Sporulation ofEnteromorpha spp. (Chlorophyta) and overwintering of spores in sediments of the Wadden Sea,Island Sylt,North Sea

For the last two decades dense mats of species of the filamentous green algaeEnteromorpha spp. have regulary occurred on tidal flats of Köningshafen Bay (island Sylt, North Sea, FRG). In calm areas overwintering of adult plants or plant fragments is a common process to guarantee the mass development during the next season. In contrast, the distribution ofEnteromorpha on exposed sandy tidal flats depends on recruitment by juvenile stages. In 1993Enteromorpha spore settlement was recorded regularly in the field. Polyethylene dishes were placed in the field and left for a period of seven days and lateron cultivated in the laboratory to checkEnteromorpha germling development. During summer 1993 — at a minimum distance of 200 m to the nearest adultEnteromorpha populations — a total of at least 82×10⁶ spores m^–2 settled. During winter the number of spores attached to the collecting dishes was close to zero and the adjacent sand flats were free of any visibleEnteromorpha plants. In further experiments it was shown that the development ofEnteromorpha juveniles in the next spring depended on the overwintering capacity of spores. More than 2×10⁶ spores m^–2 attached to large sand grains and other substrata (e.g. Hydrobia ulvae) survived the winter. In a laboratory experiment several species ofEnteromorpha were able to survive in total darkness for at least 10 months.     

Isolation of a cancer-associated microchromosome in the sperm-dependent parthenogen Poecilia formosa

In the asexual all-female fish species Poecilia formosa, the Amazon molly, supernumerary chromosomes have frequently been found in both laboratory-reared and wild-caught individuals. While wild-caught individuals with B chromosomes are phenotypically indifferent from conspecifics, individuals carrying B chromosomes from recent introgression events in the laboratory show phenotypic changes. Former analyses showed that the expression of a pigment cell locus is associated with the presence of these B chromosomes. In addition, they contain a so far unidentified locus that confers a higher susceptibility to tumor formation in the presence of pigmentation pattern. Isolation by microdissection and hybridization to metaphase chromosomes revealed that they contain one or several sequences with similarity to a highly repetitive pericentromeric and subtelomeric sequence in A chromosomes. Isolation of one particular sequence by AFLP showed that the B chromosomes contain at least 1 copy of an A-chromosomal region which is highly conserved in the whole genus Poecilia, i.e. more than 5 million years old. We propose it to be a single copy sequence.     

Depth distributions of Fucus vesiculosus L. and Zostera marina L. as classification parameters for implementing the European Water Framework Directive on the German Baltic coast

A classification approach was developed within the European Water Framework Directive for the outer coastal waters of the German Baltic Sea. We concentrated on the known recent presence and depth distribution of Zostera marina and Fucus vesiculosus along the German coast. According to the European Water Framework Directive the reference conditions were reconstructed based on historical data. The available databases indicate that both species formerly occurred down to 10 m depth along the whole German Baltic Sea coastline, independent on the salinity gradient. The recent depth distribution of Z. marina varied between 2.5 and 7.9 m along the German Baltic coast. Dense F. vesiculosus stands were observed only along the western part of this coast at a maximum depth of 4.7 m. Comparing the historical data sets with recent findings reveals a strong decline of depth limits for both species during the last century. Therefore, we used both species to describe the degradation of the Baltic Sea coastal waters using change in the depth distribution. The boundaries of the ecological status according to the Water Framework Directive were calculated based on modelling. Ecophysiological light demands of species and decrease of water transparency (light reduction in percent) were used to describe the degradations. This approach is robust against variation of macrophyte light requirements and is straightforward to classify recent long-term macrophyte monitoring. However, it is very sensitive against changes in the depth distribution and may result in erroneous estimations of ecological class boundaries when insufficient historical data are used as reference. This model allows the adaption of the boundaries calculations to new knowledge about historical data and ecophysiological light demand of plants. Actually, the boundaries of the classification were defined as follows: 1% light reduction represents the transition from high/pristine to good ecological status, and 5% indicates the transition from good to moderate status. At least 25% reduction corresponds to a poor status, more than 75% to a bad status.     

CO2 gas exchange of benthic microalgae during exposure to air: a technique for the rapid assessment of primary production

A method of measuring CO₂gas exchange (caused, for example, by microalgal photosynthesis on emersed tidal mudflats) using open flow IR gas analyzers is described. The analyzers are integrated in a conventional portable photosynthesis system (LI-6400, LI-COR, Nebraska, USA), which allows manipulation and automatic recording of environmental parameters at the field site. Special bottomless measuring chambers are placed directly on the surface sediment. Measurements are performed under natural light conditions and ambient CO₂concentrations, as well as under different CO₂concentrations in air, and various PAR radiation levels produced by a LED light source built into one of the measurement chambers. First results from tidal channel banks in a north Brazilian mangrove system at Bragança (Pará, Brazil) under controlled conditions show a marked response of CO₂assimilation to CO₂concentration and to irradiance. Photosynthesis at 100molmol^–1CO₂in air in one sample of a well-developed algal mat was saturated at 309mol photons m^–2s^–1, but increased with increasing ambient CO₂concentrations (350 and 1000mol mol^–1CO₂) in the measuring chamber. Net CO₂assimilation was 0.8mol CO₂m^–2s^–1at 100mol mol^–1CO₂, 5.9mol CO₂m^–2s^–1at 350mol mol^–1CO₂and 9.8mol CO₂m^–2s^–1at 1000mol mol^–1CO₂. Compensation irradiance decreased and apparent photon yield increased with ambient CO₂concentration. Measurements under natural conditions resulted in a quick response of CO₂exchange rates when light conditions changed. We recommend the measuring system for rapid estimations of benthic primary production and as a valuable field research tool in connection with certain ecophysiological aspects under changing environmental conditions.     

