THE COMPOUND EYE AS AN INDICATOR OF AGE AND SHRINKAGE IN ANTARCTIC KRILL

Laboratory studies have shown that Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) shrink if maintained in conditions of low food availability. Recent studies have also demonstrated that E. superba individuals may be shrinking in the field during winter. If krill shrink during the winter, conclusions reached by length-frequency analysis may be unreliable because smaller animals may not necessarily be younger animals. In this study, the correlation between the body-length and the crystalline cone number of the compound eye was examined. Samples collected in the late summer show an apparent linear relationship between crystalline cone number and body-length. From a laboratory population, it appears that when krill shrink the crystalline cone number remains relatively unchanged. If crystalline cone number is little affected by shrinking, then the crystalline cone number may be a more reliable indicator of age than body-length alone. The ratio of crystalline cone number to body-length offers a method for detecting the effect of shrinking in natural populations of krill. On the basis of the crystalline cone number count, it appears from a field collection in early spring that E. superba do shrink during winter.

软甲纲动物和星虫动物线粒体基因组特征及分子进化研究

在过去的几十年间，利用线粒体基因组序列探讨后生动物深层次的系统发育关系已取得初步进展。这主要得益于，线粒体基因组与其它分子标记相比具备诸多优势。迄今为止，超过1,200个后生动物的线粒体基因组已被测定，然而所获得的数据分布极不均衡。 软甲纲历来是甲壳动物分类学和系统发育学研究的重要类群，在形态学特征和分子生物学各方面取得广泛的发展。尽管软甲纲本身作为单系群已得到大多数甲壳动物学家认可，但是软甲纲内部各个类群之间的系统发育关系迄今仍颇有争议。本文报道了凡纳滨对虾Litopenaeus vannamei、中国明对虾Fenneropenaeus chinensis、脊尾白虾Exopalaemon carinicauda、太平洋磷虾Euphausia pacifica和采自南极普里兹湾南极磷虾Euphausia superba的线粒体基因组，其长度分别为15,989 bp、16,004 bp、15,730 bp、16,898 bp和15,498 bp以上（部分非编码区没有测定）。 本研究发现凡纳滨对虾、中国明对虾、脊尾白虾和太平洋磷虾的线粒体基因组包含后生动物线粒体基因组典型的基因组成（13个蛋白质编码基因、22个转运RNA、2个核糖体RNA和一个非编码的AT富含区）；然而，南极磷虾与后生动物线粒体基因组典型的基因组成相比，存在1个trnN基因的重复。与泛甲壳动物线粒体基因组的原始排列相比，凡纳滨对虾和中国明对虾线粒体基因组的基因排列完全一致；脊尾白虾的线粒体基因组发生罕见的trnP和trnH易位，从而说明在真虾下目中线粒体基因组的基因排列并不保守；太平洋磷虾线粒体基因组的基因排列出现3个转运RNA的重排 （trnL1、trnL2和trnW）；南极磷虾线粒体基因组的基因排列除了出现太平洋磷虾具有的这3个转运RNA重排之外，还有1个trnN的重复和1个trnI基因的重排。另外，在太平洋磷虾线粒体基因组最大的非编码区中存在一个154 bp×4.7的串连重复区域，如此大片段的串联重复区域（>150 bp）在软甲纲动物线粒体基因组中是首次报道。 目前所获得的线粒体基因组数据强有力地支持口足目、对虾科、真虾下目和短尾下目为单系群。通过比较基因排列及蛋白质编码基因核苷酸和氨基酸序列的系统发育分析得知真虾类和龙虾类为腹胚亚目的原始类群，并支持“（（Penaeus＋Fenneropenaeus）＋Litopenaeus）＋Marsupenaeus”的系统发育关系。此外，线粒体基因组的数据也强有力地支持磷虾目为单系群。但对于磷虾目在软甲纲中的分类地位及与其它类群的系统发育关系存在一些分歧：基于蛋白质编码基因核苷酸和氨基酸数据的贝叶斯分析强有力地支持磷虾目和十足目近缘，这个结果和传统的分类系统完全一致；然而，基于核苷酸序列的邻接法、氨基酸序列的邻接法和最大似然法均强有力地支持磷虾类和对虾类亲缘关系较近，从而破坏了十足目的单系性，与传统的认识并不一致，但由于自展值的支持率非常高，所以深层次的分析需要进一步加强。 星虫动物属于海洋生物中的一个小门类，自1555年被记载以来，其在后生动物中的分类地位就备受争议。本研究测定了星虫动物门的第一条线粒体基因组：革囊星虫Phascolosoma esculenta的线粒体基因组，全长为15,494 bp，包含13个蛋白质编码基因、22个转运RNA、2个核糖体RNA和1个非编码的AT富含区，所有37个基因在同一条链上编码。与后生动物线粒体基因组的典型组成相比，存在一个trnR基因的缺失和一个trnM基因的重复。比较星虫动物和其它后生动物的线粒体基因组，可以得到以下结论：1）星虫动物和环节动物（包括螠虫动物）的线粒体基因组有相近的基因排列，而且所有基因都在同一链上编码；2）基于蛋白质编码基因的系统发育分析强有力地支持星虫动物和环节动物（包括螠虫动物）组成一个单系群，而将软体动物排除在外。因此，本研究认为以前许多星虫动物和软体动物“共享”的特征，包括发育特征和缺乏分节等，需要重新考虑。

