El Niño induced local extinction of coral reef bryozoan species from Northern Bahia, Brazil

The 1997-1998 El-Niño Southern Oscillation was the most severe on record and dramatically impacted corals worldwide. However, the effect of this event on the associated community of reef organisms has received much less attention. The composition of the bryozoan assemblage from the coral reefs of Northern Bahia, Brazil were monitored annually from 1995 to 2000, allowing the investigation of the effects of this large-scale stressor on an important, diverse, yet understudied component of the coral reef system. Bryozoan samples (35 replicates/reef) were collected during April/May from four shallow bank reefs (10-40 m depth) located a few kilometres off the coast, together with measurements of the associated environmental parameters. Currently 157 species have been recorded from the study area, but significant reductions in density and diversity were apparent between pre- and post El-Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) years, multivariate analysis denoting significant changes in assemblage composition. A total of 61 species were unrecorded following the 1997-1998 ENSO event (22 species from 1997; 25 further species from 1998 and 14 more from 1999). These included several species endemic to Brazil, suggesting that the 1997-1998 ENSO has had a marked influence on the reef bryozoan community, resulting in the local extinction of several species. Bryozoan mortalities were probably initiated by elevated temperatures, but continued disappearance of species for 2 years after ENSO suggests other indirect factors are also influential. These results demonstrate that ENSO events can have severe long-term impacts on the biodiversity of coral reefs, with important conservation consequences.     

颈链血苔虫线粒体基因组的测定及其系统发育学意义

本研究测定了颈链血苔虫的线粒体基因组。它是一个双链闭合环状分子,全长14144bp,与其他后生动物相比相对较小;颈链血苔虫线粒体基因组所有的基因都编码在同一条链上。相比其他后生动物它具有独特的基因排列顺序,而且与已发表的两个苔藓动物线粒体基因组相比,基因排列顺序也显著不同,这说明苔藓动物线粒体基因组经历了大规模的基因重排过程。基因排列顺序比较分析的结果支持苔藓动物为原口动物的观点,提示我们基因排列顺序的比较分析可能会成为苔藓动物门进化地位确定的良好途径。     

Influence of water quality on the outbreak of proliferative kidney disease – field studies and exposure experiments

This paper presents data from field studies and exposure experiments and the possible association of limno- and physicochemical parameters with outbreaks of proliferative kidney disease (PKD) in rainbow and brown trout. The investigations were carried out at Singold Brook in southern Germany. Exposure experiments and sampling of wild fish were performed in Singold at least twice a year in 1992, 1994, 1996 and 2000. Both wild fish collected from the specific sites and experimentally exposed rainbow trout were investigated histologically for the occurrence of PKD. At the time of sampling, various water parameters at the respective river sites were measured. The results indicate strongly the existence of a correlation between organic pollution of water, the presence of Bryozoa and the outbreak of PKD.