Vertical distribution and germination ability of Alexandrium spp. cysts (Dinophyceae) in the sediments collected from Kure Bay of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan

The vertical distribution of Alexandrium tamarense/ catenella (hereinafter Alexandrium spp.) cysts was investigated with special attention to living cysts filled with fresh protoplasm and empty cysts. In addition, based on the incubation experiments of Alexandrium spp. cysts, the germination ability of the cysts was examined. A sediment core 63 cm in length, collected from Kure Bay of the Seto Inland Sea, West Japan, in September 2000, was provided for an analysis on the vertical distribution of Alexandrium spp. cysts. Samples from every 1 cm interval depth from the top down to 13 cm depth of the same core were taken to examine the germination ability of the cysts. Results show that Alexandrium spp. cysts were continuously observed from 59 to 60 cm depth to the top. The cyst densities in the upper parts of the core (from 9 to 10 cm depth to the top) were much more abundant those that in the lower parts (below 10–11 cm depth). The relationship between living and empty cysts in each depth did not reveal a positive correlation with the sediment depth. Based on the sedimentation rate of the core sediment (approximately 1.6 cm/year), Alexandrium spp. cysts have been produced since 1962, and a remarkable increase of these cysts was observed from ca 1993. Such a rapid increase of Alexandrium spp. cysts has probably been as a result of dense blooms of A. tamarense occurring since 1992 in Hiroshima Bay, including Kure Bay. The germination of Alexandrium spp. cysts was observed in samples collected from the top to 12–13 cm depth of the core. It suggests that the Alexandrium spp. cysts can keep the germination ability for more than 8 years.     

Growth and uptake kinetics of phosphate by benthic microalga Nitzschia sp. isolated from Hiroshima Bay,Japan

In the present study, we experimentally investigated the phosphate uptake kinetics of benthic microalga Nitzschia sp. isolated from Hiroshima Bay, Japan. The maximum uptake rate (ρ_max) obtained by short‐term experiments was 6.84 pmol cell^?1 h^?1 for phosphate. The half‐saturation constant for uptake (K_S) was 61.2 µmol cell^?1 h^?1. Both the ρ_max and Ks of this species were extremely high, suggesting that Nitzschia sp. is adapted to benthic environments, where nutrient concentrations are much higher than in the water column. The specific maximum growth rate (µ'_max) and minimum cell quota (Q₀) for the P‐limited condition, obtained by a semi‐continuous growth experiment, were 0.48 day^?1 and 0.045 pmol cell^?1, respectively. It is concluded that Nitzschia sp. could be a ‘storage strategist’ species, meaning it adapts so as to minimize the influence of fluctuations in phosphate conditions resulting from the change in redox conditions of sediment due to bioturbation.     

A novel marine bacterium algicidal to the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense

Aims: This work is aiming at investigating algicidal characterization of a bacterium isolate DHQ25 against harmful alga Alexandrium tamarense. Methods and Results: 16S rDNA sequence analysis showed that the most probable affiliation of DHQ25 belongs to the γ‐proteobacteria subclass and the genus Vibrio. Bacterial isolate DHQ25 showed algicidal activity through an indirect attack. Xenic culture of A. tamarense was susceptible to the culture filtrate of DHQ25 by algicidal activity assay. Algicidal process demonstrated that the alga cell lysed and cellular substances released under the visual field of microscope. DHQ25 was a challenge controller of A. tamarense by the above characterizations of algicidal activity assay and algicidal process. Conclusion: Interactions between bacteria and harmful algal bloom (HAB) species proved to be an important factor regulating the population of these algae. Significance and Impact of Study: This is the first report of a Vibrio sp. bacterium algicidal to the toxic dinoflagellate A. tamarense. The findings increase our knowledge of the role of bacteria in algal–bacterial interaction.     

