Microbial introductions to apple leaves: Influences of altered immigration on fungal community dynamics

Fungal immigration to apple leaves in the field was altered by the introduction of populations ofChaetomium globosum orAureobasidium pullulans to surface-disinfested leaves either immediately following, or 6 days after, disinfestation. Total numbers of fungal individuals and numbers of filamentous fungal and yeast individuals were estimated and compared over time for 4–7 weeks on control leaves (leaves disinfested but no populations applied), onAureobasidium-treated, and onChaetomium-treated leaves. Fungal communities developing on leaves during three experiments in two different time frames (experiment 1: July 9–August 27; experiments 2 and 3: July 29–August 27), and thus under different immigration regimes, were also compared. Survival of introduced populations was not related to the presence of prior fungal immigrants. Rates of increase in total numbers of fungi and numbers of filamentous fungi and yeasts per leaf varied among experiments, apparently in relation to differences in immigration and environmental history. Differences among leaves in immigration had a short-term (days) influence on community size. However, no long-term effects of altered immigration on phylloplane fungal community size were evident.     

The distribution of bacteria and fungal spores in Blelham Tarn with particular reference to an experimental overturn

Summary During an experimental overturn at Blelham Tarn, surface water bacteria and fungal spore contents (determined by plating) ranged from 600–6,000 and from 0.3–30 per ml respectively. Following heavy rainfall however, bacterial numbers rose to over 10,000 and fungal spore numbers to over 100 per ml. These high concentrations normally extended down to the thermocline but not below it. The evidence was that particulate matter washed in by rain, and presumably carrying an attached bacterial and fungal flora, was largely lost to the lake through the outflow stream and did not sediment through to the hypolimnion.     

Recruitment and post-recruit immigration affect the local population size of coral reef fishes

 This study quantifies the contributions of larval recruitment and post-recruit (juvenile and adult) immigration to net increases in population size for 150 species of fishes found on ten isolated coral patches or ‘bommies’ (108–267 m²) within a typical reef of the Great Barrier Reef system. At least one third of the total number of recruits and immigrants to all bommies were post-recruit fishes, and movement between bommies in 136 species was detected at some time during the 22 month sampling period. The relative numbers of recruits and post-recruit immigrants per species varied widely within the assemblage, and between the replicate bommies. Populations of 95 species received both types of immigrants, 41 species had only post-recruit immigrants, and 14 species received only larval recruitment. In most species, recruitment occurred over the austral summer between October and February, while post-recruit movements occurred in both summer and winter. Rates of post-recruit immigration varied temporally within bommies, and pulses of post-recruits were less temporally concordant between bommies than pulses of recruits. This study is further evidence that post-settlement processes can have a significant effect on the local population size of reef fishes. Accepted: 30 January 1997     

Restoration of Tropical Peat Swamp Rotifer Communities after Perturbation: an Experimental Study of Recovery of Rotifers from the Resting Egg Bank

In order to assess the recovery potential of tropical freshwater communities after disturbance, we performed an experimental study on the effects of exposure conditions and durations of storage on hatching of rotifer resting eggs in sediment. Well-mixed surface sediment samples from Mai Khao peat swamp on Phuket Island, Thailand, were stored under three conditions (cold –4 °C & dark: CD; ambient –32–42 °C & dark: AD; and ambient & daylight conditions: AL), for different periods of time (1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months).The number of species hatching from the sediment was significantly affected by treatment for both short- (1–6 months) and long-term (6–20 months) exposure. Significant effects of short- and long-term exposure within treatments were also present. Both factors interacted significantly. Regarding numbers of specimens hatching, no short-term effects of differences in treatment condition were found, but increasing the duration did have an effect. Significant effects of treatment occurred after 6 months, in addition to prolonged effects of duration. Again, both factors interacted significantly. These experiments indicate that exposure time has a strong impact on the viability of resting eggs, whereas, an effect of exposure condition appears only after 6 months. So, recovery of rotifer communities from resident sediment egg banks in disturbed peat swamps can only be effectively attained when restoration occurs within a relatively short period after perturbation.     

