茶叶中咖啡因和茶多酚提取技术研究

本文研究茶叶品种和质量、提取剂种类和萃取溶剂量对咖啡因和茶多酚提取得率、提取率和纯度的影响,结果表明:茶叶质量高,咖啡因和茶多酚的含量、得率和纯度就高。95％乙醇提取咖啡因和茶多酚的得率、提取率和纯度最高。1％氧化钙水溶液单纯提取咖啡因的得率、提取率和纯度较高。增加萃取次数和萃取溶剂量可提高咖啡因和茶多酚的得率,对产品纯度没有影响。     

Biofilm interactions between distinct bacterial genera isolated from drinking water

In the environment, multiple microorganisms coexist as communities, competing for resources and often associated as biofilms. In this study, single- and dual-species biofilm formation by, and specific activities of, six heterotrophic intergeneric bacteria were determined using 96-well polystyrene plates over a 72-h period. These bacteria were isolated from drinking water and identified by partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A series of planktonic studies was also performed, assessing the bacterial growth rate, motility, and production of quorum-sensing inhibitors (QSI). This constituted an attempt to identify key attributes allowing bacteria to effectively interact and coexist in a drinking-water environment. We observed that in both pure and dual cultures, all of the isolates formed stable biofilms within 72 h, with specific metabolic activity decreasing, in most cases, with an increase in biofilm mass. The largest single- and dual-biofilm amounts were found for Methylobacterium sp. and the combination of Methylobacterium sp. and Mycobacterium mucogenicum, respectively. Evidences of microbial interactions in dual-biofilm formation, associated with appreciable biomass variation in comparison with single biofilms, were found for the following cases: synergy/cooperation between Sphingomonas capsulata and Burkholderia cepacia, S. capsulata and Staphylococcus sp., and B. cepacia and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and antagonism between S. capsulata and M. mucogenicum, S. capsulata and A. calcoaceticus, and M. mucogenicum and Staphylococcus sp. A neutral interaction was found for Methylobacterium sp.-M. mucogenicum, S. capsulata-Staphylococcus sp., M. mucogenicum-A. calcoaceticus, and Methylobacterium sp.-A. calcoaceticus biofilms, since the resultant dual biofilms had a mass and specific metabolic activity similar to the average for each single biofilm. B. cepacia had the highest growth rate and motility and produced QSI. Other bacteria producing QSI were Methylobacterium sp., S. capsulata, and Staphylococcus sp. However, only for S. capsulata-M. mucogenicum, S. capsulata-A. calcoaceticus, and M. mucogenicum-Staphylococcus sp., dual-biofilm formation seems to be regulated by the QSI produced by S. capsulata and Staphylococcus sp. and by the increased growth rate of S. capsulata. The parameters assessed by planktonic studies did not allow prediction and generalization of the exact mechanism regulating dual-species biofilm formation between the drinking-water bacteria.     

Differences in the location of subcotyledonary buds among Epilobium angustifolium L., E. dodonaei Vill. and E. fleischeri Hochst. (Onagraceae) and effects on architecture and population structure

STÖCKLIN, J., 1992. Differences in the location of subcotyledonary buds among Epilobium angustifolium L., E. dodonaei Vill. and E. fleischeri Hochst. (Onagraceae) and effects on architecture and population structure . Morphological and architectural features in the two closely related pioneer plant species Epilobium dodonaei and E. fleischeri are examined in cultivation and in the field and compared with E. angustifolium. In E. angustifolium , the aerial shoot system is renewed every year from buds on horizontal roots and results in a horizontal spread and a clonal growth form. In E. dodonaei , bud formation is restricted to the hypocotyl and in larger plants to the transitional region between root and shoot. Consequently this species shows no vegetative mobility and develops a shrub-like habit. The alpine E. fleischeri combines the habit of E. angustifolium and E. dodonaei and may either develop successive generations of shoots from the transitional region between root and shoot and/or exploit new areas by horizontal roots and the formation of shoots from root buds. The simple difference in the location of renewal buds is accentuated by cumulative growth. The study shows that E. dodonaei and E. fleischeri , which often are considered as subspecies, are separated by fundamental differences in their architectural models. The ecological and demographic implications of these differences are discussed.     

