Intertidal meiofauna of Jeju Island,Korea

For the first time, the structure of the meiobenthos community and marine nematodes in particular was investigated in the different intertidal zones of Jeju Island (South Sea of Korea). A relationship was found between the density of meiobenthic communities and the type of the bottom sediment. In addition, in the silty sediments, nematodes were dominant, while in the sandy sediments harpacticoids and ostracods were dominant groups. Sixty eight species belonging to 60 genera and 19 families of nematodes were found in the whole area. Four different nematode taxocenosis were distinguished using a cluster analysis. Dominant feeding groups were omnivores (2B) and epistratum-feeders (2A). The highest number of non-selective deposit-feeders (1B) was detected in the lagoon with the bottom silty sediments.     

Meiobenthos in Nha trang bay of the south China sea (Vietnam)

The distribution of the taxonomical composition and the density of meiobenthos depending on the sediment type has been studied in bottom sediments of Nha Trang Bay. The maximal population density and the taxonomical diversity were observed in the silted coarse and heterogeneous sand (1031.4μ419.7 ind. 10 cm^-2), whereas the minimal level of density and diversity (588.1μ152.5 ind. 10 cm^-2) was in the coarse and heterogeneous sand with shell debris and corals. The correlation between the median diameter of sediment particles and population density of meiobenthos has been revealed (r=0.82, p<0.05). In bottom sediments of Nha Trang Bay, twenty six taxonomic groups of meiobenthos were observed. Nematodes dominated in all sediment types. Representatives of four orders, twenty eight families and ninety seven genera of marine nematodes were identified. The vertical distribution of meiobenthos in different sediment types was considered. A sediment column (10 cm height) was sectioned by five 2 cm portions. In the last layer (8-10 cm) the most number of meiobenthic groups was found in sandy sediments. In the lower layers of silt sediments, only nematodes were found.     

Epizooic metazoan meiobenthos associated with tubeworm and mussel aggregations from cold seeps of the northern Gulf of Mexico

The abundance and higher taxonomic composition of epizooic metazoan meiobenthic communities associated with mussel and tubeworm aggregations of hydrocarbon seeps at Green Canyon, Atwater Valley, and Alaminos Canyon in depths between 1400 and 2800?m were studied and compared to the infaunal community of non-seep sediments nearby. Epizooic meiofaunal abundances of associated meiobenthos living in tubeworm bushes and mussel beds at seeps were extremely low (usually <100?ind. 10?cm(-2)), similar to epizooic meiofauna at deep-sea hydrothermal vents, and the communities were composed primarily of nematodes, copepods, ostracods, and halacarids. In contrast, epizooic meiobenthic abundance is lower than previous studies have reported for infauna from seep sediments. Interestingly, non-seep sediments contained higher abundances and higher taxonomic diversity than epizooic seep communities, although in situ primary production is restricted to seeps.     

Composition and distribution of meiobenthos in amursky bay (peter the great bay, the east sea)

Qualitative and quantitative composition of meiobenthos was studied in Amursky Bay (Peter the Great Bay, the East Sea). Ten taxonomic groups were found, where nematodes were dominant. Density of meiobenthos in ground sediments of the Bay were not uniform, and the average density was measured at 126.4±62.3 ind. m^-2. 56 species of nematodes were detected, and dominant species wereSabatieria palmaris, Paracanthonchus macrodon, Sphaerolaimus limosus, S. gracilis andOncholaimium ramosum. Five taxocenes of nematodes were allocated based on the results of cluster analysis and species domination according to density. Low diversity in species composition of nematodes was noted in the northwestern part of the Bay, which is a zone of desalination, and in the eastern part, which is exposed to household drains.     

