Shifting elasmobranch community assemblage at Cocos Island—an isolated marine protected area

Fishing pressure has increased the extinction risk of many elasmobranch (shark and ray) species. Although many countries have established no‐take marine reserves, a paucity of monitoring data means it is still unclear if reserves are effectively protecting these species. We examined data collected by a small group of divers over the past 21 years at one of the world's oldest marine protected areas (MPAs), Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica. We used mixed effects models to determine trends in relative abundance, or probability of occurrence, of 12 monitored elasmobranch species while accounting for variation among observers and from abiotic factors. Eight of 12 species declined significantly over the past 2 decades. We documented decreases in relative abundance for 6 species, including the iconic scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) (?45%), whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) (?77%), mobula ray (Mobula spp.) (?78%), and manta ray (Manta birostris) (?89%), and decreases in the probability of occurrence for 2 other species. Several of these species have small home ranges and should be better protected by an MPA, which underscores the notion that declines of marine megafauna will continue unabated in MPAs unless there is adequate enforcement effort to control fishing. In addition, probability of occurrence at Cocos Island of tiger (Galeocerdo cuvier), Galapagos (Carcharhinus galapagensis), blacktip (Carcharhinus limbatus), and whale (Rhincodon typus) sharks increased significantly. The effectiveness of MPAs cannot be evaluated by examining single species because population responses can vary depending on life history traits and vulnerability to fishing pressure.     

Research priorities for conservation and natural resource management in Oceania's small‐island developing states

For conservation science to effectively inform management, research must focus on creating the scientific knowledge required to solve conservation problems. We identified research questions that, if answered, would increase the effectiveness of conservation and natural resource management practice and policy in Oceania's small‐island developing states. We asked conservation professionals from academia, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations across the region to propose such questions and then identify which were of high priority in an online survey. We compared the high‐priority questions with research questions identified globally and for other regions. Of 270 questions proposed by respondents, 38 were considered high priority, including: What are the highest priority areas for conservation in the face of increasing resource demand and climate change? How should marine protected areas be networked to account for connectivity and climate change? What are the most effective fisheries management policies that contribute to sustainable coral reef fisheries? High‐priority questions related to the particular challenges of undertaking conservation on small‐island developing states and the need for a research agenda that is responsive to the sociocultural context of Oceania. Research priorities for Oceania relative to elsewhere were broadly similar but differed in specific issues relevant to particular conservation contexts. These differences emphasize the importance of involving local practitioners in the identification of research priorities. Priorities were reasonably well aligned among sectoral groups. Only a few questions were widely considered answered, which may indicate a smaller‐than‐expected knowledge‐action gap. We believe these questions can be used to strengthen research collaborations between scientists and practitioners working to further conservation and natural resource management in this region.     

The nature and significance of public exposure to arsenic: a review of its relevance to South West England

In South West England, more than two hundred years of intensive exploitation of metalliferous ore deposits, combined with the natural processes of pedogenesis from mineral-rich parent rocks, has resulted in the creation of a aignificant area of arsenic-contaminated wastes and soils. The scale of arsenic dispersion by natural and anthropogenic processes is such that 722 km² of land contains concentrations of arsenic in excess of 110 g g^–1, more than twice the maximum that might be expected in a normal soil.The general rationale for the clean-up of derelict and contaminated mining sites often includes aesthetic factors and the desirability of preventing the dispersion of contaminants beyond the site boundaries. Only in extreme cases is public health directly invoked as justification for remediation. In South West England, if arsenic constitutes a genuine threat to the public, an increased rate of site remediation would be justified. The primary purpose of this review is to establish whether or not widespread arsenic contamination (principally of soils) has any measurable effects on public health in South West England, and how this might affect current contaminated site remediation policy. The review is based on data from previous research in the region, and other relevant international studies of mining and smelting communities, and other populations exposed to elevated arsenic concentrations. The literature reviewed also includes the determination of the extent and sources of contamination, and pathways between source and man.While the contamination of potable waters in some countries has led to measurable health effects, this scenario has not yet been identified in South West England, and there is little reason to believe that significantly contaminated potable water supplies would escape detection for extended periods of time under the current monitoring regime.In relative terms (based on both globaland local data), one of the most significant links between contaminated soils and humans appears to be contaminated food stuffs. In absolute terms, such exposure is low due to the natural constraints on arsenic uptake by herbage, cereal crops and vegetables, and the food chain does not appear to have been significantly compromised in South West England. Chronic health effects are unlikely as excessive arsenic concentrations in locally grown food crops remain rare.With the problems of confounding medical and social factors, it is not surprising that studies in South West England have failed to identify chronic exposure to arsenic at very low concentrations as a significant health risk. Those studies that indicate otherwise do not stand up to close scrutiny. It appears that the number of additional deaths arising from the widespread arsenic contamination in South West England is small. The relative benefits of a costly statistical study to actually determine the number of additional deaths might be considered minimal, but one major area could benefit from further studies: the sensitivity of certain population sub-groups to environmental arsenic exposure. Of particular interest are children, for whom significant exposure to arsenic via soil ingestion may be occurring.Based on available information, there appears to be no justification for a large programme of site remediation. Resources should, however, be expended on enlightening the general public, and private and governmental organisations as regards the gap between the perceived and actual significance of arsenic contamination in South West England.To whom correspondence should be addressed.     

