Mussel beds in deeper water provide an unusual situation for competitive interactions between the seastars Leptasterias polaris and Asterias vulgaris

The common seastars Leptasterias polaris and Asterias vulgaris show competitive interactions in shallow subtidal communities in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, particularly during summer when aggregations of the two seastars forage on mussel beds at 1-2 m in depth. We examined interactions between the two seastars in a different situation, in a mussel bed at 6 m in depth (a rare situation in this region). In the deeper mussel bed, seastars were three times more abundant than in the shallower beds, and the mussels were larger. The deeper bed disappeared rapidly due to the intense predation. Although decreased prey abundance should have favored interference interactions, we did not detect either partitioning of mussels by size or avoidance of A. vulgaris by L. polaris as previously reported when mussels are in short supply in shallower water. The lack of an avoidance behavior by L. polaris, together with the higher proportion of L. polaris than A. vulgaris that were feeding, suggests that in this situation, the dominance of A. vulgaris (observed in shallower water) is attenuated, or that L. polaris may dominate.     

Can Newts Cope with the Heat? Disparate Thermoregulatory Strategies of Two Sympatric Species in Water

Many ectotherms effectively reduce their exposure to low or high environmental temperatures using behavioral thermoregulation. In terrestrial ectotherms, thermoregulatory strategies range from accurate thermoregulation to thermoconformity according to the costs and limits of thermoregulation, while in aquatic taxa the quantification of behavioral thermoregulation have received limited attention. We examined thermoregulation in two sympatric newt species, Ichthyosaura alpestris and Lissotriton vulgaris, exposed to elevated water temperatures under semi-natural conditions. According to a recent theory, we predicted that species for which elevated water temperatures pose a lower thermal quality habitat, would thermoregulate more effectively than species in thermally benign conditions. In the laboratory thermal gradient, L. vulgaris maintained higher body temperatures than I. alpestris. Semi-natural thermal conditions provided better thermal quality of habitat for L. vulgaris than for I. alpestris. Thermoregulatory indices indicated that I. alpestris actively thermoregulated its body temperature, whereas L. vulgaris remained passive to the thermal heterogeneity of aquatic environment. In the face of elevated water temperatures, sympatric newt species employed disparate thermoregulatory strategies according to the species-specific quality of the thermal habitat. Both strategies reduced newt exposure to suboptimal water temperatures with the same accuracy but with or without the costs of thermoregulation. The quantification of behavioral thermoregulation proves to be an important conceptual and methodological tool for thermal ecology studies not only in terrestrial but also in aquatic ectotherms.     

Habitat-Dependent Species Recognition in Hybridizing Newts

Many species breed in heterogeneous environments where conditions affecting signaling fidelity may vary. Species recognition may be impaired under particular environmental conditions enhancing the hybridization risk. We investigated the influence of habitat on species recognition efficiency in two hybridizing newts, Lissotriton vulgaris and L. helveticus. The former is considered to be an open habitat species where the two species are in sympatry, whereas the latter also breeds in forest ponds where dissolved humic acids attenuate wavelength transmission, especially in the UV range. Because UV sexual signalling occurs in L. vulgaris, we predicted that species recognition would be reduced in water stained by humic acids. We conducted two-choice preference tests in males and females in stained and clear water. Females of both species preferred the conspecific male in clear water but not in stained water. Males did not show species recognition in either treatment. In both newts, visual species recognition is likely to depend upon habitat. Resorting to chemical communication may offset the loss of visual information but the same environmental factors that affect the transmission of visual signal can also affect the transmission of chemical signals. This environmental disruption of species recognition may account for the general avoidance of forest ponds by L. vulgaris in sympatry with L. helveticus. Stochastic variations of visual conditions in ponds may also explain the ongoing hybridization between two long diverged species that exhibit many and well differentiated sexual ornaments, and more generally between taxa naturally experiencing strong variations of their sensory environment.     

