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.     

Response of Acartia populations to environmental variability and effects of invasive congenerics in the estuary of Bilbao, Bay of Biscay

The effect of environmental factors (river discharge, water temperature and dissolved oxygen saturation) on the abundance and distribution of Acartia populations and the interactions between their congenerics was evaluated by means of transfer function (TF) models in the estuary of Bilbao during the period 1998–2005. The recorded species were Acartia clausi, Acartia tonsa, Acartia margalefi and Acartia discaudata. Acartia clausi dominated in the entire euhaline region of this estuary until 2003 when it was displaced from the inner part by A. tonsa. This invasive species (A. tonsa) was found for the first time in 2001 and colonized successfully the inner (salinity 30) and intermediate (salinity 33) waters of this estuary since 2003. The TF models revealed an immediate and negative effect of A. tonsa on A. clausi in the intermediate salinity (33) waters, where these species showed the highest spatial overlap. The results indicate that environmental changes from 2003 influenced the abundance of Acartia species, being unfavourable for A. clausi. The decrease of A. clausi abundance in low salinity waters was related to a significant decrease of dissolved oxygen saturation levels, whereas the increase of temperature was linked to a significant increase of A. tonsa. Acartia margalefi and A. discaudata were scarce over the entire period, but they were found to be valuable indicators of hydrological changes, which were associated to climate factors. These two latter species increased in abundance and expanded their seasonal distribution, and in the case of A. margalefi also its spatial distribution, in 2002, coinciding with the period in the time-series when autumn–winter rainfall and summer temperatures were lowest, and dissolved oxygen saturation levels were highest.     

Spatial patterns of biodiversity in the Black Sea: An assessment using benthic polychaetes

The current study broadens the biodiversity information available for the Black Sea and neighbouring regions and improves our knowledge about the polychaete biogeographic patterns to be discerned in them. There appears to be a well-defined zoogeocline from the Marmara Sea and Bosphorus Strait to the inner parts of the region (Azov Sea), depicted both as a multivariate pattern and in terms of species (or taxa) numbers. The emergent multivariate pattern complies, to a certain extent, with Jakubova’s (1935) views: three main sectors can be defined in the basin: (a) Prebosphoric, (b) the Black Sea and, (c) the Azov Sea, whereas the Bosphorus Strait and Marmara Sea show less faunal affinities with the afore-mentioned sectors. Patterns derived both from the cosmopolitan and Atlanto-Mediterranean species closely follow the one coming from the polychaete species and genera inventories. As a general trend, species numbers decrease along with the decrease in salinity towards the inner parts of the region. The trend is homologous to that seen in the benthic invertebrate inventories of all the major European semi-enclosed regional seas. Salinity and food availability appear to be the dominant abiotic factors correlated, though weakly, with the various patterns deriving from the taxonomic/zoogeographic categories. With the exception of the Anatolia, polychaete inventories from all sectors appear to be random samples of the total inventory of the region, in terms of taxonomic distinctness values. Therefore, these sectoral inventories can be used for future biodiversity/environmental impact assessment studies. A massive invasion of Mediterranean species after the opening of the Black Sea, in the lower Quaternary period, appears to be the likely biogeographic mechanism through which the old Sarmatic fauna was almost completely replaced by species of marine origin.     

Successful colonization of the calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa in the oligo-mesohaline area of the Gironde estuary (SW France) – Natural or anthropogenic forcing?

The copepod Acartia tonsa appeared in Europe in the first half of the 20th century and colonized progressively European seas and estuaries, possibly transferred from North Atlantic Coast of America. It had been reported in the polyhaline area of the Gironde estuary for a long time but was first recorded in the oligo-mesohaline area in 1983. Its abundance has been increasing significantly. High abundances of A. tonsa were reported since 1999, supplanting the abundances of its autochthonous congeneric species, Acartia bifilosa. This colonization was characterized by analyzing the mean seasonal variability: (1) for three 5-year periods corresponding to three different steps of A. tonsa appearance (1978–1982, A. tonsa was absent; 1988–1992, low abundances of the species; and 1999–2003, high abundances of A. tonsa) in the oligo-mesohaline area and (2) for three stations distributed along the salinity gradient during the recent period. The aim of this work was to define if this colonization was due to natural or anthropogenic forcing and to evaluate its possible impact on autochthonous zooplanktonic community.Both natural and anthropogenic forcings seem to explain the colonization of Acartia tonsa in the oligo-mesohaline area of the Gironde estuary. First records (1983–1988) could be due to marine water inputs caused by high values of the North Atlantic Oscillation index. The global warming which caused the increase of the summer warm period, the marinisation of the system and the local decrease of the turbidity should have been the key factors favoring the establishment of the species. Anthropogenic forcings as the establishment of the nuclear power plant which locally causes warmer conditions are also important factors explaining the differences of seasonal cycle observed between oligo-mesohaline area and other stations: the seasonal pattern of A. tonsa in the oligo-mesohaline area was indeed characterized by an autumnal peak of abundances which has been observed in other stations and in many North European estuaries, and by a second spring peak that had only been observed in Southern estuaries.The introduction of Acartia tonsa in the Gironde estuary significantly changed the seasonal pattern of autochthonous copepods, by limiting their seasonal abundances without affecting their long-term population stability. Finally, the successful colonization of A. tonsa had led to the spread of the seasonal zooplanktonic production which could have had an impact on fish and shrimp productions.     

