Evaluation of downward movements of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica inhabiting brackish water areas

This study evaluated the size and age distributions and otolith microchemistry of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica in freshwater and brackish water areas in the Aki and Tsuchikawa rivers for 1 year, and in brackish water areas in the Asahi River for 3 years to understand the movements of Japanese eels between continental habitats of different salinity after recruitment (n = 759). For all three rivers, the total length (L_T) and age distributions were consistent; yellow eels captured in the upper brackish water (Aki River: 353.5 ± 77.4 mm and 3.0 ± 0.8 years; Tsuchikawa River: 287.7 ± 87.3 mm and 3.7 ± 1.3 years; Asahi River: 418.2 ± 112.1 mm and 4.2 ± 1.7 years) were smaller and younger than not only those in the fresh water of the two rivers but also those in the lowest brackish water sampling areas (Aki River: 436.0 ± 71.6 mm and 3.8 ± 1.1 years; Tsuchikawa River: 370.9 ± 121.7 mm and 4.9 ± 2.3 years; Asahi River: 558.5 ± 85.9 mm and 5.7 ± 1.7 years). In the Asahi River, these tendencies were found throughout the 3 years. Otolith analysis indicated that the majority of the eels captured in the lowest brackish water areas had moved down from upstream. These results suggest that Japanese eels inhabiting saline water generally move from the upper estuary as they grow. The upper estuary can be an important area for the management of this species because these eels spend their early continental growth life there.     

Reproductive biology and larval morphology of the marine plotosid Cnidoglanis macrocephalus (Teleostei) in a seasonally closed Australian estuary

Monthly trends shown by gonadosomatic indices, the prevalence of the different gonadal stages, and the size distribution of the oocytes, indicate that the large marine and commercially important plotosid Cnidoglanis macrocephalus spawns in Wilson Inlet between October and January. The conclusion that spawning occurs within this seasonally closed estuary was confirmed by the presence of males in large nests and by the capture of newly-hatched, yolk sac larvae from one of those nests. The fact that C. macrocephalus, which is also widely distributed in coastal marine waters throughout much of southern Australia, can spawn within Wilson Inlet would be of particular value to this species in those periods when closure of the estuary would preclude a seawards spawning migration. Sexual maturity is size dependent, with spawning rarely occurring before fish have reached a total length of 425 mm. Sexual maturity was attained by a few fish at the end of their second year, by several at the end of their third year and by most, if not all fish, at the end of their fourth year. Comparisons with data for the more northern and permanently open Swan Estuary indicate that C. macrocephalus also spawns within that system and that the spawning time of this species is related to water temperature. The adult male guards the larvae under its pelvic fins in burrows. The larvae increased in total length from 29 mm just after hatching to 43 mm in the 17–18 days after capture, during which time their yolk sac was resorbed. Details are given of the morphology, morphometrics, meristics and pigmentation of larval C. macrocephalus. In comparison with the larvae of three other plotosid genera, the larva of C. macrocephalus is far larger in size and more developed at hatching and takes a shorter time to transform into a juvenile.     

Digestive constraints on an aquatic carnivore: effects of feeding frequency and prey composition on harbor seals

We hypothesized that increased feeding frequency in captive harbor seals would increase nutrient loads and thus reduce retention time and the digestive efficiency of natural prey. We measured daily feed intake and excretion during 6 feeding trials and fed herring (49% lipid), pollock (22% lipid) or an equal mix of each diet over 24 months. Animals were accustomed to feeding at either high or low frequency. Body mass and intake did not vary with season. Although mean retention times were similar between diets and feeding frequencies, solute and particulate digesta markers separated at high feeding frequency. Consistent dry matter digestibility resulted in greater gut fill from pollock than from herring. Digestible energy intakes from pollock were approximately 25% greater than from either herring or the mixed diet. Lipid digestibility of herring declined from 90% to 50% when lipid intake exceeded 60 g kg^–0.75 day^–1. Our hypothesis of a trade-off between intake and digestion was not supported for protein but was supported for lipid. Results of this study imply that a flexible digestive system for harbor seals can compensate for ingesting prey of lower energy density by increasing gut fill and enhancing protein and lipid assimilation, to sustain digestible energy intake.Abbreviations DM dry matter - DEI digestible energy intake - DIT diet-induced thermogenesis - FF feeding frequency - MRT mean retention time Communicated by: G. Heldmaier     

