Variability in the structure of epiphytic assemblages of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica in relation to depth

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the variability in the structure of the epiphytic assemblages of leaves and rhizomes of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica differed between depths at a large spatial scale. A hierarchical sampling design was used to compare epiphytic assemblages at two different depths (10 and 20 m) in terms of both species composition and abundance and patterns of spatial variability in the Tuscan Archipelago (North Western Mediterranean Sea, Italy). Results showed significant differences in the structure of assemblages on rhizomes and leaves at different depths. These differences were related to species composition and abundance; differences were not significant for total biomass, total percentage cover and percentage cover of animals and algae. Whereas the higher variability was observed among shoots in all the studied systems, patterns of spatial variability at the other spatial scales investigated differed between the two studied depths. Moreover, in the present study, analogous patterns between depths resulted for both the assemblages of leaves and rhizomes, suggesting that factors that change with depth can be responsible for the spatial variability of both the assemblages (leaves and rhizomes), and operate regardless of the microclimatic conditions and the structure of assemblages.     

The use of surface alkaline phosphatase activity in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica as a biomarker of eutrophication

Eutrophication is one of the most relevant man‐induced changes occurring in coastal waters. The identification and assessment of specific responses to eutrophication in seagrasses can provide a useful tool for the detection of changes in the water quality in coastal zones, given the wide range of distribution of these organisms. In this study, we combine a correlational (across‐sites comparison) and a manipulative (fertilization experiment) approach to evaluate the usefulness and potential of alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) in the endemic Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica as an eutrophication biomarker. Our results showed that APA decreases promptly following nutrient additions, the response being maintained except during the winter period. APA also varies across natural meadows under different levels of nutrient discharges at scales relevant for monitoring purposes. AP activity seems to be an optimal ‘physiological biomarker’ that responds promptly and reliably to a pulse of eutrophication exposure. However, other considerations, such as the seasonality (the response disappears in winter), suggest its use with some caution and, as far as possible, as a complement of other bio‐indicators.     

Comparison between epiphyte assemblages of leaves and rhizomes of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica subjected to different levels of anthropogenic eutrophication

This paper aimed to compare epiphyte assemblages of leaves and rhizomes of Posidonia oceanica exposed to different levels of concentration of nutrients. The same design including a potentially impacted meadow and two reference meadows was used in each of two locations, characterized by the presence of a city or of suspended cages of a fish farm, respectively. This allowed to test for the consistency of responses of epiphytic assemblages to different sources of eutrophication. In both studies, results documented differences in patterns of composition and abundance of epiphytic assemblages on leaves between disturbed and reference meadows, while assemblages on rhizomes did not appear sensitive to this kind of disturbance. Moreover, in potentially impacted meadows, both assemblages showed different patterns of spatial variability compared to reference assemblages. Species composition and abundance of epiphyte assemblages seemed suitable for detecting moderate nutrient increases, even if adequate sampling designs are needed to separate patterns related to the large natural spatial variability of these systems from those related to changes in environmental conditions.     

海南典型热带海草床4种代表性鱼类的生长特征及其对海草资源量变化的响应

文章以海南岛新村湾、黎安港和潭门港海草床为研究区域, 选取褐篮子鱼(Siganus fuscessens)、点斑篮子鱼(Siganus guttatus)、四带牙鯻(Pelates quadrilineatus)和细鳞鯻(Terapon jarbua) 4种代表性鱼类为研究对象, 分析其体长与体质量的关系, 并探讨4种鱼类对海草资源量变化的响应。结果表明, 除栖息于潭门港海草床的4种鱼为负异速生长, 其他区域海草床的鱼类均为正异速或等速生长; 4种鱼的体质量生长速率(即异速生长因子b)和肥满度呈现黎安港>新村湾>潭门港的趋势, 并与3个海草床的海草覆盖率、密度和生物量的变化趋势一致; 推测海草资源量下降可能增加鱼类的被捕食压力和减少食物来源, 从而导致生活于海草床的代表性鱼类生长速率下降。     

Distribution patterns of benthic juvenile gobies in and around seagrass habitats: effectiveness of seagrass shelter against predators

