Biogeographic Patterns of Intertidal Macroinvertebrates and their Association with Macroalgae Distribution along the Portuguese Coast

Geographical patterns in the distribution of epifaunal crustaceans (Amphipoda, Isopoda and Tanaidacea) occurring with dominant macroalgal species were investigated along the Portuguese rocky coast. Three regions, each encompassing six shores, were studied. Algal species were selected according to their geographical distribution: Mastocarpusstellatus and Chondrus crispus (north); Bifurcariabifurcata (north-centre); Plocamiumcartilagineum and Cystoseiratamariscifolia (centre-south); Corallina spp. and Codiumtomentosum (entire coast). Multivariate techniques were used to test for differences in crustacean assemblage composition between sub-regions and host algal species. A clear gradient of species substitution was observed from north to south. Differences in abundance and diversity of epifaunal crustaceans were observed between southern locations and the remaining sites. Four species were recorded for the first time in the Portuguese coast. Among the 57 taxa identified, southern distribution limits were observed for three species and northern distribution limits were observed for four species. Interestingly, the observed geographical patterns in epifaunal abundance and diversity were not related with geographical changes in the indentity of the dominant algal species.     

广西景天科景天属植物小志

该文基于文献考证、馆藏标本鉴定及野外调查，对广西景天属(Sedum L.)植物进行了系统的梳理，对景天属植物物种多样性进行概述，确定目前分布有17种，其中有6个新记录种。该文概述了广西景天属植物物种多样性，订正了藓状景天(S.polytrichoides Hemsl.),简述了6个新记录种，即钝萼景天(S.leblancae Hamet.)、黎平景天(S.lipingense R. B. Zhang, D. Tan&R. X. Wei)、龙泉景天(S.lungtsuanense S. H. Fu)、圆叶景天(S.makinoi Maxim.)、细小景天(S.subtile Miq.)、土佐景天(S.tosaense Makino),并提供其形态特征集要与彩色照片。该文还对广西景天属植物的多样性以及资源潜在利用价值等进行了讨论，并附有分种检索表和各个分类群在广西的分布情况，为该属后续的研究与利用提供了本底资料。     

Incidence of Non-01 Vibrio cholerae and Aeromonas spp. in Fresh Water in Araraquara, Brazil

The occurrence of Aeromonas spp., Vibrio cholerae, and Plesiomonas shigelloides in fresh water from various sources in Araraquara, State of S?o Paulo, Brazil was determined. Samples from ten distinct irrigation systems used in vegetable cultivation, from five distinct streams, from two reservoirs, from one artificial lake, and from three distinct springs were analyzed. All isolates were serotyped and tested for hemolysin, cytotoxin, heat-stable (ST) and heat-labile (LT) enterotoxins production; presence of plasmid; autoagglutination and drug resistance. V. cholerae isolates were also tested for cholera enterotoxin (CT) production, and Aeromonas isolates for suicide phenomenon. No P. shigelloides was found. V. cholerae non 01 was found in five irrigation water samples and in three stream samples. Aeromonas sp. were isolated in two samples of irrigation water, in three streams, and in one reservoir. All the V. cholerae and Aeromonas isolates were positive for β-hemolysin production, and all Aeromonas isolates were positive for suicide phenomenon; cytotoxic activities were observed in two Aeromonas strains. Cholera enterotoxin was not found in eight V. cholerae non-01 isolates tested by the Y-1 mouse adrenal cell. All isolates were also negative for the other virulence markers. V. cholerae isolates were found to be sensitive to the majority of drugs tested, while Aeromonas strains presented multiple drug resistance. Received: 4 November 1997 / Accepted: 23 January 1998     

Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases of Livestock Belonging to Resource-poor Farmers in the Eastern Free State of South Africa

