Variable life history of a cyclopoid copepod: the role of food availability

Populations of the copepod Cyclops vicinus in two Danish lakes differed in their life cycles. In Lake Væng C. vicinus was absent during summer, whereas in Lake Søbygård it continued producing distinct cohorts throughout summer. A comparison between the lakes showed that in the lake where C. vicinus was absent during summer, food limitation generally existed. In contrast, abundance of C. vicinus during summer in Lake Søbygård always coincided with available resources sufficient for the whole life cycle. Thus, summer diapause of C. vicinus is suggested to be a strategy to avoid food limitation. Avoidance of fish predation does not seem substantially to influence life cycles.     

Responses to food web manipulation in a shallow waterfowl lake

The effects of fish stock reduction have been studies in 3 Dutch lakes (Lake Zwemlust, Lake Bleiswijkse Zoom and Lake Noorddiep) and 1 Danish lake (Lake Væng) during 4–5 years. A general response id described. The fish stock reduction led in general to a low fish stock, low chlorophyii-a, high transparency and high abunuance of macrophytes. Large Daphnia became abundant, but their density decreased, due to food limitation and predation by fish. The total nitrogen concentration became low due to N-uptake by macrophytes and enhanced denitrification. In Lake Bleiswijkse Zoom the water transparency deteriorated and the clear water state was not stable. The fish stock increased and the production of young fish in summer was high. lear water occurred only in spring. Large daphnids were absent in summer and the macrophytes decreased.In Lake Zwemlust, Lake Væng and Lake Noorddiep the water remained clear during the first five years. In summer of the sixth year (1992) transparency decreased in Lake Zwemlust (with high P-concentration of 1.0 mg P l^-1). Also in Lake Væng (with a low nutrient concentration of 0.15 mg P.^-1) a short term turbid stage (1.5 month) occurred in summer 1992 after a sudden collapse of the macrophytes. Deterioration of the water quality seems to start in summer and seems related to a collapse in macrophytes. At a low planktivorous fishstock (e.g. Lake Væng)thhe duration of the turbid state is shorter. than in presence of a high planktivorous fish biomass (e.g. Lake Zwemlust, and later years of Lake Bleiswijkse Zoom).     

Water level changes in a large shallow lake as reflected by the plankton:periphyton-ratio of sedimentary diatoms

Biostratigraphic diatom analyses were carried out on a short sediment core from the large shallow-water Lake Võrtsjärv, Estonia, in order to relate the diatom composition to the instrumental water level record. We dated the sediment core by radiometric methods (²¹⁰Pb, ¹³⁷Cs, ²⁴¹Am) and spheroidal fly-ash particle abundance chronology and evaluated the statistical significance of the relationships between the percentage of planktonic diatoms and the water level continuously monitored since 1871. Before the 1960s, the percentage of planktonic diatoms in the sediment showed quite strong positive relationship to water level. The impact of eutrophication after the 1960s presumably masked the influence of water level changes on the diatom community. In addition, statistical analysis of the upper part of the sediment core (1970—present day) together with measured limnological parameters of the lake showed that water transparency had the strongest influence on diatoms, while temperature, pH and alkalinity had lesser impacts. Our study shows that the planktonic:periphytic diatom ratio in the sediment can be used to track overall trends of the lake-level changes in Lake Võrtsjärv before the onset of cultural eutrophication; however, the results have to be interpreted carefully, taking into consideration other possible limnological factors such as water transparency, nutrients and wind.     

