枯林湾浮游桡足类生态研究

2000年7月至2001年7月的周年调查结果表明,粤东柘林湾浮游桡足类29属57种,其中,强额拟哲水蚤Para-ca;amis crassorpstris和短角长腹剑水蚤Ootjpma brevicomis为优势种,合计占浮游桡足类总个体数的66.7%.柘林湾是一个浮游桡足类相对丰富的海湾,年均总个体数达5.4×103ind.@m-3.浮游桡足类的种类数和总个体数均表现为湾外大于湾内的平面分布格局,周年变化基本上为单峰型,高峰期位于5～10月,最低谷位于冬季1月.     

拓林湾浮游桡足类生态研究

2000年7月至2001年7月的周年调查结果表明,粤东柘林湾浮游桡足类29属57种,其中,强额拟哲水蚤Paracalanus crassirostris和短角长腹剑水蚤Oithona brevicornis为优势种,合计占浮游桡足类总个体数的66.7%.柘林湾是一个浮游桡足类相对丰富的海湾,年均总个体数达5.4×10³ind.·m^-3.浮游桡足类的种类数和总个体数均表现为湾外大于湾内的平面分布格局,周年变化基本上为单峰型,高峰期位于5~10月,最低谷位于冬季1月。     

湛江港湾浮游桡足类群落结构的季节变化和影响因素

2009年2月、5月、8月和11月分别对湛江港湾浮游动物进行了季度月调查,并对该海域浮游桡足类群落结构的季节变化及影响因素进行了分析.结果共鉴定出桡足类72种,其中冬季36种,占浮游动物种类数的29.5％;春季33种,占浮游动物种类数的39.3％;夏季24种,占浮游动物种类数的29.6％;秋季19种,占浮游动物种类数的40.4％.主要优势种为中华哲水蚤Calanus sinicus、强额拟哲水蚤Paracalanus crassirostris、短角长腹剑水蚤Oithona brevicornis、亚强真哲水蚤Eucalanus subcrassus、刺尾纺锤水蚤Acartia spinicauda和桡足类幼体.季节变化模式为:夏季丰度最高,达960.0个/m3,春季次之为421.0个/m3,冬季为303.4个/m3,秋季最低仅为252.8个/m3.平面分布冬春季丰度内湾高,往湾口逐渐降低,夏季内湾低往湾口逐渐增大,而秋季分布较均匀.调查海区桡足类丰度与水温、叶绿素a和浮游植物细胞丰度呈极显著的正相关,与DIN和PO3-4呈显著的负相关,与盐度、pH值和活性硅酸盐相关性不明显.     

披山岛海区浮游动物种类组成及数量分布特点

根据2007年披山岛海区春季和夏季2个季度浮游动物调查资料,分析和研究了浙江省玉环县披山岛海区浮游动物种类组成和数量分布特点.结果表明:浮游动物共有18种,属3门12属,其中桡足类的种类最多,占总种数的72.22%;主要优势种为中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)、瘦拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus gracilis)、针刺拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus aculeatus)和红小毛猛水蚤(Microsetella rosea).浮游动物的平均丰度及生物量均为春季比夏季高,春季的平均丰度为6.55×103个/m3,夏季为6.13×103个/m3;春季的平均生物量为216.49 mg/m3,夏季为98.26 mg/m3.桡足类的生物量占浮游动物总量的75.97%～97.55%,是决定披山岛浮游动物数量分布和变动的主要成分.与历史资料和邻近海域相比较,披山岛海区生物量与其接近或大于东海各海域.春、夏两季生物多样性(H′)有显著性差异(P<0.05),春季具有较高的生物多样性,且远海的生物多样性大于近海.     

