Waters Of Taiwan Research Articles

A Potential Association Between Antibiotic Abuse and Existence of Related Resistance Genes in Different Aquatic Environments

Bacterial antibiotic resistance has long been a public health concern worldwide. Although antibiotic abuse highly correlates with occurrence of resistant pathogens in hot spots like animal feedlots, it remains obscure how frequently these resistance genotypes would emerge and/or retain in natural circumstances. In this study, we monitored seven antibiotic resistance genes in various surface waters. All seven resistance genes were detectable in Puzih River samples, including strA (40.6 %), cmlA (29.7 %), blaTEM (9.1 %), tet(B) (8.5 %), sul1 (7.9 %), mecA (3.6 %), and tet(A) (2.4 %). Among these genes, strA was observed in four out of five sampling occasions during the 1.5-year monitoring period and most of the genes were detected at least two times over five samplings. These results imply that surface waters in Taiwan act as potential reservoirs for several resistance genotypes. Moreover, high prevalence of tet(A) (92.0 %) and sul1 (96.0 %) in swine farm wastewater samples suggests routine antibiotic usage and particularly, the fodder supplements could indeed be a risk factor to antibiotic resistance in environments. sul1, tet(A), blaTEM, and strA were detectable in domestic water treatment plants and reservoirs, suggesting that several resistance genotypes against antibiotics as streptomycin, ampicillin, tetracycline, and sulfonamides are likely to persist in natural circumstance and may consequently contaminate the drinking water systems.

Stomach content and stable isotope analysis of sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) diet in eastern Taiwan waters

Stomach content analysis (SCA) and stable isotope analysis (SIA), coupled with isotopic-mixing model analysis, were used to estimate diet composition of sailfish Istiophorus platypterus in eastern Taiwan waters. SCA provided information on diet, but the high occurrence of empty stomachs (48.5%) limited this analysis. According to the index of relative importance (%IRI), the most important prey items were Priacanthus macracanthus (38.7%), followed by Auxis spp. (35.9%), and Trichiurus lepturus (8.5%). However, the most important prey groups for adult sailfish (>181cm, LJFL) as estimated by the stable isotope-mixing model were T. lepturus (32.6%), Katsuwonus pelamis (15.8%), and P. macracanthus (11.3%), and for maturing sailfish were K. pelamis (12.9%), P. macracanthus (10.4%), and T. lepturus (32.6%), respectively. Juvenile sailfish feed primarily on smaller prey items with lower δ15N values, while adult sailfish preferred larger prey items with higher δ15N values. Our findings suggested that an integrated SCA and SIA is considerably more powerful than using SCA alone in determining diet composition of sailfish over long time scales. In summary, a high diversity in the diet composition of sailfish was found and included an array of coastal, benthic, pelagic, and mesopelagic species. Sailfish are most likely opportunistic feeders consuming the most abundant prey items in eastern Taiwan waters.

Framework for Assessing the Rainwater Harvesting Potential of Residential Buildings at a National Level as an Alternative Water Resource for Domestic Water Supply in Taiwan

Domestic rainwater harvesting (DRWH) is widely recognized as an alternative source of water in Taiwan because of water shortages. This suggests that rainwater potential should be maximized and quantified. In this article, we assess the potential of DRWH at a national level. To consider the climatic, building characteristic, economic, and ecological aspects of DRWH, we propose three categories: (1) theoretical; (2) available; and (3) environmental bearable rainwater potential. Four main steps were followed to develop the proposed framework: (1) Fifteen rainfall zones across Taiwan were generated through cluster analysis based on the average annual 10-day rainfall distributions of rainfall stations and administrative districts; (2) The roof area in each rainfall zone was estimated using a geographic information system (GIS) and land use classification database; (3) The weighted percentage of rainwater use in each rainfall zone was determined by the optimal point on the storage capacity and rainwater supply reliability curve for an equivalent building from each building type; (4) The percentage of the total roof area used to harvest rainwater in each region depends on the downstream impact of the stream flow. The procedures developed in this study constitute an effective tool for preliminarily estimation of the national DRWH potential.

