Occurrence of potential bacterial pathogens in coastal areas of the Adriatic Sea

A monitoring program was carried out in bathing waters along the sea-coast of the Adriatic Sea. The investigation was aimedat obtaining a quali-quantitative picture of microorganisms ofanthropic origin and of a more strictly autochthonous origin and at verifying the existence of possible reciprocal correlations and combinations of relationship between them. Results showed that the concentrations of indicators of faecal contamination, whether within or over the values established by legislation, are not always related to the presence and density of microorganisms of environmental origin but the regression modelsused can help to describe how these latter microorganisms can bein relation to levels of the other parameters. The difficultyis evident of the predictability of health effects swimming-associated; for this reason more complex models that are currently used should be taken into account for minimising the risk for bathers.     

Aerial Monitoring of Marine Waterfowl in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea

The purpose of this study was to design and test a monitoring protocol for marine waterfowl in the central Alaskan Beaufort Sea. The study provides an important case-study of how a long-term monitoring program may be affected by unanticipated human disturbances.Because of its overwhelming and widespread abundance, relatively sedentary behavior, ease in counting, and the extensive historical database, the long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis) was selected as the focal species. Two null hypotheses were formulated concerning potential changes in the numbers and distribution of long-tailed ducks in relation to disturbance in an industrial study area, compared to a reference study area located about 50 km to the east.A 9-year historical database (1977–1984, 1989) of long-tailed duck densities and other important data recorded during systematic aerial surveys was analyzed retrospectively using multiple regression techniques. The retrospective analyses determined which of several predictor variables recorded were significantly related to long-tailed duck density. Separate analyses were conducted for two periods: (1) the overall period when long-tailed ducks were present in the lagoon study areas, and (2) the shorter adult male molt period. The results of the two analyses indicated that 57% and 68%, respectively, of the total variation in long-tailed duck density during the two periods could be explained by variables recorded during the surveys. Predictor variables representing habitat, day of the year, time of day, amount of ice, and wave height recorded on-transect during surveys were most closely associated with long-tailed duck density. Measurement error during the surveys, and influences outside the study area such as nesting success in tundra habitats and mortality during migration and in over-wintering areas likely also had strong influences on the results, but these factors were not measurable in our study.Based on results of the retrospective analyses, a long-term monitoring protocol consisting of a program of systematic aerial surveys and an analyses of variance and covariance (ANOVA and ANCOVA) statistical procedure was designed and initially tested in 1990 and 1991. This 2-year testing phase resulted in several revisions to the monitoring protocol. Refinements were made to the original sampling procedures, to the survey schedule, and to the recommended statistical analysis procedures. Results of the ANOVA and ANCOVA indicated that there was no evidence of a change in long-tailed duck densities that could be attributable to disturbance (from any source) in the industrial study area relative to a reference area with no industrial development. Other analyses indicated that the sampling and analysis procedures would be adequate to detect long-term trends in long-tailed duck density and localized disturbance effects, but that the monitoring program should be continued well beyond two years to detect statistically significant changes. As a result, additional aerial surveys of both study areas were conducted again during 1999–2001.Results of the revised ANOVA and ANCOVA of the 1990–1991 and 1999–2001 survey data indicated that the density of long-tailed ducks had significantly declined in coastal lagoons along the central Alaskan Beaufort Sea coast during the study period. In addition, disturbances throughout the barrier island-lagoon systems used by these ducks, including both the industrial and the reference study areas, had significantly increased over the same period. However, because unanticipated disturbances from a variety of anthropogenic sources, and not just industry sources, increased in both study areas, the reference study area was not an effective statistical control. As a result, the decline in long-tailed duck density in both study areas was not attributable to industry-related activities. Although the monitoring protocol described here is an effective method to detect statistically significant changes in long-tailed duck distribution and abundance in the nearshore Alaskan Beaufort Sea, many more years of sampling would be necessary to attribute observed changes to industry-related disturbances.     

东海特定海区沉积物-水界面附近P释放的实验研究

以采自长江口外东海表层沉积物为对象，对不同类型的沉积物在模拟海水环境中进行了释P实验。研究表明，在静态条件下，沉积物释P量的高点出现在摇晃后10min左右，大约3h后基本趋于平衡。释P动力学可用Elovich公式与双常数速率公式进行拟合。最大释P量与沉积物的组成密切相关，以粉砂、粘土为主的沉积物释P量高，而砂质为主者释P量低。在释P实验中，铁磷(Fe-P)最为活跃，释放比例最高，其次是吸附态磷(Ad-P)和有机态磷(OP)。它们均属于生物可获得P的范畴。实验结果表明，在合适的水动力条件下，沉积物中的P可以迅速释放到水体．并影响水体的营养状杰和初级生产力。     

Do Open-Cycle Hatcheries Relying on Tourism Conserve Sea Turtles? Sri Lankan Developments and Economic–Ecological Considerations

By combining economic analysis of markets with ecological parameters, this article considers the role that tourism-based sea turtle hatcheries (of an open-cycle type) can play in conserving populations of sea turtles. Background is provided on the nature and development of such hatcheries in Sri Lanka. The modeling facilitates the assessment of the impacts of turtle hatcheries on the conservation of sea turtles and enables the economic and ecological consequences of tourism, based on such hatcheries, to be better appreciated. The results demonstrate that sea turtle hatcheries serving tourists can make a positive contribution to sea turtle conservation, but that their conservation effectiveness depends on the way they are managed. Possible negative effects are also identified. Economic market models are combined with turtle population survival relationships to predict the conservation impact of turtle hatcheries and their consequence for the total economic value obtained from sea turtle populations.     

