Increased metabolic cost of maintenance in hybrids of the stone crabs Menippe mercenaria and M. adina

Three recently emerging genotype classes of the genus Menippe (M. mercenaria, M. adina, and their hybrids) were examined for potential physiological correlates of gene mixing over a salinity range of 5 to 35‰. Resting metabolic rate (RMR), as measured by oxygen uptake (V˙ _O2), was highest in the hybrids. Differences in V˙ _O2 could not be accounted for by differences in systemic adaptations (e.g. heart rate or scaphognathite frequency); therefore it was concluded that they were based on potential underlying differences in carbohydrate metabolism. The higher RMR in the hybrids was attributed to a higher metabolic cost of maintenance, resulting from the breakup of coadapted gene complexes as a result of introgressive hybridization. Received: 22 July 1996 / Accepted: 17 October 1996     

Impact of the polychaete Capitella sp. I on microbial activity in an organic-rich marine sediment contaminated with the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fluoranthene

Polychaetes belonging to the genus Capitella are often present in high numbers in organic-rich sediments polluted with, e.g., oil components, and Capitella spp. may have a great impact on the biogeochemistry of these sediments. We examined the influence of Capitella sp. I on microbial activity in an organic-rich marine sediment contaminated with the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, fluoranthene. Capitella sp. I were added to microcosms (10 000 ind m⁻²) and the impact of a pulse-sedimentation of fluoranthene-contaminated sediment (3 mm layer) was studied for a period of 12 d after sedimentation. The sediment oxygen uptake and total sediment metabolism (TCO₂ production) increased in cores with worms (71 to 131%), whereas the anaerobic activity, measured as sulfate reduction rate 12 d after sedimentation, was lower compared to cores without worms. The effect of fluoranthene on sulfate reduction was most pronounced in the presence of worms, with a 34% reduction versus 16% in cores without worms. The reduced sulfur pools in cores with worms were smaller than in cores without worms, suggesting that the reduced anaerobic activity was caused by increased oxidation of the sediment, which may favor O₂ and other electron-acceptors (e.g. NO₃ ⁻, Fe³⁺, Mn⁴⁺) in organic matter decomposition. The sediment oxygen uptake and TCO₂ production did not show significant changes due to fluoranthene treatment, indicating that these parameters were either less sensitive to fluoranthene stress or recovered more rapidly (i.e. within 48 h) than sulfate reduction rates. Bioturbation by Capitella sp. I altered the depth profile of fluoranthene such that fluoranthene was found in deeper sediment layers (down to 2 cm) where diffusional loss and microbial breakdown probably are reduced relative to surface layers. In cores without worms, fluoranthene was found down to 1 cm, with 75% remaining in the upper 5 mm. Received: 5 December 1996 / Accepted: 11 February 1997     

The high frequency of extra-pair paternity in tree swallows is not an artifact of nestboxes

A common criticism of nestbox studies is one of creating artificial nesting conditions and breeding behavior different from what would be seen under natural conditions. We assessed the frequency of extra-pair paternity (percentage of broods with at least one extra-pair young) in 25 families of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) nesting in natural cavities and compared it to that in a nestbox population. We found that 84% of females nesting in natural cavities obtained fertilizations from extra-pair males. These extra-pair males fathered 69% of all nestlings. Studies of tree swallows breeding in nestboxes have shown that 50–87% of broods contained extra-pair young, with extra-pair males fathering 38–53% of all the young. In broods with extra-pair paternity, natural cavities contained a significantly greater proportion of extra-pair young than did nestboxes. Despite differences in nesting habitat and female age structure, the frequency of extra-pair paternity did not differ significantly between the natural-cavity and nestbox populations. Therefore, the presence of extra-pair paternity in tree swallows is not an artifact of nestboxes or of artificial nesting conditions. Received: 2 May 1995/Accepted after revision: 14 January 1996     

Krill evolution and the Antarctic ocean currents: evidence of vicariant speciation as inferred by molecular data

The phylogenetic relationships of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba, the key species in the Antarctic food web, and other Antarctic and sub-Antarctic cuphausiids have been investigated using the 16S ribosomal mitochondrial gene. The phylogenetic reconstructions indicated that the Antarctic species form a monophyletic clade separated by the non-Antarctic species. The results revealed a large genetic divergence between the Antarctic (E. superba and E. crystallorophias) and sub-Antarctic species (E. vallentini). The time of separation between these species, estimated from the molecular data, is around 20 million years ago, which is comparable with the geological time of the formation of a circum-Antarctic water circulation and the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone. The euphausiid molecular phylogeny therefore represents evidence for vicariant speciation.     

A Study of Plant Species Extinction in Singapore: Lessons for the Conservation of Tropical Biodiversity

The native vascular plant flora of the Republic of Singapore has suffered the extinction of 594 out of a total 2277 species. These represent local, not global, species extinctions. Coastal habitats, including mangroves, have lost 39% of their species, while inland forests have last 29%. Epiphytic species (62% loss) appear particularly prone to extinction, which is reflected in a similar disposition exhibited by the Orchidaceae. Deforestation and disturbance have been the main cause of plant species extinction in Singapore. The rich mangrove epiphyte flora has been totally exterminated, and a number of tree species are reduced to populations of a few mature individuals. Many more species continue to survive than the species-area relationship would predict given the 99.8% loss of primary forest. This is interpreted as a result of the failure of equilibrium to be achieved yet in the remnant forest fragments, even after more than a century of isolation. Singapore's secondary forests appear to accrete plant diversity very slowly, even if contiguous with primary forest areas. We conclude that remnant fragments of primary tropical forest, even of very small size, can play a major role in the conservation of tropical biodiversity. The patterns of extinction observed in Singapore indicate that coastal and estuarine sites are in greatest demand for development and therefore must be given high priority for conservation despite their somewhat lower biodiversity. Epiphyte and orchid diversity appear to be very good indicators of the degree of disturbance suffered by a habitat in the humid tropics.     

