Growth patterns of Mytilopsis leucophaeata, an invasive biofouling bivalve in Europe

For the first time, growth of Mytilopsis leucophaeata, an important European fouling species, was investigated. By means of growth cages, individual shell growth of three cohorts, with, respectively, initial shell lengths of < or =5 mm, 10 mm and 15 mm, was monitored in the harbour of Antwerp, Belgium, during 2003 - 2004. M. leucophaeata followed an oscillatory growth pattern with a single summer growing period per year (May to August). Growth decreased during wintertime, but never ceased completely. M. leucophaeata has an average growth rate of < 3-6 mm year- 1. Temperature was found to be the main environmental factor affecting growth. The von Bertalanffy growth function was used to model growth of individuals < or =5 mm, resulting in Linfinity = 16.7 mm and K= 0.56. Based on a combination of growth of all three cohorts, the hypothetical growth of an average individual mussel could be modelled over a 5-year period, resulting in a maximum length > 19 mm with a growth rate of 0.41. Its longevity (more than 5 years) and the positive effect of higher water temperatures on growth, combined with its high resistance to chlorination, provides M. leucophaeata with a high potential for severe and long-lasting biofouling     

Factors influencing the upper temperature tolerances of three mussel species in a brackish water canal: size, season and laboratory protocols

Mussels are the most problematic organisms encountered in the water intake systems of electrical power plants. Various fouling control measures are adopted, among which heat treatment is considered the relatively more attractive from economic and ecological points of view. Thermal tolerance experiments were carried out to determine the effects of mussel size (2-20 mm shell length), season (breeding vs non-breeding), nutritional status (fed vs non-fed), acclimation temperature (5-25 degrees C) and acclimation salinity (1-35%o) on the mortality pattern of three important mussel species, viz. a freshwater mussel Dreissena polymorpha, a brackish water mussel Mytilopsis leucophaeata and a marine mussel Mytilus edulis under different temperatures (36-41 degrees C). The mussels in the 10 mm size group exposed to 36 degrees C showed 100% mortality after 38 min (D. polymorpha), 84 min (M. edulis) and 213 min (M. leucophaeata). The effect of mussel size on M. edulis and M. leucophaeata mortality at different temperatures was significant, with the largest size group of mussels showing greater resistance, while no significant size-dependence was observed in the case of D. polymorpha. All the three mussel species collected during the non-breeding season (June-October). Nutritional status had no significant influence on the thermal tolerance of the three mussels; fed and non-fed mussels showed 100% mortality at comparable rates. Acclimation temperature had a significant effect on the mortality of all three species. Survival time at any given target temperature increased with increasing acclimation temperature. The acclimation salinity showed no significant effect on the thermal tolerance of the three mussel species. In comparison, M. leucophaeata was more tolerant to high temperature stress than the other two species. The present studies clearly show that various factors can influence the mortality of D. polymorpha, M. edulis and M. leucophaeata to elevated temperatures. The results, therefore, suggest that if heat treatment were to be used as a control measure for these mussels, it has to be employed judiciously, depending on the mussel species, mussel size, breeding season, water temperature and salinity.     

Accessibility maps as a tool to predict sampling bias in historical biodiversity occurrence records

Historical biodiversity occurrence records are often discarded in spatial modeling analyses because of a lack of a method to quantify their sampling bias. Here we propose a new approach for predicting sampling bias in historical written records of occurrence, using a South African example as proof of concept. We modelled and mapped accessibility of the study area as the mean of proximity to freshwater and European settlements. We tested the model's ability to predict the location of historical biodiversity records from a dataset of 2612 large mammal occurrence records collected from historical written sources in South Africa in the period 1497–1920. We investigated temporal, spatial and environmental biases in these historical records and examined if the model prediction and occurrence dataset share similar environmental bias. We find a good agreement between the accessibility map and the distribution of sampling effort in the early historical period in South Africa. Environmental biases in the empirical data are identified, showing a preference for lower maximum temperature of the warmest month, higher mean monthly precipitation, higher net primary productivity and less arid biomes than expected by a uniform use of the study area. We find that the model prediction shares similar environmental bias as the empirical data. Accessibility maps, built with very simple statistical rules and in the absence of empirical data, can thus predict the spatial and environmental biases observed in historical biodiversity occurrence records. We recommend that this approach be used as a tool to estimate sampling bias in small datasets of occurrence and to improve the use of these data in spatial analyses in ecological and conservation studies.     

