Micrograzers and spore release in Iridaea laminarioides Bory (Rhodophyta: Gigartinales)

Preferential consumption of algal reproductive tissues has been predicted to potentially reduce algal fitness by reduction of reproductive output. This study shows that the amphipod Hyale media (Dana) has a marked trophic preference for mature cystocarpic tissues of Iridaea laminarioides Bory. However, during the feeding process the amphipod tears the cystocarps releasing large numbers of spores into the water column. Germination and growth rate experiments indicate that grazer-mediated release does not affect further spore development. Field populations of I. laminarioides might have unopened cystocarps even in senescent, decaying fronds, while the total number of open cystocarps in mature and senescent fronds increases at higher amphipod density sites, suggesting a facilitation mechanism. Laboratory observations indicate spores can stick to the legs and body sides of the amphipods while a fraction of the ingested spores survives passage through the amphipod digestive tract. Thus, the amphipod seems ecologically important not only as a grazer but also as spore releaser and disperser.     

Differential responses of tetrasporophytes and gametophytes of Mazzaella laminarioides (Gigartinales,Rhodophyta) under solar UV radiation

The effects of solar UV radiation on mycosporine‐like amino acids (MAAs), growth, photosynthetic pigments (Chl a, phycobiliproteins), soluble proteins (SP), and C and N content of Mazzaella laminarioides tetrasporophytes and gametophytes were investigated. Apical segments of tetrasporophytes and gametophytes were exposed to solar radiation under three treatments (PAR [P], PAR+UVA [PA], and PAR+UVA+UVB [PAB]) during 18 d in spring 2009, Punta Arenas, Chile. Samples were taken after 2, 6, 12, and 18 d of solar radiation exposure. Most of the parameters assessed on M. laminarioides were significantly influenced by the radiation treatment, and both gametophytes and tetrasporophytes seemed to respond differently when exposed to high UV radiation. The two main effects promoted by UV radiation were: (i) higher synthesis of MAAs in gametophytes than tetrasporophytes at 2 d, and (ii) a decrease in phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, and SPs, but an increase in MAA content in tetrasporophytes at 6 and 12 d of culture. Despite some changes that were observed in biochemical parameters in both tetrasporophytes and gametophytes of M. laminarioides when exposed to UVB radiation, these changes did not promote deleterious effects that might interfere with the growth in the long term (18 d). The tolerance and resistance of M. laminarioides to higher UV irradiance were expected, as this intertidal species is exposed to variation in solar radiation, especially during low tide.     

Short-term variations of mycosporine-like amino acids in the carrageenan-producing red macroalga Mazzaella laminarioides (Gigartinales,Rhodophyta) are related to nitrate availability

Journal of Applied Phycology - The effect of solar UV radiation exposure and NO3– supply on mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) accumulation in the carrageenan-producing red macroalga...     

Interannual variation of the abundance of Mazzaella cornucopiae (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) from Pacific Canada in relation to changes in abiotic variables

The seaweed Mazzaella cornucopiae (Postels & Ruprecht)Hommersand is common in rocky intertidal areas from Pacific Canada andis a potential economic resource. In both 1993 and 1994, the abundanceof M. cornucopiae from Prasiola Point, southern Barkley Sound, washigh in spring and summer and low in fall and winter. In 1995, however,the abundance in summer was unexpectedly low, and this trend deepenedin 1996. Correlations between the temporal changes of abundance and ofsome abiotic variables were done as a first approach to explaining thesechanges of abundance. The abiotic variables used were air temperature,sea surface temperature, wave height, all three measured on an oceanicbuoy close to Prasiola Point, and seawater salinity, determined for coastalwaters from northern Barkley Sound. These were the closest sites toPrasiola Point for which reliable abiotic data existed. None of thecorrelations were significant. Field observations done at Prasiola Pointsuggest that air temperatures reached higher values there than at theoceanic buoy. Together with irradiance, in situ air temperature may havehad an important role in the interannual differences of abundance througha higher physical stress on thalli, resulting in the high proportion ofbleached tissues observed in summer 1996. Future studies on thepopulation dynamics of M. cornucopiae should benefit fromquantifying these variables in situ.     

