Hurricane Disturbance,Plant-Animal Interactions,and the Reproductive Success of a Tropical Shrub1

Hurricane disturbance may have strong effects on plant-animal interactions important in plant reproductive success. Components of reproductive success (flowering, pollination, seed predation) in the tropical shrub Ardisia escallonioides (Myrsinaceae) were examined from 1991–1994 in four southern Florida populations. Hurricane Andrew struck three of the four populations on 24 August 1992. Hurricane Andrew delayed flowering by two months in 1992. In 1993 and 1994, the three hurricane-damaged populations had increased flowering and inflorescence production compared to 1991 and 1992, while the undamaged population had no flowering. Hurricane disturbance had different effects on generalist versus specialist plant-animal interactions. Species composition and relative abundance of the generalist pollinator community that visits A. escallonioides was similar before and after the hurricane, indicating little effect of the disturbance on this interaction. In contrast, populations of a specialist flower galling moth (Periploca sp., Cosmopterigidae) declined in 1992 following Hurricane Andrew. Although moth populations increased at two of the three sites in 1993, the relative impact of moth predation on seed production was low due to extensive flower production. One moth population suffered local population extirpation for two years, reestablishing itself in November 1994. Hurricane disturbance resulted in a window of opportunity for massive seed production of Ardisia escallonioides in south Florida. Total seed production in 1993 increased twelve to seventy-three times the 1992 levels. Total seed production declined in 1994, but remained high compared to prehurricane levels.     

A survey of some commercially available kits and reagents which include bioluminescence or chemiluminescence for their operation: Including immunoassays,hybridization, labels,probes, blots and ATP-based rapid microbiology. Products from more than forty companies

This survey was compiled between January and November 1992 from public domain information requested by the author from companies specializing in these products. It includes individual sections giving the name and address of each company together with brief details of their (a) kits used for assay of certain analytes in the routine laboratory and (b) reagents used mainly as research tools. This survey is a companion to a previous survey about 90 commercially available luminometers (Stanley PE. J Biolumin Chemilum 1992; 7: 77–108 and 157–69).     

CFTR: Domains, Structure, and Function

Mutations in the gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) cause cystic fibrosis (CF) (Collins, 1992). Over 500 naturally occurring mutations have been identified in CF gene which are located in all of the domains of the protein (Kerem et al., 1990; Mercier et al., 1993; Ghanem et al., 1994; Fanen et al., 1992; Ferec et al., 1992; Cutting et al., 1990). Early studies by several investigators characterized CFTR as a chloride channel (Anderson et al.; 1991b,c; Bear et al., 1991). The complex secondary structure of the protein suggested that CFTR might possess other functions in addition to being a chloride channel. Studies have established that the CFTR functions not only as a chloride channel but is indeed a regulator of sodium channels (Stutts et al., 1995), outwardly rectifying chloride channels (ORCC) (Gray et al., 1989; Garber et al., 1992; Egan et al., 1992; Hwang et al., 1989; Schwiebert et al., 1995) and also the transport of ATP (Schwiebert et al., 1995; Reisin et al., 1994). This mini-review deals with the studies which elucidate the functions of the various domains of CFTR, namely the transmembrane domains, TMD1 and TMD2, the two cytoplasmic nucleotide binding domains, NBD1 and NBD2, and the regulatory, R, domain.     

A survey of more than 90 commercially available luminometers and imaging devices for low-light measurements of chemiluminescence and bioluminescence,including instruments for manual,automatic and specialized operation,for HPLC,LC, GLC and microtitre plates. Part 1: Descriptions

This survey was compiled in January and February 1992 from information available in public domain literature requested by and supplied to the author by numerous companies in the previous two months. More than 90 luminometers (manual, automatic, microtitre plate, HPLC, LC, GLC, imaging and specials) from more than 60 companies are included. Each company was invited to supply company brochures, technical details, user manual and information about software and any other information concerning their product(s). The response varied from a single information sheet to promotional material and up to full product information and specification with technical details, user manuals and scientific publications. Where an instrument is dedicated to a single task the company may have only provided details relevant to accomplishing that task. Part 2 of this survey will contain photographs of some of the luminometers. It is intended that updates to this review will be published at least annually in this journal and suppliers are invited to provide full technical details of new luminometric equipment to the author.     

