Abstract:Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) is a very importantly native species in China. However, this species had been introduced to Europe and North America and had posed great influences on invaded ecosystems because of their rapid expansion. In this study, genetic variation and diversity of the Chinese mitten crab from its native ranges (Yangtze and Yellow Rivers in China) and colonized regions (Elbe River in Germany, Rhine River in Netherlands, Thames River in UK and San Francisco Bay in USA) were investigated using twenty microsatellites loci. The results found that the native populations possess higher genetic diversity than the colonized populations, and significant genetic differentiation between the native and colonized populations, and among the colonized populations. Bayesian clustering analysis showed significant genetic cluster of the colonized population from the native populations, and also significant genetic variation between the North American and European populations. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated the high level of genetic differentiation between the native and colonized populations. Bottleneck signal test showed that the Rhine River experienced significant bottleneck effect. The results indicated that adaptive evolution would have occurred in Chinese mitten carp during its colonized process.

Abstract:Since lots of antifreeze proteins exist in Antarctic fishes, it is quite difficult to acquire high quality genomic DNA by using normal genomic DNA extraction method. In order to establish an effective genomic DNA extraction technique for Antarctic fish, one kind of Antarctic fish, Trematomus bernacchii, was used as the experimental material, and three different kinds of genomic DNA extraction methods (the modified phenol chloroform method, normal phenol chloroform method and the genomic extraction kit method) were compared. The acquired genomic DNA was appraised by spectrophotometer, agarose gel electrophoresis, and PCR amplification. The results showed that we successfully obtained high quality genomic DNA from T. bernacchii by using our modified phenol chloroform method. The gel bands were very neat and bright, the ratio of A260/A280 was around 1.80, and the acquired genomic DNA was suitable for PCR experiments. In a word, the extracted genomic DNA by using our modified phenol chloroform method, was in good quantity and suitable for the PCR based molecular experiment.

Abstract:The morphological structure and karyotype of Osteoglossum bicirrhosumwere studied. The fish has a laterally compressed body covered with silver scales, a point large mouth and two well developed lateral lines with 35-36 scales. Gill rakers are short and sparse. The soft fin rays are D43-46, P7, V6, A50-54, C12 respectively. The body length is 5.34, 5.23, 97.62 and 1.82 times of body height, head length, tail handle length and tail length respectively; the head length is 3.95, 6.04, and 2.96 times of snout length, eye diameter and diameter between eyes respectively; the body height is 2.05 times of body width. No sexual dimorphism has been found. The fish has a very developed stomach with “U” shape and two pyloric caeca. The swim bladder, length of which is equal to that of body cavity, has one room and is located above body cavity as well as adjacent to vertebra. Both male and female have unilateral gonad and eggs of mature females are fewer, but bigger. The number of chromosome is 2n=56 and the karyotype is 2n=2sm+26st+28t, NF=58. No cytologically distinguishable sex chromosome has been found.

Abstract:The health assessment, evaluation methodology and normal range value of the lake bluntnose black bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) from anatomy, body index, hepatic morphology and color, hepatic index and fat content, section of liver tissue and serum enzyme were studied. The results showed: the normal range value of condition factor, weight/length and viscera index are 2.05-2.33. 14.37-16.51 and 6.36-9.14. The lake bluntnose black bream’s health assessment of body surface color can be evaluated from three respects（1） Color: the color of normal liver is mauve, while dark yellow after being drawn from the caudal vein. （2）External appearance: the edge of liver is clear, linear. And there is no hepatomegaly. （3）Texture: the texture of normal liver is elastic and nonpitting when pressed. The section of liver tissue can evaluate from three aspects: （1）Cell boundaries are clear. （2）Nucleus is located in the center of cells. （3）There is a small quantity of liqid drops in hepatic cell. All of the fifteen serum enzymes are normal distribution or lognormal distribution. And the normal values are: ALT 7.02-21.52 U/L，AST 125.99-361.09 U/L，AST/ALT 10.43-28.87，CHE 65.97-213.95 U/L，ALP 12.07-41.81 U/L，TP 13.60-23.36 g/L，AlG 9.76-13.78 g/L，Glo 3.99-9.44 g/L，STB 2.17-4.02 μmol/L，TBA 2.08-22.46 μmol/L，Glu 2.81-7.36 mmol/L，CHO 4.77-8.99 mmol/L，TRIG 0.27-0.72 mmol/L，HDL C 2.18-4.75，LDL C 1.71-4.77 mmol/L，Cr 0.95-4.56 μmol/L.

