The influence of water level fluctuations on the growth of four emergent macrophyte species

The influence of the amplitude of cyclic water level fluctuations on the growth of four species of emergent macrophyte (Cyperus vaginatus, Phragmites australis, Triglochin procerum and Typha domingensis) was studied in a controlled, pond-based experiment. The amplitudes of water level fluctuations were static, ±15, ±30 and ±45 cm, each cycling over a forty-day period. In all treatments the water level fluctuated around an initial water depth of 60 cm. Within each amplitude treatment, plants were grown at three elevations with the sediment surface at 20, 40 or 60 cm. Only T. domingensis and P. australis showed a significant response to amplitude. Biomass of T. domingensis was similar in the static, ±15 and ±30 cm amplitude treatments but dropped by ca. 52% when grown in amplitudes of ±45 cm. In contrast, the largest biomass for P. australis occurred in the ±30 cm amplitude treatment suggesting this species prefers moderately fluctuating water levels. The response of P. australis to amplitude was contingent upon elevation with plants growing in the ±45 cm amplitude, low elevation treatment having particularly low biomasses. C. vaginatus biomass increased with increasing elevation but did not respond to amplitude while T. procerum did not respond to either amplitude or elevation likely due to the ability of the species to photosynthesise under water. The relative growth rate and the average emergent surface area were logarithmically related in C. vaginatus suggesting flooding of the photosynthetic canopy was limiting the ability of this species to acquire atmospheric carbon. No clear relationship was found for T. domingensis or P. australis indicating that a factor other than access to atmospheric carbon was restricting the growth of these species.     

Effect of plant and artificial aeration on solids accumulation and biological activities in constructed wetlands

In constructed wetlands, solids accumulation may have two consequences with opposing effects on treatment efficiency: it decreases the longevity by reducing void space and it enhances biological activity by favoring biofilm development. The goal of our study was to estimate the effect of plants (presence and species) and artificial aeration on solids accumulation (volatile and inorganic). The horizontal and vertical distribution of solids was sampled using solids traps in 12 constructed wetland mesocosms (5 years old). Microbial density and activity were estimated in the biological fraction of the sampled solids. The effect of plant presence reduced accumulated solids by 26% and sulphide content by 50% sulphide content. There was more solids accumulation in Typha angustifolia units than in Phragmites australis. Also, T. angustifolia generated more biological activities at the surface and close to the inlet while conditions were more homogeneous throughout P. australis units. Aeration (1) stimulated biofilm development at the inlet of planted beds, (2) seemed to reduce mineral matter accumulation and (3) generated the same pattern of activities in planted beds enabling to reach a total nitrogen removal rate of up to 0.65 g N m^?2 d^?1.     

Heavy metal bioaccumulation by the organs of Phragmites australis (common reed) and their potential use as contamination indicators

The concentrations of heavy metals in the roots, rhizomes, stems and leaves of the aquatic macrophyte Phragmites australis (common reed), and in the corresponding water and sediment samples from the mouth area of the Imera Meridionale River (Sicily, Italy), were investigated to ascertain whether plant organs are characterized by differential accumulation, and to test the suitability of the various organs for heavy metal biomonitoring of water and soil. Heavy metals considered were Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn. Results showed that belowground organs were the primary areas of metal accumulation. In particular, metal concentrations in plant organs decreased in the order of root > rhizome ≥ leaf > stem. All four organs showed significant differences in concentration for Cr, Hg, Mn, Zn, thus suggesting low mobility from roots to rhizomes and to aboveground organs. Although the organs followed different decreasing trends of metal concentration, the trend Mn > Zn > Pb > Cu was found in each plant organ. Mn showed the highest concentrations in all organs whereas the lowest concentrations regarded Cd and Cr in the belowground and aboveground organs, respectively. The toxic threshold was exceeded by Cr in roots, rhizomes and leaves, Mn in roots and leaves, Ni in roots. The highest average concentrations were found as follows: Cd, Hg, Pb, Zn in root, Cr, Mn, Ni in sediment, Cu in water. Positive linear relationships were found between heavy metal concentrations in all plant organs and those in water and sediment, thus indicating the potential use of such organs for pollution monitoring of water and sediment. Advantages of using plant species as biomonitors, especially Phragmites australis, were also discussed.     

