On the knowledge of the intertidal zone of Russian Far Eastern Seas

A historical review. By the end of the 20th century, the composition of intertidal biota has been studied in all Russian Far Eastern seas; the specific features of vertical zonation in intertidal communities have been revealed; the major belt-forming communities of flora and fauna have been described and studied in the quantitative aspect; the existence of bionomic types in the intertidal zone, similar to those in the coastal area of the Barents Sea, has been corroborated; and some regularities have been retraced in the geographical zonation of different types of marine intertidal zone. The progress of the scientific school of Academician Oleg G. Kusakin has been particularly emphasized in the investigations of intertidal biota, communities and taxocenoses.     

Species composition and distribution of algae on the fringing coral reef of Sesoko Island (Ryukyu Archipelago) before and after the natural catastrophe of 1998

The species composition and distribution of marine plants on the fringing reef of Secoko Island were studied before and after the mass coral mortality in 1998. The study showed that changes in the bottom communities that occurred after bleaching of corals were caused by the presumed development of marine plants substituting reef-building corals on the bottom. The number of algal species grew from 211 to 345. The projective cover (PC) of hard substrate with macroalgae increased: in 1998, it was 1–10% in the subtidal zone and 20–50% in the intertidal zone, while in 2002 through 2005, the PC reached 71% in the subtidal and 40–85% in the intertidal zone. It is assumed that the phase of the “plant reef” on Sesoko Island is a temporary event, and that the coral reef can recover within several decades, unless a natural catastrophe occurs again.     

Effect of environmental variables on eukaryotic microbial community structure of land‐fast Arctic sea ice

Sea ice microbial community structure affects carbon and nutrient cycling in polar seas, but its susceptibility to changing environmental conditions is not well understood. We studied the eukaryotic microbial community in sea ice cores recovered near Point Barrow, AK in May 2006 by documenting the composition of the community in relation to vertical depth within the cores, as well as light availability (mainly as variable snow cover) and nutrient concentrations. We applied a combination of epifluorescence microscopy, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and clone libraries of a section of the 18S rRNA gene in order to compare the community structure of the major eukaryotic microbial phylotypes in the ice. We find that the community composition of the sea ice is more affected by the depth horizon in the ice than by light availability, although there are significant differences in the abundance of some groups between light regimes. Epifluorescence microscopy shows a shift from predominantly heterotrophic life styles in the upper ice to autotrophy prevailing in the bottom ice. This is supported by the statistical analysis of the similarity between the samples based on the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis banding patterns, which shows a clear difference between upper and lower ice sections with respect to phylotypes and their proportional abundance. Clone libraries constructed using diatom‐specific primers confirm the high diversity of diatoms in the sea ice, and support the microscopic counts. Evidence of protistan grazing upon diatoms was also found in lower sections of the core, with implications for carbon and nutrient recycling in the ice.     

Temporal comparison of the composition and zonation of rocky intertidal organisms at Cocos Island National Park, Pacific, Costa Rica

Several biological and physical factors change the rocky shore communities. The desiccation time and the tolerance of the intertidal species produce the vertical zonation. In many studies around the world, a temporal change in this zonation is presented.In Costa Rica, only studies that include temporal trends were carried out in Punta Mala and Montezuma, Pacific coast in 80's. The rocky intertidal of the Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica were surveyed photographically. The Chatham bay was sampled in three expeditions (January 2007, October 2007 and April 2008). Photos corresponding to 25x25cm quadrats were taken with the goal to determine diversity and composition differences in rocky shore organisms between sampling dates. The Wafer bay was sampled in January and October 2007. The intertidal of Chatham consists of basaltic rock, while Wafer has basaltic and ignimbrite boulders. The main difference between sites were the higher algae cover (erect-frondose forms) and number of organism bands at Chatham bay. Temporal change was not found in the total cover of sessile fauna and autotrophs. The barnacle Tetraclita stalactifera, that occurs above the algal fringe (lower intertidal), was the invertebrate with the highest coverage. The mobile fauna biodiversity presented no significant trend between sampled months. However, the identity of species, their cover and their abundance showed a moderate temporal change. In October 2007, when the sea surface temperature was 23 degrees C the infralittoral zone had an increase in green algae cover. The red algae (crust and erect-frondose forms) were dominant in January and April. The pulmonate limpet, Siphonaria gigas and a bacterial biofilm at mid littoral showed a negative association. The snails of the high littoral and the supralittoral zone showed a temporal change in their abundance, but with contrasting patterns between sites. The temporal variation in the assemblages increased from the supralittoral to the infralittoral possibly due to changes in the water temperature and climatic conditions, that could influence the intertidal zone during the high and low tide, respectively.     

