Planktonic and Littoral Microcrustaceans as Indices of Recovery in Limed Lakes in SE Norway

A two year study of planktonic and littoral microcrustaceans (Cladocera and Copepoda) from 15 lakes in the southeastern part of Norway, Østfold county, document the recovery of acidified lakes due to liming. Six lakes that where limed about 10 years ago, seven acid and two neutral reference lakes, were sampled twice a year (1998 and 1999). One acid lake was limed in autumn 1998. Qualitative nethaul samples from the deepest part of the lake and from the most frequent habitat in the littoral zone were used. The limed lakes had a species composition which indicates that these lakes are about to recover. Species associated with neutral lakes dominates while acid-tolerant species were rare. The acid-sensitive species, Daphnia longispina and D. cristata, were found in the limed lakes. This study shows the usefulness of a low-cost sampling program where microcrustaceans are used as bioindicators of recovery.     

Breast-feeding at 12 months of age and dietary habits among breast-fed and non-breast-fed infants

OBJECTIVE: To analyse factors associated with breast-feeding and use of sweetened drinks at 12 months, and to compare dietary habits among breast-fed and non-breast-fed infants. DESIGN: Data were collected by a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire filled in by the parents. SETTING: National dietary survey in Norway. SUBJECTS: In total, 1932 12-month-old infants were included. RESULTS: At 12 months, 36% of the infants were breast-fed. The odds of breast-feeding at this age were more than doubled both for mothers > or =35 years compared with mothers <25 years and for mothers in the highest educational group compared with mothers in the lowest. A negative association was found for maternal smoking, and the odds of breast-feeding were 40% lower for mothers who smoked than for non-smokers. Some dietary differences were observed between breast-fed and non-breast-fed infants apart from intake of milk. In particular, breast-fed infants had a significantly lower daily intake of sweetened drinks than non-breast-fed infants and a 16% lower mean daily intake of added sugars (P<0.001). Furthermore, breast-fed infants had 30% higher odds of not receiving sweetened drinks daily, compared with non-breast-fed infants. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal age, education and smoking status were important factors for breast-feeding at 12 months. Breast-fed infants had lower intakes of sweetened drinks and added sugars than non-breast-fed infants. From a public health perspective, continued promotion of breast-feeding is needed to reduce inequalities in breast-feeding. Moreover, prevention of high intakes of sweetened drinks and added sugars should start in infancy.     

Prevention of translational frameshifting by the modified nucleoside 1-methylguanosine

The methylated nucleoside 1-methylguanosine (m1G) is present next to the 3' end of the anticodon (position 37) in all transfer RNAs (tRNAs) that read codons starting with C except in those tRNAs that read CAN codons. All of the three proline tRNA species, which read CCN codons in Salmonella typhimurium, have been sequenced and shown to contain m1G in position 37. A mutant of S. typhimurium that lacks m1G in its tRNA when grown at temperatures above 37 degrees C, has now been isolated. The mutation (trmD3) responsible for this methylation deficiency is in the structural gene (trmD) for the tRNA(m1G37)methyltransferase. Therefore, the three proline tRNAs in the trmD3 mutant have an unmodified guanosine at position 37. Furthermore, the trmD3 mutation also causes at least one of the tRNAPro species to frequently shift frame when C's are present successively in the message. Thus, m1G appears to prevent frameshifting. The data from eubacteria apply to both eukaryotes and archaebacteria.     

A slowly progressive retinopathy in the Shetland Sheepdog

Objective To describe a slowly progressive retinopathy (SPR) in Shetland Sheepdogs. Animals Forty adult Shetlands Sheepdogs with ophthalmoscopic signs of SPR and six normal Shetland Sheepdogs were included in the study. Procedure Ophthalmic examination including slit‐lamp biomicroscopy and ophthalmoscopy was performed in all dogs. Electroretinograms and obstacle course‐test were performed in 13 affected and 6 normal dogs. The SPR dogs were subdivided into two groups according to their dark‐adapted b‐wave amplitudes. SPR1‐dogs had ophthalmoscopic signs of SPR, but normal dark‐adapted b‐wave amplitudes. Dogs with both ophthalmoscopic signs and subnormal, dark‐adapted b‐wave amplitudes were assigned to group SPR2. Eyes from two SPR2 dogs were obtained for microscopic examination. Results The ophthalmoscopic changes included bilateral, symmetrical, greyish discoloration in the peripheral tapetal fundus with normal or marginally attenuated vessels. Repeated examination showed that the ophthalmoscopic changes slowly spread across the central parts of the tapetal fundus, but did not progress to obvious neuroretinal thinning presenting as tapetal hyper‐reflectivity. The dogs did not appear seriously visually impaired. SPR2 showed significantly reduced b‐wave amplitudes throughout dark‐adaptation. Microscopy showed thinning of the outer nuclear layer and abnormal appearance of rod and cone outer segments. Testing for the progressive rod–cone degeneration ( prcd )‐mutation in three dogs with SPR was negative. Conclusion Slowly progressive retinopathy is a generalized rod–cone degeneration that on ophthalmoscopy looks similar to early stages of progressive retinal atrophy. The ophthalmoscopic findings are slowly progressive without tapetal hyper‐reflectivity. Visual impairment is not obvious and the electroretinogram is more subtly altered than in progressive retinal atrophy. The etiology remains unclear. SPR is not caused by the prcd‐mutation.     