黄河口水下三角洲及其邻近水域线虫群落结构的比较研究

采用多元统计分析法，对黄河口水下三角洲及其邻近渤海莱洲湾和渤海中部的线虫群落结构进行了比较研究，结果表明，与10年前相比，线虫群落的种类组成有了显著的变化，渤海中部的非选择性沉积食性者（1B型）增加了1倍，莱洲湾则增加了5倍，表明该海域有机碎屑沉降量的显著增加，线虫群落在物种，属和科的水平上所作的多元统计图形比较表明，在物种和属水平上的图形无显著差异，这说明，这线虫而言，鉴定到属的样品分析，减少了鉴定到种的分类负提，能满足实际的工作需要。     

Community Structure of Free-living Marine Nematodes in the Area of Agar-Producing Alga Ahnfeltia To b u c h i e n s i s Field (Starka Strait,Peter the Great Bay,East Sea)

The structure of the nematodes communities has been studied in the sediments on two sites located outside and under the layer ofAhnfeltia tobuchiensis (Kanno and Matsubara 1932; Makijenko 1970). Bottom sediments at the stations were represented by sands with a different degree of silting. Specific structure of nematodes at the stations was significantly different under the similar environmental conditions (water depth, dissolved oxygen saturation, salinity, temperature of the bottom layer and organic carbon content inside of the sediment). Nematodes dominated (75.7 %) in meiobenthos community under the layer of A.tobuchiensis where concentration of silt particles was 12 %. Representatives of the family Comesomatidae were dominant. Low index of species diversity and high Simpson domination index were detected in this community. Under a layer ofA. tobuchiensis with the thickness of 30 cm concentration of the silt particles was 5.39 %; nematodes density was low and made 32.1 % of the general density of meiobenthos. Species of the families Xyalidae and Monoposthiidae were dominant. Outside of A.tobuchiensis, field percentage of silt particles was minimal (3.1 %) and representatives of families Cyatholaimidae and Axonolaimidae dominated. The specific structure of nematodes in this type of the ground is characterized by high index of species diversity and low level of domination.     

Meiobenthos under mariculture conditions of the brown seaweed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharina japonica</Emphasis> in Rifovaya Bay,Peter the Great Gulf,Sea of Japan

The qualitative and quantitative compositions of free-living marine nematodes were studied in Rifovaya Bay (Peter the Great Gulf, Sea of Japan). It was found that the density distribution of nematode populations in bottom sediments of Rifovaya Bay is nonuniform. In total, 72 nematode species were found, including Oncholaimium paraolium, Viscosia epapilosa, and Monoposthia latiannulata on all types of substrates. The dominant trophic group comprised “predators” (2B) and “scrapers” (2A). It was shown that the species composition of nematodes in Rifovaya Bay is very similar to the species composition of nematodes in the other areas of Peter the Great Gulf.     

Hydrothermal vent meiobenthos associated with mytilid mussel aggregations from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the East Pacific Rise

Deep-sea hydrothermal vents occur along the mid-ocean ridges and back-arc basins around the globe. There are very few community analyses of vent meiobenthos. The central objectives of this study were to identify and quantify for the first time the entire metazoan meiobenthic community associated with mussel aggregations of Bathymodiolus thermophilus Kenk and Wilson, 1985 from the EPR, 11°N and of Bathymodiolus puteoserpentis Cosel et al., 1994 from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR), 23°N. Using a quantitative sampling method, abundance, biomass, sex ratio, species richness, diversity, evenness, and trophic structure were studied based on three samples from each site. Meiobenthic abundance in each sample was unexpectedly low, but similar between sites. The community was composed of nematodes, copepods, ostracods, and mites, with a total of 24 species at EPR vents, and 15 species at MAR vents. While most copepod species were vent endemics within the family Dirivultidae, nematodes and harpacticoid copepods belonged to generalist genera, which occur at a variety of habitats and are not restricted to hydrothermal vents or the deep sea. The meiobenthos of hydrothermal-vent mussel beds constitutes a unique community unlike those of other sulfidic habitats, including the thiobios of shallow-water sediments and the meiobenthos of deep-sea, cold-seep sediments. The trophic structure was dominated by primary consumers, mainly deposit feeders, followed by parasites. Predatory meiofaunal species were absent.     

