A significant range extension and sanctuary for the rare Open Bay Island skink (Oligosoma taumakae)

Abstract

The Open Bay Island skink (Oligosoma taumakae) is one of New Zealand's rarest lizard species. Until 2010, it was known only from two small islands in the Open Bay Island Group, a Māori-owned wildlife sanctuary in South Westland, New Zealand. Skinks on these islands are threatened by predation from weka (Gallirallus australis), a flightless native rail thought to have been introduced to the Open Bay Islands c. 100 years ago. Here, we describe the discovery of Open Bay Island skinks on two vegetated rock stacks located off the coast of Barn Bay, 52 km southwest of the Open Bay Islands. Although small (c. 0.10 and 0.36 ha), the Barn Islands appear to be predator-free, providing an important sanctuary for the skinks. We recommend: (1) a survey of mainland sites with suitable habitat; and (2) an evaluation of the need for island biosecurity measures for detecting and responding to incursions of small mammals.     

Substructural specificity and polyvalent carbohydrate recognition by the Entamoeba histolytica and rat hepatic N- acetylgalactosamine/galactose lectins

Both the Entamoeba histolytica lectin, a virulence factor for the causative agent of amebiasis, and the mammalian hepatic lectin bind to N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) and galactose (Gal) nonreducing termini on oligosaccharides, with preference for GalNAc. Polyvalent GalNAc- derivatized neoglycoproteins have >1000-fold enhanced binding affinity for both lectins (Adler,P., Wood,S.J., Lee,Y.C., Lee,R.T., Petri,W.A.,Jr. and Schnaar,R.L.,1995, J. Biol. Chem ., 270, 5164-5171). Substructural specificity studies revealed that the 3-OH and 4-OH groups of GalNAc were required for binding to both lectins, whereas only the E.histolytica lectin required the 6-OH group. Whereas GalNAc binds with 4-fold lower affinity to the E.histolytica lectin than to the mammalian hepatic lectin, galactosamine and N-benzoyl galactosamine bind with higher affinity to the E. histolytica lectin. Therefore, a synthetic scheme for converting polyamine carriers to poly-N-acyl galactosamine derivatives (linked through the galactosamine primary amino group) was developed to test whether such ligands would bind the E.histolytica lectin with high specificity and high affinity. Contrary to expectations, polyvalent derivatives including GalN6lys5, GalN4desmosine, GalN4StarburstTMdendrimer, and GalN8StarburstTMdendrimer demonstrated highly enhanced binding to the mammalian hepatic lectin but little or no enhancement of binding to the E.histolytica lectin. We propose that the mammalian hepatic lectin binds with greatest affinity to GalNAc "miniclusters," which mimic branched termini of N-linked oligosaccharides, whereas the E.histolytica lectin binds most effectively to "maxiclusters," which may mimic more widely spaced GalNAc residues on intestinal mucins.      

Differential growth rates and calcium-allocation strategies in the garden snail Cantareus aspersus

An optimal division of a key resource between growth and reproductionis expected to produce consistent life history schedules inhabitats where its supply is highly predictable. However, differentialgrowth rates are found between populations and within broodsof Cantareus aspersus, a simultaneous hermaphrodite for whichthe reproductive benefits of a large body size may favour rapidgrowth. Although energy is usually assumed to be the limitingresource in allocation theory, calcium limits the distribution,growth and reproduction of snails. This is a very consistentresource and populations may have allocation strategies whichreflect availability in their habitats. Three experiments comparedCa allocation in the progeny of six populations from Ca-richand Ca-poor habitats. In the first, 100 d-old juveniles werecompared between populations for their shell/soft-tissue dryweight ratio, their allocation of Ca to each compartment, andthe variability within broods. The second measured growth, foodconsumption and shell ratios in growth trials of three populationson low Ca. Thirdly, five populations were compared on abundantor excess Ca. The relationship of shell Ca with soft-tissuelevels differs between populations, but shell ratios changedwith Ca availability in all populations. Most favoured soft-tissuegrowth when dietary Ca is low, but one population (LE) alwayshad the highest shell ratios in these trials. Ca in the parentalhabitat was not a good predictor of juvenile-allocation strategies,but the consistency of LE shell ratios across several broodssuggests theirs may be an inherited trait. LE has faster growthrates and a preference for shell building, which probably representsa strategy for early reproduction. The robustness of a snail'sshell may thus be more indicative of its reproductive strategyrather than Ca availability in its habitat. (Received 18 May 2006; accepted 21 December 2006)     

