东海原甲藻(Prorocentrum donghaiensis)对原生动物群落结构影响的现场船基实验

2005年在长江口赤潮频发海域调查期间,分别于4月27日、5月4日和5月8日,在zzf1、zc18a和ra5站位利用现场船基培养的方法,研究了添加到赤潮密度10^6cells L^-1的东海原甲藻（Prorocentrum donghaiense）对原生动物群落结构的影响。结果发现,赤潮密度的东海原甲藻抑制了小型无壳纤毛虫的种群数量,而没有抑制中大型砂壳纤毛虫和夜光虫（Noctiluca scintillans）的种群数量,从而使得原生动物群落向中大型种类演替,这种影响的程度与原生动物本身的群落组成和浮游植物的组成密切相关。添加东海原甲藻72h后,在以小型无壳纤毛虫管游虫（Cyrtostrombidium sp．）为优势种的zzf1站位,演替为以大型原生动物夜光虫为优势种的群落;在以中大型原生动物百乐拟铃虫（Tintinnospsis beroidea）和夜光虫为优势种的zc18a站位,仍然是以此为优势种,且大型原生动物夜光虫在群落中的比例上升;在以小型无壳纤毛虫急游虫2（Strombidium sp．2）为优势种的ra5站位,演替为以中大型原生动物百乐拟铃虫和亚速岛网纹虫（Favella azorica）为优势种的群落。zzf1和ra5站位实验组中原生动物的总丰度都呈下降趋势,而zc18a站位变化不明显,这是由于前两个站位的最优势种管游虫（zzf1站位）和急游虫2（ra5站位）的丰度迅速下降,而zc18a站位的优势种百乐拟铃虫和夜光虫的丰度比较稳定造成的。在zzf1和zc18a站位,对照组和实验组中原生动物的总生物量在实验前后都没有大的变化,而在ra5站位却均呈下降的趋势。这可能与浮游植物的组成有关,zzf1和zc18a站位是以无毒的锥状斯氏藻（Scrippsiella trochoidea）和螺旋环沟藻（Gyrodinium spirale）为主,而ra5站位是以有毒的亚历山大藻（Alexandriumsp．）为主。综上可见,可预测当东海大规模赤潮爆发时,会使原生动物群落向中大型种类演替,进而可能影响海洋生态系统的结构和功能。     

中国渤海海域甲藻孢囊的种类多样性和生态地理分布

在渤海湾24个站位采集0–10 cm表层沉积物144份样品, 进行甲藻孢囊的种类多样性和生态地理分布研究, 并分析渤海海域水体的富营养化趋势。在渤海海域共采集鉴定出6类32种甲藻孢囊, 包括原多甲藻类孢囊11种、裸甲藻类孢囊6种、膝沟藻类孢囊7种、钙质类孢囊5种、翼藻类孢囊2种及Tuberculodinioid类孢囊1种。其中, 自养型甲藻孢囊17种, 优势种为锥状斯氏藻(Scrippsiella trochoidea)孢囊, 丰富的孢囊库为锥状斯氏藻赤潮提供种源, 可作为该海域发生锥状斯氏藻赤潮的参考依据; 异养型甲藻孢囊15种, 优势种为无纹多沟藻(Polykrikos schwartzii)和锥形原多甲藻(Protoperidinium conicum)孢囊; 发现1种产麻痹性贝类毒素的孢囊--塔玛亚历山大藻(Alexandrium tamarense)孢囊, 但是仅在S6、S8和S14三个站位发现, 且孢囊数量较少。渤海甲藻孢囊组成与世界其它海域相似, 异养型甲藻孢囊种类丰富, 提示渤海海域富营养化程度较高。每个站位沉积物样品分为3层(每层约3 cm), 春夏两季表层、中层和底层之间孢囊组成差异不大, 平均种类数为5.58–7.29, 孢囊的平均密度范围在58.82–103.57 cysts·g^–1 DW之间; 孢囊种类丰富的站点, 孢囊密度也较高, 如S9、S14站位。对渤海海区表层沉积物中甲藻孢囊的生物多样性进行了统计分析, 发现表、中、底3层甲藻孢囊的平均种类多样性指数在春季(5月)分别为1.69、1.61和1.52; 略低于夏季(8月)的1.83、1.89和1.60。     

