DISTRIBUTION OF DINOCYSTS IN THE SURFACE SEDIMENTS OF SIDI MOUSSA LAGOON : (ATLANTIC COAST-MOROCCO)

The Sidi Moussa lagoon, (32°52′0″ N / 8° 51′05″ W) is located on the Moroccan Atlantic coast between the cities of El Jadida and Safi about 15 km South of the Jorf Lasfar industrial complex, The climate of the lagoon is classified as hot temperate. It is characterised by an oceanic influence. This study of dinoflagellate cyst mapping is the first of its kind from the Sidi Moussa lagoon. the objectives of the present survey were (i) to evaluate to the spatial variation of dinoflagellate cyst assemblages in the sediment along the Sidi Moussa lagoon (ii) to assess the densities of its cysts (iii) to compare the cyst assemblages in this study with that of other sites. The data were collected in a scientific campaign by zodiac carried out from in April 2018 by core following a sampling network of 21 stations distributed randomly in the study area. The surface layer of the sediment cores (3 cm) was sliced and kept at 4° C until analysis. The highest total cyst abundance was 194 cysts. g−1 dry sediment. The Pearson statistical test revealed a positive and significant correlation between cyst abundance and water content, organic matter and of fine sediment. Our study showed the presence of morphotypes of potentially toxic species. The cysts of these species present in the sediment of the Sidi Moussa lagoon could germinate, when environmental conditions become favorable, and in turn could inoculate the water column with the subsequent bloom formation. This study confirms the usefulness of cyst analysis in the assessment of harmful bloom risk in this area important for oyster’s culture.

A theoretical modeling framework for motile and colonial harmful algae

1. Harmful algal blooms are increasing in both severity and frequency across the globe. Many bloom-forming species are capable of vertical motility and colony formation. The cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa is a common example of such a species, yet current models poorly predict vertical distributions of M. aeruginosa. 2. To couple the hydrodynamics, buoyancy, and the colony dynamics of Microcystis, we present a system of one-dimensional advection-diffusion-aggregation equations with Smoluchowski aggregation terms. 3. Results indicate Smoluchowski aggregation accurately describes the colony dynamics of M. aeruginosa. Further, transport dynamics are strongly dependent on colony size, and aggregation processes are highly sensitive to algal concentration and wind-induced mixing. Both of these findings have direct consequences to harmful algal bloom formation. 4. While the theoretical framework outlined in this manuscript was derived for M. aeruginosa, both motility and colony formation are common among bloom-forming algae. As such, this coupling of vertical transport and colony dynamics is a useful step for improving forecasts of surface harmful algal blooms.

An Emiliania huxleyi pan-transcriptome reveals basal strain specificity in gene expression patterns

Emiliania huxleyi is a cosmopolitan coccolithophore widespread in temperate oceans. This unicellular photoautotroph forms massive recurring blooms that play an important role in large biogeochemical cycles of carbon and sulfur, which play a role in climate change. The mechanism of bloom formation and demise, controlled by giant viruses that routinely infect these blooms, is poorly understood. We generated a pan-transcriptome of E. huxleyi, derived from three strains with different susceptibility to viral infection. Expression profiling of E. huxleyi sensitive and resistant strains showed major basal differences, including many genes that are induced upon viral infection. This suggests that basal gene expression can affect the host metabolic state and the susceptibility of E. huxleyi to viruses. Due to its ecological importance, the pan-transcriptome and its protein translation, applicable to many E. huxleyi strains, is a powerful resource for investigation of eukaryotic microbial communities.

