Diet selection by the lesser rhea (Rhea pennata pennata) in Payunia, Northern Patagonia (Mendoza, Argentina)

The lesser rhea (family Rheidae) is a flightless large bird of South America, threatened due to habitat loss, hunting and egg collecting, with special concern in Northern Patagonia. Diet and food availability were estimated throughout the year by micro-histological analysis and point-quadrat transects in a landscape inside and another outside the Payunia Reserve, the northernmost part of the Rhea pennata pennata distribution. Significant differences were detected by Kruskall-Wallis ANOVA, food selection by Chi-square test and Bailey’s confidence interval. A strong food selection characterized the diet of lesser rheas, dominated by leaves of shrubs and forbs, complemented by dicot seeds and a few insects. This agrees with the documented low dietary overlap with other herbivores in Payunia. Dietary changes agree with the expected from the selective quality hypothesis. Food availability was better inside than outside the protected area, with probable conservation effects for lesser rheas. Seeds, forbs and soft grasses could be for lesser rheas some key food resources to survive during unfavorable seasons in arid environments without "mallines", as Payunia. Shrubby patches, with high availability of preferred food items (tall shrubs and forbs), stood out as key habitats. Therefore, avoiding fire and woody plant removal is crucial for the conservation of lesser rheas in the northern of its range.

Sphaerophragmium quadricellulare sp nov (Mycota, Uredinales) on Acacia in Australia, with brief notes on some related rust genera

A telial rust on leaves of Acacia pennata ssp. kerrii from Cape York Peninsula is described as Sphaerophragmium quadricellulare sp. nov. No other spore stages have been observed. Brief notes on other related rusts occurring in Australia are given.

Acyclic diterpene alcohols isolated from four algae of Bryopsidophyceae and their toxicity

Three new acylic diterpenoids belonging to the class of phytol series have been isolated. They were obtained from the ethyl acetate soluble fractions of four siphonaceous green seaweeds, Bryopsis pennata Lamour., Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl) C. Ag., Codium decorticatum (Woodw.) Howe and Valoniopsis pachynema (Mart.) Børg., collected from Karachi coast of Pakistan. Structures of these compounds were elucidated with the help of spectroscopic methods and confirmed by comparison with the known compounds. Even the known compounds are being reported for the first time from a green algal source. All the compounds were found to display a strong toxicity at all the three concentrations tested in the brine shrimp bioassay.