1999年委内瑞拉阿维拉山北坡入海型泥石流

委内瑞拉阿维拉山呈东一西走向，北坡濒临加勒比海．１９９９年１２月１６日，阿维拉山北坡２０多条沟谷暴发泥石流，使沿海的城镇、村庄、港口、公路及各种设施遭到毁灭性破坏，造成数万人死亡，直接经济损失超过刀亿美元．泥石流发生在森林植被良好的山区，具低频率和群发性特征，规模大，直接入海．分析这次泥石流灾害，对我国的防灾减灾工作具有启示意义．     

渤海PL19-3油田设计地震动参数研究

渤海PL19-3油田按美国有关规范进行抗震设计,其抗震设防标准和地震动参数与我国有关技术规范相比均存在一定的差别。本文根据渤海及邻区的地震构造、地震活动环境的研究结果,以及工程场地的钻探资料、土动力参数测试结果,参照美国有关技术规范的方法,确定了PL19-3油田的设计地震动参数。研究成果不但能满足该工程的抗震设计需要,也可供渤海海域其他工程参考,尤其是所得到的场地土动力学参数具有其特殊性和代表性。本工作将促进海洋工程的抗震技术规范和设防标准的研究,同时,也为未来开展海域地震区划工作积累了基础资料和工作方法。     

Nigerian Supreme Court and ownership of offshore oil

This article discusses the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the constitutional provision dealing with the sharing of revenues derived from natural resources located within the states of the Federation, the ‘derivation principle.’ Although the case relates to the interpretation of a constitutional provision, the arguments of the parties suggest that the real battle was — and still is — about the ownership and control of Nigeria's offshore oil. The article details the legal history and precedents as well as constitutional provisions relevant to the case. Disagreements arose over legal questions such as the seaward boundaries of littoral states (from which oil revenues are derived), and whether a distinction can be made between offshore and onshore oil revenues in applying a 13% constitutionally prescribed derivation principle. The article shows that, in its judgment, Nigeria's Supreme Court relied heavily on rules of international law, while failing to apply existing Nigerian laws and constitutional provision, and argues that the decision might have been different had the court investigated and invoked the legislative history of the provision in question, as required in Nigerian law. Furthermore, it is argued that the court was wrong to disregard the provision of the law which had abolished any distinction between onshore and offshore natural resources in the application of the derivation principle. The article concludes that the legal tug of war is set to continue for some years.     

Distorting Gene Pools by Conservation: Assessing the Case of Doomed Turtle Eggs

Sea turtles have a high reproductive output and high mortality at early stages of the life cycle. In particular, many nests are laid below or close to high tide lines, and subsequently large numbers of eggs may be inundated and destroyed. A common conservation procedure is to relocate such doomed eggs to higher ground. This article examines this practice in the light of recent data revealing that some individual turtles tend to nest relatively near the water and others relatively higher up the beach. Discussion is focused on the question of why apparently poor placement of nests has not been selected against. Comparison between the ecology of leatherback and hawksbill turtle nesting beaches suggests that predictability of environmental conditions on the nesting beaches has an important influence on patterns of nest-site selection. Options are outlined for the management of nesting beaches where a high proportion of turtle eggs is subject to destruction by flooding. An erratum to this article is available at.     

What Makes Them Pay? Values of Volunteer Tourists Working for Sea Turtle Conservation

As charismatic mega-fauna, sea turtles attract many volunteers to conservation programs. This article examines the ways in which volunteers value sea turtles, in the specific context of volunteers working with the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, at Tortuguero, Costa Rica. The complexity of volunteer values is explored using a qualitative approach. In-depth interviews with 31 volunteers were conducted in July of 1999 and 2000. Interviews probed, among other things, interest in sea turtles and their conservation, motives for participating, and the most gratifying parts of their volunteer experience. Results show that volunteers hold multiple and complex values for sea turtles, but particular values dominate. Results have implications for understanding human–environment relations and the emerging study of volunteer tourism. There are also management implications for volunteer programs hoping to attract participants.     

Societal implications of a changing Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean is undergoing rapid change: sea ice is being lost, waters are warming, coastlines are eroding, species are moving into new areas, and more. This paper explores the many ways that a changing Arctic Ocean affects societies in the Arctic and around the world. In the Arctic, Indigenous Peoples are again seeing their food security threatened and cultural continuity in danger of disruption. Resource development is increasing as is interest in tourism and possibilities for trans-Arctic maritime trade, creating new opportunities and also new stresses. Beyond the Arctic, changes in sea ice affect mid-latitude weather, and Arctic economic opportunities may re-shape commodities and transportation markets. Rising interest in the Arctic is also raising geopolitical tensions about the region. What happens next depends in large part on the choices made within and beyond the Arctic concerning global climate change and industrial policies and Arctic ecosystems and cultures.