The Effect of the Introduction of the American Species Marenzelleria viridis (Polychaeta; Spionidae) on the Benthic Ecosystem of Vistula Lagoon

Abstract. In the late 1980s, a radical change in the macrozoobenthos composition occurred in the Vistula Lagoon, an oligohaline and silted water basin. This structural change is a result of the mass appearance of the very strongly euryhaline spionid polychaete Marenzelleria viridis Verrill, a newcomer from North American estuaries. It considerably reduced the previous bottom macrofauna, which was composed mainly of Chironornidae larvae and oligochaetes.
The penetration depth of the macrozoobenthos into the sediments and its total biomass increased in the last years, which enhanced the organic matter displacement in sediment layers of a greater thickness. The previous bottom dwellers inhabited mainly the most superficial sediment layer, whereas the new polychaete immigrant can penetrate down to a depth of 20–40 cm.     

Relationships between tissue concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons (polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides) and antioxidative responses of marine mussels, Perna viridis

Marine mussels, Perna viridis, were transplanted from a reference site to various polluted sites around Hong Kong. After 30 d of exposure, antioxidative responses in the gills and hepatopancreas and tissue concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons [polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorinated pesticides (CPs)] were determined for individual mussels. Glutathione S transferase (GST) and glutathione (GSH) were positively correlated with tissue PCB concentrations. Only one of the enzymatic antioxidants, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), showed significant response to tissue PCB. No significant correlation was found between tissue concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons and other enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and NADPH DT-diaphorase (DT-d). Oxidative stress, measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, was correlated with chlorinated pesticide concentrations in tissues. This study demonstrated a correlation between GST/GSH and chlorinated hydrocarbons. The apparent lack of correlation between trace organic pollutants and some of the enzymatic antioxidants may be due to the inhibitory effects caused by these chemicals. The above results suggest that more investigations are needed before these enzymes can be used as biomarkers.     

Effect of size, tissue parts and location on six biochemical markers in the green-lipped mussel, Perna viridis

The effect of size and tissue parts as well as site locations on a suite of six anti-oxidative biochemical markers, viz. the enzyme degrading neural transmitters acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the Phase II transforming enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST), the anti-oxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), the lipid metabolite malondialdehyde (MDA) and the ratio of CAT/MDA, in the bivalve mollusc, Perna viridis, was studied. Field mussels were collected from the piers of University of Science and Technology (UST), Pak Sha Wan or Hebe Haven (PS) and Sai Kung (SK) in Port Shelter, Hong Kong. Statistically, ANOVA showed that the activity of all six biochemical markers were generally tissue dependent, size independent and location dependent. Tukey multi comparison test indicated that the biochemical activities fell into two groups, with SK the highest activity group in most cases. The significance of these findings in relation to long-term coastal water biomonitoring is discussed.     

3种海洋微藻微胶囊培养的初步研究

用12mg/mL羧甲基纤维素钠(CMC)、10mg/mL海藻酸钠(SA)和0.5mmol/mL CaCl2制备亚心形扁藻、绿色杜氏藻和球等鞭金藻8701的中空海藻酸钙微胶囊,3种微藻在微胶囊内生长表现突出,最高细胞密度亚心形扁藻为70.4×106/mL,绿色杜氏藻为100.9×106/mL,球等鞭金藻8701为264.1×106/mL,分别是悬浮培养微藻最高密度的35倍、27倍和84倍,结果说明微胶囊化培养是微藻高密度培养的有效方式。     

Developmental energetics of the southern pigfish (Teleostei: Congiopodidae)

The embryonic wet weight, dry weight, yolk volume, energy content, and oxygen consumption of the southern pigfish Congiopodus leucopaecilus (Richardson, 1846) were followed from fertilisation to yolk sac absorption, at 11.5°c and salinity of 34.5%6. Measurements of yolk energy and catabolic energy changes did not show any evidence of an energy deficit before the onset of feeding capability.     

