Ubiquinone systems in fungi. V. Distribution and taxonomic implications of ubiquinones in Eurotiales, Onygenales and the related plectomycete genera, except for Aspergillus, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, and their related teleomorphs

The ubiquinone (coenzyme Q) systems were determined for 176 teleomorphic isolates, 14 anamorphic isolates, and three samples of fruit-bodies of Dendrosphaera eberhardtii, which belonged to Eurotiales, Onygenales, and related taxa. In Eurotiales, Ascosphaera had Q-9, whereas Bettsia had Q-10. All isolates of Monascaceae had the Q-10 system, whereas those of four genera of Pseudeurotiaceae had the Q-10(H₂) system. The Q-10(H₂) system was found in genera of Trichocomaceae, except for Aspergillus, Penicillium, Paecilomyces, and their related taxa. However, Thermoascus had the Q-9 system. In Onygenales, members of Arthrodermataceae had Q-9, and those of Gymnoascaceae had Q-10(H₂). Isolates of Myxotrichaceae were characterized by Q-10(H₂) with few exceptions, which had Q-10. The quinones of Onygenaceae belonged to complex systems, i.e., Q-9, 0-10 and 0-10(H₂), and a combination of two systems. Families Onygenaceae and Trichocomaceae are likely a phylogenetic heterogeneity. Ubiquinone analysis provides a very useful criterion of great promise for classifying eurotialean taxa and also for identifying their isolates.     

Microbial characteristics of marine sediments in bathing area along Pesaro-Gabicce coast (Italy): a preliminary study

AIMS: This paper evaluates the presence of human pathogen micro-organisms in marine sediments in a coastal area suitable for bathing. In addition, the grain size analysis was performed in order to correlate the characteristics of the sediments and the microbial content. METHODS AND RESULTS: The samples were collected in two small bays along the central Adriatic coast, where breakwaters had been built for the purpose of halting marine erosion. Faecal contamination indicators, Salmonella and Vibrio species, enteric viruses were investigated using standard techniques for isolation and identification. The grain size was determined using calibrated sieves and 'Sedigraph' device. In some samples, the faecal contamination indices overstepped legislative limits. Salmonella was never found. Vibrio and enteric viruses were isolated: the micro-organisms were preferentially abundant in fine sediments. CONCLUSIONs: Marine sediments can represent an important reservoir of allochthonous and marine micro-organisms and the microbial charge correlates with the characteristics of the sediments. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study indicates that it is important to analyse marine sediments before defining the quality of coastal areas.     

Distribution in space and time of Cladocera (Crustacea) in the alluvial sediments of the river Rhône (France)

Two stations in a polluted section of the Rhône River downstream of Lyon (France) were investigated during a five month' period. The samples (101 water and sediment) were taken by the Bou-Rouch method at 20, 50 and 100 cm depth in the sediments and at three different distances from the waterline. Twenty-six Cladocera species, belonging to five families were found. Most of them are known to live in the Rhône River system, as well in the surface water as in the underflow. Their community structure and the time and space distribution are described and discussed in relationship with other macroinvertebrate taxa and with the oxygen content of the pumped water.

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Zusammenfassung Zwei Probennahmestellen in einem stark verschmutzten Flußabschnitt der Rhône unterhalb von Lyon (Frankreich) wurden über einen Zeitraum von fünf Monaten untersucht. Die Proben (10 l Wasser und Feinsedimente) wurden mit einer Bou-Rouch-Pumpe in 20, 50 and 100 cm Tiefe im Kiesschotterbett und in drei verschiedenen Entfernungen vom Rhôneufer entnommen. Sechsundzwanzig Cladoceren-Arten aus fünf Familien wurden gefunden. Ihre Faunenzusammensetzung und die räumliche und zeitliche Verteilung wurden beschrieben und im Vergleich zu anderen gefundenen Macroinvertebraten-Taxa und zum Sauerstoffgehalt des Interstitial-Wassers diskutiert.

