Download Day 3 Wednesday, 7 March 2012

Schedule
Acknowledgements
The symposium is operated under great support from the following
institutes/companies/persons, who are really appreciated:
Institutes
§ Staff and students from Xiamen University (XMU)
§ Staff and students from The University of Hong Kong (HKU)
§ Staff and students from National Taiwan Ocean University
§ Staff from Academia Sinica
§ Students from The Chinese University of Hong Kong
§ Student from Hong Kong Baptist University
§ Students from Nanjing University
§ Student from Nanjing University of Technology
Sponsorship for symposium
§ State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University
§ College of Ocean and Earth Science, Xiamen University
§ College of Environmental and Ecology, Xiamen University
§ The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong
§ School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong
§ Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc
§ Life Technologies Limited
Design of poster, handbook, name tag and symposium webpage
§ Mr Kevin K.Y. Ho
§ Ms J.Y. Xu
§ Ms X.Y. Zhang
§ Ms L.L. Yang
Handbook edition
§ Ms L. Yang
§ Mr J.L. Li
§ Mr R.Y. Chen
Special thanks are also due to Prof. Minhan Dai, Prof. Shih-Ji Kao, Prof. Yunwei
Dong, Prof. Gray A. Williams, Prof. Kwang-Tsao Shao, Prof. I-Shiung Chen, Dr. Min
Liu, Dr. Mingru Chen, Dr. Cynthia Yau, Dr. Michael Sebastian Eitel, Ms. Wei Shi for
their support and help in coordinating the symposium.
Programme
Schedule
Day 1 Monday, 5 March 2012
08:00 - 09:00
Breakfast
09:00 - 09:40
Registration
09:40 - 10:20
Opening ceremony & group photo
10:20 - 10:40
Activity briefing
10:40 - 11:20
Keynote speech 1
Corals on the edge: the status, biology and conservation
of scleractinian corals in Hong Kong
Dr. Cynthia YAU
11:20 - 11:40
Tea break
Sub-session 1
11:40 - 12:00
Comparison of temperate and tropical saltwater
species’ acute sensitivities distributions to chemicals
Zhen WANG
12:00 - 12:20
Abundance, distribution and gonadal cycle of the limpet
Cellana toreuma in two Hong Kong shores
Karen A. VILLARTA
12:20 - 12:40
Zooplankton fauna and seasonal changes of Sansha
Bay, Fujian
Jiayi XU
12:40 - 13:00
How does phytoplankton community change during
algae bloom in Taihu Lake?
Bin HUANG
13:00 - 14:00
Lunch
Sub-session 2
14:00 - 14:20
Population status of the coral trout, Plectropomus
leopardus, in Northern Palawan, Philippines as
determined by yield-per-recruit analysis
Xueying YIN
Schedule
Day 1 (cont.) Monday, 5 March 2012
14:20 - 14:40
Discovery and study on a marine algicidal actinomycete
and its active substance against the HAB species
Phaeocystis globosa
Xiaowei ZHENG
14:40 - 15:00
How does phytoplankton respond to nitrogen and
phosphorus input in Taihu Lake?
Shuai XU
15:00 - 15:40
Tea break
Sub-session 3
15:40 - 16:00
Nitrogen inputs and losses in stream and river networks
Di CAO
16:00 - 16:20
Heavy metal concentration in Deep Bay, Hong Kong
Kwok Chuen CHAU
16:20 - 16:40
Assessing the effects of nutrients enrichment to bacteria
biodiversity: based on an enclosure experiment in Daya
Bay
Xu XU
16:40 - 17:00
Utilization of phosphonates by dinoflagellates
Yudong CUI
17:00 - 20:30
Welcoming Dinner
Schedule
Day 2 Tuesday, 6 March 2012
08:00 - 09:00
Breakfast
09:00 - 09:40
Keynote speech 2
Taiwan fishery sustainability: status and challenges
Prof. Kwang-Tsao SHAO
Sub-session 4
09:40 - 10:00
Integral
environmental
risk
assessment
and
management on marine protected areas under the
DPSIR framework: a case study in Hong Kong
Elvis G.B. XU
10:00 - 10:20
The application of adaptive management in marine
fishery reserves: a case study of the marine fishery
reserve for Xishi Tongue (Coelomactra antiquata) in
Fujian
Lu YANG
10:20 - 10:40
An empirical and modeling study of the demography of
a commercially exploited sea urchin: implications for
stock management
Juan Diego URRIAGO
10:40 - 11:20
Tea break
Sub-session 5
11:20 - 11:40
Environmental impact assessment of tourism on coastal
areas: case of South Australia
Marie Rosine MUGENI
11:40 - 12:00
Economic analysis for coastal principal function
selection: case study of Xiamen Bay
Yanru CAI
12:00 - 12:20
Guest speech 1
COSEE China: encouraging China to “Think Blue”
Emily H. KING
12:20 - 13:00
Lunch
13:00 - 17:40
Eco-tour to Gulang Island
17:40 - 20:30
Free activities
Schedule
Day 3 Wednesday, 7 March 2012
08:00 - 09:00
Breakfast
09:00 - 09:20
Guest speech 2
Assessing the biodiversity in the phylum Placozoa
Dr. Michael Sebastian EITEL
Sub-session 6
09:20 - 09:40
Reproductive behaviour of mangrove littorinid snails:
how do males successfully mate with females?
Terence P. T. NG
09:40 - 10:00
Feeding rate of scleractinian corals in Hong Kong
Ming Him CHOW
10:00 - 10:20
Trophic plasticity of scleractinian corals from Hong
Kong
Michelle I. LUK
10:20 - 10:40
Predation on salinity-stressed coral, Goniastrea aspera,
by corallivorous gastropods Drupella spp.
Ho Leung TSANG
10:40 - 11:20
Tea break
Sub-session 7
11:20 - 11:40
Reproductive biology of seabreams (Family: Sparidae)
and their fisheries status in Hong Kong and adjacent
waters, with special focus on Acanthopagrus schlegelii,
Evynnis cardinalis and Pagrus major
Calton S. W. LAW
11:40 - 12:00
Are snail-insect interactions important in tropical
streams?
Alex C. Y. YEUNG
12:00 - 12:20
Intracellular uptake: a possible mechanism for silver
engineered nanoparticle toxicity to a freshwater alga
Ochromonas danica
Ying WANG
12:20 - 12:40
Cd2+ toxicity to a green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
as influenced by its adsorption on TiO2 engineered
nanoparticles
Weiwan YANG
Schedule
Day 3 (cont.) Wednesday, 7 March 2012
12:40 - 14:00
Lunch
Sub-session 8
14:00 - 14:20
Applying tissue-burden based quality benchmarks to
assess the ecological risks of endocrine disrupting
organotin compounds in Hong Kong waters
Kevin K. Y. HO
14:20 - 14:40
Bioaccumulation of dietary metals Cu and Zn in
Nassarius siquijorensis
Yifan CHEN
14:40 - 15:00
Formulation of water quality guidelines
nanomaterials: problems and recommendations
for
Mana M. N. YUNG
15:00 - 15:20
Accumulation kinetics of arsenate in Daphnia magna
under different phosphorus and food density regimes
Ningxin WANG
15:20 - 16:00
Tea break
Sub-session 9
16:00 - 16:20
Thermal tolerance of amphibians and their invasive
predator in a polluted environment
Edward T. C. LAU
16:20 - 16:40
Toxicity of triphenyltin chloride to the rotifer
Brachionus sp.
Andy X. L. YI
16:40 - 17:00
Significance of subcellular metal distribution in prey in
influencing the trophic transfer of metals in a gastropod
Lulu YANG
17:00 - 17:20
Brief introduction to debate
17:20 - 18:00
Dinner
18:00 - 20:30
Group discussion for debate
Schedule
Day 4 Thursday, 8 March 2012
08:00 - 09:00
Breakfast
09:00 - 09:40
Keynote speech 3
Science, from findings towards a sexy story
Prof. Shuh-Ji KAO
Sub-session 10
09:40 - 10:00
Differential
gene
expression
profile
from
haematopoietic tissue stem cells of red claw crayfish,
Cherax quadricarinatus, in response to WSSV infection
Rongyuan CHEN
10:00 - 10:20
The taxonomy and preliminary molecular phylogenetic
approach of Mugilogobius generic group (Teleostei:
Gobiidae) in Fujian and Guangdong, mainland China
and Taiwan
Shih-Pin HUANG
10:20 - 10:40
Epinephelus moara Temminck and Schlegel, 1842: a
valid species of the Family Epinephelidae (Pisces:
Perciformes)
Jianlong LI
10:40 - 11:00
The systematics and molecular phylogeny of Family
Callionymidae from Taiwan
Chern-Yun LEE
11:00 - 11:20
Tea break
Sub-session 11
11:20 - 11:40
Epigenetic changes in response to hypoxia: marine
medaka as a model
Yuan WANG
11:40 - 12:00
Proteomics analysis of oyster larval response to
high-CO2 at the time of settlement and metamorphosis
Ginger W. K. KO
Schedule
Day 4 (cont.) Thursday, 8 March 2012
12:00 - 12:20
Nanoscale analysis of larval shells: a climate change
perspective
Chaoyi LI
12:20 - 12:40
Species composition of marine fish eggs in the East
China Sea by DNA barcoding
Han-Yang LIN
12:40 - 13:00
Isolation and characterisation of putative probiotics
from Haliotis diversicolour
Qingru JIANG
13:00 - 14:00
Lunch
14:00 - 14:20
Introduction to debate rules
14:20 - 15:00
Debate topic 1:
Environmental protection should be people-oriented
Environmental protection should be nature-based
15:00 - 15:40
Debate topic 2:
Environmental conservation should rely on government
regulations rather than public awareness
Environmental conservation should rely on public
awareness rather than government regulations
15:40 - 16:20
Tea break
16:20 - 17:00
Debate topic 3:
Marine natural reserves should be open to tourists
Marine natural reserves should not be open to tourists
17:00 - 17:40
Debate topic 4:
Economic growth can enhance environmental
conservation
Economic growth cannot enhance environmental
conservation
17:40 - 18:00
Debriefing about the debate
18:00 - 20:30
Free activities
Day 5 Friday, 9 March 2012
07:00 - 07:30
Breakfast
07:30 - 16:40
Eco-tour to Nanjing Tulou
16:40 - 17:00
Break
17:00 - 17:40
Closing Ceremony
17:40 - 20:30
Farewell dinner
Abstracts
Sub-session 1
5/3 Day 1 (MON)
11:40-12:00
Comparison of temperate and tropical saltwater species’ acute
sensitivities distributions to chemicals
*Zhen WANG, Kevin W. H. KWOK, Jae Seong LEE, Kenneth M. Y. LEUNG
The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The
University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, P. R. China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Based on literature review, chemical toxicity often increases with increasing
temperature in most aquatic ectothermic organisms. It is, therefore, hypothesized that
tropical marine species are more susceptible to chemical pollutants when compared
with their temperate counterparts. Using secondary toxicity data, we construct species
sensitivity distributions (SSDs) to compare temperate saltwater species’ sensitivity
against that of tropical species for six chemical substances (i.e., cadmium, copper,
zinc, tributyltin, pentachlorophenol and phenol). Our results indicate that significant
differences of sensitivities for these chemicals exist between temperate and tropical
saltwater species. Although temperate saltwater species tend to be more sensitive to
cadmium and zinc than their tropical counterparts, tropical saltwater species are
consistently more sensitive for the other four substances. The hazardous concentration
10% (HC10) ratios (i.e., temperate HC10/tropical HC10) were found to be 0.54, 1.66,
0.79, 8.50, 1.51 and 1.56 for cadmium, copper, zinc, tributyltin, pentachlorophenol
and phenol, respectively. Conceivably, there is about 66.7% of chances (i.e., 4 out 6
substances) that tropical saltwater species are more susceptible to chemical pollutants.
