Length-weight relationships of two varunid crab species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helice tridens</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chasmagnathus convexus</Emphasis>, in Japan

Estimates of biomass are essential for studies modeling the structure, animal growth, production, and energy flow in ecosystems. The relationships between dry weight and carapace width of two varunid crab species in two different populations were examined. Distribution of the length-weight plots did not show remarkable differences between species, sexes, and populations. Our results suggest that length-weight relationships, regardless of sex or population or including multiple species, are valid for estimation of dry weight.     

Dynamics in the length-weight parameters of the mudskipperPeriophthalmus barbarus (Gobiidae), in Imo River estuary, Nigeria

Seasonal and intersexual dynamics in parameters of the length-weight relationship of the mudskipperPeriophthalmus barbarus, from Imo River estuary, Nigeria, were studied. The proportionality constant or intercept (a) was aseasonal in males, but in females it was significantly higher in the dry season (November–April) than during the rains (May–October) due to heightened breeding activity. The length exponent (b) depicted seasonal isometry in males. In females, isometry was evident in the dry season while a positive allometry occurred during the wet season. The sizes of the smallest and largest specimens examined did not regulate variations in the magnitudes of (a) and (b) in both sexes. The insignificant intersexual variation in the length-weight parameters suggests the possibility of using a single predictive length-weight equation for the population. However, the sexes exhibited different monthly rank-orders of (a) and (b), thus making such composite estimates unreliable for a study spanning up to a year. Values of (a) and (b) were inversely correlated in both sexes. The population dynamics implications of the results are discussed.     

The estimation of individual dry weight and standing crop of harpacticoid copepods

Individual dry weights have been calculated for ten species of harpacticoid copepods including epibenthic and interstitial forms. The data have been used to calculate a linear relationship between body length and weight enabling the individual dry weight of any harpacticoid of known body length to be estimated. The length-weight relationship has been used to estimate the standing crop of harpacticoids from three different sediment types. In all cases the estimated values were within 20% of the actual standing crop as determined directly by weighing.     

Biometrical relationships, energy content and biochemical composition of Neomysis mercedis from Lake Washington

Morphometric relationships, caloric content and biochemical composition of Neomysis mercedis were determined for freshly caught mysids. Strong positive correlations between telson length, carapace length, dry weight, energy content and total length are described by the equations: Ln (Dry weight) = –5.02 + 2.57^* Ln (Total Length), Telson Length = 0.13^* Total Length, and Energy (Calories) = –37.13 + 4.85^* Mean Total Length. Energy (4.92 cal mg^–1 AFDFW), ash (8.61% dry weight) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (10.6% dry weight) content are comparable to values reported for other species. A comparison of the length-weight relationship for N. mercedis with similar equations published previously for other mysid species indicated that the predicted mean dry weight at any particular length varied among species.     

Environmental constraints on the foraging behaviour of a dwarf antelope (Madoqua kirkii)

Dik-diks (Madoqua sp.) inhabit semi-arid regions and experience very different conditions of food availability and quality between wet and dry seasons. By comparing the behaviour of dik-diks between these two seasons, we identified environmental constraints affecting their feeding strategies. In both seasons foraging time was limited by high mid day temperatures. In the wet season a high intake rate compensates for the loss in foraging time, but in the dry season water and protein become limiting. To meet minimum daily water requirements in the dry season dik-diks fed on plant species that they avoided during the wet season. Analysis at the plant species level showed higher species selectivity in the wet season than in the dry season. In a multiple regression analysis food species preferences were best explained by relative abundance and water content in the dry season, and by dry matter content in the wet season. In the wet season the daily dry-matter intake of dik-diks in the field was only about 10% higher than the theoretically predicted minimum for a ruminant of this body weight, while protein and water intake were about 3 times as high. This suggests that the most limiting dietary component in the wet season is energy. In the dry season the daily intake of all dietary components is lower than the theoretical minimum required, and also lower than the values suggested by laboratory studies of dik-diks. This dry season deficit is presumably met from body reserves. Dry season water intake was approximately 30% of the intake observed in laboratory studies indicating that dikdiks are even better adapted to arid conditions than suggested by physiological experiments.     

