The time budget of a group of wild woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha)

I studied a group of woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha)for 1800 hr from early 1985 until September 1987 near the lower Apaporis river of the Vaupés Department in the eastern Colombian Amazon. The group had an activity budget of 29.9% rest, 38.8% move, 25.8% forage, and 5.5% other activities during 720 hr of observations evenly spaced throughout this year. The only significant change in these activities during the study period was social activity, which increased as a function of increased food supply. Average diurnal activities of resting and moving are negatively correlated, and each activity show significant changes during the day, while foraging show no significant change. The activity budgets of the adult males and females are not significantly different, but the activities of the juveniles and infants showed much more social activity than the adults. High moving scores may be correlated with the comparative infertility of the soils of the Caparú forest, which require increased effort to maintain the energy levels necessary for maintenance and reproduction in Lagothrix.     

Yellow-tailed woolly monkey (Lagothrix flavicauda) proximal spacing and forest strata use in La Esperanza,Peru

Inter-individual spacing of primates and their use of forest strata depend on temporal and spatial changes in the environment and on predator avoidance, group demography, and social conditions. Greater proximity also increases the chances of agonistic and affinitive contact between individuals. I collected behavioral data for three groups of yellow-tailed woolly monkeys (Lagothrix flavicauda) by instantaneous sampling of focal animals for 15 months in La Esperanza, northeastern Peru. By use of combined data for all groups I examined the effects of season, activity, and age/sex class on nearest-neighbor distances and forest strata use. Small differences were observed for nearest-neighbor distances, forest strata use by different age/sex classes, and activity. Adult males had the lowest contact index scores. Contact index scores were low for juvenile females, for which nearest-neighbor distances were largest. Very little aggressive behavior was observed. Focal animals preferred upper levels of the forest with little difference in height for different activities. Lagothrix flavicauda have very cohesive groups with little seasonal or activity-dependent difference between nearest-neighbor distances or proximity. These results suggest that this species has less variable social organization and greater group cohesion than other Atelini. However, more studies are needed on other populations of L. flavicauda to better determine the species’ social organization. Studies are also required to determine the extent to which dispersal times and kinship affect proximity, nearest-neighbor distances, and aggression.     

Aspects of the ranging pattern in a group of wild woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagothricha)

A group of woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagothricha), studied for 1,800 hr from June 1984 until September 1987 in the eastern Colombian Amazon, used a home range of about 760 ha, 90% of which overlapped the ranges of three other groups. Home range use varied throughout the year, correlating in part with variations in fruit production. The home range exhibited a nonexclusive “core area” in the floristically most diverse part of the home range, although the majority of the home range was entered at a much lower frequency. Within the study area woolly monkeys occurred at a density of 5.5 individuals/km². The average day range was 2,880 m, and the average straight line distance between sleeping sites was 896 m. Day ranges differed significantly across months, but the only significant correlation tested was a positive relation with time spent “moving” in the activity budget. Comparisons with three other Amazonian sites where woolly monkeys have been studied reveal considerable variation. Soil fertility, plant community differences, and other factors seem to influence ranging patterns. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Effects of photoperiod and temperature on the cholinesterase activity in the ganglia of Schistocerca gregaria

The presence of acetyl cholinesterases, cholinesterases, and non-specific esterases in four different ganglia of Schistocerca gregaria was demonstrated using various substrates, as well as by means of inhibition with physostigmine salicylate and BW 284 C51. The contribution of these enzymes to the total esterase activity in each ganglion was also determined quantitatively.In animals kept under a L:D = 12:12 regime with concurrent changes of temperature (about 30°C during the light period and 20°C during the dark period), the activity of the AChE displays a maximum at about the time of light change or 1 to 2 hr later. The activity peak lasts for about 2 hr. If average enzyme activities are calculated, no statistically significant differences between ‘day’ and ‘night’ animals are apparent.An elevation of the environmental temperature from 20°C to 30°C during the light period led to a significant rise in enzyme activity in all ganglia after 1 to 3 hr. Lowering the environmental temperature from 30°C to 20°C during the light period led to a significant decrease in enzyme activity only in the suboesophageal ganglion after 2 hr. Artificial stimulation of the animals in a wind tunnel decreases the acetyl cholinesterase activity in the suboesophageal ganglion, whereas in the other ganglia no significant change in enzyme activity was observed. Further, no correlation was found between the enzyme activity and O₂ consumption of the experimental animals.     