Meiobenthic communities of seagrass beds (Zostera capricorni) and unvegetated sediments along the coast of New South Wales,Australia

Seagrass beds have higher biomass, abundance, diversity and productivity of benthic organisms than unvegetated sediments. However, to date most studies have analysed only the macrofaunal component and ignored the abundant meiofauna present in seagrass meadows. This study was designed to test if meiobenthic communities, especially the free-living nematodes, differed between seagrass beds and unvegetated sediments. Sediment samples from beds of the eelgrass Zostera capricorni and nearby unvegetated sediments were collected in three estuaries along the coast of New South Wales, Australia. Results showed that sediments below the seagrass were finer, with a higher content of organic material and were less oxygenated than sediments without seagrass. Univariate measures of the fauna (i.e. abundance, diversity and taxa richness of total meiofauna and nematode assemblages) did not differ between vegetated and unvegetated sediments. However multivariate analysis of meiofaunal higher taxa showed significant differences between the two habitats, largely due to the presence and absence of certain taxa. Amphipods, tanaidacea, ostracods, hydrozoans and isopods occurred mainly in unvegetated sediments, while kinorhyncs, polychaetes, gastrotrichs and turbellarians were more abundant in vegetated sediments. Regarding the nematode assemblages, 32.4% of the species were restricted to Z. capricorni and 25% only occurred in unvegetated sediments, this suggests that each habitat is characterized by a particular suite of species. Epistrate feeding nematodes were more abundant in seagrass beds, and it is suggested that they graze on the microphytobenthos which accumulates underneath the seagrass. Most of the genera that characterized these estuarine unvegetated sediments are also commonly found on exposed sandy beaches. This may be explained by the fact that Australian estuaries have very little input of freshwater and experience marine conditions for most of the year. This study demonstrates that the seagrass and unvegetated sediments have discrete meiofaunal communities, with little overlap in species composition.     

Meiofauna in a cold-seep community off Hatsushima,central Japan

The community structure of the bathyal meiofauna of a cold-seep community found off Hatsushima in Sagami Bay, central Japan, was compared with the community composition outside the influence of the seep, using sediments collected during dives 226 and 227 of the deep-sea submersibleShinkai 2000. The sediment from the Hatsushima seep site (HSS) was very coarse, black in color, and with an odor of hydrogen sulfide, suggesting reduced thiobiotic conditions. The sediment from the control area was well-oxygenated, fine silt. Despite the differences in the characteristics of the sediments, the abundance of meiofauna in the HSS was not very different from that in the control area. However, its composition even at the major taxonomic group level was distinct; for example, a high nematode/copepod ratio occurred in one of the samples collected at the HSS. At the species level, nematodes were less diverse at the HSS than at the control area. The composition of the nematode fauna at the HSS showed stronger affinity with that collected at the adjacent control area than with a community sampled from other deep-sea environments or another seep community in shallow water. This emphasizes that the adaptation of nematodes to the thiobiotic condition is controlled by local conditions.     

浙江瓯江口海域游泳动物群落特征及其与环境因子的关系

瓯江口海域是传统的浙江省渔业资源栖息地,现今受高强度人为扰动的影响。为了解瓯江口海域游泳动物群落组成和多样性特征,采用单拖网方法对瓯江口春季(3月)和秋季(11月)游泳动物进行调查,并对其群落组成、生物多样性、资源密度和时空分布格局及主要影响因子等进行了研究。调查结果显示,研究海域共采集到游泳动物78种,其中鱼类有36种、甲壳动物28种、头足类3种。游泳动物优势种春季有9种,秋季有6种;两个季节共同优势种有4种。春季的渔获物的丰度远低于秋季,而春季的生物量则与秋季相差不大。基于丰度和生物量的多样性指数(H’)、均匀度指数(J’)和丰富度指数(d)均为秋季高于春季。在瓯江口海域,水体悬浮物是影响游泳动物群落多样性和丰富度的最重要的环境因子。通过对浙江瓯江口海域游泳动物群落特征及其与环境因子的内在关联的研究,有望为瓯江口海域渔业资源变迁特征和资源养护管理决策提供基础数据和科学依据。     

Distribution and Variability of the Meiobenthic Assemblages near the Korean Polymetallic Nodule Claim Area of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (Subequatorial NE Pacific)

