The ecophysiology of Phaeocystis globosa: A review

A straightforward ecophysiological characterization of Phaeocystis globosa is hampered by its complex polymorphic life cycle in whic flagellates and colonial cells express different physiological and morphological properties. There is also increasing evidence that, besides the existence of different species, the most widespread species Phaeocystis globosa (Scherffel) has to be subdivided into at least five different ecotypes which again differ in their ecophysiological properties. Most research has been performed on the P. globosa ecotype North European (English Channel/ North Sea isolates). From the available literature it must be concluded that flagellate cells are better competitors for light and phosphate than colonial cells, due to their superior uptake characteristics. To a limited extent this phenomenon is compensated in colonial cells by their ability to continue growth and cell division in the dark at the same rate as in the light, at the expense of extracellular colonial mucus. In contrast with other algal species, colonial cells of P. globosa are better competitors for nitrogen than for phosphorus.Flagellates transform into vegetative cells and form colonies in environments with irradiance levels of about 50 μE·m⁻²·s⁻¹ or more and an optimum phosphate concentration of 1 μM. A solid substrate and the presence of calcium are prerequisites for colony formation. In environments where phosphorus is limiting no new colonies are formed. There is some evidence that nitrate stimulates colony formation, whereas high ammonium values (above 1 μM) tend to suppress colony formation. Massive blooms of P. globosa colonies can be attributed to a combination of environmental conditions that induce colony formation and smaller grazing losses of colonial cells than of flagellates, rather than to superior ecophysiological characteristics of colonial cells.     

棕囊藻的生物学概述 I.形态分类和生理生态学

海洋浮游植物棕囊藻Phaeocystisspp.在自然界常以游离单细胞和由粘胶质包裹的细胞集群体两种细胞形式轮换出现,它在世界各营养丰富的海域中无处不在,并可形成高细胞密度、暴发性繁殖及形成赤潮。rRNA基因研究数据说明,目前全世界海洋分布的Phaeocystisspp.有3个分开种,即Phaeocystispouchetii、Phaeocystisglobosa和Phaeocystisantarctica。棕囊藻奇特的生理学和生态学特征是独一无二的,它复杂的多形态变化生命循环导致海域植物性和海底食物网(如微量元素的生物地球化学)的结构与功能均发生了极大的变化。棕囊藻的生命循环体现了其主要的生态学特征,不同棕囊藻形态的生物化学和营养代谢与细菌,微型、中型和后生浮游动物的作用以及海洋环境中的物理结构均有关。在自然界,棕囊藻的生命循环中最常见和最重要的是它的集群体形态,集群体形态是一个具有整体生物学功能特征的生物实体。棕囊藻在生态系中起到重要作用的关键在于集群体形态在合成糖粘胶质的能力较强。     

不同形态磷源对球形棕囊藻生长及囊体形成的影响

球形棕囊藻(Phaeocystis globosa)是中国近海常见的有害藻华原因种,游离单细胞和球形囊体是其异型生活史的两种形态.本研究通过添加KH2PO4(PO43-)、卵磷脂(LEC)、三磷酸腺苷二钠(ATP)、葡萄糖-6-磷酸钠盐(G-6-P)、和核糖核酸(RNA)5种不同磷源进行室内培养,以阐明不同磷源对球形棕...     

The Energetic and Nutritional Contribution of Glucose and Glycine Taken up from Natural Sea Water by Adult Marine Mussels

