Importance of physical and biological settlement cues used at different spatial scales by the larvae of Semibalanus balanoides

The settling cues used by larvae of Semibalanus balanoides (L.) were examined at large (1 m), medium (1 mm), and small (<300 m) spatial scales, corresponding roughly to choices made during broad and close exploration and final inspection within the settling zone. The experiments were carried out at two locations in Canada in May and June 1984. Samples of substratum surfaces from above (n=87 sites unselected by cyprids) and below (n=84 sites selected by cyprids) the upper limit of the barnacle zone were characterized according to 13 quantitative and semi-quantitative variables (diatom cover, macroalgae, detritus) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The data were analysed using a stepwise logistic regression. At the large scale, the presence of an alga (Urospora wormskjoldii Mertens) in the upper uncolonized zone and a diatom (Achnantes parvula Kützing) within the settling zone are potential settlement cues. At the medium scale in the settling zone, larvae select clean sites, devoid of detritus and diatoms or on which detrital matter, when present, is of finer texture than on the unchosen sites within the settling zone. At the smallest scale (<300 m, equal to the average maximum width of the larvae), we tested the hypothesis that the larva seeks optimal microheterogeneity (presumably providing good adhesion). Microheterogeneity of the surface was measured immediately under the larva, around the settling organs, the antennules. Our results show that such surface microheterogeneity is significantly greater and the vertical center of gravity of the surface significantly lower on the sites selected by the cyprids than on the unselected contiguous sites. Fractal measurements carried out on selected and contiguous unselected surfaces indicate that larvae discriminate microheterogeneity levels below a step length of 35 m, a value approximately the size of the diameter of the antennular discs (40 m), which are used to explore the substratum and attach.Contribution to the programme of GIROQ (Groupe interuniversitaire de recherches océanographiques du Québec)     

Hormetic protection of Drosophila melanogaster middle-aged male flies from heat stress by mildly stressing them at young age

Previous studies have shown that exposing flies to hypergravity (3g or 5g) for the first 2 weeks of adult life slightly increases longevity of male flies and survival time at 37°C for both sexes, and delays an age-linked behavioral change. The present experiment tested whether the hypergravity could also protect flies from four successive deleterious non-lethal heat shocks at 4 and 5 weeks of age. Males that lived in hypergravity for the first 2 weeks of adult life lived slightly longer (ca. +15% or 1.2 day) after heat shocks (30 min or 45 min at 37°C) than flies that always lived at 1g, but this positive effect of hypergravity was not observed in females. Therefore, hypergravity exposure at young age can help the male flies recovering from a heat shock at older ages.     

Specialization of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema scapterisci with its mutualistic Xenorhabdus symbiont

The level of specialization of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema scapterisci with its native Xenorhabdus symbiont was investigated by testing (1) the influence of non-native bacterial strains on nematode fitness within an insect-host (Galleria mellonella) and (2) specificity of the association between the nematode infective juveniles and non-native bacteria. All non-native Xenorhabdus spp. or Photorhabdus spp. strains tested were mutualistically associated with other entomopathogenic nematodes in nature. We showed that most of the Xenorhabdus spp. strains tested led to an insignificant difference of the nematode's fitness compared to the one obtained with the native bacterium. Conversely, Photorhabdus spp. strains almost entirely abolished nematode reproduction. The phylogenetic analysis of bacterial strains tested, showed that there was a negative correlation between S. scapterisci's reproduction rate with a bacterial strain and the genetic distance of this bacterial strain from the native one. We also showed that the native bacterium was the only one which was transmitted by S. scapterisci's infective juveniles. All these results, suggested a specialization between S. scapterisci and its native Xenorhabdus. As the same phenomenon was already demonstrated in the association between S. carpocapsae and X. nematophila, specialization between partners would not be an exception in entomopathogenic nematode-bacteria interactions. Nevertheless, S. scapterisci showed a dramatically higher compatibility with non-native Xenorhabdus spp. strains than did S. carpocapsae, suggesting differences in the co-evolutionary processes between nematodes and bacteria in these two model systems.Table 1 List of the bacterial strains, native nematode species with their geographical origin, accession numbers of bacterial 16S rDNA partial sequences and number of combination experiments for each bacterium tested

Foraging habitats of the seabird community of Europa Island (Mozambique Channel)

We investigated the foraging habitats of the winter breeding community of tropical seabirds from Europa Island (Mozambique Channel) in September 2003. We focused our study on the dominant species of this austral community, the sooty tern (Sterna fuscata), the red-footed booby (Sula sula), and the frigatebirds, including the great (Fregata minor) and the lesser frigatebirds (F. ariel). We considered the at-sea distribution and abundance of these species in relation to chlorophyll concentration, sea-surface temperatures, sea-surface height anomalies, depth of the thermocline, distance to the colony, and presence of surface marine predators, flying fishes and other seabirds. Although the marine environment where seabirds foraged was oligotrophic, it presents the best feeding opportunities for seabirds for the area in winter. Our study demonstrates that the winter-breeding seabird species of Europa Island tend to forage in productive waters in association with other marine predators when possible. Sooty terns and frigatebirds were widely distributed in the whole study area, whereas red-footed boobies were not found farther than 160 km from their colonies and were associated with relatively productive waters. Sooty terns and red-footed boobies were aggregated where flying fishes were abundant. The presence of other marine predators was associated with larger multispecies feeding flocks than when no association occurred. Sooty terns, which are numerically dominant at Europa and adopted network foraging, seem to be catalysts of feeding events, and represented a good target for the other foraging species, especially frigatebirds. However, when possible, frigatebirds favour association with flocks of red-footed boobies.Communicated by S.A. Poulet, Roscoff     