Abstract:The acquisitions of green tide floating algae were screened and used into qualitative and quantitative culture experiment. Then ITS sequences analysis was carried out. According to the results of the experiments, neither spores nor gametes production was observed according to the regularly morphological or microscopic observation, as well as mature sporangium and gametangium. But on experimental conditions, algae biomass was increasing, and the biomass increased about 31 times in 30 days. The ITS sequence evolutionary tree shows that QF1 and QF2 were all included in LPP complex clade and had close genetic relationship. This showed they should belong to a same species. But the forms of the two differed from each other. The growth and proliferation of algae were usually incorporated into natural growth which was frond self growing up. As other dominant floating species, the algae in our experiment had plenty of branches. When branches fell off or broke, a new alga formed and began multiplying. This should be considered as autologous nutrition proliferation pattern of green tide algae which belonged to another way of proliferation. This self proliferation of green algae was another important reason of sharp biomass increasing of green tide on suitable condition

Abstract:The swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura), is an important commercial crab, widely distributed in the coastal zones of Japan, Korea, China and Southeast Asia countries. In this paper, the activity difference of five immune factors among different parentages of P. trituberculatus following the time extension were compared at different desiccation temperature, 10 ℃, 20 ℃ and 30 ℃. The five immune factors were acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), catalase (CAT), nitrogen monoxide (NO), peroxidase (POD), respectively. The results showed that no significant difference was found among the parentages for the enzyme activity of ACP, but there existed some differences, more or less, for the other immune factors. The profile of the content of NO following the time extension has the same trend with the ability of the desiccation tolerance in three parentages, and this suggests that the content of NO can be used as a marker of desiccation tolerance for the inbreeding of P. trituberculatus.

Abstract:Matrix proteins exist in the biomineralization microstructure of shells and pearls. Calcium carbonate forms the high regular and complex biomineralization microstructure under the influence of matrix proteins. It is important to study the matrix proteins in the shells and pearls of the cultured pearl bivalves for the understanding of the mechanism of the pearl formation. This paper reviews the matrix proteins which had been found and studied, their structure and function in biomineralization, and current research progress of the understanding of the mechanism of the pearl formation with the knowledge of matrix proteins.

Abstract:Effects of different salinity (12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, and 36) on serum ions and digestive enzyme activities were investigated in this study. Results showed that salinity caused significant influences on serum ions and digestive enzyme activity in Parapenaeopsis hardwickii(P<0.05). The concentrations of serum K⁺, Na⁺, Cl^- dramaticlly increased with salinity rising , and the isoionic points were estimated as 10.01, 159.87, and 195.10 mmol/L, of which the corresponding salinity is 36.5, 18.3, and 13.7, respectively. Highest activity of pepsin occurred at salinity of 12, then it reduced with salinity rising. Highest activities of trypsin and lipase occurred at salinity of 24.The peak of amylase activity occurred at sanilities of 12 and 24. From a zymologic standpoint, optimal salinity range for Parapenaeopsis hardwickii was 24 to 28.

Abstract:A complex co acervation method was applied to microencapsulate killed vaccine against grass carp hemorrhage by using sodium alginate and chitosan as the wall materials. The single factor test and the orthogonal experiments were conducted to optimize the conditions of preparing the microcapsules. The optimal conditions were as follows: 1.5% sodium alginate, 1% chitosan, 4% calcium chloride and 2mL inactivated vaccine. The influence of factors that affect encapsulation efficiency was sodium alginate concentration > vaccine dosage > chitosan concentration > calcium chloride concentration. The microcapsules have an average diameter of （7.02±3.95）μm, the average encapsulation rate is 60.53% and the average drug loading rate is 8.12 mg/g. The microcapsules have good release properties in PBS (pH 7.4) and saline solution.

