Snorkelling and trampling in shallow-water fringing reefs: risk assessment and proposed management strategy

Shallow reefs (reef flats <1.5 m) in the northern Red Sea are impacted by growing tourism that includes swimmers, snorkellers and reef walkers but have largely been neglected in past studies. We selected a fringing reef along the lagoon of Dahab (Sinai, Egypt) as a model for a management strategy. Point-intercept line transects were used to determine substrate composition, coral community and condition, and the coral damage index (CDI) was applied. Approximately 84% of the coral colonies showed signs of damage such as breakage, partial mortality or algal overgrowth, especially affecting the most frequent coral genus Acropora. Questionnaires were used to determine the visitors' socio-economic background and personal attitudes regarding snorkelling, SCUBA-diving and interest in visiting a prospective snorkelling trail. Experiencing nature (97%) was by far the strongest motivation, and interest in further education about reef ecology and skill training was high. Less experienced snorkellers and divers--the target group for further education and skill training--were those most prepared to financially support such a trail. We therefore recommend a guided underwater snorkelling trail and restricting recreational use to a less sensitive 'ecotourism zone' while protecting the shallow reef flat. Artificial structures can complete the trail and offer the opportunity to snorkel over deeper areas at unfavourable tide or wind conditions. This approach provides a strategy for the management and conservation of shallow-water reefs, which are facing increasing human impact here and elsewhere.     

River network structure shapes interannual feedbacks between adult sea lamprey migration and larval habitation

Adult sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) migrating upstream to spawn follow a pheromone released by instream larvae. The size (i.e. flow) of a tributary dilutes the concentration of this pheromone, such that the downstream propagation pattern of larval pheromone must be influenced by patterns in the relative sizes and numbers of confluent tributaries. We developed an individual-based model to explicitly test the resulting hypothesis that river network structure influences the migration decisions of adult lampreys following the larval pheromone, and in turn the distribution of larvae. First, we initialized the model using randomly generated river networks, and found a strong positive relationship between network diameter and larval aggregation. Larvae aggregated over time, and the degree and rate of this aggregation depended on network diameter. Second, we initialized the model using a river network based on the Muskegon River, Michigan, and compared model-generated larval distribution to available field survey data. We found a significant correlation between model-generated larval abundance and field-measured larval densities (r₂ = 0.54; p < 0.0001). We also found an inverse relationship between subwatershed area and the degree to which path-dependent effects influenced larval abundance in that subwatershed. Our results overall suggest that larval distribution across a watershed results from a system of context-dependent interannual feedbacks shaped by network structure and the past migratory and spawning behavior of adults.     

Anomalous Ba/Ca signals associated with low temperature stresses in Porites corals from Daya Bay, northern South China Sea

Barium to calcium (Ba/Ca) ratio in corals has been considered as a useful geochemical proxy for upwelling, river flood and other oceanic processes. However, recent studies indicated that additional environmental or biological factors can influence the incorporation of Ba into coral skeletons. In this study, Ba/Ca ratios of two Porites corals collected from Daya Bay, northern South China Sea were analyzed. Ba/Ca signals in the two corals were ‘anomalous’ in comparison with Ba behaviors seen in other near-shore corals influenced by upwelling or riverine runoff. Our Ba/Ca profiles displayed similar and remarkable patterns characterized by low and randomly fluctuating background signals periodically interrupted by sharp and large synchronous peaks, clearly indicating an environmental forcing. Further analysis indicated that the Ba/Ca profiles were not correlated with previously claimed environmental factors such as precipitation, coastal upwelling, anthropogenic activities or phytoplankton blooms in other areas. The maxima of Ba/Ca appeared to occur in the period of Sr/Ca maxima, coinciding with the winter minimum temperatures, which suggests that the anomalous high Ba/Ca signals were related to winter-time low sea surface temperature. We speculated that the Ba/Ca peaks in corals of the Daya Bay were most likely the results of enrichment of Ba-rich particles in their skeletons when coral polyps retracted under the stresses of anomalous winter low temperatures. In this case, Ba/Ca ratio in relatively high-latitude corals can be a potential proxy for tracing the low temperature stress.     

黄渤海表层沉积物中正构烷烃和甾醇的分布及来源研究

在黄海、渤海湾和莱州湾采集64个表层沉积物样品,分析正构烷烃（C15～C33）和甾醇（菜子甾醇、菜油甾醇、谷甾醇和豆甾醇）的质量分数和分子组合特征,探讨其来源,比较物质来源的空间差异。结果表明：（1）黄海表层沉积物中类脂生物标志物主要呈现陆源和海源共同影响的特征,其中北黄海以陆源输入为主,高碳数正构烷烃（〉C24）具有明显的奇碳优势,陆源高等植物的贡献较大;南黄海陆源输入与海洋自身贡献相当;渤海湾与莱州湾接受来自河流的大量陆源物质;（2）来源于陆源高等植物的甾醇（包括菜油甾醇、谷甾醇和豆甾醇）在黄海表层沉积物中的质量分数远小于渤海湾和莱州湾,但指示硅藻来源的菜子甾醇在整个研究区域均具有较高的质量分数。     

