Effect of different densities of live and dead Chlorella vulgaris on the population growth of rotifers Brachionus calyciflorus and Brachionus patulus (Rotifera)

In order to maintain rotifer populations during periods of low algal production, it is necessary to offer alternate diets, some of which include forms of preserved algae. The present work is based on the effect of live and dead Chlorella vulgaris on the population growth of Brachionus calyciflorus and Brachionus patulus. The experimental design consisted of three algal levels (0.5 x 10(6), 1.5 x 10(6) and 4.5 x 10(6) cells ml-1) offered in three forms (living, frozen and heat-killed). The maximal population density values for B. calyciflorus ranged from 55 +/- 1 ind. ml-1 (at 0.5 x 10(6) cells ml-1) to 471 +/- 72 ind. ml-1 (at 4.5 x 10(6) cells ml-1) with live Chlorella, but was much lower (6 +/- 1 to 26 +/- 6 ind. ml-1) with frozen or heat-killed alga under comparable food levels. However, the maximum population density of B. patulus under live or or heat-killed Chlorella was similar at comparable algal levels but when offered frozen algae it was four times less. The highest mean peak population density was 1,277 +/- 83 ind. ml-1 under 4.5 x 10(6) cells ml-1. The rate of population increase for B. calyciflorus varied from 0.50 to 0.79 using live Chlorella, but under comparable conditions, this range was lower (0.21 to 0.31) for B. patulus. Results have been discussed in light of possible application for aquaculture.     

Combined effect of concentrations of algal food (Chlorella vulgaris) and salt (sodium chloride) on the population growth of Brachionus calyciflorus and Brachionus patulus (Rotifera)

Salinity is an important variable influencing the density and diversity of rotifers. Studies on salt tolerance of rotifers have so far concentrated on euryhaline species while very little information is available on non-euryhaline taxa. In the present work, we have evaluated the combined effects of Chlorella vulgaris and sodium chloride on the population growth of two freshwater rotifers B. calyciflorus and B. patulus. A 24 hr acute tolerance test using NaCl revealed that B. calyciflorus was more resistant (LC50 = 3.75 +/- 0.04 g l-1) than B. patulus (2.14 +/- 0.09 g l-1). The maximal population density (mean +/- standard error) for B. calyciflorus in the control at 4.5 x 10(6) cells ml-1 (algal level) was 80 +/- 5 ind. ml-1, which was nearly a fifth of the one for B. patulus (397 +/- 7 ind. ml-1) under comparable conditions. Data on population growth revealed that regardless of salt concentration, the density of B. calyciflorus increased with increasing food levels, while for B. patulus, this trend was evident only in the controls. Regardless of salt concentration and algal food level, the day of maximal population density was lower (4 +/- 0.5 days) for B. calyciflorus than for B. patulus (11 +/- 1 day). The highest rates of population increase (r values) for B. calyciflorus and B. patulus were 0.429 +/- 0.012 and 0.367 +/- 0.004, respectively, recorded at 4.5 x 10(6) cells ml-1 of Chlorella in the controls. The protective role of algae in reducing the effect of salt stress was more evident in B. calyciflorus than B. patulus.     

Life history characteristics of three types of females in Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas (Rotifera) fed different algae

This study describes the life history characteristics of amictic, unfertilized mictic and fertilized mictic females of the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus cultured individually on two different algae at 0.1 mg ml^–1 food concentration and 27 °C. The duration of the juvenile period of amictic females was significantly shorter on Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chick than on Scenedesmus obliquus Kütz or both algae together. The duration of the juvenile period of unfertilized mictic females was significantly longer, and the number of eggs produced by amictic females was significantly larger on Chlorella pyrenoidosa than on S. obliquus. When fed the same type of alga, the duration of the juvenile period of the fertilized mictic females was the longest among the three types of females, and the durations of the reproductive period of the amictic females and the post-reproductive period of the fertilized mictic females were longer than, or equal to those of the other two types of females, respectively. The number of eggs produced by an unfertilized mictic female was the largest among the three types of females, and that of amictic females was larger than or equal to that of fertilized mictic females, depending on the type of diet.     

Nomenclatural consequences of some recent studies on Brachionus plicatilis (Rotifera,Brachionidae)

Recent studies on morphology, karyotype, genetics including allozyme constitution and reproductive behaviour of S- and L-type B. plicatilis showed that these types are best treated as different species. A reexamination of existing available names revealed B. plicatilis O. F. Müller, 1786 and B. rotundiformis Tschugunoff, 1921 as the correct names for the L- and S-type, respectively.     

