Selective settlement of the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides (L.) facilitates its growth and reproduction on mussel beds in the Wadden Sea

On the unstable sedimentary tidal flats of the Wadden Sea, a suitable attachment substrate for sessile organisms is generally lacking. Epibenthic mussel beds (Mytilus edulis L.) provide the only and strongly limited settlement sites available for the barnacle, Semibalanus balanoides (L.). Field investigations showed that barnacles were non-randomly distributed within a mussel bed. They preferentially occurred near the siphonal apertures of living mussels but rarely grew on dead mussels or shell fragments. Field experiments revealed that this was due to selective settlement of barnacle cyprid larvae. Growth of barnacles was significantly higher upon living mussels than on empty mussel shells. Moreover, a higher reproductive output was obtained by individuals on living mussels which produced twice as many nauplii larvae than barnacles attached to empty shells. This study shows that selective settlement of S. balanoides cyprid larvae on living mussels is adaptive with respect to individual fitness. Received in revised form: 15 January 2001 Electronic Publication     

Effects of surface charge and Gibbs surface energy on the settlement behaviour of barnacle cyprids (Balanus amphitrite)

Gibbs surface energy has long been considered to be an important parameter in the design of fouling-resistant surfaces for marine applications. Rigorous testing of the hypothesis that settlement is related to Gibbs surface energy however has never been accomplished, due mainly to practical limitations imposed by the necessary combination of surface engineering and biological evaluation methods. In this article, the effects of surface charge and Gibbs surface energy on the settlement of cyprids of an important fouling barnacle, Balanus amphitrite, were evaluated. Settlement assays were conducted on a range of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) (CH₃-, OH-, COOH-, N(CH₃)₃ ⁺-, NH₂-terminated), presented in gold-coated polystyrene well plates, varying in terms of their surface charge and Gibbs surface energy. Contrary to contemporary theory, settlement was not increased by high-energy surfaces, rather the opposite was found to be the case with cyprids settling in greater numbers on a low-energy CH₃- SAM compared to a high-energy OH- SAM. Settlement was also greater on negatively-charged SAMs, compared to neutral and positively-charged SAMs. These findings are discussed in the context of data drawn from surfaces that varied in multiple characteristics simultaneously, as have been used previously for such experiments. The finding that surface charge, rather than total surface energy, may be responsible for surface selection by cyprids, will have significant implications for the design of future fouling-resistant materials.     

线型链支化链网状链生物大分子的分维测量

本文应用光散射技术研究了几种生物大分子在水溶液中的分形性质。当温度高于胶凝临界温度时,直链淀粉（线型链）、明胶（线圈状链）的分维ｄｆ为５／３,支链淀粉（支化链）的分维为２．２￣２．５。在直链淀粉及明胶水溶液胶凝点（网状链）ｄｆ＝２．０。文章还讨论了ｄｆ与样品温度、浓度的关系。     

The complex barnacle perfume: identification of waterborne pheromone homologues in Balanus improvisus and their differential expression during settlement

A key question in barnacle biology is the nature of cues that induce gregarious settlement. One of the characterised cues is the waterborne settlement pheromone (WSP). This study aimed to identify WSP homologues in Balanus improvisus and to investigate their expression during settlement. Six WSP homologues were identified, all containing an N-terminal signal peptide, a conserved core region, and a variable C-terminus comprising several -GR- and -HDDH- motifs. The B. improvisus WSP homologues were expressed in all settlement stages but showed different expression patterns. The homologue most similar to the B. amphitrite WSP was the most abundant and was constantly expressed during settlement. In contrast, several of the other WSP homologues showed the greatest expression in the juvenile stage. The presence of several WSP homologues suggests the existence of a pheromone mix, where con-specificity might be determined by a combination of sequence characteristics and the concentration of the individual components.     

