Comparative residual toxicities of pesticides to the predator Agistemus industani (Acari: Stigmaeidae) on citrus in Florida

Residual toxicities of registered and selected experimental pesticides used on citrus against Agistemus industani Gonzalez (Acari: Stigmaeidae) were compared. Pesticides considered highly toxic to A. industani were: abamectin 0.15 EC at 731ml/ha+FC 435-66 petroleum oil at 46.8l/ha, pyridaben 75WP at 469g/ha, ethion 4EC at 7.01l/ha+FC 435-66 petroleum oil at 46.8l/ha, propargite 6.55 EC at 3.51l/ha, chlorfenapyr 2SC at 1.46l/ha applied alone or in combination with FC 435-66 petroleum oil at 46.8l/ha, sulphur 80DF at 16.81kg/ha, dicofol 4EC at 7.01l/ha, fenbutatin oxide 50WP at 2.24kg/ha, benomyl 50WP at 2.24kg/ha, benomyl 50WP at 1.68kg/ha+ferbam 76 GF at 5.60kg/ha, ferbam 76GF at 11.21kg/ha, neem oil 90EC at 46.8l/ha, and copper hydroxide DF (40% metallic copper) at 4.48kg metallic copper/ha+FC 435-66 petroleum oil at 46.8l/ha. Pesticides that were moderately to slightly toxic included: copper sulphate 98% at 4.48kg metallic copper/ha+FC 435-66 petroleum oil at 46.8l/ha, fenbuconazole 2F at 280ml/ha+FC 435-66 petroleum oil at 46.8l/ha, FC 435-66 petroleum oil applied alone at 46.8l/ha or 23.4l/ha, and diflubenzuron 25WP at 1.40kg/ha. Pesticides that were non-toxic included: fenbuconazole 2F at 585ml/ha, malathion 57EC at 5.85l/ha, FC 435-66 petroleum oil at 46.8l/ha, carbaryl 80S at 3.36kg/ha, chlorpyrifos 4EC at 4.68l/ha, and formetanate 92SP at 1.12kg/ha. Understanding the toxic effects of field weathered pesticides against key predacious mite species is important for effective IPM. The results of this study provide a comparison of direct and indirect toxic effects of various pesticides to A. industani under field conditions.     

Applicability of the abundance/biomass comparison method to detect pollution effects on intertidal macrobenthic communities

Data are presented to evaluate further the abundance/biomass comparison method for the detection of pollution disturbance in marine benthic communities. The results suggest that this technique cannot be used in estuarine intertidal communities. The grossly polluted configurations appeared under unpolluted conditions, while undisturbed patterns were found under polluted conditions. The results support similar conclusions by BEUKEMA (1988) for the intertidal flats of the Dutch Wadden Sea.Communication nr. 497 of the Delta Institute for Hydrobiological Research, Yerseke.     

Concluding remarks

On the basis of symposium contributions onChlorella, Hibbertia, Eucalyptus, Ambrosia and on numerical approaches some fundamental problems of (bio)systematics, evolution, and taxonomic categories are discussed: Methods available for analysing affinities; conflicting evidence from phenetic, biochemical, cytogenetic and other analyses; further classification problems in cases of intermediacy, etc. While sibs of various levels and their natural hierarchy often can be objectively defined, this appears impossible for particular taxonomic levels itself (e. g. species). A single objective taxonomic system of organisms is unrealistic. Certain guiding lines for relative and practicable concepts of species and genus are proposed.Presented at the symposium Speciation and the Species Concept during the XIIth International Botanical Congress, Leningrad, July 8, 1975.     

Coral growth in high-nutrient,low-pH seawater: a case study of corals cultured at the Waikiki Aquarium,Honolulu, Hawaii

