New species of genera Tintinnopsis, Metacylis and Eutintinnus (Ciliophora, Spirotrichea, Tintinnida) from the Kuwaiti waters of the Arabian Gulf

The Kuwaiti waters occupy the northwestern part of the Arabian Gulf. These waters are shallow, well mixed, and characterized by a high level of biological productivity. Tintinnids form an important component of the microzooplankton community in Kuwaiti waters. They are particularly abundant in the northern waters of Kuwait, as well as in the waters of Kuwait Bay. However, the diversity of the tintinnid species has not been studied. Tintinnids were collected from Kuwaiti waters during a 1-year zooplankton survey, and tintinnid species were identified. In this paper four new species of tintinnids (Tintinnopsis failakkaensis, Metacylis pythos, Eutintinnus conicus, and E. contractus) are described from Kuwaiti waters. All these species occur commonly in these waters. Statistical comparative analysis is carried out on the basis of measurements taken from 400 specimens of tintinnids from Kuwaiti waters.     

南汇东滩湿地围垦水域内浮游动物群落结构的变化

2010年10月-2011年7月对南汇东滩围垦水域和坝外自然水域的浮游动物进行调查,研究了两水域内浮游动物的种类组成、丰度、生物量、优势种和生物多样性等生态学特征参数的季节变化,并初步探讨了围垦内外水域浮游动物群落的结构差异,及其与盐度、水温和人类活动等环境因子的关系.结果表明:围垦水域和坝外自然水域共检获浮游动物30种,其中围垦水域浮游动物24种,以轮虫的种类数最多;坝外自然水域浮游动物14种,其中桡足类占绝对优势.围垦水域浮游动物的年平均丰度明显高于坝外自然水域,年平均生物量则相反.围垦水域以角突臂尾轮虫、萼花臂尾轮虫和广布中剑水蚤等淡水种为主要优势种,而坝外自然水域则以中华华哲水蚤、火腿许水蚤和虫肢歪水蚤等河口半咸水种为主要优势种,且两水域优势种均存在季节更替.坝外水域浮游动物Shannon多样性指数(H)值和Pielou均匀度指数(J)值均明显高于围垦水域,Margalef丰富度指数(d)值和单纯度指数(C)值低于围垦水域.群落聚类和MDS结果表明,围垦水域浮游动物的群落结构与坝外自然水域存在明显差异.围垦是引起被围水域浮游动物群落结构变化的主要原因,盐度、潮汐动力等是导致动物群落结构改变的主要环境因子.     

中国海洋浮游端足类的物种多样性

中国海域已发现浮游端足类122种,呈现从北部往南部海区、从近海往外海区种数逐渐增加,且暖水性也逐渐增强的分布特征。渤海、黄海北部和西南部的浮游端足类同属暖温带分布,黄海东南部和东海西北部为暖温带分布和热带分布的过渡带,东海东部和东海西南部以及台湾海峡、南海均属热带分布,其中东海东部和南海中、南部热带大洋分布的特征显著。     

Growth of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Waste Waters of Vegetable-Processing Plants

Waters used in washing, blanching, cooling, and conveying vegetables during processing for freezing were filtered, sterilized, and inoculated with Streptococcus faecalis, S. lactis, or Lactobacillus plantarum. The contents of total nitrogen and total solids were determined, and ninhydrin tests and Benedict's tests for reducing sugars were performed. Substances positive to the ninyhydrin tests and also capable of supporting the growth of the bacteria to high levels of population were found in waters used to blanch cut green beans, but not in the cooling or conveying waters. They were found only in waters following slicing of blanched whole beans. They were also present in waters used in processing purple hull peas at all stages, but only in the waters used to blanch and cool lima beans. The substances were present in waters used to wash and blanch squash, but only in the waters used to blanch greens; they were not found in the cooling waters during the handling of either vegetable. No waters used in the processing of okra yielded a positive ninhydrin test, nor did they support the growth of the lactic acid bacteria.     

Dissolved mercury concentrations and reactivity in mangrove waters from the Itacurussa Experimental Forest,Sepetiba Bay,SE Brazil

