Foraminifera as bioindicators in coral reef assessment and monitoring: the FORAM Index. Foraminifera in Reef Assessment and Monitoring

Coral reef communities are threatened worldwide. Resource managers urgently need indicators of the biological condition of reef environments that can relate data acquired through remote-sensing, water-quality and benthic-community monitoring to stress responses in reef organisms. The FORAM (Foraminifera in Reef Assessment and Monitoring) Index (FI) is based on 30 years of research on reef sediments and reef-dwelling larger foraminifers. These shelled protists are ideal indicator organisms because: Foraminifers are widely used as environmental and paleoenvironmental indicators in many contexts; Reef-building, zooxanthellate corals and foraminifers with algal symbionts have similar water-quality requirements; The relatively short life spans of foraminifers as compared with long-lived colonial corals facilitate differentiation between long-term water-quality decline and episodic stress events; Foraminifers are relatively small and abundant, permitting statistically significant sample sizes to be collected quickly and relatively inexpensively, ideally as a component of comprehensive monitoring programs; and Collection of foraminifers has minimal impact on reef resources.USEPA guidelines for ecological indicators are used to evaluate the FI. Data required are foraminiferal assemblages from surface sediments of reef-associated environments. The FI provides resource managers with a simple procedure for determining the suitability of benthic environments for communities dominated by algal symbiotic organisms. The FI can be applied independently, or incorporated into existing or planned monitoring efforts. The simple calculations require limited computer capabilities and therefore can be applied readily to reef-associated environments worldwide. In addition, the foraminiferal shells collected can be subjected to morphometric and geochemical analyses in areas of suspected heavy-metal pollution, and the data sets for the index can be used with other monitoring data in detailed multidimensional assessments.     

CONTROL OF SUSPENDED SOLIDS AND PHYTOPLANKTON WITH FISHES AND A MUSSEL1

ABSTRACT: Filtering efficiency of the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), carp (Cyprinus carpio), and a freshwater mussel (Elliptio coinpianata) was measured in field and laboratory trials to assess the ability of each species to control phytoplankton and suspended solid densities. All fish species tested were ineffective filterers and generally increased, rather than suppressed, algal and suspended solid concentrations. Filtering efficiencies of fish varied between -354 and 84 percent, depending on the size, shape, abundance, palatability, composition, and resistance to digestion of the particles. Because of poor filtering abilities, unpredictable feeding habits, and sensitivity to stress, the fish species examined are not effective biological controls in waste lagoons. In contrast, the freshwater mussel Elliptio was a highly effective control organism, averaging 66 percent filtering efficiency over a wide size range of algal and suspended particles. Filtration efficiency was positively correlated with mussel density. Elliptio was efficient at filtering small particles, which are particularly difficult to remove. Mean filtration rates ranged from 53 to 134 ml/mussel/h depending on the algal species consumed and algal densities (range 50–180,000 cells/ml) and 3 mg/L/mussel/h on suspended solids (range 14 to 112 mg/L). Water clarification was facilitated by both direct consumption and pseudofeces deposition. Elliptio and probably other mussel species can effectively control algae and suspended solids in wastewater lagoons and eutrophic lakes, if environmental conditions, especially dissolved oxygen levels, are suitable (>5 mg/L) for their survival.     

Copper, Copper Mining Effluents and Grazing as Potential Determinants of Algal Abundance and Diversity in Northern Chile

We experimentally tested threealternative hypotheses to explain the low algaldiversity and abundance in an intertidal zonereceiving the effluents of the copper mine El Salvadorin northern Chile. Our results demonstrated thatalgae were able to grow at the levels of dissolvedcopper detected in coastal waters of the area. Duringthe assays, growth and regeneration in several red,green and brown adult algae and juvenile Lessonia nigrescens were normal at copper levels of150 g L^-1 or, in some cases, higher. Wealso found that the coastal sea water mixed with theeffluent was not lethal to algae, although in somecases minor effects on growth were detected. Theseresults indicate that today's low algal diversity andabundance can not be explained by the current copperlevels in the area nor by the effect of the effluent.Exclusion of grazers, however, resulted in a fastcolonization by various algal species. This, togetherwith atypically high grazer density at the areas underthe influence of the effluent, strongly suggests thatherbivory, a factor not directly related to the miningoperation, is likely to be responsible for the lowalgal diversity and abundance in the studied locality.     

