The prevalence of antibodies to morbilliviruses,Brucella, and Toxoplasma in the Black Sea bottlenose dolphin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tursiops truncatus ponticus</Emphasis> maintained in captivity

The prevalence of antibodies to morbilliviruses, Brucella and Toxoplasma was studied in the Black Sea bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus ponticus maintained in captivity. Serum from 59 dolphins was tested, and in most cases the tests were repeated 2–4 years later. Antibodies to the tested pathogens were detected in 69% of the dolphins. Sixteen Black Sea bottlenose dolphin maintained in captivity (27%) had antibodies to two, or even three, of the pathogens. No apparent signs of infection were found in the dolphins; however, the high prevalence of antibodies to the morbilliviruses, Brucella, and Toxoplasma may indicate an important role of dolphins in the ecology of these pathogens.     

Synchrony during aggression in adult male Atlantic spotted dolphins <Emphasis Type="Italic">(Stenella frontalis)</Emphasis>

Synchrony among Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) is crucial for successfully overcoming bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) during interspecies aggression (Cusick and Herzing 2014). The present study examined synchrony in adult Atlantic spotted dolphins during aggressive encounters with bottlenose dolphins. Across group size, aggressive behaviors increased preceding synchrony, peaked during synchrony, and decreased dramatically after synchrony. Although smaller groups (< 10 dolphins) became synchronous more frequently than larger groups (> 10 dolphins), larger groups remained synchronous longer; however, smaller groups exhibited greater aggressive behaviors during synchrony, suggesting that additional aggressive behaviors may be necessary to compensate for the smaller group size, whereas larger groups may be able to rely on synchrony with less aggression. Disorganized squawk bouts synchronized as physical synchrony began, but only if coupled with escalating aggression.     

Comparisons of Suspensory Behaviors Among <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pygathrix cinerea</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. nemaeus</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nomascus leucogenys</Emphasis> in Cuc Phuong National Park,Vietnam

In our study at the Endangered Primate Rescue Center of Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam, we aimed first to assemble a positional behavioral profile of captive gray-shanked (Pygathrix cinerea) and red-shanked (P. nemaeus) doucs that relates to the use of forelimb suspensory postures and arm-swinging locomotion. The profile is of interest because researchers have documented that red-shanked doucs more frequently use suspensory postures and locomotions than other colobines do. We confirmed that red-shanked doucs commonly use suspensory positional behaviors and also that gray-shanked doucs use suspensory behaviors at similar or even higher frequencies than those of red-shanked doucs. Our second goal was to assemble a preliminary kinematic profile of suspensory locomotion in Pygathrix within the context of the arm-swinging locomotion exhibited by northern white-cheeked gibbons, Nomascus leucogenys. Mean forelimb angles at initial contact and release of arm-swinging behaviors were remarkably consistent among gibbons and doucs despite the fact that gibbons typically used more continuous brachiation. Doucs also exhibit a greater range of forelimb angles than gibbons do. In addition, trunk orientation tends to be less vertical at initial contact for doucs than for gibbons, perhaps owing to the frequent use of quadrupedal sequences directly before or after forelimb suspension. Our behavioral and kinematic analyses add to the emerging realization that Pygathrix is capable of, and frequently expresses, a range of suspensory positional behaviors, including brachiation.     

Redescriptions of the Indo-Pacific atherinid fishes <Emphasis Type="Italic">Atherinomorus forskalii</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Atherinomorus lacunosus</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Atherinomorus pinguis</Emphasis>