The significance of a sheltering effect of seagrass against predators influencing the distribution patterns of benthic juveniles of the streaked goby Acentrogobius sp. was investigated by field experimentation in and around seagrass habitats at Moroiso and Aburatsubo Bays, Miura Peninsula, Japan. In the former bay, juveniles were always restricted to the seagrass bed, whereas at the latter, they also occurred over the surrounding bare sand substrate. Juveniles never occurred inside predator-exclusion cages over unvegetated sand in Moroiso Bay. Additionally, a tethering experiment resulted in similarly small numbers of juveniles being preyed upon in both the seagrass bed and over bare sand, suggesting that the predation risk for juveniles may not differ between the habitat types and was thus not responsible for their distribution patterns. The availability of symbiotic shrimp burrows, which were scarce in bare sand in Moroiso Bay but abundant in a similar area in Aburatsubo Bay, was also hypothesized as a determinant of distribution pattern. In a manipulative experiment at Aburatsubo Bay, however, juveniles showed no response to alterations in the availability of symbiotic shrimp burrows, indicating that neither the sheltering effect of seagrass against predators nor the availability of symbiotic shrimp burrows was a significant factor in streaked goby juvenile distribution. Food availability may be a determinant, because food abundance patterns were concordant with the juvenile distribution pattern.     

华南沿海海草床分布区大型底栖动物群落特征初探

为探究华南沿海海草床大型底栖动物群落特征、地区差异及其与海草群落间的关系,2020年在华南沿海12个海草床区域开展了大型底栖动物调查。共布设33个调查断面99个站位,在主要群落参数的基础上,运用相关性分析和聚类分析、nMDS排序、相似性百分比分析等群落生态学统计方法分析了底栖动物群落特征及其与海草群落的关系。共鉴定出大型底栖动物9大门类199种,其中,软体动物种类最多,占总种类数的39.7%。各区域底栖动物的平均栖息密度为155.7 ind/m²,青葛—龙湾(琼海)的平均栖息密度最低,珍珠湾(防城港)的平均栖息密度最高;平均生物量为118.36 g/m²,最低值出现在义丰溪(汕头),最高值出现在珍珠湾。各区域底栖动物的优势种以潮间带泥沙滩常见腹足类、双壳类和多毛类为主;底栖动物的种类多样性指数(H′)平均值为1.12,最低值出现在唐家湾(珠海),最高值出现在铁山港(北海);各调查区域底栖动物主要群落参数大致呈现“北部湾>海南沿岸>珠江口及粤东”的规律。华南沿海海草床分布区大型底栖动物群落的区域性特征较为明显,地理位置相近的海草床底...     

Use of different intertidal habitats by faunal communities in a temperate coastal lagoon

The faunal communities of four intertidal habitats namely sand, mud, seagrass (Zostera noltii) and seagrass patches (mixSM) of a temperate coastal lagoon, Ria Formosa (southern Portugal), were sampled. A total of 47 species were taken in 428 bottomless drop sampler samples, with the highest number of species and the more commonly occurring species belonging to the Mollusca phylum. The dominance of these gastropod species underlines the importance of the grazing food chain in these habitats. Bittium reticulatum was the most abundant species, being especially abundant in the seagrass habitat. The most frequent and highest biomass species in the community was Carcinus maenas, a predator that makes use of the available resources and that is adapted to the highly variable intertidal environment. Pomatoschistus microps was the most abundant fish species, with highest densities in the mud habitat, which demonstrates an ability to occupy a low depth area. The seagrass habitat had the highest diversity, abundance and biomass, followed by the mixSM habitat and was different from all the others. Assemblages were highly influenced by the presence of vegetation, providing forage and refuge from predation. A well defined summer group was identified in all habitats. These results highlight the importance of seagrass beds and the idea that their decrease implies the decrease of lagoon production through the impoverishment of the trophic structure of the lagoon.     

