The effect of hypoxia on behavioural and physiological aspects of lesser sandeel, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ammodytes tobianus</Emphasis> (Linnaeus, 1785)

Lesser sandeel (Ammodytes tobianus) is abundant in near-shore areas where it is a key prey. It exhibits the behaviour of alternating between swimming in schools and lying buried in the sediment. We first determined the species’ standard metabolic rate (SMR), critical partial pressure of oxygen and maximal oxygen uptake The sandeel were then exposed to an acute stepwise decline in water oxygen pressure (18.4, 13.8, 9.8, 7.5, 5.8, 4.0, and 3.1 kPa ). Swimming speed and routine- and post-experimental blood lactate levels were measured, in addition to levels associated with strenuous exercise. The SMR was 69.0 ± 8.4 mg O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ and the about seven times as high. The was found to be 4.1 kPa. A rapid decrease (within 1 h) in from 18.4 to 3.1 kPa had no significant effect on routine swimming speed (0.9 ± 0.06 bl s⁻¹), but steady levels at the lowest (3.1 kPa) gradually reduced the swimming speed by 95% after 40 min. The routine blood lactate levels were 2.2 ± 0.6 mmol l⁻¹, while the levels in the strenuously exercised groups were significantly higher with 5.4 ± 1.6 and 5.8 ± 1.3 mmol l⁻¹. The highest levels were observed in post-experimental fish with 7.5 ± 2.7 mmol l⁻¹. We argue that, as sandeel showed no decrease in swimming speed (to offset stress) nor an increased speed to escape the hypoxia, the fish either rely on a low SMR and being a reasonable strong oxygen regulator as a mean to cope when exposed to acute hypoxia, or that the hypoxia simply developed too fast for the fish to decide on an appropriate strategy. Not showing a behavioural response may in the present case be maladaptive, as the consequence was major physiological stress which the fish however appears tolerant towards. The high routine blood lactate levels suggest that anaerobic metabolism is associated with swimming in sandeel, which may be related to the specific lifestyle of the fish where they regularly bury in the sediment.     

Hypoxia increases the behavioural activity of schooling herring: a response to physiological stress or respiratory distress?

Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus, increase their swimming speed during low O₂ (hypoxia) and it has been hypothesised that the behavioural response is modulated by the degree of “respiratory distress” (i.e. a rise in anaerobic metabolism and severe physiological stress). To test directly whether a deviation in physiological homeostasis is associated with any change in behavioural activity, we exposed C. harengus in a school to a progressive stepwise decline in water oxygen pressure and measured fish swimming speed and valid indicators of primary and secondary stress (i.e. blood cortisol, lactate, glucose and osmolality). Herring in hypoxia increased their swimming speed by 11–39% but only when was <8.5 kPa and in an unsteady (i.e. declining) state. In parallel with the shift in behaviour, plasma cortisol also exhibited an increase with plasma osmolality was subject to a transient rise at 8.5 kPa and plasma glucose was generally reduced at However, without any rise in anaerobically derived lactate levels, there was no evidence of respiratory distress at any set We show that a shift in physiological homeostasis is indeed linked with an increase in the swimming speed of herring but the physiological response reflects a hypoxia-induced shift in metabolic fuel-use rather than respiratory distress per se. The significance of this behavioural–physiological reaction is discussed in terms of behavioural-energetic trade-offs, schooling dynamics and the hypoxia tolerance of herring.     

