Comparative analysis of the regulation of vertical posture in athletes of different sports qualifications

The goal of study was to investigate the regulation of balance in athletes with different sports qualifications: masters of sport (MS, n=18) and candidates for master of sports (CMS, n=13). Balance examined by means of stabilographic complex ("Rhythm". Russia) in the static tests: in simple bipedal stance (BS) and squat positions (SQ), as well as in the dynamic tests: "Involute", evaluating the tracking movement and "Step input", assessing the reaction of the whole body on the visual-motor task. It was found that the MS with the same anthropometric data, PWC 170 and trunk power did not differ in linear and angular velocity of oscillations of the center of pressure (CP) in BS and SQ positions. MS had a relative dominance of low-frequency oscillations in the spectral analysis in the BS test with eyes open. In the test "Step input" MS had a lower latent period of reaction, a greater speed and an accuracy of the body motion forward and back in response to the step input signals, while they had a relative dominance of high frequency oscillations. Thus, the results showed that the masters of sport have improved postural regulation, which manifested itself mainly in the dynamic test on the speed and accuracy of the vertical body reaction to input visual signals.     

Synchronous versus asynchronous oscillations for antigenically varying Plasmodium falciparum with host immune response

We consider a deterministic intra-host model for Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria infection, which accounts for antigenic variation between n clonal variants of PfEMP1 and the corresponding host immune response (IR). Specifically, the model separates the IR into two components, specific and cross-reactive, respectively, in order to demonstrate that the latter can be a mechanism for the sequential appearance of variants observed in actual Pf infections. We show that a strong variant-specific IR relative to the cross-reactive IR favours the asynchronous oscillations (sequential dominance) over the synchronous oscillations in a number of ways. The decay rate of asynchronous oscillations is smaller than that for the synchronous oscillations, allowing for the parasite to survive longer. With the introduction of a delay in the stimulation of the IR, we show that only a small delay is necessary to cause persistent asynchronous oscillations and that a strong variant-specific IR increases the amplitude of the asynchronous oscillations.     

Role of transposable elements in the propagation of minisatellites in the rice genome

A survey of minisatellites (MSs) in 5.3 Mb of randomly selected rice DNA sequences from public databases was carried out to clarify the role of transposable elements (TEs) in the dispersal of MSs in the rice genome. The estimated frequency of MSs in this sample was one per 23.4 kb, and this frequency is approximately equivalent to that of Class I microsatellites in the rice genome. Of the MSs in the 5.3-Mb sequence sample, 82% were found to be present in multiple copies in the rice genome, and all of these were a part of TE sequences. In this study at least 61 TE groups were identified as MS carriers. It was also shown that the GC-rich MS pOs6.2H, which was previously reported to be one of the interspersed MSs in the rice genome, is a component of an En / Spm -like element. These results indicate that the majority of MSs in the rice genome are maintained in TEs, and amplified and dispersed as components of the TEs. The G+C content of the multi-locus MS sequences reflected that of the TE sequences containing those MSs, but no obvious bias towards the high G+C content of DNA was observed. Single locus MSs also did not show any obvious bias towards the high G+C content of DNA in the rice genome. In this respect, the MSs in the rice genome are quite different from those in the human genome: in the latter, the majority of MSs show an obvious bias towards the high G+C content of DNA.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at Communicated by M.-A. Grandbastien     

Role of thromboxane receptor activation in the bronchospastic response to endothelin

The selective TxA₂/PGH₂ (TP) receptor antagonist, SQ 30, 741, was used to test the hypothesis that TP-receptor activation contributes to the reactivity of airways and isolated trachea to endothelin-1 (ET-1). Dose-dependent contractions of guinea pig tracheal strips to ET-1 in vitro were unaffected by either SQ 30, 741 (1 μM) or indomethacin (2.8 μM). In contrast, maximal bronchospastic responses (increases in airways resistance and decreases in dynamic lung compliance) of anesthetized guinea pigs to ET-1 (.05 and 1.5 nmole/kg i.v.) in vitro were blocked >90% by SQ 30, 741 (1 mg/kg i.v.). Concurrent increases in arterial blood pressure and decreases in leukocyte counts induced by ET-1 were unaffected by SQ 30, 741. In rats, ET-1 (1.5 nmole/kg i.v.) did not affect lung mechanics, but did cause biphasic blood pressure and leukopenia responses which were unaltered by SQ 30, 741. These data demonstrate that there is considerable species variability in the bronchospastic response to ET-1, and that in guinea pigs, this repsonse is caused predominantly by the activation of TP-receptors.     

