三峡大坝的修建对库区动物的影响

世界上最大的大坝—三峡大坝―于2003年6月正式建成并蓄水，三峡水库的水位由蓄水前的84m上升至蓄水后的139m。三峡大坝的修建与蓄水，已经显著地改变了三峡库区陆地生态系统和水域生态系统的生态环境。三峡大坝的修建将如何影响生活在这一区域（包括陆地和水域）的野生动植物资源，是个亟待解决的问题。 对于陆地生态系统，三峡大坝的修建，使三峡库区的生态环境进一步破碎化（Fragmentation）和岛屿化（Island）。为了了解三峡大坝的修建对三峡库区野生动物所产生的影响，我们选择适应性强且对环境变化敏感的啮齿动物为研究对象，在三峡库区选取两个岛屿（洛碛岛和皇华岛）及其对岸为研究点，在野外调查了啮齿动物的群落组成、种群密度与分布，并用胃容物分析和稳定性同位素分析方法研究了两个研究点优势种啮齿动物的食物来源与组成。结果表明，两个研究点间啮齿动物群落组成有很大差异，这主要是由于啮齿动物分布的地域性差异引起的。在同一个研究点，岛屿上的啮齿动物群落组成与对岸的没有差异，但在岛屿上的啮齿动物种群密度却明显高于其对岸的，这说明随着库区水位的大幅度提升，岛屿的面积急剧减小，使原本栖息在水边的啮齿动物不得不向岛屿的中上部迁移，致使岛屿上的啮齿动物的种群密度迅速增加。啮齿动物的食物来源有四种：C3非豆科植物，C3豆科植物，C4植物及水生生物。不同种啮齿动物的食物种类组成也不同，四川短尾鼩（Anourosorex squamipes）的食物中有水生生物的组成成分，但其它啮齿动物食物中不含水生生物。不同食物来源在啮齿动物的整体食物中所占比例也不同，并呈明显的季节性变化，这种变化与田间的农作物种类密切相关。动物组织的稳定性同位素组成不仅可以示踪动物的食物来源，也反映了动物的生存状况。我们的结果显示：对岸啮齿动物的稳定性同位素组成相对集中，并且不同种啮齿动物间没有重叠。这一方面说明对岸啮齿动物的食物来源相对丰富，啮齿动物可以选择各自喜食食物，在此环境下的啮齿动物种间竞争相对较弱，至少是种间食物竞争较弱。岛屿上啮齿动物的稳定性同位素值分布范围远大于在对岸的，并且种间稳定性同位素组成有明显的重叠部分。稳定性同位素组成的重叠意味着有相似的食物来源，也即栖息生境相似。这说明岛上的啮齿动物种间存在较剧烈的食物竞争关系。在资源限制情况下，多种啮齿动物不得不利用共同的食物来源。换句话说，岛屿化过程将加剧岛屿上啮齿动物的种间竞争。 洛碛岛上的四川短尾鼩因为可以利用水生食物来源，这使得它在岛屿化过程中处于有利地位。随着岛屿化进程的加剧，四川短尾鼩在岛屿上的优势将更加明显。而皇华岛屿上的褐家鼠的食物来源单一，会因岛屿面积的进一步减小，食物来源更加缺乏，它们将不得不改其食物组成或面临消失。而白腹巨鼠的栖息环境靠近江边，将因水位的上升进一步上移，它们的栖息环境与普通田鼠的发生重叠，使得白腹巨鼠与普通田鼠发生栖息地的竞争与食物竞争，并面临更多的人为因素干扰。 对于水域生态系统，长江是我国最大的河流，也是我国淡水鱼类最丰富的区域。三峡大坝的修建已经显著改变了三峡库区的水文特征。为了了解三峡大坝的修建是否会改变三峡库区的有机物组成，并进而影响到三峡库区水生生物的食物来源和组成，我们选择了三个水文特征不同的研究点（洛碛江段、皇华城江段和茅坪江段）调查了三峡库区的常见鱼种类组成，并用稳定性同位素方法研究了三峡库区洪水前后的有机物组成变化与鱼类的食物网模型，用稳定性同位素划分了鱼类食物网结构及鱼类体长与其肌肉δ15N值间的关系。结果表明，三峡大坝的修建，已经显著改变了皇华城和茅坪江段的水文特征，同时也“干扰”了生活在这一区域的鱼类。适应于流水环境的鱼类在库区回水处和大坝附近几乎消失，而喜欢静态环境的其它鱼类却得到极大的发展，例如鲢鱼（H. molitrix）和草鱼（ C. idellus）。 洪水前后，三峡库区的有机物组成成分有明显改变。洪水前，水中有机物主要以河流自身生产力产生的有机物为主（浮游植物、藻类等）;洪水后，水中有机物主要以外来有机物为主（陆地植物、土壤有机物和从上游带来的有机物）。对于三个食物网模型：河流连续体模型（RCC）、脉冲模型（FPC）和河流生产力模型（RPM），河流生产力模型能更好的解释三峡库区的水生生物的食物来源，即三峡库区的水生生物的食物主要来源于河流自身生产力产生的有机物。但外来有机物作为水生生物的一种辅助食物来源，在洪水期间起到不可忽视的作用。 在本研究中，鱼类体长与其δ15N值间的关系与选取鱼的种类有关，比如南方大口鲇（Silurus asotus）的体长与其肌肉的δ15N值呈明显负相关关系（R2≈0.5），而鱖鱼（Siniperca）、铜鱼（Coreius guichenoti）和草鱼（Ctenopharyngodon idellus）的体长与其肌肉的δ15N值却呈正相关关系。 三峡库区常见鱼类主要以杂食性和广普性鱼类为主，食物网结构十分复杂。通过胃容物分析和稳定性同位素分析，三峡库区水生生物营养级间的判别值约为3.1‰。依据鱼类肌肉的δ15N值，三峡库区的常见鱼类可以划分为四个营养级：草食性鱼类（herbivorous fish）、初级杂食性鱼类（1ºomnivorous fish）、次级杂食性鱼类（2ºomnivorous fish）和食鱼性鱼类（piscivorous fish）。营养级间没有明确的分界限，鱼类的营养级从2到4.8，是连续分布的营养级结构，从而更真实的反映了自然界中动物的捕食关系和在食物网中的位置。 自然丰度变化的稳定性同位素(Stable isotope)作为一种天然的示踪物，在动物生态学上已经得到广泛应用。动物的稳定性同位素可以清楚的示踪动物的食物来源、食物组成、栖息地情况和生存状况等多种信息，结合传统的胃容物分析，或其它的粪便分析、储藏物分析等，稳定性同位素技术在动物生态学研究方面必将得到更广泛的应用。

