Experimental assessment of sensory modalities of coral-reef fish larvae in the recognition of their settlement habitat

One of the great mysteries of coral-reef fish ecology is how larvae locate the relatively rare patches of coral-reef habitat on which they settle. The present study aimed to estimate, by experiments in aquaria, the sensory modalities of coral-reef fish larvae for senses used in searching for their species settlement habitat. Larval recognition of settlement habitat can be based on the detection of conspecifics and/or of characteristics of coral habitat using visual, chemical and mechanical cues. For this study, larvae were captured with crest nets and were then introduced into experimental tanks that allowed testing of each type of cue separately (visual, chemical or mechanical cues). Among the 18 species studied, 13 chose their settlement habitat due to the presence of conspecifics and not based on the characteristics of coral habitat, and 5 species did not move toward their settlement habitat (e.g. Scorpaenodes parvipinnis, Apogon novemfasciatus). Among the different sensory cues tested, two species used the three types of cues (Parupeneus barberinus and Ctenochaetus striatus: visual, chemical and mechanical cues), six used two types (e.g. Myripristis pralinia: visual and chemical cues; Naso unicornis: visual and mechanical cues), and five used one type (e.g. Chrysiptera leucopoma: visual cues; Pomacentrus pavo: chemical cues). These results demonstrate that many coral-reef fish larvae could in practice use sensory cues for effective habitat selection at settlement, and have the ability to discriminate species-specific sensory cues.Communicated by J. Krause     

沿海框围养鱼生态系统能量转换效率的分析

分析了沿海滩地３种框围养鱼方式（即精料、种草、化肥养鱼）的能量转换效率及种草养鱼的经济效益。初步得出：在沿海滩地低投入框围养鱼中应重视对太阳能的利用；种草养鱼在３种养鱼方式中能量转换效率最高，经济效益较佳，应推广种草养鱼技术，提高资源利用率。     

Temporal variation and distribution of trace metals in freshwater and fish from Calabar River, S.E. Nigeria

An investigation on the abundance and distribution of trace metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Cd and Pb) in water, and nine species of fish samples from Calabar river was carried out in 1992. The concentrations of iron (6000–7240gl^–1), zinc (4910–7230gl^–1), and cadmium (3–7gl^–1) showed moderate pollution while those of copper (420–630gl^–1), manganese (23–48gl^–1), chromium (<10–20gl^–1) and lead (<1–10gl^–1) in water were well below WHO permissible levels. Significant seasonal changes (0.001p0.25) were obtained for iron, copper, zinc, manganese and cadmium in water. Furthermore, iron, zinc and cadmium showed statistically significant spatial changes (0.005p0.10). Of the nine fish species studied, no statistically significant relationship between body weight and the concentrations of the metals was observed. The concentrations of the metals per mean total body weight apparently decreases in the order Fe>Zn>Cu>Mn>Pb>Cd=Cr and were within the limits that were safe for consumption.     

The impact of detritivorous fishes on a mangrove estuarine system

Sundarban mangrove ecosystem in India is one of the largest detritus based ecosystem of the world and it supplies the detritus and nutrients to the adjacent Hooghly-Matla estuarine complex. In this estuary a group of fish completely detritivorous in nature, belonging to the genus Mugil spp. is present. This group of fish is expected to have important effects on the trophic dynamics of ecosystems, but exact nature of these effects is not known. In order to study the impact that detritivory by fish may have on the estuarine food chain, we developed mathematical formulations. We run two models, one with phytoplankton, zooplankton, carnivorous fish, detritus and nutrient and without this group of fish and a second one after including this fish in the system. In our model this group of fish has no major impact on primary productions of the estuarine system but has extensive role in total fish production. Coexistence of detritivorous fish and carnivorous fish occurs within reasonable parameter range. We have tested different growth rates of phytoplankton, grazing rates and predation rates of zooplankton, detritivorous fish and carnivorous fish for total system equilibrium. Carnivorous fish predation rate on detritivorous fish and detritivorous fish grazing rate on detritus are very important. Different foraging ratios are also tested in this study. Foraging preference of carnivorous fish on detritivorous fish appears significant for the system equilibrium.     

The Role of Hybrid Vigor in the Replacement of Pecos Pupfish by Its Hybrids with Sheepshead Minnow

Abstract:  Many species are jeopardized by hybridization and genetic introgression with closely related species. Unfortunately, the mechanisms that promote or retard gene flow between divergent populations are little studied and poorly understood. Like many imperiled fish species, the Pecos pupfish ( Cyprinodon pecosensis ) is threatened with replacement by its hybrids with a close congener. We examined swimming performance and growth rate of hybrid pupfish to determine the role of hybrid vigor in the genetic homogenization of C. pecosensis by its hybrids with sheepshead minnow ( C. variegatus ). The F1 hybrids, backcross hybrids, and purebred C. variegatus displayed greater swimming endurance than purebred C. pecosensis . In addition, F1 hybrids and C. variegatus grew more rapidly than C. pecosensis . The ecological superiority of hybrids probably promoted their rapid spread through and beyond the historic range of C. pecosensis . These results indicate that eradication of hybrids and restoration of C. pecosensis to its native range is unlikely. Extinction of unique species via genetic homogenization can result from human activities that increase gene flow between historically fragmented populations; conservation managers must weigh the potential for such a catastrophe against the presumed benefits of increased interpopulation gene flow. This example illustrates how, after hybridization has occurred, conflict may arise between formerly complementary conservation goals.     

