The life and work of Eugenie Clark: devoted to diving and science

Synopsis Eugenie Clark is an ichthyologist with a talent for communicating about marine life. Her life had three principal periods, (1) studies under Charles Breder, Carl Hubbs, Lester Aronson and Myron Gordon, (2) directorship of the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory sponsored by the Vanderbilts, and (3) professorship and inspired teaching at the University of Maryland. Genie proved that sharks have surprising learning abilities and that, contrary to popular opinion, none are vicious killers. During her studies on reproductive behavior, territoriality, and ecology of tropical marine sand-dwelling fishes of the Caribbean and Red seas, among many other phenomena, she discovered the cross-fertilizing hermaphroditeSerranus subligarius, the Moses and peacock soles producing toxins that repel sharks and other predators, and sharks sleeping in underwater caves in Mexico and Japan. She combined a love for swimming and diving with the study of marine fishes - from hard-hat diving and snorkeling to using SCUBA and submersibles. Professor emerita since 1992, she has ridden whale sharks and participated in dives using submersibles to 3 600 m depths. She is a recipient of over 25 honors and awards, participated in 24 television specials, and the current IMAX film on sharks. She is the author of theLady with a Spear andThe Lady and the Sharks which are of considerable popular fame.     

Metallopolia, a new subgenus of Polia (Noctuidae,Noctuinae, Hadenini), with the description of two new species and a new subspecies

A new subgenus of Polia, Metallopolia subgen. n., two new species (Polia (Metallopolia) dysgnorima sp. n. and P. (M.) metagnorima sp. n.) from China (Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu), and a new subspecies, P. (M.) subviolacea kanchenjunga ssp. n. from Nepal and SE Tibet (Sikkim) are described. Habitus, antennae, male and female genitalia of all Metallopolia species are characterised, depicted and compared with the related species.     

The effect of pH,ubiquinone depletion and myxothiazol on the reduction kinetics of the prosthetic groups of ubiquinol: Cytochrome c oxidoreductase

(1) The kinetics of the reduction by duroquinol of the prosthetic groups of QH₂: cytochrome c oxidoreductase and of the formation of ubisemiquinone have been studied using a combination of the freeze-quench technique, low-temperature diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy, EPR and stopped flow. (2) The formation of the antimycin-sensitive ubisemiquinone anion parallels the reduction of both high-potential and low-potential cytochrome b-562. (3) The rates of reduction of both the [2Fe-2S] clusters and cytochromes (c + c₁) are pH dependent. There is, however, a pH-dependent discrepancy between their rate of reduction, which can be correlated with the difference in pH dependencies of their midpoint potentials. (4) Lowering the pH or the Q content results in a slower reduction of part of the [2Fe-2S] clusters. It is suggested that one cluster is reduced by a quinol/semiquinone couple and the other by a semiquinone/quinone couple. (5) Myxothiazol inhibits the reduction of the [2Fe-2S] clusters, cytochrome c₁ and high-potential cytochrome b-562. (6) The results are consistent with a Q-cycle model describing the pathway of electrons through a dimeric QH₂: cytochrome c oxidoreductase.     

The use of image analysis to study the effects of residues of esfenvalerate on the locomotory behaviour of Panonychus ulmi and Typhlodromus pyri (Acari: Tetranychidae, Phytoseiidae)

The influences of esfenvalerate on mite behaviour were investigated by image analysis. Video recordings of the locomotory behaviour of two mite species were converted into a series of x,y coordinates that, when joined, closely resembled their paths. These coordinates were used to calculate walking speed, direction of travel, turning frequency, turn bias and tortuosity. Two experimental arenas were used: (1) a leaf disc arena for the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi and (2) a glass coverslip arena for Typhlodromus pyri. The behavioural responses of P. ulmi and T. pyri to esfenvalerate (field rate) indicated that these mites did not show a preference for the unsprayed halves of the arenas during the first 48 min. However, significant differences between most of the behavioural parameters to esfenvalerate residues were found with P. ulmi when whole arenas were compared. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998