Mercury accumulation in five species of freshwater fish in Lake Tyrifjorden,south-east Norway,with emphasis on their suitability as test organisms

Synopsis Mercury concentration in axial muscle of brown trout, Salmo trutta, whitefish, Coregonus lavaretus, Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, smelt, Osmerus eperlanus and pike, Esox lucius, were studied in Lake Tyrifjorden during 1978–1982. Our data demonstrate that older and bigger fish on an average have higher mercury concentration than smaller and younger. Further, complex life histories as in brown trout influence the pattern of mercury accumulation. During young stages accumulation in brown trout is moderate, while accumulation in older stages is highly correlated to lake residency time. Based on our data we suggest the following requirements for a test organism and the collecting procedure; (1) life history should be simple with small sexual differences, (2) ageing should be easy and reliable, and (3) large representative samples should be easily obtained during (4) a fixed biological period i.e. the spawning period. We consider smelt as an appropriate test organism based on these criteria.     

Benthic resting eggs of calanoid copepods in Norwegian enclosures used in mariculture: abundance, species composition and hatching

Abundance, species composition and viability of benthic resting eggs of calanoid copepods were investigated in the sediments of seven Norwegian enclosed pond systems used in mariculture as well as in the sediments of the nearby open sea. The ponds represented different types of morphometry and zooplankton communities and were located from approximately 60 to 70 °N. Differences in environmental conditions in deep water also typical with anoxia and the presence of hydrogen sulphide at most of the localities. The lowest and highest egg densities in the enclosures were 7.5 ± 6.4 × 10⁴ and 5.5 ± 2.5 × 10⁶ m^-2, respectively, higher than in the sediments of the nearby open sea. Highest densities were found at larger or median depths. Altogether, egg densities higher than 10³ m^-2 were found of only four calanoid species; Eurytemora affinis, Acartia teclae, Acartia clausi, Temora longicornis. Hatching success was variable (0–92%), and no significant correlation to the presence of anoxia and hydrogen sulphide was found. This high hatching success was achieved with eggs exposed to hydrogen sulphide for several months. The recruitment potential to the plankton of nauplii was estimated from 4.8 to 1682 nauplii l^-1 for the different localities. The results showed that resting egg production is a common life history characteristic of some neritic calanoid species in Norwegian waters. In addition to copepod eggs, low densities (< 10³ m^-2) of eggs from rotifers and cladocerans were found in most of the localities.     

Intraepithelial gamma/delta T cells in duodenal mucosa are related to the immune state and survival time in AIDS.

The proportion of T-cell receptor gamma/delta+ cells and the CD4/CD8 ratio relative to all CD3+ intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) were determined by immunofluorescence in duodenal mucosa of late-stage (mostly CDC IVC1/D) subjects (n = 21) infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The gamma/delta fraction (median, 14.2%; range, 1.7 to 59.8%) was increased (P < 0.03) compared with that in HIV- controls (n = 11; median 2.8%; range, 0.3 to 38%). Also, the number of gamma/delta+ IEL per mucosal unit was increased (P < 0.05) in the HIV+ subjects (median, 11.1/U) compared with the controls (3.2/U). Approximately 100% of the gamma/delta+ IEL were CD8-, and most expressed the Vdelta1vJdelta1-encoded epitope (median, 90.9%). The total number of CD3+ IEL tended to be lower than in the controls (67.4 versus 72.9/U). Both the epithelium and the lamina propria contained mainly CD8+ T cells, the median ratios of CD4+ T cells being 1 and 7.6%, respectively. This result accorded with the reduced CD4 cell number in blood (median, 18 X 10(6)/liter). The HIV+ subjects had increased serum levels of neopterin and beta2-microglobulin (both P < 0.0001), probably reflecting immunostimulation. Serum neopterin and beta2-microglobulin were inversely related to duodenal gamma/delta IEL, particularly in the premortal group (r = -0.97 and r = -0.58, respectively). The increased gamma/delta IEL might reflect enhanced intestinal protection in late-phase HIV infection. Short survival expectancy (<7 months) was associated not only with high levels of neopterin and beta2-microglobulin but also with a reduced number of duodenal gamma/delta+ cells (P < 0.03).     

Influence of season and diet on liver and kidney content of essential elements and heavy metals in svalbard reindeer

Samples of liver (n=78) and kidney (n=60) from Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus Vrolik) collected at four different seasons in Svalbard were analysed for their content of Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Se. The study shows that when animals are exposed to large seasonal variations in both the quality and quantity of food, it is crucial to relate element concentrations to the physiological condition of the animal, e.g., to look at seasonal fluctuations in the total element content of the different organs. Deceased January 9, 1991.     

