Taxonomy of the genus Lispe Latreille (Diptera: Muscidae) in Korea

In this paper, a total of four species of the genus Lispe are treated. Of these, L. assimilis Wiedemann and L. litorea Fallén are reported for the first time in Korea. A key to the Korean species, their domestic localities, and some illustrations are given.     

Taxonomy of the genus Scathophaga Meigen (Diptera: Scathophagidae) in Korea

Three species of the genus Scathophaga–S. mellipes (Coquillet), S. scybalaria (Linnaeus) and S. stercoraria (Linnaeus) – are treated in this study. Of these, S. scybalaria (Linnaeus) is reported for the first time from Korea. A key to the Korean species, their domestic localities and some illustrations are given.     

Effects of water table depth and calcium perioxide application on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and soybean (Glycine max)

Summary The effects of three water table (WT) depths (0, 15 and 40 cm) and calcium peroxide (Calper) on the growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata, L.) and soybean (Glycine max) were investigated in field lysimeters for a sandy loam soil. Cowpea growth was the best at 40 cm WT depth. Leaf area, plant height, dry matter production, number of leaves and pods, grain yield and consumptive water use of cowpea increases with deeper (lower) WT depth. Application of calcium peroxide improved per cent emergence, leaf area, dry matter, number of leaves and pods, weight of 100 seeds, grain yield and water use in cowpea. The optimum WT depth for vegetative growth of soybean was 15 cm, although the highest grain yield was obtained at 40 cm WT depth. Number of pods, grain yield and water use efficiency of soybean increased with deeper water table depth. Application of calcium peroxide to soybean increased number of leaves and pods per plant, and grain yield for the 15 cm WT depth treatment.     

Properties of Phenylalanyl-tRNA Synthetase and Phenylalanine Ammonia-lyase of Pine Suspension Cultures

Phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activities were demonstrated in partially purified extracts of pine (Pinus elliottii) suspension cultures. The optimum pH for the phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase reaction was 7.5 and the optimum ATP and Mg²⁺ concentrations were 1.0 and 15 mM respectively. Pine, calf liver and yeast tRNA were inadequate substitutes for pea tRNA in the synthetase reaction mixtures. The optimum pH for the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase reaction was 9.0. The K_m for phenylalanine was approximately 6.6 × 10^?5M. The activity of both enzymes in the partially purified extracts was unstable on storage.     

Bioactive factors secreted from mesenchymal stromal cells protect the intestines from experimental colitis in a three-dimensional culture

Background aims

Although mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown therapeutic potential in intestinal tissue repair, controversy concerning their short survival and poor biodistribution in recipient tissues still remains. Therefore, we investigated the paracrine role of MSC in three-dimensional culture of colon with experimental colitis.

The Panama microplate,island studies and relictual species of Melipona (Melikerria) (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini)

The endemic stingless honey‐making bee Melipona (Melikerria) insularis sp.n. on Coiba and Ranchería Islands in Pacific Panama is described, together with the proposed sister species, M. ambigua sp.n. from northeast Colombia. The Coiba Island group and Panama mainland were surveyed, yielding one meliponine endemic (M. insularis sp.n. ) and six meliponine genera and species. The poor Coiba fauna of amphibians and birds corresponds to the poor social bee fauna and suggests habitat barriers generally precluded recolonization from the mainland during glacial periods. Many animals became extinct, yet some remain as relicts. Melipona insularis sp.n. was isolated on accreted terranes of Coiba rainforest in the Panama microplate. Morphology suggests that M. insularis sp.n. is not a direct descendant of the San Blas‐E. Panama endemic Melikerria, M. triplaridis. A phylogenetic hypothesis corroborates disjunct distributions. Rainforest endemics such as Peltogyne purpurea (Fabaceae) and Ptilotrigona occidentalis (Apidae, Meliponini) also occur as relictual, disjunct populations in Central and South America. These may have been isolated before accelerated biotic exchange began 2.4 Ma. Our work supports the geological findings of both a volcanic arc and the San Blas massif providing a substantial bridge for Melikerria from Colombia and Panama in Eocene to Miocene times. We suggest there have been taxon cycles permitting recolonization during glaciations, whereby colonies of M. insularis sp.n. were able to recolonize Ranchería, a 250 ha island, 2 km from Coiba. However, rafting colonies nesting in trees, carried on vegetation mats, may have produced founding populations of Melipona in Central America and on oceanic islands such as Coiba.     

QUIET SONG IN SONG BIRDS: AN OVERLOOKED PHENOMENON

ABSTRACT

The theory of communication networks offers functional arguments for the evolution of unobtrusive signals in birds. The vulnerability of interacting conspecifics to predation and to eavesdropping by neighbours during both territorial disputes and courtship would select for short range signals such as the quiet songs of birds. In addition to suggesting contexts in which quiet songs should be used, we use our knowledge of the physics of sound transmission to make predictions about the physical structure of such songs relative to the well studied full songs. We present support for these predictions in six species where quiet singing has been observed.