ORGANIC CARBON, ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND GROWTH IN THE SMALL EURYHALINE GASTROPOD, POTAMOPYRGUS JENKINSI (SMITH)

A method of analysing small invertebrates for organic carbon(in the range 6.0 to 1000 µg) is described. The relationshipsbetween organic carbon content, total dry weight and shell lengthwere detemined for Potamopyrgus jenkinsi living in differentcombinations of salinity and temperature. Differences in organiccarbon content were found in relation to weight at differentgrowth temperatures. This work is a further confirmation ofthe usefulness of organic carbon content as a measure of thegrowth or biomass of small invertebrates. ^*Present Address: School of Biology, University College, P.M.B.5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. (Received 27 April 1977;     

THE ADAPTATION OF FUNGI TO FUNGICIDES: ADAPTATION TO COPPER AND MERCURY SALTS

The susceptibility of Botrytis cinerea to copper sulphate in liquid media increased when the volume, and therefore the depth, of the medium in culture bottles exceeded certain values; when the volume was 40 ml. the maximum concentration allowing growth was 300 p.p.m.
By growing mycelium in media containing progressively higher concentrations of copper sulphate a strain was produced which grew at a concentration of 750 p.p.m.
In high concentrations of copper sulphate growth always started at the edge of the liquid, and inocula grew only if they were placed in this position.
In germination tests spores from the resistant strain were more resistant to copper sulphate than were spores of the parent strain.
The resistance of mycelium, and to a lesser extent of spores, was retained after growth of the resistant strain for six months in fungicide-free media.
Spore and mycelial inocula grew in much higher concentrations of copper sulphate when nutrient media were solidified with agar.
The strain resistant in liquid media was no more resistant than the parent strain on agar media.
The resistance of the fungus was not increased after growth for long periods on agar containing high concentrations of copper sulphate. The resistance of the strain resistant in liquid media was not lost after growth on agar media for 3 months.
Attempts to produce strains more resistant than the parent to mercuric chloride were unsuccessful.
The results obtained with phenyl-mercuric acetate were essentially similar to those obtained with copper sulphate, but relatively much more resistant strains were produced.     

INTER- AND INTRASPECIFIC VARIATION OF MOSSES IN TOLERANCE TO COPPER AND ZINC

Bryophytes are often viewed as slowly evolving with little genetic variation within and among populations. A study of heavy-metal tolerance was initiated to test the capacity of bryophytes to undergo genetic differentiation in response to natural selection. Tolerance of Funaria hygrometrica to copper and zinc was greater in populations that originated on soil with high concentrations of these metals. Protonemal growth was more inhibited by the metals than was germination, and copper was more toxic than zinc. Zinc and copper tolerances were correlated, but so were the zinc and copper concentrations of native substrates. The pattern of population differentiation for heavy-metal tolerance in this species is much like that of flowering plants. Five populations of Physcomitrium pyriforme, which does not occur on metal-contaminated soil, were all highly tolerant of zinc but extremely intolerant of copper. This species seems to have an inherent tolerance to the former. Significant variation in tolerance to copper and zinc occurred among populations, but tolerance did not correlate with metal contents in native substrates. This pattern differs from that of flowering plants. Normal populations of species that colonize contaminated sites tended to be more tolerant than populations of species that do not colonize such sites. The extensive population differentiation in Funaria hygrometrica augments the evidence from electrophoretic data that there is genetic variation among populations of mosses and liverworts.     

中国植被对全球变化反应的研究

全球变化研究是本世纪80年代兴起的跨学科、跨国界、迄今为止规模最大的国际合作研究活动,涉及到地球科学、生物科学、环境科学、天体科学及遥感技术、地理信息系统及网络化高科技技术的应用等众多的学科领域,其规模之大、持续时间之久、经费投入之多和高科技技术的广泛应用,代表着当前世界科学的发展趋势。全球变化研究是由以下三个相互独立、相互依存的计划组成:以研究气候系统中物理方面的问题为主的世界气候研究计划(WCRP),以研究地球系统中的生物地球化学循环及过程为主的国际地圈-生物圈计划(IGBP)和以了解导致全球环境变化的人类因素为主的全球环境变化的人类因素计划(HDP)。     

EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PRETREATMENT ON TOLERANCE TO COPPER AND ZINC IN THE MOSS FUNARIA HYGROMETRICA

The effect of pretreatment on zinc- and copper-enriched media on subsequent tolerance of F. hygrometrica to these metals was tested in three individuals each from a tolerant and a nontolerant population. Some individuals showed a significant response to pretreatment and some did not, and those that did varied in both intensity and direction. In general, pretreatment affected protonemal growth more than stem production. Although pretreatment effects were demonstrated, genetic differences between individuals and populations were more important determinants of the level of tolerance.     

ALLATUM DEPENDENCE OF GROWTH AND METAMORPHOSIS IN AGROTIS YPSILON IN RELATION TO THE FEEDING PATTERN OF THE LARVAE

Growth and metamorphosis in Agrotis ypsilon is under the control of a balanced interaction of ecdysone with juvenile hormone. The presence of the corpora allata is essential for the maintenance of the secretory activity of the ecdysial glands. The growth rate is determined by the amount of food which the larvae consume as this is apparently influenced by the prothoracotropic action of the corpora allata. A minimum relative metamorphosis weight of unity was suggested to be attained in order for an insect to metamorphose from one stage into the next.     

