Population Growth of Six Iranian Brachionus Rotifer Strains in Response to Salinity and Food Type

Intrinsic rates of population increase (r) were evaluated as a measure of population dynamics of four strains of Brachionus plicatilis and two strains of B. urceolaris from Iran in response to different salinities and feeding algae. Each rotifer strain was cultured at four salinities: 5, 20, 25 and 30‰ and fed with two microalgal species: Chlorella vulgaris and Nannochloropsis oculata. Salinity of 5‰ was critical for all the examined strains, at which r was at minimum and was different from the other salinities (P < 0.05). For B. plicatilis strains, the maximum r was observed in those fed on Chlorella at salinities of 10 and 30‰ (64 ± 0.01 day⁻¹). While, in B. urceolaris, maximum r was for Nannochloropsis fed rotifers at salinity of 20‰ (0.69 ± 0.01 day⁻¹). Maximum final population density (FD) was obtained for a strain of B. urceolaris fed on Nannochloropsis at 20‰ (329.3 ± 10.9 ind.mL⁻¹). FD was relatively lower in B. plicatilis strains among all examined salinities. ANOVA showed the significant effect of salinity and rotifer strain, and algae × rotifer strain on both r and FD, and salinity × rotifer × algae on FD (P < 0.05). (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Toxic Blue-green Algae Water Blooms Found in some Lakes in the German Democratic Republic

From 1977 to 1979 plankton samples were taken from 6 lakes in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) during water blooms and examined for their toxicity to homothermal animals. Microcystis aeruginosa, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Anabaena spiroides, and Oscillatoria redekei were dominant in the samples. With the exception of Oscillatoria redekei the algae tested had toxic effects on mice after intraperitoneal injection. The rate of survival of the test animals was particularly low when the algae were disintegrated by ultrasound or freeze-drying prior to injection, this indicating the endogenic character of the toxins. Water blooms of Microcystis aeruginosa taken from Lake Pehlitzsee (Eberswalde District) showed the highest toxicity with an LD₃₀ as high as 45 and 43.7 mg/kg, respectively. Injection of the lyophilized cells of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae brought about the same symptoms in the test animals as in the case of Microcystis, but the LD₃₀ was 200 mg/kg.     

改性纳米TiO2对蓝藻的生理生态影响

在自然光照条件和日光灯光照条件下,用掺1％Ag纳米TiO2、掺5％Fe2O3纳米TiO2、掺10％ZnO纳米TiO2和纯纳米TiO2对铜绿微囊藻（Synechocystis sp．）PCC6803和集胞藻（Microcystis aeruginosa）进行处理,并对2种藻样的叶绿素含量、类胡萝卜素含量、体外超氧自由基含量及超氧化物歧化酶（superoxidase dismutase,SOD）活性进行测定。结果表明,自然光照条件比日光灯光照条件更利于纳米材料光催化反应的进行;改性后的3种纳米材料对蓝藻的抑制效果要好于纯纳米TiO2,其中效果最好的为掺1％Ag纳米TiO2;2种藻样在适应由光催化剂引发光催化而产生的自由基胁迫时,集胞藻的适应能力比铜绿微囊藻更强。     