东海原甲藻（Prorocentrum donghaiensis）对原生动物群落结构影响的现场船基实验

2005年在长江口赤潮频发海域调查期间,分别于4月27日、5月4日和5月8日,在zzf1、zc18a和ra5站位利用现场船基培养的方法,研究了添加到赤潮密度106 cells L-1的东海原甲藻（Prorocentrum donghaiense）对原生动物群落结构的影响。结果发现,赤潮密度的东海原甲藻抑制了小型无壳纤毛虫的种群数量,而没有抑制中大型砂壳纤毛虫和夜光虫（Noctiluca scintillans）的种群数量,从而使得原生动物群落向中大型种类演替,这种影响的程度与原生动物本身的群落组成和浮游植物的组成密切相关。添加东海原甲藻72 h后,在以小型无壳纤毛虫管游虫（Cyrtostrombidium sp.）为优势种的zzf1站位,演替为以大型原生动物夜光虫为优势种的群落;在以中大型原生动物百乐拟铃虫（Tintinnospsis beroidea）和夜光虫为优势种的zc18a站位,仍然是以此为优势种,且大型原生动物夜光虫在群落中的比例上升;在以小型无壳纤毛虫急游虫2（Strombidium sp.2）为优势种的ra5站位,演替为以中大型原生动物百乐拟铃虫和亚速岛网纹虫（Favella azorica）为优势种的群落。zzf1和ra5站位实验组中原生动物的总丰度都呈下降趋势,而zc18a站位变化不明显,这是由于前两个站位的最优势种管游虫（zzf1站位）和急游虫2（ra5站位）的丰度迅速下降,而zc18a站位的优势种百乐拟铃虫和夜光虫的丰度比较稳定造成的。在zzf1和zc18a站位,对照组和实验组中原生动物的总生物量在实验前后都没有大的变化,而在ra5站位却均呈下降的趋势。这可能与浮游植物的组成有关,zzf1和zc18a站位是以无毒的锥状斯氏藻（Scrippsiella trochoidea）和螺旋环沟藻（Gyrodinium spirale）为主,而ra5站位是以有毒的亚历山大藻（Alexandrium sp.）为主。综上可见,可预测当东海大规模赤潮爆发时,会使原生动物群落向中大型种类演替,进而可能影响海洋生态系统的结构和功能。     

大鹏湾优势藻引发赤潮的灰分析

对1990年3月30日－6月30日在大鹏湾盐田海域的海水采样结果,用灰色理论的系统分析方法研究并计算大鹏湾地区海水中的尖刺拟菱形藻、中肋条骨藻和反曲原甲藻等3种藻引发的赤潮与浮游动物数量和海水理化因子等12个因素变化的灰关联度,关联排序结果表明：浮游动物、浊度、铁、锰、溶解氧、酸碱度、盐度和温度均对该三类藻种群增殖态势有着较大的影响,构成大鹏赤潮发生“优势”因素。     

甲藻孢囊在长江口海域表层沉积物中的分布

为了了解长江口海域赤潮爆发潜势,于2002年4月至5月用采泥器采集了位于122°～123．5°E、29°～32°N之间12个站位的表层沉积物,分析沉积物中甲藻孢囊的分布．共分析鉴定出孢囊类型29种,其中自养型11种,异养型18种．每个站位的孢囊种类在10～21之间,孢囊密度为11．7～587孢囊·g-1干泥之间．远岸海域孢囊种类较为丰富,密度也较高．在调查区域内,孢囊密度及种类自西向东、自北向南逐渐增加．亚历山大藻孢囊分布广泛,最高密度为40．4孢囊·g-1干泥,其他赤潮种类的孢囊如链状裸甲藻、多边舌甲藻、锥状斯氏藻、科夫多沟藻和无纹多沟藻等都在长江口海域有分布．     