Correlative assays of barnacle cyprid behaviour for the laboratory evaluation of antifouling coatings: a study of surface energy components

Laboratory evaluation of antifouling coatings is underpinned by settlement studies with specific fouling organisms. Established methods provide insight into the likelihood of failure of a particular coating system, but can neglect the process of surface selection that often precedes attachment. The present approach for quantifying the exploratory behaviour of barnacle cypris larvae suggested that inspection behaviour can be a rapid and predictive proxy for settlement. Two series of xerogels with comparable total surface energy, but different dispersive and polar components, were evaluated. Settlement assays with three-day-old cyprids of Balanus improvisus demonstrated that while attachment was not linked directly to dispersive free energy, the composition of the xerogel was nevertheless significant. Behavioural analysis provided insight into the mechanism of surface rejection. In the case of a 50:50?PH/TEOS (phenyltriethoxysilane-based) xerogel vs a 50:50 TFP/TEOS (3,3,3-trifluoropropyltrimethoxysilane-based) xerogel, wide-searching behaviour was absent on the former.     

Evaluation of self-similar features in time series of serum growth hormone and prolactin levels by fractal analysis: Effect of delayed sleep and complexity of diurnal variation

We assayed the diurnal concentrations of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) in 6 healthy male volunteers to evaluate the self-similar features in the time series of each hormone on the basis of fractal theory and to determine the fractal dimension as an index of the complexity of the diurnal variation. In addition, we assessed the effects of a 6-hour delay in the sleep period on the complexity of the diurnal variaton of these hormones. There was a statistically significant fractal feature in the serum levels of GH both under the nocturnal-sleep and delayed-sleep conditions in all subjects. The time series of the serum PRL concentrations also showed a statistically significant fractal feature under the nocturnal-sleep and delayed-sleep conditions in all subjects. The fractal dimensions of the patterns of the GH or PRL levels were 1.879 and 1.929 or 1.754 and 1.785 under the nocturnal-sleep and delayed-sleep conditions, respectively. Two-way ANOVA revealed no significant difference in the fractal dimension between the two sleep conditions but did reveal a significant difference between the fractal dimensions of the GH and PRL levels. These results showed (1) that delayed sleep had no significant effect on the complexity of the diurnal pattern of these hormones, and (2) that the diurnal pattern of the GH levels was more complex than that of the PRL levels.     

Host location by larvae of a parasitic barnacle: larval chemotaxis and plume tracking in flow

Numerous studies describe stimulation and/or enhancement oflarval settlement by distance chemoreception in response tochemical factors emitted by conspecific adults, host and preyspecies and microbial films. However, active upstream trackingof odor plumes, needed in order to locate specific, spatiallylimited settlement sites, has thus far received little scientificattention. This study examines host location in flow and stillwater by larvae of the parasitic barnacle Heterosaccus dollfusi,which inhabits the brachyuran crab Charybdis longicollis. Experimentsincluded analysis of larval motion patterns under four conditions:still water, in flow, in still water with waterborne host metabolitesand in flow with host metabolites. Our results show that H.dollfusi larvae are capable of actively and effectively locatingtheir host in still water and in flow, using chemotaxis andrheotaxis and modifying their swimming pattern, direction, velocity,determination and turning rate to accommodate efficient navigationin changing environmental conditions.     

Effects of two oil dispersants on phototaxis and swimming behaviour of barnacle larvae