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Résumé Deux stations dans une zone polluée du Rhône en aval de Lyon (France) ont été étudiées pendant une période de cinq mois. Les échantillons (10 l d'eau et de sédiment) ont été pris avec la méthode selon Bou et Rouch à des profondeurs de 20, 50 et 100 cm dans les sédiments et à trois distances différentes du bord de l'eau. Vingt-six espèces de Cladocères appartenant à cinq familles ont été trouvées. La plupart d'entre elles sont déjà connues dans l'hydrosystème du Rhône, aussi bien en surface que dans le sous-écoulement. Leur structure de peuplement et leur distribution spatio-temporelle sont décrites et discutées en relation avec les autres taxons de macroinvertébrés trouvés trouvés et avec la concentration en oxygène de l'eau interstitielle.

     

Heavy metal pollution in surface water and sediment: A preliminary assessment of an urban river in a developing country

The concentration and chemical fractionation of globally alarming six heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd and Pb) were measured in surface water and sediment of an urban river in Bangladesh. The decreasing trend of metals were observed in water as Cr > Cu > As > Ni > Pb > Cd and in sediment as Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb > As > Cd. The level of studied metals exceeded the safe limits of drinking water, indicated that water from this river is not safe for drinking and/or cooking purposes. However, the investigated metals showed low mobility except for Cd and Pb which could pose a severe threat to the aquatic environment. Contamination factor (CF) and geoaccumulation index (I_geo) demonstrated that most of the sediment samples were moderately to heavily contaminated by Cr, As, Cd and Pb. The pollution load index (PLI) values were above one (>1) indicates progressive deterioration of the sediment quality. The extent of pollution by heavy metals in the river Korotoa implies that the condition is much frightening to the biota and inhabitants in the vicinity of the river as well.     

Obervations on the occurrence of scales and bristles of mallomonas spp. (Chrysophyceae) in the micro-laminated sediments of a small lake in finnish North Karelia

Scales and bristles ofMallomonas crassisquama (Asmund) Fott andM. elongata Reverdin are reported from the laminated sediments of Laukunlampi, a small kettlehole lake in N. Karelia, Finland. The white summer laminae in the deeper sediment are composed almost entirely ofM. crassisquama scales and bristles. The taxonomy, ecology and distribution ofM. crassisquama andM. elongata are briefly discussed and factors influencing the preservation of scales and bristles in sediments are considered. It is suggested that analysis of sedimentary associations of scales, bristles and cysts could be used to improve cyst taxonomy inMallomonas.     

Bacterial abundance and production in river sediments as related to the biochemical composition of particulate organic matter (POM)

The major proportion of heterotrophic activity in running waters islocalized on the solid surfaces of sediments in the benthic and hyporheic zoneand is dominated by microorganisms. However, this assertion is based on thestudies of small streams, and little is known about the microbial metabolism oforganic matter in river ecosystems. We therefore explored the relationshipsbetween bacterial abundance and production and the gradients of organic matterquality and quantity in sediments of a sixth-order lowland river (Spree,Germany). We found vertical gradients of detrital variables (particulateorganicmatter (POM), particulate organic carbon (POC), nitrogen (PN), and protein) andof bacterial variables (abundance, production, turnover time, and proportion ofbacterial carbon in total POC) in two different sediment types. These gradientswere steeper in stratified sediments than in the shifting sediments. Detritalvariables correlated strongly with bacterial abundance and production. The bestcorrelation was found for detrital variables indicating substrate quantity andquality (r_S = 0.90 for PN with abundance). Although bacterialbiomasscomprised only 0.7% of the POC (1.9% of PN, 3.4% of the protein) in sediments,the turnover of sedimentary organic carbon was fast (median = 62d), especially in the shifting sediments. Our findings demonstratethat sediment dynamics significantly foster organic carbon metabolism in riversystems. Thus, these sediments, which are typical for lowland rivers, stronglyinfluence the metabolism of the whole ecosystem.     

