Fish predation and reduction in body size in a Cladoceran population: palaeoecological evidence

SUMMARY. 1 We studied the recent history (1852-1982) of Lake Pyhä-järvi, south-west Finland, using both cladoceran microfossils and independent historical data. The objective of the study was to assess the impact of introduced planktivorous whitefish Coregonus lavaretus s.1. on zooplankton, especially on the main prey species Bosmina coregoni Baird s.str.
2. A size-frequency analysis of carapace remains preserved in the sediments clearly shows a size shift in a Bosmina coregoni population. The carapace length of B. coregoni decreased by 11.0% after the introduction of the size-selective planktivorous whitefish, indicating a parallel body-size reduction.
3.During the study period no changes could be found in the carapace length of Chydorus sphaericus O. F. Müller, which was not preyed upon.     

Two commensals on a host: habitat partitioning by a ciliated protozoan and a chironomid on the burrowing mayfly, Ephemera danica

SUMMARY 1. Two taxonomically unrelated species, the ciliated protozoan Scyphidia sp. and the chironomid Epoicocladius flavens (Malloch), share a commensal mode of life on nymphs of the burrowing mayfly Ephemera danica Müller in a small river in eastern England.
2. Both commensals were present all through the year, with an average level of infestation of 25.1% and 54.7% for Scyphidia sp. and E. flavens , respectively, of the total E. danica population.
3. Scyphidia sp. occurred more frequently on younger, smaller nymphs of E. danica and was totally absent from hosts of more than 10 mm in length. In contrast, E. flavens preferred hosts of larger body size, usually more than 10 mm. Change in dominance of infestation between the two commensals occurred in the host size range of 6–8 mm and this pattern of habitat partitioning on the basis of host size was consistent throughout the study period.
4. Amongst E. danica individuals colonized by E. flavens , larger hosts supported heavier commensal load. A similar trend, though weak, was also observed among hosts harbouring Schyphidia sp.
5. Both commensals are considered to benefit from the association with E. danica in that they gain enhanced mobility and security in otherwise inhospitable habitats. Although plausible on an evolutionary time scale, competition alone cannot constitute a proximate cause for the clear partitioning of habitat observed in the two commensal species.     

Ostracod Assemblages in Relation to Littoral Plant Communities of a Shallow Lake (Lake Świdwie,Poland)

The aims of this study included: specifying values of ecological parameters and Ostracoda species characteristic for different types of plant habitats occurring in lake systems, determining the impact of mud presence on the taxonomic structure and density of the ostracods, tracing seasonal changes in the structures of Ostracoda assemblages identifying the species typical of particular seasons. Various types of rushes and underwater meadows were taken into consideration as lake microhabitats. The research was conducted in the shallow Lake Œwidwie (NW Poland). Multivariate (constrained) ordination methods were used to analyse the relationships between species composition and environmental variables. In the lake and its margins 31 species of the Ostracoda were identified. The development of water vegetation during the vegetation season was conducive to growth in ostracod density. The accessibility of mud in plant habitats had a favourable effect on the general density of ostracods. Species which preferred a high mud content in their habitats included: Cypria ophtalmica, C. exsculpta and Physocypria kraepelini. Species typically encountered in underwater meadow habitats were: Cyclocypris ovum and Cypridopsis vidua. Underwater meadows of charophyte were characterized by the highest ostracod density in the whole lake system, with the average of 7860 ind. m^–2 and the maximum of 17 470 ind. m^–2. Species typically encountered in rush habitats included Notodromas monacha, Dolerocypris fasciata and Metacypris cordata. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Book Reviews

Book Reviewed in this article:
DFG-ökotoxikologie von Pflanzenschutzmitteln-Mitteilungen I, 1994
Bennett, W. F. (ed) .
Arit, K. Enzian, S. and Pallut, B.
Ettl, H., G. Gärtner .
Blume, H.-P., Felix-Henningsen, P., Fischer, W. R., Frede, H.- G., Horn, R., Stahr, K.
Mielke, H.
Goodman, R.N., Novacky, A.J.
Karg, W., Freier, B.
Müller, R. et al .
Landsmann, J., Casper, R.
Shigo, A. L.
P etrini , O. and G. B. O uelletre (eds), Host Wall Alterations by Parasitic Fungi .     

