Classification and ordination of plant communities along an altitudinal gradient on the Presidential Range,New Hampshire,USA

An analysis of vegetation along an altitudinal gradient on the Presidential Range, New Hampshire, USA, using the Braun–Blanquet approach followed by multivariate data analysis is presented. Twelve main plant communities have been distinguished. Floristic information is presented in twelve tables and one appendix. The relationships of the communities to complex environmental gradients are analyzed using Correspondence Analysis. Floristic composition and community structure are controlled primarily by the altitudinal gradient (temperature, precipitation), and by mesotopographic conditions (snow accumulation, exposure and cryoturbation, slope position, and soil moisture).     

Cell wall polysaccharides are informative in Porphyra species taxonomy

As part of systematic studies of the genus Porphyrain New Zealand, constituent sugar analyses of cell wall polysaccharidesin situ in dry thalli were found to yield data that weretaxonomically informative. Variation in constituent sugar levels betweenspecieswas sufficient in some cases to be useful in species differentiation. Thereproductive state of thallus regions had a significant impact on the levels ofconstituent sugars, whereas storage of dried thalli for eight months had noeffect. Three epiphytic taxa currently classified as species ofPorphyra appear to be incorrectly placed within the genus,as their constituent sugars and the levels of these sugars differed markedlyfrom those of all other species examined.     

Locomotor behavior and skeletal morphology of two sympatric pitheciine monkeys,Pithecia pithecia and Chiropotes satanas

Field observations of two sympatric pitheciine species reveal that the positional repertoire of the white-faced saki, Pithecia pithecia, is dominated by leaping behaviors, whereas the bearded saki, Chiropotes satanas, is predominantly quadrupedal. Examination and comparison of the postcranial skeletal morphologies and limb proportions of these species display numerous features associated with their respective locomotor behaviors. These observations accord with associations found in other primate and mammalian groups and with predictions based on theoretical and experimental biomechanics. Preliminary observations of the skeletal morphology of Cacajao calvus demonstrate a marked similarity to that of Chiropotes. The fossil platyrrhine Cebupithecia sarmientoi displays greater similarity to Pithecia, suggesting that its positional repertoire also included significant leaping and clinging behaviors.     

Further new species of the plant bug genus Campylomma Reuter from the Oriental Region (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae: Nasocorini)

The fauna of the nasocorine plant bug genus Campylomma Reuter from the Oriental Region, including subtropical Japanese Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa Island of Southwest Islands-group) and Taiwan is updated. Three new species are herein described, C. astica n. sp. (from Okinawa and Taoyuan, Taiwan), C. hibiscicola n. sp. (Bangkok, Thailand) and C. nanrenana n. sp. (Pingtung, Taiwan). Of these, C. astica and C. hibiscicola, were observed to have cryptic habitat-preference, inhabiting bracts, stipules or flower buds of the sea (or coastal) hibiscus, Hibiscus tiliaceus (L.) (Malvaceae), planted for landscaping at urbanized zones. An updated checklist of the 22 Oriental Campylomma species is provided.     

Amphidoma languida (Amphidomatacea,Dinophyceae) with a novel azaspiracid toxin profile identified as the cause of molluscan contamination at the Atlantic coast of southern Spain

Azaspiracids (AZA) are a group of food poisoning phycotoxins that are known to accumulate in shellfish. They are produced by some species of the planktonic dinophycean taxon Amphidomataceae. Azaspiracids have been first discovered in Ireland but are now reported in shellfish from numerous global sites thus showing a wide distribution. In shellfish samples collected in 2009 near Huelva (Spain), AZA was also found along the Andalusian Atlantic coast for the first time. Analysis using LC–MS/MS revealed the presence of two different AZA analogues in different bivalve shellfish species (Chamelea gallina, Cerastoderma edule, Donax trunculus, and Solen vagina). In a number of samples, AZA levels exceeded the EU regulatory level of 160 μg AZA-1 eq. kg⁻¹ (reaching maximum levels of >500 μg AZA-1 eq. kg⁻¹ in Chamelea gallina and >250 μg AZA-1 eq. kg⁻¹ in Donax trunculus) causing closures of some local shellfish production areas. One dinophyte strain established from the local plankton during the AZA contamination period and determined as Amphidoma languida was in fact toxigenic, and its AZA profile disclosed it as the causative species: it contained AZA-2 as the main compound and the new compound AZA-43 initially detected in the shellfish. AZA-43 had the same mass as AZA-3, but produced different collision induced dissociation (CID) spectra. High resolution mass spectrometric measurements indicated that there is an unsaturation in the H, I ring system of AZA-43 distinguishing it from the classical AZA such as AZA-1, -2, and -3. Furthermore, the Spanish strain was different from the previously reported AZA profile of the species that consist of AZA-38 and AZ-39. In molecular phylogenetics, the Andalusian strain formed a monophyletic group together with other strains of Am. languida, but ITS sequences data revealed surprisingly high intragenomic variability. The first Andalusian case of AZA contamination of shellfish above the EU regulatory limit reported here clearly revealed the risk of azaspiracid poisoning (AZP) for this area and also for the Atlantic coast of Iberia and North Africa. The present study underlines the need for continuous monitoring of AZA and the organisms producing such toxins.     

