Conchospore production and seasonal occurrence of some Porphyra species (Bangiales,Rhodophyta) in Washington State

The leafy thalli of species of the marine red algal genus Porphyra grow rapidly but persist for a relatively short time on rocky intertidal or subtidal substrata or as epiphytes on other marine plants. In most species, the large, short-lived leafy thalli alternate with small, presumably perennial, filamentous conchocelis plants. Depending on the species of northeastern Pacific Porphyra, photoperiod and temperature are important regulators of conchospore formation and release. Data from laboratory studies of conchospore formation and release in five Washington species of Porphyra (P. abottae, P. nereocystis, P. perforata, P. pseudolanceolata and P. torta) indicate that conchospores are most likely to be released at a time that precedes the appearance of the leafy thalli in the field.     

An evaluation of species relationships in the Porphyra perforata complex (Bangiales,Rhodophyta) using starch gel electrophoresis

Traditional morphological features have formed the basis for distinguishing species of Porphyra. Among these features are number of cell layers, number of chloroplasts per cell, arrangement of reproductive structures on the thallus, and overall morphology. Chromosome number and chromosome morphology have helped corroborate some species identities. A survey of northeast Pacific species of Porphyra using starch gel electrophoresis of 15 soluble proteins has shown that electrophoretic banding patterns provide a reliable diagnostic tool for species identification. Data from starch gel electrophoresis are presented to confirm the identities of species formerly associated with the Porphyra perforata species-complex in British Columbia and northern Washington. Porphyra abbottae, P. fallax, P. kanakaensis, and P. torta are recognized as distinct species, and Porphyra sanjuanensis is synonymized with P. perforata.     

EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND DESICCATION ON THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC PERFORMANCE OF PORPHYRA PERFORATA

Porphyra perforata is a common seaweed inhabiting the upper intertidal zone, and as a consequence it experiences great fluctuations in tissue temperature and desiccation. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of ambient temperature and the tissue desiccation status on the photosynthetic performance of P. perforata. Photosynthetic performance was evaluated polarographically after the temperature or desiccation treatments. Maximum photosynthesis (P_max) occurred between 25 and 30° C and decreased at higher and lower temperatures, however, no significant differences were observed in the initial slope of photosynthesis (α) from 10 to 30° C. This suggests that the photosynthetic efficiency of this species does not decrease as a result of fluctuating temperatures during tidal emergence/submergence. P_max and α were relatively constant in tissue of P. perforata with 5 to 100% relative water content. This also suggests that natural desiccation rates during low tides do not decrease photosynthetic rates in this species. Variations in the synthesis of specific proteins as a result of fluctuations in temperature and relative water content in the tissue of P. perforata are being studied.     

Maintenance of zonation patterns in two species of flat periwinkle,Littorina obtusata and L. mariae

The zonation patterns of Littorina obtusata (L.) and Littorina mariae Sacchi et Rastelli were shown to be quite distinct on a sheltered rocky shore. L. obtusata was found at all the heights sampled; it reached peak numbers at mid shore on the alga Ascophyllum nodosum L. (Le Jol). There was no difference in the tidal height occupied by adults or juveniles; or in the mean size of L. obtusata along the vertical gradient of the shore. In contrast L. mariae occurred exclusively low on the shore, on Fucus serratus L. Translocation of the two species within their respective levels resulted in random movement after 4 days, although initial movements after 1 and 2 days were sometimes directional. Animals transplanted to the normal level of the other species showed directional movement towards their home zone; this was most pronounced after 4 days. There was no difference in the distance moved by the two species, although the distance moved did vary with tidal height, both species moving further at mid shore than low shore. Distances moved by littorinids at replicate areas in the low shore were similar but those at mid shore did vary. There was an interaction between the species and the different tidal heights which revealed that transplanted species moved further than translocated species at the same tidal level. However, this was only significant in the case of L. mariae. It is suggested that the close relationship between the winkles and their host algae may direct the homing behaviour of displaced individuals.     

