Digital library

The community organization of coral reef fishes in the seagrass sub-habitat of Kavaratti toll, Lakshadweep, India was studied during the period from January 1991 to June 1992. Twenty-seven families represented by 65 species were recorded by the visual censes method. The community diversity for families and species was 2.49 and 3.14 respectively. Juveniles and sub-adults of the most adult reef fish, which inhabit other sub-habitats, were recorded here. The high species diversity in the seagrass beds is due to their roles as nurseries, shelter and foraging grounds for many species.

Labridae, Chaetodontidae, Acanthuridae and Mullidae were the most speciose families. Ocurrence of siganids was highly seasonal. The cover that seagrass canopy provides conceals many species and perhaps influenced counts. The occurrence of balistids could be related to the presence of interstitial and patches and abundant invertebrate food. Scorpaenids subsisted on abundant invertebrates and juveniles fishes. High counts and pronounced variations make seagrass beds unstable habitats. However, monsoon assemblages were relatively stable perhaps due to lack of excessive new recruits and a habitat shift by most species.

The trade/lobbying group Cornucopia Institute has issued a ‘report’ that alleges a ‘smoking gun’ in carrageenan data published more than 10 years ago on an industry-supported website. The Cornucopia report was issued just as the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is conducting ‘sunset reviews’ of additives that may or may not be included in U.S. foods labeled as organic. The announcement of the report and the full-length report itself is fraught with anti-industry bias and fails even to accurately describe its research subject. The Cornucopia report is consistent with the group’s ideology and baseless attacks on carrageenan. Cornucopia believes in three central themes that are evident in all its carrageenan discussions: 1. If you cannot argue decades of peer-reviewed science, then argue the research funding. 2. If you cannot argue the truth, then allege conspiracy. 3. If all else fails, cherry-pick the data.

A cost analysis of aquatic biomass systems was conducted to provide the U.S. Department of ENergy with engineering cost information on which to base decisions in the area of planning and executing research and development programs dealing with aquatic biomass as an alternative energy resource. Calculations show that several hundred 100 square mile aquatic biomass farms, the size selected by DOE staff for this analysis, would be needed to provide meaningful supplies of energy. It should be noted that sustems which require wasts (sewage, power plant, CO2) as a carbon source, natural harbors or lakes, and natural upwelling sites may not have application to the present study simply because they are very small compared to the large needs projected by DOE.

With this background, specific engineering analyses were conducted on two original design concepts for 100 square mile aquatic biomass system; outstanding experts in all aspects of this project were called upon to participate and provide information in projecting the costs for harvested aquatic biomass for these systems. 

It was found that the projections of cost for harvested open-ocean biomass, utilizing optimistic assumptions of scientific and engineering design parameters, appear to be above any practical costs to be considered for energy. One of the major limitations is due to the need to provide upwelled sub-surface water containing needed nutrients, for which pumping energy is required. It is shown that for lower yields of biomass, the energy in ocean waves may marginally provide energy to pump suitable amounts of upwelled water for nutrient supplu; however, costs of harvested biomass growth at increasingly higher yields, so much nutrient containing water is required that environmental wabe energy is insufficient and fuel or electric power is required for pumping; thus, with high yields, obtaining a net there are very substantial environmental and legal aspects of aquatic biomass farming in general that appear especially ponderous for an open-ocoean system. 

It is concluded from this analysis that large scale land-based aquatic biomass farms may merit development, but perhaps within a much narrower range than heretofore investigated. For example, land-based aquatic biomass systems based on biomass which require a carbon source other than carbon dioxide from the air appear to have higher costs than may be acceptable as an energy resource. Sewage slude appears to have limited availability as a carbon source for many energy farms and the utilization of CO2 from power plant stack gases requires duct work and distribution system which are prohibitively costly. 

Crossing tests were made to determine the relationship between the identified Viva pertusa, which commonly grows in Japan as an attached form on exposed rocks, and the floating Viva forming "green tide" inside calm bays. The floating Viva thalli were collected from five major green tide sites in Japan (Yokohama, Mikawa, Miyajima, Kochi and Hakata). Reproductive maturation was induced in U. pertusa and the floating thalli from each site. Mating between induced gametes was observed. It is therefore believed that the floating thalli from Yokohama, Mikawa and Miyajima were mainly U. pertusa, while those from Kochi and Hakata were of a different species (Viva sp.l). Furthermore, the Viva species found in Mikawa is also a species (Viva sp.2) different from both U. pertusa and Viva sp. 1.