Consequences of Corymbia (Myrtaceae) hybridisation on leaf-oil profiles

The present study examines patterns of heritability of plant secondary metabolites following hybridisation among three genetically homogeneous taxa of spotted gum (Corymbia henryi (S.T.Blake) K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson, C. citriodora subsp. variegata (F.Muell.) K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson and C. citriodora (Hook.) K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson subsp. citriodora (section Maculatae), and their congener C. torelliana (F.Muell.) K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson (section Torellianae)). Hexane extracts of leaves of all four parent taxa were statistically distinguishable (ANOSIM: global R = 0.976, P = 0.008). Hybridisation patterns varied among the taxa studied, with the hybrid formed with C. citriodora subsp. variegata showing an intermediate extractive profile between its parents, whereas the profiles of the other two hybrids were dominated by that of C. torelliana. These different patterns in plant secondary-metabolite inheritance may have implications for a range of plant-insect interactions.

Programming rumen bacterial communities in newborn Merino lambs

Establishment of the rumen microbiome can be affected by both early-life dietary measures and rumen microbial inoculation. This study used a 2 × 3 factorial design to evaluate the effects of inclusion of dietary fat type and the effects of rumen inoculum from different sources on ruminal bacterial communities present in early stages of the lambs’ life. Two different diets were fed ad libitum to 36 pregnant ewes (and their lambs) from 1 month pre-lambing until weaning. Diets consisted of chaffed lucerne and cereal hay and 4% molasses, with either 4% distilled coconut oil (CO) provided as a source of rumen-active fat or 4% Megalac® provided as a source of rumen-protected fat (PF). One of three inoculums was introduced orally to all lambs, being either (1) rumen fluid from donor ewes fed the PF diet; (2) rumen fluid from donor ewes fed CO; or (3) a control treatment of MilliQ-water. After weaning at 3 months of age, each of the six lamb treatment groups were grazed in spatially separated paddocks. Rumen bacterial populations of ewes and lambs were characterised using 454 amplicon pyrosequencing of the V3/V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. Species richness and biodiversity of the bacterial communities were found to be affected by the diet in ewes and lambs and by inoculation treatment of the lambs. Principal coordinate analysis and analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) showed between diet differences in bacterial community groups existed in ewes and differential bacterial clusters occurred in lambs due to both diet and neonatal inoculation. Diet and rumen inoculation acted together to clearly differentiate the bacterial communities through to weaning, however the microbiome effects of these initial early life interventions diminished with time so that rumen bacterial communities showed greater similarity 2 months after weaning. These results demonstrate that ruminal bacterial communities of newborn lambs can be altered by modifying the diet of their mothers. Moreover, the rumen microbiome of lambs can be changed by diet while they are suckling or by inoculating their rumen, and resulting changes in the rumen bacterial microbiome can persist beyond weaning.

Caracterização do estado trófico e da qualidade da água de um sistema lagunar costeiro urbano: estudo de caso da Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, RJ.

