Dynamic resource allocation between pre- and postcopulatory episodes of sexual selection determines competitive fertilization success

In polyandrous mating systems, male reproductive success depends on both mate-acquisition traits (precopulatory) and sperm competitive abilities (postcopulatory). Empirical data on the interaction between these traits are inconsistent; revealing positive, negative or no relationships. It is generally expected that the investment in pre- and postcopulatory traits is mediated by environmental conditions. To test how dietary resource availability affects sexual ornamentation, sperm quality and their interrelationship in three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus), full-sibling groups were raised under three conditions differing in food quantity and/or quality (i.e. carotenoid content): (i) high-quantity/high-quality, (ii) high-quantity/low-quality or (iii) low-quantity/low-quality. After 1 year of feeding, food-restricted males developed a more intense breeding coloration and faster sperm compared with their well-fed brothers, indicating that they allocated relatively more in pre- and postcopulatory traits. Moreover, they outcompeted their well-fed, carotenoid-supplemented brothers in sperm competition trials with equal numbers of competing sperm, suggesting that food-restricted males maximize their present reproductive success. This may result in reduced future reproductive opportunities as food-restricted males suffered from a higher mortality, had an overall reduced body size, and sperm number available for fertilization. In accordance with theory, a trade-off between the investment in pre- and postcopulatory traits was observed in food-restricted males, whereas well-fed males were able to allocate to both traits resulting in a significantly positive relationship.     

Anaerobic metabolism in the leech (Hirudo medicinalis L.): direct and indirect calorimetry during severe hypoxia

Anaerobic metabolism in the limnic annelid Hirudo medicinalis L. was investigated by direct and indirect calorimetry. During long-term severe hypoxia, the rate of heat dissipation was reduced up to 13% of the aerobic rate. At the same time, the rate of ATP turnover was reduced to about 30% of the aerobic rate, indicating that metabolic depression is an important mechanism to ensure survival of the leech during environmental anaerobiosis. Heat dissipation during hypoxia was monitored under two experimental conditions, favouring either concomitant hypocapnia (continuous N₂ bubbling) or hypercapnia (self-induced hypoxia). The reduction in heat dissipation during hypocapnic hypoxia was less pronounced than during hypercapnic hypoxia, indicating that the different experimental conditions may influence anaerobic metabolism and the extent of metabolic depression. Biochemical analysis of known anaerobic substrates and endproducts provided the basis for indirect calorimetry during self-induced hypoxia. From changes in metabolites, the expected heat dissipation was calculated for initial (0–8 h) and long-term severe hypoxia (8–72 h). During the initial period, the calculated heat dissipation fully accounted for direct calorimetric determination. During long-term hypoxia, only 71% of the measured heat production could be explained from biochemical analysis of metabolites. Therefore, an additional unknown endproduct cannot be excluded, especially when anaerobic ammonia production and analysis of the carbohydrate balance are considered.Abbreviations APW artificial pond water - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - fw fresh weight - HP heat production - HD heat dissipation - MR metabolic rate     

Enhancing the structural diversity between forest patches—A concept and real-world experiment to study biodiversity,multifunctionality and forest resilience across spatial scales

Intensification of land use by humans has led to a homogenization of landscapes and decreasing resilience of ecosystems globally due to a loss of biodiversity, including the majority of forests. Biodiversity–ecosystem functioning (BEF) research has provided compelling evidence for a positive effect of biodiversity on ecosystem functions and services at the local (α-diversity) scale, but we largely lack empirical evidence on how the loss of between-patch β-diversity affects biodiversity and multifunctionality at the landscape scale (γ-diversity). Here, we present a novel concept and experimental framework for elucidating BEF patterns at α-, β-, and γ-scales in real landscapes at a forest management-relevant scale. We examine this framework using 22 temperate broadleaf production forests, dominated by Fagus sylvatica. In 11 of these forests, we manipulated the structure between forest patches by increasing variation in canopy cover and deadwood. We hypothesized that an increase in landscape heterogeneity would enhance the β-diversity of different trophic levels, as well as the β-functionality of various ecosystem functions. We will develop a new statistical framework for BEF studies extending across scales and incorporating biodiversity measures from taxonomic to functional to phylogenetic diversity using Hill numbers. We will further expand the Hill number concept to multifunctionality allowing the decomposition of γ-multifunctionality into α- and β-components. Combining this analytic framework with our experimental data will allow us to test how an increase in between patch heterogeneity affects biodiversity and multifunctionality across spatial scales and trophic levels to help inform and improve forest resilience under climate change. Such an integrative concept for biodiversity and functionality, including spatial scales and multiple aspects of diversity and multifunctionality as well as physical and environmental structure in forests, will go far beyond the current widely applied approach in forestry to increase resilience of future forests through the manipulation of tree species composition.     

