A food-web model as a tool for the ecosystem-level management of bivalves in an Atlantic coastal lagoon.

The Ria de Aveiro is an important coastal lagoon for wildlife in Portugal, where the production of bivalves reaches approximately 2700 tons annually. However, the illegal overfishing of bivalves is frequent in this lagoon, which causes critical changes in the ecosystem. In this study, using a developed food-web model (Ecopath model), the ecological carrying capacity (ECC) and maximum sustained yield (MSY) of the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum were estimated, and the effects of further increases in clam biomass on other species were investigated. The results showed that 1) the current biomass and legal catch of R. philippinarum do not yet exceed the ECC (172.40 tons km-2) or the MSY (86.20 tons km-2 year-1) in Ria de Aveiro; 2) the harvested Manila clams of the MSY represent removing from the ecosystem âˆ¼ 581 tons carbon (C) and ∼83 tons nitrogen (N) annually, with substantial ecological and economic implications; and 3) a further increase in the biomass levels of this species may cause the ecotrophic efficiency of other groups to become unrealistic, potentially leading to decreases in ecosystem transfer efficiency, biodiversity and health. The results here are expected to guide the sustainable development and management of bivalve aquaculture in Ria de Aveiro and the protection of the local environment.

CO2-Induced Ocean Acidification Alters the Burrowing Behavior of Manila Clam Ruditapes philippinarum by Reversing GABAA Receptor Function.

Biological burrowing behavior is an important driver shaping ecosystems that is being threatened by CO2-induced ocean acidification; however, the effects of ocean acidification on burrowing behavior and its neurological mechanism remain unclear. This study showed that elevated pCO2 significantly affected the burrowing behaviors of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum, such as increased foot contraction, burrowing time, and intrabottom movement and decreased burrowing depth. Delving deeper into the mechanism, exposure to elevated pCO2 significantly decreased extracellular pH and increased [HCO3-]. Moreover, an indicator GABAA receptor, a neuroinhibitor for movement, was found to be closely associated with behavioral changes. In situ hybridization confirmed that the GABAA receptor was widely distributed in ganglia and foot muscles, and elevated pCO2 significantly increased the mRNA level and GABA concentration. However, the increase in GABAA receptor and its ligand did not suppress the foot movement, but rather sent "excitatory" signals for foot contraction. The destabilization of acid-base homeostasis was demonstrated to induce an increase in the reversal potential for GABAA receptor and an alteration in GABAA receptor function under elevated pCO2. This study revealed that elevated pCO2 affects the burrowing behavior of Manila clams by altering GABAA receptor function from inhibitory to excitatory.

Nondeterministic multiobjective optimization of 3D printed ceramic tissue scaffolds.

Despite significant advances in the design optimization of bone scaffolds for enhancing their biomechanical properties, the functionality of these synthetic constructs remains suboptimal. One of the main challenges in the structural optimization of bone scaffolds is associated with the large uncertainties caused by the manufacturing process, such as variations in scaffolds' geometric features and constitutive material properties after fabrication. Unfortunately, such non-deterministic issues have not been considered in the existing optimization frameworks, thereby limiting their reliability. To address this challenge, a novel multiobjective robust optimization approach is proposed here such that the effects of uncertainties on the optimized design can be minimized. This study first conducted computational analyses of a parameterized ceramic scaffold model to determine its effective modulus, structural strength, and permeability. Then, surrogate models were constructed to formulate explicit mathematical relationships between the geometrical parameters (design variables) and mechanical and fluidic properties. The Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) was adopted to generate the robust Pareto solutions for an optimal set of trade-offs between the competing objective functions while ensuring the effects of the noise parameters to be minimal. Note that the nondeterministic optimization of tissue scaffold presented here is the first of its kind in open literature, which is expected to shed some light on this significant topic of scaffold design and additive manufacturing in a more realistic way.

Optimal placement of fixation system for scaffold-based mandibular reconstruction.