甲胺磷和乙酰甲胺磷对萼花臂尾轮虫实验种群动态的影响

应用3天种群增长实验方法,在(25±1)℃、无光照、以3.0×106 cells/mL的斜生栅藻为轮虫的食物等条件下,研究了亚致死浓度(0.01、0.1、1.0、10.0、100.0、1000.0和10000.0 µg/L)的甲胺磷和乙酰甲胺磷对萼花臂尾轮虫实验种群动态的影响。结果显示,甲胺磷和乙酰甲胺磷显著地影响萼花臂尾轮虫的种群增长率、混交雌体数与非混交雌体数的比值和混交率。甲胺磷显著地影响萼花臂尾轮虫种群中的带卵雌体数与不带卵雌体数的比值,但乙酰甲胺磷对其无显著的影响。和对照组相比,浓度为100.0 µg/L 的甲胺磷和浓度为1.0－10,000.0 µg/L 的乙酰甲胺磷均使轮虫种群增长率显著增大,而浓度为1000.0 µg/L和10000.0 µg/L的甲胺磷却使之显著减小;1000.0 µg/L 的甲胺磷使轮虫种群中的带卵雌体数与不带卵雌体数的比值显著上升,0.1 µg/L的甲胺磷和10.0－10000.0 µg/L的乙酰甲胺磷均使轮虫种群中的混交雌体数与非混交雌体数的比值显著上升,0.1µg/L 的甲胺磷和10 µg/L的乙酰甲胺磷均使轮虫的混交率显著增大,10.0－0000.0 µg/L 的乙酰甲胺磷使轮虫休眠卵产量显著提高。上述结果表明,亚致死浓度的甲胺磷和乙酰甲胺磷对萼花臂尾轮虫实验种群动态具有显著的影响。     

The Cost of Reproduction in the Rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas

A study of lifespan, fecundity, and reproductive schedules was carried out with the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus under different food concentrations. At high food densities (6.1 to 12.4 μg · ml⁻¹, dry mass) there was an increase in offspring number but the reproductive investment remained constantly. This was possible because Brachionus calyciflorus invested a smaller amount of energy one egg volume being able to increase offspring number. Although egg volume was reduced, this was compensated by the greater amount of energy available to the neonates. The length of the prereproductive period remained constant throughout this range of food concentrations. Within this range a reduction in lifespan was observed. This, however, was not due to a total higher reproductive investment, but to an increased offspring rate production resulting in a shortening of the reproductive period. The length of the post-reproductive period was not different at all food concentrations.     

三种甲壳纲浮游动物与萼花臂尾轮虫的种间关系

为研究隆线溞(Daphnia carinata)、锯缘真剑水蚤(Eucyclops serrulatus)及中华薄壳介(Dolerocypris sinensis)3种甲壳纲动物种群与萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)种群的相互关系,作者分别将其以不同接种密度与萼花臂尾轮虫(接种密度为350 ind/L)进行混合培养。轮虫种群密度增长率自混合培养后的第3或4天开始下降,且随着甲壳纲动物接种密度的增加轮虫种群受到的抑制作用增大。当轮虫接种密度为350 ind/L时,3种甲壳纲动物的种群变化有所不同:(1)当隆线溞起始密度低于150 ind/L时,其种群生长受到轮虫的明显抑制;而当隆线溞起始密度达到350 ind/L时,其在混合培养与单独培养下的种群变化基本一致,这表明轮虫对隆线溞种群生长无抑制作用。(2)与隆线溞不同,锯缘真剑水蚤和中华薄壳介在混合培养下的种群数量持续增长。但与锯缘真剑水蚤相比,中华薄壳介在混合培养下的种群增长速度较慢。     

红臂尾轮虫和壶状臂尾轮虫生活史特征比较

应用单个体培养方法,以浓度为3．0&#215;10^6 cells／ml的斜生栅藻（Scenedesmus obliquus）为食物,在18、23、28℃和33℃下,对分类存疑种类红臂尾轮虫（Brachionus rubens）和壶状臂尾轮虫（B．urceolaris）的生活史特征进行了比较研究。结果表明,随着温度的升高,两种轮虫的生殖前期和生殖期历时、平均寿命、世代时间和生命期望均逐渐显著地缩短,而种群内禀增长率却极显著地增大。红臂尾轮虫在28℃下的生殖后期历时与23℃和33℃间均无显著的差异,壶状臂尾轮虫在28℃和33℃下的生殖后期历时也无显著的差异。红臂尾轮虫的产卵量和净生殖率均在33℃下最小,在其他3个温度间都无显著的差异;壶状臂尾轮虫的产卵量和净生殖率均在33℃下最小,28℃下最大。18、23℃和28℃下红臂尾轮虫的生殖前期历时、平均寿命、生命期望和世代时间都显著短于壶状臂尾轮虫,而生殖期历时在两者间无显著差异;33℃下红臂尾轮虫的生殖期历时、平均寿命、生命期望和世代时间都显著长于壶状臂尾轮虫,而生殖前期历时在两者间无显著差异。各温度下,红臂尾轮虫的产卵量、种群内禀增长率和净生殖率均极显著地高于壶状臂尾轮虫,但两种轮虫的生殖后期历时无显著的差异。红臂尾轮虫偏向于r-对策者,体现在其较低的生命期望、较高的繁殖率和种群增长率;而壶状臂尾轮虫则显示出较高的生命期望、较低的种群增长率和繁殖率,偏向于k-对策者。     

