Abundance and Distribution of the Macrobenthic Infauna of the Gulf of Arauco,Chile

The macrobenthic infauna of the Gulf of Arauco (Central Chile), was quantitatively sampled in April 1979. A total of 81 species were identified. The infauna was greatly dominated by polychaetes. The polychaete Paraprionospio pinnata and the amphipod Ampelisca araucana accounted for ca. 45 per cent of the total infauna in terms of numbers. Numerical classification produced four site-groups and four species-groups, mostly reflecting differences in character and depth of sediment. Several community characteristics differed for these assemblages. Biomass also was dominated by polychaetes, with Pectinaria chilensis, P. pinnata, Diopatra chiliensis and Glycera americana making up 45 per cent of the total. The high numbers of the fauna (mean = 15,021 ind m⁻²) and especially the high biomass figures (mean = 21.04 g AFDW m⁻²) reported are consistent with the high productivity of the area, subject to coastal upwelling processes.     

The Distribution of Polychaete Feeding Guilds in Organic Enriched Sediments of San Vicente Bay,Central Chile

The benthic macroinfauna (>500 μm) of San Vicente Bay, Central Chile (36°44′S; 73°09′W) was studied at 8 sublittoral stations along a 6.5 km length transect from the San Vicente fishery harbor out to the open sea, during October 1991, January 1992 and October 1992. Structural changes of the benthic macroinfauna were evaluated a) functionally in terms of polychaete trophic guilds, and b) numerical classification and ecological ordination. Multivariate analysis was used to explore polychaete fedding guild responses to environmental variables. The principal objective of the study was to test whether changes in functional groups (within and between stations) are related to perturbation induced by anthropogenic organic enrichment, or are a consequence of natural environmental fluctuations. Trophic guilds of polychaetes associated with the sandy environment of the bay, showed a clear seasonal dominance of carnivores during the spring 1991–1992 and of surface suspension - deposit feeders, sessiles or discretely motile and tentacled polychaetes (F-SD-SDT, see Annex) in summer 1992. This guild distribution could be due to the sediment stability and a greater niche diversification in the more sandy stations. However, there were only a few significant relationships between trophic guilds and total organic matter and silt-clay fraction. This limits the utility of the guilds as indicators of perturbations induced by organic enrichment. Over 95% of the variation in the guild data was explained by environmental factors such as water depth, station distance from the harbor, silt-clay, sand, grain size and organic matter content. The comparison between reported faunistic and sedimentary data and the data obtained in this study, suggests that there is an increase of the organic enrichment of the sediments in the most inner area of this embayment. However, there is no evidence of this being directly responsible for the polychaete feeding guild distribution of San Vicente Bay.     

Spatial Structure of the Insect Community of a Small Dimictic Lake in the Laurentians (Québec)

The distribution of merolimnic benthic insects was studied in Lake Cromwell, a small (9 ha) and shallow (max. depth 9 m) dimictic lake with a summer hypolimnetic warming on the Laurentian highlands of Québec. Communities were described from 22 sets of emergence data. Two hundred and twelve species were recognized of which 153 were Chironomidae (Diptera). Through clustering and ordination techniques, five communities were recognized: one in the flooded shrub zone along the shore, two littoral, one sublittoral and one profundal. Differences between the communities were more quantitative than qualitative. The majority of species inhabited the shore and littoral stations, and only the hardiest reached the deepest zone. There were few species characteristic of the profundal, none of them abundant. Discriminating, dominant, and characteristic species were determined for each community, as were the ubiquitous species. There is a general decrease in species richness, species diversity and population density, and a change in community structure along the depth gradient. A discontinuity at 1–2 m is related to a sharp increase in Chaoboridae in the deeper waters.     

A Sarcocystid Misidentified as Hepatozoon didelphydis: Molecular Data from a Parasitic Infection in the Blood of the Southern Mouse Opossum (Thylamys elegans) from Chile

ABSTRACT. The blood of 21 adult South American mouse opossums (Thylamys elegans) captured from April through August of 2005 in central Chile was examined for parasites. Light microscopic analysis of blood smears initially suggested that a highly pleomorphic Hepatozoon species typical of American opossums was infecting erythrocytes. Unexpectedly, amplification by PCR and sequencing of a DNA fragment of the small subunit rDNA combined with phylogenetic analyses indicated that the parasite is not a member of the suborder Adeleorina, which includes the Haemogregarina and Hepatozoon species, but that it is a clearly distinct member of the suborder Eimeriorina, which includes the cyst‐forming family Sarcocystidae. Therefore, a reclassification of this unusual intraerythrocytic apicomplexan will require additional life cycle, microscopic, and molecular analyses.     