Otolith elemental ratios of flathead mullet Mugil cephalus in Taiwanese waters reveal variable patterns of habitat use

The migratory history of the flathead mullet (Mugil cephalus) in the coastal waters of Taiwan was evaluated by examining the elemental composition in the otoliths of 74 fish collected from 3 habitats of varying salinity by using laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The mean (±SD) Sr:Ca ratio for the otolith edge differed significantly among the 3 habitats of varying ambient salinity. The otolith mean Sr:Ca ratio for offshore fish was 6.7 ± 2.0 × 10−3 and 4.2 ± 1.5 × 10−3 in the estuary, which was significantly higher than that for freshwater fish (2.8 ± 1.1 × 10−3). By contrast, the mean Ba:Ca ratio for the otolith edge of offshore fish was 87.1 ± 113.0 × 10−6 and 52.1 ± 22.3 × 10−6 in the estuary, which was significantly lower than that for the fish in the freshwater habitat (144.5 ± 54.8 × 10−6). Thus, the Ba:Ca ratio can be used as an alternative to the Sr:Ca ratio for evaluating the migration of M. cephalus between freshwater and saline water. However, the Mn:Ca and Mg:Ca ratios were not significantly different among the 3 habitats. Accordingly, the Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca ratios for the otoliths can be used to reconstruct the salinity history of M. cephalus. The variation in Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca ratios among life history profiles also suggested seasonal migratory behavior in relation to salinity in M. cephalus. These results have implications for developing additional extensive studies to resolve the relative importance of marine estuarine and freshwater habitats for sustaining production of M. cephalus fisheries.

Rumphellols A and B, new caryophyllene sesquiterpenoids from a Formosan gorgonian coral, Rumphella antipathies.

Two new marine-derived caryophyllene-type sesquiterpenoids, rumphellols A and B (1 and 2), were obtained from the gorgonian coral, Rumphella antipathies, collected off the waters of Taiwan. Although caryophyllene-type sesquiterpenes are rarely found in marine organisms, compounds of this type could be principal components of R. antipathies. The structures of new Compounds 1 and 2 were determined by analysis of their spectroscopic data, including 1D and 2D NMR experiments. Caryophyllene 1 and 2 were evaluated in terms of their anti-inflammatory activity by examining their inhibitory effects on the generation of superoxide anions and the release of elastase by human neutrophils.

Removing Infragravity-Wave-Induced Noise from Ocean-Bottom Seismographs (OBS) Data Deployed Offshore of Taiwan

Abstract Vertical ocean‐bottom seismograph (OBS) data at frequencies below 0.05 Hz are contaminated by noise induced by infragravity waves. We constructed the transfer function between pressure and velocity data from OBSs deployed in Taiwan waters to remove the wave pressure‐induced noise from seismic recordings. Data were analyzed from five portable broadband OBSs deployed each for 10 months at water depths from 1740 to 4600 m and from a cabled, shallow‐buried seismograph (EOS1) installed on the seafloor at 300 m depth. Removing long‐period noise from these OBS data improves the identification of teleseismic phases such as P , S , SS , P diff , and PKIKP that are otherwise ambiguous or unidentifiable. For EOS1, infragravity‐wave signals completely mask the P and S waveforms in the 10–50 s period band suitable for centroid moment tensor (CMT) solutions for most of the local events. Application of the transfer functions to predict and remove wave deformation yielded clean prominent P and S waveforms at these periods and aided in the CMT determination for small events jointly with land stations. The relative amplitudes of the wavenumber‐normalized transfer function for some of the OBSs are mostly determined by the thickness of the sediment at the OBS site.

Hydrographic processes driven by seasonal monsoon system affect siphonophore assemblages in tropical-subtropical waters (western North Pacific Ocean).