O estudo da dinâmica dos parâmetros físicos, químicos e biológicos da água em lagoas costeiras é essencial para entender o funcionamento destes ecossistemas; o que por sua vez permite o desenvolvimento de estratégias adequadas de gerenciamento e conservação de seus recursos. Neste estudo, analisou-se a qualidade da água da Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas (Rio de Janeiro/RJ) e dos seus principais tributários. Foram utilizados os dados oriundos do projeto de monitoramento da qualidade da água realizado pela SMAC/RJ, entre dezembro de 2011 e dezembro de 2012. O objetivo precípuo foi compreender a dinâmica espacial e temporal da variação do estado trófico e da qualidade da água, assim como avaliar a exequibilidade e aplicabilidade de índices multimétricos (IQA, IET, ICE, IC, TRIX) ao projeto de monitoramento ambiental da LRF. Para tanto, foram realizadas coletas mensais e semanais da água superficial em cinco pontos amostrais, na LRF, e cinco pontos nos rios/canais. Em seguida, análises físico-químicas e biológicas foram realizadas. Os resultados obtidos mostraram relativa homogeneidade espacial e elevada variação sazonal da qualidade da água superficial. Os índices aplicados aos dados indicaram uma variação temporal representativa do estado trófico e da qualidade da água, sendo as classificações para os rios e canais diferentes às verificadas na LRF. Esta apresentou variação entre supereutrófica e hipereutrófica, já os primeiros foram mesotróficos. A qualidade da água da LRF apresentou majoritariamente entre moderada a boa. Os rios e canais foram classificados ruins e médios. Concluiu-se que diferentes modelos podem resultar em diferentes classificações de níveis de trofia e qualidade da água. Análises estatísticas de tendência indicaram estabilidade da qualidade da água, sem uma projeção representativa de melhoria da qualidade hídrica. Já análises multivariadas (RDA, PCA BEST, SIMPER, ANOSIM, MDS e CLUSTER) mostraram um elevado dinamismo da comunidade fitoplanctônica com nítida resposta às oscilações de variáveis físico-químicas específicas, apesar da dominância recorrente por cianobactérias.

Rapid assessment of stony coral richness and condition on Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles

The benthic habitats of Saba Bank (17°25′N, 63°30′W) are at risk from maritime traffic, especially oil tankers (e.g., anchoring). To mitigate this risk, information is needed on the biodiversity and location of habitats to develop a zone use plan. A rapid survey to document the biodiversity of macro-algae, sponges, corals and fishes was conducted. Here we report on the richness and condition of stony coral species at 18 select sites, and we test for the effects of bottom type, depth, and distance from platform edge. Species richness was visually assessed by roving scuba diver with voucher specimens of each species collected. Coral tissue was examined for bleaching and diseases. Thirty-three coral species were documented. There were no significant differences in coral composition among bottom types or depth classes (ANOSIM, P>0.05). There was a significant difference between sites (ANOSIM, P<0.05) near and far from the platform edge. The number of coral species observed ranged from zero and one in algal dominated habitats to 23 at a reef habitat on the southern edge of the Bank. Five reef sites had stands of Acropora cervicornis, a critically endangered species on the IUCN redlist. Bleaching was evident at 82% of the sites assessed with 43 colonies bleached. Only three coral colonies were observed to have disease. Combining our findings with that of other studies, a total of 43 species have been documented from Saba Bank. The coral assemblage on the bank is representative and typical of those found elsewhere in the Caribbean. Although our findings will help develop effective protection, more information is needed on Saba Bank to create a comprehensive zone use plan. Nevertheless, immediate action is warranted to protect the diverse coral reef habitats documented here, especially those containing A. cervicornis.

