Factors initiating algal life-form shift from sediment to water

In enclosure and whole-lake experiments, I tested whether life-form shift (recruitment) is a passive process induced by turbulence, a seasonal phenomenon, or a behavior that can be induced by alterations in environmental variables. The number of algal cells recruited from the sediment varied considerably during the experimental period. The most important migrating genera in this study were: Cryptomonas, Dinobryon, Gonyostomum, Gymnodinium, Peridinium, and Synura. An obvious conclusion is that it is not the same factor in each case that causes life-form shift, but that different triggering factors operate in different algal species. Turbulence and temperature were similar in all treatments and therefore did not cause the considerable fluctuations and trends in algal recruitment in the enclosures. This suggests that life0form shift is not a passive process driven by wind and temperature-induced currents. In the enclosure experiment, alterations in the light régime explained a major part (up to 53%) of the variation in recruitment for most genera. For Gymnodinium this was corroborated in the whole-lake experiment, where the depth of the euphotic zone explained 41% of the variation in recruitment. For Cryptomonas, however, 64% of the variation in recruitment was explained by the depth of the oxycline, whereas 52% of the variation in recruitment of Synura were explained by the depths of the euphotic zone and the oxyline. Peridinium pusillum and P. wisconsinense showed low recruitment at high zooplankton abundance and high recruitment at low zoo-plankton abundance in the lake experiment, as well as in the enclosure experiment. Thus, the hypothesis that the presence of grazers can induce shifts in behaviour of some algal groups cannot be rejected.     

Über den Einfluß von Rotschlamm auf die Kultur einiger mariner Planktonalgen

Zusammenfassung 1. Rotschlamm ist ein bei der Aluminiumgewinnung aus Bauxit anfallendes Abfallprodukt. Der Antrag eines Industrieunternehmens auf Verklappung von ca. 800 000 t Rotschlamm (Naßgewicht) pro Jahr in der Nordsee gab den unmittelbaren Anlaß zur Aufnahme von Laborversuchen über die Wirkung auf marine Planktonalgen. Als Testformen dienten die DinoflagellatenPeridinium trochoideum, Gymnodinium splendens undProrocentrum micans sowie die DiatomeenCoscinodiscus granii undChaetoceros socialis. Die Algen wurden sowohl im Batch-Verfahren als auch im kontinuierlichen Verfahren nach dem Turbidostatprinzip gezüchtet.2. Rotschlamm wurde den Kulturen im Batch-Verfahren einmalig bei Versuchsbeginn fein suspendiert zugesetzt und je nach Versuchsanordnung entweder der Sedimentation überlassen oder durch regelmäßiges Aufschütteln bzw. vermittels eines Rührwerkes soweit wie möglich in Turbulenz gehalten. Im kontinuierlichen Verfahren wurde den Kulturen während der gesamten Versuchsdauer täglich frischer Rotschlamm zudosiert und der Sedimentation überlassen. Die Menge des zugegebenen Rotschlammes variierte je nach Versuchsanordnung zwischen 0,001 und 50 g(Naßgewicht)/l Seewasser.3. Als Kriterien einer Schädigung dienten die Beeinflussung der Vermehrungsrate der Algen und die maximal erreichbare Zelldichte der Kulturen. Zugleich wurden die letalen Grenzkonzentrationen bestimmt.4. Die Testversuche zeigten, daß die Empfindlichkeit gegenüber Rotschlamm wesentlich von der verwendeten Algenart und von der jeweiligen Versuchsanordnung abhängt. Reversible Anfangsschädigungen wurden im Batch-Verfahren bei 0,005 g/l(Coscinodiscus granii), 0,01 g/l(Gymnodinium splendens), 0,05 g/l(Peridinium trochoideum undProrocentrum micans) und 0,5 g/l(Chaetoceros socialis) nachgewiesen. Irreversible Schädigung führte im kontinuierlichen Verfahren bei täglicher Zudosierung des Rotschlammes in Mengen von 0,01 g/l(Peridinium trochoideum), 0,05 g/l(Coscinodiscus granii) und 0,5 g/l(Prorocentrum micans) zum Absterben der Kulturen.5. Die Anfangsschädigung ist in erster Linie auf mechanische Wirkung unmittelbar nach Zugabe des frischen Rotschlammes zum Meerwasser zurückzuführen. Die Partikel sedimentieren unter lockerer Koagulation und reißen die Algen mit sich. Gealterte Rotschlammpartikel erweisen sich als weniger schädlich. In höheren Konzentrationen kann eine toxische Wirkung hinzukommen (0,5 g/l Rotschlamm beiGymnodinium splendens), die sich jedoch erst nach längerer Versuchsdauer bemerkbar macht.6. Da die verwendeten Testalgen den relativ robusten Planktonformen zugehören, ist bei einer Übertragung der Ergebnisse auf die in See eintretende Gesamtsituation damit zu rechnen, daß viele andere Planktonalgen gegenüber einer Rotschlammverklappung noch empfindlicher reagieren.7. In einer Literaturübersicht werden die von anderen Autoren an repräsentativen Gliedern der Nahrungskette (Algen, Fischnährtiere und Fische) ermittelten wichtigsten Ergebnisse von Rotschlammversuchen kurz referiert und den vorliegenden Ergebnissen gegenübergestellt. In einer gemeinsamen Stellungnahme mehrerer bundesdeutscher Institute wird aus den angeführten Untersuchungen die Schlußfolgerung gezogen, daß einer Einbringung von Rotschlamm in die Nordsee nicht zugestimmt werden kann.

