The Complementary Niches of Anthropocentric and Biocentric Conservationists

A divergence of values has become apparent in recent debates between conservationists who focus on ecosystem services that can improve human well‐being and those who focus on avoiding the extinction of species. These divergent points of view fall along a continuum from anthropocentric to biocentric values, but most conservationists are relatively closer to each other than to the ends of the spectrum. We have some concerns with both positions but emphasize that conservation for both people and all other species will be most effective if conservationists focus on articulating the values they all share, being respectful of divergent values, and collaborating on common interests. The conservation arena is large enough to accommodate many people and organizations whose diverse values lead them to different niches that can, with good will and foresight, be far more complementary than competitive. Los Nichos Complementarios de los Conservacionistas Antropocéntricos y Biocéntricos     

Contrasting C and N isotope ratios from sperm whale skin and squid between the Gulf of Mexico and Gulf of California: effect of habitat

To investigate feeding variation between populations of an apex oceanic predator, stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) have been compared in skin of female and immature male sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) from the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and the Gulf of California (GC). Whale sexes were determined genetically. The δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values from squid muscle were used from the GC, and from inshore and offshore sites in the GoM. We documented contrastingly lower δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N from whales and squid of the GoM compared with those from the GC. While this difference may be associated with variation in trophic position, geographic variation in biochemical cycling influenced significantly the contrasting isotope values between gulfs. Within the northern GoM, the highly distinct δ¹⁵N values of neritic squid versus mesopelagic squid provide further evidence of habitat specificity in δ¹⁵N.     

Differences in productivities between the Great Australian Bight and the Gulf of Carpentaria,Australia, in summer

Phytoplankton standing crop (chlorophyll a) and primary productivity were recorded, and zooplankton biomass was estimated in the two large bays of Australia, the Great Australian Bight on the south coast (December, 1965) and the Gulf of Carpentaria on the north coast (December, 1968). In the Gulf of Carpentaria, the phytoplankton standing crop (average, 27.3 mg chlorophyll a m^-2) and primary productivity (average, 133.1 mg C m^-2 h^-1), as well as zooplankton biomass (average, 305.3 mg wet weight m^-3) are much higher than in the Great Australian Bight (12.1 mg chlorophyll a m^-2, 18.2 mg C m^-2 h^-1, 7.1 mg wet weight m^-3, respectively). The unexpectedly low productivity values in the Great Australian Bight are attributable to environmental conditions of this bay, which obtains neither replenishment of nutrients from the land nor receives upwelling of deep water.     

Hydrographic and plankton variability in the Saronikos Gulf

Five stations in the Saronikos Gulf were studied during 1983–1984. One located in Elefsis Bay an industrial area, and the others, located at a distance where the effects of effluents were minimized. A differential discharge of untreated urban wastes and industrial effluents adds to the distinctiveness of the two parts. Various physical, chemical and biological (Chlorophyll‐a, phytoplankton, Zooplankton) factors were measured seasonally. Temporal and spatial distribution of surface temperature, salinity, nutrients (N, P, Si), chlorophyll‐a, and plankton were reported and the areas exposed to local eutrophication identified. Significant correlations between phytoplankton standing crop, chlorophyll‐a Zooplankton and various environmental parameters were demonstrated.     

Closing the knowledge-action gap in conservation with open science

The knowledge-action gap in conservation science and practice occurs when research outputs do not result in actions to protect or restore biodiversity. Among the diverse and complex reasons for this gap, three barriers are fundamental: knowledge is often unavailable to practitioners and challenging to interpret or difficult to use or both. Problems of availability, interpretability, and useability are solvable with open science practices. We considered the benefits and challenges of three open science practices for use by conservation scientists and practitioners. First, open access publishing makes the scientific literature available to all. Second, open materials (detailed methods, data, code, and software) increase the transparency and use of research findings. Third, open education resources allow conservation scientists and practitioners to acquire the skills needed to use research outputs. The long-term adoption of open science practices would help researchers and practitioners achieve conservation goals more quickly and efficiently and reduce inequities in information sharing. However, short-term costs for individual researchers (insufficient institutional incentives to engage in open science and knowledge mobilization) remain a challenge. We caution against a passive approach to sharing that simply involves making information available. We advocate a proactive stance toward transparency, communication, collaboration, and capacity building that involves seeking out and engaging with potential users to maximize the environmental and societal impact of conservation science.     

