Growth and phage resistance of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 in the presence of cyanophage AN-15

The cyanophage AN-15 was found to have a requirement for either 1 mM calcium or 1 mM magnesium ions to maintain viral stability, whereas 1 mM calcium ions alone were essential for the infection process to proceed in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120. Following prolonged incubation, phage-resistant cells were detected at a high frequency (approximately 10-⁵) in lysates, as either renewed growth in liquid cultures, or as colonies in confluently lysed lawns. Southern hybridisation failed to detect AN-15 DNA in any of the resistant strains, implying that resistance is unlikely to be due to the presence of temperate phages. A high rate of spontaneous mutation is therefore likely to be the cause of resistance. Two classes of resistant cells were identified; those in which AN-15 failed to attach to host cells, and those in which attachment occurred, but subsequent replication was defective. However, it was possible to overcome phage resistance by the isolation of spontaneous mutants of AN-15, capable of infecting phage-resistant cells. These observations imply that if cyanophages are to be assessed as a means of controlling cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater bodies, the ionic (notably calcium) concentration of the water must be considered, together with the possible need to employ alternative cyanophage strains if resistance to the original one arises. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Biodiversity among haptophyte algae

The division Haptophyta is represented only by about 300 extant species showing wide diversity in morphology, biochemistry and ecology. They have a world-wide distribution and are numerically important in phytoplankton populations in nearly all marine environments. Evidence from the geological record shows that they have been the major constituent of calcareous deposits since the Late Triassic and, as they have evolved quickly through time, their coccoliths have always shown wide morphological diversity. In today's oceans they occasionally produce extensive blooms, visible by satellite imagery, which have ecological impact. As a consequence of these blooms the haptophyte algae are now receiving greater attention, as their role in the global sulphur and carbon cycles may influence the world's climate, and their potential as nuisance bloom algae have implications for commercial fishing and the marine ecosystem. As it is likely that these organisms have always produced such blooms, these effects may have been in operation for the last 200 million years.     

唐菖蒲周年供花研究初报

本文报道唐菖蒲花期调节试验的结果,表明采用自然栽培、控制栽培及促成栽培等综合措施是实现唐菖蒲周年供花的有效途径     

Hydrological cycle and interannual variability of the aquatic community in a temporary saline lake (Fuente de Piedra,Southern Spain)

Fuente de Piedra is a shallow, temporary saline lake whoseseasonal behavior is strongly dependent on the annual hydrologicalbudget. In this study, we outline the characteristics of Fuente dePiedra Lake for two years that had different hydrological budgets.The high precipitations in 1989–90 caused the lake not to dry asusual, and decreased both salinity and the amplitude of changes.There were also differences in nutrient dynamics, with generallylower concentrations of soluble reactive phosphorus and ammonium,whereas in the more humid year nitrate showed a distinct maximum inwinter. Winter bloom chlorophyll a concentrations were alsomuch higher in 1989–90 (>600 g l-1) but there wasalso a winter productive phase that was presumably poorly coupledwith consumption processes that predominate in spring. Planktonicassemblages were different between years. Highly halotolerantphytoplankton species (Dunaliella salina and D. viridis) became scarcer, and especially two previouslyunrecorded diatoms (Cyclotella sp. and Chaetoceros sp.)became dominant in the bloom time in the wet year. The speciesrichness of the zooplankton increased in the wet year, with newspecies appearing that were not collected during 1987–88(Branchinectella media, Daphnia mediterranea, Macrothrix sp.,Arctodiaptomus salinus, Cyclops sp., Sigara sp...).There was also a much higher development of macrophytes (Ruppiadrepanensis, Althenia orientalis, Lamprothamnium papulosum)and bird populations, especially flamingoes (Phoenicopterusruber).Important interannual variations in this sort of system pointto the need for long term studies to observe the whole range ofstates that define the lake as an entity.     

Nitrogen,phosphorus and Daphnia grazing in controlling phytoplankton biomass and composition – an experimental study

The role of nitrogen as a factor controllingphytoplankton biomass was studied in nutrientenrichment incubations in the laboratory using waterfrom pelagic region of two mesotrophic lakes ineastern Finland, Lake Kallavesi (in year 1994) andLake Juurusvesi (in year 1995). We used differentcombinations of phosphorus and nitrogen additions ina total of eight experiments. Furthermore, we includedDaphnia grazing treatment to the experimentaldesign in Lake Juurusvesi experiments. The nitrogentreatments did not increase chlorophyll aconcentration in any of the experiments compared withthe controls. Chlorophyll a content was highestin those nutrient treatments where phosphorus wasadded with or without nitrogen. Daphnia grazingdecreased chlorophyll a concentration comparedwith non-grazed treatments. In some cases grazing alsocaused higher ammonium concentrations. Theseexperiments, as well as the nutrient ratio of the lakewater used, suggest that phosphorus is likely tocontrol the amount of phytoplankton biomass. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Seasonal cycle of nitrogen and phytoplankton biomass in a well-mixed coastal system (Eastern English Channel)

