Assessment of the eutrophication status of transitional,coastal and marine waters within OSPAR

Eutrophication (nutrient enrichment and subsequent processes) and its adverse ecosystem effects have been discussed as main issues over the last 20 years in international conferences and conventions for the protection of the marine environment such as the North Sea Conferences and the 1992 OSPAR Convention (OSPAR; which combined and updated the 1972 Oslo Convention on dumping waste at the sea and the 1974 Paris Convention on land-based sources of marine pollution). OSPAR committed itself to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen inputs (in the order of 50% compared with 1985) into the marine areas and ‘to combat eutrophication to achieve, by the year 2010, a healthy marine environment where eutrophication does not occur’. Within OSPAR, the Comprehensive Procedure (COMPP) has been developed and used to assess the eutrophication status of the OSPAR maritime area in an harmonised way. This is based on classification in terms of the following types of areas Non-Problem Areas (no effects), Potential Problem Areas (not enough data to assess effects) and Problem Areas (effects due to elevated nutrients and/or due to transboundary transport from adjacent areas). The COMPP consists of a set of harmonised assessment criteria with their area-specific assessment levels and an integrated area classification approach. The criteria cover all aspects of nutrient enrichment (nutrient inputs, concentrations and ratios) as well as possible direct effects (e.g. increased levels of nuisance and/or toxic phytoplankton species, shifts and/or losses of submerged aquatic vegetation) and indirect effects (e.g. oxygen deficiency, changes and/or death of benthos, death of fish, algal toxins). The COMPP also includes supporting environmental factors. It takes account of synergies and harmonisation with the EC Water Framework Directive, and has formed a major basis for the EC eutrophication guidance. Recently, additional components, such as total nitrogen, total phosphorus and transboundary transports have been included in the assessment of, e.g. the German Bight. The second application of the COMPP resulting in an update of the eutrophication status of the OSPAR maritime area will be finalised in 2008, and will include the agreed integrated set of Ecological Quality Objectives (EcoQOs) with respect to eutrophication. Guest editors: J. H. Andersen & D. J. Conley Eutrophication in Coastal Ecosystems: Selected papers from the Second International Symposium on Research and Management of Eutrophication in Coastal Ecosystems, 20–23 June 2006, Nyborg, Denmark     

Assessment of antifungal effects of a novel compound from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Burkholderia cepacia</Emphasis> against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium solani</Emphasis> by fluorescent staining

A novel compound CF66I produced by Burkholeria cepacia was investigated for its antifungal effects against Fusarium solani by three different fluorescent dyes. Dual staining with propidium iodide (PI) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) demonstrated high doses of CF66I (120.0 μg ml⁻¹) killed the fungi by acting primarily on the cell membrane. However, at fungistatic concentration (20.0 μg ml⁻¹) of this compound, microscopic observations revealed swelling hyphae with abnormal chitin deposition, as determined by Calcofluor white (CFW) staining, which was indicative of the alterations in cell wall structure. In addition, inhibition of intracellular esterases activity was observed. These results led us to conclude that low doses of CF66I probably inhibited the fungal growth by interfering with the cell metabolic pathways.     

Diclofenac Mediated Demodulation of Alkaline Phosphatase and Renal Cortical Damage in Experimental Albino Mice

Diclofenac sodium is known to interfere with renal physiology by inhibiting prostaglandins. Previous studies indicate that various nephrotoxins damage proximal renal tubules by altering alkaline phosphatase (APase) activity. APase has been reported to be a function related marker in renal proximal tubular epithelia where it is highly expressed. Present investigation deals with toxicity caused in mice kidney at histological and biochemical levels after diclofenac administration. Diclofenac toxicity was assessed by localizing APase in kidney histochemically and biochemically. Intramuscular diclofenac administration (10 mg/kg/body wt) for 30 days exhibited substantial degeneration in kidney. A marked change in APase activity was observed in histochemical and biochemical studies. A change was noticed in specific activity of APase at different periods of diclofenac treatment. Decrease in specific activity of APase after 10 days (18.41 %) and 30 days (55.3 %) of diclofenac exposure was observed. However, an insignificant hike in APase was observed after 20 days of drug therapy. Similar trends in APase activity were evidenced by the electrophoretic analysis. Histological and ultrastructural observations also corroborated above mentioned findings. Present investigation gives an insight into probable mechanism of renal pathology caused by diclofenac administration in mice.     

