Dietary linolenic acid-mediated increase in vascular prostacyclin formation

To define vascular effects of an enhanced dietary -linolenic acid intake, 28 spontaneously hypertensive rats were fed a 3% sunflowerseed oil (44% linoleic acid) diet; in 3 groups (7 rats each), the diet was supplemented with 1, 2.5 or 5% linseed oil containing 62% -linolenic acid. -Linolenic acid was incorporated up to 12% in the aorta of the 5% linseed oil group. The eicosapentaenoic acid content was not significantly increased. The content of arachidonic acid and docosatetraenoic acid was moderately reduced in rats fed 5% linseed oil. The generation of 6-keto-PGF₁ (degradation product of prostacyclin) assessed by HPLC/electrochemical detection was, however, markedly increased (p < 0.05) in rats fed 2.5 and 5% linseed oil. The minor prostanoids TXB₂, PGE₂ and PGF₂ were not significantly altered. The high systolic and diastolic blood pressure of SHR monitored by radio telemetry was more effectively reduced (p < 0.05) in the light, i.e. sleep, cycle. An increased prostacyclin formation and lowered vascular arachidonic acid content associated with enhanced dietary -linolenic acid intake would thus be expected to prove beneficial in the prevention of vascular disorders.     

Reproductive migration of brown trout in a small Norwegian river studied by telemetry

The movement of 34 large (39–73 cm standard length) brown trout Salmo trutta was monitored using radio telemetry for up to 74 days in Brumunda, a small Norwegian river (mean annual discharge 3·3 m³ s⁻¹) flowing into the large Lake Mjøsa. The maximum range of movement in the river was 20 km. No clear relationships existed between individual movement and water discharge, temperature and barometric pressure. Brown trout migrated at all levels of water discharge. At low discharge (<2 m³ s⁻¹) movements were nocturnal. A weir 5·3 km from the outlet restricted ascending brown trout at low ( c . 6° C), but not at high ( c . 8° C) water temperatures. Spawning occurred in September to October and tagged individuals spent 2–51 days at the spawning sites. Mean migration speed from tagging to when the fish reached the spawning area, and from when they left the spawning areas and reached the lake was 1·0 and 2·3 km day⁻¹, respectively. All tagged brown trout that survived spawning returned to the lake after spawning.     

Activity of free‐living subterranean blind mole rats Spalax galili (Rodentia: Spalacidae) in an area of supposed sympatric speciation

Subterranean rodents forage underground, which is energetically costly. Therefore, they can be expected to economize burrowing activity in response to food supply and soil characteristics. We analyzed the activity of radio‐tracked blind mole rats, Spalax galili, on a locality sharply subdivided into harder but relatively food‐rich, basaltic soil and softer, relatively food‐poor rendzina. It was recently proposed that the mole rats in this locality are undergoing sympatric ecological speciation. We predicted that mole rats from basaltic soil would be less active than those from rendzina as a result of the reduced need for burrowing to reach food. By contrast to our predictions, mole rats from basaltic soil were more frequently located outside the nest and observed pushing soil above ground. We suggest that this is a result of territorial behaviour due to high population density. All mole rats exhibited a unimodal daily activity pattern likely related to temperature. Large males had large but gradually decreasing home‐ranges, likely indicating the end of the mating season. We conclude that the ecological differences between the habitats cause behavioural differences in the mole rats, which indicates different selection pressures. The genetic divergence previously found between the populations might have arisen via density‐dependent selection.     

Comparative movements of four large fish species in a lowland river

A multi‐year radio‐telemetry data set was used to comparatively examine the concurrent movements of the adults of three large‐bodied Australian native freshwater fishes (Murray cod Maccullochella peelii, trout cod Maccullochella macquariensis and golden perch Macquaria ambigua) and the introduced carp Cyprinus carpio. The study was conducted over a reach scale in the regulated Murray River in south‐eastern Australia. Differences were identified in the movements among these species. The predominant behaviour was the use of small movements (<1 km) for all species, and although larger‐scale movements (>1 km) did occur, the frequency varied considerably among species. Large‐scale movements were least evident for M. macquariensis and more common for M. ambigua and C. carpio with these two species also having a greater propensity to change locations. Macquaria ambigua displayed the largest movements and more M. ambigua moved on a ‘continual’ basis. Although a degree of site fidelity was evident for all species, the highest levels were exhibited by M. macquariensis and M. peelii. Homing was also evident to some degree in all species, but was greatest for M. peelii.     

