Holocene hydrographical changes of the eastern Laptev Sea (Siberian Arctic) recorded in δO profiles of bivalve shells

Oxygen isotope profiles along the growth axis of fossil bivalve shells of Macoma calcarea were established to reconstruct hydrographical changes in the eastern Laptev Sea since 8400 cal yr B.P.. The variability of the oxygen isotopes (δ¹⁸O) in the individual records is mainly attributed to variations in the salinity of bottom waters in the Laptev Sea with a modern ratio of 0.50‰/salinity. The high-resolution δ¹⁸O profiles exhibit distinct and annual cycles from which the seasonal and annual salinity variations at the investigated site can be reconstructed. Based on the modern analogue approach oxygen isotope profiles of radiocarbon-dated bivalve shells from a sediment core located northeast of the Lena Delta provide seasonal and subdecadal insights into past hydrological conditions and their relation to the Holocene transgressional history of the Laptev Sea shelf. Under the assumption that the modern relationship between δ¹⁸O_w and salinity has been constant throughout the time, the δ¹⁸O of an 8400-cal-yr-old bivalves would suggest that bottom-water salinity was reduced and the temperature was slightly warmer, both suggesting a stronger mixture of riverine water to the bottom water. Reconstruction of the inundation history of the Laptev Sea shelf indicates local sea level ∼27 m below present at this time and a closer proximity of the site to the coastline and the Lena River mouth. Due to continuing sea level rise and a southward retreat of the river mouth, bottom-water salinity increased at 7200 cal yr B.P. along with an increase in seasonal variability. Conditions comparable to the modern hydrography were achieved by 3800 cal yr B.P.     

四十里湾几种双壳贝类及污损动物的氮、磷排泄及其生态效应

对多种经济双壳贝类和养殖中的污损动物的N和P排泄进行了测定 ,包括排泄成分和排泄速率。在这些动物的N排泄中 ,NH4 N占主要部分 ,如笼式养殖的双壳贝类NH4 N占总N排泄的平均值范围为 70 8%— 80 1 % ;氨基酸是第二大排泄成分 ,平均占总N排泄的 1 0 %—2 5 %。其他形态的N ,如尿素、亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐也有检出。在P排泄中 ,有机磷 (DOP)约占总溶解磷 (TDP)排泄的 1 5 %— 2 7%。据估算 ,整个四十里湾所养殖的双壳贝类在夏季每天将排泄4 5 4t总溶解氮 ,其中NH4 N 3 36t、Amino N 0 69t、Urea N 0 2t。同时每天磷的排泄为 0 5 7tTDP ,其中DOP 0 1 5t。对面积为 1 3× 1 0 4 hm2 的海区而言 ,贝类的N、P排泄分别能满足浮游植物生产所需N、P的 44%和 40 %。高密度的贝类养殖对养殖生态系统营养循环的影响是很显著的。附着动物 (柄海鞘等 )的N、P排泄及其对营养循环的影响也不容忽视。     

Molluskan species richness and endemism on New Caledonian seamounts: Are they enhanced compared to adjacent slopes?

Seamounts were often considered as ‘hotspots of diversity’ and ‘centers of endemism’, but recently this opinion has been challenged. After 25 years of exploration and the work of numerous taxonomists, the Norfolk Ridge (Southwest Pacific) is probably one of the best-studied seamount chains worldwide. However, even in this intensively explored area, the richness and the geographic patterns of diversity are still poorly characterized. Among the benthic organisms, the post-mortem remains of mollusks can supplement live records to comprehensively document geographical distributions. Moreover, the accretionary growth of mollusk shells informs us about the life span of the pelagic larva. To compare diversity and level of endemism between the Norfolk Ridge seamounts and the continental slopes of New Caledonia we used species occurrence data drawn from (i) the taxonomic literature on mollusks and (ii) a raw dataset of mainly undescribed deep-sea species of the hyperdiverse Turridae. Patterns of endemism and species richness were analyzed through quantitative indices of endemism and species richness estimator metrics. To date, 403 gastropods and bivalves species have been recorded on the Norfolk Ridge seamounts. Of these, at least 38 species (∼10%) are potentially endemic to the seamounts and nearly all of 38 species have protoconchs indicating lecithotrophic larval development. Overall, our results suggest that estimates of species richness and endemism, when sampling effort is taken into account, were not significantly different between slopes and seamounts. By including in our analyses 347 undescribed morphospecies from the Norfolk Ridge, our results also demonstrate the influence of taxonomic bias on our estimates of species richness and endemism.     

