DISTRIBUTION AND PRODUCTION OF THREE HYDROBIA SPECIES (GASTROPODA: HYDROBIIDAE) IN A SHALLOW COASTAL LAGOON IN THE BAY OF CADIZ, SPAIN

The abundance, life span, growth and production of the mud snailsHydrobia minoricensis, H. ulvae and H. ventrosa in a semi-naturallagoon system were studied by taking monthly samples at threesites during 1991 and 1992. The most abundant species, H. minoricensisoccurred at mean densities of 12834 to 26264 snails m^–2(10.7 to 25.8g dry weigh m^–2), depending on the site.The least abundant species, H. ulvae, occurred at mean densitiesof 185 to 353 snails m^–2 (3.2 to 2.2g dry weight m^–2).The numerical abundance and biomass of the three Hydrobia specieswere positively related to the biomass of benthic macroalgae(P<0.01). Although H. ulvae egg capsules were recorded throughoutthe year, newly hatched snailsof this species were not observed,in contrast to the other two species. The early spring and summercohorts of H. minoricensis and H. ventrosa seemed to be themost numerous. The average life spans of these two species wereestimated to be about 18 and 13 months respectively. Annualproduction estimates for the whole lagoon system were 29.0 (6.3),5.5 (0.8) and 5.2 (1.0)g dry weight (ash-free dry weight) m^–2yr^–1 for H. minoricensis, H. ulvae and H. ventrosa respectively.The annual P/B ratio was about 2 for H. minoricensis and H.ventrosa. (Received 5 July 1994; accepted 5 October 1994)     

Production of Oikopleura longicauda (Tunicata: Appendicularia) in Toyama Bay, southern Japan Sea

Oikopleura longicauda occurred throughout the year in ToyamaBay, southern Japan Sea, and analysis of its size compositionand maturity revealed that reproduction was continuous overtheyear. Somatic growth production (P_g) varied with season from0.03 to 103 mg carbon (C) m^–2day^–1 (annual P_g 4.5g C m^–2), and house production (P_e) from 0.11 to 266 mgC m^–2 day^–1 (annualP_e 11.3 g C m^–2). The annualP_g/B ratio was 176. Compared with production data of some predominantzooplankton species in Toyama Bay, it is suggested that despitetheir smaller biomass, appendicularians are an important secondaryproducer.     

Biomass and production of the major dominant crustacean zooplankton in a tropical Rift Valley lake, Awasa, Ethiopia

Seasonal variation of the biomass (B), production (P) and P/Bratio of the numerically dominant crustaceans in Lake Awasa(Mesocydops aequatonalis stmilts, Thermocyclops consunilis andDiaphanosoma exisum) were studied during 1986 and 1987. Quantitativenet samples (64 (xm mesh) were taken at three stations on 10day intervals throughout 1986, and the dry weights and developmenttimes for each life stage were obtained from laboratory measurementsand cultures Total biomass of most of the dominant crustaceans,determined from 390 samples during 1986, was 44.85 mg m^–3(dry weight, DW) with adult females of Mesocyclops making >43.5%.Alona diaphana, another common crustacean, is dealt with ina separate paper, as are the Rotifera. Production of the dominantcrustaceans during 1986 was estimated by the growth incrementsummation (Winberg) and instantaneous growth (Ricker) methodsThe annual integrated production of the two dominant cyclopoidsis 535.2 mg (DW) m^–3 (Winberg) while annual crustaceanproduction totals 2.5 g (DW) m^–3 (Ricker) The mean annualP/B ratio for individual species and stages varied from 221.0for Diaphanosoma, to 121.7-143.0 for nauplii and 9.8–187 for copepodites of the cyclopoids It was 55 8 for the dominantzooplankton species Low or high zooplankton production and biomassturnover rates (P/B) cannot be used to characterize all tropicallakes consistently However, production per unit biomass is likelyto be higher in tropical lakes.     

