Sublittoral seaweed communities on natural and artificial substrata in a high-latitude coral community in South Africa

Coral mortality may result in macroalgal proliferation or a phase shift into an alga-dominated state. Subtidal, high-latitude western Indian Ocean coral communities at Sodwana Bay on the KwaZulu-Natal coast, South Africa, have experienced some mortality because of warm-water anomalies, storms and other causes, but the response of the macroalgae is unknown. We investigated the abundance and diversity of benthic algae on different hard natural substrata (dead digitate, brain and plate corals and beach rock) on Two-Mile Reef, Sodwana Bay. We also compared algal communities colonising ceramic, marble and pretreated ceramic tiles placed on the reef for six months. We identified 95 algae (14 Chlorophyta, 11 Phaeophyceae, 69 Rhodophyta and one cyanobacterium). Assemblages on natural and artificial substrata were dominated by the brown alga Lobophora variegata (Lamouroux) Womersley ex Oliveira and non-geniculate corallines (Rhodophyta, Corallinaceae). Cluster and ordination analyses revealed that the algae showed no affinity for particular substrata, whether natural or artificial. Algal cover was occasionally higher on rougher tiles and crustose corallines were significantly more abundant on marble than ceramic tiles. Two-Mile Reef had 23.1% dead and 48.4% live scleractinian coral cover, where dead corals were colonised indiscriminately by many small algal species, but there was no evidence of algal proliferation. The results provide a baseline for monitoring this high-latitude reef system.     

Sedentary urchins influence benthic community composition below the macroalgal zone

Sea urchins are important ecosystem engineers in subtidal ecosystems worldwide, providing biogenic structure and altering nutrient dynamics through intensive grazing and drift algal capture. The current work evaluates red urchin (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus) density on fixed transects through time, individual displacement, and urchin‐associated benthic community composition using a field‐based approach at multiple depths (in and outside of the macroalgal zone) and replicated across sites in the San Juan Archipelago, Washington. Urchins exhibited no large‐scale, temporal or directional changes in density among depths. Furthermore, 87% of individual urchins observed in repeated small‐scale surveys over 3 weeks exhibited no change in position. Individual displacement was negatively correlated to drift algal capture. Evidence of sedentary behavior from the displacement surveys was supported by the sessile and mobile community composition in areas directly under versus adjacent to (control) urchins. The benthos under urchins had a higher percentage of bare space, crustose coralline algae, and increased density of snails, crabs and shrimp relative to associated control plots. Abundance of mobile organisms associating with urchins increased relative to control plots at the deepest survey depth (30 m), indicating a greater strength of interaction with distance from macroalgal production. This work presents evidence of food availability‐related behavior in red urchins and indicates that even when sedentary, urchins have a strong influence on ecosystem structure through increasing availability of shelter and macroalgal detritus to the benthos.     

Within-reach spatial variability of snails and molluscivory by brown trout

Linking habitat distributions of prey to the probability of predation is important to understanding consumptive effects of predators on prey populations. This study reports how within-reach spatial variability of two snails, the hydrobiid Potamopyrgus antipodarum and the physid Physella acuta, was linked to habitat-based predation risk by young brown trout (Salmo trutta) of different age classes. Potamopyrgus is endemic to New Zealand streams and lakes, where it commonly co-exists with the invader P. acuta, but both snails are worldwide invaders to many freshwater systems. Examination of egested snails revealed Potamopyrgus and Physella were consumed in similar numbers within age classes. However, 10-month-old trout consumed, on average, fewer snails than 20-month-old trout, and 8-month-old trout ate essentially no snails, suggesting snails were a more important prey item for larger age-1 fish than smaller age-0 fish. No Physella were egested alive by any trout age class. However, 38% and 16% of the Potamopyrgus consumed were egested alive by 10- and 20-month-old trout, respectively, with some passing live after ~70 h in digestive tracts. Physella and the spiny-shell form of Potamopyrgus were significantly denser on macrophytes than on stony sediments in midchannel, and these habitat distributions affected their odds of consumption. Risk of consumption by trout was ~10 times greater for Physella than Potamopyrgus on stones, but their risk was similar in protective macrophytes. Odds of consumption were similar for spiny and smooth shell forms of Potamopyrgus on stones, suggesting spines do not provide protection from large predators like trout. My results suggest that brown trout can potentially exert stronger population regulatory effects on Physella than on Potamopyrgus and that these effects are partly mediated by macrophyte cover.     

