Experimental study of the zooplankton impact on the trophic structure of phytoplankton and the microbial assemblages in a temperate wetland (Argentina)

An experimental study using mesocosms was conducted in the main shallow lake of a temperate wetland (Otamendi Natural Reserve, Argentina) to analyse the impact of zooplankton on phytoplankton and the microbial assemblages. The lake is characterised by the presence of a fluctuating cover of floating macrophytes, whose shading effects shape the phytoplakton community and the ecosystem functioning, which was absent during the study period. The experiment was run in situ using polyethylene bags, comparing treatments with and without zooplankton. The cascade effect of zooplankton on phytoplankton and the lower levels of the microbial food web (ciliates, heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) and picoplankton) were analysed.A significant zooplankton grazing on the nano-phytoplankton fraction (3–30 μm) was observed. Conversely, large algae (filamentous cyanobacteria, colonial chlorophytes and large diatoms) increased in all mesocosms until day 10, suggesting that they were not actively grazed by zooplankton during this period. However, from day 10 until day 17 this fraction decreased in the enclosures with mesozooplankton, probably due to an increase in the abundance of large herbivores.The results of the experiment would also indicate a trophic cascade effect on the lower levels of the microbial community. In the treatment where zooplankton was removed, the abundance of ciliates followed the same increasing pattern as the abundance of HNF, but with a time lag in its response. In the enclosures without zooplankton, HNF remained relatively constant throughout the experiment, whereas ciliates strongly decrease during the last week. Total picoplankton abundance increased in the enclosures with mesozooplankton, thus supporting the existence of a four-link trophic cascade (copepods–microzooplankton–HNF–picoplankton). Zooplankton composition changed significantly from the beginning until the end of the experiment; cyclopoid nauplii and rotifers were notoriously dominant at t₀, whereas 10 days later the community showed a more equitable proportion of cyclopoids, calanoids, nauplii, cladocerans and rotifers.     

Spatial and temporal changes in microbial diversity of the Marmara Sea sediments

Spatial (10 different locations) and temporal (2 years) changes in characteristics of the Marmara Sea Sediments were monitored to determine interactions between the chemical and microbial diversity. The sediments were rich in terms of hydrocarbon, nitrate, Ni and microbial cell content. Denitrifying, sulfate reducing, fermentative and methanogenic organisms were co-abundant in 15 cm below the sea floor. The local variations in the sediments’ characteristics were more distinctive than the temporal ones. The sulfate and nitrate contents were the main drivers of the changes in the microbial community compositions. N and P were limited for microbial growth in the sediments, and their levels determined the total cell abundance and activity. Seasonal shifts in temperatures of the shallow sediments were also reflected in the active cell abundances. It was concluded that the Marmara Sea is a promising ecosystem for the further investigation of the ecologically important microbial processes.     

Clayey materials in river basin enhancing microbial contamination of river water

Mineral constituents of clay materials may promote interaction, adsorption and attachment of microorganisms, often resulting in biofilms’ formation. In this study investigation is made to determine how littoral clayey materials on the shores of a river promote accumulation of bacteria and increase contamination of river water. Clayey samples were collected at various points along the shore of a river around Mondeor in Johannesburg and the mineralogical composition was determined using XRD and XRF. Microorganisms in clay-biofilm and river water were identified by DNA sequencing and plate count. Results showed that total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp. and presumptive indigenous microorganisms attached to littoral clayey materials containing the mineral muscovite (characterising argillaceous soils). Bacteria number on clayey materials was significantly higher than on overlying water especially before rainy season. However a decrease of the number of bacteria in clayey materials concurrent with an increase in the number of suspended bacteria after rain events, was the result of the action of high and fast flows in the basin, eroding the biofilms. Attachment of microorganisms in clayey material as observed in this study could be ascribed to the glue-like aspect of soil (due to muscovite) that facilitates adhesion. It therefore demonstrates the potential of clayey materials to encourage biofilm formation and enhance microbial contamination of river water as shown here.     

