Artificial burrow preference by the Japanese crayfish Cambaroides japonicus

SUMMARY: Preference for artificial burrows by the endangered Japanese crayfish species Cambaroides japonicus was studied to improve its cultivation. The occupation of artificial burrows, which were made from straight polyvinyl chloride pipes of different internal diameters ( Y , mm), by crayfishes of different total lengths ( X , mm) was significantly ( P < 0.001, n = 56) described by a linear regression: Y = 0.49 X + 3.42 (19.0 ≤ X ≤ 70.2). Among burrows of different lengths [crayfish total length (TL) × 1, × 2, × 3, and × 4], crayfishes significantly preferred burrows that were greater than TL × 3 ( P < 0.001, n = 588).     

Dynamics of dissolved ions in the soil of abandoned terraced paddy fields in Sado Island, Japan

We investigated the soil and soil water chemistry in abandoned terraced paddy fields (reed stand) and a thicket of deciduous broad-leaved trees (thicket stand) on the same slope in Sado Island, Japan. The soils gathered from these plots were incubated under different water conditions to examine the dynamics of dissolved ions. The organic carbon pool in the soil in the reed stand at the lower slope position was greater than the thicket stand at the middle slope position. The high concentration of base cations and an almost neutral pH of the soil water at the reed stand corresponded with the high exchangeable cation concentrations and base saturation in the soil. These results reflect the mineral-rich groundwater percolating down the slope, which may be produced by chemical weathering. An in situ sulfate reduction in the reed stand at deeper soil horizons was identified. The different water conditions in the incubated soils affected the soil pH(H₂O), transformation of Fe, and dominant anions (NO₃ ⁻, HCO₃ ⁻, and SO₄ ²⁻). These biogeochemical processes were more conspicuous in the reed stand at the lower slope position where the concentrations of organic matter and base cations were high. When the abandoned terraced paddy field is developed for the conservation of the Japanese crested ibis (Nipponia nippon) habitat in Sado Island, the reductive subsoil at the lower slope position should be kept waterlogged to limit sulfuric acid generation.     

Isolation and chemiluminescent properties of ferret (Mustela putorius furo) polymorphonuclear cells

Ferret polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were separated from whole blood by density gradient centrifugation. Using a 50% Percoll solution (density=1.066), PMNs and PBMCs were successfully isolated after centrifugation; the purities of the PMNs and PBMCs were 94.2% and 95.6%, respectively. To evaluate the function of isolated ferret PMNs, we measured the superoxide generation with a MCLA-dependent chemiluminescence assay. The isolated ferret PMNs responded to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) with kinetics similar to that of human PMNs. The ferret PMNs did not respond to N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLF), unlike human PMNs, which rapidly responded. Thus, authors established a method for the rapid separation of highly purified populations of functional PMNs from the whole blood of ferrets.     

Diving behavior of immature, feeding Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus orientalis) in relation to season and area: the East China Sea and the Kuroshio–Oyashio transition region

Twenty‐four archival tags were recovered from Pacific bluefin tuna previously released off Tsushima Island in the East China Sea. By analysis of the time‐series data of the pressure and the ambient and internal temperature from the 24 tags, we examined the relationship between the tuna's pattern of diving and the thermocline depth. In the East China Sea, diving and feeding events occurred throughout almost the entire day in both winter and summer, suggesting that the purpose of diving is for feeding. In summer, the feeding frequency was greater than that in winter, which corresponds to the fact that growth is more rapid in summer than in winter. During summer in the Kuroshio–Oyashio transition region, on the other hand, feeding events were much more frequent than those in the East China Sea, in spite of a lower diving frequency. The mean horizontal distance traveled was also significantly higher and it seems that in this area they may move horizontally to feed on prey accumulated at the surface. We conclude that, in addition to the ambient temperature structure, the vertical and horizontal distribution of prey species plays an important role in the feeding behavior of Pacific bluefin tuna. One bluefin tuna migrated to the Oyashio frontal area, where both the horizontal and the vertical thermal gradients are much steeper. The fish spent most of the time on the warmer side of the front and often traveled horizontally to the colder side during the day, perhaps to feed. This implies that there is a thermal barrier effect, in this case from the Oyashio front, on their behavior. The frequency of feeding events was low, although all the monitored fish dived every dawn and dusk, irrespective of the seasons or location. It is possible that these twice‐daily diving patterns occurred in response to the change in ambient light at sunrise and sunset.     