Phragmites australis and silica cycling in tidal wetlands

Tidal marshes have recently been shown to be important biogenic Si recycling surfaces at the land–sea interface. The role of vegetation in this recycling process has not yet been quantified. In situ and ex situ decomposition experiments were conducted with Phragmites australis stems. In a freshwater tidal marsh, litterbags were incubated at different elevations and during both winter and summer. Biogenic Si (BSi) dissolution followed a double exponential decay model in the litterbags (from ca. 60 to 15 mg g⁻¹ after 133 days), irrespective of season. Si was removed much faster from the incubated plant material compared to N and C, resulting in steadily decreasing Si/N and Si/C ratios. Ex situ, decomposition experiments were conducted in estuarine water, treated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic, and compared to results from untreated incubations. The bacterial influence on the dissolution of dissolved Si (DSi) from P. australis stems was negligible. Although the rate constant for dissolved Si dissolution decreased from 0.004 to 0.003 h⁻¹, the eventual amount of BSi dissolved and saturation concentration in the incubation environment were similar in both treatments. P. australis contributes to and enhances dissolved Si recycling capacity of tidal marshes: in a reed-dominated small freshwater tidal marsh, more than 40% of DSi export was attributable to reed decomposition. As the relation between tidal marsh surface and secondary production in estuaries has been linked to marsh Si cycling capacity, this provides new insight in the ecological value of the common reed.     

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with zoonotic parasitic infections in small ruminants in the Greek temperate environment

A cross-sectional serological study was carried out to screen the sheep and goat population of Thessaly, Greece for evidence of infection with Toxoplasma, Toxocara, Leishmania, and Echinococcus and to determine the risk factors related to herd characteristics, herd management practices, farmer status, and the bioclimatic variables associated with these zoonotic parasitic infections. A total of 540 sheep and goat serum samples were examined. The seroprevalence of infection in all examined animals was 24.5% for Toxoplasma, 32% for Toxocara, 0% for Leishmania and 85.9% for Echinococcus. The final logistic regression model showed that the species of small ruminant, herd size, anthelmintic treatment, class of anthelmintic treatment, grazing with other herds, educational level of farmer, elevation of farm location, and generalized land cover were associated with Toxoplasma gondii infections, while the species of small ruminant, farm type, anthelmintic treatment, class of anthelmintic treatment, rotation of grazing, age of farmer, elevation of farm location, and generalized land cover were associated with Toxocara canis infections. Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 102 (28.3%) of 360 sheep and in 30 (16.8%) of 179 goats. Animals in small flocks (150–300 animals) had an approximately 0.42-fold lower risk of having positive cases of T. gondii among animals compared with large flocks (> 300 animals). Antibodies to T. canis were found in 155 (42.9%) of 361 sheep and 18 (10.1%) of 179 goats. The later finding constitutes the first report of seropositive goats to Toxocara. The risk of positivity for T. canis was 7.71-fold higher in sheep than in goats. Geographically, animals from plain areas had 2.9 and 2.01-fold higher risk of having positive cases of T. gondii and T. canis respectively. The significant bioclimatic variables (p < 0.05) associated with the occurrence locations of T. gondii infection were related to higher temperature, lower precipitation, and lower elevation compared to the absence locations of T. gondii. The significant bioclimatic variables (p < 0.05) associated with occurrence locations of T. canis infection were related to lower temperature and higher precipitation compared to absence locations of T. canis. These findings are useful to formulate appropriate control strategies for zoonotic parasites of sheep and goats in Greece and other areas with similar climatic conditions.     

