Filamentous fungal population and species diversity from the continental slope of Bay of Bengal,India

Filamentous fungal diversity from the sediments of the continental slope of Bay of Bengal was studied. Sediment samples were collected during two voyages in 2004 and 2005. Filamentous fungal population from both the cruises showed a range of 5.17–59.51 CFU/g and 3.47–29.68 CFU/g, respectively. Totally 16 fungal genera were recorded from both the cruises. Aspergillus was found to be the dominant genus and the overall percentage occurrence was as follows: Deuteromycotina 74%, Ascomycotina 17%, Basidiomycotina 4% and non-sporulating 5%. Diversity indices were calculated and during both the cruises species richness (d) varied from 0.912 to 3.622 and 1.443 to 4.588; evenness (J′) varied from 0.9183 to 1.000 and 0.8322 to 1.000 and Shannon–Wiener index (H′ log 2) varied from 0.9183 to 1.000 and 1.000 to 3.690. The higher diversity was found in Divipoint transect (northern Bay of Bengal). 95% confidence interval and ellipse showed that the stations were well lying within the funnel. Cluster analysis and MDS grouped the northern transects which showed higher diversity. BVSTEP resulted in isolation of 23 species which were most influential in the marine filamentous fungal diversity of the continental slope of Bay of Bengal. Thus, a lower population range and higher diversity of marine filamentous marine fungi in the sediments of the continental slope of Bay of Bengal was recorded.     

Seasonal and altitudinal changes of culturable bacterial and yeast diversity in Alpine forest soils

The effect of altitude and season on abundance and diversity of the culturable heterotrophic bacterial and yeast community was examined at four forest sites in the Italian Alps along an altitude gradient (545–2000 m). Independently of altitude, bacteria isolated at 0 °C (psychrophiles) were less numerous than those recovered at 20 °C. In autumn, psychrophilic bacterial population increased with altitude. The 1194 bacterial strains were primarily affiliated with the classes Alpha-, Beta-, Gammaproteobacteria, Spingobacteriia and Flavobacteriia. Fifty-seven of 112 operational taxonomic units represented potential novel species. Strains isolated at 20 °C had a higher diversity and showed similarities in taxa composition and abundance, regardless of altitude or season, while strains isolated at 0 °C showed differences in community composition at lower and higher altitudes. In contrast to bacteria, yeast diversity was season-dependent: site- and altitude-specific effects on yeast diversity were only detected in spring. Isolation temperature affected the relative proportions of yeast genera. Isolations recovered 719 strains, belonging to the classes Dothideomycetes, Saccharomycetes, Tremellomycetes and Mycrobotryomycetes. The presence of few dominant bacterial OTUs and yeast species indicated a resilient microbial population that is not affected by season or altitude. Soil nutrient contents influenced significantly abundance and diversity of culturable bacteria, but not of culturable yeasts.     

渤海中、南部大型底栖动物物种多样性的研究

以1997年 6月、1998年9月和1999年4月共3个航次,覆盖渤海中、南部大部分海区的大型底栖动物丰度、生物量和生产力的研究为基础,进一步对其物种多样性进行了分析。结果表明：研究海域的大型底栖动物物种多样性没有明显的平面分布规律;物种多样性指数与沉积物因子的相关性高于其与底层水因子的相关性;沉积物中污染物含量的确会对大型底栖动物的多样性造成影响。通过对3个航次中3个相同站位的比较,发现不同年份之3个季节的平均Shannon Wiener指数无显著差异（P>0.05）;而1998年9月和1999年4月2个航次中20个相同站位的平均Shannon Wiener指数同样也未表现出明显的差异（P>0.05）。此外,渤海的物种数量要明显地高于胶州湾。     

Comparison of seasonal flux variations of planktonic foraminifera in sediment traps on both sides of the Ryukyu Islands,Japan

