Spatio-temporal population dynamics of the sand snail Umbonium costatum: importance of ontogenetic migration and annual recruitment variability

The spatio-temporal population dynamics of the subtidal snail Umbonium costatum (Kiener) in Hakodate Bay, northern Japan, are described over a 9-yr period (1982 to 1988, 1992). Annual variations in recruitment success not only caused the highly variable age structure of the population, but also affected its distribution pattern. In heavy recruitment years (1982, 1984 and 1988), location of the densest population differed from the other years, and the areas with 0 yr old individuals were larger. Every year, the distribution of 0 yr olds was mostly restricted to inshore (within 320 m from shore), while the distribution of adults (>0 yr) was mostly restricted to offshore (>320 m from shore). Such patterns may be generated by ontogenetic migration of cohorts to offshore areas. Ontogenetic migration also could have buffered the large annual variation in spat distribution and maintained the small variation in the distribution of adults. (Prince et al. 1988). Density-related migration has also been reported in Acmaea digitalis (Frank 1965), Patella cochlear (Branch 1974) and Patelloida alticostata (Black 1977).Dense populations of the gastropod Umbonium costatum are found in some clean subtidal sandy-bottoms in Japan, e.g. inner part of Hakodate Bay. In the bay, the age structure of U. costatum revealed predominant year-classes. The 0 yr olds were restricted to the shallowest zone (<4 m depth) and most adult (<0 yr) cohorts were restricted to 6 to 7 m depths (Noda 1991a).This paper describes the temporal variability of population structure and distributional patterns of Umbonium costatum, and examines the distribution-regulating processes.     

Size distribution and anthropogenic sources apportionment of airborne trace metals in Kanazawa, Japan

Aerosol samples were collected from Kanazawa, Japan to examine the size distribution of 12 elements and to identify the major sources of anthropogenic elements. Key emission sources were identified and, concentrations contributed from individual sources were estimated as well. Concentrations of elements V, Ca, Cd, Fe, Ba, Mg, Mn, Pb, Sr, Zn, Co and Cu in aerosols were determined with ICP-MS. The results showed that Ca, Mg, Sr, Mn, Co and Fe were mainly associated with coarse particles (>2.1 μm), primarily from natural sources. In contrast, the elements Zn, Ba, Cd, V, Pb and Cu dominated in fine aerosol particles (<2.1 μm), implying that the anthropogenic origin is the dominant source. Results of the factor analysis on elements with high EF_Crust values (>10) showed that emissions from waste combustion in incinerators, oil combustion (involving waste oil burning and oil combustion in both incinerators and electricity generation plants), as well as coal combustion in electricity generation plants were major contributors of anthropogenic metals in the ambient atmosphere in Kanazawa. Quantitatively estimated sum of mean concentrations of anthropogenic elements from the key sources were in good agreement with the observed values. Results of this study elucidate the need for making pollution control strategy in this area.     

Hydrogen peroxide as a new defensive compound in “benzoyl cyanide” producing polydesmid millipedes

Hydrogen peroxide was newly and simultaneously demonstrated with well-known hydrogen cyanide as a component of defensive secretions of “benzoyl cyanide” producing polydesmid millipedes. Presence of hydrogen peroxide was successively evidenced by Trinder reagent’s spray with colorless as well as oily smears of defensive secretions containing benzoyl cyanide and hydrogen cyanide by alkaline picrate paper treatment. Linear correlation was demonstrated between quantities of hydrogen peroxide and benzoyl cyanide. By qualitative assay, seven benzoyl cyanide containing polydesmidans (six species of adults and one species of a nymph at stadium I) tested positive to Trinder reagent, indicative of the presence of hydrogen peroxide (together with hydrogen cyanide), while two cyanogenic species without benzoyl cyanide exhibited negative responses to the reagent. Two types of millipedes were elucidated as species of cyanogenic Polydesmida.     

Soilaluminum, Iron, and Phosphorus Dynamics in Response to Long-Term Experimental Nitrogen and Sulfur Additions at the Bear Brook Watershed in Maine, USA

Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) containing compounds affects soil chemistry in forested ecosystems through (1) acidification and the depletion of base cations, (2) metal mobilization, particularly aluminum (Al), and iron (Fe), (3) phosphorus (P) mobilization, and (4) N accumulation. The Bear Brook Watershed in Maine (BBWM) is a long-term paired whole-watershed experimental acidification study demonstrating evidence of each of these acidification characteristics in a northeastern U.S. forested ecosystem. In 2003, BBWM soils were studied using the Hedley fractionation procedure to better understand mechanisms of response in soil Al, Fe, and P chemistry. Soil P fractionation showed that recalcitrant P was the dominant fraction in these watersheds (49%), followed by Al and Fe associated P (24%), indicating that a majority of the soil P was biologically unavailable. Acidification induced mobilization of Al and Fe in these soils holds the potential for significant P mobilization. Forest type appears to exert important influences on metal and P dynamics. Soils supporting softwoods showed evidence of lower Al and Fe in the treated watershed, accompanied by lower soil P. Hardwood soils had higher P concentrations in surface soils as a result of increased biocycling in response to N additions in treatments. Accelerated P uptake and return in litterfall overshadowed acidification induced P mobilization and depletion mechanisms in hardwoods.