贵州省红枫湖现生介形类新纪录

本文首次记述了采自我国贵州省红枫湖的现生介形类5属7种,分别为:近锐豆形玻璃介Fabae formiscandona subacuta(Yang,1982)、比利时舍氏玻璃介(相似种)Schellencandona cf.belgica(Klie,1937)、亮球星介Cy-clocyprisserena(Kock,1838)、克氏丽星介Cypria kraepelini(G.W.Müller,1903)、条纹薄壳介(相似种)Dolerocypris cf.fasciata(O.F.Müller,1776)、布氏土星介Ilyocypris bradyi Sars,1890、粗糙土星介I.sale-brosa Stepanaitys,1960。这些属种在红枫湖和贵州省均系首次报道,其中S.cf.belgica在我国是首次发现,文内对F.subacuta活体特征的描述在我国尚属首次。     

Ecological studies on Oligochaeta inhabiting depositing substrata in the Irwell, a polluted English river

SUMMARY. Oligochaete worms dominate the macroinvertebrate fauna of the River Irwell, in north west England. The river is polluted by domestic and industrial wastes. Tubificids constituted 86.8% of the worm fauna, with three dominant species; Tubifex tubifex (Müller), representing 43.1% of the total oligochaetes, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri Claparède, representing 26.8% and Limnodrilus udekcmianus Claparède, representing 16.7%. The Naididae were the next most abundant worms, representing 6.1% of the oligochaete fauna, with Nais elinguis Müller comprising 5.0%.
T. tubifex and L. hoffmeisteri were abundant along the length of the river, but reached their greatest numbers in the organically polluted lower reaches at Agecroft and Salford. The density of L. udekemianus was low in the Irwell above the entry point of the heavily polluted River Roch, but high below this point. N. elinguis was abundant above the Roch entry point and scarce below it.
In the three dominant tubificids, the main population recruitment occurred during the summer months (April to September for T. tubifex , May to November for L. hoffmeisteri and June to October for L. udekemianus ). In N. elinguis , there was massive recruitment in April.     

Ostracod fauna of Duvensee,an ancient lake in Northern Germany

About 4000 ostracod valves have been analysed from a sediment core of a cultivated bog NW of Hamburg. The deepest deposits are sands free of subfossils, the uppermost layers consist of peat. In the sediment in between, there are three layers containing undestroyed valves. The ostracod assemblies of the older claygyttja (Late-glacial) and the two younger, fine detritus deposits (Post-glacial) are strikingly different. Cytherissa lacustris, Candona neglecta, Ilyocypris bradyi, Herpetocyrpis reptans, and two Limnocythere species were found in the Late-glacial layers. Changes in abundance of these species indicate alterations in climate, lake ground, water inflow and waterlevels. Postglacial layers are rich in Metacypris cordata valves associated with numerous Candona species, L. inopinata, Darwinula stevensi, and Cyclocypris laevis. These species are characteristic of a small lake with a large littoral zone. A similar development in ostracod assemblages is found in middle Europe by Absolon (1973), although the main Candona species is not C. neglecta but C. candida. Ostracod analysis cannot demonstrate an influence of anthropogenic impacts on ostracod successions.     

Buchbesprechungen / Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this articles:
Müller, E., und W. Loeffler , Mykologie.
Ayres, P. G. , Effects of disease on the physiology of the growing plant.
Staples, R. C, and G. H. Toenniessen (Eds.) , Plant Disease Control: Resistance and Susceptibility.
Schenck, N. C. (Ed.) , Methods and Principles of Mycorrhiza Research.
Dekker, J., and S. G. Georgopoulos (Eds.) , Fungicide resistance in crop pro-tection.
Perkow, W. , Wirksubstanzen der Pflanzen- und Schadlingsbekampfungsmittel.     

Zooplankton grazing on [methyl-3H]thymidine-labeIled natural particle assemblages: determination of filtering rates and food selectivity

SUMMARY. 1. The grazing of [methyl-³H]thymidine-labelled bacteria by zooplankton was studied in Lake Norrviken. Sweden.
2. Animals did not ingest bacteria attached to large colonies of the cyanobacterium Microcystis wesenbergii Kom. but small aggregates of hacteria and free bacteria were readily consumed.
3. Diaphanosoma brachyurum (Liévin). Daphnia cucullata Sars. and Daphnia galeata Sars grazed free bacteria more quickly than aggregates, but Endiaptomus gracilis (Sars), Chydorus sphaericus Müll. and Bosmi- na coregoni s.l. Baird grazed the aggregates more readily.
4. Filtering rate determinations varied from LA to 123 μl ind. ⁻¹h ^{− 1}for various species.     

ON THE BIRDS COLLECTED BY PIERRE POIVRE IN CANTON, MANILA, INDIA AND hlADAGASCAR (1751–1756).

