Competition Between Native and Exotic Daphnia: In situ Experiments

The recently introduced exotic cladoceran Daphnia lumholtzioffers an excellent opportunity to study the interactions betweenexotic and native species in invaded communities. Lake surveysin Missouri have indicated a seasonal succession between nativeDaphnia and D. lumholtzi. In the current study, we examinedcompetition between D. lumholtzi and the native Daphnia parvulaby conducting seasonal in situ field experiments in 1.6 l enclosures.Competition was assessed by comparing the rates of increase(r) and birth rates (b) of each species when grown alone versuswhen grown together in these enclosures. At high densities,D. lumholtzi suppressed D. parvula rates of increase duringthe late summer and fall experiments, but did not appear tosuppress D. parvula birth rates. The rates of increase of D.lumholtzi did not appear to be affected by the presence of D.parvula. The results of these experiments indicate that althoughcompetition between the two species occurs seasonally at highdensities, the effects are asymmetrical. The lack of competitiveeffects on D. lumholtzi byD. parvula suggests that factors otherthan competition are involved in explaining the absence ofD.lumholtzi in spring zooplankton assemblages.     

Invasibility of a reservoir to exotic Daphnia lumholtzi: experimental assessment of diet selection and life history responses to cyanobacteria

SUMMARY 1. In reservoirs of the south-central United States, the exotic cladoceran Daphnia lumholtzi is common during warm midsummer conditions, when cyanobacteria are abundant and native Daphnia are rare. In the current study, we employed surveys, field experiments, and a life table experiment to investigate the role of food quality in explaining the distribution and phenology of D. lumholtzi , relative to two native species ( Daphnia parvula and Daphnia mendotae ).
2. During May–September 2000 in eutrophic McDaniel Lake, Missouri U.S.A., cyanobacteria (primarily Oscillatoria ) first appeared at 6-m depth and then became abundant throughout the epilimnion.
3. During the May field experiment, D. lumholtzi , D. parvula and D. mendotae all consumed a similar diet of algae, showing positive selection for small greens (chlorophytes and cryptophytes <20 μm). During the July experiment, when the epilimnion exceeded 25 °C and cyanobacteria were common in the lake, D. lumholtzi consumed significantly more total algae and more cyanobacteria than the two native species. Although the Daphnia selected against cyanobacteria, all three species consumed about 25% of this food in their diet.
4. A life table experiment compared the responses of D. lumholtzi and D. parvula with variation in density of high-quality food ( Ankistrodesmus ) and concentration of a toxic strain of cyanobacteria ( Anabaena flos-aquae ). Both Daphnia species showed reduced survivorship, fertility and intrinsic rates of increase in response to elevated concentrations of cyanobacteria, particularly at the higher food level.
5. The results suggest that D. lumholtzi shows similar inhibition from cyanobacteria as does the native Daphnia . However, their continued high in situ feeding rates imply that D. lumholtzi is less affected by midsummer conditions in warm-water reservoirs than are native Daphnia .     

Differing effects of suspended sediments on the performance of native and exotic Daphnia

1. Although large cladocerans are usually uncommon in large rivers, Daphnia lumholtzi (an exotic species in North America) is widespread and occasionally abundant. We collected zooplankton on the Illinois River (Illinois, U.S.A.) in 1995 and 1996 and found that the peak density of D. lumholtzi (25 L⁻¹) typically exceeded that of all native species combined. Maximum density occurred during warm periods (up to 27 °C) when concentrations of inorganic suspended sediments were high (>50 mg L⁻¹).
2. Using a life table experiment, we examined the effects of variation in suspended sediment (0 and 80 mg L⁻¹) and food (10⁴ and 10⁵ Ankistrodesmus cells mL⁻¹) on fitness of D. lumholtzi and the native Daphnia parvula. Daphnia lumholtzi had greater survivorship than D. parvula in most treatments and higher life-time fertility than D. parvula in all treatments. Both species achieved their fastest intrinsic rates of growth in treatments with high food, but their responses to suspended solids differed. The growth rate of D. lumholtzi in high food was slightly increased by higher turbidity, whereas that of D. parvula was depressed.
3. Results suggest that the ability of D. lumholtzi to tolerate suspended solids is an important factor contributing to its success in invading North American rivers.     

Dynamics of the exotic Daphnia lumholtzii and native macro-zooplankton in a subtropical chain-of-lakes in Florida, U.S.A.

