Phytoplankton community structure in Otsuchi Bay,northeastern Japan,after the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake and tsunami

The tsunami caused by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake seriously damaged the Pacific coast of northeastern Japan. In addition to its direct disturbance, a tsunami can indirectly affect coastal pelagic ecosystems via topographical and environmental changes. We investigated seasonal changes in the phytoplankton community structure in Otsuchi Bay, northeastern Japan, from May 2011, which was 2 months after the tsunami, to May 2013. The phytoplankton species composition in May 2011 was similar to that observed in May 2012 and 2013. The present results are consistent with the dominant species and water-mass indicator species of phytoplankton in past records. These results suggest that there was no serious effect of the tsunami on the phytoplankton community in Otsuchi Bay. Community analysis revealed that two distinct seasonal communities appeared in each year of the study period. The spring–summer community was characterized by warm-water Chaetoceros species, and dinoflagellates appeared from May to September. The fall–winter community was characterized by cold neritic diatoms, which appeared from November to March. The succession from the spring–summer community to the fall–winter community took place within a particular water mass, and the fall–winter community appeared in both the surface water and the Oyashio water mass, suggesting that water-mass exchange is not the only factor that determines the phytoplankton community structure in Otsuchi Bay.     

Structure of Mesozooplankton Communities in the Coastal Waters of Morocco

Mero- and holoplanktonic organisms from 23 large taxa have been detected in the coastal waters of Morocco. Seven Cladocera species and 164 Copepoda species were identified. Copepod fauna mostly consisted of oceanic epipelagic widely tropical species, but the constant species group (frequency of occurrence over 50%) included neritic and neritic–oceanic widely tropical species. The neritic community that formed a biotopic association with coastal upwelling waters and the distant-neritic community associated with Canary Current waters were the two major communities detected. The former community was characterized by a high abundance and biomass (5700 ind./m³ and 260 mg/m³) and predominance of neritic species. The trophic structure was dominated by thin filter feeders, mixed-food consumers, and small grabbers; the species structure was dominated by Paracalanus indicus, Acartia clausi, and Oncaea curta; the indices of species diversity (3.07 bit/ind.) and evenness (0.63) were relatively low. The latter community was characterized by low abundance and biomass (1150 ind./m³ and 90 mg/m³); variable biotopic, trophic, and species structure; and higher Shannon indices (3.99 bit/ind.) and Pielou (0.75). Seasonal variation of the abundance of organisms was not detected in the communities. Anomalous mesozooplankton states were observed in summer 1998 and winter 1998–1999.     

Spatial distribution of the phytoplankton in the White Sea during atypical domination of dinoflagellates (July 2009)

The species composition and biomass of phytoplankton, concentrations of chlorophyll a (Chl a) and nutrients, and accompanying hydrophysical conditions have been studied in the White Sea on July 6–11, 2009. The temperature of the surface water layer was lower than the multiyear average in July. Dinoflagellates dominated in the entire studied area; this was not the typical event for July. We suggest that domination of dinoflagellates was caused by low water temperature, when the nutrient regeneration rate was insufficient to support diatom growth. The abundance of microalgae and the structure of the phytoplankton community depended on the water structure. Variations in the phytoplankton community structure were caused not by substitution of specific species but rather by variability of the abundance of a single species, Heterocapsa triquetra. The highest phytoplankton biomass has been recorded in weakly stratified waters, where tidal mixing supplied the income of inorganic nutrients. The income of nutrients to the photic layer was limited in the stratified waters of Dvina Bay during the summer low-water period, so the phytoplankton abundance was low. We suggest that the lens of surface desalinated water presumably originated from the outlet of the Dvina River was registered in the central part of the White Sea.     

西赤道太平洋暖池区光合色素分布及其对浮游植物群落的指示作用

利用光合色素的生物标志性可以在"纲"水平上表征浮游植物群落结构。依托大洋科学考察第20航次和21航次,通过对西赤道太平洋不同区域5个站位的HPLC藻类色素分析及CHEMTAX程序因子分析,获取了暖池区光合色素及浮游植物群落的垂直分布信息。结果显示在寡营养的暖池区,玉米黄素(Zeaxanthin)及乙二烯叶绿素a(DV Chl a)与叶绿素a浓度呈显著的正相关,浮游植物群落结构以蓝细菌、原绿球藻及定鞭金藻为优势藻纲,按对生物量的贡献率原绿球藻大于蓝细菌大于定鞭金藻的。蓝细菌和原绿球藻分布在真光层不同深度,而在营养盐丰富的次表层优势浮游藻类为定鞭金藻。     

“底充式增氧”技术对梭子蟹养殖池塘水质环境及浮游植物群落结构的影响

于2009年6-9月在浙江省宁海县三门湾海域养殖场,选取2口水文环境相似的梭子蟹Portunus trituberculatus养殖池塘,分别采用“底充式增氧”(实验塘)和传统水车式增氧(对照塘)方式,比较研究了池塘水质环境及其浮游植物群落结构的变化.结果显示:(1)实验塘水质的溶解氧和氨氮指标均优于对照塘,其中实验塘...     

