Copepod abundance in the western Irish Sea: relationship to physical regime, phytoplankton production and standing stock

The distinct patterns of stratification in the North Channeland stratified region of the western Irish Sea influence theseasonal abundance of phytoplankton. The 3–4 month productionseason in the stratified region was characterized by productionand biomass peaks in the spring (up to 2378 mg C m² day^–1and 178.4 mg chlorophyll m^–2) and autumn (up to 1280 mgC m^–2 day^–1 and 101.9 mg chlorophyll m^–2).Phytoplankton in the North Channel exhibited a short, late productionseason with a single summer (June/July) peak in production (4483mg Cm^–2 day^–1) and biomass (–160.6 mg chlorophyllm^–2). These differences have little influence on copepoddynamics. Both regions supported recurrent annual cycles ofcopepod abundance with similar seasonal maxima (182.8–241.810³ind. m^–2) and dominant species (Pseudocalanus elongatusand Acartia clausi). Specific rates of population increase inthe spring were 0.071 and 0.048 day¹ for the North Channel andstratified region, respectively. Increased copepod abundancein the stratified region coincided with the spring bloom, andwas significantly correlated with chlorophyll standing stock.Increased copepod abundance preceded the summer production peakin the North Channel. This increase was not correlated withchlorophyll standing crop, suggesting that a food resource otherthan phytoplankton may be responsible for the onset of copepodproduction prior to the spring bloom. Hetero-trophic microplanktonas an alternative food source, and advection of copepods fromthe stratified region, are proposed as possible explanationsfor copepod abundance increasing in advance of the summer peakin primary production.     

Does the western Irish Sea gyre influence the distribution of pelagic juvenile fish?

The western Irish Sea is an important spawning and nursery ground for many commercially exploited fish. Spawning begins in the Irish coastal regions in early spring, and moves offshore as the season develops. As a result of the onset of seasonal heating in spring, stratification isolates a dome of cold bottom winter water in the deep (>100 m) basin of the western Irish Sea. The resultant density fields drive a cyclonic gyre which dominates the circulation of the region during late spring and summer and is characterized by anticlockwise current speeds which exceed 0.2 ms^–1, after removal of tides. Surveys of pelagic juvenile (0-group) fish in 1994, 1995 and 1996, showed that they were coincident with the centre of the gyre. Physical data from 1994 and 1995, were used to describe the horizontal and vertical structure of the water column and the associated circulation regime. The behaviour and swimming speeds of pelagic juvenile fish were insufficient to explain their apparent shift in abundance away from the coast to the central western Irish Sea. Drifter and current data suggested that their entrainment into the gyre could provide both the transport and retention mechanisms.     

The food of some Aantarctic fish in the western Ross Sea in summer 1979

Summary The food of fish in the western area of the Ross Sea was studied. Four locations were sampled using a bottom trawl. Twenty-four species of fish belonging to six families were caught. Pleuragramma antarcticum was the most important species among them and Chionodraco myersi was also abundant. The food chain, starting from small crustaceans such as Parathemisto gaudichaudii, copepods and Euphausia crystallorophias and extending through P. antarcticum to channichthyids is considered the most important chain in the food web of the fish community of the western Ross Sea in summer. The significance of the ecological role of P. antarcticum in the food web of the fish community of this area where the krill, Euphausia superba, is scarce is discussed.     

