Bathyraja panthera, a new species of skate (Rajidae: Arhynchobatinae) from the western Aleutian Islands, and resurrection of the subgenus Arctoraja Ishiyama

We provide morphological and molecular evidence to recognize a new species of skate from the North Pacific, Bathyraja panthera. We also resurrect the skate subgenus Arctoraja Ishiyama, confirming its monophyly and the validity of the subgenus. Arctoraja was previously recognized as a distinct subgenus of Breviraja and later synonymized with Bathyraja (family Rajidae). Although the nominal species of Arctoraja have all been considered synonyms of Bathyraja parmifera by various authors, on the basis of morphometric, meristic, chondrological, and molecular data we recognize four species, including the new species. Species of Arctoraja are distributed across the North Pacific Ocean and adjacent seas from southern Japan to British Columbia. Bathyraja parmifera is abundant in the eastern Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and northern Gulf of Alaska; B. smirnovi is a western Pacific species found in the Sea of Okhotsk and Sea of Japan; B. simoterus is restricted to waters around the northern and eastern coasts of Hokkaido, Japan; and the new species B. panthera is restricted to the western Aleutian Islands. Bathyraja panthera is diagnosed by its color pattern of light yellow blotches with black spotting on a greenish brown background, high thorn and vertebral counts, chondrological characters of the neurocranium and clasper, and a unique nucleotide sequence within the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene. Furthermore, the species presently recognized as Bathyraja parmifera exhibits two haplotypes among specimens from Alaska, suggesting the possibility of a second, cryptic species.

The dusky rockfishes (Teleostei: Socrpaeniformes) of the North Pacific Ocean: resurrection of Sebastes variabilis (Pallas, 1814) and a redescription of Sebastes ciliatus (Tilesius, 1813)

The dusky rockfish (Sebastes ciliatus) of the North Pacific Ocean has been considered a single variable species with light and dark forms distributed in deep and shallow water, respectively. These forms have been subjected to two distinct fisheries separately managed by federal and state agencies: the light deep form is captured in the offshore trawl fishery; the dark shallow form, in the nearshore jig fishery. The forms have been commonly recognized as the light dusky and dark dusky rockfishes. From morphological evidence correlated with color differences in some 400 specimens, we recognize two species corresponding with these color forms. Sebastes ciliatus (Tilesius) is the dark shallow-water species found in depths of 5−160 m in the western Aleutian Islands and eastern Bering Sea to British Columbia. The name Sebastes variabilis (Pallas) is resurrected from the synonymy of S. ciliatus to apply to the deeper water species known from depths of 12−675 m and ranging from Hokkaido, Japan, through the Aleutian Islands and eastern Bering Sea, to Oregon. Sebastes ciliatus is uniformly dark blue to black, gradually lightening on the ventrum, with a jet black peritoneum, a smaller symphyseal knob, and fewer lateral-line pores compared to S. variabilis. Sebastes variabilis is more variable in body color, ranging from light yellow to a more usual tan or greenish brown to a nearly uniform dark dorsum, but it invariably has a distinct red to white ventrum. Synonymies, diagnoses, descriptions, and geographic distributions are provided for each species.

Bycatch in the tuna purse-seine fisheries of the western Indian Ocean

Bycatch taken by the tuna purse-seine fishery from the Indian Ocean pelagic ecosystem was estimated from data collected by scientific observers aboard Soviet purse seiners in the western Indian Ocean (WIO) during 1986–92. A total of 494 sets on free-swimming schools, whale-shark-associated schools, whale-associated schools, and log-associated schools were analyzed. More than 40 fish species and other marine animals were recorded. Among them only two species, yellow-fin and skipjack tunas, were target species. Average levels of bycatch were 0.518 metric tons (t) per set, and 27.1 t per 1000 t of target species. The total annual purse-seine catch of yellowfin and skipjack tunas by principal fishing nations in the WIO during 1985–94 was 118,000–277,000 t. Nonrecorded annual bycatch for this period was estimated at 944–2270 t of pelagic oceanic sharks, 720–1877 t of rainbow runners, 705–1836 t of dolphinfishes, 507–1322 t of triggerfishes, 113–294 t of wahoo, 104–251 t of billfishes, 53–112 t of mobulas and mantas, 35–89 t of mackerel scad, 9–24 t of barracudas, and 67–174 t of other fishes. In addition, turtle bycatch and whale mortalities may have occurred. Because the bycatches were not recorded by some purse-seine vessels, it was not possible to assess the full impact of the fisheries on the pelagic ecosystem of the Indian Ocean. The first step to solving this problem is for the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission to establish a pro-gram in which scientific observers are placed on board tuna purse-seine and longline vessels fishing in the WIO.