Dissolved Organic Matter in Forest Soils: Sources, Complexing Properties and Action On Herbaceous Plants

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an important component of plant-soil systems. Its essential role in soil solution chemistry, soil-forming processes and its effects on biota, including soil fauna, bacteria, fungi and plants, is extensively documented in literature. in this contribution several forest leaf litter types are compared as sources of DOM and the released organics are subjected to gel permeation chromatography to reveal their molecular-size distribution. Moreover, complexing properties, as an indication for the podzolization potential of the litter leachates, were established. the occurrence and properties of DOM in different soil horizons were monitored beneath a stand of Scots pine. the effects of the different groups of soluble organics including phenolic, fulvic and humic acids, and of water-extractable humic substances on the performance of herbaceous plants of the forest floor are briefly reviewed.     

Exuviaella cordata red tide in Bulgarian coastal waters (May to June 1986)

The structure and some functional characteristics of the plankton community at the time of aExuviaella cordata red tide were investigated in Burgas Bay, Bulgaria, in May and June 1986. Characteristics of main plankton components (phyto-, bacterio-, nanoheterotrophic plankton, ciliates and mesoplankton) in the bloom area are presented. Development of theE. cordata bloom was determined by abiotic conditions among which eutrophication and salinity decrease caused the patchy character of its rapid development. Attainment of maximum red tide (ca. 1x10⁹ cells l^-1; 1x10³ g m^-3) from background (500 to 800x10³ cells l^-1; 600 mg m^-3) took 3 to 7d. Growth rate () during that period was 1.2 to 2.2 doublings per day. A sharp bloom decline (3 to 4d) was caused by parasitic flagellates destroying the alga's chloroplast. Diel biomass losses due to grazing remained below 5%. Metabolites and degradation products ofE. cordata revealed no pronounced toxic effects on the other components of the planktonic community. The rapid bloom degradation due to the effects of parasitic flagellates indicates the high potential of ecosystem self-regulation.     

Mate sampling behaviour of female pied flycatchers: evidence for active mate choice

Summary This paper presents major new evidence for active mate choice of female pied flycatchers, Ficedula hypoleuca. Fifteen color-ringed females were released into a study area containing 23 unmated males defending one nestbox each. Through intensive surveillance, the behavior of the females was observed during 2 consecutive days. Twenty-two of the males received a total of 131 female visits. Six of the females settled in the study area, and their premating period lasted 1.3–2.5 days. The females were seen searching for mates for at least 6–32 h and were seen visiting at least 1–9 different males. Hence, some of the females rejected males before mating. Nevertheless, the females settled close to the site of release (range: 16–243 m), suggesting that they mated with one of the first males encountered. Females visited males most frequently in the morning, and the diurnal distribution of visits was significantly correlated with male song activity. Offprint requests to: S. Dale     

Effect of heavy metals (Zn,Hg, Cu,Cd, Pb,Ni) on the length growth of Mytilus edulis

The shortterm (10–22 d) effect of Zn, Hg, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Ni on the length growth of Mytilus edulis is studied. Significant reductions of growth rate was found at 0.3 g Hgl^-1, 3 g Cul^-1, 10 g Znl^-1, and 10 g Cdl^-1 added to the local sea water, while concentrations of up to 200 gl^-1 of Pb and Ni had no effect on the growth. With exposure to Cu and Zn, there was a linear reduction in growth rate with increasing metal concentration up to about 6 g Cul^-1 and 100 g Znl^-1. Above these levels, growth stopped with Cu, while with Zn it was stabilized at about 20% of control growth. When Hg and Cd were added, a curvilinear relationship between growth and metal concentration is indicated. With Hg, growth rate is nearly zero above 3–4 g Hgl^-1, while the growth rate was 50% of control after 10 d of exposure to 100 g Cdl^-1. At 2 g Cdl^-1 there was a significant stimulation of length increase. Observed EC₅₀-values for growth were 0.3–0.4 g Hgl^-1, 3–4 g Cul^-1, 60 g Znl^-1, and 100 g Cdl^-1.     

Amino acid uptake and respiration by marine heterotrophs

The concentration and turnover of dissolved free amino acids were measured in samples from 25 and 100 m on three occasions at a station 6 miles off the California (USA) coast. Individual amino acid concentrations varied from undetectable (<0.05 g/l) to 3 g/l, the total amino acid concentration from 1.8 to 8.5 g/l. The greater concentration of total amino acids was always found at 25 m. The predominant amino acids were serine, lysine, aspartate, glutamate and alanine; reliable analyses could not be made for glycine because of a high blank. For the 10 individual amino acids studied, the rate of heterotrophic turnover ranged from undetectable to 1.2 g/l day^-1; serine, aspartate, alanine and glutamate showed the highest rates. In samples from 25 m, the rates were 15 to 20 times higher than those taken from 100 m. The total calculated flux of the amino acids studied varied from 0.015 to 3.2 g/l day^-1 and amounted to 1–10% of photosynthetic carbon dioxide fixation.