Thermal tolerance ranges and climate variability: A comparison between bivalves from differing climates

The climate variability hypothesis proposes that in variable temperate climates poikilothermic animals have wide thermal tolerance windows, whereas in constant tropical climates they have small thermal tolerance windows. In this study we quantified and compared the upper and lower lethal thermal tolerance limits of numerous bivalve species from a tropical (Roebuck Bay, north western Australia) and a temperate (Wadden Sea, north western Europe) tidal flat. Species from tropical Roebuck Bay had higher upper and lower lethal thermal limits than species from the temperate Wadden Sea, and Wadden Sea species showed an ability to survive freezing temperatures. The increased freezing resistance of the Wadden Sea species resulted in thermal tolerance windows that were on average 7 °C greater than the Roebuck Bay species. Furthermore, at a local-scale, the upper lethal thermal limits of the Wadden Sea species were positively related to submersion time and thus to encountered temperature variation, but this was not the case for the Roebuck Bay species. A review of previous studies, at a global scale, showed that upper lethal thermal limits of tropical species are closer to maximum habitat temperatures than the upper lethal thermal limits of temperate species, suggesting that temperate species are better adapted to temperature variation. In this study, we show for the first time, at both local and global scales, that the lethal thermal limits of bivalves support the climate variability effect in the marine environment.     

Effects of a habitat-altering invader on nesting sparrows: An ecological trap?

Many invading species impact native species through predation, parasitism or competition, while others affect natives indirectly by restructuring their habitat. How invasive plants affect native animals, and to what extent native animals respond to changes in their habitat and the novel selection pressures that follow, is not well known. We investigated the impacts of a habitat-altering invader, the Atlantic cordgrass Spartina alterniflora, on the nesting success of Alameda song sparrows (Melospiza melodia pusillula), a California Species of Special Concern, in tidal marshes in three sites in San Francisco Bay. Date of laying was the most influential factor in determining daily survival rate of nests, but whether the nest was placed in exotic Spartina was the most important ecological variable. Nests placed in exotic Spartina had a success rate that was 30% lower than those placed in native vegetation. Nests in exotic Spartina were significantly more likely to fail due to tidal flooding than were nests placed in native vegetation, because the densest stands of exotic Spartina occurred at significantly lower elevations relative to the tides. Our results suggest that exotic Spartina may be an ecological trap for song sparrows in San Francisco Bay, attracting birds to nest sites that are often destroyed by tidal flooding.     

Estuarine intertidal sandflat benthic microalgal responses to in situ and mesocosm nitrogen additions

Benthic microalgal communities are important components of estuarine food webs and make substantial contributions to coastal materials cycling. Nitrogen is generally the limiting factor for marine primary production; however other factors can limit benthic primary producers because of their access to the additional nutrients found in sediment porewater. Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that water column nitrogen supply affects estuarine sandflat benthic microalgal community structure and function. Our field and mesocosm experiments assessed changes at both the population and functional group levels. Simulated water column nitrogen additions increased maximum community photosynthesis in most cases (Pb_max from photosynthesis vs. irradiance curves). Additional changes that resulted from nitrogen additions were decreases in porewater phosphate, increases in porewater ammonium, shifts in community composition from N₂ fixing cyanobacteria toward diatoms, and detectable, though not statistically significant increases in biomass (as chlorophyll a). Results from field and laboratory experiments were quite similar, suggesting that laboratory experiments support accurate predictions of the response of intertidal benthic microalgae to changes in water column nutrient conditions.     

