Responses of primary producers to mouth closure in the temporarily open/closed Great Brak Estuary in the warm-temperate region of South Africa

Low river inflow conditions during 2009/2010 resulted in the mouth of the Great Brak Estuary remaining closed for almost two years. The low water level in Wolwedans Dam resulted in no annual environmental flow releases being made, causing mouth closure. The response of primary producers to this prolonged period of mouth closure was investigated in 2010/2011. Urban and agricultural development in the river catchment and along the estuary banks had increased the nutrient inputs into the estuary. Mouth closure, combined with elevated nutrient concentrations, increased the growth of both macroalgae and microalgae, but little change was observed in the submerged macrophytes. Macroalgal mats covered large areas of open-water surface, smothering the salt marsh and causing a decrease in its cover. These results have important implications for the management of temporarily open/closed estuaries, as increased development, freshwater abstraction and reduced river flow will result in prolonged periods of closure and reduced tidal exchange, which is likely to lead to eutrophication.     

Historical biogeography of the widespread macroalga Sargassum (Fucales,Phaeophyceae)

Sargassum is a cosmopolitan brown algal genus spanning the three ocean basins of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, inhabiting temperate, subtropical and tropical habitats. Sargassum has been postulated to have originated in the Oligocene epoch approximately 30 mya according to a broad phylogenetic analysis of brown macroalgae, but its diversification to become one of the most widespread and speciose macroalgal genera remains unclear. Here, we present a Bayesian molecular clock study, which analyzed data from the order Fucales of the brown algal crown radiation (BACR) group to reconstruct a time-calibrated phylogeny of the Sargassum clade. Our phylogeny included a total of 120 taxa with 99 Sargassum species sampled for three molecular markers – ITS-2, cox3 and rbcLS – calibrated with an unambiguous Sargassaceae fossil from between the lower and middle Miocene. The analysis revealed a much later origin of Sargassum than expected at about 6.7 mya, with the genus diversifying since approximately 4.3 mya. Current geographic distributions of Sargassum species were then analyzed in conjunction with the time-calibrated phylogeny using the dispersal-extinction-cladogenesis (DEC) model to estimate ancestral ranges of clades in the genus. Results strongly support origination of Sargassum in the Central Indo-Pacific (CIP) region with subsequent independent dispersal events into other marine realms. The longer history of diversification in the ancestral CIP range could explain the much greater diversity there relative to other marine areas today. Analyses of these dynamic processes, when fine-tuned to a higher spatial resolution, enable the identification of evolutionary hotspots and provide insights into long-term dispersal patterns.     

Vertical distribution of some piercing sucking insects on some roselle varieties in Egypt and the role of amino acids concentration in infestation

Abstract

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover was found to be the only aphid species infesting the tested roselle varieties (Sudani, Masri and White), Hibiscus sabdariffa L. which were cultivated in El-Kanater El-khayria (about 30 km north Cairo) as ex situ old land. The vertical distribution of the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.); the leafhopper, Empoasca spp. and the pink hibiscus mealy bug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green, as insect pests attacking this crop had been studied. Moreover, certain morphological characters and amino acids concentrations in the three varieties of roselle, were obtained. The obtained results indicated that the experimental insect pests severely attacked leaves of the stem nodes from the 8th to the 11th (counting from the top of the plant), whereas whitefly were more abundant on these nodes. All tested insect species were less abundant on the 4th stem node. This may be due to the extensive existence of gland hairs, that excrete some compound especially phenols that might prevent the insects from reproducing on the leaves. The opposite was, however, true for M. hirsutus as it did not attack Sudani and Masri varieties but the infestation occurred at the highest level on the White variety.     

Green light drives photosynthesis in mosses

Temperate forests are characterised by variable light quality (i.e. spectral composition of light) at or near the forest floor. These understory environments have a high concentration of green light, as red and blue light are preferentially absorbed by upper canopy leaves. Understory species may be well-adapted for using green light to drive photosynthesis. Angiosperms have been shown to use green light for photosynthesis, but this ability has not been demonstrated in shade-dwelling bryophytes. In this study, net photosynthetic rate (P_N) of three temperate understory species of moss (Dichodontium pellucidum (Hedw.) Schimp., Leucobryum albidum (Brid. ex P.Beauv) Lindb. and Amblystegium serpens (Hedw.) Schimp.) was measured under green, red?+?blue, and red?+?blue?+?green light to assess green light use efficiency. All three species were capable of photosynthesising beyond their respiratory demands using solely green light, with higher green light use efficiency measured in plants collected from areas with greater canopy cover, suggesting growth in a green light concentrated environment increases green light use efficiency. Each species was also collected from sites differing in their degree of canopy cover and grown under three light treatments (high light, low light, and green light). Photosynthetic efficiency (chlorophyll fluorescence), tissue nitrogen and carbon isotope concentrations were assessed after a short growth period. Growth conditions had little effect on leaf chemistry and monochromatic green light did not significantly degrade photosynthetic efficiency. This study provides the first evidence to date of positive net ‘green light photosynthesis’ in mosses.     

Palaeoenvironmental significance of the green alga Botryococcus in the lacustrine rotliegend (upper carboniferous ‐ lower permian)

The green alga Botryococcus is an important component of the phytoplankton in lake sediments from the Rotliegend of Central Europe. The first microscopic fossils from the Saar‐Nahe Basin that can be assigned to this genus are described and illustrated here. Their distribution at various stratigraphic levels shows that the primary production of the lakes was at least partially controlled by these green algae. The frequency of fossils in the sediments is correlated with grain size, which varied with the depositional environment. Their abundance is greater in sediments deposited in shallow water, especially in small lakes and in the littoral environments of larger lakes. Sediments of deep‐water lake bottoms contain only minor amounts of algal remains. The abundance of kerogen originating from phytoplankton and occurrences of Botryococcus fossils are correlated in these lake deposits.     

Diatoms in Acid Mine Drainage and Their Role in the Formation of Iron-Rich Stromatolites

Adverse conditions in the acid mine drainage (AMD) system at the Green Valley mine, Indiana, limit diatom diversity to one species, Nitzschia tubicola. It is present in three distinct microbial consortia: Euglena mutabilis-dominated biofilm, diatomdominated biofilm, and diatom-exclusive biofilm. E. mutabilis dominates the most extensive biofilm, with lesser numbers of N. tubicola, other eukaryotes, and bacteria. Diatom-dominated biofilm occurs as isolated patches containing N. tubicola with minor fungal hyphae, filamentous algae, E. mutabilis, and bacteria. Diatom-exclusive biofilm is rare, composed entirely of N. tubicola.

Diatom distribution is influenced by seasonal and intraseasonal changes in water temperature and chemistry. Diatoms are absent in winter due to cool water temperatures. In summer, isolated patchy communities are present due to warmer water temperatures. In 2001, the diatom community expanded its distribution following a major rainfall that temporarily diluted the effluent, creating hospitable conditions for diatom growth. After several weeks when effluent returned to preexisting conditions, the diatom biofilm retreated to isolated patches, and E. mutabilis biofilm flourished.

Iron-rich stromatolites underlie the biofilms and consist of distinct laminae, recording spatial and temporal oscillations in physicochemical conditions and microbial activity. The stromatolites are composed of thin, wavy laminae with partially decayed E. mutabilis biofilm, representing microbial activity and iron precipitation under normal AMD conditions. Alternating with the wavy layers are thicker, porous, spongelike laminae composed of iron precipitated on and incorporated into radiating colonies of diatoms. These layers indicate episodic changes in water chemistry, allowing diatoms to temporarily dominate the system.     

Meeting reports

This investigation documents the formation of Green Rust (GR) and immobilization of Ni 2+ in response to bacterial reduction of hydrous ferric oxide (HFO). In the absence of Ni 2+ , 79% of the total Fe(III) present as HFO was reduced; at 10 -3 and 10 -4 M Ni 2+ , 36% of the total Fe(III) was reduced, whereas 45 to 50% of the total Fe(III) was reduced at 10 -5 M Ni 2+ . The inhibitory effect of 10 -3 and 10 -4 M Ni 2+ on Fe(III)-reduction corresponded to a 50% decrease in number of viable cells relative to the Ni 2+ -free condition, and a 25% decrease at 10 -5 M Ni 2+ . A prominent GR peak at d = 10.9 nm was evident in X-ray diffraction patterns of postreduction residual solids from the cultures. Minor peaks arising for vivianite and magnetite were also present. In samples prepared for scanning electron microscopy, thin hexagonal plates of GR were easily distinguished as a solid phase transformation product of HFO. Small hexagonal sheets and fragments of larger GR plates were also observed in transmission electron microscopy whole mounts together with bacteria that were mineralized by surface precipitates of microcrystalline magnetite. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed that GR contained Fe and P, as well as Ni in those samples taken from the Ni 2+ -amended experiments. EDS detected neither P nor Ni in the magnetite precipitates associated with the bacterial cells. Dissolved Ni2 + concentrations decreased in an exponential fashion with respect to time in all experimental systems, corresponding to an overall first-order rate constant k of -0.030 day -1 . At the same time, a strong linear relationship (r 2 = 0.99) between the dissolved and solid phase Ni 2+ /Fe 2+ ratios over the entire period of the Fe(III)reduction experiments provided evidence that the solid-phase partitioning of Ni 2+ in GR extended from equilibrium solid-solution behavior.     

