Plankton community composition in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region revealed by PCR-DGGE and its relationships with environmental factors

To explore the relationships between community composition and the environment in a reservoir ecosystem, plankton communities from the Three Gorges Reservoir Region were studied by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprinting. Bacterial and eukaryotic operational taxonomic units (OTUs), generated by DGGE analysis of the PCR-amplified 16S and 18S rRNA genes, were used as surrogates for the dominant "biodiversity units". OTU composition among the sites was heterogeneous; 46.7% of the total bacteria] OTUs (45) and 64.1% of the eukaryotic OTUs (39) were identified in less than half of the sampling sites. Unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) clustering of the OTUs suggested that the plankton communities in the Xiangxi Rive sites were not always significantly different from those from the Yangtze River sites, despite clear differences in their environmental characterizations. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was applied to further investigate the relationships between OTU composition and the environmental factors. The first two CCA ordination axes suggested that the bacterial community composition was primarily correlated with the variables of NO3--N, dissolved oxygen (DO), and SiO32--Si, whereas, the eukaryotic community was mainly correlated with the concentrations of DO, PO43--P, and SiO32--Si.

Macroinvertebrate community structure in Three-Gorges Reservoir, China

We investigated the macroinvertebrate community structure in Three-Gorges Reservoir during a three-year period after the reservoir became operational. Comparison with data of previous authors obtained before the damming showed that the benthic community changed drastically in the reservoir. Oligochaetes and chironomids dominate the present community. An apparent annual cycle in the benthic community (expressed as richness, density and community type) was found in the second year, lagging one year behind the annual cycle of transparency. After the second year, a Nais-Polypedilum community type, occurring in winter and spring with low inflow discharge and high transparency, was followed by a Limnodrilus community type that occurred in autumn and summer under contrasting conditions. Despite river regulation and damming, it appeared that macroinvertebrates in subtropical canyon-shaped reservoirs remained influenced by floods.

A new species of Allocreadium (Trematoda : Allocreadiidae) from freshwater fishes in the Danjiangkou Reservoir in China

A new species of Allocreadium, Allocreadium danjiangensis n. sp., is described from the intestine of several species of freshwater fish, including Abbottina rivularis (Basilewsky, 1855), Sarcocheilichthys nigripinnis nigripinns (Gunther, 1873), Gnathopogon argentatus (Sauvage et Dabry 1874), Opsariichthys uncirostris bidens (Gunther, 1873), and Erythroculter mongolicus mongolicus (Basilewsky, 1855) (Cyprinidae) from the Danjiangkou Reservoir in central China. The main morphological characters of the new species are as follows: vitelline follicles numerous, extending from the level of acetabulum to posterior extremity, distributed over both sides around the ceca; cirrus sac relatively large, developed, lying obliquely anterior to the acetabulum, extending from the level of the intestinal bifurcation to the central level of acetabulum, and overlapping left or right cecal; and ovary much smaller than testes, generally close to or even overlapping the anterior border of anterior testis. Observation by scanning electron microscopy shows only 2 kinds of tegumental formations, i.e., papillae and tubercles, instead of 3 types of tegumental formations, i.e., papillae, bosses, and minute sensor receptors observed on other species of the Allocreadiidae. The tegumental striations of the present species vary on the different parts of the body. In addition, a new structure, identified as the "groove" with a tonguelike tubercle, was observed on the inner wall of acetabulum.

Seasonal patterns of sedimentation and their associations with benthic communities in Xiangxi Bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

Sedimentation variables and benthic community data were collected at seven stations during four seasons in Xiangxi Bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Summer, the season of highest discharge into the reservoir, was characterized by the extreme sediment loading. The benthic macroinvertebrate community was dominated by oligochaetes across all seasons at most stations. In winter/spring, macroinvertebrate density and richness increased. Correspondence analysis showed that community structure differed among stations at the two ends of the bay in winter and among almost all stations in spring, However, no variable associated with sedimentation appeared to be associated with differences in the community.

