同形溞(Daphnia similis)对幽蚊幼虫反捕食策略的模拟研究

枝角类溞会由于捕食者的存在而发生形态、行为、生活史等的变化.通过为期10 d对太湖春、夏季优势种同形溞(Daphnia similis)在有幽蚊幼虫(CL)、无幽蚊幼虫(CK)及培养过幽蚊幼虫的过滤水(FL)3个环境水平的模拟实验,发现同形溞在有幽蚊幼虫和培养过幽蚊幼虫的过滤水处理下平均体长、累积产仔数及平均产仔数均显著大于无幽蚊幼虫组,表明幽蚊幼虫释放的信息素能改变同形溞的体长、产仔数等生活史参数,这种改变会降低同形溞被捕食的风险.说明在自然环境下,幽蚊幼虫等无脊椎捕食者能通过直接捕食和信息素的间接作用共同影响枝角类种群.     

竞争捕食作用对千岛湖浮游动物群落结构的影响

竞争与捕食作用是调节湖泊和池塘等淡水生态系统结构的主要动力,并且影响着浮游动物的群落结构和种群动态变化.为了阐明生物因素对千岛湖浮游动物群落结构的影响,于2009-2010年对千岛湖浮游动物群落结构变化规律进行调查.利用Pearson相关性分析和多元逐步回归法分析生物因素对千岛湖中浮游动物群落结构的影响.对千岛湖1999、2004、2007-2010年的鲢鳙鱼生物量和浮游动物生物量的统计分析表明,1999年鲢鳙鱼的生物量约为2004、2007-2010年年平均生物量的1/5,而轮虫和桡足类生物量变化不大,枝角类中盔形溞密度下降.鲢鳙鱼放养后浮游植物密度下降,而大型浮游动物(如盔形溞)的密度变化趋势与浮游植物相一致,因此推断鲢鳙鱼的放养将对千岛湖浮游动物群落结构产生影响.     

沉积物再悬浮对食浮游动物鱼类捕食浮游动物的影响

在亚热带浅水湖泊中,由风浪引起沉积物再悬浮是其重要特征之一.沉积物再悬浮一方面直接影响浮游动物群落结构,另一方面通过影响食浮游动物鱼类对浮游动物的捕食而产生间接影响.以食浮游动物鱼类——餐条(Hemiculter leucisculus)为实验对象,通过模拟实验,比较不同再悬浮条件下餐条对浮游动物群落结构的影响.结果显示,在有餐条的处理组中,大型枝角类短钝溞(Daphnia obtusa)只在弱再悬浮条件下出现,并成为枝角类群落的优势种;在无餐条的处理组中,短钝溞生物量随再悬浮强度减弱而增加.强再悬浮(无餐条)和无再悬浮(有餐条)条件下,小型枝角类角突网纹溞(Ceriodaphnia cornuta)和盘肠溞(Chydorus sp.)为优势种.无论有、无餐条条件下,桡足类优势种均为中剑水蚤(Mesocyclops sp.),其生物量随再悬浮强度减弱而增加.所有处理组中,轮虫丰度均低于枝角类和桡足类丰度.研究表明,在亚热带浅水湖泊中,适当的悬浮质浓度既能干扰食浮游动物鱼类对大型浮游动物的捕食,又不影响大型浮游动物的生存,使得它们保持一定的丰度,通过对浮游植物的摄食,降低叶绿素a浓度.     