Short-term under-ice variability of prokaryotic plankton communities in coastal Antarctic waters (Cape Hallett, Ross Sea)

During the 2006 Italian Antarctic expedition a diel sampling was performed close to Cape Hallett (Ross Sea) during the Austral summer. Under-ice seawater samples (4 m) were collected every 2 h for 28 h in order to estimate prokaryotic processes' variability and community structure dynamics. Prokaryotic and viral abundances, exoenzymatic activities (β-glucosidase, chitinase, lipase, alkaline phosphatase and leucine aminopeptidase), prokaryotic carbon production (³H-leucine incorporation) and community structure (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis – DGGE fingerprints) were analysed. Results showed that the diel variability of the prokaryotic activity followed a variation in salinity, probably as a consequence of the periodical thawing of sea ice (driven by solar radiation and air temperature cycles), while negligible variation in viral and prokaryotic abundances occurred. The Bacterial and Archaeal community structures underwent an Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) temporal shift from the beginning to the end of the sampling, while Flavobacteria-specific primers highlighted high variations in this group possibly related to sea ice melting and substrate release.     

An evaluation of underlying mechanisms for “fishing down marine food webs”

自1998年“捕捞降低海洋食物网”概念首次提出以来,渔获物平均营养级（Mean trophic level of fisheries landings,MTL）广泛用于评估捕捞活动对生态系统完整性的影响,并指导管理机构的政策制定。近年来研究表明,掌握MTL的潜在变化机制对于以MTL作为渔业可持续性指标至关重要。根据联合国粮农组织FAO提供的渔获统计数据,结合Fishbase提供的相关鱼种营养级,本文探讨了全球三大洋14个FAO渔区MTL的变化趋势,并进一步分析不同MTL变化趋势下高营养级鱼种和低营养级鱼种渔获量的变动情况。研究表明, MTL呈上升和回升状态均可能伴随着低营养级鱼种渔获量的下降。此外,通过观察营养级高于3.25鱼种的MTL以区分“捕捞降低海洋食物网”和“捕捞沿着海洋食物网”现象需考虑生态系统的群落结构和开发历程。利用渔获物平均营养级评价渔业可持续性必须综合考虑高营养级和低营养级鱼种,以及群落结构和开发历程的掩盖效应。     

渤海沉积物中细菌群落结构和基因丰度的空间分布特征

This study investigated differences in the community structure and environmental responses of the bacterial community in sediments of the Bohai Sea.Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology and real-time PCR were used to assay the bacterial 16S rRNA genes in the surface sediments of 13 sampling stations in the Bohai Sea.The results showed that sediments at the majority of the 13 sampling stations were contaminated by heavy metal mercury.The main phyla of bacteria recorded included Proteobacteria(52.92%),Bacteroidetes(11.76%),Planctomycetes(7.39%),Acidobacteria(6.53%)and Chloroflexi(4.97%).The genus with the highest relative abundance was Desulfobulbus(4.99%),which was the dominant genus at most sampling stations,followed by Lutimonas and Halioglobus.The main factors influencing bacterial community structure were total organic carbon,followed by depth and total phosphorus.The content of lead,cadmium,chromium,copper and zinc had a consistent effect on community structure.Arsenic showed a negative correlation with bacterial community structure in most samples,while the impact of mercury on community structure was not significant.The bacterial community in sediment samples from the Bohai Sea was rich in diversity and displayed an increase in diversity from high to low latitudes.The data indicated that the Bohai Sea had abundant microbial resources and was rich in bacteria with the potential to metabolize many types of pollutants.     

