Growth of two Pisidium (Bivalvia,Sphaeriidae) species in the laboratory

Summary Growth of Pisidium casertanum and P. subtruncatum from the profundal of the eutrophic Lake Esrom was followed at four temperatures in the laboratory. The growth rate of both species increased with increasing temperature, but the maximum in P. casertanum was attained at 12° C, instead of at 20° C as in P. subtruncatum. The variation of Q₁₀ of growth in relation to animal weight was of similar form in both species at higher temperatures (6–12°C) but opposite at low temperatures (2–6°C). In the latter case Q₁₀ of P. casertanum had a peak and that of P. subtruncatum a low value at a corresponding size preceding maturity. At constant temperatures growth curves of the form y=a+bx+cx² were obtained, where y is weight in g and x is time in days. The growth of both species under natural conditions was simulated by use of the experimental growth rate equation and natural birth periods, sizes at birth, and temperature cycles. These simulations gave a maximum life span of 2.5–3 years for P. casertanum and 3.5–4.5 years for P. subtruncatum. The latter species showed slower growth rates at the low or medium temperatures prevailing in the profundal of this lake. A comparison with growth in nature reveals that the simulation overestimated growth in case of P. casertanum.     

Growth,developmental and stress responses of larvae of the clouded sulphur butterfly Colias eriphyle to repeated exposure to high,sub‐lethal temperatures

The optimal temperature at which an organism grows and develops is commonly correlated with latitude and elevation; however, the maximum temperature for physiological performance often is not. This makes performance at temperatures between the optimum and the maximum of particular interest. Temperature can influence long‐term performance (growth and development), as well as short‐term performance (heat shock protein) responses differentially. In the present study, two populations of the clouded sulphur butterfly Colias eriphyle Edwards that differ in elevation, thermal regime and optimal and maximum temperatures are studied to quantify their responses to repeated, sub‐lethal heat treatments early in development (second instar). Heat treatments accelerate development during the second to fourth instars in both populations initially, although this effect disappears by pupation. Heat treatment decreases pupal mass in the lower elevation population, suggesting that repeated exposure to high temperatures early in development may reduce final size and fecundity in this population. Heat shock protein gene (hsp70) expression levels in the lower elevation (1633 m a.s.l.) population are highest 24 h after the start of the heat treatment and then the fall to pre‐exposure levels by 36–72 h, suggesting a rapid response to stressful temperatures. By contrast, heat treatment has no significant effect on pupal mass in the higher elevation (2347 m a.s.l.) population. This population has higher levels of hsp70 expression overall but constant expression levels, suggesting that the temperature treatments used are insufficient to elicit a heat stress response. Overall, the effects of repeated exposure to sub‐lethal high temperatures early in development on growth, final size and gene expression differ between populations that differ in thermal sensitivity.     

Effects of Light,Temperature, and Water Depth on Growth of a Rare Aquatic Plant, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ranunculus kadzusensis</Emphasis>

Ranunculus kadzusensis is an endangered aquatic plant species that commonly reproduces in the rice paddies of Korea and Japan during winter and early spring. Here, we investigated the effects of main aquatic environmental factors—light, temperature, and water depth—on its growth, with the goal of seeking information that will contribute to its in situ conservation. As the amount of shading increased, biomass, maximum shoot length, number of branches, flowers, and fruits, main stem diameter, and maximum leaf length decreased. Although seed germination occurred under a 12-h photoperiod and at either 30/20°C (day/night) or 20/15°C, most plants died at the higher temperature. Survival was 0% for surface-grown plant sets when tested in a wintertime pond experiment. The rate of maximum shoot extension was greatest for plants grown at depths of 50 and 100 cm versus those at 20 cm. Thus, we demonstrated that R. kadzusensis is intolerant of high temperatures and shade, which may explain why its growth is limited to paddies with no shading and where temperatures are low early in the year, before rice cultivation begins.     