Variations in the fluxes of planktonic foraminifera were analyzed based on sediment trap data collected over a period of 10 months, from October 1994 to August 1995, at stations JAST01 and JAST02, located on both sides of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Station JAST01 (latitude 27°23′N, longitude 126°44′E) was deployed at a depth of 1000 m in the Okinawa Trough, East China Sea, along the flow axis of the Kuroshio Current, west of the islands, whereas station JAST02 (latitude 25°4′N, longitude 127°34′E) was deployed at a depth of 3000 m in the Ryukyu Trench, along the western margin of the northwest Pacific, east of the Islands. The total planktonic foraminiferal fluxes (TFFs) in the eastern station were high in winter, when the surface-water column was vertically well mixed. In contrast, the TFF peaks did not show significant seasonality in the western station, but values fluctuated with the northwest–southeast oscillation of the Kuroshio axis. Among the 36 planktonic foraminiferal species identified in the trap samples, Globigerina bulloides, Globigerinita glutinata, Neogloboquadrina dutertrei, Pulleniatina obliquiloculata, Globigerinoides ruber, Globigerinoides sacculifer and Globigerina falconensis exhibited a greater shell flux. On both sides of the Ryukyu Island Arc, the fluxes of G. ruber and G. sacculifer increased synchronously with the seasonal warming of surface waters, whereas that of G. falconensis increased during winter, when the water column was vertically well mixed as a result of the NW monsoon. In contrast to these species, which exhibited similar seasonal flux variation patterns at both stations, the species G. bulloides, G. glutinata, N. dutertrei, and P. obliquiloculata displayed different flux variations on both sides of the islands. These fluxes seem to be regulated by phytoplankton productivity, which is controlled by the vertical structure of the water column on the eastern Ryukyu Trench side and by the oscillation of the Kuroshio axis on the western Okinawa Trough side. Lateral transport of suspended planktonic foraminiferal shells to the Okinawa Trough might exist, but is not prominent enough to wipe out the original features of the planktonic foraminiferal flux. The species G. falconensis is an indicator of winter mixing on both sides of the Ryukyu Islands, and may possibly be used as a proxy to trace the intensity of the paleo-winter monsoon.     

Specific features of distribution and size indices of four poorly studied species of sculpins (Cottidae) in the Okhotsk Sea Waters off Kamchatka

Evidence on occurrence in catches and characteristic of the spatial-bathymetric distribution and size indices of four species of Cottidae—frog sculpin Myoxocephalus stelleri, brightbelly sculpin Microcottus sellaris, antlered sculpin Enophrys diceraus, and furseal sculpin Stelgistrum stejnegeri—in summer-autumn months in the Okhotsk Sea waters off Kamchatka (site from 51°15′ to 57°20′ N, depths of 11–100 m) are provided. The first three species occur mainly in the northern part of the shelf above 54° N at depths smaller than 30–40 m within a comparatively well warmed surface water mass of seasonal modification at near-bottom temperature values above 6°C at various solid grounds. Maximum catches of S. stejnegeri were recorded only at a site of the western Kamchatka shelf from 54°00′ to 54°20′ N on pebbly-stony ground in a narrow bathy-metric range of 41–60 m on the boundary between the well warmed surface water mass of autumn modification and the cold intermediate water mass at a water temperature below 2°C. Evidence on the size-weight indices of the studied species of Cottidae in trawl catches in the Okhotsk Sea waters off Kamchatka in the study period is provided.     

Heterotrophic activity of bacterioplankton along the gradients of the chlorophyll <Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> concentration and water temperature in marine and limnetic ecosystems

The dependence of the heterotrophic activity of bacterioplankton (V, μg C L^–1 h^–1) on the concentration of chlorophyll a (Chl, μg L^–1) and the water temperature (T) was examined for lakes (37°29′–80°36′ N) and marine polar waters (69°16′–80°36′ N). It was shown that ~76% of the V variations was related to changes in Chl and T.     

Benthic infaunal community variability on the northern Svalbard shelf

Marine benthic communities are effective indicators of environmental change. Yet in the Arctic, there are few empirical tests of how sustained climatic change may influence community structure. Northern Svalbard is influenced by both warm Atlantic and cold Arctic water masses, providing an opportunity to assess potential effects of long-term environmental changes by examining spatial variation in community structure. We examined benthic macroinfaunal communities and sediment pigments under Atlantic and Arctic water masses on the northern shelf and fjords of Svalbard. We report on infaunal biomass, abundance, species composition, and diversity at 10 stations spanning 79°–81°N and ranging in depth from 200 to 500?m. Benthic biomass averaged 128?g?WW?m^?2 (48–253?g?WW?m^?2), mean density was 3,635?ind.?m^?2 (780–7,660?ind.?m^?2), and species richness varied from 45 to 136?taxa?stn.^?1. Abundance-based community structure clustered stations in groups related to water mass characteristics, with Atlantic and Arctic shelf stations being well distinguished from each other. Dominant taxa were different in Atlantic- and Arctic-influenced locations. Faunal biomass was highest in the Atlantic-influenced fjords, followed by Arctic fjords and Arctic shelf stations, with Atlantic shelf stations having the lowest biomass. Species richness and diversity were inversely related to biomass. Patterns in faunal biomass were strongly correlated with sedimentary pigments (R ²?=?0.74 for chl a and R ²?=?0.77 for phaeopigments), with large differences in sedimentary pigment concentration among stations. These relationships suggest that benthic fauna on the northern Svalbard shelf are food limited and dependent on predictable, albeit episodic, delivery of organic matter from the water column.     

