JP4274716B2 - Marine ecosystem control methods - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention realizes recycling of marine resources by utilizing the pristine ocean that is almost untouched, and further improves various factors that worsen the global environment in the process, and solves food problems due to increased production of marine resources About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The social structure of the 20th century, which has lost its mass production and mass consumption, is now facing a turning point with major problems. There is no doubt that the factory that continues to produce 24 hours a day is producing huge amounts of industrial waste and carbon dioxide, and the increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide is a major cause of global warming. It has become.
[0003]
Large amounts of domestic waste and carbon dioxide are emitted from the urban areas where the produced products are consumed in the process of consumption. Domestic waste further emits carbon dioxide in the process of being incinerated. In addition, domestic wastewater and human excreta are discharged from urban areas and dumped into rivers and coastal waters through treatment facilities. These have significantly contaminated the water quality of the water area even after undergoing purification treatment.
[0004]
In addition, the 20th-century social structure creates a disparity in living standards between developed and developing countries, where on the one hand, excessive food is discarded without consumption, and on the other hand, hunger and poverty are prevalent. Continues without improvement.
[0005]
In order to solve the various problems as described above, the conventional one-way social structure is changed and a recycling-type social structure is constructed on a global scale.
[0006]
In order to solve such various problems, the present inventors have sought the possibility in the ocean. Here, the ocean is located outside the continental shelf at the periphery of the land, and its water depth is deeper than the continental shelf, and typically refers to a sea area with a depth of 200 m or more.
[0007]
Needless to say, the earth is occupied about 2/3 of its surface area by the sea, but the use of the ocean, which is about 90% of the sea, has never been made. As an example, the production of marine resources in the ocean is only about 0.8% of the production obtained from the whole sea.
[0008]
The reason for the poor production of marine resources in the ocean is closely related to the food chain and water depth in marine ecosystems. The food chain in the marine ecosystem begins with primary production that is made by photosynthesis of phytoplankton while taking in nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, iron and vitamins as nutrients. The primary producer is preyed on by the zooplankton, and the carnivorous plankton prey on the zooplankton. A small carnivore prey on this carnivore plankton, and a large carnivore prey on this small carnivore. When these carnivores die, their bodies are broken down by minute aquatic organisms, supplying the phytoplankton with nutrients.
[0009]
The point here is that the phytoplankton needs various nutrient salts and sunlight in the course of primary production. These nutrients are abundant in the sea floor because they are supplied from the sea floor soil and carcasses of large and small marine organisms. In addition, although it depends on the transparency of the water, it is said that the sunlight reaches up to a depth of about 200 m, that is, to the end of the continental shelf. Therefore, primary production is active in the relatively shallow water near the continental shelf, and the marine ecosystem is maintained healthy.
[0010]
However, the deep ocean, which is deeper than the continental shelf, differs from the relatively shallow waters, where the deep layers rich in nutrients and the surface layer where sunlight reaches are far away from each other. Is hardly done. For this reason, the marine ecosystem as described above is not established, and fishery resources are depleted.
[0011]
The present inventors have already made the following proposal after knowing such a situation in the ocean. The proposal is to produce nutrient salts from raw waste, domestic wastewater, excrement, etc. that are incinerated or disposed of as raw materials, and the nutrient salts and carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. Based on the above, establish a marine ecosystem in the pelagic ocean that is still untouched, harvest the marine resources produced in the process of circulation of the marine ecosystem, and collect the emissions generated after consuming the marine resources In this case, nutrients are produced again using the waste as a raw material.
[0012]
According to this proposal, the waste emitted from society can be reused to reduce their unilateral waste and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to improve various factors that worsen the global environment. Furthermore, it is possible to solve global food problems by using marine resources produced in the ocean based on these.
[0013]
In order to realize the recycling of marine resources as described above, it is very important to control the marine ecosystem in the ocean. The marine ecosystem is built in an unoccupied space in the ocean, and is positioned as a natural factory that produces waste (nutrients produced from it) and carbon dioxide as raw materials to produce marine resources that serve as food. This is because it is possible to reduce the amount of emissions and carbon dioxide and produce more marine resources if productivity can be improved by intentionally manipulating the process.