The effects of two oil dispersants (Vecom B-1425 GL and Norchem OSD-570) mixed with diesel oil on the survival and behaviour of the stage II nauplii of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite were investigated. The24 and 48-hour LC₅₀ values for Vecom B-1425 GL:diesel mixture were 514 and 48 mg l₋₁ respectively, while respective values for Norchem OSD-570:diesel mixture were 505 and 71 mg l₋₁. Under sublethal concentrations, increased levels of the dispersant:diesel mixtures caused a reduction in phototactic responses. Balanus amphitrite nauplii failed to exhibit phototactic responses when exposed to Vecom B-1425GL:diesel mixtures of 400 mg l₋₁ and higher for 24 hours. A longer exposure time of 48 hours further reduced the Lowest Observable Effect Concentrations (LOECs) to 60 mg l₋₁. The LOECs for Norchem OSD-570:diesel mixtures under exposure periods of 24 and 48 hours were 400and 80 mgl₋₁ respectively. The curvilinear velocities (VCL) and straight-line velocities (VSL) of the stage II nauplii ranged from 0.7–1.1and 0.2-0.4 mms₋₁ respectively. Increased concentrations of dispersant:diesel mixtures caused a significant change in the curvilinear and straight-line velocities. Both oil dispersants, dispersant:diesel mixtures of 20 to 40 mgl₋₁ caused significant increases in VCL, but no significant change in VSL. Dispersant:diesel mixtures of 100 mg l₋₁ and higher resulted in a reduction in VSL for both dispersants. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Rhythm of the beta-cell oscillator is not governed by a single regulator: multiple systems contribute to oscillatory behavior

Pulsatile insulin output, paralleled by oscillations in intracellular Ca(2+), reflect oscillating metabolism within beta-cells in response to secretory fuels. Here we question whether oscillatory periodicity is conserved or varied from stimulation to stimulation, whether glycolysis is essential for the manifestation of an oscillatory response, and if an environment of nutrient oversupply affects oscillatory regularity. We have determined that a beta-cell oscillatory Ca(2+) pattern is independent of the type of applied secretory fuel (glucose, methyl-pyruvate, or alpha-ketoisocaproate). In addition, single cells respond with the same pattern when repeatedly stimulated, regardless of the type of stimulatory fuel. Presence of substimulatory glucose is not necessary to obtain an oscillatory responses to methyl-pyruvate or alpha-ketoisocaproate. Glucose-6-phosphate, as a measure of glycolytic flux, is not detectable under these conditions. These data suggest that multiple systems, rather than a single enzyme component, can contribute to the beta-cell oscillatory behavior. Prolonged exposure to high levels of palmitate impaired oscillatory regularity in the individual beta-cells. This supports the hypothesis that a high-fat environment might contribute to loss of regular oscillatory pattern in diabetic subjects, acting, at least in part, at the level of the single beta-cell.     

Toxicity of Alexandrium lusitanicum to gastropod larvae is not caused by paralytic-shellfish-poisoning toxins

Laboratory grazing experiments compared ingestion of two subclones of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium lusitanicum by gastropod veliger larvae (Nassarius sp.). While the two prey subclones originated from the same monoclonal isolate of A. lusitanicum, one possessed the ability to produce paralytic-shellfish-poisoning toxins (PSTs), while the other did not. Ingestion rates on the two Alexandrium subclones were not significantly different over a range of prey concentrations (approximately 100–660 cells ml⁻¹), indicating that PSTs did not serve as a grazing deterrent for these larvae. However, ingestion rates on both subclones were low at the higher prey concentrations tested. Mortality of the predators also increased linearly with concentration of either subclone. These observations indicated that both A. lusitanicum subclones produced an unknown substance that inhibited and killed the grazers. Veliger mortality was not induced by culture filtrates or lysates, suggesting either that the substance was either highly labile or that contact with intact cells was required. Because toxic algae can produce multiple bioactive substances, experimental demonstrations of alleopathic effects of toxic species should not be assigned to known toxins without supporting evidence. In addition, the results show that the effectiveness of algal grazing deterrents can increase with cell concentration, which may have implications for bloom dynamics.     

Small-world connectivity, motif composition, and complexity of fractal neuronal connections

Connection patterns of the cerebral cortex consist of pathways linking neuronal populations across multiple levels of scale, from whole brain regions to local minicolumns. This nested interconnectivity suggests the hypothesis that cortical connections are arranged in fractal or self-similar patterns. We describe a simple procedure to generate fractal connection patterns that aim at capturing the potential self-similarity and hierarchical ordering of neuronal connections. We examine these connection patterns by calculating a broad range of structural measures, including small-world attributes and motif composition, as well as some global measures of functional connectivity, including complexity. As we vary fractal patterns by changing a critical control parameter, we find strongly correlated changes in several structural and functional measures, suggesting that they emerge together and are mutually linked. Measures obtained from some modeled fractal patterns closely resemble those of real neuroanatomical data sets, supporting the original hypothesis.     