Algal communities near Cape Maclear,southern Lake Malaŵi,Africa

Algal communities were compared among benthic and net plankton samples from Cape Maclear, Lake Malai. In the cool mixing season (from May to August), rocks were overgrown byCladophora orCalothrix, accompanied by the diatomsRhopalodia, Cymbella, andNavicula. These diatoms, together withEpithemia andCocconeis, were epiphytic onCladophora and macrophytes. In sandy areas, the common diatoms wereRhopalodia, Fragilaria, Epithemia, Navicula, Surirella, andMelosira.In all phytoplankton samples, taken with a 10 µm mesh net, cyanophyte cells were the most common (70 to 80%), especially those ofOscillatoria. Biomass, however, was dominated byPeridinium from November to April and byAnabaena andOscillatoria from September to April when the mixolimnion was stratified. Among the chlorophytes,Oedogonium was the most common, especially from May into December whenPleodorina became more common.Diatoms dominated the biomass in the mixing season (May to September):Stephanodiscus in May, followed byMelosira nyassensis and lanceolateNitzschia species from mid-June through August. For the rest of the year the epilimnion was stratified and theseNitzschia species were virtually the only diatoms present.Benthic and planktonic communities share few taxa: benthic taxa never made up more than 2% of cells in offshore tows. This conclusion contrasts with previous reports, especially regardingSurirella. Consequently, an abundance of benthic taxa in sediment cores may be interpreted as lower lake level if sediment redistribution can be excluded. The seasonality of the planktonic diatoms is compatible with current ecological hypotheses, and therefore increases their value as paleolimnological indicators.     

Ingestion by deposit-feeding macro-zoobenthos in the aphotic zone does not affect the pool of live pelagic diatoms in the sediment

The ability of deposit feeders to utilise the pool of live planktonic diatoms in the sediment was investigated after the spring bloom in 2001 and 2002 at four sediment sites in the aphotic zone in the Kattegat. Seven species of deposit-feeding bivalves, gastropods and polychaetes were allowed to defecate in containers with filtered seawater. A total of 22 containers were set up holding between 3 and 32 animals, grouped by station and taxa. When defecation was completed, the animals were re-introduced to different stocks of homogenised sediment which were manipulated by addition of luminophores and spores of the diatom Chaetoceros diadema, and the faeces again collected and analysed. Our analysis included the number of germinable planktonic diatoms, measured by the dilution extinction method, and the concentrations of the algae pigments fucoxanthin and chl a, in the faeces samples, in the sediment stocks and in the sediment at the sampling location. Comparison between the sediment composition at the sampling locations, and the composition of the corresponding faeces, showed that the concentration of germinable diatoms averaged about 50,000 g⁻¹ dry weight (DW) in the surface sediment as well as in the faeces in 2001, while in 2002, the average concentration was about 390,000 g⁻¹ DW in both faeces and in the sediment. A similar comparison in the second part of the experiments also showed that the diatoms in the sediment were unaffected by gut passage and the added spores of C. diadema germinated in the same quantity in the faeces as in the sediment. The taxonomic composition of the diatoms in the faeces matched the composition at the respective stations and sediment stocks. Finally, the concentration of pigments did not change significantly during gut passage. The biomass of live planktonic diatoms in the area of study was estimated to be 2-10 g DW/m² or 0.2-5% of the total organic content in the top 3 cm of the sediment. It is concluded that this pool of diatoms is largely unaffected by deposit feeders and seems to be unimportant as a food source. It is hypothesised that the input of the spring bloom should be considered as composed of two fractions playing different roles for the benthic ecosystem. One fraction of dead organic material may be utilised immediately, while the fraction of live planktonic diatoms serve as a stable food buffer, which gradually become available to deposit feeders after the diatoms die and degradation starts.     

Short-term variations in particulate matter sedimentation off Kapp Norvegia,Weddell Sea,Antarctica: relation to water mass advection,ice cover,plankton biomass and feeding activity

