Bromeliads provide shelter against fire to mutualistic spiders in a fire‐prone landscape

1. A key challenge in the study of mutualistic interactions is understanding sources of variation that strengthen or weaken these interactions. In spider–plant mutualisms, spiders benefit plants by improving plant nutrition and protecting plants from herbivory. Although the benefits of plants to spider growth and survival are often claimed, they are rarely demonstrated. 2. In this study, empirical evidence is provided that bromeliads (Bromelia balansae, Bromeliaceae) are essential for the resilience of the mutualistic bromeliad‐living jumping spider populations (Psecas chapoda, Salticidae) after a fire event, sheltering spiders from the heat of the flames. 3. Spider populations were compared before and after a natural fire event and it was shown that spiders of different ages survived the fire. The survival of such individuals allowed the population of P. chapoda spiders to recover rapidly, returning to pre‐fire levels in 5 months. 4. Bromeliads reduced the susceptibility of P. chapoda spiders to burning, and this mutualistic relationship contributed to the resilience of the spider population after a fire event. It is suggested that frequent fires in fire‐prone landscapes may have strengthened this spider–plant relationship, contributing to the maintenance and evolution of this association.     

Metabolite Concentrations and Phase Relations in d-Fructose Induced Glycolytic Oscillations

The frequency of glycolytic oscillations in yeast cells is only slightly modified by the consumption rate of either glucose or fructose, but it is reduced to 1 /2 to 2/3 if the ketohexose is the only substrate. Phase relations between NADH, adenine nucleotides and sugar phosphates (G-6-P, F-6-P, FDP, DAP) are independent of the hexose fermented. With fructose as a substrate the amplitudes of adenylates and hexose phosphates are distinctly smaller than with glucose. The maximum of G-6-P is higher with glucose and the minimum concentration of FDP is higher with fructose. In the transition to anaerobiosis FDP, adenosine 5′-diphosphate and adenosine 5′-phosphate are extremely high, whereas G-6-P, F-6-P and ATP concentrations are lower if fructose is the substrate fermented. The results are indicative for different control characteristics of the phosphofructokinase step, but on their basis it cannot be distinguished between a direct interaction of fructose (or one of its derivatives) on the phosphofructokinase kinetics or the existence of a bypass for fructose which might be able to withdraw a part of the substrate from the control point at the phosphofructokinase.     

Drug‐Resistant Human Staphylococcus Aureus in Sanctuary Apes Pose a Threat to Endangered Wild Ape Populations

Reintroduction of sanctuary apes to natural habitat is considered an important tool for conservation; however, reintroduction has the potential to endanger resident wild apes through the introduction of human pathogens. We found a high prevalence of drug‐resistant, human‐associated lineages of Staphylococcus aureus in sanctuary chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) from Zambia and Uganda. This pathogen is associated with skin and soft tissue diseases and severe invasive infections (i.e. pneumonia and septicemia). Colonization by this bacterium is difficult to clear due to frequent recolonization. In addition to its pathogenic potential, human‐related S. aureus can serve as an indicator organism for the transmission of other potential pathogens like pneumococci or mycobacteria. Plans to reintroduce sanctuary apes should be reevaluated in light of the high risk of introducing human‐adapted S. aureus into wild ape populations where treatment is impossible. Am. J. Primatol. 74:1071‐1075, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The Effects of Neuraminidase and Gangliosides on Ovarian LH/hCG Receptors During Rat Development

Ovaries of neonatal rats are not endowed with specific LH/hCG receptors up to 6–8 days of age. Treatment of ovarian membranes of the neonatal rat with neuraminidase results in a specific binding of radioactively labeled hCG, while an increase of hormone binding is observed after neuraminidase treatment of ovarian membranes of the 21-day-old rat. These changes in hormone receptor sites in the ovary are dependent on the neuraminidase concentration used and are due to a receptor with a dissociation constant (K_D) of about 10⁻⁹ M. The K_D of the receptor in the LH/hCG sensitive ovary without neuraminidase treatment is about 10⁻¹⁰ M. These results indicate the presence of two different LH/hCG receptors in the ovarian membrane. The unmasking effect of neuraminidase onto LH/hCG receptors indicate that ganglioside-like structures are responsible for the masking of receptors in the neonatal, insensitive rat ovary and also in the 21-day-old sensitive ovary. Ganglioside preparations are able to inhibit the binding, and the fractionation of ovary gangliosides results in a fraction with a rather high inhibition potency of LH/hCG binding to the receptor. It is hypothesized that the masked receptors in the sensitive period represent a store of receptors for the reconstitution of the ovarian cells with active receptors after internalization of the hormone-receptor complex. Thus the masking of the receptors in the early postnatal rat ovary could be a prerequisite for the female differentiation of hypothalamic centers. The observed neuraminidase effect in vitro could reflect a physiologic situation. Neuraminidase was found in the ovary, and during early postnatal development the neuraminidase activity pattern coincides with that of the ovarian LH/hCG receptor changes.     

Neotropical taxa referable to acrolophus (Lepidoptera: Tineidae)

Abstract. The new World genus Acrolophus , with about 225 species, has alreay twenty-six generic synonyms. a further four genera, Daulia Walker, 1863 [norm. praeocc., nec Walker, 1859] (monobasic), Brachysymbola Meyrick (monobasic), Orothyntis Meyrick (two species) and Psephocrita Meyrick (monobasic) are here synonmized with Acrolophus. Daulia indecora Walker, Brachysymbola sepulcralis Meyrick, Orothyntis scruopulata Meyrick, O.torata meyrick and Psephocrita melanodoxa Meyrick are transferred to Acrolophus. Acrolophus reflexa (Fabricius) and its genitalia are figured from recently collected materila.     

Two-Dimensional Solid-State NMR Applied to a Chimeric Potassium Channel

Solid-state NMR (ssNMR) represents a spectroscopic method to study membrane protein structure and dynamics in lipid bilayers. We present two-dimensional correlation experiments conducted on a fully [¹³C,¹⁵N] labeled version of a chimeric potassium (KcsA-Kv1.3) channel. Data obtained by using two different ion concentrations suggest a structural conservation of the selectivity filter region. SsNMR experiments conducted at two different temperatures point to differential molecular dynamics of the channel.