Analysis of heavy metals of muscle and intestine tissue in fish - in Banan section of Chongqing from Three Gorges Reservoir, China

The present study was carried out to investigate contamination of heavy metals in 19 fish species from the Banan section of Chongqing in the Three Gorges, Yangtze River. The results showed that the mean concentrations of heavy metals were higher in intestine than muscle, except zinc in upper strata. In the fish inhabiting the upper strata, there were significant differences between mean concentrations of As, Cr, Cu and Hg in muscle and intestine (P <0.05). There were also significant differences between mean concentrations of Cr and Cu in muscle and intestine in the fish inhabiting middle strata. However, significant differences between mean concentrations of As, Cd, Hg, Pb and Zn were measured in fish inhabiting bottom strata in both intestine and muscle tissues (P <0.05). For the fish inhabiting different strata, the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg and Ph in muscle and intestine of the fish from bottom strata (BS) were higher than those in both upper strata (US) and middle strata (MS); whereas a higher concentration of Zn was measured in muscle and intestine from fish inhabiting upper strata. Mean metal concentrations were found to be higher in age 11 than those in age I in Coreius heterodon (2- and 1-year odl fish respectively). The overall results indicated that fish muscle in the Banan section were slightly contaminated by heavy metals, but did not exceed Chinese food standards.

Vertical distribution and migration of planktonic rotifers in Xiangxi Bay of the three Gorges Reservoir, China

We investigated diel vertical migrations (DVM) and distributions of rotifers in summer, 2004 and spring, 2005, in Xiangxi Bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Water temperature, pH, conductivity, and phytoplankton were closely related to rotifer vertical distribution, while dissolved oxygen had no relationship with the vertical distribution of rotifers. The species composition and population density of rotifers changed significantly between seasons. However, rotifer vertical distributions in both seasons were similar. They aggregated at specific depths in the water column. All the rotifer species inhabited the surface layers (0.5-5 m). Generally, the rotifers did not display DVM except for Polyarthra vulgaris (in summer), which performed reverse migration. The reason that rotifers did not perform DVM may be explained by the low abundance of competitors and predators and the high density of food resources at the surface strata.

Population dynamics and maturation cycle of Camallanus cotti (Nematoda : Camallanidae) in the Chinese hooksnout carp Opsariichthys bidens (Osteichthyes : Cyprinidae) from a reservoir in China

The seasonal population dynamics and maturation cycle of the nematode Camallanus cotti in the posterior intestine of Chinese hooksnout carp Opsariichthys bidens have been studied in the Danjiangkou Reservoir of the Hubei Province in central China from September 2004 to November, 2005. The overall prevalence, mean abundance and intensity of C cotti among fish sampled (n = 700 fish) were 47%, 2.29 +/- 12.38 ( +/- S.D.) and 1-307 (average 4.89 +/- 17.74), respectively. The overall sexual ratio of female to male nematodes (excluding L3 and L4 juveniles) was 1.17:1. Statistical results showed weakly positive correlations betweerl fish length and the number of nematodes per host. The dynamics of infection of the nematode exhibited significant seasonal pattern in changes in mean abundance. A similar pattern was found for changes in nematode prevalence, although this was not statistically significant. Higher levels of infection were observed among fish sampled in summer months and the lower in the winter. Neither the prevalence nor the abundance of the parasite was significantly different between male and female hosts. The pattern of frequency distribution of the parasite in the host was found to be over-dispersed throughout the sampling period. In addition, studies on the development and maturation of the parasite in O. bidens revealed that development (maturation), recruitment of the next generation, and reproduction may be continuous year-round, although reproduction may peak during the winter. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Occurrence of Camallanus cotti in greatly diverse fish species from Danjiangkou Reservoir in central China

