Comparison of three types of adhesives in attaching coral transplants to clam shell substrates

• 1. Nubbins from 12 coral species were transplanted onto dead giant clam shells at three sites in a lagoon near Bolinao, north‐western Philippines. Transplants were attached using three types of adhesives: cyanoacrylate glue (SG), epoxy putty (EP) and marine epoxy (ME) and were monitored over five months for detachment, in situ mortality and natural self‐attachment by tissue growth.
• 2. Corals attached with SG showed a significantly higher rate of detachment (logrank test) than those attached with either EP or ME (P<0.001 in each case). Also, those attached with EP showed a higher rate of detachment than corals attached with ME (logrank=6.46, P<0.05).
• 3. ANOVA (P>0.05) and survival analysis (logrank=2.85, P>0.05) showed no among‐adhesives differences in in situ mortality. Among the species used, Porites cylindrica, Pavona frondifera, Heliopora coerulea and Porites rus had the highest survivorship with 82%, 80%, 76% and 73%, respectively, of nubbins alive at the end of the experiment and also displayed the highest cumulative rates of self‐attachment. Species with the lowest survival rates included Acropora muricata and four pocilloporids.
• 4. Although there was no significant difference in the number of self‐attaching transplants among the adhesives, corals transplanted using ME and EP self‐attached earlier than those transplanted using SG (logrank=11.19, P<0.01).
• 5. Results from this study highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate means of attaching corals to substrates and carefully considering species‐specific traits of candidate corals for transplantation.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Lessons from the past: the collapse of Jamaican coral reefs

Since Pre-Columbian times, humans have exploited Jamaican marine ecosystems with significant consequences for flora and fauna. This study focuses on the history of reef fish exploitation in Jamaica, from first human occupation to the present day, to determine how past fishing activities contributed to subsequent declines in the coral reef ecosystem. The pattern of declining reef fish populations was nonlinear. Reef fish first declined in prehistoric times but then potentially recovered, following genocide of the native human population. Reduced fishing pressure lasted until the mid-19th century. At that time, depletion of reef fish populations again occurred with a precipitous decline from the 1850s to the 1940s. The final shift from relatively abundant to overfished marine fauna corresponded to subtle changes in fish trap design as well as development of recreational fishing. Government subsidies throughout the second half of the 20th century exacerbated the declines. This analysis shows that local artisanal fisheries with relatively low levels of effort and seemingly subtle shifts in technology can significantly impact the coral reef ecosystem and that declines occurred decades to centuries before modern ecological studies began. This research shows how historical analysis can be a powerful tool to minimize shifted baselines and establish realistic targets for recovery and sustainable management of marine ecosystems.     

人工鱼礁模型对大泷六线鱼和许氏平鲉幼鱼个体的诱集效果

在水槽内观测了许氏平鲉Sebastes schlegeli与大泷六线鱼Hexagrammos otakii幼鱼对两种不同结构PVC材料模型礁的行为反应,并对模型礁的集鱼效果进行了统计分析.结果表明:水槽内无论有礁还是无礁,两种鱼均喜欢栖息在水槽两端的角落或侧壁,在水槽的Ⅰ区和Ⅱ区的平均出现率为20%左右;大泷六线鱼与许氏平鲉的对礁接近行动指数,在方形礁角形格底板试验B1组中分别为1.12和1.03,在十字礁角形格底板试验B2组中分别为1.16和1.05,大泷六线鱼高于许氏平鲉,两种鱼对十字礁的接近行动指数和平均出现率要略高于方形礁.     

Validation of the accuracy of household reporting of subsistence fishing catch and effort: a Fijian case study

Abstract  The accuracy of household reporting of subsistence fishing catch and effort and seafood consumption on the Fijian island of Ono-i-Lau was studied. A creel survey was carried out concurrently to validate the household survey data. Reported estimates of fishing participation, effort, and fish consumption were not significantly different to the creel survey estimates. Householder's appeared to overestimate the number of fish from the most abundant family Lethrinidae, and underestimate rarer fish. However, there was no significant difference between the reported and observed contribution of the majority of finfish families and invertebrate taxa. The reported and observed catch rate estimates were not significantly different, indicating that Ono-i-Lau villagers are relatively accurate in their estimation of the number and size of fish from recalled catches.     

