An objective classification of climatic regions in the Pacific and Indian oceans

We have applied a number of objective statistical techniques to define homogeneous climatic regions for the Pacific Ocean, using COADS (Woodruff et al 1987) monthly sea surface temperature (SST) for 1950-1989 as the key variable. The basic data comprised all global 4°x4° latitude/longitude boxes with enough data available to yield reliable long-term means of monthly mean SST. An R-mode principal components analysis of these data, following a technique first used by Stidd (1967), yields information about harmonics of the annual cycles of SST. We used the spatial coefficients (one for each 4-degree box and eigenvector) as input to a K-means cluster analysis to classify the gridbox SST data into 34 global regions, in which 20 comprise the Pacific and Indian oceans. Seasonal time series were then produced for each of these regions. For comparison purposes, the variance spectrum of each regional anomaly time series was calculated. Most of the significant spectral peaks occur near the biennial (2.1-2.2 years) and ENSO (~3-6 years) time scales in the tropical regions. Decadal scale fluctuations are important in the mid-latitude ocean regions.

Spawning cycles and habitats for ballyhoo (Hemiramphus brasiliensis) and balao (H. balao) in south Florida

Two halfbeak species, ballyhoo (Hemiramphus brasiliensis) and balao (H. balao), are harvested as bait in south Florida waters, and recent changes in fishing effort and regulations prompted this investigation of the overlap of halfbeak fishing grounds and spawning grounds. Halfbeaks were sampled aboard commercial fishing vessels, and during fishery-independent trips, to determine spatial and temporal spawning patterns of both species. Cyclic patterns of gonadosomatic indices (GSIs) indicated that both species spawned during spring and summer months. Histological analysis demonstrated that specific stages of oocyte development can be predicted from GSI values; for example, female ballyhoo with GSIs >6.0 had hydrated oocytes that were 2.0−3.5 mm diameter. Diel changes in oocyte diameters and histological criteria demonstrated that final oocyte maturation occurred over a 30- to 36-hour period and that ballyhoo spawned at dusk. Hydration of oocytes began in the morning, and ovulation occurred at sunset of that same day; therefore females with hydrated oocytes were ready to spawn within hours. We compared maps of all locations where fish were collected to maps of locations where spawning females (i.e. females with GSIs >6.0) were collected to determine the degree of overlap of halfbeak fishing and spawning grounds. We also used geographic information system (GIS) data to describe the depth and bottom type of halfbeak spawning grounds. Ballyhoo spawned all along the coral reef tract of the Atlantic Ocean, inshore of the reef tract, and in association with bank habitats within Florida Bay. In the Atlantic Ocean, balao spawned along the reef tract and in deeper, more offshore waters than did ballyhoo; balao were not found inshore of the coral reef tract or in Florida Bay. Both halfbeak species, considered together, spawned throughout the fishing grounds of south Florida.

A 139-year dendroclimatic cycle, cultural/environmental history, sunspots, and longer-term cycles

Higher resolution time-stratigraphic records suggest correlation of lower frequency paleoclimatic events with Milankovitch obliquity/precessional cycles and of higher frequency events with the evidently resonance-related Pettersson maximum tidal force (MTF) model. Subsequently published records, mainly pollen, seemingly confirm that atmospheric resonances may have modulated past climatic changes in phase with average MTF cycles of 1668, 1112, and 556 years, as calculated in anomalistic years from planetary movements by Stacey. Stacey accepts Pettersson's dating of AD 1433 (517 YBP) for the last major perihelian spring tide based solely on calculations of moon- and earth-orbital relations to the sun. Use of AD 1433 as an origin for the tidal resonance model seemingly continues to provide a best fit for the timing of cyclical patterns in the presented paleoclimate time series.

Physicochemical and biological cycles in a tide dominated, nitrogen-polluted temperate estuary

Spatio-temporal variations in the physicochemical and biological parameters in the Morlaix estuary on the Brittany coast of France were studied. Hydrographically, the estuary can be classified into 3 segments: the upper estuary where stratification always persists, the lower estuary where vertical homogeneity is permanent, and a middle estuary where there is a regular oscillation of stratification and homogeneity during every tidal cycle, stratification being associated with slack waters and homogeneity, with ebb and flood. Nitrogen pollution in the estuary is very intense.

太行花属（Taihangia Yu et Li）种质资源的研究

本文报道了太行花属（Taihangia Yu et Li）的种群分布、生物学特性和离体培养的初步结果。 太行花种群由于环境和生物等方面的原因仅在太行山区有狭小分布。来源于不同地区种群的太行花其形态特征具有丰富的表型，在引种条件下更为显著。而酯酶同工酶和过氧化物酶同工酶分析进一步证实了其遗传的稳定性和同源性。 实验表明，太行花在北纬39°58'，最低温度-11℃的北京北京植物园，露地越冬正常。温度提高至40℃时生长发育受抑制而迟滞，以25℃最为适宜，增殖率最高。太行花对土壤的适应范围较广，在泥炭培养土上移殖的幼苗成活率达97.20%，主根须根发达，叶生长良好。不同强度光照处理12000Lux效果最好。 太行花生育期为230多天，生长积温为3763℃左右。物候期受环境条件和当年气候的影响，不同种群和个体之间有一定的差异。花的性别、花期和开花量等与纬度、海拔主要与温湿度相关。 太行花的茎尖、花芽、花梗、萼片、花瓣和叶子等外植体均能在MS附加不同种类和浓度植物激素的培养基中分化，其分化途径和分化效果因附加成分、外植体类别而异。在含有0.1mg/L IAA和0.5mg/L 6-BA的培养基中，不但能启动花芽正常生长、开花、形成合子胚，而且也能诱导花芽、花梗、茎尖产生花芽和营养芽。在芽的继代培养中，细胞分裂素能大量诱导芽的分化，最好的配比是0.5mg/L 6-BA、0.1mg/L ZJ;只含生长素时可以诱导生根或脱分化，其中生根最好的是0.5mg/L IAA;2.4-D单独使用时，能较好地使花芽、叶等脱分化，其最佳浓度为1.0mg/L。

A quantitative study of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Sakazaki et al) in Etroplus suratensis (Bloch) and Metapenaeus dobsoni (Miers) from Cochin backwater

Seasonal variation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in fish (Etroplus sauratensis) and prawn (Metapenaeus dobsoni) was monitored from March 1982 to February 1983. Analyses of total viable count, vibrio-like organisms, V. parahaemolyticus like organisms and V. parahaemolyticus showed that they occur more in prawn than in fish. In a more polluted environment, the counts of V. parahaemolyticus associated with fish were found to be higher than in prawn.

Effects of rhFSH regimen and time interval on ovarian responses to repeated stimulation cycles in rhesus monkeys during a physiologic breeding season

We studied the effects of repeated stimulation by recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) at various time intervals during a physiologic breeding season in rhesus monkeys. Ovarian recovery and responses were assessed by ultrasonography, serum steroid concentrations