Effect of ammonia on survival and osmoregulation in different life stages of the lobsterHomarus americanus

Acute toxicity of ammonia was determined for cultured larval, postlarval, and wild adult lobsters (Homarus americanus) in 1988. Ammonia tolerance was found to increase with ontogenetic development. Based on 96-h LC₅₀ values of 58 mg l^–1 NH₄ ⁺ + NH₃ l^–1 seawater (0.72 mg NH₃ l^–1) for Stage I larvae, 87 mg NH₄ ⁺ + NH₃ l^–1 (1.7 mg NH₃ l^–1) for Stage II larvae, 125 mg NH₄ ⁺ + NH₃ l^–1 (2.13 mg NH₃) for Stage III larvae, 144 mg NH₄ ⁺ + NH₃ l^–1 (2.36 mg NH₃ l^–1) for Stage IV postlarvae, 377 mg NH₄ ⁺ + NH₃ l^–1 (5.12 mg NH₃ l^–1) for adult lobsters at 5°C and 219 mg NH₄ ⁺ + NH₃ l^–1 (3.25 mg NH₃ l^–1) for adult lobsters at 20°C, recommendations for safe levels of total ammonia and un-ionized ammonia were calculated using an application factor of 0.1. Effects of ammonia on osmoregulatory capacity were studied on postlarvae and adults. Ability of postlarvae and adults to hyper-regulate in low-salinity media decreased after exposure to ammonia. In postlarval lobsters, osmoregulatory capacity was significantly affected in ammonia concentrations exceeding 32 mg l^–1. Osmoregulatory capacity in adult lobsters (5 and 20°C) was affected at 150 mg l^–1. In postlarval lobsters, a minimum exposure time of 12 h was required to impair osmoregulatory capacity. The decrease in hemolymph osmotic pressure was caused by lower hemolymph sodium concentrations. The presence of ammonia in the external medium could markedly affect the Na⁺/NH₄ ⁺ transport mechanism by permanently, temporarily, or partially impairing the transport sites for sodium.     

Lethal effects of ammonia and nitrite onPenaeus chinensis juveniles

Juveniles of the prawnPenaeus chinensis (3.96 ±0.18 cm, 0.36±0.06 g) reared in Taiwan in 1989 were exposed to different concentrations of ammonia and nitrite, by a static renewal method in 33 seawater at pH 7.94 and at 26 °C. The 24, 48, 96 and 120 h LC₅₀ (median lethal concentration) of ammonia were 3.29, 2.10, 1.53 and 1.44 mg l^–1 for NH₃-N (un-ionized ammonia as nitrogen) and 79.97, 51.14, 37.00 and 35.09 mg l^–1 for ammonia-N (un-ionized plus ionized ammonia as nitrogen). The 24, 96, 120, 144 and 192 h LC₅₀ of nitrite-N were 339, 37.71, 29.18, 26.98 and 22.95 mg l^–1. The LC₅₀ decreased with increasing exposure time. During the first 96 h,P. chinesis juveniles were more susceptible to ammonia than nitrite. However, prawns were less tolerant to nitrite than ammonia when exposed for more than 96 h. The threshold was found at 120 and 192 h for ammonia and nitrite, respectively, on the toxicity curves. Incipient LC₅₀ was 1.44 mg l^–1 for NH₃-N, 35.09 mg l^–1 for ammonia-N and 22.95 mg l^–1 for nitrite-N. The safe value forP. chinensis juveniles was 0.14, 3.51 and 2.30 mg l^–1, respectively.     