Occurrence of a deeper red colour in prawn pulp prepared from iced-prawns

In commerce, great importance is given to the color of the dry prawn pulp in its quality evaluation. The possible correlation between this color factor to the iced or not iced condition of the raw prawn used, is investigated. The study reveals that as the icing period of the raw material increases the color of the finished product proportionately intensifies to a bright red compared to light brownish yellow or orange color of the product from the not iced prawn, and at the same time the other characteristics like flavor and taste deteriorates as the time of icing advances. This finding tends to show that the color factor does not reflect the true quality of prawn pulp. Based on chemical data it is suggested that "browning" due to Maillard reaction may have an important role in this color phenomena.

Optical learning in a smart spatial light modulator

A synaptic plane rendered by an array of smart pixels was described regarding its application as a complementary component for neural network implementation. The smart spatial light modulator featured auto-modification abilities. Thus, an optical system incorporating this device can show self-reliant optical learning. Furthermore, the optical system design, in the area of its optical interconnection scheme, is highly flexible since the independent weight-plane pixels eliminated the difficulty between weight update calculation and weight representation.

黄河口滨岸潮滩湿地系统氮生物循环特征与循环模式研究

潮滩湿地处于海陆相互作用地带，是响应全球变化和人类活动较为敏感的生态系统 之一。潮滩湿地是海岸带一个非常重要的生态类型，作为陆地和海洋过渡区的重要组成 部分，承接来自陆地人类活动带来的大量含氮物质。潮滩湿地氮的生物循环特征不但影 响湿地系统自身的调节机制，而且其在环境介质中的特殊动力学过程也与一系列全球环 境问题息息相关。为了更深入的理解潮滩湿地氮的生物循环特征及其关键机制，论文以 黄河口滨岸潮滩翅碱蓬湿地为研究对象，通过野外样品采集、原位实验、微区试验，研 究了湿地土壤氮的时空分布与化学转化特征，探讨了湿地植物生物量与氮累积季节变化 特征以及湿地植物残体分解及分解过程氮动态特征，建立了湿地植物-土壤系统氮循环 分室模式，主要结论如下：（1）潮滩湿地土壤氮含量具有明显的水平变异和空间结构， TN、NO3 --N 和C/N 具有明显空间分布格局，其空间变异性均以向低潮滩延伸且受潮汐 涨落影响较大的方向最大；微地貌特征和潮汐微域物理扰动是导致空间异质性的两个重 要随机因素，水盐条件、土壤类型和潮汐物理扰动是三个重要结构因素；（2）潮滩湿地 土壤氮含量在不同时期的垂直分布均存在较高变异性，主要与有机质分布、潮汐影响、 水分条件以及陆源影响程度有关；潮滩湿地土壤的氮含量具有明显季节变化特征，主要 与水分状况及受潮汐影响的程度有关；（3）潮滩湿地土壤氮的净矿化/硝化速率均呈波动 变化，并受生物固持、反硝化、温度、水分、C/N 和pH 等因素影响；潮滩湿地0~15cm 土壤的净矿化量和净硝化量分别介于0.33~27.81kg·hm-2 和1.19~15.99kg·hm-2，高潮滩湿 地维持无机氮的能力明显强于中潮滩和低潮滩湿地；（4）两种表现型翅碱蓬的生物量 均具有明显季节变化和空间结构分形特征，二者的地上生物量具有自相似性，分别遵从 D=2.012 和2.366 的分形生长过程；（5）沉积强度显著影响翅碱蓬种子的出苗和幼苗存 活，适度沉积可刺激幼苗生长，重度沉积对幼苗生长则具有抑制作用；沉积可促使幼苗 被埋部分发育为根系，反映了其对潮滩较强沉积环境的特殊适应对策；（6）两种表现 型翅碱蓬根、茎和枯落物的TN 含量均呈递减变化，符合指数衰减模型，叶是二者重要 氮储库，分配比高达46.91±16.97%和55.21±9.79%；中潮滩植被的N/P 为9.87±3.47＜14， 其生长受N 限制，低潮滩植被的N/P 为15.73±5.00＜16，其生长同时受N、P 限制，但 更受P 限制；（7）潮滩湿地植物残体在水盐含量较高或沉积较强条件下的失重率和分解 速率一般较高，反之则较低；温度、水分、盐分和pH 是影响残体相对分解速率的重要 摘 要 II 因素；（8）当分解环境的养分状况不发生较大改变时，残体相对分解速率在很大程度上 取决于基质质量，当养分状况因潮汐养分交换、潮汐物理扰动、沉积物矿化等发生较大 改变时，残体相对分解速率在很大程度上取决于分解环境养分供给状况；（9）潮滩湿地 植物残体在不同水盐梯度和沉积强度下的氮含量、C/N 的变化模式整体较为一致，水盐 条件和沉积强度对残体氮绝对量的变化具有重要影响，C/N 对分解过程中氮养分的调控 作用更为重要；（

