Estimated intensity needed for sampling flatfish assemblages in reference areas of tidal mud flats systems may be disproportionately costly and deleterious

Beam trawl surveys were carried out in a tidal stream system of the German Wadden Sea on two to three successive days of comparable weather conditions in three summers. The variability in time and space detected for plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), flounder (Platichthys flesus), dab (Limanda limanda), sole (Solea solea) and lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) was considerable even for species with a very high abundance. Other flatfish species such as turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) and brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) occurred only occasionally in the catches. Sampling effort calculated to detect a 50 or 20% difference between the surveys caused by immigration, emigration or mortality appears to be disproportionate. It is argued that such a major sampling effort of reference areas in tidal mud flat systems is likely to influence the results, to harm the environment, and to be very expensive.     

Reproductive Biology of Liocarcinus puber and L holsatus (Decapoda, Brachyura, Portunidae) from the Gower Peninsula, South Wales

Abstract. Routine monthly samples of the commercially important portunid crab Liocarcimtx puber and the sympatric but ecologically separated L. holsatus were collected from the waters and shores around the Gowcr Peninsula, South Wales, between November 1983 and September 1985.
The pubertal moult in L. puber occurred at 38 mm CW (carapace width) (females) and 42 mm CW (males). In L. holsatus this occurred at 17 mm (females) and 18.5 mm CW (males). The median size of ovigcrous females was 49.2 ± 6.7 mm CW in L. puber and 26.5 ± 2.0 mm CW in L. holsatus.
Moulting and copulation occurred between spring and autumn, the moulting period of males being earlier than that of the females. Ovigcrous L. holsatus were recorded throughout the year, with highest proportions between February and April. L. puber were ovigcrous mainly between January and March; none was recorded between September and November. The number of eggs of the wild brood (range: 39,000–280,000 for L. holsatus and 40.000–262.000 for L. puber ) was related to female body size as y = 3.099.51 c^0.1126x, r = 0.90, n = 21 and y = 6,335.98 c^0.051x, r = 0.88, n = 23, respectively, where y = number of eggs and x = carapace width (mm).
Following successful copulation, females of both species were able to spawn more than once during an intcrmoult period.     

Growth and reproduction of the bivalve Spisula subtruncata (da Costa) in Dutch coastal waters

The bivalve Spisula subtruncata is usually abundant in shallow coastal waters along the Dutch coast. However, its biomass has been decreasing since 1995. In order to assess whether reproductive failure may be the cause of the observed decline over the last decades, the energy investment in reproduction of a population of S. subtruncata from central Dutch coastal waters was studied. The population studied consisted of individuals of up to four years old. Shell length reached maximum values of around 32 mm and individual total body, somatic and gonadal ash-free dry mass reached maximum values of about 278 mg AFDM, 252 mg AFDM and 76 mg AFDM, respectively. A clear seasonal cycle in somatic and gonadal mass was observed. Somatic and gonadal mass indices increased in early spring and reached maximum values during summer, followed by a decrease to minimum values at the beginning of the following year. Spawning was in June–July and settlement of spat seems to have occurred in July–August. Mean oocyte diameter was 57.43 ± 0.03 μm, corresponding to a volume of 98972 μm³. These results suggested that reproductive failure was not the cause of the current population decline. Most likely, unsuccessful settlement of spat and/or severe predation during the first months of life were responsible for the observed patterns.     

Comparative assessment of Japan's long-term carbon budget under different effort-sharing principles

This article assesses Japan's carbon budgets up to 2100 in the global efforts to achieve the 2?°C target under different effort-sharing approaches based on long-term GHG mitigation scenarios published in 13 studies. The article also presents exemplary emission trajectories for Japan to stay within the calculated budget.

The literature data allow for an in-depth analysis of four effort-sharing categories. For a 450?ppm CO₂e stabilization level, the remaining carbon budgets for 2014–2100 were negative for the effort-sharing category that emphasizes historical responsibility and capability. For the other three, including the reference ‘Cost-effectiveness’ category, which showed the highest budget range among all categories, the calculated remaining budgets (20th and 80th percentile ranges) would run out in 21–29 years if the current emission levels were to continue. A 550?ppm CO₂e stabilization level increases the budgets by 6–17 years-equivalent of the current emissions, depending on the effort-sharing category. Exemplary emissions trajectories staying within the calculated budgets were also analysed for ‘Equality’, ‘Staged’ and ‘Cost-effectiveness’ categories. For a 450?ppm CO₂e stabilization level, Japan's GHG emissions would need to phase out sometime between 2045 and 2080, and the emission reductions in 2030 would be at least 16–29% below 1990 levels even for the most lenient ‘Cost-effectiveness’ category, and 29–36% for the ‘Equality’ category. The start year for accelerated emissions reductions and the emissions convergence level in the long term have major impact on the emissions reduction rates that need to be achieved, particularly in the case of smaller budgets.

Policy relevance

In previous climate mitigation target formulation processes for 2020 and 2030 in Japan, neither equity principles nor long-term management of cumulative GHG emissions was at the centre of discussion. This article quantitatively assesses how much more GHGs Japan can emit by 2100 to achieve the 2?°C target in light of different effort-sharing approaches, and how Japan's GHG emissions can be managed up to 2100. The long-term implications of recent energy policy developments following the Fukushima nuclear disaster for the calculated carbon budgets are also discussed.     

基于船位监控系统的拖网捕捞努力量提取方法研究

为了基于船位监控系统提取拖网捕捞努力量,通过统计航速获得3个峰值,拖网作业在第2个峰值,即1~2.1 m/s,拖网作业航向差一般在–50°~50°。利用航速、航向差阈值设定,把拖网船状态划分为慢速、作业、航行,然后提取出捕捞作业状态点,1 423艘拖网船共提取到处于捕捞状态的点318 433个,合计拖网捕捞时间15 921 h,利用反距离加权插值法生成捕捞强度分布变化趋势图。捕捞努力量在渔业资源研究中是重要的参考值之一,与传统的捕捞努力量计算方法相比,该方法具有实时、大范围、快速、分辨率高的特点,能够用于辅助渔业资源保护。