Estimates of regional population densities of badger Meles meles, fox Vulpes vulpes and hare Lepus europaeus using walked distance sampling

Walked spotlight transect surveys with distance sampling were used to estimate regional population densities of badger (Meles meles), fox (Vulpes vulpes) and brown hare (Lepus europaeus) in south-west England (Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire) and Wales (Pembrokeshire, Borders, North Wales). All regions were surveyed during spring 2006 with English regions re-surveyed in autumn 2006. In each region, surveys were conducted in a random sample of 19.6 km² areas (mean areas per region: spring = 19, autumn = 25). Within each survey area, a semi-random transect was established in each of a random sample of fields (open habitat almost exclusively pasture). Transects were subsequently walked at night with spotlights (mean transects per survey area: spring = 21, autumn = 21). Each area was surveyed twice during a season. Total transect length per region ranged from 137 to 193 km in spring and 230 to 250 km in autumn. The mean density of species per region was: badger 1.5–4.8 km⁻², fox 1.0–4.0 km⁻², hare 0.4–4.6 km⁻². The study has provided baseline estimates of regional densities against which any future equivalent surveys can be compared. It has also illustrated the practical application of large-scale walked distance sampling to surveys of British mammals.     

A unique coral reef formation discovered on the Great Astrolabe Reef, Fiji

 A spectacular mound-like reef formation (126 m in circumference, 10 m high) dominated by highly arched and record-size colonies of the unattached mushroom coral Halomitra pileus, along with 17 other species of the family Fungiidae, occurs in 31 m of water on the sedimentary lagoon floor of the Great Astrolabe Reef, Fiji. Core samples show radiocarbon dates which indicate that the formation hypothetically began building ∼4500 y ago, with a calculated mean accretion rate of 2.2 mm ⋅ y^-1. The majority of fossil and living material is contributed by H. pileus colonies between 40–70 cm mean diameter, with some individuals up to 1.5 m in diameter. The size, fungiid diversity, and geological history of the bioherm is unprecedented and represents the first example of a coral reef constructed almost entirely by Fungiidae. Accepted: 29 July 1996     

Density of tiger and leopard in a tropical deciduous forest of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve,southern India,as estimated using photographic capture–recapture sampling

Density of tiger Panthera tigris and leopard Panthera pardus was estimated using photographic capture–recapture sampling in a tropical deciduous forest of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, southern India, from November 2008 to February 2009. A total of 2,000 camera trap nights for 100 days yielded 19 tigers and 29 leopards within an intensive sampling area of 107 km². Population size of tiger from closed population estimator model M_b Zippin was 19 tigers (SE = ±0.9) and for leopards M_h Jackknife estimated 53 (SE = ±11) individuals. Spatially explicit maximum likelihood and Bayesian model estimates were 8.31 (SE = ±2.73) and 8.9 (SE = ±2.56) per 100 km² for tigers and 13.17 (SE = ±3.15) and 13.01 (SE = ±2.31) per 100 km² for leopards, respectively. Tiger density for MMDM models ranged from 6.07 (SE = ±1.74) to 9.72 (SE = ±2.94) per 100 km² and leopard density ranged from 13.41 (SE = ±2.67) to 28.91 (SE = ±7.22) per 100 km². Spatially explicit models were more appropriate as they handle information at capture locations in a more specific manner than some generalizations assumed in the classical approach. Results revealed high density of tiger and leopard in Mudumalai which is unusual for other high density tiger areas. The tiger population in Mudumalai is a part of the largest population at present in India and a source for the surrounding Reserved Forest.     