Herbicide contamination and the potential impact to seagrass meadows in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

Low concentrations of herbicides (up to 70 ng l(-1)), chiefly diuron (up to 50 ng l(-1)) were detected in surface waters associated with inter-tidal seagrass meadows of Zostera muelleri in Hervey Bay, south-east Queensland, Australia. Diuron and atrazine (up to 1.1 ng g(-1) dry weight of sediment) were detected in the sediments of these seagrass meadows. Concentration of the herbicides diuron, simazine and atrazine increased in surface waters associated with seagrass meadows during moderate river flow events indicating herbicides were washed from the catchment to the marine environment. Maximum herbicide concentration (sum of eight herbicides) in the Mary River during a moderate river flow event was 4260 ng l(-1). No photosynthetic stress was detected in seagrass in this study during low river flow. However, with moderate river flow events, nearshore seagrasses are at risk of being exposed to concentrations of herbicides that are known to inhibit photosynthesis.     

Reduced abundance but increased diversity of chironomid larvae under higher trophic pressure from fish in semi-permanent ponds

Fish may affect macrobenthic communities through trophic interactions and modification of habitat conditions. We compared the density, diversity and taxonomic composition of larval chironomids under low vs high fish impact, created by stocking semi-natural ponds with either young/small common carp Cyprinus carpio at low biomass densities or with high biomass densities of older/large common carp, supplemented by other cyprinids and predatory fish species.Over the study season, May–August, total chironomid abundance was considerably lower in ponds with high fish biomass than in low fish biomass ponds. In July–August larval densities declined significantly, irrespective of the fish status of the ponds. The composition of larval communities diverged between ponds with different fish status. Chironomus riparius and C. plumosus accounted for most of the observed dissimilarity. C. plumosus densities were not affected by the fish status of the pond, constituting on average >38 % of chironomid specimens in both types of ponds. C. riparius was abundant in ponds with low fish biomass (on average 30 %), but rare in ponds with high fish biomass (4 %). Other common taxa were Glyptotendipes pallens (15 % and 13 %, respectively) and Procladius sp. (14 % in ponds with low fish impact). Canonical correspondence analysis showed that fish biomass was more important in determining chironomid community composition than environmental variables indicative of pond eutrophication (total N, P, chlorophyll a and conductivity).Despite adverse effects on total abundance, chironomid diversity was higher under apparently stronger trophic pressure by fish. Fish may have relieved some chironomid species from invertebrate predation and competition with dominant Chironomus larvae. Other important drivers of chironomid assemblage and diversity patterns may include species-specific feeding modes and prey size selectivity of fish, the ability of chironomid larvae to attain size- and depth-refuge from small fish but not larger fish, and differential vulnerability of free-living and tube-dwelling larvae relative to ontogenetic niche shifts of fish.     

Assessment and impact of microbial fecal pollution and human enteric pathogens in a coastal community

The goals of this study were to assess watersheds impacted by high densities of OSDS (onsite sewage disposal systems) for evidence of fecal contamination and evaluate the occurrence of human pathogens in coastal waters off west Florida. Eleven stations (representing six watersheds) were intensively sampled for microbial indicators of fecal pollution (fecal coliform bacteria, enterococci, Clostridium perfringens and coliphage) and the human enteric pathogens, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and enteroviruses during the summer rainy season (May-September 1996). Levels of all indicators ranged between < 5 and > 4000 CFU/100 ml. Cryptosporidium and Giardia were detected infrequently (6.8% and 2.3% of samples tested positive, respectively). Conversely, infectious enteroviruses were detected at low levels in 5 of the 6 watersheds sampled. Using cluster analysis, sites were grouped into two categories, high and low risks, based on combined levels of indicators. These results suggest that stations of highest pollution risk were located within areas of high OSDS densities. Furthermore, data indicate a subsurface transport of contaminated water to surface waters. The high prevalence of enteroviruses throughout the study area suggests a chronic pollution problem and potential risk to recreational swimmers in and around Sarasota Bay.     

