Impacts of alien ‘ecosystem engineers’ overwhelm interannual and seasonal shifts in rocky-shore community composition on Marcus Island,South Africa

The South African coastline has been invaded by numerous alien species. Rare pre-invasion (1980) and post-invasion datasets (2001 and 2012) exist for Marcus Island, a small land-tied island in Saldanha Bay, South Africa. These snapshot datasets of the island’s intertidal invertebrate community were complemented with monitoring across seasons, from 2014 to 2016. Invertebrate communities were compared among the summers of 1980, 2001, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 to assess interannual differences, while invertebrates and algae were monitored quarter-annually to assess seasonal changes. In addition, the population dynamics of the alien mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis were monitored. Differences in invertebrate communities between consecutive summers were significant but much smaller than changes induced by the arrival of alien species. Invertebrate and seaweed communities differed among years and shore zones but not among seasons, whereas species diversity differed among years, seasons and shore zones, with zones having the strongest influence. The invasion by M. galloprovincialis, and ensuing spatial and temporal variability in its recruitment, emerged as the most important factor influencing community composition, overshadowing interannual and seasonal changes. This work highlights that the impacts of alien species can be distinguished from natural variability by combining long-term monitoring with surveys at finer temporal scales. This is an important step in extending our understanding of the impacts of marine alien species.     

厚壳贻贝(Mytilus coruscus)足丝蛋白mcofp3和mcofp6的cDNA克隆及序列分析

通过设计特异性引物,采用PCR扩增的方法对厚壳贻贝足腺细胞cDNA文库进行筛选,共克隆得到14条厚壳贻贝mcofp3的cDNA序列和8条mcofp6的cDNA序列,并对其基因序列及推导的氨基酸序列进行了序列比对和变异位点初步分析。结果表明,14条mcofp3cDNA序列分属于厚壳贻贝mcofp3家族的两个亚家族,其成熟肽序列变异相对活跃;而8条mcofp6 cDNA序列并无明显的亚家族划分,序列相对保守。本次实验所获得的mcofp cDNA序列初步显示了厚壳贻贝足丝蛋白家族基因的分子多样性,为将来深入了解厚壳贻贝足丝蛋白的分子多样性机制以及在此基础上开发相关的新型生物黏附剂奠定了基础。     

短蛸(Octopus ocellatus)酪氨酸蛋白激酶基因的克隆及其mRNA在细菌刺激后的表达规律

从前期构建的短蛸(Octopus ocellatus)c DNA文库中克隆获得了一个短蛸酪氨酸蛋白激酶(Oo Btk)基因的c DNA全长,其c DNA全长1191 bp,包括5’非编码区(UTR)259 bp,3’UTR 227 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)705 bp,编码234个氨基酸,预测理论等电点为8.50,分子量为27.7 k Da。运用实时荧光定量PCR法分析了在健康短蛸的不同组织以及鳗弧菌和藤黄微球菌刺激后血细胞中Oo Btk的表达规律,结果表明:Oo Btk在肌肉、外套膜、鳃、鳃心、系统心脏、肝胰脏、肾囊、胃、性腺和血细胞等各检测组织中均有表达,其中在肝胰脏的表达量最高;短蛸经鳗弧菌和藤黄微球菌刺激后,Oo Btk在血细胞中的表达量呈现出了明显的被诱导表达趋势,在鳗弧菌和藤黄微球菌刺激后6 h表达即增强,并分别在鳗弧菌刺激后48 h和藤黄微球菌刺激后12 h达到最高。Oo Btk参与短蛸对于鳗弧菌和藤黄微球菌刺激的应答过程。     

Shell‐shape and morphometric variability in Mytilus galloprovincialis from micro‐tidal environments: responses to different hydrodynamic drivers

Tidal conditions differently influence inter‐tidal organisms in terms of general physiological and metabolic responses. In this study we investigated the morphological response in shells of Mytilus galloprovincialis native to different micro‐tidal coastal environments in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Our purpose was to highlight the ecophenotypic variability across tidal levels and to elucidate how tidal currents and waves produced by anthropogenic activities may play a part in modulating shell morphology. Three sampling sites were selected: an open‐sea area 15 km off‐shore and two sites within the lagoon of Venice, the first near one of its three inlets, and the other one in the proximity of Venice city centre. At each sampling site, organisms were seasonally collected at different depths within their vertical zonation, either in the inter‐tidal zone – i.e. at both the highest and lowest tide zonation limits, and subtidally. The mussel shells were analysed by investigation of their morphometric relationships (height/length and width/length ratios) and by elliptic Fourier analysis of the shell contours. Shell thickness and condition index were also evaluated for a better comprehension of energy allocation/partitioning. Estimates based on long‐term measurements, visual observation, wind statistics and wave growth laws allowed an evaluation of the forces acting on shells. At the open‐sea site, the observed phenotypic variability of both shell shape and thickness was clearly related to the tidal vertical zonation. At the two lagoon sites, the currents generated by tidal flow through the inlet and the waves caused by the frequent passage of boats influenced both shell shape and thickness. A trade‐off between protection and growth was apparent along the tide gradient, as emphasized by the differences in the partitioning and allocation of energy between shell and flesh production.     

