Shifting nonbreeding distributions of migratory fauna in relation to climatic change

The distributions of eight out of nine common species of waders (Charadrii) overwintering on UK estuaries have changed in association with recent climate change. These birds represent a high proportion of various populations from breeding grounds as far apart as Greenland to the west to high‐arctic Russia to the east. During warmer winters, smaller proportions of seven species wintered in south‐west Britain. The distributions of the smaller species show the greatest temperature dependence. The opposite was found for the largest species and no relationship was found for a particularly site‐faithful species. In north‐west Europe, the winter isotherms have a broadly north to south alignment, with the east being colder than the west. The average minimum winter temperatures across the UK having increased by about 1.5°C since the mid‐1980s, the temperatures on the east coast during recent winters have been similar to those of the west coast during the mid‐1980s. On average, estuaries on the east and south coasts of Britain have muddier sediments than those on the west coast and thus support a higher biomass of the invertebrate prey of waders. We suggest that, with global climatic change, the advantage gained by waders wintering in the milder west to avoid cold weather‐induced mortality is diminished. Consequently, more choose to winter in the east and thus benefit from better foraging opportunities. The implications of these results are considered in terms of a site‐based approach to wildlife protection used in Europe and elsewhere.     

杨树和冬小麦在短日照和寒冬中的胞间连丝动态(英文)

Electron microscopic observation revealed that poplar (Populus deltoides Marsh.) and winterwheat ( Triticum aestivum L. cv. Seward 80004) plasmodesmatal structures significantly changed undershort day (SD, 8 h light) and in winter period, and such changes differed also noticeably between these twowoody and herbaceous plants. Under long day (LD, 16 h light), many plasmodesmata with strong stainappeared in the cell wall of both poplar apical buds and winter wheat young leaf tissues, and connections ofcytoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) with the ER in some plasmodesmata were observed. In addition,the typical “neck type” plasmodesmata were observed in winter wheat young leaf tissues, and their centraldesmotubules (appressed-ER) could be clearly identified. Under SD, many poplar plasmodesmata showedonly a partial structure in the cell wall and appeared to be discontinued; some plasmodesmata swelled in themid-wall, forming the cavity, and no appressed-ER appeared, in winter wheat, however, no noticeablealterations of plasmodesmata occurred, and the plasmodesmatal structure essentially remained the sameas it was under LD. In winter period, poplar plasmodesmata had a similar morphology as those observedunder SD, however, winter wheat manifested at least two types of significant plasmodesmatal alterations:one plugged by electron-dense materials and the other of reduced neck region compared to those underLD. The above dynamic difference of the two species plasmodesmata under SD and winter period revealedthe difference of their dormancy development under those environmental conditions.     

Effect of increased flow on the behaviour of Atlantic salmon parr in winter

The effect of increased flow on movement and microhabitat use of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar parr in winter was investigated using radiotelemetry. To simulate hydropeaking operations, flow was increased four‐fold from 1·3 m³ s⁻¹ to 5·2 m³ s⁻¹ for 24 h periods. Flow did not affect fish habitat use or displacement and had little effect on fish activity within diel periods. During high flow periods in late winter, fish reduced night‐time activity. Stranding rates during flow reduction were also very low (only one fish).     

Winter phytoplankton community structure in three shallow temperate lakes during ice cover

The general model of seasonal phytoplankton succession in temperate lakes suggests that winter phytoplankton growth is minimal under ice-cover. However, some studies have found diverse phytoplankton communities during winter. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the species composition and the changes in the winter phytoplankton community structure under the ice. For 2 consecutive winters, phytoplankton samples were collected under ice-cover at 4 sites on 3 lakes in Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), near Pingree, North Dakota. Ninety taxa were identified and enumerated. Densities of several of these taxa frequently exceeded 10⁶ cells l^–1. The winter phytoplankton communities in these lakes were dominated by flagellates, principally cryptomonads, a synurophyte (Synura uvella), small chrysophytes (Chrysococcus spp., Kephyrion spp.) and a dinoflagellate (Peridinium aciculiferum), as well as non-flagellate microchlorophytes (Monoraphidium spp., Ankistrodesmus spp., and Pseudodictyosphaerium sp.), a cyanobacterium (Gloeocapsa aeruginosa) and centric diatoms (Stephanodiscus minutulus, S. parvus and Cyclotella meneghiniana).     