Viability Analysis of Reef Fish Populations Based on Limited Demographic Information

Abstract:  Marine protected areas (MPAs) that allow some degree of artisanal fishing have been proposed to control the overexploitation of marine resources while allowing extraction by local communities. Nevertheless, the management of MPAs is often impaired by the absence of data on the status of their resources. We devised a method to estimate population growth rates with the type of data that are usually available for reef fishes. We used 7 years of spatially explicit abundance data on the leopard grouper ( Mycteroperca rosacea ) in an MPA in the Gulf of California, Mexico, to construct a matrix population model that incorporated the effects of El Niño/La Niña Southern Oscillation on population dynamics. An environmental model that estimated different demographic estimates for El Niño and La Niña periods performed better than a single-environment model, and a single-habitat model performed better than a model that considered different depths as different habitats. Our results suggest that the population of the leopard grouper off the main island of the MPA is not viable under present conditions. Although the impact of fishing on leopard grouper populations in the MPA has not yet been established, fishing should be closed as a precautionary measure at this island if a priority of the MPA is to ensure the sustainability of its fish populations.     

不同性质天然水中铜在虹鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss)鳃表的形态及对虹鳟的毒性

测定了在差异很大的4种水样(京密引水渠、北京地下水、长江南京段和汤旺河)中铜对虹鳟(Oncorhynchusmykiss)的半致死浓度,同步分析了各类水样参数和鳃铜蓄积量.用生物配位模型计算了铜在水相的形态分布和在鱼鳃表面的吸附量.研究了铜的水相形态、鳃表吸附量和鱼鳃蓄积量及毒性的关系.结果表明,铜的毒性与水相游离铜含量并无线性关系,但与鳃组织蓄积量成正比.图6参10     

Adaptive Management and Climate Change Adaptation: Two Mutually Beneficial Areas of Practice

Adaptive management (AM) is a rigorous approach to implementing, monitoring, and evaluating actions, so as to learn and adjust those actions. Existing AM projects are at risk from climate change, and current AM guidance does not provide adequate methods to deal with this risk. Climate change adaptation (CCA) is an approach to plan and implement actions to reduce risks from climate variability and climate change, and to exploit beneficial opportunities. AM projects could be made more resilient to extreme climate events by applying the principles and procedures of CCA. To test this idea, we analyze the effects of extreme climatic events on five existing AM projects focused on ecosystem restoration and species recovery, in the Russian, Trinity, Okanagan, Platte, and Missouri River Basins. We examine these five case studies together to generate insights on how integrating CCA principles and practices into their design and implementation could improve their sustainability, despite significant technical and institutional challenges, particularly at larger scales. Although climate change brings substantial risks to AM projects, it may also provide opportunities, including creating new habitats, increasing the ability to quickly test flow‐habitat hypotheses, stimulating improvements in watershed management and water conservation, expanding the use of real‐time tools for flow management, and catalyzing creative application of CCA principles and procedures.     

双氯芬酸和醋氨酚对稀有鮈鲫早期生活阶段的毒性效应

随着非甾体抗炎药（NSAIDs）的持续使用与排放,世界各地的地表水、海水、地下水、污水厂进出水中均已频繁检测到该类药物,这对生态系统中各种非靶标生物造成了一定威胁.本研究评价了两种典型的非甾体抗炎药-双氯芬酸（Diclofenac）和醋氨酚（Acetaminophen）对中国特有物种稀有鮈鲫（Gobiocypris rarus）早期生活阶段的毒性效应.实验结果显示,醋氨酚的毒性较弱,当浓度达到48.4 mg·L^-1（NOEC）时,稀有鮈鲫的孵化率、死亡率、异常率、全长和干重均未表现出明显的中毒症状;而双氯酚酸的毒性则较强,当浓度达17.8 mg·L^-1（LC₁₀）时,即可导致稀有鮈鲫孵化率下降,当浓度达到10.2 mg·L^-1（LOEC）时,即可造成幼鱼外观和行为的显著异常,表明双氯芬酸对稀有鮈鲫的孵化和生长均产生了一定的致毒效应.同时,根据稀有鮈鲫和几种常用模式生物之间的孵化率、孵化后存活率、体长和双氯芬酸敏感性的比较结果,可认为稀有鮈鲫适用于污染物对鱼类早期生活阶段毒性效应的评估.