Changes in the plankton community following introduction of filter-feeding planktivorous fish

1. We conducted enclosure experiments in a shallow eutrophic lake, in which a biomass gradient of the filter-feeding planktivore, silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Valenciennes, was created, and subsequent community changes in both zooplankton and phytoplankton were examined. 2. During a summer experiment, a bloom of Anabaena flos-aquae developed (approximate to 8000 cells mL(-1)) solely in an enclosure without silver carp. Concurrent with, or slightly preceding the Anabaena bloom, the number of rotifer species and their abundance increased from seven to twelve species (1700-14 400 organisms L-1) after the bloom in this fish-free enclosure. Protozoans and bacteria were generally insensitive to the gradient of silver carp biomass. 3. During an autumn experiment, on the other hand, large herbivorous crustaceans were more efficient than silver carp in suppressing the algae, partly because the lower water temperature (approximate to 24 degrees C) inhibited active feeding of this warm-water fish and also formation of algal colonies. Heterotrophic nanoflagellate and bacterial densities were also influenced negatively by the crustaceans. 4. Correspondence analysis (CA) was applied to the weekly community data of zooplankton and phytoplankton. A major effect detected in the zooplankton community was the presence/absence of silver carp rather than the biomass of silver carp, whereas that in the phytoplankton community was the fish biomass before the Anabaena bloom, but shifted to the presence/absence of the fish after the bloom.