COMPARATIVE LIFE-CYCLE, BIOMASS AND SECONDARY PRODUCTION OF THREE SYMPATRIC FRESHWATER GASTROPOD SPECIES

The life cycles, biomass and secondary production of three sympatricfreshwater basommatophoran snails, Lymnaea palustris (MÜller),Physa fontinalis Linnaeus and Anisus rotundatus (Poiret) werestudied during two years in a freshwater ditch. L. palustrisexhibited an iteroparous life-cycle whereas the two other speciespresented a semelparous life-cycle, adults died just after oviposition.L. palustris secondary production (dry weight) value was higher(P = 11 298.4 mg 0.1 m^–1 yr^–1) than those of P.fontinalis (P = 846.3 mg 0.1 m^–2 yr^–1) and A. rotundatus(P = 1192 mg 0.1 m^–2 yr^–1). (Received 16 March 1992; accepted 30 June 1992)     

A Comparative Study of Germination Responses to High Irradiance Light

Seeds of 19 native British herbaceous species (14 grasses andfive forbs) were exposed to white light at three photon fluencerates: high (19–2 mol m^–2 d^–1), medium (9·6mol m^–1 d^–1) and low (2·3 mol m^–2 d^–2) These photon doses have been found by previous workers to inhibitgermination in several species. High and low photon doses wereapplied only as continuous light, but the medium dose was appliedas both continuous light and as a 12 h light/12 h dark photoperiod.All four treatments, plus a dark control, were carried out at15 °C; the high and low doses were also applied with a dailyalternation of 10/20 °C. The majority of species (15) fell into one of two groups. Inseven species germination was relatively high and consistentacross all treatments, including darkness; in the other eightspp germination was inhibited only in darkness. Mostly thesedata confirmed published results for the same species In contrast in Agrostis capillaris and A. stolonifera germinationwas high only at alternating temperatures, irrespective of photondose, but was also slightly promoted by a constant temperaturecombined with light/dark alternations. Only in Bromus sterilisand B. ereclus was germination inhibited by light, in B. erectusat all photon doses and in B. sterilis only at the highest photondose These results suggest that inhibition of germination by highirradiance light is not widespread among native British species Aira caryophyllea, Arrenatherum elatius, Festuca ovina, F. rubra, Hordeum murinum, Milhim effusum, Silene dioica, Achillea millefolium, Brachypodium syhaticum, Digitalis purpurea, Holcus lanatus, Leucanlhemum vulgare, Phleum pratense, Poa trivialis, Taraxacum officinale, Agrostis capillaris, A. stolonifera, Bromus erectus, B. sterilis, seed, dormancy, germination, light, High irradiance reaction, alternating temperatures, photoperiod     

Biochemical Limitations to Carbon Assimilation in C3 Plants--A Retrospective Analysis of the A/Ci Curves from 109 Species

Species-specific differences in the assimilation of atmosphericCO₂ depends upon differences in the capacities for the biochemicalreactions that regulate the gas-exchange process. Quantifyingthese differences for more than a few species, however, hasproven difficult. Therefore, to understand better how speciesdiffer in their capacity for CO₂ assimilation, a widely usedmodel, capable of partitioning limitations to the activity ofribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase, to the rateof ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate regeneration via electron transport,and to the rate of triose phosphate utilization was used toanalyse 164 previously published A/C_i, curves for 109 C₃ plantspecies. Based on this analysis, the maximum rate of carboxylation,Vc_max, ranged from 6µmol m^–2 s^–1 for the coniferousspecies Picea abies to 194µmol m^–2 s^–1 forthe agricultural species Beta vulgaris, and averaged 64µmolm^–2 s^–1 across all species. The maximum rate ofelectron transport, J_max, ranged from 17µmol m^–2s^–1 again for Picea abies to 372µmol m^–2 s^–1for the desert annual Malvastrum rotundifolium, and averaged134µmol m^–2 s^–1 across all species. A strongpositive correlation between Vc_max and J_max indicated that theassimilation of CO₂ was regulated in a co-ordinated manner bythese two component processes. Of the A/C_i curves analysed,23 showed either an insensitivity or reversed-sensitivity toincreasing CO₂ concentration, indicating that CO₂ assimilationwas limited by the utilization of triose phosphates. The rateof triose phosphate utilization ranged from 4·9 µmolm^–2 s^–1 for the tropical perennial Tabebuia roseato 20·1 µmol m^–2 s^–1 for the weedyannual Xanthium strumarium, and averaged 10·1 µmolm^–2 s^–1 across all species. Despite what at first glance would appear to be a wide rangeof estimates for the biochemical capacities that regulate CO₂assimilation, separating these species-specific results intothose of broad plant categories revealed that Vc_max and J_maxwere in general higher for herbaceous annuals than they werefor woody perennials. For annuals, Vc_max and J_max averaged 75and 154 µmol m^–2 s^–1, while for perennialsthese same two parameters averaged only 44 and 97 µmolm^–2 s^–1, respectively. Although these differencesbetween groups may be coincidental, such an observation pointsto differences between annuals and perennials in either theavailability or allocation of resources to the gas-exchangeprocess. Key words: A/C_i curve, CO₂ assimilation, internal CO₂ partial pressure, photosynthesis     

