The effect of growth-dependent mortality, external environment and internal dynamics on larval fish otolith growth: an individual-based modelling approach

The daily otolith increment growth of individuals in a cohort of fish larvae was simulated by a simple individual-based model over 30 days. The daily otolith growth of an individual larva was dependent on past growth, within fixed limits common to all larvae. The survival of a larva at the end of each day was either a linear function of larval growth or a random outcome, simulating growth-dependent and growth-independent mortality, respectively, The combined effect of the external environment on growth was also studied. Eleven environmental scenarios, favouring or hindering growth at different stages, were tested and compared to runs with no environmental effect on growth. Growth-dependent mortality induced an increase in the average otolith daily increment width amongst surviving larvae. Such an outcome, however, could be negated by an unfavourable environment. The increase in mean growth rate of the population generated by growth-dependent mortality was directly related to the inherent variability in daily otolith growth. With increased variability, the influence of the environment became relatively less important. The effect of the environment on growth was more critical during the early stages of development. A comparison of results generated by the model with patterns observed in data from a field survey of larval herring was consistent with the occurrence of growth-dependent mortality in the sea. The simulation model provided a useful insight into the way in which various processes controlling larval growth interact.     

Shedding light on fish otolith biomineralization using a bioenergetic approach

Otoliths are biocalcified bodies connected to the sensory system in the inner ears of fish. Their layered, biorhythm-following formation provides individual records of the age, the individual history and the natural environment of extinct and living fish species. Such data are critical for ecosystem and fisheries monitoring. They however often lack validation and the poor understanding of biomineralization mechanisms has led to striking examples of misinterpretations and subsequent erroneous conclusions in fish ecology and fisheries management. Here we develop and validate a numerical model of otolith biomineralization. Based on a general bioenergetic theory, it disentangles the complex interplay between metabolic and temperature effects on biomineralization. This model resolves controversial issues and explains poorly understood observations of otolith formation. It represents a unique simulation tool to improve otolith interpretation and applications, and, beyond, to address the effects of both climate change and ocean acidification on other biomineralizing organisms such as corals and bivalves.     

Missing chaos in global climate change data interpreting?

The main problem of ecological data modeling is their interpretation and its correct understanding. This problem cannot be solved solely by a big data collection. To sufficiently understand ecosystems we need to know how these processes behave and how they respond to internal and external factors. Similarly, we need to know the behavior of processes that are involved in the climate system and the biosphere of the earth. In order to characterize precisely the behavior of individual elements and ecosystems we need to use deterministic, stochastic and chaotic behavior. Unfortunately, the chaotic part of systems is typically completely ignored in almost all approaches. Ignoring of chaotical part leads to many biased outcomes. To overcome this gap we model chaotic system behavior by random iterated function system which provides a generic guideline for such data management. This also allows to replicate a complexity and chaos of ecosystem.     

Multivariate Models of Adult Pacific Salmon Returns

Most modeling and statistical approaches encourage simplicity, yet ecological processes are often complex, as they are influenced by numerous dynamic environmental and biological factors. Pacific salmon abundance has been highly variable over the last few decades and most forecasting models have proven inadequate, primarily because of a lack of understanding of the processes affecting variability in survival. Better methods and data for predicting the abundance of returning adults are therefore required to effectively manage the species. We combined 31 distinct indicators of the marine environment collected over an 11-year period into a multivariate analysis to summarize and predict adult spring Chinook salmon returns to the Columbia River in 2012. In addition to forecasts, this tool quantifies the strength of the relationship between various ecological indicators and salmon returns, allowing interpretation of ecosystem processes. The relative importance of indicators varied, but a few trends emerged. Adult returns of spring Chinook salmon were best described using indicators of bottom-up ecological processes such as composition and abundance of zooplankton and fish prey as well as measures of individual fish, such as growth and condition. Local indicators of temperature or coastal upwelling did not contribute as much as large-scale indicators of temperature variability, matching the spatial scale over which salmon spend the majority of their ocean residence. Results suggest that effective management of Pacific salmon requires multiple types of data and that no single indicator can represent the complex early-ocean ecology of salmon.     

Ecophysiology of mangroves

Conclusion Mangrove forests are of major ecological and commercial importance, yet the future of these resources is threatened by pollution, development and over-exploitation. There is an urgent need to develop sound management practices based on a functional understanding of the physical and biological processes underlying mangrove ecosystem dynamics. Such biological processes include dispersal (Rabinowitz 1978), herbivory (Smith 1987) and the physiological bases of species interactions and responses to environmental factors. Understanding these processes is essential for the development of more comprehensive and predictive modelling of mangrove ecosystem dynamics than has previously been possible.     

