Dynamics of picoplankton in the Nansha Islands area of the South China Sea

Dynamics of major picoplankton groups, Synechococcus (Syn), Prochlorococcus (Pro), picoeukaryotes (Euk) and heterotrophic bacteria (Bact) was investigated by flow cytometry for the first time in the Nansha Islands area in the South China Sea. Averaged over the whole investigation area, depth-weighted integrated cell abundance (DWA) of Syn, Pro, Euk and Bact was 1.6 (0.4-5.7)×103, 5.4 (0.1-7.3)×104, 0.7 (0.2-2.2)×103, and 2.3 (1.4-3.2)×105 cells/mL respectively. Picoautotrophic cell abundance was low in the northwest part of the Nansha Islands where surface water temperature was low and the upper mixed layer was shallow. Concurrently, a surface maximum vertical distribution pattern was observed in this area. While in the southeast and east zones where temperatures were relatively higher and nitraclines were deeper, picoplankton is abundant and a subsurface maximum around 50-75 m is observed. Coupling of horizontal and vertical distribution patterns of picoplankton abundance and hydrological status was found, suggesting a strong influence of currents and water column structure on picoplankton distribution in the investigation area. Contrary to that in the shelf water in the East China Sea, the relationship between Pro and Bact in the Nansha Islands area in the South China Sea was not significantly negative but weakly positive. Moreover, a similar distribution pattern of Syn and Pro was observed. Possible reasons for these differences in the two marine regimes were discussed.

Sedimentary records of black carbon in the sea area of the Nansha Islands since the last glaciation

Core 17962 taken from the sea area of the Nansha Islands recorded a sedimentary history of more than 30 000 years. The black carbon data from the core, which can inform us of the history of vegetation fires, show that during the last glaciation, especially during the last glacial maximum at about 18 kaBP, the fluctuation of the concentration and accumulation rate of the black carbon was relatively great, whereas it was small during the Holocene. The isotope composition of the black carbon indicates that the precursors of black carbon were mainly grasses from the last glaciation to the Holocene. The sub-alpine and alpine vegetation zones covered mainly with grass and bush on the lands around the southern South China Sea were probably the sources of black carbon. The altitudinal vegetation changes from the last glaciation to the Holocene gave rise to the changes of the sedimentary characteristics of black carbon.

Distribution of Organic Matter,Iron,Mangenese in Surface Sediments in the Nansha Islands Sea Area,South China Sea

Concentrations of organic matter, iron and manganese in the deep sea surface sediments in the Nansha Islands sea area, South China Sea are measured. Horizontal and vertical distributions of iron and manganese are discussed. The vertical distribution of iron and manganese in the sediments results from reduction, diffusion, and redeposition of manganese (or iron) oxide and hydroxide in the sediment. There are the maxima of iron and manganese in solid phase in the top of the sediment, which is caused by the penetration of O2 and the upward flux of Mn2+ ( or Fe2+ ). Manganese bacteria play a very important role in the cycle of solid-phase iron and manganese in the ocean environment. Manganese bacteria oxidize Mn2+ ( or Fe2+ ) in dissolved state to Mn4+ ( or Fe3+ ) in oxidized state under the aerobic condition, whereas they reduce iron and manganese in anaerobic conditions.

Distribution of Dissolved Inorganic Phosphate in Nansha Islands Sea Area, Southern South China Sea

Based on the survey data from the program Multidisciplinary Expedition to Nansha Islands Sea Area, the distribution of dissolved inorganic phosphate ( PO43--P ) in the sea water of Nansha Islands Sea Area is comprehensively analyzed in this paper. The results show that PO43--P concentration in the sea water of southeastern Nansha Islands Sea Area is commonly higher than that in the other sea areas; the vertical distribution of PO43--P concentration varies inconspicuously in different seasons; the concentration of PO43--P increases with water depth and changes most greatly in the layer of 50 ～ 100 m. The diurnal variation of PO43--P concentration differs in different seasons and at different observation stations. The distribution and variation of PO43--P concentration result from the physical and biological processes together.