This work is a part of the Taiwan Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigation, the first large scale hydrographic and plankton survey around Taiwan (21–26°N, 119–123°E). The present study examined the influence of hydrodynamic and biological variables driven by monsoon system on the siphonophore assemblages through an annual cycle in 2004. Calycophorans, namely Chelophyes appendiculata, Diphyes chamissonis, Lensia subtiloides, Bassia bassensis, and Muggiaea atlantica, were the most dominant siphonophore species. Maximum abundance of these dominant species generally occurred during the warm period (May and August), while M. atlantica had a significantly peak abundance in February. Although no apparently temporal difference in siphonophore abundance was observed in the study, siphonophore assemblage was more diverse in August than in other sampling times. Result of a cluster analysis indicated that assemblage structure of siphonophores in the waters around Taiwan varied at temporal and spatial scales during the sampling period. The intrusions of the Kuroshio Branch Current and China Coastal Current to the study area play an important role on the transportation of siphonophores. Also, the distribution of siphonophore assemblage was closely related to the hydrographic characteristics, with temperature, chlorophyll a concentration, and zooplankton abundance being the major environmental factors affecting the spatio-temporal variability of siphonophores. This study contributes substantially to the new knowledge of the siphonophore assemblage in the tropical-temperate waters of Taiwan.

The seasonal succession of modern planktonic foraminifera: Sediment traps observations from southwest Taiwan waters

The seasonal succession and stable isotope compositions of living planktonic foraminifera collected in sediment traps from the continental shelf/slope off southwest Taiwan were investigated. Sediment trap moorings were deployed at water depths of ~816m and ~233/250m during October–November 2009, March–April 2010 and July–August 2010. The sampling duration was 3 days for each collecting cup, yielding 36 days/12 cups per individual mooring over the three sampling periods. All planktonic foraminiferal tests greater than 150µm were picked, identified and counted for the faunal census. The variations in shell abundance (#/g; number of specimens per gram of original bulk sample) and size frequency show a pattern which seems to be related to the lunar cycle: shell abundances increase from low concentration at the new moon and reach their maxima before the full moon. Occurrences of larger foraminiferal shells also gradually increase as the collection approaching to full moon. The faunal assemblages were dominated by Globigerinella aequilateralis, Globigerinoides sacculifer, Globorotalia menardii, Globigerinoides ruber, Neogloboquadrina dutertrei, and Pulleniatina obliquiloculata; these six species constituting 30–80% of all foraminiferal tests found in the sediment traps. The seasonal contrast within the faunal assemblage between these three deployment periods, however, is not very evident except for the relative abundance of G. sacculifer and G. ruber. G. ruber is more abundant in summer than in spring whereas G. sacculifer shows an inverse pattern. Seasonal differences in the δ18O of P. obliquiloculata, G. sacculifer and G. ruber can be well explained by temperature profiles in the water column, while variations of δ13C are not related to the chlorophyll concentration hence to productivity. In addition, the calcifying depths reflected by three species are estimated to be ~40m for G. ruber; ~60m for G. sacculifer; and >80m for P. obliquiloculata.

Deepsea herrings (Bathyclupeidae) of the northwestern Pacific ocean

Deepsea herrings of the northwestern Pacific (waters of Japan and Taiwan) are revised. Three species are recognized in this area, and two of them described as new: B. gracilis Fowler, 1938, B. japanotaiwana sp. n., and B. nikparini sp. n. B. japanotaiwana was previously mistakenly identified as the western Atlantic species B. argentea; actually it is especially similar to B. malayana, from which it differs in the bicolor oral cavity and in some meristic characters. B. nikparini is especially close to the Caribbean species B. schroederi, from which it differs in a greater number of developed gill rakers and smaller number of rays in the anal fin.

