Dominant amphipods of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows display considerable trophic diversity

Gut content examination and trophic markers (fatty acids, stable isotopes of C and N) were combined to delineate the diet of the dominant species of amphipods from Mediterranean Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows and to highlight trophic diversity among this community. Our results indicate that, although all dominant species heavily relied on macroalgal epiphytes, considerable interspecific dietary differences existed. Carbon stable isotope ratios notably showed that some of the amphipod species favored grazing on epiphytes from leaves or litter fragments (Apherusa chiereghinii, Aora spinicornis, Gammarus aequicauda), while others such as Dexamine spiniventris preferred epiphytes from rhizomes. The remaining amphipods (Caprella acanthifera, Ampithoe helleri and Gammarella fucicola) readily consumed both groups. In addition, SIAR modeling suggested that most species had a mixed diet, and relied on several food items. Fatty acid analysis and gut contents revealed that contributions of microepiphytic diatoms and of benthic and suspended particulate organic matter to the diet of amphipods were anecdotal. None of the examined species seemed to graze on their seagrass host [low 18:2(n‐6) and 18:3(n‐3) fatty acids contents], but Gammarus aequicauda partly relied on seagrass leaf detritus, as demonstrated by the lesser ¹³C‐depletion of their tissues. Overall, our findings suggest that amphipods, because of their importance in the transfer of organic matter from primary producers and detritus to higher rank consumers, are key items in P. oceanica‐associated food webs.     

Population dynamics and production of the seagrass Zostera noltii in colonizing versus established meadows

The dynamics of the seagrass Zostera noltii in established and colonizing meadows were assessed in Ria Formosa lagoon, Southern Portugal. Shoot weight, above:belowground biomass ratio, flowering shoot density, meadow production, and biomass–density relationships were investigated. Results indicate that the species population dynamics differ clearly in different development stages of the meadows. The overall mean of flowering shoot density was five times higher in the colonizing (83 flowering shoots m⁻²) than in the established meadow (16 flowering shoots m⁻²), revealing a greater contribution of sexual reproduction during the species colonization process. The temporal variation of the biomass–density relationship in the colonizing meadow showed a cyclic seasonal trajectory, a wider range of data, and a simultaneous peak of biomass and density, suggesting no space limitations constraining the internal packing of shoots during the growing season. In the established meadow, density peaked before biomass in agreement to the dominant role of the clonal architecture of seagrasses in the configuration of closed meadows, suggesting the occurrence of self-thinning and/or regulation of ramet formation. Slope of the biomass–density relationships was similar in the established and colonizing meadows, generally suggesting similar nutritional conditions, regardless of their muddy and sandy sediments. Plants of the colonizing meadow invest mainly on the belowground fraction (above:belowground biomass ratio <1), as meadow expansion is mainly controlled by the elongation of horizontal rhizomes. The annual total production (1163 g C m⁻² year⁻¹) and the biomass turnover (34.8 year⁻¹) were also higher in this meadow, corroborating the high investment of the species during the meadow expansion. The faster biomass turnover of the colonizing meadow implies a more limited capacity to accumulate biomass, indicating a greater exportation of organic carbon and nutrients to the coastal area. The different biomass turnover rates suggest different trophic and structural roles of Z. noltii communities in established and colonizing meadows.     

海草床沉积物有机碳研究综述

海草床具有重要的生态系统服务功能,可以为海洋生物提供栖息地和食物来源,同时还具有重要的碳储存功能,海草床“蓝碳”功能日益受到学术界的重视,据研究全球每年海草床的碳埋藏量高达(2.7~4.4)×10⁷ MgC。近年来,由于人类活动的影响,世界范围内海草床衰退严重,导致海草床沉积物有机碳储量降低。本文综述了全球海草床沉积物有机碳的来源、组分、储量以及指示作用;从物理、化学和生物三方面讨论了影响海草床碳储量的环境因素。最后提出了未来主要研究方向,主要包括加强海草床碳通量普查,分析全球气候变化背景下海草床沉积物有机碳的变化机制,明确海草床碳储量流失速率,研究海岸带工程对海草床沉积物有机碳的影响。评估海草床沉积物有机碳储量及变化机制可以为全球海洋蓝碳研究提供科学依据。     