Fifty-seven species of hermatypic corals have been maintained and grown in high-nutrient seawater at the Waikiki Aquarium, Honolulu, Hawaii. In this study we document the chemical conditions of aquarium water in terms of dissolved nutrients and carbon. Aquarium water is characterized by concentrations of inorganic nutrients that are high relative to most natural reef ecosystems: SiO₃ 200 M; PO₄ 0.6 M; NO₃ 5 M; NH₄ 2 M. In contrast, concentrations of organic nutrients are lower than most tropical surface ocean waters: DOP 0.1 M and DON 4 M. The incoming well-water servicing the facility has low pH, crating over-saturation of carbon dioxide. The coral communities in aquaria took up inorganic nutrients and released organic nutrients. Rates of nutrient uptake into aquaria coral communities were similar to nutrient uptake by natural reef communities. Coral growth rates were near the upper rates reported from the field, demonstrating corals can and do flourish in relatively high-nutrient water. The growth of corals does not appear to be inhibited at concentrations of nitrogen up to 5 M. Statements implying that corals can only grow in low nutrient oligotrophic seawater are therefore oversimplifications of processes that govern growth of these organisms. Some basic guidelines are given for maintenance of coral communities in aquaria.     

The checkerboard score and species distributions

Summary There has been an ongoing controversy over how to decide whether the distribution of species is random — i.e., whether it is not greatly different from what it would be if species did not interact. We recently showed (Roberts and Stone (1990)) that in the case of the Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides) avifauna, the number of islands shared by species pairs was incompatible with a random null hypothesis. However, it was difficult to determine the causes or direction of the community's exceptionality. In this paper, the latter problem is examined further. We use Diamond's (1975) notion of checkerboard distributions (originally developed as an indicator of competition) and construct a C-score statistic which quantifies checkerboardedness. This statistic is based on the way two species might colonise a pair of islands; whenever each species colonises a different island this adds 1 to the C-score. Following Connor and Simberloff (1979) we generate a control group of random colonisation patterns (matrices), and use the C-score to determine their checkerboard characteristics. As an alternative mode of enquiry, we make slight alterations to the observed data, repeating this process many times so as to obtain another control group. In both cases, when we compare the observed data for the Vanuatu avifauna and the Antillean bat communities with that given by their respective control group, we find that these communities have significantly large checkerboard distributions, making implausible the hypothesis that their species distributions are a product of random colonisation.     

Steroid-induced regulation of 3α,20β- and 3β,17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in wild type and mutants of Streptomyces hydrogenans

The effect of estradiol, hydrocortisone and progesterone on 3,20-and 3,17-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) in mutants of Streptomyces hydrogenans was compared to the steroid response of the wild type. Mutants were defective in arginine biosynthesis and/or aerial mycelial formation and lacked both enzymes or only 17-HSD. Some 17-HSD mutants had lost the ability to be induced by estradiol, by progesterone or by both. Some 20-HSD mutants had lost the ability to be induced by hydrocortisone, by progesterone or by both. Non-inducibility of 17-and 20-HSD by progesterone was not co-ordinate. An additional study of the growth phase-dependent enzyme activity of the wild type after induction with estradiol, hydrocortisone and progesterone was performed.Non-standard abbreviations 17-HSD 3,17-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.51) - 20-HSD 3,20-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.53) - AO acridine orange - EBr ethidium bromide - EMS ethyl methanesulfonate - MNNG N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine     

Utilization and degradation of lindane by soil microorganisms

Of 147 microorganisms isolated from a loamy sand, 71 showed good growth with lindane (-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane) and produced chloride in an aqueous medium. Thirteen soil microorganisms were selected to study the utilization of lindane. Lindane was metabolized by the microbes to -2,3,4,5,6-pentachloro-1-cyclohexene (-PCCH), -3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1-cyclohexene (-TCCH), -3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1-cyclohexene (-TCCH), -3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1-cyclohexene (-TCCH), and pentachlorobenzene (PCB). Cells of Pseudomonas sp. No. 62 grown on lindane simultaneously adapted to -PCCH, -TCCH, -TCCH, -TCCH, PCB, 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobenzene (1,2,3,4-TCB) and 1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene (1,2,4,5-TCB). The bacteria degraded each of these chemicals at least partially as indicated by an increased rate of oxygen consumption.Abbreviations Lindane -1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane - -PCCH -2,3,4,5,6-pentachloro-1-cyclohexene - -TCCH -3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1-cyclohexene - -TCCH -3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1-cyclohexene - -TCCH -3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1-cyclohexene - PCB pentachlorobenzene - 1,2,3,4-TCB 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobenzene - 1,2,3,5-TCB 1,2,3,5-tetrachlorobenzene - 1,2,4,5-TCB 1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene - 1,2,3-tCB 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene - 1,2,4-tCB 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene - 1,3,5-tCB 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene - 1,2-DCB 1,2-dichlorobenzene - 1,3-DCB 1,3-dichlorobenzene - 1,4-DCB 1,4-dichlorobenzene - MCB monochlorobenzene Contribution No. 631, Research Institute, Agriculture Canada, University Sub Post Office, London, Ontario N6A 5B7     

