The seasonal dynamics of Copidodiaptomus numidicus (Gurney, 1909) and Thermocyclops dybowskii (Lande, 1890) in Castelo-do-Bode Reservoir

We investigated the population dynamics of Copidodiaptomus numidicus (Copepoda: Calanoida) and Thermocyclops dybowskii (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) in Castelo-do-Bode Reservoir (Portugal). Both species in the reservoir were regulated mainly by food availability during the summers of 1993 and 1994. C. numidicus was always more abundant than T. dybowskii in the reservoir. C. numidicus produced two generations during the sampling period of both years whereas T. dybowskii produced two and three generations in 1993 and 1994, respectively. Because of high temperatures and low rainfall in 1994, the reservoir was more eutrophic than in 1993. Higher clutch size and a higher percentage of ovigerous females suggest that both species were benefiting from better feeding conditions in 1994. Despite this, population growth was reduced in 1994 relatively to 1993. Vertebrate predation and predation by copepods seem to have been minor factors in explaining this decline. However, the presence of Mesostoma sp. in the reservoir may have contributed to the reduction of both copepod populations during specific periods in 1994 although the calanoid was more affected than the cyclopoid by this predation.     

Reproductive activity and physiological status of the calanoid copepods Calanus helgolandicus and Calanoides carinatus under food-limiting conditions

The reproductive activity and the physiological state of the calanoid copepods Calanus helgolandicus and Calanoides carinatus were investigated off the coast of NW Spain during autumn to evaluate the effect of short food resources on both populations. Phytoplankton biomass was low, and neither phytoplankton size distribution nor composition was suitable to support high reproductive rates. Accordingly, egg production rates (EPR) were much lower than maximum rates for both species, pointing to food limitation. The reproductive index (RI), which represents the proportion of females with mature gonads, was < 50% at each of the three zones into which the sampling area was divided (coast, shelf and ocean). Potential recruitment rates were very low except at some nearshore stations, where the highest concentrations of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), diatoms, dinoflagellates and large cells were found. EPR of C. helgolandicus and C. carinatus were correlated with phytoplankton biomass and unaffected by temperature. Phytoplankton carbon ingestion explained ca. 50% of the variability in EPR for both species. At most of the stations, herbivory was insufficient to cover the carbon requirements for reproduction and respiration, so females probably fed on heterotrophic prey to meet their demands. However, given the low fecundity observed, this omnivorous diet did not seem to be optimum for reproduction, and a severe food limitation is thus suggested. Furthermore, the high C/N values measured point to a notable lipid storage, but given the low EPR found, lipid reserves were probably invested into female maintenance rather than into gonad maturation. C. helgolandicus and C. carinatus populations did not mirror phytoplankton biomass distribution, but they correlated well when considering only copepodites V (CV). The CV could be preparing for the overwintering, storing lipid reserves to ensure a successful diapause, and they could also be advected by the poleward current detected during the study. Females showed a diel feeding rhythm, with highest ingestion rates during night. From our results, it follows that C. helgolandicus and C. carinatus females did not perform diel vertical migrations. We suggest that this behaviour is likely due to the food-limiting conditions, which make it more advantageous to remain at the surface during daytime.     

The effects of manipulation of sedimentary iron and organic matter on sediment biogeochemistry and seagrasses in a subtropical carbonate environment

The microbial metabolism of organic matter (OM) in seagrass beds can create sulfidic conditions detrimental to seagrass growth; iron (Fe) potentially has ameliorating effects through titration of the sulfides and the precipitation of iron-sulfide minerals into the sediment. In this study, the biogeochemical effects of Fe availability and its interplay with sulfur and OM on sulfide toxicity, phosphorous (P) availability, seagrass growth and community structure were tested. The availability of Fe and OM was manipulated in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment arranged in a Latin square, with four replicates per treatment. The treatments included the addition of Fe, the addition of OM, the addition of both Fe and OM as well as no addition. The experiment was conducted in an oligotrophic, iron-deficient seagrass bed. Fe had an 84.5% retention efficiency in the sediments with the concentration of Fe increasing in the seagrass leaves over the course of the experiment. Porewater chemistry was significantly altered with a dramatic decrease in sulfide levels in Fe addition plots while sulfide levels increased in the OM addition treatments. Phosphorus increased in seagrass leaves collected in the Fe addition plots. Decreased sulfide stress was evidenced by heavier δ³⁴S in leaves and rhizomes from plots to which Fe was added. The OM addition negatively affected seagrass growth but increased P availability; the reduced sulfide stress in Fe added plots resulted in elevated productivity. Fe availability may be an important determinant of the impact that OM has on seagrass vitality in carbonate sediments vegetated with seagrasses.     