The study of molecular mechanisms of action of natural amino acids and serotonin on adenylyl and guanylyl cyclases of the ciliates

It has been previously shown that some amino acids and their derivatives are capable of regulating the activity of adenylyl cyclase (AC) and guanylate cyclase (GC) in free-living ciliates Dileptus anser and Tetrahymena. The aim of this work was to study the molecular mechanisms of action of methionine, tyrosine, alanine and neurohormone serotonin on the activity of enzymes-cyclases and the identification of their specific receptors in D. anser and T. pyriformis. Methionine and serotonin significantly increased the basal AC activity in both ciliates, and the AC effect of serotonin in T. pyriformis was carried out with the participation of Ca2+-dependent form of AC and heterotrimetic G proteins. AC stimulating effect of tyrosine and alanine was expressed weakly and only detected in D. anser. Serotonin is both ciliates and alanine in D. anser stimulated GC activity, whereas methionine and tyrosine had no effect on GC. Methionine and serotonin bind to surface receptors of the ciliates with high affinity. K(D) for [methyl-3H] methionine binding to D. anser and T. pyriformis were 7.5 and 35.6 nM, and for [3H] serotonin binding were 2.7 and 4.7 nM, respectively. Alanine and tyrosine bind to the ciliates with low affinity. Thus, ciliates D. anser and T. pyriformis have chemosignaling systems regulated by amino acids and their derivatives and including the enzymes with cyclase activity. There is an assumption that these systems are similar to hormonal signaling systems of higher eukaryotes and are their predecessors.     

The effect of nitrogen fertilization and rust fungus infection, singly and combined, on the leaf chemical composition of Rumex obtusifolius

1. The chrysomelid beetle Gastrophysa viridula occurs on Rumex obtusifolius growing in a range of nutrient conditions and also on plants infected with the foliar fungus Uromyces rumicis . In a controlled environment, we investigated the effect of fertilizing plants with eight nitrate and four ammonium concentrations, with or without infection, on leaf nutritional quality.
2. Increasing nitrate fertilization increased leaf oxalate, total nitrogen and nitrate concentrations and water content, and decreased total non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations. Increasing ammonium fertilization increased leaf nitrogen concentration and water content, decreased nitrate and NSC concentrations, and had no effect on oxalate concentrations.
3. Infection produced a mainly additive effect to fertilization, increasing NSC and oxalate, and decreasing nitrate and nitrogen concentration in whole plants fed nitrate, and increasing nitrate and NSC in whole plants fed ammonium.
4. Young leaves on infected plants remained uninfected and had greater nitrogen and NSC concentrations, and lower oxalate and nitrate concentrations, than infected leaves on the same plant.
5. These results are discussed in relation to changes in C:N and NSC:organic nitrogen ratios, the effect of nitrate and oxalate, and the known feeding and oviposition preferences of the beetle. The results suggest that there is an optimum nitrogen fertilization level for G. viridula development.     

粪肠、屎肠球菌及相近种部分持家基因的系统发育分析

【目的】利用16S rRNA、clpX和recA基因分子标记研究Enterococcus faecalis、Enterococcus faecium及相近种间的种系发育关系,并比较这些基因序列对E.faecalis、E.faecium及相近种的区分能力。【方法】以分离自传统乳制品中的9株E.faecium和1株E.durans分离株为研究对象,以clpX和recA基因片段为标记,通过PCR扩增、测序,结合已公布的近缘种相应序列构建系统发育树并与16S rRNA基因进行比较。【结果】在基于clpX和recA基因的进化树中,10株试验菌株与E.faecalis始终处于同一分支。与该物种这两个基因的平均相似性为99.6%和98.6%,与另一分支的Faecium-group(E.durans和E.faecium)的平均相似性仅为61.5%和33.5%。相近种E.durans和E.hirae间这两个基因的差异性为20.3%和39.0%;在基于16S rRNA基因的进化树中,试验菌株与Faecium-group(E.lactis、E.faecium、E.durans、E.hirae)处于同一分支。与这些成员间该基因的相似性大于99.6%,与E.faecalis基因的平均相似性可达98.4%。相近种间该基因相似性无明显差异。【结论】按照10株试验菌株clpX和recA基因的分析结果可将由传统生理生化和16S rRNA基因序列鉴定的9株E.faecium和1株E.durans归类为E.faecalis,clpX和recA基因可用于部分相近种的分类鉴定。     

