Adjustment of vibratory signals to ambient temperature in a host-searching parasitoid

Abstract.  Certain ichneumonid parasitoids (Hymenoptera) use self-produced vibrations transmitted on plant substrate, so-called vibrational sounding, to locate their immobile concealed pupal hosts. An ambient temperature dependency with higher frequencies and intensities at higher temperatures is postulated because signals are of myogenic origin. Here, temperature influence on vibratory signals is analysed in the temperate parasitoid Pimpla turionellae under different thermal conditions using plant-stem models to elicit host-searching behaviour. Signals are measured with laser Doppler vibrometry and analysed for time parameters and frequency components applying fast-Fourier transformations. The results reveal an unexpected effect of ambient temperature on signals produced by the female wasps. Although average values of time parameters (pulse trains, pulse train periods, inter pulse duration) are unchanged by ambient temperature, the frequency parameters show an inverse thermal effect. Within the temperature range tested (8–26 °C), decreasing temperature leads to significantly higher frequency and intensity of the self-produced vibrations in the temperate species. This inverse thermal effect may be explained by a temperature-coupled signal production in the frequency domain to compensate negative low-temperature effects on the mechanoreceptors by increased muscle activity. The option of heterothermy to produce signals reliably during vibrational sounding under low temperature is also discussed.     

Predictive modelling and spatial mapping of freshwater fish and decapod assemblages using GIS and neural networks

1. We used stream fish and decapod spatial occurrence data extracted from a national database and recent surveys with geospatial landuse data, geomorphologic, climatic, and spatial data in a geographical information system (GIS) to model fish and decapod occurrence in the Wellington Region, New Zealand. 2. To predict the occurrence of each species at a site from a common set of predictor variables we used a multi‐response, artificial neural network (ANN), to produce a single model that predicted the entire fish and decapod assemblage in one procedure. 3. The predictions from the ANN using this landscape scale data proved very accurate based on evaluation metrics that are independent of species abundance or probability thresholds. The important variables contributing to the predictions included the latitudinal and elevational position of the site reach, catchment area, average air temperature, the vegetation type, landuse proportions of the catchment, and catchment geology. 4. Geospatial data available for the entire regional river network were then used to create a habitat‐suitability map for all 14 species over the regional river network using a GIS. This prediction map has many potential uses including: monitoring and predicting temporal changes in fish communities caused by human activities and shifts in climate, identifying areas in need of protection, biodiversity hotspots, and areas suitable for the reintroduction of endangered or rare species.     

Water permeability of plant cuticular membranes: the effects of humidity and temperature on the permeability of non-isolated cuticles of onion bulb scales

Abstract. Water permeability of cuticular membranes (CM) from the inner bulb scales of Allium cepa has been investigated. CM have a thickness ranging from 0.6 to 1.3 μm. They are composed of a thin (120–200 nm) lamellated cuticle proper and a thicker (300–900 nm) cuticular layer. Permeability coefficients for diffusion of water across these thin membranes are very low (4 × lO⁻¹⁰ms⁻¹⁰). There was no difference in permeability of CM from successive scales of the same onion. Extraction of soluble cuticular lipids (SCL) with chloroform increased permeability by a factor of 1350 to 2050. Preliminary data indicate that only 1 μg cm⁻¹⁰ of SCL are removed by this treatment, hydrocarbons being the main (75%) consistuent. Permeability coefficients of cuticular transpiration were little affected by relative humidity, showing that transport is limited by a hydrophobic barrier that lacks dipoles. However, following extraction, permeability of the membranes depended strongly on humidity due to the presence of polar functional groups in the polymer matrix. Soluble cuticular lipids undergo a phase transition around 47°C. Temperatures higher than that irreversibly increased water permeability.     

The deciduous dentition and dental replacement in the Eocene bat Palaeochiropteryx tupaiodon from Messel: The primitive condition and beginning of specialization of milk teeth among Chiroptera

The deciduous dentition and tooth replacement pattern of Palaeochiropteryx tupaiodon from the early Middle Eocene of Messel, near Frankfurt, Germany, are described. Ontogenetic states include fetuses to subadults. The posterior portion of the deciduous dentition (dP3-4) still shows the primitive eutherian condition of molarization, while the anterior part (dI-dC) was already engaged in the evolution of the highly derived condition found in living bats for clinging to the mother's fur. A styliform and sharp anterior dentition is considered a prerequisite in earliest chiropteran evolution. The greatly modified milk teeth of all living bats developed in different clades by parallel evolution under high selective pressure. The tiny and, at initial stages, poorly calcified teeth are substantiated by a newly developed microradiographic technique which is described in detail.     

The effect of habitat stability on benthic invertebrate communities: the utility of species abundance distributions

Spatial and temporal patterns in the species abundance distribution of benthic invertebrate communities of 11 freshwater habitats (10 streams and a wind-swept lake shore) were examined with respect to habitat stability. Abundance patterns varied markedly between seasons at most sites. However, mean abundance distributions at 4 of the 5 unstable sites and the 2 most stable sites were dominated by one or two taxa with a large number of rare species, whereas sites of intermediate stability had more equitable distributions. Both the log series and log normal distributions were statistically indistinguishable, at the 5% level, from all the observed mean abundance patterns. In contrast, graphical comparisons of the observed and fitted distributions suggested the log series may be the better fit at most of the unstable sites and the two most stable sites, whereas the more equitable distribution at sites of intermediate stability suggested the log normal distribution was the better fit. If conditions at a site favoured one or two species, either through severe physical conditions, or through competitive superiority in the absence of disturbance then the log series distribution may result. However, if no species in the community was strongly advantaged over others, a log normal distribution should result. Given the discriminating power of the appropriate statistical test it may not, however, be possible to pick up these differences without graphical comparisons as well.     

Dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy of the Opalinuston Formation (Middle Jurassic) in the Aalenian type area in southwest Germany and north Switzerland

Feist‐Burkhardt, S. & Pross, J. 2010: Dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy of the Opalinuston Formation (Middle Jurassic) in the Aalenian type area in southwest Germany and north Switzerland. Lethaia, Vol. 43, pp. 10–31. In order to provide a detailed dinoflagellate cyst stratigraphy of the Lower Aalenian Opalinuston Formation from the Aalenian type area, 68 samples from four boreholes and one outcrop section were analysed. The sample localities are Hausen an der Fils and Wittnau in southwest Germany, Weiach in north Switzerland and Mont Russelin in the Swiss Jura Mountains. Dinoflagellate cyst assemblages were recovered from the Late Toarcian Aalensis Zone to the Late Aalenian Murchisonae Zone. The samples yielded rich, well‐preserved and diverse assemblages with 51 dinoflagellate cyst taxa identified in total. The dinoflagellate cyst distribution data obtained from this study allow a high‐resolution biostratigraphical subdivision of the lowermost Middle Jurassic Opalinuston Formation into four palynostratigraphical units. First and last occurrences, acmes and consistent presence of the species Batiacasphaera sp. A, Evansia cf. granochagrinata, Kallosphaeridium praussii, Nannoceratopsis triangulata, Phallocysta? frommernensis and Wallodinium laganum were selected as the criteria for defining these units. The obtained high‐resolution palynostratigraphical scheme provides a basis for establishing and further refining early Middle Jurassic biostratigraphy in the Boreal and Tethyan realms. □Aalenian, biostratigraphy, dinoflagellate cysts, Germany, Jurassic, Switzerland, Toarcian.