现代黄河三角洲湿地景观变化及其对水禽生境的影响

本文研究的开展主要源于国家海洋局海洋公益性行业科研专项经费项目“渤海典型区域的海洋多过程数据整合研究”课题支撑。在湿地日益退化丧失的全球背景下，本文选择沉积年代较轻、生态环境比较脆弱，且当前人类活动不断加剧的现代黄河三角洲为研究区，采用1999、2001、2004和2008年的Landsat5 TM遥感影像，选择丹顶鹤和黑嘴鸥为指示物种，结合野外实地调查和历史数据资料的整理和分析，以及黄河三角洲自然保护区对鸟类的监测记录结果，开展现代黄河三角洲湿地景观变化及其对水禽生境的影响研究。 论文的主要研究结果如下： 1、建立了服务于黄河三角洲湿地水禽生境保护的湿地景观分类体系 在系统分析研究区域湿地水禽生活习性和生态分布特征的基础上，从鸟类生境选择的概念出发，建立了服务于黄河三角洲湿地水禽生境保护的湿地景观分类体系。该分类体系一共分为4级，其中，第三级分类系统下天然湿地的划分是从鸟类选择的“大生境”角度出发，即根据区域地表类型，进一步将海洋/海岸湿地和内陆三角洲湿地划分成浅海水域、潮间淤泥滩、潮沟、河口水域、潮间盐沼、河流湿地和沼泽湿地7类。而第四级分类系统下天然湿地的划分则是从鸟类选择的“小生境”（即对水、食物、隐蔽物、干扰等的需求）角度出发，并按照水文和典型植被类型，进一步将天然湿地的三级类型划分为碱蓬沼泽、芦苇沼泽、柽柳灌丛沼泽等33类。 2、系统研究了现代黄河三角洲湿地景观格局的动态变化和影响因素 根据景观生态学理论，选取用于分析的景观格局指数，并从湿地景观类型的组成特征变化、面积变化、形状特征变化、空间配置特征变化四个方面分析在黄河断流前到其恢复正常行水至今的时间里三角洲湿地景观格局的动态变化，研究结果表明：在1999~2008年的9年间，天然湿地构成了现代黄河三角洲景观的主体，约占研究区域景观总面积的65%~75%，决定了该地区湿地的主要结构和功能。但随着人类对土地资源利用方式的不断改变和强度的提高，天然湿地景观呈萎缩退化趋势，9年内共减少338.44 km2，约占研究区景观总面积的8.90%。与此同时，盐田、养殖池塘等人工湿地和耕地等非湿地面积不断扩张，人工湿地面积增加量约为242.08km2，约占研究区景观总面积的6.37%，非湿地面积增加量约为96.36 km2，约占研究区景观总面积的2.53%。从一些重要的景观指数的计算结果来看，研究区域整体景观斑块数量呈增加趋势，平均斑块大小随之减小，景观边界密度大小、聚集度指数也呈下降趋势，表明从1999到2008年研究区域整体景观被边界分割的程度加深，整体景观中的斑块在空间分布上隔离程度加重，开始由大片连续分布向小块离散分布转变，景观的破碎化程度加重。 湿地景观格局变化的驱动机制分析表明，影响研究区湿地景观变化的主要因素包括三个方面，即：黄河水沙条件的驱动力、湿地自身演替驱动力和人为驱动力。在1999~2008年的9年间，黄河虽然恢复正常行水，不再断流，但入海泥沙量的明显减少使得除现行河口处沙嘴继续向海缓慢延伸外，黄河三角洲总体上处于侵蚀状态。湿地自身的演替主要体现在湿地由裸露淤泥质滩涂向发育典型湿地植物群落的顺向演替，以及发育有典型湿地植物群落的湿地向裸露淤泥质滩涂逆向演替两个方面。在1999~2008年间9年里，湿地顺向发育演替面积约130.64 km2，而逆向发育演替面积约为99.51 km2。人类活动一直以来都是影响黄河三角洲湿地景观变化不可忽视的营造力。大规模的滩涂围垦和养殖、农业用地的不断开垦和扩张，以及密集的油田开发活动不仅缩减了原本生长着芦苇茅草等植物的天然湿地资源，而且加重了三角洲湿地景观的破碎程度。 3、在整个研究区域尺度上深刻分析了丹顶鹤和黑嘴鸥潜在生境的适宜性 根据黄河三角洲自然保护区关于鸟类的监测记录资料，在深入分析湿地水禽生活习性和分布特征的基础上，选择丹顶鹤和黑嘴鸥为指示物种，从鸟类生境选择自身的特征出发，确定地表类型、水、食物、隐蔽物和干扰为影响两种鸟类类群进行生境选择的因素，并构建生境适宜性评价模型，在整个研究区域尺度上对两种鸟类类群的潜在生境进行适宜性评价和动态变化分析。研究结果表明，在不考虑居民地、油田作业用地和道路等干扰因子对生境产生的破碎化效应影响时，适宜丹顶鹤和黑嘴鸥生存的生境类型在1999~2008年间占研究区整体景观总面积的比重均在30%以上，其中天然湿地约占适宜生境类型面积的95%，可利用的人工湿地比重极小，但呈缓慢增加趋势，且由于可利用的天然湿地生境类型的逐年减少使得适宜两种鸟类类群的生境类型总面积总体上呈萎缩趋势。在考虑居民地、油田作业用地和道路等干扰因子对生境产生的破碎化效应影响时，适宜丹顶鹤和黑嘴鸥生存的生境类型在1999~2008年间占研究区域整体景观总面积的百分比由之前接近40%下降到20%以下，面积减少量均在600 km2以上。 4、系统分析了研究区湿地景观变化对水禽生境的影响 从研究区湿地景观基质的面积变化、形状和空间邻接关系变化、破碎化等三个方面分析了研究区湿地景观变化对丹顶鹤和黑嘴鸥两种鸟类类群生境的影响，结果表明，湿地景观基质中天然湿地的变化与丹顶鹤、黑嘴鸥适宜生境的大小和空间分布密切相关。在1999~2008年间，随着天然湿地面积的减少，适宜以上两种鸟类类群的生境面积也随之减少，两者呈正相关关系；在1999~2008年间，研究区天然湿地和人工湿地景观基质整体的形状指数均在1.0附近，表明湿地景观基质整体上的边缘效应较小，但建设用地、农林用地等非湿地景观与丹顶鹤和黑嘴鸥适宜生境类型中的主导类型——潮间淤泥滩、潮间盐沼和沼泽湿地等三种景观类型的频繁邻接，对于保护两种鸟类类群十分不利，应积极采取相应的措施加强保护力度；在1999~2008年间，研究区景观整体，以及湿地景观基质结构的破碎化，导致鸟类可利用的天然湿地和人工湿地景观内部斑块之间的连接程度下降，从而使得丹顶鹤、黑嘴