Variation in feeding rate of the intertidal mudsnail Hydrobia ulvae in relation to the tidal cycle

Deposit feeding in the coastal epibenthic mudsnail Hydrobia ulvae, as estimated by egestion rate, varies in relation to the tidal cycle. In nature, feeding is maximal when the snails are covered by tidal water; after exposure, feeding reduces slightly but significantly whilst the sediment surface remains damp; and it is minor or ceases whilst the snails are buried in pits in the drying sediment. Within each of these three phases, however, egestion rate remains unchanged both in relation to phase duration, and with temperature over an ambient range of 18–30 °C (mean 24 °C). These findings form another example of disagreement between field and laboratory results on feeding in Hydrobia.     

Relationships between recruits of abalone Haliotis midae,encrusting corallines and the sea urchin Parechinus angulosus

In kelp beds of the South-Western Cape, South Africa, a strong positive relationship exists between the sea urchin Parechinus angulosus and juveniles of the abalone Haliotis midae. Field surveys reported here revealed a positive, but weak, association between this urchin and H. midae recruits (i.e. individuals <3 mm shell length). Selectivity indices showed that recruits occurred exclusively on encrusting coralline algae and showed preferences for strongly textured corallines, rather than those with smooth texture. On smooth corallines, around 80% of recruits were under urchins, compared with about 25% on textured corallines, suggesting that any need for shelter beneath urchins is greatest on smooth surfaces.     

中华原钩虾(Eogammarus possjeticus)对浒苔(Ulva prolifera)及其他类型饵料的摄食研究

采用生理生态学方法,研究了中华原钩虾(Eogammaruspossjeticus)对黄海绿潮原因种浒苔(Ulva prolifera)及海水池塘4种优势大型海藻,即肠浒苔(Ulva intestinalis)、扁浒苔(Ulva compressa)、线形硬毛藻(Chaetomorphalinum)和丝毛藻(Cloniophorasp.)的摄食率,比较了对浒苔与其他不同类型饵料(包括人工饵料)的摄食,开展了不同密度的中华原钩虾对浒苔的现场摄食研究。结果显示,中华原钩虾的摄食率、饵料吸收率与海藻的含水量成呈正相关,表明该端足类存在明显的补偿性摄食行为。对不同类型饵料的摄食结果显示,中华原钩虾除了摄食海藻,对豆粕、虾饲料等人工饵料也具有较高的饵料吸收率,表明其可人工投喂培育。中华原钩虾具有一定摄食节律,夜晚摄食量高于白昼,表明夜晚投喂有利于中华原钩虾摄食,可减少饵料污染,有利于清洁生产。现场摄食实验结果显示,中华原钩虾摄食量随养殖密度的增加而增加,但其摄食率和存活率与养殖密度呈负相关,表明高密度时中华原钩虾竞争摄食增加了饵料消耗,同时中华原钩虾为抵抗养殖密度过高造成的竞争而增加能量等消耗。     

The effects of trophic interactions and spatial competition on algal community composition on Hawaiian coral reefs