A discrete-time logistic model of frond dynamics for Mazzaella parksii (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales)

Mathematical modelling is useful in population ecology and resource management. Logistic models have traditionally been applied to unitary organisms, but it is unclear whether they could be used at the frond (ramet) level for clonal seaweeds. This study shows that frond dynamics for the clonal seaweed Mazzaella parksii (=M. cornucopiae) can be described by a discrete-time logistic model. The model is realistic in that it includes density-dependence, which was previously demonstrated experimentally for this species, and only necessitates data on frond density measured at discrete time intervals. This may constitute a useful tool for the management of clonal seaweeds of economic importance that occur in dense stands. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Seasonal and spatial patterns of population density in the marine macroalga Mazzaella splendens (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta)

Insight into demographic processes that operate at larger spatial scales can be achieved through studying local populations when a particular species of interest is examined over time, by many investigators, in a variety of locations. On the west coast of North America, Mazzaella splendens (Setchell et Gardner) Fredericq is such a species of interest. A synthesis of local demographic studies of M. splendens from the late 1960s to the present reveals a pattern that is potentially common to the larger natural populations. This is the pattern: population density is high in summer and low in winter for both alternate free‐living life history phases of M. splendens. The magnitude of this seasonal change decreases in increasingly wave‐exposed habitats. In wave‐sheltered habitats there is a seasonal alternation from summer haploid to winter diploid dominance. This alternation gradually changes to constant diploid dominance as wave exposure in the habitat increases. Changes in population density are primarily a function of appearances and disappearances of perennating basal crusts (genets), as modules are produced or lost, rather than differential module production by genets of one phase over those of the other. To test the generality of this pattern, we examined seasonal changes in density, in local populations of M. splendens, in both a wave‐sheltered and a wave‐exposed habitat at Second Beach, Barkley Sound. Greater seasonal fluctuation in population density at wave‐sheltered, compared to wave‐exposed habitats is supported as a pattern potentially common to the natural populations of M. splendens. A change from summer haploid dominance in wave‐sheltered areas to summer diploid dominance in wave‐exposed areas is similarly supported. All changes in population density were the result of appearances and disappearances of genets rather than differential module production by haploid versus diploid basal crusts, also consistent with previous observations. A seasonal alternation in phase dominance, however, was absent from the wave‐sheltered site at Second Beach, Barkley Sound for 3 consecutive years. Seasonal alternation in phase dominance of M. splendens appears dependent on local conditions and is not common to all natural populations.     

Subtidal and intertidal mussel beds (Mytilus edulis L.) in the Wadden Sea: diversity differences of associated epifauna

In 1997 and 1998, surveys were performed to compare species composition, abundance and diversity of non-attached epifauna (>1 mm) in low intertidal and adjacent shallow subtidal zones of three mussel beds (Mytilus edulis L.) near the island of Sylt in the North Sea. The community structure was similar when compared within tidal zones: no significant differences in species numbers and abundances were recorded between locations and between years. A comparison between tidal zones, however, revealed higher diversity, species densities and total species numbers in the subtidal (per 1,000 cm²: H ′=2.0±0.16; 12 ±1 species density; 22 species) than the intertidal zone (per 1,000 cm²: H ′=0.7±0.27; 6±2 species density; 19 species). Abundances significantly dropped with increasing submergence from 2,052 (±468) m^–2 to 1,184 (±475) m^–2. This was mainly due to significantly higher densities of both juvenile periwinkles, Littorina littorea, and crabs, Carcinus maenas, in intertidal mussel beds. However, many less dominant species were significantly more abundant in subtidal mussel beds. This study revealed that in the non-attached epifaunal community of mussel beds the tidal level effect within metres was strong, whilst the spatial variability in a much wider (kilometre) range but the same tidal level was negligible. The high epifaunal diversity in the subtidal zone suggests that the protective measures for mussel beds against the effects of mussel fishery should be extended from the intertidal to the subtidal zone, if the integrity of the mussel bed community in the Wadden Sea National Park is to be maintained. Electronic Publication     

