Egg size in relation to body size in rotifers: an indication of reproductive strategy?

Egg sizes and body sizes of 43 egg-bearing rotifer species of numerous, mostly tropical, general have been recorded. Larger absolute egg volumes have been found for larger rotifer species, but the increase was lower than expected in proportion to body size, i.e. the relative egg volume decreased with increasing body size. Obviously the relative investment per offspring is smaller in larger rotifer species.     

Immunoglobulin haplotypes: markers of reproductive success?

Immunoglobulin haplotypes are highly polymorphic and are useful for analyses of both macro- and microdifferentiation of populations. The origins of this diversity are not known, but recent reports suggest strong selection at this locus. Increased rates of first-trimester spontaneous abortions have been reported when parents share GM phenotypes. Reduced fertility has been observed in mixed European descent white and Hutterite populations when both parents share immunoglobulin haplotypes. Population samples with completed family information and GM haplotype data are rare; the objective here is to provide this information on another sample. A sample of 242 Mennonite couples with mothers older than 40 years was divided into 3 groups of matings based on how many haplotypes were shared: 0, 1, or 2. The distribution of mean completed family sizes for the three groups were 3.35 +/- 1.85 (n = 23), 3.47 +/- 1.69 (n = 128), and 3.37 +/- 1.60 (n = 91), respectively; these values were not significantly different (F = 0.145, p = 0.865). The log-rank test was used to compare the time-to-next-birth curves. The intervals between first and later births (2-4 births) were not significantly different for the three subgroups either. There is also only limited evidence for segregation distortion in another sample of 923 offspring (in which at least one parent is heterozygous.     

Phenols in reproductive and somatic structures of lichens: a case of optimal defence?

Optimal defence theory (ODT) attempts to explain variation in plant secondary compounds between different species, different growth conditions and different parts of individual plants. The theory is widely applied to vascular plants and more recently also to seaweeds. Surprisingly, ODT has gained little attention as potential explanation on the distribution of lichen secondary metabolites. In the present study, we analysed intrathalline variation in total phenol content and phenol spectra between reproductive and somatic structures of three foliose lichens, Xanthoria parietina , Vulpicida pinastri and Hypogymnia physodes . The results showed that the concentration of phenolic compounds is higher in sorediate than in non-sorediate lobe ends of V. pinastri and H. physodes as well as in apothecia of X. parietina compared to other parts of the thallus. These results were in accordance with ODT predicting higher allocation of phenols in structures that are most important for the fitness of an individual genet or ramet. This pattern was parallel in all species regardless whether the compounds originate from either acetate-mevalonate or shikimic acid pathways. Moreover, both sexual ( X. parietina apothecia) and asexual (soralia of V. pinastri and H. physodes ) reproductive structures were higher in phenols compared to somatic tissue.     

Coordinate production by a T cell hybridoma of gamma interferon and three other lymphokine activities: multiple activities of a single lymphokine?

The T cell hybridoma FS7-20, produced by the fusion of normal B10.BR T cells to the AKR thymoma BW5147, was found when stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A) to produce the lymphokines: interleukin 2 (IL 2), interferon-gamma (IFN gamma), macrophage-activating factor (MAF), Ia induction factor IaIF), and the B cell helper factor interleukin X (IL X). The clones and subclones of FS7-20 varied dramatically in their ability to produce these lymphokines, presumably because of karyotypic variations. The ability to produce IL 2 segregated independently from the ability to produce the four other lymphokine activities; however, production of the latter activities showed a strong correlation. This coordinate production of IFN gamma, MAF, IaIF, and IL X was also observed with a cloned normal cytotoxic T cell line, cr15. These results suggest either that IFN gamma, MAF, IaIF, and IL X are all manifestations of a single molecular species or that, although these activities are different structurally, their production is controlled by a common genetic mechanism. In support of the first possibility, the IFN gamma, MAF, IaIF, and IL X activity produced by FS7-20 were all found to be equally sensitive to inactivation at pH 2. These results illustrate the usefulness of using T cell hybridomas for the study of lymphokines.     

Egg quality in fish: what makes a good egg?