Copepod abundance in the western Irish Sea: relationship to physical regime, phytoplankton production and standing stock

The distinct patterns of stratification in the North Channeland stratified region of the western Irish Sea influence theseasonal abundance of phytoplankton. The 3–4 month productionseason in the stratified region was characterized by productionand biomass peaks in the spring (up to 2378 mg C m² day^–1and 178.4 mg chlorophyll m^–2) and autumn (up to 1280 mgC m^–2 day^–1 and 101.9 mg chlorophyll m^–2).Phytoplankton in the North Channel exhibited a short, late productionseason with a single summer (June/July) peak in production (4483mg Cm^–2 day^–1) and biomass (–160.6 mg chlorophyllm^–2). These differences have little influence on copepoddynamics. Both regions supported recurrent annual cycles ofcopepod abundance with similar seasonal maxima (182.8–241.810³ind. m^–2) and dominant species (Pseudocalanus elongatusand Acartia clausi). Specific rates of population increase inthe spring were 0.071 and 0.048 day¹ for the North Channel andstratified region, respectively. Increased copepod abundancein the stratified region coincided with the spring bloom, andwas significantly correlated with chlorophyll standing stock.Increased copepod abundance preceded the summer production peakin the North Channel. This increase was not correlated withchlorophyll standing crop, suggesting that a food resource otherthan phytoplankton may be responsible for the onset of copepodproduction prior to the spring bloom. Hetero-trophic microplanktonas an alternative food source, and advection of copepods fromthe stratified region, are proposed as possible explanationsfor copepod abundance increasing in advance of the summer peakin primary production.     

Dinoflagellate cyst production at a coastal Mediterranean site

To assess the diversity and seasonality of dinoflagellate cystproduction, surface sediment and trap samples were studied inthe Gulf of Naples (Mediterranean Sea). A total of 59 differentcyst morphotypes were recorded. At the stations within the 70m isobath, sediment assemblages were dominated by calcareousPeridiniales (66–79%), while at the deepest stations non-calcareousPeri-diniales attained the highest percentages (40–49%).The sediment trap sampling, carried out fortnightly over twoannual cycles, revealed high production rates (up to 1.7 x 10⁶cysts m^–2 day^–1) from spring to late autumn of bothyears, with a distinct seasonal production pattern. Althoughrather similar in species composition, the total cyst flux differedmarkedly between the 2 years (1.26 and 0.55 x 108 cysts m^–2year^–1, respectively). Species-specific production patternswere observed: some species formed cysts over several months,others in restricted periods of the year. Cyst-forming speciesconstituted a small part of the planktonic dinoflagellate populationsrecorded in the area. A coupling between the trap material andsurface water plankton was observed for calcareous Peridiniales.This sampling approach allowed the detection of some speciesnever recorded before in the gulf, including two potentiallytoxic species: Alexandrium andersoni and Gymnodinium catenatum-likespecies.     

Geographic distribution, seasonal life cycle, biomass and production of a planktonic copepod Calarms sinicus in the Inland Sea of Japan and its neighboring Pacific Ocean

The geographical distribution, seasonal life cycle, biomassand production of a copepod Calanus sinicus were investigatedin and around Kii Channel of the Inland Sea of Japan. The distributioncenter of the population was located in Kii Channel. The patternof the seasonal variation in abundance of copepodites and adultsdiffered geographically within the study area. In Kii Channel,for example, they were most abundant in June-July and leastabundant in October. Over the study area, the reproduction ofC.sinicus took place throughout the year, indicating the absenceof diapause phase. In adults, females usually outnumbered males.The prosome length of late copepodites and adults was inverselycorrelated with water temperature. The annual mean biomass washighest (4.87 mg C m^–3 or 231 mg C m^–2) in Kii Channel.The potential production rate of the population exhibited aseasonal variation more or less similar to that of the biomassand the annual potential production rate was 358 mg C m^–3year^–1 (14.1 g C m^–2 year^–1) in Kii Channel.Daily production and biomass (P/B) ratios in Kii Channel increasedfrom 0.11 at 11.8°C to 0.26 at 20°C.     

