The availability and quality of the mussel prey (Mytilus edulis) of oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus)

Spatial variations in the availability and quality of the mussel Mytilus edulis food supply of Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus on the Exe estuary, England, are described. Oystercatchers open mussels by stabbing into gaping mussels (or prising open closed ones) or by hammering a hole in either the dorsal or ventral shells. Spatial variations in the food supply are considered at four scales. In decreasing order of size, these are (i) whole mussel beds, (ii) zones within a mussel bed, (iii) different places within one zone, and (iv) different places within one clump of mussels. The first two scales are clearly related to exposure time. Both between and within the 12 main mussel beds of the estuary, most upshore mussels are up to 10% less likely than downshore mussels to be hidden under mud. However, upshore mussels of a given length contain less flesh, have thicker ventral shells and, except on high-level beds subject to wave erosion, have thicker dorsal shells than downshore mussels. Mussels at the top of the shore also contain the highest infestations of the helminth parasite of Oystercatchers, Psilostomum brevicolle. At a particular shore level, mussels of a given length have less flesh and thicker shells, though only on the dorsal side, in areas of high mussel density. Within one clump, mussels of a given length with thick dorsal shells have more flesh than those with thin shells. In contrast, flesh content is slightly higher in mussels that are thin on the ventral side. Flesh content and shell thickness on both sides are unaffected by whether a mussel is visible at the edge of a clump or hidden inside. Simulations with a model of foraging Oystercatchers suggested that variations in mussel availability (visibility and shell thickness) and flesh content at all four scales could sometimes have an important influence on intake rate. Most published values of intake rates of Oystercatchers eating surface-dwelling mussels may be biassed (and often considerably over-estimated) by the erroneous assumption that prey of average flesh content are taken.     

Increased mortality in alternative bivalve prey during a period when the tidal flats of the Dutch Wadden Sea were devoid of mussels

In the course of 1990, stocks of mussels (Mytilus edulis) declined to unprecedentedly low levels in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Hardly a wild mussel bed was left on the tidal flats as a consequence of three years (1988, 1989, and 1990) with failing recruitment and intensive fishing for seed mussels. During these three years, recruitment of cockles (Cerastoderma edule) also failed, whereas fishing was continued. Bird species taking these bivalves as staple food, the oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) and the eider (Somateria mollissima), experienced food shortage. Significant numbers of eiders left the Dutch Wadden Sea area or died, whereas oystercatchers remained abundant trhoughout the winter in most of the Dutch Wadden Sea.Alternative prey species of oystercatchers experienced unsually high mortality rates in the appropriate size classes. This was so in all other common species of bivalves, viz. first-year and older cockles, adult Macoma balthica, and juvenile Mya arenaria. This led to minimal stocks of food for oystercatchers in the late winter of 1991. In March 1991, cockles were depleted and the combined stocks Mya and Macoma would soon have run out of food supply to the overwintering oystercatcher population. Apparently, oystercatchers are able to reduce the stocks of their various bivalve prey species to very low levels.     

Environmental characteristics and distribution of macrobenthos in a mudflat of the west coast of Korea (Yellow Sea)

The spatio-temporal changes of environmental factors and the distribution patterns of macrobenthos were investigated on an intertidal mudflat near Panweol on the west coast of Korea. Temperatures of the surface sediments and salinities of the intertitial water were highest in summer and lowest in winter, while water content of the sediment was lowest in summer and highest in winter. Hourly variations of sediment temperature, water content and interstitial salinity during the daytime depended largely upon both the timing of ebb tide and daylight intensity.Temperature, water content and interstitial salinity showed a marked variation with sediment depth. Temperatures decreased sharply from the surface to 10 or 15 cm depth, and below this depth they were nearly constant, except in summer. Water content and interstitial salinity underwent a rapid decline in this upper layer and began to rise from this depth. From the high tide mark toward the main tidal channel, water content increased but salinity decreased. The sand fraction increased with the decrease of clay content toward the main tidal channel. This tidal flat could be divided into two zones: the “upper intertidal zone” and the “lower intertidal zone”, based on the spatial differences of the water content, interstitial salinity and grain-size composition in the surface sediment.There were three distinct zones of macrobenthos. The upper intertidal zone was dominated by burrowing deposit feeders, such as Ilyoplax dentimerosa, Helice tridens sheni, Cleistostoma dilatatum and Perinereis vancaurica tetradentata. The middle intertidal zone was characterized by other burrowing deposit feeders, such as Ilyoplax pingi, Macrophthalmus japonicus and Periserrula leucophryna. And the lower intertidal zone was dominated by suspension feeders represented by Laonome tridentata and Potamocorbula amurensis. Each zone was named after these characteristic species.Although the species composition of the upper intertidal community was different from that of the middle intertidal, the way of living and the feeding behaviour of the species occurring in these two zones were very similar. But the lower intertidal zone showed a characteristic community structure differing not only in species composition but also in ways of living and feeding of the species. Some sets of environmental factors are considered to explain the zonation. Water content of the sediment and interstitial salinity will be the main factors causing the observed zonation.     

