Winter food availability limits winter survival of Mongolian gerbils (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Meriones unguiculatus</Emphasis>)

Food availability is important to the dynamics of animal social organizations or populations. However, the role of winter food availability in animal population dynamics is still controversial. We carried out an experimental study to test Lack’s hypothesis that reduced food in winter limits survival and spring numbers of breeding individuals of social groups, using the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) as model species. We established 24 gerbil social groups in 24, 10 × 10 m, pens in September 2008. We provided wheat seeds as supplemental food in 12 enclosures from September 2008 to March 2009; the other 12 enclosures, not provided with supplemental food, served as controls. We live-trapped gerbils at a 2-week interval from September to April. Supplemental food during winter increased biweekly survival by 10% relative to that in control groups. Only four control social groups survived to the end of our study whereas all 12 food-supplemented social groups survived through our study period. Supplemental food also increased cumulative numbers of recruits and group sizes of gerbils. We conclude that winter food availability limits winter survival and spring social groups or population sizes of Mongolian gerbils.     

Seasonal changes in population structure of the tropical deep‐water kelp Laminaria abyssalis

Tropical kelp populations are rare and anomalous relicts of shallow‐water populations that existed during glacial periods of cooler oceanographic climate. The endemic Brazilian tropical kelp, Laminaria abyssalis Joly and Oliveira Filho, occurred at depths below 40 m. The seasonal variations in biological aspects of L. abyssalis sporophyte populations and local variations in seawater nutrients and temperature were evaluated. A population was sampled four times between the austral spring of 2005 to winter 2006. Seasonal variations in the population structure and in the tissue content of nitrogen (N), carbohydrate and pigments were observed. Higher density (6.3 individuals m^?2), biomass (7.3 kg m^?2) and blade area (13 221 cm²) were observed in summer, while the highest percentage of tissue total N (1.6%), carbohydrates (32.9%) and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a = 1.9% and chlorophyll c = 0.4%) were observed in spring. The highest surface area of fertile tissue in L. abyssalis sporophytes (2.36%) was recorded in winter, indicating winter as the season when more investments are made in reproduction. The highest concentrations of total N (6.3 μM) and phosphate (0.6 μM) in seawater were observed in spring and summer, respectively. Seawater temperatures lower than 20°C, which are characteristic of upwelling waters, occurred every month and were most frequent in spring and summer. We show that L. abyssalis invests more in growth in spring and summer and reaches the greatest thallus size and population density in summer. The lower abundance during winter may be related to the lower frequency of temperatures below 20°C and the local seasonal storms that cause turnover of rhodoliths, the main substrate for L. abyssalis.     

黄河口邻近海域浮游动物群落时空变化特征

利用2012年12月—2013年9月4个季度的现场调查资料研究了黄河口邻近海域浮游动物群落的时空分布特征。研究表明,黄河口邻近海域共鉴定出浮游动物70种,包括浮游幼虫19类。浮游动物优势种主要由夜光虫(Noctiluca scintillans)、小拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus parvus)、双刺纺锤水蚤(Acartia bifilosa)、拟长腹剑水蚤(Oithona similis)、强额拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus crassirostris)、近缘大眼剑水蚤(Corycaeus affinis)、强壮箭虫(Sagitta crassa)、双壳类幼体(Bivalvia larvae)、多毛类幼体(Polychaeta larvae)等种类。黄河口邻近海域浮游动物丰度夏季最高(60620个/m~3),春季(31228个/m~3)和秋季(21540个/m~3)次之,冬季最低(7594个/m~3)。不同季节浮游动物丰度的空间分布具有差异性,春季浮游动物丰度呈现出从近岸到外海降低的趋势;夏季浮游动物形成两个高丰度区,分别位于河口邻近海区和河口东部海区;秋季和冬季浮游动物丰度高值区均位于河口东部海区。浮游动物生物多样性指数均呈现从河口到外海升高的趋势,低值区位于黄河口入海口附近海区。相关性分析显示,黄河口邻近海域浮游动物丰度与海水温度显著正相关(r=0.212,P0.05),表明温度为影响黄河口邻近海域浮游动物丰度变化的主要因素。     

