Structural and functional vulnerability to elevated pCO2 in marine benthic communities

The effect of elevated pCO₂/low pH on marine invertebrate benthic biodiversity, community structure and selected functional responses which underpin ecosystem services (such as community production and calcification) was tested in a medium-term (30 days) mesocosm experiment in June 2010. Standardised intertidal macrobenthic communities, collected (50.3567°N, 4.1277°W) using artificial substrate units (ASUs), were exposed to one of seven pH treatments (8.05, 7.8. 7.6, 7.4, 7.2, 6.8 and 6.0). Community net calcification/dissolution rates, as well as changes in biomass, community structure and diversity, were measured at the end of the experimental period. Communities showed significant changes in structure and reduced diversity in response to reduced pH: shifting from a community dominated by calcareous organisms to one dominated by non-calcareous organisms around either pH 7.2 (number of individuals and species) or pH 7.8 (biomass). These results were supported by a reduced total weight of CaCO₃ structures in all major taxa at lowered pH and a switch from net calcification to net dissolution around pH 7.4 (Ω_calc = 0.78, Ω_ara = 0.5). Overall community soft tissue biomass did not change with pH and high mortality was observed only at pH 6.0, although molluscs and arthropods showed significant decreases in soft tissue. This study supports and refines previous findings on how elevated pCO₂ can induce changes in marine biodiversity, underlined by differential vulnerability of different phyla. In addition, it shows significant elevated pCO₂-/low pH-dependent changes in fundamental community functional responses underpinning changes in ecosystem services.     

The physiological and molecular responses of larvae from the reef-building coral Pocillopora damicornis exposed to near-future increases in temperature and pCO2

Given the threats of greenhouse gas emissions and a changing climate to marine ecosystems, there is an urgent need to better understand the response of not only adult corals, which are particularly sensitive to environmental changes, but also their larvae, whose mechanisms of acclimation to both temperature increases and ocean acidification are not well understood. Brooded larvae from the reef coral Pocillopora damicornis collected from Nanwan Bay, Southern Taiwan, were exposed to ambient or elevated temperature (25 or 29 °C) and pCO₂ (415 or 635 μatm) in a factorial experiment for 9 days, and a variety of physiological and molecular parameters were measured. Respiration and rubisco protein expression decreased in larvae exposed to elevated temperature, while those incubated at high pCO₂ were larger in size. Collectively, these findings highlight the complex metabolic and molecular responses of this life history stage and the need to integrate our understanding across multiple levels of biological organization. Our results also suggest that for this pocilloporid larval life stage, the impacts of elevated temperature are likely a greater threat under near-future predictions for climate change than ocean acidification.     

Spatial variogram estimation from temporally aggregated seabird count data

Seabird abundance is an important indicator for assessing impact of human activities on the marine environment. However, data collection at sea is time consuming and surveys are carried out over several consecutive days for efficiency reasons. This study investigates the validity of aggregating those data over time to estimate a spatial variogram that is representative for spatial correlation in species abundance. For this purpose we simulate four-day surveys of seabird count data that contain spatial and temporal correlation arising from temporal changes in the spatial pattern of environmental conditions. Estimates of the aggregated spatial variogram are compared to a variogram that would arise when data were collected over a single day. The study reveals that, under changing environmental conditions over surveys days, aggregating data over a four-day survey increases both the non-spatial variation in the data and the scale of spatial correlation in seabird data. Next, the effect of using an aggregated variogram on the statistical power to test the significance of an impact is investigated. The impact concerns a case of establishing an offshore wind farm resulting in seabird displacement. The study shows that both overestimation and underestimation of statistical power occurs, with power estimates differing up to a factor of two. We conclude that the spatial variation in seabird abundance can be misrepresented by using temporally aggregated data. In impact studies, such misrepresentation can lead to erroneous assessments of the ability to detect impact.     

