Zur Ethologie von Putzsymbiosen einheimischer Süßwasserfische im natürlichen Biotop

Zusammenfassung Erstmals konnten Putzsymbiosen zwischen Süßwasserfischen im natürlichen Biotop beobachtet werden. Die sowohl intra-als auch interspezifischen fakultativen Symbiosen wurden bei Bitterling (Rhodeus sericeus amarus), Laube (Alburnus alburnus), Schleie (Tica tinca), sowie bei juvenilen Rotaugen (Rutilus rutilus), Rotfedern (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) und Flußbarschen (Perca fluviatilis) festgestellt. Bei Übertragung der Putzstimmung im Schwarmverband kann ein Putzen im Kollektiv auftreten, wo jeder jeden putzt bzw. dazu auffordert. Das Ausgangsverhalten zum Geputztwerden ist die Einstellung der Lokomotion (Putzstarre), wobei die beobachteten Süßwasserfische im Gegensatz zu marinen Fischen selbst in der Aufforderungsstellung kompensatorische Flossenbewegungen durchführen. Diese einleitende Reglosigkeit kann bereits Putzen durch den Partner auslösen, dessen Bereitschaft mit zunehmender Schrägstellung des Putzkunden gesteigert wird. Das Kopfabwärtsstehen erfolgt durch passives Absinken des Körpervorderteiles, woraus sich stammesgeschichtlich das aktive Schräg-bis Kopfstehen als Aufforderungssignal entwickelt haben dürfte (Laube, Rotfeder, Rotauge). Wahrscheinlich kann die steile Aufforderungsstellung durch Selbstdressur und durch Nachahmen individuell gelernt werden. Fische, die auffordernde Partner anschwimmen, nehmen bei diesen häufig statt zu putzen ebenfalls die Aufforderungsstellung ein; entweder durch Stimmungsübertragung, oder das Anschwimmen erfolgte bereits in der Erwartung, dort ebenfalls geputzt zu werden. Selten treten Kopfzucken (Alburnus) oder Körperrütteln (Scardinius) als wahrscheinlich zusätzliche Aufforderungssignale auf. Attrappenversuche zeigen, daß alle Details des auffordernden Fisches realisiert sein müssen, um als Aufforderung zu wirken, was auf einen gelerten Auslösemechanismus schließen läßt. Die juvenilen Flußbarsche zeigen als Aufforderung neben leichter Schrägstellung ein Zeitlupen-Scheuern vor dem Partner im freien Wasser, was aus dem Verhalten des Normalscheuerns der selbständigen Körperreinigung abzuleiten ist, wobei der Bitterling Zwischenstufen aufweist (Schein-Scheuern).Ein weit ausholender Schwansschlag, möglicherweise ein ÜbersprungverhaIten, löst die Spannung der Putzstarre. Diese überbetonte Intentionsbewegung zum Schwimmstart läßt noch keinen Ansatz zur Signalbildung erkennen. Zu denken wäre an das Körperschütteln mancher Putzkunden tropischer Meere, um die spezialisierten Putzerfische fortzuschicken. Diese fehlen jedoch im einheimischen Süßwasser, wodurch auch das Überwiegen der Putzaufforderungen gegenüber der Putztätigkeit verständlich wird.

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Summary Cleaning symbioses are described for the first time between fresh water fishes in their natural habitat. The symbioses are only facultative and were observed intra-and intorspecifically between members of the species Rhodeus amarus, Alburnus alburnus, Tinca, tinca and juvenile Rutilus rutilus, Scardinius erythrophthalmus and Perca fluviatilis.When the motivation to become cleaned is transmitted within a school of fish, mutual cleaning and inviting each other is common. The first stage in cleaning behaviour is cessation of movement and maintenance of a rigid posture which in these species of fish—contrary to marine species—is accompanied by compensatory fin movements.The more vertical the motionless posture of a fish the more active is the cleaning response of the partner. The vertical position is attained by passive sliding down of the head part. This form of display may be learned individually by imitation and (or) by trial and error.Fish approaching an inviting partner very often assume the invitation posture themselves instead of starting with the cleaning activity. This may be explained by transmission of the mood of invitation or because the invitation display raises the expectation in the approaching fish to become cleaned. Occasionally the invitation display is enhanced by head jerks (in Alburnus) or by body wriggling (in Scardinius).Tests with dummies prove that all details of the invitation pattern have to be fulfilled in order to make it acceptable as such by the partner. This points towards a learned releasing mechanism. Juveniles of Perca fluviatilis, besides assuming a slightly oblique posture, also show an additional feature of the invitation display by slow rubbing motions in front of swimming partners. This sslow motion rubbing may have developed from the normal cleaning behaviour which consists in rubbing the body against the ground. Intermediate stages between these two functions of rubbing motions are shown by Rhodeus amarus (apparent rubbing).The motionless posture of invitation is broken by a large beating of the tail, which may be a displacement activity. This exaggerated intention movement has, however, not yet evolved into a social signal, comparable, for example, to the body shaking of some marine fish by which these induce their cleaners to leave. There are no specialized cleaning fishes in fresh water which explains the dominance of invitation dispays over cleaning activities.