Perusal of Brisson's 'Ornithologie', Pierre Poivre's autobiography and this traveller's publications induced the writer to concern himself with the type localities of Brisson's new Oriental birds. Those accepted by previous authors proved to be wrong in a number of cases. On the strength of the actual type localities the current names of some well-known birds will have to be changed. The following names are affected: —
Eurystomus orientalis (L.), Eclectus pectoralis (St. Müller), Saxicola borbonensis W. Sclater, Lalage nigra (Forster), Ducula aenea (L.), Cinnyris asiatica (Latham), Pelargopsis capemis (L.) and Psittacula krameri echo (Newton).     

Influence of plants on redox potential and methane production in water-saturated soil

Three chironomid midge (Diptera: Chironomidae) species (Cricotopus sylvestris (Fabricius); Psectrocladius limbatellus (Holmgren), Tanytarsus fimbriatus Reiss and Fittkau) live at high densities and dominate the midge assemblage found in slow sand filter beds. After filter beds are drained and cleaned, the substratum consists of sand of different particle sizes, but once beds are refilled and in operation, organic material accumulates on the sand and Cladophora grows. In laboratory experiments, we found that larvae of the three midge species preferred different substratum types: C. sylvestris preferred sand to both Cladophora and organic material, P. limbatellus preferred Cladophora, and Tanytarsus sp. preferred organic material. Some evidence of preference for one particle size was also found, but compared with substratum types, this was neither as marked or contrasting between the three species. The contrasting preferences that we found in the laboratory suggest that the substratum will influence the microdistribution of the three species in filter beds, and provide further evidence of the importance of substratum in midge assemblages.     

The importance of mangroves, mud and sand flats, and seagrass beds as feeding areas for juvenile fishes in Chwaka Bay, Zanzibar: gut content and stable isotope analyses

The relative importance of bay habitats, consisting of mangrove creeks and channel, seagrass beds, and mud and sand flats, as feeding grounds for a number of fish species was studied in Chwaka Bay, Zanzibar, Tanzania, using gut content analysis and stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen. Gut content analysis revealed that within fish species almost the same food items were consumed regardless of the different habitats in which they were caught. Crustaceans (mainly copepods, crabs and shrimps) were the preferred food for most zoobenthivores and omnivores, while fishes and algae were the preferred food for piscivores and herbivores, respectively. The mean δ¹³C values of fishes and food items from the mangrove habitats were significantly depleted to those from the seagrass habitats by 6·9 and 9·7‰ for fishes and food items, respectively, and to those from the mud and sand flats by 3·5 and 5·8‰, respectively. Fishes and food items from the mud and sand flats were significantly depleted as compared to those of the seagrass habitats by 3·4 and 3·9‰, for fishes and food, respectively. Similar to other studies done in different geographical locations, the importance of mangrove and seagrass themselves as a primary source of carbon to higher trophic levels is limited. The different bay habitats were all used as feeding grounds by different fish species. Individuals of the species Gerres filamentosus , Gerres oyena , Lethrinus lentjan , Lutjanus fulviflamma , Pelates quadrilineatus and Siganus sutor appeared to show a connectivity with respect to feeding between different habitats by having δ¹³C values which were in-between those of food items from two neighbouring habitats. This connectivity could be a result of either daily tidal migrations or recent ontogenetic migration.     

Grazing on filamentous algae by herbivorous zooplankton

SUMMARY. 1. Feeding experiments were conducted to examine filtering rates and selectivity of a variety of zooplankton taxa (including cladocerans, copepods and a rotifer) for filamentous diatoms, green and blue-green algae.
2. Most herbivores were capable of consuming some filamentous algae at rates similar to or higher than those on unicellular algae. Only feeding of Diaphanosoma brachyurum Liéven and Moina micrura Kurz seemed to be primarily limited by the filamentous morphology.
3. Filtering rates and selectivities of most herbivores were much higher for the diatom Melosira granulata angustissima Müller than for similarly sized blue-green algal filaments, indicating that chemical factors strongly influence consumption of filamentous algae.
4. The toxic blue-green algal filament Anabaena flos-aquae De Brébisson NRC 44–1 had a much strong inhibitory effect on zooplankton feeding than other filaments. The only herbivores that were not inhibited by this strain have been shown to be resistant to blue-green algal toxins, or strongly avoided consuming the blue-green alga. These results indicate that the inhibitory effect of filamentous algae is due more to toxic or noxious chemicals than to the filamentous morphology.
5. Selectivities of zooplankton for filamentous algae were largely independent of herbivore body size. The small-bodied cladoceran Bosmina longirostris Müller had the highest selectivities for filamentous algae.     