Size and specific activity of the UTP pool and overall rates of RNA synthesis in early mouse embryos

Mouse embryos from the one-cell to the blastocyst stage were cultured for 2 hr in the presence of 5 μM [³H]uridine or 10 μM [³H]adenosine, and the size and specific activity of the UTP and ATP pools were determined by an Escherichia coli RNA polymerase assay using synthetic poly(dA-dT) as template. The total UTP pool increased in size and specific activity with development from 0.05 pmole (0.06% labeled) in the one-cell stage to 0.54 pmole (27% labeled) in the blastocyst stage. The total ATP pool remained relatively constant in size at about 1 pmole/embryo, but increased in specific activity from 2.6 to 52% from one-cell to blastocyst. The turnover of the [³H]UTP pool was also examined under pulse-chase conditions in eight-cell and morula-stage embryos. The UTP pool decayed with approximately first-order kinetics up to 20 hr of chase, but the rate of decay was slower in eight-cell embryos (t_0.5 = 5.5 hr) than in morulae (t_0.5 = 2.8 hr). The observed specific activities of the UTP pools were used to calculate the overall rates of uridine incorporation into acid-precipitable material during early development. The rate of uridine incorporation per embryo increased from 3.6 × 10^?3 pmole/2 hr in the two-cell embryo to 1.8 × 10^?1 pmole/2 hr in the blastocyst. The rate of RNA synthesis per cell over a 2-hr period was estimated at 2.5 pg in the two- to four-cell embryo, 5 pg in the eight-cell, and 10 pg in the morula-early blastocyst.     

Relevance of purine catabolism to hypoxia and recovery in euryoxic and stenoxic marine invertebrates,particularly bivalve molluscs

1. Activities of xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) and xanthine oxidase (XOD) were measured in a variety of euryoxic and stenoxic marine molluscs.2. Euryoxic bivalves contain only XDH activity which, unlike the mammalian enzyme, is not converted to XOD during anoxic exposure.3. XOD activity was detected predominantly in stenoxic bivalves such as Pecten maximus, Placopeclen magellanicus, and in the cephalopod Loligo opalescens. Although extremely variable, XOD activity increased 4-fold in Cardium edule and 13-fold in Pecten maximus during anoxic exposures of 56 hr and 0.5 hr respectively.4. The data suggest that euryoxic species may tolerate anoxic-normoxic transitions in part by possessing a form of XDH that resists conversion to XOD (a source of Superoxide radicals responsible for ischemia-reperfusion tissue injury in mammals).5. XDH activities in Carcinus maenas digestive gland are sufficient to account fully for the urate reported to accumulate during hypoxia.     

Ecological strategies of woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha) at Tinigua National Park,Colombia

Information on the use of space, activity patterns, diet, and social interactions were recorded for a group of woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha) during 13 months at Tinigua National Park, Macarena, Colombia. In this region, fruit abundance changes throughout the year with a peak during March–April (beginning of the rainy season) and less fruit during September-November (end of rainy season). Woolly monkeys spent most of their time in mature forest where fruit abundance is higher than in opendegraded or flooded forests. Changes in habitat used by monkeys were coupled with changes in fruit supply across vegetation types. On an annual basis, woolly monkeys spent 24% of point samples locomoting, 36% resting, 36% feeding, and 4% on other activities. However, these proportions varied across the year depending on fruit availability. Based on instantaneous samples, the diet consisted mostly of fruits (60%), arthropods (23%), vegetative parts and flowers (17%), and other items (1%). Non-lactating females and juveniles spent more time eating insects than adult males and lactating females; however, significant differences between classes were detected only during the period of fruit scarcity. These differences are probably due to the high extent to which non-lactating females and juveniles were excluded from fruiting trees by males. The high proportion of arthropods in their diet is unusual for primates with large body size and is a possible factor influencing group cohesiveness in woolly monkeys. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Diet of a group ofLagothrix Lagothricha Lagothricha in southeastern Colombia