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, to improve the productivity of marine ecosystems in one go is not easy. Since marine ecosystems are composed of many intertwining factors that are intertwined, it is very difficult to identify which influencing factors can be controlled in this so-called complex marine ecosystem. It is difficult. However, it is not without a strong candidate as an influencing factor. One of them is the nutrients mentioned above. However, even if nutrients are unnecessarily added to the marine ecosystem, it may be dissipated without serving as phytoplankton, or it may disrupt the harmony of the marine ecosystem and cause collapse. .
[0015]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and as an influencing factor that enables control of the marine ecosystem, attention is focused on nutrient salts that are the key to the rise and fall of phytoplankton, which is the primary producer of marine ecosystems. The purpose of this project is to increase the productivity of marine ecosystems by establishing ways to control marine ecosystems with nutrients, thereby enabling the recycling of marine resources.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention according to claim 1 considers the growth rate of zooplankton constituting the marine ecosystem and adds a nutrient salt to seawater to cause intentional changes in the marine ecosystem. A method of setting an addition time such that an amount of phytoplankton that will be consumed grows when the zooplankton wants food , and the nutrient is added according to the addition time pattern. It is characterized by being added to sea water.
The present invention according to claim 2 is the marine ecosystem control method according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the nutrient salt added and the period of addition are determined in consideration of the growth rate of the zooplankton. It is characterized by setting.
The present invention described in claim 3 is the marine ecosystem control method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the nutrient salt contains at least nitrogen.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
First, the recycling of marine resources that the present inventors intend to realize will be described with reference to FIG. First, build a nutrient production plant 1 that produces nutrient salts from waste discharged from cities, etc. on land, and underwater structures 2 and nutrient distribution that mimic the natural seabed in the ocean. Establish a production base for marine resources centering on the equipment 3. And between the two, the transport ships 4 and 5 are operated as a transportation device for nutrient salts and fishery resources.
[0019]
Nutrient production plants accumulate various types of emissions from consumption areas such as urban areas. There are two types of waste, one of which is raw garbage, fresh products that have lost value in the process of distribution, agricultural, forestry and fishery crops that have failed to gain value as products, domestic wastewater, human waste, etc. One that contains a lot of organic matter like this, and the other is surplus substances (silicon, iron, etc.) discharged from the production site of mining and manufacturing.
[0020]
In the nutrient production plant 1, atomic level nutrient salts such as nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, iron and vitamins are produced using these emissions as raw materials. In addition, since some by-products are obtained in the process of producing nutrient salts, useful ones (for example, methane gas) are used as power and other energy sources in the plant.
[0021]
The produced nutrient salt is processed into a liquid, gel or slurry form, or packed into a capsule so as to be easily transported, loaded on a transport ship, and transported to a production base in the ocean. In addition, filling the capsule with nutrients also includes the meaning of controlling the diffusion method after being sown.
[0022]
The underwater structure 2 is constructed so as to form an artificial seabed in the surface layer area where the sun rays reach. Specifically, a huge structure 6 having buoyancy that floats in seawater is moored with an anchor cable 7 fixed to the original seabed and floated in the sea, or a long structure standing from the original seabed toward the surface area. A huge structure (not necessary to have buoyancy) is installed at the tip of a large foundation pile.
[0023]
The structure 6 imitating the sea floor is provided with a facility for promoting the establishment of marine resources such as fish reefs. Further, if necessary, a facility for enclosing the fish by using bubbles or sound waves is installed around the structure 6. Furthermore, the underwater structure 2 is provided with various facilities for its own maintenance, position maintenance in the sea, and ensuring safety. In addition to this, the underwater structure 2 can be provided with a research facility that can live in the sea and function as a place for ocean observation and basic research in the sea.
[0024]
In the sea area within the production base, the research observation ship 8 is responsible for managing the underwater structures 2 and other facilities and monitoring the state of the marine ecosystem within the production base, and providing a place for marine science research on the ocean. Is placed.
[0025]
The nutrient distribution device 3 is configured to perform distribution suitable for various forms of nutrients, the state of the sea area within the production base, the structure of the marine ecosystem to be established, etc. Or installed on a dedicated ship.