Summer feeding activities of zooplankton in Prydz Bay, Antarctica

Grazing of dominant zooplankton copepods (Calanoides acutus. and Metridia gerlachei), salps (Salpa thompsoni) and microzooplankton was determined during the austral summer of 1998/1999 at the seasonal ice zone of the Prydz Bay region. The objective was to measure the ingestion rates of zooplankton at the seasonal ice zone, so as to evaluate the importance of different groups of zooplankton in their grazing impact on phytoplankton standing stock and primary production. Grazing by copepods was low, and accounted for less than or equal to 1% of phytoplankton standing stocks and 3.8-12.5% of primary production for both species during this study, even the ingestion rates of individuals were at a high level compared with previous reports. S. thompsoni exhibited a relatively high grazing impact on primary production (72%) in the north of our investigation area. The highest grazing impact on phytoplankton was exerted by microzooplankton during this investigation, and accounted for 10-65% of the standing stock of phytoplankton and 34-100% of potential daily primary production. We concluded that microzooplankton was the dominant phytoplankton consumer in this study area. Salps also played an important role in control of phytoplankton where swarming occurred. The grazing of copepods had a relatively small effect on phytoplankton biomass development.

Leaf orientation, incident sunlight, and photosynthesis in the alpine species Suassurea superba and Gentiana straminea on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The extremely high level of solar radiation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau may induce photoinhibition and thus limit leaf carbon gain. To assess the effect of high light, we examined gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence for two species differing in light interception: the prostrate Saussurea superba and the erect-leaved Gentiana straminea. In controlled conditions with favorable water and temperature, neither species showed apparent photoinhibition in gas exchange measurements. In natural environment, however, their photosynthetic rate decreased remarkably at high light. Photosynthesis depression was aggravated under high leaf temperature or soil water stress. Relative stomatal limitation was much higher in S. superba than in G. straminea and it remarkably increased in the later species at midday when soil was dry. F-v/F-m as an indicator for photoinhibition was generally higher in S. superba than in the other species. F-v/F-m decreased significantly under high light at midday in both species, even when soil moisture was high. F-0 linearly elevated with the increment of leaf temperature in G. straminea, but remained almost constant in S. superba. Electron transport rate (ETR) increased with photosynthetically active photon flux density (PPFD) in S. superba, but declined when PPFD was high than about 1000 mumol m(-2) s(-1) in G. straminea. Compared to favorable environment, the estimated daily leaf carbon gain at PPFD above 800 mumol m(-2) s(-1) was reduced by 32% in S. superba and by 17% in G. straminea when soil was moist, and by 43% and 53%, respectively, when soil was dry. Our results suggest that the high radiation induces photoinhibition and significantly limits photosynthetic carbon gain, and the limitation may further increase at higher temperature and in dry soil.

