Influence of hard bottom morphology on fish assemblages of the continental shelf off Georgia, southeastern USA

Various reef types worldwide have inconsistent relationships among fish assemblage parameters and benthic characteristics, thus there is a need to identify factors driving assemblage structure specific to each reef type and locale. Limestone ledges are known to be key habitats for bottom fish on the continental shelf of the southeastern USA, however, the specific factors that link them to fish assemblages have not been quantified. Bottom fishes and habitat characteristics on ledges were surveyed at a study site located centrally in the southeastern USA continental shelf. Species richness, diversity, abundance, and biomass of fish were higher at ledges than on flat bottom. Species richness, abundance, and biomass of fish were well explained by ledge variables including percent cover of sessile invertebrates, total height, and height of undercut recesses. Multivariate analyses based on biomass of individual species at ledges revealed two fish assemblages associated with four ledge types. One assemblage was associated with ledges that were tall, heavily colonized with sessile invertebrates, large in area, and did or did not have undercuts. The other assemblage was associated with ledges that were short, not undercut, smaller in area, and were or were not heavily colonized by invertebrates. Seafloor classification schemes presently used in the region do not adequately capture hard bottom diversity to identify the location and extent of essential fish habitats for ecological and fisheries purposes. Given that ledges cover only ∼1% to 5% of the southeastern USA continental shelf, they merit the highest levels of consideration in regional research, conservation, and management plans.

Sediment Quality Triad assessment in Kachemak Bay: characterization of soft bottom benthic habitats and contaminant bioeffects assessment

A baseline environmental characterization of the inner Kachemak Bay, Alaska was conducted using the sediment quality triad approach based on sediment chemistry, sediment toxicity, and benthic invertebrate community structure. The study area was subdivided into 5 strata based on geophysical and hydrodynamic patterns in the bay (eastern and western intertidal mud flats, eastern and western subtidal, and Homer Harbor). Three to seven locations were synoptically sampled within each stratum using a stratified random statistical design approach. Three sites near the village of Port Graham and two sites in the footprint of a proposed Homer Harbor expansion were also collected for comparison. Concentrations of over 120 organic and metallic contaminants were analyzed. Ambient toxicity was assessed using two amphipod bioassays. A detailed benthic community condition assessment was performed. Habitat parameters (depth, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, sediment grain size, and organic carbon content) that influence species and contaminant distribution were also measured at each sampling site. Sediments were mostly mixed silt and sand; characteristic of high energy habitats, with pockets of muddy zones. Organic compounds (PAHs, DDTs, PCBs, cyclodienes, cyclohexanes) were detected throughout the bay but at relatively low concentrations. Tributyltin was elevated in Homer Harbor relative to the other strata. With a few exceptions, metals concentrations were relatively low and probably reflect the input of glacial runoff. Relative to other sites, Homer Harbor sites were shown to have elevated concentrations of metallic and organic contaminants. The Homer Harbor stratum however, is a deep, low energy depositional environment with fine grained sediment. Concentrations of organic contaminants measured were five to ten times higher in the harbor sites than in the open bay sites. Concentration of PAHs is of a particular interest because of the legacy of oil spills in the region. There was no evidence of residual PAHs attributable to oil spills, outside of local input, beyond the confines of the harbor. Concentrations were one to ten times below NOAA sediment quality guidelines. Selected metal concentrations were found to be relatively elevated compared to other data collected in the region. However, levels are still very low in the scale of NOAA’s sediment quality guidelines, and therefore appear to pose little or no ecotoxicity threat to biota. Infaunal assessment showed a diverse assemblage with more than 240 taxa recorded and abundances greater than 3,000 animals m-22 in all but a few locations. Annelid worms, crustaceans, snails, and clams were the dominant taxa accounting for 63 %, 19%, 5%, and 7 % respectively of total individuals. Specific benthic community assemblages were identified that were distributed based on depth and water clarity. Species richness and diversity was lower in the eastern end of the bay in the vicinity of the Fox River input. Abundance was also generally lower in the eastern portion of the study area, and in the intertidal areas near Homer. The eastern portions of the bay are stressed by the sediment load from glacial meltwater. Significant toxicity was virtually absent. Conditions at the sites immediately outside the existing Homer Harbor facility did not differ significantly from other subtidal locations in the open Kachemak Bay. The benthic fauna at Port Graham contained a significant number of species not found in Kachemak Bay. Contaminant conditions were variable depending on specific location. Selected metal concentrations were elevated at Port Graham and some were lower relative to Kachemak Bay, probably due to local geology. Some organic contaminants were accumulating at a depositional site.