Summary A multi-cup sediment trap was deployed at 250m in the shelf area off Kapp Norvegia, Weddell Sea (630 m water depth) to determine the relative importance of water mass advection, sea ice movement, phytoplankton biomass and plankton feeding. Short-term fluctuations in sedimentation were determined using a sampling frequency of 2.7 days over 54 days during January and February 1988. Three periods of enhanced sedimentation were associated with water mass exchange, settling of diatoms following break-up of ice cover and release of fecal matter by krill feeding on particulate matter derived from phytoplankton and ice algae. An initial sedimentation pulse (28 Jan) was mainly due to sinking pelagic diatoms and krill fecal strings containing algae released from sea ice passing over the trap position. The ¹³C-composition of the sedimented organic carbon was about-24. The isotope ratio decreased sharply by about 5.5 at the end of the first pulse indicating the source of sinking matter becoming pelagic diatoms of the retreating ice-edge. At this time the diatom Corethron criophilum contributed a very high proportion of the organic flux causing an increase of the opal/C_org ratios. The second pulse (6 Feb) was due to empty diatom frustules, minipellets and small planktonic aggregates. Much of the organic carbon was transported by round fecal pellets. During the third pulse (14 Feb), round fecal pellets transported even more; the percentage of C. criophilum to the diatom organic carbon flux was more than 80% (>2mg C m^–2 day^–1).Data presented here were collected during the European Polarstern Study (EPOS) sponsored by the European Science Foundation     

The size structure of plankton during a deep bloom in a stratified reservoir

In this paper we describe the main features of planktonic size structure in a stratified reservoir during a summer, deep bloom due to the dinoflagellate Ceratium hirundinella (O. F. Müller) Bergh. As one might expect from the eutrophic character of the ecosystem, the complete size-biomass spectrum is dominated by large phytoplankton and small zooplankton. The relation between numerical abundance (N, organisms per ml) and body size (V m³) for the overall size spectrum is described by the model log N = 7.25–0.99 log V (r ² = 0.93). However, the existence of tendencies in the points around the regression line suggest limiting linear scaling to the size range of unicells (log N = 6.34–0.51 log V, r ² = 0.85). The size structure shows the less negative slope at the level of the thermocline and when the bloom of C. hirundinella reaches its maximum. In the epilimnion, important taxonomic changes have no effect on the size structure, which appears to be a conservative character of the planktonic community at this level.     

Transduction of nitrate reductase loci of Escherichia coli by phages P-1 and lambda

Summary A lactate-nitrate medium suitable for genetic studies with nitrate reductase mutants (nar ^-) of Escherichia coli was devised. This permitted the selection of nar ^- strains by their failure to use nitrate as terminal electron acceptor during anaerobic growth, in addition to the selection procedure based on the chlorate resistance of nar ^- mutants. Transduction studies with phage P1 and nar ^- mutants from both sources demonstrated the existence of at least three nar genes in the gal region of the E. coli linkage map, their relative positions being: gal .... narF .... bio .... narD .... narE. Using phage cotransduction of narD with bio was observed and several independently-isolated defective -transducing phages were examined. Phage also transduced the narF gene with gal linkage but the narE gene was not -transducible.     

Response of a shallow boreal lake to recent nutrient enrichment – implications for diatom-based phosphorus reconstructions

Water quality of the shallow, mesotrophic, and macrophyte-dominated Lake Kaljasjärvi has been monitored at three to four year intervals since 1978. During the monitoring period, surface-water total phosphorus (TP) concentrations have typically varied between 20 and 25 g P l^–1. However, elevated total phosphorus concentrations were measured in 1987, 1991, and 1999. Diatom-based reconstruction of the historical lake-water TP concentrations was therefore employed to study the recent development of the lake. However, the diatom-TP model did not predict the high measured phosphorus concentrations despite the changes observable in diatom assemblages. In addition, the ratio of sedimentary diatom remains to chrysophycean stomatocysts declined towards the top of the sediment core, indicating decreasing trophy rather than eutrophication. Analysis of sedimentary pigments and phosphorus fractions, used to examine further the changes, also produced results that contradicted the simple eutrophication hypothesis. In particular, the proportion of chlorophyll derivatives instead of carotenoids increased and there was a rise in the concentration of refractory instead of NaOH-extracted phosphorus. These features appear to be related to the extensive littoral areas of the lake since enhanced littoral production can explain both the observed changes in sediment chemistry and the low diatom-inferred TP (DI-TP). Littoral primary producers are suggested to have benefited from the increased phosphorus inputs to the lake, transferring some of the phosphorus to the detrital pool and contributing to the increased pigment concentrations of sedimentary organic matter. High proportions of non-planktonic diatoms in the samples lower DI-TP because periphytic taxa are assigned low TP optima in the inference models used. Abundant aquatic macrophytes may also have made the lake resistant to eutrophication by assimilating nutrients, providing refuge for zooplankton, and having an allelopathic effect on phytoplankton. Since 1980, however, the sedimentary diatom assemblages also indicate increasingly eutrophic conditions. Additional loading from numerous cottages during the last 20 years seems to have caused observable changes in the phytoplankton communities.     

