The diving behaviour of little penguins in Western Australia predisposes them to risk of injury by watercraft

1. The most western little penguin colony globally, and the most northern in Western Australia (WA) is found on Penguin Island, WA. The penguins use coastal bays that are also used extensively by recreational watercraft. These penguins have been found to either dive predominantly to shallow depths of 1–5 m or to depths >8 m. It is thus hypothesized that (a) both the shallow and deeper diving penguins can potentially be disturbed or injured by these watercraft but that the risk will differ between the two diving strategies, and (b) that risk of injury for both is greater during the summer and autumn, when people are more likely to use watercraft.
2. This was tested by attaching data loggers to little penguins during chick rearing and by investigating necropsy records. Diving activity was studied for the very shallow and relatively deeper diving penguins separately, and we considered the penguins were vulnerable to interactions with watercraft when they were within the top 2 m of the water column or at the surface.
3. Shallow‐diving penguins executed >1,200 dives per day, 64% of dives occurred within the top 2 m, and they were vulnerable for approximately two‐thirds of their time at sea. The deeper diving penguins executed fewer dives. Almost half of dives were to ≥10 m, yet they were vulnerable for almost one‐third of their time at sea. Their post‐dive recovery was also longer. Thus, the risk of interaction from watercraft differs depending on the diving behaviour.
4. This study highlights the potential impact to little penguins throughout Australia and New Zealand.

     

Global Advances in Conservation and Management of Marine Ornamental Resources

Currently, as many as 30 million coral reef fish belonging to 1,000 species are collected annually to supply private and public aquaria around the world. In addition, over 100 species of invertebrate are used, involving hundreds of thousands or even millions of individuals. The majority of these specimens come from coral reefs and associated habitats, with about 45 countries supplying the ornamental market. Considering the many pressures currently faced by reefs it is vital that ornamental fisheries are investigated and monitored, and management strategies formulated to ensure they are sustainable. This requires research, monitoring, training, use of non-damaging collecting methods and adoption of conservation strategies for controlling catch, such as reserves, quotas and closed seasons. There are also a number of possibilities for enhancing the fishery, such as mariculture and construction of artificial reefs. This paper concentrates on some of the conservation measures that can be taken and discusses their application and effectiveness. Such measures include limiting collecting effort, establishment of species-based or overall quotas, restrictions on rare and/or endemic species, temporary closures and establishment of fisherybreak reserves.     

海洋低温蛋白酶生产菌YS-9412-130原生质体的制备与再生

以海洋低温蛋白酶生产菌株YS-9412-130为研究对象，从传代、菌龄、溶菌酶浓度与酶解时间、甘氨酸与EDTA预处理以及稳定剂对该菌原生质体形成与再生的影响进行研究。结果表明，在相同条件下，第一代菌至第五代菌原生质体的形成率分别为86．9％、70．3％、66．8％、63．4％、60．2％，再生率分别为10．5％、18．6％、17．9％、18．2％、17．8％；取该菌对数生长前期、对数生长中后期、稳定期部分菌液制备原生质体，原生质体的形成率分别为72．1％、70．4％、60．5％，再生率为13．4％、18．9％、10．4％；溶菌酶浓度为2．5mg／mL、5mg／mL、10mg／mL、20mg／mL，酶解60min，原生质体的形成率分别为40．6％、70．8％、81．8％、95．6％，原生质体的再生率为19．0％、19．2％、19．0％、10．6％；使用10mg／mL溶菌酶酶解YS-9412-130菌30min、60min、90min、120min，原生质体的形成率分别为30．8％、81．3％、81．7％、82．9％，原生质体的再生率分别为19．2％、19．3％、16．9％、11．2％；在细菌培养液中添加终质量浓度为5mg／mL、10mg／mL、20mg／mL和40mg／mL的甘氨酸，培养该菌16h后制备原生质体，原生质体的形成率分别为81．0％、81．1％、90．3％、90．8％、90．6％，再生率为19．1％、19．0％、19．3％、12．0％、9．0％；EDTA对原生质体的形成稍有促进作用，但作用超过30min会影响原生质体的再生；分别以0．6mol／L Kcl、0．3mol／L KCl＋0．3mol／L蔗糖、0．6mol／L蔗糖作为稳定剂，原生质体的再生率分别为10．9％、19．6％、25．9％。结论认为，YS-9412-130原生质体制备的最佳条件为选用第2代YS-9412-130菌，在培养基中添加终质度浓度为10mg／mL的甘氨酸培养16h后，再将菌体置于含有0．05mol／LEDTA的高渗溶液中30℃预处理30min，用10mg／mL溶菌酶，30℃酶解60min，再用0．6mol／L蔗糖作为原生质体再生培养稳定剂，比较适合于YS-9412-130原生质体的制备与再生。这一试验结果将为通过原生质体技术对YS-9412-130菌进行遗传改良提供重要参数。     

