Some reflections about the structure of the pelagic zone of the brackish Lake Grevelingen (SW-Netherlands)

Summary The seasonal succession of the plankton in the marine brackish Lake Grevelingen, a closed sea arm in the S.W.-Netherlands, comprises the initial stagessensu Margalef and is characterized by predominantly small phytoplankton (flagellates, diatoms) and zooplankton (rotifers, tintinnids, copepods), maintaining relatively high levels of production from early spring (February) to late summer (September). The structure of the plankton in the course of seasonal succession is in agreement with the concepts of Margalef.Simplification of the pelagic food web in Lake Grevelingen has occurred as a consequence of the elimination of the tides. Some examples are given in relation to the composition of the phyto- and zooplankton and of its significance. The occurrence of rotifer-dominated zooplankton blooms in early spring is emphasized.Closed sea arms such as Lake Grevelingen, showing the same morphometry as the previous tidal estuary, contain extended shallow areas which influence strongly the pelagic zone. The abundance in the zooplankton of larval stages of several littoral-benthic species demonstrate these influences clearly. The shallows of the lake, occupied by eelgrass beds (Zostera marina) in summer, influence the pelagic zone in several ways: large quantities of detritus are given off after the growing season, sheltered habitats are supplied for small pelagic animals, and eelgrass leaves represent a substrate for epifauna species.Contribution no. 168 of the Delta Institute for Hydrobiological Research.     

Marine pelagic rotifers and tintinnids - important trophic links in the spring plankton community of the Gullmar Fjord, Sweden

During the winter and spring of 1981, the dynamics of a marinepelagic rotifer, Synchaeta vorax Rousselet and tintinnids ofthe genus Tintinnopsis, were studied in the Gullmar Fjord onthe Swedish west coast. Although present in February and March,it was not until early April when the surface water temperatureexceeded 6?C that the rotifer population started to grow rapidly.Thereafter, the population increased exponentially for 6 weeks.Estimates of consumption of phytoplankton by rotifers and tintinnidsin their most dynamic phase approximated to that of the phyto-planktonproduction. Lack of data on the amount of detritus availableand the number of young rotifers passing the 90 µm netare however obvious limitations in such calculations. Nevertheless,the results indicate that the tintinnids and the rotifers arehighly important components in the area's spring plankton community.Through high turnover rates, they are able to utilize effectivelythe spring phytoplankton bloom and thus serve as a link betweenthe primary and the larger secondary producers.     

The biogeography of marine plankton traits

Changes in marine plankton communities driven by environmental variability impact the marine food web and global biogeochemical cycles of carbon and other elements. To predict and assess these community shifts and their consequences, ecologists are increasingly investigating how the functional traits of plankton determine their relative fitness along environmental and biological gradients. Laboratory, field and modelling studies are adopting this trait‐based approach to map the biogeography of plankton traits that underlies variations in plankton communities. Here, we review progress towards understanding the regulatory roles of several key plankton functional traits, including cell size, N₂‐fixation and mixotrophy among phytoplankton, and body size, ontogeny and feeding behaviour for zooplankton. The trait biogeographical approach sheds light on what structures plankton communities in the current ocean, as well as under climate change scenarios, and also allows for finer resolution of community function because community trait composition determines the rates of significant processes, including carbon export. Although understanding of trait biogeography is growing, uncertainties remain that stem, in part, from the paucity of observations describing plankton functional traits. Thus, in addition to recommending widespread adoption of the trait‐based approach, we advocate for enhanced collection, standardisation and dissemination of plankton functional trait data.     

Production of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis for aquaculture in Kuwait

Macrophytes, plankton samples, salinity and depth data were collected from wetlands in October 1981. Species diversity and distributions are recorded and relationships drawn between macrophytes and plankton occurrence. An examination of the data of Geddes et al. (1981) enables comparisons of species composition in a similar range of Western Australian lakes in 1978 at a different stage in the seasonal cycle. Comparison with the biota of salt lakes in Australia's eastern states and elsewhere lead to biogeographical speculations for the macrophytes and for some of the planktonic species.     

