Economic dimension of the collapse of the ‘false cod’ Epinephelus aeneus in a context of ineffective management of the small-scale fisheries in Senegal

Small-scale fisheries are often seen as a solution for ensuring sustainability in marine exploitation. They are viewed as a suitable alternative to industrial fisheries, particularly when considering their social and economic importance in developing countries. Here, we show that the booming small-scale fishery sector in Senegal, in the context of increasing foreign demand, has induced the collapse of one of the most emblematic West African marine fish species, a large grouper Epinephelus aeneus, historically called ‘false cod’ by European fishers. The overexploitation of this species appears to be on account of the increasing effort sustained by a growing international demand and important subsidies, which resulted in a relative stability of the average economic yield per fishing trip and an incentive for continuing targeting this species to almost extinction. It is a critical time for addressing and mitigating the pressure of the small-scale fisheries to prevent declines of fish species that are highly valued by northern markets. A balance between conservation and exploitation is necessary to maintain ecological viability while considering the socio-economic importance of the small-scale fisheries. However, a new strategy is needed for conservation that will consider and articulate simultaneously the concerns regarding unmanaged and growing small-scale fisheries, rampant subsidies and increasing foreign demand.     

Impact of protective shark nets on sea turtles in KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa, 1981–2008

Shark nets were established along the KwaZulu-Natal coast in 1952 to protect bathers against shark encounters. Sea turtle bycatch data for the period 1981–2008 in these shark nets indicated that loggerheads Caretta caretta were caught most frequently at 40.9 y^–1 or 1.11 km-net^–1 y^–1, followed by green turtles Chelonia mydas at 0.32 km-net^–1 y^–1 and leatherbacks Dermochelys coriacea at 0.14 km-net^–1 y^–1. Catch rate of loggerheads increased throughout the study period, and was positively correlated with the increase in the number of nesting females from the recovering population in Maputaland, South Africa (r = 0.52, p < 0.05, n = 28). This increase is ascribed to successful nest conservation. Leatherback bycatch remained stable, following their nesting trends, although they receive similar conservation efforts on nesting beaches as loggerheads. Bycatch of green turtles, although not a nesting species in South Africa, was stable over time. Mortality varied between species (from 53.2% to 70.6%) with loggerheads being the most hardy, followed by leatherbacks and green turtles. Few hawksbills Eretmochelys imbricata and olive ridleys Lepidochelys olivacea were caught in the shark nets. Fewer sea turtles are caught by shark nets than by longlines and because the nesting populations of loggerheads, green turtles and leatherbacks are either stable or increasing in the South-West Indian Ocean, shark net bycatch was considered negligible and sustainable.     

Photosynthetic performance,epiphyte biomass and nutrient content of two seagrass species in two areas with different level of nutrients along the Dar es Salaam coast

Heavy nutrient loads in coastal waters often lead to excessive growth of microalgal and macroalgal epiphytes on seagrass leaves, with varying effects on the underlying seagrasses. This study evaluates the photosynthetic performance, epiphytic biomass and tissue nutrient content of two tropical seagrasses, Cymodocea serrulata and Thalassia hemprichii, in two intertidal areas along the Dar es Salaam coast in the Indian Ocean, a nutrient-rich region at Ocean Road (near the city centre), and a nutrient-poor region at Mjimwema (south of the city centre). Epiphyte biomass was significantly higher at the nutrient-rich site, and epiphytes were associated with reduced photosynthetic performance in both seagrass species at both sites. Likewise, nitrogen and phosphorus tissue content was higher in both species at the nutrient-rich site than at the nutrient-poor site. Epiphytic species composition on the seagrass leaves varied between seagrass species and between sites. Cymodocea serrulata had a higher number of epiphytic species at Mjimwema than at Ocean Road, whereas Thalassia hemprichii had more epiphytic species at Ocean Road than at Mjimwema. Seagrass photosynthetic performance, epiphytic biomass and nutrient content of the seagrasses were shown to be affected by nutrient concentration in the water column. Thus, for the future monitoring of the seagrass meadow, we recommend the use of combined measures such as seagrass performance, epiphytic biomass, nutrient contents and nutrient concentration levels in the water column.     

Mapping QTLs of caudal fin length in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) exhibits significant morphological variability in the shape and size of the caudal fin. In this study, we used 190 progeny from two F₁ parents to identify and map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that influence caudal fin length (CFL) and the ratio (RCS) between caudal fin length and standard length (SL) based on a microsatellite genetic map of common carp. A total of 15 QTLs were detected in seven different linkage groups. One significant and eight suggestive QTLs affecting CFL were identified on LG8, LG14, LG29, LG32 and LG44, which explained 8.0%–22.1% of the phenotypic variation; six suggestive QTLs affecting RCS were detected on LG8, LG32, LG46 and LG48, which explained 7.0%–15.4% of the phenotypic variation. The QTLs for caudal fin length detected in this study may serve as a starting point for identification of genes involved in caudal fin development in common carp.     

Nitrogen utilisation by size‐fractionated phytoplankton assemblages associated with an upwelling event off Westland,New Zealand

Abstract

Uptake rates of ammonium (NH₄ ⁺ ), nitrate (NO₃ ^? ), and urea by three subgroups of phytoplankton (< 200, < 20, < 2 μm) off Westland, were measured using ¹⁵ N tracer techniques in midwinter 1988, after a recent upwelling. For all size fractions at surface irradiance (I₁₀₀), nitrogen (N) was taken up primarily as NO₃ ^?. This accounted for 67–85% of total N uptake (SρN), whereas at 40 and 7% of surface irradiance, the regenerated N (NH₄ ⁺ ) and urea) made up 31–72% of SρN. Depth profile experiments for all three size components showed that uptake of NO₃ ^? was most light‐sensitive, followed by that of NH₄ ⁺ and urea. The irradiance and nutrient availability plot indicated that light was substantially more important than the nutrient concentrations in controlling the assimilation of N by microplankton (20–200 μm). Nano‐ (2–20 μm) and picoplankton (< 2 μm) however, were not as sensitive to either light or nutrient concentrations. High winds and the resulting deep mixing, combined with offshore and alongshore advection in the midwinter, were suggested to be the major cause of the low biomass and N productivity.     

