Practicing coastal seascape ecology

Landscape ecology concepts developed from terrestrial systems have recently emerged as theoretical and analytical frameworks that are equally useful for evaluating the ecological consequences of spatial patterns and structural changes in the submerged landscapes of coastal ecosystems. The benefits of applying a spatially-explicit perspective to resource management and restoration planning in the coastal zone are rapidly becoming apparent. This Theme Section on the application of landscape ecology to the estuarine and coastal environment emerged from a special symposium at the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) 20th Biennial Conference (Estuaries and Coasts in a Changing World) held in Portland, Oregon, USA, in November 2009. The 7 contributions in this Theme Section collectively provide substantial insights into the current status and application of the landscape approach in shallow marine environments, and identify significant knowledge gaps, as well as potential directions for the future advancement of ‘seascape ecology’.

组织培养产生小麦族属间易位和其它染色体变异的分子细胞遗传学分析

组织培养能够诱导染色体断裂和重接进而产生染色体易位的观点已被广泛认识。大量的研究注意到了组织培养产生的核型不稳定性，其中大多数研究的对象是栽培作物及其属间或种间杂种幼胚和幼穗再生植株。借助于减数分裂分析、染色体分带和其它检测技术，在再生植株中发现了包括易位在内的许多染色体变异。可以相信，除了传统的同源和部分同源染色体配对时的自发易位和辐射诱变等方法以外，远缘杂种组织培养有可能作为产生染色体易位的又一种选择。尽管如此，至今还没有取得培养细胞中染色体易位的直接证据。本研究以普通小麦×硬粒小麦-簇毛麦双二倍体杂种为材料，研究了组织培养过程中离体细胞的染色体变异，用基因组原位杂交技术（GISH）证实组织培养诱导小麦染色体与簇毛麦染色体发生易位。同时，研究了小麦×黑麦杂种培养细胞中的染色体变异和黑麦B-染色体的变化。利用组织培养技术获得了小麦-黑麦和小麦-长穗偃麦草代换系和附加系。 1 普通小麦比较容易与硬粒小麦-簇毛麦双二倍体TH_1和TH_1W杂交，所选的9个普通小麦品种或品系与TH_1和TH_1W配制的19个杂交组合，平均结实率为46.7%，共计获得19个杂交组合2316粒杂种种子。正反交结果表明，以普通小麦为母本的杂交结实率高于反交结实率。在继代培养过程中，杂种幼胚愈伤组织生长迅速，甚至直接诱导出绿苗，共获得不同杂交组合2005株再生植株。 2 普通小麦与硬粒小麦-簇毛麦双二倍体杂种愈伤组织发生了比较大范围的染色体数目和结构变异。在检查的中国春×TH_1W、TH_1W×84加7911515、TH_1×84加7911515、TH_1W×91E27、鲁资357×TH_1W等5个杂种组合的1730个愈伤组织细胞中，平均有19.1%的细胞发生了染色体数目变异，不同杂交组合变化在12.7%（中国春×TH_1W）至30.7%（TH_1×84加7911515），其中，以染色体数目减少的变异为主，数目增加的变异比较少。杂种愈伤组织平均有6.3%的细胞发生了染色体断裂，产生染色体断片、环状染色体、端着丝点染色体和缺失染色体。断裂的染色体可能重新融合在一起，形成双着丝点染色体。 