莱州湾金城海域浮游动物群落结构及与环境因子的关系

于2009年和2010年3—12月在莱州湾金城海域对浮游动物群落结构及其环境因子进行了连续20个月份的综合调查,共记录到浮游动物75种,分属14个不同大类。浮游动物以桡足类和浮游幼虫居多,分别鉴定出22种、20类,占种类总数的29.3%、26.7%,其次为水螅水母类,鉴定出11种,端足类、被囊动物、腹足类和栉水母类分别鉴定出6种、4种、4种、2种,其它枝角类、毛颚动物、等足类、糠虾类、磷虾类以及钵水母类各鉴定出1种。主要优势种为强壮箭虫(优势度Y=0.24)、中华哲水蚤(Y=0.13)、墨氏胸刺水蚤(Y=0.07)、以及洪氏纺锤水蚤(Y=0.02)。2009年与2010年浮游动物群落结构的变化趋势比较稳定,同一季节群落结构相似度达到40%以上。浮游动物丰度分别在2009年及2010年的5月份达到最高值951.65个/m3、1348.14个/m3。种类数分别在2009年9月和2010年6月达到最高值48种、40种。多样性指数分别在2009年10月及2010年5月达到最高值2.6、2.7,呈现明显的季节变化特征。典范对应分析(Canonical correspondence analysis,CCA)显示,水温和盐度是影响浮游动物群落结构最主要的影响因子,水温与浮游动物种类数的相关系数达到0.87(P0.01)。盐度与浮游动物数量的相关系数为0.484(P0.05)。透明度、化学耗氧量、pH、叶绿素及总氮总磷等环境参数对浮游动物群落结构的影响较弱。     

华南地区典型抽水型水库后生浮游动物群落的种类组成与结构

大镜山水库位于广东省珠海市,是一座富营养抽水型中型水库,为了解富营养过程中抽水型水库后生浮游动物群落的种类组成与结构特征,于2006年3～12月在水库敞水区进行每月1次或2次调查.共检到轮虫32种、枝角类4种和桡足类9种.其中,臂尾轮属为轮虫优势属,角突臂尾轮虫(Brachionus angularis)和剪形臂尾轮虫(B. forficula)为最主要的优势种.长额象鼻溞 (Bosmina longirostris)为枝角类的优势种,中华窄腹剑水蚤(Limnoithona sisnensis)为桡足类第1优势种,温中剑水蚤(Mesocyclops thermcyclopoides)为次优势种.中华窄腹剑水蚤个体较小(成体体长为0.3～0.5mm),对咸水有较强的适应能力,该种是通过河流调水引入大镜山水库.后生浮游动物的个体体重分布范围为0.01～81.92 μg,种类主要分布的个体体重区间为0.08～0.32 μg,在该区间的浮游动物主要为轮虫.浮游动物的丰度与生物量以桡足类占优势,丰度峰值出现在个体体重为0.08～0.16 μg的区间上,并以无节幼体为主;生物量的峰值出现在2.56～5.12 μg的等级上,峰值为46.43 μg/L,主要由桡足类构成.水库中后生浮游动物的丰度和生物量范围分别为21.9～876 ind./L和17.47～1089.73 μg/L,丰水期丰度较高,丰度和生物量的峰值分别出现在5月和9月份.与同地区的其它水体相比,大镜山水库浮游动物种类数低,与水体咸度高和鱼类养殖导致的高强度捕食压力有关.抽水入库量、降雨量是影响后生浮游动物丰度的主要因子,它们明显地削弱了温度的作用;在水温下降的枯水期,鱼类捕食压力下降导致了枝角类丰度的增加.     

基于个体大小的后生浮游动物群落结构分析——以广东星湖为例

星湖是一个位于热带北缘的浅水湖泊。于2002年和2003年对该湖的后生浮游动物进行了采样,并以体重作为个体大小变量研究了浮游动物的个体大小组成结构。星湖后生浮游动物的体长范围为50—1300μm,所有优势种的体长均小于1mm。轮虫优势种中,体长最小的是剪形臂尾轮虫、角突臂尾轮虫和广布多肢轮虫等,它们的平均体长均小于100μm。前节晶囊轮虫是个体最长的轮虫。枝角类的优势种及次优势种为长额象鼻潘、颈沟基合潘、短尾秀体潘和微型裸腹潘等中小型种类,平均体长介于220．430μm之间。桡足类优势种为台湾温剑水蚤和温中剑水蚤,平均体长介于680～730μm之间,此外,无节幼体和剑水蚤幼体在数量和生物量上也比较高。后生浮游动物的个体体重范围为0．034．70．24μg,绝大部分种类都分布在3个体重等级以上,其中前节晶囊轮虫的分布范围最宽,为0．548～70．24μg。后生浮游动物的种类和数量均是以小个体为主,并且随着体重增大逐渐减少,而生物量则在4．39—8．78μg这一中等个体体重的位置上出现峰值。根据对两个子湖——波海湖和青莲湖2002年和2003年生物量分布的分析与比较,2003年生物量均有所下降,在生物量分布的每个体重等级上轮虫基本上都是第一优势类群,其次是桡足类。星湖后生浮游动物的个体大小范围和出现生物量峰值的位置均小于温带湖泊,其个体大小结构特征与位于赤道附近的热带湖泊相似。除了与营养水平较高有关外,鱼类的下行效应和水温可能是影响该湖后生浮游动物的大小结构而产生与温带湖泊差异的重要因素。因此,进一步研究该湖中浮游动物和鱼类的关系将有助于在热带湖泊中利用生物操纵来改善水质。     

