The relationship between female rank and reproductive parameters of the ringtailed lemur: a preliminary analysis

We used data from a 13-year field study of wild ringtailed lemurs to analyze the relationship between female rank and reproductive parameters. In medium and small groups there were no significant differences in birth rate, infant mortality rate, and the number of surviving infants between the female rank categories. On the other hand, in large sized groups low-ranked females had a smaller number of surviving infants than middle-ranked females. This suggests that in large sized groups, within-group competition lowered the values of reproductive parameters of low-ranked females. On the other hand, high and low-ranked females of small sized groups tended to have a smaller number of surviving infants than high-ranked females of medium sized groups and middle-ranked females of large sized groups. Between-group competition should lower the values of their reproductive parameters. In sum, these results fit the expectation from Wrangham’s (1980) inter group feeding competition model.     

Group size structure affects patterns of aggression in larval salamanders

The potential importance of intrapopulation phenotypic variabilityto population-level ecology has been demonstrated in both theoreticaland field studies. One way to connect individuals to the dynamicsof populations they compose is to study behavioral response(an individual-level characteristic) to variability in conspecificphenotypes (a population-level characteristic). We examinedeffects of variation in size of individuals on patterns of aggressionin larval tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum) byobserving aggressive behavior in groups of three larvae in alaboratory experment. We assessed effects of variability insize of conspecifics independently of mean larval size and larvaldensity Overall levels of aggression were generally higher ingroups in which all individuals were similprly sized than ingroups of variably sized individuals. Medium-sized individualsexhibited significantly higher levels of aggression and wereattacked significantly more often when in groups consistingonly of similarly sized larvae as compared to groups composedof larvae representing a wider range of body sizes. Activitylevels of larvae were also generally lower when all individualswere the same size, resulting in a negative correlation betweenactivity and levels of iggressititi. These results suggest thatgioups of similarly sized individuals experience a more aggressivesocial environment than groups of variably sized individuals,and they suggest a promising avenue of research for connectingindividual behavioral and physiological responses to size structure(phenotypic variability) with population dynamics.     

The effect of different initial size distributions on the growth of Atlantic halibut

Growth rate of individually tagged medium–sized (249±6·9 g) juvenile halibut was 18% lower when medium sized fish were reared alone (treatment Mm) as compared with rearing with either large/dominant (382±12·1 g) (Ml) or small/subordinate (158±3·1 g) (Ms) conspecifics. The coefficient of variation of weight of medium–sized fish increased with weight in both the Mm and the Ml group whereas it was stable in the Ms group. Size rank correlation between initial and final weight was highest in the Mm group and lowest in Ms. A negative rank correlation was found also between initial weight and overall growth rate for the Ms treatment groups but not the other groups. It is hypothesized that interactions between similar–sized individuals in the Mm treatment group had an inhibiting effect on growth as social hierarchies were being resolved.     

The effects of group size and host species on development and survivorship of a gregarious caterpillar Halisidota caryae (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

Abstract. 1. The effect on growth and survivorship of the number of Halisidota caryae (Harris) caterpillars in groups feeding on three taxonomically distinct hosts was examined experimentally in the field.
2. Caterpillars grew more rapidly and survived better in larger sized groups than in smaller sized groups.
3. Caterpilliars grew more rapidly and survived better on Carya ovata (Koch) than on Hamamelis virginiana (L) or Quercus velutina (Lam.).
4. There were equal numbers of invertebrate predators on groups of different sizes and thus larger groups had significantly fewer predators per caterpillar than did smaller groups.
5. Invertebrate predators accounted for at least a 10% daily decrease in survivorship.
6. Local movement reduced predation because moving groups had fewer predators than did stationary groups.     

浅水湖泊人工繁育鳜放养规格对其成活、生长和产量的影响

文章采用标志放流回捕方法评估了人工繁育鳜放流规格对其成活、生长和产量的影响。2012年5—6月选取3种不同大小规格的人工繁育鳜鱼苗各800尾, 中等规格鳜苗种和大规格鳜苗种分别采用剪尾鳍和编码金属标标记后放入试验湖泊小赛湖, 2012年12月试验湖泊逐渐降低水位, 回捕收集放流鳜并鉴定身份。结果显示3种规格放流鳜的总成活率为40.5%, 其中大规格放流鳜的成活率为63%, 明显高于中规格放流鳜(39.1%)和小规格放流鳜(19.5%)。放流鳜的终末体长和体重均随放流规格的增加而增加, 且3种规格放流鳜的终末体长和体重均呈现显著差异。放流鳜的产量和净收益在大规格处理组最大, 在小规格处理组最小。结果表明鳜放流规格对鳜放流成功与否有重要影响, 建议长江中游湖泊鳜的最佳放流规格应不小于50 mm。     