Spatial and temporal variation in distribution of Gelidium canariensis (Rhodophyta) from natural populations of the Canary Islands

This study was designed to investigate spatial and temporal variation in Gelidium canariensis populations at two shores in northern Gran Canaria during two years. Spatial scales ranged from some hundred meters (distance between shores), 10 to 30 m (distance between plots) to less than 3 m (distance between quadrats). Gelidium individuals were defined as distinct Gelidium clumps. The results show a significant difference in size of clumps between shores, but not on the smaller spatial scales. No significant temporal variation was found. There was no significant temporal or spatial variation in standing crop or density (counts made in quadrats where Gelidium was present, rather than counts for the total shore). Sporophytic and gametophytic clumps were also distinguished by identifying reproductive structures in the field. The total proportion of sporophytes was larger than the proportion of gametophytes, but at a smaller scale there could be a shift in dominance. The survival rate of clumps was similar between shores with a mean survival rate of 85%, but there was a significant difference in recruitment between shores. The results indicate a stable population structure. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Acclimation to UV irradiance in Gracilaria chilensis Bird,McLachlan & Oliveira (Gigartinales,Rhodophyta)

Photoautotrophs can cope with an increase in ultraviolet (UV) irradiance in the aquatic environment, through protection and acclimation mechanisms (i.e. synthesis of UV-absorbing compounds). This capacity has been proven to vary according to the organism's sensitivity. To quantify variations of this capacity between the different parts of macroalgae, an in vitro study was performed with the tips, cystocarps and thalli segments of Gracilaria chilensis. Whole algae incubated during 3 days at high and low PAR, supplying UV B (4.6 µW cm^–2) during 2 hours showed, as predicted, an increase in absorption (OD) at 320 nm of the different parts, after the first day of exposure to UV B. The tips presented the highest increase in the standardized OD at 320 nm relative to cystocarps and thalli segments; their mean percentage of increase was 38% and 29% at low and high PAR, respectively. The lowest sensitivity was consistently found in the thalli segments, while the highest was in the tips. The tips are important for growth and therefore they play a major role in the maintenance of the Gracilaria populations. Acclimation mechanisms that occurred in a short time scale, and mainly in the tips, may allow Gracilaria to have an almost immediate protection to increases in UV B fluxes.     

Effects of UVB Radiation on the Initial Stages of Growth of Gigartina Skottsbergii, Sarcothalia Crispata and Mazzaella Laminarioides (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta)

The effects of UVB radiation on the growth of macroalgal thalli were evaluated using tetrasporophytic fronds of the Rhodophytes Gigartina skottsbergii, Sarcothalia crispata and Mazzaella laminarioides. The tetrasporophytic fronds were collected from nature and the tetrasporophyte sporelings grown in a temperature regulated chamber at 8 ± 2 ^∘C with a 12L:12D (Light: Dark) photoperiod, Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) of 55 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ and seawater enriched with 20 mL L⁻¹ of Provasoli medium. We exposed the thalli of these macroalgae to PAR (55 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹) and three treatments using a combination of PAR with three different levels of UVB radiation (0.10, 0.15 and 0.23 W m⁻² for G. skottsbergii and S. crispata and 0.02, 0.05 and 0.10 W m⁻² for M. laminarioides) during a period of 71 days. Growth of thalli was quantified by measuring their length using digitized photographs of samples.Important differences were detected in the growth of individuals cultured under the effects of UVB radiation, when compared to the control (i.e. plants exposed to PAR only). In the case of G. skottsbergii and S. crispata higher levels of UVB radiation resulted in slower growth of thalli. In nearly all measurements for the first two species, UVB radiation levels of 0.1 W m⁻² induced differences in thallus growth, while for M. laminarioides levels of UVB radiation of 0.1 W m⁻² were effective only after a prolonged period of exposure.Differential effects of UVB radiation on G. skottsbergii, S. crispata and M. laminarioides could interfere with the natural populations of these economically important macroalgal species in southern Chile, where they occur under the annual influence of the Antarctic Ozone Hole and the general thinning of the ozone layer.     

