Short-term movements of chalk-stream invertebrates

SUMMARY 1. Trays of gravel were implanted for 24 h periods in several chalk streams. The trays were variously modified to monitor colonization from different sources, particularly drift (D), other downstream movements (DSM), upstream movements (USM), and all sources combined (ALL).
2. The abundance of invertebrates in the streams was high (maximum of 717 per 0.04 m²) and colonization of the trays was extensive, especially by Gammarus pulex , the predominant species in all but one of the streams (maximum number of individuals of G. pulex per tray: for D, 473; for DSM, 462; tor USM, 286; and tor ALL, 639). In some cases benthic densities were achieved in the trays in the 24 h exposure period, and in most cases any one source of colonization could provide benthic densities in a few days.
3. Patterns of movement differed between species, between size classes of G. pulex , and between sites for particular species. No one source of colonization could be regarded as generally predominant although downstream movements in total (D + DSM) usually far exceeded USM. DSM was usually an important source of colonization.
4. The extent and direction of movement appeared to be determined by local factors and were explained in terms of the high densities of invertebrates and the current and substratum characteristics of each site.
5. Estimates of the relative importance of different sources of colonization varied greatly according to the criteria used in determining proportions.     

The evolution of visual processing and the construction of seeing systems

This paper is concerned with the evolution of visual mechanisms and the possibility of copying their principles at different levels of sophistication. It is an old question how the complex interaction between eye and brain evolved when each needs the other as a test-bed for successive improvements. I propose that the primitive mechanism for the separation of stationary objects relies on their relative movement against a background, normally caused by the animal's own movement. Apparently insects and many lower animals use little more than this for negotiating through a three-dimensional world, making adequate responses to individual objects which they 'see' without a cortical system or even without a large brain. In the development of higher animals such as birds or man, additional circuits store memories of the forms of objects that have been frequently inspected from all angles or handled. Simple visual systems, however, are tuned to a feature of the world by which objects separate themselves by movement relative to the eye. In making simple artificial visual systems which 'see', as distinct from merely projecting the image, it is more hopeful to copy the 'ambient' vision of lower animals than the cortical systems of birds or mammals.     

Microzooplankton and macrozooplankton glutamate dehydrogenase as indices of the relative contribution of these fractions to ammonium regeneration in the Gulf of Maine

Ammonium regeneration by micro- (35–153 µm) andmacrozooplankton (> 153 µm) was determined in the Gulfof Maine by measuring the activity of the excretory enzyme glutamatedehydrogenase (GDH) in various size fractions. GDH maxima weregenerally observed to correspond to the depth of the chlorophyllmaximum as previously reported in the Gulf of Mexico and inthe vicinity of the Nantucket Shoals. GDH activity of the microzooplanktonwas considerably lower than the macrazooplankton, suggestingthe microzooplankton made only a minor contribution (1–11%) to the total ammonium regenerated. These results were confirmedby biomass estimates made from counts of individual species.Ammonium excretion by both zooplankton fractions was estimatedto supply 5–31 % of the nitrogen requirements for primaryproduction, with an estimated 59–63% supplied by the verticaltransport of nitrate (new nitrogen) into the euphoric zone.     

A new species of Bradyidius (Copepoda, Calanoida) from the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia

A new species of copepod belonging to the family Aetideidae,Bradyidius slyliformis sp. nov. is described and figured. Therelationship of this species to the other 12 members of thegenus is discussed. ¹Present address: 121 Jalan Athinahapan Dua, Taman Tun Dr Ismail,60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia     

Structure of a protein catalyzing the formation of 11 cis-retinal in the visual cycle of invertebrate eyes

A pigment made up of a protein able to bind retinal as well as retinol is described. The molecule consists of a dimer with a molecular weight of 50,000 which binds one molecule of retinal. The binding site for retinal is a Schiff base buried in the interior of the protein. Retinol is probably bound to the protein in the same site as for retinal, although not covalently, as suggested by the absorbance spectra. The protein, extracted from honeybee retina, is involved in visual pigment metabolism, and its structure may elucidate the mechanism of the stereospecific photoisomerization of all trans-retinal to 11-cis-retinal.     

Plant regeneration from protoplasts of the monocotyledonous Haworthia magnifica v. Poelln.

Calli were initiated from flower buds, gynoecia and inflorescence segments of Haworthia magnifica v. Poelln. and subcultured on solid medium. Two liquid culture steps were necessary to prepare the calli for the isolation of protoplasts capable of sustained cell divisions. Plants were regenerated from protoplast-derived calli. The influence of both the osmolality of the culture media and exudates on the viability of protoplasts and protoplast-derived cell colonies is briefly discussed.     

Pheophytin-mediated energy storage of photosystem II particles detected by photoacoustic spectroscopy

The photoacoustic (PA) characteristics (energy storage and heat dissipation) of photosystem II (PSII) core-enriched particles from barley were studied (i) in conditions where there was electron flow, i.e., in the presence of a combination of the electron acceptor K₃ Fe (CN)₆, referred to as FeCN, and the electron donor diphenylcarbazide (DPC), and (ii) in conditions where electron flow was suppressed, i.e., in the absence of FeCN and DPC. The experimental data show that a decrease of heat dissipation with a minimum at 540 nm can be interpreted as energy storage resulting from the presence of pheophytin (Pheo) in the PSII particles. On account of the capability of the PA method to measure the energy absorbed by the chromophores which is converted to heat, it is suggested that the PA detection of Pheo present in the PSII complex will permit to clarify the function of processes involving non-radiative relaxation of excited states in P680-Pheo-Q_A interactions.Abbreviations -Car -Carotene - Chl Chlorophyll - DPC Diphenylcarbazide - EPR Electron Paramagnetic Resonance - FeCN potassium ferricyanide - HEPES N-2-hydroxyethylenepiperazine-N-2-ethanesulfonate - P680 reaction center of PSII - PA Photoacoustic - Pheo pheophytin - PSI photosystem I - PSII photosystem II - Q_A primary electron acceptor of PSII     

Temperature regulation in a burrow-nesting tropical seabird,the Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus)

Summary At low air temperatures (2.3–13.9°C), Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus pacificus) shivered and their oxygen consumption increased to as much as 283% of the mean value (0.77 ml O₂/g·h) within the thermoneutral zone of air temperature (23–34°C). The minimal thermal conductance of the tissues and plumage was similar to the value predicted from the body mass (320.5 g). The oxygen consumption of the birds within their thermoneutral zone was lower than predictions based on body mass. At elevated air temperatures, the shearwaters panted at respiratory frequencies as high as 260 respirations/min; maximal respiratory frequencies were not invoked until the birds had become hyperthermic. During exposure to a hot environment, the oxygen consumption of the birds increased and in most instances the shearwaters were not able to lose heat equivalent to their concurrent metabolic heat production.Symbols and abbreviations BMR basal metabolic rate - C _total total thermal conductance - f respiratory frequency - TEWL total evaporative water loss - T _st stomach temperature - T _re rectal temperature     

Genetic study on indole-3-acetic acid production by ectomycorrhizal Hebeloma species: inter- and intraspecific variability in homo- and dikaryotic mycelia

Summary Interspecific variability of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-synthesizing activity was examined within 12 wild strains of different Hebeloma species. Interstrain variability was studied within 11 wild strains of Hebeloma cylindrosporum (Romagnési) and intrastrain variability was considered by using 20 homokaryotic and 50 controlled dikaryotic mycelia belonging to the progeny of one laboratory fruiting strain of this species.The range of variation of IAA-synthesizing activity was of the same order of magnitude within the four groups considered. No correlation was detected between, on one hand, the IAA-synthesizing activity of the mycelia and, on the other hand, their taxonomic position, their geographic origin, or their host plant.Within the progeny of one H. cylindrosporum fruiting strain, 15 of the 50 controlled dikaryons presented an activity higher than that of the original dikaryon. The variation among dikaryons could not be strictly related to the variation in parental homokaryons, indicating that genetic control of this activity probably involves a nonadditive component. Significant additive and nonadditive components of the genetic variation were detected, each of them representing about 50% of the total variation. The nonadditive heritable component could not be explained by a model involving only dominance.     

Interaction of glucocorticoid hormones with mitochondrial membranes

The mechanism of 3H glucocorticoid binding with the rat liver mitochondria in vitro is investigated. The linear dependence of the amount of bound hormones on the concentration of the free ones is shown and no saturation in the region of the physiological concentrations is observed. A very low specific binding in the presence of a 100-fold excess of an unlabelled hormone is found. The outer mitochondrial membranes binds a considerably higher amount of steroids, than the inner one. The binding of steroids with the intact liver mitochondria is 2-3 times higher as compared to the binding with spheroplasts of Escherichia coli. Delipidization of mitochondria by diverse lipotropic agents differently influences the binding of steroids with the different functional groups. The interaction of steroids with mitochondria depends on the osmolarity of the incubation medium: the binding is 1.5-3 times higher in the isotonic sucrose solution, that in the hypo- or hypertonic ones. A conclusion is made about the nonspecific character of glucocorticoid binding with mitochondria caused by the interaction with hydrophobic compounds of the mitochondrial membranes. The possible chemical mechanisms for such an interaction are discussed.