A point for comparison: the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

A reoccurring goal listed during the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is to return the region to a former state. However, limited data is available that describes or characterizes this former condition. Data collected from ecosystems with comparatively limited anthropogenic impacts, can provide invaluable information in suggesting what former states may have looked like. One example is the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary which is located 180 kilometers off the coast of Texas. These relatively isolated and pristine banks are capped by substantial scleractinian coral communities, forming excellent habitat for over 200 species of fish. While fishing is permitted, it is limited by difficulty of access. In 2006, NOAA’s Biogeography Branch, in collaboration with the Sanctuary, initiated the first quantitative assessment of fish resources throughout the diveable portions of the Sanctuary. The sampling design and methodologies employed were identical to those that the Branch has utilized in other more impacted regions of the US Caribbean. Initial analyses reveal that fish density and species richness at the Sanctuary were almost two times greater than that found within the US Caribbean and biomass was approximately six times higher. This was due in large part to the presence of sizeable piscivores of the genera Mycteroperca and Dermatolepis. The Sanctuary is one of few minimally impacted locations remaining within the Tropical Western Atlantic. As such, these findings should be considered when attempting to establish a former state or evaluate effectiveness of an MPA in meeting its management goals.

Spatial and temporal patterns in the demersal fish community on the shelf and upper slope regions of the Gulf of Alaska

We analyzed data from National Marine Fisheries Service bottom trawl surveys carried out triennially from 1984 to 1996 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). The continental shelf and upper slope (0–500 m) of the GOA support a rich demersal fish fauna dominated by arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias), walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus), Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis), and Pacific Ocean perch (Sebastes alutus). Average catch per unit of effort (CPUE) of all groundfish species combined increased with depth and had a significant peak near the shelf break at 150–200 m. Species richness and diversity had significant peaks at 200–300 m. The western GOA was characterized by higher CPUEs and lower species richness and diversity than the eastern GOA. Highest CPUEs were observed in Shelikof Strait, along the shelf break and upper slope south of Kodiak Island, and on the banks and in the gullies northeast of Kodiak Island. Significant differences in total CPUE among surveys suggest a 40% increase in total groundfish biomass between 1984 and 1996. A multivariate analysis of the CPUE of 72 groundfish taxa revealed strong gradients in species composition with depth and from east to west, and a weak but significant trend in species composition over time. The trend over time was associated with increases in the frequency of occurrence and CPUE of at least eight taxa, including skates (Rajidae), capelin (Mallotus villosus), three flatfish species, and Pacific Ocean perch, and decreases in frequency of occurrence and CPUE of several sculpin (Myoxocephalus spp.) species. Results are discussed in terms of spatial and temporal patterns in productivity and in the context of their ecological and management implications.

Distribution and co-occurrence of rockfishes (family: Sebastidae) over trawlable shelf and slope habitats of California and southern Oregon

The rockfishes of the sebastid genus Sebastes are a very important fishery resource off the coasts of California and southern Oregon. How-ever, many of the 54 managed stocks of west coast rockfish have recently reached historically low population levels, leading fishery managers to re-examine current management practices. Management of rockfish stocks as multispecies aggregates, as opposed to independent stocks within the ground-fish fishery, can be more desirable when nontargeted bycatch, discard, and management complexity are considered. Rockfish assemblage structure and species co-occurrences were determined by using data from the Alaska Fisheries Science Center triennial continental shelf bottom trawl survey. The weight of rockfish species in trawl catches was expressed as a catch-per-unit-of-effort (CPUE) statistic, from which species spatial distributions, overlaps, diversity, and richness were analyzed. Multidimensional scaling of transformed CPUE data was employed in indirect gradient and multivariate partitioning analyses to quantify assemblage relationships. Results indicated that rockfish distributions closely match the bathymetry of coastal waters. Indirect gradient analysis suggested that depth and latitude are the principal factors in structuring the spatial distributions of rockfish on trawlable habitat. In addition, four assemblages were identified through the joint evaluation of species’ distributions and multivariate partitioning analyses: 1) deep-water slope; 2) northern shelf; 3) southern shelf; and 4) nearshore. The slope, shelf, and near-shore groups are found in depth ranges of 200–500 m, 100–250 m, and 50–150 m, respectively. The division of northern and southern shelf assemblages occurs over a broad area between Cape Mendocino and Monterey Canyon. The results of this analysis are likely to have direct application in the management of rockfish stocks off the coasts of southern Oregon and California.

