The use of clip cages to restrain insects reduces leaf expansion systemically in Rumex obtusifolius

Abstract. 1. Clip cages have been used widely by experimental ecologists to contain insects on plants.
2. Under controlled conditions, the effect of applying clip cages alone and clip cages and the chrysomelid beetle Gastrophysa viridula on systemic leaf expansion of Rumex obtusifolius was investigated. Treatments were applied to the fully expanded fourth leaf and expansion of leaf 8 was measured over a period of 22 days.
3. The application of clip cages reduced the rate at which leaf area increased and led to reductions in final leaf areas.
4. Clip cages have systemic effects on plant development and these effects are sustained even after the clip cage is removed. Investigators should take this into account in designing experiments.     

Denitrification with methanol in the presence of high salt concentrations and at high pH levels

Summary In the combined ion exchange/biological denitrification process for nitrate removal from ground water, in which nitrate is removed by ion exchange, the resins are regenerated in a closed circuit by a biological denitrification reactor. This denitrification reactor eliminates nitrate from the regenerant. Methanol is used as electron donor for biological denitrification. To obtain sufficient regeneration of the resins within a reasonable time, high NaCl or NaHCO₃ concentrations (10–30 g/l) in the regenerant are necessary. High NaHCO₃ concentrations affected the biological denitrification in three ways: a) a slight decrease in denitrification capacity (30%) was observed; b) the yield coefficient and CH₃OH/NO₃ ^-–N ratio decreased. When high NaHCO₃ concentrations (above 10g NaHCO₃/l) were used, the yield coefficient was 0.10–0.13 g VSS/g NO₃ ^-–N and the CH₃OH/NO₃ ^-–N ratio was 2.00–2.03 g/g; c) high NaHCO₃ concentrations influenced nitrite production. Nitrite is an intermediate product of biological denitrification and with rising NaHCO₃ concentrations nitrite accumulation was suppressed. This was explained by the effect of high NaHCO₃ concentrations on the pH in the microenvironment of the denitrifying organisms. High NaCl concentrations also resulted in a slight decrease in denitrification capacity, but the second and third effects were not observed in the presence of high NaCl concentrations.Although the pH in the regenerant will rise as a result of biological denitrification, the capacity of a denitrification reactor did not decrease significantly when a pH of 8.8–9.2 was reached.     

Breeding system ofDaphniopsis ephemeralis: adaptations to a transient environment

Populations of the vernal cladoceranDaphniopsis ephemeralis are found in woodland ponds throughout southern Ontario. The species reproduces by cyclic parthenogenesis, and genotype frequencies at allozyme loci are ordinarily in good agreement with Hardy-Weinberg expectations. Occasional heterozygote deficiencies are apparently the consequence of admixture of ephippial hatchlings produced in temporally separated bouts of sexual reproduction. Considerable heterogeneity in genotypic frequencies exists among local populations in southwestern Ontario, indicating that gene flow among populations is restricted. Inbreeding coefficients suggest that populations receive an average of 0.3 migrants per generation. The completion of a sexual life cycle is made possible despite the brief persistence of populations by the emergence of males from ephippial eggs and by the production of equal numbers of male and female progeny in the first parthenogenetic brood.     

Operculum closing as a defence against predatory leeches in four British freshwater prosobranch snails

The defence reaction of operculum closing in response to the presence of the molluscivorous leech Glossiphonia complanata (L.) and the non-molluscivorous Erpobdella octoculata (L.) was studied in four species of freshwater prosobranch gastropod. Bithynia tentaculata (L.) and Valvata piscinalis (Müller) can distinguish between the leeches, reacting only to G. complanata. V. piscinalis is capable of a greater degree of distance chemoreception of the leech ‘scent’. Valvata cristata Müller and Potamopyrgus jenkinsi (Smith) did not react to either leech. V. cristata may not be a potential prey item for G. complanata, while P. jenkinsi is fed on by the leech, but is a relative newcomer to the freshwater fauna. Animal Ecology Research Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford Commonwealth Forestry Institute, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford     

The effect of salt acclimation of the water uptake and osmotic permeability of the skin of the toad (Bufo viridis, L.)