The paper provides a summary of three studies conducted in the eastern Free State of South Africa between 1998 and 2000. In a questionnaire-based study approximately 21% of interviewed resource-poor farmers (n = 150) indicated that they experienced problems with ticks and tick-borne diseases. About 56% of farmers indicated that tick-related problems were most severe in summer, while 32% indicated that the most problems were encountered in winter. About 12% indicated that the tick problems were experienced throughout the year. Farmers also indicated that the highest tick burdens were experienced between spring and early winter. The principal ticks infesting cattle (n = 30) were found to be Boophilus decoloratus (53.1%), Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (44.7%), Rhipicephalus follis (1.0%), Rhipicephalus gertrudae (0.7%) and Rhipicephalus warburtoni (0.4%). On small stock (n = 188), R. evertsi evertsi (68%) and B. decoloratus (32%) were recorded as the main ticks in the study area. A sero-epidemiological survey of cattle (n = 386) showed that 94% of cattle were sero-positive for Babesia bigemina by IFAT, while 87% were sero-positive for Anaplasma by indirect ELISA. All the animals were sero-negative for Babesia bovis and this is probably because the tick vector, Boophilus microplus, is not present in the study area. All sheep and goats were sero-positive for Theileria species by IFAT while 85% of sheep and 100% of goats tested positive for Anaplasma species by competition inhibition ELISA. The high incidence of positive serological results for B. bigemina and Anaplasma in cattle, and Theileria and Anaplasma in sheep and goats and the absence of clinical cases would indicate that this area is endemically stable for these diseases. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Identification of QTLs influencing wood property traits in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). I. Physical wood properties

Physical wood property traits for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) were analyzed for the presence of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in a three-generation outbred pedigree. These traits include wood specific gravity (wsg), volume percentage of latewood (vol%), and microfibril angle (mfa). Phenotypic data were collected for rings 2–11 for wsg and vol%, and rings 3, 5 and 7 for mfa. Both earlywood and latewood were analyzed for each trait. An interval mapping approach designed for an outbred pedigree was used to estimate the number of QTLs, the magnitude of QTL effects, and their genomic position. Nine unique QTLs were detected for composite traits (average of all rings) for wsg, five for vol%, and five for mfa. The majority of these QTLs were verified by analyses of individual-ring traits. Additional QTLs for each trait were also detected by these individual-ring analyses. Most QTLs for wsg were specific to either earlywood or latewood, whereas each QTL for mfa was detected for both earlywood and latewood. Before these QTLs are utilized in a breeding program, they should be verified in larger experiments and in different genetic and environmental backgrounds. Received: 15 February 2000 / Accepted: 31 March 2000     

Epidemiology of bluetongue in Central America and the Caribbean: initial entomological findings

Abstract. Forty-four species of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were caught in insect light traps during the first 2 years of studies on the epidemiology of bluetongue virus in the Caribbean and Central America. Traps were operated near sentinel ruminants which were bled monthly for serologic evaluation and then virus isolation. More than 570,000 individuals were identified. Culicoides insignis Lutz accounted for 90% of the catch, C.filarifer Hoffman/C.ocumarensis Ortiz 5%, C.furens Poey 3% and C.pusillus Lutz 2%. Other species accounted for less than 1% of the total catch. Sentinel ruminants became seropositive when C.insignis populations were high at many study sites. At a few sites C.pusillus and C.filarifer I C.ocumarensis were predominant or were present in large numbers during seroconversions of sentinels. Virus isolations were obtained from sentinel ruminants during times when these same species were present in large populations.     

Comparative genomics of Bifidobacterium species isolated from marmosets and humans

The genus Bifidobacterium is purported to have beneficial consequences for human health and is a major component of many gastrointestinal probiotics. Although species of Bifidobacterium are generally at low relative frequency in the adult human gastrointestinal tract, they can constitute high proportions of the gastrointestinal communities of adult marmosets. To identify genes that might be important for the maintenance of Bifidobacterium in adult marmosets, ten strains of Bifidobacterium were isolated from the feces of seven adult marmosets, and their genomes were sequenced. There were six B. reuteri strains, two B. callitrichos strains, one B. myosotis sp. nov. and one B. tissieri sp. nov. among our isolates. Phylogenetic analysis showed that three of the four species we isolated were most closely related to B. bifidum, B. breve and B. longum, which are species found in high abundance in human infants. There were 1357 genes that were shared by at least one strain of B. reuteri, B. callitrichos, B. breve, and B. longum, and 987 genes that were found in all strains of the four species. There were 106 genes found in B. reuteri and B. callitrichos but not in human bifidobacteria, and several of these genes were involved in nutrient uptake. These pathways for nutrient uptake appeared to be specific to Bifidobacterium from New World monkeys. Additionally, the distribution of Bifidobacterium in fecal samples from captive adult marmosets constituted as much as 80% of the gut microbiome, although this was variable between individuals and colonies. We suggest that nutrient transporters may be important for the maintenance of Bifidobacterium during adulthood in marmosets.     

