PHYSICAL AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF CAT LITTER1

Eighteen commercial cat litters were characterized for the following physical characteristics: water holding capacity, drying time, pH, cost, density, residual water, and particle size. Using sensory analysis, eight of the litters were evaluated for dustiness, clumpability and odor control before and after use and storage. The cat litters differed substantially in both physical and sensory properties. The crystal litters were noted for their small uniform size, high water holding capacity and clumpability. The recycled litter was most dusty and ammoniacal; whereas, the granule litter had an innately offensive odor. The alfalfa litter had superior odor control, but neither clumped nor dried well. The clay litters could be differentiated by pH, residual water, water holding capacity and could be classified as either perfumed and nonperfumed. Some of the perfumed litters became intensely perfumed when used and stored; whereas, the other perfumed litters behaved like the nonperfumed litters and became more offensive.     

Biology and phylogenetic relationships of Neophonus bruchi, an anomalous south Andean staphylinid (Coleoptera)

Abstract. The virtually unknown monotypic genus Neophonus Fauvel has been collected in several localities in south-central Chile; it was previously known only from the type locality in Argentina. Field observations of the adults on forest foliage and study of their gut contents suggest that they are mycophagous and eat primarily foliicolous fungi, a habit previously unknown in Staphylinidae. Their mouthparts and tarsi show morphological specializations apparently correlated with these habits. Larvae remain unknown. The phylogenetic relationships of the genus within the omaliine-group of Staphylinidae sensu lato are discussed.     

Phylogenetic analysis of eleven species of Biomphalaria Preston, 1910 (Gastropoda: Planorbidae) based on comparisons of allozymes

Freshwater snails in the genus Biomphalaria transmit Schistosoma mansoni in Africa, South America and the Caribbean region. Although considerable attention has been given to the identification of species, little is known of evolutionary relationships among the species. A phylogenetic analysis of 25 populations representing 11 species was performed on 25 enzyme loci examined using starch gel electrophoresis. A phylogenetic analysis of the individual populations produced 60 trees of equal length. The 60 trees have a consistency index value of 75.9% and a retention index value of 76.5%. The phylogenetic analysis provided strong support for the monophyly of Biomphalaria with either 14 or 15 synapomorphies uniting all of the species included and separating them from the outgroup, two species of Helisoma. Four nominal species represented by multiple populations formed monophyletic groups. Populations of B. sudanica, B. choanomphala, and B. alexandrina were interspersed. Ten arrangements were obtained for the populations of these three species. A variety of ingroup taxa were used to root the trees, and all provided support for the use of Helisoma species as an outgroup. In all of the trees obtained, the African species together formed a monophyletic group. In none of the trees obtained did the neotropical species form a monophyletic group. A constrained analysis requiring the monophyly of the neotropical species as well as the African species resulted in 90 trees just two steps longer than the shortest trees. Analysis of the species from either hemisphere alone resulted in decreased resolution, as measured by an increase in the number of trees obtained. This finding suggests that further comparisons of species from the two hemispheres will be of considerable value. Finally, two species which are resistant to infection with S. mansoni were included among the eleven studied. Neither of these species formed the sister group to all of the other species included, indicating that susceptibility is the plesiomorphic state, and that resistance is derived. Similarly, in none of the trees obtained did the two resistant species fall out as sister taxa, indicating that resistance arose independently twice.     

The effect of water activity and pH on the production of mycotoxins by fungi growing on a bread analogue

Mycotoxin production by various toxigenic fungi, growing on a bread analogue, was investigated at various water activities (a_w) and pH combinations. Citrinin, ochratoxin A and sterigmatocystin could be detected at a_w > 0·80, while patulin was only observed at a_w= 0·95. These results show that some toxins may be produced at lower water activities than have been reported on synthetic media and suggest that, where possible, natural substrates should be used to investigate factors affect-ing mycotoxin production in foodstuffs.