象山港两种网目网采浮游动物群落比较

分别于2010年3月(春)、7月(夏)、9月(秋)、12月(冬),用浮游生物Ⅰ型(网目505 μm)、Ⅱ型(网目160 μm)网同步在象山港进行6站位2重复的浮游动物取样,比较分析了不同时空下两种网目采集的浮游动物群落差异.结果表明：两网间的浮游动物种类数、丰度、生物量、优势种和群落格局都存在极大差异.其中,Ⅰ网的种类数(61种,包括幼虫)、平均丰度(139.0 ind·m^-3)和平均生物量(86.1 mg·m^-3)显著低于Ⅱ网(分别为84种、3780.2 ind·m^-3和191.1 mg·m^-3).在优势种中,除太平洋纺锤水蚤和墨氏胸刺水蚤为两网共有优势种外,其余优势种完全不同.Ⅰ网未检出周年的优势种,而Ⅱ网的周年优势种是针刺拟哲水蚤和桡足类幼体.相似性分析(ANOSIM)和nMDS排序结果显示,两网群落格局不仅在时空上存在显著差异,而且Ⅰ网群落比Ⅱ网更离散.相似性百分比(SIMPER)分析进一步揭示,两网群落格局间平均非相似性高达75%以上,造成两网群落时空非相似性差异的主要判别种是：针刺拟哲水蚤、桡足类幼体、强额拟哲水蚤和短角长腹剑水蚤,而这些种均为Ⅱ网的优势种.表明象山港浮游动物调查时以Ⅱ网更具代表性.     

烟台四十里湾浮游动物群落特征及与环境因子的关系

2009年3月—2010年12月在烟台四十里湾海域对浮游动物群落结构及其环境因子进行了连续20个航次的综合调查,记录到浮游动物8大类共计64种(类)。浮游动物主要类群为桡足类和浮游幼虫,分别发现22种、18类,占总种(类)数34%、28%;其次为水螅水母类,发现13种,占20%;毛颚动物和栉水母类各发现1种。浮游动物的优势种为中华哲水蚤(Y=0.183)、腹针胸刺水蚤(Y=0.078)、强壮箭虫(Y=0.078)和洪氏纺锤水蚤(Y=0.026)。浮游动物的生态类型主要为温带近岸种和广布性种。四十里湾海域浮游动物群落结构的季节变化较为明显,春、夏、秋、冬四季之间群落结构有显著性差异(P0.05),同一季节内群落结构相似度较高,达55%以上。浮游动物丰度中位值在5月份达到最高(546.3个/m~3);种类数、多样性指数中位值均在8月达到最高,分别为18种、3.20;浮游动物生物量呈现出双峰变化模型,5月份达到第1峰值(中位值870.4 mg/m~3),10月份为第2峰值(中位值362.0 mg/m~3)。浮游动物种类数高值区主要分布在养马岛北部海域,而丰度高值区主要分布在近岸尤其是辛安河口海域。浮游动物种类数及多样性指数与水温、化学需氧量、硅酸盐显著正相关(P0.01),与盐度、溶解氧、无机氮显著负相关(P0.01);水温和盐度是影响浮游动物分布的主要环境因子,其次是硅酸盐、叶绿素a和化学需氧量,活性磷酸盐、溶解氧、透明度以及无机氮对浮游动物分布的影响较小。     

