珠江口红树林硫的累积和循环研究

主要研究了珠江口红树林硫的累积和循环特点，并探讨其对土壤中硫累积的影响．结果表明，珠江口五个红树群落硫的贮存量平均为１７０．４２ｋｇ／ｈｍ２；在群落硫元素的生物循环中，年存留量平均为１７．６０１ｋｇ／ｈｍ２，年归还量平均为３５．６０３ｋｇ／ｈｍ２，年吸收量平均为５３．２０４ｋｇ／ｈｍ２，周转期为３－８ａ，富集率均大于１．选定浅海沉积物的平均含硫量作为林下土壤成土母质的本底含硫量，估算红树植物生长后土壤含硫量的变化，并与群落硫的年归还量作比较．红树林对其林下土壤硫的累积作用有两方面，一是对海水硫的生物选择吸收与归还，二是为海水中的ＳＯ４（２－）为黄铁矿提供有机还原剂和嫌气微生物的能源，尤以后者的作用更重要．     

不同红树植物类群土壤微生物功能多样性的研究

红树林(Mangroves)是重要的湿地植物群落,而土壤微生物是植被-土壤系统的重要组成部分,探究不同红树植物类群土壤微生物功能多样性变化特征,对于了解红树林湿地生态系统内部结构和功能具有重要意义。利用BIOLOG-ECO技术,对三亚铁炉港红树林自然保护区的11种真红树和4种半红树植物类群的土壤微生物功能多样性进行研究。结果表明,不同植物类群土壤微生物的AWCD曲线变化基本一致,但碳源利用能力强弱有别。取96 h处AWCD值进行分析,发现真红树植物中拉关木(Laguncularia racemose)群落土壤微生物总碳源利用能力最高,为0.93,尖瓣海莲(Bruguiera sexangula var.rhynchopetal)最低,为0.48;半红树中阔苞菊(Pluchea indica)最高,为1.27,黄槿(Hibiscus tiliaceus)最低,为0.68。大部分红树植物群落土壤微生物的Shannon指数(H')、Simpson指数(D)和Pielou指数(E)基本一致,没有明显差异,并且对氨基酸类和多聚物类碳源利用程度较高;对不同红树群落土壤微生物的碳源利用进行主成分分析,结果表明,真红树植物群落土壤微生物的PC1和PC2分别占总方差的60.625%和17.356%,半红树的PC1和PC2则分别为67.378%和21.535%,对PC1和PC2起主要贡献作用的是碳水化合物类和氨基酸类碳源。以上结果表明,不同红树林植物类型土壤微生物的群落结构和多样性基本一致,但可能由于不同植被类型及其根系分泌物和环境污染等因素的影响,使得土壤微生物对碳源的利用能力和偏好出现差异。     

红树种植–养殖耦合系统牡蛎石油烃含量及红树净化效果

为减少滩涂养殖中的石油烃污染危害、提高水产品的品质,以珠江口滩涂红树林种植–养殖系统耦验示范研究基地A、B两系统的7个红树种植–养殖塘[包括桐花树(Aegiceras corniculatum)、木榄(Bruguiera gymnorhiza)、秋茄(Kandelia candel)、红海榄(Rhizophora stylosa)的单种或组合种植]为对象,采用荧光分光光度法监测了水体、底质及吊养的近江牡蛎(Ostrea rivularis)肉质的石油烃含量.结果表明,牡蛎体内石油烃含量在11.10~29.3 mg/kg之间;与水体中石油烃含量呈正相关(r=0.88),牡蛎能很好地指示水体水质状况.单种或组合种植秋茄、桐花树、木榄、红海榄4种红树植物能有效降低水体石油烃含量,与对照相比降幅为50%~80%;使牡蛎的石油烃含量受到不同程度的影响,与对照相比,红树种植塘牡蛎石油烃含量降幅在20%~60%不等.木榄和桐花树种植塘中,牡蛎中石油烃平均含量分别为11.20 mg/kg、14.13 mg/kg,能达到无公害水产品标准.因此红树种植–养殖塘具有"种植岛基质–红树植物–微生物"的协同效应,通过物理、化学和生物的共同作用降低了水体石油烃的含量,从而提高了养殖生物的品质.     