Susceptibility of small honey bee colonies to invasion by the small hive beetle,Aethina tumida (Coleoptera,Nitidulidae)

Weak and small honey bee colonies are supposed to be more susceptible to infestations by the small hive beetle [Aethina tumida, small hive beetle (SHB)]. To test this, we established 24 nucleus colonies [12 with and 12 without previous SHB removal (= screening)]. Four weeks later, we compared beetle numbers and the occurrence of SHB reproduction to the corresponding full‐sized colonies. Full‐sized colonies with no screening were infested with significantly more SHBs than all other groups (mean ± standard deviation = 46.9 ± 26.7). Regardless of this, none of the full‐sized colonies showed damage or evidence of SHB reproduction. In contrast, five nucleus colonies collapsed and SHB larvae were found in an additional seven colonies. Our study demonstrates that SHB infestation levels which are harmless to full‐sized colonies may have a negative impact on small nucleus colonies.     

Feeding and Growth Response of Roach, Rutilus rutilus, to Alarm Substance

Feeding and growth responses of roach from three size classes to alarm substance (Schreckstoff) were quantified in laboratory experiments. Larger fish (60.0–80.0 mm in length) reacted stronger to treatment than two smaller sized groups (35.0–45.0 and 46.0–55.0 mm) lowering feeding rate by 80 and 40 and 50%, respectively. The reduction in feeding rate of larger fish caused decrease in growth rate in length and weight, while the lowered consumption of smaller fish caused only reduction in growth rate in weight. Condition factor of exposed to alarm substance small sized roach was lower than that of the control individuals and roach from other two size classes, both, treated and untreated. The difference in growth response to a danger of predation has its roots probably in different metabolism and growth rates of small and large fish. Small fish have higher metabolic rate and less lipid reserves than larger ones, therefore they are probably forced to feed to be able to grow. Also, small sized roach is more vulnerable to predation than large sized fish, thus growing fast seem to be crucial for survival in a risky environment. Study shows that small roach trade off their safety against food, feeding in risky environment to sustain fast growth. This ability of fast outgrowing of a dangerous, vulnerable to predators, size increases survival of juveniles in dangerous environment.     

The Masquelet Technique for Membrane Induction and the Healing of Ovine Critical Sized Segmental Defects

The healing of critical sized segmental defects is an ongoing clinical problem. No method has achieved pre-eminence. The Masquelet technique is a relatively new innovation involving the induction of a fibrous tissue membrane around the bone defect site taking advantage of the body’s foreign body reaction to the presence of a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) spacer. The aim of this study was to investigate the properties and characteristics of this induced membrane and its effectiveness when used in conjunction with allograft or an allograft/autograft mix as filler materials in an ovine critical sized defect model. The resultant induced membrane was found to be effective in containing the graft materials in situ. It was demonstrated to be an organised pseudosynovial membrane which expressed bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2), transforming growth factor- beta (TGFβ), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), von Willerbrand factor (vWF), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8). While more new bone growth was evident in the test groups compared to the controls animals at 12 weeks, the volumes were not statistically different and no defects were fully bridged. Of the two graft material groups, the allograft/autograft mix was shown to have a more rapid graft resorption rate than the allograft only group. While the Masquelet technique proved effective in producing a membrane to enclose graft materials, its ability to assist in the healing of critical sized segmental defects when compared to empty controls remained inconclusive.     

Do Differences in Conspecific Body Size Induce Social Stress in Domestic Rainbow Trout?

Little is known about the cognitive and subjective experiences of fish that are confined with conspecifics of varying body sizes. Plasma cortisol and several behavioural variables were recorded when a ȁ8mediumȁ9 sized fish had its familiar social group (comprised of medium, like-sized individuals) replaced with a group of fish that were either medium sized, smaller or larger than itself. Interestingly, the medium sized test fish showed very few behavioural responses indicative of stress when exposed to a new social cohort. Fish did not use a particular part of their tank, or water column, nor did they show any significant change in locomotory behaviour. There was no difference in aggressive ȁ8chasingȁ9 behaviour in any of the treatments, however, medium sized fish were frequently chased by their tank-mates when exposed to the ȁ8largeȁ9 fish treatment, and were almost never chased by fish smaller than themselves. Similarly, plasma cortisol concentrations did not differ between fish that were exposed to different size treatment groups, although there was a high increase above baseline levels; this suggests that encounters with unfamiliar fish were stressful, regardless of size.     

