The Energy Budget of Coral Polyps

We analyzed the recent data on the distribution of the photosynthetic energy of zooxanthellae in corals and the models of interactions between the plant and animal cells in the course of matter and energy exchange developed based on this information. The models of energy exchange of animals symbiotic with zooxanthellae are characterized by the following features: (1) A flow chart of carbon or energy fluxes is the main form of representation of the energetics in native symbiotic organisms. (2) The relations between the symbionts are relatively adequately revealed and correspond to the modern notions; however, the intensities of the energy fluxes ascribed to these relations are dependent on the experimental and design methods used by the authors. (3) The inputs into the energy budget consist of the autotrophic production of zooxanthellae and the heterotrophy of the polyp. The energy expenditures comprise excretion, respiration, development, and growth of the animal and algae. (4) The differences between the species, genera, and phyla of animals that develop symbiotic relations with zooxanthellae are confined to the absolute values of energy fluxes in the organism.     

Representing, storing and accessing molecular interaction data: a review of models and tools

One important aim within systems biology is to integrate disparate pieces of information, leading to discovery of higher-level knowledge about important functionality within living organisms. This makes standards for representation of data and technology for exchange and integration of data important key points for development within the area. In this article, we focus on the recent developments within the field. We compare the recent updates to the three standard representations for exchange of data SBML, PSI MI and BioPAX. In addition, we give an overview of available tools for these three standards and a discussion on how these developments support possibilities for data exchange and integration.     

Perceive, Co-opt, Modify, and Live! Organism as a Centre of Experience

Organic appearances are largely neglected by contemporary biology; partly because they are regarded as superficial effects of causes concealed beneath the surface. The persuasion that everything what does exist is existent for some immediately non-apparent reasons belongs to a general belief of modern science. All organisms are of the same evolutionary origin and of the same world wherein appearance coincides with existence. In this study, living beings are approached as appearing centers of experience that reflects their evolutionary history. From biohermeneutic point of view the evolution of organisms, interactions between organisms, and their relationships to environment is understood as “evolution of interpretations”. I use simple conceptual framework of perception, semiotic co-option, and modification to explain the evolution of semantic organs, i.e. organs that operate through the meaning that was given to them by an animal interpreter.     

Using direct calorimetry to test the accuracy of indirect calorimetry in an ectotherm

We previously demonstrated that the relationship between respiratory gas exchange and metabolic heat production is unexpectedly variable and that conventional approaches to estimating energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry can incorporate large errors. Prior studies, however, comparing direct and indirect calorimetry of animals focused only on endothermic organisms. Given that endothermy and ectothermy represent a fundamental dichotomy of animal energetics, in this analysis we explore how these contrasting physiologies correlate with the relationship between heat production and respiratory gas exchange. Simultaneous indirect and direct calorimetry in an ectotherm, the ball python (Python regius Shaw), revealed that the relationships between gas exchange and heat production were within 1% of those expected when analyses using indirect calorimetry were based on the assumption that the fasting animal catabolized only protein. This accuracy of indirect calorimetry contrasts sharply with our previous conclusions for three species of birds and mammals.     

Visualizing metal ions in cells: an overview of analytical techniques, approaches, and probes

Quantifying the amount and defining the location of metal ions in cells and organisms are critical steps in understanding metal homeostasis and how dyshomeostasis causes or is a consequence of disease. A number of recent advances have been made in the development and application of analytical methods to visualize metal ions in biological specimens. Here, we briefly summarize these advances before focusing in more depth on probes for examining transition metals in living cells with high spatial and temporal resolution using fluorescence microscopy. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Cell Biology of Metals.     