Demographic parameters of Brachionus patulus Muller (Rotifera) exposed to sublethal DDT concentrations at low and high food levels

The combined effects of sublethal levels of DDT (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 µg·l^–1) and food (Chlorella at 1 and 3 × 10⁶ cells ml^–1) on the demography of the rotifer Brachionus patulus were studied. The average lifespan, life expectancy, net reproductive rate (R_o) and intrinsic rate of increase (r) were significantly greater at the higher food level, but declined with increasing DDT concentration. A significant DDT food interaction was manifested in the toxicity-mitigating action of the higher food density at higher DDT levels. The r values were negative at DDT levels 30 µg · l^–1 and above, only when food density was low. The effective DDT concentration at which a given parameter value was reduced to 50% of that in the controls (EC50) was lower at lower food levels for both survivorship and reproduction, and lower for reproduction than for survivorship at either food level.     

Combined effects of food level and inoculation density on competition between Brachionus patulus (Rotifera) and the cladocerans Ceriodaphnia dubia and Moina macrocopa

Competition among cladocerans and rotifers is of considerable interest not only due to their close similarity in life history strategies, but also due to the considerable overlap they exhibit in their feeding habits. In tropical waterbodies, several genera of cladocerans, including Ceriodaphnia and Moina occur, simultaneously with rotifers. We tested over a period of 3 weeks the combined effects of food (0.5×10⁶ and 1.5×10⁶ cells ml^–1 of Chlorella) level and rotifer density on the competition between B. patulus and C. dubia and M. macrocopa using population growth experiments. For each cladoceran species we used 30 test jars of 50 ml capacity. The initial density of cladocerans was 0.2 ind ml^–1, while for B. patulus it was either 1 ind ml^–1 or 5 ind ml^–1. Neither the maximal population density nor the rate of population increase (r) of C. dubia was significantly affected by B. patulus. However, for M. macrocopa, both these variables were negatively affected by the rotifers. The combined effects of low food level and high initial density of B. patulus resulted in a 50% reduction in the peak population density of M. macrocopa. The population growth of B. patulus was negatively influenced by the presence of C. dubia and M. macrocopa. The results of the competition experiments conducted in the present study between cladocerans and rotifers suggest the existence of a more complex and delicate interaction than is generally thought.     

溴氰菊酯对萼花臂尾轮虫实验种群动态的影响

采用生命表技术对暴露于不同浓度溴氰菊酯溶液中的萼花臂尾轮虫的存活和繁殖进行了研究。结果显示, 溴氰菊酯使轮虫的存活时间显著缩短, 繁殖率降低; 当溴氰菊酯浓度高达3 6 mg/L时, 轮虫的存活时间最短、繁殖率最低。与对照组相比, 除1 2 mg/L外, 其它各浓度的溴氰菊酯均使轮虫的生殖前期显著延长; 浓度为0 6和1 2 mg/L的溴氰菊酯使轮虫的生殖期显著延长, 而浓度为2 4和3 0 mg/L的溴氰菊酯却使轮虫的生殖期显著缩短; 1 2 mg/L的溴氰菊酯使轮虫的平均寿命显著延长。轮虫的生命期望、世代时间、净生殖率和种群内禀增长率均随溴氰菊酯浓度的升高而下降。当溴氰菊酯浓度升高达1 2 mg/L时, 轮虫的净生殖率开始与对照组有显著差异; 而轮虫的种群内禀增长率从溴氰菊酯浓度升高达2 4 mg/L时才开始与对照组有显著差异。在溴氰菊酯的毒性监测中, 净生殖率是比种群内禀增长率更敏感的指标。     

Isolation and purification of glutathione S-transferases from Brachionus plicatilis and B. calyciflorus (Rotifera)

1. The enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST), a critical element in xenobiotic metabolism, was isolated from the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis and its freshwater congener B. calyciflorus. 2. In B. plicatilis, GST comprised 4.2% of cytosolic protein and was present as three separate isozymes with mol. wts 30,000, 31,400 and 33,700. Specific activity of crude homogenates was 56 nmol min-1 mg-1 protein, while that of affinity chromatography purified GST was 1850. 3. In B. calyciflorus, GST was present as two isozymes with mol. wts of 26,300 and 28,500, representing 1.0% of cytosolic protein. Crude GST specific activity was 1750 nmol min-1 mg-1 protein and purified was 72,400. 4. Rotifer GSTs are unusual because they are monomers whereas all other animals thus far investigated posses dimeric GSTs.     