Abstract. The removal of glycine and glucose by freshly collected adult Mytilus edulis was determined using radiolabeled substances added to ambient concentrations of dissolved organic materials in freshly collected natural sea water. Uptake rates were calculated for substrate concentrations of 0.5 μM glycine and 1.0 μM glucose and were compared with the animals' energy and nitrogen demands as measured by oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion rates. Respiration and ammonia excretion rates as well as cither glycine or glucose removal were all determined for the same animals. The mean respiration rate was 670μl O₂ g^-1h^-1, the mean ammonia excretion rate 1.95 μg-at NH₄-g^-1 h^-1. The calculated uptake rates were 0.48 μmol -g^-1-h^-1 for free amino acids and 0.44 μmol-g^-1 h^-1 for free simple sugars. Such uptake rates could have contributed roughly 13% of the mussels' energy requirements or 10% of the mussels' nitrogen requirements assuming the following conditions: 0.5 μM concentration of free amino acids, 1.0μM concentration of simple sugars, uptake of total amino acids at a rate based on a weighted removal rate of glycine, alanine, serine, and glutamic acid, and uptake of simple sugars at a rate equal to that of glucose removal. It is apparent that simple organic substances dissolved in sea water may be of some benefit to mussels, especially when the substances occur in concentrations typical of coastal sea water.     

小角毛藻对球形棕囊藻囊体形成的影响

球形棕囊藻具有异型的生活史,能够在单细胞和囊体两种不同形态之间转换。球形棕囊藻藻华现场发现,囊体有时附着在角毛藻上。为研究角毛藻对囊体形成的影响和机制,进行球形棕囊藻和小角毛藻的共培养实验,观察球形棕囊藻囊体的形成和生长状况,研究小角毛藻对球形棕囊藻囊体形成的影响。结果证明:混合培养下,小角毛藻和球形棕囊藻的囊体附着在一起,在较短的生存周期内,囊体的密度明显高于单独培养时的密度;而单独培养体系下,棕囊藻单细胞密度和囊体体积均高于混合培养,囊体的存在时间较长。小角毛藻的存在对囊体的形成具有促进效应,这对于球形棕囊藻囊体具有重要的生态意义。硅藻的存在更能体现球形棕囊藻竞争优势。     

Ecological and Life History Characteristics of Botryllus schlosseri Tunicata Populations Inhabiting Undersurface Shallow-Water Stones

Abstract. Populations of Botryllus schlosseri PALLAS 1772. a cosmopolitan colonial ascidian. were examined on the undersurface of stones for the first time in three adjoining localities along the Israeli Mediterranean coast. A two-year study of 1589 stones which were inhabited by 1345 colonies, revealed that colony coverage was < 1.5 % of the total available substrate area; values were highest in spring, lowest in winter. The two years differed significantly in the number of colonies · m ², and these numbers were correlated with mean seawater temperatures. Most of the stones contained 1–5 Botryllus colonies year-round; no significant correlation was found between number and stone size. The brown morph was dominant 80 % at all three localities. The distribution of other colour morphs differed between localities. Reproductive colonies were either hermaphroditic or contained male gonads only. Peak reproduction was in the spring, but did not correlate with seawater temperatures. While colony size ranged between I and 1I55zooids, sexually mature colonies consisted of 171–273 zooids on the average, compared with 37–90 zooids for sterile colonies. The three populations differed significantly in several ecological and life history characteristics. This further confirmed past studies indicating that Botryllus populations are characteristically divided into local subpopulations exhibiting microgeographic differences in life history patterns. The results are compared with the accumulated data on other world-wide Botryllus populations residing in other habitats.     

氮饥饿细基江蓠繁枝变型和孔石莼氨氮的吸收动力学特征

以氮饥饿海藻为材料,采用多瓶法和干扰法相结合的技术,测定两种海藻在不同起始浓度下不同时间间隔内的NH₄+吸收率,对不同阶段的吸收率进行非线性回归分析,结果表明它们均符合饱和吸收动力学特征.最大吸收率和半饱和常数均随着吸收时间的延长而降低.在整个吸收过程中,吸收曲线的初始斜率变化不大,这表明在低浓度下的吸收率不受短时间快吸收的影响而保持相对的稳定.同时两种海藻相比,在相应时间内的吸收动力学参数不同,孔石莼的最大吸收率、半饱和常数和初始斜率均大于细基江蓠繁枝变型.处于氮饥饿状态的两种海藻对NH₄+-N的吸收存在以下3个时相:(1)起始短期的快吸收阶段;(2)内部营养盐浓度控制的吸收阶段;(3)外界营养盐浓度控制的吸收阶段.     

