Shelter utilization by Gobius cruentatus and Thorogobius ephippiatus (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

Parameters of shelters utilized by Gobius cruentatus and Thorogobius ephippiatus were measured, in situ , using SCUBA. Both species exhibited non-random use of shelters, with T. ephippiatus , the smaller of the two species, utilizing significantly larger shelters than G. cruentatus . Interspecific size differences and competitive exclusion are not considered to be of major importance in the observed differential utilization of shelters. The size of shelters utilized by both species is suggested to be influenced by current velocities.     

Geographical patterns of genetic divergence in the widespread Mesoamerican bumble bee Bombus ephippiatus (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Bumble bees (Bombus Latreille) are an important group of social insects, well recognized throughout northern temperate regions as important pollinators of wild and agricultural plants. Little is known about the biology of this group in southern portions of the Americas, especially in Mesoamerica, a region of geological and ecological complexity from Mexico through Central America. One ubiquitous Mesoamerican species, Bombus ephippiatus, is enigmatic. Like many other Bombus, this species is homogeneous in body structure yet exhibits striking intraspecific color pattern polymorphism across its range, leading to uncertainty about its genealogical boundaries. It has been grouped taxonomically with B. wilmattae, a species narrowly restricted to southern Mexico and northern Guatamala. Furthermore, the relationships between these two taxa and a third species, B. impatiens, found only in America north of Mexico, have been controversial. Our phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences from mitochondrial COI and nuclear PEPCK and CAD resolves the phylogeny of these three taxa as (B. impatiens, (B. ephippiatus, B. wilmattae)). Additional data from eight nuclear microsatellite markers reveal complex patterns of genetic divergence and isolation among populations of B. ephippiatus across its extensive geographic range, providing evidence for multiple independent evolutionary lineages. These lineages correspond not only to geographic and habitat variation across their range, but also to distinct color pattern groups present in the species. Knowledge of the phylogeny and genetic divergence of the B. ephippiatus group will provide a framework for understanding evolutionary and ecological origins of color pattern polymorphism in bumble bees, as well as providing insight into geographical factors enhancing speciation in Mesoamerica.     

Habitat Utilization and Depth Distribution of Small Cryptobenthic Fishes (Blenniidae, Gobiesocidae, Gobiidae, Tripterygiidae) in Ibiza (Western Mediterranean Sea)

The paper describes the habitat utilization of small cryptobenthic fishes of the families Blenniidae (Lipophrys nigriceps, and Parablennius zvonimiri), Gobiesocidae (Apletodon incognitus, Gouania wildenowi, Lepadogaster candollei, and L. lepadogaster), Gobiidae (Chromogobius zebratus, Corcyrogobius liechtensteini, Didogobius splechtnai, Gammogobius steinitzi, Millerigobius macrocephalus, Thorogobius ephippiatus, T. macrolepis, and Zebrus zebrus), and Tripterygiidae (Tripterygion melanurus). Nine different habitats from the waterline to a depth of about 40m were examined. The depth distributions of the single species and co-occurrences with other cryptobenthic fish species are given.     

Bombus folsomi and the origin of Philippine bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract The type female of Bombus folsomi (Frison) is redescribed and synomymized with B.ephippiatus Say. It is concluded that the putative type locality of B.folsomi , Mt Kinabalu in Borneo, is in error and that the genus appears to be absent from Borneo. This lends support to the hypothesis that bumble bees immigrated to the Philippines by an unusual northern route through Taiwan. More rigorous testing of this idea will require further cladistic analysis of the genus Bombus .     

大别山区茶园鞘翅目主要害虫与其捕食性天敌的关系

为了科学施药、合理利用和保护自然天敌进行茶丽纹象甲Myllocerinus aurolineatus Voss和茶角胸叶甲Basilepta melanopus Lefevre的综合防治,用灰色系统分析法、生态位分析法和空间格局聚集强度指标分析方法对大别山区茶园2种主要害虫与其捕食性天敌在数量、时间、空间关系等进行分析。综合排序的结果表明:茶丽纹象甲的主要天敌是黑步甲、日本球腹蛛和鞍型花蟹蛛;茶角胸叶甲的主要天敌是草间小黑蛛、锥腹肖蛸和茶色新圆蛛。茶丽纹象甲的λ值小于2,聚集是由环境的影响所致,茶角胸叶甲的λ值大于2,聚集是由昆虫主动聚集或任何一种因素引起的。2种害虫的天敌λ值均小于2,其聚集是由于环境中的某些因子(包括害虫)引起的。     

