Changes in the behavior of the female short-tailed cricket,Anurogryllus muticus (De Geer) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) following mating

InAnurogryllus muticus females, mating stimulates burrow construction, burrow provisioning, feeding, egg production, and egg-laying. Since mating often occurs before the ovaries are fully developed, the time span between mating and oviposition is used for increased food intake and the accumulation of nutrient reserves in the fatbody. Oviposition triggers maternal care of eggs and emerging hatchlings, and blocks egg consumption. Hatchling behavior is investigated. When hatchlings eat eggs, they prefer newly laid over older, embryonic eggs.     

Colcemid treatment of myeloma prior to cell fusion increases the yield of hybridomas between myeloma and splenocyte

Effect of Colcemid treatment of myeloma (X63-Ag8-6.5.3.) prior to fusion with mouse spleen cell was studied in terms of hybridoma formation. Spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with various soluble antigens were fused with the myeloma cells by using polyethylene glycol solution. Colcemid treatment of myeloma cells prior to fusion increased the average number of hybridoma colonies per well by 26-570%. The yield of hybridomas producing antigen-specific antibodies was also higher with the Colcemid treatment. The results suggest that most of the proliferative hybridomas are formed by fusion of cells in the M-phase of the cell cycle.     

Crypt architecture of tonsilla lingualis in the monkey,Macaca fascicularis

Summary Crypts of the lingual tonsil were investigated in 10 male and female Macaca fascicularis by use of correlated light and scanning-electron microscopy. Counting of crypt openings provided an estimate of the total number of respective crypto-lymphatic units, which were found to range from 20 to 39. Crypt openings appeared in three distinct morphological varieties, i.e. circular, oval or slit-like. Tonsillar units existed individually or were arranged in a rosary fashion below a slit-like mucosal fold serving as a common exit. Although the crypt epithelium was generally non-keratinized, individual cells showing a surface pattern similar to that of the keratinized cells could be encountered. The crypt epithelium was frequently fragmented and showed heavy mononuclear cell infiltration and surface discontinuities, with lymphoid cells coming in contact with luminal contents. The crypt lumen either appeared as a simple epithelial invagination or existed as a complex, cavernous pouch with many blind-ending diverticula. The lumen contained a mixture of exfoliated epithelial cells, leucocytes and bacteria. The secretory ducts of the posterior lingual glands opened occasionally at various levels into the crypt lumina or independently to the exterior.     

Spatial separation of fishes captured in passive gear in a turbid prairie lake

Synopsis Spatial separation of fishes in the littoral zone of a turbid prairie lake (Clear Lake, Iowa) was assessed with gill nets and fyke nets. Catch per unit of effort was used to determine differences among habitat types, sampling times within a 24 h period, and sampling months. Four of 10 species examined were significantly more numerous in one of the three habitats — nonvegetated, vegetated, or gravel-rock substrate. Black bullhead (Ictalurus melas) and bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus) were most abundant in vegetated areas, yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis) in gravel-rock areas, and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) in both non-vegetated and gravel-rock areas. Temporal patterns in habitat use were indicated for these four species, as well as yellow perch (Perca flavescens), white bass (Morone chrysops), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), walleye (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum), black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), white sucker (Catostomus commersoni). Journal Paper No. J-11039 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Project No. 2345. Financed by the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Water Research and Technology and Iowa State University.     

Total nitrogen and phosphorus balance sheet in a typic ustochrept soil under intensive cropping and fertilizer use

Summary Balance sheets were computed for total nitrogen and phosphorus in plough layer (0–15 cm) of a Typic Ustochrept soil under continuous multiple cropping for seven years (1971–72 to 1977–78) with a fixed rotation of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoideum L.) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Vigna sinensis Savi.) The treatments considered of soil test-based rates of N, P and K, applied both singly and in combinations together with farm yard manure, sulphur and zinc superimposed over optimum rates (100%) of NPK. Heavy, losses of N (762–899 kg ha⁻¹) occurred in the plots which received high rates of Nviz. 150% of recommended NPK and 100% NPK plus FYM. Application of N alone accelerated N losses whereas addition of P, PK, PKS to N minimised such losses. Enrichment of P (66 to 198 kg ha⁻¹) occurred in all phosphate-treated plots. A marginal net decrease (29–54 kg ha⁻¹) in P levels was observed in control and N alone treatments.     