3 培养时间影响普通小麦×硬粒小麦-簇毛麦双二倍体和普通小麦×黑麦杂种愈伤组织细胞中的染色体数目和结构变异。在一定时间里，随着培养时间的延长，未发生核型变异的细胞逐渐减少，发生变异的细胞逐渐增多，主要表现在染色体数目减少的细胞增多，而染色体数目增加的细胞有减少的趋势。在长时间培养（190日龄）的愈伤组织中染色体加倍的细胞消失了，表明长时间培养对高倍性的细胞具有不利的选择，使这类细胞难以在长期继代培养中生存下去。愈伤组织在第一次继代培养时就发现有核型变异，说明染色体变异在愈伤组织培养初期就可以发生。 4 以簇毛麦总基因组DNA为探针，采用荧光原位杂交技术在普通小麦×硬粒小麦-簇毛麦双二倍体杂种愈伤组织细胞中发现小麦染色体与簇毛麦染色体发性易位，这一结果是组织培养诱导培养细胞中属间染色体易位的第一个直观的证据。易位的染色体既有臂间易位，也有小片段易位。易位的染色体不仅可以在愈伤组织细胞中存在，也能够在再生植株中表达。在64株中国春×TH_1W和NPFP×TH_1再生植株中，观察到了3个易位株，其中1个易位株是一个小麦染色体与一个簇毛麦染色体发生了相互易位，易位的簇毛麦染色体片段比较小，大约为簇毛麦染色体臂的1/2，而易位的小麦染色体大约是臂长的1/3，另外2个易位株染色体断点位于或靠近着丝点。本研究的结果再次证实了利用组织培养能够创造小麦与外源染色体之间发生易位。 5 ~(60)Co γ-射线辐射处理对于普通小麦中国春与硬粒小麦-簇毛麦双二倍体TH_1W杂种愈伤组织细胞的染色体变异有很大的影响。表现在未发生变异的细胞大大减少，发生染色体数目变异的细胞急剧增加，主要是染色体数目减少的变异提高了21.3%，相反染色体增加的变异不但没有增加，而且还有所减少。经过辐射处理的愈伤组织细胞染色体结构变异也有大幅度增加，变异频率提高，变异类型增加。发生染色体断裂和重接形成双着丝点染色体的细胞频率达到22.3%，比对照提高13.9%。辐射诱变对培养细胞中簇毛麦染色体变异发生明显的影响。与此同时，簇毛麦染色体与小麦染色体易位频率比对照提高了近2倍。观察结果还表明愈伤组织辐射处理比延长培养时间诱导染色体变异的效果更好。 6 尽管愈伤组织中发生的染色体变异在再生植株中多有发现，但是，只有比较小范围染色体变异的愈伤组织细胞具有再生能力形成再生植株，那些发生剧烈变异的细胞通常不具有再生能力，因而不能在再生植株中得到表达。普通小麦与硬粒小麦-簇毛麦双二倍体杂种大多数再生植株染色体数目与供体杂种保持一致，只有少数植株发生染色体数目变异。显然，发生较大染色体变异的愈伤组织细胞在增殖和分化过程中处于不利的地位，逐渐被淘汰。 7 在普通小麦与硬粒小麦-簇毛麦与黑麦杂种愈伤组织中，观察到相当高频率的染色体加倍细胞，为利用组织培养创造双二倍体提供了一种可能。但是，加倍的细胞只是培养初期的愈伤组织中出现，经过一段时间的培养，这种细胞大多消失了。而且，大多数再生植株染色体数目未发生加倍，其中并没有出现期望的双二倍体植株。表明加倍了的细胞在愈伤组织生长和分化过程中大范围变异的细胞一样受到不利的选择，再生能力比较差。因此，利用组织培养创造双二倍体需要更大的努力。 8 一些黑麦品种含有数目不等的B-染色体。B-染色体的多少对普通小麦与黑麦的杂交结实率有比较大的影响，数目越多，杂交结实率越低。在培养初期的愈伤组织细胞中，B-染色体的频率很高，例如69%的中国春×芬7416杂种的40日龄愈伤组织细胞中含有数目不等的B-染色体。常染色体的倍性影响B-染色体的分布，染色体数目加倍的双二倍体细胞中含多数B-染色体的细胞频率大大高于单倍体细胞。经过一段时间的培养之后，绝大多数B-染色体都不存在了，只有极少数细胞含有1个B-染色体。可能的原因是离体培养过程对B-染色体产生了不利的选择。 9 利用组织培养技术，从普通小麦与八倍体小黑麦杂种幼胚再生植株自交后代中选育出2个异代换系，从4D缺体小麦×八倍体小黑麦再生植株回交后代中选育出1个附加系。荧光原位杂交、C-分带和种子贮藏蛋白分析证明这两个代换系1D/1R代换，附加的也是1R染色体。从4D缺体小麦与八倍体小偃麦杂种再生植株自交和回交后代中选育出5个代换系和2个附加系。染色体配对和RAPD分析证实了长穗偃麦草染色质的存在。其中一些小麦-长穗偃麦草代换系和附加系对叶锈病免疫或高抗，对条锈病的一些生理小种和白粉病具有比较高的抗性。而且，附加系924和代换系807蛋白质含量分别达到19.32%和18.83%。 10 当普通小麦鲁资357与硬粒小麦-簇毛麦双二倍体杂交时，无论是实生苗还是再生植株都发生杂种致死现象。细胞学观察没有发现植株染色体发生变异，荧光原位杂交表明簇毛麦染色也没有发生可见的变异。推测这种杂种致死现象是由于鲁资357和硬粒小麦81086A（TH_1和TH_1W的硬粒小麦亲本）中可能分别带有互补的杂种致死基因所致。

