Strike Fast,Strike Hard: The Red-Throated Caracara Exploits Absconding Behavior of Social Wasps during Nest Predation

Red-throated Caracaras Ibycter americanus (Falconidae) are specialist predators of social wasps in the Neotropics. It had been proposed that these caracaras possess chemical repellents that allow them to take the brood of wasp nests without being attacked by worker wasps. To determine how caracaras exploit nests of social wasps and whether chemical repellents facilitate predation, we: (1) video recorded the birds attacking wasp nests; (2) analyzed surface extracts of the birds'' faces, feet, and feathers for potential chemical repellents; and (3) inflicted mechanical damage on wasp nests to determine the defensive behavior of wasps in response to varying levels of disturbance. During caracara predation events, two species of large-bodied wasps mounted stinging attacks on caracaras, whereas three smaller-bodied wasp species did not. The “hit-and-run” predation tactic of caracaras when they attacked nests of large and aggressive wasps reduced the risk of getting stung. Our data reveal that the predation strategy of caracaras is based on mechanical disturbance of, and damage to, target wasp nests. Caracara attacks and severe experimental disturbance of nests invariably caused wasps to abscond (abandon their nests). Two compounds in caracara foot extracts [sulcatone and iridodial] elicited electrophysiological responses from wasp antennae, and were also present in defensive secretions of sympatric arboreal-nesting Azteca ants. These compounds appear not to be wasp repellents but to be acquired coincidentally by caracaras when they perch on trees inhabited with Azteca ants. We conclude that caracara predation success does not depend on wasp repellents but relies on the absconding response that is typical of swarm-founding polistine wasps. Our study highlights the potential importance of vertebrate predators in the ecology and evolution of social wasps.     

Über die mathematische Behandlung physiologischer Diffusionsprozesse in zylinderförmigen Objekten

Summary Following A. V.Hill, those formulae are developed in a mathematical research which are of interest in the field of physiological diffusion processes in cylindrical objects.At first, an introduction into the problem is given. Then a development follows of the mathematical methods (Bernoulli's method [Produktansatz],Laplace-transformation) which are suitable for the integration of the partial differential equation of the diffusion.The special part contains the investigation of problems which are importance for the physiology of respiration. Thus the query is answered for the concentration of a substance in dependance of time and place for the diffusion in tissue cylinders taking into consideration a constant rate of consumption, as well as the query of the temporal alteration of the average concentration. The cylinder fed from the outside and the one fed from a central capillary (Krogh's) must hereby be specially treated according to the boundary conditions. The developed equations are explained by special examples and numerical lists. Further, the steady state of supply of tissue cylinders is investigated in case that apart from the radial also an axial diffusion component (Längsdiffusion) has to be counted with. The numerical results from the developed formulae are in good agreement with the values found by experiments.

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Résumé Suivant A. V.Hill on a développé dans une étude mathématique les formules qui se rapportent aux procédés de diffusion dans la physiologie.Pour l'introduction, on donne une explication des problèmes. Puis on fait suivre le développement mathématique (méthode de l'intégration deBernoulli, transformationLaplace) qui permettent l'intégration de l'équation différentielle de la diffusion.Dans la partie spéciale, on étudie des problèmes concrets de la physiologie respiratoire. Pour la diffusion dans des cylindres cellulaires on a trouvé le résultat de la concentration d'une substance en dépendance du lieu et du temps où on a tenu compte à une consommation constante. De même, on a réussi a résoudre le problème du changement temporel de la concentration moyenne. Il est nécessaire de traiter en particulier le cylindre dans des conditions spéciales c'est-à-dire quand il est approvisionné du dehors et d'un tube capillaire et central (cylindreKrogh). On a expliqué les équations différentielles par des cas spéciaux et par des tableaux numériques. Puis on a étudié la provisionnement stationnaire des cylindres cellulaires en cas que outre la composante de diffusion radiale, il faut tenir compte à une composante de diffusion axiale (Längsdiffusion). Les résultats obtenus par les formules développées correspondent bien aux valeurs trouvées par les expériences.

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Mit Unterstützung durch Mittel der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Chemisch-entwicklungsphysiologische Beziehungen von Uterus zu Blastocyste des KaninchensOryctolagus cuniculus

Ohne ZusammenfassungFür Überlassung des Themas und für zahlreiche Anregungen danke ich Herrn Prof. Dr. F.Seidel, Direktor des Zoologischen Instituts der Universität Marburg.     

The aerial and aquatic visual acuity of the optomotor response in the crested newt (Triturus cristatus)

Summary Behavioural and electrophysiological experiments using equidistant vertical stripe patterns were performed. The coherence between the visual acuity of the optomotor response and of the recordings from the accessory optic tract could be shown. The possibility of the existence as well of a background movement system as a tectal nearness system with a greater myopia in the newt is discussed.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Me 365/4 and Sch 132/4)     

Ein bisher unbekanntes Neurohämalorgan von Craspedosoma rawlinsii leach (Diplopoda,Nematophora)

Zusammenfassung Das Neurohämalorgan von Craspedosoma rawlinsii ist paarig und von kugeliger Form. Es liegt lateral von der Antenuenbasis der Gena innen an. Ventral sitzt es einer Speicheldrüse auf. Die übrige Oberfläche grenzt an einen Hämolymphsinus. Es wird von zwei Nerven gebildet, deren Aufzweigungen bier blind endigen. Es ist rings von Perineurium umhüllt dessen Zellen sich häufig überlappen. Der eine Nerv des Neurohälorgans besteht aus Axonen neurosekretorischer Zellen des Protocerebrallobus, der andere aus Axonen neurosekretorischer Zellen des Tritocerebrum. Gliazellen sind nicht vorhanden. Alle Axone enthalten Neurosekret. Es können 4 Typen neurosekretorischer Elementargranula unterschieden werden. Das Neurosekret scheint an Stellen ausgeschüttet zu werden, an denen die Axone vom Hölymphsinus nur durch die Basalmembran des Perineurium getrennt sind. Die Abgabe erfolgt wahrscheinlich durch Exocytose. Synaptoide Vesikel werden nirgends gefunden.

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A new neurohaemal organ in Craspedosoma rawlinsii leach (Diplopoda, Nematophora)

A neurohaemal organ of the head in millipeds is described. Its ultrastructure is compared with those of related organs especially in insects.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. Manfred Gersch zu seinem 62. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Chromosome assignment of the gene loci ETS1 and THY1 in the owl monkey

Our previous assignment of the gene loci HBB, HRAS1, INS, PTH, LDHA, and CAT to owl monkey chromosome 19 of karyotype VI (K-VI) indicated a putative homology of this owl monkey chromosome with the short arm of human chromosome 11 (HSA 11p). To investigate further the extent of shared homology, we localized in the owl monkey complement two genes known to be on HSA 11q. Segregation analysis of ETS1 and THY1 homologous DNA in three karyotypically different panels of rodent x owl monkey somatic cell hybrids provided evidence for the syntenic assignment of these loci to homologous chromosomes of three owl monkey karyotypes, namely, chromosomes 4 (K-VI), 3 (K-II), and 5 (K-V). The results indicate a disruption of syntenic gene loci on the distal portion of HSA 11q from 11p during primate evolution.