.     

Reference and current Trophic Level Index of New Zealand lakes: benchmarks to inform lake management and assessment

ABSTRACT

Knowledge of trophic status is fundamental to understanding the condition and function of lake ecosystems. We developed regression models to predict chlorophyll a concentrations (chl a) in New Zealand lakes for reference and current states, based on an existing dataset of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations for 1031 lakes. Models were then developed to predict Secchi depth based on chl a and a sediment resuspension term applicable to shallow lakes. Estimates of all four Trophic Level Index (TLI) variables (chl a, TN, TP and Secchi depth) were analysed to estimate reference and current state TLI for the nationally representative sample of 1031 lakes. There was a trend of eutrophication between reference and current states, with systematic differences among lake geomorphic types. Mean chl a increased 3.5-fold (2.42?mg?m^?3 vs. 8.32?mg?m^?3) and mean Secchi depth decreased (indicating lower clarity) by approximately one-third (9.62?m vs. 6.48?m) between reference and current states. On average, TLI increased by 0.67, with the TLI increase >1 in approximately one-third (31%) of lakes. This study informs the status of lake ecosystems in NZ and provides benchmarks to guide management and assessment.     

Numerical Calculation for Nonlinear Waves in Water of Arbitrarily Varying Depth with Boussinesq Equations

Based on the high order nonlinear and dispersive wave equation with a dissipalive term, a numerical model for nonlinear waves is developed. It is suitable to calculate wave propagation in water areas with an arbitrarily varying bottom slope and a relative depth h/ L0≤ 1. By the application of the completely implicit slagger grid and central difference algorithm, discrete governing equations are obtained. Although the central difference algorithm of second-order accuracy both in time and space domains is used to yield the difference equations, the order of truncation error in the difference equation is the same as that of the third-order derivatives of the Boussinesq equation. In this paper, the correction to the first-order derivative is made, and the accuracy of the difference equation is improved. The verifications of accuracy show that the results of the numerical model are in good agreement with those of analytical solutions and physical models.     

Nonlinear progressive waves in water of finite depth — an analytic approximation

An analytical solution using homotopy analysis method is developed to describe the nonlinear progressive waves in water of finite depth. The velocity potential of the wave is expressed by Fourier series and the nonlinear free surface boundary conditions are satisfied by continuous mapping. Unlike the perturbation method, the present approach is not dependent on small parameters. Thus solutions are possible for steep waves. Furthermore, a significant improvement of the convergence rate and region is achieved by applying Homotopy-Padé Approximants. The calculated wave characteristics of the present solution agree well with previous numerical and experimental results.     

穿透性太阳短波辐射对混合层深度的影响

用数值方法研宄穿透性太阳短波辐射对混合层深度的影响时,有些学者人为地设定了风速和热通量。这种做法可能会出现风速和热通量数值不匹配的问题。为了弥补这一缺陷,本文采用国内外常用的块体公式计算热通量的方法来代替人为设置,并以北太平洋为例,研究了穿透性太阳短波辐射对海洋混合层深度的影响。结果表明:低风速(U10<10m／s),且海表短波净辐射处于40～200 W／m2时,穿透性太阳短波辐射对混合层深度影响很显著;高风速(U10>10m／s)和短波净辐射高值区(S*(0)>200 W／m2),穿透性太阳短波辐射对混合层深度的影响较小。     

Transformation of Wave Energy Spectrum in Shallow Water

- Combined with irregular wave-maker, the growing process of Wave Energy Spectrum in shallow water can be studied in wind wave channel on different water depth conditions, and its transformation characteristics and rules can be obtained.