The influence of the diel climatic cycle on the depth-time distribution of phytoplankton and photosynthesis in a shallow equatorial lake (Lake Baringo,Kenya)

Lake Baringo is a shallow equatorial lake. This paper reports a diel study of the depth-time distribution of phytoplankton and photosynthesis at one location in Lake Baringo on 10 March 1989. The water column shows a pattern of diurnal stratification probably accentuated by the high turbidity of the water and therefore rapid attenuation of solar energy. This stratified pattern breaks down at night due to atmospheric cooling and the regular onset of winds in the early evening. The phytoplankton is dominated byMicrocystis aeruginosa with some associated epiphytes. It concentrates in the narrow euphotic zone during the diurnal period of stratification due to buoyancy of theMicrocystis; evening breakdown of the thermocline results in the phytoplankton being mixed throughout the water column. A series of measurements of photosynthesis throughout the diurnal period gives an areal rate of 3.8 g O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹. The relationship between this value and the level of fish exploitation in Lake Baringo is discussed. The diel cycle in Lake Baringo is interpreted as dominating over any seasonal limnological cycle in the lake.     

Prolonged leaf senescence in Clusia multiflora H.B.K.

 Leaf aging and senescence in Clusia multiflora H.B.K. was investigated by artificial treatments, such as floating leaf discs on water in darkness, or darkening leaves attached to the parent plant in situ in trees living in a tropical cloud forest. In both cases several parameters modified by age were evaluated such as nitrogen levels, chlorophyll content, succulence and carbohydrates levels. A prolonged senescence (nearly 3 months in floating leaf discs) was observed, contrasting with species such as Heliocarpus americanus (5 days) and Cecropia palmatisecta (20 days), characterized by low values of leaf weight per area, but similar to species with high leaf weight per area and with high levels of organic acids such as Clusia minor and Fourcroya humboldtiana, where acids may act as a reserve of C and energy. After 30 days in darkness C. multiflora leaf samples collected in the field did not show differences in comparison to non-darkened opposite leaves with respect to chlorophyll, titratable protons and carbohydrates, and leaves performed photosynthesis after 2 months in darkness. The effect of age in leaves was evaluated in a gradient of leaves, sampled at different positions from the apex and ranging in age from 15 days to 2 years old. The study of senescence in tropical wild plants is uncommon, but it is important knowledge for understanding foliar development, and response to internal rather than environmental regulation in climates where seasons are not strongly marked as is the case in the tropical mountain forest, where C. multiflora constitutes an important component in the early successional vegetation. Received: 21 October 1996 / Accepted: 12 November 1996     

Factors related to diversity of decomposer fungi in tropical forests

Recent studies suggest that host-preferences are common among certain groups of tropical fungal decomposers but rare in others, and sometimes occur where we least expect them. Host preferences among microfungi and ascomycetes that decompose leaf litter are common but usually involve differences in relative frequencies more than presence/absence, so their diversity may be loosely correlated with species richness of host trees. Strong host-specificity appears to be rare among wood decomposer fungi, whereas characteristics of their substrata and habitat are very important for this group. Anthropogenic disturbance predisposed a tropical forest to subsequent hurricane damage, and the resulting direct and indirect effects on host diversity and habitat heterogeneity were reflected in the decomposer fungal community more than sixty years after the original disturbance. While species richness of dictyostelid slime molds and functional diversity of their bacterial prey increased with disturbance, the more diverse microfungi and ascomycetes were apparently negatively affected by disturbance.     

Seasonal changes in chemistry,algal populations,chlorophyll a and photosynthetic activity in the R. Delimi,Jos Plateau,Nigeria

Seasonal studies were undertaken (August 1983–July 1984) toevaluate the algal distribution and ecology of the RiverDelimi, Jos Plateau, Nigeria at three stations: upstream, withlittle allochthonous input; midstream, receiving heavy domesticaffluents; downstream. A wide amplitude of variability wasdiscernible in physicochemical factors, and photosyntheticactivity and abundance of suspended algae in relation to thedegree of pollution along the first 7-km stretch of the river.Conductivity (µS cm^-1) showed a 9-fold increase fromupstream (x = 35) to downstream. The standing crop(Chl a) fluctuated markedly, with 6-times higher valuesfor a polluted midstream site (x = 18.2 mg m^-3). Production rate measurements (mg C m^-3 d^-1) showed significant variability with relatively lowvalues (x = 610) recorded for the upstream andhighest (x = 1050) at the midstream site. Apositive correlation was obtained between production rates andChl a for the polluted midstream zone.     

Larval habitat preference of the endemic Hawaiian midge,Telmatogeton torrenticola Terry (Telmatogetoninae)

Telmatogeton torrenticola Terry is a large endemic chironomid (lastinstar >20 mm) commonly found in high gradient Hawaiian streams on smoothrock surfaces with torrential, shallow flow and in the splash zones ofwaterfalls. We have quantified benthic water flow in larval habitat in a 50m segment of Kinihapai Stream, Maui using a thermistor-based microcurrentmeter. Under base flow conditions at sites suitable for larval attachment,depth was measured and bottom water velocity measurements were made 2 mmabove populations. Larval densities ranged from 386.9–1178m^–2, habitat bottom water velocities from 13.4–64.2 cms^–1, and water depths from 1.5–50 cm. Bottom velocitiesof sites with zero larvae ranged from 20.8–21.8 cm s^–1with depths from 50 to >160 cm. Larval densities were greatest inareas with high bottom water velocities and shallow depths. Stepwisemultiple regression analyses showed that density could be confidentlypredicted best by Froude number (r=0.81; p=0.008). In the absence of Froudenumber as a regression term, the best variable to predict larval density wasbottom velocity ratio: relative depth ratio (r=0.75; p=0.019). In addition,the torrential habitat of the larvae was always characterized by aperiphyton community that appeared to be the primary food resource for thelarvae. These data suggest that torrential flows over appropriate substratesare important factors regulating habitat availability for T. torrenticolaand that reduced discharge (e.g. affected by water diversions) couldsignificantly reduce the amount of available habitat for this organism andother flow sensitive stream fauna.     