Two thousand four hundred fifty-eight fish comprised of 53 species were captured in the Danjiangkou Reservoir, in the northwestern part of Hubei Province, central China during 2004, to examine Camallanus cotti infections. We found that 19 cypriniform, 3 siluriforme, and 4 perciforme fishes were infected by the nematode. Our study revealed the species, Hemiculter bleekeri bleekeri, Culter oxycephaloide, Pseudolaubuca sinensis, Acanthobrama simony, Mylopharyngodon piceus, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Gnathopogon imberbis, G. argentatus, Saurogobio dabryi, S. dumerili, Gobiobotia ichangensis, Liobagrus marginatoides, and Ctenogobius shennongensis as new hosts of the worm. The number and range of fish host species found in this survey were much greater than any of the previous investigations. The mean prevalence, prevalence, mean abundance, and intensity of infection varied in different fish species, indicating a possible host preference. Moreover, we suggest that this nematode is a native parasite of cypriniform fishes in China, perhaps initially in the reaches of the Yangtze River.

Spatial analysis for spring bloom and nutrient limitation in Xiangxi bay of three Gorges Reservoir

The spatial and temporal dynamics of physical variables, inorganic nutrients and phytoplankton chlorophyll a were investigated in Xiangxi Bay from 23 Feb. to 28 Apr. every six days, including one daily sampling site and one bidaily sampling site. The concentrations of nutrient variables showed ranges of 0.02-3.20 mg/L for dissolved silicate (Si); 0.06-2.40 mg/L for DIN (NH4N + NO2N + NO3N); 0.03-0.56 mg/L for PO4P and 0.22-193.37 mu g/L for chlorophyll a, respectively. The concentration of chlorophyll a and inorganic nutrients were interpolated using GIS techniques. The results indicated that the spring bloom was occurred twice in space during the whole monitoring period (The first one: 26 Feb.-23 Mar.; the second one: 23 Mar.-28 Apr.). The concentration of DIN was always high in the mouth of Xiangxi Bay, and PO4P was high in the upstream of Xiangxi Bay during the whole bloom period. Si seems no obvious difference in space in the beginning of the spring bloom, but showed high heterogeneity in space and time with the development of spring bloom. By comparing the interpolated maps of chlorophyll a and inorganic variables, obvious consumptions of Si and DIN were found when the bloom status was serious. However, no obvious depletion of PO4P was found. Spatial regression analysis could explained most variation of Chl-a except at the begin of the first and second bloom. The result indicated that Si was the factor limiting Chl-a in space before achieved the max area of hypertrophic in the first and second bloom period. When Si was obviously exhausted, DIN became the factor limiting the Chl-a in space. Daily and bidaily monitoring of Site A and B, representing for high DIN: PO4P ratio and low DIN:PO4P ratio, indicated that the concentration of Si was decreased with times at both site A and B, and the dramatically drop of DIN was found in the end monitoring at site B. Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that Si was the most important factor affect the development of spring bloom both at site A and B in time series.

Changes in the benthic macroinvertebrates in Xiangxi Bay following dam closure to form the Three Gorges Reservoir

Benthic macroinvertebrates were assessed monthly in Xiangxi Bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir for two years after the initial closure of the dam. Mean total density of macroinvertebrates varied from 275 ind./m(2) during the first year to 5,094 ind./m(2) during the second year, and the community of 50 taxa was overwhelmingly dominated by oligochaetes and chironomids (44 and 48% of the total taxa, respectively). As sediment accumulated in the substrate of the bay, the species composition changed dramatically, with oligochaetes comprising 91.3-99.3% of the total abundance during the second year. The dominant oligochaetes were Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and Nais inflata. The chironomids Procladius sp., and Polypedilum scalaenum group sp. were similarly abundant in both years.

