Increasing turtle strandings in the southeast United States: A complicating factor

Increased strandings of dead loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta on southeast US shores may be the result of increased fishing efficiency and improved recruitment of young turtles to the population. Possibly, the practice of discarding overboard large amounts of unwanted fish and biological material may provide a major energy resource for loggerhead sea turtles and crabs, which are also loggerhead food items. Our observations show that many dead loggerheads stranded on Cumberland Island had eaten man-caught food in addition to the expected diet of crabs and other bottom-dwelling animals. Consideration of alternative methods of handling the incidental fish catch while trawling for shrimp may be useful in reducing the problem of killing of sea turtles in shrimp trawls.     

Incidental capture of marine turtles by the Italian trawl fishery in the north Adriatic Sea

In the north Adriatic Sea on-board observations on midwater and bottom trawlers were carried out during years 1999 and 2000. Results indicate that the north Adriatic Sea, and especially the north-east part, is a very important foraging and overwintering habitat for loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). Since the distribution of fishing effort in the area is not known, the total turtle catch by the Italian bottom trawl fleet was conservatively estimated from the lower catch rate observed in the south-west sub-area: 4273 turtle captures/year (95% C.I.=2186-8546). The actual total catch in the whole north Adriatic is likely to be much higher, due both to an unknown Italian trawling effort in the south-west part with multi-gear vessels and to the Italian and Croatian trawling efforts in the north-east part, where catch rate was 15 times greater than in the south-west part. In the south-west sub-area 9.4% of captured turtles were dead and potential mortality (assuming that all comatose turtles would die too) was 43.8%. Hence, trawling in the north Adriatic is likely to represent a serious threat to the populations, and possible conservation measures are discussed.     

Comparing factors associated with total and dead sooty shearwater bycatch in New Zealand trawl fisheries

Incidental capture of seabirds is a conservation concern because such periodic ‘bycatch’ may cause population declines. Not all birds die upon capture, but distinctions between total and dead captures are rarely done. Thus, it is currently unclear whether using total captures is an adequate simplification, for example when studying factors associated with bycatch. We investigated this question by analysing total and dead procellariiform seabird captures of 663 trawling operations between 1996 and 2008 in the Exclusive Economic Zone of New Zealand. As potential factors associated with bycatch, we considered eleven technical and seven environmental characteristics recorded by onboard observers during commercial trawling. A total of 1 231 procellariids were recovered as bycatch, with sooty shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) comprising 98% of the bycatch sample. Our analyses indicated that specific technical (headline height) and environmental factors (month, daylight, sea state, area code) influenced both total and dead captures of sooty shearwaters, with similar results for both response variables. Using total captures may thus be an adequate simplification in the interpretation of sooty shearwater captures in New Zealand trawl fisheries, and practices that mitigate the overall capture of birds will be most effective.     

Sea turtle bycatch in the Chilean pelagic longline fishery in the southeastern Pacific: Opportunities for conservation

Data are presented on sea turtles caught in the Chilean longline fishery targeting swordfish, Xiphias gladius, in international waters off Chile. A total of 10,604,059 hooks from 7976 sets were observed, representing 94% of the total number of hooks fished between 2001 and 2005. Leatherbacks, Dermochelys coriacea, (n = 284) and loggerheads, Caretta caretta, (n = 59) were the most common species captured. Leatherbacks were caught in less than 4% of the sets, with an overall mean of 0.0268 turtles per 1000 hooks. Loggerheads were caught in less than 1% of the sets with a mean catch rate of 0.0056 turtles per 1000 hooks. Most leatherbacks (97.5% of total) were caught between 24°S and 38°S, while loggerheads were caught primarily in the northern portion of the area fished, between 24°19′S and 25°31′S. All loggerheads were dehooked where appropriate and released alive. A total of two leatherbacks were found dead. Despite the low catch rate of leatherbacks, the potential impact of this fishery on the severely depleted nesting populations in the eastern Pacific could be significant when combined with other fisheries and threats in the region. The very low mortality of bycaught sea turtles observed in our study is encouraging and suggests that there are opportunities for further reducing harmful effects of swordfish longline fishing on sea turtles. Results of spatial analysis of loggerhead bycatch relative to fishing effort show that closure of the northernmost fishing area would eliminate the majority of the loggerhead bycatch.     

