Prolactin cell activity and ion regulation in tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters): effects of a low magnesium diet

Freshwater tilapia feeding on a diet containing 1 mmol kg⁻¹ magnesium (control diet: 30 mmol kg⁻¹) grow although at a decreased rate. The diet does not noticeably affect the blood ionic composition. Prolactin cell activity increases in these fish as judged from the enhanced rate of synthesis of ³H-leucine labelled prolactins in vitro and the ultrastructure of the cells. Na⁺ intake and Na⁺ loss decreases, and chloride cell density increases, phenomena typical for enhanced prolactin cell activity in tilapia. We conclude that tilapia manage to cope with a dietary magnesium insufficiency and suggest that prolactin is involved in the acclimation to this diet.     

Dynamics and estimates of growth and loss rates of bacterioplankton in a temperate freshwater system

The growth rate and losses of bacterioplankton in the epilimnion of an oligo-mesotrophic reservoir were simultaneously estimated using three different methods for each process. Bacterial production was determined by means of the tritiated thymidine incorporation method, the dialysis bag method and the dilution method, while bacterial mortality was assessed with the dilution method, the disappearance of thymidine-labeled natural cells and ingestion of fluorescent bacterial tracers by heterotrophic flagellates. The different methods used to estimate bacterial growth rates yielded similar results. On the other hand, the mortality rates obtained with the dilution method were significantly lower than those obtained with the use of thymidine-labeled natural cells. The bacterial ingestion rate by flagellates accounted on average for 39% of total bacterial mortality estimated by the dilution method, but this value fell to 5% when the total mortality was measured by the thymidine-labeling method. Bacterial abundance and production varied in opposite phase to flagellate abundance and the various bacterial mortality rates. All this points to the critical importance of methodological aspects in the elaboration of quantitative models of matter and energy flows over the time through microbial trophic networks in aquatic systems, and highlights the role of bacterioplankton as a source of carbon for higher trophic levels in the studied system.     

Effects of β‐xylanase and 6‐phytase on digestibility,trace mineral utilisation and growth in juvenile red tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) x O. mossambicus (Peters, 1852), fed declining fishmeal diets

In response to the global sustainability drive to lower fishmeal (FM) inclusion in aquatic feeds, exogenous enzymes can improve nutrient digestibility in monogastric plant‐based diets. A 80‐day experiment was conducted to evaluate the combined effects of xylanase and phytase on digestibility, trace mineral utilisation and growth in juvenile red tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus x O. mossambicus, (48.8 g ± 13.9; μ ± STD) fed declining FM diets. Basal diets were formulated to contain 0, 3 and 5% FM with and without xylanase (0.385 g kg^?1) and phytase (0.075 g kg^?1), forming six treatments. Each treatment was randomly assigned to four replicates, 20 fish tank^?1; mean water temperature 28.98 ± 0.73°C. Although the size of the effects was modest, growth performances (feed intake, FCR, growth rate) decreased with lower FM levels (P < 0.05) but improved with enzyme supplementation. Enzyme supplementation increased P digestibility and trace mineral uptake (P < 0.05), but no effects were seen on protein digestibility and N retention. Nevertheless, tilapia fed the enzyme‐supplemented 3% FM and control 5% FM diets performed comparably (P < 0.05). This potentially justifies a 2% FM reduction for tilapia diets using exogenous xylanase and phytase without significant effects on digestibility, trace mineral utilisation and growth.     

Dietary zinc effects on zinc, calcium, and magnesium content in bones of growing rats

