Die Ektoplasmahülle von Heterostegina depressa (Foraminifera:Nummulitidae)

The structure of the rigid ectoplasm sheath was studied in living individuals of the large foraminifer Heterostegina depressa d'Orbigny 1826 (Nummulitidae). H. depressa is able to form pseudopods, which emerge from the marginal cord within a few minutes. Normally, however, the living test is entirely covered by a rigid hyalin elastic sheath, which is fixed to the substrate by terminally branched processes. In older individuals, the sheath is often incomplete and restricted to the marginal cord only. Probably, the sheath is secreted by the ectoplasm which fills the canal system of the chamber walls and the marginal cord, or it consists of transformed ectoplasm; we call it “Ektoplasmahülle”, and the processes radiating to all sides, “Ruhepseudopodien”. H. depressa is able to move while inside the elastic sheath by means of pseudopods which penetrate the sheath and attach themselves to the substrate out-side. In the same manner, H. depressa leaves a complete sheath by disrupting it through the tractive powers of the pseudopods. The procedure of breaking the sheath is described. Locomotion when leaving the sheath is performed in a zigzag manner (alternating action of several pseudopods). The sheath counteracts transportation by water movement and protects chamber formation (which takes place inside the sheath). Due to its symbiotic unicellular algae, H. depressa does not need to collect food particles; hence locomotion seems unneccssary. The formation of a rigid ectoplasm sheath may be connected with H. depressa's sessile mode of life.     

In-situ observations of Baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras) spawning behaviour in the Askö-Landsort area,northern Baltic proper

In a Baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras L.) spawning ground study, carried out in summer 1982 in the northern Baltic proper, spawning herring were encountered on two line transects on June 14. The spawning behaviour of minor groups as well as of a large school was studied in situ by four divers for approximately three hours. No behavioural differences or systematic coordinated behaviour between the sexes could be detected. Most of the spawning took place in a limited depth interval, 0.5 to 4 m, and Ceramium tenuicorne was the substrate most used.     

Feeding of marine planktonic copepods on mixed phytoplankton

The feeding of juveniles and adults of the copepods Eucalanus pileatus, Temora stylifera and T. turbinata fed a mixture of the phytoplankton Skeletonema costatum, Leptocylindrus danicus and Rhizosolenia alata f. indica was studied at 20°C. E. pileatus nauplii, copepodids and adult females ingest similar percentages of the 3 algae in terms of carbon. Temora juveniles younger than CII ingest mainly S. costatum; at more advanced developmental stages, the ingestion rate on S. costatum remains constant whereas feeding on L. danicus and R. alata f. indica increases with increasing body weight. Feeding on high concentrations of large particles reduces the grazing pressure on small particles, thus favoring zooplankton which require small-sized food.     

Importance of wax esters and other lipids in the marine food chain: Phytoplankton and copepods

Wax esters, which function as reserve fuels, account for 25 to 40% of the lipid of the pelagic copepod Calanus helgolandicus (Copepoda, Calanoida). In laboratory experiments with these crustaceans, diatoms (Lauderia borealis, Chaetoceros curvisetus, and Skeletonema costatum) and dinoflagellates (Gymnodinium splendens), which contained no wax esters, were used as food. Changes in the food concentration affected both the amount of lipid and the composition of the wax esters. Since the fatty acids of the triglycerides and wax esters of C. helgolandicus resembled the dietary fatty acid composition, it appeared that copepods incorporated their dietary fatty acids largely unchanged into their wax esters. The polyunsaturated alcohols of the wax esters did not correspond in carbon numbers or degrees of unsaturation to the dietary fatty acids. We postulate two different metabolic pools to explain the origin of these long chain alcohols. The phospholipid fatty acids were not affected by changes in the amount or type of food, probably because of their structural function.     

Benthic Foraminifera: morphology and growth in clone cultures of Heterostegina depressa

A three months old clone of 76 asexually produced F₂ Heterostegina depressa D'Obbigny, 1826 (Foraminifera) was subdivided into two groups which were cultivated for 5 months, one at 300 lux, the other at 600 lux. Nourishment was provided by symbiotic photosynthesizing algae. The 300-lux group added 1 whorl, the 600-lux group added 1/2 a whorl during the experiment, suggesting that the first group was nearer the optimum for growth than the second. Growth rates reacted but slowly to changes in environmental conditions. Also, specimens within the same culture dish showed great differences in response. In the 600-lux group, many specimens ceased to grow entirely, while others continued. Cessation of growth tends to produce a rounded test shape, by filling-in of the apertural angle, while rapid growth tends to be correlated with flaring tests (i.e., tests with an open spiral). In addition, there is a trend toward increased flaring during normal ontogenetic development. Shell damage is greater in rapidly growing individuals; walls are apparently thicker in slowly growing and in resting individuals. Ecological interpretation of morphological characteristics is hampered by: (1) a lag effect between growth response and environmental change; (2) slowing or termination of growth under stressful conditions with corresponding minor changes in morphology; (3) great variation in response between sibling individuals within the same culture dish; (4) aging effects.     

Contaminated area instability along Ångermanälven River,northern Sweden

Industrially utilized river basins are frequently exposed to contaminants originating from polluting activities. However, the physical instability and probability of mass movement mobilization of contaminated soil into rivers have only received little attention. In this study, we present a GIS-based method to produce a regional overview of where and how contaminated areas are potentially exposed to slope instability. A landslide susceptibility-index was used to study the degree and distribution of overlap between contaminated sites and unstable ground. A contaminated area instability hazard classification was produced integrating slope instability and contamination risk classification. Our results indicate that mass movement can be tied mainly to a slope gradient ≥16°, a proximity to the river that is <500 m, a distance of <500 m from roads, concave surface curvature, and sand- and silt soils. Forty-six (22%) of all considered contaminated sites are located within areas with a non-negligible slope instability, of which a majority, 30 sites (14%) are situated on ground with a low or moderate instability. Three sites with a class 2 contamination risk (the 2nd highest class) are located on ground with a very high slope instability.     

Effect of diosmin on lipid peoxidation and organ damage against subacute deltamethrin exposure in rats

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The aim of this study was to investigate the protective efficacy of diosmin against subacute deltamethrin exposure. For this purpose, 40 male Wistar...     

Small-scale on-site treatment of fecal matter: comparison of treatments for resource recovery and sanitization

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - On-site small-scale sanitation is common in rural areas and areas without infrastructure, but the treatment of the collected fecal matter can be...     

Oxidation of triphenylarsine to triphenylarsineoxide by Trichoderma harzianum and other fungi

Arsenic resistant strains of bacteria and fungi were isolated from soil contaminated by chemical warfare agents. Until now, no metabolic products of microbial attack against the phenyl residues of the model substrate triphenylarsine (TP) were found if it was incubated together with these strains in liquid culture assays. However, one of the isolated fungi, Trichoderma harzianum As 11, was found to oxidize TP to triphenylarsineoxide (TPO). The yeast Trichosporon mucoides SBUG 801 and the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium were also able to oxidize the As(III) in TP. In addition, P. chrysosporium transformed phenylarsineoxide (PAO) to phenylarsonic acid (PAA) under O2-atmosphere. By means of a respirometer system, the oxidation of TP by T. harzianum As 11 was confirmed by a significantly higher consumption of oxygen in the presence of these compounds. HPLC analysis of the oxidation products TPO and PAA in the medium of the assays provided evidence for the transfer reaction of As(III) to As(V) in organic bonds. The oxidation products TPO and PAA are more hydrophilic than TP and PAO. Therefore, it was concluded that particular fungi contribute to the mobilization of arsenic in soil contaminated by chemical warfare agents.