Habitat selection in rock pool corixids: the effect of local density on dispersal

The corixid species breeding in temporary rock pools of Baltic archipelago live in a highly fragmented and unpredictable habitat. Shallow rock pools can dry out and be refilled repeatedly during a summer causing high mortality of immatures. In deeper pools, young nymphs face intense competition by older stages including cannibalism. The adult corixids move frequently between rock pools and are thus able to use currently available habitat for reproduction. In this dispersal behaviour, the ability to assess the local population density and hence select the more suitable low density patches would be advantageous. We studied the effect of local population density on the frequency of dispersive flights of Arctocorisa carinata (Sahlberg) and Callicorixa producta (Reuter) experimentally, using rock pools from which nymphs of both species were removed. The dispersal rates of marked C. producta adults were significantly lower from experimental rock pools than from normal density controls, leading to a concentration of C. producta adults in the experimental rock pools. Indications of immigration rate differences between the experimental and control pools were also observed. No clear differences were found in the superior competitor A. carinata.     

Externally attached radio transmitters do not affect the parental care behaviour of rock bass

Turning, pectoral fin and caudal fin rates and time spent on the nest of male rock bass Ambloplites rupestris , engaged in parental care, were not affected after the attachment of external radio transmitters. Reproductive success was similar between treatment and control fish. Micro external radio transmitters can be used on small fishes for studying parental care duration and post-care movement without altering their behaviour.     

Understanding Performance Degradation in Cation‐Disordered Rock‐Salt Oxide Cathodes

The collective redox activities of transition‐metal (TM) cations and oxygen anions have been shown to increase charge storage capacity in both Li‐rich layered and cation‐disordered rock‐salt cathodes. Repeated cycling involving anionic redox is known to trigger TM migration and phase transformation in layered Li‐ and Mn‐rich (LMR) oxides, however, detailed mechanistic understanding on the recently discovered Li‐rich rock‐salt cathodes is largely missing. The present study systematically investigates the effect of oxygen redox on a Li_1.3Nb_0.3Mn_0.4O₂ cathode and demonstrates that performance deterioration is directly correlated to the extent of oxygen redox. It is shown that voltage fade and hysteresis begin only after initiating anionic redox at high voltages, which grows progressively with either deeper oxidation of oxygen at higher potential or extended cycling. In contrast to what is reported on layered LMR oxides, extensive TM reduction is observed but phase transition is not detected in the cycled oxide. A densification/degradation mechanism is proposed accordingly which elucidates how a unique combination of extensive chemical reduction of TM and reduced quality of the Li percolation network in cation‐disordered rock‐salts can lead to performance degradation in these newer cathodes with 3D Li migration pathways. Design strategies to achieve balanced capacity and stability are also discussed.     

Comparison of Southern Appalachian high-elevation outcrop plant communities with their Northern Appalachian counterparts

Abstract. Southern Appalachian high-elevation outcrops harbour six regionally rare Northern Appalachian taxa usually considered relicts of a Pleistocene alpine flora. For five of the six taxa, minimum elevation in the south was 367–1113 m higher than in the north. While habitats compared between the two regions share only 9% of their total flora, individual plots had up to 70% of their species occurring in the opposite region. The northern affinity of southern outcrops increased with elevation, slope steepness, soil Cu, B and SO₄ and decreased with potential solar radiation and soil Na. As a result, communities above 1600 m on felsic bedrock, and above 1350 m on mafic bedrock, were most northern in composition. Northern affinity of southern outcrops also increased with latitude, which may partly result from closer geographic proximity to past communities that provided progenitors for the current northern flora. Northern treeless habitats increased in southern affinity with increased slope steepness, perennial seepage, vegetation height, shade, soil pH, Al, Mn, Na and decreased elevation and organic matter. As a result, northern outcrop communities below treeline were most similar to those on southern outcrops. This suggests that southern outcrop vegetation may be more similar to Pleistocene outcrop vegetation than to Pleistocene alpine vegetation. Partial constrained ordination showed that while compositional differences between the Northern and Southern Appalachian habitats were largely explained by environmental differences, there was a significant component of residual variation explained by north or south position that was unrelated to environment. These residual compositional differences may result from historical influences on community structure involving stochastic extinction and colonization processes.     