ANALYSIS AND DISTRIBUTION FEATURES OF BENZOTHIOPHENE IN SEDIMENTS OF NANSHA ISLANDS SEA AREA

This work yielded an improved method for extracting and analysing benzothiophene in marine sediment.The detation limit was 0.05 ng S of benzothiophene, with precision of 8%. Benzothiophene was found in Nansha Islands sea area sediments and ranged from 1.1 -6.8 ng per gram dry sediment. Its concentration was closely correlated to hte organic carbon content in the sediment.Several source processes of benzohtiophene are discussed in this paper.

The influence of earthquakes on Zhubi Reef in the Nansha Islands of the South China Sea

It is exceedingly important to estimate the stability of coral reefs. In recent years, growing construction projects have been carried out on the reef flat in the South China Sea. As a special marine geotechnical medium, it is made of the reef debris underwent overwhelmingly long geological age. Reefs grow thickly on the carbonate platform after the Late Oligocene and have five to six main sedimentary facies. It can be used as a recorder to measure the occurrence time of recent earthquake. A model of reef body is presented to study the influence of earthquakes according to the geological structure characteristic of reefs in the Nansha Islands. Furthermore, Geo Studio is used to simulate stress and deformation situations within it under various earthquake intensities. A safety factor is calculated by the limit equilibrium method, and the possible scenarios of earthquake-induced landslides and sliding scale are defined with a Newmark sliding block method, as well as stress distribution and deformation behaviors. Therefore, the numerical results suggest that the connections between the coral reef and the earthquake are as follows：（1） the reef body has a good stability under self-gravity state;（2） after the earthquake, it may cause slope＇s instability and bring out slumping when the safety factor is smaller than 1（FS〈1）;（3） the safety factor decreases with the increasing earthquake intensity, and fluctuates around a particular value after a while;and（4） as a new developed part of the reef, the smaller shallow landslide will be easily subject to collapse caused by the earthquake. It is concluded that it is feasible to provide a reference for evaluating the stability of coral reef using a geotechnical engineering simulation method. This can help the engineering constructions in the South China Sea.

Characteristics of K_d (490) around Nansha Islands in the South China Sea

The diffusion attenuation coefficient for downwelling irradiance, Kd (490), is an important optical parameter of seawater. The optical property, Kd (490), around Nansha Islands in the South China Sea was analyzed based on optical data profiles measured with SPMR ( SeaWiFS Profiling Multichannel Radiometer ) and SMSR ( SeaWiFS Multichannel Surface Reference ) instrument in April and May, 1999. The results show that Kd (490) is closely correlated with chlorophyll-a concentration, Cchl.a, and that the vertical distribution of Kd (490) shows the strong stratification of the water column in this area. Kd (490) has a similar vertical co-variation as KL (490), the diffusive attenuation coefficient for upwelling radiance. Both coefficients increase with depth in the upper layer, where KL (490) is greater than Kd (490); and after a depth, approximatively at the chlorophyll maximum, they decrease with depth, with the former being smaller than the latter.

Height connection across sea by using satellite altimetry data sets,ellipsoidal heights,astrogeodetic deflections of the vertical,and an Earth Gravity Model

Islands and the mainland are separated by seas,and the distances between them might be so long that the height on the mainland cannot be exactly translated to the islands,resulting in different height systems on the mainland and the islands.In this study,we used astrogeodetic deflections of the vertical and ellipsoidal heights of points on the mainland and island near their coastlines to implement height connection across sea areas.First,the modeled gravity and modeled astrogeodetic vertical deflections of segmentation points along connecting routes over the sea between the mainland and the island were determined by Earth Gravity Model(EGM),and the ellipsoidal heights of segmentation points were determined by the satellite altimetry data sets.Second,we used a linear interpolation model to increase the precision of the vertical deflections of segmentation points.Third,we computed the geopotential difference of points between the mainland and the island using a method derived from geopotential theory and the astronomical leveling principle.Finally,we estimated the normal height of the point on the island using the geopotential-difference iterative computation approach.Using observed data of normal heights,ellipsoidal heights,and astrogeodetic vertical deflections referring to height sites in Qingdao,Shandong Province,we conducted a numerical experiment involving the normal height connection across sea regions.We determined the data of the ellipsoidal heights and gravity of segmentation points along the connecting route across the water in the numerical experiment using DTU10.The distance of the height connection across the sea was approximately 10.5 km.According to China's official leveling specifications,the experimental results met the criterion of third-class leveling precision.

