The Influence of Toxic and Filamentous Blue-green Algae on Feeding and Population Growth of the Rotifer Brachionus rubens

The effect of toxic and of filamentous blue-green algae on feeding and population growth of the rotifer Brachionus rubens was investigated in laboratory experiments. A toxic strain of Microcystis aeruginosa was ingested, but rotifers cultured with Microcystis died faster than nonfed controls. The rigid filaments of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii were not ingested, reduced the ingestion of simultaneously offered algae, and depressed population growth rates. The soft filaments of Anabaena flos-aquae were ingested at a moderate rate, did not reduce ingestion of other algae, and were used as an additional food in population growth experiments.     

The Cost of Reproduction in the Rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas

A study of lifespan, fecundity, and reproductive schedules was carried out with the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus under different food concentrations. At high food densities (6.1 to 12.4 μg · ml⁻¹, dry mass) there was an increase in offspring number but the reproductive investment remained constantly. This was possible because Brachionus calyciflorus invested a smaller amount of energy one egg volume being able to increase offspring number. Although egg volume was reduced, this was compensated by the greater amount of energy available to the neonates. The length of the prereproductive period remained constant throughout this range of food concentrations. Within this range a reduction in lifespan was observed. This, however, was not due to a total higher reproductive investment, but to an increased offspring rate production resulting in a shortening of the reproductive period. The length of the post-reproductive period was not different at all food concentrations.     

食物浓度对三个地理品系角突臂尾轮虫种群增长、个体大小和卵体积的影响

以浓度分别为 3 0× 10 6、 6 0× 10 6、 9 0× 10 6和 12 0× 10 6cells/mL蛋白核小球藻 (Chlorellapyrenoi dosa)为食物 ,在温度为 (2 5± 1)℃下 ,应用群体累积培养法研究了食物浓度对分布于长江、珠江和淮河水系的 3个地理品系的角突臂尾轮虫 (Brachionusangularis)种群的增长、个体和卵的体积的影响。结果表明 ,食物浓度、地理品系及两者间的交互作用对轮虫种群增长率、个体和卵的体积均有显著影响。同一食物浓度下 ,广州品系的种群增长率最大 ,芜湖品系的个体和卵体积最大 ;同一品系中 ,当食物浓度为 9 0× 10 6cells/mL时轮虫有较大的种群增长率。各品系轮虫的种群增长率与食物浓度均呈曲线相关 ,但种群增长率达最大时所需的食物浓度在各品系间存在着差异。在食物浓度和品系两因素中 ,品系对轮虫个体体积有较大的影响     

甲胺磷和乙酰甲胺磷对萼花臂尾轮虫实验种群动态的影响

应用3天种群增长实验方法,在(25±1)℃、无光照、以3.0×106 cells/mL的斜生栅藻为轮虫的食物等条件下,研究了亚致死浓度(0.01、0.1、1.0、10.0、100.0、1000.0和10000.0 µg/L)的甲胺磷和乙酰甲胺磷对萼花臂尾轮虫实验种群动态的影响。结果显示,甲胺磷和乙酰甲胺磷显著地影响萼花臂尾轮虫的种群增长率、混交雌体数与非混交雌体数的比值和混交率。甲胺磷显著地影响萼花臂尾轮虫种群中的带卵雌体数与不带卵雌体数的比值,但乙酰甲胺磷对其无显著的影响。和对照组相比,浓度为100.0 µg/L 的甲胺磷和浓度为1.0－10,000.0 µg/L 的乙酰甲胺磷均使轮虫种群增长率显著增大,而浓度为1000.0 µg/L和10000.0 µg/L的甲胺磷却使之显著减小;1000.0 µg/L 的甲胺磷使轮虫种群中的带卵雌体数与不带卵雌体数的比值显著上升,0.1 µg/L的甲胺磷和10.0－10000.0 µg/L的乙酰甲胺磷均使轮虫种群中的混交雌体数与非混交雌体数的比值显著上升,0.1µg/L 的甲胺磷和10 µg/L的乙酰甲胺磷均使轮虫的混交率显著增大,10.0－0000.0 µg/L 的乙酰甲胺磷使轮虫休眠卵产量显著提高。上述结果表明,亚致死浓度的甲胺磷和乙酰甲胺磷对萼花臂尾轮虫实验种群动态具有显著的影响。     