1. Seasonal dynamics of the exotic Daphnia lumholtzii and native macro-zooplankton species were studied for 2 years in six inter-connected lakes in Florida, U.S.A. The lakes ranged widely in pH, colour and trophic status, and were dominated by copepods.
2. All six lakes contained both D. lumholtzii and the native D. ambigua , but the two species did not overlap in time. D. ambigua was dominant in autumn–spring, coinciding with lower water temperature, higher transparency and lower nutrient and chlorophyll a (Chl a ) concentrations than in summer, when D. lumholtzii was dominant.
3. Based on the field observations, temperature optima were 24 °C for D. ambigua and 29 °C for D. lumholtzii , suggesting that temperature plays a role in determining dominance among the daphnids of subtropical Florida lakes.
4.  D. lumholtzii has not displaced native cladocerans but occupies a 'vacant' seasonal niche, unexploited due to the inability of native taxa to tolerate high temperature. Furthermore, D. lumholtzii did not significantly alter algal–zooplankton interactions. There was evidence of top–down control by grazing, but it was primarily attributable to the native taxa.     

GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN THERMAL TRAITS IN DIGENEA SIMPLEX AND CHAMPIA PARVULA (RHODOPHYTA) IN RELATION TO PRESENT AND GLACIAL TEMPERATURE REGIMES

Geographic variation in temperature responses (survival and growth) was investigated in two red algae: Digenea simplex (Wulfen) C. Agardh and Champia parvula (C. Agardh) Harvey. D. simplex has a tropical to warm temperate distribution; C. parvula extends from the tropics into the cold temperate zone. Ecoclinal variation was found in both species but was much stronger in C. parvula than in D. simplex. The former species showed variation in upper and lower tolerance limits as well as in the upper and lower limits for growth. The latter species showed variation mainly in its lower tolerance limit. Ecoclinal variation was related to the amount of present and glacial selection pressure along the climate gradient. In both species, isolates from the colder localities had insufficient cold tolerance to have survived low glacial winter temperatures, so these locations must have been colonized after the end of the glaciation. Eastern Mediterranean and Atlantic populations were probably isolated during the glaciation by a thermal barrier at the entrance of the Mediterranean. In C. parvula, evidence existed for a trade-off between the performance at high and at low temperatures, which would enhance selection pressure in opposite directions at either end of the climatic range. No evidence for such a trade-off was found in D. simplex.     

The phylogeny of nine species of the Drosophila obscura group inferred by the banding homologies of chromosomal regions. I. Element B

The phylogenetic relationships among nine Drosophila species belonging to the obscura group were investigated by establishing the segments displaying banding homologies in their element B (equivalent to the U element of D. subobscura). The phylogenetic ordering of the species was accomplished using overlapping inversions. Two African species, D. kitumensis and D. microlabis, were investigated. These species are homosequential for their element B gene arrangement but differ from that of D. obscura by several rearrangements. Drosophila obscura seems to be most closely related to D. subsilvestris, from which the respective element B gene arrangements differ at least by six inversions. Three species, D. obscura, D. ambigua, and D. tristis, are closely related and form a cluster. Drosophila obscura displays an element B polymorphism for a pericentric inversion for which D. ambigua is fixed for one gene arrangement and D. tristis for the other. Both D. ambigua and D. tristis share a short distal inversion in the small arm of the chromosome, and differ in this respect from D. obscura. Drosophila madeirensis, D. guanche, and D. subobscura all share the same element B gene arrangement, which is acrocentric, but metacentric in all the other species mentioned. It was found that the gene arrangements of the species from the obscura cluster seem to occupy an intermediate position between those of the species of the D. subobscura cluster and those of the African one. The data reported generally are in good agreement with information provided in the literature.     

Gradual evolution of a specific satellite DNA family in Drosophila ambigua, D. tristis, and D. obscura

The highly repetitive satellite DNA family "ATOC180" is specific for the three closely related species Drosophila obscura, D. ambigua, and D. tristis but does not occur in their closest relatives D. subsilvestris and D. bifasciata. Approximately 10,000 copies/haploid genome of approximately 180-bp repetition units are tandemly arranged in the centromeric heterochromatin of all chromosomes of all three species. Molecular analysis of 29 cloned repeats shows much intra- and interspecific sequence homogeneity. Single nucleotide changes are the main source of variability and distinguish the sequence-, subfamily- and species-specific ATOC180 repeats from each other. Based on these nucleotide differences, phylogenetic dendrograms were constructed and compared with published trees for other traits. The data indicate that the sequences of the ATOC180 satellite DNA family probably arose in a phylogenetically "short period" during the anagenetic evolution of the common ancestor of D. obscura, D. tristis, and D. ambigua, as a consequence of a process of genome reorganization, followed by a "long period" of entirely gradual sequence evolution. For the latter period, an evolutionary rate of 3 x 10(-8) substitutions/site/year was calculated.      

