Surface cyclopoid copepod assemblages in relation to environmental conditions near undisturbed coral reefs of Minicoy,southeastern Arabian Sea,a part of the Indian Ocean

The cruise conducted in the spring inter-monsoon (pre-monsoon) of April 2015 in the frame of a funded project epitomized an open ocean survey that allowed procuring a quasi-synoptic picture of cyclopoid copepod community structure in 18 open ocean stations of the Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep archipelago, off the southwestern Indian coast, based on the analysis of standing stock and composition in the integrated 0–10 m water column. The main objective was to explore the community structure of cyclopoid copepods prevailing here and which environmental variable influences the same. It is witnessed that sea surface temperature (SST) (30.42 ± 0.19°C), sea surface salinity (SSS) (33.56 ± 1.15 psu), and dissolved oxygen (DO) (4.32 ± 0.06 ml/L) with SSS and DO are the best matching variables diversifying cyclopoid copepod species (av. abundance 700 ± 386 no. of individuals/100 m³). Average zooplankton biomass (0.03 ml/m³) and abundance (8,989 ± 3,866 no. of individuals/100 m³) were also observed. Fifty-one cyclopoid copepod species belonging to four families and seven genera were identified, with the dominance of high saline species such as Sapphirina, Copilia, Farranula, and Oncaea. An abundance biomass curve (ABC) plot analysis indicated an undisturbed community with normal environmental conditions. TAXDTEST (taxonomic distinctness) depicted a diverse condition where all points clustered together within a 95% confidence level. Our results indicate that the cyclopoid copepod assemblage near Minicoy Island is a diverse, undisturbed community and hypothesize that the stable environmental conditions during pre-monsoon (spring inter-monsoon) preferred the diversification of cyclopoid copepods with the prevalence of high saline species. The data evolved could be used as a standard reference/benchmark to detect any deviation from an undisturbed/diverse community status of Minicoy Island in the looming scenario of climate change in and around the Indian Ocean.     

广东省南澳岛东部海域浮游动物群落结构及其影响因素

广东省南澳海域是粤东重要的海产养殖基地, 分析该海域浮游动物群落结构特征对评估其生态环境质量具有重要意义。文章根据2014年9月(秋季)、12月(冬季)、2015年4月(春季)和2016年7月(夏季)在南澳岛东部海域的浮游动物调查, 分析该海域浮游动物的群落结构特征, 探讨环境因素对其时空分布的影响。共鉴定浮游动物206种(包括浮游幼虫), 桡足类种数最多, 达94种; 远岸海域浮游动物的种数高于近岸海域。浮游动物丰度和生物量的季节变化明显, 夏、秋季高于冬、春季; 浮游动物丰度和生物量的分布趋势较一致, 夏季高值区主要出现在近岸, 秋季由近岸向远岸海域递增。浮游动物不同类群和优势种的丰度也存在季节变化, 桡足类是调查期间丰度较高的类群, 秋季水母类和海樽类丰度明显增加; 优势种后圆真浮萤(Euconchoecia maimai)和针刺真浮萤(Euconchoecia aculeata)在夏季丰度高, 小齿海樽(Doliolum denticulatum)在秋季占绝对优势。温度、盐度和浮游植物生物量是影响南澳岛东部海域浮游动物时空变化的主要环境因子, 说明该海域浮游动物群落特征受海流、水团和养殖活动的综合影响。     

Spatial and temporal distribution of cadmium and copper in water and zooplankton in the Bahía Blanca estuary,Argentina

