A new species and new recorded species of Lumbrineridae Schmarda, 1861 (Annelida: Polychaeta) from China

Based on material deposited in the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Qingdao),a new species,Lumbrineris sinensis sp.nov.,as well as Augeneria albidentata(Ehlers,1908),which is recorded for the first time from coastal water of China,are reported in the present paper.The specimens examined were collected during 1958 to 1960 from the Yellow Sea,East China Sea and South China Sea at depths of 4 to 182 m.     

Two new records of Pyramidellidae (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) from China seas

This paper reports two species of the family Pyramidellidae (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia), Otopleura nitida (A. Adams, 1854) and Rugadentia manzakiana (Yokoyama, 1922). The former was from the South China Sea and the latter was from the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. The study was based on the collections deposited in the Marine Biological Museum, Chinese Academy of Sciences. This is for the first time that these species have been recorded in China seas. In the current contribution, we describe and illustrate these two species, and compare them with similar species.     

Systematic position ofMucronella perforata Okada et Mawatari 1937

Mucronella perforata was first discovered from Onagawa Bay, northern Honshu, Japan, in 1937 by Okada and Mawatari. It was reported from Hong Kong and its neighboring waters and was referred to the genusHippopodina Levinsen, 1909 of the Family Hippopodinidae Levinsen, 1909 by Huang et al. (1990) and Huang (1994). According to the astogeny of the species, both the ancestrula and its successor zooids have an ascus proximal to the orifice, and its hyperstomial ovicells are imperforate, so it could not be a member of any known genus of the known families of the superfamily Schizoporelloidea Jullien, 1883 in the infraorder Lepraliomorpha Gordon, 1989. The new genusPacificincola and the new family Pacificincolidae established respectively on the basis of reexaminations of the Chinese specimens obtained from the southern Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the northern South China Sea.Schizoporella insculpta Hincks, 1880 andHippoporina mexicana Soule, Soule et Chaney, 1995 have been referred to the new genus in the paper. Contribution No. 3658 from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Project 39670100 supported by NSFC and work also supported by the Special Foundation of Biota, IOCAS.     

2Thyone pohaiensis,a new sea cucumber from the Bohai Sea,China

In the present paper, a new species ofThyone (Echinodermata, Holothurioidea) collected from the Bohai Sea, China, is described. Contribution N.1290 from the Institute of Oceanology, Academia-Sinica.     

Ulva and Enteromorpha (Ulvaceae, Chlorophyta) from two sides of the Yellow Sea: analysis of nuclear rDNA ITS and plastid rbcL sequence data

Ulvacean green seaweeds are common worldwide; they formed massive green tides in the Yellow Sea in recent years, which caused marine ecological problems as well as a social issue. We investigated two major genera of the Ulvaceae, Ulva and Enteromorpha, and collected the plastid rbcL and nuclear ITS sequences of specimens of the genera in two sides of the Yellow Sea and analyzed them. Phylogenetic trees of rbcL data show the occurrence of five species of Enteromorpha (E. compressa, E. flexuosa, E. intestinalis, E. linza and E. prolifera) and three species of Ulva (U. pertusa, U. rigida and U. ohnoi). However, we found U. ohnoi, which is known as a subtropical to tropical species, at two sites on Jeju Island, Korea. Four ribotypes in partial sequences of 5.8S rDNA and ITS2 from E. compressa were also found. Ribotype network analysis revealed that the common ribotype, occurring in China, Korea and Europe, is connected with ribotypes from Europe and China/Japan. Although samples of the same species were collected from both sides of the Yellow Sea, intraspecific genetic polymorphism of each species was low among samples collected worldwide.     

Toxic effects of Karenia mikimotoi extracts on mammalian cells

Karenia is one of the most harmful and representative red tide genus in a temperate zone. Blooms caused by this genus have resulted in massive fish death in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. However, the potential effects of this dinoflagellate on human health through the transfer of toxins via marine food webs, and the mechanisms of toxicity, are still unknown. Therefore, we examined the toxic effects of a strain of K. mikimotoi (isolated from the South China Sea) on the proliferation and morphology of four mammalian cell lines (two normal cell lines and two cancer cell lines). In addition, we carried out a preliminary investigation on the mechanism of toxicity of the alga. The results show that the polar lipid-soluble component of K. mikimotoi significantly inhibited proliferation of the four cell lines, and resulted in the cells becoming spherical, swollen and damaged. The result of Annexin V and PI double-staining confirmed that cell membranes were disrupted. The malonaldehyde (MDA) contents in the medium of the four cell lines treated with the polar-lipid extracts all increased significantly, which indicates that the polar-lipid toxins produced by K. mikimotoi could adversely affect mammalian cells by inducing lipid peroxidation. We conclude that K. mikimotoi is a potential threat to human health, and the comprehensive effect of this dinoflagellate and its mechanisms should be investigated further.     

