On-board flow cytometric observation of picoplankton community structure in the East China Sea during the fall of different years

On-board flow cytometric determinations of picoplankton abundance (i.e. Synechococcus spp., Prochlorococcus spp., picoeukaryotes and also heterotrophic bacteria) were obtained in the East China Sea in fall of 2000 and 2003. The average abundances of Synechococcus, Prochlorococcus, picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic bacteria were 10(5), 10(5), 10(4) and 10(6) cells ml(-1), respectively. Synechococcus, picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic bacteria were abundant at all the stations and presented higher concentration in the inner shelf where influences from the Changjiang effluent plumes and the coastal upwelling were evident, while Prochlorococcus was absent from the near-shore stations and became the dominant picophytoplankton population in offshore waters, where its abundance was comparable to that for heterotrophic bacteria. All picoplankton groups showed a reduction in cell number with depth, and a positive correlation with water temperature were observed, which reflected the importance of light and temperature on picoplankton growth. A negative relationship with salinity was found for heterotrophic bacteria along two sections across the East China Sea Shelf, and distribution of picoplankton was dominated by different water masses. The fixation could lead to loss in Prochlorococcus cell numbers within one month, and all the picoplankton numbers decreased dramatically after three months.     

The water bloom of Cyanobacterial picoplankton in Lake Biwa,Japan

Unicellular autofluorescent picoplankton ranging from 0.4 to 1.5 µm in diameter were found to be a significant component of phytoplankton in the North Basin of Lake Biwa during early summer in 1989 and 1990. The abundance of these picoplankton varied seasonally by about three orders of magnitude with one maximum of up to 10⁶ cells ml^–1. Bloom-forming picoplankton were isolated by dilution and further cultivated in liquid medium. Three clones were found to be representative species of the bloom. Using epifluorescence and electron microscopy as well as absorption and fluorescence emission spectroscopy, we examined these clones according to shape and pigment composition. They have ringlike thylakoids, are photosynthetically active and have no nuclear envelope. The cyanobacterial clones isolated represent three types containing phycobilisomes with either phycocyanin or phycoerthrin as the dominant accessory pigment. They are described here as three new species, two phycoerythrin-rich types and one phycocyanin-rich type, all of them belonging to the Synechococcus group. The differences found by fluorescence emission of isolated clones are discussed with respect to in situ strain identification.     

Genetic diversity of Microcystis populations in a bloom and its relationship to the environmental factors in Qinhuai River, China

Cyanobacterial blooms, forming massive scum and various cyanotoxins, increasingly spread in a wide range of freshwater ecosystems. One heavy Microcystis bloom occurred in the entire Qinhuai River basin in 2010 summer for the first time. To determine the Microcystis populations and their spatial distributions along Qinhuai River, a molecular approach was applied by sequencing the DNA library based on the internal transcribed spacer sequences of 16-23S rRNA (ITS). The parsimony network (TCS) analysis showed that 9 groups were formed based on the main 24 genotypes, and each group was dominated by one highly represented root sequence. Marked changes in the composition and proportion of the Microcystis ITS genotype were detected from the upper to the lower reaches. The seed sources forming the bloom were probably located at 4 different locations. Furthermore, it was found that pH was the primary factor affecting the spatial distribution of the main genotype group among samples.     

南海环境微生物对聚球藻有机物质的响应

【背景】海洋浮游植物产生的有机物质与异养细菌之间的相互作用是上层海洋物质和能量循环过程中的重要组成部分。【目的】探究寡营养海域微生物群落对聚球藻有机物(Synechococcus-derived organic matter,SOM)的响应和代谢利用过程,加深对海洋微生物介导的生物地球化学循环过程的认识。【方法】利用南海海域微生物群落,添加聚球藻有机物质后黑暗培养,对培养过程中有机碳、营养盐和活性微生物群落结构的变化进行追踪。【结果】在短期的培养过程中,有60%-73%的SOM被微生物所利用。γ-变形菌(Gammaproteobacteria)在培养过程中响应最快,也是最优势微生物类群。SOM的加入改变了原位微生物群落结构,并且随着活性有机物质逐步被消耗,微生物群落结构也发生了演替。【结论】SOM中的大部分物质都属于活性有机物质,可以快速地被微生物所降解利用。不同微生物类群响应不同生物可利用性有机物质,推动了海洋物质和能量的循环。     

