Halobates collected during the circumnavigational expedition 'Operation Drake'

Samples of marine pleuston were collected from the sea-surface along considerable sections of the track of Eye of the Wind during its 2-year circumnavigational expedition 'Operation Drake' from November 1978 to October 1980. One hundred and eleven of the tow samples contained insects of the genus Halobates . They were assigned to four oceanic species: H. micans, H. sericeus, H. germanus and H. splendens; two coastal species: H. maculatus, H. princeps, and one undescribed species. Various development stages of the oceanic species were found. The locations, time of collection and surface temperatures where sea-skaters were collected are tabulated. Distributional boundaries and population densities of the oceanic species collected are discussed.     

Immunohistochemical Localization of Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II in Rat Brain and Various Tissues

Polyclonal antibodies against Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) of rat brain were prepared by immunizing rabbits and then purified by antigen-affinity column. The antibodies which recognized both subunits of the enzyme with Mrs 49K and 60K were used for the study on the distribution of CaM kinase II in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. In the brain, a light-microscopic study demonstrated strong immunoreactivity in neuronal somata and dendrites and weak immunoreactivity in nuclei. The densely stained regions included cerebral cortex, hippocampal formation, striatum, substantia nigra, and cerebellar cortex. In substantia nigra, neurites were stained, but not neuronal somata. Electron microscopy revealed that the immunoreactive product was highly concentrated at the postsynaptic densities. In addition to neurons, weak immunoreactivity was also demonstrated in glial cells, such as astrocytes and ependymal cells of ventricles and epithelial cells of choroid plexus. In other tissues, strong immunoreactivity was observed in the islet of pancreas and moderate immunoreactivity in skeletal muscle and kidney tubules. Immunoreactivity was demonstrated in all of the tissues tested. The results suggest that CaM kinase II is widely distributed in the tissues.     

Influence of Meloidogyne incognita on Resistant and Susceptible Sweet Potato Cultivars

Effects of several population densities ofMeloidogyne incognita on the sweet potato cultivars Centennial (susceptible) and Jasper (moderately resistant) were studied. Field plots were infested with initial levels (Pi) of 0, 10, 100, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 eggs and juveniles/500 cm³ soil in 1980 and 0, 100, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, and 5,000 in 1981. M. incognita population development trends were similar on both cultivars; however, at high Pi, more eggs and juveniles were recovered from Centennial than from Jasper. The highest Pi did not result in the highest mid-season (Pm) counts. Pi was negatively correlated with the number of marketable roots and root weight but positively correlated with total cracked roots, percentage of cracked roots, and cracking severity. Jasper tolerated higher Pi with greater yields and better root quality than Centennial. Cracking of fleshy roots occurred with both cultivars at low Pi.     

Aquatic bird densities in two coastal lagoon systems in Chiapas State,Mexico, a preliminary assessment

Six bodies of water in two coastal lagoon systems were investigated in Chiapas State, Mexico between July, 1990 and February, 1991. The size of water bodies ranged from 102.5 to 847.5 ha. Salinity varied seasonally being the lowest in July during the rainy season (1.0) and highest in February (35.8). The waters are hypertrophic with total phosphorus concentrations as high 900 mg m^–3.The number of bird species was the highest in February (N = 9 to 23) and the lowest in July (N = 2 to 15). The majority of birds present are resident species of Mexico but several species of northern birds were present in February (e.g. Lesser Scoup, Osprey, Peregrin Falcon).The number of birds observed in the waterbodies varied during the study period being as high as 2800 Cormorants, 2300 White Pelicans and 681 Limpkins, at a particular time, or expressed in terms of units surface area of each lagoon 8.0, 2.7 and 1.9 individuals per hectare respectively. The daily food requirements of White Pelicans at such a high density is about 4.1 kg ha^–1 d^–1.The hypertrophic state of Cerritos Lagoon allows a sufficient level of production to support such a high food requirement. Considering the limited survey time spent on the lagoons the bird population numbers are probably underestimated.     

Sackville Waterfowl Park,Sackville, New Brunswick,Canada. Baseline characterization,towards long-term monitoring

The Sackville Waterfowl Park, contains a 19 hectare shallow freshwater wetland created by reflooding a saltwater marsh that was drained three centuries ago. Its primary purpose is to provide wetland habitat and wildlife viewing opportunities to tourists and residents. This newly created, eutrophic wetland supports high densities of waterfowl, 2.1 and 3.3 brood ha^–1 in 1991 and 1992 respectively. It is hoped that long term monitoring of the Park's waterfowl population and wetland habitat will contribute to a better understanding of factors controlling breeding waterfowl populations.     

A comparison of natural and human determinants of phytoplankton communities in the Kentucky River basin,USA

Physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the Kentucky River and its tributaries were assessed for one year to compare effects of seasonal, spatial, and human environmental factors on phytoplankton. Phytoplankton cell densities were highest in the fall and summer and lowest in the winter. Cell densities averaged 1162 (± 289 SE) cells m1^–1. Cell densities were positively correlated to water temperature and negatively correlated to dissolved oxygen concentration and to factors associated with high-flow conditions (such as, suspended sediment concentrations). Chrysophytes, diatoms, and blue-green algae dominated winter, spring, and summer assemblages, respectively. Ordination analyses (DCCA) indicated that variation in taxonomic composition of assemblages was associated with stream size as well as season.Spatial variation in phytoplankton assemblages and effects of humans was investigated by sampling 55 sites in low flow conditions during August. Phytoplankton density increased with stream size. Assemblages shifted in composition from those dominated by benthic diatoms upstream to downstream communities dominated by blue-green algae and small flagellates. Human impacts were assumed to cause higher algal densities in stream basins with high proportions of agricultural or urban land use than in basins with forested/mined land use. While density and composition of phytoplankton were positively correlated to agricultural land use, they were poorly correlated to nutrient concentrations. Phytoplankton diversity changed with water quality: decreasing with nutrient enrichment and increasing with conditions that probably changed species composition or inhibited algal growth. Human impacts on phytoplankton in running water ecosystems were as great or greater than effects by natural seasonal and spatial factors. Our results indicated that phytoplankton could be useful indicators of water quality and ecosystem integrity in large river systems.     