The aim of the present study was to assess dietary zinc effects on femur weight and mineral content in growing rats. For this purpose, 70 weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Each group was subject to a diet containing 2 (BZ), 5 (DZ), 10 (MZ), and 30 (CZ) ppm zinc. The calcium and magnesium content in all diets was 5 g/kg and 507 mg/kg, respectively. The animals were kept on this regime for 28 d and then sacrificed and their femurs were removed for analysis using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The weights of the BZ and DZ groups were significantly different from the MZ and CZ groups (38.5±10.5, 89.9±13.7, 118.6±13.6 and 134±19.9 g, p<0.01) respectively. There were no differences between the MZ and CZ groups. Femur weight also varied with dietary zinc, as it was significantly different among all groups (BZ, 265±49 mg; DZ, 380±40 mg; MZ, 452±54 mg; CZ, 735±66 mg; p<0.01). The femur zinc content varied with diets, following a different pattern than the above parameters. Femur zinc from the BZ group (51.5±5.4 ppm) was significantly different from the MZ and CZ groups (115.9±14.2 and 175.0±13.5 ppm, respectively), whereas the DZ group (62.5±11.3 ppm) did not differ from the other three groups. The femur content of calcium (BZ, 83.2±9.8 mg/g; DZ, 88.0±9.2 mg/g; MZ, 90.2±13.6 mg/g; CZ, 83.1±14.7 mg/g) and magnesium (BZ, 1.82±0.13 mg/g; DZ, 1.98±0.09 mg/g; MZ, 1.93±14 mg/g; CZ, 1.83±0.19 mg/g) were not significantly different among the groups, nor was the calcium-magnesium ratio. These results suggest that although dietary zinc deficiency retards growth and causes bone fragility, bone deposition of calcium and magnesium and its ratio are not affected.     

Effects of putative stressors in public aquaria on locomotor activity, metabolic rate and cortisol levels in the Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus

Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus were housed individually during 7 days in a continuous flow-trough respirometry system and daily exposed to one of three treatments: (1) a series of knocks on the side of the aquarium, (2) a series of photo-flashes and (3) control group. Exposure to photo-flashes did not change locomotor activity but decreased both night-time and daytime oxygen consumption throughout the experiment. Knocking induced a short-lived increase in locomotor activity and tended to increase oxygen consumption, but this latter effect was not significant. Night-time oxygen consumption was not affected by knocking exposure. Cortisol levels assayed from fish-holding water collected at the end of the experiment were significantly lower in subjects exposed to photo-flashes than in subjects exposed to knocks or controls. Males did not respond differently than females to the treatments in any of the measurements taken. In summary, the data reported here suggest that exposure to repetitive photo-flashes, but not knocking, suppressed normal energy metabolism and cortisol levels. These effects were present hours to a half day after exposure to the flashes.     

Growth and energy budget in young grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella Val., fed plant and animal diets

Young grass carp held under laboratory conditions were fed either duckweed or tubificid worms. Food consumption ( C ), faecal production ( F ), excretion ( U ), metabolism ( R ) and growth ( G ) were estimated for fish fed both diets. Fish fed tubificid worms had higher growth rates than those fed duckweed, in terms of wet weight, dry matter, protein, lipid and energy. Fish fed duckweed consumed more wet and dry matter than did the fish fed tubificids, but rates of protein and lipid consumption were lower. The energy budget was estimated to be 100C = 9 F + 8 U + 61 R + 22 G for fish fed tubificids, and 100C = 35 F + 5 U + 51 R + 9 G for fish fed duckweed. Linear relationships existed between specific growth rate in wet weight and rate of food absorption (consumption minus faecal production) in dry matter, protein or energy. Food type did not have a significant effect on these relationships. It was concluded that differences in growth rate between grass carp fed different diets were mainly caused by differences in absorption rate.     

Growth,survival, and metal content of marsh invertebrates fed diets of detritus from Spartina alterniflora Loisel. and Phragmites australis Cav. Trin. ex Steud. from metal-contaminated and clean sites

Marsh vegetation plays an important role in trophic ecology of estuaries. Once broken down to detritus, it is an important food source for manyorganisms. In Atlantic Coast marshes, the reed Phragmites australis hasbeen invading many areas once dominated by smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora. In this study we evaluated the growth of and trophictransfer of metals to estuarine invertebrates when fed diets of detritus fromthese different plant species. Decaying leaves from populations of Phragmites, natural Spartina, and restored Spartina from boththe Hackensack Meadowlands, New Jersey, and the more pristineAccabonac Harbor of East Hampton, New York, were collected from themarsh surface in the spring. Decaying leaves were pureed and fed to thefiddler crabs Uca pugnax and U. pugilator, and to the grassshrimp Palaemonetes pugio. In fiddler crabs we monitored limbregeneration, molting and weight. U. pugilator regenerated limbs andmolted equally well on all six diets. Most of the U. pugnax arrestedgrowth midway through regeneration on all 6 diets. A repeat experimentwith smaller crabs, which did complete the process, found no consistentdifferences among the six diets and control food, although control food andPhragmites detritus had higher N concentrations than the Spartinadetritus. Grass shrimp fed all six diets did not survive beyond 3 weeks. Inanother experiment using HM sediments from each vegetation type(containing detritus, meiofauna, and microflora), survival was equally highamong treatments and the shrimp fed sediments from the restored Spartina site or control food grew better than those fed sediments fromthe Phragmites or natural Spartina sites. Although metalconcentrations in detritus varied between sites and plant species, the crabsof each group did not differ in metal concentrations after the feedingexperiment. Our data do not support the general assumption that Phragmites leaf detritus is of poorer nutritional quality than Spartinaalterniflora leaf detritus to estuarine consumers.     

