Probability of Inadmissible Estimates of Heritability from Regression and Half-sib Analyses

Formulae are derived for the probability of obtaining inadmissible estimates of heritability (h²) in half-sib and intra-sire regression analyses, under the additive-dominance-epistasis model of gene action. Results for several combinations of sire/dam number, h² and the proportion of additive x additive epistasis are given for the balanced situation.     

Evaluating molecular support for and against the monophyly of the Peritrichia and phylogenetic relationships within the Mobilida (Ciliophora,Oligohymenophorea)

Zhan, Z., Xu, K. & Dunthorn, M. (2012). Evaluating molecular support for and against the monophyly of the Peritrichia and phylogenetic relationships within the Mobilida (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea). —Zoologica Scripta,00, 000–000. An ongoing debate in ciliate molecular phylogenetic analyses is whether the Peritrichia – composed of the Sessilida and the Mobilida – are monophyletic. To further investigate this group, here we increase taxon sampling with four further mobilids: Trichodinella sp., Trichodina pectenis, Urceolaria serpularum and Urceolaria korschelti. Results show that support for and against monophyly of the peritrichs depends on different methods of alignment, and different methods of masking ambiguously aligned nucleotide positions. Results from constrained analyses also are dependent on different alignment and masking methods. We propose that there is no well‐supported SSU‐rDNA evidence supporting for and against the removal of the mobilids from the peritrichs. Within the Mobilida, we find that Trichodinella nest within Trichodina, Urceolaria branch basally, and Trichodina are non‐monophyletic, and suggest that Leiotrocha be formally transferred into Urceolaria. In addition, the data support that Urceolaria‐like denticles and Urceolaria‐/Trichodina‐like adoral ciliary spiral are plesiomorphic conditions within the mobilids.     

The sessile oak: Anomalies of the binomial

Summary

Plantlets of viviparous grasses produce mature vegetative plants of greater stature than those from seeds of closely related seed-bearing grasses. Results from mixed populations of Festuca vivipara and F. ovina indicate size differences are maintained at flowering. Viable plantlets do not dehisce readily from mature panicles and when detached artificially require a large amount of free water to germinate. Results are discussed with reference to the occurrence of vivipary in Scottish grasses and its success in upland zones.     

The Molecular Biology of Euglena gracilis. VIII. Glycitols and Monosaccharides

Mannitol is identified as the major component of the small molecule pool of Euglena gracilis strain Z. Smaller amounts of glycerol also are found. Results of tracer studies and enzymic measurements indicate that both major mannitol pathways found in bacteria are present in Euglena.     

Approximate Confidence Bounds for Ripley's Statistic for Random Points in a Square

Confidence envelopes for Ripley's L function for N random points in the unit square were obtained by simulation. The 90, 95 and 99th percentiles of 1000 simulations are given in tabular form for N in the range 10 to 350. Results for a number of choices of the maximum interpoint distance are reported.     

Spontaneous Movements in Plants Studied as a Random Walk Process

A theory to describe spontaneous curvatures performed by different plant materials on the clinostat is put forward. The movements are proposed to follow the assumptions of a random walk process (statistically randomly distributed movements) and thus to give curvatures following the equations E(α) = 0 V(α) = constant * time where α is the curvature from the starting direction, E(α) is the expectation of α and V(α) is the variance ofα. These equations are experimentally shown to be valid for Lepidium roots and Helianthus hypocotyls. Results for roots reported in the literature are recalculated and are shown to support the theory.     

Transfer of Kaempferia candida to Curcuma (Zingiberaceae) based on morphological and molecular data

Results of morphological studies supported by molecular analyses of chloroplast psbA‐trnH and partial petA‐psbJ DNA sequences indicate that Kaempferia candida cannot be retained in this genus. The species is here formally transferred to Curcuma and the name is typified. Notes on the species and colour plates are given.     

Fine Structure of the Developing Scale in the Cichlid Hemichromis bimaculatus (Pisces,Teleostei, Perciformes)

The study of the formation and structure of the early teleost scale and its associated cells has been carried out on Hemichromis bimaculatus fry using in toto staining with alizarin and transmission electron microscopy techniques. Results of the study show very rapid scale formation in Hemichromis. The papilla of the scale differentiates a little in advance of the bone scale formation. No epidermal cells are involved in the constitution of the scale pocket made up of scleroblasts. In Hemichromis, as in other teleost scales, the osseous layer is the first one to be secreted by, presumably, only the scleroblasts. Then the scleroblasts specialize in their functions. Superficial ones are involved in the formation of osseous circuli; marginal scleroblasts are responsible for growth in diameter of the scale; while deep scleroblasts allow the scales to thicken owing to the progressive addition of collagen fibrils organized in a “plywood-like” structure which constitutes the fibrillary plate of the scale. Mineralization occurs very rapidly within the osseous layer in the form of hydroxyapatite-like crystal deposits. The fibrillary plate is not yet mineralized in Hemichromis at the stages studied here, but presumably is later. Results obtained in Hemichromis are discussed against similar data available in the literature on teleost scale formation.     

