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species, Adineta ricciae, a new species described by Segers and Shiel (see part III). A comparison of this with Macrolrachela ąuadricornifera reveals both species suspend their life activities during desiccation as well do not “age” during anhydro-biosis. This meets the prediction of the “Sleeping Beauty” model. Anhydrobiosis is thought to reąuire accumulation of the non-reducing disac-charides trehalose (in animals and fungi) or sucrose (in plant seeds and resurrection plants), which may protect proteins and membranes by acting as water replacement molecules and vitri-fying agents. However, in clone cultures of the bdelloids Philodina roseola and Adineta vaga Tunnacliffe et al. were unable to detect trehalose or other disaccharides. Instead, on dehydration, P. roseola upregulates a hydrophilic protein related to the lale embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins associated with desiccation tolerance in plants. It could well be that hydrophilic biosyn-thesis represents a common element of anhydrobiosis.
A number of studies examine spatial and tem-poral variability in rotifer abundance and com-munity structure in relation to variations in abiotic and biotic factors along gradients in natural water bodies, and in laboratory. M. Gophen presents the results of a long-term study on seasonal rotifer dynamics in Lakę Kinneret (Israel) and T.E. Andrew and J.A.M. Andrew in Lough Neagh (Northern Ireland). N. Lair focussed on rotifers in river plankton, especially the response of various rotifer taxa to hydraulic conditions, and the role of rotifers in the river food web.
As a special topie, Z. Brandl reviews the trophic relationship between freshwater copepods and rotifers. Most copepod species, at least in their later developmental stages, predate efficiently, preferably on rotifers. Generally, soft-bodied species of rotifers are morę vulnerable to predation than those that possess spines or lorica. But also behavioural characteristics, e.g., movements and escape reactions, and temporal and spatial distribution of rotifers are important in these trophic interactions. The reported predation rates by freshwater copepods can effectively exer-cise a top-down control of rotifer populations.
During the preparation of the present pro-ceedings, we heard about the sudden death of Andrzej Karabin, who had designed logos for previous Rotifer Symposia as well as contributed a paper to this volume. On behalf of the rotifer family, we extend our profound sympathy to Andrzej’s wife, Jolanta Ejsmont-Karabin.
The editors wish to thank the “local organiz-ers” for their invaluable help during the sympo-sium. They also wish to acknowledge the Government of the Province of Burgenland for financial support.
The Editors
Alois Herzig Ramesh D. Gulati Christian D. Jersabek Linda May
List of Reviewers
Ahlrichs, W.
Andrew, T.E.
Birky, Jr„ C.W.
Carmona, M.J.
Carvalho, G.R.
De Meester, L.
De Paggi, J.
De Smet, W.H.
Dingmann, B.J.
Duggan, I.C.
Dumont, H.J.
Ejsmont-Karabin, J.
Ferrando, M.D.
Fussmann, G.
Gilbert, J.J.
Gómez, A.
Gophen, M.
Green, J.
Gulati, R.D.
Hagiwara, A.
Hampton, S.E.
Herzig, A.
Hessen, D.
Jersabek, C.D.
Joaquim-Justo, C.
King, C.E.
Lair, N.
Lubzens, E.
Mark Welch, D.B.
May, L.