辽宁近岸浑浊海域网采浮游生物的粒径结构特征

河口及近岸海域环境复杂,浮游生物反馈调节频繁,粒径结构极不稳定.本文对辽宁近岸河口区和港口区浑浊带海域的浮游生物粒径结构进行研究.结果表明:在无机氮含量高的浑浊带海域,浮游植物生物量主要集中在20 μm＜ESD(等效球径,equivalent sphere diameter) ＜100μm小粒径区域;而在低营养盐的清洁海域,浮游植物生物量主要集中在ESD＞100 μm大粒径区域.表明浮游植物群落对高浓度悬浮物的响应可能通过小粒径生物进行反馈调节,使圆筛藻(Coscinodiscus sp.)等大粒径浮游植物生物量组成降低,将影响以摄食这些饵料为主的各种鱼虾幼体资源量.另外,本文构建了标准生物量谱,它符合北方近岸浅海、富营养化水域生态系统的特征,谱线斜率表明,研究海域浮游生物群落的生物量随着粒级的增加而逐渐增大.探讨了甲藻和枝角类作为评估悬浮物污染的指示生物的可行性.     

电厂温排水增温对浮游动物粒径谱的影响

利用浮游生物Ⅰ(孔径505 μm)、Ⅱ(160 μm)、Ⅲ(77 μm)型拖网所得的10个站位、4个季节丰度数据,以浮游动物生物体积为单位划分粒级,探讨了国华电厂排水口附近海域浮游动物Sheldon型粒径谱和标准化粒径谱的时空变化特征,以期探明海域增温对浮游动物粒径谱影响.结果表明: 浮游动物个体体积范围为0.00012～127.0 mm³·ind^-1,可划分为21个对数粒级组,对数范围为-13.06～6.99.据Sheldon型粒径谱结果,构成不同月份粒径谱主谱峰的主要种类有桡足幼体、墨氏胸刺水蚤、中华哲水蚤、仔鱼、百陶箭虫、拿卡箭虫和球型侧腕水母,小谱峰大多由个体较小的幼体类、剑水蚤类、针刺拟哲水蚤构成.在不同增温区断面中,桡足幼体、鱼卵和剑水蚤类等基本不受增温影响,而大型浮游动物,如百陶箭虫、拿卡箭虫、球型侧腕水母、中华哲水蚤和瓜水母等明显倾向于迁离排水口.从标准化粒径谱参数变化看,截距从低到高分别发生在11、2、5和8月;斜率变化以2月最小,5月与8月斜率相似且较大,表明2月小型浮游动物在群落中所占比例最高,而中大型浮游动物以5月和8月较高.在不同断面中,斜率以距离排水口0.2 km断面最低,且随着断面距离增加而增加,说明距离排水口越近,浮游动物小型化越明显.象山港标准化粒径谱年平均截距为4.68,斜率为-0.655.     

流溪河水库湖泊区浮游动物大小分布特征

于2001年4月至2002年12月调查了流溪河水库湖泊区浮游动物大小分布特征。轮虫在粒径大小范围为50～160μm内,生物量随着粒径的增大而降低;枝角类(100～512μmESD(等效球体直径))的生物量谱呈‘单峰型’,最大生物量出现在中等大小的粒径组(200～256μm)。桡足类的生物量大约占浮游动物生物量的60%,为水库浮游动物最重要的组成部分;粒径分布范围较宽,覆盖了轮虫和枝角类。总体而言,水库湖泊区浮游动物的生物量谱是一个线性谱,浮游动物生物量随着等效球体粒径的增大而上升,表明在食物链能量流动过程中,大个体比小个体消耗了更多的能量。     

