Observations on the relation between phytoplankton diversity and environmental factors in the Vaal River at Balkfontein,South Africa

The relationship between specific environmental factors as independent variables and temporal changes in phytoplankton community structure in the Vaal River (a turbid system) during 1984 was investigated by employing different diversity indices. Temporal changes in community structure reflected temporal changes in certain environmental factors. Phytoplankton diversity, measured with Shannon-Wie H' and Hurlbert PIE indices, was related firstly to discharge and discharge derived variables (such as SO₄, Si, N and P loading) and secondly to turbidity derived variables (such as euphotic zone depth). Discharge appears to be of prime importance in affecting diversity. Observations were made that shed new light on conditions contributing to the development of an August peak (dominated by Stephanodiscus hantzschii fo. tenuis and Micractinium pusillum) in phytoplankton concentration. Increased environmental stress may reduce the number of sensitive species, thus reducing interspecific competition between tolerant species which could then exploit the — for them — more favourable conditions resulting in an increase in their numbers to peak concentrations.     

Pelagic rotifers of Lake Glubokoe from 1897 to 1984

After alteration in the pattern of drainage of run-off from the surrounding swamps and changes in the colour and transparency of the Lake Glubokoe water, the previously epilimnial Trichocerca similis, Conochilus unicornis and Keratella cochlearis showed a shift of their maximum numbers to deeper layers. Pompholyx sp. and Trichocerca capucina, which are regarded as indicators of eutrophic waters, have disappeared from the pelagic zone of the lake and Conochilus hippocrepis, Synchaeta pectinata, Gastropus stylifer, Asplanchna herricki, Ascomorpha ecaudis, Ascomorpha saltans, Euchlanis dilatata and Trichocerca porcellus have made their appearance. Most of the new species are considered to be indicators of oligotrophic conditions. However the total density of pelagic rotifers remained at the same level. Apparently the establishment of the new species of rotifers was possible due to some ‘rarefaction’ of the epilimnion, the disappearance of predaceous Mesocyclops leuckarti and the invasion of the pelagic zone by Peridinium cinctum.     

Suivi pluriannuel du peuplement à Abra alba dans la partie méridionale de la Mer du Nord (région de Dunkerque-France)

The Abra alba community is considered as a faunistical unity well established on coastal areas of North Sea. This community shows, since several years, very important recruitments of certain species. Since 1978, recruitments of Abra alba, Tellina fabula, Phyllodoce (Anaïtides) mucosa, Lagis koreni or Lanice conchilega have been observed. However these demographic phenomena does not affect the structure of the community, which shows, through rank-frequency diagrams, the characteristic of a mature population, principally constituted of 7 species.An annual cycle study shows a succession of recruitments of several species. A correspondance factorial analysis was realised from grain size datas as well as abundances of 18 main species. This analysis shows an annual cycle which seems to be linked to the clay part. Maximal values of clay part appears in summer and minimal values at the end of winter or early springtime.The hydrological parameters studied, allowed to make the difference between external factors (continental contributions, phytoplanctonic activity etc...) and benthic activity.

     

单纯疱疹病毒Ⅱ型DNA克隆片段的限制酶切分析

本文采用10种限制性内切核酸酶分析了单纯疱疹病毒Ⅱ型(HSV-2)335株DNA BglⅡ8种克隆片段共12个重组质粒。发现了HSV-2 DNA L链末端区域有限制酶切位点的变异并对HSV-2 DNA单一序列区域和末端重复区域的稳定性进行了初步讨论。本文应用末端标记技术和末端杂交分析法对编码糖蛋白D的HSV-2 DNA BglⅡL片段和含有形态学转化基因的HSV-2DNA BglⅡN片段进行了详细的限制性内切核酸酶物理图谱分析。     

Predation byCheilomenes vicina [Coleoptera: Coccinellidae] on the cowpea aphid,Aphis craccivora [Homoptera: Aphididae]: Effect of prey stage and density

Consumption of larvae and females ofAphis craccivora Koch by 1st and 4th larvae and adults ofCheilomenes vicina (Muls.) was studied under fluctuating temperature (24–30°C). The early aphid instars were consumed in significantly greater numbers than later instars and females. The feeding rates ofC. vicina were significantly positively correlated with the population density of prey. The number of prey consumed daily by each predator stage tested, increased more steeply at lower than at higher prey densities, exhibiting thus the type 2 functional response

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Résumé Consommation des larves et des ♀ d'Aphis craccivora par les11^e stades, les 4^e stades et les adultes deCheilomenes vicina a été étudiée à une température variant de 24 à 30°C. Les jeunes stades du puceron sont consommés en nombre plus grand significativement que les derniers stades et les ♂. Les taux d'alimentation deC. vicina manifestent une corrélation hautement significative avec la densité de population de la proie. Le nombre de proies consommées quotidiennement par chaque stade considéré du prédateur augmentait plus brusquement aux faibles qu'aux fortes densités de proies, manifestant ainsi chez le prédateur le type 2 de réponse fonctionnelle.