Diurnal fluctuations in seawater pH influence the response of a calcifying macroalga to ocean acidification

Coastal ecosystems that are characterized by kelp forests encounter daily pH fluctuations, driven by photosynthesis and respiration, which are larger than pH changes owing to ocean acidification (OA) projected for surface ocean waters by 2100. We investigated whether mimicry of biologically mediated diurnal shifts in pH—based for the first time on pH time-series measurements within a kelp forest—would offset or amplify the negative effects of OA on calcifiers. In a 40-day laboratory experiment, the calcifying coralline macroalga, Arthrocardia corymbosa, was exposed to two mean pH treatments (8.05 or 7.65). For each mean, two experimental pH manipulations were applied. In one treatment, pH was held constant. In the second treatment, pH was manipulated around the mean (as a step-function), 0.4 pH units higher during daylight and 0.4 units lower during darkness to approximate diurnal fluctuations in a kelp forest. In all cases, growth rates were lower at a reduced mean pH, and fluctuations in pH acted additively to further reduce growth. Photosynthesis, recruitment and elemental composition did not change with pH, but δ¹³C increased at lower mean pH. Including environmental heterogeneity in experimental design will assist with a more accurate assessment of the responses of calcifiers to OA.     

Book review

Fucoid macroalgae are important primary producers and habitat modifiers on North Atlantic intertidal rocky shores. With decreasing latitude, western European fucoid populations display reduced levels of abundance, biomass and recruitment, while experiencing higher levels of physical environmental stress during summer months. We hypothesized that such reduction in the south is accompanied by a detectable decline in fucoid reproductive capacity. To test this hypothesis, morphological and reproductive traits of core (Welsh) and marginal (Portuguese) populations of two common fucoid species, Fucus vesiculosus and F. spiralis (Ochrophyta, Fucales), were examined. Morphological measurements showed that for a given thallus length, both fucoid species had smaller thallus volume and lower biomass in the southerly marginal part of the range. Significantly lower biomass of reproductive tissue of F. vesiculosus and a smaller number of receptacles per individual on specimens of both species indicate that levels of reproductive output are probably lower in southern populations. Despite the differences in reproductive traits observed between regions, reproductive effort (measured as the percentage of total dry biomass represented by reproductive tissue) of both species remained similar, as algae from both regions made similar investments in reproduction. The results indicate that stressful conditions reduced growth and number of receptacles of both species and amount of reproductive biomass of F. vesiculosus in the south but do not seem to change the way these algal species invest their energy. The decline in mass and reproductive biomass of specimens from southern shores found in this study, when combined with the lower abundance of adults and lower recruitment levels previously observed, is a strong indication of fucoid populations with lower levels of propagule output. This is an important factor when considering responses of these populations to a changing environment.     

Influence of temperature on the infradian growth rhythm in Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyta)

The vegetative growth of Ulva lactuca was studied to determine if the growth rate of the alga is driven by infradian rhythmicity. The influence of temperature on the infradian rhythm of growth was also investigated. Discs of Ulva were grown in controlled laboratory conditions at different combinations of temperature (5, 10, 15, 20°С) and irradiance (40 and 60 μmol photons m^?2 s^?1) under 12 : 12 h light : dark cycles. The growth rates exhibited a rhythmic pattern with one major peak every 2 or 3 days. Growth at 5 or 10°С increased the prevalence of 3-day cycles and maintained U. lactuca in the vegetative growth stage. In contrast, growth at 15 or 20°С provoked a predominance of the 2-day cycle and induced reproduction. The 2- or 3-day cycles were combined in longer cycles having a period close to 6 days. We suppose that the 2-, 3- and 6-day rhythms of physiological processes are related to large-scale Rossby and Kelvin waves, which produce oscillations in the geomagnetic field and seawater temperature with the same periods. The predominance of 2-day or 3-day fluctuations of the geomagnetic field and temperature probably determine the prevalence of reproduction and vegetative growth, respectively, in Ulva.