The skeletal biology of the Virginia Indians

Statistical analysis of one eastern and two western Virginia Indian skeletal samples reveals a general association between geographical and biological distance. However, the data suggest the importance of gene flow as a factor in minimizing local microdifferentiation. Females appear to contribute a disproportionate share to gene flow. This may be attributed to the widespread and apparently frequent practice of acquiring females and children through capture during recurring warfare.     

ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERMINAL CARPEL IN PSEUDOWINTERA TRAVERSII

Flowers of Pseudowintera traversii (Buchan.) Dandy possess a terminal unicarpellate gynoecium. The present study of carpel morphogenesis was initiated for the purposes of (1) providing additional developmental documentation of the occurrence of terminal carpels in the Winteraceae and (2) comparing the mode of initiation and development of the ascidiate terminal carpel of P. traversii with the essentially conduplicate terminal carpel of Drimys lanceolata. Following its axillary origin, the floral apex of P. traversii initiates 2–3 connate sepals, 5–6 petals, 4–15 stamens, and usually a single terminal carpel, in acropetal succession. Bicarpellate gynoecia may occur with a frequency of up to 15 % on a given plant. The floral apex is zonate and shows increased expression of its zonation during later stages of floral development. The terminal carpel is ascidiate from inception and originates as a cylindrical growth around the entire circumference of the floral apex; transformation of the floral meristem into a carpel primordium terminates apical growth of the floral axis. Carpel growth continues to be cylindrical and is mediated by a ring of marginal and submarginal initials at its summit. Earlier and more extensive division of initials and their derivatives on the dorsal rim causes the primordium to become canted adaxially, shifting the apical cleft to a subterminal adaxial position. Continued marginal meristematic activity results in closure of the cleft as well as elevation and elaboration of the stigmatic crests. Five to seven bitegmic ovules are initiated at the same time as crest elaboration and arise in two rows from the adaxial (laminar) position. Carpel maturation is signified by tannin deposition and oil cell differentiation, beginning at the base and proceeding acropetally; carpel margins bordering the cleft are the last to differentiate. Carpel procambialization is continuous and acropetal from inception, with the dorsal median bundle differentiating before the ventral strands. The significance of occasional bicarpellate flowers is discussed.     

Food and water deprivation effects on reproduction in female Blattella germanica

The effects of food and water deprivation on survival and reproduction of adult female German cockroaches were examined. Females, maintained under constant conditions, were deprived of food or water following adult maturation, mating, during the oothecal incubation period, and after first oothecal hatch. It was found that both food and water deprivations caused increased mortality, delays in the reproductive cycle and decreased oothecal hatch. The relative importance of food vs. water deprivation on reproduction is discussed along with possible reproductive strategies for this species.

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Résumé Les femelles, maintenues en conditions constantes, ont été privées d'aliments et d'eau après la maturité imaginale, l'accouplement, pendant la période d'incubation et après l'éclosion de la première oothèque. On a observé une mortalité accure, un retard dans le cycle de reproduction et une diminution des éclosions de l'oothèque. L'importance relative de l'alimentation par rapport au jeûne hydrique sur la reproduction est discutée en relation avec les stratégies reproductives possibles de cette espèce.