Effects of mining wastes on a seagrass ecosystem: metal accumulation and bioavailability, seagrass dynamics and associated community structure

Two different Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson beds growing in mining-contaminated sediments were compared with two reference beds in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon. The accumulation of Zn, Pb and Cd in different fractions of the plant, the sediment parameters that regulate the availability of metals, the seabed structure and dynamics of each seagrass bed and its associated macroinvertebrate community were studied. C. nodosa accumulates metals from the sediments and reflects their bioavailability for this seagrass. At each station, the metal content of the rhizomes was lower than that of leaves and roots. The concentration of acid-volatile sulfides does not seem to influence the availability of metals to the seagrass, possibly due to oxygen transport to underground tissues. The highest metal concentration in all the contaminated stations was found in the leaf-biofilm, due to the formation of complexes between metals and the extracellular polymeric substances that form the biofilm. All the seagrass beds were seen to be undergoing expansion, those growing in contaminated sediments accumulating great quantities of metals and showing highest photosynthetic leaf surface area and highest leaf biomass. However, these structural parameters were not seen to be responsible for the differences in the faunal composition observed between contaminated and reference beds. Moreover, the multivariate analysis identified the metal content of leaves, biofilm and sediments as important variables that may be responsible for these differences in faunal composition. In this study we have demonstrated that both the seagrass C. nodosa and the biofilm on the plant leaves may be used as environmental tools in the Mar Menor lagoon. The former is an useful indicator of sediment contamination, whereas the latter seems to be a good sentinel of water quality.     

Phylogenetic analysis of bacterial community in deep-sea sediment from the western Pacific “warm pool”

A depth profile of bacterial community structure in one deep-sea sediment core of the western Pacific ＂warm pool＂ （WP） was investigated and compared with that in a sediment sample from the eastern Pacific （EP） by phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA fragments. Five bacterial 16S rDNA clone libraries were constructed, and 133 clones with different restriction fragment length polymorphism （RFLP） patterns were sequenced. A phylogenetic analysis of these sequences revealed that the bacterial diversity in a sample from the WP was more abundant than that in the EP sample. The bacterial population in the sediment core of WP was composed of eight major lineages of the domain bacteria. Among them the γ-Proteobacteria was the predominant and most diverse group in each section of WP sediment core, followed by the α-Proteobacteria. The genus Colwellia belonging to γ-Proteobacteria was predominant in this sample. The shift of bacterial communities among different sections of the WP sediment core was δ-, ε-Proteobacteria, and Cytopahga-Flexibacteria-Bacteroides （CFB） group. The ratios between them in the bacterial communities all showed inversely proportional to the depth of sediment. The sequences related to sulphate reducing bacteria （SRB） were detected in every section. The bacterial community structure in this sediment core might be related to the environmental characteristics of the surface seawater of the western Pacific WP.     

Seasonal succession in the diatom community of Sendai Bay,northern Japan,following the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake

Sendai Bay in northern Japan suffered serious damage from massive tsunamis generated by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake. The physical disturbance caused by a tsunami may affect the coastal ecosystem, including the planktonic diatom community. We investigated seasonal changes in the diatom community structure at a coastal and an offshore station in Sendai Bay, from June 2011 (3 months after the tsunami) to April 2014. Diatom abundance increased at both stations during the spring. Sporadic increases were also recorded at the coastal station during the summer because of silicate input from river discharge. Seasonal succession of the diatom communities was similar at both the coastal and offshore stations. The onset of the spring bloom consisted mainly of Chaetoceros spp. when water temperatures were low. Subsequently, species such as Skeletonema costatum s.l. became dominant as salinity and nutrient concentrations decreased. Cell density decreased from summer into early winter. Leptocylindrus danicus became dominant in the summer, but was replaced by Thalassiosira cf. mala from autumn into winter. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that most of the variation in the diatom community could be explained by temperature, salinity, NO₃ ^?, NO₂ ^?, PO₄ ^3?, and SiO₂. In addition, the occurrence of diatom species before the tsunami showed a similar pattern to that after the tsunami, suggesting that the tsunami did not have a serious impact on the diatom community in Sendai Bay.     

Disturbance and Community Pattern of Polychaetes Inhabiting Valle Magnavacca (Valli di Comacchio,Northern Adriatic Sea,Italy)

Abstract. Polychaete community structure in Valle Magnavacca, the largest basin of the Valli di Comacchio (Northern Adriatic Sea) lagoonal ecosystem, was analyzed in a three‐year study. Three shallow‐water stations were sampled at about 3‐month intervals. Univariate and multivariate analyses were utilized to investigate community structure changes in relation to natural and man‐induced disturbance. The polychaete community at station 3, in the central area of the lagoon, was the most disturbed, while that of station 2 was the most well structured. We hypothesize that polychaete community structure results from regular seasonal disturbances which lead to almost predictable fluctuations in species abundance. Superimposed on these regular cycles are acute disturbance events that further reduce species abundance or exclude species from the habitat.     

