GERMINATION AND SEEDLING RESPONSE OF ATLANTIC AND GULF COASTS POPULATIONS OF SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA

Germination response to thermoperiod and seedling response to photoperiod-thermoperiod treatments and to uniform field conditions were compared for 12 populations of Spartina alterniflora Loisel. from along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Germination above 50 % was attained by seeds from all populations in 25–10, 30–15, and 35–20 C alternating diurnal thermoperiods following three months storage in estuarine water at 2–3 C. Except for Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Virginia, seedlings of populations from Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, and northward produced significantly more total biomass in the long- than in the short-day photoperiod in the 30–26 C thermoperiod. Seedling biomass of populations southward of Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, was not significantly affected by photoperiod in either the 18–14 or 30–26 C thermoperiods. Seedlings of all populations from Georgia and northward were significantly shorter and produced significantly more culms in the short- than in the long-day photoperiod in the 30–26 C thermoperiod. Seedlings from Mississippi and all populations from Virginia and northward had significantly lower shoot to root plus rhizome ratios under the short- than the long-day photoperiod in the 30–26 C thermoperiod. Flowering occurred only in populations from Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, northward in the 30–26 C thermoperiod. In a field study, flowering occurred in a north to south sequence and in all populations by the end of the second growing season. Controlled environment and field seedling studies indicated that southern populations flowered later, exhibited longer growing periods, and were less sensitive to photoperiod than northern populations. New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Gulf coast populations differed in height, color, flowering time, length of growing period, and morphology through two growing seasons in the field study.     

SEED GERMINATION RESPONSE AND EVIDENCE FOR HEIGHT ECOPHENES IN SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA FROM NORTH CAROLINA

A study was conducted to determine germination response to temperature and salinity and seedling response to salinity by three height forms of the salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora Loisel. Germination tests showed that seeds cannot withstand drying at moderate temperature, as viability was lost within 40 days in seeds stored dry at 72 F. Cold storage at 43 F is adequate to prevent desiccation up to 40 days, but after 8 months viability is lost. Viability is retained at least 8 months when seeds are stored in sea water at 43 F. Germination response was good in a 65–95 F alternating diurnal thermoperiod but was poor in a 72 F constant thermoperiod. Germination response to salinity was an inverse curvilinear relationship with germination inhibition at high salinities apparently due to osmotic effects. The maximum tolerance limit for germination lies between 6 and 8 % NaCl. Seeds from short, medium, and tall plants responded similarly in storage and temperature studies. However, in salinity studies, seeds of the Ocracoke Island short form and the Oak Island tall form performed best. A logarithmic curve best described seedling growth response to various NaCl levels. Growth response as measured by seedling dry weight was best in 0.5 % NaCl solution. Seedlings grew taller in both 0.5 and 1.0 % NaCl than in 0 % NaCl. No significant difference in seedling growth response due to height form of the parent plant was detected. Thus, on the basis of germination and seedling responses, the height forms of S. alterniflora in North Carolina salt marshes are best described as ecophenes.     

Influence of salinity and temperature on the germination of Ruppia maritima L. from the North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico

Seeds from the seagrass Ruppia maritima L. collected in North Carolina and Florida were tested for their germination at 17, 23 and 29°C and at 0, 15 and 30%. salinities. Percent germination was significantly higher for seeds from North Carolina and the seeds from Florida did not germinate in 30%. salinity. The northern population also had a more rapid rate of germination. These germination patterns suggest that ecotypic differentiation in germination occurred between the two populations in relation to salinity but not temperature.     

Population genetic analysis of white shrimp,Litopenaeus setiferus,using microsatellite genetic markers

The white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) is a commercially and recreationally valuable species, yet little is known of its population structure or genetic diversity. White shrimp are distributed along the Atlantic coast of the United States and from the west coast of Florida to the Bay of Campeche, Mexico. In this study, shrimp were collected from North Carolina, South Carolina (four separate collections were taken from 1995 to 1999), Georgia, the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Mexico. DNA was isolated from these individuals, and genetic variation was assessed at six microsatellite loci. These loci were, for the most part, highly polymorphic with an average expected heterozygosity of 0.68. Deviations from Hardy-Weinberg proportions were observed over all samples, but experimental results suggested the presence of null alleles, which confounded a biological interpretation of this result. Pairwise tests of the similarity of allele frequency distributions and distance measure analyses showed broad-scale genetic homogeneity superimposed over occasional indications of random geographical and temporal differentiation. FST and RST estimates over all loci and samples were 0.002 or less and indicated little population structure. Weak but significant genetic differentiation was evident only between pooled western Atlantic and pooled Gulf of Mexico samples. Within the Gulf of Mexico or within the western Atlantic, the large-scale genetic homogeneity observed may be a consequence of genetic mixing resulting from pelagic larvae and adult migrations, while the random local genetic differentiation may be a result of genetic sampling or experimental sampling error. The weak differentiation between shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico and the western Atlantic can be explained by a relatively recent separation of these two populations and/or small amounts of ongoing gene flow.     

