Behavioral olfactory discrimination of mixtures in the spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) based on a habituation paradigm

A habituation paradigm was used to examine behavioral aspectsof discrimination of stimulus quality in olfaction in the spinylobster (Panulirus argus). Magnitude of search response to twoconcentrations of artificial mixtures of crab, oyster, mulletand shrimp and to artificial seawater was measured in five lobstersbefore and immediately after habituation to crab mixture. Habituationto crab mixture was accomplished through 2-min presentationsof 5 ml of alternating concentrations (0.05 and 0.5 mM) of crabmixture stimulus, repeated every 5 min for a total durationof at least 3 h. This procedure resulted in at least a 42% decreasein response to any mixture, but the decrease was greatest forcrab mixture, the habituating stimulus. A habituation index,measured as post-habituation response relative to pre-habituationresponse, was used to evaluate discrimination between crab andeach of the other three mixtures. The habituation index wassignificantly greater for crab (90%) than for oyster (49%) andfor mullet (47%) mixtures. The habituation index for shrimpmixture (65%) was intermediate to these three mixtures. Thus,shrimp mixture is perceived by lobsters as being more similarto crab mixture than is either oyster or mullet mixture. Thesepatterns of discrimination parallel those reported for associativelyconditioned lobsters (Fine-Levy et al., 1987, 1988) and fora population of olfactory receptor cells (Girardot and Derby,1988).     

Behavioral resolution of quality of odorant mixtures by spiny lobsters: differential aversive conditioning of olfactory responses

A differential aversive associative conditioning paradigm wasused to demonstrate the ability of spiny lobsters to discriminatebehaviorally between four 41-component chemical mixtures. Thesemixtures were based on natural extracts of crab, mullet, oysterand shrimp. Previously, we demonstrated, using the same paradigm,that lobsters conditioned to avoid the shrimp mixture coulddiscriminate, to varying degrees, between the shrimp mixtureand the other three mixtures. The present study was performedto compare the perceived quality of all four mixtures. Thiswas accomplished by conditioning four groups of animals, eachgroup to a different mixture type, and then using multidimensionalscaling (MDS) analysis to compare simultaneously the similaritiesand dissimilarities among the four mixtures as inferred by passiveand active avoidance behaviors. These two types of behaviorsrevealed different aspects of the discrimination: greater differentiationof the conditioned mixture from the non-conditioned mixtureswas indicated by active avoidance behavior, while gradationsin the degree of discrimination between the conditioned mixtureand each of the non-conditioned mixtures were indicated by passiveavoidance behaviors. Overall, lobsters perceived crab and shnmpmixtures as being similar to one another and dissimilar to mulletand oyster mixtures, while they perceived mullet and oystermixtures to be dissimilar to one another and to the crab andshrimp mixtures. Comparison of results from MDS analyses ofbehavioral mixture discrimination, neural mixture discriminationand mixture compositions may be used both to provide an indicationof the type of neural coding used to make these behavioral discriminationsand to identify the components of the mixtures that are responsiblefor recognition of and differential response to the mixtures.     

Comparison of mutagen accumulation in 3 estuarine species using the Salmonella/microsome activation system

3 Estuarine organisms—oyster (Crassostea virginica), sea squirts (Mogulla sp.), and shrimp (Peneaus sp.)—were examined for Ames test detectable levels of mutagens. Whole-tissue extract of these organisms were made and tested using S. typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537 and TA1538, with and without S9 activation. Positive results were obtained with sea squirts and shrimp extracts. Activation was not necessary to show activity. Toxicity was encountered with oyster extracts. Histidine, a possible source of false positives, was eliminated from shrimp extracts using XAD-2 resin and thick-layer chromatography.     

