Composite Trace Fossil Assemblage in a Distal Carbonate Setting from the Tethys (Middle Jurassic,Betic Cordillera,Southern Spain)

Ichnological analysis of a Middle Jurassic carbonate surface from the Betic Cordillera (southern Spain) reveals a complex trace fossil assemblage, including softground Ophiomorpha, firmground Arenicolites, Thalassinoides and Gastrochaenolites, and hardground Trypanites as well as possible Gastrochaenolites. The ecological replacement in the macrobenthic community is interpreted according to successive suites that are controlled mainly by substrate consistency. Variations in composition and abundance of trace fossils between suites can be ecologically and/or taphonomically determined.     

Meiofaunal (re)colonization of the Arctic intertidal (Hornsund,Spitsbergen) after ice melting: role of wrack deposition

Intertidal meiobenthos of Hornsund—the southernmost fjord of Spitsbergen—was investigated between July and September 2005. Mean total meiofaunal densities ranged between 4.3 and 328 ind. 10 cm⁻². Nematode assemblages were impoverished in terms of the number of genera when compared with those from the western Spitsbergen coast (11 vs. 25–28 genera in total, respectively). It is suggested that severe environmental conditions in the southern part of Spitsbergen overcome the adaptation skills of many nematode species and hamper the establishment of a diverse community. Comparatively high nematode numbers on a beach subject to heavy macroalgal wrack input contrast sharply with numerically poor communities in sparse-wrack beaches (up to 315 vs. 31 ind. 10 cm⁻², respectively). It is suggested that the wrack input to the Arctic beach may substantially influence the richness and composition of the intertidal meiobenthic community. Nematode assemblages were dominated by extreme colonizers: Geomonhystera disjuncta and rhabditids. Their relatively high densities in beach sediments recorded at the beginning of July indicate their ability to recover rapidly after the winter period and to effective (re)colonization of the intertidal habitat just after the ice melt. Average concentration of rhabditids and monhysterids associated with macroalgal wrack deposited on the upper shore was as high as 52 × 10³ individuals per gram of the substrate. It is hypothesized that nematodes can play a substantial role in the wrack decomposition in the Arctic intertidal.     

Balanoglossites Mägdefrau, 1932 from the middle triassic of Germany: part of a complex trace fossil probably produced by burrowing and boring polychaetes

The ichnogenusBalanoglossites Mägdefrau, 1932 is re-described from its type area and is interpreted as part of a complex trace fossil comprising both burrow and boring components. The type ichnospecies,B. triadicus, consists of predominantly deep U- or Y-shaped tunnel elements, whereasB. ramosus n. isp. encompasses irregularly ramified galleries. Both ichnospecies occur frequently in firmground and hardground substrates with sporadic epikarst features. In the underlying softground, they may integrate intoLabyrintichnus terrerensis Uchman &; Álvaro, 2000, a network of irregular galleries and communicating shafts. On the omission surface, the tunnels are linked to elongated or winding grooves in hard or firm substrates. Further elements of the complex trace fossil include lobate burrows similar toZoophycos andRhizocorallium, mainly occurring in firmground and softground, shallow to deep U-shaped pouches and winding tunnels (Maeandropolydora sulcans Voigt, 1965) in hard and firm substrates. Finally, some tunnel portions and well preserved top surfaces of the ichnofabrics are scattered with the faecal pelletsCoprulus oblongus Mayer, 1952.C. oblongus has a rounded shape and a homogeneous structure and belongs to the Coprulidae n. ichnofam. Based on the numerous fingerprints preserved in the complex trace fossil, polychaete worms are identified as possible tracemakers. This is in accordance with the close combination of borings and burrows, a tunnel system highly variable in shape and size, blind ending side-branches and tunnel terminations, association with scolecodonts and exceptionally preserved polychaete remains. In addition, different commensals may have contributed to the modification of the complex trace fossil.     