If temperate water quality criteria (WQC) are used as surrogate for protecting
saltwater organisms in tropical regions, it may lead to under protection of the marine
ecosystem. As the temperate HC10/tropical HC10 ratios vary significantly among
different chemicals, chemical-specific safe extrapolation factors will be required
rather than applying a generic factor when adopting temperate WQC in tropical
regions. For instance, a factor of two would be protective to tropical saltwater species
for cadmium, copper, pentachlorophenol and phenol, whereas a factor of 9 is
necessary for tributyltin. Besides test temperature, the differences in species
composition between temperate and tropical regions are likely important drivers that
contribute to the observed differences in chemical sensitivity. Given that saltwater
crustaceans are currently underrepresented or lacking in the tropical SSD
assemblages, more toxicity data should be generated with this group of species to
enhance the certainty of the current results.
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Sub-session 1
5/3 Day 1 (MON)
12:00-12:20
Abundance, distribution and gonadal cycle of the limpet Cellana
toreuma in two Hong Kong shores
Karen A. VILLARTA
The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, University
of Hong Kong
EMAIL: [email protected]
Rocky intertidal areas are characterized by strong environmental changes mediated by
the rise and fall of the tides as well as by exposure to wave action. As a result, many
species undergo stressful conditions and exhibit different strategies to cope with
variations in this extreme environment. This study was conducted to examine the role
of environmental stress on the physiology, energy budget and population dynamics of
the intertidal limpet Cellana toreuma in order to understand the life history strategy of
this species. As part of the preliminary work, the population dynamics of the species
was investigated including its abundance, distribution and gonadal cycle from two
Hong Kong shores facing the east oceanic current. Preliminary results show a sharp
decline in this species during summer associated with high temperatures during
daytime low tides. Gonadosomatic index (GSI, %) values showed relatively high
investment of this species on reproduction. Future investigations involving
physiological experiments and energy budget calculations will be used to relate how
this stress impacts the population dynamics of C. toreuma, to further understand its
life history.
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Sub-session 1
5/3 Day 1 (MON)
12:20-12:40
Zooplankton fauna and seasonal changes of Sansha Bay, Fujian
*Jiayi XU, Zhaoli XU
College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Samples were collected from 10 different stations in Sansha Bay from June 2010 to
May 2011. We chose five typical months (April, May, June, August and October) for
the study of the species composition, abundance and ecological adaptation of the
zooplankton fauna. The results indicated that in Sansha Bay, a total of 71 species of
zooplankton was identified. The plankton sample consisted of 19.72% warm
temperate nearshore species, 33.80% subtropical nearshore species and 46.48%
subtropical offshore species, respectively. Both species number and abundance of
warm temperate species was highest of all in April, the proportions of which were
reaching to 64.71% and 95.08%, respectively. Then warm temperate species
decreased sharply and subtropical species becoming the dominant eco-group since
May. In view of salinity adaptation, the nearshore species was most diversified in
April and May. Meanwhile the proportions of both the species number and abundance
of the offshore species were increased from June to October. The species variations of
the zooplankton were mainly determined by seasonal change.
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Sub-session 1
5/3 Day 1 (MON)
12:40-13:00
How does phytoplankton community change during algae bloom in
Taihu Lake?
*Bin HUANG, Aijun MIAO, Shuai XU
The environmental school of Nanjing university, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
EMAIL: [email protected]
In the present study, we collected water samples from Meiliang Bay, Lake Center and
Xukou Bay of Lake Taihu in July and September, 2011. The basic chemical
properties and phytoplankton of the water samples were examined and identified. The
preliminary findings showed that the phytoplankton in Lake Taihu in the summer time
was mainly composed of blue algae, diatoms, green algae, cryptomanas, euglena and
dinoflagellates. As we have known, microcystis-dominated harmful algal blooms took
place in summer of every year. The amount and biomass decreased from Meiliang
bay, to Lake Center and Xukou Bay. On the contrary, there were more varieties of
species in Lake Center and Xukou Bay. The results of short-time culture indicated the
algal biomass was significantly positively correlated with TP.
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Sub-session 2
5/3 Day 1 (MON)
14:00-14:20
Population status of the coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus, in
Northern Palawan, Philippines as determined by yield-per-recruit
analysis
Xueying YIN
The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The
University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, P. R. China
EMAIL: [email protected]
The coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus, is one of the most commercially valuable
grouper species in the live reef food fish trade in Southeast Asia. Hong Kong imports
1,103 tons of the coral trout each year from the Philippines, with a wholesale value of
23.84 million US dollars. The coral trout is listed as Near Threatened in the IUCN red
list and is believed to be over-exploited in a number of areas in Southeast Asia. The
present study is, therefore, to assess the population status of the coral trout using the
yield-per-recruit analysis and to suggest a sustainable export quota in Northern
Palawan, Philippines.
Yield-per-recruit analysis is one of the simplest forms of age-structure population
model where the level of fishing mortality imposed on the stock and the manner in
which the catch should be harvested can be derived. In this study, growth parameters
and mortality rates of the coral trout in Northern Palawan, Philippines are adopted
from previous studies. Yield-per-recruit model is used to simulate yield as the
percentage of maximum biomass against the fishing mortality for age at first capture.
To assess whether the fishery is sustainable, the theoretically optimal fishing level,
determined by the F0.1 criteria, will be compared to the current fishing level. To
examine management measures in terms of reducing fishing mortality or increasing
size at first capture, the responses of yield will be evaluated to changes in fishing
mortality and size of first entry to fishery. Finally, a sustainable export quota will be
estimated taking into account the allocation of the catch to domestic use, mortalities in
transit and illegal exports. The determination of the optimal fishing level and the
sustainable export quota and the assessment of reducing fishing mortality and
increasing size at first capture will be recommended for the adaptive fishery
management in Northern Palawan, Philippines.
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Sub-session 2
5/3 Day 1 (MON)
14:20-14:40
Discovery and study on a marine algicidal actinomycete and its active
substance against the HAB species Phaeocystis globosa
*Xiaowei ZHENG, Bangzhou ZHANG, Jinlong ZHANG, Liping HUANG, Jing
LIN, Xinyi LI, Xinli AN, Yun TIAN, Tianling ZHENG
School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P. R. China, 361005
EMAIL: [email protected]
Biological control of harmful algal blooms, especially using algicidal bacteria, has
garnered great interest over the past two decades due to its effectiveness and its
potential to be environment-friendly. In this study, a bacterium, which has
pronounced algicidal effects to the harmful algal blooms causing alga Phaeocystis
globosa, was isolated from mangrove sediments in the Yunxiao Mangrove National
Nature Reserve, Fujian, China(117°24΄-117°30΄E, 23°53΄-23°56΄N). Based on the
16S rRNA gene sequence and morphological characteristics determined in this study,
we found the bacterium to be phylogenetically related to the genus Streptomyces
(designated as Streptomyces sp. O4-6) and provide the first direct evidence for the
existence of algicidal actinomycete in mangrove sediments. To characterize the
algicidal compounds secreted from this bacterium, heat stability, pH tolerance,
molecular weight range, and chemical polarity of algicidal compounds were tested.
Results showed that the algicidal activity of this compound was not heat stable, and
not affected by pH changes. Dialysis treatment and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis
showed that the responsible compound had a molecular weight of 724 (724 m/z).