川西地区几种优势苔藓植株元素含量及其时空差异性

揭示苔藓植株元素含量及其时空差异性是深入开展利用苔藓植物指示环境和筛选理想监测藓种的科学基础。采用微波消解（ICP-AES）方法对九寨沟自然遗产地原始林景点停车场周围三个采样带：I为停车场植被小岛（PS），向外约120 m半径为II带（D120），再向外距离约1,000 m为III带（D1000）和3个方向上的大羽藓和毛尖青藓2种苔藓中13种元素（A1, S, Ca, P, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Pb, Ni,Zn���Cd）含量进行了测定和比较，并对采自边坡方向（PS-3）上2005和2007年的4种苔藓植物（南木藓、大羽藓、平藓和厚角絹藓）也进行了13种元素含量的测定和比较。同时对九寨沟自然遗产地、黄龙自然遗产地、夹金山和梦笔山的冷杉原始林4个地区的3种苔藓中（大羽藓、锦丝藓和塔藓）的A1、Ca、Cu、Fe、K、Mg、P、Zn���C和N 10种元素含量进行测定和比较。 对大羽藓和毛尖青藓2种苔藓植物内13种元素的测定发现：1）同种苔藓对不同元素的富集能力不同。A1、Ca、K、Mg和P的元素含量在苔藓中的富集较其他元素的要高。2）不同种苔藓植物对同种元素的富集能力不同，毛尖青藓较大羽藓能够监测出更多的元素；对于被检测出的元素，毛尖青藓监测出的累积量大于大羽藓，其中累积量最大的元素是Ca为10 874.286 μg.g-1.year-1，最小的是Cu元素为5.438 μg.g-1.year-1。对05年和07年的平藓、大羽藓、南木藓和厚角絹藓元素含量的测定表明：元素在两年中的积累量是不同的。综合分析表明，苔藓生物监测方法可有效监测景点停车场机动车尾气中排放出的典型元素（如Cu、Pb、Ni、Zn���Cd等）含量，而毛尖青藓较大羽藓能更可靠的监测九寨沟自然遗产地单景点汽车尾气金属元素种类及其排放量。 对4个地区3种苔藓10种元素监测发现：1）Ca、Mg、Zn���K和Cu元素在黄龙地区的含量高于在其它地区的含量；P元素在梦笔山地区的含量为最高；Fe和Al元素在夹金山地区的含量高于在其它地区的含量。2）C元素在其它因素一致的情况下，进行不同年龄间的元素含量比较，结果显示元素含量在各年龄间并不存在明显的差异性；N���素含量与年龄的差异出现在黄龙林下及林窗的塔藓、九寨沟林下的锦丝藓及塔藓和梦笔山的塔藓中，而在锦丝藓中未出现元素含量与年龄的差异性；塔藓能检测出更多的元素种类其含量与年龄间存在显著差异，锦丝藓检测到的元素种类次之；除锦丝藓（锦丝藓在林窗中几乎检测不到元素含量与年龄间的差异性）外，其他两种藓在林窗中能检测出的元素种类大于在林下的检测种类。3）元素含量与生境间存在差异性的元素分别有：黄龙大羽藓中的Ca、P和Mg元素；九寨锦丝藓中的Zn���素；夹金山塔藓中的Al、Fe和Zn���素；梦笔山大羽藓中的Al、Fe和Mg元素及锦丝藓中的Ca元素。4）区域、年龄和生境因素对苔藓植株元素含量均达到了显著水平，但两两之间及三者之间的交互作用由于元素种类的不同存在差异。综合分析表明，苔藓植物中的元素含量受年龄、区域的影响较生境的更大。 The revelation of mosses elements content and its spatiotemporal differences is the scientific foundation of moss monitoring. To determine the feasibility of moss monitoring metal depositions derived from travel bus emiss ions in scenic spot, we collected one year-growth samples of two mosses Brachythecim piligerum and Thuidium cymbifolium with different distance (island center, 120m，1000m ) and different direction (north, south and east) far from parking site island from Yuanshilin Spot at Jiuzhaigou World Nature Heritage in the Western Sichuan of China and determined thirteen element （A1, S, Ca, P, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cd）contents by ICP-AES analysis method. And picked 4 kinds of mosses (Macrothamnium macrocarpu m（Reinw. etHornsch.）Fleisch.，Thuidium cymbifolium，Entodon concinnus (De Not.) Par., Neckera pennata) from the direction PS-3 in 2005 and 2007, determined 13 element contents. Collected 3 kinds of moss (Thuidium cymbifo lium, Actinothuidium Hookeri (Mitt.) and Hyolcomium splendens (Hedw.) from Jiuzhaigou natural heritage, Huanglong natural heritage, Mt. Jiajin and Mt. Mengbi in primeval forest with two habitat (undergrowth and forest gap), determined element contents of A1, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, P, Zn, C and N. We found that, 1) The elements content are difference in same type of moss. Content of A1, Ca, K, Mg and P are higher than others. 2) While the contents of A1, S, Ca, P, Cu, Fe, K and Zn had significant correlation with the different distances from parking site, the nearer the distance was, the more accumulation was; 2) Comparing to Thuidium cymbifolium, Brachythecium piligerum can test more elements which contents show the significant correlation with distances. And Brachythecium piligerum can have greater element accumulation than Thuidium cymbifolium. The element contents in two years (2005 and 2007) are different. The present study found that moss can reliably bio-indicate metal deposition from traffic emissions in one scenic spot and Brachythecium piligerum is a good moss for bio-indicating element content from traffic emissions at Jiuzhaigou World natural Heritage. Determined the 10 element contents in 4 areas through 3 kinds of moss we found that, 1) Ca, Mg, Zn, K and Cu element content is higher in the Huanglong area than in other areas, The P element content in Mt. Jiajin is higher than other areas, Fe and Al element content is higher in the Mt. Jiajin than in other areas. 2) The content of C had no significant correlation with age. As for N, this significant correlation found in Hyolcomium splendens (Hedw.) with 2 habitat in Huanglong, Actinothuidium Hookeri (Mitt.) and Hyolcomium splendens (Hedw.) with undergrowth in Jiuzhai, Hyolcomium splendens (Hedw.) in Mt. Mengbi. The types of elements which content showt he significant correlation are most in Hyolcomium splendens (Hedw.) and least in Thuidium cymbifolium. Except Actinothuidium Hookeri (Mitt.), the types of elements that content had significant correlation with age in forest gap are more than in undergrowth. 3) The elements which content had significant correlation with habitat are P, Ca and Mg in Thuidium cymbifolium in Huanglong, Zn in Actinothuidium Hookeri (Mitt.) in Jiuzhai, Al, Fe and Zn in Hyolcomium splendens (Hedw.) in Mt. Jiajin, in Mt. Mengbi Al, Fe and Mg in Thuidium cymbifolium and Ca in Actinothuidium Hookeri (Mitt.). 4）The region, the age and the habitat factor has coeffect element content. The correlationship between element contents and the age, the region is closer than habitat.