Cadmium and copper in the dissolved and particulate phase and in zooplankton were determined in the Bahía Blanca estuary during six surveys from March to December 2005. Temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, suspended particulate matter, particulate organic matter and chlorophyll-a were also considered. Dissolved Cd was below the detection limit (0.2 μg L⁻¹) for almost the entire study period whereas Cu concentrations (0.5–2.4 μg L⁻¹) indicated a continuous dissolved Cu input. Particulate Cd concentrations ranged from below the detection limit (<0.01) to 28.6 μg g⁻¹ d.w. while particulate Cu ranged from below the detection limit (<0.04) to 53.5 μg g⁻¹ d.w. Cd in mesozooplankton ranged from below the detection limit (<0.01) to 37.4 μg g⁻¹ d.w. Some of the Cd levels were higher than those reported for other aquatic ecosystems. Cu in the mesozooplankton ranged from 1.3 to 89.3 μg g⁻¹ d.w., values which were within the reported values or higher than other studies. The log of the partition coefficients (log (K_d)) of Cd was 0.04, while log (K_d) for Cu ranged from −0.39 to 2.79. These values were lower than both those calculated for other estuaries and the typical coefficients for marine environments. The log of the bioconcentration factor (log BCF) of Cd was 1.78, indicating that Cd concentration was higher in the zooplankton than in the dissolved phase. Log BCF of Cu ranged from 1.15 to 3. The logs of the biomagnification factors (log BMF) of Cd were low, with a range between −3.45 and 2.21 and those for Cu ranged from −0.1 to 3.35. Positive values indicate biomagnification while negative values indicate biodiminution. In general, no significant dissolved Cd concentration appeared to be present in the Bahía Blanca estuary and Cu values did not indicate a critical environmental status. The particulate phase seemed to be the major carrier for Cd and Cu and TPCu values were within the normal values for an anthropogenically stressed estuary but not for a strongly polluted system. This fraction was the most important metal source for the mesozooplankton. Moreover, the highest metal concentrations were in the mesozooplankton since most of the bioconcentration and biomagnification factors were positive, especially for Cu.     

Spatial distribution of zooplankton in the intertidal marsh creeks of the Yangtze River Estuary,China

Zooplankton are important grazers of primary production within intertidal marshes and are the optimal prey of higher trophic consumers; however, the patterns of their spatial distribution in marsh creeks are rarely reported. The zooplankton in the intertidal creeks with different salinities at Dongtan marshes of the Yangtze River Estuary was surveyed. The mean zooplankton densities in the intertidal creeks were 53,638 ind. m⁻³ in April and 132,916 ind. m⁻³ in July, respectively, which were as high as in the near-shore subtidal waters of the Yangtze River Estuary. This high abundance implied the important roles of zooplankton in the matter flux between marshes and near-shore waters through complex intertidal creek systems. Zooplankton total densities changed significantly from northern to southern creeks. ANOSIM and CCA analyses revealed that the zooplankton community structure were significantly different among the northern, eastern and southern creeks, and between two sampling seasons. Salinity accounted for most of the spatial variation of zooplankton community, whereas water temperature, chlorophyll a concentration, and pH were the main reasons of the temporal variation observed. Copepods were the most abundant zooplankton group. A total of 24 copepod species, belonging to 15 families and 20 genera, were recorded. Planktonic copepods preferred the northern and eastern creeks, with higher densities in July than in April, while benthic copepods predominated only in the northern creeks in April. Since the role of benthic and planktonic copepods may differ in transporting nutrients in the intertidal creeks, it is suggested that the variations in their distribution may influence the ecological functions of zooplankton in the estuarine matter fluxes both spatially and temporally.     