How the food supply harvestable by waders in the Wadden Sea depends on the variation in energy density,body weight,biomass, burying depth and behaviour of tidal-flat invertebrates

For several reasons, waders in the Wadden Sea face a large seasonal and annual variation in their food supply. Observations on a tidal flat in the Dutch Wadden Sea have shown that:

• 1.- (1) The average energy density of ten invertebrate prey species varies between 21 and 23 kJ·g⁻¹ AFDW. In Scrobicularia plana and Mya arenaria, but not in Macoma balthica, the energy density is 10% lower in winter than in summer.
• 2.- (2) Depending on the species, body weights of prey of similar size are 30 to 60% lower in winter than in summer.
• 3.- (3) The year-to-year fluctuation in standing-crop biomass is larger in some species than in others, the difference depending mainly on the frequency of successful recruitment. The overall biomass of the macrobenthos in winter is half of that in summer, but the timing of the peak biomass differs per species.
• 4.- (4) The burying depth varies per species: Cerastoderma edule live just beneath the surface, while M. balthica, S. plana, M. arenaria, Arenicola marina and Nereis diversicolor bury more deeply and the majority of these prey live out of reach of the bird's bill. In all six species, burying depth increases with size. There is no seasonal variation in depth of C. edule and M. arenaria, but the four other species live at most shallow depth in early summer and most deeply in midwinter. Burying depths in winter vary from year to year, but are unrelated to temperature. Neither has temperature any effect on depth within months. For knot Calidris canutus feeding on M. balthica, the fluctuation in the accessible fraction was the main source of variation in the biomass of prey that is actually harvestable, i.e. the biomass of prey of suitable size that is accessible.Accordingly, the paper reviews the available data on the temporal variations in accessibility, detectability, ingestibility, digestibility and profitability of prey for waders. Only a small part of the prey is harvestable since many accessible prey are ignored because of their low profitability, while many profitable prey are inaccessible. The profitability of prey depends on their size and weight but also on their depth in the mud, since handling time increases with burying depth. A simple biomechanical rule explains why the handling time of small prey increases with bill length and why large, long-billed waders ignore a disproportionately larger part of the small prey. The fraction detectable for visually feeding waders is usually very low, especially when the temperature of the substrate is below 3–6°C. Waders vary their prey choice over the year in response to the changes in the availability and profitability of their different prey species. The food supply harvestable by waders is much lower in winter than in summer. For waders wintering in the Wadden Sea, the food supply may be characterized as unpredictable and usually meagre. Waders wintering in NW Europe are concentrated in coastal sites where the average surface temperature is above 3°C. This probably cannot be explained by a greater burying depth, and only partly by a lower body condition, of prey in colder areas. Yet the harvestable fraction is lower in colder sites, especially for sight-feeding waders, as invertebrates are less active at low temperatures. However, the lower energetic cost of living and reduced chances of the prey being covered by ice may also contribute to the waders' preference for warmer sites.

     

Application of a dynamic energy budget model to Mytilus edulis (L.)

