海洋微型和微微型浮游生物的区域分布与影响因素

微型和微微型浮游生物几乎存在于所有的海洋生态系统中,其群落遍布世界各大洋。在大部分海域,微型浮游生物的优势类群为鞭毛藻;原绿球藻是贫营养海域的优势类群,而聚球藻、微微型真核生物和异养细菌主要在营养盐丰富的海域出现,在热带、亚热带和温带的富营养区域占优势。温度、盐度、光照、营养盐可得性、水体稳定性和摄食压力是影响微型和微微型浮游生物的主要因素,各海域主要调控因子的不同造成了微型和微微型浮游生物类群和丰度分布的差异。本文主要综述海洋微型和微微型浮游生物类群检测方法、区域分布特点及其受环境影响的研究概况,并提出了今后的重点研究内容和发展方向。     

北冰洋微型浮游生物分布及其多样性

近年来随着全球气候变化对北冰洋生态环境的影响日益显现,北极微型浮游生物生态学研究得到了广泛的重视和实质性的进展。对北冰洋微型浮游生物的主要类群:异养细菌、古菌、光合异养原核生物和微型真核生物的分布及其多样性研究进展做了概述,并在此基础上展望了未来北冰洋微型浮游生物学研究。     

流式细胞术在富营养淡水湖泊微型浮游植物细胞中的应用

应用流式细胞术(FCM)对一个富营养化淡水湖泊表、底层微型浮游植物细胞进行了初步研究。研究结果表明：流式细胞术可快速、多参数区分3种不同类群微型浮游植物。微型浮游植物细胞在表、底层占50μm以下微型颗粒物数量比例分别为21．08％、17．87％,在不同水层,微型浮游植物的优势类群及数量也不同。流式细胞术大大提高了淡水微型浮游生物研究监测水平。     

湖北黄石典型水域超微型真核浮游生物多样性研究

为探讨湖北省黄石市典型水域中超微型真核浮游生物多样性, 采用18S rDNA 扩增片段限制性酶切技术, 结合优势类群测序及相关统计学分析, 对2015年夏季湖北黄石境内营养程度不同的典型水域(长江, 磁湖, 青山湖, 青港湖)中超微型真核浮游生物的群落组成及遗传多样性进行了研究。结果表明, 4个水域的超微型真核浮游生物多样性有明显差异, 多样性随水域营养化程度的增高而降低。优势克隆的测序结果显示, 优势类群藻类包括隐藻、绿藻、甲藻, 真菌包括隐真菌和壶菌, 此外还有纤毛虫及未分类的浮游生物, 隐藻在4个水域中都占优势。不同水域的优势类群差别较大。优势类群的种类随水域营养化程度的增加而减少。群落的多样性与总磷呈极显著的负相关。     

河口浮游动物生态学研究进展

综述了国内外有关河口浮游动物种类组成、时空分布、生物量及其环境影响因素等方面的若干研究进展。河口地区潮流、径流共存,是陆海相互作用的集中地带,环境因子复杂多变,生态环境敏感脆弱。因此,研究河口浮游动物群落结构的时空变化有助于更好地揭示近海生态系统的特征。河口水域重要的浮游动物有原生动物、轮虫、桡足类、糠虾、水母等。环境因素和人类的活动对浮游动物种类组成和时空分布具有重要影响,河口浮游动物群落结构变化主要受到食物、温度、盐度、动物摄食以及径流等因素的影响,盐度是决定浮游动物分布的关键性非生物因子。近年来的研究表明,微型浮游动物（原生动物,轮虫和无节幼体）在河口生态系统中占有重要地位,是微食物网和传统食物网连接的关键环节。浮游生物网是采集浮游动物样品的主要工具,对研究结果有重要影响,我国许多学者使用浅水Ⅰ型或Ⅱ型浮游生物网（网孔为507μm和169μm）采集样品,导致小型和微型浮游动物（如无节幼体）逃逸,研究结果被严重低估,而这些小型和微型浮游动物是幼鱼的重要开口饵料,因此合适的浮游生物网对于研究浮游动物极其重要。并对今后我国河口浮游动物生态学研究中值得关注的科学问题进行了探讨。     