Postural stability during static strain before and after a submaximal aerobic bicycle test in athletes

Control of static balance was studied in wrestlers (n = 31) in the normal state and against the background of physical fatigue, i.e., before and after a bicycle PWC ₁₇₀ test, respectively. The static balance was evaluated using a Ritm force platform (Russia) during normal basic stance (BS) and static strain (half-squatting position (HS) with the eyes open). Before physical exercise, i.e., during BS, the differences in postural control of the center of pressure (CP) between athletes and control subjects (n = 40) were nonsignificant. In the HS position, both linear and angular sway velocities of CP (LSV and ASV, respectively) were significantly lower in wrestlers (p < 0.001), and these parameters were negatively correlated with the PWC ₁₇₀ index (r = −0.454 and r = −455, p < 0.001 for LSV and ASV, respectively), which suggests that up to 20% of the sway velocity variance during static strain is dependent on the working capacity of the subjects. After the PWC ₁₇₀ test, the sway velocities of CP increased in both groups during BS (p < 0.01) and HS (p < 0.001), which testifies to the important role of muscular fatigue in the decrease in postural stability in both groups. During BS, an increase in LSV and ASV was about the same in both groups; however, during HS, an increase in the sway velocities of CP after PWC ₁₇₀ was lower in wrestlers (the intergroup differences at p = 0.037 and p = 0.008 for LSV and ASV, respectively); this parameter was negatively correlated with the recovery of the heart rate (HR) after the bicycle test (r = −0.378, p < 0.001 and r = −0.265, p < 0.05 for LSV and ASV, respectively), which suggests that rapid recovery contributes to a certain extent (about 6.5–14.2%) to the postural stability during static strain of wrestlers against the background of their physical fatigue.     

Ecophysiological steps of marine adaptation in extant and extinct non-avian tetrapods

Marine reptiles and mammals are phylogenetically so distant from each other that their marine adaptations are rarely compared directly. We reviewed ecophysiological features in extant non-avian marine tetrapods representing 31 marine colonizations to test whether there is a common pattern across higher taxonomic groups, such as mammals and reptiles. Marine adaptations in tetrapods can be roughly divided into aquatic and haline adaptations, each of which seems to follow a sequence of three steps. In combination, these six categories exhibit five steps of marine adaptation that apply across all clades except snakes: Step M1, incipient use of marine resources; Step M2, direct feeding in the saline sea; Step M3, water balance maintenance without terrestrial fresh water; Step M4, minimized terrestrial travel and loss of terrestrial feeding; and Step M5, loss of terrestrial thermoregulation and fur/plumage. Acquisition of viviparity is not included because there is no known case where viviparity evolved after a tetrapod lineage colonized the sea. A similar sequence is found in snakes but with the haline adaptation step (Step M3) lagging behind aquatic adaptation (haline adaptation is Step S5 in snakes), most likely because their unique method of water balance maintenance requires a supply of fresh water. The same constraint may limit the maximum body size of fully marine snakes. Steps M4 and M5 in all taxa except snakes are associated with skeletal adaptations that are mechanistically linked to relevant ecophysiological features, allowing assessment of marine adaptation steps in some fossil marine tetrapods. We identified four fossil clades containing members that reached Step M5 outside of stem whales, pinnipeds, sea cows and sea turtles, namely Eosauropterygia, Ichthyosauromorpha, Mosasauroidea, and Thalattosuchia, while five other clades reached Step M4: Saurosphargidae, Placodontia, Dinocephalosaurus, Desmostylia, and Odontochelys. Clades reaching Steps M4 and M5, both extant and extinct, appear to have higher species diversity than those only reaching Steps M1 to M3, while the total number of clades is higher for the earlier steps. This suggests that marine colonizers only diversified greatly after they minimized their use of terrestrial resources, with many lineages not reaching these advanced steps. Historical patterns suggest that a clade does not advance to Steps M4 and M5 unless these steps are reached early in the evolution of the clade. Intermediate forms before a clade reached Steps M4 and M5 tend to become extinct without leaving extant descendants or fossil evidence. This makes it difficult to reconstruct the evolutionary history of marine adaptation in many clades. Clades that reached Steps M4 and M5 tend to last longer than other marine tetrapod clades, sometimes for more than 100 million years.     

