Surflan and oryzalin impair reproduction in the teleost medaka (Oryzias latipes)

We conducted studies to determine if the xenoestrogens Surflan and its active ingredient oryzalin, affect indices of reproductive fitness in medaka (Oryzias latipes). Oryzalin (0.5, 0.25mg/l) or Surflan (2.0 microl/l) and oryzalin (0.5mg/l) significantly increased the mean number of non-fertilized eggs produced by treated females paired with untreated males, or by untreated females paired with treated males. Oryzalin (1.0, 0.5, 0.25mg/l) and Surflan (3.8, 2.0, 1.0 microl/l) significantly affected the time to hatch of eggs from treated females paired with untreated males, and from untreated females paired with treated males. Surflan (3.8, 2.0, 1.0 microl/l) induced intersex lesions in 80-100% of males. Oryzalin-exposed males exhibited a significant increase in the incidence of necrotic spermatids and necrotic spermatogonia, while oryzalin-exposed females had significantly fewer immature oocytes and an increase in the occurrence of hyperplastic ovaries. Our results indicate that Surflan and oryzalin affect both reproduction and gonadal histology in male and female medaka.     

Functional diversity of nematode communities in the southwestern North Sea

A range of biological traits of nematode species were combined to identify patterns in the functional composition of their assemblages collected at 19 soft-bottom stations in the southwestern North Sea with the primary aim to determine which environmental variables control communities. We used 19 categories of five biological traits thought or known to represent an important ecological function. These were related to buccal morphology, tail shape, body size, body shape and life history strategy. Data on trait membership was provided by biological information on species and genera. A total of 79 different trait combinations were recorded. Results from correlation analyses revealed several significant relationships between traits. Some trait combinations were shared by different species and genera, and the ratio of realised versus total number of possible trait combinations of < 1 suggested that some trait combinations were not represented by the nematode fauna from this region. The functional composition of nematodes was strongly linked to median particle diameter and silt content of the sediment and water depth. The approach adopted and our attempts at defining and analysing functional attributes of nematode communities raised a number of conceptual and methodological issues which are discussed.     

Tidal transport and dispersal of marine toxic microalgae in a shallow, temperate coastal lagoon

A numerical model was used to predict toxic microalgal transport and dispersion in Ria de Aveiro in Portugal. A previously developed Lagrangean particle tracking model coupled to a calibrated two-dimensional hydrodynamic model of Ria de Aveiro was used. Microalgae were regarded as passive particles and the methodology used allowed the determination of their trajectories, as induced by the tidal currents predicted by the hydrodynamic model. The model assumes Ria de Aveiro as vertically homogeneous and does not take into account the vertical distribution patterns of microalgae. Simulations were carried out during extreme spring and neap tides, with microalgal released at the mouth of the lagoon at the local flood. The maximum and minimum areas affected during the occurrence of toxic microalgal blooms were estimated to evaluate the suitability of the distribution of the sampling stations included in the local monitoring program. It was found that the tidal currents greatly determine the microalgal horizontal distribution and dispersal in the lagoon. The results confirmed that the locations of water and bivalve shellfish sampling stations, postulated by INIAP/IPIMAR, in the context of the local harmful algal bloom (HAB) program, were appropriate, although some possible refinements were identified.     

Bacterial killing by Mytilus hemocyte monolayers as a model for investigating the signaling pathways involved in mussel immune defence

The signaling pathways involved in mussel immune defence were investigated utilizing a model of killing of Escherichia coli by Mytilus galloprovincialis hemocytes in a co-culture setting. In particular, the role played by different mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and by the production of eicosanoids were investigated utilising specific cell permeant, pharmacological enzyme inhibitors. Hemocyte pretreatment with the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 significantly reduced bacterial killing, whereas PD98059 (an inhibitor of ERK--extracellularly regulated kinase--MAPK activation) had no significant effect. Wortmannin also inhibited bacterial killing, indicating a crucial role for PI3-kinase activation in the immune response. Killing of E. coli was also reduced by inhibitors of both PLA2 and cyclooxygenase activities, indicating that eicosanoid production is involved in mediating the response to bacterial challenge. The results demonstrate that bacterial killing by mussel hemocytes is particularly sensitive to inhibitors of the key steps involved in the transduction of bacterial signals into the host cell. Moreover, these data indicate that the hemocyte bactericidal activity can be suitably utilized not only for identifying the signaling pathways involved in the response to bacterial infection, but also as a potential investigative-toxicology model to test drugs and contaminants for their effect on the overall mussel immune defence.     

