The salt relations of marine and halophilic species of the unicellular green alga,Dunaliella

1. Comparisons were made of the effects of salt on the exponential growth rates of two unicellular algae,Dunaliella tertiolecta (marine) andDunaliella viridis (halophilic).
2. The algae contained glycerol in amounts which varied directly with the salt concentration of the growth media. The highest measured glycerol content ofD. tertiolecta was approximately equivalent to 1.4 molal and occurred in algae grown in 1.36 M sodium chloride. The highest glycerol content measured inD. viridis was approximately equivalent to 4.4 molal and occurred in algae grown in 4.25 M sodium chloride. Lower concentrations of free glucose, which varied inversely with extracellular salt concentration, were also detected.
3. It is inferred that Na⁺ is effectively excluded from the two algae. There was some evidence of a moderate uptake of K⁺.
4. Comparisons were made of erude preparations of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and an NADP-specific glycerol dehydrogenase from each species and of the effects of salt and glycerol on the activities of these enzymes. It is concluded that the different salt tolerances of the two algae cannot be explained by generalized differences between their enzyme proteins.
5. Although intracellular glycerol must necessarily contribute to the osmotic status of the algae, its primary function in influencing their salt relations is considered to be that of a compatible solute, whereby glycerol maintains enzyme activity under conditions of high extracellular salt concentration and hence low (thermodynamic) water activity.

     

A study on the rate of water transport of the clam katelysia opima in relation to environmental conditions

1. The neutral red technique was employed to study the rate of filtration in Katelysia opima.
2. The weight specific water filtration was found to be greater for younger clams compared to the older ones.
3. The rate of water filtration increased with decreasing salinity.
4. Water filtration was found to increase as temperature increased, reaching a maximum at 35°C. but then sharply decreasing at 39°C.
5. Light had no significant effect on the rate of filtration.
6. Suspended matter was found to affect the rate of water filtration.
7. The rate of filtration was low at high pH and high in low pH.
8. The rate of water filtration was found to be faster during high tide than during low tide.
9. The presence of the parasitic crab, Pennotheris sp., in the mantle cavity of clams had a marked effect on the particle filtration.
10. Accidental cut of the siphon tips had no effect on the rate of filtration.

     

Abundanzdynamik und reproduktionsphasen limnophiler tricladen (Turbellaria) Aus stehenden kleingewässern

Dynamics of abundance and reproductive cycles of limnophileous triclads (Turbellaria) from little ponds.

1. Studying 18 little ponds in Lower Southern-Saxonia (West-Germany), in 14 ponds seven triclad-species were found.
2. Phagocata vitta occurs from October to July in 1–2 generations. In the area the species reproduces by fissipary. Maximum abundances and rates of reproduction are reached in December and January. In the ponds, where P. vitta and Dugesia polychroa live together, there is no competition between the two species.
3. After dry periods Dendrocoelum hercynicum emigrates from interstitial habitats as facultative inhabitant of surface-waters.
4. In low abundances Dendrocoelum lacteum lives in one pond only. The breeding period (production of cocoons) lasts from January to March. Low densities of this species are probable caused by interspecific food-competition with Polycelis nigra.
5. Likewise, Dugesia tigrina inhabits only one pond. The species is competitive to P. nigra at temperatures of about 20°C. High abundances in the months July to October fall together with high fissipareous-rates.
6. Dugesia polychroa occurs in low densities over the year or dependent on dry-periods. Cocoons are produced between March and May, in low numbers till autumn.
7. In the stagnant pond Bursfelde Polycelis nigra is the absolute dominant triclad-species with densities of up to 800 individuals/0,I m³. The maximum-abundances are caused by two intense reproductive periods in spring and autumn, together with optimum temperatures and food conditions.

     

Summer algal communities and primary productivity in fish ponds

The paper presents data on primary productivity and phytoplankton communities in new experimental ponds which received the following treatments; ammonium nitrate and triplesuperphosphate, triplesuperphosphate, cracked corn (10% crude protein) and Auburn No. 3 fish feed (36% crude protein). Comparative data on algal communities were also obtained from production ponds which received feeds or fertilizers. Basic ecological data on macro-algae are also presented.