Blue-green Dominance in Lakes: The Role and Management Significance of pH and CO2

Field and laboratory experiments show that when nutrients (N and P) are added to a mixed population of algae, blue-greens predominate. However, if CO₂ is added also, or if pH is lowered with HCl, greens predominate. The phenomenon is reproducible, and works with most lakes. Although most successful at pH 5.5, the shift to greens can be made to happen at pH values as high as 8.5. Most blue-greens appear to be susceptible to the shift, and Scenedesmus and Chlorella are the predominant greens resulting. If pH is raised, the shift is reversed. The reason for the shift is not known. It may involve competition by the algae for CO₂, but other evidence suggests that the lowered pH stimulates cyanophage production and lysis of the blue-greens, with release of nutrients which then are used by the greens. Analysis of results of lake circulation data from the literature and from experiments suggests that the algal shifts resulting from circulation may involve the same phenomena. Understanding of these phenomena should lead to predictable use of circulation as a lake-management tool.     

Inhibitory and Toxic Effects of Blue-green Algae on Daphnia

The effects of the planktonic blue-green algae, Aphanizomenon gracile, Synechococcus elongatus, and Microcystis aeruginosa, on survival, growth, and food uptake of Daphnia pulicaria were determined. Synechococcus and Aphanizomenon were unsuitable food when offered alone, but did not affect the daphnids negatively when mixed with Scenedesmus. Microcystis was the only one found to be toxic. In pure suspensions of this blue-green, the daphnids did not survive more than 48 hours; they lived a little longer if Scenedesmus was supplied additionally. Growth was markedly reduced when only 50 μg carbon/l of Microcystis was added to the normal Scenedesmus food. It ceased at a concentration of 250 μg C/l. This can be explained by the reduction of food uptake. Very small quantities of Microcystis (10 μg C/l) present in the normal food caused a significant reduction of the filtering rate. Filtering inhibition was associated with the cells. Filtrate of Microcystis suspensions was not effective. Thus, the daphnids must ingest the blue-green cells in order to become toxified. Dual-labelling experiments showed that Microcystis cells are filtered from the medium by Daphnia with the same efficiency as Scendesmus and are not rejected. Toxicity of Microcystis is considered to be an effective defence mechanism against grazing pressure.     

Feeding Rate of Brachionus plicatilis O. F. Müller on Two Types of Food Depending on Ambient Temperature and Salinity

Feeding rates of Brachionus plicatilis were studied for two types of food — algae Monochrysis lutheri and baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisae. The main regularities of changes in filtration rate and ration were studied in small culture volumes (1 ml) for adult amictic females depending on food concentration (1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 · 10⁶ cells · ml⁻¹), ambient temperature (16 and 26 °C), and salinity (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 ppt). B. plicatilis ration did not depend on the salinity, but was largely determined by temperature and food concentration. It was found that at 16 and 26 °C the dependence of the ingestion rate (ration) on food concentration differed greatly. A hypothesis was suggested to explain this phenomenon. A critical concentration of both types of food at which the increase in the rotifer ration ceased is 4 · 10⁶ cells · ml^−1. This is the minimum “background” food concentration for B. plicatilis mass cultivation. The average rations measured at the concentration of M. lutheri and S. cerevisae of 4 · 10⁶ cells · ml⁻¹ where 1.3 ± 0.1 and 4.8 ± 1.3 μg dry weight. · ind⁻¹ · day⁻¹ at 26 °C and 0.54 ± 0.1 and 1.9 μg d. w. · ind⁻¹ · day⁻¹ at 16 °C, respectively. The rations obtained in the laboratory were corrected for the conditions of rotifer commercial production in the open field in summer time. The correct values were 0.86 and 0.72 μg d. w. · ind⁻¹ · day⁻¹ for algae and yeast, respectively.     

