Long‐term nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization effects on N2 fixation rates and nifH gene community patterns in mangrove sediments

The bioavailability of nutrients is important in controlling ecological processes and nitrogen cycling in oligotrophic mangrove forests, yet the variation of diazotrophic community structure and activity with nutrient availability in sediments remains largely unexplored. To investigate for the first time how nutrients in sediments affect spatial and temporal patterns of diazotrophic community structure and activity, the sedimentary environment of Twin Cays, Belize, was examined with respect to the effects of long‐term fertilization [treatments: control (Ctrl), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P)] on N₂ fixation rates and nifH gene community structure. We found that N₂ fixation rates were significantly higher at the P‐treatment, intermediate at the Ctrl‐treatment and lower in the N‐treatment (P: 4.2 ± 0.5, Crtl: 0.8 ± 0.1, N: 0.4 ± 0.1 nmol·N·g^?1·h^?1; P < 0.001) with spatial (Ctrl‐ and P‐treatments) and temporal (only P‐treatment) variability positively correlated with live root abundance (r² = 0.473, P < 0.001) and concentration (r² = 0.458, P < 0.0001). The community structure of diazotrophs showed larger spatial and temporal variability in the fertilized treatments than in the Ctrl‐treatment, with the relative abundance of OTUs (nifH operational taxonomic units) at the fertilized treatments inversely related to live root abundance. Overall, long‐term fertilization (with either N or P) affects not only nutrient levels in mangrove sediments directly, but also spatial and temporal patterns of both community structure and activity and likely plant‐microbe interactions as well. Our findings suggest that the maintenance of natural nutrient conditions in mangrove sediments is important to ensure the stability of microbial functional groups like diazotrophs.     

Long-term benthic responses to sustained disturbance by aggregate extraction in an area off the east coast of the United Kingdom

The temporal variability of benthic assemblages inhabiting offshore gravel deposits in the North Sea is poorly known, as purpose-collected long-term data sets have until recently been non-existent. It has therefore proved difficult to understand the stability and resilience of these benthic ecosystems after disturbance caused by the extraction of aggregates on an industrial scale. The present investigation examines an 8-year time series of data collected in and around an active commercial aggregate extraction site off the east coast of the United Kingdom. Both physical and biological data sets suggest a distinct yet localised effect after sustained gravel extraction, with impacted sediments generally appearing more physically homogeneous and faunistically impoverished than undisturbed sediments. Although inter-annual variability of selected assemblage metrics was reduced in disturbed sediments, differences in some assemblage metrics became significant between years. Despite such observations, significant impacts to the benthos in any given year were not sustained for long. However, the magnitude of impact in almost every year would be enough to merit remedial intervention based on an existing model of measuring acceptable levels of disturbance as a result of organic enrichment. Caution must be exercised in making any such recommendations, especially as there are presently no models specifically designed to assess the degree of acceptable disturbance from aggregate extraction. This study not only highlights the importance of and need for long-term data sets in order to better understand the difference between natural and human-induced variability in benthic assemblages, but also emphasises the need to develop more relevant monitoring tools to better manage the activities of the marine aggregate extraction industry.     

Response of Sedimentary Nucleic Acids to Benthic Disturbance in the Central Indian Basin

Information on the response of nucleic acids (i.e., DNA and RNA) to simulated benthic disturbance was obtained from samples collected from eight sediment cores (0–10 cm) located in the Central Indian Basin (CIB). In general the total sedimentary DNA (DNA) increased with depth (from 380.09 to 408.99 μg·g^?1), while total sedimentary RNA (RNA) decreased (from 878.13 to 484.16 μg·g^?1). Following the simulated benthic disturbance brought about by the benthic hydraulic disturber, DNA decreased by 10% along the disturbed track while the RNA increased by around 75%. The RNA/DNA ratio decreased nearly 10%. However, the ratio doubled along the disturbed track suggesting that the activity was stimulated at molecular level following artif icial disturbance. The nucleic acid ratio thus shows that the CIB sediments are metabolically active, and with disturbance the activity tends to increase further.     

