重金属对海洋桡足类的影响研究进展

桡足类是海洋浮游动物种群的主要组成部分和重要的初级消费者,重金属污染对其影响可通过食物链传递到其他海洋生物甚至人类。综述了近20 a来重金属对桡足类影响的研究进展,包括重金属对桡足类的毒性和生理效应,重金属在桡足类体内蓄积及桡足类体内重金属的食物链(网)传递。并指出今后的研究重点:桡足类体内致毒重金属的存在形式,重金属食物暴露对桡足类生理生化影响机理,以及重金属对桡足类生活史的影响。     

海洋沉积物中重金属对底栖无脊椎动物的生物有效性

海洋沉积物是重金属的重要贮库,而海洋底栖无脊椎动物主要从沉积物中摄取重金属,这些被摄取的重金属能够通过食物链进行传递,进而影响到人类健康。本文总结了近些年来在海洋沉积物中重金属对底栖无脊椎动物生物有效性方面的研究进展,包括海洋底栖无脊椎动物对重金属的吸收途径、沉积物地球化学性质和底栖无脊椎动物生理等生物因素对沉积物中重金属生物有效性的影响。在此基础上,展望了未来研究重点,主要包括近海富营养化对沉积物中重金属生物有效性的影响,海洋底栖无脊椎动物消化道中的物理消化过程对沉积物中重金属生物有效性的影响,海洋底栖无脊椎动物整个生活史过程中沉积物中重金属生物有效性的变化等。     

长江口水域中华鲟幼鱼与6种主要经济鱼类的食性及食物竞争

根据2004年6月至8月和2005年6月至8月在长江口崇明岛东滩水域插网所获取的鱼类样本,对东滩水域中华鲟(Acipenser sinensis)幼鱼和其它6种主要经济鱼类的食性、食物竞争状况进行了研究。结果表明:中华鲟、窄体舌鳎(Cynoglissus gracilis)为底栖生物食性;中国花鲈(Lateolabrax maculatus)为游泳生物食性;刀鲚(Coilia ectenes)和凤鲚(Coilia mystus)为浮游动物食性;鲻(Mygil cephalus)和鮻(Liza haematochiela)为腐屑(有机碎屑)食性。中华鲟幼鱼及6种主要经济鱼类食性按照相对重要性指标(IRI)大小排列:中华鲟(IRI):鱼类端足类多毛类蟹类;窄体舌鳎(IRI):虾类瓣鳃类鱼类;中国花鲈(IRI):鱼类虾类等足类蟹类;刀鲚(IRI):糠虾类虾类桡足类鱼类;凤鲚(IRI):糠虾类桡足类虾类鱼类;鲻(IRI):有机碎屑底栖藻类瓣鳃类桡足类;鮻(IRI):有机碎屑底栖藻类瓣鳃类桡足类。长江口崇明东滩中华鲟与6种经济鱼类饵料重叠系数显示,中华鲟与窄体舌鳎的饵料重叠系数达到了0.4,而与其余5种鱼类的饵料重叠系数均小于0.12。这表明窄体舌鳎对中华鲟幼鱼的食物有一定的竞争力,其余5种鱼类对中华鲟幼鱼的食物竞争强度较低。     

氮、磷对镍在食物链上传递的影响

采用放射性同位素示踪法,研究氮或磷添加对镍在东海原甲藻(Prorocentrum donghaienseLu)和中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)胞内累积的影响;并将其分别投喂中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)后,探讨镍在桡足类体内的吸收和生理周转。结果表明,经过24h暴露后,氮或磷显著影响这两种藻类对镍的吸收,且高浓度氮或磷均能促进镍在这两种藻类细胞内的累积,因而促进镍在中华哲水蚤体内的吸收;而镍在中华哲水蚤体内的生理周转率却不受氮或磷浓度的影响,似乎更受动物个体的生理状态影响;中华哲水蚤对镍的吸收率与藻类细胞内镍含量呈极显著相关(p<0.001),证明了"桡足类只吸收饵料细胞内的水相金属库"的假说。由此可见,近海富营养化可促进浮游植物对镍的吸收,进而影响该金属在浮游生物食物链上的传递。     