Effect of copper on ion- and osmoregulation in the shore crab Carcinus maenas

The uptake and effect of dissolved copper on regulation of hemolymph osmolality and Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^-, Ca⁺⁺, and Mg⁺⁺ concentrations in the shore crab Carcinus maenas (L.) were determined at 400 mOsm (=14 S) ambient salinity. One mg Cu l^-1 resulted in 50% mortality in 11 to 22 d; the highest sensitivity was observed around the moulting period. 0.25 and 0.5 mg Cu l^-1 were not lethal after a onemonth exposure. Ten, 1, and 0.5 mg Cu l^-1 altered regulation of osmolality, Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl^- concentrations, while 0.25 mg Cu l^-1 did not. Exposure to 1 mg Cu l^-1 reduced hemolymph osmolality and Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl^- concentrations to 80 to 90% of controls within 4 to 6 d and no further reduction was observed during a 21-d exposure. The effect of various copper concentrations on these four parameters were almost identical and the highest sensitivity was observed around the moulting period. Hemolymph calcium levels increased 20 to 80% in crabs exposed to 1 mg Cu l^-1, while they decreased 20 to 30% in crabs exposed to 0.5 mg Cu l^-1. Prolonged exposure to copper caused 20 to 70% reductions in hemolymph magnesium levels. Crabs exposed to 0.5 mg Cu l^-1 for 29 d accumulated copper in hepatopancreas, gills, carapace, heart, testes, and hypodermis, but not in muscles and hemolymph. Increased copper levels in crabs exposed to 0.25 mg Cu l^-1 were observed in hepatopancreas, gills, and carapace only. The present results suggest that effects of copper on ion regulatory processes in part explain why the toxicity of copper towards euryhaline invertebrates increases at low salinities.     

Predicting the risk of cobalt deprivation in grazing livestock from soil composition data

The objective was to derive predictive equations for acetic acid-extractable cobalt (A-ECo) in soils so that extensive national databases for total (T) Co in soils and stream sediments could be converted to plant available concentrations for the purpose of predicting risk of Co deficiency in grazing livestock. Data on the chemical and physical properties of 103 soils from 15 different parent materials and 54 soil series in England and Wales were used. Ranges for the mean values for parent materials were: TCo, 5.0–20.4 and A-ECo, 0.20–1.30 mg kg^–1; percentage (P) A-ECo, 3.4–13.5; soil manganese (Mn) 268–1174 mg kgDM^–1; pH, 3.7–8.0. There were significant effects of parent material on all parameters with Chalks, Old and New Red Sandstones particularly low in A-ECo. Multiple linear regression yielded the following equation for predicting A-ECo, which accounted for 56% of the variance with 12 outliers, including the lowest pH values, omitted:A-ECo(mg kg^-1) = 1.4 - 0.0619TCo (mg kg^-1) - 0.432TMn(g kg^-1) - 0.171pHPrediction of PA-ECo was less precise:PA-ECo(%) = 21.1 - 4.5TMn(g kg^-1) - 1.77pH(r ² = 44.8%; 88 d.f.REML was used on the complete, unbalanced, log-transformed data set to fit a Generalised Mixed Model with parent material as random effect and soil Mn and pH as fixed effects; the effect of parent material was no longer significant. It was concluded that A-ECo can be satisfactorily predicted for most soils in England and Wales from TCo, TMn and soil pH.     

Influence of algal and suspended sediment concentrations on the feeding physiology of the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria

Short-term laboratory feeding experiments were conducted to determine the response of the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria (L.) (32 mm in mean shell length) to increasing sediment concentrations. Clams were fed mixed suspensions of Pseudoisochrysis paradoxa (50 and 150 cells l^-1) and bottom sediments (0 to 44 mg l^-1). Algal ingestion rate deelined with increasing sediment loads. This resulted primarily from a reduction in clearance rate, which declined by 0.08 l h^-1 g^-1 (1.3%) for every 1 mg l^-1 increase in sediment load. This reduction was of similar magnitude for juvenile (13 mm) clams. At the algal concentrations tested, pseudofaeces production was intermittent and inconspicuous below about 10 mg silt l^-1. Loss of algae in pseudofaeces increased with increasing sediment loads; however, even at the highest silt and algal concentrations, clams lost a maximum of only 18% of the algae cleared from suspension. Thus, pseudofaeces production is not expected to cause significant loss of algal food at the sediment concentrations normally encountered in the natural environment ( ca 40 mg silt l^-1). Absorption rate of total organic matter remained constant, at least up to silt concentrations of 20 mg l^-1. Experiments using dual ⁵¹Cr:¹⁴C-formaldehyde-labelled sediment indicated that clams were able to counteract the dilution of algae by absorbing a considerable fraction (21 to 22%) of detrital sedimentary organics. Absorption efficiency of pure P. paradoxa ranged from 82% at 50 cells l^-1 to 58% at 150 cells l^-1. Integration of physiological rate measurements suggests that at moderate to high algal concentrations (300 g Cl^-1), growth improvement by the addition of silt, documented in mussels, surf clams and oysters, is unlikely to occur in M. mercenaria. It is suggested that a suspension-feeding bivalve's success in maximizing its energy gain in a turbid environment depends on the combination of two features: a high selection efficiency and a high rate of pseudofaeces production. It is proposed that species which regulate ingestion primarily by producing pseudofaeces are better adapted to cope with high suspended sediment loads than species such as M. mercenaria, which control ingestion mainly by reducing clearance rate.Contribution No. 451 from the Marine Sciences Research Center, State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA     

