Two types of using of space in the resident common shrews <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sorex araneus</Emphasis> L.

The home range of resident animals is considered as “familiar area” including a “foraging area.” It has been revealed that the activity of an average animal unit in the “foraging area” could be approximated by normal distribution. Estimation of activity distribution in the “familiar area” (beyond the “foraging area”) was impeded by means of marking since it might be difficult to record distant movements, and the method does not provide an essential body of data. In the case of the common shrew Sorex araneus, the “familiar area” was estimated using pitfall as animals evade them in the known areal. The “foraging area” radius of the average shrew was taken to be 30 m (95% of the animal unit activity), the radius of “familiar area” was within the range of 180–240 m. The “foraging area” was expected to provide the animal with vital resources, and the “familiar area” reflects its need for exploratory activity.     

Male competition and coalitions in langurs (Presbytis entellus) at Jodhpur,Rajasthan, India

During a 15 month study on free ranging langurs (Presbytis entellus) at Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, 5 adult male replacements were observed as a result of nontroop male invasions into the home ranges of 3 neighbouring one-male troops comprising 16–28 members each. Jodhpur langurs have no breeding season. Periods of instability during resident male changes lasted 11–119 days. Linear dominance hierarchies could be detected within the 3 main rival male bands of 2, 5, and 28–35 members. The respective alphas drove their allies away after their bands succeeded cooperatively at occupying a troop. During gradual replacements interim residencies alternated with multi-male stages. A large band's alpha may have had better chances to win the competition, since adult and nonadult allies functioned as “buffers” in agonistic encounters. The role of kin selection in structuring the composition of male bands and male coalitional behaviour cannot yet be quantified. Tactical “deceit” of powerful males to cause unrealistic expectations and in this way agonistic engagement of less strong males can be ruled out. “Sneaking copulations” is a proximate advantage for subordinate supporters, since they participated in 61.9% of all sexual interactions. Female promiscuity might reflect a strategy to induce male-male competition and thus select for a strong resident.     

Voiceprint identification and its application to sociological studies of wild Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata yakui)

Japanese monkeys often exchange the particular vocal sound, “coo,” especially when they feed or move as a group. It was considered that the “coo” sound had no positive social meaning, perhaps because the “coo” sound network and its function were hidden behind other behavioral observations. For identification of the vocalizer only from hearing the “coo” sound, three phonetic values, i.e., the “fundamental,” “duration,” and “formants,” plus other characteristics were used as indices of voiceprints. The results indicated that these were effective for identifying the vocalizer in two-thirds of the adults in the study troop which was composed of 12 adults and 16 immature members. The “coo” sound exchange network among the troop members (adults) was drawn on the basis of the voiceprint identification. The network showed three characteristics as follows: (1) matriarchs of the kin-groups frequently exchanged “coo” sounds with each other; (2) the other females exchanged “coo” sounds mostly within their own kin-groups; and (3) males seldom participated in the “coo” sound exchange. This suggests that “coo” sound exchange plays a central role for the matriarch of kin-groups in binding each kin-group and, ultimately, in binding all members together into an organized troop.     

Study on high-temperature-resistant and high-yield <Emphasis Type="Italic">Laminaria</Emphasis> variety “Rongfu”

Hybridization of gametophytes, continuous self-crossing and targeted selection were utilized to breed a new Laminaria variety. After five-generation selection breeding, the new variety “Rongfu” was obtained. Its male parent “Yuanza No.10” was the high-yield cultivation variety, and its female parent was variety “Fujian” which could tolerate relatively high seawater temperature. “Yuanza No.10” and “Fujian” were different but complement in their morphological characteristics and biological habits. Variety “Rongfu” was bred through their hybridization which exhibited high-yield potential and high seawater temperature tolerance. The results of traits evaluation in consecutive years showed that “Rongfu” attained higher yields by 24–27% compared to the control (widely used commercial variety) and also contained considerable amounts of iodine, mannitol, and algin. When seawater temperature was 18–21°C, the blade growth of “Rongfu” was maintained and tissue loss by abrasion was significantly lower than the control. Since the adoption of variety “Rongfu” in 2001, its cultivation areas have been extended to Shandong, Fujian and Guangdong province and have reached 14,133 ha currently, i.e., almost one-tenth of the total cultivation areas of Laminaria in China. The results of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA analysis showed that the relationship between “Rongfu” and other cultivation varieties in China was very close.     