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On the effect of red mud on the culture of some marine plankton algae

Red mud originates from bauxite processing, the first step of aluminium production. A newly constructed plant intends to release about 800 000 tons of this waste product into the southern North Sea. The effect of red mud on the culture of some marine algae was investigated. The dinoflagellatesPeridinium trochoideum, Prorocentrum micans andGymnodinium splendens, and the diatomsCoscinodiscus granii andChaetoceros socialis served as test organisms. They were examined in batch cultures and in continuous cultures (turbidostats) to which 0.001 to 50 g of red mud per 1 sea water was added. Multiplication rates of the algae were chosen as criterion for assessing the influence of red mud. Maximum cell densities of the batch cultures were also determined. When red mud was added to the batch cultures once, at the beginning of the experiments, the test algae exhibited initial reductions in population growth at 0.005 up to 0.5 g of red mud/l sea water, depending on the species. In most experiments they recovered from initial growth-rate reduction and grew to nearly the same cell densities as did the controls. In the continuous cultures, suspended red mud was added daily. After 9 days, this caused irreversible break-down ofPeridinium trochoideum populations at 0.01 g red mud/l/day.Coscinodiscus granii populations were irreversibly damaged at 0.05 g/l/day;Prorocentrum micans, at 0.5 g/l/day. All test algae represent euryplastic forms. Other, more stenoplastic planktonic algae species are likely to be less tolerant to red mud exposure.

     

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF CARTERIA AND CHLAMYDOMONAS

Cultures of Chlamydomonas eugametos, Chl. sp., Carteria eugametos, C. crucifera, C. radiosa, and C. sp. were examined with the electron microscope to determine generic differences between Carteria and Chlamydomonas at the ultrastructural level. The ultrastructure of the flagella, mitochondria, dictyosomes, nuclei and ground substance was noted to be similar in all species. The cellular boundary of all species except Chlamydomonas eugametos contains a 250 A intermediate layer of unknown chemical composition between the fibrillar cellulose wall and the outer capsule layer. Four structural features other than the number of flagella distinguish Carteria from Chlamydomonas: the intermediate layer of the cellular boundary, the chloroplast, the pyrenoid and the eyespot. Only in the Carteria species is the intermediate layer traversed by striations or 12-mμ-wide bars. Striations in the cellulose wall surrounding the flagellar channels also appear in Carteria eugametos and C. crucifera. The chloroplast lamellae of the Carteria species are grouped into discrete stacks of invaginated thylakoids termed pseudograna. The chloroplast lamellae of Chlamydomonas are broad and sheet-like and are also invaginated although less frequently than are the pseudograna of Carteria. The phenomenon of infolding of the chloroplast lamellae is suggested as a general developmental process in the formation of new thylakoids. In Carteria, single thylakoids traverse the pyrenoid and there are 2 rows of granules in the eyespot. Favorable micrographs of the eyespot indicate that the granules may be osmiophilic granules of the chloroplast chemically modified for a photoreceptive function.     

