Behavioural response of larval Atlantic menhaden to different rates of temperature change

Larval Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus, spawned off North Carolina (U.S.A.) during the winter, undergo cross-shelf transport from the western Gulf Stream edge to coastal bays and estuaries. Variation in water flow direction with depth provides larvae the opportunity to enhance shoreward transport, if they can regulate their depth behaviourally. Temperature, which normally decreases with depth on the continental shelf, is one possible cue for depth regulation. Laboratory-reared larval menhaden of two different ages were exposed to varying relative rates of temperature increases and decreases, which were presented from both above and below the larvae. Temperature decreases from below caused an ascent response in both young and old larvae, but neither responded to this cue from above. The minimum (threshold) relative rates of decrease for initiating ascents were similar (7.9 × 10^?2, 10.7 × 10^?2° C min^?1) for both age larvae as were the minimum absolute amounts of decrease that must occur before a response (0.1, 0.05°C). Young larvae did not respond to a temperature increase, while old larvae ascended regardless of whether the increase was presented from above or below. Threshold relative rates of increase were 8.59 × 10^?2°C min^?1 from below and 14.79 × 10^?2° C min^?1 from above. The threshold rates and range of larval speeds during vertical movements were used to calculate vertical temperature gradients that could be perceived. These values were compared to measured gradients in areas inhabited by menhaden larvae. On the continental shelf, detectable temperature gradients appear common for temperature decreases that would occur upon descending and temperature increases upon ascending. However, it is uncommon for larvae to encounter temperature increases upon descending that would initiate an ascent response. These results support the hypothesis that menhaden larvae are capable of using temperature gradients for depth regulation.     

Environmental effects on CO2 efflux from riparian tundra in the northern foothills of the Brooks Range,Alaska, USA

Summary Carbon dioxide efflux and soil microenvironmental factors were measured diurnally in Carex aquatilus-and Eriophorum angustifolium-dominated riparian tundra communities to determine the relative importance of soil environmental factors controlling ecosystem carbon dioxide exchange with the atmosphere. Measurements were made weekly between 18 June and 24 July 1990. Diurnal patterns in carbon dioxide efflux were best explained by changes in soil temperature, while seasonal changes in efflux were correlated with changes in depth to water table, depth to frozen soil and soil moisture. Carbon dioxide efflux rates were lowest early in the growing season when high water tables and low soil temperatures limited microbial and root activity. Individual rainfall events that raised the water table were found to strongly reduce carbon dioxide efflux. As the growing season progressed, rainfall was low and depth to water table and soil temperatures increased. In response, carbon dioxide efflux increased strongly, attaining rates late in the season of approximately 10 g CO₂ m^–2 day^–1. These rates are as high as maxima recorded for other arctic sites. A mathematical model is developed which demonstrates that soil temperature and depth to water table may be used as efficient predictors of ecosystem CO₂ efflux in this habitat. In parallel with the field measurements of CO₂ efflux, microbial respiration was studied in the laboratory as a function of temperature and water content. Estimates of microbial respiration per square meter under field conditions were made by adjusting for potential respiring soil volume as water table changed and using measured soil temperatures. The results indicate that the effect of these factors on microbial respiration may explain a large part of the diurnal and seasonal variation observed in CO₂ efflux. As in coastal tundra sites, environmental changes that alter water table depth in riparian tundra communities will have large effects on ecosystem CO₂ efflux and carbon balance.     