Photosynthesis of Saussurea superba and Gentiana straminea is not reduced after long-term enhancement of UV-B radiation

Experiments were conducted in an alpine Kobresia humilis meadow near Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station (37degrees29'-37degrees45'N, 101degrees12'-101degrees33'E; altitude 3200 m). Effects of enhanced ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on photosynthesis of the alpine plants of Saussurea superba and Gentiana straminea were investigated. Both species were exposed to a UV-B-BE density at 15.80 kJ m(-2) per day, simulating nearly 14% ozone (O-3) reduction during the plant growing season. Neither photosynthetic CO2 uptake rate nor photosynthetic O-2 evolution rate were decreased after a long period of enhanced UV-B radiation treatment. On the contrary, there was a tendency to increase of both parameters in both species. The photosynthetic pigments were also increased, when expressed on a leaf area basis. UV-B absorbing compounds, detected by the absorbance values at 300 mm, had a tendency to increase in both species after enhanced UV-B radiation. After long-term exposure of plants to enhanced UV-B radiation, leaf morphology was also affected. Leaf thickness in both S. superba and G. straminea were increased significantly (P < 0.001). This supports our hypothesis that the increase of leaf thickness in both species after long-term exposure of enhanced UV-B radiation could compensate for the photodestruction of photosynthetic pigments when light passes through the leaf. Therefore, photosynthesis is not reduced in either species when expressed on leaf area basis. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Genome-wide SNP and haplotype analyses reveal a rich history underlying dog domestication

Advances in genome technology have facilitated a new understanding of the historical and genetic processes crucial to rapid phenotypic evolution under domestication(1,2). To understand the process of dog diversification better, we conducted an extensive genome-wide survey of more than 48,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms in dogs and their wild progenitor, the grey wolf. Here we show that dog breeds share a higher proportion of multi-locus haplotypes unique to grey wolves from the Middle East, indicating that they are a dominant source of genetic diversity for dogs rather than wolves from east Asia, as suggested by mitochondrial DNA sequence data(3). Furthermore, we find a surprising correspondence between genetic and phenotypic/functional breed groupings but there are exceptions that suggest phenotypic diversification depended in part on the repeated crossing of individuals with novel phenotypes. Our results show that Middle Eastern wolves were a critical source of genome diversity, although interbreeding with local wolf populations clearly occurred elsewhere in the early history of specific lineages. More recently, the evolution of modern dog breeds seems to have been an iterative process that drew on a limited genetic toolkit to create remarkable phenotypic diversity.

杉木与主要阔叶造林树种叶凋落物的混合分解

杉木 (Cunninghamia lanceolata)与主要阔叶造林树种叶凋落物混合分解实验是用网袋法进行的。目的是检验“杉木叶凋落物与阔叶树叶凋落物混合分解时 ,杉木叶凋落物的分解速率和养分释放都可得到加强”这样一个假设。结果发现 ,杉木与火力楠 (Michelia macclurei var. sublanea)、桤木 (Alnus cremastogyne)叶凋落物混合分解时分解速率有较强的促进作用 ,而与红栲 (Castanopsishystrix)、樟树 (Cinnamomum camphora)、刺楸 (K alopanax pictus)、木荷 (Schima superba)叶凋落物分解时不存在相互作用。至于养分的释放 ,除与木荷叶凋落物混合分解时没有发现相互作用外 ,而与其它阔叶树种叶凋落物混合分解时或强或弱表现出促进作用 ,而且促进作用的强弱与阔叶树叶凋落物初始 N含量有一定的正相关关系。如果仅从阔叶树叶凋落物与杉木叶凋落物混合分解的作用形式和强弱来考虑选择杉木的伴生树种时 ,首选树种是桤木 ,其次是刺楸 ,再其次是火力楠、红栲 ,最后才是樟树和木荷。当然只依据此单一条件来选择混交树种还不科学。