Light-dependent kinetics of 2-carboxyarabinitol 1-phosphate metabolism and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase activity in vivo

The light-dependent kinetics of the apparent in vivo synthesis and degradation of 2-carboxyarabinitol 1-phosphate (CA1P) were studied in three species of higher plants which differ in the extent to which this compound is involved in the light-dependent regulation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) activity. Detailed studies with Phaseolus vulgaris indicate that both the degradation and synthesis of this compound are light-stimulated, although light is absolutely required only for CA1P degradation. We hypothesize that the steady state level of CAIP at any particular photon flux density (PFD) represents a pseudo-steady state balance between ongoing synthesis and degradation of this compound. The rate of CA1P synthesis in P. vulgaris and the resultant reduction in the total catalytic constant of Rubisco were maximal at 200 micromoles quanta per square meter per second following a step decrease from a saturating PFD, and substantially faster than the rate of synthesis in the dark. Under these conditions an amount of CA1P equivalent to approximately 25% of the Rubisco catalytic site content was synthesized in less than 1 minute. The rate of synthesis was reduced at higher or lower PFDs. In Beta vulgaris, the rate of CA1P synthesis at 200 micromoles quanta per square meter per second was substantially slower than in P. vulgaris. In Spinacea oleracea, an apparent noncatalytic tight-binding of RuBP to deactivated sites on the enzyme was found to occur following a step decrease in PFD. When dark acclimated leaves of P. vulgaris were exposed to a step increase in PFD, the initial rate of CA1P degradation was also found to be dependent on PFD up to a maximum of approximately 300 to 400 micromoles quanta per square meter per second. The rate of degradation of this compound was similar in B. vulgaris. In S. oleracea, a step increase in PFD resulted in noncatalytic RuBP binding to Rubisco followed by an apparent release of RuBP and activation of the enzyme. The in vivo rate of change of Rubisco activity in response to an increase or decrease in PFD was similar between species despite the differences between species in the mechanisms used for the regulation of this enzyme's activity.     

Comparison of the effects of Artemisia vulgaris and Artemisia absinthium growing in western Anatolia against trichinellosis (Trichinella spiralis) in rats

Trichinellosis often causing diarrhea and more rarely fever, periorbital edema and myositis in human, is commonly treated with benzimidazole derivatives. The Artemisia genus has been found to be effective against a variety of parasites. In the present study, the efficacy against trichinellosis (Trichinella spiralis) of Artemisia vulgaris and Artemisia absinthium was examined for the first time in rats. The results of trichinoscopy and artificial digestion, during the enteral (adult) phase of the illness show that 300 mg/kg doses of methanol extracts of the aerial parts of A. vulgaris and A. absinthium reduced the larval rate by 75.6% and 63.5% in tongue, 53.4% and 37.7% in diaphragm, 67.8% and 46.2% in quadriceps, and 66.7% and 60.5% in biceps-triceps muscles of rats, respectively. Furthermore, during the parenteral (encapsulated larvae) phase, 600 mg/kg doses of A. vulgaris and A. absinthium extracts decreased the larval rate by 66.4% and 59.9% in tongue, 57.4% and 50.0% in diaphragm, 47.6% and 43.7% in quadriceps, 60.2% and 46.4% in biceps-triceps muscles of rats, respectively. Analysis of antibody also showed that A. vulgaris significantly reduced the antibody response (P < 0.05) during the enteral and parenteral phases. Thus, the results of the present study revealed that A. vulgaris could be an alternative drug against trichinellosis.     

Evaluation of the alleviative role of Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis extract against ovarian dysfunctions induced by monosodium glutamate in mice

Microalgae provide a wealthy natural resource of bioactive compounds, which have many biological activities. Monosodium glutamate is a food additive that acts either as food preservatives or as tastiness enhancer. It was confirmed that monosodium glutamate poses a serious responsibility in the pathogenesis of anovulatory infertility. Therefore, the idea of this research was directed to reveal efficiency of Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis extracts against the ovarian dysfunction resulted due to monosodium glutamate consumption. Adult female albino mice were gavages orally monosodium glutamate alone or with either Chlorella vulgaris or Spirulina platensis aqueous extracts for 28?days. Female mice were subjected to superovulation to study the oocytes nuclear maturation stages. Histological and quantitative investigation was carried on ovaries. Biochemical assessment to measure the sex hormones level and ovarian enzymatic antioxidants was done. In addition, ovarian antioxidant mRNA genes were determined using quantitative PCR and Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was used as an internal control. The result revealed that monosodium glutamate reduced the oocytes quality and maturation rate, while, both algae improve the oocyte quality and maturation rate than in monosodium glutamate group. Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis improved the monosodium glutamate ovarian tissue histological alteration, sex hormones content and raised the ovarian enzymatic antioxidants level. In addition, monosodium glutamate markedly diminished the Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase mRNA expressions, However, Chlorella vulgaris or Spirulina platensis upregulated the expression of genes close to control. In conclusion, Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis showed potential alleviative role against the monosodium glutamate ovarian dysfunction.     