Furthermore, we found this compound to correspond to the molecule “Nigericin” as
determined by 13C- and 1H-NMR. Although nigericin has been shown to decrease the
photosynthetic rate of certain algae in previous studies, the algicidal effect of
nigericin on microalgae was first reported in this study. Furthermore, the compound
may be potentially used as a bio-agent for controlling harmful algal blooms caused by
P. Globosa.
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Sub-session 2
5/3 Day 1 (MON)
14:40-15:00
How does phytoplankton respond to nitrogen and phosphorus input
in Taihu Lake?
*Shuai XU, Aijun MIAO, Bin HUAN
The environmental school of Nanjing university, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Taihu Lake, the third largest freshwater lake in China is an important drinking water
and fishing resource for Yangtze Delta. Recently, the algae blooming has become a
critically issue for its impact on local natural and social environments. In the present
study, field sampling and nutrient enrichment experiments were conducted to
determine the role N and P played during the algae blooming. We found phosphorus
was the critical limitation during the whole algae blooming and microcystis was
dominant, which were similar to those in literature. The three different sampling
Meiliang Bay, Lake Center and Xukou Bay showed the similar nutrient limitation
although they were at different N:P ratio.
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Sub-session 3
5/3 Day 1 (MON)
15:40-16:00
Nitrogen inputs and losses in stream and river networks
Di CAO
The Environmental Science Research Center, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P. R.
China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Nitrogen is a life necessary elements, nitrogen cycle in water system is of important to
ecological system. The nitrogen cycle is involved in biological, physical, chemical
and other elements of the complex multiphase biogeochemical processes. The current
research on the nitrogen cycle is not complete, many aspects are not conclusive, for
example whether NO as a necessary intermediate product is controversial, the source
of N2O is difficult to determine because the presence of nitrification and
denitrification. We mainly study the response that water system produced to the input
of N from terrestrial ecosystem, focus on the change of nitrogen and attention to the
benefits that can bring to us. We take Jiulong River and Min River as our research
object, through sampling and indoor cultivation quantitative TN, DIN, Nitrate
nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen, and then extrapolating nitrogen flux.
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Sub-session 3
5/3 Day 1 (MON)
16:00-16:20
Heavy metal concentration in Deep Bay, Hong Kong
Kwok Chuen CHAU
Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
EMAIL: [email protected]
Deep Bay (22° 30’ N, 114° 00’ E) is situated at the north-eastern part of Hong Kong,
at which the brackish water from the Pearl River Estuary meets and interacts with
fresh water from the Shenzhen and Yuen Long Creek, constructing an ecosystem with
high bio-diversity and complexity. Estuarine environments are known to be impacted
by the deposition and accumulation of heavy metals, including cadmium (Cd),
chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn).
In the last three decades, economic and industrial developments in Hong Kong and
Pearl River Delta region have increased the supply of heavy metals, and thus a large
quantity of heavy metals has been released, which deteriorates the quality of the river
water and sediment in Deep Bay. A detailed study of accumulation as well as sources
of heavy metal concentration is required to address the extent of ecological risk
imposed by the anthropogenic activities.
In this research, two 3 m cores will be collected from the mudflat in Deep Bay.
According to the particle-size analysis, the core sediments are found to be mainly silt
(64 µm - 2 µm) and clay (< 2 µm), and the permeability of the sediment ranges from
1.03x10-8 to 9.27x10-9 m/s, hence groundwater flow as well as leaching in the sub-soil
layers are considered to be limited . In order to assess the quality of sediment and
provide information for further eco-toxicological studies in Deep Bay, the change of
heavy metal concentrations including the atmospheric deposition of Pb in the last 100
years will be examined using Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission
Spectrometry (ICP-AES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry
(ICP-MS) respectively.
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Sub-session 3
5/3 Day 1 (MON)
16:20-16:40
Assessing the effects of nutrients enrichment to bacteria biodiversity:
based on an enclosure experiment in Daya Bay
*Xu XU, Zhihuan XU, Jifang YANG
College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University,
Ningbo 315100, China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Aimed at assessing the effects of nutrients enrichment to bacteria biodiversity, 16S
rDNA of PCR-DGGE method was used to compare the bacterial biodiversity of the
marine environment with an enclosure experiment conducted in Daya Bay. The study
would give some necessary scientific foundation to the research work for mechanism
of eutrophication pollution as well as development and ecological balance of marine.
A 10-days enclosure experiment has been designed for assessing the biodiversity
changes of bacterial community through nutrients enrichment, which by adding
nutrients (N, P and Si) in different mescosms. The Shannon Weiner diversity index
showed the bacterial biodiversity. The Shannon Weiner diversity index of enclosures
that added nutrients in full were higher than that added stage by stage; Shannon
Weiner diversity index were gradually increased during the stage addition of N, P and
Si, which indicated that the more type of nutrient, the higher of the biodiversity. Fifty
bands were excised and sequenced. The sequences obtained were affiliated with 5
phylotypes: Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria.
16S rDNA sequences from members of proteobacteria dominated the samples, and it
is revealed a high richness in these bacterial communities. Most of the sequences of
these enclosures that added N were within phylums of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes,
while which added P and Si were identified with the phylum of Cyanobacteria,
Proteobacteria and Firmicutes,which indicating that the Cyanobacteria may have a
relationship with the nutrient P and Si. The results showed that the variation of
nutrient concentration and type has a closely relationship with the bacterial
biodiversity of the marine environment.
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Sub-session 3
5/3 Day 1 (MON)
16:40-17:00
Utilization of phosphonates by dinoflagellates
*Yudong CUI, Xin LIN, Senjie LIN
State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University
EMAIL: [email protected]
Phosphorus is essential for the growth of phytoplankton. Besides dissolved inorganic
phosphate (DIP), which is the most preferred form for cells, many phytoplankton
species can supplement their phosphorus demand by accessing dissolved organic
phosphorus (DOP). Phosphomonoesters and phosphonates are two major compounds
that dominate the DOP pool in the ocean, contributing 75% and 25%, respectively.
The gene (alkaline phosphatase) encoding the ability to utilize phosphomonoesters
and its transcriptional regulation in dinoflagellate has been studied in several toxic
dinoflagellates in our laboratory. Recent studies showed that some cyanobacteria can
use phosphonates in the ocean as an alternative P source. It remains unclear whether
dinoflagellates are able to utilize phosphonates.
In this project, the utilization of phosphonate compounds applied as the sole
phosphorus source in culture medium was investigated in Prorocentrum donghaiense
and Karlodinium veneficum. It has been confirmed that 2-Aminoethylphosphonic acid
could be utilized by the two algae as the source of phosphorus. We also have
attempted to isolate genes coding for enzymes that hydrolyze phosphonates. Three
genes were found in transcriptome. All these results indicate that dinoflagellates are
capable of utilizing both major forms of DOP to cope with DIP limitation.
Furthermore, these results will facilitate more studies to gain further understanding of
the molecular mechanisms in dinoflagellates to respond to the stress of phosphorus
limitation, and to harmful algal blooms.
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Sub-session 4
6/3 Day 2 (TUE)
09:40-10:00
Integral environmental risk assessment and management on marine
protected areas under the DPSIR framework: a case study in Hong
Kong
*Elvis G.B. XU, Kenneth M.Y. LEUNG
The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The
University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P. R. China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Ocean holds resources of immense value to mankind. But due to ever increasing and
intensive use, most of these resources are at risk and urgently require integrated
coastal management to insist sustainable development. The DPSIR (Driver - Pressure
- State - Impact - Response) conceptual framework works well at simplifying the
complexity of marine management and serves to inform managers, scientists and
general public on the relevance of available database to inform the status of MPAs. In
developing and applying the multi-layer DPSIR methodology this paper focuses on
fundamental questions about the Marine Protected Areas and their management in
Hong Kong, in the case of Cape d’ Aguilar Marine Reserve, and to identify key issues
for taking our understanding. 20 sets of particular indicator/data were selected and
aggregated, tying to outline the most significant components for safeguarding MPAs.
Existing gaps derived from the management in the marine reserve were also
underlined. The framework resulting from DPSIR methodology is proposed as the
first step to define the condition of certain MPAs, enhancing the efficiency of them
that will satisfy the goals of protection and conservation with socio-economical
perspective. This conceptual framework has the potential to provide the basis for
better informed decision making, and should thusly be used as a system guide for
MPA planners and managers.
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Sub-session 4
6/3 Day 2 (TUE)
10:00-10:20
The application of adaptive management in marine fishery reserves:
a case study of the marine fishery reserve for Xishi Tongue
(Coelomactra antiquata) in Fujian
*Lu YANG, Mingru CHEN, Shengyun YANG
College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Adaptive management has long been an intriguing concept for resource managers and
decision makers working in complex ecosystems and facing a high degree of
uncertainty. According to the current situation of marine fishery reserves in China and
by contrasting with current managerial supposition, suitable object, coordinated
management mode, management goal, plan method, degree of public participation as
well as the superior and inferiority of the plan, this paper suggests that adaptive
management is an effective supplementary solution which could deal with the system
uncertainty and complexity and will make up the deficiencies in the traditional
management mode of marine fishery reserves. Coelomactra antiquata is one of the
valuable and important fisheries resources which is commercially exploited. It is
suggested in this paper that adaptive management should be taken as its scientific
framework to arrest or reverse the present declining trend of this resource. The
framework focuses on a shared attempt to use the best available science to implement
experiments, learn, and revise management actions.
