Survival and recovery of Phaeocystis antarctica (Prymnesiophyceae) from prolonged darkness and freezing

The colony-forming haptophyte Phaeocystis antarctica is an important primary producer in the Ross Sea, and must survive long periods of darkness and freezing temperature in this extreme environment. We conducted experiments on the responses of P. antarctica-dominated phytoplankton assemblages to prolonged periods of darkness and freezing. Chlorophyll and photosynthetic capacity of the alga declined nonlinearly and independently of each other in the dark, and darkness alone would potentially reduce photosynthetic capacity by only 60 per cent over 150 days (approximately the length of the Antarctic winter in the southern Ross Sea). The estimated reduction of colonial mucous carbon is higher than that of colonial cell carbon, suggesting metabolism of the colonial matrix in the dark. The alga quickly resumed growth upon return to light. Phaeocystis antarctica also survived freezing, although longer freezing durations lengthened the lag before growth resumption. Particulate dimethylsulfoniopropionate relative to chlorophyll increased upon freezing and decreased upon darkness. Taken together, the abilities of P. antarctica to survive freezing and initiate growth quickly after darkness may provide it with the capability to survive in both the ice and the water column, and help explain its repeated dominance in austral spring blooms in the Ross Sea and elsewhere in the Southern Ocean.     

A puzzle with many pieces: the genetic structure and diversity of Phaeocystis antarctica Karsten (Prymnesiophyta)

Strong ocean current systems characterize the Southern Ocean. The genetic structure of marine phytoplankton species is believed to depend mainly on currents. Genetic estimates of the relatedness of populations of phytoplankton species therefore should provide a proxy showing to what extent different geographic regions are interconnected by the ocean current systems. In this study, spatial and temporal patterns of genetic diversity were studied in the circumpolar prymnesiophyte Phaeocystis antarctica Karsten using seven nuclear microsatellite loci. Analyses were conducted for 86 P. antarctica isolates sampled around the Antarctic continent between 1982 and 2007. The results revealed high genetic diversity without single genotypes recurring even among isolates within a bloom or originating from the same bucket of water. Populations of P. antarctica were significantly differentiated among the oceanic regions. However, some geographically distant populations were more closely related to each other than they were to other geographically close populations. Temporal haplotype turnover within regions was also suggested by the multilocus fingerprints. Our data suggest that even within blooms of P. antarctica genetic diversity and population sizes are large but exchange between different regions can be limited. Positive and significant inbreeding coefficients hint at further regional substructure of populations, suggesting that patches, once isolated from one another, may not reconnect. These data emphasize that even for planktonic species in a marine ecosystem that is influenced by strong currents, significant breaks in gene flow may occur.     

Effect of PAR irradiance intensity on Phaeocystis antarctica (Prymnesiophyceae) growth and DMSP,DMSO, and acrylate concentrations

Phaeocystis antarctica forms extensive spring blooms in the Southern Ocean that coincide with high concentrations of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylsulfide (DMS), and acrylate. We determined how concentrations of these compounds changed during the growth of axenic P. antarctica cultures exposed to light-limiting, sub-saturating, and saturating PAR irradiances. Cellular DMSP concentrations per liter cell volume (CV) ranged between 199 and 403 mmol · L_CV⁻¹, with the highest concentrations observed under light-limiting PAR. Cellular acrylate concentrations did not change appreciably with a change in irradiance level or growth, ranging between 18 and 45 mmol · L_CV⁻¹, constituting an estimated 0.2%–2.8% of cellular carbon. Both dissolved acrylate and DMSO increased substantially with irradiance during exponential growth on a per-cell basis, ranging from 0.91 to 3.15 and 0.24 to 1.39 fmol · cell⁻¹, respectively, indicating substantial export of these compounds into the dissolved phase. Average cellular DMSO:DMSP ratios increased 7.6-fold between exponential and stationary phases of batch growth, with a 3- to 13-fold increase in cellular DMSO likely formed from abiotic reactions of DMSP and DMS with reactive oxygen species (ROS). At mM levels, cellular DMSP and acrylate are proposed to serve as de facto antioxidants in P. antarctica not regulated by oxidative stress or changes in ROS. Instead, cellular DMSP concentrations are likely controlled by other physiological processes including an overflow mechanism to remove excess carbon via acrylate, DMS, and DMSO during times of unbalanced growth brought on by physical stress or nutrient limitation. Together, these compounds should aid P. antarctica in adapting to a range of PAR irradiances by maintaining cellular functions and reducing oxidative stress.     