Structure and diversity of intertidal benthic diatom assemblages in contrasting shores: a case study from the Tagus estuary1

The structure of intertidal benthic diatoms assemblages in the Tagus estuary was investigated during a 2‐year survey, carried out in six stations with different sediment texture. Nonparametric multivariate analyses were used to characterize spatial and temporal patterns of the assemblages and to link them to the measured environmental variables. In addition, diversity and other features related to community physiognomy, such as size‐class or life‐form distributions, were used to describe the diatom assemblages. A total of 183 diatom taxa were identified during cell counts and their biovolume was determined. Differences between stations (analysis of similarity (ANOSIM), R = 0.932) were more evident than temporal patterns (R = 0.308) and mud content alone was the environmental variable most correlated to the biotic data (BEST, ρ = 0.863). Mudflat stations were typically colonized by low diversity diatom assemblages (H′ ~ 1.9), mainly composed of medium‐sized motile epipelic species (250–1,000 μm³), that showed species‐specific seasonal blooms (e.g., Navicula gregaria Donkin). Sandy stations had more complex and diverse diatom assemblages (H′ ~ 3.2). They were mostly composed by a large set of minute epipsammic species (<250 μm³) that, generally, did not show temporal patterns. The structure of intertidal diatom assemblages was largely defined by the interplay between epipelon and epipsammon, and its diversity was explained within the framework of the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis. However, the spatial distribution of epipelic and epipsammic life‐forms showed that the definition of both functional groups should not be over‐simplified.     

Plant and soil effects on bacterial communities associated with Miscanthus × giganteus rhizosphere and rhizomes

Bacterial assemblages, especially diazotroph assemblages residing in the rhizomes and the rhizosphere soil of Miscanthus × giganteus, contribute to plant growth and nitrogen use efficiency. However, the composition of these microbial communities has not been adequately explored nor have the potential ecological drivers for these communities been sufficiently studied. This knowledge is needed for understanding and potentially improving M. × giganteus – microbe interactions, and further enhancing sustainability of M. × giganteus production. In this study, cultivated M. × giganteus from four sites in Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, and New Jersey were collected to examine the relative influences of soil conditions and plant compartments on assembly of the M. × giganteus‐associated microbiome. Automated ribosomal intergenic spacer (ARISA) and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T‐RFLP) targeting the nifH gene were applied to examine the total bacterial communities and diazotroph assemblages that reside in the rhizomes and the rhizosphere. Distinct microbial assemblages were detected in the endophytic and rhizosphere compartments. Site soil conditions had strong correlation with both total bacterial and diazotroph assemblages, but in different ways. Nitrogen treatments showed no significant effect on the composition of diazotroph assemblages in most sites. Endophytic compartments of different M. × giganteus plants tended to harbor similar microbial communities across all sites, whereas the rhizosphere soil of different plant tended to harbor diverse microbial assemblages that were distinct among sites. These observations offer insight into better understanding of the associative interactions between M. × giganteus and diazotrophs, and how this relationship is influenced by agronomic and edaphic factors.     

Enrichment of syngas‐converting communities from a multi‐orifice baffled bioreactor

The substitution of natural gas by renewable biomethane is an interesting option to reduce global carbon footprint. Syngas fermentation has potential in this context, as a diverse range of low‐biodegradable materials that can be used. In this study, anaerobic sludge acclimatized to syngas in a multi‐orifice baffled bioreactor (MOBB) was used to start enrichments with CO. The main goals were to identify the key players in CO conversion and evaluate potential interspecies metabolic interactions conferring robustness to the process. Anaerobic sludge incubated with 0.7 × 10⁵ Pa CO produced methane and acetate. When the antibiotics vancomycin and/or erythromycin were added, no methane was produced, indicating that direct methanogenesis from CO did not occur. Acetobacterium and Sporomusa were the predominant bacterial species in CO‐converting enrichments, together with methanogens from the genera Methanobacterium and Methanospirillum. Subsequently, a highly enriched culture mainly composed of a Sporomusa sp. was obtained that could convert up to 1.7 × 10⁵ Pa CO to hydrogen and acetate. These results attest the role of Sporomusa species in the enrichment as primary CO utilizers and show their importance for methane production as conveyers of hydrogen to methanogens present in the culture.     

