Effects of host starvation on the symbiotic dinoflagellates from the sea anemone Stichodactyla mertensii

Many tropical cnidarians, including anemones and corals, contain symbiotic dinoflagellates known as zooxanthellae. Photosynthesis by symbiotic dinoflagellates benefits the animal host and the proficiency of host metabolism also plays an important role in the nutrient status of the photosynthetic dinoflagellates. We aimed to determine the responses of symbiotic dinoflagellates to host starvation. The ultrastructure and some physiological indicators of symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium sp., zooxanthellae) were examined in starved sea anemones (Stichodactyla mertensii; 3‐, 45‐ and 280‐day starvation). The cell size of zooxanthellae was not affected by starving the host; however, the ultrastructure and other physiological indicators of the zooxanthellae were affected. The photochemical efficiency of symbiotic dinoflagellates from anemones after 280 days of starvation was significantly (P < 0.01) higher than that of symbiotic dinoflagellates from anemones after 3‐ and 45‐day starvation. The number of symbiotic dinoflagellates from anemones decreased with increasing starvation duration. Generally, the chlorophyll a and c content of symbiotic dinoflagellates decreased significantly with longer anemone starvation. The tentacles of 3‐day starved anemones contained the most zooxanthellae, some of which were dividing and still enclosed within one periplast, and some had split entirely within one host vacuole. Moreover, each cell from 3‐day starved anemone contained up to five or six more mitochondria than those from 45‐ to 280‐day starved anemones. More lipid granules appeared in the zooxanthellae from 45‐ to 280‐day starved anemones. Pyrenoids, lobed accumulation bodies and calcium oxalate crystals existed in the symbiotic dinoflagellates from anemones at different starvation stages, which suggested that their existence had no correlation with host starvation. These findings contribute to an improved mechanistic understanding of the symbiotic relationship between zooxanthellae and anemones.     

珊瑚共生虫黄藻密度的季节变化及其与珊瑚白化的关系——以大亚湾石珊瑚为例

定量分析了2006年6月、2007年8月和2008年2月采自南海北部大亚湾海域的共8科、13属、23种170个石珊瑚样品的共生虫黄藻密度,探讨了石珊瑚共生虫黄藻密度的季节变化及其与珊瑚白化的关系.结果显示,所有珊瑚种属的共生虫黄藻密度都显示出明显的季节性波动,总体上夏季低、冬季高(约为夏季的2倍),是海表水温和太阳辐射协同作用的结果.夏季大规模的珊瑚白化(热白化)可能是珊瑚共生虫黄藻密度逐渐降低(排出)到一定阈值的外观表征,而非突发的生态现象;冬季珊瑚白化(冷白化)则可能是极端低温直接致珊瑚死亡,进而快速排出虫黄藻的突发现象;高共生虫黄藻密度对冬季低温乃至极端低温条件下的珊瑚生存起到一定的保护作用.     

三亚湾珊瑚来源虫黄藻不同株系微环境中微生物群落结构的差异比较分析

虫黄藻、细菌和造礁石珊瑚有着密切的共生关系, 但虫黄藻藻际细菌群落尚未得到广泛研究。本研究对5个属的6株虫黄藻进行了离体培养, 其中2株为悬浮型虫黄藻(E型), 4株为贴壁型虫黄藻(A—D型)。通过采集藻株培养物3种粒径的样本开展细菌群落分析, 分别为0.2~3μm(自由生活)、>3μm(附着于藻体或颗粒物)与Settling(沉底贴壁藻体上)。结果发现, 2种生活方式的藻株藻际细菌群落具有显著差别, 贴壁型藻株细菌群落的物种丰富度显著高于悬浮型藻株。发现7个属的细菌广泛存在于所有的藻株中, 它们代表了A—E型虫黄藻藻际细菌的核心类群。对3种粒径样本的核心细菌群落比较发现, 自由生和颗粒附着生的核心细菌群落十分相似, 但均与沉底贴壁样本差异明显。     

造礁石珊瑚共生藻对富营养的响应研究

研究了多孔鹿角珊瑚(Acropora millepora)及其共生藻在硝酸盐、铵盐、磷酸盐胁迫条件下的响应.结果表明,石珊瑚共生藻光合效率在各营养盐浓度下分别受到程度不同的抑制;表面共生藻密度及共生藻叶绿素 a 含量在硝酸盐、磷酸盐和铵盐与磷酸盐结合条件下都有所降低,但前者较后者的变化有所滞后;在铵盐作用下表面共生藻密度和共生藻叶绿素 a 含量均有所升高.以石珊瑚共生藻光合效率及叶绿素 a 含量作为指示珊瑚共生体系对胁迫的响应指标较为灵敏.     