Incidental catch of the loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta off the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean)

A survey, which included questionnaires for fishermen and the placement of observers onboard fishing vessels, was conducted to assess turtle catch off the Balearic Islands. The survey focused on those fishing vessels whose base port was in the archipelago and, hence, the catch of South-eastern Spain longliners moving in summer to the archipelago was not considered. The fishermen's perception was that the stock of loggerhead turtles is declining in the archipelago and that fishing activities are at least partially responsible for this trend. The observer reports indicated that the figures produced by the interviewees for catch per unit effort (CPUE) were reliable. Therefore, on the basis of these figures we calculated a total catch of 373 (95% CI: 365-308) loggerheads for 2001. Most turtles were caught in lobster trammel nets (196; 95% CI: 269-123) or drifting longlines (102; 95% CI: 111-93). Although the CPUE was much lower for the former, total catch was greater because of a larger fleet. Moreover, most loggerheads caught in lobster trammel nets were found dead when nets were hauled in, while no immediate mortality was observed in individuals caught in drifting longlines. This observation highlights the threat of trammel nets to loggerhead turtle populations. The estimated impact of the catches on the turtle population depends on the origin of the individuals inhabiting the region, which is yet to be established.     

捕鱼拖网形状与张力特性的数值模拟与水槽试验

为更好地利用数值模拟方法了解拖网的形状与张力变化特性,该文通过有限元计算方法和水槽试验的手段,以日本某四片式中层拖网模型为例,构建了拖网的水动力学特性数学模型,并进行了相应的水槽模型试验。通过计算值与试验值的比较,分析了拖网的形状变化(网口高度、网口宽度以及网身长度)、各部分受力变化(空纲拉力和拖网网衣目脚张力分布变化)以及相关的配线问题,说明仿真模型可以对拖网在水流中的变化进行有效模拟。拖网空纲力的试验值与计算值误差约为10%,网口高度、网身长度符合较好,网口宽度的平均误差小于10%。模型拖网网身中浮沉子纲、力纲及其周边网目受力较大,网囊部分受力较小,随着流速增加,上下网片比左右网片受力更大。同时,数值模拟计算可以为拖网配线提供量化依据,然而由于拖网类型多样,不同设计导致张力分布不同,故此需要具体类型具体分析。该研究结果表明,该文数值计算模型可以有效进行拖网的仿真模拟,为设计和改进拖网提供参考。     

远洋中型单拖渔船中层拖网优化与试验

针对在中东大西洋海域作业的远洋中型单拖渔船缺乏捕捞小型中上层鱼类手段的现状,该研究通过分析大型中层拖网和中国近海大网目拖网的结构特点和水动力参数,综合大型中层拖网和近海大网目拖网的设计参数,优化设计了网口网目尺寸为12 m、网口周长分别为552、456和360 m 共3个规格的试验网,并进行模型试验和海上生产试验。结果表明：在拖速为2.31 m/s时,模型试验测得552型试验网（网口周长552 m）在L/S袖端间距L与长纲长度S之比为0.35、0.40、0.45 3种水平下的平均阻力为151.82 kN,网口高度为28.74 m;456型（网口周长456 m）的平均阻力为135.60 kN,网口高度为24.96 m;360型（网口周长360 m）的平均阻力为70.76 kN,网口高度为20.20 m。试验船在中东大西洋海域生产试验时,552型试验网平均拖速为2.06 m/s,平均每小时产量为0.13 t,456型试验网平均拖速为2.26 m/s,平均每小时产量为0.77 t,360型试验网平均拖速为2.52 m/s,平均每小时产量为1.13 t。中型拖网渔船使用中层拖网捕捞游泳能力较强的小型中上层鱼类,需要较高的拖速,作业拖速为2.31～2.57 m/s时产量较好。试验网具部分（不计网板、曳纲）的功率消耗占主机额定功率的11%～16%。研究结果有助于设计适合中国远洋中型拖网渔船的中层拖网。     

