Genetic variation in populations of Culicoides variipennis complex in the six New England states, U.S.A.

Abstract. We investigated the identity and distribution of members of the Culicoides variipennis complex in the six New England states of the U.S.A., a region where bluetongue transmission has not been detected. Analyses of seven polymorphic isozyme-encoding loci showed that only C.v.variipennis , not considered to be a vector of the bluetongue viruses, was present. The populations of C.v.variipennis were significantly more hetero-zygous than C.v.sonorensis and Cv.occidentalis populations from similar studies in the state of California. Estimates of genetic diversity among populations of C.v.variipennis in New England were similar to C.v.sonorensis in the state of Colorado, but were significantly more genetically divergent than California populations of Cv.occidentalis. The impact of these findings on the status of New England as a possible bluetongue-free region for the purpose of international trade in ruminant livestock and their germplasm is discussed.     

Variation in Betula pubescens Ehrh. (Betulaceae) in Scotland: its nature and association with environmental factors

A classification, based on climatological, topographical and geological attributes and developed by Bunce, Barr & Whittaker (1981: Annual Report of the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, U.K. 1980) for stratifying the U.K. into 32 land classes, was used to ensure objectivity when sampling the range of variation within Betula spp. in northern Britain.
Seeds of Betula spp. were collected, wherever possible, from each of ten woodland trees in three geographically distinct locations of each of 12 land classes known to 'carry' Betula species. Trees in a thirteenth land class, restricted to the west of Scotland, were inaccessible.
Seedlings from 170 of 196 trees were attributed to B. pubescens which occurred in all 12 land classes: the remaining 26 trees were identified as B. pendula which is restricted to five land classes in southern and eastern Scotland.
Detailed analyses of plant morphological and phenological features using principal component analyses, cluster analyses and canonical variance analyses showed that leaf size, shape and hairiness were good discriminators of variation, as was the occurrence of fruitbodies of Laccaria proxima , a sheathing (ecto-)mycorrhizal fungus. These discriminators enabled the seedlings to be arranged in a nuniber of distinctive groups: sredlings with drooping branclirs and small laves, chararteristirs of B. pubescens subspecies tortuosa , originating from westerly and wet locations to seedlings with upright branches arid large leaves originating from easterly and dry locations.
Leaf lengths and the increasing frequency of petiolar hairs were related to maximum July trmperaturcs and mcasurrs of oceanicity (at the sites of origin).     

An environmental study of Silurian atrypid communities from southern Norway

Atrypid communities are described from the Silurian succession of southern Norway. These atrypids show striking variation in their mode of occurrence, several features of which are described quantitatively. Mature, well-developed communities occur in calcareous rocks which were apparently deposited in a well-aerated shallow environment. Stunted communities (identified by small shell size despite maturity) occur in carbonate-poor sediments deposited in deeper and less turbulent environments. Other communities are composed of immature shells which were apparently killed by a catastrophic event. Communities are also seen in which catastrophe was not total, and survivors can be recognised. The atrypid niche was taken over by other animal communities when major environmental changes took place.     

Survival of Pronghorns in Western South Dakota

Abstract: Survival and cause-specific mortality of pronghorns (Antilocapra americana) have been well-documented in several western states and Canadian provinces. However, no information has been collected in western South Dakota, USA, where mixed-grass prairie habitats characterize rangelands. The objectives of our study were to determine survival and cause-specific mortality of adult (>18 months) and yearling (6-18 months) pronghorns and to determine monthly and summer (Jun-Aug) survival for neonatal (<1 month of age) pronghorns in South Dakota. We radiocollared 93 adult female and 142 neonatal pronghorns on 3 areas in western South Dakota. We used bed sites from initial neonate captures to collect microhabitat information throughout Harding and Fall River counties. We measured vegetation understory and overstory height, shrub canopy, and distance to nearest concealment cover to the nearest centimeter inside 1-m² quadrats by collecting measurements at 15 random points within a 30-m radius of the bed site. We documented that coyote (Canis latrans) predation was the primary cause of mortality for neonates in western South Dakota and that microhabitat characteristics at neonate bed sites differed between northwestern and southwestern South Dakota. More intensive aerial predator control may increase neonate survival in Fall River County. Management of rangelands by state and federal employees throughout western South Dakota and Wind Cave National Park that maximizes height of overstory and understory vegetation would provide neonates with adequate concealment cover for protection from predators, thereby increasing 4-week and 12-week postcapture survival. Our study provides South Dakota game managers with region-specific, annual and seasonal survival rates that were previously only estimated, thus improving the accuracy of simulated pronghorn population model output. Hunting was the primary cause of mortality (26%) for adult females in Harding and Fall River counties, thereby confirming the continued use of annual harvest by South Dakota game managers as the primary management tool for maintaining pronghorn populations within statewide population management goals.     

The Translocation of Antibiotics in Higher Plants: I. ISOLATION OF GRISEOFULVIN AND CHLORAMPHENICOL FROM PLANT TISSUE

Griseofulvin and chloramphenicol have been recovered from thetissues of broad-bean plants grown in solutions containing theseantibiotics. Partial separation of the compounds from other constituentsof solvent extracts of plant tissue was effected by counter-currentdistribution in a carbon tetra chloride methanol : water system.Pure griseofulvin and chloramphenicol were then obtained byrecovery of the solute in appropriate tubes followed by chromatographyon an activated alumina column; they were identified by mixedmelting point determinations and comparison of their infra-redspectra. A method for estimating griseofulvin in plant tissue extractsbased on counter current distribution and examination of thefractions spectrophotometrically has been developed, and usedto strike a balance between the gnseofulvin entering the plantand that present in the tissues after treatment. Estimates of chloramphenicol in the tissues by bioassay agreewell with the chemical determinations.     

LARGE SCALE RIPPLES IN SILURIAN LIMESTONES

Large scale ripple marks occur in Silurian (Landovery-Wenlock) limestones of the Oslo fjord area, Southern Norway. The limestones are biosparites with a drifted assemblage of fossils and sandstone pebbles.
Ripple cross-lamination is developed. It is concluded that the limestones accumulated under the action of strong currents. Features of the ripple cross-lamination suggest that these currents may have been tidal in origin.