The salinity tolerance of Ophiothrix angulata (Say) (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) in latitudinally separate populations

Ophiothrix angulata (Say) from an estuary in South Carolina were less tolerant of reduced salinity than those from an estuary in Florida. Animals from North Inlet, South Carolina, became incapacitated more rapidly after exposure to a reduced salinity, and were less able to recover after return to normal salinity. This difference probably results from the more severe selection for salinity tolerance at Cedar Key, Florida. The Florida estuary has a lower average salinity (25‰) than that in South Carolina (30‰), and has more frequent extended periods of reduced salinity. The two populations are of different color varieties and size; there may be differences in the breeding seasons as well. The South Carolina and Florida populations of Ophiothrix angulata may represent different races.     

SEED PRODUCTION AND GERMINATION RESPONSE OF FOUR LOUISIANA POPULATIONS OF UNIOLA PANICULATA (GRAMINEAE)

Sea oats, Uniola paniculata, is a characteristic and often dominant perennial dune grass of the southeastern Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. However, U. paniculata loses its dominance and becomes almost nonexistent along a relatively narrow portion of its range, from west of the Mississippi River delta, Louisiana, through northeastern Texas. In Louisiana, U. paniculata is abundant on the Chandeleur Islands east of the delta, but along the barrier island chain west of the delta only three sizable populations have been identified, all on the Caminada-Moreau coast. We measured seed production and germination response to various moisture and temperature combinations in these populations. Seed production was found to range from one to three orders of magnitude less than what has been reported in areas where U. paniculata is dominant. Rates ranged from 0.091 seeds/spikelet on the Chandeleur Islands to only 0.002 seeds/spikelet on the Caminada-Moreau coast; one population failed to produce any seeds at all. Seed germination in an 18.3–35.0 C alternating thermoperiod was high (65–88%) after exposure of the seeds to a variety of pregermination moisture and temperature conditions. Exposure to 4.4 C during imbibition did not increase percentage germination, but did significantly increase the rate of germination over the pregermination treatments that did not include moisture. The very low seed production rates of these populations could explain the limited distribution of this species along the Louisiana coast, where overwash events are frequent, and rates of coastline retreat often exceed the highest measured rates of vegetative lateral spread.     

Comparative <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> germination ecology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calopogon tuberosus</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">tuberosus</Emphasis> (Orchidaceae) across its geographic range

Seed responses to temperature are often essential to the study of germination ecology, but the ecological role of temperature in orchid seed germination remains uncertain. The response of orchid seeds to cold stratification have been studied, but the exact physiological role remains unclear. No studies exist that compare the effects of either cold stratification or temperature on germination among distant populations of the same species. In two separate experiments, the role of temperature (25, 22/11, 27/15, 29/19, 33/24°C) and chilling at 10°C on in vitro seed germination were investigated using distant populations of Calopogon tuberosus var. tuberosus. Cooler temperatures promoted germination of Michigan seeds; warmer temperatures promoted germination of South Carolina and north central Florida seeds. South Florida seed germination was highest under both warm and cool temperatures. More advanced seedling development generally occurred at higher temperatures with the exception of south Florida seedlings, in which the warmest temperature suppressed development. Fluctuating diurnal temperatures were more beneficial for germination compared to constant temperatures. Cold stratification had a positive effect on germination among all populations, but South Carolina seeds required the longest chilling treatments to obtain maximum germination. Results from the cold stratification experiment indicate that a physiological dormancy is present, but the degree of dormancy varies across the species range. The variable responses among populations may indicate ecotypic differentiation.     