Nutrient Enrichments of Waters of "Golfo de San Jose" (Argentina, 42 oS), Growth and Species Selection of Phytoplankton

Abstract. Coastal Patagonian sea waters had been differentially nutrient-enriched to determine (i) the magnitude of the algal biomass supported and (ii) which species were able to best compete for the available nutrients. Nitrogen was found to be the nutrient limiting growth of the natural phytoplankton population. The addition of NO₃ at 25 μg at 1^-1 led to a 10 to 30 μg 1^-1 increase in chlorophyll a in all but those treatments containing trace metal additions. The best yield coefficients were obtained when a chelator (EDTA) was added with NO₃. A pool of nine diatom species were common in the N0₃ supplemented waters and the addition of vitamins along with NO₃ allowed two of the nine species to dominate.     

Marine diatom Thalassirosira weissflogii nutrient drawdown and its physiological status variation challenged to zinc and cadmium exposure

The uptake of zinc and cadmium by a species of marine diatom Thalassirosira weissflogii and the nutrient variation (phosphorus and silicon) in the culture medium were estimated when exposed to zinc and cadmium stress under controlled laboratory conditions.It was found that low cadmium addition could stimulate the culture to grow with a relatively high rate and exert its toxicity at the elevated concentration.The cellular uptake of zinc and cadmium by the diatom varied in the ranges of 1.21~3.75 and 0.060~0.629 fmol per cell respectively in the whole cultivation period.The mean cellular phosphorus and silicon drawdowns were constant with 0.26~0.42 and 0.30~0.46 pmol per cell respectively in those healthy cultures.It is illustrated that the algal cells can adjust some physiological mechanisms to decrease metal accumulation and keep metal homeostasis in the organism.The correlation analysis results further indicate that the cellular cadmium uptake might be closely related with the cellular phosphorus, silicon drawdown and the growth rate of diatom (P<0.05, 0.001, 0.01); and the cultures grow better in good conditions, the lower amount of phosphorus, silicon materials are consumed by a single cell to keep a high efficiency of utilization.     

Ecology of the Symbiotic Coral Cladocora caespitosa (L.) (Faviidae, Scleractinia) in the Bay of Piran (Adriatic Sea): II. Energy Budget

Abstract. The temperate, symbiotic coral Cladocora caespitosa occurs naturally with variable numbers of zooxanthellae. This allows us to study differences in the physiology of symbiotic and "non-symbiotic" polyps and to correlate them with zooxanthellae activities.
Zooxanthellae density in "dark" (normal-colored) polyps was 50 times higher than in "white" (bleached) polyps.
The chlorophyll a content per zooxanthella was 3 times, and Chi c was 13 times higher in white polyps than in dark ones. O₂-flux experiments were conducted with colonies in situ and with single polyps - dark and white - under laboratory conditions. Two approaches were used to evaluate the contribution of zooxanthellae translocation products to animal respiration. Both revealed that the animal tissues derive a higher benefit from the zooxanthellae during periods of low water temperature than during warm periods.     

An inventory of factors that affect polysaccharide production by Phaeocystis globosa

Phaeocystis material contains polysaccharides that are built from at least eight different monosaccharides. Differences have been reported between the carbohydrate composition of different Phaeocystis species, and also between samples taken from Phaeocystis globosa blooms in different areas. In order to elucidate factors that could play a role in determining variation in carbohydrate composition and production, a number of Phaeocystis globosa strains were studied under laboratory conditions. Although there was a clear distinction of a northern and a southern cluster in the Phaeocystis globosa strains based on RAPD analysis, the differences in the composition of the mucopolysaccharides were relatively small. The contribution of glucose, however, ranged from 7–85% of total sugars. A strain that was cultured in seawaters of diverse origin produced polysaccharides of a different composition, suggesting the effect of environmental factors. The presence of bacteria affected neither the amount, nor the composition of the carbohydrates that were produced by Phaeocystis globosa. Glucose is part of both the intracellular polysaccharide pool and of the mucopolysaccharides in the colony matrix. Using specific digestion of the intracellular chrysolaminaran by laminarinase, the distribution of polysaccharides over different pools could be assessed. During growth of an axenic, mucus-producing strain, the portion of glucose present as chrysolaminaran appeared to increase. The polyglucose that was not digested by laminarinase remains unidentified. This study shows that environmental factors rather than strain differences determine differences in the sugar composition of Phaeocystis globosa, especially with respect to the glucose content of the material. A difference in the contribution of glucose could be correlated to the portion of cells in the culture that are not in the colonies. Our study emphasises that for studying polysaccharide dynamics in Phaeocystis globosa it is important to be able to discriminate between the different polysaccharide pools. Preliminary results of an enzymatic approach were promising     

