Evolution of morphological differences with moderate genetic correlations among traits as exemplified by two flycatcher species (Ficeduia; Muscicapidae)

Theoretical work on multivariate evolution predicts that genetic correlations can act to constrain the rate at which new adaptive peaks are reached, but there is very limited empirical information available on this issue so far. To evaluate the importance of genetic correlations for evolutionary change, we studied the morphological differences between two flycatcher species (Ficeduia albicollis and F. hypoleuca) using both univariate and multivariate quantitative genetic models. Comparison of the results obtained using these different models revealed that even relatively low genetic correlations between traits will considerably increase the net selection forces needed for evolutionary changes in morphology. In particular, the divergence in wing and tail length, which are positively genetically correlated, would require a considerable amount of antagonistic selection. Because of the genetic correlations, strong selection will be needed to retain certain traits unchanged while others are changing. Based on these results, we argue that it is unlikely that small morphological differences such as between these two species could have evolved during a short (200 years) time period, i.e. the period of sympatry of these species in Sweden. These findings support the hypothesis that even relatively low genetic correlations may constrain short-term adaptive evolution in natural populations.     

Breeding success of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor population

We made intensive observations of 50 pairs of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor in southern Sweden from 1989 to 1992. Between 7% and 22% of the pairs each year defended a territory but laid no eggs. Overall, 76% of the pairs laying eggs raised fledglings, but this proportion was only 33% in 1991 when the weather was cold and wet. The mean clutch size (5.9) and brood size (4.5) in successful nests did not vary significantly between years. Incubation time was 1 day longer in 1991 (11–12 days) than in 1990 and 1992 (10–11 days). Number of young fledged per nesting attempt (3.5) and per pair (2.7) in the population also varied significantly between years. The initiation of egg laying varied between years but coincided each year remarkably well with the date when oak came into leaf. Breeding success is discussed, and comparisons are made with other hole-nesting species.     

A new species of Phylloscopus warbler from central China

A new species of leaf warbler (Sylviidae: Phylloscopus) is described from the mountains of central China. Morphologically it is slightly, yet significantly, different from the partly sympatric P. (proregulus) chloronotus. However, both song and calls are very different, and playback tests elicited no response from either species to the other's song. There are also differences in habitat preference and breeding biology of the two species.     

Taking a chance on moths: oviposition by Delia flavifrons (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) on the flowers of bladder campion, Silene vulgaris (Caryophyllaceae)

Abstract.

• 1 Delia flavifrons Zetterstedt (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) visits flowers of Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke (Caryophyllaceae), where the adults feed, mate, lay their eggs, and the larvae feed on developing seeds. The objective of the study was to examine how an ovipositing female fly assures a food resource for her progeny.
• 2 Ovipositing females preferred young, non-pollinated flowers over older pollinated ones. The flies did not pollinate the flowers and survival of the larvae depended on the flowers being pollinated by moths.
• 3 Flowers containing fly eggs were pollinated more often than expected from chance, probably as a result of both flies and moths visiting particular flowers.
• 4 Eggs were laid singly, and multiple oviposition occurred randomly. Although most eggs hatched, only about half produced larvae that made their way into the fruits. As a result, the probability of competition arising from multiple oviposition may be reduced to such an extent that selection does not favour females that avoid flowers with conspecific eggs.
• 5 Moth larvae of the noctuid genus Hadena also feed on the seed pods of S. vulgaris and will kill any fly larvae they encounter. However, there was no deviation from random oviposition by the flies in relation to eggs laid by the moths, but the competitively weaker fly usually started to lay eggs towards the end of the moth's egg-laying period.
• 6 The relationship between Delia flavifrons and Silene vulgaris superficially parallels that for known pollinator/predator systems, but floral adaptations to hypothetically pollinating flies seems not to have taken place.

     

Mechanistic Basis of Life-History Evolution in Anuran Amphibians: Direct Development

SYNOPSIS. The primitive, or ancestral reproductive mode forRecent amphibians involves a complex, biphasic life history.Yet evolutionarily derived, alternate modes are seen in allthree living orders and predominate in some clades. Analysisof the consequences and mechanistic bases of one such mode—directdevelopment—can provide insights into the evolutionaryopportunities and constraints conferred by the ancestral metamorphicontogeny. Direct development in the anuran genus Eleutherodactylusinvolves fundamental alterations to many features of embryonicand posthatching development. At hatching, young emerge as fullyformed, albeit tiny versions of the adult; most larval featuresare absent. Pervasive changes in ontogenetic timing, in particularthe precocious (embryonic) formation of many adult structures,appear to be correlated with early development of the thyroidaxis, although responsiveness to exogenous thyroid hormone isdiminished or even lacking in at least some peripheral tissues.Changes in cranial patterning are likely mediated by the embryonicneural crest, although many gross features of crest biologyare highly conserved. Laboratory-based analyses of direct developmentand other derived reproductive modes in amphibians, using contemporarymethods developed for more standard, "model" organisms, maycontribute important insights into life-history evolution thatcomplement those derived from analyses of morphology, ecologyand phylogeny.     