Nutritional interaction in an alga-barnacle association

Nitrogen is the major growth-limiting nutrient for marine algae. One potential source of nitrogen for marine algae is ammonium released by invertebrates. Many mid-intertidal reefs in northeastern New Zealand are dominated by a close association between the honeycomb barnacle Chamaesipho columna and an encusting brown alga Pseudolithoderma sp. Growth of Pseudolithoderma was enhanced in the presence of live C. columna, which released ammonium at a greater rate than the maximum rate of ammonium uptake by Pseudolithoderma. Algal tissue on barnacle tests had a lower C:N ratio than tissue located more than 2 cm from the nearest barnacle, suggesting the barnacle is an important source of nitrogen for the alga. The role of nutrient exchange in determining ecological patterns of species in marine communities is discussed.     

Experimental assessment of the fecundity of Eucypris virens (Ostracoda, Crustacea) under natural sex ratios

1. The adaptive significance of the observed variations in sex ratios in non‐marine ostracods is unclear. This study quantified the fecundity of females taken from a presumed fully sexual Eucypris virens population that were experimentally combined with different proportions of males (male : female sex ratios: 1 : 1, 1 : 2, 1 : 4, 1 : 8 and 0 : 1). 2. The results yielded no indications that female fecundity is altered by short‐term variations in the proportion of males, at least not within the range of sex ratios that are common in natural ostracod populations. Complete removal of males, however, did strongly reduce hatching success of dried eggs. This suggests the need for multiple mating events during the reproductive lifetime of the female. It also emphasizes the need for a minimum number of males, although this minimum number evidently may be rather low, as we found a high number of spermatozoa in the seminal receptacles after a single mating event. 3. The sex ratio in the source population was strongly female biased (1 : 3.4; n = 514), whereas in the hatchling assemblages reared in the laboratory, males and females were found in equal proportions (1 : 1.0; n = 1516), irrespective of the prevailing sex ratio. This clear discrepancy is intriguing, and points to the importance of epigenetic factors for the determination of field sex ratios.     

Problems with the use of terracotta clay saucers as phosphorus-diffusing substrata to assess nutrient limitation of epilithic algae

1. We examined the diffusion properties of terracotta clay saucers, of types often used as components in phosphorus-diffusing substrata for investigating nutrient limitation of epilithic algae.
2. Laboratory experiments showed that phosphorus diffusion was low and inconsistent (0.06–2.6 mg P day⁻¹) through clay saucers filled with agar containing orthophosphate. Similarly, in situ release of phosphorus from two types of terracotta clay saucers (Australian and Italian) was variable (2–8 mg P day⁻¹; 5–25%) under three flow regimes (0, 0.1 and 0.3 m s⁻¹) over 30 days, with most phosphorus being released during the first day. Clogging of pores by agar appears to prevent the diffusion of phosphorus through the terracotta clay saucers. However, the two types of terracotta clay saucer also irreversibly sorbed large quantities of phosphorus (40–140 mg P).
3. Individual saucers can have markedly different physical and chemical properties both within and among terracotta types. Terracotta saucers also contain large quantities of iron, calcium and aluminium that are known binding agents for phosphorus. Variability in saucer composition and diffusion properties makes treatments difficult to replicate and weakens comparisons between studies that have used terracotta with different clay composition and manufacture.
4. We recommend that phosphorus-diffusing substrata should not be constructed from terracotta clay components.     

Experimental studies of exploitative competition in a grazing stream insect

Summary Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to determine whether intraspecific competition for food occurs during the larval stage of the periphyton-grazing caddisfly Glossosoma nigrior (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae). Larvae were placed in field enclosures at densities less than, equal to, or greater than their natural densities. Most of these individuals began to pupate after 3 weeks, whereupon the mass of each individual was determined. Final mass declined significantly as larval densities increased, whereas neither developmental rate nor mortality/emigration rate was significantly affected by density manipulations. a supplemental experiment comparing the final mass of individuals grown at reduced densities in a laboratory stream with individuals from a natural stream bottom confirmed the results of the more extensive field experiment: reductions in density resulted in significant increases in final mass. Periphyton availability in field enclosures declined according to a negative exponential function as larval densities increased. Over the 25-fold range of larval densities used in these experiments, the final mass of individuals increased linearly with periphyton standing crops. This result suggests that Glossosoma larvae may compete for food even at densities below those employed in this study. Path analysis was used to explore the importance of indirect (i.e., exploitative) and direct (i.e, interference) mechanisms for the observed competitive effects. The analysis indicates that a model based solely on exploitation explains nearly as much of the variance in mass as a model incorporating both interference and exploitation.