Adaptive significance of amylase polymorphism in Drosophila XIII. Old World obscura species subgroup divergence according to biochemical properties of alpha-amylase

Biochemical properties of enzyme alpha-amylase were surveyed in Drosophila obscura Old world group of species (D. subobscura, D. ambigua, D. obscura and D. tristis) sampled in the same habitat, with the aim to reveal some ecological and evolutionary aspects of amylase polymorphism, which has been studied extensively in D. subobscura, but not compared with other species in the group. The data obtained show that D. subobscura is distinct from the other three species regarding all biochemical amylase properties. Such a divergence also correlates with the niche breadth and relative abundance of these species in the same habitat.     

Effects of disturbance intensity and frequency on early old‐field succession

Abstract. Early old‐field succession provides a model system for examining vegetation response to disturbance frequency and intensity within a manageable time scale. Disturbance frequency and intensity can interact with colonization and competition to influence relative abundance of earlier and later successional species and determine, respectively, how often and how far succession can be reset. We tested the joint effects of disturbance frequency and intensity on vegetation response (species richness, abundance, canopy structure) during the first six years of succession by clipping the dominant species (D) or all species (T) in spring and fall of each year (S), once per year in summer (Y1), each two years in summer (Y2), or each four years in summer (Y4). Vegetation response reflected disturbance effects on expansion of a later monospecific dominant perennial herb, Solidago altissima, and persistence of the early, richer flora of annuals. A more abundant and taller top Solidago canopy developed on plots clipped each 2 yr or less frequently. Plots clipped yearly or seasonally were richer, but had less abundant, shorter, and differently stratified canopy. Disturbance mediated the relative abundance of early and later successional species; however, frequency and intensity effects were not completely congruent. Persistence of a richer early successional flora increased through the most frequent disturbance (S), and was magnified by disturbance intensity. Disturbance as extreme as clipping all vegetation twice yearly did not cause a drop in species richness, but maintained the early successional community over the first six years of succession. We conclude that clipping disturbance influenced the rate of succession, but the early community could rebound through the range of disturbance frequency and intensity tested.     

Effects of turbidity on life history parameters of two species of Daphnia

SUMMARY. 1. Life table experiments were carried out in a range of turbidities on D. pulex , representing a 'clear-water', and on D. barbata , representing a 'turbid-water' species.
2. In contrast to predictions based on seasonal occurrence patterns, D. pulex had a higher intrinsic rate of increase ( r _c)s over most of the turbidity range than D. barbata. Consistent differences in life history between the two species were found, but life history characteristics were rather insensitive to turbidity levels. Although turbidity per se appears to have little direct effect on life history parameters, it could influence the seasonal succession of these two species by interacting with other factors.
3. It is suggested that visual predation by fish rather than turbidity per se probably influenced the seasonality of Daphnia species. During the warmer months, selective removal of D. pulex by visually foraging fishes may allow D. barbata to gain dominance. Effects of temperature and nutrition also merit further study.     

The evolution of ant-dispersal in a spring-ephemeral Corydalis ambigua (Papaveraceae): timing of seed-fall and effects of ants and ground beetles

Corydalis ambigua is one of major spring-ephemerals exhibiting ant-dispersal in Hokkaido, northern Japan Seed dispersal in this herb species was observed in a field To attract ants, C ambigua has small spherical seeds with large elaiosomes containing lipids In the quadrat census, 284 (11%) of 2560 seeds were moved away from their mother plants and 131 (46%) of them were recovered into ant nests The mean dispersal distance was 48 3 ± SD 34 4 cm Also the spatial distribution of C ambigua seedlings suggested that the seeds were frequently dispersed by ants The direct observations revealed that the main dispersal ant species were Myrmica kotokui and Lastus japomcus Additionally some ground beetles including Plerostichus spp often devoured elaiosomes and seeds Corydalis ambigua seeds were dropped for about two weeks in late May The collecting by pitfall trap revealed that, in this short period, the frequency of ant foraging on the ground was high and ground beetles were a little yet Moreover, in the seed removal experiments, seeds were more frequently removed in this seed-fall period while seed predation by ground beetles was intensive after the period     

Phospholipid biosynthesis in some anaerobic bacteria.

We have identified and characterized enzymes of phospholipid synthesis in two plasmalogen-rich anaerobes. Megasphaera elsdenii and Veillonella parvula, and one anaerobe lacking plasmalogens. Desulfovibrio vulgaris. All three species contained phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase and phosphatidylserine synthase. Phosphatidylglycerophosphate synthesis was detected only D. vulgaris extracts. Phosphatidylserine (diacyl form) was the major product of the phosphatidylserine synthase assay with particles from M. elsdenii or V. parvula. The amounts of phosphatidylethanolamine formed were very low. Only D. vulgaris particles had an active phosphatidylserine decarboxylase.     

