Effect of fungal infection on reproductive potential and survival time of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus urticae</Emphasis> (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The effect of fungal infection on the reproductive potential of two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, was evaluated as part of the full biocontrol potential of three entomopathogenic fungi by modeling of fecundity probability. Female mites (≤2-day-old) on leaves were exposed to the sprays of Beauveria bassiana, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and Metarhizium anisopliae at the concentrations of 1.13 × 10³, 1.55 × 10³ and 0.95 × 10³ deposited conidia mm⁻² and then individually reared at 25°C and 12:12 L:D for oviposition. Mite mortalities 10 days after spraying were 73.1, 75.4 and 67.9% in the fungal treatments versus 15.5% in control. On average, females infected by the three fungal species survived 5.8, 6.2 and 6.3 days, and laid 3.1, 4.0 and 4.0 eggs per capita, respectively. These were 3–4 fold lower than the control fecundity at 12.3. The cumulative probabilities [P(m ≤ N)] for the counts of infected and non-infected (control) females laying m eggs per capita (m ≤ N) during 10 days fit very well the equation P(m ≤ N) = 1/[1 + exp(a + bm)] (r ² ≥ 0.98), yielding a solution to the probability for the female mites to achieve a specific fecundity {P(m ≤ N)−P[m ≤ (N − 1)]}. Consequently, the infected mites had 71–78% chance to lay ≤5 eggs per capita but only 5–8% to deposit >10 eggs despite some variation among the tested fungi. In contrast, the chances for the non-infected mites to achieve the low and high fecundities were 23 and 55%. The fitted probabilities provide a full coverage of the fecundity potential of infected versus non-infected mites and are more informative than the mean fecundities.     

Small effective population sizes of two remnant ocelot populations (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leopardus pardalis albescens</Emphasis>) in the United States

Threatened populations are vulnerable to the effects of genetic drift and inbreeding, particularly when gene flow is low and the effective population size is small. Estimates of effective population size (N _e ) provide important information on the status of endangered populations that have experienced severe fragmentation and serve as indicators of genetic viability. Genetic data from microsatellite loci were used to estimate N _e for the 2 remaining populations of the endangered ocelot (Leopardus pardalis albescens) occurring in the United States. Several methods were used to calculate N _e , resulting in estimates ranging from N _e  = 8.0 (95% CI: 3.2–23.1) to 13.9 (95% CI: 7.7–25.1) for the population located at the Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge in Cameron County, Texas. The ocelot population in Willacy County, Texas, had N _e estimates of 2.9 (95% CI: 1.7–5.6) and 3.1 (95% CI: 1.9–13.5), respectively. Estimates of N _e in both populations were below the critical value recommended for short-term viability.     

Early detection of population fragmentation using linkage disequilibrium estimation of effective population size

Population subdivision due to habitat loss and modification, exploitation of wild populations and altered spatial population dynamics is of increasing concern in nature. Detecting population fragmentation is therefore crucial for conservation management. Using computer simulations, we show that a single sample estimator of N _e based on linkage disequilibrium is a highly sensitive and promising indicator of recent population fragmentation and bottlenecks, even with some continued gene flow. For example, fragmentation of a panmictic population of N _e = 1,000 into demes of N _e = 100 can be detected with high probability after a single generation when estimates from this method are compared to prefragmentation estimates, given data for ~20 microsatellite loci in samples of 50 individuals. We consider a range of loci (10–40) and individuals (25–100) typical of current studies of natural populations and show that increasing the number of loci gives nearly the same increase in precision as increasing the number of individuals sampled. We also evaluated effects of incomplete fragmentation and found this N _e-reduction signal is still apparent in the presence of considerable migration (m ~ 0.10–0.25). Single-sample genetic estimates of N _e thus show considerable promise for early detection of population fragmentation and decline.     