Patterns in tropical seagrass photosynthesis in relation to light, depth and habitat

Seagrass meadows across north-eastern Australia, survive a range of environmental conditions in coastal bays, reefs, estuarine and deepwater habitats through adaptation of a range of structural, morphological and physiological features. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of spatial features (habitat type, site and depth) and photon flux on the photosynthetic performance of 11 tropical seagrass species. Pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry was used to generate rapid light curves from which measures of maximal electron transport rate (ETR_max), photosynthetic efficiency (α), saturating irradiance (E_k) and effective quantum yield (ΔF/F_m′) were derived. The amount of light absorbed by leaves (absorption factor) was also determined for each population. In intertidal habitats many seagrass species exhibited typical sun-type responses with a close coupling of both ETR_max and E_k with photon flux. Photosynthetic performance ranged from minima in Thalassodendron ciliatum to maxima in Syringodium isoetifolium. The absence of a coupling between photosynthetic performance and photon flux in subtidal populations was most likely due to highly variable light climates and possible light attenuation, and hence the photo-biology of estuarine and deepwater seagrasses exhibited photosynthetic responses indicative of light limitation. In contrast seagrass species from shallow reef and coastal habitats for the most part exhibited light saturation characteristics. Of all the variables examined ETR_max, E_k and ΔF/F_m′ were most responsive to changing light climates and provide reliable physiological indicators of real-time photosynthetic performance of tropical seagrasses under different light conditions.     

Diversity and temporal fluctuations of epiphytes and sessile invertebrates on the rhizomes Posidonia oceanica in a seagrass meadow off Tunisia

The aim of this work is to study the temporal dynamics of rhizome epiphytes and sessile animals living on the rhizomes of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica in the east of Tunisia. Surveys were conducted in October 2009, and in January, April and August 2010 on a fringing reef located in Chebba. Rhizomes were sampled by SCUBA diving at three stations. Samples were examined with a microscope to estimate the cover of macroinvertebrate and macroalgal organisms on the top 10 cm of each rhizome. Results revealed a high diversity of epiphytes on P. oceanica rhizomes with a dominance of red and brown algae, ascidians, and bryozoans. Distinct temporal changes were observed in Oued Lafrann, with a high January cover (winter period) for all groups. These winter increases can be attributed to: (i) the low phenological parameters of P. oceanica in winter that reduce the effects of shading, (ii) life cycles of the epiphytes and invertebrates, (iii) water motion and (iv) grazing.     

The Role of Isopod Crustaceans in the Reef Crest Community at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize

Abstract. The species composition and numbers of specimens of isopod crustaceans from the rubble of a Belizean reef crest were obtained. Four sets of 30 samples were taken from three rubble zones (rubble with algal turf, rubble between Thalassia plants, and pure rubble), in four different collecting periods. Twenty-four species of isopods were identified, sexed and counted. By means of a Likelihood Ratio Chi-square Contingency Table Analysis the presence of 13 species was shown to be positively correlated with habitat, 15 species with season, and nine species with habitat and season combined. From the spread of total numbers and of ovigerous females it is proposed that the isopods may be grouped into three patterns: a) those present and breeding in the reef crest rubble throughout the year, i. e. stress-tolerant species; b) those showing a breeding peak in summer and a population decrease in winter-spring, i. e. opportunist species; and c) those showing a breeding peak in the fall, and a second peak in spring, and a decrease or complete avoidance of the habitat, especially by ovigerous females, in the summer. The diversity of the Belizean reef crest isopod fauna is compared with the published report of the isopod fauna of a coral reef in Madagascar. Several similarities in composition are noted. The multiplicity of microhabitats is invoked as a possible explanation for the relatively high diversity of anthuridean isopods in coral reefs.     

