Effect of bleaching on lipid content and composition of Okinawan corals

Lipid contents and compositions of the bleached Okinawan corals were analyzed for the first time. Bleached corals collected at Sesoko Okinawa, Japan (26°38′N, 127°52′E), after the 1998 bleaching event showed decreased lipid content with a concomitant decline of wax in the lipid composition. The reductionin the lipid content of corals showed diversity depending on their colony morphology. On the whole, corals of massive morphology were relatively rich in lipid even after the bleaching event, and hence lesser reduction in the lipid content compared with the cases for those of branching morphology. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between lipid content and zooxanthellae density in the bleached corals, suggesting again the importance of symbiont for the supply of lipid to the host cells, and hence for the survival of the bleaching event.     

Evaluation of coral bleaching condition <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> using an underwater pulse amplitude modulated fluorometer

ABSTRACT:   Photosynthetic activities of hermatypic corals (28 genera, c . 68 species and c. 92 specimen) were measured in November 2000 at Sekisei lagoon, Okinawa, Japan, using an underwater pulse amplitude modulated fluorometer. Maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) ranged from 0.61 to 0.70 and had an average value of 0.664 (standard deviation [SD], 0.0289). Following the measurement of Fv/Fm, quantum yield (Fm'-F)/Fm' at eight-leveled actinic-light intensities were obtained from all specimens. Values of electronic transport rates (ETR) were nearly the same under low photosynthetic active radiation (PAR; µmol quanta/m² per s) condition and varied with increasing PAR. The value of ETR at 100 µmol quanta/m² per s ranged from 21.3 to 30.0 and had an average of 27.8 (SD, 2.09). In August 2001, a coral bleaching event was observed in Sekisei Lagoon. During the event, photosynthetic activities of 21 specimens of eight species (seven genera) were measured. By applying two indicators, Fv/Fm and ETR at 100 µmol quanta/m² per s obtained in August 2000, 18 of 21 specimens were suggested under the bleaching process. In case of Porites lutea , seven colonies were visually evaluated for their condition of bleaching and were found to have two 'normal', three 'slightly bleached' and two 'heavily bleached'. From the density of zooxanthellae, colonies evaluated 'normal' or 'slightly bleached' did not show an apparent difference. However, they were clearly identified by Fm/Fv and ETR at 100 µmol quanta/m² per s.     

南沙群岛重要珊瑚礁水域鱼类资源数量分布

1998年3—5月和1999年5—6月．采用手钓、延绳钓和流刺网3种作业方式在南沙群岛的渚碧、南薰、东门、美济、赤瓜、永署和华阳等7座珊瑚礁水域进行了2个航次的鱼类资源调查。结果表明,7座珊瑚礁水域不同作业方式的鱼类资源相对丰盛度差别较大,其中刺网以永暑礁最高,手钓以华阳礁最高,延绳钓以南薰礁最高;同时．刺网和手钓不同水深区域鱼类资源的相对丰盛度也不相同．其中刺网以11～30m区域最高．手钓以10m以浅和51～80m区域较高;分析认为,造成礁区之间鱼类相对丰盛度差异的主要原因不是初级生产力．而是生态环境因素,主要是礁盘形态和大型海藻的数量。另外．各礁区水域的优势类群有明显不同．这主要与洞穴的大小和数量、大型海藻及珊瑚的种类和数量等生物和非生物环境有关。     

舟山渔场人工鱼礁投放海域生态环境前期评估

根据2002年6-7月在舟山渔场朱家尖外侧开展人工鱼礁投放海域本底调查所获的海洋生物和海洋水文环境资料及以往有关文献中对该海域的调查资料,对朱家尖外侧拟投人工鱼礁海域的海水理化因子和海洋生物种类组成、数量分布和群落结构特征作了较详细的分析研究,以评估该海域是否适于投放人工鱼礁.结果得知:该海域底质为粉砂质粘土,浮游生物种类和数量及底栖生物种类和数量较多,水深为14～19m,温、盐度季节变化明显、透明度较高、水色相对较清,水质绝大多数指标符合国家一、二类水质标准,海域适合沿岸岛礁性鱼类如石斑鱼、褐菖、鲈鱼等的栖息生长,历史上渔业资源丰富,也无工厂废水排放,不会对海洋生态环境产生重大污染,因此,可以为良好的投放人工礁之场所.     

