Grazing interactions between pulmonate snails and epiphytic algae and bacteria

SUMMARY. 1. The effects of grazing by Lymnaca peregra and Planorbis planorbis on Ceratophyllum demersum epiphyton were investigated under simulated natural conditions.
2. Grazing resulted in significant reductions in algal cell densities, number of algal taxa and in diversity. Grazing did not influence equi-tabilily values.
3. The use of Ivlev's Electivity index demonstrated positive and negative selection by feeding snails for large, pedunculate, and small, adnate algae, respectively.
4. Inoculation of artificial surfaces revealed that 61.1% and 62.5% of the algal taxa presenl in the diet of L. peregra and P . planorbis , respectively (mainly the smaller species), were able to survive passage through the gut, resettle and grow.
5. The results are discussed with particular reference to the survival strategies available to the epiphytes, and the possible mutual benefits which algae and snails may derive from coexistence.     

Allelopathic inhibition of epiphytes by submerged macrophytes

The hypothesis that epiphytes are more vulnerable to allelochemicals released by submerged macrophytes than phytoplankton was tested by measuring growth and photosystem (PS) II activity of three common epiphytic algae and cyanobacteria in coexistence with Myriophyllum spicatum using dialysis tubes. Results were compared with earlier experiments on planktonic species. Contrary to the planktonic species, the tested epiphytes, the green algae Stigeoclonium tenue, the diatom Gomphonema parvulum and the cyanobacterium Oscillatoria limosa, were not significantly inhibited by M. spicatum. Growth and PS II activity of O. limosa were even significantly enhanced by M. spicatum, but this effect disappeared under phosphorus-deficiency due to the allelopathically induced inhibition of the alkaline phosphatase activity or phosphorus leakage by the macrophytes. My findings of a lower vulnerability of epiphytes against allelopathic substances of submerged macrophytes are supported by results of a literature survey.     

Lichen endozoochory by snails

Endozoochory plays a prominent role for the dispersal of seed plants. However, for most other plant taxa it is not known whether this mode of dispersal occurs at all. Among those other taxa, lichens as symbiotic associations of algae and fungi are peculiar as their successful dispersal requires movement of propagules that leaves the symbiosis functional. However, the potential for endozoochorous dispersal of lichen fragments has been completely overlooked. We fed sterile thalli of two foliose lichen species (Lobaria pulmonaria and Physcia adscendens) differing in habitat and air-quality requirements to nine snail species common in temperate Europe. We demonstrated morphologically that L. pulmonaria regenerated from 29.0% of all 379 fecal pellets, whereas P. adscendens regenerated from 40.9% of all 433 fecal pellets, showing that lichen fragments survived gut passage of all snail species. Moreover, molecular analysis of regenerated lichens confirmed the species identity for a subset of samples. Regeneration rates were higher for the generalist lichen species P. adscendens than for the specialist lichen species L. pulmonaria. Furthermore, lichen regeneration rates varied among snail species with higher rates after gut passage of heavier snail species. We suggest that gastropods generally grazing on lichen communities are important, but so far completely overlooked, as vectors for lichen dispersal. This opens new ecological perspectives and questions the traditional view of an entirely antagonistic relationship between gastropods and lichens.     

Inter-species variability in the consumption of algae by oligochaetes

The importance of algae in the diet of the oligochaetesArcteonais lomondi, Uncinais uncinata andLimnodrilus claparedeianus was determined from May 1978 to April 1979 in two lakes located in northern Canada. The lakes were small (130–157 ha), shallow, (<15 m) and mesotrophic. During summer, algae accounted for up to 57–75% by volume of ingested matter inA. lomondi andU. uncinata depending on lake whereas in winter the corresponding range was 10–22%. Dominant algae found in the gut included the diatomsSurirella robusta, Diploneis puella, Amphora ovalis, Stephanodiscus astraea, Fragilaria construens andAchnanthes minutissima. Although the same taxa were ingested byL. claparedeianus, algae always represented <5% by volume of the gut contents. This possibly reflects subsurface feeding in an area where algae were rare. The length distribution of ingested diatoms, ranging from 9 to 250 m, was similar regardless of species in both lakes. Hence, there was no partitioning of algal food resources among oligochaetes.     