Learning large-scale spatial relationships in a maze and effects of MK-801 on retrieval in the rhesus monkey

Monkeys have strong abilities to remember the visual properties of potential food sources for survival in the nature. The present study demonstrated the first observations of rhesus monkeys learning to solve complex spatial mazes in which routes were guid

Maintenance of Multifemale Social Organization in a Group of Nomascus concolor at Wuliang Mountain, Yunnan, China

Many short-term studies have reported groups of black crested gibbons containing >= 2 adult females (Nomascus concolor). We report the stability of multifemale groups in this species over a period of 6 yr. Our focal group and 2 neighboring groups included 2 breeding females between March 2003 and June 2009. We also habituated 1 multifemale group to observers and present detailed information concerning their social relationships over a 9-mo observation period. We investigated interindividual distances and agonistic behavior among the 5 group members. The spatial relationship between the 3 adult members (1 male, 2 females) formed an equilateral triangle. A subadult male was peripheral to the focal group, while a juvenile male maintained a closer spatial relationship with the adult members. We observed little agonistic behavior among the adult members. The close spatial relationship and lack of high rates of agonistic behavior among females suggest that the benefits of living in a multifemale group were equal to or greater than the costs for both females, given their ecological and social circumstances. The focal group occupied a large home range that was likely to provide sufficient food sources for the 2 females and their offspring. Between March 2003 and June 2009, 1 adult female gave 2 births and the other one gave 1 birth. All individuals in the focal group survived to June 2009. A long-term comparative study focused on females living in multifemale groups and females living in pair-living groups would provide insight into understanding the evolutionary mechanisms of the social system in gibbons.