Seasonal Blooms of the HAB Dinoflagellate Alexandrium taylori Balech in a New Mediterranean Area (Vulcano, Aeolian Islands)

Abstract. High-biomass blooms of A. taylori Balech have recently been spreading over new Mediterranean areas, with evident adverse effects on the marine ecosystem. In 1999–2000, a new Mediterranean locality was affected by blooms of A. taylori: the West Bay of Vulcano (Aeolian Islands, Tyrrhenian Sea), with maximum cell densities of 1.2 × 10⁷ cells 1⁻¹ in August 1999 and 4.0 × 10⁶ cells 1⁻¹ in August 2000 observed together with yellowish water discoloration. The seawater samples contained high concentrations of nutrients as DIN (Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen), especially NH₃-N with values of 14.4 μM and TOT-P (Total Phosphorus) with values of 3.2 μM due to the anthropic presence and discharge of untreated sewage. The climatic conditions also seem to influence the occurrence and spreading of the A. taylori blooms in the Vulcano Bay. Clonal cultures of A. taylori , established from Italian and Spanish seawater samples, were used for the sequence analyses of the 5.8S rDNA gene and ITS regions in order to study the genetic variability of different geographical populations of Alexandrium species in the Mediterranean area and to further develop the molecular markers for HAB key-species.     

Temperature Effects on Photosynthesis and Depth Distribution of the Seagrass Cymodocea nodosa (ucria) Ascherson in a Mediterranean Coastal Lagoon: the Mar Menor (SE Spain)

Abstract. Seasonal variation of temperature effects on photosynthesis and respiration of Cymodorea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson was investigated in a 1 m depth meadow in the Mar Menor lagoon (SE Spain). Light-saturated net photosynthesis (P_max)and dark respiration (R) rates were linearly correlated with water temperature between 10 and 30°C. and 10 and 35°C, respectively, during the year. Water temperature had a similar effect on R rates in August, November, and February, but increased P_max rates in August vs. those in February, thus promoting a shift of the maximum P_max/R ratio values from 15°C in February to 30°C in August. P-I curves had higher P_max values in May and August than in November or February, while Ic values remained relatively constant throughout the year. Whole-plant carbon balances suggested that C. nodosa might not be able to survive in the central basin of the lagoon and that the spatial distribution of this seagrass in the Mar Menor might be controlled by light availability.     

The Importance of Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa as Contributors of Free Amino Acids in Water and Sediment of Seagrass Beds

Abstract. Dissolved free amino acids (DFAA) were measured in sediment porewater and overlying sea water in seagrass beds of Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa at a water depth of 8–10 m in Corsica, France. In the sea water, DFAA concentrations from 0.5 to 1.9μM were found. Lowest concentrations occurred in the afternoon in surface water samples, while higher concentrations were measured in morning surface samples and in all bottom samples. The most abundant amino acids were serine, glycine, and alanine. In the sediment, the upper 4cm contained the highest concentrations of DFAA (177nmol cm^-3 or 367 μM), while lower concentrations (<50nmol cm^-3 or 104 μM) prevailed deeper in the sediment. Glycine, glutamic acid, alanine, and β-alanine were the major components of the DFAA. The photosynthetic activity of the seagrasses influenced sediment porewater pools of DFAA. When a Posidonia bed was covered with a black polyethylene shield, the interstitial amino acids were reduced at a rate of 16nmol cm^-2 h^-1 (0-10cm depth). Conversely, extended daylight (floodlight) increased the DFAA pool in sediment depths below 4 cm. Free amino acids were released to the overlying sea water from both seagrass sediment and individual shoots, the rates being highest in the dark. The present investigation indicates that a substantial portion of the N-cycling of the seagrass sediment includes free amino acids.     