The<Emphasis Type="Italic"> ssgB</Emphasis> gene,encoding a member of the regulon of stress-response sigma factor σ<Superscript>H</Superscript>, is essential for aerial mycelium septation in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Streptomyces coelicolor</Emphasis> A3(2)

The Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) gene ssgB belongs to the regulon of stress-response sigma factor ^H. By integrative transformation via double cross-over, a stable null mutant of ssgB was obtained. This mutation had no obvious effect on vegetative growth, but critically affected aerial mycelium septation. The S. coelicolor ssgB mutant produced aerial hyphae without any signs of septation into spore compartments. The mutation was complemented in trans by wild-type ssgB including the ^H-dependent ssgBp promoter. The results proved that ssgB belongs a developmental branch of the ^H regulon.     

Sediment diatom assemblages and composition of pore-water dissolved organic matter reflect recent eutrophication history of Lake Peipsi (Estonia/Russia)

A paleolimnological approach was used for the assessment of the recent eutrophication history and identification of possible reference conditions in the large, shallow, eutrophic Lake Peipsi. Lake Peipsi is the fourth largest lake by area, and the largest transboundary lake in Europe, being shared between Estonia and Russia. Lake Peipsi has been anthropogenically impacted over a longer time-scale than that covered by instrumental limnological monitoring. The ²¹⁰Pb record and down-core distribution of fly-ash particles in the 40-cm core from the middle part of the lake suggest 130 years of sediment accumulation. Diatom assemblages indicate alkaline mesotrophic conditions and a well-illuminated water column, sediment pore-water fluorescence index values suggest low autochthonous productivity and a stable aquatic ecosystem similar to natural reference conditions during the second half of 19th and early 20th century. Near-synchronous stratigraphic changes including the expansion of the eutrophic planktonic diatom Stephanodiscus parvus, the appearance of new species associated with eutrophic lakes and the decrease in the relative abundance of littoral diatoms, together with changes in the fluorescence properties of sediment pore-water dissolved organic matter, imply increased nutrient availability, enlarged phytoplankton crops, reduced water-column transparency and the onset of human-induced disturbances in the lake since the mid-20th century. The most conspicuous expansion of eutrophic planktonic diatoms and maximum concentration of siliceous microfossils occur simultaneously with changes in the fluorescence indexes of pore-water dissolved organic matter, indicating a pronounced increase in the contribution of autochthonous organic matter to the lake sediment. This implies that nutrient loading and anthropogenic impact was at a maximum during the 1970s and 1980s. Sedimentary diatom flora may reflect a reduction of phosphorus loading since the 1990s. However, the absolute abundance of planktonic diatoms and sediment pore-water fluorescence index values vary greatly implying that the lake ecosystem is still rather unstable.     

