The proximate/ultimate distinction in the multiple careers of Ernst Mayr

Ernst Mayr's distinction between “ultimate” and “proximate” causes is justly considered a major contribution to philosophy of biology. But how did Mayr come to this “philosophical” distinction, and what role did it play in his earlier “scientific” work? I address these issues by dividing Mayr's work into three careers or phases: 1) Mayr the naturalist/researcher, 2) Mayr the representative of and spokesman for evolutionary biology and systematics, and more recently 3) Mayr the historian and philosopher of biology. If we want to understand the role of the proximate/ultimate distinction in Mayr's more recent career as a philosopher and historian, then it helps to consider hisearlier use of the distinction, in the course of his research, and in his promotion of the professions of evolutionary biology and systematics. I believe that this approach would also shed light on some other important “philosophical” positions that Mayr has defended, including the distinction between “essentialism: and “population thinking.”     

Histochemical and immunocytochemical study of the migration of neurons from the rat olfactory placode

Immunocytochemical and histochemical methods have been used to describe the neuronal population migrating from the rat olfactory placode and to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution of this neuronal migration during development. Several neuronal markers, such as binding to the lectin Ulex europaeus (UEA I) and the presence of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), olfactory marker protein (OMP), and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), have been tested in order to determine whether migrating neurons originate from both the medial and the lateral parts of the placode and whether they all express LHRH. Our data show that a large population of differentiated migrating neurons can be identified with an antibody against NSE from the 14th day of gestation and with UEA I one day later. Migrating neurons are closely associated with both the vomeronasal axon fascicles emerging from the medial pit and the olfactory axons originating from the lateral pit. However, the neuron migration from the lateral pit appears to be more discrete than that from the medial pit. No LHRH immunoreactivity has been detected among neurons migrating from the lateral pit. Some neurons accompanying the olfactory axon fascicles exhibit a high level of maturation as shown by their OMP-positivity. Numerous neurons positive for both NSE and UEA I have also been observed within the presumptive olfactory nerve layer in early embryonic stages.     

Stabilité du polymorphisme enzymatique dans les populations d''un Lépidoptère migrant,Agrotis ipsilon

Homogeneous population structure in a migrant Lepidoptera, Agrotis ipsilon. Light trapping of Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) on various passes of the Alps and Pyrénées exhibited wide range movements between overwintering and aestivation areas. Electrophoretic analysis of samples taken in the Cantons of Vaud and Tessin (Switzerland), in the Rhône Delta (Southern France), and on passes of the Alps and Pyrénées, showed a great temporal and spatial homogeneity of allele frequencies (Fst values ranging from 0.002 to 0.013, and genetic distances from 0 to 0.004). These results support the hypothesis of a high level of gene flow. However, the occurrence during some years of high Fis values, might be explained by mixtures of populations that had undergone selection or went through a bottle-neck.     

Life histories and habitat selection in Daphnia: divergent life histories of D. magna clones differing in phototactic behaviour

To test the hypothesis of co-adaptation of life histories and daytime vertical distribution (vertical migration behaviour) in Daphnia, life history characteristics were analysed for two positively, three negatively, and four intermediately phototactic Daphnia magna clones. Clones with different phototactic behaviour were found to have divergent life history strategies, with positively phototactic clones being good exploiters under the non-limiting conditions provided in the laboratory, i.e. low density (1 ind./1), high food concentration (6,5–7 10⁵ Scenedesmus cells/ml, restored daily) and high temperature (20° C). They realized a high intrinsic rate of increase at a small adult body size through rapid development, at a cost of producing small neonates. Negatively and intermediately phototactic clones had larger adult body sizes, and produced larger neonates that were more starvation-resistant than those of positively phototactic clones. Selection for high intrinsic rate of increase in intermediately phototactic clones was mediated through the production of large clutches.     

An optimal foraging and migration model for juvenile plaice

Summary A state-dependent model has been used to predict daily and tidal patterns of migration, feeding and inactivity in juvenile plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) in their intertidal and shallow subtidal nursery areas. Vertical position, quantity of energy reserves and fullness of the gut characterized the state of individual fishes. If feeding is visually mediated, the model predicts that, by night, plaice should move to areas of low predation risk and become inactive, whereas by day, plaice should migrate to feed in areas of high prey encounter rate. Vertical zones adopted by day and night and, hence, patterns of migration, should depend on the distributions of predators and prey. When prey are more abundant in the intertidal zone, plaice should move onshore to feed as the tide rises and when prey are more abundant offshore, plaice should move offshore to feed by day. If predators are equally abundant in all zones, the fish should behave as if no predators were present, having no effective refuge. An increase in the abundance of predators with depth results in the restriction of plaice activities to shallower vertical zones, depending on the magnitude of the predation threat. Zones adopted thus depend on the trade-off between energy intake and predation risk. Concordance between predicted behaviour and observed patterns is evident in contrasting habitats. Migration and feeding in the Wadden Sea, where prey are more abundant on intertidal flats, is dominated by the tidal component, whereas on impoverished exposed beaches of the west coast of Scotland, the diurnal component is dominant. Tidally related behaviour persists in the latter environment, not predicted by the model and may be a consequence of using endogenous rhythms to approach optimal behavioural patterns.     

