Diversity and distribution of gelatinous zooplankton in the Southwestern Mediterranean Sea

Gelatinous zooplankton species composition, distribution and abundance were investigated in the bay and the lagoon of Bizerte (North Tunisian coast) from January 2004 to December 2005. In total, 48 species were identified in the study area: 24 medusae, 11 siphonophores, four appendicularians, six chaetognaths, two pteropods and one doliolid. The hydromedusa Eutima mira was recorded for the first time in the Western Mediterranean Sea. The diversity in the Bay of Bizerte was greater than the diversity in the Bizerte lagoon. There was a loss of species diversity. Siphonophores were the most sensitive group to anthropogenic discharge. Only two species of siphonophores were recorded in the lagoon. Four species of gelatinous zooplankton, Muggiaea kochi, Lensia conoidea, Oikopleura longicauda and Podocorynoides minima were the most frequent species in the lagoon and may benefit from eutrophication. Appendicularians were numerically the most dominant group in the bay and the lagoon of Bizerte. Mesozooplankton density declined significantly in autumn and winter of 2004 and 2005 in relation to the dense aggregations of the scyphomedusae Pelagia noctiluca. Statistical analysis divided the study area into three zones: lagoon zone, bay zone and channel zone.     

2018年6月渤海大型水母分布特征

2018年6月使用渔业底拖网采样，对渤海大型水母进行了全面调查，调查船舶为"中渔科102"渔业科考船。本研究分析了渤海大型水母的种类组成、渔获密度与伞径大小，并对其源地进行了探讨。结果表明：本次调查共采集到海月水母、沙海蜇、海蜇、多管水母四种大型水母，其中海蜇、多管水母数量较少，各采集到一只。海月水母在渤海三湾均有分布，各海区伞径大小无显著差异且多为幼体（<10cm），密度高值区出现在渤海湾东南侧海域，可达38-221.21ind./（net·h），辽东湾海月水母出现于湾南，密度<5ind./（net·h），湾北未见；作者推测，海月水母在渤海沿岸可能存在多个源头，诸如：莱州湾与渤海湾交界近岸海域、河北近岸、辽东湾大连近岸以及北部近岸。沙海蜇在渤海分布较广，辽东湾为密度高值区，均值为（35.32±21.64）ind./（net·h），但伞径较小，均值为（12.15±6.52）cm；与此相对，渤海湾与莱州湾外侧海域沙海蜇密度虽小[<20ind./（net·h）]，但伞径要显著大于辽东湾，最大伞径均值可达（33.86±7.40）cm；作者推测，沙海蜇在渤海海域发源地主要集中于辽东湾近岸，渤海湾与莱州湾，外海出现的沙海蜇可能源于辽东湾，随海流运输至此。海月水母、沙海蜇在渤海发生时间要晚于黄、东海。本研究结果可为深入分析渤海大型水母的种群动态变化、暴发机理提供基础。     

Predation by jellyfish on large and emergent zooplankton: Implications for benthic–pelagic coupling

Stable carbon isotopes were used to determine the contribution of emergent demersal zooplankton to the diet of the scyphozoan jellyfish Catostylus mosaicus at Smiths Lake, New South Wales, Australia. A preliminary study in 2004 indicated that there was no difference in the δ¹³C of ectodermal tissue and mesoglea of the medusae. In 2005, medusae and zooplankton present during the day and night were sampled and isotopic signatures were modelled using IsoSource. Modelling indicated that: (1) mollusc veligers and copepods sampled during the day contributed <13% of the carbon to the jellyfish; (2) copepods sampled at night contributed up to 25%; and (3) the large, emergent decapod Lucifer sp. contributed 88–94%. We hypothesised, therefore, that medusae derive most of their carbon from emergent species of zooplankton. In 2006, sampling done in 2005 was repeated three times over a period of 4 weeks to measure short-term temporal variation in isotopic signatures of medusae and zooplankton, and emergent demersal zooplankton was specifically sampled using emergence traps. Short-term temporal variation in isotopic signatures was observed for some taxa, however, actual variations were small (<1.5‰) and the values of medusae and zooplankton remained consistent relative to each other. IsoSource modelling revealed that mysid shrimp and emergent copepods together contributed 79–100% of the carbon to the jellyfish, and that the maximum possible contribution of daytime copepods and molluscs was only 22%. Jellyfish apparently derive most of their carbon from emergent zooplankton and by capturing small numbers of relatively large taxa, such as Lucifer sp. or mysid shrimp. Small but abundantly captured zooplankton (such as mollusc veligers) contribute only minor amounts of carbon. Jellyfish have a major role in the transfer of carbon between benthic and pelagic food webs in coastal systems.     

