Taste Preference Thresholds for Food-Associated Sugars in Baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis)

We aimed to determine taste preference thresholds for 5 food-associated sugars in Papio hamadryas anubis. In a 2-bottle preference test of brief duration (2 min) 4 subadult baboons significantly preferred concentrations as low as 10 mM sucrose, 20 mM fructose, lactose, and maltose, and 25 mM glucose over tap water. Presentation of suprathreshold sugar solutions led to marked concentration-dependent polydipsia. The results show that baboons are among the most sugar-sensitive nonhuman primates tested so far and, thus, support the assumption that Papio hamadryas anubis may use sweetness as a criterion for food selection.     

Prevalence and patterning of maxillary premolar accessory ridges (MxPARs) in several human populations

We present new data on the prevalence and patterning of the maxillary premolar accessory ridge (MxPAR), a common but understudied morphological dental trait that is expressed as a linear elevation extending from the buccal cusp ridge to the medial sulcus of maxillary premolar teeth. A total of 579 sets of dental casts, representing six ethnic groups, were scored using the five‐grade system proposed by Burnett et al. (2010). The frequency and distribution of the MxPAR were determined by tooth type, sex, side, locus and ethnicity, and the applicability of the scoring system was assessed. The MxPAR was found in approximately two‐thirds of premolar teeth, more often on second than first premolars, and more often on the distal aspect of the occlusal surface than the mesial. There was some evidence that more pronounced forms of the feature occurred more often in males than females, and that there may be some directionality in its expression between sides. Variation was also noted in the frequency of occurrence and degree of expression of the MxPAR between ethnic groups. Intra‐ and inter‐observer concordance rates for scoring the MxPAR were low, confirming that it was difficult to score the trait identically on two different occasions. Our findings have clarified the distribution of the MxPAR within the dentition and between ethnic groups, and highlighted the need for researchers to carry out thorough replicability studies and to decide on an appropriate breakpoint for determining presence or absence of this feature before embarking on genetic studies or bio‐distance analyses. Am J Phys Anthropol 152:19–30, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Reconstruction of Parentage in a Band of Captive Hamadryas Baboons

The male leaders of free-ranging harem groups of hamadryas baboons are believed to mate exclusively with the female members of their harems, which typically contain no more than 2–3 females. Using no-parent parentage exclusion analysis (PEA) we identified the paternity of 25 offspring born in a captive band of hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas hamadryas) containing five adult males, each with a stable harem of about five females. Nine of 13 microsatellite (SSR) loci known to be highly polymorphic in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were successful in identifying the sires of all but two offspring without knowledge of the dams' genotypes, and we were able to determine the sires of all offspring when the dams' genotypes were considered. Mating success of the males ranged between 2 and 7 offspring and bore no clear relationship to the males' ages, ranks or the number of females in their harems. The males sired 7 of the 25 offspring with females outside their own harems, with higher-ranking males exhibiting greater success monopolizing access to females in their harem than lower-ranking males did. More surprisingly, the females assigned as the dams of 14 of the 25 offspring could be unequivocally excluded from parentage. The identity of the true dam could be determined for each of these 14 offspring using single-parent PEA and was uncorrelated with the ranks of these offsprings' sires and whether the offspring were born to dams outside the sires' harem groups. The combined effect of this extraharem mating and kidnapping was that only 12 of the 25 offspring were raised within their sires' harem groups. A second group of hamadryas baboons of identical structure exhibited the same high incidences of infant kidnapping and mating outside the harem group. It is unclear whether these behaviors provide an adaptive advantage or represent aberrant behavior resulting from captivity or other circumstances.     

