The Crustacean and Molluscan Fisheries of Honduras

Honduras has many communities of artisanal fishermen who land various species of crustaceans and mollusks, using hands, nets, traps, and free diving from shore and from dugout canoes. It also has industrial fisheries for spiny lobster, Panulirus argus; queen conch, Strombus gigas; and mainly pink shrimp, Penaeus notialis, using traps, scuba divers, and trawl nets.

Skimmers: Their Development and Use in Coastal Louisiana

The origin, development, and utilization of the skimmer net is reviewed along with other historical shrimp gears used in coastal Louisiana. The skimmer was developed to catch white shrimp, Penaeus setiferus, observed jumping over the cork line (headrope) of trawls being worked in shallow waters. A description of the gear is presented including basic components and various frame designs used by fishermen during its development. The advantages of skimmers over bottom trawls include: multiple use as both trawl and butterfly net (wing net), ease of deployment, increased maneuverability, reduction and greater survivability of bycatch, and ability to cover more area due to increased speed and continuous fishing capability. Disadvantages may include compromising vessel stability when stored upright on the deck, possible damage to water bottoms when improperly rigged, and limitation to a 12-foot (3.6 m) maximum depth due to size restrictions. The growing popularity of the skimmer net is evident by its introduction into North Carolina and inquiries from other southeastern Atlantic and Gulf coast states.

Occurrence and Behavior of Juvenile Red Snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, on Commercial Shrimp Fishing Grounds in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico

Red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, is subject to significant overfishing in U.S. Gulf of Mexico waters, and regulations are being implemented to reduce fishing mortality and restore them to a 20% spawning potential ratio by the year 2009. One source of mortality that must be reduced to achieve this goal is the incidental capture ofjuvenile red snappers in shrimp, Penaeus spp., trawls. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service is conducting research to develop shrimp trawl modifications to reduce the snapper bycatch. An important part of this research is the study of juvenile red snapper behavior on commercial shrimp grounds and in relation to trawling gear. An area of high juvenile red snapper abundance was identified off the coast of Mississippi. Most snappers were observed around structures or objects on the bottom which they appeared to use for refuge or orientation. Those ranging over barren bottom had no apparent point of orientation. When encountered by shrimp trawls, most juvenile snappers rose above the trawl footrope and fell back into the trawl. These observations have directed research toward modifying shrimp trawls to release juvenile red snappers after entry, rather than preventing them from entering a shrimp trawl.

Fisheries Management: The Kuwaiti Experience

Siddeek et al. (1991) discussed very briefly some recent developments in Kuwait's shrimp fishery, including an important increase in landings of the main commercial species, Penaeus semisulcatus. This increase coincided with a marked fall in landings of the other important species, Metapenaeus affinis. They thought that these changes were caused by a reduction in effort combined with a more or less simultaneous favorable environmental change for P. semisulcatus and an unfavorable environmental change for M. affinis, but did not give any unequivocal evidence to support this conclusion. The results they reported are, nevertheless, very important and may be relevant to scientists and managers in other parts of the world.

An Economic Analysis of Texas Shrimp Season Closures

Management of the Texas penaeid shrimp fishery is aimed at increasing revenue from brown shrimp, Penaeus aztecus, landings and decreasing the level of discards. Since 1960 Texas has closed its territorial sea for 45-60 days during peak migration of brown shrimp to the Gulf of Mexico. In 1981 the closure was extended to 200 miles to include the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. Simulation modeling is used in this paper to estimate the changes in landings, revenue, costs, and economic rent attributable to the Texas closure. Four additional analyses were conducted to estimate the effects of closing the Gulf 1- to 4-fathom zone for 45 and 60 days, with and without effort redirected to inshore waters. Distributional impacts are analyzed in terms of costs, revenues, and rents, by vessel class, shrimp species, vessel owner, and crew.