Canine Dimorphism and Interspecific Canine Form in Cebus

I investigated canine dimorphism and interspecific canine form in adult specimens from 4 capuchin species (Cebus albifrons, C. apella, C. capucinus, and C. olivaceus). I used various univariate and multivariate statistics, which are based on 6 variables, to test several hypotheses that are based upon the finding that canine dimorphism is strongly associated with intermale competition in platyrrhines (Kay et al., 1988), Greenfield (1992a), Plavcan and van Schaik (1992, 1994). Results from the indices of canine dimorphism and the unpaired t-tests corroborate the prediction that males of each species possess significantly larger canines than those of females. Large male canines are especially prominent in 2 variables, maxillary and mandibular canine height. Greene's t-test (1989) does not support the prediction that Cebus apella and C. olivaceus possess a larger degree of canine dimorphism relative to C. albifrons and C. capucinus. No interspecific differences in degree of canine dimorphism are indicated by this test. Results of the discriminant function analyses (DFA) do not find that Cebus apella and C. olivaceus possess different canine form relative to C. albifrons and C. capucinus as predicted. However, Cebus apella is differentiated from the untufted capuchins (C. albifrons, C. capucinus, and C. olivaceus) by the DFA. I suggest that intermale competition is the primary selective force underlying the observed morphological patterns; however, it does not explain all the variation associated with canine dimorphism in Cebus.     

Dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy of the Coniacian–Santonian (Upper Cretaceous): New data from the English Chalk

Results are presented here for the first chalk-based, high-resolution quantitative study of organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts (dinocysts) from the entire Coniacian–Santonian Chalk successions in east Kent and on the Isle of Wight. The lithostratigraphy and dinocyst records (137 taxa) of seven sections are presented, and the stratigraphic ranges of taxa are constrained relative to stage and zonal boundaries, located using extensive macrofossil data. Results are integrated with a previous complementary study of the Isle of Wight Santonian to test and refine existing dinocyst bioevent schemes. Sixteen dinocyst events are proposed as a sequence of biostratigraphic datum levels for the lower Coniacian to uppermost Santonian which, based on average sedimentation rates, represent an average temporal resolution of around 360 kyr. The event stratigraphy forms a basis for the first high-resolution correlation study of quantitative dinocyst data from the Upper Cretaceous of NW Europe. A new genus Culversphaera Prince, Jarvis, Pearce et Tocher gen. nov. is proposed with the new combination Culversphaera velata Prince, Jarvis, Pearce et Tocher gen. et comb. nov. Five new species: Ellipsodinium membraniferum Prince, Jarvis, Pearce et Tocher sp. nov., Senoniasphaera macroreticulata Prince, Jarvis, Pearce et Tocher sp. nov., Senoniasphaera whitenessii Prince, Jarvis, Pearce et Tocher sp. nov., Xenascus spinatus Prince, Jarvis, Pearce et Tocher sp. nov. and X. yunii sp. nov., and the new subspecies S. protrusa congrensa Prince, Jarvis, Pearce et Tocher subsp. nov. are described.     

Drivers of growth for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) in Icelandic waters – A Bayesian approach to determine spatiotemporal variation and its causes

This study assesses spatiotemporal and sex-specific growth of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua in Icelandic waters. We use a Bayesian approach which lends itself to fitting and comparing nested models such as these. We then compare fitted parameters of these models to potential explanatory variables using a redundancy analysis (RDA) to look for drivers of growth in G. morhua. Results indicate that models that incorporate differences in growth among time, space and sex are the best-fitting models according to deviance information criterion (DIC). Results from RDA indicate that capelin Mallotus villosus recruitment and biomass is highly correlated with deviations in the von Bertalannfy growth parameter k and that L_∞ is correlated with G. morhua landings in the model that uses year to account for time-varying growth and estimated G. morhua recruitment in the model that uses cohort to account for time-varying growth.     