Filtering, ingestion, assimilation respiration, growth and reproduction of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis were successfully described in terms of a dynamic energy budget (DEB) model, which previously had been applied successfully to a variety of other species. The relation between oxygen consumption rate and ingestion rate could be derived from elementary model assumptions. Parameters of the DEB model, estimated for laboratory situations, were applied to field data. The varying growth rates in the field could be described by taking account of changes in food density and quality, and temperature, on the basis of the Arrhenius relation. A methodology is given to reconstruct ambient food densities from observed growth curves. This can be used to assess the nutritive value of measured substances such as POM or chlorophyll. The concept Scope For Growth is discussed and interpreted in terms of the DEB model. The energy conductance is found to be 0.36 mm·d⁻¹ at 20°C, which is close to the mean of many species: 0.43 mm·d⁻¹.     

Simulation of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) root system development under Mediterranean conditions

Root growth of faba bean genotype ILB 1814 grown under both limited and sufficient moisture supply was studied in 1993–1994 and 1994–1995 at ICARDA's Tel Hadya research station. Crops were sown on two dates in both growing seasons. Root-length density (RLD) and root dry weight were measured at four depths in three locations relative to the crop row. In general, RLD decreased considerably with depth, and by the start of pod-filling, around 60% of the roots were found in the top 15 cm of soil. In the upper 30 cm soil profile, the RLDs of drought-stressed faba beans were significantly lower than those measured beneath well-watered crops. In the deeper soil layers, the RLDs were similar in both moisture supply treatments. An existing root model was employed for the simulation of faba bean root growth. The model estimates the depth of rooting and RLD in each soil layer based on dry matter allocation to the root system, soil layer water contents, genotype-specific rooting characteristics, and soil physical properties. A faba bean growth model provided daily allocation of dry matter to roots as well as soil layer water contents. Overall, with a few modifications, the root model was capable of predicting the RLD of faba bean grown both under limited and sufficient water supply realistically. Limitations of the model and some aspects that need further improvement are discussed.     

Availability of phosphorus sources for blooms of phaeocystis pouchetii (haptophyceae) in the north sea: Impact of the river rhine

The distribution and uptake of various phosphorus fractions such as soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), enzymatically hydrolysable phosphorus (EHP) and soluble unhydrolysable phosphorus (SUP) were studied in coastal waters of the North Sea with special emphasis on those areas inhabited by dense blooms of Phaeocystis pouchetii (Hariot) Lagerheim. A comparison was made between the uptake rates of SRP and the capacity of the phytoplankton to utilize the EHP fraction as a phosphorus source. In areas not directly influenced by the discharge of the river Rhine the phytoplankton depleted the SRP down to the detection level of 0.02 μmol·dm⁻³, while the concentration of EHP was always higher. Inorganic phosphate (SRP) was rapidly assimilated by the microplankton (algae and bacteria) as measured by the uptake of ³²P-orthophosphate. Concurrently, the alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) was high and appeared to be associated with the phytoplankton mainly. The various measurements indicated that the plankton was P-limited. The calculated rate of enzymatic hydrolysis of EHP was highly variable, but could provide the cells with orthophosphate at a rate comparable with that eeasured for the direct uptake of inorganic phosphate.The diversity and availability of phosphate sources in the area near the river Rhine varied strongly. The abundant supply of phosphorus by the river to the coastal waters can cause further growth of the phytoplankton, unrestricted by nutrient limitation. Here it seemed that EHP and APA played only an insignificant role. The dominance of Phaeocystis in these coastal waters is discussed in view of its capacities to exploit transient phosphate supply.     

开顶式气室对冬小麦的生长及产量的影响

开顶式气室（open-top chamber,OTC）通常是用来研究气候变化对农业生产的影响,为了探明开顶式气室内外冬小麦生长和产量的差异,分析了OTC内外气象因子（温度、相对湿度、饱和水汽压差和太阳辐射）的变化,测定了OTC内（CK组）和OTC外（AA组）冬小麦（扬麦13）在不同生育期的株高、叶面积、干物质、生长参数及产量指标。结果表明,OTC内温度、相对湿度和饱和水汽压差高于OTC外,而光合有效辐射低于OTC外。此外,OTC对冬小麦的株高、叶面积、生物量和产量都会造成不同程度的影响。与AA组相比,OTC对冬小麦的株高具有抑制作用,但是在生育后期对叶面积有促进作用。在冬小麦整个生育期,OTC对冬小麦叶干重、茎干重都表现出明显的负效应,但是对根干重具有促进作用。CK组穗的干物质累积低于AA组。OTC内的冬小麦穗重、单株粒数、单株粒重和千粒重都低于OTC外,导致OTC内冬小麦产量降低。     