Neuropeptides in the intestine of two teleost species (Oreochromis mossambicus,Carassius auratus): Localization and electrophysiological effects on the epithelium

Summary The presence of bioactive peptides in the gut and their possible electrophysiological effects on the intestinal epithelium were studied in two teleost species, the tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) and the goldfish (Carassius auratus). Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactive nerve fibres were found beneath the intestinal epithelium of both species. Galanin-, metenkephalin-and calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactive nerve fibres were found exclusively in the mucosa of the tilapia. Both species had vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-, enkephalin- or neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactive endocrine cells; calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactive endocrine cells were additionally found in the tilapia. Somatostatin- and dopamine--hydroxylase-like immunoreactivities were not observed. Nerve cell bodies in the myenteric plexus of both species showed immunoreactivity for calcitonin gene-related peptide-, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-, and galanin-like peptide. Enkephalin-like immunoreactive nerve cell bodies were present in the tilapia only. None of the peptides had a pronounced electrogenic effect. However, calcitonin gene-related peptide added to stripped intestinal epithelium of the tilapia, reduced the ion selectivity, and addition of galanin increased the ion selectivity. In goldfish intestine, both galanin and calcitonin gene-related peptide were without effect. Enkephalin counteracted the serotonin-induced reduction of the ion selectivity of the goldfish intestinal epithelium, but had no effect on the tilapia epithelium. In both species, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide reduced the ion selectivity of the intestinal epithelium, and neuropeptide Y induced an increase of the ion selectivity. Somatostatin showed no effect on the epithelial ion selectivity of either species. Tetrodotoxin did not inhibit the effects of the peptides studied. The changes in ion selectivity suggest that the enterocytes may be under the regulatory control of these peptides.     

富营养化水体中N、P浓度对浮游植物生长繁殖速率和生物量的影响

在浮游植物生长繁殖的高峰期（7—10月份）对3个富营养化水体的总氮、总磷和浮游植物生物量进行调查,统计分析了生物量与氮和磷浓度的关系。利用3种水样和梯度稀释的东湖水样培养玫瑰拟衣藻（Chloromonas rosae）,研究了氮、磷浓度对生长繁殖速率的影响。结果表明磷是生长繁殖速率的限制因子,求出了生长繁殖速率与磷浓度的对数回归方程y=0．08061nx＋0．4658,当磷浓度小于0．05mg／L时,生长繁殖速率随着磷浓度的升高而直线上升,当磷浓度进一步升高,生长繁殖速率仍然随之增加,但增加的幅度越来越小,当磷浓度达到0．2mg／L时,生长繁殖速率基本不再随着磷浓度的增加而升高。计算出生长速率为零时磷的浓度是0．003mg／L,接近贫营养化湖泊磷浓度的下限,计算结果与坂本的调查统计结果相吻合,说明回归方程具有代表性。在凋查的3个富营养化水体中,浮游植物中的氮占全部氮元素的53％,磷占全部磷元素的85％,是氮、磷存在的主要形式,所以,评价水体的营养程度,必须同时考虑水中溶解的氮、磷和生物体内的氮、磷。统计分析表明,3个富营养化水体中浮游植物的生物量由氮（溶解氮＋胞内氮）和磷（溶解磷＋胞内磷）的浓度共同决定,生物量与氮浓度的直线回归方程y=10．687x-7．8304,生物量与磷浓度的直线回归方程y=122．11x-12．069。实验结果为根据氮、磷浓度以Redfield值判断浮游植物限制性营养元素的相对性和绝对性提供了例证。对3个富营养化水体的比较表明,防止水体富营养的唯一办法是维持水体氮、磷等主要营养元素收支平衡,治理富营养化的根本办法是从水体中移走过量的氮、磷等主要营养元素。     

