Breeding phenology and larval distribution of amphibians in a Mediterranean pond network with unpredictable hydrology

Understanding spatial and temporal breeding patterns in Mediterranean amphibian communities is urgent considering the rate of habitat loss. Breeding phenology and breeding habitat selection by amphibians were analysed through the monthly occurrence of larvae in a mosaic of 198 Mediterranean temporary ponds during three years. A generalized linear model (GLM) coupled with principal component analysis showed that, for almost all species, occurrence was significantly positively correlated to pond depth. In addition, pond openness negatively affected the presence of some species. Temporal breeding patterns varied among species. Some species exhibited flexibility in their breeding date (Pelobates cultripes, Pelodytes punctatus, Hyla meridionalis, Rana perezi), while others did not (Triturus marmoratus, Triturus helveticus, Bufo calamita). When faced with inter-annual hydrological variability, the first group had a more constant breeding success than the second. Variable hydrological conditions caused differential larval occurrence of species between years. These fluctuations might favour long-term persistence of the whole amphibian community. We finally discuss the implications of our results for the management of amphibian habitats in the Mediterranean region.     

Assessing alternative anthropogenic habitats for conserving waterbirds: salinas as buffer areas against the impact of natural habitat loss for shorebirds

Because many natural waterbird habitats are threatened by human disturbance and sea level rise, it is vitally important to identify alternative wetlands that may supplement declining natural habitats. Coastal salinas are anthropogenic habitats used for obtaining salt by evaporation of sea water. These habitats support important numbers of waterbirds around the world, but their importance as feeding habitats is poorly understood. I evaluated salinas as feeding habitats relative to natural intertidal habitats by comparing time spent foraging, prey-size selection, and net energy intake rate of four overwintering small-sized shorebird species on intertidal mudflats and on adjacent salinas. In winter, Dunlin Calidris alpina, Curlew Sandpiper C. ferruginea and Sanderling C. alba predominantly used the mudflats, whereas Little Stint C. minuta fed mainly on the salina. In the pre-migration fattening period, all species preferred to feed on the salina, significantly increasing the time they spent feeding in the supratidal pans. Net energy intake rates (kJ min^–1) were significantly higher on the salina than on the intertidal mudflats in 60% of all comparisons. On average, salina contributed 25.2 ± 24.2% (range: 4–54%) of the daily consumption in winter and 78.7 ± 16.4% (range: 63–100%) of the daily consumption in the pre-migration period. I recommend that modern active salinas maintain flooding conditions in the evaporation pans throughout winter, thus increasing the available surface for foraging waterbirds. I conclude that the conservation of salinas at coastal wetlands is a viable approach for shorebird conservation.     

Ciliate populations in temporary freshwater ponds: seasonal dynamics and influential factors

SUMMARY 1. The ciliate populations of two temporary ponds in southern Ontario were studied throughout their aquatic phases in 2001. Pond I (～1 ha) held water for 98 days, whereas Pond II (～0.25 ha) held water for 34 days. Populations were assessed both within the ponds themselves and within a series of enclosures in which invertebrate predator pressure was manipulated. 2. In the natural pond water, total ciliate abundance in Pond II rose rapidly from day 1 increasing two orders of magnitude by day 7. In contrast, total abundance in Pond I began at the same level as in Pond II but increased much more slowly, reached a plateau of around 500 individuals L^?1, and increased again late in the hydroperiod. 3. Despite being only 500 m apart, the two ponds were fairly dissimilar in terms of their species richness and species composition. Pond I contained 50 species compared with 70 species for Pond II, with only 24 species shared. Additional species occurred within the enclosures raising the total species richness to 145 species; 88 from Pond I, 104 from Pond II, with 47 species (30%) in common. Pond II contained more mid‐sized ciliates (50–200 μm), whereas Pond I was dominated by smaller ciliates, especially in mid‐May and early June. In Pond I, cumulative species richness throughout the hydroperiod was highest in the predator addition enclosures (65 ± 4 species), followed by the partial‐predator exclusion enclosures (50 ± 4). Lowest species richness was found in the control enclosures (39 ± 2) and in the pondwater controls (39 ± 0). Differences between the ciliates in the natural pond water and the enclosures appeared to be related to a greater concentration of phytoplankton within the enclosures (perhaps resulting from extensive growth of duckweed, Lemna, outside), and higher densities of zooplankters in the pond. 4. The physicochemical environment influenced species richness, total abundance and the number of rare species (27 in Pond II versus 13 in Pond I). Variation in ciliate abundance in Pond I could be explained by the number of days after filling (39%) and enclosure treatment (23%). These two parameters also explained 72% of the variation in species richness in Pond I (46 and 26%, respectively). Sixty‐five per cent of the variation in abundance in Pond II could be explained by the measured parameters: number of days after filling 27%, pH 19%, and nitrate levels 12%. Fifty‐two per cent of the variation in species richness was explained by the environmental parameters, of which pH was the most influential. Species succession was a strong feature of both ponds and its relationship to environmental variables and the presence of other organisms is discussed. 5. Addition of invertebrate predators resulted in higher abundance and higher species richness for a limited time period in one of the ponds – suggesting that differences in foodweb dynamics may influence ciliate community composition.     

Zooplankton community structure and environmental conditions in a set of interconnected ponds

We studied the zooplankton community structure in a set of 33 interconnected shallow ponds that are restricted to a relatively small area (`De Maten', Genk, Belgium, 200 ha). As the ponds share the same water source, geology and history, and as the ponds are interconnected (reducing chance effects of dispersal with colonisation), differences in zooplankton community structure can be attributed to local biotic and abiotic interactions. We studied zooplankton community, biotic (phytoplankton, macrophyte cover, fish densities, macroinvertebrate densities), abiotic (turbidity, nutrient concentrations, pH, conductivity, iron concentration) and morphometric (depth, area, perimeter) characteristics of the different ponds. Our results indicate that the ponds differ substantially in their zooplankton community structure, and that these differences are strongly related to differences in trophic structure and biotic interactions, in concordance with the theory of alternative equilibria. Ponds in the clear-water state are characterised by large Daphnia species and species associated with the littoral zone, low chlorophyll-a concentrations, low fish densities and high macroinvertebrate densities. Ponds in the turbid-water state are characterised by high abundances of rotifers, cyclopoid copepods and the opposite environmental conditions. Some ponds show an intermediate pattern, with a dominance of small Daphnia species. Our results show that interconnected ponds may differ strongly in zooplankton community composition, and that these differences are related to differences in predation intensity (top-down) and habitat diversity (macrophyte cover).     

On the Occurrence of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae var. Flos-aquae in Fish Ponds

Summer blooms of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae var. flos-aquae accompanied by dense populations of Daphnia were common in fish ponds of the district Blatná in 1950s-1960s. Changes in management (increased stocking densities, decreased usage of superphosphate as fertilizer) made this type of plankton less frequent. The present study documents this trend and suggests explanations.     

Productivité comparée des deux étangs situés à proximité du lac Saint-Jean,au Québec

The Comparative Productivity of Two Ponds in the Vicinity of Lake St-John, Québec In 1980 and 1981, the productivity of two ponds near Lake St. John were evaluated. One, the pond of Desbiens, did not communicate with Lake St. John and the other, the pond of St-Gédéon, was connected to the lake. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution that a pond could make to the increase in productivity of Lake St. John which is a reservoir. The pond of Desbiens is more productive than Lake St. John but two to three times less than the pond of St-Gédéon. The pond of Desbiens shows an advanced degree of eutrophication whereas the pond of St-Gédéon is similar to the northern lakes by its physico-chemistry, zooplankton, sediments and benthic fauna. If we want to create artificial ponds, for a better productivity of reservoirs, it is important that they be connected to each other.     

Impact of sediment and nutrient inputs on growth and survival of tadpoles of the Western Toad

1. Sediment and nutrient loading in freshwater systems are leading causes of aquatic habitat degradation globally. We investigated the impacts of fine-sediment and nutrient additions on the growth and survival of western toad ( Bufo boreas ) tadpoles and emergent metamorphs in mesocosm and exclosure experiments.
2. Mesocosm tanks received weekly pulses of fine sediments to create initial concentrations of 0, 130 and 260 mg L⁻¹ of suspended sediment and either bi-weekly additions of nutrients (N = 160 μg L⁻¹, P = 10 μg L⁻¹) or no additions in a factorial design. Within mesocosms, tadpole exclosures allowed for quantification of tadpole grazing pressure on periphyton biomass, chlorophyll- a and sediment deposition.
3. Tadpoles receiving sediment additions experienced slower growth rates and reduced survival to metamorphosis, although no effects of treatment were detected on size at metamorphosis or time to metamorphosis. Nutrient additions also lowered survival, but had no impact on other measured parameters of tadpole fitness. Dissections and gut content analysis revealed that tadpoles ingested sediment in large quantities altering the proportion of the organic content of ingested food.
4. Together these results suggest that although sediment was readily consumed by tadpoles, its presence in the larval environment had an overall negative effect on tadpole growth and survival, although not as severe as predicted.     

蓝藻水华堆积处理池中微囊藻毒素降解细菌的分离及降解特性

微囊藻毒素(microcystins, MCs)近年来由于蓝藻水华在世界范围内频发而受到广泛关注。从太湖北部蓝藻水华堆积处理池中分离出一株微囊藻毒素降解细菌SW1, 经16S rDNA序列分析鉴定为鞘氨醇单胞菌(Sphingopyxis sp.)。SW1的生长最适pH为中性(pH 6-8), 但也能生长于pH 10条件下。SW1对MCs的两种异构体MC-LR和MC-RR具有高降解活性, 并表现出一级反应动力学特征, 其降解速率常数分别为0.35/h和0.28/h。温度和pH对SW1降解活性有很强影响: 在温度为22-37℃, pH中性或弱碱性条件下(MC-LR, pH 6-9; MC-RR, pH 7-8), SW1具有高降解活性; 而在低温和强碱性条件下其降解活性受到强烈抑制。聚合酶链式反应(PCR)表明SW1及蓝藻水华堆积处理池均含有mlrA的同源基因, 表明处理池中存在MCs的生物 降解。       

盐碱池塘围隔生态系统浮游原生动物种群增长和生产量

1998年 5～ 9月用原位测定法研究了盐碱池塘无鱼和单养鲢围隔生态系统浮游原生动物的种群增长和生产量。结果表明 ,原生动物主要优势种团焰毛虫、瓜形膜袋虫、旋回侠盗虫、绿色前管虫和拟急游虫的世代时间分别为 6 93～ 2 3 10、 6 30～ 18 73、 9 90、 9 90～ 14 75和 7 6 2hr,其种群增长率分别为 0 0 30～ 0 10 0、0 0 37～ 0 110、 0 0 70、 0 0 47～ 0 0 70和 0 0 91/hr。 5～ 8月份无鱼和有鱼围隔原位试验瓶中原生动物累积日均产量分别为 10 70 2 5和 944 2 5mg/m3 ·d ,而相同时间两围隔中原生动物按月计算的日均生产量分别为 1 79和9 72mg/m3 ·d ,日P/B系数分别为 2 5 0和 2 0 3。无鱼围隔原生动物生物量和生产量均比有鱼围隔的低。