Biogenic sedimentary structures on a Korean mud flat: Spring-neap variations

Biogenic sedimentary structures created by dominant benthic animals of a mud flat were investigated in a small embayment at Panweol on the west coast of Korea. Burrows were replicated using the resin casting method on a sufficiently large scale to evaluate their variations statistically. The size and shape of burrows and other traces varied with locations and tidal phases. Burrows of the upper-intertidal crabs Helice tridens sheni and Ilyoplax dentimerosa were T- or I-shaped, vertical and deep whereas those of the mid-intertidal crab Macrophthalmus japonicus were U-shaped, oblique and shallow. The upper-intertidal polychaete Perineris aibuhitensis, a subsurface feeder, had sinuous and highly-branched burrows while the mid-internal one Periserrula leucophryna, a surface feeder, had vertical burrows without subsurface branches. Variations of crab burrows with tidal phases were distinct: The burrows of both H. tridens sheni and M. japonicus were significantly deeper and wider during neap tides than during spring tides. Sediment mounds were common in the upper intertidal zone, while crawling and feeding traces such as trails, trackways and cheliped scrapings were more prominent in the mid-intertidal zone. These traces were also observed in the upper intertidal zone during spring tides when surface sediments became watery. The size of the sediment mounds varied, being largest during neap tides. These biogenic sedimentary structures observed at Panweol were distinctly different from those found near Inchon only 50 km away, probably due to differences in hydrology and sedimentology.     

Scale and intensity of intertidal habitat use by knots Calidris canutus in the Western Wadden Sea in relation to food,friends and foes

In August–October 1988–1992 we studied the distribution and abundance of knots Calidris canutus around Griend in the western Wadden Sea, and the extent to which these can be explained by benthic prey availability and presence of avian predators. Numbers in the nonbreeding season showed monthly averages of 10 000 to 25 000 birds. Over 100 000 knots were recorded on three occassions. Knots feed in large flocks, individual birds usually experiencing 4 000 to 15 000 flock-mates. The Siberian-breeding/west-African wintering canutus subspecies passed through in late July and early August. Otherwise the Greenlandic/Canadian breeding islandica subspecies was present. Over the period 1964–1992 there were no clear trends in the number of knots, but canutus-knots were particularly abundant in July–August 1991, whereas in 1992 both subspecies were absent.Macoma balthica was the preferred prey of both subspecies. Hydrobia ulvae, Mytilus edulis and Cerastoderma edule were eaten when Macoma was absent close to the surface of the sediment. As Macoma buried deeper from July onwards, canutus faced better average feeding conditions than islandica later in the year. The spatial distributon of knots feeding on the intertidal flats around Griend was best explained by the harvestable biomass of the prevalent prey species in a particular year and season, i.e. Macoma (main prey when their harvestable biomass densities were greater than ca 0.8 g AFDM per m²) and Cerastoderma, and by the avoidance of situations where they run the risk of attack by bird-eating birds. Flocks of knots covered most of the intertidal flats in the Western Dutch Wadden Sea in a couple of tidal cycles. This is about 800 km², much larger than the equivalent area used by knots on their wintering grounds in Mauritania (10–15 km²), a difference that is correlated with prey spectrum, prey availability and predictability.     

Environmental characteristics and distribution of macrobenthos in a mudflat of the west coast of Korea (Yellow Sea)

The spatio-temporal changes of environmental factors and the distribution patterns of macrobenthos were investigated on an intertidal mudflat near Panweol on the west coast of Korea. Temperatures of the surface sediments and salinities of the intertitial water were highest in summer and lowest in winter, while water content of the sediment was lowest in summer and highest in winter. Hourly variations of sediment temperature, water content and interstitial salinity during the daytime depended largely upon both the timing of ebb tide and daylight intensity.Temperature, water content and interstitial salinity showed a marked variation with sediment depth. Temperatures decreased sharply from the surface to 10 or 15 cm depth, and below this depth they were nearly constant, except in summer. Water content and interstitial salinity underwent a rapid decline in this upper layer and began to rise from this depth. From the high tide mark toward the main tidal channel, water content increased but salinity decreased. The sand fraction increased with the decrease of clay content toward the main tidal channel. This tidal flat could be divided into two zones: the “upper intertidal zone” and the “lower intertidal zone”, based on the spatial differences of the water content, interstitial salinity and grain-size composition in the surface sediment.There were three distinct zones of macrobenthos. The upper intertidal zone was dominated by burrowing deposit feeders, such as Ilyoplax dentimerosa, Helice tridens sheni, Cleistostoma dilatatum and Perinereis vancaurica tetradentata. The middle intertidal zone was characterized by other burrowing deposit feeders, such as Ilyoplax pingi, Macrophthalmus japonicus and Periserrula leucophryna. And the lower intertidal zone was dominated by suspension feeders represented by Laonome tridentata and Potamocorbula amurensis. Each zone was named after these characteristic species.Although the species composition of the upper intertidal community was different from that of the middle intertidal, the way of living and the feeding behaviour of the species occurring in these two zones were very similar. But the lower intertidal zone showed a characteristic community structure differing not only in species composition but also in ways of living and feeding of the species. Some sets of environmental factors are considered to explain the zonation. Water content of the sediment and interstitial salinity will be the main factors causing the observed zonation.     

