Molecular evidence for three separate cryptic introductions of the red seaweed Asparagopsis (Bonnemaisoniales,Rhodophyta) in South Africa

The red seaweed genus Asparagopsis Montagne (Bonnemaisoniales) contains two widely introduced species that are considered notorious seaweed invaders worldwide, Asparagopsis armata and A. taxiformis, both characterised by heteromorphic, diplo-haplontic life histories. To uncover cryptic introductions of Asparagopsis along the South African coastline and identify ‘Falkenbergia’ isolates (i.e. tetrasporophytic life-history phase morphologically identical between species), the mitochon-drial cox2–3 spacer was sequenced from gametophytes of Asparagopsis taxiformis from Scottburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, on the East Coast, Knysna Lagoon on the South Coast and from tetrasporophytes, otherwise unidentifiable to species level, collected from False Bay near Cape Town on the South-West Coast and Tsitsikamma on the South Coast. Only tetrasporophytes of the temperate Asparagopsis armata were encountered from the Cape Peninsula (Cape Town) probably as far east as to Port St Johns, Eastern Cape province. This is considered an introduced species, and was first collected at Kommetjie (Cape Peninsula) in 1935. Gametophytes of the warm-temperate to tropical A. taxiformis were first collected at Reunion Rocks near Durban in 1984; the KwaZulu-Natal material studied here belongs to an Atlantic Mediterranean cryptic lineage. This taxon is an ecological dominant in some intertidal and shallow subtidal areas in northern KwaZulu-Natal, and is thus considered ‘introduced’ and ‘invasive’. In contrast, A. taxiformis gametophytes, collected in Knysna Lagoon in 2008, clustered with individuals of Indo-Pacific lineage 2. The latter is considered a major invasive lineage in the western Mediterranean, but at present is categorised as introduced in South Africa. This study provides molecular evidence of three independent, cryptic introductions in South Africa, one of them probably very recent, and this is discussed with respect to potential vectors responsible for transport.     

Effects of temporal variation of the seaweed Caulerpa prolifera cover on the associated crustacean community

The aim of this study was to establish the effect of temporal variation of the alga Caulerpa prolifera cover on the composition and stability of the associated crustacean community. Forty‐five crustacean species were found, amphipods and tanaidaceans being the most abundant groups. The stations were grouped mainly based on the gradient of algal cover, independently of location or sampling period (MDS analyses). Considering separately epifaunal and infaunal species, the epifauna occurred mainly at high cover (HC) and medium–low cover (MLC) stations, while the infauna occurred at MLC and unvegetated (UV) stations. Infaunal species were predominant in all stations and sampling periods, and the abundance and numbers of epifaunal species showed a clear dependence of algal cover. To quantify the loss of biodiversity due to the plant cover variations, we applied the average and variation in taxonomic distinctness (Δ⁺ and Λ⁺, respectively). The HC stations, especially those with fewer algal cover variations along the study period, showed few fluctuations of Δ⁺,and Λ⁺ was usually located near mean; however, UV stations tended to fall in the area where the statistical power of the test is reduced and showed more oscillations of Λ⁺. The ability of these indices to test the fauna composition in function of the alga presence is discussed.     

Temporal variation of ophiuroids associated with the macroalga Amphiroa fragilissima on a Southwest Atlantic coral reef

The species of Ophiuroidea that commonly occur on coral reefs can be found on different substrates and associated with other organisms including algae, sponges, and corals. This study evaluated the temporal variability of the ophiuroid fauna associated with the alga Amphiroa fragilissima on the Ponta Verde coral reef on the coast of Maceió in Alagoas, Northeastern Brazil. Replicate samples of algal substrate were collected at low tide during in the dry and rainy seasons, over a 10‐year period, from 1998–2007. Eight species of Ophiuroidea were identified, with a total of 8736 individuals associated with A. fragilissima. The most dominant and frequent species of Ophiuroidea were Amphipholis squamata and Ophiactis savignyi; all other species were rare. Cluster analysis and nMDS detected four groups, with two groups each occurring only in summer or winter periods, as well as other groups occurring in both periods.     