Biology and status of timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) populations in Pennsylvania

The purpose of this study was to examine certain aspects of the life history and ecology of the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus h. horridus) in Pennsylvania, and to evaluate the reported decline in numbers of this species. The influence of commercial hunting has been considered and suggestions are made for conservation of this unpopular but intriguing snake.The previous and present abundance of rattlesnakes was first considered by a programme of interviews with commercial hunters. Visits were also made to many supposed den sites in central Pennsylvania, and to four rattlesnake hunts held in the summer of 1976. There were consistent reports of a large recent decline in the number of rattlesnakes seen and captured. These opinions of the scarcity of rattlesnakes were personally confirmed by visits to known dens. One rattlesnake den was chosen for a study on dates of first capture in the spring, on transplantation of snakes from other localities, on movements of newly released and long-term den residents, and on rodent populations. During three consecutive springs the dates of first capture of rattlesnakes varied only between April 23 and 30, despite marked differences in the pattern of air and ground temperature variation. Many snakes transplanted to a new den site apparently left the area almost immediately. Six out of 33 adults released were recaptured at the new den; three of these hibernated there. Only one of the 48 newborn rattlesnakes released soon after birth in the autumn was recaptured in the subsequent spring. On emergence from hibernation two rattlesnakes were tracked by radiotelemetry. They remained at the den until June, and left soon after shedding. One snake was followed to a distance 1055 m from the den over a period of 69 days. Considerable rodent food was available on the talus slopes of this den. Mice (Peromyscuc leucopus) were abundant; in a 0·7 ha grid trapped for one week the population was estimated at 61/ha. Nine gravid rattlesnakes were held in the laboratory to obtain information on litter size. The average litter was seven (range 5–9) and females lost an average of 41% of their body weight during parturition. The metabolic demands of pregnancy are high and females only reproduce every two, or possibly every three, years. The smallest female to produce a litter had a snout-vent length of 770 mm, and it is estimated that this animal was five years old. Positive correlations between head length and snout-vent length, and body weight and snoutvent length were found. No significant differences in these relationships between the sexes or between snakes freshly caught in different areas were noted. There was a decline in relative body weight and head length after prolonged starvation in captivity. Male rattlesnakes have significantly longer tails than females. The timber rattlesnake in Pennsylvania is rapidly approaching extinction. Prohibition of bounties, snake hunts, and commercial sale of snakes, and protection of rattlesnakes in remote areas of state and national forests would significantly enhance the prospects for survival of viable populations of Crotalus horridus.     

近海捕贝作业平台技术经济论证模型及应用

为了辅助一种近海捕贝作业平台的方案决策,使其达到较佳经济效果,以解决近海扇贝养殖捕捞生产中的能耗大、劳动强度高、捕捞效率低以及捕捞效果差的问题,该文根据给定的营运条件、捕捞能力和贝类资源情况,对其进行了技术经济论证研究。选取捕贝平台的拖网主机功率、平台跨距、平台锚次横移时间、平台总建造成本、平台拖网速度作为论证的参数,以单位面积捕捞油耗、单位捕捞成本、捕捞效率为经济评价指标,建立了近海捕贝作业平台技术经济论证模型。基于该模型利用比较论证方法对渔船捕捞方式与捕贝作业平台捕捞方式进行了经济性计算,然后对选取的技术经济参数进行了敏感性分析。结果表明:当平台拖网主机功率400~470 k W、平台跨距0.5~3.0 km、平台锚次横移时间2.0 h以下、平台捕捞拖网速度1.4 kn以上、平台总建造成本低于2750万元时,平台捕捞方案比渔船捕捞方案具有明显的优势。实例计算证明,利用该文提出的技术经济论证模型,通过比较分析论证方法,可得到捕捞作业平台的技术参数范围,为新型近海捕贝作业平台的技术参数设计与实施提供参考。     