中国及相关海域褐虾总科系统分类学和动物地理学研究

褐虾总科包括褐虾科和镰虾科，是重要的底栖生物类群，而且很多褐虾种为常见的经济种，其中中国北方海域最常见的为日本褐虾Crangon hakodatei Rathbun, 1902，另外黄海褐虾Crangon uritai Kim & Hayashi, 1999在黄渤海也较为常见。在东海和南海，污泥疣褐虾Pontocaris pennata (Bate, 1888)和拉氏爱琴虾Aegaeon lacazei (Gourret, 1887)在底栖生物拖网时常可采到，有很大的经济价值。我国对褐虾总科的研究很少，亟需对我国海域的褐虾进行全面的系统分类学和地理分布研究。 本论文所依据的标本主要为中国科学院海洋研究所海洋生物标本馆馆藏的约1600号褐虾类标本，标本主要采自渤海、黄海、东海、南海四大海域，也有部分标本采自日本海、南极和北极等海域，并得到国外同行专家惠赠的褐虾类标本约100号，同时也检查了其它单位保藏的少量标本。 本论文主要采用传统的形态学方法进行分类学研究，共鉴定出褐虾科14属25种，其中1个新种，6个新记录种，镰虾科1属7种，其中2个新种，3个新记录种。参照历史文献与现在研究结果，中国海域的褐虾类至少有2科11属44种。 本文通过对约1700号标本的详细检查，总结了各个属和种的分类学特征和地理分布特点，对各属的分种均附有详细系统的检索表，对鉴定的32种褐虾均附有详细的背面整体图和侧面整体图以及附肢等的局部形态图，并对各种进行了中文名称的考订。 本研究是我国首次关于褐虾总科的系统分类学和动物地理学研究，研究结果将改变我国在褐虾总科研究报道方面的薄弱现状，并为此动物类群的多样性等研究提供重要的基础资料。研究结果澄清了分类学上存在争议的疑难种，发现了3个新种，报道了9个新记录种，阐明了我国褐虾总科的区系特点。

Aves nidificantes na freguesia de Casével (Santarém) - distribuição, abundância e relação com o uso do solo: contributos para a gestão do território

Dissertação de mest., Gestão e Conservação da Natureza, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Univ. do Algarve, 2009

Permanent Genetic Resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 February 2012-31 March 2012

This article documents the addition of 171 microsatellite marker loci and 27 pairs of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sequencing primers to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Bombus pauloensis, Cephalorhynchus heavisidii, Cercospora sojina, Harpyhaliaetus coronatus, Hordeum vulgare, Lachnolaimus maximus, Oceanodroma monteiroi, Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, Rhea americana, Salmo salar, Salmo trutta, Schistocephalus solidus, Sousa plumbea and Tursiops aduncus. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Aquila heliaca, Bulweria bulwerii, Buteo buteo, Buteo swainsoni, Falco rusticolus, Haliaeetus albicilla, Halobaena caerulea, Hieraaetus fasciatus, Oceanodroma castro, Puccinia graminis f. sp. Tritici, Puccinia triticina, Rhea pennata and Schistocephalus pungitii. This article also documents the addition of 27 sequencing primer pairs for Puffinus baroli and Bulweria bulwerii and cross-testing of these loci in Oceanodroma castro, Pelagodroma marina, Pelecanoides georgicus, Pelecanoides urinatrix, Thalassarche chrysostoma and Thalassarche melanophrys.

Effetto della carenza di Azoto su crescita e composizione di Phaeodactylum tricornutum