The By-catch From the Artisanal Shrimp Trawl Fishery, Gulf of Paria, Trinidad

Samples of shrimp trawl catches were collected from a commercial artisanal vessel fishing inside the 6-fm isobath in the Gulf of Paria, Trinidad. From August 1986 to May 1987, 34 late evening-early morning trawl trips were made and 97 hauls were sampled. Annual ratio estimates were 9 (SD 1.3) finfish:shrimp and 14.7 (SD 2.0) by-catch: shrimp, with the highest ratios observed August through December and the lowest from late January through May, the dry season. Extrapolation of ratios, using shrimp catch statistics, indicates that for 1986, 974,000 kg of finfish and 620,000 kg of crabs, Callinectes spp., were caught incidentally by artisanal shrimp trawlers fishing in the Gulf of Paria. Of this total incidental catch (1,594,000 kg), about 1,500,000 kg were discarded (94 percent). Four penaeid shrimp species are targeted: Penaeus schmitti, P. notialis, P. subtilis, and Xiphopenaeus kroyeri. Callinectes spp. were caught in large quantities from Augustto mid-January. Small (4-15 cm) pelagic and demersal species of little commercial importance dominated the finfish by-catch: Harengula spp., Cetengraulis edentulus, Chloroscombrus chrysurus, Eucinostomous spp., Diapterus rhombeus, and Cyclopsetta spp. Altogether, the monthly percentage of the species ranged from 70 to 85 percent of the total finfish by-catch.

沿阶草族的染色体研究及系统学问题的探讨

本论文对沿阶草族Ophiopogoneae(Endl.)Kunth的研究历史作了回顾，从染色体、形态学和解剖学角度对此族作了研究，并作了数值分类和分支 系统学分析的尝试，在此基础上探讨了这个族的系统学问题． 1)本论文对此族三属37种123居群的染色体数目、基数及核型不对称性作了研究，其中19种的染色体为首次报道．它们是：P．macrostegiaHance， P.yunnanensis Wang et Tang，P.ophiopogonoides Wang et Tang,O. sarmentosus Wang et Dai,O.tienensis Wang et Tang, O.sylvicola Wang et Tang, O.fooningensis Wang et Dai, O.mairei L6vl.，O.szechuanensis Wang et Tang, O.angustiatus (Wang et Tang) S.C.Chen, O.amblyphyllus Wang et Dai,O.clavatus Wright ex Oliver,O.clivioidesD.M.Zhang et Hong, O.longiscaposus D.M.Zhang et Hong,O.umbraticola Hance,O.fuiD.M.Zhang ntHong,O.zingiberaceus Wang et Dai,O.gangxiensisd.M.Zhang et Hong,O. lo fouense L6vl. 2)在此族中首次报道了2n = 2x = 34的异基数二倍体，同时在O.umbraticola，O.japonicus,O.cLarkei中报道了2n=68的异基数二倍体，过核型和减数分裂等证明异基数是在二倍体水平上形成，并发展成倍性系列的． 3)在此族中首次报道了B染色体的存在，已确证了两种(P.macrostegia和D.tienensis)．一种尚需进一步确证(O.Larkei)． 4)通过对随体位置的系统研究，发现在此族中随体位置具有分类价值． 5)通过对8个种内多倍体、4个多倍体种的研究，表明多倍体分布于较北、海拔较高的地方，而亚洲热带地区的种，则无多倍体，同时在具异基数种类和核型较不对称种类上亦有这种分布特征;在确定了分布的多度中心的基础上，提出喜马拉雅_横断山脉到川西、川南一带是沿阶草属和山麦冬属的近代分化中心． 6)通过染色体结构和数目几个角度的研究，表明球子草属与其他两属在。染色体水平上已发生很大分化，但其属内的分化则不表现在染色体上．其他二属内部则有基数、倍性和核型不对称方面的分化．综观此族，染色体具有由核 型对称向不对称、由二倍体向多倍体、由种内多倍体向多倍体种，由单一基数向种内异基数几个方向进化的趋势． 7)通过对此族的形态观察和分析，提出茎或根状茎分枝方式是属下分类的重要依据;认为本族植物的花序是由圆锥花序简化而来，但残留着圆锥花序特征;并提出了本族花、茎、叶、根几个方面的形态演化趋势． 8)通过对此族二属21种的子房解剖，发现三属均有半下位子房，因而认为子房半下位作为分属检索性状是不合适的．此外还观察到子房着生位置在种内亦有变异，对这种变异的意义进行了探讨． 9)通过此族三属46种2变种的数值分类处理，表明本族由球子草群和沿阶草一山麦冬群两大类群组成，山麦冬属仅是与沿阶草属一个组（葶花组）并列的分类单元，其内部分化较小，而沿阶草属则较大． 10)通过46个性状计算了山麦冬属和沿阶草属共6个广布的“群内总体相 似度”(IOS)，表明山麦冬属3个种种内个体之间、种间个体之间的分化很小，且可能有杂交现象，结合染色体资料和分布特征，认为这个属的发生是个相当晚近的事件． 11)本文从形态和染色体角度，认为沿阶草族是一个自然类群;由分支系 统学分析表明，此族由二个单系类群（球子草属和沿阶草属）组成，沿阶草属含两个单系的组，其中各含3个系，山麦冬属为其中一个系．这一结果与数值 分类结果和染色体资料相符． 12)为避免单一分类方法可能导致的不合理结果，本文以自拟的一种综合分类方法，把谱系、进化、分化诸因素均予考虑，得出一个三维图象，以图象 上相对等径的球作为分类依据，得出的结果与分支系统学和数值分类结果基本一致．因此，山麦冬属作为与沿阶草属等阶的分类地位，应予重新考虑． 13）本文最后对这个族的全面修订提出几点建议. 14）此外，本文还描述了沿阶草属4个新种.

