Spatial overlap and trophic interactions between pelagic fish and large jellyfish in the northern California Current

Recent studies have indicated that populations of gelatinous zooplankton may be increasing and expanding in geographic coverage, and these increases may in turn affect coastal fish populations. We conducted trawl surveys in the northern California Current and documented a substantial biomass of scyphomedusae consisting primarily of two species (Chrysaora fuscescens and Aurelia labiata). Spatial overlap of these jellyfish with most pelagic fishes, including salmon, was generally low, but there were regions of relatively high overlap where trophic interactions may have been occurring. We compared feeding ecology of jellyfish and pelagic fishes based on diet composition and found that trophic overlap was high with planktivorous species that consume copepods and euphausiid eggs such as Pacific sardines (Sardinops sagax), northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax), Pacific saury (Cololabis saira), and Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi). Moreover, isotope and diet analyses suggest that jellyfish occupy a trophic level similar to that of small pelagic fishes such as herring, sardines and northern anchovy. Thus jellyfish have the potential, given their substantial biomass, of competing with these species, especially in years with low ecosystem productivity where prey resources will be limited.     

Spatial distribution of copper in relation to recreational boating in a California shallow-water basin

The overall effect of the number of boats on the copper (Cu) levels in the water column and sediment, along with their spatial variability within Shelter Island Yacht Basin (SIYB), San Diego Bay, California was examined. We identified a horizontal gradient of increasing dissolved Cu and Cu in sediment from outside to the head of SIYB which was coincident with the increasing number of boats. Spatial models of Cu distribution in water and sediment indicated the presence of ‘hotspots’ of Cu concentration. From outside to the head of SIYB, dissolved Cu ranged from 1.3 μ g L^?1 to 14.6 μ g L^?1 in surface water, and 2.0 μ g L^?1 to 10.2 μ g L^?1 in bottom water. Cu in sediment exceeded the Effect Range Low of 34 mg kg^?1 (i.e. where adverse effects to fauna may occur), with a peak concentration of 442 mg kg^?1 at the head of the basin. Free Cu⁺⁺ in surface water was several orders of magnitude higher than in sediment porewater. High-resolution data of Cu species together with probability maps presented in this paper will allow managers to easily visualise and localise areas of impaired quality and to prioritise which areas should be targeted to improve Cu-related conditions.     

Offspring size variation within broods as a bet-hedging strategy in unpredictable environments

Offspring size is strikingly variable within species. Although theory can account for variation in offspring size among mothers, an adaptive explanation for variation within individual broods has proved elusive. Theoretical considerations of this problem assume that producing offspring that are too small results in reduced offspring viability, but producing offspring that are too large (for that environment) results only in a lost opportunity for increased fecundity. However, logic and recent evidence suggest that offspring above a certain size will also have lower fitness, such that mothers face fitness penalties on either side of an optimum. Although theory assuming intermediate optima has been developed for other diversification traits, the implications of this idea for selection on intra-brood variance in offspring size have not been explored theoretically. Here we model the fitness of mothers producing offspring of uniform vs. variable size in unpredictably variable environments and compare these two strategies under a variety of conditions. Our model predicts that producing variably sized offspring results in higher mean maternal fitness and less variation in fitness among generations when there is a maximum and minimum viable offspring size, and when many mothers under- or overestimate this optimum. This effect is especially strong when the viable offspring size range is narrow relative to the range of environmental variation. To determine whether this prediction is consistent with empirical evidence, we compared within- and among-mother variation in offspring size for five phyla of marine invertebrates with different developmental modes corresponding to contrasting levels of environmental predictability. Our comparative analysis reveals that, in the developmental mode in which mothers are unlikely to anticipate the relationship between offspring size and performance, size variation within mothers exceeds variation among mothers, but the converse is true when optimal offspring size is likely to be more predictable. Together, our results support the hypothesis that variation in offspring size within broods can reflect an adaptive strategy for dealing with unpredictably variable environments. We suggest that, when there is a minimum and a maximum viable offspring size and the environment is unpredictable, selection will act on both the mean and variance of offspring size.     

