三北地区内陆盐水的原生动物

1990-1991年在三北地区盐度0.57-214‰的28个内陆水体,采集了162号浮游动物水样.共见到原生动物58种,其中肉足虫13种,纤毛虫45种.结果表明,原生动物,特别是纤毛虫类是内陆盐水浮游动物群落结构的重要组成部分,在一些超盐水体往往密度较大,有时成为优势种.随着盐度升高,原生动物总种数和多样性指数均趋于减小,而其密度和生物量却显着增大.文中讨论了内陆盐水原生动物区系的种类组成和分布及其与环境因子的关系.       

Long-term studies of the benthic biology of Tees bay and the Tees estuary

Tees bay on the north-east coast of England receives the waters from the highly industrialised Tees estuary. Since 1970 there have been considerable reductions in both the industrial and domestic sewage discharges to the estuary.The benthic populations of Tees bay have been routinely monitored since 1971, grabbing surveys have been completed at six areas in the spring, summer and autumn of each year. In 1979 the survey was extended to include stations within the Tees estuary itself.Tees bay appears to have a stable benthic fauna. Though the simple analysis of faunal statistics has demonstrated fluctuations within the benthos, neither this analysis nor classification analysis has indicated that there were any long-term changes in abundance or diversity.Classification analysis has also failed to differentiate between the fauna of the different areas within Tees bay. However, studies of biomass and T. fabula growth rate did indicate a difference between the areas close to the mouth of the Tees and those remote from it.The studies of the Tees estuary benthos indicated an improvement in both the abundance and the diversity of the fauna. However, the monitoring took place over a limited period and further work is necessary to ensure that this improvement does not simply represent natural fluctuations within the estuarine benthic population.     

Differences of the protozoan biomass and grazing during spring and summer in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean

The dynamics of protozoa were investigated during two cruises in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean: the early spring ANTARES 3 cruise (28 September to 8 November 1995) and the late summer ANTARES 2 cruise (6 February to 8 March 1994). Biomass and feeding activity of protozoa were measured as well as the biomass of their potential prey – bacteria and phototrophic flagellates – along the 62°E meridian. The sampling grid extended from the Polar Frontal region to the Coastal and Continental Shelf Zone in late summer and to the ice edge in spring, crossing the Antarctic Divergence. Protozoan biomass, although low in absolute terms, contributed 30% and 20% to the total microbial biomass (bacteria, phytoplankton and protozoa) in early spring and late summer, respectively. Nanoprotozoa dominated the total protozoan biomass. The geographical and seasonal distribution of protozoan biomass was correlated with that of phototrophic flagellates. However, bacterial and phototrophic flagellate biomass were inversely correlated. Phototrophic flagellates dominated in the Sea Ice Zone whereas bacteria were predominant at the end of summer in the Polar Frontal region and Coastal and Continental Shelf Zone. Furthermore, bacteria were the most important component of the microbial community (57% of the total microbial biomass) in late summer. Phototrophic flagellates were ingested by both nano-and microprotozoa. In contrast, bacteria were only ingested by nanoprotozoa. Protozoa controlled up to 90% of the daily bacterial production over the period examined. The spring daily protozoan ingestion controlled more than 100% of daily phototrophic flagellate production. This control was less strong at the end of summer when protozoan grazing controlled 42% of the daily phototrophic flagellate production. Accepted: 30 October 1999     

Faunenverarmung in einem Schlickgebiet in der Nähe Helgolands

Variations in abundance and species composition of macro-zoobenthos were studied at a sublittoral muddy-bottom station in the inner part of the German Bight from 1969 to 1976. The fauna of this area can be included in the classicalAbra alba community. A total of 98 species were found in 62 samples. Of these, only 4 species occurred in all samples:Nucula nitidosa, Diastylic rathkei, Ophiura texturata andNephtys hombergii. Species richness has declined since 1969. Populations of several species disappeared in the investigated area and its surroundings. Other populations are shown to exhibit remarkable fluctuations in abundance with sometimes heavy spatfalls or sudden breakdowns in population density, mainly during late summer. The long-term trend of impoverishment of the fauna is attributed to the development of anaerobic conditions in the muddy sediment. Such conditions are favoured by stable, thermohaline strafications of the water during summer, resulting in low oxygen levels and, probably, enrichment of hydrogen sulfide even in near-bottom water. Moreover, both continuou influx into the area of Elbe water, rich in suspended matter and nutrients and dumping of sewage sludge about 8 km east of the investigated area are considered to have increased the strees on the bottom fauna.     