Spatial and temporal variation in the diet of the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) in the Gulf of California, Mexico

Between June 1995 and May 1996 seven rookeries in the Gulf of California were visited four times in order to collect scat samples for studying spatial and seasonal variability California sea lion prey. The rookeries studied were San Pedro Mártir, San Esteban, El Rasito, Los Machos, Los Cantiles, Isla Granito, and Isla Lobos. The 1273 scat samples collected yielded 4995 otoliths (95.3%) and 247 (4.7%) cephalopod beaks. Fish were found in 97.4% of scat samples collected, cephalopods in 11.2%, and crustaceans in 12.7%. We identified 92 prey taxa to the species level, 11 to genus level, and 10 to family level, of which the most important were Pacific cutlassfish (Trichiurus lepturus), Pacific sardine (Sardinops caeruleus), plainfin midshipman (Porichthys spp.), myctophid no. 1, northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax), Pacific mackerel (Scomber japonicus), anchoveta (Cetengraulis mysticetus), and jack mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus). Significant differences were found among rookeries in the occurrence of all main prey (P≤0.04), except for myctophid no. 1 (P>0.05). Temporally, significant differences were found in the occurrence of Pacific cutlassfish, Pacific sardine, plainfin midshipman, northern anchovy, and Pacific mackerel (P<0.05), but not in jack mackerel (χ 2=2.94, df=3, P=0.40), myctophid no. 1 (χ 2=1.67, df= 3, P=0.64), or lanternfishes (χ 2=2.08, df=3, P=0.56). Differences were observed in the diet and in trophic diversity among seasons and rookeries. More evident was the variation in diet in relation to availability of Pacific sardine.

