Tagesaktivit?t, Nestbaumethode und Brutverhalten des HonigsaugersNectarinia (Aidemonia)kilimensis in Zentralafrika

Zusammenfassung Ein Paar des HonigsaugersNectarinia kilimensis wurde in der Brutzeit beim Nestbau 21 Stunden beobachtet. Über die Bauaktivität gibt Abb. 2 Aufschluß. 140 von 144 Anflügen mit Nistmaterial waren auf 8 Stunden von 8^h–16^h konzentriert. Das Nistmaterial bestand fast ausschließlich aus Halmen, Pflanzenwolle und Spinnweben; dieses Material wurde von Anfang an abwechselnd verwendet. Nur das hat gebaut. Die Baumethoden werden beschrieben, ebenso verschiedene Balzhandlungen des . Der Nestbau dauerte 4 1/2, beim folgenden Nest 3 1/2 Tage.Beim Brüten waren Schnabel und Oberkopf des sichtbar. Während der Bauzeit wurde ein ausgeflogenes juv. nur vom gefüttert. Als es mindestens 17 Tage alt war, wurde es vom , 6 Tage später auch vom aggressive gejagt, doch war dieses juv. mehr als 3 Wochen nach dem Ausfliegen noch im Revier.

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Day-time activity, nest-building method and breeding behaviour of Bronze SunbirdNectarinia (Aidemonia) kilimensis in Central Africa

Summary A pair of Bronze SunbirdsNectarinia kilimensis was observed nest building over a period of 21 hours in the breeding season. Fig. 2 gives information on building activity. Of 144 arrivals with nest material 140 were concentrated in 8 hours from 08.00 to 16.00 hrs. Nest material consisted almost exclusively of grasses, plants, down and spider's webs; this material was, from the outset, used in an alternating pattern. The alone did the building. Nest-building methods are described, also various courtship activities of the . Nest building took 4 1/2 days, in the case of a second nest, 3 1/2 days.The 's bill and crown were visible when she was incubating. One young that had left the nest was fed by the alone. At least 17 days after this young one had fledged, it was chased aggressively by the , 6 days later also by the ; despite this, the same young bird was still in the territory more than three weeks after it had fledged.

     

Circaetus gallicus (Gm) in Holstein?

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Der Bienenfresser(Merops apiaster L.) in ?sterreich

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Verhaltensmerkmale der GattungenParus (Meisen),Aegithalos (Schwanzmeisen),Sitta (Kleiber),Tichodroma (Mauerl?ufer) undCerthia (Bauml?ufer)