巢湖流域地下水硝态氮含量空间分布和季节变化格局

2009年冬季、2010年春季和夏季分别在巢湖流域采集了253个、249个和230个水井的地下水样品,分析了其硝态氮含量。结果表明,巢湖流域的地下水硝酸盐污染比较严重,冬季、春季和夏季的地下水硝态氮的超标率(≥10 mg/L)均超过20%。巢湖北部区的地下水硝态氮含量高于南部地区。在巢湖北部区,东北部江淮分水岭丘陵区的地下水硝态氮含量较低。在巢湖南部区,地下水硝态氮含量具有从西部山区向东部平原逐渐升高的趋势。不同土地利用类型的地下水硝态氮含量排序是村庄菜地旱地乡镇水稻-油菜(或小麦)轮作田果园单季水稻田养殖场,传统水稻田绿色水稻田。巢湖流域地下水硝态氮含量的季节变化总趋势为冬季≈春季夏季,主要与降水有关。不同土地利用类型的地下水硝态氮含量的季节变化格局不同,其中地下水硝态氮含量呈现冬季春季夏季的土地类型为菜地、果园和水稻田,春季冬季夏季的土地类型为旱地、乡镇、畜禽养殖场,春季夏季冬季的土地类型为村庄,这种季节变化格局主要与不同土地利用类型的施肥量、施肥时间的不同有关。     

Long‐term monitoring of the life history of a riverine mayfly Ephemera orientalis (Ephemeroptera: Ephemeridae) in the Han River in Seoul,Korea

Climatic change often affects life history aspects of aquatic insects. Long‐term monitoring was conducted to understand the life history variability of the riverine mayfly Ephemera orientalis in the Han river, where habitat is largely disturbed by summer floods. Water level of the study site, Godeok‐dong area in Seoul, is regulated by the Paldang Dam located approximately 14 km above the study site. E. orientalis often emerged in large numbers around the study area. Larvae were sampled monthly from April 2006 to July 2010 using a Surber sampler (50 × 50 cm, mesh 0.25 mm, two replicates). Additional qualitative sampling was conducted using a hand net. As a result, based on the larval body size distribution, E. orientalis had a univoltine life cycle with two distinct slow growing cohort groups: the S1group emerged during May–June and the S2 group emerged during August–September. Our previous study conducted in Gapyeong stream in Gyeonggi‐do showed that E. orientalis normally had three cohort groups, S‐1 and S‐2 groups and the F‐group (a fast growing cohort developed during May–August). However, the Han River population of E. orientalis lacked such a fast growing cohort. It is most probable that habitat disturbances caused by high water level during the rainy season negatively affected the development of the fast growing cohort (F‐group) in the Han River area. The relationships between monthly E. orientalis population data and water level in the Han River are presented.     

中国近海浮游动物群落结构及季节变化

2006年7-8月、12月-2007年2月、2007年4-5月、2007年10-12月,对中国近海进行了4个航次生物、化学和水文等专业综合调查.根据采集的浮游动物样品分析鉴定结果,对中国近海浮游动物群落结构、种类组成及优势种的季节变化进行研究.结果表明,中国近海浮游动物有1330种,隶属于7门19大类群,浮游幼体47类,其中,节肢动物为最优势类群,有782种,占58.80％,其次为刺胞动物,有324种,占24.36％.在浮游动物群落结构中,4个海区均以桡足类和水母类的种类和数量占绝对优势.中国近海4个海区浮游动物种类数有明显季节变化,渤海和黄海,浮游动物种类数夏、秋季多于春、冬季;东海和南海,浮游动物种类数春、夏季多于秋、冬季.中国近海浮游动物群落大体可划分为6个主要生态类群:近岸低盐类群、低温高盐类群、高温高盐类群、低温广盐类群、高温广盐类群和广温广盐类群.结合同步调查的其它生物、水文、化学环境参数的分析结果,对中国近海浮游动物群落种类丰度与环境因子进行生物与环境变量关系分析,结果表明,浮游动物群落结构与水温、盐度、水深、溶解氧、硝酸盐和pH存在明显相关关系.水温和盐度是影响浮游动物群落结构最重要的两个环境因子.     