The Role of Cellular and Extracellular Matrix Adhesion Proteins in Organ Transplantation

The specific adhesion of cells to other cells or to particular tissue microenvirorvments is a basic function of cell migration and recognition, and underlines many biologic processes including embryogenesis, repair and immunity. Leukocytes express an array of surface receptors broadly known as “accessory adhesion molecules.” which mediate most cell -cell interactions, direct lymphocyte traffic between anatomical compartments, and facilitate cellular adhesion to the inflammation or alloantigenic sites (Springer 1990). In addition, adhesion molecules are involved in the process of antigen recognition, and may costimulate cell activation and transformation. These proteins are thought to affect the very early antigen independent events between host leukocytes and vascular endothelium. Because of these activities, the subject of adhesion molecules is gaining interest in the field of organ transplantation, in both conceptualization and development of novel therapeutic strategies (de Sousa et al. 1991, Kupiec-Weglinski et al. 1993a, Heemann et al. 1993).     

Natal philopatry in passerine birds: genetic or ecological influences?

The degree of natal philopatry (the likelihood that individualsbreed at or near their place of origin) can influence the extentof inbreeding in animal populations. Passerine birds have beencited as typically showing high natal philopatry, and natalphilopatry has been proposed as an adaptation to promote optimalinbreeding. A review of published and unpublished studies ofpasserines showed that natal philopatry was typically low, somaintaining a high level of inbreeding appears relatively unimportantfor such birds. Rather, natal philopatry appeared to be morestrongly influenced by ecological factors. Migratory passerineexhibited low natal philopatry compared to resident passerines,as predicted if dispersal costs for young birds are an importantdeterminant of natal philopatry. The erroneous view that natalphilopatry for passerines is generally high has resulted froma reporting bias toward resident species that have sufficientnatal philopatry to study. Natal philopatry was found to beevolutionarily labile; populations of the same species and pairsof closely related species that differed in their degree ofisolation differed considerably in their degree of philopatry.Future studies of natal philopatry should consider both theecological factors that could affect dispersal costs and thereporting biases that influence which data on philopatry tendto be reported.     

Patterns of cellular proliferation and migration in the developing tectum mesencephali of the frog Rana temporaria and the salamander Pleurodeles waltl

The development of the tectum mesencephali was studied in the frog Rana temporaria and the salamander Pleurodeles waltl by means of nuclear staining and by labeling of cells with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). The general spatial and temporal pattern of cell proliferation and cell migration is the same in both species, despite drastic differences in overall tectal morphology. However, the salamander species differs from the frog species by (1) a generally lower cell proliferation rate, (2) a reduction in the activity of the lateral proliferation zone, and (3) a reduction in the formation of superficial cellular layers. Because point (3) affects processes that occur late in ontogeny, our experiments provide evidence that the simple morphology of the tectum of Pleurodeles waltl, compared with the multilayered tectum of Rana, is a consequence of a paedomorphic alteration of the ancestral developmental pattern of the amphibian tectum.     

Climatic adaptations in the Drosophila immigrans species group: seasonal migration and thermal tolerance

Abstract. 1. In central Japan, Drosophila curviceps Okada and Kurokawa was collected in spring and autumn but not in summer at lowlands (alt. 500–1200 m), while it was collected only in summer at highlands (1500–2000 m). Experiments on its thermal tolerance suggested that summer heat at the lowlands and winter low temperatures at the highlands were adverse to this species. It is considered that this species escapes from these extreme temperatures by undergoing seasonal migration between the lowlands and the highlands. This species had no photo-periodic diapause and bred at both lowlands and highlands.
2. D.immigrans Sturtevant was less cold-hardy but more heat-tolerant than D.curviceps. It is considered that this species is unable to overwinter outdoors at least in the study areas (i.e. alt. 500m or higher in central Japan) and its populations in these areas originate with migrants from warmer areas.
3. D.albomicans Duda, a subtropical species, was less cold-hardy but more heat-tolerant than the above two species.
4. Climatic adaptations and distributions of these species are discussed with reference to their thermal tolerance.