Proton Budgets of Forest Ecosystems on Volcanogenous Regosols in Hokkaido,Northern Japan

The proton budgets of deciduous and coniferous forest ecosystems on volcanogenous regosols in Hokkaido, northern Japan, were studied by measuring the biogeochemical fluxes (atmospheric deposition, canopy leaching, vegetation uptake and leaching from soil) at each site during a three year period. The proton budgets were developed for individual compartments of the ecosystem: vegetation canopy, organic and mineral soil layers. At both sites, atmospheric S deposition was the dominant proton source in the vegetation canopy. In organic horizons, dissociation of weak acids (bicarbonate and/or organic acids) and vegetation uptake of base cations were the dominant proton sources, and the net mineralization of base cations was the dominant proton sink. Atmospheric acid deposition was almost neutralized in the forest canopy and organic horizon. At both sites, weathering and/or ion exchange of base cations and protonation of weak acids (mainly bicarbonate) were the dominant proton sinks in the mineral soil. In both organic and mineral soil, internal proton sources (mainly vegetation uptake of base cations and dissociation of weak acids) exceeded external proton sources, indicating that acid deposition was not the main driving force of soil acidification in the studied forest ecosystems.     

Wireless monitoring of blood glucose levels in flatfish with a needle biosensor

A wireless biosensor system was developed for the continuous measurement of blood glucose levels in flatfish. The biosensor was implanted in the interstitial fluid under the scleral surface of the eyeball (EISF) to investigate the relationship between EISF and blood glucose levels. EISF glucose levels were found to be correlated with those in the blood and to be approximately the same as blood glucose levels in the range of 7–25 mg dl⁻¹. A needle-type biosensor was prepared for the continuous EISF glucose monitoring in flatfish. A working electrode was constructed using platinum iridium wire, and glucose oxidase was immobilized to the electrode. The biosensor was inserted into the EISF of flatfish for sensor implantation. A 650-mV potential (vs. Ag/AgCl) was applied by a wireless potentiostat to the working electrode for the amperometric glucose measurement. We investigated whether glucose in the EISF can be determined in vivo. The estimated glucose levels using a one-point calibration method were correlated with actual blood glucose levels. In conclusion, using a wireless biosensor system, we were able to monitor blood glucose levels in flatfish under free-swimming conditions for 16 h.     

Expressed sequence tag analysis of phyllosomas and hemocytes of Japanese spiny lobster Panulirus japonicus

Two complementary DNA (cDNA) libraries were constructed from phyllosomas and hemocytes of adult Japanese spiny lobster Panulirus japonicus and a total of 2,673 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were obtained. After assembly and clustering, 450 and 458 unique sequences were found from the phyllosoma and hemocyte cDNA libraries, respectively. Of these, 114 and 220 ESTs showed significant homologies with known genes in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. The remaining sequences were of unknown function. Immune-related genes found in this study include lectin, proteinase inhibitor, prophenoloxidase, heat-shock protein, antimicrobial peptide, and a few putative defense-related proteins.     

Variations in body condition of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in two nearby foraging grounds indicate their sensitivity to foraging habitats

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