Protoraphis Simonsen,a newly recorded marine epizoic diatom genus for China

Epizoic diatoms on marine copepods are common in nature and may have a special ecological relationship with their hosts.However,this special ecological group is not well known,and it has only rarely been studied in the China seas.To address this knowledge gap,the species diversity and classification of epizoic diatoms on planktonic copepods were studied with samples collected from the East China Sea.In the present study,a marine araphid diatom genus Protoraphis and its type species,Pr.hustedtiana,were observed and identified by light and electron microscopy,thus representing the first record of this genus and its type species in China.This genus is characterized by a median sternum strongly bent to opposite sides and terminate in two transapical grooves at the valve ends.Protoraphis hustedtiana was found to be epizoic on the posterior body appendages and segments of the marine calanoid copepod Candacia bradyi.An internal view shows a complex,ear-shaped process that is close to the apical slit field.The ecological habitats and geographical distributions of Protoraphis were also discussed,and,together with complementary morphological studies,our results have increased the number of records for marine epizoic diatoms to three genera with three species in China,including Pseudohimantidium and Pseudofalcula.     

Investigating the molecular systematic relationships amongst selected Plesionika (Decapoda: Pandalidae) from the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea

Despite the high number of species and ecological diversity of pandalid shrimps, there has been no previous attempt to resolve evolutionary relationships of several genera using molecular tools. Although mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) is widely used in barcoding studies to delimit species boundaries, additional insights into phylogenetic affinities can be obtained, especially when used in combination with data from additional genes. The knowledge of molecular diversity is essential to understand phylogenetic relationships and will help systematic clarifications. Based on partial fragments of the 16S and COI genes, we have focused specifically on addressing the systematic relationships of the economically and ecologically important shrimp genus Plesionika within a framework of five genera from within the Pandalidae. Our results showed that species within Plesionika are substantially divergent when compared with other genera, exhibiting the highest average nucleotide divergence, with 0.1123 and 0.0846 in COI and 16S genes, respectively. In addition, sequence divergence was found to vary greatly within the genus Plesionika (COI/16S): 0.0247/0.0016 between Plesionika antigai and Plesionika heterocarpus and 0.1616/0.098 between Plesionika heterocarpus and Plesionika edwardsii. We did not find amino acid sequence divergence between P. heterocarpus and P. antigai compared with P. heterocarpus and P. edwardsii (8.10%, K2P distance). Three species of Plesionika (P. antigai, P. heterocarpus and Plesionika scopifera) appear well separated from other Plesionika species in both maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses. The present study confirms the utility of COI over 16S as a genetic marker to resolve relationships between different species of Plesionika from the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, in addition to species delimitation. The findings highlight the need to further review paraphyly within Plesionika in an attempt to recognize a concordance in the evolutionary history of Plesionika with major ecological and geological events.     

Assessment of the likely sensitivity to climate change for the key marine species in the southern Benguela system

Climate change is altering many environmental parameters of coastal waters and open oceans, leading to substantial present-day and projected changes in the distribution, abundance and phenology of marine species. Attempts to assess how each species might respond to climate change can be data-, resource- and time-intensive. Moreover, in many regions of the world, including South Africa, species may be of vital socioeconomic or ecological importance though critical gaps may exist in our basic biological or ecological knowledge of the species. Here, we adapt and apply a trait-based sensitivity assessment for the key marine species in the southern Benguela system to estimate their potential relative sensitivity to the impacts of climate change. For our analysis, 40 priority species were selected based on their socioeconomic, ecological and/or recreational importance in the system. An extensive literature review and consultation with experts was undertaken concerning each species to gather information on their life history, habitat use and potential stressors. Fourteen attributes were used to estimate the selected species’ sensitivity and capacity to respond to climate change. A score ranging from low to high sensitivity was given for each attribute, based on the available information. Similarly, a score was assigned to the type and quality of information used to score each particular attribute, allowing an assessment of data-quality inputs for each species. The analysis identified the white steenbras Lithognathus lithognathus, soupfin shark Galeorhinus galeus, St Joseph Callorhinchus capensis and abalone Haliotis midae as potentially the most sensitive species to climate-change impacts in the southern Benguela system. There were data gaps for larval dispersal and settlement and metamorphosis cues for most of the evaluated species. Our results can be used by resource managers to determine the type of monitoring, intervention and planning that may be required to best respond to climate change, given the limited resources and significant knowledge gaps in many cases.     