Much of coral reef ecology has focused on how human impacts change coral reefs to macroalgal reefs. However, macroalgae may not always be a good indicator of reef decline, especially on reefs with significant sea urchin populations, as found in Kenya and Hawaii. This study tests the effects of trophic interactions (i.e. herbivory by fishes and sea urchins) and spatial competition (between algae and coral) on algal community structure of reefs surrounding two Hawaiian Islands that vary in their level of human impacts. Reef‐building organisms (corals and crustose coralline algae) were less abundant and turf algae were more abundant on Maui as compared to Lanai, where human impacts are lower. In contrast to previous studies, we found no evidence that macroalgae increased with human impacts. Instead, low turf and macroalgal abundance were best explained by the interactive effects of coral cover and sea urchin abundance. Fishing sea urchin predators appeared to have cascading effects on the benthic community. The absence of sea urchin predators and high sea urchin densities correspond to a disproportionately high abundance of turf and crustose coralline algae. We propose that high turf algal abundance is a better indicator of reef decline in Hawaii than high macroalgal abundance because turf abundance was highest on reefs with low coral cover and few fish. The results of this study emphasize that understanding changes in community composition are context‐dependent and that not all degraded reefs look the same.     

Drift algae reduce foraging efficiency of juvenile flatfish

Although flatfish species utilise a wide range of habitats as adults, several species are confined to a very limited habitat as juveniles. Recruitment levels are dependent on the quality and quantity of these nursery areas and changes therein. In the Baltic Sea, these shallow environments are often subject to influxes of drifting macroalgae, which add structure to otherwise bare sandy substrate. Structure, such as vegetation, alters predator–prey interactions of a wide range of fauna and in an array of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial systems. The aim of our study was to assess the inhibition potential of drifting macroalgae on the foraging efficiency of juvenile flatfish (young of the year Scophthalmus maximus L., young of the year- and group 1 + Platichthys flesus L.) through a series of microcosm experiments. Our results show that foraging success is restricted by drift algae as predation efficiency of all predator species and size classes was negatively affected by the presence of macroalgae. Overall, there was a reduction in predation success by 80 ± 12% due to structural effects and/or the induced changes in water chemistry associated with the algae. Flatfish depend on shallow sandy areas as feeding and nursery grounds during their juvenile stage and frequently occurring macroalgal assemblages drastically change the features of the otherwise bare substrate, setting the stage for small-scale, localised processes potentially affecting population dynamics.     

Feeding behavior in Caribbean surgeonfishes varies across fish size,algal abundance,and habitat characteristics

Feeding behavior of coral reef fishes often determines their species‐specific ecological roles. We studied the two most common Caribbean surgeonfishes (Acanthurus coeruleus and Acanthurus tractus) to examine their species‐specific grazing rates and feeding preferences and how these differed with environmental context. We quantified the feeding activity of both surgeonfishes at four spur and groove reefs in the Florida Keys, USA, that varied in fish abundance, rugosity, algal community composition, and sediment loading. Overall, A. tractus fed twice as fast as A. coeruleus. Both species selected for turf algae but avoided feeding on turf algae that had become laden with sediment. Selectivity for upright macroalgae was more complex with A. tractus targeting Dictyota spp., while A. coeruleus avoided Dictyota spp. relative to the alga's abundance. Both species selected for epiphytes growing on other organisms such as macroalgae and sponges. However, several of these feeding patterns changed with ontogeny. For example, larger individuals of both species fed more frequently on long, sediment‐laden algal turf and less frequently on Dictyota spp. compared to smaller sized individuals. In addition, A. tractus also increased its preference for upright calcareous algae as they attained larger sizes. Overall, the disparity in feeding preferences of surgeonfishes likely indicates subtle differences in species‐specific ecological roles. Both A. coeruleus and A. tractus likely prevent development of turf algae and thus maintain algal communities in the early stages of succession. Additionally, A. tractus may also help reduce macroalgal abundance by targeting common macroalgal species.     

The Activity Rhythm of Blennius sanguinolentus Pallas*

Abstract. In the field, feeding activity of the algivorous Blennius sanguinolentus increased remarkably from morning to late afternoon. Swimming is evenly distributed; other behaviour does not fall into regular daily patterns. No association was found, save in extreme values, between the distribution of any activity and environmental factors measured simultaneously. We suggest that the feeding cycle is an adaptation to the metabolic properties of green algae, the staple diet of B. sanguinolentus. Activity distributions following predictable short-term fluctuations in food quality are expected to be found in other animals.     

