Habitat suitability of the Wadden Sea for restoration of Zostera marina beds

A conceptual model is proposed, describing potential Zostera marina habitats in the Wadden Sea, based on reported data from laboratory, mesocosm and field studies. Controlling factors in the model are dynamics, degree of desiccation, turbidity, nutrients and salinity. A distinction has been made between a higher and a lower zone of potential habitats, each suitable for different morphotypes of Z. marina. The model relates the decline of Z. marina in the Wadden Sea to increased sediment and water dynamics, turbidity, drainage of sediments (resulting in increased degree of desiccation) and total nutrient loads during the twentieth century. The upper and lower delineation of both the higher and the lower zone of potential Z. marina habitats appear to be determined by one or a combination of several of these factors. Environmental changes in one of these factors will therefore influence the borderlines of the zones. The lower zone of Z. marina will be mainly affected by increased turbidity, sediment dynamics, degree of desiccation during low tide and nutrient load. The higher zone will be affected by increases in water and sediment dynamics, desiccation rates and nutrient loads. Potential Z. marina habitats are located above approx. –0.80 m mean sea level (when turbidity remains at the same level as in the early 1990s) in sheltered, undisturbed locations, and preferably where some freshwater influence is present. At locations with a high, near-marine, salinity, the nutrient load has to be low to allow the growth of Z. marina. The sediment should retain enough water during low tide to keep the plants moist. Our results suggest that the return of Z. marina beds within a reasonable time-scale will require not only suitable habitat conditions, but also revegetation measures, as the changes in the environment resulting from the disappearance of Z. marina may impede its recovery, and the natural import of propagules will be unlikely. Furthermore, the lower zone of Z. marina may require a genotype that is no longer found in the Wadden Sea. Received: 26 April 1999 / Received in revised form: 15 October 1999 / Accepted: 16 October 1999     

Documentation of the presence of Gmelinoides fasciatus (Stebbing, 1899) and the native benthic fauna in the Volga River at Tver (Tver Region,Russia)

In the Volga Basin, the small Baikalian amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus was introduced in 1965 into the Gorky reservoir in order to enhance fish production; it appeared in 1986 in the Rybinsk reservoir and we recorded it during monitoring activities in 2006 at Tver. In total, at the monitoring site Tver/Migalovo 69 benthic invertebrate taxa were identified. We compared data from three summer seasons. During summer low flow period Gmelinoides fasciatus did not exceed a share of 12.6% considering individual (ind) densities (mean abundance 165 ± 104 ind m^?2) and 14.2% considering biomass (mean biomass 0.39 ± 0.44 g m^?2). Abundances and biomass of G. fasciatus were shown to be stable over three years and no increase was observed. The monthly dataset (March–November 2008) revealed dynamics in relation to the native benthic communities and it was shown that the maximal densities of Gmelinoides did not exceed 587 ind m^–2. Understanding the effects on benthic communities caused by the invasive amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus is crucial in order to predict further developments in European inland waters and to establish management strategies.     

Effect of dolichyl monophosphate on the permeability properties of lipid membranes

The effect of dolichyl monophosphate on the permeability properties of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers to alkaline cations, Ca²⁺ and glucose has been determined by stop-flow spectrophotometry. The results show that, in con trast to free dolichol effects, the monophosphate derivative increased the permeability following a decreasing order of the permeating particle size. Phase diagrams indicate that dolichyl monophosphate is fully incorporated into the phosphatidylcholine bilayer around 0.75% weight/weight ratio. For these ratios, the permeation of ions is higher in the gel than in the liquid crystalline state.     

Biotic and abiotic determinants of the formation of ant mosaics in primary Neotropical rainforests

1. Ants are widespread in tropical rainforests, including in the canopy where territorially dominant arboreal species represent the main part of the arthropod biomass. 2. By mapping the territories of dominant arboreal ant species and using a null model analysis and a pairwise approach this study was able to show the presence of an ant mosaic on the upper canopy of a primary Neotropical rainforest (c. 1 ha sampled; 157 tall trees from 28 families). Although Neotropical rainforest canopies are frequently irregular, with tree crowns at different heights breaking the continuity of the territories of dominant ants, the latter are preserved via underground galleries or trails laid on the ground. 3. The distribution of the trees influences the structure of the ant mosaic, something related to the attractiveness of tree taxa for certain arboreal ant species rather than others. 4. Small‐scale natural disturbances, most likely strong winds in the area studied (presence of canopy gaps), play a role by favouring the presence of two ant species typical of secondary formations: Camponotus femoratus and Crematogaster levior, which live in parabiosis (i.e. share territories and nests but lodge in different cavities) and build conspicuous ant gardens. In addition, pioneer Cecropia myrmecophytic trees were recorded.     