Longevity and growth efficiency of two deep-dwelling Arctic zoarcids and comparison with eight other zoarcid species from different climatic regions

Our basic knowledge of the ecology, especially the age and growth of polar deep-sea biota is still scarce. This study provides first data about the age and growth of the two abundant Arctic fish species Lycodes frigidus and Lycodes squamiventer (Zoarcidae). Lycodes frigidus was caught at the deeper parts (1,546–3,576 m depth) of the HAUSGARTEN observatory (HG), west of Svalbard. The congener Lycodes squamiventer was caught at two HG stations (1,273–1,546 m) and at the H?kon Mosby Mud Volcano (HMMV, ~1,250 m), a cold seep in the southwestern Barents Sea. Age was determined by sagittal otolith increment analysis. Growth performance was assessed by fitting age–length data to a von Bertalanffy growth equation. Our data suggest that L. frigidus and L. squamiventer attain maximum ages of 33 and 21 years, respectively. Lycodes squamiventer from the HMMV had significantly higher growth rates and their maximum age and length was slightly lower compared to conspecifics from the shallow HG stations. Von Bertalanffy growth equations were L _t  = 58.9 ∗ (1 − e^(−0.042*t)) for L. frigidus, and L _t  = 25.3 ∗ (1 − e^(−0.074*t)) and L _t  = 24.2 ∗ (1 − e^{(−0.099 * t)}) for L. squamiventer from HG and the HMMV, respectively. A comparison of these data with those of eight other zoarcids indicates that growth performances are correlated with temperature: the higher the annual mean temperatures experienced, the higher the growth rates. However, maximum ages decrease with increasing temperatures.     

Isozyme variation in Larrea ameghinoi and Larrea nitida (Zygophyllaceae): genetic diversity and its bearing on their relationship

Electrophoretic variants for 11 isozyme systems were examined by horizontal polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis in natural populations of Larrea ameghinoi and L. nitida (section Larrea). The two taxa presented fixed alternative allelic variants at loci Adh-1, Gdh-1 and Mdh-1. Genetic variability estimates showed no statistically significant differences among populations of section Larrea (H_e: 0.097–0.167). However, these values were significantly lower than those reported for species of section Bifolium (L. divaricata, diploid L. tridentata) in a previous contribution (H_e: 0.17–0.29). Positive and highly significant Wright's fixation indices are in agreement with higher amounts of inbreeding for nitida and L. ameghinoi, as suggested on the basis of floral morphology by previous authors. Moreover, the higher levels of genetic differentiation obtained for conspecific populations of section Larrea as compared to those of section Bifolium are also consistent with these observations. Nei's genetic identity values obtained for sympatric (I=0.80) and allopatric (I=0.63–0.73) L. ameghinoi – L. nitida population pairs are concordant with those expected for different, but closely related congeneric species. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Conformational preferences of modified nucleoside N(2)-methylguanosine (m(2)G) and its derivative N(2), N(2)-dimethylguanosine (m(2)(2)G) occur at 26th position (hinge region) in tRNA

Conformational preferences of the modified nucleosides N²-methylguanosine (m²G) and N², N²-dimethylguanosine (m₂²G) have been studied theoretically by using quantum chemical perturbative configuration interaction with localized orbitals (PCILO) method. Automated complete geometry optimization using semiempirical quantum chemical RM1, along with ab initio molecular orbital Hartree–Fock (HF-SCF), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations has also been made to compare the salient features. Single-point energy calculation studies have been made on various models of m²G26:C/A/U44 and m₂²G26:C/A/U44. The glycosyl torsion angle prefers “syn” (χ = 286°) conformation for m²G and m₂²G molecules. These conformations are stabilized by N(3)–HC2′ and N(3)–HC3′ by replacing weak interaction between O5′–HC(8). The N²-methyl substituent of (m²G26) prefers “proximal” or s-trans conformation. It may also prefer “distal” or s-cis conformation that allows base pairing with A/U44 instead of C at the hinge region. Thus, N²-methyl group of m²G may have energetically two stable s-trans m²G:C/A/U or s-cis m²G:A/U rotamers. This could be because of free rotations around C–N bond. Similarly, N², N²-dimethyl substituent of (m₂²G) prefers “distal” conformation that may allow base pairing with A/U instead of C at 44th position. Such orientations of m²G and m₂²G could play an important role in base-stacking interactions at the hinge region of tRNA during protein biosynthesis process.     

Plastid DNA variation in highly fragmented populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microbiota decussata</Emphasis> Kom. (Cupressaceae), an endemic to Sikhote Alin Mountains

Microbiota decussata Kom. (Cupressaceae) is a subalpine species endemic to the Sikhote Alin Mountains with populations scattered throughout the range. We used sequence data for four noncoding regions of chloroplast DNA to characterize the genetic diversity in populations sampled from different parts of M. decussata natural range. No variation was observed in the trnT–trnF region, whereas the trnH–psbA, trnS–trnfM, and trnS–trnG regions showed polymorphisms. At the species level, we found a low nucleotide diversity (π = 0.0009) and high haplotype diversity (h = 0.981) as well as high differentiation (Φ_ST = 0.420). N _ST and G _ST values suggested the existence of a phylogeographic structure in M. decussata. The observed patterns of diversity could be explained in part by ecological features of the species and its long-term persistence throughout the range with population expansion, successive fragmentation and isolation.     

