The analysis of planktonic rotifer populations: A plea for long-term investigations

Short-term species succession, and long-term community development, of planktonic rotifer populations of the temperate zone and factors influencing species' abundance (ie., physical and chemical limitations, food and exploitative competition, mechanical interference competition, predation, parasitism) are described and discussed. The long-term development of plankton communities in three European lakes is described and the major events are discussed in relation to ecological interactions. Frequently, the shortcomings of our knowledge about population ecology and ecophysiology of rotifers prevent explanations of short-term and, especially, of long-term developments of these plankton organisms. The need for qualitative and quantitative observations in the field and in the laboratory over long periods becomes obvious.     

Comparison of population dynamics between slow- and fast-growing strains of the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus pallas in continuous culture

Summary The population dynamics of a slow- and a fast-growing strain of the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus are compared. Rotifers were grown in steady-states, at various specific growth rates (), in both two-stage chemostat and turbidostat cultures on the green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa. Population variables, including specific ingestion (I), loss (L) and filtration (F) rates, yield (Y), production (P) and half-saturation coefficient of growth (K _g), were calculated using a growth model based on saturation kinetics. I, L, F and K _g were shown to be higher and Y and P lower for the fast-growing strain. Differences between the two strains with regard to these variables may represent tradeoffs associated with the faster potential growth rate. Steady-state relationships between these values and for the fast-growing strain, however, deviated from model predictions which suggest a possible shift from carbon to non-carbon growth limitation.     

Clearance rates of sessile rotifers: in vitro determinations

We measured laboratory clearance rates of 10 rotifer and one unidentified bryozoan species from 3 different lakes using ³²P labeled algae (Chlamydomonas) or yeast (Rhodotorula). Clearance rates for all rotifers fed yeast ranged from < 2.0 to > 260 µl · animal^–1 · h^–1 depending on species. The in vitro clearance rates of two sessile rotifers (Ptygura crystallina and P. pilula) were not significantly different from previously measured in situ rates (Wallace and Starkweather 1983). Clearance rates for 5 rotifers fed algae ranged from < 5.0 to > 90.0 µl · animal^–1 · h^–1. Ptygura beauchampi, P. crystallina, P. pilula, Floscularia conifera, and F. melicerta ingested both cell types but their clearance rates varied substantially among species and between cell types. There was a substantial time-dependent loss of 32P from formalin-fixed animals (Sinantherina socialis) awaiting processing. This loss stabilized at approximately 20 hours and was estimated to be about 40% of the initial ingested label. Clearance rates for the bryozoan fed yeast or algae were highly variable, ranging from < 1.0 to > 3 000 µl · animal^–1 · h^–1.     

A new Lecanid rotifer from India

During the course of an extensive survey of the ecology and systematics of the rotifers from Andhra Pradesh, India, a new species of the genus Lecane has been encountered and described as Lecane eswari sp. nov. It has been found that this species occurs in the winter season and is totally absent in the summer months.     

Individual- and population-level effects of antibiotics on the rotifers, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachionus calyciflorus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">B. plicatilis</Emphasis>

The toxicity of three common antibiotics (streptomycin sulfate, tetracycline hydrochloride, and tylosin tartrate) to the freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus and brackish-water rotifer B. plicatilis was investigated using full-lifespan exposure durations. Effects of each antibiotic on lifespan, lifetime reproduction, and Malthusian parameter were assessed at seven nominal concentrations (ranging from 5.6 mg l⁻¹ to 2,000 mg l⁻¹) and a negative control. Lowest Observed Effect Concentrations (LOECs) were determined for reproduction and lifespan, while 1%, 10%, 25%, and 50% Inhibitory Concentrations (IC₁, IC₁₀, IC₂₅, IC₅₀) and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for all three endpoints. LOECs ranged from 5.6 mg l⁻¹ to 90 mg l⁻¹, with all LOECs less than 90 mg l⁻¹ occurring in B. calyciflorus. The lowest IC1 concentrations were 3.91 mg l⁻¹ for the effect of tetracycline on lifetime reproduction in B. calyciflorus and 4.06 mg l⁻¹ for the effect of tylosin on lifetime reproduction in B. plicatilis. Overall, lifetime reproduction was the most sensitive endpoint and the Malthusian parameter was the least sensitive. IC₁ values for lifetime reproduction were roughly one to two orders of magnitude lower than the corresponding IC₅₀ values. Guest editors: S. S. S. Sarma, R. D. Gulati, R. L. Wallace, S. Nandini, H. J. Dumont and R. Rico-Martínez Advances in Rotifer Research     