Scientific statistics and graphics on the Macintosh

The personal computer has become commonplace on the desk of most scientists. As hardware costs have plummeted, software capabilities have expanded enormously, permitting the scientist to examine extremely large datasets in novel ways. Advances in networking now permit rapid transfer of large datasets, which can often be used unchanged from one machine to the next. In spite of these significant advances, many scientists still use their personal computers only for word processing or e-mail, or as "dumb terminals". Many are simply unaware of the richness of software now available to statistically analyze and display scientific data in highly innovative ways. This paper presents several examples drawn from actual climate data analysis that illustrate some novel and practical features of several widely-used software packages for Macintosh computers.

存在一般性的生物多样性垂直格局理论吗？

　是否存在一般性的生物多样性垂直格局理论，是人们普遍关心的问题。为了解决这一疑问。本文设计了三个方面的问题作为研究的内容。一、标准化系统取样能够满足山地生物多样性研究的需要吗？二、山地植物群落中不同植物类群的物种丰富度沿海拔梯度有相同的格局变化吗？三、山地植物群落中，不同植物类群的群落水平多样性，包括物种丰富度、均匀度和群落多样性沿海拔梯度有怎样的变化？不同植物类群内，及不同植物类群间物种丰富度、物种均匀度和群落多样性之间的空间相互关系？ 为了解决上述问题，我们采用了模拟和试验两类数据（来自北京东灵山地区7条垂直样带），研究中着重考虑了数据的空间相关性或尺度依赖性，应用地统计学和多元地统计学的方法对数据进行分析，得出如下结论： 一、标准化系统取样是不能满足山地物种多样性研究的需要的，它忽略了取样单元面积效应。理论上，文献所列的四种典型的生物多样性格局类型都可以随取样单元而相互转换;评价生物多样性垂直格局时，不存在唯一合适的取样单元尺度。