Investigation of Deep-Sea Ecosystems Using Marker Fatty Acids: Sources of Essential Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Abyssal Megafauna

Abyssal seafloor ecosystems cover more than 50% of the Earth’s surface. Being formed by mainly heterotrophic organisms, they depend on the flux of particulate organic matter (POM) photosynthetically produced in the surface layer of the ocean. As dead phytoplankton sinks from the euphotic to the abyssal zone, the trophic value of POM and the concentration of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) decrease. This results in pronounced food periodicity and limitations for bottom dwellers. Deep-sea invertebrate seston eaters and surface deposit feeders consume the sinking POM. Other invertebrates utilize different food items that have undergone a trophic upgrade, with PUFA synthesized from saturated and monounsaturated FA. Foraminifera and nematodes can synthesize arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), while some barophylic bacteria produce EPA and/or docosahexaenoic acid. FA analysis of deep-sea invertebrates has shown high levels of PUFA including, in particular, arachidonic acid, bacterial FA, and a vast number of new and uncommon fatty acids such as 21:4(n-7), 22:4(n-8), 23:4(n-9), and 22:5(n-5) characteristic of foraminifera. We suppose that bacteria growing on detritus having a low trophic value provide the first trophic upgrading of organic matter for foraminifera and nematodes. In turn, these metazoans perform the second-stage upgrading for megafauna invertebrates. Deep-sea megafauna, including major members of Echinodermata, Mollusca, and Polychaeta display FA markers characteristic of bacteria, foraminifera, and nematodes and reveal new markers in the food chain.     

Mesohabitat associations of the threatened San Marcos salamander (Eurycea nana) across its geographic range

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Breaking the ice: the introduction of biofouling organisms to Antarctica on vessel hulls

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Phenotypic differences may limit the potential for habitat restoration involving species translocation: a case study of shape ecophenotypes in different populations of Modiolus modiolus (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

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Capricious bioinvasions versus uncoordinated management strategies: how the most unlikely invaders can prosper under the current UK legislation framework

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Non-commercial invertebrate discards in an experimental trammel net fishery

Abstract  Non-commercial invertebrate discards in an experimental trammel net fishery were studied in relation to selectivity of the gear, depth, soak time and season. Forty experimental fishing trials were carried out over a 1-year period with six combinations of small mesh (100, 120 and 140 mm) inner and large mesh (600 and 800 mm) outer panels. On average, 43.8 ± 12.2 (SD) (individuals 1000 m⁻¹ of net) of non-commercial invertebrates were discarded, accounting for 48% and 65% of the total catch and total discards by numbers, respectively. Within non-commercial invertebrates discards, the six most abundant species by number were Phallusia mammillata (Cuvier) (27.5%), Cymbium olla (L.) (13.0%), Sphaerechinus granularis (Lamarck) (11.3%), Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck) (10.9%), Astropartus mediterraneus (Risso) (8.2%) and Astropecten aranciacus (L.) (8.1%); Echinoderms (43.1%) particularly important. The highest and lowest discard ratios were found in autumn and winter, respectively. Discards generally decreased with depth, varied considerably in relation to soak time and were not related to mesh size combinations. Trammel nets seem to be the most important gear in terms of ecological impacts on benthic invertebrates compared with other coastal fishing gears and at the depths studied (15–60 m).     

Patterns and impacts of fish bycatch in a scallop dredge fishery

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The pond's shape matters: differential growth,physiological condition and survival of epibenthic Farfantepenaeus aztecus postlarvae

As a function of the water quality provided by square, circular and oval experimental ponds, the growth, survival and oxygen requirements in epibenthic postlarvae of Farfantepenaeus aztecus were analysed in relation to their routine metabolism and apparent heat increment. Temperature, oxygen concentration, pH and salinity were measured daily in two experimental ponds of each shape. The postlarvae oxygen consumption during two 24‐h cycles, their growth, physiological condition and survival and the productivity in the ponds were estimated. Low values of pH, oxygen concentration and phytobenthos productivity, and reduced postlarvae relative growth and survival were observed in the square ponds. We suggest that the latter results from a deficient water circulation related to the effect of the pond's shape on dissolved oxygen levels and, consequently, on growth and survival. The postlarvae routine metabolism, including feeding, varied between 1.91 and 2.25 mg O₂ h^?1 g^?1 wet weight, whereas the minimum oxygen concentration needed in the ponds is approximately 4.25 mg O₂ L^?1. These conditions were achieved in the oval ponds concurrent with higher survival and growth values, in which individuals distributed randomly, for which we suggest that oval‐shaped ponds could be the most adequate for the culture of this and other penaeid species.     

应用底栖动物完整性指数评价水源地水库溪流健康状态

及时了解水源地水库入库溪流的水生态健康状态对保障供水安全十分重要。依据2010-2011年对浙江省水源地汤浦水库的环境和底栖动物观测资料建立了底栖动物完整性指数(B-IBI)。根据Shannon-Wiener指数、百分比模式相似性指数(PMA)和多元统计分析结果对参照条件进行量化并确立参照点群。从60个候选参数中筛选出6个核心参数参与构建B-IBI指标体系,采用四分法进行量纲的统一,以参照点群25%分位值作为水生态系统健康与否的阈值,并对小于25%的分位值分布范围进行2等分,确立了水源地汤浦水库入库溪流健康评价标准:B-IBI>25.50,健康;B-IBI 12.75～25.50,亚健康;B-IBI<12.75,差。B-IBI分值与溶氧水平和pH显著正相关(P<0.05)。     

枸杞岛近岸3种生境鱼类群落组成及岩礁区底栖海藻对鱼类群落结构的影响

2005年—2006年及2010年5—6月对枸杞岛近岸岩礁生境分布的底栖海藻进行观测和潜水采样,发现岩礁生境潮下带底栖海藻组成模式分以大型底栖海藻铜藻为优势种和以孔石莼等小型藻类为优势种两类。2009年2月—2010年1月利用组合刺网对枸杞岛海域岩礁、沙地和贻贝筏式养殖区3种生境的鱼类进行了逐月采样,通过采用方差分析、聚类和非度量多维标度等统计分析手段发现:(1) 岩礁生境鱼类以底栖趋礁杂食性为主,沙地生境鱼类以中下层洄游肉食性为主,贻贝筏式养殖区生境鱼类大型个体占优;(2) 岩礁生境鱼类多样性较高,大型底栖海藻生长的岩礁生境中鱼类群落组成较小型底栖海藻生长的岩礁生境稳定。前者为枸杞岛近岸优势种群繁衍提供有利条件,对鱼类幼体和小型个体有诱集作用,为鱼类捕食者提供更多样化的食物选择,鱼类群落较稳定;后者易受外界鱼类迁移的影响,个体数量和生物量月间差异大。