Trophic variation with length in two ommastrephid squids, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ommastrephes bartramii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis</Emphasis>

From 1998 to 2001 a total of 200 Ommastrephes bartramii (27 paralarvae) and 170 Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis (14 paralarvae) were sampled from the Central North Pacific. One group of non-paralarval O. bartramii (n = 30) was sampled from farther northwest in 1996. The δ¹⁵N of mantle muscle of non-paralarval O. bartramii ( = 12.4‰) was significantly greater than that of non-parlarval S. oualaniensis ( = 8.1‰) (P < 0.001). The δ¹⁵N of whole paralarvae of O. bartramii ( = 6.4‰) was not significantly different than parlarvalae of S. oualaniensis ( = 6.1‰) (P = 0.528). There was no significant difference between the mantle muscle δ¹⁵N values of male (n = 95, = 13.3‰) and female (n = 18, = 12.9 ‰) O. bartramii greater than 300 mm mantle length (ML) (P = 0.15). There was also no significant difference between the mantle muscle δ¹⁵N values of male (n = 15, = 7.2‰) and female (n = 26, = 7.3 ‰) S. oualaniensis in the same size range (P = 0.41). Overall there was a distinct logistic increase in δ¹⁵N with mantle length for O. bartramii, whereas S. oualaniensis showed an exponential increase in δ¹⁵N with mantle length that was stronger within individual years than with all samples combined. In general, adult O. bartramii are more than a trophic level above S. oualaniensis (4.3‰, 1.3 TLs). Because of the nature of the sampling protocol, this study could not separate spatial and temporal effects on the δ¹⁵N signals from each squid species. This study demonstrates the ability of stable isotope analyses to differentiate trophic levels between squid species as well as track trophic changes across size ranges from paralarvae to adults. Additional research is needed to validate these trophic changes across size within individuals.     

Temperature and metabolic rate in sedentary fish from the Antarctic,North Sea and Indo-West Pacific Ocean

Resting metabolic rate was measured in demersal stages of the teleostNotothenia neglecta Nybelin from the South Orkney Islands, Antarctica, from 1985 to 1987. The relationship between and body mass (Mb) conformed to the general relationship , wherea is a proportionality constant andb is the scaling exponent. (mg O₂ h^–1) was found to scale toMb ^{(0.82±0.011)} in the summer (November to April, 1.6 to 1 850 g,n=56) and toMb ^{(0.76±0.013)} in the winter (May to October, 0.9 to 1 850 g,n=57) (values ofb are means ± SD). Although the scaling exponents were significantly different (P<0.01), was similar in the juvenile stages of summer- and winter-caught fish matched for body mass. The effects of activity on oxygen consumption was studied using a Brett respirometer. Adult stages had a factorial aerobic scope for activity of 5.7, which is similar to that reported for demersal fish from temperate latitudes. The effects of temperature on resting metabolism was investigated in fish with similar sedentary lifestyles from the North Sea (Agonus cataphractus andMyoxocephalus scorpius) and the Indo-West Pacific (Paracirrhites forsteri, P. arcatus, Neocirrhites armatus andExallias brevis). Extrapolated values of for the tropical species approached zero at 5 to 10°C. For a standard 50 g fish, for the tropical species at 25°C was in the range 3.4 to 4.4 mg O₂ h^–1, compared with 1.3 mg O₂ h^–1 forNotothenia neglecta at its acclimation temperature. Thus, the maximum metabolic rate of sedentary tropical species at 24°C is likely to be 2 to 4 times higher than inN. neglecta at 0°C. This suggests that the energy available for sustained activity is significantly lower in cold- than in warm-water fish.     

Oxygen consumption of the semi-terrestrial crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pachygrapsus marmoratus</Emphasis> in relation to body mass and temperature: an information theory approach

