ALBERT

Notes: SYNOPSIS. Cytoplasmic inclusions appear rapidly in Leishmania enriettii exposed to 37 C. The staining of these droplets with oil red O, their extraction in non-polar solvents, and their fine structure by electron microscopy establish their identity as lipid droplets. Fatty acid profiles of these organisms show alterations concomitant with the development of these inclusions. Oleic acid increases while linolenic acid is depressed in cells exposed to elevated temperature. A greater incorporation of exogenous radioactive stearic acid occurs, with depressed specific activities of linoleic and linolenic acids compared to values obtained with control organisms. The isolated lipids of L. enriettii have temperature-dependent changes consistent with a physical interpretation of events which occur with temperature inactivation. The temperature lability of fatty acid metabolism is discussed in terms of the synthesis and stability of cellular membranes and organelles.

Notes: The culture of unpollinated ovules is shown to be a suitable system for the production of haploid sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). The yield of haploids depended upon the genotype and varied between 0 and 13 % with a mean of 1.0 %. Haploid plants could be produced from approximately 50 % of all genotypes examined.The majority of the haploids isolated (about 90%) maintained the haploid genome level during the in vitro culture and propagation; 10% of the haploid clones showed a spontaneous doubling to the diploid genome level.

Notes: Organic and inorganic carbon and nitrogen parameters were sampled simultaneously at 6 h intervals over a diurnal period at seven stations in a small hardwater stream in southern Michigan. Concentrations and budget values (kg/day) varied up to 10-fold at individual stations and between stations. The most constant parameters were total dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen. The most variable parameter was particulate organic carbon.Significant changes were noted in all parameters as the stream passed through different stream-side habitats. Budget values facilitated interpretation of these changes over time between stations. High variability in the concentration values was introduced by large allochthonous inputs of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and water alternately adding to or diluting parameters. Distance from upstream terrestrial DOM sources, DOM residence time, the pulsed nature of DOM inputs and biological utilization of DOM have important effects on the quality and quantity of DOM that enters recipient lakes and rivers. The importance of ground-water flux and DOM content is stressed. The DOM input and turnover within hardwater streams appears t o be in rapid, dynamic equilibrium.

Notes: A typical marl lake of the Upper Great Lakes region has very few quantitatively important aquatic macrophytes. The macrophytes, however, dominate the total primary production of the lake. Submersed vegetation is extremely sparse on the shallow (less than I m) marl bench that characterizes the littoral of these lakes, and is completely dominated by one. little-known species (Scirpus subterminalis Torr.) between 1 and 7 m.A detailed investigation of the spatial and seasonal distribution of macrophytic species and biomass showed that S. subterminalis strongly dominated the lake (79% of total biomass). S. suhterminalis represented an almost pure stand (to 200 g m−2 mean annual ash-free dry weight) at all times of the year at intermediate depths of macrophytic growth (1–6 m). Two species of Chara (of eight varieties and forms) were present in significant quantities (12% of total biomass; to 100 g m−2) but were severely limited to shallow depths (0-S-l m) and protected areas. Several annual submersed angiosperms were present (9% of total biomass), but only two species were quantitatively important. Potamogeton illinoensis Morong. and P. praelongus Wulfen formed brief summer peaks (less than 100 g m−2) at 3 and 4–6 m, respectively.A striking feature of the seasonal biomass distribution of Scirpus subterminalis was the higher, viable biomass (to 150g m−2) throughout the winter under ice cover. Cyclic fluctuations of the S. subterminalis populations were discerned at different depths, each with different periodicities. The population at 2 m exhibited a fall peak; that at 4 m had a summer maximum. The lowest overall biomass of S. subterminalis occurred in the 2 m population in June. Chara populations at 0–2 m also exhibited a relatively constant biomass throughout the year. The appearance of Nitella at 7 m in July-October and of Chara at 5 m in September-October was interpreted as an interaction between light, thermal, and carbon stratification.Estimates of macrophytic productivity of perennial (‘evergreen’) species populations whose biomass remains relatively constant throughout the year were made employing several different methods of calculation and turnover factors. All methods resulted in productivity estimates in good agreement with the conservative value of 178 g m−2 year−1 for the entire lake. In comparison to the other components (phyto-planktonic, epiphytic and epipelic algae) of the primary production of Lawrence Lake, the aquatic macrophytes constituted a major portion (anuual mean 82·77 g C m−2 year−1 or 48·3 %) of the total production of the lake.The low diversity but relatively high quantitative importance of macrophytes in marl lakes is attributed to an adverse dissolved inorganic and organic chemical milieu which inhibits phytoplanktonic production and allows only certain adapted macrophytes to develop strongly. The phenomenon of perennial biomass levels throughout the year is believed to be much more common than previously suspected and has iikely resulted from adaptations of submersed macrophytes to ameliorated conditions of water and temperatures relative to the terrestrial situation in winter.

