ALBERT

Description: Mutations or environmental factors that result in reversal of conspicuous left–right asymmetries provide an opportunity to study developmental mechanisms. They may also provide insight into evolutionary changes in asymmetry states within and between species. King crabs (family Lithodidae) have a larger right claw and females typically exhibit a dextrally offset abdomen. Nevertheless, I observed a high incidence of left handedness in laboratory reared box crabs (Lopholithodes foraminatus) and captured the first known egg-bearing female lithodid to exhibit reversed asymmetry. This provided a unique opportunity to characterize the reversed phenotype and to compare the incidence of reversed asymmetry in the offspring of normal and reversed females. Asymmetry of the chelae became apparent in the first postzoeal stage (glaucothoe) and handedness was maintained through subsequent instars. Females with larger left claws developed reversed abdominal asymmetry by the fourth crab stage. No reversed asymmetry was observed in the mandibles of zoea larvae or juveniles of either handedness. The incidence of reversed asymmetry in glaucothoe reared from one reversed and three normal females was high (between 20% and 30%), and independent of maternity (P=0.67). Removal of the right cheliped of fourth stage zoeae, and the major cheliped of glaucothoe, did not reverse the direction of asymmetry. Elevated larval rearing temperature also did not affect the frequency of reversed individuals. This lack of evidence for either heritability or induction of handedness is enigmatic. Further investigation of reversed asymmetry in lithodid crabs may provide valuable insights into the development and evolution of bilateral asymmetries.

Description: Here we show the use of the 210Pb-226Ra excess method to determine the growth rate of two corals from the world's largest known cold-water coral reef, Røst Reef, north of the Arctic circle off Norway. Colonies of each of the two species that build the reef, Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, were collected alive at 350 m depth using a submersible. Pb and Ra isotopes were measured along the major growth axis of both specimens using low level alpha and gamma spectrometry and trace element compositions were studied. 210Pb and 226Ra differ in the way they are incorporated into coral skeletons. Hence, to assess growth rates, we considered the exponential decrease of initially incorporated 210Pb, as well as the increase in 210Pb from the decay of 226Ra and contamination with 210Pb associated with Mn-Fe coatings that we were unable to remove completely from the oldest parts of the skeletons. 226Ra activity was similar in both coral species, so, assuming constant uptake of 210Pb through time, we used the 210Pb-226Ra chronology to calculate growth rates. The 45.5 cm long branch of M. oculata was 31 yr with an average linear growth rate of 14.4 ± 1.1 mm yr−1 (2.6 polyps per year). Despite cleaning, a correction for Mn-Fe oxide contamination was required for the oldest part of the colony; this correction corroborated our radiocarbon date of 40 yr and a mean growth rate of 2 polyps yr−1. This rate is similar to the one obtained in aquarium experiments under optimal growth conditions.

Description: Eutrophication, coupled with loss of herbivory due to habitat degradation and overharvesting, has increased the frequency and severity of macroalgal blooms worldwide. Macroalgal blooms interfere with human activities in coastal areas, and sometimes necessitate costly algal removal programmes. They also have many detrimental effects on marine and estuarine ecosystems, including induction of hypoxia, release of toxic hydrogen sulphide into the sediments and atmosphere, and the loss of ecologically and economically important species. However, macroalgal blooms can also increase habitat complexity, provide organisms with food and shelter, and reduce other problems associated with eutrophication. These contrasting effects make their overall ecological impacts unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the overall effects of macroalgal blooms on several key measures of ecosystem structure and functioning in marine ecosystems. We also evaluated some of the ecological and methodological factors that might explain the highly variable effects observed in different studies. Averaged across all studies, macroalgal blooms had negative effects on the abundance and species richness of marine organisms, but blooms by different algal taxa had different consequences, ranging from strong negative to strong positive effects. Blooms' effects on species richness also depended on the habitat where they occurred, with the strongest negative effects seen in sandy or muddy subtidal habitats and in the rocky intertidal. Invertebrate communities also appeared to be particularly sensitive to blooms, suffering reductions in their abundance, species richness, and diversity. The total net primary productivity, gross primary productivity, and respiration of benthic ecosystems were higher during macroalgal blooms, but blooms had negative effects on the productivity and respiration of other organisms. These results suggest that, in addition to their direct social and economic costs, macroalgal blooms have ecological effects that may alter their capacity to deliver important ecosystem services.