厦门湾及邻近海域沉积物分布特征和沉积速率

2007年和2010年在厦门湾及邻近海域进行底质表层沉积物和柱状岩心样品采集,并进行粒度分析及粒度参数计算,获得了研究区底质表层和柱状沉积物样品的粒度分布特征.结果表明,厦门湾海域沉积物类型多样,以粉砂质砂和砂质粉砂为主.平均粒径介于?1.5Φ~7.5Φ之间.采用 Gao-Collins粒径趋势分析方法,发现九龙江口的沉积物主要呈东南方向净输运,而大金门南侧海域沉积物则有向九龙江口输运的趋势,同安湾内沉积物由海岸向湾中央输运;厦门东部海域沉积物向北输运,翔安南部海域沉积物向同安湾口以及澳头近岸输移.对柱状岩心进行放射性同位素210Pb 测年分析,计算得到九龙江口沉积速率为2.62 cm/a,进而探讨了九龙江口的沉积环境演化特征,研究成果可为区域资源开发和环境保护提供科学依据     

Knowledge gaps in tropical Southeast Asian seagrass systems

Seagrasses are habitats with significant ecological and economic functions but we have limited knowledge of seagrasses in Southeast Asia, the hypothesized centre-of-origin for tropical seagrasses. There have been only 62 ISI-cited publications on the seagrasses of Southeast Asia in the last three decades and most work has been in few sites such as Northwest Luzon in the Philippines and South Sulawesi in Indonesia. Our understanding of the processes driving spatial and temporal distributions of seagrass species here has focussed primarily on backreef and estuarine seagrass meadows, with little work on forereef systems. We used Pulau Tinggi, an island off the southeast coast of Peninsular Malaysia, as an example of a subtidal forereef system. It is characterized by a community of small and fast growing species such as Halophila ovalis (mean shoot density 1454.6 ± 145.1 m⁻²) and Halodule uninervis (mean shoot density 861.7 ± 372.0 m⁻²) growing in relatively low light conditions (mean PAR 162.1 ± 35.0 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ at 10 m depth to 405.8 ± 99.0 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ at 3 m water depth) on sediment with low carbonate (mean 9.24 ± 1.74 percentage dry weight), organic matter (mean 2.56 ± 0.35 percentage dry weight) and silt-clay content (mean 2.28 ± 2.43 percentage dry weight). The literature reveals that there is a range of drivers operating in Southeast Asian seagrass systems and we suggest that this is because there are various types of seagrass habitats in this region, i.e. backreef, forereef and estuary, each of which has site characteristics and ecological drivers unique to it. Based on our case study of Pulau Tinggi, we suggest that seagrasses in forereef systems are more widespread in Southeast Asia than is reflected in the literature and that they are likely to be driven by recurring disturbance events such as monsoons, sediment burial and herbivory.     

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。     

Impacts of urban wastewater discharge on seagrass meadows (Zostera noltii)

The abiotic disturbance of urban wastewater discharge and its effects in the population structure, plant morphology, leaf nutrient content, epiphyte load and macroalgae abundance of Zostera noltii meadows were investigated in Ria Formosa coastal lagoon, southern Portugal using both univariate and multivariate analysis. Four sites were assessed, on a seasonal basis, along a gradient from a major Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) discharge to a main navigation channel. The wastewater discharge caused an evident environmental disturbance through the nutrient enrichment of the water and sediment, particularly of ammonium. Zostera noltii of the sites closest to the nutrient source showed higher leaf N content, clearly reflecting the nitrogen load. The anthropogenic nutrient enrichment resulted in higher biomass, and higher leaf and internode length, except for the meadow closest to the wastewater discharge (270 m). The high ammonium concentration (158–663 μM) in the water at this site resulted in the decrease of biomass, and both the leaf and internode length, suggesting a toxic effect on Z. noltii. The higher abundance of macroalgae and epiphytes found in the meadow closest to the nutrient source may also affect the species negatively. Shoot density was higher at the nutrient-undisturbed site. Two of the three abiotic processes revealed by Principal Component Analysis were clearly related to the WWTW discharge, a contrast between water column salinity and nutrient concentration and a sediment contrast between both porewater nutrients and temperature and redox potential. A multiple regression analysis showed that these abiotic processes had a significant effect on the biomass-density dynamics of meadows and on the overall size of Z. noltii plants, respectively. Results show that the wastewater discharge is an important source of environmental disturbance and nutrients availability in Ria Formosa lagoon affecting the population structure, morphology and N content of Z. noltii. This impact is spatially restricted to areas up to 600 m distant from the WWTW discharge, probably due to the high water renewal of the lagoon.     

