A Multinucleated Marine Amoeba Which Digests Seaweeds1

Marine amoebae were isolated during a search for organisms which degrade cell walls of seaweed. One of the isolates, a multinucleated amoeba (referred to here as Amoeba-I-7 or Am-I-7) was isolated from live tissues of the brown seaweed Sargassum muticum. It digested a variety of brown and red seaweeds including their walls and cuticles. Axenic clone cultures were isolated from cells that migrated on agar. Cultures were grown on agar or in liquid media. Seaweeds, seaweed wall extracts, and unicellular algae were tested as food sources.     

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in arctiid moths (Lep.) with a discussion on host plant relationships and the role of these secondary plant substances in the Arctiidae

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) have been identified in six species of Arctiidae reared on Senecio and Crotalaria. These include senecionine, seneciphylline, integerrimine, jacobine, jacozine, jacoline, jaconine and a metabolite (C₁₅H₂₅NO₅) from Senecio , and monocrotaline, trichodesmine and crispatine from Crotalaria.
The all-red aberration of Tyria jacobaeae (var. conyi) contained much less of the metabolite than normal examples of this species. Female Spilosoma lutea reared on the same plants of S. jacobaea contained markedly more jacobine and jacoline than die males.
Host plant relationships and secondary plant substances are discussed. It is suggested that the Arctiid moths' own deterrent secretions, directed against vertebrate predators, pre-adapts them for feeding on foliage likewise protected against large herbivores by toxic secondary plant substances such as cardenolides and pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These latter substances are more toxic to vertebrate than to insect herbivores, and their dual function of deterrent and insect aphrodisiac puts a premium on their sequestration and storage once a species has achieved the initial steps, and occupied the plant niche concerned. It is further suggested that the polyphagous habits of the Arctiidae result in a more equitable distribution of die secondary plant substances within the Mullerian complex concerned, thus providing a generalized warning message for the potential vertebrate predator.     

Phenotypic correlates of Clock gene variation in a wild blue tit population: evidence for a role in seasonal timing of reproduction

The timing of reproduction in birds varies considerably within populations and is often under strong natural selection. Individual timing within years is dependent on a range of environmental factors in addition to having an additive genetic basis. In vertebrates, an increasing amount is known about the molecular basis for variation in biological timing. The Clock gene includes a variable poly-glutamine (poly-Q) repeat influencing behaviour and physiology. Recent work in birds, fish and insects has demonstrated associations between Clock genotype and latitude across populations, which match latitudinal variation in breeding time. In this study, we investigated the phenotypic correlates of variation in Clock genotype within a single blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus population over two successive breeding seasons. In females, but not in males, we observed a general trend for birds with fewer poly-Q repeats to breed earlier in the season. Incubation duration was shorter in both females and males with fewer repeats at the polymorphic Clock locus. Poly-Q Clock allele-frequency was homogenously distributed within the study population and did not exhibit any consistent environment-related variation. We further tested for effects of Clock genotype on reproductive success and survival, and found that females with fewer poly-Q repeats produced a higher number of fledged offspring. Our results therefore suggest that (i) selection in females, but not in males, for fewer poly-Q repeats may be operating, (ii) the across–population associations in timing of breeding involving this locus could be linked to variation within populations, and (iii) the Clock gene might be involved in local adaptation to seasonal environments.     

Isolation of 10 microsatellite markers in Crepidula coquimbensis (Gastropod,Calyptraeideae) for parentage analyses

Marine invertebrates show a high diversity of embryonic developmental modes and reproductive behaviour. However, little is known about the factors that are promoting the evolution of different strategies. The gastropod Crepidula coquimbensis has a direct embryonic development with encapsulated embryos showing a cannibalistic behaviour. Preliminary observations suggest that victim embryos are not randomly chosen. With intracapsular multipaternity, the intensity of cannibalism might vary according to the relatedness of the siblings. Paternity analyses based on highly polymorphic markers can provide valuable insights into this cannibalism behaviour. Ten polymorphic microsatellite loci were thus developed: the level of polymorphism is large enough to perform paternity analysis and investigate relatedness in this species.     