La diatomea presa in esame in questo studio è Phaeodactylum tricornutum, diatomea marina con simmetria pennata. L’interesse commerciale verso Phaeodactylum tricornutum nasce dal suo alto contenuto di acidi grassi polinsaturi (PUFA), tra cui troviamo alcuni omega 3, come l’acido eicosapentaenoico (EPA) e l’acido docosaesaenoico (DHA) e dalla quantità del polisaccaride di riserva prodotto, il β-1,3 glucano crisolaminarina. E’stata studiata la capacità dei β-1,3 glucani, in particolare della laminarina, di inibire l’attacco cellulare da parte di alcuni batteri dannosi per la salute umana. Anche i pigmenti accessori di questa diatomea in particolare il β-carotene (appartenente ai caroteni) e la fucoxantina (appartenente alle xantofille) possono essere impiegati nella nutraceutica. Negli studi svolti precedentemente sull’effetto di fattori ambientali sulla composizione di questa specie, è stata presa in considerazione solo la produzione di lipidi e non è mai stato seguito contemporaneamente l’andamento di lipidi e polisaccaridi: questo progetto di tesi prevede la valutazione della possibilità di ottenere colture di P. tricornutum ad alto contenuto sia polisaccaridico sia lipidico per applicazioni industriali. Tutto il lavoro di tesi si è svolto presso l’azienda Micoperi Blue Growth (MBG), nello stabilimento di Ortona (CH) in due fasi: nella prima fase l’esperimento è stato condotto in batch su piccola scala e la crescita e la composizione di P. tricornutum sono state seguite in due diversi terreni di coltura: uno ricco in azoto, denominato N, per mezzo del quale si è voluta incrementare la crescita e la biomassa ed uno a ridotto contenuto di azoto, denominato N/3, per indurre la produzione di lipidi e polisaccaridi. Ne è stata seguita la crescita per mezzo di misure di assorbanza, peso secco, pH, conta cellulare, determinazione dei macronutrienti ed è stata analizzata la composizione biochimica con determinazione dei composti polisaccaridici totali, determinazione qualitativa dei polisaccaridi, determinazione della clorofilla a, valutazione quantitativa e qualitativa dei lipidi. E' stato notato che la condizione con un contenuto polisaccaridico e lipidico maggiore è quella con un ridotto contenuto di azoto. Con la seconda fase si è voluto verificare la riproducibilità su larga scala di quanto notato nel primo esperimento in sistemi chiusi industriali. E’stata avviata una monocoltura di Phaeodactylum tricornutum in fotobioreattore (PBR) da 70L in semicontinuo e ne è stata monitorata la crescita misurando assorbanza, peso secco, pH, quantità di macronutrienti nel terreno; la composizione biochimica è stata valutata determinando i polisaccaridi totali e la loro composizione qualitativa, le proteine totali, i lipidi totali e la composizione qualitativa. In conclusione con questo lavoro si è visto il terreno migliore per la produzione di polisaccaridi e lipidi e le tempistiche di produzione in Phaeodactylum tricornutum, e in aggiunta, abbiamo dimostrato che sia contenuti che tempistiche sono riproducubili in un sistema industriale chiuso per produrre biomassa ad alto valore commerciale.

Diatoms on the lower surface of Arctic sea ice and hydrochemical parameters in the water-ice layer

Morphology, ecology, range and species composition of diatom algae mass accumulations that are biotypically associated with the lower surface of Arctic sea ice are discussed. Materials were obtained by skindivers in the Central Arctic Basin at drift stations SP-23 in August 1977 and SP-22 in July 1980.

The Global Plankton Database: an inventory and data from the Former Soviet Union expeditions

At present time, there is a lack of knowledge on the interannual climate-related variability of zooplankton communities of the tropical Atlantic, central Mediterranean Sea, Caspian Sea, and Aral Sea, due to the absence of appropriate databases. In the mid latitudes, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is the dominant mode of atmospheric fluctuations over eastern North America, the northern Atlantic Ocean and Europe. Therefore, one of the issues that need to be addressed through data synthesis is the evaluation of interannual patterns in species abundance and species diversity over these regions in regard to the NAO. The database has been used to investigate the ecological role of the NAO in interannual variations of mesozooplankton abundance and biomass along the zonal array of the NAO influence. Basic approach to the proposed research involved: (1) development of co-operation between experts and data holders in Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, UK, and USA to rescue and compile the oceanographic data sets and release them on CD-ROM, (2) organization and compilation of a database based on FSU cruises to the above regions, (3) analysis of the basin-scale interannual variability of the zooplankton species abundance, biomass, and species diversity.

Soft-bottom macrobenthic faunal associations in the southern Chilean glacial fjord complex

Macrobenthic associations were investigated at 29 sampling stations with a semi-quantitative Agassiz trawl, ranging from the South Patagonian Icefield to the Straits of Magellan in the South Chilean fjord system. A total of 1,895 individuals belonging to 131 species were collected. 19 species belong to colonial organisms, mainly Bryozoa (17 species) and Octocorallia (2 species). The phylum Echinodermata was the most diverse in species number (47 species), with asteroids (25 species) and ophiuroids (13 species) being the best represented within this taxon. Polychaeta was the second dominant group in terms of species richness (46 species). Multidimensional scaling ordination (MDS) separated two station groups, one related to fjords and channels off the South Patagonian Icefield and the second one to stations surrounding the Straits of Magellan. 45 species account for 90% of the dissimilarity between these two groups. These differences can mainly be explained by the influence of local environmental conditions determined by processes closely related to the pres- ence/absence of glaciers. Abiotic parameters such as water depth, type of sediment and chemical features of the superficial sediment were not correlated with the numbers of individuals caught by the Agassiz trawl in each group of sampling stations.