THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN RETRACTED Exergy as an ecological application used in the recovery process of benthic communities

Exergy, the thermodynamic function that represents the distance of an open system from equilibrium, is proposed as an ecological indicator for summarizing the complex dynamics occurring in a disturbed community during its recovery processes. These complex dynamics can be difficult to capture by using classical indices. In this study, we sampled macrobenthos using the BACI scheme (before versus after; control versus impact) in tidal wetlands of west Chongming Island, China, an area that has been disturbed by ecological engineering measures. Exergy storage is estimated for benthic communities. The control area is proposed as dynamic reference for estimating local exergy storage of the benthic community. Three different methods were used for estimating exergy on the basis of coefficients: (a) taken for taxa groups; (b) estimated from coding genes given for broad taxonomic groups; and (c) estimated from genome size taken as close as possible to the taxonomic level of the species, providing a basis for inferring similarities. We found a decrease of local exergy content in the disturbed area 9 days after the disturbance. Subsequently, the reference exergy of the benthic community increased (i.e. in the surrounding control area) in accordance with the proposed hypothesis regarding the dynamics of exergy storage during a system's development. Estimates of local exergy arrived at using the three methods provided comparable results. Based on this, we then discuss the feasibility of using the more readily available genome size data for estimating exergy. This result may have important implications for broader application of this indicator to biological systems. Moreover, the adjacent control samples seem to represent an appropriate dynamic reference for estimating the local exergy of disturbed communities. We found that exergy was a useful indicator that integrates the processes underlying the recovery of the benthic community after disturbance.     

Habitat relationships with fish assemblages in minimally disturbed Great Plains regions

Abstract – Effects of local environmental influences on the structure of fish assemblages were evaluated from 159 sites in two regions of the Great Plains with limited anthropogenic disturbance. These regions offered an opportunity to evaluate the structure and variation of streams and fish assemblages within the Great Plains. We used canonical correspondence analyses to determine the influence of environmental conditions on species abundances, species occurrences and assemblage characteristics. Analysis of regions separately indicated that similar environmental factors structured streams and fish assemblages, despite differences in environmental conditions and species composition between regions. Variance in fish abundance and assemblage characteristics from both regions was best explained by metrics of stream size and associated metrics (width, depth, conductivity and instream cover). Our results provide a framework and reference for conditions and assemblage structure in North American prairie streams.     

广东东莞松木山水库鱼类群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

为探讨广东东莞松木山水库鱼类群落结构特征及其与环境因子的关系,分析其结构特征在沉浮网间的差异性,在该水库设置3个采样点采用多网目刺网对鱼类进行了调查。结果显示,共采集到鱼类17种,隶属4目、6科,物种数以鲤形目为主（占58.82%）。相对重要性指数（IRI）显示,优势种为海南似鱎（IRI占比29.66%）、?（18.98%）、尼罗非鲫（18.46%）、鲢（14.85%）和莫桑比克非鲫（11.36%）,其中单位努力捕捞数量（NPUE）以海南似鱎（45.72%）占优、单位努力捕捞重量（BPUE）以尼罗非鲫（34.60%）为主。聚类分析表明,鱼类物种组成在季节间无显著差异,物种数、NPUE和BPUE亦无季节变化（P>0.05）。鱼类群落物种数、NPUE和BPUE沉浮网间无显著差异（P>0.05）,但鱼类数量组成沉浮网间存在显著差异（P<0.001）,与海南似鱎有关,其NPUE浮网显著高于沉网（P<0.05）,其他5种主要鱼类沉浮网间无显著差异（P>0.05）。透明度、pH和总磷是影响鱼类物种数量时空分布的关键环境因子。研究表明,松木山水库鱼类多样性低,可能与水面积较小、连通性低、外来种入侵及入库河道以人工排渠为主有关,为科学合理评估鱼类数量组成建议水库鱼类调查需要同时使用沉浮网。     

Natural and artificially-induced habitat complexity and freshwater fish species composition

Abstract  The effects of habitat complexity, induced by construction of artificial reefs, on the fish assemblages in the Barra Bonita reservoir, Brazil, and in the lotic zone immediately below the dam were studied. Four artificial reefs were constructed in each habitat at variable distances from the shore. Multiple correspondence analysis showed that the factors distance from the shore and type of habitat were determinants for the group formation, and artificial reefs had a lesser effect. Fish species composition was about the same at locations with and without reefs.     

海洋底边界层动物

底边界层动物是生活在海洋底边界层中的特定生物类群,通常包括超底栖动物和浮游动物两大类。底边界层动物的生态学意义表现在,它们是海洋食物链的重要组成部分,是水层系统底栖系统耦合过程的重要环节,是陆架海的碳垂直通量的重要影响因子。底边界层动物的采样装置主要包括滑橇式和陷阱式两种类型。     

Feeding ecology of fishes associated with Egeria spp. patches in a tropical reservoir, Brazil

Abstract –  This research characterised feeding ecology of fishes associated with patches of Egeria najas and Egeria densa , two submerged macrophytes, in Rosana Reservoir, Upper Paraná River basin, Brazil. Fishes were sampled using a 1 m² throw trap in patches of different macrophyte biomass and in three diel periods during a wet season. Fish diet (10 species) was primarily composed of autochthonous items (zooplankton, algae and aquatic insect larvae). Almost all intra-specific diet patterns had moderate to low levels of diet similarity, indicating a high variability in diet. Some species showed no diel patterns in feeding activity, whereas others were primarily diurnal or nocturnal. No differences in feeding activity were observed among habitats of medium and high macrophyte biomasses, and species tended to feed on the same items among these habitats. The most abundant fish species demonstrated low inter-specific diet overlap and appear not to compete for food resources. We suggest that Egeria patches are feeding grounds and shelter for small-sized fish species.     