An evaluation of intertidal feeding habitats from a shorebird perspective: Towards relevant comparisons between temperate and tropical mudflats

Macrozoobenthic communities of intertidal soft sediments are reviewed worldwide from the perspective of a mollusc-eating shorebird species. Based on 19 sites, total biomass figures varied between 5 and 80 g AFDM per m² (average 24 g AFDM per m²); no latitudinal trends are apparent. The contribution made by bivalves and gastropods varies between 1% and 99%, north-temperate intertidal flats having relatively more molluscs than tropical flats. Intertidal flats in the tropics contain a greater variety of taxa, with brachiopods in Indonesia and echinoderms in northwest Australia contributing significantly to biomass only there. Limits to the occurrence of avian predators of intertidal benthos are set by the harvestable fraction of the biomass on offer and the costs of living at a particular site. No systematic differences in the harvestable fraction of the total mollusc-biomass for a worldwide occurring shorebird species specializing on molluscs (knots Calidris canutus) were apparent between temperate and tropical intertidal areas, in spite of large differences in maintenance metabolism incurred by these birds. The harvestable fractions of bivalves in the two West African areas (Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau) tended to be high (23–84% of total biomass in six species), they were relatively low (2–52% in five species) in the temperate Wadden Sea and the tropical northwest Australian site. Harvestable biomass determines the intake rate of shorebirds, as illustrated by functional-response curves of knots feeding on two bivalves species. We argue that the collection of information on size-depth relationships along with faunal and biomass surveys at a range of sites is bound to greatly increase our understanding of both the biology of tidal-flat invertebrates and the resource base underpinning the spectacular seasonal migrations of shorebirds.     

Temperature beat on a tidal flat: Potential cue for harpacticoid bloom

Temperature was recorded in the sediment on a tidal flat in the Fraser estuary (Canada) from February 15 to July 1985, and from February 19 to July 9 in 1986, with continuous recording thermographs. Within these periods, the abundance of an assemblage of harpacticoid copepods (Tisbe spp., Zaus aurelii, Harpacticus uniremis) was monitored bi-weekly by sampling the water column with a sled-sampler. Temperature time-series of both years showed the expected fortnightly beats in the daily temperature cycle. A reversal in the direction of the change of temperature in the sediment during exposure was observed on March 12 in 1985, and on March 1 in 1986. This reversal initiated the seasonal warming beat in the sediment when exposed at lower low waters, and is caused by the precessing of the timing of the lower low waters relative to the solar day. Blooming period of harpacticoids was centred on March 21 in 1985, and on March 12 in 1986. Closeness and apparent co-phasing of warming beat initiation and bloom onset suggest that the reversal in the direction of temperature change at lower low waters exposure could be a cue for harpacticoid blooming. The predictability of the timing of this clear signal in the thermal regime could provide the basis for an unequivocal definition of the link between harpacticoid abundance and temperature on tidal flats.     

Accumulation rates of estuarine sediment in the dollard area: comparison of 210Pb and pollen influx methods

Profiles of excess ²¹⁰Pb activity in sediment cores collected on the muddy tidal flats of the Dollard indicate deposition rates ranging from 0.14 to 0.27 cm·y⁻¹. One profile was also analysed for pollen: the pollen profile in the core provided a record of the sedimentation rate because two independent historical events were found recorded in the profile. The first, a sudden abundance of an Aster-type pollen, reflected, at a depth of 33 cm in the sediment, the large land reclamation of 1862 A.D. The second, the appearance of Zea mays (corn) at a depth of 6 cm, reflected the increase of the area in which corn was cultivated: from 44 ha in 1970 up to 552 ha in 1973. The pollen data gave an estimated sedimentation rate of 0.25 cm·y⁻¹. Excess ²¹⁰Pb analysis of the same core yielded a sedimentation rate of 0.27 cm·y⁻¹.     