Field calibration of a formula for entrance mixing of river inflows to lakes: Lake Taupo,North Island,New Zealand

Field measurements were used to validate predictions for the initial dilution of negatively buoyant, cold‐water inflows to Lake Taupo, as part of a study to quantify mixing processes associated with the two largest inflows to the lake. The predictions were made using a formulation originally derived for positively buoyant, warm‐water inflows to cooling ponds. The formulation predicts the total dilution of an inflow during its inertia‐dominated phase between its entrance to the lake and the point where buoyancy forces are great enough to cause the inflow to plunge and form a submerged density current. In one of the measured inflows, the inflowing jet was free to entrain from both sides; in the other, entrainment was restricted on one side by attachment of the inflowing jet to the shoreline of a bay just upstream of the plunge point. In the former example, the unmodified coefficients from the cooling pond formulation provided an excellent prediction of initial dilution. In the latter example, entrainment was reduced and different coefficients were derived. In both examples the inflows remained attached to the lake bed throughout their course until their liftoff at depths of 45–55 m to form interflows. The difference between coefficients for the two inflows indicates that the coefficient values should be considered site‐specific. The formulation is not valid for inflows that separate from the bottom of the inflow channel before plunging. The entrance mixing formulation was incorporated in a more general model of lake stratification, DYRESM, which already includes a well‐documented routine for routing underflows down submerged channels on the bed of a lake. Application of the model to the inflows measured in Lake Taupo gave good results for two model outputs that were not involved in the calibration of the entrance mixing formulation, but that are affected by the result of the initial dilution calculation—the temperatures in the river plume after it has plunged, and the insertion depth.     

延长探区下古生界马家沟组储层流体包裹体特征

流体包裹体研究在划分油气运移充注期次、确定油气藏形成时间等方面均有重要的应用价值.通过镜下观察流体包裹体的特征,划分类型,描述其特征,对与烃类共生的盐水包裹体进行均一化温度测试,并结合其他相关地质资料,认为延长探区马家沟组储层流体包裹体的均一温度集中分布在85~115℃范围内,包裹体捕获时的埋藏深度为2500~2800 m.结合盆地的埋藏史推测天然气成藏时间为晚三叠-早侏罗世.     

河西内陆河径流对气候变化的响应及其流域适应性水资源管理研究

为探讨河西地区内陆河径流对气候变化的响应, 选取1955-2008年石羊河、黑河和疏勒河的河流流量资料进行计算和分析. 结果表明: 50多年来, 石羊河年径流总体呈明显下降趋势, 黑河呈略有增加趋势, 疏勒河呈明显增加趋势, 地域上呈现愈往西部的河流年径流量增加愈明显. 三大河流进入1990年代后有下降趋势, 进入21世纪均有明显增多趋势. 三大河流径流对气候变化有不同响应, 石羊河流域主要受季风气候影响, 气候变暖, 蒸发加剧, 水分散失量大, 是造成径流减少的主要原因;黑河和疏勒河流域主要受西风带环流影响, 径流增多的重要原因是气候变暖降水明显增多. 为减缓气候变化对流域水资源利用的不利影响, 在分析三大内陆河流量对气候变化响应特征的基础上, 提出了适应性水资源管理的建议. 建议应提高水资源利用效率;改变生产方式, 调整农业种植业结构与布局;加大祁连山自然保护区建设, 搞好水资源可持续利用;积极开发祁连山丰富的空中云水资源、哺育祁连山冰川等流域适应性水资源管理对策, 对流域进行综合治理与开发利用, 这些措施和对策将为流域水资源开发提供科学依据.     

细粒含量对粗粒土冻胀特性影响的试验研究

为了得到同时满足冻胀率和击实效果的最大细粒土含量,通过葡氏击实和冻胀试验,研究了不同细粒土含量、不同干密度条件下细圆砾土填料的冻胀特性。研究结果表明,9%细粒土含量下细圆砾土试样的压实效果最好;细圆砾土试样的冻结过程可以划分为快速冻结区、过渡区、似稳定区和稳定区;细粒土含量低于10%时,细圆砾土属于弱冻胀填料;同时满足冻胀率和压实效果的最大细粒土含量为9%;细粒土含量相同时,细圆砾土试样的冻胀率随干密度的增加,先增大而后减小,即存在一个最不利干密度;冻结48 h后,细圆砾土试样冻土段的含水率均大于初始含水率,其不同位置含水率分布曲线呈S型,且随着细粒土含量的增加逐渐呈现倒三角形分布;细圆砾土试样干密度的增大有效地阻断了水分迁移路径。     

基于遥感的冰川信息提取方法研究进展

对冰川监测中常用的遥感卫星、 传感器及冰川信息提取方法等进行了综合评价, 常规方法中普遍认为比值法的精度最高, 新产生的面向对象分类和雷达干涉测量方法虽一定程度上提高了冰川提取精度, 但冰碛物仍是自动识别的难点. 针对表碛覆盖冰川虽发展了一些自动、 半自动的方法, 但这些方法还不够成熟、 不具有通用性. 积雪、 冰碛物和地面验证仍是冰川自动提取存在的重要问题, 发展更先进、 更成熟的方法是冰川研究的重要方向, 未来可以尝试采用粗糙集理论及ICESAT卫星波形提高冰川信息提取的精度.