Environmental forcing on jellyfish communities in a small temperate estuary

The impact of biological, hydrodynamic and large scale climatic variables on the jellyfish community of Mondego estuary was evaluated from 2003 to 2010. Plankton samples were collected at the downstream part of the estuary. Siphonophora Muggiaea atlantica and Diphyes spp. were the main jellyfish species. Jellyfish density was generally higher in summer and since 2005 densities had increased. Summer community analysis pointed out Acartia clausi, estuarine temperature and salinity as the main driven forces for the assemblage's structure. Also, Chl a, estuarine salinity, runoff and SST were identified as the major environmental factors influencing the siphonophores summer interannual variability. Temperature influenced directly and indirectly the community and fluctuation of jellyfish blooms in the Mondego estuary. This study represents a contribution to a better knowledge of the gelatinous plankton communities in small temperate estuaries.     

Short‐term temporal variation in gelatinous zooplankton populations over 48 hours in a coral reef at Redang Island,Malaysia

Gelatinous zooplankton abundance and species composition were investigated at 3‐h intervals for a 48‐h period at a fringing reef in Malaysia. A total of 20 gelatinous zooplankton species were observed; the community was dominated by the calycophoran siphonophore Diphyes chamissonis (79.9%), followed by the trachymedusdae Aglaura hemistoma (5.6%) and Liriope tetraphylla (4.8%). The gelatinous zooplankton were not collected in the water column during most of the daytime hours (1200, 1500 and 1800 h) but were common during the night. However, an abrupt peak in abundance was found at 0900 h on the second day. The times of appearance at night were different depending on the species, and the number of species was also different depending on the hour of sampling. Sampling at 3‐h intervals over a 48‐h period revealed that the temporal variation (or sampling availability) was large in this study. Careful consideration should be given to the sampling variability in handling the gelatinous zooplankton samples in coral reef areas.     

红沿河海域常见水母的食物组成分析——基于稳定同位素和脂肪酸标记法

为了探究不同种类水母对浮游食物网的摄食影响,采用碳氮稳定同位素和脂肪酸标记法,研究分析了渤海红沿河海域常见的4种小型水母(伞径直径5 cm:卡玛拉水母Malagazzia carolinae、球形侧腕水母Pleurobrachia globosa、帽铃水母Tiaricodon coeruleus、半球美螅水母Clytia hemisphaerica和3种大型水母(伞径10—200cm:沙海蜇Nemopilema nomurai、海月水母Aurelia aurita)和白色霞水母Cyanea nozakii)的食物组成。结果表明,不同种类水母的食物组成存在差异。其中卡玛拉水母、球形侧腕水母、帽铃水母、半球美螅水母和白色霞水母均偏肉食食性,食物组成中动物性食物所占比例更高,高于海月水母与沙海蜇。在食物粒径谱上,帽铃水母和半球美螅水母较大粒径的食物比例均高于小粒径的悬浮有机物(POM)比例。卡玛拉水母和球形侧腕水母各个粒径食物比例接近。大型水母中,白色霞水母的食物中大粒径的浮游动物的比例高于海月水母,更高于沙海蜇。由此看来,小型水母和大型的白色霞水母的暴发会直接影响大中型浮游动物数量,海月水母的暴发对不同大小的浮游生物均会产生一定的影响。而沙海蜇的暴发会大量摄食1 mm的小型浮游生物和POM,对大中型浮游动物以及更高营养层生物(鱼类等)的影响可能是通过蜇伤以及饵料竞争导致的。因此,不同种类水母暴发对浮游生物的影响存在差异。本研究从摄食角度初步探究了水母对海洋生态系统物质循环和能量流动的影响,为水母暴发的灾害防治提供了数据支持。     