Notes: SUMMARY. The seasonal and depth distributions of dominant phytoplankters, in situ primary productivity, organic carbon, and major chemical variables are described for Gull Lake, Michigan for the years 1971–74. Despite efforts by residents surrounding this moderately large dimictic lake to reduce phosphorus loading, all indications are of progressive eutrophication over the period. Previously dominant Cyclotella michiganiana has almost completely disappeared while araphidinean diatoms have increased greatly; certain blue-green algae that were absent previously are becoming characteristic. The ratio of araphidinean to centric diatoms in recent sediments has also increased. Primary productivity and particulate and dissolved organic carbon concentrations have also increased. Voluntary attempts to reduce nutrient loading have apparently been inadequate to arrest increasing rates of eutrophication.

Notes: 1. Pelagic trophic structure and energy fluxes are evaluated predominantly on the basis of ingestion of particulate organic matter by living organisms and the effects of consumption on the population dynamics of trophic levels.2. Population fluxes are not representative of the material and energy fluxes of either the composite pelagic region or the lake ecosystem. Metabolism of particulate and especially dissolved organic detritus from many pelagic and non-pelagic autochthonous and from allochthonous sources dominates both material and energy fluxes. Because of the very large magnitudes and relative chemical recalcitrance of these detrital sources, the large but slow metabolism of detritus provides an inherent ecosystem stability that energetically dampens the ephemeral, volatile fluctuations of higher trophic levels.3. The annual time period is the only meaningful interval in comparative quantitative analyses of material and energy fluxes at population, community, and ecosystem levels.4. Non-predatory death and metabolism by prokaryotic and protistian heterotrophs dominate. Continued application of animal-orientated relationships to the integrated, process-driven couplings of the aquatic ecosystems impedes understanding of quantitative ecosystem pathways and control mechanisms.

Notes: 〈list xml:id="l1" style="custom"〉1 The magnitude and range of water flow rates were measured within and adjacent to plant beds at different depths and among different dominant submersed plant species in the littoral zones of two lakes with contrasting morphometry.2 There was very little variability in within-bed flow rates, either for locations within or among beds. However, when significant differences occurred in within-bed flow rates, the higher rates occurred predominately near the bottom of the Scirpus subterminalis bed where the plant surface area to water volume ratio was lowest.3 Factors such as bed depth and dominant species had little effect on within-bed flow rate variance. Flows external to the plant beds were dissipated within 10–15 cm of the outer plant-bed boundary even under severe external flow-rate conditions (flow rate ∼ 30cms−1).4 The mean within-bed flow rate was 0.07cms−1 and individual experiment means ranged from 0.03 to 0.46cms−1. These flow rates resulted in estimates of laminar flow boundary layer thickness, 1 mm from the leading edge of the leaf, ranging from 9.1 to 2.3mm. These estimates are much larger than submersed macrophyte leaf thicknesses themselves (〈1 mm).

Notes: SUMMARY. Mixed natural assemblages of algae and bacteria exhibited lower rates of 14C assimilation and high rates of dissimilation of recent photosynthate when amended with low concentrations (7.2 mg 1-1) of unfractioned dissolved humic materials (DHM). The extent of the inhibition or stimulation was greatest in the smaller (1–5 μm) assemblage particles. In different algal-bacterial assemblages, additions of DHM markedly enhanced community alkaline phosphatase activity (APA), particularly under low light regimes, DHM of low apparent molecular weight was much more stimulatory to both 14C assimilation and APA than DHM of high apparent molecular weight, supporting the belief that DHM molecular weight is an important determinant of DHM interactive capacity. Higher concentrations of D HM (either unfractionated, or molecular weight fractionated) produced greater APA responses. Addition of phosphate enhanced the disparity in rates of 14C assimilation of samples incubated under low and high light regimes, increased the rates of 14C assimilation, and depressed APA. There were indications of interactions between DHM and phosphorus in several experiments. Two hypotheses were invoked to explain increases in APA in response to DHM: (1) increased competition between algae and bacteria for phosphate following bacterial release from substrate limitation, or (2) DHM may have acted as a sequestering agent for organophosphorus compounds, and in so doing, gradually depleted available phosphate. In either case, it is clear that DHM alters phosphorus cycling. This DHM characteristic may be ecologically as important as its ability to complex trace metals.