DENSITY FLUCTUATIONS, GROWTH AND DRY TISSUE PRODUCTION OF HYDROCOCCUS BRAZIERI (TENISON WOODS, 1876) AND ARTHRITICA SEMEN (MENKE, 1843) IN PEEL INLET, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Hydrococcus brazieri and Arthritica semen on a sandflat at Coodanup,Peel Inlet, Western Australia, accounted for 89.5% of totalmollusc numbers. The mean density of H. brazieri was 9487 m^–2and A. semen averaged 8105 m^–2. H. brazieri grew at 0.5mm month^–1 and reached maturity in 4 months; A. semengrew at 0.3 mm month^–1 and reached maturity in 6 months.Somatic production in the Peel-Harvey estuarine system was estimatedto be 0.5 g m^–2yr^–1for H. brazieri and 4.1 g m^–2yr^–1for A. semen. The positions of these two species in the estuarinefoodweb is discussed. (Received 26 June 1981;     

Planktonic primary production in the German Wadden Sea

By combining weekly data of irradiance, attenuation and chlorophylla concentrations with photosynthesis (P) versus light intensity(E) curve characteristics, the annual cycle of planktonic primaryproduction in the estuarine part of the Northfrisian WaddenSea was computed for a 2 year period. Daily water column particulategross production ranged from 5 to 2200 mg C m^–2 day^–1and showed a seasonal pattern similar to chlorophyll a. Budgetcalculation yielded annual gross particulate primary productionsof 124 and 176 g C m^–2 year^–1 in 1995 and 1996,respectively. Annual amounts of phytoplankton respiration, calculatedaccording to a two-compartment model of Langdon [in Li,W.K.W.and Maestrini,S.Y. (eds), Measurement of Primary Productionfrom the Molecular to the Global Scale. International Councilfor the Exploration of the Sea, Copenhagen, 1993, pp. 20–36],and dissolved production in 1996, were both in the range of24–39 g C m^–2 year^–1. Annual total net productionwas thus very similar to particulate gross production (127 and177 g C m^–2 year^–1 in 1995 and 1996, respectively).Phytoplankton growth was low or even negative in winter. Inspring and summer, production/biomass (Pr/B) ratios varied from0.2 up to 1.7. Phytoplankton growth during the growth seasonalways surpassed average flushing time in the area, thus underliningthe potential of local phytoplankton bloom development in thispart of the Wadden Sea. The chlorophyll-specific maximum photosyntheticrate (P^B_max) ranged from 0.8 to 9.9 mg C mg^–1 Chl h^–1and was strongly correlated with water temperature (r² = 0.67).By contrast, there was no clear seasonal cycle in ^B, which rangedfrom 0.007 to 0.039 mg C mg^–1 Chl h^–1 (µmolphotons m^–2 s^–1)^–1. Its variability was muchless than P^B_max and independent of temperature. The magnitudeand part of the variability of P^B_max and ^B are presumably causedby changes in species composition, as evidenced from the rangeof these parameters found among 10 predominant diatom speciesisolated from the Wadden Sea. The ratio of average light conditionsin the water column (E_av) to the light saturation parameterE_k indicates that primary production in the Wadden Sea regionunder study is predominantly controlled by light limitationand that nutrient limitation was likely to occur for a few hoursper day only during 5 (dissolved inorganic nitrogen) to 10 (PO₄,Si) weeks in the 2 year period investigated.     

Effect of u.v.-B irradiance on the response of 15N-nitrate uptake of Lauderia annulate and Synedra planctonica

The marine diatoms Lauderia annulata and Synedra planctonicaharvested during exponential growth were exposed to differentdoses of u.v.-B (286, 439 and 710 J m^–2 d^–1) for2 days. Uptake of ¹⁵N-nitrate was estimated before, during andafter u.v.-B radiation over 2 days. Exposure to high levelsof u.v.-B (710 J m^–2 d^–1) caused irreversible damageat the second daily irradiance. Lauderia cells were less affectedby u.v.-B stress than Synedra cells. ¹⁵N-nitrate uptake wasreduced under u.v.-B irradiance but could be reactivated within1 day following exposure to a low dose (286 J m^–2 d^–1).Higher levels of u.v.-B radiation (710 J m^–2 d^–1)led to irreversible damage. The pattern of ¹⁵N-incorporationinto several amino acids of Lauderia varied after 2 days ofu.v.-B radiation. ¹⁵N enrichment of glutamine increased markedlyafter u.v.-B stress (717 J m^–2 d^–1) whereas ^I5Nexcess of aspartic acid was significantly reduced. Results arediscussed with reference to the u.v.-B damage of the nitratetransport system.     