Distribution and Subcellular Localization of High-Molecular-Weight Microtubule-Associated Protein-2 Expressing Exon 8 in Brain and Spinal Cord

Abstract: The expression of high-molecular-weight (HMW) microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2) expressing exon 8 (MAP-2+8) was examined by immunoblotting during rat brain development and in sections of human CNS. In rat brain, HMW MAP-2+8 expression was detected at embryonic day 21 and increased during postnatal development. In adult rats, HMW MAP-2+8 comigrated with MAP-2a. In human adult brain, HMW MAP-2+8 was expressed in select neuronal populations, including pyramidal neurons of layers III and V of the neocortex and parahippocampal cortex, pyramidal neurons in the endplate, CA2 and subiculum of the hippocampus, and the medium-sized neurons of the basal ganglia. In the cerebellum, a subpopulation of Golgi neurons in the internal granular cell layer and most Purkinje cells were also stained. In the spinal cord staining was observed in large neurons of the anterior horn. Staining was present in cell bodies and dendrites but not in axons. At the ultra-structural level, HMW MAP-2+8 immunoreactivity was observed on mitochondrial membranes and in postsynaptic densities (PSDs) of some asymmetric synapses in the midfrontal cortex and spinal cord. Immunoblots of proteins isolated from enriched mitochondrial and PSD fractions from adult human frontal lobe and rat brains confirmed the presence of HMW MAP-2+8. The presence of HMW MAP-2+8 in dendrites and in close proximity to PSDs supports a role in structural and functional attributes of select excitatory CNS synapses.     

标志技术在研究小皱蝽成虫种群特征中的应用

应用标志－释放－回收技术研究小皱蝽成虫的主要种群特征,结果如下：（１）成虫扩散的偏离度Ｋｕ＝２．４,为一阶峻开曲线;（２）分别用Ｐｅｔｅｒｓｏｎ和Ｊａｃｋｓｏｎ方法对种群蜜度进行了估计,结果表明,Ｊａｃｋｓｏｎ的方法较好;（３）雄虫平均寿命４０－４５,虫平均寿命１２０－１３０。天。     

Effects of eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) removals from selected sites of a stream on its subsequent densities

We assessed the effect of eel (Anguilla anguilla) removal from three sites of a Cantabrian stream upon its subsequent densities. In the first sample (Sept. 1986) numbers and densities were estimated as 43, 45 and 84 ind and 3490, 3030 and 3750 ind ha ⁻¹. Removal of these eels reduced the subsequent numbers and densities which, except on two occasions, were never reached again during the two years (eleven estimates) of study. Highest densities were recorded in the uppermost site in May and July, 1987, coincident with a strong drought and the lowest densities occurred in 1988 during a normal wet year. We hypothesize first that, because of a selective underground homing behaviour of eels, electro-fishing is inefficient and results in underestimates of the population. Second, seasonal variations of water discharge and droughts may not influence the homing behaviour of'eels until a threshold of dryness is reached. If this occurs, eels abandon their refuges and move towards the stream bottom. It seems that in Arroyo Chabatchos this threshold was exceeded in the summer of 1987 when the highest densities were estimated. The re-colonization of these sites experimentally depleted of eels, is a slow procces that lasts for, at least, two years.     

Population dynamics of Meloidogyne incognita on black pepper plants in two agro-ecological regions in Vietnam

The objective of our study was to examine the effect of local environmental conditions, especially air temperature and rainfall, in two agro-ecological regions in Vietnam on the population dynamics of Meloidogyne incognita on black pepper plants and on percentage root galling. The two study sites were situated in Cam Lo, Quang Tri province (North Central Coast) and Buon Ma Thuot, Dac Lac province (Central Highlands). At the study sites, 13 plant-parasitic nematode taxa belonging to 12 genera were identified. Ten of these taxa were present in both study sites. Helicotylenchus certus, Hemicriconemoides cocophilus and Pratylenchus coffeae were only found in Buon Ma Thuot. Based on nematode population densities, M. incognita was the most abundant taxon present. Rainfall and air temperature differed significantly between the two study sites. The most important climatic difference was rainfall: in Buon Ma Thuot, the rainy season lasted 2 months longer and the monthly rainfall during the rainy season was much higher compared to Cam Lo. Although this difference resulted in some differences in the population dynamics of M. incognita in the soil and roots of the black pepper variety Vinh Linh, the highest root population densities were observed in both study sites during the first half of the dry season. In Cam Lo, the highest percentage root galling was observed during the first half of the dry season. In Buon Ma Thuot, the highest percentage root galling was observed towards the end of the rainy season. Estimating the population densities if M. incognita to decide on the application of a management strategy should be done during the first half of the dry season.