Order of bovine DRB3, DYA,and PRL determined by sperm typing

The order and recombination fractions () between the bovine major histocompatibility complex DRB3, DYA, and prolactin (PRL) genes were determined by typing of 254 sperm from a triply heterozygous bull. A recently developed method, primer extension preamplification (PEP), was used to amplify the bovine sperm genome prior to amplification of specific loci by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). At least 28 copies of the DRB3, PRL, or DYA gene were obtained from 50 cycles of PEP. For sperm typing, alleles of each locus were discriminated by restriction endonuclease cleavage of PCR products and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the restriction fragments. The most likely gene order is PRL-DRB3-DYA, with =0.025 (±0.012) and =0.150 (±0.024), respectively. The odds are 128:1 in favor of this order in comparison with the second most likely order DRB3-PRL-DYA. Our results demonstrate the power of sperm typing in concert with PEP for multilocus gene mapping.     

Predicting Current Reproductive Success of Goose Pairs Anser indicus from Male and Female Reproductive History

A multiple regression analysis of current reproductive success (goslings fledged) on three male and female life-history traits (age, previous breeding periods, previous successes) was carried out for 31 semicaptive pairs of barheaded geese Anser indicus. Of the female variables, age proved positively and the number of previous nesting periods negatively related to current success. The latter relationship suggests that incubation has costs in terms of future fecundity for the female. Of the male variables, age was negatively and the number of previous fledging successes positively related to current reproductive success. Attempts with additional data to explain these findings in the male either by a positive feedback of success on future success or by differences in male quality gave inconclusive results, as did earlier attempts to demonstrate reproductive costs in geese and swans. In monogamous species with long-term pair bonds, where male and female share most of their life history but specialize in different activities, reproduction may affect the sexes in different ways. If the correlations between life-history traits of mates are not accounted for, individual strategies or constraints may be obscured by opposing effects in the mate.     

Direct molecular analysis of the fragile X syndrome in a sample of Egyptian and German patients using non-radioactive PCR and Southern blot followed by chemiluminescent detection

Molecular genetic analysis of individuals from 6 Egyptian and 33 German families with fragile X syndrome and 240 further patients with mental retardation was performed applying a completely non-radioactive system. The aim of our study was the development of a non-radioactive detection method and its implementation in molecular diagnosis of the fragile X syndrome. Furthermore, we wanted to assess differences in the mutation sizes between Egyptian and German patients and between Egyptian and German carriers of a premutation. Using non-radioactive polymerase chain reaction (PCR), agarose gel electrophoresis and blotting of the PCR products, followed by hybridisation with a digoxigenin-labelled oligonucleotide probe (CGG)₅ and chemiluminescent detection, we identified the fragile X full mutation (amplification of a CGG repeat in the FMR-1 gene ranging from several hundred to several thousand repeat units) in all patients. We observed no differences in the length of the CGG repeat between the Egyptian and German patients and carriers, respectively. However, in one prenatal diagnosis, we detected only one normal sized allele in a female fetus using the PCR-agarose assay, whereas Southern blot analysis with the digoxigenin labelled probe StB 12.3 revealed presence of a full mutation. Our newly established nonradioactive genomic blotting method is based on the conventional radioactive Southern blot analysis. Labelling of the probe StB 12.3 with digoxigenin via PCR allowed the detection of normal, premutated and fully mutated alleles. For exact sizing of small premutated or large normal alleles, we separated digoxigenin labelled PCR products through denaturing poly-acrylamide gelelectrophoresis (PAGE) and transfered them to a nylon membrane using a gel dryer. The blotted PCR-fragments can easily be detected with alkaline phosphate-labelled anti-digoxigenin antibody. The number of trinucleotide repeat units can be determined by scoring the detected bands against a digoxigenated M13 sequencing ladder. Our newly developed digoxigenin/chemiluminescence approach using PCR and Southern blot analysis provides reliable results for routine detection of full fragile X mutations and premutations.     

Chick Nutrition and Mortality in Captive Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus L. Lagopus)

Willow ptarmigan chicks were reared during 8 years on concentrates supplemented with blueberry plants. Mortality during the first 3 weeks after hatching ranged between 33 and 65 %, and was mainly caused by enteritis and digestive tract obstructions. The annual variations in chick survival seemed to be caused by the variations in plant phenology. The survival was highest when spring and blueberry plant development was late, and lowest when spring was early and warm, leading to early lignification of blueberry plant leaves.     

Refractoriness of ovarian adenylate cyclase to continued hormonal stimulation.

Culture of preovulatory rat follicles with luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone or prostaglandin E2 for 24 h reduced the subsequent response of adenylate cyclase to the homologous by 80, 50 and 90%, respectively; yet follicles refractory to luteinizing hormone fully responded to follicle-stimulating hormone responded to luteinizing hormone and prostaglandin E2, and those refractory to prostaglandin E2 could be stimulated by either gonadotropin. Desensitization of the adenylate cyclase system by luteinizing hormone was achieved by hormone concentrations of 0.8--2.0 mug/ml in the medium; a lower dose of luteinizing hormone (0.4 mug/ml), though effective in stimulating adenylate cyclase, did not induce refractoriness. Prostaglandin E2 caused partial refractoriness at dose levels of 0.1--0.25 mug/ml; higher dose levels were more effective. These findings suggest that continued exposure to the preovulatory follicle to elevated levels of hormones may cause perturbations in either the interaction between the hormone and its specific receptor or in a subsequent step essential for activation of adenylate cyclase.