DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS OF INDIVIDUALLY IDENTIFIABLE WEST INDIAN MANATEES (TRICHECHUS MANATUS) IN FLORIDA

Photographs of distinctively scarred manatees ( Trichechus manatus ) were taken at aggregation sites throughout Florida and assembled into a catalog for identifying individuals. Resightings of known manatees in different years or at different locations enabled us to document site fidelity and long-distance movements. Of the 891 individuals included in the catalog as of August 1986, 470 (53%) were resighted at least once. We documented 219 cases of seasonal returns to specific aggregation sites and 98 instances of movements between areas. Movements in excess of 820 km were documented for individuals on the east coast of Florida. Rapid movements south during early winter, as well as northerly spring movements, verify a seasonal migration pattern for many individuals along Florida's east coast. The wide-ranging migratory habits of manatees in Florida must be considered if meaningful management strategies are to be developed and implemented.     

OBSERVATIONS OF FLORIDA MANATEES(TRICHECHUS MANATUS LATIROSTRIS) AROUND SELECTED POWER PLANTS IN WINTER

Sixty-four aerial surveys were flown during cold, winter weather between December 1982 and February 1772 to provide an index of trends in abundance of the Florida manatee ( Trichechus manatus latirostris )around five Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) plants. The surveys documented high winter use of warm-water discharges at four of the plants (Canaveral, Riviera. Port Everglades, and Fort Myers). The total number of manatees sighted at the five primary plants surveyed during a single survey ranged from 6 to 765 manatees (= 330 ± 45 manatees per survey): thus, up to 41% of the total Florida manatee minimum population of 1.850 animals may be found on cold days at FPL plants. The number of calves sighted at the plants during winter has decreased; similarly, for three consecutive years (winter 1989–1970 through winter 1991–1992), the percentage of the manatees that are calves sighted at the plants has decreased. Although data from the surveys of FPL plants do not necessarily reflect what may be happening with manatees located elsewhere in Florida, a possible reduction in calf numbers, coupled with increasing numbers of dead calves being documented by scientists involved in manatee carcass salvage work, is cause for concern in this slow-reproducing, endangered species.     

INTERSPECIFIC AND INTRASPECIFIC MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION IN MANATEES (SIRENIA: TRICHECHUS)

The three living species of Trichechus are clearly defined and well exemplify the degree of variability and taxonomic value of morphological characters in a well-understood mammalian genus. Statistical analysis of the largest sample of manatee skulls yet studied has allowed us to identify small suites of characters that effectively distinguish these species. The two subspecies of T. manatus proposed by Hatt (1934) can likewise be distinguished, and their use as taxonomic categories seems justified. This suggests that the cool winters of the northern Gulf Coast, on the one hand, and the deep water and strong currents of the Straits of Florida, on the other, are effective barriers to gene flow between Florida and Antillean manatees. Alleged taxonomic distinctions within T. senegalensis , however, have no demonstrated basis. No significant sexual dimorphism was detected in skulls of any of the species. Many interspecific differences can be correlated with feeding ecology, but others remain unexplained. Features of tooth crown morphology are among the most constant characters examined, but some osteological characters are equally good. T. manatas and T. senegalensis (which are phenetically the most similar) also seem to share a more recent common ancestor than either does with T. inunguis. However, the three species probably separated from each other at nearly the same time. T. inunguis has since become the most derived species, while T. senegalensis has changed the least.     

THE USE OF STABLE CARBON ISOTOPE ANALYSIS FOR DETERMINING THE DIETARY HABITS OF THE FLORIDA MANATEE, TRICHECHUS MANATUS LATIROSTRIS

The sloughed skin from three captive manatees at Lowry Park Zoological Garden (Tampa, Florida) was examined over a period of one year to determine its stable carbon isotopic composition (δ¹³C). The food consumed by these manatees in a controlled diet was also sampled and its δ¹³C values determined. The sloughed skin δ¹³C values from the captive manatees were enriched by an average of +4.1%0 relative to lettuce (generally >98% of the diet) the animals consumed. δ¹³C values of the skin were shown to be related to changes in δ¹³C values of the lettuce.
The stable carbon isotopic composition of internal tissues (liver, kidney, and blubber) and skin from dead, stranded manatees was also determined. These values were compared to values of vegetation that manatees are known to eat in the wild. The δ¹³C values of the internal tissues and skin of wild manatees were consistent with the range of δ¹³C values of their expected diet.     

DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF THE AMAZON RIVER DOLPHIN (INIA GEOFFRENSIS) AND THE TUCUXI (SOTALIA FLUVIATILIS) IN THE UPPER AMAZON RIVER

A boat survey was conducted from 5 to 26 June 1993 to estimate the abundance of the Amazon river dolphin ( Inia geoffrensis ) and the tucuxi ( Sotalia fluviatilis ) along ca . 120 km of the Amazon River bordering Colombia, Peru, and Brazil. Two survey methods were used: line transects during 5 d and strip transects during 15 d. The line transects were used to estimate the abundance of both species in the main channels of the Amazon at distances greater than 200 m from river banks and islands, and strip transects were used to estimate abundance in the remainder of the habitat. A total of 29 sightings was obtained using line transects, including 8 of Inia , 15 of Sotalia , and 6 with both species present. The total number of sightings made while using strip transects was 143, including 78 of Inia , 51 of Sotalia , and 14 with both species present. The distributions of sightings with respect to distance from the nearest bank were not significantly different between the two species. Based on the results from the two methods, we estimate that there are 346 (CV = 0.12) Inia and 409 (CV = 0.13) Sotalia in the study area. Overall, the mean group size for Inia was 2.9 individuals and for Sotalia was 3.9 individuals. Inia density (dolphin/km²) was highest in tributaries (4.8), followed by areas around islands (2.7) and along main banks (2.0); while Sotalia density was highest in lakes (8.6), followed by areas along main banks (2.8) and around islands (2.0). These are among the highest densities measured to date for any cetacean.     

CETACEANS OF THE NORTHERN GULF OF CALIFORNIA: DISTRIBUTION, OCCURRENCE, and RELATIVE ABUNDANCE

A total of 1,715 km of boat-based surveys and 1,521 km of aircraft-based surveys was conducted from 1986–1989 to assess the distribution, relative abundance, and ecological relationships of cetaceans in the northern Gulf of California. Seven cetacean species were seen; in decreasing frequency of groups encountered they were: bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus ; vaquitas, Phocoena sinus ; common dolphins, Delphinus delphis ; fin whales, Balaenoptera physalus ; Bryde's whales, B. edeni ; gray whales, Eschrichtius robustus , and killer whales, Orcinus orca. Common dolphins were numerically dominant and bottlenose dolphins were seen most often. Bryde's whales and vaquitas had the smallest group sizes. In general, the odontocete cetaceans were separated spatially, whereas the distribution of Bryde's and fin whales overlapped considerably.     

THE DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE AND SELECTED PREY OF THE HARBOR SEAL, PHOCA VITULINA CONCOLOR, IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND

The seasonal distribution and abundance of harbor seals occurring south of Maine were documented by counting the number of seals at traditional haulout locations. The average number of seals counted during each survey in Massachusetts and New Hampshire was 3,560 ± 255 (95% CI), 1983–1987. The maximum number of seals counted on any individual survey was 4,736 individuals. Fifty percent of all the surveys since January 1985 have resulted in counts greater than 4,000 seals reflecting a 27% increase in the abundance of seals in our study area since that date. Seventy-five percent of the seals in southern New England are located at haulout sites on Cape Cod and Nantucket Island. The largest aggregation of seals in the eastern United States occurs mid-winter at Monomoy Island and adjacent shoals. A single high count of 1,672 seals occurred at this site during the study period. An additional 271–374 seals were also counted in Rhode Island, Connecticut and eastern Long Island Sound during surveys conducted in March 1986 and 1987. The American sandlance Ammodytes americanus was the single dominant prey item of harbor seals in waters adjacent to Cape Cod based on the modified frequency of occurrence of each prey species in scat samples collected from three haulout sites on Cape Cod between 1984–1987. During January and February sandlance was the near exclusive prey item at Monomoy (99%, n= 80). During March and April, the frequency of Atlantic herring Clupea harengus increased in the scat samples at this site. Regional differences in the diet of seals reflect distinct prey communities throughout the study area. Since 1986, the percent occurrence and importance of sandlance in the diet of seals has decreased, reflecting an overall decrease in abundance of this prey species in waters adjacent to Cape Cod. In spite of fluctuations in abundance, and regional differences in the diet of seals throughout the study area, sandlance still comprised a minimum 55% of the total prey species of harbor seals throughout the study area.     

