Phenotypic plasticity of body size in a temperate population ofDrosophila melanogaster: When the temperature—size rule does not apply

A natural population ofDrosophila melanogaster in southern France was sampled in three different years and 10 isofemale lines were investigated from each sample. Two size-related traits, wing and thorax length, were measured and the wing/thorax ratio was also calculated. Phenotypic plasticity was analysed after development at seven different constant temperatures, ranging from 12‡C to 31‡C. The three year samples exhibited similar reaction norms, suggesting a stable genetic architecture in the natural population. The whole sample (30 lines) was used to determine precisely the shape of each reaction norm, using a derivative analysis. The practical conclusion was that polynomial adjustments could be used in all cases, but with different degrees: linear for the wing/thorax ratio, quadratic for thorax length, and cubic for wing length. Both wing and thorax length exhibited concave reaction norms, with a maximum within the viable thermal range. The temperatures of the maxima were, however, quite different, around 15‡C for the wing and 19.5‡C for the thorax. Assuming that thorax length is a better estimate of body size, it is not possible to state that increasing the temperature results in monotonically decreasing size (the temperature-size rule), although this is often seen to be the case for genetic variations in latitudinal clines. The variability of the traits was investigated at two levels—within and between lines—and expressed as a coefficient of variation. The within-line (environmental) variability revealed a regular, quadratic convex reaction norm for the three traits, with a minimum around 21‡C. This temperature of minimum variability may be considered as a physiological optimum, while extreme temperatures are stressful. The between-line (genetic) variability could also be adjusted to quadratic polynomials, but the curvature parameters were not significant. Our results show that the mean values of the traits and their variance are both plastic, but react in different ways along a temperature gradient. Extreme low or high temperatures decrease the size but increase the variability. These effects may be considered as a functional response to environmental stress.     

Patterns of movements of fish with negative type of rheoreaction

Experiments carried out on underyearlings of four fish species—roach Rutilus rutilus, carp Cyprinus carpio, bream Abramis brama, and perch Perca fluviatilis—at illumination of 200–300 lx showed that the specimens with negative type of rheoreaction move downstream mainly (47–93%) in the active form, with their heads downstream, and rarer (3–37%) in the active-passive form, with their tails downstream. Increase of motivation for downstream movement caused by starvation leads to a higher part of fish with an active form of movement and to greater speed of movement of underyearlings. Active downstream movement is a manifestation of rheoreaction.     

Morphological studies on the Sulawesi macaques I: Phyletic analysis of body color

The body color of Sulawesi macaques was measured quantitatively and compared among the different monkeys. As a result, divergence models for extant Sulawesi macaques, withtonkeana as the starting point and fading as the sole direction of color change, were inferred as follows: (1) fading slightly on the upper half of the body—nigra, fading more on the proximal part of the body—nigrescens; (2) fading over the whole body—maura; (3) fading greatly on the legs—hecki; and (4) fading on the distal part of the body—ochreata, fading more over the whole body, including the proximal part of the body—brunnescens. The color changed progressively in the order of (1) through (4). The divergence model, excluding the position ofhecki (3), supports the speciation model ofFooden (1969). If the proto-Sulawesi macaques had a body color pattern similar to the livingnemestrina, darkening would have been necessary for the evolution of the Sulawesi macaques after their immigration, and it may have been acquired as an adaptation to the ground (forest floor) living nature of the Sulawesi macaques, together with influences deriving from the insularity and/or from the absence of predators.     

Norm enforcement among the Ju/’hoansi Bushmen

The concept of cooperative communities that enforce norm conformity through reward, as well as shaming, ridicule, and ostracism, has been central to anthropology since the work of Durkheim. Prevailing approaches from evolutionary theory explain the willingness to exert sanctions to enforce norms as self-interested behavior, while recent experimental studies suggest that altruistic rewarding and punishing—“strong reciprocity”—play an important role in promoting cooperation. This paper will use data from 308 conversations among the Ju/’hoansi (!Kung) Bushmen (a) to examine the dynamics of norm enforcement, (b) to evaluate the costs of punishment in a forager society and understand how they are reduced, and (c) to determine whether hypotheses that center on individual self-interest provide sufficient explanations for bearing the costs of norm enforcement, or whether there is evidence for strong reciprocity. Polly Wiessner is a professor of anthropology at the University of Utah. She has carried out fieldwork with the Ju/’hoansi of the Kalahari for the past 30 years on social networks, style in artifacts, economy, population, nutrition, and social change. She has also worked among the Enga of Papua New Guinea since 1985 on the oral history of exchange, ritual, and warfare.     

