Interannual and seasonal variation of the population structure,abundance, and biomass of the arctic copepod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calanus glacialis</Emphasis> in the White Sea

The results of multiyear observations of the seasonal and inter-annual variability of the population structure, abundance, and biomass of the arctic calanoids copepod Calanus glacialis in the White Sea are presented. The spring season represents the most crucial period for the population’s seasonal dynamics. During the spring, the maximal abundance, biomass, and contribution of C. glacialis to the total zooplankton biomass is observed. The interannual variability of the abundance is closely related to the timing of the spring warming of the upper water column and the respective shifts of the onset of reproduction and the offspring development. The development of a new generation to the overwintering copepodite stage IV is usually completed three to four weeks later in the cold years compared to the warm ones. Our multiyear observations suggest that C. glacialis could be more tolerant of Arctic warming than it is usually believed. The high abundance of the C. glacialis population in the White Sea indicates that this arctic species is able to cope with the seasonal surface warming and should continue to do so, being provided with the cold water “refuge” in the deep sea.     

Intercellular localization of nitrogenase in a non-heterocystous cyanobacterium (cyanophyte), <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichodesmium</Emphasis> sp. NIBB1067

The nitrogenase activities of cyanobacteria of the genus Trichodesmium are strictly light-dependent, although they do not develop heterocysts. Recently, the development of heterocyst-equivalent cells (diazocytes) was suggested in Trichodesmium spp. However, no cells with a similar appearance to diazocytes could be found in Trichodesmium sp. NIBB1067. An immunocytochemical analysis of nitrogenase in individual cells was performed using polyclonal antibodies generated from DNA fragments of genes encoding the Fe-protein and the α-and the β-subunit of the MoFe-protein of nitrogenase of Trichodesmium sp. NIBB1067. Visualization of the antibody binding was carried out using a horseradish peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody and a chromogenic substrate, 3,3′-diaminobenzidine, to avoid the masking effects caused by the bright autofluorescence emitted by Trichodesmium cells. Nitrogenase proteins were detected in almost all the cells (always higher than 95% of total cells) grown under nitrogen-limited conditions. These results indicate that Trichodesmium sp. NIBB1067 does not differentiate heterocyst-equivalent cells.     

Reproductive ecology of the dominant dinoflagellate, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ceratium fusus</Emphasis>, in coastal area of Sagami Bay,Japan

The seasonal abundance of the dominant dinoflagellate, Ceratium fusus, was investigated from January 2000 to December 2003 in a coastal region of Sagami Bay, Japan. The growth of this species was also examined under laboratory conditions. In Sagami Bay, C. fusus increased significantly from April to September, and decreased from November to February, though it was found at all times through out the observation period. C. fusus increased markedly in September 2001 and August 2003 after heavy rainfalls that produced pycnoclines. Rapid growth was observed over a salinity range of 24 to 30, with the highest specific rate of 0.59 d⁻¹ measured under the following conditions: salinity 27, temperature 24°C, photon irradiance 600 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹. The growth rate of C. fusus increased with increasing irradiance from 58 to 216 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹, plateauing between 216 and 796 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹ under all temperature and salinity treatments (except at a temperature of 12°C). Both field and laboratory experiments indicated that C. fusus has the ability to grow under wide ranges of water temperatures (14–28°C), salinities (20–34), and photon irradiance (50–800 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹); it is also able to grow at low nutrient concentrations. This physiological flexibility ensures that populations persist when bloom conditions come to an end.     

Encystment and excystment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gyrodinium instriatum</Emphasis> Freudenthal et Lee