Mechanisms behind the metabolic flexibility of an invasive comb jelly

Mnemiopsis leidyi is an invasive comb jelly which has successfully established itself in European seas. The species is known to produce spectacular blooms yet it is holoplanktonic and not much is known about its population dynamics in between. One way to gain insight on how M. leidyi might survive between blooms and how it can bloom so fast is to study how the metabolism of this species actually responds to environmental changes in food and temperature over its different life-stages. To this end we combined modelling and data analysis to study the energy budget of M. leidyi over its full life-cycle using Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory and literature data.An analysis of data obtained at temperatures ranging from 8 to 30 °C suggests that the optimum thermal tolerance range of M. leidyi is higher than 12 °C. Furthermore M. leidyi seems to undergo a so-called metabolic acceleration after hatching. Intriguingly, the onset of the acceleration appears to be delayed and the data do not yet exist which allows determining what actually triggers it. It is hypothesised that this delay confers a lot of metabolic flexibility by controlling generation time.We compared the DEB model parameters for this species with those of another holoplanktonic gelatinous zooplankton species (Pelagia noctiluca). After accounting for differences in water content, the comparison shows just how fundamentally different the two energy allocation strategies are. P. noctiluca has an extremely high reserve capacity, low turnover times of reserve compounds and high resistance to shrinking. M. leidyi adopts the opposite strategy: it has a low reserve capacity, high turnover rates of reserve compounds and fast shrinking.     

Distribution et écologie des Méduses (Cnidaria) du golfe de Tunis (Méditerranée sud occidentale)

The Medusae of Tunis Gulf (25 species) are qualitatively the third zooplanktonic group after Tintinnids and Copepods. Anthomedusae (eight species), Trachymedusae (five species) and Leptomedusae (four species) represent the major part among the 20 species of Hydromedusae identified during our study (December 1993–November 1995). However, the Limnomedusae (two species) and the Narcomedusae (one species) are poorly represented. In the Bay of Tunis, Obelia spp., the most common and dominant species, command the quantitative fluctuations of Hydromedusae and reach exceptionally the density of 25 800 ind. m^–3. Within the Scyphomedusae (five species), Pelagia noctiluca is the most common species which outbreaks in winter and autumn. Tunis Gulf seems to be composed of two jellyfish communities; the first one is composed of endogenous species showing a constant period of blooming like Olindias, Cladonema, Aurelia, Cotylorhiza and Rhizostoma and sometimes permanent like Obelia spp. and Clytia spp.; the second is represented by exogenous species considered as “visitors” like Velella, Sminthea or Pelagia whose presence on the coast is dependent on local and particular winds and currents.     

Collapse of zooplankton stocks during Liriope tetraphylla (Hydromedusa) blooms and dense mucilaginous aggregations in a thermohaline stratified basin

A growing number of studies report an increase in jellyfish populations worldwide that may have consequences for marine planktonic food web dynamics. The principal objective of this study was to understand the changes in a zooplankton community during blooms of Liriope tetraphylla and subsequent mucilage events in the Sea of Marmara, a small highly stratified transitional basin between the Black and Aegean Seas. Liriope blooms observed in 2006 and 2007 reached a maximum abundance of 2978 ind.·m^?3, following the species' first observation in 2005. Jellyfish species are known to play a key guild role by restructuring plankton communities and in the Sea of Marmara Liriope caused a temporal regime shift from a crustacean‐ to a jellyfish‐controlled system. A rapid decline in abundance of most important zooplankton species followed the Liriope increase, together with a drastic shift in community structure. The dominant summer–autumn species Penilia avirostris (Cladocera) vanished in the autumn of 2006 and was diminished ~30‐fold in 2007 when compared with years without Liriope. The decline in zooplankton and the devastating effects of mucilage on pelagic ecosystem and socio‐economics through restricting commercial fisheries implied sensitivity of the already perturbed Marmara ecosystem to changes in predator densities and environmental stability.     