植被覆盖对科尔沁沙地土壤生物结皮及其下层土壤理化特性的影响

为了解不同植被覆盖对沙地土壤生物结皮及其下层土壤的影响,于2006年调查了科尔沁沙地冷蒿、小红柳、杨树和樟子松等植被封育区土壤生物结皮及结皮下0～5 cm土壤的理化特性.结果表明：经过15年的封育保护和植被建设,科尔沁沙地天然植被和人工植被下流动沙地大部分被生物结皮所覆盖,其结皮覆盖度可达60%～80%,厚度1～2 cm;在调查的几种植被中,小红柳植被区的土壤结皮厚度、硬度、粘粉粒、有机质和养分含量最高,其次是樟子松林地,杨树林地和冷蒿植被区相对较差;几种植被区的苔藓结皮的结皮厚度、硬度、粘粉粒、有机质和养分含量均优于地衣结皮;与流动沙地相比,结皮下0～5 cm土壤的理化特性有明显改善,改善程度苔藓结皮强于地衣结皮,小红柳和樟子松植被区强于杨树林地和冷蒿群丛;土壤结皮及结皮下表土理化特性的变化既受植被覆盖类型的影响,也受制于土壤结皮的发育.由于枝叶繁茂的中、高植被有利于降风滞尘和产生较多的凋落物,因而更能促进沙地结皮发育和土壤改良,而苔藓结皮较地衣结皮更有利于其下层土壤理化特性的改善.     

长白山红松阔叶林主要树种高度生态位的研究

森林生态系统内主要乔木的高度生态位反映了不同树种在各个高度资源单位内资源利用的互补情况,同时也是表征森林生态系统演替的趋势及其森林循环过程主要特征之一．生物学特性和生态学特性接近的树种的高度生态位重叠较大,反之则较小．在Ｇａｐ内,色木槭和扭筋槭的高度生态位重叠最大,而青楷槭和千金榆、花楷槭和水曲柳、青楷槭和裂叶榆的高度生态位重叠较小;在非Ｇａｐ生态系统内,青楷槭和白牛槭的高度生态位重叠最大,青楷槭和裂叶榆、青楷槭和千金榆、花楷槭和水曲柳的高度生态位重叠较小．红松和阔叶树之间的高度生态位分离较大,利用资源的方式和能力差异较大,它们之间可以在不同空间的资源利用上达到互补,种间竞争较弱,从而能够保持红松和阔叶树之间长期而稳定的共存．但Ｇａｐ内红松和阔叶树的高度生态位重叠均大于非Ｇａｐ生态系统,可见Ｇａｐ的存在加大了红松和阔叶树之间的种间竞争,减小了红松和阔叶树之间的资源互补利用的能力．Ｇａｐ削弱了个体生态位重叠值较大的树种间的种间竞争,增强了个体生态位重叠值较小的树种间的种间竞争     

beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase isoenzymes during chick embryo development

1. Two forms (I and II) with acidic pH optima and a neutral form of beta-hexosaminidase has been separated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and characterized in skin and lung of 7, 9, 11, 14 day chick embryos and 1 day old chicken. 2. Forms I and II are similar to hexosaminidase A and B for their behaviour on DEAE-cellulose chromatography, Concanavalin A-Sepharose column and thermal stability. 3. Neutral form has a neutral pH optimum and higher molecular weight and a more acidic I. P. than forms I and II, a low beta-N-acetylgalactosaminidase activity and it is not bound by a Concanavalin A-Sepharose column and in that resemble hexosaminidase C and/or other neutral hexosaminidases. 4. We have found differences in the percentage of neutral form and in the specific activities of the extracts in the skin in different stages of development. 5. No significant differences were observed in the lung.     

水稻－土壤生态系统对Cu、As污染的缓冲作用

通过对冶炼厂区周围水系、土壤和水稻中Ｃｕ、ＡＳ含量分析,探讨其对农田生态环境的影响．结果表明,各稻田耕作层渗出水和相邻塘水中的Ｃｕ平均浓度分别为０．０５９和０．０７ｂｍｇ·Ｌ（－１）,Ａｓ为３１．６８和４２．７９μｇ·Ｌ（－１）,稻田土壤中未出现Ｃｕ、Ａｓ明显的梯度累积变化以及水稻能吸收累积相当数量的Ｃｕ、Ａｓ,它们大部分累积在根部．可以认为,水稻一土壤生态系统本身对Ｃｕ、ＡＳ污染具有相当大的缓冲作用．     