Homeothermy in adult salmon sharks, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lamna ditropis</Emphasis>

Salmon sharks, Lamna ditropis, belong to a small group of sharks that possess vascular counter-current heat exchangers (retia mirabilia) allowing retention of metabolically generated heat, resulting in elevated body temperatures. The capacity of free-swimming lamnid sharks to regulate rates of heat gain and loss has not been demonstrated. Using acoustic telemetry, we recorded swimming depth and stomach temperature from four free-swimming salmon sharks in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Temperature data were obtained over time periods ranging from 3.8 to 20.7 h. Temperature profiles of the water column were obtained concurrently for use as estimates of ambient temperature. Mean stomach temperature among four individuals tracked ranged from 25.0 to 25.7°C. These sharks defended specific elevated temperatures regardless of changes in ambient temperature, which ranged from about 5–16°C. The maximum observed elevation of stomach temperature over ambient was 21.2°C. Because stomach temperatures were so strictly maintained relative to changes in ambient temperature, a thermal rate coefficient, k, (°C min^–1 °C thermal gradient^–1) for cooling of 0.053 min^–1 was obtained via a `control' experiment with a dead salmon shark. We show that free-swimming adult salmon sharks maintain a specific stomach temperature independent of changes in ambient temperature through a combination of physical and physiological means, and essentially function as homeotherms. This unique ability is probably the underlying factor in the evolutionary niche expansion of salmon sharks into boreal waters and in their ability to actively pursue and capture highly active prey such as salmon.     

Does pigment composition reflect phytoplankton community structure in differing temperature and light conditions in a deep alpine lake? An approach using HPLC and delayed fluorescence techniques1

In vivo delayed fluorescence (DF) and HPLC/CHEMTAX pigment analyses were used to investigate seasonal and depth distributions of phytoplankton in a deep alpine mesotrophic lake, Mondsee (Austria). Using chl a equivalents, we determined significant relationships with both approaches. Community structure derived from pigment ratios of homogenous samples was compared with microscopic estimations using biovolume conversion factors. An advantage of the HPLC/CHEMTAX method was that it gave good discrimination among phytoplankton groups when based on a pigment ratio matrix derived from multiple regression analysis. When a single algal group was dominant, such as epilimnetic diatoms or hypolimnetic cyanobacteria in the deep chl maxima, HPLC/CHEMTAX results were significantly correlated with microscopic estimations (diatoms: r = 0.93; cyanobacteria: r = 0.94). Changes in the composition of photosynthetically active pigments were investigated with DF and benefited from excitation spectra that considered all light‐harvesting pigments, which made it possible to assess the enhancement of accessory photosynthetically active pigments relative to active chl a (chl a_DF672). Changes in similarity index, based on normalized DF spectra, confirmed compositional shifts observed by microscopy. At chosen wavelengths of DF spectra, 534 and 586 nm, we generally observed a significantly inverse relationship between normalized DF intensities and temperature and light along both seasonal and depth gradients. The relative increase in photosynthetically active pigments other than chl a_DF672 under low light and temperature was caused by an increasing dominance of diatoms and/or phycobilin‐rich cyanobacteria and Cryptophyta. DF spectra provided a more accurate picture of community pigments acclimated to light and temperature conditions than the β‐carotene:chl a ratio derived from HPLC.     

Experimental effects of immersion time and water temperature on body condition,burying depth and timing of spawning of the tellinid bivalve <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macoma balthica</Emphasis>

The burying depth of many bivalve molluscs on intertidal mudflats varies throughout the year and differs between places. Many factors are known to influence burying depth on a seasonal or spatial scale, with temperature and tidal regime probably being very important. Burying depth, body condition and gonadal development of Macoma balthica were followed throughout winter and spring in an experiment in which water temperature and immersion time were manipulated. Unexpectedly, relative water temperature, in contrast to the prediction, did not generally affect body condition or burying depth. This was probably a consequence of the exceptionally overall low water temperatures during the experimental winter. Differences in temperature did, however, result in different timing of spawning: M. balthica spawned earlier at higher spring temperatures. Longer immersion times led to higher body condition only late in spring, but led to deeper burying throughout almost the whole period. There was no effect of immersion time on the timing of spawning. We conclude that a longer immersion time leads to deeper burying, independent of body condition. We also conclude that burying behaviour of M. balthica is not determined by the moment of spawning. Electronic Publication     

Plant growth chambers for the simultaneous control of soil and air temperatures, and of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration

Many facilities for growing plants at elevated atmospheric concentrations of CO₂ ([CO₂]) neglect the control of temperature, especially of the soil. Soil and root temperatures in conventional, free-standing pots often exceed those which would occur in the field at a given air temperature. A plant growth facility is described in which atmospheric CO₂ can be maintained at different concentrations while soil and air temperatures mimic spatial and temporal patterns seen in the field. It consists of glasshouse-located chambers in which [CO₂] is monitored by an infra-red gas analyser and maintained by injection of CO₂ from a cylinder. Air is cooled by a heat exchange unit. Plants grow in soil in 1.2 m long containers that are surrounded by cooling coils and thermal insulation. Both [CO₂] and temperature are controlled by customized software. Air temperature is programmed to follow a sine function of diurnal time. Soil temperature at a depth of 0.55 m is programmed to be constant. Temperature at 0.1 m depth varies as a damped, lagged function of air temperature; that at 1.0 m as a similar function of the 0.55 m temperature. [CO₂] is maintained within 20 μmol mol^?1 of target concentrations during daylight. A feature of the system is that plant material is labelled with a ¹³C enrichment different from that of carbon in soil organic matter. The operation of the system is illustrated with data collected in an experiment with spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv Tonic) grown at ambient [CO₂] and at [CO₂] 350 μmol mol^?1 greater than ambient.     

Globally consistent depth sorting of overlapping 2D surfaces in a model using local recurrent interactions

The human visual system utilizes depth information as a major cue to group together visual items constituting an object and to segregate them from items belonging to other objects in the visual scene. Depth information can be inferred from a variety of different visual cues, such as disparity, occlusions and perspective. Many of these cues provide only local and relative information about the depth of objects. For example, at occlusions, T-junctions indicate the local relative depth precedence of surface patches. However, in order to obtain a globally consistent interpretation of the depth relations between the surfaces and objects in a visual scene, a mechanism is necessary that globally propagates such local and relative information. We present a computational framework in which depth information derived from T-junctions is propagated along surface contours using local recurrent interactions between neighboring neurons. We demonstrate that within this framework a globally consistent depth sorting of overlapping surfaces can be obtained on the basis of local interactions. Unlike previous approaches in which locally restricted cell interactions could merely distinguish between two depths (figure and ground), our model can also represent several intermediate depth positions. Our approach is an extension of a previous model of recurrent V1–V2 interaction for contour processing and illusory contour formation. Based on the contour representation created by this model, a recursive scheme of local interactions subsequently achieves a globally consistent depth sorting of several overlapping surfaces. Within this framework, the induction of illusory contours by the model of recurrent V1–V2 interaction gives rise to the figure-ground segmentation of illusory figures such as a Kanizsa square.     

武夷山不同林龄甜槠林土壤呼吸特征及影响因素

为揭示中亚热带常绿阔叶林群落优势种一甜槠天然林不同林龄林下土壤呼吸(Soil respiration,RS)差异及影响因素,采用LI-8100开路式土壤碳通量系统对武夷山自然保护区不同林龄(18、36、54、72 a)天然甜槠林进行了1年的野外原位测定。结果表明:(1)不同林龄甜槠林RS季节动态呈现明显的单峰趋势,林龄对冬季RS影响并不显著(P>0.05),秋季18 a甜槠林RS与其他3种林龄差异显著(P<0.05),林龄对土壤含水率的季节变化没有显著影响(P>0.05);(2)不同林龄甜槠林5 cm深土壤温度与RS拟合R2明显高于土壤含水率与RS拟合R2,随着林龄增大,RS温度敏感性指数Q10值呈上升趋势,依次为1.551、1.589、1.640、1.664,且54、72 a甜槠林RS温度敏感性指数Q10值显著高于18、36 a(P<0.05);(3)土壤含水率与5 cm深土壤温度共同解释了RS变异的86%—90.3%;0—60 cm土层根系生物量与5 cm深土壤温度共同解释了RS变异的88.3%—91.8%,由此可见,生物因子与非生物因子双因素拟合可以更好地解释不同林龄RS差异。在对未来森林植被土壤呼吸及碳汇功能进行研究时,应在考虑林龄及季节差异的基础上,加强对生物因子的测定。     