The Indo-Pacific marine atherinid fishes Atherinomorus forskalii (Rüppell, 1838), Atherinomorus lacunosus (Forster, 1801), and Atherinomorus pinguis (Lacepède, 1803) are redescribed as valid species based on the types and non-type specimens collected throughout the Indo-Pacific. They are similar to each other chiefly in having a wide midlateral band (almost the same or greater than the midlateral scale width), large mouth (posterior tip of upper jaw reaching to or beyond a vertical through anterior margin of pupil), and no distinct tubercle at the posterior end of the dentary. All three species are distinguishable from congeners by those characters. The three species have long been confused with each other or synonymized erroneously as a single species. Atherinomorus forskalii, known from the Red Sea and eastern Mediterranean, differs from Atherinomorus lacunosus and Atherinomorus pinguis in having conspicuous, large endopterygoid teeth, forming obvious tooth ridges. Atherinomorus lacunosus, widely distributed in almost the entire Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to Tonga, north to southern Japan, and south to northern Australia, differs from Atherinomorus pinguis in having a wider midlateral band (the lower margin reaching to almost the center of the fourth scale row at level of the anal fin origin vs. the lower margin reaching to the ventral end of the third scale row in Atherinomorus pinguis) and more numerous midlateral scales (40–44 vs. 38–41 in Atherinomorus pinguis). Atherina morrisi Jordan and Starks, 1906, Hepsetia pinguis mineri Nichols and Roemhild, 1951, Pranesus capricornensis Woodland, 1961, Pranesus maculatus Taylor, 1964, and Pranesus pinguis ruppelli Smith, 1965, are regarded as junior synonyms of Atherinomorus lacunosus. Atherinomorus pinguis is also widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from East Africa to northern Australia and north to southern Japan. Atherina pectoralis Valenciennes, 1835, is considered a junior synonym of Atherinomorus pinguis. Supplementary material to this paper is available in electronic format at     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite DNA markers for spinner dolphin (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Stenella longirostris</Emphasis>)

Practically no studies on the population genetics of the spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) exist. Seventeen pairs of DNA primers, cloned from an Mbo I digestion of S. longirostris liver DNA, were selected from a total of 288 sequences. Eight polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers were selected from the 17 primer pairs following amplification of DNA from skin samples of 65 spinner dolphins. Characterization of the polymorphisms revealed between three and nine alleles per loci. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0 to 0.6032, while the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.5834 to 0.73. Seven of the eight designed primer pairs amplified DNA from three other delphinid species. There was a marked low observed heterozygosity in the spinner dolphin suggesting a high level of inbreeding within this species in the southern Atlantic.     

Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analyses reveal fine scale geographic structure in bottlenose dolphins (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tursiops truncatus</Emphasis>) in the Gulf of Mexico

There is a need for biological information to support current stock designations of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Gulf of Mexico. The existence of many inshore, resident “communities” raises questions as to the relationship these dolphins may hold with dolphins inhabiting neighboring inshore and coastal areas. In this study, population subdivision was examined among four resident, inshore bottlenose dolphin stocks (Sarasota Bay, FL, Tampa Bay, FL, Charlotte Harbor, FL and Matagorda Bay, TX) and one coastal stock (1–12 km offshore) in the Gulf of Mexico. Evidence of significant population structure among all areas was found on the basis of both mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequence data and nine nuclear microsatellite loci. Estimates of relatedness showed no population contained a significantly high number of related individuals, while separate AMOVAs for males and females indicated that both sexes exhibit a significant level of site philopatry. Results presented here provide the first genetic evidence of population subdivision between the coastal Gulf of Mexico and adjacent inshore areas along the central west coast of Florida. Such strong genetic subdivision is surprising given the short geographical distance between many of these areas and the lack of obvious geographic barriers to prevent gene flow. These findings support the current, separate identification of stocks for bottlenose dolphins inhabiting the eastern coastal and inshore areas of the Gulf of Mexico.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of Perilla (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Perilla frutescens</Emphasis>)

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation system for perilla (Perilla frutescens Britt) was developed. Agrobacterium strain EHA105 harboring binary vector pBK I containing bar and γ-tmt cassettes or pIG121Hm containing nptII, hpt, and gusA cassettes were used for transformation. Three different types of explant, hypocotyl, cotyledon and leaf, were evaluated for transformation and hypocotyl explants resulted in the highest transformation efficiency with an average of 3.1 and 2.2%, with pBK I and pIG121Hm, respectively. The Perilla spp. displayed genotype-response for transformation. The effective concentrations of selective agents were 2 mg l⁻¹ phosphinothricin (PPT) and 150 mg l⁻¹ kanamycin, respectively, for shoot induction and 1 mg l⁻¹ PPT and 125 mg l⁻¹ kanamycin, respectively, for shoot elongation. The transformation events were confirmed by herbicide Basta spray or histochemical GUS staining of T₀ and T₁ plants. The T-DNA integration and transgene inheritance were confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis of random samples of T₀ and T₁ transgenic plants.     