Changes in suspended-matter floc size during the tidal cycle in the dollard estuary

Measurements of in situ particle size of suspended matter in a tidal channel in the Dollard (Dutch Wadden Sea) indicated systematic variations in floc size during the tidal cycle that can be explained by assuming settling during slack tide, resuspension during the early ebb and early flood, flocculation of fine particles into large ones during most of the tide, and deflocculation of large flocs into smaller particles during or after settling to the bottom. There was a characteristic difference in floc-size variation during ebb and during flood. During the ebb maximum floc size coincided with maximum suspended-matter concentration (maximum collision frequency); during the flood maximum floc size continued to increase towards high-water slack tide. The adjacent tidal flats had a marked influence on floc size: where the flats were small, the highest percentages of large flocs (>F128 μm) occurred around slack tide when current velocities are low. Where the adjacent flats were broad and extensive, high percentages also occured during intermediate periods. Flocs of maximum size are probably not in equilibrium with the bulk of the suspended matter: they are mainly formed during periods of high suspended-matter concentrations of short duration.     

Trophic resource partitioning between two coexisting flatfish species off the North coast of Anglesey,North Wales

Interspecific and intraspecific trophic resource partitioning between coexisting plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L. and dab, Limanda limanda (L.) populations were investigated at three subtidal locations in the Irish Sea: Two inshore locations off the coast of Anglesey, North Wales and one off-shore location. In shallow inshore waters, the two species had similar diets dominated by the polychaete Pectinaria koreni. Offshore dab appeared to concentrate on Ensis ensis whilst the plaice took a wider variety of prey including bivalves, polychaetes, crustaceans and sand eels. Trawls made over a 24-hour period indicated some crepuscular and nocturnal feeding by individuals of both species. The observed patterns of resource partitioning were due to the abundance of prey species which vary spatially and seasonally and are discussed in relation to current work on resource partitioning between fishes.     

Suspended-sediment transport in the Dollard estuary

For an analysis of suspended-sediment transport in the Dollard estuary, water samples were taken and current velocities and directions measured on the tidal flats and in the channels. Measurements carried out during fair-weather conditions in summer were compared with measurements carried out during a heavy gale in winter. During the onset of the flood, high suspended-sediment concentrations occurred as a result of resuspension of the top layer of the bottom sediment. Measurements carried out in the channels pointed to sediment transport from the estuary seaward, but inward transport over the flats during fair weather apparently compensates for the outflow during ebb and storms: the result is a net deposition in the order of 1 to 2 mm (up to 8 mm) per year, as previously observed in this area.     

Recent sediment deposition rates in the oyster ground,North Sea

Recent sediment accumulation rates were calculated from downcore ²¹⁰Pb-excess activity profiles obtained from box cores taken in the Oyster Ground, North Sea. The rates ranged from 0.04 to 0.94 cm·yr⁻¹ with an average of 0.39 cm·yr⁻¹. In the top sediment layer the activities were rather low, the highest being only 1.15 dpm·g⁻¹, and the average value 0.92 dpm·g⁻¹.As shown by X-ray radiographs, downcore variations in texture were small: most samples being homogeneous and lacking primary sedimentary structures. Burrowing was evident in all cores, and most of them had a surface mixed layer of at least 5 cm, below which the ²¹⁰Pb activity rapidly dropped to background value.Downcore deviations from the logarithmic decrease in ²¹⁰Pb with depth could generally be attributed to biological disturbance or physical processes causing reworking of the sediment. Only in one core did the ²¹⁰Pb activity decrease regularly with depth. The activities of ¹³⁷Cs in this core and another demonstrated recent accumulation rates of 0.44 and 0.88 cm·yr⁻¹, respectively, which are in good agreement with the rates obtained from the ²¹⁰Pb method in the same cores (viz. 0.37 and 0.94 cm·yr⁻¹). From these sedimentation rates the total amount of mud yearly deposited in the muddy part of the Oyster Ground is estimated to be in the order of 2×10⁹ kg·yr⁻¹, which is 4 to 5% of the total amount of mud yearly deposited in the North Sea.     

Immigration and settlement pattern of Paralichthys dentatus and P. lethostigma in an estuarine nursery ground,North Carolina,U.S.A.