红树植物无瓣海桑中重金属元素的分布与富集特征

通过测定江门市新会区银湖湾红树林沉积物及红树植物无瓣海桑中不同部位重金属元素的质量浓度,分析其在沉积物及植株内部的富集和转移能力。结果表明：研究区域的红树林沉积物易于富集铅、铜、镉、铬、锌、砷等重金属元素,已 受到重金属元素污染。无瓣海桑对重金属元素有一定的耐性,细根作为植株吸收水分和养分的主要器官,能大量富集重金属元素,凯氏带限制了非必需重金属元素在植株内部的运输;枝、叶生长初期和生殖器官形成时能加大对必需元素的选择性吸收。无瓣海桑主根迁移不同重金属元素至主茎的能力存在差异,材部的综合转移能力高于皮部。无瓣海桑不符合超富集植物的概念,但其生长优势明显且对各种重金属元素都有一定程度的耐性,可用于构建红树林人工湿地重金属污水处理系统。     

红树林海岸的沉积物输运和碳沉降特征

Mangroves play an important role in sequestering carbon and trapping sediments. However, the effectiveness of such functions is unclear due to the restriction of knowledge on the sedimentation process across the vegetation boundaries. To detect the effects of mangrove forests on sediment transportation and organic carbon sequestration, the granulometric and organic carbon characteristics of mangrove sediments were investigated from three vegetation zones of four typical mangrove habitats on the Leizhou Peninsula coast. Based on our results, sediment transport was often "environmentally sensitive" to the vegetation friction. A transition of the sediment transport mode from the mudflat zone to the interior/fringe zone was often detected from the cumulative frequency curve. The vegetation cover also assists the trapping of material, resulting in a significantly higher concentration of organic carbon in the interior surface sediments. However, the graphic parameters of core sediments reflected a highly temporal variability due to the sedimentation process at different locations. The sediment texture ranges widely from sand to mud, although the sedimentary environments are restricted within the same energy level along the fluvial-marine transition zone. Based on the PCA results, the large variation was mainly attributed to either the mean grain size features or the organic carbon features. A high correlation between the depth and δ13C value also indicated an increasing storage of mangrove-derived organic carbon with time.     

Stochastic Events and Dynamics of a Mangrove Root Epifaunal Community

Abstract. Submerged roots of red mangroves ( Rhizophora mangle ) in the Florida Keys were photographed at 1– or 2-month intervals for 38 months to measure population dynamics of the epifaunal invertebrate species. Photographs were analysed for species composition and abundance and information on life spans, persistence, mortality, and seasonality. Larval recruitment to artificial surfaces was used to assess reproductive seasonality. As a measure of stability, populations were tested for narrow stochastic boundedness.
In contrast to reports for a tropical mangrove root community, the Florida Keys root community showed enormous variability despite being dominated by long-lived species with low, largely non-seasonal recruitment. Species composition on individual roots changed dramatically on short time scales. Populations of the major species were not narrowly bounded on most roots and there was little evidence for a closely regulated community.
Variability of this community related to the frequency and intensity of stochastic perturbations. Physical disturbance due to strong tidal Rows appeared to be the most important structuring process. Species-specific predation and fragmentation of sponges were also important. These features contribute to the instability of the community by producing dramatic fluctuations in species abundances and preventing competitive processes from producing a more stable, equilibrium community. Temporal measurement scale was an additional important consideration in this habitat. Structuring processes occurred on very short time scales (1–2 months) and analysis on longer time scales gave inaccurate impressions of community dynamics.     

The Ecology of a Novel Symbiosis Between a Marine Peritrich Ciliate and Chemoautotrophic Bacteria

Abstract. A symbiosis between a sessile colonial ciliate, Zoothamnium niveum HEMPRICH & EHRENBERG. 1831. and chemolithoautotrophic bacteria oxidizing reduced sulfur compounds is described. The ciliates and their ectosymbionts occur on mangrove peat in the Caribbean. The feather-shaped ciliate colonies expand and contract, thus exposing the microbes alternately to oxygenated water above and sulfidic water within the boundary layer developed on the surface of the highly sulfidic peat. The symbioticciliates colonize sites with high sulfide flux where the microbial surface mat has been disturbed and grow there until the microbe mat re-establishes itself.     

