Comparative toxicity of Al3+, Yb3+, and La3+ to root-tip cells differing in tolerance to high Al3+ in terms of ionic potentials of dehydrated trivalent cations

Abstract

Green manure legumes are often used to compare biomass production as well as nitrogen-fixing capacity. Mineral deficiency often limits the symbiotic nitrogen fixation of many legumes, thus limiting their productivity despite their high yielding potential (O’Hara et al. 1988; Flis et al. 1993). Leguminous species require large amounts of P for growth, nodulation, and nitrogen fixation. Consequently, they are often unable to grow in acid soils with low available P. The low P availability in tropical acid soils often arises from fixation of P by Al and Fe in soil. Generally, Al and Fe-phosphates are relatively unavailable to plants (McLachlan 1976; Ae et al. 1990).     

Ingestion of artificial diets with different textures as determined by the inert marker ytterbium oxide during culture of early‐stage phyllosoma of the spiny lobster,Jasus edwardsii

Instar 1 and 2 Jasus edwardsii (Decapoda; Palinuridae) phyllosoma larvae were fed an artificial diet formulation (based on fish and mussel) consisting of three different gelatin combinations (firm, 4% inclusion; medium, 2% inclusion; and soft, no gelatin). The diet contained ytterbium oxide (Yb₂O₃; 1% inclusion), an inert heavy metal marker, which was used to confirm diet consumption in instar 1 and 2 phyllosoma. Over a 6‐h feeding period, instar 1 phyllosoma showed a preference for the soft and medium diets as opposed to the firm diet, but this effect was not significant with instar 2. The artificial diets remained palatable over the duration of the experiments, suggesting leaching did not influence diet attractiveness. It is suggested that diets comprising softer food items such as microencapsulated pellets or gelatinous formulated diets and pastes are most suitable for early‐instar phyllosoma. Furthermore, it is also suggested that Yb₂O₃ is a potentially useful marker for ongoing quantitative work on diet utilization in lobster larvae.