Seasonal dynamics of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the Lower Ardèche River (France)

Seasonal sampling at six locations on the Lower Ardèche River was effected irregularly during 1982, 1983 and 1984. The seasonal structure of the taxa-sample matrix, much more important than sample location, is demonstrated using graphical interpretation.The Mediterranean aspect of the lower reaches of the Ardèche River is pointed out through its community structure which includes species often collected in other typical Mediterranean streams, e.g. Oligoneuriella rhenana, Ephoron virgo, Ecdyonurus dispar, E. insignis, Choroterpes picteti.Water temperature and day length were the determinant influences on seasonal variations in population structure of benthic macroinvertebrates. Three periods were distinguished: water (November to April), spring (May, June and beginning July) and summer (end of July to October). Spring and autumnal spates marked the limits of the summer and winter periods. Hence, annual fluctuations of this seasonal typology may occur in response to the hydrological regime.     

The bionomics of the free-living larvae and the transmission of Dictyocaulus filaria between lambs in North-East England.

The bionomics of the free-living larvae of Dictyocaulus filaria on pasture, and the transmission of infection between lambs, were studied during different seasons of the year in North-East England. The rate of development of first-stage larvae to the third stage took 4-9 days in late spring and summer, 1 1/2-4 weeks in autumn and 5 1/2-7 weeks in winter. The proportion of first-stage larvae developing to the third stage ranged from 10-28% in autumn and winter, and 2-25% in spring and summer. The rate of mortality of the third-stage larvae was approximately logarithmic in nature, although the survival time was shorter in spring and summer than in autumn and winter. Third stage larvae were able to survive from autumn until the spring of the following year in sufficient numbers to perpetuate transmission but not to cause clinical disease. In a transmission study, the survival of the infective larvae on the experimental plot was poor in summer, but the larval population increased in the autumn and then declined slowly throughout the winter. Infection in the susceptible lambs was related to the level of infection on the herbage increasing in severity from early summer to late autumn. However, those lambs infected in the summer were resistant to the heavy autumn challenge of larvae on pasture.     

Seasonal variability in the fertilization rate of women undergoing assisted reproduction treatments

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether seasonality affects human-assisted reproduction treatment outcomes. For this, 1932 patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were assigned to a season group according to the day of oocyte retrieval: winter (n = 435), spring (n = 444), summer (n = 469) or autumn (n = 584). Analysis of variance was used to compare the ICSI outcomes. The fertilization rate was increased during the spring (winter: 67.9%, spring: 73.5%, summer: 68.7% and autumn: 69.0%; p < 0.01). In fact, a nearly 50% increase in the fertilization rate during the spring was observed (odds ratio 1.45, confidence interval 1.20-1.75; p < 0.01). The oestradiol concentration per number of oocytes was significantly higher during the spring (winter: 235.8 pg/mL, spring: 282.1 pg/mL, summer: 226.1 pg/mL and autumn: 228.7 pg/mL; p = 0.030). This study demonstrates a seasonal variability in fertilization after ICSI, where fertilization is higher during the spring than at any other time.     

Waterfowl of a subtropical African floodplain

Many water bodies in arid southern Africa are seasonal and waterfowl habitats become restricted during the dry winters. Nevertheless, some tropical species, such as the white-faced duck, are expanding their ranges into more temperate regions where summer habitats are available, thus increasing pressure on overwintering habitats. The subtropical Pongolo River floodplain is an important overwintering area for a diverse water-fowl community that includes 13 of the 16 species that breed in South Africa and one of the few regular migrants. Historical evidence suggests that numbers of white-faced duck, which represent over 70% of the floodplain community, have increased 10-fold over the last two decades. An abundant, nutritious food (Potamogeton crispus turions) attracts waterfowl to the Pongolo floodplain during winter and an increase in bird fat reserves suggests that they leave for summer breeding grounds in good condition. Unseasonal flood releases from an upstream reservoir may cause low food supplies in late spring before the onset of the summer rainy season when breeding habitats become available. This study emphasizes the need for a better understanding of the role of winter habitats in maintaining waterfowl populations.     

