An ecophysiological study of some meiofauna species inhabiting a sandy beach at Bermuda

The dominant nematode and harpacticoid species inhabiting a sheltered beach at Bermuda were characterized by their vertical distribution in the sediment, by their tolerance of high temperature under oxic and anoxic conditions, and by their tolerance of extreme pH-values. In 4 species of nematodes the respiratory rate proved to be inversely proportional to the depth at which the species occurs, and directly proportional to the size of the buccal cavity. One species, the nematode Paramonhystera n.sp., is more temperature resistant at zero or near zero pO₂ than at atmospheric oxygen pressure; it is the first marine metazoan in which it can be shown that a specific biological process is favourably affected by anoxic conditions if compared with the situation at normal pO₂.Contribution No. 593, the Bermuda Biological Station     

Ecology of recurrent groups of pteropods,euphausiids, and chaetognaths in the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea

Seventy-five species of pteropods (20 species), euphausiids (26 spcies), and chaelognaths (29 species) occur in the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea. All but one of these species are present in the South China Sea, while only 17 species (7 pteropods, 1 euphausiid, and 9 chaetognaths) are consistently present in the Gulf of Thailand. Abundances of South China Sea species have significant positive rank correlations with depth of water, salinity, and dissolved oxygen and negative correlations with temperature. These species are most abundant in the northern, oceanic, two-thirds of the South China Sea and many of them are vertical migrators or live at depth. Species in the Gulf of Thailand may be divided into two subgroups based on their tolerance for the semi-estuarine environment. Species in the most tolerant subgroup are more abundant within the Gulf of Thailand than in the South China Sea and have significant negative rank correlations with depth of water, salinity, and dissolved oxygen and positive correlations with temperature. The shallow, low-salinity environment of the Gulf is not as favorable for the species of the second sub-group. Rank correlations with depth of water, salinity, temperature, and oxygen are the same in sign but lower in value than for the South China Sea species, and maxisium abundances occur in the 50 to 200 m water depths of the southern third of the South China Sea. Species inhabiting the Gulf of Thailand are mostly non-migrators which are epipelagic even in the open ocean. The proportion of tolerant species diffiers among the major taxonomic groups, reflecting differing adaptive strategies.     

Tolerance of high temperatures by some intertidal barnacles

The median lethal times of survival of the barnacles Elminius modestus, Balanus crenatus and B. balanoides, when continuously submerged at high temperatures, were determined for individuals collected in the summer and winter. In E. modestus and B. crenatus there was no seasonal change in high temperature tolerance. In B. balanoides, however, the adults were more susceptible in the winter than in the summer to temperatures a little below the upper lethal temperature. Using less comprehensive data for other British species of barnacles, it is concluded that, in general, the order of tolerance to high temperatures corresponds to the order of temperatures within the geographical and the intertidal distributions of the species. From the time-temperature-survival curves, intertidal barnacles are living closer to environmental temperatures than would be supposed on the basis of the measurement of the upper lethal temperature, which has been commonly measured for many species, but is of less ecological significance.     

Acute temperature and low dissolved oxygen tolerances of brachyuran crab (Cancer irroratus) larvae

Tolerance limits to acute temperature, and temperature and low dissolved oxygen stresses were determined for 5 zoeal stages and megalops of Cancer irroratus Say. The acute temperature limits for a 120 min exposure were all approximately 29.0°C, with little interstage, variation, while those for 240 min exposure ranged from 27.3° to 28.5°C. More interstage variation was shown when temperature and low dissolved oxygen stress were combined, with low oxygen tolerance decreasing as temperature increased. The first, second, and fourth zoeal stages display similar patterns of response. The third and fifth stages show a similar response, but are different from the former stages. The megalops is relatively insensitive to changes in oxygen concentration with temperature. The larval stages did not show a progressive increase in tolerance to temperature or low dissolved oxygen with development. Tolerance to these factors may be related to size, stage of development and activity level. The larval stages have capacities to tolerate a wider range of these factors than they require in the natural environment.     