Pachygrapsus marmoratus is a semi-terrestrial crab and the most common grapsid crab in the intertidal belt of rocky shores throughout the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and northeastern Atlantic. In this study, the combined effects of temperature (T), body mass (M), and sex (S) on the routine oxygen consumption rate (R) in P. marmoratus were quantified. The blotted wet body mass of the specimens ranged between 43 mg and 18.0 g, and five test temperatures were used between 13.5 and 28.0°C. Six candidate models that reflected different assumptions regarding the dependence of R on S and T were compared. Model selection was based on Kullback–Leibler’s information theory and Akaike’s information criterion (AIC). The model had the highest support by the data (E is the activation energy, B = 8.618 × 10⁻⁵ eV K⁻¹ is Boltzmann’s constant, T _a is the absolute temperature in Kelvin, and b the allometric scaling exponent); for P. marmoratus it was found that No sex dependence of R was supported by the data. Following a multi-model inference (MMI) approach, the mean (± SE) allometric exponent was 0.750 (± 0.013) having a 95% (bootstrap) confidence interval of 0.726–0.774. Thus, it was established that P. marmoratus follows Kleiber’s 3/4 law, as seems to be generally true for intertidal crabs. The allometric exponent was independent of temperature as has also been reported for many other marine invertebrates (at normal temperatures). Q ₁₀ values were relatively low, indicating wide thermal tolerance of the species. Model selection based on information theory is recommended for respiration studies, as an effective method in finding a parsimonious approximating model. MMI by model averaging, based on Akaike weights, is an effective way to make robust parameter estimations and deal with model selection uncertainty.     

Physiological responses of Mytilus edulis and Cardium edule to aerial exposure

Physiological responses of two bivalves (Mytilus edulis L. and Cardium edule L.) to intertidal conditions were studied. Specimens were collected from S. W. England in autumn/winter, 1980, and acclimatized to either intertidal or subtidal regimes before measurement of rates of heat dissipation and oxygen uptake during 5 h of air exposure, and rates of , particle clearance, ammonia excretion, and food-absorption efficiency during 7 h of reimmersion. Subtidal individuals were either intermittently or continuously fed in order to distinguish the effects of periodic food supply from the effects of air exposure. Specimens of M. edulis had low aerial rates of (14 to 20% of aquatic rate), and was greater than the energy equivalent of , indicating that they were largely anaerobic. In contrast, C. edule air-gaped and had higher aerial rates of and (50 to 75% of aquatic rate). There were behavioural and metabolic differences in the responses of intertidally and subtidally acclimatized mussels and cockles to air exposure. Intertidal individuals of both species were more quiescent, had lower aerial rates of and , and showed a conditioned response at the expected time of reimmersion. The reduction in aerial rate of was an energy-saving mechanism and the payment of the oxygen-debt within 2 h of reimmersion represented a significant cost. The heat increment associated with feeding and digestion was estimated as 15 to 17% of the oxygen uptake by M. edulis during all stages of recovery. M. edulis adapted to the intertidal regime by reducing its time-averaged aerial and aquatic rates of ammonia excretion. In contrast, C. edule maintained a high aerial and aquatic rate of ammonia excretion. The clearance rates of M. edulis recovered rapidly (0.5 to 1.5 h) following reimmersion, whereas those of C. edule recovered more slowly, particularly for the subtidal individuals following acute exposure (>4 h). There was no evidence of increased clearance rate or absorption efficiency by intertidal individuals to compensate for the loss of feeding time. Intertidally acclimatized individuals of M. edulis and C. edule had more energy available for growth (scope for growth) integrated over a 12 h period and higher growth efficiencies than subtidal individuals subjected to acute air exposure and intermittent feeding regimes. This was the result of reduced aerial and aquatic rates of energy expenditure, a relatively small cost in terms of the payment of oxygen-debt and a rapid recovery of clearance rate following reimmersion.     

Comments on “turbulent velocity profile in fully-developed open channel flows”

In a recent paper published in this journal, Bonakdari et al. (Environ Fluid Mech 8:1–17, 2008) presented a new formulation of the vertical velocity profile in the central portion of steady fully developed turbulent open-channel flows which is based on an analysis of the Navier–Stokes equations. The predicted mean streamwise velocity profiles presented by the authors represent dip phenomenon (maximum velocity below the free surface). The discusser would like to point out some contradictions and an error in the main demonstration. This error appears in the right-hand side term of the main Eq. 22 (Environ Fluid Mech 8:1–17, 2008) in the parameter α. Our corrected demonstration shows that α is equal to and not to as obtained by the authors (Environ Fluid Mech 8:1–17, 2008). The values of α used by the authors are under-estimated by 1, this difference has a significant effect on velocities and therefore will involve a difference between measured and predicted velocity profiles. Finally, the assumption of at the free surface is in contradiction with predicted velocity profiles.     