Effects of winter conditions on Daphnia dynamics and genetic diversity in a dimictic temperate reservoir

1. Winter conditions shape plankton dynamics and community composition in temperate regions, but their effect on dynamics and genetic composition of cyclical parthenogens like Daphnia is largely unclear. 2. For 5 years, we studied the dynamics, hatching from resting eggs and genetic structure of a D. galeata × longispina hybrid complex in a dimictic, temperate reservoir. Our main hypothesis was that higher spring densities and an earlier population peak will be observed after warmer winters, with a lower genetic diversity because of a lower contribution of resting eggs to population growth. 3. The study period could clearly be categorised into cold‐winter years (n = 3) and warm‐winter years (n = 2). Daphnia densities at the end of spring overturn were ～10‐fold lower after cold winters than after warm ones, but no pattern emerged concerning the timing and the height of the population peak in early summer. 4. Hatching intensity from resting eggs was higher and contributed up to 8.5% to Daphnia abundance in a cold‐winter year compared to a negligible contribution in a warm‐winter year. Consistent with this finding, new multilocus genotypes (MLGs) adding to the overwintering stock after the end of spring overturn and presumably originating from resting eggs increased genetic diversity and attained high frequencies within the population only after a cold winter. New MLGs were recorded also after warm winters, but they never gained dominance and no shift in genetic diversity was observed. However, genetic diversity was not generally reduced after warm winters. 5. Our results confirm earlier findings that winter conditions have only a limited effect on the main growth phase and the peak of Daphnia during late spring and early summer. However, winter conditions determine the contribution of resting eggs to the population development, which may profoundly alter the genetic composition of the population compared to the previous season.     

Population dynamics of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in a subtropical subhumid region of Argentina for use in the design of control strategies

The population dynamics of Rhipicephalus microplus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) in northwest Argentina was analysed to support the design of strategic methods for its control. Both parasitic and non‐parasitic phases were studied. The seasonal activity of R. microplus in its parasitic phase was characterized by three peaks in abundance: the first in mid–late spring; the second in summer, and the third in autumn. The non‐parasitic phase of R. microplus was characterized by a long total non‐parasitic period observed after exposures of females from mid‐summer to early autumn, a short total non‐parasitic period observed after exposures of females from late winter to late spring, a short period of larval longevity in early and mid‐summer, and no hatch of the eggs produced by females exposed in mid‐ and late autumn and winter. Treatments of cattle administered during the period from late winter to late spring will act on small cohorts of R. microplus, preventing the emergence of larger generations in summer and autumn. A 17‐week spelling period starting in late spring and early summer will be necessary to achieve optimal control of R. microplus free‐living larvae. If spelling begins in mid‐ or late summer or in autumn, the required period will be 26–27 weeks.     

Woodland small mammal population ecology in Britain: a preliminary review of the Mammal Society survey of Wood Mice Apodemus sylvaticus and Bank Voles Clethrionomys glareolus, 1982–87