In the present study, we have investigated the conditions influencing encystment and excystment in the dinoflagellate Gyrodinium instriatum under laboratory conditions. We incubated G. instriatum in modified whole SWM-3 culture medium and in versions of modified SWM-3 from which NO₃ ⁻, PO₄ ³⁻, NO₃ ⁻ + PO₄ ³⁻, or Si had been omitted and observed encystment. Percentage encystment was high in the media without N and without P, while the percentage encystment in the medium lacking both N and P was highest. Moreover, to investigate N or P concentration which induced the encystment, Gyrodinium instriatum was also incubated in media with different concentrations of inorganic N and P; the concentrations of NO₂ ⁻ + NO₃ ⁻ and PO₄ ³⁻ were measured over time. The precursors of cysts appeared within 2 or 3 days of a decrease in NO₂ ⁻ + NO₃ ⁻ or PO₄ ³⁻ concentration to values lower than 1 μM or 0.2 μM, respectively. When cysts produced in the laboratory were incubated, we observed excystment after 8–37 days, without a mandatory period of darkness or low temperature. We incubated cysts collected from nature at different temperatures or in the dark or light and observed excystments. Natural cysts excysted at temperatures from 10 to 30°C, in both light and dark, but excystment was delayed at low temperatures. These studies indicate that G. instriatum encysts in low N or P concentration and excysts over a wide temperature range, regardless of light conditions, after short dormancy periods.     

笠贝soxb、mox基因的鉴定及在足原基发育中的表达模式

足是软体动物最重要的器官之一,目前对其发育机制尚不了解。软体动物的足由神经和肌肉两部分构成,研究足部神经和肌肉系统在发育早期的的动态变化,对于了解足的形态建成机制具有重要意义。本文利用电镜研究了笠贝(Lottiagoshimai)足的早期发育过程。克隆了lgo-soxb和lgo-mox基因,整装原位杂交表明这两个基因分别表达在早期笠贝幼虫的神经外胚层和中胚层,可作为足发育过程的分子标记。不同发育阶段幼虫的原位杂交结果表明,神经外胚层和中胚层细胞在足发育的起始阶段尚未重叠,而在后续发育阶段,二者相向运动并重叠在一起。结果提示组成贝类足部的神经和肌肉细胞起源于早期胚胎不同的部位,在发育过程中逐渐互相接近并重叠,至担轮幼虫晚期共同作用形成足原基。本研究展示了足原基的早期形成过程,为深入研究软体动物足的发育机制提供了基础信息。     

拉尼娜期间中西太平洋鲣栖息地分布特征

鲣是大洋中重要经济种类,主要分布于太平洋中西部海域,其渔场和资源丰度易受海洋环境因子影响。根据1995-2014年中西太平洋金枪鱼围网船队在主要作业海域（15°S~10°N,120°E~155°W）的生产数据,结合弱、中、强拉尼娜条件下的海表温度（SST）和海面高度（SSH）数据,运用算术平均法（AM）建立基于SST和SSH的栖息地指数综合模型。结果表明,在栖息地综合指数（HIS）大于0.6的海域,各拉尼娜时期作业比重均在60%以上。利用弱拉尼娜（2005年12月-2006年3月）、中拉尼娜（2011年10月-2012年3月）和强拉尼娜（2010年6月-2011年4月）数据进行模型验证,分析认为作业渔场主要分布在HSI大于0.6的海域,作业次数所占比重分别为53.9%、66.5%、63.6%。在中西太平洋区域,随着拉尼娜强度的增加,资源丰度上升,其渔场分布向东北和东南方向扩散。研究表明,基于SST和SSH各强度拉尼娜时期的栖息地模型均可较好预测中西太平洋鲣渔场,并为以后拉尼娜期间中心渔场的分析提供参考。     

Composition research of <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-alkanes in the samples of hydrothermal deposits of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The optimum conditions were selected for the chromatographic separation of model mixtures of C₁₂–C₄₀ n-alkanes. For one of the samples of hydrothermal deposits, the extraction conditions of the hydrocarbons were studied and a sample preparation procedure was selected. A procedure is proposed to determine the n-alkanes in samples of hydrothermal deposits by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The detection limit for the n-alkanes amounted to 3 × 10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁸% depending on the components. On the basis of the procedure proposed, the composition of the n-alkanes was studied in the samples of hydrothermal deposits collected at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (the Broken Spur, Lost City, and Rainbow fields). The analysis performed showed that the samples treated contained C₁₄-C₃₅ n-alkanes. The concentrations of the n-alkanes considered were rather low and varied from 0.002 to 0.038 μg/g. Hypotheses concerning the genesis of the n-alkanes identified were formed.     