Factors affecting egg quality are determined by the intrinsic properties of the egg itself and the environment in which the egg is fertilized and subsequently incubated. Egg quality in fish is very variable. Some of the factors affecting egg quality in fish are known, but many (probably most) are unknown. Components that do affect egg quality include the endocrine status of the female during the growth of the oocyte in the ovary, the diet of the broodfish, the complement of nutrients deposited into the oocyte, and the physiochemical conditions of the water in which the eggs are subsequently incubated. In captive broodfish, the husbandry practices to which fish are subjected are probably a major contributory factor affecting egg quality. Our knowledge of the genetic influences on egg quality is very limited indeed. We know that parental genes strongly influence both fecundity and egg quality, but almost nothing is known about gene expression and/or mRNA translation in fish oocytes/embryos. This is surprising because the products synthesized in ovoand the mechanisms controlling their expression are likely to play a central role in determining egg quality. The genetic mechanisms underpinning oocyte and embryo growth and development are a priority for research     

“Egg transformation” induced by irradiated pollen in Nicotiana: a re-examination

Summary We have attempted to confirm previous reports of egg transformation in seven Nicotiana species, including genetic stocks obtained from the original experimenter. The methods employed in the original experiments were duplicated as closely as possible. In total, 1,622 pollinations were made involving irradiated pollen and mixtures of irradiated and self pollen. Consequently, 995 seedlings from 9,052 seeds were screened for 1,594 potentially detectable transformation events. A very low frequency of unexpected progeny resulted, but these results were not repeatable and appear to have arisen by mechanisms other than transformation. These results are strongly at odds with previous claims, when 50% of offspring were found to be transformed. We conclude that the previous observations of high frequency egg transformation are not reproducible. However, due to the ambiguous nature of the markers employed, it is very difficult to prove that such transformation events do not occur as very rare events.     

Changes in biosynthesis and degradation of juvenile hormone during breeding by burying beetles: a reproductive or social role?

Burying beetles, Nicrophorus orbicollis, depend on the location of an unpredictable resource, a small vertebrate carcass, for reproduction. When they discover a carcass, they undergo a correlated rapid rise in titers of juvenile hormone (JH) in the hemolymph and ovarian development. This study investigates the regulation of the changes in JH during breeding in both male and female burying beetles and the role of JH in ovarian development. JH biosynthesis by the corpora allata (CA), measured in vitro, increased in females within an hour of their discovery of a carcass and increased later in males. After returning to low rates as oviposition began, JH biosynthesis rose again 3 days later in females but not in males. Neither the ovaries nor testes synthesized JH. There was a concomitant fall in JH esterase activity within 12 h of discovery of the carcass in both males and females. Although the rise in JH titers and biosynthesis and the fall in JH esterase is correlated with ovarian development, application of methoprene or JH III in the absence of a carcass did not result in vitellogenin uptake by the oocytes. Therefore, we conclude that, in spite of the rapid rise in JH before oviposition, it is not sufficient to regulate vitellogenin synthesis and/or its uptake by the ovaries. We suggest that its role has been preempted to organize social behavior and coordinate parental behavior between mates.     

Is Atlantic salmon production limited by number of territories?

Thirty Atlantic salmon Salmo salar parr (mean 135 mm total length, L _T) in the River Alta, Norway, were radio‐tagged and tracked during a 11–13 day period. The parr stayed within defined home ranges with a 95% probability of localization within an average area of 1286 m²(241–3484 m²). On average, each parr had overlapping home ranges with 7·7 other parr, and the overlap between pairs of fish covered on average 24% of their home range areas. Mean length of the river stretch used was 90 m (22–383 m). On average, during 38%(16–77%) of the tracking surveys, the fish had moved >10 m since the previous survey. Mean total distance moved during the whole study was 402 m (208–862 m). The Atlantic salmon were most often recorded in riffles, but 27% of the parr alternated between riffles and pools. The extensive movements, flexible habitat utilization and relatively large home ranges, together with the fact that all the parr had home ranges partly overlapping with other radio‐tagged parr, indicate a flexible and variable behaviour and, thereby, a more complex social structure than a rigid defence of a fixed territory. Thus, Atlantic salmon production seems not to be limited by the highest potential number of territories for large parr in a given area.     

Efficient production of human α-amylase by a Bacillus brevis mutant

Summary A cDNA for mature human salivary -amylase was directly joined to a sequence encoding the signal peptide of the middle wall protein (MWP) gene of Bacillus brevis 47. This hybrid gene was placed downstream from the multiple promoter region of the MWP gene on a low copy-number plasmid vector, pHW1. B. brevis 47 carrying the plasmid produced 0.9 mg/l of active human -amylase in the medium. A B. brevis 47 mutant obtained on mutagenesis with N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine produced an increased amount of the -amylase (6 mg/l). When the fused gene was inserted into a high copy-number expression vector, pNU200, and then introduced into the mutant, a large amount (60 mg/l) of the -amylase was produced in the medium. The -amylase showed approximately the same specific activity and molecular weight as those of the natural enzyme. The mutant showed higher sensitivity to various antibiotics than the original strain, and altered cell wall and cytoplasmic membrane protein compositions. The results of reversion analysis suggested that a single mutation is responsible for the above phenotypes and hyper-productivity of human -amylase. Offprint requests to: H. Yamagata     