Seasonal patterns of pore-water nutrients, benthic chlorophyll a and sedimentary AVS in a macrobenthos-rich tidal flat

Monthly field investigations were carried out at controlled low-tide in an estuarine intertidal sandflat of the Seto Inland Sea (Japan) between January 1995 and April 1996. We assessed the spatial and temporal distribution of pore-water nutrient [NH ₄ ⁺ -N, (NO ₃ ⁻ + NO ₂ ⁻ )-N, PO ₄ ³⁻ -P and Si(OH)₄-Si], chlorophyll a (chl a) and acid-volatile sulphide (AVS) concentrations in the uppermost 0–10 cm sediment horizon, and evaluated their relationships with macrobenthic assemblages. Monthly hydrological data, nutrient and chl a concentrations in low-tide creek water adjacent to the flat were used as a complementary environmental characterisation of the study area. All different pore-water nutrients showed a 10 to > 30-fold variability between different layers and periods. NH ₄ ⁺ -N, PO ₄ ³⁻ -P and Si(OH)₄-Si concentrations were lowest in winter, progressively increased throughout spring and summer, and were highest between September and October, with a major increase at intermediate (4–8 cm) layers. In contrast, (NO ₃ ⁻ + NO ₂ ⁻ )-N concentrations, correlated positively with chl a, peaked in winter and sharply decreased with depth in all different seasons and in most occasions. Depth-integrated NH ₄ ⁺ -N, PO ₄ ³⁻ -P and Si(OH)₄-Si pools were correlated positively with biogenic nutrient flux calculated from the nutrient excretion rates of dominant bivalves Ruditapes philippinarum and Musculista senhousia. These relationships indicated rapid removal pathways of P, Si and N (i.e., every 0.1, 0.24 and 0.34 day, respectively), implying highly dynamic sediments. Based on the mass balance P = F + I, biogenic production (P) vs. diffusive flux (F) estimates suggested a predominant contribution of animal bioirrigation (I) to the upward flux of nutrients. AVS concentrations, correlated negatively with both (NO ₃ ⁻ + NO ₂ ⁻ )-N and chl a, showed a progressive increase from late summer throughout winter, subsequent to that of NH ₄ ⁺ -N, PO ₄ ³⁻ -P and Si(OH)₄-Si. The results indicate that in our study area the spatial and temporal distribution of pore-water nutrients, chl a and AVS in sediments are strongly interlinked and suggest that the metabolic processes (e.g., excretion, bio-deposition) and behavioural activities (e.g., particle mixing, bioirrigation) of abundant macrobenthos play an important role in the year-round biogeochemical processes occurring on this flat.     

Effect of liquid circulation velocity and cell density on the growth ofParietochloris incisa in flat plate photobioreactors

For more accurately describing the durations of the light and the dark phases of microalgal cells over the whole light-dark cycle, and probing into the relationship between the liquid circulation time or velocity, the aeration rate and cell density, a series of experiments was carried out in 10 cm light-path flat plate photobioreactors. The results indicated that the liquid flow in the flat plate photobioreactor could be described by liquid dynamic equations, and a high biomass output, higher content and productivity of arachidonic acid, 70.10 gm⁻²d⁻¹, 9.62% and 510.3 mg/L, respectively, were obtained under the optimal culture conditions.     

