A Quantitative Study of Mitosis in Eudorina elegans in Culture

A list of the determinations in this work is given below:

1. Under standard conditions with a photoperiod, the generationtime is five days. The generation time is shorter in continuouslight.
2. There are temperature-dependent cleavage and mitoticgradientswithin a colony.
3. A diurnal peak of mitosis occurstwo hours before the onsetof darkness.
4. Under standard conditions(a) the mitotic index rises to a maximumof 10 per cent, twodays after inoculation; (b) the mitotictime is ten minutes;and (c) the mitotic rate is 71 cells per10³cells per hour atthe mitotic peak.

     

Diurnal vertical migration study during a winter bloom of Cryptophyceae in a floodplain pool

The diurnal vertical migration (DVM) of the phytoplankton community was studied in a small (270m²), shallow (1.8m), and frozen floodplain pool. Steep vertical gradients were detected in O₂, NH₄⁺-N, NO₃⁻-N and PO₄^3--P profiles. The phytoplankton of the pool is characterized by year round dominance of Cryptophyceae: Cryptomonas curvata and Cryptomonas marssonii created more than 90% of total phytoplankton biomass during the time of study. DVM was studied by analysing vertical profiles six times during a 24 hour cycle; samples were taken at 20 cm intervals along the profiles. Koliella planktonica, the only non-motile alga, showed a stable uniform distribution. Dinobryon divergens and Chrysococcus rufescens created a stable distinct concentration maximum at 40cm. Unlike these three species, both Cryptomonas spp. actively changed their position during the 24 hour cycle with distinctive evening downward and morning upward migration. The absence of filtering zooplankton excluded its influence on the patterns of phytoplankton DVM. The results showed the key role of PhAR (Photosynthetic active irradiance) in day - positioning of Cryptomonas. Night-time uptake of phosphate and/or ammonium at the bottom is probable, although direct evidence is lacking.     

Analysis of mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes in two volvocine algae: Eudorina elegans and Eudorina cylindrica (Volvocaceae,Chlorophyta)

The colonial volvocine algae span the full range of organizational complexity, from four-celled species to multicellular species, and this group of algae is often used for the study of evolution. In recent years, many organelle genomes have been sequenced using the application of next generation sequencing technology; however, only a few organelle genomes have been reported in colonial volvocine algae. In this study, we determined the organelle genomes of Eudorina elegans and Eudorina cylindrica and analysed the organelle genome size, structure and gene content between these volvocine species. This provided useful information to help us understand the composition of colonial volvocine organelle genomes. Based on the chloroplast genome protein-coding genes, we conducted a phylogenomics analysis of the volvocine algae. The result revealed an unexpected phylogenetic relationship, namely, E. elegans is more closely related to Pleodorina starrii than to E. cylindrica. The substitution rate of volvocine algae was then calculated based on organelle genome protein-coding genes; our analysis suggested the possibility that the two Eudorina species may be under similar evolutionary pressure. Lastly, the synteny analysis of the mitochondrial genome showed that gene arrangements and contents are highly conserved in the family Volvocaceae, and the synteny analysis of the chloroplast genome indicated that the genus Eudorina may have experienced genomic changes.     

Temporal evolution and vertical stratification of Microcystis toxic potential during a first bloom event

In order to study the setup of a Microcystis bloom and the evolution of its toxic potential, we studied the temporal and vertical variations in Microcystis aeruginosa abundance, microcystins (MC) concentrations (intracellular and extracellular), and the relative proportion of potentially microcystin-producing cells (MC-producing cells) in relation to physicochemical parameters in the recently setup Moroccan reservoir “Yaacoub Al Mansour.” The Microcystis bloom appeared relatively late in the season and was associated with a low proportion of MC-producing cells in the water surface layer, probably related to non-limiting nutrient concentrations. Interestingly, the setup of the bloom leads to a vertical gradient, showing a decrease in Microcystis cell abundance inversely coupled with an increase in the proportion of MC-producing cells. Thus, this can be the result of the growth where non-MC-producing cells remain in the lighted water layer easier than MC-producing ones. Nevertheless, parameters other than light intensity may influence the toxic potential of bloom as no vertical pattern was observed concerning microcystins cellular quotas. The high microcystins concentrations measured in the deep water layer have also proved the importance of considering the deep part of aquatic ecosystem in the management of health risks associated with cyanobacterial proliferations.     