溶藻菌群对铜绿微囊藻的溶藻效应及其作用机理研究

水华暴发是一个世界性的问题，近年来在发展中国家显得尤其严重。水华暴发给环境和公众健康带来巨大灾难，一些蓝藻产生的毒素可以造成鱼类、鸟禽和家畜的死亡，而臭名昭著的微囊藻产生的微囊藻毒素更是有强烈致癌效应。因此，寻找控制水华藻类的有效方法非常迫切。在利用物理和化学方法处理不甚理想的情况下，利用溶藻细菌控藻成为一个新的研究方向。溶藻细菌一般直接从富营养化水体中分离，杀藻活力对有害蓝藻具有较强的选择性而不危害其它生物，尤其适合在水华发生初期使用，可以在短时间内达到阻止藻类增殖的效果。本研究富集分离到一个高效溶解铜绿微囊藻的溶藻菌群，对其溶藻效应和溶藻机制进行了探索研究。 1溶藻菌群的富集筛选及其溶微囊藻效果 富集筛选得到一个有明显抑藻效果的菌群，它对铜绿微囊藻有显著溶藻效果。与对照组相比，加入富集的溶藻菌后，第4 d开始出现溶藻现象，6~8 d出现明显的溶藻效果，8 d后测得叶绿素去除率在85%以上。 2 溶藻菌群的作用范围及溶藻特性 富集分离到的溶藻菌群对铜绿微囊藻和念珠藻有显著溶藻作用，对水华微囊藻和其它几株受试微囊藻没有明显溶藻效应。该溶藻菌群不仅可以在液体中溶解铜绿微囊藻，生长在固体平板上的藻苔也有一定的溶藻效应，生成溶藻空斑。保证快速溶藻的最大稀释度可以达到1/100, 000。 3 环境因子对菌群溶藻效力的影响 试验发现，不同的pH、温度、和光照条件下，溶藻菌群溶藻效力明显不同，且不同种类的氮源对其溶藻作用也有一定影响。这些条件对该菌群溶藻作用的影响，在相当的程度上可能取决于它们对藻和细菌两者的生长状况的影响综合。 4 溶藻菌群的溶藻作用机理 溶藻菌液过滤除菌和煮沸灭菌处理后溶藻液，未见明显的溶藻效果，只有原液具有很好的溶藻效果。因此可初步确定，蓝藻细胞的溶解可能是由溶藻菌直接接触藻细胞产生的作用效果。显微镜观察发现，细菌在溶藻的过程中频繁地接触藻细胞并侵入藻细胞，破坏进而裂解杀死藻细胞。这也进一步说明了此溶藻菌是通过直接方式杀藻。 5 溶藻菌群的菌群结构解析 分离有溶藻效果的纯菌的多次尝试都没有成功。结合DGGE和16S rDNA文库综合分析发现：Rubritepida菌，假单胞菌和鞘氨醇单胞菌是存在于铜绿微囊藻中的三种伴生细菌。加入富集的溶藻菌群后，菌群结构发生明显的变化，Rubritepida菌、假单胞菌消失，混合菌群则包含未培养黄杆菌，鞘氨醇单胞菌和噬氢菌，其中黄杆菌是优势菌群，并且细菌种群结构的变化与藻细胞消亡之间有显著的相关性。通过菌种的分离鉴定与DGGE和16S rDNA文库的测序结果比较，一些未培养菌可能在溶藻过程中起重要调控作用。 6 溶藻细菌控藻应用基础 (1) 扩大规模的模拟水华实验进一步确定了细菌对微囊藻的强烈溶解作用。 (2) 铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa 905, zc)、微囊藻(Microcystis spp., zd)和溶藻菌群共培养试验表明，zc可以抑制zd生长，而溶藻菌群可以溶zc。 本研究是第一次报道混合菌群的溶藻效应。该溶藻菌群对带有藻际细菌的铜绿微囊藻具有高效的溶藻效力，表明它对自然界中存在的带菌铜绿微囊藻和其它一些蓝藻的生消具有一定的控制作用。对进一步研究菌藻关系与生态学作用，以及对富营养化湖泊和水库水体中蓝藻暴发的防控，该菌群具有一定的应用潜力。 Cyanobacterial blooms break out frequently all over the world, especially in developing countries. Blooms create enormous disasters to public health and to the environment. Some cyanobacterial blooms produce extremely toxic substances that have killed fish, domestic animals and birds. It has been well known that microcystins, a hepatoxin produced by Microcystis, can promote tumors in humans. So it is very important to find an effective method for controlling the growth of the bloom-forming algae. Measures for controlling such kind of algae include physical, chemic and biologic means, but the former two may damage the aquatic environment and require high-energy inputs. The alternative approach for the elimination of nuisance algae involves the application of algicidal bacteria. The algicidal bacteria, which are nontoxic to other organisms and most of which are isolated from the eutrophic lake in situ, may be potential microbial algaecides. In the initial stages of the water blooms, they are able to restrain the biomass or multiplication of the bloom-forming algae in a short time. In order to use algicidal bacteria to suppress blooms of M. aeruginosa, we isolated a bacterial culture capable of lysing the noxious cyanobacteria M. aeruginosa. In this paper we described some properties of the bacterial culture and its growth-inhibiting or algicidal effects on the growth of M. aeruginosa, and investigated its algicidal mechanisms. 1 Enrichment of a microbial culture that lyses Microcystis aeruginosa A mixed bacterial culture was isolated from a hypereutrophic pond and showed significant algicidal activity against the noxious Microcystis aeruginosa. Algae lysis would be seen obviously 4 days later when the algae culture was killed and became yellow contrast to no-addition controls, and chlorophyll a (chl-a) reduction went beyond 85% 8 days later. 2 The host range and some other algicidal feature of the mixed algicidal culture. Microcystis aeruginosa, Nostoc sp., were susceptible to the mixed algicidal culture, while the lytic effects of this mixed culture on Microcystis flos-aquae and some other tested Microcystis were feeble.The algicidal culture can not only lyse M. aeruginosa in liquid media, but aslo lyse M. aeruginosa lawns on soft agar plates and form plaques. The maximun dilution of the mixed culture required for rapid Microcystis lysis is 1/100, 000. 