纤毛鹅观草与本田鹅观草的生物系统学研究

本文通过对鹅观草属的两个种:本田鹅观草(Roegneria hondai Kitagawa)和纤毛鹅观草(R.ciliaris(Trin)Nevski)及其种间杂种的形态变异、染色体配对行为和同工酶电泳酶谱的分析,研究了这两个种间的亲缘关系,杂种F_1减数分裂染色体配对数很高,F_1自然条件下具有低的结实率。R.ciliaris根部和幼叶的酯酶、过氧化物酯同工酶谱与R.hondai的酶谱间存在差异。上述结果表明,R.ciliaris和R.hondai亲缘关系很近,享有两个共同的基本染色体组,可拟定R.hondai的染色体组为S~hy~h。R.ciliaris同R.hondai间的亲缘关系较R.ciliaris同R.pendulina和R.pendulina同R.hondai间更近。     

The fluorescence of some biphenyl derivatives

1. The variation with pH of the excitation and fluorescence wavelengths and fluorescence intensity of several hydroxy- and amino-biphenyls has been investigated with a view to using the data for the determination of hydroxybiphenyls in biological material. 2. 2- and 3-Hydroxy-, 2,2'-dihydroxy-, and 2-, 3- and 4-amino-biphenyl exhibited excited-state ionization. 4-Hydroxy- and 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl did not, and showed normal fluorescence changes with pH. 3. Biphenyl and 2- and 4-methoxybiphenyl showed no changes in fluorescence in the range pH0-14. 4. 4,4'-Dihydroxybiphenyl showed fluorescent peaks corresponding to the un-ionized form, the monoanion and dianion at the appropriate pH values, but 2,2'-dihydroxybiphenyl showed fluorescent peaks corresponding to the un-ionized form and the monoanion only, suggesting that it did not form a dianion. 5. 3- and 4-Nitrobiphenyl were non-fluorescent. 6. These results are discussed.     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: People Without Government. An Anthropology of Anarchism. By Harold Barclay The Anarchists of Casas Viejas. By Jerome R. Mintz Hermeneutics and the Human Sciences. Essays on Language, Action and Interpretation. By Paul Ricoeur. Edited, translated and introduced by John B. Thompson The Anthropological Circle. Symbol, Function, History. By Marc Auge Sciences and Cultures. Anthropological and Historical Studies of the Sciences. Edited by Everett Mendelsohn and Yehuda Elkana Australian Sociologies. By Diane J. Austin. George Allen & Unwin Social Inequality in Australian Society. By John S. Western Which Way Is Up? Essays on Class, Sex and Culture. By R. W. Connell. George Allen and Unwin The Australian Journal of Historical Archaeology, Volume 1, January 1983. Edited by Graham E. Connah Pacific Cultural Material in New Zealand Museums. By Roger Neich A Prehistory of Australia, New Guinea and Sahul. By Peter White with James F. Connell The Alligator Rivers: Prehistory and Ecology in Western Arnhem Land. By Carmel Schrire Reward and Punishment in Arnhemland 1962–1963. By Edgar Wells Daughters of the Dreaming. By Diane Bell We Are Bosses Ourselves. The Status and Role of Aboriginal Women Today. Edited by Fay Gale Sorcerers and Healing Spirits. Continuity and Change in an Aboriginal Medical System. By Janice Reid Languages of Kinship in Aboriginal Australia. Edited by Jeffrey Heath, Francesca Merlan and Alan Rumsey Searching for Aboriginal Languages: Memoirs of a Field Worker. By Bob Dixon Vanuatu: Politics, Economics and Ritual in Island Melanesia. Edited by Michael Allen Gifts and Commodities. By C. A. Gregory The Political Economy of the South Pacific. By Michael C. Howard To Find the Baruya Story. A film by Allison and Marek Jablonko and Stephen Olsson. Her Name Came on Arrows. A film by Allison and Marek Jablonko and Stephen Olsson.     

长江中下游湖泊两种混生苦草属植物生活史特征与共存分布格局

 在对长江中下游流域湖南、湖北、江西和安徽4省25个湖泊苦草属(Vallisneria)植物种群进行广泛的取样调查、鉴定和查明种间共存格局的基 础上,结合同园种植实验,对该属两个混生近缘种刺苦草(V. spinulosa)和苦草(V. natans)有性和无性生活史特征进行了定量测定和比较研究 ,探讨了种间生活史差异对种间共存格局的影响。结果表明：1)刺苦草是长江中下游湖泊的优势物种,苦草为常见种,而密刺苦草(V. denseserrulata)仅有很少分布;2)苦草和刺苦草常混生于这些湖泊中,形成共存分布格局：刺苦草和苦草种间呈明显的的带状相间分布格局, 或苦草只零星分布于刺苦草群落中;3)刺苦草和苦草有性和无性生活史特征显著不同：刺苦草为多年生,主要以无性繁殖为主,只有有限的有 性繁殖投入;相反,苦草在调查的地区为一年生,以有性繁殖为主,只进行微弱的克隆生长,且不能产生克隆繁殖器官(冬芽)。刺苦草和苦草 在有性和无性繁殖生活史对策上的权衡,导致种间资源利用和竞争能力的分异而使这两个近缘种得以共存。     

