Assessment of South African Umbrina robinsoni based on per-recruit models

Slender baardman Umbrina robinsoni are an important component of recreational shore-angler and spearfisher catches along the eastern seaboard of South Africa. Stocks of U. robinsoni at three sites—False Bay, Stil Bay and the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) coast—were modelled using a per-recruit approach. Total (Z) and fishing (F) mortality rates were estimated by catch-curve analyses using measures of individual size (length or weight) recorded by researchers, divers (log books) or during spearfishing competitions. Based on estimates of F during the period 2001–2003, spawner biomass per-recruit ratios were estimated to be either at or below the 25% threshold (False Bay SB/R = 21% SB/R_{F = 0}, Stil Bay SB/R = 25% SB/R_{F = 0}, and KZN SB/R = 21% SB/R_{F = 0}), suggesting that rates of F were too high. Reductions in F necessary to achieve target fishing mortality levels (F _{F = 0}) at the current minimum size limit (l 40 cm total length) were 51% for Stil Bay and the KZN coast and 57% for False Bay. Based on the bag frequencies from 927 diver outings in KZN (1989–2003), a reduction in bag limit from the current five to two fish is predicted to reduce F in this region by approximately 25%. Increasing the l to 50 cm is predicted to increase SB/R ratios to 36% SB/R_{F = 0} in False Bay, 43% SB/R_{F = 0} in KZN and 52% SB/R_{F = 0} in Stil Bay, at current levels of F. Owing to the philopatric nature of U. robinsoni and the consequent existence of temporary refugia, catch curves are likely to underestimate fishing mortality. The reductions in F estimated to attain the target reference points are therefore probably conservative.     

Growth and survival of the South African scallop Pecten sulcicostatus in suspended culture

Grow-out studies of the scallop Pecten sulcicostatus, endemic to the South African coast, contribute to an investigation of the suitability of this species for commercial culture. Hatchery-reared juvenile scallops were placed in a suspended culture system at 5 m depth in Saldanha Bay on the west coast of South Africa. Scallops of 78 days old and ranging in size from 4.5 mm to 11.0 mm shell height (mean 6.9 mm), as measured on 2 February 2010, were deployed in Saldanha Bay on 9 February 2010. Subsequent growth was assessed monthly through increments in shell height in relation to changing environmental conditions as determined through continuous measures of temperature and chlorophyll a. Upon termination of the experiment on 15 February 2011, scallops ranged in size from 42.1 mm to 48.7 mm (mean 45.1 mm), representing an increment in shell height of 38.2 mm over one year. The mean growth rate of 0.10 mm day^?1 (mean specific growth rate of 0.0046 day^?1) compares favourably with other commercially cultured species and exceeds previous estimates of growth of naturally occurring populations of P. sulcicostatus. Scallop growth was poorly correlated with either temperature or chlorophyll a concentration, but scallop mortality was closely aligned to the temperature regime of Saldanha Bay, exhibiting high mortalities during mid-summer.     

Culture environment and hatchery of origin influence growth,condition and feeding organ morphology in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas in South Africa

South Africa lacks a commercial oyster hatchery. To inform the sourcing of seed for future hatchery establishments, we compared half-sib Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas cohorts from hatcheries in Namibia and Chile. We measured oyster growth, mortality, condition and feeding organ morphology in Algoa Bay (AB, Eastern Cape) and Saldanha Bay (SB, Western Cape), South Africa, from July 2011 to June 2012. Within SB, 14.3% of mean daily sea temperatures exceeded this species’ thermal optimum of 19 °C, compared to 50.5% in AB. Food abundance (mean daily chlorophyll a concentration) in SB (7.8 mg m^–3) was double that in AB (3.9 mg m^–3) where, presumably to increase particle clearance rates in a relatively phytoplankton-poor environment, oysters had larger gill:palp surface area ratios. Plankton fatty acid profiles (indicators of food quality) differed between locations. In AB, instantaneous growth rates differed between cohorts, and trends varied seasonally. Within both locations, condition index was usually higher in Chilean oysters, whereas shell density was higher in Namibian oysters. In AB only, Chilean seed suffered substantially higher summer mortalities than Namibian seed, suggesting that the latter are more suited to temperatures in AB. AB should also be assessed for culture of the indigenous oyster species that occur there.     