深圳海域近20年赤潮发生的特征分析

本文根据深圳海域1981-2002年发生的93起赤潮记录,综合分析了赤潮发生的特征,可归纳为5点：①深圳海域的赤潮多发区位于大鹏湾、大亚湾和深圳圳湾,其中大鹏湾的盐田水域、大亚湾两部的东山和坝光水域、深圳湾的后海与东角头水域为赤潮多发地段;②赤潮发生的频率增高,赤潮持续时间延长;③全年中有两个赤潮多发季节,主要集中在3～5月,其次为9～11月;④赤潮引发种类丰富,约有39种,其中甲藻最多,其次为硅藻,具有一定的区域分布特征;⑤赤潮引发种类具有明显的演替规律,不断有新的种类引发赤潮。     

广东沿海几种赤潮生物的分类学研究

对１９９７年秋￣１９９８年春广东沿海多次赤潮发生期间的几种优势赤潮藻类进行了形态学和分类学研究。１种为我国首次报道引发赤潮的定革命金藻类（Ｐｒｙｍｎｅｓｉｏｐｈｙｔｅｓ）－球状棕囊藻（Ｐｈａｅｏｃｙｓｔｉｓ ｃｆ．ｇｌｉｏｂｏｓａ）。另有甲藻类７种,其中裸甲藻目（Ｇｙｍｎｏｄｉｎｉａｌｅｓ）３种：米氏裸甲藻（Ｇｙｍｎｏｄｉｎｉｕｍ ｃｆ．ｍｉｋｉｍｏｔｏｉ）、环节环沟藻（Ｇｙｒｏｄｉｎｉｕｍ ｉｎ     

2000～2001年柘林湾浮游植物群落结构及数量变动的周年调查

2000年5月－2001年5月对粤东赤潮重灾区柘林湾者的浮游植物周年调查表明,柘林湾共有浮游植物54属153种。其中硅藻为优势类群,共37属114种,占总种数的74.51%;甲藻15属36种;其它2属3种。浮游植物种数和丰度的平面分布表现为弯内低于湾外,东部低于西部的基本格局,季节波动模式则为单峰型,全年数量最高峰位于盛夏7月份。中肋骨条藻（Skeletonema costatum）为该湾的全年优势种,在群落总细胞数中的百分比年平均高达58.7%。通过对水温、营养盐、浮激植物群落的多样性指数和均匀度以及中肋骨务藻的种群密度等相互之间的回归分析,并考虑增养殖渔业等因素,发现柘林湾因大规模增养殖渔业和高强度的排污排废引志的富营养化已在很大程度上改变了该湾浮游植物的群落结构及时空分布,使生物多样性与均匀度明显下降,中肋骨条藻等少数种类则大量增殖,硅藻赤潮,尤其是中肋骨条藻赤潮的发生机会明显增多,但发生甲藻赤潮的可能性较小。     

珠三角河网水域栅藻的时空分布特征

珠三角河网水域是珠江之水流入南海的必经之地,对2012年该水域浮游植物群落中的栅藻种类丰富度和生物量的时空特征及其环境影响因子进行系统阐析。调查期间共发现栅藻24种(包括变种、变型),其中具刺和无刺种类分别为11种和13种。出现率高且生物量贡献率大的物种仅3种,包括被甲栅藻原变种(Scenedesmus armatus var.armatus)、被甲栅藻博格变种双尾变型(S.armatus var.boglariensis f.bicaudatus)和二形栅藻(S.dimorphus),分析认为这3个物种在栅藻种群中的生态优势很可能与其形态特征存在一定的关联。栅藻种类丰富度的季节分布呈现丰水期高于枯水期的特征,空间分布呈现河网中部站位低于外侧站位的特征。此外,种类丰富度的空间分布格局存在季节差异,丰水季节呈现河网中部站位明显低于外侧站位的特征,而枯水季节西江沿线站位种类丰富度明显偏低。分析认为,水温和径流是影响栅藻种类丰富度季节变动的关键因素;同时,径流也是影响总种类丰富度空间分布格局的关键因素,而水温和营养盐是影响不同季节种类丰富度的空间格局的重要因素。栅藻种群生物量的季节分布呈现丰水期高于枯水期的特征,空间分布表现为珠江桥站位的生物量明显高于其它站位。分析认为,径流和水温是决定种群生物量季节变动的关键因素,而营养盐、水体稳定性和盐度是决定生物量空间分布格局的关键因素。栅藻生物量与种类丰富度的关系基本符合单峰模型,且偏重于单峰模型的上升区,丰富了全球多样性模式的分级特征和区域特征。     