红臂尾轮虫和壶状臂尾轮虫生活史特征比较

应用单个体培养方法,以浓度为3．0×10^6 cells／ml的斜生栅藻（Scenedesmus obliquus）为食物,在18、23、28℃和33℃下,对分类存疑种类红臂尾轮虫（Brachionus rubens）和壶状臂尾轮虫（B．urceolaris）的生活史特征进行了比较研究。结果表明,随着温度的升高,两种轮虫的生殖前期和生殖期历时、平均寿命、世代时间和生命期望均逐渐显著地缩短,而种群内禀增长率却极显著地增大。红臂尾轮虫在28℃下的生殖后期历时与23℃和33℃间均无显著的差异,壶状臂尾轮虫在28℃和33℃下的生殖后期历时也无显著的差异。红臂尾轮虫的产卵量和净生殖率均在33℃下最小,在其他3个温度间都无显著的差异;壶状臂尾轮虫的产卵量和净生殖率均在33℃下最小,28℃下最大。18、23℃和28℃下红臂尾轮虫的生殖前期历时、平均寿命、生命期望和世代时间都显著短于壶状臂尾轮虫,而生殖期历时在两者间无显著差异;33℃下红臂尾轮虫的生殖期历时、平均寿命、生命期望和世代时间都显著长于壶状臂尾轮虫,而生殖前期历时在两者间无显著差异。各温度下,红臂尾轮虫的产卵量、种群内禀增长率和净生殖率均极显著地高于壶状臂尾轮虫,但两种轮虫的生殖后期历时无显著的差异。红臂尾轮虫偏向于r-对策者,体现在其较低的生命期望、较高的繁殖率和种群增长率;而壶状臂尾轮虫则显示出较高的生命期望、较低的种群增长率和繁殖率,偏向于k-对策者。     

塔玛亚历山大藻和东海原甲藻对褶皱臂尾轮虫种群数量的影响

通过对2002年5月东海赤潮原因种一东海原甲藻和亚历山大藻的单一藻种和两种藻混合情况下对褶皱臂尾轮虫种群数量影响的实验研究,发现塔玛亚历山大藻(ATHK)对轮虫有致死作用,其48hLC50为1300cell·ml^-1．藻的各组分毒性比较研究表明,只有藻液和藻细胞具有这种毒害作用,藻在早期生长阶段的毒害作用较强,毒性大小与藻细胞活性相关．东海原甲藻在高密度(4×10^4、5×10^4、10×10^4cell·ml^-1)时对轮虫种群数量在第5d时开始有影响;东海原甲藻在低密度(1×10^4、2×10^4、3×10^4cell·ml^-1)时,轮虫能够以其为食并进行生长繁殖．两种藻混合情况下,东海原甲藻能够减轻塔玛亚历山大藻对轮虫的毒害作用．实验结果表明,此次赤潮对东海的微型浮游动物种群能够产生一定的影响．     

萼花臂尾轮虫多态性及形态型转化

在实验室条件下研究了萼花臂尾轮虫3种形态型(双短侧棘刺、单短侧棘刺和无侧棘刺)个体之间的关系。从轮虫的培养水体中随机挑出若干3种形态型雌体的幼轮虫(龄长<24h),分别培养在正常培养液和晶囊轮虫培养液过滤液中。将实验轮虫的后代(F1代)置于200倍显微镜下检查其个体的形态型。实验结果表明,在正常培养液中,每种形态型轮虫个体都可以产生3种形态型的后代。当培养在晶囊轮虫培养液过滤液中时,这3种形态型轮虫的后代都具有2个显著增长的侧棘刺。此外,这3种形态型个体的轮虫能够共存于同一培养环境中,而且每种形态型个体的轮虫都具有3种生殖类型的雌体。由此推测萼花臂尾轮虫是一个由3种基础形态型个体组成的形态型轮虫复合体。     

Rotifer Population Dynamics in Two Coupled Habitats: Invasion of Chaos

We study the role of interactions between habitats in rotifer dynamics. We use a simple discrete-time model to simulate the interactions between neighboring habitats with different intrinsic dynamics. Being uncoupled, one habitat shows periodical oscillations of the rotifer biomass while the other one demonstrates chaotic oscillations. As a result of the exchange of rotifer biomass, chaos replaces regular oscillations. As a result, the rotifer dynamics becomes chaotic in both habitats. We show that the invasion of chaos is followed by the synchronization of the chaotic regimes of both habitats, and this synchronization increases as coupling between the habitats is increased. We also demonstrate that the biological invasion of the rotifer species, which show chaotic dynamics, to a neighboring habitat with intrinsically regular plankton dynamics leads to the invasion of chaos and the synchronization of chaotic oscillations of the plankton biomass in both the habitats.     

