Consumption rates of two rotifer species by zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha

We demonstrated that zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha collected from the Hudson River could consume two rotifer species that were common before the zebra mussel invasion. The clearance rates (volume of water filtered per hour) of zebra mussels differed when feeding on the two rotifer species but both decreased with an increase in rotifer density. The ingestion rates (biomass of rotifers per hour) for the two rotifer species also differed, but both increased with increasing rotifer density. This is the first experiment to measure zooplankton consumption by bivalve molluscs at different zooplankton densities. The feeding rates of mussels in this study were compared with those of phytoplankton and other zooplankton from previous studies. The diameter of the mussel inhalent siphon was correlated linearly with the shell length and tissue weight, and was usually an order of magnitude wider than rotifer sizes. It is concluded that bivalve suspension feeders not only act as food competitors but also as predators on zooplankton in the aquatic ecosystem.     

Horizontal and Vertical Distribution of the Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha,Pallas) Larvae in the Modrac Reservoir,Bosnia and Herzegovina

In the Modrac Reservoir, loaded with coal separation suspended material, rapid development of the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) took place from at least 1987. It is probably the first distinguished “infection” for this part of Balkan Peninsula, caused by this organism. Horizontal and vertical distribution of this mussel, at 15 different reservoir profiles, had been investigated.     

Cellular volume regulation in freshwater bivalves

The effect of ambient osmolality on the height of lateral ciliated cells from the gills of two freshwater bivalve species (Dreissena polymorpha, Toxolasma texasensis) was directly observed microscopically. The addition of 1 mmol · l⁻¹ KCl to an artificial pondwater (APW) superfusion medium resulted in an increase in cell height. When the superfusion solution was made hyperosmotic (∼90 mmol · kg⁻¹ H₂O) by the addition of 45 mmol · l⁻¹ NaCl to APW, the cell height decreased by about 20–30% and there was no evidence of a regulatory volume increase over 20–30 min. In contrast, when 1 mmol · l⁻¹ KCl was added to the hyperosmotic medium the cell height always partially (40–50%) recovered. When the gill tissue was returned to APW following the hyperosmotic treatment the cells returned to the original cell height. Bivalve gills superfused with the hyperosmotic NaCl and KCl solution in the presence of 1 mmol · l⁻¹ ouabain experienced a similar 25% decrease in cell height. When the ouabain-treated tissues were returned to APW the cells swelled, overshooting the original cell height. These results indicate these freshwater bivalves have a limited ability for cellular volume regulation using inorganic ions, but depend on a suitable balance of Na⁺ and K⁺ in the environment to effect regulatory volume changes. Accepted: 17 October 1997     

Biochemical and egg size evolution of freshwater fishes in the Rhinogobius brunneus complex (Pisces, Gobiidae) in Okinawa, Japan

Many colour morphs have been recognized in the Rhinogobius brunneus complex. A recent electrophoretic study has revealed that some of the colour morphs are well differentiated from each other genetically. In Okinawa, egg-size and life-history variation has been found in addition to the colour variation in this species complex. To clarify the nature of this life-history variation, gobies of a fluviatile morph with large eggs as well as three other amphidromous morphs with small eggs, inhabiting a single stream sympatrically in Okinawa, were analysed by electrophoresis and the females were also used for comparison of egg and clutch sizes. Electrophoretic data for 34 loci showed that each morph was separated by a fixed-allele difference for at least one locus, indicating that the four morphs which occurred sympatrically are reproductively isolated from each other. However, Nei's genetic distance between the fluviatile morph and one of the amphidromous morphs was much smaller (0.026) than distances among amphidromous gobies (0.323-0.480). Egg size of the former was by far the largest among the four. These results imply that speciation of the fluviatile morph accompanied by the egg-size increase has been completed rapidly without considerable genetic differentiation.     

Occurrence,Growth and Food of Longheaded Eagle Ray, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aetobatus flagellum</Emphasis>, in Ariake Sound,Kyushu, Japan

Synopsis The longheaded eagle ray, Aetobatus flagellum, has recently increased significantly in numbers in Ariake Sound. It is assumed that it feeds on bivalves and so, to prevent predation by eagle rays on bivalves, a ‘predator control program’ aimed at reducing the ray population has been in place since 2001. We examined their occurrence, age, growth and food in Ariake Sound to obtain data on the ecology of the eagle ray and provide basic information on their potential impact on bivalve stocks in Ariake Bay. The eagle ray is a seasonal visitor to Ariake Sound, increasing in numbers from April, and peaking during the summer. None were captured during surveys in December and February. Their movement pattern around the bay differed according to sex. Pregnant females were caught in the estuary during August and September. Females grew to a larger size than males and apparently lived longer. The maximum ages were 19 years for females and 9 years for males. Growth until two years was similar in both sexes, but after 2 years females grew larger. The eagle ray fed only on bivalves, especially Ruditapes philippinarum and Atrina pectinata, very important fishery species farmed in Ariake Bay.     

Is there a threshold size regulating seaward migration of brown trout and Atlantic salmon?

