Coupling of life cycles of the copepods Calanus chilensis and Centropages brachiatus to upwelling induced variability in the central-southern region of Chile

A time series of zooplankton sampling carried out at Station 18 off Concepción (36°S, 73°W) from August 2002 to December 2003 allowed the study of annual life cycles of the copepods Calanus chilensis and Centropages brachiatus in association with environmental variability in the coastal upwelling zone. Changes in the abundance of eggs, nauplii, and copepodids were assessed from samples taken at a mean time interval of ca. 20 days. Upwelling variability in near-surface waters was reflected in seasonal changes in salinity, water column stratification, and oxycline depth, as well as a weak seasonal signal in sea surface temperature (1-2 °C). Both copepods exhibited similar life cycles, characterized by continuous reproduction throughout the year. Estimates of generation times, as a function of temperature, were 25-30 days for C. chilensis and 27-35 days for C. brachiatus, predicting about 12 and 10 generations a year, respectively. These estimates were consistent with reproduction pulses observed in the field. It was thus suggested that copepods may grow under non-limiting food conditions in this upwelling area. However, despite continuous reproduction, there were abrupt changes in population sizes along with the disappearance of early naupliar and copepodid stages taking place even during the upwelling season (spring/summer). These changes were attributed to sudden increases in mortality taking place in spring or early summer, after which the populations remained at low levels through the fall and winter. It is thus suggested that, in addition to variability in the physical environment, biological interactions modulating changes in copepod mortality should be considered for understanding copepod life cycles in highly productive upwelling systems.     

长山列岛邻近海域鱼类群落功能多样性的季节和空间变化

为查明黄、渤海生态交错带长山列岛邻近海域鱼类功能多样性的时空变化,根据2016−2017年在长山列岛邻近海域开展的鱼类生物资源和环境因子的调查数据,结合食性、营养级、洄游类型、适温性、恢复力和鱼卵类型等13种功能性状,应用群落特征加权平均数指数、功能多样性指数和Spearman秩相关分析等方法,研究了该海域鱼类功能多样性的季节变化、空间格局及其与环境因子的关系。结果表明,春、冬季的优势类群为端位或上位口、生长系数较低、脆弱性较高、恢复力较低、定居或短距离洄游的平扁形、暖温性底层鱼类,夏、秋季表现出更多的功能性状,例如长距离洄游、栖息位置处于中上层、体型为侧扁形和纺锤形等;夏、秋季的功能丰富度指数显著高于春、冬季,功能均匀度指数在春季最高,功能离散度指数在秋季最低且显著低于其他季节;春季功能均匀度指数和春、秋季功能离散度指数均表现出西高东低的分布趋势,夏、冬季的功能丰富度指数和秋季的功能均匀度指数均表现出东高西低的分布趋势;功能多样性指数与环境因子具有一定的相关性。长山列岛邻近海域作为黄、渤海生态交错带,鱼类洄游引起优势功能性状和功能多样性呈现出一定的季节变化,环境因子的变化使得功能多样性的空间格局表现出复杂性、异质性的特点。     

Ecology of beach wrack in northern New England with special reference to Orchestia platensis

The northern New England beach wrack community with special reference to the cosmopolitan amphipod crustacean, Orchestia platensis, was examined at estuarine and open coastal habitats. Beach wrack was dominated by the plant genera Ascophyllum, Zostera, Spartina and Chondrus, and was most abundant during spring and late summer. Animal community numbers, biomass and frequency in fresh to moderately decomposed wrack were dominated by O. platensis throughout the year at all habitats; oligochaetes and Collembola were also important. The abundance of O. platensis showed high spatial and temporal variability, with low abundance generally associated with decreased amounts of wrack during colder months. An exception was the winter presence of the species at one estuarine habitat, in patchy aggregations within gravel-cobble refuges. The abundance of O. platensis averaged 1280 (0.04 m²)⁻¹, with a maximum of 7040 (0.04 m²)⁻¹. The life cycle of O. platensis is bivoltine, with summer-hatched young reaching maturity within 1 month. Laboratory studies indicate females with up to 4 broods (30 days)⁻¹, averaging 18 eggs brood⁻¹.Orchestia platensis is omnivorous, eating fresh plant tissue, live oligochaetes, Limulus eggs and diatom ‘fuzz’. The rate of laboratory consumption of algae and Zostera was 0.05 mg plant mg⁻¹ wet body weight day⁻¹. Presumptive predators of O. platensis are juvenile green crab, Carcinus maenus, and the earwig. Anisolabis maritima. The mobility, aggregation and aggressiveness of O. platensis assist the species in establishing and maintaining populations in the rigorous wrack habitat. The general competitive superiority of O. platensis over its congener, O. gammarella, and the co-occurrence of these species on both eastern and western Atlantic shores is discussed.     