Arsenic and other toxic elemental contamination of groundwater, surface water and soil in Bangladesh and its possible effects on human health

The problems of contamination caused by arsenic (As) and other toxic metals in groundwater, surface water and soils in the Bengal basin of Bangladesh have been studied. Altogether 10 groundwater, seven surface water and 31 soil samples were collected from arsenic-affected areas and analysed chemically. The geologic and anthropogenic sources of As and other toxic metals are discussed in this paper. The chemical results show that the mean As concentrations in groundwater in the Char Ruppur (0.253mg As L^–1), Rajarampur (1.955mg As L^–1) and Shamta areas (0.996mg As L^–1) greatly exceed the WHO recommended value, which is 0.01mg As L^–1. The concentrations of As in groundwater are very high compared to those in surface water and in surface soil in the three (As-affected) areas studied. This indicates that the source of As in groundwater could be bedrock. The relatively high concentrations of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in surface water, compared to world typical value, are due to the solubility of metal ions, organometalic complexes, coprecipitation or co-existance with the colloidal clay fraction. In the soil, the elevated concentrations of As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn are due to their strong affinity to organic matter, hydrous oxides of Fe and Mn, and clay minerals.     

Diurnal gut pigment rhythm and metabolic rate of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Calanus euxinus</Emphasis> in the Black Sea

The vertical distribution, diel gut pigment content and oxygen consumption of Calanus euxinus were studied in April and September 1995 in the Black Sea. Gut pigment content of C. euxinus females was associated with diel vertical migration of the individuals, and it varied with depth and time. Highest gut pigment content was observed during the nighttime, when females were in the chlorophyll a (chl a) rich surface waters, but significant feeding also occurred in the deep layer. Gut pigment content throughout the water column varied from 0.8 to 22.0 ng pigment female^–1 in April and from 0.2 to 21 ng pigment female^–1 in September 1995. From the diel vertical migration pattern, it was estimated that female C. euxinus spend 7.5 h day^–1 in April and 10.5 h day^–1 in September in the chl a rich surface waters. Daily consumption by female C. euxinus in chl a rich surface waters was estimated by taking into account the feeding duration and gut pigment concentrations. Daily carbon rations of female C. euxinus, derived from herbivorous feeding in the euphotic zone, ranged from 6% to 11% of their body carbon weight in April and from 15% to 35% in September. Oxygen consumption rates of female and copepodite stage V (CV) C. euxinus were measured at different temperatures and at different oxygen concentrations. Oxygen consumption rates at oxygen-saturated concentration ranged from an average of 0.67 g O₂ mg^–1 dry weight (DW) h^–1 at 5°C to 2.1 g O₂ mg^–1 DW h^–1 at 23°C for females, and ranged from 0.48 g O₂ mg^–1 DW h^–1 at 5°C to 1.5 g O₂ mg^–1 DW h^–1 at 23°C for CVs. The rate of oxygen consumption at 16°C varied from 0.62 g O₂ mg^–1 DW h^–1 at 0.65 mg O₂ l^–1 to 1.57 g O₂ mg^–1 DW h^–1 at 4.35 mg O₂ l^–1 for CVs, and from 0.74 g O₂ mg^–1 DW h^–1 at 0.57 mg O₂ l^–1 to 2.24 g O₂ mg^–1 DW h^–1 at 4.37 mg O₂ l^–1 for females. From the oxygen consumption rates, daily requirements for the routine metabolism of females were estimated, and our results indicate that the herbivorous daily ration was sufficient to meet the routine metabolic requirements of female C. euxinus in April and September in the Black Sea.Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe     