黄海南部野生银鲳和鮸鱼的耳石元素微化学研究

利用电子显微探针元素分析技术(EPMA)对黄海南部野生银鲳和鮸鱼的耳石进行了锶和钙沉积特征的初步分析。定量线分析结果表明,两种鱼类耳石的Sr/Ca之间存在显著的种间差异。银鲳耳石Sr/Ca比,在耳石核心及相邻处为低值区(5.86±0.92);3段Sr/Ca高值区分别为近核心部(7.88±1.28)、第1龄处(9.44±1.82)及耳石边缘(7.91±1.38);揭示银鲳孵化和早期发育应需要盐度适中的生境,当龄鱼在后期的生长中需洄游经过两段高盐生境(其中之一在第1龄时)。鮸鱼耳石Sr/Ca比波动表现为耳石核心处(7.72±0.97)高于其余部分,反映了鮸鱼孵化及初期发育阶段可能生活在高盐度生境,而当龄鱼随后阶段的生长和发育过程则会洄游至盐度有所降低的生境中进行。     

A comparison of the contribution of zooplankton and nekton taxa to the near-surface acoustic structure of three Turkish seas

The bioacoustics of upper waters of the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, and the Mediterranean Sea were studied in October 1999 with an echosounder with 120 and 200 kHz dual‐beam transducers. Net tows were taken to ground‐truth the acoustic volume backscattering. A forward solution was applied to determine significant scatterers of the three seas with regard to detection limits of the frequencies and background noise measured in each sea. The noise was 4 dB higher in the Sea of Marmara than in the other two seas. 200 kHz data showed significant correlation between measured and calculated volume backscattering strength, and density (biomass and abundance) of the taxa. Large‐sized copepods and chaetognaths in the Black Sea, Aurelia, Beroe, chaetognaths and large‐sized and abundant appendicularians in the Sea of Marmara, and fish larvae in the Mediterranean Sea contributed most to the volume backscattering.     

Vertical Migrations and Feeding Rhythms of Acartia clausi and Pseudodiaptomus hessei (Copepoda: Calanoida) in a Tropical Lagoon (Ebrié, Côte d'Ivoire)

Diel changes in vertical distribution and gut pigment contents of Acartia clausi andPseudodiaptomus hessei were studied during several 24-h time series performed between 1993 and 1997 in four sites of the Ebrié Lagoon (Côte d'Ivoire). The sites differed by their morphology and their hydrological structure and by the vertical distribution of chlorophyll biomass. Both species showed classical diel vertical migrations (DVM). Copepodites and adult stages of P. hessei were almost benthic during the day and evenly distributed through the water column at night. The amplitude of DVM of A. clausi increased from copepodites I–III to adults. Copepodites and adults of A. clausi increased significantly their gut fluorescence at night, whereas those of P. hessei showed no clear diel feeding rhythm (DFR). These results suggest that A. clausi feed mostly at night on phytoplanktonic particles and P. hessei feed mostly on benthic algal particles during the day and on sestonic particles at night. No relationship was observed between DFR and DVM because both patterns occurred when food was either vertically homogeneous or vertically stratified. The daily average gut fluorescence of A. clausi increased with ambient chlorophyll concentration until around 12–15 μg l⁻¹, whereas no relationship was found for P. hessei. The implication of these patterns on the adaptation capacities and the behaviour of the two species are discussed. The DVM of P. hessei should explain its rarity in the estuarine area. The comparison of our results with previous ones suggests an evolution of A. clausi DFR between 1981–1982 and 1996–1997, in relation to an intensification of eutrophication.     