Do the phenology and functional stem attributes of woody species allow for the identification of functional groups in the semiarid region of Brazil?

The phenology of tree species in environments that are subject to strong climatic seasonality is mainly determined by water availability, which may vary as a function of wood density. The relationship among phenology, water potential, wood density and the capacity of water storage in the stem were determined for woody species of caatinga vegetation (dry forest) in the semiarid region of NE Brazil. Leaf flush and fall, flowering and fruiting events were recorded over a 31-month period, and the water potential was measured over a two-year period. These data were related to precipitation, water availability in the soil and photoperiod. Seven deciduous species exhibited low wood density (DLWD,?<0.5?g?cm^?3), high capacity of water storage in the stem (until 250?% of the dry weight) and high water potential during the year, as opposed to 15 deciduous species that showed high wood density (DHWD,?≥0.5?g?cm^?3). Leaf flush, flowering and the fruiting of DHWD species were related to precipitation, whereas these phenological events occurred at the end of the dry season and/or the beginning of the rainy season for DLWD species and were related to the photoperiod. The two evergreen species showed variations of water potential that were intermediate between those of DHWD and DLWD deciduous species, leaf flush during the dry season and flowering at the end of dry season. These results suggest the existence of three functional groups: evergreen species, DHWD deciduous species and DLWD deciduous species.     

A preliminary study of the age and growth of the Cyprinid fish Barilius moorii Blgr. from Lake Kivu

The age and growth of the Cyprinid fish Barilius moorii from Lake Kivu is studied by means of the growth rings occurring in the scales. Although the moment of ring formation and the duration of one growth season were not known, both overall length growth in a population as well as individual length growth could be calculated. Increase of weight was obtained from length growth on the basis of a length-weight relationship. By comparing the growth parameters of the von Bertallanfy equation and data from the literature, a hypothesis is formulated that ring formation should occur at the transition from a dry to a rainy season, and that two rings a year should be formed. Ring formation on the scales might be due to gonad maturation, but this could not be demonstrated.     

The response of rice to the growth and nitrogen fixation inAzolla caroliniana andAzolla pinnata at varying rates of phosphate fertilization

The response of rice toAzolla caroliniana, newly introduced in India, was compared with the reponse to the local isolate ofAzolla pinnata at varying rates of phosphate fertilizer (4.4–8.8 kg P ha^–1) during a wet and a dry season.Fresh weight, dry weight and fixed N were more for both species 21 DAI (days after inoculation) than 14 DAI, but acetylene reduction activity (ARA) was higher 14 DAI than 21 DAI. Dry weight of Azolla and fixed N were less 14 DAI forA. caroliniana than forA. pinnata during the wet season. Twenty-one DAI, fresh weight ofA. caroliniana was 62.1 and 27.6% higher than that ofA. pinnata during the wet and dry season, respectively. However, dry weight and fixed N were more 21 DAI inA. caroliniana than inA. pinnata during only the wet season. The ARA was higher inA. caroliniana both 14 and 21 DAI, irrespective of season. The presence of either species in the rice field increased grain yield, straw yield, number of panicles m^–2, number of grains per panicle and reduced percentage sterility during both the wet and the dry season. Phosphate application significantly increased fresh weight, dry weight, ARA and fixed N for both species as well as grain and straw yields of rice. The responses to phosphate fertilizer were similar for both Azolla species and for rice grown with either one of the Azolla species.     

Length-weight relationships of five fish species from Brazilian Amazon coast hotspot estuaries

The length-weight relationships (LWR) were estimated for five fish species from the Golfão Maranhense, Brazilian Amazon littoral region. Samplings were performed in August 2016, during the dry season, using trawl net with 6.0 m length by 3.0 m width (trawl mouth opening of 6.0 m²) and 1.0 cm mesh size between opposite knots. This study registers LWR for Anchoviella elongata and Gobioides broussonnetii and the estimated LWR for Aspredo aspredo and Aspredinichthys filamentosus covers a wider size range. Moreover, it is presented maximum length values for A. elongata and Sphoeroides greeleyi.     