Development of microsatellite markers in the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense (Dinophyceae)

Outbreaks of paralytic shellfish poisoning caused by the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense (Dinophyceae) are currently a serious problem from an economic and food hygiene point of view throughout the world. We isolated 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci from this species. These loci provided microsatellite markers with high polymorphism ranging from four to 15 alleles per locus and gene diversity between 0.632 and 0.974. The markers are available for more detailed investigations of genetic structure and gene flow of A. tamarense populations.     

N、P营养盐对塔玛亚历山大藻(Alexandrium tamarense)生长的影响

模拟自然海水营养盐浓度状况,在N、P浓度分别为10-500μg L-1 N和0.74-74μg L-1 P时,研究N、P双因子限制(N、P浓度同时降低,N:P固定为15:1)及单因子限制(保持N或P为最高浓度,只降低一种营养盐浓度)对有毒赤潮藻塔玛亚历山大藻(Alexandrium tamarense)生长的影响。结果表明,塔玛亚历山大藻细胞能较快进入对数生长期,但N、P双因子限制能明显影响其生长,在N、P浓度分别低于100μg L-1 N和15μg L-1 P时,细胞密度无明显增长;而N或P分别受限时,生长态势明显优于N、P同时受到限制的试验组,而且N、P单因子中度限制对生长影响较小。结果说明塔玛亚历山大藻对单因子营养元素限制较强的适应能力,可使其在常常出现单营养因子限制的自然水体中维持一定生长速率和细胞密度,并有助于滤食该藻的贝类体内麻痹性贝类毒素的积累。     

Positive effects of continuous low nitrate levels on growth and photosynthesis of Alexandrium tamarense (Gonyaulacales, Dinophyceae)

The growth and photosynthesis of Alexandrium tamarense (Lebour) Balech in different nutrient conditions were investigated. Low nitrate level (0.0882 mmol/L) resulted in the highest average growth rate from day 0 to day 10 (4.58 × 10² cells mL^?1 d^?1), but the lowest cell yield (5420 cells mL^?1) in three nitrate level cultures. High nitrate‐grown cells showed lower levels of chlorophyll a‐specific and cell‐specific light‐saturated photosynthetic rate (P_m^{chl a} and P_m^cell), dark respiration rate (R_d^chla and R_d^cell) and chlorophyll a‐specific apparent photosynthetic efficiency (α^chla) than was seen for low nitrate‐grown cells; whereas the cells became light saturated at higher irradiance at low nitrate condition. When cultures at low nitrate were supplemented with nitrate at 0.7938 mmol/L in late exponential growth phase, or with nitrate at 0.7938 mmol/L and phosphate at 0.072 mmol/L in stationary growth phase, the cell yield was drastically enhanced, a 7–9 times increase compared with non‐supplemented control culture, achieving 43 540 cells mL^?1 and 52 300 cells mL^?1, respectively; however, supplementation with nitrate in the stationary growth phase or with nitrate and phosphate in the late exponential growth phase increased the cell yield by no more than 2 times. The results suggested that continuous low level of nitrate with sufficient supply of phosphate may facilitate the growth of A. tamarense.     

Modelling the population dynamics of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium Tamarense in Hiroshima Bay, Japan

In the present study, a numerical model that simulates speciescompetition between the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarenseand the non-toxic diatom Skeletonema costatum was constructedusing data from a number of experiments and field observations.In the model, not only vertical migration of swimming cellsbut also the encystment and excystment processes of A. tamarensewere taken into consideration. Sinking of S. costatum cellswas also considered. Both zooplankton and oysters, which areintensively cultured in this bay, feed on the phytoplanktonbut the contribution of grazing to the decrease in the celldensities of both species was small. The model predicts thatwhile sinking is one of the major processes that reduce thecell density of S. costatum, encystment of A. tamarense is acrucial process that determines the cessation of blooms of thisdinoflagellate. Advection and diffusion are also important physicalprocesses that affect, in positive and negative ways, the fluctuationof cell densities.     