Coral Recruitment and Regeneration on a Maldivian Reef Four Years after the Coral Bleaching Event of 1998. Part 2: 2001–2002

Abstract.  This paper is the follow-up study to a quantitative inventory of stony corals on a Maldivian reef after the bleaching event of 1998 [Loch, K., W. Loch, H. Schuhmacher & W. R. See, 2002; P.S.Z.N.: Marine Ecology, 23 (3): 219–236] covering the years 2001 and 2002, thereby extending the observation period from 1999 to 2002. Data collection was performed as previously in transects on the reef flat, Acropora tables at the reef rim, Porites lobata blocks and one Diploastrea heliopora colony. While between 2000 and 2001 the transects showed a noticeable increase of living scleractinian colonies of 6.1 per m² of reef surface per year, this had slowed to 0.7 per m² per year by 2002. Likewise, the colonisation of dead Acropora tables had changed from a yearly increase of 14.4 colonies per m² of table surface between 2000 and 2001 to a decrease of 9.4 between 2001 and 2002. The main constituent of the regeneration in transects as well as on Acropora tables was Pavona (Agariciidae), whereas Pocilloporidae and Acroporidae were almost completely missing. A new immigrant was Tubastraea micranthus . Continuous growth of regenerates on Porites presented a columnar form, and the growth rate of D. heliopora was reduced between 2001 and 2002. The influence on reef ecology in terms of coral substrate, species differentiation, growth rate changes, interaction with other organisms and the overall prospect of the reef development on a longer timescale is outlined.     

海带中抑藻活性化合物的分离及抑藻活性分析

以2000 g海带为原料、米氏凯伦藻为测试微藻,采用甲醇浸提、液液萃取、硅胶柱层析、Seph-adax LH-20凝胶柱层析和硅胶薄层层析等分离方法,纯化可能具有抑藻活性的化合物,制备到5个薄层纯样品,B21(1.39 g)、B131(0.51 g)、B132(0.48 g)、C211(0.016 g)和C212(0....     

Acrylate in Phaeocystis colonies does not affect the surrounding bacteria

Acrylate accumulates to concentrations of 1.3–6.5 mM in the mucus of Phaeocystis colonies and may have an effect on the surrounding bacterial community, either as an inhibitor or as a carbon source. Both in the field and in the laboratory, effects of acrylate on bacterial growth and on its consumption were investigated. During a Phaeocystis bloom, acrylate-consuming bacteria were found to be present (1% of total number counted by microscopy) and a 5-fold increase of the number of these bacteria was observed after the Phaeocystis bloom (4.9% of the total number counted by microscopy). Acrylate consumption rates were higher in filtered (≤20 μm) seawater samples than in unfiltered samples, indicating that particles larger than 20 μm, mostly Phaeocystis colonies, caused a reduction in the rate of acrylate consumption. This was not found when axenic Phaeocystis was added to an acrylate-consuming bacterium (strain AC-2) that had been isolated from the highest MPN dilution from field samples. Furthermore, we could not find a decrease in growth rates of the total bacterial community or of isolated strains in the presence of high acrylate concentrations (≤10 mM). In co-cultures of Phaeocystis and strain AC-2 we observed that the production of acrylate was not affected by the bacterium and that the consumption of acrylate by strain AC-2 was not affected by the presence of Phaeocystis. Acrylate concentrations in the mucous layer of the Phaeocystis colonies in those co-cultures were high (6.7–7.7 mM) and comparable with acrylate concentrations in the mucous layer of axenic Phaeocystis colonies. Acrylate seems to be sorbed to the mucus matrix of the colony and diffusion of acrylate out of this mucus matrix appears to be slow. Upon disruption of the colony skin acrylate was immediately solubilised from the mucus matrix.     