Indirect Effects of Epibiosis on Host Mortality: Seastar Predation on Differently Fouled Mussels

In situ experiments were run with the seastar Asterias rubens to investigate the influence of epibiosis on predation preferences. Mussels ( Mytilus edulis ) monospecifically fouled by different epibiont species (the barnacle Balanus improvisus , the red filamentous alga Ceramium strictum , the sponge Halichondria panicea and the hydrozoan Laomedea flexuosa ) and macroscopically clean mussels were exposed and seastar predation was monitored by SCUBA. Asterias rubens preferred macroscopical unfouled mussels as prey. Fouling generally reduced predation pressure on the mussel hosts (associational resistance). Barnacles protected mussels less efficiently than hydrozoans or algae.
We hypothesize that in top-down controlled communities this influence of epibiosis on predation pressure should affect mussel community patterns. A survey of natural mussel-epibiont distribution in the presence or absence of A. rubens showed that the prevalence of differently fouled mussels differed between predation-exposed and predation-protected habitats. Natural mussel-epibiont associations reflected the preferential predation of the major local predators. Additionally, higher epibiotic diversity and evenness could be observed at locations accessible to benthic predators as compared with habitats protected from predation.
As blue mussels and seastars are important structuring and controlling elements in the shallow water community of Kiel Fjord, major consequences of epibiosis on the entire system are discussed.     

Differential host use affects fecundity of the gastropod Crepidula onyx

For epibiotic or symbiotic marine invertebrates, alternative host species may differ substantially in quality, and under some circumstances such differences in host quality may lead to the evolution of increased host specificity. However, the fitness consequences of alternative hosts for epibiotic or symbiotic marine invertebrates have rarely been quantified. In Southern California, the gastropod Crepidula onyx is often found as an epibiont on either bay mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) or cone snails (Conus californicus). These hosts differ greatly in maximum size, with possible effects on size at sex change and final size in Cr. onyx, and thus on fecundity. Further, Cr. onyx on the two hosts differ in shell shape, possibly affecting the size of the ctenidium, which Cr. onyx uses for suspension feeding. We examined these potential effects of host use on fitness components in Cr. onyx. Epibionts on mussels reached much larger average sizes than did those on cone snails; further, epibionts on mussels often completed sex change at much larger sizes than did those on cone snails. On average, mussel epibionts had threefold higher average fecundities than did cone snail epibionts. Although there was a slight difference in shell shape between epibionts on the two host species, there was no difference in the scaling of ctenidium area with body size for Cr. onyx from the two hosts. The large average differences in fecundity in epibionts associated with the two alternative hosts suggests that there may be strong selection on host choice at larval settlement.     

Breeding,settlement and survival of barnacles at artificially modified shore levels at Leigh,New Zealand

The breeding and settlement seasons of the intertidal barnacles Chamaesipho brunnea, C. columna and Elminius plicatus were determined, and experiments using cages on the shore to examine barnacle survival and growth rate at four levels were carried out at Leigh during 1964–66.

Chamaesipho brunnea bred in spring and summer; C. columna and E. plicatus bred throughout the year, but settled intermittently. When protected from predators and from overgrowth by algae, all three species survived at levels lower than normal. At higher levels C. columna, E. modestus, Balanus trigonus and Tetraclita purpuraseens survived for significant periods (C. brunnea occurs naturally higher on the shore than the highest experimental level).     

Winter colonisation and succession of filamentous macroalgae on artificial substrates and possible relationships to Fucus vesiculosus settlement in early summer