Comparison of diatoms, fossil pigments and historical records as measures of lake eutrophication

1. Analysis of fossil diatoms and pigments was used to examine the effects of land-management practises on the trophic status of Williams Lake, a eutrophic lake in central British Columbia, Canada. Published weighted-average (WA) models were used to infer changes in total phosphorus concentration (TP) during the past 200 years. 2. Diatom-inferred TP (DI-TP) was compared to 20 years of direct chemical TP measurements to determine the accuracy of diatom-TP models in inferring mean summer TP in Williams Lake. Plant pigments were measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to quantify historical changes in gross algal community composition and abundance and to evaluate further diatom-TP inferences. 3. Palaeolimnological analyses showed that Williams Lake has been productive throughout the last 200 years. Diatoms characteristic of alkaline, eutrophic conditions were continuously present c. 1765–1990 AD. Carotenoids from filamentous cyanobacteria (myxoxanthophyll, aphanizophyll) were regularly present in Williams Lake sediments, although cryptophytes (alloxanthin), diatoms (diatoxanthin), chlorophytes (lutein-zeaxanthin, b-phorbins), and siliceous algae (diatoms, chrysophytes) or dinoflagellates (fucoxanthin) were also important components of past algal communities. Terrestrial disturbance (railway and road constructions, cattle ranching) increased lake production, but resulted in relatively little permanent environmental change. 4. Comparison of DI-TP with measured TP (1972–91) showed that inferences from simple WA models were similar to average summer TP (39.1 vs. 35.2 μg TP l^–1). Inferences resulting from data manipulations that down-weighted eutrophic lakes (outlier elimination, bootstrapping) or diatom species (square-root transformation, tolerance-weighting) were weakly and negatively correlated with measured TP, introduced bias into inference models, or underestimated measured TP. These patterns suggest that, when using diatom-TP models developed from sparsely populated regions, accurate palaeoecological inferences for TP in eutrophic lakes should avoid data manipulations which down-weight the most productive sites and taxa. 5. Comparison of DI-TP and fossil-inferred algal abundance during the past 200 years suggested that changes in nutrient inputs accounted for relatively little variation in past algal abundance. Although past changes in total algal biomass (as β-carotene) and DI-TP were broadly similar, the two variables were not significantly correlated (α = 0.05). In contrast, changes in DI-TP were significantly correlated with mean concentrations of diatom-specific carotenoids (diatoxanthin), although the explanatory power was low (r² = 0.16). These patterns suggest that the DI-TP model reflects more closely environmental conditions in Williams Lake during periods of diatom growth, and not necessarily those when total algal biomass is greatest.     

EFFECT OF THE SINKING RATE OF TWO DIATOMS (THALASSIOSIRA SPP.) ON UPTAKE FROM LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF PHOSPHATE1

The effect of the sinking rate, or rate of medium flow (φ) on the rate of phosphate incorporation (V) by the planktonic diatoms Thalassiosira fluviatilis Hust. and T. pseudonana Hasle & Heimdal in batch and chemostat cultures was determined by passing medium at defined flow rates (0.5–25.0 mm·min^?1) over algae on membrane filters. At concentrations from 1 to 100 μg phosphorus·l^?1 V, increases with increasing velocity of flow, approaching a maximum value (V_m) as described by the empirical relationship: where K_φ is the sinking rate value when V = 1/2 V_m+ V_o and V_o is the uptake at 0 rate of flow. By comparing uptake at controlled flow with uptake in a vigorously stirred medium, the phosphate concentration in the cell boundary layer can be determined. The sinking rate that reduces the phosphate concentration in the boundary layer to half of nominal concentration in the medium is much lower for the larger T. fluviatilis than for T. pseudonana. For both diatoms, it is inversely related to the nominal concentration.     

Characterization of ribonucleic acid synthesis by nuclei isolated from Zea mays

Nuclei were isolated from the shoots of Zea mays and assayed for endogenous RNA polymerase activity in vitro. Maximum incorporation from radioactive precursors (70 pmol [³H]uridine 5 monophosphate/100 g DNA) was reached after incubation for 1 h at 25°C. The RNA product, analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was polydisperse in size with an upper limit of 2x10⁶ daltons. Discrete peaks of rRNA were not detected, probably because of endogenous ribonuclease activity. The inclusion of -amanitin (4 g/ml) in the incubation reduced the total incorporation by approximately 40% but did not significantly alter the size of the RNA product. Although 40% of the total activity could be attributed to RNA polymerase II, [³H]RNA synthesised in vitro was found not to contain long sequences of poly (A).Abbreviations oligo (dT) oligo (deoxythymidylic acid) - poly (A) poly (adenylic acid) - GTP guanosine 5 triphosphate - ATP adenosine 5 triphosphate - CTP cytidine 5 triphosphate - UTP utidine 5 triphosphate - UMP uridine 5 monophosphate - PPO 2,5-diphenyloxazole - POPOP 1,4-di-2-(5-phenyloxazolyl) benzene     