Evaluation of microsatellite markers in association studies: a search for an immune-related susceptibility gene in sarcoidosis

Association studies using linkage disequilibrium (LD) between candidate loci and nearby markers have been proposed to identify susceptibility genes for complex diseases. We analyzed polymorphisms of microsatellites (MSs) and LD patterns of the regions in which candidate genes related to the Th1 immune response have been annotated and attempted to identify a susceptibility gene for sarcoidosis in a marker-based association study. Nineteen MSs were identified in six Th1-related genes (IFNGR1, IFNGR2, IL12RB1, IL12RB2, STAT1 and STAT4) and then eight were further characterized as useful polymorphic markers. Most of these MSs showed LD with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on both 5 and 3 ends of these candidate genes, in which r² values between at least one of the MS marker alleles and the SNPs were higher than 0.1. A significant association with one MS allele near STAT4 was shown and a cluster of SNPs in LD with the MS marker was associated with sarcoidosis. These results suggest that association studies using not only SNPs but also multi-allelic MS within or near candidate loci would be useful markers to search for a disease susceptibility gene, especially in populations with unknown LD structure.     

Different mechanisms drive the maintenance of polymorphism at loci subject to strong versus weak fluctuating selection

The long‐running debate about the role of selection in maintaining genetic variation has been given new impetus by the discovery of hundreds of seasonally oscillating polymorphisms in wild Drosophila, possibly stabilized by an alternating summer‐winter selection regime. Historically, there has been skepticism about the potential of temporal variation to balance polymorphism, because selection must be strong to have a meaningful stabilizing effect—unless dominance also varies over time (“reversal of dominance”). Here, we develop a simplified model of seasonally variable selection that simultaneously incorporates four different stabilizing mechanisms, including two genetic mechanisms (“cumulative overdominance” and reversal of dominance), as well as ecological “storage” (“protection from selection” and boom‐bust demography). We use our model to compare the stabilizing effects of these mechanisms. Although reversal of dominance has by far the greatest stabilizing effect, we argue that the three other mechanisms could also stabilize polymorphism under plausible conditions, particularly when all three are present. With many loci subject to diminishing returns epistasis, reversal of dominance stabilizes many alleles of small effect. This makes the combination of the other three mechanisms, which are incapable of stabilizing small effect alleles, a better candidate for stabilizing the detectable frequency oscillations of large effect alleles.     

Mapping and validation of QTL which confer partial resistance to broadly virulent post-2000 North American races of stripe rust in hexaploid wheat

A mapping population of 186 recombinant inbred lines developed from a cross between UC1110, an adapted California spring wheat, and PI610750, a synthetic derivative from CIMMYT’s Wide Cross Program, was evaluated for its response to current California races of stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) in replicated field trials over four seasons (2007–2010) in the northern Sacramento Valley. A genetic map was constructed consisting of 1,494 polymorphic probes (SSRs, DArTs, and ESTs) mapped to 558 unique loci, and QTL analysis revealed the presence of four stripe rust resistance QTL segregating in this population, two from UC1110 (on chromosomes 3BS and 2BS) and two from PI610750 (5AL and 2AS). The two QTL of largest effects (on 3BS and 5AL) were validated in independent populations and their intervals narrowed to 2.5 and 5.3 cM, respectively. The 3BS QTL was shown, by allelism test and genotype, to carry a gene different from the Yr30/Sr2 complex. Mapped position also suggests that the 3BS QTL is associated with a gene different from either Yrns-B1 or YrRub, two stripe rust resistance genes mapped to this region in other studies. The 5AL QTL carries a previously unreported partial stripe rust resistance gene, designated here as Yr48. This paper discusses the individual contributions to resistance of these four QTL, their epistatic interactions, and their potential in durable resistance breeding strategies based on combinations of partial resistance genes.     