Stable carbon isotope ratio variations in marine macrophytes along intertidal gradients

Summary The hypothesis that relative water motion and boundary layer diffusion processes affect carbon isotope ratios of aquatic plants was tested in tidal pool and surge zone comparisons of the surfgrass Phyllospadix spp. No evidence was found that submerged plants growing in still upper tidal pools were isotopically different from those growing submerged in lower tidal surge zones. Significant decreases in ¹³C/¹²C ratios for plants growing emersed in the intertidal may have been caused by uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Marine algae (Egregia menziesii and Halosaccion americanum) growing at the same location and tidal elevations as the seagrasses showed somewhat different isotopic fractionation patterns, suggesting that causes of isotopic variability in the seagrasses were not necessarily the same as those in the two marine algae.     

HABITAT MATTERS FOR INORGANIC CARBON ACQUISITION IN 38 SPECIES OF RED MACROALGAE (RHODOPHYTA) FROM PUGET SOUND,WASHINGTON, USA1

Measurements of pH drift were used to assess the ability of 38 red algal seaweeds to use bicarbonate and to deplete the dissolved inorganic carbon pool (DIC) from seawater medium. Subtidal algae were typically restricted to the use of DIC in the form of dissolved CO₂, reducing the initial DIC by only 9%. Intertidal species used both dissolved CO₂ and bicarbonate and reduced initial DIC by as much as 70%. DIC reductions and pH compensation points for the intertidal species tested were strongly correlated with their vertical zonation on the rocky shoreline (analysis of variance). DIC acquisition efficiency increased with tidal height, but species from the upper edge of the intertidal demonstrated a reversal of this trend. This general pattern associated with tidal height was observed not only among intertidal red algae in general, but also among four species of the genus Porphyra (P. torta V. Krishnamurthy, P. papenfussii Krishnamurthy, P. perforata J. Agardh, P. fucicola Krishnamurthy) and among four populations of the broadly distributed species Mastocarpus papillatus (C. Agardh). The Mastocarpus observations suggest either that individuals of this species may be able to express alternate strategies for carbon acquisition or that intertidal height may select for survivorship of genotypes with different carbon acquisition strategies. Taken together, these data suggest that the carbon acquisition strategy of intertidal red algae may be an important physiological set of adaptations that is under active evolutionary selection. These physiological differences were not related to phylogeny, tested as membership in red algal families and orders.     

Response to simultaneous dehydration and thermal stress in three species of Puerto Rican frogs

Summary The response to simultaneous temperature and dehydration stress was examined in three species of Puerto Rican frogs.Eleutherodactylus antillensis is found primarily in hot, arid grasslands at low altitudes.Eleutherodactylus portoricensis is restricted to cool, forested montane habitats above 300 m.Eleutherodactylus coqui occurs in both the lowlands and the highlands. The physiological tolerance of the frogs to temperature was measured at 20, 25, and 30°C at various levels of dehydration using an index derived from jumping performance. Although jump distance of fully hydratedE. antillensis was unaffected by temperature, this species tolerated significantly more dehydration at high temperatures than low.Eleutherodactylus portoricensis died at 30°C, but in this species both distance jumped and dehydration tolerance were unaffected by lower temperatures. Distance jumped byE. coqui increased with increasing temperature, but tolerance of dehydration remained unchanged.Eleutherodactylus coqui was less tolerant of high temperatures thanE. antillensis but more tolerant thanE. portoricensis.Abbreviations DT dehydration tolerance - SVL snout vent length     

Implications of acute temperature and salinity tolerance thresholds for the persistence of intertidal invertebrate populations experiencing climate change

To predict whether populations of marine animals will persist in the face of changing climate conditions, it is informative to understand how past climate conditions have shaped present‐day tolerance thresholds. We examined 4 species of intertidal invertebrates (Nucella lamellosa, Littorina scutulata, Littorina sitkana, and Balanus glandula) inhabiting the coasts of Vancouver Island, Canada, where the east coast experiences historically warmer sea surface temperature (SST), warmer low tide (i.e., emersion) rock surface temperature (RST), and lower sea surface salinity (SSS) than the west coast. To determine if east coast populations have higher tolerance thresholds to acute stress than west coast populations, animals from 3 sites per coast were exposed to stressful temperatures and salinities in common garden experiments. Emersion temperature tolerance differed between populations only in N. lamellosa and B. glandula, tolerance thresholds being 1.4–1.5°C higher on the east coast. Water temperature tolerance differed between populations only in B. glandula and L. scutulata but was highest on the west coast. No differences in salinity tolerance were observed within any species. Thus, there is limited evidence of divergence among east and west coast populations in tolerance of acute stress despite the substantial historical differences in extreme temperature and salinity conditions between coasts. However, based on present‐day summertime SST and RST and known rates of change in these parameters, we predict present‐day tolerance thresholds would be sufficient to allow adults of these populations to tolerate extreme temperatures predicted for the next several hundred years, and that even a slow rate of change in acute tolerance thresholds might suffice to keep up with future temperature extremes.     

Diet-induced variations in fatty acid content and composition of two on-grown stages of Artemia Salina

Three species of microalgae, the freshwater Euglena gracilis and themarine Dunaliella salina and Tetraselmis suecica, were fed tothe brine shrimp Artemia salina in order to compare their suitabilityin terms of fatty acid enrichment, and their effect on the biometric parametersof the zooplankter. The fatty acid content and composition were analyzed for the post-larval and pre-adult stages of Artemia fed the algae and theresults compared to the initial content of unfed 24-hour post-hatch nauplii.Differences in the total fatty acid content occurred between the three stages,the fatty acid profile being determined by the composition of the diet. A decreasing trend for almost all the individual fatty acids occurred throughdevelopment from post-larva to pre-adult with each of the three algal diets.Biometrical differences between Artemia fed the marine algae and that fed Euglena were not consistent in the post-larval stage, but became considerable in the pre-adult stage. Artemia fed with Euglena achieved twice the weight of animals fed the marine algae and showed thehighest length. The implications for the use of on-grown Artemia as afeed in larviculture of marine and freshwater fish and crustaceans are considered.     

Dominant fungi in the rhizosphere of established tea bushes and their interaction with the dominant bacteria under in situ conditions

Species of Penicillium and Trichoderma were found to dominate the rhizosphere of established tea bushes in a detailed study conducted from various tea growing locations in India. Penicillium erythromellis, P. janthinellum, P. raistrickii, Trichoderma pseudokoningii and T. koningii were found to be closely associated with tea roots. While seasonal fluctuation was observed in the case of Penicillium spp., the population of Trichoderma spp. showed less variation during the year. Both species were sensitive to low temperatures. In general, fungi associated with the tea rhizosphere were found to prefer a mesophillic temperature range (15 °C to 35 °C). The dominant species of Penicillium and Trichoderma also exhibited tolerance to lower temperatures, i.e., 5 to 10 °C on agar plates. Most fungi were able to grow in a wide range of pH (4 to 12). Lowering of soil pH in the rhizosphere of tea bushes was positively correlated with the age of the bush and may have affected the development of a specific microbial community in the rhizosphere.The populations of Penicillium and Trichoderma species were inversely correlated with the populations of two most dominant rhizosphere bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and B. mycoides. Both Bacillus species have been shown to have antagonistic activity against these two fungi under in vitro conditions. The present study demonstrates the existence of a similar antagonism under in situ conditions in the rhizosphere of established tea bushes.     

