Heterobimetallic aggregates of copper(I) with thiotungstates and thiomolybdates. Synthesis and characterization of polymeric (NEt4)3[Cu4(NCS)5WS4], (NEt4)2[(CuNCS)3WS4] and (NEt4)2[(CuNCS)4WS4], M = Mo, W

Reaction of (NEt₄)₂MS₄ (M = Mo, W) with CuCl and KSCN (or NH₄SCN) in acetone or acetonitrile affords a new set of mixed metal–sulfur compounds: infinite anionic chains Cu₄(NCS)₅MS_4³⁻ (1,2), (CuNCS)₃WS_4²⁻ (3) and two dimensional polymeric dianions (CuNCS)₄MS_4²⁻ (4,5). Crystal of 1 (M = W) and 3 are triclinic, space group P1(1:a = 10.356(2),b = 15.039(1),c = 17.356(2)Å, = 78.27(1)°, β = 88.89(2)° and γ = 88.60(1)°,Z = 2,R = 0.04 for 3915 independent data;3:a = 8.449(2),b = 14.622(4),c = 15.809(8)Å, = 61.84(3)°, β = 73.67(3)° and γ = 78.23(2)°,Z = 2,R = 0.029 for 6585 independent data). Crystals of 4 (M = W) and 5 (M = Mo) are monoclinic, space group P2₁/m,Z = 2 (4:a = 12.296(4),b = 14.794(4),c = 10.260(3)Åand β = 101.88(3)°,R = 0.034 for 4450 independent data;5:a = 12.306(2),b = 14.809(3),c = 10.257(2)Åand β = 101.99(3)°,R = 0.043 for 3078 independent data). The crystal structure determinations of 4 and 5 show that four edges of the tetrahedral MS_4²⁻ core are coordinated by copper atoms forming WS₄Cu₄ aggregates linked by eight-membered Cu(NCS)₂Cu rings. A two-dimensional network is thus formed in the diagonal (101) plane. The space between the anionic two-dimensional networks is filled with the NEt_4⁺ cations. Additional NCS groups lead to the [Cu₄(NCS)₅WS₄]³⁻ (1) trianion connected by NCS bridges forming pseudo-dimers. These latter are held together by weak CuS(NCS) interactions giving rise to infinite chains along a direction parallel to [100]. In contrast complex3 develops infinite chains from WS₄Cu₃ aggregates with the same Cu(NCS)₂Cu bridges as in 4 and 5. These chains are running along a direction parallel to [010]. The structural data of the different types of polymeric compounds containing MS_4²⁻ and CuNCS have been used to interpret vibrational spectroscopic data of the thiocyanate groups.     

Examination of an Oligocene lacustrine ecosystem using C and N stable isotopes

The Late Oligocene (25.8 Ma) Enspel Fossillagerstätte in Westerwald, Germany, contains a comprehensive fossil ecosystem preserved with specimens retaining morphological detail and a concentration of organic material. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses were used to examine the lacustrine ecosystem preserved in one stratigraphic horizon. These data suggest the presence of several trophic levels, including primary producers (diatoms and higher plants), primary consumers (e.g., tadpoles and insects), and secondary consumers (e.g., the fish species Paleorutilus enspelensis). Terrigenous and aquatic plants were associated with the lowest δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values (mean plant = − 26.28‰ ± 0.45, 3.18‰ ± 1.04), primary consumers such as flies are one trophic level higher, and carnivores such as fish are yet another level higher. The δ¹⁵N values for P. enspelensis also showed enrichment in ¹⁵N with increasing body length, implying a shift in diet or feeding strategy with size. P. enspelensis and tadpole (Pelobates decheni) samples showed intraorganism fractionation between ‘muscle’ and ‘bone’ tissues. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope data from the measurement of components (shale, leaves and seeds) common to a number of different stratigraphic horizons showed significant variation between horizons. A number of the features of the stable isotopic data are similar to those relationships seen in modern ecosystems and therefore suggest that stable isotope analyses can contribute to understanding ancient ecosystems.     