Egg production rate of the copepod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calanus sinicus</Emphasis> off the Korean coast of the Yellow Sea during spring

The egg production rate (EPR) of Calanus sinicus was measured from March 2007 to April 2010 at three stations along the Korean coast of the Yellow Sea (in coastal waters off Saemangum, Yeongheungdo, and Asan Bay) to estimate in situ maximum egg production rate (MEPR) and to understand whether the females were limited in their growth or fecundity in the field. The mean EPR of C. sinicus at each sampling date ranged from 10.3–34.9 eggs female⁻¹ d⁻¹ (mean 23.4 eggs female⁻¹ d⁻¹), and the EPR of individual copepods ranged from 0–81 eggs female⁻¹ d⁻¹. The mean EPR was positively correlated with the body weight of female copepods. The MEPR at each sampling date ranged from 40–81 eggs female⁻¹ d⁻¹ (mean 50.4 eggs female⁻¹ d⁻¹). Over 84% of eggs spawned hatched successfully. The weight-specific growth rate (WSGR) ranged from 0.038–0.111 d⁻¹ (mean 0.082 d⁻¹), indicating that 3.8–11.1% of the carbon in an adult female was produced daily as female growth. The WSGR was negatively correlated with water temperature. The ratio of mean EPR to observed mean MEPR ranged from 20–70% (mean 46%), indicating that ∼54% of a female’s growth might be limited in the field. We suggest that the ratio of observed EPR to mean MEPR of copepod can be applied to understand how the copepod responds to environmental changes, as well as EPR and hatching success.     

孔鳐雄性生殖系统解剖学与组织学观察

本研究对成年雄性孔鳐(Okamejei kenojei)的生殖系统进行解剖学和组织学观察,结果表明,孔鳐的生殖系统主要由精巢、附睾、输精管、储精囊、间质腺、鳍脚腺和鳍脚组成。其中孔鳐的精巢中的精小囊,按照成熟度依次由中心向小叶外周辐射状排列,其精子发育成熟过程根据精巢支持细胞的位置、精小囊的大小和精小囊中的生精细胞所处的状态可划分为7个时期:精巢支持细胞未迁移期、精巢支持细胞迁移期、精巢支持细胞定植早期、精巢支持细胞定植晚期、精子变形期、精子迁移期、精子聚拢期。变态成熟的精子最终每59~64根精子组成精子束进入附睾。精子束在附睾中经历“游离-聚拢-游离”3个过程后,最终储存在储精囊中。鳍脚是孔鳐的外生殖器,主要有鳍扇、扇盾等结构组成,它与储精囊相连,是将精液输送至体外的器官。     

Distribution of the bacteria <Emphasis Type="Italic">Listeria monocytogenes</Emphasis> in the western part of the Sea of Okhotsk

The Amur River’s influence on the distribution of the opportunistic bacteria Listeria monocytogenes in the western part of the Sea of Okhotsk is discussed. The presence of Listeria in the seawater, sea ice, and sediments on the northeastern Sakhalin shelf and slope supports the idea of its connection with the Amur River discharge. The hypothesis of the allochtonic parentage of L. monocytogenes in the sea’s development is proved.     

Molecular ecological study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Siganus spinus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">S. guttatus</Emphasis> from Okinawan waters based on mitochondrial DNA control region sequences

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region was sequenced to examine the genetic variability and gene flow of juvenile Siganus spinus and S. guttatus. In total, 461 nucleotide sequences were obtained from 69 specimens of juvenile S. spinus from Okinawa Island and Ishigaki Island, in which 17 variable sites and 22 haplotypes were identified. Haplotype diversity (h) was high (0.9244 in Okinawa and 0.8984 in Ishigaki), whereas nucleotide diversity (π) was low (0.0063 in Okinawa and 0.0059 in Ishigaki). The two populations were not genetically distinct. Siganus guttatus, which do not form large schools at recruitment, in contrast S. spinus, were also analyzed by studying 152 individuals collected off Okinawa Island, Miyako Island, and Ishigaki Island. Of 476 nucleotide sequences, 50 were variable, and 42 haplotypes were identified. Genetic variability values were high (h = 0.8766 and π = 0.0151 in Okinawa; h = 0.9640 and π = 0.0192 in Miyako; h = 0.9161 and π = 0.0199 in Ishigaki). The Okinawa population was genetically isolated from the Miyako and Ishigaki populations. As a result, genetic diversity was high for each of these siganid populations despite their being target species for fisheries; however, the degree of inter-population gene flow was higher for S. spinus than S. guttatus, suggesting that these species exhibit different dispersal strategies.     

