Seasonality of insect abundance in an Australian upland tropical rainforest

Monthly light and Malaise trap catches, taken over 31 months, were used to examine seasonal and annual changes in the abundance of predominant orders of upland tropical rainforest insects. Insect numbers and biomass increased during the late dry season, reached a peak during the wetter months, and declined during the early dry period. Fluctuations in insect abundance appeared to relate to (1) climatic factors such as length and severity of the dry season, or amount and period of rainfall; and (2) food availability such as an increase in the production of new leaves, or flowering and fruiting periodicity.     

Head-body thermal control, thermal preferenda, and voluntary maxima in the taipan, Oxyuranus scutellatus (Serpentes: Elapidae)

Head-body temperature differences of up to 5.7° and 6.1° C were observed during solar and radiant heating, respectively. Head temperature was more precisely regulated than body temperature and within preferred limits head temperature was significantly lower than body temperature. Higher temperatures were tolerated by the body than the head. Preferred temperatures for both the head and body are higher in the taipan than in other ophidians which have been reported upon, and approximate those temperatures reported for the voluntary maxima in other snakes.     

FUNGICIDAL ACTIVITY AND CHEMICAL CONSTITUTION

A series of 5- n -alkyl oxines was tested against the mycelium of Aspergillus niger. As non-chelated molecules, they showed maximum fungistatic activity at a chain length of 5–6 carbon atoms. Values of Ferguson's thermodynamic activity coefficient, obtained from spore germination tests with Sclerotinia laxa , indicated that the mechanism of toxicity of the lower homologues is predominantly chemical, whilst that of the n -amyl and higher members is mainly physical.
The ED 50 value of 5- n -amyl-6-hydroxyquinoline, which is incapable of chelation, was found to be eighty times greater than that of 5- n -amyl oxine (in the non-chelated form). The optimum initial pH for fungistatic activity of the latter was 5.4–5.6.
In the presence of metals the pattern of fungistatic activity was markedly altered: maximum activity in the presence of Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺and Zn²⁺was found with oxine and 5-methyloxine.     

Out on a Limb Parallels in Vertebrate and Invertebrate Limb Patterning and the Origin of Appendages

Recent discoveries of similarities in the developmental geneticsunderlying the formation of insect and vertebrate eyes, hearts,segments, and other structures have fueled new speculation anddebate about the origins of these features and the morphologicalcomplexity of early bilaterians. The pivotal issue concerningthese developmental similarities is whether they represent convergenceof pattern-forming mechanisms or reveal developmental regulatorymechanisms or even physical characteristics derived from a commonancestor. Here, we set forth an explicit hierarchical set ofcriteria for assessing developmental genetic similarities amonganimals. We suggest that interpretations of convergence versusdescent from common ancestors should be weighed by the number,type, and phylogenetic distribution of genetic regulatory similarities.We then apply these criteria to the analysis of appendage evolution.We conclude that there has been no continuity of any structurefrom which the insect and vertebrate appendages could be derived,i.e., they are not homologous structures. However, there isabundant evidence for continuity in the genetic informationfor building body wall outgrowths and/or appendages in severalphyla which must date at least to the common, potential appendage-bearingpre-Cambrian ancestor of most protostomes and deuterostomes.In order to further trace the origin of this genetic informationand of appendages, it will be essential to analyze more primitivetaxa such as the Cnidaria and to obtain a much better fossilrecord of pre-Cambrian animals.     

The nesting biology of Archbold's Bowerbird Archboldia papuensis and a review of that of other bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchidae)

Thirteen active and 14 old Archbold's Bowerbird Archboldia papuensis nests were studied in Tari Gap, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea. Clutch size was one egg. At two nests, only one-parent nest attendance was observed. Incubation and nestling periods were considerably longer and nestling growth slower than in other bowerbird species, possibly reflecting adaptation to a colder environment depauperate in insects. Of 382 identified nestling meals, 71% were exclusively fruit (14 spp. identified) and 29% were animal. Of 112 animal meals, 30% were skinks (Reptilia), 28% were small arthropods, 17% were beetles and the remainder (25%) were larger insects, pieces of nestling birds and unidentified items. Most active nests were built adjacent to older nests and the significance of this is discussed.     

Herbicide toxicities in some Australian anurans and the effect of subacute dosages on temperature tolerance

Tadpoles of the anurans, Adelotus brevis, Limnodynastes peroni, and Bufo marinus were exposed to a range of concentrations of up to ten different herbicides. The Median Tolerance Limit (TL₅₀) was calculated for each toxicant from data obtained by static bioassay. Some adult frogs (Litoria ewingi and Limnodynastes tasmaniensis) were subjected to greater concentrations of several of the toxicants. Toxicity varied greatly among the tadpoles exposed to various toxicants with fenoprop being the most toxic chemical tested, while no differences were observed in behaviour or activity between the exposed and control adult frogs. A significant reduction occurred in the thermal tolerance of one to two week old A. brevis exposed to subacute dosages of amitrole-T, picloram, and 2,2-DPA.