Inorganic and organic nitrogen uptake by the toxigenic diatom Pseudo-nitzschia australis (Bacillariophyceae)

The nitrogen uptake capabilities of the toxigenic diatom Pseudo-nitzschia australis (Frenguelli), freshly isolated from Monterey Bay California, were examined in unialgal laboratory cultures at saturating photosynthetic photon flux densities (100 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹) and 15 °C. The kinetics of nitrogen (nitrate, ammonium, urea and glutamine) uptake as a function of substrate concentration were estimated from short (20.5 min) incubations using the ¹⁵N-tracer technique. Based on the estimated maximum specific uptake rates and measures of N affinity (the initial slope of the uptake versus nutrient concentration curve), nitrate is the preferred nitrogen substrate, followed by glutamine and ammonium, which are equivalent. Rates of urea uptake by P. australis did not saturate at concentrations as high as 36 μg-at N L⁻¹, and urea uptake as a function of concentration could not be described by Michaelis–Menten kinetics over the concentration gradient tested. Although there is a clear preference for nitrate at equivalent concentrations (compared to ammonium, urea, and glutamine), these laboratory results demonstrate the capability of this pennate diatom to utilize both inorganic and organic forms of nitrogen, supporting field observations that P. australis blooms during both upwelling and non-upwelling conditions off the west coast of North America. Substantial differences in the nitrogenous nutrition of P. australis can be expected in these environments, and anthropogenic inputs of N substrates such as ammonium and urea can support its growth, and may contribute significantly to both harmful diatom blooms and the maintenance of seed populations at non-bloom abundances, particularly during periods of reduced or absent upwelling.     

Physiological responses of Phragmites australis to wastewater with different chemical oxygen demands

Constructed wetlands have been widely used to treat various wastewaters with large differences in their concentration of pollutants. The capability of wetland plants to resist these wastewaters is crucial for a wetland's healthy development. Phragmites australis has been shown to have the capability to grow in simulated wastewater containing a wide concentration of pollutants. In this study, the physiological responses of P. australis to simulated wastewaters with high chemical oxygen demands (CODs) were investigated in a bucket experiment. P. australis was incubated in buckets for 30 days at five treatments of 0, 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg L^?1 COD simulated wastewater. The net photosynthesis rate of the plants declined markedly with increasing COD levels. Proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents also increased dramatically. The plants further showed a unimodal pattern of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) distribution along external COD values on the whole, indicating that high COD values (≥200 mg L^?1) can disrupt the normal metabolism of the plant. High COD levels (COD ≥ 400 mg L^?1) caused evident physiological changes in P. australis.     

Effect of different macrophytes in abating nitrogen from a synthetic wastewater

An experiment conducted in an unheated glasshouse from October 2006 to March 2008 studied the efficiency of different macrophytes in reducing NO₃-N and NH₄-N concentrations and loads in synthetic wastewaters. The experimental setup consisted of plastic tanks, filled with gravel and vegetated with Carex elata All., Juncus effusus L., Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin., Typhoides arundinacea L. Moench (syn Phalaris arundinacea L.) var. picta and Typha latifolia L. There was also a control without vegetation. From January to July, a solution of 50–60 ppm of NH₄-N and NO₃-N was applied monthly; then the input concentration was doubled. The total load at the end of the experimental period was 70.4 g/m² of NO₃-N and 67.3 of NH₄-N. At the end of each month, water was discharged from the tanks and analysed to determine the two nitrogen forms. At the end of the experiment, 33 g/m² of total N (almost 24% of applied N) had disappeared in the control. Among species, the highest abatement was detected in T. latifolia (72 g/m², almost 52% of applied N) and the lowest in J. effusus (35%).A weekly chemical analysis in July showed that a large amount of NH₄-N quickly disappeared in all treatments, while NO₃-N only decreased in the vegetated tanks. In December, NH₄-N had similar dynamics, while NO₃-N increased.All water volumes entering and exiting the tanks were measured in order to evaluate evapotranspiration. T. latifolia showed the highest water consumption, reaching a cumulative value of above 1000 mm.At the end of the experiment, J. effusus presented the highest amount of nitrogen stored in the aerial parts (5.63 g/m²) and T. latifolia the lowest (1.92 g/m²).     