Taste receptor stimulation and feeding behaviour in the puffer, Fugu pardalis. II. Effects produced by mixtures of constituents of clam extracts

The effects of extracts of short-necked clam, Tapes japonica,as feeding stimulants on the puffer, Fugu pardalis, were studiedby applying the constituents of the extracts in starch pellets.As observed elsewhere (Hidaka et al., 1978), the starch pelletcontaining all the constituents found in the clam extracts (Konosuet al., 1965), except homarine and choline, at the same concentrationratios as in the clam tissue was taken up by the fish. Omissiontests on the chemical constituents suggested that the palatabilityof the clam pellet might be largely produced by some amino acidsand betaine: Pellets containing alanine, glycine, proline, serineplus betaine were nearly as effective as those containing allthe extractive compounds except homarine and choline. Mixturesfree of either the above amino acids or betaine tested wereall less effective. The nucleotides and related substances andorganic acids detected in the clam extracts had no appreciableeffect except that a mixture of all of them was weakly acceptedby adding betaine to it. The other amino acids found in theextracts appear to be ineffective.     

Changes in Levels of Naturally Occurring Gibberellin-like Substances during Germination of Seed of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.

Naturally occurring gibberellin-like substances possessing acidic,basic, and neutral properties were detected, by paper partitionchromatography, in ethanolic extracts of tomato seed and ofetiolated seedlings after 72 and 116 hours' growth. Dwarf maizemutants of the d-1 and d-5 types, ‘Meteor’ pea seedlingsand young ‘Potentate’ tomato plants were used asbioassay material. Hydrolysis of seed and seedling proteinsby ficin in phosphate buffer, pH 6.2, after removal of ethanol-solublesubstances, liberated more and different ‘bound’gibberellin-like substances. It is suggested that protein hydrolysisduring germination is an important means of liberating thesesubstances at different stages of seedling development. Acidic substances were present in all the extracts prepared,but in general two with Rfs 0.25 and 0.55 in iso-propanol: ammonia:water : : 10:1:1 v/v were differentiated on d-2 and d-5 maizerespectively. Neutral substances in dry seed extracts chromatographedin the same solvent, had Rfs of 0.05, 0.35, and 0.95 and thesewere found only in the ethanolic (‘free’) extracts.They were active on d-1 and d-2 maize and ‘Meteor’pea. Basic gibberellin-like substances with Rfs of 0.05 and0.35 were found in ‘free’ extracts of both dry seedand etiolated seedlings after 116 hours' growth which were activeon d-2 maize only. Two others with Rfs 0.45 and 0.95 were extractedfrom seedlings after 72 hours' growth and these were activeon young ‘Potentate’ tomato plants. It is suggested that certain gibberellin-like substances, capableof reversing dwarfism in test plants, may be responsible formorphogenetic or other responses not involving stem extensionin the parent species. Changes were found in the levels of gibberellin-likesubstances but there was no evidence of changes in levels ofseed inhibitors relative to seed growth substances.     

Effects of biotic factors on depth selection by salt marsh nekton

Biotic factors such as interactions among co-occurring taxa are frequently cited as important in determining how nekton use habitat, yet their effects have rarely been tested experimentally. We investigated the general hypothesis that depth distributions of five taxa common in salt marsh intertidal creeks are affected by the presence of other taxa. Two experiments were conducted in a pair of large (15 m³), multi-level (20, 40, and 60 cm water depth) flow-through tanks under fairly stable environmental conditions. During the first experiment, when grass shrimp (Palaemonetes spp.), mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus), white mullet (Mugil curema), spot (Leiostomus xanthurus), and pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) were each tested alone, the highest proportions of individuals occupied the intermediate and deepest depths. When all taxa were tested together, the distributions of resident creek taxa, mummichog and grass shrimp, shifted to shallower depths, but the distributions of the seasonal transient taxa, white mullet, spot, and pinfish, did not change. A second experiment was conducted to test the effect of predator presence on grass shrimp depth selection. Neither predatory pinfish nor non-predatory white mullet had a strong influence on grass shrimp depth distribution when tested separately, but grass shrimp shifted to shallower depths in the combined presence of both fish. This suggests that a multiple-taxa effect such as increased disturbance or higher encounter frequency influenced the depth selection of grass shrimp. Our results demonstrate that biotic factors are important in shaping distributions of grass shrimp and mummichog in shallow water habitat.     