Variation in relative growth rate of 20 Aegilops species (Poaceae) in the field: The importance of net assimilation rate or specific leaf area depends on the time scale

Field experiments reporting the relative growth rate (RGR) patterns in plants are scarce. In this study, 22 herbaceous species (20 Aegilops species, Amblyopyrum muticum and Triticum aestivum) were grown under field conditions to assess their RGR, and to find out if the differences in RGR amongst species were explained by morphological or physiological traits. Plants were cultivated during two months, and five harvests (every 13–19 days) were carried out. Factors explaining between-species differences in RGR varied, depending on whether short (13–19 days) or longer periods (62 days) were considered. RGR for short periods (4 growth periods of 13–19 days each) showed a positive correlation with net assimilation rate (NAR), but there was no significant correlation with leaf area ratio (LAR) (with the exception of the first growth period). In contrast, when growth was investigated over two months, RGR was positively correlated with morphological traits (LAR, and specific leaf area, SLA), but not with physiological traits (NAR). A possible explanation for these contrasting results is that during short growth periods, NAR exhibited strong variations possibly caused by the variable field conditions, and, consequently NAR mainly determined RGR. In contrast, during a longer growth period (62 days) the importance of NAR was not apparent (there was no significant correlation between RGR and NAR), while allocation traits, such as LAR and SLA, became most relevant.     

Immigration in wild groups of golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia)

Seventeen territorial groups of wild golden lion tamarins were monitored for periods of 10–76 months. Immigration into established groups was rare (0.48 immigrating individuals per group per year) and occurred mostly in the context of replacement of breeding individuals. Nonreplacement immigration events usually occurred in conjunction with some other change in group composition (e.g., an emigration or another immigration). Aggression by resident tamarins toward potential immigrants appeared to be the proximate factor limiting movement into groups. Most such aggression was intrasexual, but potential female immigrants were sometimes chased by male as well as female residents. Immigration was highly male biased (85% of individuals). Factors possibly contributing to this bias were inheritance of breeding positions by adult daughters (reducing female and increasing male immigration opportunities), ability of males but not females to join groups already containing a same-sex breeding individual, and the fact that potential female immigrants appeared to face some intersexual as well as intrasexual aggression. Male and female roles in the maintenance of a monogynous mating system are considered in light of these results. Contrasts with data from intruder studies on captive golden lion tamarins [French & Inglett, Animal Behaviour 37:487–497, 1989] are discussed. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

An improved method for rearing Halotydeus destructor (Acari: Penthaleidae) in the laboratory

We developed an improved method for rearing Halotydeus destructor in the laboratory. Mite numbers increased rapidly over the summer of 1992–1993 when fed on vetch, Vicia sativa cv Blanchefleur; in contrast mite numbers were low and fell over the second half of the summer of 1990–91 when fed on subterranean clover, Trifolium subterraneum cv Junee. On V. sativa at a fluctuating temperature from 11 to 18°C 200 mites produced a mean of 1308 and 1455 progeny per transfer in 2 years, a 6–7-fold rate of increase per transfer. The mean transfer time was 35 days and using the interval between transfers as a measure of generation time, the mites completed six to seven generations with no evidence for development of diapause eggs from August until April. There was considerable variability in the numbers of mites produced per pot, associated in part with the presence of Verticillium sp. fungus in 35% of the pots during transfers. Improvement in H. destructor rearing resulted from the use of V. sativa cv Blanchefleur as a food source, maintenance of high humidity and adequate ventilation within cages, and the transfer of mites to fresh food sources at early nymphal stages, which reduced the spread of fungal infections.     