皖南低山丘陵地区流域氮磷径流输出特征

通过对安徽南部宣城地区梅村小流域的定位监测,研究了该小流域地表径流中氮磷输出特征。结果表明:氮输出以NO-3N为主,占氮素输出总量的60%,磷输出以悬浮颗粒结合态磷(PAP)为主,占磷输出总量的92%;各类形态氮素输出量间存在极显著线性正相关关系;PAP随悬浮颗粒输出量的增加而增加,PAP与水溶性磷(DP)输出量间存在着极显著的对数关系;氮磷输出具有明显的季节性变化规律,夏季输出量最大,其次是春季,再次是秋季,冬季最少,这是由降雨量的季节性变化所引起的。而且暴雨对氮磷输出的贡献率极大,因此控制雨季土壤侵蚀是有效控制氮磷通过径流输出的最重要方式。     

Monitoring spatio-temporal variation in molluscan grazing pressure in seasonal, tropical rock pools

In Hong Kong, low-shore rock pools support a patchy mosaic of different successional stages of crustose coralline algae. Echinoid and molluscan grazers are abundant in these low-shore rock pools and spatial and temporal variation in grazing pressure is thought to play an important role in structuring these assemblages. Direct records of graze marks using a modified wax-disc method were used to monitor spatial (different pools) and temporal (periods, 3 or 4 days each; spring vs. neap tides; summer vs. winter) variations in grazing pressure. Radula marks of Chlorostoma argyrostoma, Lunella coronata and Nerita albicilla were common in all pools. Grazing pressure was highly variable with tidal state and season but also within these two factors. Lunella and Nerita exerted highest grazing pressure at neap tides during summer, whilst Chlorostoma exerted highest grazing pressure in winter. Although overall patterns of temporal variation were similar and consistent in all pools, there was between pool variation in grazing pressure and individual species showed different patterns. Within the seasonal and tidal variations, large period-to-period differences were found for all species, illustrating small-scale temporal variation. Fine-scale spatial and temporal patterns of variation in grazing pressure of different species, therefore, contribute to the highly dynamic nature of these low-shore rock pools.     

Spatial variation in population dynamics in a colonial ascidian (Botryllus schlosseri)

Recent interest in the dynamics of marine invertebrate populations has focused largely on taxa with an open population structure. However, in many colonial taxa with limited larval dispersal, settlers may be locally derived. Consequently, dynamics may vary among sites that are separated by relatively short distances. This study explored spatial variation in temporal dynamics of colonial ascidians (Botryllus schlosseri Pallas) inhabiting five sites distributed along a ≈ 17-km temperature and phytoplankton gradient in the Damariscotta River estuary, Maine, USA. Settlement and population densities and sexual reproductive status were assayed throughout the summer seasons of 1996 and 1997. Sexual reproduction and larval settlement commenced earlier in the summer in up-river populations, which subsequently underwent a seasonal population explosion that was much smalier in down-river populations. Two peaks in settlement density up-river (in early July and early September) suggest that colonies there may have completed two sexual generations, in contrast to a single generation at down-river sites. Similar spatial variation is expected among populations of other taxa with limited larval dispersal when they are distributed across environmental gradients. Published online: 18 September 2002     

Flow regimes in gaps within stands of flexible vegetation: laboratory flume simulations

Analyses of results from laboratory flume experiments are presented in which flow within gaps in canopies of flexible, submerged aquatic vegetation simulations is investigated. The aims of the work are (a) to identify the different flow regimes that may be found within such gaps, using Morris’ classical definitions of skimming flow, wake interference flow and isolated roughness flow as a template, (b) to determine the parameter space in which those flow regimes are most consistently delineated, and (c) to provide quantitative measurements of the loci of each flow regime within that parameter space for these experiments. The sedimentary and biological implications of each flow regime are also discussed. The results show that five flow regimes may be identified, expanding on Morris’ original set of three. The five are: (i) skimming flow; (ii) recirculation flow; (iii) boundary layer recovery; (iv) canopy through-flow; and (v) isolated roughness flow, the last being assumed to occur in some cases though it is not directly observed in these experiments. A Reynolds number based on the canopy overflow speed and the gap depth, and the gap aspect ratio are found to be the key parameters that determine these flow regimes, though a Froude number is found to be important for determining bed shear stress, and the length of leaves overhanging the gap from the upstream canopy is found to be important in determining the location of flow recirculation cells within the gap.     