Zusammenfassung Gemeinsame Verhaltensmerkmale ganzer Gruppen wurden bis jetzt nur selten zusammengestellt. Die Notwendigkeit einer derartigen zusätzlichen Kennzeichnung für die meisenartigen Vügel ergibt sich aus der Vielfalt der Auffassungen. Vor allem die Stellung der GattungenAegithalos undTichodroma ist unklar und in den wissenschaftlichen Werken uneinheitlich.Es wurde deshalb versucht, die wichtigsten Verhaltensweisen der GattungenParus undAegithalos einerseits darzustellen, andererseits die der GattungSitta gegenüberTichodroma undCerthia. Parus Alle bisher bekannten Arten dieser Gattung zerkleinern Nahrung, indem sie diese mit dem Fuß festhalten und Teile davon abzupfen bzw. die Schale von Samen zertrümmern. Dieses Verfahren beherrschen schon Jungvögel, die noch nicht selbständig Nahrung aufnehmen. Alle Meisen sind Höhlenbrüter; die Methode, Höhlen der verschiedensten Größen mit Moos weitgehend auszufüllen, wird als Anpassung an die Verschiedenartigkeit vorgefundener, meist durch Fäulnis entstandener Baumhöhlen gedeutet. Das Bedecken des unvollständigen Geleges kann Nestfeinde daran hindern, das Gelege beim Einblick in die Baumhöhle zu erkennen, da Meisenhöhlen im allgemeinen infolge der Unförmigkeit des Höhleneinganges nicht völlig dunkel sind. Die Nestlingszeit von rund 20 Tagen stellt wohl sicher eine Anpassung an das Brüten in einer geschützten Höhle dar. Ausführlich wird die Drohkombination besprochen, die bei allen Meisen festzustellen ist, die im Nest gestört werden. Diese Kombination, bestehend aus einem Zischlaut, dem Zuklappen des aufgesperrten Schnabels und gleichzeitigen Schlagen der Flügel an die Höhlenwände, kommt nur in einer Höhle zur vollen Wirkung und ist ein Zeichen dafür, daß Meisen phylogenetisch sehr alte Höhlenbrüter sind. Befiederte Jungmeisen wenden sie ebenso an wie in einer Höhle bedrängte Meisen- . Bei der Balz unterscheiden sich Meisen nicht grundlegend von anderen Passeres. Zum Sammeln von Vorräten sind nicht alle Arten von Meisen befähigt, sondern hauptsächlich solche, die im Winterhalbjahr vorwiegend von Samen leben. Kohl- und Blaumeisen sind möglicherweise nicht von Anbeginn Samenfresser gewesen; sie sammeln keine Vorräte. BeiParus major öffnet eine indische Rasse im Käfig keine Samen.Aegithalos Schwanzmeisen unterscheiden sich von denParus-Arten durch eine starke soziale Bindung an Artgenossen. Außer der Brutzeit trifft man nie einzelne Schwanzmeisen an, während Meisen auch mit anderen Arten vorlieb nehmen. Schwanzmeisen nächtigen stets in gegenseitiger Berührung und die Jungen rufen sich mit einem spezifischen Laut immer wieder zusammen. Schwanzmeisen sind nicht territorial. Mindestens beiAegithalos sowie bei dem amerikanischenPsaltriparus können mehr als zwei Altvögel am Nestbau und der Jungenaufzucht beteiligt sein. Von den Lautäußerungen der Schwanzmeisen hat nur einer eine gewisse Ähnlichkeit mit Meisenrufen, alle anderen sind stark verschieden; dies gilt auch für den Warnruf gegenüber Luftfeinden. Die Nestlingszeit der Schwanzmeisen entspricht der von Freibrütern; sie ist deutlich kürzer als bei Meisen. Am Nestbau beteiligen sich und , während bei denParus-Arten nur das baut.Sitta Während die Fähigkeit, abwärts zu klettern, nicht für alleSitta-Arten gilt, zerkleinern alle bisher bekannten Arten Nahrung, indem sie diese in Spalten stecken und mit dem Kopf nach unten hängend daraufklopfen. Dies ist ein grund-legender Unterschied zu allenParus-Arten. Alle holarktischenSitta-Arten sammeln Vorräte, alle sind Höhlenbrüter, die große Bruthöhlen, ähnlich wie die Meisen, verkleinern. Im Unterschied zu den Meisen fehltSitta ein Drohverhalten bei Störung im Nest. Eine Reihe von Arten schützt jedoch den Nesteingang teils durch eine Mauer aus Lehm, teils durch Beschmieren mit frischem Harz oder dadurch, daß Insekten am Flugloch so verrieben werden, daß ein Insektenduft entsteht. Bei Felsenkleibern sind diese Methoden kombiniert.Tichodroma Neuerdings wird der Mauerläufer eher zu den Kleibern gestellt als zuCerthia. Tatsächlich erinnert nur die Schnabelform an letztere Gattung. Es scheint, daß der Mauerläufer für seine Brut die Nähe von Felsschluchten oder Sturzbächen bevorzugt. Dort waren die Rufe flügger Junger im Nest nicht zu hören. Das auffallende Farbmuster kann eine ökologische Anpassung sein. Bettelnde Jungvögel schlagen die Flügel nach dem Ausfliegen viel höher und auffallender als andere Passeres. In der Lebensweise gleichtTichodroma vielfach dem FelsenkleiberS. neumayer, indem sie zur Brutzeit mehr Geröllfelder und den Rand von Schluchten aufsucht als Steilwände. Höhenunterschiede werden stets mit den Flügeln überwunden. Die auffallende Größe der Flügel läßt sich aus der Funktion leicht erklären. Das periodische Flügelzucken entspricht weitgehend dem vonSitta neumayer, nur mit dem Unterschied, daß es dafür beim Mauerläufer keiner erkennbaren Erregung bedarf. An der Bruthöhle wurde ein einziges Mal eine Pendelbewegung beobachtet, wie sie nur bei Kleibern vorkommt. Die Länge von Brutdauer und Nestlingszeit entspricht vor allem der der Kleiber.Certhia Der Stützschwanz ermöglichtCerthia eine völlig andersartige Klettermethode gegenüberSitta undTichodroma. Baumläufer sind an das Brüten in schmalen Spalten angepaßt. Die Brutdauer liegt zwischen der der Meisen und der Kleiber. Die Jungen sind sehr empfindlich und verlassen das Nest, bevor sie fliegen können, bei der geringsten Störung. Damit weichen sie ebenso von anderen Höhlenbrütern ab wie die brütenden , die gleichfalls sofort das Nest verlassen, wenn sie eine Gefahr wahrnehmen. Wenn das dem den zukünftigen Brutplatz demonstriert, schlüpft es ein und führt nach dem Herauskommen eine ritualisierte Schüttelbewegung aus, die Meisen und Kleibern fehlt. Auch die Schlafgewohnheiten sind verschieden.Es wird vorgeschlagen, die Schwanzmeisen als eigene Familie von den Meisen zu trennen. Den Kleibern gebührt ein eigener Familien-Status. Der Mauerläufer ist keinesfalls mitCerthia nahe verwandt, sondern sollte den Kleibern als Unter-familie zugeteilt werden, sofern er nicht eine eigene Familie darstellt.