Temporal and Spatial Variability in the Distribution of Vibrio vulnificus in the Chesapeake Bay: A Hindcast Study

Vibrio vulnificus, an estuarine bacterium, is the causative agent of seafood-related gastroenteritis, primary septicemia, and wound infections worldwide. It occurs as part of the normal microflora of coastal marine environments and can be isolated from water, sediment, and oysters. Hindcast prediction was undertaken to determine spatial and temporal variability in the likelihood of occurrence of V. vulnificus in surface waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Hindcast predictions were achieved by forcing a multivariate habitat suitability model with simulated sea surface temperature and salinity in the Bay for the period between 1991 and 2005 and the potential hotspots of occurrence of V. vulnificus in the Chesapeake Bay were identified. The likelihood of occurrence of V. vulnificus during high and low rainfall years was analyzed. From results of the study, it is concluded that hindcast prediction yields an improved understanding of environmental conditions associated with occurrence of V. vulnificus in the Chesapeake Bay.     

Distribution and abundance of fish eggs and larvae in three tributaries of the Upper Uruguay River (Brazil)

The present study aimed to investigate the distribution and abundance of fish eggs and larvae in three important tributaries (Chapecó, Peixe, and Ligeiro rivers) of the Upper Uruguay River. The spatial and temporal distribution of fish eggs and larvae were studied as well as the correlation between environmental parameters and the abundance of ichthyoplankton species. The study was conducted between October 2005 and September 2006. Ichthyoplankton samples were collected at night with cylindroconical 0.5-mm mesh plankton nets every 5 days. Of the 591 samples collected, 170 contained ichthyoplankton organisms, resulting in the capture of 12,847 fish eggs and 962 fish larvae. Twenty-seven fish species were observed, of which 69% were Characiforms and 27% were Siluriforms. Among the fish species captured, the representatives were predominantly young forms of small and medium size fishes, with rheophilic species occurring infrequently. Eggs occurred exclusively between October and January, while the highest larvae occurrence was observed between November and December. Fish larvae assemblage structure was shown to be related to some environmental variables. There was a tendency of higher values of water temperature and velocity at the lower sampling sites than at the upper ones, as well an increase number of eggs and larvae. The study tributaries serve as reproduction sites and nursery areas for several fish species of the Upper Uruguay River; thus, the maintenance of their integrity is important for the preservation of diversity and enhancement of fisheries in the region.     

A neural network for breakthrough prediction in packed bed adsorption

A single hidden layer back propagation neural network has been used to predict the occurrence of breakthrough in an ion-exchange adsorption column using signals derived from a thermal monitoring system. After training the neural network was capable of a complete prediction of breakthrough. This is in contrast with the mechanistic models used to date, which all show significant deviations in one or more regions of the breakthrough response.     

When phylogeny and ecology meet: Modeling the occurrence of Trichoptera with environmental and phylogenetic data

Ecological studies are increasingly considering phylogenetic relationships among species. The phylogeny is used as a proxy or filter to improve statistical tests and retain evolutionary elements, such as niche conservation. We used the phylogenetic topology to improve the model for occurrence of Trichoptera genera in Cerrado (Brazilian Savanna) streams. We tested whether parameters generated by logistic models of occurrence, using phylogenetic signals, are better than models generated without phylogenetic information. We used a model with Bayesian updating to examine the influence of stream water pH and phylogenetic relationship among genera on the occurrence of Trichoptera genera. Then, we compared this model with the logistic model for each Trichoptera genus. The probability of occurrence of most genera increased with water pH, and the phylogeny‐based explicit logistic model improved the parameters estimated for observed genera. The inferred relationship between genera occurrence and stream pH improved, indicating that phylogeny adds relevant information when estimating ecological responses of organisms. Water with elevated acidity (low pH values) may be restrictive for the occurrence of Trichoptera larvae, especially if the regional streams exhibit neutral to alkaline water, as is observed in the Cerrado region. Using phylogeny‐based modeling to predict species occurrence is a prominent opportunity to extend our current statistical framework based on environmental conditions, as it enables a more precise estimation of ecological parameters.     