An assessment of variation in molluscan grazing pressure on Hong Kong rocky shores

Several methods of assessment have been used to document variation in grazing pressure on temperate rocky shores, although often these methods are applied without consideration of local conditions or species. In this study, a comparison was made between abundance counts of inactive molluscan grazers at low tide, direct observations of grazer activity and distribution throughout day and night tidal cycles, and records of grazing marks on wax discs, for the mid-shore of Hong Kong. The abundance of grazers found during low-tide counts varied among dates, sites and species. This method, however, did not record all grazer species that day/night observations showed to migrate from the low shore with the rising tide. Low-tide counts, therefore, underestimate grazing pressure (number of active grazers per unit area) and grazer guild (number of species). Grazing marks on wax discs also recorded a greater number of species than the low-tide counts of inactive grazers, and included grazers that were seen to migrate up shore during day/night observations. Certain limpet species, however, avoided the wax and did not leave grazing marks, showing this method to also underestimate grazing pressure. All methods showed grazing pressure to be variable at spatial scales of tens of metres or less and also temporally variable between sampling dates. The sole use of either low-tide counts or wax discs is likely to underestimate grazing pressure, due to variation in shore topography and grazer foraging behaviour, especially on shores with a narrow tidal range such as in Hong Kong. To gain a more accurate assessment of total grazing pressure, it is suggested that recording of grazing marks on wax discs should be used in conjunction with direct day/night observations.     

围栏禁牧对毛乌素沙地植物群落特征的影响

围栏禁牧是一种使退化草地获得自然恢复的低投入措施。通过对毛乌素沙地3种放牧管理类型（持续放牧、围栏禁牧5 a和围栏禁牧16 a）的物种组成、盖度、丰富度、多样性、相似性进行比较研究,目的是阐明退化毛乌素沙地植被在禁牧条件下自然恢复的可能性和其恢复演替的趋势。研究发现,围栏禁牧5 a左右群落物种组成就会有较大的恢复,但是物种多度增加程度却不大,即去除放牧干扰后群落物种丰富度的恢复要比物种多度的恢复更容易;禁牧后恢复的种类主要是一些不耐牧但适口性好的物种;围栏禁牧16 a后草本盖度大大增加而半灌木盖度却减少了,且出现了半干旱草原的重要典型种——本氏针茅Stipa bungeana Trin.,这标志着以油蒿Artemisia ordosica Krasch.为主的退化灌丛沙地开始向以禾本科草为主的半干旱沙质草原方向恢复;但要实现毛乌素沙地更大尺度上物种丰富度的恢复,围栏恢复的时间还需要更长。     

The community effects of phenotypic and genetic variation within a predator population

Natural populations are heterogeneous mixtures of individuals differing in physiology, morphology, and behavior. Despite the ubiquity of phenotypic variation within natural populations, its effects on the dynamics of ecological communities are not well understood. Here, we use a quantitative genetics framework to examine how phenotypic variation in a predator affects the outcome of apparent competition between its two prey species. Classical apparent competition theory predicts that prey have reciprocally negative effects on each other. The addition of phenotypic trait variation in predation can marginalize these negative effects, mediate coexistence, or generate positive indirect effects between the prey species. Long-term coexistence or facilitation, however, can be preceded by long transients of extinction risk whenever the heritability of phenotypic variation is low. Greater heritability can circumvent these ecological transients but also can generate oscillatory and chaotic dynamics. These dramatic changes in ecological outcomes, in the sign of indirect effects, and in stability suggest that studies which ignore intraspecific trait variation may reach fundamentally incorrect conclusions regarding ecological dynamics.     

Spatial and temporal variation of resource limitation in Chesapeake Bay

We report nutrient addition bioassays at 18 stations in Chesapeake Bay (USA) to assess resources limiting phytoplankton growth. Data were pooled from several sampling programs conducted from 1989 to 1994. Spatially, light and P limitation declined from low salinity regions to high salinity regions, as N limitation increased. This spatial pattern was driven primarily by freshwater inflows with high N/P and seawater inflows with low N/P. Seasonally, there was a marked progression of winter light limitation, spring P limitation, and summer N limitation at mesohaline and polyhaline stations. The seasonal pattern appeared to be caused by temperature, mixing, river discharge, and sediment P fluxes. At high salinity stations, we also observed winter N limitation (caused by DIN depletion prior to spring nitrate delivery), and at lower salinity stations there was fall P limitation (caused by reaeration of bottom sediments). At tidal fresh stations, turbidity and nutrient concentrations resulted in continuous light limitation, except at some stations in summer. Interannual decreases in light limitation and increases in N and P limitation appear to represent improvements in water quality. Received: 31 October 1997 / Accepted: 18 December 1998     

Spatial and temporal variation in a soft-bottom fish assemblage in St Vincent Bay,New Caledonia