Chlorophyll standing crop and phytoplankton production in the western Irish Sea during 1992 and 1993

Chlorophyll standing crop and phytoplankton production werestudied in the western Irish Sea over a 21 month period during1992 and 1993. For both years, the start of the production seasonwas first observed in Dundalk Bay and occurred progressivelylater in more northerly coastal and offshore waters. Standingcrop and production exhibited marked spatial heterogeneity with12.5- to 19-fold differences in crop observed over distancesof 20–30 km. Distinct regional differences in the lengthof the production season were apparent. The longest season,6–7 months with a production of 194 g C m^–2, occurredin Dundalk Bay. The season lasted 3–4 months in the summerstratified region with a production of 140 g C m^–2. Northerly,offshore mixed waters and coastal waters of Northern Irelandsupported a short (2–3 months) season and production of194 and 140 g C m^–2, respectively. The similarity in seasonalproduction between Dundalk Bay and coastal waters of NorthernIreland, and between the summer stratified and northern mixedregions, is attributed to the intensity of production duringthe summer. Between 59 and 79% of seasonal production in thenorthern mixed region and coastal waters of Northern Irelandtook place during June and July, compared to 29–40% inDundalk Bay and the summer stratified region. Lower summer productionin the latter two may be due to nutrient limitation and thishas implications for the sensitivity of these two regions toanthropogenic nutrient enrichment.     

The role of thermal stratification on the population dynamics of Sagitta elegans Verrill in the western Irish Sea

Temperature and prey availability have a marked effect on thedevelopment and growth of Sagitta elegans. This study addressesthe effects of thermal stratification on the growth and sizeof adult S.elegans in the western Irish Sea. It shows that instratified waters, bottom water temperature had a greater effecton the development of mature adults than surface water temperature.Whilst the length of mature individuals caught in 1992 and 1994decreased with increasing temperature, they did not conformto the models of McLaren (1963) and Sameoto (1971), as the animalswere larger than predicted. The long breeding period found inthe stratified region, suggests that previous reports of oneor two generations per year in the western Irish Sea do notaccount for the likely mix of generations that occur from Februarythrough to September.     

黄海特定断面夏秋季大型底栖动物生态学特征

根据2001年8月和2002年8、9、10月共4个航次,在黄海特定断面的10个站采集到的大型底栖动物样品,采用相对重要性指数、物种多样性指数、物种均匀度指数、物种丰度指数,Bray-Curtis相似性系数聚类分析和MDS标序等方法,分析了该区域大型底栖动物的生态学特性。调查共得到定量样品36个,经分析鉴定有大型底栖动物182种,其中多毛类环节动物54种,软体动物29种,甲壳动物66种,棘皮动物17种,其它类群生物16种。相对于邻近海区,物种丰富度指数较小,物种多样性指数相似,均匀度指数较高;各航次中4、5号站种数明显较少,而生物量和栖息密度没有表现出一定的规律性。通过该断面大型底栖动物的研究发现,可将研究区域的大型底栖动物群落分为沿岸广温性群落、温带性群落和暖水性群落,各群落结构保持相对稳定性;主要底栖动物种类组成在2001年和2002年出现较大变化,而在2002年的8、9、10月的种类组成保持相对稳定。     

Physiological characteristics of the antarctic copepod Calanoides acutus during late summer in the Weddell Sea

Ingestion, respiration and excretion rates as well as lipid and protein body content of the dominant Antarctic copepod Calanoides acutus (CIV to adult females) were studied during the period covering the end of phytoplankton bloom (February) to the beginning of transition to overwintering (March-April). Daily rations measured with gut fluorescence varied from 2.2 to 2.7% in surface C. acutus. Weight-specific respiration and excretion rates in deep C. acutus decreased by a factor of 11 and 3.5–3.8 compared to their surface counterparts. High lipid (up to 455 µg ind^–1) and protein (198 µg ind^–l) content was observed in surface C. acutus CV in February; a month later the animals with similar lipid and protein content were found in the depth (500–1000 m layer). Their lipid reserves were enough to overwinter and probably to ascend, molt and reproduce. At the same time some of the deep CVs had much lower protein and lipid content and could survive only for 4–5 months. Our own and literature data led to the conclusion that females of C. acutus reach adulthood at the age of more than one year while development of males could be completed in one year.     