灵昆岛围垦滩涂潮沟大型底栖动物群落生态学研究

于2003年秋季在浙江温州灵昆岛进行了不同围垦年份的潮沟大型底栖动物群落的研究,通过以空间替换代替时间替换的方法,研究了不同围垦年份滩涂潮沟大型底栖动物群落的差异,并探讨了差异产生的原因.主要研究结果如下(1)调查共发现大型底栖动物33种,隶属于6门8纲20科.主要是软体动物、节肢动物和环节动物多毛类.在潮沟的不同位置即草滩(GF)、边滩(BaC)和潮沟底(BoC),物种的组成和数量有所不同,草滩发现的大型底栖动物为18种,边滩23种,潮沟底13种.草滩上的种类主要是节肢动物和软体动物,环节动物多毛类种类较少,软体动物的种数多于节肢动物的种数,以底上运动迟缓型的面上生活类群(GS)为主.边滩底栖动物群落主要是由软体动物、节肢动物和环节动物多毛类组成,底内型和穴居型的面下生活类群(GSB)为主.潮沟底发现种类大多为甲壳动物,以底内型和游泳型种类为主.草滩、边滩和潮沟底的种类GS/GSB分别为1.43、0.44和0.44.(2)3条潮沟草滩、边滩和潮沟底的密度GS/GSB平均值分别为3.86、1.14和0.21.(3)3条潮沟同一站位生物量的平均值分别为草滩58.81g/m2,边滩67.07 g/m2,潮沟底14.38 g/m2,按照大小排序为边滩＞草滩＞潮沟底.潮沟3个站位的生物量的平均值分别为1987年潮沟30.15g/m2,1992年潮沟47.65g/m2,1997年潮沟57.56g/m2,按照大小排序为1997年潮沟＞1992年潮沟＞1987年潮沟.(4)不同围垦年份潮沟不同站位大型底栖动物群落的Margalef种类丰度,Shannon-Wiener指数,Pielou的均匀度指数,Simpson优势度指数,各有不同的表现.不考虑围垦年份因素,潮沟的3个站位Margalef指数和Shannon-Wiener指数均为边滩＞潮沟底＞草滩;Pielou均匀度指数潮沟底＞边滩＞草滩;Simpson优势度指数草滩＞边滩＞潮沟底.(5)以不同站位大型底栖动物群落结构物种密度的4次方根为基础所进行的系统聚类分析结果显示,3条潮沟共9个站位的大型底栖动物群落可以分为3组,即潮沟底、边滩、草滩,以聚类时得到的距离矩阵为基础的2维的非度量多维标度排序结果更为直观的显示了潮沟站位大型底栖动物群落的距离和相似情况,并支持聚类所得结果.讨论了围垦后潮沟大型底栖动物群落特点以及差异产生的原因.     

浙江省某PCBs废物储存点对其邻近滩涂生态系统的毒性风险

在浙江省沿海某化工厂内含PCBs废物储存点邻近滩涂上设6个采样点,用GC-MS方法检测各采样点水样、滩涂泥样及大弹涂鱼样品中毒性最强的12种二噁英类PCB(DL-PCB)异构体的含量。结果表明,所有样品DL-PCBs检出率、样品单邻位异构体PCB118和非邻位异构体PCB81检出率均为100％,且PCB118和81的含量均与总DL-PCBs量有较好的相关性,在水样、泥样和鱼样品中,PCB118与总DL-PCBs含量的相关系数(r)分别为0.97、0.95和0.91,PCB81与总DL-PCBs含量的相关系数(r)分别为0.93、0.99和0.98。环境样品中以低氯异构体(PCB81和77)为主,而生物样品中高氯异构体(PCB118和105)含量较高。采样区域内大弹涂鱼从水体和泥土中的平均富集系数分别为392.54和14.03,且鱼体PCBs含量与沉积物中DL-PCBs浓度高度相关(r＝0.97)。在距堆场水沟入海口150 m内水体和沉积物中DL-PCBs含量已处于较高污染水平(分别大于599.34 ng/L和10.97 ng/g),且采样区域内大弹涂鱼PCBs含量(均大于59.19 ng/g脂重)显著高于其它地区。毒性当量研究表明,非邻位的PCB126和PCB169是样品总TEQs的主要贡献者,且所有水样和鱼样的TEQs都分别显著超过日本水环境限值1 pg TEQ/L和欧盟水产品标准值8 pg TEQ/g湿重(P<0.001);应用MacDonald沉积物毒性评价方法研究表明,1-4＃泥样已具有较高毒性风险。综合DL-PCBs含量和毒性当量分析表明,清挖4a后,该PCBs废物堆场仍对周边滩涂生态系统具有一定毒性风险,对人体健康存在潜在危害。     