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Summary Up to the present time general behavioral characteristics of entire groups have rarely been synthesized. The necessity of an additional characterization of this kind for the tit-like birds is revealed in the multiplicity of taxonomic interpretations. The positions of the generaAegithalos andTichodroma are especially unclear and are diversely treated in scientific writings.Therefore it was attempted, on the one hand, to present the most important behavior patterns of the generaParus andAegithalos, and on the other hand, those of the genusSitta contrasted withTichodroma andCerthia. Parus All species of this genus known to date break up food items by holding them with the foot and picking off pieces or breaking off the hulls of seeds. Even young which do not yet feed independently have this behavior. All tits are hole nesters. The procedure of the extensive filling in of cavities of the most varied sizes with moss is explained as an adaptation to the variation in tree cavities encountered, largely as the result of rotting. The covering of an incomplete clutch can prevent predators' recognition of the clutch when looking in the hole, for tit holes are generally not completely dark as a result of the irregularity of the entrance. The nestling period of about twenty days certainly represents an adaptation to nesting in a protected cavity. The threat combination present in all tits when disturbed in the nest is discussed in detail. This combination, consisting of a hissing sound, snapping closed of the open bill and concomitant blows of the wings against the sides of the cavity, is fully elicited only in a cavity, and is an indication that hole nesting appeared quite early in the phylogeny of tits. Feathered young utilize this behavior just as do male tits which are disturbed in a cavity. Tits do not differ basically from other passerines in courtship. Not all species of tits store food; those which do are mainly those which feed predominantly on seeds during the winter. Coal and Blue Tits were perhaps not originally seed eaters; they do not store food. The Indian race ofParus major does not eat seeds in captivity.Aegithalos Long-tailed Tits differ fromParus species in their strong social ties to conspecifics. Lone Long-tailed Tits are never encountered outside of the breeding season, whereas other tits even show a preference for other species. Long-tailed Tits always spend the night in mutual contact and the young are brought together repeatedly with a specific call. They are not territorial. At least inAegithalos and the AmericanPsaltriparus more than two adults can take part in nest building and rearing of the young. Only one of the vocalizations of the Long-tailed Tit has a certain similarity to the calls of other tits; all the others differ markedly, also the warning call against aerial predators. The nesting period of the Long-tailed Tit corresponds to that of open nesters; it is clearly shorter than that of other tits. Both male and female participate in nest building, whereas in theParus species only the female builds.Sitta Whereas the ability to climb downwards does not hold for allSitta species, all species known to date break up food items by putting them in crevices and hammering on them with the head hanging downward. This is a basic difference from allParus species. All Holarctic species ofSitta store food and all are hole nesters which, like the tits, reduce the size of large nesting holes. As opposed to the tits,Sitta lacks a threat display when disturbed in the nest. However, a number of species protect the nest entrance, in part by a mud wall, and partly by smearing fresh resin about, or by rubbing insects around the hole so that an insect odor results. Rock Nuthatches combine these methods.Tichodroma The Wall Creeper has recently been placed closer to the nuthatches than toCerthia. Actually only the form of the bill resembles this genus. It seems that the Wall Creeper prefers the vicinity of rocky ravines or waterfalls for breeding. The calls of fledged young in the nest were not heard. The striking color pattern can be an ecological adaptation. After leaving the nest, begging young beat their wings much more widely and conspicuously than other passerines.Tichodroma bears a strong resemblance to the Rock Nuthatch,S. neumayer, in its way of life, in that for the breeding season it seeks out more boulderstrewn fields and ravine edges than steep cliffs. Vertical movements are always accomplished by flight. The striking size of the wing can be easily explained from its function. The periodic wing flashing corresponds closely to that ofSitta neumayer, and differs in the Wall Creeper only in the fact that no recognizable stimulus is needed for it to occur. A single observation was made of an oscillating movement at the nesting cavity, which only occurs in nuthatches. The length of the incubation and nestling periods corresponds especially well to that of the nuthatches.Certhia The prop-like tail makes possible a completely different method of climbing in contrast toSitta andTichodroma. Tree Creepers are adapted for breeding in narrow crevices. The length of the incubation period is intermediate between that of the tits and that of the nuthatches. The young are easily disturbed and will leave the nest, before they can fly, at the least disturbance. They also differ from other hole nesters in that the female will leave the nest immediately if she perceives danger. When the male shows the female the prospective nesting site he slips in and, after coming out, performs a ritualized shaking movement which is not found in tits and nuthatches. The sleeping habits also differ.It is suggested that the Long-tailed Tits and Bush Tits be separated from the other tits, and placed in a family by themselves. The nuthatches deserve familial status. The Wall Creeper is by no means closely related toCerthia, and ought to be designated a subfamily of the nuthatches, in so much as it does not represent a separate family.