The occurrence of Calanus finmarchicus (Gunnerus) and Calanus helgolandicus (Claus) in the western Irish Sea

The seasonal abundance of Calanus finmarchicus and Calanus helgolandicusin the North Channel and stratified region of the western IrishSea is reviewed using data collected between 1992 and 1996.Both species occur in the western Irish Sea, but were more abundantin the stratified region during spring. Increased abundanceduring May/June was attributed to an increase in copepoditestages. Calanus helgolandicus dominated in both regions, exhibitingspring and autumn peaks in abundance in the stratified region.It is argued that the presence of ripe females and naupliarstages in the stratified region is evidence of an in situ breedingpopulation, rather than advection of individuals from populationcentres outside the Irish Sea. The lack of geographical separationof the two species in the western Irish sea, and reports thatboth species occur in the Celtic Sea and Malin Shelf, limitthe use of either species as indicators of exchange processesbetween the Irish Sea and neighbouring waters.     

Fisheries management and conservation in the Irish Sea

The Irish Sea ia a relatively small, enclosed sea area which is subject to a wide range of human uses including navigation, oil terminals, dumping of sewage and industrial sludge, cooling for nuclear power stations, gravel extraction, gas and oil prospecting and fishing. Commercial fishing is affected by the other uses and at the same time it provides a means of monitoring their effects on a part of the ecosystem. Regular samples taken from fish markets provide a long series of age-composition data of the main commercial species — cod, whiting, plaice and sole — from which population changes can be assessed. More recently groundfish trawl surveys have been carried out to provide more detailed information on the distribution of all demersal fish species seasonally and in relation to area, depth and sediment type. Advice on the management of commercial fish species is prepared by a working group of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), and is based mainly on analytical single-species models. There are obvious shortcomings of such models in an area of mixed fishery and high diversity such as the Irish Sea. The objectives adopted in these models and in fisheries management generally are examined critically in relation to the possible aims of conservation.     

2008年夏季南海北部浮游植物群落结构特征分析

根据2008年8月15日—2008年9月7日南海北部调查期间所获得的网采浮游植物资料,对该海域的4个断面共计13个站位的浮游植物群落结构特征进行了研究,包括种类组成、丰度、分布、多样性以及浮游植物群落结构与环境因子之间相关关系等基本状况。本次调查共鉴定出浮游植物4门53属169种(含变种和变型),主要以暖水性、广温性和广布性种为主,其中硅藻门(Bacillariophyceae)37属114种,占总种数的67.4%,甲藻门(Pyrrophyta)12属50种,占总种数的29.6%,蓝藻门(Cyanophyta)2属3种及金藻门(Chrysophyta)2属2种等。浮游植物丰度平均值为18.06×104cells/m3,其中硅藻丰度平均值为55.72×106cells/m3,甲藻丰度平均值为0.81×106cells/m3。调查区域内的优势种包括铁氏束毛藻(Trichodesmium thiebautii),洛氏角毛藻(Chaetoceros lorenzianus),柔弱菱形藻(Nitzschia delicatissima),红海束毛藻(Trichodesmium erythraeum)和菱形海线藻(Thalassionema nitzschioides)。藻类为聚类分析(UPMGA)将站点大致上分为4个生态区(珠江口生态区,吕宋海峡区,琼东上升流区和18°N断面区),结果表明,在地理位置上分布比较相近的站点具有较高的群落结构组成相似性。     

Microzooplankton grazing in the surface water of the Southern Ocean during an austral summer

Microzooplankton grazing was investigated in surface waters of the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic sectors of the Southern Ocean by the dilution method. Phytoplankton growth varied mainly between 0.1 and 0.4 day⁻¹, and microzooplankton grazing between 0.0 and 0.3 day⁻¹. Great fluctuations in phytoplankton growth rate were observed at one station within 3 weeks and between closely spaced stations. Microzooplankton grazing rates were similar to phytoplankton growth rate despite the variation of phytoplankton growth rates, although in some cases, phytoplankton growth overwhelmed microzooplankton grazing. These observations suggest that microzooplankton are the main consumers of primary producers, and that steady state between phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing is usually established in the Southern Ocean in austral summer. Received: 5 November 1996 / Accepted: 4 March 1997     