3 Influences of environmental factors such as pH, temperature, illumination, and the nitrogen source on the lytic activity of the mixed bacterial culture on Microcystis aeruginosa. In our investigations, it was shown that the lytic activity of the mixed bacterial culture on Microcystis aeruginosa was straightly correlated with pH, temperature, illumination, as well as the nitrogen source in the medium. The impacts of these environmental factors on the algicidal activity of the mixed bacterial culture, to a certain extent, may depend on both the algal and the bacterial growth rates under the tested environmental conditions. 4 The mechanisms of algal cell lysis by the algicidal bacteria Death was detected when the mixed bacterial culture was added to the algal culture, but not when only the culture filtrate or autoclaved bacterial culture was added. This indicates that the mixed bacterial culture did not release extracellular products inhibitory to Microcystis aeruginosa. In addition, under the microscope, we observed frequent contacts btween bacteria and algae cells, and some bacteria can even penetrate into target algal cells and destroyed them. These results may suggest that the bacterium kill the alga by direct contact. 5 Molecular Characterization of the algicidal bacterial culture Attempts for isolation of pure bacterium or bacteria from the enrichment culture responsible for Microcystis lysis have so far been failed. Based on PCR-DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) and 16S rDNA clone library analysis, Rubritepida sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Sphingomonas sp., as accompanying bacteria, were existed in M. aeruginosa. The bacterial community in M. aeruginosa showed significant change after adding the enrichment culture, where uncultured Flavorbacterium sp., Sphingomonas sp. and Hydrogenophaga sp. were observed, and the uncultured Flavorbacterium sp. became a dominant species. The obvious correlation can be seen between change of bacterial population and extinction of M. aeruginosa. Compared identification of pure bacterium with sequencing of DGGE bands and the clone distribution of the clone libraries, it was inferred that some uncultured bacteria were probably play an important role in controlling the growth and abundance of M. aeruginosa. This report is the first example of a mixed bacterial culture with the ability to lyse M. aeruginosa. 6 Further study for algae control by applications of algicidal bacteria (1) Algae lysis would be seen obviously 6 days later when the algae culture was killed and became yellow contrast to no-addition controls, and chlorophyll a (chl-a) was reducted to a low level 20 days later in the simulated water bloom experiments. (2) The growth of Microcystis sp. (zd) was restrained by Microcystis aeruginosa 905 (zc) when they were co-cultured together, and zc was lysed by the algicidal bacterial culture. This report is the first example of a mixed bacterial culture with the ability to lyse M. aeruginosa, and its algicidal activity remained high against non-axenic tested M. aeruginosa, suggesting that bacteria in the natural environment could play a role in controlling the growth and abundance of M. aeruginosa and other cyanobacteria. Such bacteria could also potentially be used as agents to prevent the mass development of cyanobacteria in eutrophic lakes and reservoirs.