Ffh and FtsY in a Mycoplasma mycoides signal-recognition particle pathway: SRP RNA and M domain of Ffh are not required for stimulation of GTPase activity in vitro

Mycoplasma mycoides contains a signal-recognition particle (SRP) composed of an RNA molecule and an SRP54 homologue (Ffh). We have now identified a mycoplasma homologue to the α subunit of the mammalian SRP receptor and Escherichia coli FtsY. The protein (MmFtsY) was expressed in E. coli and purified to homogeneity. MmFtsY has a weak intrinsic GTPase activity but GTP hydrolysis was markedly stimulated when it was combined with mycoplasma Ffh (MmFfh) and SRP RNA. Also, in the absence of SRP RNA GTPase activity was significantly enhanced. Furthermore, GTP hydrolysis was stimulated when MmFtsY was combined with the N-terminal GTPase domain (N+G) of MmFfh. These findings indicate that basic features of the GTPase activation mechanism are independent of the C-terminal M domain of the MmFfh protein. We propose that the activation is mediated to a large extent by contacts between the GTPase domains of the mycoplasma Ffh and FtsY proteins and that the contribution of the M domain and SRP RNA in the activation mechanism is mainly for modifying the conformation of the MmFfh GTPase domain.     

Eight decades of sampling reveal a contemporary novel fish assemblage in coastal nursery habitats

In order to adequately monitor biodiversity trends through time and their responses to natural or anthropogenic impacts, researchers require long time series that are often unavailable. This general lack of datasets that are several decades or longer makes establishing a background or baseline of diversity metrics difficult – especially when attempting to understand species composition changes against a backdrop of climate and ecological variability. Here, we present an analysis of a community of juvenile nearshore fishes based on nearly 8 decades of highly standardized Norwegian survey records. Using multivariate statistical techniques, we: (i) characterize the change in taxonomic community composition through time, (ii) determine whether there has been an increase in warm‐water affinity species relative to their cold water affinity counterparts, and (iii) characterize the temporal change in the species’ functional trait assemblage. Our results strongly indicate a shift toward a novel fish assemblage between the late 1990s and 2000s. The context of changes within the most recent two decades is in stark contrast to those during the 1960s and 1970s, but similar to those during the previous warm period during the 1930s and 1940s. This novel assemblage is tightly linked to the warming temperatures in the region portrayed by the increased presence of warm‐water species and a higher incidence of pelagic, planktivorous species. The results indicate a clear influence of ocean temperature on the region's juvenile fish community that points to climate‐mediated effects on the species assemblages of an important fish nursery area.     

Low but contrasting neutral genetic differentiation shaped by winter temperature in European great tits

Gene flow is usually thought to reduce genetic divergence and impede local adaptation by homogenising gene pools between populations. However, evidence for local adaptation and phenotypic differentiation in highly mobile species, experiencing high levels of gene flow, is emerging. Assessing population genetic structure at different spatial scales is thus a crucial step towards understanding mechanisms underlying intraspecific differentiation and diversification. Here, we studied the population genetic structure of a highly mobile species – the great tit Parus major – at different spatial scales. We analysed 884 individuals from 30 sites across Europe including 10 close‐by sites (< 50 km), using 22 microsatellite markers. Overall we found a low but significant genetic differentiation among sites (F_ST = 0.008). Genetic differentiation was higher, and genetic diversity lower, in south‐western Europe. These regional differences were statistically best explained by winter temperature. Overall, our results suggest that great tits form a single patchy metapopulation across Europe, in which genetic differentiation is independent of geographical distance and gene flow may be regulated by environmental factors via movements related to winter severity. This might have important implications for the evolutionary trajectories of sub‐populations, especially in the context of climate change, and calls for future investigations of local differences in costs and benefits of philopatry at large scales.     

On the evolution of clutch size and nest size in passerine birds

Summary I examined the hypothesis that the clutch size of some altricial birds may be limited by over-crowding of the nestlings in the nest, by comparing data on different species of European passerines. Large-sized birds build, relative to the body, larger nests than small-sized birds, both as regards the inner and the outer nest widths and as regards edge breadth; only inner nestcup depth did not change relatively to body size. Nest size also varied in relation to nesting place. Birds with open nests built off the ground had a rather narrow nestcup, whereas those with a domed nest, or which nest in a cavity, had a wide nestcup. When only open-nesters were compared, birds nesting on, or close to, the ground tended to have a wider nestcup than birds nesting above the ground. Inner nestcup width was correlated with the amount of mosses and lichens used in building the nest; the more of such materials the narrower the nestcup. The three variables: standardised body size, nesting place, and type of nesting material used accounted for 92% of the overall variation observed in inner nestcup width. When controlling for adult body size, clutch size was positively correlated with the size of the nestcup. A multiple regression analysis showed that relative nestcup depth, nest site, and type of nesting materials used, accounted for 64% of the overall variation in clutch size.