Middle Devonian bothriolepiform antiarchs (Pisces,Placodermi) from central Kazakhstan and their implication for the antiarch system and phylogeny

The bothriolepiform antiarchs Tenizolepis asiatica (Obrucheva, 1955), Bothriolepis kassini Malinovskaja, 1988, and B. babichevi Malinovskaya, 1992 from the Givetian (Middle Devonian) of Central Kazakhstan are redescribed. Tenizolepis bychkovi Malinovskaya, 1992, known from the Konyr Formation of the Trudovoe vertebrate locality, is considered to be a synonym of B. babichevi. The history of investigation of bothriolepiforms from Kazakhstan is discussed. The system and phylogeny of antiarchs are discussed.     

Commercially available luminometers and imaging devices for low-light measurements and kits and reagents utilizing bioluminescence or chemiluminescence: Survey update I

This survey update was compiled in June 1993 and includes products not covered in the luminometer survey (Jan 1992; Stanley, PE. J Biolumin Chemilumin 1992; 7:77–108 and 7:157–69) and kit and reagent survey (Nov 1992; Stanley, PE. J Biolumin Chemilumin 1993; 8:51–63). Some products are new whilst for others details have only recently become available to the author. Technical details are provided together with company address and contact information.     

Temporal development of salt marsh value for nekton and epifauna: utilization of dredged material marshes in Galveston Bay,Texas, USA

Densities of nekton and other fauna were measured inthree created salt marshes to examine habitatdevelopment rate. All three marshes were located onPelican Spit in Galveston Bay, Texas, USA and werecreated on dredged material from the Gulf IntracoastalWaterway. The youngest marsh was planted on 1-mcenters in July of 1992. At the time sampling wasinitiated in fall 1992, the marshes were 9, 5, andless than 1 year in age; sampling continued in thefall and spring through spring 1994. Animaldensities were measured within the vegetation at twoelevations using an enclosure sampler. In the fall of1992, 4 months following the planting of the 92Marsh,densities of most marsh organisms were lower in thismarsh compared with the older two marshes. Significantly lower densities were observed fordominant crustaceans (including three species of grassshrimps, two species of commercially-important penaeidshrimps, thinstripe hermit crabs Clibanarius vittatus,and juvenile blue crabs Callinectes sapidus), adominant fish (Gobionellus boleosoma), and thedominant mollusc (Littoraria irrorata). By the fallof 1993, however, densities of most nekton specieswere similar among the three created salt marshes. Incontrast, reduced densities of less mobile epifauna(C. vittatusand L. irrorata) persisted in the 92Marshthroughout the 2 years of sampling. The patterns ofnekton utilization exhibited in these marshes suggestthat the 92Marsh reached its maximum habitat supportfunction for these animals in less than 1 year. Comparisons of the older marshes with natural marshesin the bay system, however, suggest that all three ofthese created marshes are functioning at lower levelsthan natural marshes in terms of supporting productionof commercially important fishery species such aspenaeid shrimps and C. sapidus.     

A 10-year demographic study of rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus): growth,survival and water limitation

