Genetic variability in mitochondrial DNA in a regional population of the great tit (Parus major)

Genetic variation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in 18 great tits (Parus major) from three neighboring localities in Sweden was investigated with eight tetranucleotide restriction endonucleases. The 18 individuals could be separated into 13 different maternal lineages. The high number of female lineages present in this regional population contrasts with a low level of sequence divergence between the different mtDNA clones, with a mean of 0.19% sequence divergence between all individuals. There was no obvious spatial structuring of mtDNA clones among the three localities. The presence of a high number of different clones with a low degree of sequence divergence could be explained by the effects of a large long-term effective population size, with the mtDNA clones having diverged about 25,000–200,000 years ago.This study was supported by the Swedish Natural Science Research Council, the Erik Philip-Sörensen Foundation, and the Nilsson-Ehle Foundation.     

田螺科五种螺的核型研究

以早期胚胎细胞为材料,用火焰干燥法制片,对分布于我国湖北省武汉市近郊的常见田螺科(Viviparidae)五种螺的核型进行了分析。结果:两种圆田螺的染色体数和国外报道的同一属的种类的一致。而三种环棱螺的染色体数,则较国外报道的另两种的少得多。在铜锈环棱螺的核型中,其m组的第一对和sm组的第四对染色体上,具有明显的随体,出现频率甚高。     

Seasonality of phytoplankton in northern tundra ponds

Thermokarst ponds are the most abundant type of water body in the arctic tundra, with millions occurring in the coastal plains of Alaska, Northwest Territories and Siberia. Because ice covers of at least 2 m in thickness are formed at these latitudes, tundra ponds freeze solid every winter As a result, the growing season is shortened to a range of 60 to 100 days, during which time the photoperiod is altered to a prolonged light phase. Tundra ponds are generally close to neutral in pH and low in ions, contain dissolved gases near saturation and are nutrient poor. In low arctic ponds there are two phytoplankton biomass and primary production peaks, whereas they may be only one in the high arctic. Nanoplanktonic flagellates of the Chrysophyceae and Cryptophyceae dominate the maxima. The mid-summer decline in phytoplankton in the low arctic can be attributed to a combination of phosphorus limitation and heavy grazing pressure. The cryptomonad Rhodomonas minuta Skuja is one of the most widespread phytoplankters in tundra ponds. Because of the altered photoperiods, many species do not form resting spores prior to ice formation but survive freezing in the vegetative state.     

Chronobiological aspects of the host-parasite relationships between Biomphalaria glabrata and Schistosoma mansoni: cercarial production and infectivity, and growth kinetics of the host

In the Biomphalaria glabrata-Schistosoma mansoni association, variations in cercarial production, in cercarial infectivity, and in the growth of infected snails are rhythmic. These chronobiological aspects are correlated with the dynamics of the intramolluscan larval stages of the parasite during the course of the infection. Rhythmic variations in the growth kinetics of infected snails are interpreted in terms of host-parasite metabolic exchanges.     

Influence of overwinteringDaphnia on spring zooplankton communities: An experimental study

To evaluate the influence of overwintering individuals of zooplankton on spring zooplankton communities, the dynamics of zooplankton communities with or without overwintering individuals were observed in experimental ponds from fall to spring. An insecticide, carbaryl, was used to regulate the overwintering individuals. In ponds which received insecticide applications in November or January, all cladoceran and rotiferan species were eliminated by the treatments and did not reappear until late March or early April, even when the chemical disappeared rapidly. The low water temperature may delayed the establishment of the populations from resting eggs. In these ponds, populations of various cladoceran and rotiferan species, which seemed to be originated from resting eggs, were built up in the spring. In control ponds,Daphnia ambigua orD. longispina overwintered as juveniles and adults and established a large spring population earlier than other cladocerans and rotifers overwintering as resting eggs. The latter zooplankters did not increase in the spring probably because their growth was suppressed by the precedingDaphnia species through competition. In nature, even if the number of overwintering individuals is small, they may have a potential to build up a large population earlier than the individuals hatching from resting eggs. As a result, the species which have overwintered as individuals seem to predominate in the spring and have a large influence on the spring zooplankton community.     

Notes on the use of wood refugia by Physella heterostropha (say) in a thermally disturbed swamp

Physella heterostropha size distributions and densities were measured in Pen Branch delta, a thermally altered swamp of the Savannah River, South Carolina. During cessation of thermal input, measurements were taken in a highly impacted area and more natural area. Of the three substrates sampled, logs, small woody material and benthos, snail density was highest on small pieces of submerged wood and < 20% of the snails on logs were out of the water. Following resumption of thermal input, snail density was four times higher on logs than previously measured. Snails responded to elevated water temperatures by congregating in a narrow band slightly above the water. Snail size did not appear to affect their response. However, the thermal history of the snails influenced their behaviour and survival rates. Logs may be a potential refuge for snails when water temperature are greater greater than 38°C. However, our results indicate that long-term survival in this manner may be impossible.     

池鹭繁殖种群数量、活动规律和生物生产量的研究

本文报道池鹭种群数量变动,种群活动,雏鸟生长和生物生产量。种群活动可划分为适到期,运情期,繁殖期,同鸟活动期,集群活动和迁离期。１９９０,１９９１二年繁殖前种群密度分别为１３００只／ｈｍ＾２和１４０１只／ｈｍ＾２,繁殖后增加密度为２０８７只／ｈｍ＾２和２２４８只／ｈｍ＾２。雏鸟体重增长曲线议程为：Ｗ＝２８６／１＋ｅ＾－０．４０９（ｔ－１２．６）１９９０,１９９１年繁殖种群的生物生产量分别为１９７．