Growth and production of heterotrophic nanoflagellates in a meso-eutrophic lake

The growth of heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) in mesotrophicLake Constance was measured in situ during a 13 month period.Experiments were conducted with 10 µm pre-filtered lakewater incubated in diffusion chambers at 3 m water depth atthe sampling location for 24 h. Growth rates were calculatedfrom changes in cell numbers occurring during the period ofincubation. Growth rates of all dominant taxa showed pronouncedseasonal variation (–0.13 to 1.76 day^–1 and weregenerally highest in summer at high water temperatures. In situgrowth rates were well below maximum growth rates known forthe respective and similar species from laboratory experiments.While water temperature was a key parameter positively relatedto the growth of all HNF species, the effect of various potentialfood items was taxon specific and less clear. Bacterial abundancewas equally important as temperature for growth in the smallbactenvorous Spumella sp., but was insignificant for growthrates of the larger omnivorous Kathablepharis sp. In Spuniellasp., 84% of the observed seasonal variation of its growth ratecould be explained by temperature and bacterial food supply.Based on these results, a multiple linear regression equationwith temperature and bacterial concentration as dependent variableswas calculated for the growth rate of Spumella. Taxon-specificproduction rates were derived from growth rates and averagebiomass of these two species, and compared to total HNF productionestimated from previously measured community growth rates andbiomass in Lake Constance. Production peaks of Spumella sp.and Kathablepharis sp. alternated seasonally. Total HINF productionranged from –0.01 to 10 mg C m^–3 day^–1. Theaverage seasonal production varied between 1.4 and 33 mg C m^–3day^–1 over 6 consecutive years. These small protozoa thuscontribute a substantial amount to total zooplankton productionin Lake Constance.     

The productive and optical status of the oligotrophic waters of the Southern Aegean Sea (Cretan Sea), Eastern Mediterranean

Primary production, pigment concentrations and spectral measurementsof downwelling irradiance were made at four stations in fourseasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter) during 1994 in thewaters of the South Aegean Sea (Cretan Sea), Eastern Mediterranean.Rates of production were determined using in Situ incubationtechniques and included measurements at the surface microlayer.Depth-integrated values averaged over season were 5.66 mg Cm^–2 h^–1 for primary production and the correspondingchlorophyll (Ch1) a and phaeophytin (Phaeo) a values had meansof 4.87 and 1.21 mg m^–3 respectively. The assimilationratio remained very low (mean over season: 1.19 mg C mg^–2Chl a h^–1 as did the Phaeo a/Chl a ratio (mean over season:0.24). The annual production for the area was estimated to yield24.79 g C m^–2 year^–1. Primary production and Chla estimates showed statistically significant seasonal, spatialand depth variations. The spectral values of the attenuationcoefficient Kd (     

Size-fractionated primary production studies in the vicinity of the Subtropical Front and an adjacent warm-core eddy south of Africa in austral winter

Results are presented of size-fractionated primary productionstudies conducted in the vicinity of the Subtropical Front (STF),an adjacent warm-core eddy, and in Sub-antarctic waters duringthe third South African Antarctic Marine Ecosystem Study (SAAMESIII) in austral winter (June/July) 1993. Throughout the investigation,total chlorophyll (Chl a) biomass and production were dominatedby small nano- and picophytoplankton. No distinct patterns intotal Chl a were evident. At stations (n = 7) occupied in thevicinity of the STF, total integrated biomass values rangedfrom 31 to 53 mg Chl a m^–2. In the vicinity of the eddy,integrated biomass at the eddy edge (n = 3) ranged from 24 to54 mg Chl a m^–2 and from 32 to 43 mg Chl a m^–2 inthe eddy (n = 2). At the station occupied in the Sub-antarcticwaters, total integrated biomass was 43 mg Chl a m^–2.Total daily integrated production was highest at stations occupiedin the vicinity of the STF and at the eddy edge. Here, totalintegrated production ranged from 150 to 423 mg C m^–2day^–1 and from 244 to 326mg C m^–2 day^–1, respectively.In the eddy centre, total integrated production varied between134 and 156 mg C m^–2 day^–1. At the station occupiedin the Sub-antarctic waters, the lowest integrated production(141 mg C m^–2 day^–1) during the entire survey wasrecorded. Availability of macronutrients did not appear to limittotal production. However, the low silicate concentrations duringthe survey may account for the predominance of small nano- andpicophytoplankton. Differences in production rates between theeddy edge and eddy core were related to water column stability.In contrast, at stations occupied in the vicinity of the STF,the control of phytoplankton production appears to be relatedto several processes, including water column stability and,possibly, iron availability.     

