Impact of climate and hydrodynamics on sole larval immigration towards the Tagus estuary, Portugal

Spawning grounds of the soles, Solea solea and Solea senegalensis, are distant from the estuarine nurseries where juveniles concentrate. Recruitment of these species is highly dependent on the success of the larval migration towards the inshore nursery grounds. Unfavourable climate and hydrodynamic circulation may lead to high mortality rates at this stage. The relation between river drainage, NAO index and the North-South wind component intensity over the three months prior to the end of the estuarine colonization and the densities of S. solea and S. senegalensis in the nursery grounds were investigated for both species based on a discontinuous historical dataset (from 1988 to 2006) for the Tagus estuary. Multiple linear regression models were developed for sole density and environmental data (separately for each species). Results showed that river drainage is positively correlated with juveniles’ densities of both species, possibly due to the existence of chemical cues used by larvae for movement orientation. NAO index and the North-South wind component intensity relations with soles densities were non-significant. It was concluded that the high complexity of the Portuguese upwelling system makes it hard to detect causal relations of the environmental variables tested. The importance of river flow for coastal ecosystems was stressed. Since climate change scenarios predict a strong decrease in rain fall over the Portuguese river basins, as well as a concentrated period of heavy rain in winter, it was hypothesised that future river drainage decrease over much of the year may lead to lower recruitment success for soles, especially for S. senegalensis.     

泉州市三个海湾浮性鱼卵和仔稚鱼的种类组成与数量分布特点

本文根据2007年3月至2008年2月期间在泉州地区3个海湾的调查资料,对其浮性鱼卵和仔稚鱼的种类组成与数量分布特点进行初步研究和探讨．结果表明,本调查海域共出现鱼卵和仔稚鱼51种（含未定种）,隶属于21科,主要是近岸底层鱼类、近海中上层鱼类和港湾河口型鱼类三个生态类型．各站鱼卵总平均丰度是81．2彬网,仔稚鱼总平均丰度31．0个／网．数量平面分布呈现优势种明显,占总量比例大,不同季节不同海湾差别较大,规律性不强等特点．整体数量上与往年比有下降趋势．     

Comparative descriptions of some oyster larvae from New Zealand and Chile,and a description of a new genus of oyster,Tiostrea

Detailed comparisons of the larvae of four species of New Zealand oyster (Saccostrea glomer‐ata, Crassostrea gigas, Ostrea lutaria, and a new species of Ostrea) and one Chilean oyster (Ostrea chilensis) showed that larvae of species other than O. lutaria and O. chilensis share certain features. One conspicuous feature is a distinct tract, termed here the posterior dorsal sulcus, which runs from the posterior margin of prodissoconch I to the valve margin of prodissoconch II; other characteristic features are an umbonate, inequivalve shell and a provinculum bearing distinct teeth. The larvae of O. lutaria and O. chilensis, in contrast, lack the posterior dorsal sulcus, are nonumbonate, and have nearly equal valves with an edentulous provinculum. These distinctive features, together with other adult features, suggest that the two species are more appropriately included in a separate genus. The name Tiostrea is proposed for the new genus. Certain supraspecific groupings within the Ostreinae need to be re‐examined in the light of breeding experiments.     

Vertical distribution of barnacle larvae at a fixed nearshore station in southern California: Stage-specific and diel patterns

Patterns of vertical distribution in marine invertebrate larvae interact with coastal hydrodynamics to determine cross-shore distributions, dispersal ranges, and scales of connectivity among populations. We present observations on the vertical distribution of barnacle larvae from southern California, collected from 3 depth intervals every 2 h and over a 48-h period at a fixed nearshore station. Larvae were identified to species and stage of development, and their vertical distributions were tested for day/night and between-stage differences within each species, as well as for correlations with environmental variability. Stage-specific patterns of vertical distribution were distinct and consistent across species. Nauplii were most abundant near the surface at all times, and were numerically dominated by Chthamalus spp. (78% of N_n = 1835). Cyprids were substantially less abundant than nauplii in our samples (N_c = 146) and corresponded mostly to the subtidal barnacle Balanus nubilus (84%). Despite the lower counts and different species composition, our data suggest that cyprids remain within the mid-depth and bottom layers, and that changes in their mean depth of distribution (MDD) may track changes in pycnocline depth. Temporal changes in nauplii MDD were not correlated with water-column variability, wind forcing, or tidal height. The apparent vertical segregation of nauplii and cyprids may be related to previously documented differences in the cross-shore distribution of these stages.     