1. All nutrient additions to experimental ponds resulted in higher levels of gross photosynthesis and greater concentrations of chlorophyll a than were found in the control treatments. Fertilization with both nitrogen and phosphorus gave the highest values. Chlorophyll a and gross photosynthesis were higher in ponds receiving high protein content feed (Auburn No. 3) than in ponds to which low protein content feed (corn) was applied.
2. Persistent blooms of blue-green algae occurred in ponds receiving nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization. Phosphorus only fertilization produced blooms of blue-greens, but these blooms did not persist as in the ponds to which nitrogen was also added. Control ponds were dominated by green algae. Blue-green algae were seldom abundant in feed treatments.
3. Production ponds had high level of gross photosynthesis and large concentrations of chlorophyll a.
4. Many of the production ponds which received feed applications developed heavy blooms of blue-green algae.
5. The major species of blue-green algae observed in the present study were Oscillatoria sp., Raphidiopsis curvata, Anacystis nidulans, A. aeruginosa, Spirulina sp., and Anabaena circinalis. Heterocyst bearing forms, which can presumably fix nitrogen, were seldom noted in ponds that received continuous additions of nitrogen from fish feeds.
6. Macro-algae are abundant in many fish ponds. Data illustrating the competition of macro-algae with phytoplankton are presented.

     

Effects of the discharge of thermal effluent from a power station on Lake Wabamun,Alberta, Canada — The epipelic and epipsamic algal communities

1. The epipelic algal standing crops were increased by the discharge of thermal effluent into Lake Wabamun, particularly in the discharge canal at station (03–04) and 05.
2. The increase in the standing crop size of the epipelon was due to Oscillatoria amoena and O. borneti in the heated area, while the discharge canal provided the inoculum of the algae for the heated area of the lake.
3. At station (03–04) the increased standing crop size was also a function of increased light penetration to the sediment due to the heated effluent keeping an area of the lake free of ice during the winter.
4. The species composition of the diatoms was similar at all stations except in the discharge canal where there was a reduction in the number of diatom species.
5. Navicula cuspidate developed best in the discharge canal in the summer where water temperatures of 31°C were recorded.
6. Amphora ovalis var. pediculus was the dominant diatom species during the winter under ice-cover.
7. The heated effluent had no effect upon the standing crop or species composition of the epipsammon.
8. Results obtained from the sediment core study showed that the shallow littoral zone of the lake is very disturbed due to wind-induced wave action.

     

Ecology of deepwater rice-fields in Bangladesh 3. Associated algae and macrophytes

1. Aquatic macrophytes formed dense beds in fallow areas during the four and a half months of the flood season in all but one deepwater rice-growing location in Bangladesh; these included several types of life-form, but the fine-leaved species, Myriophyllum sp., Najas indica, Utricularia stellaris were often especially abundant. The same species grew inside deepwater rice fields, but at much lower densities. A similar contrast occurred for the algae, although deepwater rice often developed dense masses of epiphytes on aquatic roots, stems and leaf sheaths, when plants were growing in isolated, well-illuminated situations.
2. Two widespread algae, Aulosira fertilissima and Scytonema mirabile, were equally successful on soil in the period prior to the arrival of floodwaters and floating on the surface of the water during the flood season. Other species common during the flood season differed from those common on soil.
3. Most blue-green algae inside deepwater rice fields were heterocystous; the only species not so, but forming distinct colonies, was Aphanothece stagnina. However only non-heterocystous forms were found at one location in south Bangladesh (Phaltita) and a change from heterocystous to non-heterocystous forms was noted at the main research site (near Sonargaon) during late September in at least one year. The water column at the former was almost entirely anoxic, while the change at the latter occurred at a time when the water sometimes became anoxic during the night. It is suggested that differences in ability to tolerate anoxic periods may be a key factor in determining the success of the algal and vascular plant species in the different micro-habitats within these DWR-growing areas.
4. Although diatoms were quantitatively only a minor component of the algal biomass, they became more frequent later in the season when the water became microaerobic or anoxic for part of the day. Navicula confervacea was overall the most abundant species at the two main research locations.