EFFECTS OF VARIATION IN TEMPERATURE. II. ON THE FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF EIGHT SPECIES OF MARINE PHYTOPLANKTON1

Eight species of marine phytoplankton showed significant variation in the relative amount of some fatty acids (FAs) in response to variation in temperature. Large changes in relative amounts of certain FAs occurred as a result of a 15° C change in growth temperature. For example, 14:0 increased from ?4% of total FAs at 10° C to > 20% at 25° C for Chaetoceros simplex and Isochrysis aff. galbana but decreased for Phaeodactylum tricornutum. The percentage of the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) 16:ω1 was consistently greater at 10° C than at 25° C, and the converse was usually true for 16: 4ω3. Calculated over all eight species, there was a modest but significant inverse relationship between the percentage of PUFAs and temperature. Only for Thalassiosira pseudonana was the percentage of either of the PUFAs and nutritionally essential fatty acids (EFAs) also an inverse function of temperature. For T. pseudonana, the percentage of the EFA 22:6ω3 decreased linearly with increasing temperature over the range from 10 to 25° C. For three species, the ratio of unsaturated/saturated FAs was correlated with growth rate when growth rate was controlled by variation in irradiance and temperature. Only for Thalassiosira pseudonana was the ratio of unsaturated/saturated FAs also an inverse function of temperature alone.     

Notes on the ecology and entomostracan fauna of temporary rainpools of in Israel

Summary The seasonal distribution of Cladocera and Copepoda in the Holon Rainpool near Tel-Aviv, Israel, was studied. Plankton was also collected from 16 other rainpools along the coastal plain of Israel and compared with the plankton of the Holon Pool. Environmental factors, such as water depth, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and alkalinity were recorded weekly at the Holon Pool.The interaction of temperature and water depth is discussed; a temporary thermal stratification occurs in this shallow rainpool.Daily as well as seasonal fluctuations in temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and alkalinity are described and discussed.A positive correlation was found between total alkalinity and the density of Diaptomus wierzejskii.The succession of species during two seasons is described, and appears to be fairly constant.New localities for Alona elegans, Hemidiaptomus gurneyi and Acanthocyclops bicuspidatus are recorded.Supported partly by a grant of Mif'al Ha-Payis, Israel.     

Ocean‐scale prediction of whale shark distribution

Aim Predicting distribution patterns of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus, Smith 1828) in the open ocean remains elusive owing to few pelagic records. We developed multivariate distribution models of seasonally variant whale shark distributions derived from tuna purse‐seine fishery data. We tested the hypotheses that whale sharks use a narrow temperature range, are more abundant in productive waters and select sites closer to continents than the open ocean. Location Indian Ocean. Methods We compared a 17‐year time series of observations of whale sharks associated with tuna purse‐seine sets with chlorophyll a concentration and sea surface temperature data extracted from satellite images. Different sets of pseudo‐absences based on random distributions, distance to shark locations and tuna catch were generated to account for spatiotemporal variation in sampling effort and probability of detection. We applied generalized linear, spatial mixed‐effects and Maximum Entropy models to predict seasonal variation in habitat suitability and produced maps of distribution. Results The saturated generalized linear models including bathymetric slope, depth, distance to shore, the quadratic of mean sea surface temperature, sea surface temperature variance and chlorophyll a had the highest relative statistical support, with the highest percent deviance explained when using random pseudo‐absences with fixed effect‐only models and the tuna pseudo‐absences with mixed‐effects models (e.g. 58% and 26% in autumn, respectively). Maximum Entropy results suggested that whale sharks responded mainly to variation in depth, chlorophyll a and temperature in all seasons. Bathymetric slope had only a minor influence on the presence. Main conclusions Whale shark habitat suitability in the Indian Ocean is mainly correlated with spatial variation in sea surface temperature. The relative influence of this predictor provides a basis for predicting habitat suitability in the open ocean, possibly giving insights into the migratory behaviour of the world’s largest fish. Our results also provide a baseline for temperature‐dependent predictions of distributional changes in the future.     