Oxygen consumption inNeomysis americana (Crustacea: Mysidacea), and the effects of naphthalene exposure

Oxygen uptake ( ) of individual mysids was measured in a novel continuous flow respirometer for 24-h periods, and in a sealed chamber respirometer for several hours. Mysids were acclimated 30–100d under conditions which allowed complete life-cycle cultivation. was normalized for mysid size using an unconventional linear regression: log ( ) vs log (body water). Compared to the conventional regression, log ( ) vs log (body mass), the new approach showed two advantages: significantly greater coefficient of determination,r ², and removal of differences in between sexes. Minimum rates of oxygen uptake measured in the continuous flow respirometer were lower than sealed chamber measurements, and may more accurately reflect standard metabolic rate. Hourly data also showed a daily cycle when adjusted to represent a standard size mysid. Exposure to ca 1.1 mg l^-1 naphthalene increased and the range of spontaneous shown by the mysids; exposure to ca 0.1 mgl^-1 naphthalene depressed the range of . Both exposures caused aberrations in the daily cycle.     

A performance comparison between nonlinear similarity functions in bulk parameterization for very stable conditions

Three sets of nonlinear similarity functions for strong stability are selected to compare their performance in bulk parameterization. To uncover their advantages and disadvantages, theoretical and measurement analyses are made with four profile metrics and the Deacon number technique. Main disadvantages include the negligence of the different transfer efficiency between momentum and heat, the flux cutoff due to the upper limit in gradient Richardson number (Ri) and the ignorance of limited stability range where the dimensionless gradient functions ( and ) approach constants. Accordingly, three suggestions are made for future improvement. First, the functions for wind velocity and potential temperature should have the same function form, but with different coefficients. Second, and should approach constants only within a certain stability range. Third, the limit value in Ri should be avoided to widen their applicability in flux modeling. Furthermore, quantitative comparisons in transfer coefficients for moment and sensible heat (C _D and C _H) are made among the similarity functions in the bulk Richardson number (Ri _B) range 0 < Ri _B < 1. Generally, significant discrepancy is found, which may approach a factor of two and three at large Ri _B in C _D and C _H, respectively. Finally, a new recommendation is made to one of the three sets, mainly because of its ability to predict C _D and C _H that decrease rather slowly in very stable conditions.     

Oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange in the polychaete Nereis virens: influence of ventilation activity and starvation

The influence of ventilation activity and starvation on O₂ uptake and CO₂ production in the polychaete Nereis virens Sars was investigated during September 1986 using worms collected on intertidal flats outside the Nærå Strand estuary, Denmark. The activity level, measured as ventilation rate, , was linearly related to active O₂ uptake, , for worms inhabiting artificial burrows (i.e. tubes) in the laboratory. at 16°C was two and four times the extrapolated standard O₂ uptake ( =0) when was 100 and 500 ml g^-1 h^-1, respectively. The use of tubes had no significant effect on N. viren's temporal ventilation pattern, D_v, compared to natural burrows in sediment. The ventilation rate, , however, was 2 to 3 times higher in tubes than in burrows. Starvation affected both ventilation and gas exchange. increased slightly during the first six days remaining constant thereafter. D_v, on the othe hand, decreased during the first six days followed by a gradual increase to Day 20. The observed decrease in D_v (%) from Day 0 to 1 was attributed to insufficient acclimation of the worms. The time integrated ventilation rate, × D_v, increased gradually throughout the 20 d starvation period. and declined rapidly during the first days of starvation. After 10 d the gas exchange reached steady levels at about 50% of the initial rate. The observed decrease in metabolic rate during starvation was explained by a rapid initial reduction in specific dynamic action (SDA) followed by a gradual exhaustion of readily available metabolic reserves, e.g. glycogen and lipids.     

