Zur Physiologie des Formen- und Bewegungssehens II

Zusammenfassung Eine Analyse der optischen Situation, in die man die Biene bei Sehschärfeprüfungen zu bringen pflegt, ergibt, daß die Auflösung einer Abbildung durch das eucone Appositionsauge in erster Linie von der Musterabhebung bestimmt ist. Bei einer Darbietung einzelner Figuren ist die Abhebung, bzw. ihr Verhältnis zur Abhebungsschwelle des Ommatidiums, der einzige begrenzende Faktor. Handelt es sich um die Auflösung äquidistanter Muster, so tritt als zweiter begrenzender Faktor die Winkelöffnung der Ommatidien hinzu, insofern, als nach Unterschreitung der Ommenwinkel durch die Streifenwinkel die Musterauflösung eine unvollkommene wird. In der unvollkommenen Auflösung erscheinen die Konturabstände vergröbert und die Abhebungen vermindert. Es bedarf also einer Erhöhung der Helligkeitsdifferenzen des Musters, um ein unvollkommen auflösbares Muster sichtbar zu machen. Liegt das Kriterium für das Auftreten einer Bildgliederung in einer gerichteten Bewegungsreaktion (als Folge einer Verschiebung des Prüfungsmusters), dann spielt der Öffnungswinkel insofern noch weiter eine begrenzende Rolle, als bei bestimmten Lagen der Abbildung auf dem Augenraster und bestimmten Verhältnissen von Streifenwinkel und Ommenwinkel (11 und 13) keine gerichteten Bewegungsphänomene auftreten können, und bei anderen Lagen und anderen Winkelverhältnissen mit sehr komplexen Bewegungserscheinungen zu rechnen ist, d. h. mit rückläufigen und unter Umständen widersprechenden Bewegungsrichtungen innerhalb der Abbildung. Da unter diesen Umständen nicht nur die Bewegungsrichtung, sondern auch die Bewegungsgeschwindigkeit stark verändert wird, tritt als weiterer die Reaktion begrenzender Faktor die Geschwindigkeit der Musterverschiebung oder die Flimmerschwelle auf. Die bisher veröffentlichten Ergebnisse von Sehschärfeprüfungen an der Biene sind geeignet, diese Überlegungen zu stützen; in sämtlichen Untersuchungen hat im Grenzfall unvollkommene Musterauflösung vorgelegen.     

Taxonomy,phylogeography and climate relations of the Western Palaearctic spurge hawkmoth (Lepidoptera,Sphingidae, Macroglossinae)

Hundsdoerfer, AK., Mende, MB., Kitching, IJ. & Cordellier, M. (2011). Taxonomy, phylogeography and climate relations of the Western Palaearctic spurge hawkmoth (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae, Macroglossinae). —Zoologica Scripta, 40, 403–417. The primary aim of this study was to analyse mitochondrial genetic variability within the Hyles euphorbiae lineage in the Western Palaearctic, where observations of morphology have indicated much greater differentiation than is implied by the current taxonomy. The scope of the study is broadened further by including an analysis of the possible influences of climatic factors on lineage distributions. Mitochondrial sequences from three genes totalling an unambiguous alignment of 2284 bp were obtained for 356 individuals of the H. euphorbiae complex (HEC) s.s. Genetic admixture, network and climatic factor analyses were used to analyse the data. Unexpected mitochondrial variability was uncovered within the distribution range of H. euphorbiae in southern Europe, with two additional distinct clusters being found, both with rather patchy occurrences. The results of the genetic analysis presented here confirm a distinct H. cretica on Crete and the Dodecanese Islands and a distinct H. robertsi in Iran that hybridises with H. euphorbiae. Comparison of the molecular data with larval morphology shows only limited correlation of genetic clusters with pattern elements. The genetic network of the HEC s.s. shows strong incongruence with traditional taxonomy. Ecological niche modelling based on climate data revealed that the three best‐sampled clusters (H. tithymali, the well‐known H. euphorbiae lineage from Europe, and the previously unknown mitochondrial H. euphorbiae lineage that occurs mainly in Italy) could all occur in southern Italy and on the Mediterranean Islands. Biotic interactions appear to explain the observed ranges better than abiotic factors alone.     

The candidate gene approach in plant genetics: a review

The candidate gene (CG) approach has been applied in plant genetics in the past decade for the characterisation and cloning of Mendelian and quantitative trait loci (QTLs). It constitutes a complementary strategy to map-based cloning and insertional mutagenesis. The goal of this paper is to present an overview of CG analyses in plant genetics. CG analysis is based on the hypothesis that known-function genes (the candidate genes) could correspond to loci controlling traits of interest. CGs refer either to cloned genes presumed to affect a given trait (`functional CGs') or to genes suggested by their close proximity on linkage maps to loci controlling the trait (`positional CGs'). In plant genetics, the most common way to identify a CG is to look for map co-segregation between CGs and loci affecting the trait. Statistical association analyses between molecular polymorphisms of the CG and variation in the trait of interest have also been carried out in a few studies. The final validation of a CG will be provided through physiological analyses, genetic transformation and/or sexual complementation. Theoretical and practical applications of validated CGs in plant genetics and breeding are discussed.     