中国裂隙衣属地衣（文字衣科）的初步研究

在中国文衣科地衣系统研究中,对裂隙衣属Fissurina地衣进行了订正,报道了16种,其中中国新记录种3个,即连绵裂隙衣F. consentanea、球孢裂隙衣F. globulifica和皱体裂隙衣F. insidiosa。建议4个异名,即Fissurina isidiata Z.F. Jia 为Platythecium dimorphodes (Nyl.) Staiger的异名;Fissurina marginata Staiger为Fissurina elaocarpa (A.W. Archer) A.W. Archer的异名;Graphis canlaonensis Vain.为Fissurina consentanea Nyl.的异名;Graphis glauca Müll. Arg.为Fissurina dumastii Müll. Arg.的异名。本文提供了中国裂隙衣属每个种的描述和分布,并提供了鉴定检索表。     

A preliminary study of vocal communication in wild long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis). I. Vocal repertoire and call emission

Vocal communication in wild long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) is described in terms of (1) a preliminary vocal repertoire and the situations in which calls occur in the natural habitat of this species and (2) quantitative measurement of the natural occurrence of calls in the field. Although a number of calls are relatively discrete (e.g., a male loud call), gradation is pronounced for both wide-spectrum (“harsh”) and narrow-spectrum (“clear”) vocal signals. Thirteen general types of harsh calls are identified provisionally as elements of the vocal repertoire. The exact number of discrete clear calls contributing to the vocal repertoire could not be ascertained precisely, but these calls were classified operationally into six broadly acoustically different classes in order to measure natural vocal behavior. Vocalizations tended to occur in temporal “clusters” during sample, periods. Narrow-band clear or “coo” calls were more frequently performed by macaques than wide-band harsh calls. The possible functional implications of the correlated occurrence of multiple vocal signals are discussed.     

赣江上游沉积物重金属空间分布及污染特征

为了解赣江上游表层沉积物重金属污染特征,采集赣江上游38个样品,采用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICP-MS,Agilent 8800)分析沉积物中重金属含量,结合内梅罗综合污染指数法、地累积指数法、主成分分析及沉积物质量基准等研究赣江上游沉积物中重金属污染程度,分析污染物可能的来源及评价其存在的生态风险。结果表明:赣江上游沉积物中W、Cr、Mn、Cu、Zn、As、Cd、Hg、Pb等9种重金属的平均含量分别为12.30、4.40、999.84、9.72、293.81、47.66、2.85、1.34、63.68 mg·kg-1;除Cr和Cu外,其余7种重金属的平均值均超过江西省土壤背景值。内梅罗综合污染评价表明,赣江上游表层沉积物中47.37%的采样点呈严重污染,28.95%采样点污染明显,其中污染程度章水段>桃江段>贡江段;地积累指数法显示,Mn、As、W、Pb呈轻度污染,Cd和Hg呈中度或偏重度污染;主成分分析显示,As、W、Hg、Pb具有相似的污染源,Cr和Mn具有相似的污染源;沉积物质量基准分析表明,对底栖生物可能产生毒性效应的重金属主要是Cd和Hg,主要分布在章水段和桃...     

Factors controlling the seasonal development and distribution of the phytoplankton community in the lowland course of a large river in Northern Italy (River Adige)

The principal environmental factors influencing the seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton were examined from September 1997 to July 1998 in three stations along a 26-km stretch of the lowland course of River Adige (northeast Italy). Nutrient concentrations did not appear to be limiting for the phytoplankton growth. Annual minimum concentrations of reactive and total phosphorus, and dissolved inorganic nitrogen were 22 μg P l⁻¹, 63 μg P l⁻¹ and 0.9 mg N l⁻¹, respectively. The most critical forcing factors were physical variables, mainly water discharge and other variables related to hydrology, i.e. suspended solids and turbidity, which acted negatively and synchronously by diluting phytoplankton cells and decreasing light availability. Higher algal biomass was recorded in early spring, in conditions of lower flow velocity and increasing water temperature. In late spring and summer, higher water discharge caused a decrease in phytoplankton biomass. Conversely, low algal biomass in late autumn and winter, during low discharge, was mainly related to low water temperatures and shorter photoperiod. Physical constraints had a significant and measurable effect not only on the development of total biomass, but also on the temporal dynamics of the phytoplankton community. Abiotic and biotic variables showed a comparable temporal development in the three sampling stations. The small number of instances of spatial differences in phytoplankton abundance during the period of lower flow velocity were related to the increasing importance of biological processes and accumulation of phytoplankton biomass.     