Precipitation, pH and metal load in AMD river basins: an application of fuzzy clustering algorithms to the process characterization

In the present work, Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) processes in the Chorrito Stream, which flows into the Cobica River (Iberian Pyrite Belt, Southwest Spain) are characterized by means of clustering techniques based on fuzzy logic. Also, pH behavior in contrast to precipitation is clearly explained, proving that the influence of rainfall inputs on the acidity and, as a result, on the metal load of a riverbed undergoing AMD processes highly depends on the moment when it occurs. In general, the riverbed dynamic behavior is the response to the sum of instant stimuli produced by isolated rainfall, the seasonal memory depending on the moment of the target hydrological year and, finally, the own inertia of the river basin, as a result of an accumulation process caused by age-long mining activity.     

Natural radiation exposure in the Campo Arañuelo region in the surroundings of Almaraz nuclear power station (Spain)

During 1998 regional surveys were conducted to evaluate natural radiation exposure of people in the vicinity of the six Spanish nuclear power stations. Indoor radon, external gamma dose rates outdoors and indoors and radioactivity in soil were measured in these surveys. The highest mean annual effective dose to the population was found in the surroundings of the Almaraz nuclear power plant in the province of Cáceres and was mainly due to the presence of high radon concentrations in homes. In order to make a more accurate assessment of the dose coming from the radon in this area, a new and more extensive surgery on indoor radon with a total of 380 measurements was carried out in 2000 in the Campo Ara?uelo region around the Almaraz nuclear power station. From the results obtained in this survey, a population-weighted mean annual effective dose from radon exposure of 1.7 mSv y(-1), 44% lower than that previously reported in 1998, was estimated for the whole Campo Ara?uelo region. The maximum dose value due to radon exposure, about 4 mSv y(-1), was reached in the so-called La Vera area located in the north of this region. The relationship between the indoor radon concentrates experimentally measured, the geological characteristics of this geographic area and the information provided by the radiation map of the Spanish MARNA Project is also analyzed, confirming that La Vera area should be considered as a high radon level area.     

Accumulation of Chernobyl-derived 137Cs in bottom sediments of some Finnish lakes

The amount and vertical distribution of Chernobyl-derived 137Cs in the bottom sediments of some Finnish lakes were studied. Sediment and surface water samples were taken in 2000 and 2003 from 12 stations in nine lakes and the results were compared with those obtained in corresponding surveys carried out in 1969, 1978, 1988 and 1990. Each of the five deposition categories of Chernobyl fallout in Finland were represented. The depth profiles of 137Cs in the sediments showed considerable variety in the lakes studied. The peak values varied between 1.5 and 46 kBq kg(-1) dry wt. The size and shape of the peak did not always correlate with the amount of deposition in the area, but on the other hand, reflected differences in sedimentation processes in different lakes. In some of the lakes the peak still occurred in the uppermost (0-2 cm) sediment layer, but in an extreme case the peak occurred at a depth of 22-23 cm corresponding to a sedimentation rate of 16 mm year(-1) during the 14 years after the Chernobyl accident. The total amounts of 137Cs in sediments varied from 15 to 170 kBq m(-2) at the sampling stations studied. Since 1990, the amounts have continued to increase slightly in two lakes, but started to decrease in the other lakes. In most of the lakes, the total amounts of 137Cs in sediments were about 1.5-2 times higher than in local deposition. In two lakes, the ratio was below 1, but in one case 3.2. Compared with the total amounts of 137Cs at the same stations in the late 1960s and 1970s, the values were now at their highest, at about 60-fold. The most important factors affecting 137Cs values in sediments were the local amount of deposition and the type of the lake and the sediment, but in addition, there were a number of other factors to be considered.     

Factors controlling measurements of radon mass exhalation rate

Radon mass exhalation rate of soil samples was measured using an exhalation chamber of 10 dm(3) volume and a Lucas cell. The results show that mass of sample, grain size and water content influence the radon mass exhalation rate. For soil of (226)Ra activity concentration about 2500 Bq kg(-1) and samples within the range from 0.20 kg to 0.50 kg, the radon mass exhalation rate values are higher than those for samples of other masses. The observed radon exhalation rate is an inverse function of the average grain size. At the water content about 6% by weight, the radon mass exhalation rate reaches maximum, then it decreases with both increasing and decreasing of the water content in the sample.     

Utilization of magnetic and electrostatic separation in the recycling of printed circuit boards scrap

The progress of the technology is directly related to the growth of production and consumption of electrical/electronics equipment, especially of personal computers. This type of equipment has a relatively short average lifetime, 2-3 years. The amount of defective or obsolete equipment has been increasing substantially; consequently its disposition and/or recycling should be studied. In this work, printed circuit boards, which are used in personal computers, were studied in order to recover the metals in the circuit boards through mechanical processing, such as crushing, screening, as well as magnetic and electrostatic separation. The results obtained demonstrate the feasibility of using these processes to separate metal fractions from polymers and ceramics, and that it is possible to obtain a fraction concentrated in metals containing more than 50% on average of copper, 24% of tin and 8% of lead.