Two new species of Ectopleura from the Taiwan Strait, China (Cnidaria, Hydroidomedusae)

Two new species of genus Ectopleura, i.e., Ectopleura elongata sp. nov. and E. triangularis sp. nov. are described in the present paper based on type specimens from the Taiwan Strait. The types are deposited in the Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen, China.     

One new free-living marine nematode species of genus Cephalanticoma from the South China Sea

One new species of free-living marine nematode Cephalanticoma brevicaudata sp. nov. from the South China Sea is described. Cephalanticoma brevicaudata sp. nov. is characterized by spindle body with relatively short tail; head with cephalic capsule; three teeth at anterior of pharynx; excretory pore opens posterior to cervical setae; three cervical setae per file; spicules arcuate, cephalate and ventrally bent proximally, and blunt distally, 1.8 a.b.d. long, without ventral ala; gubernaculun slender, simple rod, without apophyses; tubular supplement 34 μm long, 2.3 a.b.d. in front of cloaca.     

Experimental study of the interspecific competition between two sibling marine herbivorous rotifers in relation to food availability and initial population density

Our laboratory study concerns the competitive interaction between two marine rotifer species Brachionus plicatilis and Brachionus rotundiformis at five algal (Nannochloropsis salina) concentrations (0.4×10⁶ to 32.4×10⁶ cells/ml) and at four initial inoculation densities (numerically, 100% B. plicatilis; 75% B. plicatilis and 25% B. rotundiformis, 50% each of the two species; 25% B. plicatilis and 75% B. rotundiformis and 100% B. rotundiformis. The initial biomass varied as 0.33 and 0.22 μg/ml for B. plicatilis and B. rotundiformis respectively. Experiments were performed at (25±1)℃. Population densities were enumerated and the medium was changed daily up to 8 d in the experiment. At the lowest food level tested, B. rotundiformis formed superior competitor than B. plicatilis, regardless of starting inoculation density. Generally when the food concentrations increased, B. plicatilis showed a greater increase in biomass than B. rotundiformis. B. rotundiformis formed the largest in population growth, regardless of increasing food concentrations. When grown alone, B. plicatilis reached peak abundances of (1.311 5±0.028) and (137.5±0.014) μg/ml at low and high food densities respectively. The corresponding values of B. rotundiformis were 0.724 5±0.016 and 18.15±0.021. The adverse effects of B. rotundiformis on the peak abundances of B. plicatilis were observed at the lowest food level and higher initial density. The rate of population growth in controls varied from (0.792±0.162) to (1.482±0.132) μm/d for B. plicatilis and (0.445±0.041) to (0.856±0.012) μm/d for B. rotundiformis, depending on food level. When both species were introduced together, low food levels favoured higher abundance of B. rotundiformis than B. plicatilis, suggesting that increased population density of the smaller B. rotundiformis was more successfull than larger B. plicatilis in brackish waters. Our work reveals that available food (type and quantity) along with starting inoculation density had significant effect on the interspecific competition between marine sibling rotifer species in zooplankton community structure.     

中国近海原多甲藻的形态鉴定

原多甲藻物种的分类与鉴定是其分类学研究中最困难的一项工作。本研究通过追溯原多甲藻属的分类学历史,厘清了原多甲藻属的分类学地位,并初步鉴定出23种我国近海原多甲藻属物种,描述了每个种的形态特征以及壳板模式,本文还探讨了一些相似种的区别特征,我们得出:P. oceanicum和P. murry,P. tumidum and P. fatulipes,以及P. globules和P. majus都分别是单独的物种而并非同种异名;P. diabolum为有效拉丁名而Peridinium globosum及Peridinium longipes均为别名;至于P. punctulatum和P. subinerme的分类学关系则需进一步研究才能确定。     

Dynamics of nonstructural carbohydrates in seagrass Thalassia hemprichii and its response to shading