Biology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lasioglossum</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">L.</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type="Italic">majus</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera: Halictidae), a largely solitary sweat bee with behavioural adaptations to communality

Within the bee family Halictidae there have been three origins of sociality. Although detection of origins and reversal from sociality requires phylogenetic studies, at a behavioural level a predisposition to sociality can be detected by analysis of intra-specific interactions. We studied aspects of nesting biology and behavioural interactions in Lasioglossum (Lasioglossum) majus, a poorly known halictine inhabiting temperate regions of Europe, which is suspected to be solitary. Nests were found to be largely used by one female, but some were shared by more than one individual. These few nests, whose entrances were very close to each other, were found to be connected underground. A few individuals were observed to enter in a nest where a female was waiting, behaving as a guard and allowing the incoming bee to enter the nest. By use of circle-tube experiments, the behavioural repertoire exhibited by females during encounters was assessed. Levels of withdrawal and cooperative events were comparable with those observed in other solitary nesting species, but aggressive events were very rare, as in several observed communal species. We conclude that L. (L.) majus females, despite general solitary nesting, possess behavioural components enabling them to adopt, probably in high nest-density areas, nest-sharing strategies. A similar kind of local social polymorphism has been observed in two other species of the subgenus Lasioglossum, but these are the first data available on a European species and the first record of subterranean connections among nests of halictid bees.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caenorhabditis</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">briggsae</Emphasis> genome contains active <Emphasis Type="Italic">CbmaT1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tcb1</Emphasis> transposons

The maT clade of transposons is a group of transposable elements intermediate in sequence and predicted protein structure to mariner and Tc transposons, with a distribution thus far limited to a few invertebrate species. We present evidence, based on searches of publicly available databases, that the nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae has several maT-like transposons, which we have designated as CbmaT elements, dispersed throughout its genome. We also describe two additional transposon sequences that probably share their evolutionary history with the CbmaT transposons. One resembles a fold back variant of a CbmaT element, with long (380-bp) inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) that show a high degree (71%) of identity to CbmaT1. The other, which shares only the 26-bp ITR sequences with one of the CbmaT variants, is present in eight nearly identical copies, but does not have a transposase gene and may therefore be cross mobilised by a CbmaT transposase. Using PCR-based mobility assays, we show that CbmaT1 transposons are capable of excising from the C. briggsae genome. CbmaT1 excised approximately 500 times less frequently than Tcb1 in the reference strain AF16, but both CbmaT1 and Tcb1 excised at extremely high frequencies in the HK105 strain. The HK105 strain also exhibited a high frequency of spontaneous induction of unc-22 mutants, suggesting that it may be a mutator strain of C. briggsae.     

Floral development and systematic position of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arillastrum</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allosyncarpia</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stockwellia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptopsis</Emphasis> (Myrtaceae)

We have investigated the floral ontogeny of Arillastrum, Allosyncarpia, Stockwellia and Eucalyptopsis (of the eucalypt group, Myrtaceae) using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Several critical characters for establishing relationships between these genera and to the eucalypts have been determined. The absence of compound petaline primordia in Arillastrum, Allosyncarpia, Stockwellia and Eucalyptopsis excludes these taxa from the eucalypt clade. Post-anthesis circumscissile abscission of the hypanthium above the ovary in Stockwellia, Eucalyptopsis and Allosyncarpia is evidence that these three taxa form a monophyletic group; undifferentiated perianth parts and elongated fusiform buds are characters that unite Stockwellia and Eucalyptopsis as sister taxa. No floral characters clearly associate Arillastrum with either the eucalypt clade or the clade of Stockwellia, Eucalyptopsis and Allosyncarpia.We gratefully acknowledge Clyde Dunlop and Bob Harwood (Northern Territory Herbarium) for collecting specimens of Allosyncarpia, and Bruce Gray (Atherton) for collecting specimens of Stockwellia. The Australian National Herbarium (CANB) kindly lent herbarium specimens of Eucalyptopsis for examination. This research was supported by a University of Melbourne Research Development Grant to Andrew Drinnan.     

