Monitoring toxic microalgae Ostreopsis (dinoflagellate) species in coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea using molecular PCR-based assay combined with light microscopy

A molecular PCR-based assay was developed and applied to macrophyte and seawater samples containing mixed microphytobenthic and phytoplanktonic assemblages, respectively, in order to detect toxic Ostreopsis species in Mediterranean Sea. The specificity and sensitivity of the molecular PCR assay were assessed with both plasmidic and genomic DNA of the target genus or species using taxon-specific primers in the presence of background macrophyte DNA. The PCR molecular technique allowed rapid detection of the Ostreopsis cells, even at abundances undetectable within the resolution limit of the microscopy technique. Species-specific identification of Ostreopsis was determined only by PCR-based assay, due to the inherent difficulty of morphological identification in field samples. In the monitoring of the toxic Ostreopsis blooms PCR-based methods proved to be effective tools complementary to microscopy for rapid and specific detection of Ostreopsis and other toxic dinoflagellates in marine coastal environments.     

Blooms of the cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula in coastal Queensland, Australia: disparate sites, common factors

During the last decade there has been a significant rise in observations of blooms of the toxic cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula along the east coast of Queensland, Australia. Whether the increase in cyanobacterial abundance is a biological indicator of widespread water quality degradation or also a function of other environmental change is unknown. A bioassay approach was used to assesses the potential for runoff from various land uses to stimulate productivity of L. majuscula. In Moreton Bay, L. majuscula productivity was significantly (p<0.05) stimulated by soil extracts, which were high in phosphorus, iron and organic carbon. Productivity of L. majuscula from the Great Barrier Reef was also significantly (p<0.05) elevated by iron and phosphorus rich extracts, in this case seabird guano adjacent to the bloom site. Hence, it is possible that other L. majuscula blooms are a result of similar stimulating factors (iron, phosphorus and organic carbon), delivered through different mechanisms.     

Hydrodynamic accumulation of Karenia off the west coast of Florida

Blooms of the toxic dinoflagellates, Karenia spp. occur nearly annually in the eastern Gulf of Mexico with cell abundances typically >10⁵ cells L⁻¹. Thermal and ocean color satellite imagery shows sea surface temperature patterns indicative of upwelling events and the concentration of chlorophyll at fronts along the west Florida continental shelf. Daily cell counts of Karenia show greater increases in cell concentrations at fronts than can be explained by Karenia's maximum specific growth rate. This is observed in satellite images as up to a 10-fold greater increase in chlorophyll biomass over 1–2 d periods than can be explained by in situ growth. In this study, we propose a model that explains why surface blooms of Karenia may develop even when nutrients on the west Florida shelf are low. In the summer, northward winds produce a net flow east and southeast bringing water and nutrients from the Mississippi River plume onto the west Florida shelf at depths of 20–50 m. This water mass supplies utilizable inorganic and organic forms of nitrogen that promote the growth of Karenia to pre-bloom concentrations in sub-surface waters in the mid-shelf region. In the fall, a change to upwelling favorable winds produces onshore transport. This transport, coupled with the swimming behavior of Karenia, leads to physical accumulation at frontal regions near the coast, resulting in fall blooms. Strong thermal fronts during the winter provide a mechanism for re-intensification of the blooms, if Karenia cells are located north of the fronts. This conceptual model leads to testable hypotheses on bloom development throughout the Gulf of Mexico.     

拟柱孢藻（Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii）及其毒素的研究进展与展望

随着水体富营养化程度的加剧,淡水蓝藻水华在全球范围内频繁暴发.拟柱孢藻(Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii)作为一类有害水华蓝藻,具有一定的产毒能力和较强的入侵性,日渐受到人们的广泛关注.近年来,拟柱孢藻不断由热带、亚热带地区向温带地区扩张,并在众多水体中出现暴发现象,若其毒素进入到饮用水中,无疑将对人类健康造成潜在威胁.本文从拟柱孢藻的分布演变、生态生理特征、毒性、检测和去除等研究前沿方面进行了综述,并对相关研究领域进行展望,为进一步研究拟柱孢藻的生态毒理、有效控制和去除提供科学依据.     

