New branched Porolithon species (Corallinales,Rhodophyta) from the Great Barrier Reef,Coral Sea,and Lord Howe Island

Porolithon is one of the most ecologically important genera of tropical and subtropical crustose (non-geniculate) coralline algae growing abundantly along the shallow margins of coral reefs and functioning to cement reef frameworks. Thalli of branched, fruticose Porolithon specimens from the Indo-Pacific Ocean traditionally have been called P. gardineri, while massive, columnar forms have been called P. craspedium. Sequence comparisons of the rbcL gene both from type specimens of P. gardineri and P. craspedium and from field-collected specimens demonstrate that neither species is present in east Australia and instead resolve into four unique genetic lineages. Porolithon howensis sp. nov. forms columnar protuberances and loosely attached margins and occurs predominantly at Lord Howe Island; P. lobulatum sp. nov. has fruticose to clavate forms and free margins that are lobed and occurs in the Coral Sea and on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR); P. parvulum sp. nov. has short (<2 cm), unbranched protuberances and attached margins and is restricted to the central and southern GBR; and P. pinnaculum sp. nov. has a mountain-like, columnar morphology and occurs on oceanic Coral Sea reefs. A rbcL gene sequence of the isotype of P. castellum demonstrates it is a different species from other columnar species. In addition to the diagnostic rbcL and psbA marker sequences, the four new species may be distinguished by a combination of features including thallus growth form, margin shape (attached or unattached), and medullary system (coaxial or plumose). Porolithon species, because of their ecological importance and sensitivity to ocean acidification, need urgent documentation of their taxonomic diversity.     

南海孔石藻可培养细菌多样性及代谢产物四溴吡咯研究

钙化藻和微生物在造礁石珊瑚幼虫的附着变态过程中扮演着重要角色,对珊瑚礁生态系统的健康具有重要意义。对南海珊瑚礁区钙化藻的共附生细菌进行分离培养,一方面有利于发掘南海珊瑚礁的微生物资源,另一方面有利于进行微生物与珊瑚、钙化藻等珊瑚礁框架生物的相互作用研究。本研究分离获得孔石藻(Porolithon onkodes)表面共附生细菌,基于16S rRNA基因序列进行系统发育分析,并通过高效液相色谱和质谱对分离得到的假交替单胞菌属菌株的代谢产物进行比较分析。从孔石藻分离获得的369株细菌菌株分别隶属于变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)的5纲12目22科47属的97个种级类群。在属级水平上,假交替单胞菌属(Pseudoalteromonas)的菌株数量最多,分属于7个种。在假交替单胞菌属的代谢产物分析中,发现3株在系统发育树中聚为一簇的假交替单胞菌的代谢产物中存在四溴吡咯,而其余没有。研究结果不仅表明了钙化藻中含有丰富的可培养微生物和潜在新物种资源,还首次发现四溴吡咯在南海珊瑚礁区特定类群菌株的代谢产物中的存在,为珊瑚幼虫附着变态的化学信号研究提供基础。     

Seasonal upwelling conditions promote growth and calcification in reef-building coralline algae

Crustose coralline algae (CCA) are important components of reef ecology contributing to reef framework construction. However, little is known about how seasonal upwelling systems influence growth and calcification of tropical CCA. We assessed marginal and vertical growth and net calcification rates of two dominant but morphologically different reef-building CCA, Porolithon antillarum and Lithophyllum cf. kaiseri, in a shallow coral reef of the Colombian Caribbean during upwelling and non-upwelling seasons. Growth and calcification rates varied seasonally with higher values during the upwelling compared to the non-upwelling (rainy) season. Annual vertical growth showed rates of 4.48 ± 1.58 and 4.31 ± 2.17 mm · y⁻¹, net calcification using crust growth estimates of 0.75 ± 0.30 g and 0.68 ± 0.60 g CaCO₃ · cm⁻² · y⁻¹ and net calcification using the buoyant weight method of 1.49 ± 0.57 and 0.52 ± 0.11 g CaCO₃ · cm⁻² · y⁻¹ in P. antillarum and L. kaiseri, respectively. Seawater temperature was inversely related with growth and calcification; however, complex oceanographic interactions between temperature and resource availability (e.g., light, nutrients, and CO₂) are proposed to modulate CCA vital rates. Although CCA calcification rates are comparable to hard corals, CCA vertical accretion is much lower, suggesting that the main contribution of CCA to reef construction is via cementation processes. These results provide baseline data on CCA in the region and generate useful information for monitoring the impacts of environmental changes on tropical upwelling environments.