镜湖夏秋季节裂足臂尾轮虫卵率变化及影响因素

调查了安徽省芜湖市镜湖中裂足臂尾轮虫的卵率,分析了卵率与种群密度、食物资源、潜在捕食者和竞争者、水温、水体透明度、溶氧、pH以及氨氮浓度等之间的关系。结果表明,大湖区中,裂足臂尾轮虫的卵率在0.095-1.073间变动,均值为0.293;卵率与种群密度和透明度呈显著的负相关(r值分别为-0.346和-0.329),与总叶绿素a含量和直径小于25μm的藻类叶绿素a含量均呈显著的正相关(r值分别为0.457和0.417);异尾轮虫密度对裂足臂尾轮虫卵率的影响具有明显的时滞效应(r=0.382);在晶囊轮虫密度高峰期,其密度是影响卵率的最主要因素(R2=0.5074)。小湖区中,裂足臂尾轮虫的卵率在0.0471-0.5455间变动,均值为0.194;卵率只与总叶绿素a含量呈显著的正相关(r=0.356)。研究结果提示影响裂足臂尾轮虫卵率的因素具有时空异质性。     

Sibling species and cryptic speciation in the Brachionus plicatilis species complex (Rotifera)

An attempt is made to identify sibling species within the Brachionus plicatilis complex (Rotifera). Allozyme and morphological data for nine strains from all over the world are provided. Although the analysis of morphological data classified individuals from nine strains into two groups, cluster analysis using genetic distance data obtained from allozyme data revealed at least three groups. A male choice design is described for the first time in rotifers and was used to test for male mating preferences among sympatric strains belonging to three distinct species. The results suggest that the B. plicatilis complex is actually composed of more than three sibling species.     

Aging and Loss of Fertility in Male and Female Brachionus plicatilis (Rotifera)

Summary

The decline with age of mictic female susceptibility to fertilization and male capacity for fertilization is characterized for the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. All mictic females were susceptible to fertilization until age 4 hr. Susceptibility then declined non-linearly according to the quadratic equation Y = 140.6—14.3X + 0.36X ². By age 24 hr, sexual females no longer could be fertilized. Only 83% of newborn males were capable of fertilization. This level of fertility held until age 8 hr, then declined linearly. The age when 50% of individuals were no longer fertile was termed the length of fertilizability ₅₀(LF₅₀) and is 7.9 hr (16.7% of lifespan) and 18.8 hr (26.1% of lifespan) for females and males, respectively. Newborn males had an average of 30.1 ± 1.40 motile sperm. Males transferred a mean of 2.3 motile sperm into the pseudocoelom of females on each insemination. Sperm inseminated per copulation closely corresponds to the mean number of resting cysts produced by fertilized females. It is not likely that resting cyst production is limited by sperm availability.     

Protein and lipid content of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis during variable growth and feeding condition

Rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) grown atdifferent growth rate ( = 0.05–0.39 d^–1)were analyzed for protein, lipid, fatty acids, aminoacids and free amino acids, and values are expressedin terms of individuals and dry weight. Increase ingrowth rate is equivalent with increased food rationof the individual rotifer, which responded by higheregg ratio. The protein content per individualrotifer increased by 60–80% when the growth rate increased, whereas the protein content per dryweight showed a slight, although insignificant,increase (p > 0.05). The lipid content perindividual was constant, whereas lipid per dryweight decreased when the growth rate increased. Theratio DHA/EPA decreased when the growth ratesincreased. The amino acids profile in percent oftotal amino acids showed low variation betweencultures maintained at different growth rates,whereas the values expressed in terms of amino acidper individual showed higher variation. The range ofvariation for free amino acids was more pronouncedthan for total amino acids.Short-term food enrichment of poorly fed rotifers( = 0.05 d^–1) with balanced protein richdiet resulted in increased protein and lipid contentper rotifer. The protein content per dry weightshowed only minor changes whereas lipid per dryweight increased. Contrary, short term enrichmentwith a lipid rich diet resulted in increased lipidcontent per individual rotifer and per dry weight,whereas the protein content per individual remainedconstant and the protein content per dry weightshowed a slight decrease.Our experiments show that the amount of protein, wasquite variable in rotifers, and that feeding andgrowth condition were decisive factors affecting it.The range of variation was large enough to be animportant factor during first feeding of marinelarvae, and should therefore be considered infeeding larvae.     