Zooplankton standing stock and community size structure within the epipelagic zone: a comparison between the central Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden

Standing stock and size composition of the zooplankton comunity (>100 m) were studied in four depth strata of the upper 200 m of the water column during a Meteor cruise to the central Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in spring 1987. The central Red Sea was divided into a northern area of higher salinity and a less saline southern part. Both areas exhibited significant differences in zooplankton abundance and standing stock. The latter increased by the ratio 1:2:3 from the northern central Red Sea to its southern part and further south to the Gulf of Aden. For size structure analysis samples were fractionated into three size classes (100 to 300, 300 to 500, 500 to 5000 m). In the central Red Sea the smallest size was dominant whereas in the Gulf of Aden the largest size fraction played a greater relative role than in the central Red Sea. This shift in size structure of the zooplankton community from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden is apparently primarily related to ecosystem difference between both areas, leading to a change in species composition. In addition, size reduction of individual species common to both seas may be of some significance in the extreme environment of the Red Sea.     

Primary productivity in the Gulf of California

Primary productivity data from 6 cruises in the Gulf of California are summarized. A total of 31 stations with 133 samples was available. The Gulf of California represents a subtropical area with exceptionally high rates of primary productivity. This fact may be accounted for by temporary seasonal upwelling, a wind-mixed water column down to the shallow thermocline, especially in the northern part of the Gulf, and by tidal mixing, especially in the Ballenas Channel between Baja California and the island Angel de la Guardia. Rates of primary productivity in the Gulf of California are comparable to those in areas such as the Bay of Bengal, the upwelling areas off the west coast of Baja California, or North Africa. They are about 2 to 3 times greater than that in the open Atlantic or the open Pacific at similar latitudes.Contribution from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego. This work was part of the Scripps Tuna Oceanography Research Program. It was supported by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries under contract number 14-17-0007-963. Shiptime was provided from funds of the National Science Foundation.     

Benthic Fluxes and Pore Water Profiles in the Tigullio Gulf

Diffusive fluxes of elements (NO^-₂, NO^-₃, NH⁺₄, SiO₂, PO^3-₄, Cl^-, SO^2-₄, Fe, Mn) have been measured by applying the Fick's first law in two stations of the Tigullio Gulf: the first one characterized by sandy sediments rich in vegetal detritus and the second one, located to within the tourist harbour, characterized by a silty-clay sediments.

Benthic fluxes were measured only in the second station by means of benthic chamber experiments. Although the significant presence of dissolved oxygen in the surface sediments, and the evidence of processes usually occurring in oxidised sediments such as nitrification, both stations also presented characteristics of anoxic sediments such as high oxygen consumption rate and high pore water concentrations of ion, manganese and N-ammonia and reactive orthophosphate.

In both stations, sediments seemed to represent a potential source for most of the chemical species studied, although fluxes were not confirmed for ion, manganese and reactive orthophosphate in benthic chamber experiments.

Diffusive fluxes presented a general agreement for both stations, with higher fluxes of N-nitrate and N-nitrite at the first station were oxidative processes of N-ammonia in the upper layer of the sediments seemed to be more active. the comparison between diffusive and benthic fluxes showed a possible contribution of bioturbation.     

Research On Zooplankton in the Gulf of Rapallo

Zooplankton samples, collected in autumn 1996 from two stations in the Gulf of Rapallo, Ligurian Sea (Rapallo Harbour and Prelo Bay, which is a more open site with lower human impacts) were analysed. at both stations, the community was dominated by copepods (mainly juveniles and adults of different species of Acartia and Oithona) and meroplankton (mainly polychaete larvae). Total zooplankton abundance in the harbour waters was significantly higher than in the nearby bay. the occurrence of Acartia grani in Rapallo Harbour and Pteriacartia josephinae in Prelo Bay is noteworthy, as they are reported for the first time in the Ligurian Sea, and A. grani has not previously been recorded to the Italian coastline. A three-day benthic chamber experiment aimed to quantify nutrient fluxes between the sediment and water column was performed in the Rapallo Harbour: the profound effects of confinement on the composition and abundance of zooplankton within the incubation chamber are discussed.     