Recent low levels of differentiation in the native <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bombus ephippiatus</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera: Apidae) along two Neotropical mountain-ranges in Guatemala

Recent anthropogenic fragmentation has led to population differentiation threatening viability of many species, including species specialized on mountainous ecosystems. Bombus ephippiatus, a widespread species mostly found in mountains in the Neotropics, seems to use the highlands as island, and deforested lowland areas may represent barriers to their dispersal, leading to isolation and potentially loss of genetic diversity. Yet, lack of knowledge of its population structure does not allow adequate management and conservation. To fill this knowledge gap, we assessed the population structure and inferred dispersion of B. ephippiatus in two mountain-ranges in Guatemala (Volcanic Chain and Sierra de las Minas). This region is characterized by high topographic variation and considerable deforestation strain. We analyzed the effects of elevation and land-use on genetic differentiation of B. ephippiatus populations and inferred its demography in the region. Our results suggest that B. ephippiatus is able to disperse long distances across most landscape types, reflected by its high genetic diversity, high effective population size, considerable gene flow, low population differentiation, as well as the lack of isolation by distance. Hence, B. ephippiatus may be a resilient species for the provision of pollination services. However, we detected a subtle divergence of B. ephippiatus into two clusters, of which Sierra de las Minas has been identified as a regional hotspot of genetic and species endemism. Yet, differentiation is very recent and hence likely caused by lowland deforestation. The combined effects of current forest cover and elevation partially explain the observed subtle patterns of differentiation suggesting that the maintenance of suitable habitat is crucial to ensure population connectivity of this keystone pollinator.     

Genetic consequences of a single-founder population bottleneck in Trifolium amoenum (Fabaceae)

We investigated the genetic consequences of a single-founder bottleneck in a population of showy Indian clover (Trifolium amoenum), a species presumed to be extinct until rediscovered near Occidental, California, in 1993. Electrophoretic variation was evaluated in the bottlenecked population and in a larger population (Dillon Beach) discovered during the course of this study, as well as in populations of two closely related species, T. albopurpureum var. dichotomum and T. macraei. We found a surprisingly high amount of polymorphism in the single-founder T. amoenum population from Occidental (15% of loci polymorphic; an average of 1.1 alleles per locus). However, this represents a 53% reduction in number of polymorphic loci and a 20% reduction in average number of alleles per locus compared to three Trifolium populations with putatively similar mating systems (the Dillon Beach T. amoenum population and both populations of T. albopurpureum var. dichotomum). Expanding the genetic base of the Occidental T. amoenum population is a priority due to concerns about loss of evolutionary potential and the possibility of deleterious effects associated with inbreeding. However, using seed from the Dillon Beach T. amoenum population may not be beneficial due to distinct, presumably adaptive differences between plants from the two populations and concerns about outbreeding depression.     

Isozyme criteria in the testing of phyletic relationships between species of Gobius and related eastern Atlantic-Mediterranean genera (Teleostei: Gobüdae)

Horizontal starch gel electrophoresis was employed to investigate allozyme variation at 19 isozyme loci, in nine closely-related Atlantic-Mediterranean gobiid fish species, to assess genetic relationships, and to compare this with a phyletic hypothesis based on morphological apo-morphies. The species examined were Gobius niger, G. auratus, G. cruentatus, G. paganellus, Mauligobius maderensis, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus, Thorogobius ephippiatus, Padogobius martensii and P. nigricans . Various phenetic and cladistic analyses were performed on isozyme and morphological data. The phenetic and cladistic results from morphological data, and the cladistic results from isozyme data, were largely comparable, with P. martensü and P. nigricans forming a sister group to all the other taxa, species of Cobius forming a crown group within the latter, and stem lines formed by Mauligobius, Zosterisessor and Thorogobius , respectively. The isozymic estimates of genetic distance differed from these chiefly in the relative positions of Zosterisessor and G. auratus , which appear less similar to other species of Gohius. G. auratus shows many alleles which are unique within the genus Gobius ; possible explanations for this are put forward. The position of nigricans as congeneric with Padogobius martensü is confirmed by both phenetic and cladistic analyses of isozyme data.     