We report the diet of a wild troop of woolly monkeys (Lagothricha lagothricha lagothricha)in undisturbed rain forest in the lower Apaporis River region of southeastern Colombia during 2400 hr of observation from January 1985 through September 1987. The woolly monkey diet consisted of 78.9% fleshy fruits, 4.3% seeds, 11.4% leaves, 4.9% invertebrates, 0.1% flowers, 0.1% tendrils, and 0.3% bark. Fleshy, endozoochorus fruits were by far the most important type of food for the subjects. Intensive sampling of food plants used by L. 1. lagothrichashows floristically diverse diet including 185 species in 41 families, the most frequently used and species-rich of which are the Sapotaceae,the Moraceae, and the Mimosaceae. We compare our findings with other recent data on the three other subspecies of Lagothrixand discuss some of the ecological influences that might account for the macrogeographic similarities and differences observed in woolly monkey diets. Together, these studies provide the empirical basis for an unambiguous conclusion: Lagothrix lagothricha,classified by the IUCN as vulnerable, is a significant seed disperser throughout its extensive range. Accordingly, extinction of a population of Lagothrix isa major perturbation in its ecosystem.     

Evaluation of the functional state of operators with allowance for individual psychological characteristics

This article deals with the features of the evaluation of changes in the functional state during the professional activity of operators. We estimated the dynamics of the functional state and efficiency of operators under the effect of aircraft noise and individual psychophysiological characteristics. We also investigated changes in the functional state of operators depending on their psychological characteristics. It was found that changes in the functional state of the organism in operators with high levels of anxiety, low degrees of extraversion, and high emotional lability were more pronounced in the modeling of operator activity with exposure to aircraft noise, as evidenced by significant changes in psychophysiological parameters. After 60 minutes of noise stress, the latent period of a simple and a complex sensorimotor reaction in introverts increased by 9.1% (p < 0.05) and 8.1% (p < 0.05), respectively. In the group of subjects with high levels of anxiety, there was a decrease in the general state, activity, and mood by 18.9% (p < 0.01), 20.9%, and 14.9% (p < 0.05), respectively, and a decrease in the accuracy of reaction to a moving object by three times (p < 0.05). The latent period of simple sensorimotor reaction in emotionally labile subjects after the exercise was increased by 15% (p < 0.05), and the reaction time on a moving object was increased by 8.9% (p < 0.05) as compared with the group of emotionally stable subjects. Thus, the data suggest that changes in the functional state of operators depends on the level of extraversion, personal anxiety, and emotional lability, and does not depend on the level of behavioral regulation, which must be taken into consideration during the assessment of functional state.     

Activity Patterns, Intergroup Encounters, and Male Affiliation in Free-Ranging Bearded Sakis (Chiropotes sagulatus)

The assessment of how primates divide their daily activities is one of the foundations of primate behavioral ecology but the activity patterns and social behavior of the Pitheciines, including bearded sakis (genus Chiropotes), are poorly understood. During a 15-mo study, I collected 560 h of data on subgrouping, activity patterns, social behavior, and intergroup encounters of a group of free-ranging Guianan bearded sakis (Chiropotes sagulatus) in Guyana. The study group consisted of at least 65 individuals but showed a high degree of flexibility in grouping patterns (mean group size 39 ± 10). They were highly active, spending ca. 70% of their diurnal activity budget traveling and feeding. Activity patterns were relatively consistent throughout the year, although time spent feeding correlated significantly with fruit availability. The most common social behaviors were social resting and grooming. Agonism was rare (2.56% of social behavior) but did occur in the context of intergroup encounters, with males from the same group cooperating in intergroup agonism. Bearded sakis showed a high level of within group male affiliation, with male–male partners making up 65% of grooming dyads and males having another male as their nearest-neighbor 66% of the time. These results show that bearded sakis are characterized by egalitarian male–male and male–female relationships, highly fluid group sizes, and high levels of male affiliation. Similarities in the social behavior of bearded sakis and muriquis suggest several possible explanations for male–male bonding including cooperative defense of females from other groups, kinship, and maintenance of social cohesion after subgroup coalescence.     

