SEED DISPERSAL IN VIOLA (VIOLACEAE): ADAPTATIONS AND STRATEGIES

Surveys of Viola dispersal mechanisms result in the distinction of two major adaptive syndromes: one purely myrmecochorous for the exploitation of seed-transporting ants, the other partially myrmecochorous (= diplochorous) for the explosive ejection of seeds followed by ant exploitation. Diplochory is exhibited by the majority of Viola species, but myrmecochory is exhibited only by eleven species with limited Eurasian distribution. Morphological and experimental evidence suggests the hypothesis that Viola is basically myrmecochorous but that different selective pressures, especially seed predation, have produced a clear divergence in dispersal systems. The majority of species, the diplochores, have evolved a system which combines ballistic and ant seed dispersal with predator avoidance. Diplochory itself may be a response to predation pressure. The minority of species are purely myrmecochorous, possibly highly coevolved with specific ant species, thus limiting the distribution of the Viola species concerned.     

Chromosomal assignment of seventeen porcine microsatellites and genes by use of a somatic cell hybrid mapping panel

Swine-specific sequence tagged (microsatellite) sites, STS and STMS, were assigned chromosomally by polymerase chain reaction analysis of a somatic cell hybrid panel. This study confirms the localization from genetic mapping of seven anonymous microsatellites and the genes ANPEP, ATP2, CGA, DAGK, FSHB, IFNG, IGF1, IL1B and SPP1. New assignment for the gene BNP1 to chromosome 6 is reported. The confirmed and the new assignments extend the information of the previously established linkage maps and provide framework loci on which to order additional informative markers.     

Effects of climate,natural enemies and biocides on three citrus mites in coastal New South Wales

Infestations of the citrus rust mitePhyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead), the brown citrus rust miteTegolophus australis Keifer, and the citrus red mitePanonychus citri (McGregor), did not cause economic damage to orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) in two coastal New South Wales orchards during a three-year study. The seasonal abundance of the mites and their phytoseiid and coccinellid predators was defined using periodic regressions of transformed counts on time. Population peaks coincided with seasonal rises and falls in temperature and evaporation in late-summer/autumn and in spring/early-summer. Population troughs in late-spring/summer coincided with peaks in temperature and evaporation and reproductive dormancy in some of the coccinellids. Population troughs in winter generally coincided with troughs in evaporation and temperature, particularly in July when the average temperature was about 10°C. Partial correlation coefficients were used to determine the relationships between the predators and their prey. These were mostly nonsignificant atP=0.05. Fortnightly and daily fluctuations in weather did not have any obvious effects on numbers of the mites. The effects of fungicides and pesticides applied during the study were not clear.