Quasi steady state growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactococcus lactis</Emphasis> in glucose-limited acceleration stat (A-stat) cultures

Quasi steady state growth of Lactococcus lactis IL 1403 was studied in glucose-limited A-stat cultivation experiments with acceleration rates (a) from 0.003 to 0.06 h⁻² after initial stabilization of the cultures in chemostat at D = 0.2–0.3 h⁻¹. It was shown that the high limit of quasi steady state growth rate depended on the acceleration rate used—at an acceleration rate 0.003 h⁻² the quasi steady state growth was observed until μ _crit = 0.59 h⁻¹, which is also the μ _max value for the culture. Lower values of μ _crit were observed at higher acceleration rates. The steady state growth of bacteria stabilized at dilution rate 0.2 h⁻¹ was immediately disrupted after initiating acceleration at the highest acceleration rate studied—0.06 h⁻². Observation was made that differences [Δ(μ − D)] of the specific growth rates from pre-programmed dilution rates were the lowest using an acceleration rate of 0.003 h⁻² (< 4% of preset changing growth rate). The adaptability of cells to follow preprogrammed growth rate was found to decrease with increasing dilution rate—it was shown that lower acceleration rates should be applied at higher growth rates to maintain the culture in the quasi steady state. The critical specific growth rate and the biomass yields based on glucose consumption were higher if the medium contained S ₀ = 5 g L⁻¹ glucose instead of S ₀ = 10 g L⁻¹. It was assumed that this was due to the inhibitory effect of lactate accumulating at higher concentrations in the latter cultures. Parallel A-stat experiments at the same acceleration and dilution rates showed good reproducibility—Δ(μ − D) was less than 5%, standard deviations of biomass yields per ATP produced (Y _ATP), and biomass yields per glucose consumed (Y _XS) were less than 15%.     

The effect of temperature on post-feeding ammonia excretion and oxygen consumption in the southern catfish

The post-prandial rates of ammonia excretion (TAN) and oxygen consumption in the southern catfish (Silurus meridionalis) were assessed at 2 h intervals post-feeding until the rates returned to those of the fasting rates, at 17.5, 22.5, 27.5, and 32.5°C, respectively. Both fasting TAN and increased with temperature, and were lower than those previously reported for many fish species. The relationship between fasting TAN (mmol NH₃–N kg⁻¹ h⁻¹) and temperature (T, °C) was described as: fasting TAN = 0.144e ^0.0266T (r = 0.526, n = 27, P < 0.05). The magnitude of ammonia excretion and its ratio to total N intake during the specific dynamic action (SDA) tended to increase initially, and then decrease with increasing temperature. The ammonia quotient (AQ), calculated as mol NH₃–N/mol O₂, following feeding decreased as temperature increased. The relationship between AQ during SDA and temperature was described as: AQ_{during SDA} = 0.303e ^−0.0143T (r = 0.739, n = 21, P < 0.05). Our results suggest that ammonia excretion and oxygen consumption post-feeding are operating independently of each other. Furthermore, it appears that the importance of protein as a metabolic substrate in postprandial fish decreases with temperature.     

Temporal changes in genetic diversity of isolated populations of perch and roach

Genetic drift, together with natural selection and gene flow, affects genetic variation and is the major source of changes in allele frequencies in small and isolated populations. Temporal shifts in allele frequencies at five polymorphic loci were used to estimate the amount of genetic drift in an isolated population of perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) and roach (Rutilus rutilus L.). Here, I used the populations from the Biotest basin at Forsmark, Sweden, to investigate genetic diversity between 1977 and 2000, during which time the population can be considered to be totally isolated from other populations. Microsatellite data reveal stable levels of gene diversity over time for both species. Estimates of genetic differentiation (F _ST) showed a significant divergence between 1977 and 2000 for both perch and roach. A positive correlation between genetic distance and time was found (Mantel test, perch: r = 0.724, P = 0.0112; roach: r = 0.59, P = 0.036). Estimates of effective population size (N _e) differed with a factor six between two different estimators (NeEstimator and TempoFS) applying the temporal method. Ratios of N _e/N ranged between 10⁻² and 10⁻³, values normally found in marine species. Despite low N _e the populations have not lost their evolutionary potential due to drift. But two decades of isolation have lead to isolation by time for populations of perch and roach, respectively.     