This study was carried out as part of a baseline long-term environmental project in the proposed mining areas for an environmental impact assessment of future mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ). The community structure and distributional pattern of meiobenthos were investigated in the deep-sea bottom of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone of the northeastern Pacific in July 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003 and August 2004, 2005. Twenty one meiobenthic groups were found at the stations in the study area. The most abundant meiobenthos comprised nematodes followed by benthic foraminiferans and harpacticoid copepods. The maximum density of meiobenthos was 306 ind/10 cm² at the station located at 11°N (water depth, 4833 m), and the minimum density was 6 ind/10 cm² at the station located at 14°N (water depth, 5037 m). Oligotrophic conditions in the CCFZ seem to directly reflect the lower standing stocks of meiobenthos in the CCFZ compared to other deep-sea plains of similar depth. The latitudinal distribution pattern of meiobenthos in the study area seemed to be related with surface water primary productivity, which was connected to the water circulation pattern of the Pacific Ocean near the Equator, diverging at 8ºN latitude and converging at 5°N. The horizontal distribution of meiobenthic organisms in the study area showed high densities at the stations within 135–136°W. The densities of meiobenthic organismas within the CCFZ were high at stations with few manganese nodules on the sediment surface at low-latitude sites. In 1998, the observed relative high values of meiobenthic abundance were at stations from 5° to 6°N. Other stations from 7° to 10°N showed no significant fluctuations during the interannual sampling periods. It is considered that the inter-annual fluctuation of meiobenthos abundance is intimately related with a regime shift that may have occurred in the north Pacific between 1998 and 1999, the El Niño period. Vertical distribution of meiobenthic organisms showed the highest individual numbers in the surface sediment layers of 0～2 cm depth and a steep decreasing trend as sediment becomes deeper at the stations of high latitude located in 16～17°N. Size distribution analyses showed that organisms that fit into the sieve mesh size of 0.063 mm were abundant.     

Acute toxicity of five sediment-associated metals, individually and in a mixture, to the estuarine meiobenthic harpacticoid copepod Amphiascus tenuiremis

The acute effects of many individual, seawater-solubilized metals on meiobenthic copepods and nematodes are well known. In sediments, however, metals most often occur as mixtures, and it is not known whether such mixtures exhibit simple additive toxicity to meiobenthos. The estuarine meiobenthic copepod Amphiascus tenuiremis was tested in four acute (96-h) sediment bioassays to determine sediment and pore-water LC50s for single-metal exposures to copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn). Laboratory-cultured copepods were exposed to clean 98% silt:clay sediments spiked with metal chloride solutions to yield five exposure concentrations plus a control. Trimmed Spearman-Karber analysis gave sediment 96-h LC50 values of 4.4 mumole Cu/g, 5.7 mumole Ni/g, 11.9 mumole Pb/g, 10.3 mumole Zn/g, and pore-water 96-h LC50 values of 2 mumole/l, 11.7 mumole/l, and 5.7 mumole/l for Cu, Ni, and Zn, respectively. Male survival after exposure to Cu, Pb, and Ni was significantly less than female survival (alpha = 0.05). Toxicity of a combined USEPA priority metal mixture to A. tenuiremis was assessed using sediment spiked equitoxically with Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. The sum toxic unit that produced a median lethal dose was 0.72. The mixture had a significantly greater than additive effect on A. tenuiremis survival, with the mixture being 1.4x more toxic than that expected by simple additivity.     

Deep-sea habitat heterogeneity influence on meiofaunal communities in the Gulf of Guinea