Sex-specific growth and mortality, spawning season, and female maturation of the stripey bass (Lutjanus carponotatus) on the Great Barrrier Reef

Sex-specific demography and reproductive biology of stripey bass (Lutjanus carponotatus) (also known as Spanish flag snapper, FAO) were examined at the Palm and Lizard island groups, Great Barrier Reef (GBR).Total mortality rates were similar between the sexes. Males had larger L∞ at both island groups and Lizard Island group fish had larger overall L∞. Female:male sex ratios were 1.3 and 1.1 at the Palm and Lizard island groups, respectively. The former is statistically different from 1, but is unlikely significantly different in a biological sense. Females matured on average at 2 years of age and 190 mm fork length at both locations. Female gonadal lipid body indices peaked from August through October, preceding peak gonadosomatic indices in October, November, and December that were twice as great as in any other month. However, ovarian staging revealed 50% or more ovaries were ripe from September through February, suggesting a more protracted spawning season and highlighting the different interpretations that can arise between gonad weight and gonad staging methods. Gonadosomatic index increases slightly with body size and larger fish have a longer average spawning season, which suggests that larger fish produce greater relative reproductive output. Lizard Island group females had ovaries nearly twice as large as Palm Island group females at a given body size. However, it is unclear whether this reflects spatial differences akin to those observed in growth or effects of sampling Lizard Island group fish closer to their date of spawning. These results support an existing 250 mm minimum size limit for L. carponotatus on the GBR, as well as the timing of a proposed October through December spawning closure for the fishery. The results also caution against assessing reef-fish stocks without reference to sex-, size-, and location-specific biological traits.

Biology and feeding behavior of Orbinia johnsoni

Orbinia johnsoni were studied from a small sandy beach near Mussel Pt., Pacific Grove, California, where they are most abundant at low tide levels in fine sand. They were found to have a mean length of 190 mm. The orbiniids were found with their guts the fullest during incoming to high tides. It is plausible that this is when they are feeding. It takes about 3 to 3.5 hours for food to travel through the length fo the gut. The orbiniids eat 93 percent sand and seven percent organic detritus. Special note should be taken that some food selectivity appears to be involved and that high percentages of organic matter in the feces are found in worms collected during low, outgoing tides. Evidence suggests that the worms are bottom feeders, not coming to the surface to feed.

The Los Alamos General Circulation Model hydrologic cycle

As the global population has increased, so have human influences on the global environment. ... How can we better understand and predict these natural and potential anthropogenic variations? One way is to develop a model that can accurately describe all the components of the hydrologic cycle, rather than just the end result variables such as precipitation and soil moisture. If we can predict and simulate variations in evaporation and moisture convergence, as well as precipitation, then we will have greater confidence in our ability to at least model precipitation variations. Therefore, we describe here just how well we can model relevant aspects of the global hydrologic cycle. In particular, we determine how well we can model the annual and seasonal mean global precipitation, evaporation, and atmospheric water vapor transport.

土地利用变化对西双版纳地区土壤及植被碳含量的影响

土地利用变化，尤其是热带地区森林生态系统土地利用方式的变化极大地改变了全球碳循环，对大气CO2浓度的升高，气候变暖等全球性环境问题起着不可忽视的作用。同时，森林的大面积破坏，引起土壤流失，营养元素含量降低，土壤健康状况恶化，最终大幅度降低生态系统的生产力。本文主要结合野外实地调查和室内分析的方法，研究森林砍伐后转变为农田和橡胶园对西双版纳热带地区土壤碳、氮、磷含量以及有机质化学结构的影响，天然次生林恢复、橡胶园建设对大气CO2的蓄积作用。 森林砍伐后转变为农田和橡胶园，显著地改变了土壤的理化特性。研究结果表明，与次生林相比，农田和橡胶园表层土壤容重、pH值升高，含水量降低，有机质、全氮、全磷、速效氮、有效磷含量显著降低。土地利用变化对土壤特性的影响主要发生在0-40 cm 表层土壤，而对40 cm以下土层影响较小。 土地利用变化改变土壤碳含量，同时影响土壤有机质的化学结构。胡敏酸紫外-可见光谱(UV-VIS)、傅利叶变换红外光谱 (FT-IR) 分析发现，不同生态系统表层土壤 (0-20 cm) 胡敏酸光谱学特性存在明显差异。次生林E4/E6值高于农田和橡胶园。与次生林相比，农田和橡胶园表层土壤有机质中酚基相对含量显著降低，脂肪族、芳香族、羧基以及多聚糖等化合物相对含量增加。 运用样地调查、生物量模型模拟和室内土壤样品分析方法，研究了次生林恢复和橡胶园建设对大气CO2的汇集作用。结果表明：退化土壤恢复为次生林、农田建设橡胶园能够有效促进植被和土壤中碳的汇集。次生林和橡胶林生物量增长速率分别为9.8，10.2 （9.4）t•ha-1•yr-1, 1 m表层土壤有机碳汇集速率分别为0.7和1.1 t•C•ha-1•yr-1。模拟结果显示，40年橡胶林生物量为327 (324) t•ha-1, 恢复50年后天然次生林生物量为395 t•ha-1。加之土壤有机碳，40年橡胶园约汇集碳190 t•ha-1, 次生林恢复50年碳汇集潜力为250 t•ha-1。