Patterns of Seed Size,Germination and Seed Viability of Tropical Tree Species in Southern India1

Seed weight, days to germination and seed viability were observed for 99 species growing in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. Seed size was strongly correlated with days to germination; smaller seeds germinated faster than larger seeds. Species which flowered during the rainy season had lighter seeds than species which flowered during the dry season. It was also found that seed size and viability of seeds were related to the season of fruiting. Species which fruit during the rainy season had heavier seeds and shorter viability than species which fruit during the dry season. These flowering and fruiting patterns and varying seed sizes are argued to be adaptations to the time of dispersal, time of moisture availability in the habitat and seedling survival.     

Improving data deficiencies in length-weight relationships for fish species around an artificial breakwater and adjacent soft-bottom at the central coast of Peru

Long-term environmental monitoring studies includes morphometric data (length and weight) of aggregating fish species around this artificial structure and adjacent soft-bottom habitats. We used these data, obtained biannually (summer and spring) between 2012 and 2018, to estimate population parameters such as length-weight relationships (LWRs) for 28 species. Gender and ontogeny-based differences in LWR were determined in four species, while novel LWR information was generated for all other species.     

THE ANNUAL CYCLE IN A TROPICAL WET FOREST HUMMINGBIRD COMMUNITY

In the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica, rainfall is moderately seasonal, although even in the driest month over 100 mm of rain usually fall. Flowering of hummingbird food plants shows a peak in the dry season (February-April) and another in the early wet season (July-September), with a severe flower shortage at the end of the rains (November-December). The dry season peak involves largely canopy epiphytes, the wet season peak large herbs of light gaps and edges and forest understory plants. This study examines the responses of the associated community of 22 species of hummingbirds (of which 13 breed, and 12 are common for at least parts of most years) to these spatial and temporal patterns of resource availability. Nearly all common breeding species show a peak of reproductive activity in the dry season, coinciding with the first flowering peak, followed by a discrete moulting season that coincides with the wet season peak of flowering. Of the three species with extended breeding seasons, the two species of hermit, Phaethornis, show moult-breeding overlap to varying degrees on an individual basis. In a number of species moult and breeding appear antagonistic. The annual peak of body weight and fat deposits in all species occur during the second flowering peak, approximately corresponding to the moult. The annual minima of body weight and fat occur in the lean season and the breeding season respectively. The lack of concordance of these two possibly reflects the use of muscle protein as a nutrient source during the lean season. Several species show pronounced habitat shifts through the year, with the sexes sometimes occupying different microhabitats, especially during the dry season. At least five species show pronounced seasonal migrations, largely or entirely leaving La Selva for part of the year. Overall hummingbird numbers are greatest early in the rainy season, lowest in the lean season, with the non-hermits (Trochilinae) showing a more pronounced annual cycle of numbers than the hermits (Phaethorninae). Comparisons with other tropical lowland hummingbird-flower communities are made with respect to the roles of flowers as proximate and ultimate factors regulating the annual cycles and affecting the population biology of the birds.     

Seasonality affects leaf nutrient and condensed tannin concentration in southern African savannah browse

Trees that maintain some leaves throughout dry seasons become important ruminant browse depending on nutritive and antinutritive values. Leaves from seven tree species that maintained some leaves during the dry season were collected during dry and wet seasons and analysed for nutritive and antinutritive values. Neutral detergent fibre of leaves was either not different or less (P ≤ 0.05) during the dry season as compared to the wet season depending on species. Acid detergent fibre was either not different or greater (P ≤ 0.05) during the dry season as compared to the wet season. Crude protein and condensed tannins (CT) were either not different or less (P ≤ 0.05) during the dry season than during the wet season for the seven species. The biological activity (protein‐binding ability; PB) of the CT was highly species specific and was either not different between seasons, more bioactive during the wet season, or more bioactive during the dry season depending on the species. Based on combinations of low fibre, high protein and potentially beneficial levels of bioactive CT, Senegalia caffra, Vachellia karoo and Searsia lancea may be the most promising dry‐season browse of the species studied.     