Will harmful dinoflagellate Karenia mikimotoi grow phagotrophically?

We studied the phagotrophic ability of dinoflagellate strain Karenia mikimotoi KM-Lü (isolated from the South China Sea), using fluorescent microspheres, bacteria isolated from the culture of K. mikimotoi and a marine microalgae Isochrysis galbana. We found that K. mikimotoi cultured under conditions of high light intensity could ingest fluorescent microspheres (diameters 0.5 and 2.0 μm) and fluorescence-labeled bacteria and microalgae. Under a low light intensity, however, only fluorescent microspheres (diameter 0.5 μm) and fluorescence-labeled microalgae were ingested. K. mikimotoi showed better growth by ingesting living marine bacteria or microalgae I. galbana than the controls, either in nutrient-depleted or nutrient-replete conditions. In nutrient-depleted conditions, the growth of K. mikimotoi was more significant with I. galbana as the prey item. In conclusion, the harmful dinoflagellate K. mikimotoi from the South China Sea has apparent phagotrophic ability, and some marine bacteria and microalgae may promote the growth of K. mikimotoi.     

Report on Pontoniinae shrimps （Crustacea：Decapoda）collected by Joint Chinese—German Marine Biology Expeditions to Hainan lsland ,South China Sea：Ⅱ.Harpiliopsis,Ischnopontonia,Jocaste,Palae—mone

The present paper reports 9 species of pontoniine shrimps collected from Hainan IS-land ,South China Sea ,by the Joint Chinese-German Marine Biology Expeditions,in which Peri-climenaeus arabicus (Calman,1939) and Periclimenaeus hecate (Nobili,1904) are recorded for the first time from Hainan Island.     

Tidal effects on temperature front in the Yellow Sea

Temperature front (TF) is one of the important features in the Yellow Sea, which forms in spring, thrives in summer, and fades in autumn as thermocline declines. TF intensity ⋎S _T ⋎ is defined to describe the distribution of TF. Based on the MASNUM wave-tide-circulation coupled model, temperature distribution in the Yellow Sea was simulated with and without tidal effects. Along 36°N, distribution of TF from the simulated results are compared with the observations, and a quantitative analysis is introduced to evaluate the tidal effects on the forming and maintaining processes of the TF. Tidal mixing and the circulation structure adapting to it are the main causes of the TF. Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (No. G1999043809) and the National Science Foundation of China (No. 49736190).     

Preliminary study on pisionids (Annelida: Polychaeta Pisionidae) from Hainan Island coastal waters, South China Sea

Of the four species ofPisione Grube (1856) collected from the coastal waters of Hainan Island, the South China Sea, and described in this paper,Pisione hainanensis n. sp. is new to science;Pisione oerstedii Grube, 1857;Pisione complexa Alikunhi, 1947, and Pisione levisetosa Zhao, Westheide & Wu, 1991 are reported for the first time from this area. Project 38970187 supported by NSFC.     

New genus and species of polyplacophora (Mollusca) from the East China Sea

The present paper dealing with two new species and one new genus of the Polyplacophora, is the first of a series of reports of systematic study on the deep sea mollusca collected by the research vesselsJINXING andKEXUE I of the Academia Sinica, Institute of Oceanology, during 1978 and 1981 from the continental margin to the bathyal zone of the East China Sea. Contribution No. 1647 from the Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica.     

REPORT ON PONTONIINE SHRIMPS（CRUSTACEA：DECAPODA）COLLECTED BY JOINT CHINESE—GERMAN MARINE BIOLOGY EXPEDITIONS TO HAINAN ISLAND,SOUTH CHINA SEA i.ANCHISTUS,CONCHODYTES,CORALLIOCARIS

The present paper reports 7 species of pontoniine shrimps collected from Hainan Island,South China Sea,by the Joint Chinese-German Marine Biology Expeditions,in which,Conchodytes nipponensis(De Haan,1844)and Coralliocaris brevirostris Borradaile,1898 are new records from Chinese waters.     