Numerical study of the influence of Kuroshio Current on the thermocline in the sea area around Taiwan Island

Using P0M97. an oceanic model, we separately do numerical tests to simulate the 3-D struc ture of temperature in the sea area around Taiwan Island with or without effect of Kuroshio (Current). Through contrast analysis. we find that inflow of Kuroshio results in winter mean water temperature of sub-surface layer in the whole sea regions raising 5 - 6℃ more than that without effect of Kuroshio. The existence of Kuroshio does important role on oceanic thermocline of deep water area in the east of Taiwan Island, and has some effect on intensity of seasonal thermocline of Taiwan Strait and its southern shallow water area.

Circulations east of Taiwan and in East China Sea and east of Ryukyu Islands during early summer 1985

A modified inverse method is used to compute the circulations east of Taiwan and in the East China Sec and east of the Ryukyu Islands with hydrographic data obtained during early summer of 1985. The computational region covers an area west of 129°E and from 21°45'N to 35°N. The computed results show that: (1 ) The net volume transport (VT ) of the Kuroshio through 21°45'N Section east of Ta Taiwan and west of 123°E is about 45 × 10￣6 m￣3/sduring early summer of 1985. The Kuroshio has. two current cores. One is located near Taiwan, and its velocity isvery large and its maximum velocity is 226 cm/s at the 100 m level, which is close to the maximum velocity of the beginning of the Kuroshio east of the Philippines. The other is located further to the east, and its maximum velocity is159 cm/s at the 100m level; (2) through a transect northwest Of Miyakojima Island and a transect southwest of Okinawa laaed the volume transports of the Kuroshio in the East China Sea both are about 25 × 10￣6 m￣3/s. The maximumvelocity of the Kuroshio at these two sections is 194 and 128 cm/s, respectively, and both are located on the shelfbreak; (3) beneath and east of the Kurohio there are the countercurrent (4) southeast of Okinawa Island there is anortheastward current, and its VT at Section HI is about 12. 6 × 10￣6 m￣3/s, and it comes from a westward flow at 129° This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No. 49476278.(Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hongzhou310012, China) (Institute of Oceanography, Taiwan University, Taipei, China)E Section and the recirculating gyre, and does not originate from the Kuroshio east of Taiwan during early summer of 1985. There is a southwestward abyssal current east of Okinawa Islands (5) there are several different scale eddies in this computational region. For example, there is a meso-scale strong cyclonic eddy east of Miyakojima Island.

A reduced thermodynamic model on the formation of the Nansha warm water

A reduced vertically integrated upper mixed layer model is set up to numerically study the thermodynamic process of the formation of the 'Nansha warm water'(NWW) in the Nansha Islands sea areas in spring. According to the numerical experiments, it is shown that, in spring, the formation of the NWW is mainly due to the sea surface net heat flux and the local weak current strength; the contribution from temperature advection transport and warm water exchange with the outer seas (Sulu Sea or south of Sunda shelf) is very little. In the sea areas where the current is strong, the advection may also play an important role in the temperature field.

Two new species of the genus Nassarius(Gastropoda:Nassariidae) from the South China Sea

Two species of Nassarius Duméril, 1805 from the South China Sea are described and illustrated. The specimens are in the Nassariidae collection of the Marine Biological Museum of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao.Nassarius concavus sp. nov., from the sandy bottom at a depth of 180 m, resembles Nassarius glabrus Zhang and Zhang, 2014 in general shell morphology, but differs from the latter in having a smaller, more slender adult shell without axial ribs on the upper teleoconch whorls. Nassarius nanshaensis sp. nov., from the Nansha Islands at a depth of 56–147 m, is similar to Nassarius maxiutongi Zhang, Zhang and Li, 2019 in the shell sculpture, but differs in having a more slender shell with a higher spire, and fewer cusps on the rachidian tooth(9–11 vs. 13–17).

2021年山东长岛毗邻海域底层渔业生物监测数据集

近岸岛屿毗邻海域作为陆架边缘海中最具代表性的区域之一,是重要的海-陆过渡区域。在自然环境变动与人类活动的双重影响下,其生态系统具有多样性和复杂性。长岛毗邻海域具有典型的海岛生态环境特征,为渤黄海渔业种类的洄游通道和关键栖息地,对该海域生态系统食物网结构和能流过程具有重要意义。2021年3月至12月,山东长岛近海渔业资源国家野外科学观测研究站在长岛毗邻海域开展10航次,每航次10站的底层渔业生物逐月调查与样品测定。通过对渔获物的生物学测定数据进行计算,获得相对重要性指数(index of relative importance,IRI)、物种更替率、单位捕捞努力量渔获量(catch per unit effort,CPUE)以及包含Margalef丰富度指数(D)、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H′)和Pielou均匀度指数(J′)在内的生物多样性指数,构成了本数据集。基于多人全样本交叉复核完成审查与校对过程,确保数据集的规范性与准确性。本数据集可为渤黄海底层渔业生物时空格局和海岛生态系统研究提供数据支撑。

Assessment of coral bleaching using symbiotic zooxanthellae density and satellite remote sensing data in the Nansha Islands,South China Sea

Coral bleaching,characterized by a significant loss of symbiotic zooxanthellae,is the primary cause of mass coral mortality and reef degradation throughout the world.The characteristics,processes,and resistance of corals to bleaching varies significantly and is dependent on environmental conditions.We documented a mass coral bleaching event in June 2007 at the Meiji and Zhubi Reefs,Nansha Islands (NS),South China Sea using ecological surveys and measurement of coral zooxanthellae density and sea surface temperatures (SST).More than 35 species of corals (between 0-20 m in depth) were bleached.These bleached corals accounted for 15.6% of total corals in the investigated quadrats.The branching corals Pocillopora and Acropora were the most vulnerable species whereas the massive corals Porites and Favia were more tolerant of the high SSTs.Surprisingly,we found no evidence of bleaching in Agariciidae corals suggesting that this family is resistant to thermal stresses.The bleached corals had lost 72%-90% of their symbiotic zooxanthellae.Furthermore,corals that had no visual signs of bleaching had also lost 31%-53% of their zooxanthellae suggesting that most corals were experiencing the early stage of bleaching.The monthly mean SST during June 2007 was 30.8°C,the highest since 1998.Based on measurements of SST and the Hotspots and DHW data (NOAA),we conclude that it the extremely high SSTs triggered this coral bleaching event.Our results suggest that the previously accepted temperature thresholds used to predict coral bleaching based on satellite data are likely to underestimate the extent and intensity of coral bleaching,at least in the NS.

The geographical characteristics of Nansha Islands in the South China Sea

As is well-known, Nansha Islands in the South China Sea(SCS) are of important strategic position and invaluable ecological value. Therefore, many attentions are paid to either the political and legal aspects of exposed features that matter in the maritime delimitation, or the physical and geographical characteristics of coral reefs that are the predominant structures of these islands. However, it seems that they consistently lose the connection of sciences and humanities in the research of Nansha Islands in the SCS. In this study, we carry out a combinative research, based on remote sensing data using satellite imagery analysis together with historical materials using literature investigation, so as to reconsider to the geographical characteristics of Nansha Islands from a standpoint of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS). After thoroughly appraising the statuses of these newly formed sand cays, several high tide features of Nansha Islands are identified. By means of the comparison of satellite images coupled with reference to nautical charting and sailing directions during different time periods, we can conclude that the statuses of these high tide features formed on reef platforms are relatively stable due to the growth of reef-building organisms although their migration patterns are subject to external disturbances, and hence the cursory judgment pursuant to the relevant provisions of the UNCLOS about whether a coral reef belongs to a low tide elevation only based on outdated references or ex parte evidences is not reliable. Moreover, it is accordingly justified to improve further development and perfection of the maritime legislation by eliminating such ambiguities with the growth of coral reefs and the evolution of sand cays being both taken into account.