Determination of the thermodynamics of carbonic anhydrase acid-unfolding by titration calorimetry

The enthalpy of unfolding (Δ_uH) of carbonic anhydrase II was determined by titrating the protein with acid and measuring the heat using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) in the temperature range of 5 to 59 °C. By combining the ITC results with our previous findings by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the temperature range of 39 to 72 °C, the Δ_uH dependence over a wide temperature range was obtained. The temperature dependence of the enthalpy displays significant curvature indicating that the heat capacity of unfolding (Δ_uC_p) is dependent on temperature. The T-derivative of Δ_uC_p was equal to 100 ± 30 J/(mol × K²), with the result that the Δ_uC_p is equal to 15.8 kJ/(mol × K) at 5 °C, 19.0 kJ/(mol × K) at 37 °C and 21.8 kJ/(mol × K) at 64 °C. The enthalpy of unfolding is zero at 17 °C. At lower temperatures, the Δ_uH becomes exothermic.

This method of determining protein unfolding thermodynamics using acid-ITC, significantly widens the accessible T-range, provides direct estimate of the thermodynamic parameters at physiological temperature, and gives further insight into the third T-derivative of the Gibbs free energy of unfolding.     

Temperature dependence of the germination of tomato seeds

1. 1.|The germination of tomato “C38” seeds exposed to periodical white incandescent light occurs from 6.0° ± 0.2°C to 37.5° ± 0.2°C, being rate-limited for 10.3° T 25.9°C, and elsewhere limited by the germination capacity.

2. 2.|Rate averages are linearly T-dependent outside their optimum range (25.9° T 29.5°C) and rate variances are typically heterogeneous.

3. 3.|The smooth curvilinear Arrhenius plot indicates that diffusion processes cannot be rate-limiting outside the interval 25.9° T 29.5°C, whereas phase transitions and (or) transconformation of proteins may limit the rate above 34.9°C and, by opposite effects, below 15.3°C.

4. 4.|The thermal communication between the environment and the germinating seed proceeds by a temperature signal which is quenched by random thermal noise at T 11.2°C and at T 34.0°C.

The reaction between the superoxide anion radical and cytochrome c

1. 1. The superoxide anion radical (O₂⁻) reacts with ferricytochrome c to form ferrocytochrome c. No intermediate complexes are observable. No reaction could be detected between O₂⁻ and ferrocytochrome c.

2. 2. At 20 °C the rate constant for the reaction at pH 4.7 to 6.7 is 1.4 · 10⁶ M⁻¹ · s⁻¹ and as the pH increases above 6.7 the rate constant steadily decreases. The dependence on pH is the same for tuna heart and horse heart cytochrome c. No reaction could be demonstrated between O₂⁻ and the form of cytochrome c which exists above pH ≈ 9.2. The dependence of the rate constant on pH can be explained if cytochrome c has pKs of 7.45 and 9.2, and O₂⁻ reacts with the form present below pH 7.45 with k = 1.4 · 10⁶ M⁻¹ · s⁻¹, the form above pH 7.45 with k = 3.0 · 10⁵ M⁻¹ · s⁻¹, and the form present above pH 9.2 with k = 0.

3. 3. The reaction has an activation energy of 20 kJ mol⁻¹ and an enthalpy of activation at 25 °C of 18 kJ mol⁻¹ both above and below pH 7.45. It is suggested that O₂⁻ may reduce cytochrome c through a track composed of aromatic amino acids, and that little protein rearrangement is required for the formation of the activated complex.

4. 4. No reduction of ferricytochrome c by HO₂ radicals could be demonstrated at pH 1.2–6.2 but at pH 5.3, HO₂ radicals oxidize ferrocytochrome c with a rate constant of about 5 · 10⁵–5 · 10⁶ M⁻¹ · s⁻¹

.     

