Distribution and abundance of resting cysts of the toxic Alexandrium spp. (Dinophyceae) in sediments of the western Seto Inland Sea, Japan

Sediment samples were collected from 135 stations in the western part of the Seto Inland Sea (Iyo Nada, Suo Nada, Beppu Bay, Tokuyama Bay, Hiroshima Bay, Aki Nada, Hiuchi Nada and Bingo Nada) to determine the horizontal distribution and abundance of resting cysts of Alexandrium spp. ( A. tamarense  +  A. catenella ). Enumeration of the cysts was performed using the primuline-staining direct count method. Cysts of Alexandrium spp. were rarely found in Iyo Nada, Suo Nada and Beppu Bay, but were widely distributed in Tokuyama Bay, Hiroshima Bay, Aki Nada, Hiuchi Nada and Bingo Nada. Cyst concentrations ranged from not detected (ND) to 14, ND to 17, ND to 4, 93 to 8137, 8 to 4454, ND to 6, ND to 18 and 4–29 cysts/cm³ wet sediment in Iyo Nada, Suo Nada, Beppu Bay, Tokuyama Bay, Hiroshima Bay, Aki Nada, Hiuchi Nada and Bingo Nada, respectively. The majority of cysts occurred in Tokuyama Bay and Hiroshima Bay, where higher densities were observed in the inner bay and along the coastal margin. Relatively higher cyst concentrations were observed at stations with a higher mud content. The abundance of Alexandrium spp. cysts in western Seto Inland Sea is lower than in the eastern Seto Inland Sea, except for Tokuyama Bay and Hiroshima Bay. However, because sporadic blooms of Alexandrium have been observed, continuing monitoring is necessary to prevent paralytic shellfish poisoning outbreaks in this area.     

黄岛区南部海域营养水平和有机污染状况分析与评价

利用2008-2013年水质调查资料,分析了青岛市黄岛区南部海域营养盐分布与变化特征,并采用营养指数(E)法和有机污染综合指数(A)法对该海域海水的营养状况和有机污染状况进行了评价。结果显示,(1) 2012-2013年调查期间,无机氮含量范围为20.82-197.62 µg/L,活性磷酸盐为4.52-52.91 µg/L,COD为0.39-1.25 mg/L。除个别站点活性磷酸盐含量超标外,其余站点活性磷酸盐含量以及全部站点无机氮和COD含量均符合二类海水水质标准要求。(2) 调查海域无机氮以春季最高(86.42 µg/L),秋季次之,夏季最低(38.59 µg/L);活性磷酸盐以秋季最高(18.68 µg/L),春季次之,夏季最低(9.10 µg/L);COD以夏季最高(0.962 mg/L),秋季次之,春季最低(0.682 mg/L)。(3) 调查海域无机氮和COD含量2008-2011年呈逐年降低的变化趋势,2012年又有所增高;活性磷酸盐含量2008-2010年呈逐年降低的变化趋势,2010–-2012年呈逐年增高的变化趋势。研究表明,调查海域海水的营养水平较低,未达到富营养化水平,发生赤潮的可能性较小。调查海域水质状况良好,未受到有机污染。     

旧镇湾海水中营养盐分布与富营养化的研究

根据2007年3月到2008年1月旧镇湾海域11个航次海水营养盐等的调查资料,分析了该海域生态环境中DIN和DIP的分布特征和时空变化,评价了水质富营养化状况。结果表明,旧镇湾DIN平均含量为0.283mg/L,以NO3-N为主要存在形式,占DIN的77.7%。旧镇湾DIP平均含量为0.023mg/L。旧镇湾海水5、7月份N/P比远远高于16,表明旧镇湾海水中磷相对于氮是匮乏的。8月份为最低,仅为4.84,其他月份N/P比平均值为11.98,略低于16,说明旧镇湾海水中氮相对供应不足。DIN和DIP变化趋势为旧镇湾内向湾外逐渐递减,与盐度分布呈负相关性。与历史资料相比,旧镇湾水质有明显改善,但仍具富营养化趋势。从春季到冬季,旧镇湾富营养化面积逐渐增加,秋季富营养化程度远高于其他季节,富营养化程度从湾内向湾外逐渐降低。     