Reproductive success of the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus feeding on ciliates and flagellates of different trophic modes

SUMMARY 1. The nutritional value of the bacterivorous ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis and the algivorous ciliate Coleps sp., as well as the heterotrophic flagellate Chilomonas paramecium and the autotrophic flagellate Cryptomonas ovata , were investigated in population growth experiments using the rotifer B. calyciflorus . The two ciliates, both flagellates, which were of similar size, shape and mobility, were each offered as a sole diet and as a supplement to the alga Monoraphidium minutum , known to support reproduction of B. calyciflorus .
2. To further test nutritional differences between the prey organisms, prey selection experiments were conducted in which B. calyciflorus was able to select between the bacterivorous and algivorous ciliate, and between the heterotrophic and autotrophic flagellate.
3. The results demonstrated that both ciliates and the heterotrophic flagellate were not sufficient to support reproduction of B. calyciflorus when offered as a sole diet. They were, however, a good supplement to algal prey (except for the bacterivorous ciliate T. pyriformis ). In the prey selection experiments, B. calyciflorus positively selected for the algivorous Coleps sp. and the autotrophic C. ovata.
4. Overall, ciliates and heterotrophic flagellates may enhance survival of B. calyciflorus , but reproduction of the rotifer is likely to rely on algal prey. Both higher population growth of B. calyciflorus when fed the algivorous Coleps and the autotrophic Cryptomonas, along with their positive selection, give evidence for prey specific differences in nutrition, with algivorous or autotrophic prey species tending to be of higher nutritional value.     

Effect of the epizoic rotifer Brachionus rubens on the population growth of three cladoceran species

Using population densities and growth rates as criteria, we studied interactions between the epizoic rotifer Brachionus rubens and each of three cladoceran species differing in size and reproductive rates — Daphnia carinata, Moina macrocopa and Ceriodaphnia rigaudi. In all mixed — species experiments, B. rubens existed in both the epizoic mode, attached to the cladoceran host, and in the free-swimming mode. Rotifer population growth rates were significantly depressed in the presence of M. macrocopa, presumably as a consequence of exploitative and interference competition. The largest cladoceran, D. carinata probably did not suppress B. rubens, because the epizoic component of the rotifer population escaped from the deleterious effects of mechanical interference. Peak population numbers and initial population growth rates reached by all three cladocerans were lower in the presence of B. rubens, probably because of the adverse effects of the epizoic infestation, which was maximal on D. carinata and least on C. rigaudi. In mixed-species cultures of D. carinata and M. macrocopa, the presence of B. rubens helped D. carinata coexist with M. macrocopa, which otherwise would have suppressed the Daphnia.     

食物种类对萼花臂尾轮虫种群增长率的影响

在短期慢性观测过程中,食物类型可能是造成萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionuscalyciflorus)种群繁殖率变化的一种原因。共观测了分别单独投喂10种不同绿藻对轮虫种群增长率的影响。为验证藻青菌是藻类饵料(如绿藻Scenedesmus)有价值的佐剂这一假说,还用蓝细菌单独投喂或与斜生栅藻(Scenedesmusobliquus)混合投喂轮虫进行实验观测。结果发现食物种类对萼花臂尾轮虫种群增长率影响显著。斜生栅藻组获得最大种群增长(1.6/d),而Desmodesmus组增长率最低(0.3/d)。以占斜生栅藻组最大增长的百分率来表示,其它几种绿藻组种群增长由高到低依次为:Desmodesmussubspicatus88%,小球藻(Chlorellavulgaris)83%,单壳缝藻(Monoraphidiumminutum)77%,D.quadricauda74%,S.falcatus71%,S.acuminatus69%,S.pectinatus64%,莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonasreinhardtii)57%,D.abundans19%。轮虫增长率的差异不能用藻类饵料的大小差异来解释。蓝细菌(Microcystisaeruginosa)和(Synechococcuselongates)不论是单独投喂还是与优良藻类饵料(斜生栅藻)混合投喂都对萼花臂尾轮虫种群增长有抑制作用。这种副作用似乎与微囊藻素无关。该结果不支持无毒蓝细菌可作为与其他绿藻饵料配合使用的优良佐剂这一假说。本研究所观察到的生长变化显示了饵料种类对萼花臂尾轮虫种群增长的影响,也预示了对毒性实验结果的影响     