Factors determining the reconstructive denaturation of proteins in sodium dodecyl sulfate solutions. Further circular dichroism studies on structural reorganization of seven proteins

The factors determining the onset and extent of reconstructive denaturation of proteins were considered by comparing circular dichroism (CD) data of seven proteins and previously published findings. The effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the conformation of the following proteins were tested: lysozyme, the mitogens fromPhytolacca americana (fractions Pa2 and Pa4), lectin fromWistaria floribunda, ovine lutropin, a Bence Jones protein, and histone H2B. While the helix content of lysozyme was raised by SDS slightly, in the Bence Jones protein andW. floribunda lectin it increased from near zero to about 25–30%. In histone H2B the helix content was raised by SDS even to about 48%. However, no clear indication of helix formation could be observed in the mitogens and lutropin, even at low pH or 2.0–2.5. The tertiary structure of the proteins was perturbed by SDS. It was concluded that the reorganization of secondary structure of the proteins was favored by the following factors: (1) presence of helicogenic amino acid sequences in the protein, (2) availability of positively charged sites of the basic amino acids for interactions with the dodecyl ion, (3) absence of a large surplus of negatively charged sites on the surface of protein, and (4) absence of extensive disulfide cross-linking within the macromolecule. Both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions occur in reconstructive denaturation, and the newly formed helices are stabilized by hydrophobic shielding by the alkyl chains of the alkyl sulfate.     

How does the cumulative impacts approach support Maritime Spatial Planning?

Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) needs to incorporate spatial information on human impacts. As human activities and uses increase in marine and coastal waters around the world, pressures in ecosystems are also increasing, leading to multiple adverse effects on different species and habitats. The European Directive on MSP aims to achieve an integrated approach to marine governance, whilst securing and maintaining the healthy status of marine and coastal waters, in accordance with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The latter requires Member States to develop assessments not only on pressures and impacts, but also on the state of the marine environment and then take measures towards reaching a Good Environmental Status by 2020.The Portuguese Maritime Spatial Plan – Plano de Ordenamento do Espaço Marítimo (POEM) was developed between 2009 and 2012. In 2014 a law establishing the Basis for the Spatial Planning and Management of the National Maritime Space was enacted and in 2015 the framework for the elaboration of a new national Maritime Spatial Plan, named Situation Plan, was established. Portugal will face, in the next five years, the challenge of planning and managing its marine space, whilst promoting its sustainable use and protection.This study adapted a cumulative effects assessment model to understand how the impacts from multiple threats affect the marine and coastal ecosystems and, how this information can be used to improve the management process. Information was gathered on intensity and distribution of activities and uses for the Portuguese continental subdivision marine area, quantified and mapped their cumulative impacts in marine ecosystems, and overlapped with the POEM. Results show that impacts are spreading from the coast up to the Contiguous Zone. Higher scores appear in Transitional and Coastal Waters in the north (Viana do Castelo/Figueira da Foz), centre (Peniche/Setúbal) and south (Lagos/Faro). In some areas with higher ranks, statutes of nature conservation are already in place, but potential activities may still occur on top of existing ones. This study shows that the adapted model is a helpful tool to clarify ocean planning, identify areas of potential conflicts among users and support the decision making process.     