[0026]
When the transport ship 4 arrives at the production base, the nutrient salt is delivered to the distribution device 3, and the nutrient salt is distributed toward the sea. Before and after the distribution of nutrients, phytoplankton, which is the primary producer of the marine ecosystem, is released into the sea area within the production base as needed. Furthermore, phytoplankton and various planktons of carnivorous zooplankton constituting each stage of the marine ecosystem, and large and small carnivorous larvae that prey on these are released as necessary.
[0027]
In sea areas where nutrient salts are distributed, phytoplankton begins to grow, and this triggers the establishment of a food chain in the marine ecosystem. First, phytoplankton, the primary producer, actively photosynthesises by supplying nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, and iron and vitamins, and releases carbon dioxide that has been released into the atmosphere and dissolved in seawater. Absorbs and releases oxygen.
[0028]
The primary producer is preyed on by the zooplankton, and the carnivorous plankton prey on the zooplankton. A small carnivore prey on this carnivore plankton, and a large carnivore prey on this small carnivore.
[0029]
In this way, the establishment of a food chain in the marine ecosystem transforms the sea area within the production base into a rich environment where abundant marine resources exist, and there are many on the sea floor reproduced by the underwater structure 2. Of seafood and aquatic plants grow. The various marine resources produced in this manner are harvested by an appropriate method at an appropriate time according to the type, loaded on the transport ship 5 and transported toward a consumption area such as an urban area. The consumption place is not limited to land, but includes all places where humans live, such as maritime cities and ships built on the ocean.
[0030]
Landed marine resources are processed as appropriate and consumed in the circulation of the market economy, and are also supplied to developing countries to help eliminate food shortages. In addition, fishery resources are not only landed in the harvested state, but may be processed appropriately during the transportation process.
[0031]
Wastes such as garbage generated after consuming marine resources are collected together with the other wastes described above, and accumulated in the nutrient salt production plant 1 to be used as nutrient raw materials. The produced nutrients are transported to the ocean as described above and reused as the primary producer's food for the marine ecosystem.
[0032]
By realizing the recycling of marine resources as described above, we can effectively use the pelagic ocean, which has been almost untouched until now, and have been incinerated or discarded in the past. Reuse wastewater such as domestic wastewater and excreta to reduce unilateral waste and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, thereby improving various factors that worsen the global environment. Can be planned.
[0033]
So how can we control the marine ecosystem to realize the recycling of marine resources as described above?
As mentioned earlier, nutrients will have a major impact on marine ecosystems. Here, considering the marine ecosystem as a general food chain pyramid, the number of phytoplankton solids and the timing of their growth are considered to depend greatly on the supply of nutrients that serve as food. When the nutrient composition and ratio of the nutrients present in the plant change, the number of phytoplankton, the growth rate, and the timing of growth change. It can easily be imagined that some change will appear in large and small carnivores located at the top.
[0034]
If we consider the growth rate of not only phytoplankton, but also zooplankton and large and small carnivores, we will consider the linkage of their food chains, and the nutrients present in the seawater aiming to establish a marine ecosystem. By changing the salt components and component ratios, it is possible to cause intentional changes in the marine ecosystem.
[0035]
In the following, when nitrogen is selected as the nutrient salt and the method of addition to the seawater of the sea area aiming at establishment of the marine ecosystem is divided into three patterns, the ocean when the addition is continued over a period according to each pattern We observed changes in the ecosystem.
[0036]
FIG. 2 shows a pattern in which 1 μM (micro-mol) of nitrogen is input once a day, and when a continuous period is set for a period of one year, plants, animals are in that period. It shows how the amount of each plankton and carnivorous fish varies. In addition, each quantity is represented by the amount of biological resources (the quantity of objects per unit volume).
[0037]
When this input pattern is adopted, phytoplankton grows in the initial stage of the survey period, and zooplankton grows by predating the grown plankton. Due to the growth of zooplankton, the amount of phytoplankton that was used as a feed decreased slightly from the original amount, but after the middle of the survey period, there was some increase and decrease, but it remained stable. Also, the amount of zooplankton that has proliferated remains stable with the supply of phytoplankton. Fish grows behind phytoplankton and zooplankton because of its slow growth rate, but when it enters the middle period, it receives a stable supply of zooplankton and increases its quantity rapidly. Expanding.
