Révision d'?Orthis? berthoisiRouault, 1849Orthida (Brachiopoda) de l'Ordovicien du Massif Armoricain

Since it is impossible to state about any genericassignment for Orthis berthoisiRouault, 1849the species name is herein restricted to original specimens figured by the author. The study of the Brachiopods from the St-Germain-sur-Ille Formation allows to confirm the first determination by De Tromelin &Lebesconte (1875)and to establish their conspecificity with Orthis berthoisi var. erratica described in 1869 by Davidson from the Budleigh-Salterton pebbles. The successive assignment of the species erratica to the genus Svobodaina(Cocks, 1978) then to Corineorthis(Cocks & Lockley, 1981) is discussed. The attribution to the genus DrabovinellaHavlicek, 1951appears most likely.     

Structure de la paroi de Aremoricanium rigaudae Deunff, 1955 (Acritarche,Ordovicien)

The wall of Aremoricanium rigaudaeDeunff, 1955, type-species by original designation of the genus AremoricaniumDeunff, 1955, is composed of two layers: the internal one has a circular opening while the second is the only one which develops the processes and a tubular expansion.     

Structure d'adhérencedes grains de pollen en tétrade du genre Classopollis PFLUG, 1953, de l'Hettangien de Saint-Fromont,Manche (France)

Palynological inventory of Saint-Fromont pit 0815 (Manche, France) related to Hettangian seems to show the conspecificity of Classopollis chateaunoviReyre, 1970, Classopollis kieseriReyre, 1970 and Classopollis harisiiMuir & Van Konijnenburg-Van Cittert, 1970. SEM pictures exibit some sculptural elements interpreted as structural attachments of grains in tetrad and compared to those of genus DicheiropollisTrevisan, 1971.     

Les Cricetidae (Rodentia,Mammalia)de la Milloque (bassin d'Aquitaine): Horizon repère de l'Oligocène supérieur

A screen washed and hand sorted sample of six tons sediments from La Milloque (Lot-et-Garonne) has yielded to the author several thousand micromammal's teeth. Among the Rodents, four extinct species of Cricetids have been recognized: Eucricetodon praecursor (Schaub, 1925); Adelomyarion viretiHugueney, 1969; Pseudocricetodon cf. thaleri (Hugueney, 1969); Melissiodon quercyiSchaub, 1920. The fossil remain's study affords many paleontological informations more particularly for E. praecursor, a previously poorly known species. About the upper Oligocene biochronology the four species' evolution degrees prove the statute of reference locality attributed to La Milloque, «mammalian timemark just below the reference locality of Coderet (Allier). Moreover it's pointed out that the locality of Rickenbach (Switzerland) is slightly older than La Milloque, whereas an intermediate age between La Milloque and Coderet can be suggested for the locality of Dicupentale (Tarn-et-Garonne).     

Précisions morphologiques,structurales et systématiques sur Reptomulticava parviporosa CANU et LECOINTRE (Bryozoa,cyclostomata)

This miocene organism was described as an Alga (Lithophyllym vinassaiPATRINI, 1932 = Neosolenopora patriniiMASTRORILLI, 1955) and as a Bryozoan (Reptomulticava parviporosaCANU et LECOINTRE, 1934). This paper shows several salient features of Cyclostomatous Bryozoans (morphology, microstructure, zoarial brood chamber). The arguments for the classing of this organism among Algae are simultaneously refuted (pseudo-differentiation of the thallus, conceptacles).     

The marginal value theorem: A quantitative test using load size variation in a central place forager,the Eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus

Chipmunks filling their cheek pouches with sunflower seeds decrease their rate of loading as their cheek pouches fill. Under these conditions, Charnov's (1976) marginal value theorem, as adapted for load size in ‘central place foragers’ by Orians & Pearson (1979), predicts an increase in load size with increased travel time between the foraging site and burrow. This prediction was verified. However, the quantitative predictive value of the theory is questioned because it failed to predict accurately either the actual loads or the trend in load size with distance.     

Étude préliminaire des genres Cycadopteris Zigno, 1853 et Lomatopteris Schimper, 1869

The study of leaf-impressions, with preserved cuticles, collected in the Callovian of Bourgogne (France), and belonging to the genus LomatopterisSchimper, 1869 emend. Saporta, 1873, has permitted to confirm and justify the synonymy of the genera CycadopterisZigno, 1853 and LomatopterisSchimper proposed by Hirmer (1924). The cuticular studies have been carried on with a conventional optical microscope after an usual maceration and also with the use of the scanning electron microscope. Comparisons are established with cuticles proceeding from the Lias of Italy and refered to the genus CycadopterisZigno.     

Comparison of problem-solving performance in six-week-old wolves and dogs

A theoretical model proposed by the first author (Frank 1980) hypothesizes that timber wolves (Canis lupus) should perform better than dogs (C. familiaris) on problem-solving tasks requiring ‘insight’, such as the detour test devised by Kohler (1927) and adapted by Scott & Fuller (1965) for use with 6-week-old domestic dog pups. Three barrier problems (short barrier, long barrier, and U-barrier) were administered to four 6-week-old Eastern wolf (C. l. lycaon) pups. Post hoc comparisons with results obtained by Scott & Fuller confirm the hypothesis.     

