RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF RECRUITMENT VERSUS REGENERATION IN MAINTAINING THE POPULATIONS OF SARGASSUM HENSLOWIANUM IN PING CHAU, HONG KONG

Populations S. henslowianum dominate the shallow subtidal waters of Ping Chau Island, Hong Kong. A study was carried out to evaluate the relative importance of recruitment vs regeneration from the holdfast in the maintenance of these populations. The number of recruits on clearings, artificial and natural substrata as well as the density of the natural populations were evaluated on a periodic basis from March 1998 to March 2000. The results indicated that although up to 85 to 100% of the individuals of this species may be reproductive during the winter reproductive season (Nov to Feb), only up to a maximum mean density of 17 recruits 0.25 m⁻² were found in the cleared areas or artificial substrata provided. Less than 10% of these eventually survived the following growth season. In the natural stands, new individuals (recruits) constituted only less than 15% of the mean density. The number of new recruits was particularly low around older individuals. Thus, these populations were mainly made up of older individuals regenerating from their perennating holdfasts. It appears that regeneration from the holdfast is a far more important strategy than recruitment in the maintenance of these populations.     

北京大兴地区黑线仓鼠种群繁殖生态研究

黑线仓鼠(Cricetulus barabensis)是我国华北地区广泛分布的农田主要害鼠之一。1982年9月到1985年3月,作者在北京、天津及河北省一些地区,调查了它的分布和群落结构并研究其种群生态,本文仅就北京郊区大兴县黑线仓鼠的种群繁殖问题进行讨论。     

Foraging behaviour of chick-rearing rhinoceros auklets Cerorhinca monocerata at Teuri Island, Japan, determined by acceleration-depth recording micro data loggers

Flight and diving activity of rhinoceros auklets Cerorhinca monocerata breeding on Teuri Island, Japan, were monitored during the summers 1999 and 2000 using miniaturized time-depth and acceleration recorders. Birds made 14.5 dive bouts per day of on average 15.4 min duration, which consisted of on average 16.2 dives of 12.1 m depth and 42.7 s duration. Birds made 13.8±7.3 flight bouts per day, which lasted on average 11.5±4.5 min. Daily total flight duration was 2.7±1.7 h (range 54 s–5.1 h) and the mean potential foraging range was estimated to be 87 km (maximum 164 km). Most birds stayed at the colony or rested on the water surface during the night. Rhinoceros auklets dived more actively in early morning and in late afternoon than during mid-day. Compared to results from studies of time allocation in other alcids species, rhinoceros auklets spent longer time flying (3.3 hd⁻¹) and resting on water (13.1 hd⁻¹), and less time diving (3.1 hd⁻¹) and staying at the colony (4.4 hd⁻¹). These foraging patterns are probably related to the nest attendance pattern of rhinoceros auklets, i.e. leaving the colony early in the morning, staying at sea all the day and returning to the colony in the evening to provision their chicks.     

On a wing and a prayer: the foraging ecology of breeding Cape cormorants

The Cape cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis is unusual among cormorants in using aerial searching to locate patchily distributed pelagic schooling fish. It feeds up to 80 km offshore, often roosts at sea during the day and retains more air in its plumage and is more buoyant than most other cormorants. Despite these adaptations to its pelagic lifestyle, little is known of its foraging ecology. We measured the activity budget and diving ecology of breeding Cape cormorants. All foraging took place during the day, with 3.6 ± 1.3 foraging trips per day, each lasting 85 ± 60 min and comprising 61 ± 53 dives. Dives lasted 21.2 ± 13.9 s (maximum 70 s), attaining an average depth of 10.2 ± 6.7 m (maximum 34 m), but variability in dive depth both within and between foraging trips was considerable. The within-bout variation in dive depth was greater when making shallow dives, suggesting that pelagic prey were targeted mainly when diving to <10 m. Diving ecology and total foraging time were similar to other cormorants, but the time spent flying (122 ± 51 min day⁻¹, 14% of daylight) was greater and more variable than other species. Searching flights lasted up to 1 h, and birds made numerous short flights during foraging bouts, presumably following fast-moving schools of pelagic prey. Compared with the other main seabird predators of pelagic fish in the Benguela region, Cape gannets Morus capensis and African penguins Spheniscus demersus , Cape cormorants made shorter, more frequent foraging trips. Their foraging range while feeding small chicks was 7 ± 6 km (maximum 40 km), similar to penguins (10–20 km), but less than gannets (50–200 km). Successful breeding by large colonies depends on the reliable occurrence of pelagic fish schools within this foraging range.     