Initial Studies on the Occurrence of Cyanobacteria and Microcystins in Irish Lakes

We report the results of a synoptic survey at 14 sites across the north of Ireland undertaken to determine the occurrence of cyanobacteria and their constituent microcystin cyanotoxins. Seven microcystin toxins were tested for, and five of which were found, with MC-LR, MC-RR, and MC-YR being the most prevalent. Gomphosphaeria spp and Microcystis aeruginosa were the most dominant cyanobacterial species encountered. Together with Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, these were the cyanobacteria associated with the highest microcystin concentrations. The occurrence of several microcystin toxins indicates that there may potentially be more than one cyanobacteria species producing microcystins at many sites. Total microcystin concentrations varied over three orders of magnitude dividing the sites into two groups of high (>1000 ngMC/μgChla, six sites) or low toxicity (<200 ngMC/μgChla, eight sites). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2010.

Jacobus de Voragine. Ogerius Locediensis. Guillelmus de Malliaco.

F. 13-142v [Jacobus de Voragine, Sermones excerpti e collectione sermonum festivalium per anni circulum]; cf. Schneyer, Repert. lat. Serm., III, 246-268. [In Nativitate]; cf. ibid., n° 319, incomplet du début, et n° 324 (13-18v); — « In circumcissione [sic] Domini »; cf. ibid., n° 346 et 347 (18v-24); — « In Epiphania Domini »; cf. ibid., n° 351 et 354 (24-28v); — « In Purificatione sancte Marie »; cf. ibid., n° 374 et 376 (28v-34); — « In Adnunciatione beate Marie.; cf. ibid., n° 396 (34-36v) et n° 397, incomplet du début par lacune matérielle (38-39); — « De s. Johanne Baptista »; cf. ibid., n° 465 et 467 (39-44); — « De apostolis Petro et Paulo »; cf. ibid., n° 471 et 473 (44-49v); — « De b. Paulo apostolo »; cf. ibid., n° 474 (49v-53); — « De s. Maria Magdalena »; cf. ibid., n° 479 et 480 (53-59v); — « De b. Laurentio martyre »; cf. ibid., n° 497 et 499 (59v-65); — « In Assumpcione b. Marie »; cf. ibid., n° 504 et 509 (65-72v); — « De s. Augustino »; cf. ibid., n° 521 et 523 (72v-79v); — « In Nativitate b. Marie »; cf. ibid., n° 528 et 530, incomplet de la fin, en réclame « virginis » (79v-84v); — [De s. Michaele]; cf. ibid., n° 544, incomplet du début par lacune matérielle, et n° 550 (86-90v); — « In festo omnium sanctorum »; cf. ibid., n° 568 et 570 (90v-96v); — « De mortuis »; cf. ibid., n° 574-577 (96v-107v); — « De s. Martino »; cf. ibid., n° 582, incomplet de la fin (107v-109v) et n° 583 incomplet du début par lacune matérielle (111-113v); — « De b. Katerina »; cf. ibid., n° 591 et 592 (113v-119v); — « De dedicacione ecclesie »; cf. ibid., n° 594 et 595 (119v-127); — « De consecracione altaris »; cf. ibid., n° 597 (127-130); — « De vestibus sacris sacerdotis quid significant »; cf. ibid., n° 598 (130-134); — « De exposicione misse »; cf. ibid., n° 599 et 600 (134-142v). F. 142v-146 « Sermo ad religiosos. Quia existis indesertum... (Mt. XI, 7). Istam questionem quam fecit Dominus... ». F. 146-150v [Guillelmus de Malliaco, Sermo excerptus e collectione sermonum de Tempore dicta « Abjiciamus »]; cf. Schneyer, op. cit., II, 483-489. « De visitacione et officio visitacionis »; cf. ibid., n° 72. F. 150v-158 Sermones. « In concilio magnatum. Quoniam ecce reges terre... (Ps. XLVII, 5). Hic duo tanguntur scilicet magnorum conveniencia temporalis... » (150v-151v); — « In synodo clericorum. Pro patribus tui nati sunt tibi filii... (Ps. XLIV, 17). Adtendant ecclesiarum prelati tria... » (151v-155); — « Sermo ad religiosos. Deus qui habit are facit unanimes in domo secundum hebraicam veritatem et secundum Johannem. Deus qui habitare racit monachos... » (155-158). F. 158-160v [Jacobus de Voragine, Sermo de s. Mathia] « Sermo in electione », incomplet par lacune matérielle, en réclame « vir perfectus »; cr. Schneyer, loc. cit., n° 382, moins développé. F. 161-169v [Ogerius Locediensis] « Planctus b. Bernardi de dolore Marie virginis propter filium » (en titre-courant). « Quis dabit capiti meo aquam et oculis meis imbrem sicut presens