When the above input pattern is adopted, the linkage of the food chain proceeds well, and the amount of fish expected as a fishery resource increases.
[0038]
FIG. 3 shows a change in a case where a pattern in which 7 μM nitrogen is introduced once every 7 days is set continuously for one year.
If this input pattern is adopted, the phytoplankton grows in the initial stage, and the zooplankton grows by predating the grown plankton. End up. As a result, zooplankton will die soon after the depletion of phytoplankton. Fish increase slightly due to early zooplankton growth, but do not increase after the zooplankton dies.
When the above input pattern is adopted, the plankton of both plants and animals will be depleted or killed, and only a few fish will be inhabited, and the marine ecosystem will be destroyed.
[0039]
FIG. 4 shows a change in the case where a pattern of introducing 28 μM nitrogen is performed once every 28 days for one year.
When this input pattern is adopted, the phytoplankton grows explosively every time nitrogen is input, but the zooplankton cannot grow because the period of rise and fall is so short that it is almost dead from the initial stage. Fish will also be kept in very small quantities without being supplied with zooplankton.
When adopting the above input pattern, the phytoplankton that grew by absorbing carbon dioxide dissolved in the seawater with nitrogen died without becoming zooplankton food, and the dead body settled on the seabed, Fixed carbon dioxide is not emitted by zooplankton or fish respiration. As a result, carbon dioxide dissolved in the seawater from the atmosphere is immobilized on the seabed using phytoplankton as a medium (this action is called “sequestration of carbon dioxide by a biological pump”).
[0040]
As can be seen from the above results, the phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish as carnivores that make up the marine ecosystem, each of which has a different growth rate, such as nitrogen, animal if phytoplankton The plankton for phytoplankton and the suitable zooplankton for fish are different at different times, and the life cycle is also different.
[0041]
Therefore, if nutrients are added to seawater so that the amount of phytoplankton that will be consumed grows when the zooplankton wants food, the zooplankton will prey on the proliferated vegetative plankton. This will create a food chain with a growing tendency to grow, and if this is done continuously, the amount of fish with a long life cycle will increase cumulatively.
In addition, if the time to supply the food is intentionally removed, the linkage of the food chain will be broken, and the collapse of marine ecosystems and extreme amounts of dioxide that cannot occur in the normal ocean will occur. Carbon immobilization occurs.
[0042]
By the way, about the kind of nutrient salt, you should select based on the component and the density | concentration of the existing nutrient salt not only in nitrogen but in the target sea area. For example, it is desirable that nitrogen and phosphorus exist in seawater at a ratio of 16: 1. However, phosphorus is selected for sea areas where nitrogen is relatively large and phosphorus tends to be insufficient. Should.
Silicon, iron, vitamins, and the like are also indispensable elements for marine organisms, and it is also effective to select them as nutrient salts.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, considering the growth rate of living organisms, the amount of nutrient salt added per one time and the cycle of addition are set, thereby improving various productivity of marine ecosystems, thereby recycling marine resources. Can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a fishery resource recycling system.
FIG. 2 is a graph showing changes in the amount of biological resources of plant, animal plankton and fish when a pattern of introducing 1 μM nitrogen once a day is continued for one year.
FIG. 3 is a graph showing changes in the amount of biological resources of plant, animal plankton, and fish when a pattern in which 7 μM nitrogen is introduced once every seven days is continued for one year.
FIG. 4 is a graph showing changes in the amount of biological resources of plant, animal plankton, and fish when a pattern in which 28 μM nitrogen is introduced once every 28 days is continued for one year.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Nutrient production plant 2 Underwater structure 3 Nutrient distribution device 4, 5 Transport ship

Claims (3)

In consideration of the growth rate of zooplankton constituting the marine ecosystem, a method for controlling the marine ecosystem that causes intentional changes in the marine ecosystem by adding nutrients to seawater,
Setting a pattern of addition time such that an amount of phytoplankton that will be consumed grows when the zooplankton wants food , and adding the nutrient salt to seawater according to the pattern of the addition time A characteristic marine ecosystem control method.   The marine ecosystem control method according to claim 1, wherein an addition amount and an addition cycle of the nutrient salt are set in consideration of a growth rate of the zooplankton. The nutrient, marine ecosystems control method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that includes at least a nitrogen.

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