Spartina alterniflora loisel root structure and meiofaunal abundance

Meiofauna were collected from adjacent areas with and without Spartina alterniflora Loisel culms. Environmental complexity resulting from root structure cannot be determined by simply observing S. alterniflora culm distribution. There were no significant differences between the two areas with respect to root density or root sizes; however, the number of live roots was significantly higher in the area containing Spartina culms. Nematodes, the most abundant taxon were positively correlated with live root density. In contrast, the number of dead roots and harpacticoid copepods were higher in the area without culms. This study suggests that nematodes are positively associated with micro-oxygenated zones produced by live S. alterniflora roots. Other measures of biogenic structure, such as total root density or root size fractions are not important in affecting nematode abundance.     

Specific Inhibition of the Cyanide-insensitive Respiratory Pathway in Plant Mitochondria by Hydroxamic Acids

Hydroxamic acids, R-CONHOH, are inhibitors specific to the respiratory pathway through the alternate, cyanide-insensitive terminal oxidase of plant mitochondria. The nature of the R group in these compounds affects the concentration at which the hydroxamic acids are effective, but it appears that all hydroxamic acids inhibit if high enough concentrations are used. The benzhydroxamic acids are effective at relatively low concentrations; of these, the most effective are m-chlorobenzhydroxamic acid and m-iodobenzhydroxamic acid. The concentrations required for half-maximal inhibition of the alternate oxidase pathway in mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) mitochondria are 0.03 mm for m-chlorobenzhydroxamic acid and 0.02 mm for m-iodobenzhydroxamic acid. With skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) mitochondria, the required concentrations are 0.16 for m-chlorobenzhydroxamic acid and 0.05 for m-iodobenzhydroxamic acid. At concentrations which inhibit completely the alternate oxidase pathway, these two compounds have no discernible effect on either the respiratory pathway through cytochrome oxidase, or on the energy coupling reactions of these mitochondria. These inhibitors make it possible to isolate the two respiratory pathways and study their mode of action separately. These inhibitors also enhance an electron paramagnetic resonance signal near g = 2 in anaerobic, submitochondrial particles from skunk cabbage, which appears to be specific to the alternate oxidase and thus provides a means for its assay.     

Changes in Ribonucleic Acid Fractions During Maturation of Mimosa Epicotyl Tissues

Total RNA and DNA of mimosa epicotyl tissues were extracted and the RNA fractionated into specific soluble RNAs (sRNAs) at different times during late germination. Epicotyls collected at each time contained qualitatively comparable meristematic and developing tissues, while mature tissues increased. Quantitative ratios of total RNA to DNA and total sRNAs to approximated ribosomal RNA (rRNA) varied consistently during development. Terminal nucleosides of sRNA did not vary in any consistent pattern through development. On the other hand, regular changes in quantitative ratios of specific sRNA groups were observed during development.     

The effect of antennectomy on the humidity reactions of Carpophilus dimidiatus and C. hemipterus (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae)

The humidity reactions of intact and antennaless specimens of Carpophilus dimidiatus and C. hemipterus were studied. The results suggested that the hygroreceptors mediating a response to high humidities are situated on the antennae in both species and those mediating a response to low humidities, in the case of C. dimidiatus, elsewhere on the body.

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Résumé On a étudié la réaction à l'humidité de Carpophilus hemipterus et C. dimidiatus intacts et sans antennes. Les résultats suggèrent que les hygrorécepteurs qui répondent aux humidités élevées se trouvent sur l'antenne dans les deux espèces et ceux qui répondent aux basses humidités sur l'antenne de C. hemipterus et dans une autre partie du corps de C. dimidiatus.

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On transfer from tropical Stored Products Centre, O.D.M., Slough, Bucks     

Protein Synthesis in Sonically Damaged Escherichia coli

By gentle sonic treatment, Escherichia coli cells were modified to permit penetration of actinomycin D, adenosine triphosphate, trypsin, ribonuclease, and polyuridylic acid. The behavior of these "soniplasts" as protein-synthesizing particles was investigated.     

Suspending disbelief—of Wynne-Edwards and his reception

Critique of Wynne-Edwards' views on population regulation and sociality suppose a population of discrete, mutually exclusive groups essential to his thought. Yet both his past and present work focus on continually distributed, philopatric populations; his critics have argued the untenability of a position never his own. Wynne-Edwardsian ‘group selection’ focuses on local population productivity under philopatry. A ‘group’ is a local confluence of genotypes which need not be reified, and group selection consists of the differential replication (hence heritability) of the local social environment in which a genotype is embedded. Differential productivity contingent on social environment can eliminate some relational structures on genotypes in favor of others, creating an expanding wave of population productivity as in Wright's shifting balance metaphor. Such a process is inherent in the evolution of reciprocity, where cooperators must cluster to successfully invade a population of defectors. Regulation of resource exploitation in continuously distributed populations may be modeled as overlapping n-person Prisoner's Dilemmas, where each individual participates in several distinct commons and defection represents local over-exploitation of resources.