Population dynamics of two small pelagic fish in the central-south area off Chile: delayed density-dependence and biological interaction

It is widely believed that environmental variability is the main cause for fluctuations in commercially exploited small pelagic fish populations around the world. Nevertheless, density-dependent factors also can drive population dynamics. In this paper, we analyzed thirteen years of a relative abundance index of two clupeoids fish populations coexisting in the central-south area off Chile, namely the common sardine, Strangomera bentincki, and anchovy, Engraulis ringens. We applied the classical diagnostic tools of time series analysis to the observed time-series. Also, the realized per capita population growth rate was studied with the aim of detecting the feedback structure that is characterizing the population dynamics of the two species. The analysis suggests that population fluctuations of the two species have an important density-dependent component, displaying first-order (direct density-dependent) and second-order (delayed density-dependent) simultaneously. The density-dependent component explained 70.5 and 55.6 % of the realized per capita population growth rate of common sardine and anchovy, respectively. The deterministic skeleton model showed an asymptotic convergence to equilibrium density. In presence of a stochastic environment, fluctuations were reproduced for the species showing a component of fluctuation with a period of 4 year. The intrinsic dynamics of each species is typical of interacting species resulting from trophic interactions. It is postulated that the second-order dynamics of S. bentincki and E. ringens in central-south Chile, may be the result from interactions with a specialist predator (the fishing fleet), interacting with exogenous environmental factors.     

Ethylene and IAA interactions in the inhibition of photoperiodic flower induction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pharbitis nil</Emphasis>

It has been shown that both IAA and ethylene application inhibit flower induction in the short-day plant Pharbitis nil. However application of IAA has elevated ethylene production in this plant, as well. Strong enhancement of ethylene production is also correlated with the night-break effect, which completely inhibits flowering. In order to determine what the role of IAA and ethylene is in the photoperiodic flower induction in Pharbitis nil, we measured changes in their levels during inductive and non-inductive photoperiods, and the effects of ethylene biosynthesis and action inhibitors on inhibition of flowering by IAA. Our results have shown that the inhibitory effect of IAA on Pharbitis nil flowering is not physiological but is connected with its effect on ethylene biosynthesis.     

Fetal-maternal transfer of [H3]-6 beta-hydroxycortisol in the pregnant ewe

Distribution and fetomaternal transfer of 6 beta-hydroxycortisol (6 beta-OHF) was studied using serial sampling following injection of tritium labelled 6 beta-OHF into various fluid compartments in the chronically cannulated unaesthesized pregnant ewe. There was a rapid transfer of 6 beta-OHF from the fetal circulation into amniotic fluid and maternal blood. In contrast, the maternal----fetal transfer of this steroid metabolite was considerably less. The sequence of appearance of 6 beta-OHF in fetal blood and amniotic fluid following injection into maternal blood suggests that this steroid is first transferred across the placenta to fetal blood before gaining entry into the amniotic fluid space. The half-lives of 6 beta-OHF after initial equilibration in maternal plasma, fetal plasma and amniotic fluid were 2.0 h, 5.1 h and 8.9 h respectively. The amniotic sac appears to contain a relatively static pool of 6 beta-OHF and may act as a "trap" for 6 beta-OHF in the ovine conceptus.     

Hypotensive and vasodilatory activity of (+/-) 1-o-octadecyl-2-acetyl glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine in the normotensive rat

Synthetic (+/-) 1-O-octadecyl-2-acetyl-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine (octadecyl-AGPC) in microgram/kg doses given intravenously effectively and potently lowered mean arterial blood pressure in conscious and anesthetized normotensive rats. The hypotensive activity was much more pronounced in the anesthetized rat than in the conscious rat. The hypotension was associated with a significant elevation in plasma renin activity (PRA). In the rat in which the hindquarters were perfused, octadecyl-AGPC given intraarterially effectively decreased the perfusion and systemic pressures in a dose-dependent manner. Pharmacological blockade with specific cholinergic, histaminergic or beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists, did not block or attenuate the octadecyl-AGPC-induced reduction in perfusion or systemic pressure. These results suggest that the hypotensive activity of octadecyl-AGPC in the normotensive rat is the result of direct vasodilation and not the result of cholinergic, histaminergic or beta-adrenergic receptor interaction.     

Haemolysis of rabbit erythrocytes by a lectin from the seeds of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Croton tiglium</Emphasis>

The kinetics of haemolysis of rabbit erythrocytes byCroton tiglium lectin was studied as a function of concentration of the lectin and erythrocytes. The length of the prelytic period decreased with increasing lectin concentrations, indicating that the secondary events at the membrane which follow the binding of the lectin to cell surface carbohydrate receptors are accelerated at higher surface concentrations of the lectin. The rate or extent of haemolysis was not affected by the inclusion of ions like K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in the medium or by the substitution of ionic medium by a non-ionic medium. The inhibition of haemagglutination and haemolysis of rabbit red cells byCroton tiglium lectin by antilectin rabbit serum was observed. A possible mechanism of haemolysis by the lectin is discussed.