Mussel reefs on soft sediments: a severely reduced but important habitat for macroinvertebrates and fishes in New Zealand

Green-lipped mussels (Perna canaliculus) formed extensive reefs on soft sediments in sheltered embayments around northern New Zealand until overfishing and/or increased sediment input caused their virtual disappearance by 1980. To determine the role of mussel reefs as habitat for other animals, we located remnant soft-sediment reefs in five locations and compared the density, biomass, productivity and composition of mobile macroinvertebrate communities, and the density of small fishes associated with mussels, with fauna in the surrounding soft sediments. The mussel reefs had a distinct assemblage of macroinvertebrates, which had 3.5 times the density, 3.4 times the biomass and 3.5 times the productivity of surrounding areas. The density of small fishes was 13.7 times higher than in surrounding areas. These results show that soft-sediment mussel reefs support an abundant and productive fauna, highlighting the probable large loss of productivity associated with the historical decline in mussel habitat and the consequent desirability of restoration efforts.     

Comparison and history of Polydora websteri and P. haswelli (Polychaeta: Spionidae) as mud-blister worms in New Zealand shellfish

Shells of commercially valued bivalves in New Zealand, Crassostrea gigas, Perna canaliculus and Pecten novaezelandiae, are damaged by blister-causing Polydora polychaete species known to be close in morphology to the widely recorded oyster pest Polydora websteri Hartman. Recent New Zealand occurrences are here confirmed to relate to two species, P. websteri, and a second similar species, Polydora haswelli Blake & Kudenov, a new record for New Zealand, previously known only from Australia; the two species are described and compared. The worms have limited distributions, with P. websteri confirmed only for Pacific oysters (C. gigas) in northern New Zealand, although prior reports indicate it may also occur on scallops and have reached the northern South Island. Polydora haswelli has been found only in northern New Zealand, occurring on subtidal mussels and scallops and native oysters (Perna canaliculus, Pecten novaezelandiae, Ostrea chilensis), as well as co-existing with intertidal P. websteri on Pacific oysters. The worms are not present in Foveaux Strait O. chilensis beds, a major source of past oyster exports to Australia. The history of mud-blister worm outbreaks in Australasia is examined. While trans-Tasman exports of live oysters from New Zealand were commonplace during the nineteenth century, there is no evidence that mud-blister worms were present in New Zealand then. The earliest reports only date from the early 1970s and only from northern New Zealand, whereas a century earlier in the 1870s at least one of these pest worms had become widespread along eastern Australian coasts.     

4种海洋贝类多糖提取和保湿性研究

以马氏珠母贝(Pinctada martensii)、企鹅珍珠贝(Pteria penguin)、翡翠贻贝(Perna viridis)和近江牡蛎(oyster)的内脏团为原料提取、纯化多糖,与甘油、聚乙二醇400(PEG-400)、丙二醇和1,3-丁二醇四种常规保湿剂进行比较.结果表明,在相对湿度为44%时,前12h 吸湿率顺序为:马氏珠母贝<近江牡蛎<企鹅珍珠贝<翡翠贻贝< PEG-400<1,3-丁二醇<甘油<丙二醇;在相对湿度为80%时,前12 h 吸湿率顺序为:近江牡蛎<马氏珠母贝<企鹅珍珠贝<1,3-丁二醇<翡翠贻贝< PEG-400<甘油<丙二醇.前12 h 的保湿率顺序为:近江牡蛎>翡翠贻贝>马氏珠母贝>企鹅珍珠贝>甘油>1,3-丁二醇>丙二醇> PEG-400.翡翠贻贝吸湿性多糖优于其他贝类多糖,稍低于常规保湿剂.在相对湿度为80%时,前12 h 翡翠贻贝多糖的吸湿率大于常规保湿剂1,3-丁二醇,翡翠贻贝多糖保湿性稍弱于近江牡蛎,但强于其他贝类多糖和常规保湿剂要强一些     

Challenges associated with pre-border management of biofouling on oil rigs

The potential for oil rigs to transport diverse, reef-like communities around the globe makes them high risk vectors for the inadvertent spread of non-indigenous species (NIS). This paper describes two case studies where a suite of pre-border management approaches was applied to semi-submersible drilling rigs. In the first case study, a drilling rig was defouled in-water prior to departure from New Zealand to Australia. Risk mitigation measures were successful in reducing biosecurity risks to the recipient region, but they resulted in the unintentional introduction of the non-indigenous brown mussel (Perna perna) to New Zealand when the rig was defouled in-water by divers. In the second case study, lessons learned from this high-profile incursion resulted in a more structured approach to pre-border management, and this serves as a useful template for future rig transfers.