珊瑚脂质是其共生虫黄藻密度降低时的重要能量来源

近年来珊瑚白化现象日益严峻。白化意味着珊瑚共生虫黄藻密度的降低,然而目前关于珊瑚体内的脂质在虫黄藻密度降低时对维持能量供给稳定的意义尚不清楚。本研究以2020年3月和6月在西沙群岛采集的帛琉蜂巢珊瑚(Favia palauensis)和澄黄滨珊瑚(Porites lutea)样品为材料,通过生理参数(虫黄藻密度、脂质含量)与地球化学指标(虫黄藻的稳定氮同位素δ¹⁵N_z值)相结合的方法,探讨了珊瑚脂质对虫黄藻密度及其光合作用强度变化的响应。结果显示,夏季两种珊瑚的虫黄藻密度和δ¹⁵N_z值均显著下降,意味着夏季虫黄藻密度降低导致了其光合作用强度的降低。与此同时,两种珊瑚的脂质含量也显著下降,并且脂质含量与虫黄藻密度、δ¹⁵N_z值之间均呈正相关关系,这说明珊瑚脂质含量与虫黄藻光合作用强度的变化之间存在耦合关系。当光合作用强度降低时,珊瑚可以通过消耗其自身储存的脂质更好地维持能量供给的稳定,这对提高环境胁迫的适应能力以及抗白化能力具有重要意义。     

Ecology of the Symbiotic Coral Cladocora caespitosa (L.) (Faviidae, Scleractinia) in the Bay of Piran (Adriatic Sea): I. Distribution and Biometry

Abstract. Cladocora caespitosa is a relatively common, colonial, symbiotic, scleractinian coral in the Mediterranean Sea. It inhabits a wide ecological range: hard and soft bottoms, shallow waters or depths to about 50m, calm water or sites exposed to strong currents and wave action. The present study compares the distribution of this coral at two sites, one shallow (3m — wave exposed) and one deeper (12m — soft bottom).
Different parameters including dry weight, volume, and skeletal growth rates were investigated. The polyp biomass, carbon content, and overall area of fully expanded polyps were also measured. Equations are given for the relationship of skeleton diameter to polyp tissue dry weight as well as skeleton diameter to the possible filter area of fully expanded polyps.
C. caespitosa harbors a rich community of vagile and sessile organisms within the skeleton. The cryptofauna was sorted to higher taxonomic levels and their biomass determined. Several highly significant linear relationship were found between skeleton dry weight, volume and cryptofauna biomass. Thus, the determination of colony volume allows the prediction of cryptofauna biomass.
The interstitial space is dominated by sponges - many of them borers - which erode the corallites close to the living tissue until they break off from the colony. At the deeper sampling site, 26% of all colonies are smaller than 2 cm and 48% are smaller than 5 cm. The fragmentation process is discussed with respect to reproduction.     

重金属铜污染对石珊瑚生长影响的实验研究

分布于热带海洋的珊瑚礁是重要的生态学资源.受全球环境变化和人类活动的影响,珊瑚礁正处于退化之中,其中重金属污染是人类活动影响珊瑚礁的重要方面.国际上不少研究初步探索了珊瑚对一定浓度重金属的响应,我国类似的研究尚不多.本文通过72h的急性毒性测试,研究重金属Cu2+污染对6科7属石珊瑚的影响,以了解重金属污染对石珊瑚所造成的伤害和石珊瑚对Cu2+污染的生态反应.实验结果显示,随着Cu2+浓度的增加,与珊瑚共生的虫黄藻密度呈现先短暂上升而后持续下降的趋势,直致珊瑚白化;Cu2+污染对块状滨珊瑚毒性影响最大,在浓度超过40·7μg·L-1时即致其死亡.Cu2+污染胁迫下所有试验珊瑚的触手伸展活动都出现异常,显示Cu2+污染对珊瑚生存有明显的影响.     

