A hydrodynamic topographic map in the midbrain of goldfish Carassius auratus.
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Sensory systems often consist of several parallel pathways. Within each pathway, sensory information may be processed in topographically arranged maps or in maps derived by neuronal computation. Parallel pathways have so far not been described in the central lateral line system of teleost fish at levels higher than the medulla, and evidence for midbrain lateral line maps in fish is still weak. We found two classes of units with different response patterns in the central lateral line nucleus in the torus semicircularis of the goldfish Carassius auratus. Units of one class responded to a passing sphere and to the wake caused by that sphere with excitation. Units of the second class also responded to the moving sphere. However, these units did not respond to the wake behind the sphere. Hydrodynamic information received by class two units was topographically organized in the torus semicircularis of goldfish in that anterior body areas projected to rostral midbrain and posterior body areas to caudal midbrain. Units that responded only to the passing sphere were on average located more ventrally in the lateral TS than the units that responded exclusively to a vibrating sphere. (+info)
Public health effects of inadequately managed stormwater runoff.
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OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the scale of the public health risk from stormwater runoff caused by urbanization. METHODS: We compiled turbidity data for municipal treated drinking water as an indication of potential risk in selected US cities and compared estimated costs of waterborne disease and preventive measures. RESULTS: Turbidity levels in other US cities were similar to those linked to illnesses in Milwaukee, Wis, and Philadelphia, Pa. The estimated annual cost of waterborne illness is comparable to the long-term capital investment needed for improved drinking water treatment and stormwater management. CONCLUSIONS: Although additional data on cost and effectiveness are needed, stormwater management to minimize runoff and associated pollution appears to make sense for protecting public health at the least cost. (+info)
The three-dimensional flow field generated by a feeding calanoid copepod measured using digital holography.
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Digital in-line holography is used for measuring the three-dimensional (3-D) trajectory of a free-swimming freshwater copepod Diaptomus minutus, and simultaneously the instantaneous 3-D velocity field around this copepod. The optical setup consists of a collimated He-Ne laser illuminating a sample volume seeded with particles and containing several feeding copepods. A time series of holograms is recorded at 15 Hz using a lensless 2Kx2K digital camera. Inclined mirrors on the walls of the sample volume enable simultaneous recording of two perpendicular views on the same frame. Numerical reconstruction and matching of views determine the 3-D trajectories of a copepod and the tracer particles to within pixel accuracy (7.4 microm). The velocity field and trajectories of particles entrained by the copepod have a recirculating pattern in the copepod's frame of reference. This pattern is caused by the copepod sinking at a rate that is lower than its terminal sinking speed, due to the propulsive force generated by its feeding current. Consequently, the copepod sees the same fluid, requiring it to hop periodically to scan different fluid for food. Using Stokeslets to model the velocity field induced by a point force, the measured velocity distributions enable us to estimate the excess weight of the copepod (7.2x10(-9) N), its excess density (6.7 kg m(-3)) and the propulsive force generated by its feeding appendages (1.8x10(-8) N). (+info)
Evaluation of the impact of Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis and Temephos, used for the control of Simulium (Chirostilbia) pertinax Kollar, 1832 (Diptera, Simuliidae) on the associated entomofauna, Paraty, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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The study was set up to evaluate the impact of two commercial larvicide formulations, Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis base (Bti) at 15 ppm/1 min and temephos at 0.03 ppm of active ingredient, used to control Simulium pertinax populations, on associated non-target entomofauna occupying the same breeding sites. The experiments were carried out on the Pedra Branca and Muricana rivers, on the slopes of Serra do Mar massif, municipality of Paraty, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Bti was applied to the river Pedra Branca and temephosto theriver Muricana. On both rivers, treatment and control sections were labeled as such, each one with two observation posts: slow moving water and fast water regions respectively. Artificial substrata was used to evaluate the abundance of associated entomofauna. Attached immature stages of arthropods were removed from both of its surfaces fortnightly. Were collected, from the two rivers, 28 477 specimens of the entomofauna associated with S. pertinax. The families Hydropsychidae, Chironomidae, Bactidae, Simuliidae, Blephariceridae and Megapodagrionidae were represented. These was an impact of temephos on the entomofauna associated with S. pertinax only in Simuliidae and Chironomidae, and to Bti only in Simuliidae. However, the reduction in their numbers was not statistically significant. (+info)
Contribution of climate-driven change in continental water storage to recent sea-level rise.