RECENT VERSUS RELIC: DISCERNING THE GENETIC SIGNATURE OF FUCUS VESICULOSUS (HETEROKONTOPHYTA; PHAEOPHYCEAE) IN THE NORTHWESTERN ATLANTIC1

Fucus vesiculosus L. is one of the most widespread macrophytes in the northwestern Atlantic, ranging from North Carolina (USA) to Greenland (DK). We investigated genetic diversity, population differentiation, patterns of isolation by distance, and putative glacial refugial populations across seven locations from North Carolina (USA) to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia (Canada), with microsatellite analyses. Distinct northern versus southern (Delaware–North Carolina) populations were revealed by microsatellite data. Five of six microsatellite loci were fixed in populations in North Carolina, suggesting a recent founder event or a bottleneck, and the same homozygous genotype was found in herbarium materials collected on the North Carolina coast from more than 60 years ago. An additional set of individuals from the northern limit in Greenland was included in our analysis of mitochondrial intergenic spacer (mt IGS) haplotypes in the northwestern Atlantic. Remarkably, 184 of 188 F. vesiculosus specimens from North Carolina to Greenland shared the same haplotype. Recent colonization of the North American shore from Europe is hypothesized based upon the ubiquity of this common haplotype, which was earlier reported from Europe.     

Intraspecific variation in salt tolerance and morphology in the coastal grass spartina patens (poaceae)

Clones of Spartina patens were collected from 19 locations throughout Gulf coast marshes of Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Following three vegetative generations of de-acclimation from field conditions, genotypes were subjected to a salinity screening protocol in which salinity was increased in weekly increments of 5‰ (gram salt/kilogram solution). Plants were harvested when there was 50% death of aboveground tissue, which we defined as the lethal salinity level. The genotypes displayed highly significant intraspecific variation in lethal salinity level, which ranged from 63‰ to 93‰. Significant intraspecific variation was also observed in all plant morphological variables, as well as leaf rolling, leaf expansion rates at 2‰ and 20‰ salinity, aboveground, belowground, and total biomass, and belowground-to-aboveground biomass ratio. An ANOVA of principal component scores from a PCA of lethal salinity level and covariable-adjusted total plant dry mass further illustrated intraspecific variation within this species in these two traits expressed as one principal component. Correlation analysis revealed that intraspecific variation in salt tolerance was not strongly associated with intraspecific variation in plant morphological traits, leaf rolling, or leaf expansion rates.     

Red mangrove life history variables along latitudinal and anthropogenic stress gradients

Mangroves migrate northward in Florida and colonize marshes historically dominated by salt marsh species. In theory, this migration should be facilitated by greater numbers of propagules stemming from increased reproductive activity and greater genetic variability caused by outcrossing. We aimed to determine if stand reproduction and % outcrossing were affected by cold stress (stress increases with latitude), anthropogenic stress (human population density as a proxy), and years since a major hurricane. Further, we wished to determine if mutation rate varied with the stressors and if that affected stand reproduction. Both coasts of Florida from the southern Florida Keys to Tampa Bay on the Gulf of Mexico coast, and Merritt Island on the Atlantic coast. We conducted field surveys of frequency of reproducing trees (104,211 trees surveyed in 102 forested stands), incidence of trees showing albinism in propagules, and% outcrossing estimated from the ratio of albino:normal propagules. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test a conceptual model that served as a multivariate hypothesis. Reproductive frequencies varied by site and increased with latitude although more strongly on the Gulf coast. Our SEM results indicate that outcrossing increases in this predominately selfing species under conditions of cold and anthropogenic stress, and that this increases reproductive output in the population. Further, we find that increased mutation rates suppress stand reproductive output but there is no significant relationship between outcrossing and mutation rate. Tree size responded to stressors but did not affect stand reproduction. Reproduction increased with years since major hurricane. Potential for colonization of northern Florida salt marshes by mangroves is enhanced by increased reproductive rates that provides more propagules and outcrossing that should enhance genetic variation thereby promoting adaptation to novel environmental conditions. Natural (cold) stress reduced mutation rate and increased stand reproductive output but anthropogenic stress did the opposite.     

NORTH CAROLINA MARINE ALGAE. IX. ONSLOWIA ENDOPHYTICA GEN. ET SP. NOV. (PHAEOPHYTA,SPHACELARIALES) AND NOTES ON OTHER NEW RECORDS FOR NORTH CAROLINA1

Four benthic algae are reported here for the first time in the North Carolina flora. The new brown algal genus and species, Onslowia endophytica Searles, is described as an endophyte of Halymenia floridana from the North Carolina continental shelf. New records of Boodleopsis pusilla and Naccaria corymbosa from North Carolina constitute range extensions of these tropical species on the American coast north from Florida. Blastophysa rhizopus, an endophyte and epiphyte known from the North Atlantic coast of Europe and America as well as the Caribbean is reported from North Carolina for the first time and in a new host, Predaea feldmannii.     