Detritus Rolling Down a Vertical Cliff of the Ligurian Sea (Italy): The Écological Role in Hard Bottom Communities

Abstract. The detritus rolling down a vertical cliff was studied at Portofino Promontory (Ligurian Sea, Italy) at 16 m depth (January 1988- January 1989). The large amount of collected sediment is mainly due to the position of the traps; they collected not only the sedimenting material, but also the detritus rolling down along the cliff. The amount of sediment matter is 7 times greater in winter than in summer, showing a good correlation with rough seas and rain that cause a "mechanical cleaning" of animal and plant debris (Sérpulid tubes, shells, exuvias. leaves) along the cliff.
The Total Suspended Matter (TSM) in the water column shows maximum values in March and September. The organic fraction has an average concentration of 0.81 mg 1^-l. The phytoplanktonic biomass, measured as Chi a , shows an annual cycle with a peak in spring (1–2.7μg·l^-1). while in other periods of the year the value is about 0.3-0.5 μg·1^-1. A significant relationship was found between organic detritus in the collected sédiments and the Chi a in the water column. The great influence of the rocky wall detritus on the normal trend of the TSM in the coastal water column is pointed out.     

添加维生素B_（12）生产菌高密度培养褶皱臂尾轮虫的效果

阐述把维生素Ｂ１２生产菌添加到培养水中培养褶皱臂尾轮虫ＢｒａｃｈｉｏｎｕｓＰｌｉｃａｔｉｌｉｓ的买验。共１８株细菌分离于轮虫培养池，其中，有一株产维生素Ｂ１２的假单胞杆菌ＴＰ４对轮虫的生长繁殖有明显的促进作用。把ＴＰ４菌株培养后，加入到２Ｌ的烧杯和５００Ｌ的水槽中培养泰国Ｓ型轮虫时．在９ｄ（天）和６ｄ（天）中，轮虫密度从１２４～１３９和２４２～２８８个体／ｍｌ增殖到４，４１７～５，５４０和１，０１７～１，２５４个体／ｍｌ，分别比对照组增加了４～６及２～３倍。     

Acoustic detections of blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) and fin whale (B. physalus) sounds during a SURTASS LFA exercise

Acoustic data collected on the R/V Cory Chouest in February and March 1996 during an active operation of the U.S. Navy's surveillance-towed-array-sensor-system low-frequency-active (LFA) sonar were analyzed for blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) and fin whale (B. physalus) sounds. Operational monitoring and mitigation protocols were implemented throughout the exercise to reduce the chances of an acoustic impact on marine mammals and sea turtles. The operational schedule did not include intentional "control" periods without transmissions but did include periods when the LFA sonar was not operating for other reasons (e.g., repairs). There were insufficient detections of blue whales for further analysis. Fin whale acoustic detection probabilities were calculated from the postprocessed data. A local-linear-regression analysis was used to compare fin whale detection probabilities from 2065 11-min intervals under conditions when the LFA sonar was and was not transmitting. There was an indication of a slightly higher probability of detecting fin whale sounds during periods when there were no LFA transmissions than during periods with transmissions. This may be the result of the following: 1) Reduced vocal activity by whales in response to LFA transmissions; 2) the effect of the mitigation protocols; or 3) some combination of 1) and 2). The data presently available do not allow one to distinguish definitively between these explanations, mainly because there were not enough data recorded for periods without LFA transmissions.     

Food intake and body measurements of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) in captivity

The food consumption (recorded in kg of individual fish species), body length and mass of 11 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins kept first at Windsor Safari Park, UK (1979-1993/1994), and later at Harderwijk Marine Mammal Park, The Netherlands (1993/1994-1995) are reported. This broad-scale, longitudinal study is based on historical data that were originally recorded for short-term husbandry purposes. The chemical composition and caloric value of the diet were variable and were not recorded. The food intake quantities should therefore be viewed as rough weight estimates of what wild conspecifics might eat (depending on their diet). The average annual food consumption of adult males and non-pregnant, non-lactating females was approximately 2000 kg of fish (estimated at 176 x 10(5) kJ). Food consumption showed little increase during gestation, but was 58-97% higher during lactation than during similar periods in non-reproductive years. All six calves began to eat solid food within a year of birth although suckling continued for 14-37 months after birth. The pattern of food intake of mothers and calves varied substantially between suckling periods. No seasonal changes in food consumption were detected, although there were small seasonal changes in water temperature. Births occurred at various times of year, since the timing of mating varied between years. The animals' body length increased rapidly during the first 3 years of life after which the growth rate decreased. Body length reached asymptote at approximately 270 cm. Adults of both sexes weighed around 260 kg. The relationship between standard body length (in cm) and body mass (in kg), although based on a small sample size (n = 16), can be expressed as body mass = 17.261e(0.0156(body length-100)). Animals weighing 155-225 kg consumed between 2 and 4% of their body mass per day.     

