Divergent, genetically based feeding behaviour of two sympatric Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), morphs

Abstract –  Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), is one of the several northern fishes that show resource polymorphisms in postglacial lakes. Two reproductively isolated morphs of Arctic charr coexist in distinct ecological niches in the subarctic lake Fjellfrøsvatn, North Norway. Offspring of the two morphs (termed littoral charr and profundal charr) were reared separately but under identical conditions. Their feeding behaviour was compared experimentally using different kinds of live prey. The fishes had no experience with natural prey before the experiments. The littoral morph were more effective in eating live plankton ( Daphnia ) and littoral benthos ( Gammarus ), and had a higher attack rate against pleuston (surface prey, Gerris ) compared with the profundal morph. The two morphs behaved in accordance with expectations from their in situ niche utilisation towards the three prey types. This indicates a case of incipient ecological speciation where divergence in resource utilisation in contrasting niches has evolved adaptations in feeding behaviour by natural selection.     

Use of treated mine water for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) culture: a production scale assessment

In previous proof-of-concept work, it was shown that the use of treated coal mine water for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) culture in a cage was technically feasible, though only a 50-fish bioassay was grown and no work on production-related issues was conducted. To further advance the use of treated mine water, an under-utilized water resource throughout Mid Appalachia, work was conducted to assess the effects of using treated coal mine water for the intensive production of rainbow trout in a flow-through system. During this study, comprehensive water quality data were collected to supplement fish weight and length data taken during routine monthly sampling events. The 8000 fish grew well in the raceway system over the 9 months of production, where a feed conversion ratio of 1.4 and a condition factor of 5.1 × 10⁻⁴ were measured with stocking and harvest densities of 26.4 and 50.2 kg/m³, respectively. Further, total net production was 3275 kg (7220 lb) with 98.6% survival. Throughout the study, dissolved ion concentrations (Fe, Al, Mg, Ca, and SO₄) often exceeded recommended tolerance limits. Further, elevated ammonia nitrogen concentrations generated from a component of the mine water-treatment process were identified as a potential limiting factor for aquaculture development. However, when the non-ideal effects of high ionic strength and the speciation of dissolved metal–ligand complexes were taken into account, the concentrations of free metal ions were within recommended tolerance limits.     

The mbuna cichlids of Lake Malawi: a model for rapid speciation and adaptive radiation

Mbuna, the dominant fishes on the rocky shores of Lake Malawi, have become a major ‘model system’ for the study of rapid speciation and adaptive radiation. At least 295 putative species are known, of which more than 200 remain undescribed. There is no good evidence for monophyly in the mbuna, rather mitochondrial DNA phylogenies indicate that they are polyphlyetic with respect to benthic feeding cichlids of the genera Aulonocara, Alticorpus and some species of Lethrinops. Male mbuna hold territories for 18 months or more and breed year‐round. All species are maternal mouthbrooders, but females do not guard free‐swimming young. Mbuna are polygamous (both sexes). There is sexual dimorphism in size, colour and fin length, and many species show within‐population colour polymorphism. Mbuna genera are largely differentiated on the basis of head, jaw and tooth morphology, but congeneric species are generally distinguished by male colour. Many morphologically specialized forms have broad diets and often feed on common easily obtainable resources. While it is likely that dietary and habitat niche partitioning contributes to species coexistence, this has never clearly been demonstrated under experimental conditions. Populations on spatially separated habitat patches are often genetically differentiated, probably because most species are specialized for life on rocky shores, and lack a dispersal phase in their life histories. Males seem to disperse more than females, but are able to home several kilometres back to their territories. Some closely related ecologically equivalent allopatric populations are differentiated in male colour. Those tested have been shown to mate at least partially assortatively. Sexual selection acting on male colour seems the most plausible mechanism for initial species divergence. The same colour forms seem to have arisen several times, suggesting frequent parallel evolution. The main conservation threat to mbuna at present seems to be translocation of species within the lake as a result of the aquarium trade. However, deleterious effects on indigenous populations are not documented. In the long run, sedimentation, pollution, introduction of alien species and the development of targeted food fisheries could be more serious threats.     