Optimisation of Potassium Chloride Nutrition for Proper Growth,Physiological Development and Bioactive Component Production in Prunella vulgaris L

Prunella vulgaris L. is an important medicinal plant with a variety of pharmacological activities, but limited information is available about its response to potassium chloride (KCl) supplementation. P. vulgaris seedlings were cultured in media with four different KCl levels (0, 1.00, 6.00 and 40.00 mM). Characteristics relating to the growth, foliar potassium, water and chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, transpiration, nitrogen metabolism, bioactive constituent concentrations and yield were determined after three months. The appropriate KCl concentration was 6.00 mM to result in the highest values for dry weight, shoot height, spica and root weight, spica length and number in P. vulgaris. The optimum KCl concentration resulted in a maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pn) that could be associated with the highest chlorophyll content and fully open stomata conductance. A supply of surplus KCl resulted in a higher concentration of foliar potassium and negatively correlated with the biomass. Plants that were treated with the appropriate KCl level showed a greater capacity for nitrate assimilation. The Pn was significantly and positively correlated with nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) activities and was positively correlated with leaf-soluble protein and free amino acid (FAA) contents. Both KCl starvation (0 mM) and high KCl (40.00 mM) led to water loss through a high transpiration rate and low water absorption, respectively, and resulted in increased concentrations of ursolic acid (UA), oleanolic acid (OA) and flavonoids, with the exception of rosmarinic acid (RA). Moreover, the optimum concentration of KCl significantly increased the yields of RA, UA, OA and flavonoids. Our findings suggested that significantly higher plant biomass; chlorophyll content; Pn; stronger nitrogen anabolism; lower RA, UA, OA and flavonoid accumulation; and greater RA, UA, OA and flavonoid yields in P. vulgaris could be expected in the presence of the appropriate KCl concentration (6.00 mM).     

Symplasmic transport of water along the root depends on pressure

The gradient NMR method was applied to study intercellular water flows in root segments of maize (Zea mays L.) under disturbance of root hydrodynamic system by the increase in external pressure up to 4 MPa. The rate of intercellular water flows along the root symplast was found to depend on the magnitude and dynamics of pressure changes. Based on the previously predicted cupola-shaped dependency of water flow on the aperture of plasmodesmal neck constrictions, we assume that the external pressure stimulates (via cytosolic calcium) the activity of contractile structures localized in the neck regions of plasmodesmata. Cells of Chlorella vulgaris were taken for comparison since their water relations and cell structure differ strongly from the root cells of maize. The results show that the diffusional water flow in Chlorella is independent of external pressure both in intact cells and in algae, whose plasma membrane was artificially permeabilized.     

Toxic and non-toxic strains of Microcystis aeruginosa induce temperature dependent allelopathy toward growth and photosynthesis of Chlorella vulgaris

