Ecological, physiological, and biomechanical differences between gametophytes and sporophytes of Chondrus ocellatus (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta).

Although variation among habitats in the ratio of gametophytes to sporophytes has been reported in various gigartinacean species, factors controlling the phase ratio remain poorly understood. Over 18 months, we examined the phase ratio of Chondrus ocellatus at three sites: a sheltered intertidal site, Hiruga A; an exposed intertidal site, Hiruga B; and a subtidal site, Shikimi. The mean proportion of gametophytes at Hiruga A (73.

Exposure of a herbivorous fish to ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs from the riverbed following the Fukushima disaster.

Ayu Plecoglossus altivelis, a herbivorous fish, is an important fishery resource and key component of the foodweb in many Japanese streams. Radionuclide contamination of this species is likely transferred to higher trophic levels, include humans, in the food chain. After the Fukushima accident in March 2011, ayu were exposed to highly contaminated silt while feeding on algae attached to the riverbed stones.

Effects of tributyltin on the energy metabolism of pen shell (Atrina pectinata japonica).

We examined the effects of tributyltin (TBT) on aerobic and anaerobic energy metabolism of pen shell (Atrina pectinata japonica). We exposed pen shells to TBT at nominal concentrations of 0 (control) and 1.0microg/l for 72h under aerobic condition.

Tributyltin contamination of bivalves in coastal areas around northern Kyushu, Japan.

We determined tributyltin (TBT) concentrations in bivalve samples of blue mussel (Myitlus edulis), Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) and pen shell (Atrina pectinata) collected from coastal areas around northern Kyushu in 1998 and 2001. TBT was detected in all bivalve samples collected, ranging in concentration from 0.008 to 0.

Liquid chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry studies on the states of water in polystyrene-divinylbenzene copolymer gels.

The thermal phase transition behavior of water incorporated in crosslinked polystyrene-divinylbenzene copolymer (PS-DVB) gel packings for liquid chromatography was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. Free or bulk water, freezable bound or intermediate water, and nonfreezing water were observed for TSKgel Styrene-250 samples, while only free water and nonfreezing water were observed for TSKgel Styrene-60 samples. Freezable bound water and nonfreezing water in these gel samples were considered to be water confined in pores of the polymer gels.