种间竞争对香蒲与芦苇生长的影响

为了探究种间竞争对香蒲（Typha domingensis）与芦苇（Phragmites australis）生长的影响,利用根系分隔盆栽试验研究了3种不同分隔方式条件下香蒲与芦苇的种间竞争特性,包括塑料膜分隔（根系完全分隔,无相互作用,无物质交换）、尼龙网分隔（根系部分分隔,无相互作用,有物质交换）和不分隔（根系完全相互作用,有物质交换）,分析了香蒲与芦苇根系形态和地上部生长的变化,探究香蒲与芦苇种间竞争的差异。结果发现（1）在尼龙网分隔和不分隔处理中芦苇具有明显的劣势。与塑料膜分隔处理相比,芦苇的总生物量、植株密度在尼龙网分隔和不分隔处理中分别减少了39.14%、49.41%和82.08%、79.22%,总根长、总根表面积、总根体积分别减少了40.53%、44.84%、62.52%和85.7%、82.45%、89.67%,且均具有极显著差异（P<0.01）;根系分隔方式也影响芦苇的株高、茎粗和叶片数,表现为不分隔 > 塑料膜分隔 > 尼龙网分隔。（2）与塑料膜分隔处理相比,香蒲总生物量在尼龙网分隔和不分隔中虽有增加,但差异不显著,植株密度和株高在尼龙网分隔和不分隔处理中都有增加且具有显著差异（P<0.05）,其总根长、总根表面积、总根体积在尼龙网分隔中分别增加了57.93%、26.5%、8.04%,但在不分隔处理中分别减少了11.57%、14.92%、11.39%（P<0.05）,虽然根系的相互作用对香蒲根系的生长具有促进作用,但植物种间根系相互作用越强,对两者的生长越不利。（3）在不同的分隔方式中,芦苇与香蒲间也存在明显变化。在不分隔处理中,香蒲的生物量和植株密度是芦苇的1.7倍和6.74倍,与塑料膜分隔处理相比增加了6倍,表明芦苇与香蒲根系的完全相互作用,显著削减了芦苇的繁殖生长,增加了香蒲的根系分蘖。（4）通过种间相互作用强度（RII值）分析也表明,尼龙网分隔和不分隔处理下芦苇表现为抑制作用（RII值为负值）,香蒲表现为促进作用（RII值为正值）。香蒲与芦苇互作对芦苇具有抑制作用,说明种间相互作用是能改变植物的适应性和植物群落的繁殖,同时也表明植物根系不仅在吸收土壤中的水和养分中起着关键作用,在种间关系中也起着重要作用。因此利用种间竞争控制植物生长,可以为保护生物多样性和生态系统的功能提供有效的技术支撑。     

Domoic acid in a marine pelagic food web: Exposure of southern right whales Eubalaena australis to domoic acid on the Península Valdés calving ground,Argentina

The gulfs that surround Península Valdés (PV), Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José in Argentina, are important calving grounds for the southern right whale Eubalaena australis. However, high calf mortality events in recent years could be associated with phycotoxin exposure. The present study evaluated the transfer of domoic acid (DA) from Pseudo-nitzschia spp., potential producers of DA, to living and dead right whales via zooplanktonic vectors, while the whales are on their calving ground at PV. Phytoplankton and mesozooplankton (primary prey of the right whales at PV and potential grazers of Pseudo-nitzschia cells) were collected during the 2015 whale season and analyzed for species composition and abundance. DA was measured in plankton and fecal whale samples (collected during whale seasons 2013, 2014 and 2015) using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The genus Pseudo-nitzschia was present in both gulfs with abundances ranging from 4.4 × 10² and 4.56 × 10⁵ cell l⁻¹. Pseudo-nitzschia australis had the highest abundance with up to 4.56 × 10⁵ cell l⁻¹. DA in phytoplankton was generally low, with the exception of samples collected during a P. australis bloom. No clear correlation was found between DA in phytoplankton and mesozooplankton samples. The predominance of copepods in mesozooplankton samples indicates that they were the primary vector for the transfer of DA from Pseudo-nitzschia spp. to higher trophic levels. High levels of DA were detected in four whale fecal samples (ranging from 0.30 to 710 μg g⁻¹ dry weight of fecal sample or from 0.05 and 113.6 μg g⁻¹ wet weight assuming a mean water content of 84%). The maximum level of DA detected in fecal samples (710 μg DA g⁻¹ dry weight of fecal sample) is the highest reported in southern right whales to date. The current findings demonstrate for the first time that southern right whales, E. australis, are exposed to DA via copepods as vectors during their calving season in the gulfs of PV.     