Trophic interactions between rhizosphere bacteria and bacterial feeders influenced by phosphate and aphids in barley

The aim was to study the effects of P fertilization and leaf aphid attack on the trophic interactions of bacteria and bacterial feeders in the rhizospheres of barley plants. The density of protozoa peaked in the rhizospheres of plants fertilized with N and P, whereas nematodes peaked in the rhizospheres of plants to which only N had been added. Fingerprinting of bacterial communities by length heterogeneity polymerase chain reaction revealed differences in community structure between NP rhizospheres and N rhizospheres as well as aphid-related differences within N rhizospheres. Specifically, α-proteobacteria increased with P addition. To evaluate if differences in bacteria in terms of their quality as food could partly explain the observed differences in protozoan and nematode abundances, growth of the flagellate Cercomonas sp. was assessed with 935 bacteria isolated from the different treatments. This assay indicated that bacterial isolates were of higher food quality to Cercomonas sp. in NP than in N rhizospheres when plants were subjected to aphid attack. Bacteria of high and low food quality for Cercomonas sp., respectively, were fed to the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and larval production examined. α-Proteobacteria supported the growth of Cercomonas sp. well, whereas Actinobacteria did not. In contrast, C. elegans reproduced poorly on most α-proteobacteria but were able to reproduce well on some Actinobacteria. These results suggest that the different response of protozoa and nematodes to P addition could be mediated through a food quality-related change in community composition of bacteria and that leaf aphid attack may interfere with nutrient effects on bacterial assemblages of rhizospheres.     

In Situ Avoidance Response Of Adult Atlantic Salmon To Waste From The Wood Pulp Industry

An accidental release of non-toxic waste from decommissioned wood pulp industry in the River Numedalslågen, Southern Norway, occurred in the upper part of the accessible stretches for anadromous fish during a study of migration behaviour of radio tagged Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, n=32, body length 51–99 cm). The fish had completed the migration phase and initiated the resident phase characterised by little movement until spawning. When the wooden fibres and pulp were released, 16 of 32 (50%) salmon showed an immediate avoidance response. Six (19%) salmon moved upstream and 10 (31%) salmon moved downstream. Of the salmon moving downstream, eight (25%) moved all the way to sea (average 14.8 km). Four re-entered the River Numedalslågen, two entered a neighbouring river and two were not recorded later. Fish moving downstream but without moving to the sea, moved on average 5.3 km during the episode, whereas those moving upstream moved on average 6.7 km. All fish recorded after the episode (n=30) survived until the spawning season. The study demonstrates that fish in nature may show an evident avoidance response, even to non-toxic contaminants. For Atlantic salmon, the size of the spawning population may be reduced by fish leaving the river (13% left the river and never came back). Moreover, the dispersal of salmon to other rivers may increase, and the distribution of the spawning population within the contaminated river may shift.     

The identification of dilignols from dehydrogenation mixtures of coniferyl alcohol and apocynol [4-(1-Hydroxyethyl)-2-methoxyphenol] by LC-ES-MS/MS

A LC-ES-MS/MS method for the identification of dilignols formed by the oxidative cross-coupling of coniferyl alcohol and apocynol has been developed. The identification is based on the generation of ammonium adduct ions [M + NH(4)](+) by electrospray ionization and thereafter the following fragmentation patterns for the selected precursor ions. Fragmentation of several arylglycerol-beta-aryl ether (beta-O-4) and phenyl coumarane (beta-5) model compounds were studied as a reference.     

Reduction of decomposition rates of scots pine needle litter due to heavy-metal pollution

Decomposition of unpolluted Scots pine needle litter was studied in two heavy-metal-pollution gradients in Sweden; one near a brass mill and the other around a primary smelter. In the latter area locally collected polluted Scots pine needle litter was also incubated. Decomposition rates were strongly influenced by the metal pollution and a decrease in the rate of mass-loss occurred. In the brass-mill gradient this occurred until about 1 km from the pollution source which corresponded to about 500 µg Cu and 1 000 µg Zn g^?1 soil. Data are presented to indicate that lignin decomposition was more sensitive to pollution than decomposition of whole litter and affected further away from the pollution sources. At the smelter sites, the metal-polluted needle litter decomposed more slowly than the unpolluted needle litter, and this difference was enhanced close to the smelter. The results indicate that heavy metals accumulated in needles prior to shedding have a long-term impact on the subsequent decomposition of the litter. Both litter quality and soil factors thus contribute to the reduced litter decomposition rate in metal-polluted forests. A new non-linear model with decreasing decay rate was used in the statistical evaluation. The model can be used to characterize the effects of pollution on decomposition rate.     

Assessment of C budget for grasslands and drylands of the world

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates indicate that potential changes in seasonal rainfall and temperature patterns in central North America and the African Sahel will have a greater impact on biological response (such as plant production and biogeochemical cycling) and feedback to climate than changes in the overall amount of annual rainfall. Simulation of grassland and dryland ecosystem responses to climate and CO₂ changes demonstrates the sensitivity of plant productivity and soil C storage to projected changes in precipitation, temperature and atmospheric CO₂. Using three different land cover projections, changes in C levels in the grassland and dryland regions from 1800 to 1990 were estimated to be ?13.2, ?25.5 and ?14.7 Pg, i.e., a net source of C due to land cover removal resulting from cropland conversion. Projections into the future based on a double-CO₂ climate including climate-driven shifts in biome areas by the year 2040 resulted in a net sink of +5.6, +27.4 and +26.8 Pg, respectively, based upon sustainable grassland management. The increase in C storage resulted mainly from an increase in area for the warm grassland sub-biome, together with increased soil organic matter. Preliminary modeling estimates of soil C losses due to 50 yr of regressive land management in these grassland and dryland ecoregions result in a 11 Pg loss relative to current conditions, and a potential loss of 37 Pg during a 50 yr period relative to sustainable land-use practices, an average source of 0.7 Pg C yr^?1. Estimates of the cost of a 20 yr rehabilitation program are 5 to 8×10⁹ US$ yr^?1, for a C sequestering cost of approximately 10 US$ per tC.