植物对硒的吸收转运和形态转化机制

阐述了植物对不同形态硒的吸收、转运和形态转化机制。植物主要吸收水溶性硒,包括部分有机硒、硒酸盐和亚硒酸盐。多数研究表明植物对硒酸盐的主动吸收是通过高亲和力的硫酸盐转运子完成,最近的研究表明磷酸盐可以调节亚硒酸盐的吸收,磷酸盐转运子在亚硒酸盐的主动吸收过程中有重要作用;植物吸收的硒酸盐很快从根部转移到地上部,在叶片中被还原成亚硒酸盐,进而转化为有机硒化物进入其他组织;而亚硒酸盐及其代谢产物主要积累在根部,极少转移到地上部。进入植物体中的硒转化为含硒氨基酸和硒蛋白参与植物的代谢。     

Metal‐Associated Forms and Speciation in Biosolid‐Amended Oxisols

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of pH and ionic strength on the distribution and speciation of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and cadmium (Cd) in surface soil samples from two Brazilian Oxisols amended with biosolids. Soils and biosolids were equilibrated in an experimental dual‐chamber diffusion apparatus that permits the soils and biosolids to react through a solution phase via diffusion across a membrane. After equilibrium was reached, soil and biosolids samples were sequentially fractionated to identify various solid forms of Zn, Cu, and Cd. Metal concentrations in the solution phase were determined and mass balance calculated. Equilibrating pH had no major effect on Cu solubility from biosolids and, at pH range from 4 to 7, most Cu remained in the biosolids. Soluble Zn and Cd concentration increased with decreasing pH because of the increased solubility of the biosolids. Copper and Zn were primarily associated with the residual fraction and Fe oxides in one soil, but were primarily associated with chemically unstable fractions, or adsorbed to the surface of oxides, in the other soil. In both soils, Cd was primarily associated with readily bioavailable fractions. The effect of pH on the metal distribution was more evident than the ionic strength effect. Free ions were the predominant metal species in solution, especially at lower pH values.     

Availability of Lead and Cadmium in Farmland Soil and Its Distribution in Individual Plants of Dry‐Seeded Rice

Abstract

Availability of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in farmland soils and its distribution in individual plants of dry‐seeded rice were investigated utilizing graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) with a matrix modification technique. Five extractants were compared, and the operating conditions for GFAAS were optimized. The detection limits were 4.2 ng for Pb with the precision of 1.54% and 0.1 ng for Cd with the precision of 2.38%. The contents of the extractable Pb and Cd in soils were determined with the five extractants, and availability of Pb and Cd in farmland soil was discussed. The contents of Pb and Cd in different parts of dry‐seeded rice were lower than those in dry‐seeded rice soil. The contents of Pb and Cd in rice were lower than in other parts. The end top leaves accumulated the highest amounts of Pb and Cd.     

Soil‐solution speciation by MINEQL+4.6 model and plant uptake of Cd and Zn by barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) after application of different phosphate fertilizers