铝毒在不同作物上的差异及温度的影响

采用水培法研究了作物耐铝性差异及温度对作物铝毒的效应，结果表明，铝首先伤害根生长，抑制作物对养分的吸收和利用，其中对大麦和蕃茄的危害尤为明显，并导致出现缺素症。耐铝能力为水稻＞大豆＞大麦＞蕃茄，而它们的耐铝机理不完全相同。铝对作物的毒害因温度而异，作物在其最适生长温度范围内受铝伤害最明显。作物体内的铝含量有随铝处理浓度增高而增加的趋势，并明显受温度的影响。     

Physiological capacity and environmental tolerance in two sandhopper species with contrasting geographical ranges: Talitrus saltator and Talorchestia ugolinii

We investigated the physiological plasticity and environmental tolerance of two phylogenetically closely related, ecologically similar and co-occurring species of supralittoral amphipods differing drastically in the size of their geographical ranges. A series of physiological traits were characterised for the Corsican-endemic Talorchestia ugolinii Bella-Santini and Ruffo and the widespread Talitrus saltator Montagu. The effect of body mass, temperature and salinity on heart rate (used as proxy for metabolic activity and stress), the effect of temperature on oxygen consumption and the tolerance to salinity exposure were investigated in both species, together with the characterisation of haemolymph osmoregulation in T. ugolinii. Our results showed that there is a clear difference in the resting metabolic rates and physiological capacity, as well as environmental tolerance, between T. saltator and T. ugolinii, with T. saltator overall showing a broader physiological niche. Although T. ugolinii showed a relatively good ability to regulate its haemolymph osmotic concentration (similar to that previously described for T. saltator), it demonstrated a lower tolerance to exposure to hypo-osmotic stress. In addition, a consistent picture emerged between the ability to control the cardiac function and the capacity to actively respond to osmotic stress. The physiological findings are discussed in relation to the known ecology and geographical distribution of T. ugolinii.     

Separating the effects of partial submergence and soil oxygen demand on plant physiology

In wetlands, a distinct zonation of plant species composition occurs along moisture gradients, due to differential flooding tolerance of the species involved. However, "flooding" comprises two important, distinct stressors (soil oxygen demand [SOD] and partial submergence) that affect plant survival and growth. To investigate how these two flooding stressors affect plant performance, we executed a factorial experiment (water depth x SOD) for six plant species of nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor conditions, occurring along a moisture gradient in Dutch dune slacks. Physiological, growth, and biomass responses to changed oxygen availability were quantified for all species. The responses were consistent with field zonation, but the two stressors affected species differently. Increased SOD increased root oxygen deprivation, as indicated by either raised porosity or increased alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity in roots of flood-intolerant species (Calamagrostis epigejos and Carex arenaria). While SOD affected root functioning, partial submergence tended more to reduce photosynthesis (as shown both by gas exchange and 13C assimilation), leaf dark respiration, 13C partitioning from shoots to roots, and growth of these species. These processes were especially affected if the root oxygen supply was depleted by a combination of flooding and increased SOD. In contrast, the most flood-tolerant species (Juncus subnodulosus and Typha latifolia) were unaffected by any treatment and maintained high internal oxygen concentrations at the shoot : root junction and low root ADH activity in all treatments. For these species, the internal oxygen transport capacity was well in excess of what was needed to maintain aerobic metabolism across all treatments, although there was some evidence for effects of SOD on their nitrogen partitioning (as indicated by 865N values) and photosynthesis. Two species intermediate in flooding tolerance (Carex nigra and Schoenus nigricans) responded more idiosyncratically, with different parameters responding to different treatments. These results show that partial submergence and soil flooding are two very different stressors to which species respond in different ways, and that their effects on physiology, survival, and growth are interactive. Understanding species zonation with water regimes can be improved by a better appreciation of how these factors affect plant metabolism independently and interactively.     

