To investigate whether reproductive variation in the <I>Daphnia galeata-cucullata-hyalina</I> hybrid species complex can explain the occurrence of hybrids and backcrosses, a total of 43 clones from three north German lakes were tested for allocation to sexual reproduction under equal stress conditions. Six replicates per clone were followed until the seventh adult instar. I used the following cues to promote sexual reproduction: short photoperiod, water from a crowded <I>Daphnia</I> culture, fish-conditioned water and low food concentration. For each animal, clutch size and clutch sex were recorded. Ephippia, which were empty since the animals were cultured individually, were only produced by <I>D. cucullata</I> and <I>D. cucullata</I> × <I>hyalina</I> (26% and 6% of the broods, respectively), whereas almost all taxa produced males (the range was 2–15%). Intraspecific variation for male and ephippial production was also found. The fact that the taxa tested show different responses to the stimuli offered may indicate that there is reproductive isolation between them. This is supported by field data from the Tjeukemeer (The Netherlands) which shows that <I>D. galeata</I> mostly produces ephippia in spring and <I>D. cucullata</I> in autumn. The presence of hybrids with ephippia in both seasons, however, shows that backcrossing is also possible.

Geographic variation in maternal investment in offspring size can be adaptive if differences in investment translate into improved offspring performance in the given environments. We compared two moor frog, <I>Rana arvalis</I>, populations in the laboratory to test the hypothesis that investment in large eggs in populations originating from stressful (acid) environments improves offspring performance when reared in stressful (acid) conditions. We found that large initial size (hatchling mass) had moderate to strong, environment-dependent positive effects on larval and metamorphic traits in the acidic origin population, but only weak effects in the neutral origin population. Our results suggest that interactions between environmental conditions and initial size can be important determinants of individual performance, and that investment in large eggs is adaptive in acid environments. These findings emphasize the role of maternal effects as adaptations to environmental stress.

<br/>Cities are the most complex forms of settlements which man has built in the course of his cultural development. Their “metabolism” is connected with the world economy and is run mainly by fossil energy carriers. Up to now there are no validated models for the evaluation of a sustainable development of urban regions. <br/> The guidelines for a “sustainable development” suggest the reduction of resource consumption. The article is concerned with the problem of how the “sustainable-development concept” can be transformed from a global to a regional scale. In urban settlements the strategy of final storage should be applied. By this, the subsystem waste management can be transformed within 10 to 15 years to a “sustainable status”. <br/> With regard to the system “agronomy”, the article concludes that agriculture in urban systems should focus on food production instead of promoting reduction of food production in favour of energy plants, which is not a suitable strategy.<br/> The main problems are the energy carriers. Transformation to a “sustainble status” is only possible by a reconstruction of the urban system, i.e. of buildings and the transportation network. The rate determining step in achieving such a status is the change in the fabric of buildings and in the type of transportation networks. The reconstruction of an urban system needs, mainly for economical reasons, a time period of two generations.

The release of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into the environment has increased very substantially over the last decades. PAHs are hydrophobic molecules which can accumulate in high concentrations in sediments acting then as major secondary sources. Fish contamination can occur through contact or residence nearby sediments or though dietary exposure. In this study, we analyzed certain physiological traits in unexposed fish (F1) issued from parents (F0) exposed through diet to three PAH mixtures at similar and environmentally relevant concentrations but differing in their compositions. For each mixture, no morphological differences were observed between concentrations. An increase in locomotor activity was observed in larvae issued from fish exposed to the highest concentration of a pyrolytic (PY) mixture. On the contrary, a decrease in locomotor activity was observed in larvae issued from heavy oil mixture (HO). In the case of the third mixture, light oil (LO), a reduction of the diurnal activity was observed during the setup of larval activity. Behavioral disruptions persisted in F1-PY juveniles and in their offspring (F2). Endocrine disruption was analyzed using <I>cyp19a1b:GFP</I> transgenic line and revealed disruptions in PY and LO offspring. Since no PAH metabolites were dosed in larvae, these findings suggest possible underlying mechanisms such as altered parental signaling molecule and/or hormone transferred in the gametes, eventually leading to early imprinting. Taken together, these results indicate that physiological disruptions are observed in offspring of fish exposed to PAH mixtures through diet.

Recent studies have shown that <I>Daphnia</I> hybrids are intermediate to their parental species for several life history traits, and that they combine advantageous traits of the parental species, thereby decreasing their risk of being preyed upon by planktivorous fish. In this study <I>D. galeata</I>, <I>D. cucullata</I> and their interspecific hybrid are compared with respect to cyclomorphosis and juvenile growth as a potential mechanism to avoid invertebrate predation. Helmets and tail spines are known to reduce predation risk, whereas fast juvenile growth reduces the period that Daphnia are vulnerable to predation. In laboratory cultures, I tested the hypothesis that, with regard to cyclomorphosis, juvenile hybrids are more comparable to the juveniles of <I>D. cucullata</I>, and with respect to growth rate, they are more comparable to <I>D. galeata</I>. The hybrid did not differ significantly from <I>D. galeata</I> in the time needed to reach 0.9 mm body length. In contrast, the relative spine and helmet length of juvenile hybrids were more comparable with those of <I>D. cucullata</I>, whereas in adult instars these characters were more similar to <I>D. galeata</I>. Thus during the first juvenile instars, the hybrids combine the relative long helmet and spine of <I>D. cucullata</I>, with the faster growth of <I>D. galeata</I>. This combination of characteristics might reduce hybrid vulnerability to invertebrate predation in field situations.

