Role of herbivory in controlling phytoplankton abundance: annual pigment budget for a temperate marine fjord

An annual pigment budget was constructed for Dabob Bay, Washington (USA) by comparing the downward vertical loss of phytoplankton pigments (chlorophyll and pheopigments) to the production of chlorophyll within the euphotic zone. The vertical flux of pigments was measured with sediment traps deployed at intervals of 1 to 6 wk over a 2.5 yr period yielding 763 d of trap exposure (28 November 1978–16 June 1981). The production rate of chlorophyll was calculated from measurements of algal specific growth rates, chlorophyll (chl) crops, primary production (as carbon) and appropriate C: chl ratios. Sixty one to 77% of the annual chlorophyll production was accounted for by the vertical flux of pheopigments resulting from herbivorous zooplankton grazing (macrozooplankton). Algal sinking, represented by downward chlorophyll flux, accounted for only 5 to 6% of the annual chlorophyll production. The remaining fraction of chlorophyll production was estimated to be consumed by small herbivores (microzooplankton), whose fecal material contributes to the suspended pool of pheopigments found in the euphotic zone. The suspended pheopigments are continuously removed by photodegradation. In Dabob Bay, the major process controlling phytoplankton abundance is zooplankton grazing and it appears that the ultimate fate of most phytoplankton is to be consumed by herbivores.     

Chorionic villi sampling changes maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein

Second trimester amniocentesis has traditionally been utilized for prenatal genetic diagnosis. Chorionic villi sampling (CVS) is presently offered as an alternative. The occurrence of fetomaternal bleed (FMB) during CVS could increase the rate of post sampling abortion and, additionally, be of significance in patients at risk for isoimmunization. Detection and quantitation of FMB can be accomplished by the determination of changes in maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) before and after CVS.     

Effects of Aquarium Collectors on Coral Reef Fishes in Kona, Hawaii

Abstract:   No previous studies have conclusively documented the magnitude of the effect of aquarium collecting on natural populations. In Hawaii concern over the effects on reef fish populations of collecting for the aquarium trade began in the early 1970s, primarily in response to multiple-use conflicts between aquarium-fish collectors and recreational dive-tour operators. In 1997–1998 we used a paired control-impact design to estimate the effect of aquarium collectors. We compared differences in fish abundance along visual belt transects between collection sites, where collecting was known to occur, and control sites, where collecting was prohibited. To test the assumptions of our observational design, we surveyed a combination of species captured by aquarium collectors and those not captured. The extent of bleaching, broken coral, and coral cover was also surveyed. Seven of the 10 aquarium species surveyed were significantly reduced by collecting. The abundance of aquarium fish at collection sites ranged from 38% lower ( Chaetodon multicinctus ) to 75% lower ( C. quadrimaculatus ) than that at control sites. In contrast, only two of the nonaquarium species displayed a significant collection effect. There were no significant differences in damaged coral between control and collection sites to indicate the presence of destructive fishing practices. In addition, there were no increases in the abundance of macroalgae where the abundance of herbivores was reduced by aquarium collecting. Although our results suggest that aquarium collectors have a significant effect on the abundance of targeted aquarium fishes, better knowledge of the intensity and location of collecting activities is required to make a rigorous assessment of the effects of collecting on nearshore fish populations. Several lines of evidence suggest that the current system of catch reporting underestimates actual removals.     

