The Comparative Wood-destroying Ability and Preservative Tolerance of Monocaryotic and Dicaryotic Mycelia of Lenzites trabea (Pers.) Fr. and Poria vaillantii (DC ex Fr.) Cke.

Comparison by soil-block tests on several timbers of the wood-destroyingabilities of dicaryotic cultures of both Poria vaillantii andLenzites trabea with those of monocaryotic cultures either derivedfrom, or contributing to, the formation of the dicaryon, indicatedthat monocaryotic cultures of P. vaillantii were generally moredestructive than related dicaryotic cultures, whereas dicaryonsof L. trabea tended to be slightly more destructive than relatedmonocaryons. The tolerance of L. trabea monocaryons to coppersulphate and to sodium arsenate in nutrient agar showed someindication of being higher than that of related dicaryons, whilstthe tolerance of P. vaillantii monocaryons to a copperchrome-arsenatepreservative in soil-block tests also appeared to be higherthan that of related dicaryons. It is concluded that, althoughneither wood-destroying ability nor preservative tolerance wasgreatly affected by nuclear condition, the differences shownmay be of importance in conjunction with the monocaryotizationof dicaryons by toxic agents during laboratory decay tests.     

拉萨河流域亏组山植物物种丰富度和群落特征研究

为研究草地植物群落、物种丰富度及其分布格局与影响因子之间的关系,该文以拉萨河流域林周县卡孜乡亏组山为研究地点,对山体垂直样带(3900～5100 m)植物群落特征、植物物种丰富度与各影响因子之间的关系进行了研究.研究区域共设置了13个样带(每隔100 m设一个样带),每样带设置0.5 m×0.5 m的5个样方进行植被调...     

Morphological and chromosomal descriptions of new species in the Anopheles subpictus complex

Abstract. Anopheles subpictus Grassi is shown to comprise four reproductively distinct species, designated A, B, C and D, occurring sympatrically in villages of Pondicherry, southeast India.
Adult females were reared individually from wild larvae and examined for their morphological and chromosomal characters. Paracentric fixed inversions on the X-chromosome serve to distinguish the species cytogenetically, with no inversion heterozygotes (i.e. no interspecific hybrids) among totals of 717 species A (X+^a,+^b), 1863 species B (Xa, b), 869 species C (Xa,+^b) and 1365 species D (X +^a,b) identified.
Morphologically, diagnostic characters for each of the four species are seen in the egg float ridge number, larval mesothoracic seta 4, pupal seta 7-1 and the palpi of female adults. Species A. C and D immatures inhabit freshwater, whereas the malaria vector species B breeds in saltwater and was found only in coastal villages.     

Alloparental Responsiveness to Newborns by Nonreproductive,Adult Male,Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

Parental care in mammals is influenced by sensory stimuli from infants, and by changes in the hormone levels of caretakers. To determine the responsiveness to infant cues in nonreproductive adult male common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) with and without previous experience in caretaking, we exposed 12 males to newborn marmosets and assessed their cortisol plasma levels and behavioral response. Newborn marmosets housed in transparent enclosures were placed inside the cages of the adult male subjects. Males were exposed four times to two different experimental conditions: (a) newborn enclosures remained closed during the observation period and (b) newborn enclosures were opened during the observation period to allow direct social interaction by the adult males. Blood samples from adult males were collected after each behavioral observation trial to measure the levels of cortisol. The behavioral responses of adult males exposed to the closed and open newborn enclosures showed a significant difference only with respect to the frequency of displacements, where males moved among the quadrants of their own cages with greater frequency when the newborn enclosure was sealed. Experienced males approached newborn enclosures more frequently, spent more time in close proximity, and carried and recovered newborns more quickly than inexperienced males. The successive exposure to newborns increased the responsiveness in inexperienced males. The highest levels of plasma cortisol in adult males were recorded following periods of exposure to the sealed newborn enclosures. This suggests that successive exposure to newborns and previous alloparental caregiving experience while living in family groups influences the responsiveness of male marmosets to the sensory cues of newborns. Am. J. Primatol. 75:145‐152, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Protein Synthesis in Isolated Symbionts from the Flagellate Protozoon Crithidia deanei1

Here we describe a method that allows the isolation of intact trypanosomatid symbionts in amounts sufficient for biochemical analysis. The isolated symbionts retain their characteristic morphological features and are reasonably free of subcellular debris. They actively incorporate [³H]leucine and [³⁵S]methionine into proteins. Chloramphenicol and rifampicin at 50 μg/ml almost completely inhibit the incorporation of protein precursors. The inhibition of protein synthesis by the antibiotics provides direct evidence for the existence of a prokaryotic protein-synthesizing system in this unusual intracellular structure. The pattern of protein synthesis of the isolated symbionts is complex. Several symbiont polypeptides are absent or poorly represented in the flagellate.     

Sperm dimorphism in the Triatoma brasiliensis species complex and its applications

Morphological and structural features of the sperm of the Triatoma brasiliensis Neiva, 1911 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) species complex were examined in this first study investigating the sperm of Heteroptera and the genus Triatoma. Males were dissected and their seminal vesicles removed. For measurement, seminal vesicles were squashed on glass slides, spread, fixed and observed under a photomicroscope. The images were analysed and measures of sperm were made. Data were analysed using one‐way analysis of variance and Tukey's test to detect differentiation among taxa. Furthermore, seminal vesicles were prepared for studies of transmission electron microscopy. All taxa studied showed polymorphic (short and long) sperm. The sperm of Triatoma brasiliensis macromelasoma was significantly longer (in total length) than that of the other four members of the complex, which supports the hypothesis of hybrid speciation of this member of the complex as an increase in the size of typical hybrids under heterosis was previously shown. The sperm cells of the five taxa have similar ultrastructural morphology. The ultrastructural features observed confirm the hypothesis, raised by previous studies, that they are synapomorphic to the suborder Heteroptera.     

Terrestrial Activity in Pitheciins (Cacajao,Chiropotes, and Pithecia)

Neotropical monkeys of the genera Cacajao, Chiropotes, and Pithecia (Pitheciidae) are considered to be highly arboreal, spending most of their time feeding and traveling in the upper canopy. Until now, the use of terrestrial substrates has not been analyzed in detail in this group. Here, we review the frequency of terrestrial use among pitheciin taxa to determine the ecological and social conditions that might lead to such behavior. We collated published and unpublished data from 14 taxa in the three genera. Data were gleaned from 53 published studies (including five on multiple pitheciin genera) and personal communications of unpublished data distributed across 31 localities. Terrestrial activity was reported in 61% of Pithecia field studies (11 of 18), in 34% of Chiropotes studies (10 of 29), and 36% of Cacajao studies (4 of 11). Within Pithecia, terrestrial behavior was more frequently reported in smaller species (e.g. P. pithecia) that are vertical clingers and leapers and make extensive use of the understory than in in the larger bodied canopy dwellers of the western Amazon (e.g. P. irrorata). Terrestrial behavior in Pithecia also occurred more frequently and lasted longer than in Cacajao or Chiropotes. An apparent association was found between flooded habitats and terrestrial activity and there is evidence of the development of a “local pattern” of terrestrial use in some populations. Seasonal fruit availability also may stimulate terrestrial behavior. Individuals also descended to the ground when visiting mineral licks, escaping predators, and responding to accidents such as a dropped infant. Overall, the results of this review emphasize that terrestrial use is rare among the pitheciins in general and is usually associated with the exploitation of specific resources or habitat types. Am. J. Primatol. 74:1106‐1127, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.