通常在一定尺度范围内，多样性显现某一格局类型，超过了尺度阀值，格局类型会发生转换，但是存在一个最小取样单元尺度，小于这一尺度生物多样性的空间结构将不能正确显现;山地生物多样性分布具各向异性，垂直方向物种替代速率远大于水平方向，因此，不但取样面积，而且取样单元的形状也对多样性格局有重要影响。山地生物多样性格局研究中，以垂直方向作长边的长方形较为合适;本研究没有对物种多样性格局随取样单元发生转换的决定因素得出明确的结论，但 多样性的空间分布可能是一主要因素。 二、乔、灌、草和群落总的物种丰富度格局，大多数大尺度上呈现梯度格局，小尺度上呈斑块的聚集。物种丰富度垂直格局的尺度依赖性与坡向有密切关系，同一坡向的格局的特征表现出很强的一致性;乔、灌、草及总的植物物种丰富度垂直梯度格局与取样单元尺度的关系也表现出与坡向的密切关系，同一坡向合适的取样面积基本一致;总的来说，不同植物类群的物种丰富度垂直格局都表现出其独特的特点，不同坡向同一植物类群又表现出明显不同的特点。将我们的研究结果与其它山地物种丰富度的垂直格局研究进行比较，得出这样的推论：在山地植物多样性研究中，同一群落层次在相同的生物地理区（或气候带）内，物种丰富度具有一致的垂直格局类型，而在不同的生物地理区内具有不同的特点。分别研究不同群落层次物种丰富度在同一生物地理区不同地点，以及在不同生物地理区的垂直格局，有利于区别历史、进化因素和现时生态因素对生物多样性形成和维持的作用，形成一般的生物多样性理论。 三、乔、灌、草三层的群落多样性Simpson指数和物种丰富的垂直格局类型基本一致，多样性和丰富度格局的相似性不但表现在格局的类型上，而且表现在对空间的尺度依赖上，如自相关范围、大尺度上梯度效应等都表现出了一致性;均匀度格局变化比较复杂，在乔木层、阴坡灌木层与物种丰富度有相似的格局特征，阳坡灌木层均匀度则基本不随海拔变化;草本层均匀度很高，表现出与物种丰富度、多样性相反的格局。我们认为物种丰富度、多样性、均匀度沿着环境梯度变化以及它们之间的关系还不能确定是否有一般性特征，它们可能不但与生物类群而且与垂直样带所处的环境有关。理论研究认为在大尺度上群落多样性的变化主要反映在物种丰富度水平上的变化，主要由均匀度引起的多样性的变化可能只存在小范围的环境梯度中，本文的研究为这一理论提供了佐证。理论模拟表明物种丰富度、均匀度和多样性之间是简单的强正相关性，丰富度和均匀度相互独立存在，我们证明了它们之间并非简单的正相关，丰富度和均匀度也非简单独立存在，它们的关系与尺度、坡向（环境条件）、植物类群密切相关，不同的生态过程或因素在不同尺度上的作用决定了它们的关系类型。乔、灌层间各多样性测度间总体呈正相关关系，并随尺度增加而降低;乔、草层间多样性测度间的关系与乔、灌层间明显不同，乔木层各多样性测度与草本层丰富度、多样性指数间显著负相关，与草本层均匀度间弱正相关，并随尺度增大渐弱;灌、草层间与乔、草层间情形相似，特别是阴坡。不同层次间多样性测度的相互关系还与坡向和尺度密切相关。 通过本研究，虽然不能肯定回答是否存在一般性的生物多样性垂直格局理论，但是我们认为在同一生物地理区域内，对同一生物类群（具有相同或相似的生物、生态学特性，具有对外界环境相同或相似的适应方式），并匹配于适宜的尺度揭示生物多样性垂直格局，并比较不同生物地理区、不同生物类群的生物多样性垂直格局，可能会找出一般性的生物多样性垂直格局理论。

