Planktonic primary production in the German Wadden Sea

By combining weekly data of irradiance, attenuation and chlorophylla concentrations with photosynthesis (P) versus light intensity(E) curve characteristics, the annual cycle of planktonic primaryproduction in the estuarine part of the Northfrisian WaddenSea was computed for a 2 year period. Daily water column particulategross production ranged from 5 to 2200 mg C m^–2 day^–1and showed a seasonal pattern similar to chlorophyll a. Budgetcalculation yielded annual gross particulate primary productionsof 124 and 176 g C m^–2 year^–1 in 1995 and 1996,respectively. Annual amounts of phytoplankton respiration, calculatedaccording to a two-compartment model of Langdon [in Li,W.K.W.and Maestrini,S.Y. (eds), Measurement of Primary Productionfrom the Molecular to the Global Scale. International Councilfor the Exploration of the Sea, Copenhagen, 1993, pp. 20–36],and dissolved production in 1996, were both in the range of24–39 g C m^–2 year^–1. Annual total net productionwas thus very similar to particulate gross production (127 and177 g C m^–2 year^–1 in 1995 and 1996, respectively).Phytoplankton growth was low or even negative in winter. Inspring and summer, production/biomass (Pr/B) ratios varied from0.2 up to 1.7. Phytoplankton growth during the growth seasonalways surpassed average flushing time in the area, thus underliningthe potential of local phytoplankton bloom development in thispart of the Wadden Sea. The chlorophyll-specific maximum photosyntheticrate (P^B_max) ranged from 0.8 to 9.9 mg C mg^–1 Chl h^–1and was strongly correlated with water temperature (r² = 0.67).By contrast, there was no clear seasonal cycle in ^B, which rangedfrom 0.007 to 0.039 mg C mg^–1 Chl h^–1 (µmolphotons m^–2 s^–1)^–1. Its variability was muchless than P^B_max and independent of temperature. The magnitudeand part of the variability of P^B_max and ^B are presumably causedby changes in species composition, as evidenced from the rangeof these parameters found among 10 predominant diatom speciesisolated from the Wadden Sea. The ratio of average light conditionsin the water column (E_av) to the light saturation parameterE_k indicates that primary production in the Wadden Sea regionunder study is predominantly controlled by light limitationand that nutrient limitation was likely to occur for a few hoursper day only during 5 (dissolved inorganic nitrogen) to 10 (PO₄,Si) weeks in the 2 year period investigated.     

Early <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia</Emphasis> invasion in a sandy ecosystem enables shading mediated by soil,leaf nitrogen and facilitation

Australian species of the genus Acacia are amongst the most invasive trees. As nitrogen fixers, they are able to invade oligotrophic ecosystems and alter ecosystem functioning to their benefit. We aimed to answer three questions: How does early Acacia invasion influence nitrogen and light in a sandy savanna? How does early Acacia invasion impact biodiversity? Does early invasion alter ecosystem functioning towards the dominance of Acacia? We analyzed (using generalized linear mixed models and richness estimators) paired plots focused on plants of Acacia mangium (Fabaceae) and plants of Marcetia taxifolia (Melastomataceae) by taking hemispherical photos and sampling plants, leaves and soil for measurements of light, richness, leaf nitrogen, leaf δ15N, soil nitrogen and soil coarse sand. The results suggest that early Acacia invasion alters the control of soil and of leaf nitrogen and increases shading, enabling a much wider range of light variation. The δ15N results suggest that the nitrogen taken up by Acacia is transferred to neighboring plants and influences the light environment, suggesting facilitation. The enrichment of plant species observed during early Acacia invasion is consistent with the wider range of light variation, but the forecasted leaf nitrogen conditions during the established phase of Acacia invasion might cause loss of light-demanding species because of increased shading. If early Acacia invasion turns into an established phase with highly increased shading, Acacia seedlings might be favored and ecosystem functioning might change towards its dominance.     

Critical thermal maxima of diploid and triploid brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis

The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether diploid and triploid brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis, differ in their critical thermal maxima (CTM). Two age classes were tested (underyearlings, having average weight of 25 g, and yearlings, having average weight of 668 g) at two rates of temperature increase (2° C h^-1 and 15° C h^-1). No effect of ploidy on CTM was found. Fish exposed to the faster rate of temperature increase had higher CTM values than those exposed to the slower rate (underyearlings: 29.5 ± 0.1° C versus 29.1 ± 0.1° C in one trial and 29.8 ± 0.1° C versus 28.3 ± 0.1° C in a second trial; yearlings: 29.3 ± 0.1° C versus 27.7 ± 0.1° C in two trials, p < 0.001 in all cases). Underyearlings had higher CTM values than yearlings (29.2 ± 0.1° C versus 28.5 ± 0.1° C, p < 0.05). Female yearlings, which were immature, had higher CTM values than males, which had previously matured as one-year-olds (28.8 ± 0.1° C versus 28.3 ± 0.1° C, p < 0.001).     

Nitrogen fertilization affects bacteria utilizing plant-derived carbon in the rhizosphere of beech seedlings

Background and aims

Variation in fire intensity within an ecosystem is likely to moderate fire effects on plant and soil properties. We tested the effect of fire intensity on grassland biomass, soil microbial biomass, and soil nutrients. Additional tests determined plant-microbe, plant-nutrient, and microbe-nutrient associations.

Methods

A replicated field experiment produced a fire intensity gradient. We measured plant and soil microbial biomasses at peak plant productivity the first growing season after fire. We concurrently measured flux in 11 soil nutrients and soil moisture.

Results

Fire intensity positively affected soil nitrogen, phosphorus (P), and zinc but did not appreciably affect plant biomass, microbial biomass, and other soil nutrients. Plant biomass was seemingly (co-)limited by boron, manganese, and P. Microbial biomass was (co-)limited mainly by P and also iron.

Conclusions

In the Northern Great Plains, plant and soil microbial biomasses were limited mainly by P and some micronutrients. Fire intensity affected soil nutrients, however, pulsed P (due to fire) did not result in appreciable fire intensity effects on plant and microbial biomasses. Variable responses in plant productivity to fire are common and indicate the complexity of factors that regulate plant production after fire.

     

Dinoflagellaten – ein Dauerexperiment der Evolution?

Dinoflagellates play important roles in marine food webs, both as primary producers and as heterotrophic consumers. They produce spectacular phenomena like marine bioluminescence and red tides, and are major components of coral reefs. Members of the group can also synthesize some of the most toxic biogenic compounds currently known. Dinoflagellate's nuclei are extremely large and biochemically unique, while mitochondrial genomes are very small. The plastid diversity of dinoflagellates is also unique: only about half of the species in the group are photosynthetic, but the origin of their plastids is often different. As a consequence dinoflagellate plastids have very diverse physiological and biochemical characteristics. Some of the most complex morphological constructs known in unicellular organisms are found in this group. These include ?harpoons“, used to capture prey, and ?eyes“, that contain substructures reminiscent of lenses, corneas and retinas.     

Regulation of photoassimilate allocation in Pinus sylvestris seedlings by the nutritional status of the mycorrhizal fungus Suillus variegatus

Summary Seedlings of Pinus sylvestris L. were grown on defined nutrient solutions on carbon filters, either sterile or infected with the basidiomycete Suillus variegatus O. Kuntze. After mycorrhizas were established, the shoot of the seedling was subjected to ¹⁴CO₂ photosynthesis. ¹⁴C-labelled photoassimilates were translocated to both mycorrhizas and non-infected root tips. Microautoradiographs of mycorrhizas indicated that omission of external sugars did not affect the formation of mycorrhizas; ¹⁴C-photoassimilates were supplied to cortex, Hartig net and the mantle of hyphae surrounding the rootlet. Nutrient solution containing sugars (malt extract, glucose) enhanced the growth of the fungus. As a consequence, ¹⁴C-photoassimilates from the seedling were accumulated in the mantle, but defence mechanisms of the host cannot be excluded. When soluble nitrogen was omitted from the nutrient solution and replaced by chitin precipitated on the filter-bearing mycorrhizas, the fungus appeared strongly labelled in the mantle, where the fungal chitinase provided soluble nitrogen compounds, necessary for the growth of the seedling.     

Differential effects of intranasal oxytocin on sexual experiences and partner interactions in couples

Knowledge about the effects of the neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) on human sexual behaviors and partner interactions remains limited. Based on our previous studies, we hypothesize that OXT should be able to positively influence parameters of sexual function and couple interactions.