Disturbance,competition and the maintenance of clonal diversity in Daphnia pulex

Laboratory microcosm experiments tested the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, which states that the highest level of diversity (e.g. species diversity) will be maintained at intermediate scales of disturbance. The effects of disturbance on the maintenance of clonal diversity and on competitive interactions among clones of the obligately parthenogenetic freshwater cladoceran, Daphnia pulex were examined. No significant effect of disturbance size (i.e. dilution volume) on clonal diversity was noted. However, frequency of disturbance had a pronounced effect on clonal diversity, with the highest clonal diversity maintained at low to intermediate disturbance frequencies. Competitive hierarchies among clones were often invariant within a given experiment. Generally, one or two clones dominated, with several less abundant clones persisting throughout an experiment. Results suggest that low to intermediate disturbances could be important in the maintenance of genetic variation in natural populations (i.e. through pre-emption of competitive exclusion between genotypes). This could have a direct bearing on the maintenance of both intra- and interspecific diversity.     

Comparisons of benthic invertebrates between riffles and pools

Benthic species assemblages in upstream and downstream ends of riffles and in pools were investigated seasonally in the first five orders of an alluvial gravel stream with distinct pool and riffle channel form. Riffles comprised < 10% of stream area and were separated by pools with extensive bedrock substrate (ca. 15–85% of total surface area) which was scoured during periodic high flow. Virtually all taxa were more abundant in riffles than in pools, except chironomids which were more equally distributed. Inconsistent results were obtained for upstream-downstream comparisons within riffles. Intermittent headwater reaches (orders 1 & 2) which supported half as many taxa retained this pattern during periods of flow, although riffles at these sites were dry from mid-June to mid-November. Pools which contained more gravel, indicating less disturbance during high flow, had a richer assemblage of benthic species than other pools. Many invertebrates in pools may have been there as a result of drift from their preferred riffle habitats, but the presence of gravel in the pools indicates less intense flow disturbance during floods, provides protection from the mild scouring that does occur during floods, and provides refugia from predators.     

Colonization of a headwater stream during three years of seasonal insecticidal applications

We investigated recolonization by insects of a small headwater stream in the southern Appalachian Mountains that was treated along its entire length with an insecticide (methoxychlor). Initial treatment (December 1985) resulted in massive insect drift. Applications continued seasonally for three years, and drift was measured during each treatment. Taxonomic composition of the drift indicated several responses: (1) Some taxa were eliminated. (2) A number of taxa occurred only sporadically following initial treatment. (3) Early instars for some taxa showed seasonal occurrences which closely paralleled known life cycles and flight periods of adults. Groups which provided strong evidence for aerial recolonization included several Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera (Peltoperlidae and Isoperla spp.), and Trichoptera (Parapsyche cardis, Diplectrona modesta, Pycnopsyche spp., and Lepidostoma spp.). (4) Some long-lived taxa survived and exhibited distinct growth through several treatment periods. These include Odonata (Lanthus and Cordulegaster), some Ephemeroptera, and some Diptera (Tipulidae, Ceratopogonidae, and Tanypodinae). (5) Some taxa which were not present at the time of initial treatment appeared during the experiment. Chironomidae dominated the drift in all samples, and the number of genera did not decrease during the three-year treatment period. Of the 27 chironomid genera identified, only Micropsectra decreased in proportional abundance during treatment. In contrast, several genera (Corynoneura, Meropelopia, Parametriocnemus, and Tvetnia) showed little change in relative abundance. Larsia (Tanypodinae) increased in proportional abundance during the treatment period.     

仔鳗生态失调死亡率与肠道微生态系重调整的研究

本文报告,在1989年4月至1991年3月,为考察长江仔鳗资源的开发利用,对仔鳗生态失调死亡率及其防治方法做了一些研究。结果表明,仔鳗溯河性生态失调死亡率为49.8％(可信限为46.3～53.3％);寒冷性生态失调死亡率为48.59％(可信限为43.5～53.5％)。在实验中,应用肝浆(含B族维生素),在早期喂给仔鳗治疗有效(u=2.17>1.96,p<0.05);含抗生素食物喂给无显著性效果。应用由鳗鲡成鱼和黑斑泥鳅体内分离的肠微球菌、贝内克菌和非O-I群弧菌,喂给仔鳗进行肠道微生态系重调整(readjutment of intestinal microecosystem),对提高仔鳗生理功能适应性和降低生态失调死亡率有满意效果(u=2.84>2.58,p<0.01)。     

Ecological release in feeding behaviour: the case of bluegills in Japan

The stomach contents were analyzed monthly for each year-class to elucidate the foraging pattern of bluegills in a small vegetated lake by the frequency occurrence and the points methods. Seasonal dietary changes of the year-classes were considered comparing the monthly fluctuations in abundance of major prey organisms. Though these bluegills are dietary generalists and opportunists like those in North America, their foraging pattern was characterized by a relatively clearer dietary shift during ontogeny and a wider food niche including piscivorous than those of bluegills with congeners in their home land. Therefore this finding provides evidence of the ecological release caused by the absence of congeners.     

The periodic change in adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate concentration in sea-urchin eggs

The level of adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in the eggs of the sea urchin, Anthocidaris crassispina, was found to change periodically after fertilization. The minimum and maximum levels of cyclic AMP were 1.0·10^?7 M and 1.5·10^?6 M, respectively. The activity of adenylate cyclase in a 105 000 × g precipitate reached a plateau at 20 min after fertilization and stayed constant for at least 2 h. It was also found that 1.0 mM CaCl₂ increased the activity of adenylate cyclase in the same precipitate from unfertilized eggs. In contrast, phosphodiesterase activity changed periodically and correlated with cyclic AMP levels in the eggs. Up to a concentration of 1.5·10^?6 M cyclic AMP, phosphodiesterase activity was low, but it became activated when the level of cyclic AMP rose beyond this level. These results indicate that the change in the intracellular level of cyclic AMP is regulated mainly by the change in phosphodiesterase activity.