Seasonal variation and species diversity of fishes in the Neyyar River of the Western Ghats

Temporal variation in the abundance of fish populations and diversity of assemblages in different sections of the Neyyar River in the Western Ghats were investigated during the year 1984. A decreasing trend in the abundance of fishes from the headwaters downwards has been noted. The fish community is represented by 33 species assignable to 15 families. The diversity indices of Shannon-Wiener and Margalef and Pielou's evenness have been calculated. The diversity indices are discussed in the light of species richness in different sectors.

寄生植物在入侵植物防治中的作用——以两种菟丝子为例

生物入侵在全世界广泛发生，目前已经受到全球关注。入侵生物对群落生物多样性和生态系统功能造成严重威胁，导致严重的环境问题和惨重的经济损失。薇甘菊(Mikania micrantha)、五爪金龙(Ipomoea cairica)和南美蟛蜞菊(Wedelia trilobata)是我国华南地区危害最严重的三种外来入侵种，其中以薇甘菊危害最严重，是世界十大有害杂草之一。从20世纪80年代发生以来，薇甘菊已在我国广东农林区域造成严重危害。 机械防治、化学防治和传统的生物防治等治理措施，未能有效治理外来入侵种的危害，直到使用本地种菟丝子(Cuscuta spp)的防治策略。与从原产地引进有害生物天敌的传统生物防治方法不同，本地种由于适应当地气候且与其他物种协同进化，因此，对生态环境潜在的负作用小。从2000年，被发现寄生和抑制薇甘菊之后，菟丝子被认为是防治薇甘菊的有效措施。 为了探讨菟丝子寄生对外来入侵种的治理，及对入侵群落的恢复，本研究在内伶仃岛的林地(入侵种群落被引入菟丝子寄生1-4年)，以及东莞、深圳和海丰的干扰样地(入侵种群落被菟丝子自然寄生5年以上)开展野外调查。在每个样地分别设立外来种入侵亚群和菟丝子治理亚群，通过测定群落结构与组成、土壤性质与养分含量，以及外来种和菟丝子的生长与养分含量等参数之后，本研究得出以下主要结论。 (1) 虽然，被寄生的外来入侵种薇甘菊、五爪金龙和南美蟛蜞菊通过调节资源分配以抵御南方菟丝子(Cuscuta australis)的寄生影响，但是，菟丝子寄生导致外来入侵种生物量降低、繁殖能力下降、养分含量降低。虽然，很多寄生植物都是广谱寄生，能同时寄生多种寄主植物，但是，在本研究的被入侵的群落中，菟丝子主要寄生外来入侵植物。尤其是寄生于南美蟛蜞菊和薇甘菊的菟丝子，生长旺盛、繁殖能力强，表现出高度的适应性。因此，菟丝子对外来入侵种(南美蟛蜞菊和薇甘菊)有寄生偏好性，并对本地种的负面影响小。 (2) 通过吸收寄主的养分，田野菟丝子(Cuscuta campestris)有效地抑制了薇甘菊的危害。由于入侵种的凋落物养分含量高且分解效率高，而且，菟丝子能够促进其它凋落物的分解，并使难以被植物吸收的养分转化成易于被吸收利用的状态。因此，菟丝子与薇甘菊的寄生作用导致土壤养分含量的升高。在薇甘菊被抑制之后，本地种利用丰富的土壤养分资源，提高生长适应性，增强抵抗入侵的能力，甚至抵制薇甘菊的再生。 (3) 菟丝子的寄生作用改变了外来寄主与本地非寄主的竞争平衡，促进本地植物的生长与重建。在外来种被抑制之后，本地种的丰度和群落的物种多样性逐渐增加。本地种如：野葛(Pueraria lobata)和芦苇(Phragmites australis)，取代了入侵群落中的入侵种，成了群落的优势种。而其它原先被薇甘菊抑制的本地草本、藤本和灌木，在引入菟丝子防治之后长势较好。群落稳定性与物种多样性密切相关，被治理群落本地种的增加有利于群落的演替与稳定。 (4) 被干扰的生态系统往往更容易被外来种入侵，而外来入侵种又常导致人工干扰生境的严重退化。在人工干扰样地的菟丝子对薇甘菊的抑制效果与在林地的效果一致，导致被寄生的薇甘菊生长衰退、养分竞争能力下降、入侵危害能力降低。而在薇甘菊被菟丝子治理之后，土壤养分资源增加，入侵群落的物种丰度和生物多样性提高。本 地种的重建与本地群落的恢复密切相关，利于本地被治理群落的稳定，促进被干扰植被的恢复。 菟丝子是一种治理外来入侵种危害的有效措施，适用于破碎的生境和被干扰的生态系统，尤其是在采用目前防治措施难以治理的情况下。本研究为本地种防治外来入侵种提供科学依据，且表明以入侵地的本地种治理外来入侵种有可能成为有效且可持续发展的生物防治策略。