Monthly trawl surveys were performed in 1989 in North Bay and South Bay of St Vincent (New Caledonia) with both a shrimp trawl and fish trawl to produce a reference standard of the natural variability of an unexploited tropical soft-bottom fish assemblage. A total of 230 species belonging to 62 families were recorded. The mean density and biomass were 0.18 fishes m^-2 and 4.31 g m^-2, respectively. The major variations were explained by spatial factors. Species richness, density and biomass were greater in South Bay (204 species, 0.26 fishes m^-2 and 5.90 g m^-2) than in North Bay (105 species, 0.10 fishes m^-2 and 2.71 g m^-2), 34% of the species being present in both areas. The North Bay assemblage was characterized by four abundant benthic species (Saurida undosquamis, Gerres ovatus, Secutor ruconius and Upeneus moluccensis) and by numerous pelagic species (Carangidae, Sphyraenidae and Scombridae). The South Bay assemblage was characterized by several Mullidae, Bothidae and Balistidae, and by some rare species usually found on coral reefs (Pomacentridae and Chaetodontidae). These differences were induced by the physical and benthic characteristics of the two bays. North Bay was an homogeneous, confined, deposit area with few benthic organisms, whereas the substrate was more heterogeneous and the benthic organisms more diversified and abundant in South Bay, which was connected to the adjacent reef lagoon. Species richness remained stable in time, except in January when a hurricane disturbed the environment. Seasonal tendencies in species composition were evidenced in North Bay, with an autumn-winter structure opposed to a spring-summer structure, and characterized by the relative importance of the major species. No seasonal tendencies were observed in the organization of the South Bay assemblage. Nevertheless, mean density and biomass were at a minimum in summer in both bays; maxima occurred in winter. Biomass was negatively correlated to both temperature and rainfall, and reflected the population variations of the main species, particularly their reproductive migrations. Thus, the soft-bottom fish assemblages were strongly organized spatially in New Caledonia, but remained relatively stable over time.     

Among-habitat variation in herbivory on Sargassum spp. on a mid-shelf reef in the northern Great Barrier Reef

Herbivory is widely acknowledged as a key process determining the benthic community structure and resilience of coral reefs. Despite numerous studies that have examined herbivory across reef gradients in the Caribbean, few studies have directly quantified this process on Pacific reefs. Bioassays of two species of erect macroalgae (Sargassum swartzii and S. cristaefolium) were used to quantify variation in grazing intensity across seven habitats of varying depth and wave exposure on a mid-shelf reef in the northern Great Barrier Reef. Removal rates of Sargassum varied significantly among habitats, with both species displaying broadly similar patterns. The shallow habitats on the exposed aspect of the reef (i.e. reef crest, flat and back reef) experienced the highest reductions in mass (81.4–91.6% day⁻¹) for both S. swartzii and S. cristaefolium, while the deeper exposed habitats (reef slope and base) displayed the lowest reductions (3.8–13.4% day⁻¹) over a 24 h period. In contrast, the grazing intensity varied between the two species in the three habitats on the leeward aspect of the reef. Reductions in mass remained relatively high for S. swartzii on the patch reef and sheltered reef base and flat (62.7–76.5% day⁻¹) but were considerably lower for S. cristaefolium (37.9–63.5% day⁻¹) across the same habitats. Surprisingly, the rates of removal of Sargassum displayed no relationship with the density or biomass of roving herbivorous fishes or those species known to consume erect macroalgae, either collectively or independently. These results suggest that the relationship between browsing rates and herbivorous fish biomass is complex and may be driven by species that are underestimated in visual surveys. Direct quantification of browsing intensity using assays revealed a different pattern to inferences based on herbivore densities and highlights the potential difficulties of evaluating ecosystem processes based on visual census data alone.     

The impact of grazing by microzooplankton in northern Hiroshima Bay,the Seto Inland Seam,Japan

The abundance of microzooplankton and their grazing impact on phytoplankton were studied using the dilution technique from May 1990 to November 1991 in northern Hiroshima Bay, a typical eutrophic area in the Seto Inland Sea. Microzooplankton, dominated in number by tintinnid ciliates, were abundant from June to September when chlorophyll-a concentrations were high. Maximum density of microzooplankton ranged from 3.8×10³ to 25.4×10³ ind l^-1. During the period of investigation, mean microzooplankton density and mean chlorophyll-a concentration of the <20-m fraction increased toward the inner region of the bay. The microzooplankton grazing on phytoplankton increased from summer to early autumn, and decreased from late autumn to winter. At an offshore station, the annual means of the daily grazing loss for total chlorophyll-a and the chlorophyll-a of the <20-m fraction were 12 and 15% of the initial standing stock, respectively. At an estuarine station, the microzooplankton grazed 19 and 29% of the total and <20-m initial standing stock, respectively. The quantity of grazed chlorophyll-a correlated positively and linearly with the potential production of chlorophyll-a at both stations. The quantity of chlorophyll-a grazed by microzooplankton and the potential production of chlorophyll-a were nearly equivalent in the <20-m fraction at the estuarine station. This suggests that the microzooplankton assemblage was able to consume almost all the nanoplankton newly produced in the eutrophic estuary.     