基于管理目标的湖泊生态系统动力学

基于生态系统管理的目标,在对相关研究分析的基础上,依据生态系统生态学、淡水生态学的理论,提出了湖泊生态系统动力学研究的2个理论基础：生态系统管理和生态系统特征.在此基础上,分析得到湖泊生态系统动力学的研究方法体系,主要包括研究内容与技术路线、关键问题识别和动力学模拟、湖泊生态系统的适应性管理决策等部分.其中,湖泊生态系统结构和过程、湖泊中食物网营养动力学研究、生源要素循环、湖泊中关键过程的生态作用以及湖泊生态系统动力学模拟是研究的核心问题.此后,以P为主要的生源要素,将生态系统分为3个子过程：入流、出流和内部反馈,并以此建立了湖泊生态系统动力学的模型框架,以辅助于湖泊的生态系统管理.     

The Great Melting Pot. Common Sole Population Connectivity Assessed by Otolith and Water Fingerprints

Quantifying the scale and importance of individual dispersion between populations and life stages is a key challenge in marine ecology. The common sole (Solea solea), an important commercial flatfish in the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, has a marine pelagic larval stage, a benthic juvenile stage in coastal nurseries (lagoons, estuaries or shallow marine areas) and a benthic adult stage in deeper marine waters on the continental shelf. To date, the ecological connectivity among these life stages has been little assessed in the Mediterranean. Here, such an assessment is provided for the first time for the Gulf of Lions, NW Mediterranean, based on a dataset on otolith microchemistry and stable isotopic composition as indicators of the water masses inhabited by individual fish. Specifically, otolith Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca profiles, and δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values of adults collected in four areas of the Gulf of Lions were compared with those of young-of-the-year collected in different coastal nurseries. Results showed that a high proportion of adults (>46%) were influenced by river inputs during their larval stage. Furthermore Sr/Ca ratios and the otolith length at one year of age revealed that most adults (∼70%) spent their juvenile stage in nurseries with high salinity, whereas the remainder used brackish environments. In total, data were consistent with the use of six nursery types, three with high salinity (marine areas and two types of highly saline lagoons) and three brackish (coastal areas near river mouths, and two types of brackish environments), all of which contributed to the replenishment of adult populations. These finding implicated panmixia in sole population in the Gulf of Lions and claimed for a habitat integrated management of fisheries.     

Humpback whale diets respond to variance in ocean climate and ecosystem conditions in the California Current

Large, migratory predators are often cited as sentinel species for ecosystem processes and climate‐related changes, but their utility as indicators is dependent upon an understanding of their response to environmental variability. Documentation of the links between climate variability, ecosystem change and predator dynamics is absent for most top predators. Identifying species that may be useful indicators and elucidating these mechanistic links provides insight into current ecological dynamics and may inform predictions of future ecosystem responses to climatic change. We examine humpback whale response to environmental variability through stable isotope analysis of diet over a dynamic 20‐year period (1993–2012) in the California Current System (CCS). Humpback whale diets captured two major shifts in oceanographic and ecological conditions in the CCS. Isotopic signatures reflect a diet dominated by krill during periods characterized by positive phases of the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO), cool sea surface temperature (SST), strong upwelling and high krill biomass. In contrast, humpback whale diets are dominated by schooling fish when the NPGO is negative, SST is warmer, seasonal upwelling is delayed and anchovy and sardine populations display increased biomass and range expansion. These findings demonstrate that humpback whales trophically respond to ecosystem shifts, and as a result, their foraging behavior is a synoptic indicator of oceanographic and ecological conditions across the CCS. Multi‐decadal examination of these sentinel species thus provides insight into biological consequences of interannual climate fluctuations, fundamental to advancing ecosystem predictions related to global climate change.     

长江三峡库区生态环境变化遥感研究进展

长江三峡库区是我国最重要的生态敏感区之一,受三峡水利工程和相关人类活动影响,其生态环境变化显著.揭示三峡库区生态系统结构、功能和生态过程的变化对于维护库区生态安全具有重要意义.生态环境遥感为此提供了关键途径,并在三峡库区生态环境研究中受到重视.现有的三峡库区生态环境变化遥感研究往往存在较大差异,难以有效反映生态环境变化和响应特征,加之生态本底和人类干扰活动的复杂性,三峡库区生态环境变化遥感研究仍面临诸多挑战.本文对库区环境变化遥感研究的发展阶段、研究尺度、遥感数据和方法等进行了系统总结,并从土地利用/覆盖变化、植被变化、水土安全、生态服务价值评价、生态系统健康与生态规划5个方面对库区生态环境变化遥感研究进展进行综述,在此基础上探讨了当前三峡库区生态环境变化遥感研究存在的问题,并提出未来研究中需重点关注的主要科学问题,以期为三峡库区生态环境管理和类似地区生态环境变化遥感研究提供参考.
     

