Diversity measures in macroinvertebrate and zooplankton communities related to the trophic status of subtropical reservoirs: Contradictory or complementary responses?

Macroinvertebrate communities have been widely used as a tool for assessing the environmental quality of freshwater ecosystems, whereas zooplankton communities have been to some extent neglected. However, the importance of using different indicators to achieve a more comprehensive framework of assessment regarding water quality has been recognized. This study compared estimates of species richness (number of species) and the Shannon–Wiener index for data on macroinvertebrate and zooplankton communities in tropical reservoirs and related them to their trophic state. The trop+hic classification was obtained by applying the Carlson index (1977) modified by Toledo et al. (1983), and the index of the Brazilian Society of the Environmental Technology Agency. The comparative response of the different indicators was analyzed using a series of bivariate correlations (Draftsman’s plot). The results illustrate that diversity measures, namely species richness, responded differently when related to the trophic classification of reservoirs, depending on the community considered. The species richness of zooplankton was positively related to hypereutrophic conditions, due to the higher number of rotifer species, including tolerant generalist species and at the same time, as a result of the exclusion of species from other groups, whereas for macroinvertebrates, species richness was negatively related to hypereutrophic conditions. Melanoides tuberculatus, which exhibits a high tolerance and competitive ability under such conditions, was the dominant species in macroinvertebrate communities, which excluded endemic species and reduced local richness and diversity. The same indicators applied to the zooplankton and macroinvertebrate communities might therefore provide contradictory responses regarding ecological quality assessment in tropical reservoirs, which suggest that zooplankton should be taken into account among the biological quality elements considered in the ecological quality assessment, management, and restoration of water bodies.     

Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of West Java Water Sustainability Index – A case study on Citarum catchment in Indonesia

Water sustainability indices have been recently used to measure the sustainability of water resources within a catchment. Developing a sustainability index involves various steps, some of which have uncertainties associated with them. For the recently developed West Java Water Sustainability Index (WJWSI), three sources of uncertainties were identified, namely uncertainties in the thresholds of non-categorical indicators and sub-indicators, in the weighting schemes, and in the aggregation methods. This paper presents the uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of WJWSI, based on the application of WJWSI to Citarum catchment in West Java, Indonesia. The results of the uncertainty analysis, measured by the coefficient of variation of the thresholds and the sub-indices, indicates that minimum thresholds of Land Use Changes, Coverage, Education, Poverty, Health Impact and Sanitation, and the maximum threshold of Water Quality have higher variation when compared to variation of the other thresholds. The results of the sensitivity analysis, measured by the correlation coefficients between the final index and the thresholds, indicate that changes in the thresholds of WJWSI indicators have not significantly affected the sub-index values of most indicators and sub-indicators. The sensitivity analysis also concluded that either the equal or non-equal weighting scheme can be used for future use of the aggregation of WJWSI indicators and sub-indicators, as changes from equal to non-equal weighting scheme did not significantly affect the final index. However, it was found that the final index values were most sensitive to the aggregation method used (i.e. arithmetic and geometric methods), shown by the significant changes in the final index value when the aggregation method was changed from arithmetic to geometric. The uncertainty and sensitivity analysis presented in this study will not just assist in the efficient use of the WJWSI, but will also help undertake similar analysis for other indices.     

A variable selection index for the compensation of correlated genetic change

Summary A selection index for two traits has been constructed which allows partial restriction for one of the traits. The index is used in a situation where correlated response to selection in one sex is compenstated for by selection for other traits in the opposite sex. A numerical example is given.     

The impact of regional-scale changes in the weather on the long-term dynamics of Eudiaptomus and Daphnia in Esthwaite Water, Cumbria