Suitable Environmental Ranges for Potential Coral Reef Habitats in the Tropical Ocean

Coral reefs are found within a limited range of environmental conditions or tolerance limits. Estimating these limits is a critical prerequisite for understanding the impacts of climate change on the biogeography of coral reefs. Here we used the diagnostic model ReefHab to determine the current environmental tolerance limits for coral reefs and the global distribution of potential coral reef habitats as a function of six factors: temperature, salinity, nitrate, phosphate, aragonite saturation state, and light. To determine these tolerance limits, we extracted maximum and minimum values of all environmental variables in corresponding locations where coral reefs are present. We found that the global, annually averaged tolerance limits for coral reefs are 21.7—29.6 °C for temperature, 28.7—40.4 psu for salinity, 4.51 μmol L^-1 for nitrate, 0.63 μmol L^-1 for phosphate, and 2.82 for aragonite saturation state. The averaged minimum light intensity in coral reefs is 450 μmol photons m^-2 s^-1. The global area of potential reef habitats calculated by the model is 330.5 × 10³ km². Compared with previous studies, the tolerance limits for temperature, salinity, and nutrients have not changed much, whereas the minimum value of aragonite saturation in coral reef waters has decreased from 3.28 to 2.82. The potential reef habitat area calculated with ReefHab is about 121×10³ km² larger than the area estimated from the charted reefs, suggesting that the growth potential of coral reefs is higher than currently observed.     

Effects of Seasonal Folivory and Frugivory on Ranging Patterns in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhinopithecus roxellana</Emphasis>

The distribution of food resources in time and space may affect the diet, ranging pattern, and social organization of primates. We studied variation in ranging patterns in a group of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) over winter and summer in response to variation in their diet in the Qingmuchuan Nature Reserve, China. There was a clear diet shift from highly folivorous in winter to highly frugivorous in summer. The home range was 8.09 km² in summer and 7.43 km² in winter, calculated via the 95% kernel method. Corresponding to the diet shift, the focal group traveled significantly longer distances in summer (mean 1020 ± 69 m/d) than in winter (mean 676 ± 53 m/d); the daily range was also significantly greater in summer (mean 0.27 ± 0.02 km²/d) than in winter (mean 0.21 ± 0.01 km²/d). There was no significant variation in home range size between winter and summer, and the monkeys did not use geographically distinct ranges in summer and winter. However, overlap in the actual activity area and core range between winter and summer was only 0.13 km², representing 4.4% of the summer core area and 5.3% of the winter core area. Differences were apparent between summer and winter ranging patterns: In summer, the group traveled repeatedly and uninterruptedly across its home range and made 3 circles of movement along a fixed route in 31 d; in winter, the activity area was composed of 3 disconnected patches, and the focal group stayed in each patch for an average of 8 successive days without traveling among patches. Winter range use was concentrated on mixed evergreen and deciduous forest patches where leaves and fruits were available, whereas the summer range pattern correlates significantly positively with the distribution of giant dogwood (Cornus controversa) fruits. Thus it appears that the diet shift of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys between winter and summer caused the monkeys to use their home range in different ways, supporting the hypothesis that food resources determine primate ranging patterns.     

Banana waste as substrate for α-amylase production by Bacillus subtilis (CBTK 106) under solid-state fermentation

 Bacillus subtilis CBTK 106, isolated from banana wastes, produced high titres of α-amylase when banana fruit stalk was used as substrate in a solid-state fermentation system. The effects of initial moisture content, particle size, cooking time and temperature, pH, incubation temperature, additional nutrients, inoculum size and incubation period on the production of α-amylase were characterised. A maximum yield of 5 345 000 U mg^-1 min^-1 was recorded when pretreated banana fruit stalk (autoclaved at 121 °C for 60 min) was used as substrate with 70% initial moisture content, 400 μm particle size, an initial pH of 7.0, a temperature of 35 °C, and additional nutrients (ammonium sulphate/sodium nitrate at 1.0%, beef extract/peptone at 0.5%, glucose/sucrose/starch/maltose at 0.1% and potassium chloride/sodium chloride at 1.0%) in the medium, with an inoculum-to-substrate ratio of 10% (v/w) for 24 h. The enzyme yield was 2.65-fold higher with banana fruit stalk medium compared to wheat bran. Received: 18 April 1995/Received last revison: 6 May 1996/Accepted: 9 May 1996     