Life history consequences of variation in age at primiparity in northern elephant seals

Summary The age when female northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris, bear their first young varies from 2 to 6 years. At Año Nuevo, California, a group of 77 females, primiparous at age 3, had a lower survivorship rate to each successive year up to age 8 than a group of 98 females that deferred initial pupping until age 4. The difference in survivorship appears to be due to the greater relative energetic costs of gestation and lactation incurred by the earlier breeding females during a period in their development when growth is rapid. An alternate hypothesis for the difference in survivorship — that young primiparous females are in poor condition from birth-is untenable; females that pupped early in life were larger at weaning age (a correlate of condition) than females that were primiparous 1 year later.Models based on the data show that differential survival of seals that vary in age at primiparity has important consequences for population growth and life history strategies. The effect of age at primiparity on the rate of increase of populations varies with colony density and juvenile survivorship. The optimal life history strategy for female elephant seals under most conditions existing today, including those at Ano Nuevo during the study period, is to bear the first offspring at age 4. Primiparity at age 3 is projected to be favored when harem density is very low and weaning success and juvenile survivorship are high; postponement of first breeding to age 5 is expected at high harem densities with intense competition for breeding space. Offprint requests to: B.J. Le Boeuf     

Seasonal study of planktonic copepods and their benthic resting eggs in northern California coastal waters

Few investigations have examined the occurrence of zooplankton resting eggs in the sea bed of waters deeper than 20 m. In this study the distribution and abundance of planktonic copepods and their benthic resting eggs in coastal waters off northern California, U.S.A., were determined and related to environmental parameters (temperature, salinity, depth, and sediment grain size). Sediment cores, net tows, and CTD profiles were obtained in April and October 1989, and February, April, and October 1990. Water depths in the study area ranged from approximately 60 to 120 m. The mean abundance of eggs was as high as 1.2×10⁵ m^-2 for Acartia clausi Giesbrecht and 1.9×10⁵ m^-2 for Tortanus discaudatus Thompson and Scott. These egg concentrations are comparable to those reported previously for shallower more protected regions. The abundance of eggs in the sediments decreased with increasing depth of the water column. For the region as a whole, eggs were least abundant in muddy sediments. The mean abundance of eggs in the sea bed also varied seasonally and annully. Benthic resting eggs of A. clausi were more abundant in April 1989 than in April 1990, and adults of the species were never found in the plankton samples. The lack of adults is not unusual since results of previous studies indicate that A. clausi is a cold-water species, and in this region water temperatures are colder in summer, than in winter, due to upwelling. Temperature and salinity data indicated that the upwelling season had commenced by the time of the April 1990, but not the April 1989 sampling. Thus, the reduced abundance of benthic eggs in April 1990 may have been due to egg-hatching in response to reduced temperatures. The results suggest that the presence of A. clausi in coastal waters off northern California is linked to recruitment from benthic resting eggs.     

Spatial cross-correlation of undisturbed,natural shortleaf pine stands in northern Georgia

In this study a cross-correlation statistic is used to analyse the spatial relationship among stand characteristics of natural, undisturbed shortleaf pine stands sampled during 1961–72 and 1972–82 in northern Georgia. Stand characteristics included stand age, site index, tree density, hardwood competition, and mortality. In each time period, the spatial cross-correlation statistic was used to construct cross-correlograms and cumulative cross-correlograms for all significant pairwise combination of stand characteristics. Both the cross-correlograms and cumulative cross-correlograms identified small-scale clustering and weak directional gradients for different stand characteristics in each time period. The cumulative cross-correlograms, which are based on inverse distance weighting were more sensitive in detecting small-scale clustering than the cross-correlograms based on a 0–1 weighting. Further analysis suggested that the significant cross-correlation observed among basal area growth and other stand characteristics were due, in a large part, on a subset of sample plots located in the northern part of the state, rather than regional or broad-scale variation as first thought. The ability to analyse the spatial relationship between two or more response surfaces should provide valuable insight in the development of ecosystem level models and assist decision makers in formulating pertinent policy on intelligent multiresource management.