Alterations of NADPH:protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase quantity and lipid composition in etiolated barley seedlings infected by Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV)

To understand the phenomenon by which infection of seed-transmitted Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) alters membrane structures and inhibits protochlorophyllide biosynthesis of dark-grown barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) plants, we analysed the presence of NADPH:protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (POR, EC 1.3.1.33) and the galactolipid content and fatty acid composition. The amount of POR in etioplasts of infected leaves, compared with non-infected leaves, was reduced, as measured by immunoelectron microscopy and Western blot. These results are in agreement with the previously described reduction of the ratio of the photoactive 650 nm to non-photoactive 630 nm absorbing protochlorophyllide forms ( Harsányi et al. , 2002 . Physiol. Plant 114 , 149–155). The galactolipid content was lower in infected leaves. Monogalactosyl-diacylglycerol (MGDG) content was reduced to 40% and digalactosyl-diacylglycerol to 55% of control plants on a fresh weight basis. In infected plants, the proportion of linolenic acid decreased in both galactolipids. The lower amount of highly unsaturated fatty acids and the reduced abundance of MGDG correlated well with the previously detected reduction in the membrane ratio of prolamellar body (PLB) to prothylakoid ( Harsányi et al. , 2002 . Physiol. Plant 114 , 149–155). The reduced amount of POR and the above described alterations in the lipid composition resulted in a disturbed structure of PLBs. As a consequence, pigment synthesis and the greening process were inhibited in infected cells, in turn explaining the appearance of chlorotic stripes of BSMV-infected barley leaves. Our results show that BSMV infection can be detected at a very early stage of leaf development.     

Male and female effects on fertilization success and offspring viability in the Peron's tree frog,Litoria peronii

Abstract There is increasing theoretical and empirical evidence that genetic compatibility among partners is an important determinant of fertilization success and offspring viability. In amphibians, females often actively choose partners from among a variety of males and polyandry is common. Genetic compatibility among partners may therefore be an important determinant of fertilization success and offspring viability in some amphibians. Amphibians also show some of the highest levels of genetic differentiation among neighbouring populations known in vertebrates, and as such, populations may have evolved different co‐adapted gene complexes. This means that offspring from among‐population crosses may have reduced fitness. It is therefore essential to understand to what extent crossings between and within populations may interfere with successful fertilization and offspring viability. Here, we test whether crossing individuals within and between two different populations of the Australian Peron's tree frog (Litoria peronii) using artificial fertilizations affect fertilization success and offspring viability. Fertilization success per se is strongly influenced by male identity, which is likely to depend at least to some extent on the experimental procedure (e.g. resulting in variation in sperm number per ejaculate), whereas there was no fertilization effect of female identity. More importantly, male and female identity, independently of each other, explained significant variation in offspring viability, whereas no such effect could be linked to population of origin. Thus, our experiments suggest that crossing populations may not always be the most significant factor affecting fertilization success or offspring viability, but may be more influenced by the genetic quality or the genetic compatibility of partners.     

生物量浓度实时在线检测方法的研究

微生物的存在会改变发酵液的电特性,发酵液在无线电频率范围内的电容率增量是测量频率和生物量浓度的函数.基于对发酵液电容率分布的研究,提出了测量生物量浓度的新方法.用此方法不用取样就能对发酵液中的生物量进行实时在线测量,而且测得的是活的生物量浓度.制作的电极直接插入发酵器中并满足高温蒸气灭菌条件.此方法在生化制药、食品发酵、啤酒酿造、污水检测等工业领域里有很好的推广应用前景.     

Effect of Light on Tobacco Mosaic Virus Formation under Anaerobic Conditions

Tobacco leaf discs, infected with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), were floated on Vickery's solution and kept under N₂ in the light, conditions where the only source of ATP was assumed to be cyclic photophosphorylation. Usually the virus content was unaltered or decreased during the next 24 hours; occasionally there was some TMV formation, but less than in air and light, and it was abolished by 10^?5 M DCMU. This suggested that ATP produced by cyclic photophosphorylation was not used in TMV formation. Infected discs exposed to N₂ for longer than 2 hours formed less virus when transferred to air and light than discs not exposed to N₂, presumably because some breakdown in the TMV-forming apparatus occurred in ATP deficient conditions.