Spatial and temporal variation of diverse inter‐tidal algal assemblages in Southwest O‘ahu

Spatial and temporal variation in tropical inter‐tidal communities is poorly known, making predictions about the effects of climate change and other anthropogenic disturbances difficult. Along Southwest O‘ahu, Hawai'i, local residents are concerned about the environmental effects of coastal development and the perceived loss of targeted algal species, which are collected for human consumption. To describe the coastal benthic community and better understand the processes that form and maintain it, the abundance and composition of macroalgae were sampled in the region's inter‐tidal zone from 2006 to 2015. Sixty‐six macroalgal species and two broad algal assemblages were identified that corresponded to substrate topography and sand influence at a similar tidal elevation. Along flat carbonate benches with a sand beach, Phaeophyceae and Rhodophytes occurred in almost equal proportions, while shores with slightly more topographic relief and angular substrate were dominated by Rhodophytes. Foliose or turf algal forms were most common. Surveys captured the local invasion of an alga, Avrainvillea sp. and significant declines in abundant macroalgae in 2015 after a period of unseasonably warm, calm water. Temporal changes in algal assemblages were related to maximum water temperature and wave height but not precipitation. Thus, algal assemblages appear to be structured by local beach morphology as they interact with sand and wave activity and episodically by unusual weather events. However, manipulation and continuous monitoring of the algal assemblages coupled to sensing of the localized environment is necessary to confirm factors related to assembly maintenance and recent species shifts.     

模拟电厂温排水温升和游离余氯对亚心形扁藻生长影响的研究

以亚心形扁藻(Platymonas subcordiformis)为受试藻种,模拟温升和游离余氯条件,研究浮游植物对核电厂温排水的生态响应。结果表明,春秋季温升对其生长影响较小,而在夏季,其生长受到显著抑制。亚心形扁藻对游离余氯非常敏感,0.1 mg/L游离余氯既能抑制其生长,抑制作用随着游离余氯浓度的升高而增强。温升会加剧游离余氯的抑制作用,4℃温升和0.1 mg/L游离余氯联合作用对亚心形扁藻的抑制效果明显增加。由于温升和游离余氯的联合作用,即使在离排口较远的水域,仍然会导致亚心形扁藻数量减少。     

Influence of rock‐pool characteristics on the distribution and abundance of inter‐tidal fishes

Rock pools can be found in inter‐tidal marine environments worldwide; however, there have been few studies exploring what drives their, fish species composition, especially in Australia. The rock‐pool environment is highly dynamic and offers a unique natural laboratory to study the habitat choices, physiological limitations and adaptations of inter‐tidal fish species. In this study rock pools of the Sydney region were sampled to determine how the physical (volume, depth, rock cover and vertical position) and biological (algal cover and predator presence) parameters of pools influence fish distribution and abundance. A total of 27 fish species representing 14 families was observed in tide pools at the four study locations. The five most abundant species were Bathygobius cocosensis, Centropogon australis, Enneapterygius atrogulare, Lepidoblennius haplodactylus and Microcanthus strigatus, which together represented 71% of the total number of fish recorded. Larger rock pools containing more algal and rock ledge cover hosted a larger and more diverse population of fish. Furthermore, certain species were only found in pools with specific characteristics, such as the presence of loose shells, a variety algae or rock cover, suggesting a high degree of habitat specificity. By contrast, some species were ubiquitous and thus can likely tolerate a wide variety of physical conditions.     

Algivory in hawksbill turtles: Eretmochelys imbricata food selection within a foraging area on the Northern Great Barrier Reef

