Resource partitioning through oceanic segregation of foraging juvenile southern elephant seals (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mirounga leonina</Emphasis>)

In highly dynamic and unpredictable environments such as the Southern Ocean, species that have evolved behaviors that reduce the effects of intra-specific competition may have a selective advantage. This is particularly true when juveniles face disadvantages when foraging due to morphological or physiological limitation, which is the case for many marine mammals. We tracked the at-sea movements of 48 juvenile southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) between the ages of 1 and 4 years from the population at Macquarie Island using locations derived from recorded light levels. There were significant differences in the total amount of the Southern Ocean covered by the different age-groups. The younger seals used a smaller area than the older seals. On average, the younger individuals also made more trips to sea than the older seals and did not travel as far on each trip. Females spent more time at sea than males and there were no significant differences between the total areas used by male and females. In summary, younger seals remained closer to the island at all times, and they spent more time in more northerly regions that older seals. These differences in behavior created temporal and spatial segregation between juveniles of different ages. Therefore, we suggest that these temporal and spatial separations help to avoid intra-specific competition for resources on land, space on beaches, and at-sea foraging areas. Such modifications of haul-out timing and behavior enable them to exploit a patchy and unpredictable environment.     

Can 1000 reviews be wrong? Actin, alpha-Catenin, and adherens junctions

Coupling between cell adhesion and the actin cytoskeleton is thought to require a stable link between the cadherin-catenin complex and actin that is mediated by alpha-catenin. In this issue of Cell, the Weis and Nelson groups call this static model into question, showing that alpha-catenin can directly regulate actin dynamics (Drees et al., 2005 and Yamada et al., 2005).     

Concentrations of pathogens and indicators in animal feces in the Sydney watershed

A fecal analysis survey was undertaken to quantify animal inputs of pathogenic and indicator microorganisms in the temperate watersheds of Sydney, Australia. The feces from a range of domestic animals and wildlife were analyzed for the indicator bacteria fecal coliforms and Clostridium perfringens spores, the pathogenic protozoa Cryptosporidium and Giardia, and the enteric viruses adenovirus, enterovirus, and reovirus. Pathogen and fecal indicator concentrations were generally higher in domestic animal feces than in wildlife feces. Future studies to quantify potential pathogen risks in drinking-water watersheds should thus focus on quantifying pathogen loads from domestic animals and livestock rather than wildlife.     

F<Subscript>1</Subscript>F<Subscript>0</Subscript>-ATP Synthase Complex Interactions <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vivo</Emphasis> Can Occur in the Absence of the Dimer Specific Subunit e

Evidence suggests membrane bound F₁F₀-ATPase complexes form stable associations such that dimers can be retrieved from detergent lysates of mitochondria isolated from a range of sources including algae, higher plants, yeast and bovine heart, and plant chloroplasts. The physiological relevance of these interactions is not clear but may be connected with the formation and structure of mitochondrial cristae. We sought to demonstrate, in vivo, the association of F₁F₀-ATPases in yeast cells co-expressing two b subunits each fused at its C-terminus to a GFP variant appropriate for fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET; BFP as the donor and GFP as the acceptor fluorophore). Both subunit b-GFP and b-BFP fusions were assembled into functional complexes. FRET was observed from enzyme complexes in molecular proximity in respiring cells providing the first demonstration of the association, in vivo, of F₁F₀-ATPase complexes. Moreover, FRET was observed within cells lacking the dimer specific subunit e, indicating structured associations can occur within the inner membrane in the absence of subunit e.     

High capacity implantable data recorders: system design and experience in canines and Denning black bears

BACKGROUND: Implantable medical devices have increasingly large capacities for storing patient data as a diagnostic aid and to allow patient monitoring. Although these devices can store a significant amount of data, an increased ability for data storage was required for chronic monitoring in recent physiological studies. METHOD OF APPROACH: Novel high capacity implantable data recorders were designed for use in advanced physiological studies of canines and free-ranging black bears. These hermitically sealed titanium encased recorders were chronically implanted and programmed to record intrabody broadband electrical activity to monitor electrocardiograms and electromyograms, and single-axis acceleration to document relative activities. RESULTS: Changes in cardiac T-wave morphology were characterized in the canines over a 6 month period, providing new physiological data for the design of algorithms and filtering schemes that could be employed to avoid inappropriate implantable defibrillator shocks. Unique characteristics of bear hibernation physiology were successfully identified in the black bears, including: heart rate, respiratory rate, gross body movement, and shiver An unanticipated high rejection rate of these devices occurred in the bears, with five of six being externalized during the overwintering period, including two devices implanted in the peritoneal cavity. CONCLUSIONS: High capacity implantable data recorders were designed and utilized for the collection of long-term physiological data in both laboratory and extreme field environments. The devices described were programmable to accommodate the diverse research protocols. Additionally, we have described substantial differences in the response of two species to a common device. Variations in the foreign body response of different mammals must be identified and taken into consideration when choosing tissue-contacting materials in the application of biomedical technology to physiologic research.     

