Determinants of predation on phytophagous insects: the importance of diet breadth

To evaluate the role of predation in the evolution of diet specialization and to determine the effectiveness of various larval defenses, we offered lepidopteran larvae to colonies of the tropical ant Paraponera clavata. We recorded behavioral and physical characteristics of prey items and used log-linear models to analyze their importance as deterrents to predation by P. clavata. The most important determinant of probability of prey rejection by P. clavata was a prey's diet breadth; specialists were rejected by the ants significantly more than generalists. Other less important, but significant, predictors of prey rejection included ontogeny, morphology and chemistry. Late instar caterpillars were rejected more frequently than early instars, hairy caterpillars were rejected more frequently than caterpillars with other morphologies, and one caterpillar species with an unpalatable extract was rejected more frequently than two species with palatable extracts.     

Host range in phytophagous insects: the potential role of generalist predators

Summary The potential role of generalist natural enemies is presented as one of the important ecological pressures that select for narrow host range in phytophagous insects, and dominant relative to physiological bases for specialization. Experiments are described in three completely different systems indicating that generalist herbivores are more vulnerable to predation than specialist herbivores. The three predators were (a) the vespid waspMischocyttarus flavitarsus, (b) the Argentine antIridomyrmex humilis and (c) the coccinellid beetleHippodamia convergens. It is concluded the predators may provide strong selection pressure for maintenance and perhaps evolution of narrow host range in insect herbivores.     

Oviposition pattern of phytophagous insects: on the importance of host population heterogeneity

Frequency distributions of insect immatures per host are often fitted to contagious distributions, such as the negative binomial, to deduce oviposition pattern. However, different mechanisms can be involved for each theoretical distribution and additional biological information is needed to correctly interpret the fits. We chose the chestnut weevil Curculio elephas, a pest of the European chestnut Castanea sativa, as a model to illustrate the difficulties of inferring oviposition pattern from fits to theoretical distributions and from the variance/mean ratio. From field studies over 13–16 years, we show that 20 out of the 31 yearly distributions available fit a negative binomial and 25 a zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP). No distribution fits a Poisson distribution. The ZIP distribution assumes heterogeneity within the fruit population. There are two categories of host: the first comprises chestnuts unsuitable for weevil oviposition or in excess relative to the number of weevil females, and the second comprises suitable fruits in which oviposition behavior is random. Our results confirm this host heterogeneity. According to the ZIP distribution, the first category of hosts includes on average 74% of the chestnuts. A negative binomial distribution may be generated by either true or false contagion. We show that neither interference between weevil females, nor spatial variation in the infestation rate exist. Consequently, the observed distributions of immatures are not the result of false contagion. Nevertheless, we cannot totally exlude true contagion of immatures. In this paper we discuss the difficulty of testing true contagion in natural conditions. These results show that we cannot systematically conclude in favour of contagion when fitting a distribution such as the negative binomial or when a variance/mean ratio is higher than unity. Received: 22 September 1997 / Accepted: 15 December 1997     

Hosts as habitats: faunal similarity of phytophagous insects between host plants

1. Published lists on the phytophages recorded on 86 cabbage plant species (Brassicaceae) and 30 thistle species (Cynaroideae) were used to investigate patterns in the faunal similarity of phytophages. This was done by calculating the Jaccard index and a standardised index of similarity between pairs of host species using presence/absence data. 2. The faunal similarity measured as Jaccard indices indicated that pairs of cabbage hosts share on average 36% of phytophagous species whereas pairs of thistle hosts share only 10%. 3. The faunal similarity between two host species increased with the taxonomic affinity of hosts. This increase was more pronounced in thistles than in cabbage plants. 4. Irrespective of the taxonomic affinity of hosts, in the cabbage plants the faunal similarity of endophages was lower than in ectophages. In contrast, in the thistles faunal similarity differed only between endophages and ectophages for hosts of the same genera. 5. Differences in the patterns of faunal similarity between the two host taxa may be due to idiosyncratic characteristics of the plant taxa, e.g. the unique chemical properties of the cabbage plants and the resource‐rich flower heads of thistles.     

