Conservation of Marine Megafauna through Minimization of Fisheries Bycatch

Abstract: Many populations of marine megafauna, including seabirds, sea turtles, marine mammals, and elasmobranchs, have declined in recent decades due largely to anthropogenic mortality. To successfully conserve these long‐lived animals, efforts must be prioritized according to feasibility and the degree to which they address threats with the highest relative impacts on population dynamics. Recently, Wilcox and Donlan (2007, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment) and Donlan and Wilcox (2008, Biological Invasions) proposed a conservation strategy of “compensatory mitigation” in which fishing industries offset bycatch of seabirds and sea turtles by funding eradication of invasive mammalian predators from the terrestrial reproductive sites of these marine animals . Although this is a creative and conceptually compelling approach, we find it flawed as a conservation tool because it has narrow applicability among marine megafauna, it does not address the most pervasive threats to marine megafauna, and it is logistically and financially infeasible. Invasive predator eradication does not adequately offset the most pressing threat to most marine megafauna populations—fisheries bycatch. For seabird populations, fisheries bycatch and invasive predators infrequently are overlapping threats. Invasive predators have limited population‐level impacts on sea turtles and marine mammals and no impacts on elasmobranchs, all of which are threatened by bycatch. Implementing compensatory mitigation in marine fisheries is unrealistic due to inadequate monitoring, control, and surveillance in the majority of fleets. Therefore, offsetting fisheries bycatch with eradication of invasive predators would be less likely to reverse population declines than reducing bycatch. We recommend that efforts to mitigate bycatch in marine capture fisheries should address multiple threats to sensitive bycatch species groups, but these efforts should first institute proven bycatch avoidance and reduction methods before considering compensatory mitigation.     

Ozone Dry Deposition Velocities for Coastal Waters

Air-sea exchange rates for ozone were measured by the eddy correlation technique at a site on the north Norfolk coast in the UK. The average surface resistance to ozone uptake was found to be, r_s(O₃) = 1,000 ± 100 s m^-1. Micrometeorological measurements of trace gas fluxes to ocean surfaces are rare but a review of available measurements suggests that we can constrain sea water surface resistance for ozone to between 1,000 (Regener (1974), and this work) and 1,890 s m^-1 (Lenschow et al., 1982), yielding surface deposition velocities between 0.53 and 1.0 mm s^-1. These values are more than an order of magnitude greater than can be explained by laboratory determined mass accommodation coefficients for ozone to water. The importance of dry deposition with respect to process air-sea exchange models is highlighted. A trend in surface deposition velocity with wind speed was also observed supporting a surface chemical enhancement mechanism of ozone uptake which in turn is enhanced by near surface mixing processes.     

Predicting the Spatial Distribution of a Seabird Community to Identify Priority Conservation Areas in the Timor Sea

Understanding spatial and temporal variability in the distribution of species is fundamental to the conservation of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. To support strategic decision making aimed at sustainable management of the oceans, such as the establishment of protected areas for marine wildlife, we identified areas predicted to support multispecies seabird aggregations in the Timor Sea. We developed species distribution models for 21 seabird species based on at‐sea survey observations from 2000–2013 and oceanographic variables (e.g., bathymetry). We applied 4 statistical modeling techniques and combined the results into an ensemble model with robust performance. The ensemble model predicted the probability of seabird occurrence in areas where few or no surveys had been conducted and demonstrated 3 areas of high seabird richness that varied little between seasons. These were located within 150 km of Adele Island, Ashmore Reef, and the Lacepede Islands, 3 of the largest aggregations of breeding seabirds in Australia. Although these breeding islands were foci for high species richness, model performance was greatest for 3 nonbreeding migratory species that would have been overlooked had regional monitoring been restricted to islands. Our results indicate many seabird hotspots in the Timor Sea occur outside existing reserves (e.g., Ashmore Reef Marine Reserve), where shipping, fisheries, and offshore development likely pose a threat to resident and migratory populations. Our results highlight the need to expand marine spatial planning efforts to ensure biodiversity assets are appropriately represented in marine reserves. Correspondingly, our results support the designation of at least 4 new important bird areas, for example, surrounding Adele Island and Ashmore Reef. Pronostico de la Distribución Espacial de una Comunidad de Aves Marinas para Identificar Áreas Prioritarias de Conservación en el Mar de Timor     

江苏灌河入海污染通量与经济增长关系分析研究

根据江苏省灌河沿岸市县2004年－2012年的经济增长与环境质量的相关数据,建立环境指标排放量与GDP关系的计量模型。结果分析表明：入海污染的排放与GDP之间存在库兹涅茨关系,入海污染物中COD、营养盐（主要为氨氮、磷酸盐氮、亚硝酸盐氮、磷）、重金属、石油类、砷的含量随着GDP的增加呈现出上升趋势,与人均GDP的回归分析显示出二者之间存在密切关系。灌河流域环境问题严峻,亟待解决。应进一步加强环境执法和环境治理力度,以确保环境问题得到解决。     