引水和疏浚工程对杭州西湖轮虫群落结构的影响

1990年、1995年和2003年观察了引水和疏浚工程支配下浅水、富营养化杭州西湖（Ⅰ-Ⅲ站）浮游轮虫的群落变化,研究内容包括种类组成和优势种演变、密度和生物量、以及生物多样性指数。西湖轮虫的第一优势种由引水前的螺形龟甲轮虫（Keratella cochelearis）,引水后演变为1990年的裂痕龟纹轮虫（Anuraeopsis fissa）和1995年的暗小异尾轮虫（Trichocerca pusilla）,疏浚工程后针簇多肢轮虫（Polyarthra trigla）上升为西湖轮虫第一优势种。不同采样站中,引水促使了Ⅰ站（进水口）轮虫优势种的演变和轮虫丰度的显著下降,并使轮虫生物量与水体叶绿素a含量之间的相关性最强（相关系数达0.7080,p〈0.01）;疏浚促使了Ⅲ站（出水口）轮虫优势种的演变和抑制了轮虫丰度的快速增加,并使轮虫生物量与水体高锰酸盐指数之间的相关性最强（相关系数0.5440,p〈0.25）。Ⅰ-Ⅲ站轮虫生物量与水体综合营养状态指数之间均有显著的正相关性。随着引入西湖水量的显著减少、疏浚工程的实施和西湖自身富营养化的推进,Ⅰ站和Ⅱ站轮虫的丰度急剧增加,生物多样性持续下降,Ⅲ站轮虫丰度增加较缓。这预示着Ⅰ站和Ⅱ站水体的富营养化进程快于Ⅲ站。     

On the serotonergic nervous system of two planktonic rotifers, Conochilus coenobasis and C. dossuarius (Monogononta, Flosculariacea, Conochilidae)

The serotonergic nervous systems of two non-colonial species of Conochilus were examined to obtain the first immunohistochemical insights into the neuroanatomy of species of Flosculariacea (Rotifera, Monogononta). Species of Conochilus, subgenus Conochiloides, were examined using serotonin (5-HT) immunohistochemistry, epifluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy, and 3D computer imaging software. In specimens of C. coenobasis and C. dossuarius, the serotonergic nervous system is defined by a dorsal cerebral ganglion, apically directed cerebral neurites, and paired nerve cords. The cerebral ganglion contains approximately four pairs of small 5-HT-immunoreactive perikarya; one pair innervates the posterior nerve cords and three pairs innervate the apical field. The most dorsal pair innervates a coronal nerve ring that encircles the apical field. Within the apical field is a second nerve ring that outlines the inner border of the coronal cilia. Together, both the inner and outer nerve rings may function to modulate ciliary activity of the corona. The other two pairs of perikarya innervate a region around the mouth. Specific differences in the distribution of serotonergic neurons between species of Conochilus and previously examined ploimate rotifers include the following: (a) a lack of immunoreactivity in the mastax; (b) a greater number of apically directed serotonergic neurites; and (c) a complete innervation of the corona in both species of Conochilus. These differences in nervous system immunohistochemistry are discussed in reference to the phylogeny of the Monogononta.     

滆湖轮虫群落结构与水质生态学评价

研究了浅水湖泊--滆湖的轮虫群落结构,并用轮虫污染指示种类、E/O值、QB/T值和生物多样性指数评价滆湖的水质和营养状况.在两周年的研究中,共发现轮虫69种,污染指示轮虫39种.优势种为萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionua calyciflorus)、前节晶囊轮虫(Asplanchna priodonta)、针簇多肢轮虫(Polyarthra trigla)、长三肢轮虫(Filinia longiseta)和裂足臂尾轮虫(B.diversicornis).轮虫密度年平均值为1584 ind./L,生物量年平均值为5.982 1 mg/L.密度秋季最高,生物量夏季较高.轮虫物种多样性较低,多样性指数与其密度及生物量正相关.滆湖三个生态功能区轮虫的种类相似;湖区北部与中部的轮虫现存量差异不显著,与南部的差异显著,中部与南部间差异极显著.根据指示生物法、生物指数法和多样性指数法评价滆湖水质及营养类型,涌湖为富营养型.     

Studies of oogenesis in the rotifer,Asplanchna

Summary Oocyte development in Asplanchna brightwelli was studied by observation through the transparent body wall of living females and by electron microscopy. During oogenesis, which requires four to six hours, the oocyte increases in volume approximately 1000-fold. Most of its cytoplasm appears to be derived from the vitellarium by direct flow through the cytoplasmic bridge. This flow is rapid enough to be easily observed in the living female at low magnifications. Ribosomes, mitochondria, cortical granules, and lipid droplets were observed in the bridge area in electron micrographs.RNA synthesis during oogenesis was studied by means of autoradiography. Very little synthesis could be demonstrated in oocyte nuclei at any period of oogenesis, whereas the vitellarium nuclei show active incorporation of ³H-uridine throughout the reproductive life of the adult female. Most of this RNA is subsequently transferred to developing oocytes.This research was supported by USPHS Grant GM 121183 to Dr. C. W. Birky, Jr.