Visualisation of standardized life-history patterns

The life‐history patterns of fish and invertebrate species are complex. But much of this complexity can be captured in simple diagrams of coastal transects, where juveniles usually occur in larger numbers in shallow waters, while adults generally inhabit deeper, offshore waters. Iconographic representations of generalized life‐history patterns and depth profiles, with specific key life‐history parameters can capture much of these standardized patterns, including spawning areas, nursery/juvenile distributions, adult distributions and spawning migrations. Several examples presented here from a wide range of habitats and ecosystems (temperate and tropical waters, demersal, deep water, pelagic and coral reefs), including an example of different stocks of the same species, illustrate some general patterns with regard to water depth and distance from shore. The present approach should be viewed as a first step towards obtaining standardized patterns about key life‐history parameters, and will hopefully lead to incorporation into management of life‐history interconnectivity between different fishery sectors or gears. This may contribute to sustainable, ecosystem‐based approaches to management by informing policy options when faced with decisions to rationalize overcapitalized fisheries.     

Hypoxia-based habitat compression of tropical pelagic fishes

Large areas of cold hypoxic water occur as distinct strata in the eastern tropical Pacific (ETP) and Atlantic oceans as a result of high productivity initiated by intense nutrient upwelling. We show that this stratum restricts the depth distribution of tropical pelagic marlins, sailfish, and tunas by compressing the acceptable physical habitat into a narrow surface layer. This layer extends downward to a variable boundary defined by a shallow thermocline, often at 25 m, above a barrier of cold hypoxic water. The depth distributions of marlin and sailfish monitored with electronic tags and average dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature profiles show that this cold hypoxic environment constitutes a lower habitat boundary in the ETP, but not in the western North Atlantic (WNA), where DO is not limiting. Eastern Pacific and eastern Atlantic sailfish are larger than those in WNA, where the hypoxic zone is much deeper or absent. Larger sizes may reflect enhanced foraging opportunities afforded by the closer proximity of predator and prey in compressed habitat, as well as by the higher productivity. The shallow band of acceptable habitat restricts these fishes to a very narrow surface layer and makes them more vulnerable to over‐exploitation by surface gears. Predictably, the long‐term landings of tropical pelagic tunas from areas of habitat compression have been far greater than in surrounding areas. Many tropical pelagic species in the Atlantic Ocean are currently either fully exploited or overfished and their future status could be quite sensitive to increased fishing pressures, particularly in areas of habitat compression.     

黄河口附近海域海洋生物体中石油烃总量变化的研究

在海洋污染中，石油污染是一个主要方面。近年来，随着沿海石油的勘探和开采，石油污染对海洋资源的危害日趋严重。本文就黄河口附近海域海洋生物体内石油烃含量及其相互关系进行了探讨。结果表明，各种海洋生物肌肉中石油烃含量依次为：双壳类＞头足类＞甲壳类＞鱼类，季节和个体大小及不同区域对石油烃含量也有一定的影响。     

Stewardship as a Path to Cooperation? Exploring the Role of Identity in Intergroup Conflict Among Michigan Wolf Stakeholders

Post-recovery wolf management remains controversial. In Michigan, dialogue centers on hunting wolves but controversy may be more nuanced than simple pro- or anti-hunting positions. Social identity may cause stakeholders to organize in groups and identity differences may be driving controversy. To explore stakeholder disagreement over wolf management, we conducted semi-structured key informant interviews (n = 21) about identity and stewardship in August–September 2012. Four overarching identity themes emerged regarding: (a) management objectives, (b) focal levels, (c) control methods, and (d) justifications for methods. Themes indicated two main researcher-defined identity groups. Interviewees from both groups identified six common stewardship themes: (a) bequest values, (b) ecosystem health, (c) education, (d) existence values, (e) pride in natural resources, and (f) sustainability. Findings suggest stakeholders may be conflicting over opposing identities vis-à-vis organization affiliation, which may be related to what management strategies individuals oppose. Establishing common stewardship objectives through established participation methods may help alleviate controversy.     