Immigration and settlement pattern of 0-group summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) and southern flounder (P. lethostigma) in an estuarine nursery are described. Flounders entering the estuary were transforming larvae. Despite their sympatric occurrence during larval immigration, the two species were found concentrated in different habitats. Sampling along transects within the estuary indicated that newly settled southern flounder were concentrated on tidal flats towards the head of the estuary while greatest numbers of summer flounder were captured on tidal flats in the middle reach of the system. Logistic regression analysis of presence/absence data indicated that salinity affected the distribution of southern flounder while substrate type was an important factor affecting the distribution of summer flounder. Numbers of both species on tidal flats declined in the spring, southern flounder appeared to move upstream to oligohaline riverine habitat and summer flounder appeared to move to high salinity salt marsh habitat. The segregated distribution apparent in juveniles is largely established during the immigration period. Differences in settling behaviour and subsequent movement and/or differential mortality occurring during settlement, appear important in determining the observed distribution of juvenile summer and southern flounder.     

The role of epibenthic predators in structuring the marine invertebrate community of a British coastal salt marsh

The marine fauna of salt marshes are subjected to predation by birds, tidally feeding flatfish, crabs, prawns and small gobiid fish. The role of these epibenthic predators in structuring the community was investigated using cages to exclude predators. A range of designs of cages and partial cages was employed to control for artefacts due to caging, and sufficient cages were employed so that each cage was only sampled once to prevent the compounding of disturbance due to predation and sampling. Two mesh sizes were employed, a fine mesh excluding epibenthic predators and a coarse mesh allowing access by small crabs, prawns and gobiid fish but excluding birds and larger fish. The exclusion was maintained for 2 years. The presence of any experimental structure had a significant effect on the sedimentary regime within the cage. Epibentic predator exclusion let to an increase in infaunal predator density, but had no significant effect on the infaunal deposit feeders. There was some evidence that predators limit the surface deposit feeding gastropood Hydrobia ulvae during the winter. The gastropod Littorina littorea responded positively to the presence of any caging structure; this may be the result of changes in the availability of food, as the sides of a cage support a diatom flora which this species can exploit. The lack of a response from the infaunal deposit feeders is attributed to their horizontal mobility within the sediment. The possible interactions between epibenthic and infaunal predators are discussed.     

Environmental impact of soil erosion under different cover and management systems

Runoff, soil loss and physical chemical composition of surface soil, runoff water and eroded sediment were measured for three erosive rainstorms of the 1988 Autumn-Winter season, on clay soil slopes (Typic Chromoxeret) under different cover and management systems in a locality of Sicily.Four years reconsolidated natural grass-sod (Avena fatua and Lolium tumulentum), natural grass-sod with implanted forage shrubs (Atriplex halimus) and natural grass-rod afforested with Pine trees (Pinus halepensis), reduced significantly runoff and soil loss in comparison with tilled fallow following four years durum wheat cultivation.While differences in runoff and soil loss between reconsolidated systems were not significant, the higher biomass yield (Stringi et al. 1991) and the better soil cover (Chisci et al. 1991) of the Atriplex system, increased O.M. content of the soil and prevented soil erosion under very intense rainstroms of the semiarid Mediterranean area.The comparison of textural and aggregate grain-size composition of surface soil and sediment confirmed that physico-mechanical composition of sediment detached and transported by over-land flow on clayey soils is better estimated by pseudo-textural grain-size composition of surface soil (Chisci et al. 1989) than from textural composition.Soil loss amounts, and O.M., N and P enrichment ratios, combined in a specifically devised Environmental Impact Index (EI), demonstrated the excellent environmental protection value of reconsolidation of arable soils. However, Pinus system was somewhat less efficient than Atriplex and good natural grass-sod systems.     

Changes in sublittoral zoobenthos in the German Bight with regard to eutrophication

Comparisons of benthic macrofauna biomass data from early and recent investigations indicate overall increases. These findings are supported by long-term density trends in macrozoobenthos populations from different areas of the German Bight. Examples are given which show that deep-dwelling and long-lived species derive less benefit from changing conditions than animals which 1. live near the sediment surface, 1. have an adaptive feeding behaviour, and 3. grow and reproduce quickly. Thus, the observed changes are reflected in the dominance structure of the benthic fauna. These changes are interpreted as being influenced and driven by increased eutrophication.     