内蒙古多伦典型草原植物多样性与生产力的关系及其对水分梯度的响应

为了研究草地群落发展的初期阶段物种多样性和生产力的关系及对降雨梯度的响应，同时确定草地群落面对降雨量的波动时物种多样性和地上生物量稳定性的关系，我们在2004-2005年在内蒙古草原进行一个为期二年的实验。我们在降雨梯度内（增雨、对照、减雨）模拟群落物种丰富度（4种，8种和14种）。我们的结果表明，在草地群落早期阶段观测到的物种丰富度及地上生物量的关系不同于群落发展成熟稳定时的关系。我们发现：1）无论是在群落水平还是功能群水平，盖度相对物种丰富度都是一个决定群落地上生物量的重要因素； 2）不同植物功能群表现出不同的物种丰富度-地上生物量的关系。这可能是因为不同功能群植物的横向扩展能力不同导致；3）在群落水平和豆科固氮功能群，地上生物量随着土壤含水量的增加而增加，但禾本功能群和非豆科非禾本功能群的关系不显著；4）降雨量变化对物种多样性和地上生物量的关系影响不大；5）在我们实验中，具有较高的物种丰富度植物群落的地上生物量比那些物种丰富度低的群落较为稳定，我们的研究结果因此支持“保险假说”；6）土壤含氮量和含碳量呈现非常显著的正相关关系。 为了补充2004-2005年实验结果，我们在2006年同一个实验样地进行了另一个实验。2006年实验土壤经过翻耕平整，然后选择植物幼苗移载。在这种情况下，我们发现：1）物种组成是决定地上生物量一个关键因素；2）降雨量变化对物种多样性和地上生物量的关系影响不大; 3）混合群落表现出超产效应，物种丰富度高的群落超产的比例较高；4）在三个水分处理梯度都没有发现物种丰富度和群落可靠度存在相关关系；5）在所有水分处理样方都发现地上生物量和土壤含氮量呈现非常显著的负相关关系；6）土壤含氮量和土壤含碳量与土壤湿度呈现非常显著的正相关关系；7）土壤含氮量和含碳量呈现非常显著的正相关关系。

内蒙古典型草原的群落物种组成对割草、施肥、増雨以及加热的响应

随着温室气体的大量排放、土地利用方式的改变以及气温的逐步升高，全球变化对自然生态系统的影响也日益加强，全球变化背景下植物群落物种组成的改变能够引起整个生态系统功能的变化。本论文的研究以内蒙古多伦县十三里滩全球变化多因子实验基地为依托，研究割草、施肥、増雨以及红外加热对内蒙古温带典型草原群落物种组成的影响。本研究采用传统的植物调查方法，比较样方中所有物种和功能型的变化，最终揭示植物群落结构对上述四个处理的响应状况。 研究结果表明：氮素作为中国北方典型草原生产力的重要限制因子，增加了禾草优势物种克氏针茅和冰草的盖度，提高了禾草植物盖度和群落总盖度。施磷提高了群落中豆科植物的盖度。 种群水平上，割草提高了乳白花黄芪、苔草和冷蒿等矮小植物盖度；群落水平上，提高了群落总盖度，增加了群落的物种数。但是仅仅在施氮处理下，割草显著地影响了种群和群落水平的指标。 除了氮以外，土壤水分含量也是草原生态系统的限制因素之一。虽然不同增雨方式之间对群落的影响无显著差异，但是增雨都显著地增加了群落中禾草植物和群落的总盖度。在氮肥处理样地，增雨对禾草植物的正效应更加显著。增雨单独对群落的物种丰富度没有显著的影响。 加热减少了土壤水分含量，降低了群落物种数和群落的总盖度。加热提高了群落中非禾草杂类草的比例，降低了群落中禾草植物的比例。 总之，土壤水分和活性氮含量左右了草原植物群落的物种组成。全球变化的四个主要驱动因子正是通过影响生态系统中水分和氮的有效含量来影响群落结构。施氮和增雨降低了土壤水分和氮含量的限制，割草、加热增强了土壤水分和氮的限制。基于四个驱动因子对草原生态系统相反的作用和影响，有必要进行长期的控制实验，充分了解全球变化下，内蒙古典型草原群落物种组成的变化规律。

