Red alga Grateloupia imbricata (Halymeniaceae), a species introduced into the Canary Islands

Specimens of Grateloupia from Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands were used to molecularly ascertain which of the species has been used in physiological and bio-technological experiments. The rbc L sequence analysis revealed that four out of five analyzed specimens (i.e. those commonly collected for physiological research) formed a monophyletic clade with G. imbricata from Korea, Japan, and China, and were quite different from any other species of the genus. Another sample, which was associated with cage nets used for fish aquaculture, was grouped with G. lanceolata from Japan, though it appears too early as yet to identify it as such. This is, thus, proof of a new introduction of a marine macroalga, since G. imbricata is an Asian species, native to Japan and Korea, in the Canary Islands. The role of international shipping in the introduction of the species is discussed.     

Dispersal, recruitment and migratory behaviour in a hawksbill sea turtle aggregation

We investigated the dispersal, recruitment and migratory behaviour of the hawksbill sea turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata ), among different life-history stages and demographic segments of the large hawksbill turtle aggregation at Mona Island, Puerto Rico. There were significant differences in both mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype diversity and haplotype frequencies among the adult males, females and juveniles examined, but little evidence for temporal heterogeneity within these same groups sampled across years. Consistent with previous studies and the hypothesis of strong natal homing, there were striking mtDNA haplotype differences between nesting females on Mona Island and nesting females in other major Caribbean rookeries. Breeding males also showed strong, albeit weaker, genetic evidence of natal homing. Overall, Bayesian mixed-stock analysis suggests that Mona Island was the natal rookery for 79% (65–94%) of males in the aggregation. In contrast, the Mona Island rookery accounted for only a small subset of the new juvenile recruits to the foraging grounds or in the population of older juvenile hawksbills turtles on Mona. Instead, both new recruits and the older juvenile hawksbill turtles on Mona more likely recruited from other Caribbean rookeries, suggesting that a mechanism besides natal homing must be influencing recruitment to feeding habitats. The difference in the apparent degree of natal homing behaviour among the different life-history stages of hawksbill turtles at Mona Island underscores the complexity of the species' life-history dynamics and highlights the need for both local and regional conservation efforts.     

Immunohistochemical and radioautographic evidence of monoamine-containing cells in bioluminescent elytra of the scale-worm Harmothoe imbricata (Polychaeta)

Summary Elytra of the scale-worm Harmothoe imbricata were examined for the presence of monoamine-like immunoreactivities and radioautographic reactions. Serotonin (5-HT)-like immunoreactivity was widely distributed among the cellular constituents of the elytra, being present in epithelial cells including photocytes, in elytral nerves, clear cells and the loose neuronal plexus of the middle compartment. The distribution of [³H]5-HT labelling coincided with that of the immunoreactivity except for an additional reactive band extending through the upper cuticle layer. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-like immunoreactivity was detected in epithelial cells, sensory papillae and elytral ganglion and nerves, with little or no staining in clear cells and plexus neurons of the middle compartment. Radioautographic labelling with [³H]noradrenaline and [³H]adrenaline overlaid many epithelial cells, elytral nerves and sensory papillae, but not the loose neuronal plexus or, apparently, clear cells. It is concluded that monoaminergic systems are widely distributed and that they must play important roles as neuroactive and/or paracrine substances in the elytral neuroectoderm. The distribution of [³H]5-HT label in photocytes also suggests the involvement of serotonergic mechanisms in luminescence control, luminescence being the only known effector activity of elytra.     