Growth and Life Span of the Commercial Gastropods of Buccinidae Family in Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan

Patterns with of body size and mass age variation in five gastropod species of Buccinidae family from Ussuriisky Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan) were studied. Equations of body size and mass correlation were obtained for each species, Bertalanffy's equations of group growth were estimated, and specifics of rates of linear growth and of body mass with age variation were considered. It was determined that in the survey area, the life span for Buccinum bayani bayani was nine years; for B. verkruzeni, 11; for Neptunea constricta, 17; for N. lyrata lyrata 18; and for N. polycostata, 16.     

Type I interferon genes in cattle: restriction fragment length polymorphisms,gene numbers and physical organization on bovine chromosome 8

Multiple, superimposed Type I interferon (IFN) restriction fragments were resolved following 72–92 h of horizontal electrophoresis. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) for α IFN (IFNA), β IFN (IFNB), ωIFN (IFNW) and trophoblast IFN (IFNT) genes were identified in Hin dill, Eco RI and Taql digestions from 313 cattle. RFLPs with codominant segregation in cattle pedigrees were considered alleles, and 19 distinct polymorphic Type I IFN loci (5 IFNA, 4 IFNB, 8 IFNW and 2 IFNT) were identified. Allele frequencies and observed heterozygosity values were calculated for each locus and several loci were considered highly informative for linkage analysis. Bovine IFN gene numbers (10 IFNA, 6 IFNB, 20 IFNW and 6 IFNT) were estimated from the number of polymorphic loci plus additional monomorphic hybridizing bands present in Eco RI and Hindlll digestions. Physical linkage of the Type I IFN gene families on bovine chromosome 8 was demonstrated by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Hybridization of two or more IFN probes to similarly sized PFGE fragments suggested the tentative gene family order: IFNA/IFNW-IFNT-IFNB. These studies provide a basis for the development of more detailed genetic and physical maps of the bovine Type I IFNs.     

Distribution of breeding and control of the filariasis vector Aedes samoanus in leaf axils of Pandanus in Samoa

Water in leaf axils of the screwpine Pandanus was sampled for mosquito immature stages at seventy villages in Upolu, fifty-five in Savai'i and three in Manono, the main islands of Samoa. Ten plants in every patch of Pandanus plantation were sampled at each village. Among 23,049 mosquito larvae collected from Upolu, 77% were the filariasis vector Aedes (Finlaya) samoanus, 17.7% were Ae.(Fin.)oceanicus and 5.3% were Ae.(Fin.)tutuilae. Out of 6981 larvae taken in Savai'i, 23.2% were Ae.samoanus, 67.6%Ae.oceanicus and 9.2%Ae.tutuilae. When larval counts per plant were analysed for each district, Ae.samoanus was found to predominate in Pandanus in Upolu and Ae.oceanicus in Savai'i. However, the adult density of Ae.samoanus was higher in Savai'i and this was attributed to the large areas of forests with Freycinetia for Ae.samoanus breeding. In Pandanus in Savai'i the number of Ae.samoanus was negligible. In Upolu, with more urbanization and larger plantations, there was greater breeding of Ae.samoanus in Pandanus. Two control trials were conducted against Ae.samoanus larvae in Pandanus, one using a sand culture of the parasitic nematode Romanomermis culicivorax and the other with temephos, an organophosphate insecticide. While R.culicivorax did not adapt to the leaf axil habitat, all plants were without larvae for 5 weeks after treatment with temephos.     