丛枝菌根真菌对异质性环境中克隆植物的影响

克隆植物同一基株的相连克隆分株或克隆片段常常生长在资源条件不同的斑块中，分株间形成克隆整合和克隆可塑性以及克隆分工等有效地获取必需资源的生态适应对策，提高在异质性斑块生境中的适合度，适应环境的异质性变化。但在以往的克隆植物生态学的理论研究中，为了研究的简化和方便，往往忽略了土壤中微生物的作用。丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhiza, AM)真菌是自然界中广泛存在的土壤微生物之一，可与大多数的高等植物形成共生菌根，影响植物的生长、发育及其在生态系统中的作用。 本文应用实验生态学方法，以蛇莓、狗牙根和白三叶为研究对象，在温室受控条件下，对异质养分斑块中的分株对接种AM真菌，探讨AM真菌对资源斑块中克隆植物的影响。 第一个实验设计单一磷养分斑块，以蛇莓(Duchesnea indica)和摩西球囊霉(Glomus mosseae)为研究对象，探讨丛枝AM真菌对克隆整合的影响。将蛇莓相连的两个分株，即分株对，分别种植在两个隔离的花盆中，各施以高磷和低磷营养液，保持或切断分株间匍匐茎连接，即间隔子，再将菌剂接种到低磷斑块中分株。结果发现间隔子状态和接菌处理都显著影响低磷斑块中蛇莓分株的根系生物量分配。对照处理中保持间隔子连接显著减少低磷斑块中分株生物量向根系的分配，接菌后这一差异显著减小。保持间隔子连接或接菌对高磷斑块中分株的根系生物量分配不显著。保持间隔子连接和接菌都显著增加低磷斑块分株的生物量在分株对生物量中所占比例，二者无显著交互作用。 第二个实验设计光照和养分斑块，以狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon)和摩西球囊霉为研究对象，探讨AM真菌对克隆植物非局域反应的影响。将狗牙根分株对的两个分株分别种植在两个花盆中，各施以光照强度与土壤养分交互斑块性环境条件，形成高养低光和高光低养斑块，保持或切断间隔子，再将菌剂接种到目标分株。结果发现对照处理中，间隔子状态显著影响分株的局域反应。高养斑块中保持间隔子连接的分株的根长显著大于间隔子断裂的分株的根长，高光斑块中保持间隔子连接的分株的根长显著小于间隔子断裂的分株的根长。高光斑块中保持间隔子连接的分株的叶面积显著大于间隔子断裂的分株的叶面积，间隔子状态对低光高养斑块分株的叶面积无显著影响。在低光高养斑块中，相对于间隔子断裂的分株，间隔子连接的分株将更多的生物量分配到根系，而在高光斑块中的分株则相反。这些都说明，无AM真菌侵染的情况下，狗牙根分株对的两个分株在实验中各自形成的克隆部分的分株形态反应都受到了克隆整合的作用，表现为非局域反应。接种AM真菌后，高光斑块中分株的根长和高养斑块中分株的叶面积在间隔子连接和断裂处理之间的差异显著减小。生物量分配的差异不受接菌的影响。对照处理中，高养斑块中间隔子连接的分株生物量和分株数显著高于间隔子断裂的分株，但高光斑块中分株之间无显著差异。接种AM真菌显著降低高养斑块中分株的生物量和分株数，对高光斑块中分株无显著影响。 第三个实验设计光照和养分交互斑块，以白三叶(Trifolium repens)和多种AM真菌为研究对象，探讨AM真菌及其多样性对克隆分工的影响。将间隔子连接(整合)或断裂(无整合)的白三叶分株对种植于光照强度和土壤养分交互斑块性资源条件下(即，高光低养和低光高养)，向分株对接种灭菌处理、单种或五种AM真菌的菌剂。结果发现，对照处理中，间隔子连接的分株对在光养交互斑块中与间隔子断裂的分株对相比较表现出克隆分工，即高光低养斑块中的分株的根系生物量分配增加，低光高养斑块中的分株的根系生物量分配减少。单菌处理没有影响对照处理中间隔子状态对分株对生物量分配的改变；多菌处理显著减小对照中生物量分配的改变；与单菌处理比较，多菌处理能显著减小生物量分配的改变。在高光低养斑块中，多菌处理显著抑制间隔子断裂分株的根生物量分配的增加。在低光高养斑块中，多菌处理完全抑制在对照处理中间隔子连接的分株的根生物量分配的增加。在对照处理中，间隔子连接分株的单叶面积、总叶面积、叶柄长、根长都与生物量分配趋势一致，表现出对丰富资源的特化。接菌处理能显著抑制这些形态指标的改变。多菌处理显著抑制这些指标的特化，并且抑制效果显著强于单菌处理。间隔子状态和AM真菌处理显著增加高光低养、低光高养斑块中分株及整个克隆片段的生物量和分株数。多菌处理抑制间隔子连接的克隆片段生物量和分株数增加。克隆片段的生物量和分株数在对照和单菌处理间无显著差异，在多菌处理中显著高于在单菌处理中。 以上三个实验说明，(1)AM真菌对克隆植物生长的影响与非克隆植物一样，受到植物种类和环境资源水平的影响；(2)AM真菌对异质性资源环境中克隆植物的影响由于植物不同而产生不同的效应；(3)提高AM真菌的多样性可能增强菌根对克隆植物的作用。 这些研究结果揭示出AM真菌与异质性环境中克隆植物整合作用、非局域反应和克隆分工作用的交互影响，表明克隆生长在生态系统中的重要性可由生物和非生物因素共同决定。