植物对光环境的适应性研究—富贵草对模拟光斑的光合响应——银衫对不同光环境的适应性——大叶黄杨叶片内部光能利用梯度

本文研究了富贵草对模拟光斑的光合响应、银杉对光的适应性以及大叶黄杨叶片内部光能利用梯度三个方面的问题。 1)研制了用于林内光环境调查和研究的光量子计组件。 关键词：光量子计，A/D板 2)以亚热带常绿阔叶林下一种常见的灌木富贵草为研究对象，利用气体交换和叶绿素荧光技术研究了其对模拟光斑的光合响应。在同样辐射通量（非光抑制）的情况下，光合诱导过程中光斑可以提高富贵草对光斑的利用能力（光斑诱导的碳同化量可高出对照48%）。叶绿素荧光测量结果表明：1）光斑与光斑之间的暗期发生了qN弛豫过程;2）暗期之后的光期光化学能量转换效率提高。强光光斑簇可以诱导富贵草光抑制的产生，但程度较连续光低。 关键词：模拟光斑， 叶绿素荧光， 光诱导过程 3)用高效液相色谱(HPLC)和77K低温荧光发射光谱技术来研究快速诱导组分发生的时间内光斑所导致NPQ (qN)降低的生理原因。在非光抑制条件下，光斑造成的NPQ (qN)降低的生理原因包括叶黄素循环的变化及LHCIIs聚集态的变化;此外低温荧光数据还显示光斑导致的PSII/PSI荧光产量比率要高于连续光，说明光斑导致植物对于光的利用增加。以上结果说明模拟光斑诱导了富贵草内囊体膜较低水平的能态。 关键词：模拟光斑，叶黄素，聚集态 4)用气体交换等技术测定了部分银杉幼树的生理生态指标，用鱼眼镜头测定了所测叶片的林冠开度(OP)。研究了沿林冠开度梯度的银杉幼树对光的适应性。银杉幼树在林窗边缘表现出较好的适应性，包括高的ISG（综合地上部分茎生长），高的HG（当年生树高生长速率），较高的LMA（单位叶片面积干物质重），较高的Pns（单位叶片干物质水平的净光合速率），高的单位叶片的碳同化速率，较高的截获光的单位叶片的叶面积等等，可以初步确定银杉属于Gap树种：在所测定的范围内（0. 00139%-0. 0109%）TN（土壤总氮量）明显不如OP对银杉幼树生长的影响大;综合的生态可塑性指标必须考虑具体的实验地情况、选取合适的形态学和生理学的因子、并结合多个相似生长环境下的树种来进行考虑。 关键词：林冠开度，生理生态指标，生态可塑性 5)分析了湖南八面山的银杉的某些光合特性，并比较了极郁闭（ OP<4%）情况下银杉当年生叶片与大树顶端枝条(OP>30%)当年生叶片之间光合特性上的差异。极郁闭情况下银杉叶片生长出现黄化现象，但银杉幼苗又不耐强光。银杉幼苗一天的光合动态变化表明，银杉最大光合速率在早晨8:00左右，当光照超过光饱和点时，净光合速率迅速下降，其后略有回升，呈不太典型的双峰模式。气孔关闭与净光合速率的下降有密切的关系。早晨8:00到11:00间叶黄素循环运转，对光合系统起到一定保护作用。 关键词： 银杉，色素分析，光合作用 6)采用一种新方法来测量大叶黄杨叶片内部的绝对光能利用效率梯度的曲线。该方法基于光声光谱的深度分析(Depth-Analysis)理论，并结合了光纤微探测器的叶片光梯度测量结果。日本小檗(Berberis thunbergii DC.)叶片的光声光谱扫描显示了深度分析的精确性。实验结果表明：叶片内部利用光能效率最低处在栅栏组织和海棉组织之间（入射光能的0.026%-660nm红光）;越靠近叶片的上表皮和下表皮，趋势显示叶片组织利用光能效率有上升的趋势(分别为0.092%，0.036%)。因此，不同叶肉组织绝对光能利用效率是不同的，该实验结果直接证实了Han &Vogelmann 1999b所提出的假设。 关键词： PA深度分析 叶片内部的光梯度 光化学损失 光吸收梯度

Prawn seed resources and its farming potentialities in Sunkeri back waters (Kali Estuary - Karwar)

Prawn seed resources of Sunkeri back waters indicated the availability of Penaeus indicus, P. monodon, Metapenaeus dobsoni and M. monoceros. The monthly variation in seed composition, its correlation with environmental parameters and the aquaculture potentialities are reported