Climate heterogeneity modulates impact of warming on tropical insects

Evolutionary history and physiology mediate species responses to climate change. Tropical species that do not naturally experience high temperature variability have a narrow thermal tolerance compared to similar taxa at temperate latitudes and could therefore be most vulnerable to warming. However, the thermal adaptation of a species may also be influenced by spatial temperature variations over its geographical range. Spatial climate gradients, especially from topography, may also broaden thermal tolerance and therefore act to buffer warming impacts. Here we show that for low-seasonality environments, high spatial heterogeneity in temperature correlates significantly with greater warming tolerance in insects globally. Based on this relationship, we find that climate change projections of direct physiological impacts on insect fitness highlight the vulnerability of tropical lowland areas to future warming. Thus, in addition to seasonality, spatial heterogeneity may play a critical role in thermal adaptation and climate change impacts particularly in the tropics.     

The effects of temperature and pressure acclimation on the temperature and pressure tolerance of the shallow-water shrimp Palaemonetes varians

Anthropogenic effects on marine ecosystems (e.g. hypoxia, warming) at and beyond continental margins are assumed to affect physiological and biochemical boundaries to species’ distributions, potentially leading to habitat contraction across depth. Whether or not shallow-water benthic invertebrates are capable of undergoing depth-related migrations in response to such perturbations remains largely unknown. The few studies available have focused solely on whether colonisation of deep waters may be ongoing and on the ability of shallow-water species to tolerate low temperatures and high hydrostatic pressures: two physical parameters, which are thought to limit the depth range of a species. Those studies did not consider the effects of acclimation to low temperature and, especially, acclimation to high hydrostatic pressure on pressure tolerance. We demonstrate that acclimation to both low temperature (5 °C) and to high hydrostatic pressure (10 MPa) increases the pressure tolerance within the shallow-water shrimp Palaemonetes varians. Previous studies have demonstrated the impressive temperature and pressure tolerance of this shallow-water shrimp. Here, we provide evidence that a shallow-water species may acclimate to low temperature and high pressure and show greater pressure tolerance, suggesting that shallow-water organisms may be able to rapidly—and potentially stepwise—acclimate to the low temperature and high pressure conditions typical of the deep sea. These findings are of importance for understanding phylogenetic development from shallow- to deep-water species and the processes behind past, present and future bathymetric range shifts in species.     

Root respiration and oxygen flux in salt marsh grasses from different elevational zones

Plants growing in waterlogged environments are subjected to low oxygen levels around submerged tissues. While internal oxygen transport has been postulated as an important factor governing flooding tolerance, respiration rates and abilities to take up oxygen under hypoxic conditions have been largely ignored in plant studies. In this study, physiological characteristics related to internal oxygen transport, respiration, and oxygen affinity were studied in low intertidal marsh species (Spartina alterniflora and S. anglica) and middle to high intertidal species (S. densiflora, S. patens, S. foliosa, a S. alterniflora × S. foliosa hybrid, S. spartinae, and Distichlis spicata). These marsh plants were compared to the inland species S. pectinata and the crop species rice (Oryza sativa), corn (Zea mays), and oat (Avena sativa). Plants were grown in a greenhouse under simulated estuarine conditions. The low marsh species S. anglica was found to transport oxygen internally at rates up to 2.2 μmol O₂ g fresh root weight⁻¹ h⁻¹. In contrast, marsh species from higher zones and crop species were found to transport significantly less oxygen internally, although rice plants were able to transport 1.4 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹. Under hypoxic conditions, low marsh species were better able to remove dissolved oxygen from the medium compared to higher marsh species and crops. The oxygen concentration at which respiration rates declined due to limited oxygen (P _crit) was significantly lower in low marsh species compared to inland and crop species; P _crit ranged from <4 μM O₂ in the low marsh species S. anglica up to 20 μM in the inland species corn. Flooding-sensitive crop species had significantly higher aerobic respiration rates compared to flooding-tolerant species in this study. Crop species took up 3.6–6.7 μmol O₂ g⁻¹ h⁻¹ while all but one marsh species took up <3.5 μmol O₂ g⁻¹ h⁻¹. We conclude that oxygen transport, aerobic demand, and oxygen affinity all play important and interrelated roles in flood tolerance and salt marsh zonation.     