     

Ecology of deepwater rice-fields in Bangladesh 4. Nitrogen fixation by blue-green algal communities

1. Aquatic macrophytes formed dense beds in fallow areas during the four and a half months of the flood season in all but one deepwater rice-growing location in Bangladesh; these included several types of life-form, but the fine-leaved species, Myriophyllum sp., Najas indica, Utricularia stellaris were often especially abundant. The same species grew inside deepwater rice fields, but at much lower densities. A similar contrast occurred for the algae, although deepwater rice often developed dense masses of epiphytes on aquatic roots, stems and leaf sheaths, when plants were growing in isolated, well-illuminated situations.
2. Two widespread algae, Aulosira fertilissima and Scytonema mirabile, were equally successful on soil in the period prior to the arrival of floodwaters and floating on the surface of the water during the flood season. Other species common during the flood season differed from those common on soil.
3. Most blue-green algae inside deepwater rice fields were heterocystous; the only species not so, but forming distinct colonies, was Aphanothece stagnina. However only non-heterocystous forms were found at one location in south Bangladesh (Phaltita) and a change from heterocystous to non-heterocystous forms was noted at the main research site (near Sonargaon) during late September in at least one year. The water column at the former was almost entirely anoxic, while the change at the latter occurred at a time when the water sometimes became anoxic during the night. It is suggested that differences in ability to tolerate anoxic periods may be a key factor in determining the success of the algal and vascular plant species in the different micro-habitats within these DWR-growing areas.
4. Although diatoms were quantitatively only a minor component of the algal biomass, they became more frequent later in the season when the water became microaerobic or anoxic for part of the day. Navicula confervacea was overall the most abundant species at the two main research locations.

     

Diurnal variation in Sagar Lake,Sagar (India) I studies in the deep water area

1. A diurnal study of inland fresh water lake has been made with respect to physical and chemical properties and the plankton.
2. Chlorides have followed the total carbonates while dissolved oxygen and pH have shown no relation.
3. Microcystis has followed no definite pattern of diurnal movement.
4. All crustaceans, some of the rotifers andTrachelomonas perform considerable diurnal movement in the course of a twenty four hour period.

     

An ecological study of the Ponggol Estuary in Singapore

1. An ecological study of the Ponggol Estuary was conducted from July 1965 to June 1966 and the seasonal data on physical, chemical and biological characteristics were presented.
2. The Ponggol River represents a short, narrow and shallow estuary in Singapore. The river mouth is open throughout the year and water from eastern Johore Straits drains in twice a day at high tide. The upper reach, however, is left exposed at low tide.
3. The Ponggol River was classified as a vertically and laterally homogeneous estuary and was found to exhibit a mesohaline to polyhaline environment.
4. Significant hydrological gradients from the river mouth 10 the upper reach were noted in the river system. Salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH increased towards the mouth of the river and other parameters such as nutrients, dissolved organic matter and turbidity increased towards the source.
5. Although the river received organic pollutants at the upper reach the estuary was able to discharge them fairly rapidly through regular flushing by the tides. The transient rise of organic matter did not appear to impart any serious affect on the biota in the estuary.
6. Over 98% of the phytoplankton consisted of diatoms, most of which were brought into the estuary from eastern Johore Straits. Freshwater forms were relatively few.
7. Phytoplankton biomass was considerably higher than the adjoining waters. and was reduced at the upper reach due to high turbidity of the water.
8. 80% of the zooplankton was composed of dinoflagellates,Difflugia, copepods and bivalve larvae dominating at all sections of the estuary.
9. Percentage composition of the zooplankton showed that dinoflagellates and copepod nauplii predominated at high tide whileDifflugia and bivalve larvae were abundant at low tide.
10. Zooplankton standing crop, in general, was higher towards the source at high tide but the reverse was found at low tide, i.e. standing crop increased towards the river mouth. This was attributed to the process of concentration.
11. Species composition of zooplankton was found to be more or less similar to that of the eastern Johore Straits.
12. The nekton consisted predominantly of small and juvenile fish. Close correlation of fish and copepods was found to be statistically valid and it was concluded that the fish entered the estuary to feed rather than to spawn.
13. The squids formed an important catch of the beach seine unit and were caught throughout the year.
14. The fish population could be grouped into four categories: estuarine components, euryhaline components, marine components and migratory components.
15. Benthic invertebrates were abundant. Commercially important species consisted of prawns,Metapenaeus andPenaeus, and crabs,Neptunus pelagicus andScylla serrata.
16. The river bed was inhabited predominantly by molluscs and the distribution resembled that of the sheltered shore of muddy-sand type.

     

Seasonal variation in the biochemical composition of Mytilus viridis at Ratnagiri on the West Coast of India

1. The seasonal variation in the water, protein, fat and glycogen contents of the mussel, Mytilus viridis has been studied for the year March, 1974 to March, 1975.
2. The water level increased during the monsoon season and decreased in summer.
3. The level of protein, fat and glycogen showed correlation with the reproductive cycle of the mussel.
4. The protein level was high when the mussels were mature and dropped during the breeding period.
5. During sex change from male to female in May the protein level remained high whereas during sex change from female to male in October and November it was low.
6. The fat level was high in mature mussels and declined on spawning.
7. The glycogen level was at its peak in immature mussels and low in mature.

