Utilisation of a tropical bay as a nursery area by sharks of the families Carcharhinidae and Sphyrnidae

Synopsis At least eight species of sharks of the families Carcharhinidae and Sphyrnidae use Cleveland Bay in northern Australia as a communal nursery area.Carcharhinus dussumieri, C. fitzroyensis, C. limbatus andC. tilstoni use the bay as a seasonal primary nursery, with juveniles occurring in it for only a few months each year immediately after birth. Alternatively,Carcharhinus sorrah, Rhizoprionodon acutus andR. taylori use the bay as a year-round primary and secondary nursery, with juveniles remaining in it up to the size at maturity. AdultR. taylori also persist in the bay, a behavioural pattern possibly explained by their small maximum size. While present immediately after birth the type of utilisation pattern displayed bySphyrna lewini could not be clarified in this study. Although diets of these species in the bay are similar, there is probably little direct competition for food due to the highly productive habitats in the bay supporting an abundance of food resources. The highest numbers of juveniles occur when prey species are the most abundant, and when temporal separation of some seasonally-occurring species of sharks in effect.     

Age and growth of the Australian sharpnose shark,Rhizoprionodon taylori,from north Queensland,Australia

Synopsis Age and growth were studied inRhizoprionodon taylori using specimens caught in Cleveland Bay, North Queensland, Australia. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated using three different techniques: vertebral ageing, back calculation and length frequency. Vertebrae from 138 specimens were sectioned and narrow circuli counted to estimate age. Marginal increment analysis verified that circuli were produced annually in late summer, probably as a result of stress during the mating season. The oldest female was 7 and male 6 years old. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated from vertebral ageing data for males were t_O = 0.410 yr, K = 1.337, L = 652.2 mm, and for females t_O = 0.455 yr, K = 1.013 and L = 732.5 mm. Growth parameters determined by length frequency and back calculation techniques concurred with those from vertebral ageing. Growth of the 0+ age class was very rapid, averaging 140% of the size at birth in the first year. Males and females matured after only one year, the lowest age at maturity reported in the family Carcharhinidae. Annual growth increments decreased rapidly after maturity, and little growth occurred after three years.     

Joyful by nature: approaches to investigate the evolution and function of joy in non-human animals

The nature and evolution of positive emotion is a major question remaining unanswered in science and philosophy. The study of feelings and emotions in humans and animals is dominated by discussion of affective states that have negative valence. Given the clinical and social significance of negative affect, such as depression, it is unsurprising that these emotions have received more attention from scientists. Compared to negative emotions, such as fear that leads to fleeing or avoidance, positive emotions are less likely to result in specific, identifiable, behaviours being expressed by an animal. This makes it particularly challenging to quantify and study positive affect. However, bursts of intense positive emotion (joy) are more likely to be accompanied by externally visible markers, like vocalisations or movement patterns, which make it more amenable to scientific study and more resilient to concerns about anthropomorphism. We define joy as intense, brief, and event-driven (i.e. a response to something), which permits investigation into how animals react to a variety of situations that would provoke joy in humans. This means that behavioural correlates of joy are measurable, either through newly discovered ‘laughter’ vocalisations, increases in play behaviour, or reactions to cognitive bias tests that can be used across species. There are a range of potential situations that cause joy in humans that have not been studied in other animals, such as whether animals feel joy on sunny days, when they accomplish a difficult feat, or when they are reunited with a familiar companion after a prolonged absence. Observations of species-specific calls and play behaviour can be combined with biometric markers and reactions to ambiguous stimuli in order to enable comparisons of affect between phylogenetically distant taxonomic groups. Identifying positive affect is also important for animal welfare because knowledge of positive emotional states would allow us to monitor animal well-being better. Additionally, measuring if phylogenetically and ecologically distant animals play more, laugh more, or act more optimistically after certain kinds of experiences will also provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the evolution of joy and other positive emotions, and potentially even into the evolution of consciousness.     

Structure determination of feline panleukopenia virus empty particles

Various crystal forms of the single-stranded DNA, feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), a parvovirus, have been grown of both full virions and empty particles. The structure of empty particles crystallized in an orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁, with unit cell dimensions a = 380.1 Å, b = 379.3 Å, and c = 350.9 Å, has been determined to 3.3 Å resolution. The data were collected using oscillation photography with synchrotron radiation. The orientations of the empty capsids in the unit cell were determined using a self-rotation function and their positions were obtained with an R-factor search using canine parvovirus (CPV) as a model. Phases were then calculated, based on the CPV model, to 6.0 Å resolution and gradually extended to 3.3 Å resolution by molecular replacement electron density averaging. The resultant electron density was readily interpreted in terms of the known amino acid sequence. The structure is contrasted to that of CPV in terms of host range, neutralization by antibodies, hemagglutination properties, and binding of genomic DNA. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG PAPER WASP SOCIAL PARASITES AND THEIR HOSTS (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE; POLISTINAE)

Abstract— Cladistic analyses of data from allozyme polymorphisms in paper wasp social parasites and their hosts do not support the hypothesis that social parasites are most closely related to their hosts. Electrophoretic data are adduced for nine species of Polistes , including all three known species of social parasites ( Sulcopolistes ) and their hosts. Three different coding methods are investigated; in no case do the social parasites cluster most closely with their hosts. Rather, there is limited evidence that they form a monophyletic group. However, formal taxonomic recognition of Sulcopolistes is not justified, as it renders Polistes sensu stricto paraphyletic. Although the social parasites are not most closely related to their hosts, hosts and parasites belong in the same subgenus and share many characteristics that may have facilitated the exploitation and deception practised by the parasites on the hosts.     