Stress responses and metal tolerance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlamydomonas acidophila</Emphasis> in metal-enriched lake water and artificial medium

Chlamydomonas acidophila faces high heavy-metal concentrations in acidic mining lakes, where it is a dominant phytoplankton species. To investigate the importance of metals to C. acidophila in these lakes, we examined the response of growth, photosynthesis, cell structure, heat-shock protein (Hsp) accumulation, and metal adsorption after incubation in metal-rich lake water and artificial growth medium enriched with metals (Fe, Zn). Incubation in both metal-rich lake water and medium caused large decreases in photosystem II function (though no differences among lakes), but no decrease in growth rate (except for medium + Fe). Concentrations of small Hsps were higher in algae incubated in metal-rich lake-water than in metal-enriched medium, whereas Hsp60 and Hsp70A were either less or equally expressed. Cellular Zn and Fe contents were lower, and metals adsorbed to the cell surface were higher, in lake-water-incubated algae than in medium-grown cells. The results indicate that high Zn or Fe levels are likely not the main or only contributor to the low primary production in mining lakes, and multiple adaptations of C. acidophila (e.g., high Hsp levels, decreased metal accumulation) increase its tolerance to metals and permit survival under such adverse environmental conditions. Supposedly, the main stress factor present in the lake water is an interaction between low P and high Fe concentrations.     

斑红蝽属四种红蝽的潜在分布和生态空间（半翅目：红蝽科）

人类对地球上多数物种及其这些物种分布的认识是明显不足的。在生物多样性热点区分布的物种,它们一般罕见于其分布区内,加速了它们灭绝的可能性。本研究运用生态位模型对斑红蝽属四种红蝽的潜在分布和生态空间进行了模拟,其中浑斑红蝽 Physopelta robusta 和显斑红蝽 Physopelta slanbuschii 全部分布于 Indo-Myanmar 和 South Central China 热点区,小斑红蝽 Physopelta cincticollis 和四斑红蝽 Physopelta quadriguttata 局部分布于 Indo-Myanmar 和 South Central China 热点区。研究显示该4种红蝽均可能分布于它们已知的分布区外,这些发现可为将来的采集调查提供参考。4种红蝽的生态空间显示具有重叠,其中显斑红蝽P. slanbuschii 和浑斑红蝽P. robusta 表现出对温度具有较大的耐受性,显斑红蝽 P. slanbuschii 和四斑红蝽 P. quadriguttata 对湿度具有较大的耐受性。本研究强调了生态学的思路在分类学研究中生物多样性保护中的应用,特别是对一些鲜为人知的地区特有物种。     

Invasion of alien macroalgae in different Mediterranean habitats

The study evaluated different macroalgal invasions in the main Mediterranean coastal habitats on hard bottom. Biodiversity, species composition and structure of macroalgal assemblages were compared among non-invaded areas and areas invaded by the Chlorophyta Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea and by the turf-forming Rhodophyta Womersleyella setacea in three different habitats: shallow rocky bottom, deep rocky bottom and dead matte of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica. Results showed that alien macroalgae constituted a relevant component of benthic assemblages in invaded areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Assemblages invaded by Womersleyella setacea and Caulerpa racemosa showed lower values of diversity and large differences in the structure and species composition related to non-nvaded assemblages. The species that mostly suffered from invasion were erect species reproducing sexually; moreover, the dominance of W. setacea led to low abundance of native filamentous algae, while C. racemosa colonization seemed particularly threatening for encrusting algae. All the studied habitats appeared highly invasible by alien macroalgae, even if W. setacea appeared more invasive in deeper habitats, while colonization of C. racemosa seemed more serious in shallower habitats; the dead matte of P. oceanica represented a suitable substrate for the spread of both species. Differences among assemblages in different habitats were reduced in invaded areas.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Physcomitrella patens</Emphasis> is highly tolerant against drought,salt and osmotic stress