In vivo imaging of CT26 mouse tumours by using cmHsp70.1 monoclonal antibody

The major stress‐inducible heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is frequently present on the cell surface of human tumours, but not on normal cells. Herein, the binding characteristics of the cmHsp70.1 mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) were evaluated in vitro and in a syngeneic tumour mouse model. More than 50% of the CT26 mouse colon carcinoma cells express Hsp70 on their cell surface at 4°C. After a temperature shift to 37°C, the cmHsp70.1‐fluorescein isothiocyanate mAb translocates into early endosomes and lysosomes. Intraoperative and near‐infrared fluorescence imaging revealed an enrichment of Cy5.5‐conjugated mAb cmHsp70.1, but not an identically labelled IgG1 isotype‐matched control, in i.p. and s.c. located CT26 tumours, as soon as 30 min. after i.v. injection into the tail vein. Due to the rapid turnover rate of membrane‐bound Hsp70, the fluorescence‐labelled cmHsp70.1 mAb became endocytosed and accumulated in the tumour, reaching a maximum after 24 hrs and remained detectable at least up to 96 hrs after a single i.v. injection. The tumour‐selective internalization of mAb cmHsp70.1 at the physiological temperature of 37°C might enable a targeted uptake of toxins or radionuclides into Hsp70 membrane‐positive tumours. The anti‐tumoral activity of the cmHsp70.1 mAb is further supported by its capacity to mediate antibody‐dependent cytotoxicity.     

Comment on ‘Stable isotopes challenge the perception of ocean sunfish Mola mola as obligate jellyfish predators'

Muscle development in the bamboo sole Heteromycteris japonicus was investigated, focusing primarily on the cranial muscles, using an improved whole mount immunohistochemical staining method with potassium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide and trypsin. Larvae of H. japonicus had branchial levators, but not all of them were retained in adults, a condition also seen in the Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. In particular, larval branchial levators II and III disappeared during development, while I and IV remained to become the levator internus I and levator posterior, which were well‐defined muscles in adults. In place of the atrophied muscles, levatores externi and levator internus II developed and regulated the branchial arches. The results showed that the muscle composition in the dorsal branchial arches changed to the adult form before metamorphosis in H. japonicus, as seen in P. olivaceus, and this transformation may be common to all members of that group.     

Microphytobenthic dynamics in a Wadden Sea intertidal flat – Part II: Seasonal and spatial variability of non-diatom community components in relation to abiotic parameters

The microphytobenthos colonizing the intertidal flats forms an important component of the Wadden Sea. Ten sampling points along a 1-km transect were studied in a fringe area of the Solthörn tidal flat, southern North Sea, in order to determine seasonal differences in the microphytobenthos. An accompanying paper deals with the major component of the flora, the diatoms; here we, focus on the minor taxonomic groups. From May 2008 to May 2009 surface sediments were collected during low tide. Variation of environmental factors as well as microphytobenthic density (abundance and chlorophyll a) were monitored. The area investigated was a mixed-sediment mudflat, with a gradient from coarse to fine. Highest biomass was obtained in summer 2008 with 215.9?±?12.6?mg chlorophyll a m^–2. In late autumn the chlorophyll a concentration decreased continuously at all investigated stations. Lowest values were detected in December 2008. Species abundances varied considerably both along the transect and seasonally, depending on species-specific requirements as well as hydrodynamic conditions (tidal currents). Higher densities of benthic pro- and eukaryotic microalgae were observed in sites characterized by fine sediments. Apart from the diatoms, the most abundant microphytobenthic group was the cyanophytes. Coccoid cyanophytes, mainly Merismopedia sp., were most abundant during summer, with cell numbers up to 5.72?×?10⁶ cells cm^?2, while diatoms dominated in winter, spring and autumn. Filamentous cyanophytes, particularly Microcoleus chthonoplastes, were most abundant during autumn, while coccoid chlorophytes (spring: Chlorococcum submarinum, Crucigenia tetrapedia, Tetraselmis suecica), euglenophytes (summer: Euglena obtusa), dinophytes (autumn: Amphidinium operculatum, A. herdmanii) and cryptophytes (autumn: Hillea marina, Hemiselmis virescens) contributed to the microphytobenthos during warmer seasons. The statistical analysis confirmed that the composition of the microphytobenthos was related to sediment features and to characteristics of particular seasons.