Reactions of Bili‐Uele Chimpanzees to Humans in Relation to Their Distance From Roads and Villages

In order to assess the impact of human activities on chimpanzee behavior, we compared reactions to humans of Eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) living in proximity to and at a distance from roads and settlements in the Bili‐Uele landscape in Northern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We found that chimpanzees in the remote Gangu Forest were more likely to show curious or neutral reactions to us and were less likely to flee than those living closer to roads. In addition, arboreal contact durations with Gangu chimpanzees lasted significantly longer than elsewhere. The most likely explanation for this phenomenon is that with increasing distance from roads, chimpanzees have in the recent past had fewer negative encounters with humans, and thus never learned to fear them. The discovery of this population of “naïve chimpanzees” presents us with an important research and conservation opportunity that may result in the installation of a long‐term research site and increased protection of the population. Am. J. Primatol. 74:721‐733, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

THE INUNDATION ZONE OF THE NIGER AS AN ENVIRONMENT FOR PALAEARCTIC MIGRANTS

Of at least 350 species so far recorded within the boundaries of the Niger Inundation Zone, no less than 108 (31%) are wholly or partially of Palaearctic origin. Five main habitats are recognized in the region: wetland, hygrophilous grassland, transition zone, non-flooded areas and aerial. The habitats, the Palaearctic migrants and their possible Ethiopian competitors are described and discussed. The annual Niger flood regime enables Palaearctic waterbirds to find suitable habitats somewhere within the region during all seasons, but most widely during the autumn and winter months of the flood recession. Non-aquatic species inhabiting flood plain grassland are scarce during the Palaearctic autumn, when the growth of vegetation reaches its maximum, becoming commoner and more diverse during the winter months. Wetland warblers of the genera Acrocephalus and Locustella have not been recorded on autumn passage. It is suggested that in some years at least, these and other trans-Saharan migrants from the West Palaearctic overfly the Sahelian latitudes of mid-West Africa. Species inhabiting the transition zone (which increases in area during years of below average rains and floods) are most in evidence at the end of the winter period and during the spring hot dry season, prior to northward trans-Saharan migration. Habitats and species encountered in the non-flooded areas are similar to those recorded in the Sahel zone elsewhere in West Africa. Aerial habitat is utilized by Common Swifts arriving en masse in early August, at the maximum development of the south-westerly monsoon airstream. Several aquatic species and the first few trans-Saharan migrants also occur during the summer rainy season. Some species (e. g. Whiskered Tern, Lesser Kestrel, Turtle Dove, Short-toed Lark and Sand Martin) are most numerous during the late winter and spring hot seasons, when conditions provided by the Inundation Zone may be more suitable for pre-migration feeding than in other parts of the Sahel zone. As yet there is virtually no information available to determine any effects that drought seasons or flood variation may have on the migrant populations.     

The Minimum Intercellular-space CO2-Concentration (T) of Maize Leaves and its Influence on Stomatal Movements

Unlike other leaves investigated, maize leaves were found tobe able to exhaust atmospheric CO₂-content to zero concentration.This occurred at 20? C. with a light intensity of 100 f.c. andat 30? C. with a light intensity of 500 f.c. The influences of temperature, light intensity, and waterstrainon this property of maize leaves were investigated systematicallyand a permanent aftereffect of waterstrain on the leaves wasfound. Stomatal conductance measurements showed that maize stomataare sensitive to CO₂-concentrations between zero and 100 p.p.m.,a circumstance not yet reported for other leaves.     

Pollination efficiency and reproductive patterns in relation to local plant density,population size,and floral display in the rewarding Listera ovata (Orchidaceae)

Pollination efficiency and reproductive success vary strongly among populations of most animal‐pollinated plant species, depending on their size and local density, whereas individual plants within populations experience varying levels of reproductive output as a result of differences in floral display. Although most orchid species have been shown to be severely pollination limited, few studies have investigated the impact of the above‐mentioned factors on pollination success and reproduction, especially in rewarding species. In this study, the impact of population size, local density of flowering plants, and floral display on the rates of pollinia export and fruit production was investigated in 13 natural populations of the rewarding terrestrial orchid Listera ovata. In addition, an emasculation experiment was set up to examine how floral display and local density of flowering plants affected the relative importance of cross‐ vs. geitonogamous pollination in determining fruit set. In the studied populations, pollination efficiency, pollen removal, and fruit set increased with increasing population size until a threshold value of 30–40 flowering plants was reached, above which pollination efficiency and reproductive output decreased again. On average, plants with large floral displays showed higher proportional pollinia removal and fruit set compared with smaller plants. Fruit production was also significantly and positively related to local plant density, whereas emasculation did not affect the relationship between local plant density and fruit set, suggesting that geitonogamous pollination did not affect the outcome of female function. The results of this study are discussed in the light of the flowering mechanism of the species and its generalized pollination system. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157 , 713–721.     

Reproductive structures and systematics of Buxaceae

Buxaceae belong to a grade of families near the base of eudicots. Flowers of these families are characterized by a variable number and arrangement of floral organs. In this study, the anthetic structure of the gynoecium and androecium of representatives of all genera of Buxaceae were comparatively studied, and observations on the flowering processes and pollination biology were made. Styloceras and Notobuxus were studied in detail for the first time. Various features of the morphological analysis support our earlier molecular phylogenetic study. Shared reproductive characters among Sarcococca , Pachysandra and Styloceras are the occurrence of two (rarely three) carpels, the lack of interstylar nectaries, a micropyle formed by both integuments, attractive stamens in male flowers, and fleshy fruits. In addition, Styloceras and Pachysandra share a secondary partition in the ovary. Notobuxus does not seem to be clearly distinct from Buxus . Both have a similar inflorescence and perianth structure; female flowers have three carpels, interstylar nectaries, micropyles formed by the inner integument, rudimentary arils, and they develop into capsular fruits; in male flowers stamens are sessile and the central pistillode is lacking in some species. Thus, it is questionable to justify a separation of Buxus and Notobuxus at genus level. The results further strongly support the placement of Buxaceae among basal eudicots.  © The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 140 , 193–228.     