dies demostrat [sic] cunctis aperte. Inclita regina celica rosa flos sine spina// ...memento mei »; extrait du De Laudibus b. Virginis, rédaction B; cf. H. Barré, dans Revue d'ascétique et de mystique, XXVIII (1952), 243-266, mss. et éditions. Le texte est incomplet par lacune matérielle, un f. ayant été coupé entre les fr. 163 et 164. F. 169v-184 Sermones. « Sermo in Assumptione b. Marie. Surrexit rex in occursum... (III Reg. II, 19). Quam multiplici figura Salomon ille... », incomplet de la fin (169v-171v); — sermon incomplet du début par lacune matérielle (174); — « Sermo in capite jejunii. Convertimini ad Dominum Deum vestrum... (Joel II, 13). Agreditur hodie Spiritus sanctus multitudinem peccatorum... » (174-175v); — « Sermo in Paraceve. Cum egressus fuero de urbe... (Ex. lX, 29). Verba ista sunt Moysi qui gerit typum Salvatoris... » (175v-180v); — « Alius sermo in Paraceve. O vos omnes qui transitis per viam... (Thren. I, 12). Consideranti michi piam et superpiam materiam... » (180v-183v); — « Domine, bonum est nos hic esse... (Lc. lX, 33). Ubi? Petro. Isti enim tria tanguntur in mentis sublimitate... » (183v-184). F. 184v Table des ff. 1 à 193. — Addition fin XIVe s. F. 185-193 Sermones. « Sermo in Nativitate. Sicut lux aurore oriente sole... (II Reg. XXIII, 4, 2). Verba sunt David cui Dominus... » (185-186); — « Sermo in Paraceve. Deducant oculi nostri lacrimas... (Jer. lX, 18). ...ut gloriosa Virgo septies flevisse.. » (186-191); — « Quod Corpus Christi vere sit in altari. Cenantibus autem eis, accepit Jesus panem... Item Joh. (VI, 51): Ego sum panis vivus... Credebant enim quod manducaretur sicut alie carnes. ..) (191-193). F. 193v Table des ff. 194 à 285. — Addition fin XIVe s. La suite de la table a été coupée. F. 194-335v Sermones de Tempore, excerpti praesertim e collectione « Abjiciamus » Guillelmi de Malliaco et e collectionibus De Tempore et De Sanctis et festis Jacobi de Voragine; cf. Schneyer, op. cit., II, 483-489 et III, 221-233 et 246-268. F. 194-208. [Guillelmus de Malliaco] « Dom. 1a in Adventu Domini »; cf. Schneyer, II, loc. cit., n° 1 et 2 (194-203); Dom. 2a »; cf. ibid., n° 3 (203-208). F. 208-213 [Jacobus de Voragine] « Dom. 2a in Adventu Domini »; cf. Schneyer, III, loc. cit., n° 5. F. 213-218 [Guillelmus de Malliaco] « Dom. 3a »; cf. Schneyer, II, n° 6. F. 218-222 [Jacobus de Voragine] « Dom. 3a »; cf. Schneyer, III, n° 8. F. 222v-228 [Guillelmus de Malliaco] « Dom. 4a »; cf. Schneyer, II, n° 7. F. 228-232 [Jacobus de Voragine] « Dom. eadem »; cf. Schneyer, III, n° 11. F. 232-236. « Feria 4a in capite jejunii. Cum jejunatis nolite fieri... (Mt. VI, 16). Hodie incipit tempus penitentie... ». F. 236-240 « De eadem feria. Convertimini ad me in toto corde... (Joel II, 12). Homo per peccatum tria mala incurrit... ». F. 240-246 [Guillelmus de Malliaco] « Dom. 1a in quadragesima »; cf. Schneyer, II, n° 25. F. 246-319 [Jacobus de Voragine] « Dom. eadem »; cf. Schneyer, 111, n° 41 (246-251v); — « Dom. 2a in quadragesima »; cf. ibid. n° 44 et 45 (251v-259v); — « Dom. 3a in quadragesima »; cf. ibid., n° 47 et 48 (259v-270); — « Dom. 4a in quadragesima »; cf. ibid., n° 50 et 51 (270-279v); — « Dom. de passione »; cf. ibid., n° 53 et 54 (279v-290); — « Dom. de Ramis »; cf. ibid., n° 56 et 57 (290-302); — « In Cena Domini »; cf. ibid., n° 401 et 402 (302-307v); — « In Parasceve »; cf. ibid., n° 405 et 411 (307v-312); — « In die Pasce »; cf. ibid., n° 414 et 415 (312-316v); — « Feria 2a post Pasca »; cf. ibid., n° 419 (316v-319). F. 319-325v « De eadem feria. Duo ex discipulis Jhesu ibant... (Lc. XXIV, 13). Introduxit nos Dominus in terram fluentem lac... » F. 326-334 [Jacobus de Voragine] « In adscensione Domini »; cf. ibid., n° 446 et 445 (326-329v); — [In Pentecoste]; cf. ibid., n° 452 et 457 (329v-334). F. 334-335v « De eodem. Ad Deum [sic pro: eum] veniemus et mansionem... (Job. XIV, 23). Super illo verbo dicit b. Eusebius... ». F. 335v-337v Extraits patristiques. « Incipiunt quedam problemata. Lingua mea calamus ego sum. » Sont cités s. Grégoire, s. Paul, s. Augustin, s. Isidore, Boèce, Bède, Josèphe, s. Hilaire, etc.