粉沙质海岸泥沙运动特性研究

文章对粉沙质海岸的泥沙运动特性进行了系统、全面的研究.从5个方面进行了论述:粉沙质海岸的界定、泥沙基本水力特性、泥沙运移型态、航道骤淤的统计特性和航道淤积计算.提出粉沙质海岸的界定应综合考虑泥沙平均中值粒径、黏土含量和泥沙粒径分选性三方面因素;泥沙基本水力特性是起动流速小、沉降速度大、沉积密实快,泥沙运动十分活跃;泥沙...     

海草的卫星遥感研究进展

海草、沙滩、砾石以及淤泥等不同底质类型对光谱的反射率不同,通过卫星遥感检测反射率的变化可以鉴别海草等底质类型。由于海草体内含有叶绿素a、叶绿素b以及花青素和叶黄素等色素,通过检测这些色素的光谱可以对海草分布以及生存状态进行卫星遥感检测。主要从多光谱、高光谱等角度对近岸光学浅水中海草的卫星遥感以及国内对海草和水体生物光学研究状况等方面进行阐述,并对未来的研究趋势进行展望。     

荣成马山里海域海草床分布现状及其生态特征

海草床是滨海三大典型生态系统之一,具有极其重要的环境改善、资源养护和减灾防灾等生态功能,亦是全球重要的碳库。2016年8月,通过对荣成马山里海域的现场调查,发现了面积为58.26 hm²的海草床,其海草的种类为红纤维虾形草（Phyllospadix iwatensis）和丛生鳗草（Zostera caespitosa）。红纤维虾形草分布面积为54.50 hm²,占该海域海草床总面积的93.5%,分为北部和南部2个带状区域,平均茎枝密度为（368.0±18.2）shoots/m²,平均生物量（干重,下同）为（297.0±41.5）g/m²。丛生鳗草分布面积为3.76 hm²,占海草床总面积的6.5%,呈现斑块状分布,与红纤维虾形草交错而生,平均茎枝密度为（691.2±17.1）shoots/m²,平均生物量为（534.0±70.7）g/m²。马山里海域海草床主要分布在平均水深为（2.8±0.3） m的以岩礁为主的底质上。海草的生长状况存在显著的空间差异,与水温呈现显著的正相关,与水深和陆源污染物存在显著的负相关。结合历史资料,发现该海域海草床退化现象较严重,其主要威胁因素是人为干扰,主要包括渔业生产、养殖活动和陆源污染输入。建议合理规划周边海域的养殖规模和密度、加强陆源污染物管控和开展海草床生态修复工程,以期为温带海草床的有效保护和科学管理提供参考。     

Patterns of spatial variation of nutrient content,epiphyte load and shoot size of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows (Mediterranean Sea)

Knowledge of patterns of spatial variability of vegetative development, epiphyte load and nutrient availability in seagrass meadows is essential for the adequate design of research and environmental monitoring programmes. Differences in shoot size, epiphyte load and nutrient content of leaves and epiphytes of the Mediterranean endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica at spatial scales ranging from metres to hundreds of metres are evaluated using a hierarchical nested sampling design. The size and epiphyte load of P. oceanica shoots and the nitrogen and phosphorus content of leaves and epiphytes were different in most of the spatial scales considered. Sampling efforts concentrated at the metre scale incorporated most of the variability in size, epiphyte load and nutrient content of the leaves and epiphytes of P. oceanica shoots. Epiphyte load showed no correlation with nutrient content in the epiphytes or in the leaves. However, epiphyte load and shoot size were negatively correlated, which suggests that light penetration in the canopy may be a main determinant of epiphyte load.     

基于放射性核素的沉积物源识别技术探索与优化以红树林−海草床−珊瑚礁系统为例

物质来源是沉积学研究的关键问题。沉积地球化学是沉积学的重要研究手段,放射性核素在沉积地球化学中的应用探索仍较为匮乏。本研究利用高纯锗γ谱仪同时测量红树林、海草床、珊瑚礁三大典型生态系统的沉积物中天然放射性核素（²³⁸U、²²⁶Ra、²²⁸Ra、⁴⁰K）,分析3种生态系统的沉积物中放射性核素分布特征,探索基于放射性核素的一维视角下活度特征、二维视角下核素对与活度比值、三维视角下三角图解的指纹表征技术,识别沉积物中不同物质的来源,并尝试推广至中国不同海域。本研究强调三维指纹表征技术—基于核素活度的²³⁸U-²³²Th(²²⁸Ra)-⁴⁰K/10三角图解可以综合展示3种放射性核素的活度大小、组成比例、空间分布等信息,指出²³⁸U-²³²Th(²²⁸Ra)-⁴⁰K/10三角图解可能是沉积物中物源识别的一种优化方法,可为沉积地球化学研究中的现有代用指标工具库提供有益补充。     