Factors controlling the summer development of copepod populations in the southern bight of the North Sea

In two consecutive years an intensive sampling programmed was implemented at a fixed station in Dutch coastal waters to obtain a detailed record of the summer development of copepod populations in relation to phytoplankton and macroplankton abundance. The central question was whether densities of copepods are controlled by predation, in particular by invertebrate pelagic carnivores, or by food limitation. Methods applied to estimate daily predation by observed stocks of carnivores included analysis of gut contents and digestion rate, extrapolation of experimental feeding rates and of literature data on daily rations and maintenance needs. Chlorophyll-a and cell concentrations served as a rough measure for algal food supply.Since a decline in copepod densities manifested itself most clearly in decreasing naupliar numbers in both years, populations were assumed to be regulated mainly by recruitment or survival of these early life stages. Naupliar declines coincided with maximum densities of the hydromedusa Phialidium hemisphaericum, which dominated the macroplankton both in abundance and in biomass and reached a maximum density of 467 specimens·m⁻³ or 7 mg C·m⁻³. Copepod eggs appeared by far the most frequent prey item in their guts. However, these eggs are digested very slowly, if at all, and may often be ejected without any visible damage. The effect of egg predation on naupliar recruitment seems therefore relatively unimportant. Predation on swimming copepod stages was generally low. There was no evidence of selective feeding on nauplii. The maximum values of calculated predation pressure exerted by Phialidium populations matched daily copepod production only by way of exception. Impact of other invertebrate carnivores was negligible. As predation did not play a significant role, food availability seems the key factor underlying copepod population dynamics. The consequences of food limitation (reduced egg production, production of diapause eggs and enhanced cannibalism) are discussed. The observed coincidence of maximum predator abundance and minimum chlorophyll-a and diatom concentrations does not support the hypothesis that carnivores are able to indirectly benefit phytoplankton growth by reducing grazing pressure of herbivores.     

应用型地方高校食品专业本科生创新创业能力培养

作为应用型地方本科高校的改革试点,为了培养食品专业本科生的创新创业能力,许昌学院食品与药学院对食品专业培养方案、课程教学内容、教学方法、教学评价等进行了一系列的改革。采取的措施包括在培养方案中增加实验、实践内容;在列入教学计划的实验内容中增加综合性、设计性实验;增加校内外实习实训;针对学有余力的学生开设创新与实践课程,开设研究型实验;积极建设创新创业平台,提供创新创业培训,开展课外科研实践创新活动等。通过改革探索,建立了一条适合地方普通本科高校食品专业学生培养的道路,是"许昌模式"的重要组成部分。     

滤食性动物放流对西五里湖的生态修复作用初探

根据生物操纵原理,以TP、TN、NO3--N、NO2--N、NH4+-N、CODMn、Chla、SD等为主要水质指标,采用综合营养状态指数法,研究了滤食性生物螺（C. cathayensis）、蚌（Hyriopsis cumingii）、鲢（Hypophthalmichthys molitrix）、鳙（Aristichys nobilis）放流对西五里湖湖区生态环境的修复作用。结果表明：放流后,西五里湖水体透明度有显著升高趋势,平均提高了26.8%,其中最大值达60cm,比放流前提高了91.7%;TP含量呈下降趋势,8次监测中有6次的测定值符合《地表水环境质量标准》（GB3838-2002）的Ⅱ类水质要求,占总监测次数的75%;虽然8次监测中的TN含量均属劣Ⅴ类,但其含量与放流前相比有降低趋势;同时,综合营养状态指数也从放流前西五里湖高于东五里湖,转变成放流后东五里湖高于西五里湖。说明向富营养化湖泊放流滤食性生物对提高水体透明度、降氮、除磷具有良好效果,能够使水质富营养化程度得以减轻。     

Large-scale distribution patterns of the mussel Mytilus edulis in the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein: Do storms structure the ecosystem?

