Metabolism in malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata)

• 1.1. Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata have a lower than predicted metabolic rate, a finding common to many arid adapted avian species.
• 2.2. Evaporative water loss was as expected by allometric analysis. However, in the wild this species probably reduces its evaporative water loss because their water turnover rate is extremely low.
• 3.3. Malleefowl coped with temperatures up to 40°C well, but above this temperature they become highly agitated.

     

Water metabolism and the distribution of two species of australian murids,Rattus rattus and Rattus villosissimus

• 1.1. The ad libitum water requirement of Rattus villosissimus in the laboratory is significantly less than that of R. rattus. There are corresponding differences in the quantities of water eliminated via the urine, skin and lungs, although faecal water losses are similar.
• 2.2. R. rattus and R. villosissimus reduce body weight, urinary and faecal water loss, and probably food intake, when deprived of drinking water.
• 3.3. R. rattus is unable to limit body weight loss to the same degree as R. villosissimus when deprived of drinking water. This is partly due to inferior renal performance, although other factors such as higher evaporative water loss and lower food intake are probably involved.
• 4.4. The current distributions of R. rattus and R. villosissimus on the Australian mainland can be correlated with the known water metabolism of the two species.

     

Hemolymph osmoregulation in three species of beetles

• 1.1. Hemolymph osmoregulation was examined in Chrysochus auratus, Tetraopes tetrophthalmus and Tenebrio molitor. These beetles differed in their water loss rates and in the availability of free water in their habitats.
• 2.2. During dehydration at comparable rates, osmotic responses were similar in these species. Osmoregulation after rehydration was better in C. auratus.
• 3.3. Osmoregulation ability was not significantly affected by the beetle's rate of dehydration.

     

Water loss in Anolis lizards: evidence for acclimation and intraspecific differences along a habitat gradieNT

• 1.1. Rates of evaporative water loss (EWL) were measured in Anolis roquet and A. marmoratus each from three localities which varied in conditions of aridity.
• 2.2. There were significant interpopulational differences in rates of EWL for both species which correlated with habitat aridity.
• 3.3. Rates of EWL were significantly lower in A. roquet after 6 weeks acclimation to more xeric conditions, populational differences were still evident.
• 4.4. Acclimational effects on rates of EWL were 2 to 3 times greater than populational differences.

     

Osmoregulation and temperature effects on water loss and oxygen consumption in two species of african scorpion

• 1.1. Aspects of the physiology of two southern African scorpions have been examined. The scorpions are the large desert species Parabuthus villosus (Peters) (Buthidae) and the more mesic, burrowing species Opisthophthalmus capensis (Herbst) (Scorpionidae).
• 2.2. Evaporative water losses were higher in Opisthophthalmus at all temperatures.
• 3.3. Analysis of haemolymph during prolonged desiccation showed good osmotic and ionic regulation in Parabuthus but no regulation in Opisthophthalmus.
• 4.4. Oxygen consumption of Parabuthus was measured after acclimation to 10 and 30°C. Metabolic rates were extremely low but there was no metabolic compensation to increased temperatures.

     

The effect of myo-inositol on the ability of Ditylenchus dipsaci,D. myceliophagus and Anguina tritici to survive desiccation

• 1.1. The effect of myo-inositol on the ability of three species of nematodes to survive desiccation has been studied.
• 2.2. Survival rates obtained from worms treated with an inositol bathing medium were compared with survival rates of worms treated with distilled or tapwater media.
• 3.3. Highest survival rates were found in those nematodes that were placed in an inositol solution prior to desiccation.
• 4.4. Tapwater facilitated higher revival rates than did distilled water in both D. dipsaci and D. myceliophagous.
• 5.5. No such differences were found for A. tritici.
• 6.6. The results are discussed in relation to the possible mechanisms of protection afforded by the different bathing media.