鄱阳湖河湖交错带重金属污染对微生物群落与多样性的影响

鄱阳湖河湖交错带是鄱阳湖流域内河流生态系统与湖泊生态系统之间的界面区域,该区域物种多样性丰富,承接了五大河流的来水,是重要的污染缓冲区和净化区.本文研究了鄱阳湖河湖交错带重金属污染对微生物群落结构和微生物多样性的影响,结果表明,已测的重金属(汞、铜、锌、铅和镉)均有不同程度的污染,其中,铅、汞污染最严重,水质标准为Ⅳ类以上,其他重金属均为Ⅱ类;高通量测序结果表明,鄱阳湖河湖交错带微生物群落主要有变形菌门、放线菌门、拟杆菌门和疣微菌门4类,平均含量分别为58.31%、13.63%、9.69%和1.33%.多样性指数分析结果表明,昌江与乐安河交汇处(R9点位)与鄱阳湖出长江口(H11点位)的微生物多样性指数(Chao 1、Shannon和Simpson指数)最高,万家桥(N2点位)与赣江入湖口(W6点位)微生物多样性指数最低.研究表明,受重金属污染严重的区域通常会使微生物群落丰度降低,然而R9和H11点位重金属污染严重,但微生物多样性却较丰富,说明微生物多样性不仅仅受单一因子影响,而是多重因子共同影响.     

湖泊底泥疏浚环境效应:Ⅳ.对沉积物微生物活性与群落功能多样性的影响及其意义

通过为期一年的疏浚模拟试验,在试验室培养疏浚与对照柱样研究了底泥疏浚对沉积物微生物活性和群落功能多样性的影响。研究结果表明,太湖梅梁湾研究区模拟疏浚表层30cm对沉积物物理、化学和微生物性质影响较大。疏浚沉积物微生物活性显著低于未疏浚沉积物的微生物活性,疏浚对沉积物微生物活性影响较大且在一年的试验周期内难以恢复。底泥疏浚对沉积物微生物功能多样性产生影响,疏浚后初期新生表层沉积物的微生物群落多样性指数显著低于未疏浚沉积物,底泥疏浚改变了沉积物中微生物群落组成,并会导致微生物群落功能多样性降低。底泥疏浚对微生物活性与微生物群落功能多样性产生影响,从而对沉积物中生源要素的循环产生影响。     

Seasonal variations in the trophic structure of phyto-and zooplankton communities in lakes in different trophic states

A number of environmental factors are important in regulating the trophic structure of plankton. Increased nutrient supply results in an explosive development of small algae and herbivorous zooplankton. In the eutrophic lakes (Greifensee, Hallwilersee) several algal community collapses occur each year as a consequence of the grazing habit of the zooplankton, although only the grazing phase in May/June results in a ‘clear water period’. Vertical mixing influences the zooplankton community by reactivating the resting stages of predatory copepods. Predation phases can only be observed in lake Lucerne, where the hypolimnion ist deep and aerobic. Well balanced relationships between the different trophic levels are restricted to the phases with growth limiting conditions.     

Circulation and fine-sediment dynamics in the Amazon Macrotidal Mangrove Coast

The Amazon Macrotidal Mangrove Coast (AMMC) is a large (~7500 km²) contiguous mangrove fringe eastwards from the Amazon River mouth. It encompasses dozens of interconnected bays intercalated with mangrove peninsulas. Mud accumulates on the mangrove flats, whereas the bed of the bays and channels is generally sandy. In this study we investigated the circulation, sediment transport and deposition in a central site at one of these mangrove peninsulas. The study was undertaken during the dry period, when there is no influence of the Amazon River plume and minimum local freshwater inflow. Current and suspended-sediment concentration were monitored in a feeder channel on the mangrove flat along a ~1000 m section oriented along the peninsula axis. Sediment deposition was also measured on the flat. Our results show there was a strong exchange between the neighboring bays. Channel currents were flood dominant, reaching up to >1 m s⁻¹, with residual water and sediment transport westwards. Suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in the channel was directly related to velocity magnitude, ranging between 50 and 350 mg L⁻¹. The flat was flooded in a way that indicated the tidal wave evolves westwards, nearly parallel to the AMMC shoreline. Currents on the flats were much slower than those in the channel and showed slight ebb dominance. However, SSC was higher during the flood than ebb, clearly indicating settling during the current deceleration and limited erosion during the following ebb–flow acceleration. The net sediment transport across the section was 60 tons westwards for the period of the experiment (~4 days). The mean deposition rate was 0.006 kg m⁻² s⁻¹ (or 1.4 kg m⁻² per tide), which was higher than rates from other reported assessments in mangroves. The set of results indicate very large internal sediment reworking in the AMMC. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