Effects of P-fertilization and inoculation by two vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth and nodulation ofCalopogonium caeruleum

The growth response ofCalopogonium caeruleum, a leguminous covercrop in plantation agriculture, to inoculation with two vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi was investigated in five phosphorus (P)-deficient soils supplied with various levels of rock phosphate. Significant shoot yield increases over the uninoculated controls were obtained in most sterilised or unsterilised soils at all applied P levels, although the inoculant VAM fungi differed in their effectiveness in the soils used. Responses in mycorrhizal root infections, P and nitrogen (N) concentrations in tops and plant nodulation varied. The results are discussed in relation to the edaphic environment of the mycorrhizal association.     

Characterization of proteolytic enzymes of the midgut and excreta of the biting fly Stomoxys calcitrans

Proteolytic enzymes were characterized in the midgut and the excreta of the stable fly Stomoxys calcitrans (L) with proteins, synthetic substrates, and inhibitors. Inhibition studies suggested trypsinlike activity in sugar-fed fly midguts, whereas excreta and blood-fed fly guts exhibited other proteases. Trypsinlike activity in midguts removed 20 and 30 h after a blood meal increased from 20% to 50% of the total proteolytic enzymes present. Trypsinlike activity was inhibited with human sera, trypsin-specific inhibitors, and a protein isolated from the stable fly thorax. When human albumin and globulin fractions were incubated with trypsinlike enzymes isolated from the midgut and excreta, the albumin fraction was less inhibitory than the globulin fractions and was readily hydrolyzed by the proteolytic enzymes. These results may indicate that the proteolytic enzymes produce an abortive complex with the globulin fractions of the sera. Such a complex may explain the temporary inhibition of proteolysis by the blood meal. Soybean trypsin inhibitor fed to stable flies caused 50% inhibition in proteolytic activity in the midguts of sugar-fed stable flies and 25% inhibition in the midguts of blood-fed stable flies. Complete inhibition of proteolytic enzyme activity was achieved only in vitro. pH profiles of proteolytic enzyme activity isolated from the excreta of blood-fed stable flies indicated that several proteolytic enzymes were excreted.     

Photosynthetic pathways in a midwestern rock outcrop succulent,Sedum nuttallianum Raf. (Crassulaceae)

Shoots of Sedum nuttallianum exhibited CAM^* acid fluctuations in the field. These nocturnal acid accumulations persisted in the laboratory under well-watered and water-stressed conditions. Simultaneous measurements of transpiration, however, indicated daytime stomatal opening and nocturnal stomatal closure. Measurements of CO₂ and H₂O vapor exchange continuously for six days after watering substantiated these results in part: the majority of CO₂ uptake occurred during the day early in the experiment; however, after several days without water, nighttime CO₂ uptake was stimulated and eventually was greater than the drastically reduced daytime CO₂ uptake. This nighttime uptake was never quite sufficient to account for all estimated increases in tissue acidity. Thus, a combination of CAM and CAM-cycling occurred early in the desiccation experiment. Evidence for CAM and a form of CAM-idling was found later in the experiment. Though nighttime CO₂ uptake occurred and persisted after only one day without water, rates were too low to alter the tissue ¹³C/¹²C value from a C₃-like number (–30). Thus, although CAM and CAM-idling may have survival value during extended droughts, shoots of S. nuttallianum apparently utilize the C₃ pathway to obtain most of their carbon.Abbreviations C₃ pathway - CO₂ fixation pathway in which an intermediate containing 3 carbon atoms is formed - CAM Crassulacean acid metabolism - Chl Chlorophyll - c_i internal CO₂ concentration - DW Dry weight - g_c mean conductance to CO₂ - FW Fresh weight - PAR Photosynthetically active radiation - SD Standard deviation - vpd Vapor pressure deficit - WUE Water use efficiency     

Ostrincola humesi sp. nov., a myicolid copepod (Poecilostomatoida) parasitic in rock oysters cultured in the Gulf of Thailand

A new species of poecilostomatoid copepod, Ostrincola humesi (Myicolidae), is described, based on specimens collected from the mantle cavity of the rock oyster, Saccostrea cucullata (Born), cultured in the Gulf of Thailand. A close comparison was made between the new species and Ostrincola koe Tanaka with which the new species was previously confused. A key to the nine species of Ostrincola is provided.