上行与下行效应对浮游动物的长期影响评价——以滇池与抚仙湖沉积物象鼻溞(Bosmina)为例

近年来云南高原湖泊面临富营养化、渔业活动增强等多重环境压力的叠加影响,对湖泊的有效治理与生态修复急需对多重压力下生态系统的响应模式进行系统了解.现有研究表明在系统生产力和捕食压力的不同配置下,湖泊系统主要组成(如浮游动物)的响应特征可能出现差异且捕食压力可能随营养水平的变化而改变,目前对云南湖泊生态系统的研究主要集中于单一环境压力下的生态响应.本研究以目前分别处于重富营养和中-贫营养水平的滇池和抚仙湖为研究对象,应用湖泊沉积物记录进行多指标分析,探讨受外来鱼类影响下两个大型湖泊浮游动物长期响应模式的异同.通过象鼻溞生物量与个体大小等指标,重建了近百年来滇池与抚仙湖典型浮游动物的变化历史,结果表明随着湖泊生产力水平(如沉积物色素生产量)的增加,2个湖泊中象鼻溞生物量显著增加,同时物种相对组成出现明显变化(如Bosmina longispina被B.longirostris取代),指示湖泊上行效应对浮游动物的控制作用.同时象鼻溞的生物量、壳长与触角长度的变化在1960s与1980s有明显降低的趋势,与同期外来鱼类(如银鱼)引入与渔业产量增加的时间一致.进一步应用多变量回归分析与方差分解方法来定量评价上行与下行效应对象鼻溞生物量变化的驱动强度,结果表明富营养化(沉积物色素)和捕食作用(象鼻溞壳长)对浮游动物长期变化的驱动强度比较相似(分别解释了生物量变化的77.25%和83.59%),然而在滇池下行效应对象鼻溞生物量的独立影响比在贫营养的抚仙湖中更强(分别为15.46%和10.39%),上行效应对象鼻溞生物量的影响在抚仙湖要明显强于滇池(分别为69.74%和19.67%),而在滇池上行与下行效应的相互作用强度明显强于抚仙湖(分别为42.12%和3.46%).结果表明随着湖泊营养水平的升高,浮游动物的生物量在2个湖泊中均显著增加,而外来鱼类(如太湖新银鱼)的引入和经济鱼类数量的增加加剧了对浮游动物的捕食压力,造成了浮游动物的生物量降低和个体减小.但在快速富营养化的滇池,对浮游动物的捕食压力随营养水平的变化出现较强的依赖性,而在总体处于中-贫营养水平的抚仙湖中此相互作用较弱.结果表明在不同营养水平的大型湖泊中,营养水平的变化幅度可以导致鱼类捕食压力的差异性变化,指示了对鱼类捕食压力的评价和浮游动物长期变化的特征分析需要考虑湖泊的营养水平与富营养化过程的差异.总之,富营养化和外来鱼类的引入导致了高原湖泊生态系统的快速响应与结构变化,因此对高原湖泊的生态修复需要考虑湖泊营养水平对生态系统结构与食物链作用的影响.     

沉积物再悬浮对浮游动物群落结构影响的模拟实验

沉积物再悬浮是浅水湖泊的重要特征之一.通过模拟实验,比较不同再悬浮程度下浮游动物群落结构的变化,以探讨沉积物再悬浮对浮游动物的影响.结果显示,不同处理下总悬浮物与叶绿素a浓度差异显著.再悬浮组中枝角类简弧象鼻溞(Bosmina coregoni)、角突网纹溞(Ceriodaphnia cornuta)和轮虫占优势,而对照组中大型枝角类溞属(Daphniasp.)占优势,再悬浮使浮游动物群落组成趋于小型化.不同再悬浮条件下隆线溞(Daphnia carinata)、简弧象鼻溞(Bosmina coregoni)和轮虫的丰度差异显著,角突网纹溞(Ceriodaphnia cornuta)和桡足类丰度差异不显著.总悬浮物浓度与轮虫和简弧象鼻溞丰度显著正相关,与隆线溞丰度显著负相关,与其它浮游动物种群丰度无显著相关性.本研究显示,沉积物再悬浮是决定浮游动物群落结构变化的重要过程之一.     

热带浅水湖泊后生浮游动物群落结构对生态修复的响应

热带浅水湖泊后生浮游动物群落以轮虫和小型枝角类为主,往往缺乏大型浮游动物,其影响因子还存在争议,因此通过减少鱼类,提高大型后生浮游动物密度,从而增强对浮游植物的下行控制、修复热带富营养化湖泊的方法受到质疑.暨大南湖位于广州暨南大学校园内,是热带富营养化浅水湖泊,于2014年1—2月实施以鱼类去除和水生植被重建为主的生态系统修复工程,以期改善水质.通过对南湖修复前后水质、后生浮游动物以及修复后鱼类群落的调查分析,研究了后生浮游动物群落对修复的响应.结果表明:与修复前相比,总氮、总磷和叶绿素a浓度显著降低,透明度显著上升.枝角类丰度和生物量显著增加,修复后初期出现较高密度的大型枝角类蚤状溞(Daphnia pulex),桡足类丰度和生物量没有显著变化,轮虫丰度下降而生物量上升;后生浮游动物体长和生物多样性显著增加.随着鱼类密度的增加,蚤状溞丰度快速降低,后期鱼类减少后蚤状溞丰度又有所升高.因此,本研究显示鱼类是控制热带浅水湖泊大型浮游动物种群的主要因素,由于控制鱼类密度以维持较高大型浮游动物密度较为困难,因此单纯生物操纵在热带浅水湖泊修复中难以取得显著效果.     