渤海、黄海及东海近海五个银鲳地理群体的形态变异

针对银鲳(Pampus argenteus)资源衰减、种群结构不清等问题,采集了渤海、黄海和东海近海5个地理群体224个样本,借助多变量形态度量学方法对地理群体间的形态变异进行了研究,旨在为银鲳种群结构研究提供基础资料.研究结果显示,通过聚类分析发现银鲳5个地理群体可以分为4组,江苏连云港群体与河北黄骅群体和浙江舟山群...     

黄海春季和秋季中华哲水蚤脂类含量及组成分析

脂类物质在哲水蚤的休眠、繁殖以及个体发育过程中发挥着重要作用,通过分析2010年11月(秋季)和2011年4月(春季)黄海中华哲水蚤Calanus sinicus的脂类组成,对脂类各组分的生理功能进行了初步探讨。结果表明,春季、秋季中华哲水蚤雌体脂类平均含量占干质量的10.6%和12%,C5期个体脂类含量偏高,占到干质量的17%。中华哲水蚤所含脂类主要由蜡脂和磷脂组成,两种脂类约占总脂的90%,三酰甘油含量约占总脂的6%。结合种群结构对脂类的生理作用进行了初步探讨,发现:(1)蜡脂作为主要的能量储存方式,其含量变化反映出不同发育期、不同季节中华哲水蚤的能量需求变化;(2)磷脂作为结构性脂类在中华哲水蚤个体生长与生殖过程中具有重要作用;(3)三脂酰甘油在中华哲水蚤中的含量不高,但是可能在脂类转化利用过程中发挥作用。     

Contaminants and habitat choice in the Baltic Sea: Behavioural experiments with the native species, Monoporeia affinis, and the invasive genus, Marenzelleria

The invasive polychaete genus, Marenzelleria and the native amphipod, Monoporeia affinis are food and habitat competitors in the Baltic Sea. Previous studies have shown that moderate densities of Marenzelleria can affect the behaviour of M. affinis. To examine the short-term interactive effects of interspecific habitat choice and environmental contaminants a series of habitat colonisation experiments were performed. The contaminants examined included harbor sediments and sediment spiked with the antifouling substances, Cu, Zn and Irgarol. Polychaetes and amphipods were exposed to contaminants in single-species and two-species experiments. In spiked-sediment experiments, M. affinis showed clear dose-dependent response. These experiments verified that behavioural response of M. affinis to different habitats is a sensitive method for testing toxicity under controlled conditions. In experiments with three different harbor sediments and reference sediment both species showed the lowest preference for the reference sediment. This sediment also had the lowest content of quality food, indicating that factors such as food quality and quantity may override the disturbing effects of contaminants in natural sediments. The presence of Marenzelleria spp. did not affect amphipod habitat choice, indicating no short-term effects, which implies that both species can co-exist provided sufficient food is available.     

Annual dynamics of the mesozooplankton communities in a highly variable ecosystem (North Adriatic Sea,Italy)

Mesozooplankton community composition at the species/taxa level was investigated from January to December 2001, at eight stations in the northern Adriatic Sea. Annual dynamics, taxonomic composition and spatial diversity in relation to different trophic conditions are discussed as related to previous studies and to different conditions, such as the presence of mucilage events. Zooplankton communities all over the northern sub‐basin were dominated by the cladoceran Penilia avirostris in summer, and by the calanoids Paracalanus parvus, Acartia clausi and the poecilostomatoids Oncaea spp. during the rest of the year. Whereas coastal communities were more variable with time and location, we were able to identify a group of offshore stations with a similar species/taxa composition and annual dynamics. Comparing the present results with previous studies, we observed significant changes in community composition in the time scale of 20 years, mostly due to a general decrease of A. clausi as the dominant species, being replaced by P. parvus. Also, P. avirostris swarms appear to have extended their temporal occurrence, and were present for longer periods of time when compared to past records. These changes might be related to the observed general increase of the average sea water temperature in the northern Adriatic Sea.     

Distribution of amphipods Ischyrocerus on the red king crab, Paralithodes camtschaticus: Possible interactions with the host in the Barents Sea