A population of 126 adult rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus var. consimilis) was followed for 10 consecutive years from 1983 through 1992 in a sanddune ecosytem on the north shore of Mono Lake, California. The study area received an average (1981–1992) of 160 mm total annual precipitation of which 55 mm fell from April through October, making this site drier than other known sites in the Great Basin desert where C. nauseosus occurs. Cover of all shrubs was 18.0%, and that of C. nauseosus 7.5%, in the 3077 m² study plot. Water was limiting for this population of C. nauseosus, exerting large effects on new canopy growth and reproductive effort in a given year, on survival, and on establishment of juveniles into the adult population. Growth and survivorship of the adult shrubs were significantly correlated with the depth to ground water, which varied from 3.6 to 6.0 m below the surface during the study, and not with any measure of precipitation in a given year or adjacent years. Shrubs in this population exhibited a net decrease in size between 1983 and 1992. The region experienced a significant drought from 1987 onwards, with some increase in precipitation after 1990. Mortality of shrubs began in 1987 and reached 22% by 1992. Individuals that died were smaller on average initially than individuals surviving throughout the study: 50% or more of the individuals having 4000 cm² of canopy or less at the start of the study died by 1992. Elevation (m msl) of each shrub in the study area, presumably correlated with depth to ground water, had no effect on growth but a weak effect on survival during the study period. Specific microsite had significant effects, with shrubs on steep slopes being smaller, having more negative growth slopes, and being more likely to die during the drought compared to individuals occurring on flatter gradients. Recruiment of juveniles into the population did not occur after 1985. Competition between shrubs could not be definitively demonstrated during the study, but only indirect tests for competition were used. Adult C. nauseosus and adults of all species combined (Sarcobatus vermiculatus with 9.6% cover, Tetradymia tetrameres with 0.8% cover and Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus with 0.02% cover) were randomly distributed, failing to support the hypothesis of competition if competition for water results in a uniform distribution of shrubs. Moreover, comparison of the spatial dispersion of C. nauseosus individuals before (1985) and after (1992) mortality did not reveal competitive thinning toward uniformity. On the other hand, larger individuals were farther from their nearest neighbor than were smaller individuals, an effect postulated to result from competitive thinning.     

A Note on Response to Selection in Non-Random Mating Populations

The selection theory proposed by Muralidharan and Jain (1992a, b; Biom. J. 34 , 147–152, 633–637) was re-examined. Although they concluded that the theory is appropriate for any system of mating, the author showed that it is not applicable to inbreeding populations, which is the most important type of non-random mating.     

Certain hemocyte proteins of the medfly,Ceratitis capitata,are responsible for nonself recognition and immobilization of Escherichia coli in vitro

The results indicate that certain hemocyte proteins of the medfly, Ceratitis capitata, are responsible for the recognition of foreignness, since they are able to bind to the surface of Escherichia coli in vitro. Furthermore, when the E. Coli-hemocyte protein complex was incubated in the presence of tyrosine and phenoloxidase, the bacteria were immobilized, forming large aggregates. The formation of aggregates seems to be due to reactive tyrosine intermediate (quinone) generated by the action of phenoloxidase. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Spider biodiversity patterns and their conservation in the Azorean archipelago,with descriptions of new species

Abstract

In this contribution, we report on patterns of spider species diversity of the Azores, based on recently standardised sampling protocols in different habitats of this geologically young and isolated volcanic archipelago. A total of 122 species is investigated, including eight new species, eight new records for the Azorean islands and 61 previously known species, with 131 new records for individual islands. Biodiversity patterns are investigated, namely patterns of range size distribution for endemics and non‐endemics, habitat distribution patterns, island similarity in species composition and the estimation of species richness for the Azores. Newly described species are: Oonopidae ‐ Orchestina furcillata Wunderlich; Linyphiidae: Linyphiinae ‐ Porrhomma borgesi Wunderlich; Turinyphia cavernicola Wunderlich; Linyphiidae: Micronetinae ‐Agyneta depigmentata Wunderlich; Linyphiidae: Erigoninae ‐ Acorigone gen. nov. with its type species Acorigone zebraneus Wunderlich; Clubionidae ‐ Cheiracanthium floresense Wunderlich; Cheiracanthium jorgeense Wunderlich; Salticidae ‐ Neon acoreensis Wunderlich. Other major taxonomic changes are: Diplocentria acoreensis Wunderlich, 1992 (Linyphiidae) is transferred to Acorigone (comb. nov.), Leucognatha Wunderlich 1995 (Tetragnathidae) is not an endemic genus of the Azores but an African taxon and synonymous with Sancus Tullgren, 1910; Leucognatha acoreensis Wunderlich, 1992 is transferred to Sancus. Minicia picoensis Wunderlich, 1992 is a synonym of M. floresensis Wunderlich, 1992. For each species additional information is presented about its known distribution in the islands, its colonisation status, habitat occurrence and biogeographical origin.     