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Prof. Dr. Konrad Lorenz zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet

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Da uns nun nach Nestbau, Jugendbedaunung, Sperrachen, Stimme, Bewegungsweise z. B. Baum- und Mauerläufer oder Schwanz- und Waldmeisen untereinander durchaus nicht näher zu stehen scheinen als z. B. Waldmeisen und Kleiber, so begnügen wir uns mit den GattungenO. und M. Heinroth     

Acanthocephalus?amini n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Echinorhynchidae) from the freshwater fish Cichlasoma?urophthalmus (Günther) (Cichlidae) in Mexico

Acanthocephalus amini n. sp. (Palaeacanthocephala: Echinorhynchidae) is described from the intestine of Cichlasoma urophthalmus (Günther) (Pisces: Cichlidae) collected in the Río Champotón, a river in Campeche State, Mexico. It is the fourth species of Acanthocephalus Koelreuther, 1771 described from North American freshwater fishes, although two other species are known from South America. The new species is distinguished from other members of Acanthocephalus by features of its trunk, which is small, clavate, slightly expanded medially and bluntly pointed posteriorly. It is further distinguished by having a cylindrical proboscis armed with 13–14 longitudinal rows of 11–12 stout hooks; the apical and medial proboscis hooks are almost uniform in size and shape, decreasing in size towards the base; the posteriormost hooks are smaller, straighter and more slender than the anterior and middle hooks; and the lateral rows of hooks are more widely spaced, forming a conspicuous longitudinal area devoid of hooks. Furthermore, the lemnisci are saccate and shorter than the proboscis receptacle; and the neck is very short with a thick collar of trunk tegument, which encircles the base of proboscis. In males, the testes are in the middle third of trunk, diagonal, spherical and small relative to the body size, and there are six clavate cement glands. In females, the uterus forms a conspicuous, elongate, cylindrical egg reservoir. The new species is most similar to A. alabamensis Amin & Williams, 1983, but can be distinguished by its swollen, clavate trunk, the largest proboscis hooks being present apically and medially, smaller testes, a shorter male reproductive system relative to body size and females with a prominent uterus. They have different hosts and geographical distribution. The new species can be differentiated from Brasacanthus sphoeroides Thatcher, 2001, a similar species in a monotypic echinorhynchid genus, because the latter is larger, has smaller proboscis hooks and its lemnisci are longer than the receptacle.     

