Visual reliability and information rate in the retina of a nocturnal bee

Nocturnal animals relying on vision typically have eyes that are optically and morphologically adapted for both increased sensitivity and greater information capacity in dim light. Here, we investigate whether adaptations for increased sensitivity also are found in their photoreceptors by using closely related and fast-flying nocturnal and diurnal bees as model animals. The nocturnal bee Megalopta genalis is capable of foraging and homing by using visually discriminated landmarks at starlight intensities. Megalopta's near relative, Lasioglossum leucozonium, performs these tasks only in bright sunshine. By recording intracellular responses to Gaussian white-noise stimuli, we show that photoreceptors in Megalopta actually code less information at most light levels than those in Lasioglossum. However, as in several other nocturnal arthropods, Megalopta's photoreceptors possess a much greater gain of transduction, indicating that nocturnal photoreceptors trade information capacity for sensitivity. By sacrificing photoreceptor signal-to-noise ratio and information capacity in dim light for an increased gain and, thus, an increased sensitivity, this strategy can benefit nocturnal insects that use neural summation to improve visual reliability at night.     

The transformation of inorganic sulfur compounds and the assimilation of organic and inorganic carbon by the sulfur disproportionating bacterium Desulfocapsa sulfoexigens

The physiology of the sulfur disproportionator Desulfocapsa sulfoexigens was investigated in batch cultures and in a pH-regulated continuously flushed fermentor system. It was shown that a sulphide scavanger in the form of ferric iron was not obligatory and that the control of pH allowed production of more biomass than was possible in carbonate buffered but unregulated batch cultures. Small amounts of sulphite were produced during disproportionation of elemental sulfur and thiosulphate. In addition, it was shown that in the presence of hydrogen, a respiratory type of process is favored before the disproportionation of sulphite, thiosulphate and elemental sulfur. Sulphate reduction was not observed. D. sulfoexigens assimilated inorganic carbon even in the presence of organic carbon sources. Inorganic carbon assimilation was probably catalyzed by the reverse CO-dehydrogenase pathway, which was supported by the constitutive expression of the gene encoding CO-dehydrogenase in cultures grown in the presence of acetate and by the high carbon fractionation values that are indicative of this pathway.     

Effect of BAY K 8644 on cytosolic free calcium in isolated rabbit gall-bladder epithelial cells

Rabbit gall-bladder epithelial cells were isolated by a combination of Ca2+ omission, enzymatic treatment, and mechanical detachment and had a viability of 96-98% and well preserved morphology. Measurements of cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in these cells with the Ca2+-fluorescent indicator fura-2 demonstrated a resting [Ca2+]i level of 115 +/- 12 nM. When used in concentrations which inhibit rabbit gall-bladder isosmotic NaCl absorption (1-100 microM), the Ca2+-channel activator BAY K 8644 caused a dose-dependent increase in the epithelial [Ca2+]i to a maximal value of 850 nM. The effect was dependent on extracellular Ca2+, and was not altered by 1 microM L-verapamil. Depolarization of the epithelial cells with KCl had no effect on [Ca2+]i. The results suggest that BAY K 8644 activates a Ca2+ influx which is not dependent on voltage-gated channels. Cytosolic Ca2+ may be involved in the regulation of isosmotic NaCl absorption in the mammalian gall-bladder.     

Multicolony tracking reveals the winter distribution of a pelagic seabird on an ocean basin scale

Aim An understanding of the non‐breeding distribution and ecology of migratory species is necessary for successful conservation. Many seabirds spend the non‐breeding season far from land, and information on their distribution during this time is very limited. The black‐legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla, is a widespread and numerous seabird in the North Atlantic and Pacific, but breeding populations throughout the Atlantic range have declined recently. To help understand the reasons for the declines, we tracked adults from colonies throughout the Atlantic range over the non‐breeding season using light‐based geolocation. Location North Atlantic. Methods Geolocation data loggers were deployed on breeding kittiwakes from 19 colonies in 2008 and 2009 and retrieved in 2009 and 2010. Data from 236 loggers were processed and plotted using GIS. Size and composition of wintering populations were estimated using information on breeding population size. Results Most tracked birds spent the winter in the West Atlantic, between Newfoundland and the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge, including in offshore, deep‐water areas. Some birds (mainly local breeders) wintered in the North Sea and west of the British Isles. There was a large overlap in winter distributions of birds from different colonies, and colonies closer to each other showed larger overlap. We estimated that 80% of the 4.5 million adult kittiwakes in the Atlantic wintered west of the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge, with only birds from Ireland and western Britain staying mainly on the European side. Main conclusions The high degree of mixing in winter of kittiwakes breeding in various parts of the Atlantic range implies that the overall population could be sensitive to potentially deteriorating environmental conditions in the West Atlantic, e.g. owing to lack of food or pollution. Our approach to estimating the size and composition of wintering populations should contribute to improved management of birds faced with such challenges.     