Mangrove waters from the Itacurussa Experimental Forest (IEF), SE Brazilare enriched in reactive-Hg (15 ± 2.0 pM) and total-Hg (28 ±2.5 pM) relative to open bay waters (4.5 ± 3.0 pM and 19 ±8.5 pM, for reactive-Hg and total-Hg respectively). Mercury concentrationsand reactivity varied according to tidal flux in mangrove creek waters.Reactive-Hg concentrations were higher in ebb tide waters ranging from 4.5to 8.5 pM, than in flood water (< 1.0 to 3.5 pM), whereas total-Hgconcentrations were higher in flood waters, from 40 to 360 pM, than inebb water (30 to 250 pM). Low-Hg, open bay waters are enriched in Hgwhen flowing over mud flats prior to entering the IEF, where it mixes withpore waters containing extremely high Hg concentrations (up to 2,500pM). Similar distributions of Hg and DOC in pore waters, suggests thatDOC may facilitate Hg migration through the sedimentary column, asshown for other estuarine areas. Mud flat pore waters are the more likelysource of total Hg to mangrove waters, but not for reactive Hg. Theseresults suggest that mangroves act as a sink to total Hg, as has been shownfor other trace metals at the IEF and other mangrove forests. On the otherhand mangroves act as a source of reactive Hg to adjacent coastal waters.The mechanisms involved in this processes have not been studied in thispaper. However, the similar distribution of DOC and Hg among thedifferent water masses of the IEF, suggest that the dynamics of Hg-DOCcomplexes may play a dominant role.     

Exotic invaders of the meso-oligohaline zone of estuaries in the Netherlands: why are there so many?

The numbers of exotic species introduced into brackish waters (5–20 psu) and high-salinity waters (> 20 psu) in the Netherlands are hypothesized to reflect species richness in such waters elsewhere in the world. Notwithstanding the fact that species numbers in brackish waters all over the world are lower than in high-salinity waters, the numbers of introduced species in these waters in the Netherlands are about equal. Alternative hypotheses to explain this phenomenon are: (1) because most ports are situated in brackish regions, brackish-water species stand a better chance of being transported; (2) because brackish-water species are more tolerant of conditions in ballast water tanks, these species have a better chance of being transported alive than high-salinity species; and (3) because brackish waters have few species, it is easier for an introduced species to establish itself in brackish waters. None of the latter three hypotheses can be rejected and probably they all play a part in explaining the phenomenon. The third hypothesis, however, seems most likely.     

Light and productivity of Antarctic phytoplankton during austral summer in an ice edge region in the Weddell-Scotia Sea

The photosynthesis-irradiance relationships (P-I curves) ofnatural plankton samples were studied in the Weddell Sea ice-edgezone, between Elephant Island and South Orkney Islands, duringthe austral summer of 1988–89. Three water bodies weredistinguished in the region: Bellingshausen Sea waters modifiedafter flowing through Drake Passage and Bransfield Strait, WeddellSea waters and Weddell Sea waters modified by melting. The stationssituated in modified Bellingshausen waters showed a net phytoplanktoncomposition which was different from that of the other two waterbodies. Weddell Sea waters and Weddell Sea waters modified bymelting of sea ice had the same net phytoplankton composition.In the area of modified Weddell Sea waters, there was an accumulationof phytoplankton in the upper 40 m (>4 mg Chl m^–1).p^B, and     

Sulfate control of phosphorus availability in lakes

During summer stratification large amounts of phosphorus (P) accumulate in anoxic bottom waters of many lakes due to release of P from underlying sediments. The availability to phytoplankton of this P is inversely related to the Fe:P ratio in bottom waters. Using data from 51 lakes, we tested the hypothesis that sulfate concentration in lake water may be critical in controlling the Fe:P ratio in anoxic bottom waters. Results showed that Fe:P ratios in bottom waters of lakes were significantly (p<0.001) related to surface water sulfate concentrations. The higher Fe:P ratios in low sulfate systems is due not only to higher iron concentrations in anoxic bottom waters but also to lower P concentrations in anoxic waters. Thus, our results suggest that anthropogenically induced increases in sulfate concentrations of waters (e.g. from fossil fuel burning) may have a double effect on P cycling in lakes. Higher sulfate concentrations can both increase the magnitude of P release from sediments as well as increase the availability of P released from sediments into anoxic bottom waters.     

Influence of the temperature regime on the composition of the macrozoobenthos community in a thermal brook in Serbia

In contrast to cold and eurythermal waters, benthic communities of warm brooks in temperate regions have been inadequately studied. In order to investigate the effects of water thermal regime on the benthic communities of warm waters and their relationships with those of cold and eurythermic ones, the macrozoobenthos was studied at eight sites in the Toplica River, and at four sites in its tributary, the Termalni brook. Investigations were carried out seasonally from April 2000 to January 2001. Warm waters of the Termalni brook were characterized by specific macrozoobenthos assemblages that exhibited significant differences to the populations of eurythermal and cold waters of the Toplica River. The dominant taxa in the macrozoobenthos community of warm waters were mainly Gastropoda species. Moreover, benthic communities of warm waters were characterized by lower diversity and greater biomass in comparison with those of cold and eurythermal waters. The gradient of average annual temperatures represented the main ecological factor influencing changes of diversity and biomass along the course of the investigated Termalni brook. Inflow of warm waters at site T₆ lead to a decrease in macrozoobenthos abundance and changes in qualitative and quantitative composition of the benthocoenosis of a highland stream, but did not significantly alter diversity.     