The distribution of mussel beds in the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein was mapped by aerial surveys from 1989 to 1991. The number of mussel beds decreased from 94 in 1989 to 49 in 1990, as a result of severe storms in early 1990. Thereafter only small changes were observed. The mussel beds that remained in 1990 were found only in the shelter of islands; all beds in exposed areas had disappeared between the surveys of 1989 and 1990, leaving large areas without mussel beds. Storms are thus identified as a major factor limiting the distribution of mussel beds to the sheltered parts of the Wadden Sea. Beds in the exposed parts of the Wadden Sea are highly dynamic, whereas beds in sheltered areas may persist over long times. A comparison with distribution patterns of older surveys (from 1937, 1968 and 1978) revealed great similarities with the results of recent investigations, indicating a constant distribution pattern over a long period.The results are discussed in relation to eutrophication and the structure of the benthic communities of the Wadden Sea. It is concluded that any eutrophication-induced increase of the mussel population would be restricted to the sheltered parts of the Wadden Sea. Storms will largely determine whether the communities of a given area have to compete with mussels, which are most important filter feeders of the ecosystem. As competition for food is a major factor structuring the benthic communities of the Wadden Sea, it is assumed that storms indirectly affect all other communities, giving deeper-burying, storm-tolerant species a competitive advantage in exposed areas where epibenthic mussels are excluded. The impact of mussel fisheries will be different for persisting and dynamic beds: fishing on persisting beds in sheltered areas may remove the crucial reserve which mussel-feeding birds such as eiders or oystercatchers need in times of low mussel populations.     

The biology of Solea bleekeri (Teleostei) in Lake St Lucia on the southeast coast of Africa

Several aspects of the biology of Solea bleekeri in Lake St Lucia were investigated, these included occurrence, distribution, reproduction and recruitment, food and feeding, size frequency distribution and the role of estuaries in the species' life cycle. Solea bleekeri was found to occur throughout the system in muddy turbid areas and was largely absent from the eastern shores of the lake where clear water sandy substrata occur. The preferred diet of the species was bivalve siphon tips of the species Solon cylindraceus, when these were in abundant supply. However, when numbers of large (length > 20 mm) specimens were not available then S. bleekeri fed on whatever prey was available in or near the substratum. Analysis of stomach contents under the latter conditions showed that food consumption reflected the composition of the benthos. Large numbers of S. bleekeri spend their entire post-larval and juvenile phases as well as the greater part of their adult life within estuaries. Evidence is presented to support the idea that S. bleekeri breeds in certain areas of the lake and that spawning takes place between September and November. The current data suggest that there may be two populations in St Lucia: one migrates from the system to spawn at sea during winter along with the other marine fish species which utilize estuaries as nursery areas, while the other population breeds within the system. Alternatively there may simply be a single population which normally breeds at sea, but which may breed within the system when conditions are suitable. Recruitment of S. bleekeri into the St Lucia estuarine system takes place from the muddy offshore marine banks and possibly from within the system as well. Solea bleekeri appears not to be totally dependent on estuaries for the completion of its life cycle. The advantages of utilizing these systems for their development relate to the shallow, calm, turbid food-rich areas which estuaries offer. The fact that breeding takes place within St Lucia means that adults and juveniles are present in varying numbers throughout the year.     

Experiments on selection of feeding site and food size in oystercatchers,Haematopus ostralegus,of different social status

Oystercatchers, Haematopus ostralegus, were tested for size selection in two prey species, cockles (Cerastoderma edule) and mussels (Mytilus edulis), under semi-natural, but strictly experimental, conditions that allowed recovery of all shells of prey items eaten.Within any patch of cockles offered, size was not an important selection criterion for the birds. The mean length of cockles consumed always differed less than 1 mm (the measuring accuracy) from the mean length of the cockles presented.When given a choice between patches of different prey quality, the birds tended to select patches according to their relative dominance status, with the most dominant bird feeding mainly in the patch where the prey items had the largest flesh contents. Less dominant birds were forced out of the preferred patch and obtained most of theif food from a patch of presumedly lower quality. One of these birds adapted its prey-handling method and its bill shape for efficient feeding in such a low quality pathc, and it continued feeding in that patch, even after the dominant conspecifics had been removed.In experiments with mussels as prey, the test bird did not select primarily on the basis of size but tended to eat those mussels that were easiest to open.It is concluded that size selection in oystercatchers that eat either cockles or mussels ends with the choice of a certain foraging patch. Within a patch of cockles of one year-class, which is the field condition for the majority of oystercatchers in the Wadden Sea, no selection for size occurs, because this would take too much extra searching time to be profitable.     