On the reliability of Ponar grab samples for the quantitative study of benthic invertebrates in ponds

We present observations on the variability of sediment penetration depth by the Ponar grab sampler, which lead us to question the reliability of grab samples in the quantitative study of freshwater benthos. Penetration depth of the Petite Ponar grab depends on substrate type, and correlates with the amount of organic carbon, the water content and the granulometry of the sediment. Since these factors can also influence faunal composition and vertical distribution in the sediment, it is important to study the performance of the sampler before a biological explanation for the observed pattern is given. At the site studied, a case study was performed, in which variable grab penetration did not influence biological interpretation because the penetration depth of the grab followed that of the organisms under study.Research Assistant of the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (N.F.W.O.)Research Assistant of the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (N.F.W.O.)     

海岸带沉积物中氮循环功能微生物多样性

海岸带生境类型多样,环境梯度明显,是研究微生物多样性、群落结构与功能关系及调控机制的天然实验场.沉积物是海岸带环境中营养盐再生与转化发生的重要场所,其中多种微生物类群在氮素循环过程中扮演重要角色.本文重点介绍海岸带沉积物中固氮菌、氨氧化菌、厌氧氨氧化菌、反硝化与硝酸盐铵化微生物的基于16SrRNA基因的物种多样性和基于关键酶基因nifH、amoA、narG、nirS、nirK、nosZ、nrfA、hzo、hzs等的功能多样性;总结了在海岸带特有生境(如河口、潮间带、海草藻床、红树林、盐沼、珊瑚礁、浅海等)及污染胁迫、生物扰动等条件下各功能类群的群落组成特征及时空变化规律,并提出今后需要重点关注新的培养技术和方法的开发,以进一步提高微生物的可培养性,将单细胞基因组测序与分析技术、DNA和RNA结合起来研究,以全面了解氮循环微生物多样性、参与介导硝酸盐铵化过程的微生物多样性等方面.     

宝天曼国家级自然保护区三种林型土壤的亮孢黏菌多样性

黏菌是土壤原生生物的重要组成部分,但其群落组成与多样性格局信息目前还不全面。本研究采用18S rRNA基因高通量测序的方法,研究了宝天曼自然保护区内落叶阔叶林、针叶林和针阔混交林土壤中的亮孢黏菌多样性,并通过多元统计方法分析了其群落结构与土壤环境因子之间的关系。结果表明,30份土壤样品中共获得26个亮孢黏菌的可操作分类单元（OTUs）,隶属团毛菌目Trichiales下的7个属。4个OTUs可注释到种,分别为球圆团网菌Arcyria globosa、蛇形半网菌Hemitrichia serpula、刺丝团毛菌Trichia scabra和高山团毛菌Trichia alpina。亮孢黏菌群落α多样性在不同林型间有显著差异,其中在针叶林最高,落叶阔叶林最低。不同林型土壤的亮孢黏菌群落结构也显著不同,冗余分析显示,不同林型间黏菌群落结构差异与土壤含水量、碳氮比、有效钾和有机碳显著相关,但总体土壤环境因子对群落结构差异的解释量有限,占比10.18%。本研究丰富了土壤黏菌多样性信息和生态分布理论。     

Genetic and morphological differentiation of Porphyra and Pyropia species (Bangiales,Rhodophyta) coexisting in a rocky intertidal in Central Chile