     

Water relations and thermal sensitivity of several cockroach species (Dictyoptera: Blattidae and blaberidae)

• 1.1. Per cent total body water content (%TBW), cuticular permeability (CP), rate of water loss, critical thermal maxima (CTMax), and upper lethal limits (ULL) were determined for Pacific beetle, Diploptera punctata (Eschscholtz), Surinam, Pycnoscelus surinamensis (L.), and Turkestan, Blaita lateralis (Walker), cockroaches.
• 2.2. Initial body mass ranged from 153.16 to 464.96 mg, for D. punctata and P. surinamensis cockroaches, respectively. Mean %TBW was 57.8 for P. surinamensis and 67.7 for B. lateralis.
• 3.3. Mean cuticular permeability was not related to initial mass and ranged from 20.9 to 38.7 μg/cm²/hr/mmHg for D. punctata and P. surinamensis, respectively.
• 4.4. Cumulative mass loss and %TBW lost increased linearly with desiccation time.
• 5.5. CTMax ranged from 43.2°C for D. punctata to 44.3°C for P. surinamensis. There were significant, but small differences in CTMax among the three species.
• 6.6. ULL were 2.2 to approximately 4°C greater than CTMax. The greatest ULL was 48.1°C for B. lateralis and the lowest ULL was 45.0°C for D. punctata.

     

Comparative study on the fatty acid and lipid composition of four marine fish larvae

• 1.1. Fatty acid and lipid class composition were determined in larvae of four marine species: Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.), plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), cod (Gadus morhua) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) at hatching and prior to first feeding.
• 2.2. Total fatty acid content decreased in the four species with up to 50% reduction in one of the halibut groups. Docosahexanaoic acid (22:6 n-3) was especially utilized.
• 3.3. Low lipid utilization was found in turbot in relation to the other three species.
• 4.4. Water environmental temperature may explain some of the differences in the fatty acid utilization and the source of metabolic energy between cold water species (halibut, cod, and plaice) and temperate species (turbot), in the period from hatching to prior to first feeding.
• 5.5. Relative amounts of neutral lipids and phospholipids were similar in plaice, cod and halibut, approximately 25% and 75% of total lipids, respectively, and were approximately constant during the yolk-sac stage. Neutral lipids were dominant for turbot at hatching, accounting for 53–55% of the total lipids, while phospholipids predominated prior to first feeding, being 56–59%.
• 6.6. Phosphatidylcholine was catabolized in halibut, plaice and cod but not in turbot, while phosphatidylethanolamine tended to be synthesized in all four species.

     

γ-Glutamyltranspeptidase in echinoderm eggs and larvae: fertilization-dependent and developmentally-induced changes in specific activity

• 1.1. γ-Glutamyltranspeptidase is present in echinoderm eggs and larvae: in homogenates the level of activity is comparable to that of rat cerebral cortex.
• 2.2. In eggs of Lytechinus pictus, fertilization induces an early rapid and sustained (5 min–6 hr) 37% increase in the activity of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase in homogenate fractions.
• 3.3. Relative to these homogenate levels, the specific activity of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase are ≈60% lower in 40,000 g supernatant fractions and 2.7-fold higher in 40,000 g particulate fractions in both unfertilized and 15 min post-fertilized Lytechinus pictus eggs.
• 4.4. The subcellular distribution of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase is the same in both unfertilized and 15-min post-fertilized Lytechinus pictus eggs: 78% in 40,000 g particulate fractions, 22% in 40,000 g soluble fractions.
• 5.5. In both unfertilized and 15 min post-fertilized eggs of Lytechinus pictus the enzyme responds to heat (50 vs 37°C) by activation in a similar manner: 1.72- and 1.68-fold homogenates; 2.6- and 3.0-fold in supernatants; 1.97- and 1.90-fold in particulate fractions.
• 6.6. In homogenates of Pisaster ochraceous larvae, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase activity increases steadily during the course of larval development: relative to the low activity at day 5, activities exhibit an increase of 1.2-, 2.0-, 3.1- and 5.4-fold at days 10, 16, 22 and 28, respectively.

