Experimental evidence of size-selective harvest and environmental stochasticity effects on population demography,fluctuations and non-linearity

Theory and analyses of fisheries data sets indicate that harvesting can alter population structure and destabilise non-linear processes, which increases population fluctuations. We conducted a factorial experiment on the population dynamics of Daphnia magna in relation to size-selective harvesting and stochasticity of food supply. Harvesting and stochasticity treatments both increased population fluctuations. Timeseries analysis indicated that fluctuations in control populations were non-linear, and non-linearity increased substantially in response to harvesting. Both harvesting and stochasticity induced population juvenescence, but harvesting did so via the depletion of adults, whereas stochasticity increased the abundance of juveniles. A fitted fisheries model indicated that harvesting shifted populations towards higher reproductive rates and larger-magnitude damped oscillations that amplify demographic noise. These findings provide experimental evidence that harvesting increases the non-linearity of population fluctuations and that both harvesting and stochasticity increase population variability and juvenescence.     

Croissance individuelle et dynamique de population de Daphnia Magna en culture dans les eaux usées traitées

Résumé Pour atteindre les buts visés par le recyclage biologique des eaux usées, il faut exploiter une population d'organismes filtreurs dont l'augmentation nette de biomasse est rapide et importante. L'augmentation nette de biomasse sera favorisée par une croissance individuelle, une reproduction et une survie excellentes dans l'eau usée traitée. L'étude de ces paramèters sur des cohortes de Daphnia magna soumises à différentes conditions expérimentales, indique qu'il s'agit d'un organisme prometteur pour le recyclage biologique. Dans nos conditions expérimentales, D. magna montre un bilan azoté positif durant toute sa vie. La production rapide de biomasse est favorisée par une température élevée (15 °C) et une nourriture abondante. L'eau traité montre les signes d'une certaine toxicité envers les juvéniles mais non envers les adultes. Nos données établissent que la production d'oeufs requiert une taille minimale de la femelle de 2,7 mm, information primordiale pour l'exploitation future de la population.

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To realize the objectives of the biological recycling of wastewaters, it is necessary to exploit a population of filtering organisms, the biomass of which shows a rapid and important net increase. The net increase of biomass is favored by excellent individual growth, reproduction and survival in treated wastewaters. The study of these parameters, with cohorts of Daphnia magna submitted to different treatments, indicated that it is a promising organism for biological recycling. Under our experimental conditions, D. magna exhibited a positive nitrogen balance for the whole of its life. The rapid production of biomass was favored by high temperature (15 °C) and abundant food. The treated wastewaters proved to be somewhat toxic to juveniles but not to adults. Our results demonstrated that the egg production requires a female minimal size of 2.7 mm; this information is most important in the future exploitation of the population.

     

The use of inorganic substances to stimulate gut evacuation in Daphnia magna

Observations were done on the effect of inorganic substances on the gut evacuation process in Daphnia magna. Procedures which accelerate this process are described.     

Ultrastructure of the Invasion of Eimeria magna Sporozoites into Cultured Cells*†‡

SYNOPSIS. Monolayers of bovine kidney cells were overlaid with Eimeria magna sporozoites and observed with phase-contrast optics until penetration of the cells by the parasites had begun. Cells and penetrating parasites were fixed with glutaraldehyde and OsO₄-containing ruthenium red, dehydrated, and embedded in situ. Cells being penetrated were selected for study in the electron microscope. The lack of intracellular staining with ruthenium red and intact plasmalemmas of cells being penetrated, was accepted as evidence that the sporozoites did not disrupt the plasma membranes. The sporozoite caused invagination of the host cell plasmalemma until the parasite was entirely within the cell, after which the invagination was sealed off by short pseudopodia enclosing the sporozoite within a membrane-lined vacuole inside the cell. Often myelin-forms, apparently of host cell origin, were seen in the space between the sporozoite and the cell.     

Genome-Wide Association Analysis Identifies a Genetic Basis of Infectivity in a Model Bacterial Pathogen

Knowledge of the genetic architecture of pathogen infectivity and host resistance is essential for a mechanistic understanding of coevolutionary processes, yet the genetic basis of these interacting traits remains unknown for most host–pathogen systems. We used a comparative genomic approach to explore the genetic basis of infectivity in Pasteuria ramosa, a Gram-positive bacterial pathogen of planktonic crustaceans that has been established as a model for studies of Red Queen host–pathogen coevolution. We sequenced the genomes of a geographically, phenotypically, and genetically diverse collection of P. ramosa strains and performed a genome-wide association study to identify genetic correlates of infection phenotype. We found multiple polymorphisms within a single gene, Pcl7, that correlate perfectly with one common and widespread infection phenotype. We then confirmed this perfect association via Sanger sequencing in a large and diverse sample set of P. ramosa clones. Pcl7 codes for a collagen-like protein, a class of adhesion proteins known or suspected to be involved in the infection mechanisms of a number of important bacterial pathogens. Consistent with expectations under Red Queen coevolution, sequence variation of Pcl7 shows evidence of balancing selection, including extraordinarily high diversity and absence of geographic structure. Based on structural homology with a collagen-like protein of Bacillus anthracis, we propose a hypothesis for the structure of Pcl7 and the physical location of the phenotype-associated polymorphisms. Our results offer strong evidence for a gene governing infectivity and provide a molecular basis for further study of Red Queen dynamics in this model host–pathogen system.     