Diel activity pattern of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in early and late winter

Radiotelemetry was used to investigate the diel activity pattern of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in early and late winter. Fish were active throughout the diel cycle. However, there was significantly less daytime than nighttime movement and movement declined significantly with increasing fork length. Maximizing winter growth rate, through an overall increase in foraging activity, may reduce the risk of starvation in smaller fish. The results of the present study provide evidence that the activity patterns of juvenile salmonids are quite complex and support the suggestion that individual variation in activity patterns are, at least, partially driven by body size.     

Parasitic Attachments by Overwintering Silver Lampreys, Ichthyomyzon unicuspis, and Chestnut Lampreys, Ichthyomyzon castaneus

We present evidence that at least some parasitic-phase silver lampreys, Ichthyomyzon unicuspis, and chestnut lampreys, I. castaneus, remain attached to host fish during the winter. Lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens, harvested through the ice by spearfishers in the Lake Winnebago system in Wisconsin may bear silver lampreys or fresh lamprey wounds, and sturgeon with lamprey marks were significantly larger than sturgeon without them. Silver lampreys collected on paddlefish, Polyodon spathula, in the Wisconsin River in March were not significantly longer than silver lampreys collected previously in late October, but they were significantly heavier, an indication that they were feeding to at least some extent during the intervening period. Other large fish species, including northern pike, Esox lucius, and flathead catfish, Pylodictus olivaris, have been collected or observed during the winter with silver or chestnut lampreys attached. Although energy and nutrient intake by parasitic lampreys may be reduced during the winter, lampreys attached to hosts may also benefit from the hosts' mobility and ability to avoid potentially harmful situations.     

Molybdenum efficiency in winter wheat cultivars as related to molybdenum uptake and distribution

The highly Mo efficient winter wheat cultivar 97003 yielded more than 90% and the low Mo efficient winter wheat cultivar 97014 less than 50% under Mo deficient conditions when compared to the Mo fertilizer treatment. The mechanism of Mo efficiency, molybdenum uptake and distribution in plant parts during all growth stages, was studied with these two cultivars when grown in an acid yellow-brown earth with no Mo (CK) and added Mo (+Mo) treatments. The results showed that accumulation of Mo and dry matter in shoots of cultivar 97003 was significantly higher than those of cultivar 97014 under CK through the entire growth period. Most of Mo was found accumulated in shoots after the stem elongation stage. Only low amount of Mo was accumulated during the cold winter until stem elongation stage where severe symptoms occurred in cultivar 97014 without Mo supply, while the Mo concentration of cultivar 97003 was significantly higher, thus improved its cold hardiness. Molybdenum concentrations in spikes and seeds were very low pointing to a low Mo mobility even under Mo sufficiency. However, much more Mo was distributed in the upper leaves at stem elongation stage, in spikes in heading stage, in seeds in maturity in cultivar 97003 than in cultivar 97014 under conditions of Mo deficiency. In the efficient cultivar, the Mo distribution ratios to the upper leaves and spikes were even higher without Mo supply, suggesting that a higher phloem mobility and thus a more efficient use of Mo under Mo deficiency stress. The ability of Mo uptake and phloem-mobility are discussed and it is suggested to be the important physiological basis of Mo efficiency.     

Effects of feeding time constraints on body mass regulation and energy expenditure in wintering dunlin (Calidris alpina)

We examined the effects of time-restricted feeding on regulationof body mass and activity energy expenditure in captive winteringdunlin (Calidris alpina) held in outdoor aviaries at TomalesBay, California. In the first of two experiments, we comparedbirds under 24 h : 24 h (fasting : ad libitum feeding) foodrestriction with controls under continuous ad libitum feeding. In the second experiment, we compared birds under 24 h : 6 h: 12 h : 6 h (fasting : ad libitum : fasting : ad libitum)food restriction with birds under 24 h : 24 h food restriction.We estimated total energy expended on activities from dailymass balance using an additive model based on measures of grossenergy intake, thermoregulation, basal metabolism, and a sensitivity analysis of gross utilization efficiency and energy densityof reserve body tissue. Dunlin under 24 h : 24 h food restrictionovercompensated for body mass lost while fasting, increasingtheir body mass relative to controls fed ad libitum. Dunlinunder 24 h : 6 h : 12 h : 6 h food restriction were unable to recover body mass lost during the first fasting day. Whenallowed to feed, food-restricted birds reduced the amount ofenergy spent on being active and increased food intake andenergy storage relative to controls, but when forced to fast,they increased their activity energy expenditure. These patterns suggest winter body mass regulation consistent with the behaviorsof free-living dunlin in winter.