The storage stability of passionfruit concentrate

Passionfruit (Passiflora edulis) concentrates (542 g/kg soluble solids) prepared in a wiped-film evaporator were stored for up to 6 months at - 18°, 4° and 20°C. Yeast and mould counts were taken and colour changes noted during storage. When suitable diluted concentrate colour and flavour were acceptable for 1 month at 20°C, 3 months at 4°C and 6 months at -18°C. Commercial short-term storage of concentrate at temperatures above -18°C appears to be feasible. An address presented to the 20th Annual Convention AIFST, Albury NSW, 16th- 20th May, 1987

Powdery mildew on Passiflora in Australia

Oidiopsis sp., the anamorph of Leveillula taurica (Erysiphaceae), is reported for the first time in Australia on Passiflora edulis, and Oidium passiflorae on Passiflora foetida. A detailed description and illustration of the specimens are given.

Population dynamics of blue mussels in a variable environment at the edge of their range

Spatial and temporal variation in the abundance of species can often be ascribed to spatial and temporal variation in the surrounding environment. Knowledge of how biotic and abiotic factors operate over different spatial and temporal scales in determining distribution, abundance, and structure of populations lies at the heart of ecology. The major part of the current ecological theory stems from studies carried out in central parts of the distributional range of species, whereas knowledge of how marginal populations function is inadequate. Understanding how marginal populations, living at the edge of their range, function is however in a key position to advance ecology and evolutionary biology as scientific disciplines. My thesis focuses on the factors affecting dynamics of marginal populations of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) living close to their tolerance limits with regard to salinity. The thesis aims to highlight the dynamics at the edge of the range and contrast these with dynamics in more central parts of the range in order to understand the potential interplay between the central and the marginal part in the focal system. The objectives of the thesis are approached by studies on: (1) factors affecting regional patterns of the species, (2) long-term temporal dynamics of the focal species spaced along a regional salinity gradient, (3) selective predation by increasing populations of roach (Rutilus rutilus) when feeding on their main food item, the blue mussel, (4) the primary and secondary effects of local wave exposure gradients and (5) the role of small-scale habitat heterogeneity as determinants of large-scale pattern. The thesis shows that populations of blue mussels are largely determined by large scale changes in sea water salinity, affecting mainly recruitment success and longevity of local populations. In opposite to the traditional view, the thesis strongly indicate that vertebrate predators strongly affect abundance and size structure of blue mussel populations, and that the role of these predators increases towards the margin where populations are increasingly top-down controlled. The thesis also indicates that the positive role of biogenic habitat modifiers increases towards the marginal areas, where populations of blue mussels are largely recruitment limited. Finally, the thesis shows that local blue mussel populations are strongly dependent on high water turbulence, and therefore, dense populations are constrained to offshore habitats. Finally, the thesis suggests that ongoing sedimentation of rocky shores is detrimental for the species, affecting recruitment success and post-recruit survival, pushing stable mussel beds towards offshore areas. Ongoing large scale changes in the Baltic Sea, especially dilution processes with attendant effects, are predicted to substantially contract the distributional range of the mussel, but also affect more central populations. The thesis shows that in order to understand the functioning of marginal populations, research should (1) strive for multi-scale approaches in order to link ecosystem patterns with ecosystem processes, and (2) challenge the prevailing tenets that origin from research carried out in central areas that may not be valid at the edge.

Hiilen ja typen pysyvät isotoopit vesistötutkimuksissa: pohjaeläimistön ravinnonlähteet ja pohjan ravintoverkon rakenne Saaristomerellä

