The Shahnamah (RAS 239) copied for the Timurid prince, Muhammad Juki (1402–1445) in Herat, has long been considered one of the finest surviving, illustrated Timurid manuscripts. It was presented to the RAS in 1834 by Lieutenant Colonel Doyle (1787–1848), but attracted little scholarly attention until Barbara Brend published her monograph in 2010. The manuscript contains 31 exquisite miniature paintings, two of which (fol. 430v and fol. 531r) were added later during the Mughal period (1526–1761). This article will examine the sumptuous, jewel-like colours employed to depict scenes from the epic and the metals, pigments, and dyes from which they were derived. Precious metals and organic colours made from plants such as indigo and lac extracted from female insects are examined in detail: the methods of their production and extraction, the techniques used for their application, their commercial value, and the prestige they afforded their patrons all contribute to an understanding of what constituted the miniature painters' palette in the Timurid period.

A l'occasion de recherches sur la dermatite cercarienne qui affecte le lac d'Annecy, un des plus grands lacs alpins français,un inventaire des populations de mollusques de sa zone littorale a été réalisé. Les gastéropodes sont assez mal représentés et lesespèces qui sont généralement des éléments dominants de la faune lacustre comme Valvata piscinalis, Bithynia tentaculata ouPlanorbis carinatus sont peu abondantes. Les nombreux aménagements du littoral qui ont fortement réduit la superficie des ceinturesvégétales sont probablement responsables de cette situation. En revanche, les peuplements de Sphaeriidae, dominés parPisidium subtruncatum, P. henslowanum et P. moitessierianum sont abondants et bien diversifiés.Au cours des 40 dernières années, 6 nouvelles espèces se sont installées dans le lac d'Annecy. Trois d'entre elles ont actuellementlargement colonisé le plan d'eau. Il s'agit de Dreissena polymorpha, Potamopyrgus antipodarum et de Pisidium moitessierianum.L'apparition récente de cette dernière, qui vit seulement dans les grands lacs de plaine et le potamon des cours d'eaucontrairement aux autres Pisidium du lac, pourrait être une conséquence du réchauffement climatique.

Limnological surveys from the pelagic zone of Lake Pont-de-Salars were undertaken during the 1993-1996 period, which included the emptying of the whole-lake in summer 1995 and the first post year refilling. This reservoir was warm and monomictic and was determined to vary between oligo- and meso-eutrophic status from year to year. Three sediment cores were collected from the deepest zone and frozen in situ during the short drying period, just after the emptying and before the refilling of the reservoir. Analysis of the relative abundance and vertical distribution of diatom taxa was undertaken. The diatom vertical distribution, evident by visual biostratigraphy, is confirmed by the correspondence analysis (CA) despite of absence of sediment dating.

Une campagne de prélèvements réalisée en 1999, de façon comparable à celle effectuée en 1994, montre que la compositiondes communautés d'oligochètes et de Chironomidés a changé dans cet intervalle de temps en réponse à la baisse des concentrationsen phosphore dans l'eau du Petit Lac, le bassin ouest du Léman (Suisse et France). Les larves de Chironomidés étaient présentesdans 66 % des 159 sites visités en 1999 contre 40 % en 1994 tandis que l'abondance des oligochètes a diminué. De plus,l'abondance relative des taxons indicateurs de conditions oligotrophes (Micropsectra et Spirosperma velutinus) a augmenté en1999. Ces changements indiquent qu'en 1999 la restauration biologique des sédiments profonds se trouve à mi-chemin entrel'état méso-eutrophe des environs de 1980 et l'état oligotrophe d'avant 1950. Cependant, l'ampleur de la restauration n'est pas lamême dans les trois bassins du Petit Lac: elle varie en fonction de l'intensité de la sédimentation organique.

One of the most frequently used sampling methods used in defining fish microhabitat is the Point Abundance Sampling byElectrofishing (PASE) technique. Nevertheless this method is size-selective and induces escapement behaviour in most fish species.The aim of this study is first to describe a direct visual fish observation method, the Point Abundance Sampling by Scubadiving (PASS), and second, to compare this method with the classical PASE to determine 0+ (i.e. young of the year) roach(Rutilus rutilus,L.) microhabitat in the littoral zone of a mesotrophic lake.The study was undertaken during summer 1998 in lake Pareloup (south-west France). Sampling was performed weekly in tworestricted littoral areas of the lake which presented the same environmental and topographical characteristics aiming to compare0+ roach habitat features obtained using the two sampling techniques (PASE and PASS). The two data matrices obtained (i.e.PASE and PASS) were used to develop microhabitat preference indices for each of the 9 variables as a measurement of habitatuse by the 0+ roach vs. habitat availability.Even though 0+ roach occurrence and abundance were found to be similar with both methods, microhabitat profiles revealeddifferent patterns. A significant microhabitat difference between the two sampling methods was found using the non-parametricstatistical test of Wilcoxon (Z = -4.20, p < 0.01). We can hypothesise that the differences observed between the two samplingdesigns were due to an escapement behaviour of 0+ roach. Unlike PASS, using PASE, fish are located in «shelter habitats» suchas shallow water and dense vegetation. Such behaviour is caused by the environmental disturbance induced by this samplingmethod. The study reveals that PASS appears to be more suitable than PASE for the assessment 0+ fish microhabitat.

