Distribution of helminths in the digestive tracts of New Zealand freshwater eels

The distributions of the nematode parasites Paraquimperia sp., Spirocamallanus sp., and Cucullanus sp. in the intestines and recta of Anguilla dieffenbachii and A. australis from Lake Ellesmere and the South Branch of the Waimakariri River were studied over two years. Peak occurrence of Paraquimperia was in the anterior intestine of A. australis and mid intestine of A. dieffenbachii. Male and female Spirocamallanus sp. established in the mid intestine, but as female worms grew they attached more anteriorly and thus maintained the mid body in the mid intestine, prevented the tail end entering the rectum, and maintained the vulvae close to male worms. Cucullanus sp. was most often found in the mid intestine, but occurred throughout the intestine, possibly because of migration with food. Paraquimperia and Spirocamallanus extended their range with crowding; Cucullanus increased in density in the mid intestine. Posteriad movement, with or without subsequent evacuation, was a general feature of all species in both hosts, held live or examined after death. Chilling and freezing slowed or arrested loss from dead hosts. Larger worms (Spirocamallanus sp.) moved and were lost more rapidly than small worms (Paraquimperia sp.); worm loss was more rapid from A. dieffenbachii than from A. australis.     

Catastrophic reduction of the oyster,Tiostrea chilensis (Bivalvia: Ostreidae), in Foveaux Strait,New Zealand,due to infestation by the protistan Bonamia sp.

Between 1985 and 1992, mortality due to infestation by the protistan Bonamia sp. severely reduced the numbers of the oyster, Tiostrea chilensis in Foveaux Strait, New Zealand. In 1990, two dredge surveys gave relative estimates, and a dive survey an absolute estimate, of the size of this oyster population; this allowed us to estimate dredge efficiency precisely. This estimate was used to re‐evaluate the dredge survey of 1975–76 and relate the size of the population in 1990 to that in 1975. By 1990 the population density had declined by 67% while a dredge survey in 1992 showed that the population density had declined by 91% from 1975. A dredge survey in 1993 showed that the population had increased slightly (but not significantly) over the 1992 level. By 1992 the population had probably been reduced below 10% of the virgin level. The fishery was closed in 1993 to allow the population to rebuild. The population surveys have followed stratified random and grid pattern sampling designs and the merits of the designs and methodology are discussed.     

一株分离自北极海水红球菌(Rhodococcus sp.)B7740的生长条件及其粗类胡萝卜素提取方法的优化

红球菌(Rhodococcus sp.)B7740分离自北冰洋海水样品,前期实验表明其能产生大量黄色素,但是该菌生物量很低。本实验通过碳源、氮源、培养温度、发酵液起始pH值、菌种接种量等单因素和正交实验优化了该菌株的培养条件,在此基础上,通过对提取剂种类及pH、提取时间、料液比等的研究,优化了色素的提取条件。实验结果表明,1L陈海水中,添加5g酵母粉,5g葡萄糖,3g乳糖,7g牛肉膏;起始pH7,培养温度25℃,菌种接种量1.0%,160r/min摇床培养7d时,生物量从6.1mg/mL上升到23.08mg/mL,提高了278.4%。以上述培养条件下得到的干菌体为材料,采用pH7的无水乙醇,当料液比1:30,浸提温度75℃,浸提1h重复提取2次时,色素含量为1160.625μg/g干菌体。对色素的分析表明,该色素为类胡萝卜素,实验结果为进一步研究极地微生物红球菌(Rhodococcus sp.)B7740产类胡萝卜素的提取工艺提供了基础。     

Effects of light intensity on the growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomonas</Emphasis> sp. (Cryptophyceae)

Laboratory culture experiments have been conducted to evaluate the effects of light intensity on the growth of Cryptomonas sp. (Cryptophyceae) and the discrepancy in absorption of iron and phosphorus under different light conditions. Results show that there is an exponential correlation between algal growth rate and light intensity. The saturating and semi-saturating light values for Cryptomonas sp. cells are 150 and 47 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹, respectively. More uptake of Fe, P, and other trace elements such as Zn, Mn, Co, and Mo is observed in the low light cultures, although the algal growth rates are slow. The growth rate at 10 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ is only 10% of that at 150 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹, whereas Fe and P uptake increases by 150 and 100%, respectively. These results suggest potential implications of differentiation in absorption of iron and phosphorus at different light intensities for the occurrence of harmful algal blooms (HABs). The mechanisms of light intensity regulating nutrient uptake as well as the occurrence of HABs are also discussed.     

Two new long-legged flies in the Santonian amber of France (Diptera: Dolichopodidae)

Avenaphora gallica sp. nov., second representative of this dolichopodid genus, and Cretomicrophorus piolencensis sp. nov., third representative of this genus, are described from a new lower Santonian amber outcrop in Southern France. The relationships of Avenaphora in the Empidoidea are discussed. Avenaphora gallica and Cretomicrophorus piolencensis were found in a marine littoral swamp palaeoenvironment, as for many modern Parathalassiinae.     