Sedimentation from mussel (Perna canaliculus) culture in the Firth of Thames, New Zealand: Impacts on sediment oxygen and nutrient fluxes

Shellfish aquaculture is growing worldwide and previous studies have shown a range of associated environmental impacts. In the Firth of Thames, New Zealand, there are more than 2000 ha of existing and approved farm area with applications pending for approximately another 6000 ha, however, no previous studies have examined the impacts of mussel culture in this region. To determine the impact of a mussel farm (45 ha) in the Firth of Thames we measured sedimentation rates by deploying sediment traps, sediment characteristics by collecting sediment cores and sediment oxygen and nutrient fluxes by deploying benthic chambers in four seasons. Sedimentation under the farm was increased by 106 g m^− 2 d^− 1 compared to the reference site. Similarly sediments under the farm had elevated organic carbon, nitrogen, chlorophyll a and phaeopigment concentrations indicative of the additional organic input due to bivalve biodeposition. Oxygen consumption was higher under the farm compared to a reference site (1.1-2.1×) but this increase was only significant (p < 0.001) in summer when rates reached 3083 μmol m^− 2 h^− 1 under the farm. Ammonia release rates ranged from 80 to 319 μmol m^− 2 h^− 1 and were higher under the farm compared to the reference site in spring (1.8×, non-significant p = 0.588) and autumn (3×, significant p = 0.006) but in summer release rates at the reference site (275 μmol m^− 2 h^− 1) were 1.4× higher than those under the farm. Nitrate fluxes (3.1 to 21.8 μmol m^− 2 h^− 1) were significantly (p = 0.001) higher at the farm site. Oxygen and nutrient fluxes generally demonstrated the typical response to increased organic input due to sedimentation from mussel culture. Unusually low nitrogen release rates in summer may indicate enhanced denitrification under the farm. Benthic regeneration at the reference site could supply 74% of nitrogen required by pelagic primary producers whereas under the farm it could account for 94%. This demonstrates the importance of benthic nutrient regeneration in this region and that mussel culture can lead to a redistribution of nutrients. The farm we studied is small and located in a high-energy environment and impacts from larger farms or in areas where biodeposit dispersal is limited are likely to be even more significant and we suggest that site-specific hydrodynamic and biogeochemical conditions have to be taken into account when planning new mussel farms to prevent excessive modifications of nutrient dynamics.     

Modelling of nitrogen loads from the farming of yellowtail kingfish Seriola lalandi (Valenciennes, 1833)

Farming of yellowtail kingfish ( Seriola lalandi , Valenciennes, 1833) in the coastal waters of Australia is a relatively new aquaculture industry, and little is known about the magnitude of nutrient discharges from individual pens. In this work, we modelled the flow of nitrogen for each of two commercial pens in Fitzgerald Bay, upper Spencer Gulf, South Australia. The fish were fed commercial pellets with feed conversion ratios (FCRs) between 3.0 and 3.2 (dry weight feed/wet weight growth). These high values of FCR were reflected in the high nitrogen loads to the environment (176–195 kg N tonne⁻¹ growth) and a small retention of nitrogen in fish growth (14–16% of feed inputs). Considering an annual production of 2000 tonnes, total loads to the environment can reach 391 tonnes N year⁻¹. Eighty-two per cent of these loads are expected to be lost to the water column as dissolved wastes. The high nutrient loads and the importance of dissolved wastes compared with other aquaculture species, such as salmon and trout, reflect the distinctly higher metabolic rates of this pelagic predatory species. The nature of the wastes suggests low localized impacts at current production levels, but regional effects remain unknown.     