Modeling loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) interactions with US Mid-Atlantic bottom trawl gear for fish and scallops, 2005–2008

Interactions between sea turtles and northwestern Atlantic trawl fisheries are of global concern, and the National Marine Fisheries Service is considering expanding bycatch reduction regulations, including deployment of turtle excluder devices (TEDs). To inform bycatch mitigation strategies, the number of loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) interactions was estimated for US Mid-Atlantic bottom trawl fisheries for fish and scallops. A generalized additive model of interactions was developed using 1994–2008 Northeast Fisheries Observer Program data from trawl fisheries that were not required to deploy TEDs. Predicted loggerhead interaction rates were applied to 2005–2008 commercial fishing data to estimate the number of interactions for the trawl fleet. For trawl fisheries in which TEDs were required, an experimentally-determined TED exclusion rate (97%) was applied to estimate the number of loggerheads that were excluded by TEDs. Latitude, depth, and sea surface temperature (SST) were associated with the interaction rate. Average annual interactions for 2005–2008 were estimated at 292 (CV 0.13, 95% CI 221–369) loggerheads, with an additional 61 (CV 0.17, 95% CI 41–83) excluded by TEDs. The interaction rate was highest south of latitude 37°N in waters <50 m deep with SST >15 °C; interaction magnitude in terms of adult equivalents was highest at latitude 37–39°N, depth <50 m, and SST >15 °C. Predicted average annual loggerhead interactions decreased compared to 1996–2004, likely due to decreased commercial fishing effort in high-interaction areas. Additional sea turtle conservation measures can be informed by the high-interaction-rate and -magnitude areas identified through this analysis.     

环境友好型虾夷扇贝捕捞网具优化设计与试验

目前中国虾夷扇贝网具存在捕捞效果差、海底生境影响严重等问题,该研究基于水下视频监控技术,设计了水压板导流与随动式惊扰相结合的拖曳网架结构。采用FLUENT软件对改造后捕捞网具的水下拖曳水动力特性进行分析得出,在拖曳水深在30~50 m、拖曳速度为1.8 m/s、网口高度为350 mm时,采用22.5°～30°负迎角弧式水压板,可减轻顶部湍流对底栖鱼类的兼捕影响,且随动式惊扰装置满足作业要求,此时拖曳稳定绳长约为156.80～261.34 m、稳定角度为11.03°、稳定拖曳力为2275.83 N。通过海上捕捞对比试验得出,在拖曳速度为1.5、1.8和2.0 m/s时,改造后捕捞网具与生产用捕捞网具在捕捞量方面无显著差异（P>0.5）,在碎贝量和底栖鱼类兼捕量方面显著降低（P<0.5）。单网平均捕捞量的偏差率分别为6.30%、0.59%和5.55%,单网平均碎贝量的偏差率分别为90.63%、84.78%、85.29%,单网底栖鱼类平均兼捕量的偏差率分别为78.57%、81.25%、84.85%。且在拖曳速度为1.8 m/s时,与生产用网具相比,单网平均捕捞量偏差率最低,单网平均碎贝量的偏差率最低,底栖鱼类平均兼捕量显著减少,符合环境友好型捕捞网具设计要求。     

Seabird and longline interactions: effects of a bird-scaring streamer line and line shooter on the incidental capture of northern fulmars Fulmarus glacialis

