The position of graptolites within Lower Palaeozoic planktic ecosystems.

An integrated approach has been used to assess the palaeoecology of graptolites both as a discrete group and also as a part of the biota present within Ordovician and Silurian planktic realms. Study of the functional morphology of graptolites and comparisons with recent ecological analogues demonstrates that graptolites most probably filled a variety of niches as primary consumers, with modes of life related to the colony morphotype. Graptolite coloniality was extremely ordered, lacking any close morphological analogues in Recent faunas. To obtain maximum functional efficiency, graptolites would have needed varying degrees of coordinated automobility. A change in lifestyle related to ontogenetic changes was prevalent within many graptolite groups. Differing lifestyle was reflected by differing reproductive strategies, with synrhabdosomes most likely being a method for rapid asexual reproduction. Direct evidence in the form of graptolithophage 'coprolitic' bodies, as well as indirect evidence in the form of probable defensive adaptations, indicate that graptolites comprised a food item for a variety of predators. Graptolites were also hosts to a variety of parasitic organisms and provided an important nutrient source for scavenging organisms

Modification of Ceo/CTo+Pd film structure under electric field influence during electron emission

We investigated the modification of structure of Ceo/Cyo+Pd films during cold electron emission from these films. Films were obtained by vacuum thermal deposition from two sources and were characterised before and after electron emission measurements by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Films were composed of nanocrystalline Pd objects dispersed in carbon/fullerenes matrix. I-V characteristics for electron emission were obtained in diode geometry with additionally applied voltage along the film surface. The modification of film structure occurred under applied electric field and the grouping of Pd nanocrystals into bigger objects was observed

Modification of Ceo/CTo+Pd film structure under electric field influence during electron emission

We investigated the modification of structure of Ceo/Cyo+Pd films during cold electron emission from these films. Films were obtained by vacuum thermal deposition from two sources and were characterised before and after electron emission measurements by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Films were composed of nanocrystalline Pd objects dispersed in carbon/fullerenes matrix. I-V characteristics for electron emission were obtained in diode geometry with additionally applied voltage along the film surface. The modification of film structure occurred under applied electric field and the grouping of Pd nanocrystals into bigger objects was observed

Relating Results of Chronic Toxicity Responses to Population-Level Effects: Modeling Effects on Wild Chinook Salmon Populations

Standard toxicity tests assess the physiological responses of individual organisms to exposure to toxic substances under controlled conditions. Time and space restrictions often prohibit the assessment of population-level responses to a toxic substance. Compounds affecting various toxicity endpoints, such as growth, fecundity, behavior, or immune function, alter different demographic traits and produce different impacts on the population. Chronic effects of immune suppression, reproductive impairment, and growth reduction were examined using life history models for Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Modeled immune suppression acted through reductions in age-specific survival, with first- and secondyear survival producing the greatest changes in the population growth rate (λ). A 10% reduction in various reproductive parameters all produced a similar λ, but different sensitivity and stable age distributions. Growth reduction models incorporated effects to both survival and reproduction and produced additive effects. Overall, model output indicated that for Chinook salmon, alteration of first-year survival has the greatest relative impact on λ. Results support the importance of linking toxicity endpoints to the demographic traits that they influence and help generate toxicity tests that are more relevant for the species. Life history modeling provides a useful tool to develop testable hypotheses regarding specific and comparative population-level impacts