Temporal patterns of settlement, recruitment and post-settlement losses in a rocky reef fish assemblage in the South-Western Mediterranean Sea

Post-settlement events can significantly alter the density distribution of settlers and subsequently the adult population structure. The temporal and inter-annual variability of settlement and the effects of mortality on recruitment were investigated across 2 years in the vicinities of Cabo de Palos–Islas Hormigas Marine Reserve by visual census and light trap sampling. Settlement was seasonal with greater species richness and abundance in summer. Although temporal synchronization was observed between larval supply and settlement, densities of settlers could not be predicted from post-larval abundances. Timing of settlement was consistent between years but with high inter-annual variation in abundance. High mortality (~80 %) and general decoupling between post-larval and settlement stages suggest that early mortality is driving such patterns. Nevertheless, indications of habitat-mediated mortality were found for benthic species such as Symphodus and Diplodus, highlighting the importance of habitat in shaping population demography.     

A game theoretic approach to multimodal communication

Over the last few decades the animal communication community has become increasingly aware that much communication occurs using multiple signals in multiple modalities. The majority of this work has been empirical, with less theoretical work on the advantages conferred by such communication. In the present paper, we ask: Why should animals communicate with multiple signals in multiple modalities? To tackle this question we use game theoretic techniques, and highlight developments in the economic signaling literature that might offer insight into biological problems. We start by establishing a signaling game, and investigate signal honesty under two prevailing paradigms of honest communication – costly signaling and cheap talk. In both paradigms, without further constraint, it is simple to show that anything that can be achieved with multiple signals can be achieved with one. We go on to investigate different sets of possible constraints that may make multiple signals and multimodal signals in particular more likely to evolve. We suggest that constraints on cost functions and bandwidths, orthogonal noise across modalities, strategically distinct modes, multiple qualities, multiple signalers, and multiple audiences, all provide biologically plausible scenarios that theoretically favor multiple and multimodal signaling.     

Tetracycline antibiotics in the environment: a review

Tetracycline antibiotics are one of the primarily antibiotics groups used for veterinary purposes, for human therapy and for agricultural purposes. Amongst the different antibiotics used, more attention is paid to tetracycline’s as it exhibits serious environmental problems including ecological risks and human health damages. Due to their extensive usage, most of the actual evidence suggests that tetracycline antibiotics are omnipresent compounds found in different ecological compartments. After medication, more than 70 % of tetracycline antibiotics are excreted and released in active form into the environment via urine and feces from humans and animals. Their highly hydrophilic character and low volatility have resulted in significant persistence in the aquatic environment. Very few studies describe the fate and toxicity of tetracycline antibiotics in the environment. Here, we review several important issues with regard to: (1) the toxicity of these compounds on aquatic and terrestrial organisms; (2) their estrogenic effects; (3) their behavior in different ecological systems and; (4) the by-products generated during water treatment. These antibiotics residues promote the development of antibiotic resistant microorganisms, which can induce adverse effect to human health by increasing the risk of certain infections. Based on recent research results, the occurrence of tetracycline antibiotics in the environment inhibits the growth of some terrestrial and aquatic species. Besides, the residual concentrations of such drugs could affect steroidogenic pathway and consequently may cause endocrine disruption of aquatic species. Most of the wastewater treatment plants are not capable of removing effectively the tetracycline antibiotics. Therefore, there is a need to develop alternative processes to remove them from waters. Advanced oxidation processes have been proposed as alternative methods to ensure higher degradation and mineralization of tetracycline antibiotics are present in waters.     