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the immediate effect of application of mono‐ammonium phosphate (MAP), single superphosphate (SSP), and triple superphosphate (TSP) fertilizers containing varying concentrations of Cd on (1) chemical speciation of Cd and Zn in soil solution by chemical‐equilibrium calculations (MINEQL+4.6 model), (2) growth of barley plants, (3) concentrations of Cd, P, and Zn in soil solution and plant tissue, as well as total plant accumulation of Cd, P, and Zn, and (4) monitoring pH and element changes during incubation periods following phosphate application. Results show that, in general, the pH of soil solution increased during the first 40 d of incubation, then declined. Also, at the end of incubation period, pH of soil solution was affected by fertilization source and fertilization rate. The concentration of Cd in soil solution changed with time. Phosphate fertilization (p < 0.05) or fertilizer source (p < 0.05) showed consistent effects. Also, the application of phosphate fertilizers with three rates significantly increased Zn concentrations in soil solution during the first half (0–30 d) of incubation period and then decreased but still more than in the control. In general, application of different sources of phosphate at 100 g kg^–1 did not change the dominant forms of Cd in soil solution during all incubation time intervals. Speciation of Zn in the control after 30 d of incubation had changed, in comparison to 10 d of incubation, and the dominant forms were Zn²⁺, ZnOH⁺, ZnHCO₃, ZnCO₃(aq), and Zn(OH)₂(aq). Adding phosphate fertilizer significantly increased both shoot and root dry weight compared to control, indicating P was a growth‐limiting factor in the control plants. The Zn concentrations in shoot and root were lower in the TSP‐ and SSP‐fertilizers treatment than those in the MAP and fertilizer treatments at all rates of fertilization. Adding phosphate increased the Cd : Zn and P : Zn ratios in the shoot and root tissue, with the effect being greater with increasing fertilization rate. Phosphate fertilization greatly increased the total accumulation of Cd of barley compared with the control plants (p < 0.001), with the effect being greater with increasing fertilization rate. Source and rate of fertilizers, and their interactions had significant effect (p < 0.05) on Cd accumulation in the whole plant.     

渭河宝鸡段表层沉积物重金属污染研究

采用现场采样及室内分析方法,在对渭河宝鸡段表层沉积物基本理化性质分析的基础上,研究了沉积物中重金属的含量、赋存形态及迁移特征,并进行了污染评价。结果表明,沉积物中Zn、Co、Cd和Hg的平均含量均高于世界、中国和陕西土壤元素背景值,其中Cd（中国和陕西土壤元素背景值的4倍）和Hg（中国和世界土壤元素背景值的7~8倍、陕西土壤元素背景值的16倍）尤为突出。Cr、Ni、Zn、Cu和Co在沉积物中主要以残余态形式存在（50%以上）,Pb主要以可还原态形式存在（近55%）,Mn和Cd主要以乙酸可提取态形式存在（近50%）。重金属迁移顺序为Mn（56.70%）≈Pb（56.65%）〉Cd（53.66%）〉Co（48.82%）〉Cu（43.99%）〉Zn（21.93%）〉N（i15.49%）〉C（r11.43%）,其中Mn、Pb、Cd、Co和Cu的危害较大,有近45%~60%可以发生迁移转化。污染评价结果表明,沉积物主要受到Cd和Hg污染,具有高的潜在生态危害。     

Segregation for performance in recombinant inbred populations resulting from inter-gene pool crosses of common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The germplasm of cultivated common bean exhibits a lower level of genetic diversity within each geographical gene pools (Mesoamerican and Andean) compared to that of the respective wild ancestors. Crosses between these two gene pools potentially provide a source of additional genetic diversity but their progenies have been characterized by phenotypic abnormalities and reduced productivity. In order to gain additional insights into this problem, we examined the segregation for performance in two recombinant inbred populations (RIPs) resulting from Mesoamerican × Andean crosses in three contrasting environments and two years. The two RIPs – ‘California Dark Red Kidney’ (of Andean origin) × ‘Yolano’ (Mesoamerican), n = 150, and A55 (Mesoamerican) × G122 (Andean), n = 67 – were grown in replicated field tests to assess the agronomic performance of each recombinant inbred line. Both populations exhibited, on average, greater days to maturity (DTM), lower biomass growth rate (above-ground dry weight/DTM), lower economic growth rate (seed yield/DTM), and lesser harvest index. In contrast with the conclusions of earlier experiments, there was no evidence from the field trials for a genetic association (due to linkage or pleiotropy) between seed weight and economic growth rate, but there may be a genetic association between seed weight and life cycle length. We compare the results of these studies with earlier experiments on inter-gene pool recombinant populations of common beans and relate our observations of diminished performance to models of speciation mechanisms. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.