Effects of logging,fire and drought on three species of lizards in Mumbulla State Forest on the south coast of New South Wales

The effects of logging on three species of common skinks were estimated from censuses in four age classes of forest: unlogged, just logged, 1-year logged and 10–15 year regrowth. The effects of topography (ridge and gully) were examined in each age class. Afire in November 1980 occurred fust after the initial census was completed. Another census was taken in December 1980 to assess its immediate effects. Further censuses were carried out each December from 1981 to 1984. An intense drought overlapped from 1980 to 1983 with the census period. Lampropholis guichenoti occurred in about equal numbers in unlogged and recently logged forest, but its numbers were reduced in the 10–15 year regrowth forest. This was attributed to changes in the amount and pattern of sunlight reaching the ground. A similar pattern of response was found for Lampropholis delicata. The numbers of Eulamprus heatwolei, a gully species requiring partial shade, were lowest in the exposed, recently-logged forest, but had increased in the 10–15 year regrowth class to about equal their numbers in unlogged forest. Fire reduced the numbers ofL. guichenoti on ridges but had no immediate impact on numbers of tire other species, while drought markedly depressed numbers of all species. Lampropholis guichenoti recovered more quickly from the drought than did L. delicata, but the numbers of E. heatwolei were still declining 19 months after the drought broke. The drought also revealed a habitat (ridge/gully) difference between the two Lampropholis species. The management of these species in commercial forests requires that some areas, particularly gullies, be reserved and the logging sequence modified to prevent the creation of widespread stands of uniform regrowth.     

Osmotic responses of unicellular blue-green algae (cyanobacteria): changes in cell volume and intracellular solute levels in response to hyperosmotic treatment

Abstract Changes in cell volume and solute content upon hyperosmotic shock have been studied for six unicellular blue-green algae (cyanobacteria): Synechococcus PCC 6301, PCC 6311; Synechocystis PCC 6702, PCC 6714, PCC 6803 and PCC 7008. The extent of change in volume was shown to be dependent upon the solute used to establish the osmotic gradient, with cells in NaCl showing a reduced shrinkage when compared to cells in media containing added sorbitol and sucrose. Uptake of extracellular solutes during hyperosmotic shock was observed in Synechocystis PCC 6714, with maximum accumulation of external solutes in NaCl and minimum solute uptake in sucrose solutions. Conversely, solute loss from the cells (K⁺ and amino acids) was greatest in sucrose-containing media and least in NaCl. The results show that these blue-green algae do not behave as ‘ideal osmometers’ in media of high osmotic strength. It is proposed that short-term changes in plasmalemma permeability in these organisms may be due to transient membrane instability resulting from osmotic imbalance between the cell and its surrounding fluid at the onset of hyperosmotic shock.     

Carbonic Anhydrase and the Regulation of Photosynthesis

THE role of CO₂ in the regulation of photosynthetic and respiratory metabolism in plants is little understood in the unicellular alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa; for example, after autotrophic growth in high CO₂ (5·5% by volume), transfer to a CO₂ concentration about ten times less than the concentration in air results initially in low rates of photosynthesis characterized by the virtual absence of the Calvin cycle¹ of CO₂ fixation². An induction period of about 2 h is necessary before normal photosynthetic rates are established. Cells grown in air (0.03% CO₂) do not show this effect and photosynthesize at comparatively high rates even in very low concentrations of CO₂.     

The Effects of Salinity upon Galactosyl-Glycerol Content and Concentration of the Marine Red Alga Porphyra purpurea (Roth) C.Ag.

Changes in the major alcohol-soluble, low molecular weight carbohydratesof P. purpurea, O--D-galactopyranosyl-(1-2)-glycerol (‘floridoside’)and O--D-galactopyranosyl-(1-1)-glycerol (‘isofloridoside’),have been examined in response to salinity variation. ‘Floridoside’is shown to vary in absolute amount, increasing in hypersalineand decreasing in hyposaline media. ‘Isofloridoside’content per cell does not change in a similar manner. Responsesare almost identical under light or dark conditions, ‘floridoside’changes being complete within 24 h. Decreasing the externalwater potential using ionic and non-ionic solutes has the sameeffect upon galactosyl-glycerol content. The amount of ‘floridoside’synthesized, and degraded under hypersaline and hyposaline conditionsrespectively is shown to be insufficient to restore cell volumeto its original value. It is therefore suggested that the primaryfunction of ‘floridoside’ increases in concentratedsea-waters is that of a compatible solute, serving to protectthe cell during periods when the external salt content is increaseddramatically.     

New highlights about the enigmatic marine snake Palaeophis maghrebianus (Palaeophiidae; Palaeophiinae) from the Ypresian (Lower Eocene) phosphates of Morocco

Abstract: Palaeophis maghrebianus belongs to the Palaeophiinae (Palaeophiidae). This snake subfamily is relatively poorly known, and it is mainly represented by disarticulated vertebrae and ribs and by a few vertebral segments. Its intracolumnar variability remains also poorly understood. The discovery of new isolated vertebrae and vertebral segments of Palaeophis maghrebianus in the Ypresian (Lower Eocene) Phosphates of Morocco enables us to provide a more detailed diagnosis of this species and to describe its intracolumnar variability. Moreover, the new material reveals that this species could reach gigantic size being, with Palaeophis colossaeus, one of the two longer palaeophiids. The microanatomical and histological analysis of some vertebrae illustrating diverse positions along the vertebral column reveals the presence of osteosclerosis, especially in the anterior and mid‐precloacal regions. The occurrence of this osseous specialization implies a role in buoyancy and body trim control in this taxon, which is considered a shallow marine dweller based on its anatomical features and geological data. Palaeophis maghrebianus also displays a dense vascular network suggesting a growth speed, and thus a metabolic rate, much higher than in the biggest extant snakes.