Correlation of shear strength,hydraulic conductivity,and thermal gradients with sediment disturbance: South Pass region,Mississippi Delta

The degree of sediment disturbance in the South Pass area is correlated to the average hydraulic conductivity, shear strength, and thermal gradient. Hydraulic conductivity averages 18, 6, and 4 × 10^–7 cm/s in the undisturbed, moderately disturbed, and most disturbed sediments, respectively. Shear strength also decreases with increasing disturbance, from 7.6 to 4.4 to 3.5 kPa. Excluding the four stations dominated by annual temperature variations, the remaining 19 thermal gradients correlate well with sediment disturbance. The average gradient is positive in all of the disturbed sediments (0.12 ± 0.07° C/m) and 0 in the undisturbed sediments (0.02 ± 0.05° C/m).     

Changes in biotic and abiotic processes following mangrove clearing

Mangrove forests, important tropical coastal habitats, are in decline worldwide primarily due to removal by humans. Changes to mangrove systems can alter ecosystem properties through direct effects on abiotic factors such as temperature, light and nutrient supply or through changes in biotic factors such as primary productivity or species composition. Despite the importance of mangroves as transitional habitats between land and sea, little research has examined changes that occur when they are cleared. We examined changes in a number of biotic and abiotic factors following the anthropogenic removal of red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) in the Panamanian Caribbean, including algal biomass, algal diversity, algal grazing rates, light penetration, temperature, sedimentation rates and sediment organic content. In this first study examining multiple ecosystem-level effects of mangrove disturbance, we found that areas cleared of mangroves had higher algal biomass and richness than intact mangrove areas. This increase in algal biomass and richness was likely due to changes in abiotic factors (e.g. light intensity, temperature), but not biotic factors (fish herbivory). Additionally the algal and cyanobacterial genera dominating mangrove-cleared areas were rare in intact mangroves and included a number of genera that compete with coral for space on reefs. Interestingly, sedimentation rates did not differ between intact and cleared areas, but the sediments that accumulated in intact mangroves had higher organic content. These findings are the first to demonstrate that anthropogenic clearing of mangroves changes multiple biotic and abiotic processes in mangrove forests and that some of these changes may influence adjacent habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass beds. Additional research is needed to further explore the community and ecosystem-level effects of mangrove clearing and their influence on adjacent habitats, but it is clear that mangrove conservation is an important aspect of managing tropical coastal systems.     

Spatiotemporal variations in the organic carbon accumulation rate in mangrove sediments from the Yingluo Bay,China, since 1900

Mangroves can not only provide multiple ecosystem service functions, but are also efficient carbon producers,capturers, and sinks. The estimation of the organic carbon accumulation rate(OCAR) in mangrove sediments is fundamental for elucidating the role of mangroves in the global carbon budget. In particular, understanding the past changes in the OCAR in mangrove sediments is vital for predicting the future role of mangroves in the rapidly changing environment. In this study, three dated sediment cores from interior and fringe of mangroves in the Yingluo Bay, China, were used to reconstruct the spatiotemporal variations of the calculated OCAR since 1900 in this area. The increasing OCAR in the mangrove interior was attributed to mangrove flourishment induced by climate change characterized by the rising temperature. However, in the mangrove fringe, the strengthening hydrodynamic conditions under the sea level rise were responsible for the decreasing OCAR, particularly after the1940 s. Furthermore, the duration of inundation by seawater was the primary factors controlling the spatial variability of the OCAR from the mangrove fringe to interior, while the strengthened hydrodynamic conditions after the 1940 s broke this original pattern.     