Occurrence and abundance of three larval codlet species (Bregmacerotidae, Teleostei) in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean (12–22°S)

There are still only a few studies related to Bregmacerotidae larvae in Brazil, although these larvae are frequently collected in oceanic ichthyoplankton samples. Thus this study analyzes the occurrence and abundance of Bregmaceros larvae along the Brazilian central coast and describes larval characteristics. During three oceanographic cruises samples were collected between the Real River (12°S) and the São Tomé Cape (22°S). Oblique hauls were conducted from a maximum depth of 200 m, using bongo nets of 330‐ and 500‐μm mesh size. Among the 951 bregmacerotids collected, three species were identified corresponding to 89%Bregmaceros atlanticus, 8%Bregmaceros cantori and 3%Bregmaceros n. sp. B. atlanticus was widely distributed along the study area and was more frequent in stations situated beyond the 200‐m isobath; this species was more abundant during the winter, showing a peak of density between Vitória and the São Tomé Cape (355 larvae per 10 m²). Bregmaceros cantori densities were very similar during the three cruises; the highest value (25.6 larvae per 10 m²) was recorded during the winter and higher concentrations were observed in neritic stations along the 200‐m isobath. Bregmaceros n. sp. was rare in collections made during the three cruises; it was concentrated along the Bahia coast (12–18°S), and was more frequent in stations situated in the oceanic region. Bregmaceros atlanticus varying from 2.0 to 6.0 mm and Bregmaceros n. sp. larvae varying from 3.0 to 6.0 mm were present in all cruises, indicating that they spawn year‐round. Bregmaceros cantori did not show a distribution pattern among the different length classes, probably associated with the fact that this species has a coastal distribution.     

Examining the genetic diversity of Stipa grandis under various grazing pressures

The Stipa grandis steppe in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region occupies an area of 2798081 hm2. On the basis of the genetic variation, it was found that its adaptability to the environmental conditions under grazing pressure was significant. Using the Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) procedure, the changes to the genetic diversity of the Stipa grandis population under different grazing pressures were observed. Plant samples were collected from a series of grazing gradients of the Stipa grandis steppe in Dalinuoer National Nature Reserve in the Inner Mongolia (located at 116°38′–116°41′E and 43°25′–43°27′N.), which has the following vegetation types in abundance: Leymus chinensis is the constructive species; the dominant species include Stipa grandis, Cleistogenes squarrosa, and Artemisia frigida; the companion species is Potentilla acaulis and others. According to the grazing pressure, the following four grazing gradients were identified from the dwellings of the herdsmen to the enclosure site: (1) no grazing (CK enclosure site); (2) light grazing (LG); (3) moderate grazing (MG); (4) heavy grazing (HG). Young leaves of each Stipa grandis were collected during the growing season. The results showed that the Stipa grandis showed abundant genetic diversity despite the fact that certain polymorphic loci were lost; at the same time, new polymorphic loci emerged when grazing pressure increased; a total of 10 primers were used, and 74 bands were produced in total, of which 65 bands were polymorphic; the total percentage of polymorphism was 89%; the percentage of polymorphic loci of the Stipa grandis population decreased with the increase of grazing pressure; the percentage of polymorphic loci was 62.2% in the no-grazing (CK) population, 64.9% in the light-grazing (LG) population, 58.1% in the moderate-grazing (MG) population, and 56.8% in the heavy-grazing (HG) population; the genetic diversity of the population in the descending order using the Shannon's information index is as follows: (1) light grazing (0.3486); (2) no grazing (0.3339); (3) moderate grazing (0.3249); (4) heavy grazing (0.2735) with the same distributional pattern as the Nei's genetic diversity index. The test showed the following: As the grazing pressures increased, the change of genetic diversity decreased; the genetic differentiation coefficient among the population (Gst) was 0.1984, which showed the presence of small partial genetic diversity (19.8%) among populations; gene flow (Nm*) between primers varied from 0.9806 to 3.4463, and the mean gene flow (Nm*) was 2.0202; the UPGMA cluster figure that was constructed on the basis of the genetic distance matrix showed four populations that became genetically closer at each step: (1) The first group was the moderate-grazing (MG) population and the heavy- grazing (HG) population; (2) The second group consisted of the no-grazing (CK) population and the light-grazing (LG) population; (3) The two groups gathered together.     

