How reliable are dung counts for estimating elephant numbers?

Dung counts are the most commonly used techniques for estimating elephant numbers in forests, yet there is considerable scepticism concerning their accuracy. Published accounts of dung counts show that they give estimates similar to those from other methods for vertebrates ranging in size from lizards to elephants. For ungulates, macropods and elephants there are strong correlations between estimates from dung counts and other methods. Thus, dung counts are as accurate or inaccurate as other methods for estimating vertebrate numbers, including elephants. Dung counts for elephants give estimates that are as precise as, and sometimes more precise than, those from aerial surveys of elephants. This is because the variance in dung density is usually low and results in a lower than expected variance for the final elephant estimate when combined with the variances of defecation and decay rates. Dung counts may be more appropriate than aerial surveys for monitoring small or declining elephant populations.     

A SNP/microsatellite genetic linkage map of the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

A first genetic linkage map of the Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua ) was produced, based on segregation data from 12 full-sib families of Norwegian origin. The map contained 174 single nucleotide polymorphism markers and 33 microsatellites, distributed on 25 linkage groups and had a length of 1225 cM. A significant difference in recombination rates between sexes was found, the average ratio of female:male recombination rates being 1.78 ± 1.62 (SD).     

Revision of the plant geographical territories of Israel and Sinai

The phytogeographical territories of Israel and Sinai are revised using a large mass of species distribution data. With the help of chorotype frequencies for 25 km² individual squares in Israel, territories were defined on the basis of the first two most frequent chorotypes. The similarity of boundaries in the resulting phytogeographical map with a physiognomic map suggests that the latter may be used in preliminary stages of the preparation of plant geographical maps.     

Complete maps of IS1, IS2, IS3, IS4, IS5, IS30 and IS150 locations in Escherichia coli K12

Summary In this paper complete distribution maps are presented of the seven IS elements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 30 and 150. These maps were obtained during the construction of an almost complete restriction map of the Escherichia coli genome of K12 strain BHB2600. The positions of IS elements were correlated to this map. The distribution of integration sites of all IS types is nonrandom. Besides a large gap from 79 min to 96 min, there is a pronounced IS cluster at 6 min and another at 97 min, map locations that have low gene incidences on the classical map. One cluster coincides with a region of IS induced rearrangements. The IS distribution pattern was compared to patterns of strains W3110 and HB101.     

A chromosomal genetic map of Rhizobium sp. NGR234 generated with Tn5-Mob

Summary Rhizobium sp. NGR234 in a fast-growing Rhizobium strain with a broad host range. The location and role of chromosomal genes involved in cellular metabolism or in the legume symbioses is unknown. We isolated a series of auxotrophic and antibiotic resistant mutants of NGR234 and utilized a chromosome mobilization system based on Tn5-Mob and pJB3JI; Tn5-Mob donor strains behaved like Hfr strains, transferring the chromosome polarly at high frequency from a fixed point of insertion. The use of four different strains with Tn5-Mob located at different nutritional loci in crosses with double auxotrophic recipients, allowed us to build up a circular linkage map of NGR234 based on relative recombination frequencies. Also, symbiotically important genes identified by site-directed mutagenesis, such as hemA and ntrA, could be located and mapped on the chromosome.Abbreviations Tc tetracycline - Sp spectinomycin - Rif rifampicin - Km kanamycin     

Physical map of chloroplast DNA of aerial yam,Dioscorea bulbifera L.

Summary A physical map of chloroplast DNA (ctDNA) of aerial yam, Dioscorea bulbifera L. was constructed using three restriction endonucleases, PstI, SalI, and SmaI. In addition, a clone bank of the BamHI-digested fragments were generated, and the locations of most BamHI fragments on the map were also determined. The ctDNA of D. bulbifera was found to be a circular molecule with a total size of ca. 152 kb involving two inverted repeats of ca. 25.5 kb, and small and large single copy regions of ca. 18.5 and 83.4 kb, respectively. The genes for the large subunit of the ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcL) and the ATP-synthase subunits and (atpB/atpE) were mapped.Contribution from the Plant Germ-plasm Institute and the Laboratory of Genetics (No. 504), Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Japan. The work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid (No. 60400005) from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan     

猕猴属五个种mtDNA多态性研究

本文以10种限制性内切酶研究猕猴属5个种(Macaca mulatta.M.nemestrina.M.assemensis.M.thibetana,M arctoides)线粒体DNA进化。在13个个体中,共检出8种限制性类型。恒河猴种内存在广泛的线粒休DNA限制性片段长度多态性(RFLP)。结合日本猴(M.fuscata)的有关资料,构建了猕猴属6个种的分子系统树,并给出各个种的分化时间。结果表明,这6个种可分成4个类群,熊猴和藏酋猴、恒河猴和日本猴之间的遗传距离较近,可分别划为同一类群,红面猴与其他5种猴的遗传距离最远,在系统发生上分离最早。     

Characterization of fall armyworm mitochondrial DNA (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Mitochondrial DNA from the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), was cloned and characterized using restriction enzyme mapping. Genome size is approximately 16.3 kilobase (Kb), consistent with that of most animals. Three fragments, 8.1 Kb, 6.2 Kb, and 2.0 Kb, were produced by digestion with restriction enzyme Xbal and cloned into a pUC19 vector. Twenty-nine restriction enzymes were used to generate a detailed physical restriction enzyme map of the three cloned fragments. These data represent the first detailed characterization of a lepidopteran mitochondrial genome. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Mapping genes essential for embryo development in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Summary We have previously isolated and characterized over 90 recessive mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana defective in embryo development. These emb mutants have been shown to differ in lethal phase, extent of abnormal development, and response in culture. We demonstrate in this report the value and efficiency of mapping emb genes relative to visible and molecular markers. Sixteen genes essential for embryo development were mapped relative to visible markers by analyzing progeny of selfed F₁ plants. Embryonic lethals are now the most common type of visible marker included on the linkage map of Arabidopsis. Backcrosses were used in several cases to orient genes relative to adjacent markers. Three genes were located to chromosome arms with telotrisomics by screening for a reduction in the percentage of aborted seeds produced by F₁ plants. A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) mapping strategy that utilizes pooled EMB/EMB F₂ plants was devised to increase the efficiency of mapping embryonic lethals relative to molecular markers. This strategy was tested by demonstrating that the biol locus of Arabidopsis is within 0.5 cM of an existing RFLP marker. Mapping embryonic lethals with both visible and molecular markers may therefore help to identify large numbers of genes with essential functions in Arabidopsis.