Effet des variables abiotiques sur la biomasse animale de sept mares temporaires d'eau douce du Québec méridional

The aim of this study was to ascertain the influence of environmental variables on the seasonal variations of total animal biomass in temporary ponds. We thus collected weekly, in seven major types of mosquito-breeding habitats, a total of 163 samples and calculated the dry weight (µg/l) of 75 taxa, using the length-weight relationships described in the literature. The total biomass was found to be more stable than the proportions of individual taxa. Multiple regression analysis showed that most of the dispersion of total animal biomass could be explained by environmental variables, especially water temperature, volume of water body and season.

     

垂叶榕榕小蜂群落及种间互作网络季节动态

群落中的物种相互作用构成了复杂的生态网络。有关物种的数量和组成的季节性动态变化已有较多的研究, 但是对于生态网络的动态变化知之甚少。揭示生态网络的动态变化对于理解群落的稳定性以及群落的动态变化过程和机理具有重要意义。本研究以垂叶榕(Ficus benjamina)榕小蜂群落为研究对象, 分别在西双版纳的干季和雨季采集了榕小蜂的种类和数量信息。比较了两个季节榕小蜂群落的动态变化以及共存网络的参数(例如网路直径、连接数、嵌套性和群落矩阵温度)变化。结果显示: 雨季榕果内传粉榕小蜂Eupristina koningsbergeri所占比例高于干季, 传粉榕小蜂的种群数量也高于干季, 而在干季非传粉榕小蜂的种类增加(干季15种小蜂, 雨季14种)。从榕树-传粉榕小蜂互利共生系统的适合度来看, 干季非传粉小蜂的增加对传粉榕小蜂和榕树的适合度是不利的。在干季, 共存网络物种间的连接数(干季0.95, 雨季0.47)多于雨季, 群落矩阵温度(干季23.24, 雨季2.64)也显著高于雨季。表明干季榕小蜂群落组成及种间关系较雨季更为复杂而多样, 高的矩阵温度暗示群落受到的干扰更大。     

Reproductive Phenology of Woody Species in a North Australian Tropical Savanna1

Interspecific and interannual variation in reproductive phenology was quantified for 50 common species of trees and shrubs from a mesic savanna near Darwin, northern Australia. The presence of buds, flowers, and fruit was noted over a 30-month period, from September 1992 to February 1995. Surveys were undertaken at monthly intervals for the less common species, and at bimonthly intervals for ten of the common trees and tall shrubs. The majority of species flowered each year at about the same time. There was no evidence of sub-annual or continuous regimes of reproductive phenology. There was no supra-annual carryover of seed-bearing fruit in the canopy of any species. The peak flowering periods were the mid to late dry season (July–August) and the transition between the dry season and the wet season (October–November). The two dominant trees–Eucalyptus miniata and E, tetrodonta– flowered during the dry season, thereby providing resources for some elements of the vertebrate fauna. Flowering and fruiting were uncommon at the end of the wet season (February/March), although two species that flower and fruit at this time (E. porrecta and Terminalia ferdinandianas may provide resources to consumers at a time when floral or fruit resources are otherwise scarce. Because the peak of reproductive activity takes place during the late dry season, fruit maturity and seed dispersal have occurred prior to the onset of the rainy season for most species, and germination and seedling establishment potentially may take effect in response to the first rains. Late dry season fires, which tend to be extensive and intense, are a potential threat to the floral and fruit reserves within these savannas.     

Seasonal cues in tropical organisms. Rainfall? Not necessarily!

Summary Activity seasons of tropical organisms often start, on the average, at or about the beginning of the rainy or dry seasons. The hypothesis that the onset or cessation of the wet season provides the seasonal cues necessary of the initiation of the activity season of some tropical organisms is tested with data on Panamanian cicadas. Seasonal adult activity patterns are described for cicada species in Panama, mostly from Barro Colorado Island (BCI), some from Las Cumbres. In all species the correlation between the timing of the beginning and the end of the cicada season was low and not significant, so that the actual beginning data of a cicada season in a particular year had little or no predictive value for the end date. Seven out of eleven species on BCI started their average activity season at the average beginning of the dry season (one species) or rainy season (six species). Nevertheless, in 13 years, correlations between the start or end of the cicada seasons and that of the meteorological seasons were low and not significant. At best, the beginning and end of the rains played a minor role as seasonal cues governing cicada emergence or the termination of the cicada season. It is speculated that photoperiod might be a major seasonal cue governing emergence, through its effects on the host plants.     