热带雨林不同生态习性树种幼苗光合作用和抗氧化酶对生长光环境的反应

于雨季研究了西双版纳热带雨林后期演替树种思茅木姜子(Litsea pierrei var.szemaois)、五桠果叶木姜子(L．alilleniifolia)和先锋树种毛果桐(Mallotus barbatus)幼苗的光合、荧光特征和抗氧化酶等对3种光水平(50％、25％和8％)的适应特性。结果表明,毛果桐的最大光合速率(Pmx)随光水平升高呈增加趋势,而两种木姜子则在50％光水平下Pmax最小,Fv／Fm的日变化表明,3个种在25％和50％光水平下发生可逆光抑制,两种木姜子较重,50％光水平下,五桠果叶木姜子受到长期光抑制．思茅木姜子和毛果桐的丙二醛(MDA)和H2O2含量,以及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性随光水平升高而增加,表明光水平升高,致使植物受光胁迫的影响加剧,增强抗氧化酶系统则减轻了其伤害,两种木姜子的濒危现状可能和它们对强光生境的适应性较差有一定关系。     

Evaluation of the in vitro methods for micropropagation of Chondracanthus acicularis (Roth) Fredericq (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta): tissue culture and production of protoplasts

Tissue was cultured and protoplasts isolated from the carrageenophyte Chondracanthus acicularis with the aim of developing micropropagation as an alternative to harvesting raw material from natural beds. Both adventitious shoots and filamentous calluses were induced by tissue culture on medium solidified with 0.4–1 % (w/v) agar. Adventitious shoots were mainly produced from discoid bases while filamentous calluses were mainly induced from basal zones and sub-apical explants. A gradient of the regeneration ability was observed from the top to the bottom of the thallus. The discoid base was the most reactive explant and produced the highest number of adventitious shoots compared to basal zones and sub-apical explants, irrespective of the concentration of agar. Protoplasts were isolated enzymatically from the whole thallus using a combination of cellulase R-10 Onozuka, macerozyme R-10, and crude extract of the gland gut of algivorous molluscs. The highest mean yield of protoplasts (1.2?×?10⁶ protoplasts g^?1 fresh weight) was obtained after 16 h of digestion with an enzyme mixture containing 2 % (w/v) cellulase R-10, 1 % (w/v) macerozyme R-10 Onozuka, 4 % (v/v) crude extract of gut gland of Haliotis, 0.8 M mannitol, 50 mM sodium citrate, 0.3 % (w/v) bovine serum albumin. Depending on the conditions, mean protoplast yields ranged from 3.14?×?10⁵ to 1.2?×?10⁶ protoplasts g^?1 fresh weight. Different factors (storage duration, mannitol, sodium citrate, crude extract of the gland gut of algivorous molluscs) were tested to improve the yield of protoplasts but none has a significantly effect.     

Spatial variation of intertidal macroinvertebrates and environmental variables in Robbins Passage wetlands,NW Tasmania