The phytoplankton component of seston in San Francisco Bay

Phytoplankton biomass (as carbon) was estimated from chlorophyll a concentrations (Chla) and a mean value for the ratio of phytoplankton carbon to chlorophyll a in San Francisco Bay. The ratio was determined as the slope of a Model II regression of POC' against (Chla), where POC' is total particulate organic carbon minus sediment-associated non-phytoplankton carbon. Samples from 30 fixed sites in the channel and lateral shoals of San Francisco Bay were collected once or twice a month from April to November 1980, and at irregular intervals in South Bay during 1984 and 1985. For all data the calculated mean value of phytoplankton C:Chla was 51 (95% confidence interval = 47–54). No significant differences were found in the C:Chla ratio between shallow and deep sites (where light availability differs) or between northern and southern San Francisco Bay (where phytoplankton community composition differs). Using the mean C:Chla ratio of 51, we calculated that phytoplankton biomass constitutes about one third of seston carbon under most circumstances, but this fraction ranges from about 95% during phytoplankton blooms to less than 20% during spring periods of low phytoplankton biomass and high suspended sediment concentration.     

Postharvest physiology of ‘Aroma’ apples in relation to position on the tree

The effects of fruit position within the canopy on the onset of the respiratory climacteric and the rise in ethylene production as well as changes in peel colour and chemical composition were studied in apples (Malus x domestica Borkh. cv. Aroma) during ripening in normal air at 20 °C for 6–8 weeks over two crop seasons. The commencement of the rise in both CO₂ and ethylene production was equal independent of fruit position but the peak of ethylene was behind that of CO₂ with a lag of several days. While the climacteric ethylene peak was considerably higher in shaded inside apples, the internal ethylene concentration was at the same level independent of canopy position. During maturation on the tree outside fruit developed a red peel colour while inside fruit remained green. Outside fruit had a higher content of dry matter, soluble solids and soluble sugars but a somewhat lower amount of titratable acidity than inside fruit. High summer temperatures in the second year resulted in a significantly higher content of soluble solids and organic acids independent of fruit position but diminished the soluble solids difference between outside and inside fruit and increased the difference in malic and citric acid concentrations. High summer temperatures also increased the difference in peel colour between outside and inside fruit. Independent of canopy position, the soluble solids concentrations remained unchanged during ripening while the amounts of sucrose as well as malic acid and the titratable acidity decreased with a concomitant rise in the cell sap pH. The higher content of soluble sugars and a somewhat lower amount of titratable acidity in outside red-coloured apples probably contribute to improved fruit quality but the difference seems to be strongly dependent on the growing conditions, especially the sum of heat units.     

Settlement,abundance, growth and mortality of juvenile flatfish in a subtropical tidal estuary (Georgia,U.S.A.)