Abstract:112 Aeromonas strains were isolated from various aquatic animals at different time in Guangdong province. Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method was used to detect the resistance of 112 strains against 20 commonly used antimicrobial agents. Resistance rates were analyzed by WHONET 5.6 software. The overall resistance rates were highest for ampicillin (85.7%) and cephalothin (79.5%) followed by rifampicin (57.1%)，amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (51.8%)，streptomycin (49.1%)，sulfonamides (31.2%)，cefoxitin（28.6%），tetracycline (28.6%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (21.4%). Aeromonas isolates were suseptible to most of antimicrobial agents and a low incidence (<10%) of resistance to imipenem (0.9%)，nitrofurantoin (0.9%), ceftriaxone (1.8%)， cefotaxime (2.7%) and amikacin (3.6%) were observed. Although 46.6% of isolates displayed nalidixic acid resistance，majority of isolates were very susceptible to other kinds of fluroquinolones. Compared with the resistance rates of different antimicrobial agents from different origins of aquatic animals, fluroquinolones and cephalosporins resistance was more prevalent in strains from reptiles, amphibians and ornamental fishes than those from farm fishes and shrimps. Our results showed that antimicrobial resistant Aeromonas were widespread in the aquaculture in Guangdong and show various resistant rates to different antimircrobial agents. There is a need to build a national surveillance system of antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture.

Abstract:The present study provides a comparative understanding of florfenicol deposition kinetics following oral administration at a single dose of 30 mg/kg body weight to Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) at the temperature of 20, 24 and 28 ℃, respectively. Approximate 0.3 mL of blood sample from each eel in these three groups was collected in a row at the time 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 36 h after medicated feed gavage. The concentrations of florfenicol in eel plasma were detected by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP HPLC). The plasma concentration time data of each eel were analyzed by non compartmental methods based on statistical moment theory using DAS software. Pharmacokinetics parameters of different groups were tested by one way analysis of variance using SPSS software. It was found that most of parameters were different significantly between groups (P<0.05). In the three groups at 20, 24 and 28 ℃, pharmacokinetics parameters of peak plasma concentration (Cmax) were (7.839±1.125), (13.010±2.334) and (18.267 ± 3.717) μg/mL, and the time to reach the Cmax (Tmax) were (6.500 ± 2.070), (4.500 ± 1.414) and (3.429 ± 0.926) h, respectively. These suggested that eels at higher temperature absorbed more drug and more quickly. The volumes of distribution (Vz/F) were (3.964±0.594), (2.466±0.672) and (1.841 ± 0.485) L/kg, respectively. The difference deduced that more florfenicol was bound to tissue in eels at lower temperature. The mean residence time (MRT0 ∞) and the half life of drug (t1/2z) in the three respective groups were (31.503 ± 7.117), (22.881 ± 4.940) and (22.134±6.204) h, and (21.243 ± 5.166), (14.994 ± 4.293) and (14.656 ± 5.061) h. These parameters showed that the elimination rate of florfenicol in eels at 24 ℃ or 28 ℃ was more quickly than that at 20 ℃. The areas under the concentration time curve (AUC0-∞) were (235.580 ± 62.013), (271.983 ± 75.023) and (353.192 ± 92.491) μg·h/mL, respectively. It indicated that the relative bioavailability of florfenicol was higher significantly in eels at higher temperatue.

Abstract:By the individual culture technique and biochemical analysis,this study is to investigate the effects of purified diet (group A), fresh foods (Octopus variabilis and Sinonovacula constricta, group B) and mixed diets (purified diets and fresh foods, group C) on the survival, growth performance and biochemical composition of juvenile swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus (initial mean wet weight was 0.5g).The results are as follows: (1) The survival of juvenile swimming crab ranged from 70% to 80%, and no significant effects caused by survival were observed among three groups. (2) There were no significant differences in the WGR (weight gain ratio), molting period, SGR(specific growth rate) and FCR (feed conversion ratio) of juvenile swimming crab between group A and B. The second molting cycle of group C was significantly shorter and FCR was significantly lower than the other two groups, however, SGR of group C was significantly higher than the group A and group B. (3) Each diet showed a significant effect on the Hepatosomatic Index（HSI）,and its protein and lipid contents. The HSI and the lipid content of group A were significantly higher, however, the protein content was significantly lower than the other two groups. (4) With regard to the fatty acid composition,the saturated fatty acids and mono unsaturated fatty acids of hepatopancreas and body from group A were significantly higher than the other two groups, and the poly unsaturated fatty acids and highly unsaturated fatty acids were significantly lower than the other two groups. In conclusion, juvenile swimming crab fed our purified diets could achieve good growth performance, which lays a solid foundation for the further study on the nutrition requirments for this crab species.