Uptake of phosphate by symbiotic and free-living dinoflagellates

Uptake of phosphate in the light by Amphidinium carterae, Amphidinium klebsii, cultured and symbiotic Gymnodinium microadriaticum conformed to Michaelis-Menten type saturation kinetics with all organisms showing similar K _m values, namely 0.005 to 0.016 M phosphorus. V _max values were 0.009–0.32 nmol phosphorus · 10⁵ cells^-1 · 10 min^-1. Phosphate uptake by all the dinoflagellates was greater in the dark than in the light. The metabolic inhibitor 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl) 1,1-dimethylurea stimulated phosphate uptake in the light by A. carterae and A. klebsii, but inhibited uptake by cultured and symbiotic G. microadriaticum. Carbonylcyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) inhibited phosphate uptake by A. carterae and A. klebsii under both light and dark conditions. Uptake of phosphate by cultured and symbiotic G. microadriaticum in the light, but not in the dark, was inhibited by CCCP. Low concentrations of arsenate (5 g As · l^-1) stimulated phosphate by A. carterae and A. klebsii, but inhibited uptake by cultured and symbiotic G. microadriaticum. High concentrations of arsenate (100 g As · l^-1) did not affect uptake of phosphate by A. carterae and A. klebsii.     

Isolation and Chemical Composition of Dinoflagellate Nuclei*

Nuclei were isolated from Peridinium cinctum. Peridinium trochoideum, Gyrodinium cohnii (Cryptothecodinium cohnii) and Gymnodinium nelsoni. The nuclei of G. cohnii, P. trochoideum and G. nelsoni were found to contain ～ 6.9, 34 and 143 picograms of DNA respectively. The ratios to DNA of RNA, acid-soluble and acid-insoluble protein for G. cohnii were 0.32, 0.13 and 0.99, respectively. The corresponding values for P. trochoideum were 0.22, 0.08 and 1.22, while those for G. nelsoni were 0.21, 0.10 and 1.09. The chemical composition of dinoflagellate nuclei is compared and contrasted with that of typical eukaryotic nuclei. The culture of these difficult organisms also is discussed.     

Phytoplankton of the extremely acidic mining lakes of Lusatia (Germany) with pH ≤3

Most of the flooded, open-cast lignite mining lakes of Lusatia (Germany) impacted by the oxidation of iron sulphides (pyrite and marcasite) are extremely acidic. Of 32 lakes regularly studied from 1995 to 1998, 14 have a pH <3 (median pH 2.3–2.9). These lakes are typically buffered by high concentrations of Fe (III) and have high conductivity (1000–5000 S cm^–1). Concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and phosphorus are typically extremely low. These factors result in a very different environment for algae than found in neutral and acid-rain impacted lakes. The planktonic algal flora is generally dominated by flagellates belonging to genera of Chlorophyta (Chlamydomonas), Heterokontophyta of the class Chrysophyceae (Ochromonas, Chromulina), Cryptophyta (Cyathomonas) and Euglenophyta (Lepocinclis, Euglena mutabilis). Near-spherical non-motile Chlorophyta (Nanochlorum sp.), Heterokontophyta of the class Bacillariophyceae (Eunotia exigua, Nitzschia), Dinophyta (Gymnodinium, Peridinium umbonatum), other Chlorophyta (Scourfieldia cordiformis) and Cryptophyta (Rhodomonas minuta) are also found.     