Environmental determinants in morphospace and diet of the larval blenny Calliclinus geniguttatus from an upwelling ecosystem

The effects of two contrasting environmental conditions in nearshore waters off central Chile on the diet and morphospace of two cohorts of larval labrisomid blenny Calliclinus geniguttatus were studied using geometric morphometrics and gut content analysis. The two environmental conditions corresponded to (a) a cold period with upwelling-favourable southwesterly winds and a mixed water column of cooler water and (b) a warm period with calm winds and stratified warmer water. During the cold period, fish larvae had a more hydrodynamic head shape, longer jaws and a higher feeding incidence, suggesting a greater food supply due to upwelling events and a possible increase in encounter rates in the turbulent environment. In contrast, the larvae from the warm period had a more robust head shape with smaller jaws and a lower feeding incidence, which was related to higher water temperatures and lower wind intensities. The present study suggests that larvae have a rapid response to environmental changes on a short time scale (i.e., from weeks to months), showing a link between environmental conditions and changes in the phenotypic traits and diet of the larval stages of this cryptobenthic species.     

苹果绵蚜在中国适生区预测及发生影响因子

苹果绵蚜是苹果上一种重要的检疫性害虫,每年给苹果产区造成严重的经济损失.预测苹果绵蚜适生性区域和影响其定殖扩散的环境因子,能够开展苹果绵蚜分布区域测报、制定有效的检疫措施并为防治决策提供依据.本研究基于最大熵算法的生态位模型MaxEnt和地理信息系统软件ArcGIS对苹果绵蚜进行适生区分析及预测,用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)对预测模型和预测结果进行评估,并用Jackknife方法分析影响绵蚜发生的重要因子.结果表明,苹果绵蚜在我国适生范围很广,其中,辽宁、山东、河南、河北、安徽、江苏、陕西等省的适生性指数较高,对苹果绵蚜发生具有重要影响的是与温度相关的环境因子.     

水晶梨病虫害防治预测模型

[目的]为提高水晶梨病虫害防治工作效率,进一步提升病虫害的预测效果和精度。[方法]深入研究了灰色模型(GM),利用GM对水晶梨环境因子数据进行建模得到病虫害预测公式,通过差分方程推导出时间响应式和参数估计,建立了优化初始值的灰色模型(OIVGM),将OIVGM与BP神经网络预测模型(BP)进行组合,建立了优化初始值的灰色BP神经网络预测组合模型(OIVGM-BP)。[结果]通过单位根检验法测量模型的稳定性,OIVGM-BP一阶差分处理后,T统计量(-5.487654)小于5%临界值(-2.878073),数据序列表明平稳,OIVGM-BP可以稳定进行预测。通过白噪声检验方法测量OIVGM-BP的适应性,OIVGM-BP的残差P值从第二阶开始,均大于0.05,说明OIVGM-BP的适应性较好,各阶均通过了白噪声检验。LRM、GM、TSM、BP、OIVGM-BP对梨锈病、白粉病、腐烂病、梨黄粉蚜、梨二叉蚜、梨木虱6种病虫害的预测准确率的平均值分别为70.81%、70.09%、69.74%、65.64%、83.01%,OIVGM-BP的预测准确率优于其他4种预测模型。[结论]OIVGM-BP能够对水晶梨病虫害进行有效预测,能够更好地指导农业生产。     

Detection and phylogenetic profiling of nodavirus associated with white tail disease in Malaysian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macrobrachium rosenbergii</Emphasis> de Man

White tail disease (WTD) is a serious viral disease in the hatcheries and nursery ponds of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in many parts of the world. A new disease similar to WTD was observed in larvae and post larvae of M. rosenbergii cultured in Malaysia. In the present study, RT-PCR assay was used to detect the causative agents of WTD, M. rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and extra small virus (XSV) using specific primers for MrNV RNA2 and XSV. The results showed the presence of MrNV in the samples with or without signs of WTD. However, XSV was only detected in some of the MrNV-positive samples. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the RNA2 of our Malaysian isolates were significantly different from the other isolates. Histopathological studies revealed myofiber degeneration of the tail muscles and liquefactive myopathy in the infected prawns. This was the first report on the occurrence of MrNV in the Malaysian freshwater prawn.     