大连海域食物网连续营养谱

根据2008年1月—2017年6月在大连海域收集的因搁浅、误捕及救助无效而死亡的斑海豹、江豚、小须鲸等海洋哺乳动物及2016年秋季和2017年春季在该海域进行的渔业资源调查,应用稳定同位素技术,分析了大连海域海洋哺乳动物及主要生物样品的碳、氮稳定同位素比值(δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N),并计算其营养级,进而构建大连海域食物网的连续营养谱.结果表明: 大连海域食物网的δ¹⁵N值范围为8.0‰～14.7‰,δ¹³C值范围为-21.1‰～-16.7‰.主要生物种类可划分为初级消费者、次级消费者及顶级捕食者3个营养组群.δ¹⁵N值分析显示,主要生物种类的营养级范围为2.63～4.59,其中,小须鲸、江豚、斑海豹的营养级依次为3.16、4.11、4.25,棘皮动物为3.24～3.84,头足类为3.81～3.93,腹足类为3.65～4.13,双壳类为2.63～3.15,甲壳类为3.58～4.12,鱼类为3.20～4.59.营养结构特征显示,初级消费者主要为双壳类,次级消费者主要为小须鲸、头足类、棘皮类、腹足类、甲壳类,顶级捕食者主要为江豚、斑海豹、鱼类.随着江豚体长的增加,δ¹⁵N值有增大趋势,说明随着江豚生长和摄食能力的增强,其摄食的食物趋向于更高营养层次的生物.研究建立了大连海域食物网的连续营养谱,可以为海洋哺乳动物和渔业资源的保护提供依据.     

The concentration dependence of the ‘zero-shear’ specific viscosity for a commercial hydroxyethylmethylcellulose (HEMC) in water at several temperatures

This short paper presents preliminary results on the ‘zero-shear’ specific viscosity η_sp0 of a commercial hydroxyethylmethylcellulose (Tylose MH-4000) in water, at the temperatures 10, 25 and 40·5°C, over a wide range of concentrations. At the two higher temperatures, two regions are found in the plot of logC[η]₀ against logη_sp0 with a C^*[η]₀ value of about 2·5. This is consistent with the behaviour of other random-coil polymers. At 10°C however, there is an interesting ‘upward shift’ in this plot in the dilute region. It is suggested that this is related to the different degree of hydration of the oligo(ethyleneoxide) side chains at this temperature.     

The synthesis and characterisation of the trichloronitrosyl(acetylacetonato)technetium(II) anion, a novel technetium(II) complex

The reaction of [TcNOCL₄]⁻ with acetylacetone was found to give the complex [TcNO(acac)Cl₃]⁻. This complex has been fully characterised by X-ray crystallography and FAB⁻ Mass spectrometry. The former shows that one of the oxygens of the acac is trans to the nirtosyl which is essentially linear, although disorder in the crystal prohibits accurate measurements of the bond angle. The latter shows facile loss of a single chlorine which suggests that ligand exchange of this may be facile. The ESR spectrum at room temperature shows the expected 10 lines due to splitting by the technetium. At −196°C the spectrum may be modelled as having three g values,g_x = 2.0107,g_y = 2.02225 and g_z = 1.9460.     

Latent infection: a low temperature survival strategy in steinernematid nematodes

1. Entomopathogenic nematodes penetrate and kill Galleria mellonella within 48 h at optimal temperatures.

2. Low temperature induces infection latency, preventing host death until optimal conditions resume.

3. Infected Galleria survived 25 days at 5°C. On transfer to 25°C, 100% and 12.5% of Steinernema carpocapsae and Steinernema riobravis infected larvae died within 72 h.

4. Infective juvenile penetration decreased with decreasing temperature; declining from 49.7 and 49.3 nematodes/host at 25°C to 6.3 and 0.25 nematodes/host at 5°C for S. carpocapsae and S. riobravis, respectively.

5. Latent infection occurs, albeit infrequently, due to low host penetration at low temperature.

On the ecological energetics of 0-group Carcinus maenas (L.) from a shallow sandy bottom in gullmar fjord, Sweden

0-group Carcinus maenas (L.) was investigated from June 1975 to September 1976 on a shallow sandy bottom at Kvarnbukten Bay, Gullmar Fjord (58° 15′N: 11°28′E), Sweden, at an average salinity of 25% and a range of monthly mean temperatures of −0.3 to 197. °C.

