Reproductive biology of captive alpine ibex (Capra i. ibex)

We studied the reproductive biology of alpine ibex bred at the Peter & Paul Wildlife Park, St. Gallen, Switzerland, from 1930 through 1943 and 1968 through 1983. Peter & Paul Wildlife Park had supplied most of the original stock used to reestablish ibex populations in the European Alps after they had become extinct. Ibex females were seasonally polyestrous. Their estrous cycle averaged 20 days, and their gestation period averaged 167 days. Females between 1 and 15 years of age on average produced 0.78 young per year; females between 3 and 13 years of age produced 0.99 young per year. The average age at which captive ibex females gave birth was 8.44 years. Sex ratio at birth was unbiased. More singletons than twins were born, but the proportion of twins born during the years 1968 through 1983 was higher than during the earlier study period. There were no differences in the survival rates of male or female and single or twin offspring.     

Fusarium lateritium Nees ex Link as a Parasite and Host in Interfungal Hyphal Interactions

In dual cultures Fusarium lateritium Nees ex Link coiled, penetrated and destroyed young actively growing hyphae of Botrytis cinerea Pers., Cytospora rubescens Fr., Eutypa armeniacae Hansf. et Carter, Sphaeropsis malorum Peck, Rhizoctonia solani Kühn, Trichoderma koningii Oud. (Tk-1) and Trichoderma hamatum (Bon.) Bain. (Tha-2), and conidiophores and conidia of Botrytis cinerea Pers. The isolates of Trichoderma koningii Oud. (Tk-3) and Trichoderma pseudokoningii Rifai (Tp-1) parasited and destroyed the hyphae of Fusarium lateritium. There was no hyphal interaction between Fusarium lateritium and an isolate of Trichoderma longibrachiatum Rifai. Hyphal, interactions occurred mostly on the aerial hyphae of test fungi which grew over the inhibition zone formed between the colonies of Fusarium lateritium and the test fungus, and contacted the hyphae of Fusarium lateritium. Details of dual culture studies are given.     

Utilization of Carbohydrates by Rhynchosporium secalis. I. Growth and Sporulation on Glucose, Galactose, and Galacturonic acid

The fungus Rhynchosporium secalis (Oud.) Davis grew and speculated in liquid nutrient media that contained glucose, galactose or galacturonic acid, or a pair of those substances, as the sole carbon source. Sporulation was inhibited by high concentrations of glucose and galacturonic acid. Growth and sporulation were greatest on glucose, and least on galactose. Growth was increased when glucose and galacturonic acid were mixed. Nitrogen concentration affected sporulation but not growth.     

Hive debris counts in honeybee colonies: a method to estimate the size of small populations and rate of growth of the miteVarroa jacobsoni Oud. (Mesostigmata: Varroidae)

Fifteen honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera L.) infested with the ectoparasiteVarroa jacobsoni Oud. were monitored for the number of mites falling to the bottom of the hive. Mites in the debris were counted periodically on the plastic sheet on which they were collected. Two months later, colonies were treated with an acaricide to determine mite population. A high positive correlation was found between the number of mites collected in the hive debris over different periods and the final population size. Based on this correlation, it was possible to use hive debris counts to predict the degree of infestation. Furthermore, counting fallen mites over a period of two months, followed by an acaricide treatment, might be a useful method of estimating the rate of growth ofV. jacobsoni in honeybee colonies.     

The Art Collector

Abstract

The initiating point of this paper was an article in AEPR by Peter J. Smith in March/April 2003. At the end of the article, Peter J. Smith provides a short answer.     

Description of dictyostelid cellular slime mold species in Norway

Ten different species of dictyostelid cellular slime molds were found in Norway, namely Dictyostelium mucoroides Brefeld, D. sp. 1, D. sp. 2, D. aureo–stipes Cavender, Raper & Quinlan, D. fasckulatum Traub, Hohl & Cavender, D. sp. 3, D. minutum Raper, Polysphondylium violaceum Brefeld, P. pallidum Olive and Acylo–stelium leptosomum Raper & Quinlan. D. mucoroides included two varieties, D. sp. 1 and D. sp. 2 are probably related to D. septentrionalis Cavender and D. sphaerocephalum (Oud.) Sacc. & March respectively and D. sp. 3 is probably a new species.
Two different spore types, characterized by the presence or absence of ribosomes on the outer mitochondrial membranes, were revealed by transmission electron microscopic studies. This property was related to other properties such as the presence or absence of polar spore granules (PG) and the aggregative responses of the amoebae towards cAMP.     

