Vegetation and sand characteristics influencing nesting activity of Caretta caretta on Sekania beach

Despite its relatively small length (650 m), Sekania beach on Zakynthos island (Ionian sea) is the single most important Caretta caretta L. nesting beach in the Mediterranean Sea. The aim of this work was to tackle the possible relationships of sand and vegetation characteristics with the nesting activity of sea turtle C. caretta. The vegetation structure and distribution along the sandy beach was studied with the use of line transect method. Grouping of plant species was revealed through an ordination method. Plant groups were distinguished and mapped. Sand texture, pH, and organic matter were measured on the transects. Nesting activity was also mapped on the beach and hatching success was recorded. It was concluded that where sand salinity is high enough to prevent vegetation development, wet sand is located at a threshold depth for excavating an egg chamber. It seems that well-sorted sand grains favor nesting activity on the beach. The increase of fine sand - from east to west - is proportional with the reduction of nesting density. The data collected for this study are organized in a GIS database, which could be the basis for the establishment of an integrated monitoring system for Sekania beach.     

华南海岛土壤形成的地球化学

The soils in South China sea Islands(SCSI)were divided into three types,nmaely,phospho-calc soils,skeletisols and coastic solonchake,which were derived from bio-clastic and strongly calcareous sediments.In comparison with their parent materials,the phospho-Calc soils have higher contents of P,Zn Cu,Ba,and Cd,which tend to increase gradually with time,and lower contents of Mg,Ca,Sr,B,V,Pb,and Mo,which tend to decrease by degrees with time,The above-mentioned constituents in skeletisols and coastic solonchaks are similar to those in their parent materials except for P and Na,The factors affecting element distribution are mainly special bioclimate and parent material,meanwhile,resulting in the remakable influence on element distribution through soil-forming time.     

Intensive beach management as an improved sea turtle conservation strategy in Mexico

We evaluate the role of intensive beach management, meaning intense patrolling and nest reburial to a central hatchery, as a strategy for improving the success of sea turtle conservation at nesting sites in Mexico. We report the results of an experimental program at Playa Cuixmala, Jalisco, western Mexico. Sea turtle conservation efforts in Mexico have, in general, poor results because of lack of funds, which leads to insufficient beach protection and severe negative effects of nest removal on hatching success and sex ratios. Alternative strategies are needed to optimize limited resources. We predicted that intensive beach management, which included intense patrolling and careful nest reburial, could be an effective way to maximize nest survival and hatchling release under limited financial and human resources. The results of our 9-year study were very positive. Survival rate increased several fold during the study period. Hatching success and sex ratios were not significantly different between in-situ and removed nests. Survival in removed nests was, however, much higher that in-situ nests, because of predation and beach erosion. In total, the small (3 km length) Playa Cuixmala became the second most productive sea turtle nesting beach in the region because of these concentrated efforts. Intense beach management can be an important technique for sea turtle conservation, and can be properly applied to small beaches or the most productive sections of large beaches.     

环渤海低平原区土壤安全容盐潜力评价

该文通过环渤海低平原区的土壤安全临界容盐潜力和最大容盐潜力分析,为保障土壤安全和粮食作物安全下的咸水灌溉提供科学依据。通过实验室数据和整合所搜集资料,查明了环渤海低平原区的0～40cm土壤含盐量现状,在此基础上,以不同盐分情况下的土壤安全容盐值、土壤化学类型和作物布局结构为参考指标,对研究区的土壤安全容盐潜力进行了评价。总的来看,环渤海低平原区的土壤安全临界容盐潜力变化区间为1.0～3.0g/kg,其中以2.0～2.5g/kg的潜力区为主,占总面积的81.3%,整体容盐潜力较大;其他等级1.5～2.0、2.5～3.0和1.0～1.5g/kg的潜力区,分别占10.0%、5.4%和3.1%。土壤安全最大容盐潜力区的变化区间为1.5～5.5g/kg,其中以2.5～3.5g/kg的潜力区为主,占总面积的68.7%,整体容盐潜力较小;其他等级3.5～4.5、1.5～2.5和4.5～5.5g/kg的潜力区,分别占25.2%、5.1%和1.0%。土壤安全临界容盐潜力区和最大容盐潜力区在空间格局上有很好的对应关系,临界容盐潜力大的地区,最大容盐潜力也大;反之,依然。     

Seawater causes rapid trace metal mobilisation in coastal lowland acid sulfate soils: Implications of sea level rise for water quality