Redescription of Antetintinnidium mucicola (Claparède and Lachmann, 1858) nov. gen., nov. comb. (Alveolata,Ciliophora, Tintinnina)

Tintinnid ciliates have traditionally been described and classified exclusively based on their lorica features. Although information on the cell characters is urgently needed for a natural classification, more molecular than cytological data has been accumulated over recent years. Apparently, the tintinnids developed in the marine environment and entered freshwater several times independently. Typical freshwater tintinnids belong to the genera Tintinnidium and Membranicola. The species are comparatively well‐known regarding their morphology and characterised by two unusual de novo originating ciliary rows, the ventral organelles. In contrast, the cell features in the marine/brackish Tintinnidium species, specifically their somatic ciliary patterns, are insufficiently known or not known at all. Therefore, the morphology of a common marine/brackish representative, Tintinnidium mucicola, is redescribed based on live observation and protargol‐stained material. Furthermore, biogeographical and autecological data of the species are compiled from literature and own records. The phylogenetic relationships of T. mucicola are inferred and the diversity of the family Tintinnidiidae is assessed from 18S rDNA sequences. The study shows that T. mucicola is not only molecularly distinct, but also characterised by many plesiomorphic features, for instance, it does not possess a verifiable homologue to the ventral organelles. Hence, a new genus, Antetintinnidium nov. gen., is established for T. mucicola. The new insights into the diversity of Tintinnidiidae shed light on the early evolution of tintinnids and might provide clues on their adaptions to freshwater.     

Patterns of sarcodine feeding in epipelagic oceanic plankton

The range of in situ prey composition was determined in marineplanktonic acantharia, foraminifera and radiolana collectedby divers, and quantitatively compared with the prey available,as determined by surface plankton hauls on cruises in the FloridaCurrent, Gulf Stream and Sargasso Sea. A relatively large percentageof the sarcodines (60% of acantharia, 48% of foraminifera and46% of radiolana) had no detectable prey Of those which hadfed on identifiable prey, there was considerable overlap betweensarcodine species m the types of prey captured. Nevertheless,some partitioning of food resources was evident Foraminiferaconsumed greater numbers of diatoms and copepods than otherprey types, radiolana consumed more tintinnids and mollusc larvae,and acantharia consumed mostly tintinnids. Copepods and theirnauplii dominated the biomass consumed for all three groups,though mollusc larvae were significant for both acantharia andradiolana. The results of parameteric univariate statisticalanalyses earned out on each major predator group and multivariateanalysis on a species-by-speaes basis confirmed that there wasevidence for some partitioning of prey resources among the majorsarcodine predators. The partitioning appeared to follow primarilymorphological rather than taxonomic criteria, however, and mayhave been at least partially a mechanical effect.     

Enhanced abundance of tintinnids under elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> level from coastal Bay of Bengal

The role of microzooplankton (MZP) in the pelagic trophodynamics is highly significant, but the responses of marine MZP to increasing CO₂ levels are rather poorly understood. Hence the present study was undertaken to understand the responses of marine plankton to increasing CO₂ concentrations. Natural water samples from the coastal Bay of Bengal were incubated under the ambient condition and high CO₂ levels (703–711 μatm) for 5 days in May and June 2010. A significant negative correlation was obtained between phytoplankton and MZP abundance which indicated that phytoplankton community structure can considerably be controlled by MZP in this region. The average relative abundances of tintinnids under elevated CO₂ levels were found to be significantly higher (68.65 ± 5.63% in May; 85.46 ± 9.56% in June) than observed in the ambient condition (35.68 ± 6.83% in May; 79 ± 5.36% in June). The observed dominance of small chain forming diatom species probably played a crucial role as they can be potentially grazed by tintinnids. This fact was strengthened by the observed high negative correlations between the relative abundance of major phytoplankton and tintinnids. Moreover, particulate organic carbon and total bacterial counts were also enhanced under elevated CO₂ level and can serve as additional food source for ciliates. The observed responses of tintinnids to increasing CO₂ might have multiple impacts on the energy transfer, nutrient and carbon cycling in the coastal water. The duration of the present study was relatively short and therefore further investigation on longer time scale needs to be done and might give us a better insight about phytoplankton and MZP species succession under elevated CO₂ level.     