Benthic nutrient fluxes at longline sea squirt and oyster aquaculture farms and their role in coastal ecosystems

To assess the impact of aquaculture activities, we measured the primary production, total sediment oxygen consumption, and benthic nutrient flux at two aquaculture farms (sea squirt and oyster) and one reference site. The estimated primary production in the water column ranged from 19–169 mmol C m⁻² d⁻¹. Total sediment oxygen consumption rates ranged from 58 to 328 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹, 1.1 to 40 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ for nitrogen, 0.17 to 3.0 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ for phosphate, and 7.3 to 74 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ for silicate. The average total sediment oxygen consumption at the longline farms was >2.5 times higher than the reference site. Nitrate was significantly removed by denitrification at the longline farms in July and September and ranged from −5.4 to −0.09 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹, which is higher than for other coastal sediments. The benthic fluxes of nitrogen and phosphate at longline farms were up to 16 and six times higher than at the reference site, respectively. The average nitrogen requirements of the primary producers were 9.3 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ at the sea squirt farm, 7.0 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ at the oyster farm, and 13.5 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ at the reference site, corresponding to 88, 316, and 27.2% of the nitrogen supplied by benthic fluxes, respectively. Our results suggest that benthic nutrient fluxes at longline farms are a major nutrient source for primary production in coastal waters.     

2015年靖海湾及五垒岛湾海域表层海水化学要素时空分布特征及潜在富营养化评价

于2015年春季、夏季及秋季3个航次对威海南部靖海湾及五垒岛湾海域进行表层海水水质调查并进行了富营养化评价。结果表明:调查海域表层海水水质符合二类水质标准,受磷限制影响;叶绿素-a春季航次(0.660μg/L)含量偏低,夏季航次(0.808mg/L)达到最高值;溶解氧春季航次(10.711mg/L)高于夏季航次(8.940mg/L)及秋季航次(8.678mg/L),近岸区域出现低值区;无机氮秋季航次(0.146mg/L)最高,活性磷酸盐(0.013mg/L)及化学需氧量(1.316mg/L)夏季航次最高,三者受外源河流输入的影响呈现从近岸区域向外海逐渐降低的趋势;活性硅酸盐主要受海洋本底的影响;夏秋航次在靖海湾河流入海口区域出现富营养化状态。     

桑沟湾营养盐时空分布及营养盐限制分析

根据2006年4、7、11月和2007年1月共4个航次的调查数据,分析了桑沟湾水域的溶解无机氮(DIN)、活性磷酸盐(PO43-)和活性硅酸盐(Si)含量的时空分布特征,采用营养盐浓度阈值法和化学计量法对桑沟湾营养盐潜在的限制性进行了分析。结果显示,桑沟湾DIN、PO43-、Si含量及分布呈现出明显的季节变化:DIN在秋季最高,春季最低;PO43-在秋季最高,夏季最低;Si在夏季最高,秋季最低。春季DIN和PO43-的含量低于理论上浮游植物生长的营养盐阈值的站位分别占44%和39%;夏季PO43-的潜在限制性较强,浓度低于营养盐阈值的站位占68%,受PO43-潜在限制的几率达79%,DIN和Si分别为5%和0;秋、冬季Si可能是浮游植物生长的主要限制因子。讨论了海水养殖、陆源输入及外海交换对营养盐时空分布的影响。目前,桑沟湾营养盐浓度基本属于国家一类、二类水质。但是,长期变化趋势显示DIN有上升的趋势。     

海州湾海洋牧场水环境的承载力

海洋牧场是实现海洋环境保护与渔业资源养护的重要举措。本研究以2014年春(5月)、夏(8月)、秋(10月)对海州湾海洋牧场示范区水环境数据为基础,选取高锰酸盐指数(CODMn)、溶解无机氮(DIN)、溶解无机磷(DIP)、生化需氧量(BOD)作为评价指标,利用BP神经网络模型对该海域水环境承载力进行评价。结果显示,2014年海州湾海洋牧场水环境承载力指数平均值高于0.6,承载状态较理想。水环境承载力存在明显的季节变化,呈现出夏季春季秋季;海洋牧场区域水环境承载力优于对照区海域;CODMn、DIN浓度过高是导致部分站点轻度超载的主要原因,这可能与陆源污染有关。研究表明,航运对水环境承载状态有负面影响;BP神经网络模型构建方便快捷,评价结果客观合理,可应用于海洋牧场等海域水环境承载力的研究。     