A recent molecular taxonomic study along the Chilean coast (18° S–53° S) described 18 candidate species of bladed Bangiales of which only two were formally described. Few studies focused on local genetic and morphological diversity of bladed Bangiales and attempted to determine their intertidal distribution in contrasting habitats, and none were performed in Chile. To delimit intertidal distributions of genetic species, 66 samples of bladed Bangiales were collected at Maitencillo (32° S) in four zones: a rocky platform, a rocky wall, and two boulders zones surrounded by sandy and rocky bottoms, respectively. These samples were identified based on sequences of the mitochondrial COI and chloroplast rbcL markers. We also collected 87 specimens for morphological characterization of the most common species, rapidly assessing their putative species identity using newly developed species‐diagnostic (PCR‐RFLP) markers. Eight microscopic and two macroscopic morphological traits were measured. We described and named three of four species that predominate in Maitencillo (including Pyropia orbicularis): Pyropia variabilis Zapata, Meynard, Ramírez, Contreras‐Porcia, sp. nov., Porphyra luchea Meynard, Ramírez, Contreras‐Porcia sp. nov., and Porphyra longissima Meynard, Ramírez, Contreras‐Porcia, sp. nov. With the exception of Po. longissima restricted to boulders surrounded by sandy bottom, and a morphotype of Py. variabilis restricted to rocky walls, the other species/morphotypes have overlapping intertidal distributions. Except for Po. longissima, which is clearly differentiated morphologically (longest and thinnest blades), we conclude that morphology is not sufficient to differentiate bladed Bangiales. Our findings underscore the importance of refining our knowledge of intrinsic and environmental determinants on the distribution of bladed Bangiales.     

Abundance and Distribution of Benthic Macroinvertebrates near Little Egg Inlet,New Jersey,from 1972 to 1974

Benthic collections taken during a 34 month period from Little Egg Inlet, New Jersey were dominated by haustoriid amphipods and collections from a nearshore ridge/swale formation were dominated by ampharetid and capitellid polychaetes. Polychaetes were most abundant at the swale station where density was 2.4 to 17.5 times higher than at other stations. Changes in species composition and density were influenced by increases in the silt/clay component of the sediment which was influenced by depth, bottom topography, and exposure to currents.     

高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度对高山嵩草群落及其主要种群空间分布特征的影响

高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)有效洞穴密度变化会引发高山嵩草(Kobresia pygmaea)草甸植物群落及其种群分布格局发生变化。采用野外调查法研究了高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度对高山嵩草群落特征及其主要种群分布格局的影响。结果表明:随高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度增加,高山嵩草草甸植物群落的优势种没发生明显变化,部分伴生种发生更替;高度、盖度、多样性指数和均匀度指数呈现降低态势;地上生物量和丰富度指数变化不明显;高山嵩草和矮火绒草(Leontopodium nanum)种群的盖度、密度以及生物量均呈现降低态势,而达乌里秦艽(Gentiana dahurica)和小花草玉梅(Anemone rivularis var.flore-minors)种群的盖度、密度和生物量呈增加趋势。高山嵩草和矮火绒草的种群分布格局从8个/625m2和14个/625m2的聚集分布分别变为34个/625m2时的均匀分布和随机分布,达乌里秦艽和小花草玉梅种群从8个/625m2和14个/625m2的随机分布变为23个/625m2和34个/625m2时的聚集分布,这说明高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度变化改变了高山嵩草群落的特征和主要植物种群的空间分布格局,而对应群落特征和种群分布格局改变的有效洞穴密度为14个/625m2和23个/625m2。     

A redescription of the large geophilid centipede Chilenophilus corralinus (Attems, 1903) (Myriapoda: Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha), with new distribution records from southern Chile

The little known geophilomorph centipede Chilenophilus corralinus (Attems, 1903) (Myriapoda: Chilopoda, Geophilidae), a large geophilid species from South America is herein redescribed and illustrated based on new specimens collected in the Andes of Southern Chile. New morphological features of specific value are also given for the taxon. Chilenophilus corralinus is reported for the first time from the following Chilean localities: Region XIV (de Los Ríos region): Valdivia province: Pirihueico; camping “La Herradura”; Mafil. Region X (de Los Lagos region): Chiloé province: Chiloé Island. Llanquihue province: Parque Nacional Alerce Andino. Palena province: Hualaihué; Chaitén; Palena; Futaleufú.     

