裙带菜配子体发育与雌诱激素研究

裙带菜（Undaria pinnatifida）是我国养殖的三大经济海藻之一，有较高的经济价值。本文对裙带菜的配子体发育过程及雌配子分泌的雌诱激素进行了相关的研究，以期为研究裙带菜的有性生殖过程的研究提供更多的依据，为裙带菜的人工育苗和养殖业的发展提供理论基础。 首先对裙带菜配子体的发育过程进行了研究。在培养条件为17 ℃，光暗周期12：12 h，光强40～60 µmolm－2s－1的条件下，对雌雄配子体分别进行单独发育和混合发育研究。实验结果表明，当雌雄配子体分开单独进行发育培养时，雌配子体能形成成熟的卵囊并完成排卵，雄配子体虽然能够形成成熟的精囊，但并不排精。而当雌雄配子体进行混和发育培养时，虽然雄配子体精囊的成熟明显早于卵囊，但只有雌配子体的卵排出后，雄配子体才发生大量的排精现象。此外，实验还观察到雌配子体在排卵过程中受到光的干扰会引起卵的脱落。卵排出后，三天不受精，也会发生从卵囊脱落的现象；而且，脱落的卵和未脱落的卵都会再生细胞壁并呈营养生长。 其次，本文对裙带菜雌诱激素在有性生殖过程中的作用进行了研究。结果表明，刚刚排出的雌配子分泌了一种或几种易挥发的物质，这种或这几种物质能够促进精子释放并吸引精子向其游动，完成受精作用。另外，本文对影响雌诱激素分泌的培养时间和培养的光照强度、环境温度、光周期等进行了研究，以期能够找到雌诱激素分泌的最佳条件。结果表明，雌配子体在发育培养6～8天时检测到雌诱激素活性，最佳的温度条件为19 ℃，光强在40～160 µmolm-2s-1都检测到雌诱激素活性，最佳的光暗周期为12：12 h。 最后，本文尝试了裙带菜配子体雌诱激素的提取与分析研究实验。采取了溶剂提取和闭环系统提取两种方法对裙带菜雌诱激素进行提取，用气质联用仪器对提取的物质进行分析。两种提取方法都没有提取到相关的雌诱激素类物质。 总之，本文研究了裙带菜的配子体发育过程及雌配子分泌的雌诱激素的一些相关问题。在配子体发育过程研究中，对雌雄配子体分别进行单独发育和混合发育研究；对雌诱激素在有性生殖过程的作用的研究中，将不同发育程度的雌配子体加入到成熟的雄配子体中，观察研究雄配子体的变化；在影响雌诱激素分泌的环境条件的研究中，选择设置了不同的温度、光强和光周期。在裙带菜雌诱激素的提取与分析研究中，尝试了溶剂提取和闭环系统提取两种方法，用气质联用仪器进行分析。

褐藻两个光系统的色素-蛋白质复合物的分离及特性研究

以褐藻裙带菜(Undaria pinnatifida)、萱藻(Scytosiphon lomentarius)、海蒿子(Sargassum confusum)、叉开网地藻(Dictyopteris divaricata)、海带(Laminaria japonica)、囊藻(Colpomenia sinuosa)、鼠尾藻(Sargassum thunbergii)、水云(Ectocarpus confervoides)为材料，对其色素-蛋白质复合物的分离技术及其特性进行了系统研究。通过对裙带菜色素-蛋白质复合物分离技术及其影响因素的研究，确立了褐藻的PAGE分离方法。采用Tris-Gly电泳分离系统，以非离子去污剂DMG或DIG为增溶剂(DMG: Chl=20: 1, DIG: Chl=50: 1, 4 ℃增溶1 h)，10%的分离胶浓度，丙烯酰胺与甲叉双丙烯酰胺的比例为30: 0.8,从裙带菜中成功地分离出8条含色素的蛋白质复合物带。采用Anderson命名系统，以高等植物菠菜为参照，将其命名为CPIa, CPI, CPa, LHC_1, LHC_2, LHC_3, LHC_4和LHC_5。游离色素较少。通过对三种褐藻的色素-蛋白质复合物的表观分子量测定、光谱学研究以及对裙带菜色素-蛋白质复合物的多肽组成分析，揭示了褐藻各种色素-蛋白质复合物的特征。CPIa是褐藻分子量较大的PSI复合物，为墨角藻黄素-叶绿素 a/c-蛋白质复合物。CPI是褐藻的PSI核心复合物，为P700-叶绿素 a-蛋白质复合物。CPa是褐藻的PSII复合物，为墨角藻黄素-叶绿素 a/c-蛋白质复合物。其余5条为捕光色素-蛋白质复合物，LHC_1和LHC_3是墨角藻黄素-叶绿素 a/c-蛋白质复合物，LHC_2, LHC_4和LHC_5是叶绿素 a/c-蛋白质复合物。根据裙带菜色素-蛋白质复合物的多肽分析结果并与高等植物比较，提出褐藻PSI和PSII的结构模型。褐藻PSI和PSII的反应中心多肽与高等植物相同，捕光复合物明显区别。褐藻LHCI和LHCII的多肽组成相同，都是由单一的20 kDa多肽组成。褐藻叶状体、叶绿体、类囊体膜和PSI复合物的77 K 荧光发射光谱具有特异性，缺少高等植物PSI特征的730 nm 荧光峰。叶状体的77 K 荧光发射光谱按荧光主峰的波长分为两种类型，一种类型的荧光主峰在690 nm，另一种类型的在705-720 nm。三种褐藻PSI复合物的77 K 荧光发射光谱相同，有两个分别们于680 nm和715 nm 的发射峰。褐藻的77 K 荧光特异是由PSI的结构决定的。根据褐藻PSI复合物的荧光特性以及去污剂增溶动力学分析结果，推动F715来自褐藻核心色素-蛋白质复合物，F680来源于PSI复合物中的捕光复合物。褐藻PSI复合物中缺少高等植物发射730 nm 荧光的LHCIb复合物的能量传递模型。