Seasonal Fluctuations in Body Fat and Activity Levels in a Rain-Forest Species of Mouse Lemur,Microcebus rufus

Seasonal fattening in preparation for the dry season followed by torpor characterizes some members of the family Cheirogaleidae, a group of < 600-g nocturnal Malagasy primates. These behaviors are associated with extreme seasonality in dry forests, where most studies have been conducted. I aimed to determine if the brown mouse lemur (Microcebus rufus), a rain-forest species of cheirogaleid, exhibited similar changes. Between January 1993 and May 1994 I conducted a mark-recapture study on Microcebus rufus in the rain forest of Ranomafana National Park. I monitored body weight and tail circumference for body fat fluctuations and inferred changes in activity levels from presence or absence in the traps. Some individuals of both sexes increased body fat and entered torpor as suggested by their absence from traps for at least 1 month of the dry season. Activity was resumed with body weight reduced by 5–35 g, and tail circumference by 0.4–1.2 cm. Population-level analysis supports these results; highest weight and tail circumference values occurred just before and at the onset of the dry season. Other individuals, predominantly male, exhibited no change in body fat or activity level, and some mouse lemurs increased their body fat over the course of the dry season. Age, social status, and individual response may influence seasonal behavioral strategies. Dry and rain-forest species of mouse lemur adopt similar behaviors to cope with environmental stresses. Mouse lemurs resemble nonprimate, small-bodied mammals, in which behavioral changes related to maintaining energy balance occur during seasonally unfavorable conditions.     

热带亚热带水库浮游植物叶绿素a与磷分布的特征

于丰水期和枯水期对广东省19个大中型水库的浮游植物叶绿素a和磷(P)进行采样和测定,分析了P和叶绿素a的分布特征及其相关性。结果表明P的浓度和叶绿素a含量较低的有流溪河、新丰江、公平和白盆珠水库;而枯、丰两期P的浓度和叶绿素a含量均较高的有契爷石、石岩、鹤地和大镜山水库;其余12个水库均属于季节性差异较明显的水库,在丰水期由入流带来较多的P,而枯水期则因入流相对较少,P的含量也较低。大部分水库在枯水期P限制现象比较严重,而丰水期则有所缓解。P限制程度的不同导致了丰水期和枯水期水库浮游植物种群组成和叶绿素含量的变化。丰水期的优势种类P半饱和浓度较高,在枯水期这些种类不再是优势种的组成部分。而一些P半饱和浓度较低的种类,在丰水期和枯水期都成为各个水库的优势种。通过相关性分析,正磷酸盐(PO₄^3--P)与叶绿素的相关系数较高,总磷(TP)与叶绿素的相关系数则相对较低。从时间上来看,枯水期PO₄^3--P与叶绿素的相关性高于丰水期;从空间上看,大坝处PO₄^3--P与叶绿素的相关性高于入水口。     

Length–weight relationship of seven marine catfishes (Siluriformes: Ariidae) in the Amazon Coastal Zone (Brazil)

Length–weight relationships (LWR) were determined for seven commercially important species of catfishes (Siluriformes, Ariidae) from the Amazon Coastal Zone (ACZ), Brazil. The analyses included 3628 specimens sampled in three trawling expeditions: dry season of 1996 (111 hauls), rainy season of 1997 (120 hauls), and dry season of 1997 (120 hauls). Bottom‐trawl nets were utilized for sampling. Length‐weight estimates for Amphiarius phrygiatus, Amphiarius rugispinis, Aspistor quadriscutis, Notarius grandicassis, Sciades couma, Sciades parkeri and Sciades proops.