Characterization of the delta muH+-sensitive ubisemiquinone species (SQ(Nf)) and the interaction with cluster N2: new insight into the energy-coupled electron transfer in complex I

In this report, we describe the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic characterizations of the fast-relaxing ubisemiquinone (SQ(Nf)) species associated with NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) detected in tightly coupled submitochondrial particles (SMP). The signals of SQ(Nf) are observed only in the presence of delta muH+, whereas other slowly relaxing SQ species, SQ(Ns) and SQ(Nx), are not sensitive to delta muH+. In this study, we resolved the EPR spectrum of the delta muH+-sensitive SQ(Nf), which was trapped during the steady-state NADH-Q1 oxidoreductase reaction, as the difference between coupled and uncoupled SMP. Thorough analyses of the temperature profile of the resolved SQ(Nf) signals have revealed previously unrecognized spectra from delta muH+-sensitive SQ(Nf) species. This newly detected SQ(Nf) signals are observable only below 25 K, similar to the cluster N2 signals, and exhibit a doublet signal with a peak-to-peak separation (deltaB) of 56 G. In this work, we identify the partner to the interacting cluster N2. We have analyzed the g = 2.00 and g = 2.05 splittings using a computer simulation program that includes both exchange and dipolar interactions as well as the g-strain effect. Computer simulation of these interaction spectra showed that cluster N2 and fast-relaxing SQ(Nf) species undergo a spin-spin interaction, which contains both exchange (55 MHz) and dipolar interaction (16 MHz) with an estimated center-to-center distance of 12 A. This finding delineates an important functional role for this coupled [(N2)(red)-SQ(Nf)] structure in complex I, which is discussed in connection with electron transfer and energy coupling.     

Dominance, aggression and physiological stress in wild male Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis)

In group-living animals relative rank positions are often associated with differences in glucocorticoid output. During phases of social stability, when dominance positions are clear and unchallenged, subordinates often face higher costs in terms of social stress than dominant individuals. In this study we test this prediction and examine additional potential correlates of stress, such as reproductive season, age and amount of aggression received in wild, seasonally breeding Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis). During a mating and a non-mating season we collected 394 h of focal observational data and 440 fecal samples of six adult and six large subadult males living in a multimale–multifemale group in their natural habitat in northeastern Thailand. The mating season was characterized by a general increase in aggressive behavior and glucocorticoid excretion across all males compared to the non-mating season. Among adult males, mating season glucocorticoid levels were significantly negatively related with dominance rank and positively with the amount of aggression received. Both relationships were non-significant among large subadult males. Thus, our results suggest that in adult Assamese macaques a high dominance position is not associated with high costs. Low costs of dominance might be induced by strong social bonds among top-ranking males, which exchange frequent affiliative interactions and serve as allies in coalitionary aggression against potentially rank-challenging subordinate males.     

Vascular bundle sheath and mesophyll cells modulate leaf water balance in response to chitin

Plants can detect pathogen invasion by sensing microbe‐associated molecular patterns (MAMPs). This sensing process leads to the induction of defense responses. Numerous MAMP mechanisms of action have been described in and outside the guard cells. Here, we describe the effects of chitin, a MAMP found in fungal cell walls and insects, on the cellular osmotic water permeability (P_f) of the leaf vascular bundle‐sheath (BS) and mesophyll cells (MCs), and its subsequent effect on leaf hydraulic conductance (K_leaf). BS is a parenchymatic tissue that tightly encases the vascular system. BS cells (BSCs) have been shown to influence K_leaf through changes in their P_f, for example, after sensing the abiotic stress response‐regulating hormone abscisic acid. It was recently reported that, in Arabidopsis, the chitin receptors‐like kinases, chitin elicitor receptor kinase 1 (CERK1) and LYSINE MOTIF RECEPTOR KINASE 5 (LYK5) are highly expressed in the BS as well as the neighboring mesophyll. Therefore, we studied the possible impact of chitin on these cells. Our results revealed that BSCs and MCs exhibit a sharp decrease in P_f in response to chitin treatment. In addition, xylem‐fed chitin decreased K_leaf and led to stomatal closure. However, Atlyk5 mutant showed none of these responses. Complementing AtLYK5 in the BSCs (using the SCARECROW promoter) resulted in the response to chitin that was similar to that observed in the wild‐type. These results suggest that BS play a role in the perception of apoplastic chitin and in initiating chitin‐triggered immunity.     

