From small scales to the big picture: persistence mechanisms of planktonic grazers in the oligotrophic ocean

In this review we evaluate whether universal behavioral and metabolic mechanisms exist, which permit marine proto‐ and metazooplankton to persist in continuously food‐limited environments such as the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre and other oligotrophic ocean systems. We re‐visit the issue of what processes account for low steady‐state abundance of the dominant groups of planktonic grazers: phagotrophic protists and copepods, by examining evidence for the four processes proposed by Strom et al. (2000) : grazing thresholds, behavioral response to prey patchiness, top–down control of grazers, and mixotrophy (combination of photosynthesis and phagotrophy in protists) and/or omnivory (switching between alternate prey types). Published observations reveal that grazing thresholds, below which feeders reduce their feeding efforts and, with that, their metabolic expenditures, do exist. There are also studies suggesting that both protistan and small metazoan plankton feeders may take advantage of patchiness of food particles and are frequently mixotrophic and/or omnivorous. Predator patchiness in response to prey patches may facilitate top–down control of grazers. Finally, we discuss processes, which may lead to low quasi steady‐state abundances of food particles and feeders.     

Community structure and grazing of the nano-microzooplankton on the continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay

In order to investigate the parameters controlling the heterotrophic protists (nano-microzooplankton) on the continental shelf of the southern Bay of Biscay, plankton communities and their physico-chemical environment were studied 4 times in February, April, June and September–October 2004 at three stations in the euphotic zone in the Bay of Biscay. The abundance and carbon biomass of heterotrophic protists (ciliates, heterotrophic dinoflagellates and nanoflagellates) as well as all the others groups of plankton (picoplankton, nanophytoplankton, diatoms, autotrophic dinoflagellates, metazoan microzooplankton and mesozooplankton), the environmental parameters and the primary and bacteria production were evaluated at each sampling period. Microzooplankton grazing experiments were undertaken at the same time. Ciliates and heterotrophic dinoflagellates accounted for the main major component of nano- and microzooplankton communities in term of biomass. The total carbon biomass of heterotrophic protists was highest in spring and lowest at the end of summer. The development of heterotrophic protists started after a winter microphytoplankton bloom (principally large diatoms), the biomass was lower in June and was low in September (through inappropriate prey). The carbon requirement of microzooplankton ranged from 50 to more than 100% of daily primary, bacterial and nanoflagellate production. The heterotrophic protist community was predominantly constrained by bottom-up control in spring and at the end of summer via food availability and quality.     

海洋寄生性甲藻——阿米巴藻Amoebophrya spp.的研究进展

寄生性甲藻阿米巴藻Amoebophrya是一类广泛寄生于纤毛虫类、放射虫类、甲藻类等海水浮游生物的原生生物,在北大西洋、北太平洋和地中海等营养盐丰富、宿主密度较高的河口和近海水环境中普遍存在,是海洋浮游食物网的重要组成部分。这类寄生性甲藻能够特异性感染海洋浮游甲藻,在有害藻华(harmful algal bloom,HAB)的发生过程中起下行控制作用,将逃脱了浮游动物摄食的浮游植物补充到微食物环(microbial loop)中去。Amoebophrya在近海海洋生态系统中的独特作用日益受到国际上越来越多研究者的关注和重视,并逐渐成为国际上海洋微型生物研究的新热点之一。近年来,已有初步调查研究表明这类寄生性甲藻在我国近海海域广泛存在;然而,目前我国尚缺乏该类寄生性甲藻的相关研究。本文系统综述了国际上该类寄生性甲藻的研究进展,针对目前研究中存在的问题并结合我国有害藻华发生机制相关研究的现状做出了分析和展望,以期推动我国该类寄生性甲藻的相关研究,为进一步阐释寄生性甲藻等海洋微型生物在有害藻华消长过程和海洋微食物环中的作用奠定基础。     

