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.     

Cytherella maremensis sp. n., a new ostracod from the Sea of Marmara (Turkey) (Crustacea: Ostracoda)

Cytherella maremensis sp. n., belonging to the family Cytherellidae, is described as new from a hydrothermal vent, located in the west of Marmara Island on the North Anatolian Fault crossing the Sea of Marmara. It was collected from a sediment core 55 m below sea level. Cytherella maremensis sp. n. is clearly separated from closely related species by its shape, length-height ratio and ornamentation.     

New taxa described in Zoology in the Middle East

Abstract

The region between Mersin and ?skenderun was selected for studying marine turtles in the Turkish waters of the Mediterranean sea, as the most important nesting grounds of Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Mediterranean are situated there. In the 1995–96 fishing season, the 5 trawl boats taking part in the project reported that nets in the Eastern Mediterranean trapped 160 Green Turtles and 26 Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta). In the following trawling season (1996/97), 306 Green Turtles, 116 Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta) and 437 Nile Soft-shelled Turtles (Trionyx triunguis) were found to be trapped as a by-catch in the trawling nets. 87% of these turtles were captured by mid-trawling nets, the rest by bottom-trawling nets, mostly at depths of 11–30 m. 95% of all turtles were caught alive and healthy, and were usually released back into the sea immediately after capture by the fishermen. Training measures were given to local fishermen in order to raise their awareness of the threats to marine turtles.     

Coexistence of two congeneric tree species of Lauraceae in a secondary warm‐temperate forest on Miyajima Island,south‐western Japan

We analyzed the spatial distributions of two congeneric tree species, Neolistea aciculata and Neolistea sericea (Lauraceae), in a warm‐temperate forest on Miyajima Island, south‐western Japan. Both species were mainly found in valley sites on the island. Hence, these species shared the same topographic habitat niche. However, we found a clear difference between the spatial distributions of the two species in relation to the light environment. Neolistea aciculata was predominantly found in stands with low light, such as beneath the canopy of dense evergreen broadleaved forest. In contrast, N. sericea was predominantly associated with ample light, such as in secondary Pinus densiflora forest. In stands with moderate light conditions, both species were found. This habitat niche segregation in relation to light conditions presumably allows the coexistence of these two species in the predominantly successional forest on Miyajima Island.     

N-Acetylornithine-δ-aminotransferase-deficient and N-Acetylglutamokinase-deficient Arginine Auxotrophs of Corynebacterium glutamicum

An N-acetylglutamokinase-deficient arginine-requiring mutant, KY9390 and an N-acetylornithine aminotransferase-deficient arginine-requiring mutant, AA-7 were derived from a wild-type strain and an l-arginine-producing mutant of Corynebacterium glutamicum, respectively. KY 9390 accumulated 7.5 mg per ml of N-acetylglutamic acid and AA-7 accumulated 2 mg per ml of N-acetylglutamate-γ-semialdehyde, intermediates of arginine biosynthesis, in a culture medium.

The production of N-acetylglutamate-γ-semialdehyde by AA-7 was not affected by the concentration of l-arginine in the medium, whereas that of N-acetylglutamic acid by KY 9390 was inhibited by the addition of l-arginine in the medium.     

口腔雾化药物吸入联合小儿双金清热口服液治疗疱疹性口炎的临床疗效

目的:研究口腔雾化药物吸入联合小儿双金清热口服液治疗疱疹性口炎的临床疗效。方法:选择2012年5月至2014年5月在我院接受治疗的疱疹性口炎患者122例实施研究。根据数字法随机分成观察组及对照组各61例,观察组给予口腔雾化药物吸入以及小儿双金清热口服液进行治疗,对照组单纯给予小儿双金清热口服液进行治疗,对比两组治疗后的疗效、相关康复指标以及治疗后的不良反应。结果:观察组的总有效率是98.36%,显著高于对照组的88.52%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。观察组的热退时间和疱疹消退时间以及康复时间均分别显著少于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05)。观察组治疗后的总不良反应发生率与对照组相比,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:利用口腔雾化药物吸入联合小儿双金清热口服液对疱疹性口炎患儿进行治疗,效果较好,安全性更高,值得在临床上推广应用。     

Ecological niche partitioning of the invasive dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum and its native congeners in the Baltic Sea

This study analyses three decades of the peculiar bloom-formation history of the potentially toxic invasive planktonic dinoflagellates Prorocentrum minimum (Pavillard) Schiller in the SW Baltic Sea. We tested a research hypothesis that the unexpectedly long delay (nearly two decades) in population development of P. minimum prior to its first bloom was caused by competition with one or several closely related native dinoflagellate species due to ecological niche partitioning which hampered the spread and bloom-forming potential of the invader. We applied the ecological niche concept to a large, long-term phytoplankton database and analysed the invasion history and population dynamics of P. minimum in the SW Baltic Sea coastal waters using the data on phytoplankton composition, abundance and biomass. The ecological niche dimensions of P. minimum and its congener P. balticum were identified as the optimum environmental conditions for the species during the bloom events based on water temperature, salinity, pH, concentration of nutrients (PO₄³⁻; total phosphorus, TP; total nitrogen, TN; SiO₄⁴⁻), TN/TP-ratio and habitat type. The data on spatial distribution and ecological niche dimensions of P. minimum have contributed to the development of the “protistan species maximum concept”. High microplankton diversity at critical salinities in the Baltic Sea may be considered as a possible reason for the significant niche overlap and strong competitive interactions among congeners leading to prolonged delay in population growth of P. minimum preceding its first bloom in the highly variable brackishwater environment.     

Underwater acoustic behavior of bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) in the northeastern Chukchi Sea, 2007–2010

Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) calls were recorded using autonomous passive acoustic recorders deployed in the northeastern Chukchi Sea between October 2007 and October 2010. Continuous acoustic data were acquired during summer (August to mid‐October), and overwinter data (mid‐October through July) were acquired on a duty cycle of 40/48 min every 4 h. We investigated the spatio‐temporal distribution and acoustic behavior of vocalizing bearded seals in this multiyear data set. Peaks in calling occurred in spring, coinciding with the mating period, and calls stopped abruptly in late June/early July. Fewer calls were detected in summer, and the vocal presence of seals increased with the formation of pack ice in winter. Vocal activity was higher at night than during the day, with a peak around 0400 (AKST). Monthly patterns in proportional use of each call type and call duration were examined for the first time. The proportion and duration of AL1(T) and AL2(T) call types increased during the mating period, suggesting that males advertise their breeding condition by producing those specific longer trills. The observed seasonal and diel trends were consistent between years. These results improve our understanding of occurrence and acoustic behavior of bearded seals across the northeastern Chukchi Sea.     

南海冷泉区深海沉积物中细菌的分离培养及多样性分析

为了认识南海深海冷泉区沉积物中可培养微生物的多样性,本文以冷泉区与非冷泉区两个站点的深海沉积物为样品,通过两种培养基(R2A海水培养基和2216E培养基)直接涂布或富集后平板分离纯化,从9个样品中共得到395株菌株,并通过16SrRNA基因鉴定,分属10个属。发现产芽胞细菌分布最广、丰度最大,包括3个属、15个种。其中芽胞杆菌(Bacillus)无论是在数量还是在种类上都分布最多。并且,随着水深和沉积物深度的增加,分离到的可培养微生物丰富度降低。本研究表明,即使在冷泉区,南海深海沉积物中产芽胞细菌也比较丰富。