Sea Snake Harvest in the Gulf of Thailand

Conservation of sea snakes is virtually nonexistent in Asia, and its role in human–snake interactions in terms of catch, trade, and snakebites as an occupational hazard is mostly unexplored. We collected data on sea snake landings from the Gulf of Thailand, a hotspot for sea snake harvest by squid fishers operating out of the ports of Song Doc and Khanh Hoi, Ca Mau Province, Vietnam. The data were collected during documentation of the steps of the trading process and through interviewers with participants in the trade. Squid vessels return to ports once per lunar synodic cycle and fishers sell snakes to merchants who sort, package, and ship the snakes to various destinations in Vietnam and China for human consumption and as a source of traditional remedies. Annually, 82 t, roughly equal to 225,500 individuals, of live sea snakes are brought to ports. To our knowledge, this rate of harvest constitutes one of the largest venomous snake and marine reptile harvest activities in the world today. Lapemis curtus and Hydrophis cyanocinctus constituted about 85% of the snake biomass, and Acalyptophis peronii, Aipysurus eydouxii, Hydrophis atriceps, H. belcheri, H. lamberti, and H. ornatus made up the remainder. Our results establish a quantitative baseline for characteristics of catch, trade, and uses of sea snakes. Other key observations include the timing of the trade to the lunar cycle, a decline of sea snakes harvested over the study period (approximately 30% decline in mass over 4 years), and the treatment of sea snake bites with rhinoceros horn. Emerging markets in Southeast Asia drive the harvest of venomous sea snakes in the Gulf of Thailand and sea snake bites present a potentially lethal occupational hazard. We call for implementation of monitoring programs to further address the conservation implications of this large‐scale marine reptile exploitation. Cosecha de Serpientes Marinas en el Golfo de Tailandia     

我国环北部湾地区环境保护与整治对策

本区主要环境问题是污染,海涂环境退化和陆地表覆盖层破坏等。保护整治宜针对重点地区,重点环境问题和敏感脆弱环境要素分别采取不同措施。     

Relation of fish larvae and zooplankton biomass in the Gulf of Aden

This study is based on zooplankton samples collected in the upper 50 m by the F.R.V. Manihine in the Gulf of Aden during October–November, 1966 and February–March, 1967. Generally, the displacement volume of zooplankton varied between 20 and 67 ml/m². Some higher values, up to 100 ml/m², were also observed. The number of larval fish in positive hauls ranged from 2 to 282 larvae/m². An inverse relationship between the number of larval fish and the accompanying volume of zooplankton was noted. This relationship is discussed. It is hypothesized that larval mortality due to predation in the Gulf of Aden during the northeast monsoon (November, February and March) was very high.     

On maturation and spawning in some penaeid prawns of the Arabian Gulf

A mathematical model is presented of the ecosystem in the upper layers of the marine pelagic zone. The model has been constructed on the basis of presumed connections between biotic and abiotic ecosystem parameters typical of the Black Sea. Details on total model relations as well as on model analysis and construction may be obtained after gaining more insight into the behaviour of models constructed for the upper pelagic ecosystem of different marine aquatoria. The model is characterized by a rather complex behaviour. Realization of the model on the electronic computer is made by employing the method of random trajectories. As a result, a qualitative picture of model behaviour under different conditions is revealed and statistical characteristics of the parameters are obtained.     