     

LCA in decision-making processes

Synthetic sulfuric acid is used in a wide range of applications in fine chemical industry. Despite an already performed optimization of input amounts, used sulfuric acid is still a quantitatively important waste by-product. As a result, different utilization technologies for used sulfuric acid exist:

1. production of gypsum
2. thermal reductive cracking
3. thermal cracking and oxidation

This makes an LCA study of this waste by-product quite interesting. In this paper:

? the starting point for a comparative LCA of the above mentioned utilization technologies at a concrete situation is explained, in a work of Ciba-Geigy Corp.

? a short summary of the comparative LCA is presented

? lessons learned from performing the LCA and using it in a decision process are described.

     

Dynamics ofOstrya carpinifolia woods in the Southern Alps (N-Italy)

Forest regeneration in the vegetation complex of the submontane belt in the Southern Alps involves the active participation ofOstrya carpinifolia woods and their wood edge communities. The corresponding syndynamical processes are described by employing phytosociological, phytogeographical and ecological methods. It is concluded that:

1. The communities of the grassland-wood transition are of major importance in the successional developments in this man-made vegetation complex.
2. Many species occurring in the region of the deciduous forests of Eurasia find their refuge in such transitional communities and are supposed to play an important part in the succession.
3. Ostrya carpinifolia is considered as an early successional tree species.

     

Partitioning of a brackish water habitat by copepod species

1. The succesful species of copepods in a brackish water habitat show a separation in time with regard to the date of maximum occurrence and the date of maximum reproductive activity. The succession of the five species examined is: Mesochra lilljeborgi, Paronychocamptus nanus, Tachidius discipes, Halicyclops magniceps and Canuella perplexa.
2. These species and others show moreover a separation in space: C. perplexa is an endopsammic, P. nanus a mesopsammic and T. discipes an epipsammic species. Three cyclopoid species are planktonic. Two other species (Nitocra typica and Mesochra lilljeborgi) are more numerous in the perophyton than in the benthos.
3. It seems that redundancy exists in the ways these species avoid competition, and the habitat could probably support more species.

     

Meroplankton dynamics in a saline,turbulent, turbid shallow lake (Neusiedlersee,Austria and Hungary)

Phytoplankton species composition, horizontal distribution, seasonal- and long-term dynamics are investigated in relation to some environmental factors, based on about 700 samples taken between 1968 and 1992 in the shallow, turbid, turbulent, saline Neusiedlersee (Austria/Hungary). We deduced:

1. The phytoplankton is relatively poor in species which is attributable to high salinity and turbidity. Blue-green algae of picoalgal size, meroplanktonic diatoms, green algae either with gelée or elongated form are the most important groups in the plankton;
2. No consequent horizontal differences in the distribution of phytoplankton biomass were found; the high contribution of diatoms (69%) and green algae (22%) is characteristic;
3. Despite the low percentage contribution (0.54%) of phytoplankton dry weight in total seston, the two variables correlate closely because of simultaneous resuspension after wind actions. The prevalence of both low phytoplankton/seston ratio and significant correlation between these two variables is indicative to the presence of a meroplankton;
4. Phytoplankton biomass, especially that of diatoms, varies within wide limits in the short term as a combined effect of growth/loss, transport by horizontal water currents and periodic resuspension from the sediment surface. Diatoms like Fragilaria, Surirella and Campylodiscus are involved especially. Parameters of population dynamics (growth rate, annual cycles, length of stationary phases, standing crop) were estimated based on moving averages. Growth rates were smaller than those of ‘normal’ planktonic species; however, the similarities of seasonal pattern suggest that the carrying capacity of the lake is very constant;
5. Picoalgal biomass is very high in the lake; its contribution to total biomass can exceed 75%, especially in spring. The large cellular chlorophyll a content of Neusiedlersee's phytoplankton can most probably be explained by this high picoalgal standing crop, which is not included in the routine biomass estimations;
6. Concerning long-term changes of phytoplankton, periodic appearances and disappearances are very characteristic. Annual average biomass of most species is growing for several (3–5) years, then declining with a similar rate and these periods are recurrent. Climatic drying-out periods, during which water level lowers, conductivity increases, nutrients and their ratios change following trend-like periodicities, and they are supposed to be responsible for the observed longterm periodicity of dominant species. An increased nutrient load in the seventies was superimposed on this cyclicity;
7. Most of the species can be found in smaller or larger amounts in the littoral microhabitats (canals, inner ponds) of the lake in periods when they are absent or very rare in the open water. Thus, these littoral microhabitats play a very important role in the survival and recruitment of planktonic populations to the open water.