Efficacy of bacterial auxin on in vitro growth of Brassica oleracea L.

Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium was supplemented with supernatant of Halomonas desiderata RE1 in different combinations to observe the impact of bacterial auxin on in vitro growth of Brassica oleracea L. Three groups of combinations MS + BS (Bacterial supernatant), MS + BS + 10% CW (coconut water) and MS + BS + 4 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) were considered. Different amounts of BS used in each combination were 50, 100, 150 and 200 μl in 5 ml MS medium. Media combinations inoculated with seeds, internodal explants and callus of B. oleracea L. were incubated in a growth chamber at 25 ± 1°C and exposed to 16-h cool fluorescent light. Seeds inoculated on MS + BS and MS + BS + 10% CW, shoot elongation was observed over control whereas this response was suppressed in 2,4-D-containing media. In explants inoculated on MS + BS, MS + BS + 10% CW and MS + BS + 4 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-D different responses such as callus induction, adventitious shoot induction and hypertrophy were observed at different supernatant treatments. In callus inoculation, callus proliferation was observed in most of the treatments at different media combinations.     

Relationship between postural oscillations on an unstable support and variations of the force of grip on a hand-held object

The relationship between postural oscillations and variations of the force of grip on a finger-held object while keeping balance on an unstable support was studied. The distribution median of the intervals between peaks in the sagittal stabilogram and the nearest peaks in the grip force recording from one and the same test proved smaller than that obtained from different tests. The proportion of intervals shorter than 175 ms was greater in real records than in “fictitious” ones. Thus, there is a connection between changes in the grip force and postural oscillations, and the balance control system can use signals from finger skin receptors to improve the stability of an upright posture.     

Control of spontaneous synchronous Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> oscillations in hippocampal neurons by GABAergic neurons containing kainate receptors without desensitization

Previously we have shown that in culture of rat hippocampal neurons, the calcium responses of individual cells (changes of cytoplasmic free Ca²⁺ concentration in response to agonists of glutamate kainate receptors) differed in shape and amplitude (Kononov A.V., Bal’ N.V., Zinchenko V.P. 2011. Biochemistry (Moscow) Suppl. Series A: Membrane and Cell Biology. 5 (2), 162–170). In the majority of neurons, the amplitudes of calcium response were regularly distributed, although there were a small number of cells that generated the desensitization-free signals of far greater amplitudes. In these cells, the desensitization inhibitors did not increase the amplitude of calcium response. We identified these neurons and revealed their function. The agonists of kainate receptors inhibited the synchronized spontaneous Ca²⁺ oscillations, decreased the baseline calcium level in the majority of neurons, and considerably elevated it in some of them. After washout of the agonists, the oscillations were restored in all neurons only after a certain time lag determined by the period needed for calcium concentration to decrease to subbasal level in specific neurons with high calcium signal amplitude. This observation indicates the command role of these neurons in synchronizing the activity of the entire population. To identify the subtype of KA receptors in these neurons, we used especially selective agonists and showed that KA receptors of the neurons characterized with desensitization-free calcium signals of unusually great amplitude contained GluR5/GLUK1 subunits. These receptors are known to be located mostly in the presynaptic membrane, where they promote exocytosis of neurotransmitters due to elevation of the Ca²⁺ conductivity. Having marked the positions of these neurons, we fixed the preparation and stained the cells with fluorescently labeled antibodies raised against glutamate decarboxylase, an enzyme which is selectively expressed in GABAergic neurons. The experiments demonstrated that antibodies were localized only in the neurons, where the kainate receptor agonist evoked desensitization-free calcium responses of especially large amplitude. Thus, GABAergic neurons control the synchronous activity of a large number of neurons via glutamate-evoked activation of specific presynaptic kainate receptors with GluR5/GLUK1 subunits leading to desensitization-free calcium signals of especially large amplitude.     

