Physiological adaptations of coccinellidae to supranivean and subnivean hibernacula

The supranivean hibernaculum of Hippodamia convergens allows exposure of this species to fluctuating temperatures and humidities. Correspondingly, H. convergens is resistant to desiccation, maintains cold-hardiness independent of temperature, and responds to warm acclimation with a reduced respiration rate. Beneath the snow, Coleomegilla maculata is maintained at a constant temperature and high humidity. Warm acclimation in this species results in a loss of cold-hardiness and an increase in respiration rate. This response suggests a transition from an energy-conserving metabolic state associated with overwintering to one of energy expenditure as the beetles prepare for summer feeding and reproduction.     

Physiological adaptations involved in alkane assimilation at a low temperature by Rhodococcus sp. strain Q15.

We examined physiological adaptations which allow the psychrotroph Rhodococcus sp. strain Q15 to assimilate alkanes at a low temperature (alkanes are contaminants which are generally insoluble and/or solid at low temperatures). During growth at 5 degrees C on hexadecane or diesel fuel, strain Q15 produced a cell surface-associated biosurfactant(s) and, compared to glucose-acetate-grown cells, exhibited increased cell surface hydrophobicity. A transmission electron microscopy examination of strain Q15 grown at 5 degrees C revealed the presence of intracellular electron-transparent inclusions and flocs of cells connected by an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) when cells were grown on a hydrocarbon and morphological differences between the EPS of glucose-acetate-grown and diesel fuel-grown cells. A lectin binding analysis performed by using confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) showed that the EPS contained a complex mixture of glycoconjugates, depending on both the growth temperature and the carbon source. Two glycoconjugates [beta-D-Gal-(1-3)-D-GlcNAc and alpha-L-fucose] were detected only on the surfaces of cells grown on diesel fuel at 5 degrees C. Using scanning electron microscopy, we observed strain Q15 cells on the surfaces of octacosane crystals, and using CSLM, we observed strain Q15 cells covering the surfaces of diesel fuel microdroplets; these findings indicate that this organism assimilates both solid and liquid alkane substrates at a low temperature by adhering to the alkane phase. Membrane fatty acid analysis demonstrated that strain Q15 adapted to growth at a low temperature by decreasing the degree of saturation of membrane lipid fatty acids, but it did so to a lesser extent when it was grown on hydrocarbons at 5 degrees C; these findings suggest that strain Q15 modulates membrane fluidity in response to the counteracting influences of low temperature and hydrocarbon toxicity.     

Physiological adaptations to thermal stress in tropical Asians

Young sedentary adult males of Malay, Indian, and Chinese origin who had established continuous residence in tropical Malaysia and presumed to be naturally acclimatized to heat, were studied to evaluate their physiological responses to a standard heat stress test. The Malay and Indian races have evolved in hot and humid geographical zones, whereas the Chinese originated from a temperate area. Subjects exercised at 50% VO2max alternating 18 minutes walking and 2 min rest during a 2-h exposure to an ambient of 34.9 degrees C dry bulb and 32.1 degrees C wet bulb. Heart rates, core and skin temperatures, sweat rates, and oxygen uptakes were measured during the heat exposure. The subjects of Malay origin exhibited the least circulatory stress of the three ethnic groups. The data obtained on these long-term residents of a hot-wet climate and who were considered acclimatized to this environment were compared to experimental data obtained by other investigators and other ethnic groups.     

Physiological and anatomical adaptations induced by flooding in Cotula coronopifolia