东海两种赤潮生物种间竞争的围隔实验

1998年5月和2002年5月在东海赤潮高发区进行了两次添加营养盐诱发赤潮的围隔实验,结果表明,1998年5月实验开始时,具齿原甲藻和中肋骨条藻分别占群落总量的85％和11％,对照围隔中,具齿原甲藻一直处于优势,高峰时所占比例接近99％．加磷围隔中,中肋骨条藻显示出很强的竞争能力,第五天的数量与具齿原甲藻相等．2002年5月用4个围隔装置进行实验,在不同营养状况下两个种的增殖速率不同,营养盐浓度高的围隔中,中肋骨条藻的增殖速率比具齿原甲藻快得多,在营养盐限制条件下,具齿原甲藻比中肋骨条藻存活的要好。表明在营养盐丰富情况下,中肋骨条藻以其快速的繁殖在竞争中取得优势地位,导致中肋骨条藻形成的赤潮持续时间较短,消亡也快,而具齿原甲藻赤潮形成期较长,但在营养盐很低的情况下,还能维持较长时问．     

2004年春季长江口海域甲藻孢囊的分布研究

于2004年4月初,采集长江口(E122°～123°30',N29°～32°)10个站点0～15cm底泥样品,研究甲藻孢囊在这10个站点的水平和垂直分布情况。在30个样品中共鉴定出6大类24种甲藻孢囊。孢囊组成以异养型原多甲藻类孢囊为主,有13种,平均密度为157cysts·g^-1DW,为调查海域的最优势种群。两种产麻痹性贝类毒素(Paralytic shellfish poisoning,PSP)的孢囊,塔玛亚历山大藻和链状裸甲藻,在海区分布广泛但数量较低。10个站点甲藻孢囊的种类数在11～18种之间,平均密度为189～846cysts·g^-1DW,在远离河口的D6站点有一个明显的最高峰,位于最北部的D1站点孢囊密度最低。与其它海湾相比,属于孢囊密度较低的海区。Shannon-Weaver生物多样性指数(H')变化范围在2.57～3.27之间。甲藻孢囊的密度分布与生物多样性相关系数r=-0.72。3个不同深度的甲藻孢囊密度分别为351cysts·g^-1DW、412cysts·g^-1DW、432cysts·g^-1DW;生物多样性指数分别为3.22、2.95、2.98。     

Are Antarctic aquatic invertebrates hitchhiking on your footwear?

The increasing number of humans who travel to and within Antarctic regions each year not only increases the risk of introducing non-native species but also of translocating native species within and between Antarctic biogeoregions and poses the potential for artificial, human-mediated introduction of native freshwater invertebrate species to newly ice-free areas of Antarctica. This study was designed to test the potential for transfer of native Antarctic freshwater invertebrates and their cysts on footwear. An average of 1.86 Anostraca cysts, 29.47 Copepoda cysts, 4.29 Nematoda, 0.40 Rotifera and 0.966 Tardigrada individuals per gram of sediment were found in samples taken from footwear after contact with freshwater sediment. The invertebrate cysts isolated from the samples that underwent drying at 27 °C were able to hatch in tap water, and representatives of the other systematic groups (Nematoda, Rotifera, and Tardigrada) also remained viable.     