Metabolic responses to changing environmental conditions in the brackish water polychaetes Marenzelleria viridis and Hediste diversicolor

The metabolic strategies of the polychaete Marenzelleria viridis (Verrill 1873), a successful immigrant into Baltic shallow eutrophic coastal waters with meso-to oligohaline salinities since the 1980's, were determined by simultaneous calorimetry and respirometry. Resistance to oxygen deficiency under varying ecological conditions was also examined. The results of the studies with this immigrant were compared to those with the common indigeneous polychaete Nereis (Hediste) diversicolor (O.F. Müller). At 10 and 20 °C and the average habitat salinity of 5 M. viridis gradually reduced its metabolic activity with declining oxygen partial preessures (pO₂), whereas H. diversicolor maintained its metabolic activity. The metabolism of both species remained fully aerobic down to a pO₂ of 2 kPa. An additional hyposmotic stress of 0.5 salinity at a temperature of 20 °C led to a decrease in the rate of oxygen consumption in H. diversicolor below a pO₂ of 10 kPa, whereas metabolic heat dissipation remained constant. M. viridis, however, further reduced both, metabolic heat dissipation and oxygen consumption. The metabolic rates of both species under anoxia were similar, amounting to ca. 20% of the normoxic rate. The resistance of the two species to oxygen deficiency was also similar, ranging between 21 and 290 h (median survival time LT₅₀), depending on temperature and salinity. Specimens used in the present study were collected from the Southern Baltic coastal inlet of Darß-Zingster-Boddenkette during 1992 and 1993.     

铝胁迫下不同耐铝小麦品种活性氧代谢差异及与小麦耐铝性的关系

逆境条件下植物体内产生并累积活性氧从而破坏植物组织结构与功能,同时植物也可以通过改变活性氧代谢相关酶活性清除活性氧而减轻活性氧伤害以适应环境胁迫。为研究铝胁迫下不同耐铝小麦品种（TriticumaestivumL．）在活性氧代谢上的差异及与小麦耐铝性的关系,本试验选用小麦品种ET8（耐铝型）、ES8（铝敏感型）为试验材料研究了不同耐铝小麦品种活性氧代谢变化上的差异。结果表明,50μmol·L-1铝处理24h,ET8和ES8活性氧含量显著升高,O2产生速率增幅分别为10．5％和20．4％,H202含量增幅分别为3．3％和7．6％。ET8和ES8超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性增幅分别为11．9％和41．6％,过氧化物酶（POD）活性增幅为51．8％和77．8％,抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）活性增幅为54．4％和29．1％,过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性增幅为32．9％和38．4％,谷胱甘肽还原酶（GR）活性增幅为83．1％和85．5％。虽然抗氧化酶活性增加后会清除一部分活性氧,但活性氧的累积仍然造成了膜脂的过氧化,ET8和ES8丙二醛（MDA）含量分别增加18．2％和50．0％,质膜透性也随着MDA含量的升高而增加,增幅分别为1．25倍和1．36倍。综上所述,不同耐铝品种间活性氧代谢的差异是小麦品种耐铝性差异显著的原因之一。     

Temperature and pressure tolerance of larvae of Crepidula fornicata suggest thermal limitation of bathymetric range

The extant deep-sea fauna is thought to result from recolonisation of this environment by shallow-water organisms following climate-driven mass extinctions. Planktonic larval tolerance to high pressure is considered an important preadaptation for successful deep-sea invasion. In this study, the pressure and temperature tolerance of a species without any known confamilial deep-sea relative were assessed for the first time. Early- and late-veliger larvae of the shallow-water species Crepidula fornicata were subjected to a temperature/hydrostatic pressure regime from 5 to 25 °C and from 0.1 to 40 MPa. Although early and late veliger survived pressures equivalent to 2,000 m water depth or greater at all temperatures, decreased larval activity indicated significant sublethal temperature and pressure effects. Reduced larval activity of early veliger at low temperatures suggests that the bathymetric range of this species may be thermally constrained. A mechanistic model is proposed to explain the emerging pattern of ontogenetic shifts in pressure tolerance of shallow-water benthic invertebrates.     

