Turnover of O-Glucosides of Dihydrozeatin and Dihydrozeatin-9-riboside During the Cell Growth Cycle of Photoautotrophic Cell Suspension Cultures of Chenopodium rubrum

The cellular levels of O-glucosides of ³H-(diH)Z and ³H-(diH)[9R]Z, the major short-term metabolites of ³H-(diH)Z having been exogenously supplied to photoautotrophically growing suspension cell cultures of Chenopodium rubrum, decreased significantly during further culture, irrespective of whether the cells were maintained in the stationary phase or were transferred to conditions restoring cell divison. Metabolism of both compounds was more pronounced during the active growth phase than during the stationary phase. The O-glucosides were converted preferentially to polar compounds of as yet unknown nature, which were partly excreted into the medium. The cellular pools of both glycosides remained compartmented within the vacuole. In contrast to the O-glycosides, the small cellular pools of the aglycones ³H-(diH)Z and ³H-(diH)[9R]Z maintained their level during the experimental period of 30 days. Small amounts of the glucosides, as well as of the aglycones, were recovered from the medium and could have resulted from the lysis of a few cells. The results demonstrate, for the first time, that O-glucosides of cytokinins are not irreversibly deposited within the vacuole of plant cells but may serve to maintain a small, but more or less constant pool of extra-vacuolar, presumably cytosolic, aglycones. (DiH)Z and its derivatives could be demonstrated to be endogenous cytokinins of Chenopodium rubrum suspension cultured cells occurring along with those of the isopentenyladenine and zeatin types.     

Seasonal growth of Atlantic cod: effects of temperature, feeding and reproduction

Growth of 2659 Atlantic cod Gadus morhua aged 4 to 9 years examined in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, peaked in most cases in June and was at a minimum in October or November. Water temperature, partial fullness index ( I _P) and gonado‐somatic index ( I _G) explained between 31 and 52% of the monthly variability in growth. Temperature and I _P of capelin Mallotus villosus had significant effects on growth of all age groups and explained most of the variance for ages 6–8 and 4–5 years, respectively. The I _P of large invertebrates (ages 4 to 7 years), sandlance ( Ammodytes sp. age 6 years) and demersal fishes (age 9 years) had age‐specific effects in the model. Overall, amphipods, decapods and echinoderms dominated the Atlantic cod diet in most seasons, but fish consumption by Atlantic cod was high in June and July, particularly on capelin. The rapid increase in somatic mass during June and July occurred despite cold water temperatures ( < 3° C at 50 m) and moderate to high gonado‐somatic index. The findings of this study suggest that when food was not a limiting factor, growth tended to increase even when Atlantic cod occupied colder waters, but when food was limiting, the opposite may have occured.     

Downscaling indicators of forest habitat structure from national assessments

Downscaling is an important problem because consistent large-area assessments of forest habitat structure, while feasible, are only feasible when using relatively coarse data and indicators. Techniques are needed to enable more detailed and local interpretations of the national statistics. Using the results of national assessments from land-cover maps, this paper demonstrates downscaling in the spatial domain, and in the domain of the habitat model. A moving window device was used to measure structure (habitat amount and connectivity), and those indicators were then analyzed and combined with other information in various ways to illustrate downscaling.     

Landscape structure influences tree density patterns in fragmented woodlands in semi‐arid eastern Australia

Landscape and local‐scale influences are important drivers of plant community structure. However, their relative contribution and the degree to which they interact remain unclear. We quantified the extent to which landscape structure, within‐patch habitat and their confounding effects determine post‐clearing tree densities and composition in agricultural landscapes in eastern subtropical Australia. Landscape structure (incorporating habitat fragmentation and loss) and within‐patch (site) features were quantified for 60 remnant patches of Eucalyptus populnea (Myrtaceae) woodland. Tree density and species for three ecological maturity classes (regeneration, early maturity, late maturity) and local site features were assessed in one 100 × 10 m plot per patch. All but one landscape characteristic was determined within a 1.3‐km radius of plots; Euclidean nearest neighbour distance was measured inside a 5‐km radius. Variation in tree density and composition for each maturity class was partitioned into independent landscape, independent site and joint effects of landscape and site features using redundancy analysis. Independent site effects explained more variation in regeneration density and composition than pure landscape effects; significant predictors were the proportion of early and late maturity trees at a site, rainfall and the associated interaction. Conversely, landscape structure explained greater variation in early and late maturity tree density and composition than site predictors. Area of remnant native vegetation within a landscape and patch characteristics (area, shape, edge contrast) were significant predictors of early maturity tree density. However, 31% of the explained variation in early mature tree differences represented confounding influences of landscape and local variables. We suggest that within‐patch characteristics are important in influencing semi‐arid woodland tree regeneration. However, independent and confounding effects of landscape structure resulting from previous vegetation clearing may have exerted a greater historical influence on older cohorts and should be accounted for when examining woodland dynamics across a broader range of environments.     

Crypsis in a heterogeneous environment: relationships between changeable polymorphic colour patterns and behaviour in a galaxiid fish

1. The ability to achieve optimal camouflage varies between microhabitats in heterogeneous environments, potentially restricting individuals to a single habitat or imposing a compromise on crypsis to match several habitats. However, animals may exhibit morphological and behavioural attributes that enhance crypsis in different habitats. 2. We used an undescribed fish species, Galaxias‘nebula’, to investigate two objectives. First, we examined two potential methods of enhancing crypsis: change in colour pattern and selection of a suitable background. Second, we characterised the colour pattern of this unstudied fish and assessed its capacity for crypsis. 3. No background selection was apparent but the area of dark pigment expressed varied between backgrounds, which may negate the requirement to be choosy about habitats. The capacity to change colour and selection of a background that maximises crypsis are most likely separate, non‐mutually exclusive strategies. 4. Galaxias‘nebula’ exhibits polymorphic, non‐interchangeable colour patterns that have elements of both background pattern matching and disruptive colouration. This, coupled with habitat characteristics, suggests a combination of generalist and specialist strategies of habitat use. The fish’s camouflage strategy and air‐breathing ability may be key to survival under increasing pressure from habitat degradation and invasive predators.     