     

Variation of l-gulonolactone oxidase activity in placental mammals

• 1.1. The activity of l-gulonolactone oxidase (EC 1.1.3.8) in livers of 49 species of eutherian mammals varied intraspecifically among individuals; coefficients of variation were 0.2 to 0.4 in many species.
• 2.2. Differences observed in l-gulonolactone oxidase activity among strains of laboratory rats and domestic rabbits are probably genetically controlled.
• 3.3. Pronounced sex differences in l-gulonolactone oxidase activity were found in some species, particularly in the genera Peromyscus, Reithrodontomys and Onychomys.
• 4.4. Mormota monax exhibited seasonal variation in l-gulonolactone oxidase somewhat like that previously observed in Sylvilagus floridanus; no such seasonal variation was found in Sciurus carolinensis.
• 5.5. Hibernation did not affect l-gulonolactone oxidase activity in Spermophilus tridecemlineatus.
• 6.6. In four species of rodents, Microtus ochrogaster, Tylomys panamensis, Octodon degus and Sigmodon hispidus, l-gulonolactone oxidase activity was not affected by the level of dietary ascorbate.

     

Temperature acclimation in amphibians: Changes in lactate dehydrogenase activities and isoenzyme patterns in several tissues from adult Discoglossus pictus pictus (Otth.)

• 1.1. The effect of cold (8 ± 2°C) acclimation on the lactate dehydrogenase activities and isoenzyme patterns from sartorius muscle, liver, heart and brain of adult Discoglossus pictus pictus (Otth.) was studied.
• 2.2. Two groups of animals were studied: one set of animals was trapped in October and another set in December. In both cases some of the animals were sacrificed upon collection and some others subjected to 5 months of acclimation at 8 ± 2°C before being sacrificed for analysis.
• 3.3. A general trend towards a decrease in LDH specific activity was observed during cold acclimation. The magnitude of change, but not the direction, depends on both the tissue examined and the season at which the experiment was initiated.
• 4.4. A complex LDH isoenzyme reorganization was also found in liver, heart and brain. In liver from Experiment 1 and in heart from both experiments, a relative maintenance in M-type LDH activity during cold acclimation was observed. However, in brain there was a relative maintenance of LDH₃ activity in both experiments.
• 5.5. The low behavioral activity (and its metabolic consequences) and the existence of an intrinsic annual rhythm in D. pictus metabolism are suggested as responsible for the observed enzymatic changes.

     

Sea water drinking as a homeostatic response to dehydration in hatchling loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta

• 1.1. Hatching Caretta caretta may lose up to 12% of their initial hatched weight from water loss during emergence from the nest.
• 2.2. After subsequent osmotic and excretory water loss in sea water, hatchlings will drink sea water (166 μl 100 g⁻¹ hr⁻¹) and return to their initial weight within 10–15 days, without feeding.
• 3.3. There were no significant changes in plasma osmolarity or sodium levels over this period.
• 4.4. This osmoregulatory strategy is in marked contrast to that seen in the estuarine crocodile, Crocodylus porosus.

     

Oxygen consumption and production by tropical ascidians symbiotic with Prochloron

• 1.1. Oxygen consumption and production rates were measured in two species of colonial ascidians that contained the algal symbiont, Prochloron.
• 2.2. Despite differences in size and habitats, the colonies showed similar rates of oxygen consumption and production.
• 3.3. Oxygen production by the colonies was light dependent.
• 4.4. Based on the data presented, the symbiosis is similar to other algal-invertebrate symbioses in producing more oxygen than is consumed when illuminated.

     

Biochemical variations in three species of prairie dogs (Cynomys)

• 1.1. Blood proteins were studied by polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis in three species of prairie dogs, Cynomys gunnisoni, C. leucurus, and C. ludovicianus.
• 2.2. The sera were separated into 13–15 fractions and the three species could be distinguished by both qualitative and quantitative differences in their serum patterns.
• 3.3. Qualitatively, variations in the occurrence and number of slow albumin fractions are diagnostic at the species leel.
• 4.4. Quantitative differences were most apparent in variation in the mobility of the major albumin fraction and the transferrin fraction.

     

Metabolic energy of intact honey bee colonies

• 1.1. In late winter, oxygen consumption of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) clusters showed marked 24-hr periodicity, even when held under constant temperature conditions.
• 2.2. Minimal rates of metabolism (as low as 3.4 w kg ⁻¹) were usually reached at night (ca. 0500 hr), and maximum rates (as high as 33.5 w kg⁻¹) in midday (ca. 1400 hr).
• 3.3. Colonies with brood showed less excursion in daily metabolic rate, by maintaining higher night-time levels.
• 4.4. There is a pronounced decrease in metabolic rate for the intact cluster of 9480–23,394 bees from the rates reported for individuals or small groups of bees.