The new year-class settles from August to early September at a carapace breath of 2 to 3 mm and a calorific content of 32 cal. The distribution is restricted to clusters of the mussel Mytilus edulis L. Depth, type of substratum, and patches of the eel-grass Zostera marina L. are of no importance for their spatial distribution. There is no migration to deeper water in the autumn. The carapace breadth is ≈ 9.5 mm after one year of benthic life. Sexual maturity is reached after two years. Growth occurs at temperatures above 10 °C, i.e., from August to October and from May to July. During the first year of benthic life the animals moult 7 times. The 0-group seems to be micro-carnivores feeding on the sediment meiofauna.

The individual energy budget for the first year of benthic life is: consumption (C_c) 905 cal., production (P_1c) 236 cal., cast carapaces (P_2c) 153 cal., respiration (R_c) 404 cal., and rejectiction (F_c) 112 cal. The assimilation efficiency (U_c⁻¹) is 88%, the gross growth efficiency (K_1c) 43%, and the net growth efficiency (K_2c) 49%.

At Kvarnbukten Bay there are large variations in size between the separate year-classes. The energy content of the food consumed by the 1975/76 cohort was used as follows: 4% was stored in living biomass after one year, 36% was released to other trophic levels as dead animals and cast carapaces, 13% rejected as faeces, and 47% was lost through respiration.     

A long-wave absorbing form of chlorophyll a responsible for the “red drop” in fluorescence at 298 °K and the F723 band at 77 °K

When Chlorella cells are ruptured at pH 4.6 by sonication in air, its absorption spectrum can be best explained if one assumes that a long-wave chlorophyll a form (Chl a 693) is preferentially destroyed. Using these preparations, and comparing them with the algal suspension and the sonicates prepared at pH 7.8 under argon, we make the following conclusions: (a) The red drop beginning at about 675–680 nm in the action spectrum^* of fluorescence at 298 °K must be due to the presence of a non-(or weakly) fluorescent form of chlorophyll a. We suggest that this form is Chl a 693. The red drop is absent in the aerobic sonicates. (b) The red drop in fluorescence in whole algal cells is not due to any errors in absorption measurements; this drop is clearly present in the anaerobic sonicates. (c) The emission band at 723 nm, discovered by in whole Chlorella cells at 77 °K, may be due to increased fluorescence efficiency of Chl a 693 at low temperature; the F723 band is absent in aerobic sonicates.     

Temperature and growth in Carcinus maenas L. (Decapoda: Portunidae) larvae reared in the laboratory from hatching through metamorphosis

Larvae of Carcinus maenas L. were reared in the laboratory from hatching through metamorphosis at 9, 12, and 18°C. Dry weight (DW) and elemental contents of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and hydrogen (H) were analysed at short intervals through successive larval moulting cycles (four zoea-stages, megalopa), and newly metamorphosed crabs. C. maenas larvae grew significantly during all instars, at all temperatures tested. Biomass (DW, C, N, H) and energy (Joule) slightly declined shortly before ecdysis in zoea stages. This terminal decrease was more distinct in the megalopa stage, where ≈39 and 83% of the maximum energy attained, was lost at 12 and 18°C, respectively. Changes of biomass and energy in successive moult cycles showed best fits to quadratic equations, whereas their maximum in successive larval instars formed exponential sequences with time. Due to parabolic growth curves, biomass and energy accumulation within single instars were discussed as maximum (MG) and effective growth (EG), considering gain both at times of maximum biomass, and shortly before ecdysis. Metamorphosing larvae achieved EG with 1137% (DW), 1195% (C), 1108% (N), 1395% (H), 1339% (Joule) at 12°C, and 1140% (DW), 1099% (C), 1133% (N), 1225% (H), 1107% (Joule) at 18°C, relative to newly hatched zoea-1. Ash content and inorganic C in newly hatched zoea-1, were 29.4% and 5.5% ash, respectively. The stoichiometric C H N method of Gnaiger & Bitterlich was used to assess protein, lipid, and carbohydrate compositions. Obviously proteins formed the major part of larval biomass (>50% DW). C: N ratios indicate that more lipid than protein was built up shortly after moulting, but relatively more protein was subsequently accumulated. Temperature effects on larval growth (MG, EG), growth rates (GR), and gross growth efficiencies (K₁) were discussed. C. maenas zoea stages accumulated energy and biomass with higher efficiencies at 18 than at 12°C. Megalopa growth seemed to be limited at 18°C, showing lower K₁ values than at 12°C. N was accumulated with higher efficiencies than C in all larval stages. Characteristic variations in larval K₁ values between premoult and ecdysis were discussed. Cumulative gross growth efficiencies (MG-related) were calculated as ≈11 and 10%, at 12 and 18°C, respectively.     