Spatial variations of size-fractionated Chlorophyll, Cyanobacteria and Heterotrophic bacteria in the Central and Western Pacific

Geographic and vertical variations of size-fractionated (0.2–1μm, 1–10 μm, and >10 μm) Chlorophyll a (Chl.a) concentration, cyanobacteria abundance and heterotrophic bacteria abundance were investigated at 13 stations from 4^°S, 160^°W to 30^°N, 140^°E in November 1993. The results indicated a geographic distribution pattern of these parameters with instances of high values occurring in the equatorial region and offshore areas, and with instance of low values occurring in the oligotrophic regions where nutrients were almost undetectable. Cyanobacteria showed the highest geographic variation(ranging from 27×10³ to 16,582×10³cell l^-1), followed by Chl.a (ranging from 0.048 to 0.178μg l^-1), and heterotrophic bacteria (ranging from2.84×10³ to 6.50 ×10⁵ cell l^-1). Positive correlations were observed between nutrients and Chl.a abundance. Correspondences of cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria abundances to nutrients were less significant than that of Chl.a. The total Chl.a was accounted for 1.0–30.9%, 35.9–53.7%, and 28.1–57.3% by the >10μm, 1–10 μm and 0.2–1 μm fractions respectively. Correlation between size-fractionated Chl.a and nutrients suggest that the larger the cell size, the more nutrient-dependent growth and production of the organism. The ratio of pheophytin to chlorophyll implys that more than half of the >10 μm and about one third of the 1–10 μm pigment-containing particles in the oligotrophic region were non-living fragments, while most of the 1–10 μm fraction was living cells. In the depth profiles, cyanobacteria were distributed mainly in the surface layer, whereas heterotrophic bacteria were abundant from surface to below the euphotic zone. Chl.a peaked at the surface layer (0–20 m) in the equatorial area and at the nitracline (75–100 m) in the oligotrophic regions. Cyanobacteria were not the principle component of the picoplankton. The carbon biomass ratio of heterotroph to phytoplankton was greater than 1 in the eutrophic area and lower than 1 in oligotrophic waters. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Biological features of the sea raven Hemitripterus villosus (Hemitripteridae) in Pacific waters off the northern Kuril Islands and southeastern Kamchatka

Data on the spatial-bathymetric distribution and the size-weight composition of the sea raven Hemitripterus villosus in Pacific waters off the northern Kuril Islands and southeastern Kamchatka are provided. This representative of the family Hemitripteridae is a comparatively scarce, large fish species (maximum length 75 cm, body weight 11.8 kg), which in the study period (1992–2002) was found practically everywhere at the site from 48°00′ to 52°00′ N in the depth interval of 83–496 m at near-bottom temperatures from ?1.2 to 3.5°C. However, during the year, the overwhelming majority of its individuals were recorded in two depth ranges—101–150 and 251–400 m, which is accounted for by seasonal changes in the habitation depths. With an increase in depth, the sizes of H. villosus increase in catches due to the fact that individuals with a body weight smaller than 1.7–1.9 kg reside mainly at depths of up to 300 m, and those with a body weight greater than 2.2–3.0 kg reside at larger depths. It is demonstrated that the occurrence and the amount of catches of H. villosus are subjected to some interannual, seasonal, and diurnal dynamics.     