Die Selbststerilit?ts-Allele in der GattungAntirrhinum, SektionAntirrhinastrum

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Trichoderma harzianum strain T-22 induces changes in phytohormone levels in cherry rootstocks (Prunus cerasus?×?P. canescens)

The aim of this research was to explain the direct plant growth-promoting activity of Trichoderma harzianum strain T-22 (T22), hypothesizing the involvement of different classes of plant growth regulators. Seven days after the transfer to root-inducing medium, in vitro-cultured shoots of GiSeLa6^? (Prunus cerasus  × P. canescens) were inoculated with T22. Root and shoot growth were significantly affected by T22 (+76 and +61%, respectively). Ten days after inoculation, the levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), trans-zeatin riboside (t-ZR), dihydrozeatin riboside (DHZR), gibberellic acid (GA3) and abscisic acid (ABA) were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The results showed that after T22-inoculation, IAA and GA3 significantly increased in both leaves (+49 and +71%, respectively) and roots (+40 and +143%, respectively) whereas t-ZR decreased (−51% in leaves and −37% in roots). Changes in DHZR were observed in T22-inoculated roots (−32%) but not in leaves, whereas the levels of ABA did not differ between the two treatments. The extraction method allowed the simultaneous extraction of phytohormones. There is evidence that the change in phytohormone levels is one of the direct mechanism by which T22 promotes rooting and shoot growth, with notable advantages for rootstock production during nursery processes.     

Transformation of androgenic-derived Festulolium plants (Lolium?perenne L.?×?Festuca?pratensis Huds.) by Agrobacterium?tumefaciens

Genetic transformation of androgenic-derived amphidiploid Festulolium plants (Lolium perenne L. × Festuca pratensis Huds., 2n = 4x = 28) by Agrobacterium tumefaciens has been achieved. Anther culture-induced calli of Festulolium “Bx351” were inoculated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 carrying pIG121-Hm encoding the hygromycin resistance (hph) and β-glucuronidase (uidA) genes under the control of a CaMV 35S promoter. Twenty-three putative transformants were obtained from the hygromycin selection, 19 of which (82.6%) showed GUS activity. The integration of transgene was detected by using genomic DNA PCR analysis, RT-PCR analysis and Southern blot hybridization, respectively, which revealed that foreign gene was integrated into the genomes of dihaploid transformants (2n = 2x = 14). The haploid embryogenic system offers a stable means of transformation, as the introduced trait can be readily fixed through chromosome doubling. An erratum to this article can be found at     

A ThCAP gene from Tamarix hispida confers cold tolerance in transgenic Populus (P. davidiana?×?P. bolleana)

The ThCAP gene, which encodes a cold acclimation protein, was isolated from a Tamarix hispida NaCl-stress root cDNA library; its expression patterns were then assayed by qRT-PCR in different T. hispida tissues treated with low temperature (4°C), salt (400 mM NaCl), drought (20% PEG6000) and exogenous abscisic acid (100 μM). Induction of ThCAP gene was not only responsive to different stress conditions but was also organ specific. When transgenic Populus (P. davidiana × P. bolleana) plants were generated, expressing ThCAP under regulation of the cauliflower mosaic virus CaMV 35S promoter, they had a greater resistance to low temperature than non-transgenic seedlings, suggesting that ThCAP might play an important role in cold tolerance.     

The mutants compacta ?hnlich, Nitida and Grandiflora define developmental compartments and a compensation mechanism in floral development in Antirrhinum majus

In order to improve our understanding of floral size control we characterised three mutants of Antirrhinum majus with different macroscopic floral phenotypes. The recessive mutant compacta ?hnlich has smaller flowers affected mainly in petal lobe expansion, the dominant mutant Grandiflora has overall larger organs, whilst the semidominant mutation Nitida exhibits smaller flowers in a dose-dependent manner. We developed a cell map in order to establish the cellular phenotypes of the mutants. Changes in organ size were both organ- and region-specific. Nitida and compacta ?hnlich affected cell expansion in proximal and distal petal regions, respectively, suggesting differential regulation between petal lobe regions. Although petal size was smaller in compacta ?hnlich than in wild type, conical cells were significantly bigger, suggesting a compensation mechanism involved in petal development. Grandiflora had larger cells in petals and increased cell division in stamens and styles, suggesting a relationship between genes controlling organ size and organ identity. The level of ploidy in petals of Grandiflora and coan was found to be equivalent to wild type petals and leaves, ruling out an excess of growth via endoreduplication. We discuss our results in terms of current models about control of lateral organ size.     

Gibberellin mediates daylength-controlled differentiation of vegetative meristems in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch)

Background  

Differentiation of long and short shoots is an important developmental trait in several species of the Rosaceae family. However, the physiological mechanisms controlling this differentiation are largely unknown. We have studied the role of gibberellin (GA) in regulation of shoot differentiation in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. Korona. In strawberry, differentiation of axillary buds to runners (long shoot) or to crown branches (short shoot) is promoted by long-day and short-day conditions, respectively. Formation of crown branches is a prerequisite for satisfactory flowering because inflorescences are formed from the apical meristems of the crown.     

