New Mechanism of Melanosomes Transport into Hair of Lambs of Different Breeds and Genotypes

By light microscopic investigation of skin and wool specimens of newborn lambs, we discovered a previously unknown mechanism for melanosomes transport in the process of dermal papilla melanocytes regular mitosis and migration into the hair shaft. This mechanism plays a great role in hair pigmentation especially in dominant (E^D/E^D) and recessive (A^a/A^a) black lambs of all investigated breeds. The rate of pigment cell mitosis, proliferation, and migration differs greatly in lambs of investigated color genotypes. In black genotypes the rate of melanocyte mitosis is very high and is approximately the same as in the hair bulb matrix cells, whereas in brown and red genotypes this rate is much lower. Melanocyte mitosis in the light red and tan groups was not found.     

Columnal ontogeny in articulate crinoids and its implications for their phylogeny

Simms, Michael J. 1969 01 15: Columnal ontogeny in articulate crinoids and its implications for their phylogeny. Lethaia , Vol. 22, pp. 61–68. Oslo. ISSN 0024–1164.
Detailed doamentation of columnal ontogeny in several Lower Jurassic isocrinids reveals a number of features which are of phylogenetic significance. Columnal proportions are determined by two largely independent growth vectors. Columnal diameter is primarily a function of cup size at the time of formation, though it may subsequently undergo considerable increase through lateral accretion. Columnal height is largely independent of cup size except for a gradual increase with the growth of the whole animal. Columnal diameter increases at a much greater rate than columnal height and so columnals are relatively lower in large individuals. Heterochronous variation in vertical growth rate or the extent of lateral accretion in columnals may significantly alter their shape. The smallest isocrinid columnals found (0.35 mm diameter) have synarthrial articula. The transformation to a typical pentaradiate symplexy, via a triradiate stage, occurs at a diameter of about 0.75 mm. Synarthrial articula are unknown in millericrinid columnals, which instead have symplectial articula at small diameters (0.45 mm). The presence of synarthrial articula in the stems of juvenile isocrinids, and their absence in millericrinids. supports previous hypotheses concerning derivation of bourgueticrinids from an isocrinid, rather than a millericrinid, ancestor.     

Taphonomic and paleoecologic implications of flow-induced forces on concavo-convex articulate brachiopods: an experimental approach

The Orientation of benthic marine organisms may be disturbed by flow-induced forces (i.e. drag and lift) caused by wave and current activity. Drag and lift are partly a function of organism size and shape. Consequently, morphology may affect stability (defined as resistance to reorientation, flipping, or entrainment) both during the life of an organism and after its death. An understanding of drag-and-lift effects is therefore essential to the interpretation of paleoecology and biostratinomic processes. An experimental method for quantifying the relative effects of flow-induced forces is described. These forces are measured during flume experiments using transducers and plaster replicas of fossils. As an illustration of the method's potential for taphonomic research, results from experiments investigating the effects of concavo-convex morphologies of articulate brachiopods are presented. Concave-up and convex-up orientations are commonly used to infer paleohydraulic conditions. Two geniculate brachiopods (Rafinesquina alternata and Leptaena richrnondensis) and three flattened forms (a second morphotype of Rafinesquina altemata, Strophodonta demissa , and Tropidoleptus carinatus) were tested in convex-up and concave-up postures and in three azimuthal orientations (hingeline oriented upstream, hingeline downstream, and hingeline parallel to flow). Concave-up orientations consistently exhibit higher drag than convex-up orientations, and this supports the common observation that valved fossils are typically found convex up in paleoenvironments dominated by traction transport. The presence of geniculation significantly increases drag. Lift is relatively insignificant for all models in most orientations. □ Taphonomy, paleoecology, brachiopods, flow-induced forces, transport.     

How New Guinea rainforest flower resources vary in time and space: Implications for nectarivorous birds

Abstract Variability in spatial and temporal patterning of flowering by populations of rainforest trees fed upon by honeyeaters and flower-visiting parrots was studied for 2 years in lowland tropical hill forest in Papua New Guinea. All 2200 trees in a 3 ha plot were tagged, identified, mapped and monitored monthly. Of 274 tree species present, 86 flowered during the course of the study; during any given month, approximately 20% of the species flowering that month were visited by nectarivorous birds. Results showed that overall flower resources (total number of species, and number of bird-pollinated species, individuals and flowers) fluctuated during the year, decreased during the dry season and increased during the wet season. In addition, there was a wide range of temporal variation within and among tree species in length and timing of flowering period, percentage of each conspecific population flowering from year to year, and degree of synchrony among flowering conspecifics. Spatial dispersion of tree populations also varied, from clumps to scattered single individuals. Resident bird species were correlated with synchronously flowering trees, whereas nomadic bird species were correlated with asynchronously flowering trees. Resident birds were also associated with smaller blooming displays per tree, whereas nomadic birds were associated with trees that bloomed massively. There was no correlation between avian nomadism and spatial dispersion of tree populations. Thus nomadic birds seem to range in search of rich but unpredictable resources; resident birds may rely more on predictable, but smaller resources.     