Description: Transfer of the small gaseous molecules CO2 and NH3 across biological membranes, long thought to occur solely by simple diffusion, is now known to be facilitated by members of two multigene families: aquaporins (AQP) and rhesus (Rh) proteins. Although it is accepted that AQP1 and Rh proteins are involved in CO2 and NH3 transfer, respectively, the idea that a single channel can exhibit selectivity for both gases is controversial. Indeed, studies using the same in vitro model (human red blood cells) have provided evidence both for and against a role for Rh proteins as CO2 channels. Thus, this study was initiated to provide in vivo evidence for a dual function of Rh proteins as ammonia and CO2 channels. Here, we show that in zebrafish (Danio rerio), direct ammonia–CO2 competition experiments in adults or translational knockdowns of Rh proteins in larvae affects both ammonia and CO2 excretion. These results suggest that Rh proteins in zebrafish may be common pathways for transport of ammonia and CO2.

Description: Metagenomic techniques are used to analyse bacterial communities allowing both culturable and unculturable species to be represented. However, the screening of oral metagenomic samples can be hindered by high animal host DNA content. This study evaluated methods for the reduction of human DNA concentrations within oral metagenomic samples. Plaque samples were collected from 27 patients presenting with periodontal disease and treated to remove human DNA using either selective lysis of eukaryotic cells at several buffer concentrations or differential centrifugation after treatment with trypsin and/or detergents. Human and bacterial DNA levels were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The human DNA content of plaque extracts was significantly reduced by all treatments compared with an untreated control (P 〈 0.05). However, differential centrifugation simultaneously reduced the bacterial DNA content unless samples were pretreated with a detergent. Observations of Gram stained samples that were processed using differential centrifugation without detergent suggest that many bacteria remain adhered to human cells. An approach that uses differential centrifugation in parallel with selective lysis is recommended to fully represent the oral microbiota in metagenomic samples, including those tightly adhered to human cells and more delicate bacteria such as Mycoplasma.

Description: The evolution of internal structure plays a pivotal role in the macroscopic response of granular materials to applied loads. A case in point is the so‐called ‘stress–dilatancy relation’, a cornerstone of Soil Mechanics. Numerous attempts have been made to unravel the connection between stress–dilatancy and the evolution of fabric and contact forces in a deforming granular medium. We re‐examine this connection in light of the recent findings on force chain evolution, in particular, that of collective force chain failure by buckling. This study is focussed on two‐dimensional deformation of dense granular assemblies. Analysis of individual and collective force chain bucklings is undertaken using data from a discrete element simulation. It is shown that the kinematics of force chain buckling lead to significant levels of local dilatation being developed in the buckling force chain particles and their confining first‐ring neighbors. Findings from the simulation are used to guide the development of a lattice model of collective, localized force chain buckling. Consideration of the statics and kinematics of this process yields a new stress–dilatancy relation. The physics of buckling, even at its simplest form, introduces a richness into the stress–dilatancy formulation in a way that preserves the essential aspects of fabric evolution, specifically the buckling mode.

Description: Marine myxobacteria (Enhygromyxa, Plesiocystis, Pseudoenhygromyxa, Haliangium) are phylogenetically distant from their terrestrial counterparts. Salimabromide is the first natural product from the Plesiocystis/Enhygromyxa clade of obligatory marine myxobacteria. Salimabromide has a new tetracyclic carbon skeleton, comprising a brominated benzene ring, a furano lactone residue, and a cyclohexane ring, bridged by a seven-membered cyclic moiety. The absolute configuration was deduced from experimental and calculated CD data. Salimabromide revealed antibiotic activity towards Arthrobacter cristallopoietes.