Ranging of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhinopithecus bieti</Emphasis> in the Samage Forest,China. I. Characteristics of Range Use

We quantified the home range and explored the style of ranging of black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) in the subtropical-temperate montane Samage Forest (part of Baimaxueshan Nature Reserve) in the vicinity of Gehuaqing. Over 14.5 mo, we took positional records of the study band via a GPS receiver at 30-min intervals, and found that they covered an area of 32 km². Over a 10-yr period, the group even ranged in an area of 56 km², which is among the largest home range estimates for any primate. The large home range was probably due to the combined effects of large group size (N > 400) and forest heterogeneity, with seasonally food-rich areas interspersed with less valuable areas. The subjects did not use their home range uniformly: 29% of the grid cells had more location records than expected based on a uniform distribution, thus representing a core area, albeit a disjunct one. A continuous 1-mo group follow in the fall revealed that the band traveled on average 1.62 km/d and that days of concentrated use of a particular forest block were followed by more extensive marches. Neither climate nor human disturbance parameters correlate significantly with monthly estimates of the group’s home range size. Even though there is no significant correlation between temporal availability of plant phenophases and range size, our observations implicate temporal and spatial availability of food as a determinant of home range use of the focal group. Winter, spring, and summer home ranges are equally large: 18.2, 17.8, and 18.6 km², respectively. Home range decreased markedly in fall (9.3 km²), probably because the band obtained sufficient food resources (fruit) in a smaller area. The large winter range is best attributed to the exploitation of dispersed clumped patches of mature fruits. Cyril C. Grueter and∙Dayong Li contributed equally to the paper.     

Effect of ferrous iron concentration on the catalytic activity of immobilized cells of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

 The kinetics of continuous oxidation of ferrous iron by immobilized cells of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans was studied in a packed-bed bioreactor. Polyurethane foam biomass support particles were used as carriers for cell immobilization. Effects of ferrous iron concentration and its volumetric loading on the kinetics of the reaction were investigated. Media containing different concentrations of ferrous iron in the range 5–20 kg m^-3 were tested. For each medium the kinetics of the reaction at different volumetric loadings of ferrous iron, at a constant temperature of 30^°C, were determined. With media containing 5 kg m^-3 and 10 kg m^-3 Fe²⁺, the fastest oxidation rates of 34.25 kg m^-3 h^-1 and 32 kg m^-3 h^-1 were achieved at a dilution rate of around 6 h^-1, which represents a residence time of 10 min. Employing a higher concentration of ferrous iron (20 kg m^-3) in the medium resulted in lower oxidation rates, with a maximum value of 10 kg m^-3 h^-1, indicating an inhibitory effect of ferrous iron on growth and activity of T. ferrooxidans. The reliable performance of the bioreactor during the course of the experiments confirmed the suitability of polyurethane foam biomass support particles as carriers for T. ferrooxidans immobilization. Received: 5 December 1995/Received revision: 21 April 1996/Accepted: 29 April 1996     

Assessment of deep water stocks of pearl oysters at Takapoto Atoll (Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia)

An assessment of natural stocks of the commercially important black pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, was conducted in the lagoon of Takapoto Atoll, French Polynesia. The sampling methodology combined estimates of reef area from remote sensing, depth profiles across the lagoon, and in situ sampling using scuba. Confidence limits around estimates of mean oyster density began to stabilize after ten dives, and did not decrease further after 30. Densities of oysters increased steadily with depth, ranging from a mean of 1 per 100 m² at 0–10 m to 8/100 m² at 30–40 m. More than half of the stock occurred at depths greater than 30 m. The total stock was estimated to be 4.3 ± 0.67 million, equivalent to 834 metric tonnes (including shells). Accepted: 15 June 1999     