Zoophycos composite ichnofabrics and tiers from the Permian neritic facies in South China and south‐eastern Australia

Gong, Y.‐M., Shi, G.R., Zhang, L.‐J. & Weldon, E.A. 2009: Zoophycos composite ichnofabrics and tiers from the Permian neritic facies in South China and south‐eastern Australia. Lethaia, Vol. 43, pp. 182–196. Zoophycos composite ichnofabrics (ZCI) comprising two or more suites of the same form of Zoophycos are widespread and densely distributed in Early and Middle Permian (Cisuralian–Guadalupian) neritic limestones (Qixia and Maokou Formations) of palaeotropical origin in the Laibin area, Guangxi, South China. Similar ZCI also occur in neritic greywackes of glaciomarine origin from the Middle Permian (Guadalupian) Westley Park Sandstone Member (Broughton Formation) in the southern Sydney Basin, south‐eastern Australia. Zoophycos from both regions consists of planar spreite with major and minor lamellae and a cylindrical tunnel interpreted as a marginal tube and/or axial shaft. The cylindrical tunnel is herein considered to be an essential component of Zoophycos, and thus can be used to define and characterize the morphological variability of Zoophycos. It is suggested that the variation of spreite and major and minor lamellae originated from the different morphologies and migration manners of the cylindrical tunnel. The shallowest, shallow, middle and deepest Zoophycos tiers have been distinguished in ZCI on the basis of cross‐cutting relationships, the soft‐sediment deformation and the contrast in colour between Zoophycos and its host rock. The multiple tiers may represent the substrate consistency spectrum from a softground through a stiffground to a firmground. The different Zoophycos tiers may have been constructed by tracemakers of either different or the same taxonomic affinities in response to the gradual accretion and lithification of sediment layers on the seafloor. The tracemakers appeared to be very sensitive to neither climate nor lithology. The width of the planar spreiten of Zoophycos decreases slightly with the depth of tiering in ZCI. □Composite ichnofabric, Permian, South China, south‐eastern Australia, tier, Zoophycos.     

Determinants of preferred intertidal feeding habitat for Eastern Curlew: A study at two spatial scales

Abstract Broadscale habitat use by Eastern Curlews (Numenius madagascariensis) in their non‐breeding range in eastern Australia was assessed using low tide surveys on feeding grounds, where 60 skilled volunteers made repeated counts of the birds on intertidal flats, across 41% (9500 ha) of the intertidal habitat within Moreton Bay, Australia. We analysed 32 defined sections of intertidal flat, of roughly equal area (mostly 200–400 ha), which varied greatly in their curlew density (2–47 birds per 100 ha) and also in substrate and other environmental features. Sites with the least resistant substrates had densities three times those with the most resistant substrates. Of 10 environmental characteristics measured for each site, substrate resistance was the best predictor of curlew density (r² = 0.45). Characteristics that were poor predictors included distance to the nearest roost, level of human disturbance and distance to urban settlement. For a finer‐scale assessment, microhabitat use and feeding behaviour were recorded during low tide within 12 intertidal flats, which varied in size (23–97 ha), substrate, topography and other features. Across all flats, curlews strongly preferred to feed relatively close (0–50 m) to the low‐water line. They fed on a variety of substrates (including sand, sandy‐mud, mud and seagrass) in broadly similar proportions to their occurrence in the habitat. There was a statistically significant preference for sand, although its magnitude was not strong. These results indicate that curlews select habitat most strongly at a between‐flat rather than within‐flat scale.     

The potential for seaweed resource development in subarctic Canada; Nunavik,Ungava Bay

Ungava Bay is ice covered 6–7 months of the year and evidence of ice scouring of seaweeds is extensive in the intertidal and shallow subtidal. Maximum tidal amplitudes of 16 m, among the highest in Canadian waters, compound this impact. Despite this level of annual perturbation, very extensive and dense beds of fucoids in the intertidal and laminarians in the subtidal are common on the western shores of Ungava Bay. Ground surveys of 24 intertidal stations combined with satellite images delineated 82,000 tons standing crop of Fucus vesiculosus and Fucus evanescens in Payne Bay, of which 36,000 tons were considered harvestable. Subtidally, kelp cover reached peak biomass at 5–10 m consisting of three primary species, Saccharina longicruris, Laminaria digitata, and Laminaria solidungula. In the area of Payne Bay, kelp beds of 100 ha were common, averaging 9–12 kg m⁻² wet weight. The productivity of brown algae at these latitudes has been assumed to be low relative to southern latitudes. Direct measurement of lineal growth indicates productivity is intermediate between arctic and temperate populations. The potential for medium level industrial harvest exists under conservative management strategies within the constraints of subarctic logistics.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite DNA markers from mangrove crab,Scylla paramamosain

The first five variable microsatellite DNA loci for mangrove crab, Scylla paramanosain, were developed. Allelic variation and other characteristics at these loci were examined in this species captured at the Urado Bay, Japan. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 24 to 44. The expected heterozygosity across loci ranged from 0.900 to 0.999 and probability of identity (P_I) ranged from 2.8 × 10^?3 to 1.7 × 10^?2. Therefore, these microsatellite markers could be useful for estimating effect of stock enhancement release and population genetic structure of mangrove crab.     