海洋微型底栖生物的多样性与地理分布

海洋微型底栖生物是指生活于海洋沉积物中及表面的所有单细胞原核和真核微型生物,包括原核微生物、真核微藻及原生动物等光合自养和异养的类群.与水体相比,海洋底栖生境孕育了形态和功能多样性更高的微型生物,在陆架浅海单位体积沉积物中其丰度较之水体中同类生物高一至几个数量级,而深海则孕育着特殊进化环境下新奇多样且数量庞大的微型底栖生物,是维持海洋生物多样性、海洋生态系统结构和功能不可或缺的部分.迄今对于微型生物是全球性还是限定性分布一直存在争议,对其解答受到分类研究欠缺及采样不足的制约.分子生物学从正反两方面提供了理论依据,但无法得出一个普遍接受的观点.海洋微型底栖生物的多样性研究侧重于物种多样性及群落结构与分子多样性,较为显著的进展体现在原核微生物的分子多样性及底栖真核微藻的物种多样性研究,对于海洋底栖原生动物的多样性研究则相较滞后.本文综述了国内外对海洋微型底栖生物各主要类群的分类学和多样性研究进展,探讨了各类群在全球的潜在物种多样性,并就我国未来加强海洋微型底栖生物多样性构成、分布与变动及驱动变化的因子以及底栖微食物网的研究提出了建议.     

土壤微食物网结构与生态功能

土壤微食物网是碎屑食物网中与土壤生态过程密切相关的一部分,通过取食资源基质直接或间接地参与养分循环过程,影响陆地生态系统功能.本文从土壤微食物网的组成、结构和生态功能等方面综述了近年来土壤微食物网的研究进展.通过对土壤微食物网的能量通道及营养级联效应的介绍,阐述了土壤微食物网在碳(C)、氮(N)转化、凋落物分解和植物生长等方面的重要作用.针对目前的研究现状,提出未来土壤生态学研究应与高通量测序及稳定同位素技术相结合;通过构建模型进一步加强对土壤食物网结构和功能的研究,从而深入揭示地下生态过程及其对地上植物生长的反馈作用机理.     

冬夏季雷州半岛附近海域微微型光合浮游生物的类群变化及环境影响

2006年夏季和冬季对雷州半岛附近海域微微型光合浮游生物的类群数量与分布进行分析研究.结果表明:该海区微微型光合浮游生物的主要类群为聚球藻(Synechococcus)和微微型真核生物(pico-eukaryotes),二者在夏季的数量变化分别为(5.74±5.0)×104cell/ml和(2.33±1.82)×103cell/ml,冬季分别为(1.57±2.17)×103cell/ml和(4.17±4.40)×103cell/ml.聚球藻的丰度夏季高于冬季,高值区位于雷州湾海区;而微微型光合真核生物的丰度冬季高于夏季,冬季高值出现在雷州湾内D7站表层.雷州半岛西部海区微微型光合浮游生物的丰度夏、冬季变化比雷州湾附近海区明显,营养盐、温度、潮汐等是制约其数量变化的主要因子.     

盐湖微微型浮游植物多样性研究进展

盐湖在地球表层分布较广,中国是世界上盐湖分布稠密的国家。尽管盐湖生态环境极端恶劣,但它们依然是陆地特别是高原生态系统中十分重要的组成部分。微微型浮游植物(Picophytoplankton)通常是指粒径在0.2—3μm之间的光合自养型浮游生物,在这一生态类群中既有原核生物也有真核生物。微微型浮游植物不仅是海洋生态系统中生物量和生产力的最重要贡献者,也是盐湖生态系统最重要的组成部分。最近的调查数据显示,在东非Bogoria和Nakuru苏打盐湖中微微型浮游植物的生产力占整个浮游植物生产力的53%—68%。迄今为止,对盐湖微微型浮游植物多样性的研究多集中于盐田(Solar salterns)、盐池(Saline ponds)以及碱湖(Soda lakes)等超盐水体中;超盐盐湖中最常见的微微型浮游植物主要是蓝细菌(Cyanobacteria)类群,包括席蓝细菌属(Phormidium)、节旋藻属(Arthrospira)和隐杆藻属(Aphanothece)。分子生物学的研究显示,低碱浅水盐湖中微微型浮游植物具有丰富的多样性,主要类群是微微型原核浮游植物,还有部分种类与真核藻类质体序列高度相似。盐湖生态系统中微微型浮游植物群落结构演替变化的研究已经逐渐引起更多研究者的关注。已有的研究资料显示,水体矿化度是影响微微型浮游植物平面分布及群落结构组成的重要因子;光照、营养成分和温度等也会影响盐湖水体中微微型浮游植物平面分布及群落结构组成。综述了国内外对不同类型盐湖生态系统中微微型浮游植物多样性研究的概况,探讨了不同地理区域各种盐湖中微微型浮游植物群落结构的演替变化,并就我国未来加强盐湖中微微型浮游植物多样性构成、分布与变动及驱动变化的因子等研究提出了建议。     

