The Analysis of Results of Monitoring of Biological Communities in Some Lakes

Выполнен анализ динамики первичной продукции планктона, биомассы сообществ зоопланктона и бентоса в оз. Красное (Ленинградская обл.) в период 1964–1984 гг., в Нарочанских озерах (Беларусь) с 1978 по 2010 г., а также в Щучьем заливе Ладожского озера в период его восстановления. Выявлена хорошая связь биомасс сообществ зоопланктона и бентоса с первичной продукцией планктона, рассчитаны соотношения скоростей изменения биомасс гетеротрофов и первичной продукции планктонаThe analysis of dynamics of plankton primary production, biomass of communities of zooplankton and benthos in Lake Krasnoye (Leningrad Oblast) in the period 1964–1984, in Naroch lakes (Belarus) from 1978 to 2010, and in Shchuchiy Bay of Lake Ladoga during the period of its recovery was carried out. Significant relationships between biomass of these communities and plankton primary production were identified; the ratios between the rates of change of heterotroph biomasses and plankton primary production were calculate

The Analysis of Results of Monitoring of Biological Communities in Some Lakes

Выполнен анализ динамики первичной продукции планктона, биомассы сообществ зоопланктона и бентоса в оз. Красное (Ленинградская обл.) в период 1964–1984 гг., в Нарочанских озерах (Беларусь) с 1978 по 2010 г., а также в Щучьем заливе Ладожского озера в период его восстановления. Выявлена хорошая связь биомасс сообществ зоопланктона и бентоса с первичной продукцией планктона, рассчитаны соотношения скоростей изменения биомасс гетеротрофов и первичной продукции планктонаThe analysis of dynamics of plankton primary production, biomass of communities of zooplankton and benthos in Lake Krasnoye (Leningrad Oblast) in the period 1964–1984, in Naroch lakes (Belarus) from 1978 to 2010, and in Shchuchiy Bay of Lake Ladoga during the period of its recovery was carried out. Significant relationships between biomass of these communities and plankton primary production were identified; the ratios between the rates of change of heterotroph biomasses and plankton primary production were calculate

Hydrophobic sand is a viable method of urine collection from the rat for extracellular vesicle biomarker analysis

Previously we have shown in rats a new method of urine collection, hydrophobic sand, to be an acceptable alternate in place of the traditional method using metabolic cages. Hydrophobic sand is non-toxic, induces similar or lower levels of stress in the rat, and does not contaminate clinical urine markers nor metal concentrations in collected samples (Hoffman et al., 2017 and 2018). Urine is often used in humans and many animal models as a readily-attainable biosample which contains proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs) within extracellular vesicles (EVs) that can be isolated to indicate changes in health. In order to ensure hydrophobic sand did not in any way contaminate or disrupt the extraction and analysis of these EVs and miRNAs, we used urine samples from the same 8 rats in the within-subjects crossover experiment comparing hydrophobic sand and metabolic cage collection methods. We isolated EVs and miRNAs from the urine set and examined their quantity and quality between the urine collection methods. We found no significant differences in particle size, particle concentration, total RNA, or the type and abundance of miRNAs contained within the urine EVs due to urine collection method, suggesting hydrophobic sand represents an easy-to-use, non-invasive method to collect rodent urine for EVs and biomarker studies

Functional response of midsummer planktonic and benthic communities in the Neva Estuary (eastern Gulf of Finland) to anthropogenic stress

Long-term hydrobiological research has shown that the functioning of the ecosystem of the Neva Estuary, one of the largest Baltic estuaries, has changed greatly since the beginning of the 20th century. Ineffective local water management in St. Petersburg during thelast twenty years has stimulated the development of a natural "biological plug" in the salt barrier zone in the inner part ofthe estuary and has altered the ecosystem's functioning. These changes include an increase in primary production, in the primary production:organic matter decomposition ratio, and in pelagic-benthic coupling. It has also given rise to filamentous algae blooms and intensive secondary pollution in the coastal zone of the Neva Estuary. The primary production of phytoplankton in the inner part of the estuary has reached 2.3 gC m^-2, that of the filamentous algae <i>Cladophora glomerata</i> 5.5 gC m^-2 these figures are much higher than in other regions of the Gulf of Finland