硝酸盐对球形棕囊藻生长和硝酸还原酶活性的影响

以我国南海海域分离的赤潮原因种——球形棕囊藻(Phaeocystisglobosa)为材料,研究了不同硝酸盐浓度下藻细胞生长及硝酸还原酶活性的变化。当培养基中不含硝酸盐时,藻细胞内硝酸还原酶的活性保持在非常低的水平,藻细胞的生长受到限制,不能形成正常的生长曲线:当培养基中硝酸盐浓度为3.62μmol.L-1时,藻细胞的硝酸还原酶活性和比生长速率达到最大。在含有硝酸盐的培养基中,接种培养后第9天藻细胞硝酸还原酶活性达到最大值,并且在4种不同硝酸盐浓度下,藻细胞硝酸还原酶活性的差异性达到极显著水平(P<0.01)。在接种培养第16天藻细胞密度达到最大值,并且4种不同硝酸盐浓度培养的藻细胞密度之间的差异性也达到极显著水平(P<0.01)。实验结果表明,在培养基中添加不同浓度的硝酸盐,对球形棕囊藻细胞硝酸还原酶的活性和藻细胞的生长有极显著的影响,含有较高硝酸盐的富营养化海域有利于球形棕囊藻细胞的持续生长。     

不同形态的磷源对球形棕囊藻生长及碱性磷酸酶的影响

研究了不同浓度和形态的无机磷(DIP)和有机磷(DOP)对球形棕囊藻细胞生长、培养基中磷浓度的变化以及碱性磷酸酶活性的变化的影响。在缺磷和大分子DOP(卵磷脂)作为磷源的情况下,碱性磷酸酶活性迅速提高,在第9天达到了最大值,其活性分别为19.11U和18.28U,显然在缺磷胁迫下和大分子DOP的利用过程中碱性磷酸酶起着重要作用。DIP(磷酸二氢钾)和小分子DOP(β-甘油磷酸钠)都容易直接被球形棕囊藻吸收利用,碱性磷酸酶活性变化不明显。     

空间搭载后的蜀葵幼苗叶中光合色素含量及抗氧化酶活性变化

蜀葵种子经返回式卫星搭载后,其幼苗叶中光合色素(叶绿素a、b,胡萝卜素)总量低于地面未经搭载的.叶绿素a b含量明显降低, 叶绿素b的下降幅度远大于叶绿素a,因而Chla/b值增高.经空间搭载后萌发12 d的幼苗体内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性均低于地面未经搭载的,而丙二醛(MDA)含量则明显升高.     

光合作用对光和二氧化碳响应的观测方法探讨

用便携式光合仪LI-6400观测自然条件下生长的盆栽蚕豆叶片光合作用对光和二氧化碳的响应发现：（1）用未经过光合诱导的叶片观测光合作用对光的响应会得到即使在全太阳光强下光合作用仍然不饱和的假象;（2）利用某些经验方程计算的饱和光强远低于实际观测值;（3）在观测光合作用对CO2的响应过程中,每一次CO2浓度变化都应当伴随一次光合仪的匹配步骤,否则所得结果偏差很大;（4）在不饱和光下观测光合作用对CO2的响应,会导致对叶片光合能力的低估。     

Vocalizations of bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) and their influence on the soundscape of the western Canadian Arctic

The soundscape is a crucial habitat feature for marine mammals. This study investigates the contribution of bearded seal vocalizations to the soundscape in the western Canadian Arctic, and also the vocal characteristics of bearded seals relative to sea ice conditions. Passive acoustic data were recorded near Sachs Harbour between August 2015 and July 2016. Sound pressure levels (SPL) in the 50–1,000 Hz and 1–10 kHz bands increased as the total duration of all bearded seal vocalizations increased, and this relationship was moderated by sea ice concentration. Bearded seals in this region had an overlapping vocal repertoire with bearded seals in other areas of the Arctic, and had seven additional vocalizations that have not been previously documented for this region. This study is the first detailed assessment of the influence of bearded seal calls on SPL, which shows the high potential of bearded seals to influence underwater sound levels during the mating season. Bearded seals live in a changing Arctic seascape, and their influence on the soundscape may shift as sea ice continues to diminish. It is imperative that acoustic monitoring continues within the Arctic, and this study provides a baseline for future monitoring as the Arctic continues to change.     