Stream fish assemblages in relation to environmental factors on a montane plateau (Nyika Plateau,Malawi)

Few studies have examined river fishes of Malawi. This study is one of the first to examine the stream fish assemblages on the Nyika Plateau in northern Malawi. Twenty four sites were sampled over three different periods in two river systems of the plateau. Eighteen species were collected and among these was Hippopotamyrus ansorgii, the first collection of this species in the Lake Malawi catchment. Three species, including a non-native trout, were common in the two systems studied. Correspondence analysis (CA) suggested gradients in species composition related to altitude and river type. Species succession, from a trout dominated upstream to a downstream dominated by indigenous species, was shown on the first CA axis. The second CA axis showed the assemblage of the plateau separated by river type. A direct gradient analysis method, canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), showed the importance of two stream position metrics (stream order and c-link), depth, water temperature and substrate type in determining species composition. According to variation partitioning in CCA, the spatial and temporal components respectively explained 46% and 3.6% variation in assemblage composition based on the all species data matrix, and 48.7% and 2.6% variation in assemblage composition based on the native species data matrix. The species collected were also discussed in relation to the morphological adaptations in their body forms to the environmental conditions of the streams studied.     

Seasonal and long term changes of the phytoplankton in the lake Tortum in relation to environmental factors, Erzurum, Turkey

Seasonal changes in phytoplankton community structure of the lake Tortum were studied over one year period, from March 2002 to February 2003. The collected data were compared with the data collected 21 years ago. Chlamydomonas microsphaerella, Cyclotella krammeri, C. glomerata, and Ceratium hirundinella were identified to be dominant several times during the study period. Species diversity and biomass of the phytoplankton were very low in spite of sufficient and high levels of nutrient concentrations. Maximum phytoplankton density levels were observed during summer and late autumn. Phytoplankton density was positively correlated with nutrients, temperature and pH, and it was negatively correlated with Secchi depth and dissolved oxygen. Phytoplankton growths were negatively affected from water transparency and high levels of water mass transport (circulation) and velocity in the lake.     

香溪河流域梯级水库大型底栖动物群落变化及其与环境的关系

分别于2005年10月和2011年10月对香溪河流域3个梯级水库的大型底栖动物群落进行了调查,探讨了大型底栖动物群落变化及其与环境的关系.结果表明:与2005年相比,2011年古洞口一级水库仍以寡毛类占优势,大型底栖动物总密度升高;古洞口二级水库中,摇蚊的优势度降低,前突摇蚊相对丰度由94.5％降低至35.5％,霍甫水丝蚓的相对丰度升至36.0％,总密度增加;香溪河库湾大型底栖动物群落发生很大变化,前突摇蚊取代颤蚓科种类成为绝对优势类群,相对丰度达到89.0％,而总密度降低,三峡水库水位剧烈波动对这一变化有推动作用.各水库大型底栖动物群落与环境因子的典型对应分析(CCA)结果表明,浊度较大的水体,前突摇蚊容易占优势,而颤蚓科的霍甫水丝蚓和正颤蚓则在水柱稳定性较高、底层水温较低的水体中更易占优势.     

