Distribution pattern of the dinoflagellateCeratium hirundinella (O. F. Müller) Bergh in a reservoir

Horizontal distribution of the dinoflagellateCeratium hirundinella (O. F. Müller) Bergh in the Ishitegawa Reservoir, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, was investigated. Water quality was also surveyed. It was observed that the population ofC. hirundinella exponentially decreased in number from the head of the reservoir to the dam site. Further investigation proved thatC. hirundinella initiated growth at the head of the reservoir, and later gradually expanded downstream. It was found during the period of increase in water temperature that the cell density ofC. hirundinella at the uppermost station exponentially increased.     

Spatial patterns and feeding of meiobenthic harpacticoid copepods in relation to resident microbial flora

Distributional and feeding relationships of harpacticoid copepods and their microbial prey were examined in a tidal channel at Great Sippewissett Marsh. A horizontal zonation of photosynthetic microorganisms was composed of: 1) a diatom area; 2) a purple sulfur bacterial (Thiocapsa sp.) area; and 3) a clear area. Four species of harpacticoid copepods were associated with given areas. Leptocaris brevicornis occurred in very high densities in the diatom area but in relatively low densities in other areas. Mesochra lilljeborgi occurred in significantly higher densities in the purple and clear areas.Feeding experiments, using resident microbial flora labelled with NaH¹⁴CO₃ and ³H-thymidine, were conducted to determine which foods are 1) ingested but simply pass through the gut and 2) ingested, and retained. These experiments indicated that L. brevicornis ingested diatoms and the heterotrophs associated with the diatoms, but only retained the heterotrophic portion. Microscopic examination indicated that diatoms were passed out intact in feces. Oscillatoria sp. (cyanobacterium) was not ingested. Mesochra lilljeborgi ingested Spirulina sp. (cyanobacterium), Thiocapsa sp., and the heterotrophs associated with Thiocapsa but only retained the Thiocapsa label.These data for harpacticoids suggest that spatial distributions of meiofauna may be closely coupled with microbial food organisms which they consume. Also, that while several microbial foods may be ingested, only certain microbes are digested and assimilated as a food resource, further indicating the complexity of feeding relationships among the meiofauna.     

Chlorophyll differences in Mono Lake (California) observable on Landsat imagery

In Mono Lake (California), a large saline lake, chlorophyll concentrations in the euphotic zone increased from 4 to 45 µg l^–1 between July and October 1979. These seasonal changes in chlorophyll are detectable on imagery obtained with the multispectral scanner on Landsat. Computer-compatible tapes of Landsat images were normalized for solar zenith and corrected for atmospheric scatter and absorption to obtain Landsat band 4 emittances (W m^–2 str^–1) of 13.4 ± 0.5 when chlorophyll was 4 µg l^–1 and 4.6 ± 0.3 when chlorophyll was 45 µg l^–1. Lake wide, spatial heterogeneity of chlorophyll of 2 µg l^–1 in July and 8 µg l^–1 in October was not detectable on the Landsat imagery.     

Observations on Echinococcus granulosus of cattle origin in Switzerland

Switzerland is one of the few countries where high fertility rates have been reported in cattle hydatid cysts and where the cattle/dog cycle is the most important for the maintenance of Echinococcus granulosus. The developmental and morphological characteristics of E. granulosus of Swiss cattle origin were studied and compared with that of E. granulosus of domestic animal origin from Great Britain and Australia, countries where bovine hydatid cysts are usually sterile and cattle play little role in the life-cycle of the parasite. Adult E. granulosus of Swiss cattle origin differed markedly in its developmental characteristics compared to other isolates, particularly in its rate of maturation in dogs, producing eggs as early as 35 days post-infection. The morphology of E. granulosus of Swiss cattle origin was characteristic and it could be easily distinguished from other isolates of the parasite. Further, E. granulosus of Swiss cattle origin was found to closely resemble that occurring in cattle in South Africa where high fertility rates have also been reported in bovine hydatid cysts. It is concluded that a strain of E. granulosus exists which is adapted to cattle and that further studies are required to determine whether this strain warrants formal taxonomic status as the species E. ortleppi which was originally described for the parasite of South African cattle origin.     

Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) social development: Sex differences in Juvenile behavior

We have quantitatively documented the development of sex differences in the behavior of juvenile Japanese macaques (1 to 2 years of age). Mothers treated their offspring differently by sex, i.e., mothers of males broke contact with them more frequently than did mothers of females. Juvenile males played more, and mounted other macaques more frequently; juvenile females groomed their mothers more and were also punished by other group members more frequently than were males. Males showed a pattern of decreasing interactions with their mothers, but females increased the frequency of their maternal interactions. These patterns appear to presage the life histories of the sexes. However, comparisons with other species of nonhuman primates indicate that although sex differences in behavior are common, the variability among species severely limits cross-specific generalizations.     