The determination of costs and benefits experienced by crustaceans as a result of occupation by their symbionts has received increased attention from marine ecologists. However, the interactions between some important species and their associates remain unclear. We examined the distribution of amphipods in the genus Ischyrocerus on the red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus, a commercially important species, in two areas of the Barents Sea. Ischyrocerus commensalis was found on 30.5% of crabs in Dalnezelenetskaya Bay (DZB) with the mean number per crab being 55.1, in Dolgaya Bay (DLB) these rates were 28.6% with 19.3 specimens per crab. Sympatric species Ischyrocerus anguipes was found on 13.5% of crabs in DZB with a mean of 7.3 individuals per host, in DLB it had much lower occurrence (1.3% and 1.5 specimens per host). There were no significant differences between proportions of male and female crabs infested by amphipods in both areas examined. Prevalence of amphipods was similar among years examined except for I. commensalis on small crabs (carapace length CL <90 mm) and I. anguipes on large crabs (CL >90 mm) in DZB. We found that I. commensalis and I. anguipes are not egg predators of P. camtschaticus in the Barents Sea, at least in summer. High numbers of I. commensalis occur in crab gills, and both mean intensity of the amphipods and their empty tubes increased with crab size. In the gills, I. commensalis predominated in the section nearest the mouth parts. Possible negative impacts for the hosts due to gills infestation are discussed. In contrast, I. anguipes were predominately found on the carapace and limbs of crabs and appears to be a less specific symbiont of P. camtschaticus. Both amphipod species seem to be commensals, however possible negative impacts for the host could not be excluded.     

南海浮游被囊动物火体虫科(Pyrosomatidae)——新记录种的形态特征

火体虫科(Pyrosomatidae),隶属于脊索动物门、尾索动物亚门、海樽纲、磷海樽目,全球海域已报道8种。本文描述了采自南海火体虫科一新记录种短轮火体虫 (Pyrosomella verticillata) 群体和单体的形态特征,分析了其群体长度、宽度与轮数的关系,并比较了该种与已在南海发现的大西洋火体虫(Pyrosoma atlanticum)的形态差异。研究标本保存在南海海洋生物标本馆。     

Phylogenetic diversity of bacteria associated with the marine sponge Agelas robusta from South China Sea

It is well known that marine sponges harbor large numbers of bacteria, some of which have been proved to be sponge-specific. The diversity of bacteria in marine sponges distributed along the coast of South China Sea has been previously studied but that of bacteria in sponges inhabiting the open sea has been rarely investigated. In this report, the diversity of bacteria associated with the marine sponge Agelas robusta from a remote coral reef in the South China Sea was documented employing 16S rDNA library construction, amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and phylogenetic analysis. A total of 32 phylotypes were finally categorized in nine phyla including Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes, Bacteroidetes and Gemmatimonadetes. The dominant phylum was Proteobacteria whereas the dominant genus was Synechococcus in Cyanobacteria. Some spongespecific bacteria were also found in the bacteria population, but the proportion (5 OTUs/32 OTUs) was much lower than other sponges. This study reveals the phylogenetic diversity of bacteria in A. robusta and confirms the presence of some sponge-specific bacteria in the South China Sea. Understanding the diversity of sponge-associated bacteria in China assists to exploit the bacteria resources for biotechnology.     

Feeding of the Dominant Herbivorous Plankton Species in the Black Sea and Their Role in Coccolithophorid Consumption

The feeding of abundant herbivore plankton species has been investigated during different stages of coccolithophorid development in the northeastern Black Sea, namely, at the initial stage of development (March 2009) and at the massive bloom stage (June 2011 and May 2013). The role of coccolithophorids as a food source for Black Sea copepods Calanus euxinus, Acartia clausi, and Pseudocalanus elongatus; the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans; and the larvacean Oikopleura dioica has been characterized for the first time. The contribution of coccolithophorids to copepod ration was low (0.2 to 13% of total carbon intake) during all study periods. The content of these organisms in the diet of N. scintillans ranged from 17 to 100%. The coccolithophorid bloom apparently had a stronger positive effect on the nutrition of fine filter feeders, such as N. scintillans and O. dioica, than on copepod nutrition. Daily coccolithophorid consumption by zooplankton ranged from 0.7 to 39.4% of the biomass in different study periods. The grazing of N. scintillans and O. dioica populations made the greatest contribution to coccolithophorid consumption (up to 26 and 23% of the coccolithophorid biomass, respectively).     