Notes on the Melanorosauridae,a family of large Prosauropod Dinosaurs (Saurischia: Sauropodomorpha)

The femur of the anchisaurid (= plateosaurid) prosauropoddinosaur Euskelosaurus browniiHuxley, 1866 from the lower Elliot Formation (Upper Triassic) of South Africa is sigmoidal in posterior view with the fourth trochanter well removed from the medial edge. The sympatric Melanorosaurus readiHaughton, 1924 is not a junior synonym of Euskelosaurus brownii because the femur is straight in posterior view with the fourth trochanter close to the medial edge. In addition to Melanorosaurus, the Melanorosauridae Huene, 1929 includes Camelotia borealis nov. gen. and nov. sp. from the Upper Triassic of England, Riojasaurus incertusBonaparte, 1969 from the Upper Triassic of Argentina, and possibly some of the posteranial material referred to the? rauisuchian the codontian Sinosaurus triassicusYoung, 1948 from the Lower Jurassic of China.     

A propos de Mus gaudryi (Mammalia,Rodentia) et des premiers Apodemus (A. Primaevus et A. Gudrunae) du Miocene superieur europeen

Apodemus primaevusHUGUENEY & MEIN, 1965 from the upper Turolian of western Europ which was recentlycontested seems after examination of numerous specimens to be a valid species; Mus gaudryi must be invalided; on the other hand Apodemus gudrunae van de WEERD, 1976 is considered to be a junior synonyme of the former.     

Révision de quatre espèces actuelles de Celleporaria (Bryozoa,Cheilostomata) décrites par de Lamarck en 1816

The bryozoa described by de Lamarck in 1816 are not well known. Four types of the Cellepora group have been found in the zoological collections of Museum d'Histoire naturelle in Paris: Celleporaria oculata, C. cristata, C. oliva and C. endivia. C. oculata is the type-species of the genus CelleporariaLamouroux, 1821. This revision confirms the synonymy of some species described subsequently.     

Territory quality,male quality,courtship intrusions,and female nest-choice in the threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus

In a recent study (Sargent & Gebler 1980), we allowed male sticklebacks to compete for a limited number of clay flowerpots as nest sites in circular wading pools. Although the males who nested in post enjoyed higher reproductive success (Sargent & Gebler 1980), a further analysis of these data revealed the males in these two classes did not differ significantly with regard to territory size, total courtships, and female rejections of the nest. In the present study, for the first half of the experiment, flowerpots were assigned randomly to half of the males nesting in wading pools; the pots were later taken from those males who first had them and were given to the remaining males for the second half of the experiment. Using paired comparisons, each male's performance was examined with and without a flowerpot. The males received more female nest-choices, and fewer intrusions from other males, when their nests were in flowerpots; however, the females appeared to engage in courtships with males independently of the males' nest site concealment. For the two classes of nest site concealment, the males were not significantly heterogeneous for the number of nest-choices that they received: thus male quality did not appear to directly affect female nest-choice. These results suggest that territory quality, in the form of nest site concealment, was the most important determinant of female nest-choice and male reproductive success in the experiments of Sargent & Gebler (1980). Females appear to minimize the risk of egg-cannibalism by spawning with those males who experience the least amount of courtship interference.     

Paléoxylologie: Étude anatomique comparée de Scleromedulloxylon aveyronense nov. gen. nov. sp. du Permien de St-Affrique (Aveyron,France); considérations taxinomiques et stratigraphiques

The fossil woods studied in the present paper were collected by P. Béziat in the Permian Basin of St-Affrique (Southern Aveyron). They come from near Calmels. They are the first fossil woods collected and described in this basin.The secondary wood refers to the form genus Dadoxylon and more exactly to the speciesDadoxylon schrollianum (Goeppert, 1864–65) Frentzen, 1931, Frentzen, 1931. The pith is certainly related with the pith structure of Walchiapremnon valdajolenseFlorin, 1940.The association of a Dadoxylon secondary wood with an irregularly septate pith containinggroups of probably sclerotic cells can be found in Cedroxylon varollenseRenault, 1893–1896, Renault and Roche, 1894 from the Basin of Autun. It is not possible to conserve the species varollense in the genus Cedroxylon and we propose the form genus Scleromedulloxylon for the petrified structure from Autun and for the fossil woods of St-Affrique.Furthermore, a comparative anatomical study of the different Permo-Carboniferous structuresfrom the Euramerican province let us, when it is possible, distinguish structure-types related to Cordaitophyts or to Coniferophyts. In the present case, Scleromedulloxylo should rather correspond to the fossil wood of an Autunian Coniferophyt, that is to Walchia structure.     