短枝木麻黄种群苗期表型多样性评价

以来源于大洋洲原生种源区、亚洲原生种源区、亚洲引种次生区以及非洲引种次生区4个区域的20个种源短枝木麻黄种子和当年生幼苗为材料,通过种子千粒重以及幼苗苗高、地径、一级侧枝粗度、一级侧枝长度等7个性状对短枝木麻黄表型多样性进行了研究,以探讨种群苗期表型遗传差异,为短枝木麻黄早期遗传选择和遗传改良提供基本资料。结果表明:(1)短枝木麻黄种子千粒重在区域间和区域内种源间差异极显著,且千粒重具有显著的地理变异模式,随经度的增大而降低。(2)当年生幼苗苗高、地径在不同区域间及区域内种源间均存在极显著差异,其中泰国干东港种源幼苗生长最好(苗高76.6cm,地径4.64mm),而种源汤加的幼苗生长最差(苗高28.3cm,地径2.58mm)。(3)当年生幼苗一级侧枝粗度、一级侧枝长度、二级侧枝长度、每小枝节数和齿叶数在不同区域间及区域内种源间均存在极显著差异,其中齿叶数在区域间的变异系数最大(82.15%)。(4)通径分析表明,一级侧枝长度对苗高具有显著的正向影响作用,而一级侧枝粗度和二级侧枝长度对地径具有显著正向影响作用,它们可作为短枝木麻黄优良新品种筛选的参考因子。     

Changes in Baboon Feeding Behavior: Maturity-dependent Fruit and Seed Size Selection within a Food Plant Species

Despite considerable inter- and intraindividual variation in fruit and seed size in many plant species, researchers have given little attention to the relevance of the traits for primate fruit choice within a food plant species and its implications for tree regeneration. We studied feeding behavior and selectivity of olive baboons (Papio anubis) in the African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa, Mimosaceae), via direct observations of habituated groups and indirect evidence from leftovers of pods after feeding events. Olive baboons acted as both seed predators and dispersers for Parkia biglobosa. They fed on and destroyed unripe seeds, and swallowed intact ripe seeds when consuming mature fruit pulp. Predation rate was high, and only 10% of the seeds were dispersed. Predation and dispersal of seeds is linked to seed number and size. Digestible unripe seeds accounted for 10% of the unripe fruit mass, while indigestible ripe seeds made up 28% of the mature fruit mass. With these constraints, olive baboons increased food gain per fruit by selecting unripe pods containing a high number of large and heavy seeds. Consequently, only pods with fewer and smaller seeds remained for maturation. Thereafter, baboons fed on mature pods containing the smallest seeds, and exploited pods with more seeds to a greater extent than those with fewer seeds. Thus, fruits with small seeds and an intermediate seed number contributed the most to dispersal by baboons.     

Variation in flowering behaviour inVulpia (Poaceae)

Some abnormalities in the androecial structure and behaviour withinVulpia sect.Vulpia are described. These features help to trace the evolutionary history of cleistogamous taxa with a single micranthous stamen from chasmogamous taxa with three macranthous stamens.     

秦岭石蝴蝶人工种群花器变异现象研究

以人工栽培的秦岭石蝴蝶为实验材料,通过观察并记录花器官形态和数目的变化,初步探讨秦岭石蝴蝶花器变异规律,并分析了导致其变异的诱因。结果显示:(1)在观察的1 996朵秦岭石蝴蝶花朵中,发现了17种花冠变异类型、5种萼片变异类型和7种可育雄蕊变异类型,总变异率分别为34.57%、38.38%和32.67%。(2)秦岭石蝴蝶花梗或可分支,花梗苞片数目2～3枚。(3)相关性分析结果表明,下唇数目与可育雄蕊数目呈正相关,相关系数为0.927 4,而上唇数目与可育雄蕊数目呈负相关,相关系数为-0.481 1,结合花型图示分析这可能与秦岭石蝴蝶雄蕊着生于花冠下唇内侧近基部有关。该研究统计的秦岭石蝴蝶变异类型丰富,可能对于今后秦岭石蝴蝶的系统进化、花器官发育、生殖生态以及分子遗传方面研究奠定了基础,也为培育不同观赏价值的品种提供思路。     

High Stressful Temperature and Genetic Variation of Five Quantitative Traits in Drosophila Melanogaster

Variation of five quantitative traits (thorax length, wing length, sternopleural bristle number, developmental time and larva-to-adult viability) was studied in Drosophila melanogaster reared at standard (25°C) and high stressful (32°C) temperatures using half-sib analysis. In all traits, both phenotypic and environmental variances increased at 32°C. For genetic variances, only two statistically significant differences between temperature treatments were found: the among-sire variance of viability and the among-dam variance of developmental time were higher under stress. Among-sire genetic variances and evolvabilities were generally higher at 32°C but narrow sense heritabilities were not. The results of the present work considered in the context of other studies in D. melanogaster indicate different patterns of genetic variation between stressful and nonstressful environments for the traits examined. Data on thorax length and viability agree with the hypothesis that genetic variance can be increased under extreme environmental conditions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Behavioral variation and reproductive success of male baboons (Papio anubis x Papio hamadryas) in a hybrid social group