Growth and domoic acid content of Pseudo-nitzschia australis isolated from northwestern Baja California,Mexico, cultured under batch conditions at different temperatures and two Si:NO3 ratios

Domoic acid (DA) poisoning in the southern part of the California Current System has been associated typically with blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia australis. The environmental variables that promote growth and DA production in the Mexican part of this system have not been identified. The present study investigated the effect of temperature and two nutrient ratios on the growth characteristics and DA content of two (BTS-1, BTS-2) P. australis strains isolated from the Pacific coast of northern Baja California peninsula, México. Of the different temperatures assayed (10, 12, 14, 15, 18 and 20 °C), the maximum cell abundance was detected at 12 °C for BTS-2 and 14 °C for BTS-1. The highest maximum specific growth rate (1.69 day⁻¹) was measured at 15 °C for BTS-2. With the exception of cells maintained at 15 °C, growth characteristics were similar in P. australis cultured in a high Si:NO₃ (2.5) or low Si:NO₃ (0.5) ratio at each temperature. Dissolved (dDA) and cellular (cDA) DA content measured at the stationary phase of growth was similar in cells cultivated at the different temperatures. No difference in cDA (between 0.11 and 1.87 pg DA cell⁻¹) was observed in cells cultivated at the two nutrient ratios. To evaluate if P. australis accumulates DA (cDA + dDA) at different stages of the culture and not only during the stationary phase of growth, the BTS-1 strain was cultivated at 14 °C and the content of this toxin was measured during culture development. The cultures were maintained at high (HL; 200 μmol quanta m⁻² s⁻¹) and low light (LL; 30 μmol quanta m⁻² s⁻¹) and in the two nutrient ratios to evaluate the effect of these variables on DA content. The photosynthetic performance and pigment concentration were measured as indicators of the physiological condition of the cells. cDA was detected in all culture conditions and during the different stages of growth. The highest DA content was measured during the lag phase of growth and it was present mainly in the medium (dDA = 70.83 pg DA cell⁻¹). Cells cultivated at HL produced more DA than LL cultured cells. P. australis cultured in HL presented lower photosynthetic rates than LL cells and had similar concentrations of photoprotective pigments and the highest maximum photosynthetic rates were detected during the lag phase of growth in all culture conditions. The results demonstrate that P. australis from northern Baja California peninsula presents a narrow temperature range for optimal growth under batch culture conditions. P. australis produce DA at different stages of growth, and DA content was related to the light intensity at which the cells were cultivated.     

Phenotypic plasticity in Phragmites australis as a functional response to water depth