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。     

西加毒素的危害及其检测技术

西加毒素是由少数几种海洋底栖微藻产生,具有极强毒性的生物毒素,它能够通过食物链传递而累计在多种珊瑚鱼体内,继而造成人类因食用鱼类而中毒。近年来,随着珊瑚鱼类在世界范围内的广泛贸易,西加毒素中毒已经成为全球性的健康问题。为给预防西加毒素引起的食物中毒提供借鉴,对西加毒素的分子结构、化学性质、生物来源、制毒机理、中毒症状和对人类的危害进行了综述。就目前主要的检测方法进行了技术特性的介绍,并对常用检测方法的优缺点进行了比较分析。     

渤海小型底栖动物丰度的分布格局

在渤海的 2 2个站位 ,分 3个航次采集未受扰动的沉积物样品 ,进行了小型底栖动物类群的丰度、分布格局及其与沉积环境因子间相互关系的研究。结果表明 ,1 997年航次 ,5个站位小型底栖动物的平均丰度为 2 2 74± 1 0 3 9ind./1 0 cm2 ;1 998年和 1 999年航次 ,小型底栖动物的丰度分别为 869± 5 0 9ind./1 0 cm2和 63 2± 3 99ind./1 0 cm2 ,其中 ,小型底栖动物和自由生活海洋线虫丰度的高值主要出现在渤海中东部和海峡口的站位 ,底栖桡足类的丰度在海峡口的 A4、E5、D5站和辽东湾湾口的几个站位较高。在小型底栖动物中 ,线虫是数量上占绝对优势的类群 ,桡足类位于第 2位 ,处在第 3位的类群在两个航次中有所不同 ,在 1 998年航次 ,双壳类幼体的数量位于第 3位 ;1 999年航次 ,多毛类的数量位于第 3位。对小型底栖动物丰度与其沉积环境因子的分析表明 ,水深与小型底栖动物丰度、自由生活海洋线虫丰度和桡足类丰度的相关性为极显著 ;沉积物的中值粒径与桡足类的丰度和小型底栖动物总丰度呈负相关 ,前者为极显著 ,后者为显著 ;砂、粉砂和粘土含量影响三者的丰度变动 ,其中与桡足类丰度的相关性为极显著或显著。沉积物中的叶绿素 a、脱镁叶绿酸 a、含水量和有机质含量与三者丰度的关系不很明显。     

草海湿地食物链稳定碳氮同位素特征与食物链结构

以国家级自然保护区贵州威宁草海为研究对象,利用稳定同位素技术,分析草海湿地食物链碳(δ~(13)C)、氮(δ15N)同位素特征,计算各生物类群营养级别,建立草海食物链结构。结果表明:草海湿地生态系统中δ13C比值范围为-27.56‰～-13.25‰(均值±标准差,-21.52‰±3.61‰);δ15N值范围为0.32‰～15.14‰(8.69‰±3.92‰),δ13C与δ15N呈显著负相关(r=-0.423,P0.01)。草海湿地食物链中消费者营养级处于0.8～3.7,其中:鱼类营养级为0.8～2.5,相对其他地区偏低;底栖动物营养级为2.0～2.8,鸟类营养级为1.0～3.7。鱼类和底栖动物的营养级别均表现为肉食性杂食性植食性。草海食物链结构复杂,主要的两条碳流动途径分别为:底泥和浮游植物→浮游动物→鱼类→鸟类以及水生植物→鱼类和鸟类。     

