Fungal and Bacterial Colonisation of Salix pedicellataLeaves Decaying in Permanent and Intermittent Streams in Eastern Morocco

Leaf degradation was investigated at four sites in the Zegzel/Cherraa river system (Oueds). Two sites (Upper Zegzel and Lower Zegzel) carry water throughout the year and two (Upstream and Downstream Cherraa) are dry for 5–7 months each year. The dynamics of leaf weight loss and microorganisms associated with Salix pedicellata leaves decaying at the four sites were compared for the first time during the same period over this permanent and intermittent system. Overall decay rates of leaves were significantly higher in the permanent Zegzel stream sections (k = 0.0094 d^–1 upstream and 0.0056 downstream) than in the intermittently flowing Cherraa sites (k = 0.0046 upstream, and 0.0036 downstream). In the latter, decay was much slower during dry than during wet periods (Upstream Cherraa: k = 0.0028 and 0.0446, respectively; Downstream Cherraa, k = 0.0008 and 0.0357, respectively). Similar gradients from permanent to intermittent sites were observed in numbers of bacteria per unit area or per weight of decaying leaves (direct counts by epifluorescence microscopy), in numbers of fungal species and in sporulation rates, from leaves recovered at the four sites. Ten hyphomycete species were new for Morocco.     

Structure and diversity of the Mesozoic wood genus Xenoxylon in Far East Asia: implications for terrestrial palaeoclimates

Although the faunal elements of Far East Asian Mesozoic terrestrial biota have attracted much attention in recent years, their palaeoecology remains poorly known. In particular, features of the palaeoclimate are highly controversial. To address this point we used the Mesozoic fossil wood Xenoxylon , a genus recognized as an indicator of wet temperate biotopes and which is common in the area during the Carnian–Maastrichtian interval. We re-appraised bibliographic data and gathered new data for Xenoxylon in the Mesozoic of Far East Asia. This demonstrated that previous taxonomic approaches to the genus have been so far idiosyncratic. We examined the anatomical diversity of morphogenus Xenoxylon in Far East Asia and compared it to that of samples from Europe. This indicates that in an area centred on north-eastern China, Xenoxylon reached a level of anatomical diversity unmatched elsewhere in the world. We hypothesize that this diversity witnesses the persistence of palaeoecological conditions particularly suitable for Xenoxylon and that a wet temperate climate prevailed over most of the area throughout the Carnian–Maastrichtian interval. It is in this setting that the famous Jehol Biota probably evolved.     

Biochemical and hematological effects of lead ingestion in nestling American kestrels (Falco sparverius)

One-day old American kestrel (Falco sparverius) nestlings were orally dosed daily with 5 microliters/g of corn oil (controls), 25, 125 or 625 mg/kg of metallic lead in corn oil for 10 days. Forty per cent of the nestlings receiving 625 mg/kg of lead died after 6 days and growth rates were significantly depressed in the two highest lead dosed groups. At 10 days hematocrit values were significantly lower in the two highest lead treated groups, and hemoglobin content and red blood cell delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity was depressed in all lead treated groups. Plasma creatine phosphokinase decreased in the two highest treatment groups. Brain, liver and kidney ALAD activities, brain RNA to protein ratio and liver protein concentration decreased after lead exposure whereas liver DNA, DNA to RNA ratio and DNA to protein ratio increased. Brain monoamine oxidase and ATPase were not significantly altered. Measurements of the ontogeny of hematological variants and enzymes in normal development, using additional untreated nestlings, revealed decreases in red blood cell ALAD, plasma aspartate amino transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, brain DNA and RNA and liver DNA, whereas hematocrit, hemoglobin, plasma alkaline phosphatase, brain monoamine oxidase, brain ALAD and liver ALAD increased during the first 10 days of posthatching development. Biochemical and hematological alterations were more severe than those reported in adult kestrels or precocial young birds exposed to lead. Alterations may be due in part to delayed development.     

