Effects of temperature on photosynthesis and respiration in hermatypic corals

Photosynthesis and respiration rates of the reef corals Pocillopora damicornis (Linn.), Montipora verrucosa (Lamarck), Porites compressa Dana and Fungia scutaria Lamarck were measured under controlled temperatures. Results indicate that coral metabolism is closely adapted to ambient temperature conditions. Tropical corals measured at Enewetak, Marshall Islands, showed greater primary production compared to maintenance requirements at elevated temperatures than did subtropical varieties of the same species in Hawaii. Photosynthesis: respiration (P:R) ratios were significantly and negatively related with temperature between 18° and 31°C for all Hawaiian corals, whereas at Enewetak this ratio generally showed a curvilinear relationship for this temperature range. Extrapolations of P:R regressions on temperatures to a value of 2.0 (estimated as a minimum required for long-term functional autotrophy) coincide for Hawaiian specimens with published upper lethal temperatures. Extrapolation of P:R regressions for Enewetak specimens at temperatures above 25°C suggests lethal temperatures for these corals to be 2 to 5 C° higher than for Hawaiian corals, in good agreement with recent experimental findings. Interspecific differences in P:R temperature regressions for Hawaiian corals correlating with upper lethal temperature tolerances are described.Contribution No. 505 of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology.     

Community structure and species diversity of hermatypic corals at Eilat,Red Sea

This study investigates the community structure of reefbulding corals in terms of species composition, zonation and diversity patterns, as well as possible factors affecting the observed distributions. The study was carried out by a series of line transects run underwater with SCUBA apparatus from the reef flat to a depth of 30 m. The reefs of Eilat are of the fringing type, with seleractinian corals as the most important hermatypic organisms. The different zones of the reef are analyzed on the basis of topographical characteristics of the reef, as well as from the numerical data on abundance and living coverage, using cluster analysis of all transects surveyed. The present knowledge concerning species diversity is reviewed and analyzed in the context of hermatypic coral data. Three different diversity indices (the species count, Simpson's index and Shannon and Weaver's index) were calculated for estimating the diversity obtained on different zones of the reef. It was found that there is a successive increase in diversity of hermatypic corals from shallow water to a depth of 30 m. Species diversity and living voverage of corals were significantly greater in steeper zones as compared to flatter zones of the reef. A possible explanation for this phenomenon is the accumulation of sediments in the flat zones. It is proposed that the severe and umpredictable nature of the reef flat may account for low abundance and living coverage of corals. It is also proposed that deep-water species which do not invade shallow water are species which have developed high specialization to their local environment. The idea that light intensity is a significant factor in calcium-carbonate deposition by scleractinian corals is supported by field measurements of individual colonies at different depths.This paper is part of a thesis submitted to the State University of New York at Stony Brook in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Ph. D. degree.     

Isolation and cloning of DNA from somatic tissue of soft corals (Cnidaria: Octocorallia)

A method is described for isolating high molecular weight DNA from somatic tissue of soft corals. The method avoids problems associated with the presence of nucleases, pigments and other secondary metabolites in soft corals. Tissue is frozen in liquid nitrogen, pulverized with a pestle and mortar, and the powder extracted with buffered sodium dodecyl sulphate at 4°C in the presence of phenol/chloroform. This technique has been applied toAlcyonium, Sinularia, Sarcophyton andLobophytum species. Repeated sequences have been cloned fromAlcyonium sp., and used to probe slot-blots of genomic DNA and Southern blots of restriction digests. Homologous repeated sequences were detected in threeAlcyonium sp., but not in threeSinularia sp., despite these genera being closely related.     

Mode and timing of reproduction in some common hermatypic corals of Hawaii and Enewetak

Common Hawaiian and Enewetak corals were examined to determine the method and mining of reproduction. Of the 7 Hawaiian species examined for the release of planulae, only 2 have planulated in captivity, Pocillopora damicornis and Cyphastrea ocellina. Both planulate year-round and both are characteristic of reef flats. Four of the 5 species which did not planulate were found to contain eggs, but not planulate, when polyps were examined microscopically. These 5 species do not usually occur on reef flats. Seven of the 12 Enewetak species examined in June, July, August and January planulated; 4 of these were pocilloporids, all of which are common in shallow water. Only 3 of the 8 species of Acropora planulated, and these 3 occur solely in shallow water. A greater proportion of the Pocillopora spp. colonies than Acropora spp. colonies planulated and they released more planulae per head. In previous studies and in this one, coral species which have released planulae are characteristic of shallow-water environments such as reef flats. Most of the 10 species reported on here which failed to planulate in captivity are not commonly found on reef flats. The failure to detect planulation in so many species, particularly those of deeper water, suggests that common hermatypic corals may not all reproduce in the same way, and that mode of reproduction may be related to habitat.     