Feeding and gut contents in Cephalodiscus nigrescens (Hemichordata, Pterobranchia) from the Weddell Sea

The gut of the pterobranch hemichordate Cephalodiscus nigrescens contains plankton of sizes from less than 1 μm to over 100 μm in diameter. Some of the smaller plankton are clumped together in spherical bolus that is mucus-bound. Most plankton types known from the habitat are respresnted amongst the gut contents.     

A possible relationship between chitinozoa and tintinnids

The biological affinity of the extinct microfossil order chitinozoa has been the source of much discussion in the fifty years since they were first discovered. Within this period these flask-shaped, organic-walled organisms have been variously attributed to rhizopods, flagellates, tintinnids, chrysomonads, metazoan eggs, dinoflagellates, and fungi. Most of these suggested relationships were made before it was recognised that chitinozoans were encapsulated and must therefore be resting cysts or eggs and not active individuals.There are no living organisms which combine all the characteristics of the chitinozoa. Of all the possibilities, a grouping of flask-shaped cysts which have been found in present-day marine plankton and sediment comes closest to characterising the morphology of chitinozoa. This grouping of flask-shaped cysts includes forms which have been found within tintinnid loricae. Another modern cyst type Pacillina arctica, which is believed to be a ciliate cyst, comes close to replicating the morphology of the chitinozoan genus Hoegisphaera. This paper discusses the structure of tintinnid, other flask-shaped cysts and Pacillina arctica in relation to chitinozoan morphology, drawing attention to similarities and differences. The occurrence and distribution of these cyst forms in present-day plankton is also described and interpreted.     

Tintinnid agglutination of coccoliths: A selective or random process?

This study suggests that tintinnids are not strongly selective when agglutinating coccoliths from their environment. If selectivity does occur it may be due to the possibility that tintinnids exclude, for their loricae building, coccoliths above a certain size limit.     

Distribution of tintinnid species from 42° N to 43° S through the Indian Ocean

Taking advantage of the transfer of the Italian R/V “Italica” from Italy to New Zealand for the Italian Research Expedition in the Antarctic, surface sampling of plankton was carried out from 42°N to 43°S from 14 November to 16 December 2001. Collaboration between several Italian research groups resulted in the Mediterranean, Indian and Pacific Ocean Transect (MIPOT), aimed to merge oceanographic measurements with remotely sensed data and to study latitudinal changes in plankton communities. We present preliminary results on the tintinnids (abundance and species composition) along the MIPOT1 transect. Tintinnid distributions and food vacuole contents are discussed in relation to chlorophyll concentrations and contribution of phytoplankton size classes. Generally, chlorophyll concentrations were well below 0.5 mg m^?3 and tintinnid numbers were only a few tens per liter. Eighty-six tintinnid species belonging to 27 genera were recorded. Highest diversity and number of tintinnid species occurred in the warm-water regions, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Tropic of Capricorn. Shannon diversity index ranged from 1.0 (Tasman Sea) up to 2.9 (tropical Indian Ocean). Each of the oceanic provinces showed a well defined tintinnid assemblage, a tintinnid ‘fingerprint’ characterizing each area. Data are compared to previous records for the different areas and the persistence in time of typical tintinnid species is discussed.     

The partitioning of Africa: statistically defined biogeographical regions in sub‐Saharan Africa

Aim To test whether it is possible to establish a common biogeographical regionalization for plants and vertebrates in sub‐Saharan Africa (the Afrotropical Region), using objective multivariate methods. Location Sub‐Saharan Africa (Afrotropical Region). Methods We used 1° grid cell resolution databases for birds, mammals, amphibians and snakes (4142 vertebrate species) and c. 13% of the plants (5881 species) from the Afrotropical Region. These databases were analysed using cluster analysis techniques to define biogeographical regions. A β(sim) dissimilarity matrix was subjected to a hierarchical classification using the unweighted pair‐group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA). The five group‐specific biogeographical regionalizations were compared against a regionalization developed from a combined database, and a regionalization that is maximally congruent with the five group‐specific datasets was determined using a consensus classification. The regionalizations were interpreted against measures of spatial turnover in richness and composition for the five datasets as well as the combined dataset. Results We demonstrate the existence of seven well‐defined and consistent biogeographical regions in sub‐Saharan Africa. These regionalizations are statistically defined and robust between groups, with minor taxon‐specific biogeographical variation. The proposed biogeographical regions are: Congolian, Zambezian, Southern African, Sudanian, Somalian, Ethiopian and Saharan. East Africa, the West African coast, and the transitions between the Congolian, Sudanian and Zambezian regions are unassigned. The Cape area in South Africa, Afromontane areas and the coastal region of East Africa do not emerge as distinct regions but are characterized by high neighbourhood heterogeneity, rapid turnover of species and high levels of narrow endemism. Main conclusions Species distribution data and modern cluster analysis techniques can be used to define biogeographical regions in Africa that reflect the patterns found in both vertebrates and plants. The consensus of the regionalizations between different taxonomic groups is high. These regions are broadly similar to those proposed using expert opinion approaches. Some previously proposed transitional zones are not recognized in this classification.     

Boreal Tintinnid Assemblage in the Northwest Pacific and Its Connection with the Japan Sea in Summer 2014

Tintinnids are planktonic ciliates that play an important role in marine ecosystem. According to their distribution in the world oceans, tintinnid genera were divided into several biogeographical types such as boreal, warm water, austral and neritic. Therefore, the oceanic tintinnid assemblage could be correspondingly divided into boreal assemblage, warm water assemblage and austral assemblage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of boreal tintinnid assemblage in the Northwest Pacific and the Arctic, and to identify the connection between boreal tintinnid assemblage and neighboring assemblages. Surface water samples were collected along a transect from the East China Sea to the Chukchi Sea in summer 2014. According to the presence of boreal genera and warm water genera, three tintinnid assemblages (the East China Sea neritic assemblage, the Japan Sea warm water assemblage, and the boreal assemblage) were identified along the transect. The boreal assemblage extended from the Chukchi Sea to the waters north of the Sōya Strait. Densities peaks occurred at stations in the two branches of the Alaska Current and decreased both northward and southward. The densities were <10 ind./dm³ at most stations in Arctic region. The dominant genera (Acanthostomella, Codonellopsis, Parafavella, and Ptychocylis) accounted for 79.07±29.67% (n = 49) of the abundance in the boreal assemblage. The densities of the dominant genera covaried with strongly significant positive correlations. Tintinnids with lorica oral diameter of 22–26 μm and 38–42 μm were dominant and contributed 67.35% and 15.13%, respectively, to the total abundance in the boreal assemblage. The distribution and densities of tintinnids in the study area suggest that the Sōya Strait might be a geographical barrier for tintinnids expansion.     

海洋浮游生物介导的弧菌传播扩散机制研究进展

弧菌在全球范围内广泛存在,弧菌病的暴发和流行不仅给海水养殖业造成巨大的经济损失,还严重威胁人类健康。一些弧菌可以通过与环境中浮游植物和浮游动物的相互作用提高自身存活率和环境持久性,并进行跨海域传播。本文综述了海洋浮游生物作为部分弧菌物种储库的作用及影响因素,以及气候变化和人类活动等因素驱动下浮游生物间接介导的弧菌传播扩散特性;并重点介绍了弧菌特定的结构、代谢途径和次级代谢产物在其与浮游生物互作过程中发挥的独特作用及其机制;提出今后应从分子层面深入解析浮游生物与弧菌的相互作用机制,从全球尺度阐释浮游生物介导的弧菌跨海域传播机制,建立弧菌疾病传播预测模型和预警系统,为浮游生物介导的弧菌传播扩散风险的防控提供重要信息。     

Winter distribution of four species of the genus Ceratium from Cape Canaveral, Florida to Cape Henlopen, Delaware

Surface plankton tows with a modified 3/4 m Nansen net weremade along the east coast of the United States from Cape Canaveral,Florida to Cape Henlopen, Delaware. The armoured dinoflagellatesin the surface layer were found to form two distinct assemblages.The assemblage north of Cape Hatteras was composed exclusivelyof Ceratium tripos and C. macroceras. South of Cape Hatteras,except for an intrusion of Virginian Shelf Water into RayleighBay, the armoured dinoflagellates present in greatest numberswere C. trichoceras and C. massiliense. The two northern specieswere also present. In the warm oceanic and shelf waters southof Cape Hatteras, there were many tintinnids and foraminiferansin addition to the armoured dinoflagellates. The distributionpattern was in good agreement with high resolution infraredsatellite imagery of the Gulf Stream position off Cape Hatterasduring the sampling period.     

广东沿海的砂壳纤毛虫及3种国内新纪录

对广东沿海的砂壳纤毛虫进行了初步研究,涉及7属16种,其中3种确定为中国的新纪录:僧帽壳铃虫Codonella apicata Kofoid&Campbell,1929,陀螺形拟铃虫Tintinnopsis turbo Meunier,1919和膨胀细壳虫Stenosemella expansa Wailes,1925。另有3种为我国亚热带海域的新纪录:筒状拟铃虫Tintinnopsis tubu-losoides Meunier,1910,罗氏拟铃虫Tintinnopsis lohmanni(J rgensen,1927)Laackmann,1906和贪婪铃壳虫Codonella rapa Kofoid&Campbell,1929。其余10种为常见种:百系拟铃虫Tintinnopsis beroidea Stein,1867,尖底拟铃虫Tintinnopsis acuminata(Daday,1887)Kofoid et Campbell,1929,妥肯丁拟玲虫Tintinnopsis to-cantinensis Kofoid&Campbell,1929,筒状拟铃虫Tintinnopsis tubulosoides Meunier,1910,管状拟玲虫Tintinnopsis tublosa Levander,1900,长形拟铃虫Tintinnopsis clongata Daday,1887,罗氏拟铃虫Tintinnopsislohmanni(J rgensen,1927)Laackmann,1906,小领细壳虫Stenosemella parvicollis(Marshall,1934)Hada,1935,钟状网纹虫Favella campanula(Schmidt,1901)J rgensen,1924和贪婪铃壳虫Codonella rapa Kofoid&Camp-bell,1929。文章对其形态分类学做了简要描述。     

Distribution and ecology of the tintinnids in the Gulf of Elat (Aqaba), Red Sea

The tintinnids were studied as part of a microplankton investigationin the Gulf of Elat (Aqaba) (Red Sea) based on stratified samplescollected at a reference station over a period of one year (1974–75).The results of this study were compared to the data obtainedfrom the same area in the course of a previous survey (1970–71). The ranges of abundance of the tintinnids as a whole and ofthe leading species of this group were determined from 0–50m, 50–100 m and thereafter at intervals of 100 m downto a depth of 600 m for the samples collected during 1974–75.For those collected during 1970–71, the ranges of abundancewere determined at two depths in vertical profiles over thewater column from 50 and 200 m to the surface. Two distinct peaks were noted, one in November-December anda second in February-March. A third minor peak occurred duringJune-July. The main winter peak of February-March occurred duringthe turnover period characterized by two uniform temperaturesof 21°C or less throughout the water column. The seasonaland spatial distribution of the tintinnids closely followedthat of the main phytoplankton groups, with greatest abundancerecorded in the upper 100 m. The species composition of the tintinnids during the annualpeaks changed from season to season and from year to year. However,8 species of a total of 42 recorded during the investigationwere responsible for the annual peaks during both years. Amongthe environmental parameters monitored during the 1974–75survey only the temperature factor could be related to the distributionpattern of one of the 8 leading species of tintinnids. A summer submergence to deeper levels has been noted in regardto some of the prevailing species.     

Biogeographical network analysis of plant species distribution in the Mediterranean region

The delimitation of bioregions helps to understand historical and ecological drivers of species distribution. In this work, we performed a network analysis of the spatial distribution patterns of plants in south of France (Languedoc‐Roussillon and Provence‐Alpes‐Côte d'Azur) to analyze the biogeographical structure of the French Mediterranean flora at different scales. We used a network approach to identify and characterize biogeographical regions, based on a large database containing 2.5 million of geolocalized plant records corresponding to more than 3,500 plant species. This methodology is performed following five steps, from the biogeographical bipartite network construction to the identification of biogeographical regions under the form of spatial network communities, the analysis of their interactions, and the identification of clusters of plant species based on the species contribution to the biogeographical regions. First, we identified two sub‐networks that distinguish Mediterranean and temperate biota. Then, we separated eight statistically significant bioregions that present a complex spatial structure. Some of them are spatially well delimited and match with particular geological entities. On the other hand, fuzzy transitions arise between adjacent bioregions that share a common geological setting, but are spread along a climatic gradient. The proposed network approach illustrates the biogeographical structure of the flora in southern France and provides precise insights into the relationships between bioregions. This approach sheds light on ecological drivers shaping the distribution of Mediterranean biota: The interplay between a climatic gradient and geological substrate shapes biodiversity patterns. Finally, this work exemplifies why fragmented distributions are common in the Mediterranean region, isolating groups of species that share a similar eco‐evolutionary history.     

The temporal and spatial patterns of protozooplankton abundance in a eutrophic temperate lake

The temporal and spatial distribution of planktonic protozoa of Esthwaite, a eutrophic lake, was investigated at 7–10 day intervals between February to October 1988. Sarcodine protozoa were of little significance, the plankton was dominated by ciliates and flagellates. Ciliate density peaked in late May to early June with densities reaching 9.2 × 10³ 1^-1. There was considerable variation in spatial distribution and greatest species diversity occurred in March/April. After the establishment of summer stratification the planktonic ciliates were confined to water of >25% oxygen saturation in the water column. Oligotrichs, particularly the genus Strombidium and tintinnids, and peritrichs dominated the ciliate assemblages. There was no correlation between chlorophyll a concentrations and ciliate numbers, but a correlation was apparent between ciliate numbers and flagellate density. There were significant differences between the protozooplankton communities at the different sampling sites in the lake.     

The role of picoplankton (cyanobacteria and plastidic picoflagellates) in the diet of tintinnids

Food vacuole contents in naturally occurring populations oftintinnids in surface waters at the mouth of the Bay of Villefranchewere examined from November 1988 to December 1989. Three typesof prey were considered: cyanobactena (Synechococcus spp.),plastidic pico- and nanoflagel lates. The relative frequency(%) of these were observed in the diet of 18 tintinnid species.Results confirm that nanoflagellates constitute the dominantfraction in the diet of most of the tintinnids examined. Theyare preferentially ingested by some species, such as Amphoridesquadrilineata and Favella sp. Nevertheless, picoplankton isingested throughout the year by all the tintinnids, and canreach up to 100% of the ration mainly during winter and summer.Cyanobacteria are the prey most ingested by Rhabdonella spiralisand the only prey observed in food vacuoles of Salpingella acuminaia.As indicated by the Strauss linearity index values, picoflagellatesare actively grazed by some species (e.g. Dictyocysta elegans,Eutintinnus spp.). The implications of the ingestion of picoplanktonby tintinnids in the food webs are discussed.