« Discours sommaire de ce qui est succedé en la guerre que le roy » Charles IX, « soubz la conduicte de monseigneur le duc d'Anjou » Henri de France, « son frère et lieutenant general, a eue contre ses subgectz eslevez, depuis la fin du moys d'aoust 1568 jusques en novembre 1569 ». (Fol. 1-59 r°).

Contient : a « Rursum in te florebit domus » ; b ; c « Qualis flos hyacinthus » ; d (suite)

A comparison of the role of two blue-green algae in THM and HAA formation

The contribution of two blue-green algae species, Anabaeria flos-aquae and Microcystis aeruginosa, to the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) was investigated. The experiments examined the formation potential of these disinfection by-products (DBPs) from both algae cells and extracellular organic matter (EOM) during four algal growth phases. Algal cells and EOM of Anabaena and Microcystis exhibited a high potential for DBP formation. Yields of total THMs (TTHM) and total HAAs (THAA) were closely related to the growth phase. Reactivity of EOM from Anabaena was slightly higher than corresponding cells, while the opposite result was found for Microcystis. Specific DBP yields (yield/unit C) of Anabaena were in the range of 2-11 mu mol/mmol C for TTHM and 217 mu mol/mmol C for THAA, while those of Microcystis were slightly higher. With regard to the distributions of individual THM and HAA compounds, differences were observed between the algae species and also between cells and EOM. The presence of bromide shifted the dominant compounds from HAAs to THMs. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Craqueamento térmico e termocatalítico do óleo de girassol (Hellianthus annus L.) sobre materiais micro e mesoporosos

Microporous materials zeolite type Beta and mesoporous type MCM-41 and AlMCM-41 were synthesized hydrothermally and characterized by methods of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, surface acidity, nitrogen adsorption, thermal analysis TG / DTG. Also we performed a kinetic study of sunflower oil on micro and mesoporous catalysts. The microporous material zeolite beta showed a lower crystallinity due to the existence of smaller crystals and a larger number of structural defects. As for the mesoporous materials MCM-41 and AlMCM-41 samples showed formation of hexagonal one-dimensional structure. The study of kinetic behavior of sunflower oil with zeolite beta catalysts, AlMCM-41 and MCM-41 showed a lower activation energy in front of the energy of pure sunflower oil, mainly zeolite beta. In the thermal cracking and thermocatalytic of sunflower oil were obtained two liquid fractions containing an aqueous phase and another organic - organic liquid fraction (FLO). The FLO first collected in both the thermal cracking as the thermocatalytic, showed very high level of acidity, performed characterizations of physicochemical properties of the second fraction in accordance with the specifications of the ANP. The second FLO thermocatalytic collected in cracking of sunflower oil presented results in the range of diesel oil, introducing himself as a promising alternative for use as biofuel liquid similar to diesel, either instead or mixed with it

Between-population outbreeding affects plant defence

Between-population crosses may replenish genetic variation of populations, but may also result in outbreeding depression. Apart from direct effects on plant fitness, these outbreeding effects can also alter plant-herbivore interactions by influencing plant tolerance and resistance to herbivory. We investigated effects of experimental within- and between-population outbreeding on herbivore resistance, tolerance and plant fitness using plants from 13 to 19 Lychnis flos-cuculi populations. We found no evidence for outbreeding depression in resistance reflected by the amount of leaf area consumed. However, herbivore performance was greater when fed on plants from between-population compared to within-population crosses. This can reflect outbreeding depression in resistance and/or outbreeding effects on plant quality for the herbivores. The effects of type of cross on the relationship between herbivore damage and plant fitness varied among populations. This demonstrates how between-population outbreeding effects on tolerance range from outbreeding depression to outbreeding benefits among plant populations. Finally, herbivore damage strengthened the observed outbreeding effects on plant fitness in several populations. These results raise novel considerations on the impact of outbreeding on the joint evolution of resistance and tolerance, and on the evolution of multiple defence strategies.

Inbreeding Alters Activities of the Stress-Related Enzymes Chitinases and β-1,3-Glucanases

Pathogenesis-related proteins, chitinases (CHT) and β-1,3-glucanases (GLU), are stress proteins up-regulated as response to extrinsic environmental stress in plants. It is unknown whether these PR proteins are also influenced by inbreeding, which has been suggested to constitute intrinsic genetic stress, and which is also known to affect the ability of plants to cope with environmental stress. We investigated activities of CHT and GLU in response to inbreeding in plants from 13 Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi) populations. We also studied whether activities of these enzymes were associated with levels of herbivore damage and pathogen infection in the populations from which the plants originated. We found an increase in pathogenesis-related protein activity in inbred plants from five out of the 13 investigated populations, which suggests that these proteins may play a role in how plants respond to intrinsic genetic stress brought about by inbreeding in some populations depending on the allele frequencies of loci affecting the expression of CHT and the past levels of inbreeding. More importantly, we found that CHT activities were higher in plants from populations with higher levels of herbivore or pathogen damage, but inbreeding reduced CHT activity in these populations disrupting the increased activities of this resistance-related enzyme in populations where high resistance is beneficial. These results provide novel information on the effects of plant inbreeding on plant–enemy interactions on a biochemical level.