Odonates as indicators of the ecological integrity of the river corridor: Development and application of the Odonate River Index (ORI) in northern Italy

The assessment of the ecological conditions of rivers is crucial for their appropriate management and restoration. Bioindicators commonly used to evaluate the river status (i.e. diatoms, aquatic macrophytes, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish) detect alterations of water quality, but are not particularly sensitive to hydromorphological degradation, which is another relevant pressure in river systems. Furthermore, those bioindicators are usually applied only to flowing channels. We developed a new multimetric index, the Odonate River Index (ORI), to assess the conditions of the whole corridor in alluvial rivers. The ORI is a development of an evaluation system proposed in Austria, and based on the Odonate Habitat Index (OHI). Odonates were chosen as bioindicators for the ecological integrity of the river corridor, since this taxon provides information on the conditions of their aquatic breeding sites, as well as on the surrounding terrestrial areas, due to its amphibiotic life cycle. We used a case study of 18 reaches from six Italian Alpine rivers, characterized by different morphological conditions and level of human impact. Within each study reach, we selected four sites, both lotic and lentic sites. Dragonfly surveys consisted in field observation of adults, and collection of larvae and exuviae. To define the best sampling strategy, we compared the results of the ORI metrics obtained varying the input data by combining different sampling methods: the best compromise between effort and exhaustiveness was obtained coupling the observation of adults with the collection of exuviae. We found the ORI to be a robust and reliable tool to assess the status of the river corridor in a wide range of environmental conditions and river morphology, being particularly suitable to detect hydromorphological degradation and alterations of the structure of aquatic and riparian vegetation. We identified two limiting factors for the applicability of this index: low water temperatures of the main channel (i.e. mean annual value below 10 °C) and river reaches with no or scarce aquatic and riparian vegetation. In addition to the assessment of river conditions, the ORI could also be applied for monitoring the effects of river restoration actions.     

Assessment of heavy metal pollution and ecological risk in marine sediments (A case study: Persian Gulf)

This study was made to determine the pollution status and potential ecological risk of heavy metals in sediment of Persian Gulf. Surface sediments were collected seasonally by Peterson grab, and the concentrations of heavy metals were measured by using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP–OES). The range concentrations obtained in mg/kg were 10,800–22,400 for Fe, 5.32–10.12 for Pb, 24.63–42.38 for Ni, 22.52–39.46 for Cu, and 31.64–47.20 for Cr. The concentrations of Pb, Ni, Cu, and Cr have been found lower than the Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines and probable effect level values suggesting that heavy metal contents in sediments from area of study would not be expected to cause adverse biological effects on the biota. The obtained enrichment factor values for various metals were between minimal enrichment (Pb = 0.5) and extremely enrichment (Cu = 3.11). The values of I_geo for Pb, Ni, Cu, and Cr were characterized under no pollution (0). The highest value of potential ecological risk index (RI) (8.36) was observed at St. 4 while the lowest value (5.25) was detected at station 6. Based on potential ecological RI, the Persian Gulf had low ecological risk.     

