Diel vertical migration ofEudiaptomus gracilis during a short summer period

Several aspects of a diel vertical migration (DVM) of adultEudiaptomus gracilis in Lake Maarsseveen (The Netherlands) are described. The period of DVM lasted from the end of May until the middle of August. On May 21, 1989, the population was found divided into a deep dwelling part and a part in the upper five meter. Large shoals of juvenile perch were observed in the open water for the first time. On June 7, the whole population was down below 10 m and concentrated in a zone of high chlorphyll-a concentrations. One week later, a regular DVM was performed. The amplitude of this migration gradually decreased towards the end of the migration period. The ascent in the evening and the descent in the morning took place after sunset and before sunrise, respectively. The movements coincided with high relative changes in light intensity. Population size increased rapidly during the period of DVM but decreased again before the end of this period.     

The lifetime of molecular (Davydov) solitons

The lifetime of Davydov solitons in a one-dimensional system is studied theoretically. The process of thermalization and the properties of solitons at finite temperature are investigated and the processes of soliton creation and disintegration are discussed.     

Colonization and extinction of land planarians (Platyhelminthes,Tricladida) in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest regrowth remnant

Long-term assessments of species assemblages are valuable tools for detecting species ecological preferences and their dispersal tracks, as well as for assessing the possible effects of alien species on native communities. Here we report a 50-year-long study on population dynamics of the four species of land flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) that have colonized or become extinct in a 70-year-old Atlantic Forest regrowth remnant through the period 1955–2006. On the one hand, the two initially most abundant species, which are native to the study site, Notogynaphallia ernesti and Geoplana multicolor have declined over decades and at present do not exist in the forest remnant. The extinction of these species is most likely related with their preference for open vegetation areas, which presently do not exist in the forest remnant. On the other hand, the neotropical Geoplaninae 1 and the exotic Endeavouria septemlineata were detected in the forest only very recently. The long-term study allowed us to conclude that Geoplaninae 1 was introduced into the study area, although it is only known from the study site. Endeavouria septemlineata, an active predator of the exotic giant African snail, is originally known from Hawaii. This land flatworm species was observed repeatedly in Brazilian anthropogenic areas, and this is the first report of the species in relatively well preserved native forest, which may be evidence of an ongoing adaptive process. Monitoring of its geographic spread and its ecological role would be a good practice for preventing potential damaging effects, since it also feeds on native mollusk fauna, as we observed in lab conditions. Júlio Pedroni: Granted by CNPQ–Brazil.     

Methodologies for the isolation of alternative binders with improved clinical potentiality over conventional antibodies

The availability of binders to different functional domains of the same protein or to physiologically co-operating proteins allows for the simultaneous inhibition of independent downstream signaling pathways. This multi-target approach represents a promising therapeutic strategy, as demonstrated in the case of the synergistic effect of anti-Her2 treatment based on the combined use of the trastuzumab and pertuzumab monoclonal antibodies that induce cellular cytotoxicity and impair the receptor dimerization, respectively. Therefore, a reliable selection method for the recovery of epitope-specific antibodies is highly needed. Animal immunization with short peptides resembling the epitope sequence for raising conventional antibodies represents an alternative. Panning phage displayed libraries of recombinant antibodies such as scFvs and nanobodies or of other peptide collections is another option. Although recombinant antibodies can provide the same specificity as conventional antibodies, they offer at least two further advantages: i) the protocols for the selection of epitope-specific antibodies can be rationally designed, and ii) their expression as multivalent, bispecific and biparatopic molecules is feasible. This review will analyze the recent literature concerning technical aspects related to the isolation, the expression as multivalent molecules, and the therapeutic applications of binders able to interfere with antigen functional domains. The term binder will be preferred when possible to include those molecules, such as peptides or affibodies, with at least some proven practical uses.     

The fifteenth- and twentieth-century colonization of the Basin of Mexico by the Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

Historical evidence indicates that Great‐tailed Grackles colonized the Basin of Mexico from the Gulf Coast lowlands in the fifteenth century. They were probably assisted by an intentional introduction, but colonization succeeded because of anthropogenic habitat alterations over the previous two centuries. During the Colonial period, grackles withdrew from the Basin, only to recolonize it in recent decades. This withdrawal was also due probably to changes in land use, including drainage of much of the water from the Basin's lakes.     

Intrinsic vs. extrinsic influences on life history expression: metabolism and parentally induced temperature influences on embryo development rate

Intrinsic processes are assumed to underlie life history expression and trade‐offs, but extrinsic inputs are theorised to shift trait expression and mask trade‐offs within species. Here, we explore application of this theory across species. We do this based on parentally induced embryo temperature as an extrinsic input, and mass‐specific embryo metabolism as an intrinsic process, underlying embryonic development rate. We found that embryonic metabolism followed intrinsic allometry rules among 49 songbird species from temperate and tropical sites. Extrinsic inputs via parentally induced temperatures explained the majority of variation in development rates and masked a relationship with metabolism; metabolism explained a minor proportion of the variation in development rates among species, and only after accounting for temperature effects. We discuss evidence that temperature further obscures the expected interspecific trade‐off between development rate and offspring quality. These results demonstrate the importance of considering extrinsic inputs to trait expression and trade‐offs across species.     

Spatial evaluation of the ecological importance based on GIS for environmental management: A case study in Xingguo county of China

How to assort with the relationship between the urban construction and the maintenance of ecological security is a hot issue during the process of urbanization. The purpose of this study is to identify the key ecological land maintaining ecological security and to put forward some measures for environmental management. Based on the GIS technology, from the view of water security, biodiversity conservation, disaster protection, natural recreation security, and human disturbance, an integrated index is put forward to evaluate the ecological importance of regional space. Then, a GIS-based approach for evaluating ecological importance was created, with Xingguo county of China as a case study. The results show that the area of core eco-space in the study area accounts for 30% of the total area. These areas mainly consist of the core areas of regional river systems, wetlands, nature reserves, forest parks, and scenic spots and the endangered and protected zone of geological hazards. According to the spatial characteristics of ecological importance for different regions, this study proposes some zoning regulations and measures for environmental management.