The effects of time,space and spectrum on auditory grouping in túngara frogs

Male túngara frogs (Physalaemus pustulosus) produce complex calls consisting of two components, a ~350 ms FM sweep called the “whine” followed by up to seven ~40 ms harmonic bursts called “chucks”. In order to choose and locate a calling male, females attending to choruses must group call components into auditory streams to correctly assign calls to their sources. Previously we showed that spatial cues play a limited role in grouping: calls with normal spectra and temporal structure are grouped over wide angular separations (≤135°). In this study we again use phonotaxis to first test whether an alternative cue, the sequence of call components, plays a role in auditory grouping and second, whether grouping is mediated by peripheral or central mechanisms. We found that while grouping is not limited to the natural call sequence, it does vary with the relative onset times of the two calls. To test whether overlapping stimulation in the periphery is required for grouping, the whine and chuck were filtered to restrict their spectra to the sensitivity ranges of the amphibian and basilar papillae, respectively. For these dichotic-like stimuli, grouping still occurred (albeit only to 45° separation), suggesting that stream formation is mediated by central mechanisms.     

Subtropical coral-reef associated sedimentary facies characterized by molluscs (Northern Bay of Safaga, Red Sea, Egypt)

Summary The shallow marine subtropical Northern Bay of Safaga is composed of a complex pattern of sedimentary facies that are generally rich in molluscs. Thirteen divertaken bulk-samples from various sites (reef slopes, sand between coral patches, muddy sand, mud, sandy seagrass, muddy seagrass, mangrove channel) at water depths ranging from shallow subtidal to 40m were investigated with regard to their mollusc fauna >1mm, which was separated into fragments and whole individuals. Fragments make up more than 88% of the total mollusc remains of the samples, and their proportions correspond to characteristics of the sedimentary facies. The whole individuals were differentiated into 622 taxa. The most common taxon,Rissoina cerithiiformis, represented more than 5% of the total mollusc content in the samples. The main part of the fauna consists of micromolluscs, including both small adults and juveniles. Based on the results of cluster-, correspondence-, and factor analyses the fauna was grouped into several associations, each characterizing a sedimentary facies: (1) “Rhinoclavis sordidula—Corbula erythraeensis-Pseudominolia nedyma association” characterizes mud. (2) “Microcirce sp.—Leptomyaria sp. association” characterizes muddy sand. (3)”Smaragdia spp.-Perrinia stellata—Anachis exilis—assemblage” characterizes sandy seagrass. (4) “Crenella striatissima—Rastafaria calypso—Cardiates-assemblage” characterizes muddy seagrass. (5) “Glycymeris spp.-Parvicardium sueziensis-Diala spp.-assemblage” characterizes sand between coral patches. (6) “Rissoina spp.-Triphoridae —Ostreoidea-assemblage” characterizes reef slopes. (7) “Potamides conicus—Siphonaria sp. 2—assemblage” characterizes the mangrove. The seagrass fauna is related to those of sand between coral patches and reef slopes with respect to gastropod assemblages, numbers of taxa and diversity indices, and to the muddy sand fauna on the basis of bivalve assemblages and feeding strategies of bivalves. The mangrove assemblage is related to those of sand between coral patches and the reef slope with respect to taxonomic composition and feeding strategies of bivalves, but has a strong relationship to those of the fine-grained sediments when considering diversity indices. Reef slope assemblages are closely related to that of sand between coral patches in all respects, except life habits of bivalves, which distincly separates the reef slope facies from all others.     