The reproductive behaviour ofAequidens vittatus (Pisces,Cichlidae) in Surinam,South America

Synopsis The behaviour of free-living pairs ofAequidens vittatus was observed in Surinam, South America. An ethogram of breeding behaviour is presented, based on those observations and on aquarium-held fish. This is a biparental, substrate-guarding species that spawns on a movable platform. Sexual differentiation of parental roles was more pronounced when the young were in the embryonic interval than when they were mobile juveniles. Females spent more time near their brood, attacked juvenile conspecifics more often, and fanned and mouthed embryos more than males did. Males were more involved than females in territorial spacing of pairs. The movable spawning leaf provides support for eggs on detritus substrate and may also provide protection against predators and rapid water level changes.     

Fluorescence induction in whole leaves: Differentiation between the two leaf sides and adaptation to different light regimes

In a variety of plants, the induction kinetics of chlorophyll fluorescence vary substantially depending on whether measured on the upper or lower side of the same leaf. The responses are comparable to those of plants grown under sun and shade conditions. Leaf morphology appears not to be the primary cause of the differences since inversion of the leaves can lead to reversed fluorescence responses. Fluorescence induction was analyzed in control and inverted leaves, and in one case, in chloroplasts from sun and shade leaves. It is concluded from the data that the major differences between the chloroplasts of the upper and lower leaf side reflect ionic and thylakoidmembrane conformational factors, rather than structural differences. Mg²⁺ flux probably plays a significant role in the adjustment of the thylakoid membrane to high or low light conditions.     

Development of the photosynthetic apparatus during light-dependent greening of a mutant of Chlorella fusca

The formation of chlorophyll, cytochrome f, P-700, ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase as well as photosynthesis and Hill reaction activities were tested during the light-dependent greening process of the Chlorella fusca mutant G 10. Neither chlorophyll nor protochlorophyllide was detected in the darkgrown cells. When transferred to light the mutant cells developed chlorophyll and established its photosynthetic capacity after a short lag phase. In the in vivo absorption spectra a spectral shift of the red absorption peak position from 674 to 680 nm was indicated during the first 3 h of greening. Cytochrome f was already present in the dark-grown cells, but during the greening phase a threefold increase in the cytochrome f content could be seen. At the early stages of greening a characteristic primary oscillation in the content of cytochrome f was observed. P-700 was lacking in the dark and during the first 30 min of illumination. From the first to the second h of light a forced synthesis of P-700 took place and the time-course curve for the ratios of P-700/chlorophyll rose to a sharp maximum. The synthesis of P-700 started together with photosystem I activity and showed similar kinetics. We found the simultaneous appearance of photosystem II, photosystem I, and photosynthetic activities 30 min after the beginning of the illumination. Based on chlorophyll content they attained maximum activity after 2 h of light, but at this time photosystem I capacity proved to be remarkably higher than photosynthetic and photosystem II activities. Highest carboxylase activity existed in darkgrown cells. During the greening process the activity of the enzyme decreased continuously. After 2 h of illumination chlorophyll synthesis partially served to increase the size of the photosynthetic unit, which consequently led to a decrease in the light energy needed to saturate photosynthesis and also to a decrease of photosynthetic rate based on chlorophyll content.Abbreviations Chl chlorophyll - Cyt f cytochrome f - DPIP 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - GSH glutathione - LH light-harvesting - PS photosystem - RuBP ribulose bisphosphate     

Synthesis of a polymide containing a glucose unit in the main chain

A new type polyamide containing a glucose unit in the main chain has been synthesized by the polymerization of C₁, C₃, C₄ blocked C₆-carboxymethylglucosamine, prepared from chitin. The deblocking procedure gave the water-soluble polyamide, of MW 1.5 × 10⁴, which can be regarded as a model for the recognition site of lectin.     

Infant care in a family of siamangs (Hylobates syndactylus) with twin offspring at Berlin Zoo

Infant-carrying in a family group of siamangs with twin offspring was observed during a 2-week period. The twins were about 11 months old at the time of the study. One or both twins were usually carried by their father, but hardly ever by their mother. A considerable amount of infant-carrying was also contributed by the twins' juvenile brother. Helping behavior (defined as the care of offspring by individuals who are not their parents) is not normally known to occur in siamangs or other hylobatids. We suggest that the presence of multiple offspring may have facilitated the occurrence of infant-carrying exhibited by a nonparental family member. This finding may point to one of the mechanisms influencing the occurrence of helping behavior in general.