Temperature regulation of marine heterotrophic prokaryotes increases latitudinally as a breach between bottom‐up and top‐down controls

Planktonic heterotrophic prokaryotes make up the largest living biomass and process most organic matter in the ocean. Determining when and where the biomass and activity of heterotrophic prokaryotes are controlled by resource availability (bottom‐up), predation and viral lysis (top‐down) or temperature will help in future carbon cycling predictions. We conducted an extensive survey across subtropical and tropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans during the Malaspina 2010 Global Circumnavigation Expedition and assessed indices for these three types of controls at 109 stations (mostly from the surface to 4,000 m depth). Temperature control was approached by the apparent activation energy in eV (ranging from 0.46 to 3.41), bottom‐up control by the slope of the log‐log relationship between biomass and production rate (ranging from ?0.12 to 1.09) and top‐down control by an index that considers the relative abundances of heterotrophic nanoflagellates and viruses (ranging from 0.82 to 4.83). We conclude that temperature becomes dominant (i.e. activation energy >1.5 eV) within a narrow window of intermediate values of bottom‐up (0.3–0.6) and top‐down 0.8–1.2) controls. A pervasive latitudinal pattern of decreasing temperature regulation towards the Equator, regardless of the oceanic basin, suggests that the impact of global warming on marine microbes and their biogeochemical function will be more intense at higher latitudes. Our analysis predicts that 1°C ocean warming will result in increased biomass of heterotrophic prokaryoplankton only in waters with <26°C of mean annual surface temperature.     

Temporal Variations in Heterotrophic Mesophilic Bacteria from a Marine Shallow Hydrothermal Vent off the Island of Vulcano (Eolian Islands, Italy)

Abstract The fluctuations of the total microbial abundance, the culturable heterotrophic bacterial population, and the composition of heterotrophic bacteria were investigated in relation to environmental parameters in a shallow, marine hydrothermal vent off the Island of Vulcano (Eolian Islands, Italy). Standing stock dynamics were studied by measuring the total population of picoplankton by direct count and the population of viable heterotrophic bacteria in water and sediment samples collected monthly. The environmental factors most strongly linked to the total microbial abundance and heterotrophic bacterial populations were pH and H₂S content in water and C/N ratio in sediment samples. The pattern of variation of microbial populations associated with water was different from those associated with sediment. Assessment of the qualitative composition of aerobic heterotrophic bacterial communities was based on 30 morphological and biochemical characteristics for each strain. Numerical analysis was used for an initial survey of the similarity among the isolates. The data were successively used to determine the structure and the metabolic potential of water and sediment bacteria. Metabolic properties varied between water- and sediment-isolated bacteria. Bacteria from water were structurally more diverse, and active in the use of carbohydrates, than those from sediment. Moreover, most of the sediment bacteria were able to grow at a high temperature (60 and 70°C). The fluctuations of bacterial characteristics in relation to environmental parameters present an evident temporal variation in water, but not in the sediment habitat. Received: 13 January 1997; Accepted: 7 August 1997     

Catching of Greenland halibut <Emphasis Type="Italic">Reinhardtius hippoglossoides</Emphasis> (Pleuronectidae) on the shelf edge of the Laptev and East Siberian Seas

The first capture of the Greenland (or Black) halibut Reinhardtius hippoglossoides in the Arctic Ocean on the border with the East Siberian Sea (79°03′–79°08′ N 139°59′–141°16′ E, 259–277 m) and the repeated findings of the species in the Laptev Sea (78°03′–78°04′ N 132°56′–133°04′ E, 307 m; 78°33′–78°35′ N 138°44′–138°48′ E, 125 m) are reported. Fish (79 specimens with the length of 15.0–44.5 cm) were caught during four bottom trawlings on the edge of the continental shelf of the two seas in the transformed waters of Atlantic origin, as evidenced by the discovery of the indicator species of these waters—the Glacier lanternfish Benthosema glaciale (Myctophidae)—in one of the stomachs of halibut. The other captures of Greenland halibut in the Arctic were also reviewed.     

Assessment the macrobenthic diversity and community structure in the Musi Estuary,South Sumatra,Indonesia