Cetacean research in the southern African subregion: a review of previous studies and current knowledge

Cetacean research, in terms of the number of papers, and areas for which data are available, has expanded considerably in the southern African subregion in the past decade, especially in the South-West Indian Ocean. We review cetacean research within this subregion from the 1800s to the present to provide an overview of findings, investigate trends and identify knowledge gaps. Data are presented separately for large whales (those subject to commercial whaling) and smaller cetaceans, and are separated by era and ocean basin. Over 550 peer-reviewed papers and books were identified relating to research on cetaceans within the subregion. More than half (284) have been produced since 1990 and 193 relate specifically to South African waters. The most-studied species are those that are most accessible due to their coastal distributions (southern right whale Eubalaena australis: 45 papers, humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae: 31 papers, killer whales Orcinus orca: 27 papers, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin Tursiops aduncus: 30 papers, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin Sousa chinensis (plumbea form): 25 papers) and/or were hunted commercially (sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus: 25 papers). Identified conservation concerns vary throughout the subregion, but include bycatch and directed hunts, oil and gas development, ecotourism activities, shifts in prey resources, and noise and chemical pollution. The inshore stocks of Bryde's whales Balaenoptera edeni, the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin and the Atlantic humpback dolphin S. teuszii were identified as the populations of highest conservation concern, although there are considerable knowledge gaps relating to deep-water species and almost no data (even on species occurrence) are available for several areas and countries.     

Zooplankton research off Peru: A review

A review of zooplankton studies conducted in Peruvian marine waters is given. After a short history of the development of zooplankton research off Peru, we review zooplankton methodology, taxonomy, biodiversity, spatial distribution, seasonal and interannual variability, trophodynamics, secondary production, and modelling. We review studies on several micro-, meso-, macro-, and meroplankton groups, and give a species list from both published and unpublished reports. Three regional zooplankton groups have been identified: (1) a continental shelf group dominated by Acartia tonsa and Centropages brachiatus; (2) a continental slope group characterized by siphonophores, bivalves, foraminifera and radiolaria; (3) and a species-rich oceanic group. The highest zooplankton abundances and biomasses were often found between 4–6°S and 14–16°S, where continental shelves are narrow. Species composition changes with distance from the shore. Species composition and biomass also vary strongly on short time scales due to advection, peaks of larval production, trophic interactions, and community succession. The relation of zooplankton to climatic variability (ENSO and multi-decadal) and fish stocks is discussed in the context of ecological regime shifts. An intermediate upwelling hypothesis is proposed, based on the negative effects of low upwelling intensity in summer or extremely strong and enduring winter upwelling on zooplankton abundance off Peru. According to this hypothesis, intermediate upwelling creates an optimal environmental window for zooplankton communities. Finally, we highlight important knowledge gaps that warrant attention in future.     

基于16S rRNA序列初步探讨贻贝属的系统发育

通过比较贻贝属5个物种包括中国的两种贻贝的线粒体16S rRNA基因部分序列,来初步确定它们的系统发育关系和了解中国沿海两种贻贝的遗传多样性情况.以Perna viridis为外群,采用NJ法和MP法构建分子系统树.系统发育分析表明,5种贻贝(Mytilus californianus, M. corcuscus, M. galloprovincialis, M. edulis, M. trossulus)在系统树上依次进行分叉,呈放射状.M. californianus最为原始,M. corcuscus次之.每一个贻贝物种都形成单系.其中,M. edulis和M. trossulus是非常相似的,M. corcuscus和M. californianus的亲缘关系近.同时发现,我国沿海分布的紫贻贝(M. galloprovincialis)和厚壳贻贝(M. corcuscus)的遗传多样性都较高,但厚壳贻贝的遗传多样性要低于紫贻贝,可能是由于厚壳贻贝过度被渔民开采等导致厚壳贻贝群体大小降低的缘故.这里系统发育分析为将来进行物种进化、迁移和育种方面的比较研究提供理论基础.     