贻贝超氧化物歧化酶的分离纯化和部分性质

采用热变性－硫酸铵分级沉淀－Ｓｅｐｈａｄｅｘ Ｇ－１００和ＤＥ５２柱层析的方法从贻贝中分离纯化铜锌超氧化物歧化酶,并对其部分性质进行分析鉴定。结果该酶的比活力为９４５３．３Ｕ／ｍｇ（ｐｒｏｔｅｉｎ）,提纯倍数为６０９．９,对ＫＣＮ和Ｈ２Ｏ敏感,Ｔ氏液和ＳＤＳ对酶活性没影响,对热较稳定。     

厚壳贻贝(Mytilus coruscus)养殖区沉积物微生物多样性及固碳潜力研究

海洋蓝碳是海洋碳汇研究的重要领域,厘清不同蓝碳生境中沉积物有机碳组分格局是当前研究的热点之一。为更好地理解此问题,现以近海厚壳贻贝养殖区这一特殊蓝碳生境为对象,解析沉积物中的碳氮组分格局;进一步通过关联沉积物微生物群落、结合卡尔文循环和还原三羧酸循环的关键基因相对丰度分析,评估厚壳贻贝养殖区沉积物的固碳潜力。结果表明,相较于非养殖区,厚壳贻贝养殖区沉积物惰性碳的累积较大,氮组分主要以氨氮形式存在;同时养殖区高微生物量碳和微生物量氮指示了其沉积物中碳周转较快,碳氮组分特征差异明显。沉积物微生物高通量测序结果显示养殖区沉积物微生物主要以Gamma变形菌纲和Delta变形菌纲为主,且微生物类群与颗粒有机碳、惰性碳等碳组分存在明显的相关性。与惰性碳存在明显正相关关系的硫微螺菌科(Thiomicrospiraceae)丰度在养殖区沉积物中显著高于非养殖区沉积物。贻贝养殖区沉积物包含cbbL在内的6种关键功能基因,固碳潜力明显。研究结果将为进一步探究蓝碳生境的有机碳来源和微生物固碳效率提供基础依据。     

基于CO1基因的渔山列岛厚壳贻贝遗传资源评估

基于线粒体CO1基因的序列,对渔山列岛,大连獐子岛,南麂列岛,山东南隍城乡,舟山嵊泗5个野生群体的厚壳贻贝进行遗传多样性和遗传结构的分析。结果表明:在mt DNACO1基因同源片段上共检测到了39个多态位点,其中39个简约信息位点,无单突变位点,构成40个单倍型,群体遗传多样性水平为:渔山山东大连舟山南麂;然而单倍型多样性却是山东渔山南麂大连舟山。分子进化树和单倍型网络关系图构建结果显示:5个群体之间分为3个单倍型类群(A、B、C),其中A类群含15个单倍型,B类群含23个单倍型,C类群含2个单倍型(均为渔山列岛的单倍型),其中渔山列岛的单倍型在上述三个类群中都有分布。3个单倍型类群间的遗传距离为0.0099~0.0268。渔山列岛群体内遗传分化较为显著,其他4个群体间未检测到显著的遗传分化。     

基于线粒体COⅢ基因分析厚壳贻贝(Mytilus coruscus)养殖群体遗传多样性

基于线粒体DNA的COⅢ基因序列对我国沿海重要经济贝类厚壳贻贝3个养殖群体(温州、宁德、福州)的遗传多样性和遗传结构进行了分析。由PCR扩增获得23个体的COⅢ基因787bp的部分序列,其多态性遗传参数统计显示,23个个体共检出21个单倍型,总群体单倍型多样性指数(Hd)为0.978,核苷酸多样性指数(Pi)为0.01045,平均核苷酸差异数(K)为8.534,三个群体均显示出较丰富的遗传多样性。遗传分化系数(Fst)表明,福州群体与宁德群体和温州群体间有一定程度的遗传分化,而宁德群体和温州群体间无遗传分化。     

Chlorinated compounds and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected from Apulia Region coasts

This project was carried out to assess the levels and spatial distribution of organochlorine compounds in the coastal marine environment, using mussels as bioindicators to evaluate the coastal water quality. Levels of polychlorobiphenils (PCB), chlorinated pesticides (DDT isomers, HCH isomers, Aldrin, Dieldrin, alfa-Endosulfan, Hexachlorobenzene, Pentachlorobenzene) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in tissues from mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected along the Apulia Region coasts (Mediterranean Sea). Results indicate that contamination by organochlorine compounds is higher in mussels sampled in the Ionian Sea than in those from the Adriatic Sea, with PCB levels up to seven times higher in mussels from Ionian than from the Adriatic Sea. Although PCB levels were above the maximum values indicated by both European Community (EC) and National regulation in several sample sites, the PCB concentrations were particularly high in some stations, suggesting that these locations require a much specific attention. Conversely, results on the mussel contamination by PBDEs highlight their ubiquitous environmental distribution, and underline the need to establish the maximum level for these compounds in foodstuff, according to European Regulations.     

Application of biomarkers for improving risk assessments of chemicals under the Water Framework Directive: a case study

To answer the requirement of the European Commission's Water Framework Directive (WFD) for biological-effects endpoints to classify the ecological health of aquatic ecosystems, we propose the biomarker response index (BRI). The BRI, based on a suite of biomarkers at different levels of biological response at the individual level, provides an integrated relative measure of the general health status of coastal invertebrates. Using the BRI, the health of mussels (Mytilus edulis) from 10 estuaries classified by the Environment Agency of England and Wales under the WFD was compared. Eight sites were healthier than predicted and two showed a similar health status to that of the predicted point-source pollution risk classification. Results indicate that the BRI offers a potential measure of organism health that can be used in monitoring under the WFD as an additional aid to reduce uncertainty in defining risk classification and to provide better evidence of existing impact.