Remobilization of Nitrogen and Carbohydrate from Stems of Bread Wheat in Response to Heat Stress during Grain Filling

When wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is grown under heat-stress conditions during grain filling, preanthesis stored total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC) and nitrogen (N) could serve as alternative source of assimilates. This study was performed to evaluate wheat genotypes for their ability to accumulate and remobilize TNC and N stored in their stem to support grain filling under heat stress. Eighteen genotypes were used for N remobilization study while nine of them were used for TNC remobilization study. They were grown in pots and placed in a vinyl house with the maximum temperature kept below 30 °C. Five days after anthesis (5DAA), half of the pots were taken to phytotrons where temperature was gradually increased and the maximum was set at 38 °C. Grain yield and grain weight decreased by about 35 % under heat stress. Significant differences were found among genotypes in percentage reduction in grain yield, grain weight, grain filling duration and harvest index because of heat stress. The N and TNC concentrations of the stem at 5DAA were significantly different among genotypes. Heat stress significantly reduced the N remobilization efficiency of most of genotypes. However, heat stress significantly increased TNC remobilization efficiency and significant variation were observed among genotypes. N remobilization efficiency across treatments significantly correlated with grain yield, grain weight, harvest index and grain filling duration. TNC at 5DAA negatively correlated with N at 5DAA and harvest index, but the TNC remobilization efficiency under heat stress positively correlated with mainstem grain yield, grain weight and harvest index. The rate of chlorophyll loss from flag leaf positively correlated with N and TNC remobilization efficiencies under heat stress suggesting a link between leaf senescence and remobilization efficiency. The results indicate that heat stress negatively affected grain yield, its components and N remobilization while it increased TNC remobilization because of the increasing demand for resources.     

Cristobalitic stage in the diagenesis of diatomaceous shale

With increasing depth of burial, diagenetic cristobalite in the Monterey Shale of California shows a decrease in the d(101) spacing from 4.115 to 4.040 angstroms, indicative of a progressive change in its internal structure. The spacing is 0.004 to 0.015 angstrom smaller in porcellanite than in associated chert, probably because the cristobalite of porcellanite formed later than that of chert.     

Effects of serpentine substrate on vegetation and soil development with special reference to Picea glehnii forest in Teshio district, Hokkaido, Japan

Characteristics of vegetation and soils in the serpentine area of northern Hokkaido were studied in comparison with non-serpentine areas of the same region, and with other serpentine areas of Japan and elsewhere in the world. The relationship between vegetation and soils is discussed.

Although forest vegetation of northern Hokkaido is generally represented by deciduous forest, coniferous forest, predominantly Picea glehnii, develops in the serpentine area. Deciduous trees are limited both in number and in size. Forest floor is densely covered with Sasa kurilensis. The shrub layer is also well developed, whereas the herb layer is poor but contains characteristic species. Soils developing in the serpentine area are determined as Podzol (Wet Iron Podzol), while Brown Forest Soil is commonly found in the non-serpentine areas of the region. The serpentine soils are shallow and moist, showing general morphology and chemistry of podzolic soil in upper horizons of the profile. In lower horizons, however, physico-chemical properties are strongly affected by the parent rock. In comparison with other serpentine areas of Japan and elsewhere, northern Hokkaido is unique in that the vegetation is represented by a relatively closed forest of fair-sized trees, and the soils by a podzol.

Such Picea glehnii forests and podzolic soils are considered an intrazonal phytogeocoenosis strongly affected by serpentine substrate. In this regard, the cool and humid climate as well as undulating relief of northern Hokkaido are also important factors for the development of the unique phytogeocoenosis.     

Hemophilia B in a crossbred Maltese dog

A crossbred Maltese dog, 6-year-old, male, was presented to us for examination due to coagulopathy. On examination of blood coagulation screening tests, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was markedly prolonged (63.6 sec). Therefore, a defect in the intrinsic pathway of coagulation was suspected. An additional serum test was also examined and APTT was returned to within the normal range. Furthermore, factor IX coagulation activity was markedly low (2.3%). On the basis of these results, the dog was diagnosed with hemophilia B. The dog has since been presented to us because of hemorrhage problems again after 5, 10, and 16 months, but blood transfusions have maintained good control of its coagulopathy for more than two years.     

Seroepidemiological survey of distemper virus infection in the Caspian Sea and in Lake Baikal

Forty Caspian seals were surveyed seroepidemiologically between 1993 and 1998 around the times of mass mortality that occurred in 1997 in the Caspian Sea and seven Baikal seals were also surveyed in 1998. Virus neutralizing tests and ELISA clearly suggested that distemper virus epidemic was caused in Caspian seals before the spring of 1997 and that CDV infection continued to occur in Lake Baikal in recent years.