Interaction of maturation delay and nonlinear birth in population and epidemic models

 A population with birth rate function B(N) N and linear death rate for the adult stage is assumed to have a maturation delay T>0. Thus the growth equation N′(t)=B(N(t−T)) N(t−T) e⁻ d ₁ T−dN(t) governs the adult population, with the death rate in previous life stages d ₁≧0. Standard assumptions are made on B(N) so that a unique equilibrium N _e exists. When B(N) N is not monotone, the delay T can qualitatively change the dynamics. For some fixed values of the parameters with d ₁>0, as T increases the equilibrium N _e can switch from being stable to unstable (with numerically observed periodic solutions) and then back to stable. When disease that does not cause death is introduced into the population, a threshold parameter R ₀ is identified. When R ₀<1, the disease dies out; when R ₀>1, the disease remains endemic, either tending to an equilibrium value or oscillating about this value. Numerical simulations indicate that oscillations can also be induced by disease related death in a model with maturation delay. Received: 2 November 1998 / Revised version: 26 February 1999     

Nickel(II)-substituted azurin I from Alcaligenes xylosoxidans as characterized by resonance Raman spectroscopy at cryogenic temperature

Metal-substituted blue copper proteins (cupredoxins) have been successfully used to study the effect of metal-ion identity on their active-site properties, specifically the coordination geometry and metal–ligand bond strengths. In this work, low-temperature (77 K) resonance Raman (RR) spectra of the blue copper protein Alcaligenes xylosoxidans azurin I and its Ni(II) derivative are reported. A detailed analysis of all observed bands is presented and responsiveness to metal substitution is discussed in terms of structural and bonding changes. The native cupric site exhibits a RR spectrum characteristic of a primarily trigonal planar (type 1) coordination geometry, identified by the ν(Cu–S)_Cys markers at 373, 399, 409, and 430 cm⁻¹. Replacement of Cu(II) with Ni(II) results in optical and RR spectra that reveal (1) a large hypsochromic shift in the main (Cys)S → M(II) charge-transfer absorption from 622 to 440 nm, (2) greatly reduced metal–thiolate bonding interaction, indicated by substantially lower ν(Ni–S)_Cys stretching frequencies, (3) elevation of the cysteine ν(C _β –S) stretching, amide III, and ρ _s(C _β H₂) scissors vibrational modes, and (4) primarily four-coordinated, trigonally distorted tetrahedral geometry of the Ni(II) site that is marked by characteristic ν(Ni–S)_Cys stretching RR bands at 347, 364, and 391 cm⁻¹. Comparisons of the electronic and vibrational properties between A. xylosoxidans azurin I and its closely structurally related azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa are made and discussed. For cupric azurins, the intensity-weighted average M(II)–S(Cys) stretching frequencies are calculated to be ν(Cu–S)_iwa = 406.3 and 407.6 cm⁻¹, respectively. These values decreased to ν(Ni–S)_iwa = 359.3 and 365.5 cm⁻¹, respectively, after Ni(II) → Cu(II) exchange, suggesting that the metal–thiolate interactions are similar in the two native proteins but are much less alike in their Ni(II)-substituted forms.     

Genetic differences between continuous and disjunct populations: some insights from sal (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Shorea robusta</Emphasis> Roxb.) in Nepal

Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn., Dipterocarpaceae) is a wind-pollinated tropical tree species found in southern Asia. We investigated the genetic diversity and structure at four microsatellites of 15 populations comprising continuous-peripheral and disjunct-peripheral populations in Nepal. Estimates of genetic diversity (N _A = 8.98, H _O = 0.62, H _E = 0.69) were similar when compared with those of other tropical tree species. A higher level of genetic diversity was observed in continuous-peripheral populations (N _A = 9.61, H _O = 0.67, H _E = 0.72) as compared to disjunct-peripheral (N _A = 8.04, H _O = 0.55, H _E = 0.64). Population differentiation was higher among disjunct-peripheral populations (F _ST = 0.043) than among continuous peripherals (F _ST = 0.012). There was a significant association between gene flow distances and genetic differentiation (r ² = 0.128, P ≤ 0.007). No spatial arrangement of populations according to their geographical locations was found. Based on observed genetic diversity protection of some populations in continuous-peripheral range are suggested for the sustainable conservation of genetic resources of the species while protection of some disjunct-peripheral populations are also recommended for conserving rare alleles.     