Enthalpy changes in the helix-coil transition of poly(gamma-benzyl L-glutamate)

The helix-coil transition temperature T_c of poly(γ-benzyl L -glutamate) in binary solvent mixtures of dichloroacetic acid and 1,4-dichlorobutane, 1-chlorooctane, or 1-chlorododecane have been measured. A treatment is presented with which the transition enthalpy can be calculated from the observed dependence of T_c on solvent composition. Results are compared with previously obtained calorimetric data. The underlying assumptions of the calculation are discussed.     

Phase Shift Effects in the Kalanchoë Petal Rhythm due to Two or More Light Pulses

The circadian petal rhythm of Kalanchoë blossfeldiana Poellniz was studied theoretically and experimentally. Results of experiments in which (i) two light pulses and (ii) repeated light pulses were given to the flowers are compared with predictions based on a previously published feedback model. In this model both the amplitude and the phase of the rhythm are affected by light pulses. Results from the present phase shift studies are shown to be in good agreement with the model. The results are also discussed in relation to a constant amplitude model like that suggested by Pittendrigh for the eclosion rhythm of Drosophila.     

An update on the diversity of Wolbachia in Spalangia spp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

Results from 13 additional host populations improves resolution on the diversity of Wolbachia bacteria in Spalangia spp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). These bacteria are of interest because they can profoundly affect their host's reproduction. Manipulating Wolbachia infections may provide a method to improve the efficacy of biocontrol agents including Spalangia spp.     

Identification and Characterization of a Plasmid in Strain Aeronomas hydrophila IBRB-36 4CPA Carrying Genes for Catabolism of Chlorophenoxyacetic Acids

Results of studying plasmid pAH36 in strain Aeronomas hydrophila IBRB-36 4CPA are presented. Plasmid pAH36 possesses BamHI, PstI, and HindIII restriction sites and is 5.4 kb in size. The plasmid was shown to contain genes for catabolism of chlor-substituted phenoxyacetic acids.     

Adolescent Obesity,Overt and Relational Peer Victimization,and Romantic Relationships

Objective: To examine associations between obesity and peer relations in adolescents, specifically testing the hypotheses that obese adolescents are more frequent victims of peer aggression and are less likely to develop romantic relationships. Research Methods and Procedures: Measures of overt and relational victimization, as well as dating status and satisfaction, were collected for a group of 416 ninth‐ through twelfth‐grade students (51.7% girls). Body mass index was computed for each teen based on self‐reported height and weight data. Results: Results revealed that obese boys reported more overt victimization and obese girls reported more relational victimization compared with their average‐weight peers. Obese girls were also less likely to date than their peers. However, both obese boys and girls reported being more dissatisfied with their dating status compared with average‐weight peers. Discussion: The results suggest that obese adolescents are at greater risk for mistreatment by peers and may have fewer opportunities to develop intimate romantic relationships; this may contribute to the psychological and health difficulties frequently associated with obesity.     

The Steninae and Megalopininae of Chile (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae) 93rd contribution to the knowledge of Steninae

The author gives a revision of the Chilian Megalopininae and Steninae. Results : one species is revalidated (chilensis L.Bck.), a second synonymized (solieri Coiff.& Saiz = gayi Sol.), a third is described as new (saizi n.sp.). Of two species (gayi Sol., anthrax Fairm. & Germ.) lectotypes are designated, two other species already described are new for Chili (Megalopinus plaumanni L.Bck., Stenus endosquameus Puthz). The Chilian fauna of Megalopininae and Steninae is a very rare one concerning number of species as well as number of monophyletic groups. There are no relations to other extratropic groups.     

Biocontrol of British bracken: the potential of two moths from Southern Africa

The spread of bracken is a major problem in upland areas of Britain. We have investigated biological methods as an alterative to traditional forms of weed control. Details are given of the life histories of two potential candidates for introduction as biocontrol agents, the Southern African moths Conservula cinisigna and Panotima sp. near angularis. Results indicate that these species are highly host specific and potentially very destructive to bracken.     

Genetics of osteal plate polymorphism and microevolution of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.)

Summary The results of genetical studies of osteal plate polymorphism of threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus reported to date (Munzing 1959; Hagen and Gilbertson 1973; Avise 1976) are discussed and proposed inheritance models are considered. Results of crosses between the morphs of G. aculeatus from the White Sea are presented. An attempt has been made by the author to devise a unifying model for the inheritance of plate morphs within the whole range of G. aculeatus. The role of polymorphism in the microevolutionary processes taking place within this complex species is discussed.