Indirect effects of fish on macrophytes in Bays Mountain Lake: evidence for a littoral trophic cascade

Summary We began this experiment to test specific hypotheses regarding direct and indirect effects of fish predation on the littoral macroinvertebrate community of Bays Mountain Lake, Tennessee. We used 24 m² enclosures in which we manipulated the presence and absence of large redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus>150 mm SL), and small sunfish (L. macrochirus and L. microlophus <50 mm SL) over a 16-mo period. Here we report on effects of fish predation on gastropod grazers that appear to cascade to periphyton and macrophytes.Both large redear sunfish and small sunfish maintained low snail biomass, but snails in fish-free controls increased significantly during the first 2-mo of the experiment. By late summer of the first year of the experiment, the difference in biomass between enclosures with and without fish had increased dramatically (>10×). Midway through the second summer of the experiment, we noted apparent differences in the abundance of periphyton between enclosures containing fish and those that did not. We also noted differences in the macrophyte distribution among enclosures. To document these responses, we estimated periphyton cover, biovolume and cell size frequencies as well as macrophyte distributions among enclosures at the end of the experiment. When fish were absent, periphyton percent cover was significantly reduced compared to when fish were present. Periphyton cell-size distributions in enclosures without fish were skewed toward small cells (only 12% were greater than 200 m³), which is consistent with intense snail grazing. The macrophyte Najas flexilis had more than 60 x higher biomass in the fish-free enclosures than in enclosures containing fish; Potamogeton diversifolius was found only in fish-free enclosures. These results suggest a chain of strong interactions (i.e. from fish to snails to periphyton to macrophytes) that may be important in lake littoral systems. This contrasts sharply with earlier predictions based on cascading trophic interactions that propose that fish predation on snails would enhance macrophyte biomass.     

Farm pond restoration using Chara vulgaris vegetation

Four aged Madison County, New York farm ponds were selected to see if various treatments could be used to restore the water quality. One pond was untreated and used as a control; another pond was partially drained and exposed to the drying and oxidizing effects of the air over the fall and winter; the other two ponds were drained and the accumulated sediment removed by bulldozing. In these latter two ponds, Chara vulgaris vegetation was inoculated following the restoration process. C. vulgaris growth rapidly became the dominant producer where this inoculation was accomplished in the fall of 1976, and it is expected that the other pond will also become a C. vulgaris pond in 1978 — after its oogonia have undergone the requisite winter dormancy period.Early C. vulgaris growth was found to be associated with clear water conditions and lessened phytoplankton growth; short, bushy, light-inhibited growth by the algae stabilized the bottom against wind-caused turbidity because of its rhizoidal growth within the substrate. Pioneer C. vulgaris growth was also found to be highly productive, significantly lowering the pond's CO₂ readings.Investigators of aquatic systems are cautioned to be cognizant of the effect of epiphytic growth on successional events in such environments. Such epiphytes are surely important, if not prime, causes of the demise of various aquatic macrophytes.The partial draining and exposing of a pond over the fall and winter did not yield significantly improved water conditions.     

The endotegmen tuberculae: an account of little-known structures from the seed coat of the Hydrocharitoideae (Hydrocharitaceae) and Najas (Najadaceae)

SHAFFER-FEHRE, M., 1991. The endotegmen tuberculae: an account of little-known structures from the seed coat of the Hydrocharitoideae (Hydrocharitaceae) and of Najas (Najadaceae). The sub-cellular protuberances from the inner tegmen layer have been given various names in earlier literature. Here named 'endotegmen tuberculae', they vary in shape, size and density of distribution in the endotegmen of different taxa. These characteristics make them useful for taxonomic research at both genus and species level. Their shape is a major consideration in transferring Hydrocharis dubia to the genus Limnobium. A further structure, 'exotegmen tuberculae', has been observed for the first time. This paper gives a survey of these structures and illustrates their taxonomic importance and its implications.     

澳古茨藻传粉生物学和繁育系统的初步研究

澳古茨藻（ＮａｊａｓｏｇｕｒａｅｎｓｉｓＭｉｋｉ）是典型的水下水媒传粉植物。雄花在花粉释放前２—４ｈ花梗迅速伸长,突破膜质鞘状外被,并且向外弯曲,至花粉释放盛期几乎是水平状态,有利于释放后的花粉直接进入水流以求传播。花部组成与结构极为简化,花粉中富含淀粉粒,花粉落置柱头前常萌发出长的花粉管,形成宜为柱头捕获的花粉笺,表现出对水下水媒传粉的高度适应。有性繁殖十分发达,自交、异交和混交的结实率都在８５％以上;花粉／胚珠（Ｐ／Ｏ）为２６９０±３００,指示兼性自交的繁育系统。无性繁殖较弱,仅以易长不定根的植株片段形式存在,但仍对该种的扩散具有重要意义。作者对澳古茨藻的花生物学特征、传粉机制以及繁育系统进行了探讨,对澳古茨藻表现出的许多沉水植物所特有的特征特性：花被的简化、花粉外壁的简化作了解释,讨论了繁育系统中自交与异交的关系。     