大亚湾日本星杆藻种群动态及其与环境因子的关系

研究了1997～1998年及1999和2000年春季大亚湾日本星杆藻(Asterionella japonica)种群动态及其与环境因子之间的关系.日本星杆藻是大亚湾浮游植物常见优势种类,可在全年温度范围(14～32.8℃)内形成数量高峰,并发生水华.日本星杆藻在1998年和2000年春季不常出现,但1999年春丰富的营养盐含量及它们之间合适的比值、多变的水温、稳定的盐度和晴朗的天气使日本星杆藻迅速生长,并发生了水华,最高细胞密度达5255cells/mL.水华消耗了大量的营养,水华期间DIN、DIP和Dsi分别下降了76.0%、69.7%和58.8%,而且营养元素的消耗特别是DIN的耗尽是水华消退的重要原因,而桡足类等浮游动物摄食也是水华消退的原因之一.     

2004年夏季太湖梅梁湾席状漂浮水华风力漂移入湾量计算

太湖北部重度水华暴发时,在夏季盛行风推动下,漂浮的席状水华可由大太湖漂移进入位于太湖北部的梅梁湾,使湾内的水华加剧.本文通过室内风箱水槽实验和野外观测,对水华的风力漂移作了定量研究,建立了风速与水华漂移速度的指数相关方程.并据此对2004年夏季太湖北部发生席状水华的6d分别计算了水华风力漂移入湾量.6d中,只有2004-07-31水华漂移是由湾内向大太湖输出,且量很小,只有0.05 km²;其余5d水华漂移进入梅梁湾的面积占整个梅梁湾面积的3.7%～13.3%,进入量最大的是2004-06-11,达17.4km²,最少的是2004-07-30,为4.8 km².     

Determination of the mechanism of photoinduced toxicity of selected metal oxide nanoparticles (ZnO, CuO, Co3O4 and TiO2) to E. coli bacteria

Cytotoxicity of selected metal oxide nanoparticles(MNPs)(ZnO,CuO,Co 3 O 4 and TiO 2)was investigated in Escherichia coli both under light and dark conditions.Cytotoxicity experiments were conducted with spread plate counting and the LC 50 values were calculated.We determined the mechanism of toxicity via measurements of oxidative stress,reduced glutathione,lipid peroxidation,and metal ions.The overall ranking of the LC 50 values was in the order of ZnO < CuO < Co 3 O 4 < TiO 2 under dark condition and ZnO < CuO < TiO 2 < Co 3 O 4 under light condition.ZnO MNPs were the most toxic among the tested nanoparticles.Our results indicate depletion of reduced glutathione level and elevation of malondialdehyde level correlated with the increase in oxidative stress.Released metal ions were found to have partial effect on the toxicity of MNPs to E.coli.In summary,the dynamic interactions of multiple mechanisms lead to the toxicity of the tested MNPs to E.coli.     

三峡库区大宁河藻细胞昼夜垂直迁移研究

旨在准确为三峡库区藻华预警提供基础数据,本研究于2011年7月底在三峡库区大宁河流域进行藻细胞昼夜垂直迁移试验.结果表明,大宁河在此期间,藻细胞主要以绿藻、蓝藻、硅藻和甲藻为主;藻细胞在水体中的分布不均匀,72.5%～76.2%的藻细胞集中在0.5～4.0 m水体之间,0～0.5 m处藻细胞较少,占垂直水体藻密度的7.5%～16.3%,白天藻细胞Morisita指数(MI)为1.41～1.97,夜晚MI指数为1.17～1.55,叶绿素a白天MI指数为1.31～1.59,而夜晚MI指数为1.17～1.39.藻细胞在水体中存在明显的昼夜垂直迁移现象,该现象主要发生在0.5～4.0 m水体之间.水体中的藻密度受营养盐的影响较小,与可溶解性总磷显著相关(r=0.89),藻密度主要受温度、pH值和导电率影响,藻密度与温度、pH值和导电率呈极显著相关,相关系数分别为0.96、0.97和-0.99.     

