The nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial DNA molecule of the grey seal,Halichoerus grypus,and a comparison with mitochondrial sequences of other true seals

The sequence of the mtDNA of the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus, was determined. The length of the molecule was 16,797 base pairs. The organization of the molecule conformed with that of other eutherian mammals but the control region was unusually long due to the presence of two types of repeated motifs. The grey seal and the previously reported harbor seal, Phoca vitulina, belong to different but closely related genera of family Phocidae, true (or earless) seals. In order to determine the degree of differences that may occur between mtDNAs of closely related mammalian genera, the 2 rRNA genes, the 13 peptide coding genes, and the 22 tRNA genes of the 2 species were compared. Total nucleotide difference in the peptide coding genes was 2.0–6.1%. The range of conservative difference was 0.0–1.5%. In the inferred peptide sequences the amino acid difference was 0.0–4.5%, and the difference with respect to chemical properties of amino acids was 0.0–3.0%. A gene that showed a limited degree of difference in one mode of comparison did not necessarily show a corresponding limited difference in another mode. The ratio for differences in codon positions 1, 2, and 3 was 2.7:1:16. The corresponding ratio for conservative differences was 1.8:1. l:1. The evolutionary separation of the two species was calculated to have taken place 2–2.5 million years ago. This dating gives the figure 8 × 10^–9 as the mean rate of substitution per site and year in the entire mtDNA molecule. Comparison with the cytochrome b gene of the Hawaiian monk seal and the Weddell seal suggested that the lineage of these two species and that of the grey and harbor seals separated 8 million years ago. Correspondence to: Ú. Árnason     

Distribution and Density of Seals in Pil'tun Bay (Northeastern Sakhalin) in the Summer–Autumn Period

The results of seal counts performed during the summer–autumn period of the years 1999–2001 in Pil'tun Bay from onboard Zodiak motor boats and Mi-8 and Mi-8MTV helicopters have been analyzed. The information is presented on the density of seals in the bay. The heterogeneous distribution pattern of seals in the bay and the presence of intermittent migrations provide favorable conditions for foraging in young animals.     

Trophic interactions of Antarctic seals as determined by stable isotope signatures

The diets and trophic interactions among Weddell, crabeater, Ross, and leopard seals in the eastern Ross Sea, Antarctica, were investigated by the use of stable isotope techniques during the 1999–2000 summer seasons. The ¹³C and ¹⁵N values in seal serum clearly distinguished the three Antarctic pack-ice seal species at different trophic positions (Weddell>Ross>crabeater). These patterns appeared to reflect a close linkage to their known foraging ecology and diving behaviors, and agreed well with their presumed dietary diversity. The more enriched ¹³C and ¹⁵N values in male Weddell seals than those in females suggested differences in foraging preferences between them. Significant differences in ¹⁵N were also found among different age groups of Weddell seals. A strong correlation between the C:N ratios and serum cholesterol was probably due to extremely high cholesterol levels in phocids. Comparisons of isotope data with harbor seals revealed distinct differences between Antarctic phocids and the northern seal species.     

Dry miombo – ecology of its major plant species and their potential use as bio-indicators

Results of an extensive vegetation survey of 214 miombo woodland sitesare reported, encompassing the full spectrum of site types in the northernregion of Zimbabwe. At each sample site the vascular species (altogether640) were recorded, as well as 38 environmental variables (climatic,topographic, edaphic factors; geology, vegetation features, exploitation andland tenure). The sampling design was orientated along the environmentalgradients: altitude, slope, precipitation and geology. A reduced species set(286 species; frequency > 3%)was analysed by Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), complementedby the Monte Carlo Permutation Test. The first axis represents acombination of the major environmental variables, altitude, precipitation andsoil texture, and the second – being of marginal importance – thePiriwiri and Lomagundi sediments. The matrix–consisting of the species and sites arranged according to the firstordination-axis – shows a diagonal feature embodying the moistureavailability gradient of the study area, subsequently divided into sevenordinalmoisture classes. The weighted averages of the species scores of therelevés – the scores being fixed by the membership of the singlespecies to one of the respective moisture classes – permits ranking thesites due to moisture availability, thereby assessing their land use capacity.     