外来入侵种紫茎泽兰竞争策略与扩散动态

紫茎泽兰（Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng.）作为重要的外来入侵种之一，已严重破坏了入侵地生态系统的结构与功能，同时使当地农林业生产蒙受巨大的损失。因此，明确紫茎泽兰的竞争策略与扩散潜力，对制定合理的控制措施具有重要意义。 土壤氮素增加常常有助于外来种的入侵，那么降氮能否抵制入侵呢？向土壤中添加碳素，增强微生物对氮素的吸收，从而降低土壤中可被植物吸收的氮素是目前常用的降氮方法。为检验这一假说对入侵种紫茎泽兰的适用性，选取入侵种紫茎泽兰和本地种禾本科雀麦（Bromus japonicus）、菊科鱼眼草（Dichrocephala integrifolia），分别单栽或与紫茎泽兰混栽，向各植物组合中添加碳素（按1650克有机质/平方米计）或氮素（按30克氮素/平方米计），并设立对照进行盆栽实验。在碳素添加条件下，紫茎泽兰地上与地下生物量分别比对照降低了71.9% 和 74.9%，而本地种的生物量却没有受到显著影响。同时，碳素添加导致紫茎泽兰对本地种的竞争强度（RII）明显下降。氮素添加则减弱或逆转了上述碳素的作用。因此，向土壤中添加碳素有助于抵抗氮沉降对外来种入侵的促进作用，特别对抵御那些与氮素有亲和力的入侵种更为有效。在不同氮素条件下，紫茎泽兰对本地种竞争中，资源竞争强度均明显大于化感作用。尽管在紫茎泽兰发育早期化感作用较小，但是，碳素添加使紫茎泽兰可利用氮素减少，激发了化感作用在竞争中占有更大的比例，说明资源竞争与化感是相互结合、共同发挥作用的。 去叶作为模拟采食方法之一，至少可以通过两种方式影响植物竞争。一是去叶对目标种生长产生负面影响，二是邻种去叶有利于目标种生长，进而改变种间竞争关系。基于以上假定，对紫茎泽兰与相邻本地种分别单栽、同种合栽和异种混栽，进行去叶处理。结果恰与假定相悖：在整个生长季内，去叶增加目标株生物量的1.0 – 198.9%。对于入侵种而言，当邻居本地种去叶时，紫茎泽兰能完全弥补竞争产生的负面效应，即它与未去叶的单栽紫茎泽兰生长无显著差异;而紫茎泽兰去叶降低了相邻本地种的生长，加剧了原本由于竞争给对本地种带来的负面影响。因此，去叶效应与邻种的存在与否及邻种的类型均有关。在应用生物控制对目标株采食时，特别是在没有造成严重伤害或致死情况下，可以使本来具有竞争优势的入侵种变得更具强势。竞争与去叶之间存在复杂的相互作用，采食带来的间接效应可能比预想的更为复杂。因此，在生物控制措施实施之前，充分地估计生物控制的间接作用至关重要。 为检验反应—扩散模型（reaction–diffusion model）能否正确模拟紫茎泽兰小尺度扩散速率，本研究调查了四川攀枝花山区5个不同的生境的紫茎泽兰群落。对各样地内紫茎泽兰定位和年龄确定，基于克里金插值法做出其入侵格局的等年线图，通过等年线之间的垂直距离即可得到紫茎泽兰扩散速率的经验值。同时，计算内禀增长率和扩散系数，根据模型计算得到扩散速率的预测值。结果表明：紫茎泽兰扩散速率经验值明显小于模型预测值。因此，尽管反应—扩散模型已在大尺度扩散预测方面得到广泛的应用和验证，但在小尺度上，由于没有借助于复杂的生活史模型和分层模型，单凭反应—扩散模型不足以得到准确的预测。另外，在没有遭受干扰的生境中，可以发现紫茎泽兰扩散早期存在明显的时滞期。倘若这种时滞效应在入侵扩散中是频繁发生的，那么在判定物种是否具有入侵性时，很可能由于物种处于时滞期而被误认为非入侵种。 基于紫茎泽兰入侵至中国60年来所收集到的441已知分布记录和23个环境变量，采用GARP模型对其潜在分布范围做出了预测，并通过Kappa和ROC（receiver–operator characteristic）对预测结果进行检验。结果表明紫茎泽兰目前分布以云贵高原为主体，逐渐向四川盆地东部、山东半岛、东南沿海、台湾沿海以及海南岛等地扩散。冷季降水量、年极端低温和年均最高温对分布影响较大。RDA（Redundancy Analysis）分析结果显示温度和降水是限制紫茎泽兰扩散的重要因素。在过去的20年里，紫茎泽兰已经从温度较高、天气波动较小的亚热带气候逐渐向气候温凉、降水减少的高海拔地区扩散。紫茎泽兰可以适应相对较宽的温度和降水梯度，年均温度在10—22 ˚C，年降水量在800—2000 mm区间均有分布。本研究结果为发展早期预警工作、防止紫茎泽兰在中国进一步入侵提供了科学依据。

Distribution of decapod larvae in the Bombay Harbour-Thana-Bassein Creek regions

Variations in the abundance and composition of larval decapods were studied from 90 km stretch of the Bombay Harbour-Thana Creek-Bassein Creek (BHTCBC) system for a period of 15 months. The larvae belonged to Penacidea, Caridea, Anomura and Brachyura. Among these, brachyurans were the most abundant in the entire study area indicating good potential for crab fishery. Penaeus, Metapenaeus and Parapenaeopsis were the genera recorded in the family Penaeidae of which Metapenaeus spp. were the most common. Generally there was a higher abundance of Penaeus and Metapenaeus during monsoon probably indicating intense breeding. A few genera of decapods showed patchy occurrence in this system. Results of this first investigation were quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated with comments on fishery potential of the commercially important groups of decapods.