Some Critical Remarks on the Suitability of the Concept of the Photosynthetic Unit in Photosynthesis Research and Phytoplankton Ecology

Based on the classical definition of the photosynthetic unit after Emerson and Arnold, new definitions are presented and their consistency subjected to critical reflection. Modern molecular approaches to determine the physiological condition or even the efficiency of the photosynthetic machinery via determination of the magnitude of the photosynthetic unit are discussed against the background of new data on the dynamics of the thylakoid membrane.     

Signals from the south; humpback whales carry messages of Antarctic sea‐ice ecosystem variability

Southern hemisphere humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) rely on summer prey abundance of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) to fuel one of the longest‐known mammalian migrations on the planet. It is hypothesized that this species, already adapted to endure metabolic extremes, will be one of the first Antarctic consumers to show measurable physiological change in response to fluctuating prey availability in a changing climate; and as such, a powerful sentinel candidate for the Antarctic sea‐ice ecosystem. Here, we targeted the sentinel parameters of humpback whale adiposity and diet, using novel, as well as established, chemical and biochemical markers, and assembled a time trend spanning 8 years. We show the synchronous, inter‐annual oscillation of two measures of humpback whale adiposity with Southern Ocean environmental variables and climate indices. Furthermore, bulk stable isotope signatures provide clear indication of dietary compensation strategies, or a lower trophic level isotopic change, following years indicated as leaner years for the whales. The observed synchronicity of humpback whale adiposity and dietary markers, with climate patterns in the Southern Ocean, lends strength to the role of humpback whales as powerful Antarctic sea‐ice ecosystem sentinels. The work carries significant potential to reform current ecosystem surveillance in the Antarctic region.     

Production and Characterization of the Intra‐ and Extracellular Carbohydrates and Polymeric Substances (EPS) of Three Sea‐Ice Diatom Species,and Evidence for a Cryoprotective Role for EPS

Diatoms and their associated extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are major constituents of the microalgal assemblages present within sea ice. Yields and chemical composition of soluble and cell‐associated polysaccharides produced by three sea‐ice diatoms, Synedropsis sp., Fragilariopsis curta, and F. cylindrus, were compared. Colloidal carbohydrates (CC) contained heteropolysaccharides rich in mannose, xylose, galactose, and glucose. Synedropsis sp. CC consisted mainly of carbohydrates <8 kDa size, with relatively soluble EPS, compared to high proportions of less‐soluble EPS produced by both Fragilariopsis spp. F. curta colloidal EPS contained high concentrations of amino sugars (AS). Both Fragilariopsis species had high yields of hot bicarbonate (HB) soluble EPS, rich in xylose, mannose, galactose, and fucose (and AS in F. cylindrus). All species had frustule‐associated EPS rich in glucose–mannose. Nutrient limitation resulted in declines in EPS yields and in glucose content of all EPS fractions. Significant similarities between EPS fractions from cultures and different components of natural EPS from Antarctic sea ice were found. Increased salinity (52) reduced growth, but increased yields of EPS in Fragilariopsis cylindrus. Ice formation was inhibited byF. cylindrus, EPS, and by enhanced EPS content (additional xanthan gum) down to ?12°C, with growth rate reduced in the presence of xanthan. Differences in the production and composition of EPS between Synedropsis sp. and Fragilariopsis spp., and the association between EPS, freezing and cell survival, supports the hypothesis that EPS production is a strategy to assist polar ice diatoms to survive the cold and saline conditions present in sea ice.     

PTP1B inhibitory effects of tridepside and related metabolites isolated from the Antarctic lichen Umbilicaria antarctica

The selective inhibition of PTP1B has been widely recognized as a potential drug target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. In the course of screening for PTP1B inhibitory natural products, the MeOH extract of the dried sample of the Antarctic lichen Umbilicaria antarctica was found to exhibit significant inhibitory effect, and the bioassay-guided fractionation and purification afforded three related lichen metabolites 1-3. Compounds 1-3 were identified as gyrophoric acid (1), lecanoric acid (2), and methyl orsellinate (3) mainly by analysis of NMR and MS data. These compounds inhibited PTP1B activity with 50% inhibitory concentration values of 3.6 ± 0.04 μM, 31 ± 2.7 μM, and 277 ± 8.6 μM, respectively. Furthermore, the kinetic analysis of PTP1B inhibition by compound 1 suggested that the compound inhibited PTP1B activity in a non-competitive manner.     