Closely related octopus species show different spatial genetic structures in response to the Antarctic seascape

Determining whether comparable processes drive genetic divergence among marine species is relevant to molecular ecologists and managers alike. Sympatric species with similar life histories might be expected to show comparable patterns of genetic differentiation and a consistent influence of environmental factors in shaping divergence. We used microsatellite loci to quantify genetic differentiation across the Scotia Arc in three species of closely related benthic octopods, Pareledone turqueti, P. charcoti, and Adelieledone polymorpha. The relative importance of environmental factors (latitude, longitude, depth, and temperature) in shaping genetic structure was investigated when significant spatial genetic structure was uncovered. Isolated populations of P. turqueti and A. polymorpha at these species’ range margins were genetically different to samples close to mainland Antarctica; however, these species showed different genetic structures at a regional scale. Samples of P. turqueti from the Antarctic Peninsula, Elephant Island, and Signy Island were genetically different, and this divergence was associated primarily with sample collection depth. By contrast, weak or nonsignificant spatial genetic structure was evident across the Antarctic Peninsula, Elephant Island, and Signy Island region for A. polymorpha, and slight associations between population divergence and temperature or depth (and/or longitude) were detected. Pareledone charcoti has a limited geographic range, but exhibited no genetic differentiation between samples from a small region of the Scotia Arc (Elephant Island and the Antarctic Peninsula). Thus, closely related species with similar life history strategies can display contrasting patterns of genetic differentiation depending on spatial scale; moreover, depth may drive genetic divergence in Southern Ocean benthos.     

兴安落叶松(Larix gmelinii)火后种子萌发影响因子

林火干扰是影响兴安落叶松林结构和功能的主要因子之一。兴安落叶松种群火后更新受多种因子的影响,并决定着该群落演替轨迹。通过在大兴安岭呼中自然保护区的火烧迹地内设置原位控制实验,利用增强回归树分析方法,量化研究了落叶松火后恢复初期不同影响因子（温度、有机质层厚度、覆盖度等）对种子萌发的相对重要性。研究结果表明：落叶松火后种子萌发的最主要影响因子为温度,第二影响因子为种源,第三影响因子为草本覆盖度,分别解释了幼苗数量变异的28.51%、22.40%、20.66%;各影响因子的相对重要性在不同地形条件下有明显差异：温度在山坡顶部和阳坡底部占有重要影响,种源在阳坡中部和阴坡中部最为重要,土壤含水量在阴坡底部占有重要地位。同时,去除土壤表面有机质可以显著提高种子萌发数量,去除地面杂草则会使种子萌发数量降低。从研究结果可知,落叶松火后种子萌发在不同地形（环境条件）下的限制因子不同,人工辅助需因地制宜采取相应措施,才能更有效地促进种子萌发与森林恢复。     

Probing protein electrostatic interactions through temperature/reduction potential profiles

 The change in the equilibrium reduction potentials of the iron-sulfur proteins, Pyrococcus furiosus rubredoxin and P. furiosus ferredoxin, and heme protein, horse cytochrome c, has been calculated as a function of temperature using a numerical solution to the Poisson-Boltzman equation. Working curves for different internal dielectric constants were generated to best reproduce experimental observation. Based on a comparison of the experimental and simulated change in reduction potential with temperature, it is concluded that the dielectric constant of proteins is temperature-dependent and varies from protein to protein. For example, the temperature-dependent reduction potential of cytochrome c can only be simulated using a different temperature-dependent dielectric constant for each oxidation state, but this was not the case for rubredoxin or ferredoxin. The role of changes in ionization states of cytochrome c at alkaline pHs, where the reduction potential is known to be pH-dependent at room temperature, is also discussed in terms of electrostatic interaction energies as a function of temperature. It appears that temperature/reduction potential profiles may provide a direct method for measuring relative changes in internal protein dielectric constants. Received: 29 April 1996 / Accepted: 1 August 1996     

