Influence of filtering and biodeposition by the cultured scallop Chlamys farreri on benthic-pelagic coupling in a eutrophic bay in China

In coastal ecosystems, suspension-cultured bivalve filter feeders may exert a strong impact on phytoplankton and other suspended particulate matter and induce strong pelagic-benthic coupling via intense filtering and biodeposition. We designed an in situ method to determine spatial variations in the filtering-biodeposition process by intensively suspension-cultured scallops Chlamys farreri in summer in a eutrophic bay (Sishili Bay, China), using cylindrical biodeposition traps directly suspended from longlines under ambient environmental conditions. Results showed that bivalve filtering-biodeposition could substantially enhance the deposition of total suspended material and the flux of C, N and P to the benthos, indicating that the suspended filter feeders could strongly enhance pelagic-benthic coupling and exert basin-scale impacts in the Sishili Bay ecosystem. The biodeposition rates of 1-yr-old scallops varied markedly among culture sites (33.8 to 133.0 mg dry material ind.(-1) d(-1)), and were positively correlated with seston concentrations. Mean C, N and P biodeposition rates were 4.00, 0.51, 0.11 mg ind.-1 d-1, respectively. The biodeposition rates of 2-yr-old scallops were almost double these values. Sedimentation rates at scallop culture sites averaged 2.46 times that at the reference site. Theoretically, the total water column of the bay could be filtered by the cultured scallops in 12 d, with daily seston removal amounting to 64%. This study indicated that filtering-biodeposition by suspension-cultured scallops could exert long-lasting top-down control on phytoplankton biomass and other suspended material in the Sishili Bay ecosystem. In coastal waters subject to anthropogenic N and P inputs, suspended bivalve aquaculture could be advantageous, not only economically, but also ecologically, by functioning as a biofilter and potentially mitigating eutrophication pressures. Compared with distribution-restricted wild bivalves, suspension-cultured bivalves in deeper coastal bays may be more efficient in processing seston on a basin scale.

The characteristics of nutrient removal and inhibitory effect of Ulva clathrata on Vibrio anguillarum 65

To investigate the ecological effect of macroalgae on de-eutrophication and depuration of mariculture seawater, the variation of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphate (DIP), the amount of Vibrio anguillarum, and total heterotrophic bacteria in Ulva clathrata culture, as well as on the algal surface, were investigated by artificially adding nutrients and V. anguillarum strain 65 from February to April 2006. The results indicated that U. clathrata not only had strong DIN and DIP removal capacities, but also showed a significant inhibitory effect on V. anguillarum, although not reducing the total heterotrophic bacteria. Vibrio anguillarum 65 dropped from 5 similar to 8 x 10(7) cfu mL(-1) to 10 cfu mL(-1) (clone-forming units per mL) in 10 g L-1 of fresh U. clathrata culture within 2 days; i.e., almost all of the Vibrios were efficiently eradicated from the algal culture system. Our results also showed that the inhibitory effect of U. clathrata on V. anguillarum strain 65 was both DIN- and DIP-dependent. Addition of DIN and DIP could enhance the inhibitory effects of the algae on the Vibrio, but did not reduce the total heterotrophic bacteria. Further studies showed that the culture suspension in which U. clathrata was pre-cultured for 24 h also had an inhibitory effect on V. anguillarum strain 65. Some unknown chemical substances, either released from U. clathrata or produced by the alga associated microorganisms, inhibited the proliferation of V. anguillarum 65.

湖泊沉积物中有机磷的地球化学特征及其富营养化效应——以太湖、红枫湖、百花湖和洱海为例

磷是水生生态系统初级生产力的主要限制因子，也是造成湖泊富营养化的关键营养元素。湖泊富营养化现已成为世界性的环境问题，它不但制约了湖泊资源的可利用性,而且直接影响着人类的健康生存与社会经济的可持续发展。沉积物内源磷的释放是决定湖泊水体营养水平、影响湖泊富营养化治理成效的重要因素。因此，研究沉积物中磷的组成形态、含量分布及迁移转化等对于全面了解湖泊生态系统中磷的生物地球化学循环，有效控制和管理湖泊富营养化具有重要的意义。然而目前对沉积物中的无机磷(Pi)及其生物可利用性进行了大量的研究，有机磷(Po)作为沉积物中的重要化学成分，它的地球化学特征及其对湖泊富营养化的作用却了解甚少。 长江中下游地区和云贵高原地区是我国淡水湖泊的主要分布区，也是我国湖泊富营养化最为严重的地区。本论文工作选取两地区具不同流域特征、水文状况、生态结构、污染程度的代表性湖泊(太湖梅梁湾、鼋头渚、贡湖、东太湖, 红枫湖, 百花湖和洱海)为研究对象，结合传统的化学连续提取手段和最新的液体磷核磁共振(31P NMR)波谱分析，研究了这些湖泊沉积物中Po的形态、组成以及剖面分布特征，揭示了Po对湖泊富营养化的重要作用；并运用高效体积排阻色谱法、分子荧光光谱法探讨了它们与沉积物中有机质的关系。主要研究结果如下： 1. 采用改进的土壤Po分级体系研究湖泊沉积物中Po的赋存形态，沉积物中Po的回收率可达94.3－101.1%，平均为98.5±2.2%，说明了该方法基本上包括了沉积物中全部Po。这是因为本方法对活性Po和腐殖质磷萃取的时间更长，提取更为完全；对富里酸磷和胡敏酸磷的区分更加明确；还特别增加了残渣态有机磷(Residual Po)的测定，使得Po的形态分析更为周密和准确。沉积物中Residual Po的含量占总Po的29.9－57.2%，进一步表明了此方法的可取性，这将为以后开展湖泊沉积物中Po的形态研究奠定了基础。 2. 湖泊沉积物中磷形态的不同分布特征可能与两地区不同的湖泊类型、有机质降解过程的差异以及各种磷形态之间的相互转化有关。Po形态在不同污染程度沉积物中的含量与分布也充分说明了沉积物是水体富营养化的主要内源，Po对湖泊富养化的作用不容忽视。 3.太湖梅梁湾、鼋头渚和贡湖沉积物不同提取液中有机质的分子量分布特征可能表明了其中有机质和Po组成的差异，而沉积物中有机C/N和C/P比值分析和三维荧光光谱特征的相似形可能反映了太湖(浅水湖泊)沉积物中有机质与磷的地球化学特性及其相互关系。 4. 31P NMR的测定结果显示，湖泊沉积物中磷主要由正磷酸盐(Ortho-P)、磷酸单酯(Monoester-P)与二酯(Diester-P)组成，焦磷酸盐(Pyro-P)和膦酸盐(Phosphonate)的含量非常低。Ortho-P在重富营养化和浅水湖泊沉积物中的相对含量高于富营养化、中富营养化和深水湖泊沉积物，Monoester-P的分布特征正好相反，表明了这些磷化合物在不同湖泊生态系统磷的循环中的差异。此外，Monoester-P中肌糖磷酸的大量存在，也同时证实了前面Po化学连续提取中高含量的Residual Po。 5. 梅梁湾和洱海沉积物中总磷(TP)、Pi、Ortho-P、Monoester-P、总有机碳(TOC)和总氮(TN)表现出不同的剖面分布特征，说明了有机质和磷在不同湖泊环境中的分解转化规律，可能解释了内源磷的释放对两湖富营养化的影响。此外，Diester-P中DNA-P的剖面变化和前人报道的沉积物中DNA的分布特征正好吻合，表明了DNA-P主要来源于沉积物中细菌和微生物的DNA。