Distribution Patterns,Species Assemblages and Habitat Selection of the Stoneflies (Plecoptera) from Two Mediterranean River Basins in Southern Spain

The stonefly distribution and its relationship with habitat changes, based on stream physico chemical features, were investigated in two Mediterranean river basins (Guadaira and Guadalete, S Spain). Plecopteran nymph distribution varied along an elevation gradient. Both stonefly species richness and species diversity increased with altitude. Stoneflies were able to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions but were absent from low altitude sites, temporary streams with high salinity values and high water temperature. A total of 13 stonefly species were found in the study area, from which Tyrrhenoleuctra minuta (Klapálek ) and Protonemura sp. were dominant. The most widespread species were Nemoura lacustris and Capnioneura mitis. Three distinct species assemblages were observed according to their distribution patterns, but with similar environmental preferences. Capnioneura petitpierreae and T. minuta showed preferences to low altitude sites, whereas C. mitis and N. lacustris were found throughout all sites. T. minuta and N. lacustris inhabited permanent and temporary sites, while the same species and C. mitis also were found in semipermanent streams. Temporally, most stoneflies were caught during winter (85.9%), especially at the low altitude sites.     

黔中北亚热带喀斯特次生林动态监测样地：物种组成与群落结构

多年来强烈的人为干扰导致我国西南喀斯特原生森林丧失殆尽并呈现植被灌丛化,甚至石漠化现象。贵州普定县残存的片段化喀斯特次生林是黔中地区北亚热带森林植被的典型代表,可作为监测该区域植被结构和动态的样本。在普定县天龙山建立2 hm~2(200 m×100 m)森林固定样地,对样地内胸径≥1 cm的所有木本植物进行了每木调查,分析了木本植物的物种组成、区系特征、径级结构和空间分布格局。结果表明,样地内有木本植物独立个体14,025株,隶属于34科55属66种。重要值最大的前3个科依次是壳斗科、胡桃科和樟科。在区系成分上,温带区系成分占总属数的52.7%,而热带区系成分占40.0%,温带成分多于热带成分。稀有种有21种,占总种数的31.82%。重要值≥1的物种共有13种,贡献了88.81%的重要值,重要值排名前三的物种分别是窄叶石栎(Lithocarpus confinis)、化香树(Platycarya strobilacea)和云南鼠刺(Itea yunnanensis)。样地内所有个体的平均胸径仅为5.12 cm,整体径级分布呈倒"J",表明群落更新良好。部分优势种的空间分布表现出较明显的...     

Nematodes from the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel (Chile): the genera Cervonema and Laimella (Comesomatidae: Nematoda)

Five species of Cervonema and four species of Laimella are described from the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel, Chile, six species of which are new to science. Cervonema chilensisn. sp. and Cervonema hermanin. sp. are separated from other known species of Cervonema by a short cervical region (less than one head diameter from the front end to the anterior border of the amphids). Cervonema chilensisn. sp. is characterised by a tail length of 5 anal diameters with posterior half filiform; Cervonema hermani n. sp. is characterised by a tail length of 6–9 anal diameter and posterior part (75%) cylindrical. Cervonema shiaen. sp. is characterised by the cephalic seta 4 m long, amphids 9–10 m in diameter; spicules 16 m long and 0.8–0.9 abd; tail 4.7–5.4 anal diameter and 50% posterior part filiform; 4–5 minute precloacal supplements. Laimella subterminatan. sp. is characterised by the subterminal position of the buccal cavity which separates it from the other species of the genus. Laimella annaen. sp. is characterised by the head diameter 9–11 m, cephalic setae and external labial setae 9 + 5 m long, respectively, amphids 7 m in diameter; spicules 28–30 m long; tail 14–17 anal diameter and posterior part (75%) filiform; 5 precloacal supplements. Laimella sandraen. sp. is very close to Laimella annaen.sp. in having similar cephalic sensilla, amphids and spicules. Laimella sandraen. sp., however, can be separated from L.annaen. sp. by the shape of head and the structure of sperm cells, the total body length and the cylindrical part of tail. Cervonema papillatum Jensen, 1988, C. tenuicauda (Stekhoven, 1950) and L. longicauda Cobb, 1920 are found in this area as well. The key of all known species of Cervonemaand Laimellais presented.     