Influence of temperature and food availability on the ecological energetics of the giant scallop Placopecten magellanicus

Summary Gonad output, reproductive effort and residual reproductive value are greater in scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) from shallow water, where conditions are more favourable, than in scallops from deep water. Variation between years in these fitness correlates is also greater in shallow water scallops. High reproductive effort is associated with a greater reproductive cost, although in general reproduction in this species appears to be restrained, and only in older individuals from shallow water is there evidence of reckless reproductive behaviour. Reproductive effort increases as the animal grows older, but residual reproductive value is a maximum at age 4 years, after which it decreases with age owing to greater mortality. Localities vary in their suitability for scallop growth and reproduction, and at one Newfoundland site conditions in shallow water (10 m) are better than those in deep water (31 m). Scallops from the former have a greater fitness than those from the latter. The energy costs of reproduction have implications for life history variability in P. magellanicus, although for a considerable part of its lifetime the scallop is able to maximise gamete production in response to environmental factors (especially the food supply) without trading off reproduction against growth or maintenance.     

广东大亚湾甲藻孢囊及其与锥状斯氏藻赤潮的关系

1999年12月至2001年1月,在大亚湾澳头海域用沉积物捕捉器(Sediment trap)及TFO重力采泥器对甲藻孢囊进行每月一次的周年监测,并同时研究了浮游植物的季节变化.结果显示,晚秋孢囊形成率最高(3.48105 cysts/m2d),冬季形成率较低,年平均为1.28105 cysts/m2d.锥状斯氏藻(Scrippsiella trochoidea)是大亚湾沉积物孢囊中的绝对优势种,除个别季节外,其形成率一般占孢囊总形成率的50%以上.2000年8月至9月,该海域发生了一次较大规模的锥状斯氏藻赤潮,最高细胞密度达4.0104 cells/mL.赤潮中后期,锥状斯氏藻孢囊包括暂时性孢囊和休眠孢囊大量形成,孢囊的形成减少了水体中营养细胞数量,是赤潮消退原因之一.       

G Model Revisited: Seasonal Changes in the Kinetics of Sulphate-reducing Activity in the Salterns of Ribander,Goa, India

To evaluate the contribution of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB) to the carbon flux from marine salterns, sulfate reducing activity (SRA) was measured for a year (Sept 2000–Aug 2001) This covered the pre-monsoon period (Feb–May), the monsoon (June–Sept) and the post-monsoon (Oct–Jan) in the salterns of Ribandar, Goa, India. Sulphate reduction was examined to gain insights into the decomposition characteristics (kinetics) of organic carbon; this connection is based on the theory of stoichiometric coupling between anaerobic carbon degradation and sulphate reduction to sulphide. SRA was measured using radiotracer techniques. Spatially, recalcitrance of the substrates, as depicted by the reaction rate coefficient (k), increased with depth, except during the monsoons. The values ranged from 0.0061 during the pre monsoon to 0.06 month^?1 during the post-monsoon at 5–10 cm depth. The recalcitrance was highest at the surface during the monsoons at a k value of 0.014 month^?1. The anaerobic degradation of labile organic matter followed first order kinetics or G model during non-monsoon seasons when the substrate was limiting due to closure of the system to the addition of extraneous source of organic matter. However, the integrated recalcitrance or the reaction rate coefficient was much higher during the post monsoon at 0.642 month^?1 compared to 0.053 month^?1 during the pre-monsoon season. Interestingly, the reaction rate followed zero-order kinetics when the substrate was non-limiting during monsoon due to exposure to external inputs.     

Ecological aspects of Sargassum muticum (Fucales,Phaeophyta) in Baja California,Mexico: reproductive phenology and epiphytes

The reproductive phenology and epiphytic macroalgae of Sargassum muticum were studied through an annual cycle (September 1987 to November 1988) at two sites on the northwestern coast of Baja California, Mexico, which were subjected to different degrees of wave exposure. Sargassum muticum is a brown alga of Japanese origin, now considered a permanent member of the marine flora of Baja California. A similar reproductive development was observed at both sites, with a maximum percentage of reproductive plants from May to July (spring–summer) and minimum from December to March (winter). Reproductive plants were found throughout the year. A total of 48 species of epiphytes were identified and seasonal variation in their diversity was observed. The greatest diversity was found at the more protected site.     