Abstract:Through monthly monitoring the five sampling sites in Qiandao Lake during 2007-2011, the yearly change patterns of transparency, chlorophyll a (Chl.〖WTBX〗a〖WTBZ〗), permanganate index (CODMn), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were investigated, and the spatial and temporal variations of water quality were assessed by two trophic state indices such as TLI and TSIM. The results showed that the 5 year average values of transparency, Chl.〖WTBX〗a〖WTBZ〗, CODMn, TN, and TP were (5.599±0.942) m, (2.720±1.380) ug/L, (0.857±0.168) mg/L, (0.990±0.090 2) mg/L, and (0.015 1±0.001 83）mg/L, respectively. The two trophic indices gradually decreased from the upper reaches to the lower reaches, fluctuated seasonally with the maximum in summer and the minimum in winter, and increased slowly year by year with a 5 year mean value of 26.6 for TLI and 35.5 for TSIM. It was suggested that the 5 study years was in the transitional period of trophic level from oligo to meso trophic status for this lake.

Abstract:Lakeside zones are ecotones between lake and land, with strong environmental, ecological, economic and aesthetic values. In recent years, due to the lack of ecological awareness of scientific and rational planning, most of lakeside zones were rebuilt. Lakeside zones have been degenerated. The aquatic plants have been destroyed, biological communities have been reduced, and the ecological environment of lakeside zone is getting worse and worse. According to the current deterioration of water ecological environment by the vertical revetment of Dianshan Lake, and the functional orientation of ecological landscape restoration, the construction difficulties of lakeside zone with vertical revetment under variable water level in Dianshan Lake are analyzed in this paper. The technologies of ladder type plants bed and reduction of wave and wind are innovated in the program, and finally the new mode of ecological construction and landscape design on lakeside zone with vertical revetment is created, which can suit the variable water level and realize the integrative functions of water ecological purification and ecological waterscape, and this provides a reference to ecological restoration integration technologies with ecological landscape plant communities for China’s degraded lakeside zones.

Abstract:Phytoplankton of test pool of experimsental base in Qingcaosha water source, Changxing Island, was respectively investigated from August 2011 to August 2012. Types, cell abundance, dominant species, and diversity index of Phytoplankton community structure were compared and water quality was also evaluated around ecological multi restoration of the experimental base. The result shows that: before ecological restoration, the Cyanobacteria were absolutely dominant groups; Merismopedia sp., Microcystis sp., and Pediastrum simplex were dominant species in the waterbody; the water quality in the test pool was eutrophicated seriously. After ecological multi restoration (Daphnia magna Submerged plants Fish), the effect was significant with higher water quality. Phytoplankton biodiversity was increased, and Cyanobacteria were controlled effectively，and also Microcystis sp. was no longer the dominant species of waterbody.

Abstract:The seasonal variation of water column is investigated by analyzing the observed temperature and salinity in the Yangtze Estuary. It is found that: the temperature stratification comes into being in spring along with the increase of the solar radiation; it becomes enhanced in summer and weakens in autumn, respectively; it vanishes in winter due to the strong vertical mixing mechanism as well as the decrease of solar radiation. On the other hand, the salinity distribution is affected by the runoff of Yangtze River. Therefore, the salinity stratification is the most obvious in summer and autumn, and it is not that apparent in spring. In winter, the northeaster prevails, and the Yangtze diluted water is confined to the coast, so the salinity is well mixed in the vertical. Furthermore, the dynamic mechanisms governing the seasonal variation of the water column are discussed. The above knowledge is essential for better understanding the distribution and transport of main nutrients and pollutants in the Yangtze Estuary.