塔玛亚历山大藻对氮和磷的吸收及其生长特性

参照塔玛亚历山大藻(Alexandrium tamarense)赤潮爆发时的物理条件,以f／2加富的人工海水为培养基,设定了不同的氮、磷水平,研究了在室内批量培养条件下,塔玛亚历山大藻对无机氮、磷的吸收和无机氮、磷对塔玛亚历山大藻细胞生长的影响．结果表明,3种氮浓度条件下,塔玛亚历山大藻的比生长速率几乎没有差异,但低氮(0．0882mmol·L-1)条件下,藻细胞的生物量最低;中氮(0．882mmol·L-1)条件下,藻细胞具有最大的生物量,分别比高氮(2．646mmol·L-1)和低氮下增加44．7％和53．6％．随着培养基中磷浓度的升高,藻细胞生物量也升高,在高磷(0．108mmol·L-1)条件下达到最大值17200cell·ml-1,但在中磷(0．036mmol.L-1)条件下藻细胞具有最大的比生长速率．藻细胞对氮、磷的吸收速率与生长状态有密切关系,氮、磷限制条件下生长的藻细胞对氮、磷有快速的吸收．研究显示,低的N／P比有利于塔玛亚历山大藻的生长分裂,对数生长后期适当补氮则有利于其生物量的积累．     

Modelling the population dynamics of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense in Hiroshima Bay, Japan. II. Sensitivity to physical and biological parameters

Using the numerical model developed in a previous paper [Yamamotoet al. (2002c) J. Plankton Res., 24, 33–47], the sensitivityof population dynamics of Alexandrium tamarense to physicaland biological parameters was analysed. Horizontal and verticaldiffusions led to the dispersion of dense A. tamarense populationsin the surface layer of the innermost portion of the bay. Temperatureand salinity influenced the timing of the A. tamarense bloomdue to its stenothermal and stenohaline characteristics. Althoughincreasing the light intensity caused the bloom of A. tamarenseto begin earlier, it lowered the cell density at the bloom peakas a result of phosphate depletion in the ambient water. Bothincreasing the cyst density and the excystment rate had littleinfluence on the population dynamics of A. tamarense vegetativecells. Increasing the phosphate concentration led to increasesin cell density of A. tamarense, indicating that growth is phosphate-limited.Oysters, which are cultured intensively in this bay, appearto stimulate the bloom of A. tamarense through the regenerationof phosphorus from their faeces/pseudofaeces. The phosphorusreduction measure that has been taken since 1980 and the recentconstruction of a large dam are discussed as important factorsthat may influence the population dynamics of A. tamarense.     

Abundance of Naked Amoebae in Sediments of Hiroshima Bay, Seto Inland Sea of Japan

ABSTRACT The present paper provides the first data on naked amoebae from sediments of Hiroshima Bay. Three stations in the inner part of the bay were sampled over a three-month period. Abundance of naked amoebae ranged from 1,019 to 45,561 cells/g dry sediment. Results indicate: (i) surface sediment populations in most cases were higher than subsurface populations; (ii) there was some evidence of temporal variation with counts generally increasing from March to May: and (iii) the site located near Hiroshima City had fewer amoebae on several occasions than the other two sites. There was a negative exponential relationship between acid-volatile sulfide concentration and abundance of amoebae. Most amoebae were small with the average size ranging from 6.6–14 μm. Morphotype 1, amoebae that extend lobose pseudopodia or subpseudopodia during normal locomotion, were dominant (40–100% of enumerated amoebae). Morphotypes 2 and 3 (limax amoebae) were found in lower numbers than the other two morphotypes. The proportion of amoebae occupied by Morphotype 4 (fan-shaped or discoidal-flattened amoebae) was higher at a lower total abundance.     

长江口塔玛亚历山大藻孢囊的形成、发展及其与赤潮动力学的关系(英文)

The toxic dinoflagellate—Alexandrium tamarense (Lebour) Balech, formed resting cysts in f/2 media with low nitrate concentrations. Among the concentrations tested, f/20 NO3^- was the most effective to induction with an encystment percentage of 2.0 in batch culture. About 73.2% and 17.6% of cysts were produced on 8 and 9 d after transferring. Newly formed cysts developed accumulation body 3d later and kept forming mucilaginous substance, which might help their dispersal and survival. The mandatory dormancy period of resting cysts was 15 and 10d when stored at 15 and 20℃ respectively. The cysts could germinate without temperature change, with germination of 75.6% 20d after formation at 20℃. The Alexandrium cyst density in the surface sediment of DG-26 station reached above 25 cysts/g in May and November of 2002, and dropped to 4.5 and 0.9 cysts/g in August of 2002 and February of 2003, suggesting that Alexandrium cysts might have germinated in spring and autumn 2002. Cysts produced during the bloom returned to water column soon, whatever the season and water temperature were. The cyst density in the surface sediment at DG-26 station in May, 2003 was only 3.3 cysts/g and the cysts were newly formed. In the Yangtse River estuary, the inoculum size was not a major factor to determine the outbreak of A.tamarense bloom.     

长江口塔玛亚历山大藻孢囊的形成、发展及其与赤潮动力学的关系

有毒甲藻棗塔玛亚历山大藻(Alexandrium tamarense(Leboru)Balech)在低氮的F\2培养液中会形成休眠孢囊.在试验的递度中,f\20NO3-诱导效率最高,一次性培养中孢囊形成率达到2%.大约73.2%和17.6%的孢囊在接种后的第八天和第九天形成.新形成的孢囊3d后红色体开始出现,并持续地分泌粘性物质,这可能有助于孢囊的扩散和生存.孢囊在15和20℃保存下的休眠期分别为15和10d.孢囊需要温度的改变就能萌发,在20℃条件下孢囊密度分别降到了4.5和0.9个\g,说明2002年亚历山大大藻孢囊在春季和各有一次萌发.赤潮发生过程中产生的孢囊会很快通过萌发回到水体中,无论季节和水温如何.2003年5月DG-26站位表层沉积物中亚历山大藻孢囊密度只有3.3个\g,但这些孢囊均是新形成的.在长江口,种群初始的大小不是决定塔玛亚历山大藻赤潮发生的关键因素.     

Seasonal variation in the species composition of tintinnid cilates in Hiroshima Bay, the Seto Inland Sea of Japan

Seasonal changes in the species composition of tintinnid ciliateswere examined based on time-series samples taken at 2 week intervalsover a 3 year period in Hiroshima Bay, the Seto Inland Sea ofJapan. The maximum abundance of total tintinnids over the entireperiod was 5.7 x 10³ indi viduals l^– Among 32 speciesidentified, a consistent seasonal occurrence was recognizedin 22 species. The relationships between various environmentalfactors and the abundance of each species of tintinnids wereanalyzed using principal component analysis From this analysis,the abundance of many tintinnids was revealed to be associatedwith temperature, the <20 µm size fraction of chlorophylla and water column stability, but not with the <20 µmsize fraction of chlorophyll a, nor with salinity. From theseresults, tintinnid species were divided into five associationtypes: species whose abundance increased with increasing temperature,decreasing temperature, nanophytoplankton abundance, increasingwater column mixing, or increasing water stratification coupledwith low temperature.     

Effects of winds, tides and river water runoff on the formation and disappearance of the Alexandrium tamarense bloom in Hiroshima Bay, Japan

Effects of winds, tides and river water runoff on the formation and disappearance of Alexandrium tamarense blooms in Hiroshima Bay, Japan were investigated using data from March to June of 1992–1998. The north wind at the initial growth phase of A. tamarense appeared to have prevented bloom formation by dispersing the organism offshore and/or through turbulent mixing. The decrease in the cell density at the end of the blooms was significantly affected by tidal mixing, indicating that the turbulent mixing induced by tidal excursions may be one of the factors terminating the bloom. Box model analyses applied to the data collected from the observations in 1996 and 1997 showed that river water runoff apparently dispersed the bloom, implying that stratification of the water column due to river water runoff is not necessary for the bloom formation. In conclusion, calm conditions with less wind and tidal mixing along with less river water runoff are considered to be important for the formation of the A. tamarense bloom in Hiroshima Bay, Japan.     

Uptake kinetics of nitrate,ammonia and phosphate by the dinoflagellate Heterocapsa circularisquama isolated from Hiroshima Bay,Japan

Heterocapsa circularisquama is a harmful dinoflagellate whose first bloom in Hiroshima Bay, Japan, appeared in 1992. As suggested by the authors’ group, in the Seto Inland Sea including Hiroshima Bay, oligotrophication particularly the reduction of phosphate starting 1980 is severe. The bloom caused serious damage to the bay's extensive oyster culture. In the present study, the uptake kinetics of nitrate, ammonia, and phosphate by this species were experimentally investigated. The maximum uptake rate (ρ_max) and the half‐saturation constant (Ks) were 0.41 pmol cell^?1 h^?1 and 4.45 μM, respectively, for nitrate, 2.02 pmol cell^?1 h^?1 and 11.1 μM for ammonium, and 0.079 pmol cell^?1 h^?1 and 1.79 μM for phosphate. The maximum specific uptake rates (V_max) for nitrate, ammonia, and phosphate were estimated to be 8.95, 44.1, and 21.3 day^?1, respectively. A comparison of V_max/Ks, which is also an index of affinity to nutrients, between this species and others suggested that H. circularisquama can utilize nitrate and ammonia efficiently, but not phosphate. Considering both reports describing that H. circularisquama has the ability to utilize dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) and the DOP concentration is higher than phosphate in Hiroshima Bay, it was concluded that H. circularisquama became dominant due to the phosphate reduction measure.     

塔玛亚历山大藻对黑褐新糠虾存活、生长以及种群繁殖的影响

通过塔玛亚历山大藻 ( Alexandrium tamarense)对黑褐新糠虾 ( N eomysis awatschensis)的急性和慢性毒性作用研究 ,发现塔玛亚历山大藻对黑褐新糠虾的存活、生殖、生长等有不利影响 ,影响程度随塔玛亚历山大藻藻细胞密度的增加而增加。在 96 h急性毒性实验中 ,塔玛亚历山大藻对黑褐新糠虾的半致死密度为 70 0 0 cells/ml,去藻过滤液中糠虾的死亡率为 2 5 %。在 6 2 d的慢性毒性实验中 ,密度为 90 0 cells/ml的塔玛亚历山大藻对黑褐新糠虾的繁殖有严重影响 ,在此影响下的实验组亲虾产幼虾总数只有 2 7尾 ,仅为对照组产幼虾数目的 1 6 .4 % ;其总产幼虾天数、日最高产幼数分别只有对照的 32 %、4 1 % ,其初次产虾日期也推迟了 3d,并出现了 3次生殖中断。塔玛亚历山大藻对黑褐新糠虾亲虾的存活、生长也有一定的影响 ,处在密度为 90 0 cells/ml塔玛亚历山大藻中的黑褐新糠虾亲虾的存活率只有对照的 6 3% ,糠虾亲虾的体长和体重分别为对照组亲虾的 95 .6 %和 81 .9% ,但差异尚不显著 ( P>0 .0 5 )     

Recurrent vernal presence of the toxic Alexandrium tamarense/Alexandrium fundyense (Dinoflagellata) species complex in Narragansett Bay,USA

