Family: Cladophora Kutzing 1843. identification key. [ Translation from: Flora Slodkowodna Polski 10, 227-263, 1972.]

A description of the algal genus Cladophora from Vol 10 of the ”Freshwater Flora of Poland”. Illustrations are included.

Letter and Recollections of Alexander Agassiz: The 1891 Albatross Expedition

Presented here is another in the list of historic accounts of iconic research cruises of the USFC Steamer Albatross, this a reminiscence of the renowned scientist Alexander Agassiz edited by his son G. R. Agassiz, a chapter from the volume “Letters and Recollections of Alexander Agassiz,” published in 1913. Agassiz made three major cruises in the Albatross in 1891, 1899–1900, and 1904–05, adding greatly to the world’s store of specimens and knowledge of thalasography, his favored term for oceangraphy, and specifically of the Pacific Ocean. Having made important cruises and studies with the Blake in the Caribbean, he sought to do comparable research in the Pacific. His opportunity came in 1890, and with the consent of President Benjamin Harrison, he took charge of this Albatross research cruise, paying much of the expense himself. In contrast with the other ships he had been on, he found the laboratories, equipment, and furnishings to be comparatively luxurious and extremely well appointed for his work. Further, the Albatross was then captained by Lieutenant Commander Zera Luther Tanner who seemed to take as much interest in the oceanographic research as did the scientists, and Agassiz appreciated working with him, too. Little of the original text has been altered, and readers are cautioned that some of the views expressed may reflect unfortunate prejudices of that era toward individuals, nationalities, etc.

James's rule and causes and consequences of a latitudinal cline in the demography of John's Snapper (Lutjanus johnii) in coastal waters of Australia

Demographic parameters were derived from sectioned otoliths of John’s Snapper (Lutjanus johnii) from 4 regions across 9° of latitude and 23° of longitude in northern Australia. Latitudinal variation in size and growth rates of this species greatly exceeded longitudinal variation. Populations of John’s Snapper farthest from the equator had the largest body sizes, in line with James’s rule, and the fastest growth rates, contrary to the temperature-size rule for ectotherms. A maximum age of 28.6 years, nearly 3 times previous estimates, was recorded and the largest individual was 990 mm in fork length. Females grew to a larger mean asymptotic fork length (L∞) than did males, a finding consistent with functional gonochorism. Otolith weight at age and gonad weight at length followed the same latitudinal trends seen in length at age. Length at maturity was ~72–87% of L∞ and varied by ~23% across the full latitudinal gradient, but age at first maturity was consistently in the range of 6–10 years, indicating that basic growth trajectories were similar across vastly different environments. We discuss both the need for complementary reproductive data in age-based studies and the insights gained from experiments where the concept of oxygen- and capacity-limited thermal tolerance is applied to explain the mechanistic causes of James’s rule in tropical fish species.

The weevil-watermilfoil interaction at different spatial scales: what we know and what we need to know

The North American weevil ( Euhrychiopsis lecontei (Dietz)) is being considered as a biological control agent for Eurasian watermilfoil ( Myriophyllum spicatum L.). This native insect damages watermilfoil plants and is frequently associated with declining watermilfoil populations

Fernando Lahille. Ictiólogo.

Breve reseña histórica de la actividad ictiológica de Fernando Lahille.

Historia de la piscicultura del pejerrey en Chascomús

El pejerrey Odontesthes bonariensis es uno de los peces de aguas continentales más emblemáticos de la Argentina y una de las especies más estudiada desde diferentes aspectos: ecológico, sistemático, morfológico, fisiológico, genético, etc. (López et al. 1991). Durante los años 1891 y 1892 se realizaron las primeras experiencias de piscicultura,lográndose por primera vez la reproducción artificial en 1904. Su amplia distribución actual es consecuencia de las siembras que se realizaron desde el antiguo Vivero de Piscicultura del Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería de la Nación y de la Estación Hidrobiológica del Ministerio de Asuntos Agrarios de la provincia de Buenos Aires, ambos establecimientos ubicados en la ciudad de Chascomús. En el presente trabajo se realiza una aproximación a la historia de la piscicultura del pejerrey en Chascomús, la que se divide en tres períodos: 1) Antecedentes de piscicultura, importancia de la pesca comercial en el sistema de lagunas Encadenadas de Chascomús y primeras medidas tomadas para conservar la explotación de las lagunas hacia fines del siglo XIX. 2) Etapa del antiguo Vivero (Ministerio de Agricultura de la Nación), desde 1904 hasta 1939. 3) Etapa de la Estación Hidrobiológica (Ministerio de Asuntos Agrarios, provincia de Buenos Aires), desde 1943 hasta el presente.

Agassiz, Garman, Albatross, and the Collection of Deep-sea Fishes

The first of Alexander Agassiz’ voyages on the U.S. Fish Commission steamer Albatross in 1891 yielded significant scientific results. This paper reviews the background of the voyage, including the career path that led Agassiz to the back deck of the Albatross. We also give a brief account of the life and work of Samuel Garman. Garman wrote up the ichthyological material from this Albatross voyage in a magnificent book on deep-sea fishes published in 1899. This book was exceptional in its coverage, anatomical detail, and recognition of phylogenetically important morphology.