丛生盔形珊瑚共生体及骨骼的形态研究

"共生"和"钙化"一直是珊瑚生物生态学研究中两个最核心的问题,为加深对珊瑚共生和钙化生物过程的理解,以丛生盔形珊瑚(Galaxea fascicularis)作为研究模型,通过透射电镜和扫描电镜研究珊瑚共生体的细胞显微结构及骨骼的形态特征,并利用电感耦合等离子体质谱(Inductively Coupled Plasma...     

Rock preference of planulae of jellyfish Aurelia aurita (Linnaeus 1758) for settlement in the laboratory

Planulae of Aurelia aurita were exposed to 11 types of rocks (basalt, gabbro, granite, rhyolite, sandstone, limestone, conglomerate, gneiss, quartzite, marble and schist) to examine their attachment preference among rock material and position. Numbers of attached polyps was the highest on marble and the least on limestone. Their preference with regard to settling position was the same among the rocks, showing the highest density of polyps on the underside (88.5%) compared to upper (23.6%) and perpendicular sides (10.3%) of rock. The results showed that while position preference is more important than rock property, higher numbers of polyps were observed in rocks with a medium surface hardness.     

Phosphate Utilization in Phaeocystis pouchetii (Haptophyceae)

Abstract. .The phosphate uptake kinetics of single cells and colonies of the haptophycean alga Phaeocystis pouchetii were investigated in short- and long-term experiments. In phosphate-deprived cultures, the highest nutrient uptake rate (V_max) of both growth forms appeared to be similar. However, the half-saturation constant for phosphate uptake of the cells embedded in a colony (K_s= 3.08 μM) was considerably higher than that of the single cells (K_s= 0.31 μM). This is consistent with the existence of a diffusion barrier formed by the colony membrane and colonial mucus. Over a 24 h light/dark cycle, the phosphate assimilation rate in moderately limited colonies and single cells was nearly identical during the light period. In the following dark phase, colony cells maintained this uptake rate, whereas the uptake of the single cells diminished by 70 %. The high dark uptake rate in colonies ran parallel with the absorption and degradation of intracolonial carbon compounds, suggesting that the dissimilation of these compounds covers the energy requirements for phosphate uptake in the dark. In Phaeocystis cultures during a transition to phosphate depletion, a significant amount of phosphate was found in the colonial mucus, isolated by selective filtration. The possible absorption of phosphate by the mucus and the role of mucus in the energy budget seem to be an essential feature of phosphate uptake of colonies. Short-term measurement of phosphate uptake in colony cells may therefore underestimate the phosphate uptake of the whole colony.     

Nitrate assimilation by zooxanthellae maintained in laboratory culture

The ability of cultured zooxanthellae to use ammonium and nitrate was tested. The zooxanthellae were initially isolated from the anemone Aiptasia pulchella. The zooxanthellae were able to grow on media supplemented with either form of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) although ammonium was inhibitory above 300 μM. In accord with the intact symbiosis and freshly isolated algae, the cultured zooxanthellae took up ammonium. In contrast, the cultured algae demonstrated nitrate uptake and utilization. This was enhanced with DIN deprivation. Nitrate reductase was found in the algae and appeared to be inducible. Within the animal host, excretory ammonium may repress this induction.     

升温对丛生盔形珊瑚两种形态型代谢和共生藻光合生理的影响

文章研究了温度升高对一种造礁石珊瑚——丛生盔形珊瑚(Galaxea fascicularis)的两种形态型(H和S型)代谢和共生藻光合生理的影响。研究显示H型和S型对升温的生理响应差异明显: 在虫黄藻水平上, H型丢失了大量的虫黄藻, 减轻了共生体呼吸代谢的负荷; S型中虫黄藻数目尚可维持共生体呼吸代谢的需求, 同时提高叶绿素b含量增强光的吸收。在宿主水平上, H型充分利用虫黄藻输送的营养物质, 并通过异养摄食补偿能量消耗; S型宿主所储存的营养物质可以协助共生体适应热环境。结果表明, 丛生盔形珊瑚两种形态型通过不同的能量利用方式适应环境的变化, H型倾向于维持共生体的代谢平衡, 而S型倾向于提高共生藻的能量分配。     