Studies on non-symbiotic diazotrophic bacterial populations of coastal arable saline soils of India

The effect of fluctuations of salinity in three different seasons on diazotrophic populations and N₂ fixation in six mono cropped rice field soils of the coastal region of the Gangetic delta of West Bengal, India, was studied. The average pH, ECe, organic carbon and total nitrogen of the soils ranged from 4.99–7.08, 2.02–19.58 dSm⁻¹, 4.68–12.03 g kg⁻¹ and 0.44–1.70 g kg ⁻¹, respectively. The average log colony forming units of the bacterial populations and N₂-fixation in the soils varied from 4.61 to 5.86 and 2.74 to 4.52 mg N₂ fixed 50 ml ⁻¹ culture media respectively, with the lowest value recorded in summer. Recovery of microorganisms and N₂- fixation gradually decreased with extraneous addition of NaCl in the culture media. All the eight isolates were Gram positive, spore and capsule formers. They could utilize glucose, sucrose, mannitol, starch, citrate and nitrate, and were catalase and gelatinase positive, but indole, methyl red and Vogues Proskauer reaction negative. The organisms produced alkaline reaction on TSI agar slant. The acetylene reduction assay of the isolates at 0 and 1% NaCl in the culture media were 4.51–164.52 and 1.72–100.6 nmole C₂H₄ ml⁻¹ culture media in 72 h, respectively. The isolates could fix 2.42–4.45 and 2.04–4.08 mg N₂ fixed 50 ml⁻¹ culture media at 0 and 1% NaCl in the culture media respectively. 16S rDNA sequences of the isolates were similar to the species: Bacillus sp. isolate 28A, Bacillus sp. MOLA 87, Bacillus sp. By113 (B)Ydz-dh, Bacillus sp. PN13, Bacillus licheniformis strain RH101, Bacterium Antarctica 14, Bacillus sp. PN13 and Bacillus megaterium.     

Spatial and temporal genetic differentiation and effective population size of brown trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo trutta</Emphasis>, L.) in small Danish rivers

The spatial and temporal genetic structure of brown trout populations from three small tributaries of Lake Hald, Denmark, was studied using analysis of variation at eight microsatellite loci. From two of the populations temporal samples were available, separated by up to 13 years (3.7 generations). Significant genetic differentiation was observed among all samples, however, hierarchical analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that differentiation among populations accounted for a non-significant amount of the genetic differentiation, whereas differentiation among temporal samples within populations was highly significant (0.0244, P<0.001). Estimates of effective population size (N _e) using a maximum-likelihood based implementation of the temporal method, yielded small values (N _e ranging from 33 to 79). When a model was applied that allows for migration among populations, N _e estimates were even lower (24–54), and migration rates were suggested to be high (0.13–0.36). All samples displayed a clear signal of a recent bottleneck, probably stemming from a period of unfavourable conditions due to organic pollution in the 1970–1980’s. By comparison to other estimates of N _e in brown trout, Lake Hald trout represent a system of small populations linked by extensive gene flow, whereas other populations in larger rivers exhibit much higher N _e values and experience lower levels of immigration. We suggest that management considerations for systems like Lake Hald brown trout should focus both on a regional scale and at the level of individual populations, as the future persistence of populations depends both on maintaining individual populations and ensuring sufficient migration links among these populations.     

Fast cyclic electron transport around photosystem I in leaves under far-red light: a proton-uncoupled pathway?

