Microbial Diversity in Nankai Trough Sediments at a Depth of 3,843 m

Dense populations of bivalves, primarily Calyptogena sp., were observed at cold seeps of the Nankai Trough. Bacterial input to the sediment was estimated through determination of phospholipid ester-linked fatty acid (PLFA) and DNA profiles. Results indicated a bacterial biomass of 10⁹ cells (g dry wt)^-1 while individual fatty acid profiles revealed a predominance of monounsaturated fatty acids, mainly 18:1 isomers. The presence of these fatty acids can be interpreted to reflect a response to low temperature and a predominance of psychrophilic bacteria. DNA fragments encoding bacterial ribosomal RNA small-subunit sequences (16S rDNA) were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction method using DNA extracted directly from the sediment samples. From the sequencing results, at least 19 kinds of bacterial 16S rDNAs related to mostly the Proteobacteria and a few gram-positive bacteria were identified. These results suggest that the bacterial community in the Nankai Trough sediments consists of mainly bacteria belonging to the Proteobacteria , , and subdivisions. Bacteria belonging to the and subdivisions, which are known to include epibiont and sulfate reducing bacteria, respectively, were mostly detected in the sediment obtained from inside the area of the Calyptogena community, and the -Proteobacteria may function to supply reduced sulfur to bacterial endosymbionts of Calyptogena.     

Comparative phylogeography of African rain forest trees: A review of genetic signatures of vegetation history in the Guineo-Congolian region

The biogeographic history of the African rain forests has been contentious. Phylogeography, the study of the geographic distribution of genetic lineages within species, can highlight the signatures of historical events affecting the demography and distribution of species (i.e. population fragmentation or size changes, range expansion/contraction) and, thereby, the ecosystems they belong to. The accumulation of recent data for African rain forests now enables a first biogeographic synthesis for the region. In this review, we explain which phylogeographic patterns are expected under different scenarios of past demographic change, and we give an overview of the patterns detected in African rain forest trees to discuss whether they support alternative hypotheses regarding the history of the African rain forest cover. The major genetic discontinuities in the region support the role of refugia during climatic oscillations, though not necessarily following the classically proposed scenarios. We identify in particular a genetic split between the North and the South of the Lower Guinean region. Finally we provide some perspectives for future study.     

抗生素对浒苔形态及共附生细菌多样性的影响

本文研究了3种抗生素联合处理黄海绿潮浒苔(Ulva prolifera)形态及共附生细菌多样性的影响。将浒苔放散的配子加入到含有3种广谱抗生素(青霉素G、硫酸新霉素、多黏菌素B)的培养液中进行培养, 与对照组相比, 发现浒苔幼苗生长速度缓慢, 且细胞变小, 藻体无法形成正常形态。进一步采用16S rDNA高通量测序分析抗生素处理藻体前后的共附生细菌多样性, 发现抗生素处理后浒苔共附生细菌丰富度和多样性降低, 其中Maribacter丰度降低。将藻体与形态发生化合物thallusin(Maribacter spp. 提取物)共培养, 发现thallusin可促进藻体形态恢复和生长, 推测抗生素可通过抑制Maribacter等细菌从而影响浒苔形态和生长, 这将为浒苔共附生细菌功能的深入研究奠定一定基础。     

Rare species, habitat diversity and functional redundancy in marine benthos

Macro-ecological theories relating species richness, abundance, range size, biological traits and environmental tolerance have rarely been tested in marine soft-sediments, despite the spatial extent of these habitats and the inherent richness of resident communities. This study examines the contribution of rare species to marine soft-sediment communities from New Zealand, focussing on the relationships of range size with abundance, environment, habitat diversity and life history traits. 54% of the 351 species sampled exhibited restricted ranges (found at ≤ 2 sites). In contrast to many terrestrial systems, we observed only a weak positive relationship between abundance and frequency of occurrence. Restricted-range species were not randomly distributed, with their distribution related to habitat characteristics, suggesting an important link between habitat diversity and rarity. They exhibited a similar range of traits to the total observed species pool, suggesting that they are not only important to biodiversity but could play a role in stability. Restricted range species were generally not small and this, together with the number of different biological traits represented, suggests that rare species are important to the functioning of marine systems. Thus, our results highlight the importance of considering rare species in habitat-based approaches to conservation.     

Effects of pulsed nutrient inputs on phytoplankton assemblage structure and blooms in an enclosed coastal area

The response of phytoplankton assemblage structure to terrestrial nutrient inputs was examined for the Gulf of Kalloni in the Northern Aegean Sea, a productive semi-enclosed coastal marine ecosystem. The study was focused on a typical annual cycle, and emphasis was placed on the comparative analysis between blooms developing after significant nutrient inputs from the watershed, and naturally occurring blooms. Baseline information was collected on a monthly basis from a network of stations located in the oligotrophic open sea and the interior and more productive part of the embayment. Intensive sampling was also carried out along a gradient in the vicinity of a river which was the most important source of freshwater and nutrient input for the Gulf. Phytoplankton assemblage structure was analyzed from 188 samples using diversity indices (Shannon and Average Taxonomic Distinctness), multivariate plotting methods (NMDS), multivariate statistics (PERMANOVA), and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Three characteristic assemblages were recognized: (1) an autumn assemblage developed under nutrient depleted conditions, having low diversity due to the dominance of two small diatoms, (2) a winter bloom of the potentially toxic species Pseudo-nitzschia calliantha occurring immediately after a nutrient peak and characterized by very low diversity, and (3) a naturally occurring early summer bloom of centric diatoms with relatively high diversity. The results of the study support the view that moderate nutrient inputs may have a beneficial effect on the functioning of coastal ecosystems, stimulating the taxonomic diversity through the growth of different taxonomic groups and taxa. On the other hand, a sudden pulse of high nutrient concentrations may greatly affect the natural succession of organisms, have a negative effect on the diversity through the dominance of a single species, and can increase the possibility of a harmful algal bloom development.     

西菲律宾海比科尔陆架深海沉积物古菌多样性研究

通过构建16S rRNA 基因文库, 对西太平洋西菲律宾海东板比科尔陆架5 个不同层位沉积物样品中的古菌的多样性进行了研究, 并获得了465 个有效克隆63 个OTUs （Operational Taxonomic Units）。通过16S rRNA 序列与GenBank 已知序列的同源性比较及构建系统进化树的结果显示...     

夏季北部湾的浮游植物群落

根据2009年8月份对北部湾(18°N～22°N,107°E～110°E)海域12个采水站住的调查,分析夏季调查区浮游植物的群落结构特征.通过Uterm?hl方法共鉴定出浮游植物4门60属90种(不包括未定种),群落组成以硅藻为主,其次是甲藻.浮游植物生态类群以广温广布型种为主,调查区的优势种为菱形海线藻(Thalas...     

我国沿海马尾藻属(Sargassum)的物种多样性及其区系分布特征

通过对我国沿海多次野外实地考查以及文献报道,采用统计学的分析方法,研究了马尾藻属海藻资源的物种构成和区系分布特征.结果表明,马尾藻属种数在我国海域的水平分布呈现出北少南多的趋势,黄、东海仅17种,南海达到124种、占世界马尾藻总数的36.47％.其中,黄海西区、东海西区、南海北区和南海南区种数及小区单一分布种类数分别为10、13、82和61种及2、3、52和42种.我国特有种类为64种、占世界尾藻总数的18.82％.在我国沿海马尾藻的垂直分布特征为:高潮带2种,低潮带91种,潮下带78种.