Length–weight relationships of three freshwater fish species from Rupnaryan and Kangsabati River,West Bengal,India

The length–weight relationships (LWRs) of three freshwater fish species from the Kangsabati and Rupnaryan river in West Bengal, India are presented, namely as Amblypharyngodon microlepis (Bleeker, 1853), Parambassis lala (Hamilton, 1822) and Macrognathus aculeatus (Bloch, 1786). Gill‐nets (mesh sizes with 0.5 cm–4 cm), cast‐nets (up to 1 × 1 cm mesh size with up to 4.0 m² area) and scoop‐nets (0.3 × 0.3 cm and 0.5 × 0.5 cm mesh size) were used from January, 2017 to April, 2018. Sampling was done every 15 days during this period. The value of parameter “b” ranged from 2.751 to 2.895 with highly significant correlations (r² > 0.95).     

Nucleopolyhedrovirus infection and/or parasitism by Microplitis pallidipes affected haemolymph titre of 20‐hydroxyecdysone in Spodoptera exigua larvae

This study examined the physiological effects of joint and separate parasitism and infection by the endoparasitoid Microplitis pallidipes Szépligeti and the nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV), respectively, on haemolymph 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20‐E) titre in Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) larvae. The results indicated that in parasitized larvae, virus‐infected larvae (5.7 × 10³ and 5.7 × 10⁵ OB/ml) and parasitized larvae infected with virus at 5.7 × 10⁵ OB/ml, compared to healthy larvae, the 20‐E all declined during the first 3 days but began to increase from day 4 after treatment, while in jointly parasitized and infected larvae (5.7 × 10³ OB/ml), the 20‐E declined during the first 4 days but began to increase on day 5 after treatment. Meanwhile, compared to parasitized larvae, the 20‐E declined during the first 4 days but significantly increased on day 5 in jointly parasitized and infected larvae (5.7 × 10³ OB/ml), while significantly increased during the first 2 days but began to decrease from day 3 after treatment in jointly parasitized and infected larvae (5.7 × 10⁵ OB/ml). Finally, in larvae that were both parasitized and virus infected (5.7 × 10³ OB/ml), compared to just virus‐infected larvae (5.7 × 10³ OB/ml), the 20‐E was lower on days 3 and 4 but higher on other days after treatment; in larvae that were both parasitized and virus infected (5.7 × 10⁵ OB/ml), compared to just virus‐infected larvae (5.7 × 10⁵ OB/ml), the 20‐E was significantly higher at the first 2 days but lower from day 3 after treatment. Our results revealed that 2nd instar larval M. pallidipes in host bodies may release 20‐E into the haemolymph of S. exigua larvae and that NPV infection may stimulate S. exigua to release more 20‐E during its third to fourth instar larval moulting. We found that this stimulatory effect was greater with higher virus concentrations.     

Alternate life history phases of a common seaweed have distinct microbial surface communities

Macroalgal life histories are complex, often involving the alternation of distinct free‐living life history phases that differ in morphology, longevity and ploidy. The surfaces of marine macroalgae support diverse microbial biofilms, yet the degree of microbial variation between alternate phases is unknown. We quantified bacterial (16S rRNA gene) and microeukaryote (18S rRNA gene) communities on the surface of the common intertidal seaweed, Mastocarpus spp., which alternates between gametophyte (foliose, haploid) and sporophyte (encrusting, diploid) life history phases. A large portion (97%) of bacterial taxa on the surface Mastocarpus was also present in samples from the environment, indicating that macroalgal surface communities are largely assembled from the surrounding seawater. Still, changes in the relative abundance of bacterial taxa result in significantly different communities on alternate Mastocarpus life history phases, rocky substrate and seawater at all intertidal elevations. For microeukaryote assemblages, only high intertidal samples had significant differences between life history phases although sporophytes were not different from the rocky substrate at this elevation; gametophytes and sporophytes did not differ in microeukaryote communities in the mid and low zones. By sequencing three host genes, we identified three cryptic species of Mastocarpus in our data set, which co‐occur in the mid‐to‐low intertidal zone. In these samples, M. alaskensis sporophytes harboured distinct bacterial communities compared to M. agardhii and M. intermedius sporophytes, which were not distinguishable. Conversely, microeukaryote communities did not differ among species.     