MEMBRANE LIFTING TECHNIQUE FOR RAPID DETECTION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI 0157:H7 IN INOCULATED GROUND MEATS

A membrane lifting technique was developed for direct rapid detection of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 in inoculated ground meats. Duplicate groups of 2 meatballs were inoculated with volumes of 0.1-ml of a serial dilution (1:10) of E. coli 0157:H7 or a mixed culture containing one strain of E. coli 0157:H7 and a non-0157:H7E. coli serotype (E. coli ATCC 25922). Each meatball was sampled by sandwiching with 2 pieces of nitrocellulose membranes and pressing against each other to the center of the meatball. The membranes were in contact with the meats for 10 min to lift the bacteria. The membranes were removed and incubated on MacConkey-sorbitol agar plates with the meat contact side up. After 18 h incubation at 37C, an immunostain was performed directly on the membranes for detection of the presence or absence of E. coli 0157:H7. This method was found to be sensitive enough to detect as few as 1 to 2 cells of E. coli 0157:H7 inoculated on surfaces of 18-g meatballs. This method might be used as a rapid presumptive test for E. coli 0157:H7.     

The encrustation of fossil and recent sea-urchin tests: ecological and taphonomic significance

A comparison of fossil ( Echitwlampas sp. from the Lower Miocene Zogelsdorf Formation, Austria) and Recent ( Schizaster canaliferus from the northern Adriatic Sea) irregular sea-urchin tests shows that, upon their death, burrowing echinoids can serve as a substrate for a dense epigrowth. Size, shape, stable orientation, and surface residence-time were identified as key factors governing encrustation. The encrusters on fossil Echinolampas were bryozoans, serpulid polychaetes, barnacles, and coralline algae, while the recent material was initially encrusted by serpulids and hydrozoan colonies, and ultimately covered by the full range of sessile, hemi-sessile, and vagile species characterizing the benthic community in the Adriatic. In Echinolampas , epigrowth was more abundant on the lower (oral) surface; this specific distribution was echoed in S. canaliferus , where epigrowth started on the bottom side and grew upward. This indicates that the tests have a stable orientation and a surface residence-time long enough to allow intense encrustation. A taphonomic model is developed, and the role of encrustation on such special substrates for overall community structure is discussed. The Recent/fossil comparison provides new insights for both fields of study: the recent material indicates the role of soft-bodied faunas as well as the complexity of small-scaled ecological processes; the fossil material reflects many of the above phenomena and adds important taphonomic details on the fate of encrusted biogenic structures and on encruster growth patterns and distributions.     

The Possible Involvement of Cyclic AMP and Volatile Substance (s) in the Development of a Macrocyst-Forming Strain of Dictyostelium mucoroides

A mutant MF1 previously isolated from Dictyostelium mucoroides -7 (Dm7) formed macrocysts with or without light when plated on agar at high cell dinsities. At lower cell densities, however, the MF1 cells formed only fruiting bodies. This failure to form macrocysts was shown to be due to the subthreshfold concentration of a volatile substance(s) required for macrocyst formation. Although ammonia is a volatile substance produced by both the Dm7 and MF1 cells, no evidence of its involvement in macrocyst formation was obtained. Mixing the Dm7 and MF1 in a one-to-one ratio resulted only in fruiting body formation suggesting that the Dm7 cells produced a factor which allowed MF1 cells to form fruiting bodies. This factor may be cyclic AMP (cAMP) since addition of cAMP to the medium directed development of MF1 cells to fruiting body formation. The effect of cAMP was exhibited most conspicuously when MF1 cells were exposed at the aggregation stage. Based on these results it is suggested that developmental pathway of the D. mucoroides macrocystforming strain Dm7 and its mutant MF1 may be determined by the relative concentrations of the volatile, macrocyst-inducing substance(s) and cAMP at the aggregation stage.     

Distribution of Fibronectin and Collagen during Mouse Limb and Palate Development

Indirect immunofluorescence has been used to study the distribution of fibronectin and collagen types I, II, and III in the developing primary and secondary palatal processes and forelimb buds of the Swiss Webster (NIH) mouse. In the palatal processes fibronectin and types I and III collagen are distributed throughout the mesenchyme. Fibronectin is present in the basement membrane, while types I and III collagen are localized in a linear, discontinuous fashion beneath the basement membrane. Fibronectin is not observed in the epithelium, including the presumptive fusion areas. In the forelimb bud these components show a similar distribution prior to chondrogenesis (early day 11). When chondrogenesis commences (late day 11 or early day 12) fibronectin and, to a lesser degree, types I and III collagen are apparently concentrated in the core mesenchyme, suggesting that fibronectin has a role in initiating chondrogenesis, perhaps by increasing cellular aggregation. Type II collagen is observed only in chondrogenic regions. The codistribution of fibronectin and types I and III collagen supports in vitro studies which indicate that cells use fibronectin to bind to collagen in the matrix. The developing chondrogenic regions appear to lose fibronectin gradually, concomitant with the appearance of type II collagen, suggesting that fibronectin is not involved in the maintenance of functional chondrocytes in their matrices.