Effect of temperature variations on growth,reproduction, amino acid synthesis,fat and sugar content in ulva fasciata delile plants

This work deals with the effect of temperature variations on growth, reproduction, amino acid synthesis, fat and sugar content in Ulva fasciata in habiting the littoral region of the Mediterranean shore bordering Alexandria.Higher temperatures above 30°C have lethal effects on some parts of the algal fronds while the other parts are rather resistant. The latter are scattered groups of cells, which usually regenerate new plants when carried even to distant parts due to detrimental action of waves and currents. They serve a good means for vegetative propagation and spread better than zooids, which probably perish under such severe and violent conditions.The rate of growth of Ulva indicated by the increase in dry weight and total nitrogen, increases at rising temperature till the latter becomes limiting.Higher temperatures favour the growth and development of sporophytic phases, known by their deep green colouration, while temperatures below 20°C favour the production of gametophytes, identified by their yellowish green colour. This might explain why most of the algal crops of Ulva fasciata produced from parental stock (3 crops per year i.e. annually), are sporophytes.Moderate temperatures were favourable for growth, reproduction and the various metabolic processes. Amino acids and sugar contents increase with the rise of temperature, reaching their maximum around 25°C, while fat content increases at still lower temperatures.     

Growth,reproduction and longevity in nematodes from sewage treatment plants

The growth, reproduction and longevity of Diplogasteritus nudicapitatus, Paroigolaimella bernensis and Rhabditis curvicaudata were investigated under conditions of excess food within the temperature range 5°C–20°C. In all three species growth rate increased with temperature, and in D. nudicapitatus and R. curvicaudata the adult size attained varied significantly with temperature. P. bernensis did not reproduce at 5°C, but showed a progressive increase in reproductive output at higher temperatures. D. nudicaitatus showed increased egg production as temperature increased while R. curvicaudata had maximum egg output at 10°C. Longevity is temperature dependent, decreasing with higher temperatures. Virgin females survived for longer than reproducing females. The data indicate that while D. nudicapitatus and P. bernensis are thermophilic species, R. curvicaudata is adapted to lower temperatures.     

Frond development and phenology of Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium distentifolium, and Matteuccia struthiopteris in Western Norway

Odland, A. 1995. Frond development and phenology of Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium distentifolium, and Matteuccia struthiopteris in Western Norway. — Nord. J. Bot. 15: 225–236. Copenhagen. ISSN 0107–055X. The pattern of growth and phenology of Thelypteris limbosperma, Athyrium distentifolium, and Matteuccia struthiopteris fronds has been investigated, with particular emphasis on height increments of the sporophytes and the development of fertile fronds. In order to study both interspecific and intraspecific differences, fern stands along altitudinal gradients have been monitored. To investigate the initiation of fertility, fronds representing different developmental stages have been sampled. Climatic data have been collected with a data-logger during the study periods. The ferns show significant differences in growth pattern and phenology. Matteuccia struthiopteris has a growth curve that is best described as monomolecular, characterised by high growth rates during the early developmental stage, while the development of Thelypteris limbosperma and Athyrium distentifolium follow a logistic growth curve. The species need different periods of time to develop their fronds. The main frond elongation does not start before soil temperature has reached 7 C. After that, the growth is mainly controlled by air temperature. Within the interval when mean maximum temperatures are 8–20 C, all three ferns showed increased growth rates with increasing air temperatures, but the increase was greatest in M. struthiopteris. At higher temperatures, the growth rate of M. struthiopteris and T. limbosperma decreased. Athyrium distentifolium is characterised by producing sori at an early developmental stage. Fertile Matteuccia strurhiopteris fronds are developed at a much later developmental stage. Thelypteris limbosperma needs a longer period of time to produce mature fronds than the other species. The investigation indicates that plant growth and development are determined by both internal and external factors. It is concluded that growth rate, phenology, and the ability of ferns to produce mature fronds reveal close similarities with their response to environmental variables, and hence with their broad-scale geographical distributional patterns.     

Effects of temperature on growth rates of fungi from subantarctic Macquarie Island and Casey,Antarctica