厦门同安湾硅藻赤潮与理化环境条件的关系研究

通过对厦门同安湾2003年5月28日至7月21日以地中海指管藻为主的硅藻赤潮的跟踪监测,研究了赤潮发生前后,海域水环境中水温、盐度、pH值、DO、COD、无机氮(D IN)、活性磷酸盐(PO4-P)、叶绿素a含量与赤潮种群细胞密度之间的关系,并对此次赤潮发生的机理进行了探讨。结果表明,海水中丰富的无机氮和PO4-P为赤潮的发生提供了营养基础,适宜的水温和盐度的变化可能是诱发硅藻赤潮的原因之一,海水中PO4-P则是硅藻赤潮的主要限制因子之一,海水中DO含量变化可作为赤潮预报的主要特征指标。     

莱州人工鱼礁海域水质状况的变化特征

根据2010～2011年莱州人工鱼礁海域春、夏、秋、冬4个季节共8个航次的化学需氧量（COD）、无机氮（DIN）、活性磷酸盐（DIP）、总氮（TN）、总磷（TP）、有机碳（TOC）等要素的分析结果,运用N/P比值、有机污染指数A和富营养化指数E等方法,对投放人工鱼礁海域不同年份水体的质量状况进行了评价,分析了该海域水环境在人工鱼礁投放后的变化.结果表明,投礁区第2年DIN含量明显降低,而DIP含量略有上升,使得海区中的DIN/DIP值降低,由89.60降低到44.54.2011年和2010年投礁区DIN/DIP有显著性差异（P＜0.05）,而对照区无显著性差异（P＞0.05）,表明人工鱼礁对水体有改善作用;营养化指数E分析表明,调查海域水质未达到富营养化状态,处于较低营养水平,且2010年与2011年、礁区和对照区E值的平均值均相差不大,营养状况无明显差异;调查海域有机污染指数A小于0或小于1,且投礁区和对照区无明显差异,2010年与2011年也无明显差异,表明该海域未受到有机污染,水质状况良好或较好.     

Water and nutrient budgets of ponds in integrated agriculture–aquaculture systems in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

A participatory on-farm study analysed water and nutrient budgets of six low and four high water-exchange ponds of integrated agriculture–aquaculture (IAA) farms in the Mekong delta. Water, nitrogen (N), organic carbon (OC) and phosphorus (P) flows through the ponds were monitored, and data on fish production and nutrient accumulation in sediments were collected during a fish culture cycle. Results showed that, on average, only 5–6% of total N, OC or P inputs introduced into ponds were recovered in the harvested fish. About 29% N, 81% OC and 51% P accumulated in the sediments. The remaining fractions were lost through pond water discharges into adjacent canals. Fish yields and nutrient accumulation rates in the sediments increased with increasing food inputs applied to the pond at the cost of increased nutrient discharges. High water-exchange ponds received two to three times more on-farm nutrients (N, OC and P) while requiring nine times more water and discharging 10–14 times more nutrients than the low water-exchange ponds. Water and nutrient flows between the pond and the other IAA-farm components need to be considered when optimizing productivity and profitability from IAA systems.     

Benthic Recovery after the Cessation of a Gilt‐head Seabream,Sparus aurata,Farm in the Mediterranean Sea

An environmental recovery study was carried out after the cessation of a gilt‐head seabream farm off the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Physicochemical variables of sediments, in situ benthic fluxes of oxygen and nutrients, and benthic macrofauna were measured in the farming area and at a control station. Five sampling campaigns were done, one before the closure and the others at 1, 3, 9, and 24 mo after cessation. Benthic flux of ammonium was the first variable to recover, followed by benthic fluxes of phosphate and dissolved oxygen and percentage organic matter in the sediments, which 3 mo after the cessation of farming already showed levels similar to those in the control station. Nine months after cessation, the other abiotic variables of the sediments disturbed by the activity had recovered, such as percentage coarse fraction, total phosphorus concentrations, and redox potential measurements. The recovery of the macrofauna was slower than the abiotic variables. Three months after cessation, Capitella capitata abundance had reduced drastically in the farming area, but similar specific richness levels were not observed between the two sampled zones until 2 yr after farming cessation.     

