Small‐scale spatial variation in evolvability for life‐history traits in the storm petrel

The evolutionary potential in the timing of recruitment and reproduction may be crucial for the ability of populations to buffer against environmental changes, allowing them to avoid unfavourable breeding conditions. The evolution of a trait in a local population is determined by its heritability and selection. In the present study, we performed pedigree‐based quantitative genetic analyses for two life‐history traits (recruiting age and laying date) using population data of the storm petrel over an 18‐year period in two adjacent breeding colonies (only 150 m apart) that share the same environmental conditions. In both traits, natal colony effect was the main source of the phenotypic variation among individuals, and cohort variance for recruitment age and additive genetic variance for laying date were natal colony‐specific. We found significant heritability only in laying date and, more specifically, only in birds born in one of the colonies. The difference in genetic variance between the colonies was statistically significant. Interestingly, selection on earlier breeding birds was detected only in the colony in which heritable variation in laying date was found. Therefore, local evolvability for a life‐history trait may vary within a unexpectedly small spatial scale, through the diversifying natural selection and insulating gene flow. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 106 , 439–446.     

An integrative approach to characterize cryptic species in the Thoracostoma trachygaster Hope, 1967 complex (Nematoda: Leptosomatidae)

Nematode diversity may seriously be underestimated when taking into account cryptic speciation. Thoracostoma trachygaster is commonly found in kelp holdfasts along the California coastline and was recently shown to consist of at least two distinct molecular clades (I and II). Here, we provide detailed morphological analysis of both clades, based on measurements taken from video vouchers of respectively eight and 16 individuals from the previous study, as well as 80 newly collected specimens from four Californian beaches. The latter were vouchered, measured, and then subjected to molecular analyses of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) gene, and the ribosomal D2D3 and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. This integrative approach shows that the three molecular clades are phylogenetically and morphologically distinct species, but a combination of morphological characters is needed to distinguish them. Two new species, Thoracostoma fatimae sp. nov. and Thoracostoma igniferum sp. nov. , are identified and described. The spicule length of T. fatimae sp. nov. is significantly shorter than that of T. trachygaster. Thoracostoma igniferum sp. nov. can be distinguished by the irregular posterior edge of the cephalic capsule and the two internal subdorsal tropis‐like projections in the wall of the cephalic capsule, which are lacking in T. fatimae sp. nov. and T. trachygaster. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 164 , 18–35.     

The Role of Exchange in Productive Specialization

Nomadic pastoralists are specialists in complex systems of land use. Their own productive strategies are dependent in large part upon the conversion rates of their products to imported items from other sectors of a larger economy. Changes in these conversion rates are likely to arise for a number of reasons; pastoralists respond to such changes in various ways, depending upon their past histories and current conditions. The case of the Yörük, specialized pastoralists of southeastern Turkey, is used to illustrate this process of changing productive strategies. Generalizations are sought concerning the ways in which large systems of land use become more or less specialized through time, in terms of the consequences of shifting exchange conditions for the productive strategies of component households. [economic anthropology, pastoralism, complex society, interpopulation exchange]     

Genic microsatellite markers derived from EST sequences of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)

Switchgrass is a large, North American, perennial grass that is being evaluated as a potential energy crop. There is a need to assess genetic diversity in stored accessions and in remaining native stands to assist breeding and conservation efforts. Marker development will also be necessary for genetic linkage mapping. Toward this end, 32 switchgrass genic di‐, tri‐ and tetranucleotide repeat microsatellites were identified from expressed sequence tags (ESTs). These microsatellites were used to screen individuals from two different named cultivars. The markers displayed a high level of polymorphism consistent with the tetraploid, allogamous behaviour of the cultivars tested.     

Characterization of 12 new microsatellite loci in Aenictus and Neivamyrmex army ants

Here we describe 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci that were cloned and characterized for three species of army ants: the North American Neivamyrmex nigrescens, and the Asian Aenictus laeviceps and Aenictus dentatus. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.37 to 0.97 (mean 0.70), and from 0.48 to 0.95 (mean 0.72), respectively. We observed 2–30 (mean 12) alleles per locus. These new genetic markers will be useful for studies of overall population structure and the complex pedigrees in colonies of army ants.     

The Virtual Moment

Following the traditions of ethnographic analysis, an account is given here of Best Value, the United Kingdom government's inspection of the services provided by municipalities and other local units of administration. My analysis is based largely upon the categories and terms used by the inspectorate itself. It is argued that in each of the main areas of inspection the results appear to contradict the intentions set out for the inspection. This appears to be the result of processes of abstraction which arise during the inspection. Such abstraction was located in the rise of jargon and bureaucracy as a result of the sheer scale of this audit, in the externalization of critical factors during market testing, in the emphasis on the representation of consulting over the results of consultation, and through the privileging of quantitative over qualitative information. Finally, the phrase 'owning the process' is analysed to show how the central ethos of serving the public is negated by these same forces. All these forms of abstraction are shown to occur despite, rather than because of, the intentions of the inspectorate. In the conclusion, they are analysed as contradictions which arise as a result of forces that are described by a theory of Virtualism.     

Reproductive and Foraging Energetics of High Latitude Penguins, Albatrosses and Pinnipeds: Implications for Life History Patterns

Pinnipeds and seabirds feed at sea, but are tied to shore torear their young. Such a fundamental life history constraintshould lead to convergent adaptations in foraging and reproductiveecology. However, intrinsic differences in mammalian and avianreproductive biology may limitthe potential for convergence.In this paper I examine both reproductive and foraging energeticsof pinnipeds and seabirds. This is done in an attempt to identifytraits that might be considered convergent adaptations to lifein the marine environment and to show how divergent life historypatterns are optimal for different reasons. From this analysiswe find that seabirds invest a greater total amount of energyand protein into the offspring than pinnipeds, but this comesat the cost of making more trips to sea. Whereas pinnipeds foragein a manner more consistent with the predictions of centralplace foraging theory and exhibit a greater ability to compensateto the shortened breeding season typical of high latitude environments.