The Effects of Light Intensity and External Potassium Level on Root/Shoot Ratio and Rates of Potassium Uptake in Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Loliun perenne L. (cv.S. 23) was grown on vermiculite in winterin a heated greenhouse for 8 weeks under factorial combinationsof two potassium regimes (nominally 6 parts/10⁶ and 156 parts/10⁶in Hewitt's solution) and three densities of artificially supplementedvisible radiation flux (36.1, 7.3, and 2.2 W m^–2). Growthand potassium uptake were studied through the calculation ofvarious growth functions from fitted curves. There was little effect of potassium treatment but the experimentalmaterial responded markedly to light. Leaf-area ratio in thethree treatments showed extreme plasticity in increasing from2–3 x 10^–2 through 6 x 10^–2 to 8–9 x10^–2 m² g^–1 as light intensity decreased. Correspondingdecreases in unit leaf rate, however, caused over-all reductionsin relative growth rate. Specific absorption rates for potassium (A_K, dry-weight basis)were strongly reduced at the lower light intensities but alsodisplayed complex ontogenetic drifts. Values of the allometricconstant, k (the ratio of root and shoot relative growth rates),decreased from c. 0.7 at 36.1 W m^–2 through c. 0.3 at7.3 W m^–2 to a value not significantly different fromzero (P < 0.05) at 2.2 W m^–2. In material grown under the two higher light intensities a constantinverse relationship was found between the mass ratio of rootand shoot and the corresponding activity ratio. The resultsconform to this model: Mass ratio = –0.001+45.0 (1/activityratio) where activity ratio is expressed as specific absorptionrate for potassium (in µg g root^–1 h^–1)/unitshoot rate (rate of increase of whole-plant dry weight per unitshoot dry weight, in mg g shoot^–1 h^–1). The implicationsof this relationship are discussed.     

X-Ray Microanalysis and Ultrastructural Studies of Cell Compartments of Dunaliella parva

Hajibagheri, M. A., Gilmour, D. J., Collins, J. C. and Flowers,T. J. 1986. X-ray microanalysis and ultrastructural studiesof cell compartments of Dunaliella parva. -J. exp. Bot. 37:1725–1732. Ultrastructural studies of the unicellular green alga Dunaliellaparva showed the presence of cytoplasmic vacuoles. X-ray microanalysiswas performed on sections of cells which had been freeze substitutedin acetone. It was found that the concentrations of both Naand Cl were much higher in the vacuoles than in the cytoplasm.When cells were grown in 0·4 kmol m^–3 NaCl theNa and Cl concentrations in the vacuoles were 349 and 283 molm ^–3 respectively, whilst cytoplasmic Na and Cl concentrationswere 37 and 26 mol m^–3. Corresponding values for cellsgrown in 1·5 kmol m^–3 NaCl were 392 mol m^–3Na and 325 mol m^–3 Cl in the vacuoles and 36 mol m^–3Na and 30 mol m^–3 Cl in the cytoplasm. Immediately afterexposure to an increase in external salinity Na and Q concentrationsincreased in both vacuoles and cytoplasm. The results are discussedwith reference to compartmental models for the ionic relationsof Dunaiiella. Key words: X-ray microanalysis, ultrastructural studies, Dunaliella parva     