Influences of sedimentation and hydrodynamics on the spatial distribution of Alexandrium catenella/tamarense resting cysts in a shellfish farming lagoon impacted by toxic blooms

Since resting cysts are a potential seeding source for blooms, the presence of these cysts in sediments is a marker of an established population for a number of harmful algal species. The spatial patterns of cyst density in relation to sediment characteristics and hydrodynamics are still largely misunderstood. This study investigated the spatial distribution of resting cysts belonging to the Alexandrium tamarense species complex (Dinophyceae) in sediments of a Mediterranean coastal lagoon (Thau Lagoon, France). This lagoon, hosting shellfish farming, is regularly impacted by toxic Alexandrium catenella blooms. The average cyst density across the whole lagoon was rather low, <20 cysts g⁻¹ of dry sediment (DS). However, densities varied widely among sampled stations, with the highest density (∼440 cysts g⁻¹ DS) recorded in a shallow cove named Crique-de-l’Angle, which is the only area where dense blooms of A. catenella and A. tamarense have been recorded in the years preceding this survey. An analysis using spatial autoregressive models demonstrated that cyst densities were highly spatially autocorrelated (indicating that close stations tended to have more similar cyst densities) with accumulation sites. With respect to sediment characteristics (5 granulometric fractions <2 mm and biochemical components), the highest densities were found in silty sediments containing high proportions of water and organic matter. Nevertheless, the linkage between cyst density and sediment structure was not always verified; this reflected the influence of hydrodynamics on the sedimentation of cysts and sediment particles, and on the dispersal of cysts away from the bloom area by wind-induced currents, suggesting that hydrodynamics was responsible for the spatially autocorrelated distribution of cyst densities.     

Context dependence of marine ecosystem engineer invasion impacts on benthic ecosystem functioning

Introduced ecosystem engineers can severely modify the functioning on invaded systems. Species-level effects on ecosystem functioning (EF) are context dependent, but the effects of introduced ecosystem engineers are frequently assessed through single-location studies. The present work aimed to identify sources of context-dependence that can regulate the impacts of invasive ecosystem engineers on ecosystem functioning. As model systems, four locations where the bivalve Ruditapes philippinarum (Adams and Reeve) has been introduced were investigated, providing variability in habitat characteristics and community composition. As a measure of ecosystem engineering, the relative contribution of this species to community bioturbation potential was quantified at each site. The relevance of bioturbation to the local establishment of the mixing depth of marine sediments (used as a proxy for EF) was quantified in order to determine the potential for impact of the introduced species at each site. We found that R. philippinarum is one of the most important bioturbators within analysed communities, but the relative importance of this contribution at the community level depended on local species composition. The net contribution of bioturbation to the establishment of sediment mixing depths varied across sites depending on the presence of structuring vegetation, sediment granulometry and compaction. The effects of vegetation on sediment mixing were previously unreported. These findings indicate that the species composition of invaded communities, and the habitat characteristics of invaded systems, are important modulators of the impacts of introduced species on ecosystem functioning. A framework that encompasses these aspects for the prediction of the functional impacts of invasive ecosystem engineers is suggested, supporting a multi-site approach to invasive ecology studies concerned with ecosystem functioning.     

Cyst formation,sedimentation, and preservation: Factors affecting dinoflagellate assemblages in recent sediments from trondheimsfjord,Norway