三门湾浮游动物的季节变动及微型浮游动物摄食影响

2002年8月、11月、2003年2月和5月,在三门湾进行了4个航次生物、化学和水文等专业综合调查。根据采集的浮游动物样品的分析鉴定及海上现场实验结果,对浮游动物的群落组成、生物量、丰度、多样性指数的分布和季节变动及其浮游动物对浮游植物的摄食影响进行研究。结果表明,三门湾浮游动物有67属,89种,16类浮游幼体,主要可划分为4个生态类群：以近岸低盐类群为主,其优势种为中华哲水蚤Calanus sinicus、真刺唇角水蚤Labidocera etwhaeta、捷氏歪水蚤Tortanus derjugini、太平洋纺锤水蚤Acartiapacifica、中华假磷虾Pseudeuphausia sinica和百陶箭虫Sagitta bedoti等。半咸水河口类群、暖水性外海类群和广布种相对较少。浮游动物生物量和丰度的平面分布趋势除了夏季有所差异外,其它季节基本一致。2月份和5月份,浮游动物生物量和丰度,从湾顶向湾口呈逐渐增加趋势;8月份,湾口区生物量最高,而丰度高值区出现在湾顶部;11月份,生物量和丰度的平面分布相对均匀。浮游动物种类多样性指数有明显的季节变化,其动态变化与浮游动物种数和丰度的变化一致。微型浮游动物对浮游植物存在摄食压力,且有季节变化,摄食率的变化在0．18．0．68d^-1,微型浮游动物的摄食率低于相同季节的浮游植物生长率。微型浮游动物对浮游植物摄食压力的变化范围为16．1％-49．1％d^-1,对初级生产力摄食压力的变化在58．3％-83．6％d^-1。11月份,微型浮游动物对浮游植物和初级生产力的摄食压力均出现最高值。     

2000～2001年粤东柘林湾营养盐分布

2000年5月-2001年5月对粤东大规模增养殖区柘林湾及湾外附近海域进行了大量营养盐,浮游生物和一般理化因子的周年调查。结果表明,调查海域溶解性无机氮,磷,硅含量都明显偏高,年平均值分别达到22.64,1.95和59.7μmol/L,其中,氮,磷含量均超过国家三类海水的水质标准,由于湾顶黄冈河和湾周边排污排废的影响,营养盐的分布基本表现为由湾内向湾外,近岸向离岸递减的格局,大规模增养殖业造成的2次污染对该湾营养盐的时空分布具有重要的影响,柘林湾氮,磷,硅含量虽全面偏高,但如以Justic和Dortch等的标准来衡量,该湾浮游植物生长受控于单一营养盐限制因子的出现率为氮41.75%,磷22.9%,硅2.36%。     

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。     

Zooplankton feeding ecology: does a diet of Phaeocystis support good copepod grazing, survival, egg production and egg hatching success?

The bloom-forming alga Phaeocystis is ingested by a varietyof zooplankton grazers, but is thought to be a poor source offood. We examined copepod grazing on solitary Phaeocystis cellsby adult females of Temora stylifera, and survival, fecal pelletproduction, egg production and egg hatching success in Calanushelgolandicus and T. stylifera over periods of 15 consecutivedays. Phaeocystis cell concentrations were high (1.2–3.6x 10⁴ cells ml^–1 for C. helgolandicus and 2.5–7.9x 10⁴ cells ml^–1 for T. stylifera), but within the rangeof maxima recorded for natural blooms. Both copepods survivedwell and continuously produced fecal pellets (indicating continuousgrazing) on a diet of Phaeocystis. However, egg production ratesfor both copepods were low, even though hatching success ofthe few eggs produced was high. Clearance rates for T. styliferawere higher than for most previous measurements of other copepodsfeeding on Phaeocystis solitary cells at lower cell concentrations.We conclude that even though copepods feed well upon Phaeocystis,resulting poor fecundity on this diet may inhibit copepod populationincreases during blooms, thereby contributing to the perpetuationof blooms. However, the high egg hatching success on this dietargues against Phaeocystis containing chemical compounds thatact as mitotic inhibitors reducing copepod egg viability, suchas those found in some other phytoplankters.     

海洋细菌生态学的若干前沿课题及其研究新进展

海洋细菌在海洋生态系统中的重要作用随着微食物环的提出被深入认识和充分肯定。本文概述了海洋细菌在微食物环中的重要生态作用及微食物环的研究进展,海洋细菌在碳的生物地球化学循环中的重要性,海洋细菌的活性及其群落结构与功能,分析了藻际环境特性和藻际微生物在赤潮多发海域的生态作用,提出了我国海洋细菌生态学研究的若干新思考与新任务,强调了基于"以菌治藻"的新理念,开展针对于赤潮灾害防除的"微食物环-赤潮-关键微生物菌群"耦合互作这一重要科学问题研究的必要性及紧迫性。     

Toxic Effect of a Marine Bacterium on Aquatic Organisms and Its Algicidal Substances against Phaeocystis globosa

Harmful algal blooms have caused enormous damage to the marine ecosystem and the coastal economy in China. In this paper, a bacterial strain B1, which had strong algicidal activity against Phaeocystis globosa, was isolated from the coastal waters of Zhuhai in China. The strain B1 was identified as Bacillus sp. on the basis of 16S rDNA gene sequence and morphological characteristics. To evaluate the ecological safety of the algicidal substances produced by strain B1, their toxic effects on marine organisms were tested. Results showed that there were no adverse effects observed in the growth of Chlorella vulgaris, Chaetoceros muelleri, and Isochrystis galbana after exposure to the algicidal substances at a concentration of 1.0% (v/v) for 96 h. The 48h LC₅₀ values for Brachionus plicatilis, Moina mongolica Daday and Paralichthys olivaceus were 5.7, 9.0 and 12.1% (v/v), respectively. Subsequently, the algicidal substances from strain B1 culture were isolated and purified by silica gel column, Sephadex G-15 column and high-performance liquid chromatography. Based on quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and PeakView Software, the purified substances were identified as prolyl-methionine and hypoxanthine. Algicidal mechanism indicated that prolyl-methionine and hypoxanthine inhibited the growth of P. globosa by disrupting the antioxidant systems. In the acute toxicity assessment using M. mongolica, 24h LC₅₀ values of prolyl-methionine and hypoxanthine were 7.0 and 13.8 g/L, respectively. The active substances produced by strain B1 can be considered as ecologically and environmentally biological agents for controlling harmful algal blooms.     

Macroalgal blooms alter community structure and primary productivity in marine ecosystems

Eutrophication, coupled with loss of herbivory due to habitat degradation and overharvesting, has increased the frequency and severity of macroalgal blooms worldwide. Macroalgal blooms interfere with human activities in coastal areas, and sometimes necessitate costly algal removal programmes. They also have many detrimental effects on marine and estuarine ecosystems, including induction of hypoxia, release of toxic hydrogen sulphide into the sediments and atmosphere, and the loss of ecologically and economically important species. However, macroalgal blooms can also increase habitat complexity, provide organisms with food and shelter, and reduce other problems associated with eutrophication. These contrasting effects make their overall ecological impacts unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to estimate the overall effects of macroalgal blooms on several key measures of ecosystem structure and functioning in marine ecosystems. We also evaluated some of the ecological and methodological factors that might explain the highly variable effects observed in different studies. Averaged across all studies, macroalgal blooms had negative effects on the abundance and species richness of marine organisms, but blooms by different algal taxa had different consequences, ranging from strong negative to strong positive effects. Blooms' effects on species richness also depended on the habitat where they occurred, with the strongest negative effects seen in sandy or muddy subtidal habitats and in the rocky intertidal. Invertebrate communities also appeared to be particularly sensitive to blooms, suffering reductions in their abundance, species richness, and diversity. The total net primary productivity, gross primary productivity, and respiration of benthic ecosystems were higher during macroalgal blooms, but blooms had negative effects on the productivity and respiration of other organisms. These results suggest that, in addition to their direct social and economic costs, macroalgal blooms have ecological effects that may alter their capacity to deliver important ecosystem services.     

The Contributions of Sea Ice Algae to Antarctic Marine Primary Production

The seasonally ice-covered regions of the Southern Ocean havedistinctive ecological systems due to the growth of microalgaein sea ice. Although sea ice microalgal production is exceededby phytoplankton production on an annual basis in most offshoreregions of the Southern Ocean, blooms of sea ice algae differconsiderably from the phytoplankton in terms of timing and distribution.Thus sea ice algae provide food resources for higher trophiclevel organisms in seasons and regions where water column biologicalproduction is low or negligible. A flux of biogenic materialfrom sea ice to the water column and benthos follows ice melt,and some of the algal species are known to occur in ensuingphytoplankton blooms. A review of algal species in pack iceand offshore plankton showed that dominance is common for threespecies: Phaeocystis antarctica, Fragilariopsis cylindrus andFragilariopsis curta. The degree to which dominance by thesespecies is a product of successional processes in sea ice communitiescould be an important in determining their biogeochemical contributionto the Southern Ocean and their ability to seed blooms in marginalice zones.     

