Environmentally induced morphological variation in the Barnacle Goose,Branta leucopsis

The environmental conditions to which juvenile barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) were exposed during growth were found to affect their body size at fledging as well as their final adult body size. Small juveniles showed compensatory growth from the time of fledging up to one year of age, but this did not fully compensate the differences in body size that were established before fledging. The variation in protein content in plants eaten during growth could probably explain the observed body size differences, sometimes of more than 10%, between different categories of adult geese. Our results imply that one cannot infer selection on morphological characters from differences between samples of adult birds from different localities or from different cohorts within a population, without first showing that environmental conditions during growth do not affect the development of the characters under study.     

Effects of antalarmin,a CRF receptor 1 antagonist,on fright reaction and endocrine stress response in crucian carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carassius carassius</Emphasis>)

The corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) receptors show striking homogeneity throughout the vertebrate subphylum. In mammals, the CRF(1) receptor (CRFR(1)) plays an important role in mediating behavioral and endocrine responses to fear and stress. The specific roles of this receptor subtype in fear and stress reactions in non-mammalian vertebrates are largely unknown. Crucian carp displays the olfactory-mediated fright reaction, a stereotypic behavioral response to waterborne cues from damaged skin of conspecifics. This reaction shows several similarities to basic components of avoidance behavior in mammals. In the present study, we applied the non-peptide CRFR(1) antagonist, antalarmin, to crucian carp 1 h before exposure to conspecific skin extract. This treatment resulted in a suppression of the fright reaction. After skin extract exposure, antalarmin treatment also lead to lower plasma cortisol values, as compared to vehicle treatment. This suppression of the behavioral fright reaction and the stress induced rise in plasma cortisol in crucian carp suggests that the functions of the CRFR(1) are conserved by evolution.     

The kinetics of diffusion between a spherical cell and a surrounding medium with different diffusion properties

The diffusion equation according to Fick’s law is solved for a spherical cell, surrounded by an infinite medium with different diffusion properties. The method of Laplace transform is used to obtain the formal solution, however, no inversion can be found for all times and an expansion suitable for small times is performed. The final expression found is expanded further to be more suited for the determination of the diffusion coefficient from an experimental curve. Application to a biological problem is dissussed.     

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.     

Stereoselective routes towards the synthesis of unusual bis(amino acids) and cyclic amino acids

Summary Stereoselective syntheses are described of bridged bis(glycines) as conformationally constrained substitutes for cystine, and of cyclic α-amino acids where the α-carbon of the amino acid is part of a five-, six- or seven-membered ring which may hold a hydroxy group as a threonine analogue.     

Functional Anatomy of the Hearts of Lungfishes and Amphibians

Lungfishes and amphibians have bimodal gas exchange, but variousspecies employ airbreathing with lungs to different degrees.An increased use of pulmonary breathing is correlated with progressivestructural and functional separation of the pulmonary and systemicvascular circuits. Representatives from all genera of lungfishesand several anurans and urodeles utilizing pulmonary breathing,show a preferential distribution of blood tending to minimizerecirculation to the systemic and pulmonary circuits. The degreeof shunting between the two circuits is variable and may expressnormal shifts in regional blood flow. The most important structural and functional features influencingthe preferential circulation through dipnoan and amphibian heartsinclude: (a) Dynamics of inflow in the pulmonary and systemicveins; (b) The extent and localization of atrial septation;(c) The partial ventricular septum in lungfishes and the massiveventricular trabeculation in both amphibians and lungfishes;(d) A laminar ventricular outflow pattern; (e) Structural guidanceof flow in the partially separated bulbus segment of the heart;(f) Vasomotor reactions in the various outflow vessels fromthe heart.