Zur Physiologie des Formen- und Bewegungssehens. III

Zusammenfassung Für die Biene sind Abhebung, Gliederung, verschiedene Verteilung der Konturen und mit Ortsveränderung verbundene Bewegung selbständige figurale Eigenschaften, die sich in reziproken Dressuren gegeneinander ausspielen lassen. Die Dressur auf eine mit Ortsveränderung bewegte Figur gegenüber einer identischen, ruhenden ist nicht gelungen, wohl aber die auf die ruhende gegenüber der bewegten. Dagegen gelingen reziproke Dressuren, wenn der eine Partner eine stark abgehobene geschlossene und der andere Partner eine schwächer abgehobene, gegliederte Figur ist, nahezu rein an mehreren Figurenpaaren, bei denen zum Teil eine primäre Überlegenheit des einen über den anderen Partner besteht. Ebenso gelingen reziproke Dressuren bei einem Figurenpaar, dessen Partner dem gleichen figuralen Typus C angehören und die gleiche Abhebung und ungefähr den gleichen Konturreichtum besitzen, bei einer drastisch verschiedenen Verteilung der Konturen. Diese Beobachtungen warnen davor, auf der Häufigkeit und dem Ausmaß des Reizwechsels eine Tropismenlehre aufbauen zu wollen, die nur Zwangsreaktionen kennt.     

Genetic determination of male sterility in gynodioecious Silene nutans

Gynodioecy, the coexistence of female and hermaphrodite plants within a species, is often under nuclear–cytoplasmic sex determination, involving cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) genes and nuclear restorers. A good knowledge of CMS and restorer polymorphism is essential for understanding the evolution and maintenance of gynodioecy, but reciprocal crossing studies remain scarce. Although mitochondrial diversity has been studied in a few gynodioecious species, the relationship between mitotype diversity and CMS status is poorly known. From a French sample of Silene nutans, a gynodioecious species whose sex determination remains unknown, we chose the four most divergent mitotypes that we had sampled at the cytochrome b gene and tested by reciprocal crosses whether they carry distinct CMS genes. We show that gynodioecy in S. nutans is under nuclear–cytoplasmic control, with at least two different CMSs and up to four restorers with epistatic interactions. Female occurrence and frequency were highly dependent on the mitotype, suggesting that the level of restoration varies greatly among CMSs. Two of the mitotypes, which have broad geographic distributions, represent different CMSs and are very unequally restored. We discuss the dynamics of gynodioecy at the large-scale meta-population level.     

MORPHOLOGICAL FLEXIBILITY OF COCCONEIS PLACENTULA (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) NANOSTRUCTURE TO CHANGING SALINITY LEVELS1

Diatoms possess a silica frustule decorated with unique patterns of nanosize features. Here, we show for the first time from in situ samples that the size of the nanopores present at the surface of the diatom Cocconeis placentula Ehrenb. varies with fluctuating salinity levels. The observed reduction in nanopore size with decreasing salinity agrees with previous laboratory experiments. We also uniquely combined our observations with theoretical considerations to demonstrate that the decrease in the diffusive layer thickness is compensated for by the changes in pore size, which maintain a steady diffusive flux toward the diatom’s cell at different salinities. This process allows diatoms to absorb similar amount of nutrients whatever the salinity and as such to increase their ecological competitiveness in fluctuating environments. These results further suggest that the overall ecological success of diatoms, and their ability to react to environmental changes, may be controlled by the flexibility of the morphological characteristics of their frustules.     

Climate-driven range dynamics of the freshwater limpet, Ancylus fluviatilis (Pulmonata, Basommatophora)

Aim Our aim was to understand the processes that have shaped the present‐day distribution of the freshwater limpet Ancylus fluviatilis sensu stricto in order to predict the consequences of global climate change for the geographical range of this species. Location North‐western Europe. Methods We sampled populations of A. fluviatilis sensu stricto over the entire range of the species (north‐western Europe) and sequenced 16S ribosomal RNA (16S) and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial fragments to perform phylogenetic and phylogeographical analyses. Climatic niche modelling allowed us to infer the climatic preferences of the species. A principal components analysis identified the most important climatic factors explaining the actual range of A. fluviatilis. We also identified which climatic factor was the most limiting at range margins, and predicted the species’ geographical range under a climate change scenario [Community Climate Model 3 (CCM3)]. Results By means of the phylogeographical analysis, we infer that A. fluviatilis sensu stricto occupied northern refuges during the Last Glacial Maximum. We show that the climatic preferences of Baltic populations are significantly different from those of Central European populations. The projection of the occupied area under the CCM3 climate model predicts a moderate poleward shift of the northern range limits, but a dramatic loss of areas currently occupied, for instance in northern Germany and in southern Great Britain. Main conclusions The post‐glacial range dynamics of A. fluviatilis are not governed by niche conservatism. Therefore, we must be cautious about bioclimatic model predictions: the expected impact of climate change could be tempered by the adaptive potential this species has already shown in its evolutionary history. Thus, modelling approaches should rather be seen as conservative forecasts of altered species ranges as long as the adaptive potential of the organisms in question cannot be predicted.