Influence of fertilizer and sewage sludge compost on yield and heavy metal accumulation by lettuce grown in urban soils

Previous research has demonstrated that many urban soils are enriched in Pb, Cd and Zn. Culture of vegetable crops in these soils could allow transfer of potentially toxic metals to foods. Tanya lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was grown in pots of five urban garden soils and one control agricultural soil to assess the effect of urban-soil metal enrichment, and the effect of soil amendments, on heavy metal uptake by garden vegetables. The amendments included NPK fertilizer, limestone, Ca(H₂PO₄)₂, and two rates of limed sewage sludge compost. Soil Cd ranged from 0.08 to 9.6 mg kg^–1; soil Zn from 38 to 3490 mg kg^–1; and soil Pb from 12 to 5210 mg kg^–1. Lettuce yield on the urban garden soils was as great as or greater than that on the control soil. Lettuce Cd, Zn and Pb concentrations increased from 0.65, 23, and 2.2 mg kg^–1 dry matter in the control soil to as high as 3.53, 422 and 37.0 mg kg^–1 on the metal-rich urban garden soils. Adding limestone or limed sewage sludge compost raised soil pH and significantly reduced lettuce Cd and Zn, while phosphate fertilizer lowered soil pH and had little effect on Zn but increased Cd concentration in lettuce. Urban garden soils caused a significant increase in lettuce leaf Pb concentration, especially on the highest Pb soil. Adding NPK fertilizer, phosphate, or sludge compost to two high Pb soils lowered lettuce Pb concentration, but adding limestone generally did not. On normally fertilized soils, Pb uptake by lettuce was not exceptionally high until soil Pb substantially exceeded 500 mg kg^–1. Comparing garden vegetables and soil as potential sources of Pb risk to children, it is clear that the risk is greater through ingestion of soil or dust than through ingestion of garden vegetables grown on the soil. Urban dwellers should obtain soil metal analyses before selecting garden locations to reduce Pb risk to their children.     

The high occurrence of arsenic in macadam products from an iron mine in central Sweden: Significance for environmental contamination

High Arsenic concentrations (up to 200 mg kg^–1) are found in macadam products from Dannemora Iron Mine in central Sweden. Monitoring the As, Pb, Zn and Cu concentrations in different macadam products shows that the highest amounts of the metals investigated appear in the fine fractions, 0–2 mm. Because of these relatively high concentrations, the Department of Environment has stopped all distribution of macadam products with a fraction less than 2 mm. However, the leaching tests show a very low concentration of weathering products which indicates a very low weathering rate for the material. Both the surface water and the ground water analyses also show low concentrations (<30g L^–1) in all the samples.     

Heavy metal pollution in Jamaica 1: Survey of cadmium,lead and zinc concentrations in the Kintyre and Hope Flat districts

Despite its being highly mineralised, the Hope Mine area has become a residential district. Composite soil samples taken from 91 allotments show values for cadmium: < 2–220 mg kg^–1, lead: 6–38,000 mg kg^–1, and zinc: 66–40,000 mg kg^–1. Water samples from adits contain 52–86 g kg^–1 of lead and < 1–2 hg kg^–1 of cadmium. The soil contents of cadmium and lead in at least two areas suggest that remedial actions should be considered. Blood lead levels for 33 children aged between ten months and seven years are in the range 5.7–57 g dl^–1; haemoglobin levels vary between 9.7 and 12.7 mg dl^–1. There is no obvious relationship between Pb and haemoglobin levels. Further geochemical work to define fully the spatial extent of the polluted region and epidemiological studies including intelligence testing to define further the effects of lead on children in this environment would be valuable.To whom correspondence should be addressed.     