The physiological response of Northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica) to temperature gradients in the Kattegat

The Alkor-Deep (140 m), which forms part of a depression system in the northern Kattegat channel east of the island of Læsø (Denmark), is the location of a self sustaining population of Northern krill, Meganyctiphanes norvegica (Euphausiacea). This population is exposed to one of the most pronounced thermal gradients within the distributional range of this pelagic crustacean. During summer, the temperature of the water column ranges between 4 and 6 in the deep to 16 °C near the surface which results in the krill being exposed to temperature differences of 8–10 °C during diel vertical migration. Oxygen consumption rates were used to investigate the physiological adaptation of the animal to such gradients in temperature. The rates were found to increase exponentially from 31 mol O₂ h^-1 g_dw ^-1 at 4 °C to 72 mol O₂ h^-1 g_dw ^-1 at 16 °C, giving a Q ₁₀-value of 2.0, and indicating that physiological adaptation to varying thermal conditions does not take place. Behavioural adaptations are discussed which may help the krill to cope with large temperature gradients in their environment.     

Paleolimnological evaluation of historical trophic state conditions in hypereutrophic Lake Thonotosassa, Florida, USA

We used paleolimnological methods to evaluate historical water quality in Lake Thonotosassa, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. Sediment mapping shows that organic deposits are unevenly distributed in the lake. Two short (<130 cm) sediment cores from the depositional zone were analyzed for radioisotopes (²¹⁰Pb, ²²⁶Ra, and ¹³⁷Cs), bulk density, organic matter concentration, nutrients (C,N,P), and diatoms. ²¹⁰Pb results indicate that the profiles represent > 100 years of sediment accumulation. There is an abrupt change in sediment composition at about the turn of the century (80 cm depth), above which bulk density decreases and concentrations of organic matter, total C, total N, total P, and ²²⁶Ra activity increase. Diatom-based reconstructions of historical water-column trophic conditions indicate progressive nutrient enrichment in the lake during the past 100 years. Stratigraphic changes in diatom assemblages suggest that anthropogenic nutrient loading converted Lake Thonotosassa from a naturally eutrophic system to a hypereutrophic waterbody after 1900. Given the edaphic setting of Lake Thonotosassa, efforts to mitigate recent anthropogenic impacts will, at best, yield the eutrophic conditions that characterized the lake prior to human disturbance. This study illustrates the importance of paleolimnological data for targeting realistic water quality conditions when lake restoration is contemplated.Journal Series No. R-05019 of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station     

Bioturbation experiments in the Venice Lagoon

Short experiments (14–21 days) were carried out during autumn 1998 and spring 1999 at one selected site of the Venice Lagoon to measure bioturbation activities and mixing rates, as well as to obtain quantitative information on benthos functionality. Fluorescent sediment particles (luminophores, 63–350 m) were introduced as pulse inputs at the sediment surface. The concentration–depth profiles of the tracer were simulated with a new advection–diffusion–non local model applied under non-steady state conditions. This allowed the quantification of the mixing parameters associated with different mechanisms: biodiffusion (D _b), bioadvection (W) and non-local mixing (Ke, z₁, z₂). A parameter RS (removed sediment) was also calculated to account for the flux of sediment due to non-local transport. Results show that bioturbation was dominated by biodiffusion in autumn and by bioadvection in spring. Mean mixing parameters Db, W, and RS changed from 3.09 to 0.87 cm² y^–1, from 0.93 to 15.50 y^–1 and from 5.85 to 7.79 g cm^–2 y^–1, respectively.     