We have performed investigations to see if the emergent macrophyte Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. exhibits phenotypic plasticity as a response to water depth and if such responses in biomass allocation pattern and morphology are functional responses, improving the performance of the plant. In greenhouse experiments plants were grown in deep or shallow water to evaluate plastic responses. Allometric methods were used to handle effects caused by size differences between treatments. To evaluate if phenotypic responses to water depth are functional, the relative growth rate (RGR) of plants acclimatised to shallow or deep water, respectively, were compared in deep water, and the growth of plants in fluctuating and constant water level were compared.When grown in deep (70 or 75 cm), compared to shallow (20 or 5 cm) water, plants allocated proportionally less to below-ground weight, made proportionally fewer but taller stems, and had rhizomes that were situated more superficially in the substrate. Plants acclimatised to shallow water had lower RGR than plants acclimatised to deep water, when they were grown in deep water, and plants in constant water depth (40 cm) grew faster than plants in fluctuating water depth (15/65 cm). In an additional field study, the rhizomes were situated superficially in the sediment in deep, compared to shallow water.We have shown that P. australis acclimatises to deep water with phenotypic plasticity through allocating more resources to stem weight, and also by producing fewer but taller stems, which will act to maintain a positive carbon balance and an effective gas exchange between aerial and below-ground parts. Furthermore, the decreased proportional allocation to below-ground parts probably results in decreased nutrient absorption, decreased anchorage in the sediment and decreased carbohydrate reserves. Thus, in deep water, plants have an increased risk of becoming uprooted and experience decreased growth and dispersal rates.     

Effects of flooding on photosynthesis and root respiration in saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima), an invasive riparian shrub

The introduced shrub Tamarix ramosissima invades riparian zones, but loses competitiveness under flooding. Metabolic effects of flooding could be important for T. ramosissima, but have not been previously investigated. Photosynthesis rates, stomatal conductance, internal (intercellular) CO₂, transpiration, and root alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity were compared in T. ramosissima across soil types and under drained and flooded conditions in a greenhouse. Photosynthesis at 1500 μmol quanta m⁻² s⁻¹ (A₁₅₀₀) in flooded plants ranged from 2.3 to 6.2 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ during the first week, but A₁₅₀₀ increased to 6.4–12.7 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ by the third week of flooding. Stomatal conductance (g_s) at 1500 μmol quanta m⁻² s⁻¹ also decreased initially during flooding, where g_s was 0.018 to 0.099 mol H₂O m⁻² s⁻¹ during the first week, but g_s increased to 0.113–0.248 mol H₂O m⁻² s⁻¹ by the third week of flooding. However, photosynthesis in flooded plants was reduced by non-stomatal limitations, and subsequent increases indicate metabolic acclimation to flooding. Root ADH activities were higher in flooded plants compared to drained plants, indicating oxygen stress. Lower photosynthesis and greater oxygen stress could account for the susceptibility of T. ramosissima at the onset of flooding. Soil type had no effect on photosynthesis or on root ADH activity. In the field, stomatal conductance, leaf water potential, transpiration, and leaf δ¹³C were compared between T. ramosissima and other flooded species. T. ramosissima had lower stomatal conductance and water potential compared to Populus deltoides and Phragmites australis. Differences in physiological responses for T. ramosissima could become important for ecological concerns.     

Cadmium distribution and its effects on molybdate-containing hydroxylases in Phragmites australis

The influence of cadmium (Cd) on physiological and biochemical parameters was studied to elucidate the mechanism of Cd resistance in Phragmites australis. Cadmium concentrations in roots, stems and leaves increased with exogenous Cd concentration, but Cd content in roots was much higher than in shoots. X-ray microanalysis was used to reveal compartments in which Cd accumulated in root cortex. Cadmium concentrations followed a gradient with the sequence: intercellular space > cell wall > vacuole > cytoplasm, indicating that most Cd was immobilized in the apoplast or sequestered into the vacuolar lumen. Sequential extraction of various Cd chelates revealed that more than half of extractable Cd was bound to proteins, whereas 26% was bound to organic acids. Cd-binding protein fractions were found in the roots after gel filtration chromatography, among which a polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass of 14 kDa bound Cd most avidly. One newly synthesized polypeptide of low molecular mass (1 kDa) appeared under Cd pollution, whereas a prominent fraction of 72 kDa disappeared. Four aldehyde oxidase (AO) isoenzyme activities increased significantly in roots under Cd pollution. Cd stress also enhanced xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) activities in roots. Two AO polypeptides of different molecular sizes were detected in the roots by Western blot assay. The abundance of the 160 kDa subunit correlated with Cd stress, but the amount of the 90 kDa polypeptide did not change under Cd treatment. Enhanced abscisic acid (ABA) contents were observed in roots of P. australis exposed to Cd. The involvement of Cd distribution in plant tissues and subcellular compartments and of AO and XDH enzymatic activities in the acclimation mechanism of P. australis to Cd pollution is discussed herein.     