江苏沿江湖泊湿地越冬水鸟多样性及其影响因素

长江及其中下游湖泊湿地组成了独特的江-河复合型生态系统,孕育了极高的生物多样性,是全球生物多样性研究的热点区域之一.该区域是东亚-澳大利西亚迁徙通道上最重要的水鸟越冬地之一,每年冬季有超过百万只水鸟在此越冬,因此,分析相关因素对越冬水鸟多样性的影响对维持其越冬安全具有重要意义.然而,目前相关研究多集中在如鄱阳湖、洞庭湖、升金湖等部分国家级保护区内,对经济较发达的江苏省沿江区域湖泊湿地水鸟多样性的研究仍不多见.本研究选择江苏长江沿江10处代表性湖泊湿地,于2018—2020年冬开展越冬水鸟调查,同时结合环境和人为因素,分析其对区域越冬水鸟多样性的影响.3次调查共记录到越冬水鸟42种109998只,隶属于6目9科.按地理区系划分,古北界16种,广布种15种,古北界-东洋界9种,东洋界2种;按生态类群划分,有游禽22种,涉禽20种.在10处湖泊湿地中,石臼湖水鸟物种数和数量均最多,金牛湖水鸟物种数和数量均为最低;Shannon-Wiener和Inverse-Simpson多样性指数最高的为石臼湖,最低分别为长荡湖和昆承湖.β多样性结果表明石臼湖水鸟群落与其它湿地相似性最低,长荡湖次之.β多样性分解分析结果显示,区域β多样性主要形成机制为物种替换.石臼湖对区域β多样性的相对贡献显著高于其它湖泊湿地,其次是长荡湖,相对贡献最低的是尚湖.线性模型结果表明：越冬水鸟丰富度与湿地总面积呈正相关,与缓冲区植被和水体面积呈负相关.人均GDP与越冬水鸟丰富度呈显著负相关.越冬水鸟物种数与湖泊湿地面积呈正相关,与人均GDP呈负相关.水鸟多样性指数受面积和人均GDP影响均不显著.江苏沿江地区是我国经济最发达的区域之一,对其越冬水鸟多样性及其影响因素开展研究进而提出相关保护建议,如持续开展越冬水鸟监测,及时发现保护空缺,提高对湿地周边区域土地利用状况的关注度等.本研究结果不仅为本地区越冬水鸟保护工作提供依据,同时也为上游经济相对薄弱但发展较快的地区开展相关保护工作提供参照.     

Toxicological impact assessment of heavy metal contamination on macrobenthic communities in southern coastal sediments of Korea

In the heavily industrialized Masan Bay of southern coast, Korea, the potential harmful effects of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sn, Zn, and Hg) were evaluated in terms of the pollution load index (PLI) and ecological risk assessment index (ERI) methods, and the results obtained were considered alongside the health of the macrobenthic fauna communities. The results revealed that the bay sediments, especially in the inner bay and the outfall area of a sewage treatment plant, are exposed to moderate to serious levels of metal pollution. Hg and Cd contributed the most to the potential toxicity response indices in sediments recently deposited in the bay. The potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in the bay was highlighted by the use of the benthic biological pollution index (BPI), suggesting that the ERI is a useful toxicity response index, which can quantify the overall ecological risk level to a target environment.     

