The genesis and achievement of a limnologist: George Evelyn Hutchinson, 1903-1991

An obituary of the limnologist G.E. Hutchinson is given.

On the feeding of freshwater ostracods. [Translation of: Zoologicheskij zhurnal, 27(2), 1948, 125-136]

The present work appertains to a series of investigations in the field of trophodynamics of water bodies conducted by the department of hydrobiology ”Mosrybvtuza” under the leadership of Prof. Director N.S. Gaevska. Usually with quantitative collections of benthos ostracoda are hardly taken account of. But with the employment of special methods it is possible to be convinced that they are encountered in massive numbers. The role of ostracods in the nutrition of fish is recognised as important by many authors. On the question of the feeding of ostracods, in the literature there are only the fragmentary indications about the occurrence in the gut of ostracods of algae (diatoms, desmids) and detritus. The study of the feeding of ostracods was conducted both by the method of dissecting the guts of ostracods taken from natural waters, and by the method of feeding ostracods under laboratory conditions with a variety of food objects. Moreover, with a view to revision of obtained quantitative data, for determination of food requirements of ostracods the respiration method was applied.

Evidence of algae in the excrement of ducks. [Translation from: Hydrobiologia 1 22-27, 1948. ]

In the extremely severe winter of 1946-47 the surface of the Pfaffikersee (near Zurich) lay under an unbroken seal of ice for a full three months. The number of wild ducks resting in this location was estimated to be about 400. Six samples of excrements of ducks were microscopically analysed and fragments of algae were identified. These analyses allow the expert to specify with definite certainty the feeding areas under investigation of the studied birds.

The efficiency of plankton in the utilization of the sun radiation [Translation from: Briroda, 12, 29-35, 1948]

The efficiency of utilisation of the sun's radiation by natural communities has not been properly demonstrated with what so far has been obtained of reliable values, and it represents a great interest in many respects. A systematic study of the biotic balance of lakes was done in the course of a succession of summers starting in 1932, extensive material was obtained, which permitted to compute a value fear the utilisation of the sun's radiation by plankton in lakes, and to compare this with corresponding values for marine plankton and terrestrial vegetation.

The content of organic matter in some waters in the Moscow region [Translation from: C.R. Acad. Soc. URSS, 61, 293-296, 1948]

There is at the moment no direct method of determining the organic matter content of natural waters. In 1940/41 8 different water bodies in central Russia were studied and their organic matter identified. The author concludes that there is currently no easy method to determine organic matter in water. A number methods need to be applied.

News from Academy Bay

Sea Cucumber Fishing Boat Captured. Park Warden Wounded by Bullet in Confrontation Between Illegal Sea Cucumber Fishermen and Patrol Personnel of the Galápagos National Park. Peaceful Demonstration to Reject Violence in Galápagos. Conflict in the Galápagos Biological Reserve for Marine Resources, a Statement by the President of the Charles Darwin Foundation. Rediscovery of an "Extinct" Endemic Plant, the Floreana Flax Linum cratericola. The Arrival of Marek's Disease to Galápagos. Mortality of Giant Tortoises at El Chato, Isla Santa Cruz. The Darwin Station Begins a Monthly Program on Local Television. Account of a Historical Crossing of Isthmus Perry.

Ictiólogos de la Argentina: Jorge Calvo

This series will include all those people who, by means of their contributions, great and small, played a part in the consolidation of ichthyology in Argentina. The general plan of this work consists of individual factsheets containing a list of works by each author, along with reference bibliography and, whenever possible, personal pictures and additional material. The datasheets will be published primarily in chronological order, although this is subject to change by the availability of materials for successive editions. This work represents another approach for the recovery and revalorization of those who set the foundations of Argentine ichthyology while in diverse historical circumstances. I expect this to be the beginning of a major work that achieves the description of such a significant part of the history of natural sciences in Argentina.

Semblanzas Ictiológicas: Ricardo Jorge Casaux

A través de esta serie intentaremos conocer diferentes facetas personales de los integrantes de nuestra “comunidad”. El cuestionario, además de su principal objetivo, con sus respuestas quizás nos ayude a encontrar entre nosotros puntos en común que vayan más allá de nuestros temas de trabajo y sea un aporte a futuros estudios históricos. Esperamos que esta iniciativa pueda ser otro nexo entre los ictiólogos de la región, ya que consideramos que el resultado general trascendería nuestras fronteras.