The induction of acetylcholine synthesis in primary cultures of dissociated rat sympathetic neurons. I. Effects of conditioned medium

S-Adenosylmethionine:homocysteine methyltransferase activity was monitored during embryogenesis of the housefly, Musca domestica. A rapid decrease in the activity of S-adenosylmethionine:homocysteine methyltransferase was observed during the first 3 hr of embryogenesis. Activity continued to decline less rapidly until hatching at 12 hr. An inverse relationship was found to exist between the activities of S-adenosylmethionine:homocysteine methyltransferase and the tRNA methyltransferases during Musca embryogenesis.     

Role of sucrose phosphate synthase in sucrose biosynthesis in ripening bananas and its relationship to the respiratory climacteric

During ripening of bananas (Musa spp. [AAA group, Cavendish subgroup]), there is a massive conversion of starch to sucrose. Also during ripening there is a rise in respiration known as the respiratory climacteric. In this study changes in carbohydrate content, activities of starch and sucrose metabolizing enzymes, and respiration were measured to assess their potential interrelationships. Sucrose phosphate synthase activity increased dramatically during the first 4 days after initiation of ripening by ethylene treatment. Starch concentration decreased and sucrose concentration increased during this time period. Developmental changes in sucrose phosphate synthase activity were measured with limiting substrate (plus Pi) and saturating substrate concentrations. Activities were not parallel under the two assay conditions, providing tentative evidence that kinetically different forms of the enzyme may exist at different stages of ripening. Sucrose accumulation rate was most highly correlated with sucrose phosphate synthase activity assayed with limiting substrate concentrations (plus Pi). The cumulative amount of CO₂ respired during ripening was positively correlated with sugar accumulation (R² = 0.97). From this linear regression it was calculated that a constant 0.605 millimoles of CO₂ was evolved per mole of sucrose formed throughout ripening. Using this quantity, the percentage of the total respiratory ATP produced which was required for the conversion of starch to sucrose was calculated assuming different models for carbon export from the amyloplast. The results suggest that sucrose biosynthesis during ripening constitutes a significant sink for respiratory ATP.     

Regulation of glycogen metabolism in the adrenal gland. IV. The effect of insulin on glycogen synthetase, phosphorylase, and related metabolites

Previous studies have indicated that the glycogen content of adrenal glands of fasted rats can be depleted by insulin per se (Bindstein, E., Piras, R., and Piras, M. M., Endocrinology88, 223, 1971). In order to establish the mechanism of action of this hormone in the adrenal gland, the effect of insulin has been now investigated on glycogen synthetase (UDP-glucose: α-1,4 glucan α-4-glueosyl-transferase, EC 2.4.1.11), glycogen phosphorylase (α-1,4 glucan: orthophosphate glucosyl-transferase, EC 2.4.1.1) and metabolites related to these enzymes.Approximately 40% of total adrenal glycogen phosphorylase of fasted rats is in the active form, which increases to 75% 1 hr after insulin treatment (75 mU/100 g body wt). This conversion occurs without apparent large changes of 3′-5′ cyclic AMP. Concomitantly with the enzymatic change, the levels of glucose-6-P, UDP-glucose and P_i suffer alterations which favor an increased phosphorolytic activity during the first hour of insulin treatment. Glycogen synthetase, which did not change during this period, is converted to the glucose-6-P independent form during the 2–3 hr of treatment. This conversion is preceded by an increased glycogen synthetase phosphatase activity, which seems to follow an inverse relationship with the glycogen level.The results obtained suggest that the effect of insulin on the adrenal gland of fasted rats is glycogenolytic, that is, opposite to that described for this hormone in other normal tissues. The glycogen depletion, on the other hand, seems to set in motion the mechanism for glycogen synthetase activation, with the subsequent glycogen resynthesis.     