Saaristomeren pinnanalaisen ravintoverkon rakennetta sekä ravinteiden alkuperää ja kulkeutumista tutkittiin hiilen ja typen pysyviä isotooppeja hyväksi käyttäen. Tutkimuksen kohteena olivat suspendoitunut partikkeliaines (SPM), sedimentin pintakerros, pohjaeläimet, kalat ja makrolevät. Näytteitä otettiin toukokuussa, kesäkuussa ja lokakuussa. Ravinnelähteiden arvioinnin ohella tutkittiin voiko sisäsaariston kalankasvatuksen vaikutusta määritellä analysoimalla kalanrehupellettejä. Lisäksi arvioitiin joidenkin lajikohtaisten tai lajien välisten ominaisuuksien erojen vaikutusta (esimerkiksi eläimen koko ja kudosten C:N –suhde rasvapitoisuuden kuvaajana) /-arvojen määräytymiseen. Myös joitain tarkennuksia tehtiin lajien ravinnonkäyttöluokituksiin. Sisäsaaristossa toukokuussa pian lumien sulamisen aiheuttaman kasvaneen jokivirtaaman jälkeen SPM:stä havaittiin korkeita /13C- ja /15N-arvoja (keskimäärin -16 ‰ ja 9 ‰, vastaavasti). Ulkosaariston asemilta saatiin paljon alempia arvoja (-24 ‰ ja 4 ‰, vastaavasti). Sisäsaaristossakin arvot laskivat kesäkuuhun mennessä (-26 ‰ ja 5 ‰, vastaavasti) ollen kuitenkin hieman korkeampia kuin samaan aikaan tutkituilla ulommilla välisaariston asemilla. Kasviplanktonin lajistokoostumusta tutkittiin touko- ja kesäkuussa, mutta suuria eroja ei ajankohtien välillä havaittu. Lokakuussa sateisen loppukesän jälkeen /13C oli tasainen (-23 ‰ - -24 ‰) koko tutkimusalueella, mutta /15N oli taas huomattavasti korkeampi sisäsaaristossa (8 ‰) kuin ulkosaaristossa (4 ‰). Päinvastoin kuin yleensä tutkimuksissa on esitetty, tässä tutkimuksessa korkeat /13Cja/ tai /15N-arvot kuvannevat lisääntynyttä jokien tuomaa terrestristä alkuperää olevaa ravinnekuormaa. Lisäksi kauden aikana suuresti vaihtelevat, mutta silti voimakkaasti korreloivat /13C ja /15N indikoivat hiilen ja typen olevan pääosin samaista alkuperää. Kirjallisuudessa ravinnepulssien yhtäaikaisesti korkeat /13C ja /15N katsotaan alkuperältään ihmis- tai eläinperäisiksi ja yleensä liitetään karjanlannan käyttöön lannoitteena. Tätä ei kuitenkaan voitu Saaristomerellä osoittaa, koska terrestrisiä ravinnelähteitä ei tutkittu. Kuitenkin muista tunnetuista SPM:n /-arvoja voimakkaasti muokkaavista tekijöistä voitiin poissulkea ravinnerajoitteisuudesta johtuva fraktionaation muutos sekä synteettisten lannoitteiden käyttö ja kalankasvatus ravinnelähteinä. Pintasedimentistä saatiin paljon tasaisempia /13C- ja /15N-arvoja kaikilla näytteenotoilla (keskimäärin -24 ‰ ja 4 ‰, vastaavasti), jotka kuvannevat sedimentoituvan aineksen pitkäaikaisia keskiarvoja. Havaittavissa oli hienoinen laskeva suuntaus kohti ulompia asemia ja monista pohjan lähellä tai sedimentissä elävistä eläimistä saatiin samaan tapaan laskevia arvoja. SPM:n vaihtelevat ja eläinten /-arvot korreloivat heikosti lukuunottamatta joitakin suspensionsyöjiä (Balanus improvisus ja Mytilus edulis). /13C ja C:N korreloivat negatiivisesti joillakin lajeilla (Macoma balthica, Monoporeia affinis ja Mytilus edulis), joka johtunee muuttuvasta rasvojen osuudesta kudoksissa. Ainakin näiden lajien käyttöön ravinnelähteiden arvioinnissa kannattaa suhtautua varauksella. Makrolevien /15N oli n. 4 ‰ korkeampi sisäsaaristossa kuin ulommilla asemilla, joka myöskin heijastanee jokien tuoman terrestristä alkuperää olevien ravinteiden vaikutusta. Fucus vesiculosus, tutkimuksen ainut varsinainen monivuotinen levä, sai 6 ‰ korkeampia /13C-arvoja kuin muut levät keskimäärin. Gammarus sp:n Idothea baltican /15N seurasi makrolevien /15N:n vaihtelua, mutta /13C:n perusteella arvioituna ne suosivat rehevöitymisen seurauksena runsastuvia rihmaleviä sisäsaaristossa, kun taas F. vesiculosus näytti kasvattavan tärkeyttä ravintona ulkosaaristossa. Hiilen ja typen pysyvät isotoopit osoittautuivat tehokkaiksi työkaluiksi ravinteiden lähteiden ja kulkeutumisen tarkasteluissa erityisesti sisäsaaristossa, vaikkakin joitakin lajikohtaisia piirteitä on otettava huomioon ja joidenkin biologisten prosessien, kuten denitrifikaation osuus fraktionaation aiheuttajana pitäisi määrittää ennen kuin luotettavia arvioita ravinnelähteistä voidaan tehdä.