Three-dimensional preservation of arthropod integument from the Middle Cambrian of Australia

Three-dimensional preservation of arthropod soft integument occurs in Middle Cambrian sediments of the Georgina Basin, western Queensland, Australia. The beds are referred to the Monastery Creek Phosphorite Formation, Gowers Formation, Inca Shale Formation and Devon-court Limestone Formation. The finds include arthropod type-A larvae previously described by Müller & Walossek and several complete appendages, possibly of early Palaeozoic 'ostracodes', as well as indeterminable cuticular remains. The Australian sediments were in part deposited under high water-energy conditions, whereas previously known occurrences of three-dimensional soft-integument preservation have been from environments of lower water energy. Such preservation may thus be more widespread in the Early Paleozoic than hitherto known. □ Phosphatization, arthropods, type-A larvae, appendages, Middle Cambrian, Geogina Basin, Australia, three-dimensional preservation.     

TAXONOMY AND ZOOGEOGRAPHY OF THE MESOZOIC CYTHERURID OSTRACODA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ARGENTINA

Abstract:  The status of thirty four species of the cytheroidean ostracod family Cytheruridae from the Neuquén Basin, west-central Argentina is reviewed. These species belong to the following nine genera: Eucytherura Müller, ranging in this study from Pliensbachian to Valanginian and represented by fourteen species; Kangarina Coryell and Fields, Aalenian–Bajocian, with a single species; Acrocythere Neale, Hauterivian, one species; Paranotacythere Bassiouni, Berriasian, two species; Procytherura Whatley, Pliensbachian to Hauterivian, twelve species; Cytheropteron Sars, Aalenian–Bajocian, one species: Eocytheropteron Alexander, Hauterivian, one species; Paradoxorhyncha Chapman, Aalenian–Bajocian, one species; and Paracytheridea Müller, Berriasian, one species. Of the three subfamilies of the Cytheruridae, the Cytherurinae, with thirty species are by far the most numerous and abundant throughout the study. The other two subfamilies, the Cytheropterinae are represented by three species and the Paracytherideinae by a single species of the nominative genus. Several of the species are very widely distributed geographically and have, for example, also been recorded from Europe; others indicate close links with South Africa and Australia. The stratigraphical ranges of certain genera have been extended as a result of this study. For example, Kangarina has not previously been recorded below the Cretaceous. The Cytheruridae are clearly the most diverse cytheroidean ostracodes in the Mesozoic of the Neuquén Basin and are more diverse than all other groups of ostracodes combined. Four new species, Eucytherura tessae , Eucytherura yunga , Procytherura amygdala and Eocytheropteron immodicus are described. Eucytherura guillaumeae nom. nov. for Eucytherura tuberculata Brenner and Oertli and Eucytherura paranuda nom. nov. for Eucytherura nuda (Brand) are proposed.     

Combined effects of local environment and continental biogeography on the distribution of Ostracoda

Summary 1. The relationship between altitudinal gradients on small spatial scales and latitudinal gradients on broader scales has been repeatedly recognised in the biogeography of animals and plants. However, little is known about this topic in the ecology and biogeography of ostracod communities in Mediterranean flowing waters or the factors underlying these spatial patterns. 2. We analysed the ostracod assemblages of near‐natural headwater streams in the Betic and Pre‐Betic Mountains in the southern Iberian Peninsula to decipher the most important environmental gradients structuring ostracod communities on a local scale. In addition, the European altitudinal and latitudinal distributions of the most commonly found species were analysed with GIS and regression models to compare geographical effects from local to continental scales. 3. Forty sampling sites, distributed among six catchments and ranging in altitude between 150 and 1940 m a.s.l., were sampled seasonally. Limnological and geographical information was also recorded for each sample. Seventeen ostracod species were found, two of which were new findings for the Iberian Peninsula: Potamocypris fulva and Cypria reptans. The most common species were Potamocypris zschokkei, Candona neglecta, Herpetocypris brevicaudata, Cyclocypris ovum, Potamocypris villosa and Pseudocandona albicans. The distribution of these species in 918 European locations was analysed to test the hypothesised change in altitudinal distribution with varying latitude. 4. The best subset of logistic and linear regression models, selected by means of the information‐theoretic approach, found that oxygen content and the variables related with substratum and discharge were the most important variables with a negative influence on ostracod presence, abundance and species richness on a local scale. These findings suggest that the negative effect on benthic invertebrates of physical disturbances relates to high flow velocity and turbulences. 5. Multivariate ordination methods show how altitude and water chemistry are the most important variables to explain the distribution of ostracod assemblages on the small spatial scale. On a larger scale, differences in latitudinal distribution throughout Europe were significant for the six most common species found in Granada. In addition, four of these showed significant negative linear relationships between latitude and altitude in Europe, supporting the important effect of climate on local and continental scale distributions. While ostracod biogeographies are still poorly known, our results indicate the influence of Quaternary climate variability on ostracod dynamic colonisation and extinction in Europe in accordance with species‐specific temperature and water chemistry preferences.     