A botanical importance rating system for estuaries

In many semi-arid areas, estuaries are threatened because of freshwater impoundment. Estuaries are important sites for ecological diversity and, increasingly, for recreation. A system has been developed which rates estuaries according to their botanical importance. A formula allows a single numerical importance score to be calculated. The area cover of each estuarine plant community type (i.e. intertidal salt marsh, submerged macrophytes, reed/sedge swamps and supratidal salt marsh) and its importance in the estuary forms the basis of the score. The ‘ecological condition’ of the plant community and the community richness within the estuary are incorporated into the formula. The formula is effective in determining the botanical importance of estuaries. Further methods to determine the zoological, physical and socio-economic importance of estuaries need to be developed to allow the overall importance of estuaries to be determined.     

综合治理技术在沈阳南运河污染防治中的研究应用

针对沈阳市南运河富营养化、黑臭、水草疯长等现象,确定了以其中的彩塔湖河段为示范区,以其上游青年公园和其下游河段为技术推广区的污染治理范围,制定了以复氧技术、药剂技术和水生植物技术相结合的综合整治方案.经过1年的研究实践,目前南运河水质明显改善,水体富营养化、黑臭及水草疯长被有效控制,治理区域水环境质量明显好转,取得了较好的社会效益和环境效益.     

福建中奥陶世——晚侏罗世地层的古地磁学研究

福建古生界至中生界部分地层古地磁研究认为,华南地块的主体部分首先于中奥陶世时期即已拼合,作为一个整体由南纬23.8°向北移动,二叠纪之后越过赤道,继续北移,直至侏罗纪末到达北纬19.6°的位置.而华南地块同扬子地块的拼合是在加里东末期开始的,至少可以认为是在早石炭纪之前两地块就靠近了。这一时期,华南地块和扬子地块的地质构造运动十分活跃.     

基于CMIP5多模式集合预估东海和南海21世纪海平面高度变化

人类活动引起的当代气候变暖已导致全球海平面显著上升,在21世纪全球气候继续变暖的背景下,东南沿海海平面的升高将对区域环境及社会可持续发展带来巨大挑战,但目前对未来区域海平面变化的预估尚存在较大的不确定性。本文基于筛选的国际耦合模式比较计划第5阶段（CMIP5）的10个模拟性能较好的气候模式输出结果,通过多模式集合预估了未来温室气体三种排放情景下21世纪东海和南海区域海平面高度的趋势变化,并分析了不同影响因子的贡献。通过计算海水热比容、盐比容和动力因子对海平面高度的影响,并在考虑冰川冰盖消融等因子的订正后,发现：21世纪东海和南海海平面高度都呈现连续上升趋势,东海和南海地区上升幅度略小于全球平均,南海上升幅度略大于东海。在温室气体低（RCP2.6）、中（RCP4.5）和高（RCP8.5）排放情景下,21世纪后期（2081—2100年）较前期（2006—2025年）东海/南海平均海平面分别上升0.26 [0.01—0.55] m/0.29 [0.05—0.55] m、0.38 [0.10—0.66] m/0.40 [0.14—0.67] m和0.52[0.15—0.89] m/0.52[0.23—0.83] m（方括号内为相应的不确定性范围）。随着温室气体排放的升高,海平面上升幅度也增大,东海海平面上升区由东南向西北扩展,南海海平面上升区由东北向西南扩展。统计分析还表明：在不同排放情景下,不同影响因子对海平面变化的贡献也不一样,随着排放强度从低到高变化,海洋比容加动力因子的相对贡献从28%—34%升高至46%—47%,而冰川冰盖消融等其他因子的相对贡献从 66%—72%降低至53%—54%。     