Blue mussel beds as biodiversity hotspots on the rocky shores of the northern Baltic Sea

ABSTRACT The Baltic Sea is a vulnerable ecosystem currently undergoing a number of changes, both natural and human induced. The changes are likely to affect the species found on these shores, e.g. their distribution and interactions with other species. Blue mussels (Mytilus trossulus x Mytilus edulis) provide one of the main biogenic hard structures on the shallow shores of the Baltic Sea where they aggregate into dense beds and provide a number of resources for over 40 associated macrofaunal species, thus functioning as ecosystem engineers. The blue mussel, being a marine species, is highly likely to be affected by any changes in sea water salinity, circulation and/or water balance. These changes could trickle down also to affect the associated macrofaunal communities. The aims of this thesis were three-fold: first, I examined and described the macrofaunal communities found within blue mussel patches since the fauna associated with mussel patches had never been described in the study area prior to this thesis. Second, I explored how changes in mussel density, size as well as patch size and shape would affect the mussel communities. Finally, I tested how general landscape theories derived from terrestrial studies function in blue mussel systems. Theories included the structural heterogeneity hypothesis, species-area relationships, edge effects and patch isolation effects. The work shows that blue mussels in the northern Baltic Sea have an indisputable function as diversity hotspots and that the faunal assemblages found in mussel patches are extremely rich and unique. Further on, it shows that changes in mussel biomass, size, patch size and amount of edge have the potential to alter the faunal assemblages and diversity within patches. Finally, it shows that although some landscape theories, such as the structural heterogeneity hypothesis, seem to apply also in blue mussel communities, others cannot be directly applied due to the different prevailing conditions in the study system. This is a pioneering work looking at diversity shaping processes on the rocky shores of the Gulf of Finland, making up over 40% of the total water basin. A focus on niche construction, positive facilitation effects and ecosystem engineering could provide new insights and methods for conservation biology, but before this can be done, we need to fully understand the circumstances under which a species becomes an ecosystem engineer and recognize the systems in which it functions.

Desorptio/fotoionisaatio ilmanpaineessa takavarikoitujen huumausaineiden, steroidien ja räjähdysaineiden tutkimuksessa

Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää desorptio/fotoionisaatio ilmanpaineessa tekniikan (engl. desorption atmospheric pressure photoionization, DAPPI) soveltuvuutta rikosteknisen laboratorion näytteiden analysointiin. DAPPI on nopea massaspektrometrinen ionisaatiotekniikka, jolla voidaan tutkia yhdisteitä suoraan erilaisilta pinnoilta. DAPPI:ssa käytetään lämmitettyä mikrosirua, joka suihkuttaa höyrystynyttä liuotin- ja kaasuvirtausta kohti näytettä. Näytteen pinnan komponentit desorboituvat lämmön vaikutuksesta, jonka jälkeen ionisoituminen tapahtuu VUV-lampun emittoimien fotonien avulla.DAPPI:lla tutkittiin takavarikoituja huumausaineita, anabolisia steroideja ja räjähdysaineita sekä niiden jäämiä erilaisilta pinnoilta. Lisäksi kartoitettiin DAPPI:n mahdollisuuksia ja rajoituksia erilaisille näytematriiseille ilman näytteiden esikäsittelyä. Takavarikoitujen huumausaineiden tutkimuksessa analysoitiin erilaisia tabletteja, jauheita, kasvirouheita, huumekasveja (khat, oopium, kannabis) ja sieniä. Anabolisia steroideja tunnistettiin tableteista sekä ampulleista, jotka sisälsivät öljymäistä nestettä. Jauheet ripoteltiin kaksipuoliselle teipille ja analysoitiin siltä. Muut näytteet analysoitiin sellaisenaan ilman minkäänlaista esikäsittelyä, paitsi nestemäisten näytteiden kohdalla näyte pipetoitiin talouspaperille, joka analysoitiin DAPPI:lla. DAPPI osoittautui nopeaksi ja yksinkertaiseksi menetelmäksi takavarikoitujen huumausaineiden ja steroidien analysoimisessa. Se soveltui hyvin rikoslaboratorion erityyppisten näytteiden rutiiniseulontaan ja helpotti erityisesti huumekasvien ja öljymäisten steroidiliuosten tutkimusta. Massaspektrometrin likaantuminen pystyttiin ehkäisemään säätämällä näytteen etäisyyttä sen suuaukosta. Likaantumista ei havaittu huolimatta näytteiden korkeista konsentraatioista ja useita kuukausia jatkuneista mittauksista. Räjähdysaineiden tutkimuksessa keskityttiin seitsemän eri räjähdysaineen DAPPI-MS-menetelmän kehitykseen; trinitrotolueeni (TNT), nitroglykoli (NK), nitroglyseriini (NG), pentriitti (PETN), heksogeeni (RDX), oktogeeni (HMX) ja pikriinihappoä Nämä orgaaniset räjähteet ovat nitraattiyhdisteitä, jotka voidaan jakaa rakenteen puolesta nitroamiineihin (RDX ja HMX), nitroaromaatteihin (TNT ja pikriinihappo) sekä nitraattiestereihin (PETN, NG ja NK). Menetelmäkehityksessä räjähdysainelaimennokset pipetoitiin polymetyylimetakrylaatin (PMMA) päälle ja analysoitiin siitä. DAPPI:lla tutkittiin myäs autenttisia räjähdysainejäämiä erilaisista matriiseista. DAPPI:lla optimoitiin jokaiselle räjähdysaineelle sopiva menetelmä ja yhdisteet saatiin näkymään puhdasaineina. Räjähdysainejäämien analysoiminen erilaisista rikospaikkamateriaaleista osoittautui haastavammaksi tehtäväksi, koska matriisit aiheuttivat itsessään korkean taustan spektriin, josta räjähdysaineiden piikit eivät useimmiten erottuneet tarpeeksi. Muut desorptioionisaatiotekniikat saattavat soveltua paremmin haastavien räjähdysainejäämien havaitsemiseksi.

Miesmuschel-Langleinenkulturen – Vom wissenschaft-lichen Experiment zur wirtschaftlichen Umsetzung

The development of longline cultures for blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) at the German North Sea coast has been under way since 2001. It has turned out to be a successful and innovative method for the rearing of seeding mussels. The comparison of different tested longline types has proved that single longtubes carrying net collectors are the most stable system given the dynamic conditions in the Jade. Artificial collectors were settled by a large number of mussel larvae. Important settling took place between May and July, with 11 000 to 64 000 individuals per meter collector. The shell length of suspended mussels increased in their first summer at an average of 1.2 mm per week. Between the end of August until the end of September a mean of 2 to 9 kg mussels per meter equalling 4500 to 20 300 individuals per meter were harvested. Relayed on bottom cul-tures the mussel seed continued to grow and could be marketed as consumption mussels after their second summer.

Zweikampf im Wattenmeer : Wird die heimische Miesmuschel verdrängt?