Activity budget and ranging patterns of Colobus vellerosus in forest fragments in central Ghana

The forest fragments surrounding the 192-ha Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (BFMS) in central Ghana contain small populations of Colobus vellerosus. Data were collected on activity budget, ranging patterns and habitat use of 3 groups living in these small fragments in August-November 2003, and compared to 3 BFMS groups. Fragment groups spent less time moving and more time resting than BFMS groups. Home ranges of fragment groups tended to be smaller than those of BFMS groups. Fragment and BFMS groups used similarly sized trees. Comparisons of activity budget and ranging between fragments and the BFMS suggest that fragment habitat quality was sufficient to sustain current numbers. These behavioral trends are consistent with a concurrent study that we conducted investigating ecological quality in the same fragments.     

Development of Badges of Status in Captive Male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) in Relation to the Relative Ornamentation of Flock‐Mates

The development of quality signals is expected to be largely influenced by environmental conditions among which the social environment could be an important factor, particularly in gregarious animals. Here, we investigated the role of the presumed social environment on the development of badge size in moulting male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) over a 3‐yr time span. House Sparrow badges are testosterone‐dependent ornaments that are typically argued to be ‘badges of status’ –that is, signals of competitive ability and aggression. Immediately prior to moult, we created several groups of males, either with similarly sized badges or with badges of different sizes, and we measured each male's badge size before and after moult. The former groups were presumed to have a less clear social hierarchy than the latter groups because of group members advertising relatively similar competitive ability (and thus were expected to more frequently challenge one another in order to establish dominance). Conversely, the latter groups were presumed to have relatively higher social stability because birds would less frequently encounter rivals advertising similar agonistic threat. We predicted in groups of birds with similarly sized badges, both (1) larger changes (i.e. increases or decreases) in badge sizes and (2) higher increases in between‐individual variation within groups. The first prediction was supported in one of the 3 yrs, but there was no support for the second prediction in any year. We conclude that social environment has an effect on the development of badges of status, but that it is highly contingent on the specific nature and timing of group interactions.     

On the importance of estimating detection probabilities from at‐sea surveys of flying seabirds

The primary and accepted method used to estimate seabird densities at sea from ships is the strip transect method, designed to correct for the effect of random directional bird movement relative to that of the ship. However, this method relies on the critical assumption that all of the birds within the survey strip are detected. We used the distance sampling method from line‐transects to estimate detection probability of a number of species of flying seabirds, and to test whether distance from the ship and bird body size affected detectability. Detection probability decreased from 0.987 (SE=0.029) to 0.269 (SE=0.035) with increasing strip half‐width from 100 to 1400 m. Detection probability also varied between size‐groups of species with strip half‐width. For all size‐groups, this probability was close to 1 for strip half‐width of 100 m, but was 0.869 (SE=0.115), 0.725 (SE=0.096) and 0.693 (SE=0.091) for strip half‐width of 300 m, a typical strip width used in seabird surveys, for respectively large, medium and small size flying seabirds. For larger strip half‐width, detection probability was higher for large sized species, intermediate for medium sized species and lower for smaller sized species. For strip half‐width larger than 100 m we suggest that more attention should be paid to testing the assumption of perfect detectability, because abundance estimates may be underestimated when this assumption is violated. Finally, the effect of the speed of travel of flying seabird on the detection probability was estimated in a simulation study, which suggests that detection probability was underestimated with increasing flying speed.     

Further data on the microsatellite locus D12S67 in worldwide populations: an unusual distribution of D12S67 alleles in Native Americans

We report the frequencies of alleles at the microsatellite locus D12S67 in 2 widely separated ethnic groups of the world: 2 populations from Sulawesi, an island in the Indonesian archipelago, and 5 Native American tribes of Colombia, South America. The allele frequencies in the Minihasans and Torajans of Sulawesi are similar to each other (but the modal class allele is different) and in general agreement with those reported in mainland Asian groups, but different from both Europeans and Chinese Han of Taiwan. The 5 Native American tribes (Arsario, Kogui, Ijka, Wayuu, and Coreguaje) display different allele frequencies from those seen in Sulawesi populations, in other groups from Europe and mainland Asia, and in Chinese Han of Taiwan. Native Americans exhibit a bimodal distribution of alleles, unlike other groups, with significant differences among the tribes. The Arsario and Kogui have no admixture with Europeans or Africans and are the most distinctive, while the Wayuu have the most admixture and show most similarity to other groups. The data suggest that nonadmixed Native Americans may be quite distinctive with respect to this marker. The most common allele varies across the 5 tribes, from 249 base pairs to 261 base pairs. All samples exhibit Hardy-Weinberg genotype proportions; heterozygosities are lowest in the 2 nonadmixed Native American tribes. Examination of all the available data indicates that some east Asian and southeast Asian groups are characterized by a high frequency of smaller sized D12S67 alleles, while other populations have a greater proportion of the larger sized alleles. The cumulative, though still highly restricted, population data on locus D12S67 demonstrate that it may be of considerable value in anthropological genetic studies of ethnic groups. Data are required on Native Americans outside Colombia before this marker can be used in admixture studies of this group.     