邻苯二甲酸酯类物质对萼花臂尾轮虫种群增长和有性生殖的影响

以萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflourus)为受试动物,以17β-雌二醇(E2)为阳性对照,运用3d种群增长和4d休眠卵产量实验方法研究了不同浓度的邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)、邻苯二甲酸二异辛酯(DEHP)和邻苯二甲酸丁苄酯(BBP)对轮虫种群增长和有性生殖的影响。结果显示,与空白对照组相比,0.05-5000μg/L的E2和500μg/L的BBP显著提高了轮虫种群增长率,而0.5和5000μg/L的DBP以及0.05和0.5μg/L的BBP使轮虫种群增长率显著降低;0.5-500μg/L的E2、50和500μg/L的DBP、0.005和500μg/L的DEHP和500μg/L的BBP显著提高了轮虫的休眠卵产量,而5000μg/L的DBP和0.05μg/L的BBP却与其相反;5和500μg/L的E2、50和500μg/L的DEHP以及500μg/L的DBP和BBP均使轮虫混交率显著上升,而0.005和0.05μg/L的E2、5000μg/L的DBP和DEHP及0.5μg/L的BBP显著降低了轮虫种群中混交雌体受精率;除5000μg/L的E2显著降低轮虫种群中的混交雌体数/非混交雌体数之外,其它所有处理组均对其无显著性影响;5、500和5000μg/L的E2、5000μg/L的DBP和5-5000μg/L的DEHP均使轮虫种群中的带卵雌体数/不带卵雌体数显著升高,而BBP对其无显著影响。在实验设置浓度范围内,轮虫种群中的混交雌体数/非混交雌体数与E2浓度间、轮虫种群中的混交雌体受精率和种群增长率与DBP浓度间、轮虫休眠卵产量与DEHP浓度间、轮虫混交率与BBP浓度间均具有显著的效应-剂量关系     

Transgenerational and within-generational induction of defensive morphology in Brachionus calyciflorus (Rotifera): importance of maternal effect

Maternal effects on the induction of defensive morphology are regarded as an adaptive strategy. For instance, a female can transmit environmental conditions related to predation risk to offspring of the same generation or succeeding generations. However, studies have presented limited information regarding such an adaptive maternal effect on monogonont rotifers. In the present study, the maternal effects on the spine development of rotifers were evaluated using Brachionus calyciflorus-Asplanchna models. Asplanchna can release soluble kairomones into the environments, thereby inducing B. calyciflorus to form defensive morphs (e.g., elongated posterolateral spines). Our empirical data supported the hypothesis that an amictic Brachionus-experienced Asplanchna kairomones could produce offspring with longer posterolateral spine in the current or succeeding generation than those of a non-experienced amictic female. On the basis of our data, we speculated that the maternal effect of B. calyciflorus may involve the transfer and dilution of inducers (e.g., hormone) within and between generations. On one hand, our results reinforced the within-generation maternal effects on induction of defensive morphology of rotifers; on the other hand, our results enhanced transgenerational inducible defense to other planktonic taxa that have been only observed in cladocera.     

食物种类对萼花臂尾轮虫种群增长率的影响

在短期慢性观测过程中,食物类型可能是造成萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionuscalyciflorus)种群繁殖率变化的一种原因。共观测了分别单独投喂10种不同绿藻对轮虫种群增长率的影响。为验证藻青菌是藻类饵料(如绿藻Scenedesmus)有价值的佐剂这一假说,还用蓝细菌单独投喂或与斜生栅藻(Scenedesmusobliquus)混合投喂轮虫进行实验观测。结果发现食物种类对萼花臂尾轮虫种群增长率影响显著。斜生栅藻组获得最大种群增长(1.6/d),而Desmodesmus组增长率最低(0.3/d)。以占斜生栅藻组最大增长的百分率来表示,其它几种绿藻组种群增长由高到低依次为:Desmodesmussubspicatus88%,小球藻(Chlorellavulgaris)83%,单壳缝藻(Monoraphidiumminutum)77%,D.quadricauda74%,S.falcatus71%,S.acuminatus69%,S.pectinatus64%,莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonasreinhardtii)57%,D.abundans19%。轮虫增长率的差异不能用藻类饵料的大小差异来解释。蓝细菌(Microcystisaeruginosa)和(Synechococcuselongates)不论是单独投喂还是与优良藻类饵料(斜生栅藻)混合投喂都对萼花臂尾轮虫种群增长有抑制作用。这种副作用似乎与微囊藻素无关。该结果不支持无毒蓝细菌可作为与其他绿藻饵料配合使用的优良佐剂这一假说。本研究所观察到的生长变化显示了饵料种类对萼花臂尾轮虫种群增长的影响,也预示了对毒性实验结果的影响     

Acute toxicity and bioaccumulation of endosulfan in rotifer (Brachionus calyciflorus).