Diversity of Microbial Communities in Production and Injection Waters of Algerian Oilfields Revealed by 16S rRNA Gene Amplicon 454 Pyrosequencing

The microorganisms inhabiting many petroleum reservoirs are multi-extremophiles capable of surviving in environments with high temperature, pressure and salinity. Their activity influences oil quality and they are an important reservoir of enzymes of industrial interest. To study these microbial assemblages and to assess any modifications that may be caused by industrial practices, the bacterial and archaeal communities in waters from four Algerian oilfields were described and compared. Three different types of samples were analyzed: production waters from flooded wells, production waters from non-flooded wells and injection waters used for flooding (water-bearing formations). Microbial communities of production and injection waters appeared to be significantly different. From a quantitative point of view, injection waters harbored roughly ten times more microbial cells than production waters. Bacteria dominated in injection waters, while Archaea dominated in production waters. Statistical analysis based on the relative abundance and bacterial community composition (BCC) revealed significant differences between production and injection waters at both OTUs_0.03 and phylum level. However, no significant difference was found between production waters from flooded and non-flooded wells, suggesting that most of the microorganisms introduced by the injection waters were unable to survive in the production waters. Furthermore, a Venn diagram generated to compare the BCC of production and injection waters of one flooded well revealed only 4% of shared bacterial OTUs. Phylogenetic analysis of bacterial sequences indicated that Alpha-, Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria were the main classes in most of the water samples. Archaeal sequences were only obtained from production wells and each well had a unique archaeal community composition, mainly belonging to Methanobacteria, Methanomicrobia, Thermoprotei and Halobacteria classes. Many of the bacterial genera retrieved had already been reported as degraders of complex organic molecules and pollutants. Nevertheless, a large number of unclassified bacterial and archaeal sequences were found in the analyzed samples, indicating that subsurface waters in oilfields could harbor new and still-non-described microbial species.     

大亚湾石化排污海域生态系统健康评价

基于近海生态系统健康评价模型,以2011—2012年间海洋生态环境调查数据为基础,对大亚湾石化排污海域的生态系统健康状态进行了综合评价。结果表明:丰水期(2011年8月),大亚湾石化排污海域生态系统健康综合指数为0.808,健康状态为"好",空间分布为近岸海域健康状况好于远岸海域,其中底栖生物多样性综合指数是影响该海域生态系统健康的主要负面因子。枯水期(2012年1月),石化排污海域生态系统健康综合指数为0.767,健康状态为"一般",远岸海域健康状况好于近岸海域,浮游植物多样性综合指数和底栖生物多样性综合指数是影响该海域生态系统健康的主要负面因子。与2006—2007年相比,大亚湾石化排污海域生态系统的健康状况正向"一般"状态退化。     

中国海洋渔业水域环境研究现状及展望

渔业水域环境是水生生物赖以生存、繁衍的最基本条件,优良的渔业水域环境是海洋渔业持续发展的物质载体与必然条件。近年来中国海洋渔业水域环境状况日趋严峻,依据海洋渔业水域监测数据,分析了中国海洋渔业水域环境的现状;概括了中国海洋渔业水域环境面临的主要问题及破坏原因;综述了海洋渔业水域环境保护及修复对策的研究现状,并对今后的研究工作提出了方向与内容上的展望。     

The importance of small waterbodies for biodiversity and ecosystem services: implications for policy makers

Small waterbodies, including ponds and small lakes, low-order streams, ditches and springs, are the most numerous freshwater environments globally, are critical for freshwater biodiversity and are increasingly recognised for their role in ecosystem service delivery. Small waters often represent the best remaining examples of intact freshwater habitats and are the most likely to remain unpolluted, often being a refuge for species which have disappeared from larger, more damaged, waterbodies. Practically all water-related ecosystem services are initially mediated by small waters and some, such as carbon cycling, may be dominated by them. Small waters are exposed to all the threats affecting larger waters, and some experienced only by small waters. Despite this, small waters remain the least investigated part of the water environment and are largely excluded from water management planning. We identify the priorities for research to underpin better protection of small waters and recommend policy actions needed to better integrate small waters into the management of catchments and landscapes. The primary requirements are to identify reliable monitoring programmes for small waters, develop effective measures to protect the biodiversity and ecosystem services they provide and ensure that regulators take full account of this critical part of the water environment.     