Cotula coronopifolia is a wild annual Asteraceae that grows in periodically-flooded prone environments and seems highly tolerant to periodic flooding. Seedlings of about 15 cm were collected directly from the edge of Soliman sabkha (N-E Tunisia, semi-arid stage) and grown under greenhouse conditions. Two treatments were considered: drainage and flooding. After 56 days of treatment, flooded plants showed a pronounced growth increase. This performance was essentially associated with significant increment in biomass production of both shoots and roots (about 220% of the control). The appropriate response to flooding was also characterized by the ability of the species to maintain its water status under such conditions. Neither water content nor water potential showed a significant variation as compared to those of non-flooded plants. However, transpiration rate decreased slightly but significantly in flooded plants (from 0.86 to 0.64 mmol H2O m-2 s-1). Na+ and K+ concentrations were practically maintained under waterlogging conditions, except a significant increase of Na+ content in roots of flooded plants (157% of the control). These responses were concomitant with maintenance of photosynthetic rate. However, the contents of chlorophylls a and b increased to 167% and 295%, respectively. It seems that the enhancement in these photosynthetic pigments together with a significant improvement in water use efficiency (from 4.66 to 6.07 mmol CO2 mol-1 H2O) allowed to the species to compensate the decrease in photosynthetic rate. At the anatomical level, this species responded to flooding by a significant development of its root aerenchyma (+63%) and an increase in the lignification of its stem xylem tissues (+37%). Based on the presented data, the plant fitness under flooding conditions was a result of dynamic readjustment of several morphological, physiological, and anatomical adaptive traits. Flood requirement together with salt tolerance are responsible for the predominance of C. coronopifolia in a large area in its natural biotope where most plants cannot tolerate interactive effects of flooding and salinity.     

Physiological and biochemical adaptations to training inRana pipiens

Summary FifteenRana pipiens were trained on a treadmill thrice weekly for 6.5 weeks to assess the effects of training on an animal that supports activity primarily through anaerobiosis. Endurance for activity increased 35% in these frogs as a result of training (P=0.006, Fig. 1). This increased performance was not due to enhanced anaerobiosis. Total lactate produced during exercise did not differ significantly for the trained or untrained animals in either gastrocnemius muscle (2.77±0.21 and 2.82±0.13 mg/g, respectively) or whole body (1.32±0.10 and 1.47±0.06 mg/g, respectively). Glycogen depletion also did not differ between the two groups (Fig. 2c). The primary response to training appeared to involve augmentation of aerobic metabolism, a response similar to that reported for mammals. Gastrocnemius muscles of trained frogs underwent a 38% increase over those of untrained individuals in the maximum activity of citrate synthase (14.5±1.0 and 10.5±0.9 moles/(g wet wt·min);P=0.008). This enzyme was also positively correlated with the level of maximum performance for all animals tested (r=0.61,P<0.01) and with the degree of improvement in the trained animals (r=0.72,P<0.05). In addition to an increased aerobic capacity, the trained animals demonstrated a greater removal of lactate from the muscle 15 min after fatigue (Fig. 2b).     

Physiological and biochemical adaptations in lentil genotypes under drought stress

Drought is a major restrictive factor for declining grain yield in lentil globally. Present investigation was conducted by taking microsperma (HUL-57) and macrosperma (IPL-406) genotypes of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) as information regarding physiological and biochemical basis of differences in drought resistance in macrosperma (bold-seeded) and microsperma (small-seeded) are not well understood. Pot grown plants were exposed to drought stress at specific phenophase viz. mid-vegetative, flower initiation and pod formation stage by withholding irrigation till the plants experienced one cycle of permanent wilting (PWP). Genotypes exhibited substantial differences for most of the measured traits under drought irrespective of the phenophase of stress imposed. Under drought HUL-57 had lower CMI, higher CSI, lower values of Δ¹³C, maintained higher SLN, accumulated more N and efficiently remobilized accumulated N to developing seeds. Higher chlorophyll content, increased accumulation of osmotically active solutes viz. soluble sugars and proline under drought stress was evident in HUL-57. Drought induced H₂O₂ accumulation and lipid peroxidation in both genotypes, but increments were of lesser magnitudes in HUL-57. Drought stress of pod formation stage followed by flower initiation stage was most damaging than the stress imposed at mid-vegetative stage in both genotypes. HUL-57 showed a better drought resistance capacity than IPL-406. Drought indices viz. DSI, STI and MP are proposed as criterion to identify and breed lentil genotypes for drought conditions.     