Hg2+和Cd2+胁迫对满江红生理和细胞超微结构的影响

研究了在梯度浓度Hg2+和Cd2+胁迫下,满江红(Azolla imbricata (Roxb.) Nakai)的叶绿素含量、叶绿素a/b比值、光合放氧速率、呼吸速率、抗氧化酶系(超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD))和细胞超微结构受Hg2+和Cd2+的毒害影响.结果显示:随着胁迫程度的增大,叶绿素含量、叶绿素a/b比值、光合放氧速率明显下降,呼吸速率均在2 mg/L浓度下达到峰值,尔后下降; SOD、CAT、POD的活性均出现不同程度的应激性升高(除POD在Cd2+处理时下降),尔后下降.电镜观察发现,随着污染物浓度的增加和胁迫时间的延长,叶绿体出现膨大、破损和解体;线粒体嵴突膨胀和线粒体变形及空泡化;核染色质凝集,核仁消失,核膜破裂.实验结果表明: Hg2+和Cd2+污染不仅损害植物的生理活性,而且也破坏细胞的超微结构,最终导致植物死亡;随着Hg2+和Cd2+胁迫的增大,细胞超微结构的损伤程度和植物的生理变化是同步的;植物受毒害的程度表现出明显的剂量效应关系;在同一处理时间和浓度下,Cd2+对满江红的毒性大于Hg2+.Hg2+对满江红的致死浓度为3.5～4.0 mg/L,Cd2+为3.0～3.5 mg/L.对满江红鱼腥藻(Anabaena azollae Strasburger)细胞的超微结构变化观察表明,满江红鱼腥藻对Hg2+和Cd2+的耐受性明显高于满江红.     

Nuclear markers reveal a complex introgression pattern among marine turtle species on the Brazilian coast

Surprisingly, a high frequency of interspecific sea turtle hybrids has been previously recorded in a nesting site along a short stretch of the Brazilian coast. Mitochondrial DNA data indicated that as much as 43% of the females identified as Eretmochelys imbricata are hybrids in this area (Bahia State of Brazil). It is a remarkable find, because most of the nesting sites surveyed worldwide, including some in northern Brazil, presents no hybrids, and rare Caribbean sites present no more than 2% of hybrids. Thus, a detailed understanding of the hybridization process is needed to evaluate natural or anthropogenic causes of this regional phenomenon in Brazil, which could be an important factor affecting the conservation of this population. We analysed a set of 12 nuclear markers to investigate the pattern of hybridization involving three species of sea turtles: hawksbill (E. imbricata), loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea). Our data indicate that most of the individuals in the crossings L. olivacea × E. imbricata and L. olivacea × C. caretta are F1 hybrids, whereas C. caretta × E. imbricata crossings present F1 and backcrosses with both parental species. In addition, the C. caretta × E. imbricata hybridization seems to be gender and species biased, and we also found one individual with evidence of multispecies hybridization among C. caretta × E. imbricata × Chelonia mydas. The overall results also indicate that hybridization in this area is a recent phenomenon, spanning at least two generations or ～40 years.     

Control of biofouling on pearl oysters Pinctada imbricata using wax and Chinese herbs

Abstract

Biofouling poses severe challenges to pearl oyster Pinctada imbricata culture in China, and controlling it is both labor- and capital-intensive. The antifouling properties of wax, and wax mixed with Chinese herbs, sprayed onto pearl oyster shell surfaces during peak biofouling seasons were evaluated. Pearl oysters coated with three wax treatments (plain wax, Chinaberry seed extract, Chinese honeylocust fruit extract) and a control (no treatment), were cultured in nets for up to 60?days. Mortality rate, fouling organism and pearl-oyster weights, and shell height are reported for individual oysters on each of six sampling dates. With the exception of oysters submerged for 12?days, all oysters were significantly affected by treatment type and submersion duration. Fouling weight increased more rapidly over time in the control-treatment oysters. Wax-based coatings deterred fouling-organism settlement on oysters for at least 2?months during the intensive fouling season, reducing mortality and not adversely effecting growth.     