Inventory of the Maldives’ coral reefs using morphometrics generated from Landsat ETM+ imagery

In this study, we present exact measures of the number, area, and basic morphometric statistics for every single reef of the Maldivian archipelago, as derived from the interpretation of remotely sensed data collected by the Landsat-7 ETM+ earth-observing satellite sensor. We classified and mapped seven morphological attributes of reefs (six marine habitats and reef-top islands) to 30-m depth at 30×30 m spatial resolution (pixel size) for the entire archipelago. The total archipelagic area (all coral reef and lagoon habitats) of the 16 atolls, five oceanic faros, and four oceanic platform reefs which comprise the Maldives is 21,372.72±1,068.64 km² (approx. 20% of the Maldives Territorial Sea). A total of 2,041±10 distinct coral reef structures larger than 0.01 km² occur in the Maldives, covering an area of 4,493.85 km² (including enclosed reef lagoons and islands) to 30-m depth. Smaller areas of coral reef substratum cover another 19.29 km², bringing the total area of Maldivian coral reefs to 4,513.14±225.65 km². Shallow coral platforms thus occupy 21.1% of the total area of the archipelago (0.0052% of the EEZ area of the Maldives). Of these reefs, 538 are rim and oceanic reefs, covering 3,701.93 km² (82.5% of the total reef area), and 1,503 are patch reefs within the atoll lagoons, covering 791.92 km² (17.5% of the total reef area). Islands occupy only 5.1% of the total reef area. Mapping the Maldives coral reefs at high spatial resolution is only possible with remote sensing and spatial analysis technologies. These greatly reduce the large uncertainty around current estimates of reef area. Our accurate measure of total reef area is only 50.6% of the current best estimate, a result having significant implications for predictions of the Maldives reef productivity and response to global climate change. Here we present current best practice and compare the methods and measures with previous approaches.     

Summer plankton beneath the McMurdo Ice Shelf at white Island,McMurdo Sound,Antarctica

 The zooplankton of the under-shelf-ice ecosystem at White Island (78^°10′ S, 167^°30′ E), McMurdo Sound, Antarctica was investigated during December 1976 and January 1977. The water column was sampled through a hole in the McMurdo Ice Shelf over a water depth of 67 m. Seawater temperatures under the ice shelf ranged from −1.91 to 1.96^°C. Dissolved oxygen levels ranged from 5.0–6.05 ml l^-1 in early December to 4.65–4.8 ml l^-1 in late January. Current speeds of up to 0.13 m s^-1 were recorded at a depth of 50 m and a predominantly northward flow was detected. Light levels under the shelf ice were low with less than 1% of the incident light being transmitted to a depth of 3 m. No chlorophyll a was detected within the water column throughout the investigation. Mean zooplankton biomass values in the water column ranged from 12 to 447 mg wet weight m^-3 and were similar to values recorded elsewhere from Antarctic inshore waters, but were very much higher than those recorded from under seasonal sea ice in McMurdo Sound. Thirty-two zooplankton species were recorded including 1 ostracod, 21 copepods (10 calanoids, 3 cyclopoids and 8 harpacticoids), 4 amphipods, 2 euphausiids, a chaetognath and 3 pteropods. Larvae of polychaetes and fish were found on some occasions. The species composition in general was similar to that recorded from McMurdo Sound and other Antarctic inshore localities. Among the Copepoda, however, there were a number of species, especially among the Harpacticoidea, that have not been found previously in McMurdo Sound and the Ross Sea, but that are known to be associated with ice in other localities in Antarctica. Two recently described species are known only from White Island. They were present in the water column but were most abundant in the surface water of the tide crack where they were the most abundant zooplankters. The tide crack, which probably is an extension of the under-ice habitat, is apparently a significant nursery area for amphipods and copepod species. Received: 23 November 1994/Accepted 7 May 1995     