Growth of the fourspine sculpin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cottus kazika</Emphasis> in the Gonokawa River,Japan, and effects of water temperature on growth

ABSTRACT:   The fourspine sculpin Cottus kazika is indigenous to Japan and found in Honshu except for the waters facing the Seto Inland Sea, and was also found in southern Shikoku and eastern Kyushu. This species has a catadromous lifestyle and migrates as juveniles from the sea to the middle reaches of rivers to grow. The growth pattern of this fish was investigated by a mark-and-recapture method from July 1994 to December 1996, in the Nigorikawa River, a tributary of the Gonokawa River system, Shimane Prefecture. 0-year-old fish of 50–70 mm total length ( TL ) occurred in the study area from June to July, grew to 90–140 mm  TL by the following April, and attained 160–210 mm  TL by December. This fish grew rapidly in September–November and April–July, almost ceasing to grow in July–September. It seems that this stagnant growth phase in summer is a characteristic of the seasonal growth pattern of C. kazika . A rearing experiment indicated that the growth rate of C. kazika was higher at 16–22°C than at 12–14 and 24–26°C. This result supports the field evidence of a stagnant growth phase in summer in the Nigorikawa River.     

Effects of hypoxia on principal prey and growth of flathead flounder Hippoglossoides dubius in Funka Bay, Japan

ABSTRACT:   Effects of hypoxia on the principal prey and growth of flathead flounder Hippoglossoides dubius were studied in Funka Bay. Of the three dominant year-classes that occurred in recent years, the 1995 year-class was small in total length at age ≥ 3 and low in condition factor at age ≥ 2. Ophiuroids (almost Ophiura sarsi ), which were the dominant prey in the 1980s, were of little importance and instead, crustaceans such as mysids, natant decapods and pelagic amphipods, bivalves and fish were important prey items for H. dubius in 2000–2001. In addition, the feeding intensity of H. dubius in 2000–2001 was lower than that in the 1980s. These facts are closely related to a reduction of prey abundance, particularly ophiuroids. It seems that the hypoxia that occurred in the central part of the bay during the summer and autumn of 1995–1997 caused the poor food supply and low growth rate at ages 2–4 of the 1995 year-class.     

Planktivory and diet-overlap of densely rakered whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus (L.)) in a subarctic lake

Abstract –  Three sympatric whitefish ( Coregonus lavaretus (L.)) forms, one being pelagic and two benthic, segregate available habitat and food resources in subarctic Lake Muddusjärvi, northern Finland. Zooplankton availability in the lake, food composition, diet-overlap and growth of densely rakered (DR) whitefish were examined during June to September to explore the reasons for the small individual size of the pelagic form. DR whitefish used zooplankton as main food item and prey selection followed zooplankton species density proportions in the lake. Zooplankton density and water temperature was highest in July–August. The average lengths of Bosmina spp., Daphnia spp., Calanoida and Cyclopoida in DR whitefish stomach were higher than in zooplankton sample during June–September, except Calanoida in June. Diet-overlap between DR whitefish age groups was high at all months indicating intercohort resource competition. DR whitefish reached sexual maturity at 3 years of age and at the length of 12 cm, after which somatic growth almost ceased. Reason for the small average size and slow growth of DR whitefish were connected to high diet-overlap between age groups and early sexual maturation.     

The effect of depth, distance from dam and habitat on spatial distribution of fish in an artificial reservoir

Abstract –  Spatial distribution of the fish community in the deep canyon-shaped Římov Reservoir, Czech Republic, was studied using overnight gillnetting fishing in 1999–2007. Effects of depth, distance from the dam to the tributary and habitat type (benthic and pelagic) on fish community structure, catch per unit of effort (CPUE), biomass per unit of effort (BPUE) and average weight were tested. Fish were recorded in all sampled depths and parts of the reservoir. Redundancy analysis revealed that effects of three environmental variables were significant and most variability was explained by depth, then by distance from the dam and habitat type. CPUE and BPUE of all species decreased with depth and responses of individual species to depth were similar for juvenile and adult fish. Number of species, CPUE and BPUE of all species except perch increased heading towards the tributary and peaked close to or at the tributary part of the reservoir. Responses of juvenile fish to distance from the dam differed from that of adult fish. Structure of fish community differed in benthic and pelagic habitats with species preferably occupying epipelagic (bleak, asp, rudd and juvenile bleak, roach and bream) or littoral waters (perch, pikeperch, ruffe, roach, bream and juvenile percids). This study showed that fish distribution in the reservoir followed distinct patterns, which were probably shaped by a combination of physiological constraints plus trade-off between food resources and competition.     