We take advantage of an array of hybrid baboons (Papio anubis x Papio hamadryas) living in the same social group to explore the causes and consequences of different male mating strategies. Male hamadryas hold one-male units and exhibit a sustained, intense interest in adult females, regardless of the latter's reproductive state. Anubis baboons, by contrast, live in multi-male, multi-female groups where males compete for females only when the latter are estrous. These two taxa interbreed to form a hybrid zone in the Awash National Park, Ethiopia, where previous work has suggested that hybrid males have intermediate and ineffective behavior. Here, we first examine male mating strategies with respect to morphological and genetic measures of ancestry. We found significant relationships between behavioral measures and morphology; males with more hamadryas-like morphology had more hamadryas-like behavior. However, genetic ancestry was not related to behavior, and in both cases intermediates displayed a previously unreported level of behavioral variation. Furthermore, male behavior was unrelated to natal group. Second, we evaluated reproductive success by microsatellite-based paternity testing. The highest reproductive success was found for individuals exhibiting intermediate behaviors. Moreover, over nine years, some genetically and morphologically intermediate males had high reproductive success. We conclude that the behavior of hybrid males is therefore unlikely to be an absolute barrier to admixture in the region.     

Variation in therbcL sequence ofStegnogramma pozoi subsp.mollissima (Thelypteridaceae) in Japan

Stegnogramma pozoi (Lagasca) K. Iwats. subsp.mollissima (Fischer ex Kunze) K. Iwats. is one of the most common ferns in Japan with a very broad geographical distribution and habitat ranges. We examined the intrasubspecific variation of therbcL gene, and found three types in the subspecies (Atami-1, Atami-2, and Tateyama types). The Atami-1 and 2 types shared three apomorphic nucleotides and their geographical distribution is intermingled. Thus, we considered them to have intraspecific variation. In contrast, the Tateyama type had 4–5 different nucleotides than the Atami types, and showed a more northern distribution. Leaf morphology of the Tateyama type is distinct from that of the Atami types, though the leaf shape in Tateyama type varies considerably and in some cases overlaps with other types. Ferns have fewer morphological features that are systematically significant than flowering plants because they lack complex reproductive organ. It is reasonable to expect that species recognition of ferns based only on leaf morphology can be fine tuned by molecular features. Variation in therbcL sequences might be useful as an indication of significant biological units.     

Biochemical, ECF18R, and RYR1 Gene Polymorphisms and Their Associations with Osteochondral Diseases and Production Traits in Pigs

This study reports the association of five blood types, three enzymes, two proteins, Escherichia coli F18 receptor gene (ECF18R), and the Ryanodin receptor (RYR1) gene with six production traits, four meat quality traits, and two osteochondral diseases in Swiss pig populations. Data on on-farm traits (daily weight gain, percent premium cuts, and backfat) and on station-tested traits (daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, meat quality, and osteochondral lesions) were available on 3,918 and 303 animals, respectively. A mixed linear model with allele substitution effects was used for each trait by marker analysis (144 analyses). Significant marker-trait associations and allele substitution effects are presented. In general, heritability estimates for production and meat quality traits were higher than those for osteochondral lesions. Blood types lack significant associations with many traits except H and S types. Enzymes (mainly, glucose phosphate isomerase) and protein polymorphisms show significant associations with daily weight gain, premium cuts, and backfat as well as osteochondral lesions. The RYR and ECF18R genes significantly affected all growth, production, and lean meat content traits and osteochondral lesions; RYR also affected pH values. This study reports many novel marker-trait associations, particularly between the incidence of osteochondral lesions and polymorphisms at glucose phosphate isomerase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, postalbumin 1A, RYR, and ECF18R loci. These results should be useful in selection and for further functional genomics and proteomics investigations.     