Octanoate increases cytosolic Ca2+ concentration and membrane conductance in ovine pancreatic acinar cells

 In order to investigate the cellular mechanisms involved in amylase release in response to stimulation with short-chain fatty acids, changes in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i), membrane current and amylase release were measured in pancreatic acinar cells of sheep. Both octanoate and acetylcholine raised [Ca²⁺]_i in acinar cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The rise in [Ca²⁺]_i in response to the stimulation with octanoate (10 mmol ⋅ l^-1) was reduced in a medium without CaCl₂, but was markedly enhanced by reintroduction of CaCl₂ into the medium up to 2.56 mmol ⋅ l^-1. Perfusion of the cells with a medium containing octanoate (5 mmol ⋅ l^-1) or acetylcholine (0.5 μmol ⋅ l^-1) immediately raised inward current across the cell membrane at a holding-membrane potential of −30 mV. The inward current became greater as the holding potential became more negative. The equilibrium potential was 1.8 mV and 3.9 mV for octanoate and acetylcholine, respectively, being consistent with that for Cl^-. Although intracellular application of octanoate through a patch-clamp pipette also raised inward current after several minutes in some cells (4 out of 12), this possibility was significantly smaller than that for extracellular application. In other cells, even though the intracellular application of octanoate did not cause an increase in current, it always caused responses immediately after introduction of the fatty acid into the medium. Stimulation with fatty acid as well as acetylcholine raised amylase release in a concentration-dependent manner in cells dispersed from tissue segments with crude collagenase and trypsin inhibitor. Without trypsin inhibitor, crude collagenase significantly and selectively reduced the octanoate (10 mmol ⋅ l^-1)-induced amylase release. Dispersion with crude collagenase and trypsin significantly reduced both responses induced by octanoate and acetylcholine (5.5 μmol ⋅ l^-1). We conclude that fatty acids and acetylcholine increase [Ca²⁺]_i, which consequently evokes a rise in transmembrane ion (Cl^-) conductance and amylase release, and that trypsin-sensitive protein(s) in the cell membrane are involved in secretory processes activated by stimulation with fatty acids in ovine pancreatic acinar cells. Accepted: 14 May 1996     

Sulfated extracellular polysaccharide production by the halophilic cyanobacterium Aphanocapsa halophytia immobilized on light-diffusing optical fibers

 The cyanobacterium, Aphanocapsa halo-phytia MN-11, was immobilized in calcium alginate gel and coated on light-diffusing optical fibers (LDOF) for sulfated extracellular polysaccharide production. Results indicated that sulfated extracellular polysaccharide production depends on the number of immobilized cells and the light intensity. In addition, the production rate reached 116.0 mg (mg dry cells)^-1 day^-1 when the cells that were immobilized on LDOF were incubated under a light intensity of 1380 cd sr m^-2 at a cell concentration of 1.0×10⁸ cells/cm³ gel. Cells immobilized on LDOF produced about ten times more sulfated extracellular polysaccharide than those immobilized in calcium alginate beads only (11.7 mg(mg dry cells)^-1day^-1). Received: 31 March 1995/Revised last revision 12 June 1995/Accepted 26 July 1995     

Transition rate kinetics from ethanol oxidation to glucose utilisation within a structured model of baker’s yeast

 The transition rate kinetics from ethanol oxidation to glucose utilisation, within a structured model of baker’s yeast, described previously, were experimentally identified. The shift in metabolism has been assessed through glucose pulses during batch growth on ethanol. The influence of glucose concentration (between 0.25 g l^-1 and 0.90 g l^-1) and initial biomass concentration (between 0.61 g l^-1 and 1.44 g l^-1) on the transition rate was determined. The transition rate can not be described by a first-order saturation-type kinetics with respect to glucose only. A corrective term, which takes into account biomass concentration should be included. Received: 28 April 1995/Received revision: 6 July 1995/Accepted: 22 August 1995     

