The reproductive strategies of an endemic Tibetan fish, Gymnocypris selincuoensis

The reproductive traits of Gymnocypris selincuoensis from Selincuo Lake and its tributaries were investigated in 1997 and 1998. The youngest mature male was age 7 with a standard length (SL) of 172.0 mm, and the youngest mature female was age 8 with a SL of 194.0 mm. The L(50)s Of SL and age at first maturity were respectively 250.32 mm and age 9 for males and 224.71 mm and age 8 for females. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) significantly changed with seasons for mature individuals but not for immature individuals. GSIs of mature females at stages IV and V of ovary development increased with SL and reached a maximum value at the SL range from 370 mm to 390 mm; the GSIs of mature males were negatively correlated with SL. The breeding season lasted from early April to early August. Egg size did not significantly change with SL but increased with the delay of spawning. The individual absolute fecundity varied from 1,341 to 28,002 eggs (mean 12,607+/-7,349), and the individual relative fecundity varied from 6.4 to 42.0 eggs.g(-1) (mean 25.5+/-9.7). The individual fecundity increased with total body weight; it also increased with SL for those of SL less than 370 mm. There was a rest of spawning for mature individuals.

Ultraviolet-B exposure induces photo-oxidative damage and subsequent repair strategies in a desert cyanobacterium Microcoleus vaginatus Gom.

Biological soil crusts are important in reversing desertification. Ultraviolet radiation, however, may be detrimental for the development of soil crusts. The cyanobacterium Microcoleus vaginatus can be a dominant species occurring in desert soil crusts all over the world. To investigate the physico-chemical consequences of ultraviolet-B radiation on M. vaginatus, eight parameters including the contents of chlorophyll a, reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde and proline, as well as the activities of photosynthesis, superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1), peroxiclase (EC 1.11.1.7) and catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) were determined. As shown by the results of determinations, ultraviolet-B radiation caused decreases both in contents of chlorophyll a and in ratios of variable fluorescence over maximum fluorescence that indicate the growth and photosynthesis of M. vaginatus, besides, increases both in levels of reactive oxygen species and in contents of malondialdehyde and proline, while intensified activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxiclase and catalase reflecting the abilities of enzymatic preventive substances to oxidative stress of the treated cells. Therefore, ultraviolet-B radiation affects the growth of M. vaginatus and leads to oxidative stress in cells. Under ultraviolet-B radiation, the treated cells can improve their antioxidant abilities to alleviate oxidative injury. The change trends of reactive oxygen species, superoxide dismutase, peroxiclase and catalase are synchronous. These results suggest that a balance between the antioxidant system and the reactive oxygen species content may be one part of a complex stress response pathway in which multiple environmental factors including ultraviolet-B radiation affect the Survival of M. vaginatus. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

The reproductive strategies of an endemic Tibetan fish, Gymnocypris selincuoensis

The reproductive traits of Gymnocypris selincuoensis from Selincuo Lake and its tributaries were investigated in 1997 and 1998. The youngest mature male was age 7 with a standard length (SL) of 172.0 mm, and the youngest mature female was age 8 with a SL of 194.0 mm. The L(50)s Of SL and age at first maturity were respectively 250.32 mm and age 9 for males and 224.71 mm and age 8 for females. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) significantly changed with seasons for mature individuals but not for immature individuals. GSIs of mature females at stages IV and V of ovary development increased with SL and reached a maximum value at the SL range from 370 mm to 390 mm; the GSIs of mature males were negatively correlated with SL. The breeding season lasted from early April to early August. Egg size did not significantly change with SL but increased with the delay of spawning. The individual absolute fecundity varied from 1,341 to 28,002 eggs (mean 12,607+/-7,349), and the individual relative fecundity varied from 6.4 to 42.0 eggs.g(-1) (mean 25.5+/-9.7). The individual fecundity increased with total body weight; it also increased with SL for those of SL less than 370 mm. There was a rest of spawning for mature individuals.

Oceanic iron fertilization: one of strategies for sequestration atmospheric CO2

Carbon cycle is connected with the most important environmental issue of Global Change. As one of the major carbon reservoirs, oceans play an important part in the carbon cycle. In recent years, iron seems to give us a good news that oceanic iron fertilization could stimulate biological productivity as CO2 sink of human-produced CO2. Oceanic iron fertilization experiments have verified that adding iron into high nutrient low chlorophyll (HNLC) seawaters can increase phytoplankton production and export organic carbon, and hence increase carbon sink of anthropogenic CO2, to reduce global warming. In sixty days, the export organic carbon could reach 10 000 times for adding iron by model prediction and in situ experiment, i.e. the atmospheric CO2 uptake and inorganic carbon drawdown in upper seawaters also have the same magnitude. Therefore, oceanic iron fertilization is one of the strategies for increasing carbon sink of anthropogenic CO2. The paper is focused on the iron fertilization, especially in situ ocean iron experiments in order that the future research is more efficient.