This paper describes the food selection of hawksbill turtles, Eretmochelys imbricata, using reefs of the Far Northern Section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (nGBR) during 2006 and 2007. A total of 467 gastric lavage and 71 buccal cavity ingesta items were collected from 120 individual E. imbricata, comprising adult female and immature turtles of both sexes. Nineteen E. imbricata that were captured in 2006 were recaptured and sampled again in 2007. Within the total pooled buccal and lavage sample (n = 538), the occurrence of food items was dominated (72.7%) by only three algal taxonomic divisions: Rhodophyta (red algae; 53.7%, n = 289); Chlorophyta (green algae; 11.0%, n = 59) and algae from the division of Phaeophyceae (brown algae; 8.0%, n = 43). The remaining total (buccal and lavage) ingesta sample comprised sponges (10.4%, n = 56), soft corals and a wide variety of possibly nutritionally important invertebrate species (12.6%, n = 68), and a small percentage (5.4%, n = 22) of inorganic material. Generally, E. imbricata were considered to be primarily a sponge‐feeding specialist and secondarily an omnivorous species; within coral reef habitats and in various parts of the world this is the case. However, this study has shown that E. imbricata found foraging on reefs of the nGBR are primarily algivorous and secondarily omnivorous. A feeding strategy that relies on a predominantly algal diet may infer important benefits to the species if the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification inhibit coral growth, while promoting algal density and distribution within the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem.     

Crustacean decapod assemblages associated with fragmented Posidonia oceanica meadows in the Alboran Sea (Western Mediterranean Sea): composition,temporal dynamics and influence of meadow structure

The decapod assemblage associated with a Posidonia oceanica meadow located near its western limit of biogeographic distribution was studied over an annual cycle. Fauna samples were taken seasonally over a year (five replicates per season) in two sites located 7 km apart, using a non‐destructive sampling method (airlift sampler) for the seagrass. The dominant species of the assemblage, Pisidia longimana, Pilumnus hirtellus and Athanas nitescens, were associated with the protective rhizome stratum, which is mainly used as a nursery. The correlations between decapod assemblage structure and some phenological parameters of the seagrass shoots and wave height were negative or null, which reflects that species associated with the rhizome had a higher importance than those associated with the leaf stratum. The abundance and composition of the decapod assemblage as well as the ecological indexes displayed a seasonality trend with maximum values in summer‐autumn and minimum in winter‐spring, which were related to the seawater temperature and the recruitment periods of the dominant species. The spatial differences found in the structure and dynamics of the assemblages may be due to variations in the recruitment of the dominant species, probably as a result of the influence of local factors (e.g. temperature, currents) and the high dispersal ability of decapods, together with the patchy configuration and the surrounding habitats. The studied meadows are fragmented and are integrated within a mosaic of habitats (Cymodocea nodosa patches, algal meadows, rocky and sandy bottoms), which promotes the movement of individuals and species among them, maintaining a high species richness and evenness.     

一株桑沟湾赤潮藻的分子鉴定

2011年5月山东荣成桑沟湾近海海域暴发赤潮,其规模在桑沟湾历史上罕见,较严重地影响了该海域水产动物的人工养殖。本文作者分离得到了赤潮暴发过程中海水里的一株优势种,并对其核糖体18S RNA基因(18S rDNA)和转录单元内间隔区(ITS)进行了序列扩增和分析。依据这两种序列构建的系统进化树都显示这株藻与卡罗藻Karlodinium veneficum(=K.micrum)完全聚在一起,因此推断出其应为K.veneficum,是一种常见有害赤潮藻。本文是卡罗藻在桑沟湾海域暴发的首次报道。     

苏北浅滩沉积物中的大型绿藻微观繁殖体的垂直分布和物种多样性

本研究通过在2017年秋冬季组织实施的2个绿潮种源调查航次,研究苏北浅滩紫菜养殖区沉积物中的大型绿藻微观繁殖体的垂直分布和物种多样性。对沉积物中的微观繁殖体的定量实验结果表明:表层泥样中绿藻微观繁殖体的丰度最高,随着深度的增加迅速降低。在9月份表层沉积物中丰度为9±2ind./g,而在11月份表层丰度达到98±25ind./g;与9月份相比, 11月份浅滩沉积物中绿藻繁殖体数量呈现出显著升高的趋势。通过对51个绿藻样品的分子鉴定发现:沉积物中存在石莼属(Ulva)、尾孢藻属(Urospora)、盘苔属(Blidingia)等大型绿藻的微观繁殖体;数量占优是石莼属繁殖体,主要包括曲浒苔(Ulva flexuosa)、浒苔(Ulva prolifera)、扁浒苔(Ulva compressa)、缘管浒苔(Ulva linza);其中曲浒苔占据的比例最高,在9和11月份分别达到80.94%和73.33%。在2个调查航次中,都从沉积物中发现了绿潮浒苔的微观繁殖体,这些微观繁殖体是绿潮浒苔在苏北浅滩种源维持的重要方式和关键阶段,也构成了黄海浒苔绿潮连年暴发的"种子库"。     