Effect of some environmental factors on cyanophage AS-1 development in Anacystis nidulans

The development cycle of the cyanophage AS-1 was studied in the host blue-green alga, Anacystis nidulans, under conditions that impair photosynthesis and under various light/dark regimes. Under standard conditions of incubation the 16-h development cycle consisted of a 5-h eclipse period and an 8-h latent period. Burst size was decreased by dark incubation to 2% of that observed in the light. An inhibitor of photosystem II, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl urea (DCMU), reduced the burst size to 27% of that of the uninhibited control, whereas cyanophage production was completely abolished by carbonyl-cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP), an inhibitor of photosynthetic electron transport. Dark incubation of infected cells decreased the latent period by 1–2 h and the eclipse period by 1 h, once the cultures were illuminated. This suggests that adsorption took place in the dark. Intracellular growth curves indicated that light is necessary for viral development. Infected cells must be illuminated at least 13 h to produce a complete burst at the same rate as the continuously illuminated control. Low light intensities retarded the development cycle, and at lowest light intensities no phage yield was obtained. AS-1 is highly dependent on host cell photophosphorylation for its development.List of Abbreviations CCCP Carbonyl-cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone - DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl urea - m.o.i. multiplicity of infection - O.D. optical density - PFU plaque-forming unit Dedicated to Prof. Roger Y. Stanier on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

桂西南蚬木群落优势树种分布与环境因子的关系

蚬木(Excentrodendron hsienmu)是广泛分布于桂西南喀斯特山地的优良用材树种,了解影响蚬木群落物种分布的主要环境因子,对蚬木资源的有效保护具有重要意义。该研究基于桂西南蚬木群落的样地调查,测定了样地中乔木树种的重要值以及海拔、坡度、坡向、土壤养分等8个环境因子,采用Pearson相关分析研究了地形与土壤等环境因子间的相互关系,运用典范对应分析(CCA)方法对群落主要树种与环境因子间的关系进行了排序。结果表明:调查共记录到胸径≥1.0 cm、树高≥1.5 m的立木共176种,隶属于50科128属;群落乔木层以蚬木占绝对优势,主要伴生种有广西澄广花(Orophea anceps)、金丝李(Garcinia paucinervis)、割舌树(Walsura robusta)、苹婆(Sterculia nobilis)。相关分析显示海拔与土壤有机质、全氮间呈极显著正相关;除土壤pH之外,其余土壤肥力因子间均呈极显著正相关。CCA分析显示全钾、全磷对群落优势种的分布影响最为显著,坡向、坡度对优势种分布也具有重要作用。该研究结果揭示了影响蚬木群落物种分布的主要环境因子,为该区域的植被恢复措施提供了科学依据。     

贵州省楼梯草属(荨麻科)植物2新记录种

该文报道了贵州省荨麻科(Urticaceae)楼梯草属(ElatostemaJ.R.G.Forst.)植物2新记录,即环江楼梯草(E.huanjiangense W.T.WangY.G.Wei)和巨序楼梯草(E.megacephalum W.T.Wang)。     

丹江口水库秋季底栖动物群落状态和空间分布及其与环境因子的关系

为探讨丹江口水库底栖动物群落状态和空间分布及其与环境因子之间的关系,于2013年秋季（11月）对丹江口水库底栖动物进行了详细调查,共检出底栖动物35种,常见种为霍甫水丝蚓和苏氏尾鳃蚓,优势种为霍甫水丝蚓和正颤蚓。调查结果表明,丹江口水库底栖动物群落结构存在空间差异,现存量处于较高水平,未见明显衰退现象。就底栖动物群落状态（ⅡCS）而言,汉江库区要好于丹江库区,库峡要稍好于库区和库湾。为揭示主要物种的环境偏好以及对底栖动物分布具有重要影响的环境因子,采用协惯量分析（Co-inertia Analysis,CIA）和典范对应分析（Canonical Correspondence Analysis,CCA）。CCA的分析结果表明,水温、浊度、电导率、溶解氧、叶绿素a、锑、总氮、钼、高锰酸盐指数和硼对物种分布具有重要的影响。偏最小二乘法（Partial Least Square,PLS）的分析结果表明,pH、电导率、总氮、硼、钼、锑、钡和钒能很好地预测ⅡCS分值,是底栖动物群落发展的制约因素。结合CCA和PLS分析结果来看,对底栖动物具有重要影响的环境因子主要为电导率、总氮、硼、钼和锑。     