On some ecological aspects of the lugworm <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abarenicola affinis chiliensis</Emphasis> Wells, 1963 (Polychaeta: Scolecida: Arenicolidae) from shallow soft bottoms of northern Chile

We conducted an ecological study of a population of the polychaete Abarenicola affinis chiliensis in the shallow subtidal zone of Caleta Guardiamarina Riquelme in northern Chile. The study area is characterized by a hypoxic bottom consisting of fine sands and a silt-clay mixture, with high values of total organic matter content (TOM > 20%). During the two study periods (spring 1996 and 1997), the numerical contribution of A. affinis chiliensis to the total macrofauna was greater than 80%. A similar pattern was recorded for biomass, with A. affinis chiliensis surpassing 95% of the total macrofauna biomass. Statistical analyses did not detect significant differences in environmental and biotic variables between years (with the exception of salinity, which increased slightly), indicating temporal stability of these variables over the study period. Our results do not support the hypothesis of Wells that seawater temperatures act as a physical barrier impeding the dispersal of Abarenicola species. This hypothesis should be reexamined for some representatives of Abarenicola on the Pacific coast of South America.     

张广才岭温带次生针阔混交林物种组成和群落结构特征

为了研究温带次生针阔混交林的树种组成和群落结构特征,于2010年在吉林省蛟河林业实验区管理局建立了面积为21.84 hm2(420 m×520 m)的固定样地。从物种组成、种-面积曲线、植物区系特征、径级分布结构和空间分布格局等方面分析了该地区针阔混交林物种组成和群落结构特征。研究结果表明该样地共有DBH≥1.0 cm的木本植物活立木个体25,908株,隶属于18科27属45种,植株密度为1186株/hm2。植物区系以北温带分布属为主体,共有37属,占总数的82.22%,属长白山植物区系。样地内稀有种18种,偶见种14种。通过对该样地物种多样性计算得出,该样地Margalef多样性指数R、ShannonWienner指数H'、Simpson多样性指数D和物种均匀度Pielou指数Jsw分别为4.31、2.48、0.89和0.65。样地中所有个体的径级分布(以2cm等级排列)呈偏倒"J"形,整体更新良好,表现出群落稳定与生长状况良好的趋势。群落中重要值3的9个物种的径级结构表现出一定的差异:胡桃楸、水曲柳呈近似正态分布,表现为中径木个体数量多,而小径木和大径木个体数量少的特点;春榆、大果榆、色木槭、白牛槭、裂叶榆等物种呈倒"J"型或偏倒"J"型,更新良好;而红松由于受到了严重的人为干扰,天然更新不良,径级结构呈现不规律型。通过g(r)双变量函数分析9个优势树种空间分布格局可知,9个优势树种均表现出聚集分布,聚集强度随着尺度的增大而降低。在r20 m的小尺度上物种聚集强度随尺度增大急剧降低,当尺度超过20 m后聚集强度趋于稳定。     

Population history and gene dispersal inferred from spatial genetic structure of a Central African timber tree,Distemonanthus benthamianus (Caesalpinioideae)

African rainforests have undergone major distribution range shifts during the Quaternary, but few studies have investigated their impact on the genetic diversity of plant species and we lack knowledge on the extent of gene flow to predict how plant species can cope with such environmental changes. Analysis of the spatial genetic structure (SGS) of a species is an effective method to determine major directions of the demographic history of its populations and to estimate the extent of gene dispersal. This study characterises the SGS of an African tropical timber tree species, Distemonanthus benthamianus, at various spatial scales in Cameroon and Gabon. Displaying a large continuous distribution in the Lower Guinea domain, this is a model species to detect signs of past population fragmentation and recolonization, and to estimate the extent of gene dispersal. Ten microsatellite loci were used to genotype 295 adult trees sampled from eight populations. Three clearly differentiated gene pools were resolved at this regional scale and could be linked to the biogeographical history of the region, rather than to physical barriers to gene flow. A comparison with the distribution of gene pools observed for two other tree species living in the same region invalidates the basic assumption that all species share the same Quaternary refuges and recolonization pathways. In four populations, significant and similar patterns of SGS were detected. Indirect estimates of gene dispersal distances (sigma) obtained for three populations ranged from 400 to 1200 m, whereas neighbourhood size estimates ranged from 50 to 110.