Yangtze finless porpoise (YFP) is Critically Endangered, It relies on its biological sonar sensing system for important life activities. The rapid development of the Yangtze valley has brought busy shipping, which has resulted in increased noise.
Two locations on the shipping channel and non-shipping branch were selected. Passive acoustic monitoring was used to record the biosonar signals of porpoises and underwater noise. The number of click trains, echolocation encounters, buzzes and buzz ratios were counted and the root mean square sound pressure level of noise was calculated in five diel phases.
A non-parametric test was used to analyse the differences among different phases and between different locations. The aim of the study was to detect the spatial and temporal variations in the biosonar activity of YFPs and underwater noise between non-shipping and shipping channels, and to provide scientific advice for YFP conservation.
Significant spatial and temporal patterns were observed both in biosonar activity and noise. Average biosonar activity, including click trains, buzzes, buzz ratio and echolocation encounters, was higher in the non-shipping channel than in the shipping channel, whereas the noise level was higher in the shipping channel than in the non-shipping channel.
In the non-shipping channel, the buzz numbers and buzz ratios, indicators of porpoise feeding activity, were higher at night than during the day while the noise level was higher during the day than at night.
These findings may be associated with the noise avoidance strategies of YFPs to adapt to the busy shipping on the Yangtze River. Maintaining the non-shipping status of some branches of the Yangtze River can provide more shelters for the YFPs. Strengthening the measures for banning navigation at night or reducing the vessel speed at night throughout the entire year would improve the YFPs’ feeding success.
To investigate the effects of body size and water temperature on feeding and growth in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka), the maximum rate of food consumption in terms of energy (Cmaxe; J day?1) and the specific growth rate in terms of energy (SGRe; % day?1) in animals of three body sizes (mean±SE) – large (134.0±3.5 g), medium (73.6±2.2 g) and small (36.5±1.2 g) – were determined at water temperatures of 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C. Maximum rate of food consumption in terms of energy increased and SGRe decreased with increasing body weight at 10, 15 and 20°C. This trend, however, was not apparent at 25 and 30°C, which could be influenced by aestivation. High water temperatures (above 20°C) were disadvantageous to feeding and growth of this animal; SGRe of A. japonicus during aestivation was negative. The optimum temperatures for food consumption and for growth were similar and were between 14 and 15°C, and body size seemed to have a slight effect on the optimal temperature for food consumption or growth. Because aestivation of A. japonicus was temperature dependent, the present paper also documented the threshold temperatures to aestivation as indicated by feeding cessation. Deduced from daily food consumption of individuals, the threshold temperature to aestivation for large and medium animals (73.3–139.3 g) was 24.5?25.5°C, while that for small animals (28.9–40.7 g) was between 25.5 and 30.5°C. These values are higher than previous reports; differences in sign of aestivation, experimental condition and dwelling district of test animals could be the reasons. 相似文献
In this study, we collected 709 specimens of the sharpbelly Hemiculter leucisculus from the Yuanjiang River at monthly intervals between May 2017 and January 2019. An increment was formed annually in the lapillar otoliths, with the formation of annuli occurring between May and August, and peaking in June. Fish spawned from April to October, with a peak period between May and June. The radius of the first annulus varied apparently among individuals, reflecting differences in the duration of the growth period prior to annulus formation owing to extended spawning seasons. Three types of first annulus observed could reflect differences in the periods when the fish were born. The age of sampled fish ranged from 0 to 4 years, among which 1- and 2-year age classes predominated. The mean standard length (SL) at age and growth rate of this population did not differ significantly from those of other native populations. Analysis of life history traits indicated no obvious correlation with either latitude or habitat, whereas SL distribution and age composition were found to vary along a latitudinal gradient. Furthermore, mean SL at age and growth rate showed differences between native and invasive populations. Relatively stable life history traits of this species may explain its dominant status in diverse ecosystems, with plasticity in terms of body size and growth contributing to its successful invasion of different habitats.