瓯江口凤鲚鱼卵、仔稚鱼的时空分布及其与环境因子关系

为了解凤鲚(Coilia mystus)早期群体在瓯江口的时空分布及其影响因素, 研究根据瓯江口渔业资源调查数据, 利用两阶段广义加性模型(Two-stage GAM)分析影响凤鲚鱼卵仔稚鱼分布的环境因子。采用交叉验证评价模型的预测性能, 对2020年5—7月的凤鲚鱼卵、仔稚鱼出现率及资源量进行预测。结果表明: 5—7月是瓯江口凤鲚的主要繁殖期, 鱼卵主要分布在瓯江上游七都岛附近低盐水域, 仔稚鱼在瓯江水域均有分布, 瓯江下游灵昆岛近岸水域仔稚鱼的相对资源丰度高于瓯江上游。GAM模型分析表温、表盐是影响凤鲚早期群体分布的主要环境因子, 表盐对鱼卵的分布具有极显著影响(P<0.01), 适宜表盐在1以下, 适宜表温在24—26℃; 仔稚鱼对水温、盐度的适宜度宽于鱼卵, 表温对仔稚鱼的分布具有显著影响(P<0.05), 适宜表温为22—27℃, 适宜表盐为5—13。交叉验证分析认为模型对鱼卵的预测性能(AUC均值0.83)优于仔稚鱼(AUC均值0.71)。2020年预测结果显示, 凤鲚鱼卵的适宜栖息环境较窄, 主要集中在江心屿上游及灵昆岛下游附近水域, 仔稚鱼主要栖息在江心屿至灵昆岛水域。瓯江口作为凤鲚的主要栖息场所之一, 掌握凤鲚早期群体在瓯江口的分布特征及与环境因子间的关系, 能够为其产卵场栖息地的保护和资源养护管理提供科学依据。     

Modeling peripheral olfactory coding in Drosophila larvae

The Drosophila larva possesses just 21 unique and identifiable pairs of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), enabling investigation of the contribution of individual OSN classes to the peripheral olfactory code. We combined electrophysiological and computational modeling to explore the nature of the peripheral olfactory code in situ. We recorded firing responses of 19/21 OSNs to a panel of 19 odors. This was achieved by creating larvae expressing just one functioning class of odorant receptor, and hence OSN. Odor response profiles of each OSN class were highly specific and unique. However many OSN-odor pairs yielded variable responses, some of which were statistically indistinguishable from background activity. We used these electrophysiological data, incorporating both responses and spontaneous firing activity, to develop a bayesian decoding model of olfactory processing. The model was able to accurately predict odor identity from raw OSN responses; prediction accuracy ranged from 12%-77% (mean for all odors 45.2%) but was always significantly above chance (5.6%). However, there was no correlation between prediction accuracy for a given odor and the strength of responses of wild-type larvae to the same odor in a behavioral assay. We also used the model to predict the ability of the code to discriminate between pairs of odors. Some of these predictions were supported in a behavioral discrimination (masking) assay but others were not. We conclude that our model of the peripheral code represents basic features of odor detection and discrimination, yielding insights into the information available to higher processing structures in the brain.     

Optimal Egg Size in Marine Invertebrates: Theory and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Critical Relationship between Egg Size and Development Time in Echinoids

Life-history models for marine invertebrate larvae generally predict a dichotomy in egg size in different species: eggs should be either minimal in size or large enough to support development fully without larval feeding. This prediction is contradicted, however, by the empirical observation of wide, continuous variation in egg size between these extremes. The prediction of dichotomy rests on the assumption of a negative linear relationship between egg size and development time. Here, I present a simple model in which development time is inversely proportional to egg size. Incorporating this relationship into an optimality model produces predictions of intermediate rather than extreme egg size. Modeled variations in mortality, food availability, fertilization rates, and temperature all produce continuous shifts in the value of the intermediate optimal size, in direct contrast to those produced by previous models, which predict shifts between two extreme optima. Empirical data on echinoid egg size and development time strongly support the model's assumption of an inverse proportional relationship between egg size and development time. A composite phylogeny is constructed of the 37 species for which egg size, development time, water temperature, and phylogenetic relatedness are known. Independent contrasts are made of the evolutionary changes in egg size and development time. This analysis indicates that evolutionary shifts in development time are correlated with the inversely proportional shifts in egg size assumed in the model. The assumption of a negative linear relationship used in previous models is rejected. This model provides a potential explanation for intraspecific variation in egg size along environmental gradients, sympatric differences in egg size among species, and biogeographic trends in egg size and development mode across taxa.     

