Bazyli Czeczuga

An attempt to determine the primary production of the green sulphur bacteria, Chlorobium limicola Nads, (Chlorobacteriaceae)

In the Mazurian-Suwalki Lake District, where there is an abundance of lakes and pools, some of the lakes, owing to succession, are in a state of dystrophy or can be classified as being dried up . Because there are many hills, the sides of which are frequently covered with trees, many of the lakes have a bradymictic type of circulation (PASSOwICZ 1938). It is thus possible for light rays to reach the thermocline into which as a result of the overgrown nature of the lakes, hydrogen sulphide also penetrates . This provides optimal conditions for the growth of the green sulphur bacteria, Chlorobium limicola NADS. (CZECZUGA 1965). The cells of these bacteria may number up to several million in one millilitre (CZECZUGA & CZERPAK 1966), this has a considerable effect on the amount of chlorophyll in lakes of that type (CZECZUGA 1964, 1965a) . It would, therefore, seem that the part played by these bacteria in the production of organic matter should be significant. In view of recent interest of hydrobiologists in primary production (International Biological Programme), we decided to investigate the organic material produced by the Chlorobium limicola NADS.

Chlorobium limicola Nads. (Chlorobacteriaceae) and the Distribution of Chlorophyll in some Lakes of the Mazur Lake District

Summary1.The author investigated the influence of the green bacteriaChlorobium limicolaNads. on the vertical distribution of chlorophyll in overgrown lakes with a bradymictic circulation.2.The ethyl extract ofChlorobium limicola chlorophyll is dark green in colour with maximum absorption at a wave length of 655 m/µ. It is possible to give an approximate estimation of the vertical distribution of theChlorobium limicola from the colour of the extract.3.The occurrence of large amounts of the bacteriaChlorobium limicola in the thermocline or in the hypolimnion is responsible for the characteristic vertical distribution of chlorophyll, the maximum amount being found in one of those layers.

Investigations of carotenoids in some animals of the Adriatic Sea V. Echinodermata

The author investigated the carotenoids in the Echinodermata from Adriatic sea by means of columnar and thin-layer chromatography.The following carotenoids were identified:- in Coscinasterias tenuispina: β-carotene, isocryptoxanthin lutein, lutein-5, 6-epoxide, 4-hydroxy-4-keto-β-carotene, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin and asterinacid.- in Marthasterias glacialis: β-carotene, echinenone, cryptoxanthin, lutein, lutein 5, 6-epoxide, 4-hydroxy-4-keto-β-carotene, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin ester, astaxanthin and 3, 4-didehydro-α-carotene.- in Paracentrotus lividus: β-carotene, echinenone, cryptothin, isocryptoxanthin, lutein, lutein-5, 6-epoxide, 4-hydroxy-4-keto-β-carotene, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, astaxanthin ester and asterinacid.- in Sphaerechinus granularis: ,β-carotene, echinenone, cryptoxanthin, lutein, lutein-5, 6-epoxide, astaxanthin and guaraxanthin.

On carotenoids in the carapace of crayfish (Astacus astacus L.) (Crustacea: Decapoda)

Summary1.The presence of carotenoids in carapace of Astacus astacus (L)_ (Crustacea: Decapoda) - was studied.2.In extracts separated by means of column and thin-layer chromatography, the following carotenoids were identified: β-carotene lutein, canthaxanthin, astaxanthin and astacene.

Comparative studies of carotenoids in the fauna of the Gullmar Fjord (Bohuslan, Sweden) III. Echinodermata

The author investigated the presence of various carotenoids in the Echinodermata from Gullmar Fjord (Bohuslan, Sweden) by means of columnar and thin-layer chromatography.The investigations revealed the presence of the following:- inHenricia sanguinolenta:β-carotene, echinenone, canthaxanthin, guraxanthin, lutein-5, 6-epoxide and astaxanthin.- inAmphiura filiformis: canthaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, lutein, lutein-5, 6-epoxide, isozeaxanthin, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin and 4-hydroxy-4-keto-β-carotene.- inAmphipholis squamata:β-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein, lutein-5, 6-epoxide, astaxanthin, astaxanthin ester, asterin-acid and rubixanthin derivative.- inOphiopholis aculeata: canthaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, isozeaxanthin, astaxanthin, astaxanthin ester, asterinacid, 4-hydroxy-4-keto-β-carotene, hydroxy rubixanthin and gazaniaxanthin-like substances.- inOphiothrix fragilis: canthaxanthin, lutein-5, 6-epoxide, isozeaxanthin, astaxanthin, astaxanthin ester, 4-hydroxy-4-keto-β-carotene, and hydroxy rubixanthin.- inAntedon petatus:canthaxanthin, guaraxanthin, isozeaxan-thin, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, astaxanthin ester and 4-keto-4-ethoxy-β-carotene.- inEchinocardium cordatum:β-carotene,γ-carotene, canthaxanthin, lutein, isozeaxanthin, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin and astaxanthin ester.- inSpatangus purpureus: isozeaxanthin, astaxanthin, astaxanthin ester and 4-hydroxy-4-keto-β-carotene.