辽东湾滨海地区海水入侵分布及地下水化学特征分析

本文通过对辽东湾北部和东、西两侧滨海地区108个地下水井的监测数据进行分析,得出:(1)辽东湾海水入侵严重地区主要分布在辽东湾北部淤泥质海岸,其分布特点是严重海水入侵区、轻度海水入侵区由岸向陆呈带状分布;东西两侧以砂砾质海岸为主,局部地区海水入侵较重,大部分地区海水入侵较轻;(2)辽东湾地下水化学类型可分为五种类型,其分布特点是由岸向陆呈带状分布,规律明显,反映了海水入侵分布特征。氯化物型一般分布在微咸水至咸水区,重碳酸盐氯化物型或氯化物重碳酸盐型、重碳酸盐氯化物硫酸盐型或氯化物重碳酸盐硫酸盐型分布在微咸水向淡水过渡区,硫酸盐重碳酸盐型或重碳酸盐硫酸盐型、重碳酸盐型主要分布在淡水区。     

长江口邻近海域沉积物中生物硅溶解行为研究

对长江口邻近海域进行调查,分析沉积物中生物硅的空间分布特征,探讨影响生物硅溶解以及保存的因素.结果表明,生物硅含量的平面分布具有近岸高于远海的分布趋势,陆源输入、沉积速率以及水动力条件是影响生物硅在沉积物中埋藏的主要因素.生物硅溶解速率常数随空间以及深度无明显变化规律,间隙水中硅酸盐相对于生物硅溶解度的不饱和程度、有机外壳对生物硅的包裹以及间隙水中Al离子浓度等因素会影响生物硅的溶解进而会影响其在沉积物中的保存和间隙水中硅酸盐浓度的变化.     

气候变化视角下的我国沿海地区防潮设计标准研究 ——以福州滨海新城为例

分析了福州滨海新城所面临的洪潮灾害风险和海堤建设规划情况.从全球气候变化导致福建沿海海平面上升的影响出发,介绍了国外沿海城市在考虑气候变化背景下如何确定海堤设计标准和我国防潮堤设计标准确定方法,分析了我国防潮堤现行设计标准存在的问题和风险,并对未来福州滨海新城防潮堤设计标准改进提出了建议,可供我国沿海地区相关问题参考.     

The Application of A Tiered Testing Approach to the Management of Dredged Sediments for Disposal at Sea in Canada

Canada, and other signatories to the London Convention 1972 on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping, are preparing to ratify a 1996 Protocol to this convention. Among the improvements to this international agreement, is a new process for the Assessment of Waste and Other Matter, which is to be adopted by signatory parties. the process includes a step in which material considered potentially acceptable for sea disposal must be characterized by chemical, physical and biological properties. Canada's interpretation and intended implementation of this characterization step is presented for the assessment of dredged sediments. This tiered testing approach involves using chemical screening limits for contaminants, and biological testing when screening levels are exceeded. Dredged material containing specified substances (e.g., cadmium, mercury, PAHs, PCBs, etc.) below or at screening levels would generally be considered of little environmental concern for disposal at sea. Wastes above the screening levels would require more detailed assessment before their suitability for disposal at sea could be determined.     

Effects of Illegal Harvest of Eggs on the Population Decline of Leatherback Turtles in Las Baulas Marine National Park,Costa Rica

Abstract: Within 19 years the nesting population of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) at Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas declined from 1500 turtles nesting per year to about 100. We analyzed the effects of fishery bycatch and illegal harvesting (poaching) of eggs on this population. We modeled the population response to different levels of egg harvest (90, 75, 50, and 25%) and the effect of eradicating poaching at different times during the population decline. We compared effects of 90% poaching with those of 20% adult mortality because both of these processes were present in the population at Las Baulas. There was a stepwise decline in number of nesting turtles at all levels of egg harvest. Extirpation times for different levels of poaching ranged from 45 to 282 years. The nesting population declined more slowly and survived longer with 20% adult mortality (146 years) than it did with 90% poaching (45 years). Time that elapsed until poaching stopped determined the average population size at which the population stabilized, ranging from 90 to 420 nesting turtles. Our model predicted that saving clutches lost naturally would restore the population when adult mortality rates were low and would contribute more to population recovery when there were short remigration intervals between nesting seasons and a large proportion of natural loss of clutches. Because the model indicated that poaching was the most important cause of the leatherback decline at Las Baulas, protecting nests on the beach and protecting the beach from development are critical for survival of this population. Nevertheless, the model predicted that current high mortality rates of adults will prevent population recovery. Therefore, protection of the beach habitat and nests must be continued and fishery bycatch must be reduced to save this population.