Dual-Modality Imaging Microfluidic Cytometer for Onsite Detection of Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton monitoring is essential for better understanding and mitigation of phytoplankton bloom formation. We present a microfluidic cytometer with two imaging modalities for onsite detection and identification of phytoplankton: a lensless imaging mode for morphological features, and a fluorescence imaging mode for autofluorescence signal of phytoplankton. Both imaging modes are integrated in a microfluidic device with a field of view (FoV) of 3.7 mm × 2.4 mm and a depth of field (DoF) of 0.8 mm. The particles in the water flow channel can be detected and classified with automated image processing algorithms and machine learning models using their morphology and fluorescence features. The performance of the device was demonstrated by measuring Chlamydomonas, Euglena, and non-fluorescent beads in both separate and mixed flow samples. The recall rates for Chlamydomonas and Euglena ware 93.6% and 94.4%. The dual-modality imaging approach enabled observing both morphology and fluorescence features with a large DoF and FoV which contribute to high-throughput analysis. Moreover, this imaging flow cytometer platform is portable, low-cost, and shows potential in the onsite phytoplankton monitoring.

Mixing and Phytoplankton Growth in an Upwelling System

Previous studies focused on understanding the role of physical drivers on phytoplankton bloom formation mainly used indirect estimates of turbulent mixing. Here we use weekly observations of microstructure turbulence, dissolved inorganic nutrients, chlorophyll a concentration and primary production carried out in the Ría de Vigo (NW Iberian upwelling system) between March 2017 and May 2018 to investigate the relationship between turbulent mixing and phytoplankton growth at different temporal scales. In order to interpret our results, we used the theoretical framework described by the Critical Turbulent Hypothesis (CTH). According to this conceptual model if turbulence is low enough, the depth of the layer where mixing is active can be shallower than the mixed-layer depth, and phytoplankton may receive enough light to bloom. Our results showed that the coupling between turbulent mixing and phytoplankton growth in this system occurs at seasonal, but also at shorter time scales. In agreement with the CTH, higher phytoplankton growth rates were observed when mixing was low during spring-summer transitional and upwelling periods, whereas low values were described during periods of high mixing (fall-winter transitional and downwelling). However, low mixing conditions were not enough to ensure phytoplankton growth, as low phytoplankton growth was also found under these circumstances. Wavelet spectral analysis revealed that turbulent mixing and phytoplankton growth were also related at shorter time scales. The higher coherence between both variables was found in spring-summer at the ~16–30 d period and in fall-winter at the ~16–90 d period. These results suggest that mixing could act as a control factor on phytoplankton growth over the seasonal cycle, and could be also involved in the formation of occasional short-lived phytoplankton blooms.

Improvement the Round Bloom Continuous Casting Technology at JSC “Ural Steel”

The results of assessment of macrostructure and surface quality of round blooms 455 mm in diameter, cast on 4-strand continuous casting machine (CCM) at JSC “Ural Steel” are presented. The analysis of technological casting parameters of round blooms 455 mm in diameter (from steel grade “2”) at bloom caster of JSC “Ural Steel” are completed. Violations in casting temperature and rate parameters, which deteriorate thermal conditions of solidification and quality of continuous casting blooms, have been revealed. The main causes of unsatisfactory bloom quality have been determined, which are the increased overheating of cast metal and irrational secondary cooling mode. The results of the experiment to evaluate the surface temperature dynamics of a round bloom in the secondary cooling zone are presented, which confirmed the inefficiency of the secondary cooling mode for the defect-free bloom formation. As a result of thermal calculations of round blooms solidification of 455 mm in diameter, rational coolant flow rates by secondary cooling sections for bloom caster of JSC “Ural Steel” have been proposed. Optimized secondary cooling parameters provide a softer secondary cooling of the round bloom, which reduces the probability of the surface and internal defects development.