棕囊藻属(Phaeocystis)的种类多样性及地理分布特征研究进展

棕囊藻(Phaeocystis)是全球海洋广泛分布的有害藻华原因种,也是海洋初级生产力的重要贡献者,在极地和近海地区的碳、硫元素的生物地球化学循环、食物网结构及全球气候变化中都具有极其重要的作用.由于个体微小,形态特征观察困难,在常规观察中很容易被忽略.同时多数棕囊藻具有复杂的异型生活史,具有多种不同细胞形态,因此其传...     

中国常见贻贝基于28S rDNA序列的系统发育分析

贻贝隶属于软体动物门(Mollusca)、双壳纲(Bivalvia)、翼形亚纲(Pteriomorphia)、贻贝目(Mytilida)、贻贝超科(Mytiloidea),大约有400种贻贝分布在世界各地,可适应淡水、潮间带至深海多种生境。本实验以贻贝科6亚科12属28种中国沿海常见贻贝的28SrDNA为目的片段,构建系统发育进化树,运用最大似然法和贝叶斯推演法分析了贻贝科的系统发生,并追踪贻贝科物种系统演化历史。结果显示:贻贝亚科Mytilinae、偏顶蛤亚科Modiolinae、石蛏亚科Lithophaginae均非单系群。在属阶元,深海偏顶蛤属Bathymodiolus、贻贝属Mytilus和股贻贝属Perna为单系群。本研究发现应接受将原隔贻贝属Septifer分为Septifer属和Mytilisepta属的分类提议;应接受将原石蛏属Lithophaga中的膜石蛏亚属Leiosolenus提升至属的地位的分类提议。此外,短齿蛤属Brachidontes的单系性不被支持,刻缘短齿蛤Brachidontessetiger并未与短齿蛤属其他物种在系统发育树上聚拢,亲缘关系较远,为不同属物种,建议恢复刻缘短齿蛤原属名Volsella (Dunker, 1857)。     

Genetic diversity and population structure of the franciscana dolphin,Pontoporia blainvillei,in Southern Buenos Aires,Argentina

The franciscana dolphin, Pontoporia blainvillei, is endemic to the coastal waters of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean and the most endangered dolphin in the area. Four Franciscana Management Areas (FMAs) are currently recognised; however, results of genetic studies suggest the requirement for additional FMAs and highlight the need for more detailed studies in the southern extreme of the species distribution. With this aim, we studied the genetic diversity and population structure of the species analysing an mtDNA control region fragment (434?bp) in 44 individuals collected in four sampling sites located in Southern Buenos Aires. Haplotype diversity (H?=?0.75?±?0.05) was mostly higher than the observed in endangered or near threatened odontocetes. Population structure analyses suggest that three different genetic populations should be recognised within FMA IV: Northern, Eastern and Southern Buenos Aires. Altogether, these results should be taken into account in future conservation plans for the species.     

Two cases of probable hybridisation between the pufferfishes Arothron meleagris (Anonymous 1798) and A. nigropunctatus (Bloch and Schneider 1801) on a fringing reef at Réunion Island

Two individuals displaying mixed features of the colour patterns distinctive of Arothron meleagris and A. nigropunctatus were observed on the fringing reef at Réunion Island, between September 2012 and August 2013. Because many hybrid fish have been first identified through colour patterns that are intermediate between two known species, these pufferfish individuals were suspected to be hybrids. However, since no specimen was collected for examination, a hypothesis that the observed individuals could be hybrids is based on comparison of their colouration with colour patterns documented for A. meleagris and A. nigropunctatus. Several factors favouring hybridisation are met on this reef, particularly a difference in abundance between the two putative parental species. Since larval retention and self-recruitment are considered probable at Réunion, these individuals could be the progeny of interbreeding populations of these species on this reef. To our knowledge, only one hybrid has ever been reported in the genus Arothron, although without genetic confirmation. This implies that the existence of potentially interfertile species in this genus remains a hypothesis. Our field observations provide additional data supporting this hypothesis.     