The macrobentic community in the Musi Estuary is very diverse. However, it has been showing a declining trend recently due to an increase in waste from human activities entering the waters. This study aimed to assess the macrobenthic diversity and community structure and correlated to the water quality parameters of the Musi Estuary, South Sumatra. The method used was a survey collecting water quality parameters at eight observation stations. The salinity is measured with a refractometer, temperature is measured with a digital thermometer, pH is measured with a pH meter. The dissolved oxygen (DO), brightness and current are measured with a DO meter, Seichii disk, and current meter, respectively. The Ekman grab was used to collect the samples, and then we used a diversity index, a similarity index, and principal components analysis (PCA) for analysis. The results show that the water quality is found in a good condition for macrobenthos growths. The salinity is ranging between 0 and 15 ppt, temperature is about 29–30.8 °C, pH is about 7.6–8.1, the dissolved oxygen is found to be 3.2–12.5 mg/L, the brightness is about 4.71–31.67% and the current speed is about 0.02–0.08 m.s⁻¹. The analysis also indicates that the microbenthic compositions consist of 18 species, which is grouped into five classes, namely Gastropods 56%, Crustacea 22%, Bivalve 11%, Actinopterygii 6%, and Polychaeta 5%, with an abundance of 0,67 to 13,33 Ind.m⁻². The diversity index is generally in low categories (H′ < 1), and the dominance index is more than 0.5. Based on the PCA analysis, it was found that the water quality parameters (e.g. dissolved oxygen and temperature) show significant correlation with similarity index at all observation stations. The macrobenthic diversity and community structure in the Musi Estuary is found to be increasing offshore and decreasing towards the river.     

Bacterial growth and grazing loss in contrasting areas of North and South Atlantic

Samples were collected from the top 200 m of the water columnat 50 stations during two cruises in different, near equinoctialseasons on an Atlantic transect near the 20°W meridian between50°N and 50°S. These samples were analysed to determinecharacteristics of the heterotrophic bacterial populations.Flow cytometry was used to enumerate these bacteria and determinetheir average size so as to calculate their biomass. Heterotrophicbacterial production, and the rate of grazing of these bacteriaby heterotrophic nanoplankton in the main depth layers, weredetermined using ³H thymidine and ¹⁴C leucine techniques. Thebiomass of heterotrophic nanoplankton in these layers was determinedusing a glucosaminidase assay. Five provinces were distinguishedalong the transect and characterized by average values of allmeasured parameters. The relative composition and activity ofthe microbial community in the water columns within each provincechanged little between the two cruises. Lowest heterotrophicbacterial biomass of 1–2 mg C m^–3 and productionof 0.1–0.2 mg C m^–3 day^–1 were found in thenorthern and southern Atlantic gyres, and were relatively similarin both seasons. Biomass and production were 2–4 timeshigher in the northern and southern temperate waters, and inequatorial waters, than in the gyres and tended to show moreseasonal variation. Production and biomass in the layer belowthe pycnocline were lower by 10–30% and about 50%, respectively,than values determined in the surface mixed layer, and variedless with latitude. Depth-integrated values of these two parameterswere generally of similar size in the mixed water layer andthe layer of the chlorophyll maximum and pycnocline, and tendedto vary with season. The specific growth rate of heterotrophicbacteria was in the range 0.05 to 0.12 day^–1 in the topmixed layer at all latitudes. In spite of the elevated temperatures,bacterial growth appears to be restricted by a shortage of nutrientsso that the microbial community cycles very slowly, with a turnovertime of the order of 1 week or more. The depth-integrated biomassof heterotrophic nanoplankton was generally about 100% of theheterotrophic bacterial biomass in the same water. Grazing bythese nanoplankton at the rate measured could consume all ofthe new production of heterotrophic bacteria in all waters,and they probably control the populations of both heterotrophicand phototrophic bacteria.     

Distribution of living coccolithophores in the California Current system,southern California borderland

The distribution of living coccolithophores in the California Current system of southern California at 10 m water depth was investigated on two dates in March and June, 1982. Six closely spaced stations were sampled in March, of which three were resampled in June. Thirty-six euphotic species were identified of which four,Emiliania huxleyi, Umbilicosphaera sibogae, Gephyrocapsa oceanica, andRhabdosphaera longistylis, respectively, were the most abundant. Both the “cold” and “warm” morphotypes ofE. huxleyi were present, in varying proportions. Large ranges in community structure, diversity (0.35–2.64 natural bels), and standing crop (1.0 × 10⁴–6.2 × 10⁵cells/l) were recorded. This range of end-member values is approximately that found in the open ocean from 0° to about 65° latitude.The distributions of four coccolithophore assemblages recognized in March samples from the Borderland area appear to reflect the following distinct water masses: (1) California Current; (2) Southern California Counter Current; (3) Transitional Zone; (4) Near Shore. The coccolithophore assemblages from the June stations were more uniform, indicating that the Borderland was experiencing more stable conditions than in March.     