Interactions between fungi,bacteria and beech leaves in a stream microcosm

Summary Immigration and colonization of isolates of naturally occurring stream bacteria and hyphomycetes on beech leaves were studied in a laboratory stream microcosm. Fungal spores were more successful immigrants, especially on new leaves, than bacteria, which were more repelled than attracted by the substrate. Fewer bacteria immigrated to older leaves than to new, and bacteria multiplied faster in water than on leaves. Fungi and bacteria showed synergistic relationships so that each group grew significantly faster in presence of the other group. If one considers, differences in immigration, colonization and synergism patterns, fungal mycelia doubled about 10 times faster than bacterial cells which might explain the dominance of fungi usually found on leaves in early decay. The individual fungal species could be assigned to one of three colonization groups; one of fugitive species, preceding a second group of species that grew from rarity to dominance, and a third group of very slow colonizers. The leachate was fractionated in different molecular size classes by gel chromatography, and the fraction around 2500D in the new leaf leachate was associated with a high concentration of polyphenols. High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed the presence of 16 phenolic acids in the new leaf leachate at concentrations ranging from < 1 to 640 g l^–1. All fungi except the species with the slowest growth rate grew faster on leachate with the fraction around 2500D removed, and the density of bacteria was significantly reduced when pure stream water was supplemented with compounds from the same fraction.     

The effect of age on nitrogen stress and its relation to leaf nitrogen and leaf elongation in a grass

Summary Nitrogen stress inLolium rigidum was measured 5 times during the 8 weeks following emergence.Symptoms of nitrogen deficiency appeared when the stress was greater than 40 per cent. Stresses lower than this were accurately estimated either by the concentration of total nitrogen, or free ninhydrin nitrogen in the youngest fully expanded leaf, or by a leaf elongation index.Each of these estimators could be used for diagnosis of nitrogen stress with a single calibration curve, respectively, over the following minimum periods after emergence: total nitrogen — 6 weeks; free ninhydrin nitrogen –4th to the 8th week; leaf elongation — 4th to the 9th week.Preliminary calibration tables are given for the symptom-free range of nitrogen deficiency.     

Long-term dynamics of aboveground fungal communities in a subalpine Norway spruce forest under elevated nitrogen input

As anthropogenic N deposition has been suspected to be the main reason for the decline of macromycetous sporocarp production in forest ecosystems, various N-fertilization experiments were started in the mid 1990s. The dynamics of ectomycorrhizal (root-inhabiting) and terricolous saprobic (litter-inhabiting) fungal communities were studied by exhaustive sporocarp inventories in a substitution Norway spruce (Picea abies) forest in two 256-m² plots sampled for periods of 1 week at 1-m² resolution between 1994 and 2007. N was added to the soil twice per year in one plot from the fourth year onwards. The effects of N input and time on aboveground fungal communities were assessed using redundancy analysis, principal response curves and non-parametric multivariate ANOVA. Results of this long-term experiment revealed that both ectomycorrhizal and saprobic fungal communities responded to an increase in soil N input. The ectomycorrhizal community reacted by a fast decrease in sporocarp production and in species richness, whereas the saprobic community was less affected. The response was highly species specific, especially for the saprobic community. The difference in species composition between control and fertilized plots was significant after 1 year of N addition for ectomycorrhizal fungi and only after 3 years for saprobic fungi. An aging effect affected sporocarp production in the whole area. For both communities, this unidirectional drift in species composition was as important as the treatment effect. This result highlights the importance of considering the respective role of treatment and year effects in long-term field experiments on fungal communities.     

Population changes of Antarctic fur seals at Nyrøysa, Bouvetøya

Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella pup production at Nyrøysa, Bouvetøya was estimated to be approximately 15,000 per annum during each of four summers from 1996 to 2002, indicating a total population of about 66,000. While the Bouvetøya population is the second largest for this species, pup production at this site still accounts for only 2.4% of the global total. This population experienced a mean annual rate of increase of 30.6% for the period 1989–1996, perhaps due, in part, to significant immigration, but has been stable since 1996. Historical accounts of significant numbers of animals being present towards the end of the period of sealing (C.1800–1930), indicate that the geographic isolation and inaccessibility of this site may have resulted in the Bouvetøya population being one of three populations that survived a series of periods of extreme exploitation of this species.     