Spatially explicit fisheries simulation models for policy evaluation

This paper deals with the design of modelling tools suitable for investigating the consequences of alternative policies on the dynamics of resources and fisheries, such as the evaluation of marine protected areas (MPA). We first review the numerous models that have been developed for this purpose, and compare them from several standpoints: population modelling, exploitation modelling and management measure modelling. We then present a generic fisheries simulation model, Integration of Spatial Information for FISHeries simulation (ISIS‐Fish). This spatially explicit model allows quantitative policy screening for fisheries with mixed‐species harvests. It may be used to investigate the effects of combined management scenarios including a variety of policies: total allowable catch (TAC), licenses, gear restrictions, MPA, etc. Fisher's response to management may be accounted for by means of decision rules conditioned on population and exploitation parameters. An application to a simple example illustrates the relevance of this kind of tool for policy screening, particularly in the case of mixed fisheries. Finally, the reviewed models and ISIS‐Fish are discussed and confronted in the light of the underlying assumptions and model objectives. In the light of this discussion, we identify desirable features for fisheries simulation models aimed at policy evaluation, and particularly MPA evaluation.     

Marine spatial plans focusing on biodiversity conservation: The case of the Aegean Sea

1. The expansion and intensification of marine uses have severe cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems and human well-being, unless they are properly managed with an ecosystem-based management approach.
2. A systematic conservation planning approach, using marxan with zones , was applied to generate alternative marine spatial plans for the Aegean Sea. Relevant human uses were included and their cumulative impact on a wide set of key biodiversity features was considered in the analysis. Different cost scenarios were developed to gain insight on the effects of the approaches used to assess socio-economic factors, and their potential impact on spatial plans.
3. The spatial plans generated differed greatly depending on the method used to estimate opportunity costs and evaluate human activities in monetary terms.
4. The vulnerability weights (the relative vulnerability of ecological features to specific human activities and their impacts) that were estimated based on a cumulative impact assessment, allowed the assessment of each zone in contributing to the achievement of conservation targets, through a transparent planning approach.
5. Results indicate that special care should be given to how socio-economic activities, their impact on the ecosystems, and related costs are incorporated into planning.
6. The proposed approach demonstrates how EU member states may effectively comply with the new Biodiversity Strategy 2030 targets, while planning for the sustainable use of their marine resources.

     

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the north-western Adriatic Sea: Spatial distribution and effects of trawling

1. Many species and populations of odontocetes have modified their behaviour to take advantage of feeding opportunities provided by fishing activities, with depredation of fishing gear being the most common type of adaptation.
2. The northern Adriatic Sea has been identified as an important marine mammal area because of a regular occurrence of common bottlenose dolphins. Boat surveys were conducted within a 3,000 km² sector of the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Veneto, Italy, between April and October 2018–2019. Based on 76 days at sea, 10,711 km of navigation, and 81 h 26 min of dolphin tracking, this study contributes novel quantitative information on dolphin spatial distribution, and on their occurrence in the wake of beam trawlers, otter trawlers, and midwater pair trawlers.
3. A combined generalized additive model and generalized estimation equation framework indicated that trawling—along with other physiographic, biological and anthropogenic variables—influenced dolphin distribution. In days of trawling, the chance of encountering dolphins increased by ~4.5 times (95% confidence interval 1.8–11.0) near active beam trawlers, by ~16.0 times (7.1–36.0) near otter trawlers, and by ~28.9 times (12.0–69.6) near midwater pair trawlers.
4. Spatial modelling was used to create maps of predicted distribution, suggesting differences in habitat use between trawling and no-trawling days. Spatial modelling for all days identified a dolphin distribution hotspot of 832 km², situated off the Po river delta.
5. Evidence contributed by this study can be used to inform management action within one of the world's areas most heavily impacted by fishing and other human encroachment. Such management action would help enforce the European Union's Habitats Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive, while also informing EU's Maritime Spatial Planning.

     

Factors (type,colour, density,and shape) determining the removal of marine plastic debris by seabirds from the South Pacific Ocean: Is there a pattern?