九龙江河口及厦门污水处理设施抗生素抗性基因污染分析

【目的】近年来由于抗生素的滥用,导致了多药物抗性超级细菌的产生,有关抗生素抗性基因(Antibiotic resistance genes,ARGs)在环境介质中分布、迁移和扩散已经引起人们的广泛关注。针对九龙江河口及厦门污水处理设施抗生素抗性基因污染情况开展研究。【方法】通过定性PCR研究九龙江河口水体、沉积物和厦门污水处理设施活性污泥中4种磺胺类、13种四环素类ARGs及2种整合子基因的污染情况,并选择四环素类tet(W)基因进行克隆文库测序分析。【结果】除tet(O)和tet(S)外,其他基因均被检出。不同环境介质中的ARGs及整合子基因检出率为活性污泥(0.86)>沉积物(0.57)>水体(0.24)。在淡水和淡盐水中,sul(l)、int(1)、tet(A)、tet(C)、tet(E)、tet(M)和tet(W)的检出率要高于海水,表明九龙江上游可能是ARGs的污染源之一。【结论】主成分分析表明污水处理设施是ARGs的高发载体;沉积物是ARGs的稳定载体;而水体中的ARGs易于分解。此外,tet(W)基因克隆文库分析表明,厦门污水处理设施也可能是九龙江河口及厦门沿岸的ARG污染源。     

闽江河口潮汐湿地二氧化碳和甲烷排放化学计量比

为了阐明河口潮汐湿地碳源温室气体排放的化学计量比特征,对闽江河口潮汐湿地二氧化碳和甲烷排放进行了测定与分析。结果表明:芦苇湿地和短叶茳芏湿地二氧化碳与甲烷排放均呈现正相关;涨潮前、涨落潮过程和落潮后芦苇湿地和短叶茳芏湿地CO2∶CH4月平均值分别为55.4和185.0,96.3和305.5,68.7和648.6,3个过程芦苇湿地和短叶茳芏湿地CO2∶CH4差异均不显著(P>0.05),2种植物湿地CO2∶CH4对潮汐的响应并不一致,但均在涨潮前表现为最低;涨潮前、涨落潮过程和落潮后均表现为芦苇湿地CO2∶CH4低于短叶茳芏湿地(P<0.05);河口潮汐湿地CO2∶CH4为空间变异性>时间变异性,潮汐、植物和温度均对CO2∶CH4的变化具有一定的调节作用。     

辽河口滨海湿地CH4排放特征及其影响因素

采用静态箱-气相色谱法,于2016年6—11月连续观测辽河口芦苇湿地、翅碱蓬湿地和裸滩湿地的CH_4排放速率,同时测定温度、氧化还原电位(Eh)、pH值和电导率(EC)等相关环境因子的动态变化。结果表明,3种类型湿地的CH_4排放具有明显的季节变化特征,均呈先上升后下降趋势。芦苇湿地、翅碱蓬湿地(涨潮前)和裸滩湿地(涨潮前)CH_4排放通量变化范围分别为0.447—10.40、0.045—0.509 mg m~(-2) h~(-1)和0.016—0.593 mg m~(-2) h~(-1),观测期内排放通量均值相应为(3.699±3.679)、(0.165±0.156) mg m~(-2) h~(-1)和(0.198±0.191) mg m~(-2) h~(-1),不同类型湿地之间差异显著(P0.01),芦苇湿地裸滩湿地(涨潮前)翅碱蓬湿地(涨潮前)。涨潮过程中,翅碱蓬湿地和裸滩湿地的排放速率分别变化在0.009—0.353 mg m~(-2) h~(-1)和0.018—0.335 mg m~(-2) h~(-1),观测期间其排放速率均值分别为(0.119±0.132) mg m~(-2) h~(-1)和(0.131±0.103) mg m~(-2) h~(-1),明显低于涨潮前(P0.01)。不同湿地类型间CH_4排放通量与电导率(EC)呈显著负相关(P0.01)。研究结果表明,潮汐和电导率均为影响辽河口不同类型湿地中CH_4排放的关键因子。     