Persistence, extinction and different species pools within the flora of lake islands in western Ireland

The vascular flora on twenty-nine lake islands in Lough Corrib, western Ireland was surveyed in 1992–93. Thirteen of these islands had been surveyed by the author in 1974 (Roden, 1979). Data on species–area curves and species turnover between 1974 and 1992 are presented. Species numbers on each island did not change greatly in the 18-year interval and extinctions were most common on smaller islands. It is known that six of the islands surveyed are less than 150 years old and their flora must have immigrated over open water during that period. It is shown that this group of species has a different log species/log area regression than the remaining flora, with a much shallower slope (low Z value). The proportion of less widespread species was greatest on islands nearest to the mainland. The implication of different slopes in different species groups and the restriction of turnover to rare species is discussed with reference to the island Theory of Biogeography.     

Integration of soil solarization with chemical, biological and cultural control for the management of soilborne diseases of vegetables

The long-term effectiveness of soil solarization integrated with (integration of pest management [IPM]) a biological control agent (Trichoderma virens), chemical fungicide (pentachloronitrobenzene [PCNB]), organic amendment (chicken litter) or physical method (black agriplastic mulch) to reduce southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii) and southern root-knot diseases (Meloidogyne incognita) were evaluated on vegetable production. Results showed that the long-term effectiveness of IPM plus soil solarization reduced soilborne diseases of vegetables more than two years following the termination of solarization. These disease management strategies in 1991 and 1992, following soil solarization in 1990, reduced the numbers of sclerotia in the soil, and the number of plants killed by southern blight and root-knot of tomatoes, compared to nonsolarized bare soil treatment. The integration of a reduced dosage level of PCNB or T. virens in field plots, reduced southern blight of tomatoes by 100% and 71%, respectively, in solarized soil, compared to nonsolarized bare soil two years following soil solarization. PCNB effectively controlled southern blight in nonsolarized bare soil both years. All solarized treatments, except PCNB plus solarized soil increased tomato yields compared to nonsolarized bare soil plots. In the second study (1992) following soil solarization in 1991, the effectiveness of solarized bare soil, and nonsolarized bare soil mulched with black agriplastic film, with or without Reemay spunbounded polyester row cover, were effective in reducing root-knot of tomatoes as indicated by the root-knot gall index. Following a one year fallow period in 1994 three years following soil solarization, the root-knot gall index for severity of tomato roots grown in solarized bare soil, nonsolarized bare soil, black agriplastic mulched bare nonsolarized soil and black agriplastic mulched solarized bare soil, were 1.0, 3.0, 3.0 and 2.0, respectively, on a 0–5 scale, where 0=0% and 5=100% root-knot galled. In the third study 1992 and 1993, different dosage levels of chicken litter were used to amend soil artificially infested with sclerotia of S. rolfsii at different depths following solarization, decreased the number of viable sclerotia by 85–100%. All solarized treatments and nonsolarized bare soil amended with 18.8 MT/ha of chicken litter, were effective in controlling southern root-knot damage, and postharvest storage root rots of sweetpotato storage roots (Fusarium root rot [Fusarium solani] and Java black rot [Diplodia tubericola]). Our study showed that all soil solarization treatments, and soils amended with chicken litter, stimulated a shift in the soil microbial population dynamics. Rhizobacteria of Bacillus spp. and fluorescent pseudomonads increased significantly in the rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and interior root tissues of tomatoes and sweetpoatoes, grown in solarized soil compared to nonsolarized soil. These microorganisms may have contributed to the increased growth response of vegetables and some were probably suppressive to soilborne diseases     

High-order behaviour in learning gate networks with lateral inhibition

In this work we present a neural network model incorporating activity-dependent presynaptic facilitation with multidimensional inputs. The processing unit used is based on a slightly simplified version of the Learning Gate Model proposed by Ciaccia et al. (1992). The network topology integrates a well-known biological neural circuit with a lateral inhibition connection subnet. By means of simulation experiments, we show that the proposed networks exhibit basic and high-order features of associative learning. In particular, overshadowing and blocking are reproduced in the presence of both noise-free and noisy inputs. The role of noise in the development of high-order learning capabilities is also discussed.This article was processed by the author using the LAT_EX style file pljour2 from Springer-Verlag.     