Jelly-falls historic and recent observations: a review to drive future research directions

The biological pump describes the transport of particulate matter from the sea surface to the ocean’s interior including the seabed. The contribution by gelatinous zooplankton bodies as particulate organic matter (POM) vectors (“jelly-falls”) has been neglected owing to technical and spatiotemporal sampling limitations. Here, we assess the existing evidence on jelly-falls from early ocean observations to present times. The seasonality of jelly-falls indicates that they mostly occur after periods of strong upwelling and/or spring blooms in temperate/subpolar zones and during late spring/early summer. A conceptual model helps to define a jelly-fall based on empirical and field observations of biogeochemical and ecological processes. We then compile and discuss existing strategic and observational oceanographic techniques that could be implemented to further jelly-falls research. Seabed video- and photography-based studies deliver the best results, and the correct use of fishing techniques, such as trawling, could provide comprehensive regional datasets. We conclude by considering the possibility of increased gelatinous biomasses in the future ocean induced by upper ocean processes favouring their populations, thus increasing jelly-POM downward transport. We suggest that this could provide a “natural compensation” for predicted losses in pelagic POM with respect to fuelling benthic ecosystems.     

Acanthaster planci outbreak: decline in coral health, coral size structure modification and consequences for obligate decapod assemblages

Although benthic motile invertebrate communities encompass the vast majority of coral reef diversity, their response to habitat modification has been poorly studied. A variety of benthic species, particularly decapods, provide benefits to their coral host enabling them to cope with environmental stressors, and as a result benefit the overall diversity of coral-associated species. However, little is known about how invertebrate assemblages associated with corals will be affected by global perturbations, (either directly or indirectly via their coral host) or their consequences for ecosystem resilience. Analysis of a ten year dataset reveals that the greatest perturbation at Moorea over this time was an outbreak of the corallivorous sea star Acanthaster planci from 2006 to 2009 impacting habitat health, availability and size structure of Pocillopora spp. populations and highlights a positive relationship between coral head size and survival. We then present the results of a mensurative study in 2009 conducted at the end of the perturbation (A. planci outbreak) describing how coral-decapod communities change with percent coral mortality for a selected coral species, Pocillopora eydouxi. The loss of coral tissue as a consequence of A. planci consumption led to an increase in rarefied total species diversity, but caused drastic modifications in community composition driven by a shift from coral obligate to non-obligate decapod species. Our study highlights that larger corals left with live tissue in 2009, formed a restricted habitat where coral obligate decapods, including mutualists, could subsist. We conclude that the size structure of Pocillopora populations at the time of an A. planci outbreak may greatly condition the magnitude of coral mortality as well as the persistence of local populations of obligate decapods.     

The effects of drying on sediment nitrogen content in a Mediterranean intermittent stream: a microcosms study

Mediterranean climates predispose aquatic systems to both flood and drought periods, therefore, stream sediments may be exposed to desiccation periods. Changes in oxygen concentrations and sediment water content influence the biotic processes implicated in nitrogen dynamics. The objectives of this study were to identify (1) the changes of inorganic nitrogen in stream sediments during the transition from wet to dry conditions, and (2) the underlying processes in N dynamics and its regulation. Extractable sediment NO₃ ⁻-N and NH₄ ⁺-N, organic matter and extractable organic carbon content were assessed during natural desiccation in microcosms with sediments from an intermittent Mediterranean stream. In agreement with our initial hypothesis, our results showed how the NO₃ ⁻-N content of the sediment was enhanced during the first 10 days of sediment drying, whereas NH₄ ⁺-N was lost by 14 days post-drying. During the first 10 days, sediment desiccation seemed to stimulate the net N-mineralization and net nitrification from sediments. Afterwards, the extractable NO₃ ⁻-N concentration sharply dropped, which may be attributed to lower ammonium-oxidation rates as ammonium and organic matter are depleted, and to an increase in NO₃ ⁻-N consumption by microbial populations. Denitrification was inhibited, with a significant decrease as % water-filled pore space lowered. We hypothesize that the sediment inorganic N content enhanced during sediment desiccation could be released as part of the N pulse observed after sediment rewetting. However, the stream N availability after rewetting dried sediments would differ depending on desiccation period duration.     

Flying over water: how “On bird species diversity” influenced aquatic ecology

Habitat complexity has long been known to influence animal community structure by increasing the number of available habitats. Fifty years have passed since MacArthur brothers published the seminal paper “On bird species diversity”, which revolutionized studies of habitat structure. This paper first evidenced and quantified the relationship between species diversity (birds) and habitat structural complexity (the number of stratified layers of landscape vegetation). In this article, we aim to pay homage to R. H. MacArthur’s contribution and to briefly analyze the citation history and influence of “On bird species diversity”, focusing primarily on aquatic studies. We searched for all papers that cited “On bird species diversity” on Thomson Reuters (ISI—Web of Knowledge) and analyzed them for temporal citation trends. In addition, considering only aquatic papers, we explored whether and how habitat complexity was measured, as well as the ecological organization level, attributes of organisms, taxonomic groups and study design (observational or experimental). “On bird species diversity” citations increased over time, but this paper was less cited by limnologists compared to terrestrial and marine scientists. The majority of investigations in aquatic ecosystems quantified habitat complexity, but few used mathematical modeling. The high number of citations, which continues to increase, shows the great influence of “On bird species diversity” on ecological studies and typifies it as a classic in the ecological literature. However, the low citation frequency found in papers devoted to freshwater ecosystems indicates that limnologists in general neglect this original contribution in studies of habitat complexity.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> plantlet production of the endangered <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinguicula vulgaris</Emphasis>

This study describes the development of a micropropagation protocol for Pinguicula vulgaris using cultures initiated from in vitro produced seedlings. P. vulgaris is a carnivorous plant with a northern, disjunctly circumpolar distribution and specific habitat requirements, and is hence becoming increasingly rare. Shoot proliferation was significantly influenced by Murashige and Skoog (MS) macronutrient concentration, showing higher proliferation rates in 1/4MS, but was not affected by the addition of 0.1 mg/L 6-benzyladenine (BA) or zeatin (Zea). The best medium for propagating P. vulgaris was plant growth regulator (PGR) free ¼MS. An average of 7.62 new shoots per initial explant could be obtained after 8 weeks of culture, of which over 79% produced roots during proliferation. Moreover, rooting percentages of 100% were obtained for the initial explants in all the tested media, including media without PGRs. The plantlets were successfully acclimatized to ex vitro conditions, exhibiting normal development.     

Serum-free culture of an embryonic cell line from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bombyx mori</Emphasis> and reinforcement of susceptibility of a recombinant BmNPV by cooling

We established the first continuous cell line that uses a serum-free culture from the embryo of Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), designated as NIAS-Bm-Ke17. This cell line was serially subcultured in the SH-Ke-117 medium. The cells adhere weakly to the culture flask, and most cells have an oval shape. The cell line was subcultured 154 times, and the population doubling time is 83.67 ± 5.22 h. Random amplification of polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction with a tenmar single primer for discrimination of insect cell lines recognized the NIAS-Bm-Ke1 cell line as B. mori. This cell line does not support the growth of the B. mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) in the absence of the heat-inactivated hemolymph of B. mori. However, the heat-inactivated hemolymph in 1% volume of the medium supported a high level of susceptibility to BmNPV. In addition, the cooling treatment of the cells at 2.5°C also enhanced the susceptibility. We report a new serum-free culture system of the B. mori cell line for the baculovirus expression vector system.