Microbiological quality of tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) produced under greenhouse conditions in five Municipalities of the State of Mexico

The aim of the current research was to determine tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) microbiological quality produced under greenhouse conditions in 5 municipalities of the State of Mexico. Studies were conducted during the 2013 production cycle to know the risks and apply prevention strategies prior to its consumption. A microbiological analysis of samples of irrigation water, soil and 100 tomato fruits variety cid was performed to determine Aerobic Mesophiles, Total Coliforms and Fecal Coliforms. The methodology used were those according to the Official Mexican Standards NOM- 109-SSA1-1994, NOM-110-SSA1-1994, NOM-092-SSA1-1994, NOM-113-SSA1-1994, and the Regulations of the National French Organization for Standardization (AFNOR) NF V08-60, and NOM-093-SSA1-1994, which establish the allowable limits for the study microorganisms. The results showed a zero level of pollution in water and soil samples. For fruits, levels of Aerobic Mesophilic were within the maximum limits permitted by the standards. The municipality of Texcaltitlan showed the highest average for these microorganisms (10083.80 CFU/mL). Huixquilucan showed 2266.84 CFU/mL for Total Coliforms. For Fecal Coliforms, municipalities of Coatepec and Texcaltitlan exceeded the allowed limit.     

ArnS,a kinase involved in starvation‐induced archaellum expression

Organisms have evolved motility organelles that allow them to move to favourable habitats. Cells integrate environmental stimuli into intracellular signals to motility machineries to direct this migration. Many motility organelles are complex surface appendages that have evolved a tight, hierarchical regulation of expression. In the crenearchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, biosynthesis of the archaellum is regulated by regulatory network proteins that control expression of archaellum components in a phosphorylation‐dependent manner. A major trigger for archaellum expression is nutrient starvation, but although some components are known, the regulatory cascade triggered by starvation is poorly understood. In this work, the starvation‐induced Ser/Thr protein kinase ArnS (Saci_1181) which is located proximally to the archaellum operon was identified. Deletion of arnS results in reduced motility, though the archaellum is properly assembled. Therefore, our experimental and modelling results indicate that ArnS plays an essential role in the precisely controlled expression of archaellum components during starvation‐induced motility in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Furthermore they combined in vivo experiments and mathematical models to describe for the first time in archaea the dynamics of key regulators of archaellum expression.     

Cryobanking of viable biomaterials: implementation of new strategies for conservation purposes

Cryobanking, the freezing of biological specimens to maintain their integrity for a variety of anticipated and unanticipated uses, offers unique opportunities to advance the basic knowledge of biological systems and their evolution. Notably, cryobanking provides a crucial opportunity to support conservation efforts for endangered species. Historically, cryobanking has been developed mostly in response to human economic and medical needs — these needs must now be extended to biodiversity conservation. Reproduction technologies utilizing cryobanked gametes, embryos and somatic cells are already vital components of endangered species recovery efforts. Advances in modern biological research (e.g. stem cell research, genomics and proteomics) are already drawing heavily on cryobanked specimens, and future needs are anticipated to be immense. The challenges of developing and applying cryobanking for a broader diversity of species were addressed at an international conference held at Trier University (Germany) in June 2008. However, the magnitude of the potential benefits of cryobanking stood in stark contrast to the lack of substantial resources available for this area of strategic interest for biological science — and society at large. The meeting at Trier established a foundation for a strong global incentive to cryobank threatened species. The establishment of an Amphibian Ark cryobanking programme offers the first opportunity for global cooperation to achieve the cryobanking of the threatened species from an entire vertebrate class.