     

Water balance of small lactating rodents —III. Estimates of milk production and water recycling in lactating Mus musculus under various water regimes

1. The exchanges of water between lactating female and young Mus musculus were modelled on the computer.
2. The model was used to estimate rates of milk production and water recycling in various litter sizes under various water regimes by following the time course of injected tritiated water.
3. The high correlation between estimated rates of milk production and actual growth rates of young was taken to indicate that the method gave if not the actual rates of milk production a very constant proportion of it.
4. Approximately 50% of the water secreted in milk is returned to the mother by recycling.

     

Experimente zum Bewegungsverhalten von einzelligen Fliesswasseralgen

1. A schematical model is given of the drifting and recolonisation of algal cells in an artificial channel with algal growth on the bottom when water free of algae was flowing through, as well as of the colonisation of a clean channel by algal cells, when water of a brook was flowing through. Both phenomena are compared with drift and colonisation in a natural channel by means of quantitative sampling.
2. Before settling down again after drifting away a single algal cell may cover a distance of less than 38 m only.
3. Multiple sampling over a period of 24 hours demonstrated diurnal periodicity in the drifting and colonisation of various algal species from running water.

     

Field studies on the variability of populations of Aster tripolium L. in relation to saltmarsh zonation

1. Aster tripolium is a very variable species of which a number of types have been described both on a morphological and ecological level.
2. In permanent plots along the height gradient in the salt marsh it appeared that differences in the A. tripolium subpopulations occur.
3. In the lowest zone of the marsh, dominated by Spartina anglica (Spartinion), the mean life expectancy of individual adult plants is relatively high but it is relatively low for seedlings.
4. In the higher zones of the marsh the mean life expectancy is relatively lower, but for the seedlings it is higher (Puccinellion maritimae).
5. In the Spartina-zone individual A. tripolium plants have about twice the number of shoots as the plants from the other zones.
6. The plants from the Spartina zone produce per individual more generative shoots (absolute) but these have less capitula than elsewhere in the marsh. The number of ripe seeds per head is almost constant everywhere in the marsh.

     

Seasonal variations in biochemical constituents of the clam,Paphia laterisulca

1. The total protein, fat and glycogen contents were estimated from the edible clam, P. laterisulca. Seasonal variations in these constituents along with the water content were studied.
2. The gonad index in P. laterisulca was found to increase during the ripe condition and in winter (December–January) and decrease on spawning.
3. A relatively high water content was obtained during monsoon (June to September). This might be due to the loss of salts and gain of water in low salinities.
4. Protein content varied with the reproductive cycle of the clam. The level reached its peak in the mature stage and declined on spawning. Immature clams showed less protein content than gravid ones.
5. Lipid content started to increase as the gametogenesis commenced, reached its peak in fully mature condition (August) and sharply declined due to the shedding of gametes during spawning.
6. Glycogen content was high during the period of active gameto-genesis (May–June). A sharp decrease took place when the clams were fully ripe (July). The glycogen might have been utilized in the formation of active ripe gametes.
7. After starvation for twelve days, total protein and fat contents remained constant, while glycogen content decreased by 66.82%. The water content increased by 4.67%.
8. Seasonal variation in the organic constituents are discussed in relation to the reproductive cycle of the clam.

     

An ecological study of three freshwater ponds of hyderabad-India III. The phytoplankton (Volvocales,Chlorococcales, and Desmids)

The present paper deals with the ecological behaviour of green algae (Volvocales, Chlorococcales and desmids) of certain freshwater ponds, studied over a period of two years. The distributional patterns and periodicity of the various forms were compared with the changes in chemical constituents of water. The following conclusions were drawn.

1. Volvocales preferred eutrophic waters having high salt content. Their periodicity was possibly dependent upon the concentrations of nitrates and phosphates.
2. Chlorococcales were present in both, the calcium-rich and Calcium-poor ponds but the species composition was totally different from each other.
3. The ecology of desmids was possibly linked with the iron content and Divalent Monovalent ratio of water.