我国近岸海域富营养化评价新方法及应用

参考目前国际上被广泛应用的第2代富营养化评价方法体系,结合我国近岸海域生态环境特点和监测资料现状,建立了一种以压力-状态-响应模式为基本框架、以富营养化症状为主的第2代近岸海域富营养化评价体系。实际应用结果表明,应用本方法得出的长江口海域富营养化状况评价结论,与目前国外主流评价方法的评价结论一致,而且本方法具有评价指标代表性强、数据资料易得、评价标准有据、方法简便易行等优点。     

海草土壤种子库：特征、影响因素、研究方法及其在受损海草场恢复中的作用

海草的土壤种子库具有巨大的时空异质性,不同种类密度差别可达5个数量级,同一种植被的土壤种子库,在不同环境、不同阶段亦相差甚大。种子具有休眠现象的海草可形成持久种子库(种子寿命≥1 a),例如喜盐草属(Halophila)、针叶草属(Syringodium)、川蔓草属(Ruppia)和丝粉草属(Cymodocea),或短暂种子库(种子寿命<1 a),例如鳗草属(Zostera)和虾形草属(Phyllospadix)。种子没有休眠现象,例如海菖蒲属(Enhalus)和泰来草属(Thalassia),或具有胎生现象的海草,例如全楔草属(Thalassodendron)和根枝草属(Amphibolis),则不形成土壤种子库。植被特性、环境条件、动物行为等影响海草的土壤种子库。海草土壤种子库密度的研究方法可分为直接计数法和幼苗萌发法两种,采用何种方法取决于种子的大小以及破除休眠的可控性。土壤种子库尤其是持久种子库是一年生海草场或受到较大干扰海草场恢复的关键。我国绝大部分的海草场面临巨大的人为威胁,且不少海草场由一年生海草组成,因此,保护好这些海草场的土壤种子库至关重要。     

威海荣成桑沟湾海域海草床分布现状及其生态特征

海草床是生物圈最高产的生态系统之一,在氮捕获、碳封存、水质净化及维持生物多样性等方面发挥关键作用。2016年8月通过对威海荣成桑沟湾海域的现场调查,发现分布总面积约为471.72 ha的海草床,种类为鳗草(Zostera marina)、红纤维虾形草(Phyllospadix iwatensis)、日本鳗草(Zostera japonica)和丛生鳗草(Zostera caespitosa),分布面积分别为395.33 ha、37.28 ha、32.74 ha和6.37 ha。鳗草分布范围较广,平均茎枝密度817.0±27.6 shoots/m²,平均生物量646.6±41.8 g DW/m²;红纤维虾形草主要分布于桑沟湾北部养殖池和南部楮岛海域,平均茎枝密度2649.0±29.8shoots/m²,平均生物量2 381.3±27.3 g DW/m²;日本鳗草主要分布于桑沟湾西部八亩地海域,平均茎枝密度506.0±26.2 shoots/m²,平均生物量118.3±12.5 g...     

Limited nutritional benefit to the seagrass Halophila ovalis, in culture, following sediment organic matter enrichment

Essential nutrients for seagrass growth may be derived from benthic decomposition of organic matter. To test this idea, cores of Halophila ovalis (seagrass-vegetated) and unvegetated sediment (control) were amended with either particulate organic matter (POM) or dissolved organic matter (DOM) to test whether a positive feed-back loop exists, where increased organic matter results in increased seagrass nutrients. POM was added in the form of seagrass wrack (0, 1, 5, 12 g core⁻¹) and DOM was added with sucrose diffusion tubes at the root zone (0, 0.8, 2.4, 5.2 g core⁻¹). Cores were incubated under saturating light conditions (12 h light/12 h dark) at 18 °C, for 4 weeks. Results suggest a complex balance between positive and negative effects of organic matter enrichment. Whilst leaf molar concentrations of N and P of H. ovalis increased (by 15 and 30% respectively), plant growth declined (up to 50% relative to control) for both DOM and POM enrichments. Phosphate was removed from sediment porewater following POM addition and most likely translocated to the leaves. Stressors other than nutrient limitation (e.g. biogeochemical constraints) reduce growth and affect the nutrient dynamics of the seagrass and should be the focus of future work.     

海南高隆湾海草床修复成效及影响因素

为缓解海南岛东海岸海草床的持续退化,在高隆湾光滩区采用单株定距移植法移植泰来草(Thalassia hemprichii)及海菖蒲(Enhalus acoroides)进行海草床修复研究,修复面积约为1000 m2.结果表明,采用铁架加网的修复方式,泰来草1 a后平均成活率为56.39％,其成活率在移植7个月后下降比较...     