In order to determine the degree of tolerance of the moss Physcomitrella patens to different abiotic stress conditions, we examined its tolerance against salt, osmotic and dehydration stress. Compared to other plants like Arabidopsis thaliana, P. patens exhibits a high degree of abiotic stress tolerance, making it a valuable source for the identification of genes effecting the stress adaptation. Plants that had been treated with NaCl tolerated concentrations up to 350 mM. Treatments with sorbitol revealed that plants are able to survive concentrations up to 500 mM. Furthermore, plants that had lost 92% water on a fresh-weight basis were able to recover successfully. For molecular analyses, a P. patens expressed sequence tag (EST) database was searched for cDNA sequences showing homology to stress-associated genes of seed plants and bacteria. 45 novel P. patens genes were identified and subjected to cDNA macroarray analyses to define their expression pattern in response to water deficit. Among the selected cDNAs, we were able to identify a set of genes that is specifically up-regulated upon dehydration. These genes encode proteins exerting their function in maintaining the integrity of the plant cell as well as proteins that are known to be members of signaling networks. The identified genes will serve as molecular markers and potential targets for future functional analyses.     

The response of three chydorid species to temperature, pH and food

The responses of three chydorid species, Chydorus sphaericus(O.F. Müller), Alona affinis (Leydig) and Alonopsis elongata (Sars) to temperature, pH and food type were examined. Egg development time of all species decreased with increasing temperature, although the degree of change was different for each species. C. sphaericus had the fastest development time at all temperatures, and A. elongata the slowest. pH also affected the egg development time of each species differently. A. elongata failed to reproduce at low and medium pH, the egg development time of C. sphaericus was fastest at high pH while that of A. affinis was fastest at low pH. Food type was found to have significant effects on the population growth of individual species. C. sphaericus populations grew equally well in all three food types provided, and grew more than the other two species when fed on an algae culture, and filtered pond water. A. affinisand A. elongata populations grew best when fed on a detritus food source. The responses of each species to the different variables tested are discussed in relation to field observations of their distribution and abundance.     

Responses of neotropical mangrove seedlings grown in monoculture and mixed culture under treatments of hydroperiod and salinity

We investigated the combined effects of salinity and hydroperiod on seedlings of Rhizophora mangle and Laguncularia racemosa grown under experimental conditions of monoculture and mixed culture by using a simulated tidal system. The objective was to test hypotheses relative to species interactions to either tidal or permanent flooding at salinities of 10 or 40 g/l. Four-month-old seedlings were experimentally manipulated under these environmental conditions in two types of species interactions: (1) seedlings of the same species were grown separately in containers from September 2000 to August 2001 to evaluate intraspecific response and (2) seedlings of each species were mixed in containers to evaluate interspecific, competitive responses from August 2002 to April 2003. Overall, L. racemosa was strongly sensitive to treatment combinations while R. mangle showed little effect. Most plant responses of L. racemosa were affected by both salinity and hydroperiod, with hydroperiod inducing more effects than salinity. Compared to R. mangle, L. racemosa in all treatment combinations had higher relative growth rate, leaf area ratio, specific leaf area, stem elongation, total length of branches, net primary production, and stem height. Rhizophora mangle had higher biomass allocation to roots. Species growth differentiation was more pronounced at low salinity, with few species differences at high salinity under permanent flooding. These results suggest that under low to mild stress by hydroperiod and salinity, L. racemosa exhibits responses that favor its competitive dominance over R. mangle. This advantage, however, is strongly reduced as stress from salinity and hydroperiod increase.     

Relationship between temperature optima and secreted protease activities of three Pythium species and pathogenicity toward plant and animal hosts

The in vitro physiological characteristics of three species of Pythium (oomycetes) that utilize different food sources were compared with their ecological activities: P. insidiosum is a pathogen of mammals (including humans), P. graminicola infects the roots of graminaceous hosts, and P. grandisporangium is an enigmatic water mold isolated from mangrove leaves and marine algae. P. insidiosum and P. graminicola showed peak growth rates at 37 °C before complete inhibition of growth at 40 °C; P. grandisporangium grew fastest at 22 °C. Differences between the invasive pressures exerted by the hyphae of these microorganisms were not considered significant in relation to the substrates colonized by these water molds. All three species showed substantial secreted protease activity, producing three or more serine proteases with weights ranging from 24-38 kDa. Fastest growth rates were supported when collagen was supplied as the sole carbon source, and none of the species were able to grow on purified plant cell wall polysaccharides. The growth and nutritional characteristics of P. graminicola and P. grandisporangium bear little obvious relationship to the ecological niches that they inhabit. This highlights the caution necessary in extrapolating from laboratory analyses to the natural environment, and points to the potential importance of ecological opportunity in determining the host range and food source of certain microorganisms.     

