Search

Contains fulltext : 242094.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access)

Contains fulltext : 242094.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access)

Contains fulltext : 242094.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access)

The present study tested in the Western Dutch Wadden Sea (WDW) UNESCO World Heritage Site why an on a global scale the aggressive non-indigenous red drift alga Gracilaria vermiculophylla didn’t succeed to overgrow the WDC. In such a multifaceted complex ecosystem like the dynamic WDC it seems like unraveling a Gordian knob in order to describe the inextricable relationship between this seaweed invader suppression and its (a) biotic environment. However, we succeeded at the molecular level to give a convincing reasoning at first grounded in the awareness of a since 1987 river Rhine-North-Sea-WDC severely Phosphorus (P) restricted ecosystem. Our ecological datasets gave via final DCA (Detrended Correspondence Analysis) awareness of the very compelling interaction between Ulva sp. and G.vermiculophylla. Based on LCMS-techniques we discovered that Ulva sp. have the advantage to use the biochemical pathway solely rarely observed in some euckaryotes- to have the potential to produce the betaine lipid diacylglyceryl-O-4’-(N,N,N,-trimethyl)homoserine (DGTS) which replaces the plant/seaweed cell wall structure phosphatidylcholine (PC) “lecithine” under phosphate-limiting growth conditions. Also we hope this lipidomics based compound DGTS can serve as an ecological biomarker in order to protect vulnerable ecosystems like the Wadden Sea (UNESCO World Heritage).

Consumers expect organic products to be healthier. However, limited research has been performed to study the effect of organic food on health. The present study aimed to identify biomarkers of health to enable future studies in human subjects. A feeding experiment was performed in two generations of three groups of chickens differing in immune responsiveness, which were fed identically composed feeds from either organic or conventional produce. The animals of the second generation were exposed to an immune challenge and sacrificed at 13 weeks of age. Feed and ingredients were analysed on macro- and micronutrients, i.e. vitamins, minerals, trace elements, heavy metals and microbes. The chickens were studied by general health and immune parameters, metabolomics, genomics and post-mortem evaluation. The organic and conventional feeds were comparable with respect to metabolisable energy. On average, the conventionally produced feeds had a 10 % higher protein content and some differences in micronutrients were observed. Although animals on both feeds were healthy, differences between the groups were found. The random control group of chickens fed conventional feed showed overall a higher weight gain during life span than the group on organic feed, although feed intake was mostly comparable. The animals on organic feed showed an enhanced immune reactivity, a stronger reaction to the immune challenge as well as a slightly stronger ‘catch-up growth’ after the challenge. Biomarkers for future research were identified in the parameters feed intake, body weight and growth rate, and in immunological, physiological and metabolic parameters, several of these differing most pronounced after the challenge

Multitiered quantitative analysis of biological systems is rapidly becoming the desired approach to study hierarchical functional interactions between proteins and metabolites. We describe here a novel systematic approach to analyze organisms with complex metabolic regulatory networks. By using precise analytical methods to measure biochemical constituents and their relative abundance in whole plasma of transgenic ApoE*3-Leiden mice and an isogenic wild-type control group, simultaneous snapshots of metabolic and protein states were obtained. Novel data processing and multivariate analysis tools such as Impurity Resolution Software (IMPRESS™) and Windows-based linear fit program (WINLIN™) were used to compare protein and metabolic profiles in parallel. Canonical correlations of the resulting data show quantitative relationships between heterogeneous components in the TG animals. These results, obtained solely from whole plasma analysis allowed us, in a rapid manner, to corroborate previous findings as well as find new events pertaining to dominant and peripheral events in lipoprotein metabolism of a genetically modified mammalian organism in relation to ApoE3, a key mediator of lipoprotein metabolism.

An analysis of collections of nongeniculate Corallinales (Rhodophyta) in the Onderzoekinstituut Rijksherbarium/Hortus Botanicus, Rijksuniversiteit Te Leiden (abbreviated L) has revealed the presence of type material for 114 species and infraspecific taxa. These include 35 holotypes, 21 lectotypes, 1 neotype, 15 isotypes, 25 isolectotypes, 12 syntypes and 4 paratypes. Type material of 25 authors is represented and includes taxa described by F.T. Kützing, M.H. Foslie, F.R. Kjellman, R.A. Philippi, F. Hauck, and F. Heydrich. Lectotypes have been newly designated for Lithophyllum crassum, L. crispatum, Lithothamnion macquariensis, and L. mamillosum. For each taxon, information on the protologue, nature of the type material, type locality, references to typification and published illustrations and pertinent nomenclatural and other comments are provided.

