ANATOMICAL STUDIES REVEAL NEW PHYLOGENETIC INTERPRETATIONS IN LISSACHATINA (PULMONATA: ACHATINIDAE)

This is essentially a preliminary report on the revision ofsubgenus Lissachatina of the African land snail family Achatinidae.It extends the conchological revisionary work of J.C. Bequaert(1950) along the complementary line of comparative anatomicalstudies of the reproductive tracts. This is directed towardthe goal of a better understanding of phylo-geny in this family.Species emphasized are Achatina albopicta E.A. Smith,1878; A.allisa Reeve, 1849; A. fulica Bowdich, 1822; A. loveridgei Clench& Archer, 1930; A. zanzibarica Bourguignat, 1879, and thenew species A. eleanorae. Relegated tosynonymy are A. albicansPfeiffer, 1851; A. delorioli Bonnet, 1864; and A. iredalei Preston,1910. Tangible anatomical characters separate subgenera Lissachatinaand Achatina. A. capelloi Furtado, 1886; A. craveni E.A. Smith,1881; and A. connollyi Preston, 1912 are transferred from Lissachatinato Achatina s.s. Other transfers are in progress. (Received 26 September 1994; accepted 25 November 1994)     

Efficiency as a foraging currency in animals attaining a gain below the energetic ceiling

Previous research has found that efficiency, or, more precisely,the foraging gain ratio (FGR), is a valid currency in foragingtheory when (1) there is a limit to the energy that can beassimilated by the forager and (2) a forager is trying to meetan energy requirement. The FGR is b/ (c — c_r), whereb is the rate of metabolizable energy intake, and c and c_rare the rates of energy expenditure while foraging and resting,respectively. Here I show that, when energy expenditure hasa cost besides energy, animals should also choose the optionwith the highest FGR when they are aiming at a given positivedaily gain. The next question is which gain they should aimfor? Researchers have shown that observed intake levels ofgrowing ruminants are close to the levels predicted by maximizationof the efficiency of oxygen utilization. This currency can be approximated by (B — C + C_r) / C, where B is the daily metabolizable energy intake, and C and C_r are the total andbasal daily energy expenditures, respectively. By simulatinggrowth at different intake levels, I found that mass-specificoxygen consumption rate is indeed minimal at the observed intakelevels. This is the first study in which these efficiency measures(FGR and the efficiency of oxygen utilization) are combined.     

Structure and Histochemistry of Stomata and Epidermal Cells in Five Species of Polypodiaceae

The epidermal structure of the five species of ferns, Arthromeriswallichiana (Spr.) Ching., Drymoglossum piloselloides (Prest.),Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J. Smith, Lepisorus nudus (Hook.)Ching. and Pyrrosia nuda (Gies.) Ching., has been investigated.Fifteen types of stomatal structures have been identified ofwhich copolo-desmocytic and coperi-desmocytic are new types.Four more possible stomatal structures: ccpolo-peri-, codesmo-polo-,codesmo-peri- and duplodesmocytic, are suggested. Localizationof starch, insoluble polysaccharides, protein and lipids hasbeen examined histochemically in the guard cells, subsidiarycells and epidermal cells. In Drynaria starch plastids and plastidscontaining both starch and protein are present in guard cells.Starch plastids are present in the subsidiary cells of all speciesexcept in Arthromeris, whereas, they are present in epidermalcells of only Drymoglossum and Lepisorus. Granular or amorphousinsoluble polysaccharides (other than starch) are present inguard cells of all the species, in the subsidiary cells of Arthromeris,Drynaria and Pyrrosia, and in the epidermal cells of Pyrrosia.Except in Pyrrosia lipids are present in the guard cells. Subsidiarycells of Drynaria and the epidermal cells of Arthromeris andDrynaria show lipid bodies. The presence of plasmodesmata andectodesmata is demonstrated in the epidermal cells of Drymoglossum.     