Meiobenthos in Nha trang bay of the south China sea (Vietnam)

The distribution of the taxonomical composition and the density of meiobenthos depending on the sediment type has been studied in bottom sediments of Nha Trang Bay. The maximal population density and the taxonomical diversity were observed in the silted coarse and heterogeneous sand (1031.4μ419.7 ind. 10 cm^-2), whereas the minimal level of density and diversity (588.1μ152.5 ind. 10 cm^-2) was in the coarse and heterogeneous sand with shell debris and corals. The correlation between the median diameter of sediment particles and population density of meiobenthos has been revealed (r=0.82, p<0.05). In bottom sediments of Nha Trang Bay, twenty six taxonomic groups of meiobenthos were observed. Nematodes dominated in all sediment types. Representatives of four orders, twenty eight families and ninety seven genera of marine nematodes were identified. The vertical distribution of meiobenthos in different sediment types was considered. A sediment column (10 cm height) was sectioned by five 2 cm portions. In the last layer (8-10 cm) the most number of meiobenthic groups was found in sandy sediments. In the lower layers of silt sediments, only nematodes were found.     

Black spots produced by buried macroalgae in intertidal sandy sediments of the Wadden Sea: Effects on the meiobenthos

The effects of buried decaying macroalgae on meiobenthos were examined in intertidal sandy sediments of the Wadden Sea of Lower Saxony. In situ experiments confirmed that one of the principal causes of the formation of reduced surface sediments or ‘black spots’ on the tidal flats is the increasing occurrence and subsequent decomposition of filamentous green algae (Enteromorpha spp.) buried in the sediment. Five to fifteen days after algal material had been buried, the sediment surface turned black. The impact of these black spots on meiobenthos was dramatic: the changed chemical conditions in the sediment resulted in long and drastic reductions in meiofaunal abundance and number of taxa. A multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) analysis of data on meiobenthic abundances revealed that samples from black-spot areas were clearly separated from those of control and reference areas. Re-oxidized black spots showed recolonization by meiofaunal animals, with numbers of individuals and taxa similar to those of oxidized surface sediments. The use of abundances of members of higher meiobenthic taxa to monitor changes in the sediment's chemistry, especially those caused by biomass overload, is discussed.     

红树植物花粉在我国东南部海域沉积物中的分布及古环境意义

为搞清我国陆架的孢粉、藻类分布规律，于１９７２年先后对黄海、东海、南海海底沉积物作了孢粉、藻类研究。结果表明，在黄海，东海表层沉积物中红树植物花粉主要由黑潮暖流北上携带而来，在南海沿岸的海湾和河流入海处沉积物中红树植物花粉含量高；水下古海岸线附近含量亦高，南海北部钻孔中的红树植物花粉系由海流搬运我国沿岸物质沉积而成；南部钻孔中的红树植物花粉主要是海流将马来西亚的菲律宾沿岸物质搬运沉积而成。     

Mangrove forests: Resilience,protection from tsunamis,and responses to global climate change

This review assesses the degree of resilience of mangrove forests to large, infrequent disturbance (tsunamis) and their role in coastal protection, and to chronic disturbance events (climate change) and the future of mangroves in the face of global change. From a geological perspective, mangroves come and go at considerable speed with the current distribution of forests a legacy of the Holocene, having undergone almost chronic disturbance as a result of fluctuations in sea-level. Mangroves have demonstrated considerable resilience over timescales commensurate with shoreline evolution. This notion is supported by evidence that soil accretion rates in mangrove forests are currently keeping pace with mean sea-level rise. Further support for their resilience comes from patterns of recovery from natural disturbances (storms, hurricanes) which coupled with key life history traits, suggest pioneer-phase characteristics. Stand composition and forest structure are the result of a complex interplay of physiological tolerances and competitive interactions leading to a mosaic of interrupted or arrested succession sequences, in response to physical/chemical gradients and landform changes. The extent to which some or all of these factors come into play depends on the frequency, intensity, size, and duration of the disturbance. Mangroves may in certain circumstances offer limited protection from tsunamis; some models using realistic forest variables suggest significant reduction in tsunami wave flow pressure for forests at least 100 m in width. The magnitude of energy absorption strongly depends on tree density, stem and root diameter, shore slope, bathymetry, spectral characteristics of incident waves, and tidal stage upon entering the forest. The ultimate disturbance, climate change, may lead to a maximum global loss of 10–15% of mangrove forest, but must be considered of secondary importance compared with current average annual rates of 1–2% deforestation. A large reservoir of below-ground nutrients, rapid rates of nutrient flux and microbial decomposition, complex and highly efficient biotic controls, self-design and redundancy of keystone species, and numerous feedbacks, all contribute to mangrove resilience to various types of disturbance.     