高浓度硅藻对桡足类繁殖的抑制作用

硅藻作为海洋浮游植物重要的组分 ,一直被看作是桡足类主要的食物来源。但近 10年来许多现场和实验室研究表明 :硅藻 ,特别是高浓度硅藻对桡足类的繁殖具有抑制作用。目前 ,对于抑制作用的机制存在着两种假设 :硅藻细胞缺乏某种关键营养物质或自身产生某种有毒物质阻碍了桡足类繁殖过程。大量的室内实验发现 :关键营养物缺乏使桡足类产卵率降低 ,对于硅藻细胞化学组成的分析表明这种物质可能是某些不饱和脂肪酸。而高浓度硅藻是否会产生毒性物质影响桡足类孵化率则存在很大的分歧。许多室内和野外实验证据显示当硅藻浓度很高时 ,桡足类孵化率显著降低 ,表现为大量未孵化的卵和畸形无节幼体。对硅藻溶出液的分析发现其中含有的不饱和醛类可能正是阻碍胚胎发育的物质。但也有一些室内和现场实验的结果表明并非所有的硅藻和桡足类之间都存在这种抑制作用。目前研究结果大多来自于室内实验 ,在自然海区中的作用机制和影响程度尚不清楚 ,但是如果这一现象在自然海区中普遍存在 ,传统上关于“硅藻——桡足类——鱼类”的海洋经典食物链观点势必存在极大的缺陷。文章针对这一问题分析了目前研究进展和将来工作前景     

滩涂底栖动物有机污染生态学研究进展

底栖动物由于对有机污染物具有较强的吸收能力,再加上其移动能力较差、生活方式比较固定,而被广泛运用于滩涂有机污染的研究.目前这些研究主要集中在如下几个方面：（1）有机污染物在底栖动物体内的分布特征及在底栖食物链中的动力学研究;（2）底栖动物对有机污染物的生理响应研究;（3）污染物对底栖动物群落组成和结构影响研究;（4）底栖动物在滩涂有机污染检测中的应用研究.研究结果表明：滩涂底栖动物对有机污染物的累积具有选择性和季节波动性;有机污染物可以在底栖食物链中传递;底栖动物体内的有机污染物成分和含量可以有效地指示其生存环境的有机污染状况;底栖动物的混合功能氧化酶和抗氧化酶系统对体内有机污染物的累积产生积极的响应;有机污染物对底栖动物的免疫系统造成不利影响,并对遗传物质造成破坏;有机污染对底栖动物的群落组成和结构具有显著的影响.     

基于碳氮同位素技术研究重金属在春季江苏近海食物网中的累积

江苏近海自古以来是我国重要的渔业基地之一.近年来,随着沿海城市工业的发展,江苏近海局部地区重金属污染比较严重.目前,对重金属在江苏近海食物网中的传递和累积过程尚不明晰.本研究于2017年5月在江苏近海通过渔业资源调查采集生物样品(包括大型藻类、双壳类、头足类、腹足类、甲壳类和鱼类).在应用碳氮同位素构建食物网结构的基础上,量化物质循环和能量流动的主要途径,分析多种重金属元素在食物网中的累积规律.同位素测定结果显示,江苏近海生态系统中主要存在两条能量传递途径:即以毛蚶等为初级消费者的浮游食物链和以沟纹鬘螺为初级消费者的底层食物链,以底层食物链占优势;8种元素在海洋生物体内含量的平均值由高到低依次为Zn>Cu>As>Cd>Cr>Pb>Ni>Hg,总体来说,元素富集水平最高的是双壳类,最低的是鱼类;大多数生物体内的As含量超标,双壳类和口虾蛄的Cd、凤鲚的Cr及密鳞牡蛎的Zn、Cu、Cr均超过水产品安全标准;在浮游食物链中,Zn、Cd和Ni显著生物减小,在底层食物链中,Hg显著生物放大,其他元素在食物网中未见明显变化趋势.     

Bioavailability of sediment-bound Cd, Cr and Zn to the green mussel Perna viridis and the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum

We assessed the degree to which Cd, Cr and Zn bound with sediment were assimilated by the green mussel Perna viridis and the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum. The influences of the metal concentration in the sediment, the presence of phytoplankton, and the oxidation condition of the sediment on metal assimilation were examined. No major difference was found for metal assimilation efficiency (AE) in sediment with different metal concentrations, except for Cd in the green mussels, in which the AE increased by 1.7x when the Cd concentration in sediment was elevated to 15x the natural background level. The higher assimilation of Cd with increasing Cd load in ingested sediment may be due to the higher desorption of Cd in the acidic gut of the bivalves. Both mussels and clams assimilated metals at a higher efficiency from the diatom diet (Thalassiosira pseudonana) than from inorganic sediment particles. The presence of algal particles had little influence on metal assimilation from ingested sediment, and conversely, the presence of sedimentary particles had little effect on metal assimilation from ingested diatom (except for Cd in the mussels). In the mussels, AEs were higher from oxic sediment than from anoxic sediment by 3.1x for Cd, 2.0x for Cr, and 1.4x for Zn, and in the clams AEs were higher from oxic sediment by 2.8x for Cd, 2.0x for Cr, and 2.0x for Zn. Our study suggested that metals associated with anoxic sediment can be potentially available to marine bivalves, and that metal AEs determined for a single diet were probably not affected by the presence of other food particles.     