Eriophyoid mite damage in Vitis vinifera (grapevine) in Australia: Calepitrimerus vitis and Colomerus vitis (Acari: Eriophyidae) as the common cause of the widespread ‘Restricted Spring Growth’ syndrome

Leaf and shoot distortions and retarded shoot growth in Vitis vinifera L. prevalent in Australian vineyards in early spring, were investigated in replicated field experiments over 3 yrs. Leaf distortion and retarded shoot growth were identified as damage due to feeding of extremely high populations of over-wintered deutogynes of Calepitrimerus vitis (Nalepa) (grape rust mite). This damage was hitherto known in Australia as Restricted Spring Growth (RSG), a syndrome comprising several growth abnormality symptoms, none with a clearly identified cause or a successful treatment. A successful treatment against C. vitis was used to selectively eliminate RSG, while C. vitis numbers were recorded using a validated trapping technique; intercepting deutogynes migrating from winter shelters in the wooden vine structure, to emerging green tissues. Severe leaf distortion was associated with >400 C. vitis deutogynes per spur, while >1000 per spur had the added effect of severely retarding shoot growth. A 43.0–47.2% shoot length reduction was recorded for Cabernet Sauvignon, 27.1–32.8% for Sauvignon Blanc, when 4–6 leaves were separated. Symptoms were most prominent up to 8–9 separated leaves, however 24.7–30.4% shoot length reduction was still evident at flowering, and 12.8% circa fruit set. C. vitis effect on vine fruitfulness, and yield parameters at fruit set, were also studied. Once successfully treated to prevent C. vitis damage, poor bud burst remained evident in some vineyards. Surveys of unburst buds from such vineyards revealed presence of Colomerus vitis (Pagenstecher) (grape bud mite). When Col. vitis numbers in unburst buds reached 100–500 per bud, apical meristems of primary, and commonly also secondary buds were dead, preventing bud burst. The remaining living scale tissue was distinctly scarred. Bud and associated shoot damage were documented. Retarded shoot growth and leaf distortion, previously attributed to RSG, are misdiagnosed C. vitis spring feeding damage. Clustered high infestations of Col. vitis can cause bud-axis necrosis, bud burst failure, shoots with short basal internodes, and short, thin, zigzagged shoots with absent fruit clusters; all previously considered RSG.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Conduction of excitation in the cat visual system

Unit responses in area 17 of the visual cortex to stimulation of the lateral geniculate body and optic tract were studied in experiments on unanesthetized cats immobilized with D-tubocurarine. Of the neurons tested, 53.6% responded to stimulation of the lateral geniculate body. In 92% of these cells the responses were orthodromic with latent periods of between 2 and 12.5 msec. Most cells responded with latent periods of 2.0–2.5, 3.0–3.5, and 4.0–4.5 msec, corresponding to latent periods of the components of the electropositive wave of the primary response. Antidromic responses to stimulation of the lateral geniculate body were given by 8% of neurons. The difference between the latent periods of responses of the same visual cortical neurons to stimulation of the optic tract and lateral geniculate body was 0.1–1.8 msec, but for most neurons (55.8%) it was 0.5–1 msec. The histograms of response latencies of visual cortical neurons to stimulation of the above-mentioned formations were found to be similar. It is concluded that the optic radiation contains three principal groups of fibers with conduction velocities of 28.5–16.6, 11.7–8.9, and 7.4–6.0 m/sec, respectively.A. A. Bogomolets Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Kiev. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 7, No. 6, pp. 589–596, November–December, 1975.     