The Coloration of Specimens of Nereis zonata Mal. (Annelides, Polychaeta) from the Black Sea

Summary1.By means of columnar and thin-layer chromatography, the acetone extract of the Polychaete Nereis zonata Mal. from the Black Sea was separated into eight fractions.2.On the basis of absorption maxima of the various fractions and Rf values of the various spots, most of the carotenoids were identified.3.It was found that α-carotene, β-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, neoxanthin and astacene are present in Nereis zonata Mal. It was not possible to identify the fifth fraction.

The application of the Blytt and Sernander classification to the post-glacial sediment stratification in the lakes of the north-eastern region of Poland

SummaryIn 1964, the author collected a sediment monolith from a depth of 4.10 m in the northern section of Great Lake Olecki in the Eastern Mazurian District (fig. 1).The monolith was collected by means of a Hiller type chamber bore, the length of the chamber 0.5 m. The samples from the monolith were taken at intervals of 2.5–5 cm. The bed sediment structure was analysed; the absolute water content, organic matter and sedimentary chlorophyll contents were determined.As a result of these investigations it was found that the thickness of the bed sediment i.e. from the surface of the present bed to the primary bed (post-glacial) consisted of 5.30 m at the site investigated. The structure was found to vary at the different depths (fig. 2A) and considerable fluctuations were noted in the quantitative relations of sedimentary chlorophyll (fig. 213), organic matter (fig. 2C) and absolute water content in the sediment (fig. 2D).On the basis of the above analyses of the Lake Olecki bed sediment and of other lakes in the north-eastern region of Poland (Czeczuga, 1959, 1965) the author believes that these changes were brought about by climatic changes in that part of Poland during the post-glacial period.These changes correspond to the changes given in the classification elaborated by the Scandinavian workers Blytt and Sernander (fig: 2E). In addition, the author distinguishes the neoboreal period between the subatlantic and the historical period; it was a period with a warm and dry climate.

Carotenoids in Ostrea edulis L. (Bivalvia: Ostreacea) from the lagoon of Venice (Italy)

By means of columnar and thin-layer chromatography the presence of carotenoids in Ostrea edulis L. (Bivalvia: Ostreacea) from the Lagoon Venice (Italy), was studied.The following carotenoids were founds: α-, β-, γ-carotene, β-carotene epoxide, lutein (free and epoxide from), zeaxanthin, diatoxanthin, mutatoxanthin and astaxanthin. The dominating carotenoids were lutein.The total contents varied within the range of 5.4–8.1 µg/g wet weight.

Quantitative proportions of glycogen in certain species of the tendipedidae (Diptera) larvae

Summary1.Of the seven species of larvae studied, the highest glycogen content was found in Tendipes plumosus L. and Glyptotendipes polytomus Kieff.2.The larvae contain the largest amounts of glycogen during the period of spring and autumn circulation, whereas during the summer and winter stagnation periods the amount of glycogen decreases considerably.3.In addition it was found that larvae collected from the depths of Rajgrod Lake where there is the greatest concentration of larvae (the depth with the least oxygen in the thermocline in summer and the deeper parts of the lake in the autumn — winter period) have less glycogen.4.Larvae from the surface layers of the bed sediment contained much more glycogen than those from the deeper layers.5.Larvae from the younger age classes contained more glycogen than the larvae from the older age classes.

Studies on dyes found in Chlorobium limicola Nads. (Chlorobacteriaceae) from the Wadolek lake

SummaryInvestigations were carried out on dyes occurring in the green sulphur bacteria, Chlorobium limicola Nads. (Chlorobacteriaceae). The investigations concerned the absorption curves of extracts within wave-lengths of 250–700 mµ separated by means of circular and strip paper column chromatography. The fluorescent properties were also examined.The following solvents were used: 86% ethyl alcohol, benzene, petroleum ether, methyl alcohol, acetone and hexane. The fastness of the dyes extracted in 86% ethyl alcohol was tested over a period of 120 days.The results of the investigations showed that maximum absorption within red wave-length of extracts in 86% ethanol tends to approach the short wave-lengths after 120 days.The green sulphur bacteria, Chlorobium limicola Nads., contain a dye of the bacterioviridine type and a number of additional dyes of the carotenoid type. The investigations also showed that the dye is to a considerable extent, if not exclusively, bacterioviridine 650.