Hierarchical metapopulation structure in a highly mobile marine predator: the southern Australian coastal bottlenose dolphin (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tursiops</Emphasis> cf. <Emphasis Type="Italic">australis</Emphasis>)

Little is known about the population ecology of the recently described bottlenose dolphin species Tursiops australis. The classification of this species is still under debate, but this putative species is thought to be comprised of small and genetically distinct populations (including sub-populations under increasing anthropogenic threats) and is likely endemic to coastal southern Australia. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences and microsatellite loci were used to assess genetic variation and hierarchical population structure of coastal T. cf. australis across a range of spatial scales and environmental discontinuities between southern Western Australia (WA) and central South Australia (SA). Overall, genetic diversity was similar to that typically found for bottlenose dolphins, although very low mtDNA diversity was found in Gulf St. Vincent (GSV) dolphins. We found historical genetic subdivision and likely differences in colonisation between GSV and Spencer Gulf, outer- and inner-gulf locations, and SA/WA and previously identified Victorian/Tasmanian populations. A hierarchical metapopulation structure was revealed along southern Australia, with at least six genetic populations occurring between Esperance, WA and southern Tasmania. In addition, fine-scale genetic subdivision was observed within each SA/WA population. In general, contemporary migration was limited throughout southern Australia, but an important gene flow pathway was identified eastward along the Great Australian Bight. Management strategies that promote gene flow among populations should be implemented to assist with the maintenance of the inferred metapopulation structure. Further research into the population ecology of this species is needed to facilitate well-informed management decisions.     

A comparison of pectoral fin contact behaviour for three distinct dolphin populations

Tactile exchanges involving the pectoral fin have been documented in a variety of dolphin species. Several functions (e.g., social, hygienic) have been offered as possible explanations for when and why dolphins exchange pectoral fin contacts. In this study, we compared pectoral fin contact between dolphin dyads from three distinct dolphin populations: two groups of wild dolphins; Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) from The Bahamas and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) from around Mikura Island, Japan; and one group of captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) residing at the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences, Anthony's Key Resort. A number of similarities were observed between the captive and wild groups, including; rates of pectoral fin contact, which dolphin initiated contact, posture preference, and same-sex rubbing partner preference. Unlike their wild counterparts, however, dolphins in the captive study group engaged in petting and rubbing at equal rates, females were more likely to contact males, males assumed the various rubbing roles more frequently than females, and calves and juveniles were more likely to be involved in pectoral fin contact exchanges. These results suggest that some aspects of pectoral fin contact behaviour might be common to many dolphin species, whereas other aspects could be species specific, or could be the result of differing environmental and social conditions.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">WUS</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">STM</Emphasis>-based reporter genes for studying meristem development in poplar

We describe the development of a reporter system for monitoring meristem initiation in poplar using promoters of poplar homologs to the meristem-active regulatory genes WUSCHEL (WUS) and SHOOTMERISTEMLESS (STM). When ~3 kb of the 5′ flanking regions of close homologs were used to drive expression of the GUSPlus gene, 50–60% of the transgenic events showed expression in apical and axillary meristems. However, expression was also common in other organs, including in leaf veins (40 and 46% of WUS and STM transgenic events, respectively) and hydathodes (56% of WUS transgenic events). Histochemical GUS staining of explants during callogenesis and shoot regeneration using in vitro stems as explants showed that expression was detectable prior to visible shoot development, starting 3–15 days after explants were placed onto callus inducing medium. A minority of WUS and STM events also showed expression in the cambium, phloem, or xylem of regenerated, greenhouse grown plants undergoing secondary growth. Based on microarray gene expression data, a paralog of poplar WUS was detectably up-regulated during shoot initiation, but the other paralog was not. Both paralogs of poplar STM were down-regulated threefold to sixfold during early callus initiation. We identified 15–35 copies of cytokinin response regulator binding motifs (ARR1AT) and one copy of the auxin response element (AuxRE) in both promoters. Several of the events recovered may be useful for studying the process of primary and secondary meristem development, including treatments intended to stimulate meristem development to promote clonal propagation and genetic transformation. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">P</Emphasis> transposons of the urochordata <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ciona intestinalis</Emphasis>