Drinking rate regulation in some fresh-water mosquito larvae

ABSTRACT. Drinking rates were determined with four species of freshwater mosquito larvae by colorimetric measurement of the dye ingested after groups of fourth instars were allowed access for set periods to 2% amaranth solutions. The rate of drinking for the saline-tolerant Aedes aegypti, 309±113 nl per h per individual, was comparable with rates given in the literature for several saline-water species, but rates for Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex molestus and Anopheles albimanus were markedly lower (167±30, 48±17 and 108±28m per h, respectively). When larvae of A.aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus were glutted with kaolin (allowed to replace all food in the gut by filter-feeding in kaolin suspension), drinking rates were little affected at first, but after 1 day of fasting (holding in water after glutting), drinking rates were 50% lower and were reduced by a further 20% with fasting for up to 3 days. For A.aegypti, C.quinquefasciatus and C. molestus, drinking rates were approximately doubled with kaolin dispersed in the dye solution, and after fasting, were increased by up to 100% in solutions containing 0.05% of water-soluble yeast extract. A similar phagostimulant effect of 10^-3M adenylic acid was demonstrated for A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus. A single experiment indicated similar stimulatory effects of kaolin and adenylic acid for, A. albimanus. With 0.01-0.05% agarose in the dye solutions, drinking rates for A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus were more than doubled, and a similar though weaker effect was demonstrated for another colloid, methylcellulose. In constrast, both colloids markedly reduced the rate of drinking with A.albimanus. These findings are discussed in relation to whether drinking and filter-feeding are necessarily coupled. The possible significance of this with respect to larvae that feed in different microhabitats, providing different levels of dissolved and colloidal nutrient organic matter, is considered. The implications of drinking rates for biotests of solubilized bacterial toxins as mosquito larvicides are noted.     

Diversity of actinomycetes isolated from Challenger Deep sediment (10,898 m) from the Mariana Trench

Thirty-eight actinomycetes were isolated from sediment collected from the Mariana Trench (10,898 m) using marine agar and media selective for actinomycetes, notably raffinose-histidine agar. The isolates were assigned to the class Actinobacteria using primers specific for members of this taxon. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the isolates belonged to the genera Dermacoccus, Kocuria, Micromonospora, Streptomyces, Tsukamurella and Williamsia. All of the isolates were screened for genes encoding nonribosomal peptide and polyketide synthetases. Nonribosomal peptide synthetase sequences were detected in more than half of the isolates and polyketide synthases type I (PKS-I) were identified in five out of 38 strains. The Streptomyces isolates produced several unusual secondary metabolites, including a PKS-I associated product. In initial testing for piezotolerance, the Dermacoccus strain MT1.1 grew at elevated hydrostatic pressures.     

Short-term variability of plant populations within a regularly disturbed habitat

The changing populations of weeds during 13 years of the Broadbalk continuous wheat experiment were analysed to investigate the extent of differences in shortterm variability of cover between species. The data were from two sections of the experiment where winter wheat was grown continuously under herbicide treatment for 13 and 6 years respectively. Logistic regressions were fitted to the data. Equisetum arvense showed significant long-term increases on both sections; long-term trends were also detected in the longer data run for Agrostis stolonifera, Cirsium arvensa, Poa trivialis, Ranunculus arvensis and Vicia sativa, and for Medicago lupulina on the shorter data run. Variation around long-term trends was low in the case of Equisetum, and, in the longer data run, for Cirsium and Tussilago farfara, and high for Poa spp. and Vicia. Cover values on the two sections were positively correlated for Alopecurus myosuroides, Equisetum, Poa annua and Tripleurospermum inodorum. There was a weak correlation between C-S-R strategy and short-term variability; the more competitive species displayed less variability than the ruderal species. Furthermore, species regenerating from persistent seed banks were more variable in the short term than those regenerating from short-lived seed or bud banks. This can be explained by differences in response to year-to-year variation in environmental conditions, those species with persistent seed banks being typically more sensitive to annual fluctuations in the environment than those without.     

Supplemental risk evaluations and status of Puccinia carduorum for biological control of musk thistle

Tests of seven rare and endangered native North American Cirsium species and four modern artichoke lines were requested in response to a proposal for introduction of Puccinia carduorum into the United States for biological control of musk thistle (Carduus nutans ssp. leiophyllus). These tests were supplemental to an earlier extensive host-range study that established P. carduorum from musk thistle as host specific, useful for biological control, and suitable for limited field tests in Virginia. Test plants in the current study were evaluated in support of a proposal to use the rust in the western United States, and particularly, in California. None of the test plants in this study had been evaluated in previous assessments and all were either rare, endangered or threatened in California. Tests were conducted in both field and greenhouse settings. Field tests were run for two seasons, and test plants were inoculated by natural spread of the pathogen from source plants inside rings of test plants. Greenhouse tests involved direct inoculation under optimal conditions of dew and temperature (18–20 °C, 16 h) for infection. None of the seven Cirsium species or subspecies tested became infected by P. carduorum, either in field or greenhouse tests, compared to infection of 98% of the individual musk thistle plants (n = 102) from all the studies. Modern artichoke cultivars were tested only by direct inoculation under optimal greenhouse conditions. All artichoke plants (n = 115) either were immune (no macroscopic symptoms, n = 69) or at most, resistant (n = 46); pustules on all but two of the resistant plants were very small (0.30 mm diam). Despite infections on artichokes, P. carduorum could not be maintained on artichokes under optimal greenhouse conditions. These results confirm earlier findings from host-range tests and risk assessments of P. carduorum. This information suggests that rare, threatened, or endangered Cirsium spp. and modern artichoke cultivars are not likely to be adversely affected by the use of P. carduorum for biological control of musk thistle. These data have been reviewed by grower groups and regulatory agencies in a proposal for permission to use the rust for musk thistle control throughout the United States.     

Intra-tree foraging behavior ofDacus dorsalis flies in relation to host fruit quantity, quality and type

Promising diets were screened and the most successful modified with additives used in artificial diets for other entomophagous insects. Two suitable diets were obtained, one for adults and one for larvae ofChilocorus nigritus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). They were still inferior to natural prey and not adequate as the sole food source for rearing consecutive generations. They are valuable as substitute food in the insectary during shortages of natural prey. Oleander scaleAspidiotus nerii Bouché andAsterolecanium miliaris (Boisduval) were evaluated as natural prey forC. nigritus and two other potential biocontrol agents in southern Africa,C. bipustulatus (Linnaeus) andC. infernalis Mulsant.A. nerii andA. miliaris were suitable for all life stages ofC. nigritus and adults ofC. bipustulatus andC. infernalis. A. miliaris was inadequate for larvae ofC. bipustulatus andC. infernalis.     

Targeted disruption of chloroplast genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Summary We have developed an efficient procedure for the disruption of Chlamydomonas chloroplast genes. Wild-type C. reinhardtii cells were bombarded with microprojectiles coated with a mixture of two plasmids, one encoding selectable, antibiotic-resistance mutations in the 16S ribosomal RNA gene and the other containing either the atpB or rbcL photosynthetic gene inactivated by an insertion of 0.48 kb of yeast DNA in the coding sequence. Antibiotic-resistant transformants were selected under conditions permissive for growth of nonphotosynthetic mutants. Approximately half of these transformants were initially heteroplasmic for copies of the disrupted atpB or rbcL genes integrated into the recipient chloroplast genome but still retained photosynthetic competence. A small fraction of the transformants (1.1% for atpB; 4.3% for rbcL) were nonphotosynthetic and homoplasmic for the disrupted gene at the time they were isolated. Single cell cloning of the initially heteroplasmic transformants also yielded nonphotosynthetic segregants that were homoplasmic for the disrupted gene. Polypeptide products of the disrupted atpB and rbcL genes could not be detected using immunoblotting techniques. We believe that any nonessential Chlamydomonas chloroplast gene, such as those involved in photosynthesis, should be amenable to gene disruption by cotransformation. The method should prove useful for the introduction of site-specific mutations into chloroplast genes and flanking regulatory sequences with a view to elucidating their function.     

Sexual dimorphisms in dental dimensions of higher primates

Dental dimensions and distributions of dental dimensions of males and females were compared for great apes (Pan, Gorilla, and Pongo, and humans (Homo). The results were examined and discussed with reference to fossil primates Sivapithecus and Ramapithecus. The analyses focused on patterns of sexual dimorphism, both with regard to mean dimensions and the distribution of those dimensions. Sex differences in mean canine dimensions were large and significant for Gorilla and Pongo, significant but smaller for Pan, and small but occasionally significant for Homo. The dispersions of measures were greater for males than for females in Gorilla and Pan but did not differ significantly for Pongo or Homo. Examination of the noncanine teeth revealed complex sex differences. In the anterior teeth, sex differences in mean dimensions were generally apparent for Gorilla and Pongo, less so for Pan, and least of all in Homo. The patterns of dispersion of measures of anterior teeth differed markedly from those of the canines. Pan exhibited the same pattern for anterior and canine teeth. Gorilla showed the opposite pattern. Pongo and Homo showed similar dispersions for males and females in many cases. Sex differences in posterior teeth followed the pattern of the canines for Gorilla and were absent for Pan. Pongo exhibited mean differences in dimensions across sex, but dispersions were similar. The pattern for Homo was most like that of Pongo, but with fewer significant differences. The genera differed with regard to the number of significant differences in means or dispersions along the tooth row. It is clear that the patterns of dimorphism differ qualitatively across all extant genera of great apes and humans. It appears that the pattern for Homo most closely resembles that of Ramapithecus, whereas Pongo most closely resembles Sivapithecus. The patterns for Gorilla and Pan appear to be unlike either of the fossil forms. It is suggested that the qualitatively distinct patterns of dental sexual dimorphism indicate substantial flexibility during recent primate evolution and that the degree of structural flexibility demonstrated provides a basis for appreciating potential for plasticity of gender differences in behavioral, social, and cultural systems.     

CHLOROPHYLL-SPECIFIC PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND QUANTUM EFFICIENCY AT SUBSATURATING LIGHT INTENSITIES12

Light-limited rates of photosynthesis normalized for chlorophyll a, (α), and actual photon absorption (quantum efficiency, Ф) were determined for six eponentially growing algal species grown under identical conditions. The same parameters, α and Ф, were also monitored for a single diatom species, Thalassiosira pseudonana Hasle & Heimdal, through its growth cycle in batch culture. Statistical differences in α could be demonstrated among the six different exponentially growing species while no differences could be shown for Ф. Statistical differences among the six species were minimized when photosynthetic rates were normalized for in vivo fluorescence rather than extracted chlorophyll a. Both α and Ф were constant while T. pseudonana was in the exponential phase of growth, but both declined as the culture entered stationary phase. While cells were in exponential growth, differences in a were attributed to varying rates of in vivo light absorption per chlorophyll a, thus providing experimental evidence that the in vivo chlorophyll a extinction coefficient, k_c (m²· mg Chl a^?1), cannot be assumed constant.     

The<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Rxo1</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rba1</Emphasis> locus of maize controls resistance reactions to pathogenic and non-host bacteria

The genetic mechanism underlying six palatability properties of cooked rice and three physico-chemical traits was dissected in 66 BC₃F₂ chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs), using a complete linkage map in three successive years. The CSSLs showed transgressive segregation for all traits studied. Significant correlation was detected among most palatability traits. A total of 25 QTLs for the nine traits were identified on nine chromosomes, and many QTLs affecting different quality traits were mapped in the same regions. Six QTLs—qLT-8 for luster, qTD-6 and qTD-8 for tenderness, qIVOE-6 and qIVOE-8 for integrated value of organoleptic evaluation, and qAC-8 for amylose content—were repeatedly detected across the 3 years. Phenotypic values were significantly different between the recurrent parent, cultivar Asominori, and the CSSLs harboring any of the six QTL alleles across the three environments, indicating that these six QTLs were non-environment-specific and could be used for marker-assisted selection in rice quality improvement.