T and B lymphocyte populations of tumor-bearing mice treated with 1,3-bis(chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) or pyran

Summary The immunostimulator pyran copolymer and the antitumor agent 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) have been studied to determine their effect on T and B lymphocytes from BALB/c mice bearing a syngeneic tumor, Madison lung 109 carcinoma. Indirect immunofluorescent and mitogenic assays revealed that the tumor-bearing controls usually had T and B cell populations lower than those observed for the normal controls. The tumor-bearing group treated with BCNU generally had T and B cell levels lower than the tumor controls. The administration of pyran resulted in an increase of T cells and a temporary increase in the B cell population. Although this increase in the B cell population of tumor-bearing mice treated with pyran is higher than that seen for the untreated tumor controls it was never higher than in the normal control mice. The experimental results indicate that pyran appears to reconstitute the depressed T cell population and has a transitory effect on the B cell population resulting from tumor burden.     

An experiment on the culture of Tilapia esculenta (Graham) and Tilapia zillii (Gervais) (Cichlidae) in fish ponds

Segregated populations of Tilapia zillii and Tilapia esculenta were kept in artificial ponds. Supplementary food was given and phytoplankton was encouraged by the addition of superphosphate and ammonium sulphate fertilisers. The fry were cropped regularly in an attempt to control population size. A control population of T. zillii was also established in which none of these procedures were carried out.
The growth of T. esculenta was found to be dependent upon the phytoplankton density of the pond whilst T. zillii successfully utilized the supplementary food and grew well. The T. esculenta population also produced more fry than the T. zillii population. The comparative advantages of planktrvorous/brooders and herbivorous/guarders in fish culture are considered.
Despite the fecundity of the species used a population of known composition was maintained by manual cropping of the fry.
The addition of ammonium sulphate to the ponds caused blooms of phytoplankton which in turn had effects upon the base reserves and pH of the water, and probably caused some reduction of oxygen concentration beneath surface scums. This last point is used to explain the changes in phosphate and calcium content of the water also observed.
The low oxygen concentration frequently noted in the mornings probably affected the feeding behaviour of the fishes, and was low enough to have affected metabolism directly.     

朱砂叶螨体内感染的Wolbachia的wsp基因序列测定与分析

应用Wolbachia的wsp基因特异引物,通过PCR扩增法对我国朱砂叶螨Tetranychus cinnabarinus7个地理种群进行了检测。在采自黑龙江佳木斯、安徽安庆、江苏镇江和浙江慈溪的4个地理种群中扩增出了596bp左右的Wolbachia的wsp基因片段,而在河北威县、山东滨州和湖北赤壁3个地理种群中未发现这个Wolbachia特征基因片段,表明 Wolbachia在我国朱砂叶螨中的侵染较为普遍。通过对我国朱砂叶螨体内感染的 Wolbachia的wsp基因序列进行系统发育分析,得出它们全部与B大组的Ori组的Wolbachia株十分相近或完全相同,提示它们可能是相近或相同的株。     

Idiotype-specific helper cells (BH) express immunoglobulin markers and employ T cell function-associated molecules

An Lyt-1+ population, distinct from T cell subsets, that helps expression of B cell responses to the 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl acetyl (NP) hapten was characterized. This lymphoid population, called BH, is present in the spleens of normal and athymic mice and preferentially helps the expression of plaque-forming B cells that carry NPb idiotypic determinants. To define the mechanism by which this cell population functions, the roles of T and B lymphocyte function associated antigens were studied. The data indicate that BH cells express immunoglobulin receptor components, i.e., IgM, IgD heavy chain, and lambda light chain immunoglobulin markers as well as the J11d marker associated with immature B cells. BH cells may also express determinants identical to or cross-reactive with the T cell-associated antigens L3T4a, L3T4b, and LFA-1 as defined by treatment with monoclonal antibodies specific for these antigens. In addition, L3T4a- and LFA-1- but not Lyt-1-like antigens appear to be functionally involved in BH-dependent helper activity, since augmentation of NPb idiotypic PFC responses was blocked with anti-L3T4a or anti-LFA-1 monoclonal antibodies. Further analysis of BH-containing populations indicates that T cells are probably not involved in BH cell function and therefore are not responsible for the presence of Lyt-1, L3T4a, or L3T4b determinants in this T-independent system. The relationship of this helper cell subset to conventional T and B cell populations is discussed.     