Incorporation of silicone oil into elastomers enhances barnacle detachment by active surface strain

Silicone-oil additives are often used in fouling-release silicone coatings to reduce the adhesion strength of barnacles and other biofouling organisms. This study follows on from a recently reported active approach to detach barnacles, which was based on the surface strain of elastomeric materials, by investigating a new, dual-action approach to barnacle detachment using Ecoflex®-based elastomers incorporated with poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based oil additives. The experimental results support the hypothesis that silicone-oil additives reduce the amount of substratum strain required to detach barnacles. The study also de-coupled the two effects of silicone oils (ie surface-activity and alteration of the bulk modulus) and examined their contributions in reducing barnacle adhesion strength. Further, a finite element model based on fracture mechanics was employed to qualitatively understand the effects of surface strain and substratum modulus on barnacle adhesion strength. The study demonstrates that dynamic substratum deformation of elastomers with silicone-oil additives provides a bifunctional approach towards management of biofouling by barnacles.     

Settlement Behaviour of Marine Invertebrate Larvae Measured by EthoVision 3.0

Submerged marine surfaces are rapidly colonized by fouling organisms. Current research is aimed at finding new, non-toxic, or at least environmentally benign, solutions to this problem. Barnacles are a major target organism for such control as they constitute a key component of the hard fouling community. A range of standard settlement assays is available for screening test compounds against barnacle cypris larvae, but they generally provide little information on mechanism(s) of action. Towards this end, a quick and reliable video-tracking protocol has been developed to study the behaviour of the cypris larvae of the barnacle, Balanus amphitrite, at settlement. EthoVision 3.0 was used to track individual cyprids in 30-mm Petri dishes. Experiments were run to determine the optimal conditions vis-à-vis acclimation time, tracking duration, number of replicates, temperature and lighting. A protocol was arrived at involving a two Petri dish system with backlighting, and tracking over a 5-min period after first acclimating the cyprids to test conditions for 2 min. A minimum of twenty replicates was required to account for individual variability in cyprid behaviour from the same batch of larvae. This methodology should be widely applicable to both fundamental and applied studies of larval settlement and with further refinements, to that of smaller fouling organisms such as microalgae and bacteria.     

Modelling applicability of fractal analysis to efficiency of soil exploration by roots

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Fractal analysis allows calculation of fractal dimension, fractal abundance and lacunarity. Fractal analysis of plant roots has revealed correlations of fractal dimension with age, topology or genotypic variation, while fractal abundance has been associated with root length. Lacunarity is associated with heterogeneity of distribution, and has yet to be utilized in analysis of roots. In this study, fractal analysis was applied to the study of root architecture and acquisition of diffusion-limited nutrients. The hypothesis that soil depletion and root competition are more closely correlated with a combination of fractal parameters than by any one alone was tested. MODEL: The geometric simulation model SimRoot was used to dynamically model roots of various architectures growing for up to 16 d in three soil types with contrasting nutrient mobility. Fractal parameters were calculated for whole roots, projections of roots and vertical slices of roots taken at 0, 2.5 and 5 cm from the root origin. Nutrient depletion volumes, competition volumes, and relative competition were regressed against fractal parameters and root length. KEY RESULTS: Root length was correlated with depletion volume, competition volume and relative competition at all times. In analysis of three-dimensional, projected roots and 0 cm slices, log(fractal abundance) was highly correlated with log(depletion volume) when times were pooled. Other than this, multiple regression yielded better correlations than regression with single fractal parameters. Correlations decreased with age of roots and distance of vertical slices from the root origin. Field data were also examined to see if fractal dimension, fractal abundance and lacunarity can be used to distinguish common bean genotypes in field situations. There were significant differences in fractal dimension and fractal abundance, but not in lacunarity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that applying fractal analysis to research of soil exploration by root systems should include fractal abundance, and possibly lacunarity, along with fractal dimension.     