Formation of the yeast mitochondrial membrane. 3. Accumulation of mitochondrial proteins synthesized in both the cytoplasm and mitochondria in yeast undergoing glucose depression

The inhibitors of protein synthesis, chloramphenicol and cycloheximide, were added to cultures of yeast undergoing glucose derepression at different times during the growth cycle. Both inhibitors blocked the increase in activity of coenzyme QH₂-cytochrome c reductase, suggesting that the formation of complex III of the respiratory chain requires products of both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic protein synthesis.The possibility that precursor proteins synthesized by either cytoplasmic or mitochondrial ribosomes may accumulate was investigated by the sequential addition of cycloheximide and chloramphenicol (or the reverse order) to cultures of yeast undergoing glucose derepression. When yeast cells were grown for 3 hr in medium containing cycloheximide and then transferred to medium containing chloramphenicol, the activity of cytochrome oxidase increased at the same rate as the control during the first hour in chloramphenicol. These results suggest that some accumulation of precursor proteins synthesized in the mitochondria had occurred when cytoplasmic protein synthesis was blocked during the growth phase in cycloheximide. In contrast, essentially no products of mitochondrial protein synthesis accumulated as precursors for either oligomycin-sensitive ATPase or complex III of the respiratory chain during growth of the cells in cycloheximide.When yeast were grown for 3 hr in medium containing chloramphenicol followed by 1 hr in cycloheximide, the activities of cytochrome oxidase and succinate-cytochrome c reductase increased at the same rate as the control, while the activities of oligomycin-sensitive ATPase and NADH or coenzyme QH₂-cytochrome c reductase were nearly double that of the control. These data suggest that a significant accumulation of mitochondrial proteins synthesized in the cytoplasm had occurred when the yeast cells were grown in medium containing sufficient chloramphenicol to block mitochondrial protein synthesis. The possibility that proteins synthesized in the cytoplasm may act to control the synthesis of mitochondrial proteins for both oligomycin-sensitive ATPase and complex III of the respiratory chain is discussed.     

Lysozymelike activity in the hemolymph of Biomphalaria glabrata challenged with bacteria.

Levels of lysozyme activity have been determined in the serum and cells of untreated Biomphalaria glabrata and in snails that had been challenged with heat-killed Bacillus megaterium and water at 1, 2, and 4 hr postinjection. Lysozyme activities have also been ascertained in sham-injected snails at 1, 2, and 4 hr postchallenge. Our results indicate significant alterations in the serum lysozyme activity levels at 2 and 4 hr postchallenge with bacteria and at 1 hr postinjection of water. Also, there is a significant increase in cell lysozyme activity at 1 hr postchallenge with B. megaterium. It is concluded that lysozyme is released from phagocytes into serum as a result of challenge with B. megaterium. Although the exact role of the released enzyme is uncertain, it is hypothesized that it may serve as a humoral defense molecule.     

The Glyoxylate Pathway in Acanthamoeba Sp.*

SYNOPSIS. Cell-free extracts of encysting Acanthamoeba were assayed for the key enzymes of the glyoxylate pathway, viz., isocitrate lyase and malate synthase. Both enzymes were present at the onset of encystment but their activities changed as cyst-wall formation proceeded to completion. Isocitrate lyase activity decreased during the first 4 hr of encystment to a minimum at 4 hr which was 70% of its initial activity. Activity then increased reaching a maximum at 9 hr which was 144% of its initial activity. After 9 hr a decrease in isocitrate lyase activity began which reached 70% of its initial activity at 35 hr. Malate synthase activity slowly decreased throughout encystment to 50% of its initial activity after 35 hr. From these data and others cited, it is concluded that this small soil amoeba has a functional glyoxylate pathway.     