Effect of Neurotensin Peptidomimetics on Thermoregulation in Rats

The effects of the tripeptide analogues of neurotensin, GZR123 and GZR125, on thermoregulation was studied in rats that were kept at different ambient temperatures ( _c): in the cold ( _c = 4–6°C), thermoneutral ( _c = 27–28°C), and hot ( _c = 31–32°C) environment, as well as at room temperature ( _c = 20–21°C). In the cold environment, the injection of GZR123 disturbed the vegetative mechanisms of heat emission, leading to peripheral vasoconstriction and possibly changing heat production. Similar to neurotensin, GZR125 disturbed the development of compensatory vasoconstriction in the cold environment and at room temperature, which resulted in a decrease in body temperature. At high temperature, this peptide induced vasodilation.     

Establishment and multiplication of colchi-autotetraploids of Rauvolfia serpentina L. Benth. ex Kurz. through tissue culture

A tissue culture procedure was developed for the establishment and propagation of a colchi-autotetraploid of Rauvolfia serpentina for possible commercial exploitation. Multiplication of autotetraploid shoots was obtained either through axillary bud elongation on Murashige and Skoog [1] medium (MS) containing 2.65 M (0.5 mgl^–1) -naphthaleneacetic acid and 0.33 M (0.05 mgl^–1) kinetin, or via multiple shoot formation on MS medium supplemented with 4.44 M (1.0 mgl^–1) 6-benzylaminopurine and 0.53 M (0.1 mgl^–1) -naphthaleneacetic acid. Rooting could be induced by transferring the shoots to MS medium containing 7.95 M (1.5 mgl^–1) -naphthaleneacetic acid alone. The plantlets, thus formed, were tetraploid in nature by cytological observations of the root tips. They exhibited 80–90% success in establishment under glass house and field conditions.     

Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Embryogenic Avocado Cultures and Somatic Embryo Development

Embryogenic avocado cultures were exposed to ionizing irradiation in order to determine its effect on proliferation and subsequent somatic embryo development. The approximate PD₅₀ as determined by linear regression is 35 Gy 2 weeks after irradiation for Fuerte 2.11.1 and 4 weeks after irradiation for T362 2.11.1. Irradiation of embryogenic cultures did not significantly affect the number of early stage Fuerte 2.11.1 somatic embryos that developed directly from irradiated cultures; however, 10–50 Gy inhibited somatic embryo development. Irradiation of T362 2.11.1 embryogenic cultures at 25–50 Gy inhibited the number of intermediate and mature stages of somatic embryos that developed directly from irradiated cultures, and 50 Gy inhibited somatic embryo maturation. Inhibition of somatic embryo development could be partially offset by proliferation of irradiated embryogenic cultures as suspensions. Irradiation up to 10 Gy significantly increased the number of mature Fuerte 2.11.1 somatic embryos that developed from suspension cultures. Irradiation with doses up to 25 Gy stimulated development of heart stage T362 2.11.1 somatic embryos; however, mature somatic embryo development was suppressed at dosages of 10 Gy and greater.     

Diversity,metabolic types and δ13C carbon isotope ratios in the grass flora of Namibia in relation to growth form,precipitation and habitat conditions

The grass flora of Namibia (374 species in 110 genera) shows surprisingly little variation in ¹³C values along a rainfall gradient (50–600 mm) and in different habitat conditions. However, there are significant differences in the ¹³C values between the metabolic types of the C4 photosynthetic pathway. NADP-ME-type C4 species exhibit the highest ¹³C values (–11.7 ) and occur mainly in regions with high rainfall. NAD-ME-type C4 species have significantly lower ¹³C values (–13.4 ) and dominate in the most arid part of the precipitation regime. PCK-type C4 species play an intermediate role (–12.5 ) and reach a maximum abundance in areas of intermediate precipitation. This pattern is also evident in genera containing species of different metabolic types. Within the same genus NAD species reach more negative ¹³C values than PCK species and ¹³C values decreased with rainfall. Also in Aristida, with NADP-ME-type photosynthesis, ¹³C values decreased from –11 in the inland region (600 mm precipitation) to –15 near the coast (150 mm precipitation), which is a change in discrimination which is otherwise associated by a change in metabolism. The exceptional C3 species Eragrostis walteri and Panicum heterostachyum are coastal species experiencing 50 mm precipitation only. Many of the rare species and monotypic genera grow in moist habitats rather than in the desert, and they are not different in their carbon isotope ratios from the more common flora. The role of species diversity with respect to habitat occupation and carbon metabolism is discussed.     