The state of gonads of resident sockeye salmon <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus nerka</Emphasis> from the Tolmachev Reservoir

Morphology of gonads and structure of sex cells in females and males of the resident sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka—kokanee—from Tolmachevskoe Reservoir are investigated. Anomalies in structure of sex cells and structure of oocytes are found. Partial or mass resorpbion of cells in the ovaries of males and testes of males is found, leading to sterility of gonads. The relationship between anomalies found in structure of the sex system of kokanee, changes in biological parameters of fish and the increase of the population abundance is discussed.     

Background to work on retinoids and amphibian limb regeneration: Studies on anuran tadpoles—a retrospect

Studies on the effects of exogenous vitamin A palminate on limb development and regeneration in anuran tadpoles carried out since late 1960s at the author’s laboratory are reviewed and discussed. Most significant was the initial discovery that vitamin A causes regeneration of complete or nearly complete limbs instead of only the missing distal part, thus altering the P-D pattern of regeneration—a phenomenon now called proximalization. Often more than one such regenerates develop per stump. Vitamin A produces proximalizing effect on regeneration cells during their dedifferentiation and blastema formation but inhibits regeneration if given once redifferentiation begins. Shank-level blastemas from treated tadpoles grafted into orbits of previously treated/untreated host tadpoles formed complete limbs. Proximalizing effect is proportionate to vitamin A concentration, duration of treatment, amputational level and stage of tadpoles. Vitamin A produces this effect also if given only prior to amputation. Its influence persists after cessation of treatment, declining with time. Proximalizing effect is correlated with natural ability in limbs to regenerate. Vitamin A improves regenerative ability and can induce it to some extent in non-regenerating limbs. Vitamin A excess retards limb development and produces stage dependent teratogenic defects. Further development of only that limb region is prevented in which differentiation is beginning when vitamin A is given. Short treatment of tadpoles beginning with limbs at spatula/paddle stage inhibited foot development in the unoperated limbs hut promoted regeneration of complete limbs from the contra-lateral amputated limbs. These dual effects were due to cells of the former differentiating and of the latter dedifferentiating when exposed to vitamin A palmitate.     

Partial caudal duplication in a newborn associated with meningomyelocele and complex heart anomaly

BACKGROUND: Caudal duplication is a spectrum of rare congenital anomalies with a possible heterogeneous pathogenesis including incomplete separation of monovular twins. METHODS: We report an autopsy case of a full-term infant with incomplete caudal duplication syndrome associated with multiple anomalies. RESULTS: These anomalies included a duplicated penis; double urinary bladder with an attenuated tunica muscularis; duplication of lower bowel with two ilia, appendices and colons; colonic hypogangliosis and left imperforated anus associated with rectourethral fistula. Other anomalies consisted of sacral meningomyelocele, sacral duplication with hypoplastic left sacrum and pelvic bones, muscle atrophy and hypoplasia of the left lower extremity, abnormal lobation of liver with stomach entrapment, omphalocele, and right atrial isomerism syndrome. The complex pattern of anomalies suggests the possibility that partial caudal duplication might be part of the spectrum of conjoined twinning.     

Spatially distributed stochasticity and the constancy of ecosystems

Ifconstancy is a measure of an ecosystem's (in) variability through time andstability is a measure of the system's ability to damp and recover from environmental perturbations, then constancy depends not only on stability but also on the frequency and amplitude of perturbations—theenvironmental “noise level”. The stability of an ecosystem reflects its texture, extent, and viscosity (fine-scale structure); the noise level experienced by the system (“effective” noise level) reflects the level at any point (“ambient” noise level), the spectrum of stochastic scale (regional distribution of stochasticity), and the system's spatial extent (size, or number of patches included). The coefficient of variation of a limiting stochastic variate is a measure of the effective noise level. Ifp is the total number of patches in the system (its extent) andn is the number of contiguous patches with noise signals correlated through time (its stochastic scale), then the coefficient of variation is directly proportional to whenevern<p. Thus ecosystems of small stochastic scalen or large sizep damp out environmental noise by “spreading the risk” in space, thereby reducing their variability in time.     