1. The acute toxicity of endosulfan was determined for the freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus. 2. The mean 24 hr LC50 value for endosulfan was 5.15 ppm with a coefficient of variation of 14.7%. 3. Rotifers were exposed at two sublethal concentrations (1.5-2.0 ppm) of endosulfan for bioaccumulation experiments, for an exposure time of 24, 48, 72 and 96 hr. The rotifers were fed with Nannochloris oculata (5 x 10(5) cell/ml). 4. The highest accumulation of endosulfan was found 24 hr after the start of the exposure to 1.5 ppm of the toxicant. A steady-state concentration in rotifer was reached between 24-48 hr, followed by a gradual decrease until 96 hr.     

Survival analysis of three clones of Brachionus plicatilis (Rotifera)

Age-specific survival schedules of females from three genetically different clones of Brachionus plicatilis were analyzed at several environmental conditions in the laboratory.Lifespan showed the expected decrease with increasing temperature, but a general trend with salinity or genotype was not observed. Probability of death increased with age, as tested by polynomial regression analysis of the survival curve and using theoretical mortality distributions. Three two-parameter models (linear-exponential model, Weibull model, and Gompertz model) were fitted to the survival data. Fitting of these models to data was rather poor, but the Gompertz model and, to a lesser extent, the Weibull model fitted the data better than the linear-exponential model. Parameters obtained from the survival curve analyses were related to other demographic parameters. A significant relationship between the shape parameter of the Gompertz model and the cohort generation time was detected, suggesting, but not proving, an effect of reproductive effort on aging.     

Effect of the epizoic rotifer Brachionus rubens on the population growth of three cladoceran species

Using population densities and growth rates as criteria, we studied interactions between the epizoic rotifer Brachionus rubens and each of three cladoceran species differing in size and reproductive rates — Daphnia carinata, Moina macrocopa and Ceriodaphnia rigaudi. In all mixed — species experiments, B. rubens existed in both the epizoic mode, attached to the cladoceran host, and in the free-swimming mode. Rotifer population growth rates were significantly depressed in the presence of M. macrocopa, presumably as a consequence of exploitative and interference competition. The largest cladoceran, D. carinata probably did not suppress B. rubens, because the epizoic component of the rotifer population escaped from the deleterious effects of mechanical interference. Peak population numbers and initial population growth rates reached by all three cladocerans were lower in the presence of B. rubens, probably because of the adverse effects of the epizoic infestation, which was maximal on D. carinata and least on C. rigaudi. In mixed-species cultures of D. carinata and M. macrocopa, the presence of B. rubens helped D. carinata coexist with M. macrocopa, which otherwise would have suppressed the Daphnia.     

Influence of the filamentous cyanobacterium Planktothrix agardhii on population growth and reproductive pattern of the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus

The population dynamics of B. calyciflorus was investigated using a green alga, Monoraphidium minutum, and a blue-green alga Planktothrix agardhii as food sources, separately and as mixtures. Growth rate (r), egg ratio (ER), and juvenile development time (D _j ) were measured in the laboratory and mortality rate and embryonic development time (D _E ) were calculated. With M. minutum, Brachionus showed a typical growth curve (Monod-kinetics) dependent on food concentration. In contrast B. calyciflorus did not grow well on P. agardhii. With all food concentrations the measured growth rates were about r=0. At low food concentrations r was low with both food types, but the ER of B. calyciflorus was significantly higher with P. agardhii as food source. Furthermore the relative egg volume of females carrying one egg was higher with Planktothrix than with Monoraphidium. An addition of P. agardhii to M. minutum led to increasing growth rates. Highest growth rates were found with complementary food sources. High food concentrations of M. minutum shortened the juvenile development (D _J ) time, but D _j was uneffected by different P. agardhii food concentrations. A mixture of both algae did not shorten D _j compared with M. minutum as single food. The calculated D _E was not effected by different food qualities but the calculated mortality was nearly 3 times higher with P. agardhii as food.     

