Trophic transfer and trophic modification of fatty acids in high Arctic lakes

1. A comparative study of fatty acid (FA) profiles in particulate matter (seston) and the key grazer Daphnia was performed in six high Arctic ponds (79°N, Svalbard). The ponds were all small and shallow, but followed a strong gradient with respect to nutrient content and optical properties. 2. A distinct locality‐specific pattern was detected by principal component analysis of FA profiles, where samples from each locality clustered both with regard to seston and Daphnia. Linear discriminant analysis using nine sestonic fatty acids as discriminant functions gave on average a correct prediction of the Daphnia lake membership in 47% of cases, with very high predictability in some lakes but poor predictability in others. 3. No significant correlation was detected between FA and nutrient concentration or levels of dissolved organic carbon. The major determinant of FA profiles as judged from a redundancy analysis was the taxonomic composition of phytoplankton communities, notably the biomass of Chlorophyceae. 4. The FA profiles of Daphnia were for some FAs strongly enriched relative to the seston, while diluted for others. Among the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), a pronounced magnification of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20 : 5 n‐3), and to some extent 18 : 3 n‐3 and 20 : 4 n‐6 was found, while docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22 : 6 n‐3) contributed in general less to FAs in Daphnia than in seston and was hardly detectable in Daphnia from most localities. 5. The overall content of PUFAs in Daphnia was consistently high, close to 40% of total FA in all investigated localities, despite major differences in seston PUFA content. Daphnia thus acts as a regulator with regard to overall PUFAs, reflecting its physiological constraints and relatively fixed demands for PUFAs in general. The distinct locality‐specific profiles in Daphnia strongly suggest a kind of FA‐fingerprint, but our data do not allow strict statements on the use of specific FAs as trophic markers.     

Floristic studies on freshwater algae of Lake Gondwana,Northern Victoria Land (Antarctica)

Benthic algal mats and phytoplankton of Lake Gondwana (Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica) were investigated. Biomass, chlorophyll content and floristic analyses were carried out on algal mats. The mats are composed of two layers different in colour, floristic composition and chlorophyll content. The algal flora of the mats amount to 34 taxa (19 Cyanophyta, 7 Bacillariophyta, 8 Chlorophyta). The phytoplankton community is species-poor (only 5 taxa). Crytophyta account for about 98% of total algal density.     

A multi‐basin approach determines variability in host fish suitability for unionids in tributaries of the Laurentian Great Lakes

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Immune responses of Litopenaeus vannamei to thermal stress: a comparative study of shrimp in freshwater and seawater conditions

The effects of hypothermal (22–16?°C) and hyperthermal (22–28?°C) stress on the immune system responses of the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei cultured in either freshwater or seawater were measured and compared. The following immune system indicators were measured for comparison: total hemocyte count (THC), activity of phenoloxidase (PO), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), superoxidase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Thermal stress significantly decreased THC in both freshwater and seawater shrimp within 6–12?h (P?0.05). After hypothermal stress, all shrimp had a significantly lower THC level than their prechallenge levels (P?0.05). Under both types of thermal stress, the activity of PO, NOS, and SOD first increased and then decreased. After 48?h of thermal stress, shrimp PO and NOS activity decreased in both freshwater and seawater. After 48?h of thermal stress, the reduction in the SOD activity in the hemolymph of freshwater shrimp was greater than that in seawater shrimp. During exposure to stress, the MDA content in freshwater shrimp was significantly higher than in seawater shrimp, which demonstrated that lipids in freshwater shrimp were more susceptible to peroxidation than those in seawater shrimp, particularly at low temperatures. Large temperature fluctuations, particularly sudden cooling, should be avoided when rearing L. vannamei because of high rates of lipid peroxidation and decreased immunity. These effects are more marked in freshwater than in seawater.     

Phylogenetic ecology of widespread uncultured clades of the Kingdom Euryarchaeota

Despite its widespread distribution and high levels of phylogenetic diversity, microbes are poorly understood creatures. We applied a phylogenetic ecology approach in the Kingdom Euryarchaeota (Archaea) to gain insight into the environmental distribution and evolutionary history of one of the most ubiquitous and largely unknown microbial groups. We compiled 16S rRNA gene sequences from our own sequence libraries and public genetic databases for two of the most widespread mesophilic Euryarchaeota clades, Lake Dagow Sediment (LDS) and Rice Cluster-V (RC-V). The inferred population history indicated that both groups have undergone specific nonrandom evolution within environments, with several noteworthy habitat transition events. Remarkably, the LDS and RC-V groups had enormous levels of genetic diversity when compared with other microbial groups, and proliferation of sequences within each single clade was accompanied by significant ecological differentiation. Additionally, the freshwater Euryarchaeota counterparts unexpectedly showed high phylogenetic diversity, possibly promoted by their environmental adaptability and the heterogeneous nature of freshwater ecosystems. The temporal phylogenetic diversification pattern of these freshwater Euryarchaeota was concentrated both in early times and recently, similarly to other much less diverse but deeply sampled archaeal groups, further stressing that their genetic diversity is a function of environment plasticity. For the vast majority of living beings on Earth (i.e. the uncultured microorganisms), how they differ in the genetic or physiological traits used to exploit the environmental resources is largely unknown. Inferring population history from 16S rRNA gene-based molecular phylogenies under an ecological perspective may shed light on the intriguing relationships between lineage, environment, evolution and diversity in the microbial world.     

