Der Zug des Sperbers(Accipiter nisus) auf Helgoland

Zusammenfassung Der Sperber ist auf Helgoland nur Durchzügler. Im langjährigen Mittel werden pro Jahr im Winter 0,4, auf dem Heimzug 2,1 und im Herbst 23,0 Fänglinge festgestellt. Der Zugablauf läßt eine Trennung der Zugzeiten der Alt- und Jungvögel einerseits sowie der und andererseits erkennen. Altvögel stellen 14,1%, 40,1% der Fänglinge. Anhand der Flügelmaße und Gewichte läßt sich mit fortschreitender Zugzeit keine klinale Variation nachweisen. Ältere Literaturangaben, Helgoland betreffend, werden teils korrigiert, teils präzisiert. Der geringe Anteil der Altvögel bzw. wird auf deren geringer ausgeprägten Zugtrieb zurückgeführt.

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The migration of the sparrow-hawk on Heligoland

Summary On Heligoland the Sparrow-Hawk occurs as a passage visitor only. Mean numbers (17 years) of birds trapped are 0.4 in winter, 2.1 during spring and 23.0 in autumn. Adults and juveniles as males and females as well show different periods of migration. Among birds trapped there are 14.1% adults and 40.1% females. No clinal variation of wing length and weight according to time of passage could be found. Former literature concerning Heligoland is partly corrected, partly rendered more precise. The low proportions of adults and females respectively are caused by weaker migratory urge.

     

Reiseerinnerungen an Spanien

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Zur Flora von Istrien

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Boosting Escherichia coli’s heterologous production rate of ectoines by exploiting the non-halophilic gene cluster from Acidiphilium cryptum

Extremophiles - The compatible solutes ectoine and hydroxyectoine are synthesized by many microorganisms as potent osmostress and desiccation protectants. Besides their successful implementation...     

New Approaches for Absolute Quantification of Stable‐Isotope‐Labeled Peptide Standards for Targeted Proteomics Based on a UV Active Tag

Targeted proteomics depends on the availability of stable isotope labeled (SIL) peptide standards, which for absolute protein quantification need to be absolutely quantified. In the present study, three new approaches for absolute quantification of SIL peptides are developed. All approaches rely on a quantification tag (Qtag) with a specific UV absorption. The Qtag is attached to the peptide during synthesis and is removed by tryptic digestion under standard proteomics workflow conditions. While one quantification method (method A) is designed to allow the fast and economic production of absolutely quantified SIL peptides, two other methods (methods B and C) are developed to enable the straightforward re‐quantification of SIL peptides after reconstitution to control and monitor known problems related to peptide solubility, precipitation, and adhesion to vials. All methods yield consistent results when compared to each other and when compared to quantification by amino acid analysis. The precise quantitation methods are used to characterize the in vivo specificity of the H3 specific histone methyltransferase EZH2.     

Selection for outbreeding in Varroa parasitising resistant honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies

Parasitism is expected to select for counter‐adaptations in the host: driving a coevolutionary arms race. However, human interference between honey bees (Apis mellifera) and Varroa mites removes the effect of natural selection and restricts the evolution of host counter‐adaptations. With full‐sibling mating common among Varroa, this can rapidly select for virulent, highly inbred, Varroa populations. We investigated how the evolution of host resistance could affect the infesting population of Varroa mites. We screened a Varroa‐resistant honey bee population near Toulouse, France, for a Varroa resistance trait: the inhibition of Varroa's reproduction in drone pupae. We then genotyped Varroa which had co‐infested a cell using microsatellites. Across all resistant honey bee colonies, Varroa's reproductive success was significantly higher in co‐infested cells but the distribution of Varroa between singly and multiply infested cells was not different from random. While there was a trend for increased reproductive success when Varroa of differing haplotypes co‐infested a cell, this was not significant. This suggests local mate competition, through the presence of another Varroa foundress in a pupal cell, may be enough to help Varroa overcome host resistance traits; with a critical mass of infesting Varroa overwhelming host resistance. However, the fitness trade‐offs associated with preferentially co‐infesting cells may be too high for Varroa to evolve a mechanism to identify already‐infested cells. The increased reproductive success of Varroa when co‐infesting resistant pupal cells may act as a release valve on the selective pressure for the evolution of counter resistance traits: helping to maintain a stable host–parasite relationship.     

Spotted hyaena Crocuta crocuta feeding ecology and selectivity of large herbivorous prey in the Namib desert

We have investigated the relationship between spotted hyaenas in the south Namib Desert and large herbivorous prey and have summarized an updated overview of predator‐prey relationships in this resource‐limited arid environment. Over the 52‐month study, we recorded the densities (#/km⁻², ±SE) of the four local large herbivorous prey species: gemsbok (1.229, ±0.50), springbok (1.352, ±0.48), ostrich (0.648, ±0.23), and greater kudu (0.343, ±0.00). A fecal analysis was performed on 146 collected spotted hyaena scats, and prey items were identified and hairs cross‐follicle analyzed to the species level. Spotted hyaena diet at the study area remained opportunistic with 240 identified prey items representing eight differing prey species being recorded, ranging from ostrich eggs to large ungulates. The Ivlev''s Electivity Index was used to determine which large herbivorous prey was most selected for. Although gemsbok had a higher representation of prey items in the sampled scats, all sampled large herbivorous prey species scored below 0 and are thus generally avoided in relation to their availability in the environment. If any prey preferences are expressed by spotted hyaena in the Namib, it can be presumed to be a nonsampled prey species. We therefore promote further detailed investigations into all other prey species present, and seasonal variations of prey densities and scat sampling, within the study environment.