Feeding increases the number of offspring but decreases parental investment of Red Sea coral Stylophora pistillata

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Comparative otolith morphology of clupeids from the Iranian brackish and marine resources (Teleostei: Clupeiformes)

The diagnostic features of otolith morphology were provided for the clupeid fishes of the Iranian brackish and marine resources to be used as diagnostic features for the identification of clupeids diversity in these regions. Fish individuals belong to 20 species belong to 13 genera, and four families were collected from the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Makran zone of the Oman Sea. Overall, seven otolith morphotypes were distinguished, that is lanceolated (45%), fusiform (20%), boot-like (15%) and clamp-like, pentagonal, elliptic and rectangular (each 5%, respectively). The univariate analysis showed that all variables except shape index [sulcus area (SS)/otolith area (OS)] and ROx (roundness) were significantly different among the clupeid species. The interspecific relationships of the otoliths were analysed based on the data of otolith morphology and otolith shape indices. Both dendrograms showed somehow an obvious separation among the studied species. However, the interspecific relationships in the dendrogram based on the otolith morphology have a better resolution. These phenotypic relationships based on otolith morphology among the studied clupeids are largely consistent with the previous hypothesis on the systematics of these fishes and emphasized that the morphological and morphometric features of the otolith, which are highlighted in this study, could be adequately used as diagnostic features for the identification of clupeids diversity.     

Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), found stranded along the Adriatic coast (Southern Italy,Mediterranean Sea), as bioindicators of essential and non-essential trace elements in the environment

In September 2014, a pod of seven sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) was stranded along the Adriatic coast of Southern Italy. Concentrations of 20 essential and non-essential trace elements were quantified in the brain, muscle, liver and kidneys of three female sperm whales, which died in this event.The essential elements copper, iron, manganese and zinc showed low ranges of variability, suggesting a homeostatic physiological control, while selenium concentrations were associated with age. Molybdenum, nickel and chromium showed low ranges of concentrations and no evidence of preferential accumulation in selected organs. Very low concentrations of the non-essential elements cadmium, lead, tin and vanadium were detected in all tissues, suggesting a minor impact of these pollutants on the sperm whale populations of the Mediterranean Sea. Aluminum was revealed to have relatively high concentrations, together with a high variability between tissues and individuals, reaching the highest values in the kidneys and muscle of the oldest female, which was pregnant; the rare earth elements – lanthanum and cerium – were also detected in the kidneys of this female, indicating that pregnancy probably influenced metal concentrations in body tissues.     

Molecular phylogeny of Macrolycus (Coleoptera: Lycidae) with description of new species from China

Macrolycus is a genus of net‐winged beetles with 69 species distributed in the eastern Palearctic and northernmost part of the Oriental region. The first molecular phylogeny of Macrolycus was produced using an rrnL + tRNA‐Leu + nad1 mtDNA fragment. The major lineages and species limits were identified with morphology and molecular data. We propose that Cerceros is a subgenus of Macrolycus to enable identification of all adult specimens in the genus without DNA sequencing. Two species groups are proposed in Macrolycus s. str. and six in Cerceros. Additionally, twelve Macrolycus species are newly described from China: M. aquilinus, M. baihualingensis, M. bicolor, M. guangxiensis, M. jianfenglingensis, M. kuatunensis, M. lizipingensis, M. parvus, M. phoeniceus, M. rhodoneurus, M. rosaceus and M. sichuanensis. Macrolycus holzschuhi is proposed to be a junior subjective synonym of M. jeanvoinei. The highest diversity of Macrolycus is found in southern China. The species from the main islands of Japan are placed in two species groups: M. excellens is a sister to remaining species of the M. murzini group and the M. flabellatus group is a monophylum of closely related species in a sister position to the M. bicolor group.     

Changing gull diet in a changing world: A 150‐year stable isotope (δ13C, δ15N) record from feathers collected in the Pacific Northwest of North America

The world's oceans have undergone significant ecological changes following European colonial expansion and associated industrialization. Seabirds are useful indicators of marine food web structure and can be used to track multidecadal environmental change, potentially reflecting long‐term human impacts. We used stable isotope (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) analysis of feathers from glaucous‐winged gulls (Larus glaucescens) in a heavily disturbed region of the northeast Pacific to ask whether diets of this generalist forager changed in response to shifts in food availability over 150 years, and whether any detected change might explain long‐term trends in gull abundance. Sampled feathers came from birds collected between 1860 and 2009 at nesting colonies in the Salish Sea, a transboundary marine system adjacent to Washington, USA and British Columbia, Canada. To determine whether temporal trends in stable isotope ratios might simply reflect changes to baseline environmental values, we also analysed muscle tissue from forage fishes collected in the same region over a multidecadal timeframe. Values of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N declined since 1860 in both subadult and adult gulls (δ¹³C, ~ 2–6‰; δ¹⁵N, ~4–5‰), indicating that their diet has become less marine over time, and that birds now feed at a lower trophic level than previously. Conversely, forage fish δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values showed no trends, supporting our conclusion that gull feather values were indicative of declines in marine food availability rather than of baseline environmental change. Gradual declines in feather isotope values are consistent with trends predicted had gulls consumed less fish over time, but were equivocal with respect to whether gulls had switched to a more garbage‐based diet, or one comprising marine invertebrates. Nevertheless, our results suggest a long‐term decrease in diet quality linked to declining fish abundance or other anthropogenic influences, and may help to explain regional population declines in this species and other piscivores.     

