Food-attraction conditioning in the snail,Helix pomatia

Adult pulmonate snails (Helix pomatia) were released equidistant between two types of food, carrot and potato, respectively. Naive snails moved in different directions and did not locate either food above chance, although both foods were readily eaten upon direct contact. After a single carrot feeding episode, 75% of the carrot-fed snails moved directly towards the carrot and ate it. Conversely, potato-fed snails located the potato in 67% of the cases. Snails that were fed apple or lettuce behaved like naive animals, with the majority of animals (75% in both cases) locating neither the carrot nor the potato.The ability of snails to locate this particular food after a single feeding episode was maintained for at least 11 days, provided that the snails were not exposed to other foods in the interim. If the animals were fed a different food (but still tested for food-finding ability to the initially conditioned food) their orientation preference decreased gradually over a period of 5 days.Although the snails' orientation is based upon olfactory cues, exposure to food odor alone is not sufficient to enable food-finding; additional feeding related stimuli are necessary.These findings indicate that Helix do not possess a predisposition for the foods tested, and further suggest that processes underlying food-finding and food selection are strongly influenced by learning experiences. The conditioning phenomenon underlying food-finding behavior has been called Food-Attraction Conditioning, and appears to be a crucial link between the ecologies of learning and foraging behaviors. The accessibility of the snail's nervous system should permit neuronal analysis of the mechanisms underlying such a unique and complex learning phenomenon.     

Regio- and stereo-specific nitrile hydrolysis by the nitrile hydratase from Rhodococcus AJ270

Abstract Acid phosphatase activity was measured in individual cells by determining their optical densities through a scanning confocal laser microscope. The naphthol AS-TR (3-hydroxy-2-naphtoic acid 4'-chloro-2'-methylanilide) phosphate-hexazotized para-rosanilin method was used to visualise the acid phosphatase content in the light microscope. Evidence was obtained that the amount of enzyme varied in exponential growth phase cells as the fission age increased. By comparing the acid phosphatase activity with the rate of food vacuole formation, it appeared that the amount of enzyme inside the cells decreased in early clonal life, whereas the rate of food uptake increased. It was assumed that the reduction of acid phosphatase content could lead to a more extended life of vacuoles and to a decreased membrane recycling rate. In turn, the reduced supply of membrane available for food vacuole formation could partly be responsible for the decrease of the food uptake rate observed after the initial increase.     

Exercise,agonistic behaviour and food acquisition in Arctic charr,Salvelinus alpinus

Synopsis Although swimming is energetically costly, a number of studies on salmonid species have demonstrated increased growth rates in fishes forced to swim for prolonged periods at moderate speeds (typically 1–2 body lengths per sec). This suggests that additional energetic costs of swimming are more than met by alternative compensatory gains. The mechanisms underlying such effects are not fully understood. In this paper, we describe an experiment designed to examine one possible mechanism, namely a swimming-induced inhibition of aggression, with consequent beneficial effects on growth. The study used Arctic charr,Salvelinus alpinus, a species for which a positive relationship between exercise and growth has been clearly established. Using direct behavioural observations on small groups, we demonstrate that individuals displaying high levels of aggressive behaviour are able to monopolise access to food and that enforced swimming at a moderate speed (1 body length per sec) reduces the incidence of aggression although not the degree of monopolisation of food shown by aggressive individuals. These results suggest that the enhanced growth rates accompanying enforced swimming may reflect lower energetic costs of reduced aggressive activity rather than improved access to food by subordinates.     

Cell competence forAgrobacterium-mediated DNA transfer inPisum sativum L.

Distribution and properties of pea (Pisum sativum L.) cells, competent forAgrobacterium-mediated transformation were analysed byin situ histochemical detection of GUS (-glucuronidase) activity, 4 d after inoculation with engineeredAgrobacterium tumefaciens. The vector system consisted of the hypervirulent disarmed strain EHA101 and the binary plasmid pIBGUS, carrying an intron-containing, 35S-promotor drivengusA (oruidA) gene and two selectable marker genes. Cells competent for transformation were mainly restricted to the dedifferentiating cells neighbouring the vascular system of cotyledon and epicotyl explants. A standardized assay was developed, allowing determination and quantification of factors influencing number and distribution of competent cells. In etiolated seedlings, competence for transformation decreased with the distance of the epicotyl explant from the shoot apex and was specifically induced by the exogenous application of auxins. Transient expression ofgusA afterAgrobacterium-mediated DNA transfer was dramatically reduced upon application of cell-cycle and DNA replication inhibitors aphidicolin, colchicine and nalidixic acid. GUS expression after direct DNA transfer of double-stranded plasmid DNA (via PEG into protoplasts or via particle bombardment of epicotyl segments) was independent of cell-division/DNA replication.A GUS-positive mutant of EHA101 was constructed to allowin situ analysis of attaching bacteria within the plant tissue. Attachment and invasion was inhibited by well-developed cuticula but was restored after chloroform treatment of the tissue surface. Moreover, no correlation was found between distribution of attaching bacteria and the pattern of transformation-competent cells.     

