Plants and insects in early old-field succession: comparison of an English site and an American site

The plant and insect communities of early, secondary succession beginning with bare ground in an Old World site (southern Britain) and a New World site (Iowa, U.S.A.) shared a number of characteristics. Both sites showed similar temporal patterns of plant species cover and species richness, although overall richness was greater at the Old World site. Annuals dominated at both sites during the first year of succession and were largely replaced by perennials in the second year. Monocotyledons were more abundant at the Old World site, especially in the second year. The two sites differed markedly in the contribution of native and introduced plant species, with the Old World site dominated by natives and the New World site by alien plant species. Insect herbivore load was greater at the Old World site, when expressed in terms of structural complexity of the vegetation, suggesting that there may be major differences in the influence of herbivores on the direction and rate of succession at the two sites.     

Synthesis of Substance P

SUBSTANCE P has been synthesized by the solid-phase procedure of Merrifield^1,2 according to the sequence H-Arg-Pro-LysPro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-NH₂ reported in the previous letter.     

Passive Haemagglutination Test for Anti-rhinovirus Antibodies

The use of chromic chloride as a coupling reagent has made it possible to coat red cells with rhinovirus protein. This is shown by immunofluorescence, electron microscopy and immunocolloidal experiments.     

Penultimate Aspartyl unnecessary for Stimulation of Acid Secretion by Gastrin-related Peptide

THE carboxy-terminal tetrapeptide of gastrin, Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-NH₂, has the same biological activity as the parent hormone¹. Morley^2,3 showed that certain substitutions in the Trp, Met and Phe positions gave active analogues and concluded that these positions are concerned only with binding at the site of action. In contrast, the only substitution in aspartic acid that gave activity was tetrazolyl for the β-carboxyl, thereby maintaining a proton donor of similar size at this position. Morley concluded that the aspartyl residue has a functional rather than a binding role and presumably is indispensable. The carboxy-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin (OP-CCK) contains the carboxy-terminal tetrapeptide of gastrin and has gastrin-like activity⁴. We report here that the synthetic analogue of OP-CCK, in which alanyl is substituted for aspartyl at the position in question illustration, stimulates gastric acid secretion. In conscious cats with gastric fistulas⁵, dose-response curves were established for gastric acid response to OP-CCK, 7-Ala OP-CCK and pentagastrin⁶. The peptides were given by continuous intravenous infusion and response is taken as peak 10 min output during a 30 min infusion at each dose level (Fig. 1). Assigning a potency of 1 to OP-CCK the relative molar potency of 7-Ala OP-CCK is about 1/110 and of pentagastrin is about 1/4. We also tested the analogue of gastrin tetrapeptide in which alanyl is substituted for aspartyl illustration and found no detectable stimulation of acid secretion at doses as high as 15 mg/kg h, confirming similar negative findings by Morley² in rat. This suggests that the weak action of alanyl substituted analogues cannot readily be detected without the enhancement of potency conferred by the sulphated tyrosyl of OP-CCK⁷. Ondetti et al.⁷ showed that 7-Ala OP-CCK contracts guinea-pig gallbladder with a potency about 1/150th that of OP-CCK, comparable with that reported here for acid secretion. This suggests that the same part or parts of the molecule are required for cholecystokinetic action and for gastric secretory action; the aspartyl residue in the penultimate position is dispensable for both of these actions. On the assumption that gastrin and CCK act at the same site⁸, we propose that the corresponding aspartyl residue of gastrin is similarly dispensable. For a direct test of this hypothesis, studies are needed of the synthetic analogue in which alanyl is substituted for the penultimate aspartyl in gastrin hepta-decapeptide, perferably gastrin II with sulphated tyrosyl because it is more potent than gastrin I in certain species⁹.

Open image in new window

Open image in new window

     

The role of refuge areas in the phenology of Rhopalosiphum padi in low rainfall cropping areas of South Australia

Extensive surveys of possible aphid habitats in South Australia indicated that irrigated perennial grass pastures in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Lower Murray Valley were summer refuges for Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Large numbers of aphids build up in these pastures each year during autumn (April and May) with numbers peaking in May. The size of the May peak was related to the number of aphids surviving the summer. The proportions of alates were highest in May and August/September. Both peaks coincided with a photoperiod of between 11.2 and 11.5 h, and partial correlations suggested that aphid density, photoperiod and temperature were all significant determinants of alate production.     

The restricted distribution of potato leafroll luteovirus antigen in potato plants with transgenic resistance resembles that in clones with one type of host genemediated resistance

The distribution of virus-infected cells was examined, by fluorescence microscopy, within plants of a range of potato clones infected with potato leafroll luteovirus (PLRV). This range included nine PLRV-resistant clones, of which four were transgenic lines carrying the PLRV coat protein gene and five were conventionally bred. Plants of these clones were resistant to PLRV multiplication and accumulated less virus antigen in leaf tissue than did susceptible clones. Indirect fluorescent antibody staining of thin sections from carbodiimide-fixed petiole tissue revealed that in plants of PLRV-susceptible clones, virus-infected cells were abundant within both external (abaxial) and internal (adaxial) phloem bundles. In plants of the PLRV-resistant conventionally bred clones and in resistant transgenic lines of cv. Pentland Squire, virus-infected cells were much fewer in number and largely restricted to internal phloem bundles. In resistant transgenic lines of cv. Désirée, this restricted distribution of PLRV antigen was only detected in petioles of young leaves. The results suggest that the transgenic and a host-mediated type of resistance that restricts virtis multiplication have underlying similarities.     

Territorial behaviour in an Australian nectar-feeding bird

The red wattlebird, a large Australian honey eater, defends feeding territories from other nectar-feeding birds. One such territory decreased in size and experienced fewer intruders as the density of flowers increased. Daily energy production from the nectar in the territory closely approximated the energy requirements of the territory holder. The bird was probably minimizing energetic costs rather than maximizing energy intake.     

Evolutionary Genetics of Animal Migration

Three primary approaches have been used to study the geneticsof migration: the analyses of population differences, of singlelocus effects, and of polygenic influences. Studies of populationsreared under similar conditions in "common garden" experimentsfrequently reveal gene effects contributing to differences inmigratory tendency. Single locus effects are known, but arenot common, a result to be expected given that migration iscomplex. Quantitative genetic studies reveal that heritabilitiesfor migration related traits are often high (approximately 0.5or more) suggesting significant amounts of genetic variationon which natural selection can act. Analyses of genetic correlationsdemonstrate that migratory behavior is part of a syndrome thatincludes aspects of both physiology and life history traits.The latter are characteristically those which contribute tocolonizing ability. Migratory behavior thus does not evolvein isolation. New migration patterns are still evolving, aswould be predicted from observed environmental changes and thegenetic variation present in migratory species.