Expression of Characteristics of Ammonium Nutrition as Affected by pH of the Root Medium

To study the effect of root-zone pH on characteristic responsesof -fed plants, soybeans (Glycine max {L.}Merr. cv. Ransom) were grown in flowing solution culture for21 d on four sources of N (1.0 mol m^–3 , 0.67 mol m^–3 plus 0.33 mol m^–3, 0.33 mol m^–3 plus 0.67 mol m^–3 , and 1.0 mol m^–3) with nutrient solutions maintained at pH 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, and 4.5. Amino acid concentration increased inplants grown with as the sole source of N at all pH levels. Total amino acid concentration in the rootsof -fed plants was 8 to 10 times higher than in -fed plants, with asparagine accounting for more than 70% of the total in the roots of these plants.The concentration of soluble carbohydrates in the leaves of-fed plants was greater than that of -fed plants, but was lower in roots of -fed plants, regardless of pH. Starch concentration was only slightlyaffected by N source or root-zone pH. At all levels of pH tested,organic acid concentration in leaves was much lower when was the sole N source than when all or part of theN was supplied as . Plants grown with mixed plus N sources were generally intermediate between - and -fed plants. Thus, changes in tissue compositioncharacteristic of nutrition when root-zone pH was maintained at 4.5 and growth was reduced, still occurredwhen pH was maintained at 5.0 or above, where growth was notaffected. The changes were slightly greater at pH 4.5 than athigher pH levels. Key words: Ammonium, nitrogen nutrition, root-zone pH, soybean, tissue composition     

Gravel dredging alters diversity and structure of riverine fish assemblages

1. Human activities affect fish assemblages in a variety of ways. Large‐scale and long‐term disturbances such as in‐stream dredging and mining alter habitat and hydrodynamic characteristics within rivers which can, in turn, alter fish distribution. Habitat heterogeneity is decreased as the natural riffle–pool–run sequences are lost to continuous pools and, as a consequence, lotic species are displaced by lentic species, while generalist and invasive species displace native habitat specialists. Sediment and organic detritus accumulate in deep, dredged reaches and behind dams, disrupting nutrient flow and destroying critical habitat for habitat specialist species. 2. We used standard ecological metrics such as species richness and diversity, as well as stable isotope analysis of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N, to quantify the differences in fish assemblages sampled by benthic trawls among dredged and undredged sites in the Allegheny River, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. 3. Using mixed‐effects models, we found that total catch, species richness and diversity were negatively correlated with depth (P < 0.05), while species richness, diversity and proportion of species in lithophilic (‘rock‐loving’) reproductive guilds were lower at dredged than at undredged sites (P < 0.05). 4. Principal components analysis and manova revealed that taxa such as darters in brood hider and substratum chooser reproductive guilds were predominantly associated with undredged sites along principal component axis 1 (PC1 and manova P < 0.05), while nest spawners such as catfish and open substratum spawners including suckers were more associated with dredged sites along PC2 (P < 0.05). 5. Stable isotope analysis of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N revealed shifts from reliance on shallow water and benthic‐derived nutrients at undredged sites to reliance on phytoplankton and terrestrial detritus at deep‐water dredged sites. Relative trophic positions were also lower at dredged sites for many species; loss of benthic nutrient pathways associated with depth and dredging history is hypothesised. 6. The combination of ecological metrics and stable isotope analysis thus shows how anthropogenic habitat loss caused by gravel dredging can decrease benthic fish abundance and diversity, and that species in substratum‐specific reproductive guilds are at particular risk. The effects of dredging also manifest by altering resource use and nutrient pathways within food webs. Management and conservation decisions should therefore consider the protection of relatively shallow areas with suitable substratum for spawning for the protection of native fishes.     

Trophic role of demersal mesopredators on rocky reefs in an equatorial Atlantic Ocean island

The decrease in the number of sharks around Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago (SPSPA) may impact food web structure. We investigated trophic relationships in the shallow rocky reefs of the SPSPA using stable isotopes and stomach contents with a particular focus on three abundant mesopredators: Caranx lugubris, Enchelycore nigricans and Muraena pavonina. Food web structure was described using samples of the most abundant basal resources, fishes and invertebrates, which were collected in April and October 2012. Individuals of the three focal species (n = 138: C. lugubris, n = 56; E. nigricans, n = 18; M. pavonina, n = 64) were collected during four expeditions to SPSPA (April and October of 2011 and 2012). Results suggest that this shallow water food web is supported by trophic pathways originating from benthic resources. Stable isotope data suggest potential competitive interactions between the whitespot moray and the other two mesopredators. Conversely, stomach content data suggest little niche overlap in the three focal species, but these data must be interpreted carefully because of the small sample sizes and restricted temporal sampling windows. All three mesopredators have a significant, albeit weak, relationship between body size and δ¹⁵N, suggesting ontogenetic diet shifts. These data contribute baseline information to assess shifts in food web structure that may stem from top predator decline in this unique ecosystem.     

Evolutionary dynamics of autosomal-heterosomal rearrangements in a multiple-X chromosome system of tiger beetles (Cicindelidae)

Background  

Genetic systems involving multiple X chromosomes have arisen repeatedly in sexually reproducing animals. Tiger beetles (Cicindelidae) exhibit a phylogenetically ancient multiple-X system typically consisting of 2–4 X chromosomes and a single Y. Because recombination rates are suppressed in sex chromosomes, changes in their numbers and movement of genes between sex chromosomes and autosomes, could have important consequences for gene evolution and rates of speciation induced by these rearrangements. However, it remains unclear how frequent these rearrangements are and which genes are affected.     

Ontogeny of the Behavior of Strombus maculatus (Gastropoda: Strombidae)

The ontogeny of strombid behavior was studied by observing thebehavior of Strombus maculatus veligers collected from the planktonand reared past metamorphosis to adults, and by observing juvenilestrombids collected in the field. Complete adult modal actionpatterns (MAP's) associated with locomotion, feeding, and rightingof overturned shells are performed by S. maculatus juvenilesimmediately after metamorphosis. There are changes in the frequencyof the use of certain MAP's which are associated with variationsin shell shape and size. The unique strombid escape response to molluscivorous gastropods(Conns spp.) is not released until juvenile S. maculatus arethree weeks past metamorphosis and two millimeters in shelllength. At that stage, the complete response is released uponthe first encounter with a predator. Experience with a predatordoes not seem to lower the age or size criteria. During ontogeny there is a trend toward an increasing complexityof behavior which is paralleled by an increasing complexityof neural structure and general morphology. There are majorsteps in the ontogeny of strombid behavior which probably coincidewith neural and morphological stages.     

The Spontaneous Formation of Antheridia in Onoclea is not Blocked by Light

Onoclea sensibilis gametophytes were grown from spores on ashedsoil and agar to determine if the spontaneous formation of antheridiacan be blocked by light. Under most conditions, dark-grown gametophytesformed antheridia later than or at the same time as gametophytesgrown in the light. Under no circumstances was there a rapidonset of maleness in the dark. These results contradict thehypothesis that, in Onoclea, antheridiogen is required to inducemaleness because light inhibits the formation of antheridia.In the light, antheridia formed on heart-shaped thalli. In darkness,antheridia formed on filamentous gametophytes. The timing ofonset of maleness was affected by temperature and the presenceof sucrose. The effect of sucrose on the comparison betweenlight and dark treatments depended on both substrate and temperature Onoclea sensibilis, L., sensitive fern, fern gametophytes, sexuality, light-induced block     

Breeding success and chronology of Wood Storks Mycteria americana in northern and central Florida, U.S.A.

The breeding success and chronology of Wood Storks Mycteria americana were studied at eight colonies in northern and central Florida during 1981–1985. Mean ± s.d. clutch size for all colony-years was 3.07 ± 0.56 (n = 2694 nests), with three-egg clutches (72%) most frequent. Mean clutch size among all colonies and years ranged from 2.73 ± 0.55 to 3.41 ± 0.61. Many colonies exhibited significant negative trends in clutch size with, hatching date because of a proportional decrease in four-egg clutches later in the season. Mean colony clutch size was not correlated with nest numbers, nesting density or mean hatching date within most years. Mean ± s.d. number of fledglings for all colonies and years was 1.29 ± 1.16 fledglings per nest (n = 2812 nests). Mean annual fledging rates in colonies ranged from 0 (colony failed) to 2.66 fledglings per nest. Most breeding failure occurred prior to egg hatching, and the second highest mortality occurred between hatching and 2 weeks of age. Four-egg clutches fledged more storks than three-egg clutches, which in turn were more successful than two-egg clutches. However, all clutch sizes showed similar fledgling per egg rates. The seasonal decline in productivity was associated proportionally with smaller clutch sizes later in the breeding season. An increase in mean hatching date was correlated with an increase in latitude. There was greater within-year breeding synchrony among colonies than interyear breeding synchrony within each colony. Breeding synchrony was not correlated with mean hatching date, latitude, longitude, nest numbers or nesting density.