The transfer of cadmium, mercury, methylmercury, and zinc in an intertidal rocky shore food chain

We examined the transfer of cadmium (Cd), inorganic mercury [Hg(II)], methylmercury (MeHg), and zinc (Zn) in an intertidal rocky shore food chain, namely from marine phytoplankton to suspension-feeding rock oysters (Saccostrea cucullata) and finally to predatory whelks Thais clavigera. The uptake of metals from the dissolved phase was also concurrently quantified in the oysters and the whelks. Metal uptake by the oysters was not directly proportional, whereas metal uptake by the whelks was directly proportional to metal concentration in the water. The order of uptake was MeHg>Hg(II)>Zn>Cd, and was much higher in the oysters than in the whelks. The relative uptake of Zn and Cd was comparable between oysters and whelks, whereas MeHg and Hg(II) showed disproportionally higher uptake in oysters than in whelks as compared to Zn and Cd. The assimilation efficiencies (AEs) were in the order of MeHg>Zn>Cd=Hg(II) in oysters, whereas the AEs were highest for MeHg and comparable for Zn, Cd, and Hg(II) in the whelks. Pre-exposure of the oysters to different dissolved concentrations of Cd significantly elevated the AEs of Cd and Hg(II) but not of Zn, in association with the induction of metallothioneins in the oysters. The whelks significantly assimilated Cd and Zn from various prey (barnacles, oysters, mussels, and snails) with contrasting strageties of metal sequestration and storage. There was no significant relationship between the metal AE and the metal partitioning in the soluble fraction (including metallothionein-like proteins, heat stable protein, and organelles). The insoluble fraction of metals was also available for metal assimilation. Our calculations show that the dietary uptake of metals can be dominant in the overall bioaccumulation in the oysters and whelks, and the trophic transfer factor was >1 for all metals. Thus, the four metals have a high potential of being biomagnified in the intertidal rocky shore food chain. MeHg possessed the highest and Hg(II) and Cd the lowest potential of trophic transfer among the four metals considered.     

Influence of different essential and non-essential metals on MTLP levels in the Copepod Tigriopus brevicornis

Because of their wide geographic distribution, position in the trophic chain, rapid turnover, huge biomass and role in ocean biogeochemical cycles, copepods are regarded as important marine test species. Tigriopus brevicornis Müller, 1776 is a shallow water benthic marine species (Crustacea, Copepoda Harpacticoida). The toxicity of essential and non-essential metals (Ag, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni and Zn) to Tigriopus brevicornis was determined by 96-h LC(50) testing. Comparative crustacean 96-h LC(50) data in the literature show that Tigriopus brevicornis is a sensitive species suggesting that copepods are good indicators of minimal lethal concentrations of metals. Groups of 1000 to 1500 adult copepods were exposed for 1 to 14 days to metals at concentrations in water, 3 for each metal, considered realistic in comparison with those encountered in polluted environments and far below lethal concentrations, in order to avoid protein metabolism disturbance. The response of Tigriopus brevicornis in terms of MT induction has been examined in specimens exposed to metals. The induction of these proteins and their implication in detoxificatory mechanisms and trophic transfer are discussed.     