Independent associations of TOMM40 and APOE variants with body mass index

The TOMM40‐APOE variants are known for their strong, antagonistic associations with Alzheimer's disease and body weight. While a stronger role of the APOE than TOMM40 variants in Alzheimer's disease was suggested, comparative contribution of the TOMM40‐APOE variants in the regulation of body weight remains elusive. We examined additive effects of rs2075650 and rs157580 TOMM40 variants and rs429358 and rs7412 APOE variants coding the ε2/ε3/ε4 polymorphism on body mass index (BMI) in age‐aggregated and age‐stratified cohort‐specific and cohort‐pooled analysis of 27,863 Caucasians aged 20–100 years from seven longitudinal studies. Minor alleles of rs2075650, rs429358, and rs7412 were individually associated with BMI (β = ?1.29, p = 3.97 × 10^?9; β = ?1.38, p = 2.78 × 10^?10; and β = 0.58, p = 3.04 × 10^?2, respectively). Conditional analysis with rs2075650 and rs429358 identified independent BMI‐lowering associations for minor alleles (β = ?0.63, p = 3.99 × 10^?2 and β = ?0.94, p = 2.17 × 10^?3, respectively). Polygenic mega‐analysis identified additive effects of the rs2075650 and rs429358 heterozygotes (β = ?1.68, p = 3.00 × 10^?9), and the strongest BMI‐lowering association for the rs2075650 heterozygous and rs429358 minor allele homozygous carriers (β = ?4.11, p = 2.78 × 10^?3). Conditional analysis with four polymorphisms identified independent BMI‐lowering (rs2075650, rs157580, and rs429358) and BMI‐increasing (rs7412) associations of heterozygous genotypes with BMI. Age‐stratified conditional analysis revealed well‐powered support for a differential and independent association of the rs429358 heterozygote with BMI in younger and older individuals, β = 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) = ?1.18, 2.35, p = 5.18 × 10^?1 for 3,068 individuals aged ≤30 years and β = ?4.28, CI = ?5.65, ?2.92, p = 7.71 × 10^?10 for 6,052 individuals aged >80 years. TOMM40 and APOE variants are independently and additively associated with BMI. The APOE ε4‐coding rs429358 polymorphism is associated with BMI in older individuals but not in younger individuals.     

The combined effect of 1‐methylcyclopropene and citral suppressed postharvest grey mould of tomato fruit by inhibiting the growth of Botrytis cinerea

1‐Methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP, 1 μl/L) and 1 × minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) citral alone and in combination were used to treat on postharvest tomato fruits to investigate their influence on disease incidence and postharvest quality during fruit storage, which were stored at 90%–95% relative humidity and 25 ± 2°C. Weight loss, pH, hue angle (Hue^°), total soluble solid (TSS), ascorbic acid content, firmness and antioxidant enzyme activities were evaluated after each storage period. 1 μl/L 1‐MCP or 1 × MFC citral reduced weight loss, retarded peel colour changes and retained postharvest fruit quality. 1 μl/L 1‐MCP + 1 × MFC citral could better maintain firmness and ascorbic acid content and increase antioxidant enzyme activities, compared to other treatments. Disease incidence of tomato fruit was significantly decreased, and spore germination and mycelia growth of Botrytis cinerea were suppressed by the combined treatment with 1 μl/L 1‐MCP and 1 × MFC citral. These results indicate that the combined treatment could effectively delay postharvest tomato fruits senescence and inhibit postharvest pathogens in vitro.     