海洋浮游微食物网结构及其影响因素

微食物环是海洋生态系统中重要的物质和能量过程,是传统食物链的有效补充。微食物环研究是当前海洋生态学研究的热点之一,但对其结构的系统研究较少,海洋微食物网结构在2000年才被Garrison提出。尽管微食物网各个类群的丰度在不同海洋环境中有相对变化,但是这些变化都处于一定的范围之内,其丰度结构约为纤毛虫10 cell ml-1、鞭毛虫103 cell ml-1、微微型真核浮游生物104 cell ml-1、蓝细菌104-5 cell ml-1、异养细菌106 cell ml-1、病毒107 particle ml-1。海洋浮游食物链中捕食者和饵料生物粒径的最佳比值为10:1,实际研究中该比值会略低,例如纤毛虫与其饵料的粒径比值为8:1,鞭毛虫为3:1。Pico和Nano浮游植物的丰度比（Pico:Nano）是研究微食物网结构的指数之一,该指数具有不受研究尺度影响的优点,可用于研究区域性和全球性微食物网结构。近年来,学者们从多角度对海洋微食物网的结构开展了研究,不同海区微食物网各类群丰度、生物量的时间和空间变化研究有很多报道,微食物网的结构可受空间、季节、摄食、营养盐等多种因素影响。在对不同空间微食物网的研究中,学者往往研究不同物理性质的水团中各类群生物丰度的不同,以此来表征微食物网结构的不同;同一海区微食物网结构的季节变化也是使用各个类群丰度和生物量的变化来表示,该变化主要受水文环境因素影响。摄食者对微食物网各类生物的影响通过三种途径：1. 中型浮游动物摄食;2. 中型浮游动物摄食微型浮游动物,通过营养级级联效应影响低营养级生物;3. 中型浮游动物通过释放溶解有机物、营养盐影响细菌和低营养级生物。浮游植物通过产生化感物质和溶解有机物影响微食物网结构,而营养盐的浓度及变化则可以对微食物网产生直接或间接影响。     

Biomass and trophic structure of the plankton community in subtropical and temperate waters of the northwestern Pacific Ocean

This study examined the biomass structure of autotrophic and heterotrophic plankton along a trophic gradient in the northwestern Pacific Ocean in an attempt to understand planktonic food web structure. Autotrophic biomass exceeded that of heterotrophic organisms in all sampling regions, but with lesser contribution to total planktonic biomass at stations of higher phytoplankton biomass, including the northern East China Sea, compared to the regions of lower phytoplankton biomass. The proportion of the biomass of heterotrophic bacteria, nanoflagellates (HNF), and dinoflagellates (HDF) relative to that of phytoplankton was all inversely related to phytoplankton biomass, but positive relationships were observed for both ciliates and mesozooplankton. Mesozooplankton biomass inclined greater than phytoplankton along the gradient of phytoplankton biomass, with biomass rise being most closely associated with ciliate and HDF biomass and, to a lesser degree, with large phytoplankton (>3?μm). Both bacteria and picophytoplankton were significantly and positively related to the biomass ratio of mesozooplankton to the sum of HDF and ciliates (i.e., proxy of mesozooplankton predation on protozoans), but no positive relationship was apparent either for HNF or for large phytoplankton. Such relationships may result from predation relief on lower food webs associated with mesozooplankton feeding on protistan plankton.     

黄海南部海域不同类群微型浮游原生生物生长对亚洲沙尘和磷添加的响应

海洋原生生物是微食物环的重要组成部分,在海洋生态系统的物质循环和食物传递中发挥着不可替代的作用;亚洲沙尘颗粒经长距离输运后沉降入黄海,会对海洋生态系统产生显著影响。本研究在黄海南部海域进行了现场模拟培养实验,分析了不同浓度沙尘和P添加对不同粒径、异养类型浮游原生生物生长速率的影响。结果表明,在培养早期,P和沙尘的添加都会促进各营养类型浮游原生生物的生长,特别是对10~20μm自养型生长速率的促进作用最为显著,其在高、低浓度P和高、低浓度沙尘添加组的生长速率分别为1.39、0.96、0.69和0.47 d-1,分别是对照组的5.35、3.69倍和2.65、1.81倍(P<0.05),表明研究海区为P潜在限制海区,沙尘对原生生物的促进作用可能和P的溶出有关;沙尘对异养型和兼养型原生生物早期是抑制作用。在培养后期,沙尘添加对各类群原生生物的生长以促进作用为主,对2~5μm异养型的促进作用最为显著,其在高、低浓度沙尘组的生长速率分别为0.84和0.40 d-1,显著高于对照组的-0.46 d-1(P<0.05)。沙尘沉降早期对大粒径自养型原生生物生长的促进作用会加速富营养海区赤潮的发生,但对异养型的抑制作用会削弱海区物质循环和食物传递的效率;沙沉降对不同粒径和营养类型浮游原生生物生长的影响会改变黄海南部海区微型食物网的结构,影响原生生物在该海区物质转化和食物产出中的生态功能,研究结果可为深入探讨沙沉降对海洋生态系统的作用机制和生态效应提供科学参考。     