Relationship of nitrate supply with growth rate, plasma membrane-bound and cytosolic nitrate reductase, and tissue nitrate content in tobacco plants

cNR, cytosolic nitrate reductase
PM-NR, plasma membrane-bound nitrate reductase

Activities of plasma membrane-bound nitrate reductase (PM-NR) and cytosolic nitrate reductase (cNR) in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun) are regulated differently, depending upon the nitrate supply to the culture medium (in sand culture). The cNR activity of roots was higher at low nitrate concentrations with the maximum at 5 mM nitrate supply and declined to low values beyond 5 mM . In contrast, the PM-NR activity of roots increased with higher nitrate concentrations with the maximum at 25 mM nitrate and clearly decreased only at 40 mM . This high PM-NR activity correlated with a low growth rate and might be one of the responses to excess nitrate. Internal nitrate and total nitrogen content of the tissues, however, showed a relative minimum in shoots and in roots of between 15 and 25 mM external nitrate. With declining PM-NR activities beyond 25 mM external nitrate, the nitrate content in the tissue increased indicating an inverse relationship between tissue nitrate content and root PM-NR activity. In leaves both NR activities (cNR and PM-NR) correlated with the internal nitrate content, but with a different response at low nitrate.     

Growth patterns of the pan‐European freshwater mussel,Anodonta anatina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Bivalvia: Unionidae), vary with sex and mortality in populations

1. Post‐maturation growth leading to indeterminate growth patterns is widespread in nature. However, its adaptive value is unclear. Life history theory suggests this allocation strategy may be favored by temporal pulses in the intensity of mortality and/or the capacity to produce new tissues.
2. Addressing the origin of indeterminate growth and the variability of growth patterns, we studied the growth of duck mussels, Anodonta anatina, a pan‐European unionid, in 18 Polish lakes. For each population, the sex, size, and age of collected mussels were measured to estimate Bertalanffy''s growth curve parameters. We integrated information on A. anatina mortality rates, lake trophy, biofouling by zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha, and the prevalence of parasitic trematode larvae to identify selective conditions in lakes.
3. We found two sources of mortality in A. anatina populations, pertaining to adverse effects of zebra mussel biofouling and trophy state on mussel survival. Additionally, populations with heavier biofouling presented a smaller abundance of parasites, indicative of a relationship between filtering intensity and contraction of water‐borne trematode larvae by filtering A. anatina.
4. Consistently for each sex, populations with a greater trophy‐related mortality were characterized in A. anatina by a smaller asymptotic size L_max, indicative of a life history response to mortality risk involving early maturation at a smaller body size. In all populations, females featured higher mortality and larger asymptotic size versus males.
5. Our findings support a theoretical view that adaptive responses to selection involve adjustments in the lifetime resource allocation patterns. These adjustments should be considered drivers of the origin of indeterminate growth strategy in species taking parental care by offspring brooding in body cavities.

     

Influence of magnesium deficiency on rates of leaf expansion, starch and sucrose accumulation, and net assimilation in Phaseolus vulgaris

Twenty one-day-old Phaseolus vulgaris 'Saxa'plants were cultured in a growth chamber and the plants supplied with either a complete or a Mg-free nutrient solution. From 6 days after transfer to the Mg-free solution, the rate of increase of the area of the second trifoliate leaf was considerably reduced; by day 11 the sucrose concentration in the first trifoliate leaf had increased 6. 2-fold at the end of the dark period and 4. 6-fold after the light period as compared with the control plants. Corresponding starch concentrations increased 6. 6-fold and 2. 9-fold respectively. After days 5 to 6 the assimilation rates declined in the first trifoliate leaf of the plants showing deficiency, in comparison with the plants fully supplied with nutrients; respiration increased during darkness. The reduction in net assimilation rate was to a great extent reversible after resupply of magnesium.
The reduction of magnesium concentration in the deficient plants was much more marked in the expanding leaves than in the mature primary leaves and roots. Sucrose and starch accumulation did not occur when the first trifoliate leaf was partially shaded, although magnesium concentration, as in the unshaded leaves, was reduced to 13% of that of the control plants. The consequences of magnesium deficiency in the expanding first trifoliate leaf are discussed in terms of the possibility of sink limitation.     

