Conversion of Phosphatidyl Choline to Phosphatidic Acid in Freeze Injured Rye and Wheat Cultivars

The effect of exposure to freezing temperature (?15°C) on leaf phospholipid composition of hardened rye (Secale cereale L.) and hardened wheat cultivars (‘Miranovskaja 808’, ‘Bezostaja 1’, ‘Short Mexican’ and ‘Penjamo 62’), which differ in their resistance to frost, was investigated. Hardening took place under natural conditions. All the seedlings attained an equal level of linolenic acid in their leaves during hardening. Exposure to freezing temperatures resulted in a loss of phosphatidyl choline and accumulation of phosphatidic acid in the leaves. The ratio of phosphatidic acid to phosphatidyl choline, but not the level of poly-unsaturated fatty acids in the leaves, was related to their ability to survive at low temperatures. As freezing injury is caused by the formation of ice crystals in both extra- and intracellular space, it is probable that the plasma membranes of the investigated cultivars differed with respect to their water permeability. It is concluded that the plants, depending on the degree of their resistance to cold, produce an unknown substance of lipidic nature upon exposure to cold, with the aid of which they adjust the transitional state of their membranes to the prevailing temperature and, at the same time, facilitate the efflux of water from the cells.     

The Distribution of Tetrahymena pyriformis1

SYNOPSIS. This paper is a brief account of both amicronucleate and sexually active strains of Tetrahymena pyriformis and their distribution with some comments on their possible evolution.     

Visual cues contribute to predator detection in anuran larvae

The ability of prey to detect predators directly affects their probability of survival. Chemical cues are known to be important for predator detection in aquatic environments, but the role of other potential cues is controversial. We tested for changes in behaviour of Rana temporaria tadpoles in response to chemical, visual, acoustic, and hydraulic cues originating from dragonfly larvae (Aeshna cyanea) and fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus). The greatest reduction in tadpole activity occurred when all cues were available, but activity was also significantly reduced by visual cues only. We did not find evidence for tadpoles lowering their activity in response to acoustic and hydraulic cues. There was no spatial avoidance of predators in our small experimental containers. The results show that anuran larvae indeed use vision for predator detection, while acoustic and hydraulic cues may be less important. Future studies of predator‐induced responses of tadpoles should not only concentrate on chemical cues but also consider visual stimuli. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, ??, ??–??.     

Validation and implications of a growth model for brown trout, Salmo trutta, using long-term data from a small stream in north-west England

Summary 1. The objectives were: (i) to check the validity of a new growth model; (ii) to examine the relationship between population density and both mean mass and mean growth rate and (iii) to discover if compensatory growth occurred. First (0+) and second (1+) year‐old juvenile sea‐trout were sampled by electrofishing at the beginning and end of the summer from 1967 to 2000. Additional samples were taken in some years in winter and in the critical period for survival when the fry first emerge from the gravel. The trout left the stream as pre‐smolts in May, soon after their second birthday. 2. A growth model ( Elliott, Hurley & Fryer, 1995 ) estimated the mean mass of the trout over the 2 years spent in fresh water. The date and mean mass at the start of the growth period were defined as the median date for fry emerging from the gravel and their mean mass at emergence, both being estimated from individual‐based models ( Elliott & Hurley, 1998a, b ). 3. The variation in mean mass among year‐classes was small for newly‐emerged fry (CV = 6.2%), maximum at the start of the first summer of the life cycle (CV = 38.1%), and then decreased gradually for successive life‐stages to a low value for pre‐smolts (CV = 10.8%). Mean mass was not related to population density and, therefore, mean growth rate was density‐independent. Growth in the first, but not the second, winter of the life cycle was lower than model prediction, but when it was assumed in the model that there was no first‐winter growth, there was good agreement in most year‐classes between model estimated values and observed mean mass. Exceptions were that mean masses and growth rates for 0+ trout after four summer droughts were lower than expected, but compensatory growth followed, so that observed and expected masses were similar for 1+ trout. 4. Pre‐smolt mean mass on 30 April measured total growth achieved in the freshwater phase of the life cycle. This was significantly related to mean mass at the end of the first and second summers of the life cycle, but not to the emergence date and mean mass of emerging fry. 5. These juvenile sea‐trout were growing at their maximum potential in most year‐classes but when this was not achieved, compensatory growth soon restored their mass to values expected from the model. This ensured a low variation in the mean mass of pre‐smolts just before they migrated to the sea. However, the latter mass was higher in more recent year‐classes (1987–98) than in previous ones (1967–86), demonstrating the effect of slightly higher stream temperature. This study has shown the importance of developing realistic growth models in order to detect departure from maximum potential growth, and the more subtle effects of temperature change, possibly due to the effects of climate change.