蓝藻光合氮同化的特征与分子调控机理研究进展

水华蓝藻的生物学特性及其竞争优势、蓝藻水华的形成与维持机制等科学问题,一直是国内外研究的热点。氮素是诱发蓝藻水华暴发的重要营养盐,蓝藻对氮素的同化与其光合作用密切偶联。然而,水体中氮素存在多种形态,不同形态氮素对蓝藻生长和水华发生的影响具有显著差异。因此,了解蓝藻光合作用特征及其同化不同形态氮素的机制和策略,对深入理解蓝藻水华的发生机理具有重要意义。本文在蓝藻的光能捕获与激发能转移、光合电子传递、碳浓缩机制及CO₂同化等光合作用过程及其特征综述的基础上,对蓝藻摄取、同化5种主要氮素形态(NO₃^-、NO₂^-、NH₄⁺、尿素和N₂)的分子机制及其特征进行了解读,总结了蓝藻细胞光合碳、氮同化的耦合关系及调控机制;并指出了该领域的未来发展方向,以推动该方向的深入研究。     

日本琵琶湖中微囊藻水华形成机理的再认识

Blooms of cyanobacteria are responsible for many problems in freshwater ecosystems. The massive growth of these microorganisms may limit the utilization of freshwater for human requirements since, apart from other problems, the production of toxic substances has been found to occur frequently during blooming periods. Ecologically, cyanobacterial blooms can modify dramatically the ecosystem through their low edibility within the food web and the huge primary production. Thus, saprobic processes are stimulated and the characteristics related to anaerobic conditions are also more extreme.Cyanobacterial blooms are many times explained as the consequence of the eutrophication of waterbodies. However, factors promoting bloom formation and ecological succession of cyanobacteria are not well understood yet.     

Short and medium term dynamics of the carbon exchange between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea

A detailed analysis of the short and medium term dynamics of the carbon exchange between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea is presented. To quantify the carbon fluxes distinguishing the Baltic and North Sea water masses, the salinity-based End Members (EM) method was successfully applied. The results of 0.63±0.25×10¹² mol C year⁻¹ identify the Baltic Sea as a net source of carbon for the North Sea. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was found to contribute significantly (22%) to the bulk of exported carbon. The levels determined suggest the hydrology-dependence of the carbon fluxes in the Danish Straits, which stimulates the high variability of carbon fluxes at both interseasonal and interannual scales.     

First record of Ostreopsis cfr. ovata on macroalgae in the Northern Adriatic Sea

Ostreopsis ovata is an epiphytic potentially toxic dinoflagellate. It has a world-wide distribution, normally associated with other epiphytic or benthic dinoflagellates. In tropical seas O. ovata is often associated with the genera Gambierdiscus, Coolia and Prorocentrum, causing cinguatera fish poisoning. Recently, Ostreopsis spp. blooms in the Tyrrhenian and southern Adriatic Sea have been related to human health problems, such as breathing and skin irritation. Here we report the first record of Ostreopsis cfr. ovata in the Northern Adriatic Sea. O. cfr. ovata was isolated from macroalgae in two areas, the Gulf of Trieste (Italy) and close to Rovinj (Croatia). The microalga was identified by scanning electron microscopy and by fluorescence light microscopy. Size range and thecal pore structure were similar to those described for O. cfr. ovata in previous studies. Ostreopsis cfr. ovata was present on all the macroalgae collected, particularly browns and reds. The microalgal association on macroalgae was mostly composed of Ostreopsis sp., Coolia monotis and Coscinodiscus sp.     

Bloom forming and toxic phytoplankton in transitional and coastal waters of Cantabria region coast (Southeastern Bay of Biscay,Spain)

Phytoplankton monitoring has extended to practically all the regions of the European coast due to the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive. In this way, the study of phytoplankton taxonomic composition and dynamic is being performed in many areas poorly studied or not studied before. During the last years, a monitoring programme has been carried out at the coast of Cantabria region (SE Bay of Biscay); the presence of some potentially toxic and bloom forming species (>7.5 × 10⁵ cells per litre) has been observed. Diatoms and cryptophytes are the main blooming taxa in this region in the majority of the estuaries and in some of the coastal sites. All estuaries and coastal stations showed at least one potentially toxic species, being the dinoflagellates the group with the highest number of taxa observed. The potentially toxic species found in highest concentrations were the genera Pseudo-nitzschia and Chrysochromulina.     