Chemical composition and the nitrogen-regulated trophic state of Patagonian lakes

Chemical composition and nutrient concentrations of 39 relatively poorly known Patagonian lakes (38–50°S and from 70° to 68°W) are described and analysed using principal component analysis (PCA). The general relationships between nutrients (total phosphorus, bioavailable phosphorus and dissolved inorganic nitrogen) and plankton biomass are examined.We seek to demonstrate that the extreme oligotrophy characterising many lakes and reservoirs of the Argentine Patagonian region of South America owes more to nitrogen deficiency than to a shortage of available phosphorus. The data show a range of trophic conditions with variable water chemistry characteristics.The first two axes of the PCA ordination explain most of the variance (63%). The first component of the variance in the environmental data is a trophic gradient, with positive correlations with the concentrations of nutrients (TP, SRP, DIN) and electrical conductivity and a negative correlation with transparency. For all the reservoirs considered, the calculated annual, summer and winter chlorophyll-a carrying capacities of the available phosphorus were consistently and significantly (P<0.05) in excess of observations but maximum chlorophyll-a values correlate with DIN availability. Indeed the chlorophyll-a carrying capacities, as an index of the resource-sustainable maximum biomass, of the available nitrogen gives a better predictive yield relationship than does P. Our findings are remarkable in so far as the general expectation that dinitrogen-fixing phytoplankton should thrive in the absence of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, at least to the supportive limits of the available phosphorus, is unfulfilled.     

Rehabilitation of Mangrove Ecosystems: An Overview

The concept and goals of mangrove ecosystem rehabilitation are considered and contrasted with ideas of ecosystem restoration. Three reasons for mangrove rehabilitation: conservation and landscaping; multiple use systems for high sustainable yield and protection of coastal areas, are then examined in detail. In each case, the underlying philosophy and limitations are presented. The practical problems of site selection for mangrove planting and techniques for regenerating mangroves are then considered. Some comments and data are then offered on mangrove ecosystem rehabilitation that is being carried out world-wide. Comment is made on the paucity of information. The practice and importance of monitoring and maintaining rehabilitated mangrove ecosystems is then presented. Finally, there is a discussion on the future management and research needs of mangrove ecosystem rehabilitation.     

Comparison of DNA-fingerprinting (T-RFLP) and high-throughput sequencing (HTS) to assess the diversity and composition of microbial communities in groundwater ecosystems

The majority of usable freshwater is stored as groundwater in the subsurface. Pristine groundwater ecosystems are characterised as oligotrophic environments which facilitate low energy yield, activity, growth, and reproduction for numerous and highly adapted organisms living in these environments. Degradation of groundwater quality and quantity are hence reflected in the structural changes of groundwater species communities. Despite an increasing awareness of this problem, current assessment methods for groundwater ecosystems are solely based on the analysis of abiotic parameters. However, this approach is insufficient to detect changes in microbial communities and their related metabolic functions. In recent years, the development of culture-independent molecular techniques to analyse microbes has vastly improved our knowledge concerning the diversity and composition of microbial communities in various environments. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) techniques enable the detection of single bacterial species in a sample and thus provide a high resolution of the composition and diversity of microbial communities in various environments. Furthermore, the taxonomic information obtained allows for the inference of metabolic functions of a given community. However, since the method is labour intensive and costly it is not necessarily the method of choice for analysing numerous samples. By comparison, DNA-fingerprinting is a less elaborate and inexpensive method that is able to detect changes in microbial communities, although identification of species present in a community is not possible, and therefore represents a valuable supplement to HTS. The present paper intends to render information about the applicability of this method as a monitoring tool against this background, by directly comparing results of DNA-fingerprinting with the results of HTS. Despite the fact that the analysis of bacterial communities using HTS captured significantly higher diversity estimates in our study, results of both methods were positively associated. And even though HTS produced more accurate and detailed results regarding composition and diversity of bacterial communities, patterns of community composition captured by DNA-fingerprinting were similar in comparison to HTS. We thus can suggest DNA-fingerprinting as a cost efficient alternative for community assessment and diversity estimation, specifically as a promising methodological approach in environmental assays.     