1. Water uptake in vivo, and water fluxes across the isolated skin were studied in salt (NaCl) acclimated toads. 2. Water uptake of acclimated toads maintained in the solution of acclimation, decreased with the environmental salinity. 3. The osmotic water permeability (Pos) of the skin increased upon salt (NaCl) acclimation, both in vivo and in vitro. 4. Pos of the skin of toads acclimated to non-permeant solutes such as sucrose (230 mmol/l) or mannitol (400 nmol/l), was greatly reduced. 5. Oxytocin (syntocinon) increased the Pos both in tap water and salt acclimated toads. In high salt (greater than 200 mmol/l NaCl) acclimated toads however, the increased Pos and water flux at larger osmotic gradients, could not be stimulated further by the hormone. 6. The adaptive nature of the selective changes in the permeability properties of the skin under salt acclimation conditions is discussed.     

Quantitative Development and Molecular Forms of Acetyl-and Butyrylcholinesterase During Morphogenesis and Synaptogenesis of Chick Brain and Retina

The embryonic development of total specific activities as well as of molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) and of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, EC 3.1.1.8) have been studied in the chick brain. A comparison of the development in different brain parts shows that cholinesterases first develop in diencephalon, then in tectum and telencephalon; cholinesterase development in retina is delayed by about 2-3 days; and the development in rhombencephalon [not studied until embryonic day 6 (E6)] and cerebellum is last. Both enzymes show complex and independent developmental patterns. During the early period (E3-E7) first BChE expresses high specific activities that decline rapidly, but in contrast AChE increases more or less constantly with a short temporal delay. Thereafter the developmental courses approach a late phase (E14-E20), during which AChE reaches very high specific activities and BChE follows at much lower but about parallel levels. By extraction of tissues from brain and retina in high salt plus 1% Triton X-100, we find that both cholinesterases are present in two major molecular forms, AChE sedimenting at 5.9S and 11.6S (corresponding to G2 and G4 globular forms) and BChE at 2.9S and 10.3S (G1 and G4, globular). During development there is a continuous increase of G4 over G2 AChE, the G4 form reaching 80% in brain but only 30% in retina. The proportion of G1 BChE in brain remains almost constant at 55%, but in retina there is a drastic shift from 65% G1 before E5 to 70% G4 form at E7.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

N1-Methyl-2-125I-Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, a Preferred Ligand for In Vitro and In Vivo Characterization of Serotonin Receptors

Methylation of 2-125I-lysergic acid diethylamide (125I-LSD) at the N1 position produces a new derivative, N1-methyl-2-125I-lysergic acid diethylamide (125I-MIL), with improved selectivity and higher affinity for serotonin 5-HT2 receptors. In rat frontal cortex homogenates, specific binding of 125I-MIL represents 80-90% of total binding, and the apparent dissociation constant (KD) for serotonin 5-HT2 receptors is 0.14 nM (using 2 mg of tissue/ml). 125I-MIL also displays a high affinity for serotonin 5-HT1C receptors, with an apparent dissociation constant of 0.41 nM at this site. 125I-MIL exhibits at least 60-fold higher affinity for serotonin 5-HT2 receptors than for other classes of neurotransmitter receptors, with the dopamine D2 receptor as its most potent secondary binding site. Studies of the association and dissociation kinetics of 125I-MIL reveal a strong temperature dependence, with very slow association and dissociation rates at 0 degree C. Autoradiographic experiments confirm the improved specificity of 125I-MIL. Selective labeling of serotonin receptors was observed in all brain areas examined. In vivo binding studies in mice indicate that 125I-MIL is the best serotonin receptor label yet described, with the highest frontal cortex to cerebellum ratio of any serotonergic radioligand. 125I-MIL is a promising ligand for both in vitro and in vivo labeling of serotonin receptors in the mammalian brain.     

Risk of AIDS related complex and AIDS in homosexual men with persistent HIV antigenaemia.

One hundred and ninety eight men seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody and 58 HIV antibody seroconverters were studied for an average of 19.3 (SEM 0.5) months to assess the relation between HIV antigenaemia and the risk of developing the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS related complex. Forty (20.2%) of the 198 HIV antibody seropositive men were antigen positive at entry and remained so during follow up. Eight (13.8%) of the 58 HIV antibody seroconverters and 20 (12.7%) of the remaining 158 HIV antibody seropositive men became antigen positive during follow up, resulting in an end point attack rate for HIV antigenaemia of 14.3%. AIDS related complex was diagnosed in 25 (15.8%) of the HIV antigen negative men and in 14 (20.7%) of the HIV antigen positive men. AIDS was diagnosed in 15 men, resulting in an end point attack rate for AIDS of 23.9% in the HIV antigen positive group and 1.3% in the antigen negative group. HIV antibody seropositive men without symptoms but with persistent HIV antigenaemia are at increased risk of developing AIDS and AIDS related complex.