亚洲小车蝗痘病毒与化学杀虫剂混用的杀虫效果及对寄主主要解毒酶活性的影响

亚洲小车蝗痘病毒（Oedaleus asiaticus entomopoxvirus, OaEPV）作为一种增效剂,分别与马拉硫磷、毒死蜱、高效氯氰菊酯、氟氯氰菊酯 、溴氰菊酯化学杀虫剂混合饲喂亚洲小车蝗若虫,统计致死中浓度 LC₅₀ 和其混合使用后的增效比;测定虫体内与抗性有关的两种重要酶——羧酸酯酶（CarE）和谷胱甘肽 S-转移酶（GSTs）的比活力。结果表明：OaEPV 与化学杀虫剂混合饲喂亚洲小车蝗,OaEPV 与毒死蜱 、高效氯氰菊酯、氟氯氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯混用对亚洲小车蝗无明显的增效作用,OaEPV 与马拉硫磷混用,具有一定的增效作用,增效比为 1.42 倍。混剂感染亚洲小车蝗,除与溴氰菊酯混用外,虫体的中肠部位 CarE 的比活力都受到了明显的抑制作用,其中 OaEPV 与马拉硫磷混用下降了 4.21 倍,抑制作用最大。当 OaEPV 与氟氯氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯化学杀虫剂混用后,中肠部位 GSTs 受到了明显的抑制作用,而其脂肪体部位 CarE 和 GSTs 的变化无一定的规律性。结果提示痘病毒与农药混合处理时,病毒主要通过抑制中肠部位 CarE 比活力而增加了农药的杀虫效果。     

Studies on two Gibberellin-like Substances in Young Shoots of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

Two gibberellin-like substances were found in the acidic fractionof shoot extracts of the tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.,cultivar Potentate). These were resolved by paper chromotographywith iso-propanol/ammonia/water (10:1:1) as the developing solventbut not with n-butanol/1.5 N ammonia (3:1). Both substanceswere active in the dwarf maize bioassay on mutants d-1, d-2,d-3, and d-5, and appeared to be more active on d-5 than d-1.Neither was active in the Meteor Pea assay. Neutral and basicfractions were inactive. The relative amounts of these two substances varied accordingto the age of the tissues from which they were extracted andthis feature is discussed in relation to future studies on thephysiology of gibberellin-like substances in vivo.     

Relative nursery function of oyster, vegetated marsh edge, and nonvegetated bottom habitats for juvenile white shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus

Shallow estuarine habitats, including vegetated marsh edge (VME), oyster reefs (oyster), and nonvegetated soft bottom (NVB), provide important functions for estuarine resident and estuarine-dependent species. A paucity of information exists concerning relative nursery value of these habitats for juvenile fishes and invertebrates. In Grand Bay, MS and Weeks Bay, AL, National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR), this study evaluated the potential of the three habitats to serve as nurseries by quantifying habitat-specific density, size, growth, and survival of juvenile white shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus. Drop sampling in Oct 2003 and Jul 2004 indicated that white shrimp density was significantly greater in oyster and VME when compared with adjacent NVB. No significant difference occurred in density between oyster and VME. Significantly larger shrimp were collected in NVB, intermediate-sized shrimp were collected in oyster, and smaller shrimp were collected in VME. Using field enclosures to study growth of juvenile white shrimp we found significantly higher growth in oyster when compared with NVB and VME. Predator mesocosm experiments indicated that when blue crabs were used as predators, white shrimp juveniles experienced significantly higher survival rates in VME and NVB when compared with oyster. Our study suggests that juvenile white shrimp may select for oyster over NVB because of higher food availability and not necessarily for refuge needs from predation by blue crabs. In addition, juvenile habitat needs may shift with individual growth, indicating that the relative nursery value of a habitat is not inclusive for all juvenile sizes. Similar to VME, oyster provides an important function in the juvenile stages of white shrimp and should be examined further as a potential nursery habitat.     