Distribution of endangered native fish fauna and their conservation in Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria in East Africa, supports socio-economically important fisheries for more than 30 million inhabitants in the lake basin. The lake had until the 1970's a diverse fish assemblage dominated by haplochromines species which formed at least 83% of the fish biomass (Kudhongania & Cordone 1974). The more than 500 haplochromine species in Lake Victoria, over 99% of them endemic, exploited virtually all the food sources in the lake (Witte and van Oijen 1990). Each species had its own unique combination of food and habitat preference (Goldschmidt et al., 1990).

Stable isotope changes in freshwater shrimps (Exopalaemon modestus and Macrobrachium nipponensis): trophic pattern implications

Trophic patterns of omnivorous freshwater shrimps, Exopalaemon modestus and Macrobrachium nipponensis, were investigated in two shallow eutrophic lakes by using stable isotope analysis. delta N-15 and delta C-13 of M. nipponensis and E. modestus increased with increasing body weight, which might be attributed to larger individuals ingesting organisms that feed higher up the food chain and/or increased assimilation of benthic food items with enriched isotopic signatures. Of the freshwater shrimps occurring in the studied lakes, those from Lake Taihu had significantly elevated delta N-15 and delta C-13 values (4.3% and 1.8%, respectively) compared with those from the less eutrophic Lake Chaohu, indicating that the isotopic signature might partially reflect the trophic states of their habitats. Mixing model results suggested that the benthic food web provides the primary carbon source for both shrimp species, and that E. modestus assimilated relatively more pelagic food sources than M. nipponensis in these lakes.

贝藻混养系统中贝类食物来源的定量分析

应用稳定碳、氮同位素比值法和脂肪酸标志分析法，较为系统地研究了贝藻混养系统中滤食性贝类的食物来源，评估了大型藻类对混养系统及滤食性贝类的物质贡献。主要研究结果如下： 1.综述了典型生态系统中大型藻类和滤食性贝类各自的生态学地位和作用，大型藻类与滤食性贝类不仅在水体营养盐方面存在互利关系，二者在物质循环与收支方面同样具有耦合性，大型藻类提供的颗粒态有机质可以为滤食性贝类提供饵料来源。 2.总结了稳定同位素比值法和脂肪酸标志法在海洋生态系统食物来源及食物网分析中的应用，并建立了两种方法的具体操作规程。 3.分析了栉孔扇贝Chlamys farreri和海带Laminaria japonica混养系统中海带碎屑形成及释放不同阶段的生态学特征，评估了碎屑对扇贝的饵料贡献。海带在6周内释放了自身约27％的碳；碎屑形成及释放过程中C:N比值显著下降，同时伴随着旺盛的细菌降解，碎屑中也发现有大量硅藻类和原生动物存在。稳定同位素分析证实海带碎屑是混养期间扇贝的主要食物来源。 4.查明了春季胶州湾潮间带自然分布的长牡蛎Crassostrea gigas、紫贻贝Mytilus galloprovincialis和湾内浅海筏式养殖栉孔扇贝的可能食物来源。湾内栉孔扇贝饵料组成中浮游硅藻类为最主要部分，同时混杂有陆源有机质和细菌类物质；潮间带自然生长的牡蛎和贻贝饵料组成中，浮游植物占86.2-89.0％，种类组成中除硅藻外还包括一定比例的金藻和甲藻类；潮间带繁盛的孔石莼Ulva pertusa藻床为两种贝类提供了8.7-11.0％的补充食物来源。 5.揭示了桑沟湾贝藻混养海区春、夏季栉孔扇贝饵料来源组成情况及其季节变化，评估了海带养殖区碎屑碳量季节变化及海带来源碳对扇贝组织碳的贡献。结果表明，湾内贝藻混养区碎屑碳量为75.52-265.19 μg l-1，其在水体总颗粒态有机碳中的比例为25.6-73.8％。海带来源碎屑碳对栉孔扇贝组织碳的贡献比例为14.1-42.8％，且与水体碎屑碳比例的季节变化存在极显著相关性(F=0.992, P=0.004)。5月份湾外海带养殖区水体碎屑碳量为110.12-144.71 μg l-1，显著高于湾内无海带区（75.52 μg l-1），湾外养殖的扇贝组织中海带来源碳比例为22.0-24.1％，显著高于湾内单养区扇贝（9.6％）。估算结果表明，桑沟湾每年收获的6967吨（总湿重）栉孔扇贝中，海带提供了约57.1吨碳，换算为海带干物质为219.6吨。脂肪酸标志分析结果表明，2月份至8月份硅藻类在扇贝饵料组成中比例逐渐下降，而细菌类比例逐渐升高。整个采样期间，EPA/DHA比例较低，说明扇贝饵料组成中可能包括高DHA含量的组分。