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Sub-session 4
6/3 Day 2 (TUE)
10:20-10:40
An empirical and modeling study of the demography of a
commercially exploited sea urchin: implications for stock
management
*
Juan Diego URRIAGO, Jian Wen QIU, Clement DUMONT
Hong Kong Baptist University and The Swire Institute of Marine Science, Hong
Kong, China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Matrix population models are often used in conservation to measure the relative
contribution of different demographic parameters to population growth and then to
explore various conservation strategies. This study aims to examine the use of such
models for the management of the sea urchin Anthocidaris crassispina, a
commercially important harvested species inhabiting the coasts of Japan, Korea and
China. In Hong Kong, commercial harvesting of this species began in the mid-1970s
with an annual production of cleaned gonads (i.e. roe) reaching a peak of 60-80
tonnes in 1978-1980, but since 1984 the landings have declined to less than 10 tonnes
a year. Despite the strong evidence of over-exploitation, no quantitative assessment of
the effects of fishing on survival, growth and mortality has been conducted and there
is no management plan for this species. This study will compare the demography of
four A. crassispina populations, two in no-take areas and two in areas open to fishing,
to examine the effects of establishing Marine Park and marine reserve on the sea
urchin population. Based on the empirical data we will use a matrix modeling
approach to analyze the contribution of different demographic rates to population
variability, examine the consequences of various levels of fishing and conservation on
population growth through numerical simulation. The results will provide essential
information for the development of a management plan for this sea urchin for the first
time. This study will also set an example of using a quantitative approach for the
conservation of animals in this region.
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Sub-session 5
6/3 Day 2 (TUE)
11:20-11:40
Environmental impact assessment of tourism on coastal areas: case
of South Australia
Marie Rosine MUGENI
Coastal Management Institute, College of Oceanography and Environment Science,
Marine Affairs, Xiamen University, P.R. China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is to determine and evaluate the
environmental implications of development, to inform decision-making at the project
level. However, there are a number of more strategic decisions that are typically made
at the planning, programming and policy level that influence the nature of
development. Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries. The growth of tourism
in coastal areas has reached its peak in recent decades. However, individual studies
show that the coastal tourism sector in various Regions of the world are increasingly
growing in importance with regard to its magnitude and contribution to national
economies as well as to the wellbeing of local communities. In the centuries that
followed, especially from the mid-18th century onwards, coastal tourism was
generally related to the therapeutic properties of sea and sun. Sun, sea and sand have
continued to provide the main ingredients for coastal tourism until today, especially in
the second half of the 20th century, which was marked by the development of mass
tourism. In order to minimize tourism-induced problems and secure both the
sustainability of the tourism industry and coastal resources used by other sectors,
increased attention must be paid to the integration of coastal tourism into strategic
development planning.
Tourism is one of the most important industries, and is growing rapidly. In 2001,
tourism in South Australia generated $3.4 billion in expenditure and employed 36,800
people full time within the industry. It is predicted that the number of tourists visiting
Australia will double by the year 2020.
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Sub-session 5
6/3 Day 2 (TUE)
11:40-12:00
Economic analysis for coastal principal function selection: case study
of Xiamen Bay
Jingshan CAI, *Yanru CAI, Weiqi CHEN
Environmental Science Research Centre, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, P. R.
China
EMAIL: [email protected]
The coastal zone is a dense human activity area, and has been under the heavy
pressure from large population centers and various human activities. The scarcity and
the use conflicts of coastal resources have become increasingly prominent problems.
Coastal principal function zoning is an effective approach to solving these problems,
and a helpful way to optimize resources allocation and support sustainable
development. Determining the principal function is a key step in coastal principal
function zoning. In this paper we make an attempt to apply economic analysis to the
principal function selection in the coastal area of Xiamen Bay. Based on the
distribution and characteristics of coastal resources, and the opinion of local residents
revealed by a questionnaire investigation, we set two scenarios as alternative principal
functions, i.e. to develop coastal tourism as a priority or to fully develop commercial
port transportation in the research area. The net benefits of Scenario 1 and 2 are
calculated by the constructed formulas, and the results are 3.4×1010 RMB Yuan/a and
7.4×109 RMB Yuan/a, respectively. Based on the economic analysis, we propose that
coastal tourism should be chosen as the principal function in the coastal area of
Xiamen Bay.
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Guest speech 1
6/3 Day 2 (TUE)
12:00-12:20
COSEE China: encouraging China to “Think Blue”
*Emily H. KING, Minhan DAI, Wenqing CAO, Mingru CHEN, Min LIU
Xiamen University, 182 Da Xue Lu, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, P.R. China
EMAIL: [email protected]
“Thinking Green” is a growing movement in China but what about “Thinking Blue”?
To advance this concept and improve China’s overall ocean science education, 7
universities joined together in 2010 to establish COSEE China. Our goals are to (1)
improve ocean literacy and awareness at the K-12, public, and university levels, (2)
foster relationships between ocean scientists and educators, both internationally and
domestically, and (3) bring marine sciences to the forefront of national development
strategies and promote its protection. In order to achieve this, we hope to partner
closely with COSEE centers across the United States so that ideas may be exchanged.
Each university (or region) will function as a branch office under the COSEE China
network and develop localized outreach programs. National level outreach will be
coordinated jointly by Xiamen University and Ocean University of China. In the long
run, we will work with relevant governmental agencies to develop nation-wide
standards for ocean science education. Here we provide an overview of COSEE China
and examples of outreach programs being developed by the Xiamen branch,
encouraging citizenry to “Think Blue.”
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Guest speech 2
7/3 Day 3 (WED)
09:00-09:20
Assessing the biodiversity in the phylum Placozoa
*Michael Sebastian EITEL, Bernd SCHIERWATER, Gray WILLIAMS
The Swire Institute of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, School of Biological
Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Stiftung Tierärztliche
Hochschule Hannover, ITZ, Ecology and Evolution, Hannover, Germany
EMAIL: [email protected]
The marine animal phylum Placozoa is key for understanding the early evolution of
animals. Due to its very simple morphology placozoans are seen close or at the very
base of the Metazoa. The Placozoa completely lacks a systematic classification and is
yet monotypic with Trichoplax adhaerens as the only described species. Previous
studies, however, have revealed a surprising genetic divergence suggesting the
presence of multiple species, genera, or even families and orders in the Placozoa.
Using a combination of molecular, ecological and morphological characters it is
aimed to erect new taxa and establish a robust taxonomy in this tabula rasa phylum.
Here we report on previous and future studies assessing the species richness in the
enigmatic Placozoa.
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Sub-session 6
7/3 Day 3 (WED)
09:20-09:40
Reproductive behaviour of mangrove littorinid snails: how do males
successfully mate with females?
Terence P. T. NG
The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The
University of Hong Kong, Cape d'Aguilar Road, Shek O, Hong Kong
EMAIL: [email protected]
Diverse reproductive behaviours in animals are developed to increase individual
fitness. Some behavioural traits are selected to overcome environmental constraints,
whereas others are evolved through sexual selection to maximize reproductive
success. Most littorinid snails in the genus Littoraria inhabit mangrove trees in the
Indo- Pacific region. Searching for mates within the complex 3-dimensional habitat of
tree leaves, branches and trunks would appear a difficult task for these snails. Field
studies of two co-occurring species in Hong Kong, Littoraria ardouiniana and L.
melanostoma, however, showed that these species can successfully locate mates as
over 90% of mating pairs were ‘true’ pairs (a male mating with a conspecific female).
This success is achieved through males of both species following mucus trails to
locate conspecific females during the mating season. In both species, males were also
capable of detecting the direction (polarity) of the trails of conspecific females.
“Fighting” behaviour, which involves two males aggressively pushing each other
when they encounter a female, was also observed in L. ardouiniana but rare in L.
melanostoma. Such aggressive behaviour during mate acquisition can be attributed to
the male-biased sex ratio in natural populations of L. ardouiniana, which may drive
competition for mates amongst males.
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Sub-session 6
7/3 Day 3 (WED)
09:40-10:00
Feeding rate of scleractinian corals in Hong Kong
*Ming Him CHOW, Put O. ANG Jr.
Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Environmental stresses from elevated temperature, irradiance and reduced salinity may lead
to coral bleaching. Earlier works found heterotrophy to provide 15-35% of daily metabolic
demand of healthy corals or up to 100% of that in bleached corals. Some coral species are
able to maintain and restore their energy reserves by increasing their feeding rate during
bleaching events. It is thus critical to see whether feeding can provide additional nutrients and
energy for coral growth and recovery. In this study, feeding rates of 4 different scleractinian
coral species with different polyp sizes were compared using Artemia salina nauplii as prey.
It was found that Porites lutea had the lowest feeding rate among all at day time (21.76±13.00
ind./cm2/L/hour), while Favites chinensis and Favia speciosa had higher feeding rates
(47.30±19.43 ind./cm2/L/hour & 58.07±30.92 ind./cm2/L/hour). Goniopora lobata which has
a medium size polyp, had the highest feeding rate at day time (201.75±90.44
ind./cm2/L/hour). One reason for this difference is the morphological character of this species,
which has long and fleshy tentacles extended during the day. The tentacles have active
movement to capture prey and thus increase the surface area for prey collection. Similar
feeding experiment was done in night time. Results were similar but F. chinensis and F.
speciosa had higher feeding rates than that during the day (116.08±53.79 ind./cm2/L/hour &
135.89±78.45 ind./cm2/L/hour). This suggests that tentacles are responsible for prey capture
and corals with larger polyp sizes have a higher feeding rate.
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Sub-session 6
7/3 Day 3 (WED)
10:00-10:20
Trophic plasticity of scleractinian corals from Hong Kong
*Michelle I. LUK, Cynthia YAU
The Swire Institute of Marine Science, Faculty of Science. The University of Hong
Kong, Cape d'Aguilar Road, Shek O, Hong Kong
EMAIL: [email protected]
Scleractinian corals containing endosymbiotic zooxanthellae are able to acquire
energy from both autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition, which support the somatic
maintenance, growth and reproduction in turn determining the survival and fitness.
Hong Kong waters are relatively eutrophic and turbid, and have marked seasonality
with a distinct summer wet season and a winter dry season. However, the trophic
plasticity of scleractinian corals from Hong Kong is not known, especially common
and widespread species which are supposed to have a better survival and fitness, as
well as a greater flexibility of nutritional modes since they experience strong seasonal
changes. Scleractinian corals are important reef habitats and they are vulnerable to
environmental changes. It is important to understand how trophic plasticity affect
coral growth rates and other indices of coral condition, including zooxanthellae
density (availability of symbiont), chlorophyll a concentrations in zooxanthellae
(coral status in terms of the degree of bleaching) and lipid content (amount of energy
reserves). After investigating how scleractinian corals obtain energy, the way that
these corals use energy throughout the life cycle could be investigated by studying
dynamic energy budget models.
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Sub-session 6
7/3 Day 3 (WED)
10:20-10:40
Predation on salinity-stressed coral, Goniastrea aspera, by
corallivorous gastropods Drupella spp.
*Ho Leung TSANG, Put ANG Jr.
Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Predation on corals by corallivorous gastropods is a source of significant impact in
many coral reefs, causing mass mortality of corals or changes in the structure of the
reef community. A number of stresses, e.g. salinity and temperature, were believed to
affect coral’s health and make them more vulnerable to the attack by the corallivores.
A prey choice experiment was performed in order to find out whether salinity-stressed
corals (Goniastrea aspera) were more prone to corallivores attack. Corals were first
subjected to six levels of salinity stress (6‰, 12‰, 18‰, 24‰, 30‰ & Control) and
were subsequently exposed to corallivorous gastropods. The results showed that the
“heavily stressed” corals, i.e. stressed in 6‰ & 12‰, attracted significantly more
corallivores to attach and prey on them. This experiment showed that extremely low
salinity may affect the health of corals, resulting in their becoming more vulnerable to
corallivorous gastropods attack.
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Sub-session 7
7/3 Day 3 (WED)
11:20-11:40
Reproductive biology of seabreams (Family: Sparidae) and their
fisheries status in Hong Kong and adjacent waters, with special focus
on Acanthopagrus schlegelii, Evynnis cardinalis and Pagrus major
*Calton S. W. LAW, Yvonne SADOVY de MITCHESON
The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The
University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, P. R. China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Understanding the reproductive biology of fish species can provide important
information to develop fishery management strategies. Seabream (Family: Sparidae)
has long been an important group of food fishes in Hong Kong yet little is known of
their fishery status and biology. One particularly interesting and important aspect of
many sparids is their reproductive biology, which often includes a sexual pattern
known as hermaphroditism (i.e. adult sex change). Sex change can make certain
species particularly susceptible to unmanaged fishing and may require specific
management action. The breeding season of most sparids in Hong Kong was thought
to be in winter but no studies have been conducted to describe the actual peak season
of spawning or recruitment location. A study on the reproductive biology of 3
seabream species (Acanthopagrus schlegelii, Evynnis cardinalis and Pagrus major)
that are important in the Hong Kong capture fishery is being conducted. Fish samples
were collected from selected wet markets and also from trawler surveys carried out by
the government. Measurements of body, gonads and livers were conducted, and
gonads were preserved for histology analysis. Information of local fisheries status was
collected by literature reviews, examination of historical fishery data, market surveys
and interviews with fishermen. There is an urgent need to collect information
especially from the older fishermen to have an understanding of the fishery for this
family in the past and any perceived changes over time. Results would be analysed
and management plan would be recommended. Preliminary results of this study will
be presented.
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Sub-session 7
7/3 Day 3 (WED)
11:40-12:00
Are snail-insect interactions important in tropical streams?
*Alex C. Y. YEUNG, David DUDGEON
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,
P. R. China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Algal growth in temperate streams is typically governed by bottom-up or top-down
processes (light limitation through shading versus grazing by stream herbivores).
Dominant grazers may reduce algal biomass, and lower the abundance of other
species, through competition for food or habitat interference. However, relatively
little is known about the importance and spatio-temporal variability of such
interactions in tropical streams.
The density of the pachychilid snail Sulcospira hainanensis, an abundant grazer in
Hong Kong streams, was experimentally manipulated in two shaded and two
unshaded streams. Snail density was reduced by an experimental design whereby
snails were allowed access or excluded from algae-colonized tiles placed on the
streambed. The experiments were conducted in the wet and dry seasons.
Algal biomass was 60% lower on snail-exclusion tiles compared to snail-inclusion
tiles during the dry season, but did not differ between treatments during the wet
season. Despite reduced algal biomass, diversity of grazing aquatic insects did not
decline in the presence of snails during the dry season, but, in shaded streams, total
insect abundance was 140% higher on snail-exclusion tiles. Otherwise, the effect of
snails on insects was species-specific, and differed among streams.
Snail grazing effects on algae varied between seasons, perhaps suggesting that algal
growth is not regulated by grazing during the wet season. However, in shaded streams
with reduced light availability, snails could sufficiently depress algal biomass to affect
other insects. Nonetheless, the importance of snail-insect interactions appears minor
compared with the extensive seasonal and spatial variability of their food supply.
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Sub-session 7
7/3 Day 3 (WED)
12:00-12:20
Intracellular uptake: a possible mechanism for silver engineered
nanoparticle toxicity to a freshwater alga Ochromonas danica
*Ying WANG, Aijun MIAO
State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of
Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210046, P.R. China
EMAIL: [email protected]
The behavior and toxicity of silver engineered nanoparticles (Ag-ENs) to the
mixotrophic freshwater alga Ochromonas danica were examined in the present study
to determine whether any other mechanisms are involved in their algal toxicity
besides Ag+ liberation outside the cells. Despite their good dispersability, the Ag-ENs
were found to continuously aggregate and dissolve rapidly. When the initial
nanoparticle concentration was lower than 10 mM, the total dissolved Ag+
concentration ([Ag+]T) in the suspending media reached its maximum after 1 d and
then decreased suggesting that Ag+ release might be limited by the nanoparticle
surface area under these conditions. Furthermore, Ag-EN dissolution extent
remarkably increased in the presence of glutathione. In the Ag-EN toxicity
experiment, glutathione was also used to eliminate the indirect effects of Ag+ that
was released. However, remarkable toxicity was still observed although the free Ag+
concentration in the media was orders of magnitude lower than the non-observed
effect concentration of Ag+ itself. Such inhibitive effects were mitigated when more
glutathione was added, but could never be completely eliminated. Most importantly,
we demonstrate, for the first time, that Ag-ENs can be taken in and accumulated
inside the algal cells, where they exerted their toxic effects. Therefore, nanoparticle
internalization may be an alternative pathway through which algal growth can be
influenced.
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Sub-session 7
7/3 Day 3 (WED)
12:20-12:40
Cd2+ toxicity to a green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as influenced
by its adsorption on TiO2 engineered nanoparticles
*Weiwan YANG, Aijun MIAO, Liuyan YANG
State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the
Environment,
Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210093, China
EMAIL: [email protected]
In the present study, Cd2+ adsorption on polyacrylate-coated TiO2 engineered 19
nanoparticles (TiO2-ENs) and its effect on the bioavailability as well as toxicity of
Cd2+ to a green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were investigated. TiO2-ENs could
be well dispersed in the experimental medium and their pHzpc is approximately 2.
There was a quick adsorption of Cd2+ on TiO2-ENs and a steady state was reached
within thirty minutes. A pseudo-first order kinetics was found for the time-related
changes in the amount of Cd2+ complexed with TiO2-ENs.At equilibrium, Cd2+
adsorption followed the Langmuir isotherm with the maximum binding capacity 31.9,
177.1, and 242.2 mg/g when the TiO2-EN concentration was 1, 10, and 100 mg/l,
respectively. On the other hand, Cd2+ toxicity was alleviated in the presence of
TiO2-ENs. Algal growth was less suppressed in treatments with comparable total Cd2+
concentration but more addition of TiO2-ENs. However, such toxicity difference
disappeared and all the data points could be fitted to a single Logistic dose-response
curve when cell growth inhibition was plotted against the free Cd2+ concentration. No
detectable amount of TiO2-ENs was found to be associated with the algal cells.
Therefore, TiO2-ENs could reduce the free Cd2+ concentration in the toxicity media,
which further lowered its bioavailability and toxicity to C. reinhardtii.
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Sub-session 8
7/3 Day 3 (WED)
14:00-14:20
Applying tissue-burden based quality benchmarks to assess the
ecological risks of endocrine disrupting organotin compounds in
Hong Kong waters
*Kevin K. Y. HO, James C. W. LAM, Kenneth M. Y. LEUNG
The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The
University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, P. R. China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Organotins (OTs), in particular tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPT), have caused
widespread adverse effects on marine organisms such as the induction of imposex
(i.e., superimposition of male sexual characteristics - penis and vas deferens - on
females) in over 200 species of neogastropods. A mandatory global ban on the use of
OT-based antifouling systems has been enacted since September 2008. It is, therefore,
anticipated that there will be a reduction of OT pollution in marine environments
worldwide. In this study, we measured the imposex status and tissue concentrations of
OTs (i.e., mono-BT, di-BT and TBT, mono-PT, di-PT and TPT) in the rock shell
Thais clavigera collected from 28 coastal sites of Hong Kong during summer 2010.
The results indicated that T. clavigera from a number of sites contained high TPT
concentrations and suffered from high degree of imposex. Using the Monte Carlo
approach, we conducted an ecological risk assessment by computing the distribution
of risk quotients (RQs); RQ is the ratio between a measured tissue concentration of
the target pollutant (MTC) and predicted effects tissue concentration (PETC) (i.e., RQ
= MTC/PETC). Across all sites, 11.1% of T. clavigera was at risk with RQ > 1 due to
exposure to TPT, whereas the risk associated with TBT was relatively low (0.7% with
RQ > 1). As TPT is highly toxic and may trigger imposex in T. clavigera, the local
rock shells are still under considerable threat associated with this pollutant. This study
highlights that TPT is a major environmental concern which deserves immediate
actions to control its use and release, and to remediate its pollution in Hong Kong
waters.
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Sub-session 8
7/3 Day 3 (WED)
14:20-14:40
Bioaccumulation of dietary metals Cu and Zn in Nassarius
siquijorensis
*Yifan CHEN, Feng GUO
College of ocean and earth sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P. R. China
EMAIL:[email protected]
Metals have long been recognized as one of the most important pollutants in Chinese
coastal water because of their potentials for accumulation in marine organisms, and
finally may act as the potential conveyors in the metals’ trophic transfer to humans. In
this study, we employed two species (Ostrea rivularis Gould and Balanus
albicostatus) accumulated by Nassarius siquijorensis in different positions. The
response of N. siquijorensis to sublethal Cu and Zn from dietary exposure was
showed in the accumulation of different tissues (muscle and viscera), the feeding rate
and condition index. The preys in each position were terribly affected by the heavy
metal contaminants, then their concentrations of both Cu and Zn were far higher than
the national safety standards. Worse still, due to the high concentration of metals
would change the prey’s trophic values, the average feeding rate of N. siquijorensis.
As the results showed, although after four weeks exposure the concentration of Cu
and Zn increased, there is no significantly difference among the experimental groups.
The condition index of the N. siquijorensis of each group decreased significantly.
Additionally, the TTFs of N. siquijorensis are almost less than 1.
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Sub-session 8
7/3 Day 3 (WED)
14:40-15:00
Formulation of water quality guidelines for nanomaterials: problems
and recommendations
*Mana M. N. YUNG, Stella W. Y. WONG, Kevin W. H. KWOK, Kenneth M. Y.
LEUNG
The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The
University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, P. R. China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Engineered nanomaterials (1-100 nm) have unique physicochemical properties and
present environmental regulators a novel challenge. A number of issues confound and
hinder effective regulation of these materials, such as lack of efficient detection
technology in the environment, insufficient toxicological information, absence of
standard reference materials, and the requirement of a large number of
characterization techniques. Toxicity of nanomaterials is dependent of their forms
(e.g., size, morphology, coatings and functional groups) and the surrounding
environmental conditions (e.g., presence of humic acid, UV light, temperature, pH,
ionic strength). Unfortunately, these materials are already detectable in treated sewage
sludge, suggesting an urgent need for regulations. This presentation aims to
summarize the approaches taken by different governments towards regulations of
nanomaterials’ release into the environment, and lists out priority nanomaterials for
which risk assessments should be conducted based on the criteria (i.e., production
volumes and environmental outputs) set by prominent organisations (e.g., United
States Environmental Protection Agency and European Commission). Finally,
recommendations on setting up water quality guidelines for nanomaterials are made
based on best available science.
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Sub-session 8
7/3 Day 3 (WED)
15:00-15:20
Accumulation kinetics of arsenate in Daphnia magna under
different phosphorus and food density regimes
Aijun MIAO, *Ningxin WANG, Liuyan YANG, Wenxiong WANG
State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the
Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, Jiangsu Province, China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Despite its low abundance in Earth’s crust (0.0001%), arsenic exists ubiquitously in
natural environments. Its concentrations in freshwater are generally lower than 10
µg/L, the current WHO guideline of the arsenic concentration in drinking water, but
higher concentrations were reported in several regions of South America and East
Asia raising serious health issues. Besides the dissolved uptake from water, dietary
assimilation has been illustrated to be another important way for arsenic to be
bioaccumulated.
Up till now, most of arsenic ecotoxicological work focuses mainly on its
transformation, bioaccumulation and toxicity in kinds of marine organisms while
rarely in freshwater animals. Therefore, the freshwater Cladoceran Daphnia magna
was chosen in the present study.
In the present study, the dissolved uptake, dietary assimilation and elimination of
arsenate in the freshwater cladocerans D. magna were examined. A biphasic
correlation between the arsenate uptake rate and its ambient concentration suggests
that at least two types of transporters were involved. This hypothesis is further
supported by the two-saturation-site arsenate uptake competition with phosphate.
Food concentration Cf substantially decreased the arsenate assimilation with the
incipient limiting food concentration 3.86 mg/L. Furthermore, the efflux rate constant
of arsenate ranged from 0.34 to 0.44 d-1with increased Cf slightly facilitating its loss.
Excretion was the dominant pathway for arsenate elimination with a remarkable
contribution from offspring production, whereas molting and egestion had minor roles
only. According to the well-established biokinetic model, dietary assimilation is
predicted to be the main pathway for arsenate bioaccumulation and arsenate is less
likely to be biomagnified along the food chain.
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Sub-session 8
7/3 Day 3 (WED)
16:00-16:20
Thermal tolerance of amphibians and their invasive predator in a
polluted environment
*Edward T. C. LAU, Kenneth M. Y. LEUNG, Nancy KARRAKER
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,
P. R. China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Many threats are contributing to amphibian declines, both globally and locally. Yet,
aside from a few examples, we still know very little about the role and magnitude of
synergistic effects among these stressors. Demonstrated in marine ectotherms, thermal
tolerance is limited by the incapability of an organism’s circulatory and ventilation
systems to supply sufficient oxygen to match with its demand for oxygen. Beyond
certain critical temperatures, survival of aquatic ectotherms becomes passive and
time-limited, relying heavily on anaerobic metabolism and molecular protection (e.g.,
induction of heat shock proteins). Detoxification is known to be an energy-demanding
process. It is thus likely that an organism under thermal stress will suffer further loss
of performance in a contaminated environment, which may in turn threaten its
survival. Our study thus focused on the importance of relationships between pollution
and thermal stress on three lowland wetland amphibians, namely Asian common toad
(Bufonidae: Duttaphrynus melanostictus), brown tree frog (Rhacophoridae:
Polypedates megacephalus) and marbled pigmy frog (Microhylidae: Microhyla
pulchra) in South China, and the relative performance of the invasive predatory fish
Gambusia affinis. We determined and compared lethal concentrations of two
commonly used agricultural pesticides on the target amphibian and fish species, as
well as the lethal temperatures of these animals. The investigation on the synergistic
effects of thermal stress and pesticides is currently being conducted using integrated
measurements of physiological end-points and biomarkers. Information generated
from this study will be useful in developing conservation measures to better protect
amphibian populations against these rising threats in South China region.
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Sub-session 9
7/3 Day 3 (WED)
16:20-16:40
Toxicity of triphenyltin chloride to the rotifer Brachionus sp.
*Andy X. L. YI, Jae Seong LEE, Kenneth M. Y. LEUNG
The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The
University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P. R. China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Phenyltin compounds in particular triphenyltin (TPT) are widely applied as effective
biocides for different industrial and agricultural purposes. These compounds have
been detected in the marine environment but little is known regarding the toxicity of
TPT to the marine organisms. This study was designed to comprehensively
investigate the molecular, individual and population responses of the rotifer,
Brachionus sp. upon waterborne exposure to TPT chloride (TPTCl). The population
growth rate was decreasing as increasing TPTCl concentrations. 96-h EC50 for
population growth inhibition was 1.96 µg/L, which is ten times lower than the 96-h
LC50, which was 29.6 µg/L (95% CI: 27.2 - 32.1 µg/L). In addition, 12 heat shock
protein (hsp) genes, four glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes, one retinoid X
receptor (RXR) gene and 13 cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes were studied for their
responses to TPTCl exposure. Among these genes, hsp 90α2, GST-O and CYP 29 was
significantly up-regulated at 20 µg/L TPTCl, with the relative expression levels up to
32.9, 4.4 and 62.6 folds, respectively. A time-dependent expression of these three
genes were then carried out within 24 h. The expression of these genes showed a
increasing trend in the first few hours of exposure to TPTCl, peaked at 3 h (e.g. hsp
90α2 and GST-O) and 12 h (e.g. CYP 29) before gradually decreasing. The overall
findings of this study provide a better understanding on molecular mechanisms of
TPT-mediated effects in the rotifer, Brachionus sp.
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Sub-session 9
7/3 Day 3 (WED)
16:40-17:00
Significance of subcellular metal distribution in prey in influencing
the trophic transfer of metals in a gastropod
*Lulu YANG, Feng GUO
The College of ocean and earth sciences, Xiamen University, P.R China
EMAIL:[email protected]
It has been clear that the dietary uptake is the predominant route by which the metals
are accumulated in carnivore gastropod. Previous research has been conducted using
the prey which was pre-expososed in laboratory. In current study, we used oysters
(Crassostrea angulata) from four sites and barnacles (Balanus albicostatus) from two
sites, which were contaminated by metals to different degree, to feed the predator
gastropod (Nassarius siquijorensis). The prey from natural seaside was more
significant for the metal trophic transfer given the high concentration of Cu and Zn.
We measured the subcellular distribution and metal concentration of prey and
predator, a positive correlation between Cu in TAM (trophic available metal) in
ingestion and the accumulation in predator was significant, so as the total Zn and Cd
in ingestion and the accumulation in predator. These results provide the direct
evidence to the hypnosis that different subcellular components of trace metals appear
to be trophically available to different degree to the predator. Then we can assume
that the assimilation of Zn and Cd is powerful in this gastropod. In addition, we also
measured the Cu Zn and Cd subcellular distribution of the predator before and after
dietary exposure, indicating the different metabolically mechanism of the three metals
when the organism was under the high metal concentration dietary exposure.
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Sub-session 10
8/3 Day 4 (THU)
09:40-10:00
Differential gene expression profile from haematopoietic tissue stem
cells of red claw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, in response to
WSSV infection
*Rongyuan CHEN, Haipeng LIU, Qiuxia ZHANG, Hui PENG, Kejian WANG
State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen
361005, China
EMAIL: [email protected]
White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is one of the most important viral pathogens in
crustaceans. To gain novel insight into cell signaling mechanisms employed in WSSV
infection, we have used suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) to elucidate the
cellular response to WSSV challenge at the gene level in red claw crayfish
haematopoietic tissue (Hpt) stem cell cultures. Red claw crayfish Hpt cells were
infected with WSSV for 1 h (L1 library) and 12 h (L12 library), respectively, after
which the cell RNA was prepared for SSH using uninfected cells as drivers. By
screening the L1 and L12 forward libraries, we have isolated the differentially
expressed genes of crayfish Hpt cells upon WSSV infection. Among these genes, the
level of many key molecules showed clearly up-regulated expression, including the
genes involved in immune responses, cytoskeletal system, signal transduction
molecules, stress, metabolism and homestasis related genes, and unknown genes in
both L1 and L12 libraries. Taken together, as well as in immune and stress responses
are regulated during WSSV infection of crayfish Hpt cells, our results also light the
significance of cytoskeletal system, signal transduction and other unknown genes in
the regulation of antiviral signals during WSSV infection.
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Sub-session 10
8/3 Day 4 (THU)
10:00-10:20
The taxonomy and preliminary molecular phylogenetic approach of
Mugilogobius generic group (Teleostei: Gobiidae) in Fujian and
Guangdong, mainland China and Taiwan
*Shih-Pin HUANG, I-Shiung CHEN
Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202,
Taiwan, ROC
EMAIL: [email protected]
The taxonomic research and preliminary molecular phyogenetic analyses have been
conducted for gobiid fishes as Mugilogobius generic group, which mainly inhabits the
coastal and brackish regions of mainland China and Taiwan, including following five
gobiid genera: Calamiana, Eugnathogobius, Hemigobius, Mugilogobius and
Pseudogobius. We examined the gobioid specimens collected recently from Fujian
and Guangdong Provinces, southern China and Taiwan and summarized the
taxonomic status based on both morphological and molecular features, we concluded
at least four and five species in Pseudogobius and Mugilogobius respectively, and
only one species in each following genus: Calamiana , Eugnathogobius and
Hemigobius hoevenii. Molecular phylogenetic analyses carried out by distance (NJ)
and discrete methods (MP and BI) using the mtDNA D-loop sequences from all
members of the generic group. The length of D-loop sequences of all different OTUs
are from 866 to 876 bp, and there are 29 haplotypes detected from 12 species. The
preliminary phylogenetic analyses can represent four main distinct clades from the
tree. Clade I consists of four species of Pseudogobius; clade II consists of single
species of Calamiana sp.; clade III consists of single species of Hemigobius hoevonii;
clade IV consists of five species of Mugilogobius; and clade V consists of single
species of Eugnathogobius. Concerning to the genetic divergence of each taxa, within
clade I (genus Pseudogibius), the range of genetic divergence among four species
from 10.3-18.5%; within clade IV (genus Mugilogobius), the range of genetic
divergence among five species (13 haplotypes) is from 11.7-25.5%. Molecular
evidence had also pointed out the genus Calamiana and Pseudogibius are sister
group, Hemigobius sister to Calamiana and Pseudogibius clade, and Mugilogobius
sister to Calamiana, Pseudogibius and Hemigobius clade, and Eugnathogobius belong
to another distinct clade. Evolutionary history of morphological features among those
genera followed with molecular phylogenetic analysis will be discussed.
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Sub-session 10
8/3 Day 4 (THU)
10:20-10:40
Epinephelus moara Temminck and Schlegel, 1842: a valid species of
the Family Epinephelidae (Pisces: Perciformes)
Min LIU, *Jianlong LI, Shaoxiong DING, Zhaoqun LIU
College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian,
China
EMAIL: [email protected]
The Longtooth grouper, Epinephelus bruneus Bloch, 1793 (Pisces: Perciformes,
Epinephelidae) was listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List. The species has
relatively narrow region from southern South Korea, Japan and China among the
epinephelids. E. moara Temminck and Schlegel, 1842 has been long considered as a
synonym of E. bruneus. In mainland China, however, both are considered to be valid
and commercially important; the price in the live reef food fish trade for E. moara is
almost double than that of E. bruneus. Hatchery-based mariculture for both E.
bruneus and E. moara has been developed; therefore, there is an urgent call for
verification of E. moara. Based on the morphological differences between E. bruneus
and E. moara, reported from a recent study; this study obtained the complete
mitochondrial genomes of E. bruneus and E. moara, i.e. 16,692 and 16,696 bp,
respectively. Identities of the complete mitogenomes between E. moara and E.
bruneus were 96.30%. This study confirms that E. moara is a valid species in the
Epinephelidae from the molecular point of view. Comparisons on the complete
mitogenomes and specific gene sequences were conducted between E. bruneus from
South Korea and E. bruneus and E. moara from this study. The evidences suggested
that E. bruneus from South Korea had higher identity and homology with E. moara
than E. bruneus in this study. E. bruneus and E. moara merit further assessments on
geographic region, population size, fishery status and IUCN Red List category.
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Sub-session 10
8/3 Day 4 (THU)
10:40-11:00
The systematics and molecular phylogeny of Family Callionymidae
from Taiwan
*Chern-Yun LEE, Kwang-Tsao SHAO, I-Shiung CHEN
Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
EMAIL: [email protected].
Dragonets (Callionymidae) are benthic fishes and there are 182 species belonged to
10 genera worldwide. Previously the phylogenies based on morphology were
reviewed by Nakabo and Fricke, but there are still some differences on genera
classification which need to be resolved. The aims of this study were to review
dragonets in Taiwan and using molecular data to test generic relationship of
callionymid.
In our result, we identified 11 genera and 26 species of dragonets in Taiwan with one
new recorded species and one undescribed species. Shen and Wu (2011) listed 10
generea and 37 species, but there are 16 species without specimen records. Molecular
phylogenetic analysis of data from both mitochondrial and nuclear genes indicated
that it tends to support the genus classification system proposed by Nakabo (1982).
Combined the molecular phylogeny with fossil evidences and morphological
characters, it is suggested that the origin of dragonets was from Tethys Sea. The
dragonets then separated into two groups one tended to live in deep sea and another in
shallow habitat. Those lives in shallow habitat splitted into two lines, associated with
rocky or coral reef; muddy or sandy bottom.
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Sub-session 10
8/3 Day 4 (THU)
11:20-11:40
Epigenetic changes in response to hypoxia: marine medaka as a
model
*Yuan WANG, Rudolf S. S. WU
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong,
P. R. China.
EMAIL: [email protected]
The research aims to investigate epigenetic mechanisms of Oryzias melastigma in
response to hypoxia and also to study the potential transgenerational effects of
hypoxia induced by DNA methylation or histone acetylation. Previous studies showed
that O. melastigma were very sensitive to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) and
served good biomarkers to specific pollutant. However, there is little research on
whether or not, and in what way the epigenomes of O. melastigma may be affected in
a hypoxic environment.
The research mainly focuses on the following aspects. Firstly, morphological changes
in F1 generation after exposing the embryos and reproducing adults to hypoxia to
identify potential transgenerational effects, for instance, malformation of embryos &
fitness of the F1 generation. This information is helpful in revealing possible
underlining epigenetic regulations. Secondly, to compare gene expressions between
hypoxic group and normaxic group using cDNA microarray followed by
bioinformatics analysis. Thirdly, we will use bisulfite methylation sequencing to
compare methylation status of DNA in responsive genes in the hypoxic groups.
Fourthly, Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay will be employed to
understand and confirm protein (HIF-1α, histone, DMNT, etc.) and DNA interaction.
Overall, this research will enable us to identify transgenerational effects of hypoxia on
vertebrates and decipher the epigenetic mechanisms underlying these observable and
transgenerational effects.
This research is the first attempt to explore the epigenetic mechanisms of marine
medaka in response to hypoxia. These epigenetic changes may potentially serve as
biomarkers for detecting hypoxia & their transgenerational effects in the marine
environment. Since many of the transgenerational and epigenetic effects are
conservative in the vertebrates, results of this study on marine medaka can provide
potential clues in epigenomic responses in higher vertebrates including human.
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Sub-session 11
8/3 Day 4 (THU)
11:40-12:00
Proteomics analysis of oyster larval response to high-CO2 at the time
of settlement and metamorphosis
*Ginger W. K. KO, Vengatesen THIYAGARAJAN, Ziniu YU
Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The University
of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, P. R. China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Portuguese oyster Crassostrea angulata is an oyster species that identified first in
Europe although it is originated from Taiwan and it is closely related to the pacific
oyster C. gigas. This was a rare large scale study to demonstrate how the increased
partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) in seawater and the attendant acidification that are
projected to occur by the year 2100 (1100µatm, pH 7.9) affect the early development
of the oyster C. angulata. Eggs of the oyster were artificially fertilized in normal
seawater. 5 millions D-shape veliger larvae hatched after 24h were subjected to both
control and high CO2 treatment by equilibrated the seawater with CO2-enriched air for
29 days until larvae reached pediveliger larval stage. The seawater carbonate
chemistry, shell surface area as well as mean percentage settlement of pediveliger
larvae were compared between the control and treatment at Day 29. The result will be
discussed in details in the symposium. Two-dimensional electrophoresis technique
will be applied to see if there is any proteome profile difference between control and
high CO2. It might help to explain why the treatment larvae settle much more than the
control one and might shows us whether the future ocean acidification will have
deleterious impacts on the early development of marine benthic calcifying organisms.
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Sub-session 11
8/3 Day 4 (THU)
12:00-12:20
Nanoscale analysis of larval shells: a climate change perspective
*Chaoyi LI, Vera B. S. CHAN, Kaimin SHIH, Vengatesen THIYAGARAJAN
School of Biological Sciences, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of
Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
EMAIL: [email protected]
Ocean acidification (OA) is well known as a process during which anthropogenic
emission of CO2 is assimilated by ocean, resulting in decreased global ocean PH and
reduced carbonate concentration in seawater. The phenomenon of OA have rapidly
grasped scientists’ interests due to its threats to global climate change and its
endangering effects on the lives of corals, shellfish and the biodiversity of marine
creatures. OA is very likely to have significant effect on affecting the biomineral
composition of larvae’s shell of shellfishes and therefore the proportion of
components in larvae’s shell may switch promptly between aragonite and calcite
according to the variation in environmental condition. As a result, OA could possibly
impose a vital risk to the survival of shellfishes. Proportional losses of aragonite and
according generation of heterogeneously sized calcite in shell composition may result
in a mechanically brittle structure and deteriorate the integrity of the surfaces of shell
structure. In this study, multidisciplinary approaches ranging from biochemistry,
crystallography and environmental science (Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM),
X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) and Nanoindenter)are adopted to study the OA effects
regarding the mechanisms through which shellfish larvae endure OA and make
corresponding adjustment of shell structure to resist the changes in environmental
condition; Eventually, a finite-element computational model is to be fabricated by
ABACUS to determine the way and mechanism of crystal assemblage and structure in
shellfishes’ shells, and through what approaches the crystals and organics are
connected and working together to provide overall properties of shells as a whole.
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Sub-session 11
8/3 Day 4 (THU)
12:20-12:40
Species composition of marine fish eggs in the East China Sea by
DNA barcoding
*Han-Yang LIN, Kwang-Tsao SHAO, I-Shiung CHEN
Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
EMAIL: [email protected]
Total of 8,933 fish eggs were towed by 1,000 µm ichthyoplankton net at 25 stations in
the East China Sea in July, 2009. All fish eggs were classified to 87 morpho-types.
Among them, only 26 types could be identified to 11 taxa (belonging to 6 order, 8
families, 6 genera and 5 species), other 61ypes were unknown. After DNA barcoding,
there were 73 types could be identified to 45 taxa (belonging to 7 order, 28 families,
36 genera and 34 species), but still remain 14 types couldn’t be identified. Nine of
fifteen dominant species (account over 2% of total) in this study were economic
species. Thus, the East China Sea is an important spawning ground of many economic
species. We also found that the species assemblage of fish eggs were fitted well with
the distributional pattern of surface water mass (e.g. temperature, chlorophyll a and
salinity). Hence, using DNA barcoding could solve the problem of morphological
method, and provide further information on fish life story, spawning ground and
spawning season.
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Sub-session 11
8/3 Day 4 (THU)
12:40-13:00
Isolation and characterisation of putative probiotics from Haliotis
diversicolour
*Qingru JIANG, Caihuan KE, Jinjin YU, Jing ZHAO
College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P. R. China
EMAIL: [email protected]
The probiotics provide a potential alternative method in aquaculture. This study was
designed to search for probiotics to improve growth rate and disease resistance of
farmed abalone, Haliotis diversicolour. Potential probiotics were selected from the
intestine of the digestive tract of cultured abalones. The selection was based on five
criteria: strain identification, digestive enzyme activity assay, pathogen inhibition
potential, hemolytic activity assay and two-month farm trials with putative
probiotics-supplemented diet. This study isolated 84 strains which were divided into
thirty-five operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and 17 genera, based on 16S rRNA
gene sequencing. The results showed that 89% of screened bacteria (n=84) showed
digestive enzyme activity. Only one isolate AP34 could use all the five substances
(soluble starch, non-fat dry milk, glyceryl-tributyrate, CM-cellulose, sodium alginate)
provided as nutrition. 24 out of 84 strains had antagonistic properties towards
pathogens. Only one isolate AP12 could inhibit all the eight pathogens. Furthermore,
both AP12 and AP34 showed no hemolytic activity, and the two-month farm trials
showed the two isolates were not harmful to cultured abalones. AP12 and AP34 have
99.867% and 98.629% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Bacillus
stratosphericus and Phaeobacter daeponensi, respectively. They both have promising
potential as probiotics for commercially produced H. diversicolour.
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Notes
Rule of debate
1. General Arrangements
All participants will be informed of four debate topics prior to the
symposium. The debate position of each team (Affirmative and Opposition)
will be assigned in the morning of Day One. The debate event will be held
in the afternoon of Day Four, from 2:00pm to 6:00pm.
2. Team Member
There will be 5-6 people from different universities with different
background in each debate team. Team members are encouraged to discuss
with each other with enthusiasm to prepare for the debate. But only 4
people will be allowed to argue and rebut on the stage.
3. Debate Procedure
The procedures of debate are designed in the way to ensure equal
involvement and active participation of every team member during the
argumentation and rebuttal sessions within the debate. Each debate will take
about 26 minutes and then will be followed with an 8-10 minute Q&A
session. All the six other audience teams are encouraged to ask questions or
to comment on the topic. The performance of all debate teams in the Q&A
sessions will also be assessed and taken into consideration of the selection
of The BEST Debate Team.
4. Assessment
The best debate team will be assessed and discussed by the staff Mentor
Committee and will be announced by the Moderator.
Debate Topics
Topic 1:
Affirmative: Environmental protection should be people-oriented.
Opposition: Environmental protection should be nature-based.
Topic 2:
Affirmative: Environmental conservation should rely on government regulations
rather than public awareness.
Opposition: Environmental conservation should rely on public awareness rather than
government regulations.
Topic 3:
Affirmative: Marine natural reserves should be open to tourists.
Opposition: Marine natural reserves should not be open to tourists.
Topic 4:
Affirmative: Economic growth can enhance environmental conservation.
Opposition: Economic growth cannot enhance environmental conservation.
Contacts
Name
Cai Yanru
蔡燕如
Cao Di
曹娣
Chen Rongyuan
陈荣元
Chen Yifan
陈伊凡
Cui Yudong
崔玉栋
Emily Huei KING
Jiang Qingru
蒋庆茹
Li Jianlong, Joy
李建龙
Marie Rosine MUGENI
Xu Jiayi
徐佳奕
Yang Lu, Tina
杨璐
Yang Lulu
杨露璐
Zhang Xiaoyin, Sharon
张潇尹
Zheng Xiaowei
郑小伟
Chau Kwok Chuen
周國銓
Ho King Yan, Kevin
何景欣
Karen Villarta
Ko Wai Kuen, Ginger
高慧娟
Lau Tak Chuen, Edward
劉特銓
Law Sui Wai, Calton
羅瑞懷
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[email protected]
HKU
[email protected]
HKU
[email protected]
HKU
[email protected]
Contacts
Name
Li Chaoyi, Roy
李超逸
Luk In, Michelle
陸 妍
Ng Pun Tung, Terence
吳潘東
Wang Guihua, Samuel
王貴華
Wang Yuan
王 源
Wang Zhen
王 振
Xu Genbo, Elvis
徐亘博
Yeung Alex Chee Yu
楊智羽
Yi Xianliang, Andy
易先亮
Yin Xueying
尹雪莹
Yung Man Na, Mana
戎曼娜
Juan Diego Urriago
Chow Ming Him
周鳴謙
Tsang Ho Leung
曾浩樑
Huang Shih-Pin
黃世彬
Lee Chern-Yun
李承運
Lin Han-Yang
林翰揚
Xu Xu
徐 旭
Huang Bin, Leo
黄 彬
Wang Ningxin
汪宁欣
AFFILIATION
Email
HKU
[email protected]
HKU
[email protected]
HKU
[email protected]
HKU
[email protected]
HKU
[email protected]
HKU
[email protected]
HKU
[email protected]
HKU
[email protected]
HKU
[email protected]
HKU
[email protected]
HKU
[email protected]
HKBU
[email protected]
CUHK
[email protected]
CUHK
[email protected]
NTOU
[email protected]
NTOU
[email protected]
NTOU
[email protected]
NJUT
[email protected]
NJU
[email protected]
NJU
[email protected]
Contacts Name
Wang Ying, Kylie
王 莹
Xu Shuai
许 帅
Yang Weiwan
杨微莞
AFFILIATION
Email
NJU
[email protected]
NJU
[email protected]
NJU
[email protected]
XMU—Xiamen University
HKU—The University of Hong Kong
HKBU—Hong Kong Baptist University
CUHK—The Chinese University of Hong Kong
NTOU—National Taiwan Ocean University
NJUT—Nanjing University of Technology
NJU—Nanjing University
Organizing committee
Student committee
XIAMEN UNIVERSITY
Ms. Zhang Xiaoyin, Sharon
Ms. Yang Lu, Tina
Mr. Li Jianlong, Joy
Ms. Yang Lulu
Mr. Chen Rongyuan
THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
Mr. Ho King Yan, Kevin
Mr. Xu Genbo, Elvis
Mr. Lau Tak Chuen Edward
Mr. Yeung Alex Chee Yu
Ms. Luk In, Michelle
Ms. Hong Yuanyuan, Circle
Mentor committee
XIAMEN UNIVERSITY
Prof. Dai Minhan
Prof. Shuh-Ji Kao
Dr. Wu Liwu
Dr. Liu Min
THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
Prof. Gray A. Williams
Prof. David Dudgeon
Dr. David Thomson
Dr. Moriaki Yasuhara