Bacterial community dynamics during a bloom caused by Akashiwo sanguinea in the Xiamen sea area,China

Phytoplankton blooms are a worldwide ecological problem and one of the major algae that cause phytoplankton blooms is Akashiwo sanguinea. Though much research has addressed the abiotic causes (e.g. growth condition) of A. sanguinea blooms, few studies have examined the dynamics of microbial communities associated with these blooms. In this study, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of 16S rDNA genes was used to document changes in the phylogenetic diversity of microbial communities associated with an A. sanguinea bloom that occurred in the Xiamen sea in May 2010. Surface sea water was sampled once a day within five consecutive days at four sites, and the microbial community composition was determined using DGGE. Sea water concentrations of chlorophyll a, nitrate and phosphate were also measured. The results indicated that the A. sanguinea bloom was probably stimulated by low salinity (26–30‰) and ended probably because inorganic nutrients were consumed and resulted in a N/P ratio unfavorable for this alga. Gammaproteobacteria populations increased significantly during bloom declines and then decreased post-bloom. Divergences in the microbial community composition during different bloom periods were the result of changes in Candidatus, Pelagibacter, Alteromonas, Rhodobacteraceae, Vibrio and Pseudoalteromonas populations. Sediminimonas qiaohouensis was the first bacterium shown to be significantly negatively correlated with A. sanguinea concentration. This study indicated that bacteria may play an important role in A. sanguinea–bloom regulation and provides a deeper insight into bacterial community succession during and after an A. sanguinea–bloom.     

The influence of acridine dyes and caffeine on recovery from ultraviolet damage in Eudorina elegans.

Caffeine and the acridine dyes, acridine orange and acriflavine, were used to examine the repair potential in Eudorina elegans following ultraviolet irradiation. Acridines blocked photoreactivation primarily as a result of absorption of photoreactivating wavelengths, but acridines did not influence dark survival. Therefore, an acridine-sensitive excision-resynthesis-repair process is absent in Eudorina. Caffeine decreased both dark and light survival, the latter only after relatively high doses of ultraviolet light were used for inactivation. The caffeine-sensitive repair process appears to function most actively when the organisms are engaged in DNA synthesis, indicating that a postreplication-repair system exists in Eudorina. However, the data suggest that a repair system not associated with the DNA synthetic phases may also exist.     

厦门海域2011年中肋骨条藻和血红哈卡藻赤潮期间细菌群落结构变化

【目的】研究2011年8月厦门海域爆发的由中肋骨条藻和血红哈卡藻共同引发的赤潮生消过程中细菌群落结构变化。【方法】应用变性梯度凝胶电泳技术(Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis,DGGE)对两个赤潮站位和一个非赤潮站位的细菌群落结构进行研究。通过DGGE图谱分析确定赤潮生消过程中细菌群落中的关键菌群,借助Canoco软件分析细菌菌群与环境因子的相关性。【结果】在赤潮起始阶段细菌的群落结构与pH、N/P的相关性较大,在赤潮消亡阶段细菌的群落结构与盐度、温度呈明显的正相关。γ变形杆菌(Gammaproteobacteria)(47.7%)在赤潮期间处于主导位置,假交替单胞菌属(Pseudoalteromonas)、假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)、交替单胞菌属(Alteromonas)、噬氢菌属(Hydrogenophaga)、Actibacter、Oleibacter等属均为优势菌群。香农-威列多样性指数表明,赤潮站位细菌多样性随着赤潮生消呈先升高后降低趋势,而非赤潮站位细菌多样性基本保持不变。通过Canoco对细菌菌群的主成分分析发现,在赤潮开始阶段Hydrogenophaga属为优势菌群,而在赤潮消退阶段则以Pseudomonas和Pseudoalteromonas属为主。赤潮站位藻际细菌和游离细菌群落多样性在藻密度较大时均达到最大值,然而两者与环境因子的相关性有较大差别。【结论】研究结果表明赤潮站位细菌群落多样性远高于非赤潮站位,细菌丰度随着赤潮藻密度的升高而增加,细菌与赤潮藻有着密切的关系。本文首次研究了多种优势藻引发的赤潮环境下细菌群落结构的变化,这对于多种藻引发的赤潮生消过程中细菌菌群结构有了深入的了解,为赤潮调控的研究提供了理论依据。     

Interaction between the vertical posture and movement control systems during a quick voluntary arm raise