77 Cryptic speciation of Peridinium Limbatum

Cosmopolitanism vs. endemism of microbial diversity in water has been debated for a long time. Finlay (2002) argued that reported similarities in microbial biodiversity in different lakes and oceans support cosmopolitanism of microorganisms. Lee and Patterson (1998) suggested that many endemism studies are flawed due to underrepresentation of taxa. On the other hand, Theriot and Stoermer (1984) showed that Stephanodiscus niagrarae, the centric diatom once thought to be a cosmopolitan species, actually consists of four slightly different species. Mating tests of Paramecium aurelia revealed 14 sibling species, which are morphologically almost identical (Sonneborn, 1957). Here, I present evidence for the cryptic speciation of Peridinium limbatum from two water bodies (Crystal Lake and Crystal Bog) that are near each other but chemically distinct. We observed that the two Peridinium limbatum had different responses to the same growth medium. Previous works at the Microbial Observatory program showed that their seasonal population dynamics were also different; while a summer bloom of Crystal Bog Peridinium limbatum was correlated with a dramatic decrease in phytoplankton diversity, and an extreme drop in bacterial diversity, a bloom of Crystal Lake Peridinium limbatum was not. To see the genetic variations in this study, I sequenced internal transcribed spacer region 1 and 2 from the two Peridinium limbatum. The sequence variations were 8.53% in ITS1 and 8.06% in ITS2, which were much larger than within variations. In another ongoing study that I expect to complete before the meeting, I've been testing their possible allelopathic differences on Cryptomonas.     

Seasonal Dynamics of Phytoplankton and Planktonic Protozoan Communities in a Northern Temperate Humic Lake: Diversity in a Dinoflagellate Dominated System

Species diversity and richness, and seasonal population dynamics of phytoplankton, planktonic protozoa, and bacterioplankton sampled from the epilimnion of Crystal Bog in 2000, were examined in order to test the hypothesis that these groups diversity and abundance patterns might be linked. Crystal Bog, a humic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin, is part of the North Temperate Lakes Long-Term Ecological Research Site. Phytoplankton and planktonic protozoa were identified and enumerated in a settling chamber with an inverted microscope. Bacterial cells were enumerated with the use of fluorescence 4, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)-staining procedures, and automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA) was used to assess bacterioplankton diversity. Bacterial cell counts showed little seasonal variation and averaged 2.6 × 10⁶ cells/mL over the ice-free season. Phytoplankton and planktonic protozoan numbers varied by up to two orders of magnitude and were most numerous in late spring and summer. Dinoflagellates largely dominated Crystal Bog throughout the ice-free period, specifically Peridiniopsis quadridens in the spring, Peridinium limbatum in summer, and Gymnodinium fuscum and P. quadridens in fall. Brief blooms of Cryptomonas, Dinobryon, and Synura occurred between periods of dinoflagellate domination. The dominant dinoflagellate, Peridinium limbatum, was calculated to have a growth rate of 0.065 day^–1 and a doubling time of 10.7 days. Heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNFs) were a consistent component of the planktonic protozoa; seasonal patterns were determined for three genera of HNFs (Monosiga, Bicosoeca, and Desmarella moniliformis). Three genera of ciliates (Coleps, Strobilidium, and Strombidium) comprised the greater part of the planktonic protozoa in Crystal Bog. The number of species of planktonic protozoa was too low to calculate a diversity index. Shannon–Weaver diversity indices for phytoplankton and bacterioplankton in the epilimnion followed very similar seasonal patterns in this lake, supporting the hypothesis that in freshwaters, diversity patterns of these groups are linked.     

AMPHIDINIUM CRYOPHILUM SP. NOV. (DINOPHYCEAE) A NEW FRESHWATER DINOFLAGELLATE. I. SPECIES DESCRIPTION USING LIGHT AND SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY1

Amphidinium cryophilum sp. nov. was found in the fall of 1979 in a small pond near Madison, Wisconsin. During the ensuing winter, it became the dominant phytoplankter. Cell numbers remained high despite a thick layer of ice and snow. After the ice melted in the spring the organism disappeared from plankton samples. A successful culture of A. cryophilum was established only when isolates were incubated at 5–7° C. It is compared with two morphologically similar species, A. amphidinioides (Geitler) Schiller and Gymnodinium inversum Nygaard. Amphidinium cryophilum is distinguished from the former by its pigmentation (golden-yellow vs. blue-green), the location of the cingulum, and its lack of an eyespot. It differs from the latter in cell shape, the route of the sulcus and position of the nucleus.     