A toxic Pseudo-nitzschia bloom in Todos Santos Bay,northwestern Baja California,Mexico

A toxic Pseudo-nitzschia spp. bloom in the Todos Santos Bay area (31.8°N), Mexico, is described. This is the southernmost report of the presence of domoic acid (DA) in the California Current System and it is also the first report of the distribution of toxic Pseudo-nitzschia species and DA on the Baja California west coast. The maximum cell abundance of Pseudo-nitzschia was 3.02 × 10⁵ cells L^?1 and the maximum concentration of DA in particulate matter (pDA) was 0.86 μg L^?1. P. australis constituted the major proportion of cells identified as Pseudo-nitzschia. The environmental conditions associated with wind-driven upwelling were the cause for the accumulation of toxic cells. Maximum pDA and cell concentration were detected around 14 °C. The ratio of the concentration of macronutrients seemed to be the important factor for the accumulation of P. australis. The highest cell abundance was detected in areas with a high Si(OH)₄ to N ratio in the entire water column. Therefore, the relative increase of silicate concentration related to upwelling conditions was the probable cause for the accumulation of P. australis. Maximum photosystem II (PSII) quantum efficiency of charge separation (F_v/F_m) was negatively correlated to the pDA to fucoxanthin ratio. This ratio was used in this work as an index of cellular DA content. Therefore, the photosynthetic competence of the cells might be an important factor that affected their DA cellular content.     

The influence of myosin heavy chain isoform content on mechanical behavior of the vastus lateralis in vivo

This study examined correlations between type I percent myosin heavy chain isoform content (%MHC) and mechanomyographic amplitude (MMG_RMS) during isometric muscle actions. Fifteen (age = 21.63 ± 2.39) participants performed 40% and 70% maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) of the leg extensors that included increasing, steady force, and decreasing segments. Muscle biopsies were collected and MMG was recorded from the vastus lateralis. Linear regressions were fit to the natural-log transformed MMG_RMS–force relationships (increasing and decreasing segments) and MMG_RMS was selected at the targeted force level during the steady force segment. Correlations were calculated among type I%MHC and the b (slopes) terms from the MMG_RMS–force relationships and MMG_RMS at the targeted force. For the 40% MVC, correlations were significant (P < 0.02) between type I%MHC and the b terms from the increasing (r = −0.804) and decreasing (r = −0.568) segments, and MMG_RMS from the steady force segment (r = −0.606). Type I%MHC was only correlated with MMG_RMS during the steady force segment (P = 0.044, r = −0.525) during the 70% MVC. Higher type I%MHC reduced acceleration in MMG_RMS (b terms) during the 40% MVC and the amplitude during the steady force segments. The surface MMG signal recorded during a moderate intensity contraction provided insight on the contractile properties of the VL in vivo.     