长江口北港和北支浮游动物群落生态学比较研究

浮游动物是河口生态系统的重要组成部分，在食物网中，浮游动物是浮游植物捕食者，对浮游植物有摄食压力，所以控制浮游植物数量的增长。同时，浮游动物还是鱼类的饵料，从而影响渔业资源的数量。长江口是各种经济鱼、虾和蟹的重要产卵场、索饵场和洄游场。长江口各个分汊的分流量的差异较大，导致不同分汊的水文环境明显不同，其中最为明显就是北港和北支水域。然而以往对浮游动物的研究仅限于某一水域，没有对整体水域进行研究，本文选择最具代表性的北港和北支水域，对两水域浮游动物的群落生态特征进行比较研究。 本论文的数据来源于2004年5、8、11月和2005年2月在长江口北港和北支水域4个航次的海洋综合调查资料。通过采用优势度和优势种贡献率等生态学指标，同时结合逐步回归分析，讨论了温、盐与浮游动物总丰度变化的关系。结果表明，就四季而言，浮游动物总丰度和盐度呈显著正相关，和温度负相关。而就单个季节而言，除了5月和2月落潮，总丰度和盐度均呈显著正相关，与温度相关关系不显著。调查水域优势种主要为河口半咸水种或近海种。北港的盐度约为0-5, 表现为长江淡水特征；北支的盐度约为12-28，表现为长江径流和外海水团混合水团的特征。上述优势种的盐度适应和水团分布特征决定了长江口浮游动物分布的时空变化，即盐度较高的水域往往有较高的丰度，北支的总丰度和生物量均大于北港。此外，在长江口口内水域，水温较低的枯水期，浮游动物丰度高于水温较高的丰水期，温度的季节波动，以及主要优势种中华华哲水蚤（Sinocalanus sinensis）对低温环境的适应，是调查水域浮游动物总丰度季节变化的重要因素。 另一方面，本论文通过物种多样性、累积优势度曲线等群落水平的指标和相似性检验分析（ANOSIM），对长江口北港和北支浮游动物群落及其主要优势种的差异，以及主要生态因子对浮游动物群落的影响进行了分析。结果表明，北港主要由潮汐影响的淡水和低盐水组成，北支由中、高盐水组成。春季，北港浮游动物丰度和多样性均低于北支，主要优势种为中华华哲水蚤；北支优势种种数较多，主要是真刺唇角水蚤（Labidocera euchaeta）。夏季，北港和北支的多样性较接近，但是种类组成差别较大，北港以中华华哲水蚤和太平洋纺锤水蚤（Acartia pacifica）为主构成河口半咸水群落，北支以由火腿许水蚤（Schmackeria poplesia）、虫肢歪水蚤（Tortanus vermiculus）和太平洋纺锤水蚤等构成河口低盐群落。秋季，北港的丰度和多样性均低于北支，两个水域的群落差异明显，北港主要由中华华哲水蚤构成，北支由小拟哲水蚤（Paracalanus parvus）、针刺拟哲水蚤（Paracalanus aculeatus）、真刺唇角水蚤和中华哲水蚤（Calanus sinicus）等近岸和外海种组成。冬季，两个水域种数和多样性均较低，群落差别达四季最小，中华华哲水蚤占绝对优势。温度和盐度及其相互作用是决定长江口浮游动物群落特征的最主要因素。其中温度是造成研究水域浮游动物群落季节变化的主要因素，而由径流和外海水之间的消长引起的盐度变化是造成北港和北支浮游动物群落区域变化的决定因素。

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。

Structure and diversity of intertidal benthic diatom assemblages in contrasting shores: a case study from the Tagus estuary1

The structure of intertidal benthic diatoms assemblages in the Tagus estuary was investigated during a 2-year survey, carried out in six stations with different sediment texture. Nonparametric multivariate analyses were used to characterize spatial and temporal patterns of the assemblages and to link them to the measured environmental variables. In addition, diversity and other features related to community physiognomy, such as size-class or life-form distributions, were used to describe the diatom assemblages. A total of 183 diatom taxa were identified during cell counts and their biovolume was determined. Differences between stations (analysis of similarity (ANOSIM), R=0.932) were more evident than temporal patterns (R=0.308) and mud content alone was the environmental variable most correlated to the biotic data (BEST, rho=0.863). Mudflat stations were typically colonized by low diversity diatom assemblages (H' similar to 1.9), mainly composed of medium-sized motile epipelic species (250-1,000 mu m(3)), that showed species-specific seasonal blooms (e.g., Navicula gregaria Donkin). Sandy stations had more complex and diverse diatom assemblages (H' similar to 3.2). They were mostly composed by a large set of minute epipsammic species (<250 mu m(3)) that, generally, did not show temporal patterns. The structure of intertidal diatom assemblages was largely defined by the interplay between epipelon and epipsammon, and its diversity was explained within the framework of the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis. However, the spatial distribution of epipelic and epipsammic life-forms showed that the definition of both functional groups should not be over-simplified.

Southern Ocean biogeography and taxonomic resolution: what's in the name?