六种犁头尖属植物(天南星科)的核型研究

报道了 6种 8个居群犁头尖属 ( Typhonium Schott)植物的核型 ,其结果如下 :( 1 )独角莲 ( T.gigan-teum)北京居群 2 n=4 x=5 2 =4 4m+ 7sm+ 1 st;( 2 )鞭檐犁头尖 ( T.flagelliforme)金平居群 2 n=3x=2 4 =3m+ 9sm( 4 SAT) + 1 2 st,河内居群 2 n=4 x=32 =7m+ 2 0 st+ 4sm+ 1 t;( 3)单籽犁头尖 ( T. calcicolum)西畴居群2 n=4 x=5 2 =2 1 sm+ 2 3m( 5 SAT) + 8st;( 4 )犁头尖 ( T.blumei)重庆居群 2 n=4 x=5 2 =4 0 m( 1 SAT) + 1 2 sm( 3SAT) ;( 5 )马蹄犁头尖 ( T.trilobatum)西双版纳居群 2 n=2 x=1 8=4 sm( 2 SAT) + 1 2 m+ 2 st,河内居群 2 n=2 x=1 8=2 st+ 9m+ 7sm;( 6 )金慈菇 ( T. roxburgii)个旧居群 2 n=2 x=1 8=8sm+ 1 0 m( 2 SAT)。其中鞭檐犁头尖 2 n=2 4、32 ,金慈菇 2 n=1 8均为首次报道 ,同时分析讨论了本属植物染色体基数和倍性的多样性及其可能的原始基数     

Genetic association of Glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) and NAD(P)H:Quinone Oxidoreductase 1(NQO1) variants and their association of CAD in patients with type-2 diabetes

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major health concern and the leading cause of death in individuals with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) are known for its broad range of detoxification. The role of functional variants of these genes in the development of various disorders is proven. Hereby, we investigated the possible role of these variants in the development of CAD in T2DM patients of South Indian population. In this case-control study, a total of 539 patients (T2DM = 241; T2DM-CAD = 298) and 285 controls were included. The C198T GPx-1 and C609T NQO1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR-RFLP. Further, these genotypes were correlated with blood lipid profile. Regression analysis showed that GPx1-C/T genotype is associated with a 1.35-fold increase (95% CI = 1.000-1.824; P = 0.048) and GPx1-T/T genotype is associated with a 1.76-fold increase (95% CI = 1.011 to 3.066; P = 0.046) to the T2DM development. Increased odds ratio showed that NQO1-T/T genotype had a higher occurrence of CAD in diabetic patients with CAD (95% CI = 1.003-2.674, P = 0.049) than T2DM patients without CAD. The level of triglycerides alone showed significant increase for GPx-1-C/T and -T/T genotypes in Tukey's Post hoc analysis (177.1 ± 19.2 vs. 184 ± 23.5; P = 0.039 and 177.1 ± 19.2 vs. 190 ± 22.4; P = 0.006) among the patients with T2DM-CAD. Our work concludes that GPx-1 variants might contribute to the development of diabetes and both GPx-1 and NQO1 variants confirm the association of CAD in people with T2DM of South Indian population.     

SCAR-based real time PCR to identify a biocontrol strain (T1) of Trichoderma atroviride and study its population dynamics in soils

Strains of Trichoderma spp. are known for their antagonistic properties against plant pathogens, some are already on the market, others are under development. In order to launch a strain on the market its perfect identification at the species and strain levels is needed. The aim of this study is to (i) design a SCAR marker for specific identification of strain T1 of Trichoderma atroviride and (ii) monitor population dynamics of this strain in soil by real time PCR. A primer pair targeting a 141-bp fragment enabled specific detection of this strain without cross detection of autochthonous populations of Trichoderma in several field soils. In two soils, population dynamics assessed by real time PCR and the soil plate technique gave similar results. The molecular tools developed in this study satisfy the requirement for specific identification of the biocontrol strain and for detection and quantification of T. atroviride T1 population in complex environments.     