Thermal constraints on the respiration and excretion rates of krill,Euphausia hanseni and Nematoscelis megalops,in the northern Benguela upwelling system off Namibia

Rates of respiration and ammonia excretion of Euphausia hanseni and Nematoscelis megalops were determined experimentally at four temperatures representative of conditions encountered by these euphausiid species in the northern Benguela upwelling environment. The respiration rate increased from 7.7 µmol O₂ h^?1 g_ww ^?1 at 5 °C to 18.1 µmol O₂ h^?1 g_ww ^?1 at 20 °C in E. hanseni and from 7.0 µmol O₂ h^?1 g_ww ^?1 (5 °C) to 23.4 µmol O₂ h^?1 g_ww ^?1 (20 °C) in N. megalops. The impact of temperature on oxygen uptake of the two species differed significantly. Nematoscelis megalops showed thermal adaptations to temperatures between 5 °C and 10 °C (Q₁₀ = 1.9) and metabolic constraint was evident at higher temperatures (Q₁₀ = 2.6). In contrast, E. hanseni showed adaptations to temperatures of 10–20 °C (Q₁₀ = 1.5) and experienced metabolic depression below 10 °C (Q₁₀ = 2.6). Proteins were predominantly metabolised by E. hanseni in contrast to lipids by N. megalops. Carbon demand of N. megalops between 5 and 15 °C was lower than in E. hanseni versus equal food requirements at 20 °C. It is concluded that the two species display different physiological adaptations, based on their respective temperature adaptations, which are mirrored in their differential vertical positioning in the water column.     

春季珠江口水域鱼卵和仔稚鱼的分布及其与环境因子的关系

根据2004~2007年春季珠江口水域10个站位的鱼卵和仔稚鱼调查资料,着重就鱼卵和仔稚鱼的数量分布和年际变化及其与环境因子的相关关系进行研究.结果表明：其鱼卵和仔稚鱼隶属于9目33科58种（类）,以鲈形目种类数所占比例最高（为53.4%）,其次为鲱形目（为20.7%）.鱼卵和仔稚鱼大致分成半咸水性、近岸性和近海性3个生态类群.鱼卵和仔稚鱼优势种类共9种,其中鱼卵优势种为6种,仔稚鱼的也为6种.青洲附近水域是春季鱼卵和仔稚鱼的最主要分布区域之一.鱼卵和仔稚鱼数量的年际变化明显,鱼卵和仔稚鱼个体数量的最大值均出现在2006年.水温、pH值和溶解氧含量是影响鱼卵个体数量的较显著因子,盐度和溶解氧含量为影响仔稚鱼个体数量的较显著因子.盐度、pH值及溶解氧、悬浮物、叶绿素a含量对鱼卵和仔稚鱼种类数均有不同程度的影响.     

Distribution and vertical dynamics of planktonic communities at Sofala Bank, Mozambique

Coastal ecosystem processes are largely influenced by the interaction of different factors operating at various temporal and spatial scales, specifically those responsible for primary production patterns that modulate zooplankton and subsequent trophic levels. Hydrological processes, such as tidal cycles and coastal currents, nutrients availability, phytoplankton groups (studied through algal pigment signatures analysed by HPLC), and zooplankton abundance and distribution were investigated at the Sofala Bank (Mozambique), with special emphasis on their horizontal distribution and vertical dynamics (48 h). Horizontal distribution has shown inshore–offshore gradients in all analysed parameters, as well as inshore waters intrusion probably related to Zambezi River delta runoff. Tidal currents were responsible for major hydrological vertical variations and for horizontal and vertical advection of phytoplankton biomass in the surface and deepest layers, respectively. Nutrient concentrations were typical from oligotrophic regions, and nutrient ratios were strongly influenced by depleted nitrate + nitrite concentrations, indicating low estuarine discharges typical from the dry season. The very low N:P ratio obtained suggests strong nitrogen limitation to phytoplankton communities, supporting the low phytoplankton abundance observed. Both phytoplankton pigments and zooplankton were found mainly near the bottom (40 m depth), despite the latter displayed vertical migrations triggered by light variations. Phytoplankton community was dominated by microflagellates, specifically prymnesiophyceans, and behaved as a whole, except Cyanobacteria that displayed vertical distribution movements different from other phytoplankton groups, being mainly concentrated at mid-water column depths (10–20 m). This investigation enhances physico-chemical phenomena and their importance determining the planktonic communities vertical dynamics at Sofala Bank, a tropical coastal ecosystem of the Western Indian Ocean where planktonic dynamics are still poorly described and understood.