The distribution of submerged aquatic macrophyte biomass in a eutrophic stream,Badfish Creek: the effect of environment

The distribution of biomass of the macrophyte community in Badfish Creek was examined in three sections (A–C) totaling ten kilometers. Biomass samples were taken in a stratified-random manner, with sediment characteristics, depth, current velocity and incident light measured at each site to correlate individual biomass samples with environmental factors. Total community biomass decreased in the downstream section (C), with the biomass ofElodea canadensis decreasing abruptly below section A. The only environmental factors which were correlated with the decrease in macrophyte community biomass, especially that ofPotamogeton pectinatus, in section C was the increase in substrate heterogeneity and sand substrates which lacked surface gravel. The change in substrate was related to channelization. Considering the stream as a whole, the biomass of the dominant species,Potamogeton pectinatus, was correlated with incident light. Other species present wereCeratophyllum demersum andCladophora glomerata. Analysis of riparian vegetation type indicates that tree cover significantly reduced macrophyte biomass by incident light reduction.     

Waterfowl of a subtropical African floodplain

Many water bodies in arid southern Africa are seasonal and waterfowl habitats become restricted during the dry winters. Nevertheless, some tropical species, such as the white-faced duck, are expanding their ranges into more temperate regions where summer habitats are available, thus increasing pressure on overwintering habitats. The subtropical Pongolo River floodplain is an important overwintering area for a diverse water-fowl community that includes 13 of the 16 species that breed in South Africa and one of the few regular migrants. Historical evidence suggests that numbers of white-faced duck, which represent over 70% of the floodplain community, have increased 10-fold over the last two decades. An abundant, nutritious food (Potamogeton crispus turions) attracts waterfowl to the Pongolo floodplain during winter and an increase in bird fat reserves suggests that they leave for summer breeding grounds in good condition. Unseasonal flood releases from an upstream reservoir may cause low food supplies in late spring before the onset of the summer rainy season when breeding habitats become available. This study emphasizes the need for a better understanding of the role of winter habitats in maintaining waterfowl populations.     

铜胁迫对竹叶眼子菜叶片生理指标和超微结构的影响

通过溶液培养试验,研究了不同Cu2 浓度(0、2、4、6和8 mg.L-1)胁迫对沉水植物竹叶眼子菜叶片叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白含量、保护酶活性、活性氧产生以及细胞超微结构的影响.结果表明:随着Cu2 浓度的增加,竹叶眼子菜叶片总叶绿素、类胡萝卜素和可溶性蛋白含量逐渐下降;超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶逐渐下降,而过氧化氢酶则呈先升后降趋势;超氧阴离子产生速率、过氧化氢、丙二醛和可溶性糖含量均呈上升趋势;不连续聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)显示,Cu2 处理后,引起分子量为60.9、18.8、15.7、22.3和30.0 kDa多肽的表达量减少或消失;电镜观察发现,Cu2 对叶片细胞器的超微结构特别是叶绿体、线粒体和细胞核造成严重损伤;Cu2 对竹叶眼子菜的致死浓度范围在2~4 mg.L-1.     

竹叶眼子菜(POTAMOGETON MALAIANUS MIQ.)叶面积测定及与栽培密度的关系初探

通过人为控制种群密度的栽培实验 ,用叶特征度量估测单叶叶面积 ( AL)、用茎特征度量估测整株叶面积 ( AS) ,分析不同栽培密度对叶面积测定的影响。结果表明 :( 1 )叶长×叶宽 ( L× W)与单叶叶面积相关性最大 ;茎长×茎上叶片数 ( LS× NL)测定整株叶面积较为适宜。 ( 2 )随着栽培密度增大 ,叶片相对变长变窄 ,比叶面积则增加 ,平均整株叶面积相应减小。( 3)不同的栽培密度对叶片形状有明显影响 ,反映在不同密度处理条件下叶片的几何拟合图形不同。     

Effects of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) on macrophytes and invertebrate communities in a shallow lake

1. We performed two field experiments using different cage sizes to determine the direct and indirect effects of carp on macrophytes and invertebrate community composition in a shallow lake. 2. The presence of carp produced a significant decrease in macrophyte abundance, changes in species composition and decreased abundance and diversity of invertebrates in small (2.5 × 2.5 × 2.0 m) cages. In large exclosures (15 × 5 m), only macrophyte stem length was significantly affected by carp. 3. There was considerable variation in the macrophyte and invertebrate responses to carp on different sides of the lake in the large exclosures, suggesting that wind and wave action are also important variables affecting macrophyte growth and persistence. 4. The data suggest that carp can significantly affect species abundance and diversity of macrophytes and some macroinvertebrates.     

Using DNA-based techniques to identify hybrids among linear-leaved Potamogeton plants collected in China

Itis well known that interspecific hybrids occur in the genus Potamogeton. The linear-leaved Potamogeton species commonly have highly variable morphological characteristics. Their hybrids often show similar vegetative characters to their parental species and their identification based solely on morphology is not always conclusive. In order to clarify whether there are any hybrids from the linear-leaved Potamogeton plants collected in China, we used internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA and chloroplast rbcL gene sequences to identify the hybrids. Using ITS sequence additivity, we identified four hybrids, namely R orientalis (Rpusillus × P.oxyphyllus),P.pusillus × P. berchtoldii, P. foliosus × P. octandrus, and P. cristatus × P. octandrus. The latter three hybrids should be considered as new hybrids in Potamogeton. The maternal parents of the four hybrids were confirmed using chloroplast rbcL gene sequences.     

