The life cycle of Hydrichthys tnirus (Gnidaria: Hydrozoa: Anthomedusae: Pandeidae)

The previously unknown life cycle of the parasitic hydroid Hydrichthys mirus is described. The adult medusa has 5–6 tentacles and could be referred to Leuckartiara. Another species of Hydrichthys has previously been shown to have a Stomotoca -like medusa, characterized by the possession of two tentacles. It is proposed that Hydrichthys originated from the Leuckartiara lineage and that, through paedomorphosis in at least one species, the medusa retained the two-tentacle state of the newly-released medusa of all pandeids, thus becoming referable to Stomotoca. It is suggested that Stomotoca has hitherto constituted a polyphyletic taxon, embracing parallel lineages of pandeids, each retaining juvenile features. An additional genus, Larsonia , is introduced to accommodate species with Stomotoca-like medusae and Hydrichthys -like hydroids.     

Variable temperature sensitivity of soil organic carbon in North American forests

We investigated mean residence time (MRT) for soil organic carbon (SOC) sampled from paired hardwood and pine forests located along a 22 °C mean annual temperature (MAT) gradient in North America. We used acid hydrolysis fractionation, radiocarbon analyses, long-term laboratory incubations (525-d), and a three-pool model to describe the size and kinetics of the acid insoluble C (AIC), active and slow SOC fractions in soil. We found that active SOC was 2 ± 0.2% (mean ± SE) of total SOC, with an MRT of 33 ± 6 days that decreased strongly with increasing MAT. In contrast, MRT for slow SOC and AIC (70 ± 6% and 27 ± 6% of total SOC, respectively) ranged from decades to thousands of years, and neither was significantly related to MAT. The accumulation of AIC (as a percent of total SOC) was greater in hardwood than pine stands (36% and 21%, respectively) although the MRT for AIC was longer in pine stands. Based on these results, we suggest that the responsiveness of most SOC decomposition in upland forests to global warming will be less than currently modeled, but any shifts in vegetation from hardwood to pine may alter the size and MRT of SOC fractions.     

Multiconjugant Complexes of Euplotes Crassus: an Instance of Coordination of Nuclear Events*,†

SYNOPSIS In the ciliate Euplotes crussus, doublet cells of 3 complementary mating types were mixed and multiconjugant complexes obtained. The cells were not uniform in the G, stage at the time of mixing. Despite asynchrony, the nuclear events of conjugation started and progressed coordinately in all the members of each complex, leading to a synchronous exchange of pronuclei. An adjustment of the cellular timing takes place before the nuclei of multiconjugants begin dividing. This adjustment probably occurs through specific ciliary contact during preconjugant interaction.     

Temperature and vegetation effects on soil organic carbon quality along a forested mean annual temperature gradient in North America

Both climate and plant species are hypothesized to influence soil organic carbon (SOC) quality, but accurate prediction of how SOC process rates respond to global change will require an improved understanding of how SOC quality varies with mean annual temperature (MAT) and forest type. We investigated SOC quality in paired hardwood and pine stands growing in coarse textured soils located along a 22 °C gradient in MAT. To do this, we conducted 80‐day incubation experiments at 10 and 30 °C to quantify SOC decomposition rates, which we used to kinetically define SOC quality. We used these experiments to test the hypotheses that SOC quality decreases with MAT, and that SOC quality is higher under pine than hardwood tree species. We found that both SOC quantity and quality decreased with increasing MAT. During the 30 °C incubation, temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀) values were strongly and positively related to SOC decomposition rates, indicating that substrate supply can influence temperature responsiveness of SOC decomposition rates. For a limited number of dates, Q₁₀ was negatively related to MAT. Soil chemical properties could not explain observed patterns in soil quality. Soil pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC) both declined with increasing MAT, and soil C quality was positively related to pH but negatively related to CEC. Clay mineralogy of soils also could not explain patterns of SOC quality as complex (2 : 1), high CEC clay minerals occurred in cold climate soils while warm climate soils were dominated by simpler (1 : 1), low CEC clay minerals. While hardwood sites contained more SOC than pine sites, with differences declining with MAT, clay content was also higher in hardwood soils. In contrast, there was no difference in SOC quality between pine and hardwood soils. Overall, these findings indicate that SOC quantity and quality may both decrease in response to global warming, despite long‐term changes in soil chemistry and mineralogy that favor decomposition.     

Isolation and characterization of two different 5S rDNA in Anguilla anguilla and in Anguilla rostrata: possible markers of evolutionary divergence

We cloned and sequenced the HaeIII 350‐bp 5S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) band of Anguilla rostrata and designed specific primers from this sequence. Polymerase chain reaction performed with these primers is able to distinguish DNA samples obtained from European (Anguilla anguilla) and American (Anguilla rostrata) eels. Two amplicons of 1200 bp and 600 bp were obtained, respectively, from A. rostrata and A. anguilla, and the whole 5S rDNA repeated unit from these eels was cloned and sequenced. Southern blot experiments, using four different restriction enzymes and the 5S nontranscribed spacers regions as probe, are able to point out specific diversity in these eels.     

Cultures of Skin Fragments of Salamandra salamandra salamandra (L.) Larvae

As part of a study on the pigmentary system of Salamandra salamandra salamandra (L.), we cultured skin fragments of 7–10-day-old larvae in order to examine the expression of molecules implicated in cellular adhesion and migration and in regulating cell-cell relationships. Keratinocytes, fibroblasts, Leydig cells, xanthophores, and melanophores migrated from the fragments and were observed in the outgrowth. Keratinocytes and fibroblasts organized into an epidermal layer and an underlying “dermal portion.” The chromatophores were always located below the epithelial cells, often with fibroblasts. We examined by immunocytochemistry the expression of fibronectin, β₁-integrin, L-CAM, and A-CAM in the cultures. Many keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and Leydig cells expressed all the signal molecules tested. Xanthophores and melanophores were only immunoreactive to the anti-adhesion molecules antisera. Since the molecules tested are known to play a role in cell adhesion, growth, and spreading, as well as in regulating tissue differentiation and in maintaining normal tissue morphology, we may hypothesize that in Salamandra salamandra salamandra fibronectin, β₁-integrin, L-, and A-CAMS concertedly act to stabilize the architecture of the outgrowth and regulate the relationships between chromatophores and those between chromatophores and the other elements of the skin culture.