DEMOGRAPHY OF FRONDS OF SARGASSUM LAPAZEANUM FROM SOUTHERN BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO, DURING EARLY STAGES

In terms of biomass, Sargassum lapazeanum (Phaeophyceae, Fucales) is one of the most important seaweeds in La Paz Bay, on the southeastern coast of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. This species can be found year-round in shallow subtidal sites. Standing biomass is lowest between fall and winter and highest between spring and summer. We are currently studying the annual demography of fronds as a necessary step to understanding the mechanisms of population regulation. Work is being done on a bed of about 90 m in length and three m in width. At this stage of abstract submission, we can report results for winter only. Random samples were collected in February and in March 2000 to estimate stand biomass, frond density, and size (frond length) structure. In addition, we labeled fronds with numbered plastic tags to estimate their rates of growth and of mortality during this period. Rates of recruitment were estimated from a combined analysis of the above. In February, fronds were all shorter than 6.5 cm. Between February and March, mean total frond density increased from 122 to 776 fronds m⁻² (n = 30 quadrats). The mean recruitment rate was 667 fronds m⁻², the mean growth rate was 0.5 cm day⁻¹ (n = 60 fronds), and the mean mortality rate was 43 fronds m⁻². From last year's preliminary observations, we expect to observe peaks of biomass and of reproduction in late spring, followed by negative growth rates and high mortality rates during summer.     

HYDROCARBONS FROM PEDILANTHUS MACROCARPUS (EUPHORBIACEAE) OF BAJA CALIFORNIA AND SONORA,MEXICO

Pedilanthus macrocarpus (Euphorbiaceae) from Baja California and Sonora, Mexico is a desert xerophyte rich in polyisoprenes and other highly reduced hydrocarbons. The latex was analyzed for rubber content and found to contain 6–10% rubber by fresh weight. Four geographically distinct populations were analyzed for alkane content and the normal alkane range was shown to be C₂₇H₃₆ to C₃₅H₇₂. The different populations show significant quantitative and qualitative variation in their alkane content. Phytochemical findings suggest that the hydrocarbon chemistry can be useful in understanding the evolution of Pedilanthus macrocarpus in Baja California.     

EFFECTS OF SALINITY AND LIGHT INTENSITY ON THE RESUMPTION OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN REHYDRATED CYANOBACTERIAL MATS FROM BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR,MEXICO1

Lyngbya mats in the intertidal of the Laguna Ojo de Liebre are metabolically active for only a few days every 2 weeks during spring tides, with environmental conditions varying greatly during these periods of hydration. Pulse amplitude modulated fluorometry (PAM) and oxygen measurements were used to measure photosynthetic activity during the first few hours after rehydration under various light intensities and salinities. Upon rehydration, a transitory maximum in respiratory activity (10–30 min) occurred before the resumption of photosynthesis, which could recover in about 2 h. Salinities outside the mats' natural range (35–50 psu) were detrimental to photosynthetic recovery. Both high (100 psu) and low (0–10 psu) salinities slowed recovery as well as lowered the overall photosynthetic yield. Photosynthesis was initiated earlier and recovered more rapidly with increasing light intensity. In addition, the positive effect of light on rates of recovery was disproportionately greater at lower salinities (10–25 psu) where high light (500 W·m^?2) counteracted the negative effects of low‐salt stress early in recovery. However, higher light intensities became photoinhibitory later in recovery (>2 h). Photosynthesis did not recover uniformly within the mat. Filaments deeper in the mat most likely recovered later than those near the surface due to high light attenuation. The ability of the mats to tolerate desiccation and take advantage of hydration periods even when conditions are suboptimal enables these mats to predominate in the intertidal environment.     

IN SITU GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION OF PORPHYRA PERFORATA IN THE PACIFIC COAST OF BAJA CALIFORNIA

The marine flora of Panama remains poorly described to date, having been described from a few sporadic and species poor (<50 species) collections in the early half of the century and a couple of dedicated surveys in the latter half. With the exception of a few studies that have focused on particular genera or species, only a single marine floral survey has been published in the past three decades. In 1999 we collected marine algae from nearly 100 different collection sites along both coasts of Panama over a 10 month period of time. Over 1500 specimens have been curated, representing 250 Caribbean species and 117 Pacific species. This is an increase in algal diversity of approximately 100 and 50% for the Caribbean and Pacific flora, respectively, relative to Earle's compilation of 1972. We estimate that algal diversity in Panama may approach 450 species as the remaining 30% of the collection is identified and previous records are incorporated. Aspects of biogeography will be discussed in light of such extraordinary diversity over a relatively confined region.     

THE ORIGIN OF COASTAL SAGE VEGETATION,ALTA AND BAJA CALIFORNIA

Coastal sage is a new pioneer-type vegetation that only spread widely after the Early Quaternary, when species on the dry open borders of forest, woodland and arid tropic scrub vegetation shifted into expanding dry sites there and in adjacent grasslands. These new sites were created by a coincidence of major climatic and tectonic events and by accompanying erosion and mass movement on steep new slopes. Attaining most of its present area during the hot, dry Xerothermic, coastal sage scrub spread further as man's activities disturbed the landscape.     

饲料中钾对皱纹盘鲍幼鲍生长及其生理指标的影响

在以酪蛋白和明胶为蛋白源的半精制基础饲料中,添加不同浓度梯度的钾(0、2、4、8、16、32 g钾/kg饲料),钾源为KCl,配制成6种实验饲料(实测钾含量分别为:0.10、2.12、4.39、9.79、20.08和27.26 g/kg),探讨皱纹盘鲍(Haliotis discus hannai)幼鲍对饲料中钾的需求量及其在长期适应不同含量钾的过程中的生理反应。幼鲍初始体重为(0.24±0.00)g,初始壳长为(12.24±0.04)mm,实验在流水系统中进行,养殖周期为15周。实验期间水温12—23℃,海水钾含量为(472.94±3.59)mg/L。结果表明,饲料中不同含量的钾对皱纹盘鲍的增重率(WGR,%)、贝壳日增长(DISL,μm/d)及存活率没有显著影响(P>0.05)。皱纹盘鲍软体部的水分、粗脂肪和贝壳的灰分含量受饲料中钾含量的影响不显著(P>0.05)。当饲料中钾含量大于等于4.39 g/kg时,与0.10 g/kg饲料组相比,软体部粗蛋白质含量显著升高(P<0.05)。软体部钾的含量和贝壳中钾、钠的含量受饲料中钾含量的影响不显著(P>0.05)。幼鲍软体部钠含量在饲料钾含量为20.08、27.26 g/kg时显著低于其他各组(P<0.05)。鳃Na+-K+ATP酶活力随着饲料中钾含量的增加逐渐下降,当饲料中钾含量为20.08、27.26g/kg时,与0.10 g/kg组相比显著降低(P<0.05),但与其他组相比差异不显著。因此研究认为:以生长指标为判据,不需要在饲料中补充钾,海水中钾和饲料原料中的钾能够维持皱纹盘鲍幼鲍的正常生长;但以生理指标(软体部粗蛋白质和钠含量,鳃Na+-K+ATP酶活力)评判,饲料中钾的适宜含量为2.12 g/kg。     

海藻中有机碘的研究Ⅰ.海藻中有机碘含量测定

采用国际上目前通用的差减法来计算海藻中的有机碘,即首先测定海藻中的总碘和无机碘,其差减值为有机碘.碘的测定采用了碘离子选择电极法和中子活化法作为对照。在此基础上,还测定了新鲜海带中碘的含量、分布以及有机碘和无机碘的比例。研究结果表明,海带中碘的平均含量占鲜重的0.133％,其中88％的碘是以碘离子的形式存在,有机碘只占总碘的12％,同时海带不同部位碘的含量不同,叶部外缘含碘较多,是叶中部的2倍左右,尤其叶尖部的含量达到鲜重的0.183％。而有机碘的含量分布规律则不同,有机碘的含量在靠近根部的位置较高,为鲜重的13.9％。这种分布特点可能与海带的生命活动规律有关。     

缺氧对离体鸡胚前脑神经细胞生长的影响

在缺氧(95％N_2和5％CO_2)条件下进行8d鸡胚前脑的纯神经细胞培养。培养24,48和72h后,MTT微量比色法检测显示,甲(目替)明显减少,表明神经元已遭严重损害,同时,培养液中葡萄糖被急剧地消耗。但是,即使把糖浓度提高到800—1200mg/100ml,缺氧仍造成神经细胞死亡。结果提示,胚胎脑神经细胞对缺氧敏感,胶质细胞对缺氧神经元的保护可能不在于提供糖原。     

动物胃粘膜提取物对双歧杆菌的促生长作用

本文阐述了不同浓度的动物胃粘膜提取物对双歧杆菌生长繁殖的影响。试验结果表明,胃粘膜提取物对双歧杆菌有明显的促进作用,而且随着浓度增加为1％时,其菌数为4.45亿/ml,而不加提取物的菌数为2.53亿/ml,加胃粘膜提取物的比不加的菌数增长175.9％,促生长作用明显。证明胃粘膜提取物中含有促进双歧杆菌生长因子。     

CHARACTERIZATION OF CELL WALL POLYSACCHARIDES OF THE COENCOCYTIC GREEN SEAWEED BRYOPSIS PLUMOSA (BRYOPSIDACEAE,CHLOROPHYTA) FROM THE ARGENTINE COAST1

Bryopsis sp. from a restricted area of the rocky shore of Mar del Plata (Argentina) on the Atlantic coast was identified as Bryopsis plumosa (Hudson) C. Agardh (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) based on morphological characters and rbcL and tufA DNA barcodes. To analyze the cell wall polysaccharides of this seaweed, the major room temperature (B1) and 90°C (X1) water extracts were studied. By linkage analysis and NMR spectroscopy, the structure of a sulfated galactan was determined, and putative sulfated rhamnan structures and furanosidic nonsulfated arabinan structures were also found. By anion exchange chromatography of X1, a fraction (F4), comprising a sulfated galactan as major structure was isolated. Structural analysis showed a linear backbone constituted of 3‐linked β‐d ‐galactose units, partially sulfated on C‐6 and partially substituted with pyruvic acid forming an acetal linked to O‐4 and O‐6. This galactan has common structural features with those of green seaweeds of the genus Codium (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta), but some important differences were also found. This is the first report about the structure of the water‐soluble polysaccharides biosynthesized by seaweeds of the genus Bryopsis. These sulfated galactans and rhamnans were in situ localized mostly in two layers, one close to the plasma membrane and the other close to the apoplast, leaving a middle amorphous, unstained cell wall zone. In addition, fibrillar polysaccharides, comprising (1→3)‐β‐d ‐xylans and cellulose, were obtained by treatment of the residue from the water extractions with an LiCl/DMSO solution at high temperature. These polymers were also localized in a bilayer arrangement.