南京市5座中型水库浮游动物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

于2010年5月—2011年2月,对南京市5座中型湖泊型水库浮游动物群落结构进行每季度一次的调查采样,同时测定总氮、总磷、透明度等理化因子及浮游植物等生物因子.共鉴定到浮游动物17科28属,优势种为盔形溞(Daphnia galeata)、象鼻溞(Bosmina spp.)、汤匙华哲水蚤(Sinocalanus dorrii)、多肢轮虫(Trichocerca spp.)、异尾轮虫(Polyarthra spp.)等.5座水库浮游动物年均密度变化范围为72~1401 ind./L,其中河王水库密度显著大于其他水库,而4个季节间浮游动物密度无显著差异.5座水库浮游动物年均生物量变化范围为102~339μg/L,季节间、水库间浮游动物生物量均无显著性差异.浮游动物群落结构与环境因子的典范对应分析表明,影响5座水库浮游动物群落结构的环境因子主要为营养盐、水温、透明度和浮游植物密度.     

秀丽白虾(Exopalaemon modestus)对亚热带湖库春夏季水体营养水平和浮游生物群落的影响——基于微宇宙模拟实验

秀丽白虾(Exopalaemon modestus)是我国大型淡水湖库的重要经济渔获对象,也是水体中浮游动物的捕食者之一.以往的研究从渔业的角度揭示了秀丽白虾的生物学特征与食性,但少有研究探讨秀丽白虾这一无脊椎动物捕食者对春、夏季浮游生物群落的影响.本研究设计了一个单因素户外微宇宙实验,比较了春季—初夏(4-6月)时期,有无秀丽白虾条件下水体氮、磷浓度以及浮游生物生物量和群落结构的变化.结果 表明:1)秀丽白虾的存在显著降低了春季水体总氮(TN)浓度,增加了水体总磷(TP)浓度,降低了水体TN∶TP比值;2)秀丽白虾的捕食减少了大型枝角类Daphnia pulex和浮游动物总生物量,D.pulex在浮游动物群落中的优势度被轮虫取代,浮游动物群落趋于小型化;3)秀丽白虾显著增加了春季水体叶绿素a浓度,但对浮游植物群落结构的影响不明显.研究表明在大型湖库中,秀丽白虾等无脊椎动物捕食者可能是影响浮游生物群落变化的因素之一,在春季浮游生物研究中应予以关注.     

生物操纵与非经典生物操纵的应用分析及对策探讨

分析了生物操纵(biomanipulation)和非经典生物操纵(non-traditional biomanipulation)理论的原理、应用条件及局限性,提出了在局部水体治理湖泊富营养化的对策.分析认为:生物操纵的核心内容是利用浮游动物控制藻类;但浮游动物不能有效控制丝状藻类和形成群体的蓝藻水华;我国的大型浅水湖泊浮游动物数量一般并不多,对浮游植物摄食压力不大;在浅水湖泊,浮游动物摄食藻类后很快分解、释放又进入物质循环,因此不能治理湖泊富营养化;浮游动物是浮游植物和鱼类等经济水生动物之间重要的营养通道,过分追求保护浮游动物是值得思考和研究的问题.而非经典生物操纵的核心内容是利用鱼类直接控制蓝藻水华;当鲢、鳙鱼达到阈值密度可以控制蓝藻水华,但很难控制所有藻类和降低N、P治理湖泊富营养化.在局部水体治理湖泊富营养化的对策是:把鱼类控藻、水生植被恢复和局部水域生态系统重建相结合,形成具有利用与控制蓝藻生产鱼类、吸收氮磷净化水质功能的"水质生物调控单元".     