Implications of cytochromeb 6/f location for thylakoidal electron transport

The cytochromeb ₆/f complex of higher plant chloroplasts is uniformly distributed throughout both appressed and nonappressed thylakoids, in contrast to photosystem II and photosystem I, the other major membrane protein complexes involved in electron transport. We discuss how this distribution is likely to affect interactions of the cytochromeb ₆/f complex with other electron transport components because of the resulting local stoichiometries, and how these may affect the regulation of electron transport.     

Isolation of a brain peptide identical to the intestinal PHI (peptide HI)

The isolation of a brain peptide identical to the intestinal peptide PHI (peptide HI) is described. The peptide was isolated from porcine brain extract using a chemical assay method based on its C-terminal isoleucine amide structure. The complete amino acid sequence of the peptide was found to be: His-Ala-Asp-Gly-Val-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Phe-Ser-Arg-Leu-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala- Lys-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Glu-Ser-Leu-Ile-NH2. This sequence is identical to the intestinal peptide thus demonstrating PHI to be a brain-gut peptide. The role of PHI in the central nervous system as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator is discussed.     

Regional differences in the distribution of golgi cells in the cerebellar cortex of man and some other mammals

Summary The number of Golgi cells per unit volume was determined in different regions of the cerebellar cortex of man and of ten other mammals. Despite the general belief in the uniform architecture of the cerebellar cortex, regional differences in the distribution of Golgi cells were found. In the inferior parts of the vermis, the number of Golgi cells per unit volume is twice that in the corresponding hemispheres. In addition, there are differences between the anterior and inferior parts of the vermis. These differences are a feature of the cytoarchitecture of the cerebellum in man and all the investigated mammals. The ratio of Purkinje cells to Golgi cells was also determined and found to differ in different species. In man, this ratio is 11.5, while in the monkey and cat it is almost 11.9 and in the rat 13.3. These differences in the ratio of Purkinje cells to Golgi cells are discussed from the point of view of cerebellar evolution.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Sex differences in adrenocortical structure and function

Summary Adrenal glands of adult female rats are heavier than the glands of corresponding male rats. Postpubertal orchiectomy increases the adrenal weight, an effect restored by testosterone replacement. Under the same conditions ovariectomy of 8 weeks duration does not change the adrenal weight while estradiol replacement enhances the relative adrenal weight.Karyometric studies have shown that nuclei in the female zona fasciculata cells are larger (app. 18%) than those of the male. Similar but only slight differences (2%) were observed in the zona reticularis. Orchiectomy results in enlargement of cell nuclei within all zones of the adrenal cortex; testosterone replacement has the opposite effect. Ovariectomy of 8 weeks duration slightly enhances the volume of nuclei of the zona glomerulosa cells, has no effect on the nuclei of the zona fasciculata and reduces the volume of nuclei in the zona reticularis. Estradiol replacement reduces the volume of nuclei of the zona glomerulosa cells but increases nuclear volume in the zona fasciculata and in the zona reticularis.Thus testosterone has an inhibitory effect on the adrenal cortex of the rat while the physiologic effect of estradiol on the morphology of this gland, particularly on the zona fasciculata cells is rather dubious.The author wishes to thank Mrs. B. Westerska and Miss K. Siejak for excellent technical assistance.This research was supported in part by a grant from the Zoological Committee, 2nd Department, Polish Academy of Sciences.This paper is dedicated to the memory of late Kazimierz Mietkiewski, M.D., Ph.D. whose encouragements and suggestions were most stimulating for my work.     

Behavioral response of 12 ungulate species in captivity to the presence of humans

Twelve species of captive ungulates were studied to determine behavioral responses to the presence of a zookeeper within the exhibit and in front of the exhibit, with and without zoo visitors present. Significant differences in behavior occurred between species for nearly all behaviors observed. A significantly greater occurrence of vigilance and approach behavior was directed toward the zookeeper while within the exhibit relative to when the zookeeper stood in front of the exhibit. A significantly lower occurrence of eating or drinking occurred when the zookeeper was inside the exhibit. Significant differences occurred across size categories in the occurrence of approaching the zookeeper. The most frequently scored behavior was visual orientation. Statistically significant differences in the occurrence of visual orientation directed by females toward the zookeeper existed across size category, with more vigilance by species with larger body size. A statistically higher occurrence of vigilance toward the zookeeper was directed by female ungulates but not by males when the zoo was closed to the public. Although no statistical significance was found regarding the intraspecific vigilance of males, data on females revealed significant differences across species and across size categories. When data regarding vigilance toward the public were analyzed, statistically significant differences existed between species for females only. Likewise, when data regarding interspecific vigilance were examined, statistically significant differences were found across size categories for females, but not for males. The potential roles of vigilance in the wild are discussed in reference to its role in captivity.