A current challenge in bone tissue engineering is to create favourable biomechanical conditions conducive to tissue regeneration for a scaffold implanted in a segmental defect. This is particularly the case immediately following surgical implantation when a firm mechanical union between the scaffold and host bone is yet to be established via osseointegration. For mandibular reconstruction of a large segmental defect, the position of the fixation system is shown here to have a profound effect on the mechanical stimulus (for tissue regeneration within the scaffold), structural strength, and structural stiffness of the tissue scaffold-host bone construct under physiological load. This research combines computer tomography (CT)-based finite element (FE) modelling with multiobjective optimisation to determine the optimal height and angle to place a titanium fixation plate on a reconstructed mandible so as to enhance tissue ingrowth, structural strength and structural stiffness of the scaffold-host bone construct. To this end, the respective design criteria for fixation plate placement are to: (i) maximise the volume of the tissue scaffold experiencing levels of mechanical stimulus sufficient to initiate bone apposition, (ii) minimise peak stress in the scaffold so that it remains intact with a diminished risk of failure and, (iii) minimise scaffold ridge displacement so that the reconstructed jawbone resists deformation under physiological load. First, a CT-based FE model of a reconstructed human mandible implanted with a bioceramic tissue scaffold is developed to visualise and quantify changes in the biomechanical responses as the fixation plate's height and/or angle are varied. The volume of the scaffold experiencing appositional mechanical stimulus is observed to increase with the height of the fixation plate. Also, as the principal load-transfer mechanism to the scaffold is via the fixation system, there is a significant ingress of appositional stimulus from the buccal side towards the centre of the scaffold, notably in the region bounded by the screws. Next, surrogate modelling is implemented to generate bivariate cubic polynomial functions of the three biomechanical responses with respect to the two design variables (height and angle). Finally, as the three design objectives are found to be competing, bi- and tri-objective particle swarm optimisation algorithms are invoked to determine the most optimal Pareto solution, which represents the best possible trade-off between the competing design objectives. It is recommended that consideration be given to placing the fixation system along the upper boundary of the mandible with a small clockwise rotation about its posterior end. The methodology developed here forms a useful decision aid for optimal surgical planning.

Microplastics influence physiological processes, growth and reproduction in the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum.

Microplastics (<5 mm) are widely distributed in marine environments and pose a serious threat to bivalves. Here, the ingestion and accumulation of polystyrene microplastics (PS microplastics, diameters 5 and 10 µm) by the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, and their impacts on physiological processes, growth and reproduction were studied. The results showed that both PS microplastics were ingested by the Manila clam and accumulated in their gills, hepatopancreases and intestines. Furthermore, the accumulation of 5 and 10 µm PS microplastics significantly increased the rates of respiration and excretion while significantly decreasing feeding and absorption efficiency (AE), leading to a dramatically reduced amount of energy available for growth (SfG) and ultimately led to slower growth. The dynamic energy budget (DEB) model predicts that PS microplastic exposure for 200 days would cause lower shell/flesh growth rates and reproductive potentiality. Transcriptomic profiles support these results, as carbon and protein metabolism and oxytocin and insulin-related signaling pathways were significantly altered in clams in response to PS microplastics. This study provides evidence that microplastics strongly affect the physiological activities, energy allocation, growth and reproduction of filter-feeding bivalves.

A time-dependent mechanobiology-based topology optimization to enhance bone growth in tissue scaffolds.