The effect of a sewage treatment plant effluent on the faecal coliforms and enterococci populations of the reception river waters

AIMS: A rural sewage treatment plant and the effect of its effluent on the enterococci and faecal coliforms populations of the receiving river waters was evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: The enumeration of bacteria was performed by membrane filtration. Diversity and population similarity were analysed using the PhP-plates system. The treatment plant reduces the number of enterococci and faecal coliforms to values similar to those observed upstream. All water samples showed a high diversity for both bacterial populations. A high similarity in the composition and structure, was detected among all the samples. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of the disposal of treated sewage on the river did not modify the composition of either bacterial populations in the river water. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMAPCT OF THE STUDY: The biochemical phenotyping of bacterial populations is a reliable tool for ecological and biodiversity studies. The obtained results provide a better understanding of the sewage treatment process and the impact of the treated sewage effluents in the environment.     

Parasites of flatfish in relation to sewage sludge dumping

Variations in the occurrence of gastrointestinal metazoan parasites in flatfish were examined in relation to sewage sludge dumping at an 'accumulating' and two 'dispersing' dump sites in Scottish coastal waters. The gross disturbance of the benthic communities at the Garroch Head disposal site in the Firth of Clyde and absence of the intermediate hosts of particular parasites was not reflected in the parasite fauna of the long rough dab, Hippoglossoides platessoides . Results indicate that this flatfish host is highly mobile and intermixing within the population masked any localized effects of sludge dumping on parasite transmission at the dump site. The common dab, Limanda limanda , is considered to be relatively static at the St Abb's Head and Bell Rock disposal sites off the Firth of Forth where no evidence of effects of sewage sludge dumping on its metazoan parasite fauna was detected. This is consistent with the results of chemical and biological monitoring of the sites. The value of a parasite-based index of the biological effects of sewage sludge dumping is discussed.     

R factors in coliform-fecal coliform sewage flora of the prairies and Northwest Territories of Canada.

Coliform and fecal coliform populations found in the raw sewages and final sewage effluents of the prairie provinces and the Northwest Territories were examined for antibiotic resistance and the possession of R factors. It was determined that 8.91% of the total coliform and 10.80% of the fecal coliform populations carried R factors. The following numbers of combinations of R determinants were found: 39 in the Escherichia coli population, 6 in the Citrobacter population, 20 in the Enterobacter populations, 10 in the Klebsiella populations, and 11 in the Aeromonas populations. The maximum number of R determinants transferable simultaneously was seven; organisms with R factors containing determinants for chloramphenicol usually contained determinants for ampicillin. Of the coliform and fecal coliform populations, 2 to 4% were resistant to chloramphenicol in some provinces, and from 17 to 30% of the populations were resistant to three or more antibiotics. It was calculated that coliforms containing R factors in the raw sewage reached population levels of 1.5 X 10(7)/100 ml, and fecal coliforms containing R factors reached population levels of 8.6 X 10(5) ml. Final effluent discharges to the receiving environment contained R factor-containing coliform and fecal coliform populations of 3.1 X 10(4)/100 ml and 5.8 X 10(2)/100 ml, respectively. The incidence of bacteria containing R factors in sewage appears to be increasing with time, and their removal from sewage before discharge to the receiving environment is desirable. Consideration of data on bacteria with R factors should be made in future water quality deliberations and in discharge regulations.     

Phylogenetic analysis of protozoa in the rumen contents of cow based on the 18S rDNA sequences

AIMS: To examine the diversity of protozoa in the rumen contents of cow. METHODS AND RESULTS: Protozoa that inhabit the rumen were detected by PCR using protozoan-specific primers. Libraries of protozoan rDNA sequences were constructed from rumen fluid, solid tissues and epithelium. Twenty-three clones isolated from rumen fluid fell into two genera identified as Entodinium (69.6% of clones) and Epidinium (31.4% of clones). Of the clones isolated from rumen fluid, a moderate number were unidentifiable (30.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The predominant protozoan genus identified in the whole rumen belonged to the Entodinium group (81.1%). Protozoa were not detected in the rumen epithelium. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These findings suggest that rumen fluid and solid tissues contain different protozoan populations that may play specific roles in rumen function. Quantitative PCR techniques and a more specific set of phylogenetic probes that distinguish between protozoan species are needed to determine the significance of newly identified groups and to determine the distribution of identified protozoan clusters in rumen microbial communities.     