Strategies for Mixed-Grass Prairie Restoration: Herbicide, Tilling, and Nitrogen Manipulation

Large areas of North American prairie have been planted with grasses introduced from Eurasia. We examined three strategies (herbicide, tilling, and nitrogen manipulation) for enhancing the establishment of seedlings of native species and suppressing the introduced grasses Agropyron cristatum (crested wheat grass) and Bromus inermis (smooth brome). Plots (5 × 15 m) were subjected to one of three levels of tilling (none, intermediate, complete) and four levels of nitrogen (none, intermediate, high, and sawdust added to immobilize nitrogen). Treatments were applied in a factorial design with twelve treatments and ten replicates. Seeds of 41 native species were drilled into the plots in May 1992. Following the failure of seeds to establish in 1992, a subplot (5 × 13 m) within each main plot was sprayed with the herbicide glyphosate in April 1993. The nitrogen treatments were repeated in Spring 1993. In August 1993, the density of native seedlings in sprayed subplots was 20 times that in unsprayed subplots. Within sprayed subplots, native seedling density and the cover of bare ground decreased significantly with increasing nitrogen availability. Plots receiving sawdust had significantly higher mean cover of bare ground and significantly lower concentrations of soil available nitrogen. Native seedling density was significantly higher in plots receiving the highest intensity of tilling. The responses of native seedlings to all these factors point to the importance of neighbor-free establishment sites as a prerequisite for prairie restoration.     

Molecules,fossils, and the origin of tetrapods

Summary Since the discovery of the coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae, more than 50 years ago, paleontologists and comparative morphologists have debated whether coelacanths or lungfishes, two groups of lobe-finned fishes, are the closest living relatives of land vertebrates (Tetrapoda). Previously, Meyer and Wilson (1990) determined partial DNA sequences from two conservative mitochondrial genes and found support for a close relationship of lungfishes to tetrapods. We present additional DNA sequences from the 12S rRNA mitochondria gene for three species of the two lineages of lungfishes that were not represented in the first study: Protopterus annectens and Protopterus aethiopicus from Africa and Neoceratodus forsteri (kindly provided by B. Hedges and L. Maxson) from Australia. This extended data set tends to group the two lepidosirenid lungfish lineages (Lepidosiren and Protopterus) with Neoceratodus as their sister group. All lungfishes seem to be more closely related to tetrapods than the coelacanth is. This result appears to rule out the possibility that the coelacanth lineage gave rise to land vertebrates. The common ancestor of lungfishes and tetrapods might have possessed multiple morphological traits that are shared by lungfishes and tetrapods [Meyer and Wilson (1990) listed 14 such traits]. Those traits that seem to link Latimeria and tetrapods are arguably due to convergent evolution or reversals and not to common descent. In this way, the molecular tree facilitates an evolutionary interpretation of the morphological differences among the living forms. We recommended that the extinct groups of lobe-finned fishes be placed onto the molecular tree that has lungfishes and not the coelacanth more closely related to tetrapods. The placement of fossils would help to further interpret the sequence of morphological events and innovations associated with the origin of tetrapods but appears to be problematic because the quality of fossils is not always high enough, and differences among paleontologists in the interpretation of the fossils have stood in the way of a consensus opinion for the branching order among lobefinned fishes. Marshall and Schultze (1992) criticized the morphological analysis presented by Meyer and Wilson (1990) and suggest that 13 of the 14 morphological traits that support the sister group relationship of lungfishes and tetrapods are not shared derived characters. Here we present further alternative viewpoints to the ones of Marshall and Schultze (1992) from the paleontological literature. We argue that all available information (paleontological, neontological, and molecular data) and rigorous cladistic methodology should be used when relating fossils and extant taxa in a phylogenetic framework. Offprint requests to: Axel Meyer     

Post-stocking perturbations in a population of subarctic whitefish,Coregonus lavaretus (L.): effects on growth,condition and cestode infection