Scaffold-based bone tissue engineering has been extensively developed as a potential means to treatment of large bone defects. To enhance the biomechanical performance of porous tissue scaffolds, computational design techniques have gained growing popularity attributable to their compelling efficiency and strong predictive features compared with time-consuming trial-and-error experiments. Nevertheless, the mechanical stimulus necessary for bone regeneration, which characterizes dynamic nature due to continuous variation in the bone-scaffold construct system as a result of bone-ingrowth and scaffold biodegradation, is often neglected. Thus, this study proposes a time-dependent mechanobiology-based topology optimization framework for design of tissue scaffolds, thereby developing an ongoing favorable microenvironment and ensuring a long-term outcome for bone regeneration. For the first time, a level-set based topology optimization algorithm and a time-dependent shape derivative are developed to optimize the scaffold architecture. In this study, a large bone defect in a simulated 2D femur model and a partial defect in a 3D femur model are considered to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design method. The results are compared with those obtained from stiffness-based topology optimization, time-independent design and typical scaffold constructs, showing significant advantages in continuing bone ingrowth outcomes.

Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses reveal benzo[a]pyrene enhances the toxicity of mercury to the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum.

Mercury (Hg2+) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) are ubiquitous and persistent pollutants with multiple toxicities in bivalve molluscs. Here, the toxicological responses in the gills of Manila clams, Ruditapes philippinarum, to Hg2+ (10 µg L-1), BaP (3 µg L-1), and their mixture were analysed using transcriptomics and metabolomics approaches. Comparisons of the transcriptomes and metabolomes of Hg2+-and/or BaP-treated clams with control animals revealed the involvement of the detoxification metabolism, immune defence, energy-related pathways, and osmotic regulation in the stress response of R. philippinarum. Exposure to Hg2+ alone primarily enhanced the detoxification and energy metabolic pathways by significantly increasing the expression of genes associated with heat-shock proteins and oxidative phosphorylation. However, co-exposure to Hg2+ and BaP caused greater immunotoxicity and disrupted detoxification metabolism, the TCA cycle, glycolysis, and ATP generation. The expression levels of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1), multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1), and myosin (MYO), and the activity of electron transport system (ETS) in gills were detected, supporting the underlying toxic mechanisms of Hg2+ and BaP. We suggest that the presence of BaP enhances the toxicity of Hg2+ by 1) hampering the detoxification of Hg2+, 2) increasing the immunotoxicity of Hg2+, and 3) constraining energy availability for clams.

Effect of large-scale kelp and bivalve farming on seawater carbonate system variations in the semi-enclosed Sanggou Bay.

Although cultured algae and shellfish can be the dominant species in some localized coastal waters, research on the effect of large-scale mariculture on the carbonate system variations in these local waters is still lacking. We conducted five cruises from May to September and studied spatiotemporal variations in the seawater carbonate system in the semi-closed Sanggou Bay, which is famous for its large-scale mariculture. Our results showed that both kelp and bivalve farming induced significant spatiotemporal variations in the carbonate system within the bay. When cultured kelp reached its highest biomass in May, the maximum ΔDIC, ΔpCO2 and ΔpHT between the seawater from the kelp farming area and the non-farming outer bay area was -156 µmol kg-1, -102 µatm and 0.15 pH units, respectively. However, no significant effect of kelp farming on seawater total alkalinity (TA) was observed. Kelp farming also caused the carbonate system variations of seawater from the bivalve farming area. Assuming no kelp was farmed in May, the average pH and pCO2 would reduce by 0.12 pH units and increase by 179 µatm, respectively, in the bivalve farming area. Bivalve farming significantly reduced seawater TA, indicating that fast deposition of calcium carbonate occurred in the bivalve farming area. Although bivalve respiration released CO2 into seawater and elevated seawater pCO2 level and reduced seawater pHT, surprisingly, seawater dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) reduced significantly in the bivalve farming area. These results indicated that bivalves fixed a larger amount of inorganic carbon by calcification than that released into seawater by respiration. Overall, large-scale kelp and bivalve farming are important biological drivers of variations in the carbonate system within the semi-enclosed Sanggou Bay. Altered carbonate systems by kelp farming may favour calcification of farmed bivalves and provide an essential refuge for these species during the future ocean acidification.

A machine learning-based multiscale model to predict bone formation in scaffolds.