Physiological responses to copper in giant clams: a comparison of two methods in revealing effects on photosynthesis in zooxanthellae

In the present work physiological responses to a short term, sub-lethal exposure to copper (5 microg Cu2 l(-1) were studied on two species of giant clams, Tridacna gigas and Hippopus hippopus. All giant clams (fam. Tridacnidae) maintain a symbiotic relationship with photo-synthesising microalgae (zooxanthellae) and the phytotoxic effects of this copper concentration were approached with two different end points: changes in oxygen production and maximal quantum yield (Fv/Fm). Additionally we measured respiration, whereby Pg:R ratios could be calculated for the system (algae and clam) and used as an indicator of stress. Cu accumulation was only determined for T. gigas and showed significantly higher tissue concentrations in exposed specimens (11.3 microg Cu g(-1) dry wt) compared to the controls (4.2 microg Cu g(-1)). Both species displayed significantly reduced Pg:R ratios due to exposure, mainly explained by lowered gross production. No indication of stress was shown in the fluorescence measurements and possible explanations are discussed in the paper. We propose that inhibitions in the slow kinetics of photosynthesis were not captured by this fluorescence parameter. Accordingly we suggest that measurements of maximum fluorescence yield should be accompanied by complementary parameters when studying pollutants with unclear phytotoxic mechanisms.     

Photoacclimatization in the zooxanthellae of Pocillopora verrucosa and comparison with a pelagic algal community

Photoacclimatization of zooxanthellae extracted from the coral Pocillopora verrucosa was studied through the determination of pigments, light absorption and photosynthetic parameters, for samples collected in summer and winter between 1 and 40 m on a northwestern reef of Tahiti (French Polynesia). The same measurements were also performed on phytoplanktonic samples collected at a stable oceanic site north of the island. For the zooxanthellae, the variations with depth of all the parameters were generally of small amplitude. Seasonal differences were also observed. The photosynthetic to non-photosynthetic pigments ratio was higher at depth in both seasons and was higher in winter. The intracellular concentration of chlorophyll a and photosynthetic pigments was higher in winter, as was the photosynthetic pigments/chlorophyll a ratio, whereas the non-photosynthetic pigments/chlorophyll a ratio was higher in summer. Variations in the light absorption properties were also small. The photosynthetic parameters showed limited changes with depth with the largest variations (a factor of ∼2) observed for P^B_max. The trends observed for the phytoplankton assemblage were generally of much higher amplitudes than for the zooxanthellae (e.g. for photosynthetic to non-photosynthetic pigments ratio or the saturation parameter, E_k). These results suggest that, in the very clear Polynesian waters, the amount of energy that reaches the zooxanthellae of P. verrucosa is not variable enough in the 1–40 m depth range to result in a drastic modification of the photosynthetic apparatus of the algae.     

DARWIN'S Coral Reef Research - a Review and Tribute

Abstract. In rememberance of the death of CHARLES DARWIN 100 years ago, a review is given on his coral reef research from the point of view of present knowledge. Although during DARWIN'S time no one was aware of the changing level of the glacial sea or of the important function of the symbiotic zooxanthellae in the life of hermatypic corals, his observations and considerations on the ecology of corals and on the formation of coral reefs are relevant to this day. But of course his ideas need new causal interpretations. The origin of the different reef types can no longer be explained by subsidence alone, but by different modes biologists and geologists described during the following century. To summarize all the many existing theories, the all enclosing "theory of compensation" is put forward here in honour of this great man.     

底栖生物生产力现场测试系统(BCSPM)的建立及其初步实验结果

为对生态系统的健康评估及底栖生物资源的开发利用提供技术支撑,在胶州湾筏式养殖水域,建立了底栖生物生产力现场测试系统(BCSPM),并在光照和黑暗条件下测定了沉积物海水界面溶解氧随时间的变化、计算了氧通量、估算了底栖总初级生产力和群落呼吸。在光照较强的中午时刻测定的群落总生产力为20．76mgCm^-2h^-1;养殖水域沉积物中的群落呼吸要高于邻近水域。BCSPM整体运转良好,初步结果为系统的改进和进一步实验提供了依据。