高原鼠兔与达乌尔鼠兔食物资源维生态位的研究

作者于１９９３年在青海省刚察县年诺索玛地区发现高原鼠兔（Ｏｃｈｏｔｏｎａ ｃｕｒｚｏｎｉａｅ）和达乌尔鼠兔（０．ｄａｕｒｉｃａ）在布哈河谷二阶同域且重叠分布之现象,并从这两种鼠兔的食物资源利用出发,研究了其生态位关系问题。在食物资源维上的生态位宽度（ＰＳ）,高原鼠兔为０．４７４４,达乌尔鼠兔为０．４９６４,即它们具有相近似的生态位宽度。这两种动物的生态位在食物资源谱维上的重叠值（ＦＴ）为０．８０９     

Determination of tryptophan as the reduced derivative by acid hydrolysis and chromatography

A new procedure for the analyses of tryptophan and the total amino acid composition of proteins was based on the observations that pyridine borane reduces tryptophan in trifluoroacetic acid, while other amino acids remain intact [M. Kurata, Y. Kikugawa, T. Kuwae, I. Koyama, and T. Takagi (1980) Chem. Pharm. Bull. 28, 2274-2275; W.S.D. Wong, D.T. Osuga, and R.E. Feeney (1984) Anal. Biochem. 139, 58-67]. Concentrated HCl was used instead of trifluoroacetic acid for analytical purposes. The products were stable to hydrolysis in 6 N HCl, and the reduction did not interfere with hydrolysis and subsequent analyses. Quantitative recovery was achieved with most proteins when they were subjected to acid reduction in ice-cooled concentrated HCl with two incremental additions of pyridine borane. The reaction was terminated after 10 min by dilution with an equal volume of H2O, vacuum sealing, and hydrolyzing at 110 degrees C for 22 h. The yields of the expected values for cytochrome c, catalase, bovine serum albumin, subtilisin BPN', trypsin, chymotrypsin, beta-lactoglobulin, lysozyme, and pepsin were obtained. Ovotransferrin and ovalbumin, however, yielded values for tryptophan lower than literature values. With two different ion-exchange methods, the recoveries of all other amino acids were comparable to those obtained by acid hydrolysis with 6 N HCl. Since the same hydrolysate can be analyzed for both tryptophan and all the other amino acids, the procedure is a more convenient method than those requiring separate determinations. Initial results indicate that the method may be applied to high-performance liquid chromatographic procedures with adaptations of the protocols if necessary.     

Aspects of the biology of the euryhaline Asian cichlid,Etroplus suratensis

Synopsis Aspects of the biology of the euryhaline Asian cichlid Etroplus suratensis in a coastal lagoon of Sri Lanka were studied for a period of 15 months. Comparisons are made from the catches from the fishery of manmade, inland freshwater reservoirs. Changes in the stock structure in the sublittoral region of the lagoon indicate that recruitment takes place twice a year, during the high rainfall/low salinity periods. The feeding habits of E. suratensis were different in the two habitats. In the lagoon it fed mainly on molluscs and in the freshwater reservoirs on macrophytes. Feeding chronology based on diurnal surveys indicate that it feeds mainly during the daylight hours. The dentition of E. suratensis is adapted for both tearing and crushing (pharyngeal teeth). Distinct differences in the mean relative intestinal length between populations from the coastal lagoon and inland reservoirs were evident and these differences are correlated to their respective feeding habits. Diurnal changes in feeding activity are associated with changes in the stomach pH. The egg-diameter distribution of mature fish indicate that E. suratensis is a single spawner, that it sheds its mature eggs all at once. It is inferred that E. suratensis breeds twice a year but that an individual female is capable of spawning only once a year.     