Petroleum and PAH contamination of the Black Sea

Concern has been expressed regarding the extent of contamination of the Black Sea. Analyses of coastal sediments taken from throughout the region indicate, however, that levels of petroleum hydrocarbons (2-300 microg g(-1) dry wt total hydrocarbons) are generally comparable to those encountered in the Mediterranean and are lower than concentrations reported for highly contaminated areas such as the Gulf, Hong Kong, Taiwan and New York Bight. Highest concentrations of total hydrocarbons (>100 microg g(-1) dry wt) were associated with discharges from Odessa, Sochi and the River Danube. Chronic/degraded petroleum was the major contributor at these sites. Samples from the Ukrainian coastline were comparatively clean (<10 microg g(-1) dry wt total hydrocarbons). Major contributions of fresh oil (as indicated by sigma n-C14-34) occur through the River Danube. Concerning total PAH, concentrations (7-638 ng g(-1) dry wt) compare to relatively unpolluted locations in the Mediterranean and are much lower than levels reported for polluted UK estuaries (e.g. Mersey, Tyne, Thames). Both pyrolytic and petrogenic PAH are present in most samples, although petroleum derived PAH are dominant at Sochi and pyrolytic sources are prevalent in the Bosphorus region. The absence of a correlation between total hydrocarbons and PAH (R2 = 0.04) indicates different primary sources for the two.     

The impact of wastewater treatment effluent on microbial biomasses and diversities in coastal sediment microcosms of Hangzhou Bay

Disposal of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent into sea, a typical anthropogenic disturbance, may influence many environmental factors and change the coastal microbial community structure. In this study, by setting up coastal sediment microcosms perturbed by WWTP effluent, the changes of microbial community structure under different degree of disturbances were investigated. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) were used to analyzed the biomass and biodiversity. High throughput sequencing analysis was used to identify the classification of the microorganisms. Our study suggested that low ratio of WWTP effluent may stimulate dominant species, which increase the biomass but decrease the biodiversity; while high ratio of WWTP effluent may depress all species, which decrease the biomass but increase the biodiversity. In other words, the impact was dose-dependent. The changes of microbial community structure may provide a metric for water environmental assessment and pollution control.     

陆水水库的浮游生物及营养类型

报道了１９９１￣１９９５年对面积为１６９３ｈｍ＾２的黑龙滩水库渔业利用优化模式研究的结果,主要内容有：水生生物种类组成和现存量调查、浮游植物初级生产力测定、渔获物统计和鱼产力估算;水体理化性状和水位变化对鱼产量和浮游生物群落结构的影响,网箱养殖鲤、草鱼的高产试验结果;多功能水库生态系统的渔业利用优化模式初步探讨。经三年努力,水库鱼产量由６２２ｔ上升到１２５５．１ｔ,平均单产７５０ｋｇ／ｈｍ＾２。为     

Effect of Bioremediation on the Microbial Community in Oiled Mangrove Sediments

Bioremediation was conducted in the field on a mature Rhizophora stylosa mangrove stand on land to be reclaimed near Fisherman’s Landing Wharf, Gladstone Australia. Gippsland crude oil was added to six large plots (>40 m²) and three plots were left untreated as controls. Bioremediation was used to treat three oiled plots and the remaining three were maintained as oiled only plots. The bioremediation strategy consisted of actively aerating the sediment and adding a slow-release fertilizer in order to promote oil biodegradation by indigenous micro-organisms. Oil addition stimulated the numbers of alkane-degrading bacteria slightly to levels of 10⁴–10⁵/g sediment. Bioremediation of the oiled sediment had a marked effect on the alkane-degrading population, increasing the population size by three orders of magnitude from 10⁵ to 10⁸ cells/g of sediment. An effect of bioremediation on the growth of aromatic-degraders was detected with numbers of aromatic-degraders increasing from 10⁴ to 10⁶ cells/g of sediment. Active aeration and nutrient addition significantly stimulated the growth of hydrocarbon-degraders in oiled mangrove sediment in the field.