THE GENUS TRICOLIA IN THE EASTERN ATLANTIC AND THE MEDITERRANEAN

The genus Tricolia(Phasianellidae) in the Eastern Atlantic andMediterranean is reviewed on the bases of radular morphology,shell characters and polychromatism. The taxa included within the T. pullus (L.) group are not clearlyseparable and are treated as geographical subspecies:T. pulluspullus (L.), T. pullus picta (da Costa), T. pullus azorica (Dautzenberg),T. pullus canarica Nordsieck. The case of T. tenuis (Michaud)is problematic since it is clearly separable from sympatricT. pullus pullus in most parts of the Mediterranean but transitionalto T. pullus picta, towards the Atlantic. Other taxa are considered as having specific status since theyare consistently separable when found in sympatric populations.These include T. speciosa (Muhlfeldt), T. miniata (Monterosato),T. tingitana n.sp., T. petiti (Craven), T. nordsiecki (Talavera)and T. algoidea (Pallary). The last two species are stated forthe first time as belonging to the Phasianellidae. The genusEpheriella Pallary, based on T. algoidea, is synonymized withTricolia. (Received 6 April 1981;     

The GUS reporter-aided analysis of the promoter activities of Arabidopsis ACC synthase genes AtACS4, AtACS5, and AtACS7 induced by hormones and stresses

Ethylene biosynthesis in higher plants is regulated developmentallyand environmentally. To investigate the regulation of ACC synthasegene expression, the promoters of Arabidopsis ACS genes, AtACS4,AtACS5, and AtACS7, were fused to a GUS reporter gene, and therecombinant transgenes were introduced into Arabidopsis to producethree groups of AtACS::GUS transgenic plants. Histochemic andfluorometric study of these transgenic plants revealed thatpromoters of AtACS4, AtACS, and AtACS7 are all active in dark-germinatedseedlings. AtACS5 has the highest promoter activity in leavesof 2-week-old light-grown seedlings among the three AtACS genesstudied. In the mature leaves, AtACS4 and AtACS7 genes are expressedin both veins and areoles, whereas AtACS5 is expressed at ahigher level in the areoles and epidermal cells surroundingtrichomes. The promoter activities of all these AtACS genesare found in the reproductive organs. AtACS5 and AtACS7 arehighly expressed in petals, sepals, carpels, stamens, caulineleaves, inflorescence stems, and siliques, while AtACS4 expressionis undetectable in the petals of open flowers. All three AtACSgenes are expressed in root tissue. In the 2-week-old light-grownArabidopsis, the AtACS4 promoter is responsive to the planthormones IAA, ethylene, and ABA, and to darkness and wounding;the AtACS5 promoter to IAA, ABA, salt, high temperature, andwounding; and the AtACS7 promoter to GA₃, ethylene, and ABA,and to darkness and salt. Low-temperature treatment abolishesthe darkness-induced AtACS7 gene expression, but not that ofAtACS4. Each AtACS gene has a unique expression profile duringgrowth and development. It appears that at any developmentalstage or any growth period of Arabidopsis, there is always amember of AtACS multigene family that is actively expressed. Key words: ACC synthase, Arabidopsis, ethylene, gene expression, GUS histochemical staining, reporter, stress treatments     

TAXONOMIC REVIEW OF THE TREE SNAIL AMPHIDROMUS ALBERS, 1850 (PULMONATA: CAMAENIDAE) IN THAILAND AND ADJACENT AREAS: SUBGENUS AMPHIDROMUS

Extensive series of Amphidromus Albers, 1850 were collectedfrom low-altitude areas (30–500 m above sea level)in Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia between1993 and 2004. Data on shell colour, genital and spermatophoremorphology, and radular structure are presented. Five speciesof Amphidromus (Amphidromus) are reviewed, of which four occurin Thailand. Intraspecific variation between populations ofAmphidromus (Amphidromus) atricallosus (Gould, 1843) is considered;three subspecies are accepted and a new subspecies described.Subspecies of A. (A.) inversus (Müller, 1774) and A. (A.)schomburgki (Pfeiffer, 1861) are reconsidered, and a new subspeciesof the latter is described. A dichotomous key to the speciesand subspecies of Amphidromus (Amphidromus) in Thailand is provided. (Received 7 May 2004; accepted 31 March 2005)     