海南西北部近岸海域浮游动物群落结构

为探讨海南西北部近岸海域浮游动物群落结构,根据2016年11月(秋季)、2017年2月(冬季)、2017年5月(春季)和2017年8月(夏季) 4个季节的浮游动物调查数据,对该海域浮游动物的种类组成、优势种及其生态类群、丰度和生物量进行了分析。结果表明:4个季节共鉴定浮游动物7门113属215种(含未定种),秋季最多(134种),冬季(113种)和春季(111种)较为接近,夏季(94种)最少,各季节均以桡足类和水螅水母类占优势。浮游动物种类的空间分布上,秋季和冬季整体呈现近岸和远岸较中间高,而春季和夏季由近岸到远岸呈逐渐增加的变化趋势。浮游动物种类随季节变动不大,但优势种更替较为明显,仅亚强次真哲水蚤(Subeucalanus subcrassus)和肥胖箭虫(Sagitta enflata)为4个季节共有优势种。优势种生态类群主要可分为暖温种、广温广盐种、近岸暖水种、热带暖水种及暖水广布种。浮游动物丰度均值秋季(124. 75 ind./m3)与冬季(152. 43ind./m3)相近,春季(64. 76 ind./m3)和夏季(74. 44 ind./m3)相近,春季、夏季的丰度均值要明显低于秋季、冬季,平面分布上秋季和冬季呈现近岸高远岸低,但不同的是水深在大于20 m以上的海域,冬季平均丰度要稍高于秋季,而春季和夏季呈现近岸低远岸高的变化特点。浮游动物生物量冬季(263. 68 mg/m3)最高,秋季(147. 38 mg/m3)次之,春季(59. 13 mg/m3)和夏季(61. 45 mg/m3)相近,平面分布上与丰度分布趋势相似。     

东海浮游介形类生态适应分析

根据1997~2000年东海23°30'~33°N,118°30'~128°E海域4个季节海洋调查资料,用浮游介形类物种丰度和同步表层温、盐度数据进行曲线拟合,构造数学模型,计算介形类分布最适温度和盐度值,并参考其地理分布和生态适应特征分析,确定东海浮游介形类主要物种的生态类型.结果表明:在浮游介形类优势种中,后圆真浮萤(Euconchoecia maimai)、短棒真浮萤(E.Chierchiae)、针刺真浮萤(E.aculeata)、细长真浮萤(E.elongata)和齿形海萤(Cypridina dentata)等为亚热带外海种.这些种具有广泛的分布,如果冬、春季在较低水温出现,与东海北部外海暖流带入有密切的关系.腹突拟浮萤(Paraconchoecia decipiens)、猬刺拟浮萤(P.echinata)、棘刺拟浮莹(P.spinifera)、长拟浮萤(P.oblonga)、大浮萤(Conchoecia magna)和葱萤(Porroecia porrecta)等是热带大洋种,这些种主要分布在黑潮暖流、台湾暖流和台湾海峡水域.同心假浮萤(Pseudocon-choecia concentrica)和Paraconchoecia sp.最适温度较低,但地理分布特征显示前者是亚热带外海种,后者是暖温带外海种.所提到介形类其他物种最适盐度大多超过34,但最适温度在15~20℃之间.依据有关文献,这些种在我国从东海到南沙海域都有分布,分布虽广但数量稀少,难有证据表明这些种分布与暖流有密切的关系,是亚热带外海种.     

Distinctive stable isotope ratios in important zooplankton species in relation to estuarine salinity gradients: Potential tracer of fish migration

To assess the potential of stable isotope ratios as an indicator of fish migration within estuaries, stable isotope ratios in important zooplankton species were analyzed in relation to estuarine salinity gradients. Gut contents from migratory juveniles of the euryhaline marine fish Lateolabrax japonicus were examined along the Chikugo River estuary of the Ariake Sea, which has the most developed estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) in Japan. Early juveniles in March and April preyed primarily on two copepod species; Sinocalanus sinensis at lower salinities and Acartia omorii at higher salinities. Late juveniles (standard length > 40 mm) at lower salinities preyed exclusively on the mysid Acanthomysis longirostris until July and complementarily on the decapod Acetes japonicus in August. These prey species were collected along the estuary during the spring–summer seasons of 2003 and 2004, and their carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) were evaluated. The δ¹³C values of prey species were distinct from each other and were primarily depleted within and in close proximity to the ETM (salinity < 10); S. sinensis (−26.6‰) < Acanthomysis longirostris (−23.3‰) < Acartia omorii (−21.1‰) < Acetes japonicus (−18.5‰). The overall gradient of δ¹³C with salinity occurred for all prey species and showed minor temporal fluctuations, while it was not directly influenced by the δ¹³C values in particulate organic matter along the estuary. In contrast to δ¹³C, the δ¹⁵N values of prey species did not exhibit any clear relationship with salinity. The present study demonstrated that δ¹³C has the potential for application as a tracer of fish migration into lower salinity areas including the ETM.     