毒死蜱与阿维菌素增效混配制剂对斑潜蝇属害虫的防治效果

通过有机磷杀虫剂毒死蜱与生物源农药阿维菌素混配制剂对美洲斑潜蝇Liriomyza sativae室内毒力实验,测定共毒系数为165～234,处于明显增效范围内。据此确定最佳配比和次佳配比,配制该增效混剂30%渗透型可湿性粉剂-1和-02,在山东防治美洲斑潜蝇幼虫的田间试验表明药效优良。制剂用量50 g/667m²药后3,7,11天,两可湿粉的校正防效分别为90.43%～91.71%和87.09%～90.53%,可湿粉-1用量25 g/667m²防效为85.96%～88.28%,可湿粉-2用量37.5 g/667m²相应校正防效为84.01%～85.38%,两增效混剂防治斑潜蝇速效性和持效性皆佳,成本有所下降,且对南美洲斑潜蝇L. huidobrensis亦有较好防效。使用可湿粉与乳油相比较可减少投放入环境的化学品数量。     

Short‐term effect of selectivity change in a trawling fishery in the Western Mediterranean

The change of mesh size or shape as a management measure to improve selectivity as proposed by the EU should be assessed using actual fishery data, despite being tested experimentally in previous studies. This work was conducted to evaluate the consequences of inserting either a 40‐mm square‐mesh or a 50‐mm diamond‐mesh (instead of the traditional 40‐mm diamond‐mesh) at codends in commercial Spanish trawlers. Landings in terms of biomass, income and catch composition were compared under commercial conditions. Four métiers were identified in the fishery: European hake (Merluccius merluccius), red mullet (Mullus barbatus), red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus) and Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). No significant differences were observed in biomass or income owing to the new mesh in either European hake or red mullet. In contrast, the total biomass of the red shrimp métier and the biomass of the Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus, were significantly higher after the selectivity change. Regarding the catch composition, only the European hake métier showed slight – but not significant – changes after using the new mesh. Considering these results, there was no short‐term effect (substantial biological or economic loss) as previous studies had expected. This could possibly be related to a higher performance of the new gear that may compensate for the lower retention of small sizes.     

棉铃虫核型多角体病毒与化学杀虫剂和卵磷脂混用的增效作用

棉铃虫核型多角体病毒(HaNPV)分别与三氟氯氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯、氰戊菊酯、灭净菊酯、灭多威、辛硫磷、甲基对硫磷和乙酰甲胺磷等化学杀虫剂混合饲喂棉铃虫幼虫,统计致死中浓度LC₅₀,计算增效比,测定虫体内与抗性有关的三种重要酶：多功能氧化酶(MFO)、羧酸酯酶(CarE)、乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)的活性。研究大豆卵磷脂对HaNPV致病性的影响。结果表明：HaNPV与化学杀虫剂混合饲喂抗性棉铃虫,生测统计增效比均大于1.0,特别是病毒与甲基对硫磷混用,增效比更是达到3.53,表现出良好的增效作用。混剂感染抗性棉铃虫,虫体内MFO的活性比化学杀虫剂单用时降低3～12倍,CarE和AChE的活性也比化学杀虫剂单用时低,HaNPV明显抑制了化学杀虫剂对MFO和CarE的诱导作用。HaNPV与大豆卵磷脂混用,提高了HaNPV对棉铃虫的感染致死率,缩短了致死中时间(LT₅₀)。     

Germination Inhibitors in Fruit Extracts of Red Beet (Beta vulgaris cv. rubra

Germination inhibitors in methanol and water extracts of redbeet fruits (Beta vulgaris cv. rubra L.) have been studied usinglettuce and red beet seed germination as bioassays. The methanolextracts contained substances which inhibited lettuce seed germination,but had no effect on the germination of red beet seeds. Germinationof both lettuce seeds and of water-leached or sulphuric acid-treatedred beet seed balls were inhibited by the water extracts. Theconcentrations of ammonia, ferulic acid, and oxalate in thewater extracts were much lower than required for inhibitionof red beet seed germination. The water extracts contained,however, large amounts of inorganic ions, and the results clearlydemonstrated that the inhibitory effect of the water extractson red beet seed germination was mainly due to the content ofsuch inorganic ions.     