Attitudes of Rural Communities Toward Dispersing African Wild Dogs in South Africa

Subsistence pastoralists often view large carnivores negatively given that any loss of livestock is likely to represent a significant economic cost. Consequently, large carnivore conservation initiatives in rural landscapes should incorporate appropriate human–carnivore conflict mitigation strategies. In this study, structured interviews with local residents (n = 247) were used for determining attitudes toward African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) among rural communities neighboring two protected areas in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Contrary to expectations, the majority of respondents (58%) were generally positive toward wild dogs. This was probably due to a lack of livestock depredation by wild dogs and relatively high levels of formal education among respondents. Respondents with greater knowledge of wild dogs and conflict mitigation had more positive attitudes, and most were aware of effective husbandry techniques. The positive attitudes observed in these rural communities may benefit wild dog dispersal from natal home ranges and the future conservation of this endangered carnivore.     

Dominance in domestic dogs revisited: Useful habit and useful construct?

In the last decade, the validity and relevance of the dominance model was regularly put into question regarding relationships between canids like dogs and wolves, and consequently, human–dog relationships as well. The concept underlying this model, scientifically defined as an intervening variable reflecting status difference between individuals, is applicable when formal status signals symbolize the long-term relationship between individuals, resulting in a formalized dominance hierarchy. This article reviews the basics underlying the concept of dominance and reflects on the value and importance of some new quantitative studies on the applicability of the concept of dominance in domestic dogs. The conclusions are, first, that formal dominance is present in the domestic dog, expressed by context-independent unidirectional formal status signals. Consequently, formal dominance (e.g., submission) plays an important role in assessing status in dog–dog relationships. Second, that nonverbal status–related communication in humans resembles that in dogs to a considerable degree, and hence dogs may be well able to interpret this human status–related nonverbal communication from their perspective. Dominance is therefore also likely to play a role in human–dog relationships. Hence, the dominance concept might be useful to explain the development of certain problems in dog–dog and dog–human relationships. However, enforcing a dominant status by a human may entail considerable risks and should therefore be avoided.     

Present state of imposex in neptune whelk Neptunea arthritica inhabiting shallow waters around Hokkaido, Japan

ABSTRACT:   The state of imposex in Neptunea arthritica from seven sites along the coast of Hokkaido, Japan was examined in 2002 based on the criteria: (i) relative penis size index (RPSI); (ii) imposex frequency; (iii) stage frequency distribution of imposex in adult and immature whelks; and (iv) sex ratio. RPSI differed from site to site, although values from all sites were low (0.186–5.294). In particular, the RPSI values for four sites were very low (<1.0). In sites where immature whelks were also collected, the frequency of imposex was considerably lower in immature (7.7%–55.6%) than in adult whelks (50%–95.2%) except at one site. The imposex stage frequency distribution also differed among sites, and the trend in the adult whelks corresponded with their RPSI value. Female whelks showing severe imposex (Stage 3 and 3+) were restricted to large individuals.     

南沙岛礁周围水域主要鱼类食物网

在南沙岛礁周围水域收集了43种主要鱼类,共940个胃含物,根据对它们的食性分析,并依其食料生物的生态类群以及消化器官特点,一般可划分为浮游生物食性、底栖动物食性、游泳动物食性、浮游生物兼底栖动物食性、底栖动物兼游泳动物食性等5种食性类型。根据食物网中各营养级的相互关系,初步划分为4个营养级,即初级生产者(海洋植物)、草食性动物和杂食性动物、低级肉食性动物和中级肉食性动物、高级肉食性动物。并根据这些营养级的划分,南沙岛礁周围水域43种主要鱼类可分低级肉食性鱼类,中级肉性鱼类和高级肉食性鱼类,它们的比为28105。灰裸顶鲷是南沙岛礁周围水域三重剌网举足轻重的捕捞对象,从食物网的观点出发,应加强灰裸顶鲷幼鱼期敌害鱼和其竞食者的捕捞,为低级肉食性经济鱼类除害,灰裸顶鲷就有可能增加资源量。     

南北湖渔业资源现状及开发途径的探讨

作者于１９９５年对位于杭州湾北岸海盐县境内的南北湖进行了周年浮生物种群组成调查及生物量季节变化的测定，由此估算出该湖食浮游生物及腐屑的鱼类增产潜力。鉴于南北湖是著名风景湖泊，在渔业上不宜采取投饵施肥方式增加鱼是疾病，但针对良料资源状况选择适宜品种，有节制地增殖放养某些经济鱼虾，不仅能