A new integrative framework for large‐scale assessments of biodiversity and community dynamics,using littoral gastropods and crabs of British Columbia,Canada

Improving our understanding of species responses to environmental changes is an important contribution ecologists can make to facilitate effective management decisions. Novel synthetic approaches to assessing biodiversity and ecosystem integrity are needed, ideally including all species living in a community and the dynamics defining their ecological relationships. Here, we present and apply an integrative approach that links high‐throughput, multicharacter taxonomy with community ecology. The overall purpose is to enable the coupling of biodiversity assessments with investigations into the nature of ecological interactions in a community‐level data set. We collected 1195 gastropods and crabs in British Columbia. First, the General mixed Yule‐coalescent (GMYC) and the Poisson Tree Processes (PTP) methods for proposing primary species‐hypotheses based on cox1 sequences were evaluated against an integrative taxonomic framework. We then used data on the geographic distribution of delineated species to test species co‐occurrence patterns for nonrandomness using community‐wide and pairwise approaches. Results showed that PTP generally outperformed GMYC and thus constitutes a more effective option for producing species‐hypotheses in community‐level data sets. Nonrandom species co‐occurrence patterns indicative of ecological relationships or habitat preferences were observed for grazer gastropods, whereas assemblages of carnivorous gastropods and crabs appeared influenced by random processes. Species‐pair associations were consistent with current ecological knowledge, thus suggesting that applying community assembly within a large taxonomical framework constitutes a valuable tool for assessing ecological interactions. Combining phylogenetic, morphological and co‐occurrence data enabled an integrated view of communities, providing both a conceptual and pragmatic framework for biodiversity assessments and investigations into community dynamics.     

Isolation by resistance across a complex coral reef seascape

A detailed understanding of the genetic structure of populations and an accurate interpretation of processes driving contemporary patterns of gene flow are fundamental to successful spatial conservation management. The field of seascape genetics seeks to incorporate environmental variables and processes into analyses of population genetic data to improve our understanding of forces driving genetic divergence in the marine environment. Information about barriers to gene flow (such as ocean currents) is used to define a resistance surface to predict the spatial genetic structure of populations and explain deviations from the widely applied isolation-by-distance model. The majority of seascape approaches to date have been applied to linear coastal systems or at large spatial scales (more than 250 km), with very few applied to complex systems at regional spatial scales (less than 100 km). Here, we apply a seascape genetics approach to a peripheral population of the broadcast-spawning coral Acropora spicifera across the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, a high-latitude complex coral reef system off the central coast of Western Australia. We coupled population genetic data from a panel of microsatellite DNA markers with a biophysical dispersal model to test whether oceanographic processes could explain patterns of genetic divergence. We identified significant variation in allele frequencies over distances of less than 10 km, with significant differentiation occurring between adjacent sites but not between the most geographically distant ones. Recruitment probabilities between sites based on simulated larval dispersal were projected into a measure of resistance to connectivity that was significantly correlated with patterns of genetic divergence, demonstrating that patterns of spatial genetic structure are a function of restrictions to gene flow imposed by oceanographic currents. This study advances our understanding of the role of larval dispersal on the fine-scale genetic structure of coral populations across a complex island system and applies a methodological framework that can be tailored to suit a variety of marine organisms with a range of life-history characteristics.     

All in the ears: unlocking the early life history biology and spatial ecology of fishes