Chlorophyll a fluorescence and photochemical activities of chloroplast fragments

1. Comparative studies were made on the fluorescence characteristics of chlorophyll a at 20° and −193°, and quantum efficiencies for P 700 oxidation and NADP⁺ reduction were measured in chloroplasts and chloroplast fragments obtained after incubation with 0.5% digitonin.

2. Differences in the flurescence yield of chlorophyll a in flowing and stationary suspensions of untreated chloroplasts and of the large fragments are indicative of light-induced photoreduction of the quencher Q of chlorophyll a, associated with pigment System 2 (chlorophyll a₂). The relatively low constant fluorescence yield of chlorophyll a in the small fragments indicates the absence of fluorescent chlorophyll a₂ from these fragments and suggests that the low fluorescence is due to chlorophyll a, associated with pigmen System 1 (chlorophyll a₁). The ratio of the fluorescence yields of chlorophyll a₁ and chlorophyll a₂ is 0.45:1. In the large particles the concentration ratio of pigment System 1 and System 2 is 1:3.

3. The efficiencies of quanta absorbed at 673, 683 and 705 nm for NADP⁺ reduction and P 700 oxidation in untreated chloroplasts and chloroplast fragments indicate that digitonin treatment results in a separation of System 2 from System 1 in the small fragments. Sonication does not cause such a separation. Under the conditions used P 700 oxidation and NADP⁺ reduction in the small fragments separated after digitonin treatment, occurred with maximal efficiency of 0.7 to 1.0 and 0.7, respectively.

4. The constancy of the fluorescence yield of chlorophyll a₁ in the small fragments, under conditions at which P 700 is oxidized and NADP⁺ is reduced, is interpreted as evidence either for the hypothesis that the fluorescence of chlorophyll a₁ is controlled by the redox state of the primary photoreductant XH, or alternatively for the hypothesis that energy transfer from fluorescent chlorophyll a₁ to P 700 goes via an intrinsically weak fluorescent, still unknown, chlorophyll-like pigment.

5. The low-temperature emission band around 730 nm is argued not to be due to excitation by System 1 only; the relatively large half width of the band, as compared to the emission bands at 683 and 696 nm, suggests that it is possibly due to overlapping emission bands of different pigments.     

叶绿素的快速提取与精密测定

Arnon法是叶绿素提取和测定最经典、最常用的方法, 此法虽经多次改进, 但仍存在着检测波长误差大、计算公式有误、提取速度慢、测定结果不够准确以及操作步骤繁琐等缺陷。该文提出了二甲基亚砜(DMSO)高温提取、80%丙酮稀释的两步快速浸提法, 使叶绿素提取和测定过程缩短至3小时以内。通过对提取温度、提取时间、稀释比例及吸收光谱等进行系统分析, 筛选出了叶绿素的最佳提取条件和叶绿素含量的准确计算公式, 并用多种类型的植物材料验证了改进后的提取方法, 证明该方法具优越性和可靠性。具体测定方法是将植物材料切成1 mm宽的细丝或细段, 取50-100 mg材料于10 mL具塞试管中; 加入2 mL DMSO, 使植物材料浸没其中, 65°C高温避光提取至植物材料变白或透明; 冷却后加入8 mL 80%丙酮, 混匀, 测定663.6和646.6 nm处的吸光度。用公式计算叶绿素浓度: C_a (mg∙L^-1)=12.27A_663.6-2.52A_646.6; C_b (mg∙L^-1)=20.10A_646.6-4.92A_663.6; C_T (mg∙L^-1)=C_a+C_b=7.35A_663.6+17.58A_646.6。     