Seabed mapping in the southern Irish Sea: predicting benthic biological communities based on sediment characteristics

Marine habitat mapping is necessary to comply with European legislation (92/43/EEC, 79/409/EEC and 2001/60/EEC), with international obligations to organizations such as ICES and with agreements such as the OSPAR Convention. Clearly defined habitats are needed before conservation and management practices can be implemented. The BIOM?R, SWISS and HABMAP projects have used sediment particle size, organic matter, organic carbon and nitrogen along with benthic macrofaunal species and abundance to define habitats in the southern Irish Sea. The sea floor of the southern Irish Sea is predominantly sandy gravel, grading down through sand to mud in the deeper parts of the Celtic Sea and similarly in the shallower northern basin beyond Anglesey. The physical gradient in particle size is correlated with organic content and also with biological communities. Nevertheless, there are marked discrepancies between boundaries defined by the Folk sediment characterization trigon, by the chemical characteristics of the sediments and by biological communities. The validity of using continuous physical and chemical sediment characteristics to more accurately predict categorical biological assemblages was tested with use of stepwise backward elimination Binary Logistic Regression (BLR). This method could be used as a tool to predict biological assemblages where there is a paucity of biological data. It lends support to the idea that benthic habitat mapping will have to take more account of biological structuring and system function. Guest editors: J. Davenport, G. Burnell, T. Cross, M. Emmerson, R. McAllen, R. Ramsay & E. Rogan Challenges to Marine Ecosystems     

The winter and summer partitioning of dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus. Observations across the Irish Sea during 1997 and 1998

Winter and summer water column profiles from a transect co-inciding with the 54° N parallel across the Irish Sea were examined for relationships between the fractions of total dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus. Inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus gave the expected seasonal variation. As inorganic nitrogen concentrations decreased during the summer, dissolved organic nitrogen concentrations increased. Dissolved organic phosphorus showed little seasonal variation and formed a smaller fraction of the total dissolved pool compared to nitrogen. Winter inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus salinity relationships were conservative: winter organic nitrogen and phosphorus salinity relationships were not conservative. In the winter, dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphorus formed a significant fraction of the total dissolved pool.     

Phyto- and protozooplankton biomass during austral summer in surface waters of the Weddell Sea and vicinity

Summary Phyto- and protozooplankton were sampled in the upper 10 m of the water column in austral summer during a cruise of RV Polarstern from January 6 to February 20 1985 in the eastern Bransfield Strait vicinity and in the northern, southeastern (off Vestkapp, twice: I and II) and southern Weddell Sea (Vahsel Bay across the Filchner Depression to Gould Bay). The plankton assemblages are discussed in relation to physical, chemical and biological factors in the different geographical areas in summer. Phytoplankton biomass (Phytoplankton carbon, PPC) ranged from 4–194 g carbon/l and consisted on average of 65% diatoms and 35% autotrophic flagellates. Whereas in the northwest phytoplankton assemblages were dominated by small nanoflagellates (78% of PPC), higher biomass of diatoms (54–94% of PPC) occurred at the other sampling sites. In general autotrophic flagellates and small pennate diatoms dominated at oceanic stations; in neritic areas large centric diatoms prevailed. Chlorophyll a concentrations ranged from 0.25–3.14/g chl a/l with a mean of 1.13/gmg chlorophyll a/l and an average phytoplankton carbon/chlorophyll a ratio of 39. Protozooplankton biomass (Protozooplankton carbon, PZC) ranged from 0–67 g carbon/l and consisted of 49% ciliates, 49% heterotrophic dinoflagellates and 2% tintinnids. Heterotrophic dinoflagellates were more important in the northern investigation areas (58%–84% of PZC). Ciliates dominated the protozooplankton in the southeast and south (56%–65% of PZC); higher abundances of tintinnids were observed only in the south (11% of PZC). The most remarkable feature of the surface waters was the high protozooplankton biomass: protozooplankton amounted to 25% on an average of the combined biomass of PPC plus PZC for the entire investigation period. Protozoan biomass in the southeastern and southern Weddell Sea occasionally exceeded phytoplankton biomass. Temperature, salinity, and inorganic nutrients were generally lower in the southern regions; at most of these stations a meltwater layer occurred in the upper meters of the water column. We suggest that this physical regime allows a well developed summer system with a high proportion of heterotrophic microplankton. In the eastern Bransfield Strait, in the northern Weddell Sea and close to the coast off Vestkapp (I), however, early summer conditions occurred with less protozooplankton contribution.Contribution no. 427 from the Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar and Marine Research     

Distribution of Nephrops norvegicus (L.) larvae in the western Irish Sea: an example of advective control on recruitment

Results of a survey of Nephrops norvegicus larvae conductedin the western Irish Sea during May 1984 are discussed. Thelarval distributions show a pronounced tongue of high numbersextending southward from the muddy area where they are hatched.The inferred density-driven circulation at the time of the surveyis consistent with the southward transport of larvae. BecauseN.norvegicus requires a muddy substrate for successful larvalsettlement, the processes which influence the circulation mayprovide an important control on the level of recruitment.     

Multivariate analysis of diatoms and water chemistry in Bolivian saline lakes

Diatom assemblages are described from surface sediments in thirteen salt lakes located in the southern Bolivian Altiplano. Factor analysis of correspondences and cluster analysis are used to classify the diatom assemblages. New methods are proposed to establish the qualitative and quantitative relationships between diatom floras and ecological parameters. Diatom assemblages are linked more to the ionic elements than to the salinity, pH, depth, temperature or elevation. Environmental variables are divided into three modalities which allow considerations of many different variables not under the same units.     

流域景观格局与河流水质的多变量相关分析

流域内的景观格局改变是人类活动的宏观表现,会对河流水质产生显著影响,因此明确影响水质变化的关键景观因子,对于深入了解景观对水质的影响机制具有重要的研究价值。选择广东省淡水河流域为研究对象,以2007年ALOS卫星影像以及水质监测数据为基础,运用空间分析和多变量分析方法,分析淡水河流域景观格局与河流水质的相关关系。用包括流域和河岸带尺度的景观组成和空间结构信息的景观指数表征景观格局,用Spearman秩相关分析、多元线性逐步回归模型和典型相关分析(CCA)研究景观指数和水质指标的相关关系。研究结果表明:林地、城镇用地和农业用地占淡水河流域总面积超过90%,其中城镇用地超过20%。多元线性逐步回归分析和CCA结果说明水质指标受到多个景观指数的综合影响,反映了景观格局对水质的复杂影响机制。流域景观格局对河流水质有显著影响,流域尺度的景观指数比河岸带尺度的景观指数对水质影响更大。城镇用地比例是影响耗氧污染物和营养盐等污染物浓度最重要的景观指数,林地和农业用地对水质的影响较小。另外,景观破碎化对pH值、溶解氧和重金属等水质指标有显著影响。CCA的第一排序轴解释了景观指数与水质指标相关性的54.0%,前两排序轴累积能解释景观指数与水质指标相关性的87.6%,前两轴分别主要表达了城市化水平和景观破碎化水平的变化梯度。淡水河流域的景观格局特征从上游到下游呈现出城市—城乡交错—农村的景观梯度,水质变化也对应了这个梯度的变化,说明人类活动引起的流域土地覆盖及土地管理措施变化会对水质变化产生显著影响。     