寡-中营养型水体偶发性蓝藻水华的驱动因素分析——以南京方便水库为例

寡-中营养型水体中,虽然营养盐水平偏低,但仍会偶发性出现较为严重的蓝藻水华现象,其具体机制仍有待深入探索研究.本研究以偶发水华水体方便水库为例,通过历史数据分析和调查研究,探讨了其水华蓝藻的优势类群,并分析了蓝藻水华形成的主要驱动因素.研究发现:方便水库优势的水华蓝藻为浮丝藻和长孢藻,这两种丝状蓝藻是发生偶发性蓝藻水华的潜在风险物种,其中浮丝藻的发生风险最高,风险时段为7-9月.方便水库多年来营养盐浓度呈现下降的趋势,其中总氮浓度的下降趋势快于总磷浓度,整体有利于蓝藻水华的防控,但是营养盐的波动,尤其是随着降雨导致的地表径流入库对水体总磷的脉冲式补充,降低了水体氮磷比,增加了水库偶发蓝藻水华的风险;在营养盐满足的条件下,水温、高锰酸盐指数和氧化还原电位是发生浮丝藻水华的主要驱动因素,氧化还原电位、水温和透明度是发生长孢藻水华的主要驱动因素.本研究结果有助于提升对偶发性蓝藻水华机制的认识和应急处置工作的精准性.     

Seasonal and interannual variation of the phytoplankton and copepod dynamics in Liverpool Bay

The seasonal and interannual variability in the phytoplankton community in Liverpool Bay between 2003 and 2009 has been examined using results from high frequency, in situ measurements combined with discrete samples collected at one location in the bay. The spring phytoplankton bloom (up to 29.4 mg chlorophyll m⁻³) is an annual feature at the study site and its timing may vary by up to 50 days between years. The variability in the underwater light climate and turbulent mixing are identified as key factors controlling the timing of phytoplankton blooms. Modelled average annual gross and net production are estimated to be 223 and 56 g C m⁻² year⁻¹, respectively. Light microscope counts showed that the phytoplankton community is dominated by diatoms, with dinoflagellates appearing annually for short periods of time between July and October. The zooplankton community at the study site is dominated by copepods and use of a fine mesh (80 μm) resulted in higher abundances of copepods determined (up to 2.5 × 10⁶ ind. m⁻²) than has previously reported for this location. There is a strong seasonal cycle in copepod biomass and copepods greater than 270 μm contribute less than 10% of the total biomass. Seasonal trends in copepod biomass lag those in the phytoplankton community with a delay of 3 to 4 months between the maximum phytoplankton biomass and the maximum copepod biomass. Grazing by copepods exceeds net primary production at the site and indicates that an additional advective supply of carbon is required to support the copepod community.     

黄色的蓝藻水华

随着全球气候变化和水体富营养化,在过去几十年中蓝藻水华改变了全球的淡水生态系统.蓝藻因独有的藻蓝蛋白而大多呈现蓝绿色,因此其水华也常称为蓝绿藻水华.然而随着蓝藻水华关注度的不断提升,尤其是监测和研究的不断深入,经常在水体中发现蓝藻水华出现黄化的现象.例如,太湖出现的黄色蓝藻水华,冬春季以长孢藻属(Dolichospermum)水华为主,夏秋季以微囊藻属(Microcystis)水华为主.即使外观看起来是蓝绿色的蓝藻水华,但仔细观察形成蓝藻水华的群体颗粒,也有部分呈现黄色,反之亦然.实际上,鉴于色素组成的差异性,也许水体中就没有两个颜色完全一致的蓝藻群体颗粒.目前对于黄色的蓝藻水华及其形成机理,国内外鲜有报道和研究.光照和氮限制被认为是最有可能的原因.在关注蓝藻水华黄化的同时,更应该关注和研究这些颜色变化给蓝藻水华及水环境所带来的风险和挑战,尤其是对水生态管理工作的启发和意义.     