Real‐time PCR quantification of Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) B‐biotype remains in predator guts

The cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) B‐biotype, is fed on by a wide variety of generalist predators, but there is little information on these predator–prey interactions, especially under field conditions. In this study, a real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed to quantify B. tabaci B‐biotype remains in predator gut. The B. tabaci B‐biotype genomic DNA copy number was referred to the actual amount of BT1 isolate, the B. tabaci B‐biotype specific DNA fragment. The numbers of BT1 isolate in one B. tabaci B‐biotype egg, individual adult and a single red‐eyed nymph were 2.56 × 10³, 2.56 × 10⁴, and 1.29 × 10⁴ copies, respectively. When Propylaea japonica adults fed on one, two, four, eight or 16 red‐eyed nymphs, the detected numbers of BT1 isolate ranged from 2.77 × 10⁴ to 4.05 × 10⁵ copies, forming a strong linear relationship (R² = 0.9899). Following the consumption of two red‐eyed nymphs, prey DNA was detectable in 100% of P. japonica at t = 0, decreasing to 80.0% and 60.0% after 1–4 h and 8 h of digestion, respectively, with 3.36 × 10⁴–1.25 × 10³ BT1 isolate copies. The predation by field‐collected predators, 26 larvae of P. japonica, and of Harmonia axyridis each, Chrysopa spp. larvae (Chrysopa pallens and C. formosa, 18 individuals in total), and a single adult of Scymnus hoffmanni, 19 adults of Orius sauteri and nine adult spiders (Erigonnidium graminicolum and Neoscona doenitzi), on B. tabaci B‐biotype were quantified. Of the 99 analysed predator individuals, 3.65 × 10²–4.60 × 10⁵ copies of BT1 isolate, equivalent to 0.8–18.8 red‐eyed nymphs were detected. These results suggest that TaqMan real‐time PCR technology may provide a rapid and sensitive method for quantifying B. tabaci B‐biotype remains in predator guts and will be invaluable in assessing the food web relationship between prey and arthropod predators.     

EFFECTS OF SUBSTRATE RELIEF ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF PERIPHYTON IN LABORATORY STREAMS. II. INTERACTIONS WITH IRRADIANCE1

Laboratory streams were used in a 42-day experiment designed to investigate how the spatial and temporal distribution of lotic periphyton created by current flow over cobble-size substrates is a affected by irradiance. The streams contained 22.5 × 22.5 × 4 cm substrate blocks and were exposed to either 385, 90 or 20 μE·m^?2·s^?1. We monitored periphyton succession in fast current regimes on top of blocks and in slower current regimes on surfaces recessed between blocks. The absolute differences in AFDW algal biomass between top and recessed substrates were significantly affected by irradiance and time. At the end of the experiment, biomass in streams exposed to 385 μE·m^?2·s^?1. was approximately 2 and 8 times greater than in streams exposed to 90 and 20 μE·m^?2·s^?1, respectively. Differences in biomass were greater between irradiance levels than between top and recessed substrates within an irradiance level. Irradiance also had a greater effect than current regime on the taxonomic composition of assemblages. Oscillatoria agardhii Gomont and Navicula minima Grun. characterized assemblages at 20 μE·m^?2·s^?1, whereas Fragilaria vaucheriae (Kütz.), Nitzschia oregona Sov., Navicula arvensis Hust. and Stigeoclonium tenue (Ag.) Kütz. were more abundant at the two higher irradiances. Detrended correspondence analysis indicated that the rate of succession was relatively high for assemblages at high irradiance and in the slow current regimes between blocks. The results suggested that in natural streams, periphyton patches produced by large differences in irradiance should have a greater effect on periphyton heterogeneity than substrate-induced patches. Moreover, the heterogeneity of algal patches produced by hydrologic differences over a substrate is constrained by irradiance level.     

Chemiluminescence method for the determination of piroxicam by the enhancement of the tris‐(4,7‐diphenyl‐1,10‐phenanthrolinedisulphonic acid) ruthenium(II) (RuBPS)–cerium(IV) system and its application

A simple, rapid chemiluminescence (CL) method was described for the determination of piroxicam, a commonly used analgesic agent drug. A strong CL signal was detected when cerium(IV) sulphate was injected into tris‐(4,7‐diphenyl‐1,10‐phenanthrolinedisulphonic acid) ruthenium(II) (RuBPS)–piroxicam solution. The CL signal was proportional to the concentration of piroxicam in the range 2.8 × 10^–8–1.2 × 10^–5 mol/L. The detection limit was 2 × 10^–8 mol/L and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 3.7% (c = 7.0 × 10^–7 mol/L piroxicam; n = 11). The proposed method was applied to the determination of piroxicam in pharmaceutical preparations in capsules, spiked serum and urine samples with satisfactory results. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.