Feeding of Aurelia sp. (Scyphozoa) and links to the microbial food web

The impact of the scyphomedusa Aurelia sp. on planktonic assemblages was experimentally studied in enclosures incubated in situ in the sea lake of Mljet Island (Big Lake, Southern Adriatic), where jellyfish are present throughout the year. In situ feeding experiments using plankton at natural densities indicated a reduction in abundance for small calanoid and cyclopoid copepods, copepodites, nauplii and ciliates in the presence of Aurelia sp. In addition to direct predatory pressure, Aurelia sp. exerted an indirect cascading effect on autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial plankton. Phytoplankton biomass increases of up to 0.5 μg C·l^?1·h^?1 were mainly related to 19′‐hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin‐ and 19′‐butanoyloxyfucoxanthin‐containing phytoplankton. Bacterial production was about twice as high in the presence of Aurelia sp. and biomass was also consistently higher. It appears that the top‐down effect of predation along with material release by Aurelia sp. results in increases in microbial biomass and production.     

2019年5月黄海及东海北部大型水母分布特征

2019年5月,利用渔业底拖网,对我国黄海以及东海北部海域进行了全面系统的大型水母调查,分析了大型水母的种类组成、伞径大小和生物量以及与温度、盐度的关系。结果表明,本次调查主要捕获到沙海蛰、霞水母、洋须水母、多管水母四种大型水母,沙海蛰生物量最高,多管水母分布范围最广、数量最大。沙海蛰集中分布在调查海域南部,各海域伞径差异显著,在黄东海交界海域采集到幼水母体(10cm),生物量高值区出现在东海北部离岸海域,可达6422.16kg/km2;白色霞水母集中分布在东海北部,在近岸海域采集到幼水母体(6—7cm),生物量高值区位于离岸海域,可达7417.49kg/km2;洋须水母集中分布在黄海水深较深海域,北部海域个体较大,在黄海中部、南部交界处采集到幼水母体(10cm),生物量较低,高值区出现在黄海中部与南部,可达449.94kg/km2;多管水母分布范围较广,东海北部海域个体伞径较大,在山东半岛东部发现幼水母体(5cm),生物量高值区出现在黄海中部近岸海域,可达4901.42kg/km2。对比文献资料,发现整个调查海域,大型水母总体生物量比2015年同期有所增加。本文为研究该海域大型水母的年际变化规律提供数据基础。     

On a new Siphonophora from the East China Sea and South China Sea

In the course of identifying the samples of Siphonophora from the East China Sea and South China Sea, a new Siphonophora, Vogtia microsticella sp. nov. , was noted. The new species is distinguished from other five species in the genus in nectophore as follows: Parahorse-shoe shaped with five bluntly rounded projections, the two projections below the ostium, i. e. the basal projections, approach each other. The dorsal facet is smooth without any gelatinous prominence. Smaller are the nectosac and the ostium.     

辽东湾北部近海大型水母数量分布和温度盐度特征

通过2009-2011年5月下旬-7月下旬辽东湾北部近海10m等深线内的大型水母调查数据,分析了辽东湾北部近海近三年中大型水母资源状况,并探讨了辽东湾大型水母的生态类型。结果显示:辽东湾北部近海大型水母种类主要有海蜇(Rhopilema esculentum)、沙蜇(Nemopilema nomurai)、白色霞水母(Cyanea nozakii)、海月水母(Aurelia sp.1),海蜇和沙蜇是优势种。海蜇幼水母阶段主要集中分布在5m等深线以内的近岸河口水域,随着个体增大有略向深水或密度较小的水域扩散的趋势,仍主要分布在5m等深线两侧水域,属于高温低盐种类。6月份调查海区中发现大量的沙蜇幼水母,随着沙蜇个体增大,7月份调查海区中沙蜇数量大幅度减少。辽东湾海月水母在南部海域出现较多,2010、2011年在北部近海部分海域出现。白色霞水母近几年来辽东湾出现较少,栖息在盐度较高的水域。辽东湾各种大型水母中,沙蜇的生长速度最快。辽东湾海蜇幼水母、沙蜇幼水母的海区出现时间要晚于黄、东海。     