Population Variation in Patch and Party Size in Muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides)

We examined the relationship between food patch size and feeding party size with comparative data from two populations of muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides) in the 37,797-ha forest at the Parque Estadual de Carlos Botelho (PECB), São Paulo, and the 800-ha forest at the Estação Biológica de Caratinga (EBC), Minas Gerais. Precipitation was more abundant and less seasonal at PECB than EBC, and the density of large trees (>25.0 cm) was higher at PECB (206 ha ^–1 ) than at EBC (132 ha ^–1 ). At both sites, the size of feeding parties is positively related to the size of food patches. As predicted, food patches at PECB are significantly larger than those at EBC for both fruit and leaf sources. Contrary to expectations, feeding parties were larger at EBC than PECB. The higher population density of muriquis and sympatric primates at EBC may make large associations more advantageous to these muriquis than to muriquis living at lower population densities in PECB.     

Variation in wild populations of annual beet (Beta,Chenopodiaceae)

Among the morphological variation in wild annual populations of sect.Beta only tepal characters show a geographic pattern, and hence can be used to distinguish different taxa. Two morphological types correspond with taxa already described:B. macrocarpa (incl.B. bourgaei) has a Macaronesian and W. to E. Mediterranean andB. adanensis an E. Mediterranean distribution area. A third type in the Aegean region is not well known yet and possibly has to be included inB. macrocarpa. Both diploid and tetraploid (x = 9) cytotypes are found withinB. macrocarpa, the latter exclusively on the Canary Islands.     

垂珠花自然居群表型性状及遗传多样性分析

为探索垂珠花自然居群间表型差异的内在因素,该研究用14个表型性状和微卫星分子标记法对6个垂珠花自然居群进行遗传多样性分析。结果表明:(1)14个表型性状在居群间和居群内皆存在极显著差异;居群间平均表型分化系数(V_(st))为22.64%,垂珠花自然居群内的表型变异大于居群间的表型变异,说明居群内变异是垂珠花居群的主要变异来源。(2)4对微卫星引物在87个个体上共检测到43个等位基因,平均每条引物10.63个,平均多态位点百分率(P)为100%;平均观察杂合度(H_o)和平均期望杂合度(H_e)分别为0.659和0.811,Shannon多样性指数(I)平均达1.894;居群内遗传多样性(H_s)高达0.811,居群间遗传多样性(D_(st))仅为0.110,居群间遗传分化系数(F_(st))为0.118,说明11.8%的遗传变异来自于居群间,88.2%的遗传变异来自于居群内,与表型变异研究所得结论大体相一致。表型性状和微卫星分子标记结果均表明垂珠花自然居群存在丰富的遗传变异,较高的基因流(Nm=2.050)使得垂珠花居群间的遗传变异小于居群内的遗传变异。     

西藏喜马拉雅紫茉莉野生居群果实形态变异

为了明确不同种源喜马拉雅紫茉莉野生种质资源的果实形态差异,在西藏选取了16个居群,测量了8个果实性状,分别进行了单因素方差分析、主成分分析、聚类分析和相关性分析,为喜马拉雅紫茉莉遗传多样性的评价和种质选育提供依据。结果显示：（1）8个果实性状的平均值在不同居群存在差异,八宿县怒江山居群（TNC2）的总苞筒长、总苞裂片长和宽、果长、果形、百粒重均最小,其他居群未表现出明显的规律性;9个居群均以果纹路的变异系数最大,多数居群以果宽或果长变异最小。（2）总体上看,8个性状的变异系数在8.58%~25.57%之间,其中总苞裂片宽变异最大（25.57%）,而果宽变异最小（8.58%）;各性状的F值在12.180~134.761之间,均表现为差异极显著,表明8个性状在不同居群间均存在明显差异。（3）主成分分析显示,果长和总苞裂片大小是造成各居群间果实表型差异的主要因素。（4）根据果实性状,16个居群分为两大支,聚类结果与各居群的地域分布并无关联。（5）除总苞裂片宽与经度呈显著负相关关系外,经度、纬度和海拔对8个果实性状不存在显著影响。     

Temporal and Spatial Allozyme Variation in the South American Cactophilic Drosophila antonietae (Diptera; Drosophilidae)

Drosophila antonietae is an endemic South American cactophilic species that uses Cereus hildmaniannus rotting cladodes as breeding sites. We assessed temporal and spatial intrapopulational allozyme variation of two natural populations. Our results suggest that environmental variation (rain precipitation) is probably influencing allozyme temporal variation. Moreover, it seems that D. antonietae does not have intrapopulation structure and has N _ev (variance effective size) 83 and N _ec (number of adult flies that colonize each rotting cladode) = 21. The deficiency of heterozygotes found must be due to null alleles, a temporal Wahlund effect, or selection against heterozygotes. Assortative mating and inbreeding are discarded. This is the first report on allozyme variation in D. antonietae. It gives some insight on intrapopulational genetics through space and time for this species. This is important to understand its general genetic variability and will be essential to future works on the natural history and evolution of this species.     