Abstract:In order to realize the state of primary productivity in marine ranching planning area of Xiangshan Bay and provide basis for the effect evaluation of marine ranching construction, seasonal investigations of 22 sites in Zhejiang Province were carried out in April, July and November of 2011. Experiment results about ecological factors, such as Chlorophyll a concentration, stability of water, temperature, nutrient contents in water and sediment, were analyzed with correlation analysis method. Results presented an obvious seasonal variation of Chlorophyll a in the study area, for the Chlorophyll a concentrations were 4.62 mg/m3 in April, 3.57 mg/m3 in July and 3.11 mg/m3 in November (April>July>November).The horizontal distribution of Chlorophyll a was gradually reduced from the bottom to the mouth of the bay and in the vertical direction, the Chlorophyll a concentrations were 3.02 mg/m3 in July, 1.93 mg/m3 in April and 1.61 mg/m3 in November (July>April>November). Results also showed Chlorophyll a concentration got remarkably positive correlations with turbidity, water temperature, salinity and active phosphate, while presented a negative correlation with the stability of water. Sediment in this research area was rich in nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients, and it is supposed to reduce PEAP when artificial reefs are reconstructed, to help promote the regeneration of nutrients, which will be conducive to the growth of phytoplankton and the elevation of primary productivity level.

Abstract:In order to quantitatively analyse the impact of thermal discharge on 〖WTBX〗Coscinodiscus Jonesianus〖WTBZ〗 biomass at different temperature rise gradient. A three dimensional hydrodynamic model was set up to simulate the distribution characteristics, impact area and volume of thermal discharge at different temperature gradient in the summer of 2011 with FVCOM model, and based on the experiment data of enclosure experiments in Xiangshan Bay in summer of 2011, the losses of 〖WTBX〗Coscinodiscus Jonesianus〖WTBZ〗 biomass at different temperature gradient ranges were analysed. The results showed that the surface temperature rise range in summer was mainly distributed within the envelope of 1.5 centigrade temperature rise, while the bottom one was within the envelope of 1.0 centigrade temperature rise. The seawater volume affected by weak temperature rise zone and strong temperature rise zone were 93.650 million m3 and 1.073 million m3 respectively, with a total of 94.723 million m3. The total losses of 〖WTBX〗Coscinodiscus Jonesianus〖WTBZ〗 biomass influenced by the thermal discharge were 32.580 trillion cells , and the weak temperature rise zone accounted for 94.76 percent, while the strong temperature rise zone was only 5.24 percent.

Abstract:Sustainability is a key principle in natural resource management. Due to negative environmental influence and limited availability, petroleum derived fuels need to be replaced by renewable biofuels.Therefore, there are vigorous research initiatives aimed at developing alternative renewable and potentially carbon neutral solid, liquid and gaseous biofluels as alternative energy resources. Microalgal biodiesel is the most potential substitute of fossil fuel for numerous specific advantages. Microalgae possess high photosynthetic rate and CO2 capture ability, short growth cycle and non influence to food supply. In this paper, the progress of microalgal biodiesel techniques was reviewed, including cultivation, harvesting of microalgae and preparation of microalgal biodiesel. It was found that microalgae biodiesel could progressively substitute a significant proportion of the fossil fuels required to meet the growing energy demand. Prospect of microalgal biodiesel technique was put forward at last.

Abstract:Crocodile shark, Pseudocarcharias kamoharai, is a common by catch species of tuna longliner. As an important part of the oceanic food chain, it plays a vital role in the marine ecosystem. According to the total of 383 crocodile shark samples collected by China’s national tuna fisheries observers in the tropical Eastern central Atlantic Ocean (4.24°-14.03°N，27.13°-38.28°W), the biological characteristics of both females and males of crocodile sharks were analyzed and described, respectively. The results can be summarized as follows: (1) The female male ratio was 1:0.36, and with significant difference; (2) The dominant fork length of males and females was 75-95 cm，65-90 cm, respectively; (3) There was no significant difference between Hepatosomatic indices (HSI ) and gonad development for male of P. kamohara, however, HSI of mature individuals was greater than that of immature individuals of female; (4)96.8% of males and 56.12% of females were mature. Maturity stages at Ⅱand Ⅳof females’ gonads were dominant and the size at 50% maturity (L50) of female was 84.6 cm in fork length; (4) Feeding stage 0 was dominant with the percentage of 52.38%, and feeding stage 1 accounted for the percentage of 33.86%; (5) The prey composition in the stomachs of these shark samples was mainly sardine (72.56%) and squid (27.44%); (6) The relationships between fork length and round weight for females and males was described by WR=2×10-5LF2.7614, WR=2×10-6LF3.3287 respectively. Due to the difficulty for collecting the oceanic species samples, this study contributed to a better understanding of crocodile shark in biological characteristics, and the information from this study would be helpful for some regional fisheries management organizations to conduct stock assessment and decision making.