The relationships between the structure of paddy levees and the plant species diversity in cultural landscapes on the west side of Lake Biwa,Shiga, Japan

Paddy levees form networks of narrow linear habitats and play various roles in cultural landscapes. Traditional landscapes on the west side of Lake Biwa consist of paddy field terraces and both stone and soil levees that have been maintained by paddy field management using local resources. Paddy levees in this study site are principally classified into five different types. Our study points out how differences in paddy levee structure as well as in management practices influence the plant species. Seventeen paddy levee transects were split into four habitat types based on their species components by TWINSPAN. Spatial characteristics and physical structures of paddy levees depended on natural conditions and human activities. The species–area curves of each levee type showed a clear distinction: the soil, stone and abandoned curves were steep, while the concrete and consolidated ones were gentle. The vegetation on consolidated levees was utterly different from the vegetation on traditional levee types from the aspect of species richness and species components. Soil type levees contained various woody plant species and included more diverse and indigenous plant species than abandoned type levees.     

Na,K-ATPase in several tissues of the rat: Tissue-specific expression of subunit mRNAs and enzyme activity

Summary The relative contents of Na,K-ATPase subunit mRNAs in rat renal cortex; ventricular myocardium, skeletal muscle (hind limb), liver and brain (cerebrum) were measured. Expressed per unit DNA, mRNA₁ content was 2-fold greater in the kidney and brain as compared to either heart, skeletal muscle or liver. The hierarchy of mRNA₂ expression was brain > skeletal muscle > heart, whereas mRNA₃ was restricted to brain. Betal subunit mRNA content in both kidney and brain exceeded the abundance of liver mRNA ₁ by 7-fold. In all tissues examined, the combined abundances of the alpha subunit mRNAs exceeded the content of mRNA ₁ The hierarchy of Na,K-ATPase activity expressed per unit. DNA was brain > kidney > skeletal muscle = heart > liver. The sum of mRNA as well as mRNA ₁ content, expressed per g of tissue, was highest in brain and kidney. A statistically significant correlation between mRNA ₁ content and Na,K-ATPase activity was evident.     

Microaerophily

Objections to previous definitions of anaerobiosis and micro-aerophily are discussed, and a new definition of micro-aerophily is proposed. A survey of physiological characteristics of the micro-aerophilic bacterium Campylobacter sputorum spp. bubulus is given, and the concept of micro-aerophily is illustrated by the results of a study on the oxygen metabolism and oxygen sensitivity of this bacterium.     

The probability of interspecific competitive situations in scale-insects (Homoptera,Coccoidae)

Summary A large scale survey, covering some 25 million km² of Eastern-Europe, provided distributional data, and a more detailed picture on factors determining species composition and abundance of scale-insects colonizing deciduous orchard trees. No interspecific competition or competitive situations were detected among the 21 scale insect species, when taking into consideration the whole geographic area surveyed. Of all cases, 3.2% showed significant spatial separation in smaller geographic regions. However, no evidence for competition was found between species with overlapping distributions. In the case of introduced species, the role of past competition can also be excluded. Separation was thought to be determined by differences in ecological requirements. There is some probability of competition in the transitional zone (significant separation in 0.8% of cases), and somewhat more (2.4%) in the Southern zone. There was potential competition between species classified as Mediterranean and invader subguilds (7.1% of frequent species pairs), as well as between the Southern and invader (2.4% of frequent species pairs) subguilds. Its probability was very low between the species of the endemic (0.8% of frequent species pairs) and invader (1.6% of frequent species pairs) subguilds.     