Characterization of pES213, a small mobilizable plasmid from Vibrio fischeri

Most Vibrio fischeri strains isolated from the Euprymna scolopes light organ carry plasmids, often including both a large (>40kb) plasmid, and one or more small (<12kb) plasmids. The large plasmids share homology with pES100, which is the lone plasmid in V. fischeri type strain ES114. pES100 appears to encode a conjugative system similar to that on plasmid R721. The small plasmids lack extensive similarity to pES100, but they almost always occur in cells that also harbor a large plasmid resembling pES100. We found that many or all of these small plasmids share homology with pES213, a plasmid in strain ES213. We determined the 5501-bp pES213 sequence and generated selectable antibiotic resistance encoding pES213 derivatives, which enabled us to examine replication, retention, and transfer in V. fischeri. An 863-bp fragment of pES213 with features characteristic of theta-type replicons conferred replication without requiring any pES213 open reading frame (ORF). We estimated that pES213 derivatives were maintained at 9.4 copies per genome, which corresponds well with a model of random plasmid segregation to daughter cells and the approximately 10(-4) per generation frequency of plasmid loss. pES213 derivatives mobilized between V. fischeri strains at frequencies up to approximately 10(-4) in culture and in the host, apparently by employing the pES100 conjugative apparatus. pES213 carries two homologs of the putative pES100 origin of transfer (oriT), and V. fischeri strains lacking the pES100 conjugative relaxase, including a relaxase mutant, failed to serve as donors for transmission of pES213 derivatives. In other systems, genes directing conjugative transfer can function in trans to oriT, so it was noteworthy that ORFs adjacent to oriT, VFB51 in pES100 and traYZ in pES213, enhanced transfer 100- to 1000-fold when provided in cis. We also identified and disrupted the V. fischeri recA gene. RecA was not required for stable pES213 replication but surprisingly was required in donors for efficient transfer of pES213 derivatives. These studies provide an explanation for the prevalence and co-occurrence of pES100- and pES213-type plasmids, illuminate novel elements of pES213 mobilization, and provide the foundation for new genetic tools in V. fischeri.     

Strain development in Bacillus licheniformis: construction of biologically contained mutants deficient in sporulation and DNA repair

By introducing defined deletions in recA and an essential sporulation gene (spoIV), stable mutant strains of Bacillus licheniformis were obtained which are totally asporogenous and severely affected in DNA repair, and thus being UV-hypersensitive. Studies on growth in various liquid media as well as on amylase production revealed no differences of the mutants when compared to the wild type. Hence, such genes appear to be suitable disruption targets for achieving passive biological containment in this industrially exploited species.     

Emerging pathogens: the epidemiology and evolution of species jumps

Novel pathogens continue to emerge in human, domestic animal, wildlife and plant populations, yet the population dynamics of this kind of biological invasion remain poorly understood. Here, we consider the epidemiological and evolutionary processes underlying the initial introduction and subsequent spread of a pathogen in a new host population, with special reference to pathogens that originate by jumping from one host species to another. We conclude that, although pathogen emergence is inherently unpredictable, emerging pathogens tend to share some common traits, and that directly transmitted RNA viruses might be the pathogens that are most likely to jump between host species.     

How to manage biological invasions under globalization

Protecting national borders against biological invasions is becoming increasingly difficult because those whose actions result in invasions seldom bear legal responsibility for those actions. Invasion costs are often an externality (an unintended side effect) of international trade. Externalities are best dealt with by internalizing them; that is, by getting those who harm society to meet the cost. This is the 'polluter pays principle', which, under current trade rules, is difficult to implement. Tariffs could, however, be used to confront exporters with the costs of their actions, and the right to do this should be embedded in trade agreements. At the same time, international aid could be used to protect donor societies against the inability of some other countries to take appropriate biosecurity measures. The impact of invasions can thus be reduced by tackling their economic externalities.