THE EFFECTS OF METHODS OF SEWAGE APPLICATION ON THE ECOLOGY OF BACTERIA BEDS

Two difficulties in treating sewage in bacteria beds—namely, the choking of the beds by excessive growths of micro-organisms and the nuisance from flies breeding in the beds—are considered as one ecological problem. The effect of the manner in which the sewage is applied to the bed through different types of distributor nozzle on the film and fauna populations was studied. It was found that nozzles which provided a strong flushing action on the surface did not prevent excessive growth of film below the surface but did limit the grazing fauna, as a result of which the amount of film was greater than under jets in which the flushing action was reduced. Where this reduction was effected by allowing the sewage jet to first impinge on a splash plate, uniform conditions were produced in the medium below, where the species were in direct competition for food in the one ecological niche. As a result the fly larvae ( Anisopus fenestralis and Psychoda sp.) suppressed the population of Achorutes subviaticus (Collembola) during the winter. Where the flushing action was reduced by allowing the sewage to flow through an increased number of holes of smaller bore, two niches were provided, one wet region, subject to some flow of sewage, and the other drier region between the jets. Under this method, two populations existed side by side, Achorutes being present throughout the year in the drier zone and A. fenestralis larvae occupying the sub-jet zones.     

Conservation genetics of the wood ant, Formica lugubris, in a fragmented landscape

Various intrinsic factors connected to the special features of sociality influence the persistence of social insect populations, including low effective population size, reduced amount of genetic variation easily leading to inbreeding depression, and spatially structured populations. In this work, we studied an isolated, small and fragmented population system of the red wood ant Formica lugubris, and evaluated the impact of social and genetic population structure on the persistence and conservation of the populations. The effective population size was large in our study population because all nests were polygynous. As a result, and despite the apparent isolation, the amount of nuclear genetic variability was similar to that in a nonisolated population system. Lack of inbreeding, as well as a high level of variability, indirectly suggests that this population does not suffer from inbreeding depression. The spatial distribution of genetic variation between local populations suggests intensive, but strongly male-biased, nuclear gene flow. Thus, the persistence of this population system does not seem to be threatened by any immediate social or genetic factor, but colonization of new habitat patches may be difficult because of restricted female dispersal.     

Effects of freshwater outflows on microbial populations in the Tvärminne archipelago, southern Finland

The effects of freshwater outflows were evaluated in three ways: (1) microbial populations in the outflow area (mainly Tvärminne Storfjärd) were compared with populations outside the area, (2) direct counts were made at three sites to monitor the abundance of bacteria along the seaward course of the outflows, and (3) a survey was made of the distribution of microorganisms in the archipelago. The indices used for the presence of freshwater outflows in the archipelago were low salinity, increased amounts of humic matter, and increased temperatures in the winter.
In the outer archipelago, the effects of the outflows were most evident in the low-salinity surface layer below the ice and were also distinguishable in spring and late autumn, but were noted only sporadically in the summer. The outflows were traced as far seaward as the border of the sea zone. The outflows transported various types of bacteria, bacterial spores and yeasts, but did not significantly affect the community respiration. Many of the microorganisms flowing with the fresh water in the winter evidently originated from sewage. During the other seasons, the roles of outflows from the firth of Pojoviken and runoff from the land became evident, but their contributions could not be estimated because fresh water and sewage move together. However, most of the bacterial spores seemed to originate from the land.
The archipelago east of Tvärminne Storfjärd proved to be appropriate for inshore brackish-water investigations being undisturbed by freshwater outflows.     

Competition of two suspension-feeding protozoan populations for a growing bacterial population in continuous culture

Mathematical studies for ecosystems involving 2 predators competing for a growing prey population have shown that the 2 competitors can coexist in a state of sustained oscillations for a range of values of the system parameters. For the case of 1 suspension-feeding protozoan population, recent experimental observations suggest that the predator-prey interaction is complicated by the ability of the bacteria to grow on products produced by the lysis of protozoan cells. This situation is studied here for the case where 2 suspension-feeding protozoan populations compete for a growing bacterial population in a chemostat. Computer simulations show that the 2 protozoan populations can coexist over a range of the operating parameters. Some necessary conditions for coexistence are presented as are some speculations regarding the possible physical explanations of results.     