三亚湾秋、冬季浮游植物和细菌的生物量分布特征及其与环境因子的关系

分别于2004年10月(秋季)和2005年1月(冬季)对三亚湾进行了现场综合调查,研究了海区浮游植物和细菌生物量的分布特征,探讨了它们与DIN、PO34-、DO、BOD5等环境因子的关系。结果表明,海区平均叶绿素a浓度秋、冬季分别为:(1·40±0·78)mg/m3和(2·25±3·62)mg/m3;浮游植物生物量秋季为:(70·36±38·91)mgC/m3,冬季为:(112·57±181·38)mgC/m3。海区细菌的丰度秋、冬季分别为:(9·87±5·90)×108cells/L和(6·58±2·43)×108cells/L;平均细菌生物量秋季为:(19·73±11·81)mgC/m3,冬季为:(13·15±4·86)mgC/m3。表、底层浮游植物和细菌的生物量分布均呈现三亚河口最高,离岸逐渐降低的态势,三亚河的陆源物质输送及其入海扩散是引起此分布特征的主要原因。温度是造成秋季细菌的生物量高于冬季的原因之一。溶解无机氮为控制表层浮游植物和细菌分布的重要因子。秋季除表层DIN外各环境因子与浮游植物和细菌生物量都不存在明显的相关性;冬季表层DIN、PO43-、DO和BOD5均在p<0·01水平下与二者呈非常显著相关,底层仅DIN和BOD5在p<0·01水平下与二者呈非常显著正相关。三亚湾浮游细菌和浮游植物生物量间的相关性明显,初级生产是水域浮游细菌分布的重要影响因素。     

Larval abundance of Chironomus circumdatus in relation to biotic and abiotic factors

Larval abundance of Chironomus circumdatus in sewage canal and pond systems was studied during 1988–1990. Monthly changes in the morphometric features of the pond revealed that both total and littoral areas progressively decreased from 1063 and 107 m² in December 1988 to 151 and 43 m² in May '89; the decrease during the year 1989–1990 was from 1116 and 92 m² in October to 109 and 31 m² in May. A significant negative correlation (r= – 0.52) was obtained for the relation between littoral area and larval density in the pond. Larval density and biomass depended generally on the nature of the substrate and quantity of organic matter. Larval density of Ch. circumdatus was positively correlated with O₂, bacterial count and organic matter content, but negatively correlated with CO₂ level. Daily removal of organic matter by the larvae ranged from 20 to 31 % of the available organic matter in the sewage canal and from 3 to 11 % in the pond.     

Community phylogenetic analysis of moderately thermophilic cyanobacterial mats from China, the Philippines and Thailand

Most community molecular studies of thermophilic cyanobacterial mats to date have focused on Synechococcus occurring at temperatures of ~50–65°C. These reveal that molecular diversity exceeds that indicated by morphology, and that phylogeographic lineages exist. The moderately thermophilic and generally filamentous cyanobacterial mat communities occurring at lower temperatures have not previously been investigated at the community molecular level. Here we report community diversity in mats of 42–53°C recovered from previously unstudied geothermal locations. Separation of 16S rRNA gene-defined genotypes from community DNA was achieved by DGGE. Genotypic diversity was greater than morphotype diversity in all mats sampled, although genotypes generally corresponded to observed morphotypes. Thirty-six sequences were recovered from DGGE bands. Phylogenetic analyses revealed these to form novel thermophilic lineages distinct from their mesophilic counterparts, within Calothrix, Cyanothece, Fischerella, Phormidium, Pleurocapsa, Oscillatoria and Synechococcus. Where filamentous cyanobacterial sequences belonging to the same genus were recovered from the same site, these were generally closely affiliated. Location-specific sequences were observed for some genotypes recovered from geochemically similar yet spatially separated sites, thus providing evidence for phylogeographic lineages that evolve in isolation. Other genotypes were more closely affiliated to geographically remote counterparts from similar habitats suggesting that adaptation to certain niches is also important.     