Halogenating activities detected in Antarctic macroalgae

 Halogenating activities were determined in samples of 18 cultivated species of brown, red and green macroalgae from the Antarctic. Activities for the halogenating organic compounds with bromide, iodide and chloride were found. Investigated red algae (rhodophytes) showed higher brominating and iodinating activities compared to brown (phaeophytes) and green (chlorophytes) algae. The highest brominating and iodinating activities were measured in the red algae Plocamium cartilagineum (1.11±0.01 U g^-1 wet algal weight and 0.18 U g^-1 wet algal weight, respectively) and Myriogramme mangini (3.62±0.17 U g^-1 wet algal weight and 4.5 U g^-1 wet algal weight, respectively). Chlorinating activities were detected in the red alga Plocamium cartilagineum only (0.086 U g^-1 wet algal weight). Received: 12 February 1996/Accepted: 20 June 1996     

Nitrogen and energy requirements of the short-tailed fruit bat (Carollia perspicillata): fruit bats are not nitrogen constrained

 Nitrogen (N) and energy (E) requirements were measured in adult Carollia perspicillata which were fed on four experimental diets. Bats ate 1.3–1.8 times their body mass ⋅ day^-1 and ingested 1339.5–1941.4 kJ ⋅ kg^-0.75 ⋅ day^-1. Despite a rapid transit time, dry matter digestibility and metabolizable E coefficient were high (83.3% and 82.4%, respectively), but true N digestibility was low (67.0%). Mass change was not correlated with E intake, indicating that bats adjusted their metabolic rate to maintain constant mass. Bats were able to maintain constant mass with digestible E intake as low as 1168.7 kJ ⋅ kg^-0.75 ⋅ day^-1 or 58.6 kJ ⋅ . Metabolic fecal N and endogenous urinary N losses were 0.87 mg N ⋅ g^-1 dry matter intake and 172.5 mg N ⋅ kg^-0.75 ⋅ day^-1, respectively, and bats required 442 mg N ⋅ kg^-0.75 ⋅ day^-1 (total nitrogen) or 292.8 mg N ⋅ kg^-0.75 ⋅ day^-1 (truly digestible nitrogen) for N balance. Based on E and N requirements and digestibilities, it was calculated that non-reproductive fruit bats were able to meet their N requirements without resorting to folivory and without over-ingesting energy. It was demonstrated that low metabolic fecal requirements allowed bats to survive on low-N diets. Accepted: 23 June 1996     

Water level and currents of tidal and infragravity periods at Tague Reef, St. Croix (USVI)

A two-week study, at Tague Reef, St. Croix, USVI investigated the magnitude and spatial variation of tides, sea level differences, infragravity waves, and unidirectional cross-reef currents on a modern coral reef. Infragravity oscillations of water level (∼ 27 min period) of 1–2 cm height correlate with a quarter wavelength resonance over the shelf. Particle displacements associated with these waves may be important to the dispersive characteristics of the reef environment. Estimates of cross-reef mass transport per unit width ranged from 0.058 to 0.032 m²s ^-1. Sea level differences across the reef (1–4 cm) varied at diurnal and infragravity periods with contributions from wave set-up, and a small contribution from cross-shelf wind stress to the observed sea level differences. The quadratic bottom friction coefficient over the reef was estimated at 0.06–0.2, 20–70 times greater than on open shelves, reflecting the reef’s extreme bottom roughness. Accepted: 28 February 1998     

Ca2+sensitivity and caffeine-induced changes in skinned cardiac muscle fibers of the carp,Cyprinus carpio