Multivariate discriminant analysis distinguishes metal- from non metal-related biomarker responses in the clam Chamaelea gallina

Molecular biomarkers are among the most sensitive and earliest responses to pollutants. However, lack of detailed knowledge on variability of responses and their possible seasonal variation limit their use. In addition, the seasonality of biological processes modulates the response of organisms to pollutant stressors. Using multivariate statistics, we have studied the influence of environmental and biological factors on the response of a battery of molecular biomarkers in the clam Chamaelea gallina collected along the South-Spanish littoral. Multivariate discriminant analysis clearly distinguished biomarker response between clean and polluted areas, using heavy metals as indicator of pollution. Such differences disappeared when the dataset was normalised for metal content, thus indicating that pollution was the main significant cause of the changes observed between clean and polluted sites. In conclusion, this work shows that, when applying a complete biomarker panel, multivariate statistical tools can be used to discern pollutant- from non pollutant-related responses.     

A Pleistocene (MIS 5e) mollusk assemblage from Ezeiza (Buenos Aires Province,Argentina)

A fossil assemblage collected around 3.5 m amsl from Ezeiza, Buenos Aires province, have AMS ¹⁴C ages of ca. 33,000 to ca. 40,000 yr BP, whereas in the literature is a report of a conventional ¹⁴C age of >43,000 yr BP. An OSL age from the overlying deposit corresponds to ca. 22,000 yr. The samples contain marine fossils: mollusks, balanids and corals (Astrangia). La Coronilla (Uruguay, attributed to MIS 5e) is the locality most related to Ezeiza faunistically, despite is not the nearest one. In consequence, the relationship should be addressed to a more similar age and environment than others. The fauna indicates a higher water temperature than today. In Ezeiza exclusively cold water taxa are absent, and we found seven warm taxa with their southern distribution limit displaced northwards today, plus other six at their southern distribution limit. Around 60% of all the species and more than 70% of the individuals are of warm-temperate waters. In sum, although prima facie the numerical ages would locate the deposit in MIS3, faunistic, temperature, and height evidences show that the Ezeiza mollusk assemblage belong to MIS5e. A stronger than presently Brazil warm current, reaching Southern latitudes, may explain the changes in geographical ranges.     

香港海区双壳类帘蛤科一新种

帘蛤科一新种——扁平美女蛤Circe(Laevicirce)hongkongensis sp.nov.系于1988年采自香港大潭湾潮下带。新种的主要特征是两壳极扁平,铰合部宽阔,区别于本亚属的其他种。     

Dividing the algal soup: is there niche separation between native bivalves (Echyridella menziesii) and non-native Daphnia pulex in New Zealand?

ABSTRACT

New Zealand's native freshwater mussels (kākahi, kāeo) are considered to be in decline, yet the mechanisms driving this are unclear. The widespread establishment of highly efficient filter-feeding, non-native Daphnia in New Zealand lakes may have led to competition for algae with kākahi. We conducted a controlled laboratory experiment to determine whether differences exist in algal resources utilised by kākahi and North American Daphnia pulex. Echyridella menziesii (adults and juveniles) and D. pulex were exposed to mixed algal samples for three hours to determine whether similar algal resources were removed by the grazers. Relative to controls, both adult and juvenile E. menziesii removed a broad range of algal taxa including diatoms, green algae and filamentous species, ranging in size from 33.6 to 348.0?μm. High densities of D. pulex were unable to cause depletion of these same algae species. Our results suggest niche overlap is limited between the two grazers; E. menziesii utilises larger particles than D. pulex.     

