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Triploid Crassostrea gigas were cultured during 13 months in Nestier-type oyster trays. The impact of environmental parameters on the physiological and immunological parameters was evaluated. Temperature, salinity and seston were recorded monthly. Seventeen oysters were sampled monthly for immunological and condition index (CI) analyses. Samples were obtained as a haemolymph lysate supernatant (HLS). Protein content was determined using the Bradford method. The activity of hydrolytic enzymes was determined using the API ZYM kit and the lysoplate assay. Seston showed di¡erent patterns throughout the cycle. Condition index showed a positive correlation with the protein content of HLS. Protein showed a negative correlation with temperature. Eleven hydrolytic enzymes were detected in samples and higher enzymatic activity corresponded to leucine arylamidase and esterase. Leucine arylamidase and lysozyme activity showed a positive correlation with temperature. Oyster mortality was 28% in our modules and 70% in the oyster farm. Oysters showed low values of CI and haemolymph protein content in summer^autumn when mortalities were observed in the culture system. This ¢nding suggests that these stressed oysters may have insu⁄cient energy to invest in their immune system. It appears that oyster mortality in the culture system resulted from a combination of animal overcrowding, high temperature and low salinity.

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Abstract. We present a methodology and algorithm for the reconstruction of three dimensional geometric models of ancient Maltese water storage systems, i.e. cisterns, from sonar data. This project was conducted as a part of a four week expedition on the islands of Malta and Gozo. During this expedition, investigators used underwater robot systems capable of mapping ancient underwater cisterns and tunnels. The mapping included probabilistic algorithms for constructing the maps of the sonar data and computer graphics for surface reconstruction and visualization. This paper presents the general methodology for the data acquisition and the novel application of algorithms from computer graphics for surface reconstruction to this new data setting. In addition to reconstructing the geometry of the cisterns, the visualization system includes methods to enhance the understanding of the data by visualizing water level and texture detail either through the application of real image data via projective textures or by more standard texture mapping techniques. The resulting surface reconstructions and visualizations can be used by archaeologists for educational purposes and to help understand the shape and history of such water receptacles.

Se determinó la estructura poblacional y hábitos de crecimiento de una población de Ionopsis utricularioides (Orchidaceae), en un huerto de naranjos (citrus sinensis; Rutaceae), localizado en la finca “La Juanita”, Pinar del Río, Cuba. Se tuvieron en cuenta todos los árboles de naranjo del huerto y la población total de I. utricularioides. Se midieron las siguientes variables: altura y diámetro de los naranjos y ramas donde crecían las orquídeas, distribución de las orquídeas en los forófitos (tronco, ramas o ramillas), estadio de vida de las orquídeas (inmaduras o adultas), orientación de las orquídeas en el forófito, si las plantas estaban solitarias o agregadas y especie de los vecinos en el caso de las agregadas. Se estudiaron un total de 10 árboles de c. sinensis, ocho de ellos forófitos de la orquídea. Se contabilizaron 217 plantas de I. utricularioides. En el tronco de los árboles no se encontraron plantas de I. utricularioides y en las ramillas creciá 98.61% de la población. El número de plantas es relativamente abundante en los dos estadios de vida. Gran parte de las plantas de I. utricularioides se encontraron creciendo en agregación con otros individuos de su misma especie o con otras especies de epífitas vasculares. Esta es una población establecida y madura. Crecer en agregación le puede brindar ventajas competitivas a I. utricularioides.