Genetic differentiation between two color morphs of Gerres erythrourus (Perciformes: Gerreidae) from the Indo-Pacific region

A portion of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene was compared between two color morphotypes of Gerres erythrourus, viz. “yellow type” and “white type,” obtained from Ryukyu Islands, Japan, and various areas of the Indo-Pacific, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the haplotypes of each color morph were reciprocally monophyletic, supported by high bootstrap values. The degree of sequence difference between the two color morphs was comparable to that existing between species of the same complex as well as other distinct gerreid species. The genetic results together with their geographic range indicated that the two color morphs represent two distinct species. Supplementary material to this paper is available in electronic format at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10228-005-0324-0     

Ranging patterns of two syntopic gerbillid rodents: a radiotelemetry and live-trapping study in semi-desert habitat of Kalmykia,Russia

We studied ranging patterns of syntopic folivorous and granivorous gerbils (Meriones tamariscinus Pallas, 1773 andMeriones meridianus Pallas, 1773, respectively) by means of radiotracking and live-trapping in Kalmykia, southern Russia. We hypothesized that ranging patterns exhibited by these rodents would differ in accordance with differences in their preferred diets. Trapping and radiotracking were performed from 23 May to 20 June 2000 on a 12 ha grid divided into 20 × 20 m squares. To assess ranging patterns we estimated the number of grid squares visited by an individual, 100% minimum convex polygon, mean squared distance from the center, maximal distance between individual locations, linearity index, and distance measures at various temporal scales. In accord with expectations, females of folivorousM. tamariscinus exhibited smaller ranges than females of granivorousM. meridianus. Contrary to our expectations both trapping and radiotracking data revealed similar “granivorous” ranging patterns in males of both species of gerbils. MaleM. meridianus andM. tamariscinus were similar in number of burrows used, home range size, and distances traversed. No temporal dependence of distance measures was revealed in either species; males of both species traversed similar distances regardless of time interval for distance measures so that single-night movements and multiday movements did not differ in either species. High food selectivity in maleM. tamariscinus is considered to be responsible for the “granivorous” pattern of space use in this folivorous species.     

Characterizing complex mixed-species bird flocks using an objective method for determining species participation

We developed sampling methods to characterize the participation of bird species in foraging flocks led by the Eastern Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) in North-central Florida during winter, because standard field methods, developed primarily for permanent resident Neotropical flocks, were intractable in our system. During January–February 2004 and November 2004–March 2005, we observed 55 mixed-species flocks, recorded 40 potential flocking species [mean of 12.4 species (SD = 3.8; range 3–20), 26.3 individuals (SD = 12.2; range 8–60), and 3.1 titmice (SD = 1.4; range 1–7), per flock]. Twenty-six species were observed frequently enough (>10% of observations) to be included in analyses. We paired 60-min flock observations with 10-min point counts conducted in locations used by flocks, but after flocks had moved more than 100 m away. This method yielded a measure of flocking propensity: the ratio of the number of individuals observed in the flock versus during the point count for each species. We used regression tree (RT) analysis to classify species into groupings according to their levels of flock participation, and to investigate relationships between flocking propensity and various environmental and social factors that we measured. Our analysis identified three clear species groups; “Nuclear/Regular Associate” (12 spp.; high/moderate), “Occasional Associate” (four spp.; moderate/low), and “Non-joiner/Accidental” (ten spp.; low/no flocking propensity). Groupings were similar to schemes produced via more time-intensive field methods. In order to contextualize grouping categories, we conducted a review of flocking group definitions and relevant autecological information (e.g., interspecific sociality) about our study species. We found this method to be useful for geographically extensive sampling of species’ participation in mixed-species flocks, despite high inter-flock variability in species composition and limited labor.     

Synchronized changes to relative neuron populations in postnatal human neocortical development

Mammalian prenatal neocortical development is dominated by the synchronized formation of the laminae and migration of neurons. Postnatal development likewise contains “sensitive periods” during which functions such as ocular dominance emerge. Here we introduce a novel neuroinformatics approach to identify and study these periods of active development. Although many aspects of the approach can be used in other studies, some specific techniques were chosen because of a legacy dataset of human histological data (Conel in The postnatal development of the human cerebral cortex, vol 1–8. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1939–1967). Our method calculates normalized change vectors from the raw histological data, and then employs k-means cluster analysis of the change vectors to explore the population dynamics of neurons from 37 neocortical areas across eight postnatal developmental stages from birth to 72 months in 54 subjects. We show that the cortical “address” (Brodmann area/sub-area and layer) provides the necessary resolution to segregate neuron population changes into seven correlated “k-clusters” in k-means cluster analysis. The members in each k-cluster share a single change interval where the relative share of the cortex by the members undergoes its maximum change. The maximum change occurs in a different change interval for each k-cluster. Each k-cluster has at least one totally connected maximal “clique” which appears to correspond to cortical function.     