Galápagos' Opuntia (prickly pear) cacti: extensive morphological diversity, low genetic variability

Due to the pronounced morphological variation and geographical distribution of Galápagos' Opuntia cacti, numerous hypotheses have been advanced regarding their radiation, diversification, and classification. The currently accepted classification is based on morphology and recognizes six species and fourteen varieties, but the plasticity of many of the characteristics renders any morphological taxonomy problematic. Our analysis of previously published morphological data agrees only partially with the current classification. We present the first molecular phylogeny of these plants. Multiple DNA sequences indicate little genetic distinction among the currently identified species, despite restricted gene flow and limited long distance dispersal within the archipelago. No clear relationship exists between morphological and genetic differences. These results suggest that both molecular and morphological data should be used in conservation planning.  © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 96 , 451–461.     

COMPARING TRANS-FAT AND TRANS-FAT-FREE DOUGHNUT SHORTENINGS BASED ON SENSORY EVALUATION AND OIL DEGRADATION

This is an initiative study on the use of trans -fat-free products in the bakery industry. A standardized doughnut product was cooked in three doughnut shortenings, one containing trans fat and two that were trans fat-free. Six hundred forty-one panelists, students, faculty and staff of a large northeastern university rated each of the three doughnuts on a variety of categories, including texture, moisture content and overall liking. Results showed that there were no significant differences between doughnuts cooked in the three shortenings – this was true for all attributes tested.
The results from this study have many significant implications for the foodservice industry, as they work to cut down or eliminate the use of trans fats in their establishments because of the significant health risks they have been proven to cause.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This study demonstrates the variances on texture, taste, appearance and overall liking characteristics of doughnuts fried in different doughnut shortenings. The nutritional breakdown of the doughnuts and the shortenings are also addressed. In the case of shortenings, the ideal type of fat is a mixture of canola, soybean and hydrogenated cottonseed. This shortening mixture, which is trans fat-free, produced the most preferred doughnut.     

不同生态型芦苇种群对盐胁迫的生长和光合特性

土壤盐渍化是影响我国土壤利用效率的主要因素之一,芦苇是改良土壤盐渍化的良好实验材料,但芦苇有着多种的生态型,比较各生态型芦苇的耐盐差异成为亟待解决的问题。通过设置淡水(0.00%)与加盐(质量浓度2.00%)处理控制实验,测量芦苇的生长指标和光合指标,比较河口型芦苇与内陆型芦苇耐盐性,寻找合适生态型的芦苇作为改良土壤盐渍化的生物材料。在实验中,与淡水条件相比,加盐(2.00%)处理条件下,河口型芦苇和内陆型芦苇的株高(height)、蒸腾速率(E)均显著性下降,但是两种生态型的芦苇的水分利用效率(WUE)明显提高;河口型的芦苇相对生长速率(RGR)和气孔导度(Gs)都明显高于内陆型芦苇。在淡水环境中,河口型芦苇的相对生长速率(RGR)和净光合速率(A)都显著性地高于内陆型芦苇。结果表明两种生态型的芦苇在进化过程中存在一定程度上的分化,盐胁迫会抑制两种芦苇的生长,两种生态型芦苇的相对生长速率和气孔导度在盐胁迫下出现明显地差异,表明两种生态型的芦苇对盐度的响应机制有所差异。相比于内陆型芦苇,河口型芦苇有着更强的耐盐性,内陆型及河口型芦苇的表型性状差异主要是由于其原生境的差异所决定的。     

Vertical stratification of feeding guilds and body size in beetle assemblages from an Australian tropical rainforest

Abstract The vertical stratification of insect species assemblages inhabiting tropical rainforests is well established but few have examined whether these patterns are reflected in vertical stratification of body size or feeding guilds. We used Malaise and Flight Interception Traps to sample beetle assemblages from five locations, at both canopy and ground zones of a tropical lowland rainforest site near Cape Tribulation, Australia. Beetles from 4 years of sampling were sorted to Family and morphospecies, and allocated to one of five feeding guilds. Within feeding guilds the number of species and individuals, from canopy‐ and ground‐caught traps were compared. The body lengths of species were measure and compared within feeding guilds and families. Herbivores was the dominant guild but was not the majority of all species or individuals. Most beetle species (69%) were less than 5 mm in length and the mean size of canopy‐caught species was greater than that for ground‐caught species. This was probably due to slightly more species of plant feeders (herbivores and xylophages) present in the canopy, which were significantly larger than saprophages, fungivores and predators. Among feeding guilds, there were few overall canopy–ground differences. These results contrast with species composition results presented elsewhere where strong differences between the canopy and the ground were evident. We suggest that our guild groupings may have been too coarse to detect fine‐scale differences and that resource partitioning may have also masked faunal stratification. We propose that fine‐scale differences in resources between the canopy and the ground, together with strong microclimate gradients, are likely to be important in structuring the vertical stratification of insect assemblages at the level of species, but not with respect to functional groups.