Phylogenetic relationships of deep-sea mussels of the genus<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Bathymodiolus</Emphasis> (Bivalvia: Mytilidae)

We examined phylogenetic relationships among three Bathymodiolus species in Japanese waters and Bathymodiolus spp. from the Manus Basin by two different approaches. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis allowed us to compare 263–407 (average=318) proteins, giving comprehensive information on genetic distances among the species. The neighbor-joining tree presented two clusters: (1) B. japonicus and B. platifrons and (2) B. septemdierum and B. sp. Members of the first cluster contain methanotrophic endosymbiotic bacteria and members of the second cluster contain thioautotrophic endosymbionts. DNA sequencing of a fragment (415 bp) of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) provided a neighbor-joining tree with the same topology as that derived from protein analysis. Inspection of intraspecific variation in COI in B. japonicus and B. platifrons revealed no genetic differentiation between mussel populations of either species from cold-water seeps versus hydrothermal vents, suggesting high adaptability of these Bathymodiolus species to deep-sea chemosynthetic environments. Our results indicated genetic exchanges between mussels from distant localities, suggesting that a limited dispersal capability of the larvae is not the likely factor leading to speciation events in these Bathymodiolus species.Communicated by T. Ikeda, Hakodate     

Identification and significance of pyrochlorins in fecal pellets of the marine malacostracan crustaceans Heptacarpus rectirostris and Palaemon pacificus

The chlorophyll derivatives, especially pyrochlorins, from macrobentho-pelagic fecal pellets were separated and identified using reversed-phase high-per-formance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). HPLC-frit-fast atom bombardment (FAB)-MS analysis of fecal pellet extracts was performed, and the ions at m/z (mass-to-charge ratio), 534 [M]⁺, 827 [M+H]⁺ and 812 [M]⁺ as base peaks contirm the presence of pyropheophorbide a, pyropheophytin b and pyropheophytin a, respectively. Identification of pyrochlorins in fecal pellets suggests that decarbomethoxylation of chlorophylls can occur during bentho-pelagic grazing and that pyrochlorins in sedimentary environments may be derived in part from fecal pellets.     

Occurrence of a crinotoxin and hemagglutinin in the skin mucus of the moray eel Lycodontis nudivomer

The tropical Indo-Pacific moray eel Lycodontis nudivomer possesses a mucous skin secretion which shows hemolytic, toxic and hemagglutinating activities. The active components were extracted from the mucous secretion with 0.02 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) and purified by DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-200 column chromatography. The component(s) responsible for the hemolytic-toxic activities differ(s) from that (those) causing the hemagglutinating activity. The hemolysin was unstable in the presence of heat, acidic and alkaline media, and several organic solvents. It was undialyzable throught a cellophane membrane, and showed an absorption maxium at 280 nm in the phosphate buffer (pH 7.5). The hemolytic activity was completely lost when treated with trypsin, indicating that the hemolysin is a protein. Histochemical examination on the epidermis of L. nudivomer revealed the presence of clubbed peculiar cells, in addition to common mucous cells, which we speculate produced the hemolytic-toxic component(s). Eight other species of morays were found to possess clubbed peculiar cells similar to those of L. nudivomer in their epidermis. There are marked differences, however, in the abundance of these cells among these muraenids.     

Bioaccumulation of mercury in a vestimentiferan worm living in Kagoshima Bay,Japan

The present study reports on the mercury concentrations of the vestimentiferan worm, Lamellibrachia satsuma, (Annelida: Pogonophora) found near hydrothermal vents at a depth of 80-100 m in the northern parts of Kagoshima Bay. The vestimentiferan worms had total mercury concentrations of 238 ng/g in the anterior muscle of the body and 164 ng/g in the posterior trophosome. Methylmercury constituted only 7.6% of total mercury detected anteriorly and 16.3% posteriorly. The mean total mercury concentration in filtrated ambient seawater of the worm habitat was 1.1 ng/l. The worm should accumulate mercury in seawater by a one-step into the anterior and posterior parts as 2.2 x 10(%) and 1.5 x 10(5) times those of the filtered ambient seawater, respectively. The bioaccumulation factor of mercury by the worms with only their respiration would be actually larger than that by other marine animals through food webs. The high bioaccumulation factor of mercury in the worms suggest the following two possibilities: (i) the biological half-life of organomercury in the worm could be exceptionally long; or (ii) the lifetime of vestimentiferan worms examined in the present study could be extremely long. Various metals in one specimen of the worm were analyzed by using ICP-MS, and then gold as well as silver were detected in the worm. Gold was detected for the first time from marine animals.     

Variation in CO2 assimilation rate induced by simulated dew waters with different sources of hydroxyl radical (*OH) on the needle surfaces of Japanese red pine (Pinus densifora Sieb. et Zucc.)