Spring and summer growth rates of subarctic Pacific phytoplankton assemblages determined from carbon uptake and cell volumes estimated using epifluorescence microscopy

In order to determine whether phytoplankton growth rates were normal or depressed, total plant carbon (g l^–1) and in situ production rates (g C l^–1 d^–1) were measured for phytoplankton assemblages at Weathership Station P (50°N; 145°W) and at 53°N; 145°W in the subarctic Pacific in May and August 1984. Plant carbon, estimated from cell volumes determined using epifluorescence microscopy, was distributed as follow: 28% in the <2 m fraction, 38% in the 2 to 5 m size fraction, and the remainder in size classes >5 m. Carbon-specific growth rates (k), as doublings d^–1, were calculated for the phytoplankton assemblages as a whole at each sampling depth down to 100 m for three days in May and for four days in August. The populations in the upper part of the euphotic zone showed average doubling rates of 1 d^–1 and thus appeared to be growing at rates normally expected for the prevailing conditions of light and temperature. The low chlorophyll concentrations (0.3 to 0.4 mg chl a m^–3) characteristically found in this oceanic region do not seem to be due to very slow growth of algal populations.Contribution No. 1695 of the School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA     

Effect of low dissolved oxygen concentrations on behavior and predation rates on red sea bream Pagrus major larvae by the jellyfish Aurelia aurita and by juvenile Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius

A shift in outcomes of predator-prey interactions in plankton community may occur at sublethal dissolved oxygen concentrations that commonly occur in coastal waters. Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate how a decline in dissolved oxygen concentration alters the predation rate on fish larvae by two estuarine predators. Behavior and consumption of larval fish by moon jellyfish Aurelia aurita (103.1±12.4 mm in bell diameter) and by a juvenile piscivore, Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius (30.1±2.1 mm in standard length: SL), were observed under four oxygen concentration treatments (1, 2 and 4 mg l^–1 and air-saturated: 5.8 mg l^–1). Larvae of a coastal marine fish species, red sea bream Pagrus major (7.21±0.52 mm SL), were used as prey for the experiment. Bell contraction rate of the jellyfish did not vary among the oxygen concentrations tested, indicating a tolerance to low oxygen concentration. Gill ventilation rate of the Spanish mackerel increased and swimming speed decreased as the oxygen concentration decreased, indicating that oxygen concentrations 4 mg l^–1 are physiologically stressful for this species. The number of larvae consumed in 15 min. by jellyfish increased whereas those consumed by Spanish mackerel decreased with the decrease in oxygen concentration. Low oxygen concentrations that are commonly observed in coastal waters of Japan during summer have the potential to increase the relative importance of jellyfish as predator of fish larvae and to change the importance of alternative trophic pathways in estuarine ecosystems.Communicated by T. Ikeda, Hakodate     

Temporal variation and distribution of trace metals in freshwater and fish from Calabar River, S.E. Nigeria

An investigation on the abundance and distribution of trace metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Cd and Pb) in water, and nine species of fish samples from Calabar river was carried out in 1992. The concentrations of iron (6000–7240gl^–1), zinc (4910–7230gl^–1), and cadmium (3–7gl^–1) showed moderate pollution while those of copper (420–630gl^–1), manganese (23–48gl^–1), chromium (<10–20gl^–1) and lead (<1–10gl^–1) in water were well below WHO permissible levels. Significant seasonal changes (0.001p0.25) were obtained for iron, copper, zinc, manganese and cadmium in water. Furthermore, iron, zinc and cadmium showed statistically significant spatial changes (0.005p0.10). Of the nine fish species studied, no statistically significant relationship between body weight and the concentrations of the metals was observed. The concentrations of the metals per mean total body weight apparently decreases in the order Fe>Zn>Cu>Mn>Pb>Cd=Cr and were within the limits that were safe for consumption.     