Rapid palaeoceanographic changes in the Benguela Upwelling System for the last 160,000 years as indicated by abundances of planktonic foraminifera

Two sediment cores retrieved from the continental slope in the Benguela Upwelling System, GeoB 1706 (19°33.7′S 11°10.5′E) and GeoB 1711 (23°18.9′S, 12°22.6′E), reveal striking variations in planktonic foraminiferal abundances during the last 160,000 years. These fluctuations are investigated to assess changes in the intensity and position of the upwelling centres off Namibia. Four species make up over 95% of the variation within the core, and enable the record to be divided into episodes characterized by particular planktonic foraminiferal assemblages. The fossil assemblages have meaningful ecological significance when compared to those of the modern day and the relationship to their environment. The cold-water planktonic foraminifer, Neogloboquadrina pachyderma sinistral [N. pachyderma (s)], dominates the modern-day, coastal upwelling centres, and Neogloboquadrina pachyderma dextral and Globigerina bulloides characterize the fringes of the upwelling cells. Globorotalia inflata is representative of the offshore boundary between newly upwelled waters and the transitional, reduced nutrient levels of the subtropical waters. In the fossil record, episodes of high N. pachyderma (s) abundances are interpreted as evidence of increased upwelling intensity, and the associated increase in nutrients. The N. pachyderma (s) record suggests temporal shifts in the intensity of upwelling, and corresponding trophic domains, that do not follow the typical glacial-interglacial pattern. Periods of high N. pachyderma (s) abundance describe rapid, discrete events dominating isotope stages 3 and 2. The timing of these events correlates to the temporal shifts of the Angola-Benguela Front (Jansen et al., 1997) situated to the north of the Walvis Ridge. Absence of high abundances of N. pachyderma (s) from the continental slope of the southern Cape Basin indicates that Southern Ocean surface water advection has not exerted a major influence on the Benguela Current System. The coincidence of increased upwelling intensity with the movement of the Angola-Benguela Front can be interpreted mainly by changes in strength and zonality of the trade wind system.     

Metabolism and thermoregulation in Maximowiczi''s voles (Microtus maximowiczii) and Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus campbelli)

1 Metabolic rates (Vo₂), body temperature (T_b), and thermal conductance (C) were first determined in newly captured Maximowiczi's voles (Microtus maximowiczii) and Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus campbelli) from the Inner Mongolian grasslands at a temperature range from 5 to 35 °C.

2 The thermal neutral zone (TNZ) was between 25 and 32.5 °C for Maximowiczi's voles and between 25 and 30 °C for Djungarian hamsters. Mean T_b was 37.0±0.1 °C for voles and 36.2±0.1 °C for hamsters. Minimum thermal conductance was 0.172±0.004 ml O₂/g h °C for voles and 0.148±0.003 ml O₂/g h °C for hamsters.

3 The mean resting metabolic rate within TNZ was 2.21±0.05 ml O₂/g h in voles and 2.01±0.07 ml O₂/g h in hamsters. Nonshivering thermogenesis was 5.36±0.30 ml O₂/g h for voles and 6.30±0.18 ml O₂/g h for hamsters.

4 All these thermal physiological properties are adaptive for each species and are shaped by both macroenvironmental and microenvironmental conditions, food habits, phylogeny and other factors.