Status and management of Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus, in North America

The Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus, consists of two subspecies distributed along the Atlantic coast of North America from Labrador to the east coast of Florida (Atlantic sturgeon subspecies – A. o. oxyrinchus) and along the Gulf of Mexico from Florida Bay, Florida to the mouth of the Mississippi River (Gulf sturgeon subspecies – A. o. desotoi). The species has been exploited throughout its range with landings peaking around the turn of the 20th century followed by drastic declines shortly thereafter. During recent years, landings in Canadian waters have increased substantially (approximately 129 metric tons in 1993) while in the United States landings are more controlled or prohibited (approximately 22–24 metric tons in 1993). Recently, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission developed a Fishery management plan for Atlantic sturgeon, and the United States Fish & Wildlife Service and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission drafted a Gulf Sturgeon Recovery/Management Plan. Fishery managers in Canada are in the process of establishing more stringent fishery regulations for sturgeon. Thus, the impact on populations due to harvesting should be substantially reduced. Current research focus includes: life history and population status studies, stock delineation, and development of culture and stock enhancement techniques. Implementation of the findings of such studies may be helpful in the restoration of depleted stocks.     

The effect of salinity on different developmental stages of an endemic annual plant, Aster laurentianus (Asteraceae)

Salinity reduces substrate water potential, thereby restricting water and nutrient uptake by plants; salinity may also cause ionic imbalance and toxicity. Because substrate salinity fluctuates through the growing season, a plant may be exposed to different salinity levels, at various stages of development, with potentially significant consequences on population dynamics. Here, we present the results of a study of the effect of substrate salinity on seed germination, seedling emergence, and growth of Aster laurentianus, an annual marsh plant, endemic to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and potentially threatened. Seed germination was reduced in low salt concentration (10 g sea salt/L) and completely inhibited by salinity levels >/=20 g sea salt/L. However, this inhibiting effect was reversible: seeds from the salt treatments germinated readily after being washed in distilled water. Though seedling emergence was diminished at low salinity levels, postemergence survival was little affected. Plant growth was reduced, but net carbon assimilation rate was not affected by high salinity levels. Increased root respiration and respiratory costs associated with salt tolerance might have contributed to lower C accumulation at higher salinity levels. All developmental processes considered are thus negatively affected by substrate salinity, with potentially significant consequences on population abundance and distribution in salt marshes. Yet, the tolerance of this species to high salinity levels after seedling emergence is remarkable. Seed germination represents a major bottleneck in the species life cycle, potentially controlling local distribution and abundance in the natural habitat.     

Plasticity in salt tolerance traits allows for invasion of novel habitat by Japanese knotweed s. l. (Fallopia japonica and F.xbohemica, Polygonaceae)

Japanese knotweeds are among the most invasive organisms in the world. Their recent expansion into salt marsh habitat provides a unique opportunity to investigate how invasives establish in new environments. We used morphology, cytology, and AFLP genotyping to identify taxa and clonal diversity in roadside and salt marsh populations. We conducted a greenhouse study to determine the ability to tolerate salt and whether salt marsh populations are more salt tolerant than roadside populations as measured by the efficiency of PSII, leaf area, succulence, height, root-to-shoot ratio, and total biomass. Clonal diversity was extremely low with one F. japonica clone and five F. ×bohemica genotypes. The two taxa were significantly different in several traits, but did not vary in biomass or plasticity of any trait. All traits were highly plastic in response to salinity, but differed significantly among genets. Despite this variation, plants from the salt marsh habitats did not perform better in the salt treatment, suggesting that they are not better adapted to tolerate salt. Instead, our data support the hypothesis that plasticity in salt tolerance traits may allow these taxa to live in saline habitats without specific adaptation to tolerate salt.     

Responses to environmental stressors in an estuarine fish: Interacting stressors and the impacts of local adaptation

Common killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus, are found in marshes and estuaries along the Atlantic coast of North America from Newfoundland to Florida. Although these habitats are highly productive, they are also characterized by variation in a number of abiotic stressors, including temperature, salinity, oxygen, and anthropogenic toxicants, which vary substantially in both space and time. In order to survive in these habitats, killifish must be able to cope with these stressors, both individually and in combination. There is substantial evidence to suggest that populations of F. heteroclitus have undergone local adaptation to multiple abiotic stressors, including temperature, salinity, and toxicants, but most studies have examined the effects of single stressors in isolation. Here I review some of the studies on local adaptation in F. heteroclitus, focusing on the molecular basis of local adaptation to abiotic stressors, and the acute responses to these stressors both singly and in combination. This work demonstrates that there are substantial interactions between the responses to both natural and anthropogenic stressors at the cellular level.     