江苏沿海地区的相对海平面上升及其灾害性影响研究

江苏海岸是全国潮滩最集中分布区，其面积约占全国的１／４，沿海地区地势低平，相对海平面上升幅度较大，是全国少数几个受海平面上升危害最严重的地区之一。初步估算，２１世纪前半期该地区不同岸段相对海平面上升速率将可能达到４．５～９．５ｍｍ／ａ，约为同期全球平均上升速率的２～３倍。其灾害性影响主要集中在：①造成堤外潮滩湿地资源损失，相对海平面上升５０ｃｍ，因直接淹没、侵蚀加剧和淤涨减缓造成的潮滩损失面积将超过５×１０４ｈｍ２，湿地损失面积达２．４×１０４ｈｍ２；②降低海堤防御标准、危及海堤自身和受保护地区安全，相对海平面上升５０ｃｍ，该地区现有海堤防御标准将由现状５０～１００年一遇降为２０～５０年一遇；遇５０年一遇风暴高潮位，全区受潮水漫溢的海堤长度将比现状增加１７３ｋｍ以上，占海堤总长的１／４；③阻碍低洼地的洪水排泄、加剧洪涝灾害损失，相对海平面上升４０ｃｍ，苏北里下河和苏南太湖湖东两片洼地的自然排水能力将可能分别下降约２５％和２０％，若两洼地分别重现１９９１年型和１９５４年型洪水，则因海平面上升增加的受淹面积将超过４×１０４ｈｍ２     

我国海冰的可能最大厚度

我国的渤海和黄海北部近岸海域，每年冬季都有海冰出现，渤海的辽东湾是我国冰情最严重海区。在渤海，特别是辽东湾，海注作用力是海洋工程设计的控制荷载。海注的厚度是计算海冰作用力的重要参数之一。本文根据渤海辽东湾北部鲅鱼圈和盘锦海洋站的气温和海冰观测资料，建立了计算海冰厚度的经验公式，并据此估算了我国平整海冰的可能最大厚度为８０ｃｍ。     

Low levels of toxic elements in Dead Sea black mud and mud-derived cosmetic products

Natural muds used as or in cosmetics may expose consumers to toxic metals and elements via absorption through the skin, inhalation of the dried product, or ingestion (by children). Despite the extensive therapeutic and cosmetic use of the Dead Sea muds, there apparently has been no assessment of the levels of such toxic elements as Pb, As, or Cd in the mud and mud-based products. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis of eight toxic elements in samples collected from three black mud deposits (Lisan Marl, Pleistocene age) on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea in Jordan revealed no special enrichment of toxic elements in the mud. A similar analysis of 16 different commercial Dead Sea mud cosmetics, including packaged mud, likewise revealed no toxic elements at elevated levels of concern. From a toxic element standpoint, the Dead Sea black muds and derivative products appear to be safe for the consumer. Whatever the therapeutic benefits of the mud, our comparison of the elemental fingerprints of the consumer products with those of the field samples revealed one disturbing aspect: Dead Sea black mud should not be a significant component of such items as hand creams, body lotions, shampoo, and moisturizer.     

东、黄海沉积物中生物硅的分布及其环境意义

通过对1998年5月、2000年10月及2001年5月东、黄海海区3个航次采集的沉积物样品中生物硅(BSi)含量的分析,讨论了东海西北部、南黄海沉积物中BSi的分布、埋藏及其与水体初级生产力、硅藻丰度的关系.测定表明,调查海区表层沉积物中BSi的含量介于0.21%~0.70%,海区BSi的分布与水体初级生产力的变化一致.在长江口海区,BSi的积累与河口区水体中的叶绿素a、初级生产力有着密切的关系,近20年来长江口海区沉积物中BSi含量的变化记录了长江径流以及长江输送N、P、Si营养盐通量的年际变化.     

南海重点海洋倾倒区表层沉积物富集特征及其潜在生态风险评价

根据2005南海三个重点海洋倾倒区,即九澳岛重点海洋倾倒区、黄茅岛重点海洋倾倒区、汕头重点海洋倾倒区的监测,分析其表层沉积物重金属的监测资料,采用富集系数法和Hakanson潜在生态危害系数法对其富集度和潜在生态危害程度进行了分析和评价.结果表明:在三个倾倒区表层沉积物所监测的重金属中,Cu和Pb元素的富集度相对最高,Hg和Cd元素的富集度较低,从空间上看,潜在生态危害系数评价结果显示,南海三个重点海洋倾倒区表层沉积物中的重金属对海洋生态系统的潜在生态危害非常轻微,均属于轻微潜在生态危害范畴,其中轻微潜在生态危害程度相对较重的是Cd和Hg元素,Cu和Pb元素的轻微生态危害程度较轻.     

南中国海地区红树林的利用和保护

南中国海具有丰富的浅海和热带的生物多样性,是全球红树林分布的中心之一.南中国海地区红树林面积大约占全球的28%,该区红树植物的多样性为世界最高,共有46种真红树分布于此.由于受人口增加和经济发展的巨大压力,南中国地区红树林资源破坏严重,退化趋势明显.虽然南中国海周边国家过去都实施了相应的海洋环境保护行动计划,然而缺乏区域协调措施大大降低了这些行动的有效性.本文在对南中国海地区红树林资源的利用现状和退化原因进行分析的基础上,提出南中国海地区红树林资源保护与管理的建议,以期能在双边或区域的层面上共同协作,采取适当的措施去扭转南中国海地区红树林生境退化趋势.