Go with the flow: tidal import and export of larvae from semi-enclosed bays

There is a growing body of evidence that suggests the effective functioning of marine reserves is dependent on the dispersal and recruitment of larvae. Enhanced production inside reserves is predicted to lead to a net larval export and increased settlement and recruitment outside reserve boundaries. However, larval retention in bays is also well documented. Since bays are increasingly being used as reserve areas, planktonic larvae of benthic marine invertebrates were sampled from two semi-enclosed marine reserves during flood and ebb tides to determine whether these bays are acting as net exporters of larvae. Neither reserve was a net importer or exporter of species richness, larval abundance or diversity, although one reserve showed a small export of species richness during the hours of darkness. Both reserves balanced the net import of some species with a net export of others, which was generally related to adult or larval abundance, although exceptions were found in one reserve. Significant effects of light were found, with the net import or export of some species occurring exclusively during either the hours of daylight or darkness. An increased understanding of larval sink-source dynamics in bays is essential for ensuring their effective use as marine reserves to meet specific conservation needs. Guest editors: J. Davenport, G. Burnell, T. Cross, M. Emmerson, R. McAllen, R. Ramsay & E. Rogan Challenges to Marine Ecosystems     

Changes in the biochemical composition of tissues in Juvenile Sea bass during forced starvation

The effects of starvation on sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fingerlings (initial average weight 9.5 g) at 19° in sea water were studied. Fish start to die on day 19. Proximate analysis shows that water content increases with starvation time whereas protein and lipid contents decrease. After an initial decline, nitrogen excretion remains stable from day 2 to day 14. Starvation resulted in a reduction of liver, muscle and digestive tract lipids, mainly the triglycerides which are significantly reduced within the first week of starvation. The influence of water temperature on these changes is discussed.     

Evaluation of phosphorus distribution and bioavailability in sediments of a subtropical wetland reserve in southeast China

The phosphorus (P) fractions and bioavailable P in the sediments from the Quanzhou Bay Estuarine Wetland Nature Reserve were investigated using chemical extraction methods for the first time to study the distribution and bioavailability of P in the reserve sediments. A hypothesis was presented suggesting that the bioavailable P in the sediments could be evaluated using the P fractions. The total phosphorus (TP), inorganic phosphorus (IP), organic phosphorus (OP), non-apatite phosphorus (NAIP), and apatite phosphorus (AP) contents in the sediments were in the ranges of 303.87–761.59 mg kg⁻¹, 201.22–577.66 mg kg⁻¹, 75.83–179.16 mg kg⁻¹, 28.86–277.90 mg kg⁻¹, and 127.36–289.94 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The water soluble phosphorus (WSP), readily desorbable phosphorus (RDP), algal available phosphorus (AAP), and NaHCO₃ extractable phosphorus (Olsen-P) contents in the sediments were in the ranges of 0.58–357.17 mg kg⁻¹, 80.77–586.75 mg kg⁻¹, 1.09–24.12 mg kg⁻¹, and 54.96–676.82 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The correlation analysis results showed that the NAIP was the major component of the bioavailable P and that the impact of the AP on the bioavailable phosphorus may be minimal. Due to the low TP content in the sediments of the Quanzhou Bay Estuarine Wetland Nature Reserve, the potential pollution risks of P in the sediments may not be very high. The results also show that the bioavailable P concentrations in the sediments of the Quanzhou Bay Estuarine Wetland Nature Reserve could not be evaluated by measuring the P fractions and that the hypothesis was untenable.     

Awareness of a conservation unit: a Brazilian case study

The range of uses of a conservation area by a nearby population was quantified by questionnaires applied to residents of Santa Helena county, Brazil. Of the 312 responses compiled, 71.2% of the residents acknowledged the presence of a conservation unit within the county limits while only 59.3% of the respondents had participated in some recreational or leisure outdoor activity within the unit. Activities cited by respondents included games (11.7%), beach visits (11.4%), cross-country walks (9.4%), and fishing (8.3%). A possible visitor fee to improve infrastructure within the area was approved by 64.9% of the interviewees. Suggested visitor fee varied from 50 cents to two dollars.     