Postglacial floodings of the Marmara Sea: molluscs and sediments tell the story

The early Holocene marine flooding of the Black Sea has been the subject of intense scientific debate since the “Noah’s Flood” hypothesis was proposed in the late 1990s. The chronology of the flooding is not straightforward because the connection between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea involves the intermediate Marmara Sea Basin via two sills (Dardanelles and Bosphorus). This study explores the chronology of late Pleistocene–Holocene flooding by examining sedimentary facies and molluscs from 24 gravity cores spanning shelf to slope settings in the southern Marmara Sea Basin. A late Pleistocene Ponto-Caspian (Neoeuxinian) mollusc association is found in 12 of the cores, comprising 14 mollusc species and dominated by brackish (oligohaline–lower mesohaline) endemic taxa (dreissenids, hydrobiids). The Neoeuxinian association is replaced by a Turritella–Corbula association at the onset of the Holocene. The latter is dominated by marine species, several of which are known to thrive under dysoxic conditions in muddy bottoms. This association is common in early Holocene intervals as well as sapropel intervals in younger Holocene strata. It is an indicator of low-salinity outflows from the Black Sea into the Marmara Sea that drive stratification. A marine Mediterranean association (87 species) represents both soft bottom and hard substrate faunas that lived in well-ventilated conditions and upper mesohaline–polyhaline salinities (ca. 25 psu). Shallower areas were occupied by hard substrate taxa and phytopdetritic communities, whereas deeper areas had soft bottom faunas. The middle shelf part of the northern Gemlik Gulf has intervals with irregular and discontinuous sedimentary structures admixed with worn Neoeuxinian and euryhaline Mediterranean faunas. These intervals represent reworking events (slumping) likely related to seismic activity rooted in the North Anatolian Fault system. The core data and faunas indicate an oscillating postglacial sea-level rise and phases of increased/decreased ventilation in the Marmara Sea during the Holocene, as well as palaeobiogeographic reorganisations of Ponto-Caspian and Mediterranean water bodies since the latest Pleistocene (<30 ka). The findings contribute to arguments against a single catastrophic flooding of the Black Sea at about 7.5 ka (Noah’s Flood).     

基于进化建模方法的HJ-1 CCD黄海悬浮物和叶绿素a浓度遥感反演模型研究

本文利用实测数据集,发展了基于进化建模方法的HJ-1CCD黄海悬浮物(TSM)和叶绿素a浓度(Chl a)遥感反演模型,建模过程中有针对性地设计了适合水色反演的端点集和函数集,并利用转基因方法引入水色先验知识。经实测数据检验,TSM反演的平均相对误差约为31%(相关系数R2为0.96),Chl a反演误差约为33%(R2为0.88)。分析了模型对输入误差的敏感性,当输入端引入±5%的误差时,模型误差的波动在大多数情形下都可控制在±10%以内。与神经网络模型相比,本文发展的进化模型具有检验精度高、结构简单等优势。利用不同季节的黄、东海实测数据进行了模型精度的独立检验。本文的研究工作表明,进化建模方法适用于水色遥感反演建模问题,可由程序自动生成多个满足精度要求、结构形式多样的显式模型,为水色反演应用提供了多种选择,对于拥有数百个波段的高光谱数据水色反演具有更大的应用潜力。本文最后探讨了进化建模方法的改进方向。     

Evidence of heavy predation by Noctiluca scintillans on Acartia clausi (Copepoda) eggs off the central Cantabrian coast (NW Spain)

A large proliferation of Noctiluca scintillans (Dinophyceae: Noctilucidea) was observed in neritic waters off the central Cantabrian coast during late April 1995. Eggs of Acartia clausi (Crustacea: Copepoda) were the most conspicuous prey within vacuoles of Noctiluca. Noctiluca ingested 73 % of the total stock of A. clausi eggs. This intense predation on copepod eggs could potentially affect the recruitment of nauplii. The potential impact on the stock of Acartia clausi eggs and on the daily egg production of the population is discussed. There is a negative correlation between the average number of ingested eggs by a single Noctiluca cell and the abundance of Noctiluca. This fact, coupled with the lack of significant correlation between the former variable and the abundance of Acartia clausi eggs, suggests that interference processes play a major role in regulating the predator-prey interaction between Noctiluca and Acartia eggs.     

Erodibility of a mixed mudflat dominated by microphytobenthos and Cerastoderma edule, East Frisian Wadden Sea,Germany

Sediment erodibility and a range of physical and biological parameters were measured at an intertidal site in the German Wadden Sea area in June, September and November 2002 and February and April 2003 in order to examine the influence of macrozoobenthos and microphytobenthos on sediment erodibility and the temporal variation. The study site was a mixed mudflat situated in the mesotidal Baltrum–Langeoog tidal basin at the East Frisian barrier coast. The mud content at the site was about 35% and the filter-feeding cockle Cerastoderma edule was the dominating macrozoobenthic species (by biomass). The erodibility of the sediment showed strong temporal variation with high erosion thresholds in spring and late summer and significantly lower thresholds during the rest of the study period. The erosion thresholds were strongly dependent on the contents of chlorophyll a (chl a) and colloidal carbohydrates, both indicators of the content of microphytobenthos, in this environment primarily benthic diatoms. The content of microphytobenthos was high in September 2002 and April 2003, and regression analysis indicated that this was the only likely reason for the low erodibility found at these times. A biostabilisation index of about 4.5 was found for a situation with both abundant biofilms and cockles.