Historical changes and inventory of macroalgae from Königshafen Bay in the northern Wadden Sea

Knowledge on the distribution, abundance and species richness of intertidal macroalgae occurring on sandy and muddy flats of the German Wadden Sea is still incomplete. We summarize published and unpublished information available on the presence of macroalgae on the tidal flats of Königshafen Bay (island of Sylt, North Sea), one of the more extensively studied areas of the Wadden Sea. A total of 46 green algal species, 36 brown algal species and 26 red algal species has been recorded within the last 120 years on soft and hard substrata of Königshafen Bay (disregarding species found unattached or drifting). Several of these species were only temporarily resident on the tidal flats. Today, at least 35 green, 15 brown and 12 red algal species occur within or close to Königshafen Bay. Significant long-term changes in species abundances have occurred in all three major groups of algae: Since the late 1970s, dense green algal mats dominated byEnteromorpha flexuosa, E. radiata andE. prolifera have occurred regularly on the intertidal flats, whereas a general decrease of brown and red algae has been documented. Two red algal species,Gracilaria verrucosa and its epiphyteCallithamnion corymbosum, were conspicuous members of the macroflora until the middle of this century. Although still present in the 1980s, they have now disappeared completely. On the other hand, the brown algaSargassum muticum has begun to colonize mussel beds. The causal background of long-term changes in the macroalgal flora of Königshafen Bay is discussed. Owing to substantial nomenclatural changes during the last 120 years, a revised species list with authors’ names and synonyms is included.     

The keystone role of leaf-removing crabs in mangrove forests of North Brazil

Principle factors which influence mangroveleaf litter turnover, in particular therole of leaf-removing crabs, were evaluatedin a riverine mangrove site nearBragança (Pará, North Brazil). Ourspecial interest was focussed on the roleof the leaf-removing crab Ucidescordatus. Leaf litter fluxes between themangrove forest and the adjacent estuarywere investigated by estimating the biomassand fate of leaf litter material and propagules. Vegetation is dominated by Rhizophora mangle, with Avicenniagerminans trees, both up to 25 m high,found intermittently. During 1997, Rhizophora trees produced around 1.40 gDW m^-2 d^-1 of leave fall and0.75 g DW m^-2 d^-1 of propagules.Leaf decomposition rates on the ground wereabout 0.06 g DW m^-2 d^-1,irrespective of species, habitat or siteexposure. This amount accounts for <3%of total leaf fall. Average leaf litterbiomass present on the ground was 0.01 gDW m^-2 d^-1. When the mangroveforest was flooded (on average 10 days permonth) the quantity of leaf litterand propagules washed out with the springtide was 10 and 17 times greater thanduring neap tide. Nevertheless, tidalexport and decomposition together made upless than 39 percent of annual leaf litterfall. The bulk of the remaining amount isapparently removed by Ucides. Eachcrab consumed about 1.30 g DW of leaflitter material and propagules per day.Since the average density of these crabswas 1.38 crabs m^-2, it is proposedthat Ucides is a keystone species inBragantinian mangroves.     

Spatial and temporal distribution of Myrophis punctatus (Ophichthidae) and associated fish fauna in a northern Brazilian intertidal mangrove forest

The mangrove forest along the northern Brazilian coast is not inundated during low tide. However, many fish species stay in the mangrove forest during this time. Tidal behaviour strategies are described for fish species that linger in the mangrove forest during low tide. The samples were taken at the end of the dry season (December 1996) and at the end of the rainy season (July 1997). Fish were captured using an ichthyotoxic plant extract (Ichthyotere cunabi). Spatial and temporal fish density and biomass were analyzed statistically. Thirty-six samples were taken with a total density of 2.8 ind m^-2 and a total biomass of 17.4 g m^-2 distributed among seven families and 14 species. Myrophis punctatus was the most important species in number (1.66 ind m^-2) and weight (12.68 g m^-2) of all catches. The total fish densities were not significantly different among areas and between months, although, total biomass differed significantly in time and space. The densities and biomass for the three most dominant species (M. punctatus, Poecilia spp. and Gobionellus smaragdus) differed significantly among species. Only the biomass of these species showed significant monthly differences. The only significant main effect on variance in the densities and biomass of M. punctatus were encountered between months. In addition, the factor area was significantly different for the variable number of species.