A hydrologically sensitive invertebrate community index for New Zealand rivers

Identifying ecological response variables sensitive to hydrological change is a key step in determining the impacts of river flow alterations on aquatic ecosystems and in setting environmental flows that sustain certain ecological values. Building on the successful use of flow regime sensitive aquatic invertebrate indices in other countries, particularly the UK based Lotic Index for Flow Evaluation (LIFE), we provide two variants of a similar index for use in New Zealand (LIFENZ and a weighted variant: LIFENZ_W). As in the original LIFE, the New Zealand indices were based on water velocity preference categories assigned to aquatic invertebrate taxa using professional judgement. To calculate the indices a lookup table is used to assign a score to each taxon based on their velocity category and abundance. For the LIFENZ_W variant an additional step down weighted the scores if the taxon has a general compared to a more specific velocity preference. The two index variants were correlated with each other and to similar environmental parameters. Across a total of 74 sites, both indices were correlated with depth-averaged water velocity. Changes in index values, both between sites and temporally within sites, were predominantly associated with changes in hydrological parameters, such as the magnitude and length of time since a recent high flow, and to a lesser degree with other physico-chemical parameters. Commonly used indices in New Zealand designed to respond to nutrient enrichment (MCI and variants) were not correlated with local water velocity, but were correlated with antecedent flow conditions and were likely influenced by effects of flow stability on algal growth. Further testing of LIFENZ and LIFENZ_W in combination with MCI is recommended, particularly in rivers subject to more extreme hydrological and water quality stresses and with regard to other physical parameters such as hydraulic habitat. However, the LIFENZ and its weighted variant (LIFENZ_W) appear to be useful tools for understanding and managing the effects of hydrological alteration on aquatic invertebrate communities in New Zealand. As LIFENZ and LIFENZ_W were strongly correlated and only showed a relatively small deviation from a slope of 1 we recommend the use of the more straightforward LIFENZ in almost all circumstances.     

Incorporating natural variability in the bioassessment of stream condition in the Atlantic Forest biome,Brazil

Most bioassessment programs in Brazil face difficulties when scaling up from small spatial scales because larger scales usually encompass great environmental variability. Covariance of anthropogenic pressures with natural environmental gradients can be a confounding factor in the evaluation of biologic responses to anthropogenic pressures. The objective of this study was to develop a multimetric index (MMI) with macroinvertebrates for two stream types and two ecoregions in the Atlantic Forest biome in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. We hypothesized that by using two approaches – (1) testing and adjusting metrics to landscape parameters, and (2) selecting metrics using a cluster analysis to avoid metrics redundancy – the final MMI would perform better than the traditional approach (unadjusted metrics, one metric representing each category). Four MMIs were thus developed: MMI-1 – adjusted MMI with metrics selected after cluster analysis); MMI-2 – adjusted MMI with one metric from each category; MMI-3 – unadjusted MMI with metrics selected after cluster analysis; MMI-4 – unadjusted MMI with one metric from each category. We used three decision criteria to assess MMI’s performance: precision, responsiveness and sensitivity. In addition, we tested the MMI’s by using an independent set of sites to validate the results. Although all MMIs performed well in the three criteria, adjusting metrics to natural variation increased MMI response and sensitivity to impairment. In addition, the selected MMI-2 was able to classify sites of two stream types and two ecoregions. The use of cluster analysis, however, did not avoid high redundancy between metrics of different branches. The MMI-4 had the poorest performance among all tested MMIs and it was not able to distinguish adequately reference and impaired sites from both ecoregions. We present some considerations on the use of metrics and on the development of MMI’s in Brazil and elsewhere.     

A biomechanically derived minimum work model of the fish gill lamellar system exhibits its exquisite morphological arrangement and perfusate regulation for oxygen uptake from water

To evaluate the efficiency of oxygen (O₂) uptake from water through the fish gill lamellar system, a cost function (CF) representing mechanical power expenditure for water ventilation and blood circulation through the gill was formulated, by applying steady-state fluid mechanics to a homogeneous lamellar-channel model. This approach allowed us to express CF as the function of inter-lamellar water channel width (w) and to derive an analytical solution of the width (w_min) at the minimum CF. Morphometric and physiological data for rainbow trout in the literature were referred to calculate CF(w) curves and their w_min values at five intensity stages of swimming exercise. Obtained w_min values were evenly distributed around the standard measure of the width (w_s = 24 μm) in this fish. Individual levels of CF(w_min) were also fairly close to the corresponding CF(w_s) values within a 10% deviation, suggesting the reliability of approximating [CF(w_min) = CF(w_s)]. The cost-performance of O₂ uptake through the gill (η_g) was then assessed from reported data of total O₂ uptake/CF(w_s) at each intensity stage. The η_g levels at any swimming stage exceeded 95% of the theoretical maximum value, implying that O₂ uptake is nearly optimally performed in the lamellar-channel system at all swimming speeds. Further analyses of O₂ transport in this fresh water fish revealed that the water ventilation by the buccal/opercular pumping evokes a critical limit of swimming velocity, due to confined O₂ supply to the peripheral skeletal muscles, which is avoided in ram ventilators such as tuna.     

Description of the Immature Stages of Three Nearctic Species of the Genus Berosus Leach (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae)

Egg cases, larvae, and pupae of Berosus corrini Wooldridge 1964, Berosus hoplites Sharp 1887, and Berosus pugnax LeConte 1863, are described and illustrated with line drawings. Bionomic and behavioral observations of larvae and adults are included. Keys to different instars of B. hoplites and B. pugnax larvae are provided.     