Polyamine concentrations in four Poa species, differing in their maximum relative growth rate, grown with free access to nitrate and at limiting nitrate supply

Polyamines are thought to play a role in the control of inherent or environmentally-induced growth rates of plants. To test this contention, we grew plants of four grass species, the inherently fast-growing Poa annua L. and Poa trivialis L. and the inherently slow-growing Poa compressa L. and Poa pratensis (L.) Schreb., at three levels of nitrate supply. Firstly, plants were compared when grown with free access to nitrate, allowing the plants to grow at their maximum relative growth rate (RGR_max). Secondly, we compared the plants when grown with relative nitrate addition rates of 100 and 50 mmol N (mol N)^–1 day^–1 (RAR₁₀₀ and RAR₅₀, respectively).The freely-occurring polyamines, spermine, spermidine and putrescine, were separated from their conjugates; the latter were further subdivided into a TCA-soluble and a TCA-insoluble fraction. Each of the three fractions responded differently to the nitrate supply. Under nitrogen limitation, the total concentration of polyamines (free and bound ones together) decreased in both leaves and roots of all Poa species, whereas that in the stem remained more or less the same. These effects were to a large extent determined by the free polyamines. For the conjugates there was more differentiation, both between plant organ and among polyamine structures. A positive correlation between the RGR, LAR (leaf area per plant mass), SLA (leaf area per leaf mass), LMR (leaf mass per plant mass) and SMR (stem mass per plant mass) with the polyamine concentration was found. The RMR (root mass per plant mass) showed a negative one. No significant differences were found between the inherently fast- and slow-growing grass species.The (putrescine)/(spermine + spermidine) ratio in the leaves increased with decreasing nitrate supply, which is associated with a decrease in leaf expansion, accounting for a decrease in LAR and SLA. For the roots, this ratio tended to decrease with decreasing nitrate supply, whereas for the stems the results were somewhat more variable.We found no evidence for a crucial role of polyamines in the determination of inherent variation of growth in spite of a positive correlation of especially the free polyamines with growth parameters.     

Growth, nutrition, and nitrogen fixation in grey alder at varied rate of nitrogen addition

Seedlings of grey alder (Alnus incana Moench), nodulated or unnodulated, were investigated at varied relative addition rate of nitrogen. Nitrogen fixation alone, without addition of mineral nitrogen, resulted in an almost optimum nitrogen status but only about half the maximum relative growth rate, probably mainly because of energy costs of nodulation and fixation. The growth deficit due to nodulation was much more than can be explained by the theoretical energy requirement for the amount of nitrogen fixed. Thus, the nitrogen fixation process was not very efficiently used. The nitrogen fixation rate was strongly stimulated by increasing nitrogen addition rate up to high levels. The fixation rate decreased rapidly close to optimum (maximum relative growth rate) and was negligible at maximum growth. A feed-back of mineral nitrogen on photosynthesis increased fixation rate with time, and the relative importance of fixation over mineral nitrogen nutrition increased. However, nitrogen fixation, also at maximum rate, supplied only a small proportion of the nitrogen amount required for maximum growth. The optimum nutrient solutions contained comparatively high nitrogen concentrations to secure free access to nitrogen. The nodules were damaged by this treatment, and it is concluded that the nitrogen additions must be adjusted to the current consumption of the plants to avoid an increased external nitrogen concentration. Strong linear regressions were found between relative growth rate, nitrogen status expressed as percentage content of fresh weight, and relative growth rate in unnodulated seedlings. There was a greater variability in nodulated seedlings than in unnodulated ones, because of the nitrogen fixation. The reactions of unnodulated grey alder were largely the same as previously reported for birch seedlings, but the maximum growth capacity was lower in grey alder. During an initial period of change in the internal nitrogen status, deficiency symptoms appeared, especially in unnodulated seedlings. As in birch, the leaves turned green again at stable nitrogen status, independent of level. The results are in sharp contrast to data from the literature where the external nitrogen concentration was used as the driving variable for the internal nitrogen status. The measured fixation rates for grey alder are much higher than those previously reported. Still, the maximum fixation rate observed is small compared to the total nitrogen uptake rate required for maximum growth, in contrast to reported relationships. These comparisons indicate that increased external nitrogen concentration obscures the real relations between mineral and fixed nitrogen, on one hand because of rapid inhibition of nitrogen fixation and, on the other hand, because of failure to obtain stable optimum nutrition and maximum growth by means of this treatment variable.     