Sarcocystis inghami n. sp. (Sporozoa: Sarcocystidae) from the skeletal muscles of the Virginia opossum Didelphis virginiana in Michigan

This report describes the newly identified Sarcocystis inghami n. sp. from the skeletal muscles of opossums (Mammalia: Didelphidae) that were collected from south central Michigan (42° 43-42° 79N, 84° 18-84°mathtype="display">6'W), USA. The new species is distinguished from all species described from North and South American opossums by the distinctive morphology of the villar protrusions on the cyst wall. Sarcocysts of S. inghami are microscopic, up to 700 m long and 110 m wide. The sarcocyst wall is up to 7 m thick, with long, stalked protrusions which average 5.5 × 1.2 m. These are constricted at the base, expanded laterally, rounded off distally and occasionally bifid. The villar protrusions have numerous microtubules without electron–dense bodies that extend from the tips into the granular layer. Bradyzoites are 10.7 × 4.3 (8––12 × 4––5) m. This is the second species of Sarcocystis sarcocyst described from the Virginia opossum in North America.     

Key to the management of the Western Himalayan Hillstreams in relation to

A key to the management of hillstreams in relation to Fish Species Richness (FSR) and Shannon and Weaver Diversity Index (H) (Shannon and Weaver, 1949. The Mathematical Theory of Communications. Urbana, University of Illinois Press, IL, USA) using a multitude of factors such as altitude, water source, bed gradient, dominant channel materials and habitat type has been proposed on the basis of 10 study sites, belonging to three north Indian rivers namely; Ghaggar, Yamuna and Ganga. The selected streams are located between the altitudes ranging from 380 to 1524m. It has been observed that high altitude streams having steep gradient, boulder dominated substrate with rapids as the main habitat type had lower FSR (3–4) and H (0.55–0.99) as compared to hillstreams located in the lower altitudes having gentle gradient, cobble dominated substrate with pools, riffles, runs, rapids and cascades as the main habitats and have high FSR (6–14) and H (1.67–2.35). Types – A, B and F hillstreams were encountered when the hillstreams are classified after Rosgen (Applied River Morphology, Wildland Hydrology, Co, USA).     

Electrical characteristics of sensory neurons of Hirudo medicinalis

During intracellular polarization of identified sensory neurons of the leech by square pulses of hyperpolarizing current electrical parameters of the cell membranes were determined: input resistance of the neuron R_n, time constant of the membrane , the ratio between conductance of the cell processes and conductance of the soma , the resistance of the soma membrane r_s, the input resistance of the axon r _a , capacitance of the membrane C_s, and resistivity of the soma membrane R_s. The results obtained by the study of various types of neurons were subjected to statistical analysis and compared with each other. Significant differences for neurons of N- and T-types were found only between the values of , C_s, and R_s (P<0.01). These parameters also had the lowest coefficients of variation. The surface area of the soma of the neurons, calculated from the capacitance of the membrane (the specific capacitance of the membrane was taken as 1 µF/cm²) was 7–10 times (N-neurons) or 4–6 times (T-neurons) greater than the surface area of a sphere of the same diameter. The resistivity of the soma membrane R_s was 35.00 k·cm² for cells of the N-type and 19.50 k·cm² for T-neurons. The reasons for the relative stability of this parameter compared with the input resistance of the cell (coefficient of variation 22–7 and 53–31% respectively) are discussed. The possible effects of electrical characteristics on the properties of repeated discharges in neurons of different types also are discussed.A. A. Zhdanov Leningrad State University. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol.7, No.3, pp.295–301, May–June, 1975.     

Incidence of Fusarium wilt in Cucumis sativus L. is promoted by cinnamic acid, an autotoxin in root exudates