南沙湿地公园红树林物种多样性与空间分布格局

红树林是海岸的特有植被类型,研究其物种多样性与空间分布,对红树林的恢复与保护具有重要意义。本文以南沙湿地公园红树林为典型案例,采用遥感影像解译和样方调查的方法,对红树林物种多样性、群落特征与空间分布格局进行研究。结果表明:(1)南沙湿地公园红树林物种多样性指数高于其他与之纬度相近的红树林群落;(2)以无瓣海桑Sonneratia apetala Buch-Ham.、桐花树Aegiceras corniculatum(L.)Blanco.、黄槿Hibiscus tiliaceus L.和芦苇Phragmites australis(Cav.)Trin.ex Steud.为优势种;(3)主要的群落类型为无瓣海桑群落、黄槿群落和芦苇群落等3种,总面积百分比达86.72%,无瓣海桑群落和黄槿群落面积占比分别为41.13%和36.44%,成为红树林的绝对优势群落;(4)红树林群落在空间上呈聚集态分布,聚集度最高的是无瓣海桑群落,其次是黄槿群落,面积占比最低的是木榄群落;(5)引进种无瓣海桑,发展态势好,抑制了乡土种红树植物生长。建议扩种白骨壤Avicennia marina(Forsk.)Vierh.、桐花树和秋茄Kandelia candel(L.)Druce.,扩大其斑块面积,以提升乡土红树植物群落的稳定性,达到有效保护红树林的目的。     

庆阳市庆城县退耕还林区土壤纤毛虫群落特征

为研究土壤纤毛虫群落对不同退耕模式生态恢复的响应及利用其群落特征来评价退还效果,采用“非淹没培养皿法”、活体观察法和培养直接计数法对甘肃省庆阳市庆城县退耕10年后的多树种混交林(APR)和单一树种经济林(A)以及两个农田对照样地(CK1和CK2)的土壤纤毛虫群落特征进行定性定量研究,同时测定各样地土壤温度、含水量、pH值、电导率、土壤孔隙度、有机质、总氮、总磷、总钾、速效氮、速效磷和速效钾含量,并分析不同退耕还模式下土壤纤毛虫群落特征参数与土壤理化因子间的相关关系。结果为:共鉴定到土壤纤毛虫127种,隶属10纲21目34科52属;退耕样地与农田对照样地土壤纤毛虫物种分布存在明显差异,退耕样地间的物种相似性减小,群落组成复杂化,纤毛虫密度、多样性指数和丰富度指数均显著高于对照(P<0.05),其中混交林物种多样性最高;土壤纤毛虫优势类群由农田样地的肾形目(Colpodida)逐渐过渡为退耕样地的散毛目(Sporadotrichida);相关性分析可知,有机质、总氮、孔隙度和pH是影响土壤纤毛虫群落组成的关键因子,不同退耕模式下土壤纤毛虫群落组成差异较大,表明土壤纤毛虫群落对该地区退耕还林生态恢复工程发生了积极的响应,因此土壤纤毛虫群落特征参数可以作为评价退还效果的重要指标。     

珠江口沿岸土地利用变化及其地表热环境遥感分析

以遥感和GIS为技术手段,选择四期TM/ETM＋影像为数据源,对珠江口沿岸区域的土地利用及其地表热环境的变化进行了定量分析。1990—2008年期间,建设用地扩展是珠江口区域土地利用变化最为显著的特征,建设用地从1990年的605.50km^2增加到2008年的2394.26km^2。土地利用变化导致区域热环境效应增强,并促使不同土地利用类型在7个热力区间中的组成发生变化。珠江口东岸建设用地在数量上的优势使得珠江口的热力重心始终分布在东岸。研究结果表明,以建设用地扩展为突出特征的土地利用变化,深刻影响着区域热环境。     

珠江口地区水体中双酚A污染及其与环境因子的关系

采用固相微萃取、气-质联用方法,调查了珠江口地区鱼塘、河流及入海口表层水中双酚A(BPA)的污染特征, 分析了BPA残留水平与环境因子的关系.结果显示:珠江口地区鱼塘、横门水道、入海口表层水中BPA均值分别为1.19、1.41和2.06 μg·L-1.相关分析表明水体中BPA残留量与pH值显著相关(P<0.05).根据EC/PNEC(环境中某一污染物的残留水平与该污染物生态风险阈值之比)指标判断,目前珠江口地区表层水中BPA残留水平不会产生生态风险.     

