Nematomorph parasites drive energy flow through a riparian ecosystem

Parasites are ubiquitous in natural systems and ecosystem-level effects should be proportional to the amount of biomass or energy flow altered by the parasites. Here we quantified the extent to which a manipulative parasite altered the flow of energy through a forest-stream ecosystem. In a Japanese headwater stream, camel crickets and grasshoppers (Orthoptera) were 20 times more likely to enter a stream if infected by a nematomorph parasite (Gordionus spp.), corroborating evidence that nematomorphs manipulate their hosts to seek water where the parasites emerge as free-living adults. Endangered Japanese trout (Salvelinus leucomaenis japonicus) readily ate these infected orthopterans, which due to their abundance, accounted for 60% of the annual energy intake of the trout population. Trout grew fastest in the fall, when nematomorphs were driving energy-rich orthopterans into the stream. When infected orthopterans were available, trout did not eat benthic invertebrates in proportion to their abundance, leading to the potential for cascading, indirect effects through the forest-stream ecosystem. These results provide the first quantitative evidence that a manipulative parasite can dramatically alter the flow of energy through and across ecosystems.     

Biosorption of uranium from aqueous solutions by Azolla sp. and Limnobium laevigatum

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The main goal of this study was to assess alternatives to the current challenges on environmental quality and circular economy. The former is here...     

Molecular structure of extracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase fromAlcaligenes faecalis T1

The amino acid sequence of a peptide containing an active serine was examined with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) depolymerase ofAlcaligenes faecalis T1. The sequence Cys-Asn-Ala-Trp-Ala-Gly-Ser-Asn-Ala-Gly-Lys was obtained. This amino acid sequence around the active serine does not fit any reported sequence of other esterases and proteases. On the other hand, a segment of the amino acid sequence of PHB depolymerase ofA. faecalis was homologous to the type III sequence of fibronectin. Similar sequences have been reported in some type of bacterial chitinase and cellulases, and PHB depolymerase seems to have an overall similarity to these bacterial extracellular hydrolases.     

Local Circulation with Aeolian Dust on the Slopes and Foot Areas of the Tianshan and Kunlun Mountains around the Taklimakan Desert, China

Four automatic weather stations (AWS) were installed on the slopes and foot areas of the Tianshan and Kunlun Mountains along a longitude of 80 degrees east: (1) Taglak 2400 m a.s.l., (2) Aksu 1000 m, (3) Kartash 2800 m, and (4) Qira 1700 m. These two slopes face the Taklimakan Desert. Tagliak lies on the southern slope of Tianshan, and Kartash on the northern slope of Kunlun. The meteorological characteristics of the mountainous regions were investigated using surface data obtained during an intensive observation period (IOP) in spring 2002. It was found that visibility on the slopes decreases in the daytime, and there is no relationship between visibility and wind speed in the mountainous areas. Two snow layers containing dust particles were observed in the snow cover in Taglak during the IOP in spring 2003. These results suggest that a warm air parcel containing aeolian dust climbs over the slopes of the mountainous areas, and dust particles in the mountainous areas are transported from the foot areas.