黄海沉积物多细胞趋磁原核生物的特性研究

多细胞趋磁原核生物（Multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes，MMPs） 是一类由7～45 个含有磁小体的革兰氏阴性细胞聚集而成的球形或者椭圆形 的细胞聚集体，是研究生命起源与进化、细胞分化和生物矿化的模式生物， 目前仅在大西洋沿岸具有一定盐度的层化水体或沉积物中发现。 本文通过光学显微镜和电子显微镜研究了黄海沉积物MMPs 的超微结 构、运动特点和分裂方式等生物学特征，调查了MMPs 的生态分布特征，并 对其尝试培养。 根据形态差别，黄海沉积物的MMPs 可分为花瓣型MMPs（rosette-like MMPs）、菠萝型MMPs（pineapple-like MMPs）和松球型MMPs（pinecone-like MMPs）。花瓣型MMPs 是由23±4 个卵圆形的细胞螺旋形排列而成的球形聚 集体，直径为5.4±0.8 μm，鞭毛周生。细胞内外膜附近有子弹头形/和方形的 铁氧化物型磁小体。菠萝型MMPs 是由39±9 个方形细胞组成的大小为9.6±1.2 μm ×7.8±0.9 μm 的椭圆形聚集体，鞭毛周生。这类MMPs 由多环细胞组成的， 从椭圆体的赤道面向两极，细胞环的直径变小；在每一环内，细胞像书本似 并列相连；相邻两环的细胞为交错式相连。这种结构比花瓣型MMPs 的更为 紧密。菠萝型MMPs 的磁小体均为子弹头形铁氧化物，磁小体的排列与MMPs 的长轴近似平行。松球型MMPs 是由多个长条形的细胞围绕中心的一个凹陷 辐射排列而成的球形聚集体，直径在9.0～14.2 μm 之间。尼罗红和DAPI 染 色发现三种MMPs 均具有脂类颗粒，花瓣型MMPs 和菠萝型MMPs 在聚集体 的表面具有一层外膜，这说明MMPs 的细胞排列具有高度组织性，在一定程 度证明它属于多细胞生物。 花瓣型MMPs 和菠萝型MMPs 分裂时均保持多细胞形式，但花瓣型 MMPs 沿着聚集体的短轴分开，而菠萝型MMPs 沿着长轴分开。两种MMPs 具有MMPs 典型的逃逸运动，花瓣型MMPs 和菠萝型MMPs 的运动速度分别 为55±26 μm/s 和99±50 μm/s。 黄海花瓣型MMPs 的超微结构、运动方式和分裂特点与大西洋沿岸多个 地区发现的MMPs 相似，花瓣型MMPs 可能是MMPs 的优势类群。菠萝型 MMPs 从整体形态、细胞排列和分裂方式上与花瓣型MMPs 显著不同，是一 类新的MMPs。松球型MMPs 是一类尚未报道的MMPs。 对MMPs 的生态分布调查发现，花瓣型MMPs 广泛分布于砂质沉积物中， 最大丰度出现在氧化还原跃层（redoxcline）。菠萝型MMPs 多分布在砾石沉 积物的表层。两种MMPs 占据不同的生态位，暗示着两者可能具有不同的生 理代谢途径。 对MMPs 的培养发现，在实验室内MMPs 可存活8 个月，MMPs 丰度随 着时间变化出现周期性的变化，推测其繁殖周期可能是10～15 天。 本文为太平洋沿岸MMPs 的首次研究，支持MMPs 在全球广泛分布的观 点，并展示了MMPs 的形态多样性。

