Sex ratio variation as a function of host size in Pseudacteon flies (Diptera: Phoridae), parasitoids of Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Some Pseudacteon (Diptera: Phoridae) flies are parasitoids of Solenopsis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) ant workers in North and South America. Laboratory studies of sex allocation revealed a pattern of sex ratio variation as a function of host size, with more females arising from larger hosts. Environmental sex determination is a possible mechanism for the observed pattern, and examination of Pseudacteon life history reveals several traits assumed to be important in models predicting conditions under which environmental sex determination is favoured. Sex allocation patterns of Pseudacteon are compared with theoretical predictions and empirical data from better-studied hymenoptcran parasitoids that have haplodiploid sex determination. The pattern of sex ratio variation observed has important implications for biocontrol efforts of imported Solenopsis fire ants by the introduction of Pseudacteon parasitoids.     

Sphaeromyxa maiyai sp. n. (Protozoa: Myxosporidea), Coelozoic Parasite of the Pacific Tomcod,Microgadus proxiimus*

SYNOPSIS. Sphaeromyxa maiyai sp. n. (Myxosporidea: Myxiidae) is described from the gall bladder of the Pacific tomcod Microgadus proximus Girard, from Newport, Oregon. The plasmodial stage is discoid averaging between 1 and 2 cm. The spore averages 27.6 × 5.6 μm in breadth, with pyriform polar capsules measuring 9.3 × 3.7 μm. Scanning electron microscopy reveals the presence of numerous longitudinal striations.     

Patterns of Testa-imposed Seed Dormancy in Native Australian Legumes

The testa-imposed seed dormancy of 34 native Australian speciesof Faboideae and Mimosoideae was examined immediately afterthe seeds matured and again after 3.5 years of dry storage inthe laboratory. Three groups of dormancy patterns are recognized:17 species (of the Mirbelieae and Acacieae) that have a relativelysmall nondormant fraction (0–10%) of their ripe seedsand that maintain this fraction through time; ten species (ofthe Mirbelieae) that have a relatively large non-dormant fraction(10–40%) of their ripe seeds and that maintain this fractionthrough time; and seven species (of the Bossiaeeae and Phaseoleae)that have a relatively small non-dormant fraction when the seedsripen, and have this fraction increase significantly throughtime. The species in the second group have smaller seeds thando those of the first and third groups, while the species inthe third group have a different testa construction from thosein the first and second groups. For all of the non-dormant seedstested, the water permeability is not localized only at thelens. Leguminosae, Fabaceae, Mimosoideae, Papilionoideae, Faboideae, legume seeds, seed dormancy, hard-seededness, dormancy loss, germination     

A Cladistic Analysis of the Evolutionary Relationships of the Members of the Tyrosinase Gene Family Using Sequence Data

Recently, DNA sequence data have been published on tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related proteins (TRPs) in a wide variety of vertebrates ranging from Rana to Homo. These proteins are in turn members of a larger family of binuclear copper-binding proteins, which all contain two highly conserved copper-binding domains. This gene family also includes tyrosinases from fungi and bacteria as well as arthropodan and molluscan hemocyanins. Parsimony-based alignment and tree construction algorithms (Malign, vl.85 and PAUP, 3.1.1) were used to analyze the diversification of both the evolutionarily conserved copper-binding domains i6n copper-binding proteins in general as well as the diversification of the vertebrate tyrosinase gene family more specifically. These analyses show that the diversification of the vertebrate tyrosinase gene family minimally predates the diversification of vertebrates. Vertebrate tyrosinases proper first diverged from an ancestral tyrosinase-related protein (TRP) that then subsequently diverged to form tyrosinase-related protein-Is (TRP-1s) and tyrosinase-related protein-2s (TRP-2s).     

Assessing Impacts of Wind-Energy Development on Nocturnally Active Birds and Bats: A Guidance Document

ABSTRACT Our purpose is to provide researchers, consultants, decision-makers, and other stakeholders with guidance to methods and metrics for investigating nocturnally active birds and bats in relation to utility-scale wind-energy development. The primary objectives of such studies are to 1) assess potential impacts on resident and migratory species, 2) quantify fatality rates on resident and migratory populations, 3) determine the causes of bird and bat fatalities, and 4) develop, assess, and implement methods for reducing risks to bird and bat populations and their habitats. We describe methods and tools and their uses, discuss limitations, assumptions, and data interpretation, present case studies and examples, and offer suggestions for improving studies on nocturnally active birds and bats in relation to wind-energy development. We suggest best practices for research and monitoring studies using selected methods and metrics, but this is not intended as cookbook. We caution that each proposed and executed study will be different, and that decisions about which methods and metrics to use will depend upon several considerations, including study objectives, expected and realized risks to bird and bat populations, as well as budgetary and logistical considerations. Developed to complement and extend the existing National Wind Coordinating Committee document “Methods and Metrics for Assessing Impacts of Wind Energy Facilities on Wildlife” (Anderson et al. 1999), we provide information that stakeholders can use to aid in evaluating potential and actual impacts of wind power development on nocturnally active birds and bats. We hope that decision-makers will find these guidelines helpful as they assemble information needed to support the permitting process, and that the public will use this guidance document as they participate in the permitting processes. We further hope that the wind industry will find valuable guidance from this document when 1) complying with data requirements as a part of the permitting process, 2) evaluating sites for potential development, 3) assessing impacts of operational wind-energy facilities, and 4) mitigating local and cumulative impacts on nocturnally active birds and bats.