Fast cyclic electron transport (CET) around photosystem I (PS I) was observed in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) leaves under intense far-red light (FRL) of up to 200 μmol quanta m⁻² s⁻¹. The electron transport rate (ETR) through PS I was found from the FRL-dark transmittance change at 810 and 950 nm, which was deconvoluted into redox states and pool sizes of P700, plastocyanin (PC) and cytochrome f (Cyt f). PC and P700 were in redox equilibrium with K _e = 35 (ΔE _m = 90 mV). PS II ETR was based on O₂ evolution. CET [(PS I ETR) − (PS II ETR)] increased to 50–70 μmol e⁻ m⁻² s⁻¹ when linear electron transport (LET) under FRL was limited to 5 μmol e⁻ m⁻² s⁻¹ in a gas phase containing 20–40 μmol CO₂ mol⁻¹ and 20 μmol O₂ mol⁻¹. Under these conditions, pulse-saturated fluorescence yield F _m was non-photochemically quenched; however, F _m was similarly quenched when LET was driven by low green or white light, which energetically precluded the possibility for active CET. We suggest that under FRL, CET is rather not coupled to transmembrane proton translocation than the CET-coupled protons are short-circuited via proton channels regulated to open at high ΔpH. A kinetic analysis of CET electron donors and acceptors suggests the CET pathway is that of the reversed Q-cycle: Fd → (FNR) → Cyt c_n → Cyt b_h → Cyt b_l → Rieske FeS → Cyt f → PC → P700 →→ Fd. CET is activated when PQH₂ oxidation is opposed by high ΔpH, and ferredoxin (Fd) is reduced due to low availability of e⁻ acceptors. The physiological significance of CET may be photoprotective, as CET may be regarded as a mechanism of energy dissipation under stress conditions.     

Partitioning particulate scattering and absorption into contributions of phytoplankton and non-algal particles in winter in Lake Taihu (China)

Light scattering, backscattering, and absorption coefficients of particles were observed at 62 locations in Lake Taihu (China) in November 2008. A method using a priori knowledge and the measured data was proposed to partition particulate scattering and absorption into contributions of phytoplankton and non-algal particles. The results showed that phytoplankton weakly contributed to the particulate scattering and backscattering with the mean b _ph/b _p values usually below 10% and b _bph/b _bt values of 0.3–3.9% in the whole visible light spectrum, and an approximate relationship of b _bt ≈ b _bp ≈ b _bnap was regarded as reasonable in Lake Taihu. In contrast with scattering and backscattering, phytoplankton made more contributions to the particulate absorption with the mean a _ph/a _p values varying in a wide range of about 20–70%. Both the scattering and absorption spectra of non-algal particles can be modeled well by corresponding methods. A power function model was used to simulate the scattering spectra, which presented high predictive accuracies with MAPE values usually below 5% and RMSE values below 1.5 m⁻¹, while the spectral absorption model also performed well with mean S _nap being 0.0052 nm⁻¹ (standard deviation, SD = 0.0010 nm⁻¹). As to the phytoplankton absorption, a quadratic function model used was considered to have a good performance with corresponding parameters being supported at each wavelength in the spectral range of 400–700 nm. Additionally, two basic bio-optical parameters were determined, that is, b _nap^*(550) = 0.604 m² g⁻¹ and a _ph^*(675) = 0.0288 m² mg⁻¹. Overall, these results obtained in the present study supply us with new knowledge about optical properties of suspended particulates in an inland and highly turbid lake (Lake Taihu), which are beneficial to the development of analytical models of water color remote sensing.     

Influence of translocation strategy and mating system on the genetic structure of a newly established population of island ptarmigan

Island populations and populations established by reintroductions are prone to extinction, in part because they are vulnerable to deterministic and stochastic phenomena associated with geographic isolation and small population size. As population size declines, reduced genetic diversity can result in decreased fitness and reduced adaptive potential, which may hinder short- or long-term population viability. We used 32 microsatellite markers to investigate the conservation genetics of a newly established population of Evermann’s Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta evermanni) at Agattu Island, in the western Aleutian Archipelago, Alaska. We found low genetic diversity (observed heterozygosity = 0.41, allelic richness = 2.2) and a small effective population size (N _e  = 28.6), but a relatively large N _e /N ratio = 0.55, which was attributed to multiple paternity in 80% of the broods and low reproductive skew among males (λ = 0.29). Moreover, successful breeding pairs were less related to each other than random male–female pairs. For conservation efforts based on reintroductions, a mating system with high rates of multiple paternity may facilitate retention of genetic diversity, thereby reducing the potential for inbreeding in small or isolated populations. Our results underscore the importance of quantifying genetic diversity and understanding the breeding behavior of translocated populations.     