Phylogenetic invariants for the general Markov model of sequence mutation

A phylogenetic invariant for a model of biological sequence evolution along a phylogenetic tree is a polynomial that vanishes on the expected frequencies of base patterns at the terminal taxa. While the use of these invariants for phylogenetic inference has long been of interest, explicitly constructing such invariants has been problematic.We construct invariants for the general Markov model of kappa-base sequence evolution on an n-taxon tree, for any kappa and n. The method depends primarily on the observation that certain matrices defined in terms of expected pattern frequencies must commute, and yields many invariants of degree kappa+1, regardless of the value of n. We define strong and parameter-strong sets of invariants, and prove several theorems indicating that the set of invariants produced here has these properties on certain sets of possible pattern frequencies. Thus our invariants may be sufficient for phylogenetic applications.     

Quantification of character-species in vegetation at the tree limit,Brooks Range,Northern Alaska

Quantification of character-species using Dahl's uniformity index is tested on phytosociological data using species composition of tree limit communities on the south slope of the Brooks Range, Northern Alaska as an example. Species in 246 relevés are grouped by minimum spanning tree (MST) analysis. The resulting six species groups are ordinated in a congruent pattern by detrended correspondence analysis along the two main axes of mesotopographic-scale nutrient and moisture gradients. The eutraphent species are restricted to the more fertile sites of the undulating topography in this permafrost area. Uniformity indices are highest for the species in eutrophic sites with average frequencies. In contrast, most oligotraphent species are ubiquitous and occur even within the more eutrophic communities on raised mounds, shallow soils and in the exposed rocky areas. In general, their high frequency and low uniformity indices confirm that they are not useful as characterspecies. Dahl's uniformity index seems to be useful for quantifying a plant's value as a character-species.Abbreviations DCA Detrended correspondence analysis - MST Minimum spanning tree     

Urban brownfields as temporary habitats: driving forces for the diversity of phytophagous insects

In urban brownfields (derelict sites), we studied the influence of local factors (successional age, vegetation structure, soil) and landscape context (spatial arrangement of brownfields of different successional stages) on the diversity of phytophagous insects, grasshoppers and leafhoppers (Orthoptera and Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha). The study was conducted on a total of 246 plots in the cities of Bremen and Berlin, Germany. We used a habitat modelling approach, enabling us to predict the community from single species models (30 species in Bremen, 28 in Berlin).
The results revealed that communities were predominantly determined by vegetation structure, followed by landscape context, soil parameters and site age. For most species, local factors were the most important. Only few species were strongly influenced by landscape context, even though some showed clear negative reactions to low proportions of brownfields in the surroundings.
Along a successional gradient of vegetation structure, from scarce and low to dense and high vegetation, the insect community was not static. Even though species numbers remained comparatively constant, species composition changed considerably. Many species showed clear preferences for certain successional stages. Thus, maintaining the regional species pool of a city requires a mosaic of all successional stages.     

Phylogenetic systematics of the nymphaeales

A cladistic analysis was applied to reveal the phylogenetic relationships among the Nymphaeales. Seventeen out of twenty three characters in gross morphology, anatomy and palynology were analyzed, for their evolutionary polarities. From the results of the present analysis, the phylogenetic status of each genus and their relationships were clarified: 1)Nelumbo is a distinct taxon and is presumed to have originated from an ancestral stock of the Nymphaeales; 2)Ceratophyllum has a close phylogenetic relationship withCabomba; and 3) in the Nymphaeaceaesensu stricto, Nuphar and the remaining genral constitute a monophyletic group. A conclusion obtained from the present analysis was that the following three families should be recognized in the Nymphaeales; Nelumbonaceae Nymphaeaceae, and Ceratophyllaceae. The generaBrasenia andCabomba are traditionally classified in the Nymphaeaceae or in the independent family Cabombaceae. However, they should be included in the family Ceratophyllaceae.     

