Spartina alterniflora loisel root structure and meiofaunal abundance

Meiofauna were collected from adjacent areas with and without Spartina alterniflora Loisel culms. Environmental complexity resulting from root structure cannot be determined by simply observing S. alterniflora culm distribution. There were no significant differences between the two areas with respect to root density or root sizes; however, the number of live roots was significantly higher in the area containing Spartina culms. Nematodes, the most abundant taxon were positively correlated with live root density. In contrast, the number of dead roots and harpacticoid copepods were higher in the area without culms. This study suggests that nematodes are positively associated with micro-oxygenated zones produced by live S. alterniflora roots. Other measures of biogenic structure, such as total root density or root size fractions are not important in affecting nematode abundance.     

Specific Inhibition of the Cyanide-insensitive Respiratory Pathway in Plant Mitochondria by Hydroxamic Acids

Hydroxamic acids, R-CONHOH, are inhibitors specific to the respiratory pathway through the alternate, cyanide-insensitive terminal oxidase of plant mitochondria. The nature of the R group in these compounds affects the concentration at which the hydroxamic acids are effective, but it appears that all hydroxamic acids inhibit if high enough concentrations are used. The benzhydroxamic acids are effective at relatively low concentrations; of these, the most effective are m-chlorobenzhydroxamic acid and m-iodobenzhydroxamic acid. The concentrations required for half-maximal inhibition of the alternate oxidase pathway in mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) mitochondria are 0.03 mm for m-chlorobenzhydroxamic acid and 0.02 mm for m-iodobenzhydroxamic acid. With skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) mitochondria, the required concentrations are 0.16 for m-chlorobenzhydroxamic acid and 0.05 for m-iodobenzhydroxamic acid. At concentrations which inhibit completely the alternate oxidase pathway, these two compounds have no discernible effect on either the respiratory pathway through cytochrome oxidase, or on the energy coupling reactions of these mitochondria. These inhibitors make it possible to isolate the two respiratory pathways and study their mode of action separately. These inhibitors also enhance an electron paramagnetic resonance signal near g = 2 in anaerobic, submitochondrial particles from skunk cabbage, which appears to be specific to the alternate oxidase and thus provides a means for its assay.     

Changes in Ribonucleic Acid Fractions During Maturation of Mimosa Epicotyl Tissues

Total RNA and DNA of mimosa epicotyl tissues were extracted and the RNA fractionated into specific soluble RNAs (sRNAs) at different times during late germination. Epicotyls collected at each time contained qualitatively comparable meristematic and developing tissues, while mature tissues increased. Quantitative ratios of total RNA to DNA and total sRNAs to approximated ribosomal RNA (rRNA) varied consistently during development. Terminal nucleosides of sRNA did not vary in any consistent pattern through development. On the other hand, regular changes in quantitative ratios of specific sRNA groups were observed during development.     

Lipids of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Cells Grown on Hydrocarbons and on Trypticase Soy Broth

Lipids were extracted from cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown on a pure hydrocarbon (tridecane), mixed hydrocarbons (JP-4 jet fuel), and on Trypticase Soy Broth. Total lipids produced from each substrate represented from 7.1 to 8.2% of cellular dry weight, of which 5.0 to 6.4% were obtained before cellular hydrolysis (free lipids) and 1.7 to 2.0% were extracted after cellular hydrolysis (bound lipids). Free lipids from cells grown on each medium were separated into four fractions by thin-layer chromatography. All fractions were present in cells from each type of medium, and the "neutral fraction" constituted the largest fraction. The fatty acid composition of free lipids was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Cells grown on each medium contained saturated and unsaturated C(14) to C(20) fatty acids. Trace amounts of C(13) fatty acids were found in tridecane-grown cells. Saturated C(16) and C(18) were the major acids present in all cells. Quantitative differences were found in fatty acids produced on the three media, but specific correlations between substrate carbon sources and fatty acid content of cells were not evident. Tridecane-grown cells contained only traces of C(13) acid and small amounts of C(15) and C(17) acids, suggesting that the organism's fatty acids were derived from de novo synthesis rather than by direct incorporation of the hydrocarbon.     

Growth and survival of fuel isolates in hydrocarbon-fuel emulsions

Two fuel utilizers, a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a Hormodendrum sp., and two fuel isolates which did not use fuel, Staphylococcus and Bacillus spp., were tested for ability to survive and grow in systems containing emulsified or nonemulsified forms of JP-4 jet fuel. Neither emulsion (Alamac no. 1 or Alamac no. 2) supported microbial growth without a water phase. Growth of P. aeruginosa in liquid systems containing either emulsion was not significantly different from growth in liquid systems with nonemulsified fuel. The Hormodendrum sp. grew well in a liquid medium containing nonemulsified JP-4, but when either of the emulsions served as carbon source no growth was observed. However, good growth was noted on spread plates with either emulsion. Viable cells of Bacillus sp. did not increase over a 4-day period, and Staphylococcus sp. did not survive in liquid systems containing JP-4 or emulsions.     

Identification of microorganisms isolated from jet fuel systems

Seventy-two samples from jet aircraft fuel systems were examined for microbial contamination. Ten contaminated samples yielded 43 microorganisms which were classified into nine genera of bacteria and three genera of fungi. The predominant types, comprising about 37% of the isolated cultures, were identified as Bacillus spp. The remaining cultures were distributed among 11 genera, each of which represented 2 to 9% of the total isolates. Four cultures could not be assigned to a genus on the basis of the diagnostic criteria used. Only five isolates, in the genera Pseudomonas and Hormodendrum (Cladosporium), grew abundantly in a mineral salts solution with JP-4 fuel as the sole source of carbon. The presence of fuel utilizers in a fuel system may be a better index to potential problems that have been correlated with microbial contamination than the presence of aerobic sporeforming bacilli.     

Suspending disbelief—of Wynne-Edwards and his reception

Critique of Wynne-Edwards' views on population regulation and sociality suppose a population of discrete, mutually exclusive groups essential to his thought. Yet both his past and present work focus on continually distributed, philopatric populations; his critics have argued the untenability of a position never his own. Wynne-Edwardsian ‘group selection’ focuses on local population productivity under philopatry. A ‘group’ is a local confluence of genotypes which need not be reified, and group selection consists of the differential replication (hence heritability) of the local social environment in which a genotype is embedded. Differential productivity contingent on social environment can eliminate some relational structures on genotypes in favor of others, creating an expanding wave of population productivity as in Wright's shifting balance metaphor. Such a process is inherent in the evolution of reciprocity, where cooperators must cluster to successfully invade a population of defectors. Regulation of resource exploitation in continuously distributed populations may be modeled as overlapping n-person Prisoner's Dilemmas, where each individual participates in several distinct commons and defection represents local over-exploitation of resources.