Co-monitoring bacterial and dinoflagellates communities by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis(DGGE) and SSU rRNA sequencing during a dinoflagellates bloom

Dinoflagellates are unicellular eukaryotic protists that dominate in all coastal waters, and are also present in oceanic waters. Despite the central importance of dinoflagellates in global primary production, the relationship between dinoflagellates and bacteria are still poorly understood. In order to understand the ecological interaction between bacterial and dinoflageUates communities, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and SSU rRNA sequencing were applied to monitoring the population dynamics of bacteria and dinoflagellates from the onset to disappearance of a dinoflagellates bloom occurred in Baltimore Inner Harbor, from April 15 to 24, 2002. Although Prorocentrum minimum was the major bloom forming species under the light microscopy, DGGE method with dinoflagellate specific primers demonstrated that Prorocentrum micans, Gymnodinium galatheanum and Gyrodinium uncatenum were also present during the bloom. Population shifts among the minor dinoflagellate groups were observed. DGGE of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments indicated that cyanobacteria, α, β, γ-proteobacteria, FlavobacteriumBacteroides-Cytophaga (FBC), and Planctomcetes were the major components of bacterial assemblages during the bloom. DGGE analysis showed that Cytophagales and α-proteobacteria played important roles at different stages of dinoflagellates bloom. DGGE can be used as a rapid tool to simultaneously monitor population dynamics of both bacterial and dinoflagellates communities in aquatic environments, which is demonstrated here.     

Food web and fish stock changes in central Chile: comparing the roles of jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) predation,the environment,and fisheries

We analyzed recent food web and fish stock changes in the central Chile marine ecosystem, comparing the roles of jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) as predator, the environment, and fishing. To accomplish this we used food web modeling and the Ecopath with Ecosim software (EwE). The principal fish stocks have experienced wide decadal fluctuations in the past 30 years, including stock collapses of horse mackerel (Trachurus murphyi) and hake (Merluccius gayi), and there was a large influx of jumbo squid during the mid-2000s. We used two EwE models representing the food web off central Chile to test the hypothesis that predation by jumbo squid has been significant in explaining the dynamics of the main fishing resources and other species in the study area. Results indicate that predation by jumbo squid on fish stocks is lower than that of other predators (e.g. hake) and the fishery. Long-term fluctuations (1978–2004) in the biomass of the main fish stocks (as well as other components of the food web) seem to be related to fishing and to variation in primary production, rather than to predation by jumbo squid alone. Jumbo squid seems to play a role as predator rather than prey in the system, but its impacts are low when compared with the impacts of other predators and fishing. Therefore, we conclude that jumbo squid predation on its prey was not the primary force behind the collapse of important fish stocks off central Chile. Future efforts should be directed to better understanding factors that trigger sudden increases in jumbo squid abundance off central Chile, as well as modeling its trophic impacts.     

The feeding ecology of the copepod Centropages typicus (Kröyer)

Here we report on the current knowledge on the feeding ecology of the planktonic copepod Centropages typicus. We describe the foraging process of C. typicus from the detection of prey to their digestion, considering also the effects of several physical variables on the feeding activity of the species. C. typicus is an omnivorous copepod that feeds on a wide spectrum of prey, from small algae (3–4 μm equivalent spherical diameter, ESD) to yolk-sac fish larvae (3.2–3.6 mm length). It uses both suspensivorous and ambush feeding strategies, depending on the characteristics of the prey. In general, C. typicus exhibits selection for large motile prey, such as ciliates or dinoflagellates, both in nature and laboratory, and this selective pattern is enhanced under moderate intensities of turbulence. Daily rations in the field are somewhat lower than those found in the laboratory, which indicates food limitation. This fact, together with the relatively modest capacity of the species to adapt to fluctuations in food availability may explain the geographical distribution of C. typicus, being restricted to near-shelf waters. In general, it does not seem that C. typicus feeding severely impacts planktonic populations. However, the occasional importance of the species in certain ecosystems is also apparent.     

Seasonal Variations of Plankton Food Web Structure in the Coastal Water off Usujiri Southwestern Hokkaido,Japan

The planktonic food web structure in the subarctic coastal water off Usujiri south-western Hokkaido, Japan was investigated from June 1997 to June 1999, based on seasonal biomass data of pico- (<2 µm), nano- (2–10 µm), micro- (10–200 µm) and mesoplankton (>200 µm), and path analysis using the structural equation model (SEM). In spring, microphytoplankton predominated due to diatom bloom, while pico- and nanophytoplankton predominated in the other seasons, except November and December 1997. The seasonal change in size distribution of heterotrophic plankton was almost similar to that of phytoplankton, and mesozooplankton biomass was high in spring. The path analyses suggest that the main channel in the microbial food web could vary according to phytoplankton size composition, indicating not only the classical food chain (microphytoplankton - copepods) but also the indirect route (microphytoplankton - naked dinoflagellates - copepods).     

海洋浮游生态系统中DMSP的来源及在食物链中的传递和转化研究进展

β-二甲基巯基丙酸内盐(DMSP)是一种在海洋中普遍存在的重要生源有机硫化物,其降解产物二甲基硫(DMS)挥发到大气中会形成云凝结核,进而对大气温度产生负反馈效应。DMSP主要由浮游植物和部分细菌生物合成,在浮游食物链和微食物环中进行传递和转化,并进一步通过食物网进入更高营养级。浮游生物是驱动全球碳、硫循环的关键环节,在DMSP生物地球化学循环中的作用越来越受到人们的重视。本文针对DMSP的来源、归宿及在浮游食物链中的传递和转移等方面进行综述,介绍了浮游食物链和微食物环在DMSP传递、转化中的作用。DMSP在海洋食物链中仍有不少传递和降解途径为研究空白,今后应针对目前的研究不足深入开展DMSP的产生、传递和转化机制研究,进一步完善DMSP的生物地球化学循环机制。     

Dinoflagellates in a mesotrophic,tropical environment influenced by monsoon

The changes in dinoflagellate community structure in both – the water column and sediment in a mesotrophic, tropical port environment were investigated in this study. Since the South West Monsoon (SWM) is the main source of climatic variation, observations were made during two consecutive post-monsoon periods (2001 and 2002) and the intervening pre-monsoon period (2002). The pre-monsoon period supported a more diverse dinoflagellate community in the water column compared to both post-monsoon periods. Heterotrophic dinoflagellates were abundant in the water column as well as sediment. A seasonal cycling between vegetative and resting cysts of autotrophic and heterotrophic dinoflagellates governed by the environmental characteristics of the study area was observed. Temperature, salinity and suspended particulate matter were the main factors affecting dinoflagellate community structure in both the water column and sediment. The dominant dinoflagellates in the water column differed during both post-monsoon periods that followed two dissimilar monsoon events. Prorocentroids and gonyaulacoids dominated the water column subsequent to the 2001 SWM, whereas dinophysoids and unidentified tiny dinoflagellates dominated during the next post-monsoon period. The 2001 SWM started in May, peaked during June–July and reduced gradually to end in October. The 2002 SWM was erratic; it started late (in June) and ended earlier (in September). These observations highlight the potential of the SWM to influence the community structure of dinoflagellates in tropical waters and points to the importance of long-term studies to discern robust variations in dinoflagellate communities in response to fluctuating monsoon regimes.     

微型异养鞭毛虫摄食选择性的研究进展

微型异养鞭毛虫(HNF)是海洋微微型浮游生物的重要摄食者,通过摄食作用对后者的种类(或类群)组成、粒径分布、数量结构和营养价值等属性具有重要的影响,而这与HNF的摄食选择性有直接关系。对HNF摄食选择性的研究有助于深入了解HNF在海洋微食物环乃至整个海洋生态系统中的作用。就国际上已开展的HNF摄食选择性相关研究进行了回顾,分析和总结了影响HNF选择性摄食的关键因素,如食物大小、游动性、营养价值及食物细胞表面的生化结构特征等,并重点介绍了HNF摄食选择性形成的主要机制以及HNF的选择性摄食在调节海洋微微型浮游生物群落结构中的作用。     

Feeding activity of the copepod Acartia hongi on phytoplankton and micro-zooplankton in Gyeonggi Bay,Yellow Sea

To improve our understanding of the trophic link between micro-zooplankton and copepods in Gyeonggi Bay, Yellow Sea, the diet composition, ingestion rates, and prey selectivity of Acartia hongi, known as the most abundant and widespread copepod species, was estimated by conducting in situ bottle incubation throughout the different seasons. The results showed that A. hongi preferentially grazed on ciliate and heterotrophic dinoflagellate of a size ranging from 20 to 100 μm rather than phytoplankton. Although micro-zooplankton comprised only an average 13.7% of the total carbon available in the natural prey pool, micro-zooplankton accounted for >70% of the total carbon ration ingested by A. hongi throughout the year, except for winter diatom blooming periods when A. hongi obtained about 60% of its carbon ration from phytoplankton. Our results demonstrated that A. hongi modified their diet composition and feeding rates in response to change in composition and size of prey available to them, and that A. hongi preferentially ingested micro-zooplankton over phytoplankton. Feeding activity of A. hongi could therefore affect the species composition and size structure of natural plankton communities in this study area, particularly the micro-zooplankton. Strongly selective feeding and high grazing pressure by A. hongi on micro-zooplankton shows the role of trophic coupling between copepods and the microbial food web in the pelagic ecosystem of Gyeonggi Bay.     

