Differences in diet and behaviour of sympatric saithe and pollack in a Scottish sea loch

Two closely related and morphologically similar gadoid predators, saithe, Pollachius virens and pollack P. pollachius , coexist in close proximity on a submerged reef in Loch Ewe, Scotland. The degree of overlap between the niches of these two gadoids in the wild was investigated by means of acoustic tracking, underwater television and an examination of stomach contents. Simultaneous tracking of individuals of both species revealed that pollack generally swim more slowly than saithe, restricting much of their movements to the submerged reef. Saithe ranged more widely around the reef as part of a school during the day, moving onto the reef at night. Video recordings showed that saithe swam actively and foraged in small groups and took prey items from the kelp, whereas pollack tended to remain solitary, maintained station at particular locations for minutes at a time and apparently used the kelp forest exclusively for cover. Although the dietary overlap of the two predators was considerable, their intake of different prey groups varied. In particular, within the crustaceans, saithe took amphipods, while pollack took mysids. In addition, saithe consume a wider range of prey than pollack. The relationship between the movement patterns and the use of food resources by these two predators is discussed, with particular emphasis on differences in feeding strategies.     

Adult movements between populations in the specialist butterfly Proclossiana eunomia (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

Abstract.

• 1 The structure of local populations of a monophagous butterfly, the bog fritillary Proclossiana eunomia, was studied in a complex of suitable habitat patches separated by spruce plantations or fertilized pasture.
• 2 An unexpected high level of adult movements between habitat patches was detected by a mark—release—recapture technique. Local populations were connected by adult movements across unsuitable habitats, leading to a meta-population structure.
• 3 This evidence of the metapopulation structure of a specialist butterfly challenges the supposed relationship between habitat specialization and closed, isolated populations.
• 4 Males and females of P.eunomia exhibited different spatial behaviours; females were more likely to emigrate and dispersed further than males. These differences in spatial behaviour are related to the mating system.

     

运动结构背景对视觉系统神经元反应的调制作用

对蟾蜍的５６个视顶盖神经元的视觉反应进行了定量考察和分析,发现它们不仅对黑目标起反应,也对结构目标起反应．同相运动的结构背景使５３．５％的神经元的反应完全抑制,而异相运动则只有１０％的神经元完全被抑制,却有２１．６％的神经元反应增强．遮盖感受野（ＲＦ）中心区,则同相运动使某些细胞脱抑制,而异相运动使其抑制强度稍有增强．遮盖ＲＦ的外周区,几乎全部研究过的神经元对结构背景运动本身也起反应。本研究还发现,如果预先将一目标放在兴奋性感受野（ＥＲＦ）中央静止不动,并使结构背景在水平方向匀速移动较长时间后突然停止运动,则被研究过的６６个视盖神经元中有２９个发放一串脉冲,即神经元的运动后放电．各个神经细胞放电的脉冲多寡不一。若在ＥＲＦ中央不放置静止目标,仅是结构背景的水平运动不能诱发放电．此效应的出现,既与目标背景间反差符号（即目标为白色或黑色）无关,也与背景的运动方向无关。为诱发这一效应,不仅要求背景运动时间较长（至少在２０秒以上）,而且目标的面积要有足够大。     

Short period leaf movements in Oxalis regnellii

Oxalis regnellii Mig. is a trifoliate plant, and the three leaflets usually show synchronized up and down movements with a circadian period of 26–27 h. The three leaflets can also perform desynchronized ultradian oscillations, and we report on such rhythms under different conditions. A study of the occurrence of ultradian leaf movement rhythms as a function of irradiance is presented. At an irradiance of approximately 1 μW cm⁻², the occurrence was maximal and ca 30%. The periods varied from 5 to 15 h. Four other cases of ultradian rhythms in different conditions are also presented. In one case spontaneous ultradian rhythms occurred, and in another, two of the leaflets showed ultradian rhythms when the third leaflet had received a light pulse. In two more cases, the three leaflets on a leaf were separated by physical cuts along the petiole between the pulvini; in both cases the period was approximately 5 h. Possible mechanisms to explain the ultradian rhythms in Oxalis regnelli are discussed.     

Changes in human jaw muscles with age and dental state

The effects of ageing and dental state on the cross-sectional area and density of two jaw muscles, the masseter and medial pterygoid, were investigated using computed tomography. The study involved 84 male and 70 female subjects between the ages of 20 and 90 years. The cross-sectional area of both muscles showed a significant reduction with age; values for female subjects being found in the lower range of the distribution. When consideration was given to the presence or absence of a natural dentition, the cross-sectional area of both muscles in edentulous subjects showed a greater decease throughout the age range studied. There was a significant decrease in the density of the muscles with increasing age. Previously, this has been interpreted to indicate a progressive increase in fat and fibrous tissue. Subject gender and the absence of teeth appeared to have little effect on this parameter. Changes in the cross-sectional area and density of these muscles would appear to be consistent with a general age related change of muscle tissue in the body as a whole and may specifically indicate a reduction in the masticatory forces which can be or are being utilised by ageing patients, many of whom have no remaining natural dentition.     