中国东海至南大洋航线海洋近地层大气NOx分布特征

为了探究我国东海至南大洋航线海洋近地层大气NO_x的分布特征,于2015年11月-2016年1月,利用中国极地科学考察船"雪龙号"的观测平台,采用Saltzman法对中国东海至南大洋航线海洋近地层大气NO_x日均浓度进行了监测.结果表明,中国东海至南大洋航线海洋近地层大气ρ（NO_x）的变化范围为0.001~0.038 mg/m3,ρ（NO）的变化范围为0.001~0.033 mg/m3,ρ（NO₂）的变化范围为0（未检出）~0.015 mg/m3.中国东海至南大洋航线海洋近地层大气中,NO是NO_x的主要成分.南极圈外海洋近地层大气中NO_x的分布特征显示距离陆地越近,ρ（NO_x）越高,NO₂/NO（二者质量浓度比值）越大,反映出海陆差异及人为污染对海洋近地层大气的影响.远离陆地的南大洋航段ρ（NO_x）显示较低的大洋背景值.南桑威奇群岛的火山活动导致附近海域异常高浓度的NO_x分布,ρ（NO_x）最高值达0.160 mg/m3,ρ（NO）为0.145 mg/m3,ρ（NO₂）为0.015 mg/m3.西风带的阻隔导致该区域NO_x向周围扩散时,难以穿越西风带,向南极大陆边缘扩散的趋势更加强烈,影响大范围南大洋近地层大气NO_x分布.人为活动可能是南极半岛和中山站附近海洋近地层大气高ρ（NO_x）和高NO₂/NO的原因之一.      

南黄海表层海水重金属的变化特征及影响因素

根据1997～2004年每年1次的南黄海表层海水重金属(As、Cd、Cu、Hg、Pb、Zn)及有关环境因子的调查数据,重点研究了2003-10南黄海表层海水重金属的分布特征、控制其分布的生物地球化学机制以及8 a的年际变化趋势.结果表明,2003-10南黄海表层海水中As、Cd、Cu、Hg、Pb、Zn的平均浓度分别为2.33、0.078、1.41、0.0036、0.37、6.21μg/L.8 a中重金属除Zn有明显的上升趋势外,其它元素变化较小.重金属的分布模式与离岸距离有关,即除Pb外,在离岸较远的南黄海中部地区含量较低,而近岸海区则普遍较高,这种分布模式典型地体现了人类活动对近海的影响.对于重金属在局部海区的分布,亦存在其它控制因子,如Pb受大气沉降影响较大, Cd与海水盐度和pH密切相关, Hg受海水中有机碳浓度影响较大,沉积物再悬浮影响着As的浓度与分布, Cu、Zn则典型地受到了径流和排污的影响.8 a海水重金属浓度的均值皆符合国家一类海水水质标准,采用潜在生态危害指数法(ERI)分析2003年6种重金属的叠加生态效应,结果显示海水总的重金属生态危害指数较可发生重金属生态危害的ERI值小一个数量级,这从重金属的角度说明南黄海海水质量良好.     

南海海域重要养殖水域牡蛎体中的腹泻性贝类毒素

对2006年和2007年南海海域23个重要养殖水域牡蛎体中腹泻性贝类毒素(DSP)进行了调查,结果表明:甲子港、唐家湾、镇海湾、安埔港、防城港、八所港和榆林港等7个水域牡蛎体DSP毒性呈阳性结果,占调查水域的30.4%,其DSP值均为0.05MU/g.2006年牡蛎体DSP检出率为8.7%(n=23),2007年为21.7%(n=23).调查期间,牡蛎体DSP检出值0.05MU/g已达到了FDA(美国食品药物管理局)、日本、加拿大、澳大利亚、新西兰、朝鲜等6个国家食用贝类标准警戒限量水平,和超出了我国<无公害食品水产品中有毒有害物质的限量>规定贝类DSP不得检出标准,表明了近期南海海域某些养殖水域的牡蛎已经受到了DSP毒化的威胁.