Role of thyroid hormone in the ontogeny and morphological diversification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Barbus intermedius sensu</Emphasis> Banister, 1973 of Lake Tana in Ethiopia

The role of thyroid hormone in the ontogeny of the Large African barb Barbus intermedius sensu Banister, 1973 (Teleostei; Cyprinidae)—the presumed ancestral species for the species flock of the large African Barbs of Lake Tana (Ethiopia)—has been studied. It has been shown that the thyroid hormone influences the timing and rate of many morphogenetic processes and a change in its level causes heterochronies, affecting the definitive morphology of fish. Thus, it can be assumed that even a slight change in activity of the thyroid axis during ontogeny can be the cause of wide morphological variability in B. intermedius and may underlie explosive diversification of the species flock of Large African Barbs of Lake Tana.     

Scaling of Size and Dimorphism in Primates I: Microevolution

I used a new quantitative genetics model to predict relationships between sex-specific body size and sex-specific relative variability when populations experience differences in relative intensity of sex-specific selection pressures—stronger selection on males or females—and direction of selection: increase or decrease in size. I combined Lande's (Evolution 34: 292–305) model for the response of sex-specific means to selection with a newly derived generalization of Bulmer's (Am. Nat. 105: 201–211) model for the response of relative variability to selection. I used this combined response model to predict correlations of sex-specific size and relative variability under various starting conditions, which one can compare to correlations between closely related primate populations. One can then compare predicted patterns of sex-specific selection pressures to social and ecological variables pertaining to those populations to identify likely forces producing microevolutionary change in sexual size dimorphism (SSD). I provide examples of this approach for populations representing three taxa: Papio anubis, Saguinus mystax, and Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus. Model results suggest that microevolutionary changes in SSD can result from greater selection acting on males or females, and that natural selection or natural and sexual selection combined, rather than sexual selection alone, may sometimes explain sex-specific selection differentials.     

Structure of lateral-line scales in representatives of families of the order pleuronectiformes

Structure of nonmodified scales and lateral-line scales (Sll) is compared in 179 species of 105 genera of 13 families of the order Pleuronectiformes. Morphological diversity of Sll depends on the level of development and of interaction of two component parts—the scale plate and the tubular part. Of the considered characters, the most individually variable character is whether the tubular part is complete or incomplete. The interspecies differences may manifest themselves in structure of the scale plate, the level of unification of opening of the tubular part and of the cutaneous canaliculus, or in completeness or incompleteness of the tubular part. As a rule, Sll in species of the same genus is similar in structure. In some cases, special traits of this structure may be diagnostic characters of genera and contribute to the solution of controversial issues of generic position of species. The families of Pleuronectiformes are characterized by a different ratio of taxa with certain involved characters of nonmodified scales and Sll. However, their distribution in this order does not give a simple idea on their relationships and on the direction of evolutionary transformations. This follows from the fact that the structure of Sll depends on a wide complex of factors—morphogenesis of nonmodified scales, level of ossification of trunk canal, time of anlage, and mutual influence of these structures at early stages of ontogenesis.     

Size- and locomotion-related aspects of hominid and anthropoid pelves: An osteometrical multivariate analysis

Two multivariate methods — the logarithmic principal component analysis (LPCA), and the logarithmic factorial analysis (LFA) — have been used tocompare the hip bone proportions of hominoids biometrically. The results have shown that size effects among apes and hominids interact to a centain extent with locomotor specializations, which are related to the attainment of more or less terrestrial behaviors. The pelvic morphology of great apes (Pongo, Pan, Gorilla) has retained numerous morphological traits — such as a gracile and elongated hip bone —, which were inherited from common adaptations to arboreal locomotion. In spite of these common traits, the African pongids (Pan, Gorilla) present two very different pelvic morphologies corresponding to two adaptative modes of terrestrial quadrupedalism. The hip bone of humans is proportionnally short and robust, most particularly at the level of its axial part. These characteristics, as well as the whole pelvic proportions, clearly indicate that gravitational forces exert a strong pressure on the pelvic walls during bipedalism. Among hominids, the transition from an australopithecine-like pelvic pattern to a human-like one corresponds to an increase of loading constraints on the hip jiont. This seems to indicate an evident change in locomotor behavior. Progression apparently became exclusively terrestrial with the genusHomo.     