Physiological and molecular adaptations to drought in Andean potato genotypes

The drought stress tolerance of two Solanum tuberosum subsp. andigena landraces, one hybrid (adgxtbr) and Atlantic (S. tuberosum subsp. tuberosum) has been evaluated. Photosynthesis in the Andigena landraces during prolonged drought was maintained significantly longer than in the Tuberosum (Atlantic) line. Among the Andigena landraces, 'Sullu' (SUL) was more drought resistant than 'Negra Ojosa' (NOJ). Microarray analysis and metabolite data from leaf samples taken at the point of maximum stress suggested higher mitochondrial metabolic activity in SUL than in NOJ. A greater induction of chloroplast-localized antioxidant and chaperone genes in SUL compared with NOJ was evident. ABA-responsive TFs were more induced in NOJ compared with SUL, including WRKY1, mediating a response in SA signalling that may give rise to increased ROS. NOJ may be experiencing higher ROS levels than SUL. Metabolite profiles of NOJ were characterized by compounds indicative of stress, for example, proline, trehalose, and GABA, which accumulated to a higher degree than in SUL. The differences between the Andigena lines were not explained by protective roles of compatible solutes; hexoses and complex sugars were similar in both landraces. Instead, lower levels of ROS accumulation, greater mitochondrial activity and active chloroplast defences contributed to a lower stress load in SUL than in NOJ during drought.     

Physiological ecology of Mesozoic polar forests in a high CO2 environment

Fossils show that coniferous forests extended into polar regions during the Mesozoic, a time when models and independent paleo-CO2 indicators suggest that the atmospheric CO2 concentration was at least double that of the present day. Consequently, such polar forests would have experienced high CO2 interacting with an extreme variation in light. Here we describe an experiment investigating this plant-environment interaction for extant tree species that were important components of polar forests, and give results from the first year of treatment. Specifically, we tested the hypotheses that growth in elevated CO2 (1) stimulates photosynthesis; (2) reduces photoinhibition during the polar summer; and (3) reduces respiration of above- and below-ground plant organs. Our results indicate that CO2 fertilization generally does not affect photosynthesis under continuous daylight characteristic of the polar summer but does increase it when the period of illumination is shorter. Growth in elevated CO2 did not alter the potential for photoinhibition. CO2 enrichment significantly reduced leaf and root respiration rates by 50 and 25 %, respectively, in a range of evergreen taxa. Incorporating these observed CO2 effects into numerical simulations using a process-based model of coniferous forest growth indicates that a high paleo-CO2 concentration would have increased the productivity of Cretaceous conifer forests in northern Alaska. This results from decreased respiratory costs that more than compensate for the absence of high CO2-high temperature interactions during the polar summer. The longer-term effects of CO2 enrichment on seasonal changes in the above- and below-ground carbon balance of trees are discussed.     

Spike activity recorded at the level of optic tract in a primate, Papio papio]

Spike activity has been recorded, in two young baboons, at the part of the optic tract (O.T.) localized between the chiasma and the lateral geniculate (L.G.) during REM and also slow wave sleep, preceding or not a REM period. These spikes, mono or biphasic, were of 60-200 ms duration and of 30-140 muV amplitude. They occurred generally in bursts (up to 50 spikes); 4 to 10 spikes bursts were the more frequent. These O.T. spikes were assimilated to the L.G. spikes.     

Physiological adaptations to entosymbiosis in three species of graffillid rhabdocoels

Three entosymbiotic graffillid rhabdocoels (Paravortex scrobiculariae, P. cardii and Graffilla buccinicola) from marine bivalve and gastropod molluscs show several physiological adaptations to their life-style which are intimately related to the nutritional physiology and ecology of their respective hosts.All three species feed on their hosts' partially digested food plus the cellular debris released at the end of the hosts' own digestive cycle. G. buccinicola supplements this diet by actively removing intact cells from the host's digestive epithelium. Host enzymes, ingested with the food, are utilized for digestion within the flatworms' gut; there is concomitant reduction in the types and amounts of endogenous enzymes and the gastrodermal gland cells characteristically found in free-living species are absent.Food reserves in the three species consist mainly of glycogen, following the pattern seen in other entosymbiotic flatworms (Turbellaria, Digenea, Cestoda); in P. scrobiculariae this primary adaptation, believed to be linked in all entosymbiotes to the ready availability of food and to high fecundity, probably has a secondary function, in relation to anaerobic respiration, of the type found in cestodes.Other adaptive features, closely correlated with host ecology, are the occurrence of a physiologically active haemoglobin in the brain and pharynx of P. scrobiculariae and, in this species and P. cardii, the differential occurrence and distribution of dehydrogenase systems concerned with aerobic respiration (Krebs cycle), the pentose phosphate shunt and anaerobic respiration (glycolysis).P. scrobiculariae and P. cardii are viviparous and the normal provision of yolk for embryonic nutrition is supplemented by direct passage of materials to the later larvae from the parental gut, thus facilitating extended development of the larva until its birth as an immature miniature adult.     