Distribution,abundance and survival of juvenile hermatypic corals (Scleractinia) and the importance of life history strategies in the parent coral community

The distribution and abundance of juvenile corals were examined at depths from 3 to 37 m on the reefs of Curaçao and Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles). Juveniles of Agaricia agaricites were most abundant (60.6%), followed by Helioseris cucullata (8.3%). The large massive corals such as Montastrea annularis, M. cavernosa and branched species such as Madracis mirabilis and Acropora palmata had few juveniles. This, combined with species characteristics, shows that these species employ very different life history strategies. In some species the abundance of juveniles over the reef paralleled that of larger colonies, but not for example in Agaricia agaricites. The composition of the coral community was apparently no direct function of juvenile abundance. A change in angle of settlement of A. agaricites juveniles with increasing depth, from vertical to horizontal surfaces, seems to reflect the preferred light intensity. We studied the survival of juvenile corals during a half-year period. One-third remained unharmed, one-third died or disappeared, and one-third was limited in growth by factors such as spatial competition. This was the same for all depths, but factors influencing survival varied with depth.     

Increases of Cd and the Cd: Zn ratio in the high molecular weight protein pool from apparently normal liver of tumor-bearing flounders (Parophrys vetulus)

It is evident from previous studies that heavy metal levels are changed in tumorbearing organisms relative to nontumor-bearing organisms, particularly in apparently normal liver tissue. This study considered the possible role of metallothioneins in binding excess Cd, Cu or Zn in the liver of tumor-bearing flounders (Parophrys vetulus). Cadmium and zinc were not increased significantly on the metallothionein peak, but were increased 3.3- and 2.4-fold, respectively, on the high molecular weight protein peak. In addition, the Cd:Zn ratio was increased by 40% on the high molecular weight protein peak. Results are discussed in terms of competition of Cd and Zn for Zn-requiring enzymes involved in nucleic acid metabolism. Possible reasons for excess Cd occurring on the high molecular weight protein peak rather than on the metallothionein peak are discussed. Copper levels did not change.     

Effect of epibionts on the microdistribution of chlorophyll in corals and its detection by fluorescence spectral imaging

The spatial distribution of chlorophyll in three coral species carrying invertebrate symbionts was determined using spectral imaging techniques. From each pixel of the image, full fluorescence spectral data was obtained as well as comparative ratios of fluorescence. The multipixel fluorescence map and the relative-intensity fluorescence ratios demonstrated a high concentration of chlorophyll a next to the pits of Cryptochirus coralliodytes in Favites halicora. Spectral similarity maps of Goniastrea retiformis infested with Lithophaga lessepsiana and of Millepora dichotoma infested with Savignium milleporum revealed relatively higher chlorophyll concentrations in these two corals next to the symbionts. We hypothesize that the invertebrate symbionts fertilize their immediate surroundings with their excreta, enhancing algal growth. The spectral analysis system used in this study made it possible to distinguish such changes by spatial quantitation of the fluorescence emitted from small surface areas.     

Bi（25）FeO40-g-C3N4磁性催化剂的制备及其可见光催化性能

采用水热法制备了铁酸铋(Bi25FeO40),将其与类石墨相氮化碳(g-C3N4)复合得到Bi25FeO40-g-C3N4磁性光催化剂,用X-射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、BET比表面积分析、UV-Vis光谱和磁滞回线对该磁性光催化剂进行了表征.考察了Bi25FeO40-g-C3N4复合催化剂对亚甲基蓝的可见光催化降解效果.结果表明,Bi25FeO40-g-C3N4复合催化剂对亚甲基蓝的可见光催化降解效率远高于Bi25FeO40.此外,Bi25FeO40-g-C3N4表现出顺磁性,可通过磁选分离并回收.     