Feeding tactics and body condition of two introduced populations of pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus: taking advantages of human disturbances?

Abstract –  Feeding tactics, body condition and size structure of two populations of pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus from Cabañeros National Park (Guadiana River basin, central Spain) were compared to provide insight into the ecological requirements favouring levels of success/failure in relation to human intervention. Habitat, benthic macroinvertebrates and pumpkinseed were quantified in Bullaque (regulated flow, affected by agricultural activities) and Estena (natural conditions) rivers, from May to September of 2005 and 2006. Significant differences were found in the limnological characteristics between the two rivers. Spatial and temporal variations in diet composition were likely related to opportunistic feeding and high foraging plasticity. Diet diversity was higher in Bullaque River. Electivity of benthic prey showed variation between sized individuals and populations. The body condition of pumpkinseed was better in Bullaque River. Current results show that this invasive species is favoured by human intervention in Bullaque River.     

A comparison of methods for calculating Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) of gill net catches in lakes

Fish constitute an important component of lake ecosystems and many different methods have been used for fish assessment. Based on gill net catches in two stratified (max depth = 14–22 m) eutrophic Danish lakes, relative fish abundance measured as Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) was calculated. We used three different methods of which two followed the European standard based on benthic nets (CEN (European Committee for Standardization), 2005: EN 14757. Water quality – Sampling of fish with multi-mesh gill nets. Brussels, 27 pp.), one assuming equal volumes in all depth strata and the other using calculated volumes in the depth strata. The third method followed a modified CEN standard, adopted as a new Danish (DK) standardized method based on calculated benthic and pelagic water volumes and by including both benthic nets and, compared to the CEN standard, an increased fishing effort with pelagic nets. Fish were concentrated in the littoral/benthic part of the upper two depth strata (0–6 m depth) with an up to 8 fold higher abundance than in the pelagic. Calculated CPUE is highly sensitive to the morphometry of the lakes. In lakes with extreme morphometry (unequal volumes in depth strata) it is important to use calculated water volumes for the depth strata. By including information derived from the pelagic nets, total lake CPUEs were 42–56% lower than CPUE values based on benthic nets only. We further show that the relative contribution of CPUE between habitats changes markedly with the nutrient level in 12 deep lakes. It is concluded that for deep lakes it is of key importance to include pelagic nets when comparing fish assemblages and abundances among lakes and when evaluating effects of major changes in key environmental factors, such as nutrient loading and climate.     

The fate of organic matter derived from small-scale fish cage aquaculture in coastal waters of Sulawesi and Sumatra, Indonesia

To determine the fate of organic matter derived from fish cage aquaculture, carbon and nutrient cycling processes in waters and sediments, and water circulation, were examined at two fish cage farms of different size and utilizing different food types, on Sulawesi and Sumatra islands, Indonesia. Mass balance models of C, N and P were constructed to assess the pathways of waste utilization and dispersal. At the smaller farm in Sulawesi (64.5 m² cage area; 3 t annual net production) using pelleted food, there was proportionally less waste (≈ 40% of total C input) than at the larger Sumatran farm (2432 m² cage area; 9 t annual net production) using trash fish (≈ 70% of total C input) as food. At the small farm, the mass balance and hydrographic models indicated a maximum dispersal area of 1180 m², equivalent to 18 times the farm area. Within this area, 30% of total organic matter input (farm waste + fixed phytoplankton carbon) was buried in sediments with 30% mineralized in the water-column and 40% mineralized in the seabed. At the larger Sumatran farm, the models indicated a maximum dispersal area of 29  220 m², roughly 12 times the farm area. Within this area, 30% of total organic matter input (farm waste + natural pelagic input) was buried in sediments with 50% mineralized in the water-column and 20% mineralized on the seabed. There was some evidence of benthic enrichment at both farms, mostly as enhanced dissolved nutrient release, but sulfate reduction accounted for < 25% of total C flux, and denitrification/ammonium oxidation accounted for only 4–17% of N lost from sediments. There was no clear evidence of impact with distance from the cages at either farm. Phytoplankton gross primary production accounted for 60–77% of the total organic input to the receiving environment, suggesting that the relative importance of fish cage wastes must be assessed against natural inputs of organic matter.