We examined the taxonomic resolution of zooplankton data required to identify ocean basin scale biogeographic zonation in the Southern Ocean. A 2,154 km transect was completed south of Australia. Sea surface temperature (SST) measured at 1 min intervals showed that seven physical zones were sampled. Zooplankton were collected at a spatial resolution of similar to 9.2 km with a continuous plankton recorder, identified to the highest possible taxonomic resolution and enumerated. Zooplankton assemblage similarity between samples was calculated using the Bray-Curtis index for the taxonomic levels of species, genus, family, order and class after first log(10)(x + 1) (LA) and then presence/absence (PA) transformation of abundance data. Although within and between zone sample similarity increased with decreasing taxonomic resolution, for both data transformations, cluster analysis demonstrated that the biogeographic separation of zones remained at all taxonomic levels when using LA data. ANOSIM confirmed this, detecting significant differences in zooplankton assemblage structure between all seven a priori determined physical zones for all taxonomic levels when using the LA data. In the case of the PA data for the complete data set, and both LA and PA data for a crustacean only data set, no significant differences were detected between zooplankton assemblages in the Polar frontal zone (PFZ) and inter-PFZ at any taxonomic level. Loss of information at resolutions below the species level, particularly in the PA data, prevented the separation of some zones. However, the majority of physical zones were biogeographically distinct from species level to class using both LA and PA transformations. Significant relationships between SST and zooplankton community structure, summarised as NMDS scores, at all taxonomic levels, for both LA and PA transformations, and complete and crustacean only data sets, highlighted the biogeographic relevance of low resolution taxonomic data. The retention of biogeographic information in low taxonomic resolution data shows that data sets collected with different taxonomic resolutions may be meaningfully merged for the post hoc generation of Southern Ocean time series.

Estudo da influência de factores abióticos na pesca com palangre costeiro

Dissertação de Mestrado, Aquacultura e Pescas, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Universidade do Algarve, 2008

Experimental study of the macrobenthic colonisation and secondary production in the artificial reefs of Algarve coast

Tese de dout., Ciências do Mar, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Universidade do Algarve, 2010

Assessment of reserve effect in a marine protected area: the case study of the Professor Luiz Saldanha Marine Park (Portugal)

Dissertação de mest., Biologia Marinha (Ecologia e Conservação Marinhas), Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Univ. do Algarve, 2011

Meiobenthos of the Shelf Waters of West Coast of India With Special Reference to Free-Living Marine Nematodes

Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology

Structure and feeding of a stream fish assemblage in southeastern Brazil: evidence of low seasonal influences

Aim: The present study was developed in a deforested stream located in a region that exhibits marked seasonality with the purpose to investigate whether ecological descriptors of the quantitative structure (i.e., composition, abundance, biomass, species richness, diversity) and feeding of fishes do change between the dry and wet periods. Methods: Sampling was conducted bimonthly from April 2004 to February 2005 by using a standardized effort with electrofishing equipment and environmental variables measurements. Results: We collected 713 fishes belonging to 23 species. The most abundant species were Gymnotus carapo (24.0%) and Poecilia reticulata (23.8%). Species richness, abundance, and biomass showed to be higher in the wet period, but these differences were not significant and did not influence the multivariate pattern of the assemblage (ANOSIM, R = 0.148). Nevertheless, average dissimilarity between community structure in the dry and wet periods was 52.7%, mainly due to the differential contribution of P. reticulata, notably more abundant in the wet season, under quasi-hypoxic water conditions. Examination of 333 gastric contents of 12 species evidenced that food variety was higher in the dry period. of these species, 67% (Astyanax altiparanae, Astyanax fasciatus, Geophagus brasiliensis, Gymnotus carapo, Hypostomus ancistroides, Phalloceros harpagos, Poecilia reticulata, and Rhamdia quelen) kept the diet throughout the year, being classified in the same trophic groups in both periods, and detritus was the most important item for half of them, followed by aquatic insects. Overall, no significant differences in the community's diet between periods were registered (ANOSIM, R = [long dash]0.04). Conclusions: This relative constancy suggests a quite regular availability of resources (mainly shelters in submerged marginal grasses and detritus) along the year.

Evaluating the use of predatory insects as bioindicators of metals contamination due to sugarcane cultivation in neotropical streams

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)