Background nutrient concentration determines phytoplankton bloom response to marine heatwaves

Ocean temperature extreme events such as marine heatwaves are expected to intensify in coming decades due to anthropogenic global warming. Reported ecological and economic impacts of marine heatwaves include coral bleaching, local extinction of mangrove and kelp forests and elevated mortalities of invertebrates, fishes, seabirds and marine mammals. In contrast, little is known about the impacts of marine heatwaves on microbes that regulate biogeochemical processes in the ocean. Here we analyse the daily output of a near‐global ocean physical–biogeochemical model simulation to characterize the impacts of marine heatwaves on phytoplankton blooms in 23 tropical and temperate oceanographic regions from 1992 to 2014. The results reveal regionally coherent anomalies of shallower surface mixing layers and lower surface nitrate concentrations during marine heatwaves. These anomalies exert counteracting effects on phytoplankton growth through light and nutrient limitation. Consequently, the responses of phytoplankton blooms are mixed, but can be related to the background nutrient conditions of the study regions. The blooms are weaker during marine heatwaves in nutrient‐poor waters, whereas in nutrient‐rich waters, the heatwave blooms are stronger. The corresponding analyses of sea‐surface temperature, chlorophyll a and nitrate based on satellite observations and in situ climatology support this relationship between phytoplankton bloom anomalies and background nitrate concentration. Given that nutrient‐poor waters are projected to expand globally in the 21st century, this study suggests increased occurrence of weaker blooms during marine heatwaves in coming decades, with implications for higher trophic levels and biogeochemical cycling of key elements.     

Secretion in unicellular marine phytoplankton: demonstration of regulated exocytosis in Phaeocystis globosa

Almost half of the global photosynthetic activity is carried out in the ocean. During blooms, Phaeocystis can fix CO(2) at rates up to 40 g C m(-2) month(-1). Most of this carbon is released as polysaccharides. However, the cellular mechanism whereby this huge amount of organic material is exported into the seawater remains unknown. A vaguely defined process of "exudation" is believed responsible for the release of these biopolymers. Here we report the first demonstration that Phaeocystis globosa does not "exude", but secretes microscopic gels. Secretion is stimulated by blue light (lambda = 470+/-20 nm), and it is transduced by a characteristic intracellular Ca(2+) signal that precedes degranulation. The polysaccharides that form the matrix of these gels remain in condensed phase while stored in secretory vesicles. Upon exocytosis, the exopolymer matrix undergoes a characteristic phase transition accompanied by extensive swelling resulting in the formation of microscopic hydrated gels. Owing to their tangled topology, once released into the seawater, the polymers that make these gels can reptate (axially diffuse), interpenetrate neighboring gels, and anneal them together forming massive mucilage accumulations that are characteristic of Phaeocystis blooms. These gel masses can supply a rich source of microbial substrates, disperse in the seawater, and/or eventually sediment to the ocean floor.     

高摄食压力下球形棕囊藻凝聚体的形成

棕囊藻包含囊体和游离单细胞两种生活史阶段。囊体是棕囊藻藻华爆发时的优势形态,藻华衰退时囊体能够形成凝聚体,但是棕囊藻游离单细胞的凝聚体极少被发现。本次研究将球形棕囊藻单细胞和高密度的海洋弯曲甲藻共同培养,使球形棕囊藻的生长承受高摄食压力,通过观察摄食者和棕囊藻的生长、凝聚体的数量和形态,阐明单细胞凝聚体的形成以及与摄食压力的关系。当球形棕囊藻进入衰退期时,高摄食压力引发游离单细胞聚合形成凝聚体,无摄食压力情况下,单细胞不形成凝聚体。凝聚体由无鞭毛细胞组成,细胞排列紧密,近似球体。凝聚体形成伊始,凝聚体内部可见凝胶状物质将细胞互相粘结,并且粘附了纤维等物质。凝聚体的体积和粘附的细胞数量逐渐提高,细胞排列愈加紧密,凝聚体内部形态和结构不易分辨。凝聚体的形成有效保护了部分单细胞免受摄食压力的影响,减少了摄食死亡率。凝聚体的形成是球形棕囊藻面临高摄食压力时采取的主动的防御策略。球形棕囊藻能够频繁引发大规模藻华的原因可能在于其在生长的各个阶段中均具有优越的竞争策略。