Charles Henry Gilbert (1859-1928), Naturalist-in-Charge, and Chauncey Thomas, Jr. (1850-1919), Commanding: Conflict Aboard the U. S. Fish Commission Steamer Albatross in 1902

Charles Henry Gilbert (1859-1928) was a pioneering ichthyologist who made major contributions to the study of fishes of the American West. As chairman of the Department ofZoology at Leland Stanford Junior University in Palo Alto, Calif., during 1891-1925, Gilbert was extremely devoted to his work and showed little patience with those ofa different mindset. While serving as Naturalist-in-Charge of the U.S. Fish Commission Steamer Albatross during her exploratory expedition to the Hawaiian Islands in 1902, Gilbert engaged in an acrimonious feud with the ship's captain, Chauncey Thomas, Jr. (1850-1919), U.S.N., over what Gilbert perceived to be an inadequate effort by the captain. This essay focuses on the conflict between two strong figures, each operatingf rom different world views, and each vying for authority. Despite the difficulties these two men faced, the voyage of the Albatross in 1902 must be considered a success, as reflected by the extensive biological samples collected, the many new species of animals discovered, and the resulting publication of important scientific papers.

Lista comentada de la ictiofauna del Canal Beagle, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Iconografía.

A ciento veintidós años de las primeras menciones realizadas por Perugia en 1891 sobre peces del Canal Beagle, editamos la presente iconografía que incluye alrededor de treinta especies de las mencionadas por López et al., en 1996. Este trabajo, desarrollado en el CADIC dentro del proyecto Biología de los recursos ictícos del Canal de Beagle financiado por el CONICET, junto al publicado por Lloris y Rucabado (1991), proveyeron elementos de base para tener una visión más profunda del componente ictiofaunistíco de la región. En la presente publicación se destaca la magnífica obra del maestro Miguel Barbagallo, quién vuelca su capacidad y espíritu en estas láminas, las que además de su valor artístico son un aporte más a la consolidación del conocimiento de los recursos naturales de nuestro país.

Changes in frost frequency and desert vegetation assemblages in Grand Canyon, Arizona

The effect of decreasing frost frequency on desert vegetation was documented in Grand Canyon by replication of historical photographs. Although views by numerous photographers of Grand Canyon have been examined, 400 Robert Brewster Stanton and Franklin A. Nims views taken in the winter of 1889-1890 provide the best information on recent plant distribution. In Grand Canyon, where grazing is limited by the rugged topography, vegetation dynamics are controlled by climate and by demographic processes such as seed productivity, recruitment, longevity and mortality. The replicated photographs show distribution and abundance of several species were limited by severe frost before 1889. Two of these, brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) and barrel cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus), have clearly expanded their ranges up-canyon and have increased their densities at sites where they were present in 1890. In 1890, brittlebush was present in warm microhabitats that provided refugia from frost damage. Views showing desert vegetation in 1923 indicate that Encelia expanded rapidly to near its current distribution between 1890 and 1923, whereas the expansion of Ferocactus occurred more slowly. The higher frequency of frost was probably related to an anomalous increase in winter storms between 1878 (and possibly 1862) and 1891 in the southwestern United States.

Limnological studies of a freshwater tropical impoundment : Powai Lake. 1: Morphometry and physical features

Powai Lake, an impoundment, came into existence in 1891 when the riverlet Dhanisar was dammed to conserve rainwater for drinking purpose. However, the water was found to be unpotable and the lake was leased out to the Angling Association, Bombay, exclusively for angling and sports. The lake is located about 27 km in the northeast of Bombay city at a height of 55m above MSL. It is rainfed with an average rainfall of 2,400 mm. The maximum waterspread area is 220 ha with a maximum capacity of 8.11 million m super(3) in the peak monsoon period when the water overflows the dam. There is no drawdown from the lake. Fluctuation in the water level is mainly due to evaporation and percolation. Transparency is low mainly due to suspended organic particles. There is hardly any difference in the water temperatures of surface and bottom, hence the annual heat budget is low at 2,818 cal m super(-2).

Polyculture of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, de Man with carps: effects of prawn stocking density

Effects of three stocking densities, viz., 35, 50 and 65/decimal (1 decimal = 40.48 m2) of juvenile freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) on prawn and fish production were tested in a polycuture system with silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), catla (Catla catla), Grass carp (Ctenophmyngodon idella) and silver barb (Barbodes gonionotus). The fish stocking density was 19/decimal with the species combination of silver carp-10, catlac-6, grass carp-1 and silver barb-2. In a 8-month culture period, the prawn yield 423 ± 144 kg/ha was significantly lower (P< 0.5) with the prawn stocking density of 35/decimal than that of 548 ± 178 kg/ha and 662 ± 243 kg/ha with 50 and 65/decimal respectively. The fish production (1844-1891 kg/ha) did not differ significantly (p <0.05) among the three treatments indicating that prawn stocking densities had no influence on fish yield. The lower mean harvest weight (62 g) and survival rate (67 g) and higher yield (2.67 kg/decimal) with the highest stocking rate of prawn reveals that as density was increased, prawn survival and individual weight at harvest decreased but total yield increased.