Occurrence and Habitat Characteristics of Aurelia sp. Polyps in a High-Latitude Fjord

Causes and consequences of jellyfish bloom formation are subject to controversial discussions worldwide. While medusae have been studied to a broader extent, the knowledge on polyp stages of scyphozoans is limited thus hampering reliable prediction of jellyfish bloom formation. This study describes the occurrence, abundance, habitat characteristics and interactions of scyphozoan Aurelia sp. polyp colonies with other fouling organisms in intertidal and subtidal sectors of Trondheimsfjorden (Norway). In total, 982 polyps were found on 70 substrata of varying material types during a field survey in spring-summer 2018 along a longitudinal gradient within and outside Trondheimsfjorden. The polyps were identified as Aurelia sp. based on molecular species identification. Most polyps were found in bays with macroalgae canopy on the down facing side of artificial and natural substrata (rocks, concrete, iron) and inside rock cracks. Polyp microhabitats included the surface of Ascidia mentula (solitary ascidian), increments of Pomatoceros triqueter (polychete) tubes and dead Balanus balanoides (barnacle) shells. Based on the deployment of settling plates, abundance of Aurelia sp. polyps ranged from 1.2 (± 0.7) to 0.12 (± 0.07) polyps cm–2. Settlement occurred either directly on the PVC settling plates or as epibionts on the ascidian Ascidia mentula and on barnacle shells of Balanus balanoides. This study provides insights into the potential of local Aurelia sp. polyps contributing to the seasonal occurrence and abundance of Aurelia sp. in fjord systems, where intensive blooms occur annually.

Cyanobacterial Akinete Distribution, Viability, and Cyanotoxin Records in Sediment Archives From the Northern Baltic Sea

Cyanobacteria of the order Nostocales, including Baltic Sea bloom-forming taxa Nodularia spumigena, Aphanizomenon flosaquae, and Dolichospermum spp., produce resting stages, known as akinetes, under unfavorable conditions. These akinetes can persist in the sediment and germinate if favorable conditions return, simultaneously representing past blooms and possibly contributing to future bloom formation. The present study characterized cyanobacterial akinete survival, germination, and potential cyanotoxin production in brackish water sediment archives from coastal and open Gulf of Finland in order to understand recent bloom expansion, akinete persistence, and cyanobacteria life cycles in the northern Baltic Sea. Results showed that cyanobacterial akinetes can persist in and germinate from Northern Baltic Sea sediment up to >40 and >400 years old, at coastal and open-sea locations, respectively. Akinete abundance and viability decreased with age and depth of vertical sediment layers. The detection of potential microcystin and nodularin production from akinetes was minimal and restricted to the surface sediment layers. Phylogenetic analysis of culturable cyanobacteria from the coastal sediment core indicated that most strains likely belonged to the benthic genus Anabaena. Potentially planktonic species of Dolichospermum could only be revived from the near-surface layers of the sediment, corresponding to an estimated age of 1–3 years. Results of germination experiments supported the notion that akinetes do not play an equally significant role in the life cycles of all bloom-forming cyanobacteria in the Baltic Sea. Overall, there was minimal congruence between akinete abundance, cyanotoxin concentration, and the presence of cyanotoxin biosynthetic genes in either sediment core. Further research is recommended to accurately detect and quantify akinetes and cyanotoxin genes from brackish water sediment samples in order to further describe species-specific benthic archives of cyanobacteria.

Biosynthesis of a sulfated exopolysaccharide, synechan, and bloom formation in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803

Extracellularpolysaccharides of bacteria contribute to biofilm formation, stress tolerance, and infectivity. Cyanobacteria, the oxygenic photoautotrophic bacteria, uniquely produce sulfated extracellular polysaccharides among bacteria to support phototrophic biofilms. In addition, sulfated polysaccharides of cyanobacteria and other organisms have been focused as beneficial biomaterial. However, very little is known about their biosynthesis machinery and function in cyanobacteria. Here, we found that the model cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803, formed bloom-like cell aggregates embedded in sulfated extracellular polysaccharides (designated as synechan) and identified whole set of genes responsible for synechan biosynthesis and its transcriptional regulation, thereby suggesting a model for the synechan biosynthesis apparatus. Because similar genes are found in many cyanobacterial genomes with wide variation, our findings may lead elucidation of various sulfated polysaccharides, their functions, and their potential application in biotechnology.