Onchocerca volvulus: biochemical and morphological characteristics of the surface of third- and fourth-stage larvae

The annulated cuticles of third- and fourth-stage larvae of Onchocerca volvulus have the typical structure of other nematodes but the cuticle of fourth-stage larvae was thinner. The surface of the third-stage larva was wrinkled and fuzzy, while that of the fourth-stage was smooth. Intermediate stages in the formation of the new cuticle and epicuticle beneath the old basal layer and of the separation of the cuticles are shown. Monoclonal antibodies specific to the surface of third-stage larvae did not react with the surface of the fourth-stage larvae. Binding of the monoclonal antibodies to the third-stage larvae was abrogated by treatment of the worms with trypsin and proteinase K, but was unaffected by treatment with periodate or the detergents sodium deoxycholate and SDS. The lectins RCA120 and WGA, but not any of the other lectins tested, bound only to the surface of fourth-stage larvae, and not to that of third-stage larvae. The surfaces of third- and fourth-stage larvae were shown to be different and contained stage-specific surface epitopes.     

Heavy metals have different effects on mycelial morphology of Achlya bisexualis as determined by fractal geometry

The morphological response, as measured by changes to mycelial area, radial extension and border fractal dimension, of the oomycete Achlya bisexualis to Cu, Co, Hg, Zn and Cd at concentrations of between 0.05 and 3 mM is described. All of the metals decreased mycelial area and radial extension. Border fractal dimension increased in the presence of Cu, Co and Hg with individual hyphae extending out beyond the mycelial margin. In the presence of 3 mM Hg these hyphae displayed spiral growth. Zn and Cd had no effect on border fractal dimension. We suggest that all of the metals slow growth and that Cu, Co and Hg may also disrupt the relationship between tip growth and branching at the edge of the mycelium.     

Dual specificity of anti-CXCL10-CXCL9 antibodies is governed by structural mimicry

Dual-specific antibodies are characterized by an antigen-combining site mediating specific interactions with two different antigens. We have generated five dual-specific single chain variable fragments (scFv) that neutralize the activity of the two chemokines, CXCL9 and CXCL10, to bind to their receptor CXCR3. To better understand how these dual-specific scFvs bind these two chemokines that only share a 37% sequence identity, we mapped their epitopes on human CXCL9 and CXCL10 and identified serine 13 (Ser(13)) as a critical residue. It is conserved between the two chemokines but not in the third ligand for CXCR3, CXCL11. Furthermore, Ser(13) is exposed in the tetrameric structure of CXCL10, which is consistent with our finding that the scFvs are able to bind to CXCL9 and CXCL10 immobilized on glycosaminoglycans. Overall, the data indicate that these dual-specific scFvs bind to a conserved surface involved in CXCR3 receptor interaction for CXCL10 and CXCL9. Thus, structural mimicry between the two targets is likely to be responsible for the observed dual specificity of these antibody fragments.     

GC content variability of eubacteria is governed by the pol III alpha subunit

Eubacterial genomes have highly variable GC content (0.17-0.75) and the primary mechanism of such variability remains unknown. The place to look for is what actually catalyzes the synthesis of DNA, where DNA polymerase III is at the center stage, particularly one of its 10 subunits--the alpha subunit. According to the dimeric combination of alpha subunits, GC contents of eubacterial genomes were partitioned into three groups with distinct GC content variation spectra: dnaE1 (full-spectrum), dnaE2/dnaE1 (high-GC), and polC/dnaE3 (low-GC). Therefore, genomic GC content variability is believed to be governed primarily by the alpha subunit grouping of DNA polymerase III; it is of essence in genome composition analysis to take full account of such a grouping principle. Since horizontal gene transfer is very frequent among bacterial genomes, exceptions of the grouping scheme, a few percents of the total, are readily identifiable and should be excluded from in-depth analyses on nucleotide compositions.