Nitrification in activated sludge batch reactors is linked to protozoan grazing of the bacterial population

Protozoa feed upon free-swimming bacteria and suspended particles inducing flocculation and increasing the turnover rate of nutrients in complex mixed communities. In this study, the effect of protozoan grazing on nitrification was examined in activated sludge in batch cultures maintained over a 14-day period. A reduction in the protozoan grazing pressure was accomplished by using either a dilution series or the protozoan inhibitor cycloheximide. As the dilutions increased, the nitrification rate showed a decline, suggesting that a reduction in protozoan or bacterial concentration may cause a decrease in nitrification potential. In the presence of cycloheximide, where the bacterial concentration was not altered, the rates of production of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate all were significantly lower in the absence of active protozoans. These results suggest that a reduction in the number or activity of the protozoans reduces nitrification, possibly by limiting the availability of nutrients for slow-growing ammonia and nitrite oxidizers through excretion products. Furthermore, the ability of protozoans to groom the heterotrophic bacterial population in such systems may also play a role in reducing interspecies competition for nitrification substrates and thereby augment nitrification rates.     

Distribution and persistence of fecal bacterial populations in liquid and dewatered sludge from a biological treatment plant

The changes in composition and structure of fecal coliforms (FC) and enterococci (ENT) populations, as well as the elimination of spores of sulphite-reducing bacteria (SRB), were compared between municipal sewage and their derived sludge in a biological treatment plant in order to determine any selective reduction or adsorption to sludge during the treatment process. Additionally, the persistence of antibiotic-resistant enterococcal populations in two kinds of sludge was also considered to evaluate their potential elimination in the treatment process. Microbial indicators, vancomycin-resistant and erythromycin-resistant enterococci were enumerated. The structure and composition of FC and ENT populations were determined by biochemical fingerprinting and clustering analyses. Raw and treated sewage showed a concentration of FC 1 log unit higher than ENT and nearly 2 log units higher than spores of SRB. However, the three studied indicators showed similar concentrations in both types of sludge. Consequently, FC were eliminated in higher proportion than ENT and spores of SRB in sludge. FC and ENT populations showed high diversity and similarity population indexes for all kinds of samples. Antibiotic-resistant enterococci persisted in a similar proportion in respect to total enterococci not only in treated sewage but also in sludge. The persistence of antibiotic-resistant strains in sludge as well as in treated sewage should be considered if they are used for land disposal or for water reutilization, respectively.     

Influence of Protozoa and Nutrient Availability on Nitrification Rates in Subsurface Sediments

Abstract Protozoan abundance, nitrification potential, and related factors in saturated subsurface sediments and the overlying soil were compared at a nonfertilized grassland and an agricultural cropland site. In a 6-week laboratory experiment, DOC, ammonium, and protozoan abundance were manipulated in flasks containing groundwater-sediment slurries. Microbial abundance (protozoa, actively respiring bacteria, and total bacteria) and nutrient concentrations (extractable ammonium and nitrate) were measured. Results from the soil profile analysis showed that protozoan abundance declined with depth at both sites, but significant numbers (392 cells g⁻¹dw) were found in groundwater sediments at the cropland site. Nitrification potential declined with depth at the grassland site and increased with depth at the cropland site. In the laboratory experiment, treatment responses generally were observed within 3 weeks, but had diminished by 6 weeks. Protozoa reduced bacterial populations through the first 3 weeks, but this effect was not significant by week 6. In the cropland sediments, increased net nitrate production occurred in the two reduced protozoa treatments that received ammonium, suggesting that nitrification was occurring and was limited by ammonium. High protozoan abundance in the cropland sediments increased the nitrate flux response, unless DOC was added; in this case, no response occurred. No such responses were recorded in the grassland sediments. Apparently, appreciable nitrification can occur in some groundwater sediments, if sufficient ammonium is present and DOC availability is low. Furthermore, nitrification can be enhanced when protozoan abundance is elevated. Finally, our results suggest that surface land use practices can alter subsurface nitrification rates and microbial community structure. Received: 12 July 1996; Accepted: 2 December 1996     

Population fluctuations and natural mortalities of the pine-moth,Dendrolimus spectabilis

Annual changes in the population of the pine-moth, Dendrolimus spectabilisButler , were studied in Kashima district. The insect completes two generations in one year, and the adult emerges in early summer and again in autumn. The insect population showed fairly drastic fluctuations in the past years, and a conspicuous peak was recorded in three times, in 1950, 1955 and 1961. It was noted in each of those three years that a great number of adults of the summer generation emerged in autumn. The main reason for this great abundance of the insect population seemed to be high survival rate of the young larvae in summer. It was suggested that the climate in July had powerful influence upon the survival f thos e young larvae. The effects of natural enemies were usually the greatest on the egg population of the pine-moth in either generation. Much greater number of insects in the overwintering generation was destroyed by parasites and diseases than in the summer generation. Finally, a rapid increase of the insect population in autumn was considered to be caused by a combined effect of climatic conditions and of natural enemies.     