紫茎泽兰与不同植物群落土壤养分及酶活性差异

为了研究紫茎泽兰(Ageratina adenophora Sprengel)与不同植物群落土壤养分及酶活性间的差异,解析不同植物群落抵御紫茎泽兰入侵的生态机制,选取紫茎泽兰不同入侵程度(重度入侵群落、轻度入侵群落、未入侵群落)和不同功能型植物群落样地(禾本科植物群落、双子叶植物群落),测定其植物群落土壤养分和酶活性变化,并对土壤酶活性与土壤养分进行相关性分析。结果表明,紫茎泽兰入侵显著增加了土壤中全氮含量,降低了全磷、全钾含量,土壤中有效养分硝态氮、铵态氮、有效磷和速效钾含量显著增加,重度入侵群落的土壤硝态氮、铵态氮、有效磷和速效钾含量显著大于未入侵群落的,是双子叶植物群落的2.29、2.28、8.13、4.01倍,禾本科植物群落的7.73、3.22、6.91、5.12倍。紫茎泽兰入侵显著提高了入侵区植物群落土壤中脲酶、磷酸酶和蛋白酶活性,重度入侵群落土壤脲酶活性是禾本科群落的3.49倍,磷酸酶活性是双子叶群落的1.65倍,蛋白酶活性是双子叶群落的2.31倍。土壤养分含量与酶活性密切相关,土壤脲酶活性与土壤全氮、硝态氮、铵态氮、全钾和速效钾显著正相关,与全磷显著负相关;土壤磷酸酶、蛋白酶活性与土壤全氮、硝态氮、铵态氮、速效钾和有效磷显著正相关,与全磷含量显著负相关。与不同植物群落相比,紫茎泽兰能更好改变土壤养分的供求平衡,这种改变可使紫茎泽兰在入侵过程中处于优势地位,植物群落间土壤酶活性差异可能是驱动土壤养分变化的重要因子。外来入侵植物紫茎泽兰通过影响土壤酶活性来改变入侵生境土壤养分的供求平衡可能是其成功入侵的生态机制之一。     

中国边缘海沉积物中抗生素抗性基因和致病菌的组成特征

抗生素抗性基因作为一种新型“污染物”已经受到广泛关注.研究边缘海中抗生素抗性基因和人类致病菌的组成特征,有助于深入认识海洋环境中抗生素抗性基因的起源和海洋致病菌的潜在健康风险.使用基于高通量测序的宏基因组学分析方法在中国边缘海沉积物中发现了多种抗生素抗性基因,主要以多重耐药基因为主,其中南海沉积物中抗生素抗性基因的总丰度约是黄渤海的2倍.与中国边缘海相比,珠江口沉积物中抗生素抗性基因丰度更高,与人类常用抗生素（如磺胺类、氨基糖苷类、β-内酰胺类、四环素类等）的耐药性更为相关.此外,中国边缘海沉积物中几乎没有发现质粒携带的抗性基因,而珠江口有约20%的抗性基因由质粒携带.中国边缘海沉积物中主要人类致病菌种包括肺炎链球菌（24.4%）、肺炎克雷伯菌（19.9%）、无乳链球菌（9.2%）、铜绿假单胞菌（6.9%）等.珠江口沉积物中致病菌群落组成与中国边缘海显著不同,副溶血性弧菌和空肠弯曲杆菌的丰度相对更高.上述研究表明,中国边缘海沉积物中存在高多样性的抗生素抗性基因和人类致病菌,人类活动干扰可导致其污染水平提高.     