夏闲期轮耕对小麦田土壤水分及产量的影响

2007-2010年在宁南旱区研究了夏闲期免耕/深松/免耕(T1)、深松/免耕/深松(T2)、连年翻耕(CT)3种耕作方式对麦田土壤水分及产量的影响.结果表明:经过3年夏闲期T1和T2处理后,农田土壤蓄水效率平均分别较连年翻耕处理提高15.2％和26.5％;T1和T2处理的降水潜在利用率较高,分别达到37.8％和38.5％,降水生产效率平均分别较连年翻耕处理提高9.9％和10.7％.夏闲期轮耕能显著降低休闲期的土壤无效蒸发,有效保蓄小麦生长期的土壤水分.在冬小麦生长前期,T1和T2处理0～200 cm土层土壤水分平均分别较连年翻耕处理增加6.8％和9.4％;在拔节-抽穗-灌浆期,与连年翻耕处理相比,两处理可显著提高0 ～ 200 cm土层土壤蓄水量,对作物产量的贡献率较高.不同轮耕模式在增加作物耗水量的同时也提高了作物产量及水分利用效率,与CT处理相比,3年T1和T2处理作物耗水量平均分别提高5.2％和6.1％,产量分别增加9.9％和10.6％,作物水分生产效率分别提高4.5％和4.3％.相关分析表明,在干旱缺水的宁南地区,冬小麦播种期、拔节-抽穗-灌浆期的土壤蓄水量可显著影响产量,尤其抽穗期的土壤蓄水量对产量的影响更大.     

Detection of microbial biomass by intact polar membrane lipid analysis in the water column and surface sediments of the Black Sea

The stratified water column of the Black Sea produces a vertical succession of redox zones, stimulating microbial activity at the interfaces. Our study of intact polar membrane lipids (IPLs) in suspended particulate matter and sediments highlights their potential as biomarkers for assessing the taxonomic composition of live microbial biomass. Intact polar membrane lipids in oxic waters above the chemocline represent contributions of bacterial and eukaryotic photosynthetic algae, while anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria comprise a substantial amount of microbial biomass in deeper suboxic and anoxic layers. Intact polar membrane lipids such as betaine lipids and glycosidic ceramides suggest unspecified anaerobic bacteria in the anoxic zone. Distributions of polar head groups and core lipids show planktonic archaea below the oxic zone; methanotrophic archaea are only a minor fraction of archaeal biomass in the anoxic zone, contrasting previous observations based on the apolar derivatives of archaeal lipids. Sediments contain algal and bacterial IPLs from the water column, but transport to the sediment is selective; bacterial and archaeal IPLs are also produced within the sediments. Intact polar membrane lipid distributions in the Black Sea are stratified in accordance with geochemical profiles and provide information on vertical successions of major microbial groups contributing to suspended biomass. This study vastly extends our knowledge of the distribution of complex microbial lipids in the ocean.     

Distribution and some features of biology of representatives of the genus Lycodes in the western part of the Bering Sea in the summer period

Based on materials of bottom inventory trawl survey performed in summer 2008 in the western part of the Bering Sea, we show that representatives of the genus Lycodes in the summer period occur almost throughout the study water area of the sea from the sublittoral to the drop-off. The pattern of distribution and abundance of particular species depend on the depth and specific features of the hydrological regime of the given area. The most numerous species??Lycodes brevipes and L. palearis??are found in warm intermediate and in cold demersal water masses, are distributed over a vast stretch, and there form considerable concentrations. Deep-water species??L. beringi and L. concolor??are more stenothermal, occur along the narrow band of the continental slope, and are considerably inferior to stretch species in numbers. Of shallow species dwelling at depths smaller than 100 m, only L. raridens has high numbers and occurs over a considerable area in the northern part of the study area, the remaining species (L. mucosus, L. polaris, and L. turneri) are caught in small amounts at local sites. The largest sizes are in L. raridens and L. concolor, their maximum length in catches is more than 70 cm, the former species reaches maximum length in the seventh year of life, and the latter reaches maximum length in the ninth year. The smallest and slowest-growing among the studied fish is L. brevipes: its maximum length in catches does not exceed 39 cm and maximum age is 7 years.