The most important recent advances in synapse research from my point of view - and what remains to be done

Editorial

The most important recent advances in synapse research from my point of view - and what remains to be doneMichael Frotscher, Eckart Gundelfinger, Peter Jonas, Erwin Neher, Peter Seeburg     

Discovery of larvae of the hermit crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diogenes nitidimanus</Emphasis> Terao, 1913 (Decapoda: Diogenidae) in ship ballast waters: Evidence in support of its introduction into Peter the Great Bay

The larva of the hermit crab Diogenes nitidimanus Terao, 1913 was found in the ballast waters of the tanker Minotaur that arrived from the Chinese port of Laizhou (Bohai Bay, Yellow Sea). Earlier, an abundant population of mature adults of D. nitidimanus was found in Vostok Bay (Peter the Great Bay), this suggested the introduction and naturalization of this species in the Peter the Great Bay. The finding of its larva in ballast waters of a ship on the Russia-China route confirms the introduction of this species into Peter the Great Bay.     

L-glutaminase production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma koningii</Emphasis> under solid-state fermentation

Solid state fermentation was conducted for the production of L-glutaminase by Trichoderma koningii Oud.aggr. using different agro-industrial byproducts inlcuding wheat bran, groundnut residues, rice hulls, soya bean meal, corn steep, sesamum oil cake, cotton seed residues and lentil industrial residues as solid substrates. Wheat bran was the best substrate for induction of L-glutaminase (12.1 U/mg protein) by T. koningii. The maximum productivity (23.2 U/mg protein) and yield (45.0 U/gds) of L-glutaminase by T. koningii occurred using wheat bran of 70% initial moisture content, initial pH 7.0, supplemented with D-glucose (1.0%) and L-glutamine (2.0% w/v), inoculated with 3 ml of 6 day old fungal culture and incubated at 30°C for 7 days. After optimization, the productivity of L-glutaminase by the solid cultures of T. koningii was increased by 2.2 fold regarding to the submerged culture.     

A Record of the Cubed Snailfish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Liparis tessellatus</Emphasis> (Pisces: Liparidae), in Peter the Great Bay,Sea of Japan

A specimen of the cubed snailfish, Liparis tessellatus was captured in Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan. The capture of L. tessellatus from this area a century after the first record is evidence that at present this species still inhabits Peter the Great Bay.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Biologiya Morya, Sokolovskii, Sokolovskaya.     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this Article: Wielgorskaya, Tatiana. 1995. Dictionary of generic names of Seed Plants . Pignatti, Sandro (ed.) 1995. Ecologia vegetale . Kreutz, C.A.J. 1995. Orobanche. Die Sommerwurzarten Europas / The European broomrape species. Ein Bestimmungsbuch / A field guide . Lindacher, Robert et al. 1995. PHANART. Datenbank der Gefässpflanzen Mitteleuropas. Erklärung der Kennzahlen, Aufbau und Inhalt . Stevens, Peter F. 1994. The Development of Biological Systematics: Antoine-Laurent de Jussieu, Nature and the Natural System . Sukopp, H., Numata, M. & Huber, A. (eds.) 1995. Urban ecology as the basis of urban planning . Miehe, Sabine & Georg. 1994. Ericaceous Forests and Heathlands in the Bale Mountains of South Ethiopia. Ecology and Man's Impact . Anhuf, Dieter. 1994. Zeitlicher Vegetations- und Klimawandel in Côte d'Ivoire . Wohlfarth-Bottermann, Martin. 1994. Anthropogene Veränderungen der Vegetationsbedeckung in Côte d'Ivoire seit der Kolonialisierung .     

Visual Methodologies

Three Cheers (at least) for Intervention Press! Crawford, Peter Ian, The Nordic Eye. Proceedings from NAFA 1. Aarhus; Intervention Press; 122 pp, 1992.0 US$ 18.50.

Crawford, Peter Ian and Jan K., Simonsen, Ethnographic Film. Aesthetics and Narrative Traditions. Proceedings from NAFA 2. Aarhus; Intervention Press; 251 pp, index, 1992. US$ 29.00.

Scott, Chuck., The Lesotho Video Herders Project: Explorations in Anthropology. Aarhus; Intervention Prees; in association with the Centre for Cultural and Media Studies, University of Natal, Durban. Photographs, maps, appendices, 123 pp, 1994. US$ 16.60. (The book can be ordered along with a 40 minute videotape).

European distributor: Intervention Press, Casternschioldsvej 7, DK‐8270 Højbjerg, Denmark.

North American distributor: Smyrna Press, Box 021803, GPO, Brooklyn, NY 11202, USA.

Lesotho Herders Video Project Chuck Scott, Lesotho Herders Video Project: Explorations in Visual Anthropology. Højbjerg, Denmark: Intervention Press in association with the Center for Cultural and Media Studies, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa, 1994. 123pp., photographs, maps, appendices. (European orders: Intervention Press, ECU 15. North American distributor is Smyrna Press, Box 021803, Brooklyn, NY 11202). US $ 16.60.

The Tiguas Wright, Bill. The Tiguas: Pueblo Indians of Texas. El Paso: Texas Western Press, University of Texas at El Paso, 1993. 161 pp., hdbd., $40.00.

Always Getting Ready Barker, James H. Always Getting Ready Upterrlainarluta: Yup'ik Subsistence in Southwest Alaska. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1993. 144 pp. Pbk. $ 29.95.     

Book review

Chronopharmacology. Cellular and Biochemical Interactions (Cellular Clocks Series/3), by Prof. Dr. Björn Lemmer, Center of Pharmacology, J.W. Goethe‐University, Frankfurt am Main, FRG. 1989. 744 pp., $150.00 (US and Canada), $180.00 (All other countries). ISBN 0–8247–8103–1 Published by Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York, USA.

Chronobiology and chronomedicine. Basic research and applications. Proceedings of the IVth Annual Meeting of the European Society for Chronobiology, Birmingham, July 1988, by E. Morgan. 1990, 407 pp., soft cover sFr. 79.‐ISBN 3–631–42301–2 Published by Verlag Peter Lang, Frankfurt a.M., Bern, New York, Paris.

Biological rhythms in clinical practice by J. Ahrendt, J.M. Waterhouse and D.S. Minors 1989. 299 pp.m, hard cover £ 48.‐ISBN 0–7236–0961–6     

Finding of the Hydromedusa Hydractinia minima (Trinci, 1903) (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Hydractiniidae) in Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan

The first finding of the hydromedusa Hydractinia minima (Trinci, 1903) in plankton of Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan) is reported. The hydromedusae are 0.24–0.51 mm in bell diameter and 0.25–0.53 mm in height. The size characteristics of the nematocysts of this species (desmonemes and microbasic euryteles) are given. H. minima is present in the plankton of Peter the Great Bay from June through October at water temperatures of 16.4 to 22°C with the highest mean monthly density of 151 ind./m³. The finding of H. minima in Peter the Great Bay extends the area of this species in the North Pacific to the low-boreal subzone.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Biologiya Morya, Chaplygina, Dautova.     

Allozyme variability of the gastropodTegula rustica from Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan

Eight polymorphic loci were surveyed in three samples of the gastropodTegula rustica collected in a clean area of Peter the Great Bay and in three samples from a heavily polluted area of the bay. Macrospatial, microspatial, and temporal differences in allele frequencies and heterozygosity were found at some of the loci; however, the genetic similarity among the samples was very high. It is concluded that allozyme variability at the surveyed loci ofT. rustica cannot be used in pollution monitoring of Peter the Great Bay.     

In Memory of Peter Läuger

In memory of Peter Läuger     

Initial steps of phloroglucinol metabolism in Penicillium simplicissimum

The pathway for the aerobic catabolism of 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene (phloroglucinol) by a new strain of Penicillium was investigated using both in vivo and in vitro cell-free systems. The fungal strain was isolated by enrichment on phloroglucinol and identified as P. simplicissimum (Oud) Thom. It grew optimally at pH 5.5 and 27°C with 119 mM (1.5%w/v) of phloroglucinol in a basal mineral salts medium. Vapours of the crystalline substrate placed in a Petri-plate lid supported the growth of the fungal colonies on the agar surface. Mycelia grown on phloroglucinol accumulated 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene and resorcinol in the medium. Washed, resting mycelia grown on phloroglucinol, when resuspended in a buffer utilized oxygen in the presence of catechol, resorcinol, pyrogallol and phloroglucinol. A NADPH-dependent reductase in the cell-free extract reduced phloroglucinol to dihydrophloroglucinol. This electron donor could not be replaced by NADH. Resorcinol hydroxylase, phloroglucinol reductase, catechol-1,2-oxygenase, and catechol-2,3-oxygenase were detected in cell-free extracts of mycelia grown on phloroglucinol. The possible steps in the degradation of phloroglucinol are discussed.     

New Data on Rotifers of Peter the Great Bay,Sea of Japan

The first records of 11 species of rotifers from Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan) are reported. Of these, Synchaeta grimpei, Aspelta clydona, Encentrum algente, and E. graingeri are the first records for the Pacific Ocean. Synchaeta pacifica and S. posjetica described from Peter the Great Bay by Chaga (1984) are considered as nomen dubium.Original Russian Text Copyright ¢ 2005 by Biologiya Morya, Chernyshev.     

Microelement composition of the green alga Ulva fenestrata from Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan

Concentrations of heavy metals Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, and Ni were determined in the thalluses of the green alga Ulva fenestrata sampled from different locations in Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan). According to the metal concentrations in Ulva, the degree of pollution of the surveyed areas in Peter the Great Bay decreases in the following series: Amur Bay > Ussuri Bay > Nakhodka Bay > Vostok Bay > the water area of Far Eastern State Marine Nature Biosphere Reserve. The microelement composition of Ulva from open-shore stations reflects the heavy metal pollution level of water areas as a whole. The concentrations of trace elements in U. fenestrata from closed coastal areas are indicative of marine coastal water pollution from local sources. Generally, metal concentrations in U. fenestrata from Peter the Great Bay are similar to heavy metal levels in non-polluted or weakly polluted coastal areas of the world.     

Archeology

Prehistory of the Indo-Malaysian Archipelago . Peter Bellwood.
Recent Advances in Indo-Pacific Prehistory . V. N. Misra and Peter Bellwood , eds.