Estimating the capacity for improvement in risk prediction with a marker

Consider a set of baseline predictors X to predict a binaryoutcome D and let Y be a novel marker or predictor. This paperis concerned with evaluating the performance of the augmentedrisk model P(D = 1|Y,X) compared with the baseline model P(D= 1|X). The diagnostic likelihood ratio, DLR_X(y), quantifiesthe change in risk obtained with knowledge of Y = y for a subjectwith baseline risk factors X. The notion is commonly used inclinical medicine to quantify the increment in risk predictiondue to Y. It is contrasted here with the notion of covariate-adjustedeffect of Y in the augmented risk model. We also propose methodsfor making inference about DLR_X(y). Case–control studydesigns are accommodated. The methods provide a mechanism toinvestigate if the predictive information in Y varies with baselinecovariates. In addition, we show that when combined with a baselinerisk model and information about the population distributionof Y given X, covariate-specific predictiveness curves can beestimated. These curves are useful to an individual in decidingif ascertainment of Y is likely to be informative or not forhim. We illustrate with data from 2 studies: one is a studyof the performance of hearing screening tests for infants, andthe other concerns the value of serum creatinine in diagnosingrenal artery stenosis.     

Protein-O-glycosylation in yeast: protein-specific mannosyltransferases

S.cerevisiae contains at least six genes (PMT1–6) fordolicholphosphate-D-mannose: protein-O-D-mannosyltransferases.The in vivo mannosylation of seven O-mannosylated yeast proteinshas been analyzed in a number of pmt mutants. The results clearlyindicate that the various protein O-mannosyltransferases havedifferent specificities for protein substrates. Five of theproteins tested (chitinase, a-agglutinin, Kre9p, Bar1p, Pir2p/hsp150)are mainly underglycosylated in pmt1 and pmt2 mutants, wherebyqualitative differences exist among the various proteins. Twoof the O-mannosylated proteins (Ggp1p and Kex2p) are not atall affected in pmt1 and pmt2 mutants but are clearly underglycosylatedwhen PMT4 is mutated. Although the PMT4 gene product is shownto be responsible for O-mannosylating a Ser-rich region of Ggp1pin vivo, a penta-seryl-peptide is not an in vitro substratefor this transferase. A PMT3 mutation does affect O-manno-sylationof chitinase only in the genetic background of a pmt1pmt2 doublemutation, indicating that PMT1 and PMT2 can compensate for adeleted PMT3 gene. dolichol-phosphate PMT gene family protein glycosylation S. cerevisiae     

NOTES ON THE TAXONOMY, SPAWN AND LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIES OF THE INTERTIDAL LIMPET SIPHONARIA (GASTROPODA: PULMONATA)

The taxonomy of South African Siphonaria is reviewed. We concludethat nine species are valid. These are: S. anneae Tomlin, 1944;S. capensis Quoy & Gaimard, 1833; S. compressa Allanson,1959; S. concinna Sowerby, 1824; S. dayi Allanson, 1959; S.nigerrima Smith, 1903; S. oculus Krauss, 1848; S. serrata (Fischer,1807) and S. tenuicostulata Smith, 1903. Of these, Siphonarianigerrima Smith, 1903, has been incorrectly synonymized withSiphonaria carbo Hanley, 1858, which is not present on SouthAfrican shores. S. aspera Krauss, 1848 is reduced to a juniorsynonym of S. Serrata (Fischer, 1807). Shell characteristicsand mode of larval development are described for these nineSouth African species. All species deposit benthic egg massesand development may be either planktonic with swimming veligerlarvae (S. capensis, S. concinna and S. oculus) or direct, withcrawling larvae emerging from the eggs (S. anneae, S. compressa,S. dayi, S. nigerrima, S. serrata and S. tenuicostulata). (Received 20 November 1992; accepted 24 January 1994)     

中国菲寄蝇属分类研究(双翅目: 寄蝇科)