Population succession and feeding of scyphomedusae, Aurelia aurita, in a eutrophic tropical lagoon in Taiwan

Seasonal dynamics and feeding of scyphomedusae, Aurelia aurita, were investigated monthly from 1999 to 2002 in relation to environmental conditions in Tapong Bay, a eutrophic tropical lagoon in southwestern Taiwan. Medusae appeared throughout the year but exhibited seasonal dynamics that were correlated with hydrographic features in the bay. Most ephyrae of A. aurita occurred mainly in the lower flushed and eutrophic inner bay, and during the cold, dry season between November and February. They grew to young medusae with a maximum abundance in spring (March–May), but their numbers abruptly decreased during the warm and rainy summer season in June–September. The remaining medusae then grew rapidly to a maximal size of 29 cm. Mature females spawned in the following autumn when precipitation decreased but zooplankton food was still abundant. These mature individuals decreased in size after spawning and in winter. Gut content analysis revealed that A. aurita fed mainly on copepods and copepod nauplii and less on bivalve larvae and fish eggs. Prey selectivity indices indicated that larger medusae selected positively for copepods while small size medusae preferred copepod nauplii. The overall feeding effect of A. aurita on the standing stock of zooplankton was significant (27%) in the bay. Our results suggest that tidal flow and dense oyster culture pens were the two most important factors influencing the spatial distribution pattern of A. aurita in the bay, while precipitation affected the population abundance seasonally; decreasing water temperature coincided with the mass release of ephyra in late autumn and winter.     

福清湾及附近海域浮游动物的数量和分布

本文分析了2005年10月和2006年5月在福清湾及其附近海域采集的浮游动物样品,结果表明,福清湾已鉴定的浮游动物有64种,10类浮游幼体.分为4个生态类群,包括河口低盐类群,近岸暖温类群,近岸暖水类群和广布外海类群.浮游动物物种多样性指数春季高于秋季.春季浮游动物总个体数均值为(161ind/m3)高于秋季的(83ind/m3),春季生物量均值为(67.7mg/m3)低于秋季的(87.7mg/m3);浮游动物总个体数的平面分布,春季湾内西部水域最高,海坛海峡最少;秋季福清湾东部水域最高,湾内西部水域最少.浮游动物生物量和总个体数的平面分布趋势基本一致.另外还对浮游动物的分布与环境因子的关系进行了分析.     

Distribution pattern of zooplankton in the han river estuary with respect to tidal cycle

The monthly distribution of zooplankton communities in Han River estuary was investigated at two stations from July 1998 to June 1999. Monthly mean abundance of total zooplankton varied remarkably, with the range from 20 indiv.·m^-3 to 19,600 indiv.·m^-3. During the study period, dominant species of zooplankton community were dinoflagellateNoctiluca scintillans, copepodsParacalanus indicus, Paracaanus crassirostris, Acartia hongi, Acartia ohtsukai, and meroplanton cirriped larvae. According to tidal states, relative high abundance occurred at high tide without regard to season. The temporal distribution of abundance implied that the reduced salinity probably limited the zooplankton populations and the fluctuations of salinity were an important factor in the variation of abundance. However, the results of salinity tolerance test shows that the variations in salinity do not directly influence the decrease of abundance. This study shows that the relatively high abundance of zooplankton near high tide seems to be related with the expansion of abundant zooplankton inhabiting Incheon coastal waters through tidal currents.