Distribution and phytoavailability of antimony at an antimony mining and smelting area,Hunan, China

An investigation of the distribution, fractionation and phytoavailability of antimony (Sb) and other heavy metals in soil sampled at various locations in the vicinity of a Sb mine revealed elevated levels of Sb, most certainly due to the mining activities. The concentration of Sb in the soil samples was 100.6–5045 mg kg⁻¹; in comparison, the maximum permissible concentration for Sb in soil in The Netherlands is 3.5 mg kg⁻¹, and the maximum permissible concentration of pollutant Sb in receiving soils recommended by the World Health Organization is 36 mg kg⁻¹. The soil sampled near the Sb mine areas had also contained high concentrations of As and Hg. Root and leaf samples from plants growing in the Sb mine area contained high concentrations of Sb, with the concentration of Sb in the leaves of radish positively correlating with Sb concentrations in soil. The distribution of Sb in the soil showed the following order: strongly bound to the crystalline matrix > adsorbed on Fe/Mn hydrous oxides, complexed to organic/sulfides, bound to carbonates > weakly bound and soluble. Solvents showed varying levels of effectiveness in extracting Sb (based on concentration) from the soil, with , in decreasing order. The concentration of easily phytoavailable Sb was high and varied from 2.5 to 13.2 mg kg⁻¹, the percentage of moderately phytoavailable Sb ranged from 1.62 to 8.26%, and the not phytoavailable fraction represented 88.2–97.9% of total Sb in soils.     

Application of the 45Ca tracer method for determination of calcification rates in calcareous algae: Effect of calcium exchange and differential saturation of algal calcium pools

Calcium exchange and differential saturation of algal calcium pools complicate the application of the ⁴⁵Ca tracer method for the determination of net deposition rates of calcium in calcareous algae. The kinetics of ⁴⁵Ca uptake is critically reevaluated, and it is shown that incorporation occurs in two stages. A fast stage, saturating the exchangeable calcium pools; and a slow stage, giving rise to net deposition. The reliability of the method much depends on the determination of the second rate constant. Calcium net-deposition rates are obtained from the expression , where represents the second rate constant and S _SW the specific activity of the seawater. Calcium exchange and recycling of tracer would lower the second rate constant, hence the method will give rise to minimum values. The application of the method is demonstrated for the following algae: Halimeda incrassata, H. opuntia, Penicillus pyriformis, Udotea flabellum, Cymopolia barbata, Padina sanctae crucis and Amphiroa fragilissima; the results show close agreement of data with independent chemical estimates.Sonderforschungsbereich 95 der Universität Kiel, Publication No. 200.Contribution No. 732 from the Bermuda Biological Station for Research.     

Ecophysiology of the benthic amphipod Monoporeia affinis in an open-sea area of the northern Baltic Sea: seasonal variations in oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion

Seasonal variations in the oxygen uptake rate ( ) and ammonia excretion rate ( ) of the benthic deposit-feeding amphipod Monoporeia affinis vere studied in an open-sea population of the northern Baltic Sea during three consecutive years (1991 to 1993). In the early summer an increase in the weightspecific by 22% (standard 1-mg individual) was registered; an even more striking change was noted in the , which showed an increase in the early summer of ca. six times the extremely low winter/spring valnes. The metabolic changes observed could not be attributed to temperature, which remained at steadystate throughout the year, nor could seasonal variations in the biochemical composition of the amphipods explain the results. Therefor, it is evident that quality-food abundance following the sedimentation of the spring phytoplankton bloom induces the observed early-summer elevations in and . In turn, the marked decrease in the towards autumn reflects the gradual depletion of quality-food in the benthic environment. Atomic O: N ratios indicated that at the sampling location, M. affinis uses lipid almost exclusively for metabolic energy throughout the year, except in early summer when the use of lipid and protein was observed to be almost equal. Results also indicated a time-lag between sedimentation of the phytoplankton bloom and metabolic response in the amphipod population.     