A Study in Ultra-Ecology: Microorganisms on the Seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) DELILE

Abstract. Microbial colonization on the leaves of a shoot of the mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) DELILE was studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy. Methods of field ecology such as transect, random plot and stratified sampling survey were applied to the microbial niveau to gain both qualitative and quantitative information on the microbial assemblage. While macro-epiphytic growth was significantly greater on the outer leaf sides, microbial colonization density was significantly higher on the inner leaf sides, both on leaf surface and epiphyte surface. Diatoms colonized the surface of incrusting algae and epiphytic animals in significantly lower numbers than the Posidonia leaf surface and were absent on erect epiphytic algae. Bacterial densities on epiphyte surfaces even exceeded values of the corresponding leaf surfaces on algal thalli near the leaf tips and on old leaves. Diatoms reach highest mean density on mature leaves and close to the leaf tips, while bacteria reach their greatest density on the oldest leaf and closer to the leaf base. Diatom density in general increases with exposure time of plant surface, while greatest bacterial density was observed at 7–10 weeks exposure. Basal leaf parts on younger leaves were dominated by rod-shaped bacteria, while distal leaf parts and old leaves were dominated by small coccoid bacteria. Surfaces of epiphytic algae were always distinctly dominated by small coccoid bacteria, and edges of thalli attracted high microbial densities. Microbial biomass (calculated from cell volumes using standard conversion factors) amounts to 2.3 g dry weight m-² in the Posidonia stand where the shoot was sampled. The observed patterns of epiphytic colonization are interpreted as the result of a complex, dynamically changing system of interactions both within the epiphytic community and between the epiphytic community, the host plant, and it's environment. A model of the organization of the epiphytic community on Posidonia leaves is presented. “Ultra-ecology” is a term introduced to denote a type of SEM research in the micro-environment which is analogous to in situ investigation in “macroscopic” ecological work.     

Microbial community respiration and structure of dead zone sediments of Omura Bay, Japan

Monitoring sediment microbial community metabolism and structure is instrumental to understanding biogeochemical processes in and ecological impacts on bottom environments. The aim of this study was to determine potential community respiration and to reveal community dynamics of the microorganisms in the dead zone sediments of Omura Bay, Japan. The bay is highly enclosed and develops severe hypoxia in the central regions every summer. We collected sediment core samples from the center of the bay during hypoxia, estimated sediment oxygen consumption by using an adapted in vivo electron transport system activity (in vivo ETSA) assay, enumerated abundance of bacteria, and analyzed bacterial community structure by automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis. Higher ETSA and bacterial diversity were found in upper sediments (within 3?cm depth) from the center than the fringe of the bay. Sediment bacterial community structure of the bay center was distinct from that of the fringe. From these results, upper sediment in the dead zone of Omura Bay was characterized by (1) greater community respiration and (2) greater diversity of bacterial components compared with the non-hypoxic sediment of the bay fringe. These characteristics have important implications for understanding the interaction between microbial communities and the development of hypoxia in Omura Bay.     

Seasonal and interannual variation in mesozooplankton community structure off Tongyeong,southeastern coast of Korea,from 2011 to 2014

Mesozooplankton community structure and environmental factors were monitored monthly at a fixed station off Tongyeong, southeastern coast of Korea, from 2011 to 2014 to better understand the variability of the mesozooplankton community in relation to changes in the marine environment. Total mesozooplankton density varied from 747 to 8,945 inds. m^-3 with peaks in summer. The surface water temperature (r = 0.338, p < 0.05) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration (r = 0.505, p < 0.001) were parts of the factors that may have induced the mesozooplankton peaks in summer. Copepods accounted for 71% of total mesozooplankton. Total copepod density, particularly cyclopoid copepods, increased during the study period. Cumulative sum plots and anomalies of the cyclopoid copepod density revealed a change of the cyclopoid density from negative to positive in June 2013. A positive relationship between cyclopoid copepods and the Chl-a concentration (r = 0.327, p < 0.05) appeared to be one of the reasons for the increase in cyclopoids. Dominant mesozooplankton species such as Paracalanus parvus s.l., Oikopleura spp., Evadne tergestina, Cirripedia larvae, Corycaeus affinis, Calanus sinicus, and Oithona similis accounted for 60% of total mesozooplankton density. Based on cluster analysis of the mesozooplankton community by year, the seasonal distinction among groups was different in 2014 compared to other years. P. parvus s.l. and its copepodites contributed most in all groups in all four years. Our results suggest that the high Chl-a concentration since 2013 may have caused the changes in mesozooplankton community structure in the study area.     