Head width–body mass equation: facilitating worker termite biomass estimates

1. Termites are one of the most important invertebrate ecosystem engineers in tropical regions, which may be quantified using termite biomass data. However, biomass data are particularly difficult to collect as they rely on termites being weighed in the field, which may neither be possible nor convenient. Local scale linear regression models, based on termite head widths (mm) and body masses (mg), have been used in the past to estimate termite biomass using head width and abundance data. However, these models represent very limited numbers of termite taxa from single sites. In the present study, I provide one of the most representative linear regression models available based on 90 samples from three different countries (Peru, Kenya, and Malaysia). 2. Although the linear regression model under‐ or overestimated body weights of taxa with characteristic features (e.g. large heads of Odontotermes workers or elongated abdomens of Kalotermitidae) it provides a robust method for estimating termite biomass at the community level. Additionally, while there are limitations related to the general model, which may be solved by focusing on taxa specific data and the use of higher accuracy equipment, it is the first model to facilitate termite biomass estimates using the head with and abundance data only. 3. This study encourages the use of termite biomass data to gain a better understanding of termites in ecosystem processes and calls for comparative data to be gathered for the purpose of creating models that may be representative of the variability among termite taxa.     

Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: It is time for dispersal experiments

The experimental study of the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function has mainly addressed the effect of species and number of functional groups. In theory, this approach has mainly focused on how extinction affects function, whereas dispersal limitation of ecosystem function has been rarely discussed. A handful of seed introduction experiments, as well as numerous observations of the effects of long‐distance dispersal of alien species, indicate that ecosystem function may be strongly determined by dispersal limitation at the local, regional and/or global scales. We suggest that it is time to replace biodiversity manipulation experiments, based on random draw of species, with those addressing realistic scenarios of either extinction or dispersal. Experiments disentangling the dispersal limitation of ecosystem function should have to take into account the probability of arrival. The latter is defined as the probability that a propagule of a particular species will arrive at a particular community. Arrival probability depends on the dispersal ability and the number of propagules of a species, the distance a species needs to travel, and the permeability of the matrix landscape. Current databases, in particular those in northwestern and central Europe now enable robust estimation of arrival probability in plant communities. We suggest a general hypothesis claiming that dispersal limitation according to arrival probability will have ecosystem‐level effects different from those arising due to random arrival. This hypothesis may be rendered more region‐, landscape‐ or ecosystem‐specific by estimating arrival probabilities for different background conditions.     

The structure of 180° supernumerary limbs and a hypothesis of their formation

The results of a detailed analysis of 100 supernumerary limbs generated by 180° ipsilateral rotation (on the same limb stump) of regeneration blastemas is presented. The limbs were analyzed in terms of their position of origin, frequency, cartilage structure by Victoria blue staining, and muscle structure by serial sections. Single, double, or triple supernumeraries can be produced at no unique position of origin, although the posterodorsal quadrant was preferred. Four classes of supernumerary limbs were generated by such operations—normal; double dorsal or double ventral; part normal/part mirror imaged; part normal/part inverted in approximately equal frequencies. After amputation of these supernumeraries the same muscle patterns are faithfully regenerated. A hypothesis to explain the production of these abnormal limbs is proposed based on the observed phenomenon of fusion of supernumerary blastemata, but their regenerative behaviour presents problems for current models of pattern formation. Similar results have been obtained with developing limb buds and the relation between development and regeneration is discussed.     

Stand height and cover type complement forest age structure as a biodiversity indicator in boreal and northern temperate forest management

Forest age structure is one of the main indicators of biodiversity in temperate and boreal forests worldwide. This indicator was mainly chosen for the conservation of a subset of rare or sensitive species related to the oldest age classes, not to capture variability across the entire biodiversity spectrum, but is often considered as such. In this study, we analysed alpha and beta diversity in temporary plots of western Quebec, Canada, to consider biodiversity indicators complementary to existing forest age structure targets. Our analysis revealed that considered individually, stand characteristics such as cover type and height are better predictors of changes in site-level contribution to tree beta diversity than age. We also show that plots belonging to different age classes can be similar in terms of tree alpha diversity. Height class was found to have a more significant impact on tree alpha diversity than expected: height was more important than age in coniferous forests, and in deciduous and mixedwood stands it frequently complemented age in explaining the observed diversity patterns. Our results suggest that forest age structure target levels should not be used as the sole indicator of ecosystem sustainability, and that some mature secondary stands can provide significant contributions to biodiversity. We propose that more efficient trade-offs between forest exploitation, ecosystem functioning and environmental conservation can be attained if: (i) forest age structure targets are complemented by cover type and stand height; or (ii) complementary biodiversity indicators of ecosystem sustainability are implemented.