The vernal occurrence of toxic dinoflagellates in the Alexandrium tamarense/Alexandrium fundyense species complex in an enclosed embayment of Narragansett Bay (Wickford Cove, Rhode Island) was documented during 2005 and 2009–2012. This is the first report of regular appearance of the Alexandrium fundyense/Alexandrium tamarense species complex in Narragansett Bay. Thecal plate analysis of clonal isolates using SEM revealed cells morphologically consistent with both Alexandrium tamarense Lebour (Balech) and Alexandrium fundyense Balech. Additionally, molecular analyses confirmed that the partial sequences for 18S through the D1–D2 region of 28S were consistent with the identity of the two Alexandrium species. Toxin analyses revealed the presence of a suite of toxins (C1/2, B1 (GTX-5), STX, GTX-2/3. Neo, and GTX-1/4) in both Alexandrium tamarense (6.31 fmol cell⁻¹ STX equiv.) and Alexandrium fundyense (9.56 fmol cell⁻¹ STX equiv.) isolated from Wickford Cove; the toxicity of a Narragansett Bay Alexandrium peruvianum isolate (1.79 fmol cell⁻¹ STX equiv.) was also determined. Combined Alexandrium tamarense/Alexandrium fundyense abundance in Wickford Cove reached a peak abundance of 1280 cells L⁻¹ (May of 2010), with the combined abundance routinely exceeding levels leading to shellfishing closures in other systems. The toxic Alexandrium tamarense/Alexandrium fundyense species complex appears to be a regular component of the lower Narragansett Bay phytoplankton community, either newly emergent or previously overlooked by extant monitoring programs.     

Species boundaries and global biogeography of the Alexandrium tamarense complex (Dinophyceae)1

Alexandrium catenella (Whedon et Kof.) Balech, A. tamarense (M. Lebour) Balech, and A. fundyense Balech comprise the A. tamarense complex, dinoflagellates responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning worldwide. The relationships among these morphologically defined species are poorly understood, as are the reasons for increases in range and bloom occurrence observed over several decades. This study combines existing data with new ribosomal DNA sequences from strains originating from the six temperate continents to reconstruct the biogeography of the complex and explore the origins of new populations. The morphospecies are examined under the criteria of phylogenetic, biological, and morphological species concepts and do not to satisfy the requirements of any definition. It is recommended that use of the morphospecies appellations within this complex be discontinued as they imply erroneous relationships among morphological variants. Instead, five groups (probably cryptic species) are identified within the complex that are supported on the basis of large genetic distances, 100% bootstrap values, toxicity, and mating compatibility. Every isolate of three of the groups that has been tested is nontoxic, whereas every isolate of the remaining two groups is toxic. These phylogenetic groups were previously identified within the A. tamarense complex and given geographic designations that reflected the origins of known isolates. For at least two groups, the geographically based names are not indicative of the range occupied by members of each group. Therefore, we recommend a simple group‐numbering scheme for use until the taxonomy of this group is reevaluated and new species are proposed.     

溶藻细菌BS03(Microbulbifer sp.)对塔玛亚历山大藻生长及抗氧化系统的影响

【目的】研究溶藻细菌BS03(Microbulbifer sp.)胁迫下塔玛亚历山大藻细胞光合作用、抗氧化酶系统和半胱氨酸蛋白酶3(Caspase-3)变化,探讨溶藻细菌BS03对塔玛亚历山大藻的溶藻机制。【方法】通过0.5%、1.0%、1.5%、2.0%不同终浓度BS03上清液处理藻细胞后12、24、36、48h取样,测定溶藻过程藻细胞光合色素、叶绿素荧光效率、抗氧化酶系统、Caspase酶活性变化。【结果】(1)BS03上清液处理藻细胞后,藻细胞叶绿素a含量和叶绿素荧光Fv/Fm比值随BS03上清液处理时间延长和浓度的增加呈逐渐下降趋势;低浓度处理组藻细胞类胡萝卜素含量上升到一峰值,高于对照组后逐渐回落,而高浓度处理组类胡萝素含量呈下降趋势,低于对照组;(2)藻细胞抗氧化酶保护系统(SOD和CAT)活性随着BS03上清液处理浓度增加而升高,但随着处理时间的延长呈现先上升后下降趋势。藻细胞膜脂过氧化产物MDA积累量随着BS03上清液处理时间延长和处理浓度的增加而显著提高;(3)处理组藻细胞Caspase-3活性显著高于对照组,呈现出类似程序性死亡特征。【结论】BS03的抑藻机理可能是通过抑制藻细胞光合作用,降低抗氧化酶活性、加大膜脂过氧化起到对塔玛亚历山大藻的溶解作用,并呈现出类程序性死亡特征。