大亚湾大鹏澳海域表层沉积物中浮游植物休眠体集群的季节变化

于2007年4月至2008年3月对大亚湾大鹏澳海域表层沉积物中浮游植物休眠体进行了每月1次的周年调查.本调查分析鉴定出浮游植物休眠体79种,包括甲藻孢囊50种,硅藻休眠体26种.浮游植物休眠体丰度没有明显的季节变化规律,变化范围为217～6 764 cells/cm3,平均为1 376 cells/cm3;鱼类养殖区休眠体丰度较高,平均丰度为1 999 cells/cm3.浮游植物休眠体在数量上以硅藻为主,甲藻次之,而在鱼类养殖区也出现了较高的蓝藻休眠体.硅藻休眠体的平均丰度为783 cells/cm3,百分比含量为56.9%,从而反映了该海域硅藻型浮游植物群落结构.甲藻孢囊丰度的变化范围在79～1 237 cells/cm3,位于湾口对照区丰度较高,年平均为733 cells/cm3,而鱼类养殖区和贝类养殖区平均值分别为502、388 cells/cm3.异养型甲藻孢囊的种类和数量均比较丰富,其百分比含量为26.7%～82.4%.研究结果显示,在富营养化程度较高的养殖区海域,硅藻休眠体和异养型甲藻孢囊百分率均较高,而鱼类养殖区还出现了较高蓝藻孢子丰度.本次调查中还出现了易碎藻和艉杆藻等在本海域浮游植物调查中未记录种类的孢囊,有毒有害赤潮生物的休眠体如亚历山大藻、链状裸甲藻、旋沟藻、巴哈马梨甲藻孢囊等也在此次调查中频繁出现,说明大亚湾海域存在较大的有毒有害赤潮发生的风险.     

Microzooplankton and mesozooplankton in an upwelling filament off Galicia: modelling and sensitivity analysis of the linkages and their impact on the carbon dynamics

This paper reports estimates of trophic flows of carbon off the Galician coast from a 1D ecological model, which are compared with field data from a two week Lagrangian drift experiment. The model consists of 9 biological components: nitrate, ammonium, >5μm phytoplankton, <5μm phytoplankton, heterotrophic nanoflagellates/dinoflagellates (5–20 μm), heterotrophic dinoflagellates (>20 μm), ciliates, fast sinking detritus and slow sinking detritus. Calculations were made for the fluxes of carbon between biological components within the upper 45m of the water column. The temporal development of primary production during the simulation period of two weeks was in good agreement with field estimates, which varied between 248 and 436mgC.m⁻².d⁻¹. Heterotrophic nanoflagellates had the greatest impact on carbon flux, with a grazing rate of 168mgC.m⁻².d⁻¹. Herbivorous grazing by microzooplankton amounted to 215mgC.m⁻².d⁻¹, whereas grazing by copepods on phytoplankton was 35mgC.m⁻² d⁻¹. Copepods grazing on microzooplankton was minor (0.47mgC.m⁻².d⁻¹) and the export flux from the upper 45m was 302mgC.m⁻².d⁻¹. Sensitivity analyses, in which the grazing parameters (i.e the functional relationship between ingestion and food concentration) were changed, were carried out on the heterotrophic dinoflagellate, ciliate and heterotrophic nanoflagellates/dinoflagellate components of the model. These changes did not alter the temporal development of heterotrophic nanoflagellates/dinoflagellates biomass significantly, but ciliates and heterotrophic dinoflagellates were more sensitive to variations in the grazing parameters. The overall conclusion from this modelling study is that the coupling between small phytoplankton and heterotrophic nanoflagellates was the quantitatively most important process controlling carbon flow in this region.     