Grazing on filamentous algae by herbivorous zooplankton

SUMMARY. 1. Feeding experiments were conducted to examine filtering rates and selectivity of a variety of zooplankton taxa (including cladocerans, copepods and a rotifer) for filamentous diatoms, green and blue-green algae.
2. Most herbivores were capable of consuming some filamentous algae at rates similar to or higher than those on unicellular algae. Only feeding of Diaphanosoma brachyurum Liéven and Moina micrura Kurz seemed to be primarily limited by the filamentous morphology.
3. Filtering rates and selectivities of most herbivores were much higher for the diatom Melosira granulata angustissima Müller than for similarly sized blue-green algal filaments, indicating that chemical factors strongly influence consumption of filamentous algae.
4. The toxic blue-green algal filament Anabaena flos-aquae De Brébisson NRC 44–1 had a much strong inhibitory effect on zooplankton feeding than other filaments. The only herbivores that were not inhibited by this strain have been shown to be resistant to blue-green algal toxins, or strongly avoided consuming the blue-green alga. These results indicate that the inhibitory effect of filamentous algae is due more to toxic or noxious chemicals than to the filamentous morphology.
5. Selectivities of zooplankton for filamentous algae were largely independent of herbivore body size. The small-bodied cladoceran Bosmina longirostris Müller had the highest selectivities for filamentous algae.     

Grazing effects of a gammaridean Amphipoda,Ampithoe sp., on the seagrass,Syringodium isoetifolium,and epiphytes in a tropical seagrass bed of Fiji

In the pure stand of tropical seagrass,Syringodium isoetifolium, in a small oceanic island, Fiji, grazing effects of the seagrass-associated gammarid,Ampithoe sp., on seagrass and epiphytes were assessed in October 1989, November 1991, November 1992. Density of the gammarid was estimated with two methods, mesh bag method and tuft method. During the three years surveyed the density of the gammarid increased remarkably from 1989 to 1991, with heavy epiphytism. Gut contents of the gammarid were examined. Grazing rates on seagrass leaf with and without epiphytic blue-green algae were measured in a bottle experiment. Litter bag experiments were conducted using different mesh sizes each containing seagrass only and seagrass and gammarids. The seagrass leaf biomass in the litter bag reduced abruptly in both bags. After one week, 78–86% of seagrass biomass disappeared from the bags. Enhancement of decomposition of seagrass leaf by the gammarid grazing was observed. Oxygen consumption and ammonium excretion rates were measured simultaneously in bottle experiments. Carbon budget in the seagrass bed was estimated as follows: 0.9 gC m⁻² day⁻¹ in seagrass growth, gammarid grazing was about a half of it and further assimilated a half of it, about 0.1 gC m⁻² day⁻¹, and more than half of it become CO₂ by respiration. Grazing effects on epiphyte and seagrass growth and production were discussed through the carbon budget and indirect interactions between seagrass, epiphytes and associated gammarids to explain the temporal change of seagrass and epiphyte dynamics.     

Grazing by rotifers and crustacean zooplankton on nanoplanktonic protists

Predation on nanoflagellates by metazoan zooplankton was investigated using a radioactively labeled flagellate, Poterioochromonas malhamensis, as a tracer cell in laboratory incubations of freshly collected plankton assemblages. Experiments conducted in the fall, winter and spring indicated that rotifers dominated the grazing on nanoflagellates by metazoans in the winter (68%) and spring (92%). Rotifer grazing was not determined in the autumn. It is likely that the greater impact of rotifer grazing in the spring was due to the occurrence of abundant filamentous cyanobacteria and gelatinous colonial phytoplankton which selectively depressed feeding rates of crustaceans compared to rotifers. Crustacean predation on nanoflagellates was highest in the autumn when cladocerans (primarily Daphnia spp.) were abundant. Predation by metazoan zooplankton in this lake appeared capable of removing the total standing stock of heterotrophic and phototrophic nanoplankton in < 1 d. Impacts of ciliated protozoa on nanoplankton, calculated from abundances and literature feeding rates, ranged from approximately one-third to four times that of metazoan predation depending on season and method of calculation. The relative importance of the different groups of predators appears to vary seasonally which is expected to alter the transfer of energy, carbon and nutrients from bacteria to higher trophic levels.     