Effects of Detectability on Estimates of Geographic Range Size in Bignonieae

Abstract: Extinction risk has not been evaluated for 96% of all described plant species. Given that the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation proposes preliminary conservation assessments of all described plant species by 2010, herbarium specimens (i.e., primary occurrence data) are increasingly being used to infer threat components from estimates of geographic range size. Nevertheless, estimates of range size based on herbarium data may be inaccurate due to collection bias associated with interspecific variation in detectability. We used data on 377 species of Bignonieae to test the hypothesis that there is a positive relationship between detectability and estimates of geographic range size derived from herbarium specimens. This relationship is expected if the proportion of the true geographic range size of a species that is documented by herbarium specimens is given by the product of the true geographic range size and the detectability of the species, assuming no relationship between true geographic range size and detectability. We developed 4 measures of detectability that can be estimated from herbarium data and examined the relationship between detectability and 2 types of estimates of geographic range size: area of occupancy and extent of occurrence. Our results from regressing estimates of extent of occurrence and area of occupancy on detectability across genera provided no support for this hypothesis. The same was true for regressions of estimated extent of occurrence on detectability across species within genera. Nevertheless, regressions of estimated area of occupancy on detectability across species within genera provided partial support for our hypothesis. We considered 3 possible explanations for this mixed outcome: violation of the assumption of no relationship between true geographic range size and detectability; the relationships between estimated geographic range size and detectability may be an artifact of a negative relationship between estimated area of occupancy and the sampling variance of detectability; detectability may have had 2 opposite effects on estimated species range sizes: one determines the proportion of the true range of a species documented by herbarium specimens and the other determines the distribution of true range size for the species actually observed with herbarium data. Our findings should help improve understanding of the potential biases incurred with the use of herbarium data.     

Gain and loss rates and biological half-life of PCBs and DDE in the bodies of adelie penguins

The gain and loss rates and the biological half-life of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and p,p'-DDE in wild birds were calculated using the values on burdens of these compounds in the bodies of adelie penguins in a previous report (Subramanian et al., 1986). The daily loss rate of PCBs (0.26%) was found to be higher than DDT compounds (0.12%) resulting in the longer biological half-life of the latter compounds (580 days) than PCBs (270 days). Hence, once DDT compounds are absorbed they are more persistent in the organisms' bodies due to their high lipophilicity and comparatively less metabolisable nature than PCBs.     

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in sediment, soil, fish, shellfish and crab samples from Tokyo Bay area, Japan

Concentrations of tetra- to octa-chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in samples collected in or near Tokyo Bay, Japan, with a densely inhabited catchment area, were congener-specifically determined and discussed. Analyzed in this study were samples of surface sediment covering the whole bay area, reference soil representing atmospheric impact, and fish, shellfish and crab commonly consumed as food. The range of concentrations were comparable to or higher than those in other parts of Japan. The origins of these compounds in the catchment area of the bay were investigated in terms of homolog and isomeric compositions in the sediment samples. Biota-sediment accumulation factors for benthic species declined as the degree of chlorination increased.     

The evaluation of electrical energy per order (E(Eo)) for photooxidative decolorization of four textile dye solutions by the kinetic model

Photooxidative decolorization of four textile dyestuffs, C.I. Acid Orange 7 (AO7), C.I. Acid Orange 8 (AO8), C.I. Acid Orange 52 (AO52) and C.I. Acid Blue 74 (AB74), by UV/H2O2 was investigated in a laboratory scale photoreactor equipped with a 15 W low pressure mercury vapour lamp. The decolorization of the dyes was found to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics, and hence the figure-of-merit electrical energy per order (E(Eo)) is appropriate for estimating the electrical energy efficiency. The E(Eo) values were found to depend on the concentration of H2O2, concentration and basic structure of the dye. This study shows that these textile dyes can be treated easily and effectively with the UV/H2O2 process with E(Eo) values between 0.4 and 5 kW h m-3 order-1, depending on the initial concentrations of dyes and H2O2. The kinetic model, based on the initial rates of degradation, provided good prediction of the E(Eo) values for a variety of conditions.     