Interactions between seabirds and longline fishing can cause incidental bird mortality and reduced gear efficiency. The potential for solving these problems by using a bird-scaring streamer line and a line shooter was investigated in commercial longlining in the northern Atlantic off the coast of Norway. We compared the bycatch rate of northern fulmars Fulmarus glacialis, the loss rate of baits to fulmars and the catch rates of fish target species among lines set with either of these mitigation measures, a combination of both and no mitigation measure. A total of 58,420 hooks were set in each of the four treatments. No birds were caught using the bird-scaring line alone and a single fulmar was caught when the bird-scaring line was used in combination with the line shooter. In contrast, 32 fulmars were caught in sets with no mitigation device and thirteen in sets with the line shooter alone. Losses of mackerel bait were reduced when the bird-scaring line was used, but not by using the line shooter alone. Longlines set with the line shooter reached 3 m depth 15% faster then lines set without the line shooter; beyond this depth sinking rates were similar (about 15 cm s⁻¹). Fish catch did not vary significantly among setting methods. These results should also be applicable to the bycatch of Fulmarus spp. in demersal longline fisheries worldwide.     

Sea turtle by-catch in pelagic longline sets off southern Brazil

Results are presented on sea turtle by-catch observed in pelagic longline sets during research cruises in the south Atlantic in the vicinity of the shelf edge break in southern Brazil. The longline gear was set in a similar manner to that employed by the commercial longline fleet operating out of Santos, Brazil that targets swordfish, Xiphias gladius. Nineteen sea turtles were caught on 14 of 41 sets, which constituted a catch rate of 1.5 turtles per 1000 hooks. Thirty four percentage of all sets captured at least one turtle. The catch included loggerhead, Caretta caretta, leatherback, Dermochelys coriacea, and most likely olive ridley, Lepidochelys olivacea. All turtles, except one loggerhead, were captured live and released. Captures occurred during spring, summer and winter suggesting a year around presence and vulnerability. Given increased levels of longline effort directed at swordfish in the southeast Atlantic, substantial turtle by-catch can be expected. There is a critical need for additional information to be able to assess the potential impact on swordfish longline fisheries on sea turtle populations.     

Estimates of sea turtle mortality from poaching and bycatch in Bahía Magdalena, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Bahia Magdalena on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico, is an important feeding and nursery ground for black turtles Chelonia mydas, loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta, olive ridley turtles Lepidochelys olivacea, and hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata. Despite international and national protection, sea turtles continue to be caught incidentally and hunted for consumption in large numbers. This study examines the mortality of sea turtles in Bahia Magdalena, focusing on (1) species distribution and number of carcasses found, (2) causes of death, (3) size frequency distribution and % juveniles in the catch, and (4) changes in average size over the past years. A total of 1945 turtle carcasses were found from April 2000 to July 2003 along beaches and in towns of the region with loggerhead (44.1%) and black turtles (36.9%) being the dominant species. Slaughter for human consumption was the primary cause of death of carcasses found in towns (95-100%), while carcasses on beaches mostly died of unknown causes (76-100%). Circumstantial evidence suggests however, that incidental bycatch was the main mortality cause on beaches. Black turtles suffered the highest consumption mortality overall (91%), followed by olive ridley (84%), hawksbill (83%) and loggerhead turtles (63%). Over 90% of all turtles found were juveniles or subadults. Carapace length of black turtles declined consistently over the sampling period, while that of loggerhead turtles increased. Our results strongly suggest that turtles are being taken at high and unsustainable rates; this may partially explain why the populations have not recovered despite widespread protection on nesting beaches.     