Tissue distribution of bupivacaine enantiomers in sheep

rac-Bupivacaine HCl was infused intravenously to constant arterial blood drug concentrations in sheep using a regimen of 4 mg/min for 15 min followed by 1 mg/min to 24 h. At 24 h, arterial blood was sampled, the animal was killed with a bolus of KCl solution, then rapidly dissected and samples were obtained from heart, brain, lung, kidney, liver, muscle, fat, gut, and rumen. Tissue:blood distribution coefficients for (+)-(R)-bupivacaine exceeded those of (?)-(S)-bupivacaine (P < 0.05) for heart, brain, lung, fat, gut, and rumen by an overall mean of 43%. Blood:plasma distribution coefficients of (?)-(S)-bupivacaine exceeded those of (+)-(R)-bupivacaine by a mean of 29% and this offset the tissue:blood distribution coefficients so that the previously significant enantioselective differences disappeared. It is concluded that although enantioselectivity of bupivacame distribution is shown by the measured tissue:blood distribution coefficients, it is not shown when tissue:plasma water distribution coefficients are calculated, suggesting that there is no intrinsic difference between the bupivacaine enantiomers in tissue affinity. Sheep given fatal intravenous bolus doses of rac-bupivacaine had significantly greater concentrations of (+)-(R)-bupivacaine than (?)-(S)-bupivacaine in brain (P = 0.028) and ventricle (P = 0.036); these could augment the greater myocardial toxicity of this enantiomer found in vitro. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A 4D HCC(CO)NNH experiment for the correlation of aliphatic side-chain and backbone resonances in 13C/15N-labelled proteins

Summary We recently proposed a novel four-dimensional (4D) NMR strategy for the assignment of backbone nuclei in spectra of ¹³C/¹⁵N-labelled proteins (Boucher et al. (1992) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 114, 2262–2264 and J. Biomol. NMR, 2, 631–637). In this paper we extend this approach with a new constant time 4D HCC(CO)NNH experiment that also correlates the chemical shifts of the aliphatic sidechain (¹H and ¹³C) and backbone (¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N) nuclei. It separates the sidechain resonances, which may heavily overlap in spectra of proteins with large numbers of similar residues, according to the backbone nitrogen and amide proton chemical shifts. When used in conjunction with a 4D HCANNH or HNCAHA experiment it allows, in principle, complete assignment of aliphatic sidechain and backbone resonances with just two 4D NMR experiments.     

Mapping and monitoring tick (Acari,Ixodida) distribution,seasonality, and host associations in the United Kingdom between 2017 and 2020

Tick-borne disease risk is intrinsically linked to the distribution of tick vector species. To assess risk and anticipate disease emergence, an understanding of tick distribution, host associations, and seasonality is needed. This can be achieved, to some extent, using passive surveillance supported by engagement with the public, animal health, and public health experts. The Tick Surveillance Scheme (TSS) collects data and maps tick distribution across the United Kingdom (UK). Between 2017 and 2020, 3720 tick records were received and 39 tick species were detected. Most records were acquired in the UK, with a subset associated with recent overseas travel. The dominant UK acquired species was Ixodes ricinus (Ixodida: Ixodidae, Linnaeus), the main vector of Lyme borreliosis. Records peaked during May and June, highlighting a key risk period for tick bites. Other key UK species were detected, including Dermacentor reticulatus (Ixodida: Ixodidae, Fabricius) and Haemaphysalis punctata (Ixodida: Ixodidae, Canestrini & Fanzago) as well as several rarer species that may present novel tick-borne disease risk to humans and other animals. Updated tick distribution maps highlight areas in the UK where tick exposure has occurred. There is evidence of increasing human tick exposure over time, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, but seasonal patterns remain unchanged.     

A robust approach to estimate relative phytoplankton cell abundances from metagenomes

Phytoplankton account for >45% of global primary production, and have an enormous impact on aquatic food webs and on the entire Earth System. Their members are found among prokaryotes (cyanobacteria) and multiple eukaryotic lineages containing chloroplasts. Genetic surveys of phytoplankton communities generally consist of PCR amplification of bacterial (16S), nuclear (18S) and/or chloroplastic (16S) rRNA marker genes from DNA extracted from environmental samples. However, our appreciation of phytoplankton abundance or biomass is limited by PCR-amplification biases, rRNA gene copy number variations across taxa, and the fact that rRNA genes do not provide insights into metabolic traits such as photosynthesis. Here, we targeted the photosynthetic gene psbO from metagenomes to circumvent these limitations: the method is PCR-free, and the gene is universally and exclusively present in photosynthetic prokaryotes and eukaryotes, mainly in one copy per genome. We applied and validated this new strategy with the size-fractionated marine samples collected by Tara Oceans, and showed improved correlations with flow cytometry and microscopy than when based on rRNA genes. Furthermore, we revealed unexpected features of the ecology of these ecosystems, such as the high abundance of picocyanobacterial aggregates and symbionts in the ocean, and the decrease in relative abundance of phototrophs towards the larger size classes of marine dinoflagellates. To facilitate the incorporation of psbO in molecular-based surveys, we compiled a curated database of >18,000 unique sequences. Overall, psbO appears to be a promising new gene marker for molecular-based evaluations of entire phytoplankton communities.