A field survey was performed to examine nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) dynamics in seagrass Thalassia hemprichii at the Xincun Bay in southern China. An indoor experiment to investigate the response of NSC in T. hemprichii to shade was conducted. Belowground tissue of T. hemprichii was the dominant site of NSC reserves, and soluble sugar was the primary storage compound. The starch content of belowground tissue was lower in high intertidal areas than in low intertidal areas, indicating that the longer air exposure in high intertidal areas resulted in less NSC synthesis and less accumulation of NSC in T. hemprichii. The lowest level of soluble sugar and its proportion to NSC in belowground tissue were observed near the cage culture area, where the nutrient concentration in water and sediment was the highest;while the highest level of that was observed near the coastal shrimp farm,where salinity was the lowest. Soluble sugar in belowground tissue showed the following trend: summer>spring>winter>autumn. This corresponded to seasonal changes in the intensity of light. Leaf sugar accumulated during the autumn-winter period, providing a carbon and energy source for flower bud formation and seed germination. Short-termshading decreased NSC accumulation. Collectively, these results suggest that nutrient enrichment, freshwater discharge and exposure to air affect NSC dynamics in T. hemprichii. Light intensity, flower bud formation, and seed germination were all found to induce seasonal variations in NSC in T. hemprichii.     

Preliminary study on nanodiatom in the Taiwan Strait

INTRODUCTIONNanophytoplanktonhasbecomeanewresearchfieldsincethe1980s.Amongthis,nanodiatom(<20pm)isthemajorflora.ItisthefoodforaqUaticanimalsandtheimPOrtantlinkoffoodchain.NanodiatomisanimPOrtantoceanicprimaryproducer(WeberandEI-Sayed,1987;Gao,1990;ChenandQian,1992;Chengetal.,1993).Manyscholarshavedonealotoftaxonomicandecologicalworkonnanodiatom.InChina,monographswerepublishedbyProfessorT.G.Chin(JinDe-clang)(1965,1982and1992),butthoseworksfocusedonmorphologicalandecologicalcharact…     

Molecular identification of bloom-forming species Phaeocystis globosa (Pryninesiophyta) and its dispersal based on rDNA ITS sequence analysis

The colony-forming Phaeocystis species are causative agents of dense bloom occurrences in coastal waters worldwide. It is difficult to separate them because of the different morphologies associated with their colonial stages. In this study we applied molecular approaches to analyze the genetic variation of Phaeocystis globosa and Phaeocystis pouchetii from several geographic regions, and to assist in tracing the dispersal of bloom-forming Phaeocystis species in coastal waters of China. The sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of rDNA and the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene of Phaeocystis strains were determined. Sequence comparison shows that P.globosa was the most divergent to P. pouchetii, exhibiting sequence divergence higher than 0.08. However, lower genetic divergences existed between strains of P.globosa. The sequence comparison of the Phaeocystis rDNA ITS clearly shows that the species isolated from the southeast coast of China is identified as P.globosa rather than P. cf. pouchetii or other species. Furthermore, the significance of rDNA variation in distinct global populations of P.globosa suggested it might have had sufficient time to accumulate detectable mutations at the rDNA locus, supporting the hypothesis of ancient dispersal of P.globosa to many areas, meaning that P.globosa blooms in the coastal waters of China are endemic rather than a newly introduced species or a foreign source. Finally, based on the high divergent region of rDNA ITS, a pair of species-specific primers for P.globosa were designed, they could be useful to detect the presence of this species in mixed plankton assemblages or flagellate stages that are recognized with diffculties by means of conventional microscopy.     

Photosynthetic activity and antioxidative response of seagrass Thalassia hemprichii to trace metal stress

This study concerned the accumulation of trace metals in tissues of seagrass (Thalassia hemprichii) exposed to various concentrations of Zn²⁺+, Cd²⁺+, Pb²⁺+ and Cu²⁺+ for 10 d, and the effect of excessive metals on quantum yield (ΔF=F_m'), photosynthetic pigments and antioxidative enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (POD) were also examined. Cadmium was the most highly accumulated metal. Meanwhile, high metals levels led to a remarkable breakdown of photosynthetic parameters. Especially, ΔF=F_m', chlorophyll and carotenoid were significantly low during prolonged Cu exposure. Besides, ΔF=F_m' was more severely depressed by Cu and Zn than Pb and Cd. However, T. hemprichii had positive response by increasing the activity of SOD and POD. The results indicate that T. hemprichii is the most sensitive to Cu, and the antioxidative protection mechanisms of T. hemprichii are more efficiently activated to avoid damage of Zn, Cd and Pb stress. Finally, due to the high Cd-accumulation and strong Cd-tolerance capacity, T. hemprichii can be used for phytoremediation in Cd-contaminated areas.     