The conservation value of unlogged and logged forests for native mammals on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

Tropical forests across the world provide important habitats for a diverse number of conservation priority species, yet are under threat from a range of anthropogenic impacts including logging. This study aims to quantify mammalian biodiversity in unlogged and logged forests in the adjoining Tembat and Petuang Forest Reserves, Terengganu, on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Data was collected over a series of surveys using direct and indirect observation methods from 2008 to 2014. A total of 30 medium and large sized mammals species were identified, with 27 of those species found in unlogged forests and 22 species in logged forests. Carnivores encompassed 11 species from 67 observations representing 15% of the total number of observations. The family Felidae had the highest number of species (six species), followed by Hylobatidae, Cercopithecidae and Suidae with three species each. A total of 17 species contributed to more than 90% of the mammal community in the unlogged and logged forests, while six species were uncommon and only observed once during the entire survey. Species abundance in the unlogged forest was significantly greater than the logged forests, but the difference was not significant for species richness. This study provides critical baseline information on the impact of unlogged and logged forests and the identification of threatened species warrant the establishment of conservation measures such as anti-poaching patrol and ranger stations in the study area.     

Fertility preservation and preimplantation genetic assessment for women with breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among reproductive aged women, and its treatment can compromise future fertility. Options for fertility preservation include oocyte or embryo cryopreservation after ovarian stimulation (OS), which are the most established choices and are applicable for adult women with cancer. Ovarian tissue freezing may also be appropriate, as it offers potentially the least delay. The recognisation of the role of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in some women has led to the involvement of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), recently renamed preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorder (PGT-M), whereby embryos are created by IVF and cell(s) are removed and genetically analyzed for specific disease-related mutations. PGT-M offers a valid option for women wishing to avoid transmission of the predisposition for hereditary breast cancer to their offspring. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the factors that influence fertility preservation in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, and to illustrate the option of PGT-M to enable conception of an unaffected child.     

四川省自然保护区时空分布与影响因素

自然保护区是为保护具有代表性的生态系统和濒危动植物而划分的特定区域,在涵养水土,防风固沙、净化空气、保护生物多样性等方面发挥着重要作用。四川省有自然保护区166处,类型丰富多样,是中国自然保护地体系的重要组成部分,其保护对象涵盖珍稀动植物,保护功能涉及物种、水源和生态环境,与国家地质公园、湿地公园、森林公园等共同维系着中国西南地区,乃至青藏高原东缘的生态系统。因此,研究四川省自然保护区的空间分布格局及其影响因素具有重要的价值和意义。运用地理空间分析方法对1963-2018年间四川省自然保护区的空间分布和影响因素进行了研究。研究发现:①四川省自然保护区空间分布的总体特征以集聚为主,呈现集聚-随机-集聚的变化特征,且前期变化幅度大,后期变化幅度小,总体发展明显分为1963-1998年的单核形成与发展阶段和1998-2018年的双核阶段;②四川省自然保护区主要分布在成都平原向川西高原的过渡区域,其均衡度类型在时间上表现出由"差距悬殊"到"差距较大"的演变特征;③四川省自然保护区的重心活动范围相对较小,基本稳定在阿坝州南部。标准差椭圆的长短半轴和面积均变化强烈,总体呈现出大幅度的增长,空间分布由南-北向演变为东北-西南向;④自然保护区受到自然因素和社会因素的双重影响,高密度区域分布在地势适中、气候温和、河流众多、土壤肥沃、人口稀少的阿坝州南部与东部地区。未来,四川省生态功能建设应该立足国家公园、自然保护区和自然公园的特点、分布状况,对自然保护区分布较少的川西北、川东北和川南部分地区进行优化布局,以加强这些地区的生态功能建设。同时,探索自然保护区的发展模式,实现自然保护区与周边区域社会经济的协调发展。