滇西二叠纪Shanita-Hemigordius(Hemigordiopsis)有孔虫动物群

近几年来,在亚洲一些地区二叠系,发现了一个大型有孔虫Shanita,常与Hemigordius(Hemigordiopsis)伴生,组成特提斯海区二叠纪颇具特色的动物群,分布在一定的区域范围,形成了特定的生物地理区。本文主要记述这一动物群在我国滇西地区的发现及其纵横分布情况。本文材料系云南省地质局第一区测队、云南省地质研究所等单位送来我所鉴定的,薄片、照相、绘图均由我所技术室承担,特此致谢。滇西潞西、腾冲、镇康一带二叠系较发育,由巨厚的白云质灰岩、灰岩及泥岩等组成,含有和中国南部其它地区(秦岭地区除外)不尽相同的有孔虫动物群。据云南省地质局第一区域地质测量大队工作结果,此区二叠系自上而下,大致分层如下: 上覆地层:中三叠统或侏罗系     

Notch信号途径中的Su(H)和E(spl)基因对果蝇天然免疫的影响

天然免疫系统是多细胞生物抵抗各种入侵微生物的第一道防线.Notch途径介导相邻细胞之间的相互作用,调节细胞、组织、器官的分化和发育.为了进一步探索Notch信号途径在果蝇天然免疫中的功能,利用Notch途径下游基因Su(H)和E(spl)的低表达突变体果蝇,通过体外注射病原体分析了生存率、血细胞的噬菌功能和抗菌肽的表达量以及突变体的血细胞数量.结果表明,革兰氏阴性细菌和真菌感染后果蝇E(spl)突变体的生存率、噬菌能力及抗菌肽的表达量明显降低,而且幼虫期血细胞出现异常增殖;Su(H)突变体只对真菌表现出敏感性,抗菌肽的表达量降低,但是对真菌的噬菌能力正常.此结果表明,Notch途径不仅影响个体的生长发育,而且在果蝇天然免疫中也起重要的调节作用.     

Are Polyommatus hispana and Polyommatus slovacus bivoltine Polyommatus coridon (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)? The discriminatory value of genetics in taxonomy

Taxonomic confusion exists in several sibling species groups. The Polyommatus coridon species complex (Chalk Hill Blues) serves as a model group of sibling species in which genetic analyses provide suitable means for taxonomic clarification. We studied the allozyme patterns of the two described bivoltine species of this complex, Polyommatus hispana and Polyommatus slovacus, and compared them to the two genetic lineages of the univoltine P. coridon. P. hispana is well distinguished from P. coridon (genetic distance: 0.081), and most probably is a sibling species that has evolved during glacial isolation on the Iberian Peninsula. P. slovacus is genetically indistinguishable from the eastern, Pontic–Mediterranean lineage of P. coridon; therefore we suggest that it represents a local bivoltine population only. Since the spring generation of P. slovacus was much less common than the summer generation and showed less genetic diversity, it is probable that uni-/bivoltinism is a dimorphism affecting only part of the whole population. We suggest that the higher genetic diversity of the second generation may be a consequence of gene flow from adjacent single-brooded populations.     

Eulophidae (hymenoptera) parasitoids of Phyllonorycter apparella and phyllonorycter populifoliella (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae), pests of Populus tremula and populus nigra in Ul’yanovsk province, Russia

Parasitoid complexes of two species of the genus Phyllonorycter (Ph. apparella and Ph. populifoliella) reared from 2 plants (Populus tremula and P. nigra) were studied in Ul’yanovsk Province, Russia. Twenty species of parasitoids are new for Ph. apparella and 12 are new for Ph. populifoliella. Minotetrastichus frontalis and Pnigalio agraules are the dominant species for both parasitoid complexes. The highest relative abundance was observed for Ph. apparella on Populus tremula (75%) and for Ph. populifoliella on P. nigra (61%). The parasitoid complexes of Ph. apparella and Ph. populifoliella show high similarity (the Jaccard coefficient is 0.65).     