Summary The linear growth rates of fungal isolates were measured on agar plates at temperatures ranging from 4° to 35°C. Fungi tested included the major fungal colonizers of leaves and litter of the three dominant plant species on subantarctic Macquarie Island, and major fungal species associated with plant and soil communities near Australia's Casey Station on the Antarctic Continent. All fungi grew at 4°C and were classified as psychrotrophs. Maximum growth rates were recorded at temperatures of 10° to 20°C for 13 of the 15 isolates from Macquarie Island and for all six isolates from Casey. Most of the leaf colonizing fungi from Macquarie Island had optimum growth temperatures of 15°C whereas all litter fungi from Macquarie Island and Casey fungi except Thelebolus microsporus had optimum growth temperatures of 20°C or above. Maximum growth of all species was at temperatures above those normally prevailing in their natural environments, with most species growing at 4°C at between 10% and 30% of their maximum rates. However, microclimatic effects may have resulted at times in temperatures near their growth optima. The highest growth rates at 4°C were recorded for Phoma spp. 1 and 2, Phoma exigua and Mortierella gamsii from Macquarie Island and Mortierella sp. 1 from Casey. Thelebolus microsporus and sterile sp. G from Casey also grew relatively fast at 4°C, and these species, and Phoma sp. 3 and Phoma exigua from Macquarie Island had the lowest Q-₁₀ values for the temperature range 4° to 15°C.     

A PHYSIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE HOT SPRING DIATOM,ACHNATHES EXIGUA GRÜN1

The diatom Achnanthes exigua, isolated from Alhambra North Hot Spring, showed a maximum growth rate of 2 doublings per day at 40 C; the maximum and minimum temperatures at which growth occurred was 44 and 10 C, respectively. The optimal temperature for respiration was 40 C, whereas the optimum temperature for photosynthesis was 42 C. Respiration exhibited greater thermotolerance than either growth or photosynthesis. Light saturation occurring at comparatively low light intensities suggests that the unialgal diatom culture may represent a selected shade-adapted organism.     

Effects of temperature and hydrology on growth of shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus (Rafinesque, 1820) in the lower Mississippi River

We evaluated the effects of thermal and hydrologic conditions on the growth of shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) in the lower Mississippi River, USA. Duration of water temperatures 12–24°C had a positive influence and temperatures below 11°C had a negative influence on annual growth increment, but these two variables accounted for less than 15% of the variation in growth. Duration of water temperatures above 28°C, duration of floodplain inundation, duration of low water, and minimum and maximum river stage did not influence annual growth increment. Growth of shovelnose sturgeon in the lower Mississippi River appears to be positively influenced by duration of moderate water temperatures but minimally influenced by hydrologic conditions. The low variation accounted for by thermal and hydrologic variables suggests annual growth increment may be largely influenced by additional abiotic or biotic factors.     

TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE OF GROWTH AND PHOSPHORUS UPTAKE IN TWO SPECIES OF VOLVOX (VOLVOCALES,CHLOROPHYTA)1

The growth of Volvox globator L. and Volvox aureus Ehr. was measured at five temperatures and nine phosphorus concentrations. Growth rates were hyperbolically related to phosphorus concentrations for all temperatures using a Monod growth model. Optimal growth rates of 1.17 and 1.00 doublings d^?1 were obtained at 20°C for V. globator and V. aureus, respectively. Neither species grew at 5°C. The half-saturation constants for growth, K_s, were lower for V. aureus. Phosphorus uptake by both species was also dependent upon external phosphorus concentrations and temperature. At all temperatures, maximum phosphorus uptake (μmol P colony^?1 min^?1) was similar for both species; however, the half-saturation constants for uptake showed significant differences between the species. Comparisons of the kinetic constants for growth and phosphorus uptake suggest that V. aureus will outcompete V. globator under phosphorus limited, conditions.     

Kluyveromyces fragilis SS-437: An associatively-profiled thermotolerant yeast

The lactose-utilizing Kluyveromyces fragilis SS-437 was found to have an associative temperature profile, but a thermotolerant growth yield behaviour. Cardinal growth temperatures were: 3°C minimum for growth; 41.5°C optimum; 44.5°C final maximum (growth and death rates equalize); 46.1°C initial maximum (maximum limit for growth).     