Influences of El Niño on assemblages of mesopelagic fish larvae along the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur

Seasonal assemblages of mesopelagic fish larvae and changes related with environmental factors (plankton biomass, sea surface temperature anomaly, upwelling, and the multivariate El Niño index) were investigated. From 1982 to 1987, 16 oceanographic cruises were carried out along the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Larvae of 42 mesopelagic fish taxa were collected. Larval abundance was highly variable during the studied period, but summer months coincided with higher abundance (>200 larvae under 10 m²). Larval assemblages were dominated by three of the most common species of tropical (Vinciguerria lucetia, Diogenichthys laternatus) and subtropical affinity (Triphoturus mexicanus). A group of species of tropical affinity (Diplophos proximus, Diaphus pacificus, Benthosema panamense) was useful for distinguishing the 1982–84 El Niño event, and an assemblage of larvae of temperate affinity (Symbolophorus californiensis, Melamphaes lugubris, Bathylagus ochotensis, Leuroglossus stilbius, Protomyctophum crockeri) characterized ‘normal’ years (mid‐1984 to mid‐1987).     

剑湖大型底栖动物群落结构及多样性

在剑湖选择11个采样点,于2011年1月、4月、6月和10月按季度4次对大型底栖动物进行采样调查,共发现大型底栖动物52种,主要为软体动物、水生昆虫和环节动物种类。大型底栖动物的密度和生物量时空分布差异明显,密度表现为冬季＞春季＞夏季＞秋季;生物量表现为夏季＞春季＞秋季＞冬季。各采样点全年密度为16～23840个/m2,最高密度出现在采样点A左,最低密度则在采样点E右;生物量全年为1.68～2343.47 g/m2,以采样点D最高,采样点I最低。Margalef丰富度指数全年为0.10～2.75,最高值出现在秋季,最低值出现在夏季;Shannon -Wiener 指数、Simpson生物指数和Pielou均匀度指数全年分别为0.09～1.09、0.03～0.65和0.03～1.43,最高值均出现在夏季,最低值均出现在冬季。     

Factors affecting fish assemblage structure during seasonal stream drying

Abstract –  We evaluated fish assemblage structure during stream drying in north west Arkansas in 2002 and 2003. We sampled fish with a seine and backpack electrofisher and measured habitat variables along transects. Linear regression models were selected a priori and ranked according to Akaike's Information Criterion. In 2002, total fish density was negatively related to pool area and maximum depth, and positively related to canopy openness and substrate diversity. Similarly, central stoneroller ( Campostoma anomalum , Rafinesque) and creek chub ( Semotilus atromaculatus , Mitchill) densities were negatively related to maximum pool depth. In 2003, fish species richness was positively related to pool area whereas total fish, central stoneroller, and creek chub densities were negatively related to maximum pool depth. In addition, total fish density was negatively related to substrate diversity. Results indicated that physical factors are important predictors of fish assemblage structure during stream drying. However, differences among response variables between years indicated that the magnitude of stream drying might be critical in intermittent streams.     

Using ecological trajectories to track long-term taxonomic and functional changes in benthic shallow soft-bottom communities (Bay of Saint-Brieuc,English Channel)

1. Taxonomic and functional trajectories of benthic assemblages were studied in shallow soft-bottom sediments in the bay of Saint-Brieuc (Western English Channel). Changes were assessed at different spatial and temporal scales using a macrobenthic dataset based on 38 stations sampled in 1987 and 2019, coupled with data from one station sampled annually between 2005 and 2019 as part of the European Water Framework Directive monitoring programme.
2. Taxonomic trajectories indicated 1) changes in the structure and distribution of benthic assemblages, 2) an homogenization of the assemblages, and 3) significant functional shifts.
3. Fishing activities and nutrient enrichment are probably strong drivers of the observed changes, as suggested by the higher mortality rate of fragile, flexible, tubiculous and burrowing species, and the increase in the abundance of opportunistic species in the assemblages. Certain populations of macroinvertebrates seem jointly controlled by climate change and by the aforementioned local factors of disturbance.
4. The Community Trajectory Analysis framework appears as a new and interesting method to track ecological changes in marine ecosystems by measuring change with respect to a baseline state, to help define ecological recovery (station returning to the initial ecological state) and departure (station presenting increased changes over time), and to analyse trajectory similarity.
5. According to the degradation of habitat over time, we identify the need for the implementation of knowledge-based conservation strategies, especially within Natura 2000 sites.