A new pomfret species,Pampus minor sp. nov. (Stromateidae) from Chinese waters

Thirty-two 63.0–134.4 mm standard length specimens collected during 1954–1990 from the coastal waters of the South China Sea and the continental coast of the Taiwan Strait were identified as a new species,Pampus minor Liuet Li, sp. nov. Contribution No. 3329 from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Study supported by Chinese Academy of Sciences Special Grant for Biota Research.     

An analysis of characteristics of variation of the Taiwan Warm Current Deep Water

The Taiwan Warm Current Deep Water (or the East China Sea Upper Layer Water, or the East China Sea Subsurface Water) lying in the deep and bottom layers off the coast of Fujian-Zhejiang is one of the main watermasses in the continental shelf region of the western East China Sea. The hydrographical conditions and the fishery productions in this region are affected remarkably by the decline and growth of the Taiwan Warm Current Deep Water. Although the temperature, salinity and origin of the Taiwan Warm Current Deep Water have been investigated^[3] by oceanographers the world over, there are up to now few papers published on its characteristics of ariations (seasonal and multiyear variations). Understanding of this problem will be helpful to further characterize this watermass. For this reason, in this paper, section 28°N representing the middle Taiwan Warm Current Deep Water and section 30°N representing the northern Taiwan Warm Current Deep Water are taken for examples, and the method of similar coefficient is used for analysis of this problem. Contribution No. 861 from the Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica. This paper was published in Chinese inOceanologia et Limnologia, Sinica 14 (4): 357–366.     

Impacts of internal waves on chlorophyll a distribution in the northern portion of the South China Sea

Internal waves can bring nutrients to the upper level of water bodies and facilitate phytoplankton photosynthesis. Internal waves occur frequently in the northern portion of the South China Sea and inflict an important effect on chlorophyll a distribution. In this study, in-situ observation and satellite remote sensing data were used to study the effects of internal waves on chlorophyll a distribution. Based on the in-situ observations, lower chlorophyll a concentrations were present in the middle and bottom level in areas in which internal waves occur frequently, while the surface chlorophyll a distribution increased irregularly, and a small area with relatively higher chlorophyll a concentrations was observed in the area around the Dongsha Island. Satellite remote sensing showed that the chlorophyll a concentration increased in the area near Dongsha Island, where internal waves frequently occurred. The results of the increased chlorophyll a concentration in the surface water near Dongsha Island in the northern portion of the South China Sea indicated that internal waves could uplift phytoplankton and facilitate phytoplankton growth.     

Morphology and molecular identification of Ulva forming green tides in Qingdao, China

Green tides are caused by the proliferation of chlorophytes under suitable hydrographic conditions.These blooms lead to environmental degradation and negatively impact the waters and seagrass beds,as well as fishing and other recreational activities in the bay.A comprehensive ecological understanding of the bloom dynamics,including the origin and persistence,is needed to foster management decisions.The algae in the great majority of green tide blooms usually belong to two genera of Ulvophyceae,Ulva and Enteromorpha.Ulva has been observed more often in recent years.In China,green tides occurred for the first time in the middle area of the Yellow Sea in 2007,and a large-scale algae blooming broke out in the middle and southern areas of the Yellow Sea in late May 2008.We identified them as Ulva prolifera by comparative analysis of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1),5.8S and ITS2 sequences in combination with microscopic observation.Morphological differences were found between the free-floating algae and the attached thalli.Various reproduction patterns of the free-floating algae include sexual,asexual and vegetative propagations,which played important roles in the long-term green tide persistence in China.The ITS sequences of the blooming algae were identical to those of the samples from the Lianyungang sea area but were different from the attached samples from the Qingdao sea area.The results infer that the blooms are originated from other sea areas rather than from the local attached populations.     

Two new species of Ophidiasterid sea-stars from the vicinity of Diaoyudao,East China Sea

Two new species of the asteroid family Ophidiasteridae are described from two specimens collected by commercial fishery vessels of Qingdao from the vicinity of Diaoyudao (25°45′N, 123°15′E), East China Sea.Hacelia tuberculata sp. nov. shows affinities withH. tyloplax (H. L. Clark, 1914) andLinckia gracilis sp. nov. is related toL. laevigata (Linnaeus). Contribution No. 1163 from the Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica.