高摄食压力下球形棕囊藻凝聚体的形成

棕囊藻包含囊体和游离单细胞两种生活史阶段。囊体是棕囊藻藻华爆发时的优势形态,藻华衰退时囊体能够形成凝聚体,但是棕囊藻游离单细胞的凝聚体极少被发现。本次研究将球形棕囊藻单细胞和高密度的海洋弯曲甲藻共同培养,使球形棕囊藻的生长承受高摄食压力,通过观察摄食者和棕囊藻的生长、凝聚体的数量和形态,阐明单细胞凝聚体的形成以及与摄食压力的关系。当球形棕囊藻进入衰退期时,高摄食压力引发游离单细胞聚合形成凝聚体,无摄食压力情况下,单细胞不形成凝聚体。凝聚体由无鞭毛细胞组成,细胞排列紧密,近似球体。凝聚体形成伊始,凝聚体内部可见凝胶状物质将细胞互相粘结,并且粘附了纤维等物质。凝聚体的体积和粘附的细胞数量逐渐提高,细胞排列愈加紧密,凝聚体内部形态和结构不易分辨。凝聚体的形成有效保护了部分单细胞免受摄食压力的影响,减少了摄食死亡率。凝聚体的形成是球形棕囊藻面临高摄食压力时采取的主动的防御策略。球形棕囊藻能够频繁引发大规模藻华的原因可能在于其在生长的各个阶段中均具有优越的竞争策略。     

不同磷条件对安氏伪镖水蚤的生长及摄食的影响

实验研究了海洋浮游动物桡足类安氏伪镖水蚤(Pseudodiaptomus annandalei)在分别喂食高磷和低磷扁藻(Platymonas subcordiformis)时的个体生长发育和摄食的情况。低磷扁藻(C/P=197或375,摩尔比)喂食安氏伪镖水蚤,安氏伪镖水蚤生长速率分别为g=(0.0437±0.0030)/d和g=(0.0339±0.0049)/d,高磷扁藻(C/P=78,摩尔比),安氏伪镖水蚤的生长速率为g=(0.1040±0.0395)/d。另外,从无节幼体到桡足幼体的发育所需的时间延长了1.5—2倍。就蚤体磷含量而言,在高磷条件下,个体的磷含量为干重的0.30%—0.33%,处于低磷喂养条件下的个体磷含量仅为0.08%—0.28%。结合生长速率和蚤体磷含量分析表明二者呈显著相关的线性关系。最后,在低磷条件下,无节幼体、桡足幼体和成体三个生长阶段的安氏伪镖水蚤个体的摄食率分别为150—370、695—703、648—733 cells/(ind?h),明显低于高磷条件下的790、720、728 cells/(ind?h)。据此得到结论:在磷限制条件下培养的饵料藻导致其营养价值发生了变化(C/P和C/N比值),对安氏伪镖水蚤的生长发育以及摄食率产生了显著负面影响,表明海洋桡足类安氏伪镖水蚤亦受到磷的限制。     

球形棕囊藻囊体形成中光照、营养盐和共存硅藻的影响

在不同光照和营养盐结构条件下半连续培养球形棕囊藻和3种硅藻,研究光照、营养盐限制和硅藻竞争对球形棕囊藻囊体形成的影响。结果表明:高光照显著促进了藻类的生长,球形棕囊藻在低光环境下几乎不形成囊体。球形棕囊藻和3种硅藻对光限制和P限制更加敏感,而在N限制环境中均具有相对较高的生物量。粒径较小的球形棕囊藻游离单细胞和中肋骨条藻在营养盐和光限制条件下比粒径较大的细胞具有更强的竞争能力。硝酸盐是球形棕囊藻囊体形成的营养基础,但是营养盐结构并未改变棕囊藻囊体形态。具有两种生活史状态有利于球形棕囊藻度过资源限制的环境,从而有利于球形棕囊藻在硅藻藻华之后再次形成藻华。     

DDT对火腿伪镖水蚤（Pseudodiaptomus poplesia）急性和慢性毒性效应

为探讨内分泌干扰物DDT对海洋桡足类生物所产生的生物效应,研究了DDT对火腿伪镖水蚤(Pseudodiaptomus poplesia)的急性毒性作用及其在3.5、35、350ng.L-1浓度下对火腿伪镖水蚤变态率、存活率、繁殖力、性别比和体长的影响。结果表明:DDT对火腿伪镖水蚤48hLC50和96hLC50分别为6.75和3.53μg.L-1;各浓度DDT均引起火腿伪镖水蚤幼体变态率的降低;350ng.L-1DDT条件下,火腿伪镖水蚤的存活率、产卵率和抱卵雌体比率均显著降低;各浓度DDT对火腿伪镖水蚤的性别比和体长均未造成显著影响。依据本研究结果,结合目前所报道的近岸水体有机氯农药的污染状况,可以推断,DDT对近海桡足类生物造成的生态风险较高。     

球形棕囊藻的生长、囊体形态以及囊体细胞的分布

球形棕囊藻(Phaeocystis globosa)是中国近海海区常见有害藻华原因种, 其异型生活史中包含单细胞和球形囊体两种形态。游离单细胞直径一般为几微米, 囊体最大直径可达3 cm, 巨大的体积可能导致囊体具有特殊的结构和细胞分布。以球形棕囊藻汕头株为研究对象, 测定了囊体直径、囊体细胞丰度和游离单细胞丰度, 并探讨球形棕囊藻囊体形态与细胞分布的关系。研究结果表明, 囊体形态在其异型生活史中占优势, 囊体对生物量的贡献介于38%–95%之间, 在对数生长期的后期和稳定期, 囊体细胞与单细胞相比占绝对优势。囊体细胞数量与囊体直径的对数呈线性相关, 回归线斜率为1.34, 该值显著低于世界海区其它球形棕囊藻株系的研究结果, 表明汕头株单位囊体表面上分布的细胞数更少。中国海区的球形棕囊藻囊体结构和细胞分布与其它株系不同, 在爆发球形棕囊藻的海区, 巨大的囊体能够有效地抵御摄食, 可能对区域海洋食物链结构和功能有重要影响。     

游离单细胞和囊体细胞在球形棕囊藻囊体形成中的作用

球形棕囊藻是我国沿海常见有害藻华物种, 游离单细胞和囊体细胞是其异型生活史中主要的细胞形态。该研究通过分离游离单细胞和囊体细胞分别引发囊体的再次形成, 以阐明两种类型细胞在球形棕囊藻生活史转化过程中的作用。游离单细胞可诱导形成更高的生物量和更多的囊体, 但是两者诱导产生的囊体体积和囊体细胞数量并无显著性差异。游离单细胞诱导产生的囊体在单位表面积上的细胞密度更高, 排列更加紧密, 因此结构更加紧致。同棕囊藻藻华发生时以囊体为优势形态不同, 该研究发现只有不到15%的细胞以囊体细胞的形态存在。游离单细胞和囊体细胞均可引发囊体形成, 有利于球形棕囊藻藻华的形成以及规模的维持。     

涠洲岛海域球形棕囊藻藻华过程中营养盐及浮游植物群落组成分析

球形棕囊藻(Phaeocystis globosa)是近年来北部湾常见的有害藻华原因种,涠洲岛海域作为广西沿海藻华的高发区之一,目前仍缺乏关于该海域球形棕囊藻藻华过程的相关研究。为探究涠洲岛海域球形棕囊藻藻华过程中营养盐的状况及藻华的发生对浮游植物群落组成的影响,对2017年3月下旬涠洲岛周边发生的球形棕囊藻藻华区域进行取样调查。结果表明,藻华期间水体中溶解有机磷含量与细胞及囊体密度呈显著正相关。本次藻华主要受水体中溶解态无机氮含量影响,多个调查站点的无机氮/无机磷(DIN/DIP)<10,且硅酸盐/无机氮(SiO₃^2–/DIN)>1,表明这些站点存在氮限制现象,而氮限制可能是本次藻华消亡的主要因素。调查区域共鉴定出浮游植物4门58种,球形棕囊藻细胞密度最高可达1.04×10⁸ cells/L,占浮游植物总细胞密度的98.28%。球形棕囊藻细胞密度与物种多样性指数存在显著的负相关关系。在营养缺乏条件下,有利于球形棕囊藻成囊的链状硅藻种类具有相对较大的细胞密度。     

海水实验围隔中桡足类对海洋原甲藻摄食的研究

现场研究了发生严重海洋原甲藻（Ｐｒｏｒｏｃｅｎｔｒｕｍｍｉｃａｎｓ）水华后海水实验围隔中桡足类火腿许水蚤（Ｓｃｈｍａｃｋｅｒｉａｐｏｐｌｅｓｉａ）和长腹剑水蚤（Ｏｉｔｈｏｎａｓｐ．）的摄食强度．结果表明,体长在１２５ｍｍ以上的火腿许水蚤成体及其部分桡足幼体对海洋原甲藻的摄食率平均为１２１４０ｃｅｌｓ·ｉｎｄ－１·ｄ－１;体长不到１２５ｍｍ的部分火腿许水蚤桡足幼体和长腹剑水蚤成体及其桡足幼体的摄食率仅为１１３３ｃｅｌｓ·ｉｎｄ－１·ｄ－１．实验期间围隔中海洋原甲藻的浓度为８５０～１６１７０ｃｅｌｓ·ｍｌ－１,该藻的种群增长率为－０．００２～０．１５０．当海洋原甲藻细胞处于生长期时,桡足类的摄食不足以抑制该藻种群的增长,因此围隔中桡足类不可能阻止海洋原甲藻水华发生或使水华发生后迅速消退     

球状棕囊藻的形态结构、生活史及生态意义研究进展

球状棕囊藻生活史独特,在两种完全不同的生活状态--游离单细胞和粘液质的囊体之间相互转换.生活史中共出现4 种不同类型的单细胞,存在有性和无性两种生殖方式.不同的细胞能够适应不同的环境,占据不同的生态位,有利于棕囊藻细胞的生长.球状棕囊藻的囊体直径最大可达几个厘米,外被坚韧、紧密并且具有弹性,为内部的单细胞提供了一个良好的栖息和保护场所,并且储存着能量可供细胞在营养盐限制条件下继续生长.由于囊体粒径较大,浮游动物难以摄食,并且有效的抵御了细菌和病毒的侵蚀,从而降低了棕囊藻的死亡率.与其它浮游植物相比,球状棕囊藻的竞争策略更加优越,提高了球状棕囊藻在海洋生态系统中的竞争能力.     

两种水华藻——球形棕囊藻和铜绿微囊藻的脂肪酸组成特征与水华形成机制

浮游植物所含的不饱和脂肪酸是测定其作为食物质量的指标,并在浮游植物向浮游动物及其它动物能量转化过程中起着关键的作用,必需不饱和脂肪酸的缺乏有利于水华的形成。球形棕囊藻(Phaeocystis globosa)和铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)分别是常见的海洋和淡水水华藻类,该文分析了它们在不同生长期的脂肪酸组成,探讨了这两种藻类的脂肪酸组成特征。球形棕囊藻和铜绿微囊藻的脂肪酸碳链长为14~20个碳原子,脂肪酸种类组成都比较简单,以饱和脂肪酸为主,未检测到二十碳五烯酸(Eicosapentaenoic acid,EPA)和二十二碳六烯酸 (Docosahexaenoic acid,DHA)等动物的必需脂肪酸。球形棕囊藻的总脂肪酸含量在247.294~735.44 μg·g^-1干重之间,在对数期和延滞期含量最高的脂肪酸分别是C14:0和C16:0;而两株铜绿微囊藻的总脂肪酸在1 405.095~6 087.617μg·g^-1干重之间,以C16:0含量最高。两株铜绿微囊藻的脂肪酸含量在对数期和延滞期差异明显(p<0.05),但球形棕囊藻的脂肪酸含量在不同生长期差别不大。由于缺乏必需脂肪酸EPA和DHA,球形棕囊藻和铜绿微囊藻不能为高营养级的生物提供必需的不饱和脂肪酸,不是浮游动物等生物的良好食物。因此球形棕囊藻和铜绿微囊藻作为浮游动物的食物质量较低,浮游动物对它们的捕食压力也较小,可能是这两种藻容易暴发水华的重要原因。     

Selective grazing of Temora longicornis in different stages of a Phaeocystis globosa bloom—a mesocosm study

Selective grazing of a calanoid copepod Temora longicornis was measured during different stages of a Phaeocystis globosa bloom, in order to reveal (1) if T. longicornis feeds on single cells and/or colonies of P. globosa in the presence of alternative food sources, (2) if copepod food selection changes during the initiation, maintenance, collapse and decay of a P. globosa bloom and (3) if P. globosa dominated food assemblage provides a good diet for copepod egg production. Our results show low but constant feeding on small colonies of P. globosa, irrespective of the type or concentration of alternative food sources. In contrast, feeding on single cells was never significant, and the total contribution of P. globosa to carbon ingestion of T. longicornis was minor. T. longicornis fed most actively on the decaying colonies, whereas during the peak of the bloom copepods selected against P. globosa. Mostly, T. longicornis fed unselectively on different food particles: before the bloom, the major part of the diet consisted of diatoms, whereas during and after the bloom copepod diet was dominated by dinoflagellates and ciliates. Egg production was highest during the decay of the bloom, coinciding with highest proportional ingestion of heterotrophic organisms, but was not seriously reduced even during the peak of the bloom. We conclude that P. globosa blooms should not threaten survival of copepod populations, but the population recruitment may depend on the type (and concentration) of the dominant heterotrophs present during the blooms. Due to relatively unselective grazing, the impact of T. longicornis to the initiation of a Phaeocystis bloom is considered small, although grazing on decaying colonies may contribute to the faster termination of a bloom.     

Living in a Phaeocystis colony: a way to be a successful algal species

Evidence is provided showing that in two species of Phaeocystis (P. globosa and P. pouchetii) the colonial cells possess a much higher growth rate than the single cells when grown under identical conditions. Based on the DNA-cell-cycle method gross growth rate of colony cells exceeded those of co-occurring single cells by a factor 1.5 up to 3.8. The dominance of colonies in blooms of Phaeocystis can therefore be primarily due to their significantly high growth rate allowing a rapid bloom formation.Both Phaeocystis species showed ultradian growth but differed in timing of the initiation of the second DNA replication phase. In both species the first DNA-replication period started at the end of the (local) light period and was completed in the early dark period. In P. globosa this was immediately followed by the second DNA-replication period (first half of the dark period). In P. pouchetii this process was delayed by ca. 12 h until the middle of the light period (local noon).Flow cytometric analysis of the cell size and chlorophyll fluorescence showed little variation in colony and single cells of P. pouchetii. In contrast, colonies of P. globosa showed often the presence of two cell morphs, co-occurring in the same colony. The size of both morphs was identical but they differed in chlorophyll fluorescence up to a factor 4. In general the high chlorophyll cell morph dominated (>70% of the total colony cells). Both colony cell morphs were observed in cultures, mesocosms differing in N/P ratio but also in the field.     

Nitric oxide mediates oxylipin production and grazing defense in diatoms

Diatom blooms are important features of productive marine ecosystems and are known to support higher trophic levels. However, when stressed or wounded, diatoms can produce oxylipin molecules known to inhibit the reproduction and development of copepods and decrease microzooplankton growth rates. Using oxylipin chemical treatments, lipidomic analysis and functional genomic approaches, we provide evidence that nitric oxide (NO) and oxylipin signalling pathways in diatoms respond to protist grazers, resulting in increased defence fitness and survival. Exposure of the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum to the dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina resulted in NO production by P. tricornutum and pronounced change in its dissolved oxylipin profile. Experimentally elevating levels of NO also resulted in increased oxylipin production, and lower overall grazing rates. Furthermore, O. marina preferentially grazed on P. tricornutum prey with lower levels of NO, suggesting that this molecule and its effect on oxylipin pathways play a key role in prey selection. Exposure of O. marina grazing on P. tricornutum to exogenous oxylipins also decreased grazing rates, which is consistent with a grazing deterrence role for these molecules. These results suggest that NO and oxylipin production help to structure diatom communities, in part by modulating interactions with microzooplankton predators.     

Trophic interactions between zooplankton andPhaeocystis cf.globosa

Mesozooplankton grazing onPhaeocystis cf.globosa was investigated by laboratory and field studies. Tests on 18 different species by means of laboratory incubation experiments, carried out at the Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, revealed thatPhaeocystis was ingested by 5 meroplanktonic and 6 holoplanktonic species; filtering and ingestion rates of the latter were determined. Among copepods, the highest feeding rates were found forCalanus helgolandicus andTemora longicornis. Copepods fed on all size-classes ofPhaeocystis offered (generally 4–500 μm equivalent spherical diameter [ESD]), but they preferred the colonies. FemaleC. helgolandicus and femaleT. longicornis preferably fed on larger colonies (ESD>200 μm and ESD>100 μm, respectively. However, a field study, carried out in the Marsdiep (Dutch Wadden Sea) showed phytoplankton grazing by the dominant copepodTemora longicornis to be negligible during thePhaeocystis spring bloom.T. longicornis gut fluorescence was inversely related toPhaeocystis dominance. The hypothesis has been put forward thatT. longicornis preferentially feeds on microzooplankton and by this may enhance rather than depressPhaeocystis blooms. Results from laboratory incubation experiments, including three trophic levels —Phaeocystis cf.globosa (algae),Strombidinopsis sp. (ciliate) andTemora longicornis (copepod) — support this hypothesis.     

Karlotoxin mediates grazing by Oxyrrhis marina on strains of Karlodinium veneficum

Karlodinium veneficum is a common member of temperate, coastal phytoplankton assemblages that occasionally forms blooms associated with fish kills. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the cytotoxic and ichthyotoxic compounds produced by K. veneficum, karlotoxins, can have anti-grazing properties against the heterotrophic dinoflagellate, Oxyrrhis marina. The sterol composition of O. marina (>80% cholesterol) renders it sensitive to karlotoxin, and does not vary substantially when fed different algal diets even for prey that are resistant to karlotoxin. At in situ bloom concentrations (10⁴–10⁵ K. veneficum ml⁻¹), grazing rates (cells ingested per Oxyrrhis h⁻¹) on toxic K. veneficum strain CCMP 2064 were 55% that observed on the non-toxic K. veneficum strain MD5. At lower prey concentrations typical of in situ non-bloom levels (<10³ cells ml⁻¹), grazing rates (cells ingested per Oxyrrhis h⁻¹) on toxic K. veneficum strain CCMP 2064 were 70–80% of rates on non-toxic strain MD5. Growth of O. marina was significantly suppressed when fed the toxic strain of K. veneficum. Experiments with mixed prey cultures, where non-toxic strain MD5 was fluorescently stained, showed that the presence of toxic strain CCMP 2064 inhibited grazing of O. marina on the co-occurring non-toxic strain MD5. Exogenous addition of a sub-lethal dose (100 ng ml⁻¹) of purified karlotoxin inhibited grazing of O. marina by approximately 50% on the non-toxic K. veneficum strain MD5 or the cryptophyte S. major. These results identify karlotoxin as an anti-grazing compound for those grazers with appropriate sterol composition (i.e., desmethyl sterols). This strategy is likely to be an important mechanism whereby growth of K. veneficum is uncoupled from losses due to grazing, allowing it to form ichthyotoxic blooms in situ.     

Ingestion of the dinoflagellate, Pfiesteria piscicida, by the calanoid copepod, Acartia tonsa

The dinoflagellate, Pfiesteria piscicida, can form harmful algal blooms in estuarine environments. The dominant copepod species usually found in these waters is Acartia tonsa. We tested the ability of A. tonsa to graze the non-toxic zoospore stage of P. piscicida and thus serve as a potential biological control of blooms of this algal species. A. tonsa grazed the non-toxic zoospore stages of both a non-inducible P. piscicida strain (FDEPMDR23) and a potentially toxic strain (Tox-B101156) at approximately equal rates. Ingestion of P. piscicida increased with cell concentration and exhibited a saturated feeding response. Both the maximum number of cells ingested (I_max) and the slope of the ingestion curve (α) of A. tonsa feeding on P. piscicida were comparable to these ingestion parameters for A. tonsa fed similar-sized phytoplankton and protozoan species. When these laboratory ingestion rates were combined with abundance estimates of A. tonsa from the Pocomoke Estuary and Chesapeake Bay, we found that significant grazing control of the non-toxic zoospore stage of P. piscicida by A. tonsa would only occur at high copepod abundances (>10 copepods L⁻¹). We conclude that under most in situ conditions the potential biological control of blooms of P. piscicida is exerted by microzooplankton grazers. However, in the less saline portions of estuaries where maximum concentrations of copepods often occur with low abundances of microzooplankton, copepod grazing coefficients can be similar to the growth rates of P. piscicida.     

The first record of two demersal calanoid copepods,Pseudodiaptomus poplesia and P. nihonkaiensis in Korea,with remarks on morphology of the genital area

The demersal calanoid copepods Pseudodiaptomus nihonkaiensis Hirakawa, 1983 and P. poplesia (Shen, 1955) are redescribed from Korean waters. Using scanning electron microscopy, we examine the morphology of the female genital systems of four species of Pseudodiaptomus (P. inopinus, P. marinus, P. nihonkaiensis and P. poplesia), revealing interspecific differences. The zoogeography of these four species is discussed.     

The contribution of single and colonial cells of Phaeocystis pouchetii to spring and summer blooms in the north-eastern North Atlantic

Studies of the phytoplankton ecology in different localities in north-Norwegian fjords, the White Sea and the Barents Sea were carried out in spring and early summer to investigate the contribution of single and colonial stages of Phaeocystis pouchetii to phytoplankton abundance. Three different types of flagellated and four colonial cells were observed in all localities. P. pouchetii was rare under the ice of the Barents and White Seas, but their abundance increased rapidly during ice retreat. Single cell C dominated over colonial cell C, often by 50 times or more. The highest share of colonial cells was encountered in April in northern Norwegian fjords, in May in the Barents Sea and in May–June in the White Sea. At times the single cell dominated the total P. pouchetii biomass in Balsfjord (April 1999, 2001) with hardly any colonies present. In the White Sea colonies of P. pouchetii were less abundant than in the other regions. Cell carbon of P. pouchetii colonies appears never to be as dominating in the north-eastern North Atlantic as P. globosa blooms in coastal regions such as the southern North Sea. However, the lobal matrix of P. pouchetii colonies appears to be less solid than that of P. globosa and partly dissolution of the colony matrix during handling and storage of fixes samples induces uncertainty about the absolute numbers of P. pouchetii colonial cell counts. Despite of that, single cells of P. pouchetii seem to dominate significantly over colonial cell biomass at most sites and during some years and in some regions colonial cells seem rare. We speculate that top-down regulation of Phaeocystis spp. blooms possibly determines the ratio between single and colonial cells.