红树植物根系分泌物壬二酸对海洋原甲藻的影响

一般认为植物根际微生物的生物量高于非根际,这与植物根际分泌多种物质有关。不同种类的红树林内出现不同程度的林内富营养化现象,浮游藻类生物量很高,认为这部分地与红树植物根系分泌物(Root Exudates,REs)对林内生物的调控作用有关。红树植物根系分泌物是调控红树林生态效应的关键因素之一。壬二酸(Azelaic acid)是初次在红树植物中检测到的一种二元羧酸类根泌物,选用壬二酸和海洋原甲藻(Prorocentrum micans)为代表,以不同浓度壬二酸培养藻,在藻生长周期内定期观测其密度、形态、胞内甘油含量、色素含量等指标,进行室内红树植物根系分泌物对藻类的影响作用的初步的机理实验。主要结果如下:在低浓度0.5~1.5 mg/L时,壬二酸可作为营养物质被藻细胞所吸收。而在较高浓度2和4 mg/L时,壬二酸主要起化感抑制作用。细胞膜的脂质过氧化导致胞内甘油含量上升,色素体产生应激反应,色素合成量加大,特别是多甲藻黄素含量增加。通过细胞代谢产生更多的内含物质,如淀粉粒和脂肪,导致液泡增大。色素体是应激反应和抗逆作用的重要细胞器之一。由于壬二酸可以较低浓度出现较高的抑制效应,因此对红树林内的生态效应非以营养效应而以化感效应为主。红树植物根系分泌物对林内生态具有一定的调控作用,应加强野外条件下的红树植物多种根系分泌物的混合效应原位试验。     

First Phase Monitoring Studies of Simulated Benthic Disturbance Delineating Movement of Fine Particles in the Central Indian Basin

Benthic disturbance due to future deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining would involve expensive sediment plume generation and resedimentation on the sea floor. In order to evaluate the effects of resedimentation on benthic environment, the Indian Deep-sea Environment Experiment (INDEX) was conducted in 1997, and pre-, and post-disturbance studies on grain size were carried out. The initial increase in clay content after the experiment, continued to increase further as measured in the first monitoring phase samples, 44 months later. Increase in clay-sized particles during monitoring-l (M-l) was highest within the simulated (disturbed) zone and to the north of it, which is attributed to the combined effects of disaggregation, abrasion, and powderization of sediments during transportation. Due to this fractionation (breaking up), the particles appear to have remained in suspension over a prolonged period of time after they were discharged in the water column 5 m above the seabed during INDEX. The travel effects of INDEX plume appears to be localized and confined within and around the disturbed zone (DZ) as resettlement of fine particles from the benthic plume was traced up to 2 km south and 12 to 18 km north of the DZ. The evidence does not suggest the existence of strong currents and benthic storms in the CIB     

不同立地类型红树林修复效果评价——以深圳湾为例

为解明不同立地红树林生态修复效果,本研究以深圳湾滨海红树林修复工程为研究对象,选取植物生长状况、修复完成情况和沉积物环境参数3个标准层,以未修复区和裸滩区为对照,分析强风浪海滩、低潮带海滩和砾石质海滩立地条件下红树林修复后的植物群落结构特征和环境质量特征,并基于层次分析法(analytic hierarchy process, AHP)对其修复效果进行综合评价。结果表明：修复3年后,强风浪海滩和低潮带海滩红树植物的保存率明显高于砾石质海滩,均高于60%。沉积物有机质（TOM）、总磷（TP）、溶解无机氮（DIN）和硝酸盐（NO-3 N）含量提高,说明红树林修复对沉积物环境质量有改善作用。深圳湾红树林修复效果评分为：砾石质海滩(3.754)<低潮带海滩(4.397)<强风浪海滩(4.895)。总体而言,深圳湾滨海红树林修复工程的修复效果为优良。     

潮滩冲淤扰动下外来与乡土红树植物幼苗稳定性差异

引种外来树种是我国各地在红树林修复实践中常用的措施。由于更容易在困难立林地存活, 外来树种被认为更具竞争优势。为弄清外来与乡土红树植物物种在困难立林地存活能力的差异及其原因, 本研究选取典型外来引种先锋树种拉关木(Laguncularia racemosa)与乡土先锋植物白骨壤(Avicennia marina)为研究对象, 通过控制实验探究潮滩冲淤扰动条件下幼苗稳定性差异及其形成机制。结果表明, 幼苗抗侵蚀能力与幼苗根冠比显著正相关, 泥沙淤积抑制幼苗根系生长, 而底床侵蚀则促进根系伸长。与白骨壤相比, 拉关木幼苗的主根更长, 根冠长度比更大, 更能抵抗底泥的侵蚀扰动, 且通过根系伸长以增强幼苗稳定性的能力也更强。拉关木幼苗比白骨壤更能适应潮滩冲淤扰动, 其竞争优势从幼苗阶段就已经建立。本研究结果可为红树林修复实践中树种和宜林地的选择提供参考, 亦可为评估外来红树物种入侵风险评价提供依据。     

Changes in Geotechnical Properties of Sediments from the Central Indian Basin Induced by Disturbance Experiment

During the Indian Deep-sea Environment Experiment (INDEX) conducted in the Central Indian Basin to simulate nodule mining activity, the sediments were physically disturbed, lifted from the seafloor, and then redeposited to study the effects of sediment redistribution on geological, chemical and biological characteristics of benthic environment. The first monitoring cruise, 44 months after the experiment, was part of long-term observations for restoration of conditions. This study describes the effects of the experiment on geotechnical properties of sediments measured in predisturbance, postdisturbance and monitoring phases. To compare the effects, sediment cores were collected from the same locations during the three phases. Siliceous, fine-grained sediments from the study area showed change in geotechnical properties induced due to the disturbance. Marginal increase in natural water content and significant reduction in undrained shear strength at the 0–5 cm sediment layer of cores from the tow zone during postdisturbance was observed. However, during the monitoring phase, an increase in shear strength and reduction in water content was noticed, which might indicate that the sediments are gradually acquiring predisturbance characteristics. The study also revealed that the meiofaunal density has a positive correlation with the water content, but a negative relationship with the shear strength of these siliceous sediments. Specific gravity of solids and porosity showed marginal change, whereas wet density remained unchanged.     

台湾海峡中北部海域春季小型底栖生物丰度和生物量

2009年4月14～16日在台湾海峡中北部海域进行了小型底栖生物调查研究.结果表明,研究海域的小型底栖生物平均丰度为21.11±16.29 ind/cm^2;平均生物量为20.97±4.96μg/cm^2（以干重记）.研究海域共鉴定出13个小型底栖生物类群,按丰度,最优势类群为自由生活海洋线虫其丰度为19.23±15.49 ind/cm^2,占小型底栖生物总丰度的91.10%,其他优势类群依次为底栖桡足类和多毛类,分别占小型底栖生物总丰度的2.77%和2.64%;分布在0～5 cm的表层沉积物内的小型底栖生物约为83.18%,线虫和底栖桡足类分布在0～2 cm的比例分别为57.66%和62.96%.小型底栖生物的生物量低于大型底栖生物,但由于其繁殖快,生命周期短,因此,其生物量约为大型底栖生物的445倍,年平均生产量约为大型底栖生物的1.39倍.