Symbiotic Relations of Sediment-Agglutinating Nematodes and Bacteria in Detrital Habitats: The Enzyme-Sharing Concept

Abstract. A new concept (‘enzyme sharing’) concerning the interaction of marine nematodes and microbes in the degradation of sedimentary detritus is presented. Elements of this concept are (1) the notorious tendency of many aquatic nematodes to agglutinate detrital particles by mucus secretions, (2) new observations on the stimulation of microbial growth by nematodes in agar plates, and (3) literature data on limited endogenous proteolytic capacities of aquatic nematodes.
Observations on nematode‐microbe associations in agar plates prompted the conceptual synthesis. In agar medium without the addition of any nutrients a spectacular growth of bacteria was visible on the sinusoidal crawling trails of nematodes only 2 – 3 days after introduction of the worms (species of Adoncholaimus, Anoplostoma and Sabatieria). Juveniles of Anoplostoma that hatched in the agar cultures left their minute trails in the medium and these were rapidly occupied by bacteria. The nematodes repeatedly visited their bacterial trails, which persisted as a peculiar biotic structure for more than one year and survived the nematodes.
In sterile agar preparations containing the fluorogenic methylumbelliferyl‐β‐glucoside in the presence of the nematode Adoncholaimus, an enhanced fluorescence of the medium was visible, indicating β‐glucosidase activity. We therefore assume that oncholaimid nematodes discharge enzymes that alone, or in concert with microbial activities, contribute to the hydrolytic cleavage of refractory polysaccharides containing β‐glucosidic bonds such as agar components and cellulose. The sugars thus produced may then be taken up by the nematodes and concomitantly support the conspicuous growth of microbes. Since we did not observe any feeding of the nematodes on the associated microbes in agar plates, we question the nutritive potential of intact microbial cells for a number of nematodes abounding in detrital habitats, and call attention to the significance of ambient dissolved or adsorbed organic monomeric nutrients.
Consequently, we perceive the puzzling perpetual accretion of detrital organic particles to sediment agglutinations by nematodes as an adaptation for operating an ‘enzymatic reactor’ for the production of dissolved nutrients. We hypothesise a relationship of mutual commensalism of nematodes and heterotrophic microbes in detrital habitats and propose the term ‘enzyme sharing’ for this relationship. Both parties invest in a common enzyme pool that decomposes organic detritus for their nutrition. We present here evidence that nematodes contribute β‐glucosidase, which is involved in the cellulase system. Data from the literature suggest that microbial enzymatic processing of detrital proteins yields amino acids available to nematodes, which apparently have no efficient proteolytic enzyme system in their intestines.     

河流弧菌(Vibrio fluvialis)对大黄鱼( Pseudosciaena crocea ) 鳃粘液粘附特性研究

采用间接ELISA法(最低检测值约104cfu)研究不同培养条件、不同培养阶段、抗体处理、营养饥饿等对河流弧菌粘附作用的影响。结果表明,经TSB培养的菌体的粘附作用极显著强于TSA培养的菌体的粘附作用(P<0.01);河流弧菌能很好地粘附于大黄鱼粘液,粘附量随菌浓度升高而增大并符合饱和粘附动力学:y=0.1782ln(x)1.6923(R2=0.9810);不同生长阶段河流弧菌的粘附能力不同,在培养初期阶段细菌的粘附量先是随着培养时间的延长而增大,并在培养24h后粘附量达到最大,而后随着培养时间的延长其粘附量急剧下降;抗体处理后河流弧菌的粘附量显著低于对照组(P<0.05);营养饥饿菌体的粘附量明显降低。以上结果表明:海水中的河流弧菌能很好地粘附于大黄鱼鳃粘液,其粘附作用受细菌培养条件、营养状况等自身因素的显著影响。本研究结果有助于了解河流弧菌的流行病学和致病机理。     

盐度对褐牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)幼鱼血浆渗透压和鳃丝Na+-K+-ATPase活力的影响

采用微型冰点渗透压仪和酶学分析的方法测定了褐牙鲆幼鱼由盐度30向低盐(24、18、12、6)适应过程中血浆渗透压和鳃丝Na~ -K~ -ATPase活力的变化。结果表明,盐度对褐牙鲆幼鱼血浆渗透压和鳃丝Na~ -K~ -ATPase活力都有显著的影响(P<0·05)。盐度变化后,各实验组褐牙鲆血浆渗透压、鳃丝Na~ -K~ -ATPase活力均呈现出不同程度的下降趋势,且随着盐度变化的增加而增大。在6d内,盐度为18、12和6实验组血浆渗透压呈峰值变化,在3d时达到最小值;6d后,各实验组血浆渗透压趋于稳定;而鳃丝Na~ -K~ -ATPase活力在6d时达到最小值,9d后,各实验组褐牙鲆鳃丝Na~ -K~ -ATPase活力基本趋于稳定状态,而且在高渗环境(S>14·97)中鳃丝Na~ -K~ -ATPase活力与外界盐度大小呈正比,在低渗环境(S<14·97)中与盐度呈反比。褐牙鲆幼鱼的等渗点盐度为14·97,等渗压为425·8mOsm/kg。     