Dietary shift and feeding intensity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stenobrachius leucopsarus</Emphasis> in the Bering Sea

The food habits of the dominant myctophid Stenobrachius leucopsarus were examined in the central basin of the Bering Sea in relation to oceanographic conditions, in summer 2002 and 2003 and spring 2006. S. leucopsarus exhibited an ontogenetic and seasonal dietary shift. In spring, small fish (≤40 mm) preyed mainly on Neocalanus flemingeri/plumchrus whereas large fish fed mainly on Neocalanus cristatus. In summer, small fish preyed mainly on Metridia pacifica whereas large fish fed mainly on euphausiids (Thysanoessa spp.). In the summer of 2003, when water temperature in the epipelagic layer (≤100 m) was warmer, reflecting the prevalence of the Alaskan Stream, small-sized S. leucopsarus showed a higher stomach content index, perhaps reflecting the greater abundance of M. pacifica. Thus, the present study shows that the physical variability in the epipelagic layer affects not only diets but also feeding performance of micronekton.     

中国对虾家系建立及不同家系生长发育的初步研究

在中国对虾(Fenneropenaeus chinensis)家系建立过程中,我们采用定向交配对子代进行选育的方法.采用4种中国对虾人工授精方法,即整个精荚移植、精荚切块移植、输精管移植和精液移植,共进行了155例雌虾的人工授精实验,有108尾雌虾成功产卵并孵化出仔虾,成功率为69.7%,建立了101个全同胞家系和29个半同胞家系.在受精卵孵化、育苗的基础上,同时进行了不同家系幼体生长情况的研究,结果表明受精率、孵化率、存活率以及初期生长在4个实验组间都没有显著性差异.另外对其他家系之间的比较也得出同样的结果,说明不同家系在早期的生长中,没有表现出显著性差异.而在养成阶段,方差分析结果表明家系间在生长上表现出差异极其显著.     

Distribution depth of the transforming stage larvae of myctophid fishes in the subtropical–tropical waters of the western North Pacific

We describe the day–night vertical distribution patterns of 18 species or types of myctophid fish larvae at the transforming stage based on discrete depth sampling from the surface down to 1000-m depth in the subtropical–tropical western North Pacific. A total of 551 transforming stage larvae were collected at the 19 sampling stations. Except for the Diaphus species and Notolychnus valdiviae, all of the transforming stage larvae (including genera Benthosema, Bolinichthys, Centrobranchus, Ceratoscopelus, Diogenichthys, Hygophum, Lampanyctus, Lobianchia, Myctophum, Symbolophorus, and Triphoturus) were collected in the lower mesopelagic zone from 600- to 900-m depth during both day and night, showing no diel vertical migration (DVM). On the contrary, the Diaphus species and N. valdiviae larvae undergo DVM during the transforming stage, occurring below 200-m layer during the daytime and migrating up to the upper 150-m layer at night, i.e., they show earlier adaptation to juvenile–adult behaviors. Most myctophid fish larvae are known to undertake substantial ontogenetic vertical migration (OVM) from the epipelagic to mesopelagic zones during their early life stage. Although considerable sampling effort was carried out in this study, transforming larvae, except for the above two migratory ones, were not collected in the epipelagic and upper mesopelagic zones, strongly suggesting that their sinking speed would be high. It would be advantageous for survival to spend their highly vulnerable transforming stage in the lower mesopelagic zone, where predation pressures are lower and physical conditions are more stable than in the upper layers.     