The Mammal Society has co-ordinated a population survey of Wood Mice Apodemus sylvaticus and Bank Voles Clethrionomys glareolus in 13 0.81 -hectare sites in Britain. Numbers of mice and voles live-trapped using standard methods were collated every May/June and November/December from 1982 to 1987. The data were analysed with results from four independent studies in England and the corresponding assessments of tree seed crop size. Wood Mouse numbers are usually higher in winter than in summer but Bank Vole fluctuations are less regular. In deciduous woodland, Wood Mouse mean relative densities are significantly greater in the winter and the following summer after a good seed crop than after a poor one; rates of population change from summer to winter are significantly higher when a good seed crop falls. Bank Vole relative densities are significantly greater in the summer following a good seed crop than after a poor one, and rates of change from winter to summer are significantly higher. In Wood Mouse populations, tests for density dependence suggest that it is strong from summer to winter but absent from winter to summer; in Bank Voles weaker density dependence is present in both halves of the year. Thus, Wood Mouse numbers are regulated in autumn but are also influenced by seed crop size in winter and the following summer; Bank Vole numbers are less strongly regulated during both autumn and spring and are influenced by seed crop size in the following summer. Evidence is presented suggesting that populations of each species in deciduous woodlands are synchronized over the country in summer and that Wood Mice are also synchronized in winter; highs and lows tend to coincide between different sites. The yield of tree seed is shown to vary significantly from year to year and may be the cause of the synchrony, but weather effects may also be involved.     

The temporal and spatial distribution of the valves of the diatom Rhoicosphenia curvata in the River Wey

SUMMARY. During a study of the seasonal changes in the diatom flora of the River Wey, Surrey, it was found that valves of Rhoicosphenia curvata (Kütz.) Grunow were usually present in samples collected in the stretch of the river between Tilford and Guildford but not in any significant numbers either upstream or downstream of this region. More detailed study showed that a tributary, the Farnham Wey, was the source of this particular diatom and that downstream of the confluence of these rivers the numbers steadily decreased. Valves of Rhoicosphenia curvata were most numerous in suspension in the river during the summer months, although the living organism is an epiphyte growing and dividing vigorously during the early spring and even in late winter. It is suggested that dead cells and detached valves are released into the river, from its tributary, during the summer, there being no evidence that this organism can actively divide or survive as a member of the river plankton. The valves form a convenient marker for the mixing of two distinct bodies of water.     

Seasonal Variation in the Orcadian Rhythm of Pulmonary Function in Stable Astthmatic Children who have Nearly Outgrown their Asthma

To study whether nocturnal bronchial obstruction changes during the year, we assessed the circadian FEV₁ variation during four consecutive seasons in 20 children (12 boys; aged 9–12 years) with episodic asthma who were outgrowing their asthma. FEV₁ was determined every 4 h between 10:00 and 10:00 during two consecutive days. The last six FEV₁ values were submitted to cosinor and coefficient of variation (CV) analyses. The seasonal means (SD) in the group 24 h percent predicted FEV₁ was 85.5 (11.4), 81.2 (10.6), 86.0 (11.6), and 82.2 (14.0)% during spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. The difference between the summer and autumn FEV₁ values was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The mean (SD) of the circadian amplitude values was 4.1 (4.3), 6.0 (3.8), 4.9 (3.4), and 7.2 (4.1)% during spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. The difference in amplitude between the spring and winter and between the autumn and winter values was statistically significant (p<0.05). CV values of 48 of the 80 (60%) circadian FEV, time series exceeded the average CV of 5% observed in non-asthmatic children studied in our laboratory. There was an unequal distribution during the year in elevated CV values; 6, 17, 10, and 15 of the high CV values occurred, respectively, in the spring, summer, autumn, and winter. These results suggest that nocturnal bronchial obstruction may change seasonally in terms of severity and amplitude in children who have nearly outgrown their asthma. (Chronobiology International, 13(4), 295–303, 1996)     

Impact of fish predation on cladoceran body weight distribution and zooplankton grazing in lakes during winter

1. It is well accepted that fish, if abundant, can have a major impact on the zooplankton community structure during summer, which, particularly in eutrophic lakes, may cascade to phytoplankton and ultimately influence water clarity. Fish predation affects mean size of cladocerans and the zooplankton grazing pressure on phytoplankton. Little is, however, known about the role of fish during winter. 2. We analysed data from 34 lakes studied for 8–9 years divided into three seasons: summer, autumn/spring and winter, and four lake classes: all lakes, shallow lakes without submerged plants, shallow lakes with submerged plants and deep lakes. We recorded how body weight of Daphnia and then cladocerans varied among the three seasons. For all lake types there was a significant positive correlation in the mean body weight of Daphnia and all cladocerans between the different seasons, and only in lakes with macrophytes did the slope differ significantly from one (winter versus summer for Daphnia). 3. These results suggest that the fish predation pressure during autumn/spring and winter is as high as during summer, and maybe even higher during winter in macrophyte‐rich lakes. It could be argued that the winter zooplankton community structure resembles that of the summer community because of low specimen turnover during winter mediated by low fecundity, which, in turn, reflects food shortage, low temperatures and low winter hatching from resting eggs. However, we found frequent major changes in mean body weight of Daphnia and cladocerans in three fish‐biomanipulated lakes during the winter season. 4. The seasonal pattern of zooplankton : phytoplankton biomass ratio showed no correlation between summer and winter for shallow lakes with abundant vegetation or for deep lakes. For the shallow lakes, the ratio was substantially higher during summer than in winter and autumn/spring, suggesting a higher zooplankton grazing potential during summer, while the ratio was often higher in winter in deep lakes. Direct and indirect effects of macrophytes, and internal P loading and mixing, all varying over the season, might weaken the fish signal on this ratio. 5. Overall, our data indicate that release of fish predation may have strong cascading effects on zooplankton grazing on phytoplankton and water clarity in temperate, coastal situated eutrophic lakes, not only during summer but also during winter.     

内蒙古贺兰山冬春季岩羊种群现状及保护

为调查内蒙古贺兰山国家级自然保护区内岩羊（Pseudois nayaur alashanicus）的种群现状,通过样线法在2017、2018年冬季,2018、2019年春季进行了调查,利用R 4.0.3中的Distance 1.0.2对样线观测数据进行分析,估测保护区内岩羊的种群数量及密度,分析其种群结构。结果显示,调查共观测到岩羊6299只,其中,2018年冬季种群数量最高,约为2654（2230-3161）只（括号内为95%数量置信区间）,种群密度为3.921（3.293-4.668）只/km²。与2003年同季节的调查数据对比发现,保护区内岩羊的种群数量在15年间增长迅速,岩羊的种群密度累计增长了约53.17%,年平均增长3.54%。岩羊集群形式：混合群（88.03%,80.95%）为岩羊冬、春最主要的集群形式,且混合群的数量冬季多于春季,独羊出现的次数最低（1.99%,2.86%）,不同的集群类型在不同的季节的差异极显著（P<0.001）;岩羊平均群大小：春季为（13.439±12.085）只,冬季为（9.011±8.610）只,调查季节中集群大小多为1-10只,岩羊的不同季节的群大小差异极显著（P<0.001）。种群成体与幼体比在不同季节的变化范围为1.411-2.673,雌雄比在不同季节的变化范围为0.934-1.469,种群结构的季节性差异极显著（P<0.001）。集群类型、群大小及群组成的调查表明,不同季节间岩羊种群结构差异明显。     

乌拉特荒漠草原红砂(Reaumuria soongorica)灌丛林地地面节肢动物群落季节分布特征

以乌拉特荒漠草原红砂(Reaumuria soongorica)灌丛林地作为研究样地,分别于2018年春季、夏季和秋季,利用国际通用的陷阱诱捕法,调查了地面节肢动物群落季节动态分布特征及其与环境因子间的关系。结果显示:(1)3个季节内共捕获地面节肢动物560只,隶属于10目23科。其中,春季优势类群为拟步甲科,夏季为拟步甲科和蚁科,秋季为拟步甲科,其个体数分别占总个体数的51.54%、59.11%和64.88%;常见类群春季和夏季均有8类,秋季有10类,其个体数分别占总个体数的43.08%,37.33%和32.68%;稀有类群春季有7类,夏季有6类,秋季有3类,其个体数分别占总个体数的5.38%、3.56%和2.44%。(2)3个季节内生物量占比超过10%的地面节肢动物类群仅有拟步甲科,春季、夏季和秋季其分别占群落总生物量的88.59%、72.56%和80.90%;1%—10%的地面节肢动物类群生物量,春季、夏季和秋季其分别占群落总生物量的9.76%、25.51%和17.78%;小于1%的地面节肢动物类群生物量,春季、夏季和秋季其分别占群落总生物量的1.62%、1.94%和1.32%。(3)随季节变化,地面节肢动物的密度、类群数、Shannon-Wiener指数和Simpson指数均存在显著差异性(P0.05),表现为夏季显著高于春季或秋季。(4)RDA和Spearman相关分析结果表明,降雨量、气温、土壤含水量、土壤pH和电导率及土壤粒径组成是地面节肢动物季节分布的重要影响因素。研究表明,随着季节更替乌拉特荒漠草原红砂灌丛林地地面节肢动物群落组成季节分布差异性较大,夏季地面节肢动物多样性较高,而且不同类型环境因子对于地面节肢动物的个体数分布影响不同。     

Annual changes in the concentration of minerals and organic compounds of Quercus suber leaves

Mature leaves are the primary source of sugars, which give rise to many secondary metabolites required for plant survival under adverse conditions. In order to study the interaction of field‐grown cork oak (Quercus suber L.) with the environment, we investigated the seasonal variation of minerals and organic metabolites in the leaves, using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, elemental analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. Statistical analysis showed that the data strongly correlated with seasonal climate and were divided in three groups corresponding to: (1) spring‐early summer, (2) summer and (3) autumn‐winter. The concentration of N, P, K and leaf ash content were highest in spring (recently formed leaves), reached the minimum during the hot and dry summer and increased slightly during the rainy period of autumn‐winter. Conversely, Na, Mg and Ca concentrations were lowest in spring‐early summer and increased during summer and autumn‐winter, the Ca concentration increasing five‐fold. Two cyclitol derivatives, quinic acid and quercitol were the major organic metabolites of the leaves. Their concentration along the season followed opposite trends. While quinic acid predominated during spring‐early summer, when it contributed 12% to the leaf osmotic potential, quercitol was predominant during autumn‐winter, when its contribution to leaf osmotic potential was about 10%. This different preponderance of the two compounds is expressed by the quercitol/quinic acid ratio, which can be as low as 0.2 in early summer and as high as 9 in winter. Sucrose and glucose concentrations also increased during autumn‐winter. Evidence for the quercitol protective role in plants during stress is discussed, and on the basis of structural similarity, it is suggested that quinic acid could have an identical importance, with a protective role against heat and high irradiance. It is concluded that the marked changes in Q. suber leaf composition throughout the year could have important implications in the plant capacity to endure climatic stress.     

Observations on egg production rates and seasonal changes in the internal morphology of Mediterranean populations of Acartia clausi and Centropages typicus

Egg production rates in wild populations of Acartia clausi and Centropages typicus, sampled biweekly in the Gulf of Naples from October 1985 to July 1987, showed marked seasonal fluctuations with maximum values in early spring that proceeded the annual maxima for adult female densities in summer. A positive correlation between chlorophyll a concentrations and egg production was evident only during the early spring phytoplankton bloom. A strong diminution in egg deposition occurred later in spring and continued throughout the summer notwithstanding high chlorophyll concentrations. In winter, when population abundances for adult females were lowest, egg production rates were always higher than in summer. Differences in egg production rates coincided with pronounced morphological changes between summer and winter populations of both species. The most striking of these changes consisted, in winter, in the presence of a dark brown fluid-like mass of granular material that seemed to freely bathe the gonads. The presence of this substance only during periods of elevated egg production suggests that it may enhance egg production rates when the adult population reaches minimum annual levels. Such a mechanism of self-regulation may operate to dampen the effects of environmental variability thereby contributing to maintain a conservative structure in coastal copepod communities.