浮游被囊动物的分类及其生态学研究进展

被囊动物(Tunicata)是一类低等脊索动物,包括3个纲:有尾纲、海樽纲和海鞘纲;全部生活在海洋里,其中有尾纲和海樽纲营浮游生活。综述了国内外浮游被囊动物分类和生态研究的现状和进展,综述介绍了有尾纲和海樽纲的分类依据、研究现状、趋势和在海洋生态系统中的作用。浮游被囊动物是热带和亚热带海域重要的浮游动物类群,种类和数量的分布变化受物理和生物环境因素的影响;它一方面大量摄食浮游细菌和微小浮游植物,另一方面被一些经济动物摄食,因此在海洋食物链的传递和生态系统的物质循环中占有重要位置。

Advances on classification and ecology of pelagic tunicates

Tunicata, belonging to Urochordata, is comprised of three classes: Appendicularia, Thaliacea and Ascidiacea, with the former two being planktonic while Ascidiacea benthic. This paper summarizes research status and progress on classification and ecology of pelagic tunicates in China and abroad, and introduces in detail the basis of classification, current status and trends in Appendicularia and Thaliacea research. Pelagic tunicates are an important group of zooplankton in the subtropic and tropic waters. Distribution and variation of their species richness and abundance are influenced by physical and biological factors. Pelagic tunicates play an important role in marine food web carbon cycle as they feed on bacterioplankton and pico- and nano-phytoplankton and meanwhile are preys for commercial animals.