Meiofauna and the structure of the benthic community in the Iberian deep sea basin

1. On the cruises 3 and 15 of R.V. "Meteor" 6 grab samples, and 6 hauls with the 6 m Agassiztrawl were taken and at 2 stations the deep sea camera was lowered. This material gave quantitative results on the meiofauna and minimum counts of the macrofauna. 2. The nematodes constitute nearly 95% of the meiofauna, the copepoda only 2%. With increasing sediment depth the density of animals decrease gradually. In the uppermost centimeter of sediment 42.6% of the meiofauna are found while only 3.7% live in layer 6-7 cm. Meiofauna weight ranges from 0.6-5.7 mg/25 m**2 surface i.e. 0.24-2.8 g/m**2. 3. Mean numbers of individuals and weights show standard errors of 20-30 %. As an approximate average values for further considerations the weight of the meiofauna in the area was taken as 1 g/m**2 4. Quantitative information on the macrofauna is derived from the trawls and the photographs for the actinia Chitonanthus abyssorum only, which is found in the rate of 1 individual/36-72 m**2, but seems to be less abundant generally. 5. Animal density does not decrease steadily from nearshore to offshore biocoenoses, i.e. generally with increasing depth. The decrease is more pronounced for macro- than for meiofauna. For the deep sea the weight proportion of macrofauna : meiofauna is of the order of 1 : 1. 6. With the assumption, that adaptation of metabolism to deep sea conditions is similar in macro- and meiofauna total metabolism of invertebrates is ascribed to meiofauna to more than 80%. 7. The structure of the biocoenosis of the deep sea floor is characterized by the meiofauna living on and in the sediment and by the dominance of sediment feeders in the macrofauna. 8. Considering the large numbets and high partition rates of bacteria a comparative large part of the metabolism in the deep sea sediment must be ascribed to bacteria. This favours the hypothesis, that with increasing depth and decreasing addition of organic material to the sediment, the importance of meiofauna and microorganisms for total metabolism increases. 9. Considering the different modes of food transport to the deep sea environment, i.e. sinking of dead particles, transport by vertical migration of organisms, aggregation of organic particles, adsorption of dissoloved organic substance to inorganic particles, and heterotrophy, the sediment may be assumed to contain more food for invertebrates than the water above the bottom. 10. Suspensions feeders of macrofauna are fixed to hard substrates in the sediment surface. Some of them are shown to bend themselves down to the bottom in underwater photographs. This suggests the idea that some deep sea suspension feeders partly depend on food from the sediment surface, on which they feed directly.

The distribution of meiofauna in surface sediments of the Fladen Ground, North Sea

A general study of structure, biomass, and dynamic estimates on meiofauna was carried out during PREFLEX (1975) and FLEX (1976), in 117- 141 m water depth. On the basis of these data an attempt was made to estimate meiofauna production, and this is discussed in relation to the energy input from the spring phytoplankton bloom. Sampling was performed at five stations, but only the stations 1, 4, and 5 were covered by a complete series from August 1975 to July 1976. At each station, from four replicate box core samples, two were withdrawn to study the abundance, distribution, and biomass of meiofauna, the content of chloroplastic pigment equivalents (CPE), and chemical and grain size analyses. At all stations grain size fell in the range of fine sand having median diameters (MD) of < 125 µm. From station 1 to 5 an increase in MD was observed. Highest values of CPE (7.81 µg m l**-1) and organic matter (4.7 %) were obtained in June and July (1976)/ August (1975), respectively. Meiofauna abundance was fairly uniform at all stations examined. Station 1 displayed maximal numbers during the whole investigation period. The abundance per 100 cm**2 varied between 15,550 and 34,900 organisms. All meiofauna studied both in total and as separate taxa showed annual cycles of abundance. Low abundance values were recorded during early summer, and maximum values during winter. High numbers of Foraminifera were obtained for August 1975 (9,460 per 100 cm**2) and July 1976 (9,710 per 100 cm**2). From December to June the values decreased from 3,280 to 1,030 per 100 cm**2. At station 1 maximum values of meiofauna biomass were recorded ranging from 1.5 to 2.7 g DWT m**-2. The mean meiofauna dry weight amounted to 2.1 g DWT m**-2. Based on minimum production, the P/B ratio for the area of station 1 might have a mean of 1.4. Taking into consideration generation times we believe that a turnover ratio of 2 is a conservative value for the Fladen Ground meiofauna. The annual production would amount to 4.2 g DWT m**-2 yr**-1. This is 27.5 % of the energy supply during the spring phytoplankton bloom, which is channelled into the meiofauna. The hypothesis is put forward that the energetic strategy of deep offshore meiofauna differs distinctively from that of shallow inshore meiofauna. While the shallow inshore meiofauna show a relatively fast response to organic matter input, the deep offshore meiofauna reacts much more slowly, the food energy consumption seems to be spread out over a longer period.