Physiological monitoring of cardiorespiratory adaptations during rehearsal and performance of contemporary dance

Previous research has shown that dance class and rehearsal stress different cardiorespiratory energy systems than dance performance. The aim of the present study was to monitor the physiological parameters of a number of dancers during a 12-week rehearsal period and an 8-week performance schedule. Seventeen dancers (8 men and 9 women) from 2 companies undertook the multistage dance specific aerobic fitness test before the rehearsal period, before the performance period, and after the performance period. Heart rate data were collected throughout the test; the mean heart rate during stage 5 and blood lactate levels were measured at the end of the test. No significant changes in heart rate or lactate parameters were noted between the prerehearsal and preperformance tests, but significant decreases during the preperformance and postperformance tests were shown in both parameters (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively), which suggests an increase in the subjects' aerobic capacities during the performance period. Implications from the present study suggest that dancers are not adequately physiologically prepared to perform to the same degree to which their skills are honed. The study suggests that supplemental training is required to bridge this physical gap and better prepare the dancer for performance.     

Predicting the impacts of climate change on the evolutionary adaptations of polar fish

The recognition of the important role of the polar habitats in global climate changes has awakened great interest in the evolutionary biology of the organisms that live there, as well as the increasing threat of loss of biological diversity and depletion of marine fisheries. These organisms are exposed to strong environmental constraints, and it is important to understand how they have adapted to cope with these challenges and to what extent adaptations may be upset by current climate changes. Adaptations of the dominant group of Antarctic fish, the suborder Notothenioidei, have been thoroughly investigated by several teams. Considering the amount of information available on cold adaptation, the study of fish adapted to the extreme conditions of the polar seas will allow us to gain invaluable clues on the development, impact and consequences of climate and anthropogenic challenges, with powerful implications for the future of the Earth.     

Physiological adaptations to strength and circuit training in postmenopausal women with bone loss

Strength training (ST; high intensity/low volume/long rest) has been used in several populations, including children, young adults, and older adults. However, there is no information about circuit weight training (CWT; low intensity/high volume/short rest) in apparently healthy postmenopausal women. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the effects of high-intensity ST and circuit training on isometric strength (IS), upper limb dynamic strength (ULS) and lower limb dynamic strength (LLS), muscle activation of quadriceps (EMG quad), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max), time to exhaustion (TE), and bone mineral density (BMD). Twenty-eight postmenopausal women were divided into 3 groups: 1) ST group (STG, n = 9, 45-80% 1 repetition maximum (1RM), 2-4 sets, 20-6 reps), 2) circuit training group (CTG, n = 10, 45-60% 1RM, 2-3 sets, 20-10 reps), and 3) a control group (CON, n = 9, no exercise). Significance level was defined as p 相似文献   

Movements of two Svalbard polar bears recorded using geographical positioning system satellite transmitters

Until recently, studies on polar bear (Ursus maritimus) movements and space use have used data collected by satellite telemetry collars that provided positions infrequently (typically weekly) and with low precision (by Doppler Shift method). A new generation of transmitters incorporated into collars use the Global Positioning System (GPS) to provide highly accurate positions, and have the ability to provide many positions per day. We used data from two GPS collars fitted to female polar bears, that attempted to collect six positions per day (4-h apart) for 546 days (from April 2000 to September 2001) and 413 days (from April 2000 to May 2001) to estimate how estimated speed of movement and home range size increase with increasing number of data points. Using all the positions, we estimated that the bears moved a minimum of 14.3 and 15.8 km per day on average. The fractal dimension (D) of the movement pathways for the two bears were D = 1.28 and 1.31, respectively, indicating low tortousity of the movements. Their minimum estimated annual home range areas were 20,794 and 112,183 km². Simulations showed that a commonly used sampling regime of one location every 6th day would have significantly underestimated the movement rates and the home range sizes compared to our estimates. We also used the high accuracy of GPS positions to look at distances moved within 4-h periods. Maximum movement rate during a 4-h period for the two bears was 4.21 and 4.58 km/h, respectively. Variation in median values by month was significant (0.01 km/h in November for N23476 to 1.48 km/h in December for N7955). Diurnal variation was observed to differ between defined periods.     