南极半岛外过去冰流的深海底证据

南极冰盖和冰帽的过去范围和将来稳定性是理解气候变化后果的主要依据,因为南极大陆的９９%被冰覆盖,冰下侵蚀和搬运为大量陆源沉积物输送到海底提供了唯一的手段,在以前的冰川地形中,无论在陆地上还是海洋中,带状地貌形态与先前的冰流平行非常普遍,并且可用于重建古冰流方向。这种地形形成于运动的冰流之下,由于它出现于大约２１ｋａ的末次冰期极盛时,无论是岸上和浅海冰盖的全球范围和厚度都比目前大。从那时起,在南极西部冰盖失去了２／３的质量。冰川后退引起了陆地上和海底之上这种大规模构造的出露,它们或多或少地被后来地质作用重塑…     

CHARACTERISTICS ON INTERANNUAL VARIATIONS OF NORTH PACIFIC SST AND ITS RELATION TO EAST ASIA CLIMATE

The interannual variations of the monthly sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Pacific (including Equatorial East Pacific) during 1951-1980 are analysed by means of EOF method. The findings are:(1) In the cold and warm ocean current areas, such as the North Pacific Current, the California Current and the Equatorial East Pacific areas, the convergence speeds are the fastest, while in the Kuroshio and the western part of the North Equatorial Current areas they are fast only in winter.(2) The physical features of the first 3 eigenvectors are obvious. The first eigenvector shows that the SST values are high in the south and low in the north in the latitudinal distribution of the SST field. The warm current area, i.e. the northwestern part of the North Pacific is positive and the cold current area, i.e. the southeastern part of the North Pacific including the Eastern Equatorial Pacific is negative. The zero line of the 2nd eigenvector field runs from northeast to southwest, in the same direction as the     

五种植物提取液的抗鱼病菌和抗鱼病毒效应(英文)

本文旨在探索用廉价的野生植物防治鱼病。所用的植物有牛繁缕(Stellaria aqu-atica),双花凤仙(Impatiens biflora),夜来香(Oenothera biennis),艾草(Artem-isia vulgaris)和忍冬(Lonicera japonica)。用作试验的鱼病菌共13种(18个菌株),分属于气单孢菌属、假单孢菌属、爱德华氏菌属、耶尔森氏菌属、弧菌属。所用的鱼病毒为传染性胰脏坏死病毒IPNV,传染性造血组织坏死病毒IHNV。上述病原微生物均获自美国马里兰大学微生物系。实验结果表明,五种植物提取液均有不同程度的抗鱼病菌作用,其中以牛繁缕的抗菌谱最广,作用力最强。忍冬、艾草、牛繁缕有抗鱼病毒作用。其中以忍冬的效果最好,它能抑制IPNV和IHNV。而艾草和牛繁缕只能抑制IHNV。     

Metal concentrations in sediments and clams in four Moroccan estuaries

Metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, Mn and Fe) were analyzed seasonally over three years in sediments and in tissues of the clam Scrobicularia plana in four Moroccan Atlantic estuaries: Loukkos, Sebou, Bou Regreg and Oum er Rbia. Of these metals, Cd was at the lowest concentrations in sediment. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, and to a lesser extent Ni, in sediments suggest greater contamination in Sebou and Bou Regreg than in the other estuaries. The fluctuations of Mn and Fe concentrations in the fine surface sediments reflect their continental origin and show seasonal variations that indicate soil run-off following rain events. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, and especially Ni in clam tissues in these estuaries were generally higher than in some other common bioindicator bivalve species. The seasonal variations in S. plana's tissue metal concentrations are linked to patterns of reproductive activity for all metals except Cd and possibly Zn, whose tissue concentrations may be regulated. Mn and Fe concentrations in S. plana were positively correlated to sediment levels of these metals.