Health hazards and mitigation of chronic poisoning from arsenic in drinking water: Taiwan experiences

There are two endemic areas of long-term exposure to arsenic from drinking water in Taiwan. Residents in the southwestern and northeastern endemic areas started using high-arsenic artesian well water in the early 1910s and late 1940s, respectively. Public water supply system using surface water was implemented in southwestern and northeastern endemic areas in the 1970s and 1990s, respectively. Systemic health hazards of long-term exposure to arsenic in drinking water have been intensively investigated since the 1960s, especially after 1985 in Taiwan. Several diseases have been well documented to be associated with chronic arsenic poisoning from drinking water showing a dose-response relation. They include characteristic skin lesions like hyperpigmentation or depigmentation, hyperkeratosis in palms and soles, and Bowen disease, peripheral vascular disease (specifically blackfoot disease), ischemic heart disease, cerebral infarction, microvascular diseases, abnormal peripheral microcirculation, carotid atherosclerosis, QT prolongation and increased dispersion in electrocardiography, hypertension, goiter, diabetes mellitus, cataract (specifically posterior subcapsular lens opacity), pterygium, slow neural conduction, retarded neurobehavioral development, erectile dysfunction, and cancers of the skin, lung, urinary bladder, kidney, and liver. The method of choice to mitigate arsenic poisoning through drinking water is to use safe drinking water from uncontaminated sources.

Wave climate variability of Taiwan waters

Global sea surface wind field data derived from NCEP reanalysis were used in driving a SWAN wave model to reconstruct historical wave records from 1948 to 2008. The reconstructed wave data were compared and verified by the observation of the data buoys of the Central Weather Bureau and the Water Resources Agency, Taiwan, and the National Data Buoy Center/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States. Over the past six decades, the wave climate in Taiwan waters has undergone considerable changes. The annual mean significant wave heights have reduced an average of 0.31 cm/year. Winter wave heights have gradually dropped 0.86 cm/year, which are related to the weakening of winter monsoons. Regarding the inter-annual wave climate variation, the influence of El Nino/southern oscillation was substantial; the wave heights increased in La Nina years and decreased in El Nino years. In the past 60 years, extreme wave events have been concentrated in two periods: 1967–1974 and 2000–2008. More severe extreme wave events occurred in the latter compared with the former, and all were induced by typhoons. A clear trend, in which the summer (winter) extreme wave events have increased (decreased) gradually, has been identified. The 1980s was the transition period. After the transition period, the annual occurrence of extreme wave events caused by typhoons exceeded those caused by an intense outbreak of winter cold surges, although the total number of the annual extreme wave events has not changed substantially.

First report of the swimming crab Ovalipes iridescens (Miers, 1886) (Brachyura, Portunidae) from Taiwan

The portunid crab Ovalipes iridescens (Miers, 1886) is reported for the first time from the marine waters of Taiwan, and is just the second Ovalipes species known from this region. The only previously known Ovalipes species from Taiwan is a commercially-used species, Ovalipes punctatus (De Haan, 1833). The present study provides morphological and distributional data, and discusses the variability of the external morphology. The colour pattern of the body and the shape of the male gonopods of the newly recorded O. iridescens are illustrated.

Monitoring of geosmin producing Anabaena circinalis using quantitative PCR

Geosmin is one of the most commonly detected off-flavor chemicals present in reservoirs and drinking water systems. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is useful for quantifying geosmin-producers by focusing on the gene encoding geosmin synthase, which is responsible for geosmin synthesis. In this study, several primers and probes were designed and evaluated to detect the geosmin synthase gene in cyanobacteria. The specificity of primer and probe sets was tested using 21 strains of laboratory cultured cyanobacteria isolated from surface waters in Australia (18) and Taiwan (2), including 6 strains with geosmin producing ability. The results showed that the primers designed in this study could successfully detect all geosmin producing strains tested. The selected primers were used in a qPCR assay, and the calibration curves were linear from 5 × 101 to 5 × 105 copies mL−1, with a high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.999). This method was then applied to analyze samples taken from Myponga Reservoir, South Australia, during a cyanobacterial bloom event. The results showed good correlations between qPCR techniques and traditional methods, including cell counts determined by microscopy and geosmin concentration measured using gas chromatography (GC) coupled with a mass selective detector (MSD). Results demonstrate that qPCR could be used for tracking geosmin-producing cyanobacteria in drinking water reservoirs. The qPCR assay may provide water utilities with the ability to properly characterize a taste and odor episode and choose appropriate management and treatment options.