Feeding and egg production of the planktonic copepod Calanus sinicus in spring and autumn in the Yellow Sea, China

Shipboard incubations were conducted in spring (April) and autumn (October/November) 2006 to measure the feeding and egg production rates (EPR) of Calanus sinicus in the Yellow Sea, China. The ingestion rate (2.08-11.46 and 0.26-3.70 mu g C female(-1) day(-1) in spring and autumn, respectively) was positively correlated with microplankton carbon concentrations. In the northern part of the Yellow Sea, feeding on microplankton easily covers the respiratory and production requirements, whereas in the southern part in spring and in the frontal zone in autumn, C. sinicus must ingest alternative food sources. Low ingestion rates, no egg production and the dominance of the fifth copepodite (CV) stage indicated that C. sinicus was in quiescence inside the Yellow Sea Cold Bottom Water (YSCBW) area in autumn. Calanus sinicus ingested ciliates preferentially over other components of the microplankton. The EPR (0.16-12.6 eggs female(-1) day(-1) in spring and 11.4 eggs female(-1) day(-1) at only one station in autumn) increased with ciliate standing stock. Gross growth efficiency (GGE) was 13.4% (3-39%) in spring, which was correlated with the proportion of ciliates in the diet. These results indicate that ciliates have higher nutrient quality than other food items, but the low GGE indicates that the diet of C. sinicus is nutritionally incomplete.

Effects of different diets on the reproduction and naupliar development of the copepod Acartia bifilosa

The influence of diatoms on the reproduction and naupliar development of Acartia bifilosa was investigated under laboratory conditions, comparing initial in situ values and laboratory-food treatments. Egg production by A. bifilosa was significantly reduced by one diatom diet (Phaeodactylum tricornutum: Pt) and by two non-diatom diets (Platymonas subordiformis: Ps and Nannochloropsis oculata: No). It was less affected by the other diatom diet (Skeletonema costatum: Sc) or by two mixed-food treatments (D-mix and DG-mix), composed of two diatoms (Pt, Sc) and four species (Pt, Sc, Ps and No), respectively. The negative effect of Pt was eliminated when adult copepods were offered mixed-food diets. There were no significant differences between the hatching success values observed in filtered seawater and in algal exudates, indicating that diatoms did not produce active dissolved toxic substances under the different food concentrations tested. The mortality rate of nauplii was higher with Pt than the other diets, suggesting that this diatom species had a negative effect on egg production, hatching success and naupliar survival simultaneously. Compared to other diets, No and Pt were not beneficial food sources for reproduction and for female and larval survival. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The influence of diets containing dried bivalve feces and/or powdered algae on growth and energy distribution in sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka) (Echinodermata : Holothuroidea)

In recent years, bivalve feces and powdered algae have been used as the food sources of holothurians in China. In this study, growth and energy budget for sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka) with initial wet body,veights of 32.5 1.0 g (mean +/- SE, n=45) when fed with five different granule diets containing dried bivalve feces and/or powdered algae in water temperature 13.2-19.8 degrees C and salinity 30-32ppt were quantified in order to investigate how diets influence growth and energy distribution and to find out the proper diet for land-based intensive culture of this species. Results showed that diets affected the food ingestion, feces production, food conversion efficiency and apparent digestive ratios, hence the growth and energy budget. Sea cucumbers fed with dried feces of bivalve showed poorer energy absorption, assimilation and growth than individuals fed with other four diets; this could be because feces-drying process removed much of the benefits. Dried bivalve feces alone, therefore, were not a suitable diet for sea cucumbers in intensive cultivation. The mixed diets of feces and powered algae showed promising results for cultivation of sub-adult Apostichopus japonicus, while animals fed with powdered algae alone, could not obtain the best growth. According to SGR of tested animals, a formula of 75% feces and 25% powdered algae is the best diet for culture of this species. Extruded diets were used in the present experiment to overcome shortcomings of the traditional powdered feeds, however, it seems a conflict exists between drying bivalve feces to form extruded diets and feeding sea cucumbers with fresh feces which contain beneficial bacteria. Compared with other echinoderms, in holothurians the energy deposited in growth is lower and the energy loss in feces accounts for the majority of the ingested energy. Such detailed information could be helpful in further development of more appropriate diets for culture of holothurians. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Analysis of diets of upland buzzards using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes

We measured the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios for muscles of the upland buzzards (Buteo hemilasius) and their potential food sources, plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae), Qinghai voles (Lasiopodomys fuscus), plateau zokors (Myospalax fontanierii), and several passerine bird species at the alpine meadow in Maduo county, Guoluo prefecture of Qinghai province, People's Republic of China, to provide diet information of upland buzzards, highlighting different diet composition of upland buzzards exposed to different locations. The results demonstrated that stable carbon isotope ratios of upland buzzards, passerine birds, plateau pikas, plateau zokors, and Qinghai voles were -24.42 +/- 0.25parts per thousand, -22.89 +/- 1.48parts per thousand, -25.30 +/- 1.47parts per thousand, -25.78 +/- 0.22parts per thousand, and -25.41 +/- 0.01parts per thousand, respectively, and stable nitrogen isotope ratios were 7.89 +/- 0.38parts per thousand, 8.37 +/- 2.05parts per thousand, 5.83 +/- 1.10parts per thousand, 5.23 +/- 0.34parts per thousand, and 8.86 +/- 0.06parts per thousand, respectively. Fractionation of stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios between upland buzzards and their food were 1.03parts per thousand and 2.11parts per thousand, respectively. Based on mass balance principle of stable isotopes and the Euclidean distance mixing model, upland buzzards depended mainly on plateau pikas as food (74.56%). Plateau zokors, Qinghai voles, and passerine birds only contributed a small proportion (25.44%) to diets of upland buzzards. The results were closely accordant with analyses of stomach contents and food pellets, which firmly supported the feasibility of using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios to investigate diet information of upland buzzards. Another study based on stable carbon isotopes showed that upland buzzards living in the Haibei prefecture (another prefecture located in the southeast Qinghai province) mainly preyed on passerine birds (64.96% or more) as food supply. We were alarmed by the preliminary results that widespread poisoning activities of small mammals could reshape the food composition of upland buzzards, influencing the stability and sustainability of the alpine meadow. Bio-control on rodent pests should be carried out rather than the chemical measures.

Impact of simian immunodeficiency virus infection on chimpanzee population dynamics.

Like human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), simian immunodeficiency virus of chimpanzees (SIVcpz) can cause CD4+ T cell loss and premature death. Here, we used molecular surveillance tools and mathematical modeling to estimate the impact of SIVcpz infection on chimpanzee population dynamics. Habituated (Mitumba and Kasekela) and non-habituated (Kalande) chimpanzees were studied in Gombe National Park, Tanzania. Ape population sizes were determined from demographic records (Mitumba and Kasekela) or individual sightings and genotyping (Kalande), while SIVcpz prevalence rates were monitored using non-invasive methods. Between 2002-2009, the Mitumba and Kasekela communities experienced mean annual growth rates of 1.9% and 2.4%, respectively, while Kalande chimpanzees suffered a significant decline, with a mean growth rate of -6.5% to -7.4%, depending on population estimates. A rapid decline in Kalande was first noted in the 1990s and originally attributed to poaching and reduced food sources. However, between 2002-2009, we found a mean SIVcpz prevalence in Kalande of 46.1%, which was almost four times higher than the prevalence in Mitumba (12.7%) and Kasekela (12.1%). To explore whether SIVcpz contributed to the Kalande decline, we used empirically determined SIVcpz transmission probabilities as well as chimpanzee mortality, mating and migration data to model the effect of viral pathogenicity on chimpanzee population growth. Deterministic calculations indicated that a prevalence of greater than 3.4% would result in negative growth and eventual population extinction, even using conservative mortality estimates. However, stochastic models revealed that in representative populations, SIVcpz, and not its host species, frequently went extinct. High SIVcpz transmission probability and excess mortality reduced population persistence, while intercommunity migration often rescued infected communities, even when immigrating females had a chance of being SIVcpz infected. Together, these results suggest that the decline of the Kalande community was caused, at least in part, by high levels of SIVcpz infection. However, population extinction is not an inevitable consequence of SIVcpz infection, but depends on additional variables, such as migration, that promote survival. These findings are consistent with the uneven distribution of SIVcpz throughout central Africa and explain how chimpanzees in Gombe and elsewhere can be at equipoise with this pathogen.

A fruit in the hand or two in the bush? Divergent risk preferences in chimpanzees and bonobos.

Human and non-human animals tend to avoid risky prospects. If such patterns of economic choice are adaptive, risk preferences should reflect the typical decision-making environments faced by organisms. However, this approach has not been widely used to examine the risk sensitivity in closely related species with different ecologies. Here, we experimentally examined risk-sensitive behaviour in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (Pan paniscus), closely related species whose distinct ecologies are thought to be the major selective force shaping their unique behavioural repertoires. Because chimpanzees exploit riskier food sources in the wild, we predicted that they would exhibit greater tolerance for risk in choices about food. Results confirmed this prediction: chimpanzees significantly preferred the risky option, whereas bonobos preferred the fixed option. These results provide a relatively rare example of risk-prone behaviour in the context of gains and show how ecological pressures can sculpt economic decision making.

Effect Of Temperature On The Respiration Rate Of Meiofauna

The effect of temperature on respiration rate has been established, using Cartesian divers, for the meiofaunal sabellid polychaeteManayunkia aestuarina, the free-living nematodeSphaerolaimus hirsutus and the harpacticoid copepodTachidius discipes from a mudflat in the Lynher estuary, Cornwall, U.K. Over the temperature range normally experienced in the field, i.e. 5–20° C the size-compensated respiration rate (R c) was related to the temperature (T) in °C by the equation Log10 R c=-0.635+0.0339T forManayunkia, Log10 R c=0.180+0.0069T forSphaerolaimus and Log10 R c=-0.428+0.0337T forTachidius, being equivalent toQ 10 values of 2.19, 1.17 and 2.17 respectively. In order to derive the temperature response forManayunkia a relationship was first established between respiration rate and body size: Log10 R=0.05+0.75 Log10 V whereR=respiration in nl·O2·ind-1·h-1 andV=body volume in nl. TheQ 10 values are compared with values for other species derived from the literature. From these limited data a dichotomy emerges: species with aQ 10≏2 which apparently feed on diatoms and bacteria, the abundance of which are subject to large short term variability, and species withQ 10≏1 apparently dependent on more stable food sources.

Conceptual Ecological Modelling of Sublittoral Rock Habitats to Inform Indicator Selection