Ecological health analysis of Caspian marine environment based on the diversity and distribution pattern of meiofauna in the Mazandaran Province, Caspian Sea

Biodiversity and distribution of benthic meiofauna in the sediments of the Southern Caspian Sea (Mazandaran) was studied in order to introducing and determining of their relationship with the environmental factors. From 12 stations (ranging in depths 5, 10, 20 and 50 meters), sediment samples were gathered in 6 months (2012). Environmental factors of water near the bottom including temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH were measured during sampling with CTD and grain size and total organic matter percentage and calcium carbonate were measured in laboratory. In different months, the average water temperature (9.52-23.93), dissolved oxygen (7.71-10.53 mg/L), salinity (10.57±0/07 and 10.75±0/04 ppt), pH (7.44±0/29 and 7.41±0/22), EC (17.97±0/12 and 18.30±0/04μs/cm2), TDS (8.92±0/04 and 9.14±0/02 mg/L), total organic matter (5.83±1/43 and 6.25±0/97%) and calcium carbonate (2.36±0/36 and 1.68±0/19%) were measured respectively. Structure of the sediment samples mostly consisted of fine sand; very fine sand, silt and clay. From the 4 group animals (Foraminifera, Crustacea, Worms and Mollusca), there were identified 40species belong to 29 genera of 25 families. The cosmopolitan foraminifer, Ammonia beccarii caspica, was common in all sampling stations. Result showed that depth was important factor on distribution of meiofauna. Most density of foraminifera and crustacean was observed in depth of 20m and for mollusca and worms observed in 5m. Shannon diversity index decreased with depth that showed in shallow water diversity was higher than deep water. Mean of maximum and minimum Shannon index was obsorvers in depth of 5m and 50 m that was measured in order 0.93 and 0.43. Account of Shannon index showed that this area is under pressure. Account of peioleo index showed distribution in this area was not steady.

From Bathymetry to Bioshields: A Review of Post-Tsunami Ecological Research in India and its Implications for Policy

More than half a decade has passed since the December 26th 2004 tsunami hit the Indian coast leaving a trail of ecological, economic and human destruction in its wake. We reviewed the coastal ecological research carried out in India in the light of the tsunami. In addition, we also briefly reviewed the ecological research in other tsunami affected countries in Asia namely Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Maldives in order to provide a broader perspective of ecological research after tsunami. A basic search in ISI Web of Knowledge using keywords ``tsunami'' and ``India'' resulted in 127 peer reviewed journal articles, of which 39 articles were pertaining to ecological sciences. In comparison, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Maldives had, respectively, eight, four, 21 and two articles pertaining to ecology. In India, bioshields received the major share of scientific interest (14 out of 39) while only one study (each) was dedicated to corals, seagrasses, seaweeds and meiofauna, pointing to the paucity of research attention dedicated to these critical ecosystems. We noted that very few interdisciplinary studies looked at linkages between pure/applied sciences and the social sciences in India. In addition, there appears to be little correlation between the limited research that was done and its influence on policy in India. This review points to gap areas in ecological research in India and highlights the lessons learnt from research in other tsunami-affected countries. It also provides guidance on the links between science and policy that are required for effective coastal zone management.

Illustrated key to the genera of free-living marine nematodes of the Order Enoplida

A pictorial key to US genera of free-living marine nematodes in the order Enoplida is presented. Specific morphological and anatomical features are iUustrated to facilitate use of the key. The purpose of this work is to provide a single key to the genera of enoplid nematodes to facilitate identification of these organisms by nematologists and marine biologists working with meiofauna. (PDF file contains 32 pages.)