The apocytochrome b gene of Chlamydomonas smithii contains a mobile intron related to both Saccharomyces and Neurospora introns.

Summary The mitochondrial DNA of the two interfertile algal species Chlamydomonas smithii and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii are co-linear with the exception of ca. 1 kb insertion (the a insert) present in C. smithii DNA only. In vegetative diploids resulting from interspecific crosses, mitochondrial genomes are transmitted biparentally except for the a insert which is transmitted to all C. reinhardtii molecules in a manner reminiscent of the intron-mediated conversion event that occurs at the omega locus in yeast mitochondria, under the action of the I-SceI endonuclease. Here we report that the insert corresponds to a typical group I intron of 1075 bp, inserted within the gene for apocytochrome b and containing a 237 codon open reading frame (ORF). We also report the complete sequence of the apocytochrome b gene of C. smithii. Comparison with the sequence of the same gene in C. reinhardtii reveals the precise intron insertion site. These data, together with the previous genetic data provide the first example of intron mobility in mitochondria of the plant kingdom. The product of the intronic ORF shows 36% amino acid identity with the I-SceI endonuclease whereas the intron ribozyme shows a 60% identity at the nucleotide level with the Neurospora crassa cob · 1 intron. The possibility of a recent horizontal transfer of introns between fungi and algae is discussed.     

Transport properties of N-acyl derivatives of the coprogen and ferrichrysin classes of siderophores inNeurospora crassa

Several derivatives of the coprogen and ferrichrysin classes of siderophores were synthesized as potential affinity labels of the iron uptake system inNeurospora crassa. While only one of these compounds has proved useful as an affinity label, all were recognized and transported byNeurospora crassa. One derivative, chloroacetyl-ferrichrysin, proved to be an unexpectedly potent reversible inhibitor (K ₁=0.4 M) of both ferrichrysin and coprogen uptake, similar to the natural siderophore, ferrirubin. The reported results provide further understanding of the steric and electronic requirements of siderophores for the iron uptake system inNeurospora crassa.Abbreviations amu atomic mass units - DMF dimethylformamide - FAB tast atom bombardment - NMR nuclear magnetic resonance - ppm parts per million - tlc thin layer chromatography     

Spatial and temporal variations of Dinophyceae in subtropical reservoirs in southern Brazil

Knowledge of dinoflagellate diversity in Brazilian reservoirs is limited, especially in subtropical environments. We investigated as to how nutrients and other environmental variables influenced the biomass of Dinophyceae species in three subtropical ecosystems. The reservoirs Samuara, Faxinal, and São Miguel were sampled fortnightly from 2002 to 2006, and eight dinoflagellate taxa were identified. High temperature was a determining factor for the occurrence of Peridinium africanum Lemmermann. Peridinium umbonatum Stein and P. willei Huitfeld-Kass required high concentrations of nutrients. P. willei was inversely related to temperature and directly related to nutrients. P. umbonatum Stein var. umbonatum Stein showed the largest range of tolerance toward resources. Durinskia baltica Carty &; Cox and Peridinium gatunense Nygaard could be opportunistic, since they did not show any spatial or temporal pattern.     

A novel stimulator of protein phosphorylation in Neurospora crassa

Summary An endogenous thermostable activator of Protein kinase III (PKIII) was purified from 100000 × g supernatants of Neurospora crassa mycelial extracts. This 38 000 dalton polypeptide, clearly separable from calmodulin on P-60 gel filtration, specifically stimulated N. crassa PKIII activity on casein or phosvitin in vitro phosphorylation.The factor was only present in the initial growth phase of the fungus. The mechanism of PKIII activation and its possible regulatory role are discussed.Abbreviations PK protein kinase - MES 2-N-Morpholino ethane-sulfonic acid - PMSF phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride - S₁₀₀ 100000 × g Supernatant     

Cell walls of algae in the volvocales: Their sensitivity to a cell wall lytic enzyme and labeling with an anti-cell wall glycopeptide ofChlamydomonas reinhardtii

A cell wall lytic enzyme (gamete wall-autolysin) and a polyclonal antiserum raised against one of the major cell wall glycopeptides ofChlamydomonas reinhardtii were used to study their cross-reactivities with the cell walls of variety of members of the Volvocales. Lytic enzyme was able to digest completely the cell walls of five species ofChlamydomonas (C. reinhardtii group), six species ofGonium and two species ofAstrephomene. The colonial structures ofGonium andAstrephomene were broken into individual cells by exposure to the enzyme and protoplasts were then formed. These organisms also showed a strong cross-reactivity with anti-cell wall glycopeptide by an indirect-immunofluorescence test. The cell walls ofChlamydomonas angulosa, Dysmorphococcus globosus, Pandorina morum, Eudorina elegans, Volvulina steinii, Pleodorina california andVolvox carteri all showed a strong cross-reactivity to the antibody, although they were insensitive to the lytic enzyme. Many other species ofChlamydomonas, Carteria crucifera, Chlorogonium elongatum, Polytoma uvella, Haematococcus lacustris, Lobomonas piriformis, Phacotus lenticularis, Pteromonas angulosa, Stephanosphera pluvialis, andPyrobotrys casinoensis had cell walls which were resistant to the enzyme and showed no or weak cross-reactivity with the antibody. Based on the results, a possible evolutionary sequence from a unicellular relative ofC. reinhardtii to the multicellular algae is discussed.     

Chromatin structure in the unicellular algae Olisthodiscus luteus,Crypthecodinium cohnii and Peridinium balticum

Isolated nuclei of the unicellular alga Olisthodiscus luteus, the uninucleate dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium cohnii and the binucleate dinoflagellate Peridinium balticum were lysed and deposited on grids by the microcentrifugation technique. The ultrastructure of the released chromatin fibers was compared to that of mouse liver nuclei. Chromatin from nuclei of Olisthodiscus luteus and the eukaryotic¹ nuclei of Peridinium balticum, appeared as linear arrays of regularly repeating subunits which were identical in size and morphology to mouse nucleosomes. In contrast, the chromatin fibers from Crypthecodinium cohnii nuclei appeared as smoothe threads with a diameter of about 6.5 nm. Nuclear preparations containing mixtures of dinokaryotic and eukaryotic nuclei of Peridinium balticum also contained smooth fibers which most likely originated from the dinokaryotic nuclei. These and other results demonstrating the presence of nucleosomes in lower eukaryotes suggest that the subunit structure of chromatin arose very early in the evolution of the eukaryotic cell.     

Blutregen und Blutschnee: Stickstoffmangel-Zellen von Haematococcus pluvialis und Chlamydomonas nivalis

Zusammenfassung Blutregen und Blutschnee sind zwei auffallende Naturerscheinungen, die in der Hauptsache durch Massenvorkommen von Aplanosporen der volvocalen Grünalgen Haematococcus pluvialis und Chlamydomonas nivalis verursacht werden. Die für die rote Farbe verantwortlichen Pigmente sind Keto-Carotinoide. Die Versuche zeigen, daß auch unter natürlichen Bedingungen für die Biosynthese dieser Polyene und für den gleichzeitig ablaufenden Abbau der Chlorophylle Stickstoffmangel der entscheidende Faktor ist.

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Blood-rain and blood-snow: Nitrogen-deficient cells of Haematococcus pluvialis and Chlamydomonas nivalis

Summary The blood-rain and the blood-snow, two phenomena caused mainly by mass occurrence of aplanospores of the volvocalean green algae Haematococcus pluvialis and Chlamydomonas nivalis, have been studied under natural conditions. The red pigments belong to the keto-carotenoids. The experiments show that also in nature the biosynthesis of these polyenes and the parallel decomposition of the chlorophylls are caused by nitrogen deficiency.

