Photoregulation of morphological structure and its physiological relevance in the cyanobacterium Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis

The spiral structure of the cyanobacterium Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis (Nordst.) Gomont was previously found to be altered by solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 280-400 nm). However, how photosynthetic active radiation (PAR, 400-700 nm) and UVR interact in regulating this morphological change remains unknown. Here, we show that the spiral structure of A. platensis (D-0083) was compressed under PAR alone at 30A degrees C, but that at 20A degrees C, the spirals compressed only when exposed to PAR with added UVR, and that UVR alone (the PAR was filtered out) did not tighten the spiral structure, although its presence accelerated morphological regulation by PAR. Their helix pitch decreased linearly as the cells received increased PAR doses, and was reversible when they were transferred back to low PAR levels. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that a 52.0 kDa periplasmic protein was more abundant in tighter filaments, which may have been responsible for the spiral compression. This spiral change together with the increased abundance of the protein made the cells more resistant to high PAR as well as UVR, resulting in a higher photochemical yield.National Natural Science Foundation of China [40676063, 40876058]; National Non-profit Institutes [2008M15

Photosynthetically active and UV radiation act in an antagonistic way in regulating buoyancy of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis (cyanobacterium)

Buoyancy provided by gas vesicles has been suggested to play an important role in regulating vertical distribution and nutrient acquisition in cyanobacteria. However, little is known about how changes in UV radiation (UVR, 280-400 nm) would affect the buoyancy. We have shown here that the floatation activity of the economically important cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis (D-0083) decreased with increased photosynthetic rates associated with increased photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), but it decreased less in the presence of UVR, which resulted in inhibitory effects. When the cells were grown under isoenergetic levels of solar PAR or UVR alone, they migrated downward under PAR but maintained buoyant under UVR. The buoyancy regulation of A. platensis depended on the exposed levels of PAR as well as UVR, which affected photosynthesis and growth in an antagonistic way. The buoyancy of A. platensis in water columns is likely to be dependant on diurnal photosynthetic performance regulated by solar radiation, and can hardly be considered as an active strategy to gain more energy during sunrise/sunset or to escape from harmful irradiation during the noon period. Crown Copyright (c) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.National Natural Science Foundation of China [90411018]; Guangdong Natural Science Foundation [06105649]; National Non-profit Institutes [2008M15]; Hainan DIC Microalgae Co. Lt

Photosynthetically active and UV radiation act in an antagonistic way in regulating buoyancy of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis (cyanobacterium)

Buoyancy provided by gas vesicles has been suggested to play an important role in regulating vertical distribution and nutrient acquisition in cyanobacteria. However, little is known about how changes in UV radiation (UVR, 280-400 nm) would affect the buoyancy. We have shown here that the floatation activity of the economically important cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis (D-0083) decreased with increased photosynthetic rates associated with increased photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), but it decreased less in the presence of UVR, which resulted in inhibitory effects. When the cells were grown under isoenergetic levels of solar PAR or UVR alone, they migrated downward under PAR but maintained buoyant under UVR. The buoyancy regulation of A. platensis depended on the exposed levels of PAR as well as UVR, which affected photosynthesis and growth in an antagonistic way. The buoyancy of A. platensis in water columns is likely to be dependant on diurnal photosynthetic performance regulated by solar radiation, and can hardly be considered as an active strategy to gain more energy during sunrise/sunset or to escape from harmful irradiation during the noon period. Crown Copyright (c) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.National Natural Science Foundation of China [90411018]; Guangdong Natural Science Foundation [06105649]; National Non-profit Institutes [2008M15]; Hainan DIC Microalgae Co. Lt