草菇热激蛋白60基因(Vvhsp60)生物信息学分析及低温下的表达

【背景】生物受到温度胁迫时,热激蛋白被诱导并在短时间内大量产生,可以使受损的蛋白质恢复正常构象,增强生物对逆境胁迫的耐受性。【目的】初步探究草菇热激蛋白60(Vvhsp60)与低温耐受性的关系,为深入开展草菇不耐低温特性的遗传改良奠定理论基础。【方法】对Vvhsp60进行生物信息学分析,以低温敏感型草菇菌株V23及耐低温菌株VH3为实验材料,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析低温胁迫及热激诱导后在低温下草菇菌丝体中Vvhsp60基因的表达水平。【结果】草菇Vvhsp60编码蛋白不存在信号肽,不属于分泌蛋白,在线粒体和细胞质内发挥生物学作用,属于双向跨膜蛋白。低温处理显著提高了V23与VH3菌丝体中Vvhsp60基因的表达量,而且VH3中的表达量显著高于V23,推测Vvhsp60基因的表达量高可能有助于增强草菇对低温胁迫的耐受性。经热激处理后两菌株Vvhsp60基因的表达量显著高于各自未热激处理的对照组,表明热激处理可诱导Vvhsp60基因的表达。【结论】Vvhsp60与草菇低温耐受性相关,并且热激可以诱导Vvhsp60基因的表达。     

Effects of dehydration rate on physiological responses and survival after rehydration in larvae of the anhydrobiotic chironomid

Strategies to combat desiccation are critical for organisms living in arid and semi-arid areas. Larvae of the Australian chironomid Paraborniella tonnoiri resist desiccation by reducing water loss. In contrast, larvae of the African species Polypedilum vanderplanki can withstand almost complete dehydration, referred to as anhydrobiosis. For successful anhydrobiosis, the dehydration rate of P. vanderplanki larvae has to be controlled. Here, we desiccated larvae by exposing them to different drying regimes, each progressing from high to low relative humidity, and examined survival after rehydration. In larvae of P. vanderplanki, reactions following desiccation can be categorized as follows: (I) no recovery at all (direct death), (II) dying by unrepairable damages after rehydration (delayed death), and (III) full recovery (successful anhydrobiosis). Initial conditions of desiccation severely affected survival following rehydration, i.e. P. vanderplanki preferred 100% relative humidity where body water content decreased slightly. In subsequent conditions, unfavorable dehydration rate, such as more than 0.7 mg water lost per day, resulted in markedly decreased survival rate of rehydrated larvae. Slow dehydration may be required for the synthesis and distribution of essential molecules for anhydrobiosis. Larvae desiccated at or above maximum tolerable rates sometimes showed temporary recovery but died soon after.     

Flocculation of algae using chitosan

Flocculation of three freshwater algae, Spirulina,Oscillatoria and Chlorella, and onebrackish alga, Synechocystis, using chitosan was studiedinthe pH range 4 to 9, and chlorophyll-a concentrations inthe range 80 to 800 mg m^–3, which produces aturbidity of 10 to 100 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) in water. Chitosanreduced the algal content effectively by flocculation and settling. Theflocculation efficiency is very sensitive to pH, and reached a maximum at pH7.0for the freshwater species, but lower for the marine species. The optimalchitosan concentration that is required to effect maximum flocculation dependedon the concentration of alga. Flocculation and settling were faster whenconcentrations of chitosan higher than optimal are used. The settled algalcellsare intact and live, but will not be redispersed by mechanical agitation. Thede-algated water may be reused to produce fresh cultures of algae.