Modulation of androgens in southern hemisphere temperate breeding sparrows (Zonotrichia capensis): an altitudinal comparison

Most work investigating modulation of testosterone (T) levels in birds has focused on northern temperate and Arctic species, and to a lesser degree, tropical species. Studies exploring modulation of T in birds in temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere are lacking. Here we explore patterns of T secretion across the breeding season in two populations of temperate Zonotrichia capensis in Chile, located only 130 km apart, but separated by 2000 m in elevation. We then compared these T profiles to those of conspecifcs in the tropics and congeners in northern zones. We measured baseline T levels during pre-breeding in lowland Z. c. chilensis, early breeding in highland Z. c. chilensis and mid-breeding in both populations. We also tested for social stimulation of T secretion during mid-breeding in both populations. Lastly, we challenged the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis of the lowland population with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) to determine maximum possible T production. We found that the highland population adjusted T secretion across the breeding season like northern species. Neither Z. c. chilensis population modulated T in response to social stimuli, nor the HPG axis of the lowland population was not maximally active during either pre- or mid-breeding. These results suggest that patterns of circulating T in the highland population of Z. c. chilensis in the Southern Hemisphere are similar to congeners in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but those of the lowland population of Z. c. chilensis are not, and are more similar to conspecifics breeding in the tropics.     

Population structure of a widespread bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) in an island system

Dispersal is a driving factor in the creation and maintenance of biodiversity, yet little is known about the effects of habitat variation and geography on dispersal and population connectivity in most mammalian groups. Bats of the family Molossidae are fast‐flying mammals thought to have potentially high dispersal ability, and recent studies have indicated gene flow across hundreds of kilometers in continental North American populations of the Brazilian free‐tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis. We examined the population genetics, phylogeography, and morphology of this species in Florida and across islands of The Bahamas, which are part of an island archipelago in the West Indies. Previous studies indicate that bats in the family Phyllostomidae, which are possibly less mobile than members of the family Molossidae, exhibit population structuring across The Bahamas. We hypothesized that T. brasiliensis would show high population connectivity throughout the islands and that T. brasiliensis would show higher connectivity than two species of phyllostomid bats that have been previously examined in The Bahamas. Contrary to our predictions, T. brasiliensis shows high population structure between two groups of islands in The Bahamas, similar to the structure exhibited by one species of phyllostomid bat. Phylogenetic and morphological analyses suggest that this structure may be the result of ancient divergence between two populations of T. brasiliensis that subsequently came into contact in The Bahamas. Our findings additionally suggest that there may be cryptic species within T. brasiliensis in The Bahamas and the West Indies more broadly.     

Cranial differentiation and evolution in Thrichomys apereoides (Rodentia: Echinyidae)

Thrichomys apereoides is an echimyid rodent which ranges in distribution from north-eastern and central Brazil into Paraguay, and currently five subspecies are recognized. Recent morphometric analyses of population samples formally assignable to T. a. laurentius and T. a. inermis , which occur in north-eastern Brazil, have shown that a major group of populations including both subspecies differ in cranial shape from a single population allocated to T. a. laurentius . In this study we employed mathematical models of evolutionary quantitative genetics to assess the role that random drift and selection may have played in the evolution of cranial shape differences in T. apereoides . The hypothesis of evolution due to drift was rejected and the selective forces necessary to account for shape differences were estimated. Minimum selective mortalities of the order of 10^-3 of per generation were sufficient to explain the observed morphologic differentiation.     

Characterization of anti-idiotypic suppressor T cells (Tsid) induced after antigen priming

The induction and fine specificity of idiotype-specific suppressor T cells (Tsid) were studied. Spleen cells from C57BL/6 mice, immunized 4 wk previously with NP-KLH, failed to express NPb3 idiotype-bearing PFC when challenged in vitro with NP-Ficoll or NP-Brucella abortus. After treatment of NP-primed responder cultures with anti-Thy-1.2 anti-serum + C, NPb idiotype-bearing B cells could be detected. This B cell subset was preferentially suppressed by the addition of T cells from NP-primed mice. With this reconstitution protocol, it was determined that suppression of the NPb idiotype-bearing portion of the B cell response was mediated by a specifically induced T cell population (Tsid) that directly suppressed NPb-bearing B cells. As with a previously described suppressor population induced with hapten-modified syngeneic spleen cells (Ts2), the Tsid population bound and was lysed by NPb idiotype-bearing serum antibodies. However, the Tsid could be distinguished from the Ts2 population because it lacked I-J determinants and functioned as an effector T cell, not an intermediary suppressor cell. Furthermore, fine specificity studies with monoclonal NP-specific antibodies expressing various levels of serologically detectable NPb idiotypic determinants indicated that unlike the Ts2, the Tsid population reacts with conventional, serologically detected members of the NPb family. The combined idiotype binding studies for the Tsid and Ts2 populations demonstrate that the fine specificity of suppressor T cell populations reflects their independent mechanisms of regulation.