     

STUDIES ON THE ORIGIN OF RIBOSOMES IN AMOEBA PROTEUS

The origin of cytoplasmic RNA and ribosomes was studied in Amoeba proteus by transplantation of a radioactive nucleus into an unlabeled cell followed by examination of the cytoplasm of the recipient for the presence of label. When a RNA-labeled nucleus was used, label appeared in the ribosomes, ribosomal RNA, and soluble RNA. Since the kinetics of appearance of labeled RNA indicates that the nucleus was not injured during the transfer, and since the transferred nuclear pool of labeled acid-soluble RNA precursors is inadequate to account for the amount of cytoplasmic RNA label, it is concluded that cytoplasmic ribosomal RNA is derived from acid-insoluble nuclear RNA and is probably transported as an intact molecule. Likewise, cytoplasmic soluble RNA probably originated in the nucleus, although labeling by terminal exchange in the cytoplasm is also possible. The results were completely different when a protein-labeled nucleus was grafted into an unlabeled host. In this case, label was found only in soluble proteins in the host cell cytoplasm, and there were no (or very few) radioactive ribosomes. This suggests that the nuclear pool of ribosomal protein and ribosomal protein precursors is relatively small and perhaps nonexistent (and, furthermore, shows that there was no cytoplasmic ribosomal contamination of the transferred nucleus).     

Amino acid uptake in the peripheral nerve of the rat

When rat sciatic nerves were incubated with C¹⁴l-lysine, l- or d-glutamate, or d-l γ-aminoisobutyrate, the labeled compounds penetrated the nerve, and the level of lysine and leucine after 1 hr was higher in the nerve than in the medium. The level increased with time, and at 24 hr glutamate levels also were higher in the nerve than in the medium. Lowering the temperature strongly inhibited uptake, while other conditions such as absence of glucose, absence of sodium, or the presence of cyanide inhibited uptake by nerve less than uptake by brain slices. The uptake against a concentration gradient, and inhibitions of this uptake by metabolic inhibitors and by structural analogs, were interpreted as showing the presence of transport processes for amino acids in peripheral nerves with characteristics similar to such transport processes in the central nervous system.     

Incidence of Clostridium botulinum Type E in Salmon and Other Marine Fish in the Pacific Northwest

Salmon, sole, cod, oysters, clams, and crabs from ocean waters along the coast of Oregon and Washington were examined for the presence of Clostridium botulinum type E. The organism was detected by identification of the type E toxin in enrichment cultures of the viscera of individual fish. Of 369 salmon specimens, 48 yielded cultures containing toxin lethal to mice, and almost half of the toxic cultures were shown to contain botulinal toxin, chiefly type E. Eighteen of 113 sole and cod specimens, 4 of 22 Dungeness crab specimens, 5 of 16 oyster specimens, and 27 of 115 clam specimens gave rise to cultures containing botulinal toxin which was usually type E, although types A and B were occasionally encountered.     

Formation of an animal virus within a bacterium

Conclusions Incubation of competent cells ofB. subtilis with a DNA-like subviral entity from vaccinia virus leads to the formation of complete vaccinia virus in the bacteria. The significance of this finding in regard to the concept of a universal genetic code is discussed.With 2 Figures in the TextA preliminary report of these results was presented at the XI. International Congress of Genetics in The Hague, September, 1963.Habilitandenstipendiat 1962/63 of Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.