Biological activity of a polar lipid of Clostridium butyricum spores

A fraction of polar lipids was isolated from spores of the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium butyricum 35/11 exerting a noticeable radioprotective effect. The main biological activity of spore extracts was associated with this fraction. The fraction of polar lipids inhibited autolysis of the bacterial cell walls. The fraction was found to contain a phenolic glycolipid and a peptide component. The bacteriostatic and radiotherapeutic properties of the fraction are presumed to be due to its membranotropic activity.     

Physiological adaptations to head-out aquatic exercises with different levels of body immersion

The purpose of this study was to compare the physiological adaptations to basic head-out aquatic exercises with different levels of body immersion. Sixteen young and clinically healthy subjects (9 women and 7 men) volunteered to participate in this study. Each subject performed 3 repetitions (on land, immersed to the hip, and immersed to the breast) of the aquatic exercise "rocking horse" for 6 minutes. The rating of perceived effort (RPE), the maximal heart rate achieved during the exercitation (HRmax), the percentage of the maximal theoretical heart rate estimated (%HRmax), the peak of oxygen uptake during the exercise (V(.-)O2peak), and the energy expenditure (EE) were evaluated. The RPE was significantly higher when exercising immersed to the hip than on land (p < 0.01) and immersed to the breast (p = 0.03). The HRmax and %HRmax were significantly lower when exercising with immersion to the breast than on land (p < 0.01) and with immersion to the hip (p < 0.01). The V(.-)O2peak was significantly different between all conditions. The lower mean value was verified when exercising immersed to the breast, followed by immersion to the hip and on land. The EE was significantly higher when performing aquatic exercises on land than when immersed to the hip (p = 0.02) and the breast (p < 0.01). So, physiological responses when exercising immersed to the hip are higher than when immersed to the breast. The physiological responses when exercising on land are higher than when exercising with immersion to the hip and to the breast.     

Physiological adaptations to phosphorus deficiency during proteoid root development in white lupin

Release of large amounts of citric acid from specialized root clusters (proteoid roots) of phosphorus (P)-deficient white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) is an efficient strategy for chemical mobilization of sparingly available P sources in the rhizosphere. The present study demonstrates that increased accumulation and exudation of citric acid and a concomitant release of protons were predominantly restricted to mature root clusters in the later stages of P deficiency. Inhibition of citrate exudation by exogenous application of anion-channel blockers such as ethacrynic- and anthracene-9-carboxylic acids may indicate involvement of an anion channel. Phosphorus-deficiency-induced accumulation and subsequent exudation of citric acid seem to be a consequence of both increased biosynthesis and reduced metabolization of citric acid in the proteoid root tissue, indicated by increased in-vitro activity and enzyme protein levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31), and reduced activity of aconitase (EC 4.2.1.3) and root respiration. Similar to citric acid, acid phosphatase, which is secreted by roots and involved in the mobilization of the organic soil P fraction, was released predominantly from proteoid roots of P-deficient plants. Also ³³Pi uptake per unit root fresh-weight was increased by approximately 50% in juvenile and mature proteoid root clusters compared to apical segments of non-proteoid roots. Kinetic studies revealed a K _m of 30.7 μM for Pi uptake of non-proteoid root apices in P-sufficient plants, versus K _m values of 8.5–8.6 μM for non-proteoid and juvenile proteoid roots under P-deficient conditions, suggesting the induction of a high-affinity Pi-uptake system. Obviously, P-deficiency-induced adaptations of white lupin, involved in P acquisition and mobilization of sparingly available P sources, are predominantly confined to proteoid roots, and moreover to distinct stages during proteoid root development. Received: 10 September 1998 / Accepted: 22 December 1998