The actin loci in the genus Drosophila: establishment of chromosomal homologies among five palearctic species of the Drosophila obscura group by in situ hybridization

Chromosomal homologies among the four palearctic Drosophila obscura group species D. ambigua, D. tristis, D. obscura, and D. subsilvestris and the "trans-palearctic" species D. bifasciata were established by in situ hybridization using the 5C actin gene of D. melanogaster as a probe. In all species two labeling sites were detected in each of chromosomal elements C and E and one in each of chromosomal elements A and D. In addition one labeling site was detected on element B for the species D. subsilvestris and D. bifasciata. The conservative distribution pattern of the genes of the actin multigene family, the similarities of the locations of the actin genes in the chromosomes of the five species studied, together with the concordant evidence of synteny of visible and other genetic markers as well as the similarities in banding patterns, all agree with the conclusion that the chromosomal elements have retained their essential identity throughout the evolution of these species. Using in situ hybridization detailed information of some homologous regions of chromosomes can also be established.     

Resource-mediated demographic variation during the midsummer succession of a cladoceran community

SUMMARY. 1. The midsummer succession of cladoceran zooplankton in Lake Texoma was examined by demographic characterization of lake populations and a parallel set of life table experiments in which the dominant cladoceran species were raised on naturally occurring lake phytoplankton at lake temperatures. Diaphanosoma leuchtenbergianum occurred throughout the study period (mid June-mid August 1981) but Daphnia parvula, D. galeata mendotae and Ceriodaphnia lacustris were rarely detected after 15 July.
2. Analyses of size structure and size-specific fecundity of the cladoceran populations showed that (1) size structure shifted to smaller individuals in mid July, (2) size-specific fecundity was relatively constant in the smaller size classes and was constant or declined in larger females of each species, and (3) size at maturation did not vary significantly during the study of any population.
3. Individual growth rates of the two Daphnia species and Ceriodaphnia in the life table experiments were significantly lower in mid July when populations were declining and when size structure of each population was more dominated by smaller Individuals. The reduction in individual growth rates was short-lived in the life table experiments; growth rates returned to pre-decline levels by the end of July.
4. Two effects of temporary reductions in individual growth rates when size-specific fecundity and size at maturation are constant are (1) that size structure is temporarily shifted to smaller individuals, and (2) the potential rate of population growth is reduced because of delays in reproduction. Because data on size structure and size-specific fecundity are commonly used to evaluate the relative effects of predators and resource changes on populations it is noteworthy that erroneous conclusions about the mechanism of population decline may be reached when individual growth rates vary.     

Indirect interactions in a microcosm-assembled cladoceran community: implications for apparent competition

Apparent competition occurs when species that otherwise may not directly interact still exhibit negative indirect effects on one another because they share a food-limited predator (enemy). Even though this type of indirect interaction has received significant theoretical and empirical attention, alternative mechanisms producing similar results have not been considered in the literature. In this paper we document the results of a series of microcosm experiments aimed to evaluate the importance of the generalist consumer Daphnia ambigua upon the relative abundance of the more specialized Moina micrura and Ceriodaphnia dubia (Cladocera). We compared the population parameters of M. micrura and C. dubia when alone, in coexistence, and in the presence and absence of D. ambigua . While M. micrura and C. dubia did not show evidence for interspecific competition, the addition of D. ambigua promoted a reduction in the maximal population density of M. micrura , causing a pattern of indirect competition with C. dubia that resembles predator-mediated apparent competition. This result suggests that non-predatory interactions need to be considered as a potential source of apparent interactions in natural communities.     

Molecular differentiation and diversity among the California red oaks (Fagaceae; Quercus section Lobatae)

A recent epidemic of Phytopthora (Sudden Oak Death) in coastal woodlands of California is causing severe mortality in some oak species belonging to the red oak (Lobatae) group. To predict the risks of spread of this disease, an understanding of the relationships among California's red oak species and of their population genetic structure is needed. We focus here on relationships among the four species of red oak. Whereas morphological distinction of Quercus wislizeni and Quercus parvula can pose problems, Quercus kelloggii and Quercus agrifolia in pure forms are easily distinguishable from one another and from Q. wislizeni and Q. parvula in the field. However, hybrids among all species combinations are known to occur in nature and these can confound data from ecological studies. Our results revealed greatest differentiation of the deciduous Q. kelloggii, with only weak AFLP fragment differentiation of the three remaining evergreen species. The molecular data suggest a closer affinity of Q. agrifolia with Q. wislizeni and Q. parvula contrary to earlier suggestions that its origins are likely to have been with northern deciduous oaks probably through a common ancestor with Q. kelloggii. Interior and coastal populations of Q. wislizeni separated in dendrograms based on phenetic and genetic distances suggesting probable isolation in different glacial refugia. The position of Q. parvula remains ambiguous, having a closer affinity with interior populations of Q. wislizeni and with Q. agrifolia, than with coastal populations of Q. wislizeni. Mean population differentiation in Q. wislizeni was 0.18, which is somewhat higher than the average for other oak species, suggesting that range fragmentation has occurred in the past, resulting in a metapopulation structure. Our results provide evidence that introgression among these species may be causing reticulation, further confounding species separation. Whereas Phytopthora has been reported on Q. agrifolia, Q. parvula and Q. kelloggii, it has not yet been detected in natural populations of Q. wislizeni. The species relationships that our molecular data show suggest that this is more likely a result of escape due to ecological tolerances than to genetic differences.     

季节增温方式对小兴安岭红松针阔混交林演替的潜在影响

应用林窗模型LINKAGES对小兴安岭红松针阔混交林在不同季节增温方式下的未来演替过程进行了模拟预测.以温度增加5℃、降水无明显变化作为未来变暖气候的模拟假设,共设计3种气候变暖方式预案,分别为冬季增温幅度大于夏季、冬季与夏季增温幅度相同以及冬季增温幅度小于夏季.模拟结果表明,当冬季增温幅度大于夏季时,小兴安岭现存林分的演替受气候变暖的影响相对最小,树种组成仍然能够保持较为稳定的针阔混交林状态;当冬季增温幅度小于夏季时,现存林分的演替受气候变暖的影响最显著,树种衰退最迅速.可见,小兴安岭针阔混交林的演替与未来的增温方式关系密切,上限温度是现存树种能否继续存活的重要决定因子.     

The Drosophila subobscura Adh genomic region contains valuable evolutionary markers.

We have sequenced 4 kb of the genomic region comprising the Adh (Alcohol dehydrogenase) gene of Drosophila subobscura. In agreement with other species which belong to the same subgenus, two structural genes, Adh and Adh-dup, are contained in this region. The main features of these two genes of D. subobscura have been inferred from the sequence data and compared with the homologous region of D. ambigua and D. pseudoobscura. Drosophila subobscura Adh and Adh-dup differ from those of D. ambigua at a corrected estimation of 10.1% and 12.5%, respectively, while from those of D. pseudoobscura they differ by 9.5% and 8.1%, respectively. Our data suggest that Adh and Adh-dup are evolving independently, showing a species-specific pattern. Moreover, particular features of some regions of these genes make them valuable evolutionary hallmarks. For instance, replacement substitutions in the third exon of Adh may indicate the branching of the melanogaster-obscura groups, whereas replacement substitutions in the third exon of the Adh-dup could be used to assess speciation within the obscura group.     

The ecology of granite outcrops at Wilson's Promontory,Victoria

Rock outcrops on spurs and summits on Wilson's Promontory tend to be more prevalent on hot dry slopes than cool moist ones. In this comparatively moist climate, the rock outcrop vegetation can be grouped into high altitude, low altitude and coastal types. The surrounding rock-heath is characterized below 400–500 m by Kunzea ambigua and above this altitude by Callistemon pallidus. Moss aprons of Campylopus bicolor on rock faces are often held in place by roots of surrounding shrubs on slopes up to 20°. Bryophyte and lichen communities vary with altitude, and annuals and geophytes are common. Fire may result in retrogression if forests and shrub zones are destroyed and humic top soil burnt or eroded away. Fossil root-grooves occur in granite on the summit of Mt Latrobe and are the legacy of a cloud forest of Nothofagus cunninghamii. The rock-heath species are more drought resistant than the‘climax’tree species and may develop very low water potentials. The rate of succession may be correlated with the highly variable rate of decay of each individual block of granite. The soils of the early successional stages are veneers of humic sands enriched with hill-wash, whilst the soils of the forest stages vary from duplex podzols to gradational podzolic soils of much greater moisture storage. Woody plant establishment is mostly initiated along rock joints: the rock surfaces and boulders so by-passed are colonized by more mesic species. Many zonations appear to be static since advances are cancelled by retreats. The rate of succession on bare granite is controlled by local climate, altitude, slope, fire and macro-and micro-jointing patterns. In general, the early stages bear strong similarities over a relatively wide range of climate. The so-called climaxes which have developed represent a continuum in response to the complex environments found on Wilson's Promontory.