Revisiting Peruvian anchovy (Engraulis ringens) trophodynamics provides a new vision of the Humboldt Current system

The Peruvian anchovy or anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) forages on plankton and is a main prey for marine mammals, seabirds, fish, and fishers, and is therefore a key element of the food web in the Humboldt Current system (HCS). Here, we present results from the analysis of 21,203 anchoveta stomach contents sampled during 23 acoustic surveys over the period 1996–2003. Prey items were identified to the genus level, and the relative dietary importance of different prey was assessed by determination of their carbon content. Variability in stomach fullness was examined relative to the diel cycle, the distance from the coast, sea surface temperature, and latitude, using generalized additive models (GAMs). Whereas phytoplankton largely dominated anchoveta diets in terms of numerical abundance and comprised >99% of ingested prey items, the carbon content of prey items indicated that zooplankton was by far the most important dietary component, with euphausiids contributing 67.5% of dietary carbon followed by copepods (26.3%). Stomach fullness data showed that anchoveta feed mainly during daytime between 07h00 and 18h00, although night-time feeding also made a substantial contribution to total food consumption. Stomach fullness also varied with latitude, distance from the coast, and temperature, but with substantial variability indicating a high degree of plasticity in anchoveta feeding behaviour. The results suggest an ecological role for anchoveta that challenges current understanding of its position in the foodweb, the functioning of the HCS, and trophic models of the HCS.     

Application of DNA metabarcoding to characterize the diet of the moon jellyfish Aurelia coerulea polyps and ephyrae

Dietary studies of polyps and ephyrae are important to understand the formation and magnitude of jellyfish blooms and provide important insights into the marine food web. However, the diet of polyps and ephyrae in situ is largely unknown. Here, prey species of the polyps and ephyrae of the moon jellyfish Aurelia coerulea in situ were identified using high-throughput DNA sequencing techniques. The results show that A. coerulea polyps and ephyrae consume a variety of prey items. The polyps consume both planktonic and benthic prey, including hydromedusae, copepods, ciliates, polychaetes, stauromedusae, and phytoplankton. A. coerulea ephyrae mainly feed on copepods and hydromedusae. Gelatinous zooplankton, including Rathkea octopunctata and Sarsia tubulosa, were frequently found as part of the diet of A. coerulea polyps and ephyrae. The utilization of high-throughput sequencing technique is a useful tool for studying the diet of polyps and ephyrae in the field, complementing the traditional techniques towards a better understanding of the complex role of gelatinous animals in marine ecosystems.     

Predation patterns of demersal teleosts from the Cape south and west coasts of South Africa. 2. Benthic and epibenthic predators

The feeding patterns of 12 teleost species taken by demersal trawl from two areas of the Cape coast and which fed predominantly on benthic and epibenthic prey are described. Prey selection varied intraspecifically with growth. There was considerable overlap in prey taken by different predators, although the dominant food differed between the two coasts and according to habitat (soft substrata or hard reefs). Prey selection varied with depth, probably as a result of the influence of depth and other physical features on prey species distribution. Small crustaceans were taken by all the predators and constituted the single most important group, especially for small predators. Brachyurans were important as prey, particularly in those species inhabiting hard substrata. Fish were of minor importance as food, except in Chelidonichthys capensis, Malacocephalus laevis and Helicolenus dactylopterus. Commercially important species of fish and cephalopods were preyed on only occasionally. It appeared that prey were selected according to their abundance, size, behaviour and habitat use. The use of benthic and epibenthic prey constitutes an important pathway for energy to return from the benthos to the foodweb.     

海洋浮游甲藻中文属名的研究

物种中文名,即物种学名的中文译名,在生物专业领域和科学普及等方面起着重要的作用。然而,长期以来对海洋浮游甲藻中文名的重视程度不够且拟定时缺乏统一的标准,导致现有海洋浮游甲藻的中文名比较混乱,甚至很多属缺少中文译名,不利于国内同行科研交流、管理部门决策处置及科普宣传等。本文以AlgaeBase藻类数据库中收录的海洋浮游甲藻的有效拉丁名为基础,系统梳理了中文浮游植物文献书籍中的海洋浮游甲藻中文属名,参照已报道的中文拟名规则,通过溯源考证、参考形态学特征等方式规范了部分浮游甲藻的中文属名。结果显示,海洋浮游甲藻共计152个属,其中有77个属有唯一的中文名报道,且被广泛应用,予以保留;有12个属有两个及以上的中文名,且使用比较混乱,结合文献及这些属的形态特征,为之拟定了比较合理的中文名;有63个属暂无中文名,依据其建立时的文献资料,详细考证其拉丁属名的来源、原始含义及其形态特征描述,为其拟定了较为合理的中文属名,以供参考。