A seasonal study of the distributions of surface state variables in Liverpool Bay. III. An offshore front

Variously orientated transects through Liverpool Bay in December, 1976, revealed a narrow but steep density discontinuity running north to south through the surface waters. Surface distribution maps from cruises during the winter of 1976–1977 showed that the density discontinuity provided a sharp line of demarcation between the physical and chemical characteristics of the offshore and coastal waters. Over the winter, an accumulation of river discharged nutrients in the waters bounded by the front and the coast generated a large nutrient reservoir in the inshore waters and propagated a difference in the nutrient availability ratios across the front. As a consequence, by March the inshore waters were characterized by lower salinities and temperatures, higher dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations and lower silicon to total nitrogen ratios than the offshore waters. Prior to the 1977 spring phytoplankton bloom in Liverpool Bay, these two contrasting water types were in juxtaposition along the length of the front.     

Temporal variability of particulate organic carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus in the Northern Adriatic Sea

The particulate organic carbon (POC), nitrogen (PN) and phosphorus (PP) vertical distribution along the water column and temporal variability in coastal and offshore waters of the Northern Adriatic Sea were related to the hydrodynamic conditions and biological processes. Fresh water inputs from the Po and Adige rivers enhance primary production, resulting in high POC, PN and PP concentrations at the surface. In offshore waters, POC and PN concentrations were about 3–4 times less than in the coastal waters, while PP were up to 10 times lower, highlighting a marked phosphorus depletion. In the bottom layer, the POC content decreases due to the strong density gradients which separate bottom waters with prevailing degradation processes. Short term 48 h-variability of POC, PN and PP in the coastal waters was determined to a great extent by variations in the spreading of river plumes at the surface and by nepheloid layers and resuspension processes in the bottom waters. The particulate matter in the Adriatic offshore waters is extremely depleted as regards particulate phosphorus and is characterised by C_org:P and N:P ratios higher than the Redfield ratio.     

Spatial heterogeneity of ecosystem health and its sensitivity to pressure in the waters of nearshore archipelago

The ecosystem-based management of nearshore waters requires synthesis of spatial data on the distribution of ecological conditions and intensity of anthropogenic perturbations, and the overlay of their effects on the ecosystem health. An assessment framework for ecosystem health incorporating 4 components namely vigor, organization, resilience and maintenance was proposed in this paper, based on which an analytical approach was developed to quantify the integrated effects of island mass and anthropogenic pressures on the waters of nearshore archipelago. The southern waters of Miaodao Archipelago, which are located in the intersection of the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, China, were taken as a typical example to acquire the spatial heterogeneity of the ecosystem health and its sensitivity to multiple anthropogenic pressures. Results indicated that there was a relatively significant performance of the spatial heterogeneity for the ecosystem health. It presented that the interisland waters were poorer health than the external waters, and the waters adjacent to the continent functioned less well than those in a relatively open area. This phenomenon was primarily determined by the performance of vigor as well as resilience of ecosystem. For the 4 components of ecosystem health, there were an obvious spatial heterogeneity of vigor as well as the resilience, a seasonal succession of organization, and a spatiotemporal uniformity of maintenance. Moreover, the ecosystem health was more sensitive to the stressors of inland activities and coastline exploitation especially in the waters of Miaodao Bay and Changdao Port. The analytical process and resulting maps provide flexible tools for regional efforts to implement ecosystem-based management in the waters of archipelago and further nearshore waters so as to promote their sustainable development.     

Observations on the transparency of the waters of the Pulicat Lake with particular reference to plankton production

Marked sectoral and seasonal variations were observed in the transparency of the waters of the Pulicat lake.No tidal effect was noticed on the turbidity of the waters.The transparency of the waters in relation to the production of plankton has been discussed.     

Small-scale variability in growth and condition of dab Limanda limanda (L.) larvae in relation to an Irish Sea tidal-mixing front off the west coast of the Isle of Man

The small-scale variability in condition and growth of dab Limanda limanda larvae was investigated in relation to a tidal-mixing front (Manx West Coast front) off the west coast of the Isle of Man, Irish Sea. RNA:DNA ratios and otolith microincrement analysis were used to estimate nutritional status and recent growth rates of larvae captured on 5 May 1999 in mixed, frontal and stratified waters associated with this front. RNA:DNA ratios were significantly higher at the Manx West Coast front compared to mixed waters, although recent growth rates did not vary significantly with water column stability. More favourable feeding conditions associated with frontal waters from previously reported large-scale investigations in the Irish Sea were reflected on a smaller spatial scale. Although frontal accumulation of dab larvae was not observed in the current study, dab larvae found in the stratified and frontal waters were significantly larger than those captured in the mixed waters. This pattern could suggest an offshore movement of dab larvae into more favourable waters as they develop.     

The composition and antianemia efficacy of the iron-containing waters of the Skhodnitsa spring

Slight-mineralized chalybeate waters of the Skhodnitsa deposit containing organic matters are distinguished by high-molecular organic iron complexes present in waters. It is shown that such natural complex iron compounds are characterized by high biological accessibility making these mineral waters very useful for posthemorrhagic anemia due to their therapeutic action.