南极普里兹湾大、中型浮游动物群落生态学研究

在南大洋生态系统中，桡足类既在初级生产和更高营养级之间起着承上启下的作用，也为大型浮游动物，主要是磷虾生物量年际变化和地区变化提供了很好的缓冲，磷虾存在时它是竞争者和捕食对象，磷虾缺乏时初级生产的转化主要由它承担。国际上对南极桡足类的研究在最近十年进展很快，尤其是生活史策略的研究取得了长足进步。我国对南极磷虾的研究已处于国际先进水平，但对桡足类等小型浮游动物来说却只是刚刚起步。本文利用中国第十三、十五次南极考察的浮游动物标本研了普里兹湾的游游动物群落结构和地理分布。随纬度的不同，普里兹湾存在三种群落类型，62－65°海域是以纽鳃樽为主的北部被囊群落，小型桡足类拟长腹剑水蚤（Oithona similis）和以哲水蚤（Paracalanus spp）在该区域密度最大，最大型的巨锚哲水蚤（Rhincalanus gigas）为该区所特有，并且只有62°S附近出现大量的无节幼体；65－67°S之间是尖角似哲水蚤（Calanoides acutus）和戈氏长腹水蚤（Metridia gerlachei）的分布高峰区，多毛类和毛颚类分布也较多，该地区由磷虾和桡足类交替控制；67°S以南至近岸为近岸群落，是晶磷虾（Euphausia crystallorophias）的分布区域，在我们的调查中由大量的磷虾幼体出现，无节幼体最大密度6000ind·m~(-2)，蚤状幼体达到6400ind·m~(-2)。划分北部和中部群落的指示种为纽鳃樽（Salpa thommpsoni）、巨锚哲水蚤和毛颚类；北部和近岸群落的指示种为巨锚哲水蚤、戈氏长腹水蚤和磷虾的蚤状幼体；中部群落和近岸群落之间的指示种是晶磷虾，磷虾的无节幼体和角突隆剑水蚤（Oncaea conifera）作为该区的指示种不是很明显。CHINARE－XV期间进行了桡足类优势种是产卵量培养实验，在调查其间尖角似哲水蚤和戈氏长腹水蚤分别有13.3和5只／雌的产卵量，尖角似哲水蚤表现为明显的双峰态种群结构，早期幼体占据绝大部分，表现为成长种群，CI最早出现在陆冰缘站的冰下推测生殖发生在十月至十一月间。巨锚哲水蚤的无节幼体集中出现于低纬度区，并没有发现有桡足幼体出现。

