Turnover and transport of quinolizidine alkaloids. Diurnal fluctuations of lupanine in the phloem sap,leaves and fruits of Lupinus albus L.

Quinolizidine alkaloids formed in the leaves of Lupinus albus L. are translocated via the phloem to the other plant organs, especially the maturing fruits. Compared with amino-acid transport in the phloem, the alkaloids contribute about 8% to the overall nitrogen being exported from the leaf. Since it is likely that the alkaloids are subsequently degraded in the target tissues a minor role of quinolizidine alkaloids might be nitrogen transport. A marked diurnal fluctuation of alkaloids was observed in the leaves, the phloem sap, the roots and the fruits with an increase during the day and an amplitude of several hundred percent thus providing evidence for a rapid turnover of endogenous alkaloids.Abbreviations QA quinolizidine alkaloids - GLC gas-liquid chromatography     

Biologie des Eleonorenfalken(Falco eleonorae): 10. Der Einflu? der Horstlage auf den Bruterfolg

Zusammenfassung Der Bruterfolg des Eleonorenfalken wurde auf einer ägäischen Inselkolonie in Relation zur Horstlage untersucht. Bei Horsten mit Gratlage auf übersichtlichem Gelände war er signifikant höher (1,8 Junge/Horst) als bei den übrigen Horsten mit z. T. schlechtem Geländeüberblick (1,3 Junge/Horst). Da alle Horste gegenüber den NW-Winden geschützt lagen, waren die meisten an südlich ausgerichteten Hängen potentiell der intensiven Sonneneinstrahlung ausgesetzt. In den Horstrevieren von typisch 20 m Durchmesser gab es aber nicht immer vor Sonne geschützte Horsthöhlen, so daß bei Lufttemperaturen von 40 °C und Bodentemperaturen von bis zu 60 °C die Embryonen in den Eiern gefährdet sein können, besonders, wenn sie der direkten Sonneneinstrahlung ausgesetzt sind. Dies tritt z. B. bei einer Störung in der Brutkolonie ein. Der Bruterfolg in den sonnenexponierten Höhlen lag mit 0,8–1,3 Junge/Horst signifikant niedriger als in den sonnengeschützten Höhlen mit durchschnittlich 1,75 Junge/Horst. Neben einer normalen Infertilität von 10 % fielen weitere 8 % aller Eier in der Brutkolonie durch Sonneneinwirkung aus.

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Biology of the Eleonora's Falcon(Falco eleonorae): 10. Breeding success in relation to nest site exposition

Summary Breeding success of the Eleonora's Falcon was studied in an Aegean island colony. In nests near cliff tops with an unobstructed view of the surroundings, a significantly higher breeding success (1.8 pulli/nest) was obtained than in other nests (1.3 pulli/nest). Since all nests were chosen protected from the wind, and as the main wind comes from NW, most nests were situated on southern slopes and are thus potentially exposed to the sun. Within a falcon territory of typically 20 m diameter in size there was not always a lime stone crevice with complete shade for the eggs. At an air temperature of 40 °C and a soil temperature of up to 60 °C, excessive sunning of an unprotected egg can be lethal for the falcon embryo. Breeding success in sun exposed nests was significantly lower (0.8–1.3 pulli/nest) than in sheltered nests (1.75 pulli/nest). In addition to a normal infertility of 10 %, about 8 % of all eggs laid were lost due to sun irradiation.

     

Anomalous carbonylation of [Pd(dppm)(O2CCF3)]2 to give an asymmetric μ-CO complex

The reactive palladium dimer, [Pd(dppm)(O₂CCF₃)]₂, is carbonylated to [Pd(dppm)(O₂CCF₃)]₂(μ-CO) in a reversible reaction with K = c. 7.2(2)x10⁴ atm⁻¹ (P_1/2 = c. 2.4 Torr). This is significantly larger than is expected based on the λ_max = 280 nm in the electronic spectrum. The product can be isolated in analytically pure form by crystallization under a CO atmosphere. It forms crystals in the monoclinic space group Cc with a = 18.584(5), b = 28.65(1), c = 11.164(3) Å and β = 95.16(2)°. The structure is significantly distorted. The bonding about the two palladium atoms is quite asymmetric. While one is close to a square planar geometry with a Pd---C(O) distance of 1.90(2) Å, the other is significantly pyramidalized and has a longer (2.00(2) Å) bond to the bridging CO. The Pd---Pd distance is only 2.896(2) Å, much shorter than that usually observed for formally non-bonded Pd atoms.     