Effect of surface contaminants on oxygen transfer in bubble column reactors

Gas hold-up (ɛ_g), sauter mean bubble diameter (d₃₂) and oxygen transfer coefficient (k_La) were evaluated at four different alkane concentrations (0.05, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 vol.%) in water over the range of superficial gas velocity (u_g) of (1.18–23.52) × 10⁻³ m/s at 25 °C in a laboratory-scale bubble column bioreactor. Immiscible hydrocarbons (n-decane, n-tridecane and n-hexadecane) were utilized in the experiments as impurity. A type of anionic surfactant was also employed in order to investigate the effect of addition of surfactant to organic-aqueous systems on sauter mean bubble diameter, gas hold-up and oxygen transfer coefficient. Influence of addition of alkanes on oxygen transfer coefficient and gas hold-up, was shown to be dependent on the superficial gas velocity. At superficial gas velocity below 0.5 × 10⁻³ m/s, addition of alkane in air–water medium has low influence on oxygen transfer coefficient and also gas hold-up, whereas; at higher gas velocities slight addition of alkane increases oxygen transfer coefficient and also gas hold-up. Increase in concentration of alkane resulted in increase in oxygen transfer coefficient and gas hold-up and roughly decrease in sauter mean bubble diameter, which was attributed to an increase in the coalescence-inhibiting tendency in the presence of surface contaminant molecules. Bubbles tend to become smaller with decreasing surface tension of hydrocarbon, thus, oxygen transfer coefficient increases due to increasing of specific gas–liquid interfacial area (a). Empirical correlations were proposed for evaluating gas hold-up as a function of sauter mean bubble diameter, superficial gas velocity and interfacial surface tension as well as evaluating Sherwood number as a function of Schmidt, Reynolds and Bond numbers.     

Nutrient ratios influence variability in Pseudo-nitzschia species diversity and particulate domoic acid production in the Bay of Seine (France)

The population dynamics of different Pseudo-nitzschia species, along with particulate domoic acid (pDA) concentrations, were studied from May 2012 to December 2013 in the Bay of Seine (English Channel, Normandy). While Pseudo-nitzschia spp. blooms occurred during the two years of study, Pseudo-nitzschia species diversity and particulate domoic acid concentrations varied greatly. In 2012, three different species were identified during the spring bloom (P. australis, P. pungens and P. fraudulenta) with high pDA concentrations (∼1400 ng l⁻¹) resulting in shellfish harvesting closures. In contrast, the 2013 spring was characterised by a P. delicatissima bloom without any toxic event. Above all, the results show that high pDA concentrations coincided with the presence of P. australis and with potential silicate limitation (Si:N < 1), while nitrate concentrations were still replete. The contrasting environmental conditions between 2012 and 2013 highlight different environmental controls that might favour the development of either P. delicatissima or P. australis. This study points to the key role of Pseudo-nitzschia diversity and cellular toxicity in the control of particulate domoic acid variations and highlights the fact that diversity and toxicity are influenced by nutrients, especially nutrient ratios.     

EMG normalization to study muscle activation in cycling

The value of electromyography (EMG) is sensitive to many physiological and non-physiological factors. The purpose of the present study was to determine if the torque–velocity test (T–V) can be used to normalize EMG signals into a framework of biological significance. Peak EMG amplitude of gluteus maximus (GMAX), vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris long head (BF), gastrocnemius medialis (GAS) and soleus (SOL) was calculated for nine subjects during isometric maximal voluntary contractions (IMVC) and torque–velocity bicycling tests (T–V). Then, the reference EMG signals obtained from IMVC and T–V bicycling tests were used to normalize the amplitude of the EMG signals collected for 15 different submaximal pedaling conditions. The results of this study showed that the repeatability of the measurements between IMVC (from 10% to 23%) and T–V (from 8% to 20%) was comparable. The amplitude of the peak EMG of VL was 99 ± 43% higher (p < 0.001) when measured during T–V. Moreover, the inter-individual variability of the EMG patterns calculated for submaximal cycling exercises differed significantly when using T–V bicycling normalization method (GMAX: 0.33 ± 0.16 vs. 1.09 ± 0.04, VL: 0.07 ± 0.02 vs. 0.64 ± 0.14, SOL: 0.07 ± 0.03 vs. 1.00 ± 0.07, RF: 1.21 ± 0.20 vs. 0.92 ± 0.13, BF: 1.47 ± 0.47 vs. 0.84 ± 0.11). It was concluded that T–V bicycling test offers the advantage to be less time and energy-consuming and to be as repeatable as IMVC tests to measure peak EMG amplitude. Furthermore, this normalization method avoids the impact of non-physiological factors on the amplitude of the EMG signals so that it allows quantifying better the activation level of lower limb muscles and the variability of the EMG patterns during submaximal bicycling exercises.