青岛外海夏季水母路径溯源研究

2011年夏季,青岛外海发现大量大型水母,如沙海蜇、海月水母和白色霞水母等,而在冬、春季未在当地海区发现其幼体。本文采用拉格朗日方法,以粒子代表水母,不考虑水母自身运动,进行反向追踪,追溯其运动路径及可能源地。不同追踪实验结果显示,在不同时间不同深度处释放的粒子路径不同。在海面处释放的粒子分别可以追溯到海州湾、江苏沿岸及长江口附近的海域,其中8月1日和8月15日在海面释放的粒子最远可以追溯至长江口外海域;2m层上释放的粒子最远也可到达长江口附近,而10m层以深释放的粒子基本分布在35°N以北。由于反向追踪只考虑海流的影响,追踪过程可逆,因此,从运动路径来看,青岛外海的部分水母可能来源于海州湾、江苏沿岸及长江口附近海域。从水母种类分布特征来看,海州湾、江苏沿岸及长江口附近海域在有粒子分布时期的水母种类与7、8月份青岛外海部分水母种类一致,为寻找青岛外海夏季水母的潜在的来源地提供了依据。     

Alteration of benthic communities associated with copper contamination linked to boat moorings

Although copper (Cu) is an essential element for life, leaching from boat paint can cause excess environmental loading in enclosed marinas. The effects of copper contamination on benthic macrofaunal communities were examined in three San Diego Bay marinas (America's Cup, Harbor Island West and East) in Southern California, USA. The distribution of Cu concentration in sediments exhibited a clear spatial gradient, with hotspots created by the presence of boats, which in two marinas exceeded the effect range medium (ERM). Elevated sediment Cu was associated with differences in benthic assemblages, reduced species richness and enhanced dominance in America's Cup and Harbor Island West, whereas Harbor Island East did not appear to be affected. At sites without boats there were greater abundances of some amphipods such as the species Desdimelita sp., Harpinia sp., Aoroides sp., Corophium sp., Podocerus sp., bivalves such as Lyonsia californica, Musculista senhousia, Macoma sp., and polychaetes such as Diplocirrus sp. In contrast, at sites with boats, densities of Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata, Polydora nuchalis, Euchone limnicola, Exogone lourei, Tubificoides spp. were enhanced. The limited impact on Harbor Island East suggests not only lower Cu input rates and increased water flushing and mixing, but also the presence of adequate defense mechanisms that regulate availability and mitigate toxic impacts. At all three marinas, Cu in tissues of several macrobenthic species exhibited Cu bioaccumulation above levels found in the surrounding environment. The annelids Lumbrineris sp. and Tubificoides spp., and the amphipod Desdimelita sp. contained high levels of Cu, suggesting they function as Cu bioaccumulators. The spionid polychaetes Polydora nuchalis and Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata had much lower Cu concentrations than surrounding sediments, suggesting they function as Cu bioregulators. The macrobenthic invertebrates in San Diego Bay marinas that tolerate Cu pollution (e.g. P. nuchalis, P. paucibranchiata, Euchone limnicola, Typosyllis sp., Tubificoides sp.) may function as indicators of high‐Cu conditions, whereas the presence of Cu‐sensitive species (e.g. Podocerus sp., Aoroides sp., Harpinia sp., Macoma sp., Lyonsia californica) may indicate healthier conditions (less Cu‐stressed). Parallel responses by faunas of Shelter Island Yacht Basin, also in San Diego Bay, suggest potential for development of regional Cu contamination assessment criteria, and call for functional comparisons with other marinas and coastal water bodies.     

初夏南黄海浮游动物功能群丰度年际变化

利用1959年和2000—2009年6月份在南黄海海域进行的7个航次海洋调查采样样品,并结合同步温盐资料及海温长期变化数据,研究了不同浮游动物功能群丰度的年际变化。结果表明:大型甲壳类和毛颚类功能群丰度高且波动幅度较大,在1959年和2000—2009年两个时期无明显差异,最低值分别出现在2003年和2000年;而中华哲水蚤为优势种的大型桡足类功能群丰度在2000—2009年显著高于1959年,波动范围分别在2035—24500和912—1330ind/m2之间;小型水母和海樽类功能群丰度一般较低,但是在2007年出现暴发式增加,平均丰度分别是其它年份中最高平均丰度的4.8倍和88.5倍。大型甲壳类和毛颚类分别在东部冷水团区和中部锋面区波动幅度最大,小型水母和海樽类则是在西部浅水区波动幅度最大。分析认为桡足类丰度增加与营养盐浓度升高和鱼类过度捕捞有关,而胶质生物种群剧烈波动与气候变化引起的环境变异相关。     