陆生昆虫呼吸代谢的简便测定法

介绍了一种能测定陆生昆虫的呼吸代谢的简易装置 ,从而间接地推算出动物的能量代谢。     

Phylogenetic evidence for the classification of Acidothermus cellulolyticus into the subphylum of actinomycetes

Abstract The primary structure of the 16S rDNA of Acidothermus cellulolyticus , a cellulolytic, asporogenous rod isolated from a hot spring, was determined by automated sequence analysis. This Gram-variable organism is not related to members of other aerobic thermophilic genera found in similar environments, such as Thermus and Thermomicrobium , but clusters within the phylogenetically defined radiation of the actinomycetes where it represents an individual subline of descent.     

Host plant finding in phytophagous insects: the case of the Colorado potato beetle

A short critical review is given on the literature of host plant finding in phytophagous insects with main emphasis on the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, col.: Chrysomelidae). The literature data are compared with the results of field experiments: (1) the foraging behaviour of adults was observed in a field arena on bare ground, and (2) adults were released in closed plant stands and recaptured by potted potato plants. It is concluded that host plant finding is a chance event in this species. The observed high directionality of move must be an adaptation increasing probability of host finding. Implications on population dynamics and agricultural practice are discussed.     

On the Ancestral Compatibility of Two Phylogenetic Trees with Nested Taxa

Compatibility of phylogenetic trees is the most important concept underlying widely-used methods for assessing the agreement of different phylogenetic trees with overlapping taxa and combining them into common supertrees to reveal the tree of life. The notion of ancestral compatibility of phylogenetic trees with nested taxa was recently introduced. In this paper we analyze in detail the meaning of this compatibility from the points of view of the local structure of the trees, of the existence of embeddings into a common supertree, and of the joint properties of their cluster representations. Our analysis leads to a very simple polynomial-time algorithm for testing this compatibility, which we have implemented and is freely available for download from the BioPerl collection of Perl modules for computational biology.     

Evolutionary ecology of the relationship between oviposition preference and performance of offspring in phytophagous insects

The relationship between oviposition preference and growth, survival, and reproduction of offspring is the crux of the problem in the evolution of host associations between phytophagous insects and plants. Observed relationships between oviposition preference and performance of offspring range from good to poor. At least four hypotheses have been suggested to explain observed use of particular host plants that may not result in the fastest growth rates or greatest pupal masses: time, patch dynamics, parasite versus grazer lifestyles, and enemy-free space. Our current understanding of these relationships, however, is hampered by an almost complete lack of data on how preference and performance are related genetically. These data are needed to understand the origins of covariance between preference and performance and constraints on the evolution of host associations.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the Atoposauridae (archosauria,crocodylomorpha)

A systematic revision of the family Atoposauridae is presented, interpreting and reviewing their relationships. The seventy‐one characters have been divided into cranial, postcranial and metric which have been used in three separate cladistic analyses in order to discuss their concordance. Polarities, in each case, have been deduced from distinct outgroups. We have used a PHYLIP program (version 2.9). There are five valid taxa of Atoposauridae: Alligatorellus beaumonti (rejecting the two subspecific taxa) Alligatorium meyeri, Theriosuchus pusillus. Alligatorium depereti (which is transferred to a new genus Montsecosuchus) and Aloposaurus (discussed as a nomen dubium). The three cladograms are not fully concordant. The relative level of derivation in postcranial and cranial characters suggests congruence. The metric traits seem to retain, in general, a primitive condition. The final proposed cladogram clusters Alligatorium + Alligatorellus as the sister group of Montsecosuchus + Theriosuchus.     