Associative behavior ofCacajao calvus ucayalii with other primate species in amazonia Peru

Red uakari (Cacajao calvus ucayalii) living near the Communal Reserve Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo in northeastern Peru frequently associate with other species of primate, especially the woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha). In 42 observation follows over 14 months (April 1993 – December 1994), the uakari were in association with other species for all or some portion of time during 62% of the follows. Woolly monkeys were present during 65% of the polyspecific groupings. During 151.5 hr of timed observations, the uakari spent 29.21% of their time with other species, and 76% of their associative time with woolly monkeys. The participants of the associations may benefit from increased predator protection and more efficient use of resource. These data represent the first published notes from a long-term behavioral ecology study of red uakari.     

Social responses to variation in food supply and nest suitability in ants (Tapinoma erraticum)

The social organization of Tapinoma erraticum colonies has been studied in two environmental contexts: those of mild starvation and of disturbance inducing a complete change of nest site. Trophallactic activity was compared with brood transport behaviour in tests performed repeatedly on the same group of insects. Workers were individually marked enabling interactions to be analysed within the group. An age-dependent difference in behaviour exists during feeding. However, when the colony changed its location, certain workers were found to be transport specialists, whereas others remained inactive: the transport behaviour of T. erraticum workers does not appear to be agedependent, unlike feeding behaviour. A principal components analysis of the results indicated no link between these two types of activities at the individual level. This study indicates the existence of types of social organization which are specific to each of the activities performed.     

Impact of Storms on Heterotrophic Activity of Epilimnetic Bacteria in a Southwestern Reservoir

The impact of storm conditions on the heterotrophic activity of planktonic bacteria in a southwestern reservoir was investigated. Storm events were considered as rainfall in excess of 2.5 cm in a 24-h period before sampling. Storm conditions stimulated heterotrophic activities and resulted in increased uptake rates and decreased turnover times of glutamate and acetate. Uptake rates were 45 to 75% faster immediately after storm conditions than they were during calm conditions. Activity levels appeared to return to prestorm levels within 48 h. Bacterial cell numbers did not change substantially during storm events. Cell-specific activity indicated that increases in heterotrophic activity were the result of increased activity of individual cells. Light penetration, levels of particulate organic carbon, K_t + S_n values, and population levels of attached bacteria suggest that immediate sediment loading of the reservoir or increased substrate levels could not account for abrupt increases in heterotrophic activities.     

Factors influencing parasitism of adult Japanese beetles,Polillia japonica (Col.: Scarabaeidae) by entomopathogenic nematodes

Several factors that influence the activity of steinernematid and heterorhabditid nematodes against adult Japanese beetles were examined in the laboratory. The effect of nematode concentration on mortality of adult beetles was evaluated using a Petri plate bioassay. The adults were exposed to 1,000 to 10,000 infective stage juveniles (J3) ofSteinernema glaseri per 10 beetles with or without food for 24 hr after which they were held with food for an additional 6 days. The LC50s for males with and without food during exposure were 3,435 and 2,854 J3s/10 adults, respectively. The LC50s for mixtures of males and females with and without food were 5,228 and 1,762 J3s/10 adults respectively. Although mortality occurred during and shortly after exposure, significant additional mortality was observed 1–4 days following exposure. Exposure of males and females with food to 10,000 J3s/10 adults for 6, 12, 18 or 24 hr resulted in 47, 58, 72 and 77% mortality, respectively. Comparative activity ofS. glaseri, S. carpocapsae (All strain),S. feltiae (Biosys experimental cold adapted strain=bibionis),S. feltiae (Biosys experimental strain 27),Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, andHeterorhabditis sp. (Terceiran isolate) was evaluated against adult Japanese beetles using a 24 hr exposure to 8,000 J3s/10 adults. The most virulent species wereS. glaseri, S. feltiae (=bibionis), the Terceiran isolate ofHeterorhabditis andS. carpocapsae producing 55, 44, 36 and 34% mortality respectively. Our results indicate that adult Japanese beetles infected with entomopathogenic nematodes could serve as a mechanism for nematode dispersal.