典型湖泊有机聚集体时空特征及驱动因子

有机聚集体(OA)是水体中物质循环和能量流通的重要枢纽,但在不同营养水平湖泊中的比较研究仍相当匮乏.于2019～2021年间,采集了不同季节贫营养抚仙湖、中营养天目湖、中度富营养太湖和重度富营养星云湖表层水样,利用扫描电镜、表面荧光显微镜和流式细胞仪等研究了4个典型湖泊中OA及其附着细菌的时空变化特征.结果表明：(1)抚仙湖、天目湖、太湖和星云湖中,OA丰度的年均值分别为1.4×10⁴、 7.0×10⁴、 27.7×10⁴和16.0×10⁴ind·mL^-1; OA附着细菌丰度的年均值分别为0.3×10⁶、 1.9×10⁶、 4.9×10⁶和6.2×10⁶ cells·mL^-1;附着细菌占总细菌的比值分别为30%、 31%、 50%和38%.(2)夏季OA丰度显著高于秋冬季;但夏季附着细菌占总细菌的比值为26%,显著低于其它3个季节.(3)湖泊营养状态是影响OA及其附着细...     

生物气溶胶的吸湿性

归纳了有关气溶胶吸湿性的测量方法以及过去近30a来文献中报道的生物气溶胶吸湿性的主要研究成果,总结了不同种类生物气溶胶之间吸湿性的差异.已有研究表明,绝大部分的生物气溶胶粒子都具有一定的吸湿性,当相对湿度为90%时,吸湿增长因子约为1.04（真菌孢子）~1.22（细菌）,花粉颗粒物吸湿后的质量与之前的比值为1.30~1.55.最后,提出了目前关于生物气溶胶吸湿性研究中尚未解决的科学问题及该领域的主要发展方向.     

白鲢罗非鱼对微囊藻毒素急性、亚急性毒性响应

为了探究不同控藻鱼类对产毒微囊藻的适应机制,为生物操纵的鱼种选择提供依据,研究了白鲢和罗非鱼对微囊藻毒素（MC）的生物富集、降解,及两种鱼对毒素的抗性、解毒机制的差异性.结果发现：在喂食微囊藻实验中,白鲢、罗非鱼对MC日摄入量达到10mg/kg,2种鱼均对MC有较强抗性.微囊藻经鱼摄入后,MC总含量在白鲢、罗非鱼粪便中分别下降到71.5%、6.0%,罗非鱼对MC降解能力远高于白鲢.白鲢和罗非鱼的肝系数分别从（1.19±0.21）%、（2.24±0.19）%下降到（0.79±0.06）%、（1.72±0.07）%,均表现出显著差异性下降（P<0.05）.微囊藻毒素在白鲢、罗非鱼肌肉中积累量分别为（1.57±0.31）μg/kg、（10.81±6.52）μg/kg （鲜重）、肝脏中积累量分别为（4.28±1.64）mg/kg、（2.48±0.15）mg/kg （鲜重）.MC在白鲢、罗非鱼肌肉、肝脏中的积累量均存在显著差异性（P<0.05）.罗非鱼肌肉中毒素含量是白鲢的6.9倍.在微囊藻毒素LR （MC-LR）对白鲢和罗非鱼的急性毒性效应实验中,MC-LR对白鲢、罗非鱼的LD₅₀为270和790μg/kg,罗非鱼对毒素有更强耐受性.喂食毒藻和i.p.注射MC均导致白鲢和罗非鱼肝细胞内脂滴大量出现.2种鱼在MC-LR注射后,谷胱甘肽（GSH）含量均表现出6h内明显下降.6h后两种鱼GSH含量均逐步回升,二者差异显著（p<0.05）.实验结果表明,罗非鱼对MC降解能力远高于白鲢.白鲢主要摄食群体微囊藻的群体胶鞘和附着细菌,胞内微囊藻毒素释放量小,白鲢这种摄食机制导致它能以产毒微囊藻为食而受到较轻危害.罗非鱼体内消化酶对微囊藻和MC具较强的消化降解能力;GSH含量及相关酶活性水平高,对体内毒素清除效率高.从食用安全性角度出发,与罗非鱼相比,白鲢是更适合用于控制蓝藻水华的鱼种,可广泛应用于蓝藻水华控制中.