A study of the male reproductive organs of nine species of penaeid prawns (Crustacea: Penaeinae)

This paper deals with the male reproductive organs of nine species of penaeid prawns; Penaeus penicillatus Alcock, P. merguiensis De Man, P. semisulcatus De Haan, Metapenaeus affinis (H.Milne Edwards), M. monoceros (Fabricius), M. stebbingi Nobili, Parapenaeopsis hardwickii (Miers), P. sculptilis (Heller) and P. stylifera (H. Milne Edwards). The male reproductive organs exhibited structural variations, which were more pronounced at generic level. These variations are mainly due to the type of spermatophore they possess. One species of each genus, that is, P. merguiensis, M. affinis and P. sculptilis were also studied histologically to examine the internal structure of the male reproductive organs. Spermatophores of the six species belonging to the genera Penaeus and Parapenaeopsis are also described and illustrated.

Lunar, diurnal and tidal periodicity in relation to the prawn abundance and migration in the Godavari estuarine systems

Preliminary investigations to study the lunar, diurnal and tidal periodicity in abundance and migrations of prawns were made in the Bairavapalam distributary of the Goutami branch of the Godavari estuary during the period of November 1961 to July 1962. The study was based on observation of the catches of a stake net (bag net) operated near the mouth of the estuary. Records of the catches were maintained tidewise daily. Comparative estimates of abundance were made on the basis of catch per hour's operation. It was generally observed that the catches were higher during the darker half of the month than in the brighter fortnight. The landings during low tides were generally higher than those during high tides and usually heavier catches were made during nocturnal low tides than during the day low tides. A continuous inward and outward (immigration and emigration) movement of prawns of all size groups was observed in the estuary from November to July. In general, more penaeid prawns were found to be immigrating at dawn than at dusk. Similarly, the number of emigrants was also found to be generally higher during the new moon period than during the full moon. Metapenaeus monoceros showed an almost distinct nocturnal periodicity in migration, while no such periodicity was observed, distinctly, in other species. In the case of Penaeus indicus the movement of migrants was prolonged. In M. brevicornis the migrants were scarce till March and thereafter increased numerically. The migrant forms of Metapenaeus dobsoni continued to be abundant till May with peak periods in January and February. The migratory pattern of Metapenaeus affinis was similar to that of Metapenaeus brevicornis, though the migrants of the former species appeared a month earlier than the latter. Intensive studies over extended areas for longer periods are required to understand clearly the migratory pattern of the various species. The phenomenon of immigration of prawns can be clearly understood only by vital staining or tagging studies. Perhaps the emigrants might be returning with the succeeding changing life. To verify this, laboratory experiments, by vital stains, were conducted. The marked specimens, if released during the low tides on a large scale, may be recaptured during the subsequent high tides and the duration also may be calculated. At least some percentage of the emigrants remains in the sea for maturity and breeding.

Studies on phenolase enzymes in prawns. Pt. 1. The distribution and physical properties of phenolases in Penaeid prawns

The distribution of phenolases in certain species of Penaeid prawns has been studied. Attempts were made to locate the regions of maximum enzyme activity in the prawns. The relative dopase activity has been examined in extracts from head, tail, shell with cuticles and muscle. The head juice and tail extracts were found to register very high order of enzyme activity. Metapenaeus affinis, Metapenaeus monoceros and Penaeus indicus record comparatively higher enzyme activity than Parapenaeopsis stylifera and Metapenaeus dobsoni, no definite relationship has been found between the relative activity of the enzyme and size grade at least in one species examined. Experiments were done to determine the pH optima of the enzyme and the influence of pH on its deactivation. Exposure to higher temperatures up to 55°c was shown to activate the crude enzyme considerably. The possible implications of the observations have been discussed.