Characteristics of the ratio of dissolved cadmium to phosphate in subtropical coastal waters of Ishigaki Island,Okinawa, Japan

The ratio of dissolved cadmium (Cd) to phosphate (PO₄) in the subtropical coastal area of Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan, was investigated. Twenty vertical seawater samplings were carried out once a month from May 2008 to January 2010. In order to examine how the Cd/PO₄ ratio in seawater varies with the oceanographic conditions (i.e., the water temperature–salinity characteristics), the water masses at the study sites were classified into two types: group 1 with a water temperature of >25°C and a salinity range of 34.0–34.4, and group 2 with a water temperature of <25°C and a salinity of >34.4. A different phytoplankton assemblage was observed in each water mass defined. Different Cd/PO₄ ratios were obtained for the two water mass types, due to the differences between the types in terms of the environmental conditions such as the water temperature–salinity (T–S) characteristics and phytoplankton assemblages, as well as possible variations in the concentrations of dissolved iron, zinc, manganese, and CO₂ in seawater in each water mass.     

Macrofaunal communities of threatened subtidal maërl seabeds on Tenerife (Canary Islands, north-east Atlantic Ocean) in summer

This study contributes with the first data on physical and taxonomical structure of macrofaunal assemblages of ma¨erl beds from the Canary Islands. Ma¨erl beds and Cymodocea nodosa meadows of the Canary Islands are considered biodiversity hot-spots in terms of taxonomic and functional biodiversity with a broad geographical and depth ranges. The authors have studied the structure of the macrofaunal assemblages on different habitat types (Cymodocea, Caulerpa, sabellid field, garden eel and ma¨erl beds). Samples were taken at a range of depths between 14 and 46 m. Correlations were performed among abiotic variables (granulometry, organic matter, nitrogen and phosphates) and the most abundant taxa. Similarity analysis was performed to explore the patchiness of seabeds at a local scale. Significant differences were found in macrofaunal assemblages among seabed types, with highest abundances and lowest biodiversity in sabellid fields, where the sabellid Bispira viola dominated. The polychaetes Aponuphis bilineata and Chone filicauda and the mollusc Turritella brochii were the most abundant taxa on ma¨erl beds. The mosaic of granulometric conditions would explain the associated macroinfaunal community structure and contribute to the creation of diversity on these relatively well preserved seabeds at a local scale.     

Excretion and respiration rates of the scyphomedusa <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aurelia aurita</Emphasis> from the Inland Sea of Japan

We measured the ammonium excretion, phosphate excretion and respiration rates of the scyphomedusa Aurelia aurita from Ondo Strait, in the central part of the Inland Sea of Japan, at 28 and 20°C. The rates measured at 28°C were converted to those at 20°C using the Q₁₀ values, i.e. 1.56, 1.57 and 2.80, for ammonium excretion, phosphate excretion and respiration rates, respectively. The composite relationships between metabolic rates and wet weight of a medusa (WW, g, range 11–1330 g) at 20°C were expressed by the following allometric equations. For ammonium excretion rate (N, μmoles N medusa⁻¹d⁻¹): N = 0.497WW ^1.09, phosphate excretion rate (P, μmoles P medusa⁻¹d⁻¹): P = 0.453WW ^0.84, and respiration rate (R, μmoles O₂ medusa⁻¹d⁻¹): R = 96.9WW ^1.06. Mean O:N ratios (i.e. atomic ratios of 16.9 and 11.0 at 28 and 20°C, respectively) indicated that the metabolism of A. aurita medusae was protein-dominated. These metabolic parameters enabled us to estimate the nitrogen and phosphorus regeneration rates of an A. aurita medusa population typical of early summer in the Ondo Strait (means of water temperature, medusa individual weight and population biomass: 20°C, 200 g WW and 50.8 g WW m⁻³, respectively). Regenerated nitrogen and phosphorus were equivalent to 10.0 and 21.6% of phytoplankton uptake rates, respectively, nearly twice that estimated for mesozooplankton, demonstrating that A. aurita medusae are key components of the plankton community, influencing the trophic and nutrient dynamics in the Ondo Strait during early summer.     