Ecology and dynamics of two intertidal algal communities on the littoral of the island of São Miguel (Azores)

The intertidal benthic algal communities of two sites located on opposite coasts of São Miguel Island (Azores), were studied over a 2-year period (September 1993–September 1995). At both sites (São Roque on the south coast and São Vicente on the north), the littoral region was surveyed from the upper intertidal down to the sublittoral fringe. The survey revealed five distinct zones, with a variable degree of overlapping. The two upper zones were characterized by animals (littorinids and barnacles, respectively). Lower down, algal communities formed three distinct zones: an upper Fucus spiralis/Gelidium microdon association, a more extensive turf zone, and a belt featuring erect or frondose algae. Upper in the eulittoral, the turf was mainly monospecific, and dominated by Caulacanthus ustulatus. The lower eulittoral turf was dominated by articulated coralline algae, the associated species differing between the two sites studied. Mainly erect algae (Pterocladiella, Asparagopsis, etc.) occurred furthest down the shore and extended into the nearby shallow sublittoral. Two intertidal communities were studied at each locality: the upper eulittoral (Caulacanthus turf in São Roque and the Fucus spiralis/Gelidium microdon association at São Vicente), and the lower eulittoral (the coralline turf). The lower littoral communities had a higher algal diversity. A general pattern was observed in the seasonal variation of biomass: the lower levels exhibited the higher values in late summer/early autumn, the period in which the upper levels had the lowest standing crops. Physical factors are proposed to account for this. No significant inter-annual variations could be detected, indicating relatively stable communities, at least on a short-term basis.     

Intertidal and subtidal soft-bottom macro- and meiofauna of the Kongsfjord (Spitsbergen)

The intertidal and subtidal soft bottom macro- and meiofauna of a glacier fjord on Spitsbergen was studied after complete ice melt in June 2003. The abundances of the benthic fauna were within the range reported from estuaries and similar intertidal areas of boreal regions. The high proportion of juveniles in the eulittoral zone indicated larval recruitment from subtidal areas. The macrobenthic fauna can be divided into an intertidal and a subtidal community, both being numerically dominated by annelids. Deposit feeders were numerically predominant in intertidal sites, whereas suspension feeders were most abundant in the subtidal area. Among the meiofauna, only the benthic copepods were identified to species, revealing ecological adaptations typical for intertidal species elsewhere.     

Nord‐ und Südpolarmeer im Klimawandel. Ein biologischer Vergleich

Impacts of climate change on polar seas The polar seas in the Arctic and Antarctic are characterized by extreme cold and the prevalence of sea ice, which provides a unique polar habitat but also strongly affects the pelagic and benthic biota beneath. Life conditions for the marine fauna and flora differ considerably between the Arctic and Southern Oceans, as a result of contrasts in geography, geological history, as well as seasonal dynamics in light regime, sea ice cover and, hence, biological production. Climate change is particularly obvious in the Arctic Ocean and off the Antarctic Peninsula where warming results in a rapid shrinkage of the summer sea ice cover. Such decline threatens the sea‐ice communities and their associated fauna and will also have far reaching effects for the plankton and benthos of the polar seas.     

Characteristics of two distinct high-light acclimated algal communities during advanced stages of sea ice melt

Biological characteristics of ice-associated algal communities were studied in Darnley Bay (western Canadian Arctic) during a 2-week period in July 2008 when the landfast ice cover had reached an advanced stage of melt. We found two distinct and separate algal communities: (1) an interior ice community confined to brine channel networks beneath white ice covers; and (2) an ice melt water community in the brackish waters of both surface melt ponds and the layer immediately below the ice cover. Both communities reached maximum chlorophyll?a concentrations of about 2.5?mg?m^?3, but with diatoms dominating the interior ice while flagellates dominated the melt water community. The microflora of each community was diverse, containing both unique and shared algal species, the latter suggesting an initial seeding of the ice melt water by the bottom ice community. Absorption characteristics of the algae indicated the presence of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) and carotenoid pigments as a photoprotective strategy against being confined to high-light near-surface layers. Although likely not contributing substantially to total annual primary production, these ice-associated communities may play an important ecological role in the Arctic marine ecosystem, supplying an accessible and stable food source to higher trophic levels during the period of ice melt.     