Global warming was believed to accelerate the expansion of cyanobacterial blooms. However, the impact of changes due to the allelopathic effects of cyanobacterial blooms with or without algal toxin production on the ecophysiology of its coexisting phytoplankton species arising from global warming were unknown until recently. In this study, the allelopathic effects of toxic and non-toxic Microcystis aeruginosa strains on the growth of green alga Chlorella vulgaris and photosynthesis of the co-cultivations of C. vulgaris and toxic M. aeruginosa FACHB-905 or non-toxic M. aeruginosa FACHB-469 were investigated at different temperatures. The growth of C. vulgaris, co-cultured with the toxic or non-toxic M. aeruginosa strains, was promoted at 20 °C but inhibited at temperatures ≥25 °C. The inhibitory effects of the toxic and non-toxic M. aeruginosa strains on of the co-cultivations (C. vulgaris and non-toxic M. aeruginosa FACHB-469 or toxic M. aeruginosa FACHB-905) also linearly increased with elevated temperatures. Furthermore, toxic M. aeruginosa FACHB-905 induced more inhibition toward growth of C. vulgaris or P_max and R_d of the mixtures than non-toxic M. aeruginosa FACHB-469. C. vulgaris dominated over non-toxic M. aeruginosa FACHB-469 but toxic M. aeruginosa FACHB-905 overcame C. vulgaris when they were co-cultured in mesocosms in water temperatures from 20 to 25 °C. The results indicate that allelopathic effects of M. aeruginosa strains on C. vulgaris are both temperature- and species-dependent: it was stimulative for C. vulgaris at low temperatures such as 20 °C, but inhibitory at high temperatures (≥25 °C); the toxic strain was determined to be more harmful to C. vulgaris than the non-toxic one. This suggests that global warming may aggravate the ecological risk of cyanobacteria blooms, especially those with toxic species as the main contributors.     

Conversion of xanthoxin to abscisic Acid by cell-free preparations from bean leaves

Cell-free extracts from the leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris L. convert xanthoxin to abscisic acid. The enzyme activity in dialyzed or acetone-precipitated extracts shows a strong dependence on either NAD or NADP. The enzyme activity appears to be cytosolic with no significant activity observed in chloroplasts. The activity was observed in extracts from roots of Phaseolus vulgaris, and also in extracts prepared from the leaves of Pisum sativum L., Zea mays L., Cucurbita maxima Duchesne, and Vigna radiata L. Neither water stress nor cycloheximide appear to significantly affect the level of enzyme activity in leaves. No intermediates between xanthoxin and abscisic acid were detected.     

Simultaneous nutrient removal and lipid production from pretreated piggery wastewater by Chlorella vulgaris YSW-04

The feasibility of using a microalga Chlorella vulgaris YSW-04 was investigated for removal of nutrients from piggery wastewater effluent. The consequent lipid production by the microalga was also identified and quantitatively determined. The wastewater effluent was diluted to different concentrations ranging from 20 to 80 % of the original using either synthetic media or distilled water. The dilution effect on both lipid production and nutrient removal was evaluated, and growth rate of C. vulgaris was also monitored. Dilution of the wastewater effluent improved microalgal growth, lipid productivity, and nutrient removal. The growth rate of C. vulgaris was increased with decreased concentration of piggery wastewater in the culture media regardless of the diluent type. Lipid production was relatively higher when using synthetic media than using distilled water for dilution of wastewater. The composition of fatty acids accumulated in microalgal biomass was dependent upon both dilution ratio and diluent type. The microalga grown on a 20 % concentration of wastewater effluent diluted with distilled water was more promising for generating high-efficient biodiesel compared to the other culture conditions. The highest removal of inorganic nutrients was also achieved at the same dilution condition. Our results revealed the optimal pretreatment condition for the biodegradation of piggery wastewater with microalgae for subsequent production of high-efficient biodiesel.     

Comparative Water Relations of Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Phaseolus acutifolius Gray

Leaf area expansion, dry weight, and water relations of Phaseolus vulgaris L. and P. acutifolius Gray were compared during a drying cycle in the greenhouse to understand the characteristics which contribute to the superior drought tolerance of P. acutifolius. Stomates of P. acutifolius closed at a much higher water potential than those of P. vulgaris, delaying dehydration of leaf tissue. P. acutifolius had a more deeply penetrating root system, which also contributes to its drought tolerance. Root-shoot ratios did not differ between the two species either under well watered or water stressed conditions. Leaf osmotic potential was also similar in the two species, with no apparent osmotic adjustment during water stress. These results indicate that P. acutifolius postpones dehydration and suggest that sensitive stomates and a deeply penetrating root system are characteristics which, if incorporated into cultivated beans, might increase their drought tolerance.     