1. While floating near the sea surface plastic debris interacts with a number of external factors, including many different organisms. Seabirds have the most extensive documented history of interactions with plastics, through ingestion, entanglement, and nest construction.
2. In the present study, eight seabird species from the South Pacific Ocean were used as a proxy to determine potential patterns of removal of marine plastic debris, and three hypotheses were tested in relation to their feeding habits and nesting areas.
3. Plastics from abiotic compartments (Chilean continental coast, South Pacific Gyre, and Rapa Nui beaches) and biotic compartments (surface-feeding seabirds, diving seabirds, and nesting areas) were compared, according to their type, colour, shape, and density.
4. Continental beaches had a relatively wide range of colours and shapes, with many non-buoyant plastics. Samples from the South Pacific Gyre (SPG) and Rapa Nui (Easter Island) beaches comprised mainly hard, rounded, buoyant, and white/grey plastics.
5. These results indicate that the composition of floating plastics from terrestrial sources changes during transport with oceanic currents, reducing the proportion of prey-like plastics present in the subtropical gyres.
6. The stomach contents of surface-feeding and diving seabirds were dominated by hard, white/grey, and round plastic items, similar to plastics from the SPG, suggesting non-selective (accidental or secondary) ingestion.
7. Nesting areas had a more variable composition of brightly coloured plastics, suggesting a pattern of selective removal of plastics by seabirds, probably from oceanic sources.
8. The present study reveals extensive interactions of seabirds with plastics on a broader scale, which is highly relevant given that the impacts of plastics on seabirds are increasing worldwide, compromising their efficient conservation.

     

Space–time patterns of co‐variation of biodiversity and primary production in phytoplankton guilds of coastal marine environments

• 1. The relevance of biodiversity to ecosystem processes is a major topic in ecology. Here, we analyse the relationship between biodiversity and productivity of the nano‐ and micro‐phytoplankton guilds in coastal marine ecosystems.
• 2. The patterns of variation of species richness, diversity and primary productivity (as ¹⁴C assimilation) were studied in two marine areas: a eutrophic–mesotrophic area beside the River Po delta (northern Adriatic) and an oligotrophic area around the Salento peninsula (southern Adriatic–Ionian). The study was carried out at 23 sites in the northern area and at 45 sites in the southern area. Sites were arranged on expected spatial and temporal gradients of primary productivity variation, according to distance from the coast, optical depths and seasonal period.
• 3. 167 taxa were identified in the northern area and 153 taxa in the southern area. In both areas, the taxonomic composition of the nano‐ and micro‐phytoplankton guilds exhibited greater temporal than spatial variation. The latter was much higher in the southern area than in the northern area (average dissimilarity between stations being 70.7±0.8% and 44.7±4.2% respectively).
• 4. Primary productivity varied in space and time on the gradients considered. Phytoplankton species richness and diversity exhibited significant patterns of variation in space and time; overall, these were inversely related to the primary productivity patterns in the northern area, whereas they were directly related in the southern area.
• 5. The small individual size and the high turnover rate of phytoplankton are likely to underlie the observed relationships, which emphasized a threshold response to nutrient enrichment in agreement with the ‘paradox of enrichment’. Under resource enrichment conditions, the high turnover of producers leads to hierarchical partitioning of the available resources with an increasing dominance of a few species. Therefore, the relationship observed here seems likely to be explained by the complementarity hypothesis.

Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Total and free thyroid hormones in plasma of tropical marine teleost fish

Plasma levels of L-thyroxine (T₄) and 3,5,3-triiodo-L-thyronine (T₃) and the percentage of plasma T₄ and T₃ present in the free (dialyzable) form (%FT₄ and %FT₃) were measured in 16 species (11 families) of tropical marine teleosts from an inshore Barbados reef. Mean plasma T₄ varied from 0.2 ng/ml to 42 ng/ml; mean plasma T₃ varied from < 0.2 ng/ml to 50 ng/ml. The highest T₄ and T₃ levels were recorded in parrot-fish and the lowest levels in filefish. The %oFT₄ and %FT₃ varied from 0.05–3.41%. Estimated levels of plasma free T₄ and free T₃ levels ranged from 0.4–466 pg/ml. The extremely wide inter- and intra-species ranges in levels of free T₄ and T₃ do not support a previous suggestion, based on temperate freshwater salmonid species, that free T₄ and T₃ levels in fish may fall within a relatively range narrow comparable to that of homeothermic vertebrates.