Seaweed meal as a protein source for the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

The rhodophytes Hypnea cervicornis and Cryptonemia crenulata are abundant along the Brazilian coastline and are rich in nutrients. They may therefore be used as a source of protein in shrimp diets. The aim of the present study was to test this hypothesis. The experiment was conducted in a laboratory, where 10-day-old post-larvae aged underwent 7 days of acclimation in a 1,000 L tank. They were then kept in plastic aquariums, each containing 10 L, and 20 larvae were fed daily (10% of biomass) in four equal portions with one of four diets (five repetitions of each) for a period of 45 days. All diets contained 30% crude protein (isoprotein) and 300 kcal 100 g⁻¹ (isocaloric), with different percentages of seaweed powder: Diet “A” 39%; Diet “B” 26%, Diet “C” 13%, and Diet “D” without seaweed (control diet). Algae were collected, rinsed, dried and ground up for the feed formulations. Weight of the animals was measured at the beginning of the experiment and at 15-day intervals to assess their growth. The physico-chemical variables of the water were measured every 2 days. Final biomass, biomass gain and specific growth rate (SGR) exhibited no significant differences between treatments (P > 0.05). Survival rate was equal under the four experimental conditions, being consistent within four decimal places 95.2% to 97.00% (P > 0.05). Diets “A” and “B”, with a greater content of algae, exhibited better feed conversion (1.79:1 and 1.82:1) than Diets “C” and “D” (2.04:1 and 2.08:1) (P < 0.05). The physical-chemical variables of the water showed no significant variation and remained within the standards necessary for the wellbeing of the animals. If sufficient biomass of beached algae can be practically and economically collected, it may be used as a component in the making of shrimp feed.     

Inheritance of resistance to Plum pox virus in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.)

The inheritance of resistance to Plum pox virus (PPV) has been studied in 1,178 apricot hybrids. Seven hundred and eighteen F1 hybrids, obtained from controlled crosses between the susceptible Greek cultivar “Bebecou” and the resistant PPV cultivars of American origin (“Stark Early Orange,” ‘NJA2,” ‘Veecot,” “Sunglo,” “Harlayne,” and “Orangered”) were evaluated for resistance to the PPV-M (Marcus) strain, 8 years after artificial inoculation. The inheritance of resistance to PPV has been additionally studied for the first time in a BC₁ population of 95 apricot hybrids for four vegetative periods. Reaction of each hybrid to PPV-M was scored through visual symptoms, indexing onto GF-305 and double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests. Segregation within the hybrids, determined by Chi-squared analysis, fits a 1:1 ratio (P ≤ 0.05) of the resistant vs susceptible, indicating that resistance to PPV is controlled by a single dominant gene locus and that the above six resistant cultivars are heterozygous for the trait. Plants carrying this gene may initially develop disease symptoms on leaves but eventually recover and no virus can be detected in leaves. Susceptible plants show similar symptoms initially but remain symptomatic. Inheritance of resistance to PPV also has been studied in 365 F1 hybrids by crossing the resistant cultivar “Stella” with the susceptible “Bebecou” and the resistant cultivars “Sunglo” and “NJA2,” for 8 years after inoculation. The segregation ratio was 1:0 (resistant/susceptible) suggesting that “Stella” is homozygous for the resistance trait. The purpose of this work was the enhancement of the knowledge of inheritance of resistance to PPV for the selection of new cultivars.     

Iota-carrageenan from a newly farmed, rare variety of eucheumoid seaweed—“endong”

A seaweed with the local name “endong” is a rare eucheumoid variety that has recently been farmed in Tawi-Tawi, southern Philippines. Local farmers describe it as “eel-like” because of its long, slender and smooth thalli. Being somewhat similar in appearance to the dominantly farmed seaweed “tambalang” (Kappaphycus alvarezii var. tambalangii), farmers mix their harvests of “endong” with those of “tambalang”. We analyzed the hydrocolloid extract from “endong” using spectroscopic and chemical techniques. The extract’s infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H and ¹³C) spectra, and sulfate and 3,6-anhydrogalactose contents revealed carrageenan of the iota-type, similar to extracts from another farmed species, Eucheuma denticulatum. This result implies that “endong” carrageenan exhibits physico-chemical properties different from those of kappa-carrageenan of “tambalang”. The findings of this study are of significance to the seaweed industry, as carrageenan quality problems could potentially arise from a mixed harvest. Seaweed farmers are advised to separate their harvests of “endong” and “tambalang”. Presented at the 19th International Seaweed Symposium, Kobe, Japan     

Ritual and Performance in Domestic Violence Healing: From Survivor to Thriver Through Rites of Passage

This article describes a group for domestic violence survivors to help them move past a “liminal” state in which their social identity is characterized by being “victim” or “survivor” to one of “incorporation” defined by “thriving” and joy. Through the creation and use of healing rituals, blessings, poetry, art and music, the women in the group establish “communitas” and support each other in the work of self-reclamation and healing. The group, “Rites of Passage” is intended for women who have completed shelter-based crisis interventions, and uses a structured curriculum that integrates theoretical and philosophical concepts from anthropology, post-modernism, humanistic psychology, social work, and existentialism. Through the Rites of Passage group, women identify and traverse a healing trajectory to construct an identity founded on strength and fulfillment. Patterned after non-western sex-segregated rites of transition, those who go through the group celebrate its conclusion with a defining ritual that publically marks their change in identity and status.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis>–<Emphasis Type="Italic">ex vitro</Emphasis> salt (NaCl) tolerance of cassava (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Manihot esculenta</Emphasis> Crantz) plants

Three cassava clones (SOM-1, “05”, and “50”) were cultured in vitro on MS medium plus sucrose (30 g L⁻¹) and myo-inositol (100 mg L⁻¹) without plant growth regulators and with additions of 0 (control), 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 g L⁻¹ NaCl to test their salt tolerance. The same cassava clones were cultivated in greenhouse conditions on a sandy soil substratum and irrigated with 20% strength Hoagland solution, and additions of 0, 4, and 8 g L⁻¹ of NaCl. Salinity negatively affected the survival, development, leaf water content, and mineral composition (mainly by accumulation of Cl and Na) of both in vitro and ex vitro plants, but with different intensity in each clone. In both conditions of culture (in vitro and ex vitro) clone SOM-1, from a desert arid saline zone of Somalia, was the most tolerant and clone “05”, from a rainy region of Ivory Coast, the most sensitive. Clone “50” tolerance to in vitro salt treatments, although lower, was not significantly different from that of SOM-1 but the ex vitro response was similar to “05”. In general, there was a correlation between in vitro and ex vitro behavior of the cassava plant regarding salt tolerance, which would allow the in vitro culture method to be used for selection of salt-tolerant plants of this crop.     

In vitro separation of a rose chimera

“Fairmount 1 thorny” (“FM1 thorny”) (a Rosa multiflora Thunb ex. J. Murr.) and a thornless sport of “FM1 thorny” (“Fairmount 1” (“FM1”)) were established in vitro to investigate chimeral segregation under various levels of BA and to obtain a pure thornless rose. While the chimeral thornless sport was expected to segregate in vitro and yield both thorny and thornless plantlets, “FM1 thorny” was to yield only thorny plants. “FM1” segregated in vitro into its constituent genotypes and yielded thorny and thornless plantlets, suggesting that “FM1” is chimeral. “FM1 thorny” produced only thorny plants in vitro. These results indicate that the “FM1 thorny” clone was not chimeral (pure thorny) and that the thornless regenerates of “FM1” did not develop via somaclonal variation. There was a significant linear relationship between increasing BA concentration and the percentage of thorny plants. Among a population of 690 tissue culture derived plants from all the BA experiments, 6 plants were classified as pure thornless plants 1 year later.