Deep-sea benthic footprint of the Deepwater Horizon blowout

The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) accident in the northern Gulf of Mexico occurred on April 20, 2010 at a water depth of 1525 meters, and a deep-sea plume was detected within one month. Oil contacted and persisted in parts of the bottom of the deep-sea in the Gulf of Mexico. As part of the response to the accident, monitoring cruises were deployed in fall 2010 to measure potential impacts on the two main soft-bottom benthic invertebrate groups: macrofauna and meiofauna. Sediment was collected using a multicorer so that samples for chemical, physical and biological analyses could be taken simultaneously and analyzed using multivariate methods. The footprint of the oil spill was identified by creating a new variable with principal components analysis where the first factor was indicative of the oil spill impacts and this new variable mapped in a geographic information system to identify the area of the oil spill footprint. The most severe relative reduction of faunal abundance and diversity extended to 3 km from the wellhead in all directions covering an area about 24 km2. Moderate impacts were observed up to 17 km towards the southwest and 8.5 km towards the northeast of the wellhead, covering an area 148 km2. Benthic effects were correlated to total petroleum hydrocarbon, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and barium concentrations, and distance to the wellhead; but not distance to hydrocarbon seeps. Thus, benthic effects are more likely due to the oil spill, and not natural hydrocarbon seepage. Recovery rates in the deep sea are likely to be slow, on the order of decades or longer.

Studies on diversity of Hara's Laft-Khamir and Sout Beaches of the Gheshm polychaete

One of the most important marine ecologic phenomenon , is the study of animal community among the bed or benthic fauna. Macrobenthoses are the graet part of the benthic faune , that are more biomasses than meiofauna and microfauna. To study polychaetes diversity of Mangroves, located in Khoore-Khooran , sampling was conducted on a bimonthly and carried out from December 2001 to October 2002. Bottom samples were collected by Van Veen grab (0.025 m2)at 6 station from 2 transect Insitu measurement of temperature , pH , Do and salinity were done . Atotal of polychaetes werw identified within study 32 Family and 43 Genus . Cirriphormia and Nephtys were the most dominant genus in the studies . The range fomumerical abundance of polychaets was between 3006 per m2 in the station A3 to 559individual per mein the station A1 and the variation was done to different bottom , texture the variable environment conditions govrtneng the different parts of each creeks as well as within creeks . Application of diversity indices (Shannon H') on the dominant polychates assambladges has higher H' in the Azar and lower 1-1/ in the Mehr . and the stations B3 has the highest H' and the station A2 has the lowest H' Application of diversity and Richness, Evennes were studied and showed that the station A3 has the lowest evenness and the most individual , and station A1 has the middle pollution.

Distribution of the meiofaunal community in a eutrophic shallow lake of China

In a Chinese eutrophic shallow lake, the spatial, temporal and vertical distributions of meiofauna in different lake zones along a eutrophic gradient were analyzed. The spatial distribution of meiofauna among sampling stations changed with nutrient levels. Nematoda were most abundant at the majority of sampling stations comprising 70.6 - 93.2 % meiofaunal abundance except for a hypereutrophic station. The seasonal patterns in abundance of nematodes, oligochaetes, rotifers, chironomids and different nematode feeding groups differed among stations, which revealed that the temporal variations of these meiofaunal groups and the nematode feeding groups may vary with different nutrient loadings. The vertical distributions of meiofaunal groups, nematode species, and nematode trophic groups in the upper and lower sediment layers were similar, suggesting a consistent vertical distribution pattern across different trophic conditions. Nematode species richness, Shannon-Wiener species diversity index, trophic diversity and Maturity Index were significantly correlated with nutrient levels (total phosphorus and nitrogen in lake water and total phosphorus in sediment). Our results suggest the importance of nematode community analyses in the assessment of freshwater eutrophication.

黄海冷水团及邻近海域小型底栖动物多样性及其环境效应

2007年夏季对黄海冷水团及邻近海域共48个站位的小型底栖动物组成、丰度和生物量，以及环境因子进行了科考研究。所调查站位的小型底栖动物平均丰度达2194 ± 1598 inds./10cm2，其中北黄海17个站位平均丰度为3408 ± 1578 inds./10cm2，南黄海31个站位平均丰度为1529 ± 1121 inds./10cm2。调查站位平均生物量为1839 ± 1289 g dwt/10cm2，其中北黄海站位平均生物量为2760 ± 1340g dwt/10cm2，南黄海平均生物量为1335 ± 902g dwt/10cm2。在分选出的共18个小型底栖动物类群中，丰度上均以自由生线虫占绝对优势，达总量的88%，且在南（88.3%）、北黄海（87.7%）基本无差异。在生物量上，同样以自由生线虫贡献最多（42％），多毛类居次（22%），其他生物量较多的还有桡足类（13%）和甲壳类幼体（12%）。在小型底栖动物的垂直分布上，分布于沉积物表层0-2cm的小型底栖动物占79%，次表层2-5cm占17%，最底层5-8cm仅占4%。统计分析表明研究站位小型底栖动物丰度和生物量与沉积物叶绿素a、有机质含量、中值粒径显著或极显著正相关，与水深呈极显著负相关，此外小型底栖动物生物量与沉积物粉砂粘土含量显著负相关。 同年秋季搭载开放航次对黄海5个站位、东海3个站位、南海2个站位的小型底栖动物组成、丰度和生物量，以及环境因子进行了调查研究。对三个海域小型底栖动物的比较研究发现，平均丰度以黄海最高，达2132 ± 946 inds./10cm2，东海次之，为1954 ± 2047 inds./10cm2，而南海仅156 ± 56 inds./10cm2；三海域的平均生物量依次为2193 ± 1148 g dwt/10cm2、1865 ± 1555 g dwt/10cm2和212 ± 22 g dwt/10cm2。在分选出的共14个小型底栖动物类群中，丰度上均以自由生线虫占绝对优势，分别占总量的85%、89%、85%。在生物量上，黄海以自由生线虫贡献最多（33％），多毛类居次（18%）；东海二者比例相近（约37％），而南海则以多毛类占绝对优势（56％），线虫居次（25%）。在小型底栖动物的垂直分布上，三个海区差异较大：分布于沉积物表层0-2cm的小型底栖动物在黄海高达90%，东海仅46%，在南海为63%。统计分析表明，本研究站位小型底栖动物丰度与沉积物中的叶绿素a及脱镁叶绿素a含量和底温呈显著正相关，与水深呈显著负相关。该结果与本航次之后在广东湛江和海南以东的南海海域开展的908调查结果形成了鲜明对照，后者的小型底栖动物及线虫丰度与沉积物中有机质含量呈显著正相关，与水深呈显著负相关，表明近海受人类干扰影响较大。 本文利用微宇宙实验方法，来确定不同浓度梯度的Cu、Pb以及Cu/ Pb混合重金属污染物对青岛湾小型底栖动物（主要是线虫）的影响。加入污染物后，分别在1、3、7、14、21天进行取样分析。结果显示，Cu和Cu/Pb混合高浓度实验单元组的线虫丰度除在第21天有较明显减少外，在整个实验周期内基本没有变化，分析可能系高浓度Cu的固定作用从而使小型底栖动物无法腐烂降解造成的。同一时间尺度上，各重金属污染物实验单元的线虫丰度均高于（或接近于）空白对照组，较高浓度的重金属污染物实验单元的线虫丰度高于（或接近于）较低浓度重金属污染物实验单元，Cu/Pb混合低浓度实验单元的线虫丰度高于同一时间尺度Cu低浓度和Pb低浓度实验单元。推测是由于采样点的线虫群落中存在对Cu和Pb的耐受种或者“机会种”造成的。

潮间带纤毛虫原生动物和小型底栖动物生态学研究

微型和小型底栖动物是底栖微/小食物网的重要构成。相对浮游生态系统, 迄今国际间对底栖食物网的认知极为欠缺。这一方面是由于微型生物形态和功能上的复杂性和多样性, 另一方面原因在于研究方法的障碍—主要是微型和小型底栖动物的定量提取和定性分析。本研究首先进行了方法学改良, 并应用新方法对底栖微食物网的重要功能类群—纤毛虫原生动物和小型底栖动物进行了不同生境的周年按月采样, 定性及定量研究的同时, 联系环境因子对微型和小型底栖生物的环境监测进行了探讨。 微型和小型底栖生物的定量研究首先涉及到目标生物在沉积物中的有效提取, 目前硅胶液提取是普遍使用的方法, 其中Ludox液主要应用于小型生物, 它不但价格便宜而且比重合适, 因此在常规生态研究中被广为接受。不过, Ludox易与于海水中的阳离子产生凝结而无法直接用于微型生物; 目前唯一直接应用于微型生物提取的是Percoll硅胶液, 但其昂贵的价格使其在常规生态研究中受到极大限制。本研究以价格低廉的Ludox 硅胶液结合定量蛋白银染色 (QPS) 技术开发了一种新的方法, 即Ludox-QPS法。主要流程为: 样品采集与固定、淘洗/稀释降盐、Ludox密度梯度离心、过滤浓缩和琼脂包埋, QPS染色、永久封片及鉴定计数。添加已知数量的纤毛虫至无生物底泥的重获实验表明, 该密度梯度离心的提取率大于94%; 该方法对自然沉积物中纤毛虫的提取率达97.6%, 对沙质、泥沙质和泥质中海洋线虫的提取率分别达97%、96.9% 和97.8%。对比实验表明, 经QPS制片获得的小型动物的丰度和类群数量与传统方法相当或更高, 尤其当小个体虫体占优势时, 该法显示出较传统方法 (导致数量低估) 更为明显的定量优越性。该方法除用于纤毛虫和小型动物的定量分析外, 还具有较高的分类分辨率, 染色后的纤毛虫原生动物大多类群可鉴定到属, 部分可鉴定到种, 以此可在群落水平上研究其生态作用。 根据新开发的Ludox-QPS技术, 在大沽河潮间带依据盐度梯度选定2个站位 (IIQ和营海) 进行了周年按月采样, 对底栖纤毛虫和小型底栖动物进行了定量研究。纤毛虫原生动物在IIQ和营海的年平均丰度分别为2236 inds./10 cm2 和935 inds./10 cm2 (28 inds./ml 和12 inds./ml), 平均生物量分别为119.1 gC/10 cm2和54.2 gC/10 cm2 (1.5 gC /ml 0.7 gC/ml)。丰度的季节变化趋势为: 春天 > 秋天 > 夏天 > 冬天。垂直分布上, 在营海分布于表层0-0.5 cm 的比例为57.1%, 分布于0.5-2 cm、2-4 cm和4-8 cm比例分别为23.1%、11.4% 和8.5%; 13个月中除12月份外, 4-8 cm均有一定数量的纤毛虫分布; 而在IIQ, 97% 的纤毛虫分布在0-0.5 cm, 分布在0.5-2 cm、2-4 cm和4-8 cm比例分别为2.4%、0.4%和0.2%, 4-8 cm的分布只发生在春季和秋季。纤毛虫的多样性季节变化明显, 春秋季物种丰富, 两个站点每毫升沉积物的平均物种数分别为18和6。Two-Way Crossed ANOSIM 分析表明纤毛虫群落在月份间和站点间的差异极其显著。Pseudochilodonopsis sp., Chilodontopsis sp., Euplotes sp.及Prorodon sp.是表征两个生镜中纤毛虫群落的主要类群。 同时, 发现了14个小型生物类群, 其中线虫在IIQ和营海的丰度优势度分别为97.4% 和78.6%。小型动物在IIQ和营海的年平均丰度分别为4793 inds./10 cm2和8915 inds./10 cm2 (60 inds./ml和111 inds./ml), 其生物量分别为1068.8 gC /10 cm2和1790 gC /10 cm2 (13.4 gC/ml和22.4 gC/ml)。小型底栖动物的丰度在IIQ的季节变化为: 夏季 (7888 inds./10cm2) > 秋季 (5447 inds./10cm2) > 春季 (3731 inds./10cm2) > 冬季 (2780 inds./10cm2); 在营海则完全相反: 冬季 (15579 inds./10cm2) > 春季 (10691 inds./10cm2) > 秋季 (6611 inds./10cm2) > 夏季 (4667 inds./10cm2)。小型底栖动物和纤毛虫的相对重要性存在明显的区域和季节差异。 纤毛虫原生动物、小型动物及环境因子的相关分析表明, 纤毛虫的丰度和多样性与温度和盐度及有机质含量显著相关, 与小型动物没有显著相关性; 群落结构分析表明, 温度、有机质和小型动物的丰度的组合与纤毛虫群落丰度的相关系数为0.345; 盐度、脱镁叶绿素、有机质和小型动物生物量的组合与纤毛虫群落多样性的相关系数为0.403。依据海洋线虫和桡足类的比值 (N/C) 推测, IIQ 可能存在严重的有机污染, 营海则存在明显的季节波动, 8月和9月及2月可能是污染最严重的季节, 这种状况在纤毛虫群落结构的CLUSTER聚类中得到验证。虽然目前尚没有形成有关微型底栖生物-纤毛虫原生动物的污染检测的直接依据, 但本研究说明纤毛虫群落的确对环境污染具有一定的感应度, 而且这种感应和利用小型生物的主要类群估算的污染检测 (N/C) 存在一定程度的关联。 90年代早期有关青岛湾有机污染带的研究表明, 经彻底截污后, 其环境状况向良性发展。进一步了解该湾的健康状况, 2006.5-2007.5月对该湾沙质和泥沙质的小型动物进行周年按月采样。小型动物在泥沙质和砂质沉积物中的年平均丰度分别为4853 ± 1292 inds./10 cm2和1528 ± 569 inds./10 cm2; 年平均总生物量分别为1434.1 ± 897.0 gC /10cm2和720.7 ± 353.8 gC/10cm2。沙质底小型生物的丰度季节波动明显, 6月份和12月份最高, 3月份和9月份最低; 泥沙质季节波动不明显, 6月份最高。两个站点均有48%的小型动物分布在0-0.5 cm 表层, 海洋线虫在表层的分布比例分别为48% (泥沙质) 和34% (砂质)。共检获14个小型动物类群, 其中线虫在泥沙质和砂质沉积物中的年平均丰度分别4619 ± 1255 inds./10cm2和1014 ± 376 inds./10cm2, 其丰度优势度分别为95.2%和66.4%。其它在丰度上占优势的类群, 泥沙质依次为多毛类 (1.5%)、甲壳幼体 (1.5%) 和桡足类 (0.7%); 沙质依次为: 甲壳类幼体 (12.6%)、腹毛类 (8.3%) 和 桡足类 (6.2%)。CLUSTER聚类分析表明, 泥沙质和和砂质中小型生物的丰度组成具有64%的相似性。BIOENV分析表明, 温度、盐度、中值粒径和粘土粉砂含量的组合最能解释不同月份之间和不同站位间的差异, 其相关系数为0.614。依据小型生物的丰度和类群组成, 表明泥沙质底尚存一定的有机污染。

Ecology of a North Sea pockmark with an active methane seep

ABSTRACT: At a large North Sea pockmark, with active methane seeps, surface sediments were found to have higher insoluble sulphide concentrations than sedlments from the surrounding area. The fauna of the pockmark was characterized by 2 species which have not pi-evlously been reported from the Fladen Ground in the northern North Sea. These species were a b~valve, Thyasira sarsi (which is known to contain endosymbiotic sulphur-oxidising bacteria) and a mouthless and gutless nematode, Astomonerna sp., which also contains endosymbiotic bacteria The nematode was the dominant meiofauna species in the pockmark sediments. Both macro-lnfauna and total nematodes were in low abundance in samples taken from the base of the pockmark. Sediment samples from the pockmark contained numerous otoliths, implying that substantial winnowing of the sediment had taken place. This was supported by studies on the sulphide concentrations in the sediment which showed multiple layering of the sediments on the sides of the pockmark, suggesting displacement. The carbon isotope compositions (6I3c) of the tissues of benthic animals from in and around the pockmark were generally in the range -16 to -2O%, indicating that little methane-derived carbon was contributing to their nutrition. T sarsi had the most 13c-depleted tissues, -31.4 to -35.1 L, confirming the nutritional dependence of this species on chemoautotrophic bacteria that utilize reduced sulphur.