The hydroxyl radical (*OH) is generated in polluted dew on the needle surfaces of Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.). This free radical, which is a potent oxidant, is assumed to be a cause of ecophysiological disorders of declining trees on the urban-facing side of Mt. Gokurakuji, western Japan. Mists of *OH-generating N(III) (HNO2 and NO2-) and HOOH + Fe + oxalate solutions (50 and 100 microM, pH 5.1-5.4) simulating the dew water were applied to the foliage of pine seedlings grown in open-top chambers in the early morning. Needles treated with 100 microM N(III) tended to have a greater maximum CO2 assimilation rate (Amax), a greater stomatal conductance (g(s)) and a greater needle nitrogen content (Nneedle), suggesting that N(III) mist acts as a fertilizer rather than as a phytotoxin. On the other hand, needles treated with 100 microM HOOH + Fe + oxalate solution showed the smallest Amax, g(s), and Nneedle, suggesting that the combination of HOOH + Fe + oxalate caused a decrease in needle productivity. The effects of HOOH + Fe + oxalate mist on pine needles were very similar to the symptoms of declining trees at Mt. Gokurakuji.     

Energy reduction of a submerged membrane bioreactor using a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hollow-fiber membrane

The fiber length and packing density of the PTFE membrane element were increased. The MBR was stably operated under an SAD^m of 0.13 m³·m^-2·hr^-1. Specific energy consumption was estimated to be less than 0.4 kWh·m^-3. In this study, we modified a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hollow-fiber membrane element used for submerged membrane bioreactors (MBRs) to reduce the energy consumption during MBR processes. The high mechanical strength of the PTFE membrane made it possible to increase the effective length of the membrane fiber from 2 to 3 m. In addition, the packing density was increased by 20% by optimizing the membrane element configuration. These modifications improve the efficiency of membrane cleaning associated with aeration. The target of specific energy consumption was less than 0.4 kWh·m^-3 in this study. The continuous operation of a pilot MBR treating real municipal wastewater revealed that the MBR utilizing the modified membrane element can be stably operated under a specific air demand per membrane surface area (SAD_m) of 0.13 m³·m^-2·hr^-1 when the daily-averaged membrane fluxes for the constant flow rate and flow rate fluctuating modes of operation were set to 0.6 and 0.5 m³·m^-2·d^-1, respectively. The specific energy consumption under these operating conditions was estimated to be less than 0.37 kWh·m^-3. These results strongly suggest that operating an MBR equipped with the modified membrane element with a specific energy consumption of less than 0.4 kWh·m^-3 is highly possible.     

Spatio-temporal variations in the diet and stable isotope composition of the Argentine hake <Emphasis Type="Italic">Merluccius hubbsi</Emphasis> Marini, 1933 of the continental shelf of southeastern Brazil

The feeding ecology of Merluccius hubbsi was investigated in 2 regions of SE Brazil. The major food sources for the hakes were fish, crustaceans, and squid. In the upwelling system of Cabo Frio, the diet was very similar in the summers of 2001/2002 and spring 2002; fish were the most important prey followed by crustaceans. In Ubatuba, euphausiids were an important prey during the winter 2001 (100 m), while in the summer 2002, fish and amphipods predominated in the diet in the shallower site (40 m) and squid in the deeper site (100 m). The hakes showed temporal differences in stable isotope signatures in both regions, while C:N ratios varied only in Cabo Frio. δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C (bulk and corrected for lipid content) increased with fish length, which seems to be related to the increasing importance of fish and decreasing importance of euphausiids and amphipods in the diet of larger hakes. The mean trophic level of 3.7 for M. hubbsi was estimated using δ¹⁵N of bivalves as baseline and the fractionation of 3.4‰ between trophic levels.     

An estimate of the conversion rates of SO2 to SO2-4 and NO2 to HNO3+ NO3- for the evaluation air pollution in Beijing

The conversion rates of SO₂ to SO^2-₄ and NO₂ to HNO₃₊NO₃- are estimated from the field-data obtained in Beijing in summer, 1988. The results show that the conversion rate of NO₂ is about four times as much as that of SO₂; The conversion rates have a diurnal variation in a day. On the average, the rate of SO₂ is estimated to be 4.7% h^-1 during the daytime and 3.4% h^-1 during the nighttime. Similarly, the rate of NO₂ is estimated to be 17.2% h^-1 and 12% h^-1 respectively.     

A comparison of water solubilities by the flask and micro-column methods

A comparative examination of the two procedures of the OECD Test Guideline: Water Solubility was undertaken using carbazole, fluoranthene, anthracene, hexachlorobenzene, p-nitroaniline and diphenylamine. The flask method was modified to provide for dissolution of the solute from the surface of glass beads. By the proposed flask method, one can accurately measure the water solubility down to the order of 10 μg/L as well as those of the order of %. The micro-column method, which requires a number of concentration determinations to ensure that a saturated solution has been obtained, is recommended for the solubility range of 10 mg/L through 10 μg/L. The flask method using the procedures described in this study, covers the range of solubility above 10 μg/L with only two determinations one being a simple preliminary test and the other a precise measurement.