The genetic structure of roach populations in two contrasted large rivers

Overall heterozygosity was high in all roach populations, and so was gene flow between them. However, genetic diversity was greater in the fast-flowing and more diverse French Upper Rhone than in the uniformly lentic River Saone. Rhone backwaters may be considered as ecotones and reservoirs of genetic diversity, but such is not the case in the Saone owing to the uniformity of the environment.(U.R.A. 1451 Ecologie des Eaux Douces et des Grands Fleuves)     

Le role ecologique de la température dans la distribution de deux espèces proches parentes de planaires d'eau douce: Etude expérimentale

Resumé Cette étude concerne l'influence de la température sur l'écophysiologie des deux espèces proches parentes de Planaires limnophiles: Polycelis tenuis et P. nigra, dans la region lyonnaise. Si les deux espèces font preuve de capacités voisines dans la zone des températures moyennes, la première l'emporte nettement dans les zones marginales, tant par sa tolérance à l'éffet létal de la chaleur que par son taux de reproduction au froid. En outre, l'existence de races physiologiques distinctes doit lui permettre de coloniser des milieux plus divers. P. tenuis apparait comme un animal vraiment eurytherme. Ces différents traits contribuent à expliquer l'habitat des deux espèces dans notre région.

---

Temperature as an ecological factor in the distribution of two closely related freshwater Triclads: an experimental study.The influence of temperature on the ecophysiology of two closely related limnophilic Triclads, Polycelis tenuis and P. nigra, in the Lyons region was investigated. Both species have the same physiological rate in the middle zone of the temperature range, but P. tenuis prevails at both ends of the range. It torelates higher temperatures and its reproduction rate is greater in the cold. Also, because of the existence of physiological races, it seems adapted to a greater diversity of situations. It appears as a real eurytherm These different points contribute an explanation for the habitat of both species in our region.

     

Purine biosynthesis in Staphylococcus aureus

Summary The auxanographic analysis of 67 purine-dependent mutants and chromatographic analysis of their culture fluids were used to study purine biosynthesis in Staphylococcus aureus. The de novo biosynthesis of IMP from SAICAR, and the conversion of IMP to AMP and GMP were shown to occur via the conventional pathways reported for other organisms. Mutants blocked prior to the formation of SAICAR could not be differentiated by the tests used, and no substantial information on this portion of the pathway was obtained. The auxanographic characteristics of double mutants requiring both histidine and purines provided evidence that the sole route whereby S. aureus can convert AMP to IMP (and hence to GMP) is via those reactions of the histidine biosynthetic pathway leading to the formation of IGP and AICAR. In addition, we were able to mutationally separate AICAR transformylase and inosinocase; this separation has not been accomplished in other microorganisms.     

Isolation and Characterization of a Bacteriophage of Arthrobacter globiformis

A bacteriophage which reproduces on Arthrobacter globiformis ATCC 8010 was isolated from soil. This bacteriophage, designated phiAG8010, propagates either in soft agar or broth cultures of the host. Because of a slow adsorption rate, neither the latent period nor burst size was determined. The mature virion belongs to Bradley's group B and exhibits a hexagonal head measuring 69 nm (length) by 60 nm (width) attached to a sheathless tail 120 nm long. The buoyant density of the mature virion is 1.534 g/cm(3). The mature virion contains double-stranded DNA with a buoyant density of 1.722 g/cm(3) (equivalent to 63.3% G + C). Of 14 strains (representing 13 species) of Arthrobacter examined, including A. globiformis ATCC 4336, only A. globiformis ATCC 8010 supported replication of phiAG8010.     

On the Origin of Macromolecular Sequences

The origin of the degree and type of order found in biological macromolecules is not adequately explained solely as an accumulation of genetic restrictions acquired through natural selection from otherwise unrestricted primeval sequences capable of self-replication, since the biological process of replication is itself dependent on the pre-existence of such order, and since the number of sequences that could have ever been tested by selection on the earth is an insignificant fraction of the number of unrestricted sequences which would be possible. Therefore the hypothesis is considered that replication and selection began from well ordered sequences, rather than random sequences. It is shown how the Turing concept of computation in fed-back, discrete-state automata can lead to the generation of order withour pre-existing instructions, and how this computation can result in self-repeating, random-like, but well ordered sequences of great length. Macromolecular models of such computers are suggested on the basis of mechanisms proposed for the growth of eutactic polymers. Such self-replicating, mutable sequences may then evolve genetic control which is sufficient to accommodate the information accumulated by natural selection. The structure and function of enzymes and structural proteins is related to this model, and statistical evidence from known amino acid sequences is shown to be consistent with some degree of non-genetic ordering.     

Fibronectin enhances transfection of Staphylococcus aureus

The factor in normal sera primarily responsible for the enhancement of transfection (and transformation) of Staphylococcus aureus was identified as fibronectin. Serum samples which were depleted of fibronectin by affinity chromatography showed a marked decrease in enhancing activity. Fibronectin isolated from sera of several animal species demonstrated enhancing activity.