Regional patterns of microsatellite variation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mytilus galloprovincialis</Emphasis> from the Iberian Peninsula

The Almería-Oran Oceanographic Front (AOOF) has been proposed as an effective marine barrier to gene flow between the NE Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea for several species. Previous studies using allozymes and mitochondrial DNA have reported a scenario of secondary intergradation between populations of Mytilus galloprovincialis from those basins, with the allelic frequencies of some loci showing abrupt clinal patterns across the AOOF. In this study, we aimed at testing the congruence between six neutral polymorphic microsatellites versus previous data on allozymes and mtDNA-RFLPs, at depicting the population structure of this species in the Iberian Peninsula. Microsatellite genotyping was scored on 17 samples of mussels collected in the Iberian coast, including some areas not sampled before. Microsatellites exhibited larger intrabasin diversity (F _SC = 1.72%, ), similar interbasin differentiation (F _CT = 2.81%) and fewer allelic clines than allozymes or mtDNA haplotypes. These results fully support the scenario of secondary intergradation with some ongoing gene flow between basins, as proposed in previous analyses. Moreover, this congruence between markers and analyses separated by a 12-year period (1988–2000) confirm the temporal stability of this marine barrier at shaping the Iberian phylogeographic break in M. galloprovincialis. In addition, the genetic continuity between the NE Atlantic (Portugal) and the Alboran Sea seems to be warranted across the Gulf of Cadiz and the Gibraltar strait after the present microsatellite data. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Comparative studies on the metabolism of shallow-water and deep-sea marine fishes. V. Effects of temperature and hydrostatic pressure on oxygen consumption in the mesopelagic zoarcid Melanostigma pammelas

Measurements have been made of routine oxygen consumption rates ( ) of the mesopelagic deep-sea zoarcid fish Melanostigma pammelas. Determinations were made over ecologically relevant ranges of 3 variables; temperature (3° to 10°C), hydrostatic pressure (1 to 170 atm), and oxygen partial pressure (1 to 160 mm Hg). Weight-specific s were uniformly low. Of the 3 test variables, only temperature had significant metabolic effects within the ranges studied. Q₁₀'s were 6.75 between 3° and 5°C. 1.47 between 5° and 7°C, and 17.4 between 7° and 10°C. These Q₁₀'s were constant over the hydrostatic pressure range studied. Between 3° and 7°C the fish regulated their rates of oxygen consumption down to PO₂'s comparable to those occurring in their natural environments (6 to 12 mm Hg). The showed no capacity to tolerate anoxic conditions. The physiological and ecological significance of these results is discussed, particularly with reference to thermal effects and to the basis of survival of this fish in the oxygen minimum layers of the eastern Pacific Ocean. Since it is possible to maintain M. pammelas in the laboratory for extended periods of time (over 12 months) it could serve as the basis for many interesting studies of deep-sea fish biology.     

Spatial and temporal distribution of atmospheric mercury species over the Adriatic Sea

Field measurements of atmospheric mercury and related species were carried out during an intensive cruise campaign performed over the Adriatic sea from October 26th to November 12th, 2004 on board the R/V Urania. Hg⁰ ranged between 0.8 and 3.3 ng/m³ with an average of 1.6 ± 0.4 ng/m³ over the entire period. Hg(II) concentrations ranged from 0.1 to 62.8 pg/m³ with an average of 6.7 ± 11.7 pg/m³ whereas Hg-p levels were in a range of 0.04 and 51 pg/m³ with an average of 4.5 ± 8 pg/m³. Higher Hg⁰ and Hg-p concentrations were observed in the Gulf of Venice and Gulf of Trieste due primarily to air masses transported from the mainland reflecting the contribution from anthropogenic sources. In contrast, higher Hg(II) concentrations observed during the first period of the cruise campaign were likely due to the occurrence of photo-oxidants production which are the main players of the gas phase oxidation of to Hg(II)_(g). These findings have been confirmed by the backward trajectories analysis of air masses crossing the studied area during selected days.     

The burrows and physiological adaptations to a burrowing lifestyle of Natatolana borealis (Isopoda: Cirolanidae)

The isopod Natatolana borealis Lilljeborg constructs U-shaped burrows in soft mud, the bore of which closely approximates the width of the occupant. Within artificial burrows, the isopods are largely quiescent and often adopt a position close to one of the burrow openings. Conditions within burrows constructed in the laboratory are moderately hypoxic [11.7 to 14.9 kPa (88 to 112 torr)], with isopods showing discontinuous irrigation behaviour (pleopod beating). Rates of oxygen consumption (measured at 10°C) are maintained approximately constant over a wide range of oxygen partial pressure (P_{O 2}) due, in part, to a pronounced increase in pleopod beat rate. Values for the critical partial pressure of oxygen (P_c), the P_{O 2} at which can no longer be maintained independent of P_{O 2}, were 2.0 to 3.3 kPa (15 to 25 torr). N. borealis can survive lengthy periods (65 h at 5°C) of anoxia, during which there is a significant reduction in the carbohydrate concentration and an increase in the l-lactate concentration of the tissues. The oxygencarrying capacity of the haemolymph of N. borealis was low. The haemocyanin showed a relatively high oxygen affinity [P₅₀=0.39 kPa (2.99 torr) at 10°C at the in vivo pH of 7.80] and a pronounced Bohr effect (-1.22). These characteristics may be advantageous to a burrowing mode of life and also for the conditions likely to be encountered in fish carcasses into which they burrow en masse to feed.     

Thallium in marine plankton

Concentrations of thallium in phytoplankton (0.02 to 0.8 g g^–1), zooplankton (0.03 to 0.5 g g^–1) and ichthyoplankton (0.1 g g^–1) from the central Pacific were comparable , as were the atomic ratios of thallium to calcium (3x10^–6) and to potassium (1x10^–6) in those organisms. These relatively constant ratios, plus the biounlimited ocean profile of thallium, indicate that it is rapidly cycled through plankton in the same manner as potassium, its principal biogeochemical analogue. The higher atomic ratios of thallium to potassium in pelagic clays (6x10^–6) and ferromanganese nodules (4x10^–3) suggest that both biological transport processes and abiotic transport processes influence this trace element's oceanic cycle.     

Growth,condition and specific dynamic action in the mussel Mytilus edulis recovering from starvation

Juvenile Mytilus edulis were grown individually in plastic racks in a tidal salt marsh for 72 d in 1984, starved in the laboratory for 130 d, and then fed the alga Isochrysis galbana daily for 64 d. Oxygen consumption was measured at various times during the course of starvation and recovery. The effects of both size (tissue dry weight) and condition (tissue size relative to shell size) on the rate of oxygen consumption during the course of starvation and recovery were analyzed by multiple regression. Weight-specific preprandial rate was inversely correlated with both size and condition. Weight-specific active rate (measured shortly after feeding) was correlated with size but not condition. Relative Scope for Activity was inversely correlated with size and positively correlated with condition. Relative Specific Dynamic Action (RSDA; the integrated physiological and mechanical response to a meal) was initially correlated negatively with size and subsequently positively with condition. Glycogen content was shown to be positively correlated with condition in mussels before starvation and during recovery. During recovery, experimental mussels returned to 90% of their estimated dry weight prior to starvation, and from 53% after starvation. At weekly intervals during recovery, oxygen consumption was measured following a meal until it returned to the preprandial rate. Both pre- and postprandial volumes (l at STP) of oxygen consumed per hour ( O _2pre and O _2post , respectively) increased significantly during recovery. The postprandial rise in oxygen consumption increased significantly from 15% to 23% of O _2pre . At the end of the recovery period, RSDA [( O _2post – O _2pre )/ O _2pre ] was independent of final dry weight, but was significantly correlated with percent dry weight recovered (r ²=0.44; df=10; P<0.02). The increase in RSDA may reflect increased utilization of food and its conversion to soma during recovery from starvation, as distinct from mechanical energy expenditure (feeding activity) following a meal.