During the reproduction period of Fucus vesiculosus, which occurs only once a year (in May–June) along the Finnish coast of the northern Baltic Sea, a thick carpet of filamentous algae often covers hard substrates suitable for zygote settlement. By placing out artificial substrates into the field, monthly over a period of eight months prior to F. vesiculosus settlement (October 2001–June 2002), we investigated the autumn/winter/spring colonisation and succession of filamentous algae and their possible relationships with the settlement success of F. vesiculosus under naturally variable field conditions. The substrates exposed in October 2001 became covered by filamentous brown algal Pilayella littoralis mats, which persisted over the settlement period of F. vesiculosus, but now also were accompanied by large amounts of the filamentous green alga Cladophora glomerata. The substrates exposed from November 2001 onwards hosted smaller amounts of P. littoralis during the winter and different filamentous algal communities at the time of F. vesiculosus settlement, i.e. less P. littoralis and C. glomerata, but Dictyosiphon foeniculaceus, Ceramium tenuicorne and Ulva intestinalis instead. We observed recruits of F. vesiculosus on all substrates, except on the ones placed out in October 2001. Significantly more P. littoralis and C. glomerata on the October substrates may explain the failed F. vesiculosus recruitment, although we could not establish direct causal or correlational relationships between filamentous algae and F. vesiculosus settlement. We compared the results with a previous un-replicated pilot study in the same area demonstrating similar response patterns.     

Diet of Littoraria scabra, while vertically migrating on mangrove trees: Gut content, fatty acid, and stable isotope analyses

The snail, Littoraria scabra, is a dominant grazer on tropical mangrove trees, and may play an important role in the food web dynamics of these ecosystems. Its daily vertical migration to avoid tidal submersion results in exposure to varying food types and abundances. A comprehensive diet analysis – gut contents, fatty acid profiles, and stable isotopes (δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C) – was conducted on snails migrating along mangrove trees and snails maintained in non-tidal mesocosms at Nananu-i-ra, Fiji Islands. In addition, fatty acid profiles and stable isotope signatures were obtained from surface scrapings of mangrove roots, trunks, branches, and leaves. Results from this multi-technique study indicate that L. scabra is mainly a generalist herbivore, which easily shifts diets depending on food availability, and which also has the ability to ingest and assimilate zooplankton. Ingestion of greater quantities of diverse foods (i.e., microalgae, foliose/corticated macrophytes, filamentous algae, mangrove tissues, zooplankton) takes place in the bottom areas of mangrove trees (roots and trunks) during low tides, while top areas (branches and leaves) provide limited food resources for snails feeding during high tides. However, snails preferentially assimilate microalgae and bacteria, regardless of their feeding habitat (different areas within mangrove trees and non-tidal mesocosms). The daily vertical movements of this snail result in variable feeding times, ingestion of different food types and amounts, and different assimilations. These findings also suggest that organic matter derived from mangrove tissues may not be readily transferred to higher trophic levels through this grazing pathway.     

南极绿藻中类菌胞素氨基酸对UV-B胁迫的响应

南极上空臭氧层的破坏导致了紫外辐射日益增强,高强度的UV-B辐射会造成细胞中DNA的损伤,影响蛋白质、脂类和色素的代谢过程。生长在南极的绿藻具有一系列防御机制以应对增强的UV-B辐射,其中类菌胞素氨基酸(Mycosporine-like amino acids, MAAs)是一类重要的紫外防御物质。为探究类菌胞素氨基酸对UV-B辐射的响应,本文以南极冰藻(Chlamydomonassp.ICE-L)、针丝藻(Raphidonema nivale Lagerheim, NIES-2290)和胶球藻(Coccomyxa subellipsoidea E.Acton, NIES-2166)三种生活在南极的绿藻为材料,采用UV-B辐射胁迫(强度0.35 W/m~2,短时处理3 h),并通过液相色谱-质谱联用法检测类菌胞素氨基酸的种类和含量的变化。Mycosporine-glycine为三种南极绿藻中共有的MAAs,在UV-B辐射胁迫下三种南极绿藻中Mycosporine-glycine含量变化不尽相同,表明不同的南极绿藻中MAAs对UV-B辐射的响应各有其特性。首次在绿藻(南极冰藻和胶球藻)中检测到Gadusol。Gadusol作为MAAs的合成前体,它的合成积累使得生活在海冰环境的南极冰藻和胶球藻具有良好的抗UV-B辐射能力。其中南极冰藻抗紫外能力最强,这可能得益于不同MAAs间的动态转化,含量升高的Palythine及Usujirene/Palythene可能对南极冰藻的紫外屏蔽起着至关重要的作用。     