Exposure Assessment of Naturally Metal Enriched Topsoils, Port Macquarie, Australia

An exposure assessment was conducted on naturally metal enriched topsoils of the city of Port Macquarie in order to establish whether the soils pose any threat to human health. Surface soils (0–10 cm depth, <2 mm) were investigated for their total, bioavailable and leachable Cr and Ni concentrations. Total metal concentrations ranged from 145 to 4540 mg Cr kg^–1 and 20 to 2030 mg Ni kg^–1, whereas soil extractions revealed low leachable contaminant concentrations (EDTA extraction: <0.1–0.2 mg Cr L^–1 and <0.1–4.7 mg Ni L^–1; acetic acid extraction: <0.1 mg L^–1 Cr and Ni). Thus the bioavailability of Cr and Ni to plants is low, the leaching of metals into ground and surface waters is insignificant and the pathways of these metal pollutants from topsoils into residents are limited to the inadvertent ingestion, inhalation and skin adsorption of soil metals. Simulated gastric experiments, using hydrochloric acid, indicated that less than 0.01% of the total Cr and 0.1–2.4% of the total Ni ingested are soluble and available, for uptake into the human body. Critical receptors, such as small children would have to ingest considerable soil quantities (> 11.8 g per day) over long periods of time to experience an appreciable risk of deleterious effects. Thus, although Cr and Ni are present in high concentrations, the effective uptake of Cr and Ni from soil by the majority of residents is insignificant. The possibility that the Ni enriched topsoil induces allergic contact dermatitis in sensitised individuals remains to be evaluated.     

An assessment of lead absorption from soil affected by smelter emissions

The purpose of this study was to assess the oral bioavailability of lead in soil collected from a former smelter site in Sandy, Utah, USA. Sprague-Dawley rats (approximately 4 weeks of age, 5 of each sex in group) were given either soil lead or lead acetate mixed in a purified diet (AIN-93G ) at four different concentrations for 31 consecutive days. Food consumption measurements were used to compute mean daily lead exposures for the soil lead and lead acetate groups. The lead acetate treatment yielded higher concentrations of lead in the blood and bone than the soil lead treatment. Mean blood lead values ranged from below the detection limit (3 g dL^–1) to 27.25 g lead dL^–1 for the lead acetate groups at dose levels of 0.10–2.91 mg lead kg body weight^–1 and from below the detection limit to 8.8 g lead dL^–1 for the soil lead groups at doses of 0.11–3.43 mg lead kg body weight^–1. At these same doses, mean bone values ranged from 0.52 to 26.92 g lead g^–1 for the lead acetate groups and from 0.64 to 13.1 g lead g^–1 for the soil lead groups. Relative per cent bioavailability was estimated by modelling the dose-blood concentration curves for the lead acetate treatment and the dosed soil lead treatment, and then comparing doses that produce an equivalent blood lead concentration. The ratio of the doses of lead acetate and soil lead that produced the same tissue response (i.e., concentration) provided an index of relative bioavailability. For lead, the bioavailability of soil lead relative to lead acetate was 41% at a blood concentration of 6 g lead dL^–1.     

Orthophosphate uptake by phytoplankton and bacterioplankton from the Los Angeles Harbor and Southern California coastal waters

Orthophosphate (P) uptake on a seasonal basis in surface waters and in vertical profiles was directly proportional to the standing stocks of phytoplankton and bacterioplankton in the outer Los Angeles Harbor and in southern California coastal waters during 1978–1979. A phytoplankton-enriched size fraction (PEF) which was retained on a 1 m pore-size filter contained 83% of the total chlorophyll a but only 18% of the total bacteria. A bacterioplankton-enriched size fraction (BEF) which passed the 1 m filter but was retained on a 0.2 m filter contained 82% of the total bacteria but only 17% of the total chlorophyll a. PEF and BEF accounted for 91 and 9% of the microbial carbon, respectively. The differential uptake of 10 radiolabeled substrates more fully characterized PEF and BEF. ³³P uptake occurred in both PEF and BEF, accounting for 47 and 53%, respectively, of the total uptake. ³³P uptake by both size fractions was inhibited by low concentrations of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and carbonyl cyanide, m-chlorophenylhydrozone (CCCP). Darkness and low levels of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) selectively inhibited ³³P uptake by PEF; valinomycin selectively inhibited ³³P uptake by BEF. An experiment measuring ³³P uptake velocity versus P concentration produced sigmoidal saturation kinetics at high levels of exogenous P. Kinetic parameter analyses according to the Hill equation gave a V _max of 7.12 nmol l^–1 h^–1 and aK _t of 0.41 nmol l^–1 for PEF, and a V _max of 5.17 nmol l^–1 h^–1 and aK _t of 112 nmol l^–1 for BEF. Consideration of relative surface areas of phytoplankton and bacterioplankton, their ³³P uptake rates in light and dark, and estimates of the population turnover times emphasizes the potential importance of bacterioplankton in community phosphorus metabolism.     