Nonculturability of the pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in live culture of Grateloupia turuturu is associated with bacterial attachment to the algal thalli

The invasive red alga Grateloupia turuturu Yamada could turn Vibrio parahaemolyticus into nonculturable state in live algal culture. In order to elucidate the mechanism of such an effect, a series of culture experiments were performed in this investigation based on three hypothesized causes, namely bacterial attachment, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the discharge of water soluble secondary metabolic compounds. The results reveal that attachment to the thallus surface of G. turuturu was the major reason for the decrease of V. parahaemolyticus in seawater. Further investigations show that V. parahaemolyticus attachment to the surface of algal thallus in live cultures of seaweeds was a common phenomenon. However, the disappearance of the culturability of V. parahaemolyticus occurred only on the thallus of G. turuturu over 72 h among all six algal species tested. Electron microscopic scanning shows that most of V. parahaemolyticus attached to G. turuturu changed from the initial normal bacilli to coccoid-shape after 72 h. The enclosure experiments by enclosing the algal thallus in tubes demonstrate that the nonculturability of V. parahaemolyticus in the water of live culture of G. turuturu occurred after the physical contact of the V. parahaemolyticus to the alga. The capacity of G. turuturu in affecting the culturability of V. parahaemolyticus was not influenced after inhibition of photosynthesis by treatment of 3''-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1'',1''-dimethyl urea (DCMU) at non-lethal levels. Production of reactive oxygen species after addition of live culture of bacteria was excluded by on-line analyzing the oxidation of dichlorohydrofluorescein (DCFH) to dichlorofluorescein (DCF) in the presence of peroxidase on a VersaFluor fluorometer.     

Studies on ecological characteristics variation and population dynamics of four lizardfishes in the southern Taiwan Straits

The ecological characteristics of four lizardfishes, Trachinocephalus myops, Saurida undosquamis, Saurida tumbil and Saurida elongata, were studied from specimens (910 T. myops, 454 S. un-dosquamis, 686 S. tumbil and 744 S. elongata) collected monthly in the southern Taiwan Straits from April 2005 to March 2006. The population dynamics of the four lizardfishes was also discussed by the comparison with the previous studies. All being composed of 7 a classes; the dominant group of T. myops and S. tumbil was 1-2 a, while S. undosquamis and S. elongate were 2-3 a. The total mortality coefficient Z and the fishing mortality F were at high as indicated by the exploitation ratio E(>0.5), and a large number of by-caught juvenile and young fishes showing that the stock of lizardfishes in this area was overexploited and the fishing gear was irrational. Compared with the previous studies, the maximum and mean fork length, body mass and age of the four lizard-fishes declined gradually, the lizardfishes populations were younger in age and smaller in size. The asymptotic fork length L_∞ decreased while increasing growth coefficient k, and age at the inflexion point of mass t_r was younger compared with the previous studies. The declining of older ones has moderated the feeding competition and the younger ones grew faster. The larger mortality param-eters Z,M and F have revealed higher fishing pressure. The smaller change of the first mature fork length of female T. myops and the change from K selection pattern to r selection pattern of S. tumbil have indicated a more vulnerable fishery ecosystem in this area. The changes of ecological characteristics and population dynamics may be caused by over-exploitation of demersal fishes such as the lizardfishes, especially a large number of juvenile and young fishes by-catch by the current fishing gears and methods. Therefore, in addition to the traditional fishery management approach such as the minimum length-limit, ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAF) should be taken to improve the practical marine ecosystem management, including increased fishing intensity of the non-economic species especially the feeding competitors of the lizardfishes and the conser-vation of the pelagic fishery population in the fisheries ecosystem, in order to restore the fishery population and achieve the sustainable use of the fishery stocks.     

不同养殖区红藻表面假交替单胞菌多样性分析

利用2216E培养基从我国沿海6种养殖红藻的20个样品表面分离了327 株假交替单胞菌。经过16S rDNA序列鉴定, 分别隶属于Pseudoalteromonas carrageenovora、P. haloplanktis、P. marina、P. agarivorans、P. elyakovii和P. lipolytica 6个种。其中P. carrageenovora数量最多, 总共211株, 在14个样品上均有发现。     