Effects of experimental inbreeding on herbivore resistance and plant fitness: the role of history of inbreeding, herbivory and abiotic factors

Inbreeding is common in plant populations and can affect plant fitness and resistance against herbivores. These effects are likely to depend on population history. In a greenhouse experiment with plants from 17 populations of Lychnis flos-cuculi, we studied the effects of experimental inbreeding on resistance and plant fitness. Depending on the levels of past herbivory and abiotic factors at the site of plant origin, we found either inbreeding or outbreeding depression in herbivore resistance. Furthermore, when not damaged experimentally by snail herbivores, plants from populations with higher heterozygosity suffered from inbreeding depression and those from populations with lower heterozygosity suffered from outbreeding depression. These effects of inbreeding and outbreeding were not apparent under experimental snail herbivory. We conclude that inbreeding effects on resistance and plant fitness depend on population history. Moreover, herbivory can mask inbreeding effects on plant fitness. Thus, understanding inbreeding effects on plant fitness requires studying multiple populations and considering population history and biotic interactions.

Ground beetle (Carabidae) abundance data from north-eastern Australian rainforest, between June 2008 - January 2010, using pitfall traps

Understanding how the environment influences patterns of diversity is vital for effective conservation management, especially in a changing global climate. While assemblage structure and species richness patterns are often correlated with current environmental factors, historical influences may also be considerable, especially for taxa with poor dispersal abilities. Mountain-top regions throughout tropical rainforests can act as important refugia for taxa characterised by low dispersal capacities such as flightless ground beetles (Carabidae), an ecologically significant predatory group. We surveyed flightless ground beetles along elevational gradients in five different subregions within the Australian Wet Tropics World Heritage Area to investigate (1) whether the diversity and composition of flightless ground beetles are elevationally stratified, and, if so, (2) what environmental factors (other than elevation per se) are associated with these patterns. Generalised linear models and model averaging techniques were used to relate patterns of diversity to environmental factors. Unlike most taxonomic groups, flightless ground beetles increased in species richness and abundance with elevation. Additionally, each subregion consisted of distinct assemblages containing a high level of regional endemic species. Species richness was most strongly positively associated with the historical climatic conditions and negatively associated with severity of recent disturbance (treefalls) and current climatic conditions. Assemblage composition was associated with latitude and current and historical climatic conditions. Our results suggest that distributional patterns of flightless ground beetles are not only likely to be associated with factors that change with elevation (current climatic conditions), but also factors that are independent of elevation (recent disturbance and historical climatic conditions). Variation in historical vegetation stability explained both species richness and assemblage composition patterns, probably reflecting the significance of upland refugia at a geographic time scale. These findings are important for conservation management as upland habitats are under threat from climate change.

Quaternary and Paleogene calcareous nannofossils of ODP Leg 115

The occurrences of ten datum events for the Quaternary and top Pliocene nannofossils are identified at nine Leg 115 sites. A quantitative investigation of Paleogene nannofossils in 470 samples selected from 11 holes at 9 sites yielded 197 taxa, including one new species and 10 unidentified taxa that are likely to be new species. Regional differences in the timing of some biostratigraphically important events are recognized, and a set of datum events useful for biostratigra- phy in the tropical Indian Ocean is presented. Biogeographical differences are minor for Paleogene cores from the tropical sites (Sites 707-716); however, the Quaternary and late early Oligocene floras observed at the two subtropical sites (Sites 705 and 706) differ significantly from the corresponding floras of the tropical sites. Bathymetrically controlled dissolution is recognized by the reduction of species diversity in the Paleogene flora. Selective dissolution of nannofossils is also evidenced by the percentage reduction of three holococcolith taxa, Lanternithus minutus, Zygrhablithus bijugatus, and Holococcolith type A as well as by the increase of Coccolithus pelagicusand Cribrocentrum reticulatumin the deeper sites.