Rotifer vertical distributions in a meromictic basin of Lake Banyoles (Spain)

The vertical distribution of rotifer populations has been analyzed in a meromictic basin (III) of the karstic Lake Banyoles. This basin had, at the time of the study, an anaerobic monimolimnion from around 17 m in summer or 21 in winter to 25 m, its maximum depth. However, below this layer a warmer microaerophilic zone with suspended marls is found in a chimney to a depth of 130 m.The rotifer distributions of several years are compared. The presence of large populations of rotifers at the oxic-anoxic interface is constant through the years, but highly variable regarding the total abundance and relative proportions of the species, depending on the importance of the vertical mixing in winter and the posterior segregation of water layers as a function of production and decomposition processes. Filinia hofmanni, Filinia longiseta longiseta are species with a restricted occurrence at the oxycline and are not present in the other non meromictic basins of the lake. Filinia terminalis, more broadly distributed, also has dense populations in summer at the oxycline in basin III, but disappears from the plankton during this season in the other basins. Other species, such as Polyarthra dolichoptera, Anuraeopsis fissa, Keratella cochlearis and Kellicottia longispina, also showed maxima at the oxycline in summer, as well as other maxima in the metalimnion. Populations at the oxycline are probably different ecotypes adapted to low oxygen conditions, but having the advantage of high food availability.     

Short‐ and long‐term acclimation patterns of the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera (Laminariales,Phaeophyceae) along a depth gradient

The giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, is exposed to highly variable irradiance and temperature regimes across its geographic and vertical depth gradients. The objective of this study was to extend our understanding of algal acclimation strategies on different temporal scales to those varying abiotic conditions at various water depths. Different acclimation strategies to various water depths (0.2 and 4 m) between different sampling times (Jan/Feb and Aug/Sept 2012; long‐term acclimation) and more rapid adjustments to different depths (0.2, 2 and 4 m; short‐term acclimation) during 14 d of transplantation were found. Adjustments of variable Chl a fluorescence, pigment composition (Chl c, fucoxanthin), and the de‐epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle pigments were responsible for the development of different physiological states with respect to various solar radiation and temperature climates. Interestingly, the results indicated that phlorotannins are important during long‐term acclimation while antioxidants have a crucial role during short‐term acclimation. Furthermore, the results suggested that modifications in total lipids and fatty acid compositions apparently also might play a role in depth acclimation. In Aug/Sept (austral winter), M. pyrifera responded to the transplantation from 4 m to 0.2 m depth with a rise in the degree of saturation and a switch from shorter‐ to longer‐chain fatty acids. These changes seem to be essential for the readjustment of thylakoid membranes and might, thus, facilitate efficient photosynthesis under changing irradiances and temperatures. Further experiments are needed to disentangle the relative contribution of solar radiation, temperature and also other abiotic parameters in the observed physiological changes.     

Patterns in Fluorescence over a Caribbean Reef Slope: the Coral Genus Madracis

Patterns of fluorescence and colony tissue, colour were studied (field observations and epifluorescence microscopy) in six species of the coral genus Madracis over depth from 10 to 60 m at a reef slope in Curaçao. Two functions showed up: (1) Decrease in number of colourmorphs (n = 25) with depth suggests a photo-protective function where short wavelengths (e.g. UV) are transformed to long wavelengths, (2) Green fluorescence, observed in four species over their entire depth range, transforms radiation to wavelengths useful for photosynthesis. The observed patterns in fluorescence between species did not correspond to the current taxonomic classification. Our results do not support the usefulness of fluorescence as a taxonomic tool in corals.     