南极磷虾拖网结构优化设计与网具性能试验

目前中国南极磷虾渔业缺乏专用捕捞网具,针对现有网具与渔船匹配性差、网口扩张较小的主要问题,通过分析多种现用南极磷虾拖网结构及性能,提出了缩短南极磷虾捕捞网具总长度和网身长度的优化方案,自主设计了TN01型4片式小网目南极磷虾拖网。实船海上生产测试结果表明:当曳纲长度小于230 m时,囊网部位后翘影响导鱼效果。当曳纲大于230 m后,随着作业水深增加,囊网所处水深增加,拖网网型展开良好,建议网具浮沉比配备为1:1.1;网口垂直扩张与曳纲收放长度关系无显著相关,拖网航速为1.542 m/s时试验网具网口高度为26~29 m,垂直扩张比达到0.11~0.12;随着曳纲长度由90 m放长到370 m,水平扩张也由14 m扩张到20 m,水平扩张比为0.22~0.32;渔获量对比分析表明,昼夜之间渔获量差异不大,白天平均网次产量为33 t,夜晚平均网次产量为28 t,平均每网次渔获产量为30 t,较同渔区作业渔船(平均每网次产量约20 t)提高约50%。试验网具达到设计预估性能、渔获效率理想,可为进一步自主研发南极磷虾捕捞网具提供参考依据。     

Hazard Function Models to Estimate Mortality Rates Affecting Fish Populations with Application to the Sea Mullet (<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Mugil cephalus</Emphasis>) Fishery on the Queensland Coast (Australia)

Fisheries management agencies around the world collect age data for the purpose of assessing the status of natural resources in their jurisdiction. Estimates of mortality rates represent a key information to assess the sustainability of fish stocks exploitation. Contrary to medical research or manufacturing where survival analysis is routinely applied to estimate failure rates, survival analysis has seldom been applied in fisheries stock assessment despite similar purposes between these fields of applied statistics. In this paper, we developed hazard functions to model the dynamic of an exploited fish population. These functions were used to estimate all parameters necessary for stock assessment (including natural and fishing mortality rates as well as gear selectivity) by maximum likelihood using age data from a sample of catch. This novel application of survival analysis to fisheries stock assessment was tested by Monte Carlo simulations to assert that it provided unbiased estimations of relevant quantities. The method was applied to the data from the Queensland (Australia) sea mullet (Mugil cephalus) commercial fishery collected between 2007 and 2014. It provided, for the first time, an estimate of natural mortality affecting this stock: \(0.22 \pm 0.08\)  year\(^{-1}\).     

Reducing incidental mortality of seabirds with an underwater longline setting funnel

A demersal longline fishery for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) that commenced off the Prince Edward Islands during 1996 has killed significant proportions of locally breeding albatrosses and petrels. As one of a suite of mitigation measures, we tested the efficacy of a Mustad underwater setting funnel to reduce incidental mortality of seabirds. The funnel, which deploys the longline 1-2 m beneath the sea surface, was used on 52% of 1714 sets (total effort 5.12 million hooks) over a 2-year period. Used in conjunction with a bird-scaring line, overall seabird bycatch rate was low (0.022 birds per 1000 hooks), and was dominated by white-chinned petrels (Procellaria aequinoctialis) (88% of the 114 birds killed). Bycatch rate was three times lower when the funnel was used both by day and at night. Daytime catch rates with the funnel were less than those attained during night sets without the funnel. In conjunction with other mitigation measures, underwater setting offers a significant reduction in seabird mortality in this fishery and could increase fishing efficiency by allowing daytime setting. However, small numbers of albatrosses were caught during daytime sets with the funnel, and its use for daytime sets should be closely monitored.     

Linking spatial metrics and fish catch reveals the importance of coastal wetland connectivity to inshore fisheries in Queensland, Australia