Effects of lateral morphology on swimming performance in two sturgeon species

Fish express a high degree of diversity in morphology, which is closely related to behaviors such as swimming ability. The effect of morphology on swimming performance is explored using geometric morphometric analyses and classic critical swimming speed (Ucrit) tests in Chinese sturgeon Acipenser sinensis and Siberian sturgeon A.baerii. It was found that A.sinensis is a stronger swimmer compared to A.baerii, with an average 25% higher Ucrit (expressed in body lengths per second). In A.sinensis, the depth and length of the snout and the trailing edge length of the dorsal fin were negatively correlated with Ucrit, whereas the height of the trunk anterior, the leading edge length of the dorsal fin and anal fin, and the length and width of the ventral lobe were positively related to Ucrit; similar relationships between Ucrit and morphological characters of the anterior trunk, dorsal fin, anal fin and caudal fin were found in A.baerii. Moreover, although the degree of upward bending of the snout of A.baerii was negatively related to Ucrit, there was a positive relationship between the length of the caudal peduncle and Ucrit as well as between the dorsal tail lobe and Ucrit. In addition, the streamline index (SI) was calculated by comparing landmark coordinates on the trunk displayed in the relative warp, with its corresponding point on the NACA (the U.S. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) airfoil shape. SI showed that the body shape in RW1 of the A.baerii with more swimming capacity was more approximate to the NACA 0016 airfoil shape, but there was no such symmetry for A.sinensis, possibly due to body bending caused by stiffness.Fish express a high degree of diversity in morphology, which is closely related to behaviors such as swimming ability. The effect of morphology on swimming performance is explored using geometric morphometric analyses and classic critical swimming speed (Ucrit) tests in Chinese sturgeon Acipenser sinensis and Siberian sturgeon A.baerii. It was found that A.sinensis is a stronger swimmer compared to A.baerii, with an average 25% higher Ucrit (expressed in body lengths per second). In A.sinensis, the depth and length of the snout and the trailing edge length of the dorsal fin were negatively correlated with Ucrit, whereas the height of the trunk anterior, the leading edge length of the dorsal fin and anal fin, and the length and width of the ventral lobe were positively related to Ucrit; similar relationships between Ucrit and morphological characters of the anterior trunk, dorsal fin, anal fin and caudal fin were found in A.baerii. Moreover, although the degree of upward bending of the snout of A.baerii was negatively related to Ucrit, there was a positive relationship between the length of the caudal peduncle and Ucrit as well as between the dorsal tail lobe and Ucrit. In addition, the streamline index (SI) was calculated by comparing landmark coordinates on the trunk displayed in the relative warp, with its corresponding point on the NACA (the U.S. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) airfoil shape. SI showed that the body shape in RW1 of the A.baerii with more swimming capacity was more approximate to the NACA 0016 airfoil shape, but there was no such symmetry for A.sinensis, possibly due to body bending caused by stiffness

Many Labs 2: Investigating Variation in Replicability Across Samples and Settings

We conducted preregistered replications of 28 classic and contemporary published findings, with protocols that were peer reviewed in advance, to examine variation in effect magnitudes across samples and settings. Each protocol was administered to approximately half of 125 samples that comprised 15,305 participants from 36 countries and territories. Using the conventional criterion of statistical significance (p < .05), we found that 15 (54%) of the replications provided evidence of a statistically significant effect in the same direction as the original finding. With a strict significance criterion (p < .0001), 14 (50%) of the replications still provided such evidence, a reflection of the extremely high-powered design. Seven (25%) of the replications yielded effect sizes larger than the original ones, and 21 (75%) yielded effect sizes smaller than the original ones. The median comparable Cohen’s ds were 0.60 for the original findings and 0.15 for the replications. The effect sizes were small (< 0.20) in 16 of the replications (57%), and 9 effects (32%) were in the direction opposite the direction of the original effect. Across settings, the Q statistic indicated significant heterogeneity in 11 (39%) of the replication effects, and most of those were among the findings with the largest overall effect sizes; only 1 effect that was near zero in the aggregate showed significant heterogeneity according to this measure. Only 1 effect had a tau value greater than .20, an indication of moderate heterogeneity. Eight others had tau values near or slightly above .10, an indication of slight heterogeneity. Moderation tests indicated that very little heterogeneity was attributable to the order in which the tasks were performed or whether the tasks were administered in lab versus online. Exploratory comparisons revealed little heterogeneity between Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) cultures and less WEIRD cultures (i.e., cultures with relatively high and low WEIRDness scores, respectively). Cumulatively, variability in the observed effect sizes was attributable more to the effect being studied than to the sample or setting in which it was studied

Many Labs 2: Investigating Variation in Replicability Across Samples and Settings

We conducted preregistered replications of 28 classic and contemporary published findings, with protocols that were peer reviewed in advance, to examine variation in effect magnitudes across samples and settings. Each protocol was administered to approximately half of 125 samples that comprised 15,305 participants from 36 countries and territories. Using the conventional criterion of statistical significance (p < .05), we found that 15 (54%) of the replications provided evidence of a statistically significant effect in the same direction as the original finding. With a strict significance criterion (p < .0001), 14 (50%) of the replications still provided such evidence, a reflection of the extremely high-powered design. Seven (25%) of the replications yielded effect sizes larger than the original ones, and 21 (75%) yielded effect sizes smaller than the original ones. The median comparable Cohen’s ds were 0.60 for the original findings and 0.15 for the replications. The effect sizes were small (< 0.20) in 16 of the replications (57%), and 9 effects (32%) were in the direction opposite the direction of the original effect. Across settings, the Q statistic indicated significant heterogeneity in 11 (39%) of the replication effects, and most of those were among the findings with the largest overall effect sizes; only 1 effect that was near zero in the aggregate showed significant heterogeneity according to this measure. Only 1 effect had a tau value greater than .20, an indication of moderate heterogeneity. Eight others had tau values near or slightly above .10, an indication of slight heterogeneity. Moderation tests indicated that very little heterogeneity was attributable to the order in which the tasks were performed or whether the tasks were administered in lab versus online. Exploratory comparisons revealed little heterogeneity between Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) cultures and less WEIRD cultures (i.e., cultures with relatively high and low WEIRDness scores, respectively). Cumulatively, variability in the observed effect sizes was attributable more to the effect being studied than to the sample or setting in which it was studied