Flux capacities and acclimation costs in Trichodesmium from the Gulf of Mexico

Phytoplankton function and acclimation are driven by catalytic protein complexes that mediate key physiological transformations, including generation of photosynthetic ATP and reductant, and carbon and nitrogen fixation. Quantitation of capacities for these processes allows estimation of rates for key ecosystem processes, and identification of factors limiting primary productivity. We herein present molar quantitations of PSI, PSII, ATP synthase, RuBisCO and the Fe protein of nitrogenase of Trichodesmium collected from the Gulf of Mexico, in comparison to determinations for a range of cyanobacteria growing in culture. Using these measurements, estimates were generated for Trichodesmium capacities for carbon fixation of 1–3.4 g C g chl a ⁻¹ h⁻¹ and nitrogen fixation of 0.06–0.17 g N g chl a ⁻¹ h⁻¹, with diel variations in capacities. ATP synthase levels show that ATP synthesis capacity is sufficient to support these levels of carbon and nitrogen fixation, and that ATP synthase levels change over the day in accordance with the ATP demands of nitrogenase and RuBisCO activity. Levels of measured complexes indicate that Trichodesmium manifests n-type diel light acclimation through rapid changes in RuBisCO:PSII, supported by significant investment of cellular nitrogen. The plasticity in the levels and stoichiometry of these core complexes show that changes in the abundance of core protein complexes are an important component of acclimation and regulation of metabolic function by Trichodesmium populations. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Nutrient characteristics and sediment texture of the seagrass beds of the Gulf of Mannar

Changes in nutrient concentrations and sediment texture of the seagrass beds were recorded for two years from July 1996 to June 1998 at monthly intervals at two stations (Station 1--Manoli island; Station 2--Chinnapalam) of the Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve. Different nutrients in water showed varied concentrations in different seasons. Phosphate concentration varied between 2.32 and 7.32 microM, nitrate concentration ranged from 5.2 to 18.78 microM and nitrite concentration from 1.92 to 732 microM. Sand was a major component of the sediments, followed by silt and clay at both the stations. At station 1, sand composition varied between 85.9 and 95.3% while at station 2, it varied between 81.9 and 93.6%. Silt composition varied between 3.1 and 9.4% at station land at station 2, it varied between 4.0 and 12.4%. At station 1, clay composition varied from 1.6 to 4.6% and at station 2, it varied between 2.1 and 5.6%. The present study revealed that the nutrients and sediment characteristics of the seagrass beds of the Gulf of Mannar has clear spatial and temporal variations. They are largely interlinked and influenced by the human activities and climatic changes and are individually or jointly governing the distribution, diversity, biomass and productivity of the seagrasses of the Gulf of Mannar.     

Distribution and maximum growth depth of Fucus vesiculosus along the Gulf of Finland

 A survey of the distribution and maximum depth of a continuous Fucus vesiculosus belt was carried out in the Gulf of Finland in 1991. F. vesiculosus is widely distributed throughout the Gulf of Finland, including the vicinity of Vyborg Bay, Russia in the east. The maximum growth depth of F. vesiculosus in the Gulf of Finland reflects two different patterns according to the exposure to wave action. The most robust and continuous F. vesiculosus belt is observed on exposed shores, where the maximum growth depth is 5 to 6 m, with the optimum at 2 to 3 m. On moderately exposed shores the maximum growth depth is 3 m, with an optimum growth depth of <2 m. The maximum growth depth also varies geographically, with a decreasing trend towards the east. Maximum growth depth of F. vesiculosus correlates with light intensity. The compensation point for F. vesiculosus photosynthesis is about 25 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, and photosynthesis is saturated at a light intensity of 300 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Vertical irradiance attenuation measurements in situ in summer revealed that for F. vesiculosus photosynthesis the quantity of light is optimal (200 to 300 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) at <3 m depth. At depths >5 m the quantity of light is near or below the photosynthesis compensation point and insufficient for growth. These depth limits of light penetration coincide with measured growth depths of F. vesiculosus in the Gulf of Finland. Received: 7 May 1999 / Accepted: 18 November 1999     

Environmental concerns for marina planning in the Gulf of Suez

This paper presents a case study where numerical modelling was utilized for the first time to estimate shoreline changes during the planning of a private pleasure marina in the Gulf of Suez. The study was made to compliment an environmental impact assessment study (EIA) requested by the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA). The paper presents data collected during two surveys and the results of the numerical model. The impact of the marina on the sediment budget was investigated using the GENESIS one-line program. One of the main reasons for the study was to confirm that the choice of the marina location ensured minimum erosion of the shoreline. In the model, the sediment transport calibration constants were determined using the results of two surveys. The choice of the formula is discussed in the paper. Two locations for the marina were tested against minimum erosion at the down drift side of the marina. This study was performed in close co-ordination with the EEAA and several solutions were suggested to minimize the expected accretion before the final location was approved.