New triterpene saponins from the seed cake of Camellia Oleifera and their cytotoxic activity

Two new oleanane-type triterpene saponins, identified as 16α-hydroxy-22-O-angeloyl-23-formyl-28,31-dihydroxymethylene-olean-12-ene-3β-O-{β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 2)[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl(1 → 3)]-β-d-glucopyranosiduronic acid} (oleiferasaponin B₁, 1) and 22-O-hydrocinnamoyl-23-formyl-28-dihydroxymethylene-olean-12-ene-3β-O-{β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl(1 → 3)]-β-d-glucopyranosiduronic acid} (oleiferasaponin B₂, 2), were isolated from the seed cake of Camellia oleifera Abel. Their structures were established by extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments along with TOF-MS analysis and acid hydrolysis. The cytotoxicity of the isolated compounds was evaluated in four human carcinoma cell lines: A 549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2 and HCT15. Both compounds 1 and 2 exhibited significantly cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ values of 18.5 μM (A549), 11.3 μM (SK-OV-3), 13.9 μM (SK-MEL-2) and 1.6 μM (HCT15) for 1 and IC₅₀ values of 8.4 μM (A549), 6.3 μM (SK-OV-3), 9.2 μM (SK-MEL-2) and 0.8 μM (HCT15) for 2. In addition, compound 2 showed more effective cytotoxic activity than compound 1.     

Review of the New Caledonian species of Acritoptila Wells, 1982 (Trichoptera,Insecta), with descriptions of 3 new species

We review the New Caledonian representatives of the Australasian endemic hydroptiline genus Acritoptila, based on examination of a considerable collection of material in the Swedish Museum of Natural History and of types of previously established species. A key for identification of males is given and includes 3 species newly described here: A. parallela sp. n., A. forficata sp. n. and A. macrospina sp. n. For all New Caledonian species, male genitalia are illustrated, and for 5 associated females, distinctive features are illustrated and described.     

Asymmetry of the phospholipid bilayer of rat liver endoplasmic reticulum

The phospholipids of intact microsomal membranes were hydrolysed 50% by phospholipase C of Clostridium welchii, without loss of the secretory protein contents of the vesicle, which are therefore not permeable to the phospholipase. Phospholipids extracted from microsomes and dispersed by sonication were hydrolysed rapidly by phospholipase C-Cl. welchii with the exception of phosphatidylinositol. Assuming that only the phospholipids of the outside of the bilayer of the microsomal membrane are hydrolysed in intact vesicles, the composition of this leaflet was calculated as 84% phosphatidylcholine, 8% phosphatidylethanolamine, 9% sphingomyelin and 4% phosphatidylserine, and that of the inner leaflet 28% phosphatidylcholine, 37% phosphatidylethanolamine, 6% phosphatidylserine and 5% sphingomyelin. Microsomal vesicles were opened and their contents released in part by incubation with deoxycholate (0.098%) lysophosphatidylcholine (0.005%) or treatment with the French pressure cell. Under these conditions, hydrolysis of the phospholipids by phospholipase C-Cl. welchii was increased and this was mainly due to increased hydrolysis of those phospholipids assigned to the inner leaflet of the bilayer, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine. Phospholipase A₂ of bee venom and phospholipase C of Bacillus cereus caused rapid loss of vesicle contents and complete hydrolysis of the membrane phospholipids, with the exception of sphingomyelin which is not hydrolysed by the former enzyme.