Temporal and spatial changes of seagrass meadows in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon

Aerial photographs and in situ data of the Urbinu Lagoon (one of the largest and deepest ponds in Corsica, Mediterranean Sea) permit the establishment of a cartography of its aquatic benthic assemblages and types of sea-beds. It was possible to distinguish in the photographs submerged structures such as: sand, pebbles, mud and seagrass meadows. Seagrass beds were the predominant vegetation type in this lagoon (comprising 14–29% of the total area depending on the year studied), and their distribution was incorporated into a geographical information database, and then compared with historical data. Temporal and spatial change in seagrass meadows was assessed between 1990 and 1997. Change in total extent was evaluated through a map to map comparison of data interpreted from image processing using colored aerial photographs (1990, 1994 and 1997). The overall net change was a 12% decrease between 1990 and 1994 and a 16% increase between 1994 and 1997. These observations imply that regressions are not irreversible over the past 7 years, and show that seagrass meadows in this area have been stable despite environmental perturbations, since the lost zones were recolonized.     

Bottom-up and top-down control of seagrass overgrazing by the sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla

The lack of top-down control on Tripneustes gratilla, a sea urchin commonly known to graze on seagrass, and the bottom-up control of its feeding preference, led to the overgrazing of seagrass meadows of the species Thalassodendron ciliatum in Changuu Island (Zanzibar Archipelago). The impact of overgrazing on seagrasses was assessed by mapping the presence of grazed versus non-grazed seagrass patches in the study site, while the top-down control on T. gratilla was assessed by measuring the abundance of its fish predators. The feeding preference and distribution of T. gratilla were characterized by calculating the electivity indexes for each seagrass species and measuring sea urchin density, respectively. Approximately half of the patches of T. ciliatum were overgrazed, while predatory fishes of T. gratilla were absent from the site. The Vanderploeg and Scavia's Relativized Electivity Index indicated that T. gratilla had a feeding preference for T. ciliatum, which was also supported by higher urchin densities within T. ciliatum dominated patches. Bottom-up control of grazing activity was observed by quantifying and analyzing morphological, nutritional, and the chemical defense traits of the seagrass in relation to feeding preference and urchin density. Feeding was positively correlated to the seagrass tissue C:P ratio (ρ = 0.9), whereas urchin density showed no correlations. The bottom-up control of the feeding preference and agglomeration of T. gratilla in T. ciliatum meadows, together with the lack of evidence of substantial top-down control and the long recovery time of T. ciliatum led to the overgrazing of this species at this site. Overgrazing, therefore, was shown to be the result of multiple factors ranging from the traits of the seagrass and feeding preference of T. gratilla, to the abundance of predators in this area.     

Inorganic nitrogen uptake and related enzymatic activity in the seagrass Zostera noltii

The preferential inorganic nitrogen source for the seagrass Zostera noltii was investigated in plants from Ria Formosa, South Portugal. Rates of ammonium and nitrate uptake were determined at different concentrations of these nutrients (5, 25 and 50 μm ), supplied simultaneously (NH₄NO₃) or separately (KNO₃ and NH₄Cl). The activity of the enzymes nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) was also assessed. The results showed that ammonium is the preferential inorganic nitrogen source for Z. noltii, but, in the absence of ammonium, the species also has a high nitrate uptake capacity. The simultaneous availability of both inorganic nitrogen forms enhanced the uptake rate of ammonium and decreased the uptake rate of nitrate compared to when only one of the nitrogen forms was supplied. The activity of both enzymes was much higher in the leaves than in the roots, highlighting the importance of the leaves as primary reducing sites in the nitrogen assimilation process.     