三种甲壳纲浮游动物与萼花臂尾轮虫的种间关系

为研究隆线溞(Daphnia carinata)、锯缘真剑水蚤(Eucyclops serrulatus)及中华薄壳介(Dolerocypris sinensis)3种甲壳纲动物种群与萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)种群的相互关系,作者分别将其以不同接种密度与萼花臂尾轮虫(接种密度为350 ind/L)进行混合培养。轮虫种群密度增长率自混合培养后的第3或4天开始下降,且随着甲壳纲动物接种密度的增加轮虫种群受到的抑制作用增大。当轮虫接种密度为350 ind/L时,3种甲壳纲动物的种群变化有所不同:(1)当隆线溞起始密度低于150 ind/L时,其种群生长受到轮虫的明显抑制;而当隆线溞起始密度达到350 ind/L时,其在混合培养与单独培养下的种群变化基本一致,这表明轮虫对隆线溞种群生长无抑制作用。(2)与隆线溞不同,锯缘真剑水蚤和中华薄壳介在混合培养下的种群数量持续增长。但与锯缘真剑水蚤相比,中华薄壳介在混合培养下的种群增长速度较慢。     

Effect of Food Quantity and Quality on Population Growth Rate and Digestive Activity in the Euryhaline Rotifer Brachionus plicatilis Müller

We investigated the nutritional effects of both food quantity and quality on Brachionus plicatilis. Decomposition of particulate and dissolved organic matter by rotifer digestive enzymes play a crucial role in rotifer nutrition. Among other enzymes, rotifers produce phosphatases, non‐specific enzymes that allow for the release of orthophosphate from a variety of organic phosphorus compounds. Phosphatase saturation was measured in B. plicatilis homogenates using the spectrofluorimetric method. We examined population growth rate, reproduction and phosphatase activity in the homogenate of rotifers (PA_RH) fed by nutrient‐replete algal food supplied at different quantities. Population growth rate, number of eggs per individual and PA_RH were affected by food quantity. Growth rate and number of eggs per individual significantly increased in rotifers fed by food supplied at the highest quantity. The highest population growth rate was reached by rotifers fed by nutrient‐replete food, while it did not significantly differ between rotifers fed on nitrogen (N)‐depleted and phosphorus (P)‐depleted food. The number of eggs per individual was more affected by N than P supply. PA_RH and rotifer RNA content were not influenced by different food quality. The results indicate that B. plicatilis is not able to regulate its digestive apparatus in terms of efficiently getting access to essential nutrients when scarce, but do this when nutrient‐replete food is available in different quantity. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

亚致死浓度的盐酸四环素对萼花臂尾轮虫存活、生殖和种群增长的影响

盐酸四环素是一种广谱抗生素,但其对轮虫存活、生殖和种群增长等的影响尚未知.本文应用生命表实验方法研究了不同浓度[0(对照组)、2.5、5、10、20、40和80 mg/L]的盐酸四环素对萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)存活、生殖和种群增长的影响.单因素方差分析表明,盐酸四环素浓度对轮虫的生...     

Genetic differentiation and phylogeographical structure of the Brachionus calyciflorus complex in eastern China

Spatio-temporal patterns and processes of genetic differentiation in passively dispersing zooplankton are drawing much attention from both ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Two opposite phylogeographical scenarios have already been demonstrated in rotifers, which consist of high levels of genetic differentiation among populations even on small geographical scales on the one hand and the traditionally known cosmopolitanism that is associated with high levels of gene flow and long-distance dispersal via diapausing stages on the other hand. Here, we analysed the population genetic structure and the phylogeography of the Brachionus calyciflorus species complex in eastern China. By screening a total of 318 individuals from ten locations along a 2320-km gradient and analysing samples from two growing seasons, we aimed at focusing on both small- and large-scale patterns. We identified eight cryptic species and verified species status of two of these by sexual reproduction tests. Samples in summer and winter yielded different cryptic species. The distribution patterns of these genetically distinct cryptic species were diverse across eastern China, from full cosmopolitanism to local endemism. The two most abundant cryptic species BcWIII and BcSW showed a pattern of strong genetic differentiation among populations and no significant isolation by distance. Long-distance colonization, secondary contact and recent range expansion are probably responsible for the indistinct pattern of isolation by distance. Our results suggest that geographical distance is more important than temporal segregation across seasons in explaining population differentiation and the occurrence of cryptic species. We explain the current phylogeographical structure in the B. calyciflorus species complex by a combination of recent population expansion, restricted gene flow, priority effects and long-distance colonization.     

Factors Affecting Swimming Speed in the Rotifer <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachionus plicatilis</Emphasis>

This study examines the swimming speed in amictic females of Brachionus plicatilis in laboratory cultures. Five different stages were examined: recently hatched females, juveniles, adult non-ovigerous females, ovigerous females with 1 attached egg and ovigerous females with 2 attached eggs. We tested the speed at two temperatures, 15 °C and 25 °C, and two feeding conditions, presence and absence of microalgal cells. An automated motion analysis system was used to measure speed which was then video recorded. Swimming speed (μm s⁻¹) increased with increasing body size. There was a slight decrease in the speed of adult females as the number of attached eggs increased. Swimming activity was higher at 25 °C than at 15 °C and in the absence of food than if microalgae were present. Average values under the different experimental conditions ranged between 500 μm s⁻¹ for the recently hatched and fed females and 1500 μm s⁻¹ for the adult non-ovigerous females in the absence of microalgae. Mass-specific swimming speed decreased with body mass increase.     

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

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

北京西海萼花臂尾轮虫（Brachionus calyciflorus）种群休眠卵库的遗传分化

利用线粒体细胞色素氧化酶Ⅰ亚基(COI)序列片段(543bp)对孵化自西海萼花臂尾轮虫休眠卵库的46个克隆进行分析,共发现6个单倍型,平均遗传距离为0.032,分别聚在2个分支.选取4个出现频率较高的克隆群,分别对其在3种食物浓度(蛋白核小球藻Chlorella pyrenoidosa,1×106 cells/ml,6×106 cells/ml,12×106 cells/ml)和3种温度(15℃,25℃,35℃;蛋白核小球藻Chlorella pyrenoidosa,6×106 cells/ml)下的适合度特征(R0和rm)以及个体大小(背甲长和背甲宽)进行比较研究.生命表实验结果显示,单倍型与食物浓度的交互作用(R0:P=0.038;rm:P=0.027)以及单倍型与温度的交互作用(R0:P=0.006;rm:P=0.000)对种群增长均有显著影响,这4个单倍型克隆群对环境条件具有不同的偏好,并且各个克隆群对于环境变化有不同的生殖反应.形态测量结果显示,单倍型与温度的交互作用(背甲长:P=0.033;背甲宽:P=0.000)以及单倍型与温度的交互作用(背甲长:P=0.027;背甲宽:P=0.000)对个体大小均有明显的影响.结合生命表及形态数据,探讨了休眠卵库中各个克隆群的生态位及形态分化以及可能对种群结构的动态变化产生的影响.     

马占相思叶片液汁碳同位素甄别率和水分利用效率

利用PMS压力室压取叶片液汁并借助稳定碳同位素质谱仪测定碳同位素比率,分析了马占相思(Acacia mangium )叶片液汁光合产物的甄别率(△)和估测了水分利用效率.结果表明:阴天马占相思林冠层日平均空气CO2 的碳同位素比率(δa)为-7.57‰±1.41‰,晴天则为-8.54‰±0.67‰;阴天叶片液汁的光合产物碳同位素比率(δp)日变化呈鞍型,而晴天则从早上至黄昏逐步降低;晴天δp与叶片/空气水汽压亏缺(D)明显呈负相关,阴天的δp变化相对较小;δp随叶片水势(ψ)降低而降低,显示水分胁迫引起δp降低;叶片液汁的D和经气体交换法获得的细胞胞间(Pi)和外界(Pa)CO2分压之比呈正相关,测定结果与理论上碳同位素相关扩散和生化分馏相一致.分析结果显示,田间马占相思空气CO2经气孔扩散的稳定同位素效应口a=4.6‰,有关Pi的净固定的稳定碳同位素效应6=28.2‰.认为液汁碳同位素甄别率是外围空气CO2进入光合产物的净甄别率,由叶片液汁△估测的水分利用效率与气体交换法所得结果相一致(R2=0.86,P＜0.001).本文所采用的叶片液汁光合产物测定即时△以及计算水分利用效率的方法,可减少田间条件下环境因素明显变化对水分和碳同位素的影响,该方法有助于进一步开展由植株至冠层扩展的碳和水分平衡的生理生态研究.