First trimester prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A: Two years' experience

We evaluated the feasibility, reliability, and acceptability of prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A by DNA analysis of chorionic villi. Twenty-two women at risk to transmit the abnormal gene were referred for prenatal diagnosis, two of them twice. Two of the 22 women appeared to be non-carriers by DNA analysis. In one of these women, the results were known only after chorionic villus sampling had been carried out. Thirteen of the twenty carriers were heterozygous for an intragenic (Bell or Xbal) marker; six women were only heterozygous for the extragenic DXS52 (Stl4) locus. One of the women was homozygous for all the presently known DNA markers within or closely linked with the factor VIII locus. Twelve of the 22 fetuses at risk were male, ten were female. Seven of the 12 male fetuses were shown to be affected and were subsequently aborted. Four male fetuses appeared to be not affected. In one case, the diagnosis was made by use of an extragenic marker. The woman rejected fetal blood sampling to confirm the diagnosis. After birth, a normal factor VIII level was found in three of the four cases. The fourth pregnancy is still continuing. In one of the 12 male fetuses, no diagnosis at the gene level was possible. DNA analysis is expected to provide maximum certainty as to the phenotype of the fetus for approximately 60 per cent of the women; for another 37 per cent a rate of misdiagnosis of 4–5 per cent applies. In only 3 per cent of the cases will no diagnosis at the gene level be possible as yet. The new possibility of a prenatal diagnosis in the first trimester of pregnancy enabled some of these women to have a family of their own and was appreciated in particular by the women who underwent fetoscopy in an earlier pregnancy.     

Bottom sediments of the Arabian Gulf--II. TPH and TOC contents as indicators of oil pollution and implications for the effect and fate of the Kuwait oil slick

Measurements of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations in 77 core samples collected in 1992 from the bottom sediments of the Arabian Gulf were used to delineate oil pollution levels and their distribution in the region. Seven chronic moderately (TPH 50-89 microg g(-1)) and heavily (TPH 266-1448 microg g(-1)) polluted areas were identified; three in the northern part of the region and four in the southern part. Oil pollution in these areas was attributed to natural oil seepage, accidental damage to pipelines, accidental spillage from tankers, the Nowruz oil slick, and tanker deballasting. Present-day intermediate (TPH 50-114 microg g(-1)) and high (TPH 200-1122 microg g(-1)) pollution levels were identified in 10 areas. Of these, three polluted areas in the northeastern corner, offshore Saudi Arabia and offshore Bahrain, Qatar and United Arab Emirates are probably directly affected by the Kuwait oil slick. A new scenario is suggested for the movement and fate of the oil slick, in which additional large oil discharges from northern sources, as well as substantial quantities of eroded oiled sediments and oil floating from heavily impacted tidal flats along the Saudi Arabian coastline, serve as sources of oil pollution. A definite relationship exists between the grain-size distribution and the TPH content of bottom sediments, with the highest TPH concentrations in the muddy sediments, suggesting that adsorption onto muds is the primary mechanism of oil pollutant accumulation in the Arabian Gulf. Total organic carbon measurements do not correlate positively with the grain-size distribution and TPH contents of the sediments, and hence cannot be used as indicators for petroleum hydrocarbon pollution in the Arabian Gulf.     

Fundamental Moral Attitudes to Animals and Their Role in Judgment: An Empirical Model to Describe Fundamental Moral Attitudes to Animals and Their Role in Judgment on the Culling of Healthy Animals During an Animal Disease Epidemic

In this paper, we present and defend the theoretical framework of an empirical model to describe people’s fundamental moral attitudes (FMAs) to animals, the stratification of FMAs in society and the role of FMAs in judgment on the culling of healthy animals in an animal disease epidemic. We used philosophical animal ethics theories to understand the moral basis of FMA convictions. Moreover, these theories provide us with a moral language for communication between animal ethics, FMAs, and public debates. We defend that FMA is a two-layered concept. The first layer consists of deeply felt convictions about animals. The second layer consists of convictions derived from the first layer to serve as arguments in a debate on animal issues. In a debate, the latter convictions are variable, depending on the animal issue in a specific context, time, and place. This variability facilitates finding common ground in an animal issue between actors with opposing convictions.