Inter-relationships between Najas marina L. and three other species of aquatic macrophytes

The ability of Najas marina L. to thrive in the presence of the submerged hydrophytes (Myriophyllum spicatum L. and Potamogeton lucens L.) and of an emerged hygrophyte (Scirpus litoralis Schard.) was investigated in Tel Aviv, Israel. Najas plants were unaffected by the presence of Potamogeton lucens and Scirpus litoralis, but were significantly suppressed by Myriophyllum. Bilateral negative relationships exist between Najas and Myriophyllum and these seem to be of an allelophatic nature, depending more on the nature of the accompanying species rather than on their mass.     

The role of fish in distribution and germination of seeds of the submerged macrophytes Najas marina L. and Ruppia maritima L.

Summary The effects of three species of fish (tilapia, grass carp and common carp) on the seeds of Najas marina L. and of Ruppia maritima L. were investigated. Practically all the seeds that were injested by the common carp were digested. The two other fish were less affective: they digested seeds with soft seed-coats but excreted a good portion of the hard ones. Germination of the excreted seeds was improved. Seeds have been retained in the digestion tracts of the fish for up to 65 h. It is thus suggested that tilapias and grass-carps play a role in the distribution and the improvement of reproduction of Najas and Ruppia.     

Isozymes as molecular markers for diploid and tetraploid individuals ofNajas marina (Najadaceae)

The genetic variability of five natural populations ofNajas marina L., i.e. one diploid of subsp.marina (Europe), two of subsp.intermedia (Europe) and both a diploid (C. Africa) and a tetraploid (Middle East) of subsp.armata, has been estimated by means of electrophoretic studies. These populations differ in their morphology and karyotype. Emphasis is placed on the characteristics and status of a tetraploid cytotype from Merkaz Sappir (Israel). Almost all the variation observed is expressed in seed alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). The differences are in a unique allele of theAdh-2 locus and in the formation of novel heteromeric isozymes.Adh genes in seeds can be used as a marker for the autotetraploid character. The other enzyme systems tested failed in this respect. The genetic variability based on 23 loci is rather low. Nevertheless, the autotetraploid population has a higher or equal ratio of polymorphic loci than the related diploids. Cluster analysis illustrated not only thatNajas marina subsp.marina has diverged much from subsp.intermedia and subsp.armata, but also showed the difference between the latter two taxa, as well as the intermediate position of the autotetraploid population.     

Successional events following simazine application

Successional events of aquatic vegetation in a farm pond were studied, after application of simazine. After decay of the higher plants, phytoplankton did not dominate, instead herbicide-resistant seeds and subsurface structures of Potamogeton foliosus developed. Benthic algae covered and stabilized the bottom. Following stabilization, the water cleared and Chara vulgaris growth resumed wherever the substrate was firm.Suggestions are made as to how a pond can be managed to maintain the desired pioneer vegetation of Ch. vulgaris.     

两种茨藻属植物的染色体组型

笔者曾在1985年报道过分布于我国大陆的6种茨藻属(Najas L.)植物的染色体数目及核型分析结果。而高雄茨藻(N. browniana Rendle)和弯果茨藻(N. ancistrocarpa A. Br. ex Magnus)为笔者不久前(1987年)才发现它们在我国大陆上有分布。据载,仅弯果茨藻前人作过染色体计数工作。因此,作为对整个茨藻属细胞分     

Expansion of Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian water milfoil) into Lake Nasser,Egypt: Invasive capacity and habitat stability

The invasion of Myriophyllum spicatum into Lake Nasser, and its impact on submerged macrophyte communities are quantitatively documented. Samples of macrophytes, water and hydrosoil were collected from 17 sites, in October and November 2002. The average dry weight standing crop of each species per grapnel haul was determined at each depth zone (sampling site). Twenty-one environmental variables were measured (12 water and 9 hydrosoil variables). Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to determine species–environment relationships. Comparing these relationships of the present study with those detected in 1988–1990 indicated significant changes in water and hydrosoil characteristics. These changes are also implicated in the submerged macrophyte communities. M. spicatum has replaced the originally dominant submerged macrophyte Najas marina subsp. armata. The study indicated that the invasion of M. spicatum depends not only on its attributes, but also on the physico-chemical characteristics of Lake Nasser.