To estimate the degree of spatial heterogeneity of benthic deep-sea communities, we carried out a multiple-scale (from m's to 200 km) investigation in the Congo-Angola margins (Equatorial West African margin, 3150–4800 m) in which we examined the metazoan meiofauna at a variety of habitats along the Congo Channel system and in the associated cold seep. We investigate the structure, density, vertical distribution patterns in the sediment and biomass of meiofaunal communities in the Gulf of Guinea and how they are controlled by hydrologic and biogeochemical processes. The meiofaunal communities in the Gulf of Guinea were shaped by heterogeneous conditions on the margin, and reflect the multiple-scale spatial variability that corresponds with the different identified habitats. The two control sites, located at >100 km away from the canyon, were inhabited by very dense and the most diverse meiobenthic communities. Similar meiobenthic communities inhabited the transition zone between the canyon and the cold seep. Sites located along the Congo Channel were obviously affected by the local high-velocity bottom currents and unstable sedimentary conditions in this active submarine system. Extremely low meiobenthic densities and very low proportions in the most surficial sediment layers provided evidence for recently highly disturbed sediments at these sites. The remote operated vehicle (ROV) Victor 6000 provided images of the cold seep, showing a patchy distribution of several types of patchy distributed megafaunal communities dominated by three key symbiotic taxa (Mytilidae, Vesicomyidae and Siboglinidae). These cold seep sediments were colonised by a unique meiobenthic community, characterised by a high small-scale (m's) patchiness, low species richness and the prominent dominance of two large-sized nematode species: Sabatieria mortenseni, which is a cosmopolitan nematode known from littoral habitats, and an undescribed Desmodora species. The high individual body weight of S. mortenseni and its dominance at the cold seep site resulted in a significantly higher nematode biomass at the seep compared to the surrounding sites. In addition, the vertical nematode profiles, with maximum proportions in subsurficial layers, points to a chemosynthesis-based meiobenthic community in this cold seep, in contrast to the phytodetritus-based communities at the control sites and at the transition zone.     

Sediment-related distribution patterns of nematodes and macrofauna: two sides of the benthic coin?

We investigated the sediment-related distribution of both nematodes and macrofauna on the Belgian part of the North Sea (Southern Bight of the North Sea) in order to evaluate whether both faunal groups reflect similar patterns in community composition and diversity. Fine-grained sediments (median grain size <200μm) were inhabited by nematode communities characterised by a low diversity and dominated by non-selective deposit-feeding nematodes. Nematode communities from coarser sediments were significantly different in terms of community composition and diversity. Moreover, all nematode feeding types were present in coarser sediments. These differences were explained by the contrasting biogeochemical processes prevailing in both sediment types, rather than granulometry and food availability per se. Macrofaunal distribution patterns were different from those of the nematode communities and seem to be related to water column processes (SPM loading, food availability, hydrodynamic stress) that promote the establishment of diverse communities in the coarser sediments but not in the finest sediments. This suggests that data on nematodes and macrofauna reveal different, complementary aspects of the factors structuring the benthic ecosystem that can be of importance in assessing the ecological status of the seafloor.     

Laboratory Simulation on Phosphorus Releasing near the Water／Sediment Interface in the East China Sea off the Changjiang Estuary

Surface sediment samples taken from the East China Sea off the Changjiang estuary are used as raw materials for phosphorus releasing experiment. It is found that after being thoroughly mixed with seawater for about 10 minutes, phosphorus released from the sediments reaches its maximum value. Adsorption kinetics can be fitted with both Elovich equation and two-constant rate equation. The releasing amount is closely related to the composition of the sediments. Phosphorus release from silty and muddy sediment is higher than from that dominated by sandy composition. For the desorption reaction, iron-phosphorus(Fe-P) is the most active one, with a releasing ratio higher than other phosphorus forms,followed by absorbed-phosphorus (Ad-P) and organic bound phosphorus (OP). All of them can be referred to as bio-available phosphorus. The results demonstrate that phosphorus in sediments can be released into seawater under suitable hydrodynamic conditions, and have a great impact on the nutrition state and primary productivity of marine biosphere.     

电阻率法监测黄河口海床沉积物固结过程现场试验研究

为了研究黄河口海床沉积物固结过程中电阻率同工程力学性质指标的对应关系,探索海床土体固结过程的新型原位监测技术,本文在黄河刁口流路三角洲叶瓣潮坪上,现场取土配置黄河口快速沉积形成的流体状沉积物和观测研究粉质土海床的固结过程。利用静力触探、十字板剪切试验、孔隙水压力监测等原位土工测试手段,实时测定固结过程中海床土强度变化和孔隙水压力消散过程;同时通过埋置自行研制的环形电极探杆,实时测定海床土固结过程中的电阻率变化。通过对比分析海床土电阻率与工程力学性质指标的同步测定数据发现:黄河口饱和粉土的电阻率与微型贯入试验测得的土体贯入强度,静力触探试验测得的比贯入阻力,十字板剪切试验测得的不排水抗剪强度(峰值强度、残余强度)均呈乘幂关系,且相关性良好;海床沉积物在固结过程中的电阻率与孔隙水压力呈负线性相关性。     