The population dynamics of juveniles of some flatfish species were studied in the Duplin River, a tidal creek in a subtropical salt-marsh area in Georgia, U.S.A. from April until September 1990. Seven species were found. Paralichthys dentatus, Paralichthys lethostigma, Paralichthys oblongus and Trinectus maculatus were relatively rare. Etropus crossotus, Citharichthys spilopterus and Symphurus plagiusa were abundant and settled during the period studied. E. crossotus was the most abundant species with a mean abundance of 18 ind·10⁻² m⁻² (max. 287). Demersal settlement of E. crossotus took place in shallow areas and over sandy bottoms from mid-May to August. Prolonged settlement hampered the calculation of growth rate and instantaneous mortality rate. However, laboratory growth experiments indicated a mean growth of about 0.50 mm·d⁻¹ at 24–28°C. Juveniles of C. spilopterus were already present in the Duplin River in March. Settling continued until the end of April with a mean abundance of 3.5 ind·10⁻² m⁻² (max. 183). With increasing size the juveniles of this species tended to migrate to deeper waters and to the mouth of the river, possibly as a reaction to increasing water temperatures. Maximum growth rate was 1.4 mm·d⁻¹ at about 26°C. The mean instantaneous mortality rate (z) was estimated at 0.03·d⁻¹. Settling of S. plagiusa occurred from mid-May onwards. The mean abundance was 10.3 ind·10⁻² m⁻² (max. 98.3). Newly settled juveniles were most abundant on muddy sediments in the shallow river areas. The maximum growth rate was 1.3 mm·d⁻¹ at about 28°C. The mean instantaneous mortality rate (Z) decreased from 0.04·d⁻¹ in April to 0.01·d⁻¹ in August. At all sites the abundance of juveniles of this species decreased with increasing water depth. Predation experiments indicated that blue crabs (Callinectes similis and C. sapidus) and sea robins (Prionotus sp.) are potential predators on juvenile flatfish. The high abundances of juvenile flatfish indicate that the tidal creeks are an important nursery area. The correspondence between growth rates estimated from field data and those observed in the laboratory suggests that growth in the nursery is mainly related to water temperature and not food limited.     

Physical and biotic aspects of fine-sediment import in the Oosterschelde tidal basin (The Netherlands)

The distribution of fine sediments inside the Oosterschelde (Eastern Scheldt) throughout the year has been investigated. The results have been interpreted in terms of physical transport processes and activity of biotic components. Evaluation of the mechanisms that may induce landward transport of fine sediment shows that an asymmetry in maximum ebb and flood currents is probably mainly responsible for the observed landward transport of fine sediment in the Oosterschelde. A theoretical formulation is presented which fits long-term sedimentation. Transport is higher during winter than during summer. Despite a lower transport rate during summer, filter feeders do not clear Oosterschelde water. Most of the biodeposits of filter feeders are resuspended by waves and currents, probably stimulated by bioturbation and fishery.     

Daily fecundity of Temora longicornis (Copepoda calanoida) in the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands)

Daily fecundity of Temora longicornis in the Oosterschelde was estimated in 1986 and 1987 after 24 h incubation of female copepods collected in the estuary. Daily egg production fluctuated between 3 and 25 eggs per female.Egg production rates increased with temperature in the range of 3 to 15°C when algal food was present in excess. Limiting food conditions were found at the end of the phytoplankton spring bloom and occasionally in summer at concentrations of ⩽2 μg chlorophyll·dm⁻³. When chlorophyll maxima were found, predominantly consisting of Phaeocystis, daily fecundity of Temora was suppressed. It could increase, however, in Phaeocystis blooms mixed with diatoms (Rhizosolenia delicatula).Standing stocks of eggs in the springs of 1986 and 1987 were calculated on the basis of the established temperature/fecundity relation and compared with observed numbers, both in the years 1986 and 1987 (estuary provided with a storm-surge barrier in the mouth) and in the years 1983 and 1984 (open estuary).Smaller differences between observed and calculated egg numbers in 1986 and 1987 could be ascribed to possible errors in calculated egg development time and to the different age structure of females in the course of time.Much larger differences were found between the years 1986–1987 and 1983–1984. These are discussed in relation to the following phenomena: sinking of eggs, cannibalism, predation, food quantity and availability, density-dependent effects, hydrodynamical changes of the estuary. Arguments are given for density-dependent factors being responsible for the strongly reduced egg numbers in 1984.     

水稻胚性悬浮细胞系建立过程中的生理生化变化

本文详细分析了水稻广亲和中粳品系０２４２８胚性悬浮细胞系建立过程中的培养液渗透值、ＰＨ值，呼吸作用，过氧化物酶同工酶，碳、氢及矿质元素的变化。结果如下：１、前期、中期和后期悬浮细胞系（好胚性悬浮细胞系）的培养液渗透值在一次继代培养的０－３天期和后期悬浮细胞比前期悬浮细胞更多地利用氨基酸作为代谢底物。后期悬浮细胞的ＥＭＰ途径相对稍低，而ＨＭＰ、ＴＣＡＣ途径较前期、中期稍强。３、从前期－中期－后期，过