Description: Cold-water coral (CWC) reefs are heterogeneous ecosystems comprising numerous microhabitats. A typical European CWC reef provides various biogenic microhabitats (within, on and surrounding colonies of coral species such as Lophelia pertusa, Paragorgia arborea and Primnoa resedaeformis, or formed by their remains after death). These microhabitats may be surrounded and intermixed with non-biogenic microhabitats (soft sediment, hard ground, gravel/pebbles, steep walls). To date, studies of distribution of sessile fauna across CWC reefs have been more numerous than those investigating mobile fauna distribution. In this study we quantified shrimp densities associated with key CWC microhabitat categories at the Røst Reef, Norway, by analysing image data collected by towed video sled in June 2007. We also investigated shrimp distribution patterns on the local scale (〈40 cm) and how these may vary with microhabitat. Shrimp abundances at the Røst Reef were on average an order of magnitude greater in biogenic reef microhabitats than in non-biogenic microhabitats. Greatest shrimp densities were observed in association with live Paragorgia arborea microhabitat (43 shrimp m−2, SD = 35.5), live Primnoa resedaeformis microhabitat (41.6 shrimp m−2, SD = 26.1) and live Lophelia pertusa microhabitat (24.4 shrimp m−2, SD = 18.6). In non-biogenic microhabitat, shrimp densities were 〈2 shrimp m−2. CWC reef microhabitats appear to support greater shrimp densities than the surrounding non-biogenic microhabitats at the Røst Reef, at least at the time of survey.

Description: Submarine canyons are known as one of the seafloor morphological features where living cold-water coral (CWC) communities develop in the Mediterranean Sea. We investigated the CWC community of the two westernmost submarine canyons of the Gulf of Lions canyon system: the Cap de Creus Canyon (CCC) and Lacaze-Duthiers Canyon (LDC). Coral associations have been studied through video material recorded by means of a manned submersible and a remotely operated vehicle. Video transects have been conducted and analyzed in order to obtain information on (1) coral bathymetric distribution and density patterns, (2) size structure of coral populations, and (3) coral colony position with respect to the substrate. Madrepora oculata was the most abundant CWC in both canyons, while Lophelia pertusa and Dendrophyllia cornigera mostly occurred as isolated colonies or in small patches. An important exception was detected in a vertical cliff in LDC where a large L. pertusa framework was documented. This is the first record of such an extended L. pertusa framework in the Mediterranean Sea. In both canyons coral populations were dominated by medium and large colonies, but the frequent presence of small-sized colonies also indicate active recruitment. The predominant coral orientation (90° and 135°) is probably driven by the current regime as well as by the sediment load transported by the current flows. In general, no clear differences were observed in the abundance and in the size structure of the CWC populations between CCC and LDC, despite large differences in particulate matter between canyons.

Description: Cormorants, Phalacocorax spp., have great potential to affect recreational fisheries and have increased substantially in abundance over the last decades in UK inland waters. Fabricated refuges provide a potential means of reducing fish losses, yet the benefits of such structures may be marginal if natural shelters are abundant and favoured, or if strong density-dependence limits refuge use. This study examined the efficacy of artificial shelters in mesocosm enclosures that allowed standardised and replicated observations of roach, Rutilus rutilus (L.), distribution. When given a choice between occupying open water, simulated reedbeds and artificial brushwood shelters, roach used brushwood shelters extensively across a range of fish densities. When fish had a choice of occupying open water or reedbeds offering no overhead cover, they actively avoided reedbeds and used open water almost exclusively. Occupation of reedbeds was positively related to the amount of overhead cover they provided. When artificial brushwood shelters and reedbeds offered complete overhead cover, brushwood shelters were occupied twice as much as reedbeds. Artificial shelters may therefore have wide application in stillwaters with abundant reedbeds unless the reedbeds are coupled with extensive overhead cover.