Epidemiology of Leprosy in Spain: The Role of the International Migration

BackgroundAlthough incidence of leprosy in Spain has declined steadily over the years, the fivefold increase in immigration since the turn of the century—much of it from countries where leprosy is still prevalent—has been linked to an uptick in registered cases.ObjectiveTo describe the epidemiologic trends of incident leprosy cases detected in Spain among Spanish- and foreign-born population groups.MethodsObservational, retrospective study of suspected leprosy cases in Spain, as reported through the System of Compulsory Notification of Diseases from 2003 to 2013, with results disaggregated by country of birth. We collected statistical data on leprosy burden for other countries from WHO to estimate the expected number of imported cases.ResultsOf the 168 leprosy cases registered during the study period, 40 (24.6%) were in Spanish patients, while 128 (76.2%) were detected in legally resident immigrants. We identified a significantly higher number of imported leprosy cases during the 2008–2010 and 2011–2013 trienniums compared to the reference biennium 2003–2004 (OR 5.38, 95% CI 1.83–14.88 and OR 4.80, 95% CI 1.41–16.33, respectively). Most imported cases were diagnosed in Latin American immigrants (71.9%), especially Brazilians, but also Paraguayans, Bolivians and other nationalities from South and Central America. However, registered incidence was lower than expected for each year. For example, in 2003, the expected new cases in immigrants was 47.12, compared to only four cases that were actually detected (a 91% difference). Likewise, we expected to find 49.6 incident cases among immigrants in 2009, but only 15 new cases were reported (60% fewer than expected).ConclusionImported cases of leprosy are responsible for most leprosy incidence in Spain, and we cannot rule out some under-diagnosis. Clinicians should be made more aware of the potential for leprosy incidence among patients from countries where the disease is endemic.     

Fish Communities of the Lower Fraser River (Canada) and a 21-year Contrast

Fish communities were sampled at 14 sites along the lower 120km of the Fraser River, British Columbia by beach seine four times in 1972–1973 and three times in 1993–1994. Of the 37 species collected, peamouth chub, largescale sucker, starry flounder, and northern squawfish were predominant in either density or biomass. Densities and biomass of most species and all fish combined were higher in 1993–1994. Strong rank correlations of species abundance or biomass indicated that the overall fish community structure was very similar in both periods. At smaller spatial scales (reaches of 2–3 sites) and shorter time scales (by season), less than half the comparisons showed any significant correlation indicating changes in community composition. Largescale sucker, one of the largest contributors to biomass in both periods, showed decreased abundance, i.e., lower density, lower biomass, and large differences in the size-frequency distribution, specifically very low representation of small size classes. Other species, especially small-bodied forms, generally increased in numbers. Despite large changes in the lower Fraser River ecosystem in the past 21 years, the overall fish community has shown remarkably little change over that interval.     

Storage fungi and seed health of rice: A study in the Philippines

Fifty seed samples of different rice varieties stored in warehouses for varying periods (1–28 months) were collected and screened for their fungal flora, using standard blotter and agar plate methods, resulting in the isolation of 36 fungal forms. The samples were also studied for moisture content, germinability, and seedling abnormalities. Significant correlations were found among the numbers of fungi, storage period, and germinability. Fourteen samples, seven each of IR64 and IR66 were studied with regard to moisture content, germination test, abnormal seedlings, speed of germination, conductance of leachates, total dehydrogenase activity, total free amino acids, total soluble sugar, fat acidity, gelatinization temperature, gel consistency, amylose content, translucency, and per cent whiteness. Significant relationships were found between the fungi and the parameters studied.     

Investigations into the soil mycoecology of Chambal ravines of India

Summary The present investigation deals with the seasonal succession of fungal communities in wheat fields. The studies were performed during the year 1975–76 and involved four study seasons,viz. winter (1975), summer (1975), rainy (1975) and winter (1976). The observations during two winter seasons were done to find out whether or not fungal communities exhibit definite cyclic pattern. Of the 69 isolated species, 25 showed wider ecological amplitude whereas some species were specific of a particular season. Each season was marked by different fungal mycoflora. The population ofAspergillus terreus, a dominant member of the community, along with many other autochthonous species, exhibited a definite periodicity during various seasons. Seasonal variations in the fungal communities, variations in the extent of similarity among the fungal communities during various seasons and the impact of climatic conditions on the components of fungal communities are discussed.     