Distribution and population characteristics of the alien talitrid amphipod Orchestia cavimana in relation to environmental conditions in the Northeastern Baltic Sea

The talitrid amphipods were found for the first time in the Northeastern Baltic Sea in 1999. Orchestia cavimana inhabited damp wracks cast up on shore within a 200 m area of Saaremaa Island. In the following year, the species expanded its range to a few kilometres. In 2002, six additional locations of O. cavimana were found in Saaremaa Island and two locations in the Northwestern part of Estonia. Abundances and biomasses were highest in the first year of the invasion. In the following years, the values stabilized on remarkably lower levels. Population characteristics of the species varied significantly between locations. The average biomass and abundance were 9 g dw m⁻² and 1975 ind m⁻², respectively. Wrack biomass and interaction between wrack biomass and exposure were the best predictors of the abundances and biomasses of O. cavimana. Humidity explained additional variability in biomasses. The size structure of the population of O. cavimana was mostly related to humidity and wrack biomass. The Southern coast of the Baltic Sea may be regarded as the initial donor region for the Estonian populations of O. cavimana. The vector of this invasion is most likely related to the natural dispersal of the drifting algae but human activities as a transport vector can not be excluded. The incredible speed of the invasion of O. cavimana and its high biomasses indicate that the species will very likely extend its distribution along the coast of the Northeastern Baltic Sea in the following years.     

The effect of environmental factors on floating fresh marsh end-of-season biomass

We used both stepwise and quantile regression to determine the sources of environmental variation that explained the observed inter-annual variation in end-of-season freshwater floating marsh aboveground biomass over an 18-year period. The vegetation at our study site had high species diversity with an average of 20 species recorded from 10 0.25 m⁻² plots. However, Panicum hemitomon was clearly the dominant contributing 74% of the total biomass. Only three other species (Solidago sempervirens, Vigna luteola, and Thelypteris palustris) were so common that they were sampled in all years. We expected that the most important factors controlling interannual variation in aboveground biomass are temperature and nitrogen availability. We also expected that nitrogen availability to the plants is affected by water movement through and under the mat driven by precipitation (lower N), evaporation (transportation of higher N waters to roots), and local runoff (higher N). Stepwise regression analysis indicated that P. hemitomon average biomass was negatively related to average water level and positively related to maximum water level and had a curvilinear response with TKN. Using quantile regression the best fit for P. hemitomon maximum-biomass with two parameters was obtained using hot days (positive relationship) and maximum water level (negative relationship). Both analytical methods showed maximum water level (negative relationship) and cold front passage (positive relationship) to be the environmental parameters that best explained interannual variation in S. sempervirens biomass. V. luteola biomass was positively related to temperature. Stepwise regression added chloride concentration as an additional positive parameter explaining V. luteola biomass, while quantile regression identified nitrogen as an important positive parameter. Both analytical methods identified pH, TKN, and water level as environmental parameters that were negatively correlated with T. palustris biomass. The overall negative effect of water level on all species was unexpected in this floating mat system. We initially assumed that higher water levels were due to higher runoff which should have a positive effect on biomass. However, higher water levels may also be related to a higher retention time in this fresh-water tidal system, which decreases water exchange and nutrient replenishment.     