A wingless alpine stonefly from New Zealand,and further information on genus Holcoperla (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae)

Abstract

Holcoperla magna n.sp. is described and figured from material collected on Headlong Peak, Mt Aspiring National Park. New information is given on H. angularis (Wisely) and H. jacksoni McLellan, and the 3 species are compared. Larvae designated as type specimens of H. angularis are shown to be Apteryoperla monticola Wisely.     

The use of biomarkers in the antioxidant responses of Daphnia magna to the acute and chronic exposure to no. 20 diesel oil and 2,4-dichlorophenol

Abstract

The effects of no. 20 diesel oil exposure, 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) exposure and combined exposure on the antioxidant defences of Daphnia magna have been studied systematically for the first time. Daphnia magna was exposed for 1 day or 10 days to several concentrations of 0, 0.005, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 or 1.0 mg L^?1 solutions. Antioxidant defences consisting of the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), selenium dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) of daphnids were determined to evaluate their protective roles and to analyse the occurrence of oxidative stress. The possible antioxidant defence mechanisms are discussed. Furthermore, GST can be a potential biomarker and an early-warning index for the pollutants in waters in that GST responded sensitively to 1 day and 10 days of exposure to diesel oil and 2,4-DCP and 10 days of combined exposure. Crossover comparisons showed an antagonistic action about the no-observed-effect concentration (NOEC) against Daphnia magna, which needs further studies.     

上海滴水湖两种枝角类牧食对浮游植物群落影响的模拟研究

于2012年9月通过浮游动物添加实验,研究了大型溞(Daphnia magna)和隆腺溞(Daphnia carinata)对上海滴水湖浮游植物群落结构的影响.结果表明,实验组氨氮和可溶性活性磷浓度与空白组相比显著增加,大型溞组浮游植物密度较空白组降低了70.3％,隆腺溞组浮游植物密度较空白组降低了80.0％,叶绿素a浓度分别下降了80.4％和75.2％,叶绿素a与氨氮、可溶性活性磷呈显著相关性.浮游植物的群落结构较空白组也发生较大变化,硅藻、蓝藻和绿藻密度比例明显降低,隐藻、裸藻和甲藻在实验结束时没有检出,说明大型溞和隆线溞能有效控制水体中浮游植物密度,并能够对浮游植物群落结构产生影响.同时,附着藻类密度较空白组也有明显减少,说明大型溞和隆线溞对附着藻类也有一定的牧食作用.     

Migratory patterns and connectivity of two North American grassland bird species

Effective management and conservation of migratory bird populations require knowledge and incorporation of their movement patterns and space use throughout the annual cycle. To investigate the little‐known migratory patterns of two grassland bird species, we deployed 180 light‐level geolocators on Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum) and 29 Argos‐GPS tags on Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) at Konza Prairie, Kansas, USA, and six US Department of Defense (DoD) installations distributed across the species' breeding ranges. We analyzed location data from 34 light‐level geolocators and five Argos‐GPS tags attached for 1 year to Grasshopper Sparrows and Eastern Meadowlarks, respectively. Grasshopper Sparrows were present on the breeding grounds from mid‐April through early October, substantially longer than previously estimated, and migrated on average ~2,500 km over ~30 days. Grasshopper Sparrows exhibited strong migratory connectivity only at a continental scale. The North American Great Lakes region likely serves as a migratory divide for Midwest and East Coast Grasshopper Sparrows; Midwest populations (Kansas, Wisconsin, and North Dakota; n = 13) largely wintered in Texas or Mexico, whereas East Coast populations (Maryland and Massachusetts, n = 20) wintered in the northern Caribbean or Florida. Our data from Eastern Meadowlarks provided evidence for a diversity of stationary and short‐ and long‐distance migration strategies. By providing the most extensive examination of the nonbreeding movement ecology for these two North American grassland bird species to date, we refine information gaps and provide key insight for their management and conservation.     

The Beauty is a beast: Does leachate from the invasive terrestrial plant Impatiens glandulifera affect aquatic food webs?

Invasive alien species are a major threat to ecosystems. Invasive terrestrial plants can produce allelochemicals which suppress native terrestrial biodiversity. However, it is not known if leached allelochemicals from invasive plants growing in riparian zones, such as Impatiens glandulifera, also affect freshwater ecosystems. We used mesocosms and laboratory experiments to test the impact of I. glandulifera on a simplified freshwater food web. Our mesocosm experiments show that leachate from I. glandulifera significantly reduced population growth rate of the water flea Daphnia magna and the green alga Acutodesmus obliquus, both keystone species of lakes and ponds. Laboratory experiments using the main allelochemical released by I. glandulifera, 2‐methoxy‐1,4‐naphthoquinone, revealed negative fitness effects in D. magna and A. obliquus. Our findings show that allelochemicals from I. glandulifera not only reduce biodiversity in terrestrial habitats but also pose a threat to freshwater ecosystems, highlighting the necessity to incorporate cross‐ecosystem effects in the risk assessment of invasive species.