Responses of benthic macrofauna and biogeochemical fluxes to various levels of mussel biodeposition: An in situ “benthocosm” experiment

An in situ experiment was done to evaluate the dose-dependent response of mussel biodeposition on benthic communities and biogeochemical fluxes. Natural benthic communities were exposed to 7 different levels of mussel biodeposition (equivalent to that produced by 0-764 mussels m⁻²) over 50 days. Benthic communities responded as predicted from the Pearson, T.H., Rosenberg, R., 1978. Macrobenthic succession in relation to organic enrichment and pollution of the marine environment. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Annu. Rev. 16, 229-311 model of organic enrichment. Total abundance and species richness decreased with increasing biodeposition. The abundance and biomass of opportunistic species (Capitella spp.) increased in the mesocosms subject to the greatest biodeposition. Sensitive species Tellina agilis and Pherusa plumosa tended to decrease in abundance and biomass with increasing biodeposition. The biotic index M-AMBI responded clearly to increased biodeposition and may be a useful tool for assessing the effect of mussel biodeposition on the benthic environment. These results are important for the construction of predictive models for determining environmental carrying capacity for bivalve aquaculture.     

Relationships between sediment contamination and toxicity in San Francisco Bay

Sediment contamination and toxicity were monitored at 14 sites in San Francisco Bay between 1991 and 1996. Sediment contamination patterns were different in the major reaches of the Bay, and at each site. Several contaminants were consistently above concentrations previously associated with toxicity at most sites. Bulk sediment bioassays using the amphipod Eohaustorius estuarius and sediment elutriate bioassays using larval bivalves (Mytilus spp., Crassostrea gigas) also indicated different patterns of sediment toxicity in space and time. Sediments were most toxic to the amphipods at Redwood Creek (90% of the tests), and were toxic in at least half the tests conducted at five other sites. Sediment elutriates severely reduced normal bivalve larval development at the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers in all samples, but toxicity occurred in less than a third of the tests in the Central and South Bays. Toxicity could not be statistically related to seasonal freshwater flow or rainfall in the Bay, but seasonal variation in contaminant concentrations and toxicity was observed. Amphipod toxicity was inversely and significantly related to the mean effects range-median quotient, suggesting that cumulative concentrations of several contaminants were related to toxicity. Further analysis identified suites of specific contaminants at each site that were variably related to amphipod toxicity at each site. Chlordanes, cadmium, and silver were significantly related to amphipod survival in the North Bay. Seasonal patterns in low, and high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were related to toxicity at Alameda, and metals and PAHs were related to toxicity at Castro Cove. Larval bivalve toxicity was associated with metals in bulk sediments, but elutriate chemistry was not measured, and relationships with toxicity could not be examined. Hypotheses about effective concentrations of several individual contaminants and mixtures of contaminants were posed.     

Effect of eutrophication on molluscan community composition in the Lake Dianchi (China, Yunnan)

In this paper, three historical biodiversity datasets (from 1940s, 1980–1999 and 2000–2004) and results from the recent inventory are used to trace the long-term changes of the mollusks in the eutrophic Lake Dianchi. Comparison of the obtained results with those of earlier investigations performed during the period of 1940s and 1980–1999 as well as 2000–2004 showed that changes have occurred in the interval. There were 31 species and 2 sub-species recorded prior to the 1940s, but the species richness decreased from a high level of 83 species and 7 sub-species to 16 species and one sub-species from 1990s to the early of 21st century in lake body. Species from the genera of Kunmingia, Fenouilia, Paraprygula, Erhaia, Assiminea, Galba, Rhombuniopsis, Unionea and Aforpareysia were not found in Dianchi basin after 2000. The species from the genera Lithoglyphopsis, Tricula, Bithynia, Semisulcospira and Corbicula were only found in the springs and upstream rivers. Anoxia and the changing of substrates and fish species composition could explain why molluscan community composition changed in eutrophic Lake Dianchi. Additionally, the different sampling methods and ignore of the specific groups in earlier studies are cause for Sphaerium and Pisidium first found in our study. This study is first time to enlarge the investigation region to the Dianchi basin. Although some endemic species disappeared in the lake body, they still distribute in the springs and upstream rivers. The springs and upstream rivers are important refuges for mollusks.