基于psbA-trnH序列变异分析川明参属亲缘关系及分类地位

采用PCR直接测序法对伞形科(Apiaceae)前胡族(Trib.Peucedaneae)种类川明参(Chuanminshen violaceum Sheh et Shan)、泰山前胡〔Peucedanum wawrae(H.Wolff)Su〕和华中前胡(P.medicum Dunn)以及美味芹族(Trib.Smyrnieae)种类明党参(Changium smyrnioides H.Wolff)、宝兴棱子芹(Pleurospermum davidii Franch.)、丽江棱子芹(P.foetens Franch.)和鸡冠棱子芹(P.cristatum de Boiss.)的叶绿体基因组psbA-trnH片段进行了扩增测序,获得的序列已提交至GenBank,登录号为KF557756—KF557762。结合引自GenBank的前胡族阿魏属(Ferula Linn.)1种、大瓣芹属(Semenovia Regel et Herder)1种、当归属(Angelica Linn.)2种和美味芹族的舟瓣芹属(Sinolimprichtia H.Wolff)1种、羌活属(Notopterygium de Boiss.)1种、瘤果芹属(Trachydium Lindl.)1种以及针果芹族(Trib.Scandicineae)刺果芹〔Turgenia latifolia(Linn.)Hoffm.〕的psbA-trnH片段序列,对各种类的psbA-trnH片段信息进行分析;并以刺果芹为外类群构建了MP、ML和BI系统发育树。结果表明:川明参和明党参的psbA-trnH片段长度均为258 bp、GC含量均为23%,而其他种类的psbA-trnH片段长度为228~405 bp、GC含量为26%~35%;排序后psbA-trnH序列总长度为553 bp(包括空位),其中变异位点237个、信息位点178个。川明参与明党参间的相对遗传距离最小(仅为0.02),而川明参与其他种类间的相对遗传距离为0.10~1.34,且总体上川明参与美味芹族种类的相对遗传距离较小,表明川明参与明党参及美味芹族种类的亲缘关系较近。在3类系统树上,川明参与明党参均聚在一起,并与美味芹族的属种聚为一大支,而远离由前胡族属种构成的另一大支。结合外部形态和果实解剖结构特征,建议将川明参属(Chuanminshen Sheh et Shan)从前胡族中分出并置于美味芹族中,与明党参属(Changium H.Wolff)为姐妹类群。     

Repertoire, genealogy and genomic organization of cruzipain and homologous genes in Trypanosoma cruzi, T. cruzi-like and other trypanosome species

Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease, is a complex of genetically diverse isolates highly phylogenetically related to T. cruzi-like species, Trypanosoma cruzi marinkellei and Trypanosoma dionisii, all sharing morphology of blood and culture forms and development within cells. However, they differ in hosts, vectors and pathogenicity: T. cruzi is a human pathogen infective to virtually all mammals whilst the other two species are non-pathogenic and bat restricted. Previous studies suggest that variations in expression levels and genetic diversity of cruzipain, the major isoform of cathepsin L-like (CATL) enzymes of T. cruzi, correlate with levels of cellular invasion, differentiation, virulence and pathogenicity of distinct strains. In this study, we compared 80 sequences of genes encoding cruzipain from 25 T. cruzi isolates representative of all discrete typing units (DTUs TcI-TcVI) and the new genotype Tcbat and 10 sequences of homologous genes from other species. The catalytic domain repertoires diverged according to DTUs and trypanosome species. Relatively homogeneous sequences are found within and among isolates of the same DTU except TcV and TcVI, which displayed sequences unique or identical to those of TcII and TcIII, supporting their origin from the hybridization between these two DTUs. In network genealogies, sequences from T. cruzi clustered tightly together and closer to T. c. marinkellei than to T. dionisii and largely differed from homologues of T. rangeli and T. b. brucei. Here, analysis of isolates representative of the overall biological and genetic diversity of T. cruzi and closest T. cruzi-like species evidenced DTU- and species-specific polymorphisms corroborating phylogenetic relationships inferred with other genes. Comparison of both phylogenetically close and distant trypanosomes is valuable to understand host-parasite interactions, virulence and pathogenicity. Our findings corroborate cruzipain as valuable target for drugs, vaccine, diagnostic and genotyping approaches.     