蓝藻水华暴发过程中的浮力调节机制

随着工业和经济的发展,水体富营养化以及由此导致的蓝藻水华现象频发,严重影响水生态安全及健康。蓝藻水华形成过程包括休眠、复苏、生物量增加以及上浮聚集形成肉眼可见的水华4个阶段。蓝藻自身的生长机制是引发水华的重要原因,其中浮力调节机制是其重要的生存策略之一,在春季复苏、夏季大量增长及最终上浮至水体表面形成水华阶段均具有重要作用。了解蓝藻浮力调节机制及其在水华过程中的作用对于了解蓝藻生长特性及水华形成机理具有重要意义。气囊及细胞镇重物是常见的浮力调节机制。除此以外,新的研究发现光照条件下单细胞蓝藻产生的大量氧气泡可促使蓝藻上浮至水面形成水华。同时,野外蓝藻常以群体状态存在,群体内部形成的细胞间隙及光照条件下产生的大量氧气是促使蓝藻上浮至水体表面的另一重要原因。野外蓝藻群体在其内部形成微环境,其理化性质可随外界环境的改变发生快速变化,群体内外微环境相互作用,共同影响群体内部细胞间隙中溶氧浓度及浮力。了解蓝藻浮力调节机制及群体内部微环境理化性质对深入了解蓝藻的生长特性及从微观层面分析水华形成机理具有重要意义。本文综述了水华暴发过程中蓝藻的主要浮力调节机制,以期为从微观层面探明蓝藻水华暴发机理提供...     

The community composition and production of phytoplankton in fish pens of Cape Bolinao, Pangasinan: a field study

From 1995 up to the present, fish pens proliferated in the municipal waters of Bolinao, northern Philippines. Since then, fish kills and phytoplankton blooms have been recurrent. Have fishpens altered the phytoplankton community composition and production of these waters? The phytoplankton community in Cape Bolinao, Lingayen Gulf is typical of a tropical coastal area where diatoms alternate with dinoflagellates during the dry and wet seasons. In the nutrient-rich fish pens, phytoplankton in this study showed a lower diatom/dinoflagellate ratio and unusually high phytoplankton counts of 10(4) cells/l and even as high as 10(5) cells/l. Correlations between physico-chemical parameters, phytoplankton production and community composition were made in 2001. This paper tried to explain the occurrence of a Cylindrotheca closterium bloom (10(5) cells/l), during the dry season of the same year and a Prorocentrum minimum bloom (4.7 x 10(5) cells/l), which accompanied a massive fish kill during January 2002.     

Toxic dinoflagellates and tidal power generation in the Bay of Fundy,Canada

The incidence of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning along the eastern seaboard of America has increased and spread during the last decade. One of the core areas for Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP), a poison that is derived from toxic dinoflagellates, is centred on the Bay of Fundy. It is in the upper reaches of the Bay of Fundy that a proposal has been made to construct a tidal power generation plant; this project would have a considerable effect on the water circulation, tidal regime and sedimentation characteristics of the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine. Alterations such as these to the hydrography of this area may lead to changes in the occurrence of toxic dinoflagellates and the associated patterns and intensity of PSP.     

土壤-作物系统中微囊藻毒素生态毒性的研究进展和展望

随着蓝藻水华环境问题的日益严重,微囊藻毒素(MCs)的污染问题也越来越受到重视.一些藻毒素污染严重的湖泊、水库等周边区域的土壤也受到了影响.用含有藻毒素的地表水及地下水进行灌溉、将蓝藻作为有机肥等措施都会将MCs带入土壤.一旦MCs进入到土壤,它将会随着降水从地表迁移到土壤深层.这将会对作物的生长以及土壤生态系统造成影响,而且会对人类身体健康造成威胁.本文介绍了土壤中不同种类的MCs对一些粮食作物和蔬菜作物生长的影响、在作物体内的积累情况,以及对地下水的污染情况,概述了MCs的致毒机理,分析了其对土壤生物造成影响的可能性,并对今后的研究方向进行了展望.     

Survey on germination and species composition of dinoflagellates from ballast tanks and recent sediments in ports on the South Coast of Finland, North-Eastern Baltic Sea

Cyst beds in ships and ports in Finland have previously been unstudied. Therefore, sediments from ships' ballast water tanks and four Finnish ports were sampled for dinoflagellate cysts and other phytoplankton. Untreated sediments were incubated at 10 degrees C and 20 degrees C in the local 6 psu salinity for 1, 4 and 7 days, and vegetative cells were examined with light and scanning electron microscope. Sediments were inhabited by various dinoflagellates, diatoms, chlorophytes, cyanophytes and small flagellates. Germinated dinoflagellates were found in 90% of ballast tanks and in all ports. Gymnodiniales spp. and Heterocapsa rotundata formed a major proportion of the proliferating dinoflagellate cells. One species, Peridinium quinquecorne, not previously reported from the Baltic Sea, was identified with SEM. The study emphasises that ships are potential transport vehicles for dinoflagellate cysts even in the low salinity Finnish waters, and small-sized dinoflagellates should be focused upon in ballast water studies.     

The Impact of Snail (Bellamya aeruginosa) Bioturbation on Sediment Characteristics and Organic Carbon Fluxes in an Eutrophic Pond

A mesocosm experiment was conducted for 32 days in an eutrophic pond to study the effects of the bioturbation of the freshwater snail, Bellamya aeruginosa, on the benthic environment and to further understand cycling of organic carbon in water containing algal blooms. Chlorophyll‐a (chl‐a), phaeopigment, and organic matter contents of sediment, sediment oxygen consumption (SOC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fluxes were determined on day 1, 16, and 32, respectively. The SOC decreased on day 16 and increased on day 32 significantly with the increase in snail density. DOC fluxes showed a net sediment uptake in all enclosures throughout the experiment. DOC fluxes in the high and mid density treatments were lower than those of the control. The concentrations of chl‐a and phaeopigment in the sediment increased significantly with snail density, indicating that the presence of snails reduced the biomass of phytoplankton. The results suggest that freshwater snails, B. aeruginosa, could influence the algal biomass (chl‐a) of small water bodies by their bioturbation effects on sediment characteristics and the fluxes of organic carbon.     

The fluvial flux of particulate organic matter from the UK: the emission factor of soil erosion

Soil erosion has been identified as a potential global carbon sink since eroded organic matter is replaced at source and eroded material is readily buried. However, this argument has relied on poor estimates of the total fate of in‐transit particulates and could erroneously imply soil erosion could be encouraged to generate carbon stores. These previous estimates have not considered that organic matter can also be released to the atmosphere as a range of greenhouse gases, not only carbon dioxide (CO₂), but also the more powerful greenhouse gases methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). As soil carbon lost by erosion is only replaced by uptake of CO₂, this could represent a considerable imbalance in greenhouse gas warming potential, even if it is not significant in terms of overall carbon flux. This work therefore considers the flux of particulate organic matter through UK rivers with respect to both carbon fluxes and greenhouse gas emissions. The results show that, although emissions to the atmosphere are dominated by CO₂, there are also considerable fluxes of CH₄ and N₂O. The results suggest that soil erosion is a net source of greenhouse gases with median emission factors of 5.5, 4.4 and 0.3 tonnes CO_2eq/yr for one tonne of fluvial carbon, gross carbon erosion and gross soil erosion, respectively. This study concludes that gross soil erosion would therefore only be a net sink of both carbon and greenhouse gases if all the following criteria are met: the gross soil erosion rate were very low (<91 tonnes/km²/yr); the eroded carbon were completely replaced by new soil organic matter; and if less than half of the gross erosion made it into the stream network. By establishing the emission factor for soil erosion, it becomes possible to properly account for the benefits of good soil management in minimizing losses of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere as a by‐product of soil erosion. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.