Factors Affecting the Production of Antifungal Compounds by Enterobacter aerogenes and Bacillus subtilis,Antagonists of Phytophthora cactorum1

The effects of temperature and pH on the production of antifungal compounds and growth in sterilized soil of Enterobacter aerogenes and Bacillus subtilis, antagonists of Phytophthora cactorum, the cause of crown rot of apple trees, were studied. With E. aerogenes maximum amounts of antifungal compounds were produced between 14 and 21°C and at pH levels between 3.5 and 5.0. Bacillus subtilis produced maximum amounts of antifungal compounds between 21 and 28°C andwith pH levels between 5.0 and 8.0. P. cactorum inoculum, produced in the presence of E. aerogenes or B. subtilis at optimum temperature and pH levels, was significantly less virulent compared with controls. The optimum temperature of maximum population growth in sterilized soil for E. aerogenes was 18°C and for B. subtilis 25°C. The population growth of B. subtilis was much slower than that of E. aerogenes. Fosetyl Al stimulated the multiplication of bacteria at lower temperatures while metalaxyl had the same effect at higher temperatures. These results indicate that populations of these antagonistic bacteria increase in sterile soil up to the 33rd day from inoculation and that the fungicides fosetyl, Al and metalaxyl did not limit their multiplication and production of antifungal compounds.     

Thermophilic mutants of Pseudomonas fluorescens

Summary A series of heat tolerant mutants of Pseudomonas fluorescens were obtained which can grow at temperatures up to 54°C, in contrast to a maximum growth temperature of 37°C for the wild type. The minimum temperatures allowing growth of the mutant strains increased to the same extent as their maximum temperatures. Antibiotic sensitivity patterns suggested the mutants had altered ribosomes, but the purified mutant ribosomes showed no significant increase in thermostability. The virulence of the wild and mutant strains for mice correlated with their relative abilities to grow at the mouse body temperature of approximately 37°C.     

Effect of temperature on vegetative growth among isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae and M. flavoviride

Effects of temperature on vegetative growth on a semi-synthetic medium of 22 isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae and 14 isolates of M. flavoviride were determined. The majority of isolates of both species grew between 11 and 32°C; several isolates grew at 8 and 37 °C. None of the isolates grew at 40 °C. Relative growth rate, calculated from the maximum growth rate for each isolate, was significantly affected by temperature and isolate, with significant isolate * temperature interactions. The maximum absolute growth rates among the isolates ranged from 2.5 mm to 5.9 mm/day. Optimal temperatures were generally between 25 and 32 °C with several isolates exhibiting optimal growth at temperatures as high as 32 °C. Overall, relative growth rates were greater in isolates of M. anisopliae than M. flavoviride at temperatures of 25 °C or lower; conversely mean relative growth rates were greater in M. flavoviride than M. anisopliae at temperatures higher than 25 °C. However, the two most cold tolerant isolates at 8 °C were M. flavoviride and the three most heat tolerant at 35 °C were M. anisopliae. Since temperature growth responses varied considerably between isolates, strain selection according to thermal tolerance may be warranted when choosing a strain for development as a microbial control agent.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Temperature preferences of bacteria isolated from seawater collected in Kandalaksha Bay,White Sea,Russia

Fifty-two bacteria were isolated from seawater collected in Kandalaksha Bay, White Sea, Russia, and classified by 16S rDNA sequencing. Most of the strains belonged to ubiquitous microorganisms. Pseudomonas was the most abundant genus (21 strains), including species of P. fluorescens, P. putida and P. syringae. Serratia was also common (10 strains) with species S. plymuthica and S. proteamaculans. Sphingobacterium, Flavobacterium and Pantoea were less represented (5, 3 and 2 strains, respectively). The only typical bacterium of marine Arctic regions was Shewanella baltica. The strains were tested for their optimal growth temperature in the range 0–45°C. The majority appeared to be psychrotolerant (42%) or mesophilic-psychrotolerant (40%). In addition, one strain (Bacillus pumilus) showed a rather narrow mesophilic profile. No true psychrophilic bacteria were found. Most of the strains showed a classical curve with fast growth decrease above the optimum; some others displayed uncommon flat curves with scarce differences between maximum and minimum of growth in a wide range of temperatures. Moreover, few strains presented an unusual profile being, in relation to the optimum, more tolerant to high rather than low temperatures. Preferences of the Kandalaksha Bay strains are generally different from those reported in literature for the same species: optima were at lower temperatures and, sometimes, ranges were broader showing increased eurythermism. This could indicate adaptation to the wide temperature variations recorded in this peculiar environment.     