Modelling ecological impacts of the acidification of Welsh streams: temporal changes in the occurrence of macroflora and macroinvertebrates

Models are developed which predict changes in macrofloral and macroinvertebrate assemblages in response to surface water acidification. Empirical relationships between assemblage type and water chemistry are used to predict the probabilities of species occurrences during acidification, as recreated by the hydrochemical model, MAGIC. The water chemistry of two streams is simulated between 1844 and 2124. From 1958, alternative scenarios involved either moorland or conifer forest. From 1984, sulphate deposition was either constant or reduced by 50%. Alternative ecological models driven by pH or total hardness are compared. The floral model showed minor differences between scenarios, probabilities of species occurrence changing gradually and reaching stable values by around 1964. For certain invertebrate species the occurrence probabilities changed rapidly over relatively short periods, for example in the late 20 h century under moorland with constant deposition. Reduced sulphate deposition prevented decrease of acid sensitive species in moorland scenarios but not under forest, which greatly accelerated faunal changes irrespective of deposition pattern. Differences between the pH and hardness models indicated that the effects of these parameters should be separated in future studies. Where an earlier model showed only step changes in invertebrate assemblage type, this new approach can model more precise taxonomic shifts occurring with acidification. Such changes could be important to conservation, or as early indicators of response to pollution. The tentative simulations here suggest that large taxonomic changes may occur over relatively short periods during acidification.     

A study of time-dependent primary productivity in a natural upper-ocean mixed layer using a biophysical model

A one-dimensional biophysical model of time-dependent photosynthesisin the upper-ocean mixed layer was applied near 36.5°N,74.5°W. The photosynthesis submodel was formulated and parameterizedbased on daylong, light-manipulation experiments performed ontwo phytoplankton communities collected prior to dawn on October13, 1992: one from 5 m depth in the upper mixed layer and theother from 28 m depth below the pycnocline. Time course biologicalmeasurements included chlorophyll a concentration, primary productivityand DCMU fluorescence ratio. The biophysical model was thenused to predict the physical and biological response of thewater column on October 14, 1992. A pre-dawn conductivity-temperature-depth-fluorescence-transmission-rosette(CTDFT-rosette) cast provided data to initialize the water columnstratification and the distribution of phytoplankton biomass.The biophysical model was forced using meteorological and oceanographicmeasurements collected continuously throughout the subsequentdaylight period. CTDFT-rosette casts and measurements of chlorophylla concentration, primary productivity and DCMU fluorescenceratio throughout that daylight period provided the data forcomparison with the model predictions. In general, the biophysicalmodel predicted the physical and biological evolution of thesampled water column. Although the inclusion of vertical mixinginitially improved the accuracy of prediction, agreement decreasedwith time, especially in the lower part of the water column.The one-dimensional model suffered from the effects of excludedhorizontal gradients.     

Stage-related variation in rapid cold hardening as a test of the environmental predictability hypothesis

The environmental predictability (EP) hypothesis proposes that rapid cold hardening (RCH) might be common in temperate species incapable of surviving freezing events and which also dwell in unpredictable environments. The kelp fly Paractora dreuxi serves as a useful model organism to test this prediction at an intra-specific level because larvae and adults show different responses to low temperature despite occupying a similar unpredictable thermal environment. Here, using acclimation temperatures, which simulated seasonal temperature variation, we find little evidence for RCH in the freeze-intolerant adults but a limited RCH response in freeze-tolerant larvae. In the relatively short-lived adults, survival of -11 degrees C generally did not improve after 2h pre-treatments at -4, -2, 0, 10, 20 or 25 degrees C either in summer- (10 degrees C) or winter (0 degrees C)-acclimated individuals. By contrast, survival of summer-acclimated larvae to -7.6 degrees C was significantly improved by approximately 37% and 30% with -2 and 0 degrees C pre-treatments, respectively. The finding that summer-acclimated larvae showed RCH whereas this was not the case in the winter-acclimated larvae partially supports the predictions of the EP hypothesis. However, the EP hypothesis also predicts that the adults should have demonstrated an RCH response, yet they did not do so. Rather, it seems likely that they avoid stressful environments by behavioural thermoregulation. Differences in responses among the adults and larvae are therefore to some extent predictable from differences in their feeding requirements and behaviour. These results show that further studies of RCH should take into account the way in which differences among life stages influence the interaction between phenotypic plasticity and environmental variability and predictability.     