Coastal floodplains are highly vulnerable to inundation with saline water and the likelihood of inundation will increase with sea level rise. Sediment samples from floodplains containing coastal lowland acid sulfate soils (CLASS) in eastern Australia were subjected to increasing seawater concentration to examine the probable effects of sea level rise on acidity and metal desorption. Ten soils were mixed with synthetic seawater concentrations varying from 0% to 100% at a solid:solution ratio of 1:10 for 4 h. There was a slight decrease in pH (≈ 0.5 units) with increasing seawater concentration following treatment, yet, calculated acidity increased significantly. In most soil treatments, Al was the dominant component of the calculated acidity pool. Al dominated the exchange complex in the CLASS and, correspondingly, was the major metal ion desorbed. In general, concentrations of soluble and exchangeable Al, Fe²⁺, Ni, Mn and Zn in all soil extracts increased with increasing salinity. Increasing trace metal concentrations with increasing seawater concentration is attributed to the combined effects of exchange processes and acidity. The increasing ionic strength of the seawater treatments displaces trace metals and protons adsorbed on sediments, causing an initial decrease in pH. Hydrolysis of desorbed acidic metal cations can further contribute to acidity and increase mobilisation of trace metals. These findings imply that saline inundation of CLASS environments, even by relatively brackish water may cause rapid, shorter-term water quality changes and a pulse release of acidity due to desorption of acidic metal cations.     

蜀南竹海旅游环境容量的测算及分析

旅游环境容量的研究能为区域旅游开发和管理提供科学依据。以蜀南竹海为例,通过实地走访获取有关数据,从旅游生态、设施、空间以及社会环境容量4 个方面分别对该景区的旅游环境容量进行计算,结果表明：社会环境容量（9150 人次/日）最大,生态环境容量（7766 人次/日）次之,空间环境容量（4908 人次/日）和设施环境容量（4000 人次/日）相当,结合木桶原则和专家赋分权重,估算出蜀南竹海旅游环境容量为276 万人/年,与近期景区游客接待量相比,仍有较大挖掘潜力。为此,结合景区实际,从鼓励景区内使用公共交通工具、加强垃圾分类管理、优化旅游线路、实行景区弹性门票价格等方面,提出了可行性建议,为实现景区旅游业的可持续发展提供理论参考。     

A pioneering survey of deep-diving and off-shore cetaceans in the northern South China Sea

A pioneering boat-based survey was conducted in 2019, to gather baseline information regarding the presence, composition, relative abundance, and spatial distribution of deep-diving and off-shore cetaceans in the northern South China Sea (SCS). A total of 27 sightings comprising at least 8 cetacean species were recorded during the 13-day survey, including 5 deep-diving species (i.e. Risso's dolphin [Grampus griseus], short-finned pilot whale [Globicephala macrorhynchus], sperm whale [Physeter macrocephalus], Cuvier's beaked whale [Ziphius cavirostris], and an unidentified beaked whale [either the ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, Mesoplodon ginkgodens, or Deraniyagala's beaked whale, Mesoplodon hotaula]), as well as 3 off-shore dolphins (i.e. pantropical spotted dolphin [Stenella attenuate], striped dolphin [Stenella coeruleoalba], and Fraser's dolphin [Lagenodelphis hosei]). With the exception of pantropical spotted dolphins, all other species were sighted and recorded at sea in the northern SCS for the first time. The pantropical spotted dolphin was the most frequently sighted species, comprising 30% of the total sightings. Deep-diving cetaceans were mainly sighted in the northern Xisha Archipelago, whereas off-shore dolphins were distributed across the survey area. The pantropical spotted dolphin was observed in aggregations of more than 100 individuals and nearly all encountered species included calves; these findings suggested that the survey area functions as an important feeding and calving ground for various cetacean species. This pioneering survey provides fundamental information regarding cetacean fauna in the northern SCS and highlights the need to strengthen research and conservation efforts concerning these species.     

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.     

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.     

南疆阿拉尔垦区海岛棉耗水规律研究

通过对7个海岛棉品种土壤水分动态变化分析研究,结果表明,不同品种各生育期土壤含水量、土壤蓄水量存在极显著差异。所有品种土壤含水量在不同土层的变化趋势基本一致,呈现出“Z”字型的规律性变化。即随土层深度的增加,土壤含水量逐渐减少,80～100 cm土层土壤含水量又升高。含水量最高的土层是0～20 cm,最低的土层是60～80 cm。这种规律性变化与棉花生长特点、根系的发育特点以及吸收特点有关。534I、Z181、新海21是节水型品种,能够较充分地利用有限的灌溉水,在干旱半干旱地区具有强大的优势。