福建漳江口本土红树植物秋茄替代互花米草生态修复效果定量评价

本文从生物群落结构、非生物环境质量及生态系统功能三个方面构建了滨海湿地生态修复效果定量评价指标体系,并对福建漳江口本土红树秋茄替代入侵种互花米草生态修复效果进行了定量评价。结果表明:秋茄可有效抑制互花米草的生长,其生长指标在4年修复样地和约15年修复样地的评分等级分别为"差"和"好",即红树植物生长缓慢,至少需要十余年的时间才能恢复到60%以上;修复工程的开展并未对底栖动物多样性产生显著影响,两修复样地评分均为"优";沉积物生源要素生态风险评价显示,漳江口滨海湿地受到较严重的氮污染,碳、磷含量也超过了正常范围;生态系统功能指标方面,4年样地评分低于0.8,属"劣"的级别,而约15年样地评分为2.32,属"中"的级别,其中食物网功能达到"优"的级别。两修复样地综合评分等级则为"差"和"中",表明虽然红树植物替代结合物理手段能够抑制互花米草生长,但其植物群落结构和生态系统功能的修复所需年限较长,需要投入很大的人力和资源。     

Structural changes in macrozoobenthic communities due to summer hypoxia in Gamak Bay,Korea

The purpose of this study was to examine the structural changes that macrozoobenthic communities underwent as a result of the annual summer hypoxia at the northern part of Gamak Bay, Korea. During this study period, summer hypoxia occurred at the northern part of Gamak Bay in July. Under hypoxic conditions, both the number of species and population density decreased rapidly. Species diversity also manifested lower values during this hypoxic period. Faunal composition changed seasonally with Capitella capitata dominant at the hypoxic sites in spring but disappearing in summer. The health condition of the benthic faunal community assessed by the composition of functional groups within community also changed due to the summer hypoxia from a slightly polluted condition to a highly polluted condition. From these results it has been shown that the recent macrozoobenthic community structure in Gamak Bay has returned to a state similar to what it was before dredging works commenced.     

黄海西北近岸沉积物中细菌群落空间分布特征

采用16S rDNA文库和变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)技术,对黄海西北部3个近岸站位沉积物中细菌群落多样性及空间分布特征进行了调查和解析。对表层沉积物16S rDNA序列统计表明,各站位细菌群落多样性很高,γ-和δ-变形菌纲分别占克隆序列总数的20%~32%,是沉积物中的绝对优势类群。DGGE图谱分析表明,同一站位中不同深度的细菌群落结构相似性较高,而不同站位间群落结构相差较远。研究表明在黄海西北近岸沉积物中细菌群落多样性较高,优势类群明显,在较小尺度范围内群落结构的垂直变化不明显。     

Temporal and spatial zonation of macroepiphytes on Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile leaves in a meadow off Tunisia

The aim of this survey was to study the cover and the composition of macroepiphytic species on the leaves of Posidonia oceanica in the east of Tunisia. Surveys were conducted in December 2009 (winter period), March (spring period) and August 2010 (summer period) in a fringing reef located in Chebba. At each sampling date, 15 adult leaves were randomly collected and divided into basal and apical parts. The inner face of each part was examined with ocular glasses and microscope to estimate species cover by orthogonal projection. PERMANOVA and ANOSIM were used to test for differences of cover between sampling dates and leaf parts. SIMPER, cluster analysis, and PCA were used to ordinate species assemblages. Comparison of epiphytic cover along leaf blades showed significant differences for all groups, except cyanophycea, with high cover of hydrozoans and bryozoans in the basal part and high cover of algae in the apical part. The species composition and cover also vary with sampling date; minimum values were detected in December and the epiphytic community was composed of a few pioneer species, whereas maximum epiphytic cover values were registered in August, with the epiphytic community being composed of a more mature and more diverse community, termed ‘climax’. The main regulatory factors for this distribution are discussed.     

渤海自由生活海洋线虫多样性的研究

首先介绍Warwick和Clarke(1995)提出的等级生物多样性指数以及在自由生活海洋线虫中的应用,重点以1998年9～10月和1999年4～5月两个航次的沉积物样品,用物种数目(S)、Margalef物种丰富度指数(d)、优势度Simpson指数(λ)、多样性Shannon-Wiener指数(H')、Pielou的均匀度指数(J)、Hill多样性系列指数(N₁,N₂和N_+∞)、分类多样性指数(△)、分类差异指数(△*)、等级多样性指数(△+)对渤海自由生活海洋线虫的多样性进行了研究。结果表明,黄河输入的泥沙对渤海自由生活海洋线虫多样性的变化有一定的作用,距离黄河口越近的站位,群落具有的物种多样性和均匀性越低,优势度越高;距离黄河口越远的站位,群落具有的物种多样性和均匀性越高,优势度越低。