铅污染对烤烟光合特性、产量及其品质的影响

为研究土壤中Pb污染对烤烟(Nicotiana tabacum)叶片光合特性、烟叶品质及其产量的影响,对烤烟主栽品种‘云烟85’进行了盆栽条件下的Pb污染实验,实验浓度为0、150、300、450、600、750和1 000 mg·kg^-1(以纯Pb²⁺计),分别于团棵期、现蕾期和采收期测定叶片光合特性的变化,并在采收期测定烟叶产量和烤后烟叶的品质变化。结果表明:在3个生育时期,Pb污染下供试烤烟品种叶片净光合速率(P_n)和气孔导度(G_s)均随Pb浓度的升高而下降,而胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)随Pb浓度的升高先增加后下降;PSⅡ活性(F_v/F_o)、最大光能转换效率(F_v/F_m)、光化学猝灭系数(q_P)、非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)、电子传递的量子产率(Ф_PSⅡ)、表观电子传递速率(ETR)和烟叶产量均随Pb浓度的升高而下降,不利于烟叶充分地利用捕光色素所吸收的光能,降低其光能利用效率,从而降低了光合速率;烤烟烟叶品质指标糖/碱比和氮/碱比升高,糖/碱比和氮/碱比分别为9.52~11.96和1.05~1.23,分别大于7(优质烟叶标准)和1(优质烟叶标准),不利于烟叶香吃味的形成。     

Critical thermal maximum and body water loss in first instar larvae of three Cetoniidae species (Coleoptera)

Critical thermal maximum (CT_max) and body water losses were measured in first instar larvae of Gnorimus nobilis, Osmoderma eremita (Trichiinae) and Cetonischema aeruginosa (Cetoniinae) when air temperature was increased gradually (0.5 °C/min) from 20 °C to the critical thermal maximum (CT_max), in dry air (near 0% R.H.).

The CT_max was significantly lower in O. eremita (45.6±0.7 °C) than in G. nobilis (48.5±0.6) and C. aeruginosa (51.4±0.9 °C).

An increase of 10 °C (30–40 °C) induced a 2-fold increase of the water loss in C. aeruginosa and O. eremita (Q₁₀=2.10±0.12 and 2.13±0.20, respectively). In the range from 40 to 45 °C to CT_max a strong increase of the water loss was observed in O. eremita and C. aeruginosa, respectively. Body water losses were significantly lower in C. aeruginosa than in O. eremita and G. nobilis over the range 20 °C—CT_max; no significant difference occurred between G. nobilis and O. eremita.     

How to measure the thermal death of Daphnia? A comparison of different heat tests and effects of heat injury

1. 1. The thermal death point of the water flea Daphnia magna (age < 24 h, cultured at 20°C) varied considerably depending on the method used. The median lethal dose (LD₅₀), induced by an acute 24 h heat exposure was 34.8°C. It was 37.8°C following a thermal shock for 15 min, and it was 39.4°C when a continuous temperature increase (0.2°C/min) was used.

2. 2. Heat death temperature of daphnids was related to the acute heating rate.

3. 3. The logarithm of median lethal time (Lt₅₀) of daphnids, kept at a constant high temperature, had a linear relationship to temperature (°C) within the range of 28.0–38.5°C.

4. 4. The mortality after heat exposure increased with recovery time at 20°C for up to 3 days.

5. 5. The animals which survived the heat exposure produced eggs and offspring. Furthermore, no time lag in development between the control and heat exposure group was observed.

6. 6. The comparison of the results made by different heat tests categorized to Methods 1 and 2 by Precht (1973), for use in the determination of lethal limits of ectotherms, has been discussed.

     

Thermal avoidance and preference in Daphnia magna

1. Water fleas (Daphnia magna) bred at 23°C were non-responsive to temperatures between 13 and 25°C.

2. At the lower (11°C) and upper limits (30°C) their klinokinetic avoidance behaviour showed a larger intraindividual than interindividual variation.

3. Thermal sensitivity for avoidance responses in D. magna was about 1.5°C.

4. For D. magna bred for one parthenogenetic generation at 14°C heat avoidance temperature was about 8°C lower, and cold avoidance temperature was about 1°C higher than in D. magna from 23°C.

5. In group experiments the animals showed some preference for the acclimation temperature.

6. Cold induced stenothermy and warm induced eurythermy in D. magna were related to the mode of reproduction.