Response of embryos of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus to aqueous petroleum waste includes the expression of a high molecular weight glycoprotein

The present study investigated the sublethal effects of the largest aqueous waste associated with offshore oil development, produced water (PW), on sea urchin embryo development. PW inhibited normal gastrulation in purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) embryos exposed at the hatching stage. The exposed embryos did not form complete archenterons, and secondary mesenchyme cells exhibited an unusual behavior with respect to the wall of the blastocoelic cavity. In addition, an abundance of extracellular matrix was observed in the blastocoelic cavities in the embryos exposed to higher concentrations of PW. An inhibition of the development of embryos through the pluteus stage was observed as a result of PW exposure. This was manifested by inhibition of normal spicule formation with concomitant abnormal pluteus morphology. To determine if a biochemical stress response occurs as a result of PW exposure, embryos at the early gastrula stage were exposed to PW for 2 h, followed by an additional 1 h in 3H-leucine and PW. These embryos expressed a 253 kDa protein as observed by one-dimensional SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. This protein could occasionally be observed in gels stained for protein, and was glycosylated as demonstrated by staining with periodic acid Schiff (PAS). The 70 to 73 kDa heat-shock proteins previously described in sea urchin embryos (and other organisms) as a result of stress were not synthesized as a result of PW exposure. Heat shock did not induce synthesis of the 253 kDa glycoprotein. Combined PW and heat-shock exposure elicited both the heat-shock response (73 kDa protein) as well as expression of the 253 kDa glycoprotein. These data demonstrate the use of expression of endogenous macromolecular markers to distinguish exposures of embryos to different perturbations. Arsenic (as sodium arsenite), a metal constituent of PW, also induced the 253 kDa glycoprotein in early gastrula-stage embryos. We suggest that this glycoprotein may be a marker for PW (and a metal constituent) exposure in sea urchin embryos, and may be related to morphological abnormalities.     

Ultrastructure of the spirocyst tubule in black corals (Coelenterata: Antipatharia) and its taxonomic implications

Spirocyst tubules in five shallow-water antipatharian species Antipathes pennacea, Antipathes sp. cf. salix, A. fiordensis, A. galapagensis, and Cirrhipathes luetkeni contain an electron-opaque, helically arranged structure, composed of four distinct and separate bundles of microfibril-like material. Each bundle appears to be solid, rather than hollow, and is enveloped by a sheath of lesser electron-opacity that is continuous with the pleats. Tubules from a more distantly related, deep-water antipatharian, are similarly configured but are composed of only three distinct bundles, separated from one another by electron-opaque sheath material. The bundles are electron-lucent; their substructure was not preserved because this specimen was prepared for microscopy after preservation in alcohol for 27 yr, apparently without initial fixation. Most other details of the spirocyst tubule and capsule can be determined from this museum specimen. The arrangement within the tubule of multiple bundles, clearly defined by sheaths, is structurally distinct from other zoantharian spirocysts, and appears to be unique to the Antipatharia. The tubule structure of the anemone Aiptasia sp., examined for comparison, is consistent with that of spirocysts from other actiniarians and zoantharians generally, including the appearance of electron-opaque rodlets within the tubule lumen. No substructural information was obtained from Aiptasia sp. rodlets. It is unclear whether the microfibrillar bundles of antipatharian spirocysts differ from those of other zoantharians by being more amenable to resolution, or if their tubule substructure is fundamentally distinct from those of more typical zoantharians. In terms of overall structure, Aiptasia sp. spirocyst tubules contain a single bundle of rodlets without a clearly defined sheath, in contrast to antipatharians which have three or four bundles, each clearly defined. These structural differences may be useful in determining relationships both within the Antipatharia, and between antipatharians and allied orders.     

A high capacity ozone generator for use in aquaculture and water processing

The literature dealing with the use of ozone in wastewater treatment is extensive, but its reported applications to aquaculture are limited. The major limiting factors appear to be ozone toxicity and the cost of high-output ozone generators. Ozone toxicity may be circumvented by system design, thereby leaving generating equipment as the major obstacle. A small, high-output ozone generator, therefore, was designed utilizing the efficient Lowther plate-type principle. The unit, employing stainless-steel wire-mesh electrodes and mica dielectrics, may be used with air, oxygen, or oxygen-enriched air. Ozone production from air was evaluated at 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 cfm (3.54, 7.08 and 14.2 l/min) and oxygen at 0.25 cfm (7.08 l/min). Maximum output from air (0.25 cfm; 2.95 kV) was 84.1 g/h. Oxygen under identical conditions resulted in a production rate of 142.7 g/h. The application of this new ozone-generator design is recommended for water treatment in both open-and closed-water systems.Contribution No. 343, Department of Biology.     

Elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus reduce fertilisation success of gametes from scleractinian reef corals

Spawned gametes were collected from colonies of Acropora longicyathus at One Tree Island and Goniastrea aspera at Magnetic Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, for use in fertilisation trials. Mean fertilisation rates were significantly reduced compared with controls (P<0.003), when gametes from the branching coral A. longicyathus were exposed to elevated ammonium concentrations at 1 µM and above in one cross (60-64% reduction), and at 100 µM in another cross (16% reduction). Mean fertilisation success of A. longicyathus gametes was also significantly reduced compared with controls in both crosses (P=0.000) at concentrations of 1 µM phosphate and above (35-75% reduction), and at 1 µM ammonium plus 1 µM phosphate and all higher concentrations (68-74% reduction). Similarly, the mean percentage of regular embryos that were developing normally was significantly reduced in most nutrient treatments compared with controls (P=0.000). Fertilisation trials using gametes from the brain coral G. aspera resulted in a significantly lower percentage of regular embryos (P=0.001) and a significantly higher percentage of deformed embryos (P=0.001) developing after exposure to elevated nutrient treatments compared with controls. Mean fertilisation rates for this species were only significantly reduced (P=0.034) in the 50 µM ammonium plus phosphate treatment in one cross (8% reduction), compared with the control. Therefore, ammonium and phosphate enrichment significantly impairs fertilisation success and embryo development in scleractinian reef corals.     

添加小分子有机物对污泥重金属生物沥滤的抑制作用

采用向城市污泥添加小分子有机物后进行生物沥滤,探讨了不同小分子有机物(甲酸、乙酸、丙酸、丁酸、乙醇、水杨酸、草酸、苯甲酸)对生物沥滤过程污泥中pH值、Eh、Cu含量和Zn含量的影响。结果表明,对于污泥中的pH和Eh,不同有机物对其影响程度在整个沥滤过程中大体上相似,即pH值都呈先升后降的趋势,Eh呈先降后升趋势。对不同类型的重金属来说,不同有机物对其影响程度Cu大于Zn,其中Cu的沥出效果从强到弱依次为:对照>苯甲酸>乙醇>草酸>水杨酸>丙酸>甲酸>丁酸>乙酸,而对Zn的沥出效果在整个沥滤过程中相似。总之,整体规律为:醇类化合物和二羧基酸对污泥中的硫细菌的生物沥滤影响不大,而对于结构相似的单羧基有机酸来说,碳链越短,对生物沥滤的影响越大,分子量较高的芳香族有机酸对于重金属的去除也有明显的抑制作用,影响程度随着羧基数目的增加而加剧,但其抑制作用不及小分子有机酸显著。此外,污泥中营养物质TN、TP和TK的释放也受到一定影响。     

Molecular phylogeny of Ostracoda (Crustacea) inferred from 18S ribosomal DNA sequences: implication for its origin and diversification

Nucleotide sequences for the 18S rDNA of 17 ostracod species, representing 4 extant orders and 12 superfamilies, were determined and compared with known sequences of other crustaceans. Resulting molecular phylogenetic trees based on maximum-likelihood, maximum-parsimony, and neighbor-joining methods consistently indicated that the Podocopida plus Platycopida forms a monophyletic group, but did not indicate monophyly of the Ostracoda consisting of the four orders, Podocopida, Platycopida, Kirkbyocopida, and Myodocopida. The tree topology and the crustacean fossil record suggest that the lineage of podocopidans and platycopidans, that of kirkbyocopidans, and that of myodocopidans should have separately been established already in the Cambrian, although there is no ostracod fossil record in that time period. Close relationships between the Bythocytheroidea and Cytheroidea and among the Macrocypridoidea, Pontocypridoidea, and Cypridoidea can safely be postulated, but other relationships among podocopidan and platycopidan superfamilies could not be resolved from the 18S rDNA data. The polychotomous relationship among five lineages of the podocopidan and platycopidan superfamilies, i.e. Cytherelloidea, Bairdioidea, Darwinuloidea, Bythocytheroidea plus Cytheroidea, and Macrocypridoidea plus Pontocypridoidea plus Cypridoidea, suggests that common ancestors of those lineages diverged from each other rapidly in short intervals in the early Paleozoic.     