Lake Kilpisjärvi was stocked with a total number of 440 000 migratory and benthic whitefish fry during the period of 1959–1964. Thereafter, the Diphyllobothrium ditremum plerocercoid infection became a problem decreasing the feasibility and commercial exploitation of the whitefish stock. Since dense fish populations may cause stunting, all stockings in the study area were stopped in an attempt to enhance the fisheries. The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of the cessation of the stocking on the growth, condition, catches and D. ditremum infection of the whitefish population. A total of 1594 whitefish were sampled with benthic gill nets. Growth was estimated from length-at-age and mass–length relationship was estimated with a non-linear regression in 1982–1983, 1992–1993 and 1997. Parasite infection was studied in 1992–1993 and 1997. Growth and condition were poor in the beginning of the 1980s. In 1992–1993, the growth and condition of the fish improved as the numerical catch per unit effort decreased from 1982 to 1992. The mean catches of other fish species were low. There were no significant changes in whitefish growth or condition from 1992–1993 to 1997. From the 1970s to 1982–1983, during slow growth and poor condition of the fish, the median gillraker count was decreasing to 19 (min–max 14–26). In 1992–1993, the gillraker count had increased significantly to 23 (min–max 19–26). However, the improved growth and condition did not cause decrease in the D. ditremum burden. On the contrary, based on our own results and literature notes, the parasite abundance seems to increase during the observation period of 1964–1997.     

Comments on the classification and phylogeny of broad-winged moths (Lepidoptera, Oecophoridae sensu lato)

The broad-winged moths (Oecophoridae sensu lato) belong to the family complex Gelechiiformes with 4 (Kuznetzov and Stekolnikov, 2001) or 6 (Sinev, 1992) superfamilies. The classification of these moths was rather constant in the XX century, but at the turn of the century most researchers concluded that broad-winged moths in the traditional sense (Oecophoridae sensu lato) were a polyphyletic group and that a major revision of their classification was necessary. Many classifications of these families have been proposed recently (Common, 1990; Minet, 1990; Scoble, 1992; Sinev, 1992; Leraut, [1993], 1997; Heppner, 1998; Hodges, 1999; Kuznetzov and Stekolnikov, 2001; Lvovsky, 2002; Kaila, 2004; Bucheli and Wenzel, 2005). This communication presents one more classification variant, based on analysis of the results of the preceding researchers and personal views of the author.     

Tantulocarida (Crustacea) from the Southern Ocean deep sea,and the description of three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tantulacus</Emphasis> Huys,Andersen &; Kristensen, 1992

During the expedition ANT XIX/3 meiofauna samples were collected from the German research vessel Polarstern near the Shackleton Fracture Zone. During sorting of the samples 86 tantulus larvae were found. Extensive examination of the larvae revealed a high diversity of tantulocaridans in the Southern Ocean deep sea (33 species). A remarkable proportion of these were new species of Tantulacus Huys, Andersen & Kristensen, 1992. The present paper reports the discovery of three new Antarctic tantulocarids which are referred to Tantulacus. The affiliation of T. longispinosus n. sp., T. karolae n. sp. and T. dieteri n. sp. to Tantulacus is straightforward: all representatives of the Tantulocarida are characterised by the presence of 1-2 slender setae on the endopod of the second to fifth thoracopods, but in none of the hitherto described genera, other than Tantulacus, are these elements modified. Tantulacus hoegi Huys, Andersen & Kristensen, 1992 and the three new species share the possession of a distal rigid spine on the endopod of the second to fifth thoracopods as a synapomorphy and thus can be readily distinguished from other tantulocaridans. This is the first record of free-living sediment-inhabiting tantulus larvae from this area, although this probably reflects the degree of undersampling.     

Abundance and seasonal distribution of Penaeus monodon postlarvae in the Sundarbans mangrove,Bangladesh

We record the decline of Penaeus monodon postlarvae (PL) in five rivers of the world's largest mangrove ecosystem, the Sundarbans, from 1992 to 1999. Shrimp aquaculture in the coastal belt of Bangladesh is dependent on the collection of P. monodon PL from the coastal rivers, and horizontal expansion of shrimp farming has resulted in a severe decline of this wild resource in the Sundarbans. Abundance of P. monodon PL was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in 1999 compared to the previous two-year studies (1992 and 1995) in the rivers. About 12–551 postlarvae of other shrimps, 5–152 finfish postlarvae and 26–1636 other macro-zooplankters are wasted during the collection of a single P. monodon PL. Water temperature and salinity of the river systems are correlated with P. monodon PL abundance. Besides P. monodon PL, inshore fishery of Hilsa ilisha, catfishes and Scylla serrata are also overexploited. The management practices and conservation of fishery resources of Sundarbans are reviewed in the context of its world heritage status.