The biology of Butomus umbellatus in shallow waters with fluctuating water level

Butomus umbellatus L. is a plant species typical of littoral communities of river and stream shores. It can form continuous stands in shallow reservoirs with fluctuating water level. Their expansion is promoted by: (a) intensive vegetative reproduction of plants, (b) crowded sprouting from rhizome fragments on emerged pond bottom, (c) shallow water layer in the year following summer drainage. Expansion of B. umbellatus depends on ploidy level: two cytotypes were found in the Czech and Slovak Republics, differing in their reproductive ability. Seed production of triploids is strongly limited (they are self-incompatible within clones), while diploids can be fully fertile. Nevertheless, even in diploids, the efficiency of seed reproduction under natural conditions is low. Triploids spread by intensive vegetative reproduction, which is decisive for clonal growth of populations and their regeneration after scraping of bottom surface. During seasonal development, maximum of aboveground biomass is produced in early summer, while underground biomass increases till autumn. Growth of the plants is limited by cutting before maximum underground biomass is attained, or by duck grazing.     

The Biology of the Nurse Shark,Ginglymostoma cirratum,Off the Florida East Coast and the Bahama Islands

The nurse shark is an extremely abundant shallow water species in Florida and the Caribbean, yet its biology is poorly known. Moreover, there is a great deal of misinformation about it in the literature. The maximum size and weight attained by the nurse shark have often been exaggerated. None of the specimens measured in this study exceeded 265cm TL and 114.5kg, and none of the specimens actually measured by other researchers exceeded 280cm. Females reach maturity at a length of 223–231cm, or at 86% of their maximum size. Males reach maturity between 214 and 214.6cm in length or at about 83% of their maximum size. Mating primarily occurs from mid-June to early July. The embryos are enclosed in sturdy egg capsules for the first 12–14 weeks of gestation. In a gravid female, the embryos are at different stages of development during the first four months of gestation. Embryos are lecithotrophic and there is no evidence of any supplemental mode of embryonic nourishment. Embryos measure 28–30.5cm at birth. The gestation period is estimated at about five to six months. Brood sizes are large, ranging from 21 to 50 young, with a median of 34 young. The reproductive cycle of the nurse shark consists of a five to six-month gestation period and a two-year ovarian cycle. Thus, the reproductive cycle is biennial and a female produces a brood every two years. The nurse shark is an opportunistic predator that consumes a wide range of small fishes, primarily grunts (Haemulidae).     

威宁趾沟蛙的繁殖生态

采用野外定期、定点观测与室内观测相结合的方法,于2000年1月21日~2005年2月25日,对威宁趾沟蛙(Pseudorana weiningensis)的繁殖生态进行了研究。结果表明,威宁趾沟蛙的繁殖习性与同属的其他两种趾沟蛙有明显的差异,其繁殖期集中在2月下旬~3月上旬;怀卵量为345.7枚(n=10);产卵量为312.5枚(n=10);威宁蛙卵群呈团状,各卵粒由胶膜粘连成团,卵团平均长6.40 cm;宽3.90 cm;厚为1.44 cm。卵粒的动物极暗褐色,植物极浅黄褐色;卵粒直径为2.0~2.5 mm,连胶膜直径为4.0 mm。卵粒在室内静水中孵化所需时间约20 d,孵出时期为心跳期,在自然环境中该蛙达性成熟所需时间为2年。该蛙无冬眠现象,且在冬季繁殖,这是其最突出的繁殖生态特征之一。     

绿洲农田土壤优先流特征及其对灌溉量的响应

优先流是土壤养分和水分快速通过土壤剖面的普遍物理现象.研究农田土壤优先流特征及其影响因素,对量化绿洲灌溉深层渗漏量、提高水肥利用效率以及降低浅层地下水质污染的风险具有重要意义.在绿洲农田利用亮蓝溶液进行原位染色示踪试验,结果表明：沟与垄位置处的染色路径数目在土壤深度7.3～16.7 cm差异显著,而优先流最大入渗深度差异不显著.优先流最大入渗深度主要受蚂蚁洞穴和灌溉量的影响,平均灌溉量120 mm下优先流的最大入渗深度为(43.1±5.9) cm;受到蚂蚁洞的影响,灌溉量55 mm的样方优先流最大入渗深度达(68.3±7.6) cm.细根(Φ≤2 mm)与优先流显著相关,粗根与优先流相关性不显著,表明植物根系中的细根对优先流的产生有重要作用.绿洲农田土壤优先流特征受到灌溉量、垄沟耕作、蚂蚁洞穴和根系等因素的影响,而蚂蚁洞穴是影响优先流最大入渗深度的不确定因素.     