Characterization of bacterial symbioses in Myrtea sp. (Bivalvia: Lucinidae) and Thyasira sp. (Bivalvia: Thyasiridae) from a cold seep in the Eastern Mediterranean

Cold seeps have recently been discovered in the Nile deep‐sea fan (Eastern Mediterranean), and data regarding associated fauna are still scarce. In this study, two bivalve species associated with carbonate crusts and reduced sediment are identified based on sequence analysis of their 18S and 28S rRNA‐encoding genes, and associated bacterial symbioses are investigated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and microscopy‐based approaches. The specimens are closely related to Myrtea spinifera and Thyasira flexuosa, two species previously documented at various depths from other regions but not yet reported from the Eastern Mediterranean. Both species harbour abundant gammaproteobacterial endosymbionts in specialized gill epithelial cells. The Myrtea‐associated bacterium is closely related to lucinid symbionts from both deep‐sea and coastal species, whereas the Thyasira‐associated bacterium is closely related to the symbiont of a T. flexuosa from coastal waters off the U.K. An epsilonproteobacterial sequence has also been identified in Thyasira which could correspond to a helicoid‐shaped morphotype observed by electron microscopy, but this was not confirmed using fluorescent in situ hybridization. Virus‐like particles were observed within some symbionts in Thyasira, mostly in bacteriocytes localized close to the ciliated zone of the gill filament. Overall, results indicate that very close relatives of shallow species M. spinifera and T. flexuosa occur at cold seeps in the Eastern Mediterranean and harbour chemoautotrophic symbioses similar to those found in their coastal relatives.     

5种南海海藻醇提取物活性初步研究

海藻是海洋生物代谢产物的主要来源之一,能产生丰富多样的生物活性物质.为了更好地利用中国南海的海藻资源,分别对采自中国湛江硇洲岛的1种绿藻基根硬毛藻Chaetomorpha basiretorsa Setchell和4种红藻刺状鱼栖苔Acantophora spicififera (Vahl) Boerg、三列凹顶藻Laurencia tristicha Tseng, Chang et Xia、紫杉状海门冬Asparagopsis taxiformis (Delile) Trevisan、鸡毛菜Pterocladia tenuis Okam进行了生物活性研究,分别对细胞毒活性(KB、Bel-7402、PC-3M、Ketr3和MCF-7)、Na~+,K~+-ATPase抑制活性以及犬血管平滑肌细胞增殖抑制活性进行了筛选,部分海藻提取物表现出一定的生理活性.     

The introduction of Sargassum muticum modifies epifaunal patterns in a Moroccan seagrass meadow

Marine macrophytes sustain valuable epiphytic biodiversity. Nonindigenous macroalgae may induce changes in composition and structure of epifaunal assemblages and therefore support different assemblages from those associated with native species. In this study, differences in faunal community structure between the introduced fucoid Sargassum muticum and the native seagrass Cymodocea nodosa were tested over a year on an intertidal shallow sandy bottom at the southern introduction front, the El Jadida coastline (NW Morocco). Epifaunal community structure consistently differed between macrophytes through seasons, with more species‐rich assemblages associated with S. muticum than C. nodosa despite comparable abundances. The significantly greater epifauna diversity on S. muticum may be related to its structural complexity. However, the species contributing most to differences in assemblages between both macrophytes, such as Steromphala umbilicalis and S. pennanti, were found on both habitats with temporally varying abundances. Some species‐specific affinities were detected (Stenosoma cf. acuminatum, Elasmopus vachoni, Chauvetia brunnea). Nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, suspended matter and temperature were identified as the best explanatory variables contributing to the observed macroepifaunal patterns. This study provides evidence that S. muticum acts as a favourable and additional habitat for epifaunal species and supports a more diverse epifaunal assemblage in this Moroccan seagrass meadow.     