The effects of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum, the pathogen causing Fusarium wilt in cucumber and cinnamic acid, a principal autotoxic component in the root exudates of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), on plant growth, Photosynthesis and incidence of Fusarium wilt in cucumber were studied in order to elucidate the interaction of autotoxins and soil-borne pathogens in the soil sickness. F. oxysporum. f. sp. cucumerinum (FO) and cinnamic acid (CA) at 0.1 or 0.25 mM significantly decreased net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and the quantum yield of Photosystem II photochemistry (_PSII), followed by a reduction of plant biomass production, but did not induce photoinhibition. Pretreatment with CA before inoculation with FO increased the effectiveness of FO, together with a slight photoinhibition. CA pretreatment significantly increased percentage of plants affected by Fusarium wilt, browning index of vascular bundle and Fusarium population in the nutrient solution. All these results indicate that CA enhanced Fusarium wilt by predisposing cucumber roots to infection by FO through a direct biochemical and physiological effect. It is likely that soil sickness results from an interaction of many factors. Abbreviations: CA – cinnamic acid; CFU – colony forming units; Ci – intercellular CO₂ concentration; FO –Fusarium oxysporum (Schlechtend.:Fr) f. sp. cucumerinum (Owen) Snyder & Hansen; F_v/F_m– maximal quantum efficiency of PS II; Fv/Fm– the efficiency of excitation capture by open PS II centers; Gs – stomatal conductance; NPQ – non-photochemical quenching coefficient; Pn – net photosynthetic rate; PS II – Photosystem II; _{PS II}– the quantum yield of PS II photochemistry; qP – photochemical quenching coefficient.     

Mode of uptake of sterol by Arthrobacter simplex

The mechanism of uptake of water-insoluble -sitosterol by a newly isolated strain of Arthrobacter simplex SS-7 was studied. The production of an extracellular sterol-pseudosolubilizing protein during growth of A. simplex on -sitosterol was demonstrated by isolating the factor from the cell-free supernatant and its subsequent purification by Sephadex G-150 column chromatography. The M _r of the purified sterol-pseudosolubilizing protein determined by SDS–PAGE was 19kDa. The rate of sterol pseudosolubilization (5.2×10^–3g l^–1h^–1) could not adequately account for the rate of sterol uptake (72×10^–3g l^–1h^–1) and the specific growth rate (56×10^–3 h^–1). However in the unfavourable growth condition, when the cells were treated with sodium azide at the level of 30–60% of MIC, the sterol pseudosolubilization accounted for nearly 74% of the total growth containing 96% free cells. Cellular adherence to substrate particles was found to play an active role in the normal growth of the strain on -sitosterol. Unlike sodium acetate-grown cells, whose surface activity was negligible (60mNm^–1), the sterol-grown cells had strong surface activity (40mNm^–1). The high lipid content and long chain fatty acids in the cell-wall of -sitosterol-grown cells probably contribute to the high sterol adherence activity of the cells.     

Cell recycling studies for α-amylase production by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

Production of -amylase by a strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens was investigated in a cell recycle bioreactor incorporating a membrane filtration module for cell separation. Experimental fermentation studies with the B. amyloliquefaciens strain WA-4 clearly showed that incorporating cell recycling increased -amylase yield and volumetric productivity as compared to conventional continuous fermentation. The effect of operating conditions on -amylase production was difficult to demonstrate experimentally due to the problems of keeping the permeate and bleed rates constant over an extended period of time. Computer simulations were therefore undertaken to support the experimental data, as well as to elucidate the dynamics of -amylase production in the cell recycle bioreactor as compared to conventional chemostat and batch fermentations. Taken together, the simulations and experiments clearly showed that low bleed rate (high recycling ratio) various a high level of -amylase activity. The simulated fermentations revealed that this was especially pronounced at high recycling ratios. Volumetric productivity was maximum at a dilution rate of around 0.4 h^–1 and a high recycling ratio. The latter had to exceed 0.75 before volumetric productivity was significantly greater than with conventional chemostat fermentation.List of Symbols a proportionality constant relating the specific growth rate to the logarithm of G (h) - a ₁ reaction order with respect to starch concentration - a ₂ reaction order with respect to glucose concentration - B bleed rate (h^–1) - C starch concentration (g/l) - C ₀ starch concentration in the feed (g/l) - D dilution rate (h^–1) - D _E volumetric productivity (KNU/(mlh)) - e intracellular -amylase concentration (g/g cell mass) - E extracellular -amylase concentration (KNU/ml) - F volumetric flow rate (l/h) - G average number of genome equivalents of DNA per cell - k _l intracellular equilibrium constant - k ₂ intracellular equilibrium constant - k _s Monod saturation constant (g/l) - k ₃ excretion rate constant (h^–1) - k _d first order decay constant (h^–1) - k _gl rate constant for glucose production - k _st rate constant for starch hydrolysis - k _t1 proportionality constant for -amylase production (gmRNA/g substrate) - k ₁ translation constant (g/(g mRNAh)) - KNU kilo Novo unit - m maintenance coefficient (g substrate/(g cell massh)) - n number of binding sites for the co-repressor on the cytoplasmic repressor - Q repression function K₁/K₂Q1.0 - R ratio of recycling - R _s rate of glucose production (g/lh) - r _c rate of starch hydrolysis (g/(lh)) - R _eX retention by the filter of the compounds X: starch or -amylase - r intracellular -amylase mRNA concentration (g/g cell mass) - r _C volumetric productivity of starch (g/lh) - r _E volumetric productivity of intracellular -amylase (KNU/(g cell massh)) - r _r volumetric productivity of intracellular mRNA (g/(g cell massh)) - r _e volumetric productivity of extracellular -amylase (KNU/(mlh)) - r _s volumetric productivity of glucose (g/(lh)) - r _X volumetric productivity of cell mass (g/(lh)) - S ₀ free reducing sugar concentration in the feed (g/l) - S extracellular concentration of reducing sugar (g/1) - t time (h) - V volume (l) - X cell mass concentration (g/l) - Y yield coefficient (g cell mass/g substrate) - Y _E/S yield coefficient (KNU -amylase/g substrate) - Y _E total amount of -amylase produced (KNU) - substrate uptake (g substrate/(g cell massh)) - specific growth rate of cell mass (h^–1) - _d specific death rate of cells (h^–1) - _m maximum specific growth rate of cell mass (h^–1) This study was supported by Bioprocess Engineering Programme of the Nordic Industrial Foundation and the Center for Process Biotechnology, the Technical University of Denmark.     