The purpose of this study is to produce a series of Conceptual Ecological Models (CEMs) that represent sublittoral rock habitats in the UK. CEMs are diagrammatic representations of the influences and processes that occur within an ecosystem. They can be used to identify critical aspects of an ecosystem that may be studied further, or serve as the basis for the selection of indicators for environmental monitoring purposes. The models produced by this project are control diagrams, representing the unimpacted state of the environment free from anthropogenic pressures. It is intended that the models produced by this project will be used to guide indicator selection for the monitoring of this habitat in UK waters. CEMs may eventually be produced for a range of habitat types defined under the UK Marine Biodiversity Monitoring R&D Programme (UKMBMP), which, along with stressor models, are designed to show the interactions within impacted habitats, would form the basis of a robust method for indicator selection. This project builds on the work to develop CEMs for shallow sublittoral coarse sediment habitats (Alexander et al 2014). The project scope included those habitats defined as ‘sublittoral rock’. This definition includes those habitats that fall into the EUNIS Level 3 classifications A3.1 Atlantic and Mediterranean high energy infralittoral rock, A3.2 Atlantic and Mediterranean moderate energy infralittoral rock, A3.3 Atlantic and Mediterranean low energy infralittoral rock, A4.1 Atlantic and Mediterranean high energy circalittoral rock, A4.2 Atlantic and Mediterranean moderate energy circalittoral rock, and A4.3 Atlantic and Mediterranean low energy circalittoral rock as well as the constituent Level 4 and 5 biotopes that are relevant to UK waters. A species list of characterising fauna to be included within the scope of the models was identified using an iterative process to refine the full list of species found within the relevant Level 5 biotopes. A literature review was conducted using a pragmatic and iterative approach to gather evidence regarding species traits and information that would be used to inform the models and characterise the interactions that occur within the sublittoral rock habitat. All information gathered during the literature review was entered into a data logging pro-forma spreadsheet that accompanies this report. Wherever possible, attempts were made to collect information from UK-specific peer-reviewed studies, although other sources were used where necessary. All data gathered was subject to a detailed confidence assessment. Expert judgement by the project team was utilised to provide information for aspects of the models for which references could not be sourced within the project timeframe. A multivariate analysis approach was adopted to assess ecologically similar groups (based on ecological and life history traits) of fauna from the identified species to form the basis of the models. A model hierarchy was developed based on these ecological groups. One general control model was produced that indicated the high-level drivers, inputs, biological assemblages, ecosystem processes and outputs that occur in sublittoral rock habitats. In addition to this, seven detailed sub-models were produced, which each focussed on a particular ecological group of fauna within the habitat: ‘macroalgae’, ‘temporarily or permanently attached active filter feeders’, ‘temporarily or permanently attached passive filter feeders’, ‘bivalves, brachiopods and other encrusting filter feeders’, ‘tube building fauna’, ‘scavengers and predatory fauna’, and ‘non-predatory mobile fauna’. Each sub-model is accompanied by an associated confidence model that presents confidence in the links between each model component. The models are split into seven levels and take spatial and temporal scale into account through their design, as well as magnitude and direction of influence. The seven levels include regional to global drivers, water column processes, local inputs/processes at the seabed, habitat and biological assemblage, output processes, local ecosystem functions, and regional to global ecosystem functions. The models indicate that whilst the high level drivers that affect each ecological group are largely similar, the output processes performed by the biota and the resulting ecosystem functions vary both in number and importance between groups. Confidence within the models as a whole is generally high, reflecting the level of information gathered during the literature review. Physical drivers which influence the ecosystem were found to be of high importance for the sublittoral rock habitat, with factors such as wave exposure, water depth and water currents noted to be crucial in defining the biological assemblages. Other important factors such as recruitment/propagule supply, and those which affect primary production, such as suspended sediments, light attenuation and water chemistry and temperature, were also noted to be key and act to influence the food sources consumed by the biological assemblages of the habitat, and the biological assemblages themselves. Output processes performed by the biological assemblages are variable between ecological groups depending on the specific flora and fauna present and the role they perform within the ecosystem. Of particular importance are the outputs performed by the macroalgae group, which are diverse in nature and exert influence over other ecological groups in the habitat. Important output processes from the habitat as a whole include primary and secondary production, bioengineering, biodeposition (in mixed sediment habitats) and the supply of propagules; these in turn influence ecosystem functions at the local scale such as nutrient and biogeochemical cycling, supply of food resources, sediment stability (in mixed sediment habitats), habitat provision and population and algae control. The export of biodiversity and organic matter, biodiversity enhancement and biotope stability are the resulting ecosystem functions that occur at the regional to global scale. Features within the models that are most useful for monitoring habitat status and change due to natural variation have been identified, as have those that may be useful for monitoring to identify anthropogenic causes of change within the ecosystem. Biological, physical and chemical features of the ecosystem have been identified as potential indicators to monitor natural variation, whereas biological factors and those physical /chemical factors most likely to affect primary production have predominantly been identified as most likely to indicate change due to anthropogenic pressures.

Assessing the sensitivity of subtidal sedimentary habitats to pressures associated with marine activities. Phase 1 Report: Rationale and proposed ecological groupings for Level 5 biotopes against which sensitivity assessments would be best undertaken.