烟台养马岛潮间带大型海藻分布特征及环境影响因素

2010年4月—2011年3月对烟台养马岛潮间带大型海藻进行了逐月调查.在养马岛潮间带共设置了A、B两个点,对大型海藻物种组成、生物量以及与环境变化的关系进行了研究.结果表明: 调查区域共有大型海藻35种,其中红藻24种,占总数的68.6%;绿藻6种,占总数的17.1%;褐藻5种,占总数的14.3%.夏季优势种以褐藻和绿藻为主,秋、冬、春季优势种以红藻和褐藻为主,鼠尾藻在各季节中均为优势种.大型海藻生物量呈现夏季高、冬季低的特点,生物量最高值出现在6月,A、B采样点大型海藻生物量最小值分别出现在1月和11月,具有温带海域藻类变化特点.温度、营养盐和pH对大型海藻生物量有显著影响.
     

The influence of coastal upwelling on the functional structure of rocky intertidal communities

Summary Relationships between organisms at all trophic levels are influenced by the primary productivity of the ecosystem, and factors which enhance rates of primary production may modify trophic relationships and community structure. Nutrient enrichment of intertidal and nearshore waters leads to enhanced production by intertidal algae, and it was hypothesized that where rocky shores are washed by nutrient-rich upwelled waters, the intertidal communities should show a characteristic functional structure, based on the effects of enhanced primary production. Study sites were chosen on rocky shores in southern Africa, central Chile and the Canary Islands, in areas with and without coastal upwelling, and mid-shore community structure at these sites was analysed in terms of the abundance of certain functional guilds of organisms.It was found that algal cover and the biomass of herbivorous limpets supported per unit area on rocky shores were significantly greater in regions of coastal upwelling than in regions where upwelling did not occur. Ground cover by sessile filter-feeding organisms was significantly greater on shores in non-upwelled areas. However, correspondence analysis showed no functional aspect of intertidal community structure that was characteristic of coasts washed by upwelled waters. Primary reasons for this are probably the large variations in the nature of nutrient enrichment that accompanies upwelling, and in the nutrient status of non-upwelled areas. Other factors are man's exploitation of intertidal organisms and differences in the genetic origins of the intertidal species involved.     

Enumeration of Active Cells in the Bacterioplankton of the Rybinsk Reservoir Using 5-Cyano-2,3-Ditolyl Tetrazolium Chloride: A Comparison with Other Methods

The enumeration of actively respiring bacterial cells in different biotopes of the littoral zone of the Rybinsk Reservoir during the spring period of ice thaw using the fluorescent dye 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride showed that bacterial communities growing on the bottom surface of the ice cover and in water overgrown by higher aquatic plants were most active. The number of active cells among individual bacterial cells averaged 20% and reached about 40% among aggregated and filamentous bacterial cells. The results of the count of active bacteria by this method were compared with those obtained by other methods.     

岷江上游河岸带土地覆盖格局及其生态学解释

针对岷江上游干流河岸带的土地覆盖状况,将该区沿河流主干分为68个样方,结合空间信息及环境因子,对这些样方及流域内的12种土地覆盖类型,采用双向指示种分析法(Two-way indicator species analysis, TWINSPAN)和除趋势典范对应分析法(Detrended canonical correspondence analysis, DCCA)对种类和样方进行分类和排序,以揭示其生态学意义及环境影响因素。结果显示:1)研究区土地覆盖可分为高植被覆盖、中度植被覆盖和低/非植被覆盖3种类别,各类别在流域不同位置分布状况不同,整个流域以中度植被覆盖为主。2)所取样方可分为8个类群,各自拥有相似的土地覆盖组成,呈聚集分布。3)根据土地覆盖特征,河岸带可分为上、中、下3段,流域上段河岸带植被覆盖度较高;中段以中度植被覆盖类型为主,占总面积最大;下段集中了大部分人工土地覆盖类型。4)气温、海拔是影响岷江上游干流河岸带土地覆盖格局的最重要因素,此外降水和人类活动对其也有影响。除干旱河谷区外,顺流自上而下,海拔逐渐降低,水热条件逐渐改善,同时人类干扰强度也逐渐增加,是造成流域3段截然不同的土地覆盖格局的原因。5)干旱河谷特殊的土地覆盖格局是水、热共同作用造成的。总之,岷江上游河岸带土地覆盖呈现出一定的梯度变化特征,自然条件的制约是形成这一格局的主要原因。     

厦门潮间带春季鸟类群落的生态分析

厦门岛位于台湾海峡西部,北纬24°20′,东经118°4′左右,属典型亚热带海洋性季风气候,年平均气温208℃,年降雨量约1100ｍｍ。厦门岛三面隔海与大陆相邻,一面潮向外海;潮汐是规则的半日潮,同时具有日潮不等的特征,潮间带每日两次暴露于空气中[5]。厦门鸟类区系及生态分布情况,曾有几位国外学者做过零星考察[2,7],但未有系统专门报道。关于潮间带鸟类群落研究的国内报道也尚不多见,仅有陆健健等对东海北部的行鸟鹬群落做过研究[4]。我们于3～5月间对厦门潮间带鸟类进行了调查,目的在于初步了解厦门不同地区潮间带的鸟类种类组成和数量状况,探…     

Enumeration of active cells in bacterial plankton of the Rybinsk reservoir with 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyltetrasolium: comparison with other methods]

The enumeration of actively respiring bacterial cells in different biotopes of the littoral zone of the Rybinsk Reservoir during the spring period of ice thaw using the fluorescent dye 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride showed that bacterial communities growing on the bottom surface of the ice cover and in water overgrown by higher aquatic plants were most active. The number of active cells among individual bacterial cells averaged 20% and reached about 40% among aggregated and filamentous bacterial cells. The results of the count of active bacteria by this method were compared with those obtained by other methods.     

Anchor ice and benthic disturbance in shallow Antarctic waters: interspecific variation in initiation and propagation of ice crystals

Sea ice typically forms at the ocean's surface, but given a source of supercooled water, an unusual form of ice--anchor ice--can grow on objects in the water column or at the seafloor. For several decades, ecologists have considered anchor ice to be an important agent of disturbance in the shallow-water benthic communities of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, and potentially elsewhere in polar seas. Divers have documented anchor ice in the McMurdo communities, and its presence coincides with reduced abundance of the sponge Homaxinella balfourensis, which provides habitat for a diverse assemblage of benthic organisms. However, the mechanism of this disturbance has not been explored. Here we show interspecific differences in anchor-ice formation and propagation characteristics for Antarctic benthic organisms. The sponges H. balfourensis and Suberites caminatus show increased incidence of formation and accelerated spread of ice crystals compared to urchins and sea stars. Anchor ice also forms readily on sediments, from which it can grow and adhere to organisms. Our results are consistent with, and provide a potential first step toward, an explanation for disturbance patterns observed in shallow polar benthic communities. Interspecific differences in ice formation raise questions about how surface tissue characteristics such as surface area, rugosity, and mucus coating affect ice formation on invertebrates.     

Variability in intertidal communities along a latitudinal gradient in the Southern Ocean

Despite being one of the most intensely studied habitat types worldwide, the intertidal region around Antarctica has received little more than superficial study. Despite this, the first detailed study of a single locality on the Antarctic Peninsula reported previously unanticipated levels of species richness, biomass and diversity in cryptic intertidal habitats. The current study extends the coverage achieved from this single locality. The intertidal zone at sites in the Scotia Arc, the Falkland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula was investigated. At all the study sites selected, a wide range of macrofauna was found inhabiting the littoral fringe. These communities, although generally cryptic and occupying predominantly the undersides of boulders and protected interstices, at some locations and sites were rich at multiple taxonomic levels. Across the study locations species richness in the intertidal zone ranged from 7 to 30 species. The highest species richness and diversity were found at high latitude localities, which experienced the highest physical disturbance due to ice scour, and appeared superficially to be denuded of life. Species assemblages varied with latitude with Adelaide Island having a high proportion of bryozoans relative to all other localities.     

Tidal reduction and its effects on intertidal hard-substrate communities in the Oosterschelde estuary

Developments of intertidal hard-substrate communities in the Oosterschelde estuary were examined in perpendicular transects between high-water line and low-water line in the period 1982–1992. Prior to the beginning of the Oosterschelde estuary works a typology of communities was established and an overall survey of the estuary was carried out. The communities contain flora (algae) as well as fauna. Due to asphalting of dikes in 1986, much of the surface of several communities has been destroyed. The originally well developed communities with large species-richness have not returned. The small reduction in tidal amplitude due to the construction of the storm-surge barrier had a minor effect on the zonation of communities. In the upper part of the intertidal zone the boundaries of the communities moved 0.5–1.0 m downward in the transects along the dike-slopes. At an average inclination of 18° this means a vertical shift of about 15–30 cm. This reflects the reduction of the tidal amplitude: the high-water line shifted ca 22 cm downward. In a number of places sedimentation has caused a reduction in the number of smaller seaweed species in the lower eulittoral zone. At monitoring locations presence of the original communities is rather unchanged. Rare species like Pelvetia canaliculata, Actinia equina and Gelidium pusillum have been able to maintain quite successfully.     

Die Makrofauna und ihre Verteilung im Nordost-Felswatt von Helgoland

The macrofauna and its distribution in the sheltered, rocky intertidal zone of Helgoland (North Sea) was studied at 9 vertically and/or morphologically different stations from March to September in 1984. Seasonal variations in the communities were described based on each species' conspicuousness. A total of 172 species was found. The macrofauna shows a zoned pattern, but also the different substrata, for example, affect its distribution. The number of species increases from the upper intertidal to the upper sublittoral zone from 23 to 133 species. The upper intertidal is characterized byLittorina saxatilis, Chaetogrammarus marinus andHyale nilssonii. Typical and abundant species of the middle and lower intertidal areFlustrellidra hispida, Littorina mariae/obtusata, Littorina littorea, Mytilus edulis andSpirorbis spirorbis. The upper sublittoral zone is characterized byGibbula cineraria and increasing species numbers of Bryozoa, Nemertini and Opisthobranchia. Only few species (e.g.Dynamena pumila, Laomedea flexuosa, Polydora ciliata, Fabricia sabella, Jaera albifrons, Carcinus maenas) occur in the entire intertidal zone. In comparison to other very sheltered shores in Great Britain, which are also dominated by Fucaceae, the macrofauna in the Helgoland intertidal zone lacks several littoral species, such asPatella spp.,Monodonta lineata, Gibbula umbilicalis, Littorina neritoides, Chthamalus spp., whereasLittorina littorea andGibbula cineraria are highly abundant.     

Composition,diversity and distribution of microbenthos across the intertidal zones of Ryazhkov Island (the White Sea)

The composition and distribution of the main unicellular eukaryotic groups (diatom algae, ciliates, dinoflagellates (DF), other phototrophic (PF) and heterotrophic flagellates (HF)) were investigated in sandy sediments at five stations allocated across the tidal sheltered beach of the White Sea. Overall, 75 diatoms, 98 ciliates, 16 DF, 3 PF and 34 HF species were identified; some are new records for the White Sea. Common species for each group are illustrated. Diatoms and ciliates showed high alpha-diversity (species richness per sample), whereas flagellates were characterized by high beta-diversity (species turnover across the intertidal flat). Each group demonstrated its own spatial pattern that was best matched with its own subset of abiotic variables, reflecting group-specific responses to environmental gradients. Species richness increased from the upper intertidal zone seaward for ciliates but decreased for HF, whereas autotrophs showed a relatively uniform pattern with a slight peak at the mid-intertidal zone. Across the littoral zone, all groups showed distinct compositional changes; however, the position of the boundary between “upper” and “lower” intertidal communities varied among groups. Most of the species found at Ryazhkov Island are known from many other regions worldwide, indicating a wide geographic distribution of microbial eukaryotic species.     

Spatial and temporal variation of photosynthesis in intertidal Mazzaella laminarioides (Bory)Fredericq (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales)

The red alga Mazzaella laminarioides is an economically important species with an extended latitudinal distribution along the Chilean coast. Its populations form mid-intertidal stands, several meters wide, and therefore are differentially exposed to environmental variables that result in temporal and spatial variability in productivity. We evaluated the effect of latitude and intertidal height on productivity by in situ measurement of photosynthetic performance. Daily and seasonal variations of O₂-evolution rate and maximal quantum yield (F _v/F _m) were determined in plants from the upper and lower intertidal zone at two localities 1500,km apart. Results suggest that plant responses were mainly affected by irradiation, temperature and desiccation. At local level, upper intertidal plants showed a reduced photosynthetic rate and quantum efficiency as compared to those displayed by plants from the lower intertidal, indicating their higher level of excitation energy acclimation. Stronger acclimation differences between upper and lower intertidal plants were observed in spring and summer. Differences in photosynthetic parameters between reproductive phases were recorded in autumn and winter, regardless of the position of the individuals in the intertidal zone. The effects of tidal elevation on seasonal patterns of photosynthesis were also influenced by latitude. Seasonal variation in photosynthetic efficiency was observed in plants from the northern population at both intertidal elevations, but only at the upper intertidal level in the southern population. This study shows that production variability in M. laminarioides results from differences in the intensity of environmental factors observed seasonally at local (intertidal) and latitudinal scales.