Food habits of channel catfish in a reservoir receiving heated waters

The diet of channel catfish captured near the mouth of a channel carrying heated waters was not significantly different from the diet of catfish captured elsewhere in the same reservoir during the cool months of the year. In summer months, however, the diet of catfish captured near the effluent was significantly different from the diet of catfish from other locations and seemed to indicate that catfish were foraging in cool, deeper waters beneath the thermal plume.Department of Biological Sciences, North Texas State UniversityFinancial support for the study was provided by a Faculty Research Grant at North Texas State University.     

Adrenal modulation of the inhibitory effect of corticotropin releasing factor on feeding

Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) reduces food intake in rats after central administration. In these studies we examined whether the adrenal gland and the vagus were involved in CRF suppression of intake. One hour intake was reduced by a 5 μg (ICV) injection of CRF in sham but not adrenalectomized rats maintained on 0.9% NaCl. In a separate experiment on rats maintained on tap water, the inhibitory effect of CRF (5 μg) lasted at least 4 hours in sham rats whereas adrenalectomized rats did not significantly differ from controls. These experiments suggest that the adrenal gland modulates the feeding response to CRF. As replacement with corticosterone (0.75 mg/kg) in total adrenalectomized rats did not restore responsiveness to 5 or 10 μg of CRF, we next studied whether the adrenal medulla was responsible for the decreased responsiveness to CRF. In rats lacking the adrenal medulla only, food intake was reduced by a 5 μg injection of CRF; in sham rats, intake was significantly reduced by doses as low as 0.1 μg of CRF. An additional experiment examined the effect of gastric vagotomy on the CRF feeding response. Vagotomized rats were as responsive to 5 and 10 μg injections of CRF as sham rats, which suggests that the effect is not dependent on the vagus nerve. These findings indicate that the adrenal gland, primarily the medulla, plays an intermediate role in the reduction of food intake caused by central injections of CRF. This conclusion is consistent with the known effect of CRF on adrenomedullary discharge.     

Effect of aluminium on the growth of 34 plant species: A summary of results obtained in low ionic strength solution culture

The results from many experiments conducted over 5 years to determine the tolerance of 34 plant species (87 cultivars) to aluminium (Al) are summarised. All experiments were conducted in a temperature-controlled glasshouse using a low-ionic-strength solution culture technique. The activity of Al³⁺ (M) at which top yields were reduced by 50% (Al_RY50) was determined for each cultivar.The species Bromus wildenowii, Cynosurus cristatus, Hordeum vulgare, Triticum aestivum (cvs Warigal, Scout, Sonora-63), Avena byzantina, Arabidopsis thaliana, Lycopersicon esculentum and Nicotiana plumbaginifolia were all very sensitive to Al (Al_RY50<1). The species Poa pratense, Lolium perenne (NZ-derived cultivars), Lotus corniculatus, Avena sativa (cvs West, Carbeen, Camellia and Coolabah), Triticum aestivum (cvs Cardinal and Waalt), Allium cepa and Asparagus officinalis were sensitive to Al (Al_RY50 1–2).The pasture grass species Lolium perenne (Australian and European and derived cultivars), Lolium hybridum and Lolium multiflorum, Dactylis glomerata (Apanui and Kara), Phalaris aquatica, Festuca arundinacea and the pasture legumes species Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens and Trifolium subterraneum were all moderately sensitive to Al (Al_RY50 2–5). Other species that were also moderately sensitive included Triticum aestivum (cvs Atlas-66, BH146, and Carazinho), Avena sativa (cvs Swan and Blackbutt), Avena Strigosa, Petunia x and Phaseolus vulgaris (cvs Red Kidney, Black Turtle and Haricot).The most tolerant species (Al_RY50>5) were (in order of increasing tolerance) Phaseolus vulgaris (cvs Tendergreen, The Prince and Yatescrop), Cucurbita maxima, Dactylis glomerata (cv Wana), Paspalum dilatatum, Lotus pedunculatus, Ehrharta calycina, Medicago sativa, Holcus lanatus, Festuca rubra, Phaseolus lunatus and Agrostis tenuis. Agrostis tenuis was at least twice as tolerant as the next most tolerant species (Al_RY50>30 compared to 15.6).