A study has been carried out on the acid soluble fraction (hydrosysis at pH 1.5, 3N HCl, 20 % KCl) of organic matter (OM) in the highly calcareous lacustrine sediments of the Jura region, France. Amino acids (AA's) were quantified and determined ninhydrin photometry and HPLC respectively. There was a high degree of interference by calcium in both procedures. The mechanism of interference is explained and methodology adopted to overcome it, by removal of calcium, are dealt with. The results of both methods are compared.

This study was based on the hypothesis that different associations can be described as subsystems that interchange production by means or their mobile elements ; namely the fish. The Chascomús Lake was sampled at 19 sites over two years. Different habitats based on the presence or absence of vegetation and substrate type were determined. Theassociation of fish to the different environments displayed seasonality. Some species can be considered opportunists,others are limited by some variables and a third group moves according to intrinsic behaviour. Species richness in higherin coastal environments. Diversity shows gradients that indicate true boundaries, though it never reaches saturation levels.

Sublittoral and profundal chironomid community structure, depth distribution and relationship to the trophic level of the waters were investigated in Lake Vico (Central Italy) during 1985-1986. PCA analysis indicated a depth-dependent group of true profundal stations at 20, 30 and 40 m depths, characterized by Micropsectra, Procladius, Microtendipes, Tanytarsus and Paratendipes, and a group of 10 m stations, characterized by Cryptochironomus, Polypedilum bicrenatum gr., Cladopelma lateralis gr. and C. laccophila gr., representing the sublittoral features of this depth. In agreement with the chemical data, the chironomid community indicated a mesotrophic condition of Lake Vico, with a tendency towards an increasing trophic level in the deepest zone. A significant role in revealing future trophic changes in the lake may be attributed to the key-indicator Micropsectra.

The zooplankton taxa and their seasonal distribution are describeb for Loch Rusky, a shallow oligotrophic lake inthe central region of Scotland. 15 species were indentified: 11 Rotifera, 2 Cladocera and 2 Copepoda. Only 5 speciesPolyarthra remata, Keratella cochlearis, Filinia terminalis, Trichocerca sp. and Eudiaptomus gracilis occurred in sufficient numbers to facilitate a description of their seasonal pattern. The annual zooplankton variation was dominatedby rotifers for most of the year, but copepods (E. gracilis, Cyclops sp.) only were dominant in the epilimnion duringsummer. It is presumed that this pattern was the result of the rotifers faster rate of reproduction and higher grazingefficiency under oligotrophic conditions, as well as the decrease of larger zooplankton by the continuous programme of fish stocking in the lake.

Lake Mikri Prespa is a shallow water basin characterized by unstable thermal stratification, primary dimictic conditions and clinograde distribution of dissolved oxygen.The nutrient concentrations are high, indicating a trend towards eutrophication. Total phosphorus input calculated on the basis of the export coefficient accounting for land-uses and other sources is estimated to be of the order of 15 × 106 kg yr-1. A mathematical model is applied to assess the trophic status of Lake Mikri Prespa in the light of development projects recently undertaken in its catchment area. Evaluation of the trophic status reveals that the critical and permissible loading for Lake Mikri Prespa are 0.07 and 0.03 gm-2y-1, respectively. Present loading of the lake is estimated at 0.27 gm-2y-1 indicating that the lake is already at a dangerous level. On the basis of the employed O.E.C.D. relationships, Lake Mikri Prespa is presently classified as mesotrophic to eutrophic.

La diapause des Cyclopides pélagiques d'un lac tempéré peu profond (Créteil, France) a été étudiée sur un cycle annuel. Une dormance estivale affecte les copépodites IV de Cyclops vicinus (avril-mai à février) et de Diacyclops bicuspidatus (mars à novembre) ; une diapause hivernale est observée chez les copépodites IV de Thermocyclops crassus et chez les subadultes de Thermocyclops oithonoides (septembre à avril).Quelques subadultes de Th. oithonoides ont un arrêt de développement sans pénétration dans le sédiment (diapause active).La biomasse moyenne de la fraction diapausante égale 36 % (15 % à 80 %) de la biomasse totale des Cyclopides pendant la période d'étude. Les effectifs benthiques, compris entre 27 000 ind. m-2 et 350 000 ind. m-2, représentent un potentiel de recolonisation du domaine pélagique de 6 ind. l-1 à 78 ind. l-1.Alors que la diapause hivernale de Th. oithonoides et de Th. crassus est probablement une adaptation à des conditions climatiques défavorables, la diapause estivale de C. vicinus serait une stratégie adaptative d'évitement de la prédation.