Salinity and germination of annual Melilotus from the Guadalquivir delta (SW Spain)

The germination response to NaCl treatments has been studied in Melilotus seed populations collected from saline and non-saline soils in the Guadalquivir delta. The rank orders for salt tolerance and seed weight were the same in the threeMelilotus species living in this area:Melilotus messanensis>M. segetalis>M. indica. Within the species, differences in germination response to salinity were found inM. indica (6 populations) andM. segetalis (8 populations). The relationship between salt tolerance during germination and salinity of maternal habitat is discussed.     

Effect of salinisation of soil on growth and macro- and micro-nutrient accumulation in seedlings of Acacia catechu (Mimosaceae)

The effects of salinisation of soil on Acacia catechu (Mimosaceae) were studied by means of emergence and growth of seedlings and pattern of mineral accumulation. A mixture of chlorides and sulphates of Na, K, Ca and Mg was added to the soil and salinity was maintained at 4.1, 6.3, 8.2,10.1 and 12.2 dSm⁻¹. A negative relationship between proportion of seed germination and salt concentration was obtained. Seedlings did not emerge when soil salinity exceeded 10.1 dSm⁻¹. Results suggested that this tree species is salt tolerant at the seed germination stage. Seedlings survived and grew up to soil salinity of 10.1 dSm⁻¹, which suggests that this species is salt tolerant at the seedling stage too. Elongation of stem and root was retarded by increasing salt stress. Among the tissues, young roots and stem were most tolerant to salt stress and were followed by old roots and leaves, successively. Leaf tissue exhibited maximum reduction in dry mass production in response to increasing salt stress. However, production of young roots and death of old roots were found to be continuous and plants apparently use this process as an avoidance mechanism to remove excess ions and delay onset of ion accumulation in this tissue. This phenomenon, designated “fine root turnover”, is of importance to the mechanisms of salt tolerance. Plants accumulated Na in roots and were able to regulate transfer of Na ions to leaves. Stem tissues were a barrier for translocation of Na from root to leaf. Moreover, K was affected in response to salinity; it rapidly decreased in root tissues with increased salinisation. Nitrogen content decreased in all tissues (leaf, stem and root) in response to low water treatment and salinisation of soil. Phosphorus content significantly decreased, while Ca increased in leaves as soil salinity increased. Changes in tissue and whole plant accumulation patterns of the other elements tested, as well as possible mechanisms for avoidance of Na toxicity in this tree species during salinisation, are discussed.     

HABITAT USE PATTERNS AND RANGES OF THE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN IN THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA, MEXICO

Abstract: I studied behavior and range patterns of individual bottlenose dolphins during 1984 in the mid-eastern Gulf of California, Mexico. Dolphin sighting rate was significantly higher in areas close to estuary mouths, 0.306 sightings per hour compared with 0.155 sightings per hour in areas distant from estuary mouths. Dolphins used these estuarine areas to feed; 61% of all behavior observed near estuaries was feeding as compared with 23% elsewhere. Traveling comprised 61% of all behavior observed in areas distant from estuary mouths. Estuaries are sites of large concentrations of nutrients which support great numbers of filter-feeding zooplankton and fish. Bottlenose dolphins may specialize on esmarine prey, or they may feed in estuarine areas simply because of the abundance of potential prey that these systems support. In either case, data on relative numbers, distribution patterns, behavior and diet indicate that this is a general trend in habitat use for many coastal populations of this species in the Pacific and Atlantic.
Ranges of a few individuals spanned a minimum of 65 km of coastline, and animals were not permanent residents of a monitored bay. In contrast, dolphins off the coast of Sarasota, Florida, have been reported to be year-round residents with smaller ranges. This difference in degree of site fidelity may be related to habitat differences. The west coast of Florida is dotted with numerous and large estuarine systems which may host permanent prey populations and support resident groups of dolphins. The Gulf of California coastline contains few estuaries; most are small and perhaps support prey resources which are ephemeral, requiring dolphins to range over larger distances in search of food.     

盐胁迫下不同水稻种质形态指标与耐盐性的相关分析

选用中国、韩国和国际水稻研究所(IRRI)不同耐盐能力的籼、粳、爪哇稻16份为材料进行芽期和苗期试验。随着NaCl浓度增加,种子开始发芽的时间推迟、发芽过程延长、发芽率降低;品种的发芽率能有效地指示其芽期耐盐能力。NaCl浓度对许多苗期形态指标有显影响,其中叶片盐害指数能反映品种的苗期耐盐能力;随着NaCl处理时间的增长,叶片盐害指数与NaCl浓度间的相关性越来越大。同一品种在芽期的耐盐能力和苗期表现不一致,两的相关系数很低。