The study was aimed at a deeper understanding of the interaction between the system of vertical posture control and the system of voluntary movement control based on the analysis of postural muscle activity components resulting from the action of the former or the latter system. For this purpose, a quick arm raise was performed in the standing and sitting positions with body fixation at different levels, when the task of maintaining a vertical posture was simplified or completely eliminated. Under these conditions, the muscle activity associated with posture control was supposed to change, while the activity of muscles raising the arm was supposed to remain invariable. The results showed that the simplification of the posture control resulted in a decrease or elimination of anticipatory changes in the activity of some muscles. However, most of the muscle activity variations were retained even in the sitting position, and these variations appeared simultaneously with the activity of muscles raising the arm. The so-called “anticipatory postural activity” during an arm raise in a normal standing position is supposed to consist of two components: an initial component reflecting the work of the posture control system and a later component reflecting the work of the movement control system. It is suggested that the planning of muscle activity and exchange of information between these two systems take place only before the beginning of the movement; after that, they act independently and in parallel.     

Simvastatin impairs the induction of pulmonary fibrosis caused by a western style diet: a preliminary study

The role of an atherogenic diet in causing pulmonary fibrosis has received little attention and simvastatin has been shown to reduce pulmonary fibrosis in animal models. To determine if an atherogenic diet can induce pulmonary fibrosis and whether simvastatin treatment is beneficial by up‐regulating heat shock protein 70 and 90. New Zealand white rabbits (n = 15) were divided: Group 1 (control); Group 2 (MC) received a normal rabbit diet with 1% methionine plus 0.5% cholesterol (atherogenic diet). Group 3 received the same diet as the MC group plus 5 mg/kg/day simvastatin orally (MCS). After 4 weeks, the lungs were collected and analysed. Picrosirus red staining of lung interstitial collagen content showed that the atherogenic diet increased fibrosis 2.9‐fold (P < 0.05), bronchiole adventitial collagen was increased 2.3‐fold (P < 0.05) and bronchiole epithelium was increased 34‐fold (P < 0.05), and simvastatin treatment severely reduced this effect (P < 0.05). Western blot analysis showed that the atherogenic diet significantly reduced lung Hsp70 protein by 22% (P < 0.05) and Hsp90 protein by 18% (P < 0.05) and simvastatin treatment did not affect this result. However, aortic hyper‐responsiveness to vasoconstrictors (angiotensin II and phenylephrine) were markedly reduced by simvastatin treatment. We report that an atherogenic diet stimulates pulmonary fibrosis and reduces lung Hsp70/Hsp90 protein concentration. Simvastatin impairs this by mechanisms unrelated to Hsp70/Hsp90, but possibly a reduction in angiotensin II receptor or alpha adrenergic receptor pathways. These results could have implications in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.     

A common cortical substrate activated by horizontal and vertical sound movement in the human brain

Perception of movement in acoustic space depends on comparison of the sound waveforms reaching the two ears (binaural cues) as well as spectrotemporal analysis of the waveform at each ear (monaural cues). The relative importance of these two cues is different for perception of vertical or horizontal motion, with spectrotemporal analysis likely to be more important for perceiving vertical shifts. In humans, functional imaging studies have shown that sound movement in the horizontal plane activates brain areas distinct from the primary auditory cortex, in parietal and frontal lobes and in the planum temporale. However, no previous work has examined activations for vertical sound movement. It is therefore difficult to generalize previous imaging studies, based on horizontal movement only, to multidimensional auditory space perception. Using externalized virtual-space sounds in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm to investigate this, we compared vertical and horizontal shifts in sound location. A common bilateral network of brain areas was activated in response to both horizontal and vertical sound movement. This included the planum temporale, superior parietal cortex, and premotor cortex. Sounds perceived laterally in virtual space were associated with contralateral activation of the auditory cortex. These results demonstrate that sound movement in vertical and horizontal dimensions engages a common processing network in the human cerebral cortex and show that multidimensional spatial properties of sounds are processed at this level.     