We investigated the influence of variation in body size and growth rate on age of smolting in Atlantic salmon and brown trout in four different Norwegian rivers. In Atlantic salmon smolt ages varied between 2 and 6 years, and in brown trout between 2 and 7 years. Smolt age was negatively correlated with parr growth, and positively correlated with smolt size. Age at smolting was more variable in the two northern than the two southern rivers. Smolt sizes and ages were also more variable in brown trout than in Atlantic salmon. Based on the observed variation in smolt size and age, we reject the hypothesis that a threshold size alone regulates age at smolting. Within populations smolt age depends on growth rate so that fast-growing parr smolted younger and smaller than slow-growing parr. We hypothesize that smolt size and age is a trade-off between expected benefits and costs imposed by differences in individual growth rate.     

长、短期连续孤雌生殖对萼花臂尾轮虫生活史和遗传特征的影响

应用单个体培养、聚丙烯酰胺凝胶垂直板电泳技术和特异性染色方法,以具有明显生化遗传差异的3克隆萼花臂尾轮虫（Brachionus calyciflorus）为对象,对长期（世代数大于200）和短期（世代数约为12）连续孤雌生殖后的轮虫进行了生活史特征和等位酶（PGM,GPI,MDH）分析。结果表明,除3克隆轮虫的生殖后期历时和每个雌体一生中所产的后代数在长期和短期连续孤雌生殖后的个体之间均无显著的差异外（P>0.05）,其它生活史特征在长期和短期连续孤雌生殖后的个体之间的差异均因轮虫克隆的不同而异。克隆对轮虫的胚胎发育时间、幼体阶段历时、生殖期历时、平均寿命、轮虫每个雌体一生中所产的后代数、幼体大小和幼体的耐饥饿时间均有显著的影响（P<0.05）;连续孤雌生殖历期对轮虫幼体阶段历时、平均寿命、后代混交雌体百分率和幼体的耐饥饿时间均有显著的影响（P<0.05）;而克隆和连续孤雌生殖历期间的交互作用对轮虫的胚胎发育时间、生殖期历时、平均寿命、幼体大小和幼体的耐饥饿时间均有显著的影响（P<0.05）。长期连续孤雌生殖后的轮虫幼体阶段历时和幼体的耐饥饿时间均显著短于短期连续孤雌生殖后的轮虫,平均寿命显著长于短期连续孤雌生殖后的轮虫,后代混交雌体百分率显著高于短期连续孤雌生殖后的轮虫。3克隆轮虫在长期和短期连续孤雌生殖后其3种等位酶的酶谱均未出现明显的改变。     

Phenotypic similarity and differentiation among sympatric cryptic species in a freshwater amphipod species complex

1. Cryptic species diversity poses evolutionary questions about its origin and maintenance, and ecological questions about the coexistence of seemingly identical species. 2. We examine patterns of morphological and life history differentiation in three sympatric cryptic species of freshwater amphipods within the Hyalella azteca species complex. These species are separated by extensive molecular evolution, but appear similar in phenotype. Species were collected from the littoral zone of a small kettle lake in Michigan, U.S.A., and identified to species by molecular genetic methods. 3. Two of the species were similar, differing only in female size, whereas the third was larger in body size and had larger clutches of smaller eggs than the other two. There were differences between the species also in pleon spine length and antennal segment number. 4. An analysis of allozyme variation among the cryptic species in three lakes suggests that the species are reproductively isolated within lakes. 5. We suggest that phenotypic similarity of these species is maintained by size‐selective predation by fish. The small, but statistically significant, differences in body size may form the axis for a tradeoff between resource exploitation and predator avoidance, a condition that can foster coexistence of phenotypically similar species.     

高桥氏果蝇表型频率变化和胁迫相关性状的分析:季节性适应研究

[目的]昆虫中经常可见体色变化,但是关于其作用价值了解甚少.高桥氏果蝇Drosophila takahashii在遗传上表现出腹部黑化的不连续变化.为了测定生理性状是否可能受黑化的影响,我们调查了3个不同色型个体腹部黑化的变化和胁迫相关性状,检验了季节性环境条件将增强相应的季节性表型的适应性这一假说.[方法]从不同海拔地点采集高桥氏果蝇,对深色和浅色纯育品系的遗传杂交进行的孟德尔分析证实存在一个主要位点,为D等位基因显性.对种群以及3种色型果蝇的生理生态学性状进行了统计分析.[结果]在旱季观察到深色等位基因频率的显著增加,在雨季会出现体色较浅的果蝇,这说明气候选择起着重要作用.不过,在这两个季节中体色居中的果蝇均很多.中间色型的果蝇由于适应而表现出所有性状的F值均显著增加(P ＜0.001),但在深色和浅色纯育品系中未观察到这类适应效果(P≥0.42).[结论]通过不同性状的测定结果我们提出,在干冷胁迫条件下,在深色型中观察到显著更高的生理学耐性;而在湿热条件下,在浅色型中观察到显著更高的生理学耐性.有意思的是,中间表型在这两种条件下均有较强的适应能力.而且,我们发现温湿度的季节性改变给胁迫相关的性状施加了选择压力.     

Symposium review: International symposium on the implications of salmonid growth variation

In Aberdeen, Scotland, in July 2000, aninternational symposium was held to presentresearch concerning the consequences of growthvariation for the ecology, evolution, andmanagement of salmonid fish. Presentationscovered important topics including linksbetween growth and mortality, interactionsbetween growth and life history, tradeoffsbetween growth and other fitness aspects, andevolutionary implications of growth variation. In addition, the symposium served as a showcaseof new approaches and technologies in salmonidresearch. In this review, I provide anoverview of the presentations, and summarizesome of the major emergent themes of thesymposium.