长江口及其邻近海域水螅水母纲新种和新记录记述

长江口及其邻近海域水螅水母纲有49种,隶属于26科,34属,其中有2个新种:瓣高手水母(Bougainvillia lamellata n.sp.)、单管玛拉水母(Malagazzia monocanalis n.sp.)和2种我国新记录:橙黄高手水母(Bougainvillia aurantiaca Bouillon,1980)、玫瑰太阳水母[Solmaris rhodolma(Brandt,1838)],此外,我国记载的束状高手水母[Bougainvillia ramosa(van Beneden,1844)]订正为鳞茎高手水母(B.muscus(Allman,1863)).     

Contribution of benthic and epiphytic diatoms to clam and oyster production in the Akkeshi-ko estuary

The species composition and dynamics of phytoplankton in the water column and its contribution to clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, and oyster, Crassostrea gigas, production were studied in the Akkeshi-ko estuary, eastern part of Hokkaido, Japan. A total 128 taxa of diatoms were identified, with 103 and 102 species occurring on the surface sediments and in the water column, respectively. Amphora sp., Bacillaria paradoxa var paxilifer, Cocconeis scutellum, Navicula sp., Nitzschia sigma, Paralia sulcata, Rhoicosphenia curvata, Synedra ulna and Thalassiosira sp. were most common and dominant in all stations in both water column and surface sediment. Benthic diatoms were most dominant in both water column and surface sediment. The species composition of epiphytes was, in part, similar to diatom assemblage of the water column and also to that of the surface sediment. The benthic and pelagic ratio in the diatom assemblage of the water column was very high. Benthic diatoms were able to resuspend into water column by turbulence stimulated by wind. Chlorophyll a concentration in the water column increased as wind speed increased. Seventy and 67% of the gut contents oysters consisted of benthic diatoms in 2003 and 2004 and also 78 and 87% of clams in 2003 and 2004, respectively. The availability of benthic and epiphytic diatom assemblages contributes significantly to food resources for clam and oyster mariculture due to resuspension by disturbance in the Akkeshi-ko estuary.     

Vertical distribution and daily migrations of hyperiid amphipods in the northern Benguela in relation to water column stratification

The vertical distribution and migratory behaviour of hyperiid amphipods were studied in a series of tows carried out during a 48-h sampling period at an oceanic station at the northern edge of the Benguela System during a major penetration by Angola Current waters. A total of 49 species of hyperiid amphipods were collected; of these, Tetrathyrus forcipatus was the most abundant, with densities greater than two individuals per 10 m³. Vibilia armata, Lestrigonus latissimus, L. bengalensis and Paratyphis promontorii were also highly abundant. During the sampling period most species were concentrated in the uppermost 40 m of the water column, though in other regions the vertical distribution of these same species has been reported to be broader. Only a few species were able to migrate through the thermocline. We hypothesize that both the non-migratory behaviour and the aggregation of individuals and species were caused by two primary factors: the existence of a strong thermocline, which hindered the transit of species to deeper layers, and abundant concentrations of gelatinous zooplankton above the thermocline. Hyperiids and the gelatinous zooplankton, particularly medusae and siphonophores, exhibited a close association during the sampling period, suggesting that hyperiids are able to partition their habitat by using the different medusan and siphonophoran species as specific substrates, thereby reducing interspecific competition.     

Significant population genetic structuring of the holoplanktic scyphozoan Pelagia noctiluca in the Atlantic Ocean

Pelagia noctiluca is thought to have a global distribution, yet our understanding of genetic connectivity across the range of this problem animal is poor. Here, we investigate the genetic structure of populations off southern Africa using mitochondrial COI and nuclear ITS1 and ITS2 genes, and compare the results to recent work conducted in the North-East Atlantic. Analyses showed significant differentiation between the southern and northern Atlantic population groups (COI Φ _st = 0.72, ITS2 Φ _st = 0.23, p < 0.001), which suggests historical rather than contemporary gene flow. Southern African samples showed high haplotypic (h = 1) and low nucleotide (π = 0.008) diversity, similar to those from Europe. Phylogenetic analyses suggest South African samples to have diverged earlier than those from the northern Atlantic.