Factors Affecting Party Size in Chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains

We studied factors affecting party size and composition of wild chimpanzees at Mahale (M group) over an 11-month period. Parties with 1–5 individuals were most frequent (37.8%; 153/405 parties); they included 94.7% of all male parties (n = 76) and 81.3% of all female parties (n = 75). The median of monthly values was the standard for analysis. We divided the year into four periods based on the median size of monthly bisexual parties (30.9 individuals; includes both males and females): monthly bisexual party sizes were larger in May–June (period II) and October–January (period IV) and smaller in February–April (period I) and July–September (period III). Only bisexual parties changed in size with period. The number of fruit items (=species) eaten was fewer in periods II and IV when abundance per item appeared to be great. The sizes of bisexual parties, which included cycling females with maximal anogenital swelling, were larger, and their representation (%) in all bisexual parties was greater in periods III and IV. The numbers of both cycling females and cycling females with maximal anogenital swelling were also larger in periods III and IV. The percentage of cycling females with maximal anogenital swelling was greater in periods II and III. The results of this study and those of Nishida (1979) suggest that seasonal variation in party size of Mahale chimpanzees maintains a relatively consistent annual cycle. The factors assumed to affect party sizes are fruit availability and the presence of cycling females with maximal anogenital swelling.     

High annual variability in reproductive success and survival of an Antarctic seabird,the snow petrel Pagodroma nivea

Demographic parameters were estimated for snow petrels Pagodroma nivea nesting at Pointe Géologie Archipelago, Adélie Land, Antarctica between 1963 and 1990; 21 years of data on adult survival and 27 years of data on breeding success are available. The average age of first return and first breeding were 8.1 and 9.9 years respectively and there was no signifcant difference between the sexes. The overall breeding success averaged 51.3% and was very variable between years (21–80%). Breeding failure was mostly due to incubation failure and annual breeding success was negatively correlated with average snow falls in October–November and October–March. Breeding frequency was very low, averaging 52% of seasons during a reproductive lifetime. Good quality sites, with high occupancy rate and high breeding success were few in the study plots. Poor years in 1966–1967, 1976–1977 and 1983–1984, with low breeding success, very low proportions of nets with breeding attempts and high numbers of non-breeders, occurred 1 year after large-scale El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. Snow petrels exhibited very low philopatry. Only 45 birds have been recovered in the study plots from a total of 1115 banded fledglings giving an estimated rate of return of 12.9% between fledging and 3 years old. Annual survival between 3 and 10 years was 91.4%. Annual adult survival (93.4%), though variable, was low during poor years of 1977–1978 and 1983–1984. Adult survival of males (94.7%) was not significantly different from that of females (93.9%). Over the study period, the population of Pointe Géologie was stable. Using the estimated parameters, a Leslie model gave a growth rate of 0.948%, which was probably compensated by immigration (5.7% per year). Restricted numbers of good-quality sites at the place of birth could have led young birds to prospect other colonies and could have selected low philopatry. High adult survival, strong site tenacity and capacity to spread breeding over a long lifetime are probably part of the adaptive strategy of this small fulmarine petrel facing highly variable environmental conditions.     

Effects of Fungal Inocula and Habitat Conditions on Alder and Eucalyptus Leaf Litter Decomposition in Streams of Northern Spain

We investigated how fungal decomposer (aquatic hyphomycetes) communities colonizing alder and eucalyptus leaf litter respond to changes in habitat characteristics (transplantation experiment). We examined the breakdown of leaf materials and the associated fungal communities at two contrasting sites, a headwater stream (H) and a midreach (M). Agroforestry increased from headwater to midreach. One month after the start of experiments at both sites, some leaf samples from the midreach site were transplanted to the headwater site (M–H treatment). Although both sites showed similar dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations, eucalyptus leaves initially incubated at the midreach site (M, M–H) increased their breakdown rate compared to those incubated along the experiment at the headwater site (H). Alder breakdown rate was not enhanced, suggesting that their consumption was not limited by nutrient availability. Sporulation rates clearly differed between leaf types (alder > eucalyptus) and streams (H > M), but no transplantation effect was detected. When comparing conidial assemblages after transplantation, an inoculum effect (persistence of early colonizing species) was clear in both leaf species. Substrate preference and shifts in the relative importance of some fungal species along the process were also observed. Overall, our results support the determining role of the initial conditioning phase on the whole litter breakdown process, highlighting the importance of intrinsic leaf characteristics and those of the incubation habitat.