Se nas pedras faz feguras parecer... Consideraciones sobre iconografía mariana y figuras poéticas en las Cantigas de Santa María de Alfonso X

La iconografía mariana ha quedado reflejada en la poesía hispánica medieval de muchas maneras: desde versos que describen a la Virgen y sus atributos hasta conceptos teológicos y mariológicos expresados plásticamente mediante formas retóricas. Por ejemplo, el jardín y las flores como ornamentos y símbolos personales de Santa María, o bien la imagen de la luz a través de un cristal o una ventana de vidrio en escenas de la Anunciación -con abundantes testimonios pictóricos en el arte medieval-, se encuentran en la poesía en forma de descripciones simbólicas de diversa extensión y género y, por otro lado, de advocaciones marianas o tópicos mariológicos (Ave/Eva, Flos, Hortus, Radix-Virga, Regina, Stella). Este artículo propone, pues, un estudio de conjunto y comparativo de algunos de estos procedimientos, concentrándose en las Cantigas de Santa María del rey Alfonso X. En este sentido, las figuras retóricas, como herramientas que tienden un puente entre lo pictórico y lo poético, dirigen necesariamente la lectura hacia una interpretación simbólica proporcionada por la figuración o typologia, tal como la ha postulado Erich Auerbach para la textualidad medieval. En última instancia, el valor sagrado de la imagen mariana (una herencia del arte icónico bizantino) se representa también en los milagros de las Cantigas de Santa María, obra maestra que evidencia una fuerte influencia de la doctrina iconodúlica.

Se nas pedras faz feguras parecer... Consideraciones sobre iconografía mariana y figuras poéticas en las Cantigas de Santa María de Alfonso X

La iconografía mariana ha quedado reflejada en la poesía hispánica medieval de muchas maneras: desde versos que describen a la Virgen y sus atributos hasta conceptos teológicos y mariológicos expresados plásticamente mediante formas retóricas. Por ejemplo, el jardín y las flores como ornamentos y símbolos personales de Santa María, o bien la imagen de la luz a través de un cristal o una ventana de vidrio en escenas de la Anunciación -con abundantes testimonios pictóricos en el arte medieval-, se encuentran en la poesía en forma de descripciones simbólicas de diversa extensión y género y, por otro lado, de advocaciones marianas o tópicos mariológicos (Ave/Eva, Flos, Hortus, Radix-Virga, Regina, Stella). Este artículo propone, pues, un estudio de conjunto y comparativo de algunos de estos procedimientos, concentrándose en las Cantigas de Santa María del rey Alfonso X. En este sentido, las figuras retóricas, como herramientas que tienden un puente entre lo pictórico y lo poético, dirigen necesariamente la lectura hacia una interpretación simbólica proporcionada por la figuración o typologia, tal como la ha postulado Erich Auerbach para la textualidad medieval. En última instancia, el valor sagrado de la imagen mariana (una herencia del arte icónico bizantino) se representa también en los milagros de las Cantigas de Santa María, obra maestra que evidencia una fuerte influencia de la doctrina iconodúlica.

Se nas pedras faz feguras parecer... Consideraciones sobre iconografía mariana y figuras poéticas en las Cantigas de Santa María de Alfonso X

La iconografía mariana ha quedado reflejada en la poesía hispánica medieval de muchas maneras: desde versos que describen a la Virgen y sus atributos hasta conceptos teológicos y mariológicos expresados plásticamente mediante formas retóricas. Por ejemplo, el jardín y las flores como ornamentos y símbolos personales de Santa María, o bien la imagen de la luz a través de un cristal o una ventana de vidrio en escenas de la Anunciación -con abundantes testimonios pictóricos en el arte medieval-, se encuentran en la poesía en forma de descripciones simbólicas de diversa extensión y género y, por otro lado, de advocaciones marianas o tópicos mariológicos (Ave/Eva, Flos, Hortus, Radix-Virga, Regina, Stella). Este artículo propone, pues, un estudio de conjunto y comparativo de algunos de estos procedimientos, concentrándose en las Cantigas de Santa María del rey Alfonso X. En este sentido, las figuras retóricas, como herramientas que tienden un puente entre lo pictórico y lo poético, dirigen necesariamente la lectura hacia una interpretación simbólica proporcionada por la figuración o typologia, tal como la ha postulado Erich Auerbach para la textualidad medieval. En última instancia, el valor sagrado de la imagen mariana (una herencia del arte icónico bizantino) se representa también en los milagros de las Cantigas de Santa María, obra maestra que evidencia una fuerte influencia de la doctrina iconodúlica.