Differences in predatory pressure on terrestrial snails by birds and mammals

The evolution of shell polymorphism in terrestrial snails is a classic textbook example of the effect of natural selection in which avian and mammalian predation represents an important selective force on gene frequency. However, many questions about predation remain unclear, especially in the case of mammals. We collected 2000 specimens from eight terrestrial gastropod species to investigate the predation pressure exerted by birds and mice on snails. We found evidence of avian and mammalian predation in 26.5% and 36.8% of the shells. Both birds and mammals were selective with respect to snail species, size and morphs. Birds preferred the brown-lipped banded snail Cepaea nemoralis (L.) and mice preferred the burgundy snail Helix pomatia L. Mice avoided pink mid-banded C. nemoralis and preferred brown mid-banded morphs, which were neglected by birds. In contrast to mice, birds chose larger individuals. Significant differences in their predatory pressure can influence the evolution and maintenance of shell size and polymorphism of shell colouration in snails.     

The effect of tubificid oligochaetes on the uptake of zinc by Lake Erie sediments

A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the effect of tubificid worms on the flux of zinc into lake sediments. Forty-six cores of Lake Erie sediment, with and without (control) tubificid worm populations, were exposed to aquarium water with a zinc concentration of about 5 mg 1^–1 for 139 days. Pore water and exchangeable particulate zinc concentrations in the top 12 cm of sediment were periodically determined in pairs of cores — one with worms and one without worms — at 1 cm depth increments. After 139 days, pore water zinc concentrations in sediments with and without worms were nearly identical in the 0–1 cm interval (4.1 and 4.3 mg 1^–1 respectively), but were significantly greater in the sediments with worms in the 1–2 cm (4.4 vs. 0.3 mg^1–1) and the 2–3 cm (1.3 vs. 0.3 mg 1^–1) intervals. Exchangeable particulate zinc concentrations in the 0–1, 1–2, and 2–3 cm intervals in sediments with worms were 612.3, 750.7, and 191.5 µg g^–1 dry sediment respectively, whereas in sediments without worms, concentrations were 375.4, 5.9, and 3.2 µg g^–1 dry sediment. The increased flux of zinc into tubificid-inhabited sediments was caused by the conveyor belt feeding activity of the worms, which continuously exposed sedimentary particles to the overlying water. Movement of zinc into sediments with worms was dominated by adsorption and by particle movement, whereas movement of zinc into control sediments was by adsorption at the sediment-water interface and diffusion. The increased concentration of zinc in tubificid-inhabited sediments has important implications with respect to the trophic transfer of zinc through the aquatic food chain.     

西双版纳地区附生与非附生植物叶片对雾水的吸收

采用蒸馏水喷雾(模拟雾)法,测定了西双版纳地区干季中10种附生植物和非附生植物叶片水势(Φ)、相对含水量(RWC)和吸水量的变化,探讨了不同类型植物叶片的吸收雾水的能力.结果表明,随喷雾时间的延长,植物叶片Φ、RWC和吸水量均升高,说明附生植物和非附生植物叶片都能吸收雾水,但附生植物叶片吸水后Φ升高明显快于非附生植物.附生植物附着实蕨和爬树龙叶片吸水快、RWC变化大,表明其叶片吸收雾水的能力强;贝母兰和掌唇兰叶片吸水能力低于非附生植物中的穿鞘花和野靛稞,但高于其它4种非附生植物.傍晚雾生之前附生植物叶片Φ显著低于清晨,表明夜间附生植物叶片吸收了雾水;而非附生植物傍晚叶片Φ与清晨水势差异不显著,夜间几乎不吸收雾水.除贝母兰外,附生植物叶生物量分数高于非附生植物,利于其吸收雾水.由于西双版纳地区干季多雾,该区植物叶片最低水势均在-0.8 MPa以上,水分胁迫不严重.     

The growth of juvenile snails in water conditioned by snails of a different species

Summary Two species of freshwater snails, Physa acuta and Lymnaea sp. aff. columella, were collected from Asabata marsh, Shizuoka Japan. Individuals of both species inhabit the same plants. Individuals of P. acuta are more abundant than those of L. sp. aff. columella. Experiments were conducted to examine the effect of water conditioned by snails on the growth of 10-day-old juvenile P. acuta snails. Juvenile snails in water conditioned by L. sp. aff. columella grew faster than those in water conditioned by P. acuta or only lettuce. The effects of water conditioned by P. acuta differed among the litters. The results suggest that juvenile P. acuta snails experience accelated growth in the presence of L. sp. aff. columella. The freshwater snails interacted through resource competition as well as through substances disolved in the water.     

Comparison of different methods of water quality evaluation by means of oligochaetes

Using as examples water bodies in different geographical zones (Lake Ladoga, the River Sukhona, shallow-water ponds of the North Caucasus) the known methods of water quality evaluation by means of oligochaetes are considered. There is no unique universal method of pollution bioindication in. this way. In water bodies of all types the mass development of oligochaetes and the reduction of their species diversity are indications of. (1) large quantities of organic matter; (2) favourable oxygen regime; (3) absence or insignificant quantity of heavy metal solids, petroleum substances and agricultural chemicals; (4) intensive self-purification of the water body.     

Nutrients release and phosphorus distribution during oligochaetes predation on activated sludge

Release of nitrogen and phosphorus into effluent of activated sludge process was reported in the recent researches of sludge reduction induced by oligochaetes. In this study, batch test and radioisotope ³²P tracer test were therefore carried out to further investigate nutrients release and phosphorus distribution among supernatant, sludge and worm during predation of oligochaetes on sludge. Results showed that more nutrients release into supernatant occurred in the tests of worms with sterilized sludge than that of worms with activated sludge, and release of nitrogen and phosphorus was few in the tests of worms with activated sludge. Statistical analysis showed that no factor was significantly correlated with phosphorus concentration in the supernatant, but time and worm were only two factors significantly affecting total nitrogen (TN) concentration in the supernatant in the test of worms with activated sludge. Through test of radioisotope ³²P tracer, ³²P mainly distributed in activated sludge and supernatant, and more release of ³²P into the supernatant occurred in the test of sludge with worms. After 24 h, ³²P concentration of supernatant in the test of sludge with worms was 9% higher than that in the test of sludge without worms, and ³²P concentration of worm increased by 2.7%. Additionally, the release rate of phosphorus into supernatant caused by worm's predation on activated sludge was 0.1211 mgTP/gWorm (wet weight) h.     

Grazing by a native and an exotic crayfish on aquatic macrophytes

1. We compared grazing by native noble crayfish ( Astacus astacus ) and the exotic signal crayfish ( Pacifastacus leniusculus ) on seedling or well-established macrophytes.
2. In a pool experiment, seedlings of emergent Scirpus lacustris and floating-leaved Potamogeton natans were heavily grazed by adult signal crayfish, whereas established plants of the same species sustained only minor damage.
3. In a preference experiment two submerged macrophytes ( Chara vulgaris and Elodea canadensis ), and both seedlings and established plants of S. lacustris and P. natans , were presented pairwise to signal and noble crayfish. There was no significant difference in preference by the two crayfish species. Chara vulgaris was preferred to all other plants presented, established plants of S. lacustris and P. natans were never preferred, and seedlings of P. natans were preferred to established P. natans .
4. An aquarium experiment was conducted in which the consumption of Chara by signal and noble crayfish was measured in relation to water temperature. Signal crayfish consumed significantly more Chara than noble crayfish, especially at higher temperatures.
5. Our results indicate that the signal crayfish is the more voracious grazer especially at higher temperatures. There may be negative effects on vegetation (emergents and floating-leaved, as well as submerged species) when the signal crayfish is introduced. Chara species are particularly susceptible, since they are preferred by crayfish and the genus includes a large number of rare species. Stocking of crayfish therefore could lead to the decline or removal of submerged species in order of crayfish feeding preferences and could prevent the spread or cause a decline of emergent and floating-leaved vegetation.     