中国东亚飞蝗新类型蝗区──海南热带稀树草原蝗区的生态地理特征及其与大沙河蝗区比较

本文系统地对海南热带稀树草原螟区的生态地理结构特征进行了分析,说明本蝗区是Ｕｖａｒｏｖ（１９３６）提出的飞蝗两类蝗区理论中．由于森林破坏而形成的一类蝗区,作者将它定名为＂热带稀树草原蝗区＂。这类蝗区在我国过去尚缺乏研究。文中进而根据本蝗区的成因、生态特征以及对蝗区的生态控制对策,分别与我国大陆的东亚飞蝗大沙河类型蝗区进行了比较。     

广西九万山藓类植物区系分析及其对划分热带,亚热带分界线的意义

九万山位于广西北部的中央(25°10’～25°25’N,108°27’E),界于泛北极植物区和古热带植物区的交汇处。其主要植被为亚热带常绿阔叶林。最高海拔为1693m,最低处仅170m。经对1850号标本的鉴定,共计有藓类植物35科、101属和189种。本文分析了九万山的藓类植物区系成分,将其划分为 10种类型。其中东亚成分最为丰富(39.33％),热带、亚热带成分次之(38.20％),而温带成分居第三位(18.54％)。本文选择了九万山临近的五个地区加以比较。其中,金佛山与九万山藓类植物的属和种的相似性系数分别为60.68％和36.87％,神农架为57.29％和33.13％。尖峰岭为48.83％和22.29％,西双版纳为57.29％和29.63％。而我国东部的武夷山则为69.86％和39.57％,其相似性系数在相比较的五个山区中为最高。九万山区有4个特有属并明显受喜马拉雅的影响。特别值得注意的是,在九万山区藓类区系中约有7％的种类是典型的热带成分。根据定量和定性的分析,笔者认为九万山的藓类区系表现出由热带向亚热带过渡的特性,其分界线可能位于九万山的南侧。     

Effect of temperature on the growth,total lipid content and fatty acid composition of recently isolated tropical microalgae Isochrysis sp., Nitzschia closterium,Nitzschia paleacea,and commercial species Isochrysis sp. (clone T.ISO)

The effect of temperature from 10 °C to 35 °C on the growth, total lipid content, and fatty acid composition of three species of tropical marine microalgae, Isochrysis sp., Nitzschia closterium, N. paleacea (formerly frustulum), and the Tahitian Isochrysis sp. (T.ISO), was investigated.Cultures of N. closterium, Isochrysis sp. and T.ISO grew very slowly at 35 °C, while N. closterium did not grow at temperatures higher than 30 °C or lower than 20 °C. N. paleacea was low-temperature tolerant, with cells growing slowly at 10 °C. N. paleacea produced the highest percentage of lipids at 10 °C, while the other species produced maximum amounts of lipid at 20 °C. None of the species maintained high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) at high growth temperature and there was a significant inverse relationship between the percentage of PUFAs and temperature for N. paleacea. A curved relationship was found between temperature and percentage of PUFA for N. closterium and tropical Isochrysis sp., with the maximum production of PUFA at 25 °C and 20 °C, respectively. The two Nitzschia species produced higher levels of the essential fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid [20:5(n-3)] at lower growth temperatures, but the two Isochrysis species had little change in percentage of 20:5(n-3) with temperature. Only T.ISO had the highest percentage of 22:6(n-3) at lowest growth temperature (11.4% total fatty acids at 10 °C).School of Mathematical and Physical SciencesAuthor for correspondence     

How stable are genomes of tropical woody plants? Heterozygosity in C-banded karyotypes ofPorcelia as compared withAnnona (Annonaceae) andDrimys (Winteraceae)

InPorcelia goyazensis (2n = 18) Giemsa C-banding patterns differ from those ofAnnona reticulata (2n = 14) and reveal structural heterozygosity. The amplitude of karyological variation in theAnnonaceae is greater than expected for a primitive woody family. In a comparison with other tropical angiosperm groups, the highly differentiated karyotype ofDrimys brasiliensis (2n = 86) is interpreted as being the end-point of numerous karyological changes.     

Patterns in the morphological variation of Zonorchis and Skrjabinus (Trematoda: Dicrocoelidae) from small mammals in Malaysia.

A collection of dicroceolid flukes from rats, squirrels and Tupaia in Malaysia is found to be morphologically heterogeneous. Cluster analysis on the basis of three selected body ratios distinguishes two major types comprising highly diverse Skrjabinus from rats, and homogenous Zonorchis from callosciurid squirrels. Tupaia harbours flukes of both genera. Analysis of variance of flukes from rats, demonstrates marked uniformity among worms within individual hosts. Possible effects of allometric growth are investigated by plotting each chosen dimension against body length for the two major groups of worms. Prominent changes are noted only in the relative size of testis in Skrjabinus from rats. Patterns of morphology are discussed in relation to host ecology and distribution.