Since a couple of years, the introduced Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) is spreading out in the Wadden Sea off the German North Sea coast where it competes with the native blue mussel (Mytilus edulis). First catches of the new species have now been observed in fishing surveys.

Mussel eggs as indicators of mutagen exposure in coastal and estuarine environments

The aim of this study was to develop a short-term genotoxicity assay for monitoring the marine environment for mutagens. Based on the developing eggs and embryos of the marine mussel Mytilus edulis, an important pollution indicator species, the test employs the sensitive sister chromatid exchange (SCE) technique as its end-point, and exploits the potential of mussel eggs to accumulate mutagenic pollutants from the surrounding sea water. Mussel eggs take up to 6 months to develop while in the gonad, which provides scope for DNA damage to be accumulated over an extended time interval; chromosome damage is subsequently visualised as SCEs in 2-cell-stage embryos after these have been spawned in the laboratory. Methods which measure biological responses to pollutant exposure are able to integrate all the factors (internal and external) which contribute to the exposure. The new cytogenetic assay allows the effects of adult exposure to be interpreted in cells destined to become part of the next generation.

Efeitos da proteção e do envigoramento na germinação e estabelecimento de plântulas de duas espécies arbóreas visando a semeadura direta

A importância das florestas na mitigação do clima é reconhecida e a necessidade da conservação e restauração se tornou mais evidente. Diversas técnicas tem sido estudadas para facilitar a restauração. Nesse sentido, a semeadura direta se apresenta como uma alternativa de baixo custo para a restauração, entretanto o sucesso dessa técnica depende da criação de condições favoráveis para a germinação e estabelecimento de plântulas. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de técnicas que podem ser associadas à semeadura direta, aumentando a chance de sucesso. Dois diferentes tipos de protetores (gaiolas metálicas e bambus) foram utilizadas para avaliar a germinação e estabelecimento de Euterpe edulis Mart., uma espécie de sementes recalcitrante. Além disso, outros fatores foram considerados, como o tamanho da semente, presença dos envoltórios do fruto e posição de semeadura. A porcentagem de persistência de sementes ou frutos, germinação (%), emergência de plântulas (%), altura e diâmetro do colo das plântulas e recrutamento foram avaliados no primeiro experimento e germinação (%), emergência de plântulas (%), altura e recrutamento foram avaliados no segundo experimento. A exclusão da redação nãofoi o fator mais importante no sucesso do uso da semente, mas sim a mudança microclimática provocada pela proteção de tubos de bambu. Para a outra espécie estudada, Simira cf. glaziovii (Standl) Steyerm, uma espécie de sementes não recalcitrantes, técnicas de condicionamento foram utilizadas para avaliar a viabilidade e manutenção da qualidade fisiológica após três meses de armazenamento. Os tratamentos consistiram em hidrocondicionamento e osmocondicionamento e estes, seguidos por secagem e armazenamento. O controle também foi armazenado para comparação entre os tratamentos. Os resultados foram favoráveis tanto para condicionamento quanto para o armazenamento após condicionamento. Este estudo mostrou que a semeadura direta pode ser uma alternativa para ambas espécies quando associadas a práticas que favorecem a germinação e estabelecimento. O sucesso no uso das sementes recalcitrantes depende da criação de condições climáticas favoráveis, que podem ser conseguidas com o uso de protetores de tubos de bambu. Para espécies não recalcitrantes, a manutenção da viabilidade das sementes durante o armazenamento permite o uso em períodos mais favoráveis à germinação.

Trace metals in common marine foods of the Pacific Coast

Trace metal analysis of 23 species of common Pacific Coast marine foods revealed high cadmium values for Bent-nosed clams (Macoma nasuta), Bay mussels (Mytilus edulis), Bay oysters (Osrtrea lurida), Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas), and Littleneck clams (Protothaca staminea). Metals were found to concentrate in the gills, heart, and visceral mass of all 10 species of bivalve mollusks examined. Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) demonstrated the highest cadmium values for fish flesh.