     

The fish community of the Loosdrecht Lakes and the perspective for biomanipulation

In a two-year-study, the fish community of the Loosdrecht Lakes area was characterized with regard to the professional fishery and the forage base. The lakes are shallow (mean depth 2 m) and eutrophic to hypertrophic. The bream,Abramis brama, dominates the fish biomass. The pikeperch,Stizostedion lucioperca, is the main predator.Bream up to 30 cm have a slow growth rate and are in a bad condition. A faster growth rate and a better condition are shown by bream of 30 cm and more. The small bream feeds on chironomid larvae, benthic cladocerans and zooplankton. The better condition of bream over 30 cm is explained by the more efficient feeding of larger bream onChironomus plumosus larvae. Pikeperch show a fast growth rate and a good condition. Recruitment is limited by the low densities of smelt,Osmerus eperlanus, leaving cannibalism as the most important way for the 0+ pikeperch to become piscivorous and to manifest a fast growth.The impact of the professional gillnet fishery on bream and pikeperch is small because the mesh sizes in use are as large as 75–100 mm bar mesh.The planktivorous 0+ pikeperch consumes mainly the carnivorous zooplanktersLeptodora kindtii and cyclopoids. The zooplankton community lacks large herbivorous species likeDaphnia hyalina, capable of consuming bluegreens. A possible experiment in biomanipulation with a view to find out whether the development ofD.hyalina is depressed by the small planktivorous cyprinids, is predator enhancement with the aid of a stocking programme for indoor-raised 0+ pikeperch in early summer.     

Biomass: Is it a useful tool in paleocommunity reconstruction?

In general, more of the biomass of the community is preserved than is its numerical abundance. Thus, the paleontologist, on the average, works with more of the community when biomass is used. Community characteristics such as taxon dominance and habitat proportions are at least as accurately derived from biomass as numerical abundance. The use of biomass is clearly more appropriate in describing energy flow and trophic proportions. Whenever possible, biomass should be used as a complement to numerical abundance in future paleoecologic reconstructions.     

Trypanosoma brucei: analysis of relapsing populations in sensitive and resistant breeds of cattle

The clone DiTat 1.1 of Trypanosoma brucei brucei was injected into four bovids, and clones obtained from successive waves of parasitemia were used to study the expressed variant-specific surface glycoprotein repertoire. Twenty-four clones were obtained which could be classified into 12 different variable antigen types, in addition to the clone injected, using agglutination or immunofluorescence with monospecific antisera. The variable surface glycoproteins of the 25 clones were extracted using the detergent octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside in the presence of the protease inhibitor, N-cbz-L-phenylalaninechloromethylketone. The molecular weights varied from 52,000 to 69,000 and the pI from 5.0 to 8.8. The virulence of 14 clones representing 13 variable antigen types was ascertained in mice. The mean survival time ranged from 20.5 to 43.0 days. Clones isolated from early peaks of parasitemia in the bovid were the most virulent while clones derived from later peaks were less virulent. It seems that organisms of diminishing virulence appear in bovids, leading to self-cure of the disease. All clones were sensitive to human serum in a blood infectivity inhibition test. Antibody against all virulent clones appeared in 20 cattle (10 Zebus, 10 Baoulés) which had been injected with T. brucei DiTat 1.1. There was no evidence for parasites of high or low virulence being preferentially expressed in resistant or sensitive hosts.     

A multivariate study of resource partitioning in soft bottom lotic Chironomidae

For two years a community of larval chironomid midges was studied in a sandy-run portion of a fourth order natural stream in SE Ohio, U.S.A. in order to determine if the species partitioned the spatial resources. The habitat structure was simplified from ten habitat variables to three significant principal components. The three eigenvectors were easily interpreted as sediment size, sediment heterogeneity, and organic deposition. Species abundances were loaded on these axes and niche metrics examined. Strong differences in habitat preference were demonstrated for midge species on each component. Also, there were no differences in distributions for the intraspecific instars for each species tested at a given time, but for each of the instars tested, their distributions were found to change from time to time. Apparently, individuals of a species, regardless of instar, simultaneously choose the same habitat, however, the preferred habitat may shift temporally due to change in resource availability, or niche expansion or compression due to competition.