Mortality induced by drifting longline hooks and branchlines in loggerhead sea turtles,estimated through observation in captivity

• 1. Drifting longlines are considered a major threat to endangered sea turtle populations worldwide. However, for a number of reasons, the mortality rate of captured turtles is not known with any certainty.
• 2. Information on 409 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), collected during the day‐to‐day activities of a turtle rescue centre in Lampedusa island, central Mediterranean, in the period 2001–2005 has been analysed.
• 3. Observations indicate that: (i) drifting longlines are a major cause of mortality for sea turtles in the area; (ii) in addition to the hook, the piece of line attached to it (branchline) can easily cause death if it is long enough and well‐anchored; (iii) hooks and branchlines cause death in the short and long term, respectively; (iv) a turtle with a hook in the lower oesophagus/stomach has a very low chance of surviving the combined effect of hook and branchline; (v) the mortality of turtles with a hook in the mouth or higher oesophagus is probably important, though less than that of turtles with a hook in the lower oesophagus/stomach; (vi) in the study fishery, the average mortality of a turtle caught by a drifting longline is probably much higher than 30%.
• 4. Without specific investigations on the mortality of turtles with hooks in the mouth or higher oeasophagus, which are usually removed, the mortality induced by drifting longlines will remain unknown, preventing a full understanding of the effect on population growth and the real effectiveness of conservation measures such as use of different hooks and fishing depths, and proposals for adequate fishery management measures.
• 5. The number of turtles captured by drifting longlines should be drastically reduced, and because of the above uncertainty and the socio‐economic importance of the fishery sector, an ecosystem‐based management scheme should be promoted that is not limited to addressing only the turtle issue.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

FOAM, a new simple benthic degradative module for the LAMP3D model: an application to a Mediterranean fish farm

The modelling framework already introduced by Doglioli, Magaldi, Vezzulli and Tucci to predict the potential impact of a marine fish farm is improved following different directions, namely (1) real historic current-metre data are used to force the simulations, (2) settling velocity values specifically targeting Mediterranean fish species are used, and (3) a new benthic degradative module, the Finite Organic Accumulation Module, is added to the modelling framework. The Finite Organic Accumulation Module uses the output of the other functional units of the modelling framework to calculate the organic load on the seabed. The Finite Organic Accumulation Module considers the natural capability of the seafloor in absorbing part of the organic load. Different remineralization rates reflect the sediment stress level according to the work of Findlay and Watling. Organic degradation for both uneaten feed and faeces is evaluated by changing the release modality (continuous and periodical) and by varying the settling velocities. It is found that the maximum impact on the benthic community is observed either for quickly sinking uneaten feed released twice a day, or for less intense near-bottom current conditions. If both the above-mentioned scenarios coexist, a high stress level is established in the sediment. The model also suggests that the use of self-feeders in cages can reduce farm impacts significantly. These results show how the new and more complete modelling framework presented here is able to improve the objectivity in the decision-making processes and how it may be successfully used for planning and monitoring purposes.     

小型自排沉沙池沉沙工况的水力学特性试验研究

首先介绍了小型自排沉沙池的工作原理与工作过程,然后以物理模型对小型自排沉沙的水力学特性进行试验研究,通过试验资料深入分析了小型自排沉沙池内水流的流态特征,流速分布等水力特性。试验研究旨在为进一步研究小型自排沉沙池沉沙工况提供依据。     

A bio-economic indicators suite for the appraisal of the demersal trawl fishery in the Southern Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean)

The state of demersal fishery in the Southern Adriatic Sea (GFCM-GSA 18, Central Mediterranean), years 1996–2003, from a biological, social and economic point of view was analysed using 47 indicators: 22 biological indicators obtained from fishery-independent data through yearly experimental bottom trawl surveys (“Medits” Programme), and 25 socio-economic indicators estimated from fishery-dependent data, available from the monitoring system of the Italian Institute for Economic Research on Fisheries and Aquaculture (IREPA). Biological indicators were applied for “single-species” (Eledone cirrhosa, E. moschata, Illex coindetti, Merluccius merluccius, Mullus barbatus, Nephrops norvegicus, Parapenaeus longirostris, Raja clavata, Zeus faber) and for “multi-species” analysis. Economic indicators describing economic performance, productivity, costs and prices, and the overall economic sustainability of fishery were estimated. Social indicators and a general indicator summarising social sustainability were also considered. Indicators’ values were displayed using the Traffic Light system. Both fishery-independent and fishery-dependent indicators highlighted a progressive decline of the trawl fishery system in the GSA 18. This decline was mainly related to the ongoing depletion of the traditional fishery target species (mostly long-living, late-maturing species) partially replaced by the increase of traditional accessory species (generally short-living species), as well as to the reduction of productivity and increasing costs. The whole procedure was proposed as a contribution to the identification and applicability of bio-economic indicators for fishery management purposes.     

横山水库浮游植物群落结构季节性变化特征

分析了2010-2011年不同季节横山水库浮游植物群落结构的变化特征.结果表明,4个季节共采集到90种(属)浮游植物,蓝藻和硅藻在横山水库浮游植物季节性演替中的作用非常重要.在太湖流域首次发现拟柱胞藻(Cylindrospermopsis sp.),夏季在水库成为优势种并引起水华,密度达到1.01×108个/L.富营养化日趋严重的横山水库为拟柱胞藻水华奠定了基础.作为生态入侵种,拟柱胞藻可以产生毒素,危害生态系统和人体健康.应加强监测和流域综合管理,防止拟柱胞藻水华扩散到流域内其它大型水库.     