Macrobenthic Distribution within the Sediment along an Estuarine Salinity Gradient

The distribution of the macrobenthic infaunal community within the upper 25 cm of the sediment was studied at 16 stations in the lower Chesapeake Bay. Stations were located from the tidal freshwater to the polyhaline zone of major tributaries (James, York and Rappahannock Rivers) and in the polyhaline portion of the lower bay mainstem. Profiles for total number of individuals, total ash-free dry weight biomass and species encountered with depth were calculated. Except for the deep dwelling bivalve, Macoma balthica, tributary macrobenthic communities had a shallow depth distribution compared to the mainstem sites which were found in generally coarser sediments in the higher salinity region of the estuary.     

Factors affecting seasonal variations in demersal fish assemblages at an ecocline in a tropical–subtropical estuary

Seasonal changes of fish species composition in terms of biomass, density and number of species in three areas of the main channel of the Paranaguá Estuary (axis east–west) are described in relation to seasonal fluctuations in salinity, water temperature and dissolved oxygen in the main channel. Two hundred and thirty‐four samples were collected monthly, between July 2000 and June 2001, in the main channel. Seventy‐nine species of 29 families were captured with a total estimated mean density and biomass of 1513 individuals ha^?1 and 34 kg ha^?1, respectively. The number of species and total mean density differed significantly among areas and seasons, but the total mean biomass differed only significantly throughout the ecocline (areas) of the Paranaguá Estuary. For the most abundant species, the mean densities of Stellifer rastrifer, Aspistor luniscutis, Menticirrhus americanus, Sphoeroides testudineus, Cynoscion leiarchus and Symphurus tesselatus (with the exception of Cathorops spixii and Genidens genidens) differed significantly among seasons. The mean biomass of these species, with the exception of G. genidens, S. rastrifer, A. luniscutis and S. testudineus, also differed significantly for the factor seasons. Area was a significant factor for the eight most abundant species (density and biomass), except S. testudineus (density), G. genidens, C. leiarchus and S. tesselatus (biomass). The season v. area interaction term was significant for C. leiarchus (density). Most of these differences occurred during the rainy season when fishes concentrated principally in the middle of the estuary, where the salinity remained stable. It is suggested that the salinity stability in the middle of the estuary is the main reason why the most estuarine resident fish species move downstream and remain there, regardless of the increased freshwater runoff. Moreover, canonical correspondent analysis output detected that during the late rainy season, the variable dissolved oxygen (P < 0·01) was the most important environmental variable, responsible for structuring patterns of fishes assemblages in the west–east axis of Paranaguá Estuary. During the end of the dry season, both salinity (P < 0·01) and dissolved oxygen (P < 0·05) were responsible for this ecological feature in the estuary. Finally, it was possible to detect that juveniles and adults of some important species respond differently to seasonal fluctuations of the ecocline‐determining environmental factors. This behaviour is suggested as a strategy to avoid competition and predation during the rainy season in the middle estuary. The Paranaguá Estuary did not fit with the pre‐existing models described in the tropical and subtropical estuarine fish literature since its main channel fish assemblages remained within its bounds even during the rainy season.     

Dynamics of carbon assimilation by St Lawrence estuary phytoplankton at the end of summer

This study presents data of in situ measurements of inorganic carbon assimilation by phytoplankton communities of the St Lawrence estuary during the end of summer 1982. We used carboxylase activity measurements (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, carboxylases) and the ¹³C/¹²C ratio of phytoplankton organic carbon, expressed as ¹³C, to study patterns of assimilation. Upper estuary phytoplankton communities showed a smaller turn-over rate in carbon assimilation than lower estuary phytoplankton communities. Carbon assimilation was limited by light intensity in the upper estuary and by CO₂ availability in the lower estuary. In the St Lawrence estuary, stable carbon isotope ratios of phytoplankton organic carbon seemed to be controlled by inorganic carbon availability rather than by phytoplankton metabolism.