Reproductive Isolation and Genetic Variation between Two “Strains” ofBracon hebetor(Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Bracon hebetorSay(Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is known primarily as a parasitoid of pyralid moth larvae infesting stored grain. In the 1970s, a parasitoid identified asB. hebetorwas released for control ofHeliothis/Helicoverpaspp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on the island of Barbados. Because life-history traits of this parasitoid differed from those reported forB. hebetorfrom the United States, we conducted a series of laboratory experiments to determine whether this parasitoid was (i) a population ofB. hebetorthat attacks noctuids in the field or (ii) a different species fromB. hebetor.We confirmed thatHeliothis virescens(F.) was a more suitable host for the Barbados strain than forB. hebetor.However, a stored-grain infesting pyralid,Plodia interpunctella(Hübner), was a more suitable host for the Barbados strain than wasH. virescens.Reciprocal crosses between the Barbados strain andB. hebetorshowed that the two populations were reproductively isolated. No mating was observed during a series of 30-min observations of reciprocal crosses, and the crosses produced only male offspring. Examination of each female's spermatheca confirmed that females were not fertilized. Sequence analysis of a 517-bp fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene revealed that two populations ofB. hebetorfrom our laboratory were identical but differed in sequence by 2% from the Barbados strain. Collectively, our results indicate that the Barbados strain is a distinct species fromB. hebetor.     

Population Genetic Structure of Two Columnar Cacti with a Patchy Distribution in Eastern Brazil

The genetic variability and population genetic structure of six populations of Praecereus euchlorus and Pilosocereus machrisii were investigated. The genetic variability in single populations of Pilosocereus vilaboensis, Pilosocereus aureispinus, and Facheiroa squamosa was also examined. All of these cacti species have a patchy geographic distribution in which they are restricted to small areas of xeric habitats in eastern Brazil. An analysis of genetic structure was used to gain insights into the historical mechanisms responsible for the patchy distribution of P. euchlorus and P. machrisii. High genetic variability was found at the populational level in all species (P=58.9–92.8%, A_p=2.34–3.33, H_e=0.266–0.401), and did not support our expectations of low variability based on the small population size. Substantial inbreeding was detected within populations (F_IS=0.370–0.623). In agreement with their insular distribution patterns, P. euchlorus and P. machrisii had a high genetic differentiation (F_ST=0.484 and F_ST=0.281, respectively), with no evidence of isolation by distance. Accordingly, estimates of gene flow (N_m) calculated from F_ST and private alleles were below the level of N_m=1 in P. machrisii and P. euchlorus. These results favored historical fragmentation as the mechanism responsible for the patchy distribution of these two species. The genetic distance between P. machrisii and P. vilaboensis was not compatible with their taxonomic distinction, indicating a possible local speciation event in this genus, or the occurrence of introgression events.     

Variation in leaf trichomes and nutrients of Wigandia urens (Hydrophyllaceae) and its implications for herbivory

Leaf trichome variation was studied in a population of Wigandia urens (Hydrophyllaceae) in relation to water availability, diversity of herbivorous insects, and grazing rates. Plants of W. urens have glandular and urticant (stinging hairs) trichomes, and it is possible to distinguish two types of leaves: smooth leaves with only glandular trichomes and bristly leaves with both types of trichomes. Density of urticant trichomes was negatively correlated with weekly mean precipitation. Fourteen species of insects in five different orders feed on leaves of W. urens throughout the year. Grazing rates varied according to type and age of leaves. Grazing rates were lower in smooth than bristly young leaves but the rates were similar for mature leaves. Secondary metabolites, screened using qualitative methods, showed similar classes of compounds in both types of leaves. Bristly leaves had significantly higher concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorous and water and these nutritional differences were well correlated with the differences in grazing rates between bristly and smooth leaves.