Community structure and biomass distribution of seagrasses and macrofauna in the flores sea,Indonesia

In several locations in the Flores Sea region the community structure and the biomass distribution of seagrasses were studied along transects perpendicular to the shoreline. The share of each species within a sample plot was estimated, divided in above- and below-ground biomass. Statistics regarding substrate coverage, shoot density and leaf-area index were sampled. A standard relation was calculated between seagrass dry weight, ash-free dry weight and organic carbon content.The biotic data were related to environmental factors: DOC and nutrients in the water, salinity, tidal amplitude, sediment composition. A relation was estimated between bottom coverage of seagrasses and standing stock. Further calculations of biomass-production ratios allow a quick and rough estimate of seagrass productivity. Maximum above-ground biomass values (500–700 g AFDW·m⁻²) together with qualitative data indicate resource (= space) partitioning among the component seagrasses within a community, and suggest a carrying capacity of the reefflat habitat for seagrass density and biomass.A tentative model was constructed, starting from a constant, non-distributed multispecies vegetation in the lower intertidal and subtidal zone on sand and coral rubble, and moving into several suboptimal situations. The upper shore carries an impoverished, constrained vegetation (irregular tides, desiccation, harvesting). Sediment reworking by animals and physical displacement of sand disturbs the vegetation and favours pioneer species. Muddy habitats bordering mangroves carry monospecific stands showing extremely high biomass (e.g. below-ground Enhalus acoroides 3500 g AFDW·m⁻²). Thalassia hemprichii and Enhalus acoroides are the most constant species in all habitats mentioned.Macrofauna biomass within the seagrass beds fluctuated widely (maximum values 50–70 g AFDW·m⁻² in mixed seagrass vegetations) and only a weak relation between benthic macrofauna biomass and seagrass community structure and biomass was found.     

The effects of bioturbation on sediment transport on an intertidal mudflat

Laboratory flume studies were conducted to determine the relative importance of various biological and physical factors controlling sediment erosion threshold and transport rate on an intertidal mudflat in the Bay of Fundy. Studies were conducted in a July period of maximum solar exposure. The upper and mid-intertidal stations of the flat were dominated by silt-clay sediments, while the lower intertidal was dominated by very fine sand. The tube-dwelling amphipod Corophium volutator was the most abundant infaunal species with densities exceeding ∼1300 ind·m⁻² based on counts of burrow openings. Sediment-penetrometry and water-content measurements indicated no change in unconsolidated shear strength and porosity, respectively, along the intertidal transect. Despite the apparently cohesive nature of the sediment, erosion occurred as small ripples. Critical shear velocities (u_crit) for erosion determined with intact cores in a laboratory flume were relatively consistent between stations and sampling dates (mean = 2.1 cm·s⁻¹ ± 0.2 SD), with no relationship to Corophium density, sediment chlorophyll a, or physical variables. Field-treatment of sediment with formalin did not cause an obvious change in u_crit as determined by flume experiments. Corophium seemed to have little effect on erosion thresholds because incipient motion could be observed between tube burrows, beyond the local influence of the amphipod. In contrast to erosion thresholds, sediment-erosion rates measured with bedload traps were negatively correlated with density of small Corophium, probably due to binding of sediment into burrows and the ambient sediment microfabric, all of which reduce the availability of sediment for transport. Adult amphipods, which occurred at low density probably due to territorial/competitive interactions, had no obvious effect on erosion rate since only a small proportion of the sediment surface was impacted by their bioturbation. Although a portion of the amphipod population exerts a stabilizing influence on sediment-erosion rates, concurrent studies at the site indicate that Corophium seasonally reduces the sediment-erosion threshold by grazing on microflora which would otherwise inhibit the initiation of grain motion. Due to this decoupling of erosion rate and threshold, it is necessary to measure both processes in assessing the effects of benthic biota on sediment transport.     

The importance of rivers as nursery grounds for 0- and 1-group flounder (Platichthys flesus L.) in comparison to the Wadden sea

From May 1988 to June 1989 selected areas of the German Wadden Sea, the Ems, Weser, Elbe and Eider estuaries as well as in Elbe tributaries were sampled for 0- and 1-group flounder (Platichthys flesus L.). Estuarine and Wadden Sea sampling was conducted on board commercial shrimp vessels equipped with beam trawls. The Elbe river system was sampled on board a research boat equipped with a similar 3-m beam trawl. Density indices were calculated for the various areas. To estimate the importance of rivers as nursery areas for flounder, river surface area was compared to the area of tidal flats in the Wadden Sea.In all surveys, there was no relationship between fish densities and tow directions with respect to tide. In the Elbe river system flounder densities were not correlated to substrate types but increased significantly with decreasing salinity. Abundances were always lowestt in polyhaline habitats and increased up to 10-fold in mesohaline estuarine areas. In the limnetic tidal sections of the Elbe river and its tributaries densities increased again by factors of 3 to 10. The succession of 1-group modal lengths from limnetic to polyhaline habitats demonstrated that smaller fish preferred less saline waters. 0-group specimens lagging behind in growth did not leave the limnetic river section in winter. The onset of the spawning migration in November was determined by monitoring the length-frequency distributions throughout the year.The possible sources of bias are discussed and gear efficiency is estimated from literature sources. The contribution of rivers to the 0- and 1-group flounder population on the tidal flats of the Wadden Sea is estimated at about 35.1%.     

