Effects of ocean temperature on the southern range limits of two understory kelps, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pterygophora californica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eisenia arborea</Emphasis>, at multiple life-stages

Environmental factors have long been shown to influence species distributions, with range limits often resulting from environmental stressors exceeding organism tolerances. However, these abiotic factors may differentially affect species with multiple life-history stages. Between September 2004 and January 2006, the roles of temperature and nutrient availability in explaining the southern distributions of two understory kelps, Pterygophora californica and Eisenia arborea (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales), were investigated along the coast of California, USA and the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, by limiting either: (a) tissue nitrogen uptake and storage by adult sporophytes during periods of elevated temperature, and/or (b) production of embryonic sporophytes by microscopic gametophytes. Results suggest that while adult sporophytes of both species are tolerant of high temperatures and low nutrients, reproduction by their microscopic stages is not. Specifically, while E. arborea produced embryonic sporophytes at both 12 and 18°C, temperatures commonly observed throughout the southern portion of its range, P. californica produced sporophytes at 12 but not at 18°C. As a result, it appears that the southern distribution of P. californica, which ends in northern Baja California, Mexico, may be limited by temperature acting on its microscopic stages. In contrast, the ability of E. arborea’s microscopic and adult stages to tolerate elevated temperatures allows it to persist in the warmer southern waters of Baja California, as well as to the north along the California coast where both species co-occur.     

Effect of periphyton grazing by Hydrobia ulvae on the growth of Zostera noltii on a tidal flat in the Dutch Wadden Sea

The decrease of the intertidal seagrass Zostera noltii in the Dutch Wadden Sea may have been the result of enhanced periphyton load due to eutrophication. Decrease of this seagrass species coincided with an increase in the mudsnail Hydrobia ulvae. Feeding of this mudsnail on periphyton may have partly counteracted an increase of periphyton biomass. Exclosure experiments on seagrass stands in the Dutch Wadden Sea in 1987 showed that density of periphyton on leaves of Z. noltii decreased significantly with increasing density of grazers. An increased density of mudsnails significantly enhanced the density and biomass of seagrass, in particular of the below ground parts. Since this seagrass species survives winter in temperate climate zones mainly by means of rhizomes, grazing may also influence the seagrass dynamics in the long term. Results of the experiment were in agreement with field observations on coinciding low densities of mudsnails and high densities of fouling of seagrass stands on the tidal flats of western Wadden Sea in the late 1970s.     

Grower reported pesticide poisonings among Florida citrus fieldworkers

In a 1981 survey of 436 Florida citrus growers, 27 pesticide related poisoning incidents were reported that were to have taken place within one year of the interview date. From these reports it is possible to estimate that there are 376 citrus fieldworker related poisonings per year in Florida. This number of estimated poisonings may be developed into an incidence rate of 113 fieldworker poisonings per 10,000 fieldworkers.     

Rock phosphate solubilizing and cellulolytic actinomycete isolates of earthworm casts

Four microbial isolates, OP2, OP3, OP6, and OP7, of earthworm casts ofPontoscolex corethrurus were found to be acid tolerant actinomycetes and efficient rock phosphate (RP) solubilizers that could grow fast on NH₄Cl-enriched or N-free carboxymethyl cellulose or glucose as sole carbon source. CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose) induced production of extracellular cellulase enzyme and the production of reducing sugar in all the isolates. RP solubilizing power was observed to be inversely related to glucose consumption. The most efficient RP solubilizer was found to consume the least glucose. Growth was faster on cellulose than on glucose media. N-free CMC induced greater glucose production than NH₄Cl-enriched CMC medium. Both CMC and glucose media were acidified by all the isolates, however, RP solubilizing power decreased with acidification. Solubilization power was greatest with isolate OP7, which also produced the greatest amount of reducing sugar per gram CMC. Both RP solubilizing power and the cellulolytic efficiency varied among isolates. A minimum of 631 μg P/0.1 g RP and a maximum of 951.4 μg P/0.1 g RP was recorded.     

Sorbents for the removal of airborne heavy metals from incinerator effluent

The effectiveness of inorganic alumino-silicate sorbents (alumina and kaolinite) to adsorb airborne lead and cadmium from the effluent stream of a simulated waste incinerator was studied. A 20 kW (68,000 BTU/h) flow reactor was used to achieve the temperature and residence times typical of a waste incinerator. Solutions containing lead or cadmium were introduced yielding airborne metals concentrations between 15 and 150 ppm. Gas samples were drawn into a particle impactor that collected the airborne particles and condensed phase metal aerosols, separating them into ten size ranges from 0.2 μm to greater than 10 μm. Metals to sorbent mass ratios between 0.03 and 1.56 were investigated. Scavenging efficiency increased as the ratio of sorbent to injected metal mass was increased. The scavenging efficiencies were as high as 76% for lead scavenged by kaolinite to as low as 14% for cadmium scavenged by alumina.     

A simple and effective approach for detecting maternal cell contamination in molecular prenatal diagnosis

The presence of maternal cells in fetal samples constitutes a serious potential source for prenatal misdiagnosis. Here we present our approach for detecting maternal cell contamination (MCC) at prenatal diagnosis for eight monogenic disorders (autosomal recessive: β-thalassaemia, sickle-cell anaemia, cystic fibrosis, prelingual deafness; autosomal dominant: achondroplasia, Huntington disease, myotonic dystrophy, neurofibromatosis type I; X-linked: spinobulbar muscular atrophy). Our aim was to apply a simple and low-cost approach, which would easily and accurately provide information on the fetal tissue MCC status. MCC testing was applied to cases of recessive inheritance where the primary mutation screening of the fetus revealed the presence of the maternal mutation, to cases concerning dominant inheritance and to cases of multiple gestation. The potential presence of maternal cells was determined by the amplification of the 3′-HVR/APO B, D1S80, THO1 and VNTRI of vWf polymorphic loci, which have previously demonstrated high heterozygosity in Caucasians. Among 135 prenatal diagnoses, 44 finally needed to be tested for MCC (32.6%). MCC was detected in four cases, where DNA was isolated directly from chorionic villi samples (CVS), and in one case with DNA isolated directly from amniotic fluid (AF). In almost 90% of cases a simple test of one polymorphic locus provided sufficient information about MCC. The choice of the appropriate locus is therefore essential, while the simultaneous screening of both parents provides the means for distinguishing non-informative sites about MCC. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.