Distribution of phytoplankton in the Three-Gorge Reservoir during rainy and dry seasons

After damming of the Yangtze River, in order to explore the impacts of the Three-Gorge Dam (TGD) on the aquatic ecosystem, phytoplankton composition, abundance and biomass spatial distribution were studied in the Three-Gorge Reservoir (TGR), and the closest upstream anabranch Xiangxi River, which is 38 kin away from the Three-Gorge Dam (TGD) during August (rainy season) 2004 and April (dry season) 2005. In surveys, 6 transects (2 downstream and 4 cross-stream) and 25 stations have been investigated and 314 samples were collected from the surface to the river bed with water samplers. In TGR, 63 taxa and 60 taxa were identified in the rainy and dry seasons, respectively. In the Xiangxi River, 39 taxa were observed in the rainy and dry seasons. Algal blooms occurred in the Xiangxi River and at the influx region of the Yangtze and Xiangxi in both seasons, but had not occurred prior to damming. In the rainy season, the dominant species was Chroomonas acuta with 1.84 x 10(7) cells l(-1), and in the dry season the dominant species were Asterionella formosa and Cryptomonas ovata with 1.34 x 10(7) cells l(-1) and 1.79 x 10(6) cells(.)l(-1), respectively. In the main channel of TGR, there were no significant correlations between phytoplankton abundance and the concentrations of the main soluble nutrients. In the Xiangxi River, significant negative correlations were observed between phytoplankton abundance and nitrate (Spearman, p < 0.01, n=21), phosphate (Spearman, p < 0.05, n=21) and silicate (Spearman, p < 0.01, n=21) in the rainy season, and similar correlations were also observed with nitrate (Spearman, p < 0.05, n=28) and silicate (Speannan, p < 0.01, n=28), but not with phosphate in the dry season. Since the damming of the Yangtze River, eutrophication in the anabranch within the backwater has occurred and become severe, and the frequency of algal bloom within TGR and anabranches is expected to increase. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DNA polymorphism of the plankton community and its relationships to species composition in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region of the Yangtze River

We examined DNA polymorphism of the plankton community in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region of Yangtze River and studied its relationships to species composition. Samples of the plankton community were collected from nine sampling sites and analyzed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Nine of 60 screened primers generated a total of 88 observable 180 to 1400 by bands, all of which were polymorphic. Cluster analysis of the resulting binary format from DNA banding patterns grouped the target communities into three clusters. The topology of the constructed diagram from species composition data was generally similar to that based on RAPD markers.

Daily dynamics of nutrients and chlorophyll a during a spring phytoplankton bloom in Xiangxi Bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir

We studied the daily dynamics of nutrients (total phosphorus [TP], total nitrogen [TN], and dissolved silicate [SiO2]) and chlorophyll a (chl a) during a spring bloom in Xiangxi Bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir in year 2005. According to the daily dynamics of chl a, the bloom occurred in two stages (23 February-25 March and 26 March-28 April). The concentration of SiO2 decreased at different layers of the water column with the development of the bloom. However, the decrease of SiO2 in the layers with high concentration of chl a was more dramatic than in the layers with low concentration of chl a. The concentration of TP was lowest value a few days after the peak of chl a during the first bloom period, and the lowest value of TN was found a few days after the peak of chl a during the second bloom period. Correlative analyses indicated that SiO2 and TP were limiting factors in the first bloom period, and SiO2 and TN were limiting factors in the second bloom period.

Mortalities induced by the copepod Sinergasilus polycolpus in farmed silver and bighead carp in a reservoir

The frequency distributions of the parasitic copepod Sinergasilus polycolpus were examined in silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and bighead carp Aristichthys nobilis during a disease outbreak of the 2 species of fish in a reservoir in China. The mean abundance of the copepod was positively related with host length and age, and the overdispersion of the copepod in both silver and bighead carp was fitted well with negative binomial distribution. Although parasite-induced host mortality was observed, a peaked age-parasite abundance curve was not detected in the present parasite-host system. It is also proposed that this peaked age-abundance curve is unlikely to be observed in its natural host populations.