1. <I>Gloeotrichia echinulata</I> - Klon Cambridge 1432-I - wächst <I>in vitro</I> in verschiedenen rein mineralischen Nährlösungen. Als besonders günstig erweist sich Medium Nr. II mit ein bis zwei Milligramm in chelierter Form gebotenem Eisen. Das Wachstum der Alge wird durch quantitative Änderungen in der Zusammensetzung dieses Mediums innert ziemlich weit auseinanderliegender Grenzen nur unwesentlich beeinflusst.<br/> 2. Ein pH-Wert des Mediums von 8 bis 9 ist für das Wachstum der Alge am besten. In der Nährlösung Nr. II stellt sie während der aktiven Wachstumsphase das ihr passende pH selber ein. Eine künstliche Adjustierung der Kulturen ist damit unnötig.<br/> 3. Ein von ALLEN und ARNON [3] für andere Blaualgen mit grossem Erfolg verwendetes Medium ist für <I>Gloeotrichia</I> ungünstig, wahrscheinlich wegen seines hohen Kaliumgehaltes.<br/> 4. <I>Gloeotrichia echinulata</I> kann vermutlich molekularen Stickstoff assimilieren.<br/> 5. Kulturversuche in grösseren Gefässen («Tower-Type-Fermentors») sind noch nicht befriedigend gelungen. Störend wirkt immer wieder die starke Schaumbildung in durchlüfteten Kulturen, die offenbar auf organische Stoffe zurückzuführen ist, welche die Alge in das Medium ausscheidet.

In an earlier publication [2] we described a probe (oxytester) for the combined and remote measurement of temperature, conductivity and oxygen content of water. The present paper describes an improved instrument for the probe that is fully transistorized and powered by nickel-cadmium batteries which can be recharged with a built-in rectifier.<br/> Water temperature is measured with the aid of thermistors and directly indicated on a 3-digit counter (Helipot Digidial). The same applies for the <I>electrical resistance</I>. <I>Specific conductivity</I> can also be read directly from the instrument, because the circuits are precalibrated and resistance and capacity of the cable compensated. Amplification of the signal renders the instrument highly sensitive. Oxygen content of the water can be measured either by TÖDT's method (without auxiliary voltage) or polarometrically (with the same zinc and gold electrodes).<br/> The instrument has been designed for routine use in limnological research, and for industrial control of water conditions. It is being manufactured in Switzerland.

(1) The study deals with the electro-chemical measuring of oxygen contents in lakes and activated sludge basins according to the method of Tödt. The non recording short time test is used.<br/> (2) Exterior influences (conductivity, temperature, current, cathode surface) are discussed.<br/> (3) An oxygen sounder with good properties as regards mechanical strength and sensibility of the electrodes is described.<br/> (4) As further development, combined sounders called ‘Oxytester’ for measuring temperature and oxygen, respectively temperature, oxygen and conductivity were designed.<br/> (5) The disturbing influence of temperature on testing of oxygen is compensated electrically.<br/> (6) Tests with the oxytester in lake investigations reveal continuous profiles of oxygen, temperature and conductivity. In this way fine proportions of stratification can also be ascertained precisely.<br/> (7) The immediate diagrammatical representation of the tested values during the work on the lake gives precious indications for further testings.<br/> (8) Possibilities of measuring by sounders are illustrated by the test profiles from investigations made in some of the lakes in the Swiss Midland.

This paper presents a new electrochemical technique for DO measurements by means of membrane electrodes. In stead of the well-known steady state measurements, a transient technique which is more sensitive was used.<br/> This gives the possibility of measuring oxygen in the μg/l range. The system is independent of the membrane material and the membrane thickness. The stirring influence is considerably less than for steady state measurements. The independence of the membrane material will be especially useful for oxygen measurements in waste purification plants.

Sowohl in qualitativer (Kolibakterien) wie in quantitativer (totale Keimzahl) Hinsicht und zum erstenmal seit Beginn unserer Beobachtungen (1957–1959) nahm die bakteriologische Verunreinigung des “Petit-Lac” (Genfersee) nicht zu. Die gegenwärtige Situation entspricht dem “statu quo ante”.