Performance of density functionals for the structure and energetics of (M–O)0,± (M=Al,Si, Sc–Zn)

We report the results of the performance of 20 exchange–correlation functionals of density functional theory (DFT) in the structure (Metal–Oxygen bond length) and energetical properties (bond dissociation energy, adiabatic ionisation energy, and adiabatic electron affinity) of twelve metal monoxides (M–O, M=Al, Si, Sc–Zn). The calculated results show that the selected DFT functionals have the ability to reproduce the M–O bond length with a mean deviation of 0.01–0.05 Å, the energy values are reproduced with a mean deviation of 0.20–1.00?eV. In general, the functionals with significant HF exchange show decent performance in the calculation of bond length and harmonic vibrational frequency. These functionals show poor performance in energetics. Our calculated results show that the M06-L, B3LYP, and TPSSh functionals give good performance in both structure and energetical properties of metal monoxides. These functionals are recommended for the studies of structure and energetics in metal oxide systems. Further, our studies indicate that M06-L can be used for the studies in larger molecular systems. Among the 20 DFT functionals, the recently developed N12 functional gives poor performance in the studies of metal monoxides. Hence this functional is not recommended for the studies of structure and energetics in metal oxide systems.     

Increase of efficiency of adaptations and attenuation of organism protective reactions in the process of biological evolution

The major trend in evolution of living organisms is development of the central nervous system and sense organs, an increase of energy exchange, development of homoiothermy and of increasingly more complex forms of behavior, an increase in energy expenditure in connection with a rise of body activity and with development of adaptation to habitat. Such fundamental processes of evolution were and still have been subjected to numerous investigations and discussions. However, in different animals there exist different species-specific peculiarities of evolution of physiological functions, from which eventually the fundamental evolutionary processes are formed. We studied some of these specific processes by separating them into two categories. The first category is “Rise in efficiency of adaptations” in development of biological evolution. By this term we mean development of the amazingly perfect specific physiological mechanisms of adaptive character. The second category is “Weakening of the protective body reactions” under which we mean disturbances of the protective mechanisms of the body immune system, uncoordinated leukocyte movement in microvessels, lack of effective collateral blood circulation in brain and heart, etc.     

The power of feeder-mask respirometry as a method for examining hummingbird energetics

Many birds spend important portions of their time and energy flying. For this reason, quantification of metabolic rates during flight is of crucial importance to understanding avian energy balance. Measurement of organismal gas exchange rates using a mask enclosing the whole head or respiratory orifices has served as an important tool for studying animal energetics because it can free the rest of the body, permitting movement. Application of so-called “mask respirometry” to the study of avian forward flight energetics presents unique challenges because birds must be tethered to gas analysis equipment thus typically necessitating use of a wind tunnel. Resulting potential alterations to a study organism's behaviour, physiology, and aerodynamics have made interpretation of such studies contentious. In contrast, the study of hovering flight energetics in hummingbirds using a specialized form of mask respirometry is comparatively easy and can be done without a wind tunnel. Small size, hovering flight, and a nectarivorous diet are characteristics shared by all hummingbird species that make these birds ideally suited for this approach. Specifically, nectar feeders are modified to function as respirometry masks hummingbirds voluntarily respire into when hover-feeding. Feeder-mask based respirometry has revealed some of the highest vertebrate metabolic rates in hovering hummingbirds. In this review I discuss techniques for the successful measurement of metabolic rate using feeder-mask respirometry. I also emphasize how this technique has been used to address fundamental questions regarding avian flight energetics such as capacities for fuel use and mechanisms by which ecology, behaviour and energy balance are linked.     

Ion exchange of amino acids at a natural organic ion exchanger: Thermodynamics and energetics

The thermodynamics and energetics of the ion exchange of four amino acids at a cellulosic ion exchanger have been studied. Experimental work included determination of ion exchange isotherms and the use of high-sensitivity titration microcalorimetry. A rigorous thermodynamic analysis of the data was developed allowing calculation of the standard free energy, the standard enthalpy, and standard entropy of exchange, and also the differential free energy, incremental enthalpy, and incremental entropy of exchange. The results show that the relative contributions of the enthalpy and entropy to the overall free energy differ markedly for the chosen amino acids. The reasons for these differences are analyzed and discussed. A knowledge of these fundamental thermodynamic properties indicates the solution conditions likely to give enhanced affinity of the ion exchanger for selected amino acids. The experimental techniques and analysis procedures developed are generally applicable to ion exchange separations of biomolecules. (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Molecular classification of living organisms