Constructed shallow zones along navigation canals: vegetation establishment and change in relation to environmental characteristics

An Erratum has been published for this article in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 12(2), 2002, 251

• 1. In recent decades shallow zones have been constructed along navigation canals in the Netherlands which form a potential new habitat for aquatic macrophytes and helophytes absent from traditional canals.
• 2. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between the aquatic plant vegetation that becomes established and the physical and chemical characteristics of water and sediment, in order to find the determinants of species composition and the changes therein. Data were collected in 1998 and 1999 from 80 plots in bank zones at varying stages of development since construction along two navigation canals.
• 3. Plots 3–5 years old were partly dominated by rooting submerged macrophytes such as Potamogeton pectinatus, Elodea nuttallii and Potamogeton pusillus; locally non‐rooting species occurred such as Ceratophyllum demersum, Lemna minor and Spirodela polyrhiza. Older plots contained Phragmites australis, locally mixed with free‐floating species. Hydrological isolation from the eutrophic canals was indicated by the presence of Chara vulgaris.
• 4. Characteristics of both water layer and sediment could explain the variation in vegetation composition. Rooting submerged macrophytes predominantly occurred in sites with a thin (<2 cm) layer of sediment with relatively low concentrations of organic matter; moreover, ammonium concentrations in the water layer and sediment pore water were relatively low. Stands of non‐rooting macrophytes and of Phragmites australis were characterized by a relatively thick sediment layer and high ammonium levels in the pore water. Light limitation in turbid water, associated with navigation and eutrophication, may also play a role.
• 5. Although submerged aquatic macrophytes persist for a relatively short time, shallow zones nevertheless function as a habitat for helophyte communities and contribute to a higher aquatic biodiversity than is associated with traditional banks along navigation canals.

Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biodiversity,ecology, fisheries,and use and trade of Tetraodontiformes fishes reveal their socio‐ecological significance along the tropical Brazilian continental shelf

1. Tetraodontiformes fishes play a critical role in benthic and demersal communities and are facing threats due to anthropogenic impacts and climate change. However, they are poorly studied worldwide. To improve knowledge on the socio‐ecological significance and conservation of Tetraodontiformes a review of literature addressing the diversity, ecology, use and trade, conservation, and main threats of Tetraodontiformes combined with a comprehensive in situ dataset from two broad‐range multidisciplinary oceanographic surveys performed along the Tropical Brazilian Continental Shelf was undertaken.
2. Twenty‐nine species were identified, being primarily found on coral reefs and algal ecosystems. At these habitats, tetraodontids present highly diversified trophic categories and might play an important role by balancing the marine food web
3. Coral reef ecosystems, especially those near to the shelf break, seem to be the most important areas of Tetraodontiformes fishes, concentrating the highest values of species richness, relative abundance and the uncommon and Near Threatened species.
4. Ninety per cent of species are commonly caught as bycatch, being also used in the ornamental trade (69%) and as food (52%), serving as an important source of income for artisanal local fisheries.
5. Tetraodontiformes are threatened by unregulated fisheries, overexploitation, bycatch, and habitat loss due to coral reef degradation and the potential effects of climate change. These factors are more broadly impacting global biodiversity, food security, and other related ecosystem functions upon which humans and many other organisms rely.
6. We recommend the following steps that could improve the conservation of Tetraodontiformes along the tropical Brazilian Continental shelf and elsewhere: (i) data collection of the commercial, incidental, ornamental and recreational catches; (ii) improvement of the current legislation directed at the marine ornamental harvesting; (iii) increase efforts focused on the education and conservation awareness in coastal tourism and communities; and, most important, (iv) creation of marine reserves networks in priority areas of conservation, protecting either the species and key habitats for its survival.

     

Eunicellin-Based Diterpenoids,Hirsutalins N–R,from the Formosan Soft Coral Cladiella hirsuta

New eunicellin-type hirsutalins N–R (1–5), along with two known eunicellins, (6 and 7) were isolated from the soft coral Cladiella hirsuta. The structures of the metabolites were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Cytotoxic activity of compounds 1–7 against the proliferation of a limited panel of cancer cell lines was measured. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of compounds 1–7 was evaluated by measuring their ability in suppressing superoxide anion generation and elastase release in fMLP/CB-induced human neutrophils.     

Numerosol A–D,New Cembranoid Diterpenes from the Soft Coral Sinularia numerosa

Four new cembrane-type diterpenes; numerosol A–D (1–4); along with a known steroid; gibberoketosterol (5); were isolated from the Taiwanese soft coral Sinularia numerosa. The structures of these metabolites were determined by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data. Gibberoketosterol (5) exhibited cytotoxicity against P-388 (mouse lymphocytic leukemia) cell line with an ED₅₀ of 6.9 μM.