Obtaining biological and spatial information of the early life history (ELH) phases of fishes has been problematic, such that larval and juvenile phases are often referred to as the ‘black box’ of fish population biology and ecology. However, a potent source of life‐history data has been mined from the earstones (otoliths) of bony fishes. We systematically reviewed 476 empirical papers published between 2005 and 2012 (inclusive) that used otoliths to examine fish ELH phases, which has been an area of increasing attention over this period. We found that otolith‐based research during this period could be split into two broad themes according to whether studies examined: (i) biological objectives related to intrinsic processes such as larval and juvenile age, growth and mortality, and/or (ii) spatial objectives, such as habitat use, dispersal and migration. Surprisingly, just 24 studies (5%) explored a combined biological–spatial objective by simultaneously exploiting biological and spatial information from otoliths, suggesting much more scope for such integrated research objectives to be answered via the use of multiple otolith‐based techniques in a single study. Mapping otolith analytical techniques across these two approaches revealed that otolith structural analysis was mainly used to investigate biological processes, while otolith chemical analyses were most often applied to spatial questions. Heavy skew in research effort was apparent across biomes, with most (62%) publications specific to marine species, despite comparable levels of species richness and the importance of freshwater taxa (just 15% of papers). Indeed, around 1% (380 species) of a possible 31400+ extant species were examined in our surveyed papers, with a strong emphasis on temperate marine species of commercial value. Potential model species for otolith‐based ELH ecology research are arising, with the eel genus Anguilla (24 studies) and the European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolis (14 studies) attracting more research effort than most other taxa. While there is a preponderance of common techniques (e.g. daily otolith increment counts, increment widths), novel techniques such as transgenerational marking and computed X‐ray tomography, are increasingly being applied in published studies. The application of an integrative approach based on a combination of emerging techniques and traditional methods holds promise for major advances in our understanding of ELH fish ecology and to shine light into the ‘black box’ of fish ecology.     

Inter-hemispheric comparison of bottom-up effects on community structure: Insights revealed using the comparative-experimental approach

The comparative-experimental approach uses identically designed, replicated experiments at different sites along environmental gradients in order to gain insight into the changing dynamics of communities with changing environmental conditions. Such studies reveal how ecological processes vary in intensity and interact to produce community structure. Early emphases were on the community consequences of shifting top-down impacts, competition and disturbance with environmental stress. Recent advances include the more precise quantification of gradients and thus a better understanding of species responses to the environment, and the revelation that bottom-up forces can vary significantly on within-region scales, with major consequences for the impact of top-down forces and thus community dynamics. Here the use of the method to examine the role of geographic location (coastal ecosystems in different hemispheres) and oceanographic conditions (upwelling vs downwelling) on these bottom-up/top-down linkages is advanced. We show that a bottom-up factor (prey recruitment) and a top-down effect (predation rate) vary consistently with oceanographic conditions within each coastal ecosystem, and also between geographic locations (New Zealand, Oregon). In general, both recruitment and predation rates are higher in Oregon. It is postulated that these differences are common responses to oceanographic variation, and that between-hemisphere differences result from the stronger and more persistent upwelling in the California Current ecosystem.     

Molecular trait indicators: moving beyond phylogeny in arbuscular mycorrhizal ecology

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form symbiotic associations with the roots of most plants, thereby mediating nutrient and carbon fluxes, plant performance, and ecosystem dynamics. Although considerable effort has been expended to understand the keystone ecological position of AM symbioses, most studies have been limited in scope to recording organism occurrences and identities, as determined from morphological characters and (mainly) ribosomal sequence markers. In order to overcome these restrictions and circumvent the shortcomings of culture- and phylogeny-based approaches, we propose a shift toward plant and fungal protein-encoding genes as more immediate indicators of mycorrhizal contributions to ecological processes. A number of candidate target genes, involved in the uptake of phosphorus and nitrogen, carbon cycling, and overall metabolic activity, are proposed. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of future protein-encoding gene marker and current (phylo-) taxonomic approaches for studying the impact of AM fungi on plant growth and ecosystem functioning. Approaches based on protein-encoding genes are expected to open opportunities to advance the mechanistic understanding of ecological roles of mycorrhizas in natural and managed ecosystems.     

生态系统管理的概念及其要素

生态系统管理起源于传统的自然资源管理和利用领域,形成于本世纪９０年代。它是指基于对生态系统组成、结构和功能过程的最佳理解,在一定的时空尺度范围内将人类价值和社会经济条件整合到生态 营中,以恢复或维持生态系统整体性和可持续性。生态系统管理要求收集被管理系统核心层次的生态学数据并监测生态系统的变化过程。生态系统管理的要素包括：有明确的管理目标,有确定的系统边界昨单元,基于对生态 深刻理解,有适宜的尺度     

中国生态区划研究进展:从格局、功能到服务

在总结国内外生态区域研究的基础上,系统梳理了中国现有的生态区划方案,总结出生态特征和类型区划、生态地理和格局区划、生态功能和服务区划三大类,分别对每个区划的指标、技术、方案、特点进行了归纳,并提出了各自存在的问题。现有研究缺少面向服务供需的生态系统区划,生态制图和更新的标准化技术也存在不足。为此,提出明确不同生态区划的科学或管理目标、强调人类需求对于生态系统服务的影响、重视全球气候变化对生态系统的现实作用和未来影响、加强现代制图技术在生态区划的作用、整合现有多原则和多目标的生态分区方案等五个方面的建议。     