Effects of experimental ventilation and ambient Po2 on O2 uptake of the isolated cutaneous tissue in the carp,Cyprinus carpio

Effects of experimental ventilation and ambient Po₂ on cutaneous O₂ uptake in vitro were studied in the carp, Cyprinus carpio. Oxygen uptake rate of the isolated cutaneous tissue was determined by ventilating the epidermis side of the skin with normoxic water in flow-through respirometers. Oxygen uptake rate of the skin increased with ventilation rate across the skin between 2.5 and 40 ml/min and became 3.2 nmol/cm²/min at a flow rate of 40 ml/min, which corresponds to an apparent water velocity of 1.1 cm/sec. At a ventilation rate of 10 ml/min, oxygen uptake rate of the skin increased with the ambient Po₂ between 115 and 230 Torr and became constant (3.8 nmol/cm²/min) between 230 and 295 Torr. When both sides of the skin were ventilated with normoxic water, oxygen uptake rate of the skin increased and became 3.7 nmol/cm²/min at a flow rate of 20–40 ml/min. These results suggest that the oxygen requirement of the skin is 3.7–3.8 nmol/cm²/min at 21.3°C and that cutaneous O₂ uptake in vitro depends on experimental ventilation and ambient Po₂, consistent with values measured in vitro in the carp (ref).     

Abscisic Aldehyde Is an Intermediate in the Enzymatic Conversion of Xanthoxin to Abscisic Acid in Phaseolus vulgaris L. Leaves

The enzymatic conversion of xanthoxin to abscisic acid by cell-free extracts of Phaseolus vulgaris L. leaves has been found to be a two-step reaction catalyzed by two different enzymes. Xanthoxin was first converted to abscisic aldehyde followed by conversion of the latter to abscisic acid. The enzyme activity catalyzing the synthesis of abscisic aldehyde from xanthoxin (xanthoxin oxidase) was present in cell-free leaf extracts from both wild type and the abscisic acid-deficient molybdopterin cofactor mutant, Az34 (nar2a) of Hordeum vulgare L. However, the enzyme activity catalyzing the synthesis of abscisic acid from abscisic aldehyde (abscisic aldehyde oxidase) was present only in extracts of the wild type and no activity could be detected in either turgid or water stressed leaf extracts of the Az34 mutant. Furthermore, the wilty tomato mutants, sitiens and flacca, which do not accumulate abscisic acid in response to water stress, have been shown to lack abscisic aldehyde oxidase activity. When this enzyme fraction was isolated from leaf extracts of P. vulgaris L. and added to extracts prepared from sitiens and flacca, xanthoxin was converted to abscisic acid. Abscisic aldehyde oxidase has been purified about 145-fold from P. vulgaris L. leaves. It exhibited optimum catalytic activity at pH 7.25 in potassium phosphate buffer.     

Improvement of NaNO2-Oxidizing Activity in Nitrobacter vulgaris by Coentrapment in Polyacrylamide Containing Polydimethylsiloxane Copolymer and DEAE-Sephadex

Removal of nitrite and nitrate from drinking water has attracted great attention in recent years because of the human health risk induced by the exposure to contaminated groundwater and surface water. We have therefore tested a model nitrite oxidation system by coentrapping the NaNO₂ oxidizer Nitrobacter vulgaris with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) copolymer and DEAE-Sephadex in a polyacrylamide gel. The copolymer and the anion exchanger facilitate the diffusion of oxygen and NaNO₂, respectively, into the gel matrix. To test the nitrite-oxidizing activity, the entrapped cells were coupled to a thermal sensor. Coentrapment of 5% (wt/vol) DEAE-Sephadex with Nitrobacter vulgaris increased the nitrite-oxidizing activity by a factor of 3.7 compared to entrapped cells alone, and by the addition of 0.86% (wt/vol) artificial oxygen carrier PDMS copolymer increased the activity further to 4.3 times higher. Operational and storage stability of the coentrapped N.vulgaris also improved. This suggests that this enhanced immobilized cell system can also be used for nitrite oxidation to nitrate in drinking water as an on-line thermally monitored bioreactor.     