Occurrence of the parasite genus Hematodinium (Alveolata: Syndinea) in the water column

Crustaceans worldwide are infected with alveolate parasites of the genus Hematodinium, causing substantial losses to langoustine and crab fisheries. The distinct seasonality in Hematodinium occurrence in their decapod hosts, as well as unsuccessful attempts at transmission, suggest the existence of life stages outside their benthic crustacean hosts. We used a nested polymerase chain reaction method to detect Hematodinium rDNA in the environment and in potential alternative hosts. Environmental samples from the Clyde Sea, Scotland, were screened during the April release of dinospores and during June and August, when infection prevalence is rare in benthic crustaceans. Hematodinium rDNA was amplified in 15% (14/94) of isolated langoustine larvae, and in 12% (13/111) of crab larvae. In addition, Hematodinium rDNA was present in mixed plankton samples devoid of decapod larvae, but including the 2 μm-10 mm fraction of particulate organic matter in the water column, containing phytoplankton and other zooplankton. These results indicate that Hematodinium occurs in the water column and is harboured by planktonic organisms, including larval stages of the crustacean hosts, when infections are at their lowest in adult hosts.     

A framework for the prediction of scale-up when using compressible chromatographic packings

Experimental data are given for the solid pressure distributions in chromatography columns of various column aspect ratios packed with four types of agarose-based resin. The loss of column wall support at large scales can result in unexpectedly high pressures caused by the compression of the matrix via drag forces exerted by fluid flow through the bed. The need for an accurate model to predict flow conditions at increasing scale is essential for the scaling-up of chromatographic processes and for avoiding bed compression during operation. Several studies have generated correlations that allow for the prediction of column pressure drops, but they either are mathematically complex, which impairs their practical use, or require a large number of experiments to be performed before they can be used. In this study an empirical correlation was developed based on a previously proposed model, which links the critical velocity of operation of a chromatographic system (microcrit), to the gravity-settled bed height (L0), the column diameter (D), the feed viscosity (micro), and the compressibility of the chromatographic media used (micro 10%). The methodology developed in this study is straightforward to use and significantly reduces the burden of preceding laboratory-scale experimentation. The approach can be used to predict the critical velocity of any chromatographic system and will be useful in the development of chromatographic operations and for column sizing.     

Modelling of the effects of environmental factors on rice grain discoloration incidence in Corrientes province,Argentina

Rice grain discoloration (RGD) is a disease of complex aetiology for which there are no resistant varieties. Due to the need to better define the environmental conditions that favour the disease, the aims of this work were to (i) identify the predominant fungi associated, (ii) determine the meteorological variables most closely related, and (iii) develop preliminary weather-based models to predict binary levels of RGD incidence. After analysing 123 rice grain samples under natural infection conditions from rice-cropping regions throughout Corrientes province, Argentina, we found that RGD was mainly associated with Alternaria padwickii (14.2%) and Microdochium albescens (13.7%). The strongest associations between weather variables and RGD incidence were observed in a susceptible critical period (Scp) that extended from the rice flowering stage until 870 accumulated degree days (Scp lasting 32 days, ±7 days). The binary response logistic model including the weather variables DPrecT (which combined the effect of the simultaneous daily occurrence of precipitation lower than 12 mm and air temperature between 13 and 28°C), and DDMnT (sum of the exceeding amounts of daily min temperature from 23°C), was the most appropriate, showing prediction accuracy (PA) values of 84.6%. The univariate model that included DPrecT presented a PA of 82.1%. The logistic regression techniques here used to develop weather-based models to estimate the probabilities of occurrence of binary levels of RGD can not only help to clarify and quantify the environmental effect on the development of RGD but also be useful tools to be included in future management strategies.