Ecosystem Nutrient Use Efficiency, Productivity, and Nutrient Accrual in Model Tropical Communities

Ecosystem nutrient use efficiency–the ratio of net primary productivity to soil nutrient supply–is an integrative measure of ecosystem functioning. High productivity and nutrient retention in natural systems are frequently attributed to high species diversity, even though some single-species systems can be highly productive and effective at resource capture. We investigated the effects of both individual species and life-form diversity on ecosystem nutrient use efficiency using model tropical ecosystems comprised of monocultures of three tree species and polycultures in which each of the tree species was coplanted with species of two additional life forms. Tree species significantly influenced nutrient use efficiency by whole ecosystems in monocultures; however, in polycultures, the additional life forms interacted with the influence exerted by the dominant tree. Furthermore, the presence of the additional life forms significantly increased nutrient uptake and uptake efficiency, but in only two of the three systems and 2 of the 4 years of the study period. These results indicate that the effect of life-form diversity on ecosystem functioning is not constant and that there may be temporal shifts in the influence exerted by different components of the community. Furthermore, although species (and life forms) exerted considerable influence on ecosystem nutrient use efficiency, this efficiency was most closely related to soil nutrient availability. These findings demonstrate that ecosystem nutrient use efficiency is an outcome not only of the characteristics of the species or life forms that comprise the system but also of factors that affect soil nutrient supply. The results argue against the simple upward scaling of nutrient use efficiency from leaves and plants to ecosystems. Received 29 March 2000; accepted 27 April 2001.     

Hg^2＋和Cd^2＋胁迫对满江红生理和细胞超微结构的影响

研究了在梯度浓度Hg^2 和Cd^2 胁迫下,满江红（Azolla imbricata(Roxb.)Nakai)的叶绿素含量,叶绿素a/b比值,光合放氧速率,呼吸速率,抗氧化酶系（超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）,过氧化氢酶（CAT）,过氧化物酶（POD）和细胞超微结构受He^2 和Cd^2 的毒害影响。结果显示：随着胁迫程度的增大,叶绿素含量,叶绿素a/b比值,光合放氧速率明显下降,呼吸速率均在2mg/L浓度下达到峰值,尔后下降;SOD,CAT,POD的活性均出现不同程度的应激性升高（除POD在Cd^2 处理时下降）,尔后下降,电镜观察发现,随着污染物浓度的增加和胁迫时间的延长,叶绿体出现膨大,破损和解体;线粒体嵴突膨胀和线粒体变形及空泡化;核染色质凝集,核仁消失。核膜破裂,实验结果表明：Hg^2 和Cd^2 污染不仅损害植物的生理活性,而且也破坏细胞的超微结构,最终导致植物死亡,随着Hg^2 和Cd^2 为3.0-3.5mg/L。对满江红鱼腥藻（Anabaena azollae Strasburger)细胞的超微结构变化观察表明,满江红鱼腥藻对Hg^2 和Cd^2 的耐受性明显高于满江红。     

Evidence for host-associated races in a gall-forming midge: trade-offs in potential fecundity

Abstract. 1. The gall midge, Asphondylia borrichiae , attacks the terminals of three plants in the aster family: Borrichia frutescens , Iva frutescens , and I. imbricata .
2. In the field, Borrichia suffers the highest rate of galling and I. imbricata the lowest. Common garden experiments also revealed highly significant differences in the attack rates of the three host species by Asphondylia . However, these differences depended on the source of the attacking midge population.
3. Midges collected from Borrichia and I. frutescens attacked the host in which they developed almost exclusively, whereas those from I. imbricata attacked both Iva spp.
4. Each Asphondylia larva develops in its own chamber within a gall. Borrichia galls were 2.5–3.5-fold less crowded than those from I. imbricata and I. frutescens , respectively. Consequently, midges that developed in Borrichia were significantly larger and eclosed with 30–40% more eggs than those that developed in I. imbricata and I. frutescens , respectively.
5. Although performance of Asphondylia larvae was lowest on the two Iva spp., especially I. frutescens , these hosts may provide an escape from natural enemies as a trade-off for reduced offspring performance.
6. Differences in host-plant species phenology may reduce gene flow among host-associated populations of Asphondylia , thereby favouring the formation of races at the level of plant genus.