Rhodobacteraceae on the marine brown alga Fucus spiralis are abundant and show physiological adaptation to an epiphytic lifestyle

Macroalgae harbour specific microbial communities on their surface that have functions related to host health and defence. In this study, the bacterial biofilm of the marine brown alga Fucus spiralis was investigated using 16S rRNA gene amplicon-based analysis and isolation of bacteria. Rhodobacteraceae (Alphaproteobacteria) were the predominant family constituting 23% of the epibacterial community. At the genus level, Sulfitobacter, Loktanella, Octadecabacter and a previously undescribed cluster were most abundant, and together they comprised 89% of the Rhodobacteraceae. Supported by a specific PCR approach, 23 different Rhodobacteraceae-affiliated strains were isolated from the surface of F. spiralis, which belonged to 12 established and three new genera. For seven strains, closely related sequences were detected in the 16S rRNA gene dataset. Growth experiments with substrates known to be produced by Fucus spp. showed that all of them were consumed by at least three strains, and vitamin B₁₂ was produced by 70% of the isolates. Since growth of F. spiralis depends on B₁₂ supplementation, bacteria may provide the alga with this vitamin. Most strains produced siderophores, which can enhance algal growth under iron-deficient conditions. Inhibiting properties against other bacteria were only observed when F. spiralis material was present in the medium. Thus, the physiological properties of the isolates indicated adaption to an epiphytic lifestyle.     

Spawning ofConger oceanicus andConger triporiceps (Congridae) in the Sargasso Sea and subsequent distribution of leptocephali

Synopsis Distribution of leptocephali ofConger in the Western North Atlantic Ocean was studied using specimens from our collections, specimens from other collections, and various existing collection records. The presence of leptocephali ofConger oceanicus andConger triporiceps < 30 mm long over deep water in the southwestern Sargasso Sea in autumn and winter implies a protracted spawning period there. The subtropical convergence zone, meandering east-west across the Sargasso Sea, is probably the northern limit of spawning of both species. Spawning may also occur close to the Bahamas and Antilles.C. triporiceps may spawn also in the Caribbean Sea judging by the capture of small leptocephali in the western Caribbean and of the more southerly continental distribution of its juveniles. The claim of Johannes Schmidt in 1931 that the EuropeanC. conger spawns across the North Atlantic into the western Sargasso Sea is probably incorrect, because leptocephali ofConger are rare in the eastern Sargasso Sea and becauseC. triporiceps, with myomere numbers overlapping those ofC. conger, was recently described in the western North Atlantic. With increasing size, leptocephali ofC. oceanicus and a portion ofC. triporiceps spread westward and northward in the Florida Current and Gulf Stream, but larger leptocephali especially ofC. triporiceps are found also in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Spawning ofC. oceanicus in the Sargasso Sea indicates that adults cross the Florida Current-Gulf Stream, and successful leptocephali cross the current in the opposite direction to colonize juvenile habitat on the continental shelf, a migratory pattern similar to that of the American eelAnguilla rostrata (Anguillidae).     

The extensive development of the turf-forming red alga Womersleyella setacea (Hollenberg) R. E. Norris (Rhodophyta,Ceramiales) in the Bay of Boka Kotorska,Montenegro (southern Adriatic Sea)

Abstract

In August 2003, dense turfs formed by the filamentous red alga Womersleyella setacea (Hollenberg) R. E. Norris were found in the open part of the Bay of Boka Kotorska, on the shore of Montenegro (southern Adriatic Sea). The habitat and morphology of the alga are described and the impact of the massive development of this species on the structure of the algal communities is discussed.     

Daily cycles in plasma and ocular melatonin in demand-fed sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L.

Melatonin is regarded as an internal zeitgeber, involved in the synchronization to light of the daily and seasonal rhythms of vertebrates. To date, plasma and ocular melatonin in fish have been extensively surveyed almost solely in freshwater species – with the exception of some migrating species of salmonids. In the present paper, melatonin levels of a marine species (sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L) were examined. In addition, the daily rhythms of the demand-feeding activity of sea bass, a fish species characterized by a dual phasing capacity (i.e. the ability to switch between diurnal and nocturnal behaviour), were investigated before sampling. Sea bass, distributed in 12 groups of four fish and kept under constant water temperature and salinity, were exposed to a 12 h light:12 h dark cycle (200:0 lx, lights on at 0800 hours). After 4 weeks recording, the animals were killed at 0900, 1200, 1400, 1600, 1900, 2100, 2400, 0200, 0400, 0700 and 0900 hours. Actograms of demand-feeding records revealed a nocturnal feeding behaviour, with some cases of spontaneous inversions in phasing. Melatonin levels in plasma peaked in the middle of the dark phase, dropping after lights on. Melatonin in the eye, on the contrary, exhibited an inverse profile, with high levels during daytime and low levels at night. These results suggest that melatonin in the plasma and the eye may act independently on the flexible circadian system of sea bass. Accepted: 30 January 1997     

春季和秋季东海陆架区浮游纤毛虫的丰度和生物量

于2011年春季(5月)和秋季(11月)在东海陆架区进行浮游纤毛虫丰度和生物量的调查.春季和秋季纤毛虫的平均丰度分别为(614±861)和(934±809) ind·L^-1,平均生物量分别为(1.70±3.91)和(0.93±0.99) μg C·L^-1.表层纤毛虫丰度和生物量的高值区春季主要分布在近岸及远岸海区,秋季主要分布在远岸海区.春季纤毛虫的丰度和生物量在水体上层较高;秋季纤毛虫主要分布在水体上层,有时在水体底层也会出现丰度和生物量的高值.春季无壳纤毛虫群落的粒级较大,秋季较小.砂壳纤毛虫占纤毛虫丰度的平均比例春季和秋季分别为(26.9±34.3)%和(44.9±25.2)%.两个季节共鉴定出砂壳纤毛虫27属52种,春季丰度较大的种为原始筒壳虫、橄榄领细壳虫及筒状拟铃虫,秋季丰度较大的种为原始筒壳虫、小领细壳虫及矮小拟铃虫.纤毛虫丰度与温度、叶绿素a(Chl a)浓度呈显著正相关.砂壳纤毛虫丰度与盐度呈显著负相关,群落结构变化与温度显著相关.     

Features of the spatial distribution and size structure of the Pacific lamprey <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lampetra tridentata</Emphasis> in the North Pacific

Results of long-term research on the spatial and vertical distribution of the Pacific lamprey Lampetra tridentata (Richardson, 1836) (the family Petromyzontidae) in the North Pacific, and data on its size structure are submitted. It was shown, that L. tridentate reached its greatest number in the Bering Sea. The maximum concentration of the Pacific lamprey was observed all year round about Navarin Cape, in the Koryak shelf area, at the East Aleutian Islands and at the west coast of the USA, which, apparently, spoke of the increased number of its prey there. On the bottom, the Pacific lamprey was the most numerous at depths of less than 500 m, and in the pelagic, in the upper 100-meter layer. The length of individuals varied in catches from 12 up to 85 cm. The existence of several size groups may indicate that the Pacific lamprey spend several years in the sea. No correlation was revealed between the length of body and fishing depth. The correlations between body length and body weight, body length and condition factor were analyzed. Seasonal dynamics of these parameters were considered.     

Effect of excretory-secretory products of some fouling organisms on settling and metamorphosis of the larvae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Styela rustica</Emphasis> (Ascidiae)

The effect of the excretory-secretory products of some fouling animals on the settling and metamorphosis of larvae of the solitary ascidian Styela rustica was assessed. The substances secreted by the sponge Halichondria panicea stimulated settling of larvae, but concurrently blocked their metamorphosis. The excretory-secretory products of the mussel Mytilus edulis and the ascidian Molgula citrine did not affect settling of the S. rustica larvae but impeded their subsequent development. Water conditioned by the bivalve Hiatella arctica, stimulated settling and, apparently, metamorphosis of the larvae of S. rustica. The chemical substances produced by adult individuals of S. rustica facilitated settling of conspecific larvae but slightly delayed their metamorphosis.     

A diatom based transfer function for reconstructing sea ice concentrations in the North Atlantic

A diatom based sea ice transfer function is developed using 99 surface sediment samples from the North Atlantic and the associated modern sea ice concentrations. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) is applied to the species assemblages of the surface sediment samples and the association of the species with two environmental parameters, August sea surface temperature and May sea ice concentration, is assessed. The results of this analysis indicate negative correlation between sea ice and sea surface temperature and that a group of diatom species is strongly associated with sea ice, especially May sea ice concentration. The results of the CCA legitimate the development of a diatom based sea ice transfer function. The maximum likelihood method has been applied as the transfer function method, as it has been proven most suitable with this particular data set. The newly developed transfer function is then used to reconstruct May sea ice concentration in three cases, each focusing on a different time period: the Last Glacial Maximum, the Younger Dryas and the Holocene. In all three cases the transfer function produces reasonable results when compared to other paleoclimatic proxy results. This suggests that the sea ice concentration reconstructed by the diatom based sea ice transfer function is a valid and reliable method, which can be applied as a valid proxy for May sea ice concentration.