Salinity-Temperature Relations and Morphotypes of a Mixed Population of Coccoid Cyanobacteria from a Hot, Hypersaline Pond in Israel

Abstract. A mixed population of unicellular and colonial cyanobacteria was transferred into culture from a hypersaline helio-thermal pond in the vicinity of the Dead Sea. The entire complex of strains, incubated in Dead Sea water of varying salinity and temperature, showed a pronounced shift of the maximal growth from a salinity of 72 g l^-1 at 30 ^oC up to 142 g 1^-1 at 50 ^oC. Over the above range of salinities and temperatures, these cyanobacteria were capable of about four divisions per day, providing that any increase in salinity was coupled with the suitable increase in temperature. The above peculiar adaptation can explain the prominent success of this group of microorganisms in the extreme and unstable ecological conditions of hypersaline habitats. Amounts of slime accumulating in the cultures were proportional to the incubation temperature.     

Microbial Biomass Dynamics Along a Trophic Gradient at the Atlantic Barrier Reef off Belize (Central America)

Abstract. Recent findings indicate that heterotrophic bacteria and not phytoplankton are the most numerous biomass components even in the euphotic zone of oligotrophic, open oceans. In this study it was hypothesized that the microbial biomass components change within a few hundred meters as oligotrophic water flows across the reef and becomes enriched with nutrients. Along a trophic gradient, four stations at the Atlantic Barrier Reef off Belize (Central America) were sampled for microbial biomass components. Phytoplankton biomass (measured as chlorophyll a) ranged from the most oligotrophic station (St. 1) to the most eutrophic station (St. 4) from 6.9–415.5 μg CI"' (assuming a C:chl a ratio of 30): heterotrophic bacterial biomass increased 4-fold (from 10.1–46.4μg C 1^-1), heterotrophic nanoflagellate (HNAN) biomass increased from 4.6-19ug C 1^-1, and cyanobacteria from 0.9-4.5 μg C-1^-1. Production estimates derived from seawater cultures revealed a 5-fold increase in bacterial production from the oligotrophic station (3.7 ug C 1^-1 d^-1) to the eutrophic St. 4 (17.8ug C-1-d1^-1)- Cyanobacterial production rose from 1.1–3.5ug C-1–d^-1 and HNAN production from 0.65-1.13 μg C-1^-1 -d^-1. While cyanobacteria contributed between 13 and 20% to the autotrophic plankton component in the oligotrophic waters, their contribution dropped to about 1 % at the eutrophic stations.     

Description of the Phytoplanktonic Community of the Oligotrophic Waters of the SE Aegean Sea (Mediterranean)

Abstract. A seasonal sampling program of five stations off the Island of Rhodes (SE Aegean Sea) was carried out in 1983–1984. Temperature, salinity, Secchi disk transparency, P-PO₄, N-NO₃, N-NO₂, N-NH₃, Si-SiO₂, and chl a were measured and phytoplankton species recorded. Cell concentrations and chl a varied seasonally. with the highest values in summer (l.2 times 10⁴ -1^--¹ total mean cells; 0.13 mgam^-3 total mean chl a ) and the lowest in winter (2.3 times 10³, 1^--¹ total mean cells; 0.06 mg^.m-^- total mean chl a ). A variation in cell abundance among stations was also noted. Quantitative relationships among the recorded taxa showed that diatoms and dinoflagellates were richer in species composition (88 and 58 total species, respectively) than coccolithophores (8 species) and other flagellates (8 species). Comparison of phytoplankton samples from different depths and stations by cluster analysis showed an irregularity or discontinuity in species associations. The SE Aegean Sea was characterized as oligotrophic on the basis of the estimated nutrient and phytoplankton concentration levels.