2007年10月南海北部浮游纤毛虫的丰度和生物量

报道2007年10月南海北部海域(21°25.47′N 17°24.95′N,109°28.86′E 113°13.01′E)纤毛虫丰度和生物量的水平分布及砂壳纤毛虫的种丰富度。包括了13个断面的82个站位,Rosette采水器采水,水深低于15 m的站位采0,5 m和10 m;小于30 m站位,采0,10 m和底层;大于30 m的站位,采0,10,30 m和底层。纤毛虫丰度为0 5757 ind./L,平均(848±776)ind./L。无壳纤毛虫占绝对优势,其丰度占纤毛虫总丰度的比例平均为(91.9±9)%;纤毛虫生物量为0 12.09μg C/L,平均是(1.2±1.54)μg C/L,无壳纤毛虫的生物量平均为(0.94±1.27)μg C/L,占纤毛虫总生物量的78.6%。共发现砂壳纤毛虫16个属,49种,拟铃虫最多,具有一定的季节性。纤毛虫水体(40 m到表层)丰度为6.4×1069.1×107ind./m2,平均是(3.6×106±1.4×106)ind./m2;水体生物量3.6 195.8 mg C/m2,平均(48.1±33.7)mg C/m2。纤毛虫多分布于近岸浅水区(高温低盐,高Chl a),最大丰度要高于我国其他海区,不是Chl a最高的地方纤毛虫的丰度也最大,纤毛虫丰度最大时Chl a偏低。     

大亚湾冬季不同粒级浮游生物的氮稳定同位素特征及其与生物量的关系

生物量在营养级上的分布作为一种生态系统的指示指标,可以指示因人类干扰和环境变化导致的生态系统的改变,揭示生态系统功能的差异性。调查了冬季大亚湾不同区域各粒级浮游生物的生物量大小及其氮稳定同位素丰度比值(δ¹⁵N)与环境因子的关系,通过构建营养级谱比较了大亚湾不同区域浮游食物网结构的差异。研究结果显示,浮游生物的δ¹⁵N值基本随着粒径的增大而增加,但100-212 μm粒级的δ¹⁵N值为5.08‰,略低于1.2-100 μm粒级的5.58‰。> 500 μm 粒级的δ¹⁵N值最大,平均为8.16‰。在湾口和敞水带的S1、S9站各粒级的δ¹⁵N都要小于其他站位,而各粒级δ¹⁵N的最大值一般都出现在湾底的S8站。在各粒级颗粒物中,1.2-100 μm粒级的δ¹⁵N最适合用来指示水体的环境状况,受陆源输入影响较小的海域的δ¹⁵N值小。生物量与氮稳定同位素构建的营养级谱的斜率与总溶解氮的浓度和氮磷比呈显著负相关关系。处于湾口的站位的营养级谱的谱线要更陡峭一些,表明该处捕食者/被捕食者的比率更低。     

水生生物粒径谱/生物量谱研究进展

介绍了水生生物粒径谱概念,粒径谱理论的提出背景及其发展历程。综述了浮游生物、底栖生物、微型生物和鱼类粒径谱的研究现状;并以粒径谱理论在鱼类潜在产量估算方面的应用为重点,介绍了粒径谱理论的应用。回顾了国内生物粒径谱研究现状;结合新陈代谢理论、宏生态学与粒径谱理论的联系,新的粒径测量手段的应用,传统分类方法与粒径方法的关系,以及粒径谱模型研究的特点,展望未来粒径谱研究的前景。认为粒径谱研究已经历了半个多世纪的发展和多个领域的应用,给人们以区别于传统物种分类的崭新视角,成为生态学研究,尤其是水生生态学研究的热点。目前水生生物包括浮游生物、底栖生物、微型生物和鱼类粒径谱/生物量谱的分析方法、模型和理论研究已取得了一些进展,但由于各类生物个体形态、结构呈现多样化,数据获取的难度以及其他各种因素影响,使得研究工作发展缓慢,海洋生物粒径谱研究尤其困难。随着海洋生物资源评估、利用与渔业生态系统管理的需要,应重视加强粒径谱/生物量谱的研究,包括不同类型生物的粒径分布曲线、捕食与被捕食之间的关系、新陈代谢特征、时空尺度变异、粒径谱模型的假设条件和新模型的建立,以及先进测量技术应用等,这将是今后粒径谱/生物量谱研究需要引起关注的重点内容。     