黑果蝇dlts品系的温度敏感时期及dlts基因多效影响的自主性研究

本文采用D.T.Suzuki的方法,研究了黑果蝇Drosophila virilis Sturt dlts品系的温度敏感时期和致死时期的相互关系.选择了31℃为限制温度,25℃为许可温度.对于成虫盘缺损的研究用了12个小时为一个脉冲或24个小时为一个脉冲的热处理,用扫描电镜技术辅助对成虫形态缺损的研究.对于成虫盘缺失和重复的关系主要在48小时为一个脉冲的热处理盘中进行,对dlts基因的表达采用了遗传嵌合性的研究,其结果如下:1. 两个不连续的温度敏感时态对致死的影响是在第1龄幼虫、第2龄幼虫、第3龄幼虫和进入蛹期后的10个小时.温度敏感时态和致死时态并不一致,而是先于致死时态几个小时.2. 温度敏感时态对成虫形态的影响是:触角的重复和复眼的缺失发生在第2龄和第3龄幼虫期.足关节融合及跗节和腿节的缩短发生在第3龄幼虫期,翅脉硬化主要发生在第3龄幼虫期即将结束进入前蛹期的这段时间.第3龄幼虫期是成虫盘发生缺陷比较集中的时期,可以明显见到足、复眼、翅和刚毛的缺陷,同源异型突变体也在这个时期发生.同源突变体的变化主要是足、触角片段及刚毛和触角片段的相互转移.3. 每一个成虫盘缺陷部有自己明显的特征,根据它们成虫盘的形态缺陷和热处理的时间性,所有的成虫盘缺陷变化都可以分为这样三类:缺失,重复,缺失和重复并存.4. 遗传镶嵌测试表明:dlts基因是自主表达的,且具有一定的时间、环境和组织的特殊性.     

黑果蝇dlts品系的温度敏感时期及dlts基因多效影响的自主性研究

本文采用D.T.Suzuki的方法,研究了黑果蝇Drosophila virilis Sturt dl^ts品系的温度敏感时期和致死时期的相互关系。选择了31℃为限制温度,25℃为许可温度。对于成虫盘缺损的研究用了12个小时为一个脉冲或24个小时为一个脉冲的热处理,用扫描电镜技术辅助对成虫形态缺损的研究。对于成虫盘缺失和重复的关系主要在48小时为一个脉冲的热处理盘中进行,对dlts基因的表达采用了遗传嵌合性的研究,其结果如下：1两个不连续的温度敏感时态对致死的影响是在第1龄幼虫、第2龄幼虫、第3龄幼虫和进入蛹期后的10个小时。温度敏感时态和致死时态并不一致,而是先于致死时态几个小时。2温度敏感时态对成虫形态的影响是：触角的重复和复眼的缺失发生在第2龄和第3龄幼虫期。足关节融合及跗节和腿节的缩短发生在第3龄幼虫期,翅脉硬化主要发生在第3龄幼虫期即将结束进入前蛹期的这段时间。第3龄幼虫期是成虫盘发生缺陷比较集中的时期,可以明显见到足、复眼、翅和刚毛的缺陷,同源异型突变体也在这个时期发生。同源突变体的变化主要是足、触角片段及刚毛和触角片段的相互转移。3每一个成虫盘缺陷部有自己明显的特征,根据它们成虫盘的形态缺陷和热处理的时间性,所有的成虫盘缺陷变化都可以分为这样三类：缺失,重复,缺失和重复并存。4遗传镶嵌测试表明：dl^ts基因是自主表达的,且具有一定的时间、环境和组织的特殊性。     

胡杨种子散布的时空分布格局

以额济纳胡杨为研究对象,对种子雨的散布时间、强度、散布距离以及种子雨和空气湿度、风之间的关系进行了研究。胡杨种子雨可以分为初始期、高峰期和消退期3个阶段,大部分的种子集中在高峰期落下。种子的散布主要受湿度和风的影响。湿度对种子雨的强度起主要作用,在一天之中,种子在湿度较低的中午和下午集中散落。应用一元线性回归模型对种子雨强度和相对湿度进行分析后表明二者之间存在显著的负相关关系。对种子的散播距离进行研究后发现,大部分种子落在母树附近,少部分种子能够进行长距离传播。风对种子的传播的方向和距离起决定性的作用,不同方向上的种子传播距离和强度相差很大。在顺风方向上,种子的传播距离最远,所有的长距离传播现象几乎都发生在这一方向上;而在主风向的垂直方向和逆风方向上,种子的散布距离较小,很少有种子能够进行长距离传播。对风的观测表明中午后和下午初的风力较强,而此时种子雨强度又最大,有利风力条件和高种子雨强度出现的同步性可能是促进胡杨种子进行长距离传播最有效的生物控制机制。由于胡杨种子在自然条件下的存活时间非常短暂,所以研究中不同胡杨母树林间种子散播时间的差异可能是胡杨种群内部为适应不同洪水期所表现出的风险分摊机制所造成的。