Climate induced temperature effects on growth performance, fecundity and recruitment in marine fish: developing a hypothesis for cause and effect relationships in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and common eelpout (Zoarces viviparus)

Effects of global warming on animal distribution and performance become visible in many marine ecosystems. The present study was designed to develop a concept for a cause and effect understanding with respect to temperature changes and to explain ecological findings based on physiological processes. The concept is based on a wide comparison of invertebrate and fish species with a special focus on recent data obtained in two model species of fish. These fish species are both characterized by northern and southern distribution limits in the North Atlantic: eelpout (Zoarces viviparus), as a typical non-migrating inhabitant of the coastal zone and the cod (Gadus morhua), as a typical inhabitant of the continental shelf with a high importance for fisheries.Mathematical modelling demonstrates a clear significant correlation between climate induced temperature fluctuations and the recruitment of cod stocks. Growth performance in cod is optimal at temperatures close to 10°C, regardless of the population investigated in a latitudinal cline. However, temperature specific growth rates decrease at higher latitudes. Also, fecundity is less in White Sea than in North and Baltic Sea cod or eelpout populations. These findings suggest that a cold-induced shift in energy budget occurs which is unfavorable for growth performance and fecundity. Thermal tolerance limits shift depending on latitude and are characterized by oxygen limitation at both low or high temperatures. Oxygen supply to tissues is optimized at low temperature by a shift in hemoglobin isoforms and oxygen binding properties to lower affinities and higher unloading potential. Protective stimulation of heat shock protein synthesis was not observed.According to a recent model of thermal tolerance the downward shift of tolerance limits during cold adaptation is associated with rising mitochondrial densities and, thus, aerobic capacity and performance in the cold, especially in eurythermal species. At the same time the costs of mitochondrial maintenance reflected by mitochondrial proton leakage should rise leaving a lower energy fraction for growth and reproduction. The preliminary conclusion can be drawn that warming will cause a northern shift of distribution limits for both species with a rise in growth performance and fecundity larger than expected from the Q₁₀ effect in the north and lower growth or even extinction of the species in the south. Such a shift may heavily affect fishing activities in the North Sea.     

Preliminary evidence for human fecal contamination in corals of the Florida Keys,USA

Corals and reef environments are under increased stress from anthropogenic activities, particularly those in the vicinity of heavily populated areas such as the Florida Keys. The potential adverse impacts of wastewater can affect both the environment and human health; however, because of the high decay rate of bacterial indicators in coral reef waters it has been difficult to document the presence of microbial contaminants and to assign risks in these environments. Here we show initial evidence that microorganisms associated with human feces are concentrated along the surface of coral heads relative to the overlying water column in the Florida Keys. Bacterial indicators (fecal coliform bacteria, enterococci or Clostridium perfringens) were detected in 66.7% of the coral surface microlayer (CSM) samples at levels between five and 1000 CFU/100 ml, but were found infrequently and at low numbers in the overlying water column ( < or = 2.5 CFU/100 ml). Similarly, enterovirus nucleic acid sequences, an indicator of human-specific waste, were detected in 93.3% of the CSM samples and only once in the water column by cell culture. Results show that coral mucus may accumulate enteric microorganisms in reef environments, and may indicate a risk to public and environmental health despite low indicator levels in the surrounding water.     

海水鱼类寄生虫刺激隐核虫(Cryptocaryon irritans)趋化性研究

应用本实验室建立的趋化模型对海水鱼类寄生虫刺激隐核虫(Cryptocaryon irritans)的趋化特性进行研究。结果显示, 刺激隐核虫幼虫在30min时趋化达到饱和, 在温度28℃时趋化率达到最高; 多种硬骨鱼的血清与粘液对刺激隐核虫的幼虫都有着强烈的吸引作用, 刺激隐核虫幼虫对碳水化合物、氨基酸等小分子物质没有趋化作用; 在组织匀浆液中, 刺激隐核虫幼虫对肌肉匀浆液有一定的趋化作用, 对肝、肠、胃的匀浆液都没有趋化作用; 感染后鱼类血清对刺激隐核虫的幼虫有着更加强烈的吸引作用(P<0.01); 18种中草药中的五倍子、大黄、槟榔、苦楝、虎杖、贯众等6种中药草对刺激隐核虫的幼虫有一定的驱虫作用。本文的研究结果有助于深化对刺激隐核虫致病性的认识并对“白点病”的防治有一定的参考价值。     