Computational modeling methods combined with non-invasive imaging technologies have exhibited great potential and unique opportunities to model new bone formation in scaffold tissue engineering, offering an effective alternate and viable complement to laborious and time-consuming in vivo studies. However, existing numerical approaches are still highly demanding computationally in such multiscale problems. To tackle this challenge, we propose a machine learning (ML)-based approach to predict bone ingrowth outcomes in bulk tissue scaffolds. The proposed in silico procedure is developed by correlating with a dedicated longitudinal (12-month) animal study on scaffold treatment of a major segmental defect in sheep tibia. Comparison of the ML-based time-dependent prediction of bone ingrowth with the conventional multilevel finite element (FE2) model demonstrates satisfactory accuracy and efficiency. The ML-based modeling approach provides an effective means for predicting in vivo bone tissue regeneration in a subject-specific scaffolding system.

Investigation on masticatory muscular functionality following oral reconstruction - An inverse identification approach.

The human masticatory system has received significant attention in the areas of biomechanics due to its sophisticated co-activation of a group of masticatory muscles which contribute to the fundamental oral functions. However, determination of each muscular force remains fairly challenging in vivo; the conventional data available may be inapplicable to patients who experience major oral interventions such as maxillofacial reconstruction, in which the resultant unsymmetrical anatomical structure invokes a more complex stomatognathic functioning system. Therefore, this study aimed to (1) establish an inverse identification procedure by incorporating the sequential Kriging optimization (SKO) algorithm, coupled with the patient-specific finite element analysis (FEA) in silico and occlusal force measurements at different time points over a course of rehabilitation in vivo; and (2) evaluate muscular functionality for a patient with mandibular reconstruction using a fibula free flap (FFF) procedure. The results from this study proved the hypothesis that the proposed method is of certain statistical advantage of utilizing occlusal force measurements, compared to the traditionally adopted optimality criteria approaches that are basically driven by minimizing the energy consumption of muscle systems engaged. Therefore, it is speculated that mastication may not be optimally controlled, in particular for maxillofacially reconstructed patients. For the abnormal muscular system in the patient with orofacial reconstruction, the study shows that in general, the magnitude of muscle forces fluctuates over the 28-month rehabilitation period regardless of the decreasing trend of the maximum muscular capacity. Such finding implies that the reduction of the masticatory muscle activities on the resection side might lead to non-physiological oral biomechanical responses, which can change the muscular activities for stabilizing the reconstructed mandible.

Biomarkers responses in Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum after single and combined exposure to mercury and benzo[a]pyrene.

Physiological and biochemical responses in bivalves exposed to pollutants have proved a valuable tool to assess the health of organisms in aquatic ecosystems. The single and combined effects of mercury (Hg2+, 2 and 10 µg/L) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP, 3 µg/L) on physiological and biochemical biomarkers in Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum were evaluated. Results showed that significant higher oxygen consumption (OR) and ammonia-N excretion rates (NR) together with significant lower ingestion rates (IR) were observed for the 10 µg/L Hg2+ or 3 µg/L BaP treatments compared to controls (P < 0.05). However, clam NR decreased significantly in response to the binary mixtures of 10 µg/L Hg2+ and 3 µg/L BaP (P < 0.05). Moreover, the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-s-transferases (GSTs), glutathione (GSH), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the hepatopancreas of clams were induced substantially, whereas glycogen (GLY) contents were suppressed dramatically after Hg2+ and BaP exposure. Additionally, the integrated biomarker response (IBR) values measured showed significant increases in combination treatments and they were much higher than that in the Hg2+ treatment. This study will provide further information on the defense mechanism in the Manila clam after exposure to marine pollutants and may help evaluate the quality of the aquatic environment.

Metabolic responses to elevated pCO2 in the gills of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) using a GC-TOF-MS-based metabolomics approach.

Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), primarily from anthropogenic emissions, are resulting in increasing absorption of CO2 by the oceans, leading to a decline in oceanic pH in a process known as ocean acidification (OA). There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating the potential effect of OA on the energetics/physiology and consequently life-history traits of commensally important marine organisms. However, despite this little is known of how fundamental metabolic pathways that underpin changes in organismal physiology are affected by OA. Consequently, a gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS) based metabolic profiling approach was applied to examine the metabolic responses of Crassostrea gigas to elevated pCO2 levels, under otherwise natural field conditions. Oysters were exposed natural environmental pCO2 (~625.40 µatm) and elevated pCO2 (~1432.94 µatm) levels for 30 days. Results indicated that 36 differential metabolites were identified. Differential metabolites were mapped in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database to search for the related metabolic pathways. Pathway enrichment analysis indicates that alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism and glycine, serine and threonine metabolism were the most statistically enriched pathways. Further analysis suggested that elevated pCO2 disturb the TCA cycle via succinate accumulation and C. gigas most likely adjust their energy metabolic via alanine and GABA accumulation accordingly to cope with elevated pCO2. These findings provide an understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in modulating C. gigas metabolism under elevated pCO2.

Transcriptome analysis of the Yesso scallop, Patinopecten yessoensis gills in response to water temperature fluctuations.

Water temperature fluctuations are considered to be a major factor affecting the immune functions and metabolic processes of scallops. To better understand the immune defense mechanisms of Yesso scallop, Patinopecten yessoensis following exposure to water temperature fluctuations, transcriptomic profiles in the gills from high-frequency fluctuations (HF_G), low-frequency fluctuations (LF_G), and no fluctuations (NF_G) groups were obtained using HiSeq™ 2500 (Illumina). For HF_G, scallops were transferred directly between 18 and 8 °C every 4 h and for 10 fluctuations, while scallops in LF_G were transferred between 18 and 13 °C every 12 h, for a total of 4 fluctuations. A total of 442,922,590 clean reads were generated in 9 libraries and then assembled into 210,780 unigenes with an average length of 705 bp and an N50 of 1253 bp. Based on sequence similarity, 54,529 unigenes (25.87%) were annotated in at least one database. Comparative analysis revealed that 696 unigenes differentially expressed in temperature stressed groups compared with the control, including 229 unigenes between HF_G and NF_G, and 548 unigenes between LF_G and NF_G, respectively. Additionally, among these differentially expressed genes (DEGs), there were 41 immune-related unigenes and 16 protein metabolism-related unigenes. These results provide fundamental information on the molecular defense mechanisms in the Yesso scallop gills after exposure to water temperature fluctuations.

[Distribution, seasonal variation and influence factors of dissolved inorganic arsenic in the Sanggou Bay].

The biogeochemical behavior of arsenic in the aquatic environment has already captured the attentions of scientists due to its complex forms and toxicity. Four cruises were carried out in April, August, October 2011 and January 2012 in the Sanggou Bay. The concentrations of total dissolved inorganic arsenic (TDIAs, TDIAs = [ As(5+] + [As(3+)]) and arsenite (As(3+)) were measured by Hydride Generation-Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry (HG-AFS). The concentrations of TDIAs ranged from 3.4-12.4 nmol x L(-1) in April, 8.9-16.9 nmol x L(-1) in August, 14.7-21.3 nmol x L(-1) in October and 13.8-21.9 nmol x L(-1) in January. The concentrations of arsenite ranged from 0.3-2.1 nmol x L(-1), 0.4-3.8 nmol x L(-1), 1.8-4.0 nmol x L(-1) and 0.3-2.9 nmol x L(-1) during four cruises, respectively. The concentrations of TDIAs in spring and summer were lower than those in autumn and winter, and high values of TDIAs appeared in the bay-mouth and the coastal estuary. The concentrations of arsenite in spring and winter were lower than those in summer and autumn. The maximum As(3+)/TDIAs ratios appeared in summer. The mean value of TDIAs in the Sanggou Bay was (13.9 +/- 4.7) nmol x L(-1), which was lower than the national primary drinking in water Standards from USEPA and met the first grade water quality based on the environmental quality standards for surface water of China. It indicates that there is no obvious anthropogenic pollution. The concentrations of TDIAs in the Sanggou Bay were lower than those in the Ailian Bay and the Lidao Bay in spring and summer due to the different hydrological environments and terrestrial inputs. Riverine input, incursion of Yellow Sea and biological activities were the three main factors impacting the distribution of TDIAs in the Sanggou Bay, and the influence of aquaculture activities was particularly significant. The enrichment of arsenic by aquaculture may lead to potential ecological crisis and food safety problems, and need to be paid more attentions to ensure the sustainable development of aquaculture in the Sanggou Bay.