我国微型硅藻类的新记录属——微壳藻属

微型硅藻是海洋浮游植物的重要组成类群, 由于其个体微小, 在以往的研究中大多被忽略了。本文利用透射电镜(TEM)对若干采自我国沿海海域的样品进行观察, 经鉴定, 确认一个我国微型硅藻类的新记录属--微壳藻属Nanofrustulum Round, Hallsteinsen &; Paasche 1999。对该属及该属一个新记录种的主要形态学特征进行了描述, 提供了透射电镜下的照片, 并对相似属种进行了形态学比较研究。     

持久性有机污染物在水生食物网中的传递行为

食物网是持久性有机污染物(POPs)在水生生态系统中传递的重要途径,了解其传递行为与机制是POPs生态暴露风险评价的科学基础。从4个方面展开了讨论和分析:(1)食物网主要特征(营养级和食物链长度)与POPs环境行为的关系;(2)POPs在底栖及底栖-浮游耦合食物网中的环境行为;(3)微食物网对POPs环境行为的作用;(4)食物网的变化对POPs环境行为的影响。主要结论如下:(1)已有研究对水生生物中POPs生物放大作用存在较大争议。一般营养级越高,POPs生物富集性越强,但由于各种生态和生理性质的影响,也存在例外情况。食物链长度与POPs生物富集性呈正相关。(2)POPs通过底栖食物网将沉积物中的POPs向上传递,底栖-浮游食物网的耦合提高了高营养级消费者的暴露风险,目前就POPs在底栖食物网中的生物放大性是否大于浮游食物网存在争议。(3)微生物具有较大的比表面积,是吸附POPs的重要载体。另,沉积物中的微生物通过分解有机质,将POPs释放到水柱中。微生物降解也是环境中POPs脱离环境的重要途径。(4)在内、外压力下,食物网结构和功能发生变化,使物质和能量的传递方向和效率发生改变,并与环境理化性质的变化互相耦合,影响POPs的环境行为。当前研究的重点多集中在POPs在浮游食物网,尤其是高营养级浮游食物网中的环境行为,对POPs在底栖及底栖-浮游耦合食物网和微食物网中环境行为的研究相对缺乏。有关POPs在食物网中环境行为的研究多集中在食物网的某个部分,时间尺度较短,缺乏对POPs环境行为动态变化的研究,未来需深入开展多尺度和多角度的POPs在食物网中环境行为的动态变化研究。新型POPs的生产和使用量不断增加,但有关其在食物网中环境行为的相关分析还较为匮乏,需加强研究。     

Above‐ and belowground linkages in Sphagnum peatland: climate warming affects plant‐microbial interactions

Peatlands contain approximately one third of all soil organic carbon (SOC). Warming can alter above‐ and belowground linkages that regulate soil organic carbon dynamics and C‐balance in peatlands. Here we examine the multiyear impact of in situ experimental warming on the microbial food web, vegetation, and their feedbacks with soil chemistry. We provide evidence of both positive and negative impacts of warming on specific microbial functional groups, leading to destabilization of the microbial food web. We observed a strong reduction (70%) in the biomass of top‐predators (testate amoebae) in warmed plots. Such a loss caused a shortening of microbial food chains, which in turn stimulated microbial activity, leading to slight increases in levels of nutrients and labile C in water. We further show that warming altered the regulatory role of Sphagnum‐polyphenols on microbial community structure with a potential inhibition of top predators. In addition, warming caused a decrease in Sphagnum cover and an increase in vascular plant cover. Using structural equation modelling, we show that changes in the microbial food web affected the relationships between plants, soil water chemistry, and microbial communities. These results suggest that warming will destabilize C and nutrient recycling of peatlands via changes in above‐ and belowground linkages, and therefore, the microbial food web associated with mosses will feedback positively to global warming by destabilizing the carbon cycle. This study confirms that microbial food webs thus constitute a key element in the functioning of peatland ecosystems. Their study can help understand how mosses, as ecosystem engineers, tightly regulate biogeochemical cycling and climate feedback in peatlands     

Seasonal microbial processes in a high-latitude fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard): I. Heterotrophic bacteria, picoplankton and nanoflagellates