Spatial and temporal variability in a butterfly population

Summary The dynamics of a butterfly (Plebejus argus) population were analysed at two levels, (i) the population as a whole and (ii) sections within the population. Some sections of the population fluctuated out of synchrony with others, such that the variability [SD Log(Density+1)] shown by the population as a whole was less than the variability shown by each part of the population — overall temporal variability was dampened by spatial asynchrony. Since observed population variability depends on the spatial scale that is sampled, comparisons of population variability among taxa should be carried out only with caution. Implications for island biogeography and conservation biology are discussed.     

Expression in promoter variant of the ERα gene in bos taurus liver

Due to the variant functions that estrogens play in the regulation of reproduction, development of the mammary gland, growth and differentiation of cells, estrogen receptors and their genes are considered as a candidates for the markers of production and functional traits in farm animals, including cattle. In the earliest study, a 2853-bp bovine ER gene 5′-region was PCR amplified and sequenced. Moreover, for the first time, a polymorphism was described within 5′ region of the bovine ERα gene—A/G transition lying upstream at position 2591 from acceptor splice site +85, possibly within its promoter—which could be recognized with RFLP-BglI. In other study we are found second polymorphism—A/G transition at position 1213 from acceptor splice site +85, located in promoter for exon B. We have examined the specific mRNA expression of ERα in various genotypes using real-time RT-PCR. We used four animals from each genotype group—AG, GG for BglI and AA, AG for SnaBI—to analyse liver ERα expression at the level of Real-time PCR. Liver samples were taken from the 16 young Friesian bulls of the different ERα genotypes, slaughtered at the local abattoir. As shown by Real-Time PCR, on the livers of animals with different genotype ERα mRNA for BglI polymorphism we didn’t found variability, but for SnaBI we have found variability between AG and AA genotypes.     

Recent vegetation history of Drygarn Fawr (Elenydd SSSI), Cambrian Mountains,Wales: implications for conservation management of degraded blanket mires

Many areas of blanket mire in Britain display apparently degraded vegetation, having a limited range of ericaceous and Sphagnum species. Data are presented here from Wales from the upland locality of Drygarn Fawr (Elenydd SSSI), which is dominated overwhelmingly by Molinia caerulea. Palaeoecological techniques were used to chronicle vegetation history and to determine the nature and timing of vegetation changes, as an aid to devising conservation management and restoration strategies. Although for the past 2000 years the pollen and plant macrofossil data indicate some evidence for cyclic vegetation change, they demonstrate that here the major vegetation change post-dated the start of the industrial revolution. The palaeoecological data show a greater proportion of Sphagnum than currently. Local extinction of some species (e.g., Myrica gale) apparently took place in Medieval times, but most of the degradation and floral impoverishment apparently occurred during the 20th Century. The implications for conservation management are far-reaching. The overwhelming dominance of Molinia is clearly unprecedented. While it was locally present for hundreds of years, some factor(s)—possibly a change in grazer and grazing regime—encouraged its recent ascendancy in the 20th Century. Consequently, any management attempts to reduce the pre-eminence of Molinia would not be countering an ingrained, long-established dominance. It is suggested that investigation of degraded blanket mires elsewhere by historical and multi-proxy palaeoecological techniques—through multiple, dated cores to track species extinctions and directional vegetation changes—would help ascertain previous mire floras and so indicate a range of restoration targets for mire vegetation.     

Structure and evolution of junctions between inverted repeat and small single copy regions of chloroplast genome in non-core Caryophyllales

The structure of the junction between inverted repeat (IR) and small single copy (SSC) regions of the chloroplast genome in the representatives of non-core Caryophyllales is investigated in this work. It was found that for two families—Polygonaceae and Plumbaginaceae—the extension of inverted region is characteristic. This extension is due to the duplication of the part of the ycf1 gene that is partly located in the small single copy region in plants with typical structure of IR/SSC junctions. Comparison of the position of IR/SSC junctions in different species of Polygonaceae has shown that their exact position is not correlated with the affinity of these species inferred from molecular and morphological data. Possible mechanisms leading to the change in position of IR/SSC junctions observed in this work are discussed.     

Adult index patient with Currarino syndrome due to a novel HLXB9 mutation, c.336dupG (p.P113fsX224), presenting with Hirschsprung's disease, cephalgia, and lumbodynia

BACKGROUND: The symptom triad of autosomal dominant Currarino syndrome (CS; MIM #176450) consists of anorectal malformation, a sacral bone defect, and presacral masses. Mutations in the homeoboxHLXB9 gene have already been described in a subset of sacrococcygeal anomalies characterized by partial sacral agenesis. CASE: We report a 28-year-old male patient with Currarino syndrome due to a heterozygous novel frame-shift mutation c.336dupG (p.P113fsX224) in the homeoboxHLXB9 gene. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular diagnostics may be helpful in cases of Hirschsprung's disease accompanied by other symptoms suggestive for Currarino syndrome, since it can lead to major complications such as perianal sepsis, meningitis, and malignant transformation.     