A re-appraisal of the diversity of the methanogens associated with the rumen ciliates

The diversity of methanogenic archaea associated with different species of ciliated protozoa in the rumen was analysed. Partial fragments of archaeal SSU rRNA genes were amplified from DNA isolated from single cells from the rumen protozoal species Metadinium medium, Entodinium furca, Ophryoscolex caudatus and Diplodinium dentatum. Sequence analysis of these fragments indicated that although all of the new isolates clustered with sequences previously described for methanogens, there was a difference in the relative distribution of sequences detected here as compared to that of previous work. In addition, many of the novel sequences, although clearly of archaeal origin have relatively low identity to the sequences in database which are most closely related to them.     

Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences based on the generalized pseudo-amino acid composition

The main work of this paper is to propose a new theory and method, which is based on the idea of the pseudo-amino acid composition, for phylogenetic analysis of DNA primary sequences. In our method, we revise the part of the occurrence frequency of 20 amino acids in the method of the pseudo-amino acid composition by replacing the frequency of 16 dinucleotides. And we select eight LZ complexity factors of eight (0,1) sequences of a DNA primary sequence as PseAA components. Finally, we characterize a DNA sequence with a 24-dimensional vector. We reconstruct the phylogenetic trees of two datasets. The results show that our method is efficient and significant.     

用系统进化树重建方法确定HCV基因分型的最佳区域

从系统进化树重建原理出发,比较了HCV常用的几个基因分型区域的分型效果,包括5′UTR、core、E1、E2和NS5B区,探讨最能代替全基因组基因分型的区域.结果发现以5′UTR区建树,基因分型不完全正确而以core区、E1区、E2区及NS5B区建树,基因分型均完全正确,但同一基因型间的核苷酸演化距离存在差异.计算5条1a型序列的core区、E1区、E2区、NS5B区的核苷酸演化距离并和全基因组序列核苷酸演化距离比较,结果发现NS5B蛋白区基因分型最能反映病毒株的演化关系.确定NS5B区为丙型肝炎病毒基因分型的最佳区域.     

Morphological and molecular analyses support the existence of host-specific Peronospora species infecting Chenopodium

About 20 species of Peronospora have been reported to cause downy mildew on Chenopodium, but, particularly in plant pathology literature, only one species, P. farinosa, is considered to be involved. We performed sequence analysis of the ITS rDNA to reveal the phylogenetic relationships of Peronospora specimens from five species of Chenopodium, viz. C. album, C. ambrosioides, C. bonus-henricus, C. hybridum, and C. polyspermum. The five clades corresponded to particular Chenopodium species, and showed a high level of sequence divergence. Differences in the morphology of the conidia and ultimate branchlets also supported the separation of the five groups at the host species level. These results suggest that the names P. variabilis, P. boni-henrici, P. chenopodii, and P. chenopodii-polyspermi should be used for the four downy mildew pathogens specific to C. album, C. bonus-henricus, C. hybridum, and C. polyspermum, respectively. The Peronospora on C. ambrosioides was found to be an independent species.     

Phylogenetic analysis of enteric species of the family Enterobacteriaceae using the oriC-locus

Phylogenetic analysis of 38 enteric species belonging to the Enterobacteraceae family was carried out using the non-coding locus oriC, the chromosomal replication origin. The oriC loci were amplified with conserved oligonucleotides and the PCR fragments were sequenced directly. The results establish a phylogenetic tree for the classification of different species of the genera Escherichia, Shigella, Salmonella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Klebsiella, Raoultella, Kluyvera, Cedecea and Buttiauxella. Functional important protein-binding sites located in oriC are well conserved throughout the enteric group. More over, due to a high overall divergence value phylogenetic trees were robust and well supported by bootstrap analysis. In comparison with 16S rDNA analysis, the oriC sequences indicated a greater evolutionary divergence for bacteria. We propose that the oriC locus might be a suitable phylogenetic marker for the identification and classification of bacteria, in particular for closely related species.