Environmental impact of heavy metals (Fe, Ni, Cr, Co) in soils waters and plants of triada in euboea from ultrabasic rocks and nickeliferous mineralisation

Soil, water and vegetation samples were collected from the Triada area of Central Euboea and analysed for heavy metals in order to evaluate their environmental impact. The geology of the area studied includes ultrabasic rocks that are overlaid by Upper Cretaceous limestones whereas Fe–Ni mineralisation is intercalated between either the ultrabasic parent rocks or the karstified Jurassic/Triassic carbonates and the transgessive Upper Cretaceous limestones. All the samples were analysed for heavy metals by using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The heavy metal ranges (in g g^–1) for soils samples are: Ni 480–4000, Cr 240–2720, Co 40–208, Fe 24,000–380,000, Mn 46–1680, Pb 16–56, Zn 40–144, Cu 2–82. The values of soil samples of the Triada area are much higher than the values found for Ni, Cr, Co and Fe, in normal soils of the world. The heavy metal ranges (in g L^–1) for water samples are: Ni 19–24, Cr 19–476, Co <5, Fe <100, Mn <100, Mg 5.7–220.5, As 30–69, Cd <2, Pd <10, Zn 5–11, Cu 2–7. The water samples of the Triada area have Cr and Mg concentrations higher than the permittable values. The heavy metal ranges (in g g^–1) for vegetation samples are: Ni 1–135, Cr 0–24, Co 1–21.5, Fe 20–680, Mn 10–206, Cd 0–10, Pb 0–14, Zn 14–70, Cu 0–10.5. The vegetation samples of the Triada area have so high values of Ni, Cr and Co that are considered toxic. The intercorrelated elements Fe, Ni, Cr, Co of the Triada soils, waters and vegetation reflect their association with the ultrabasic rocks and with the Fe–Ni mineralisation.     

Uptake of dissolved organic matter by larval stage of the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci

The life-history of the crown-of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) includes a planktotrophic larva that is capable of feeding on particulate food. It has been proposed, however, that particulate food (e.g. microalgae) is scarce in tropical water columns relative to the nutritional requirements of the larvae of A. planci, and that periodic shortages of food play an important role in the biology of this species. It has also been proposed that non-particulate sources of nutrition (e.g. dissolved organic matter, DOM) may fuel part of the nutritional requirements of the larval development of A. planci as well. The present study addresses the ability of A. planci larvae to take up several DOM species and compares rates of DOM uptake to the energy requirements of the larvae. Substrates transported in this study have been previously reported to be transported by larval asteroids from temperate and antarctic waters. Transport rates (per larval A. planci) increased steadily during larval development and some substrates had among the highest mass-specific transport rates ever reported for invertebrate larvae. Maximum transport rates (J _max ⁱⁿ) for alanine increased from 15.5 pmol larva^–1 h^–1 (13.2 pmol g^–1 h^–1) for gastrulas (J _max ⁱⁿ=38.7 pmol larva^–1 h^–1 or 47.4 pmol g^–1 h^–1) to 35.0 pmol larva^–1 h^–1 (13.1 pmol g^–1 h^–1) for early brachiolaria (J _max ⁱⁿ just prior to settlement=350.0 pmol larva^–1 h^–1 or 161.1 pmol g^–1 h^–1) at 1 M substrate concentrations. The instantaneous metabolic demand for substrates by gastrula, bipinnaria and brachiolaria stage larvae could be completely satisfied by alanine concentrations of 11, 1.6 and 0.8 M, respectively. Similar rates were measured in this study for the essential amino acid leucine, with rates increasing from 11.0 pmol larva^–1 h^–1 (or 9.4 pmol g^–1 h^–1) for gastrulas (J _max ⁱⁿ=110.5 pmol larva^–1 h^–1 or 94.4 pmol g^–1 h^–1) to 34.0 pmol larva^–1 h^–1 (or 13.0 pmol g^–1 h^–1) for late brachiolaria (J _max ⁱⁿ=288.9 pmol larva^–1 h^–1 or 110.3 pmol g^–1 h^–1) at 1 M substrate concentrations. The essential amino acid histidine was transported at lower rates (1.6 pmol g^–1 h^–1 at 1 M for late brachiolaria). Calculation of the energy contribution of the transported species revealed that larvae of A. planci can potentially satisfy 0.6, 18.7, 29.9 and 3.3% of their total energy requirements (instantaneous energy demand plus energy added to larvae as biomass) during embryonic and larval development from external concentrations of 1 M of glucose, alanine, leucine and histidine, respectively. These data demonstrate that a relatively minor component of the DOM pool in seawater (dissolved free amino acids, DFAA) can potentially provide significant amounts of energy for the growth and development of A. planci during larval development.     