Certain aspects of the problems connected with vertical migration were investigated by a new method. The experimental animals were adult males of the spring and summer populations of <I>Cyclops abyssorum praealpinus</I> (Kiefer) and <I>Cyclops vicinus lobosus</I> (Kiefer). The swimming traces were for the first time observed continually over a period of about eight minutes and photographically recorded, without exposing the animals to additional stimulus from the recording technique. The animals' natural biotope was imitated as closely as possible and experimentally stabilised so that irradiance reductions were the only stimulus. The results can be summarised under three headings:<br/> The direct result of an intensity reduction was a passive sinking of the animals, which we have called the "wait and see"-effect. It depends mainly on the relative reduction of intensity and, to a small extent, on the basic intensity.<br/> The later, more prolonged upward movement, which we call the "swimming-up"-effect, depends mainly on the prevailing irradiance.<br/> If the irradiance is constant, the animals swim for a considerable time in a restricted region, termed the "lingering-space". Its dimensions are determined by the direction-dependent swimming velocities. These velocities vary according to the species and the time of the year.<br/> As expected, the animals showed no horizontal orientation behaviour, nor were they influenced by the short-wavelength infra-red light used for photographing. An endogenous rhythm was only barely perceptible.<br/> These results were analysed exclusively by modern statistical techniques.

In two limno-corrals loaded with heavy metals the density of tubificid worms and chironomid larvae was higher than in the control. The better oxygen conditions observed in the heavy metal loaded corrals might explain this discrepancy. The higher oxygen concentration at the sediment-water interface was due to lower organic sedimentation, consequence of the primary production reduced by heavy metals. In all limno-corrals, the tubificid populations consisted of <I>Tubifex tubifex</I>. The size structure of tubificid populations in the heavy metal loaded corrals indicated a delayed reproduction compared to the control.

The mercury content of sieved, dried sediments from 24 sampling sites in the Horwer Bucht (Lake Lucerne) and its principal tributary stream system in Horw LU (Switzerland) was determined by flameless atomic absorption analysis. Mercury content significantly above background levels was found at several points. The distribution of mercury in the bay sediments implies that the Steinibach is the principal supplier of mercury to the bay.

A model of the carbon dioxide system in nature is derived and is used to further our understanding of the factors which control this system in the oceans, the atmosphere, and the sediments.

Volutin granules are intracellular storages of complexed inorganic polyphosphate (poly P). Histochemical staining procedures differentiate between pathogenic corynebacteria such as <em>Corynebacterum diphtheriae</em> (containing volutin) and non-pathogenic species, such as <em>C. glutamicum</em>. Here we report that strains ATCC13032 and MH20-22B of the non-pathogenic <em>C. glutamicum</em> also formed subcellular entities (18–37% of the total cell volume) that had the typical characteristics of volutin granules: (i) volutin staining, (ii) green UV fluorescence when stained with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, (iii) electron-dense and rich in phosphorus when determined with transmission electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis, and (iv) ³¹P NMR poly P resonances of isolated granules dissolved in EDTA. MgCl₂ addition to the growth medium stimulated granule formation but did not effect expression of genes involved in poly P metabolism. Granular volutin fractions from lysed cells contained polyphosphate glucokinase as detected by SDS–PAGE/MALDI-TOF, indicating that this poly P metabolizing enzyme is present also in intact poly P granules. The results suggest that formation of volutin is a more widespread phenomenon than generally accepted.

Cichlid fish inhabit a diverse range of environments that vary in the spectral content of light available for vision. These differences should result in adaptive selective pressure on the genes involved in visual sensitivity, the opsin genes. This study examines the evidence for differential adaptive molecular evolution in East African cichlid opsin genes due to gross differences in environmental light conditions. First, we characterize the selective regime experienced by cichlid opsin genes using a likelihood ratio test format, comparing likelihood models with different constraints on the relative rates of amino acid substitution, across sites. Second, we compare turbid and clear lineages to determine if there is evidence of differences in relative rates of substitution. Third, we present evidence of functional diversification and its relationship to the photic environment among cichlid opsin genes. We report statistical evidence of positive selection in all cichlid opsin genes, except short wavelength–sensitive 1 and short wavelength–sensitive 2b. In all genes predicted to be under positive selection, except short wavelength–sensitive 2a, we find differences in selective pressure between turbid and clear lineages. Potential spectral tuning sites are variable among all cichlid opsin genes; however, patterns of substitution consistent with photic environment–driven evolution of opsin genes are observed only for short wavelength–sensitive 1 opsin genes. This study identifies a number of promising candidate-tuning sites for future study by site-directed mutagenesis. This work also begins to demonstrate the molecular evolutionary dynamics of cichlid visual sensitivity and its relationship to the photic environment.

The advocacy coalition framework (ACF) pays special attention to "so-called" policy brokers when explaining policy change. However, this prominent policy approach neither clearly defines who the policy brokers are nor identifies under which institutional rules they have an influence on policy processes and outputs. This article thus formulates two theoretical hypotheses that complement the ACF and then proceeds to undertake the first empirical testing of these hypotheses within the Swiss climate policy (1990-2008). The empirical results show that, in the case under investigation, the <I>strategic interest-based behavior</I> of two policy brokers (i.e., one public administration and one political party), as well as two <I>institutionalized veto points</I> (i.e., optional referendum and parliamentary committee), are crucial factors explaining policy brokers' influence on policy process and change.