Maintenance of high levels of allelic variation in spite of a severe bottleneck in population size: the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in the Western Carpathians

Genetic variation in an isolated brown bear population of the Western Carpathians was studied by electrophoretic analysis of 51 presumptive allozyme loci. In spite of a severe population bottleneck at the beginning of the 1930s (40 survivors), average heterozygosity (H=5.3%) was within the range commonly found in mammals and the mean number of alleles per polymorphic locus (A_p=3, over five polymorphic loci) was very high. Possible reasons for the maintenance of high allelic variation are discussed.     

Large old trees increase growth under shifting climatic constraints: Aligning tree longevity and individual growth dynamics in primary mountain spruce forests

In a world of accelerating changes in environmental conditions driving tree growth, tradeoffs between tree growth rate and longevity could curtail the abundance of large old trees (LOTs), with potentially dire consequences for biodiversity and carbon storage. However, the influence of tree-level tradeoffs on forest structure at landscape scales will also depend on disturbances, which shape tree size and age distribution, and on whether LOTs can benefit from improved growing conditions due to climate warming. We analyzed temporal and spatial variation in radial growth patterns from ~5000 Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] H. Karst) live and dead trees from the Western Carpathian primary spruce forest stands. We applied mixed-linear modeling to quantify the importance of LOT growth histories and stand dynamics (i.e., competition and disturbance factors) on lifespan. Finally, we assessed regional synchronization in radial growth variability over the 20th century, and modeled the effects of stand dynamics and climate on LOTs recent growth trends. Tree age varied considerably among forest stands, implying an important role of disturbance as an age constraint. Slow juvenile growth and longer period of suppressed growth prolonged tree lifespan, while increasing disturbance severity and shorter time since last disturbance decreased it. The highest age was not achieved only by trees with continuous slow growth, but those with slow juvenile growth followed by subsequent growth releases. Growth trend analysis demonstrated an increase in absolute growth rates in response to climate warming, with late summer temperatures driving the recent growth trend. Contrary to our expectation that LOTs would eventually exhibit declining growth rates, the oldest LOTs (>400 years) continuously increase growth throughout their lives, indicating a high phenotypic plasticity of LOTs for increasing biomass, and a strong carbon sink role of primary spruce forests under rising temperatures, intensifying droughts, and increasing bark beetle outbreaks.     

Ontogenetic change in effectiveness of chemical defence against different predators in Oxycarenus true bugs

Many prey species change their antipredator defence during ontogeny, which may be connected to different potential predators over the life cycle of the prey. To test this hypothesis, we compared reactions of two predator taxa – spiders and birds – to larvae and adults of two invasive true bug species, Oxycarenus hyalinipennis and Oxycarenus lavaterae (Heteroptera: Oxycarenidae) with life-stage-specific chemical defence mechanisms. The reactions to larvae and adults of both true bug species strikingly differed between the two predator taxa. The spiders were deterred by the defences of adult bugs, but the larval defences were ineffective against them. By contrast, birds attacked the larvae considerably less often than the adult bugs. The results indicate a predator-specific ontogenetic change in defence effectiveness of both Oxycarenus species. The change in defence is likely linked to the life-stage-specific composition of secretions in both species: whereas secretions of larvae are dominated by unsaturated aldehydes, secretions of adults are rich in terpenoids, which probably serve dual function of defensive chemicals and pheromones. Our results highlight the variation in defence between different life stages and the importance of testing responses of different types of predators.     

Distinct subcellular localization of β-tubulin epitopes in the adult mouse brain

 A panel of monoclonal antibodies specific of α-tubulin (TU-01, TU-09) and β-tubulin (TU-06, TU-13) subunits was used to study the location of N-terminal structural domains of tubulin in adult mouse brain. The specificity of antibodies was confirmed b immunoblotting experiments. Immunohistochemical staining of vibratome sections from cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, and corpus callosum showed that antibodies TU-01, TU-09, and TU13 reacted with neuronal and glial cells and their processes, whereas the TU-06 antibody stained only the perikarya. Dendrites and axons were either unstained or their staining was very weak. As the TU-06 epitope is located on the N-terminal structural domain of β-tubulin, the observed staining pattern cannot be interpreted as evidence of a distinct subcellular localization of β-tubulin isotypes or known post-translational modifications. The limited distribution of the epitope could, rather, reflect differences between the conformations of tubulin molecules in microtubules of somata and neurites or, alternatively, a specific masking of the corresponding region on the N-terminal domain of β-tubulin by interacting protein(s) in dendrites and axons. Accepted: 11 November 1996     

Body mass changes in waders (Charadrii) in a high arctic area at northern Taimyr, Siberia

Body mass data were collected for 5 species of tundra waders during 6 breeding seasons to study variation in nutrient reserves relative to high arctic climatic conditions and the stage of reproduction. Structural size was accounted for by the 1st Principal Component of external linear measurements: wing length, bill length and tarsus length. SandpipersCalidris spp. were on average lighter in phenologically late seasons, while mass of Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) was similar in all years. Mass of waders was lower during brood-rearing than during incubation. Body mass during pre-nesting was most variable between years, reflecting the unpredictable weather conditions in this period. Monogamous species (KnotsCalidris canutus and Turnstones) began to breed earlier, and were on average, as heavy during the pre-nesting period as during incubation. In contrast, species with a proven or suspected rapid double-clutch breeding system (Little StintsC. minuta and SanderlingsC. alba) began to breed later and had during the laying period masses close to those of adults attending broods, and lower than during incubation. Body mass of the two latter species and Curlew Sandpipers (Calidris ferruginea) varied during incubation, reaching peak at 7 to 13 days after clutch completion.

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Zusammenfassung Von fünf Tundra-Watvogelarten wurden in sechs Brutperioden Daten zur Körpermasse gewonnen, um die Dynamik der Energiereserven in Abhängigkeit von den klimatischen Bedingungen der Hocharktis und vom Fortpflanzungsstadium zu analysieren. Der Einfluß der Körpermaße auf die Masse wurde bei der statistischen Auswertung durch die Einbeziehung der 1. Hauptkomponente von Flügel-, Schnabel- und Tarsuslänge berücksichtigt. StrandläuferCalidris spec. erwiesen sich in späten Jahren als leichter, während in der Körpermasse von Steinwälzern (Arenaria interpres) keine Unterschiede festgestellt werden konnten. Die Körpermasse aller untersuchter Arten war während der Betreuung der Jungvögel geringer als während Brütezeit. Die Masse in der Zeit vor der Brut variierte in Übereinstimmung mit den wechselnden Wetterbedingungen in den einzelnen Jahren am stärksten. Monogame Arten (KnutCalidris canutus und Steinwälzer) begannen früher mit der Fortpflanzung; ihre Körpermasse in der Phase von der Brut und während der Brütezeit war im Mittel etwa gleich. Im Gegensatz dazu begannen Arten, bei denen ein Doppelbrutsystem nachgewiesen wurde oder vermutet wird (ZwergstrandläuferC. minuta und SanderlingC. alba), später mit dem Nestbau, wobei die Körpermasse auf ein Niveau absinkt, das dem während der Betreuung der Jungvögel nahekommt und geringer ist, als das während der Brütezeit. Bei den beiden letzten Arten sowie beim Sichelstrandläufer (Calidris ferrugunea) veränderte sich die Körpermasse während des Brütens und erreichte ein Maximum zwischen dem 7. und dem 13. Tag nach Beendigung der Eiablage.

     

Nociceptive atrophy of the rat soleus muscle induced by bone fracture: a morphometric study

Zachaová, Gisela, HelenaKnotková-Urbancová, Pavel Hník, andTomá Soukup. Nociceptive atrophy of the rat soleus muscle induced by bone fracture: a morphometric study.J. Appl. Physiol. 82(2): 552-557, 1997.Reflex atrophy of the soleus muscle induced by ipsilateralmetatarsal bone fracture in Sagatal-anesthetized adult male rats wasstudied by using two-dimensional stereological methods 7 days after theoperation. When compared with contralateral solei, the wet weight ofthe experimental soleus muscles was decreased by ~24% and the areaof the entire muscle section by ~29%. In atrophied solei, the numberof type 1 fibers was lower by ~8%, resulting in lower total numberof fibers (by ~6%). This indicates that slow motor units might bemore sensitive to nociceptive stimulation. However, with respect to thefiber area, the reflex atrophy induced by metatarsal bone fracture inthe rat soleus muscle resembles simple atrophy after 7 days, as themean muscle fiber area was decreased by ~26% with no significantdifference between atrophy in type 1 and type 2a fibers (by 27.3 and23.0%, respectively).

     

Centrifugal cell hybridization

Centrifugation of cell suspensions containing two or several cell types at forces up to 2 million g results in several basic events in succession: 1. Intracellular stratification. 2. Extrusion of the most dense cell parts (nuclei or cytoplasmic components) and their penetration into an adjacent cell in the compact sediment. Such introduction of protoplasmic elements from one cell into another is considered as centrifugal hybridization and fusion of cells. It differs from other methods of cell hybridization by its selectivity for cell components. 3. Further intermingling and mixing of cells into a fused protoplasmic mass. 4. With continuing increase of centrifugal force fractions of subcellular components are formed from the protoplasmic mass. These components are presumably viable since cells are not exposed to chemical treatment. Morphological demonstration of hybridization is based on centrifuging microscopy and on labeling donor cells or recipient cells by staining or fluorescence. Genetic evidence can be provided by cultivation of hybrid cellsin vitro and their cloningin vivo.     

Cytotaxonomic study ofTragopogon L. in czechoslovakia

Karyotypes ofTragopogon orientalis L. subsp.orientalis, T orientalis L. subsp.leiocarpos (Sauter)Trnka,T. pratensis L.,T. minor Miller,T. dubius Scop. subsp.dubius andT. dubius Scop. subsp.major (Jacq.)Vollmann were studied. The occurrence in Slovakia ofT. pratensis was karyologically proved.     

Vasotocin, melatonin and narcolepsy: Possible involvement of the pineal gland in its patho-physiological mechanism

Both the pineal nonapeptide hormone arginine vasotocin (AVT) (2.5 μg) administered intra-nasally and the pineal indole melatonin (50 mg) administered intravenously to three male narcoleptics (two with auxiliary symptoms and one with sleep attacks only), dramatically increased the amount of REM sleep and decreased REM sleep latency. The duration of the sleep onset REM periods in the two narcoleptics with auxiliary symptoms increased by more than 100 percent after AVT and melatonin administration. In the narcoleptic with sleep attacks only both AVT and melatonin induced REM periods at sleep onset. The hypothesis is advanced that narcolepsy represents an impairment of the melatonin-AVT control in the induction and circadian organization of REM sleep associated with an immaturity of REM triggering centers.     

Identification of two Thormählen-positive compounds from melanotic urine by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry

The isolation of two Thormählen-positive compounds from the urine of a patient with malignant melanoma and the elucidation of their structure by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry is described. The compounds were isolated using a poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone column and separated by preparative thin-layer chromatography. After elution they were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography—mass spectrometry as their trimethylsilyl derivatives and after hydrolysis also as their tert.-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives. The results showed the main Thormählen-positive compound A to be the glucuronide of 5-hydroxy-6-methoxyindole, whereas the minor compound AX appeared to be the glucuronide of its isomer 6-hydroxy-5-methoxyindole.