Recent ostracods (Crustacea,Ostracoda) found in lowland springs of the provinces of Piacenza and Parma (Northern Italy)

The “fontanili” are artificial aquatic ecosystems, typical of the lowland plains of Northern Italy, exploiting natural resurgences of deep groundwater. These habitats are characterized by low variation in hydrologic, hydrochemical and thermal conditions throughout the year. Proper management is required to prevent the spring clogging by biomass accumulation. In spite of their importance as refugia for endangered species, many springs were completely abandoned in the last years and several of them will disappear. We report the results of a study carried out in 2001 on 31 springs of the provinces of Piacenza and Parma, distributed in seven areas defined on hydrological and geological considerations. Physical and chemical variables and parameters of waters were measured and ostracod samples were collected. Most of the springs showed high nitrate concentration, due to a diffuse pollution of agricultural origin. Twelve ostracod species in four families were identified. Ostracod valves were analysed by scanning electron microscopy. Cypria ophtalmica was found in all the springs; other relatively common species were Cyclocypris laevis,Notodromas persica, and Prionocypris zenkeri.The maximum number of species per site was four. Cypridopsis vidua,P. zenkeri, and N. persicashowed a very localized distribution in the study area. The ostracod fauna of the “fontanili” was compared to other species assemblages found in spring habitats and to the available information on recent freshwater ostracods reported for Italy.     

Depth-dependent reproductive output of the green sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (O.F. Müller), in relation to the nature and availability of food

Reproductive output of green sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis O.F. Müller) in the field was highest at depths where preferred macro-algae were abundant, and lowest at depths where preferred macro-algae were overgrazed or replaced by non-preferred species (Agarum and Ptilota). Feeding rate and gonad indices of sea urchins in the laboratory were highest on a diet of preferred algae (Fucusdistichus L. subsp. edentatus (Pyl.) Powell, Laminaria longicruris Pyl., Desmarestia spp. and Saccorhizadermatodea (Pyl.) J. Ag.), and lowest on the less preferred Agarum cribrosum (Mert.) Bory, Ptilota serrata Kütz., and crustose corallines. Gamete production/unit area in overgrazed habitats was as great or greater than in kelp beds because of the higher biomass of urchins in overgrazed areas. Gonad weight and reproductive output of urchins from habitats poor in food can be increased by providing preferred foods.     

The ostracod fauna (Crustacea,Ostracoda) of the profundal benthos of Loch Ness

We report the results of quantitative and qualitative investigations of the ostracod fauna of the profundal benthos of Loch Ness, an oligotrophic lake in Scotland, UK. Six ostracod species were recorded from profundal samples: Candona angulata, C. candida, Cryptocandona reducta, Cypria ophthalmica, Cyclocypris ovum and Potamocypris smaragdina. In addition, Psychrodromus robertsoni was found in fish gut contents. The mean density of profundal ostracods was 262 individuals m², with an average Brillouin's Diversity of 0.7. A weak inverse relationship between fish body weight and the number of ostracods eaten is reported for Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus.     

Osmotic swelling characteristics of glial cells in the murine hippocampus, cerebellum, and retina in situ

Glial cells are proposed to play a major role in the ionic and osmotic homeostasis in the CNS. Swelling of glial cells contributes to the development of edema in neural tissue under pathological conditions such as trauma and ischemia. In this study, we compared the osmotic swelling characteristics of murine hippocampal astrocytes, cerebellar Bergmann glial cells, and retinal Müller glial cells in acutely isolated tissue slices in response to hypoosmotic stress and pharmacological blockade of Kir channels. Hypoosmotic challenge induced an immediate swelling of somata in the majority of Bergmann glial cells and hippocampal astrocytes investigated, whereas Müller cell bodies displayed a substantial delay in the onset of swelling and hippocampal astroglial processes remained unaffected. Blockade of Kir channels under isoosmotic conditions had no swelling-inducing effect in Müller cell somata but caused a swelling in brain astrocytic somata and processes. Blockade of Kir channels under hypoosmotic conditions induced an immediate and strong swelling in Müller cell somata, but had no cumulative effect to brain astroglial somata. No regulatory volume decrease could be observed in all cell types. The data suggest that Kir channels are differently implicated in cell volume homeostasis of retinal Müller cells and brain astrocytes and that Müller cells and brain astrocytes differ in their osmotic swelling properties.