湛江高桥红树林湿地底栖动物粒径谱

在我国,红树林湿地底栖动物粒径谱研究很少。根据2010年1月、4月、7月、10月在湛江高桥红树林湿地获得的大型和小型底栖动物数据,构建了底栖动物生物量粒径谱,以期为湛江高桥红树林湿地的生态保护和持续利用提供科学依据。主要研究结果如下:(1)高桥红树林湿地生物量粒径谱基本为3峰模式。第一峰在-2粒级,主要由线虫构成;第二峰在4—12粒级,主要由寡毛类、多毛类和小个体甲壳类构成;第三峰在13—22粒级,主要由大个体腹足类、双壳类和甲壳类构成。(2)木榄、桐花树和无瓣海桑生境在0—4粒级之间出现一个明显的波谷,这个波谷介于线虫和寡毛类之间,是大型与小型底栖动物粒级交汇区。(3)高桥红树林湿地底栖动物正态化生物量粒径谱的斜率大于-1,截距为16.533—18.150。桐花树(Aegiceras corniculatum)和无瓣海桑(Sonneratia apetala)生境的截距、最小粒级的生物量(BMS)高于木榄(Bruguiera gymnorrhiza)和盐地鼠尾粟(Sporobolus virginicus)生境,说明桐花树和无瓣海桑生境的底栖动物生产力水平较木榄和盐地鼠尾粟生境的高;秋季的截距、BMS较其他季节高,说明秋季的底栖动物生产力水平较其他季节高。     

乐清湾贝类群落组成及其粒径谱结构特征

为了解乐清湾贝类资源情况及群落稳定性特征,基于2016—2017年乐清湾定点调查数据,分析了不同季节乐清湾贝类组成、优势种、资源密度、以及物种多样性,并首次建立乐清湾海域贝类生物量粒径谱与标准化生物量粒径谱。结果显示：1)本次共采集到贝类共计45种,隶属于12目,25科,31属。焦河蓝蛤(Potamocorbula ustulata)为乐清湾绝对优势种;2)资源密度表现为夏季最高,其次为春季,秋季与冬季次之;4个季节的丰富度指数(D)、多样性指数(H′)和均匀度指数(J′)平均为3.26、1.61、0.45,3种多样性指数均处于较低水平;3)ABC曲线显示乐清湾贝类的生物群落处于中度干扰状态;4)乐清湾生物量粒径谱谱型复杂,优势种控制着生物量粒径谱的峰值,且与我国其他海域的结果也存在差异;5)标准化生物量粒径谱的斜率范围为-1.5539—-0.7373,在我国近海海域中属于偏低水平,表明营养循环水平较低。截距范围在16.673—21.597,高于我国其他海域,说明乐清湾贝类生产力水平较高。     

渤海生态系统的营养关系:碳同位素研究的初步结果

1997年6月5～10日在渤海4个站位上采集了悬浮体、浮游生物、底栖生物和沉积物样品,其目的是采用碳稳定同位素方法研究渤海生态系统的营养关系.浮游动物样品按其粒级分为＞1000μm,500～1000μm以及200～500μm3个组分.碳同位素分析结果表明,在春末渤海生态系统各级各类生物δ13C值的范围为-25.67～-17.42×10,其中浮游生物群体(不包括游泳动物)δ13C值相差约3.68×10-3,相当于该生态系统有3.2个营养层次.中型浮游动物随粒径的增大,其δ13C值增大,显示出营养层次的碳同位素富集作用,但不同粒级组分相互间δ13C值也存在着相当程度的重叠,实际上这也是其生物组分有重叠的反映.营养层次随颗粒的增大而升高,这一趋势与Rau等,Sholt0-Douglas等,Fry与Quinones的结果是完全一致的.渤海底栖生物的δ13C值一般要比浮游生物的δ13C值高,这并不意味着底栖生物的营养层次要比浮游生物的高,而是反映其食物来源的差异和底栖与浮游两个食物网底部同位素组成的不同.有限的底栖生物样品的同位素分析结果表明渤海底栖生物食物网有4个营养层次.各种底栖生物的碳同位素组成也反映了它们的食物来源和营养位置.     

楚科奇海及其海台区粒度分级叶绿素a与初级生产力

2003年夏季中国第二次北极科学考察期间,在楚科奇海及其海台区进行了叶绿素a浓度与初级生产力的现场观测。结果表明,观测海区叶绿素a浓度范围为0.009～30.390μg/dm3。表层浓度为0.050～4.644μg/dm3,平均值为(0.875±0.981)μg/dm3;陆架区次表层和底层的浓度高于表层,海台区深层水的浓度较低,200m层的浓度为(0.015±0.007)μg/dm3。水柱平均叶绿素a浓度区域性特征明显,陆架区高于海台区。R断面进行3趟重复观测,平均叶绿素a浓度分别为(2.564±1.496)μg/dm3,(1.329±0.882)μg/dm3和(0.965±0.623)μg/dm3,浓度呈下降趋势。观测站潜在初级生产力为0.263～4.186mgC/(m.3h),陆架区平均潜在初级生产力((2.305±1.493)mgC/(m.3h))比海台区((0.527±0.374)mgC/(m.3h))高近4倍。平均同化数为(1.22±1.14)mgC/(mgChla.h)。观测区细胞粒径>20μm的小型浮游生物对总叶绿素a浓度和初级生产力的贡献率分别为63.13%和65.16%,细胞粒径2.0～20μm的微型浮游生物和细胞粒径<2.0μm的微微型浮游生物对总叶绿素a和初级生产力的贡献率相差甚小,其对总叶绿素a浓度的贡献率分别为19.18%和17.69%,对总初级生产力的贡献率分别为20.11%和14.73%。     

Biomass size spectra of net plankton in the adjacent area near the Yangtze River Estuary in spring

Based on data from survey carried out in spring 2005, the biomass size spectra of net plankton were explored in the adjacent sea of Yangtze River Estuary. Results revealed an approximately continuous size distribution of plankton individuals, from phytoplankton (5–250 μm cell^?1 in equivalent sphere diameter (ESD), 15 pg–146 ng C cell^?1) to zooplankton (120 μm–2 cm ESD, 115 ng–7.5 mg C ind^?1). The normalized spectra (carbon scale) were linear with slope ranged from –0.889 to –0.445, and intercept ranged from 12.866 to 16.863 (all stations together, slope = –0.606, intercept = 19.448), indicating strong deviations from the ideal value (slope = –1.22) of a steady pelagic ecosystem. Correlation analysis presented that intercept and regression coefficient of net plankton size spectra had significant relationship with plankton biomass size diversity.     

Seasonal variability of lipophilic toxins during a Dinophysis acuta bloom in Western Iberia: Differences between picked cells and plankton concentrates

This work describes and compares the seasonal variability of toxin profiles and content, estimated by LC–MS analyses, in picked cell of Dinophysis acuta Ehrenberg, in plankton concentrates rich in this species, and in extracellular lipophilic toxins collected by adsorbent resins during weekly sampling in a Galician ría (Western Iberia) from October 2005 to January 2006. Picked cells of D. acuta—which exhibited a fairly stable OA:DTX2 ratio, close to 3:2, but a variable okadaates:PTX2 ratio—showed a 9-fold variation in cell toxin quota, which was partly related to cellular volume, with maximum values (19 pg cell⁻¹) observed during the exponential decline of the population. Large differences in toxin profiles and content were observed between picked cells and plankton concentrates (up to 73 pg cell⁻¹ in the latter), that were most conspicuous after the bloom decline. The toxin profile of picked cells was more similar to that observed in the adsorbent resins than to the profiles of plankton concentrates. Their continued detection several weeks after the disappearance of Dinophysis spp. indicates that these toxins may take a long time to be degraded. It is concluded that analyses of picked-cells are essential to determine the contribution of each species of Dinophysis to a toxic outbreak. Estimates of cellular toxin content from plankton concentrates can lead to considerable overestimates after Dinophysis blooms decay due to extracellular toxins that persist in the water column, possibly bound to organic aggregates and detritus, and are retained (>0.22 μm) in the filters.     

Antibacterial activity of lyase-depolymerized products of alginate

A series of mannuronic acid (M-block) and guluronic acid (G-block) fractions (M1–M5 and G1–G5) with different molecular weights were obtained by lyase depolymerization of alginate and evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity against 19 bacterial strains. The antibacterial data revealed that both types of fractions generally showed activity against certain tested bacteria, whereas M-block fractions showed broader spectra and more potent inhibition than G-block fractions. Among these fractions, M3 (molecular weight 4.235 kDa) exhibited the broadest spectrum of inhibition and high inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli (minimal inhibitory concentration, MIC = 0.312 μg mL⁻¹), Salmonella paratyphi B (MIC = 0.225 μg mL⁻¹), Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 0.016 μg mL⁻¹) and Bacillus subtilis (MIC = 0.325 μg mL⁻¹).     

Influence of humic, fulvic and hydrophilic acids on the growth, photosynthesis and respiration of the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum (Pavillard) Schiller

Blooms of the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum often occur in coastal regions characterized by variable salinity and elevated concentrations of terrestrially derived dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Humic, fulvic and hydrophilic acid fractions of DOC were isolated from runoff entering lower Narragansett Bay immediately after a rainfall event and the influence of these fractions upon P. minimum growth, cell yield, photosynthesis and respiration was examined. All organic fractions stimulated growth rates and cell yields compared with controls (no organic additions), but the extent of stimulation varied with the fraction and its molecular weight. Greatest stimulations were observed with humic and fulvic acids additions; cell yields were more than 2.5 and 3.5 times higher than with hydrophilic acid additions while growth rates were 21 and 44% higher, respectively. Responses to additions of different molecular weight fractions of each DOC fraction suggest that growth rate effects were attributable to specific molecular weight fractions: the >10,000 fraction of humic acids, both the >10,000 and <500 fractions of fulvic acids and the <10,000 fraction of hydrophilic acids. The form and concentration of nitrogen (as NO₃⁻ or NH₄⁺) present also influenced P. minimum response to DOC; 10–20 μg ml⁻¹ additions of fulvic acid had no effect upon growth rates in the presence of NH₄⁺ but significantly increased growth rates in the presence of NO₃⁻, a relationship probably related to fulvic acid effects upon trace metal bioavailability and subsequent regulation of the biosynthesis of enzymes required for NO₃⁻ assimilation. The influence of DOC additions on P. minimum respiration and production rates also varied with the organic fraction and its concentration. Production rates ranged from 1.1 to 3.4 pg O₂ cell⁻¹ h⁻¹, with highest rates observed upon exposure to fulvic and hydrophilic acid concentrations of >10 μm ml⁻¹. Low concentrations (5–10 μg ml⁻¹) of humic acid had no statistically significant effect upon production, but exposure to concentrations >25 μg ml⁻¹ resulted in a 30% decrease in O₂ evolution, probably due to light attenuation by the highly colored humic acid fraction. Respiration rates ranged from 1.2 to 2.7 pg O₂ cell⁻¹ h⁻¹ and were elevated upon exposure to both fulvic and hydrophilic acids, but not to humic acid. These results demonstrate that terrestrially derived DOC fractions play an active role in stimulation of P. minimum growth via direct effects upon growth, yield and photosynthesis as well as via indirect influences such as interactions with nitrogen and effects upon light attenuation.     

Thiopurine methyl transferase activity: new extraction conditions for high-performance liquid chromatographic assay

A new liquid–liquid extraction is described for thiopurine methyl transferase (TPMT, EC 2.1.1.67) activity determination: the use of a pH 9.5 NH₄Cl buffer solution, before adding the solvent mixture, allows more rapid extraction, avoiding a centrifugation step, and reduces the global cost of analysis. After the extraction step, 6-methylmercaptopurine, synthesised during the enzymatic reaction, is determined by a liquid chromatographic assay. Analytical performance of the assay was tested on spiked erythrocyte lysates. The linear concentration range was 5–250 ng ml ⁻¹ (r≥0.997, slope=1.497, intercept=−0.367). The recoveries were 82.8, 89.9 and 82.2% for 75, 125 and 225 ng ml⁻¹, respectively. The coefficients of variation were ≤6.1% for within-day assay (n=6) and ≤9.5% for between-day assay precision (n=6; 14 days). TPMT activity was determined in a French adult Caucasian population (n=70). The results ranged from 7.8 to 27.8 nmol h⁻¹ ml⁻¹ packed red blood cells and the frequency distribution histogram is similar to that previously published.     

Survival and photosynthetic activity of different Dinophysis acuminata populations in the northern Baltic Sea

This study deals with a recently found phenomenon in the northern Baltic Sea: the occurrence of the dinoflagellate Dinophysis acuminata in the deep water below the thermocline. This was first observed in July 2001 at the station BY 15 in the Gotland Deep, where a sharp and intensive chlorophyll fluorescence signal was encountered at 77 m depth. The fluorescence peak was due to a dinoflagellate community dominated by Dinophysis acuminata (approximately 18 000 cells l⁻¹). The survival of this community was followed in laboratory incubations in low light (20 μE m⁻² s⁻¹) and low temperature (+5 °C). After 5 weeks incubation, 67–84% of the initial cell abundance was lost, while few D. acuminata cells survived up to 24 weeks in the original sample. During the incubation, the fluorescence signal of the cells became fainter and the chloroplasts smaller and aggregated. On two occasions a D. acuminata cell was found attached to a smaller cell by a thin cytoplasm strand, possibly indicating mixotrophic behavior. During the following summer (2002), the photosynthetic efficiency of D. acuminata collected from thermocline layers of few stations and from the nitracline (75–80 m) at one station was studied in photosynthesis irradiance (P–E) incubations. Photosynthetic activity occurred in all populations, with differences in their photosynthetic carbon uptake rates. Photosynthesis of D. acuminata populations was saturated between 250 and 500 μE m⁻² s⁻¹; maximum cell-specific carbon uptake rates (P_m) ranged from 160–925 pg C cell⁻¹ h⁻¹. The P_m-rates in populations originating below the thermocline and in an artificially darkened population were markedly lower than in populations from upper water layers. The varying maximum photosynthetic rates of these populations may reflect their history, e.g. time spent in different light environments.     

Biomass,production and woody detritus in an old coast redwood (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sequoia sempervirens</Emphasis>) forest

We examined aboveground biomass dynamics, aboveground net primary production (ANPP), and woody detritus input in an old Sequoia sempervirens stand over a three-decade period. Our estimates of aboveground biomass ranged from 3300 to 5800 Mg ha⁻¹. Stem biomass estimates ranged from 3000 to 5200 Mg ha⁻¹. Stem biomass declined 7% over the study interval. Biomass dynamics were patchy, with marked declines in recent tree-fall patches <0.05 ha in size. Larger tree-fall patches approaching 0.2 ha in size were observed outside the study plot. Our estimates of ANPP ranged from 6 to 14 Mg ha⁻¹yr⁻¹. Estimates of 7 to 10 Mg ha⁻¹yr⁻¹ were considered to be relatively accurate. Thus, our estimates based on long-term data corroborated the findings of earlier short-term studies. ANPP of old, pure stands of Sequoia was not above average for temperate forests. Even though production was potentially high on a per stem basis, it was moderate at the stand level. We obtained values of 797 m³ ha⁻¹ and 262 Mg ha⁻¹ for coarse woody detritus volume and mass, respectively. Fine woody detritus volume and mass were estimated at 16 m³ ha⁻¹ and 5 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively. Standing dead trees (or snags) comprised 7% of the total coarse detritus volume and 8% of the total mass. Coarse detritus input averaged 5.7 to 6.9 Mg ha⁻¹yr⁻¹. Assuming steady-state input and pool of coarse detritus, we obtained a decay rate constant of 0.022 to 0.026. The old-growth stand of Sequoia studied had extremely high biomass, but ANPP was moderate and the amount of woody detritus was not exceptionally large. Biomass accretion and loss were not rapid in this stand partly because of the slow population dynamics and low canopy turnover rate of Sequoia at the old-growth stage. Nomenclature: Hickman (1993).     

Intra-population clonal variability in allelochemical potency of the toxigenic dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense

Clonal variability in exponential growth rate and production of secondary metabolites was determined from clonal isolates of Alexandrium tamarense originating from a single geographical population from the east coast of Scotland. To assess variability in the selected phenotypic characteristics over a wide spectrum, 10 clones were chosen for experimentation from 67 clonal isolates pre-screened for their lytic capacity in a standardized bioassay with the cryptophyte Rhodomonas salina. Specific growth rates (μ) of the 10 clonal isolates ranged from 0.28 to 0.46 d⁻¹ and were significantly different among clones. Cell content (fmol cell⁻¹) and composition (mol%) of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), analyzed by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC–FD), varied widely among these isolates, with total PST quotas ranging from 20 to 89 fmol cell⁻¹. Except for strain 3, the toxins C1/C2, neosaxitoxin (NEO), saxitoxin (STX), and gonyautoxins-1 and -4 (GTX1/GTX4), were consistently the most relatively abundant, with lesser amounts of GTX2/GTX3 evident among all isolates. Only clone 3 contained >20 mol% of toxin B1, with C1/C2, GTX2/GTX3 and NEO in almost equimolar ratios.Eight of the 10 clones caused cell lysis of both R. salina and the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina, as quantified from the dose–response curves from short-term (24 h) co-incubation bioassays. For two clones, no significant mortality even at high Alexandrium cell concentrations (ca. 10⁴ mL⁻¹) was observed. Allelochemical activity expressed as EC₅₀ values, defined as the Alexandrium cell concentration causing lysis of 50% of target cells, varied by about an order of magnitude and was significantly different among clones. No correlation was observed between growth rate und allelochemical potency (as EC₅₀) indicating that at least under non-limiting growth conditions no obvious growth reducing costs are associated with the production of allelochemically active secondary metabolites.     

Influence of differences in leaf anatomy on net photosynthetic rates of some cultivars of Cassava

Gas exchange measurements and leaf anatomy of 10 cassava cultivars were conducted to study the interrelationship between the relatively high photosynthetic rates and the factors limiting internal CO₂ diffusion. The internal mesophyll surface area per unit leaf surface area (A^mes/A) and the intracellular components of CO₂ diffusion and fixation resistance (R^cellCO₂) were determined. Among the group of cultivars tested net CO₂ exchange rates were 26±2.5 mol CO₂ m^–2 s^–1 in normal air and intense light and A^mes/A ranged from 14 to 38. Estimated R^cellCO₂ ranged from 4300 to 13,000 s m^–1. The combined and compensating effects of A^mes/A and R^cellCO₂ accounted for both the high net photosynthetic rates (P_n) and the lack of large differences in P_n among cultivars.     

Direct Determination of Carbon and Nitrogen Contents of Natural Bacterial Assemblages in Marine Environments

In order to better estimate bacterial biomass in marine environments, we developed a novel technique for direct measurement of carbon and nitrogen contents of natural bacterial assemblages. Bacterial cells were separated from phytoplankton and detritus with glass fiber and membrane filters (pore size, 0.8 μm) and then concentrated by tangential flow filtration. The concentrate was used for the determination of amounts of organic carbon and nitrogen by a high-temperature catalytic oxidation method, and after it was stained with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, cell abundance was determined by epifluorescence microscopy. We found that the average contents of carbon and nitrogen for oceanic bacterial assemblages were 12.4 ± 6.3 and 2.1 ± 1.1 fg cell⁻¹ (mean ± standard deviation; n = 6), respectively. Corresponding values for coastal bacterial assemblages were 30.2 ± 12.3 fg of C cell⁻¹ and 5.8 ± 1.5 fg of N cell⁻¹ (n = 5), significantly higher than those for oceanic bacteria (two-tailed Student’s t test; P < 0.03). There was no significant difference (P > 0.2) in the bacterial C:N ratio (atom atom⁻¹) between oceanic (6.8 ± 1.2) and coastal (5.9 ± 1.1) assemblages. Our estimates support the previous proposition that bacteria contribute substantially to total biomass in marine environments, but they also suggest that the use of a single conversion factor for diverse marine environments can lead to large errors in assessing the role of bacteria in food webs and biogeochemical cycles. The use of a factor, 20 fg of C cell⁻¹, which has been widely adopted in recent studies may result in the overestimation (by as much as 330%) of bacterial biomass in open oceans and in the underestimation (by as much as 40%) of bacterial biomass in coastal environments.