The purpose of this study is to produce a series of Conceptual Ecological Models (CEMs) that represent sublittoral rock habitats in the UK. CEMs are diagrammatic representations of the influences and processes that occur within an ecosystem. They can be used to identify critical aspects of an ecosystem that may be studied further, or serve as the basis for the selection of indicators for environmental monitoring purposes. The models produced by this project are control diagrams, representing the unimpacted state of the environment free from anthropogenic pressures. It is intended that the models produced by this project will be used to guide indicator selection for the monitoring of this habitat in UK waters. CEMs may eventually be produced for a range of habitat types defined under the UK Marine Biodiversity Monitoring R&D Programme (UKMBMP), which, along with stressor models, are designed to show the interactions within impacted habitats, would form the basis of a robust method for indicator selection. This project builds on the work to develop CEMs for shallow sublittoral coarse sediment habitats (Alexander et al 2014). The project scope included those habitats defined as ‘sublittoral rock’. This definition includes those habitats that fall into the EUNIS Level 3 classifications A3.1 Atlantic and Mediterranean high energy infralittoral rock, A3.2 Atlantic and Mediterranean moderate energy infralittoral rock, A3.3 Atlantic and Mediterranean low energy infralittoral rock, A4.1 Atlantic and Mediterranean high energy circalittoral rock, A4.2 Atlantic and Mediterranean moderate energy circalittoral rock, and A4.3 Atlantic and Mediterranean low energy circalittoral rock as well as the constituent Level 4 and 5 biotopes that are relevant to UK waters. A species list of characterising fauna to be included within the scope of the models was identified using an iterative process to refine the full list of species found within the relevant Level 5 biotopes. A literature review was conducted using a pragmatic and iterative approach to gather evidence regarding species traits and information that would be used to inform the models and characterise the interactions that occur within the sublittoral rock habitat. All information gathered during the literature review was entered into a data logging pro-forma spreadsheet that accompanies this report. Wherever possible, attempts were made to collect information from UK-specific peer-reviewed studies, although other sources were used where necessary. All data gathered was subject to a detailed confidence assessment. Expert judgement by the project team was utilised to provide information for aspects of the models for which references could not be sourced within the project timeframe. A multivariate analysis approach was adopted to assess ecologically similar groups (based on ecological and life history traits) of fauna from the identified species to form the basis of the models. A model hierarchy was developed based on these ecological groups. One general control model was produced that indicated the high-level drivers, inputs, biological assemblages, ecosystem processes and outputs that occur in sublittoral rock habitats. In addition to this, seven detailed sub-models were produced, which each focussed on a particular ecological group of fauna within the habitat: ‘macroalgae’, ‘temporarily or permanently attached active filter feeders’, ‘temporarily or permanently attached passive filter feeders’, ‘bivalves, brachiopods and other encrusting filter feeders’, ‘tube building fauna’, ‘scavengers and predatory fauna’, and ‘non-predatory mobile fauna’. Each sub-model is accompanied by an associated confidence model that presents confidence in the links between each model component. The models are split into seven levels and take spatial and temporal scale into account through their design, as well as magnitude and direction of influence. The seven levels include regional to global drivers, water column processes, local inputs/processes at the seabed, habitat and biological assemblage, output processes, local ecosystem functions, and regional to global ecosystem functions. The models indicate that whilst the high level drivers that affect each ecological group are largely similar, the output processes performed by the biota and the resulting ecosystem functions vary both in number and importance between groups. Confidence within the models as a whole is generally high, reflecting the level of information gathered during the literature review. Physical drivers which influence the ecosystem were found to be of high importance for the sublittoral rock habitat, with factors such as wave exposure, water depth and water currents noted to be crucial in defining the biological assemblages. Other important factors such as recruitment/propagule supply, and those which affect primary production, such as suspended sediments, light attenuation and water chemistry and temperature, were also noted to be key and act to influence the food sources consumed by the biological assemblages of the habitat, and the biological assemblages themselves. Output processes performed by the biological assemblages are variable between ecological groups depending on the specific flora and fauna present and the role they perform within the ecosystem. Of particular importance are the outputs performed by the macroalgae group, which are diverse in nature and exert influence over other ecological groups in the habitat. Important output processes from the habitat as a whole include primary and secondary production, bioengineering, biodeposition (in mixed sediment habitats) and the supply of propagules; these in turn influence ecosystem functions at the local scale such as nutrient and biogeochemical cycling, supply of food resources, sediment stability (in mixed sediment habitats), habitat provision and population and algae control. The export of biodiversity and organic matter, biodiversity enhancement and biotope stability are the resulting ecosystem functions that occur at the regional to global scale. Features within the models that are most useful for monitoring habitat status and change due to natural variation have been identified, as have those that may be useful for monitoring to identify anthropogenic causes of change within the ecosystem. Biological, physical and chemical features of the ecosystem have been identified as potential indicators to monitor natural variation, whereas biological factors and those physical /chemical factors most likely to affect primary production have predominantly been identified as most likely to indicate change due to anthropogenic pressures.