Interactions between environmental variables on growth rate and carrageenan content of Solieria chordalis (Solieriaceae,Rhodophyceae) in culture

Using vegetative propagules (ramuli) of the iota carrageenan producing red seaweed Solieria chordalis, a maximum growth rate of 6.8% d⁻¹ was achieved when cultured at 20 °C and 100 μmol photon m⁻² s⁻¹ in seawater supplemented with 20 μM NO₃-N or 10 μM NO₃-N plus 10 μM NH₄-N. Ramuli grew less well when nitrogen was supplied solely as NH ₄ ⁺ . Maximum carrageenan content was observed at the same temperature, irradiance and salinity as growth, but at lower nitrogen concentrations. These findings are discussed in relation to results obtained from studies on other iota-carrageenan producing carrageenophytes.     

Influence of Cd2+ on growth, chlorophyll content, and water relations in young barley plants

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L., cv. Hemus) plants were grown in nutrient solution with or without 54 μM Cd²⁺ for 12 d. A treatment with Cd²⁺ inhibited the growth of young barley plants. The main factor limiting plant growth was net assimilation rate, due to decreased photosynthetic rate and accelerated dark respiration rate. One of the reasons for the reduced photosynthetic rate was the lower chlorophyll and carotenoid content. Cd²⁺ decreased water potential and transpiration rate, but relative water content in leaves of the treated plants was not significantly changed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Growth and the content of laurinterol and debromolaurinterol in Laurencia okamurae (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta)

The growth of Laurencia okamurae and the content of laurinterol and debromolaurinterol were influenced by various factors. Temperature influenced growth raere te with a maximum at 25°C, regardless of daylength. Maturity depended on temperature rather than daylength; the plants grew without maturing at 15°C, while the plants matured within two weeks at 25°C. The plants were able to grow at salinities of 14–50‰ with maximum growth at 26‰. The salinities growth rash;50‰te reduced with decreasing concentration of nitrate below 1.2 × 10^-3 M, and of total phosphate below 7.5× 10^-8 M. Bromide concentration had no effect on growth, and the plants grew without bromide. Variation in temperature between 15–25°C and daylength produced no obvious change in laurinterol and debromolaurinterol contents. On the other hand, an increase in salinity led to an increase for both. The plants cultured in a completely artificial medium, modified ASP₁₂NTA, showed a marked drop in their content of these metabolites. An increase in concentrations of nitrate, total phosphate or bromide did not restore the content. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Growth rate of the carrageenophyte Kappaphycus alvarezii (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) introduced in subtropical waters of São Paulo State, Brazil

Twenty branches of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty ex P. Silva produced in unialgal culture and weighing about 3 g each were transferred into the sea monthly from October 1995 to October 1996 at Ubatuba Bay, São Paulo State, Brazil (23°26.9′S, 45°0.3′W), an area with mean monthly seawater temperature from 20.3 to 28.5°C (extremes: 17.0–31.0°C). All plants were harvested after the second month and a new series of growth experiments was performed using cuttings weighing from 100 to 150 g. The cultivation experiments were carried out using a floating system. Daily growth rates were calculated based on monthly weight measurements of each individual. Small branches produced in vitro showed high survival rates when introduced into the sea during all seasons. Growth rates observed for the transplanted branches during the first and second months in the sea were higher (6.5–10.7% day‐¹) than for subsequent cuttings produced in the sea (4.5–8.2% day‐¹). The latter values are in the range reported for other regions. Seasonal variation of growth rates was clearly related to seawater temperature. These results show that the commercial cultivation of K. alvarezii is technically feasible at Ubatuba Bay using a floating raft culture method.     

Growth, gas exchange and water use efficiency of the facultative hemiparasite Rhinanthus minor associated with hosts differing in foliar nitrogen concentration

The facultative hemiparasitic angiosperm Rhinanthus minor was grown on 11 different host species, and in the absence of a host. The height of R. minor parasitising the legume Trifolium pratense exceeded that of unattached plants by more than an order of magnitude, with performance on grasses and non-legume dicotlyedonous hosts between these two extremes. Light saturated rates of photosynthesis in R. minor on different hosts ranged from 1. 5 to 22. 5 μmol g⁻¹ dry weight min⁻¹, and were positively correlated with growth. Foliar nitrogen concentrations in the parasite exceeded those of the hosts. The former were positively related to light saturated rates of photosynthesis, and inversely related to photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency. There was no relationship between leaf nitrogen concentration and water use efficiency in R. minor. The data are discussed in relation to studies of nitrogen and water use in mistletoes.