长江口及东海夏季小型底栖动物丰度和生物量变化

2012年7月,对长江口及东海海域的小型底栖动物类群组成、丰度、生物量的空间分布及其与沉积环境的关系进行了调查研究。该研究海域夏季小型底栖动物的丰度和生物量总体上自北向南递减,在长江口以东的海域由近岸向外海增加,至约45 m等深线达到最高,然后向深水区减少。其小型底栖动物的丰度和生物量分别为(1203±191) 个/10 cm²和(723±171) μg 干重/10 cm²,略高于同一海域春季和秋冬季的数量,但明显低于以往夏季的数量,这可能与本年度该海域沉积物中叶绿素a含量明显偏低有关。在小型底栖动物11个主要类群中,自由生线虫在丰度上占绝对优势(94.1%),其次是桡足类(2.7%)和涡虫类(1.2%)。线虫在生物量上也是最优势类群(62.1%),其次是多毛类(18.8%)、桡足类(8.3%)和涡虫类(6.1%)。Spearman相关分析表明,小型底栖动物的生物量、桡足类和涡虫的丰度均与沉积物中有机氮含量呈负相关;多毛类的丰度与盐度、叶绿素a呈显著正相关;而线虫与所测环境因子未见任何相关关系。BIOENV分析显示,与小型底栖动物各类群的丰度相关性最高的环境因子组合为盐度、沉积物含水量和有机氮含量。研究发现,近10年该海域小型底栖动物的丰度呈总体下降趋势;而且,小型底栖动物的垂直分布随时间推移趋向于向沉积物表层聚集,一定程度上显示沉积环境趋于恶化。通过对近岸和外海两个站位的702条线虫生物体积的测算,获得两个站位线虫的平均个体干重分别为0.186 μg/个体和0.281 μg/个体,两站位平均为0.214 μg/个体,与2009年秋冬季相邻两站位的0.213 μg/个体非常接近,但各站位的线虫个体干重变化相对较大。该结果一方面反映了我国当前普遍采用的0.4 μg/个体系数高估了线虫的生物量,另一方面显示季节和站位差异影响了线虫个体的大小。     

东海低氧区及邻近水域浮游植物的季节变化

根据2011年5月、8月、11月在东海低氧区及邻近水域(25°00'—33°30'N,120°00'—127°30'E)进行的多学科综合调查,对东海低氧区及邻近水域浮游植物群落结构特征及季节变化进行了相关研究。经Utermhl方法初步分析共鉴定出浮游植物4门74属248种(含变种、变型,不含未定种),主要由硅藻和甲藻组成,此外还有少量的金藻和蓝藻。春季优势种主要为具齿原甲藻(Prorocentrum dentatum)、柔弱伪菱形藻(Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissim)、骨条藻(Skeletonema sp.)和具槽帕拉藻(Paralia sulcata);夏季主要是中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)和海链藻(Thalassiosira sp.);秋季主要是具槽帕拉藻、圆筛藻(Coscinodiscus sp.)和柔弱伪菱形藻。调查区浮游植物平均细胞丰度在夏季最高,达到85.002×103个/L,春季次之,秋季最低。在水平方向上,春、夏两季,表层浮游植物细胞丰度在近岸出现高值,由近岸到外海细胞丰度逐渐降低;而在秋季则相反,在调查海域的东北部出现高值,随离岸距离的增加细胞丰度逐渐增加。在垂直方向上,春、夏两季,浮游植物细胞丰度在表层出现最大值,随着深度的增加细胞丰度逐渐降低;而在秋季细胞丰度分布比较均匀,随水深变化不明显。调查区表层浮游植物ShannonWiener多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数的平面分布基本一致,并且与细胞丰度的分布大致呈镶嵌分布。调查浮游植物群落的演替规律是:从春季的甲藻(具齿原甲藻、微小原甲藻(Prorocentrum minimum)等)为主,硅藻(柔弱伪菱形藻、骨条藻等)为辅;演替至夏季的硅藻(中肋骨条藻、海链藻等)为主,甲藻(主要是梭状角藻(Ceratium fusus)和叉状角藻(Ceratium furca))为辅,到秋季进一步演替为硅藻(具槽帕拉藻、圆筛藻、柔弱伪菱形藻等)为主,铁氏束毛藻(Trichodesmium thiebaultii)为辅。浮游植物物种组成、优势种、细胞丰度及多样性指数均表现出明显的时空变化。低氧区与非低氧区浮游植物群集存在明显差异。     

黄海夏季虾类群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

根据2014年8月在黄海进行的渔业资源和环境综合调查数据,应用相对重要性指数、生物多样性指数和多元统计分析等方法对黄海夏季虾类群落结构及其与环境因子的关系进行了研究.结果表明： 本次调查共捕获虾类20种,隶属于3目10科16属.各调查站点虾类相对资源丰度为13～45047 g·h^-1,平均资源丰度为6838 g·h^-1.优势种为脊腹褐虾,常见种为中华安乐虾,偶见种为戴氏赤虾、葛氏长臂虾、口虾蛄.各站点多样性指数(H)变化范围为0.007～1.538,平均值为0.391;丰富度指数(D)变化范围为0.101～1.138,平均值为0.374;均匀度指数(J)变化范围为0.006～0.947,平均值为0.298.等级聚类分析(Cluster)与非度量多维标度分析(MDS)表明,调查范围基本以45 m等深线为界将所有站点分成两个组群：冷水团组群(Ⅰ)和沿岸组群(Ⅱ),ANOSIM分析表明两组群差异极显著.BIOENV分析表明,影响黄海夏季虾类群落空间结构的最主要环境因子是底层水温与底层盐度.黄海夏季虾类群落以冷水团组群占绝对优势,黄海冷水团对黄海夏季虾类群落的分布格局具有决定性的影响.