Morphogenetic movements during axolotl neural tube formation tracked by digital imaging

During neurulation in vertebrate embryos, epithelial cells of the neural plate undergo complex morphogenetic movements that culminate in rolling of the plate into a tube. Resolution of the determinants of this process requires an understanding of the precise movements of cells within the epithelial sheet. A computer algorithm that allows automated tracking of epithelial cells visible in digitized video images is presented. It is used to quantify the displacement field associated with morphogenetic movements in the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) neural plate during normal neural tube formation. Movements from lateral to medial, axial elongations and area changes are calculated from the displacement field data and plotted as functions of time. Regional and temporal differences are identified. The approach presented is suitable for analyzing a wide variety of morphogenetic movements.     

SATELLITE-MONITORED MOVEMENTS AND DIVE BEHAVIOR OF A BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS) IN TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA

An adult, female bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops trucncatus ) was radio tagged and monitored via satellite-based Argos receivers for 25 d from 28 June to 23 July 1990, in Tampa Bay, Florida. A total of 794 transmissions were obtained during 106 satellite passes. A mean of 3.9 (SE = 0.24) locations/day were determined by Service Argos and showed the animal remained in the bay, usually close to the southeastern shore. The dolphin moved at least 581 km at a minimum mean speed of 1.2 (SE = 0.1) km/h. Data from 63, 922 dives were recorded. The animal spent an average of 87.1 (SE = 0.6)% of the time submerged, with a mean dive duration of 25.8 (SE = 0.5) sec. Mean dive duration differed significantly between four periods of the day, as did the mean percent of time spent submerged. During the early morning the animal spent more time at the surface, averaged shorter dives, and was submerged less than other times of day. This is the first study to demonstrate die1 dive cycles in a bottlenose dolphin. Four months after tag loss, the dolphin was photographed with no evidence of necrosis or disfigurement of the dorsal fin. Satellite telemetry was demonstrated as an effective means of documenting the movements and dive behavior of a small inshore cetacean.     

Chloroplast movements in leaves: Influence on chlorophyll fluorescence and measurements of light-induced absorbance changes related to ΔpH and zeaxanthin formation

Light-induced chloroplast movements were found to cause changes in chlorophyll fluorescence emission, closely matching those in leaf absorptance, both in terms of the kinetics and the maximum extent of the changes observed in different species. The results demonstrate that chloroplast movements can have a significant effect on the efficiency of light utilization in photosynthesis. They further show that chloroplast movements need to be taken into account in measurements of fluorescence quenching and especially in measurements of light-induced optical changes used to monitor zeaxanthin formation and pH associated light scattering in leaves. Means of minimizing and of adjusting for the influences of chloroplast movements in such measurements are discussed.Abbreviations F fluorescence emission - PFD photon flux density - R reflectance - T transmittance - absorptance C.I.W.-D.P.B. Publication No. 1116.     

Carapace movements associated with ventilation and irrigation of the branchial chambers in the semaphore crab,Heloecius cordiformis (Decapoda: Brachyura: Ocypodidae)

Summary Carapace movements in crabs are briefly reviewed. While on land and recirculating branchial water, the Australian semaphore crab Heloecius cordiformis (Decapoda: Ocypodidae), a semi-terrestrial air-breathing mangrove crab, sequentially depresses and elevates its carapace relative to its thorax (0.5–1 mm excursion) in a regular pump-like manner. In quiescent crabs each carapace-pumping cycle lasts about 4 s; carapace depression takes 3 s and elevation 1 s. Carapace movements are brought about by pressures generated within the branchial chambers by the scaphognathites, probably in combination with carapace muscles. Carapace movements are associated with bilaterally synchronised scaphognathite activity. Unilateral scaphognathite activity was not observed. During normal forward recirculation of branchial water the scaphognathites beat at about 1.5 Hz (slow-forward pumping) and the lungs (epibranchial chambers) are not ventilated. In Heloecius, the lungs are not physically separated from the gills below by an anatomical barrier. Lung ventilation is accomplished during the following sequence of events: the carapace is lowered and the scaphognathites pump in a fast-forward mode at about 2.8 Hz. This activity preferentially pumps air out of the lungs and generates suction within the branchial chambers (4–10 cm H₂O below ambient) which draws water from external body surfaces into the hypobranchial space below and around the gills. At the end of the carapace's downward travel the scaphognathites switch from fast-forward to fastreverse beating at about 4 Hz. This pumps air into the lungs and the carapace elevates. As a result, during carapace elevation the water which had previously been drawn into the branchial chambers by fast-forward pumping activity is released and flows out between the legs and into the abdominosternal cavity. When the carapace reaches its original resting or up position the scaphognathites switch from fast-reverse to slowforward beating to re-establish water recirculation through the branchial chambers. This cycle is subsequently repeated. In stationary crabs, there are 2 carapace-pumping cycles per minute, increasing to 14 per minute in active crabs (walking). When water is absent, the lungs are preferentially ventilated by slow-reverse scaphognathite pumping activity. Carapace movements do not occur in the absence of branchial water. Carapace pumping is thought to provide a mechanism which permits the scaphognathites to ventilate the lungs in the presence of recirculating branchial water, without this water interfering with lung ventilation or being lost to the environment.Abbreviations FF, FR, SF, SR fast-forward, fast-reverse, slowforward, slow-reverse scaphognathite pumping - MEA Milne Edwards aperture