Trypanosoma theileri: In vitro cultivation in tsetse fly and vertebrate cell culture systems

Epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma theileri were grown at 25°C in insect cell culture media and in Glossina tissue cultures for more than 6 months. Doubling times of 10–14 h during exponential growth were observed. In cell cultures which had been derived from pupal tsetse flies growth rates were higher than in cell free media; in a larval cell line, however, growth of T. theileri was inhibited. Ecdysteroids and juvenile hormone I reduced multiplication of T. theileri in cell free media. When T. theileri was incubated in different sera only fetal calf serum (FCS) supported growth. Epimastigote forms transformed into trypomastigote bloodforms when cultured at 37°C in FCS, vertebrate cell cultures, and Eagle's medium, but not in insect media or Glossina cell cultures. Oxygen uptake of epimastigotes could be inhibited by rotenone antimycin A and cyanide; trypomastigotes were not affected by these inhibitors.     

Blood parasites of some birds from Ghana

A total of 135 birds of 26 species in 13 families was examined for blood parasites; 43 birds (31.9%) of 13 species were infected; species of the Ploceidae were the most heavily infected. Species of Haemoproteus occurred most commonly 29 birds) while Leucocytozoon and Plasmodium species were virtually absent. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of hematozoa in birds from the mature rainforest and those in a savannah-urban setting.     

Ver?nderungen des Brutvogelbestandes im Gro?raum Bonn: Analyse der Rasterkartierung 1975 und 1985

Zusammenfassung Die Brutverbreitung der Vögel im Großraum Bonn wurde 1975 und 1985 in jeweils 221 Minutengitterfeldern von je 2,2 km² Größe kartiert. Statistisch signifikante Zunahmen besetzter Gitterfelder wurden für 9 Arten, Abnahmen für 22 Arten registriert, die z. T. auch andernorts festgestellt wurden. Unter Verwendung von Kartierungsdaten 1974–1978 konnte bei 14 Arten eine signifikante Änderung (Zunahmen: Sperber, Habicht, Singdrossel; Abnahmen: Steinschmätzer, Rebhuhn, Schafstelze, Grauammer, Mehlschwalbe, Feldsperling, Fasan, Dorngrasmücke, Hänfling, Feldlerche und Zaunkönig) nachgewiesen werden. Die Untersuchung zeigt, daß die Rasterkartierung gut geeignet ist, Aussagen über großflächige und langfristige Populationsveränderungen zu machen.

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Fluctuation of breeding populations in the area of Bonn: Analysis of grid mapping in 1975 and 1985

Summary The distribution of breeding birds in the area of Bonn was mapped in 1975 and 1985 in 221 grids of 2.2 km² size each. These data were analyzed to see whether fluctuations in the breeding populations occurred during the 11 years. It was based on the assumption that strong population changes should be reflected in the number of grids occupied by a species. Statistically significant increases were recorded for 9 species, decreases for 22 species. Taking other grid-map data from 1974 til 1978 (Wink 1980) into account, a continuous and significant trend could be established for 14 species (increase:Accipiter nisus, A. gentilis, Turdus philomelos; decrease:Oenanthe oenanthe, Perdix perdix, Motacilla flava, Emberiza calandra, Delichon urbica, Passer montanus, Phasianus colchicus, Sylvia communis, Acanthis cannabina, Alauda arvensis, Troglodytes troglodytes). This study shows that grid-mapping may provide valuable data on population trends of breeding birds.