F. J. J. Buytendijk's contribution to animal behaviour: Animal psychology or ethology?

F. J. J.Buytendijk died on October 21st 1974 at the age of 87. His important contribution to the study of animal behaviour is analyzed here in relation to the historical development of animal psychology and ethology. The detailed study of his scientific production suggests, according to the authors, that some important findings, although largely not paid attention to in present-day literature, are akin to the conceptual and methodological evolution of comparative ethology.     

Wolbachia (Rickettsiales) infections and bee (Apoidea) barcoding: a response to Gerth et al.

In a recent Perspective, Gerth et al. (2011) expressed concern over how Wolbachia (Wolbachia pipientis Hertig) infections may affect the success of DNA barcoding efforts in bees. The potential and realized effects of endosymbiont-induced selective sweeps on host mitochondrial DNA diversity have been noted repeatedly – and rightly so – in the literature for some years. However, we are equally concerned with other misconceptions, including (a) presuming that a positive Wolbachia test indicates a stable infection, (b) presuming that Wolbachia-infected hosts cannot be identified with a single-locus barcode, and (c) inferring specific Wolbachia–mtDNA interactions based only on incomplete genotyping of Wolbachia strains. We address these issues in the context of the Gerth et al. (2011) survey of Wolbachia prevalence among the German bee fauna. We also clarify some of the context-dependent strengths and limitations of DNA barcoding when it is used as a research tool by taxonomists and ecologists.     

Natural wood colouring process in Juglans sp. (J. nigra, J. regia and hybrid J. nigra 23 ×J. regia) depends on native phenolic compounds accumulated in the transition zone between sapwood and heartwood

 Radial distribution of soluble phenolics was investigated at different heights in stems of Juglans nigra, J. regia and hybrids J. nigra 23 × J. regia. Four major phenolic compounds were studied: hydrojuglone glucoside (HJG), quercitrin (QUER) and two unknown compounds characterized as two ellagic acid derivatives E1 and E2. HJG and E1 content increased gradually in the sapwood, peaked in the sapwood-heartwood transition zone, and decreased drastically in the heartwood. QUER was accumulated preferentially around the transition zone, and its content was relatively low in the outer part of the sapwood and in the inner part of the heartwood. E2 content was low in the sapwood and increased in the heartwood. The heartwood formation was marked by the accumulation of new soluble compounds. The relationship between wood extractives and wood colour were evaluated and discussed. HJG was considered to be a major precursor of heartwood colour providing chromophores through hydrolysis (deglucosylation), oxidation and polymerization processes. Received: 2 September 1997 / Accepted: 23 November 1997     

Symposium on J.-L. Dessalles’s Why we Talk (OUP, 2007): Precis by J.-L. Dessalles,commentaries by E. Machery,F. Cowie,and J. Alexander,Replies by J.-L. Dessalles

This symposium discusses J.-L. Dessalles's account of the evolution of language, which was presented in Why we Talk (OUP 2007).     

The absorption of sugars and organic acids by the daughter sporocysts of Microphallus similis (Jäg.)

The kinetics of uptake, accumulation against a concentration gradient, competitive inhibition and metabolic inhibition suggest that d-glucose enters the daughter sporocysts of Microphallus similis by active transport.Studies of competitive inhibition suggest that galactose, fructose, d-fucose, α-methyl-d-glucoside, d-mannose and 3-O-methylglucose are actively absorbed at the same locus as d-glucose. Glucosamine, d-ribose and l-fucose, however, may be actively transported at a different locus or may be taken up by simple diffusion.Acetate, pyruvate, citrate and succinate are absorbed by simple diffusion.     

Beiträge zur Kenntnis des Ss:aurestoffwechsels sukkulenter Crassulaceen. III. Stoffliche Zusammenhänge zwischen gärfähigen Kohlehydraten und organischen Säuren

Zusammenfassung Bei den beiden untersuchten Crassulaceen,Bryophyllum calycinum undBryophyllum daigremontianum, besteht zwischen Stärke- und Zymohexosenschwund einerseits und Zunahme an organischen Säuren und ausgeschiedenem Kohlendioxyd andererseits ein klarer bilanzmäßiger Zusammenhang. Die Muttersubstanzen der organischen Säuren (insbesondere Äpfel- und Zitronensäure) sind demnach gärfähige Zucker bzw. solche Polysaccharide, die fermentativ in Zymohexosen übergeführt werden können.Die strenge Übereinstimmung im Ablaufe der Vorgänge der Säureanhäufung und der Stärkehydrolyse führt uns zu der Hypothese, daß der Eintritt einer Stärkehydrolyse nicht nur in stofflicher, sondern auch in reaktionsmechanischer Hinsicht eine wesentliche Voraussetzung dafür darstellt, daß die Pflanze zur Deckung ihres Energiebedarfs den lukrative Säurestoffwechsel einzuschlagen vermag.Zu den vonBennet-Clark geäußerten Vorstellungen über den Säurestoffwechsel der Crassulaceen wird Stellung genommen.Mit 10 Textabbildungen.