     

Phytoplankton successions under ice cover in four lakes located in North-Eastern Sweden: Effects of liming

Phytoplankton successions under ice cover (January–March) were determined in four oligotrophic lakes (Burtjärn, Aspen, Vialamptjärn and Storkorstjärn) located in North-Eastern Sweden. The total phosphorus concentration in the lakes was less than 10 µg/L. Lake Burtjärn (reference lake) had a similar hydrology as Lake Aspen. Storkorstjärn and Vialamptjärn were of similar hydrology and had heavily colored water (>100 mg_Pt/L). Aspen as well as Vialamptjärn became continuously limed with calcium carbonate annually during the last decades. Biodiversity was considerably higher in the limed lakes (Aspen and Vialamptjärn) than in the untreated lakes (Burtjärn and Storkorstjärn). In Lake Burtjärn the most frequent species wereRhodomonas lacustris, Tabellaria flocculosa andBotryococcus braunii. Cryptophyceae (R. lacustris andCryptomonas marssonii) andDinophyceae (especiallyGymnodinium lantzschii) were common phytoplankton groups in Lake Aspen.Tabellaria flocculosa was also the most common organism in both humic lakes Storkorstjärn and Vialamptjärn, other phytoplankton groups were in the humic lakes scarce. Liming was found to have profound effects on phytoplankton communities studied.     

Optimal foraging by a suspension-feeding copepod: responses to short-term and seasonal variation in food resources

Laboratory radioisotope experiments were used to investigate the effects of phytoplankton seasonal succession on the selectivity and clearance rates of a suspension-feeding copepod in two Indiana lakes. Responses to particle size and quality were tested by allowing adult female Diaptomus birgei feeding in natural seston to select between a small (6×7 m) flagellate (Chlamydomonas reinhardii) and a large, poor quality food (heat-killed Carteria olivieri, 22×25 m). Short-term responses were tested in one lake by additional treatments in which copepods were acclimated for 5–6 h in filtered lake water (starved) or natural seston with added Chlamydomonas (enriched). Copepods from both lakes fed selectively on the small live flagellate during the spring bloom of edible phytoplankton but fed selectively on the larger, poor quality particle during the clear water phase when food was scarce. These results are interpreted as an interaction between the concentration-dependent selectivity for high quality foods predicted by optimal diet theory and a perceptual bias for large-sized particles. Selectivity for high-quality food was intermediate and clearance rates were depressed when total phytoplankton abundance was high but dominated by filamentous cyanobacteria. In each experiment copepods also responded to the short-term manipulations by exhibiting weaker discrimination against the poor quality particle in the starvation treatment and stronger discrimination in the enriched treatment. A two-way mixed model ANOVA revealed substantial short term (37%) and seasonal (53%) components to the total variance in selectivity. Clearance rates were also influenced by both phytoplankton succession and the short-term resource manipulations. As expected, clearance rates on the poor quality food were more sensitive to the abundance of alternative foods. These results show how the feeding behavior of a freshwater copepod is modulated by both seasonal and short-term variation in natural food.     

Fatty acid control of cyclic AMP levels inNeurospora crassa

Several saturated, monosaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids produce rapid increases in cyclic AMP levels in the fungusNeurospora crassa when added to the growth medium at 10–50 M. The time courses of cyclic AMP increase resembled those previously shown to be induced by other agents, reaching peak cyclic AMP levels at about 2 min after fatty acid addition. These fatty acids had little or no influence on adenylate cyclase fromNeurospora crassa in vitro. On the basis of previous evidence that uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation increase cyclic AMP levels and that fatty acids can act as uncouplers, we suggest that the fatty acids in vivo may act to increase cyclic AMP levels by acting as uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation. In agreement with this suggestion, two fatty acids were shown to produce decreased ATP-ADP ratios inNeurospora at concentrations producing cyclic AMP increases.     

Pole reversal and the development of cell asymmetry during division in cryptomonad flagellates

Summary A unique form of cell division is reported for the cellsKomma caudata andCryptomonas ovata (Cryptophyceae). During cytokinesis, the posterior tail-like region of each daughter cell develops from the anterior region of the parental cell. This process, termed pole reversal, involves a major realignment in overall cell polarity as well as alterations to cytoplasmic and surface components. Pole reversal may be a consequence of flagellar apparatus transformation and reorientation during division, and pole reversal may facilitate the development of the asymmetric cell shape in daughter cells.