大熊猫GPS项圈行为数据的分类阈值

在大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)研究中,利用GPS项圈研究活动节律已经得到广泛应用。但是,由于对GPS项圈行为数据的分类阈值一直缺乏研究,导致了大熊猫个体活动节律分析结果出现一定的偏差。本文以半野化过渡训练区内2只佩戴GPS项圈(Lotek_7000 MU)的大熊猫("倩倩"与"和盛")为研究对象,通过监控视频观测获得休息与活动行为时间段,对比同期利用GPS项圈行为数据计算得到的运动指数,采用正判率最大化策略,确定大熊猫休息和活动两类行为运动指数的行为分类阈值。结果表明,大熊猫休息状态和活动状态运动指数的行为分类阈值为32,而之前研究中采用0作为阈值。以32为阈值对行为分类,其中,休息行为正判率为98.23%,运动行为正判率94.48%;而以0为阈值,休息行为正判率为100%,运动行为正判率77.34%。利用阈值32和0对两只大熊猫19 d的休息行为和活动行为进行分类识别。以0为阈值时,大熊猫日平均活动率("倩倩"为59%;"和盛"为70%),高于以32为阈值得到的日平均活动率("倩倩"为54%;"和盛"为50%),这表明以0为行为分类阈值时,会高估大熊猫活动率。     

A Comparison of Walking Rates Between Wild and Zoo African Elephants

With increased scrutiny surrounding the welfare of elephants in zoological institutions, it is important to have empirical evidence on their current welfare status. If elephants are not receiving adequate exercise, it could lead to obesity, which can lead to many issues including acyclicity and potentially heart disease. The goal of the current study was to compare the walking rates of elephants in the wild versus elephants in zoos to determine if elephants are walking similar distances relative to their wild counterparts. Eleven wild elephants throughout different habitats and locations in Botswana were compared to 8 elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Direct comparisons revealed no significant difference in average walking rates of zoo elephants when compared with wild elephants. These results suggest that elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park walk similar rates to those of wild elephants and may be meeting their exercise needs.     

Reversible thrombin-induced modification of positional distribution of fatty acids in platelet phospholipids: Involvement of deacylation-reacylation

The positional distribution of fatty acids in phospholipids was analyzed for human platelet activated by thrombin. At 30 sec after thrombin-activation, when the content of phosphatidylinositol(PI) fell transiently, the 2-position of PI underwent a significant decrease in arachidonate (77.6% → 61.5%) with a compensating increase in oleate and stearate. However, accompanying PI resynthesis, its positional distribution tended to revert to that of non-activated platelets. There was no significant change in the fatty acyl positioning in other phospholipids. In addition, evidence is presented that human platelet lysates acylate 1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylinositol and the acylation rate for arachidonate was 2.5 times higher than for any other unsaturated fatty acids tested. These data indicate that the thrombin-induced alteration in fatty acid pairing of PI is ameliorated by the deacylation-reacylation follwing PI resynthesis.     

Female-biased natal dispersal in the Siberian flying squirrel

Natal dispersal is usually sex biased in birds and mammals.Female-biased natal dispersal is the prevailing pattern in birdsbut is rare among mammals. Hypotheses explaining sex bias indispersal include the mate-defense mating hypothesis, whichpredicts male-biased dispersal, the resource-defense hypothesispredicting female-biased dispersal, and the competition hypothesis,which predicts that if dispersal is caused by competition forresources between sexes, then the subdominant sex will disperse.We studied natal dispersal of Siberian flying squirrels Pteromysvolans using radio telemetry in Southern Finland in 1996–2004.Of 86 juveniles that survived over the dispersal period, almostall young females dispersed from the natal site, whereas almost40% of males were philopatric. Dispersal was farther for femalesthan males. Females began dispersal on average 2 weeks earlierthan males and were lighter in mass at the onset of dispersalthan later dispersing males. No mate- or resource-defense matingsystem could be found among males, but females seemed to defendnest and apparently food resources, in contrast to the expectationof dispersal bias in resource-defense systems. Competition forresources between sexes does not explain female bias either:in the flying squirrel, the female seems to be the dominantsex. We propose that young females are subordinate to theirmothers and have to disperse to find a vacant, suitable sitefor reproduction.     

“Inner GPS”, a far-reaching influence in brain research—For the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2014

<正>On the day of Oct.6,2014,John O’Keefe and a Norwegian couple May-Britt Moser and Edvard Moser won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering the"inner GPS"that functions in the brain when the animals navigate through the world.The prize was awarded for their work in identifying the cells that make up the positioning system in the mammalian brain.