北京市怀沙-怀九河市级水生野生动物保护区鱼类物种多样性及其资源保护

怀沙河和怀九河是两条自然汇入北京怀柔水库的河流,被规划为北京市第一个市级水生野生动物保护区。2004年3月~2005年2月,作者对该保护区内野生鱼类资源进行了本底调查。调查区域内野生淡水鱼类共计24种(不计引入种),隶属于6目11科24属,以鲤形目鲤科鱼类为主,多为山区溪流小型鱼类。鱼类物种多样性在空间分布上有所不同,两河下游近水库河段物种多样性最高,这可能与两个不同生态环境交界处的边缘效应有关;其多样性在时间上春夏季高于秋冬季。结合区域内的生境特点,建议加强对核心区的保护力度,重新规划缓冲区和过渡区;在保护自然环境的同时,兼顾当地居民的经济利益,达到人与资源的和谐发展。     

BAC libraries and comparative genomics of aquatic chordate species

The bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) system is useful for creating a representation of the genomes of target species. The system is advantageous in that it can accommodate exogenous inserts that are very large (>100 kilobases, kb), thereby allowing entire eukaryotic genes (including flanking regulatory regions) to be encompassed in a single clone. The interest in BACs has recently been spawned by vast improvements in high throughput genomic sequencing such that comparisons of orthologous regions from different genomes (comparative genomics) are being routinely investigated, and comprise a significant component, of all major sequencing centers. In this review, we discuss the general principles of BAC cloning, the resources that are currently available, and some of the applications of the technology. It is not intended to be an exhaustive treatise; rather our goal is to provide a primer of the BAC technology in order to make readers aware of these resources and how they may utilize them in their own research programs.     

Compound-specific deltaD-delta13C analyses of n-alkanes extracted from terrestrial and aquatic plants

Stable hydrogen and carbon isotopic compositions of individual n-alkanes were determined for various terrestrial plants (33 samples including 27 species) and aquatic plants (six species) in natural environments from Japan and Thailand. In C3 plants, n-alkanes extracted from angiosperms have a deltaD value of -152+/-26 per thousand (relative to Standard Mean Ocean Water [SMOW]) and delta13C value of -36.1+/-2.7 per thousand (relative to Peedde Belemnite [PDB]), and those from gymnosperms have a deltaD value of -149+/-16 per thousand and delta13C value of -31.6+/-1.7 per thousand. Angiosperms have n-alkanes depleted in 13C relative to gymnosperms. n-Alkanes from C4 plants have a deltaD value of -171+/-12 per thousand and delta13C value of -20.5+/-2.1 per thousand, being a little depleted in D and much enriched in 13C compared to C3 plants. n-Alkanes of CAM plants are a little depleted in D and vary widely in delta13C relative to those of C3 and C4 plants. In aquatic plants, n-alkanes from freshwater plants have a deltaD value of -187+/-16 per thousand and delta13C value of -25.3+/-1.9 per thousand, and those from seaweeds have a deltaD value of -155+/-34 per thousand and delta13C value of -22.8+/-1.0 per thousand. All n-alkanes from various plant classes are more depleted in D and 13C relative to environmental water and bulk tissue, respectively. In addition, the hydrogen and carbon isotopic fractionations during n-alkane synthesis are distinctive for these various plant classes. While C3 plants have smaller isotopic fractionations in both D and 13C, seaweed has larger isotopic fractionations.     

13C]-Specific labeling of 8-2' linked (-)-cis-blechnic, (-)-trans-blechnic and (-)-brainic acids in the fern Blechnum spicant

In vivo administration experiments using stable (13C) and radio (14C) labeled precursors established that the optically active 8-2' linked lignans, (-)-cis-blechnic, (-)-trans-blechnic and (-)-trans-brainic acids, were directly derived from L-phenylalanine, cinnamate, and p-coumarate but not either from tyrosine or acetate. The radiochemical time course data suggest that the initial coupling product is (-)-cis-blechnic acid, which is then apparently converted into both (-)-trans-blechnic and (-)-trans-brainic acids in vivo. These findings provide additional evidence for vascular plant proteins engendering distinct but specific phenolic radical-radical coupling modes, i.e., for full control over phenylpropanoid coupling in vivo, whether stereoselective or regiospecific.     

High irradiance increases organogenesis in friable callus of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caustis blakei</Emphasis> Kük. (Cyperaceae)

Summary Caustis blakei is an attractive cut foliage plant harvested from the wild in Australia and marketed under the name of koala fern. Previous attempts to propagate large numbers of this plant have been unsuccessful. The effect of four light irradiances on organogenesis from compact and friable callus of C. blakei was studied for 21 wk. Both callus types produced numerous primordial shoots but many failed to develop into green plantlets. However, significantly more primordial shoots and green plantlets developed on the friable callus than on the compact callus, and significantly more green plantlets were regenerated under the higher photon irradiances of 200 and 300 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹ than under the lower irradiances of 100 and 150 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹. The compact callus produced its maximum number of green plantlets early in the experiment (after 9 wk), while the friable callus continued to produce primordial shoots and green plantelets throughout the period of the experiment, and reached its maximum production of green plantlets at 21 wk under the irradiance of 300 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹. Organogenesis from friable callus under high irradiance (300 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹) offers an efficient propagation method for C. blakei.