黄海太平洋磷虾种群生态学研究

太平洋磷虾（Euphausia pacifica Hansen）作为目前已开发利用的6种主要磷虾资源之一，广泛分布于北太平洋北部及其临近近岸海域。在黄海，太平洋磷虾是黄海海洋生态系统中大型浮游动物的优势种和重要功能群的组成种类，它还是黄海生态系统中鱼类等上层营养级生物的重要饵料。太平洋磷虾的种群组成以及数量变化会直接影响到黄海经济鱼类的资源动态，从而影响到整个黄海海洋生态系统的变化。 本论文依托国家重点基础研究发展计划项目（973-II）——“我国近海生态系统食物产出的关键过程及其可持续机理”和国家自然科学基金40306021号——“黄、东海太平洋磷虾种群补充机制研究”，在2006年4月到2007年8月的八个黄海调查航次中，通过网采固定样品和现场培养实验相结合的方法，对黄海海域太平洋磷虾的种群生态分布和补充、繁殖和发育策略、以及成体的摄食、代谢进行了较为全面、细致的研究。 种群生态分布：本文根据2006年4月（春季）和10月（秋季）两次黄海大面调查和2006年9月－2007年8月六次黄海断面调查所获得的样品，研究了太平洋磷虾在南黄海的种群生态分布和补充机制，并探讨了其生态分布与环境因子的关系。 春季，南黄海太平洋磷虾种群主要分布在33 °N－36 °N、50 m-75 m等深线之间的海域，种群总丰度（不包括卵）为152.90 ind. m-3，卵丰度非常高，成体丰度较低，仅占种群总数量的8.72%。调查海域的平均成体丰度为0.35 ind. m-3。种群组成以幼体为主，占到种群的90.85%。春季是太平洋磷虾种群补充的高峰期。秋季，种群主要分布在黄海冷水团海域，种群总丰度（不包括卵）为335.38 ind. m-3，成体丰度显著高于春季，调查海区成体的平均丰度为7.73 ind. m-3。成体和未成体以99.5%的总比例在种群中占绝对数量优势，卵和幼体都非常少。秋季太平洋磷虾种群处于稳定期。春季成体的体长显著大于秋季，春季成体全长以13-18 mm为主，而秋季成体的全长主要是9-13 mm。 春季，太平洋磷虾成体具有昼夜垂直迁移行为，白天主要停留在底层水域，夜间少部分成体会上升到中上层水域，但是大部分成体仍然停留在深层。幼体从C3期开始就具有一定昼夜垂直迁移行为，F2—F5期幼体的昼夜垂直迁移行为已经非常明显。由于从表层到底层叶绿素a浓度逐渐降低，因此，太平洋磷虾的昼夜垂直迁移行为可能与摄食有关。 太平洋磷虾成体的分布是与海水温度紧密相关，南黄海太平洋磷虾成体比较适宜生活的水温是8-16 °C。春、冬季水温较低，成体分布范围较广。夏、秋季表层水温急剧升高到20 °C以上，太平洋磷虾成体主要分布在黄海冷水团海域，丰度也达到一年中的最高值。另外，秋季在近长江口的北部海域有大量成体分布。 繁殖和发育：自2006年9月到2007年8月的一年内，在黄海进行了七个航次的太平洋磷虾现场培养产卵实验，结果表明：在南黄海，太平洋磷虾在3月—6月份都具有产卵行为，4月份达到产卵高峰期。单个雌体的最大产卵量为617 egg female-1，出现在4月份。8月、9月和12月在南黄海均未发现太平洋磷虾的产卵行为。太平洋磷虾具有二次产卵行为，并且第一次产卵量要高于第二次。太平洋磷虾的产卵行为与其干湿重紧密相关。成体干重低于5.0 mg，湿重低于26.0 mg，均不具有产卵能力。在产卵高峰期，太平洋磷虾的干湿重达到一年中的最高值。 在南黄海，太平洋磷虾的幼体发育主要遵循下面的发育途径：卵 → 无节幼体 → 后期无节幼体 → 原溞状幼体 → 溞状幼体F1（0' 7, 1' 7） → 溞状幼体F2（1' 4'' 7, 3' 1'' 7） → 溞状幼体F3（5'' 7） → 溞状幼体F4（5'' 5） → 溞状幼体F5（5'' 3） → 溞状幼体F6（5'' 1）。太平洋磷虾在15 °C下的幼体发育速度明显快于4 °C。15 °C下幼体发育到C1期只需5.6 d，而4 °C下则需要16.1 d。 摄食和代谢：2006年9、10、12月和2007年3、8月，在南黄海的五个断面调查航次中，在S1-4站进行了太平洋磷虾成体摄食实验，结果表明：太平洋磷虾在8月和9月份对水体中浮游植物的摄食率比较低，主要摄食水体中的微型浮游动物，从而由于营养级级联作用，致使水体中叶绿素a浓度升高。12月和3月，太平洋磷虾对水体中浮游植物有着很强的摄食活动，使得水体的叶绿素a浓度大量降低，当然太平洋磷虾也可能会同时摄食水体中微型浮游动物。 2006年9、12月和2007年3月，在南黄海的三个断面调查航次中，在S1-4站进行了太平洋磷虾现场耗氧率和排氨率实验，结果表明：太平洋磷虾在3月份的耗氧率是172.92 μg ind.-1 d-1，是9月份和12月份的6倍还要多。太平洋磷虾在9月和12月的耗碳率和体碳日损耗量相近，且都较低。3月份太平洋磷虾的代谢非常旺盛，体碳日损耗量达到2.70 % d-1，每日的耗碳率为62.9 µg C ind-1 d-1。9月和12月份太平洋磷虾代谢的氧氮比都较低，分别是11.3和7.0，太平洋磷虾成体的主要代谢基质是蛋白质。3月份的氧氮比为35.1，太平洋磷虾成体代谢主要以脂肪及碳水化合物为主。

Some palaemonid shrimps (Crustacea : Decapoda) from northern South China Sea, with descripitions of two new species

Thirty-four palaemonid species from the northern area of South China Sea are reported in the present paper, including two new species, Paranchistus lini, new species, and Periclimenes chacei, new species, and eight other species are reported for the first time from South China Sea: Leander tenuicornis (Say, 1818), Leandrites stenopus Holthuis, 1950, Palaemon debilis Dana, 1852, Urocaridella antonbrurnii (Bruce, 1967), Kemponia platycheles (Holthuis, 1952), Paraclimenes franklini (Bruce, 1990b), Paranchistus spondylis Suzuki, 1971, Periclimenes hirsutus Bruce, 1971.