Production of Penilia avirostris in Kingston Harbour, Jamaica

The cladoceran Penilia avirostris is one of the more abundantand widespread members of the crustacean zooplankton in nearshoretropical and subtropical waters. Its abundance, biomass, fecundity,development rate and production were estimated in Kingston Harbour,Jamaica, during an 18 month period. Mean annual abundance ofPenilia was 1821 m^–3, while biomass (excluding eggs/embryos)was 2.87 mg ash-free dry-weight (AFDW) m^–3 (43.1 mg AFDWm^–2), accounting for 13% of the copepod community biomass.Fecundity increased with body size. There was no clear seasonalpattern of abundance, size or fecundity, nor were physical orbiological variables correlated to these variations. Developmenttime averaged 20.5 h for juveniles and 41.4 h for adult femalesduring incubations; there was no clear evidence of a diel patternto molting. Growth rate appeared to be exponential, with correspondingsomatic growth rates, averaging 0.27 day^–1 for juveniles,and 0.34 day^–1 for somatic plus reproductive growth inadult females. Annual production was estimated as 173 kJ m^–2year^–1,     

Metazooplankton dynamics and secondary production of Daphnia magna (Crustacea) in an aerated waste stabilization pond

The seasonal dynamics of metazooplankton biomass was monitoredin an aerated waste stabilization pond during three consecutiveyears (1994–1996). The pond showed a low diversity ofplanktonic metazoans because of elevated pH, relatively highconcentration of free dissolved ammonia and low oxygen concentration.The planktonic community was composed of the anomopod branchiopodDaphnia magna, and the cyclopoid copepods Cyclops vicinus andCyclops strenuus. Both predation by cyclopoids and competitionwith D.magna excluded rotifers from the pond, except duringa short period in spring 1996. Daphnia magna was the dominantorganism from a biomass point of view. In parallel with biomass,demographic parameters, secondary production and the spatialdistribution of D.magna were studied. A significant seasonaland interannual variation in the density, biomass and productionof D.magna was observed. The maximum density of daphnids variedfrom 264 x 10³ to 686 x 10³ individuals m^–2 and the maximumbiomass from 4 to 30 g dry weight (DW) m^–2. The annualnet production was high compared with the production of Daphniain natural environments, ranging from 288 to 593 g DW m^–2year^–1. The annual net production of exuviae accountedfor ~25% of the total annual net production. Harvesting of daphnidsfor commercial applications that took place during the productiveperiod did not have any discernible effect on the populationdynamics of D.magna. Sexual reproduction was not observed duringthe three studied years. Negative mortality rates, occurringduring early spring, however, indicated that recruitment fromephippia was effective in the pond of Differdange and that sexualreproduction took place before 1994. Swarming was regularlyobserved in relation to high densities.     

On the causes of interspecific differences in the growth-irradiance relationship for phytoplankton. Part I. A comparative study of the growth-irradiance relationship of three marine phytoplankton species: Skeletonema costatum, Olisthodiscus luteus and Gonyaulax tamarensis

Three marine phytoplankton species (Skeletonema costatum, Olisthodiscusluteus andGonyaulax tamarensis) were grown in batch culturesat 15°C and a 14:10 L:D cycle at irradiance levels rangingfrom 5 to 450 µEinst m^–2 s^–1. At each irradiance,during exponential growth, concurrent measurements were madeof cell division, carbon-specific growth rate, photosyntheticperformance (both O₂ and POC production), dark respiration,and cellular composition in terms of C, N and chlorophyll a.The results indicate that the three species were similar withrespect to chemical composition, C:N (atomic) = 6.9 ±0.4, photo-synthetic quotient, 1.43 ± 0.09, and photosyntheticefficiency, 2.3 ±0.1 x 10^–3 µmol O₂ (µgChl a)^–1 h^–1 (µEinst m^–2 s^–1)^–1.Differences in maximum growth rate varied as the –0.24power of cell carbon. Differences in growth efficiency, werebest explained by a power function of Chl a:C at µ = 0.Compensation intensities, ranged from 1.1 µEinst m^–2s^–1 for S. costatum to 35 forG. tamarensis and were foundto be a linear function of the maintenance respiration rate.The results indicate that interspecific differences in the µ–Irelationship can be adequately explained in terms of just threeparameters: cell carbon at maximum growth rate, the C:Chl aratio (at the limit as growth approaches zero) and the respirationrate at zero growth rate. A light-limited algal growth modelbased on these results gave an excellent fit to the experimentalµ–I curves and explained 97% of the observed interspecificvariability. ¹Present address: Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory Columbiaof University, Palisades, NY 10964, USA