Spatial variation in otolith chemistry of Lutjanus apodus at Turneffe Atoll, Belize

Lutjanus apodus (Schoolmaster) were collected from several mangroves and coral reefs at Turneffe Atoll, Belize, in order to investigate whether elemental concentrations from the otolith edge could be used as a means to identify the habitat (mangrove or coral reef) and site (9 mangrove sites and 6 reef sites) from which they were collected. Results of a two factor nested MANOVA (sites nested within habitat) indicated significant differences in elemental concentrations between habitats (i.e., mangrove versus reef) as well as among sites. When separate Linear Discriminant Function Analyses (LDFA) were used to assess whether the spatial variability in otolith chemistry was sufficient to differentiate individuals to their respective habitats or sites, the results indicated that fish were classified (jackknife procedure) with a moderate to poor degree of accuracy (i.e., on average, 67% and 40% of the individuals were correctly classified to the habitat and site from which they were collected, respectively). Using a partial Mantel test we did not find a significant correlation between the differences in otolith elemental concentrations between sites and the distance between sites, while controlling the effect of habitat type (mangrove or reef). This suggests that for mangrove and reef sites at Turneffe Atoll, Belize, the overlap in terms of L. apodus otolith elemental concentrations is too high for investigations of fish movement. Finally, by comparing previously published Haemulon flavolineatum otolith chemistry to that of L. apodus we assessed whether these species showed similar habitat and/or site specific patterns in their otolith chemistry. Although both species were collected from the same sites our results indicated little similarity in their elemental concentrations, thus suggesting that habitat and site elemental signatures are species specific.     

First record of vertical rhizomes in the seagrass Zostera marina (Novigrad Sea,Croatia)

We report the first record of vertical rhizome growth in the temperate seagrass Zostera marina. In a population of Z. marina occurring on subtidal sand in the Novigrad Sea (Croatia), an area subject to episodic high sediment transport, collected plants of Z. marina showed vertical rhizomes with shorter and narrower inter‐nodes (mean length = 3.4 ± 1.5 SD mm, mean width = 1.9 ± 0.3 SD mm) than those recorded for horizontal rhizomes (mean length = 9.0 ± 3.5 SD mm, mean width = 2.8 ± 0.4 SD mm). Out of a sample of 1130 rhizome fragments, 288 (25.5%) were vertical. Repeated moderate burial events may have stimulated the production of vertical rhizomes, and the ability of Z. marina to produce vertical rhizomes may enable it to withstand moderate burial in this highly dynamic environment.     

海南文昌沿岸海草床的现状及其退化因素分析

通过对比2012、2018、2020年海南文昌沿岸海草床的调查数据,对文昌海草床的现状、退化状况以及退化因素进行分析。结果表明,2020年文昌海域海草有2科6属6种,分别为泰来草(Thalassia hemprichii)、圆叶丝粉草(Cymodocea rotunda)、单脉二药草(Halodule uninervis)、海菖蒲(Enhalus acoroides)、卵叶喜盐草(Halophila ovalis)及针叶草(Syringodium isoetifolium)。文昌海草床的分布呈明显退化的趋势,海草床面积由2012年的31.8 km²减少到2018年的24.2 km²,2020年进一步降低至18.8 km²。分析数据显示,Cu、Cd、Cr等重金属离子与调查区海草床的盖度显著负相关,表明在低营养负载时文昌周边虾塘养殖废水排放带来的重金属污染也会导致文昌海草床的退化。     

利用模糊综合方法评价长江口海水富营养化水平

根据2004年4个季度的调查数据,以化学需氧量(COD)、溶解无机氮(DIN)、磷酸盐(PO4-P)、叶绿素a(Chl-a)和溶解氧(DO)作为评价指标,运用模糊综合评价模型对长江口海域海水富营养化水平进行评价。结果表明,约有一半的调查站点呈现富营养化,长江口门及冲淡水区(122.5°E以西)富营养化程度较高,外海(122.5°E以东)富营养化程度较低,富营养程度从外海向近岸增加。富营养化区域全年大部分都分布于盐度小于20的一侧,呈明显的季节分布和区域分布,表明长江口海域的富营养化水平主要受到长江冲淡水的控制。