南海西北部陆架区住筒虫属的种类描述及其丰度分布

住筒虫是浮游被囊动物的一类,隶属于脊索动物门、尾索动物亚门、有尾纲、住筒虫科、住筒虫属,在海洋生物食物链中占重要位置。根据南海西北部陆架区2006年夏季、冬季和2007年春季3个航次各82个站的浮游动物拖网(网目孔径169 μm)调查资料,共鉴定到8种住筒虫:Fritillaria aberrens,F.abjornseni, F.formica, F.haplostoma, F.megachile, F.pacifica, F.pellucida, F.tenella,其中F.aberrens、F.abjornseni和F.pacifica为南海新纪录。对它们进行了形态描述,并结合环境因子探讨其丰度分布特征。夏季出现住筒虫8种,平均丰度为(2.62±4.68 )个/m³;冬季3种,春季4种,平均丰度分别为(0.23±0.52)和(1.72±5.43)个/m³。F.formica是丰度最高的一种,在夏季、冬季和春季分别占总丰度的43.88%,80.18%和84.29%;其次是F.pellucida和F.haplostoma;以上三种分布广,丰度较高。与环境因子分析表明,夏季琼东沿岸上升流和雷州半岛东部海域冷涡现象对种类向沿岸推移及其丰度增加有一定的助长作用。     

The complete DNA sequence of the mitochondrial genome of Sinonovacula constricta (Bivalvia: Solecurtidae)

The nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the solecurtidae Bivalvia mollusca Sinonovacula constricta (GenBank accession number EU880278) has been determined and is reported here. We determined the complete mitochondrial genome sequence using long-PCR and Shot Gun Sequencing. Contained within the 17 225 base pairs (bp) are the two ribosomal RNA genes and 12 protein coding genes typical of metazoan mitochondrial genomes. The S. constricta mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) did not contain a gene for atp8, similar to the mtDNA of Crassostrea virginica, Crassostrea giga and Mytilus edulis. The S. constricta mtDNA is 67.0% A+T (A 25.9%, C 10.5%, G 22.5%, and T 41.1%). This value is higher than that for many invertebrate mitochondrial genomes. Only 19 putative tRNA genes are present in S. constricta and 27 noncoding regions, of which two are large in size. The trnE and trnW genes as well as a second trnS were absent in S. constricta. The gene arrangement of S. constricta is different from the other Bivalvia genomes.     

南海糠虾类一新属——拟窄糠虾属

窄糠虾属Leptomysis G.O.Sars建立于1869年。当时只有两种:Leptomysis gracilis(G.O.Sars)和L.lingvura(G.O.Sars),产于地中海和北海水域。迄今共记录12种和亚种: 1.Leptomysis gracilis(G.O.Sars,1864)北海,地中海,亚德里亚海; 2.L.lingvura(G.O.Sars,1866)北海,地中海; 3.L.mediterranes G.O.Sars,1877地中海,亚德里亚海; 4.L.capensis Illig,1906南非; 5.L.megalops Zimmer,1915地中海,亚德里亚海,西非; 6.L.sardica G.O.Sars 1877地中海,亚德里亚海; 7.L.australiensis Tattersall,1927澳大利亚; 8.L.peresi Bacescu,1966地中海; 9.L.burgii Bacescu,1966地中海;     

Integration of the nuclease protection assay with sandwich hybridization (NPA-SH) for sensitive detection of Heterocapsa triquetra

Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms that function as primary producers in aquatic ecosystems. Some species of microalgae undergo rapid growth and cause harmful blooms in marine ecosystems. Heterocapsa triquetra is one of the most common bloom-forming species in estuarine and coastal waters worldwide. Although this species does not produce toxins, unlike some other Heterocapsa species, the high density of its blooms can cause significant ecological damage. We developed a H. triquetra species-specific nuclease protection assay sandwich hybridization (NPA-SH) probe that targets the large subunit of ribosomal RNA (LSU rRNA). We tested probe specificity and sensitivity with five other dinoflagellates that also cause red tides. Our assay detected H. triquetra at a concentration of 1.5×10⁴ cells/mL, more sensitive than required for a red-tide guidance warning by the Korea Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in 2015 (3.0×10⁴ cells/mL). We also used the NPA-SH assay to monitor H. triquetra in the Tongyeong region of the southern sea area of Korea during 2014. This method could detect H. triquetra cells within 3 h. Our assay is useful for monitoring H. triquetra under field conditions.     