天童常绿阔叶树种栲树生殖个体大小及其生殖构件特征

对浙江天童木荷-栲树林内的常绿阔叶树种栲树(Castanopsis fargesii Franch.)的生殖个体大小、生殖构件的分布及其动态变化特征进行了研究。结果表明, 该地区栲树生殖个体的胸径在17~50 cm 间, 平均胸径为31. 2±8.0 cm, 平均年龄约36.3±6.6 年;林缘附近的生殖个体小于木荷-林内。相对稳定的群落和比较丰富的土壤养分条件有利于生殖枝数量和花序数量的增多。栲树生殖个体的数量在两年中变化较大, 部分栲树个体可以在连续年份中生殖。从枝系水平分析:在持续生殖的栲树个体上, 生殖枝数量有明显变化, 并非所有的生殖枝在两年中都可开花或结果, 保持连续生殖的枝系约占48.2%。栲树果序枝数量在连续年份有明显差异(p < 0.01), 而且果序枝上的幼蕾数、果实数量及结实率等都有明显差异(p < 0.05)。     

CHARACTERISTICS OF MINKE WHALE (BALAENOPTERA ACUTOROSTRATA) PULSE TRAINS RECORDED NEAR PUERTO RICO

A nine-day acoustic and visual survey was conducted off the West Indies in March 1994 to study the pulse trains that were detected on SOSUS arrays throughout winter in deep water between the West Indies and Bermuda. During the survey, pulse train sounds were consistently recorded in an area 190–350 km northeast of Puerto Rico. Vocalizing animals were never visually observed, but visual sighting conditions were often poor and observation height was low. Pulse trains occurred in two basic forms. The "speed-up" pulse train was characterized by an accelerating series of pulses with energy in the 200–400 Hz band, with individual pulses lasting 40-60 msec. Speedup pulse trains started with average pulse rates of 1.5 pulses/sec, lasted 43.7 ± 6.0 sec, and ended with average pulse rates of 2.8 pulses/sec. The less common "slow-down" pulse train was characterized by a decelerating series of pulses with energy in the 250-350 Hz band. Slow-down pulse trains started at pulse rates averaging 4.5 pulses/sec, lasted 60.9 ± 5.8 sec, and ended with average pulse rates of 2.9 pulses/sec. We believe the recorded pulse trains are from minke whales based on careful reanalysis of, and comparison to, minke whale pulse-train sounds recorded in the Caribbean by Winn and Perkins (1976).     

不同水深和底质对太湖马来眼子菜(Potamogeton malaianus)生长的影响

在野外通过用钢管在水泥池子中进行吊盆悬挂试验,研究了在1a生长周期内不同底质(软泥和黄土)、不同水深(30、60、90、120 cm和150 cm)对太湖马来眼子菜(Potamogeton malaianus Miq.)生长的影响,试图探询太湖马来眼子菜的最佳生长习性,为太湖进行沉水植物生态修复提供科学依据.结果表明:(1)水深对马来眼子菜的影响比底质的影响大.马来眼子菜的株长、生物量和分蘖数在不同的水深梯度呈显著性差异,而两种底质间却没有显著性差异.(2)马来眼子菜适合在水温为20～30℃的范围内快速生长.(3)马来眼子菜的最佳生长深度是60～120 cm.在60～120 cm的水深范围内马来眼子菜的分蘖数随着时间变化在缓慢增加,株长、株长增加量、相对生长速率和干重增加量均随水深的增加而增大,而水深较大或较小时马来眼子菜都会因为光照不足或者容易脱水等因素限制其生长和繁殖.(4)在经过冬季越冬期后马来眼子菜的营养生长能力下降,繁殖能力上升.     