中国龟象亚科分布概况(鞘翅目,象虫科)

基于对中国龟象亚科标本信息的系统整理,得出龟象在中国各省均有分布,但分布的多少很不均衡,其中福建省最丰富,达到标本总数的36.6%.分布范围为18.6～51.7°N,最南端到海南省的保亭,最北为黑龙江省的大兴安岭,从热带、亚热带到温带均分布,其中26～30°N最丰富,占总数的47.7%.中国龟象生存的海拔范围记录为10～4 400m,最低海拔采集点位于海南省万宁,最高海拔位于四川省乡城中热乌,500～1 000m海拔范围的龟象标本数量最多,随着海拔高度的上升,数量逐步减少.多数龟象标本采集于5月到8月,随着纬度的上升,采集时间逐渐从4月到9月缩减为6月到8月.     

RELATIVE ABUNDANCE, DISTRIBUTION AND INTER-SPECIFIC RELATIONSHIP OF CETACEAN SCHOOLS IN THE EASTERN TROPICAL PACIFIC

The relative abundance of the most common cetacean schools in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean for 1977–1980 are estimated based on encounter rates with tuna purse-seiners. No temporal trends were apparent in the relative abundance estimates. The geographic distributions for eight different school types are described. Multivariate statistical techniques are used to investigate interrelations between species and relationships to parameters of the physical environment. The results suggest three major species groupings: (1) an inshore grouping of bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncates ), Risso's dolphin ( Grampus griseus ), pilot whales ( Globicephala macrorhynchus ) and, to a lesser extent, common dolphins ( Delphinus delphis ); (2) an offshore pelagic grouping of spotted and spinner dolphins ( Stenella attenuate and S. longirostris ); and (3) an association between pilot whales and common dolphins that overlaps the first grouping in inshore areas and also tends to be segregated from the second grouping. The results also suggest that relative densities of different school types are strongly related to physical environmental parameters, the most important being sea surface temperature, depth of the thermocline and thickness of the oxygen minimum layer.     

哈萨克斯坦北部轮藻植物的分布与生态学研究

哈萨克斯坦北部已发现26种轮藻植物,其中以Kockchetav丘陵地区最为丰富。轮藻植物生长的盐度范围为0．2—44．9g／L,一般生长于盐度不超过1—5(8)g／L的淡水或微咸水环境。在盐度高达41．1—44．9g／L的水体中,仅发现Lamprothamnium papulosum。轮藻植物生长的最大水深为7m,多数种生长的水深不超过1m。轮藻生长的主要底质类型为砂及粉砂质。一些种类如Chara kirghisorum,C．glopbularis,C．tomentosa和Nitellopsis obtusa构成稳定的植被,而其它种类构成湖区周期性干涸环境中短时间生长的水生大型植物群落的一部分。     

FIRST REPORT OF GYMNODINIUM PULCHELLUM (DINOPHYCEAE) IN NORTH AMERICA AND ASSOCIATED FISH KILLS IN THE INDIAN RIVER, FLORIDA

Fish and invertebrate kills were reported from September to October 1996 in the Indian River, Florida, coincident with blooms of the dinoflagellate Gymnodinium pulchellum Larsen 1994. This is the first report of a bloom of this species in the Americas. Fish and invertebrate species affected were common snook ( Centropomus undecimalis ), striped mullet ( Mugil cephalus ), hardhead catfish ( Arius felis ), red drum ( Sciaenops ocellatus ), sheepshead ( Archosargus probatocephalus ), black drum ( Pogonias cromis ), blue crab ( Callinectes sapidus ), and shrimp ( Penaeus spp.). However, Gymnodinium pulchellum has previously caused fish kills in Japan and Australia. Examination of archived phytoplankton samples from a fish kill reported in the same area of the Indian River in August 1990 confirmed the presence of high concentrations of G. pulchellum. Fish kills associated with Alexandrium monilatum and potentially Pfiesteria -like species in the Indian River also are discussed. Scanning electron microscopy provided additional morphological detail on this distinct but little-known dinoflagellate.     

DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF GYMNOSOMATA (GASTROPODA: OPISTHOBRANCHIA) IN THE SOUTHWEST ATLANTIC

The distribution and abundance of gymnosome gastropods in theArgentine Sea and Brazil—Malvinas Confluence during 1978–1979and 1988 were studied. The collections analyzed included 768quantitative samples obtained between 48°W and the coast,and from 35°S to 55°S. Two species were found. Spongiobranchaeaaustralis was the most frequent and abundant (up to 730 per1000 m3); its presence in the area was associated with the coreof the Malvinas Current. Clione antarctica was less abundant(maximum abundance: 230 per 1000 m³) and was also associatedwith the Malvinas Current. The geographic ranges of both speciesin the area are wider than previously described. Since the rangeof S. australis in the area extends far from the range of itsprey Clio, it is not clear whether S. australis can feed onthe thecosomatous pteropod Limacina (and not only on Clio, asdescribed in the bibliography) or it starves in that area. Duringthe 1978–1979 annual cycle, the abundance of both speciesfollowed neither the abundance patterns of their prey nor ofthe total zooplankton, and differed from each other. The residencetime of swarms of both gymnosomes were shorter than one month.As a general pattern, the aggregates are rapidly transportednorthward by the Malvinas Current and also penetrate the outershelf water, but they remain there only during a short periodand cannot preclude the final expatriation. So, the abundanceof gymnosomes in the area depends on passive migration morethan intrinsic population factors. (Received 9 July 1997; accepted 15 December 1997)     

DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF HYDROBIA ULVAE (PENNANT) IN THE LOWER MEDWAY ESTUARY, KENT

Measurements of densities and distribution of populations ofH. ulvae were made in the lower Medway estuaryduring the period1969–1975, together with measurements of salinity, substrateparticle size and macrophyte distribution. Results indicatedthat sheltered siteswere more favourable to the snail as shownby higher population density and greater shell size. ^*Current address: Southern Water Authority, Maidstone, Kent (Received 20 May 1979;     

金沙江梯级大坝运行和三峡水库运行水位增高对长江上游干流寡鳞飘鱼仔鱼丰度和分布的影响

2009年、2012年和2015年在长江上游干流宜宾江段、朱杨江段和木洞江段采集鱼类早期资源, 确定寡鳞飘鱼(Pseudolaubuca engraulis (Nichols))仔鱼的发生动态和丰度。金沙江梯级大坝运行前的2009年和2012年, 寡鳞飘鱼仔鱼出现高峰开始于5月中旬; 运行后的2015年, 6月下旬之前很少有仔鱼出现, 高峰开始于7月中旬。梯级大坝低温清水下泄是导致坝下江段寡鳞飘鱼仔鱼发生高峰期推迟的主要原因。与2009年和2012年相比, 2015年寡鳞飘鱼仔鱼丰度在宜宾江段有明显的增加, 在朱杨江段略有增加; 这表明寡鳞飘鱼种群能够适应大坝运行导致的生境条件的变化。木洞江段2009年至2015年间寡鳞飘鱼仔鱼丰度持续显著升高, 可能与该江段位于三峡水库变动回水区相关; 调查期间三峡水库运行水位由156 m增至175 m, 变动回水区缓流生境为寡鳞飘鱼仔鱼等提供了优良的育幼环境。基于研究结果, 我们认为寡鳞飘鱼仔鱼丰度和分布的时空差异是上游梯级大坝和下游三峡水库运行共同作用的结果, 反映出广适应性鱼类对建坝水域环境变化的更高的适应能力; 同时, 我们提出水库上游河流与水库库尾(甚至整个水库)形成的 “河-库”复合生态系统可能具有与“河流-泛滥平原”复合生态系统相似的结构和功能, 对产漂流性卵鱼类的种群补充具有十分重要的价值。     

中国蚜虫类昆虫物种多样性与分布特点(半翅目,蚜总科)

研究了蚜虫类昆虫在中国的物种多样性、区系成分和分布特点.基于多年的标本采集记录和已发表文献,建立了中国蚜虫物种数据库和中国蚜虫地理分布数据库.应用GIS的空间分析功能对中国蚜虫的地理分布和分布密度进行了分析.结果表明中国记录蚜虫类昆虫268属1 099种/亚种,其中特有种518种,占中国蚜虫物种总数的47.1%.中国蚜虫的区系成分十分复杂,主要分为9种类型,其中以典型古北种、典型东洋种、跨古北界和东洋界分布的物种为主,同时与新北界、澳洲界的关系也较为密切.在自然地理区划上,蚜虫在中国东部地区的分布多于西部地区,中部地区多于南北两端.基于物种多样性和分布密度,确定了蚜虫在中国的5个多样性中心,即甘南山地、横断山区、天山山地、东部平原和台湾岛.