细菌碳酸酐酶促进形成的碳酸盐矿物

微生物促进碳酸盐矿化机理的研究对于全球碳循环和土壤的形成与演化等科学问题具有重要的意义。为了探究细菌胞外碳酸酐酶（CA）在碳酸盐矿化过程中所起的作用,本文采用硫酸铵析出蛋白质和Tris-H2SO4缓冲液溶解蛋白质的方法提取MF-2菌株分泌的胞外CA,将其添加于一水乙酸钙—胰蛋白胨（不含碳酸根）体系中并进行了120 h的化学实验。同时设置一组不含CA的对照实验。实验结束后用离心法将固相和液相分离。利用X-射线衍射仪（XRD）和扫描电子显微镜（SEM/EDS）对沉淀物的矿物成分、元素组成和形态进行了研究,利用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱仪（ICP-OES）测定了溶液中的Ca2+浓度。实验结果表明:（1）在节杆菌属MF-2菌株胞外CA作用下形成了肉眼可见的沉淀物,其重量随着反应时间的延长而逐渐增大,而溶液中钙离子浓度随着反应时间的延长而逐渐降低。用双氧水（30%）处理的结果显示,碳酸盐矿物是沉淀物的主要组分。对照实验形成的沉淀物明显少于CA实验,而且其主要由有机物质组成。这充分地说明,MF-2菌株胞外CA可以显著地促进碳酸盐矿物沉淀。（2）在有胞外CA参与的实验早期（第48 h之前）,未形成任何结晶态物质;在实验的中后期,形成的矿物以方解石为主,含少量或不含球霰石。这明显不同于MF-2菌株的培养实验。在后一种情况下仅形成球霰石一种矿物。（3）胞外CA作用下形成的矿物形态包括菱面体形、球形和半球形,其中菱面体形矿物占主导地位。这也有别于MF-2菌株的培养实验（以球状和碗状为主）。对多张SEM照片进行的统计结果显示,菱面体形矿物所占比例有随着反应时间的延长而逐渐降低的趋势（即球形和半球形所占比例逐渐升高）,从第48 h的接近100%降低至第120 h的84%。（4）MF-2菌株胞外CA促进碳酸钙沉淀的主要机制是其加速CO2的水化反应,参与反应的CO2可能主要源于空气。      

On the Lu-Hf Isotope Geochemistry of Silicate Rocks

This paper reviews the history (TIMS, hot‐SIMS, MC‐ICP‐MS), significance, geochemical behaviour and current uncertainties (λ¹⁷⁶ Lu, Hf‐Nd Bulk Silicate Earth) surrounding the Lu‐Hf isotope system, and thus marks two decades of its application to geochemical problems. An appendix further presents (a) improvements to the original chemistry protocol of Blichert‐Toft et al. (1997) for application to Mg‐rich samples and (b) a compilation of previously published and new Hf isotope determinations by MC‐ICP‐MS for a set of international rock reference materials. Prior to the advent of multiple‐collector plasma source mass spectrometry (MC‐ICP‐MS), routine analysis of the Lu‐Hf isotope system developed only slowly because of the extreme difficulty of measuring Hf isotope compositions with thermal ionisation mass spectrometry, caused by the very high first ionisation potential of Hf. However, Hf isotope compositions can be measured relatively easily using MC‐ICP‐MS and this new technique now provides reproducible measurements at high precision regardless of the matrix from which Hf is separated. Of the commonly used long‐lived radiogenic isotope systems, only the Sm‐Nd and Lu‐Hf isotope systems are unaffected by parent/daughter fractionations related to volatile nebular processes and core formation. While other systems (Rb‐Sr, U‐Th‐Pb, Re‐Os) may also be used to investigate the chemical evolution of the Earth, Moon, Mars and parent bodies of differentiated meteorites, the larger uncertainties in their bulk chemical and isotopic values limit their application to determine geochemical budgets and assess planetary mantle‐crust evolution. In the study of garnet‐bearing rocks, both for dating purposes and as an isotopic tracer for source provenance and mantle processes, the Lu‐Hf isotope system likewise is of major interest because of the high partition coefficient of Lu compared to Hf for garnet with respect to other minerals. Furthermore, the larger Lu/Hf fractionation compared to Sm/Nd during melting beneath ridges produces proportionally higher Lu/Hf in the residue and faster in‐growth of a radiogenic Hf isotopic signature (compared to Nd), which may help shed light on the dynamics of mantle melting. While the chemistry protocol and mass spectrometric technique for high‐precision Lu‐Hf isotope analysis have been resolved in satisfactory ways over the past five years, more accurate determination of the decay constant for ¹⁷⁶ Lu, at present known with a precision of only about 4%, still needs to be completed and a consensus reached on which value to use for future Lu‐Hf isotope studies. Although the current combined Lu‐Hf and Sm‐Nd Bulk Silicate Earth parameters are plagued by possible incompatibilities in chondrite selection and potential interlaboratory biases, a more accurate set of values may not be readily established owing to heterogeneities in the isotopic composition of chondrites that far exceed present analytical accuracy.     

Le magmatisme basique hercynien et post-hercynien du Système central espagnol : essai de caractérisation des sources mantelliques

Basic magmatism in central Spain occurred sporadically during a long period of ca. 140 Ma. The geochemical data on representative samples from the five igneous episodes show that different mantle reservoirs were tapped. Crustal involvement (via recycling in mantle sources or by hybridization at emplacement levels) was important in the basic magmas related to the Hercynian orogeny (Gb1 to Gb3 suites). Samples occurring as later dykes have signatures ranging from OIB-like values (Gb4 alkaline lamprophyres) to those of a formerly enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle (tholeiites Gb5). To cite this article: C. Villaseca et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

A new species of the genus Besania Brough 1939 from the Middle Triassic of Canton Grisons (Switzerland) with a discussion of the phylogenetic status of the taxon

Recent excavations in the Middle Triassic Prosanto Formation (Ladinian, Ct. Grisons, Switzerland) have produced new material of the genus Besania Brough 1939. These specimens show many previously unrecorded details. Some features differ from those of the type species Besania micrognathus, and we therefore erect a new species, Besania schaufelbergeri sp. nov. This new material has prompted a re-evaluation of the phylogenetic interrelationships of the genus. The taxon seems to be closely related to basal Halecostomi. An erratum to this article is available at .