Abstract:In this study, based on the data acquired in seasonal comprehensive surveys of the marine ecosystem of the Jiulong River Estuary from Sep.2010 to Aug.2011, the composition, quantity distribution and variation of fish species were reported with relative species number and weight. The results showed: a total of 169 fish species were collected in this survey, which belonged to 18 orders, 63 families and 118 genera. 89 fishes from the family Perciformes(accounting for 52.7% of the total species), 18 fishes from the family Cypriniformes and 16 from Clupeiformes respectively(10.7％ and 9.5％of the total species respectively). And there were 59.8% warm water fishes, 37.8% warm temperature fishes and 2.3% cold temperature fishes. And a total of 98 fish species were collected in Daomei site; a total of 96 fish species in Fugong site；a total of 87 fish species in Zini site. Shannon Weaver biodiversity index H was higher in Daomei site and lower in Fugong site，and the average biodiversity index of fish were 2.816 8 and 2.060 4 respectively. 〖WTBX〗Anchoviell ach inensis,Ambassis gymnocephalus〖WTBZ〗 and 〖WTBX〗Mudil affinis 〖WTBZ〗Günther were the dominant fishs in Jiulong River Estuary, whose annual frequency exceeded 50% separately. The abundance of fishery resource was high in autumn（from Sep. to Nov.）,followed by summer ,and the lowest in winter（from Dec. to Feb.）.Annual fish assemblage characteristics are closely related to estuary runoff. And during the flood season, the fish concentration of Fugong (confluence of seawater and freshwater) showed characteristics closer to that of Zini (freshwater area); but in other times, the fish concentration of Fugong(confluence of seawater and freshwater) showed characteristics closer to that of Daomei(the salt water area).

Abstract:Recently marine disasters and marine accidents have happened very frequently, bringing about great threats, which attracted great attentions of central and coastal governments on marine emergency affairs and it is necessary to formulate and update relevant local contingency plans. This paper takes Shanghai as the subject to study the determination of the hierarchies for provincial contingency plans of marine emergency affairs. Taking into account of practice by relevant coastal provinces, a conclusion can be drawn that no specific standards or guidelines for choice between sectoral contingency plans and special contingency plans. Nevertheless, local governments tend to determine the hierarchies for the plans in terms of the frequency and the threat of marine emergency affairs they faced or are facing. Most provincial governments adopt sectoral contingency plans for marine emergency affairs and formulate separate plans for different kinds of emergency affairs. When potential threats are increasing, it is, however, likely to upgrade or adopt the plans to special contingency plans.

Abstract:The key physical oceanographic issues of the Prydz Bay and adjacent region, Antarctica, include water masses, circulation and ice shelf ocean sea ice interactions. The water mass may be classified into Antarctic Surface Water (AASW), Circumpolar Deep Water(CDW), Antarctic Bottom Water(AABW), Shelf Water(SW) and Ice shelf Water (ISW). Spatial distribution and temporal variation of the water masses are significantly affected by external forcing. Circulation in the Prydz Bay is characterized by the Prydz Gyre, westward coastal current, and Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). The Antarctic Divergence (AD) is located in the shear zone between coastal current and ACC. The local topography plays an important role to the circulation in this region. Interaction between the Amery Ice Shelf and ocean impacts the water mass and circulation. Ice pump is the major mechanism that drives the relative warmer shelf water entering the ice cavity and melting the ice shelf. The cold and saltier water formed by ice shelf ocean sea ice interaction is the potential source for the formation of AABW. In the future, observations and development of high resolution ice shelf ocean sea ice model will be the major means for physical oceanographic study in the region.