Consequences of pH measurement errors

SUMMARY. 1. The pH range over which the effects of acidification on freshwater organisms become apparent may be quite narrow, in some cases less than half a pH unit. Therefore, accurate measurement is important, particularly in dilute surface waters near the biologically critical threshold of hydrogen ion activity.
2. A hypothetical example based on data from two species of fish illustrates the potential errors in predicting mean mortality when pH is measured by probes of varying accuracies, placing our results into an ecosystem management perspective. For a given error, there will be greater uncertainty in predicting mean mortality for species sensitive to increased hydrogen ion activity than for more tolerant species.
3. We review field pH measurement errors, and present unique laboratory (measurements at 1°C and under argon) and field comparisons of current instruments used for continuous, in situ pH monitoring, including the only instrument comparison in low conductivity waters during snow melt. Four operator or sampler-caused measurement errors and three electrode-caused pH measurement errors are illustrated with data from four common types of pH probes and meters.
4. Studies providing no confidence intervals for a set of pH measurements due to the lack of rigorous quality control and assurance procedures are of limited quantitative value to future investigators attempting to analyse temporal trends of surface water acidification. Management and policy decision attempts will remain seriously hampered until more interpretable results are routinely generated.     

Isolation of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the Hawaii amakihi (Hemignathus virens) and their use in other honeycreeper species

We report the isolation and characterization of five polymorphic microsatellite loci in the Hawaii amakihi, Hemignathus virens, one of the most common native Hawaiian forest birds. These loci exhibit high levels of allelic diversity and heterozygosity in the three honeycreeper species we screened, and promise to be useful in our investigation of differences between honeycreeper populations at different elevations.     

Transgenic cotton resistant to herbicide bialaphos

Resistance to bialaphos, a non-selective herbicide, was intro duced into cotton through genetic engineering. A gene encoding phosphinothric in acetyltransferase (bar) from Streptomyces hygroscopicus was inserted into elite varieties of cotton through particle bombardment. Based on the marker gene, -glucuronidase (gus) expression, a total of 18 Pima (Gossypium barbadense), 45 DP50 (G. hirsutum L.), 20 Coker 312 (G. hirsutum) and 2 El Dorado (G. hirsutum) transgenic plants were recovered. Integration of the bar gene into cotton genomic DNA was confirmed by Southern blot analysis and gene expression was confirmed by northern blot and enzyme assays. Herbicide (Basta®) tolerance up to 15 000 ppm was demonstrated in greenhouse trials. The newly introduced herbicide tolerance trait is inherited in a Mendelian fashion in the progenies of germline transformants. This study demonstrates the potential for particle bombardment to introduce commerically important genes directly into elite varieties of cotton. This mode of gene transfer can expedite the introduction of transgenic cotton products into world markets     

Mating prior to overwintering in the imported willow leaf beetle, Plagiodera versicolora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract. 1. We report on the mating status of overwintering adults of the imported leaf beetle, Plagiodera versicolora Laicharting. This species overwinters as adults, under the bark of willow trees.
2. Individuals were collected both in the autumn, just after initiation of diapause, and in the spring, just before natural termination of diapause. From the autumn sample, we discovered that diapause can be terminated by husbanding the adults at 4°C for 4 weeks.
3. Most females lay fertile eggs upon the termination of diapause; however, a significant number of females lay non-fertile eggs after overwintering in the field.
4. Many females mate with more than one male before entering diapause. Progeny analysis using allozyme genetic markers shows that, on average, females who are fertile upon termination of diapause utilize sperm from 1.2 males to fertilize their eggs.     

Y chromosome microsatellite isolation from BAC clones in the greater white‐toothed shrew (Crocidura russula)

We constructed a microsatellite library from four Crocidura russula Y chromosome‐specific bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones. Only one of eight microsatellites was male‐specific, despite genome walking to obtain more flanking sequence and testing of 93 primer combinations. Potential reasons for this low success are discussed. The male‐specific locus, CRY3, was genotyped in 90 males, including C. russula from across the species range and two related species. The large difference in CRY3 allele size between eastern and western lineages supports earlier reports of high divergence between them. Despite polymorphism of CRY3 in Morocco, only one allele was found throughout the whole of Europe, consistent with previous studies that suggest recent colonization of Europe from a small number of Moroccan founders.     

Floral visitation patterns of two invasive ant species and their effects on other hymenopteran visitors

Abstract.  1. Floral nectar of the native Hawaiian 'ōhi'a tree, Metrosideros polymorpha , is an important food source for several native honeycreepers and yellow-faced bees, Hylaeus spp., but is also attractive to invasive ants.
2. I undertook this study to compare floral visitation patterns of two widespread invasive ants, the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile , and the big-headed ant, Pheidole megacephala , and to determine their effects on nectar volume and floral hymenopteran visitors.
3. In the first year of the study, Argentine ants visited inflorescences more frequently than big-headed ants at mid-day and in the afternoon, but did not occur in higher densities than big-headed ants at any time of day. In the following year, Argentine ants visited inflorescences both more frequently and in higher densities than big-headed ants. Argentine ant density had a stronger association with nectar concentration than big-headed ant density.
4. Nectar volume did not differ between ant-excluded and ant-visited inflorescences for either ant species. However, ant density was negatively associated with nectar volume for both species.
5.  Hylaeus spp. never visited inflorescences with big-headed ants, while non-native honeybees visited inflorescences with and without ants of either species in equal frequency.
6. Most studies of the effects of invasive ants on native arthropods have focused on interactions on the ground. Flowers should not be overlooked as microhabitats from which native arthropods may be displaced by invasive ants.     

Differing effects of suspended sediments on the performance of native and exotic Daphnia

1. Although large cladocerans are usually uncommon in large rivers, Daphnia lumholtzi (an exotic species in North America) is widespread and occasionally abundant. We collected zooplankton on the Illinois River (Illinois, U.S.A.) in 1995 and 1996 and found that the peak density of D. lumholtzi (25 L⁻¹) typically exceeded that of all native species combined. Maximum density occurred during warm periods (up to 27 °C) when concentrations of inorganic suspended sediments were high (>50 mg L⁻¹).
2. Using a life table experiment, we examined the effects of variation in suspended sediment (0 and 80 mg L⁻¹) and food (10⁴ and 10⁵ Ankistrodesmus cells mL⁻¹) on fitness of D. lumholtzi and the native Daphnia parvula. Daphnia lumholtzi had greater survivorship than D. parvula in most treatments and higher life-time fertility than D. parvula in all treatments. Both species achieved their fastest intrinsic rates of growth in treatments with high food, but their responses to suspended solids differed. The growth rate of D. lumholtzi in high food was slightly increased by higher turbidity, whereas that of D. parvula was depressed.
3. Results suggest that the ability of D. lumholtzi to tolerate suspended solids is an important factor contributing to its success in invading North American rivers.     

Effects of host variety on blue willow beetle Phratora vulgatissima performance

Phratora vulgatissima adults exhibit feeding preferences among willow varieties, yet little is known of the effects of willow variety on larval and adult performance. The effects of host variety on adult fitness and fecundity as well as on larval mortality and development were studied under laboratory conditions for 35 willow varieties. The host variety significantly affected the number of days that adults survived and the rates of weight change. On average, males lost weight and females gained weight. The total number of eggs, eggs day¹, eggs clutch^?1 and the length of the oviposition period were also significantly affected by willow variety. Progeny from eggs laid by adults fed on the different willow varieties showed significant differences in days to pupation and pupal weight when subsequently reared on Salix × dasyclados or on the same variety as fed to the adults. However, there was no correlation between these parameters on S. × dasyclados and the variety fed to adults. The willow variety fed to larvae significantly affected larval mortality (four varieties caused 100% mortality), the shape of larval growth curves (as measured by predicted final weight and time to half the final weight), the number of days to pupation and pupal weight. There were significant positive correlations between previously determined adult P. vulgatissima feeding preferences of the 35 willow varieties and the following: number of eggs laid, length of the oviposition period, larval mortality and development and change in adult weight. There was a considerable degree of variation in these correlations and some varieties did not follow the general trend indicated by the size or sign of particular correlations, for example, having a high feeding preference ranking yet few eggs laid, low larval weight and longer time to pupation. The differences found between varieties for adult and larval performance in conjunction with previously established feeding preferences offer great potential for utilising plant resistance to P. vulgatissima as a means of strategic control. Despite the general correlation of feeding preference and performance parameters, the results found here suggest that it appears to be possible for plant breeders to circumvent this trend.