Reproduction and life-cycle of the beachflea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Orchestia gammarellus</Emphasis> (Pallas) (Crustacea: Amphipoda) at thermal and non-thermal sites in the intertidal of Iceland: how important is temperature?

The littoral fringe beachflea Orchestia gammarellus (Pallas) is a seasonal breeder over much of its range. Previous studies indicated that temperature was the most important factor initiating breeding while photoperiod appeared inconsequential. We tested the effect of temperature by comparing two populations at non-thermal sites with two populations at thermal sites in Iceland. At the non-thermal sites the species is probably close to its lower temperature tolerance limits, while potentially able to choose optimal temperatures at all times of the year at the thermal sites. The species was a seasonal breeder at all sites, but the breeding season started 2–3 months earlier at thermal sites. Breeding ended at about the same time at all sites. We conclude that photoperiod probably governs breeding season under constant thermal conditions, and this is also supported by observations on laboratory stocks. At the thermal sites the animals became sexually mature in a year or less, as is the case where the species has been studied at lower latitudes, while at the non-thermal sites Icelandic animals, apparently uniquely, need 2 years to become sexually mature.     

二氧化硫胁迫对不同抗性玉米幼苗活性氧代谢的影响

采用60mg·m-3SO2气体处理玉米（Zea Mays.L）幼苗,通过组织化学染色和定量测定,分析了高抗自交系齐139和敏感自交系昌7-2在活性氧代谢上的差异。结果表明：SO2胁迫处理3h后,高抗系齐139幼苗叶片积累了较高的O2-和H2O2,12h后被迅速清除而趋于平衡;而高感系昌7-2叶片在胁迫早期产生的O2-和H2O2较少,后期有大量的O2-和H2O2积累,导致细胞损伤。抗氧化酶SOD和CAT在抗性系中显著升高,而敏感系中增幅不显著。这一研究表明不同抗性系中活性氧代谢的差异可能与其对SO2的抗性密切相关。     

Some aspects of the thermal tolerance of Trichomya hirsuta (Mollusca: Bivalvia) of Eastern Australia

The upper temperature tolerance range for Trichomya hirsuta L. is described for acclimation temperatures of 10° to 32°C at 30% S. Changes in thermal resistance with time are described along with the incipient lethal temperatures. The eurythermicity for the species is 240.7 C°-squared. The ultimate upper incipient lethal temperature is 35.1°C. Definition of the incipient sublethal temperature is given, and is equal to 32°C. Diet effects are shown not to be significant in short-term lethal experiments, but indicate that unfed mussels reduce their resistance after prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Size was also shown to have no effect on resistance and tolerance. A comparison of the tolerance triangle of T. hirsuta with those of the temperate species Mytilus edulis and Mya arenaria revealed that the 24-h LT₅₀ minus 2.2 C° approximates the incipient lethal temperature. The eurythermicities of the temperate species are Mytilus edulis, 363 C°-squared; and Mya arenaria, 415 C°-squared.     

Global effects of extreme temperatures on wild bumblebees

Climate plays a key role in shaping population trends and determining the geographic distribution of species because of limits in species’ thermal tolerance. An evaluation of species tolerance to temperature change can therefore help predict their potential spatial shifts and population trends triggered by ongoing global warming. We assessed inter- and intraspecific variations in heat resistance in relation to body mass, local mean temperatures, and evolutionary relationships in 39 bumblebee species, a major group of pollinators in temperate and cold ecosystems, across 3 continents, 6 biomes, and 20 regions (2386 male specimens). Based on experimental bioassays, we measured the time before heat stupor of bumblebee males at a heatwave temperature of 40 °C. Interspecific variability was significant, in contrast to interpopulational variability, which was consistent with heat resistance being a species-specific trait. Moreover, cold-adapted species are much more sensitive to heat stress than temperate and Mediterranean species. Relative to their sensitivity to extreme temperatures, our results help explain recent population declines and range shifts in bumblebees following climate change.     