南海北部近海沉积物重金属分布及来源

为全面了解南海北部近海沉积物中重金属的分布及来源,在珠江口至北部湾海域进行了密集的采样工作,然后对4 000多个表层沉积物进行了粒度测试,1 000多个表层沉积物进行了重金属含量测试,之后对粒度平均值及Cu、Pb、Zn、Cr含量分布进行了分析。结果显示4种重金属含量平面分布特征较为相似,相对高含量分布区主要位于珠江口及其西侧的粤西近海海域,且均呈现由珠江口向西逐渐减少的趋势。以国家标准《海洋沉积物质量》中一类沉积物为参照,Pb、Zn超标站点范围主要分布在珠江口内及海陵岛西部,Cu、Cr的超标站点范围较广,在调查区域分布广泛。相关性分析显示4种重金属相关性较高,说明具有同源性,由分布图梯度变化可以看出污染物主要来自于珠江口。将该区域重金属含量进行分区分析后认为,在南海北部近岸海域存在4个重金属富集海域,分别位于珠江口海域、上川岛至海陵岛海域、琼州海峡东部及雷州半岛西部。结合粤西沿岸流及琼州海峡西向流等水动力特征对4个区域重金属来源及形成机制进行了分析,得出琼州海峡周边海域沉积物中重金属主要来自珠江径流输入,并认为珠江径流输入的重金属污染物目前最远可到达北部湾东部。最后,为全面了解重金属对该海域生态环境的影响,选用潜在生态危害指数法进行了评价分析,结果显示重度污染区主要分布在珠江口至崖门口,中度污染区在调查区东部至西部均有分布;由珠江口向西至阳江近岸海域存在3个潜在生态危害中度风险区。     

Site-specific and integrated adaptation to climate change in the coastal mangrove zone of Soc Trang Province, Viet Nam

The dynamic coastline of Soc Trang Province in the Mekong Delta of Viet Nam is in most parts protected from erosion, storms and flooding by a narrow belt of mangroves. However, the unsustainable use of natural resources and development in the coastal zone is threatening the protection function of this forest belt. This situation is exacerbated by the impacts of climate change, particularly by the increased intensity and frequency of storms, floods and by rising sea levels. Based on analysis of past experience of mangrove planting and historical changes in mangrove cover, an integrated and site-specific approach to adaptation to climate change has been put in place, which comprises mangrove planting and rehabilitation with emphasis on resilience to climate change, and participatory involvement of local communities in effective mangrove management and protection through co-management. To address uncertainties associated with the impacts of climate change, testing of new mangrove planting techniques has started. This includes mimicking successful natural regeneration for small-scale planting in sites with high wave energy and transformation of existing even-aged plantations into more diverse forests—both in terms of structure and species composition. The pre-requisite for mangrove rehabilitation in erosion sites has successfully been put in place: breakwaters made from bamboo have reduced erosion and stimulated sedimentation. The design and construction of the wave-breaking structures, which was based on a numerical model which simulates hydrodynamics and shoreline development, ensures that downdrift erosion can be avoided as far as possible. A comprehensive monitoring program has been established and initial results provide evidence for the effectiveness of the bamboo breakwaters. Early experience shows that co-management is an effective way of maintaining and enhancing the protection function of the mangrove forest belt and at the same time providing livelihood for local communities. Payment for ecosystem services contributes to sustainability of co-management as well as livelihood improvement.     

Land cover changes in the Caroni Swamp Ramsar Site, Trinidad (1942 and 2007): implications for management

Caroni Swamp Ramsar Site, the largest mangrove dominated wetland in Trinidad and Tobago, continues to be impacted by human activities. This study examines changes in land cover and land use from 1942 to 2007 using remote sensing technology, geographic information systems (GIS) and extensive field surveys. Land cover maps were produced for 1942, 1957, 1986, 1994, 2003 and 2007 from aerial photos and high resolution satellite imagery. Caroni Swamp’s hydrology was altered in the 1920’s to facilitate rice cultivation. This resulted in the formation of large tracts of freshwater marsh. From 1942 to 1957, freshwater marsh and agriculture lands increased, but after this period there was a steady decline in both, as freshwater was diverted away from the wetland and salt water intruded further inland. Although mangrove forest was cleared for built development, its coverage has consistently increased in the Swamp from 1957, with the exception of 2003 when there was a decrease by less than 100 ha. This is in contrast to most areas in the tropics where mangrove coverage continue to decline. In this case, the mangrove trees are out-competing/shading marsh vegetation, causing shift in the wetland communities. In the Caroni Ramsar Site, the natural wetland communities generally increased from 1942 to 2003, but declined in 2007, as built development more than doubled. The paper provides spatial coverage, and quantifies land cover from 1942 to 2007. It also identifies reasons for the changes in land cover and uses, and the implications for management.     