Five new species of Halacaridae (Acari) from New Zealand

In the Cape Rodney to Okari Point Marine Reserve, Goat Island Bay, Auckland, New Zealand, several halacarids were collected on an intertidal flat. The mites were found associated with encrusting bryozoans, sponges, and lithothamnia. Five mites—Rhombognathus lacunosus n.sp., Rhombognathus fractus n.sp., Halacarus nitidus n.sp., Agauopsis similis n.sp., and Agaue insignata n.sp.—are described, illustrated, and compared with related species.     

Removal of intertidal algae by herbivores in experimental frames and on shores near Auckland

When grazing animals are excluded from any intertidal area algae grow unchecked. In screened frames on the shore where predation experiments are in progress such growth is undesirable. A number of shore herbivores were tested for their ability to remove such algal growth and prevent its reformation without interfering with the main experiments. Only the browsing species Lunella smaragda and Melagraphia aethiops were capable of removing large algal growths, and these species were acceptable food for some of the predatory species. The complex inter‐relationship between grazing species and shore zonation at several places near Auckland is discussed.     

Species diversity of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Skeletonema</Emphasis> (Bacillariophyceae) in the industrial harbor Dokai Bay,Japan

Seven Skeletonema species were identified at one station in the industrial harbor Dokai Bay, Japan, in October 2007 and then monthly from January 2008 to December 2009 by morphological scanning electron microscopy observations and molecular analyses of mainly the large subunit (LSU) rDNA. We refer to one species identified as S. dohrnii using LSU rDNA, but as S. marinoi using the small subunit (SSU) rDNA and consequently we use the term S. marinoi-dohrnii complex. This is the first time that S. ardens, S. costatum s.s., and S. pseudocostatum have been recorded in Japan and that S. menzelii and S. tropicum have been identified by molecular methods in Japan. The S. marinoi-dohrnii complex was isolated with high frequency all year-round, and S. japonicum was also isolated with high frequency but not so in summer. S. Tropicum was isolated from September to December, but S. ardens and S. costatum s.s. were isolated only when the water temperature exceeded 20°C. S. pseudocostatum bloomed just once, in summer, but S. menzelii was isolated in May and again in October. The continuous year-round occurrence of S. costatum s.l. in the bay is supported by the succession of these seven species. Six of the species, except S. menzelii, were important components of algal blooms in the bay. One to four species of Skeletonema were isolated every month. Monthly species diversity was higher when S. ardens, S. costatum s.s., and S. tropicum that are usually associated with tropical or subtropical waters, were isolated. In general, species diversity of the genus Skeletonema was very high in Dokai Bay.     

中国海域南褐虾属种类记述(甲壳动物亚门, 十足目, 褐虾科)

为了搞清中国海域存在的南褐虾(Philocheras)的生物多样性和地理分布,作者通过形态学特征系统研究了中国科学院海洋研究所海洋生物标本馆馆藏的南褐虾标本,此标本主要采自中国海域,也检查了部分采自菲律宾海域的标本。本研究和相关文献的结果表明:中国海域存在的南褐虾共计7种,包括作者描绘的4种以及在其他文献中提到的3种。作者对本次研究的4种南褐虾提供了详细的鉴别特征、地理分布、外部整体图和附肢结构图,并对中国海域存在的7种南褐虾提供了检索表。     

Germination of phytoplankton resting cells from surface sediments in two areas of the Southern Chinese coastal waters