P transposons belong to the eukaryotic DNA transposons, which are transposed by a cut and paste mechanism using a P-element-coded transposase. They have been detected in Drosophila, and reside as single copies and stable homologous sequences in many vertebrate species. We present the P elements Pcin1, Pcin2 and Pcin3 from Ciona intestinalis, a species of the most primitive chordates, and compare them with those from Ciona savignyi. They showed typical DNA transposon structures, namely terminal inverted repeats and target site duplications. The coding region of Pcin1 consisted of 13 small exons that could be translated into a P-transposon-homologous protein. C. intestinalis and C. savignyi displayed nearly the same phenotype. However, their P elements were highly divergent and the assumed P transposase from C. intestinalis was more closely related to the transposase from Drosophila melanogaster than to the transposase of C. savignyi. The present study showed that P elements with typical features of transposable DNA elements may be found already at the base of the chordate lineage. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthamoeba castellanii</Emphasis> an environmental host for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Shigella dysenteriae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Shigella sonnei</Emphasis>

The interaction between Shigella dysenteriae or Shigella sonnei and Acanthamoeba castellanii was studied by viable counts, gentamicin assay and electron microscopy. The result showed that Shigella dysenteriae or Shigella sonnei grew and survived in the presence of amoebae for more than 3 weeks. Gentamicin assay showed that the Shigella were viable inside the Acanthamoeba castellanii which was confirmed by electron microscopy that showed the Shigella localized in the cytoplasm of the Acanthamoeba castellanii. In conclusion, the relationship between Shigella dysenteriae and Shigella sonnei with Acanthamoeba castellanii is symbiotic, and accordingly free-living amoebae may serve as a transmission reservoir for Shigella in water.     

Fumigant toxicity of cassia bark and cassia and cinnamon oil compounds to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dermatophagoides </Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">farinae </Emphasis>and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus</Emphasis> (Acari: Pyroglyphidae)

The toxicity to adults of the American house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae, and the European house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, of cassia bark and cassia and cinnamon oil compounds was examined using residual contact and vapour-phase toxicity bioassays. Results were compared with those of the currently used acaricides: benzyl benzoate and dibutyl phthalate. The acaricidal principles of cassia bark were identified as (E)-cinnamaldehyde and salicylaldehyde. In fabric-circle residual contact bioassays with adult D. farinae, salicylaldehyde (17.3 mg/m²) and (E)-cinnamaldehyde (25.8 mg/m²) were 2.5 and 1.7 times more toxic than benzyl benzoate (43.7 mg/m²), respectively, based on 24-h LD₅₀ values. The acaricidal activity was more pronounced in benzaldehyde, menthol, α-terpineol, and thymol (70.8–234.3 mg/m²) than in dibutyl phthalate (281.0 mg/m²). Against adult D. pteronyssinus, salicylaldehyde (17.3 mg/m²) and (E)-cinnamaldehyde (19.3 mg/m²) were 2.4- and 2.2-fold more active than benzyl benzoate (41.9 mg/m²). The toxicity of benzaldehyde, menthol, α-terpineol, and thymol (75.3–179.2 mg/m²) was higher than that of dibutyl phthalate (285.1 mg/m²). In vapour-phase toxicity tests with adult D. farinae, the test compounds described were much more effective in closed—but not in open—containers, indicating that the effect of these compounds was largely a result of action in the vapour phase.     

Distribution of similar self-incompatibility (<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>) haplotypes in different genera,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Raphanus</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Brassica</Emphasis>

The nucleotide sequences of ten SP11 and nine SRK alleles in Raphanus sativus were determined, and deduced amino acid sequences were compared with those of Brassica SP11 and SRK. The amino acid sequence identity of class-I SP11s in R. sativus was about 30% on average, the highest being 52.2%, while that of the S domain of class-I SRK was 77.0% on average and ranged from 70.8% to 83.9%. These values were comparable to those of SP11 and SRK in Brassica oleracea and B. rapa. SP11 of R. sativus S-21 was found to be highly similar to SP11 of B. rapa S-9 (89.5% amino acid identity), and SRK of R. sativus S-21 was similar to SRK of B. rapa S-9 (91.0%). SP11 and SRK of R. sativus S-19 were also similar to SP11 and SRK of B. oleracea S-20, respectively. These similarities of both SP11 and SRK alleles between R. sativus and Brassica suggest that these S haplotype pairs originated from the same ancestral S haplotypes.