Macroinvertebrate composition, abundance and biomass were investigated at four intertidal sites throughout the Robbins Passage wetlands, Tasmania, over a 12-month period, in order to identify differences among and within sites, and to determine whether environmental variables could explain these differences. As this region is the most important shorebird area in Tasmania, we wanted to quantify the potential food source for shorebirds within the wetlands. Thirty-five taxa from 28,928 individuals were identified, with a mean abundance of 6026.6 ind m⁻² and biomass of 27.1 gDW m⁻². Bivalves and gastropods dominated the assemblage in terms of abundance and biomass (79% and 60%, respectively). There was a significant interaction among tidal level, site and season for invertebrate abundance and diversity, while biomass differed significantly among sites. In general, the mid-intertidal stratum had the greatest invertebrate density and diversity, while the low intertidal stratum had the greatest biomass. Community composition varied among the four sites, with the bivalve Paphies elongata dominating at two of the sites, while gastropods and polychaetes were more abundant at the other sites. Differences in invertebrate composition and abundance could partly be explained by seagrass biomass, i.e., dry mass of seagrass leaves and roots. Areas with seagrass had increased invertebrate abundance and diversity, but mean sediment particle size, % organic carbon and % seagrass cover had no significant effect. These results will assist in the investigation of habitat use by shorebirds and the identification of important shorebird feeding areas within the wetlands. Handling editor: P. Viaroli     

Spatial and temporal variation in the sediment properties of an intertidal mangrove forest: implications for sampling

Studies of the structure or functioning of intertidal soft sediments often involves collection of biogeochemical data over tidal, diel and seasonal time-scales. Little effort has, however, been made to quantify accurately the time-scales at which these properties vary. Many previous studies collected samples from different sites at different times, potentially resulting in the confounding of spatial and temporal variation. This experiment was designed to determine if time of day or time within the exposure period had any significant effect on measurements of 7 different properties of sediments. Samples of sediment were collected using contact cores at the beginning, middle and end of tidal emersion at each of 9 a.m., 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., with two replicate days of each condition, from mangrove forests fringing Glades Bay, Sydney, Australia. These samples were analysed for water-content, pigments, carbohydrates, grain-size and loss on ignition (LOI), to determine the potential effects of time of day and time within the tidal cycle on these properties of the sediments.Whilst both time of day and time within the tidal cycle were found to occasionally have a significant effect upon the measured properties, most of the variation occurred among sites and between replicate days of each set of conditions. The minimal influence of time of day and time within the tidal cycle show that sampling effort should be preferentially placed into replicating days of sampling and sites because these are the scales with the greatest variation. Differences in the patterns found also depended on whether the data were expressed as content or concentration, the consequences of which are briefly described.     

Strain selection and genetic variation in Gracilaria chilensis (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta)

Strain selection processes in seaweed often have assumed that sterile clones could be maintained for long periods in a diversity of environments without major genetic changes. However, clonal species such as Gracilaria chilensis exhibit intra-clonal variation in performance and ongoing studies suggest such changes may be due to rapid changes in DNA composition associated with growth, via mitotic recombinations. Therefore performance of a given ramet in this type of seaweed should be understood as the dynamic outcome of rapid reactions between the environment and the changing genotype of the selected strain. To evaluate this idea, we measured changes in genetic variability, as detected by DNA-fragment polymorphism using RAPDs-PCR, exhibited by clones of G. chilensis after two transfers to different environmental conditions (from field to controlled laboratory conditions and from the laboratory to large-scale tank culture). The transfer to laboratory conditions reduced the frequency of low similarity values and increased the frequency of intermediate similarity values in DNA banding patterns, suggesting the branchlets produced under controlled laboratory conditions have less genetic variability (evaluated as total DNA polymorphism) than plants recently collected in the field. Tank incubation reduced the total range of similarity and significantly increased the frequency of high similarity values. Results thus suggest the dynamic of genetic changes in vegetative clones of Gracilaria chilensis that is fast and strongly affected by the external environment. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