Spatiotemporal variations in an assemblage of closely related planktonic aerobic methanotrophs

1. The assemblage of aerobic methane‐oxidising bacteria (MOB) was investigated in different seasons in the water column of a stratified freshwater lake. Species composition was analysed by performing denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of the 16S rRNA genes and cloning analysis of the pmoA gene, which encodes the α‐subunit of particulate methane monooxygenase. The relative abundance of MOB to total bacteria was deduced from the copy number of the pmoA gene and 16S rRNA gene using real‐time polymerase chain reaction. 2. The profiles of the DGGE banding patterns changed with water depth, and these changes correlated with oxygen concentration and water temperature. The sequences of the DGGE bands obtained were all associated with the genus Methylobacter. During the analysis of pmoA gene, all clones sequenced were that of the Methylobacter/Methylosarcina group. The relative abundances of pmoA gene peaked around the oxycline, and small peaks of pmoA gene were also observed near the surface when peaks of methane were observed at the corresponding depth. 3. Profiles of the DGGE banding patterns suggested that ecophysiological characteristics differ among members of the genus Methylobacter; this indicates the importance of investigating the MOB assemblage at the species level or lower. Planktonic MOB seemed to be abundant around oxycline.     

Thaw depth determines reaction and transport of inorganic nitrogen in valley bottom permafrost soils

Nitrate (NO₃^–) export coupled with high inorganic nitrogen (N) concentrations in Alaskan streams suggests that N cycles of permafrost‐influenced ecosystems are more open than expected for N‐limited ecosystems. We tested the hypothesis that soil thaw depth governs inorganic N retention and removal in soils due to vertical patterns in the dominant N transformation pathways. Using an in situ, push–pull method, we estimated rates of inorganic N uptake and denitrification during snow melt, summer, and autumn, as depth of soil–stream flowpaths increased in the valley bottom of an arctic and a boreal catchment. Net NO₃^– uptake declined sharply from snow melt to summer and decreased as a nonlinear function of thaw depth. Peak denitrification rate occurred during snow melt at the arctic site, in summer at the boreal site, and declined as a nonlinear function of thaw depth across both sites. Seasonal patterns in ammonium (NH₄⁺) uptake were not significant, but low rates during the peak growing season suggest uptake that is balanced by mineralization. Despite rapid rates of hydrologic transport during snow melt runoff, rates of uptake and removal of inorganic N tended to exceed water residence time during snow melt, indicating potential for retention of N in valley bottom soils when flowpaths are shallow. Decreased reaction rates relative to water residence time in subsequent seasons suggest greater export of inorganic N as the soil–stream flowpath deepens due to thawing soils. Using seasonal thaw as a proxy for longer term deepening of the thaw layer caused by climate warming and permafrost degradation, these results suggest increasing potential for export of inorganic N from permafrost‐influenced soils to streams.     

Thermodynamics of the partition of chondroitin sulfate–hexadecylpyridinium complexes in butanol/aqueous salt biphasic solutions

The thermodynamics of the partition of chondroitin sulfate–hexadecylpyridinium complexes wee studied in order to gain further insight into the mechanisms responsible for the sensitivity of the relative solubility of these complexes in aqueous slat and butanol phases to small changes in slat concentration. The dependence of the partition coefficient was measured as a function of temperature at three different salt concentrations. Increasing the temperature was found to favor the form of the complex which was soluble n the aqueous phase. Although the transition could be induced by temperature changes, he transition occurred over a 20°C range in temperature. The transition from the aqueous phase to the butanol phase was strongly exothermic, with ΔH = ?22.3 kcal/mol polymer. The value of ΔS was found to be dependent on the salt concentration, ranging from ?72.7 e.u./mol polymer in 0.05125M NaCl to ?77.1 e.u./mol polymer in 0.05375M MaCl. When placed on a disaccharide basis, the corresponding values are ΔH = ?402 cal/mol and ΔS = ?1.31 to ?1.3 e.u./mol. The sharpness of he transition was found to be due t the similarity in magnitude of ΔH and TΔS, and on the dependence of the later upon the salt concentration.