Mechanism of proline uptake by Chlorella vulgaris

An amino acid uptake system specific for glycine, alanine, serine and proline was induced by glucose in Chlorella vulgaris. The uptake system translocated the zwitterionic form of the amino acid. There was more than 100-fold accumulation which indicated a coupling to metabolic energy. The depolarization of the membrane potential during proline uptake and the sensitivity of its uptake rate to the membrane potential point to coupling with an ion flow. Inhibitors of plasmalemma-bound H⁺-ATPase inhibit proline uptake. These data are interpreted to mean that proline is taken up as a proton symport. In some Chlorella strains the proline-coupled H⁺ uptake could be measured with electrodes, but not in Chlorella vulgaris. There is evidence that the transport of amino acids rapidly stimulates the proton-translocating ATPase of Chlorella vulgaris, so that the proline-coupled proton uptake is immediately neutralized.     

Characteristics of Airborne Actinomycete Spores

Airborne actinomycete spores, important contaminants in occupational and residential environments, were studied with respect to their (i) release into the air, (ii) aerodynamic and physical size while airborne, and (iii) survival after collection onto agar with an impactor. Three actinomycete species were selected for the tests to exemplify the three main spore types: Streptomyces albus for arthrospores, Micromonospora halophytica for aleuriospores, and Thermoactinomyces vulgaris for endospores. The results show that the incubation conditions (temperature, time, and nutrients) needed for the development of spores for their release into air are different from the conditions that are needed for colony growth only. Additional drying of M. halophytica and T. vulgaris cultures was needed before spores could be released from the culture. The aerodynamic sizes of the spores, measured with an aerodynamic particle sizer, ranged from 0.57 (T. vulgaris) to 1.28 μm (M. halophytica). The physical sizes of the spores, when measured with a microscope and an image analysis system, were found to be smaller than previously reported in the literature. The relative recovery of the spores on agar media ranged from 0.5 (T. vulgaris) to 35% (S. albus). The results indicate that the culturability of the collected airborne actinomycete spores varies widely and is affected by several variables, such as the species and the sampling flow rate. Therefore, alternatives to commonly used cultivation methods need to be developed for the enumeration of actinomycete spores.     

Local variation in conspecific plant density influences plant–soil feedback in a natural grassland

Several studies have argued that under field conditions plant–soil feedback may be related to the local density of a plant species, but plant–soil feedback is often studied by comparing conspecific and heterospecific soils or by using mixed soil samples collected from different locations and plant densities. We examined whether the growth of the early successional species Jacobaea vulgaris in soil collected from the field is related to the local variation in plant density of this species. In a grassland restoration site, we selected eight 8 m × 8 m plots, four with high and four with low densities of J. vulgaris plants. In 16 subplots in each plot we recorded the density and size of J. vulgaris, and characteristics of the vegetation and the soil chemistry. Soil collected from each subplot was used in a greenhouse pot-experiment to study the growth of J. vulgaris, both in pure field soil and in sterile soil inoculated with a small part of field soil.In the field, flowering J. vulgaris plants were taller, the percentage of rosette plants was higher and seed density was larger in High- than in Low-density plots. In the pot experiment, J. vulgaris had a negative plant–soil feedback, but biomass was also lower in soil collected from High- than from Low-density plots, although only when growing in inoculated soil. Regression analyses showed that J. vulgaris biomass of plants growing in pure soil was related to soil nutrients, but also to J. vulgaris density in the field.We conclude that in the field there is local variation in the negative plant–soil feedback of J. vulgaris and that this variation can be explained by the local density of J. vulgaris, but also by other factors such as nutrient availability.     

Polymorphism in a flea beetle for the ability to use an atypical host plant

The flea beetle Phyllotreta nemorum L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae) is polymorphic for its ability to use Barbarea vulgaris R. Br. (Brassicaceae) as a host plant. The genetic factors influencing this ability show both sex-linked and autosomal inheritance. Evidence was found for the presence of major genes such as those found in earlier studies, but also of genes with a smaller effect which have not previously been found. Although the ability to survive on B. vulgaris exists in most populations in eastern Denmark, it is usually at a low frequency. Beetles collected on B. vulgaris, however, usually produced larvae that survived on this plant. The inheritance and the abundance of the ability to use B. vulgaris are discussed in the context of the evolution of the interaction between P. nemorum and its atypical host plant.