内蒙古典型草原地上净初级生产力估测及模型模拟的研究

地上净初级生产力（ANPP）是陆地生态系统碳循环的重要组成部分，但由于估测ANPP的方法不同使得对ANPP的估测值存在很大的不确定性。本文采用3种方法（群落中所有种群当年最大地上生物量之和（ANPPC1）、当年群落最大地上生物量（ANPPC2）以及每年固定日期（8月30日）的地上生物量（ANPPC3））在种群、功能群和群落水平上分别对连续19年（1980～1998）的内蒙古羊草和大针茅草原生态系统功能（如ANPP、植物多样性和水分利用效率（WUE））的动态变化进行了比较分析，同时探讨了不同估测方法下气候和放牧对ANPP的影响，在此基础上利用DNDC模型进行了ANPP的模拟和敏感性分析研究，主要结果包括： 在羊草和大针茅草原群落中，不同主要植物种群或功能群多年平均地上最大生物量出现的时间不同，而同一植物种群或功能群的年地上最大生物量出现的时间存在年际间的变化。采用当年最大地上生物量和8月30日固定日期的地上生物量作为群落ANPP的这两种方法高估了建群种或禾草功能群在群落中的作用。 羊草草原群落多年平均ANPPC1、ANPPC2和 ANPPC3分别是257.5、190.1和166.0 g.m-2;相应的大针茅草原多年平均ANPPC1、ANPPC2和 ANPPC3分别是180.4、132.8和122.5 g.m-2。就群落生产力而言，后两种常用的方法二和方法三分别低估了草原群落ANPP 14.2%～40.0%和15.5～59.0%。本文研究表明尽管ANPPC1与ANPPC2和ANPPC3之间存在显著的差异，但二者之间存在极显著的相关性:羊草草原的ANPPC1= 59.587+1.061×ANPPC2（r2＝0.865, p＜0.001），ANPPC1= 92.329+1.017×ANPPC3（r2＝0.569, p＜0.001）;大针茅草原的ANPPC1= 32.918+1.114×ANPPC2（r2＝0.814, p＜0.001），ANPPC1= 76.120+0.875×ANPPC3（r2＝0.499, p＝0.001）。 种群、功能群和群落地上净初级生产力与气候因子间的关系因不同的估测方法而异。羊草草原的建群种羊草种群仅ANPPS3与8月和11月份的平均温度间存在显著相关性，而大针茅草原群落的建群种大针茅种群的ANPPS1和ANPPS2与3月份平均最高气温间呈负相关关系。在羊草草原群落，杂类草功能群ANPPF1和ANPPF2与3月份气温呈负相关关系;而灌木半灌木功能群ANPPF1和ANPPF2与3月份降水呈负相关关系。在大针茅草原群落，禾草功能群ANPPF1与5月份最高平均气温呈显著负相关关系。羊草草原群落ANPPC1和ANPPC3分别与11月份最低温度和平均温度存在显著负相关关系;大针茅草原群落ANPPC1与2和6月份月降水量间相关性显著，ANPP2与5月和11月份月平均最低温度呈显著负相关关系，而4～9月份，1和4月份平均最低温度对群落ANPPC3起决定作用。 在羊草和大针茅草原群落，由方法一得到的群落水分利用效率、Shannon植物多样性指数和均匀度指数与方法二或方法三得到的相应的指数间存在显著的差异，方法二和方法三得到的值间差异不显著。群落地上净初级生产力与相应估测方法的植物Shannon多样性指数和均匀度指数之间相关性不显著。 放牧条件下羊草或大针茅草原群落中的建群种羊草和大针茅在群落中的相对地上生物量较围栏内的相应植物种群的降低，而糙隐子草种群在群落中的比例上升。不同的放牧管理条件下，群落中植物种群地上现存量的季节动态发生变化。群落的植物组成及植物种群地上生物量在群落中总生物量的比例发生了明显的变化。利用遥感来估测地上净初级生产力时，分别低估了羊草和大针茅草原ANPP 52％和27％。 DNDC模型可以很好地模拟内蒙古典型草原生态系统的地上生物量，通过敏感性分析表明降水是草原植物生长的主要限制因子，在降水量增加或降低至日降水的30%时，模拟的地上生物量显著地高于或低于实测地上生物量值。在多年平均降水量为347mm的情况下，随着土壤粘粒含量的增加，地上生物量逐渐降低，与北美草原一致。

Hydrobiological features of the Kerala backwaters during premonsoon and monsoon months

The hydrobiological features like temperature, salinity, phytoplankton, zooplankton and bottom fauna at twelve stations in the Vembanad lake during pre-monsoon and monsoon months were studied and the results communicated in this paper.

Stock assessment and biology of Johnius glaucus (Day) off the northwest coast of India

The stock size and biology of Johnius glaucus (Day) resource off the northwest coast of India were studied for 1982-83 and 1983-84. The total length at the end of 6, 12, 18, 24 and 26 months was 121 mm, 183 mm, 237 mm, 261 mm and 264 mm respectively. The length growth parameters were: L∞=300 mm, K=0.0807 (monthly) and t(sub)0=-0.51 month. The weight growth parameters were: W∞= 317g, K=0.0762 (monthly) and t(sub)0= -0.41 month. The exploited stock mainly composed of 1/2 + and 1+ age groups. The annual Z, M and F were 2.34, 1.49 and 0.85 respectively. The l(sub)b, t(sub)b, l(sub)r, t(sub)r and selection factor K were 155 mm, 0.75 year, 65 mm, 0.25 year and 3.875 respectively. The Yw/R was optimum at the exploitation rate (E) of 0.75 and coded mesh size of 37 mm. The total stock for 1982-83 and 1983-84 was 14,624 and 26,190 tons respectively. The standing stock of 1982-83 and 1983-84 was 5,645 and 10,110 tons respectively. The MSY for 1982-83 and 1983-84 was 6,623 and 11,788 tons respectively. The F and Z were lowest in 0+ age group and highest in 1+ age group.

Trade of live brooders of the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus Monodon Fabricius 1978, at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

The demand for brooders of Penaeus monodon by the hatcheries, which are solely dependant on wild brooders for their seed production, has resulted in a vigorous fishery and trade for this species, especially along the Visakhapatnam coast. More than three hundred brooders are brought in per day for trading during the peak landing season from December to March every year. The price of gravid brooders has been declining over the years but on an average is about Rs. 30,000 per brooder. The total length of male brooders ranged from 190 to 246 mm during the three years under study and for females it varied between 210 and 330 mm. A specialized methodology for transportation, storage and trade of P. monodon brooders has been evolved over the years at Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour. Concentrated exploitation of brooders from the wild and presence of pathogens in them makes a strong case for development of specific pathogen free brooders and conservation of wild stock.

Breeding biology and monosex male seed production of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) strain of Oreochromis niloticus L. in Bangladesh

A study on the breeding biology of the GIFT strain of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, was conducted for a period of five months. The sex ratio of the parent individuals was optimized for performance in spawn production, where the best results were obtained with a sex ratio of female to male of 4:1 compared to those of 3:1 and 2:1. The diameter of eggs obtained from the GIFT stock had major and minor axes of 2.19±0.09 and 1.72±0.07 mm, respectively, with no significant differences between the treatments. The average number of eggs produced was 392±22 per female, with fertilization and hatching rates ranging between 94-96% and 85-88%, respectively. No significant variation was observed between the treatments. Breeding frequencies per female in the three treatment groups ranged between 10-40 days and the highest value was obtained at a female to male sex ratio of 4: l. In an other experiment, l7 aMethyltestosterone (MT) was applied orally to the fry at their first feeding stage with treatments- 1, 2, 3 and 4 at the dosage of 100, 80, 60 and 40 mg/kg feed respectively, for the period of 28 days. The mean percentage of males obtained in treatments, 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 98, 97, 95 and 68, respectively. Treatments-1, 2 and 3 did not differ significantly (P>0.05) from each other but treatment 4 showed significant variation (P<0.05) from other treatments. The results showed that MT-100, 80 and 60 mg/kg feed administered for 28 days produced close to cent percent male population of the GIFT strains in aquaria.