太湖贡湖湾鲚(Coilia ectenes taihuensis Yen et Lin)食物组成的季节变化

鲚(Coilia ectenes taihuensis Yen et Lin)是太湖主要的鱼类之一,其产量随水体富营养化程度的加重呈上升趋势.本研究于2009年4-12月用刺网(a=10 mm)在太湖贡湖湾采集了鲚,分析了其胃含物中食物组成的季节变化以及鲚对食物种类的选择性.结果表明,鲚在各月中主要以浮游动物为食,同时也摄食幼鱼、幼虾和水生昆虫等.鲚的食物组成具有明显季节变化,4月份以桡足类为食,其中桡足幼体、汤匙华哲水蚤(Sinocalanus dorrii Brehm)和剑水蚤(Cyclops spp.)所占的平均个数百分比相当;6、8和10月份主要以枝角类为食,其中6月以裸腹溞(Moina spp.)为主,而8和10月以象鼻溞(Bosmina spp.)为主.食物选择性方面,鲚对大型浮游动物表现出主动选择;当环境中出现溞(Daphnia spp.)和透明薄皮溞(Leptodora kindti Focke)时,鲚对它们表现出很强的选择性摄食,但透明薄皮溞只出现在6月鱼类食物中;个体较小的裸腹溞也是鲚主动选择的重要食物,在整个调查期间鲚对裸腹溞都表现出较高的主动选择性;象鼻溞虽然在各月份食物中的出现率最高,但除10月份鲚对其表现出主动选择外,其它月份表现为主动回避或随机选择.本研究结果有助于我们了解鲚对浮游动物群落影响的季节变化,为制定合理的湖泊与渔业管理方案提供依据.     

The occurrence of NADPH-ferrihemoprotein reductase in Corbula caribea, from a natural oil seep at La Brea, Trinidad

Corbula caribea is the most common non-polychaete macrofaunal organism identified at a large natural oil seep at La Brea in south Trinidad. It is hypothesized that these animals may possess (NADPH-ferrihemoprotein reductase) a component of the Mixed Function Oxygenase system (MFO), which may allow them to ameliorate the potentially deleterious effects resulting from exposure to the high levels of petroleum hydrocarbons within this environment. This study was designed to determine whether organisms from the seep site showed greater enzyme activity when compared to organisms from a non-seep reference site. NADPH-ferrihemoprotein reductase activity was determined by incubating 10 microm cryostat sections with nitro-blue tetrazolium. The reaction product was determined by visual assessment and quantified by measuring the relative mean stain intensity. The intense staining, indicative of enzyme activity was evident in the digestive epithelia of seep animals. Observations indicated that organisms from the seep showed more intense staining, indicating greater enzyme activity, when compared to animals from a non-seep reference site. The relative stain intensity of NADPH-ferrihemoprotein reductase determined for organisms from the seep was 61.30. This was significantly higher than the stain intensity determined for organisms from the non-seep reference site (7.11). This supported visual assessments, which suggested that the seep organisms showed higher enzyme activity than organisms from the non-seep site. The results suggest that NADPH-ferrihemoprotein reductase may be present in Corbula caribea from the seep site and not in those from the non-seep site. It is possible that this enzyme may contribute to these animals ability to tolerate chronic exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons and offer then a selective advantage for survival the seep environment.     

Metabolism of a burrowing polychaete: Precaution needed when measuring toxic effects

The technique of direct calorimetry has been used to monitor the metabolic activity of the polychaete, Neanthes virens, an organism commonly used for testing the toxic effects of chemicals in the marine environment. In these tests Neanthes showed unpredictable alternating periods of hyperactivity and rest when deprived of sediment. If used in this abnormal state for toxicity tests, the results would represent the effects of the chemicals on abnormal organisms and may not, therefore, be realistic information for judging the chemical's harmful effects on it and other species in nature. In toxicity tests with heavy metals that have been reported in the scientific literature, the shorter survival time of test organisms without sediment, as compared to those in sediment, was probably the result of the abnormally high metabolic rates of the former group.     

Biosecurity risks associated with in-water and shore-based marine vessel hull cleaning operations

The removal of biofouling from vessels during hull cleaning can pose a biosecurity threat if viable, non-indigenous organisms are released into the aquatic environment. However, the effect of cleaning on biofouling organism viability in different types of cleaning operations has been poorly studied. We compared the effects of hull cleaning on biofouling organisms removed from 36 marine vessels during in-water (without capture of cleaning waste) and shore-based (with capture, and treatment of cleaning waste) cleaning. In-water cleaning resulted in higher proportions of viable biofouling organisms surviving cleaning (62.3 ± 7.1% of all organisms examined) compared to dry dock (37.8 ± 8.6%) and haul-out (20.1 ± 5.3%) operations. For shore-based facilities with effluent treatment systems, concentrations of organisms and/or their propagules in cleaning effluent was reduced by ≥ 98.5% compared to initial hydro-blast effluent concentrations. These results can be used in guidance for hull cleaning operations to minimize associated biosecurity risk.     