System analysis of weather fire danger in predicting large fires in Siberian forests

The prediction results of large-scale forest fire development are given for Siberia. To evaluate the fire risks, the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System (CFFWIS) and the Russian moisture indices (MI1 and MI2) were compared on the basis of the data of a network of meteorological stations as input weather parameters. Parameters of active fires were detected daily from the NOAA satellite data for the period of 1996–2008. To determine the length of the fire danger season, the snow cover fractions from Terra/MODIS data (2001–2008) were used. The features of fire development on territories with different types of flammable fuel are considered. The statistical analysis of the areas and number of fires typical of each vegetation class is made with the use of the GLC2000 vegetation map. A positive correlation (∼0.45, p < 0.05) between the cumulative area of local fires and the MI1 and Canadian BUI and DMC indices is revealed. The Canadian ISI and FWI indices describe best the diurnal dynamics of fire areas. The above correlations are higher (∼0.62, p < 0.05) when we select the fires larger than 2000–10000 ha in size for the forested areas. Other cases point to the lack of a linear relation between the fire area and the values of all indices, because the fire spread depends on many natural and anthropogenic factors.     

Interactions between the pathogenic bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio parahaemolyticus</Emphasis> and red-tide dinoflagellates

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a common pathogenic bacterium in marine and estuarine waters. To investigate interactions between V. parahaemolyticus and co-occurring redtide dinoflagellates, we monitored the daily abundance of 5 common red tide dinoflagellates in laboratory culture; Amphidinium carterae, Cochlodinium ploykrikoides, Gymnodinium impudicum, Prorocentrum micans, and P. minimum. Additionally, we measured the ingestion rate of each dinoflagellate on V. parahaemolyticus as a function of prey concentration. Each of the dinoflagellates responded differently to the abundance of V. parahaemolyticus. The abundances of A. carterae and P. micans were not lowered by V. parahaemolyticus, whereas that of C. polykrikodes was lowered considerably. The harmful effect depended on bacterial concentration and incubation time. Most C. polykrikoides cells died after 1 hour incubation when the V. parahaemolyticus concentration was 1.4×10⁷ cells ml⁻¹, while cells died within 2 days of incubation when the bacterial concentration was 1.5×10⁶ cells ml⁻¹. With increasing V. parahaemolyticus concentration, ingestion rates of P. micans, P. minimum, and A. carterae on the prey increased, whereas that on C. polykrikoides decreased. The maximum or highest ingestion rates of P. micans, P. minimum, and A. carterae on V. parahaemolyticus were 55, 5, and 2 cells alga⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively. The results of the present study suggest that V. parahaemolyticus can be both the killer and prey for some red tide dinoflagellates.     

两类强度厄尔尼诺和拉尼娜事件对中国近海鲐鱼栖息地的影响

鲐鱼是中上层鱼类,具有较高经济价值,其种群受到气候和海洋环境的显著影响。本文根据2006-2015年7-9月中国远洋渔业数据中心提供的中国近海鲐鱼捕捞和海表温度以及海面高度两个关键环境因子的数据,构建了基于捕捞努力量的鲐鱼综合栖息地指数模型,分析研究了在不同强度厄尔尼诺和拉尼娜条件下鲐鱼栖息地适宜性的变动规律。通过计算和交叉验证,结果发现,基于算术平均法的栖息地模型能够较好地预测鲐鱼渔场栖息地适宜性指数。空间相关性结果表明,鲐鱼渔场主要作业海域范围内海表温度异常与栖息地指数值呈显著正相关关系,而海表面高度异常与栖息地指数值呈显著负相关关系。不同强度厄尔尼诺和拉尼娜事件对鲐鱼种群影响不同,具体表现为:相对于中强度厄尔尼诺事件（或中强度拉尼娜事件）,超强厄尔尼诺事件（或强拉尼娜事件）驱动鲐鱼主要作业海域内温度下降（或上升）,海面高度上升（或降低）,鲐鱼渔场适宜栖息地面积显著减小（或增大）,导致鲐鱼单位捕捞努力量渔获量骤减（或显著增加）。研究表明,中国近海鲐鱼栖息地适宜性与厄尔尼诺和拉尼娜事件显著相关,且随着异常气候事件强度的不同而发生变化。