The hydrological structure of the French coastal part of the eastern English Channel is strongly linked with tidal regimes and riverine input. Two distinct water masses are separated by a frontal area and drift along the coast in SW–NE direction. These two water masses are well-mixed during the entire year. We studied the seasonal dynamic of nitrogenous nutrients, chlorophyll a and organic particulate carbon and nitrogen at two stations, characteristic of these water masses, during the year 1994. Results show (i) a winter stock of nitrate and ammonium, (ii) a pre-bloom period corresponding to the use of ammonium, (iii) a high bloom period of short duration using nitrate, (iv) a post-bloom period with little phytoplanktonic activity probably limited by nutrients other than nitrogen and (v) an autumnal period of reconstitution of stock. The essential difference between the two stations is the importance of winter stock of nutrients and of bloom chlorophyll a concentration, with the coastal station richer than the offshore one. An assumption about the nitrogen available for new production in this area gives a value of 57% of the winter stock of inorganic nitrogen.     

Effects of water level fluctuations on phytoplankton in a river-floodplain lake system (Paraná River,Argentina)

Several aspects of community organization wereanalyzed comparatively in a small side-arm of theParaná River (Correntoso) and a shallowfloodplain lake (El Tigre) (31° 41 S and60° 42 W), in relation to the hydrology of thesystem. Taxonomic and morphological composition inthe river differed from that in the lake: the riverhad lower species richness (151 vs 218),different contributions of some Classes to totalspecies number (higher Cyano-, Zygo- andDiatomophyceae vs higher Chlorophyceae), anddiffent proportions of nannoplanktonic algae (67.5%vs 80.7%) and netplanktonic filamentousspecies (18.2% vs 4.2%). Phytoplanktonbiomass, higher in the lake than in the river due tothe retention time, was mostly dominated bynannoplankton and netplankton. Loticphytoplankton was dominated by typical fluvialspecies of Diatomophyceae (R-strategists). Riverconditions seem to maintain a subclimacticcommunity, which was little impacted by the flushingof populations from floodplain lakes. Water levelwas the main factor controlling phytoplanktonbiomass, species diversity (H), evenness (E) andcommunity change rate () in the river. Inthe lake, phytoplankton had an autogenicsuccessional sequence during the isolation phase (C-to S-strategists) and other responses todisturbance, mainly during the flood(R-strategists). Frequent changes in phytoplanktoncomposition, biomass, H, E and , revealed aenvironmental instability in the lake, which may beexplained by interactions of external factors(hydrology and climatology) and those of internalorigin, such as nutrients and grazing.     

Cyanopeptolin S, a sulfate-containing depsipeptide from a water bloom of Microcystis sp.

Abstract A new sulfated, cyclic depsipeptide, called cyanopeptolin S, from Microcystis sp. was isolated from a water bloom in the Auensee/Leipzig (Germany). The depsipeptide had a relative molecular mass of 925 and contained l-arginine, l-threonine, l-isoleucine, N-methyl-l-phenylalanine, a l-glutamic acid-δ-aldehyde ring system and a sulfated d-configurated glyceric acid as a side chain. The structure was elucidated by means of two-dimensional ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and combined gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Cyanopeptolin S inhibited trypsin with an IC₅₀≤ 0.2 μg ml⁻¹.     

Spatial distribution of seston in an artificially mixed system

Seston size distribution was determined with a Coulter Counter to investigate seston interaction and its effects on phytoplankton production. Spatial distribution patterns of the non-productive component of the seston were as complex as those commonly associated with algae. Seston might interact influencing production by changes in optical depth, abrasive actions and nutrient adsorption.     

MEASUREMENTS OF PHYTOPLANKTON-PROTEIN CONTENT WITH THE HEATED BIURET-FOL1N ASSAY1,2

The heated biuret-Folin method for determining protein consistently measures 90% of the total nitrogen of filtered algae samples as protein-N without the need of mechanical disruption as long as the heating period in biuret is 100 min at 100 C. Data indicate this protein assay measures total protein on all species tried and for naturally occurring mixtures of species plus detritus. Dilute algal suspensions with as little as 0.05 μg-atom particulate protein N.liter ^-1 can he concentrated by fltration on glass fiber filters to 1.0 μg-atom particulate protein-N per filter, the optimal amount of sample for a 5 ml volume of biuret. The filtered algae samples can be stored for several weeks frozen before assaying, if necessary.