食物浓度对三个地理品系角突臂尾轮虫种群增长、个体大小和卵体积的影响

以浓度分别为 3 0× 10 6、 6 0× 10 6、 9 0× 10 6和 12 0× 10 6cells/mL蛋白核小球藻 (Chlorellapyrenoi dosa)为食物 ,在温度为 (2 5± 1)℃下 ,应用群体累积培养法研究了食物浓度对分布于长江、珠江和淮河水系的 3个地理品系的角突臂尾轮虫 (Brachionusangularis)种群的增长、个体和卵的体积的影响。结果表明 ,食物浓度、地理品系及两者间的交互作用对轮虫种群增长率、个体和卵的体积均有显著影响。同一食物浓度下 ,广州品系的种群增长率最大 ,芜湖品系的个体和卵体积最大 ;同一品系中 ,当食物浓度为 9 0× 10 6cells/mL时轮虫有较大的种群增长率。各品系轮虫的种群增长率与食物浓度均呈曲线相关 ,但种群增长率达最大时所需的食物浓度在各品系间存在着差异。在食物浓度和品系两因素中 ,品系对轮虫个体体积有较大的影响     

食物种类和浓度对红臂尾轮虫种群增长、个体大小及卵大小的影响

采用群体累积培养法,研究了藻类食物的种类和浓度对红臂尾轮虫种群增长、个体大小及卵大小的影响．结果表明,藻种类和浓度对红臂尾轮虫种群增长率、个体体积及卵体积均有极显著影响．不同食堕种空中,种群增长率以小球藻组最小,栅藻组最大;个体体积以小球藻组最小,栅藻组和混合藻组问无显著差异．种群增长率(Y,d^-1)与食物浓度(X,×10^6cells·ml^-1)间呈曲线相关,两者间的关系符合方程：y＝-0．0040x^2+0．0409X+0．4471。在所研究的食物浓度范围内,当浓度分别高于或低于6．0×10^cells·m1^-1和3．0×10^6cells·ml^-1时,轮虫个体体积和卵体积均分别呈减小的趋势。     

Influence of the concentration of oxygen on the swimming path of Brachionus plicatilis (Rotifera)

Brachionus plicatilis females were maintained for > 24 hours in water where the concentration of oxygen was precisely controlled (spherical flasks with 6 mg l^–1 or < 0.5 mg l^–1; food = dead Tetraselmis sp.). Each female was randomly taken from one flask and quickly placed in an observation chamber containing the same experimental conditions. The swimming path was videotaped (5 minutes); then the size of the female was measured. The tape was analyzed by automatic tracking (25 x,y coordinates of the center of the animal, in a 512 × 512 pixels space). The swimming path was analyzed for 45 females in both treatments. The speed (mm s^–1 body length^–1) was calculated for all trajectories, or only for those segments where females swam in a horizontal plane. This relative speed significantly decreased when the concentration of oxygen was very low. There was a negative correlation between the linear speed and the angular speed. The spatial sinuosity (S of Bovet & Benhamou, 1988) was calculated. The trajectories were significantly more sinuous when the concentration of oxygen was very low. These results could explain the accumulation of some rotifers in the oxycline; rotifers may spend more time in very low concentrations of oxygen by slowing and by turning more.     