     

Utilization of body stores in embryonated ova and larvae of two coregonid species (Coregonus lavaretus L. and C. albula L.)

• 1.1. Developing eggs of whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus L.) and vendace (Coregonus albula L.) were kept at 1–2°C and some eggs taken gradually up to 8°C to provoke mass hatching of embryos.
• 2.2. Wet weight, dry matter and the contents of lipid, protein and ash were measured in fish during the course of experiment.
• 3.3. Dry matter content decreased gradually in whitefish eggs from 15.64 to 11.95% during 1 month at 1–2°C, whereas vendace eggs showed only a slight decrease from 16.27 to 15.53%.
• 4.4. In both species protein content decreased but lipid increased when approaching the natural time of hatching.
• 5.5. During delayed hatching at low water temperatures protein contributes to catabolism, whereas lipid content decreased only in the later phase of the experiment.
• 6.6. Larvae starved for 10 days after hatching lost increasing amounts of dry matter (from 26.1 to 50.3% of body weight) and protein (from 18.7 to 45.9% of body weight) as they remained longer in cold water as embryos.
• 7.7. A correspondence was found between assessment of metabolic utilization of body stores based on chemical analysis of fish body and previous work on oxygen consumption and nitrogen excretion.

     

Comparative examination of the soluble muscle proteins of two species of angler-fish (Lophiidae): Lophius piscatorius (L.) and Lophius budegassa (Spinola)

• 1.1. A comparative examination of sarcoplasmic proteins of the two nominal European species of angler-fish, Lophius piscatorius and L. budegassa was carried out using isoelectric focusing techniques.
• 2.2. Two protein bands differing in isoelectric point proved diagnostic for L. budegassa (pI 4.40 and pI 5.75) while a third characterized L. piscatorius (pI 4.65).
• 3.3. These species-specific protein profiles provide a method of species discrimination independent of morphological criteria.
• 4.4. Within-species heterogeneity of banding pattern suggested the presence of polymorphic gene loci of potential use in studies of population structure.

     

Haemolymph composition of two species of new zealand weta,Hemideina (orthoptera; stenopelmatidae)

• 1.1. Analysis of the haemolymph composition of two species of New Zealand wetas gave the following data.
• 2.2. Both species have a typical composition in terms of the inorganic fraction of the haemolymph, with Hemideina femorata having twice the amount of potassium found in H. maori.
• 3.3. There were high concentrations of proline, glycine and alanine in both species of weta.
• 4.4. Other organic fractions of the haemolymph of both species appear to be typical for the class Insecta. The significance of the results are discussed.

     

Patterns of fuel utilization by the thoracic muscles of adult worker ants. The use of lipid by a hymenopteran

• 1.1. Patterns of fuel utilization in the thoracic muscles of three species of ants have been established.
• 2.2. The thoracic muscles of Formica ulkei exhibit a typical Hymenopteran metabolic organization, relying exclusively upon carbohydrate oxidation for the provision of metabolic energy. This species feeds upon honeydew.
• 3.3. Pogonomyrmex californicus, a granivorous ant, exhibits a metabolic organization unprecedented for a Hymenopteran species. Its thoracic energy metabolism is based upon lipid oxidation.
• 4.4. Atta colombica, a fungus feeder, can metabolize both carbohydrate and fat, a versatility which is not typical of Hymenoptera.
• 5.5. It is concluded that patterns of fuel utilization in insects are not determined by phylogenetic inertia, but are selected to accommodate the activity patterns, feeding ecology and dietary regime of the species.

     

Influence of photoperiod and melatonin administration on growth and metamorphosis in Discoglossus pictus larvae

• 1.1. The participation of an environmental factor such as photoperiod in the metamorphic development of Discoglossus pictus has been studied.
• 2.2. Short photoperiods were more effective in accelerating the rate of growth and the stages of development of tadpoles than were long photoperiods.
• 3.3. Daily melatonin injections to tadpoles during larval development showed different effects depending on the artificial photoperiod in which the tadpoles were maintained.