In a previous study, a major remodeling of lipids, consistent with the theory of homeoviscous adaptation, was observed in the juvenile hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria during a temperature reduction from 24 to -1°C. In addition, the lipid remodeling varied between genetically distinct lines of hard clams. The present study examined whether adult hard clams originating from different locations and a selectively bred variety show differences related to their genetic characteristics in the remodeling of lipids that normally occur during decreasing temperatures. Wild hard clams from 4 locations in Atlantic Canada and the selectively bred M. mercenaria var. notata were held at an aquaculture growout site located at the northern distribution limit of the species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence from August to December 2006. Gills were sampled monthly for lipid analyses. Hard clams from the 5 groups showed an increase in the unsaturation index, mainly attributable to 22:6n-3 and 20:5n-3 as temperature decreased during the fall, followed by an increase in the phospholipid to sterol ratio in December. Although hard clams from the wild showed a lower unsaturation index than the selectively bred clams, there was no effect of location on the lipid remodeling. This result coincided with low genetic differentiation among hard clams from the 5 groups. Interestingly, the levels of 20:5n-3, 20:4n-6 and 22:6n-3 -3 fatty acids obtained from the diet -were generally lower in the environment compared to the levels in hard clams, thus suggesting some mechanisms for the selective incorporation of these fatty acids in hard clams.
The objective of the study was to determine whether there are differences in Escherichia coli counts in relation to seasonal and ⁄ or spatial distribution patterns in a conditional shellfishgrowing zone located in the Richibucto estuary, New Brunswick, Canada. E. coli concentrations in surface water, sediments, suspended and bottom cultured American oysters (Crassostrea virginica) were determined. Contamination levels in water were significantly lower than in sediments, bottom and suspended cultured oysters (P < 0.01; P < 0.05, P < 0.01, n = 303, respectively). No significant difference in fecal contamination was observed between suspended and bottom cultured oysters (P > 0.05, n = 303). Seasonal variations (temporal) had a significant influence on fecal coliform contamination of all components (P < 0.01, n = 303, linear model). E. coli concentration levels were as much as ten times higher in sediments than in water. Furthermore, results suggest that E. coli concentration levels in sediments are a more reliable indicator of the sanitary status of a grow-out operation than E. coli levels in water. Considering only sampling dates when contamination levels in oysters exceeded the established threshold of 230 MPN, less than 50% of the cases were predicted by water contamination while as many as 89.9% of the samples were predicted by sediment contamination using the proposed threshold of 75 MPN per 100 g. This paper emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the significant role sediments play in the dynamics of contamination by E. coli in areas that are currently exploited or are being considered for shellfish aquaculture. The presence of E. coli in sediments should not be overlooked as an integral factor in assessing the environmental sanitary status.
Background Climate change is expected to increase fire activity across the circumboreal zone, including central Siberia. However, few studies have quantitatively assessed potential changes in fire regime characteristics, or considered possible spatial variation in the magnitude of change. Moreover, while simulations indicate that changes in climate are likely to drive major shifts in Siberian vegetation, knowledge of future forest dynamics under the joint influence of changes in climate and fire regimes remains largely theoretical. We used the forest landscape model, LANDIS-II, with PnET-Succession and the BFOLDS fire extension to simulate changes in vegetation and fire regime characteristics under four alternative climate scenarios in three 10,000-km2 study landscapes distributed across a large latitudinal gradient in lowland central Siberia. We evaluated vegetation change using the fire life history strategies adopted by forest tree species: fire resisters, fire avoiders, and fire endurers. Results Annual burned area, the number of fires per year, fire size, and fire intensity all increased under climate change. The relative increase in fire activity was greatest in the northernmost study landscape, leading to a reduction in the difference in fire rotation period between study landscapes. Although the number of fires per year increased progressively with the magnitude of climate change, mean fire size peaked under mild or moderate climate warming in each of our study landscapes, suggesting that fuel limitations and past fire perimeters will feed back to reduce individual fire extent under extreme warming, relative to less extreme warming scenarios. In the Southern and Mid-taiga landscapes, we observed a major shift from fire resister-dominated forests to forests dominated by broadleaved deciduous fire endurers (Betula and Populus genera) under moderate and extreme climate warming scenarios, likely associated with the substantial increase in fire activity. These changes were accompanied by a major decrease in average cohort age and total vegetation biomass across the simulation landscapes. Conclusions Our results imply that climate change will greatly increase fire activity and reduce spatial heterogeneity in fire regime characteristics across central Siberia. Potential ecological consequences include a widespread shift toward forests dominated by broadleaved deciduous species that employ a fire endurer strategy to persist in an increasingly fire-prone environment.
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