EFFECTS OF SOIL WATER DISTRIBUTION ON THE LATERAL ROOT DEVELOPMENT OF THREE SPECIES OF CALIFORNIA OAKS

The responses of seedling root systems of three species of oaks in California to two experimental soil moisture regimes were studied by comparing lateral root development, root and shoot weights, and root: shoot ratios. In the first soil moisture treatment the taproot was allowed to extend into moist soil throughout the duration of the experiment (control), while in the second treatment (shallow) the taproot grew into a dry substrate below 30 cm of moist soil. The treatments were intended to approximate soil moisture conditions experienced by oak seedlings in the field when deep soil water sources vary in their accessibility (control: accessible, shallow: inaccessible). Lateral root growth of Quercus agrifolia did not increase significantly when the primary root tip died in the shallow treatment, resulting in an overall decrease in the percent of the root system composed of lateral roots. Q. douglasii and Q. lobata increased lateral root weights by 80% and 70%, respectively, on the upper 30 cm of the primary root when the primary root tip died. Q. lobata was the only species that decreased in shoot and root weight (25% and 21%, respectively) with the loss of the root tip, indicating that, unlike the other species, it was dependent on the primary root for maximum growth. The morphological responses of these species correspond with their distributions and also may be a factor that influences their interactions with other species.     

Morphological and reproductive acclimations to growth of two charophyte species in shallow and deep water

We investigated the distribution of two charophyte species, Chara fibrosa var. fibrosa (A. Br.) and Nitella hyalina (DC.) Ag., in Myall Lake, a shallow lake in New South Wales, Australia, in an attempt to elucidate the factors causing their distribution patterns. The field study was carried out from July 2003 to May 2005 and charophytes were sampled together with bottom sediments at 20 sampling locations in the lake on 13 occasions. Charophyte biomass (0–321 g DW m⁻²) displayed an optimum curve with depth and maximum biomass occurred between 1 and 2.5 m depth. In deeper water, shoots were longer (i.e., around 30 cm at 1 m depth to 60–90 cm between 2 and 4 m depth). Oospore and antheridia densities were higher in shallower water with a maximum around 80 cm. Plants growing in shallow depths had shorter internodes implying a short life cycle of shoots, and nodal spacing was relatively regular in contrast to its deep water counterparts although spacing tended to increase at locations farther from the apex. The present study also reports that there is an apparent decline in sexual propagule production rates with increasing water depth, further highlighting the different morphological and reproductive acclimations of charophytes in shallow and deep water.     

Life history traits of shrimps (Decapoda: Palaemonidae) of Amazonian inland waters and their Phylogenetic interpretation

Amazonian shrimps (Decapoda, Palaemonidae) of several genera from the generally nutrient‐poor, acid waters of the Rio Negro basin show two different breeding patterns: in the annually inundated (Jan./Feb. to Sept./Oct.) lowland forest (= “igapó") they breed during a period with rising and high water levels only (Dec. to July); in the headwater streams draining the “terra firme”; (= regions not subject to annual inundations), the same species breed continuously the year round. All species from these nutrient‐poor and hence, plankton‐deficient, waters have abreviated life cycles with 1–3 benthic larval stages; this includes several Macrobrachium species. However, Macrobrachium amazonicum from the plankton‐rich floodplain lakes, which are fed by the richer water of the Amazon river, maintains the marine pattern of development with numerous stages of filter‐feeding, planktonic larvae. Phylogenetic convergence (several genera developing independently the same adaptive pattern) and divergence (the same genus/species exhibiting different patterns in different environments) are discussed in relation to recent, general molecular genetics.     

DEMOGRAPHY OF FRONDS OF SARGASSUM LAPAZEANUM FROM SOUTHERN BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO, DURING EARLY STAGES

In terms of biomass, Sargassum lapazeanum (Phaeophyceae, Fucales) is one of the most important seaweeds in La Paz Bay, on the southeastern coast of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. This species can be found year-round in shallow subtidal sites. Standing biomass is lowest between fall and winter and highest between spring and summer. We are currently studying the annual demography of fronds as a necessary step to understanding the mechanisms of population regulation. Work is being done on a bed of about 90 m in length and three m in width. At this stage of abstract submission, we can report results for winter only. Random samples were collected in February and in March 2000 to estimate stand biomass, frond density, and size (frond length) structure. In addition, we labeled fronds with numbered plastic tags to estimate their rates of growth and of mortality during this period. Rates of recruitment were estimated from a combined analysis of the above. In February, fronds were all shorter than 6.5 cm. Between February and March, mean total frond density increased from 122 to 776 fronds m⁻² (n = 30 quadrats). The mean recruitment rate was 667 fronds m⁻², the mean growth rate was 0.5 cm day⁻¹ (n = 60 fronds), and the mean mortality rate was 43 fronds m⁻². From last year's preliminary observations, we expect to observe peaks of biomass and of reproduction in late spring, followed by negative growth rates and high mortality rates during summer.