东海陆架中北部沉积物粒度特征及其沉积环境

通过对东海陆架表层沉积物粒级组成、粒度参数、14C年龄和微体古生物组合的综合分析,绘制了东海陆架的沉积物类型分布图;运用Folk等(1970)沉积物分类方法将东海表层沉积物分成砂、粉砂、粉砂质砂、砂质粉砂、砂质泥5种类型,其中粉砂质砂分布最广,砂质泥分布最少;沉积物由陆向海粒度变粗,反映沉积过程中的物源和沉积动力控制作用。根据沉积环境及成因分析,可将东海陆架沉积分为3类:分别是长江口外席状砂沉积区、现代泥质沉积区和陆架中部砂质沉积区。长江口外砂质沉积是全新世冰消期晚期潮流作用及风暴潮流共同作用的产物,是高海平面以来太平洋潮波系统作用下的潮流沙沉积,沙波地貌仍在发生变化。现代泥质沉积区包括长江前三角洲沉积、浙闽沿岸流沉积和济州岛西南泥质沉积三个区域,不同沉积区的成因机制不同。陆架中部砂质沉积是末次冰盛期之后海侵作用下发育的砂质沉积物,在海侵的不同阶段中沉积物被冲刷改造,具有不等时性特征,沉积环境与现代陆架海洋环流的动力特征不一致,现代沉积作用较弱,仅接受悬浮体细粒沉积。     

The characteristics of the nematode faunas in subtidal sediments of a large microtidal estuary and nearshore coastal waters differ markedly

The present study examines traditional paradigms regarding the differences between faunas in estuaries vs coastal waters. The ecological characteristics of the free-living nematode faunas of nearshore, subtidal sediments in downstream and upstream areas of the large, microtidal Swan River Estuary are compared with those similarly recorded seasonally in subtidal sediments along an adjacent part of the coast of temperate south-western Australia. Overall, the nematode species richness recorded in the upstream (38) and downstream estuarine areas (58) and from throughout the estuary (61) were substantially less than in marine waters (75). In addition, the value for Simpson’s diversity index was marginally less in the estuary and the dominance of the most abundant species greater. In contrast, the mean nematode species richness and diversity in individual cores followed the reverse trend, reflecting a combination of less variability among the species compositions and far greater densities in the cores from estuarine sediments. Furthermore, the mean density (numbers 10 cm⁻²) was far higher in both upstream (341) and downstream (903) areas of the estuary than in marine waters (87). Although the compositions of the assemblages in upstream and downstream estuarine areas differed markedly from each other at the species, genus and family levels, these differences were less pronounced than those between either of these areas and marine waters. The trophic compositions at the moderately sheltered and fully exposed marine sites differed from that in both areas of the estuary, whereas that at the most sheltered marine site was similar to that in the downstream estuarine area, with both containing substantial proportions of epistrate-grazing species. The variations among the species richness, diversity, densities and taxonomic and trophic compositions of nematode assemblages in the sediments of the two estuarine areas and nearby marine waters appear to reflect differences in 1) salinity regimes, 2) extents of exposure to wave action and its related effects and 3) amounts and types of food available to nematodes.     

珠江口伶仃洋海底沉积

在前人工作的基础上,利用2003—2005年广州海洋地质调查局1∶10万《珠江三角洲近岸海洋地质环境与地质灾害调查》项目的实测资料,综合分析了伶仃洋海底的沉积特征,认为伶仃洋表层沉积物类型有:砂、黏土质砂、砂-粉砂-黏土、砂质黏土、黏土质粉砂、粉砂质黏土等6种类型。伶仃洋晚更新世以来的海底地层主要有两套:层A为全新世冰后期海侵以来逐渐堆积而成的沉积物,钻孔揭示的沉积物类型主要为黏土质砂和砂—粉砂—粉砂质黏土;层B为一套晚更新世的黏土质粉砂、细砂—粗砂(含砾)、粉砂质黏土—黏土,以陆相沉积和剥蚀为主,局部为海陆交互相沉积,其下地层则为基岩风化物和基岩。