东湖沿岸带底栖藻类群落的时空变化

武汉东湖是一个浅水富营养湖泊,其沿岸带底栖藻类群落的季节分布特征明显,夏季的优势种群是一些体积很小的硅藻类曲壳藻(Achnanthes spp.),其他大部分季节是绿藻门的团集刚毛藻(Cladophora glomerata)和硅藻门的变异直链藻(Melosira varians)。不同样点间的底栖藻类现存量差异不显著,但优势种类不同,以团集刚毛藻为优势的绿藻在处于中富营养区域的磨山样点比例最高,以变异直链藻为优势种的硅藻在严重富营养化的水果湖样点中比例最高。底栖藻类月平均现存量(以叶绿素a计)的时间变化格局为夏季最低(41.5μg/cm2),逐渐增加到秋、冬季节的最高峰值(55.3μg/cm2)。造成东湖夏季底栖藻类现存量低的原因是雨季水体环境的不稳定性和水位升高造成的低光照。不同样点间的chlb、chlc及chlb/a、chlc/a值具有显著差异,分析这种差异显示:在东湖的富营养化条件下,过渡的富营养化能增加底栖藻类群落中硅藻的比例,却降低了绿藻的比例;不同环境条件下的底栖藻类群落结构具有特异性,分析底栖藻类群落结构可以用来评价水环境健康状况。东湖底栖藻类现存量的季节变化规律与浮游藻类不同,它和水温成显著的负相关,但温度和浮游藻类并不是影响东湖沿岸带底栖藻类生物量变化的直接因子。团集刚毛藻等底栖丝状藻类给各种底栖动物提供了食物和栖息环境,在东湖生态系统中具有重要的作用和功能。     

Spatial and temporal patterns in the recruitment of the intertidal barnacle Chthamalus malayensis Pilsbry (Crustacea: Cirripedia) on the equatorial shores of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore

Spatial and temporal variation in the recruitment of the intertidal barnacle Chthamalus malayensis was examined over one year (September 2003-August 2004) on the equatorial shores of southern Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. A nested sampling design was applied for the first time on these shores, over three spatial scales - hundreds of kilometres, kilometres to tens of kilometres and tens of metres - and temporal variation was determined through monthly sampling of recruits. Shores within 2° north of the equator on the East and West coasts of southern Peninsular Malaysia and the southern coast of Singapore were selected as study sites. Generally, all three coasts recruited throughout the year, with varying intensities. There was a clear regional pattern, where the largest number of recruits was found on the East Coast of Malaysia, and the least in Singapore. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) showed that variability occurred on the smallest scale, but only in nine of the twelve months examined, consequently resulting in significant temporal and spatial interaction. Calculated variance components indicated that small-scale variation accounted for most of the overall variability. The potential causes of the spatial and temporal patterns of C. malayensis recruitment, and implications on tropical-temperate comparisons will be discussed.     

Spatial variation in the recruitment of the intertidal barnacles Chthamalus montagui Southward and Chthamalus stellatus (Poli) (Crustacea: Cirripedia) over an European scale

Spatial variation in the recruitment of the intertidal barnacles Chthamalus montagui and Chthamalus stellatus was examined over an European scale. The study was carried out using standardised protocols at a series of locations. The five locations chosen (SW Ireland, NW Spain, SW Portugal and NW and NE Italy) span a large part of the range of these species in Europe. The spatial scales were location (hundreds of kilometres) and shore (thousands of metres).Estimates of total cumulative recruitment (cyprids and metamorphs) summed over the year (April 1997 to March 1998) showed substantial variation between locations which was dependent on the species. Recruitment was highest in SW Portugal for C. montagui and in SW Ireland and NW Spain for C. stellatus. Overall recruitment of C. montagui was higher than that of C. stellatus at all locations except SW Ireland, where recruitment of the two species was not significantly different. There were significant differences among shores in each location.The recruitment period of both species varied with location, with recruitment beginning earlier further south. In general, recruitment of C. montagui and C. stellatus was recorded in 8 months in NW Spain and NE Italy, while only in 7 months in SW Ireland. Recruitment of C. montagui occurred in 10 months in SW Portugal, but no recruits of C. stellatus were found. In all locations there was at least one distinct peak of recruitment. In SW Ireland both species showed only one peak of recruitment, a month after initiation. At the more southerly Atlantic locations, as well as in the Mediterranean, two unequal peaks of recruitment were generally seen. During recruit census, the number of cyprids, in comparison to metamorphs, found at any location was very low. In SW Ireland and NW Spain cyprids of both species were found, while in SW Portugal and in the Mediterranean, only cyprids of C. montagui were found.