Zoning has little impact on the seasonal diel activity and distribution patterns of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Understanding the spatio‐temporal distribution of ungulates is important for effective wildlife management, particularly for economically and ecologically important species such as wild boar (Sus scrofa). Wild boars are generally considered to exhibit substantial behavioral flexibility, but it is unclear how their behavior varies across different conservation management regimes and levels of human pressure. To analyze if and how wild boars adjust their space use or their temporal niche, we surveyed wild boars across the core and buffer zones (collectively referred to as the conservation zone) and the transition zone of a biosphere reserve. These zones represent low and high levels of human pressure, respectively. Specifically, we employed a network of 53 camera traps distributed in the Schaalsee UNESCO Biosphere Reserve over a 14‐month period (19,062 trap nights) and estimated circadian activity patterns, diel activity levels, and occupancy of wild boars in both zones. To account for differences in environmental conditions and day length, we estimated these parameters separately for seven 2‐month periods. Our results showed that the wild boars were primarily nocturnal, with diurnal activity occurring dominantly during the summer months. The diel activity patterns in the two zones were very similar overall, although the wild boars were slightly less active in the transition zone than in the conservation zone. Diel activity levels also varied seasonally, ranging from 7.5 to 11.0 h day⁻¹, and scaled positively with the length of the night (R ² = 0.66–0.67). Seasonal occupancy estimates were exceptionally high (point estimates ranged from 0.65 to 0.99) and similar across zones, suggesting that the wild boars used most of the biosphere reserve. Overall, this result suggests that different conservation management regimes (in this case, the zoning of a biosphere reserve) have little impact on wild boar behavior. This finding is relevant for wildlife management in protected areas where possibly high wild boar densities could interfere with conservation goals within these areas and those of agricultural land use in their vicinity.     

Influence of maternal age, gestational age and fetal gender on expression of immune mediators in amniotic fluid

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Variations in cytokine and immune mediator expression patterns in amniotic fluid due to gestational age, maternal age and fetal gender were investigated. METHODS: Amniotic fluid samples were obtained from 192 women, 82 with a mid-trimester amniocentesis (median gestational age 17 weeks) and 110 with a caesarean section not in labor (median gestational age 39 weeks). Amniotic fluid was screened by commercial ELISAs for the TH1/TH2/TH17 cytokines and immune mediators IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-15, IL-17, TNF alpha, GROalpha, MIP1alpha, MIP1beta, histone, and IP10. Analysis was by Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: None of the 15 examined cytokines revealed any differences in expression patterns regarding fetal gender and age of the mothers. Significant differences were found in IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 TNF- alpha and MIP1-beta with respect to gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: Cytokines utilized as biomarkers in the diagnosis of intrauterine infections are not influenced in their expression pattern by fetal gender or maternal age, but may vary with respect to gestational age.     

From Rapid Place Learning to Behavioral Performance: A Key Role for the Intermediate Hippocampus

Rapid place encoding by hippocampal neurons, as reflected by place-related firing, has been intensely studied, whereas the substrates that translate hippocampal place codes into behavior have received little attention. A key point relevant to this translation is that hippocampal organization is characterized by functional–anatomical gradients along the septotemporal axis: Whereas the ability of hippocampal neurons to encode accurate place information declines from the septal to temporal end, hippocampal connectivity to prefrontal and subcortical sites that might relate such place information to behavioral-control processes shows an opposite gradient. We examined in rats the impact of selective lesions to relevant parts of the hippocampus on behavioral tests requiring place learning (watermaze procedures) and on in vivo electrophysiological models of hippocampal encoding (long-term potentiation [LTP], place cells). We found that the intermediate hippocampus is necessary and largely sufficient for behavioral performance based on rapid place learning. In contrast, a residual septal pole of the hippocampus, although displaying intact electrophysiological indices of rapid information encoding (LTP, precise place-related firing, and rapid remapping), failed to sustain watermaze performance based on rapid place learning. These data highlight the important distinction between hippocampal encoding and the behavioral performance based on such encoding, and suggest that the intermediate hippocampus, where substrates of rapid accurate place encoding converge with links to behavioral control, is critical to translate rapid (one-trial) place learning into navigational performance.     