Evidence of the restricted gene flow within a small spatial scale in the Japanese common intertidal goby Chaenogobius annularis

Elucidating the scale of gene flow among populations is an important challenge for understanding the ecological dynamics and local adaptation of marine organisms. We assessed whether gene flow is restricted even at a small spatial scale in the Japanese common intertidal goby Chaenogobius annularis, using highly polymorphic DNA markers, involving the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region and 15 microsatellite DNA (msDNA), because past ecological studies have suggested low dispersal ability for rocky intertidal fishes. We found significant heterogeneities between four neighboring local populations by both mtDNA and msDNA analyses. In addition, no genetic heterogeneity was detected by either method across generations within a population; it was considered that such genetic differentiation is retained across generations and that the gene flow of this species is restricted to within a radius of a few kilometers. This is the first report showing a clear genetic subdivision in rocky intertidal fish.     

文昌鱼线粒体基因组特征分析及分子标记探讨

线粒体基因组已被广泛应用于后生动物分子系统发育和群体遗传的研究。文昌鱼（Amphioxus）作为研究脊椎动物起源和进化的模式动物,在脊椎动物起源和进化研究中占据极为重要的位置。作者综合分析文昌鱼2科7个种的51条线粒体基因组全序列,全面揭示了文昌鱼线粒体基因组的基本特征。文昌鱼线粒体基因组均编码后生动物标准的37个基因...     

黄东海奇异指纹蛤Acila mirabilis和指纹蛤Acila divaricata群体遗传多样性及进化研究

指纹蛤属Acila贝类是我国黄东海重要的底栖生物,研究其遗传多样性及进化对了解这一海区环境的变化及与生物的关系具有重要作用。本研究通过线粒体COI基因标记,分析了黄东海常见的两个指纹蛤属物种—奇异指纹蛤Acila mirabilis和指纹蛤Acila divaricata的分化情况,结果表明这两个种的分化形成时间分别在3.71和4.27百万年前,处于上新世时期,我们推测冰期时海平面下降引起的物种栖息地的缩减以及黄海和东海环境条件的不同是导致物种分化的重要原因。通过群体遗传多样性分析,我们发现分布于黄海的4个奇异指纹蛤群体中,3500-10群体的遗传多样性水平最高,且群体遗传多样性自冷水团中心内侧至外侧呈递减趋势,推测这可能与这一群体对冷水团有较好的适应性有关。分布于东海的3个指纹蛤群体均检测到两个单倍型类群ZA和ZB,两类群的分化时间大约在64万年前,发生于更新世中期,我们认为冰期时海平面升降引起的群体地理隔离与二次接触是导致指纹蛤两个单倍型类群形成的主要原因。     

中国沿海9种红藻hsp70基因序列及系统进化分析

本研究自山东青岛、浙江象山和江苏南通采集共9种红藻样品, 隶属于2纲、5目、6科、8属(据NCBI), 克隆各红藻hsp70 基因, 并对所获序列进行分析。利用特异性引物P1/P3扩增, 得到的目的条带约630 bp, 分析所推导的氨基酸序列发现:所获得片段均位于HSP70的ATPase结构域附近。9种红藻hsp70 序列之间的遗传距离在0.078～0.319之间, 序列相似度在73%～92%之间, 其保守性略低于HSP70蛋白;基因对A或T结尾的密码子表现出很高的偏好性, CGC与TGG这两种密码子在这9种红藻HSP70氨基酸密码子中未出现。上述表明hsp70 及HSP70密码子偏好性可应用于红藻分子系统学研究。基于多物种HSP70构建的进化树可见, Cyanidium caldarium与Cyanidioschyzon merolae strain 10D两种原始红藻的起源早于其他红藻, 紫菜次之, 本研究中9种红藻系统发生符合NCBI的描述。在真菌、藻类和植物中, 营养方式的差异可能是造成HSP70进化树分化的基本原因, 而相同形态类型的物种中, 环境适应是抗逆能力强、遗传结构稳定的物种生物分子进化的重要因素。     