Influence of stratification and irradiance regime on summer phytoplankton composition in coastal and shelf seas of the British Isles

The effect of interaction between stratification and irradiance regimes on phytoplankton community structure was investigated in three shelf/coastal regions of the British Isles, each of which displayed ranges of vertical stability and light attenuation. Relationships between vertical stability, light penetration and community structure were indicated by the ordination of dominance (assessed using cell volume) of the main phytoplankton phyletic groups—diatoms, dinoflagellates and microflagellates—on a surface defined by a bulk stratification index () and water column depth, scaled by transparency (λh). Diatom- and dinoflagellate-dominated communities occupied distinctly different domains on the - λh surface, diatoms being favoured in well-mixed water columns with high values for λh and dinoflagellates dominating where stratification was strong and λh was low. Microflagellates were not abundant in any of the study areas and showed no clear ordination on the - λh surface. The domain of co-dominance of diatom and dinoflagellates on the - λh surface was narrow with small changes in the irradiance or stratification regime resulting in a switch to diatom or dinoflagellate dominance. It is suggested that loss of non-motile diatom communities in strongly stratified water columns might be a strong selective force in favour of dinoflagel-lates. However, in water columns with intermediate stratification and optical properties, the outcome of competition may be decided by physiological attributes of the two groups with respect to growth in low and fluctuating irradiances.     

Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Algal and Animal Communities in a Posidonia oceanica Meadow

Abstract. Investigations were carried out in a Posidonia oceanica meadow at Ischia (Gulf of Naples) along a depth gradient from 1 to 32 m in November 1979 and May 1981.
In these two months, different discontinuities were found at the sampling stations (1, 5, 10, 20, 30 m) at 10 m for leaf features, between 1 and 5 m for the algal community and the vagile fauna. The leaf features (length, surface, and biomass) along the transects show a delay in leaf production toward the deeper stations, below the thermocline.
The algal community shows in both seasons and in all stations a persistence of an encrusting layer, mostly represented by Corallinaceae and the brown alga Myrionema orbiculare , while at the shallowest station (1 m) the community is characterized by a more developed upright layer.
The vagile fauna of the leaf stratum, mostly represented by Polychaeta, Mollusca , and Crustacea (Peracarida and Decapoda) , shows a consistent zonation in both seasons along the transect. A superficial community at I m, characterized by a low number of species and individuals and specialized for high environmental energy levels, and a deeper community, persistent in time and more strictly related to the Posidonia oceanica meadows, are identified.
The influence of environmental factors and the importance of meadow structure for the zonation of the algal and animal communities are discussed.     

Descriptive Analysis and Classification of Benthic Communities in Some Mediterranean Coastal Lagoons (Central Italy)

Abstract. Benthic samples were taken seasonally at 32 stations in five coastal lagoons of Central Italy (Fogliano, Monaci, Caprolace, Fondi, and Lungo) during a two-year period (1982–1984). Composition and distribution of benthic populations in each lagoon as well as seasonal trends of species richness, density, diversity, and redundancy are presented and discussed.
The faunal differentiation appeared to be mainly due to the different degree of water exchange, both with marine and continental systems.     

底栖生物生产力现场测试系统(BCSPM)的建立及其初步实验结果

为对生态系统的健康评估及底栖生物资源的开发利用提供技术支撑,在胶州湾筏式养殖水域,建立了底栖生物生产力现场测试系统(BCSPM),并在光照和黑暗条件下测定了沉积物海水界面溶解氧随时间的变化、计算了氧通量、估算了底栖总初级生产力和群落呼吸。在光照较强的中午时刻测定的群落总生产力为20．76mgCm^-2h^-1;养殖水域沉积物中的群落呼吸要高于邻近水域。BCSPM整体运转良好,初步结果为系统的改进和进一步实验提供了依据。     

大亚湾一次赤潮生消期间浮游植物群落变化研究

2003年8月12日至29日,广东省大亚湾的哑铃湾海域发生了小规模的赤潮,经现场跟踪监测发现是由锥状斯氏藻Scrippsiel latrochoidea和海洋卡盾藻Chattonella marina形成的混合赤潮。8月13日浮游植物群落由锥状斯氏藻占绝对优势,密度达6.52×106cells·L-1,占总细胞数量的99%以上;8月19日为赤潮高峰期,锥状斯氏藻密度最高时达5.59×107cells·L-1,约占总细胞数量的91%;而海洋卡盾藻在8月20日密度达到最大值1.17×107cells·L-1,约占总细胞数量的28%。以锥状斯氏藻、海洋卡盾藻占总细胞数量比例的不同,可将各站分为锥状斯氏藻控制区、海洋卡盾藻控制区及混合区3类,随环境条件的不断变化,这2种藻的数量随之变化,此3类区也处于变化之中。与海洋卡盾藻相比,锥状斯氏藻更适于在温度较高、盐度较低的情况下生长。还初步探讨了赤潮长时间持续的原因。