春季生物膜对营养盐在水-沉积物界面扩散的影响

为了明确春季大沽河河口潮滩养殖功能的退化是否由食物（底栖藻类）匮乏所致,2009年5月在大沽河河口潮滩采集柱状沉积物样,利用氯化汞抑制沉积物表层生物膜的活性,研究生物膜对营养盐在水-沉积物界面迁移扩散的影响程度。结果表明,沉积物既可以是水体中营养盐的“源”也可以是其“汇”;在河道的近海侧,沉积物表面的生物膜会促进磷酸盐自沉积物向水体扩散;在其余区域,沉积物表面的生物膜会抑制营养盐自沉积物向水体扩散;在该河口潮滩,沉积物表层的生物膜均会抑制营养盐自沉积物向水体扩散。研究表明,春季大沽河河口潮滩贝类底播养殖功能的退化,并非食物短缺所致。     

Flocking and feeding in the fiddler crab (UCA tangeri): Prey availability as risk-taking behaviour

For a full understanding of prey availability, it is necessary to study risk-taking behaviour of the prey. Fiddler crabs are ideally suited for such a study, as they have to leave their safe burrow to feed on the surface of the intertidal flats during low tide, thereby exposing themselves to avian predators. A study in an intertidal area along the coast of Mauritania showed that small crabs always stayed in the vicinity of their burrow, but large crabs wandered in large flocks (also referred to as droves) to feed on sea-grass beds downshore. Transplanting downshore feeding substrate to the burrowing zone of the small crabs proved that they too preferred to feed on it. Since small crabs can be preyed upon by more species of birds, this suggests that the decision not to leave the burrowing zone might be related to the risk of being fed upon by birds. We calculated predation risk from measurements on the density and feeding activity of the crabs, as well as the feeding density, the intake rate and the size selection of the avian predators. Per hour on the surface, crabs in a flock were more at risk than crabs feeding near their burrow. Thus, though flocking crabs may have benefited from ‘swamping the predator’ by emerging in maximum numbers during some tides only, this did not reduce their risk of predation below that of non-flocking crabs. Furthermore we found that irrespective of activity, large crabs suffered a higher mortality per tide from avian predators than small crabs. This suggests that large crabs could not sufficiently reduce their foraging time to compensate for the increased risk while foraging in a flock, even though they probably experienced better feeding conditions than small crabs staying near their burrow. The greater energy demands of large crabs were reflected in a greater surface area grazed. Thus, with increasing size a fiddler crab has to feed further away from its burrow and so may derive less protection from staying near to it. It seems that growing big does not reduce the risk of predation for fiddler crabs, as it does in many other species with indeterminate growth. As in such species, the most probable advantage of growing big is increased mating success. Ultimately, therefore, prey availability must be understood from the life-history decisions of the prey species.     

气候因子对滩涂围垦区不同盐分水平下土壤盐分季节性变化的影响

为探明滩涂围垦区气候因子对不同盐分水平下土壤盐分的变化规律,于2014年5月—2015年5月在江苏如东滩涂开展试验,设低、中、高3个盐分水平,监测了土壤盐分和气候因子的动态变化。结果表明：（1）在中-高盐水平下,表层盐分均表现为在9—12月有明显积盐作用,且在10月达到最大值分别为26.66 g/kg和14.13 g/kg;在低盐下,表层和亚表层盐分均无明显的季节性变化规律,而分别在0.50~2.00 g/kg和1.20~2.90 g/kg之间波动;（2）在中-高盐水平下,表层盐分变化均与降雨量有显著的负相关,与蒸降比有极显著的正相关;在低盐下,土壤盐分与大气温度有明显的正相关。因此,若采取适当的人为措施如种植植被、覆盖等加剧降雨量对土壤盐分变化的影响,充分利用沿海降雨量比较集中的特点,可能是未来沿海滩涂降盐改土的重要措施。