To understand the role of phytoplankton resting cells in the outbreak of algal blooms, particularly harmful algal blooms, surface sediments were collected monthly from April 2007 to March 2008 from two bays near the international ports in the Southern Chinese coastal waters. Sieved sediments were incubated for 20 and 40 days, and germinated vegetative cells were observed. Altogether, 97 taxa were recorded, of which 50 were diatoms and 35 dinoflagellates. Vegetative cells of cyanobacteria, chlorophytes, dictyophytes, euglenophytes, haptophytes, and raphidophytes were also observed. Centric diatoms such as Chaetoceros, Melosira, Skeletonema, and Thalassiosira dominated. Scrippsiella, Gymnodinium, and Alexandrium were common dinoflagellate taxa. Diatom spores germinated in samples from all seasons but were abundant in the autumn and winter samples. Low numbers of dinoflagellate cells germinated in the winter samples. The nanophytoplankton taxa, Gymnodinium corii and Chrysochromulina sp., which have not been recorded in the previous phytoplankton surveys, were abundant, suggesting either their new appearance in the water column or perhaps that they were overlooked in routine phytoplankton monitoring due to their small sizes. Vegetative cells of harmful or potentially harmful taxa were germinated, and some of them such as Amphidinium, Gambierdiscus, Ostreopsis, and Coolia have not previously been reported in the study area. Based on the results of the incubation of sediments from the two bays near the international ports, it is suggested that international shipping increases the risk of the introduction of new phytoplankton species and thus promotes the incidence of harmful algal blooms.     

Inter-season and interannual variations in fish and macrocrustacean community structure on a eastern English Channel sandy beach: Influence of environmental factors

The intertidal zone of an exposed sandy beach on the French coast of the English Channel was sampled with a 1.5 m beam-trawl over five years (2000 and 2003–2006) at weekly intervals. The fish and macrocrustacean catches were analysed to determine the inter-season and interannual variation in community structure and relate these variations to changes in the major environmental variables. Only six species (plaice Pleuronectes platessa, common goby Pomatoschistus microps, sprat Sprattus sprattus, sand eel Ammodytes tobianus, brown shrimp Crangon crangon and shore crab Carcinus maenas) from the 27 species captured can be considered as dominant species of the intertidal zone, and they accounted for >90% of total numbers. Most individuals caught were young-of-the-year or juvenile. Analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) and similarities percentage (SIMPER) indicated that inter-season variability of community structure (mean average similarity = 47%) was more pronounced than interannual variability (mean average similarity = 65%). Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicates that a substantial component (32.2%) of the measured inter-season variation in community structure can be explained by environmental factors (mainly water temperature). The main inter-season changes in the abundance and community structure were due to the variation of the six key species and reflect the different times of their recruitment. During the five years of the study, the structure of the fish and macrocrustacean spring community persisted from year to year, with the dominant species reappearing consistently even though their abundances fluctuated from year to year. This interannual variation probably reflects variable recruitment success influenced by physico-chemical conditions. In spite of the considerable interannual variation (40 times) in the spring bloom of the prymnesiophyte alga Phaeocystis globosa we found no effect of this bloom on either fish and macrocrustacean species densities or diversity index.     

Toxic effects of decomposing red algae on littoral organisms

Large masses of filamentous red algae of the genera Polysiphonia, Rhodomela, and Ceramium are regularly washed up on beaches of the central Baltic Sea. As the algal masses start to decay, red coloured effluents leak into the water, and this tinge may be traced several hundred meters off shore. In this study, possible toxic effects of these effluents were tested on littoral organisms from different trophic levels. Effects on fertilisation, germination and juvenile survival of the brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus were investigated, and mortality tests were performed on the crustaceans Artemia salina and Idotea baltica, as well as on larvae and adults of the fish Pomatoschistus microps. Fucus vesiculosus was the most sensitive species of the tested organisms to the red algal extract. The survival of F. vesiculosus recruits was reduced with 50% (LC50) when exposed to a concentration corresponding to 1.7 g l⁻¹ dw red algae. The lethal concentration for I. baltica, A. salina and P. microps were approximately ten times higher. The toxicity to A. salina was reduced if the algal extract was left to decompose during two weeks but the decline in toxicity was not affected by different light or temperature conditions. This study indicates that the filamentous red algae in the central Baltic Sea may produce and release compounds with negative effects on the littoral ecosystem. The effects may be particularly serious for the key species F. vesiculosus, which reproduce in autumn when filamentous red algal blooms are most severe.