Effect of seed-specific expression of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">ipt</Emphasis> Gene on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nicotiana tabacum</Emphasis> L. seed composition

A transgenic approach to manipulation of endosperm development has been investigated. Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi, an endosperm-containing dicotyledon, has been used as a model plant and the 2.6 kb wheat high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunit 12 promoter has been used fused either to the gus reporter gene (HMWgus construct)—to study promoter characteristics—or to the Agrobacterium ipt gene—to study the effect of cytokinin (CK) over-expression on assimilate accumulation in the seed. In transgenic tobacco the promoter:gus fusion showed that HMW is an endosperm-specific promoter with maximum expression 20 days after anthesis (DAA), corresponding to the mid to late stages of seed development. Transgenic plants containing the HMWipt construct showed no morphological abnormalities but they had an average increase in seed weight and total ethanol-insoluble carbohydrates and protein content of 8.1%, 7.0% and 8.3%, respectively. SDS PAGE analysis demonstrated that the effect on protein accumulation was non-specific. The highest values of the parameters analysed correlated with moderate increases in the levels of biologically active CKs. These results suggest that ectopic expression of small amounts of CKs can be used to increase storage assimilate accumulation without a detrimental effect on development.     

A new sporadic case of early-onset Loeys-Dietz syndrome due to the recurrent mutation p.R528C in theTGFBR2 gene substantiates interindividual clinical variability

We report on a 2-year-old Polish girl with typical manifestations of Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS), a rare genetic condition belonging to the group of Marfan-related disorders. The characteristic LDS symptoms observed in the girl included craniofacial dysmorphism (craniosynostosis, cleft palate, hypertelorism), arachnodactyly, camptodactyly, scoliosis, joint laxity, talipes equinovarus, translucent and hyperelastic skin, and umbilical hernia. Mild dilatation of the ascending aorta and tortuous course of the left internal carotid artery were recognized during her second year of life. Molecular genetic testing revealed a heterozygous missense mutation (c.1582C>T, p.R528C) in the transforming growth factor beta receptor II gene (TGFBR2). This mutation has been previously associated with LDS in 5 unrelated cases, and was never reported in patients with other Marfan-related disorders. Comparison of the phenotypes of our patient and these 5 individuals with c.1582C>T showed that only the hallmark triad of the syndrome — consisting of hypertelorism, aortic root dilatation/aneurysm, and cleft palate or bifid uvula — was present in all 6 cases. Interestingly, none of the 5 individuals who underwent psychological evaluation showed developmental delay. The pattern of all other LDS features showed interindividual variability. Our data support the recently reported observation that symptoms of LDS can develop at a very young age, making early diagnosis and management essential for these patients. This is the first report on a Polish infant with typical LDS symptoms caused by aTGFBR2 mutation.     

Distribution of phytoplankton community in Kotor Bay (south-eastern Adriatic Sea)

The goal of this paper was to explain variability of phytoplankton in a shallow coastal area in relation to physico-chemical parameters. Temporal variability and composition of phytoplankton were investigated in the Kotor Bay, a small bay located in the south-eastern part of the Adriatic Sea. Samplings were performed weekly from February 2008 to January 2009 at one station in the inner part of the Kotor Bay, at five depths (0 m, 2 m, 5 m, 10 m, 15 m). Phosphates, nitrites and nitrates ranged from values under the level of detection to the maximum values of 1.54, 1.53 and 23.91 μmol l⁻¹, respectively. The phytoplankton biomass — represented by chlorophyll a concentration — ranged from 0.12 to 6.78 mg m⁻³, reaching a maximum in summer. Diatoms were present throughout the whole sampling period, reaching the highest abundance in March (3.42×10⁵ cells l⁻¹at surface). The peak of dinoflagellates in July (2.2×10⁶ cells l⁻¹ at surface) was due to a single species, Prorocentrum micans. The toxic dinoflagellate Dinophysis fortii occurred at a concentration of 2140 cells l⁻¹ in May. The present results of phytoplankton assemblages and distribution provide valuable information for this part of the south-eastern Adriatic Sea where data is currently absent.