Theoretical habitat templets, species traits, and species richness: ostracods (Crustacea) in the Upper Rhône River and its floodplain

• 1 Ostracods occurring at two sections of the Upper Rhône River, France, were examined to determine relationships among species traits, habitat utilization, the relationship between species traits and habitat utilization, and trends in species traits and species richness in the context of spatial and temporal variability of habitats. Twenty regularly sampled species were used in this study and fifteen species traits were considered.
• 2 Throe groups can be distinguished according to their species traits: group 1 has species of mixed sizes with high reproductive rates, short life span, spherical shape, long swimming bristles, low thigmotactism, and high resistance to desiccation; group 2 has medium-sized species with low reproductive rates, long life span, low or no tolerance to desiccation, geometric (trapezoidal, triangular) or streamlined carapace shape, no swimming bristles, and a strong thigmotactism; group 3 has the largest species with parthenogenetic reproduction, medium-sized swimming bristles, and flattened or cylindric carapace shape.
• 3 Ostracod habitat utilization segregates the superficial and interstitial habitats along a gradient from the main channel to the abandoned arms and to the temporary waters.
• 4 The co-structure (= relationship) between species traits and habitat utilization indicates that the species use particular habitats with a particular set of species trait modalities. Species with long life spans, late maturity, low fecundity, and low migratory ability are restricted to the interstitial habitats; the epigean species with long life spans, large size, and parental care are more abundant in permanent flowing and standing surface waters; the epigean species with short life spans, high migratory ability, and high tolerance to desiccation are more abundant in temporary ponds.
• 5 The analyses of the distribution of the species traits in a river habitat templet of spatial and temporal variability emphasized that the main disturbance structuring the Rhône River ostracod assemblage is desiccation.
• 6 Of the trends predicted for species traits in the framework of the river habitat templet, five (size, body form, attachment, reproductive technique, and mobility) are clearly opposite for ostracods (because the predictions were mainly established for flood-related disturbances) but four (life span, number of reproductive cycles per year, age at first reproduction, and desiccation tolerance) are in agreement.
• 7 No trends in ostracod species richness in the framework of spatial–temporal habitat variability were evident.

     

Influence of Protein Factors on the Activation of NADP–malate Dehydrogenase by Dithiothreitol

Leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris L. contained malate dehydrogenase activity dependent on NADP (E. C. 1.1.1.82); it could be detected in extracts only when a dithiol such as dithiothreitol was present. After the addition of dithiothreitol, the activity increased with time, passed through a maximum and then diminished. The activation rate and/or the maximum level of activity were essentially dependent on dithiothreitol concentration, pH, and temperature. The presence of bovine serum albumine or glycerol in the medium decreased the inactivation rate; equivalent results were obtained at low temperatures. A mathematical model was established showing an apparent first-order rate for activation and inactivation only under conditions of alkaline pH near 8.3. These data allowed us to demonstrate that compounds other than dithiothreitol were necessary for the activation process. Evidence suggested that these compounds were protein factors of low molecular weights which increased the activation rate and the maximum level of activity when added to the incubation medium at pH 7.3. Their efficiency in the enzyme activation was higher at alkaline pH than at acid or neutral pH.     

Mycorrhiza formation and elevated CO2 both increase the capacity for sucrose synthesis in source leaves of spruce and aspen

The effects of mycorrhiza formation in combination with elevated CO₂ concentrations on carbon metabolism of Norway spruce ( Picea abies ) seedlings and aspen ( Populus tremula × Populus tremuloides ) plantlets were analysed. Plants were inoculated for 6 wk with the ectomycorrhizal fungi Amanita muscaria and Paxillus involutus (aspen only) in an axenic Petri-dish culture at 350 and 700 μl l⁻¹ CO₂ partial pressure. After mycorrhiza formation, a stimulation of net assimilation rate was accompanied by decreased activities of sucrose synthase, an increased activation state of sucrose-phosphate synthase, decreased fructose-2,6-bisphosphate and starch, and slightly elevated glucose-6-phosphate contents in source leaves of both host species, independent of CO₂ concentration. Exposure to elevated CO₂ generally resulted in higher net assimilation rates, increased starch as well as decreased fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (aspen only) content in source leaves of both mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants. Our data indicate only slightly improved carbon utilization by mycorrhizal plants at elevated CO₂. They demonstrate however, that both factors which modulate the sink-source properties of plants increase the capacity for sucrose synthesis in source leaves mainly by allosteric enzyme regulation.     

There is No Somatic Meiosis in Embryogenic Leaves of Cichorium

Several papers dealing with carrot cell cultures describe meiosis-likedivisions and haploid cells prior to somatic embryogenesis.We have studied the first division in embryogenic mesophyllcells of a diploidCichorium intybus L. and of a tetraploid hybridC.intybus L.xC. endivia L. which undergo direct somatic embryogenesisfrom single cells when leaf fragments are placed in a liquidagitated inductive medium (modified MS with 1x10^-7M NAA and2.5x10^-6M 2-iP), in darkness, at 35°C. MicrosporogenesisinC. intybus provided aspects of meiosis for comparison. Inleaves incubated in inductive conditions, DAPI staining of nucleishowed normal mitosis on days 3–6; about 0.6% cells inprophase had undergone spontaneous endoreduplication leadingto a tetraploid somatic embryo. Immunocytochemistry of tubulinrevealed the constant presence of a preprophase band, as ina normal mitosis. The first pluricellular somatic embryos becamevisible on day 5 of culture. Flow cytometric determination ofnuclear DNA on days 4, 5 and 6 did not show any peak correspondingto the 1C DNA level for the diploid plant or to the 2C DNA levelfor the tetraploid. Instead there was a weak but constant peakat the 4C and 8C levels. We conclude that inCichorium leaves,the first division of somatic embryogenesis is a normal mitosis,with a small shift to endoreduplication. In our opinion, somaticmeiosis is not a prerequisite during direct somatic embryogenesis. Cichorium ; chicory; somatic embryogenesis; cell division; flow cytometry; tubulin