Determination of the overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient kLa,by a temperature dependent change of gas solubility

Summary The solubility of oxygen in the liquid phase of a bioreactor was changed by a ramp change of temperature, and k_La was determined from the resulting return to equilibrium of dissolved oxygen activity. The maximum k_La that can be measured by this method in a standard laboratory scale bioreactor is 145 h^–1 corresponding to a temperature change rate of 320°C h^–1.Nomenclature p Difference between p_G and p_L (% saturation) - T Ramp change of temperature (°C) - E Temperature-compensated output from the oxygen electrode (A) - E_u Uncompensated output from the oxygen electrode (A) - k_La Overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient (h^–1) - k_La_Tm Overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient at temperature T_m (h^–1) - P_G Dissolved oxygen activity in equilibrium with the gas phase (% saturation) - p_L Dissolved oxygen activity (% saturation) - p_Lm Dissolved oxygen activity at time t_m (% saturation) - t Time (h) - t_m Time of maximum p (h) - T Temperature (°C) - T_cal Calibration temperature of the oxygen electrode (°C) - T_m Final temperature after a temperature shift (°C) - T_n Temperature at time t_n     

Multiplication of the endangered Indian pitcher plant (Nepenthes khasiana) through enhanced axillary branching in vitro

Axenic seedling-derived two- to three-node stem segments of Nepenthes khasiana Hook.f. were successfully cultured on Woody Plant Medium containing 2.2 M benzyladenine to produce a 0.5–1.5 cm axillary shoot from each node in 7–8 weeks. The rapid growth along with the axillary branching of this shoot enabled amassing of 6–12 shoots during subculture. Excised shoots transferred to basal medium or rooted in medium containing 2.7 M naphthaleneacetic acid produced typical pitchers at leaf tips. Rooted plants were established in pots at 90–95% survival rate.Abbreviations AA ascorbic acid - AC activated charcoal - CA citric acid - BA 6-benzyladenine - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - KC Knudson-C (1946) basal medium - MS Murashige & Skoog (1962) basal medium - WPM Woody Plant basal medium (Lloyd & McCown 1980)     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the measurement of blood group A and B glycosyltransferase activities

ELISA assays have been developed for (1–3)N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (blood group A transferase) and (1–3)galactosyltransferase (blood group B transferase) activities. In these assays, microtitre plates coated with the bovine serum albumin conjugate of a synthetic Fuc1–2Gal-R acceptor substrate are incubated with the appropriate nucleotide donor (UDP-GalNAc or UDP-Gal) and human serum as the enzyme source. The resulting trisaccharide products Fuc1–2(GalNAc1–3)Gal-R-BSA or Fuc1–2(Gal1–3)Gal-R-BSA are detected and quantified with monoclonal antibodies selected not to cross-react with the substrate structure. With less than a microliter of human serum, product formation is proportional to enzyme concentration and to time of incubation of up to 90 min.     