Patterns and trends in seabird bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery off South Africa

Both foreign and domestic pelagic longline fishing vessels operate in South Africa’s Exclusive Economic Zone and adjacent international waters where they kill hundreds of seabirds each year as bycatch. To update assessments of the impact of the pelagic longline fishery on seabirds off South Africa, information on necropsied seabirds and national fisheries observer bycatch records were summarised for 2006–2013. Foreign-flagged (Asian) vessels had 100% observer coverage throughout the study period, whereas only 6% of the fishing effort by South African-flagged vessels was observed (with no coverage in 2011–2013). Vessels with observers caught seabirds at a rate of 0.132 birds per 1 000 hooks, resulting in an estimated mortality of 2 851 individuals (356 per year) comprising 14 species. Extrapolation of the observed fishing sets to the unobserved fishing sets by the South African domestic longline fleet suggested that approximately 750 additional birds were likely killed during the study period, therefore a combined 450 birds were killed per year. White-chinned petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis was the most frequently killed species (66%), followed by ‘shy-type’ albatrosses Thalassarche cauta/steadi (21%), black-browed albatross T. melanophris (7%), Indian yellow-nosed albatross T. carteri (3%), and Cape gannet Morus capensis (2%). The seabird bycatch rates were lower than in 1998–2005. Nationality of the vessel, time of line-setting, moon phase, year, season, fishing area, and seabird bycatch mitigation measures all influenced seabird mortality. Concurrent with 100% observer coverage, significant reductions in the seabird bycatch rate occurred in the Asian fleet in the latter years of the study, and these rates now approximate the national target (0.05 birds per 1 000 hooks). However, seabird bycatch rates remained high in the South African fleet, where no observers were deployed during 2011–2013, highlighting the need for independent observer programmes in fisheries—a matter of global interest. Suggestions are made as to how seabird bycatch by pelagic longline fisheries off South Africa may be further reduced.     

Growth performance of exotic and indigenous tree species in saline soils in Turkana, Kenya

In the arid zone of central Turkana, north-western Kenya, where soil salinity affects 15–20% of the rangelands, growth performances of trees planted in saline soil rehabilitation trials have not been evaluated. Tree-planting trials have emphasised exotic species over indigenous ones. However, advantages and disadvantages of promoting exotic tree species have not been examined. The current study was aimed at evaluating growth performance of seven exotic and nine indigenous tree species used in saline soil rehabilitation trials. The tree species were established from 6-month-old saplings using microcatchments (FT1) from 1988 through 1990 and pitting treatment (FT2) from 1989 through 1992. The soils in FT1 and FT2 treatments were moderately to highly saline. The exotic tree species produced greater cover and volume during the first year (FT1) but by the second year, production was not sustained due to greater mortality (FT1 & FT2). The indigenous species in general had higher survival rates. Relative growth rates (RGR) of exotic and indigenous species did not differ (FT1 & FT2). Tree mortality was negatively correlated with RGR for exotic species in FT1 but not for indigenous ones. However, changes in plant performance were not in response to salinity alone. Rather, water scarcity superimposed on soil salinity might have influenced plant growth performance. Greater water and salinity stress and subsequently greater mortality in exotic species provided a more convincing reason for promotion of indigenous tree species. In the future, knowledge of salinity distribution and selection of indigenous species to match this will be a better way of rehabilitating sites affected by soil salinity in the arid zone of central Turkana, north-western Kenya.     