Injury to potato leaves exposed to subzero temperatures in the absence of freezing

Electrolyte leakage was measured in hardened and nonhardened leaves of three potato species, Solanum tuberosum L., S. acaule Bitt. and S. commersonii Dun., and one interspecific cross, Alaska Frostless (S. acaule x S. tuberosum) when exposed to various subzero temperatures. The leaves were undercooled (no ice present) from 0°C to -12.5°C for 45 min and to-4°C for up to 10 d. Regardless of the degree of undercooling no injury was observed in any of the potatoes, hardened or nonhardened, for up to 12 h. After 5 d, however, electrolyte leakage was observed in hardened S. tuberosum, S. acaule and S. commersonii, and in nonhardened Alaska Frostless. After 10 d exposure all potatoes, hardened and nonhardened, showed a significant amount of electrolyte leakage as compared to their controls kept at 0°C for 10 d.Scientific Journal Series Paper No. 13842 of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, St. Paul, Minn     

The cytology of phytophthora infestans

Summary Phytophthora infestans has three kinds of somatic nuclei: an oval shaped nucleus (approx. 3.1×2.7 ) which stains diffusely except for a crescent shaped Feulgen positive cap which stains intensely; a granular nucleus whose contents are organized into a fairly constant number of stained bodies, and, a deeply staining condensed nucleus. The capped nucleus is thought to be metabolic or resting and the granular nucleus is thought to be dividing as it is most commonly found in hyphal tips. Attenuated forms of all three kinds of nuclei are found.Nuclear division is mitotic and intranuclear. Eight—ten chromosomes are seen at metaphase.Sporangia have a mean of 6.3 nuclei which is constant for age and strain of culture. Sporangia become multinucleate as a result of nuclear migration and not by division in the developing sporangium. Zoospores are usually uninucleate.The nuclear cap is persistent throughout nuclear division when it also divides. It is associated with flagella production and nuclear migration and has some of the properties of a blepharoplast.     

γδ T-cell receptor repertoire in human peripheral blood and thymus

T-cell clones expressing the T-cell receptor (Tcr) were generated from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and from a thymus sample. In the panel of ten thymus-derived clones, four Tcr phenotypes [as defined by the reaction of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against known V and V regions] were identified. All the clones lacked expression of the V3 V region, while seven clones were V1+ . V1 was found in combination with V9 or with undefined VVregions. In addition, two other Tcr phenotypes were identified on these clones: V9⁺ V1^– V3^– and V9^– V1^– V3^– One of the clones expressed CD4 and another was CD8positive. The remaining clones were CD4^– CD8^–. In the panel of 76 PBL-derived, Tcr-bearing clones, five Tcr phenotypes could be identified. In contrast to the thymus-derived clones, 30% of the clones were V3⁺ whereas V1 was expressed by a minority of the clones only. One clone was CD4-positive and approximately 30% of the clones were CD8-positive. Four of the five mAb-defined Tcr phenotypes could be identified on both thymus and PBL-derived T-cell clones. However, biochemical analysis of the Tcrs demonstrates differences in the usage of Ct- and C2-encoded y chains by T cells derived from the thymus and PBLs. The results therefore indicate that, at the clonal level, similarities and differences exist between the Tcr repertoires expressed in the thymus and by PBLs. Furthermore, they indicate that combinatorial Tcr heterogeneity is larger than has so far been described. The receptor diversity, combined with the potential of Tcr+ cells to express CD4 or CD8, indicates that these cells are a heterogeneous population that might mediate a number of immune functions.     

The filtration apparatus of Cladocera: Filter mesh-sizes and their implications on food selectivity

Summary The filtering apparatus of eleven Cladoceran species was studied. The distances between the setulae, which act as filters, were measured. Among adult individuals, they vary from 0.2 m in Diaphanosoma brachyurum to 4.7 m in Sida crystallina. Species can be grouped according to the mesh-sizes, as fine mesh filter-feeders: Diaphanosoma brachyurum, Ceriodaphnia quadrangula, Chydorus sphaericus, Daphnia cucullata and Daphnia magna; medium mesh filter-feeders: Daphnia galeata, D. hyalina. D. pulicaria, Bosmina coregoni, and coarse mesh filter-feeders: Holopedium gibberum and Sida crystallina. In Daphnia hyalina, the distances between setulae increase from 0.3–0.4 m in small juveniles, to 0.8–2.0 m in adults. In Daphnia magna, the mesh-size of the filter does not increase significantly with growth. There is good evidence that the relative abundance of the filter-feeding types varies with the trophic state of the lake. In oligotrophic lakes the coarse mesh filter-feeders usually dominate throughout the year. The seasonal succession of zooplankton species in eutrophic lakes can be interpreted as a succession of feeding types; during winter coarse mesh filter-feeders dominate, while fine mesh filter-feeders are most abundant during summer phytoplankton blooms. Our results support the hypothesis that the species composition of filter-feeding zooplankton is strongly influenced by the amount of suspended bacteria which are available as food only for filter-feeding species with fine meshes.     