云南高原杞麓湖流域的景观格局与水质变化

由于人类活动日益增强,高原湖泊杞麓湖景观格局和湖泊水质发生较大改变,探究其变化关系可为湖泊生态系统保护和流域管理提供科学参考。采用2005年、2010年和2015年遥感影像的解译结果,结合RS/GIS技术和Pearson相关统计方法,分析了10年间景观格局变化、湖泊水质变化及其相关性。结果表明:(1)2005-2014年杞麓湖水质偏差,其中总氮、高锰酸盐指数、生化需氧量和叶绿素a呈显著增长趋势,氨氮、总磷和透明度波动较大,2015年整体水质有所改善,但仍为劣Ⅴ类水。(2)杞麓湖流域主要景观类型是林地和耕地,占流域总面积的74%以上,10年间建设用地面积增加较快(+876.42hm~2),水域(-1 281.42hm~2)和耕地(-794.61hm~2)缩减较多,后5年湖滨湿地大量出现(+1 432.08hm~2);景观格局聚集程度增加,异质性略有减弱,破碎化程度降低,多样性和均匀程度变化不大,人类活动对景观格局影响强烈。(3)水田、旱地和建设用地聚集程度增强及破碎化程度降低与氨氮外的其它水质指标呈正相关,水域面积与氨氮和高锰酸盐指数呈负相关,水田与建设用地是杞麓湖水质退化的主要污染源。     

准噶尔盆地绿洲-沙漠过渡带植被时空演变特征

通过对准噶尔盆地绿洲-沙漠过渡带的植被种群和覆盖度的调查,以及1989年和2000年两期TM影像景观格局的解译,运用时间动态度和Ripley's K函数的方法分析了准噶尔盆地绿洲-沙漠过渡带植被的时空变化特征.结果表明,1989～2000年,研究区内人为垦地幅度较大,农田面积增加,而天然植被区域被垦地利用或破坏,造成植被面积减少,总的覆盖度降低,同时沙化面积加大.     

基于成本视角的水质水量双向调节生态补偿量研究

[目的]以黄河流域陕西片区为实例进行水质水量双向调节的生态补偿量研究,为解决黄河流域上下游生态权益分配矛盾,实现流域区域间公平发展提供理论依据。[方法]同时考虑成本、价值和奖惩3个方面,以基本补偿标准为基础,采用水质改良系数法和水量贡献度法,构建基于水质水量的补偿标准测算模型开展研究。[结果]黄河流域陕西片区生态补偿量的基本补偿标准为13.74亿元;基于水质、水量调节值分别为-5.66和6.84亿元;2018年陕西省获得生态补偿金额为14.92亿元。[结论]相比以往的测算模型,该模型的测算结果更符合实际情况,同时也更适应于外部环境要素的变化。     

基于排污权交易的湘江流域生态补偿研究

[目的]以湖南省湘江流域为研究对象,探索流域生态补偿方法,为湘江流域实施污染综合治理及区域平衡发展提供理论依据。[方法]通过研究区域内的8个城市(长沙、湘潭、株洲、衡阳、岳阳、永州、郴州、娄底)2012年的人均GDP,人口总数,人均工业生产总值和万元GDP污水排放量与8个市的平均值进行对比分析,确定生态补偿标准系数。通过将各个市的人均排污量与8个城市的平均排污量作比较,求得各个市的超量排污量和节余排污量;按照主要因子排污价格及其排污比例确定超量排放和节余排放的支付和补偿价格;利用生态补偿标准系数,计算2012年湘江流域每个城市的最终补偿标准。[结果]2012年长沙、株洲、湘潭市应分别支付生态补偿资金4 005.0,440.7和430.1万元,衡阳、岳阳、郴州、永州和娄底市可获得的生态补偿资金分别为338.2,90.4,561.4,602.8和379.5万元。[结论]实际排污大于理论排污权的城市有长沙、株洲和湘潭市;而其他5个城市排污权均有节余。     

砚瓦川流域水沙演变特征及其驱动因素分析

为了探究降水变化和水土保持措施对黄土高原地区产流产沙的影响,选择我国水土流失最为严重的区域——甘肃省庆阳市的砚瓦川流域为研究区,对该流域1981—2012年的年降水量、年径流量和年输沙量进行趋势分析及突变检验,分析黄土高原沟壑区水土流失治理背景下流域水沙的演变规律,定量评价降水和水土保持措施对流域水沙变化的贡献程度。结果表明:在1981—2012年期间年降水量和年径流量均没有发生显著变化,而年输沙量呈现显著减少趋势,年径流量和年输沙量的突变时间分别在1996和1997年,具有很好的同步性。与基准期(1981—1996年)相比,变化期(1997—2012年)的年径流量和年输沙量分别减少了17.0%和76.0%,分析径流和输沙历时曲线发现流域丰水期和平水期的径流量逐时段减少,而枯水期径流量却持续增加,输沙量在整个时段则大幅度减少。该流域降水和水土保持措施对年径流减少的贡献率分别为-37.9%和137.9%,而对年输沙量减少的贡献率为-35.0%和135.0%,因此,水土保持措施的实施是该流域年径流量和年输沙量减少的主要原因。其中,植被措施(林地和草地)对径流影响显著,占径流减少总量的61.04%;工程措施(梯田和坝地)对产沙影响显著,占产沙减少总量的102.84%。研究结果表明,黄土高原地区水土流失治理已在区域尺度上表现出一定程度上削洪补枯和减少侵蚀产沙的水文效应特征。同时在水土保持措施建设过程中,合理配置植被措施和工程措施比例,充分发挥各项水土保持措施的优势,是开展适应性流域管理的关键。