城市环境铂族金属分布特性及生态健康风险研究进展

随着铂族金属铂（Pt）、钯（Pd）、铑（Rh）被广泛应用于汽车尾气催化净化器中,这三种金属在自然界中的含量逐渐升高。越来越多的研究表明,这几种曾被认为对环境影响较小的金属的确会带来潜在的生态健康风险。本文概括了国内外城市各种环境介质的含量分布,重点分析了铂族金属的源解析方法、粒径分布特性、影响其排放的因素和其潜在的生态健康风险。就全世界的城市来看,灰尘、空气、土壤、沉积物等各种环境介质中铂族金属的含量均有显著提高,主要来源于汽车三元催化净化器。这三种金属倾向于富集在细颗粒中,行车模式是影响其排放量的重要因素,自然界的共存物质可增强它们的溶解性和迁移性,从而使它们的生物可利用性大大提高。生物体吸收这类金属后,可与体内的物质发生反应,形态发生变化,毒性增强。在以后的研究中,除了持续跟踪调查这三种金属在环境中的含量水平以外,还应加强研究这三种金属在环境中的颗粒分布、迁移转化、形态变换、生物可利用性以及生物毒性等,使我们能够更好地评估其生态健康风险,并为与之相关的应用研发、防范措施、政策制订提供引导和支持。     

Contrasting diel patterns in vertical movement and locomotor activity of whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef

Activity patterns of animals often relate to environmental variables such as food availability and predation pressure. Technological advances are providing us with new tools to monitor and better understand these activity patterns. We used animal-attached data loggers recording acceleration and depth to compare activity patterns and vertical habitat use of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Whale sharks showed a moderate reverse diel vertical migration but exhibited a clear crepuscular pattern in locomotory activity. Peak activity occurred at sunset, whereas vertical movement peaked prior to this. Typical ram surface filter feeding could be identified and occurred primarily during sunset and the first hours of night. At such times, direct observations indicated whale sharks were feeding on tropical krill swarms. Kinematic analysis of postural data and data from vertical movement suggests that whale sharks at Ningaloo spend ~8 min per day actively ram surface filter feeding. Considering the high biomass present in krill schools, it is estimated that whale sharks at Ningaloo have a similar energy intake as those at other aggregation sites. Diel patterns in activity and diving behaviour suggest that whale sharks have tuned their diving behaviour in anticipation of the formation of these high-density patches which appear to only be periodically, but predictably available at sunset. Our results confirm that diel patterns in vertical habitat selection and vertical movements do not necessarily reflect patterns in activity and foraging behaviour. Direct quantification of activity and behaviour is required in gaining accurate representation of diel activity patterns.     

孕哺期全氟辛烷磺酸暴露对子代大鼠糖代谢的影响

探讨孕哺期全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)暴露对子代大鼠成年后糖代谢稳态的影响。Wistar孕鼠随机分组,自孕0天(GD0)起分别以0 mg·kg^-1(对照组)、4 mg·kg^-1(低剂量组)和8 mg·kg^-1 (高剂量组) PFOS(以饲料中PFOS计)经口染毒至仔鼠出生后21天(PND21)断乳为止。高效液相/质谱法检测PND1、PND21和PND42时仔鼠血清PFOS含量。检测仔鼠断乳后第8周和第18周时空腹血糖和胰岛素水平计算胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR);比较仔鼠口服糖耐量及肝脏糖代谢关键酶表达水平改变。结果显示：发育期PFOS暴露导致仔鼠出现血清中PFOS蓄积,以PND21时浓度最高,在低剂量组和高剂量组中分别为(7.77±1.45) μg·mL^-1和(5.09±0.57) μg·mL^-1。与对照组相比,不同剂量组仔鼠在断乳前后均出现明显体重降低,并在成年后出现高胰岛素血症,但PFOS仅在雄性仔鼠中引起了血糖升高。18周龄时口服糖耐量结果显示,PFOS暴露使雄性仔鼠在该阶段出现糖耐量受损,同时造成过氧化物酶体增殖物活化受体γ协同刺激因子(PGC-1)、磷酸烯醇丙酮酸羧激酶(PEPCK)表达水平的显著增高以及葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶(G6P)表达水平的显著降低。以上结果说明PFOS孕哺期暴露可引起子代成年后糖代谢失调,有增加糖尿病患病风险可能。