A deep burrowing sipunculan of ecological and geochemical importance

In late 1980s, a dense network of deep capillary burrows was reported on the Vøring Plateau, Nordic Seas, and associated with a sipunculan belonging to the genus Nephasoma. This sipunculan was responsible for rapid transport of organic matter from the sediment surface down a deep burrow network. Over 460 specimens belonging to the genus Nephasoma were collected from the deep Nordic Seas during four cruises from 2000–2005 and four species identified: Nephasoma abyssorum abyssorum, N. diaphanes diaphanes, N. diaphanes corrugatum and N. lilljeborgi. The species responsible for the deep burrows and rapid subduction of organic matter can now be confirmed as Nephasoma lilljeborgi. Deep burrows associated with N. lilljeborgi were observed on the Vøring Plateau, Bear Island Fan, Svalbard Margin and Yermak Plateau and may be a seabed feature endemic to the Nordic Seas region. N. lilljeborgi could have a significant role in influencing the ecology and geochemistry of the Nordic Seas region. It is recommended that future benthic community studies in the Nordic Seas region confirm the species identity of sipunculan specimens in order to determine the ecological and geochemical importance of the specimens.     

鳞侧石鳖属(Leptochiton)一物种在西太平洋雅普海沟分布的新记录

蛟龙号载人潜水器在位于雅普海沟北部6 745 m深处的底栖沉积环境中采集到两只石鳖样本,这是石鳖物种分布于此的新记录。形态学和DNA分子标记均支持两只石鳖为鳞侧石鳖属（Leptochiton）同一物种。该种在形态上与L.vanbellei和L.deforgesi接近;在系统发生方面,与L.vanbellei,L.deforgesi和L.boucheti的亲缘关系密切。这是截至目前世界石鳖分布报道的第三深度记录。     

Composition of elasmobranch landings in Bahrain

The first detailed elasmobranch fisheries data for the Kingdom of Bahrain are presented, based on surveys of fish markets in April 2012. At least 25 species were recorded, including undescribed taxa. The milk shark Rhizoprionodon acutus was the most frequently recorded species; together with the Arabian smoothhound Mustelus mosis and banded eagle ray Aetomylaeus nichofii, these species comprised 53% of individual abundance. Sharks were almost entirely small individuals <1 m total length (TL). Males of small shark species were largely mature, whereas nearly all individuals of larger sharks were immature. For several elasmobranch species, landings were significantly biased towards males, which were largely mature. The species assemblage showed some notable differences in composition to that of adjacent Qatar, sampled at the same time of year, highlighting the importance of local data collection.     

沙菜属(红藻门杉藻目)的分类学问题探讨

沙菜属（Hypnea）是卡拉胶生产的重要经济栽培物种,但该属具有复杂的命名史和物种分类难题,其广泛的地理分布、高度的遗传变异以及较强的表型可塑性,存在许多同物异名和形态趋同的现象,导致其物种鉴定中出现了一系列的争议。因此,本文尝试总结分析沙菜属分类中存在的问题,以及涉及"物种"定义的初步探讨,特别是基因树与物种树的关联性,以期为解决该属分类学问题提供一定的参考思路。     

基于16s rRNA基因片段的长臂虾科系统发育初步研究

长臂虾科(Caridea:Palaemonidae)是真虾类中最大的科级单元之一,为了探索长臂虾科内部的系统演化关系,作者采用从Genbank中下载的长臂虾科两亚科(Palaemoninae,Pontoniinae)14属30种长臂虾的线粒体16s rRNA基因序列片段,以鼓虾科(Alpheidae)细足鼓虾(Alpheus gracilipes)为外群分析长臂虾亚科和隐虾亚科之间的系统发育关系。在获得的466个序列位点中,变异位点263个,简约信息位点213个。DNA序列分析显示,隐虾亚科的德曼隐虾属(Manipontonia)与长臂虾亚科的遗传距离(0.211)要小于其与所在亚科的遗传距离(0.245);此属在基于贝叶斯法(BI)和邻接法(NJ)构建的系统发育树中也与长臂虾亚科的种属聚合为一支,然后与隐虾亚科种属聚合的一支成为姊妹群。结合此属与长臂虾亚科尾瘦虾属(Urocaridella)形态相似的特征,建议对德曼隐虾属在长臂虾科中的分类地位进行重新评估。除隐虾亚科德曼隐虾属聚合到长臂虾亚科聚类簇外,两亚科所属的其他种属各自聚合为一支,在系统树中互为姊妹群,支持将长臂虾分为两亚科的分类系统。