Copepods act as a switch between alternative trophic cascades in marine pelagic food webs

A recent meta‐analysis indicates that trophic cascades (indirect effects of predators on plants via herbivores) are weak in marine plankton in striking contrast to freshwater plankton ( Shurin et al. 2002 , Ecol. Lett., 5, 785–791). Here we show that in a marine plankton community consisting of jellyfish, calanoid copepods and algae, jellyfish predation consistently reduced copepods but produced two distinct, opposite responses of algal biomass. Calanoid copepods act as a switch between alternative trophic cascades along food chains of different length and with counteracting effects on algal biomass. Copepods reduced large algae but simultaneously promoted small algae by feeding on ciliates. The net effect of jellyfish on total algal biomass was positive when large algae were initially abundant in the phytoplankton, negative when small algae were dominant, but zero when experiments were analysed in combination. In contrast to marine systems, major pathways of energy flow in Daphnia‐dominated freshwater systems are of similar chain length. Thus, differences in the length of alternative, parallel food chains may explain the apparent discrepancy in trophic cascade strength between freshwater and marine planktonic systems.     

Predator diversity enhances secondary production and decreases the likelihood of trophic cascades

We manipulated the diversity of top predators in a three trophic level marine food web. The food web included four top benthic marine fish predators (black goby, rock goby, sea scorpion and shore rockling), an intermediate trophic level of small fish, and a lower trophic level of benthic invertebrates. We kept predator density constant and monitored the response of the lower trophic levels. As top predator diversity increased, secondary production increased. We also observed that in the presence of the manipulated fish predators, the density of small gobiid fish (intermediate consumers) was suppressed, releasing certain groups of benthic invertebrates (caprellid amphipods, copepods, nematodes and spirorbid worms) from heavy intermediate predation pressure. We attribute the mechanism responsible for this trophic cascade to a trait-mediated indirect interaction, with the small gobiid fish changing their use of space in response to altered predator diversity. In the absence of top fish predators, a full-blown trophic cascade occurs. Therefore the diversity of predators reduces the likelihood of trophic cascades occurring and hence provides insurance against the loss of an important ecosystem function (i.e. secondary production).     

Experimental study of vibrio parahaemolyticus (biotype 2) transfer from water and sediments to benthic marine food chain organisms]

Transfer of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (biotype 2) from sediments to water and from water to benthic marine organisms was studied experimentally using a streptomycin-resistant strain. Transmission by trophic pathways was also studied using reconstituted marine food chains (Mytilus edulis, Nereis diversicolor, Carcinus maenas, Scorpaena porcus, Mus musculus). Water colonization by sediments could be observed only at temperatures above 16 degrees C. Sediments could well constitute a disseminating reservoir for these germs, their cycle in water being dependent of the cycle followed in the sediments. Contamination of animal organisms is essentially effected by a direct mean, either water or sediments; transfer by trophic pathways being negligible. Infection of land consumers (mice) is linked quantitatively to the nature of the last marine organism of the food chain since bacteria can flourish in the digestive tract of certain animals (Carcinus maenas).     

Accumulation of mercury in estuarine food chains

To understand the accumulation of inorganic mercury and methylmercury at the base of the estuarine food chain, phytoplankton (Thalassiosira weissflogii) uptake and mercury speciation experiments were conducted. Complexation of methylmercury as methylmercury-bisulfide decreased the phytoplankton uptake rate while the uptake rate of the methylmercury-cysteine and -thiourea complexes increased with increasing complexation by these ligands. Furthermore, our results indicated that while different ligands influenced inorganic mercury/methylmercury uptake by phytoplankton cells, the ligand complex had no major influence on either where the mercury was sequestered within the phytoplankton cell nor the assimilation efficiency of the mercury by copepods. The assimilation efficiency of inorganic mercury/methylmercury by copepods and amphipods feeding on algal cells was compared and both organisms assimilated methylmercury much more efficiently; the relative assimilation efficiency of methylmercury to inorganic mercury was 2.0 for copepods and 2.8 for amphipods. The relative assimilation is somewhat concentration dependent as experiments showed that as exposure concentration increased, a greater percentage of methylmercury was found in the cytoplasm of phytoplankton cells, resulting in a higher concentration in the copepods feeding on these cells. Additionally, food quality influenced assimilation by invertebrates. During decay of a T. weissflogii culture, which served as food for the invertebrates, copepods were increasingly less able to assimilate the methylmercury from the food, while even at advanced stages of decay, amphipods were able to assimilate mercury from their food to a high degree. Finally, fish feeding on copepods assimilated methylmercury more efficiently than inorganic mercury owing to the larger fraction of methylmercury found in the soft tissues of the copepods.