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Using a global model of continental water balance, forced by interannual variations in precipitation and near-surface atmospheric temperature for the period 1981-1998, we estimate the sea-level changes associated with climate-driven changes in storage of water as snowpack, soil water, and ground water; storage in ice sheets and large lakes is not considered. The 1981-1998 trend is estimated to be 0.12 mm/yr, and substantial interannual fluctuations are inferred; for 1993-1998, the trend is 0.25 mm/yr. At the decadal time scale, the terrestrial contribution to eustatic (i.e., induced by mass exchange) sea-level rise is significantly smaller than the estimated steric (i.e., induced by density changes) trend for the same period, but is not negligibly small. In the model the sea-level rise is driven mainly by a downtrend in continental precipitation during the study period, which we believe was generated by natural variability in the climate system. (+info)
Patterns and processes of larval emergence in an estuarine parasite system.
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Trematode parasites in intertidal estuaries experience constantly varying conditions, with the presence or absence of water potentially limiting larval transport between hosts. Given the short life spans (< or =24 h) of cercariae, emergence timing should be optimized to enhance the probability of successful transmission. In the present study, field measurements and laboratory experiments identified processes that regulate the emergence of cercariae from their first intermediate snail hosts in an intertidal marsh. Larvae emerged over species-specific temperature ranges, exclusively during daylight hours, and only when snails were submerged. The three factors operate over different temporal scales: temperature monthly, light diurnally (24-h period), and water depth tidally (12-h period). Each stimulus creates a necessary condition for the next, forming a hierarchy of environmental cues. Emergence as the tide floods would favor transport within the estuary, and light may trigger direct (downward or upward) swimming toward host habitats. Abbreviated dispersal would retain asexually reproduced cercariae within the marsh, and local mixing would diversify the gene pool of larvae encysting on subsequent hosts. In contrast to the timing of cercarial release, emergence duration was under endogenous control. Duration of emergence decreased from sunrise to sunset, perhaps in response to the diminishing lighted interval as the day progresses. Circadian rhythms that control cercarial emergence of freshwater species (including schistosomes) are often set by the activity patterns of subsequent hosts. In this estuary, however, the synchronizing agent is the tides. Together, exogenous and endogenous factors control emergence of trematode cercariae, mitigating the vagaries of an intertidal environment. (+info)
Effect of disturbance on assemblages: an example using porifera.
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Extensive sponge assemblages are found in a number of habitats at Lough Hyne Marine Nature Reserve. These habitats are unusual in experiencing a range of environmental conditions, even though they are only separated by small geographic distances (1-500 m), reducing the possibility of confounding effects between study sites (e.g., silica concentrations and temperature). Sponge assemblages were examined on ephemeral (rocks), stable (cliffs), and artificial (slate panels) hard substrata from high- and low-energy environments that were used to represent two measures of disturbance (flow rate and habitat stability). Sponge assemblages varied considerably between habitat types such that only 26% (25 species) of species reported were common to both rock and cliff habitats. Seven species (of a total of 96 species) were found in the least-developed assemblages (slate panels) and were common to all habitats. Sponge assemblages on rocks and panels varied little between high- and low-energy environments, whereas assemblages inhabiting cliffs varied considerably. Assemblage composition was visualized using Bray-Curtis similarity analysis and Multi-Dimensional Scaling, which enabled differences and similarities between sponge assemblages to be visualized. Cliffs from high- and low-energy sites had different assemblage compositions compared to large rocks, small rocks, and panels, all of which had similar assemblages irrespective of environmental conditions. Differences in assemblages were partially attributed to sponge morphology (shape), as certain morphologies (e.g., arborescent species) were excluded from 2-D rock habitats. Other mechanisms were also considered responsible for the sponge assemblages associated with different habitats. (+info)
Phenotypic plasticity of HSP70 and HSP70 gene expression in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas): implications for thermal limits and induction of thermal tolerance.
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Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas, living at a range of tidal heights, routinely encounter large seasonal fluctuations in temperature. We demonstrate that the thermal limits of oysters are relatively plastic, and that these limits are correlated with changes in the expression of one family of heat-shock proteins (HSP70). Oysters were cultured in the intertidal zone, at two tidal heights, and monitored for changes in expression of cognate (HSC) and inducible (HSP) heat-shock proteins during the progression from spring through winter. We found that the "control" levels (i.e., prior to laboratory heat shock) of HSC77 and HSC72 are positively correlated with increases in ambient temperature and were significantly higher in August than in January. The elevated level of HSCs during the summer was associated with moderate, 2-3 degrees C, increases in the upper thermal limits for survival. We measured concomitant increases in the threshold temperatures (T(on)) required for induction of HSP70. Total hsp70 mRNA expression reflected the seasonal changes in the expression of inducible but not cognate members of the HSP70 family of proteins. A potential cost of increased T(on) in the summer is that there was no extension of the upper thermal limits for survival (i.e., induction of thermotolerance) after sublethal heat shock at temperatures that were sufficient to induce thermotolerance during the winter months. (+info)