Species composition and distribution of free-living marine nematodes in Vostok Bay, Sea of Japan

The qualitative and quantitative composition of free-living marine nematodes have been studied in Vostok Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan). It is found that the population density of nematodes in the bottom sediments of Vostok Bay shows an uneven distribution. The mean population density equaled 56800 ± 23400 specimens/m². A correlation has been revealed between the population density of nematodes and the substrate type. Altogether, 85 species of nematodes have been found; they were dominated by Sabatieria palmaris, Rhabdodemania orientalis, Araeolaimus parvibulbosus, Oncholaimium paraolium, Doryolaimopsis peculiaris, and Metachromadora itoi. Six taxocenoses of nematodes were distinguished, taking into account the species dominating in the population density and using cluster analysis of the obtained data. The dominating trophic assemblage of nematodes was “scrapers.” In general, the species composition of nematodes in Vostok Bay is characterized by the relatively great similarity with that in other areas of Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan).     

On the introduction of the ascidian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ciona savignyi</Emphasis> Herdman, 1882 into Peter the Great Bay,Sea of Japan

The occurrence of the solitary ascidian Ciona savignyi Herdman, 1882 in Vostok Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan) was first documented in 2004. Adult specimens occurred in fouling communities of floating docks in Gaidamak Bay and on different anthropogenic substrates. The introduction of this ascidian into Vostok Bay is attributable to fishing ships which regularly frequent ports of Japan and to favorable environmental conditions (temperature and salinity of seawater).     

Retrospective analysis of the marine flora of Vostok Bay,Sea of Japan

A general list of the flora of Vostok Bay (Sea of Japan) compiled on the basis of original and literature data includes 161 species, among them 25 green algae, 42 brown algae, 90 red algae, and 4 species of seagrass. In the period from 2000 to 2004, 114 species of macrophytes (19 green algae, 29 brown algae, 63 red algae, and 3 species of seagrass) were found in Vostok Bay; 19 species of algae were first records for this bay. On the whole, the flora of Vostok Bay is dominated by warm-water species, among which Asian low-boreal species occupy the leading position. The flora of Vostok Bay is changing under the influence of global climatic and local anthropogenic factors. In recent years, there is a tendency for the proportion of warm-water species to increase. The local anthropogenic influence on the flora of Vostok Bay has caused changes in the species composition of plant communities.     

Abundance and germination capability of resting cysts of Alexandrium spp. (Dinophyceae) from faecal pellets of macrobenthic organisms

The Alexandrium spp. resting cysts were found abundantly in faecal pellets collected from the bottom sediments at two stations in Hiroshima Bay. It is considered that these faecal pellets were excreted by the macrobenthos, such as polychaeta and mollusca, based on their size and morphology. Polychaeta was the most dominant macrobenthos, and mollusca was the second most dominant group in Hiroshima Bay. The resting cysts of Alexandrium spp. in the bottom sediments at the two stations were counted in both the faecal pellets of macrobenthos and in the surrounding sediment. As a result, the number of cysts in the faecal pellets accounted for 28.9-35.2% of total cysts. In addition, cysts isolated from faecal pellets had almost the same germination ability as those in the sediment. Thus, Alexandrium cysts are tolerant to the predation and digestive processes of macrobenthic organisms.     

Macrobenthos of Brackish-Water Areas in the Intertidal Zone of Del''fin Bay (Shikotan Island, Small Kuril Islands)

The paper describes brackish-water areas of Del'fin Bay and provides quantitative characteristics of macrobenthos communities in these areas considering changes that took place after the lowering of the island and a result of the earthquake of 1994. A comparative biogeographical analysis have been performed of brackish-water areas in Del'fin Bay in comparison with open seaward Gorobets Bay (Shikotan Island). The most peculiar elements of biota in the brackish-water areas are represented by marine eurybionthic and brackish-water species of the subtropical–low boreal complex. The communities of brackish-water areas of Del'fin Bay have been referred to the Amur-Japanese Subprovince of the Sino-Indian Brackish-Water Province, unlike the assemblage of organisms in typically marine coasts of Shikotan Island, which are referred to the Low-Boreal Subprovince (Subzone) of the marine Pacific Boreal Province (Zone).     

莱州湾东岸潮下带大型底栖动物群落beta多样性格局及其驱动因素

群落β多样性格局的形成与维持机制一直是群落生态学研究的热点与核心。然而, 与陆生生态系统相比, 海洋生态系统尤其是海洋底栖生态系统中生物群落β多样性的研究明显滞后。本研究从分类(即物种组成)和功能(即性状组成)两个方面出发, 应用Mantel分析和基于矩阵的多元回归(multiple regression on distance matrices, MRM)分析, 探究了莱州湾东岸潮下带大型底栖动物群落β多样性及其周转(turnover)和嵌套(nestedness)组分与环境因子和空间距离的关系, 揭示了环境过滤和扩散限制两种生态学过程对其群落构建机制的影响。结果显示: (1)莱州湾东岸潮下带大型底栖动物群落的分类与功能性状β多样性均维持在较高水平且均以周转组分占主导, 表明研究区域大型底栖动物群落在物种和功能性状组成上差异较大, 而这种差异大部分来自物种或功能性状在空间或群落间的更替; (2)空间地理距离对大型底栖动物群落分类与功能性状β多样性及其组分无显著影响(Mantel检验, P > 0.05), 表明扩散限制对莱州湾东岸潮下带大型底栖动物群落的影响有限; (3) MRM分析表明, 沉积物总有机质(total organic matter, TOM)和粉砂含量显著影响大型底栖动物群落分类β多样性, 而TOM则显著影响功能性状β多样性。上述结果表明, 环境过滤是驱动莱州湾东岸潮下带大型底栖动物群落构建机制的首要因素。本研究阐明了莱州湾东岸潮下带大型底栖动物群落构建机制, 同时也为理解我国其他海域大型底栖动物群落的形成与维持机制提供了参考。     

Pelagic larvae of benthic invertebrates of the Vostok Bay,peter the great bay,Sea of Japan: Composition,phenology, and population dynamics

For the first time, year round and long-term seasonal research on the composition, phenology, and population dynamics of pelagic larvae of bottom invertebrates were conducted in the Vostok Bay of the Sea of Japan. Larvae of 98 taxa of various ranks were found. The larvae of bivalves and polychaetes were the most diverse. The larvae of bottom invertebrates occurred in plankton year-round. Their density was at its minimum in January (less than 100 ind./m³), and its maximum from June to November (more than 1000 ind./m³). The larvae of polychaetes dominated in the autumn and winter seasons, whereas bivalve and gastropod larvae dominated in the spring and summer seasons. It was shown that the proportion of pollution tolerant meroplankton larvae of the Polydora and Pseudopolydora genera was high in the Vostok Bay, and could indirectly indicate increasing anthropogenic pressure in the area.     

福建同安湾潮间带红树林生境与非红树林生境大型底栖动物群落比较

底栖动物群落是红树林生态系统多样性研究的重要内容之一。为了解大型底栖动物群落对高有机质含量和富营养的红树林生境的响应, 从2006年4月到2007年1月, 对福建省同安湾红树林生境和非红树林生境大型底栖动物群落及其时空变化进行了研究。我们在同安湾红树林种植区设置了凤林(FL)和山后亭(XA)两条断面, 每条断面在红树林内各设2个取样站(FL1, FL2, XA-A和XA-B), 林外各设1个取样站(FL3和XA-C)。底质研究结果显示凤林3个取样站(FL1, FL2和FL3)的有机质含量均超过底质污染评价标准的临界值3.4%, 且无论凤林还是山后亭, 红树林生境的有机质含量均要高过非红树林生境。共获得大型底栖动物91种, 其中在红树林生境内获得77种, 高于非红树林生境内获得的67种。红树林生境和非红树林生境的大型底栖动物平均栖息密度分别为4,445.8 inds/m2 和1,707.2 inds/m2, 平均生物量分别为51.1 g/m2 和 94.6 g/m2。独立样本t-检验结果显示, 红树林生境和非红树林生境大型底栖动物平均栖息密度和平均生物量均存在显著差异。研究结果指示红树林生境对于寡毛类生存(如在高耐有机污染中能大量繁殖的沼蚓)有积极作用。但由于邻近的非红树林林生境的水淹时间更长, 一些具有移动能力的软体动物和甲壳动物能迁移到更适合生存的非红树林生境中去。其他底质因子如盐度和土壤中值粒径等也会影响大型底栖动物群落变化。     

Biological diversity and the community structure of organisms

Biological diversity and the complexity of the community structure of benthic animals in different bodies of water are evaluated using the Shannon index. The literature data on the communities in Lake Krasnoye (Karelian Isthmus, Leningrad Oblast), Shchuchy Bay of Lake Ladoga, Neva Bay, and the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland have been analyzed. The extrema (maxima and minima) and the inflection point of the curve of functions are determined with the help of derivatives. The rate of the secondary succession is evaluated for the first time by the example of benthic communities. It is shown that the community structure of bottom animals in the Shchuchy Bay ecosystem formed in the process of succession proves to be more complex than in Lake Krasnoye and the Neva Bay communities that have been formed for a long time. Communities of bottom animals are less complex in polluted waters of the top of the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland. It has taken 12 years to reach the maximum diversity of the bottom animal communities in Shchuchy Bay, 16 years in Lake Krasnoye, and 7–10 years in Neva Bay. It is supposed that, under favorable conditions in the waterbodies of a moderate climate and in the absence of heavy pollution or eutrophication, it takes 12–14 years on average to form the most complex community structure of bottom animals (3–4 bit/spec.). The structure of communities in polluted waters remains simple.     

The distribution,size, and age composition,and growth of Saxidomus purpurata (Sowerby, 1852) (Bivalvia: Veneridae) in Vostok Bay,the Sea of Japan

Patterns of the distribution, the size and age composition of local populations, as well as the growth of the large bivalve Saxidomus purpurata, which is intensely farmed and reared in a number of East Asian countries, were studied for the first time in Russian Far East waters. It was determined that in the Vostok Bay, which is a bay of the second order within the limits of the Peter the Great Bay, S. purpurata forms local populations with densities of up to 7.5 ± 2.7 ind./m² and a biomass up to 1070.0 ± 384.0 g/m² at a depth of 1–9 m on mixed bottom substrates of boulders, pebbles, gravel, coquina, and sand of varying degrees of silting. The size and age composition of clam populations varies depending on the local environment; the shell length of the largest specimen was 98.6 mm, the greatest age was 23 years. In the Vostok Bay, the bivalve grew more slowly than off the coast of Korea and China and reached a commercial size (a shell length of 50 mm) later, at an age of 5–7 years. The von Bertalanffy equation describing the growth of S. purpurata in the aggregate sample of individuals from the Vostok Bay, has the form: L _t = 100.1[1 ? e^{?0.1675(t ? 0.0504)}]. It is assumed that the boundary of the species range goes north from the Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan.     

Seasonal Dynamics of Soft Bottom Macrobenthic Communities of the Sublittoral in Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan

Seasonal dynamics of macrobenthos were studied at five stations located at depths of 10–60 min in the Far East State Marine Reserve (southern Peter the Great Bay) during 1984–1987. Sampling was conducted at stations once per season. Stable seasonal fluctuations of the population density and the biomass in basic taxonomic groups were found. As a rule, the quantitative parameters were augmented in spring and summer, and decreased in fall and winter. This was caused, first of all, by summer fluctuations of the number of small and short-lived species of polychaetes and bivalve molluscs. The amplitude of fluctuations decreased with increasing depth. Variation in the quantitative parameters was significant at the community level only at the most shallow-water stations. It was assumed that this phenomenon might be caused by the seasonal consumption of macrobenthos by bottom fish and by the periodicity of detritus supply to the bottom from the water column with a background of varying environmental temperature parameters and of mass settling of benthic larvae. The seasonal changes in parameters began and ceased earlier in 1986–1987 than 1984–1985, which was related to an appreciable decrease in water temperature in 1986. During the period of study, an increasing trend of parameters, apparently part of a long-term cycle, was recorded both for individual groups and for entire communities, and was the most appreciable at greater depths (47–60 m).     

Biotesting of water quality in Peter the Great Bay with the use of the microalga Dunaliella salina and embryos and larvae of the sea urchin Scaphechinus mirabilis

Comparative biotesting was performed using embryos and larvae of the sea urchin Scaphechinus mirabilis and the microalga Dunaliella salina. These two species were taken as test organisms for estimating water quality in areas of various anthropogenic loads. Seawater from Nakhodka and Vostok bays, as well as from the southwestern part of Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan) near the Tumen River mouth, was tested. Water from Vostok and Nakhodka bays had a harmful effect on embryonic and larval development of the sea urchin. The algal culture kept in the water of Vostok Bay was depressed throughout the experiment, while development of the alga in the water from Nakhodka Bay hardly differed from the control but was unstable. Water from the southwestern part of Peter the Great Bay did not have any significant harmful effect on both test organisms. Embryos and larvae of the sea urchin S. mirabilis were several orders more sensitive to salinity changes and content of toxic agents; they responded more readily to changes in water quality than D. salina cells. Correspondingly, embryos and larvae of the sea urchin S. mirabilis were found to be a preferable test organism for assessment of pollution in various marine environments.     

Coral communities in the northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin, south China Sea

The reefs and benthic communities of 15 islands in Ha Long Bay, listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site, have been studied using scuba. Two reef types have been distinguished: structured and unstructured reefs. The changes in the composition and structure of reef-building corals takes place in these reefs under conditions of heavy silting in the surrounding waters. Poritids that primarily form the reef carcass become dominant scleractinians. More than 250 species of macrobenthos are found; the greatest species diversity was recorded in the reefs of Bo Hung and Kong Do islands, which we recommend be organized into a national nature reserve.     

Quantitative investigations on macrobenthos communities of the southeastern Weddell Sea shelf based on multibox corer samples

Summary A total of 233 multibox corer samples from 36 stations along the southeastern Weddell Sea shelf and upper continental slope between Atka Bay (70°S) and Gould Bay (78° S), covering a depth range from 170 to 2,037 m, provided biomass and abundance data for analysis of faunal communities. Twenty-eight major taxa were distinguished. Based on these data, 3 different macrobenthos communities could be identified by means of cluster analysis. Hexactinellid sponges, polychaetes and echinoderms were most abundant. Biomass values have been found to be in the range of 94 mg up to 1.6 kg wet weight per sqm. According to TWINSPAN, the sampled stations can be divided into two groups each consisting of two major subgroups. Peracarid crustaceans, polychaetes and bivalves are commonly distributed in the area of investigation whereas others such as sponges, brachiopods, pantopods and asteroids are more confined to Kapp Norvegia and Halley Bay. Biomass values of these latter taxa off Kapp Norvegia were generally higher than in the Halley Bay area.Data presented here were collected during the European Polarstern Study (EPOS) sponsored by the European Science Foundation     

Stratigraphic record of U37K in Sanmen Bay: the effect of SST and EI Niño on life activity in macrobenthos communities

Sea surface temperature (SST) from 1916–2003 was estimated by using the index of U₃₇^K of organic compounds in Sanmen Bay (SMB) sediment. It fluctuated between 15.97°C and 18.00°C with an average of 17.03°C. The estimated SST was 3.52°C lower than the annual average temperature measured in the same year but was close to the temperature measured in fall. The research suggested that the climate events (EI Ni?o) on large scale in Sanmen Bay were affected by the climate, similar to that in the East Pacific Ocean (EPC). The change scale was also affected by geographical location and local climate such as monsoon. According to the chronological basis, the events in SMB corresponded to those in EPC, but the scale of variation is not so strong as that in EPC. By comparing the community, biomass, individual density and biodiversity of macrobenthos during EI Ni?o (between 2002 and 2003) and non-EI Ni?o (between 2005 and 2006) periods, it was indicated that certain macrobenthos communities in SMB responded to EI Ni?o events. During the EI Ni?o period, Taiwan warm current (TWC) is much stronger than that in normal years. The diversity of macrobenthos during 2002 and 2003 was relatively low owing to invasion of the warm current that caused salinity change. The macrobenthos and zooplankton in Sanmen Bay responded to EI Ni?o events significantly. The diversity of macrobenthos decreased significantly because TWC invaded into the shallow bay from the floor and thus changed the temperature and salinity in the bay. On the other hand, zooplankton species, biomass and abundance increased in the period of EI Ni?o since the invaded warm current brought abundant species of zooplankton.     

Macrobenthos of Accumulative Plains and Slopes of Ekspeditsii Bay (Pos'eta Bay,Sea of Japan)

The submarine accumulative plain of Ekspeditsii Bay is heterogeneous in terms of ground pattern and the composition and biomass of macrobenthos. The smallest values of the total biomass are characteristic of soft pelites (58.9 g/m²), siltstone pelites (55.9 g/m²), and pelites with an insignificant admixture of broken mollusk shells (108 g/m²). The greatest total biomass (649.2 g/m²) is registered around biogerms, in bottom areas composed of pelites with large fragments and entire valves of mollusk shells. On accumulative slopes of the bay, in the community of seagrasses, Zostera marina constitutes 90% of the biomass and macrofauna provides the remaining 10%. The values of the total biomass of macrobenthos of the accumulative plain and macroflora of the accumulative slopes of the bay are close to each other (about 12000 tons); however, both values are only 0.4 times as great as the biomass of macrobenthos on biogerms that occupy only 6.2% of the total bottom area in the bay.     

UK37沉积地层记录:三门湾海表温度(SST)和EI Ni(n)o现象及其对大型底栖动物生命活动的影响

应用U^K37估算三门湾（1916～2003年）表层海水温度,SST波动范围在15．97～18．00℃之间,年平均为17．03℃,此计算值比当年实测海水全年平均温度低3．52℃,与秋季海水实测温度相接近。研究显示出,三门湾的EINino事件在大尺度上与东太平洋一样,均受制于气候影响因素,但在变化尺度上又受到地理位置和地方性气候（季风）的影响,事件在形式和年代上相互对应,但其颤动幅度远不如东太平洋强烈。同时通过比较EINino期间（2003／2002）和非EINino期间（2006／2005）大型底栖生物的群落结构变动信号、生物量、栖息密度以及物种多样性等,研究显示出三门湾若干大型底栖生物对EINino事件产生响应迹象,若干大型底栖生物对EINino的响应主要是通过海洋环流的影响来体现生命和生态效应的,主要表现在改变了底栖生物种类数和多样性、以及生命活动及栖息密度分布模式。在EINino影响下,台湾暖流人侵势力加强,2003／2002年底栖生物群落种类数减少与海流人侵及盐度密切相关;通过与同海域浮游动物对比研究,三门湾海域浮游动物和底栖生物对EINino的生态响应均较大,前者可能与三门湾海域水域较浅,外海暖水从底部人侵改变水温和盐度,直接影响底栖生物的生态环境,致使种类数大大减少有关;而后者由于人侵暖水强度增大,携带大量暖水性浮游动物,呈现出在EINino时期浮游动物种类数、生物量和丰度有偏高趋势。     

Arenicolous mycelial fungi from the littoral of the Vostok Bay (Peter the Great Bay,the Sea of Japan)

The taxonomic composition of marine mycelial fungi was determined in the interstitial habitats of the Vostok Bay littoral (Peter the Great Bay, the Sea of Japan). A total of 39 species of ascomycetes and anamorphic fungi were detected and identified. The predominant species of the intertidal zone were Corollospora maritima, C. lacera, Carbosphaerella leptosphaerioides, Arenariomyces trifurcatus (Ascomycota), Alternaria alternata, Scolecobasidium arenarium, and Zalerion maritimum (anamorphic fungi). The complete list of species of obligately marine ascomycetes and anamorphic fungi from the interstitial habitats of the Vostok Bay littoral is presented for the first time     

亚龙湾珊瑚礁大型礁栖生物的群落结构及生态警示

鱼类和大型底栖生物等礁栖生物是珊瑚礁生态系统的重要组成部分,其群落信息是全面评价珊瑚礁生态系统健康状况的必要基础数据.基于录像样带法,分析了2018年12月底海南省三亚市亚龙湾珊瑚礁区17个站位礁栖鱼类和大型底栖生物的群落结构、数量分布及相似性,揭示了其中的生态警示,并提出相应的监管建议,旨在保护和恢复亚龙湾的珊瑚礁....     

Fauna of Sipunculans (Sipuncula) of Vostok Bay, Sea of Japan

Fauna and systematics of sipunculans inhabiting Vostok Bay, Sea of Japan, are discussed. A revision of the local species of sipunculans is performed for the first time. On the basis of study of outer and inner morphology, some species are reduced to synonyms. Extended diagnoses are proposed for all registered species. An identification key is presented for the sipunculans of Vostok Bay.