Social vulnerability indicators as a sustainable planning tool

In the face of global warming and environmental change, the conventional strategy of resource centralization will not be able to cope with a future of increasingly extreme climate events and related disasters. It may even contribute to inter-regional disparities as a result of these events. To promote sustainable development, this study offers a case study of developmental planning in Chiayi, Taiwan and a review of the relevant literature to propose a framework of social vulnerability indicators at the township level. The proposed framework can not only be used to measure the social vulnerability of individual townships in Chiayi, but also be used to capture the spatial developmental of Chiayi. Seventeen social vulnerability indicators provide information in five dimensions. Owing to limited access to relevant data, the values of only 13 indicators were calculated. By simply summarizing indicators without using weightings and by using zero-mean normalization to standardize the indicators, this study calculates social vulnerability scores for each township.To make social vulnerability indicators more useful, this study performs an overlay analysis of social vulnerability and patterns of risk associated with national disasters. The social vulnerability analysis draws on secondary data for 2012 from Taiwan's National Geographic Information System. The second layer of analysis consists of the flood potential ratings of the Taiwan Water Resources Agency as an index of biophysical vulnerability. The third layer consists of township-level administrative boundaries. Analytical results reveal that four out of the 18 townships in Chiayi not only are vulnerable to large-scale flooding during serious flood events, but also have the highest degree of social vulnerability. Administrative boundaries, on which social vulnerability is based, do not correspond precisely to “cross-administrative boundaries,” which are characteristics of the natural environment. This study adopts an exploratory approach that provides Chiayi and other government agencies with a foundation for sustainable strategic planning for environmental change. The final section offers four suggestions concerning the implications of social vulnerability for local development planning.

Eunicellin-Based Diterpenoids from the Formosan Soft Coral Klyxum molle with Inhibitory Activity on Superoxide Generation and Elastase Release by Neutrophils

Eleven new eunicellin-based diterpenoids possessing a cladiellane skeleton with a C-2, C-9 ether bridge, klymollins I-S (1-11), have been isolated from the EtOAc extract of the soft coral Klyxum molle from Taiwan waters. The structures of compounds 1-11 were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 2D NMR spectroscopy (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY). Compound 5 exhibited cytotoxicity toward several cancer cell lines. Compound 5 is the first eunicellin-based metabolite bearing a phenyl group and displays significant inhibition of both superoxide anion generation and elastase release in N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB)-induced human neutrophils.

Secondary Metabolites from the Soft Coral Sinularia arborea

Two new 13-hydroxycembrane diterpenoids, arbolides A (1) and B (2), along with a known trihydroxysteroid, crassarosterol A (3), were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia arborea. The structures of new cembranes 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Steroid 3 was found to exhibit cytotoxicity toward K562 and MOLT-4 leukemia.

Functional Metagenomic Investigations of Microbial Communities in a Shallow-Sea Hydrothermal System

Little is known about the functional capability of microbial communities in shallow-sea hydrothermal systems (water depth of <200 m). This study analyzed two high-throughput pyrosequencing metagenomic datasets from the vent and the surface water in the shallow-sea hydrothermal system offshore NE Taiwan. This system exhibited distinct geochemical parameters. Metagenomic data revealed that the vent and the surface water were predominated by Epsilonproteobacteria (Nautiliales-like organisms) and Gammaproteobacteria ( Thiomicrospira -like organisms), respectively. A significant difference in microbial carbon fixation and sulfur metabolism was found between the vent and the surface water. The chemoautotrophic microorganisms in the vent and in the surface water might possess the reverse tricarboxylic acid cycle and the Calvin−Bassham−Benson cycle for carbon fixation in response to carbon dioxide highly enriched in the environment, which is possibly fueled by geochemical energy with sulfur and hydrogen. Comparative analyses of metagenomes showed that the shallow-sea metagenomes contained some genes similar to those present in other extreme environments. This study may serve as a basis for deeply understanding the genetic network and functional capability of the microbial members of shallow-sea hydrothermal systems.