The demographic impact of extreme events: stochastic weather drives survival and population dynamics in a long-lived seabird

1. Most scenarios for future climate change predict increased variability and thus increased frequency of extreme weather events. To predict impacts of climate change on wild populations, we need to understand whether this translates into increased variability in demographic parameters, which would lead to reduced population growth rates even without a change in mean parameter values. This requires robust estimates of temporal process variance, for example in survival, and identification of weather covariates linked to interannual variability. 2. The European shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis (L.) shows unusually large variability in population size, and large-scale mortality events have been linked to winter gales. We estimated first-year, second-year and adult survival based on 43 years of ringing and dead recovery data from the Isle of May, Scotland, using recent methods to quantify temporal process variance and identify aspects of winter weather linked to survival. 3. Survival was highly variable for all age groups, and for second-year and adult birds process variance declined strongly when the most extreme year was excluded. Survival in these age groups was low in winters with strong onshore winds and high rainfall. Variation in first-year survival was not related to winter weather, and process variance, although high, was less affected by extreme years. A stochastic population model showed that increasing process variance in survival would lead to reduced population growth rate and increasing probability of extinction. 4. As in other cormorants, shag plumage is only partially waterproof, presumably an adaptation to highly efficient underwater foraging. We speculate that this adaptation may make individuals vulnerable to rough winter weather, leading to boom-and-bust dynamics, where rapid population growth under favourable conditions allows recovery from periodic large-scale weather-related mortality. 5. Given that extreme weather events are predicted to become more frequent, species such as shags that are vulnerable to such events are likely to exhibit stronger reductions in population growth than would be expected from changes in mean climate. Vulnerability to extreme events thus needs to be accounted for when predicting the ecological impacts of climate change.     

Linking demographic and food‐web models to understand management trade‐offs

Alternatives in ecosystem‐based management often differ with respect to trade‐offs between ecosystem values. Ecosystem or food‐web models and demographic models are typically employed to evaluate alternatives, but the approaches are rarely integrated to uncover conflicts between values. We applied multistate models to a capture–recapture dataset on common guillemots Uria aalge breeding in the Baltic Sea to identify factors influencing survival. The estimated relationships were employed together with Ecopath‐with‐Ecosim food‐web model simulations to project guillemot survival under six future scenarios incorporating climate change. The scenarios were based on management alternatives for eutrophication and cod fisheries, issues considered top priority for regional management, but without known direct effects on the guillemot population. Our demographic models identified prey quantity (abundance and biomass of sprat Sprattus sprattus) as the main factor influencing guillemot survival. Most scenarios resulted in projections of increased survival, in the near (2016–2040) and distant (2060–2085) future. However, in the scenario of reduced nutrient input and precautionary cod fishing, guillemot survival was projected to be lower in both future periods due to lower sprat stocks. Matrix population models suggested a substantial decline of the guillemot population in the near future, 24% per 10 years, and a smaller reduction, 1.1% per 10 years, in the distant future. To date, many stakeholders and Baltic Sea governments have supported reduced nutrient input and precautionary cod fishing and implementation is underway. Negative effects on nonfocal species have previously not been uncovered, but our results show that the scenario is likely to negatively impact the guillemot population. Linking model results allowed identifying trade‐offs associated with management alternatives. This information is critical to thorough evaluation by decision‐makers, but not easily obtained by food‐web models or demographic models in isolation. Appropriate datasets are often available, making it feasible to apply a linked approach for better‐informed decisions in ecosystem‐based management.     

可溶性细胞间粘附分子在慢性肾脏病中的变化

目的:研究慢性肾病(CKD)患者血清可溶性细胞粘附分子-1(soluble intercellular adhesionmolecule-1,sICAM)的变化与临床意义。方法:用双抗体夹心ELISA方法,对52例CKD患者及20例健康对照人群的sICAM-1水平进行检测分析。52例CKD患者中,其中27例为CRF血液透析患者;25例肾功能正常CKD患者。结果:CKD组患者sICAM-1水平明显高于对照组(105.42±61.95)(P<0.01);肾功能正常CKD组和CKD-CRF组sICAM-1水平均显著高于对照组(P<0.01);CRF组sICAM-1水平明显低于肾功能正常CKD组(P<0.01);但高于对照组(84.80±19.61/164.08±70.66/54.61±5.48)(P<0.01)。结论:sICAM-1水平在慢性肾脏病中明显升高,CRF组病人sICAM-1水平低于CKD肾功能正常患者,提示透析过程中可能有sICAM溢出,吸附并丢失入透析液中(1),或可能是肾纤维化为主的病变使sICAM-1表达下降。     

Diet and locomotion of the armadillo Peltephilus: a new view

The Santacrucian armadillos Peltephilus (Mammalia, Dasypodidae, Peltephilinae) are reanalysed in order to test the traditional hypothesis that they were the most cursorial and active hunters of the dasypodids. The masticatory musculature is reconstructed, the form and distribution of teeth are studied, and a model of the jaw movements is proposed. Furthermore, the limb anatomy as well as their index of fossorial ability are compared with those of other armadillos. It is concluded that Peltephilus , and very likely other peltephilines, are poorly designed as carnivorous, actively cursorial mammals. An alternative habit is proposed, in which Peltephilus and the other peltephilines are viewed as having the conservative armadillo structure of diggers, feeding on soft but tough items, probably plant material of underground origin.