Abscisic acid as an endogenous component in lettuce fruits,Lactuca sativa L. cv. Grand Rapids. Does it control thermodormancy?

Summary Abscisic acid (ABA) has been unequivocally identified as an endogenous component of seeds of Grand Rapids lettuce. Both free and bound ABA levels were followed during imbibition at various temperatures but no clear role for ABA in the imposition of thermodormancy emerged. Furthermore it was apparent that different seed batches showed different ratios of free to bound ABA and patterns of changes. An unsuccessful attempt was made to identify bound ABA, presumed to be the glucosyl ester.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - ABA Me ester methyl abscisate - ECD electron capture detector - FID flame ionisation detector - GC-MS combined gas liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry - GLC gas liquid chromatography - PVP polyvinyl-pyrrolidone - TLC thin layer chromatography     

Evidence of regional differences in the lectin histochemistry along the ductus epididymis of the lizard,Podarcis sicula Raf

The regional difference in the carbohydrate components of the ductus epididymis epithelium of a lizard was delineated by means of 13 lectins. Basal cells expressed only N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). Throughout the ductus, the secretory cells showed oligosaccharides with terminal N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac)(2,6)galactose (Gal)/N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) and internal mannose (Man) and/or glucose (Glc) in the whole cytoplasm, oligosaccharides terminating in Neu5Ac(2,6)Gal(1,3)GalNAc, Neu5Ac(2,6)Gal (1,4)GlcNAc, GalNAc, GlcNAc, and fucose (Fuc) in the supra-nuclear zone, and also glycans terminating in Neu5Ac(2,3)Gal (1,4)GlcNAc, Neu5Ac(2,6)Gal(1,3)GalNAc, Gal (1,4)GlcNAc on the luminal surface. In the caput and corpus regions, the supra-nuclear cytoplasm was characterized by terminal Gal(1,4)GlcNAc and GalNAc, the luminal surface by GalNAc and Gal. The Golgi zone, showing oligosaccharides with terminal Neu5Ac(2,3)Gal (1,4)GlcNAc, Neu5Ac(2,6)Gal (1,3)GalNAc, Neu5Ac(2,6)Gal (1,4)GlcNAc, and internal GlcNAc, expressed terminal Gal (1,4)GlcNAc and GalNAc in the caput, and terminal GalNAc in the corpus. The granules showed all the investigated carbohydrates in their peripheral zone except terminal GalNAc and Fuc, whereas internal Man/Glc and terminal Gal were expressed in the central core, and Fuc throughout the ductus, terminal GlcNAc in the caput and corpus, and terminal GalNAc only in the corpus.     

Selective staining of Y chromosomal loops in Drosophila hydei,D. neohydei,and D. eohydei

Modified Giemsa procedures have been developed which elicit differential and highly selective staining of individual Y chromosomal lamp-brush loops in spermatocyte nuclei of Drosophila hydei, D. neohydei, and D. eohydei. In all three species the Y loop pair known as the clubs stains a brilliant dark red with Giemsa at pH 10. With the same treatment other loop pairs either remain unstained, e.g. the threads, or show a differentiation between light blue and pink staining matrical material, e.g. pseudonucleolus and cones in D. hydei and D. eohydei. With eosin at pH 2.8 the threads in D. hydei can be stained intensely, as well as one matrical component of the pseudonucleolus. Pretreatment with RNase or TCA removes all stainability from the Y loops with Giemsa at pH 10. TCA treatment enhances eosin staining at pH 2.8. These and other variations of Giemsa may be utilized to establish homologies between Y loops in different species. The molecular basis of the staining reactions remains to be elucidated.