黔北桐梓五峰组观音桥段双壳类和腹足类的生态意义

黔北桐梓红花园地区的五峰组是华南地区奥陶系的重要剖面之一,在其以泥质灰岩为特征的五峰组观音桥段下部黑色含炭质钙质页岩和褐色粉砂岩中分别产有较为丰富的双壳类Modiolopsis和腹足类Holopea。产双壳和腹足类的地层中岩性和生物具有差异性,表明观音桥段沉积早期的沉积环境具有多变的特征。横长卵形、较膨凸的Modiolopsis和其两瓣壳相连保存的标本表明为近原地埋藏,为弱水动力、有氧的、较浅水环境的软质基底。丰度较大的低圆锥形Holopea的不规则的壳顶指向指示了具一定水动力的、沙性基底的浅水环境。     

Last glacial maximum ecology and climate from terrestrial gastropod assemblages in Peoria loess,western Kentucky

The Rocks loess section, in unglaciated western Kentucky, provides a high-resolution environmental record during the last glacial maximum onset. The Peoria Silt (9 m thick) contains 26 terrestrial gastropod species, with up to 15 species within a single 5 cm interval. Thirteen radiocarbon ages, using shells or charcoal, range between 30 and 24.5 cal ka; younger loess has been leached or eroded. Stratigraphic shifts in gastropod assemblages imply significant cooling, particularly ~27 cal ka, as solar insolation was decreasing and the southern Laurentide Ice Sheet rapidly advancing. Midwestern to southern species (e.g. Anguispira kochi, Gastrocopta pentodon, Hawaii miniscula, Helicodiscus parallelus, Vallonia perspectiva) occur only in the lowermost Peoria Silt (~30–27 cal ka). In contrast, cold-tolerant species (Columella alticola, Vertigo modesta, Vallonia gracilicosta) occur only in full glacial Peoria Silt (27–24.5 cal ka). Inferred mean July temperatures, from mutual climatic range methods, range from ~23 °C at 30 cal ka, cooling to ~18 °C by 26 cal ka; about 3–8 °C cooler than today (~26 °C). Superimposed on this cooling trend are multi-centennial variations in detrital carbonate, fossil shell concentrations, palaeotemperature estimates, and oxygen isotope values (Vertigo, Discus, Helicodiscus). The finer-scale variations imply relatively synchronous fluctuations in glacial sediment supply, loess sedimentation, and climate.     

Genetic connectivity among populations of two congeneric direct-developing whelks varies across spatial scales

We examined the phylogeographic structure of two congeneric, direct-developing, intertidal whelks endemic to New Zealand, Cominella virgata and C. maculosa. A total of 855 specimens were collected from 23 rocky shore locations and we used them to determine the level of DNA sequence variation at the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Cominella virgata and C. maculosa have relatively high levels of haplotype diversity but low levels of nucleotide diversity. Sample sites formed regional groups that were composed of genetically differentiated populations, a finding consistent with their limited dispersal abilities. Cominella virgata showed higher levels of regional differentiation than C. maculosa, and there were also species-specific differences in genetic patterns within some regions. Both species exhibited genetic homogenisation among proximate sites within groups, suggesting some dispersal does occur between areas that are not connected by contiguous rocky shore habitat.     

The spatial arrangement of reefs alters the ecological patterns of fauna between interspersed algal habitats

Reef landscapes dominated by canopy-forming species are often irregular mosaics of habitats, with important influences on associated fauna. This study tested if differences in the ecological patterns of mobile fauna inhabiting interspersed (morphologically distinct) algal habitats were altered by the spatial arrangement of reefs of varying proximity to the shoreline. Specifically, prosobranch gastropods were used as models to test that: (1) there were differences in the ecological patterns (species composition and abundances) between three algal habitats (the kelp Ecklonia radiata, fucalean macroalgae, and erect red algae); (2) the magnitude of these differences depended on the position of reef lines (‘in-shore’ vs. ‘off-shore’); and (3) these effects were regionally consistent across a 4° latitudinal gradient (600 km of coastline) in Western Australia. The ecological patterns of algal-associated gastropods responded strongly to the presence of algal habitats with different physical structure at small spatial scales. Importantly, differences in assemblage structure (e.g. differences in total abundances) between habitats across the latitudinal gradient were especially accentuated on the in-shore reefs compared with the off-shore reefs, where a general amelioration of differences between habitats was observed, probably associated with a more widespread effect of stronger wave forces across habitats. Overall, red algae supported higher total abundances and species richness (per algal weight) compared to the other algal habitats, particularly on in-shore reefs. Patterns for individual species were considerably location-dependent, reflecting the natural variability of species across geographical gradients. In contrast, patterns at the assemblage-level were consistent, providing evidence for the existence of general rules underlying the assemblage-level organization of mobile invertebrates on subtidal reefs across this geographical gradient.     