The Hudson-Raritan Estuary as a crossroads for distribution of blue (Callinectes sapidus), lady (Ovalipes ocellatus), and Atlantic rock (Cancer irroratus) crabs

Blue (Callinectes sapidus)(Portunidae),lady (Ovalipes ocellatus)(Portunidae), and Atlantic rock (Cancer irroratus) (Cancridae) crabs inhabit estuaries on the northeast United States coast for parts or all of their life cycles. Their distributions overlap or cross during certain seasons. During a 1991–1994 monthly otter trawl survey in the Hudson-Raritan Estuary between New York and New Jersey, blue and lady crabs were collected in warmer months and Atlantic rock crabs in colder months. Sex ratios, male:female, of mature crabs were 1:2.0 for blue crabs, 1:3.1 for lady crabs, and 21.4:1 for Atlantic rock crabs. Crabs, 1286 in total, were subsampled for dietary analysis, and the dominant prey taxa for all crabs, by volume of foregut contents, were mollusks and crustaceans. The proportion of amphipods and shrimp in diets decreased as crab size increased. Trophic niche breadth was widest for blue crabs, narrower for lady crabs, and narrowest for Atlantic rock crabs. Trophic overlap was lowest between lady crabs and Atlantic rock crabs, mainly because of frequent consumption of the dwarf surfclam (Mulinia lateralis) by the former and the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) by the latter. The result of cluster analysis showed that size class and location of capture of predators in the estuary were more influential on diet than the species or sex of the predators.

Technological aspects of processing of edible mussels, clams and crabs. Pt. 1. Spoilage during ice storage

Rate and pattern of spoilage of some of the economically important edible species of shell fishes Mytilus edulis (Mussel), Villorita cornucopia (Clam), Neptunus pelagicus (Crab) and Scylla serrata (Crab) have been discussed in this communication. Chemical indices used for objective evaluation of quality were water extractable nitrogen (WEN), non-protein nitrogen (NPN), free α-amino nitrogen (α - NH2 -N), glycogen, lactic acid and inorganic phosphorus in addition to the subjective tests. No significant difference in the spoilage pattern of the species during ice storage was observed and these species could be preserved in ice in organoleptic acceptable condition up to 8 days, 9 days, 8 days and 11 days respectively.

Biochemical investigations on edible molluscs of Kerala 1. A study on the nutritional value of some bivalves

Data on the biochemical constituents and food values of five commercially important edible bivalves of Kerala, Lamellidens corrianus, Corbicuta striatella, Mytilus edulis, Vellorita cohinensis and Ostrea cucullata have been presented. Physiological significance of the variations has been discussed. Present study reveals the bivalves meat compares favourably with the common food fishes with regard to their caloric value and hence would be an excellent and economic source of nutrition for our people.

Contributions of Pelagic and Benthic Dietary Sources to Freshwater Mussels: Evidence from Stable Carbon Isotope Analysis

In Gonghu Bay of Lake Taihu, tissue of five mussel species showed delta C-13 values similar to or slightly below that of pelagic suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM). This indicated that mussels in this area either fed non-selectively and so reflected available carbon in the pelagic habitat or selected for phytoplankton. The situation was the same for Anodonta woodiana woodiana and Cristaria plicata in Meiliang Bay; however, for the remaining three species, Hyriopsis cumingii, Arconaia lanceolata, and Lamprotula rochechouarti, tissue had intermediate delta C-13 values, falling between those for pelagic SPOM and benthic sediment organic matter (SOM), suggesting a possible preferential selection of phytoplankton from the pelagic SPOM but more likely reflecting local differences in pelagic SPOM and benthic SOM composition and available organic carbon sources. The mixing model showed that pelagic SPOM accounted for over 98% of carbon incorporated by all mussels in Gonghu Bay and two mussels in Meiliang Bay, suggesting the dietary importance of pelagic food sources for mussels. Less than 50% of the assimilation in H. cumingii, A. lanceolata, and L. rochechouarti came from the pelagic carbon sources in Meiliang Bay, which suggested that these species consumed a mix of benthic and pelagic derived carbon sources.