Recent studies in molecular evolution have generated strong conflicts in opinion as to how world living organisms should be classified. The traditional classification of life into five kingdoms has been challenged by the molecular analysis carried out mostly on rRNA sequences, which supported the division of the extant living organisms into three major groups: Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, and Eukaryota. As to the problem of placing the root of the tree of life, the analysis carried out on a few genes has provided discrepant results. In order to measure the genetic distances between species, we have carried out an evolutionary analysis of the glutamine synthetase genes, which previously have been revealed to be good molecular clocks, and of the small and large rRNA genes. All data demonstrate that archaebacteria are more closely related to eubacteria than to eukaryota, thus supporting the classical division of living organisms into two main superkingdoms, Prokaryota and Eukaryota.Abbreviations Mya million years ago - GS glutamine synthetase - Isu large subunit - ssu small subunit - SMC Stationary Markov clock Correspondence to: G. Pesole     

Telemetry tags increase the costs of swimming in northern fur seals,Callorhinus ursinus

Animal‐borne instruments have become a standard tool for collecting important data from marine mammals. However, few studies have examined whether placement of these data loggers affects the behavior and energetics of individual animals, potentially leading to biasing data. We measured the effect of two types of relatively small data loggers (<1% of animals’ mass and front profile) on the swimming speeds and energy expenditure of four female northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) while swimming at depth. Swim speeds and rates of oxygen consumption were measured as the trained fur seals repeatedly swam an underwater circuit, with or without the tags. We found the placement of either tested tag significantly affected both the behavior and energetics of the fur seals in our study. Diving metabolic rate increased an average of 8.1%–12.3% (depending on tag type) and swim speed decreased an average of 3.0%–6.0% when wearing the tags. The combined changes in velocities and metabolic rates resulted in a 12.0%–19.0% increase in the total energy required by the fur seals to swim a set distance. The demonstrated effects of tags on behavior and energy expenditure may bias data sets from wild animals and potentially incur longer‐term impacts on the studied animals.     

Origin of the scaling rule for fundamental living organisms based on thermodynamics

The regular relationships between metabolic energy and body mass M of unicellular organisms, poikilotherms and homeotherms were well known as general equations. The metabolic energy rate and the life span are proportional to M(0.75) and to M(0.25), respectively. As a result, the product of the metabolic energy rate and the life time, namely, life metabolic energy, is proportional to the mass of the living organism. The origin of the scaling rules for environmental organizing systems is as follows: (1) the scaling rules for internal energy, activation energy and free energy as a function of temperature and mass of a mole of molecules. (2) The majority of species of the living organisms have the same molecules such as polysaccharides, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids in nearly same the ratio. (3) The internal energy of reactants in living organisms is equilibrium with the internal energy of water. Then, the integrated metabolic energy over the synthesizing time depends on internal energy of water and is proportional to mass M, despite the synthesizing time of the system depending on reaction rate. The proportional constant is obtained based on the thermodynamics for fundamental living organisms such as unicellular organisms and plants. Information on the environmental organizing system is also discussed.     

Unravelling the effects of elevated temperature on the physiological energetics of Bellamya bengalensis

Temperature is one of the key environmental factors affecting the eco-physiological responses of living organisms and is considered one of the utmost crucial factors in shaping the fundamental niche of a species. The purpose of the present study is to delineate the physiological response and changes in energy allocation strategy of Bellamya bengalensis, a freshwater gastropod in the anticipated summer elevated temperature in the future by measuring the growth, body conditions (change in total weight, change in organ to flesh weight ratio), physiological energetics (ingestion rate, absorption rate, respiration rate, excretion rate and Scope for Growth) and thermal performance, Arrhenius breakpoint temperature (ABT), thermal critical maxima (CTmax), warming tolerance (WT) as well as thermal safety margin (TSM) through a mesocosm experiment. We exposed the animals to three different temperatures, 25 °C (average habitat temperature for this animal) and elevated temperatures 30 °C, 35 °C for 30 days and changes in energy budget were measured twice (on 15th and 30th day). Significant changes were observed in body conditions as well as physiological energetics. The total body weight as well as the organ/flesh weight ratio, ingestion followed by absorption rate decreased whereas, respiration and excretion rate increased with elevated temperature treatments resulting in a negative Scope for Growth in adverse conditions. Though no profound impact was found on ABT/CTmax, the peak of thermal curve was considerably declined for animals that were reared in higher temperature treatments. Our data reflects that thermal stress greatly impact the physiological functioning and growth patterns of B. bengalensis which might jeopardize the freshwater ecosystem functioning in future climate change scenario.     