Estuarine Restoration of Submersed Aquatic Vegetation: The Nursery Bed Effect

The historic decline of submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) in mesohaline regions of Chesapeake Bay, United States involved a diversity of plant species. The recent modest recovery is mostly, however, associated with a single, prolific but ephemeral species, Ruppia maritima. Two previously abundant and more stable species, Potamogeton perfoliatus and Stuckenia pectinata, have shown virtually no evidence of recovery. Based on previous studies that demonstrated the ability of R. maritima stands to enhance water clarity and nutrient conditions for SAV growth, we hypothesized that these beds would serve as effective “nursery” areas to incite transplant success for other SAV. We conducted experiments in a two‐phase study at small and large spatial scales designed to explore this “nursery effect” as a restoration approach to increase plant species diversity. The first phase was conducted at small spatial scales to test effects of patch density by planting P. perfoliatus and S. pectinata into bare, sparse, and densely vegetated areas within three similar R. maritima beds in a tributary of Chesapeake Bay. Mean seasonal percent survivorship and shoot density were significantly higher in bare patches compared to vegetated patches. In the second phase of the study, P. perfoliatus was transplanted into separate R. maritima beds of different densities to test the effect of bed scale plant density on P. perfoliatus survival and growth. Transplant success of P. perfoliatus was positively correlated with the density of R. maritima among all sites.     

Using DNA‐based techniques to identify hybrids among linear‐leaved Potamogeton plants collected in China

Abstract It is well known that interspecific hybrids occur in the genus Potamogeton. The linear‐leaved Potamogeton species commonly have highly variable morphological characteristics. Their hybrids often show similar vegetative characters to their parental species and their identification based solely on morphology is not always conclusive. In order to clarify whether there are any hybrids from the linear‐leaved Potamogeton plants collected in China, we used internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA and chloroplast rbcL gene sequences to identify the hybrids. Using ITS sequence additivity, we identified four hybrids, namely P. orientalis (P. pusillus×P. oxyphyllus), P. pusillus×P. berchtoldii, P. foliosus×P. octandrus, and P. cristatus×P. octandrus. The latter three hybrids should be considered as new hybrids in Potamogeton. The maternal parents of the four hybrids were confirmed using chloroplast rbcL gene sequences.     

水体浊度对菹草萌发及萌发苗光合荧光特性的影响

用粒径小于100μm的泥沙分别配置浊度为30、60NTU和90NTU的混浊水体,将菹草（Potamogeton cripus）石芽分别种植于上述水体中,测定萌发率和萌发苗的株高、叶片数,并利用水下饱和脉冲荧光仪（DIVING-PAM）测定萌发苗的光合荧光特性。结果表明,水体浊度对石芽萌发率没有显著影响,但对萌发速率有一定影响;随着浊度的升高萌发苗株高和叶片数均显著降低（p＜0．05）;菹草萌发苗的有效荧光产量Yield也随水体浊度升高而降低,表明在高浊度水体中萌发苗天线色素吸收光子供给PSⅡ反应中心的效率下降;高浊度导致萌发苗吸收光能用于光化学电子传递的份额（qP）减少,第23天时90NTU水体中的妒为对照的91．4％;水体浊度上升导致qN显著升高,表明在高浊度、低光照胁迫下,萌发苗接收的光能更多的以热的形式耗散掉了,以避免光系统PSⅡ受到过剩光能的伤害;浊度升高引起电子在光合链中的传递速率（ETR）显著下降,第23天时在30、60NTU和90NTU水体中ETR分别为对照的93．3％、88．5％、75．8％,导致参与CO2固定的电子减少,光合作用降低。快速光响应曲线测定结果表明．萌发苗ETRmax和最小饱和光照强度随水体浊度的增加呈下降趋势,光响应能力随水体浊度的增加而显著下降,特别是在90NTU水体中萌发苗的光合作用能力下降显著。因此,在浅而混浊的水体中（水深70cm,浊度低于90NTU）,菹草石芽均能萌发,但是,水体浊度对萌发苗光合作用、生长速率有一定抑制作用。     

Influence of migrant tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus) and Canada geese (Branta canadensis) on aquatic vegetation at Long Point, Lake Erie, Ontario

Numerous studies have shown that large, herbivorous waterfowl can reduce quantity of aquatic plants during the breeding or wintering season, but relatively few document herbivory effects at staging areas. This study was done to determine if feeding activities of tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus columbianus) and Canada geese (Branta canadensis) had a measurable additive influence on the amount of aquatic plants, primarily muskgrass (Chara vulgaris), wild celery (Vallisneria americana), and sago pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus), removed during the fall migration period at Long Point, Lake Erie, Ontario. Exclosure experiments done in fall 1998 and 1999 showed that, as compared to ducks and abiotic factors, these two large herbivorous waterfowl did not have any additional impact on above or below ground biomass of those aquatic plants. As expected, however, there were substantial seasonal reductions in above-ground and below-ground biomass of aquatic plants in wetlands that were heavily used by all waterfowl. We suggest that differences in large- and small-scale habitat use, feeding activity, and food preferences between tundra swans and other smaller waterfowl as well as compensatory herbivory contributed to our main finding that large waterfowl did not increase fall reductions of Chara spp, V. Americana, and P. pectinatus biomass.