利用叶绿体DNA trn L-F序列初步探讨菊科风毛菊属的系统发育

风毛菊属Saussurea DC．是菊科物种分化十分剧烈和分类处理十分困难的一个属。该属的单系起源性质、属下分类系统以及一些独特形态物种的系统位置尚不清楚，有待进一步验证。本文测定了代表该属5个亚属37种植物43个样品和川木香属Dolomiaea DC．的1种样品的叶绿体DNA trnL-F序列，并调取菜蓟族Cardueae Cass．与风毛菊属具有一定亲缘关系的13属的该序列，一起进行了分支分析，重点验证该属的属下形态分类系统以及形态特殊、青藏高原地区特有的雪兔子亚属subgen．Eriocoryne中假雪兔子组sect．Pseudoeriocoryne的单系性质。研究结果表明：(1)尽管风毛菊属5个亚属形态变异极大，但种间的trnL-F碱基变异却非常小；(2)根据形态学划分的5个亚属在分支图上没有得到分辨；(3)根据无明显茎、叶呈莲座状包被头状花序等特征建立的假雪兔子组是一多系群，与其他雪兔子亚属的种类也没有密切的亲缘关系，其共同拥有的形态学特征分别起源了4次；(4)雪莲亚属假雪莲组subgen．Amphi- laena sect．Pseudoamphilaena中的多鞘雪莲s．polycolea变种尖苞雪莲S．polycolea var．acuisauama与风毛菊亚属subgen．Saussurea的长毛风毛菊S．hieraciodies、美丽风毛菊s．superba、打箭风毛菊s．tatsienensis和重齿风毛菊s．katochaete具有一段长18个碱基的插入，但多鞘雪莲原变种和重齿风毛菊另一居群无此插入；这一插入在整个菜蓟族和风毛菊属中都十分特殊，是一次进化事件的结果，这一复合体的形态分化应该是在这一进化事件发生之后进行的；而尖苞雪莲和重齿风毛菊拥有这一特殊序列可能是由于杂交而导致种内存在不同的单倍性。研究结果证实青藏高原极端环境下即使在较低的分类等级——属内、种问的形态特征也存在相同选择压力下的生态趋同进化。这一点在利用形态特征研究该地区物种的亲缘关系和命名自然分类等级时应予以特别重视。风毛菊属提供了研究极端环境下物种快速分化、网状进化和趋同进化的典型范例。

Effect of imitated global warming on Delta C-13 values in seven plant species growing in Tibet alpine meadows

Open-top chambers were used to estimate the possible effects of global warming on delta C-13 of seven plant species grown in alpine meadow ecosystem. The delta C-13 values of plant species were lower after long-term growth in open-top chambers. In the course of experiment, temperature significantly increased inside the chambers by 4 degrees C. Plant species grown at a lower elevation above sea level had higher delta C-13 values as compared to those grown at a higher elevation. This was in accordance with the effect of open-top chamber on delta C-13 values in plants. Greater availability of CO2 and lower water vapor as indicated by an increase in discrimination against (CO2)-C-13, probably result in more negative delta C-13 values of plants because higher stomatal conductance increases availability of CO2 and causes greater discrimination against (CO2)-C-13. The plant species studied could be the indicator species for testing global warming by the change in carbon isotope ratios at the two growth temperatures.

Response of chlorophyll fluorescence to dynamic light in three alpine species differing in plant architecture

A study was carried out to examine the effect of dynamic photosynthetically active photon flux density (PPFD) on photoinhibition and energy use in three herbaceous species, prostrate Saussurea superba, erect-leaved S. katochaete, and half-erect-leaved Gentiana straminea, from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Chlorophyll fluorescence response was measured under each of three sets of high-low PPFD combinations: 1700-0, 1400-300, and 1200-500 mu mol m(-2) s(-1), illuminating in four dynamic frequencies: 1, 5, 15, and 60 cycles per 2 h. The total light exposure time was 2h and the integrated PPFD was the same in all treatments. The highest frequency of PPFD fluctuation resulted in the lowest photochemical activity, the highest level of non-photochemical quenching, and the greatest decrease of F-v/F-m (maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII). The 5 and 15 cycles per 2h treatments resulted in higher photochemical activity than the 1 cycle per 2h treatment. The 1700-0 PPFD combination led to the lowest photochemical activity and more serious photoinhibition in all species. S. superba usually exhibited the highest photochemical activity and CO2 uptake rate, the lowest reduction of F-v/F-m,F- and the smallest fraction of energy in thermal dissipation. With similar fractions of thermal dissipation, S. katochaete had relatively less photoinhibition than G. straminea owing to effective F-o quenching. The results suggest that high frequency of fluctuating PPFD generally results in photoinhibition, which is more serious under periods of irradiation with high light intensity. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.