南海中南部中层鱼资源声学积分值及时空分布初探

本研究利用Simrad EK60科学探鱼仪(38 k Hz)于2013年春季和2014年春季采集的南沙和中沙、西沙海域渔业声学数据,结合中层拖网取样,采用回声积分法研究了南海中南部中层鱼的资源量及其时空分布特征。结果显示,2014年春季中、西沙海域9次中层拖网作业共捕获和鉴定鱼类和头足类79种,隶属于3纲16目37科60属,其中硬骨鱼纲的种类最多(65种),鞘亚纲次之(13种),软骨鱼纲1种,硬骨鱼纲中巨口鱼科、灯笼鱼科和钻光鱼科的种类最多,分别有20种、13种和6种;南沙海域中层鱼声学积分值(nautical area scattering coefficient,m^2/nmi^2)显著低于中沙、西沙及邻近海域,前者夜间向上迁移的强度高于后者;2013年春季南沙海域夜间10~200 m和白天200~1000 m声学积分值构成没有显著差异(P>0.05),而2014年春季中沙、西沙海域夜间10~200 m和白天200~1000 m声学积分值构成有极显著差异(P<0.01);南沙海域白天200~1000 m不同纬度组间中层鱼声学积分值构成有极显著差异(P<0.01),中沙、西沙海域声学积分值构成亦有极显著差异(P<0.01);南海中南部中层鱼声学积分值是(2387±601)m^2/nmi^2,基于现存公开发表的中层鱼的声学目标强度数据并取其均值,推算南海中南部中层鱼资源量是(8200±2100)万t。研究表明,南海中南部中层鱼声学积分值比全球平均值高约29.2%,可能是我国未来具有开发价值的大宗生物资源。

中层鱼昼夜垂直迁移研究进展

中层鱼是指栖息于大陆斜坡和大洋中层(200~1000m)的小型鱼类,广泛分布于世界各海域,资源量极高,具有重要的生态地位。昼夜垂直迁移行为(diel vertical migration,DVM)是中层鱼最显著的生态特征之一。中层鱼通过垂直迁移过程中的代谢作用将海洋上层的生物碳向深海输送,为深海生态系统提供关键碳源,对海洋固碳和地球碳循环有重要意义。中层鱼昼夜垂直迁移研究已有50余年历史,但国内研究尚处于起步阶段。本文综述了国内外对中层鱼昼夜垂直迁移的研究进展,总结了中层鱼迁移机制及其对海洋碳循环的作用,以期提高我国对中层鱼资源的重视程度,为我国中层鱼及中上层海洋生态系统的研究提供参考。

南海北部陆坡海域瓦氏眶灯鱼的渔业生物学特征

瓦氏眶灯鱼(Diaphus watasei)是深海虾拖网的主要副渔获物之一,对维持深海及陆坡生态系统的稳定性和多样性起到了重要作用。根据2015年6、8月及2017年3月在南海北部陆坡海域利用底层虾拖网及中层拖网采集的瓦氏眶灯鱼(Diaphus watasei)样品,对其生长、繁殖、摄食等生物学特性进行了初步研究。结果表明,瓦氏眶灯鱼的体长范围为71~172 mm,平均118 mm;体重范围为5.25~66.20 g,平均26.05 g。雌雄个体体长、体重均存在极显著性差异(ANOVA,P<0.01);总样本雌性体长与体重的关系式为:W♀=4×10^(-5)L^(2.7873)(R^2=0.9241,n=317),雄性体长和体重的关系式为:W♂=7×10^(-5)L^(2.6883)(R^2=0.9052,n=558)。雌雄性比为1:1.76,雄性明显多于雌性。性腺成熟度以II期为主,各月份均有性成熟个体,表明瓦氏眶灯鱼在全年多次产卵,其雌性初次性成熟体长L_(50%)为145.0 mm。瓦氏眶灯鱼摄食等级主要以1、2级为主,主要摄食安达曼钩腕乌贼(Abralia andamanica)、线小钩腕乌贼(Abraliopsis lineata)等头足类,同时还摄食七星底灯鱼(Benthosema pterotum)、尾明角灯鱼(Ceratoscopelus warmingii)等小型中层鱼及拟须虾(Aristaeomorpha foliacea)等甲壳类,有时也会摄食同类。瓦氏眶灯鱼主要生活在底层海域,除少部分未成熟个体外,基本不进行昼夜垂直迁移。瓦氏眶灯鱼个体规格大,数量多,且基本不进行垂直迁移,是研究南海深海及陆坡生态系统的重要种类。

南海北部陆坡金鼻眶灯鱼秋季摄食节律

中层鱼是深海食物网的重要组成部分,其摄食节律的研究对探讨以中层鱼为核心的能量流动与物质循环具有重要意义。本研究利用2014年10月南海北部陆坡海域拖网调查数据,对中层鱼优势种金鼻眶灯鱼(Diaphus chrysorhynchus)秋季的摄食节律进行了研究。结果表明:(1)金鼻眶灯鱼取样体长范围为28~110 mm,集中于50~59 mm体长组,各时间段摄食等级与体长间均不存在正相关;(2)金鼻眶灯鱼在18:00左右上浮摄食,次日05:30左右达到摄食高峰,为连续摄食,5个取样时间段平均摄食等级范围为1.50~2.57,呈增长趋势;(3)差异性分析表明,金鼻眶灯鱼傍晚与夜间或清晨间摄食等级差异性显著,表现在18:30~19:30时间段与01:00~02:00、04:45~05:50或06:30~07:30三个时间段间(P=0.041;P=0.000;P=0.007),另03:30~04:30与04:45~05:50时间段间摄食等级也存在极显著差异(P=0.005);(4)金鼻眶灯鱼各时间段摄食等级频率呈波浪形变化,4级频率在06:30~07:30时间段达到最高峰;0级频率在黄昏18:30~19:30时最高,01:00~02:00降为0,03:30~04:30上升到黄昏时的一半,此后连续下降。总体而言,金鼻眶灯鱼傍晚至次日清晨连续摄食,连续排遗,摄食集中于清晨。综上所述,金鼻眶灯鱼是一种昼夜垂直迁移、夜间连续摄食与排遗的浮游动物食性鱼类,其在南海陆坡水域能量流与物质流中起着承上启下的作用。

Do physicochemical variables regulate the distribution of zooplankton communities in reservoirs dominated by filter-feeding carp?

The temporal and spatial distributions of zooplankton communities in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the Xin＇anjiang Reservoir, Zhejiang, China, were investigated monthly, between 2009 and 2010. Silver carp （Hypophthalmichthys moBtrix） and bighead carp （Aristichthys nobilis） dominated the pelagic fish community of this large, deep reservoir. Cladocerans were distributed evenly throughout the reservoir. Rotifers were mainly found in the upper reaches, while copepods tended to assemble in the lower reaches. The Pearson correlation analysis and stepwise multiple regression were used to identify the major physicochemical gradients influencing community variations. Zooplankton community distributions were influenced by water temperature, dissolved oxygen, phosphorus, nitrogen, and silicon. Excess nutrients, in particular silicon, stimulated rotifer growth. Based on these findings, it is possible to use rotifer density as a bioindicator of eutrophic status in deep reservoir ecosystems.

Niches of dominant fish in the waters surrounding the Taishan Islands, China

An index of relative importance(IRI) was employed to screen for dominant fish in the waters surrounding the Taishan Islands, China, using data from four seasonal trawl surveys undertaken between 2012 and 2013. Niche breadth and niche overlap were measured using the Feinsinger and Morisita-Horn indices, respectively, and the characteristics and seasonal variations in the niches of dominant fish were assessed via non-metric multidimensional scaling(NMDS) and cluster analysis. A total of 80 fish species, including 16 dominant species, were recorded. Only A mblychaeturichthys hexanema was dominant in all seasons. According to niche breadth values and NMDS, the 16 dominant species were grouped into the following three types:(1) wide niche breadth species, including Cynoglossus macrolepidotus, A. hexanema, and Trypauchen vagina, among others;(2) medium niche breadth species, including Setipinna taty and Johnius belangerii; and(3) narrow niche breadth species, including A trobucca nibe and Coilia mystus. Most species with a wider niche breadth were demersal fish with a lower swimming capability and even distribution. The niche breadth of migrating fish was narrower than that of settled fish. At a given spatial scale, fish with stronger swimming capabilities had a narrower niche breadth. Niche overlap, which is associated with niche specialization, ranged from 0.000 to 0.886 and had an annual mean value of 0.314. In summer and autumn, niche overlap was relatively high within species of the Sciaenidae family and within species of the Gobiidae in autumn. Dif ferences in thermophily, feeding habits, food organism abundance/distribution and predator-prey relationships af fected the niche overlap of fish in this area. Cluster analysis revealed that species with the narrowest niche breadth and lowest niche overlap values usually displayed lower aggregation and greater distribution dif ferences compared with other species.