pH值对萼花臂尾轮虫种群增长及繁殖的影响

采用种群积累培养法,实验观察了 ｐＨ在３．５～１１．５之间（间隔 １）萼花臂尾轮虫 （Ｂｒａｃｈｉｏｎｕｓ ｃａｌｙｃｉｆｌｏｒｕｓ）种群的增长及繁殖．结果表明,该轮虫种群在ＰＨ６．５～８．５之间增 长较快, ８． ５时增长最快,即瞬时增长率 ｒ和种群密度较大和最大; ｐＨ在 ３． ５～４． ５和 ９． ５ ～１０． ５之间,种群为负增长,即 ｒ为负值; ｐＨ在 ５． ５～９． ５之间种群为正增长,即正为正 值．该轮虫存活的ｐＨ上限为１１．５,下限为３．５．在种群增长最适ｐＨ（８．５）条件下,该轮虫 的繁殖最快,即绝对带卵量最高（１３２个·ｍｌ－１）;ｐＨ在９．５时,其相对带卵量最高．为其它 ｐＨ值条件下的２～４倍．本研究结果可为淡水轮虫的大批量培养提供可靠的ｐＨ值技术指 标．     

Influence of the filamentous cyanobacterium Planktothrix agardhii on population growth and reproductive pattern of the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus

The population dynamics of B. calyciflorus was investigated using a green alga, Monoraphidium minutum, and a blue-green alga Planktothrix agardhii as food sources, separately and as mixtures. Growth rate (r), egg ratio (ER), and juvenile development time (D _j ) were measured in the laboratory and mortality rate and embryonic development time (D _E ) were calculated. With M. minutum, Brachionus showed a typical growth curve (Monod-kinetics) dependent on food concentration. In contrast B. calyciflorus did not grow well on P. agardhii. With all food concentrations the measured growth rates were about r=0. At low food concentrations r was low with both food types, but the ER of B. calyciflorus was significantly higher with P. agardhii as food source. Furthermore the relative egg volume of females carrying one egg was higher with Planktothrix than with Monoraphidium. An addition of P. agardhii to M. minutum led to increasing growth rates. Highest growth rates were found with complementary food sources. High food concentrations of M. minutum shortened the juvenile development (D _J ) time, but D _j was uneffected by different P. agardhii food concentrations. A mixture of both algae did not shorten D _j compared with M. minutum as single food. The calculated D _E was not effected by different food qualities but the calculated mortality was nearly 3 times higher with P. agardhii as food.     

Asexual and sexual reproduction in the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis cultured at different salinities

Two strains of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis (L-type) differing in the levels of mictic female and male production, were grown in batch cultures with the alga Nannochloropsis gaditana as food, at two low (2.5 and 10), and two high (40 and 50) salinities. While both the low (strain S-1) and the high (strain S-3) sexual reproducing strains developed similar growth cycles at 2.5 and 10, the population growth response at 40 and 50 showed that; 1) in strain S-1, mixis can be suppressed in conditions that still allow asexual reproduction, and 2) in strain S-3 mictic female and male production are possible at nearly zero asexual population growth rates. In strain S-3, a double log linear relationship between the densities of males and females was found. These results show that mixis can occur over a wide ranges of female population density, and support the hypothesis that sexual reproduction is a strain dependent component of the general reproductive response.     

The effect of prey morphology on the feeding behaviour and population growth of the predatory rotifer Asplanchna sieboldi: a case study using five species of Brachionus (Rotifera)

1. We investigated the numerical response, functional response and prey preference of Asplanchna sieboldi to five different prey brachionids. We also analysed the feeding behaviour of the predator in terms of encounters, attacks, capture and prey ingested per unit time. 2. The five prey species (Brachionus havanaensis, B. rubens, B. patulus, B. macracanthus and B. calyciflorus) differed in their body size and spine length. 3. The population growth rates of A. sieboldi ranged from 0.074 ± 0.03 to 0.431 ± 0.02 depending on prey type and density. There was a significant impact of the spine length rather than body size per se on the population growth rates of the predator. 4. The maximum number of prey consumed depended on both body size and spine length. In the functional response analyses, the plateau was reached at a prey density of 4–8 ind. mL^?1. 5. There was a significant impact of prey density on the prey preference of the predator.