An assessment of river habitat quality as an indicator of conservation status. A case study in the Northwest of Spain

There are several methodologies for the characterization and evaluation of river habitats. The scientific community has made a great effort in designing the best indexes for this purpose, and they have also been tested in different countries and rivers. Nevertheless, there has not been a transfer of that knowledge to land managers of these spaces or, at least, to those who design improvement and restoration measures. The aim of our research was the assessment of the Riparian Forest Quality Index (QBR), the “Riparian Quality Index” (RQI) and the “Fluvial Habitat Index” (IHF) as indicators of the ecological status of fluvial habitats and their application in restoration projects. The main results of this study were that the IHF index could be used as a support resource and as a monitoring tool to assess the habitat heterogeneity before and after any action is taken. However, when we evaluated the QBR and RQI indexes, the best results were with the first one. The total QBR suggests the urgency level of restoration in the section that is evaluated, and each of its sub-indexes identifies which element of the river is affected. Therefore, it will be a useful tool in decision making for the conservation of these characteristic spaces, especially for engineers who, as a result of their experience in biological and ecological processes, are involved in the design and building of ecosystems, particularly in rivers and on their banks.     

The colorless flavonoids of Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae). I. A model system to study the orthodihydroxy structure

The orthodihydroxy structure may mediate flavonoid coloration or antioxidant activity, making it of interest to floral or health food industries, respectively. In the first of two companion papers, the authors demonstrate a model system to study the orthodihydroxy structure in colorless flavonoids of Arabidopsis, with tools similar to those used upon the colored flavonoids. The system includes a fluorescent staining procedure to visualize colorless orthodihydroxy flavonoids at a subcellular level and to screen seedlings for rare genetic recombinants. The system also includes mutant lines to study the synthesis of colorless orthodihydroxy flavonoids, their potential role as antioxidants, and their potential risk as oxidative mutagens.     

Wind-driven river plume dynamics and toxic Alexandrium tamarense blooms in the St. Lawrence estuary (Canada): A modeling study

In the lower St. Lawrence estuary (LSLE, eastern Canada), blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense are a recurrent phenomenon, resulting in paralytic shellfish poisoning outbreaks every summer. A first coupled physical–biological model of A. tamarense blooms was developed for this system in order to explore the interactions between cyst germination, cellular growth and water circulation and to identify the effect of physical processes on bloom development and transport across the estuary. The simulated summer (1998) was characterized by an A. tamarense red tide with concentrations reaching 2.3 × 10⁶ cells L⁻¹ along the south shore of the LSLE. The biological model was built with previously observed A. tamarense cyst distribution, cyst germination rate and timing, and A. tamarense growth limitation by temperature and salinity. The coupled model successfully reproduced the timing of the A. tamarense bloom in 1998, its coincidence with the combined plumes from the Manicouagan and Aux-Outardes (M-O) rivers on the north shore of the estuary, and the temporal variations in the north-south gradients in cell concentrations. The simulation results reveal that the interaction between cyst germination and the estuarine circulation generates a preferential inoculation of the surface waters of the M-O river plume with newly germinated cells which could partly explain the coincidence of the blooms with the freshwater plume. Furthermore, the results suggest that the spatio-temporal evolution of the bloom is dominated by alternating periods of retention and advection of the M-O plume: east or north-east winds favor the retention of the plume close to the north shore while west or north-west winds result in its advection toward the south shore. The response of the simulated freshwater plume to fluctuating wind forcing controls the delivery of the A. tamarense bloom from the northern part of the estuary to the south shore. In addition, our results suggest that a long residence time of the M-O plume and associated A. tamarense population in the LSLE during the summer 1998 contributed to the development of the red tide. We thus hypothesize that the wind-driven dynamics of the M-O plume could partly determine the success of A. tamarense blooms in the LSLE by influencing the residence time of the blooms and water column stability, which in turn affects A. tamarense vertical migrations and growth.     