Eleven seagrass species were found in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Seagrasses occurred in five different habitats, i.e. intertidal terrigenous mudflats, shallow terrigenous sandy bays, coastal reef flats, reef flats of patch reefs, and sandy reef bases, from the intertidal to a maximum depth of 35 m. Thalassia hemprichii and Enhalus acoroides were the dominant constant species of stable environments (permanently present in climax vegetations). Cymodocea rotundata, Halodule uninervis and Halophila ovalis were the dominant pioneering species in the area. A considerable number (117) of macroalgal taxa were found associated with seagrass vegetation, but only 13 of these were found exclusively in association with seagrasses. Macroalgal biomass in the seagrass beds was usually low (< 5 g AFDW m-2). However, in stressed habitats macroalgae may contribute up to 50% to the total biomass, notably during periods of occasional blooming. Species diversity of seagrasses and associated macroalgae was much lower in stressed habitats, which are characterized by heavy sedimentation, physical instability of the substratum, or high turbidity.

A new species of coralline algae, Spongites sulawesiensis. is described. Its relationship to other species belonging to the genus Spongites is discussed. Also a new combination is made in the genus Mesophyllum, M. funafutiense.

Seaweeds are important components of tropical reef systems. The present paper deals with the Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and noncoralline Rhodophyta collected by the first author in the Spermonde Archipelago, SW Sulawesi, Indonesia, during the Buginesia-III project (November 1988-November 1990). Additional collections from this area by Keblusek (July 1991-October 1991) were also studied and the results are incorporated in the present paper. The results of the present study are compared with those of the Siboga Expedition (1899-1900), of the Danish Expedition to the Kei Islands (1914-1916), and of the Snellius-II Expedition (1985). In total, 199 taxa (80 Chlorophyta belonging to 21 genera, 36 taxa of Phaeophyta belonging to 11 genera, 83 noncoralline Rhodophyta belonging to 40 genera, and about 35 taxa of coralline algae) were collected. Of these, 72 taxa are new records for Indonesia (17 Chlorophyta, 20 Phaeophyta, and 35 noncoralline Rhodophyta). Caulerpa buginense and Udotea flabellum f. longifolia are newly described. Keys to the genera, species, and forms are provided, and remarks on the economic potential of some of the seaweeds are included.

A new species of coralline algae, Spongites sulawesiensis. is described. Its relationship to other species belonging to the genus Spongites is discussed. Also a new combination is made in the genus Mesophyllum, M. funafutiense.

Seaweeds are important components of tropical reef systems. The present paper deals with the Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and noncoralline Rhodophyta collected by the first author in the Spermonde Archipelago, SW Sulawesi, Indonesia, during the Buginesia-III project (November 1988-November 1990). Additional collections from this area by Keblusek (July 1991-October 1991) were also studied and the results are incorporated in the present paper. The results of the present study are compared with those of the Siboga Expedition (1899-1900), of the Danish Expedition to the Kei Islands (1914-1916), and of the Snellius-II Expedition (1985). In total, 199 taxa (80 Chlorophyta belonging to 21 genera, 36 taxa of Phaeophyta belonging to 11 genera, 83 noncoralline Rhodophyta belonging to 40 genera, and about 35 taxa of coralline algae) were collected. Of these, 72 taxa are new records for Indonesia (17 Chlorophyta, 20 Phaeophyta, and 35 noncoralline Rhodophyta). Caulerpa buginense and Udotea flabellum f. longifolia are newly described. Keys to the genera, species, and forms are provided, and remarks on the economic potential of some of the seaweeds are included.

Eleven seagrass species were found in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Seagrasses occurred in five different habitats, i.e. intertidal terrigenous mudflats, shallow terrigenous sandy bays, coastal reef flats, reef flats of patch reefs, and sandy reef bases, from the intertidal to a maximum depth of 35 m. Thalassia hemprichii and Enhalus acoroides were the dominant constant species of stable environments (permanently present in climax vegetations). Cymodocea rotundata, Halodule uninervis and Halophila ovalis were the dominant pioneering species in the area. A considerable number (117) of macroalgal taxa were found associated with seagrass vegetation, but only 13 of these were found exclusively in association with seagrasses. Macroalgal biomass in the seagrass beds was usually low (< 5 g AFDW m-2). However, in stressed habitats macroalgae may contribute up to 50% to the total biomass, notably during periods of occasional blooming. Species diversity of seagrasses and associated macroalgae was much lower in stressed habitats, which are characterized by heavy sedimentation, physical instability of the substratum, or high turbidity.

Three new Polycyathus species are described. Their affinities with other Polycyathus species and the affinities of the genus Polycyathus with other genera are discussed.

Three new Polycyathus species are described. Their affinities with other Polycyathus species and the affinities of the genus Polycyathus with other genera are discussed.