广泛分布于海洋生态系统中的壳状珊瑚藻——冈村石叶藻的形态解剖学和分子生物学描述

冈村石叶藻（Lithophyllum okamurae）是一种重要的壳状珊瑚藻,在海洋生态系统中具有提供初级生产力、产生碳酸盐沉积物以及为海洋生物提供栖息环境等功能。本文于三亚的热带海岸采集L. okamurae,首次基于形态解剖学特征和分子生物学方法对其进行了详细的描述。研究表明,L. okamurae的藻体为二组织性的拟薄壁组织结构,被分成三部分,包括：由1-3层呈扁平状正方形或长方形表皮细胞组成的表层,由一层正方形或长方形细胞组成的基层,以及由多层正方形或狭长形细胞组成的围层。在围层中可观察到栅状细胞,相邻藻丝细胞间通过次生纹孔相连,未见细胞融合。本文观察到L. okamurae的四种单孔生殖窠,即果孢子囊生殖窠、精子囊生殖窠、二分孢子囊生殖窠以及四分孢子囊生殖窠。其中,精子囊生殖窠通常浅埋于藻体中并微凸于藻体表面,果孢子囊生殖窠和无性生殖窠呈突出的圆锥形。基于18S rDNA、COI、rbcL和psbA基因序列的系统发育研究表明,L. okamurae和L. atlanticum在同一个进化枝上,亲缘关系最近。本文基于形态解剖学特征和分子生物学数据详细地对L. okamurae进行了描述,为海洋生态系统中藻类资源的利用和保护工作提供理论基础。     

Drift algae reduce foraging efficiency of juvenile flatfish

Although flatfish species utilise a wide range of habitats as adults, several species are confined to a very limited habitat as juveniles. Recruitment levels are dependent on the quality and quantity of these nursery areas and changes therein. In the Baltic Sea, these shallow environments are often subject to influxes of drifting macroalgae, which add structure to otherwise bare sandy substrate. Structure, such as vegetation, alters predator–prey interactions of a wide range of fauna and in an array of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial systems. The aim of our study was to assess the inhibition potential of drifting macroalgae on the foraging efficiency of juvenile flatfish (young of the year Scophthalmus maximus L., young of the year- and group 1 + Platichthys flesus L.) through a series of microcosm experiments. Our results show that foraging success is restricted by drift algae as predation efficiency of all predator species and size classes was negatively affected by the presence of macroalgae. Overall, there was a reduction in predation success by 80 ± 12% due to structural effects and/or the induced changes in water chemistry associated with the algae. Flatfish depend on shallow sandy areas as feeding and nursery grounds during their juvenile stage and frequently occurring macroalgal assemblages drastically change the features of the otherwise bare substrate, setting the stage for small-scale, localised processes potentially affecting population dynamics.     

Kelp forests in False Bay: urchins vs macroalgae in South Africa’s southwest coast biogeographical transition zone

Kelp forests along South Africa's southwest coast occur in a region of biogeographical overlap. Commonly referred to as transition-zone kelp forests, these dynamic ecosystems are particularly susceptible to grazing from species such as urchins. This study explores relationships between urchins and macroalgae in transition-zone kelp forests along the western side of False Bay. Six kelp forests in this region were sampled. At each site, the urchin Parechinus angulosus and kelp Ecklonia maxima were counted, percentage cover of understorey algae was recorded, and drift algae were collected. Despite variability in urchin and algal cover across sites, kelps generally increased from north to south, while urchins did the opposite. Urchins were negatively associated with macroalgae, although this relationship was weak. A localised threshold of 50 urchins m^–2 was identified, above which kelp density failed to increase above 10 m^–2 and percentage cover of understorey algae usually remained below 20%. Surprisingly, no relationship was discovered between drift algae and attached algae. The findings highlight the complexity of these cool-water environments. To better understand the role of urchins in this system, particularly under changing climate trends, experimental research into the feeding behaviour and possible effects of urchins on attached algae in the presence/absence of drift algae is advised.