Comparative growth of the thermal alga Cyanidium caldarium on nitrate and ammonia at different temperatures

Summary The growth of Cyanidium caldarium on nitrate and ammonia as nitrogen sources was studied at different temperatures from 21 to 54°C.Algal growth occurred at temperatures of 24° C or above when ammonia was the nitrogen source, whereas with nitrate, growth occurred at 30° C or above. The optimum and the maximum growth temperatures were 45 and 54° C respectively on both substrates.Arrhenius plots show that the logarithm of the growth rate is not linear with the reciprocal of absolute temperature, but exhibit sharply defined breaks at 30° C on ammonia and at 40° C on nitrate.It is assumed that below 40° C, when Cyanidium grows on nitrate, the utilization of this substrate represents the master reaction which controls the growth rate of the alga.     

STUDIES ON THE AUTECOLOGY OF THE MARINE DIATOM THALASSIOSIRA NORDENSKIÖLDIICLEVE. 1. THE INFLUENCE OF DAYLENGTH,LIGHT INTENSITY,AND TEMPERATURE ON GROWTH1

The marine diatom Thalassiosira nordenskiöldii Clave was grown at 48 different combinations of daylength (9:15, 12:12, 15:9 LD), light intensity (0.011, 0.027, 0.066, 0.100 ly/min [g cal/cm²/min]), and temperature (0, 5, 10, 15 C). Growth occurred at all combinations of light and temperature except at 15 C at the highest light level. Maximum growth (K = 1.8 doublings/day) occurred at 10 C under the 15:9 LD cycle. At 15 C the maximum rate was 1.7 doublings/day but occurred at the shortest day-length (9:15 LD). The maxima at 5 and 0 C were 1.32 and 0.67 doubling/day, respectively. At 0 C growth was similar over a wide range of light intensities (K = 0.6–0.65), with, maximum growth being attained at a much lower light intensity than at 5 C. Above 5 C there was a decrease in the light intensity at which maximum growth occurred and excessive light became inhibitory to growth. At 15 C the light intensity at which maximum growth occurred was greater with shorter day-lengths. The temperature optimum was 10 C at 15:9 and 15 C at 9:15 LD. The chlorophyll a content of the cells was greatest under low light intensities and short daylengths, while temperature had a variable effect. The response of Thalassiosira in the laboratory contrasts with, its apparent preference for low temperatures in nature (0–5 C). The experiments suggest that the termination of the bloom of Thalassiosira in Narragansett Bay and elsewhere is not solely temperature dependent.     

Aspects of the thermal ecology of the rusty crayfish Orconectes rusticus (Girard)

Summary Orconectes rusticus currently is undergoing an explosive range expansion in the midwestern U.S.A., but information on the potentially important effects of water temperature on the species' biology is lacking. The thermal ecology of O. rusticus in southwestern Ohio, U.S.A., was examined by determining 1) the effects of four water temperatures (16, 20, 25, and 29°C) on survival and growth of juveniles, 2) the responses of juveniles and adults to a thermal gradient (7–27° C), and 3) the thermal tolerances (critical thermal maximum, CTMax, and critical thermal minimum, CTMin) of free-living, field-acclimatized juveniles and adults on a biweekly basis throughout the summer. Month-long growth experiments predicted maximum growth rates of juveniles at water temperatures between 26 and 28°C, but greatest survival between 20 and 22° C. Laboratory-acclimated (22° C) adults and field-acclimatized (2.5° C) juveniles both had an acute preferred temperature of 22° C. CTMaxs and CTMins of juveniles were 0.5–2.6° C higher than those of adults throughout the summer, suggesting that juveniles were exposed to water temperatures 1.5–6.8° C warmer than those of adults. Juvenile and adult O. rusticus prefer habitats where water temperatures favor maximum survival, but they usually are not found together in the same habitat; adults apparently displace the juveniles into warmer habitats. Warmer temperatures can decrease survival of juveniles but improve their growth rates, leading to enhanced fecundity and competitive ability. The past and future success of O. rusticus in expanding its range may depend, in part, on the species ability to adjust to new thermal environments occupied by other species of crayfish.     

Phytohemagglutinin: Transitory enhancement of growth in Phaseolus and Allium

Summary Phytohemagglutinin (Difco) stimulates germination and early seedling growth in Phaseolus coccineus, but not in Ph. vulgaris, the species from which the compound is extracted. The differences to the controls reach a maximum at day 8, then they disappear. Root growth in Allium cepa is enhanced by phytohemagglutinin during the first 12 days of treatment, but only at temperatures below 20°C.