Age and early life history of juvenile scotia sea icefish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chaenocephalus aceratus</Emphasis>, from Elephant and the South Shetland Islands

The otolith microstructure of juvenile Scotia Sea icefish (Chaenocephalus aceratus) was analyzed from samples collected around Elephant and South Shetland Islands, with the aim to validate previous annual ageing and to give new insight into its early life history timings. Fish were caught by bottom trawl fishing conducted on the continental shelf between 100 and 500 m depth. To determine the timing and position of the first annulus on sagittal otoliths, microincrements were counted on juvenile otoliths previously aged 1+ year old by counting annuli in sectioned otolith. Assuming that microincrements were laid down daily, age ranged from 406 to 578 days in fish measuring 13–19 cm TL, thus corroborating previous results. The relationship between fish size and otolith size/weight was estimated using the least square linear regression method. The relationship between age and otolith size was also estimated to determine the otolith length in 1-year old fish, which was approximately 1.58 mm. In all samples the otolith core was characterized by an evident strong check, assumed to be laid down at the beginning of exogenous feeding of yolk sac larvae. The yolk sac duration estimated from hatch to the first feeding check was longer than other channichthyids, lasting 29–45 days. Hatching dates were backcalculated from the date of capture using the age estimates, indicating C. aceratus sampled off Elephant and South Shetland Islands hatched over a long period lasting from July to December, with a peak in November. As a result, the potential larval dispersion driven by local oceanographic features is discussed.     

Modelling Southern Ocean ecosystems: krill, the food-web, and the impacts of harvesting

The ecosystem approach to fisheries recognises the interdependence between harvested species and other ecosystem components. It aims to account for the propagation of the effects of harvesting through the food-web. The formulation and evaluation of ecosystem-based management strategies requires reliable models of ecosystem dynamics to predict these effects. The krill-based system in the Southern Ocean was the focus of some of the earliest models exploring such effects. It is also a suitable example for the development of models to support the ecosystem approach to fisheries because it has a relatively simple food-web structure and progress has been made in developing models of the key species and interactions, some of which has been motivated by the need to develop ecosystem-based management. Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, is the main target species for the fishery and the main prey of many top predators. It is therefore critical to capture the processes affecting the dynamics and distribution of krill in ecosystem dynamics models. These processes include environmental influences on recruitment and the spatially variable influence of advection. Models must also capture the interactions between krill and its consumers, which are mediated by the spatial structure of the environment. Various models have explored predator-prey population dynamics with simplistic representations of these interactions, while others have focused on specific details of the interactions. There is now a pressing need to develop plausible and practical models of ecosystem dynamics that link processes occurring at these different scales. Many studies have highlighted uncertainties in our understanding of the system, which indicates future priorities in terms of both data collection and developing methods to evaluate the effects of these uncertainties on model predictions. We propose a modelling approach that focuses on harvested species and their monitored consumers and that evaluates model uncertainty by using alternative structures and functional forms in a Monte Carlo framework.     

Research on ecological stoichiometry in bamboos: From biological basis to applications in silviculture of bamboo forests

Bamboo ecology and nutrient management require guidance of a set of theoretical principles. By focusing on the contents of multiple nutrient elements and their ratios and summarizing recent research findings in biology, ecology and silvics of bamboos, this paper seeks to establish the bamboo ecological stoichiometry (BES) in order to support the sustainable development of bamboo forests. It is considered that: (1) bamboos have the ubiquitous characteristics of stoichiometry, with average leaf C:N:P of 380:16:1, which complies to the “homeostasis hypothesis”; (2) the internal factors such as organs, ages and development stages and the external factors such as soil, climate and harvest can all affect the characteristics of bamboo stoichiometry; (3) changes in the ecological stoichiometry of bamboos affect the bamboo biological and ecological processes including photosynthesis, nutrients uptakes, flowering, shootings and growth, community dynamics, and qualities of bamboo products; (4) the principles of BES have been preliminarily used to guide the nutrient diagnosis, balanced fertilization, and production of high-quality and high-yield bamboos. As a new tool, BES can be further improved to integrate biology and silviculture under the background of ecological and environmental protection and food safety. Future research should place more emphasis on elucidating the ecological homeostatic mechanisms for more bamboos, as well as on understanding the stoichiometric principles in producing high-quality bamboo shoots, the bamboo-soil stoichiometric interaction processes, the nutrient diagnosis and stoichiometric balanced fertilization, and the optimal ecosystem management of bamboo forests.