Monogenean infestations in Thai silver barb (Barbodes gonionotus Bleeker) and their adaptations in Bangladesh waters

An investigation on the infestation of monogenetic trematodes of Barbodes gonionotus was conducted during the period from July '97 to June '98. Host specimens were collected from local fish farms and also from local fish markets of Mymensingh. Samples of P. ticto and P. sarana were also examined. Two species - Dactylogyrus lampam (Lim and Furtado 1986) and Dactylogyrus siamensis (Chinabut and Lim 1993) the Thai parasites were recorded from B. gonionotus and D. lampam, from our indigenous fish P. sarana. Two species of Gyrodactylus were also recorded from B. gonionotus. Both prevalence and intensity of infestation were moderate in B. gonionotus. Prevalences were recorded higher in larger fishes and mean intensity in intermediate size group fishes. Infestations were higher in winter months. Adaptations of the foreign parasites in Bangladesh waters, their transmission in local fishes and invasion of the local parasites to this exotic fish have been discussed. Suggestions have also been made to protect the introduction of new species in our waters.

Phytoplankton communities of a floodplain lake of the Brahmaputra River basin, Upper Assam

Phytoplankton (52 species; Bacillariophyceae>Chlorophyceae>Cyanophyceae> Euglenophyceae=Dinophyceae) of Samuajan beel, a tropical floodplain lake, registered identical mean annual richness (30+4 species) in littoral and limnetic regions and depicted 33.3-77.2% and 31.4-81.1% community similarities respectively. Their abundance ranged between 137+54 n/l in littoral (Bacillariophyceae>Chlorophyceae) and 122 ± 45 n/l (Chlorophyceae>Bacillariophyceae) in limnetic communities, comprised about 46% of net plankton and indicated winter peaks. This study depicted moderate species diversity, high evenness and low dominance of phytoplankton; species diversity showed significant direct correlation with richness and evenness and an inverse relationship with dominance. Phytoplankton showed significant positive relationship with transparency and silicate and negative with water temperature, rainfall, chloride and nitrate. Multiple regression revealed that ten abiotic factors accounted for >80-98% of density variations of phytoplankton and the dominant groups. ANOVA depicted trends of significance in abundance of the biotic communities analysed.

Incidence of epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) in freshwater fishes in the endemic area of Punjab, Pakistan

Incidence of Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS) has been recorded for the first time in freshwater fishes in the endemic area of Punjab, Pakistan. Survey of private fish farms, hatchery and natural water bodies was conducted in a radius of 14 Km from around river Ravi near Lahore (Punjab Province) Pakistan. Out Of 1628 fishes belonging to 18 genera, 517 fishes of 10 genera were found affected with EUS. The incidence of EUS in culturable fishes was higher in Cirrhina mrigala (15.4%) moderate in Catla cat/a (13.3%) and lower in Labeo rohita (5.0%). Exotic fish, Chinese carp Ctenoparyngodon idella and Hypophthalmicthys molitrix were not affected with EUS. In non-culturable fishes the incidence of EUS was highest in Channa punctatus (72.8%) moderate in by C. straitus (65.45%) and comparatively lower Puntius ticto (43.7%). A slow growing temperature sensitive Saprolegnia spp. was isolated from all of EUS infected fish species. Aeromonas spp. and Pseudomonas spp. were isolated from the diseased fishes. Ectoparasites viz. Lernaea, Argulus and Triclwdina spp. were also isolated from the skin and gills of infected fish species. The disease was more severe in water having low alkalinity (70 mg/1), hardness (75 mg/1) and low temperature of 10-12 °C.