Die wirkung der sauerstoffspannung auf die druckresistenz einiger mariner wirbelloser

Variations in oxygen tension exert a considerable influence on the resistance of invertebrates to high hydrostatic pressure. Pressure resistance of whole animals (Idotea baltica, Cyprina islandica) and of isolated tissues (gill tissues of Cyprina islandica and Mytilus edulis) is higher in a medium not fully air saturated; it decreases with increasing oxygen tension to about air saturation or higher. In some species, pressure resistance decreases when dissolved oxygen is almost absent. Oxygen tension influences pressure resistance not only during exposure to increased pressure; our experiments revealed that pressure resistance increases in isolated tissues kept under oxygen deficiency prior to the experiment. Lactic acid, a result of anaerobic glycolysis, increases cellular pressure resistance only if its presence is combined with decreased pH values. Metabolic inhibition with cyanide does not increase pressure resistance. It is suggested that the primary reasons for lowered pressure resistance at saturation or higher oxygen levels are oxydation and inhibition of sensitive SH-enzymes under pressure. Decrease of pressure resistance at extreme degrees of oxygen deficiency may be due to insufficient rates of ATP synthesis. According to Marsland (1957), ATP is required for maintenance of protoplasmic gel structures. Correlations between pressure resistance and oxygen tension are of special importance in deep-sea animals, which often have to face reduced oxygen contents in their ambient medium.     

Multiple antibiotic resistance patterns of rhizospheric bacteria isolated from Phragmites australis growing in constructed wetland for distillery effluent treatment

Susceptibility patterns of 12 different antibiotics were investigated against rhizospheric bacteria isolated from Phragmites australis from three different zones i.e. upper (0-5 cm), middle (5-10 cm), lower (10-15 cm) in constructed wetland system with and without distillery effluent. The major pollutants of distillery effluent were phenols, sulphide, heavy metals, and higher levels of biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) etc. The antibiotic resistance properties of bacteria were correlated with the heavy metal tolerance (one of distillery pollutant). Twenty-two species from contaminated and seventeen species from non-contaminated site were tested by agar disc-diffusion method. The results revealed that more than 63% of total isolates were resistance towards one or more antibiotics tested from all the three different zones of contaminated sites. The multiple-drug resistance property was shown by total 8 isolates from effluent contaminated region out of which 3 isolates were from upper zone, 3 isolates from middle zone and 2 isolates were from lower zone. Results indicated that isolates from contaminated rhizosphere were found more resistant to antibiotics than isolates from non-contaminated rhizosphere. Further this study produces evidence suggesting that tolerance to antibiotics was acquired by isolates for the adaptation and detoxification of all the pollutants present in the effluent at contaminated site. This consequently facilitated the phytoremediation of effluent, which emerges the tolerance and increases resistance to antibiotics.     

Effects of environmental factors and body size on rates of oxygen consumption in Archaeomysis grebnitzkii and Neomysis awatschensis (Crustacea: Mysidae)

The rates of oxygen consumption in relation to oxygen tension, temperature, salinity and body size were determined for Archaeomysis grebnitzkii Czerniavsky and Neomysis awatschensis (Brandt). Oxygen uptake was regulated by both species down to an oxygen tension of about 50 mm Hg (30% of saturation value); below this level, it was related to the oxygen tension in the medium. Oxygen tension below 20 mm Hg was lethal. A statistically significant interaction was noted for the effects of species, temperature, and salinity. In general, oxygen-uptake rate decreased with decreasing salinity in both species. The effect of size is expressed as a power function of body weight. The regression coefficients of oxygen consumption on body weight, 0.70 for A. grebnitzkii and 0.62 for N. awatschensis, were found to be significantly different from each other.Contribution No. 726 from the Department of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.