[Effects of calcification on respiratory quotient of cultured oyster Crassostrea gigas and its fouling animals].

Respiratory quotient (RQ) is one of the basic indices in physiology and energy metabolism of animals. When RQ is calculated, the amount of released CO2 is typically used directly. But for calcifying marine organisms, calcification which can affect dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) content in the water may cause methodological error to some extent, if it is ignored. In this paper, RQ and O/N of cultured oyster Crassostrea gigas and 3 marine fouling animal species (Mytilus edulis, Ciona intestinalis, Styela clava) were measured in the respiratory chamber to discuss the effect of calcification in RQ determination. The results demonstrated that calcification rates of C. gigas and M. edulis were (56.37 +/- 14.85) and (17.95 +/- 7.21) micromol x g(-1) x h(-1), respectively. (3.72 +/- 0.80) and (1.48 +/- 0.14) mg x L(-1) DIC in the water were correspondingly decreased, which occupied about (60.9 +/- 7.6)% and (39.9 +/- 5.7)% of respired CO2, respectively. RQ values of 4 animals were C. gigas 1.38 +0.19, M. edulis 1.18 +/- 0.11, C. intestinalis 1.11 +/- 0.05 and S. clava 1.32 +/- 0.19, which agreed with the O/N values except C. intestinalis. Meanwhile, the uncorrected RQ values of C. gigas and M. edulis were 0.56 +/- 0.19 and 0.70 +/- 0.04, respectively, which were contrary to the O/N values. Therefore, it was obviously that calcification could result in a significant influence on the respiratory quotient by affecting water DIC concentration and should be accurately calculated in RQ measurement.

Detrimental effects of reduced seawater pH on the early development of the Pacific abalone.

The hatching process of the Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai was prolonged at a pH of 7.6 and pH 7.3, and the embryonic developmental success was reduced. The hatching rate at pH 7.3 was significantly (10.8%) lower than that of the control (pH 8.2). The malformation rates at pH 7.9 and pH 8.2 were less than 20% but were 53.8% and 77.3% at pH 7.6 and pH 7.3, respectively. When newly hatched larvae were incubated for 48 h at pH 7.3, only 2.7% of the larvae settled, while more than 70% of the larvae completed settlement in the other three pH treatments. However, most 24 h old larvae could complete metamorphosis in all four pH treatments. Overall, a 0.3-unit reduction in water pH will produce no negative effect on the early development of the Pacific abalone, but further reduction in pH to the values predicted for seawater by the end of this century will have strong detrimental effects.

Identification and expression analysis on bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (BPI)/lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) of ark shell, Scapharca broughtonii.

Bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (BPI) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) are the numbers of the lipid transfer protein/lipopolysaccharide-binding protein family and play crucial roles in the innate immune response to Gram-negative bacteria. A novel Sb-BPI/LBP1 from ark shell Scapharca broughtonii was isolated by expressed sequence tag (EST) and RACE techniques. The Sb-BPI/LBP1 cDNA encoded a polypeptide of 484 amino acids with a putative signal peptide of 21 amino acid residues and a mature protein of 463 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of Sb-BPI/LBP1 contained an N-terminal BPI/LBP/CETP domain BPI1 with three functional regions that display LPS-binding activity, and a C-terminal BPI/LBP/CETP domain BPI2. In structure and sequence, Sb-BPI/LBP1 showed highly similar to those of the BPI/LBPs from invertebrate and non-mammalian vertebrate, the LBPs and BPIs from mammal. By quantitative real-time RT-PCR, Sb-BPI/LBP1 transcripts could be detected in all normal tested tissues, including hepatopancreas, adductor muscle, mantle margin, heart, gonad, gill and hemocytes, and was universally up-regulatable at 24 h post LPS challenge. The mRNA expression of Sb-BPI/LBP1 in hemocytes was the most sensitive to LPS challenge, significantly up-regulated at 12 h post LPS challenge and peaked at 24 h (16.76-fold, P < 0.05). These results suggested that Sb-BPI/LBP1 was a constitutive and inducible acute-phase protein contributing to the host immune defense against Gram-negative bacterial infection in ark shell S. broughtonii.

The impact of the herbicide atrazine on growth and photosynthesis of seagrass, Zostera marina (L.), seedlings.

The impact of the widely used herbicide atrazine on seedling growth and photosynthesis of eelgrass was determined. The long-term impact of the herbicide atrazine (1, 10 and 100 µg/L) on growth of eelgrass Zostera marina (L.) seedlings, maintained in outdoor aquaria, was monitored over 4 weeks. Exposure to 10 µg/L atrazine resulted in significantly lower plant fresh weight and total chlorophyll concentration and up to 86.67% mortality at the 100 µg/L concentration. Short-term photosynthetic stress on eelgrass seedlings was determined and compared with adult eelgrass using chlorophyll fluorescence. The effective quantum yield in eelgrass seedlings was significantly depressed at all atrazine concentrations (2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 µg/L) even within 2 h and remained at a lower level than for adult plants for each concentration. These results indicate that atrazine presents a potential threat to seagrass seedling functioning and that the impact is much higher than for adult plants.

Relationship between differential retention of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis and variations in enzyme activity in the scallop Patinopecten yessoensis.

Uptake of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis and variations of trypsin amylase activity acid phosphatase and superoxide dismutase in tissue of the scallop Patinopecten yessoensis were detected. The results showed that P. yessoensis accumulated E. faecalis in larger numbers and more rapidly than E. coli, both with the highest concentration in the digestive tract and lowest in hemolymph. Compared to E. coli, all scallops exposed to E. faecalis showed significantly higher trypsin and AMS activity. SOD activity in hemocytes and ACP activity in hemolymph was significantly higher in the treatments with 5 log(10)CFU/ml E. coli than with E. faecalis. But no significant differences in ACP activity of P. yessoensis exposed to a 3 log(10)CFU/ml inoculum of both bacteria were recorded. In conclusion, the mass retention of gut microflora in P. yessoensis is positively correlated with digestive enzymes activity and negatively correlated with ACP activity in the hemocyte.

[Phosphate adsorption characteristics onto surface sediments from aquaculture area in Sungo bay].

Phosphate adsorption characteristics onto surface sediments from aquaculture area in Sungo bay were studied in laboratory simulating condition, and phosphate adsorption-desorption equilibrium mass concentration was also analyzed. The results showed that the process of phosphate adsorption onto sediments mainly occurred within 0.5 h, and attended to dynamic equilibrium after 6 h. Adsorption kinetics were fitted to modified Elovich model which can be expressed by Q = 85.536 + 35.512 lnt (R2 = 0.9602). Under low initial phosphate concentration condition, the adsorption isotherm curves were fitted to linear equation Q = 265.04c(e) - 7.46 (R2 = 0.965), while under high initial phosphate concentration condition, the adsorption isotherm curves were fitted to Langmuir equation (R2 = 0.989). The native adsorbed phosphorus was 7.46 microg/g and the maximum adsorption capacity was 769.23 microg/g. The phosphate adsorption-desorption equilibrium mass concentration was 0.028 mg/L, which indicated that the sediments played the source role in most time in this area based on the phosphate concentration in water body.