 Ca²⁺ sensitivity and caffeine-induced sensitivity changes in skinned carp heart fibers were compared with those of guinea pig and rat heart. The Ca²⁺ concentration-response curves of saponin-treated left atrial skinned fibers obtained from guinea pig and rat were almost identical. Doses of 5 and 20 mmol ⋅ l^-1 caffeine shifted this curve to the left. However, when a relatively high concentration (50 mmol ⋅ l^-1) of caffeine was used, the left-ward shift was reduced. Caffeine reduced the peak of the Ca²⁺ concentration-response curve. The Ca²⁺ concentration-response curve of carp atrial skinned fiber is almost identical to that of guinea pig and rat. However, a further increase in Ca²⁺ sensitivity was observed even when 50 mmol ⋅ l^-1 caffeine was added. Similarly, a decrease in the response curve peak was also observed. Ca²⁺ sensitivity in ventricular skinned fibers obtained from carp was almost the same as that observed for the atrial, but the increase in Ca²⁺ sensitivity due to caffeine was larger. In addition, a further increase was also observed when 50 mmol ⋅ l^-1 caffeine was added. These results indicate that the Ca²⁺ sensitivity of contractile proteins in atrial muscles from carp heart is the same as that of guinea pig and rat. It is, however, assumed that there are some differences in properties in the contractile proteins. It is also assumed that there are some differences between the atrial and ventricular muscles of carp heart. Accepted: 17 May 1996     

A 200-year coral stable oxygen isotope record from a high-latitude reef off Western Australia

 A core from a coral colony of Porites lutea was analysed for stable oxygen isotopic composition^*. A 200-year proxy record of sea surface temperatures from the Houtman Abrolhos Islands off west Australia was obtained from coral δ¹⁸O. At 29′S, the Houtman Abrolhos are the southernmost major reef complex of the Indian Ocean. They are located on the path of the Leeuwin Current, a southward flow of warm, tropical water, which is coupled to Indonesian throughflow. Coral δ¹⁸O primarily reflects local oceanographic and climatic variability, which is largely determined by spatial variability of the Leeuwin Current. However, coherence between coral δ¹⁸O and the current strength itself is relatively weak. Evolutionary spectral and singular spectrum analyses of coral δ¹⁸O demonstrate a high variability in spectral composition through time. Oscillations in the 5–7-y, 14–15-y, and quasi-biennial bands reflect teleconnections of local sea surface temperature (SST) to tropical Pacific climate variability. Deviations between local (coral-based) and regional (instrument) SST contain a cyclic component with a period of 15 y. Coral δ¹⁸O suggests a rise in SST by 0.6 ′C since AD 1944, consistent with available instrumental SST records. A long-term warming by 1.4 ′C since AD 1795 is inferred from the coral record. Accepted: 3 July 1998     

Effects of saturated fatty acids on amylase release from exocrine pancreatic segments of sheep,rats, hamsters,field voles and mice

 Stimulatory effects of saturated fatty acids consisting of 4 (butyrate), 8 (octanoate), 12 (laurate) and 16 (palmitate) carbon atoms, as well as acetylcholine on pancreatic amylase release were assessed in tissue segments isolated from sheep, rats, hamsters, field voles and mice. The amount of amylase release induced by the fatty acids (1 μmol ⋅ l^-1 to 10 mml ⋅ l^-1) and by acetylcholine (10 nmol ⋅ l^-1 to 100 μmol ⋅ l^-1) increased in a concentration-dependent manner, and the maximum response in response to the fatty acids was obtained at the maximal dose used. The maximum increase in amylase release in response to butyrate or octanoate was highly and significantly (r=0.974, P<0.001) dependent on the log value of the mean body mass in the following order: sheep>rats>hamsters>field voles>mice. On the other hand, the response to laurate and palmitate was variable among animal species. Addition of atropine (1.4 μmol ⋅ l^-1) to the medium did not reduce the responses to octanoate stimulation, but significantly reduced acetylcholineinduced responses, implying that the effects of the fatty acids were not mediated through activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Reduction of calcium ion concentration in the medium significantly inhibited the responses induced by the fatty acids and acetylcholine, suggesting that amylase release depends on extracellular calcium ions. Accepted: 14 May 1996