气候变化条件下全氟化合物对海岸带可持续发展的影响及管控策略

海岸带生态系统为人类提供了食物、水等丰富的物质以及文化、休闲等生态系统服务。但由于全氟化合物等污染物的排放和气候变化的影响,海岸带地区环境日益恶化、资源枯竭、极端气候灾害加剧。这些问题直接导致了海岸带水质下降、近海生物多样性减少、生物群落结构变化,海岸带生态系统可持续发展受到影响。全氟化合物在自然环境中难以降解,会沿食物链在生物体内累积和放大进而对人类健康造成风险。随着氟化工产业在我国的快速发展、新型全氟化合物的不断更替以及气候变化的加剧,全氟化合物对海岸带生态的影响面临着极大的不确定性。为了更好地服务海岸带生态系统的可持续发展,目前仍需要加快完善立法保障,在全国范围内对全氟化合物进行监测;将海洋与陆地作为一个有机整体,统筹陆地影响和海岸带管控,严格控制污染物的排放。     

青藏高原小型哺乳动物的生理生态学研究：从个体到生态系统

本文回顾了青藏高原小型哺乳动物生理生态学研究取得的主要成就,包括能量代谢特征与环境适应性、适应性产热与体温调节、能量平衡与体重调节、生理极限值和种群能流估算等,总结了近年一些新兴领域的最新进展,包括双标记水方法测定能量消耗、肠道菌群的功能、地理生理学、种群生理学、植物次生代谢产物及其生理功能等。有些工作引领了中国动物生理生态学的发展,如生态能量学、适应性产热和生理适应等。本文对未来需要发展的领域和深入方面提出了建议,希望能建立青藏高原小型哺乳动物生理生态学学科体系。     

Manganous ion supplementation accelerates wild type development, enhances stress resistance, and rescues the life span of a short-lived Caenorhabditis elegans mutant

Relative to iron and copper we know very little about the cellular roles of manganese. Some studies claim that manganese acts as a radical scavenger in unicellular organisms, while there have been other reports that manganese causes Parkinson's disease-like syndrome, DNA fragmentation, and interferes with cellular energy production. The goal of this study was to uncover if manganese has any free radical scavenging properties in the complex multicellular organism, Caenorhabditis elegans. We measured internal manganese in supplemented worms using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the data obtained suggest that manganese supplemented to the growth medium is taken up by the worms. We found that manganese did not appear to be toxic as supplementation did not negatively effect development or fertility. In fact, supplementation at higher levels accelerated development and increased total fertility of wild type worms by 16%. Manganese-supplemented wild type worms were found to be thermotolerant and, under certain conditions, long-lived. In addition, the oxidatively challenged C. elegans strain mev-1's short life span was significantly increased after manganese supplementation. Although manganese appears to be beneficial to C. elegans, the mode of action remains unclear. Manganese may work directly as a free radical scavenger, as it has been postulated to do so in unicellular organisms, or may work indirectly by up regulating several protective factors.     

城市化对生物多样性的影响研究综述

城市化正在全球范围内迅速发展。城市的发展不但极大程度地改变了生物的生存环境,而且导致生物多样性的急剧变化。在概述城市生态环境特点的基础上,综述了城市化对生物多样性的影响,并分析了乡村-城市生物多样性分布格局特征,同时为进一步研究城市化对生物多样性的影响提出了几点建议。