Seasonal variation in species composition and abundance of demersal fish and invertebrates in a Seagrass Natural Reserve on the eastern coast of the Shandong Peninsula,China

Seagrass habitats are structurally complex ecosystems, which support high productivity and biodiversity. In temperate systems the density of seagrass may change seasonally, and this may influence the associated fish and invertebrate community. Little is known about the role of seagrass beds as possible nursery areas for fish and invertebrates in China. To study the functioning of a seagrass habitat in northern China, demersal fish and invertebrates were collected monthly using traps, from February 2009 to January 2010. The density, leaf length and biomass of the dominant seagrass Zostera marina and water temperature were also measured. The study was conducted in a Seagrass Natural Reserve(SNR) on the eastern coast of the Shandong Peninsula, China. A total of 22 fish species and five invertebrate species were recorded over the year. The dominant fish species were Synechogobius ommaturus, Sebastes schlegelii, Pholis fangi, Pagrus major and Hexagrammos otakii and these species accounted for 87% of the total number of fish. The dominant invertebrate species were Charybdis japonica and Octopus variabilis and these accounted for 98% of the total abundance of invertebrates. There was high temporal variation in species composition and abundance. The peak number of fish species occurred in August–October 2009, while the number of individual fish and biomass was highest during November 2009. Invertebrate numbers and biomass was highest in March, April, July and September 2009. Temporal changes in species abundance of fishes and invertebrates corresponded with changes in the shoot density and leaf length of the seagrass, Zostera marina.

Long-term changes in the fishery ecosystem structure of Laizhou Bay,China

Laizhou Bay provides a critical spawning and nursery habitat for many fishery species, including commercially important spe- cies, such as Fenneropenaeus chinensis and Larimichthys polyactis. The bay is severely stressed due to high fishing pressure and environmental changes. Based on the long-term ecosystem surveys in Laizhou Bay during the main spawning period （May） of most fishery species from 1959 to 2008, the responses of the Laizhou Bay fishery ecosystem were analyzed here, including regime shifts in species composition, biomass, species diversity, zooplankton, phytoplankton, and environmental variables. The dominant species of large-size and high economic value （e.g. Trichiurus haumela, L. polyactis） have been replaced by the short-lived, low-trophic-level planktivorous pelagic species （e.g. Setipinna taty, Engraulisjaponicus） since the 1980s, and it is probable that the small-sized pelagic fishes have been recently replaced by invertebrates （e.g. Oratosquilla oratoria, Crangon affinis）. The biomass of fishery resources declined continuously from 423.6 kg haul 1 h-1 in 1959 to 164.6 kg haul-l h i in 1982, 37.7 kg haul-1 h-1 in 1993, and less than 8 kg haul 1 h-a in 1998-2008. Moreover, the biomass of zooplankton showed an increasing trend during 1959-2006, but showed a slight decline in 2008. The abundance of phytoplankton increased from 1959 through 1982, decreased substantially in 1993, and increased again until 2004. More recently, however, the phytoplankton abundance was very low. The sea surface temperature （SST） and sea bottom temperature （SBT） in May increased by 0.23~C a-~ and 0.16~C a-~, respectively, during 1982-2008. The salinity in May showed large fluctuations and reached its lowest val- ues in 2004 and 2006. The ratio of dissolved inorganic nitrogen （DIN） to dissolved inorganic phosphate （DIP） increased. However, the dissolved silicon （DSi）：DIP and DSi：DIN ratios decreased to a low level during 1959-2008. These changes seri- ously impacted primary production, and cascade effects then changed the structure and function of the fishery ecosystem. Fur- ther analysis indicated that multiple stresses caused the alterations in the structure of the Laizhou Bay fishery ecosystem. The top-down effect was identified as the main influence on the fishery species （at the top of the food chain） over the past five decades due to the increasing fishing pressure, whereas the bottom-up effect increased over the past three decades due to the strong variations in the environment.

Maternal Eomesodermin regulates zygotic nodal gene expression for mesendoderm induction in zebrafish embryos

Development of animal embryos before zygotic genome activation at the mid blastula transition （MBT） is essentially supported by eggderived maternal products. Nodal proteins are crucial signals for mesoderm and endoderm induction after the MBT. It remains unclear which maternal factors activate zygotic expression of nodal genes in the ventrotateral blastodermal margin of the zebrafish blastulas. In this study, we show that loss of maternal Eomesodermin a （Eomesa）, a T-box transcription factor, impairs zygotic expression of the nodal genes ndr1 and ndr2 as well as mesodermal and endodermal markers, indicating an involvement in mesendoderm induction. Maternal Eomesa is also required for timely zygotic expression of the transcription factor gene mxtx2, a regulator of nodal gene expression. Eomesa directly binds to the Eomes-binding sites in the promoter or enhancer of ndr1, ndr2, and rnxtx2 to activate their transcrip- tion. Furthermore, human and mouse Nodal genes are also regulated by Eomes. Transfection of zebrafish eomesa into murine embryonic stem cells promotes mesendodermal differentiation with constant higher levels of endogenous Nodal expression, suggesting a conserved function of Eomes. Taken together, our findings reveal a conserved rote of maternal T-box transcription factors in regulating nodal gene expression and mesendoderm induction in vertebrate embryos.