Genetic variation and effective population size in isolated populations of coastal cutthroat trout

Following glacial recession in southeast Alaska, waterfalls created by isostatic rebound have isolated numerous replicate populations of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) in short coastal streams. These replicate isolated populations offer an unusual opportunity to examine factors associated with the maintenance of genetic diversity. We used eight microsatellites to examine genetic variation within and differentiation among 12 population pairs sampled from above and below these natural migration barriers. Geological evidence indicated that the above-barrier populations have been isolated for 8,000–12,500 years. Genetic differentiation among below-barrier populations (F _ST = 0.10, 95% C.I. 0.08–0.12) was similar to a previous study of more southern populations of this species. Above-barrier populations were highly differentiated from adjacent below-barrier populations (mean pairwise F _ST = 0.28; SD 0.18) and multiple lines of evidence were consistent with asymmetric downstream gene flow that varied among streams. Each above-barrier population had reduced within-population genetic variation when compared to the adjacent below-barrier population. Within-population genetic diversity was significantly correlated with the amount of available habitat in above-barrier sites. Increased genetic differentiation of above-barrier populations with lower genetic diversity suggests that genetic drift has been the primary cause of genetic divergence. Long-term estimates of N _e based on loss of heterozygosity over the time since isolation were large (3,170; range 1,077–7,606) and established an upper limit for N _e if drift were the only evolutionary process responsible for loss of genetic diversity. However, it is likely that a combination of mutation, selection, and gene flow have also contributed to the genetic diversity of above-barrier populations. Contemporary above-barrier N _e estimates were much smaller than long-term N _e estimates, not correlated with within-population genetic diversity, and not consistent with the amount of genetic variation retained, given the approximate 10,000-year period of isolation. The populations isolated by waterfalls in this study that occur in larger stream networks have retained substantial genetic variation, which suggests that the amount of habitat in headwater streams is an important consideration for maintaining the evolutionary potential of isolated populations.     

Soil-Atmosphere Exchange of N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O and NO in Near-Natural Savanna and Agricultural Land in Burkina Faso (W. Africa)

In a combined field and laboratory study in the southwest of Burkina Faso, we quantified soil-atmosphere N₂O and NO exchange. N₂O emissions were measured during two field campaigns throughout the growing seasons 2005 and 2006 at five different experimental sites, that is, a natural savanna site and four agricultural sites planted with sorghum (n = 2), cotton and peanut. The agricultural fields were not irrigated and not fertilized. Although N₂O exchange mostly fluctuated between −2 and 8 μg N₂O–N m⁻² h⁻¹, peak N₂O emissions of 10–35 μg N₂O–N m⁻² h⁻¹ during the second half of June 2005, and up to 150 μg N₂O–N m⁻² h⁻¹ at the onset of the rainy season 2006, were observed at the native savanna site, whereas the effect of the first rain event on N₂O emissions at the crop sites was low or even not detectable. Additionally, a fertilizer experiment was conducted at a sorghum field that was divided into three plots receiving different amounts of N fertilizer (plot A: 140 kg N ha⁻¹; plot B: 52.5 kg N ha⁻¹; plot C: control). During the first 3 weeks after fertilization, only a minor increase in N₂O emissions at the two fertilized plots was detected. After 24 days, however, N₂O emission rates increased exponentially at plot A up to a mean of 80 μg N₂O–N m⁻² h⁻¹, whereas daily mean values at plot B reached only 19 μg N₂O–N m⁻² h⁻¹, whereas N₂O flux rates at plot C remained unchanged. The calculated annual N₂O emission of the nature reserve site amounted to 0.52 kg N₂O–N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ in 2005 and to 0.67 kg N₂O–N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ in 2006, whereas the calculated average annual N₂O release of the crop sites was only 0.19 kg N₂O–N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ and 0.20 kg N₂O–N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ in 2005 and 2006, respectively. In a laboratory study, potential N₂O and NO formation under different soil moisture regimes were determined. Single wetting of dry soil to medium soil water content with subsequent drying caused the highest increase in N₂O and NO emissions with maximum fluxes occurring 1 day after wetting. The stimulating effect lasted for 3–4 days. A weaker stimulation of N₂O and NO fluxes was detected during daily wetting of soil to medium water content, whereas no significant stimulating effect of single or daily wetting to high soil water content (>67% WHC_max) was observed. This study demonstrates that the impact of land-use change in West African savanna on N trace gas emissions is smaller—with the caveat that there could have been potentially higher N₂O and NO emissions during the initial conversion—than the effect of timing and distribution of rainfall and of the likely increase in nitrogen fertilization in the future.