标记方法对皱纹盘鲍(Haliotis discus hannai)生理、生长及存活性状的影响

皱纹盘鲍是我国重要的增养殖贝类,近年来养殖产量增长迅速,但现有养殖群体仍存在抗逆性不足、底播增养殖低效等问题。个体身份的标记技术对于皱纹盘鲍人工选育中谱系记录,以及对于底播增殖效果的精准评估等均具有重要作用。采用金属挂片和塑料黏贴标签两种标记方法,比较了标记后皱纹盘鲍生理、生长存活、标记脱落率及被敌害捕食死亡等方面的差异。研究结果表明,与塑料黏贴标签标记和无标记对照相比,金属挂片标记对皱纹盘鲍标记早期生理包括出现黏液时间、心率变化等产生显著影响,对小规格皱纹盘鲍(壳长<3 cm)造成生长下降、死亡率高等影响,而对大规格皱纹盘鲍(壳长>3 cm)标记生成60 d后长时期的生长、存活以及逃避敌害均无显著影响;塑料黏贴标签标记方法与无标记对照组相比,均未对皱纹盘鲍造成显著影响。验证了皱纹盘鲍个体水平下两种标记方法的有效性及适用性,特别是对大规格苗种标记后生长、存活等性状无显著影响。研究结果将为皱纹盘鲍人工选育以及底播增养殖等工作提供有益指导。     

刺网损坏的原因及其预防

为避免刺网在生产过程过早损坏，以期达到延长刺网使用寿命和提高其获性能的目的，根据刺网在使用过程中损坏的情况，分析了刺网损坏的主要原因有2个方面，一是网具设计、装配不合理；二是在作业过程受外界因素影响而引发。并探讨相应的预防措施。     

Quantifying the environmental impacts of artisanal fishing gear on Kenya's coral reef ecosystems

The environmental impacts of artisanal fishing gear on coral reef ecosystems were studied in the multi-gear fishery of southern Kenya to evaluate which types of gear have the greatest impact on coral reef biodiversity. The gear types studied were large and small traps, gill nets, beach seines, hand lines and spear guns. Levels of coral damage, proportion of juvenile fish and discards, size and maturity stage at first capture were quantified and compared amongst the gear types. Results indicate that fishers using beach seines, spears and gill nets cause the most direct physical damage to corals. Spear fishers showed the highest number of contacts to live corals per unit catch followed by fishers using gill nets (12.6 ± 1.8 and 5.9 ± 2.0 coral contacts per kg fish caught per trip respectively). Apart from discarding 6.5% of their daily catch in the sea, as it was too small, beach seine fishers also landed the highest percentage of juvenile fish (68.4 ± 15.7%), a proportion significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in any other gear. The size and maturity stage at first capture for 150 of 195 species caught by all gear types was well below the lengths at which they mature. For example, 100% of Lethrinus xanthochilus, 99% of Lethrinus nebulosus and 94% of Lethrinus harak caught were juveniles. Across all gear types, 50.1 ± 22.7% of the catch consisted of juvenile fish, indicating serious growth overfishing. Field assessment of levels of coral density showed that fishing grounds where beach seines were still in use had a significantly lower density than where beach seining was not used. This correlation is likely to arise in part because seines cannot be used in the most coral rich areas, and in part because coral loss is a consequence of seine use. On a per gear basis therefore, beach seines had the most impact on coral reef biodiversity. This study emphasizes the need to enforce restrictions on destructive gear and mesh sizes.     

Resistance of Lophelia pertusa to coverage by sediment and petroleum drill cuttings

In laboratory experiments, the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa was exposed to settling particles. The effects of reef sediment, petroleum drill cuttings and a mix of both, on the development of anoxia at the coral surface were studied using O₂, pH and H₂S microsensors and by assessing coral polyp mortality. Due to the branching morphology of L. pertusa and the release of coral mucus, accumulation rates of settling material on coral branches were low. Microsensors detected H₂S production in only a few samples, and sulfate reduction rates of natural reef sediment slurries were low (<0.3 nmol S cm⁻³ d⁻¹). While the exposure to sediment clearly reduced the coral’s accessibility to oxygen, L. pertusa tolerated both partial low-oxygen and anoxic conditions without any visible detrimental short-term effect, such as tissue damage or death. However, complete burial of coral branches for >24 h in reef sediment resulted in suffocation.