Microbiotas and environments of the Nansha Islands and adjacent sea

IN the past 12 years, the Multidisciplinary Oceanographic Expedition Team to Nansha Islandsorganized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences has carried out many investigations and ob-tained a lot of scientific research results. In the present study, 177 surface sediments and 7core specimens were used for analyzing foraminifers, ostracods, radiolarians, bryozoans, gas-tropods, bivalves, diatoms, dinonagellates, sporopollen and calcareous nannoplankton, con-

南沙群岛北部海域鸢乌贼(Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis)夏季渔业生物学研究

采用自动鱿钓(AJ)和灯光罩网(LAFN)定点采样,对南沙群岛北部海域(12—16°N,112—116°E)鸢乌贼生长、繁殖、摄食及资源分布等进行研究。结果表明:灯光罩网渔获中鸢乌贼的胴长范围为65—231mm,体质量范围为6—580g;自动鱿钓鸢乌贼胴长范围为108—215mm,体质量范围为38—400g。自动鱿钓和灯光罩网鸢乌贼雌雄性比分别为32.0和1.4。南沙鸢乌贼雌性个体出现两个性腺发育高峰期,即101—120mm与161mm以上胴长组,4—7月为繁殖高峰期。鸢乌贼以大眼标灯鱼、尖头燕鳐等中上层鱼类为主,还摄食同类以及钩腕乌贼属等其它头足类及少数蟹类,雌雄个体摄食强度随胴长增加而增加。自动鱿钓CPUE(单位捕捞努力量渔获量)为1—38pc/(line·h),平均值为12pc/(line·h);而灯光罩网CPUE为15—50kg/net,平均值为35.7kg/net。南沙群岛北部海域鸢乌贼具有重要的经济学和营养生态学研究价值,灯光罩网是开展南海鸢乌贼渔业资源研究的较佳采样方式。

南麂列岛附近海域贝类生物资源的分布及群落结构分析

为了解南麂列岛附近海域底栖贝类群落特征及分布情况,于2022年10月(秋季)、2023年3月(春季)对南麂列岛周围海域进行底栖贝类的拖网调查。结果表明:共捕获底栖贝类49种,隶属2纲6目17科,春季底栖贝类平均丰度为(2 429±2 038)ind./Agt,平均生物量为(4 849.79±2 513.84)g/Agt;秋季底栖贝类平均丰度为(1 149±1 589)ind./Agt,平均生物量为(4 985.30±2 159.23)g/Agt,主要优势种为棒锥螺Turritella bacillum、浅缝骨螺Murex trapa、结蚶Tegillarca nodifera、杰氏裁判螺Inquisitor jeffreysii、习见赤蛙螺Bufonaria rana、中华衲螺Cancellaria sinensis、白带三角口螺Trigonaphera bocageana,其中棒锥螺是春季和秋季共有优势种,且优势度均远高于其他种;该海域贝类群落优势种较稳定,群落的功能和性质由少数种类控制。本研究为南麂列岛海洋生态系统动态变化过程提供参考依据,为海洋生态环境保护提供基础资料。

20世纪70年代中国香港报刊对西沙事态的反应——以《明报月刊》为考察中心

1974年1月,西沙海战爆发后,中国香港报刊积极报道与战事相关的内容,对中国香港社会的维权动态以及南海诸岛史地知识亦多有着墨,但很少深入探讨中国南海主权。相对而言,《明报月刊》则刊登了一系列由中国香港、中国台湾学者和海外华人学者所撰写的学术维权文章,为中国南海诸岛主权的论证提供了历史和法理依据。