1. Year‐to‐year changes in the weather have a profound effect on the seasonal dynamics of zooplankton in lakes. Here, I analyse some zooplankton data from Esthwaite Water in Cumbria and demonstrate that much of the recorded inter‐annual variation can be related to regional‐scale changes in the weather.
2. The first data set analysed shows the effect of changes in the water temperature on the winter abundance of the calanoid copepod Eudiaptomus gracilis. The highest numbers of Eudiaptomus were recorded when the winters were mild and the lowest when the winters were cold.
3. Winter temperatures in northern and western Europe are now known to be influenced by the atmospheric feature known as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Positive values of the NAO are associated with mild winters and westerly winds and there was a significant positive correlation between the winter abundance of Eudiaptomus in Esthwaite Water and this empirical index of change.
4. The second data set analysed shows the effect of wind‐induced mixing on the summer abundance of Daphnia. The highest numbers of Daphnia were recorded in years when the early summer thermocline was deep and the lowest number in years when the thermocline was shallow.
5. One of the most important factors influencing the depth of the early summer thermocline in the English lakes is the position of the north‐wall of the Gulf Stream. Southerly movements of the Gulf Stream are typically associated with higher winds, whilst northerly movements are associated with stable conditions. In Esthwaite Water, a significant positive correlation was recorded between the abundance of Daphnia and the depth of the early summer thermocline and significant negative correlations between the same variables and the position of the Gulf Stream.
6. A detailed analysis of the seasonal variations recorded in one calm and one windy year suggest that the main factor responsible for these correlations was the entrainment of nutrients which then stimulated the growth of edible algae. Daphnia numbers were low in 1968 (a ‘north’ Gulf Stream year which was relatively calm) and high in 1972 (a ‘south’ Gulf Stream year with intense wind‐mixing).     

Angiotensinogen promoter and angiotensinogen II receptor type 1 gene polymorphisms and incidence of ischemic stroke and neurologic phenotype in Fabry disease

Abstract

Context: Stroke and/or white matter lesions (WMLs) are significant in Fabry disease. Polymorphisms of angiotensinogen (AGT), AGT Promoter and angiotensinogen II receptor type 1 (AGTR1) are correlated with WMLs.

Objectives: We compared AGT. AGT Promoter and AGTR1 genotypes to stroke incidence, Fabry-specific [Mainz Severity Score Index (MSSI)] severity score, and neurologic sub-score (n-MSSI).

Methods: Sixty-three Fabry patients and 49 matched controls plus historic controls were genotyped. Institutional Review Board approval was received.

Results. C and/or CC alleles of AGT Promoter and AGTR1 were significantly correlated with stroke and n-MSSI.

Discussion/conclusion: Findings are suggestive of role of AGT Promoter and AGTR1 genotypes in Fabry phenotypes.     

Measurement and Selection of Parasitoid Quality for Mass-Reared Trichogramma minutum Riley Used in Inundative Release

Parasitoid quality, subject to both genetic and environmental influences, is critical to the success of any biological control program, however, its measurement and improvement is poorly understood. In this study, a classic genetic approach is taken to develop two indices, namely a character index and a fitness index, for the measurement and selection of high quality parasitoids used in inundative release. Six life-history traits and corresponding fitness components in 33 inbred strains of Trichogramma minutum were used to generate both genotypic and phenotypic variance-covariance matrices that then allowed for the construction of the indices. Most traits and their fitness components were positively correlated, both phenotypically and genotypically, with lifetime fecundity and the number of female offspring appearing to have an important influence. Selection of the top three strains showed that parasitoid quality could be improved by 36% using the character index and possibly up to 150% using the fitness index. The two indices were linearly correlated suggesting that either could be used to measure quality. The character index is recommended because it requires information on only three life-history traits (fecundity, number of female offspring, and number of male offspring) and has highly correlated responses of fitness components. Our work demonstrates that the best quality T. minutum will be obtained by using the character index to select for inbred strains which have high fecundity and number of female offspring.     

Planktonic indices in the evaluation of the ecological status and the trophic state of the longest lake in Poland