Can giant clam (Tridacna squamosa) populations be restored on Singapore's heavily impacted coral reefs?

• 1. Giant clams have been a sustainable resource for millennia, but unregulated harvesting has led to local extinctions within the Indo‐Pacific region. Giant clam mariculture can produce large numbers of juveniles for restocking wild populations where natural recruitment is low or absent.
• 2. Singapore is surrounded by more than 60 small islands, many with fringing reefs. These reefs, however, experience increased turbidity and sedimentation resulting from massive coastal development projects and regular dredging of shipping lanes.
• 3. Seven reefs off Singapore's southern islands were surveyed (9670 m²) for giant clams. Also, an experiment was conducted to determine the growth of Tridacna squamosa reared in aquaria under three light treatments: ～50% ambient photosynthetically active radiation (PAR); ～25% ambient PAR; and ～12% ambient PAR. Finally, 144 clams (T. squamosa) were transplanted to four reefs around Singapore to study survival and growth in a heavily impacted environment.
• 4. A total of 23 adult clams from three species were found during the survey, representing a mean density of 0.24 per 100 m². Most clams were found at Raffles Lighthouse, Singapore's ‘best’ reef. No juvenile clams were encountered. In the aquarium experiment, clam growth was significantly different among the three light treatments, with growth greatest in the ～50% ambient PAR treatment. Of the 144 transplanted clams, 116 (80.6%) were recovered after 7 months. All specimens had increased in size, with growth rates among reefs ranging from 3.3 mm month^?1 (SD=1.3 mm) to 4.8 mm month^?1 (SD=1.6 mm).
• 5. Results suggest that, despite high levels of sedimentation and turbidity on Singapore's reefs, giant clams can survive and grow well. Restocking efforts using maricultured clams may be effective in enhancing the dwindling local populations. It is not clear, however, whether a self‐sustaining community can be established as high sedimentation may hinder larval settlement and survival.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

UK deep‐sea conservation: Progress,lessons learned,and actions for the future

1. Despite a relatively long history of scientific interest fuelled by exploratory research cruises, the UK deep sea has only recently emerged as the subject of targeted and proactive conservation. Enabling legislation over the past 10 years has resulted in the designation of marine protected areas and the implementation of fisheries management areas as spatial conservation tools. This paper reflects on progress and lessons learned, recommending actions for the future.
2. Increased investment has been made to improve the evidence base for deep‐sea conservation, including collaborative research surveys and use of emerging technologies. New open data portals and developments in marine habitat classification systems have been two notable steps to furthering understanding of deep‐sea biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in support of conservation action.
3. There are still extensive gaps in fundamental knowledge of deep‐sea ecosystems and of cause and effect. Costs of new technologies and a limited ability to share data in a timely and efficient manner across sectors are barriers to furthering understanding. In addition, whilst the concepts of natural capital and ecosystem services are considered a useful tool to support the achievement of conservation goals, practical application is challenging.
4. Continued collaborative research efforts and engagement with industry to share knowledge and resources could offer cost‐effective solutions to some of these barriers. Further elaboration of the concepts of natural capital and ecosystem services will aid understanding of the costs and benefits associated with human–environment interactions and support informed decision‐making in conserving the deep sea.
5. Whilst multiple challenges arise for deep‐sea conservation, it is critical to continue ongoing conservation efforts, including exploration and collaboration, and to adopt new conservation strategies that are implemented in a systematic and holistic way and to ensure that these are adaptive to growing economic interest in this marine area.