台湾海峡南部夏季微型浮游动物对浮游植物的摄食压力及其生产力

2004年7~8月在台湾海峡南部的5个站位,用稀释法研究了浮游植物的生长率,微型浮游动物对浮游植物的摄食率及其生产力.微型浮游动物主要为无壳纤毛虫,尤其是急游虫类和侠盗虫类.浮游植物的生长率为0.52~0.72/d,浮游动物的摄食率为0.45~1.33/d,相当于每天摄食浮游植物现存量的36%~74%和初级生产力的88%~141%.微型浮游动物的次级生产力(MP02)为初级生产力的28.5%~58.4%.表明微型浮游动物在台湾海峡夏季海洋生态系统的能量流动中发挥着重要的作用.     

中国大陆地震灾害分区人员死亡评估模型研究

针对现阶段地震人员死亡评估模型在评估特定区域地震时评估结果误差较大的问题,结合中国地震灾害特点、人口分布情况等,将中国大陆划分为西北、西南和大陆东部三个地区,并对各区域按照人口密度进行分级。采用多元非线性回归方法,选取震中烈度、震区面积、抗震设防烈度参数建立分区域的地震灾害人员死亡评估模型。研究结果表明,该模型在西北、西南地区的验证结果较好,适用于中国地震灾害情况,可以用于震后快速盲评估,在一定程度上能够避免评估不同震级、相同震中烈度和人口密度的地震时,出现相同结果的情况;虽然该模型在震例较少的大陆东部地区以及城市直下型地震中评估结果需要进一步改进,但为解决特定区域地震死亡评估中误差较大问题提供了思路,能够为震后应急指挥和救援提供数据参考。     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book Reviewed in this article: Main Street: Northeastern Oregon: The Founding and Development of Small Towns . Barbara Ruth Bailey . Food Politics: The Regional Conflict . David N. Balaam and Michael J. Carey , eds. The International Economy and Industrial Development: Trade and Investment in the Third World . R. Ballance , J. Ansari and H. Singer . Neighborhoods in Urban America . Ronald H. Bayor , ed. The English Heartland . By Robert Beckinsale and Monica Beckinsale . Regional Dimensions of Industrial Policy . Michael E. Bell and Paul S. Lande , eds. Tension Areas of the World . D. Gordon Bennett , ed. Latin America: an Introductory Survey . B. W. Blouet and O. M. Blouet , eds. Integration and Division: Geographical Perspectives on the Northern Ireland Problem . Frederick W. Boal and J. Neville H. Douglas , eds. Energy and Land Use . Robert W. Burchell and David Listokin , eds. Slopes and Weathering . Michael Clarke and John Small . Alaska's Rural Development . Peter G. Cornwall and Gerald Mc Beath , eds. The Politics of Park Design: A History of Urban Parks in America . Galen Cranz . World Congress on Land Policy, 1980, Proceedings . Matthew Cullen and Sharon Woolery , eds. Oregon Divided: A Regional Geography . Samuel N. Dicken and Emily F. Dicken . Urban Food Marketing and Third World Rural Development . T. Scarlett Epstein . South Africa: Spatial Frameworks for Development . T. J. D. Fair . Institutions and Geographical Patterns . Robin Flowerdew , ed. Industrialization of U.S. Agriculture, An Interpretive Atlas . Howard F. Gregor . Planning Theory: Prospects for the 1980s . Patsy Healy , Glen Mc Dougall and Michael J. Thomas , eds. Neighborhood Mobilization: Redevelopment and Response . Jeffrey R. Henig . The American Urban System: A Geographical Perspective . R. J. Johnston . Climate, History and the Modern World . Hubert H. Lamb . Climate and History: Studies in Past Climates and Their Impact on Man . T. M. L. Wigley , M. J. Ingram and G. Farmer . China: Railways and Agricultural Development, 1875–1935 . Ernest P. Liang . A Desirable Energy Future—A National Perspective . Robert S. Livingston , T. D. Anderson , T. M. Besmann , M. Olszewski , A. M. Perry , and C. D. West . Topothesia: Essays Presented to T. S. Ó Máille . B. S. Mac Aodha , ed. Transportation for the Poor: Research in Rural Mobility . Hal S. Maggied . Land Uses in American Cities . Harold M. Mayer and Charles R. Haves . Industrial Organisation and Location . Philip Mc Dermott and Michael Taylor . Human Adaptability: an Introduction to Ecological Anthropology . Emilio F. Moran . Regional Analysis and the New International Division of Labor . Frank Moulaert and Patricia W. Salinas , eds. The Nuclear War Atlas. Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada : Urbanization and Environmental Quality . Isao Orishimo . The Garden of Eden: The Botanic Garden and the Re-Creation of Paradise . John Prest . Earthfire, The Eruption of Mount St. Helens . Charles Rosenfeld and Robert Cooke . Contest for the South China Sea . Marwyn S. Samuels . The Future of the Wetlands: Assessing Visual-Cultural Values . Richard C. Smardon , ed. Tucson: the Life and Times of An American City. C. L. Sonnichsen . The Geography of Multinationals . Michael Taylor and Nigel Thrift , eds. Impact of Marine Pollution on Society . Virginia Tippie and Dana Kester . Reviving the Industrial City: the Politics of Urban Renewal in Lyon and Birmingham . Jerry A. Webman . Andean Reflections: Letters from Carl O. Sauer While on a South American Trip under a Grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, 1942 . Robert C. West , ed. Cartographic Drawing with Computers . P. Yoeli .     