Observations on the seasonal and yearly occurrence and the distribution ofAtyaephyra desmaresti (Millet, 1831) (Crustacea,Decapoda, Natantia) in The Netherlands

Summary The seasonal occurrence ofAtyaephyra desmaresti in The Netherlands has been studied by sampling the cooling-water filtering screens of power stations situated along the rivers Rhine and Meuse. The shrimps were only found in large numbers at the two power stations with vegetation in the cooling-water intake areas. Fluctuations in the seasonal occurrence showed great similarity for these two localities. Highest numbers of shrimps were impinged in November. High numbers also occurred in September, while a lower peak in numbers was found in May.Changes in the numbers of records during the last 30 years in The Netherlands were compared with climatological fluctuations (severe or mild winters), indicating that this mainly southern-European species is living here at the limits of its ecological and geographical range.The distribution in The Netherlands reveals thatAtyaephyra desmaresti mainly occurs in freshwater habitats, although it tolerates higher chlorinities.     

山西省的淡水红藻

报道山西省的淡水红藻植物,共计有15种,隶属于6目,7科,9属,即紫球藻Porphyridium purpureum (Bory) Drew et Ross,暗紫红毛菜Bangia atropurpurea (Roth) Agardh,细弱弯枝藻Compsopogon tenellus Ling et Xie,弯枝藻C．coeruleus (Balbis ex C．Agardh)Momagne,灌木状拟弯枝藻Copsopogonopsis fruticosa (Jao) Seto,异孢奥杜藻Audouinella heterospora Xie et Ling,硬枝奥杜藻A．chalybea (Roth) Bory,矮小奥杜藻A．pygmaea (Ktitzing) Weber-van Bosse,棘刺红索藻Thorea hispida (Thore) Desvaux,鸭形串珠藻Batrachospermum anatinum Sirodot,胶串珠藻B．gelatinosum (Linnaeus) De Candolle,弧形串珠藻B．arcuatum Kylin,绞扭串珠藻B．intortum Jao,细连珠藻Sirodotia tenuissima (Collins) Skuja ex Flint和胭脂藻Hildenbrandia rivularis (Leibmann)Agardh．     

Effect of temperature on the expression of P-glycoprotein in the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha

The multixenobiotic resistance (MXR) system is a defence mechanism which protects living organisms by actively extruding xenobiotics from cells. Membrane transporters responsible for this phenotype can be induced by numerous compounds, but also by physical stressors such as temperature. In order to better understand the contribution of temperature in MXR expression, the MXR system was studied in the freshwater bivalve, Dreissena polymorpha. Results showed that the zebra mussel possesses a gene closely related to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) subfamily B, which is expressed as a 120-kDa protein. Moreover, gill cells can transport the model substrate Rhodamine B in a verapamil-sensitive manner, which is a good indication of MXR protein activity such as P-glycoprotein (Pgp). When bivalves were slowly acclimated to temperatures ranging from 4 to 20 °C (maximum temperature variation, 2–3 °C/day), no significant change in MXR protein expression could be immunochemically measured. Furthermore, the MXR transport activity did not show significant variation in this temperature range. Conversely, incubation of zebra mussel specimens in 20 μM Dacthal dramatically enhanced both protein expression and transport activity, thus indicating that temperature is not a major determinant in zebra mussel gill Pgp expression.     

Macroinvertebrate community loss as a result of headwater stream acidification in the Vosges Mountains (N-E France)

The relationships between water chemistry and aquatic macroinvertebrate communities of 41 headwater streams were studied in the Vosges Mountains (N-E of France) in an attempt to assess the impact of acidification on macroinvertebrate diversity. The taxa richness of macroinvertebrates decreased drastically in headwater streams which were characterized by low pH, low calcium and high aluminum content. All taxonomic groups were affected, but Molluscans, Crustaceans and Ephemeroptera disappeared totally from strongly acidified streams. Simple indices based on taxa richness such as the coefficient of community loss may provide accurate tools to quickly assess the impact of acidification on macroinvertebrate communities. Despite the reduction of atmospheric SO₂ emissions, acidification of freshwater in the Vosges Mountains continues to affect streams which were believed in the past to constitute refuge biotopes for numerous species. Consequently, acidification represents a real threat for numerous invertebrates. This study arises the question of the evolution in the future of headwater stream ecosystems. Urgent decisions and interventions are required to preserve non-acidified streams and to restore impacted ecosystems while awaiting spontaneous recovery.     

Habitat Preference, Reproduction and Diet of the Earthworm Eel, Chendol keelini (Teleostei: Chaudhuriidae)

The ecology of the earthworm eel, Chendol keelini, was studied in the field over a period of nine months. In addition this information was supplemented by aquarium observations. The species was most abundant in pools where it was associated with leaf litter and mats of fine tree roots along the banks. It fed on benthic invertebrates, especially chironomid and ephemeropteran larvae. C. keelini is sexually dimorphic; adult males develop a headhump and grow to a larger size than females. Reproduction was seasonal; the reproductive phase coincided with the wet season and lasted for several months. Fecundity was around 40 eggs per clutch. The eggs were spherical, between 1.2 and 1.5mm in diameter, and possessed a pair of long filaments for adhesion to the substrate. Females probably spawned more than once during the breeding season. The length frequency distributions and juvenile growth suggest that C. keelini is a short-lived species that matures during the first year with few individuals surviving to the second breeding season.