CONCENTRATIONS OF METALS (Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, Ca) IN SIX SPECIES OF BRITISH TERRESTRIAL GASTROPODS NEAR A DISUSED LEAD AND ZINC MINE

Heavy metal concentrations in 6 terrestrial slug species inhabitinga disused Pb/Zn mine site were measured by atomic absorptionspectrophotometry. Differences in metal accumulation patternswere such that the species could be ranked in order of overallmetal accumulation capability: Arion hortensis < Deocerasreticulatum < Milax budapestensis < Arion ater < Derocerascaruanac < Arion subfuscus. Species belonging to the samegenus were widely separated by this simple ranking scheme. Theresults are discussed in the context of inter-species competitionand resource partitioning, and cautionary comments are madeconcerning the utility of slugs as biomonitors of terrestrialheavy metal pollution. (Received 25 November 1987; accepted 2 January 1988)     

PHOTOSYNTHETIC AND GROWTH RESPONSES TO SALINITY IN A MARINE ISOLATE OF NANNOCHLORIS BACILLARIS (CHLOROPHYCEAE)1

A marine unicellular alga, Nannochloris bacillaris Naumann, was studied with respect to growth, viability and photosynthesis during the steady-state and also subsequent to changes in the concentration of artificial seawater medium. Cells grew exponentially over the range of 2% to 300% artificial seawater, but more rapidly at lower salinities. In contrast to growth, photosynthesis as measured by both oxygen evolution and bicarbonate photoassimilation was not obviously inhibited for cells adapted within the range of 7% to 200% artificial seawater. In 300% artificial seawater, photosynthesis, especially bicarbonate photoassimilation, was inhibited. Osmotic shocks caused by transferring cells from 200% to 7% artificial seawater had little if any effect on growth, viability or photosynthesis. However, equal shocks in the upward direction (from 7% to 200% artificial seawater) caused long lag phases in growth, totally inhibited photosynthesis and very often led to cell death. Intermediate upward shocks were less deleterious, but did result in lags in growth.     

GAMETOPHYTIC GROWTH BY MACROCYSTIS PYRIFERA (PHAEOPHYTA) IN RESPONSE TO VARIOUS IRON AND ZINC CONCENTRATIONS1

Batch culturing experiments were conducted to examine effects on Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C. A. Agardh gametophytic growth of various iron and zinc concentrations in the chemically defined, artificial seawater medium, Aquil. A least squares fit of experimental data represented the relative importance of these micronutrient effects. Optimal iron and zinc concentrations in Aquil were estimated at 340 nM (7 × 10^?11 nM as [Fe³⁺]) and 135 nM (6 × 10^?2 nM as [Zn²⁺]), respectively.     

FEEDING AND GROWTH OF THE AEOLID NUDIBRANCH CUTHONA NANA (ALDER AND HANCOCK, 1842)

Feeding and growth of the aeolid nudibranch Cuthona nana wasdocumented. Cuthona nana feeds specifically on the colonialhydroid Hydractinia echinata. Nudi-branchs were observed onhermit crab shells in Gos-port Harbor at the Isles of Shoals,Maine and on old bridge pilings near Gerrish Island, Maine. Grazing rates of nudibranchs (3–25 mm) were quantifiedover 24 hour periods in the laboratory. Larger nudibranchs consumedmore hydroid tissue feeding mostly on polyps, whereas smallerindividuals consumed less and fed on mat tissue. Grazing intensityin the field at Gosport Harbor was determined by estimatingthe area of grazed patches of hydroid colonies attached to hermitcrab shells. The average patch size was 5.75% of the total colonyarea. Growth rates for nudibranchs were determined in the laboratory.Growth rates were greatest prior to maturation and oviposition.Animals from Gerrish Island and Gosport Harbor decreased insize after oviposition due to senescence. Nudibranchs from GerrishIsland reached a maximum size of 12 mm, compared to 23 mm foranimals at Gosport Harbor. ^*Present address: Division of Science and Mathematics. Universityof Minnesota, Morris. Minnesota 56267, USA     

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE FEEDING APPARATUS IN PLOEOTIA COSTATA (EUGLENOPHYTA) AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER EUGLENOID FEEDING APPARATUSES

The ultrastructure of the feeding apparatus in Ploeotia costata Farmer and Triemer was determined and compared to other euglenoid feeding apparatuses. The feeding apparatus opened subapically onto the ventral surface and extended nearly the entire length of the cell. It consisted of four parts at the anterior surface: a comb, cytostome/pocket, vanes, and supporting rods. The comb was a multilayered structure of three horizontal microtubular rows encased in cement and formed the dorsal lip of the apparatus. The cytostome/pocket was located between the comb and the supporting rods, tapered into the cell as the cytopharynx and was surrounded by five vanes. The electron-opaque vanes extended the entire length of the feeding apparatus and were lined with microtubules for most of their length. Finally, two cement supporting rods that were joined by a crosspiece at the anterior end formed the ventral lip. The rods separated briefly before merging with the vanes. As the merged rods and vanes descended into the cell, they gradually narrowed and terminated. Comparisons of the feeding apparatus with Ploeotia vitrea, Diplonema ambulator, Lentomonas applanatum, and other euglenoids have led to the conclusion that the Type II feeding apparatus is found only in Ploeotia species.