Pelagic fishery resources of Sri Lanka and its present level of exploitation with special reference to off-shore and deep-sea waters

Pelagic resources around Sri Lanka may be categorized into three major groups: (1) the small pelagic varieties such as the sprats, halmessa, sardines (salaya, soodaya), and herrings (hurulla). (2) the medium size pelagic species such as the mackerel (kumbala and bolla), barracuda (jeela), seer Spanish mackerel (thora), frigate mackeral (alagoduwa), mackerel tuna (atawalla) and the skipjack (balaya). (3) the large size fishes such as yellow fin tuna (kelawalla), big eye tuna, marlins (koppora and gappara), sail fish (thalapath), sharks (mora) and rays (maduwa). Production levels of exploited resources are noted, and seasonal patterns and annual in their abundance are considered. On the basis of observations and estimations of the existing fisheries, and the results of experimental fishing, figures are presented of the potential yield of those species already exploited. The development of that potential depends on the development of modern techniques of pole and line fishing, application of tuna longline and shark longline, increasing the number of units of drift nets and the introduction of a bait fishery for the longline and pole line fishery. Some features upon which the successes of any venture to exploit such resources are noted, particularly those which relate to the nature of the fishing vessels used.

Fishing gear and methods for off-shore fishing in Sri Lanka

The author describes the commercial viable off-shore fishing methods for catching known commercial resources available around Sri Lanka. He also describes the in-shore fishing methods such as bait fishery which are related and of prime importance for carrying out certain off-shore methods. The paper is intended as a background for the description of fishing methods. The methods discussed are: (1) Longlining for large pelagic species such as large tuna (yellow fin, big eye), shark, spearfish and others; (2) Drift-netting for small and large tuna species (skipjack, yellow fin and others), shark, spearfish, etc.; (3) Pole and line for all deep-sea pelagic species such as skipjack, yellow fin, frigate mackerel, etc.; and (4) Purse seining (small scale) for small pelagic species suitable as bait fish for pole and line and longline fisheries.

Y chromosome haplotypes reveal prehistorical migrations to the Himalayas

By using 19 Y chromosome biallelic markers and 3 Y chromosome microsatellite markers, we analyzed the genetic structure of 31 indigenous Sino-Tibetan speaking populations (607 individuals) currently residing in East, Southeast, and South Asia. Our results showed that a T to C mutation at locus M122 is highly prevalent in almost all of the Sino-Tibetan populations, implying a strong genetic affinity among populations in the same language family. Furthermore, the extremely high frequency of H8, a haplotype derived from M122C, in the Sino-Tibetan speaking populations in the Himalayas including Tibet and northeast India indicated a strong bottleneck effect that occurred during a westward and then southward migration of the founding population of Tibeto-Burmans. We, therefore, postulate that the ancient people, who lived in the upper-middle Yellow River basin about 10,000 years ago and developed one of the earliest Neolithic cultures in East Asia, were the ancestors of modem Sino-Tibetan populations.