Optimized production of L-β-hydroxybutyric acid by a mutant of Yarrowia lipolytica

A mutant strain of Yarrowia lipolytica was developed which produced 8.0 g l--hydroxybutyric acid l^–1 from butyric acid in a batch culture. The optimum culture conditions in the fermenter for maintenance of a high cell activity, determined by chemostat analyses, were a specific growth rate of 0.06 h^–1, a glucose concentration of 2.0 g l^–1, and a butyric acid concentration of 8.1 g l^–1. A fed-batch fermentation was performed under these conditions resulting in an l--hydroxybutyric acid yield of 31 g l^–1.     

Shoot inversion-induced ethylene production: a general phenomenon?

Shoot inversion induction of ethylene production was found in inverted shoots of corn, peas, soybean, sunflower, tomato, andPharbitis nil. The increases in ethylene production were found to range from two- to threefold in soybean to eightfold in corn and sunflower. The occurrence of peaks of ethylene production ranged from 16 h following shoot inversion in corn to 72 h inPharbitis. That the enhanced ethylene production was due to activation of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase is supported by the finding of increased ACC content in inverted shoots of all species tested. Shoot inversion inhibition of elongation was found in inverted shoots of pea, soybean, sunflower, tomato, andPharbitis nil. This inhibition is thought to be mediated via increased ethylene production in the inverted shoots. That shoot inversion induction of ethylene is not a persistent effect is supported by the finding that ethylene synthesis could be terminated by reorientation of shoots to the upright position and could be reinitiated by the subsequent inversion of the shoots. The effects of shoot inversion on the enhancement of ethylene production and on the inhibition of elongation of the inverted shoot appear to be general phenomena.     

Are Cuckoos Maximizing Egg Mimicry by Selecting Host Individuals with Better Matching Egg Phenotypes?

Background

Avian brood parasites and their hosts are involved in complex offence-defense coevolutionary arms races. The most common pair of reciprocal adaptations in these systems is egg discrimination by hosts and egg mimicry by parasites. As mimicry improves, more advanced host adaptations evolve such as decreased intra- and increased interclutch variation in egg appearance to facilitate detection of parasitic eggs. As interclutch variation increases, parasites able to choose hosts matching best their own egg phenotype should be selected, but this requires that parasites know their own egg phenotype and select host nests correspondingly.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We compared egg mimicry of common cuckoo Cuculus canorus eggs in naturally parasitized marsh warbler Acrocephalus palustris nests and their nearest unparasitized conspecific neighbors having similar laying dates and nest-site characteristics. Modeling of avian vision and image analyses revealed no evidence that cuckoos parasitize nests where their eggs better match the host eggs. Cuckoo eggs were as good mimics, in terms of background and spot color, background luminance, spotting pattern and egg size, of host eggs in the nests actually exploited as those in the neighboring unparasitized nests.

Conclusions/Significance

We reviewed the evidence for brood parasites selecting better-matching host egg phenotypes from several relevant studies and argue that such selection probably cannot exist in host-parasite systems where host interclutch variation is continuous and overall low or moderate. To date there is also no evidence that parasites prefer certain egg phenotypes in systems where it should be most advantageous, i.e., when both hosts and parasites lay polymorphic eggs. Hence, the existence of an ability to select host nests to maximize mimicry by brood parasites appears unlikely, but this possibility should be further explored in cuckoo-host systems where the host has evolved discrete egg phenotypes.     

Nutritional regulation of JH synthesis: a mechanism to control reproductive maturation in mosquitoes?

Juvenile hormone (JH) titers must be modulated to permit the normal progress of development and reproduction in mosquitoes. In adult female Aedes aegypti, JH levels are low at adult eclosion, elevated in sugar-fed females and low again after a blood meal. Although degradation plays a role, JH titer is fundamentally determined by the rate of biosynthesis in the corpora allata gland (CA). CA from newly eclosed females (0-1 h after emergence) exhibit a very low basal JH biosynthetic activity, Aedes-allatotropin stimulates the CA in newly emerged females to produce JH. There is a correlation between nutritional reserves at adult emergence (teneral reserves) and CA activity. JH synthesis is significantly reduced in teneral females that emerge with low nutritional reserves. Taking a blood meal results in a reduction of CA activity. The biosynthetic activity of Ae. aegypti CA is significantly inhibited by factors present in the head, as well as by Anopheles gambiae PISCF-allatostatin. Nutritional signals affect the release of allatotropin and allatostatins by the brain resulting in the activation or inhibition of JH synthesis. JH is therefore an important part of a transduction mechanism that connects changes in the nutritional status with activation of specific physiological events during reproduction.     