Polymorphic snails on varied backgrounds

The general matching of shell colours to background colours seen in terrestrial gastropods implies that, as in insects, visual predation is an important factor which has a long term directional effect. Polymorphism in snails is associated with background heterogeneity, but the causal relation of polymorphism to heterogeneity is not obvious. Predation could maintain polymorphism if predators are frequency dependent in their choice of prey. However, the appropriate predator behaviour does not depend directly on background heterogeneity. An indirect contribution could be that the heterogeneity serves to lower the signal:noise ratio during the predation process. Background heterogeneity could have a direct effect if the background provided specific elements mimicked by the morphs. The remaining diversity could aid the process by lowering the signal:noise ratio. Polymorphism could be maintained if there was frequency-dependent niche selection on the part of prey. Background diversity would then be directly involved. It is necessary that there should be independent control of numbers in the different niches. In warm conditions the niche selection could come about because darker morphs, which gain more radiant heat than paler ones, will move to more cryptic sites by seeking the shade. For morph frequences to approach equilibrium values closely it is necessary for the alleles controlling the polymorphism to exhibit dominance. Differences in received energy could make pale morphs disadvantageous compared with dark ones at low temperatures but advantageous at high ones. In spatially varied temperature conditions a polymorphism could be generated without predation. Density-dependent selection is again required.     

Grazing by a native and an exotic crayfish on aquatic macrophytes

1. We compared grazing by native noble crayfish ( Astacus astacus ) and the exotic signal crayfish ( Pacifastacus leniusculus ) on seedling or well-established macrophytes.
2. In a pool experiment, seedlings of emergent Scirpus lacustris and floating-leaved Potamogeton natans were heavily grazed by adult signal crayfish, whereas established plants of the same species sustained only minor damage.
3. In a preference experiment two submerged macrophytes ( Chara vulgaris and Elodea canadensis ), and both seedlings and established plants of S. lacustris and P. natans , were presented pairwise to signal and noble crayfish. There was no significant difference in preference by the two crayfish species. Chara vulgaris was preferred to all other plants presented, established plants of S. lacustris and P. natans were never preferred, and seedlings of P. natans were preferred to established P. natans .
4. An aquarium experiment was conducted in which the consumption of Chara by signal and noble crayfish was measured in relation to water temperature. Signal crayfish consumed significantly more Chara than noble crayfish, especially at higher temperatures.
5. Our results indicate that the signal crayfish is the more voracious grazer especially at higher temperatures. There may be negative effects on vegetation (emergents and floating-leaved, as well as submerged species) when the signal crayfish is introduced. Chara species are particularly susceptible, since they are preferred by crayfish and the genus includes a large number of rare species. Stocking of crayfish therefore could lead to the decline or removal of submerged species in order of crayfish feeding preferences and could prevent the spread or cause a decline of emergent and floating-leaved vegetation.     

Grazing of planktonic diatoms by microflagellates

Colorless microflagellates (6–14 µm in diameter)were isolated from an oligotrophic lake in Western Canada, andshown to consume diatoms up to six times longer than the diameterof the flagellate. Observations were also made of morphologicallysimilar flagellates attached to diatoms from the Great Lakes,indicating that this phenomenon may occur in nature. It is suggestedthat predation by microflagellates on much larger algal cellscould potentially affect the pathway of nutrient and energytransfer in aquatic foodwebs.     

The effects of sulphur dioxide pollution on bark epiphytes

Abstract

Sematophyllum substrumulosum (Hampe) Broth. was found in 1995 on a decaying trunk of Pinus in Tresco, Isles of Scilly, the first report of the species in the British Isles.