Diversity measures in macroinvertebrate and zooplankton communities related to the trophic status of subtropical reservoirs: Contradictory or complementary responses?

Macroinvertebrate communities have been widely used as a tool for assessing the environmental quality of freshwater ecosystems, whereas zooplankton communities have been to some extent neglected. However, the importance of using different indicators to achieve a more comprehensive framework of assessment regarding water quality has been recognized. This study compared estimates of species richness (number of species) and the Shannon–Wiener index for data on macroinvertebrate and zooplankton communities in tropical reservoirs and related them to their trophic state. The trop+hic classification was obtained by applying the Carlson index (1977) modified by Toledo et al. (1983), and the index of the Brazilian Society of the Environmental Technology Agency. The comparative response of the different indicators was analyzed using a series of bivariate correlations (Draftsman’s plot). The results illustrate that diversity measures, namely species richness, responded differently when related to the trophic classification of reservoirs, depending on the community considered. The species richness of zooplankton was positively related to hypereutrophic conditions, due to the higher number of rotifer species, including tolerant generalist species and at the same time, as a result of the exclusion of species from other groups, whereas for macroinvertebrates, species richness was negatively related to hypereutrophic conditions. Melanoides tuberculatus, which exhibits a high tolerance and competitive ability under such conditions, was the dominant species in macroinvertebrate communities, which excluded endemic species and reduced local richness and diversity. The same indicators applied to the zooplankton and macroinvertebrate communities might therefore provide contradictory responses regarding ecological quality assessment in tropical reservoirs, which suggest that zooplankton should be taken into account among the biological quality elements considered in the ecological quality assessment, management, and restoration of water bodies.     

Magnification of the therapeutic uses of pomegranate fruits and peel in rats injected with carbon tetrachloride (Ccl4)

The liver is more prone to infections that cause fibrosis, such as steatosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, hepatotoxicity, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Also, Viral hepatitis is a common condition worldwide it worsens into chronic inflammation of the liver. One of the healthiest fruits is the pomegranate for the body and health, as it contains a high nutritional value of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, so we worked on this investigation to magnify the therapeutic applications of pomegranate fruits (POF) and peel (POP) in carbon tetrachloride-injected rats (Ccl4). The experiment was carried out in a caged animal. All rats were fed a basal diet for one week before the study, and they were divided into seven groups, each with six rats. As a control negative group (C–ve), the first group sample was fed only the basal diet for 28 days. The remaining rats (n = 36) were injected with carbon tetrachloride (Ccl4). Five groups were fed varying concentrations of (5 %, 10 %, 15 % POF, 5 %, and 10 % pomegranate peel (POP)), whereas one group was diagnosed with the illness and disease, and didn't even feed the experimental diet. The results revealed significant increases in T.BIL, D.BIL, and BIL in the serum of rats injected by CC14 to induce hepatopathy compared to the healthy group (normal rats). Also, the best treatment considering the serum D.BIL was recorded for the 5 % POF.     

Use of the water-level fluctuation analysis tool (Regcel) in hydrological status assessment of Finnish lakes

Regulation of water flow constitutes the most important hydromorphological burden to Finnish lakes. The total area of regulated lakes is nearly 11,000 km², equalling one-third of the total area of Finnish inland waters. Extensive research projects have been carried out since the end of the 1980s to find out opportunities to mitigate harmful effects of the regulation of watercourses. A water-level fluctuation analysis tool, known as Regcel, has been developed to study water level data and to identify the most significant impacts. Results of the Regcel analysis give an overall picture of the impact of lake regulation in northern climate. The model is based on relationships between the water-level fluctuation and factors related to environmental, social and economical effects. Regcel has been used in 12 Lake Regulation Development Projects in Finland. In this article, we show how the Regcel model was applied in two cases. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Guest editors: K. M. Wantzen, K.-O. Rothhaupt, M. M?rtl, M. Cantonati, L. G.-Tóth & P. Fischer Ecological Effects of Water-Level Fluctuations in Lakes     

The role of nutrition on epigenetic modifications and their implications on health

Nutrition plays a key role in many aspects of health and dietary imbalances are major determinants of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer. Adequate nutrition is particularly essential during critical periods in early life (both pre- and postnatal). In this regard, there is extensive epidemiologic and experimental data showing that early sub-optimal nutrition can have health consequences several decades later.     

Implicit associations with social status: the effects of relationship involvement

The study tested the proposition that relationship involvement influences the implicit responses of women to high- and low-status professions. It was hypothesized that when a high-involvement context was primed, women would have more positive implicit associations with high-status occupations than when a low-involvement context was primed. In contrast, when a high-involvement context was primed, women would have more negative associations with low-status occupations than when a low-involvement context was primed. To test the hypothesis, 123 female participants received a high or low relationship involvement prime. Then the participants completed a single category implicit associations test designed to measure the participants' associations with either high- or low-status occupations. As predicted, the relationship involvement prime influenced the positivity of associations made with high- and low-status occupations. The study pointed to the possibility that persons possess evolutionary-based implicit associations.     