Temporal dynamics of the microbial food web in the Barents Sea and adjacent water masses in the European Arctic are to a large extent unknown. Seasonal variation in stocks and production rates of heterotrophic bacteria and phototrophic and heterotrophic picoplankton and nanoflagellates was investigated in the upper 50 m of the high-latitude Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, during six field campaigns between March and December 2006. Heterotrophic bacteria, picoplankton and nanoflagellates contributed to ecosystem structure and function in all seasons. Activity within the microbial food web peaked during spring bloom in April, parallel to low abundances of mesozooplankton. In the nutrient-limited post-bloom scenario, an efficient microbial loop, fuelled by dissolved organic carbon from abundant mesozooplankton feeding on phytoplankton and protozooplankton, facilitated maximum integrated primary production rates. A tight microbial food web consisting of heterotrophic bacteria and phototrophic and heterotrophic picoplankton and nanoflagellates was found in the stratified water masses encountered in July and September. Microbial stocks and rates were low but persistent under winter conditions. Seasonal comparisons of microbial biomass and production revealed that structure and function of the microbial food web were fundamentally different during the spring bloom when compared with other seasons. While the microbial food web was in a regenerative mode most of the time, during the spring bloom, a microbial transfer mode represented a trophic link for organic carbon in time and space. The microbial food web’s ability to fill different functional roles in periods dominated by new and regenerated production may enhance the ecological flexibility of pelagic ecosystems in the present era of climate change.     

Structure and functioning of the microbial loop in a boreal reservoir

The abundance and biomass of the main components of the microbial plankton food web (“microbial loop”)—heterotrophic bacteria, phototrophic picoplankton and nanoplankton, heterotrophic nanoflagellates, ciliates and viruses, production of phytoplankton and bacterioplankton, bacterivory of nanoflagellates, bacterial lysis by viruses, and the species composition of protists—have been determined in summer time in the Sheksna Reservoir (the Upper Volga basin). A total of 34 species of heterotrophic nanoflagellates from 15 taxa and 15 species of ciliates from 4 classes are identified. In different parts of the reservoir, the biomass of the microbial community varies from 26.2 to 64.3% (on average 45.5%) of the total plankton biomass. Heterotrophic bacteria are the main component of the microbial community, averaging 63.9% of the total microbial biomass. They are the second (after the phytoplankton) component of the plankton and contribute on average 28.6% to the plankton biomass. The high ratio of the production of heterotrophic bacteria to the production of phytoplankton indicates the important role of bacteria, which transfer carbon of allochthonous dissolved organic substances to a food web of the reservoir.     

Nitrogen dynamics and microbial food web structure during a summer cyanobacterial bloom in a subtropical,shallow, well-mixed,eutrophic lake (Lake Taihu,China)

Nitrogen dynamics and microbial food web structure were characterized in subtropical, eutrophic, large (2,338 km²), shallow (1.9 m mean depth), and polymictic Lake Taihu (China) in Sept–Oct 2002 during a cyanobacterial bloom. Population growth and industrialization are factors in trophic status deterioration in Lake Taihu. Sites for investigation were selected along a transect from the Liangxihe River discharge into Meiliang Bay to the main lake. Water column nitrogen and microbial food web measurements were combined with sediment–water interface incubations to characterize and identify important processes related to system nitrogen dynamics. Results indicate a gradient from strong phosphorus limitation at the river discharge to nitrogen limitation or co-limitation in the main lake. Denitrification in Meiliang Bay may drive main lake nitrogen limitation by removing excess nitrogen before physical transport to the main lake. Five times higher nutrient mineralization rates in the water column versus sediments indicate that sediment nutrient transformations were not as important as water column processes for fueling primary production. However, sediments provide a site for denitrification, which, along with nitrogen fixation and other processes, can determine available nutrient ratios. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) was important, relative to denitrification, only at the river discharge site, and nitrogen fixation was observed only in the main lake. Reflecting nitrogen cycling patterns, microbial food web structure shifted from autotrophic (phytoplankton dominated) at the river discharge to heterotrophic (bacteria dominated) in and near the main lake.     