     

江门三号人工鱼礁集鱼效果初步评价

为了解江门三号人工鱼礁的投放对游泳生物的诱集效果,分别于2003年1月和2008年9月对江门三号人工鱼礁区进行了拖网和刺网的本底调查和跟踪调查.采用生物资源密度指数(D)、Margalef种类丰度指数(R)、Shannon-Winener多样性指数(H′)、pileou均匀度指数(J＇)来研究水域生物的资源密度和种群多...     

我国海洋牧场建设回顾与展望

海洋牧场是基于海洋生态学原理和现代海洋工程技术,充分利用自然生产力,在特定海域科学培育和管理渔业资源而形成的人工渔场。海洋牧场的特点包括以增加渔业资源量为目的、具有明确的边界和权属、苗种主要来源于人工育苗或驯化、通过放流或移植进入自然海域、主要以天然饵料为食和对资源实施科学管理等。早在1965年,我国学者曾呈奎先生就原创性地提出在海洋中通过人工控制种植或养殖海洋生物,建设"牧场"的理念。上世纪八十年代以来,我国海洋牧场经历了从增殖放流、人工鱼礁建设到系统化的海洋牧场发展过程,在取得巨大成就的同时,也面临着海洋牧场的涵义应用过于宽泛、缺乏统筹规划和科学论证、忽视海洋牧场生态作用以及忽视项目评估和系统管理等问题。展望未来,我国的海洋牧场建设应在"生态优先、陆海统筹、三产贯通、四化同步、创新跨越"的发展理念指导下,加强海洋牧场建设的宏观引导、推动海洋牧场体系化建设、实施海洋牧场企业化运营,在获得经济效益的同时,实现产业繁荣和保持健康生态系统的和谐统一。     

Relationships between catch and effort in Fijian multispecies reef fisheries subject to different levels of exploitation

Abstract The catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) and value-of-catch-per-unit-effort (VPUE) of reef-associated fish species from six Fijian native fishing grounds ( qoliqoli ) subject to different fishing intensities were determined using records of fishing activity from a voluntary logbook scheme. Line and spear fishing techniques were used for more than half the total fishing time (h person^-1 d^-1) in all qoliqoli , and yet the favoured technique in a given qoliqoli was frequently less efficient (lower CPUE) than other techniques. The popularity of relatively ineffective fishing methods implies that fishermen did not always attempt to maximize their catch rates. To compare fishing effort in different qoliqoli , all effort was rescaled on the basis of its recorded efficiency (measured as multispecies CPUE) and expressed as hours equivalent to boat-based spear fishing over coral by day to catch fish for sale. Total fishing intensity in the six qoliqoli ranged from 72 to 4310 h km^-2 reef year^-1. The relationship between catch and effort was linear at all fishing intensities, suggesting that the qoliqoli were all fished on a sustainable basis. Furthermore, whilst there was a significant difference in CPUE and VPUE between the one or two qoliqoli with lowest fishing intensity and all the others, there were no significant differences between these other qoliqoli in terms of the VPUE of the saleable multispecies boat catch or the CPUE of species from piscivorous and carnivorous genera ( Epinephelus, Lethrinus and Plectropomus ) which the fishermen prefer to catch.     

THE HILAR PERIVENOUS HYPERECHOIC TRIANGLE AS A SIGN OF ACUTE SPLENIC TORSION IN DOGS

Diagnosis of acute primary splenic torsion is challenging. The ultrasonographic appearance of this condition has been described, but other splenic diseases, such as diffuse infarction because of thrombosis, can appear very similar. We describe an additional ultrasonographic sign of acute splenic torsion; a triangular hyperechoic area at the hilus between the veins and the splenic parenchyma that is continuous with the hyperechoic mesentery. In a group of animals where acute splenic torsion was part of the ultrasound report differential diagnosis, we compared findings in dogs with torsion with findings in dogs with other splenic conditions. The presence of a hilar hyperechoic perivenous triangle was significantly associated with splenic torsion (P = 0.005). We speculate that this sign is associated with torsion because of the secondary severe, diffuse splenic enlargement. Although not pathognomonic, this sign could be used to more accurately diagnose splenic torsion in light of other findings consistent with this condition.