A light and electron microscopic study of the heart of a crayfish,Procambarus clarkii (giraud). I. histology and histochemistry

The adventitia of the crayfish heart consists of about five layers of uninucleated cells that often contain large amounts of glycogen. The outer and inner boundaries of the adventitia are represented by amorphous, homogeneous layers that are rich in neutral and acidic carbohydrates. The myocardium has a trabeculated appearance, due to the branching and anastomosing of the muscle cells. Studies on the localization of various oxidative enzymes show that the mitochondria are contained principally in the cell periphery and the myofibrils in the cell core. Intercalated discs appear as dark, irregular lines that traverse the muscle cell at a level that corresponds to that of a Z band. The myocardial cells branch and radiate from loci that are formed either by a single stellate cell or by the common end-to-end junctions (intercalated discs) of several cells. The function of these loci is discussed. The local cardiac nervous system consists of a Y-shaped ganglionic trunk that contains eight large anterior and eight small posterior nerve cells.     

A preliminary study of vocal communication in wild long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis). II. Potential of calls to regulate intragroup spacing

This study is a preliminary assessment of the potential of long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) calls to operate in systems of within-group spacing. Covariation in the rate of occurrence of calls with party spread, size, and activity among wild individuals of one group suggested that four classes of calls may function in intragroup spacing. Two of them are “clear” calls of long duration and pronounced frequency modulation. Calling rate increased with party spread for low- and high-frequency variants of these calls during resting and feeding respectively, suggesting possible utility in maintenance of spatial relations over moderately long distances. A third “harsh” call was negatively correlated with party spread during foraging and may thus function to increase dispersion among foraging individuals. Another harsh call with a tonal onset was unique among all calls in the vocal repertoire in being more frequently performed by lone, isolated individuals than by macaques accompanied by others, suggesting a possible function in reestablishing contact that has been severed. The functional significance of these calls with respect to their acoustic structures is discussed. Macaques that use calls to regulate intragroup spacing can control communication distance and direction by their choice of acoustically different vocalizations. This choice may be affected not only by varying environmental constraints on sound transmission, but also by social and ecological factors such as intragroup competition.     

Biochemical investigation of two responses involved in the feeding behaviour of Acanthaster planci (L). I. Assay methods and preliminary results

Material obtained by simple biochemical fractionation of aqueous extracts of coral has been tested for its ability to induce responses normally associated with feeding on live corals in the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci (L.) With the use of a new assay method, it has been shown that both dialysable and non-dialysable components of aqueous coral extract cause cessation of movement, settlement, and eversion of the stomach as if over a whole coral. A second response, apparently of avoidance, seen as a starfish approaches a coral prior to feeding, has also been examined; it is evoked by the dialysable fraction of coral extract.     

A preliminary study of the responsiveness to seasonal atmospheric and rainfall patterns of wash woodland species in the arid Richtersveld

Seasonal carbon and water relations were compared among seven tree or shrub wash woodland species in the winter rainfall desert of the Richtersveld National Park, South Africa. Plants were generally aseasonal with respect to gas exchange, but responsive to rainfall events with respect to water relations and phenology. Relatively narrow annual ranges in potential evapotranspiration due to the maritime influence could explain why these plants respond more to fluctuations in water acquisition potential than to evaporative demand. Two species were summer-deciduous, but one of them (Ozoroa concolor) responded to aseasonal summer rainfall by leafing out and flowering. These two species had high shoot xylem water potentials when in leaf. All other species were sclerophyllous evergreens with low water potentials, particularly the shallow-rooted shrub Zygophyllum prismatocarpum, and Boscia albitrunca which may have a different rooting pattern to the other phreatophytes. The latter species was also unique due to its high leaf nitrogen contents, photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductances, despite very low leaf water potentials. Leaf stable carbon isotope composition C¹³C) varied between species (–22 to –27), but was lower than the mean for arid regions worldwide. The values indicated moderately high levels of water use efficiency, but a less conservative strategy in two species, including Boscia albitrunca. The affinities of these species to summer rainfall biomes, their apparent decline in the western arid regions in recent geological history following aridification, and their absence southwards in the winter rainfall regions, suggest that these wash species rely on sporadic summer rainfall events to some extent. They may be at risk if predicted increases in temperature and changes in rainfall patterns alter their effective moisture availability.