Some effects of eutrophication and the removal of aquatic plants by grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) on rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii) in Lake Parkinson,New Zealand

Temporary removal of aquatic plants in Lake Parkinson, a small, eutrophic dune lake, resulted in a number of changes to the population of stocked rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii). During each summer the lake stratified and low oxygen levels limited the distribution of trout to shallow (0–4 m) surface waters. In the first summer following weed removal the numbers of black shags (Phallacrocorax carbo) counted at the lake increased, and their predation resulted in a decline in trout density. However, the growth rate and condition of the trout population then exceeded that of trout present before weed removal. During the second summer after weed removal a cladoceran bloom was followed by low phytoplankton levels and high ammonia concentrations. A prolonged calm compounded this situation with the result that oxygen levels in bottom and surface waters dropped below 2 ppm. These low oxygen levels eliminated the trout population, but other fish species present survived. Elimination of aquatic plants affected the population dynamics of other fish species in the lake with potential implications for the trout. The experiment demonstrated the importance of weed beds in maintaining a stable fish community in lakes such as Lake Parkinson.     

First evidence of a massive recruitment event in Posidonia oceanica: Spatial variation in first-year seedling abundance on a heterogeneous substrate

A recruitment event of Posidonia oceanica was recorded in the Gulf of Ventilegne (Corsica, Western Mediterranean) in June 2005. One-year seedlings (alive and dead) were found at shallow depth (2–3 m) on a mix of rock and sand substrates. Pattern in the distribution of seedlings was examined over spatial scales ranging from centimetres to hundreds of metres. We also examined (a) whether establishment was preferentially associated with a specific substrate type; (b) the relation between proportional mortality and the density of established seedlings; and (c) the growth characteristics of seedlings. The average density of seedlings varied from 19 to 189 seedlings m⁻², with a maximum of 480 seedlings m⁻². While significant variation was detected at the scale of area (i.e., tens of metres), no difference was found in abundance of seedlings at the scale of sites (i.e., hundreds of metres). Most of the overall variability was, however, at on the smallest scale examined (i.e., among sampling units tens of centimetres apart). No differences were also observed in the establishment probability and seedling abundance between sand and rock substrates. The fine scale analysis of spatial patterns on rock and sand substrates showed a clumped distribution of seedlings. These results indicated that the spatial distribution of seedlings was not random, but organized at small spatial scales within the study sites. Hydrodynamics and micro-scale bottom features appeared to account for such patterning. Proportional seedling mortality was highly variable (ranging from 0.3 to 0.8), and tended to increase with increasing settlement density. A total of 128,000 seedlings were recoded over the 1600 m² surface area investigated. Such event reflected conspicuous seed supply and particularly favourable local conditions. This finding contradicts the current statement of low recruitment ability of P. oceanica and indicates that the species can recruit both on consolidated and unconsolidated substrates, at least in the study area.