Plankton records and 25 samples of Recent sediment from Trondheimsfjord and the adjoining shelf were studied to investigate production, sedimentation, and preservation of cysts, as factors which influence the eventual composition of dinoflagellate cyst assembleges. All sediment samples were examined for dinoflagellate cysts using routine semiquantitative palynological procedures. In addition, fjord sediments were subjected to a limited sediment analysis, and, for three samples, results from preparations both with and without acid treatments were compared. For the first time, cyst assembleges from Recent sediments were directly compared with extensive plankton records from overlying waters. Results indicate that approximately 20% of the 55 locally recorded dinoflagellate species contribute cysts to bottom sediments. Once formed, cysts behave as fine silt particles in the sedimentary regime, increasing in abundance as the percentage abundance of finer sediment increases, usually with increased water depth. Cyst-forming species are almost entirely restricted to a few genera, particularly Gonyaulax and Peridinium, within the order Peridiniales. For some groups, reasonably good correspondence was found between percentage abundances of dinoflagellates in plankton and their cysts in sediment, though plankton records covering at least five years were required to establish this. Gonyaulax grindleyi Reinecke (Von Stosch 1969) appeared to be consistently overrepresented by cysts in sediment relative to available plankton evidence; possible explanations are suggested. At least 30% of the cyst species present, including most Peridinium species, were eliminated, or rendered unreliable for semiquantitative palynology, by application of routine palynological preparation treatments. Such cysts may provide useful, non-quantitative, palynological information from Recent and possibly Quaternary sediments, but their persistence would seem unlikely. Thus, factors of preservation probably further restrict the dinoflagellate fossil record. Cyst assemblages from Trondheimsfjord are comparable with those previously recorded from the northeastern coast of U.S.A., and from Scotland and northeastern England. Fjord assemblages are dominated by small, simple, spinose cysts which would be regarded as acritarchs if culture experiments had not proved that they are dinoflagellate cysts. Much potential biogeographic and palaeoenvironmental information was included within the less abundant species.Attention is drawn to the role which future culture experiments may be expected to play in helping to resolve taxonomic difficulties currently affecting dinoflagellate studies. Palynological significance of results from the present study is discussed especially with reference to recent work by Von Stosch which strongly suggests that cysts may be hypnozygotes formed routinely in sexual cycles of dinoflagellates.     

Population and reproductive dynamics of the polychaete Pygospio elegans in a boreal estuary complex

Pygospio elegans is an opportunistic, wide‐spread spionid polychaete that reproduces asexually via fragmentation and can produce benthic and pelagic larvae, hence combining different developmental modes in one species. We documented the density, size distribution, and reproductive activity of P. elegans at four sites in the Danish Isefjord‐Roskilde Fjord estuary complex, where all modes of reproduction were reported. We compared population dynamics of this species to environmental parameters such as salinity, temperature, and sediment characteristics (grain size, sorting, porosity, water content, organic content, C/N). We observed that new cohorts—resulting either from sexual or asexual reproduction—appeared in spring and fall, and old ones disappeared in late summer and winter. Sexual reproduction occurred from September until May, and although their timing was variable, there were two reproductive peaks at three sites. At those sites, we also observed a switch in larval developmental mode. Asexual reproduction peaked in April. While the seasonal dynamics can be related to temperature to a large extent, the differences in population dynamics among sites also correlated with sediment structure and salinity. Populations from sites with coarse and heterogeneous sediment had high levels of sexual reproduction. At the site with lower salinity, intermediate and benthic larvae were present during winter in contrast to pelagic larvae found at the other sites. However, we could not identify one clear environmental factor determining the mode of development. At present, it remains unclear to what degree genetic background contributes to mode of development. Hence, whether the differences in developmental mode are the result of genetically different cohorts will be further investigated.     

我国东南沿海亚历山大藻休眠孢囊的分布和萌发研究

对4个海域的塔玛亚历山大藻(Alerandrium tamarense)和链状亚历山大藻(A．catenella)休眠孢囊的分布及萌发进行了研究．结果表明,厦门港仅在X1和X2站位有分布,且密度很小(0．4个·g-1);广西只在G2站位有发现,密度较少(2．5个·g-1泥样)．闽江口有3个站位有分布,M4站位的4～6cm层密度最大,达到6个·g-1泥样;长江口的孢囊分布广、密度大,DG-26站位的8～10cm层孢囊密度达到了23．2个·g-1泥样．孢囊的分布与沉积物底质类型、沉积速率、海流都有一定的关系．光照对孢囊萌发没有影响,温度升高导致萌发率和存活率均增大,而萌发时间缩短;在低氧条件下(0．01mgO2L-1),孢囊萌发率为0．亚历山大藻孢囊在合适的环境条件下终年都会萌发     

Dinoflagellate resting cysts as factors in phytoplankton ecology of the North Sea