Timing and probability of ovulation in relation to sex skin swelling in wild West African chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes verus

Females of many catharrine primates show a periodic and often pronounced swelling of the perineum, the functional significance of which is unclear. Several hypotheses that exist to explain the function of this conspicuous trait are based on assumptions about the temporal relation between the period of maximum swelling and ovulation, and remain largely untested. We examined this relation in free-living chimpanzees of the Ta? National Park, Côte d'Ivoire, and assessed the reliability of perineal swelling as an indicator of ovulation in this species. We used noninvasive urinary progestogen analysis of female reproductive status, together with observational data on swelling characteristics, to determine the variability of timing of ovulation within the maximum swelling phase in 36 cycles from 12 females. The period of maximum swelling was highly variable, lasting from 6 to 18 days. Although ovulation was virtually restricted to the second half of the period of maximum tumescence, its timing varied considerably in relation to both the onset and the end of the maximum tumescence phase. Probability of ovulation, however, was not random, but peaked on day 7 after the onset of the maximum swelling phase, and was almost 60% between days 7 and 9. Thus, in wild chimpanzees perineal swelling indicates the probability of ovulation, but does not provide sufficient information to deduce its exact timing. Given the temporal variability of ovulation relative to the last day of maximum tumescence, field workers should try to include hormonal analysis if information on timing of ovulation is required for interpretation of observational data. Copyright 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.      

Direct mass spectrometric peptide profiling and fragmentation of larval peptide hormone release sites in Drosophila melanogaster reveals tagma-specific peptide expression and differential processing

Regulatory peptides represent a diverse group of messenger molecules. In insects, they are produced by endocrine cells as well as secretory neurones within the CNS. Many regulatory peptides are released as hormones into the haemolymph to regulate, for example, diuresis, heartbeat or ecdysis behaviour. Hormonal release of neuropeptides takes place at specialized organs, so-called neurohaemal organs. We have performed a mass spectrometric characterization of the peptide complement of the main neurohaemal organs and endocrine cells of the Drosophila melanogaster larva to gain insight into the hormonal communication possibilities of the fruit fly. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) and MALDI-TOF-TOF tandem mass spectrometry, we detected 23 different peptides of which five were unpredicted by previous genome screenings. We also found a hitherto unknown peptide product of the capa gene in the ring gland and transverse nerves, suggesting that it might be released as hormone. Our results show that the peptidome of the neurohaemal organs is tagma-specific and does not change during metamorphosis. We also provide evidence for the first case of differential prohormone processing in Drosophila.     

Single-cell analysis of yeast, mammalian cells, and fungal spores with a microfluidic pressure-driven chip-based system.

BACKGROUND: Cytomics aims at understanding the function of cellular systems by analysis of single cells. Recently, there has been a growing interest in single cell measurements being performed in microfluidic systems. These systems promise to integrate staining, measurement, and analysis in a single system. One important aspect is the limitation of allowable cell sizes due to microfluidic channel dimensions. Here we want to demonstrate the broad applicability of microfluidic chip technology for the analysis of many different cell types. METHODS: We have developed a microfluidic chip and measurement system that allows flow cytometric analysis of fluorescently stained cells from different organisms. In this setup, the cells are moved by pressure-driven flow inside a network of microfluidic channels and are analyzed individually by fluorescence detection. RESULTS: We have successfully applied the system to develop a methodology to detect viable and dead cells in yeast cell populations. Also, we have measured short interfering RNA (siRNA) mediated silencing of protein expression in mammalian cells. In addition, we have characterized the infection state of Magnaportae grisea fungal spores. CONCLUSIONS: Results obtained with the microfluidic system demonstrate a broad applicability of microfluidic flow cytometry to measurement of various cell types.     

Peptide uptake in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum: characterization of two di- and tripeptide transporters (HcPTR2A and B)

Constraints on plant growth imposed by low availability of nitrogen are a characteristic feature of ecosystems dominated by ectomycorrhizal plants. Ectomycorrhizal fungi play a key role in the N nutrition of plants, allowing their host plants to access decomposition products of dead plant and animal materials. Ectomycorrhizal plants are thus able to compensate for the low availability of inorganic N in forest ecosystems. The capacity to take up peptides, as well as the transport mechanisms involved, were analysed in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum. The present study demonstrated that H. cylindrosporum mycelium was able to take up di- and tripeptides and use them as sole N source. Two peptide transporters (HcPTR2A and B) were isolated by yeast functional complementation using an H. cylindrosporum cDNA library, and were shown to mediate dipeptide uptake. Uptake capacities and expression regulation of both genes were analysed, indicating that HcPTR2A was involved in the high-efficiency peptide uptake under conditions of limited N availability, whereas HcPTR2B was expressed constitutively.     

The mechanical properties of the systemic and pulmonary arteries of python regius correlate with blood pressures

Pythons are unique amongst snakes in having different pressures in the aortas and pulmonary arteries because of intraventricular pressure separation. In this study, we investigate whether this correlates with different blood vessel strength in the ball python Python regius. We excised segments from the left, right, and dorsal aortas, and from the two pulmonary arteries. These were subjected to tensile testing. We show that the aortic vessel wall is significantly stronger than the pulmonary artery wall in P. regius. Gross morphological characteristics (vessel wall thickness and correlated absolute amount of collagen content) are likely the most influential factors. Collagen fiber thickness and orientation are likely to have an effect, though the effect of collagen fiber type and cross‐links between fibers will need further study. J. Morphol. 276:1412–1421, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.