Seasonal dynamics of Bythonomus lemani and Bothrioneurum vejdovskyanum (Oligochaeta, Annelida) in relation to environmental variables

The seasonal dynamics of Bythonomus lemani (Lumbriculidae) were studied for the first time and the knowledge of Bothrioneurum vejdovskyanum (Tubificidae) was extended based on four quantitative samples of oligochaetes taken monthly in the Rokytná River (Czech Republic) during a two-year study (April 1999–April 2001). The influence of water temperature, velocity, depth, discharge, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen amount and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) on their life cycles was evaluated. Habitat preferences of the juvenile and adult stages were recorded. Time series analysis was used to determine the worm densities, seasonality and trends. For Byth. lemani one distinct reproduction cycle per year was found and this was regulated by temperature, while Both. vejdovskyanum showed a one-year cycle not significantly dependent on measured environmental variables. The overall trend was an increase in density for Byth. lemani and a decrease in density for Both. vejdovskyanum. Byth. lemani showed a significant negative correlation between the trend of its density and BOD concentration.     

山东苔藓植物新记录

该研究通过对采自山东的苔藓植物标本进行鉴定,首次发现裂齿藓[ Dichodontium pellucidum (Hedw.) Schimp.]和粗疣藓[ Fauriella tenuis (Mitt.) Cardot]在山东的分布,这也是昂氏藓科(Aongstroemiaceae)裂齿藓属( Dichodontium Schimp.)和粗疣藓属( Fauriella Besch.)的苔藓植物在山东的首次发现。文中还详细描述了裂齿藓和粗疣藓的形态特征,绘制了墨线图,并进行了相应的讨论。     

Five-year study on the autumn food habits of the Asiatic black bear in relation to nut production

We studied the autumn food habits of the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) from 1993 to 1997, based on 202 fecal samples in the Chichibu Mountains, central Japan. Nuts occupied the highest proportions of autumn foods (59.9–85.8% important values). Although the proportion of nuts of Quercus crispula, Fagus crenata and Fagus japonica varied greatly between the years, acorns of Q.crispula were most prevalent in four of the five years. We also determined the relative nut production of these three species by counting the number of nuts or cupules on the ground. Black bears consumed the nuts according to their relative availabilities. Nuts of Q.crispula appeared to be the most important food because: (i) these nuts were eaten in the highest proportion in four of the five study years; and (ii) even in poor years the bears consumed acorns of Q.crispula, whereas nuts of Fagus spp. were not consumed. We discuss the significance of alternative foods for black bears in relation to food tree diversity in the forest and the necessity for long-term studies examining the food habits of Asiatic black bears.     

The effect of environmental factors on the growth rate of Karenia brevis (Davis) G. Hansen and Moestrup

The red tide dinoflagellate Karenia brevis (Davis) G. Hansen and Moestrup is noted for causing mass mortalities of marine organisms in the Gulf of Mexico. Most research has focused on culture isolates from the eastern Gulf of Mexico. In this investigation, we examine the effects of light, temperature and salinity on the growth rate of K. brevis from the western Gulf of Mexico. Growth rates of K. brevis were determined under various combinations of irradiance (19, 31, 52, 67, and 123 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), salinity (25, 30, 35, 40 and 45), and temperature (15, 20, 25, and 30 °C). Maximum growth rates varied from 0.17 to 0.36 div day⁻¹ with exponential growth rates increasing with increasing irradiance. Little or no growth was supported at 19 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ for any experiment. Maximum growth rates at 15 °C were much lower than at other temperatures. Maximum growth rates of the Texas clone (SP3) fell within the range of Florida clones reported in the literature (0.17–0.36 div day⁻¹ versus 0.2–1.0 div day⁻¹). The Texas clone SP3 had a very similar light saturation point compared to that of a Florida isolate (Wilson's clone) (67 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ versus 65 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), and light compensation (20–30 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹1). The upper and lower salinity tolerance of the Texas clone was similar than that of some Florida clones (45 versus 46 and 25 versus 22.5, respectively). In our study, the Texas clone had the same temperature tolerance reported for Florida clones (15–30 °C). While individual clones can vary considerably in maximum growth rates, our results indicate only minor differences exist between the Texas and Florida strains of K. brevis in their temperature and salinity tolerance for growth. While the literature notes lower salinity occurrences of K. brevis in nearby Louisiana, our isolate from the southern Texas coast has the higher salinity requirements typical of K. brevis in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.