The identification, localization, and pharmacology of FMRFamide-related peptides and SCPB in the penis and crop of the terrestrial slug, Limax maximus

1. The molluscan neuropeptides FMRFamide, pQDPFLRFamide, and SCPB were tested on the isolated crop and penis of the terrestraial slug, Limax maximus. FMRFamide and pQDPFLRFamide stimulated the penis and inhibited contractions of the crop. In contrast, SCPB either stimulated or relaxed the penis and increased the tone of the crop. 2. Fibers and varicosities containing immunoreactive (ir-) FMRFamide and ir-SCPB were located in the penis and crop. 3. Extracts of penes, crops, ganglia, and whole animals all contained FMRFamide, FLRFamide, SDPFLRFamide, NDPFLRFamide, and pQDPFLRFamide. 4. These results suggest that the FMRFamide-related peptides and SCPB are involved in the regulation of the reproductive and digestive activities of Limax.     

温度和盐度对浒苔生长和光合生理特性的影响

为研究海水盐度和温度对大型海藻光合生理影响的复合效应,选取浒苔（Ulva prolifera）为实验材料,探讨不同温度（22℃和15℃）和不同盐度（25和10）对浒苔的相对生长速率、色素含量、叶绿素荧光参数、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性、可溶性蛋白含量等影响。结果表明:在低温条件下,盐度对浒苔生长的影响不显著,而在正常温度条件下,盐度降低显著降低了浒苔的生长;在低盐条件下,尽管差异不显著,温度降低呈现出促进浒苔生长的趋势,但在正常盐度条件下,低温降低了浒苔的生长。相对于温度变化,盐度变化对浒苔潜在的光合效率（F_v/F_m）影响不明显,但低温低盐处理下浒苔具有较高的效光化学效率（F_v’/F_m’）、光能利用效率（α）、非光化学淬灭（NPQ）、SOD酶活性及可溶性蛋白含量。     

Comparison of rat plasma glycoprotein composition with biochemical activity and morphology of liver Golgi apparatus in streptozotocin diabetes treated with insulin

The seromucoid level and its neutral sugar composition were studied and the results compared with Golgi-enriched membrane UDP-Gal leads to GlcNAc transferase activity and the morphology of the liver Golgi apparatus in situ. Four groups of rats were studied: 1. control, 2. streptozotocin diabetic, 3. insulin treated, and 4. streptozotocin diabetic and insulin treated. In many respects a correlation was observed between the seromucoid level and composition and the biochemical and morphological properties and composition and the biochemical morphological properties of the Golgi apparatus.     

Seasonal allocation of energy to respiration, growth and reproduction in the freshwater clams, Pisidium variabile and P. compressum (Bivalvia: Pisidiidae)

SUMMARY. 1. The ecological energetics of the pisidiid clams, Pisidium variabile and P. compressum , from permanent ponds in southwestern Ohio were studied from July 1978 to July 1980. Productivity (P; as g C m⁻² yr ⁻¹) was 1.82 (0.80 and 1.02 for the spring and autumn generations) and 4.22 (2.69 and 1.53 for the spring and autumn generations) for P. variabile and P. compressum , respectively.
2. The average biomass (B; as g C m⁻²) of P. variabile was 0.54 (0.30 and 0.24 for the spring and autumn generations) and of P. compressum 1.09 (0.69 and 0.40 for the spring and autumn generations). P:B ratios for the spring and autumn generations of P. variabile were 2.7 and 4.2 and of P. compressum 3.9 and 3.8, which are below those reported for other iteroparous invertebrates.
3. Reproductive effort (Re:Px100) was 5.1 and 5.7 for the generations of P. variabile and 7.7 and 8.8 for the generations of P. compressum. These low values relative to other molluses can be attributed to a viviparous mode of reproduction and exposure to local environmental variability. In addition, the differences between the reproductive efforts of the spring and autumn generations of both species can be ascribed to season of birth and altometric constraints on reproductive capacity.
4. The data from this and related studies on pisidiid clams are used to generate several hypotheses concerning the evolution of life cycles in the family: (1) reproductive effort is limited by allometric constraints on clam size; (2) individuals of different ages can have different demographies and physiological rate functions; and (3) current one-dimensional life history theories are largely inappropriate when dealing with an organism that has a wide range of phenotypic responses to environmental variability as well as complex age structure.