Characterizing response behavior of medaka (Oryzias latipes) under chemical stress based on self-organizing map and filtering by integration

Behavioral responses (BRs) of medaka (Oryzias latipes) were observed after exposure to low concentrations (0.1 TU (Toxic Unit, TU), 1 TU, 5 TU, and 10 TU) of trichlorfon, parathion and malathion. Overall response patterns of test organisms were reflected from surface shapes of BS (Behavior Strength) values in 3-D: parathion appeared to be most variable in presenting response behaviors whereas trichlorfon showed relatively simple response patterns. The self-organizing map (SOM) addressed the time and toxic effects efficiently. An evident circadian rhythm observed in the control diminished at a low concentration of toxic unit, and variability of toxic effects was accordingly observed according to chemicals and concentrations. Subsequently filtering by integration was conducted to time series BS values. The highly fluctuating nature of original BS values was filtered efficiently to produce linear fitting closely. Slopes of regression decreased monotonically as toxic concentrations increased. Residual curves of integral BS values from linear fitting were further used for determining different BS phases proposed by empirical observations; the positive and negative phases were in accordance with acclimation, adjustment and toxic effects in behavior response modes. According to inclination and declination periods observed in residual curves, new states of test organisms were further defined to present intoxicating and recovering tendencies Profiles based on residual curves of integral BS values were able to show landscape of response patterns across toxic concentrations in different chemicals. Computational methods for defining behavior states provide an objective ground for analyzing complex stress response and could be suitable in referencing toxic behavior modes of test organisms quantitatively.     

Hybrid maize breeding with doubled haploids: II. Optimum type and number of testers in two-stage selection for general combining ability

Optimum allocation of test resources is of crucial importance for the efficiency of breeding programs. Our objectives were to (1) determine the optimum allocation of the number of lines, test locations, as well as number and type of testers in hybrid maize breeding using doubled haploids with two breeding strategies for improvement of general combining ability (GCA), (2) compare the maximum selection gain (ΔG) achievable under both strategies, and (3) give recommendations for the optimum implementation of doubled haploids in commercial hybrid maize breeding. We calculated ΔG by numerical integration for two two-stage selection strategies with evaluation of (1) testcross performance in both stages (BS1) or (2) line per se performance in the first stage followed by testcross performance in the second stage (BS2). Different assumptions were made regarding the budget, variance components (VCs), and the correlation between line per se performance and GCA. Selection gain for GCA increased with a broader genetic base of the tester. Hence, testers combining a large number of divergent lines are advantageous. However, in applied breeding programs, the use of single- or double-cross testers in the first and inbred testers in the second selection stage may be a good compromise between theoretical and practical requirements. With a correlation between line per se performance and GCA of 0.50, ΔG for BS1 is about 5% higher than for BS2, if an economic weight of line per se performance is neglected. With increasing economic weight of line per se performance, relative efficiency of BS2 increased rapidly resulting in a superiority of BS2 over BS1 already for an economic weight for line per se performance larger than 0.1. Considering the importance of an economic seed production, an economic weight larger than 0.1 seems realistic indicating the necessity of separate breeding strategies for seed and pollen parent heterotic groups. C. Friedrich H. Longin and H. Friedrich Utz have contributed equally to this work.     

Patterns of group movements in juvenile domestic geese

We investigated collective movements in a flock of domestic geese (Anser domesticus) to test the consistency of group orders and the influence of individual traits and social relationships on movement patterns. The subjects were 20 juvenile females kept in an herbaceous enclosure. Two observers continuously videotaped their movements. Although the positions of individuals might change during moves, the geese tended to hold predictable positions in different movements. We found that geese more reactive to unexpected noises more often held front positions. Moreover, the higher the associativity of a bird as measured by number of neighbors at rest, the more frequent the bird acted as first mover. The analysis did not evidence any influence of dominance status on the positions of geese during progression. In contrast, geese linked by close bonds clustered during progression. The structuring influence of social bonds in collective movements might be a general feature of animals gifted with individual recognition abilities.     

Maintenance of dominance is mediated by urinary chemical signals in male European lobsters,Homarus gammarus

We studied the relevance of urine cues in Homarus gammarus dominance maintenance, hypothesising that urinary signals are necessary to mediate recognition of former opponents. Males in size-matched pairs interacted on two consecutive days with or without blocking urine release by adding catheters to both contestants on the second day. European lobsters established dominance in a first fight, and fight duration and aggression levels decreased strongly from first to second day in animals with free urine release, indicating the maintenance of this dominance relationship. If urine was blocked on the second day, fight durations were long in both first and second day interactions. Results demonstrate that urine signals contribute to the maintenance of dominance in H. gammarus males.