Yield,size, nutritional value,and antioxidant activity of oyster mushrooms grown on perilla stalks

Perilla is an edible medical plant with rapidly increasing acreage in China. In this study, we investigated the potential of perilla stalks (PSs) as an alternative substrate for the cultivation of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus). P. ostreatus was cultivated on cottonseed hulls (CSH) alone or mixed with PSs in different ratios. The production parameters, physical characteristics, nutritional values, and antioxidant activity of mushrooms cultivated on different substrate mixtures were determined. The addition of PSs to CSH significantly improved the growth rate, yield, biological efficiency, and proximate composition and shortened the cultivation cycle. Cultivation on PSs alone increased the amino acid content in P. ostreatus fruiting bodies and the antioxidant activity of mushroom extracts. The PS75 (25% CSH + 75% PS) substrate was deduced to be the most effective substrate on the basis of yield and biological efficiency obtained in a large area where perilla had been planted. The results demonstrate that mixtures of PS with CSHs could be used as novel, practical, and easily accessible alternative substrates for P. ostreatus cultivation.     

Short-term Effects of Some Chemicals on Cambial Activity

Aqueous solutions of indol-3yl-acetic acid (IAA), 1-naphthyl-aceticacid (NAA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), gibberellicacid (GA), 6-furfuryl-aminopurine (FAP), myo-inositol, and sucrosewere applied singly and in mixtures to the apical ends of disbuddedstem segments of willow. After 4 weeks all substances had hadsome effect on differentiation of xylem from cambial derivatives.The production of potential xylem cells, as well as their differentiationwere most markedly enhanced when IAA, GA, and FAP were appliedtogether, although the response was further augmented by additionof inositol or sucrose. The action of the substances when appliedas mixtures was often synergistic. This means that it is difficultto assess the role of different chemicals in xylem productionby extrapolation from experiments involving the applicationof single substances.     

松墨天牛成虫对幼虫虫粪挥发性物质的触角电位反应及林间驱避试验

为了研制松墨天牛Monochamus alternatus Hope驱避剂,本文利用触角电位技术和田间试验的方法研究了松墨天牛雌雄成虫对幼虫虫粪挥发性物质的触角电位反应及幼虫虫粪己烷提取物、合成化合物混合物的林间驱避作用。结果表明：α-蒎烯、β-蒎烯、3-蒈烯、柠檬烯和长叶烯均能引起松墨天牛雌雄成虫一定的触角电生理反应,而4-甲基-2,6-二叔丁基苯酚不能引起松墨天牛雌雄成虫的触角电生理反应。林间驱避试验结果说明,幼虫虫粪的己烷提取物处理过的树干上的刻槽数明显少于对照树干上的刻槽数,二者具有极显著差异;有合成化合物的混合物存在的诱捕器诱捕到的雌虫数（平均值3.80±1.02）与对照诱捕到的雌虫数（平均值16.80±1.16）差异极显著。结果显示α-蒎烯、β-蒎烯、3-蒈烯、柠檬烯、长叶烯和4-甲基-2,6-二叔丁基苯酚的混合物对松墨天牛雌虫具有驱避作用,有望开发出一类新的驱避剂。     

Ecteinascidia turbinata Extract Activates Components of Inflammatory Responses Throughout the Phylogenetic Spectrum

The tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata contains a substance orsubstances capable of exerting a number of biological effects.Extracts of tunicate tissues have been shown to kill tumorcells in vitro and arrest tumor growth in vivo. The extractsalso suppress allograft rejection, graft-US.-host reactionsand lymphocyte proliferative responses as well as humoral responsesto immunization. By modifying the conditions, the extracts couldpotentiate antibody responses. In addition, they augment functionsof monocyte-macrophages as evidenced by in vitro phagocytosis,in vivo clearance, and cytotoxic activity against target cells.After studies in mice, we were able to demonstrate that theextracts could activate the phagocytic systems of shrimp, bluecrab, and fish (the American eel). In fish, the intraperitonealroute was superior to the intravenous route for promotion ofphagocytosis, increase in percent presentation of granulocytesand for enhancement of resistance to bacterial infection. Intrarriuscularand intraperitoneal injection led to local inflammation withaccumulation of granulocytes and macrophages.     

The genotoxicity of priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in complex mixtures

Risk assessment of complex environmental samples suffers from difficulty in identifying toxic components, inadequacy of available toxicity data, and a paucity of knowledge about the behavior of geno(toxic) substances in complex mixtures. Lack of information about the behavior of toxic substances in complex mixtures is often avoided by assuming that the toxicity of a mixture is simply the sum of the expected effects from each mixture component, i.e. no synergistic or antagonistic interactions. Although this assumption is supported by research investigating non-genotoxic end-points, the literature describing the behavior of genotoxic substances in complex mixtures is sparse and, occasionally, contradictory. In this study, the results of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) analyses on freshwater bivalves were used to prepare realistic mixtures containing up to 16 PAHs. The SOS genotoxicity of the mixtures and each component were then assessed in an effort to evaluate the additivity of PAH genotoxicity. At nominal PAH concentrations above 1 microg/ml, observed genotoxic responses were far lower than those predicted under the assumption of additivity. At nominal concentrations below 0.75 microg/ml, differences are smaller and occasionally negligible, indicating that the genotoxicity of unsubstituted homocyclic PAHs is additive or slightly less than additive. Other researchers who have investigated the mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and DNA binding activity of mixtures containing unsubstituted homocyclic PAHs have also reported additive effects. Therefore, the mutagenic risk posed by simple, well-characterized mixtures of priority PAHs can reasonably be estimated as the sum of the risks posed by the mixture components. Current data indicate that less-than-additive effects likely result from saturation of metabolic pathways needed to activate mutagenic PAHs.     

Growth Substances in Relation the the Rooting of Salix fragilis Cuttings

An attempt has been made to correlate seasonal variations inthe rooting responses of Salix fragilis cuttings with theircontent of growth-promoting substances. Although they were bothlow in early dormancy and higher in late dormancy and in summerthere was not an exact correlation in all months. It was found that extracts of S. fragilis cuttings taken indormancy strongly inhibited the action of IAA on the growthof Avena coleoptile segments. This inhibitory influence wasless in extracts of cuttings taken at the end of dormancy andin summer. Extracts of cuttings which had been left in waterto root showed a striking decrease in their inhibitory actionon IAA.     

Electrophoresis of algal glucans

The ability of reactive dyes based on chloro-s-triazine to reactwith the primary and secondary hydroxyl groups of glucose, formingcovalent bonds, has been used to dye the storage polyglucosidesof the algae, Cytmidium caldarium, Oscillatoria princeps, Rhodymeniapertusa and Spirogyra setiformis, prior to electrophoresis oncellulose polyacetate strips in borate buffer. The techniqueresolves mixtures of glucans and defines some of the parametersof the internal structure of these glucans. The similarity ofthe glucans from Cyanidium caldarium and Oscillatoria princepsis evident using this method. The two components of the "starch"from Spirogyra setiformis have been studied and identified bytheir reactions with the dye and the mobilities of the dyedcomponents during electrophoresis. Inferences as to the biphyleticevolutionary pathways leading from the Cyanophyceae to the Rhodophyceaeand the Chlorophyceae can be made based on the data. (Received June 27, 1973; )