A quantitative study of synaptic ribbons in pinealocytes of adult Chinese hamsters (Cricetulus griseus) under different photoperiodic conditions

Summary Synaptic ribbons (SR) in pinealocytes of adult (120–130 day-old) male Chinese hamsters (Cricetulus griseus) were classified into types 1, 2 and 3; these have a central dense structure showing rod-like, various and ringlike profiles, respectively. The central structure of the type-2 SR usually appeared as round, oval or comma-like bodies, and occasionally as plates showing various profiles or clubshaped bodies. The quantity of each type of SR, expressed as the SR index, was determined over a 24-h period under a light/dark regime (LD) 1212 or LD 1410. On comparing the results obtained from adults with previously published data from young (60–70-days-old) animals under LD 1212, it was found that, in both young and adult animals, the type-1 and type-3 SR indices exhibited different 24-h variations, whereas the type-2 SR index remained constant over a 24-h period. In addition, the indices of the type-2 SR, but not those of the other SR types, were found to be significantly larger in adult than in young animals. In adult animals, the effects of the photoperiod were different between the three types of SR. A nocturnal increase in the type-1 SR index was observed under both LD 1212 and LD 1410, its time course being different for each of these photoperiods. Under LD 1410, the type-2 SR index showed a significant 24-h rhythm with larger values during the dark period; this was not observed under LD 1212. The type-3 SR index was almost the same under LD 1212 and LD 1410. The results suggest that pinealocyte SR of the Chinese hamster may be composed of three types of SR, each with a different functional role.     

Mapping of human thyroglobulin gene on the long arm of chromosome 8 by in situ hybridization

Summary We report the structural organization of a segment of the human thyroglobulin gene, located 70kb from the 3 end of the gene, containing the exons 8 and 9 starting from the 3 end. Selected probes from this region have been used for the chromosomal mapping of the thyroglobulin gene by in situ hybridization techniques. Only one site in the human haploid karyotype is labeled with the genomic DNA probes. Twenty percent of the grains are localized on the long arm of chromosome 8, mostly in the subregion q-2-23 q-2-24 of the long arm of chromosome 8. The localization of the autoradiographic grains suggests a subregional assignment of the human thyroglobulin gene locus to 8q 2–23 or 8q 2–24.     

Subtle relationships: freshwater fishes and water chemistry in southern South America

We investigated the relationships between water chemistry and the occurrence, distribution, physiology, and morphology of fish faunas. We examined 34 species (ca. 10% of the Argentinean freshwater fish fauna) from 120 localities (5 areas) situated between 26°15 S (Trancas, Tucumán) and 38°30 S (Sierra de la Ventana, Buenos Aires). Fourteen chemical features are described by: conductivity, total dissolved solids, temperature, pH, CO ₃ ^2– , CO₃H^–, Cl^–, SO ₄ ^2– Ca²⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, Mg/Ca, Mg+Ca/Na+K. Three Basic Data Matrices considering the mean, maximum and minimum values of each variable for each fish species were used in a Cluster and Principal Component Analysis. Groups of species clustered in similar ways to particular water chemistries. Similarity was the common occurrence of species in a defined area and preference for a common range of the factors considered. Groups of species so defined showed patterns of distribution related to climate, environment, trophic state and hydrographic complexity. Each cluster included some eurytopic species which appeared together at extreme chemical and geographic characteristics. Twenty four species had ranges of tolerance for the 14 variables and evidence of a grouping according to these ranges. Eighteen species which occurred at maximum or minimum absolute values for more than one factor were ordered along an eurytopy — stenotopy axis. We support the statement that species with a larger tolerance range for most factors have a higher probability of being widely distributed. Astyanax fasciatus and A. bimaculatus tolerated the highest number of maximum and minimum values, followed by Jenynsia l. lineata, A. eigenmanniorum and Trichomycterus corduvensis. Groups of species based on chemical factors showed differences in the relative number of basic morphological types.This paper was submitted at the symposium Fish Ecology in Latin America during the 1993 meeting of the ASIH at Austin.Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientíficasInstituto de Limnología de La PlataFacultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de La Plata