Disruption of chemotaxis-related genes affects multiple cellular processes and the virulence of pathogenic Vibrio harveyi

Chemotactic motility is involved in the virulence of many pathogenic bacteria. In order to understand the role of chemotactic motility of Vibrio harveyi in cellular processes and virulence, mini-Tn10/Kan transposon-induced mutants with deficient chemotactic motility were constructed, screened, and identified. Sequence analysis revealed that the 465-bp fragment (GenBank accession number HM630274) flanking the transposon insertion site in mutant TS-CM1 had the highest identity (96.9%) with a hypothetical protein gene of V. harveyi ATCC BAA-1116 and the second-highest identity (91.8%) with the pgk gene of V. parahaemolyticus RIMD 2210633. In another mutant, TS-CM2, 356 bp of transposon-flanking sequence (GenBank accession number HM630275) also showed the highest identity (94.6%) with a hypothetical protein gene of V. harveyi ATCC BAA-1116 and the second-highest identity (92.4%) with the flaB gene of V. alginolyticus HY9901. Studies on virulence-related biological characteristics such as growth,motility, adhesion, and infectivity of themutants showed that disruption of either the flagellin gene or energymetabolism gene led to subsequent loss of chemotactic motility and changes in growth, motility, adhesion, and virulence of the pathogenic V. harveyi. Hence, the flagellin gene and crucial energy metabolism gene played an important role in the chemotacticmotility of V. harveyi.     

Two new species of Family Prasiolaceae (Prasiolales, Chlorophyta) from China Sea

Amomg the 30 known species of the algal family Prasiolaceae (Prasiolales, Chlorophyta), nine marine species have been found in marine environments but none in China seas. We reported here two new species Prasiola fangchengensis Luan et Ding sp. nov. and Prasiola volcanica Luan et Ding sp. nov. from subtropical coastal water of southern China.     

渤海春季浮游细菌分布与生态环境因子的关系

研究了 1 999年 4～ 5月渤海水体浮游细菌分布与生态环境因子的关系。结果显示 ,渤海春季表层水体浮游细菌含量与水温和溶解性有机碳呈正相关 ,相关系数分别为 0 .6 0 1 (P<0 .0 1 )和0 .4 0 6 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,并与溶解氧含量呈负相关 ,相关系数为 0 .5 1 9(P<0 .0 1 ) ;底层水体浮游细菌含量与水温、溶解性有机碳 (dissolved organic carbon,DOC)、颗粒性有机碳 (particulate organic carbon,POC)和叶绿素 a含量呈正相关 ,相关系数分别为 0 .82 0 (P<0 .0 1 ) ,0 .6 6 1 (P<0 .0 1 ) ,0 .5 31 (P<0 .0 1 )和 0 .4 42 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,并与溶解氧含量呈负相关 ,相关系数为 0 .6 5 0 (P<0 .0 1 )。表明水温和DOC、POC含量是渤海水域浮游细菌含量的主要限制因子 ,而水体中的溶解氧 (dissolved oxygen,DO)含量与浮游细菌的含量有关     

Isolation and diversity analysis of heterotrophic bacteria associated with sea anemones

A study was undertaken to investigate the heterotrophic bacterial flora associated with the sea anemones. Samples of the sea anemones Anthopleura midori were collected from the coast of Weihai and bacteria were isolated from these samples. Additionally, high numbers of viable bacteria were obtained from the celom wall and surface of anemone, the community of cultivable bacteria was very diverse. As a result of this isolation, 60 strains were obtained, 56 of them were selected for identification and characterization by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and limited phenotypic testing. Among these isolates, 16 strains were phylogenetically related to members of the genus Pseudoalteromonas and neighboring taxa. Other isolates included members of the genera Colwellia, Vibrio, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Endozoicomonas, Roseovarius, Paracoccus, Loktanella, Leisingera, Sulfitobacter, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Plantibacter, Microbacterium, Micrococcus, Joostella, Psychroserpens, Cellulophaga, Krokinobacter, Polaribacter and Psychrobacter. Seven potential novel species were found. Among 60 strains, 17 of them can produce proteolytic exoenzyme, 20 can produce lipolytic exoenzyme. Strain NQ8 has strong antagonistic effects on some Vibrio strains. This study demonstrates that the culturable fraction of bacteria from the sea anemones Anthopleura midori is diverse and appears to possess much potential as a source for the discovery of novel bioactive materials.