Fine-scale vertical and horizontal movements of juvenile yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares ) associated with a subsurface fish aggregating device (FAD) off southwestern Taiwan

Summary An increase in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) catch by danish seine fisheries around the subsurface fish aggregating devices (FADs) in southern Taiwan waters has been a concern of local government and environmental groups. However, the attraction mechanism of aggregating tunas at the subsurface FADs is still poorly understood. The objective of this study is to examine the fine-scale vertical and horizontal movements of juvenile yellowfin tunas around a subsurface FAD. In total, 53 tunas (35–81 cm fork length) were tagged with ultrasonic telemetry tags and released at a subsurface FAD in the waters off Shiao-Liu-Chiu Island, southwestern Taiwan from October 2008 to December 2009. These tunas stayed at the subsurface FAD for up to 31 days, with daytime vertical movement depths averaging 60–80 m at a maximum depth of 250 m. At night, the tuna gathered at a shallow depth of 40 m. The mean depth of vertical movement in the daytime is significantly different from that of the nighttime (P < 0.05). The maximum detectable distance of horizontal movement was 1.6 km, with 80% of the long horizontal movements occurring in the daytime. It is likely that the purpose of these vertical and horizontal movements was for feeding or avoiding predators. Moreover, the tagged tunas did not depart from the subsurface FAD simultaneously, suggesting distinct behaviors in their movements.

Effects of summer mesoscale hydrographic features on epipelagic siphonophore assemblages in the surrounding waters of Taiwan, western North Pacific Ocean

This is the first attempt to examine the relationship between the spatial distribution of siphonophores and mesoscale hydrographic features in the waters around Taiwan in summer. A total of 59 species of siphonophores, consisting of 12 Physonectae and 47 Calycophorae, were identified from our samples. The most abundant species were Lensia subtiloides (49.7 % of the total collection by number), Diphyes chamissonis (12.1 %), Chelophyes appendiculata (9.3 %), C. contorta (8.1 %), and Bassia bassensis (5.2 %). Two clear assemblages were associated with shelf waters (influenced by the South China Sea Surface Current) and oceanic waters (influenced by the Kuroshio Current), respectively. The shelf water assemblage was characterized by low diversity and high abundance of L. subtiloides, whereas the oceanic assemblage showed greater diversity and was dominated by C. appendiculata, C. contorta, and B. bassensis. We discovered strong correlations between temperature and zooplankton and siphonophore abundances, suggesting that temperature and prey concentration are important in determining the spatial distribution of siphonophores. In addition, lower abundance and higher species diversity of siphonophores were observed after the passage of typhoons. This study provides basic knowledge on the distributional patterns of siphonophores, which is essential information to further understand the ecological roles played by siphonophores and their responses to the hydrological conditions in the waters surrounding Taiwan.

Flexibilisquinone, a New Anti-Inflammatory Quinone from the Cultured Soft Coral Sinularia flexibilis

A new quinone derivative, flexibilisquinone (1), was isolated from the cultured soft coral Sinularia flexibilis, originally distributed in the waters of Taiwan. The structure of quinone 1 was established by extensive spectroscopic methods, particularly 1D and 2D NMR experiments. In the in vitro anti-inflammatory effects test, quinone 1 was found to significantly inhibit the accumulation of the pro-inflammatory iNOS and COX-2 proteins of the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells.