Extending that little bit further

Two long-term practitioners in restoration extension reflect on how far we have come with remnant vegetation management in rural southern NSW — and how far we have yet to go     

Distribution of Chlorophyll between the Two Photoreactions in Photosynthesis of the Blue-Green Alga Anacystis nidulans Grown at Two Different Light Intensities

Anacystis nidulans was grown in white light of two different intensities, 7 and 50 W ·m^?2. The in vivo pigmentations of the two cultures were compared. The ratio phycocyanin/chlorophyll a was 0.96 for cells grown at 7 W · m^?2 and 0.37 for cells grown at 50 W · m^?2. Phycocyanin-free photosynthetic lamellae (PSI-particles) were prepared, using French press treatment and fractionated centrifugation. Algae grown in the irradiance of 50 W · m^?2 showed a chlorophyll a/P700 ratio of 260, while algae grown at 7 W · m^?2 had a value of 140. Corresponding PSI-particles showed values of 122 and 109 respectively. Light-induced absorption difference spectra measured between 400–450nm indicated different ratios between cytochrome f and P700 in the two algal cultures. Enhancement studies of photosynthetic oxygen evolution were carried out. When a background beam of 691 nm was superimposed upon a signal beam of 625 nm, good enhancement was observed for both cultures. With the wavelengths 675 and 691 nm together a pronounced enhancement could be detected only in algae grown at the higher light level. Absorption spectra recorded on whole cells at 77°K revealed a small shift of the main red chlorophyll a absorption peak caused by light intensity. It is proposed that the reduction of the phycocyanin/chlorophyll a ratio in high light-grown cells is accompanied by an increased energy distribution by chlorophyll a into PSII.     

Biochemical Studies on Yeast

The growth of Zygosaccharomyces soja was strongly inhibited by the addition of 10^?2 m-monoiodoacetic acid and 10^?3 m-potassium cyanide. The formation of a considerable amount of riboflavin was recognized after 5 days cultivation of this organism in presence of the aforementioned two inhibitors, and its growth was considerably improved after the formation and accumulation of riboflavin. Furthermore, the effect of the aforementioned two inhibitors upon the growth of this organism in young stage was compensated with the addition of riboflavin.     

Identification and characterization of 17 microsatellite primers for the tick,Ixodes ricinus,using enriched genomic libraries

Ixodes ricinus is the main vector for important infectious diseases in both humans and in animals. Microsatellite loci were isolated from a dinucleotide‐enriched library made from I. ricinus sampled in Norway. Seventeen polymorphic microsatellites were further characterized among 24 individuals sampled from an island in the Oslofjord region. The number of observed alleles ranged from two to 17 and the observed heterozygosities between 0.10 and 0.83. Analysis of family materials gives evidence of non‐Mendelian inheritance of several of the characterized loci, among which most could be explained by presence of null alleles.     

Length–weight relationships of 17 less-studied fish species from Çanakkale, Marmara region of Turkey

This study reports length–weight relationships for 17 cryptic and rare species, Aidablennius sphynx , Arnoglossus kessleri , Callionymus pusillus , Callionymus risso , Clinitrachus argentatus , Echiichthys vipera , Gobius geniporus , Gobius paganellus , Labrus viridis , Lepadogaster lepadogaster , Ophidion barbatum , Pomatoschistus minutus , Pomatoschistus pictus , Salaria pavo , Tripterygion delaisi , Tripterygion tripteronotus and Zebrus zebrus from Çanakkale near shores in the Marmara region of Turkey.     

Estimating gonadal development using a non-destructive measurement of ovarian length in live Tasmanian striped trumpeter, Latris lineata (Forster, 1801)

Sexually mature female striped trumpeter Latris lineata (Forster, 1801) were sampled monthly for two spawning seasons until the start of gonadal recrudescence, and then fortnightly until ovulations ceased. Oocyte size and ovarian length, measured by inserting a semi-rigid biopsy catheter to the full extent of insertion, were recorded at each sample time. Ovarian length was expressed as proportion of fork length to provide a gonad index (GI). In non-ovulating females, there was little change in GI throughout the year. However, in ovulating females, GI increased from 18.3 five months before the first spawning season to 27.6 at the peak of the season in October, decreasing to 19.1 the following May and then increasing again to a maximum of 31.1 the following October, in concert with annual changes in reproductive condition. There was a positive linear correlation between GI and oocyte size during the period of oocyte growth ( r  = 0.75, n = 302). Based on the range of GI values for each stage in oocyte development (primary, cortical alveoli, vitellogenic, maturing and hydrated), GI was 90% accurate at assessing fish as pre-vitellogenic and 83% accurate at assessing fish as undergoing final oocyte maturation. This study demonstrated that measurement of GI by catheterization provides a rapid and non-destructive method for assessing maturational status of striped trumpeter broodstock.