A new species of Galearis (Orchidinae: Orchidaceae) from Sichuan,China

A new species, Galearis huanglongensis Q.W.Meng & Y.B.Luo, is described and illustrated. It is similar to Galearis cyclochila (Franch. & Sav.) Soó and Galearis diantha (Schltr.) P.F.Hunt, but differs in having a short spur, two elliptical lateral stigma lobes and distinctly separated bursicles. This new species is known only from the type locality, the Huanglong Valley, Songpan County, western Sichuan, China, growing amongst mosses under alpine shrubs at an elevation of about 3000 m. Based on two years of observations of its population size, the species was categorized as critically endangered CR (B1a, B2a) according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List Categories and Criteria, Version 3.1. The micromorphology of pollinia and seeds was observed by scanning electron microscopy and compared with that of G. cyclochila and G. diantha. The results supported G. huanglongensis Q.W.Meng & Y.B.Luo as a new species. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 689–695.     

Intrauterine growth retarded piglet as a model for humans – Studies on the perinatal development of the gut structure and function

The overall acceptance of pig models for human biomedical studies is steadily growing. Results of rodent studies are usually confirmed in pigs before extrapolating them to humans. This applies particularly to gastrointestinal and metabolism research due to similarities between pig and human physiology. In this context, intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) pig neonate can be regarded as a good model for the better understanding of the IUGR syndrome in humans. In pigs, the induction of IUGR syndrome may include maternal diet intervention, dexamethasone treatment or temporary reduction of blood supply. However, in pigs, like in humans, circa 8% of neonates develop IUGR syndrome spontaneously. Studies on the pig model have shown changes in gut structure, namely a reduced thickness of mucosa and muscle layers, and delayed kinetic of disappearance of vacuolated enterocytes were found in IUGR individuals in comparison with healthy ones. Functional changes include reduced dynamic of gut mucosa rebuilding, decreased activities of main brush border enzymes, and changes in the expression of proteins important for carbohydrate, amino acids, lipid, mineral and vitamin metabolism. Moreover, profiles of intestinal hormones are different in IUGR and non-IUGR piglets. It is suggested that supplementation of the mothers during the gestation and/or the IUGR offspring after birth can help in restoring the development of the gastrointestinal tract. The pig provides presumably the optimal animal model for humans to study gastrointestinal tract structure and function development in IUGR syndrome.     

Evaluation of nutrients and related environmental factors for wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) fruits grown in the different areas of China

The wolfberry (Lycium barbarumL.) fruit has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and food, but fruits grown in various geographic areas are significantly different in quality and content of functional components. In this study, we tested the internal nutritional ingredients and related environmental factors using forty-two wolfberry fruits collected from seven wolfberry producing regions in China (Yinchuan and Zhongning in Ningxia, Jingyuan in Gansu, Nuomuhong Farm in Qinghai,Hangjinhouqi and Wulateqianqi in Inner Mongolia, and Jinghe in Xinjiang). The nutritional ingredients of the forty-two wolfberry fruits are dependent on the environment. Correlation analysis revealed that the amount of nutrients was highly related to each other. Based on the analysis ofratio of total sugar to betaine (sugar-alkali ratio), we have successfully established quality standards for the wolfberry based on the levels of betaine and sugar. The standards were as follows: high betaine low sugar (sugar-alkali ratio≤15.1), high betaine medium sugar (15<sugar-alkali ratio≤60), medium betaine medium sugar (60<sugar-alkali ratio≤121), medium betaine high sugar (121<sugar-alkali ratio≤165), and low betaine high sugar (sugar-alkali ratio>165). Zhongning of Ningxia is the geo-authentic producing region of the wolfberry, whereby the wolfberries are rich in main pharmacological ingredients Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) and three trace elements (iron, manganese and selenium) and medium sugar-alkali ratio. In addition, the correlation analysis showed that both the altitude and average temperature difference between day and night had positive effects on the wolfberry flavonoids content but the annual sunshine duration negatively affected the betaine contents of the wolfberry fruit.     

Alternative rib bone biopsy measurements to estimate changes in skeletal mineral reserves in cattle

Rib bone biopsy samples are often used to estimate changes in skeletal mineral reserves in cattle but differences in sampling procedures and the bone measurements reported often make interpretation and comparisons among experiments difficult. ‘Full-core’ rib bone biopsy samples, which included the external cortical bone, internal cortical bone and trabecular bone (CB_ext, CB_int and Trab, respectively), were obtained from cattle known to be in phosphorus (P) adequate (P_adeq) or severely P-deficient (P_defic) status. Experiments 1 and 2 examined growing steers and Experiment 3 mature breeder cows. The thickness of cortical bone, specific gravity (SG), and the amount and concentration of ash and P per unit fresh bone volume, differed among CB_ext, CB_int and Trab bone. P concentration (mg/cc) was closely correlated with both SG and ash concentrations (pooled data, r=0.99). Thickness of external cortical bone (CBT_ext) was correlated with full-core P concentration (FC-P_conc) (pooled data, r=0.87). However, an index, the amount of P in CB_ext per unit surface area of CB_ext (PSACB; mg P/mm²), was more closely correlated with the FC-P_conc (pooled data, FC-P_conc=37.0+146×PSACB; n=42, r=0.94, RSD=7.7). Results for measured or estimated FC-P_conc in 10 published studies with cattle in various physiological states and expected to be P_adeq or in various degrees of P_defic status were collated and the ranges of FC-P_conc indicative of P adequacy and P deficiency for various classes of cattle were evaluated. FC-P_conc was generally in the range 130 to 170 and 100 to 120 mg/cc fresh bone in P_adeq mature cows and young growing cattle, respectively. In conclusion, the FC-P_conc could be estimated accurately from biopsy samples of CB_ext. This allows comparisons between studies where full-core or only CB_ext biopsy samples of rib bone have been obtained to estimate changes in the skeletal P status of cattle and facilitates evaluation of the P status of cattle.