Rotifer neuropharmacology--II. Synergistic effect of acetylcholine on local anesthetic activity in Brachionus calyciflorus (Rotifera, Aschelminthes)

A number of compounds showing general anesthetic action in the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus were investigated in the presence of acetylcholine. Non-ionizing anesthetics, including tricaine, showed no interaction with acetylcholine. However, highly ionized compounds like the local anesthetics procaine and lidocaine, the muscarinic blocker and local anesthetic atropine, and the beta-adrenergic blocker propranolol showed a synergistic effect with acetylcholine. ACh increased the general anesthetic effect of these compounds in a statistically highly significant dose-dependent fashion. To account for the mechanism of this unusual and novel effect it is proposed that these compounds interact with the anesthetic binding site of the rotifer cholinoceptor ionophore in the open state. It is also proposed that non-ionizing compounds have a general membrane effect only. In addition to anesthesia, atropine and propranolol cause foot paralysis in B. calyciflorus. This other novel effect is also enhanced by acetylcholine as well as decamethonium, a neuromuscular blocker.     

Near-coronal fluid flow patterns and food cell manipulation in the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus

Brachionus calyciflorus is able to differentially capture or deflect potential food cells depending on the overall density (numbers µl^–1) and size of suspended particles the rotifer encounters while feeding. This has been shown to correlate with behavioral regulation of pseudotrochal structures, and primarily by large medial tufts of compound cilia (cirri). When pseudotrochal cirri are extended laterally, inferred fluid flow pathlines show that only cells in the central 25 µm of the coronal disk are subject to ingestion. When pseudotrochal cirri form medially-oriented screens, fluid flow is directed away from the pseudotrochas and central corona, an effect apparent up to 70 µm in front of a restrained animal. Fluid flow in all areas of the B. calyciflorus corona is at very low Reynolds Number (Re), with calculated values always less than 10^–1. Accordingly, removal of cells from feeding currents probably is not due to sieving but is more likely due to direct interception of particles by individual ciliary elements. Certain large cells — such as Euglena gracilis — are retained in the inner pseudotrochal space for up to 500 msec, ample time for B. calyciflorus to assess the physical and chemical characteristics of this or other potential foods.     

萼花臂尾轮虫有性生殖、种群增长和休眠卵产量间的关系

利用种群指数增长和Logistic增长模型,通过计算机模拟研究了萼花臂尾轮虫有性生殖发生的频率,后代中的混交雌体发率对种群增长和休眠卵产量的影响。在所模拟的参数范围内,随有性生殖发生频率由100％减小到20％,获得了大休眠卵产量所需的混交雌体百分率由9％增大到69％,随密度制约作用的增大（环境容纳量K值由1000减小到100）,该混交雌体百分率由18％增大到69％,休眠卵产量由1072．10降低至133．67,种群的内禀增长率与获得最大休眠卵产量所需的混交雌体百分率间呈曲线相关。当有性生殖发生得越频繁,种群增长所受的密度制约作用较小时,后代中10％－30％的个体为混交雌体时的种群中休眠卵产量较大。     

在培养基和食料中添加铅和镉对轮虫种群动态的影响

由于工业活动的影响,墨西哥水体环境中的重金属浓度在上升.浮游动物,尤其是轮虫类,由于对环境变化十分敏感而且是淡水中的常见组成部分,因此被广泛用于生态毒理试验以确定水质标准.在不同的胁迫途径下(如通过培养基或食料),重金属的毒性是不同的.在本研究中,通过在轮虫Brachionus rubens的培养基和食料中添加重金属这两种途径,我们评估了镉和铅的效应.对于这两种重金属,均采用将轮虫置于含0.5×106个/ml绿藻的培养基中或每天喂食经5倍于LC50值的金属处理(1,2和4h)的绿藻.对于在培养基中添加镉,使用了三个毒性水平(0.1,0.2和0.4 mg/L),铅的浓度分别为0.005,0.010 和0.015 mg/L.基于LC50的数据,B.rubens对铅的敏感性要比镉高24倍.镉浓度为0.4 mg/L时,培养基中加入镉造成B.rubens的生长趋缓.而喂食经不同时间处理的绿藻后,轮虫的密度随着食料在重金属中处理时间的延长而减小.培养基中或食料中添加铅时,轮虫种群生长的的趋势与在镉处理下的情况类似.随着培养基中重金属浓度的增加,每天种群增长率(r值)会减小.在培养基和食料处理两种不同途径下,r值会在0.33(对照)到0.02 d-1(经重金属处理)间变化[动物学报 51(1)46-52,2005].     

The Indian species of the genus Brachionus (Eurotatoria: Monogononta: Brachionidae)

The different species and infraspecific categories of the genus Brachionus, so far reported or described from India, are reviewed. Their distribution and taxonomic validity are discussed. Remarks are made on the ecology and epizoic nature of various species.