Invasive interactions: can Argentine ants indirectly increase the reproductive output of a weed?

The direct and indirect interactions of invasive ants with plants, insect herbivores, and Hemiptera are complex. While ant and Hemiptera interactions with native plants have been well studied, the effects of invasive ant–scale insect mutualisms on the reproductive output of invasive weeds have not. The study system consisted of Argentine ants (Linepithema humile), boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera monilifera), and sap-sucking scale insects (Hemiptera: Saissetia oleae and Parasaissetia nigra), all of which are invasive in New Zealand. We examined the direct and indirect effects of Argentine ants on scale insects and other invertebrates (especially herbivores) and on plant reproductive output. Argentine ants spent one-third of their time specifically associated with scale insects in tending behaviours. The invertebrate community was significantly different between uninfested and infested plants, with fewer predators and herbivores on ant-infested plants. Herbivore damage was significantly reduced on plants with Argentine ants, but sooty mould colonisation was greater where ants were present. Herbivore damage increased when ants were excluded from plants. Boneseed plants infested with Argentine ants produced significantly more fruits than plants without ants. The increase in reproductive output in the presence of ants may be due to increased pollination as the result of pollinators being forced to relocate frequently to avoid attack by ants, resulting in an increase in pollen transfer and higher fruit/seed set. The consequences of Argentine ant invasion can be varied; not only does their invasion have consequences for maintaining biodiversity, ant invasion may also affect weed and pest management strategies.     

Eicosanoid production by parasites: from pathogenesis to immunomodulation?

In this review, Adam Belley and Kris Chadee discuss eicosanoid production by various parasites and propose roles they may play in pathogenesis and immunomodulation. The commonality between parasites is prostaglandin production and, therefore, special attention is given to the cyclooxygenase pathway, highlighting the enzymes and functions of prostaglandins.     

Manipulation of host behaviour by parasites: a weakening paradigm?

New scientific paradigms often generate an early wave of enthusiasm among researchers and a barrage of studies seeking to validate or refute the newly proposed idea. All else being equal, the strength and direction of the empirical evidence being published should not change over time, allowing one to assess the generality of the paradigm based on the gradual accumulation of evidence. Here, I examine the relationship between the magnitude of published quantitative estimates of parasite-induced changes in host behaviour and year of publication from the time the adaptive host manipulation hypothesis was first proposed. Two independent data sets were used, both originally gathered for other purposes. First, across 137 comparisons between the behaviour of infected and uninfected hosts, the estimated relative influence of parasites correlated negatively with year of publication. This effect was contingent upon the transmission mode of the parasites studied. The negative relationship was very strong among studies of parasites which benefit from host manipulation (transmission to the next host occurs by predation on an infected intermediate host), i.e. among studies which were explicit tests of the adaptive manipulation hypothesis. There was no correlation with year of publication among studies on other types of parasites which do not seem to receive benefits from host manipulation. Second, among 14 estimates of the relative, parasite-mediated increase in transmission rate (i.e. increases in predation rates by definitive hosts on intermediate hosts), the estimated influence of parasites again correlated negatively with year of publication. These results have several possible explanations, but tend to suggest biases with regard to what results are published through time as accepted paradigms changed.     

Xenotransplantation: a tool for reproductive biology and animal conservation?

The transplantation of reproductive organs, including ovaries and ovarian tissue, was pioneered over 100 years ago. In the 1960s, ovarian grafting was used as a tool to investigate ovarian function, but with the recent development of more effective cryopreservation protocols for ovarian tissue, germline preservation and propagation have now become realistic goals. This review describes progress in ovarian banking and ovarian tissue transplantation, with emphasis on how fresh and frozen ovarian tissue can be used in assisted reproduction for both humans and animals. This paper focuses most closely on the potential value of xenotransplantation, the transplantation of gonads from one species to another, to conserve rare and endangered species. Specific attention is drawn to the use of xenotransplantation as a strategy for generating viable gametes that can be used to produce live fertile offspring. Other upcoming xenogeneic technologies that may be of potential significance in animal conservation, such as transplantation of whole ovaries or isolated growing follicles, and even male germ cells, are discussed.