Otolith chemical signature and growth of Chaetodon speculum in coastal areas of New Caledonia

Coral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. They are currently exposed to increasing levels of anthropogenic perturbations. Several recent reviews point to the lack of good indicators for these perturbations especially to monitor their effects on fish populations or fish assemblages. The SW lagoon of New Caledonia is an ideal location to test indicator species in this context as contrasting sites are present within a small geographical range. This study analysed fish from four sites, one with heavy industrial pollution, another dominated by domestic waste, a third with historic mining activities, and the fourth as a control. The butterfly fish, Chaetodon speculum, was chosen to determine C. speculum's potential as an indicator species due to its link to coral, its sedentary behaviour and its wide geographical distribution. The size distribution, growth rate, age distribution and whole otolith composition were analysed at each site. Age and mean growth rate were analysed from daily increments of the otoliths. The concentrations of eight elements (Li, Mg, Co, Ni, Cu, Rb, Sr, and Ba) were measured by ICP-MS in the otoliths of a subset of individuals. The sites under anthropogenic impact were distinct from the control site by fish size frequencies, age distributions, and the chemical content of their otoliths. The chemical elements Mg, Co, Ni, Cu, and Rb showed differences amongst sites. Fish belonging to the sites furthest from Nouméa could be discriminated in nearly 80% of samples or 60% of the cases when otolith weight or fish age respectively were taken into account. Ni concentrations of the otoliths were also higher in the bays where water concentrations of this element were known to be higher, but these differences were no longer significant once corrected for otolith weight. These results should be mitigated by the fact that: (1) despite significant differences between sites in age distribution and size frequencies there were no differences in growth rates or body condition; (2) differences in age or size were not correlated to perturbation levels; and (3) discrimination between sites based on chemical levels in the otoliths, even though significant, was not sufficient to identify the origin of the fish at a level useful for screening tests. The hypothesis that environmental differences between sites would be reflected in the otolith chemical composition is therefore not fully supported by our results.     

黄海南部黄鲫(Setipinna taty)资源利用分析

以2005-2006年江苏省帆式张网渔获资料为基础,分析研究了黄海南部黄鲫资源的时空分布、群体组成结构以及产卵群体生物学特征.结果表明,黄海南部黄鲫主要利用渔期为春季3-5月、冬季1月或12月.春季高产渔区主要分布在大沙渔场的西南部和吕泗渔场的东部,冬季和秋季高产渔区相对靠近或较春季高产渔区偏东.黄鲫高产渔区的分布无明显季节变化特征.黄鲫渔获群体主要由体长70-110mm、体重0-15g的个体组成,产卵群体的平均体重范围为8.7-12.0g.与1981-2000年的研究结果相比,黄鲫个体小型化越趋显著,当前利用个体偏小.     

Long-term trends in cetacean occurrence during the annual sardine run off the Wild Coast,South Africa

During the austral winter, cetaceans and other apex predators follow the annual northeastward movement of shoaling sardines, known as the sardine run, along the southeast coast of South Africa, including a 400-km stretch called the Wild Coast. In total, 131 opportunistic aerial surveys were conducted between May and July, from 1996 to 2014, to monitor sardine movement. Cetacean-sighting data from these surveys were analysed, focusing on long-term trends in frequencies of the cetaceans. In total, 630 sightings involving five cetacean species were recorded: 268 (approximately 32 400 individuals) of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin Tursiops aduncus, 108 (approximately 79 400 individuals) of long-beaked common dolphin Delphinus capensis, 242 (approximately 670 individuals) of humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae, 1 (two individuals) of southern right whale Eubalaena australis, and 11 (16 individuals) of Bryde’s whale Balaenoptera edeni. The occurrence of common dolphins, typically associated with sardines, decreased significantly in average group size over the study period (p = 0.0343); bottlenose dolphins, considered generalist feeders, demonstrated no such trend (p = 0.916). Humpback whales were most frequently sighted between 2010 and 2014, and with significantly larger groups observed towards the end of the study period (p = 0.0121). For all these species, more sightings were made inside than outside of marine protected areas (>70% of the dolphin species, and >65% of the humpback whales), both pre- and post-2005 (from 2005 the size of the survey area increased). The results indicate that movements of the common dolphin may be employed as a proxy for sardine occurrence. Long-term trends evident in the data also demonstrate the importance of this coastal region for bottlenose dolphins as well as use as a migratory corridor for humpback whales.     

Evaluating the relationship between spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability of larval fish assemblages in a coastal marine ecosystem (Haizhou Bay,China)

In coastal marine ecosystems, spatial patterns of larval fish assemblages (LFAs) tend to exhibit geographic stability because of relatively stable spawning site selection and predictable oceanographic phenomena such as eddies. To evaluate the relationship between spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability of LFAs, we conducted a high spatiotemporal resolution ichthyoplankton survey from April to July in 2013 in the shallow waters (<20 m) of Haizhou Bay, China. Our analysis indicated three distinct assemblages, which were stable geographically but exhibited a gradual and directional change of species composition and abundance over our study period. Sea surface temperature was the most important environmental co‐variate for determining temporal variability of LFAs, likely owing to temperature effects of species composition and spawning period selection of adult fish, along with known temperature‐dependent survival rates of larval fish. Study of LFA spatiotemporal dynamics is essential for improved understanding of adult fish spawning behavior, and has potential to inform design and implementation of conservation and management measures (e.g. marine protected areas) in coastal systems.     

基于GIS和洛伦兹曲线的辽宁省海岛空间分布特征探析

为合理开发利用和保护辽宁海岛资源,优化海岛产业结构和布局,以辽宁纳入中国海域海岛标准名录的633个海岛为研究对象,在对其地理坐标、陆域面积等基础数据进行数理统计的基础上,通过GIS的空间分析和绘制洛伦兹曲线、计算基尼系数,对辽宁海岛的空间分布特征进行了分析与研究。结果表明:辽宁海岛属集聚型分布类型,在空间上呈组团与带状分布,按聚集程度来看,形成了黄海北部长山群岛集聚区、辽东半岛南部浅海集聚带与辽东湾西部浅海集聚带三个区域;约60%的海岛处在离大陆岸线直线距离在10 km以内的范围内,近陆程度高;海岛陆域面积分布不均衡,基尼系数达0.9。     

The role of marine spatial planning in sea use management: The Belgian case

The expansion of offshore activities and the increasing need to meet international and national commitments to biodiversity conservation have led to an enhanced interest in marine spatial planning (MSP) as a tool for sea use management. Several European countries, on their own initiative or driven by European legislation and policy, have taken global leadership in implementing MSP. This article will discuss the Belgian experiences with MSP. It will give a short historical overview based on legal developments and review the implementation process of a ‘Master Plan’ as a spatial management policy for the Belgian Part of the North Sea. Additionally, this article will reflect on the research that has been done in Belgium to apply a land-use planning approach to the marine environment. The MSP process in Belgium shows that a spatial approach to sea use management is possible despite the lack of a legal zoning framework. However, it concludes that a legal basis for MSP, in addition to the current permit system, would provide a more strategic and integrated framework for ecosystem-based, sea use management.     

西南大西洋阿根廷滑柔鱼资源时空分布研究

通过了解西南大西洋阿根廷滑柔鱼(Illexargentinus)资源丰度年间变化规律,从而对阿根廷滑柔鱼的资源可持续开发与管理打下基础。作者根据2012～2017年西南大西洋阿根廷滑柔鱼生产统计数据,利用灰色关联评价等数理方法对西南大西洋资源渔场的时空分布特征进行了分析。结果表明,2012～2017年间西南大西洋阿根廷滑柔鱼渔场重心主要在经度上分布于58°W～63°W海域,纬度主要集中在41°～44°S、47°～48°S两个区域,高平均网次产量(10 t/网)的海域主要在57°W～67°W、41°S～42°S和57°W～67°W、44°S～50°S海域。灰色关联度表明:6年间,以2015年滑柔鱼资源状况最好,其次是2014年,2012年最差,2013年、2016年和2017年处于中间水平。利用灰色关联分析的阿根廷滑柔鱼资源丰度变化趋势可用于其资源的可持续开发与管理。     

The marine and coastal access act—A hornets' nest?

The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 is now enacted into law. This paper looks at predictions made about new law by one of the authors, Peter Jones, in his paper The Marine Bill: Cornucopia or Pandora's Box [1] and assesses how successful the Act has been in turning aspirations into law. The paper focuses on the following areas: ecosystem protection, stakeholder engagement, marine spatial planning and the provision of a network of highly protected marine reserves, and raises concerns that the ecosystem approach has progressively been dropped in the drafting process of the legislation. Concerns are raised that the new Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities have similar inherent conflicts of interest to those exhibited by Sea Fisheries Committees, which they sought to replace. The effectiveness of marine planning is questioned, as there appear to be inbuilt loopholes for public authorities to avoid complying with the marine plans. The draft marine policy statement (MPS), published in July 2010, includes appropriate environmental safeguards, but the MPS has not yet been formally adopted. The absence of a concrete target for highly protected marine reserves means there is a danger that designations under the Act may have little effect on the ground. In conclusion the Act provides some new mechanisms for marine protection, but arguably does not yet provide a framework for implementing the ecosystem approach and is not an end in itself.     

浙江近海夏季流场特征分析

为了揭示浙江近岸流场特征及沿程变化规律,于2006年和2009年夏季在浙江岸外3个固定点利用ADCP潜标进行了多个潮周期分层海流流速、流向观测。研究结果表明:(1)浙江沿岸流在中北部海域(A和B站位)为旋转流,流向呈顺时针方向旋转,在南部(C站位)涨潮流方向基本为北向,落潮方向为东偏北向;各站位海流在垂向上流向较一致。(2)3个站位垂线平均流速相近(44.4~51.1 cm/s),但平均流速的垂向分布差异明显;各站的最大流速均大于110 cm/s,且均出现在大潮涨急时刻。(3)观测期间,A(北部)、B(中北部)和C(南部)站位平均余流的大小分别为21.9,12.3和22.3 cm/s;受长江冲淡水影响,A和B站位中上层余流为西南向,从中层向底层流向呈逆时针方向偏转,下层流向呈东南向,可能为台湾暖流牵引所致,C站位余流流向在垂向较为一致,均为东北向,主要受季风影响。(4)夏季浙江沿岸流在沿浙江沿岸北上的过程中,在浙江中部(B和C站位中间)逐渐向东偏转(可能受台湾暖流的牵引),流经海域水深变大。(5)在夏季长江径流量偏小时段,浙江中北部近岸海域也存在向南的沿岸流(同冬季),其范围从长江口以南一直至浙江中北部。浙江近岸海流受季风、长江冲淡水和台湾暖流共同制约,但各区域的主要受控因素不同。     

导管架式海上风力发电支撑结构振型扩阶方法

提出1种适用于海上风力发电支撑结构的模态振型扩阶方法。该方法无需借助转换矩阵实现振型扩阶,而是依靠实测模态并通过修正有限元模型对应振型在未测试自由度的振型值而获得空间完备的模态振型,并且所发展的方法在一定程度上可以忽略有限元模型存在的建模误差,是1种直接的估算方法,计算效率相对较高。文中采用三桩导管架式海上风力发电支撑结构验证提出方法的正确性以及在低阶模态振型扩阶上的优越性。数值结果表明,该方法对传感器位置、数量依赖程度低,尤其对于海上风电结构,仅在结构的水深较浅部位布置少数传感器即可比较精确的实现低阶模态振型扩阶,具有良好的工程应用前景。