Mid‐P confidence intervals for group testing based on the total number of positive groups

In the estimation of proportions by group testing, unequal sized groups results in an ambiguous ordering of the sample space, which complicates the construction of exact confidence intervals. The total number of positive groups is shown to be a suitable statistic for ordering outcomes, provided its ties are broken by the MLE. We propose an interval estimation method based on this quantity, with a mid‐P correction. Coverage is evaluated using group testing problems in plant disease assessment and virus transmission by insect vectors. The proposed method provides good coverage in a range of situations, and compares favorably with existing exact methods.     

Foraging rates and substratum selection in foraging activity of checkered snapper Lutjanus decussatus (Lutjanidae) in an Okinawan coral reef

The activity patterns and substratum selection for foraging of checkered snapper Lutjanus decussatus were observed. The foraging rate of small‐sized individuals (<150 mm in total length, L_T) was significantly greater than that of large‐sized individuals (≥150 mm L_T). There was significant positive use of live branching corals, whereas negative use of coral rubble, rocks and sand for both small‐sized and large‐sized individuals.     

A precise group size in Dictyostelium is generated by a cell-counting factor modulating cell-cell adhesion

A remarkable aspect of Dictyostelium development is that cells form evenly sized groups of approximately 2 x 10(4) cells. A secreted 450 kDa protein complex called counting factor (CF) regulates the number of cells per group. We find that CF regulates group size by repressing cell-cell adhesion. In both experiments and computer simulations, high levels of CF (and thus low adhesion) result in aggregation streams breaking up into small groups, while no CF (and thus high adhesion) results in no stream breakup and large groups. These results suggest that in Dictyostelium and possibly other systems a secreted factor regulating cell-cell adhesion can regulate the size of a group of cells.     

Identification and properties of microsatellite markers in tsetse flies Glossina morsitans sensu lato (Diptera: Glossinidae)

Genomic libraries enriched for simple sequence repeats were constructed for Glossina morsitans morsitans, G. m. submorsitans, and G. m. centralis. Sixteen microsatellite markers were isolated from the libraries and evaluated on flies from natural G. m. morsitans populations and other Glossina species in the Morsitans and Palpalis species groups. The primers amplified appropriate sized DNA fragments in the Morsitans and Palpalis groups. In G. morsitans s.l., eight of 12 dinucleotide repeats and four of 12 trinucleotide repeats were polymorphic. The polymorphic loci showed a mean 7.5 +/- 4.8 alleles per locus and their mean heterozygosity was 55.8 +/- 7.7%.     

New indodicarbocyanine dyes for the biological microchip technology

New indodicarbocyanine dyes with the carboxybutyl group in position-3 of the indolenine fragment bearing methyl and sulfonic groups in positions 5 and 7 of the cycle were synthesized in order to find the most effective fluorescent labels for the biological microchip technology. The position of absorption and fluorescence maxima, the total charge of the dye molecule, and water solubility depend on the location and the total amount of methyl and sulfonic groups. The spectral characteristics of the dyes synthesized were determined. The relative fluorescence efficiencies of the dyes at equal concentrations were measured at excitation wavelengths of 635 and 655 nm and emission wavelengths of 670 and 690 nm, respectively.     

Salmonella plasmids of the pre-antibiotic era.

In order to provide a profile of the plasmid gene pool in Salmonella prior to the clinical use of antibiotics, a molecular genetic analysis was made of plasmids in strains collected by E.D.G. Murray between 1917 and 1954. These pre-antibiotic era (PAE) salmonellae contain conjugative plasmids of the same incompatibility groups as contemporary enterobacterial plasmids. Upon analysis of total plasmid content, 42 plasmids, sized between 23 and 72 MDa, were found. We defined and investigated six groups of these PAE Salmonella plasmids in terms of three groups of genes; those involved in plasmid maintenance and incompatibility, DNA repair and virulence. Of the five groups, three were replicon-typed to groups IncI1, IncX and IncFII; one group exhibited no homology to contemporary Inc/Rep probes, and one group represented virulence plasmids containing a common plasmid-partitioning locus. The results indicated that most of the PAE groups were progenitors of contemporary R-plasmids, except for the virulence plasmids, which have generally not evolved as vectors of antibiotic resistance.