The demography of a clonal herbaceous perennial plant, the longleaved sundew Drosera intermedia, in different heathland habitats

Eight populations of longleaved sundew Drosera intermedia Hayne ramets were studied in three hydrologically and phytosociologically differing heathland habitats over a 4 yr period a pool edge, an old path through the wet heath, a seepage area At the extreme sites, with high levels of water table fluctuations (pool edge and dry path), both survival and recruitment were low, resulting in small populations The pool edge populations went extinct At the less extreme sites (wet paths and seepage area), populations were stable, but ramet and genet turnover was higher at the path sites than in the seepage area Demographic variation between populations was explained by differences in adult survival and sexual recruitment (asexual recruitment did not differ clearly), which, in turn, were related to specific biotic and abiotic factors Likely adult mortality causes were summer drought (all habitats), winter frost (path habitat), cover with a crust of iron bacteria after heavy summer rainfall (seepage area) and shading by Sphagnum and algae (pool edge) Low seedhng recruitment was caused by a low germination succes (pool, seepage area) and seedling survival (seepage area, dry path)     

The terrestrial Protozoan fauna of South Georgia

Summary 75 taxa of Protozoa (18 flagellates, 9 naked rhizopods, 20 testate rhizopods and 28 ciliates) were found in 14 samples of mineral materials, peats, soils and guano collected from the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. The results confirm the existence of distinct natural communities of protozoan species related to the different classes of habitat in the sub-Antarctic and maritime Antarctic, but suggest that species characteristic of the maritime Antarctic also occur in the sub-Antarctic and species characteristic of bryophyte peats also occur in soils with angiosperm vegetation. The diversity of the fauna of different habitats can be related to degree of soil development and successional stage of associated vegetation. Comparison of the data on the testate rhizopod fauna of South Georgia with those from other sub-Antarctic locations shows a clear trend of faunal pauperization with latitude.     

INTRODUCTION

Foliage-feeding forest insects have served as model systems in the study of animal populations for more than 50 years. Early studies emphasized identification of "key" mortality agents or density-dependent sources of mortality. However, these efforts became burdened by rhetorical ambiguity, and population ecologists are increasingly focusing on characterizing population behavior and identifying the processes that generate that behavior. Two types of behavior seem to be common in forest insect populations: periodic oscillations ("population cycles") and spatial synchrony (synchronous fluctuations over large geographic areas). Several population processes (e.g., host–pathogen interactions) have been demonstrated to be capable of producing periodic oscillations, but the precise identity of these processes remains uncertain for most forest insects and presents a challenge to future research. As part of these efforts, a greater emphasis is needed on the use of statistical methods for detecting periodic behavior and for identifying other types of population behavior (e.g., equilibrium dynamics, limit cycles, transient dynamics). Spatial synchrony appears to be even more ubiquitous in forest insect populations. Dispersal and regional stochasticity ("Moran effect") have been shown to be capable of producing synchrony, but again more research is needed to determine the relative contribution of these processes to synchrony observed in natural populations. In addition, there is a need to search for other types of time–space patterns (e.g., traveling waves, spiral waves) in forest insect populations and to determine their causes. Received: April 25, 2000 / Accepted: September 22, 2000     

Influence of seasonal environmental variables on the distribution of presumptive fecal Coliforms around an Antarctic research station

Factors affecting fecal microorganism survival and distribution in the Antarctic marine environment include solar radiation, water salinity, temperature, sea ice conditions, and fecal input by humans and local wildlife populations. This study assessed the influence of these factors on the distribution of presumptive fecal coliforms around Rothera Point, Adelaide Island, Antarctic Peninsula during the austral summer and winter of February 1999 to September 1999. Each factor had a different degree of influence depending on the time of year. In summer (February), although the station population was high, presumptive fecal coliform concentrations were low, probably due to the biologically damaging effects of solar radiation. However, summer algal blooms reduced penetration of solar radiation into the water column. By early winter (April), fecal coliform concentrations were high, due to increased fecal input by migrant wildlife, while solar radiation doses were low. By late winter (September), fecal coliform concentrations were high near the station sewage outfall, as sea ice formation limited solar radiation penetration into the sea and prevented wind-driven water circulation near the outfall. During this study, environmental factors masked the effect of station population numbers on sewage plume size. If sewage production increases throughout the Antarctic, environmental factors may become less significant and effective sewage waste management will become increasingly important. These findings highlight the need for year-round monitoring of fecal coliform distribution in Antarctic waters near research stations to produce realistic evaluations of sewage pollution persistence and dispersal.