The initiation of chromosome replication in a dnaAts46 and a dnaA+ strain at various temperatures

Summary The regulation of chromosome replication initiation was studied at various temperatures with an E. coli dnaA46 strain and its dnaA ⁺ parent. We find that, in both strains, the initiation mass varies depending upon growth temperature while the replication time remains constant relative to the cell doubling time. In the permissive temperature range, the initiation mass of the dnaA46 mutant strain is larger by a constant factor than that for a dnaA ⁺ strain. We conclude that, even at temperatures permissive for growth of the dnaA46 strain, the activity of the dnaA46 product is lower than that of the wild-type protein. The dnaA gene product, therefore, plays an important role in regulating initiation.     

Chloride distribution in the proximal convoluted tubule ofNecturus kidney

Summary To assess the mechanism(s) by which intraluminal chloride concentration is raised above equilibrium values, intracellular Cl^– activity ( _i ^Cl ) was studied in the proximal tubule ofNecturus kidney. Paired measurements of cell membrane PD (V _BL) and Cl-selective electrode PD (V _BL ^Cl ) were performed in single tubules, during reversible shifts of peritubular or luminal fluid composition. Steadystate _i ^Cl was estimated at 14.6±0.6 mmol/liter, a figure substantially higher than that predicted for passive distribution. To determine the site of the uphill Cl^– transport into the cell, an inhibitor of anion transport (SITS) was added to the perfusion fluid. Introduction of SITS in peritubular perfusate decreased _i ^Cl , whereas addition of the drug in luminal fluid slightly increased _i ^Cl ; both results are consistent with basolateral membrane uphill Cl^– transport from interstitium to the cell. TMA⁺ for Na⁺ substitutions in either luminal or peritubular perfusate had no effect on _i ^Cl . Removal of bicarbonate from peritubular fluid, at constant pH (a situation increasing HCO ₃ ^– outflux), resulted in an increase of _i ^Cl , presumably related to enhanced Cl^– cell influx: we infer that Cl^– is exchanged against HCO ₃ ^– at the basolateral membrane. The following mechanism is suggested to account for the rise in luminal Cl^– concentration above equilibrium values: intracellular CO₂ hydration gives rise to cell HCO ₃ ^– concentrations above equilibrium. The passive exit of HCO ₃ ^– at the basolateral membrane energizes an uphill entry of Cl^– into the cell. The resulting increase of _i ^Cl , above equilibrium, generates downhill Cl^– diffusion from cell to lumen. As a result, luminal Cl^– concentration also increases.C.N.R.S. Greco 24. Part of this work was presented at the 12^th annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology, Boston, Mass. (Edelman et al., 1979).     

Impact on lake development of changed agricultural watershed exploitation during the last three centuries

The history of the development of Lake Hejrede Sø (Denmark) and the related history of the watershed management were studied based on analyses of macrofossil content, chemical composition and Clostridium perfringens content in sediment cores. Depth-age relations of ecological changes were established through Pb²¹⁰ analyses, and a systematic search for written sources describing the watershed history was carried out.Lake Hejrede Sø used to be a humic, acid but relatively clearwater lake with an extensive submersed vegetation. Owing to deforestation and reclamation of bogs and meadows, the accumulation of nutrients in these ecotones vanished. Subsequently, in early 1800 the lake developed into a clearwater alkaline lake, and later became more eutrophic which resulted in the decline of the submersed vegetation. At the time the annual sediment phosphorus accumulation increased more than twofold, and influx of mineral matter increased drastically. In mid-1900, submersed vegetation had disappeared. The Clostridium perfringens analysis and the historical evidence show that no sewage was discharged to the lake until mid-1900, which implies that changed agricultural watershed exploitation and ecotone reclamation during the 19th century was the cause of the increased nutrient influx, and the deterioration of the lake.Written historical sources confirm the palaeolimnological interpretations and describe the agricultural practices responsible for the development.