Observations on the ultrastructure of the flagella and periplast in the Cryptophyceae

The flagella in Cryptomonas ovata Ehrenberg and two other un-named strains of Cryptomonas both bear stiff hairs with fine distal filaments of the same type as those found in the Xanthophyceae, the Chrysophyceae sensu stricto, the Phaeophyceae, the Bacillariophyceae, the Eustigmatophyceae and the Oomycetes. On the longer of the two flagella the hairs are 2·5 µm long and in two opposite rows whereas on the shorter flagellum they measure only 1 µm, are arranged in a single row and are more closely spaced. The long flagellum also bears a characteristic lateral swelling with a tuft of hairs of the same type as on the remainder of the flagellum, at approximately the level at which it emerges from the gullet. The hairs on the flagella of Hemiselmis rufescens Parke are distributed in a similar manner to those in Cryptomonas but they are more flexible and the swelling and tuft of hairs appear to be absent from the long flagellum. Hairs are apparently absent from the short flagellum of Chroomonas sp. The periplast in Cryptomonas ovata shows a hexagonal pattern in surface view and in sections of all three Cryptomonas strains appears as a typical plasmalemma underlain by a discontinuous layer of electron-dense material with variable substructure. The distribution of flagellar hairs and the structure of the periplast appear to be characters unique to the Cryptophyceae and these features emphasise the isolated position of this class of algae.     

The Levels of Organization of the Photosynthetic Apparatus and the Control of Production Processes in Phytocenoses under Artificial-Light Culture

The processes limiting the production in higher plant phytocenoses under an artificial-light culture are analyzed in relation to the multilevel organization of the photosynthetic apparatus (PA). The authors consider the feasibility of overcoming these limitations by optimizing the physical parameters of irradiation (the structure of the light spectrum, the rate, and the ratio of radiation fluxes in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and infrared (IR) regions) at the molecular, leaf, plant, and cenotic levels of PA organization. To illustrate this approach, the authors used a complex experiment in an artificial ecosystem to evaluate the efficiency of the light control of production processes in multispecies phytocenoses by alleviating or removing the factors that limit plant production at the various levels of PA organization. An artificial-light culture is seen as an instrument for solving several problems of theoretical and applied plant physiology and related disciplines in the future.     

碳离子辐照对四尾栅藻光合色素及抗氧化活性的影响

为了探讨重离子辐照对微藻的生物学效应,实验研究了不同剂量碳离子辐照（10~80 Gy）对四尾栅藻（Scenedesmus quadricauda）光合色素及抗氧化活性的影响,分别测定了辐照后短期内其叶绿素a（Chl a）、叶绿素b（Chl b）和类胡萝卜素含量、脂质过氧化物丙二醛(MDA)含量及超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性。结果显示：(1)较低剂量（10~20 Gy）辐照后,光合色素含量变化较小或无显著变化,中等剂量（40~60 Gy）辐照后,光合色素含量显著升高,之后又回落,恢复至正常水平,高剂量（80 Gy）辐照后,光合色素含量明显降低,不能恢复正常;(2)低剂量（10 Gy）辐照后,丙二醛（MDA）含量显著上升,8 h后出现回落,到24~48 h时,回升至正常水平,较低剂量（20 Gy）辐照后,MDA含量瞬时有所下降,到24~48 h时,回升至正常水平,中等至高剂量（40~80 Gy）辐照后,MDA含量降低,24~48 h时显著升高,不能恢复正常;(3)低剂量（10 Gy）辐照后,超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性显著上升,8 h后出现回落,恢复正常,中等剂量（20~60 Gy）辐照后,SOD活性显著上升,到48 h时回落至正常水平,高剂量（80 Gy）辐照后,SOD活性无明显上升,到48 h时,活性明显降低,不能恢复正常。     

水淹和恢复对凤丹光合特性和根系活力的影响

选用3年生油用牡丹凤丹(Paeonia ostii)实生苗为试验材料,以常规供水管理的凤丹苗为对照,测定凤丹光合特性以及根系活力和形态随着水淹和水淹恢复处理时间的变化,探究牡丹的耐湿机制。结果表明:(1)水淹后,凤丹叶片净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度及根系活力均较对照组显著下降,且下降幅度随着水淹时间的延长而增大;在持续水淹过程中,叶片胞间CO_2浓度则呈先下降后上升的变化趋势;水淹168h时,根系活力在所测定指标中下降幅度最大,仅为对照组的2.34%,此时根系变黑且腐烂,大部分根系脱落。(2)凤丹叶片净光合效率的下降在水淹120h过程中与气孔限制性调节密切相关,而到水淹168h时非气孔限制性成为光合作用的限制因子。(3)水淹72h后进行恢复处理120h后,叶片净光合速率、蒸腾速率、胞间CO_2浓度和根系活力均显著上升;恢复处理168h后,净光合速率和胞间CO_2浓度恢复到正常的生长水平,同时绝大部分根尖呈现白色且发育良好,根系生长向正常的生命状态恢复。研究表明,油用牡丹凤丹对水淹胁迫的应答迅速且灵敏,虽不耐水淹,但恢复能力强,这为其栽培管理以及在相对湿润地区推广种植提供了理论依据。     

rRNA and rDNA based assessment of sea ice protist biodiversity from the central Arctic Ocean

Sea ice is a large and diverse ecosystem contributing significantly to primary production in ice-covered regions. In the Arctic Ocean, sea ice consists of mixed multi-year ice (MYI), often several metres thick, and thinner first-year ice (FYI). Current global warming is most severe in Arctic regions; as a consequence, summer sea ice cover is decreasing and MYI is disappearing at an alarming rate. Despite its apparent hostility, sea ice is inhabited by a diverse microbial community of bacteria and protists, many of which are photosynthetic. Here we present an assessment of eukaryotic biodiversity in MYI and FYI from the central Arctic Ocean using high-throughput 454 sequencing of 18S rRNA and rDNA amplicons. We compared the rDNA-based ‘total’ biodiversity with the ‘active’ biodiversity from rRNA amplicons and found differences between them including an over-representation of Ciliophora, Bicosoecida and Bacillariophyceae operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the active part of the community. Differences between the two libraries are more pronounced at the lower taxonomic level: certain genera, such as Melosira, are more abundant in the rRNA library, indicating activity of these genera. Furthermore, we found that one FYI station showed a higher activity of potential grazers which was probably due to the advanced stage of melt evident by higher ice temperatures and highly porous ice compared with the other stations.     

Analysis of Photosynthetic Activity at the Leaf and Canopy Levels from Reflectance Measurements: A Case Study

The photochemical reflectance index (PRI), based on reflectance signatures at 531 and 570 nm, and associated with xanthophyll pigment inter-conversion and related thylakoid energisation, was evaluated as an indicator of photosynthetic function in a Mediterranean holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) coppice. The chlorophyll fluorescence pulse-amplitude-modulation and the eddy correlation techniques were used to estimate the photosystem 2 photochemical efficiency of leaves and the CO₂ flux over the canopy, respectively. The reflectance and fluorescence techniques yielded identical estimates of the photosynthetic activity in leaves exposed to dark-light-dark cycles or to a variable irradiance in laboratory. However, there was no such correlation between photosynthetic performance and PRI when applied to a sun-exposed canopy in field conditions. Fluorescence profiles inside the canopy and especially a helpful use of multispectral reflectance imaging highlight the limitations of such method.     

A Comparative Analysis of the Ice Nucleation Activity of Pseudomonad Cells and Lipopolysaccharides

The paper deals with the study of the ice nucleation activity of the cells, extracellular lipopolysaccharides (ELPSs), lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), and LPS structural components (lipid A, core oligosaccharide, and O-specific polysaccharide) of Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. syringae, P. fragi, and P. pseudoalcaligenes. Aqueous suspensions of intact cells of P. syringae IMV 1951 and IMV 185 began to freeze at –1 and –4°C, respectively. This suggests that these cells possess ice nucleation activity. Aqueous cell suspensions of two other strains, P. fluorescens IMV 1433 and IMV 2125, began to freeze at lower temperatures than did distilled water (–9°C), which suggests that the cells of these strains possess antifreeze activity. The ice nucleation activity of the bacterial strains studied did not show any correlation with their taxonomic status. The ice nucleation activity of ELPSs depended little on their concentration (within a concentration range of 0.2–0.4%). In most cases, the ice nucleation activity of ELPSs, LPSs, and LPS structural components differed from that of the intact cells from which these biopolymers were obtained. This may indicate that the biopolymers under study play a role in ice nucleation but this role is not crucial. The relationship between the structure of LPSs and their effect on ice nucleation is discussed.