Many commercially important fish species use coastal marine environments such as mangroves, tidal flats and seagrass beds as nurseries or breeding grounds. The ecological importance of spatially connected habitats to conservation is well established for terrestrial environments. However, few studies have applied spatial metrics, including measures of structural connectivity to marine environments. We examined the relationship between catch-per-unit-effort for commercially caught species and the spatial patterning of mapped benthic habitat types along the coast of Queensland, Australia in their dominant fisheries (trawl, line, net or pot fisheries). We quantified the composition and spatial configuration of seascapes and calculated coastline length, number of estuaries, river length and geographical latitude using 12 metrics within ninety 30-nautical-mile grid cells, which supported inshore fish catch data from 21 species groups. Multiple regression analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling plots indicated that ecological linkages may exist between geomorphic coastal features and nearshore fisheries production for a number of species groups. Connectivity indices for mangroves, salt marsh and channels explained the largest proportion (30–70%), suggesting the importance of connected tidal wetlands for fisheries. Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) catch-per-unit-effort was best explained by the number of wetland patches, mangrove connectivity and wetland connectivity (r² = 0.38, n = 28). Catch-per-unit-effort for the Gulf of Carpentaria was highly correlated with wetland connectivity, the number of estuaries and seagrass patch density (r = 0.57, n = 29). The findings could guide the spatial design of marine protected area networks to maintain ecosystem services and avoid potential disruption to connectivity caused by habitat removal or modification. Application of the same approach to analyses of finer spatial scales would enable catch information to be related to particular estuarine habitats and provide better understanding of the importance of habitat connectivity for fisheries.     

Patterns of mortality in a cold-climate population of garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis)

The causes, magnitude and phenotypic determinants of mortality are central features of population demography. Although critical to effective conservation planning, these attributes remain poorly understood for most wild vertebrates. Exceptionally dense aggregations of garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) in and around communal overwintering dens in central Manitoba provide an exceptional opportunity to enumerate these factors. Over the course of long-term field studies we obtained data on mortality of snakes in autumn as they migrated back from their summer ranges, and in winter during and after their entry into the underground dens. Some mortality sources were affected by a snake's phenotype: for example, snakes killed by motor vehicles were smaller, on average, than surviving snakes. However, two major episodes of mortality at the dens themselves (freezing during midwinter due to atypically light snow cover; and drowning due to flooding after heavy rains late in autumn) were essentially random with respect to phenotype. Mark-recapture estimates suggest that the winterkill event eliminated >60,000 snakes, comprising almost the entire populations of the three largest dens. Although such events are cryptic because the bodies of frozen animals remain underground, they are of much greater magnitude than overt mortality sources for active snakes (roadkills, predation, etc.). Thus, relatively minor habitat manipulations around the dens may contribute more to conservation of these populations than would extensive efforts to protect active snakes during their spring and autumn migrations.     

DX-180型玻璃钢扇贝拖网渔船优化改造与试验

针对日本引进的DX-180型玻璃钢扇贝拖网渔船在獐子岛海域捕捞过程中出现的高能耗、低产量等问题,通过对该渔船与獐子岛扇贝捕捞主力船型(辽长渔养15021钢质扇贝拖网渔船)的技术指标差异性分析得出,该渔船配备的捕捞网具与作业模式无法满足中国海域扇贝捕捞需求。因此,该文提出优化捕捞网具与作业模式,并通过在獐子岛虾夷扇贝(Patinopecten yessoensis)底播海域的海上对比试验论证其改造的合理性。试验分2阶段进行,第1阶段通过增大网具扫海面积并对作业参数进行优化与论证,确定在沙砾底、泥沙底和泥底的最佳拖网航速与曳纲长度;第2阶段进行海上生产对比试验,并以单位捕捞油耗、单位捕捞效率和单位捕捞成本为经济评价指标。试验结果表明,优化后的DX-180型扇贝拖网渔船的捕捞量与耗油量均得到有效改善。与预替代的辽长渔养15021钢质扇贝拖网渔船相比,虽单位捕捞油耗与钢质拖网渔船基本持平,但在单位捕捞效率和单位捕捞成本方面均优于钢质拖网渔船,其中单位捕捞效率提高了37.5%,单位捕捞成本降低了26.0%,符合扇贝低碳化产业发展需求,对中国推广玻璃钢扇贝拖网渔船从技术与经济性方面提供参考。