The effect of low concentrations of phenol and ammonia on egg production rates,fecal pellet production and egg viability of the calanoid copepod Acartia clausi

Estimates of daily fecundity, hatching success and fecal pellet production are reported for Acartia clausi females exposed for 10 d to low levels of phenol and ammonia. Copepods were collected in 1991 and 1992 from a southern coastal area of the Mar Grande of Taranto (southern Italy). A reduction in egg numbers and fecal pellet production was observed for females after 8 d of exposure to 500 g l^-1 phenol concentration. Ammonia (120 g l^-1) produced a significant increment in egg production, but hatching success was reduced by about 50% after nine exposure days. A. clausi was more sensitive to ammonia than phenol at high concentrations (24-h LC₅₀ phenol-32.26 mg l^-1; 24-h LC₅₀ ammonia=0.91 mg l^-1). At low concentrations, only long-term exposure to phenol determined a reduction in fecundity.     

Seasonal variations in distribution patterns of sympagic meiofauna in Arctic pack ice

During two expeditions of the R.V. Polarstern to the Arctic Ocean, pack ice and under-ice water samples were collected during two different seasons: late summer (September 2002) and late winter (March/April 2003). Physical and biological properties of the ice were investigated to explain seasonal differences in species composition, abundance and distribution patterns of sympagic meiofauna (in this case: heterotrophs >20 µm). In winter, the ice near the surface was characterized by extreme physical conditions (minimum ice temperature: –22°C, maximum brine salinity: 223, brine volume: 5%) and more moderate conditions in summer (minimum ice temperature: –5.6°C, maximum brine salinity: 94, most brine volumes: 5%). Conditions in the lowermost part of the ice did not differ to a high degree between summer and winter. Chlorophyll a concentrations (chl a) showed significant differences between summer and winter: during winter, concentrations were mostly <1.0 µg chl a l^–1, while chl a concentrations of up to 67.4 µmol l^–1 were measured during summer. The median of depth-integrated chl a concentration in summer was significantly higher than in winter. Integrated abundances of sympagic meiofauna were within the same range for both seasons and varied between 0.6 and 34.1×10³ organisms m^–2 in summer and between 3.7 and 24.8×10³ organisms m^–2 in winter. With regard to species composition, a comparison between the two seasons showed distinct differences: while copepods (42.7%) and rotifers (33.4%) were the most abundant sea-ice meiofaunal taxa during summer, copepod nauplii dominated the community, comprising 92.9% of the fauna, in winter. Low species abundances were found in the under-ice water, indicating that overwintering of the other sympagic organisms did not take place there, either. Therefore, their survival strategy over the polar winter remains unclear.Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe