Systematic studies on some Antarctic and sub-Antarctic Ascophora (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata)

Twenty-two species of ascophoran cheilostome Bryozoa are described and figured from Antarctic and sub-Antarctic localities. Ten new species are described in the genera Exochella, Buffonellodes and Hippadenella. Ralepria gen. nov. is introduced for Ralepria conforma sp. nov., and Trilochites gen. nov. is introduced for Escharoides biformata Waters, 1904. Five species described by Jullien (1888) and Calvet (1909) are redescribed following re-examination of type specimens.     

Symbiotic Performance of Supernoclulating Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) Mutants during Development on Different Nitrogen Regimes

Growth and symbiotic performance of soybean (Glycine max (L.)Merrill) cv. Bragg and three of its induced nodulation mutants(nod49, non-nodulating; ntsl 116, intermediate supernodulator;nts1007, extreme supernodulator) were compared throughout developmentunder different nitrogen regimes (0, 2, 5 and 10 mol nitratem^–3). Nitrogen fixation was assessed using ¹⁵N-isotopedilution and xylem sap analysis for ureide content. Both techniquesconfirmed a complete lack of N₂ fixation activity in nod49.Plant reliance on nitrogen fixation by the other genotypes wasdependent on the nitrate regime and the developmental stage.The ntsl007 and ntsl 116 mutants fixed more nitrogen than theparent cultivar in the presence of 10 mol m^–3 nitratein the nutrient solution, but higher input of symbioticallyderived nitrogen was still insufficient to offset the amountof nitrogen removed in the harvested seed. However, the mutantsutilized less nitrate for growth than Bragg. Comparison of estimatesof N₂ fixation derived from the ¹⁵N-dilution technique withthose based on relative ureide content of xylem sap indicatedthat the latter offered a simple and reliable procedure forevaluating the symbiotic performance of supernodulating plants. Key words: ¹⁵N-isotope dilution, supernodulation, ureides     

Influence of valve geometry, ornamentation, and microstructure on fractures in Late Ordovician brachiopods

Among Late Ordovician brachiopods from southeastern Indiana. strophomenids display a ratio of 4:1 parabolic to linear repaired fractures in contrast to the 1:2 ratio found for orthids and rhynchonellids. Additionally, only strophomenids display repaired elliptical fractures. The weakest parts of strophomenid and orthid-rhynchonellid shells are the regions of the adductor muscle scars and the sulcus, respectively. Fractured biplanate shells of strophomenids are commonly cleaved anteriorly to posteriorly, whereas fractures are localized on the anterior of strongly curved to geniculate conspecific specimens. Rugae on leptaenids, thickened anterior margins of the brachial valve of rafinesquinids, and the dense distribution of pseudopunctate in all strophomenids, functioned to localize anteriorly the (un)repaired linear and parabolic fractures. No sublethal fracture occurs on any biconvex shell where the height is greater than 14 mm, despite the fact that numerous specimens of certain species attained shell heights of 20 mm or more, an observation suggesting the upper limit in the gape of the crushing elements of the predator. Crushing experiments on valve 'models' reveal that the inflated equibiconvex, plicate shape of the shells of Plarysfrophia is the strongest. However, the architecture of the concave strophomenid valves is relatively stronger than the corresponding valves of many orthids and rhynchonellids when normalized for valve thickness.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: genetics of multigenomic, clonal networks and its ecological consequences

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are thought to have remained asexual for 400 million years, although recent studies have suggested that considerable genetic and phenotypic variation could potentially exist in populations. A brief discussion of these multigenomic organisms is presented.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 79 , 59–60.     

Seed morphology and anatomy of Austrotaxus spicata (Taxaceae) and its systematic position

The anatomy and ultrastructure of seed envelopes of a New Caledonian endemic Austrotaxus spicata were examined for the first time. The systematic position and phylogenetic relations of Austrotaxus were analysed in light of these data. The structure of aril and spermoderm were investigated to demonstrate the similarities with Phyllocladus as well as with Taxus and Pseudotaxus . On the basis of all female reproductive organ characters, Austrotaxus appeared to be fairly isolated and its placing in the independent family Austrotaxaceae was confirmed from the standpoint of comparative anatomy of the seed coat. Taking into consideration that the heterobathmy of features can be the most distinctively traced in the structure of reproductive organs, evaluating the extent of evolutionary advancement of Austrotaxus seems to be rather difficult. However, it is evident that the relationship of Austrotaxus either with Taxaceae or with Podocarpaceae s.l . is considerably remote.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 145 , 437–443.     

Fusion of Host Cell Secondary Lysosomes with the Parasitophorous Vacuoles of Leishmania mexicana-inlected Macrophages

SYNOPSIS. Secondary lysosomes of cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages were labeled with the electron-dense colloid saccharated iron oxide; the identity of the labeled structures was checked by the Gomori reaction for acid phosphatase. Amastigotes of Leishmania mexicana mexicana derived from mouse lesions were used to infect these macrophages in vitro. In electron micrographs of thin sections of infected macrophages the labeled secondary lysosomes were seen fused with the parasitophorous vacuoles without preventing subsequent multiplication of the parasites. A similar fusion probably occurs in vivo , and may provide a pathway through which not only nutrients but also drugs and host antibodies could reach the intracellular parasite.     

Intraspecific variability in rhynchonellid brachiopods: test of a competition hypothesis

The variability in the plicae of the central fold of eight rhynchonellid brachiopods – Lepidocyclus capax (Ordovician), Stegerhynchus whitii (Silurian), Megalopterorhynchus baldwini (Devonian), 'Camarotoechia' purduei (Mississippian), Wellerella osagensis (Pennsylvanian), Leiorhynchus weeksi (Permian), 'Pugnoides'; Iriassicus (Triassic) and Tetrarhynchia sp. (Jurassic) – is inversely related to the diversity of brachiopods within the faunal assemblage. Explanations for the phenotypic variability due to taxonomic splitting, sexual polymorphism or ontogenetic development are precluded or unsupported by the morphologic analysis, although a small percentage of the morphologic variability can be ascribed to ecophenotypic differentiation by environmental stimuli.
After considerations of the abiotic influences of time, geographic location and isolation, and environmental stability and homogeneity, most of the morphologic variability in these brachiopods is attributed to the biotic influence, namely competition. Other proposed relationships, i.e. population abundance, sample size, shell size or ribbing pattern and intraspecific variability are not statistically significant.