Circadian rhythm of (Z)- and (E)-2-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy-4-methoxy cinnamic acids and herniarin in leaves of Matricaria chamomilla

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) in the above-ground organs synthesizes and accumulates (Z)- and (E)-2-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy-4-methoxy cinnamic acids (GMCA), the precursors of phytoanticipin herniarin (7-methoxycoumarin). The diurnal rhythmicity of the sum of GMCA (maximum before daybreak) and herniarin (acrophase at 10 h 21 min of circadian time) was observed under artificial lighting conditions LD 12:12. The acrophase is the time point of the maximum of the sinusoidal curve fitted to the experimental data. In continuous light, the circadian rhythms of both compounds were first described with similar acrophases of endogenous rhythms; a significantly different result from that in synchronized conditions. The rhythms’ mesor (the mean value of the sinusoidal curve fitted to the experimental data) under free-running conditions was not influenced. Abiotic stress under synchronized conditions decreased the average content of GMCA to half of the original level and eliminated the rhythmicity. In contrast, the rhythm of herniarin continued, though its content significantly increased. Nitrogen deficiency resulted in a significant increase in GMCA content, which did not manifest any rhythmicity while the rhythm of herniarin continued. Circadian control of herniarin could be considered as a component of the plant’s specialized defence mechanisms.     

Carbo spec.? in Griechenland beobachtet

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Beobachtungen zum Bearbeiten von L?rchenzapfen (Larix decidua) in einer Schmiede des Buntspechts (Dendrocopos major)

Zusammenfassung Ein Buntspecht(Dendrocopos major) wurde beim Bearbeiten von Lärchenzapfen(Larix decidua) beobachtet; verschiedene Verhaltensweisen wurden gemessen. Die Bearbeitungsdauer ist bei trockener Witterung länger als bei nasser (Abb. 2). Während des Bearbeitens wird der Zapfen in regelmäßigen Zeitabständen gedreht (Abb. 3 unten); das heißt, daß mit zunehmender Bearbeitungsdauer die Häufigkeit des Drehens linear anwächst (Abb. 4). Für das Heranholen eines neuen Zapfens benötigt der Specht durchschnittlich 43 sec. Die Daten werden mit solchen vom Fichtenkreuzschnabel(Loxia curvirostra) verglichen.

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Observations on the Great Spotted Woodpecker(Dendrocopos major) when working on larch cones(Larix decidua) in a cleft

Summary Different activities of a Great Spotted Woodpecker working on larch cones forced into a cleft (Spechtschmiede) were measured. Dry cones are worked on longer than wet ones (Fig. 2). During the work the Woodpecker turns the cone at regular intervals of time (Fig. 3, below); i. e. the frequency of turning grows in a linear manner with increasing duration of the work on one cone (Fig. 4). To take a fresh cone, the Woodpecker takes generally 43 seconds. The results are compared with those obtained with the common crossbill(Loxia curvirostra).

     

What is a bona fide mating-type gene? Internuclear complementation of mat mutants in Podospora anserina

In the heterothallic ascomycete Podospora anserina, the mating-type locus is occupied by two mutually exclusive sequences termed mat+ and mat–. The mat+ sequence contains only one gene, FPR1, while the mat– sequence contains three genes: FMR1, SMR1 and SMR2. Previous studies have demonstrated that FPR1 and FMR1 are required for fertilization. Further analyses have led to the hypothesis that mat+ and mat– genes establish a mat+ and mat– nuclear identity, allowing recognition between nuclei of opposite mating type within the syncytial cells formed after fertilization. This hypothesis was based on the phenotypes of strains bearing mutations in ectopic mat genes. Here we present an analysis of mutations in resident mat– genes which suggests that, unlike FMR1 and SMR2, SMR1 is not involved in establishing nuclear identity. In fact, mutations in these two genes impair nuclear recognition, leading to uniparental progeny, while mutations in SMR1 block the sexual process, probably at a step after nuclear recognition. The nuclear identity hypothesis has also been tested through internuclear complementation tests. In these experiments, the mat– mutants were crossed with a mat+ strain carrying the wild-type mat– genes. Our rationale was that internuclear complementation should not be possible for nuclear identity genes: the relevant genes should show nucleus-restricted expression, and diffusion of their products to other nuclei should not occur. This test confirmed that SMR1 is not a bona fide mat gene since it can fulfill its function whatever its location, in either a mat− or a mat+ nucleus, and even when present in both nuclei. SMR2, but not FMR1, behaves like a nuclear identity gene with respect to internuclear complementation tests. A model is proposed that tentatively explains the ambiguous behaviour of the FMR1 gene and clarifies the respective functions of the three mat– proteins. Received: 15 October 1996 / Accepted: 25 April 1997