Changes in the pelagic microbial food web due to artificial eutrophication

The effect of nutrient enrichment on the structure and carbon flow in the pelagic microbial food web was studied in mesocosm experiments using seawater from the northern Baltic Sea. The experiments included food webs of at least four trophic levels; (1) phytoplankton–bacteria, (2) flagellates, (3) ciliates and (4) mesozooplankton. In the enriched treatments high autotrophic growth rates were observed, followed by increased heterotrophic production. The largest growth increase was due to heterotrophic bacteria, indicating that the heterotrophic microbial food web was promoted. This was further supported by increased growth of heterotrophic flagellates and ciliates in the high nutrient treatments. The phytoplankton peak in the middle of the experiments was mainly due to an autotrophic nanoflagellate, Pyramimonas sp. At the end of the experiment, the proportion of heterotrophic organisms was higher in the nutrient enriched than in the nutrient-poor treatment, indicating increased predation control of primary producers. The proportion of potentially mixotrophic plankton, prymnesiophyceans, chrysophyceans and dinophyceans, were significantly higher in the nutrient-poor treatment. Furthermore, the results indicated that the food web efficiency, defined as mesozooplankton production per basal production (primary production + bacterial production − sedimentation), decreased with increasing nutrient status, possibly due to increasing loss processes in the food web. This could be explained by promotion of the heterotrophic microbial food web, causing more trophic levels and respiration steps in the food web.     

Abundance and Biomass Responses of Microbial Food Web Components to Hydrology and Environmental Gradients within a Floodplain of the River Danube

This study investigated the relationships of time-dependent hydrological variability and selected microbial food web components. Samples were collected monthly from the Kopa?ki Rit floodplain in Croatia, over a period of 19 months, for analysis of bacterioplankton abundance, cell size and biomass; abundance of heterotrophic nanoflagellates and nanophytoplankton; and concentration of chlorophyll a. Similar hydrological variability at different times of the year enabled partition of seasonal effects from hydrological changes on microbial community properties. The results suggested that, unlike some other studies investigating sites with different connectivity, bacterioplankton abundance, and phytoplankton abundance and biomass increased during lentic conditions. At increasing water level, nanophytoplankton showed lower sensitivity to disturbance in comparison with total phytoplankton biomass: this could prolong autotrophic conditions within the floodplain. Bacterioplankton biomass, unlike phytoplankton, was not impacted by hydrology. The bacterial biomass less affected by hydrological changes can be an important additional food component for the floodplain food web. The results also suggested a mechanism controlling bacterial cell size independent of hydrology, as bacterial cell size was significantly decreased as nanoflagellate abundance increased. Hydrology, regardless of seasonal sucession, has the potential to structure microbial food webs, supporting microbial development during lentic conditions. Conversely, other components appear unaffected by hydrology or may be more strongly controlled by biotic interactions. This research, therefore, adds to understanding on microbial food web interactions in the context of flood and flow pulses in river-floodplain ecosystems.     

Interactions of Tetrahymena pyriformis, Escherichia coli, Azotobacter vinelandii, and Glucose in a Minimal Medium

A study was made of the food web formed from a protozoon, two bacteria, and a glucose minimal medium in chemostat culture. The system was also divided into simpler parts, first by omitting the protozoon to obtain a competition system, and then by omitting one or the other of the bacteria to obtain two food chains. In the competition studies, one bacterium was displaced by the other at all holding times used. In the food chain studies, sustained oscillations of the population densities of predator and prey developed at short holding times, and then changed to damped oscillations at longer holding times. In addition, the level of residual glucose remained high at long holding times. A new model of microbial growth is necessary to explain these results. In the food web studies, predation of the protozoon on the two bacteria stabilized the competition between the latter and allowed their coexistence in the same habitat. Thus, Gause's principle was circumvented.     

Food web structure variability in the surface layer, at a fixed station influenced by the North Western Mediterranean Current

The structure of the planktonic community and the influence of mesozooplankton migration on the microbial food web were investigated during six diel studies from June 92 to June 93 in the surface waters of a station in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea. Each diel study consisted of sampling at 5 and 40 m every 3 h over 24 h. Most of the times diel cycles did not show any convincing diel patterns in any of the variables studied. Clear zooplankton migration was evident in only two diel studies.The ratio of heterotrophic/autotrophic biomasses varied from 0.68 to 3.0, with a strong dominance of the heterotrophic biomass under oligotrophic conditions. Differences in food web structure were probably related to the influences of coastal water and the North-Western Mediterranean Current. Thus we found that the planktonic food web variability relatable to hydrodynamic variability, to be greater than diel variability. However, very large differences in food web structure among dates were evident. For example proportion of Chl a found in the <10 µm fraction varied from 18 to 96%.     

Protozoa in Planktonic Food Webs1,2

Protozoa are now being recognized as important members of planktonic food webs. This is due to the inclusion of microbial links in our paradigm of trophic relationships. Heterotrophic microflagellates and ciliates are major grazers of bacteria. They can stimulate production through nutrient recycling and can transform microbial production into larger particles, which are then available for macroconsumers. In this paper we add new groups, the small (< 20 μm) ciliates and myxotrophic flagellates, to the planktonic food web.