经研究发现中国菲寄蝇属现共有9种,其中包括4新种：金额菲寄蝇Phebellia aurifrons sp. nov.,褐粉菲寄蝇Ph. fulvipollinis sp. nov.,宽叶菲寄蝇Ph. latisurstyla sp. nov.和毛基节菲寄蝇Ph. setocoxa sp. nov.。我国新记录3种：叶蜂菲寄蝇Ph. clavellariae (Brauer & Bergenstamm),灰粉菲寄蝇Ph. glauca (Meigen)和拟灰粉菲寄蝇Ph. glaucoides Herting。本文除详细描述新种特征及绘制特征图外,还提供中国菲寄蝇属已知种类的分种检索表。     

Revision of the Genus Goodallia (Bivalvia: Astartidae) with the Description of Two New Species

A revision of the Recent species of the genus Goodallia (Astartidae)is presented. Adult shell and prodissoconch morphology of allthe species are described and figured. In total, five speciesare recognized: G. triangularis (Montagu, 1803), G. pusilla(Forbes, 1844), G. macandrewi (Smith, 1881), G. micalii new species,and G. gofasi new species. G. triangularis and G. pusilla are widespreaddistributed in the Atlantic coasts of Europe and North Africa,and in the Mediterranean. G. macandrewi is restricted to thetype locality in the Canary Islands, while what has been calledG. macandrewi from the Mediterranean corresponds to an undescribedspecies here named G. micalii, distributed in the Central andEastern Mediterranean. A second undescribed species from offthe Atlantic Moroccan coast is named G. gofasi, and is knownonly from the type material of station B33 of the expedition CINECA CHARCOT III. The named forms, variability and distributionof G. triangularis are discussed. (Received 30 January 1998; accepted 27 August 1998)     

Revision of the genus Stentor Oken (Protozoa, Ciliophora) and description of S.araucanus nov. spec, from South American lakes

Stentor is a heterolrich ciliate which often forms lawn-likecovers on the bottom and/or blooms in the pelagial of lakesworldwide. The species involved in these spectacular eventswere usually either not determined or misidentified becausethe keys are outdated and incomplete. Thus, we have revisedthe nominal species described since the first major revisionby Ehrenberg (1838). Main species characteristics are the presence/absenceof symbiotic algae, the shape of the macronucleus and the colourof the cortical pigment granules. The last character mentionedmust be studied in live cells because the pigment bleaches inchemically fixed specimens. Nineteen valid species are recognizedand dichotomously keyed according to these characteristics.Twenty-seven other species and varieties, described after Ehrenberg'srevision, are synonyms or species indeterminata A new species.S.araucanus, is described from South American lakes. It is asmall, broadly trumpet-shaped Stentor with symbiotic algae,vermiform macronucleus and blue-green cortical granules. Stentoraraucanus is probably euplanktic and restricted to the southernhemisphere. Stentor auriculalus Kahl. 1932 sensu Wang (1934)is recognized as a new species, Condylostoma wangi, and transferredto the genus Condylostoma. New nomenclatural corrections: Stentorbaicalius nom. nov. (pro S.pygmaeus, preoccupied). S loricatiisnom. corr. (for S.loricata), S.ruber nom. corr. (for S.ruhra).     

Intergeneric and Interspecific Relationships in Araceae tribe Caladieae and Development of Molecular Markers using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP)

Since amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysishas proved useful in distinguishing cultivars of Caladium, itwas used to assess the status of species of Caladium vs. Xanthosoma,both in tribe the Caladieae, and to reassess the position ofHapaline in the same tribe. AFLP analysis using three primercombinations was carried out on four species of Caladium(C.bicolor, C. humboldtii, C. lindenii and C. schomburgkii). Resultsshowed that AFLP can distinguish between the different speciesby their unique and different banding patterns. AFLP analysisconfirmed that C. humboldtii is a species distinct from C. bicolorand that C. lindenii is a true Caladium species and does notbelong to Xanthosoma. UPGMA cluster analysis showed that C.bicolor and C. schomburgkii are most similar and that C. humboldtiiis closer to the C. bicolor / C. schomburgkii cluster comparedwith C. lindenii. Genetic relationships between Caladium, Xanthosoma,Hapaline, Alocasia and Protarum were also examined by AFLP analysisusing eight primer combinations. Several useful molecular markerswere specific either to Caladium orXanthosoma , so that AFLPcan be used to distinguish species of these two genera. Geneticanalysis of the genera examined confirms that the Caladieaeand Colocasieae tribes are distinct and that Hapaline fallswithin the tribe Caladieae and that Protarum is most distantfrom all the genera examined. Copyright 2000 Annals of BotanyCompany Araceae, Caladium, Xanthosoma, Hapaline, Alocasia, Protarum, AFLP DNA fingerprinting, diversity, AFLP markers     

Leaf Survival and Evolution in Betulaceae

Studies on the changes in leaf number of 12 species of Betulaceaewere carried out by repeated observations during several years.The inner structure of the winter buds of these species wasalso examined. The periods of leaf emergence were long in Alnusand Betula, intermediate in Corylus and short in Ostrya andCarpinus. A heavy summer leaf fall is characteristic only ofthe Gymnothyrsus subgenus of Alnus. One lamina and two stipulesis the basic unit constituting the winter buds. Only the budsof Gymnothyrsus are composed of several of these units. In theAlnaster subgenus of Alnus, Betula and Corylus, there are oneor two scales that seem to have originated from the two stipulesremaining after reduction of the lamina. Eight and 24 scalesof similar origin were found in Ostrya and Carpinus respectively.A common ancestral species having the following primitive charactersis proposed: shoot constituted only of the equal-sized units,period of leaf emergence long, and leaf fall usually occurs.Alnus (Gymnothyrsus) is assumed to be the most primitive typeas it has many characters similar to those of the proposed ancestralspecies. Carpinus is assumed to be the most advanced group.The leaf survivorship curve is assumed to have changed fromthe primitive bell-shaped to an advanced trapezoid concurrentwith an increase in the number of bud scales. Betulaceae, Alnus, Betula, Carpinus, Corylus, Ostrya, leaf survival, leaf emergence, stipules, winter buds, evolution     

THE BIOLOGY OF THE NORTHEASTERN PACIFIC TURRIDAE II. OENOPOTA

The habitat, diet, some reproductive and mortality factors forseveral shallow-water species of the boreal turrid genus Oenopotafrom the Puget Sound region were determined. All fed exclusivelyon tubicolous polychaetes. Oenopota fidicula was a dietary andhabitat generalise Oenopota elegans eats Schistocomus hiltoniand lives in areas of shell fragments. Oenopota excunata eatsTharyx multifilis and is a habitat generalist. Oenopota tabulataappears to be a dietary generalist, but lives only on or nearrocks. The widely-distributed species, O. levidensis, eats spionidpolychaetes, primarily Polydora species, or Owenia fusiformis,and is a habitat generalist. Feeding frequencies are low asare population densities; although O. levidensis sometimes exceeds15 animals m^–2. Crabs are major predators upon turridsin some areas, but mortality causes are generally obscure. Spawningwas observed in four species, but only O. elegans and O. levidensishad viable larvae. Development takes 13–15 weeks, 6–7weeks in a capsule and 6–7 weeks as planktonic veligers.There are no nurse eggs. Settling was not observed. ^*Present mailing address: Bamfield Marine Station Bamfield,B.C. VOR 1B0 CANADA (Received 30 May 1982;     

Flower Morphology and Pollination Mechanism in Three Sympatric Goodyerinae Orchids from Southeastern Brazil

The pollination biology of Aspidogyne argentea, Aspidogyne longicornuandErythrodes arietina was studied in south-eastern Brazil.The three species are self-compatible but are pollinator-dependent.These three orchid species offer nectar as a reward to pollinatorsand flower visitors. The twoAspidogyne spp. have a dorsally-adhesiveviscidium, a feature which precludes pollinators other thanbees. Erythrodes arietina flowers are protandrous and show aventrally-adhesive viscidium. Aspidogyne argentea is visitedby halictid bees (here ranked as probable pollinators) and Hesperiidaebutterflies. Aspidogyne longicornu is pollinated by femalesof Euglossa(Euglossini) and visited by the hummingbird Phaethornisruber and by the euglossine bees Eulaema seabrai(females) andEulaema cingulata(males). The pollinarium adheres to the ventralsurface of the bee labrum, a very difficult place for bees toclean. The dorsally adhesive viscidium in Aspidogyne parallelsthat of the Spiranthinae genera of the so-called ‘Pelexiaalliance’. This condition seems to be particularly adaptativeunder conditions of low-frequency pollinator visits. Erythrodesarietina is pollinated by bees of the genera Paratetrapediaand Osiris which carry the pollinarium on the dorsal surfaceof their proboscis. Occasionally, these bees remove pollinariafrom their mouthparts using their forelegs. In general, in thespecies studied, a combination of both pollinator behaviourand morphological peculiarities promotes cross-pollination.Copyright 2001 Annals of Botany Company Orchids, Goodyerinae, Aspidogyne, Erythrodes, pollination, bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, morphology, viscidium, protandry     

Methods of Estimating the Leaf Area of Grasses from Linear Measurements

This paper is concerned only with estimates of leaf area obtainedfrom linear measurements on the leaves. Past investigationson grasses and on other species are briefly reviewed. Variousweighted regressions are examined, the object being to obtaina satisfactory estimate of the constant k in the predictionequation A = kLB (L = length of leaf; B = breadth at a pointmidway along the length; A = area). Sets of data from four differentgrasses are examined. The formula A = 0?9O5LB is consistentwith all these data. The practical use of the technique is discussed.     

Comparative mutant analysis of Arabidopsis ABCC-type ABC transporters: AtMRP2 contributes to detoxification, vacuolar organic anion transport and chlorophyll degradation

The enormous metabolic plasticity of plants allows detoxificationof many harmful compounds that are generated during biosyntheticprocesses or are present as biotic or abiotic toxins in theirenvironment. Derivatives of toxic compounds such as glutathioneconjugates are moved into the central vacuole via ATP-bindingcassette (ABC)-type transporters of the multidrug resistance-associatedprotein (MRP) subfamily. The Arabidopsis genome contains 15AtMRP isogenes, four of which (AtMRP1, 2, 11 and 12) clustertogether in one of two major phylogenetic clades. We isolatedT-DNA knockout alleles in all four highly homologous AtMRP genesof this clade and subjected them to physiological analysis toassess the function of each AtMRP of this group. None of thesingle atmrp mutants displayed visible phenotypes under controlconditions. In spite of the fact that AtMRP1 and AtMRP2 hadbeen described as efficient ATP-dependent organic anion transportersin heterologous expression experiments, the contribution ofthree of the AtMRP genes (1, 11 and 12) to detoxification ismarginal. Only knockouts in AtMRP2 exhibited a reduced sensitivitytowards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, but not towards other herbicides.AtMRP2 but not AtMRP1, 11 and 12 is involved in chlorophylldegradation since ethylene-treated rosettes of atmrp2 showedreduced senescence, and AtMRP2 expression is induced duringsenescence. This suggests that AtMRP2 is involved in vacuolartransport of chlorophyll catabolites. Vacuolar uptake studiesdemonstrated that transport of typical MRP substrates was reducedin atmrp2. We conclude that within clade I, only AtMRP2 contributessignificantly to overall organic anion pump activity in vivo.     

中国菱猎蝽属厘订(半翅目：猎蝽科：真猎蝽亚科)

文中对国产的7种菱猎蝽作了比较详细的再描述与图示;短刺菱猎蝽Isyndus bre vispinus Breddin、毛翅菱猎蝽I .Lativentris Distant、毛足菱猎蝽I.Pilosipes Reuter被视为 有效种或独立种;I.Sinicus Hsiao et Ren 和I.Yunnananus Ren分别被认为是毛足菱猎蝽 I.Pilosipes Reuter和毛翅菱猎蝽I.Lativentris Distant的同物异名;短刺菱猎蝽为中国新纪录;所有种的阳茎构造均为首次报道;此外,还编制了该属中国已知种类分种检索表。