Quantifying the Origin of Woodcock Wintering in France

Abstract: Migratory birds wintering at the same location are usually coming from populations of different origins, in variable proportions. Using data from individuals banded on their wintering grounds and recovered on their breeding areas, we show that such proportions are estimable given that 1) all breeding populations are identified, and 2) the wintering population can be stratified into ≥1 more site than the number of breeding populations. We applied this technique to woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) banded while wintering in France (N = 35,000) and recovered in other European countries (N = 520). We estimated that the proportion of eastern woodcock among those wintering in France varied spatially, ranging from 70% in northwest France to nearly 100% in southeast France, and increased substantially over the last 15 years. Overall, the method appears powerful to quantify spatial variation of the composition of a population receiving individuals from various origins.     

Polymorphism of intron-1 in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene of Anopheles gambiae s.s. populations from Cameroon with emphasis on insecticide knockdown resistance mutations

Sequence variation at the intron-1 of the voltage-gated sodium channel gene in Anopheles gambiae M- and S-forms from Cameroon was assessed to explore the number of mutational events originating knockdown resistance ( kdr ) alleles. Mosquitoes were sampled between December 2005 and June 2006 from three geographical areas: (i) Magba in the western region; (ii) Loum, Tiko, Douala, Kribi, and Campo along the Atlantic coast; and (iii) Bertoua, in the eastern continental plateau. Both 1014S and 1014F kdr alleles were found in the S-form with overall frequencies of 14% and 42% respectively. Only the 1014F allele was found in the M-form at lower frequency (11%). Analysis of a 455 bp region of intron-1 upstream the kdr locus revealed four independent mutation events originating kdr alleles, here named MS1 -1014F, S1-1014S and S2-1014S kdr- intron-1 haplotypes in S-form and MS3-1014F kdr- intron-1 haplotype in the M-form. Furthermore, there was evidence for mutual introgression of kdr 1014F allele between the two molecular forms, MS1 and MS3 being widely shared by them. Although no M/S hybrid was observed in analysed samples, this wide distribution of haplotypes MS1 and MS3 suggests inter-form hybridizing at significant level and emphasizes the rapid diffusion of the kdr alleles in Africa. The mosaic of genetic events found in Cameroon is representative of the situation in the West–Central African region and highlights the importance of evaluating the spatial and temporal evolution of kdr alleles for a better management of insecticide resistance.     

The challenge of remobilisation in plant nitrogen economy. A survey of physio-agronomic and molecular approaches

In this article, we discuss the ways in which our understanding of the controls of nitrogen remobilisation in model species and crop plants have been increased through classical physiological studies and the use of transgenic plants or mutants with modified capacities for nitrogen or carbon assimilation and recycling. An improved understanding of the transition between nitrogen assimilation and nitrogen recycling will be vital, if improvements in crop nitrogen use efficiency are to reduce the need for excessive input of fertilisers and improve or stabilise yield. In this review, we present an overall view of past work and more recent studies on this topic, using different plants systems and models depicting the biochemical and molecular events occurring during the transition between sink leaves and source leaves. These models may provide a way to identify the nature of the metabolic or developmental signals triggering in a coordinate manner nitrogen and carbon recycling during leaf senescence. Another way of developing crop varieties with improved nitrogen use efficiency, and identifying key elements controlling the process of nitrogen remobilisation, is the use of quantitative genetics. We present and discuss recent findings on the genetic variability and basis of nitrogen use efficiency in crops in general and in maize in particular. A genetic approach using maize recombinant inbred lines was undertaken allowing the detection of Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) for morphological traits, grain yield and its components under high nitrogen or low nitrogen input. Co‐mapping was observed between genes encoding enzymes involved in nitrogen assimilation (nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase) and these Quantitative Trait Loci. All coincidences were consistent with the expected physiological function of the corresponding enzyme activities. This work strongly suggests that in maize, nitrogen use efficiency can be improved both by marker‐assisted selection and genetic engineering.     

Oral susceptibility of Aedes albopictus to dengue type 2 virus: a study of infection kinetics, using the polymerase chain reaction for viral detection

Female Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, aged 1 week, were infected with DEN-2 dengue virus. The kinetics of infection in mosquito brain and mesenteron were monitored using DNA probes with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of target DNA sequences coding for DEN-2 virus envelope protein, compared with the standard immunofluorescence assay technique (IFA). Rates of virus detection in the mesenteron of orally infected mosquitoes rose to 38% by day 4 post-inoculation, then declined until day 8, followed by irregular peaks around days 11-14 and subsequently. In mosquito head squashes, virus was detected from day 4 onwards, reaching 38% positive by day 18. Salivary glands of all the same females were found to be positive for virus by day 8 onwards. Parenterally infected Ae.albopictus females were all positive for DEN-2 in the brain and salivary glands 8 days post-inoculation. In every case, results obtained with the PCR matched those from the IFA. Our DNA probe with PCR procedure can therefore be utilized as a sensitive and reliable method for studies of DEN-2 vectors.     

Are diatoms good integrators of temporal variability in stream water quality?

1. Although diatoms have been used for many decades for river monitoring around the world, studies showing evidence that diatoms integrate temporal variability in water chemistry are scarce. 2. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the response of the Eastern Canadian Diatom Index (IDEC: Indice Diatomées de l’Est du Canada) with respect to temporal water chemistry variability using three different spatio‐temporal data sets. 3. Along a large phosphorus gradient, the IDEC was highly correlated with averaged water chemistry data. Along within‐stream phosphorus gradients, the IDEC integrated phosphorus over various periods of time, depending on the trophic status of the site studied (Boyer, Nicolet or Ste. Anne river) and variability in nutrient concentration. 4. In the Ste. Anne River, where nutrient concentrations were low and generally stable, an input of phosphorus induced a rapid change in diatom community structure and IDEC value within the following week. In the mesotrophic Nicolet River, the observed integration period was approximately 2 weeks. Diatom communities in the eutrophic Boyer River appeared to be adapted to frequent and significant fluctuations in nutrient concentrations. In this system, the IDEC therefore showed a slower response to short term fluctuations and integrated nutrient concentrations over a period of 5 weeks. 5. Our results suggest that the integration period varies as a function of trophic status and nutrient concentration variability in the streams. Oligotrophic streams are more sensitive to nutrient variations and their diatom communities are directly altered by nutrient increase, while diatom communities of eutrophic rivers are less sensitive to nutrient fluctuations and major variations take a longer time to be integrated into index values. 6. The longer integration period in the eutrophic environment may be attributed to the complexity of the diatom community. The results from this study showed that the diversity and evenness of the communities increased with trophic status.