Due to the intensive mixing polymictic lakes should be homogenous. However, morphometric diversity and high water dynamics contribute to the differentiation of many parameters in various areas of the lakes. This study analyzes both phytoplankton and zooplankton to assess differences in water quality along the north–south axis of the longest lake in Poland. New phytoplankton indicators were applied for determining the lake's ecological status: the Q index based on functional groups and the PMPL (Phytoplankton Metric for Polish Lakes) index based on phytoplankton biomass. TSI_ROT index (Rotifer Trophic State Index), which comprises the percentage of species indicating a high trophic state in the indicatory group and the percentage of bacteriovorus in the Rotifera population, was used for zooplankton analysis.TP content was different at different sites – we observed its gradual increase from the south to the north. Spatial variation of phosphorus did not considerably affect plankton diversity. The phytoplankton was dominated by Oscillatoriales, typical of shallow, well-mixed eutrophic lakes. The ecological status of the lake based on the EQR (Ecological Quality Ratio) was poor or moderate. The zooplankton was dominated by rotifers (at almost all sites), which indicates a eutrophic state of the lake. The values of phytoplankton indices at the studied sites did not differ considerably; the differences resulted more from local conditions such as the contaminant inflow and the macrophyte development than water dynamics.We have demonstrated that in the lake dominated by filamentous Cyanobacteria the ecological status should be determined according to the PMPL index or other indices dependent on the dominant Cyanobacteria species. Since the Q index does not include the functional group S1, the results can lead to the false conclusion that water quality improves with an increased amount of phytoplankton. The high abundance of Cyanobacteria in the lake may have contributed to the poor growth of rotifers.     

The dynamics of freshwater phytoplankton stability in the Naroch Lakes (Belarus)

The phytoplankton community of the Belarus Lakes Naroch, Myastro and Batorino, which have a Trophic State Index of 42.3, 60.7 and 66.8, respectively, underwent drastic changes to their structure during the period between 1968 and 2012. Thanks to an extensive monitoring program, these changes were well-documented and were qualitatively interpreted as signs of the community destabilization. The main objective of this study was the quantification of the ecological stability of the phytoplankton community in the Naroch Lakes. The approach to the quantification of ecological stability was based on defining the stability index as an inverse of the Euclidean Distance between the current and the reference states of the algal community (EuD-approach). The stability of the phytoplankton community was characterized by two indices: a “combined” index (SI[Comb]), and a “total community” index (SI[TotB]). SI[Comb] was calculated based on the individual taxonomic group biomasses and thus characterizes the stability of a community structure. SI[TotB] was calculated based on the values of the total algal biomass. Analyses of the results of this study extended the plausibility of the EuD-approach for the quantification of lake phytoplankton stability and allowed us to identify the dynamics of the stability of the Naroch Lakes phytoplankton. For the Naroch Lakes, we observed relatively larger SI[TotB] values in comparison with the SI[Comb] values. The results enabled us to examine the relationship between the lake trophic status and the stability of the phytoplankton community.     

IND综合评价的逻辑结构及成药性评价

基于各学科信息作出安全性、有效性和质量可控性方面的综合评价是新药研究评价的灵魂，是一个多学科、多组织参与的综合决策过程。根据新药评价研究的实际工作经验，介绍一个新药临床试验综合评价的逻辑性、结构性的工作思考模式，有助于将不同专业的技术信息和技术结论有机整合，作出科学决策。     

Growth performance,haematological assessment and chemical composition of Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) fed different levels of Aloe vera extract as feed additives in a closed aquaculture system

A 105-day experimental trial was conducted to assess different levels of dietary Aleo vera extract supplementation on water quality parameters, proximate composition, growth performance and haematological parameters of fry Oreochromis niloticus. Four different percentages of dietary leaf extract powder of Aleo vera (ALE) with a basal feed, designated as, i.e., T0 (Control group; without ALE), T1 (1% ALE), T2 (2% ALE), and T3 (3% ALE). Fish fry was reared in concrete tanks (7.0 m, 1.6 m, 1.0: L, W, H; water volume 11.2 m3/tank), with an average initial weight 4.04 ± 0.03 g/ fry, and each treatment was triplicated. Fry was randomly distributed at a stocking rate of 450 individuals/ tanks. The water quality parameters revealed that temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO) and nitrates were found in a promising range as given by FAO/WHO limits. However, the record values obtained for Electric Conductivity (EC), Total dissolved solids (TDS), and alkalinities were not found in all tanks' suitable range according to FAO/WHO limits. The results revealed a significant impact of different percentages of dietary ALE supplementation on fry's body composition and haematological parameters. Moreover, the final body weight, final body length, average daily weight gain (g), net weight gain (g) and specific growth rate (%) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in T1 and T2 compared with T0 and T3 treatments. The poorest feed conversion ratio was recorded in the T2 group compared with other treatments. Thus, the current study provides information about the nutritional quality of Nile tilapia culturing in Pakistan.