A Study of Oil Biodegradation in the Black Sea Water

A laboratory study was conducted to examine oil biodegradation in the presence of a fouling organism community. It is shown that the majority of fouling species exhibit relatively weak tolerance to oil. Oil degradation in seawater is shown to proceed quicker and more completely in the presence of the fouling organism community than it does without such organisms. The population of specific bacterial groups is shown first to grow and next decrease as a result of accumulation in water of toxic products of their vital activity. Oil biodegradation is found to cause substantial changes in the water hydrochemical characteristics in experimental vessels.     

On the relevance of meiobenthic research for policy-makers

The need for scientific advice to manage the aquatic environment in an ecosystem context has never been greater. Many assessments of ecosystem state and change use inadequate data on non-conspicuous, non-target organisms. These include meiofauna, a diverse group of small-sized organisms (<1 mm) that live in a range of terrestrial and aquatic environments. Meiobenthic research published between 2007 and 2011 has failed to underpin ecosystem management and conservation practices. This is partly because of the belief amongst decision-makers and the public that microscopic organisms beyond our normal range of perception are ecologically unimportant. Methodological limitations related to the taxonomic identification of small-sized organisms and the narrow scope of many contemporary meiofauna studies are also to blame. This article explores ways in which meiobenthologists can improve the impact and uptake of their research.     

Effect of mercury and cadmium on early life stages of Java medaka (Oryzias javanicus): a potential tropical test fish

Several organisms have been used as indicators, bio-monitoring agents or test organisms in ecotoxicological studies. A close relative of the well established Japanese medaka, the Java medaka (Oryzias javanicus), has the potential to be a test organism. The fish is native to the estuaries of the Malaysian Peninsula, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore. In this study, newly fertilised eggs were exposed to different concentrations of Cd and Hg. Observations were done on the development of the embryos. Exposure to low levels of Cd and Hg (0.01-0.05 ppm) resulted in several developmental disorders that led to death. Exposure to ≥1.0 ppm Cd resulted in immediate developmental arrest. The embryos of Java medaka showed tolerance to a certain extent when exposed to ≥1.0 ppm Hg compared to Cd. Based on the sensitivity of the embryos, Java medaka is a suitable test organism for ecotoxicology in the tropical region.     

Ulva problem in Kent

The tube-building polychaete Pomatoleios kraussii is an important fouling organism in the Arabian Gulf. Studies have been made of its growth and survival on plates immersed in the water at two sites at Kuwait, one subject to frequent small spillages at an oil terminal, the other free from oil pollution. The temporal sequence and diversity of other encrusting organisms has also been documented at the same sites.     

Drift plastic—An expanding niche for a marine invertebrate?

Beach collection of plastic litter washed ashore at Fort Pierce on the Atlantic coast of Florida showed that, while some of this material may have had a local source, much of the rest originated in the Caribbean. During its pelagic existence the plastic commonly became encrusted by marine organisms. In contrast to the diverse assemblage of organisms associated with pelagic Sargassum, however, the number of species encrusting drift plastic was limited, being dominated primarily by the colonies of the bryozoan, Electra tenella, an organism which may be increasing its abundance and distribution, due to increasing amounts of drift plastic substrata.     

Effects of benthos on sediment transport: difficulties with functional grouping

No consistent functional grouping of organisms as stabilizers vs destabilizers, respectively decreasing or enhancing erodibility, is possible. Benthic organisms can affect erodibility in particular—and sediment transport in general—via alternation (1) of fluid momentum impinging on the bed, (2) of particle exposure to the flow, (3) of adhesion between particles, and (4) of particle momentum. The net effects of a species or individual on erosion and deposition thresholds or on transport rates are not in general predictable from extant data. Furthermore, they depend upon the context of flow conditions, bed configuration, and community composition into which the organism is set. Separation of organism effects into these four categories does, however, allow their explicit incorporation into DuBoys-type and stochastic sediment dynamic models already in use and thus permits the specification of parameters whose measurement will enhance predictability of sediment transport modes and rates in natural, organism-influenced, marine settings.If the variable of prime concern is the total amount of sediment transported, rather than the frequency of transport events or the spatial pattern of erosion and eposition, and if most transport occurs in rare but intense bouts (e.g., winter storms on boreal continental shelves), then it may be possible to ignore organism effects without major sacrifices in accuracy or precision. Under high transport rates, suspended load effects override organism-produced bottom roughness, abrasion removes adhesives from transporting grains, and transport rates (normalized per unit width of the channel or bed) exceed feeding and pelletization rates. Moreover, at high rates most material transports as suspended load, effectively out of reach of the benthos. The transport rates at which organism effects are overridden, however, remain to be determined. For lower transport rates, foraging theory promises to provide insights into organism effects.