Review of nekton patterns and ecological processes in seagrass landscapes

We reviewed seagrass landscape studies on nekton (fish and larger mobile crustaceans) to summarise: (1) patterns of nekton abundance in relation to patch attributes; and (2) models used to explain processes underpinning observed patterns. The response of nekton to landscape attributes is highly variable. Different taxa showed increasing densities with: increasing and decreasing patch size (12 and 11 taxa, respectively), increasing and decreasing proximity within a patch to edge (9, 14), increasing and decreasing distances from nearest seagrass patch (4, 11), and with patches perpendicular and parallel to currents (1, 2). The majority of taxa (213 out of 281, or 82%) showed no relationships. Landscape scale patterns are important for some species but evidence so far does not demonstrate major landscape effects overall. The lack of pattern might reflect the overriding importance of other factors such as within-patch characteristics, water depth or position within an estuary. It might also result from measurements at the wrong scale. The rigour of surveys can be improved by avoiding confounding of patch attributes by other factors, increasing awareness of statistical power, and more considered survey designs for attributes such as edge effects. The predation model is the most frequently invoked and tested model. Other explanatory models are based on disturbance, rates of encounter, food availability, larval supply, migration and reproductive success, but in many cases are not based on observed patterns. The best experimental work has been done on nekton species for which landscape studies have been built on a detailed understanding of the ecology of the species, such as for blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). As this basic ecological platform is laid for more species, the landscape approach will become increasingly fruitful.     

Ontogenic variation and effect of collection procedure on leaf biomechanical properties of Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile

Leaf mechanical traits are important to understand how aquatic plants fracture and deform when subjected to abiotic (currents or waves) or biotic (herbivory attack) mechanical forces. The likely occurrence of variation during leaf ontogeny in these traits may thus have implications for hydrodynamic performance and vulnerability to herbivory damage, and may be associated with changes in morphologic and chemical traits. Seagrasses, marine flowering plants, consist of shoot bundles holding several leaves with different developmental stages, in which outer older leaves protect inner younger leaves. In this study we examined the long‐lived seagrass Posidonia oceanica to determine ontogenic variation in mechanical traits across leaf position within a shoot, representing different developmental stages. Moreover, we investigated whether or not the collection procedure (classical uprooted shoot versus non‐destructive shoot method: cutting the shoot without a portion of rhizome) and time span after collection influence mechanical measurements. Neither collection procedure nor time elapsed within 48 h of collection affected measurements of leaf biomechanical traits when seagrass shoots were kept moist in dark cool conditions. Ontogenic variation in mechanical traits in P. oceanica leaves over intermediate and adult developmental stages was observed: leaves weakened and lost stiffness with aging, while mid‐aged leaves (the longest and thickest ones) were able to withstand higher breaking forces. In addition, younger leaves had higher nitrogen content and lower fiber content than older leaves. The observed patterns may explain fine‐scale within‐shoot ecological processes of leaves at different developmental stages, such as leaf shedding and herbivory consumption in P. oceanica.     

Sediment Deposition and Resuspension in Mouth Bar Area of the Yangtze Estuary

—A comprehensive analysis is conducted based on observations on topography.tidal current.salinity.suspended sediment and bed load during the years of 1982.1983.1988.1989.1996 and 1997 in theYangtze Estuary.Results show that the deformation of tidal waves is distinct and the sand carrying capaci-ty is large within the mouth bar due to strong tidal currents and large volume of incoming water and sedi-ments.Owing to both temporal and spatial variation of tidal current.deposition and erosion are extremelyactive.In general a change of up to 0.1 m of bottom sediments takes place during a tidal period.The maxi-mum siltation and erosion are around 0.2 m in a spring to neap tides cycle.The riverbed is silted duringflood when there is heavy sediment load.eroded during dry season when sediment load is low.The annualaverage depth of crosion and siltation on the riverbed is around 0.6 m.In particular cases.it may increaseto 1.4 m to 2.4 m at some locations.     

光学浅水海草高光谱识别

以三亚湾泰莱藻为例, 对海草光谱特征进行分析。结果表明, 450—780nm是海草光谱主要敏感波段, 其波段内的导数光谱是海草叶面积大小序列辨别的有效依据。一阶导数获得的红边与叶片叶绿素a浓度密切相关。   海草在625nm、675nm 两处出现明显的导数特征峰, 两峰峰值相差较大; 其优势特征峰分布在550nm、700nm、750—780nm。实际应用中, 此特征可作为海草底质分类的识别条件, 与海草覆盖率和光谱特征的关系相结合, 可对大量的遥感数据进行识别, 从而达到大尺度遥感监测海草分布和动态变化的目的。     

Sediment modification by seagrass beds: Muddification and sandification induced by plant cover and environmental conditions

Seagrasses are well-known ecosystem engineers. They reduce water dynamics and sediment resuspension, and trap fine sediments. However, exceptions of this paradigm have been reported. To test whether these exceptions could be related to plant cover and environmental conditions, we investigated sediment modification under influence of seagrass presence in various annual eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds with varying plant cover and sediment composition.