Breeding behaviour, home range and habitat selection in Rock Firefinches Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis in the wet and dry season in central Nigeria

Knowledge of a species’ movement behaviour and habitat choice is a prerequisite for assessing its ecological requirements to plan successful conservation strategies. Little is known about these factors in the Rock Firefinch, a recently described species which is probably endemic to the Jos Plateau in central Nigeria. We investigated home range size, habitat use and breeding behaviour of the Rock Firefinch in Amurum forest reserve in central Nigeria during the wet (August–October) and the dry season (November–December) using radiotracking. Birds showed high site fidelity. They mainly moved alone or in pairs but did not have exclusive home ranges. Home range size tended to be larger during the dry season due to long movements to water sources. Birds generally preferred inselberg habitat and avoided farmland. During the dry season they additionally utilized gallery forests where water was readily available, and as a result of having to cross scrub savannah to get to water, scrub savannah was also more heavily used during the dry season. Birds bred between the late rainy (September–October) and the early dry season (November). Nest‐sites were associated with rocky boulders. Both sexes contributed to incubation. Daily egg survival rate calculated using the Mayfield method was 0.89 (0.83–0.95 95% confidence interval); no nests failed during the chick stage, but sample size was only four nests. Of all 14 nests found, 50% were depredated and only 29% of breeding attempts succeeded in producing Rock Firefinch chicks. A second breeding attempt was recorded when the first one failed. Chick production just about compensated adult mortality (measured in a separate study at the site) such that the population is probably stable at present. However, given the large uncertainty in our underlying assumptions, more data are needed to confirm this. We suggest that the presence of inselberg habitat in close proximity to water sources is the essential and limiting resource for this species.     

A revision of Cerdia (Caryophyllaceae)

Cerdia is a poorly understood genus of minute cushiony plants endemic to Mexico that is traditionally placed in subfamily Paronychioideae, tribe Polycarpeae (Caryophyllaceae). Morphological observations and phylogenetic analysis of ITS DNA sequences were carried out to determine the number of species, heretofore controversial, that constitute the genus as well as its position within Caryophyllaceae. Samples of Cerdia were collected through its entire range of distribution and together with previous specimens were used in morphological analyses. Nineteen terminal taxa were considered in a phylogenetic analysis with representatives of the different lineages in Caryophyllaceae. Results indicated that Cerdia is a monotypic genus, including only one variable species, C .  virescens , but its phylogenetic affinities remain doubtful.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 152 , 1–13.     

Genetic diversity and differentiation in natural and reintroduced populations of Bencomia exstipulata and comparisons with B. caudata (Rosaceae) in the Canary Islands: an analysis using microsatellites

Variation at five polymorphic microsatellite loci was used to investigate genetic diversity and differentiation of two tetraploid Canarian endemics, Bencomia exstipulata and B. caudata. Data were analysed and are discussed in terms of tetrasomic (autotetraploid) and disomic (allotetraploid) inheritance. In both cases, genetic diversity values were similar to those described in other tetraploid plant species. High genetic differentiation between the only two described natural populations of B. exstipulata was detected (F_ST = 0.411). Bayesian cluster analysis revealed a geographical structure with distinct genetic groups from each island. High genetic differentiation and low genetic diversity of the B. exstipulata population from Tenerife suggest a recent population bottleneck, perhaps caused by the most recent major volcanic eruption, for this natural locality. This may be heightened by possible inbreeding depression and the monoecy of these species. Polymorphic microsatellite loci were also tested across all species in the Bencomia alliance. These reliably amplified the target sequence, suggesting a high degree of conservation of the sequences flanking the microsatellites. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 160 , 429–441.     

Unidirectional Ca2+ Fluxes in Roots of Rye (Secale cereale L). A Comparison of Excised Roots with Roots of Intact Plants

The unidirectional Ca²⁺ fluxes across the plasma membrane andtonoplast were determined in both excised roots and roots ofintact seedlings of rye (Secale cereale L. cv. Rheidol). Theunidirectional Ca²⁺ fluxes across the plasma membrane and tonoplastmeasured in excised roots were of a similar order of magnitudeto those determined in roots of intact plants. Influx and effluxof Ca²⁺ across the root plasma membrane were similar (estimatedto be between 0·7 and 3·4 µmol g