The occurrence and distribution of dinoflagellate resting cysts were investigated at 11 locations in the south-eastern part of the North Sea. Twenty-six known cyst species and 7 unknown cyst types, which may act as seed population for planktonic dinoflagellate blooms, have been recorded for the first time in the area. The most common cysts in recent sediments were those ofScrippsiella trochoidea, Zygabikodinium lenticulatum, Peridinium dalei, Scrippsiella lachrymosa, Protoceratium reticulatum, Protoperidinium denticulatum, andP. conicum. At all stations,S. trochoidea dominated the cyst assemblages with a maximal abundance of 1303 living cysts/cm³ in the uppermost half centimetre. Cysts of the potentially toxic dinoflagellatesAlexandrium cf.excavatum andA. cf.tamarense were scarce. In the upper 2-cm layer of sediment, dinoflagellate cysts were found in concentrations of 1.8 up to 682 living cysts/cm³. Empty cysts constituted 22–56% of total cyst abundance. The comparative distribution of the cysts showed a general increase in abundance from inshore sites to the offshore area, whereby sandy stations exhibited the lowest cyst abundance and diversity. The wide distribution of living and empty cysts ofScrippsiella lachrymosa suggests that its motile form, which has not been officially recorded in the area until now, is a common plankton organism in German coastal waters. The relatively high abundance of cysts in recent sediments demonstrates the potential importance of benthic resting stages for the initiation of dinoflagellate blooms in the study area.     

Dinoflagellate cysts from surface sediments of Saldanha Bay, South Africa: an indication of the potential risk of harmful algal blooms

The distribution and abundance of dinoflagellate cysts from recent coastal sediments in Saldanha Bay, was investigated, and compared to the cyst assemblages of the adjacent coastal upwelling system as reflected in the sediments off Lambert's Bay on the southern Namaqua shelf. Twenty-two cyst types were identified from three sample sites off Lambert's Bay with recorded abundances between 1726 and 1863 cysts ml⁻¹ wet sediment. At least 21 distinctive cyst types were identified from 32 sample sites within Saldanha Bay. Cyst abundance in Saldanha Bay was relatively low, averaging 116 cysts ml⁻¹ wet sediment. The region off Lambert's Bay is especially susceptible to the formation of harmful algal blooms attributed to high biomass dinoflagellate blooms. Owing to these blooms and the retentive circulation characteristics of this area, cyst formation and deposition is high. Blooms can be advected into Saldanha Bay, but their development and duration in the Bay is restricted by the system of exchange that operates between the Bay and the coastal upwelling system, in that there is a net export of surface waters from the Bay. Consequently, fewer cysts are formed and deposited within the Bay thereby reducing the likelihood of in situ bloom development initiated from the excystment of cysts.     

Sediment Enzyme Activities and Microbial Community Diversity in an Oligotrophic Drinking Water Reservoir,Eastern China

Drinking water reservoir plays a vital role in the security of urban water supply, yet little is known about microbial community diversity harbored in the sediment of this oligotrophic freshwater environmental ecosystem. In the present study, integrating community level physiological profiles (CLPPs), nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and clone sequence technologies, we examined the sediment urease and protease activities, bacterial community functional diversity, genetic diversity of bacterial and fungal communities in sediments from six sampling sites of Zhou cun drinking water reservoir, eastern China. The results showed that sediment urease activity was markedly distinct along the sites, ranged from 2.48 to 11.81 mg NH₃-N/(g·24h). The highest average well color development (AWCD) was found in site C, indicating the highest metabolic activity of heterotrophic bacterial community. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed tremendous differences in the functional (metabolic) diversity patterns of the sediment bacterial communities from different sites. Meanwhile, DGGE fingerprints also indicated spatial changes of genetic diversity of sediment bacterial and fungal communities. The sequence BLAST analysis of all the sediment samples found that Comamonas sp. was the dominant bacterial species harbored in site A. Alternaria alternate, Allomyces macrogynus and Rhizophydium sp. were most commonly detected fungal species in sediments of the Zhou cun drinking water reservoir. The results from this work provide new insights about the heterogeneity of sediment microbial community metabolic activity and genetic diversity in the oligotrophic drinking water reservoir.