Nematode assemblages from the Kandalaksha Depression (White Sea, 251–288 m water depth)

The shallow-water nematodes of the White Sea are relatively well studied; however, information on the nematode fauna inhabiting the deepest part of this sea is very scarce. The composition of the nematode assemblages (at species and genus level) was studied in samples collected during four sampling occasions in the deepest part of the Kandalaksha Depression (the White Sea) in July 1998, October 1998, May 1999, and November 1999. Samples were collected from a depth of 251–288 m with the aid of a multicorer. In total, 59 nematode morphotypes belonging to 37 genera and 18 families were distinguished. The genera Sabatieria and Filipjeva dominated at all stations, followed by Aponema, Desmoscolex, and Quadricoma. The composition of the dominant genera can be considered typical for this depth range in temperate and Arctic waters, although Filipjeva and Aponema were among the dominant genera for the first time. The most abundant species were Sabatieria ornata, Aponema bathyalis, and Filipjeva filipjevi. In general, diversity of the nematode assemblages was lower than in the temperate and Arctic continental shelf and slope with reduced evenness and species richness. The evenness of nematode assemblages and other diversity indices decreased with increasing sediment depth. Based on the valid species and genera recorded, the nematode fauna of the Kandalaksha Depression showed a higher resemblance to that found in the shallow waters of Kandalaksha Bay.     

Molecular phylogenetic analyses of Ulva (Chlorophyta, Ulvophyceae) mats in the Xiangshan Bay of China using high-resolution DNA markers

Intertidal Ulva mats occur annually in winter and spring in the Xiangshan Bay (29°26′–29°34′ N, 121°27′–121°50′ E) of China. Thousands of tons of Ulva biomass have been harvested as edible seaweeds for human consumption for several decades in this region. This investigation was designed to quantify Ulva microscopic propagules associated with the mat, identify species composition, and to analyze intra-species relationships using three molecular markers. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nuclear encoded rDNA internal transcribed spacer region, the plastid encoded large subunit of the ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase gene, and the 5S rDNA spacer region showed that the mat was principally composed of Ulva prolifera and Ulva flexuosa. Their propagules were detected in both the water column and sediment. Based on phylogenetic analyses of the 5S rDNA spacer region, mat samples of U. prolifera and U. flexuosa were genetically distinct from the green tide samples in the Yellow Sea and U. flexuosa samples from Jiangsu coasts, respectively, revealing that isolated geographical position of the Xiangshan Bay might result in the maintenance of a distinct Ulva population. The results demonstrate that high-resolution DNA markers have great potential in identification and discrimination at and below the species level.     

High abundance of heterotrophic prokaryotes in hydrothermal springs of the Azores as revealed by a network of 16S rRNA gene-based methods

Two hydrothermal springs (AI: 51 °C, pH 3; AIV: 92 °C, pH 8) were analysed to determine prokaryotic community composition. Using pyrosequencing, 93,576 partial 16S rRNA gene sequences amplified with V2/V3-specific primers for Bacteria and Archaea were investigated and compared to 16S rRNA gene sequences from direct metagenome sequencing without prior amplification. The results were evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). While in site AIV Bacteria and Archaea were detected in similar relative abundances (Bacteria 40 %, Archaea 35 %), the acidic spring AI was dominated by Bacteria (68 %). In spring AIV the combination of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and FISH revealed high abundance (>50 %) of heterotrophic bacterial genera like Caldicellulosiruptor, Dictyoglomus, and Fervidobacterium. In addition, chemolithoautotrophic Aquificales were detected in the bacterial community with Sulfurihydrogenibium being the dominant genus. Regarding Archaea, only Crenarchaeota, were detected, dominated by the family Desulfurococcaceae (>50 %). In addition, Thermoproteaceae made up almost 25 %. In the acidic spring (AI) prokaryotic diversity was lower than in the hot, slightly alkaline spring AIV. The bacterial community of site AI was dominated by organisms related to the chemolithoautotrophic genus Acidithiobacillus (43 %), to the heterotrophic Acidicaldus (38 %) and to Anoxybacillus (7.8 %). This study reveals differences in the relative abundance of heterotrophic versus autotrophic microorganisms as compared to other hydrothermal habitats. Furthermore, it shows how different methods to analyse prokaryotic communities in complex ecosystems can complement each other to obtain an in-depth picture of the taxonomic composition and diversity within these hydrothermal springs.