Tools for comprehensive estimate of coastal region marine economy potential and its use for coastal planning

For elaboration of strategy and spatial planning of sustainable coastal regions development it??s very important to know a real potential of development of the region. As parameter, which is comprehensively characterized marine economic, political and military power of the coastal region, it is possible to use the marine economy potential with comprehensive estimations of socio-economic, political, environment and military profits (damages) from coastal planning decisions. Some results, including the European and Russian coastal regions are presented.     

Variation in the temporal and spatial use of signals and its implications for multimodal communication

The use of signals across multiple sensory modalities in communication is common in animals and plants. Determining the information that each signal component conveys has provided unique insights into why multimodal signals evolve. However, how these complex signals are assessed by receivers will also influence their evolution, a hypothesis that has received less attention. Here, we explore multimodal signal assessment in a closely related complex of island flycatchers that have diverged in visual and acoustic signals. Using field experiments that manipulated song and plumage colour, we tested if song, a possible long-range signal, is assessed before plumage colour in conspecific recognition. We find that divergent song and colour are assessed in sequence, and this pattern of sequential assessment is likely mediated by habitat structure and the extent of differences in signal characteristics. A broad survey of the literature suggests that many organisms from a wide range of taxa sequentially assess multimodal signals, with long-range signals attracting conspecifics for further assessment of close-range signals. Our results highlight the need to consider how signals are assessed when understanding multimodal signal evolution. Finally, given the results of our field experiments indicating sequential assessment of divergent song and colour in the recognition of conspecifics, we discuss the consequences of multimodal signal divergence for the origin of species, as changes in signals across different sensory modalities may influence the evolution of premating reproductive isolation.     

一种经济、简单的微生物基因组DNA的提取方法

获得一定浓度和纯度的DNA是进行分子生物学研究的基础。破解细胞壁与细胞膜是获得基因组DNA的前提，而蛋白质和核酸物质的分离是获得高质量DNA产物的关键。目前，主要采用的破壁方法有：冷冻研磨法、溶菌酶法、EDTA测等，这些方法一般采用复杂的裂解液体系，并借助蛋白酶K和RNA酶的帮助来获得高质量的抽提产物。由于细胞裂解体系不仅配制十分麻烦，而日部分药品有毒操作危险性大，此外部分药品及相关酶试剂价格昂贵。本文充分利用DNA在不同温度下自身可变性与复性的特性和在高盐与高温条件下蛋白质能够变性并沉淀。以无菌的SDS（c／c=20％）和NaCl（c/c=8％）的混合液作裂解体系，在沸水浴中破壁膜并使得部分的蛋白质变性和DNA变性并得到初步分离；随后在60℃和72℃水浴中使变性的DNA复性和重新凝聚，同时让RNA、蛋白质和细胞壁碎片等杂质降解或沉淀，从而获得高质量的DNA产物。     

Migration,habitat use,and competition among mobile corals (Scleractinia: Fungiidae) in the Gulf of Eilat,Red Sea

We examined the impact of seven species of mobile mushroom corals (Fungiidae) on the community structure of sheltered reef slopes in terms of their patterns of migration, habitat use and competition with other benthic organisms. On fringing reefs at Eilat, Red Sea, polyps detached at 1 to 6 cm length, and grew to 11–55 cm length. Attached mushroom corals were oriented vertically in reef cavities. Detached corals migrated downward on the reef slope and onto rubble or soft substratum at the reef base, at 29 to 71 cmyr^–1. Mobility decreased with corallum size and extent of undersurface ornamentation. In aquaria, small corals righted themselves and migrated up to 6 cm d^–1 by nocturnally inflating and pushing their tissues against the substratum. Autonomous coral behavior and storm-generated water motion appeared to account for most fungiid mobility at Eilat. Mushroom corals did not damage each other upon contact, even in multi-species aggregations, but unilaterally damaged non-fungiid scleractinian corals. Their dominance during contact interactions retards overgrowth by larger attached scleractinians, and mobility allows them to colonize soft substrata not accessible to most other reef corals.