西藏达雄群的化石新资料和再认识

在达雄群中新发现的双壳Ludbrookiadaxungensis,L.daxungensis,Rasatrixcf.suzulii,Arcticasubextensa及腹足Biplicaobliqu等化石,具早白垩世动物群组合面貌,表明该群的沉积时代大致为早白垩世欧特里夫—阿尔布期(Hauterivian-Albrian),而不是前人划归的中—晚侏罗世,与区内的早白垩世则弄群上部相当。     

Dietary Preferences and Carbon Absorption by two Grazing Gastropods, G/bbula umbilicaris (LINNÉ) and Jujubinus striatus (LINNÉ)

Abstract. Ingestion rates and absorption efficiencies in Gibbula umbilicaris and Jujubinus striatus feeding on green algal films, diatoms, macro-epiphytes, and dead Posidonia ocean/'ca-Ieaves have been investigated in laboratory experiments.
For both gastropod species, ingestion rates were highest in diatoms and thin green algal films as food source. G. umbilicaris exhibited significant lower consumption rates when feeding on seagrass debris or macro-epiphytes, J. striatus consumed neither Posidonia-debris nor macro-epiphytes.
Highest carbon absorption efficiencies were found in both gastropod species when feeding on diatoms and green algal films. Significantly lower efficiencies were found in G. umbilicaris when consuming seagrass debris or macro-epiphytes.
Analyses of fecal material confirmed these findings. Highest organic carbon contents were measured in fecal pellets produced after consumption of seagrass debris or macro-epiphytes reflecting the presence of structural carbohydrates. SEM examinations of feces revealed mainly diatom frustules, refractory parts of macroalgal and other plant material. Analyses of gut contents gave similar results suggesting a basically microphagous herbivory for both gastropod species.
Since seagrass debris and macro-epiphytes are not used very effectively, the high absorption efficiencies when animals feed on the microfloral component of the periphyton are discussed as possible adaptation to limited food availability.     

What Determines the Distribution of Coastal Hydrobiid Mudsnails Within North-Western Europe?

The three north-west European species of Hydrobia are often partially segregated along salinity gradients and/or sympatric in the nontidal eastern Danish waters and Baltic Sea, but are rarely sympatric and are confined either to nontidal coastal lagoons ( Hydrobia ventrosa and Hydrobia neglecta ) or to the marine/estuarine intertidal zone ( Hydrobia ulvae ) along the macrotidal Atlantic and North Sea coasts. Significant interspecific competition has been found in Danish waters but not elsewhere in the Atlantic and North-Sea Europe. The two nontidal species and H. ulvae also possess contrasting reproductive strategies. The roles of life-history strategy, interspecific competition and between-habitat dispersal in restricting these mudsnails to their differing habitats are evaluated in the light of these and other findings. It is concluded that all are likely to be relevant, especially dispersal in maintaining and interspecific competition in opposing, mixed populations in the Kattegat-Baltic, and life-history strategy in maintaining the lagoonal versus intertidal dichotomy in the rest of north-west Europe. This dichotomy prevents segregation of species along common salinity gradients outside the Baltic region and restricts potential interspecific competition to within lagoons, where H. ulvae is at a recruitment disadvantage.     

The occurrence and distribution of freshwater snails in a heavily industrialised region of Poland (Upper Silesia)

Anthropogenic water bodies namely fish ponds, clay pits, sand pits, dam reservoirs or mining subsidence pools are the characteristic feature of Upper Silesian landscape. In the study, the gastropod communities occurring in 296 anthropogenic water bodies were discussed in relation to their distribution in macroregions of Upper Silesia, role in industrialised and urbanised environment and the significance for regional biodiversity.In period 1998–2002, 31 freshwater gastropod species were found in the study area. It is noteworthy, that the anthropogenic water habitats of Upper Silesia provide a refuge for several rare and vulnerable species, among them e.g. Anisus leucostoma (Millet, 1813), Gyraulus rossmaessleri (V. Auerswald, 1852) and Hippeutis complanatus (Linnaeus, 1758).     

渤海涟虫类和软体动物幼虫食性的观察

根据消化道内食物分析结果得出：涟虫类、三叶针尾涟虫和驼背涟虫、瓣锶类后期幼虫和腹足类后期幼虫都营浮游植物食性,以硅藻类为主要食物。细长涟虫以星脐圆筛藻、未查明的圆筛藻和辐射圆筛藻为主要摄食对象;三叶针尾涟虫以舟形藻和新月菱形藻为主要摄食对象;驼背涟虫以辐射圆筛为主要摄食对象。鳃类后期幼虫以辐射圆筛藻和未查明的圆筛藻为主要摄食对象;腹足类后期幼虫以未查明的圆筛藻、辐射圆筛藻和中心圆筛藻为主要摄食对象     

Latitudinal gradients and poleward expansion of mangrove ecosystems in South Africa: 50 years after Macnae’s first assessment

Mangroves occur in South African estuaries at their poleward distribution limits, extending into temperate habitats. In 1963, William Macnae published the first comprehensive assessment of mangrove swamps in South Africa and made firsthand observations of these mangrove ecosystems. This article reassesses South African mangrove habitats, highlighting changes since Macnae’s assessment, through a literature review of research done in the past 50 years and using the results of a dedicated mangrove survey spanning 2012–2017. Until now, changes have been recorded mostly for mangrove vegetation, including a change in mangrove cover and a poleward shift of mangrove species. While some mangrove-associated fauna have disappeared from most sites (e.g. the gastropod Terebralia palustris), others, such as fiddler crabs, have spread farther south. The effects of decreasing diversity with an increase in latitude were not observed along the South African coast. Instead, habitat quality and estuarine mouth state seem to exert greater influence on species diversity in the mangroves, and a poleward shift in species distribution is now evident not just for the mangrove flora but for the fauna as well. South African mangrove research needs to include a continuous monitoring plan, especially if we are to contribute to global knowledge on blue carbon, the effects of sea-level rise, and the resilience of the mangrove ecosystem.