Mangrove recruitment after forest disturbance is facilitated by herbaceous species in the Caribbean.

Plant communities along tropical coastlines are often affected by natural and human disturbances, but little is known about factors influencing recovery. We focused on mangrove forests, which are among the most threatened ecosystems globally, to examine how facilitation by herbaceous vegetation might improve forest restoration after disturbance. We specifically investigated whether recovery of mangrove forests in harsh environments is accelerated by nurse plants and whether the beneficial effects are species-specific. Quantification of standardized effects allowed comparisons across performance parameters and over time for: (1) net effect of each herbaceous species on mangrove survival and growth, (2) effects of pre- and post-establishment factors associated with each herbaceous species, and (3) need for artificial planting to enhance growth or survival of mangrove seedlings. Mangrove recruitment in a clear-cut forest in Belize was accelerated by the presence of Sesuvium portulacastrum (succulent forb) and Distichlis spicata (grass), two coastal species common throughout the Caribbean region. The net effect of herbaceous vegetation was positive, but the magnitude of effects on mangrove survival and growth differed by species. Because of differences in their vegetative structure and other features, species effects on mangroves also varied by mechanism: (1) trapping of dispersing propagules (both species), (2) structural support of the seedling (Distichlis), and/or (3) promotion of survival (Sesuviumn) or growth (Distichlis) through amelioration of soil conditions (temperature, aeration). Artificial planting had a stronger positive effect on mangrove survival than did edaphic conditions, but planting enhanced mangrove growth more in Sesuvium than in Distichlis patches. Our study indicates that beneficial species might be selected based on features that provide multiple positive effects and that species comparisons may be improved using standardized effects. Our findings are not only relevant to the coastal environments found in the Caribbean region, but our assessment methods may be useful for developing site-specific information to restore disturbed mangrove forests worldwide, especially given the large pool of mangrove associates (>45 genera) available for screening.     

Comparative species composition and relative abundance of decapod crustaceans in marine habitats of Panamá

The community structure of the decapod crustacean fauna of 7 tropical, shallowwater, marine habitats (sandy beaches, mangrove swamps and rocky intertidal habitats on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Panama, and Pocillopora damicornis coral habitat of the Bay of Panama) were examined and analyzed for species composition and relative abundances. Collections from the 7 habitats yielded 4361 individuals, representing 236 species. The number of species per habitat was (Pacific, Caribbean): sandy beach (16, 7); mangrove (20, 17); P. damicornis (53); rocky intertidal (78, 67). There were more species represented by more individuals in the Pacific habitats. An index of faunal similarity was calculated for each pair (Pacific-Caribbean) of habitats. This index is the number of ecologically similar congeneric species which occurred in both habitats expressed as a percentage of the total number of species present in the pair of habitats. For the sandy beach communities there were three Pacific species which were similar to three Caribbean species, a similarity of 6/23 or 26%. The index of similarity for the mangrove communities is 54% and for the rocky intertidal communities it is 37%. The P. damicornis community has affinities with the Pacific rocky intertidal community (18%), with that of the Caribbean rocky intertidal (16%) and with that of Indo-West Pacific pocilloporid corals (20%). A few specialized species dominated each of the communities. The habitats and the number of species accounting for over half of the individuals present are (Pacific, Caribbean): sandy beach (1, 1); mangrove (4, 4); P. damicornis (5); and rocky intertidal (3, 6). Most of the species in each community were represented by one or a few individuals.     

湛江特呈岛红树林植物群落的结构和动态特征

对特呈岛红树林植被进行多次和全面的调查,通过采用格子样的方法,选取面积为100～800 m^2的样地,每片样地再分成若干10 m×10 m的样方,对红树林样地内的植物进行每木测量,记录各植物的种名、胸径、高度、冠幅等,并进行重要性以及多样性等常规的群落分析,判定该地区植被的生长特征以及研究其演替动态变化。结果表明：①面积较大的群落主要有3个类型,即白骨壤群落（Avicennia marina）、白骨壤＋红海榄群落（Avicennia marina＋Rhizophora stylosa）、白骨壤-桐花树群落（Avicennia marina-Aegiceras corniculatum）;其它面积较小的群落有：白骨壤＋红海榄-木榄＋桐花树群落（vicennia marina＋Rhizophora stylosa-Bruguiera gymnorrhiza＋Aegiceras corniculatum）、红海榄＋木榄群落（Rhizophora stylosa＋Bru-guiera gymnorrhiza）;②在3个主要群落中,优势种的苗木和小树相对较少,优势种群的年龄结构均为衰退型;③各群落的Simpson指数关系为：白骨壤＋红海榄群落﹥红海榄＋木榄群落﹥白骨壤＋红海榄—木榄＋桐花树群落﹥白骨壤—桐花树群落﹥白骨壤群落;白骨壤群落的重要值为300,为典型的单优群落;④特呈岛的白骨壤群落是中国该类群落中面积最大的,目前长势良好,无病虫害,并且红树林外缘的白骨壤枝干在波浪冲刷或人为原因下,受到较严重的侵蚀,其幼树在林外缘基本无法存活,需要加强保护,对其生理生态学特征也值得进一步深入研究。     

广西英罗港不同红树林群落土壤CO2和CH4通量对气温变化的响应

采用WEST-1011便携式土壤通量测量仪对广西北海英罗港自然保护区不同红树植物群落土壤的CO2和CH4排放通量特征以及其与气温的关系进行研究。结果表明,各群落土壤CH4通量的值都较小,在-2~3μmol.m-2.s-1之间;红海榄Rhizophora stylosa群落、木榄Brugiera gymmonhiza群落一天的CO2通量变化很小,秋茄Kandelia candel群落一天的CO2通量变化比较明显,最大值出现在19：00,为5.001μmol.m-2.s-1,桐花树Aegiceras corniculatum群落一天的CO2通量变化明显,最大值出现在11：00,为8.325μmol.m-2.s-1。排放通量与气温做相关性研究发现,气温与红海榄群落、木榄群落土壤CH4通量与气温呈不显著的正相关关系,与秋茄群落呈现极其显著的负相关关系,与桐花树群落呈显著的负相关关系;气温与红海榄群落、木榄群落、秋茄群落、桐花树群落的土壤CO2通量均呈不显著的负相关关系。     

Impact of four-dimensional seismic and production activities on the mangrove systems of the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Reconnaissance survey and laboratory appraisal of the mangrove system in seven communities in the Niger Delta (Nigeria) endangered by seismic and production operations revealed several alterations of soil, sediment, and vegetation. Hydrocarbon content in the range of 0.3-1.1 mg/100 g was extracted within the proximities of spill sources and seismic lines. The prospect area covered by our investigation was characterized by a mixed mangrove forest dominated by Rhizophora racemosa. It was observed that the construction of the seismic lines was responsible for the vegetal disorientation recurrent in the area. The grass, Paspalum vaginatum, and the saltwater fern, Acrostichum aureum, were found at the fringe of most dredge spoils. The characteristic tidal inundation which increases mobility of the substrate, salinity fluctuation, and anoxia may also have contributed, at least in part, to the observed despoliation of some of these species found within the vicinities of the seismic lines and hydrocarbon percolation. Extensive revegetation program is recommended to ensure an effective restoration process of this ecologically fragile zone.     

Fiddler crab burrowing affects growth and production of the white mangrove (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Laguncularia racemosa</Emphasis>) in a restored Florida coastal marsh

Positive plant–animal interactions are important in community ecology, but relatively little attention has been paid to their effect on the production of mangroves, dominant halophytic trees in tropical coastal marshes. Here, the role of fiddler crab (Uca spp.) burrowing on the growth and production of the white mangrove, Laguncularia racemosa (<2 years old), was examined in a restored marsh in Tampa Bay, Florida (27°41.65 N, 82°30.34 W) with manipulative experiments from June 2006 to May 2007. Fiddler crab burrowing significantly increased mangrove height by 27%, trunk diameter by 25%, and leaf production by 15%, compared to mangroves in crab exclusion enclosures. Additionally, the exclusion of fiddler crabs significantly increased interstitial water salinity from 32.4 to 44.2, and decreased the oxidation–reduction potential of the low organic sediments, but did not affect soil pH or sulfide concentration. Mangrove height, trunk diameter, and leaf production along a transect that varied in crab burrow density were positively associated with the number of crab burrows. Further, the density of sympatric Spartina alterniflora shoots was positively correlated with crab burrow density along the transect. As in temperate marshes, fiddler crabs can have significant ecological effects on mangrove communities, serving as ecological engineers by modulating the amount of resources available to marsh plants, and by altering the physical, chemical, and biological state of these soft sediment communities. In restored coastal systems that typically have very poor sediment quality, techniques such as soil amendment could be used to facilitate a more natural interaction between crabs and mangroves in ecosystem development.     

Sponge-specific bacterial symbionts in the Caribbean sponge, Chondrilla nucula (Demospongiae, Chondrosida)

Marine sponges harbor dense and highly diverse bacterial communities, and some percentage of the microflora appears to be specialized for the sponge habitat. Bacterial diversity was examined in Chondrilla nucula Schmidt to test the hypothesis that some subset of sponge symbiont communities is highly similar regardless of the species of host or habitat requirements of the host. C. nucula was collected from a mangrove channel on Lower Matcumbe Key in the Florida Keys (25°53′N; 80°42′W) in August 1999. Domain-specific universal bacterial primers were used to amplify the 16S rDNA gene from genomic DNA that had been extracted from sponges and the surrounding water. An RFLP technique was used to assess diversity of sponge-associated and environmental bacterial communities. The clone library from C. nucula contained 21 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). None of the 53 OTUs from adjacent water samples were found in the C. nucula library indicating that a distinct community was present in the sponge. Sequence analysis indicated that C. nucula harbors a microbial community as diverse as the microbes from other sponges in different habitats around the world. Phylogenetic analysis placed several C. nucula clones in clades dominated by bacteria that appear to be sponge specialists (e.g., Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Cyanobacteria). Proportional representation of major bacterial taxonomic groups represented in symbiont communities was compared as a function of geographic location of sponge hosts. This study supports the hypothesis that sponges from different oceans existing in dissimilar habitats harbor closely related bacteria that are distinct from other bacterial lineages and appear specialized for residing within sponges.     

Intertidal zonation and seasonality of meiobenthos in tropical mangrove estuaries

Intertidal zonation and seasonality of tropical meiobenthic communities were examined within five mangrove estuaries along the northeastern coast (Cape York peninsula) of Australia from May 1985 to January 1986. Partial correlation analysis revealed that environmental cues such as temperature and sediment granulometry were the most important factors regulating the zonation patterns of meiofauna. Seasonality was greatly influenced by monsoonal rains. During austral summer, prolonged monsoonal rains occurred along the coast north of 18°S latitude (Hinchinbrook Island), resulting in increased river discharge and scouring of surface silts and clays, organic matter and bacteria from most tidal sediments. Despite scouring, meiofaunal densities increased in the summer wet season, probably due to warmer temperatures and the high resilience of meiobenthos to sediment disturbance. In mangrove sediments not subjected to torrential rains (Hinchinbrook Island), meiofaunal densities were highest in austral autumn and winter (sediment temperature: 23 to 27°C) and lowest in austral spring and summer (28° to 40°C). Turbellarians were the dominant meiofaunal group, accounting for 58 to 67% of total faunal densities which generally decreased with elevation in all of the estuaries. Meiofauna in tropical Australian mangroves, as in other organic-rich muds and in coral reefs, appear to exert little impact on microbial standing stocks when intercorrelated variables are accounted for. The abundances of hard-bodied meiofauna were low compared with temperate communities, lending further support to Moore's (1972) contention that tropical intertidal communities are subjected to greater physical stress than their temperate counterparts.