Abundance,population structure and vertical distribution of dominant calanoid copepods on the eastern Weddell Sea shelf during a spring phytoplankton bloom

The main emphasis of this study was to analyse the short-term development of abundance, population structure and vertical distribution of the dominant calanoid copepods during a phytoplankton bloom in the coastal area of the eastern Weddell Sea in December 2003. Microcalanus pygmaeus was by far the most abundant calanoid species. Metridia gerlachei, Ctenocalanus citer, Calanoides acutus, Calanus propinquus and the ice-associated Stephos longipes were also present in considerable proportions. The observed changes in the population characteristics and parameters of these species are described in detail and discussed in the context of the spring phytoplankton bloom. A conspicuous event occurring during the final stage of the study was the development of a strong storm. While the results suggest that this storm did not have any considerable influence on the populations of all other investigated copepod species, it very likely caused pronounced changes in the S. longipes population present in the water column. Before the storm, S. longipes was found primarily in the upper 100 m of the water column, and its population was dominated by adults (mean proportion = 41%) and the copepodite stage I (mean proportion = 30%). After the storm, the abundance increased considerably, and the copepodite stage I contributed by far the largest proportion (53%) of the total population indicating that the early copepodite stages probably had been released from the sea ice into the under ice water layer due to ice break-up and ice melt processes caused by the storm.     

A preliminary study on epigenetic changes during boar spermatozoa cryopreservation

Artificial insemination (AI) with cryopreserved boar semen is limited to no more than 1% of the total number of inseminations due to low conception rates and litter sizes. Cryopreservation causes a dramatic decrease in the viability, motility and fertility of spermatozoa, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, mRNA expression and protein levels of epigenetic-related genes (Dnmt3a, Dnmt3b, Jhdm2a, Kat8, Prm1, Prm2 and IGF2) in fresh and cryopreserved boar spermatozoa were evaluated using qRT-PCR and ELISA. The results showed that cryopreservation or freezing, which drastically alter the environmental stimuli, can induce epigenetic changes of boar spermatozoa. Dramatic changes of mRNA expression of epigenetic-related genes were observed before and after cryopreservation, and low protein levels of multiple genes were mainly found in program freezing groups with or without LEY. The addition of different cryoprotective agents to the freezing extender can provide better protective effects for boar spermatozoa to avoid freezing or cryopreservation-induced expression changes of epigenetic-related genes.     

Colloidal organic carbon and phytoplankton speciation during a coastal bloom

During the 1995 spring bloom in Bedford Basin, Nova Scotia,dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the photic zone was separatedinto low-molecular-weight and colloidal size fractions by cross-flowultrafiltration. DOC, colloidal organic carbon (COC) and low-molecular-weightorganic carbon (LOC) were then analyzed by high-temperaturecatalytic oxidation. COC (associated with the production ofphytoplankton exudates) did not follow the concentration ofbulk chlorophyll a (chi a) or the total number of phytoplanktoncells. Instead, surface-active COC (that adhered to the ultrafiltrationsystem) was produced early during the bloom when the diatomSkeletonema costatum was at a maximum. Later on, as the bloombegan to decline, less surface-active COC (that remained largelyfree of the ultrafiltration surfaces) was produced and was associatedmore with variations in cell number of Chaetoceros socialis,the predominant diatom for most of the bloom. These resultssuggest that chl a or the total number of phytoplankton cellsmay not be reliable indices of the production of COC. On thecontrary, the results suggest that relatively high COC concentrationswere associated with specific diatom species. In addition, themaximum amount of COC was associated during the early stagesof the bloom with a diatom (S.costatum) that was a small fraction(<5.6%) of total phytoplankton cell number. This finding,that relatively large amounts of colloids were associated withexopolymer production during the onset and development of abloom, does not agree with reports suggesting that the productionof exopolymers by diatoms is primarily an end-of-bloom occurrence.     

元江锥群落垂直结构的构建机制初探

基于功能性状探讨物种共存机制,已成为近年来群落生态学研究的热点内容。为探讨群落垂直结构构建的成因,该研究以昆明筇竹寺地区的半湿润常绿阔叶林为对象,调查乔木层、灌木层及草本层不同层次间植物叶片的功能性状。结果表明:(1)植物各功能性状均存在不同程度的随层次变化的趋势。(2)按照植物的生活型将元江锥群落分为乔木、灌木以及草本3层,与功能性状的聚类结果基本一致。(3)乔木、灌木和草本3个层次的S.E.S PW值均小于0,可知群落内物种的功能性状结构均呈现显著的发散。综上结果认为,植物群落不同物种的叶片功能特征对群落垂直方向上不同光照和水分条件组合的适应是群落垂直结构构成的主要影响因素,支持生境过滤是群落垂直结构构建的主要生态过程; 在不同层次内的物种具有不同的功能性状,同一层次内通过竞争排斥加大物种多样性; 群落垂直结构的形成是群落内垂直方向上环境因子发生变化的结果,对资源有不同需求的物种分布在不同空间高度上,群落垂直结构则是对资源的有效利用,增加了群落内物种多样性。