Aethophyllum BRONGNIART 1828, Conifère (non Équisétale)du Grès à Voltzia (Buntsandstein supérieur) des Vosges (France): Note préliminaire

AethophyllumBRONGNIART 1828 is a plant genus from the Voltzia Sandstones (Upper Bunter) of the Vosges which has been classified first into the Monocotyledons and than into the Equisetales. A careful study of new material shows that it actually is a Gymnosperm and more exactly a Conifer. Male cones found separately have already been described under the name Masculostrobus acuminatusGRAUVOGEL-STAMM and GRAUVOGEL, 1973. This Triassic plant presents simultaneously affinities with some Cordaites (Poacordaites) and with some Podozamites (P. schenki-agardhianus group of Harris 1935 + Swedenborgia).     

Additions a la faune de sélaciens fossilesdu Maroc: 1: Sur la présence des genres Heptranchias,Alopias etOdontorhytis dans l'Yprésien des Ouled Abdoun

Recent researches in the phosphat-bearing basins ofMorocco have allowed to collect new selachian forms. In this paper, three Ypresian genera from Ouled Abdoun basin, new for Morocco, are described: Heptranchias howellii (Reed, 1946), Alopias denticulatus nov. sp. and Odontorhytis pappenheimiBöhm, 1926. The re-discovery of the genus Odontorhytis allows to state precisely its morphological dental features and to affirm that it is well a selachian and not a teleostean, as it was thought. The stratigraphic distribution of some species is stated precisely.     

Scolécodontes,assemblage et appareil de vers annelidespolychetes errantes de l'aptien de la région d'Agadir,Maroc

From the Aptian scolecodonts inventory of the Agadir area one jaw apparatus and one joining of polychetes are reconstructed. One is the elementary species Schistomeringos expectatusSzaniawski & Gazdzicki, 1978, the oldest representative of the multielementary family Dorvilleidae Chamberlin 1919. The other is a representative of either the multielementary families Atraktoprionidae Kielan Jaworowska 1966 emend. Kozur, 1970 or Arabellidae Hartman 1944. This joining is considered as an hypothesis since all the necessary criteria, defined by H. Szaniawski & A. Gazdzicki 1978, are not all present.     

Nouvelles observations de cannelures horizontalessur les berges vaseuses de l'estuaire de la Gambie et leur interpretation comme traces de broutage de poissons

Localisation, morphology and scratches wich characterise fluting features observed in the Gambia estuary are due 0610 to the feeding activity of fishes (as have suggested Schwarz et alii, 1975) and not due to the effects of biodestruction as proposed by F. Teissier (1957).     

On the type species of the genus Parapodemus and late turolian Apodemus associations: Remarks on an article by P. Mein in Géobios no 11, fasc. 3, 1978

Mus (Acomys?) gaudryiDAMES, 1883 (1) is considered to be the type species of Parapodemus, because “the type of any taxon, once fixed in conformity with the provisions of the international code of zoological nomenclature, is not subject to change except by exercise of the plenary powers of the commission” (see art. 61 and 70 of the code). Parapodemus schaubiPAPP, 1947 (2) is considered to be a junior synonym of P. gaudryi. The late Turolian Apodemus primaevusHUGUENEY and MEIN, 1965 (3), and A. gudrunaeVAN DE WEERD, 1976 (4), are sufficiently different from one another and from P. gaudryi to warrant their recognition as separate species.     

Fluorocitrate inhibition of aconitase. Reversibility of the inactivation

Fluoride ion is released nearly stoichiometrically when (?)-erythro-fluorocitrate is incubated with aconitase. The release of F^? parallels the loss in activity and could arise from direct displacement of F^? by a base on the enzyme or from dehydration to fluoro-cis-aconitate and attack of an enzymic base to release F^?. Aconitase inactivated by ¹⁴C-fluorocitrate does not retain radioactivity when passed through G-50 Sephadex or precipitated by ammonium sulfate. Fullenzymicactivity can be regained after either of these treatments by activation by cysteine and ferrous salts. These data are consistent with the report of fluorocitrate being a competitive (and non-competitive) inhibitor of aconitase (Villafranca, J.J. (1972) Intra-Science Chem. Rept. 6 (4), 1–11) which rapidly inactivates the enzyme. This inactivated enzyme may be a very labile covalent complex, a very tight complex between enzyme and fluoro-cis-aconitate or a tight complex between a defluorinated deravitive of fluorocitrate.In the course of Peters (1957) extensive work on the toxic effects of fluoroacetate, he determined that fluoroacetate was metabolically converted to fluorocitrate. This finding and the fact that citrate levels rise soon after ingestion of fluoroacetate led to the suggestion that fluorocitrate inactivates aconitase (E.C. 4.2.1.2).Recently, conflicting reports concerning the site of inactivation in mitochondria by the inhibiting isomer of fluorocitrate, (?)-erythro-fluorocitrate (1R:2R, 1-fluoro-2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylate) have appeared (Eanes et al. 1972; Brand et al, 1973). Eanes et al. (1972) contends that the tricarboxylate carrier is the site of inhibition, while Brand et al. (1973) has compelling evidence that aconitase is the site of inhibition. This controversy is a matter of intrepretation of the results and a greater knowledge of the inactivation of aconitase by fluorocitrate may be useful in these interpretations. The results reported herein are concerned with the mechanism of inactivation of purified mitochondrial aconitase by fluorocitrate and demonstrate that this reaction is readily reversible.