Historical data reveal power-law dispersal patterns of invasive aquatic species.

Understanding how invasive species spread is of particular concern in the current era of globalisation and rapid environmental change. The occurrence of super-diffusive movements within the context of Lévy flights has been discussed with respect to particle physics, human movements, microzooplankton, disease spread in global epidemiology and animal foraging behaviour. Super-diffusive movements provide a theoretical explanation for the rapid spread of organisms and disease, but their applicability to empirical data on the historic spread of organisms has rarely been tested. This study focuses on the role of long-distance dispersal in the invasion dynamics of aquatic invasive species across three contrasting areas and spatial scales: open ocean (north-east Atlantic), enclosed sea (Mediterranean) and an island environment (Ireland). Study species included five freshwater plant species, Azolla filiculoides, Elodea canadensis, Lagarosiphon major, Elodea nuttallii and Lemna minuta; and ten species of marine algae, Asparagopsis armata, Antithamnionella elegans, Antithamnionella ternifolia, Codium fragile, Colpomenia peregrina, Caulerpa taxifolia, Dasysiphonia sp., Sargassum muticum, Undaria pinnatifida and Womersleyella setacea. A simulation model is constructed to show the validity of using historical data to reconstruct dispersal kernels. Lévy movement patterns similar to those previously observed in humans and wild animals are evident in the re-constructed dispersal pattern of invasive aquatic species. Such patterns may be widespread among invasive species and could be exacerbated by further development of trade networks, human travel and environmental change. These findings have implications for our ability to predict and manage future invasions, and improve our understanding of the potential for spread of organisms including infectious diseases, plant pests and genetically modified organisms.

Historical data reveal power-law dispersal patterns of invasive aquatic species

Understanding how invasive species spread is of particular concern in the current era of globalisation and rapid environmental change. The occurrence of super-diffusive movements within the context of Lévy flights has been discussed with respect to particle physics, human movements, microzooplankton, disease spread in global epidemiology and animal foraging behaviour. Super-diffusive movements provide a theoretical explanation for the rapid spread of organisms and disease, but their applicability to empirical data on the historic spread of organisms has rarely been tested. This study focuses on the role of long-distance dispersal in the invasion dynamics of aquatic invasive species across three contrasting areas and spatial scales: open ocean (north-east Atlantic), enclosed sea (Mediterranean) and an island environment (Ireland). Study species included five freshwater plant species, Azolla filiculoides, Elodea canadensis, Lagarosiphon major, Elodea nuttallii and Lemna minuta; and ten species of marine algae, Asparagopsis armata, Antithamnionella elegans, Antithamnionella ternifolia, Codium fragile, Colpomenia peregrina, Caulerpa taxifolia, Dasysiphonia sp., Sargassum muticum, Undaria pinnatifida and Womersleyella setacea. A simulation model is constructed to show the validity of using historical data to reconstruct dispersal kernels. Lévy movement patterns similar to those previously observed in humans and wild animals are evident in the re-constructed dispersal pattern of invasive aquatic species. Such patterns may be widespread among invasive species and could be exacerbated by further development of trade networks, human travel and environmental change. These findings have implications for our ability to predict and manage future invasions, and improve our understanding of the potential for spread of organisms including infectious diseases, plant pests and genetically modified organisms.

Arsenosugar phospholipids and arsenic hydrocarbons in two species of brown macroalgae

Fourteen arsenolipids, including 11 new compounds, were identified and quantified in two species of brown algae, Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) and Hijiki (Hizikia fusiformis), by high resolution mass spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Both algal species contained arsenosugar-phospholipids as the major type of arsenolipid, and arsenic-hydrocarbons were also significant components, particularly in Hijiki. The origin of the various arsenolipids, and the possible significance of their relative quantities, is briefly discussed.

R-codes, and coral abundance, water temperature and transect characteristics of nearshore reefs in Belize

Coral reefs are increasingly threatened by global and local anthropogenic stressors, such as rising seawater temperature and nutrient enrichment. These two stressors vary widely across the reef face and parsing out their influence on coral communities at reef system scales has been particularly challenging. Here, we investigate the influence of temperature and nutrients on coral community traits and life history strategies on lagoonal reefs across the Belize Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS). A novel metric was developed using ultra-high-resolution sea surface temperatures (SST) to classify reefs as enduring low (lowTP), moderate (modTP), or extreme (extTP) temperature parameters over 10 years (2003 to 2012). Chlorophyll-a (chl a) records obtained for the same interval were employed as a proxy for bulk nutrients and these records were complemented with in situ measurements to "sea truth" nutrient content across the three reef types. Chl a concentrations were highest at extTP sites, medial at modTP sites and lowest at lowTP sites. Coral species richness, abundance, diversity, density, and percent cover were lower at extTP sites compared to lowTP and modTP sites, but these reef community traits did not differ between lowTP and modTP sites. Coral life history strategy analyses showed that extTP sites were dominated by hardy stress-tolerant and fast-growing weedy coral species, while lowTP and modTP sites consisted of competitive, generalist, weedy, and stress-tolerant coral species. These results suggest that differences in coral community traits and life history strategies between extTP and lowTP/modTP sites were driven primarily by temperature differences with differences in nutrients across site types playing a lesser role. Dominance of weedy and stress-tolerant genera at extTP sites suggests that corals utilizing these two life history strategies may be better suited to cope with warmer oceans and thus may warrant further protective status during this climate change interval. Data associated with this project are archived here, including: -SST data -Satellite Chl a data -Nutrient measurements -Raw coral community survey data For questions contact Justin Baumann (j.baumann3 gmail.com)

Status, trends and drivers of kelp forests in Europe: an expert assessment

A comprehensive expert consultation was conducted in order to assess the status, trends and the most important drivers of change in the abundance and geographical distribution of kelp forests in European waters. This consultation included an on-line questionnaire, results from a workshop and data provided by a selected group of experts working on kelp forest mapping and eco-evolutionary research. Differences in status and trends according to geographical areas, species identity and small-scale variations within the same habitat where shown by assembling and mapping kelp distribution and trend data. Significant data gaps for some geographical regions, like the Mediterranean and the southern Iberian Peninsula, were also identified. The data used for this study confirmed a general trend with decreasing abundance of some native kelp species at their southern distributional range limits and increasing abundance in other parts of their distribution (Saccharina latissima and Saccorhiza polyschides). The expansion of the introduced species Undaria pinnatifida was also registered. Drivers of observed changes in kelp forests distribution and abundance were assessed using experts’ opinions. Multiple possible drivers were identified, including global warming, sea urchin grazing, harvesting, pollutionand fishing pressure, and their impact varied between geographical areas. Overall, the results highlight major threats for these ecosystems but also opportunities for conservation. Major requirements to ensure adequate protection of coastal kelp ecosystems along European coastlines are discussed, based on the local to regional gaps detected in the study.

Status, trends and drivers of kelp forests in Europe: an expert assessment

A comprehensive expert consultation was conducted in order to assess the status, trends and the most important drivers of change in the abundance and geographical distribution of kelp forests in European waters. This consultation included an on-line questionnaire, results from a workshop and data provided by a selected group of experts working on kelp forest mapping and eco-evolutionary research. Differences in status and trends according to geographical areas, species identity and small-scale variations within the same habitat where shown by assembling and mapping kelp distribution and trend data. Significant data gaps for some geographical regions, like the Mediterranean and the southern Iberian Peninsula, were also identified. The data used for this study confirmed a general trend with decreasing abundance of some native kelp species at their southern distributional range limits and increasing abundance in other parts of their distribution (Saccharina latissima and Saccorhiza polyschides). The expansion of the introduced species Undaria pinnatifida was also registered. Drivers of observed changes in kelp forests distribution and abundance were assessed using experts’ opinions. Multiple possible drivers were identified, including global warming, sea urchin grazing, harvesting, pollutionand fishing pressure, and their impact varied between geographical areas. Overall, the results highlight major threats for these ecosystems but also opportunities for conservation. Major requirements to ensure adequate protection of coastal kelp ecosystems along European coastlines are discussed, based on the local to regional gaps detected in the study.