PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE EVOLUTION OF ALTERNATIVE SOCIAL BEHAVIOR IN THE MANAKINS (AVES: PIPRIDAE)

Phylogenetic analyses of lekking, lek spatial organization, and cooperative and coordinated lek display in the manakins (Aves: Pipridae) demonstrate that variation in social behavior in the group has a strong, phylogenetic component. Two of the three classes of social behavior examined also show significant phylogenetic constraints. Current adaptive plasticity models are insufficient to explain the phylogenetic variation in these behaviors in the manakins. These findings support the conclusion that vertebrate reproductive social behavior has an evolutionary history, and that it is not determined solely by adaptive individual plasticity to current conditions. The evolution of social behavior, particularly through sexual selection, can have historical consequences that can limit subsequent behavioral adaptation.     

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Acupuncture Stimulation via the Vagus Nerve

Although acupuncture therapy is widely used in traditional Asian medicine for the treatment of diverse internal organ disorders, its underlying biological mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the functional involvement of acupuncture stimulation (AS) in the regulation of inflammatory responses. TNF-α production in mouse serum, which was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration, was decreased by manual acupuncture (MAC) at the zusanli acupoint (stomach36, ST36). In the spleen, TNF-α mRNA and protein levels were also downregulated by MAC and were recovered by using a splenic neurectomy and a vagotomy. c-Fos, which was induced in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMV) by LPS and electroacupuncture (EAC), was further increased by focal administration of the AMPA receptor blocker CNQX and the purinergic receptor antagonist PPADS. TNF-α levels in the spleen were decreased by CNQX and PPADS treatments, implying the involvement of inhibitory neuronal activity in the DVC. In unanesthetized animals, both MAC and EAC generated c-Fos induction in the DVC neurons. However, MAC, but not EAC, was effective in decreasing splenic TNF-α production. These results suggest that the therapeutic effects of acupuncture may be mediated through vagal modulation of inflammatory responses in internal organs.     

CHROMOSOME NUMBERS IN THE GENUS ANTHURIUM (ARACEAE) II

Chromosome numbers were determined for 86 Anthurium species. Fifty-one of these were newly determined with counts ranging from 2n = 24 to 66 and 30 being the most common. All known Anthurium chromosome numbers were summarized, and 43 taxonomic changes were made in the previous reports to reflect current taxonomy. In terms of somatic chromosome numbers, the numbers form four polyploid series of 20–40–60, 24–30–48–84, 28–56 and 30–60–90–ca. 124. Paleoaneuploidy, polyploidy and B-chromosomes are basic features of the genus, but subsequent recent aneuploidy is not. The exact nature of chromosome evolution in Anthurium remains to be elucidated.     

Tagesperiodische Resistenzschwankungen gegenα-Strahlen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Predicting Effects of Water Regime Changes on Waterbirds: Insights from Staging Swans

Predicting the environmental impact of a proposed development is notoriously difficult, especially when future conditions fall outside the current range of conditions. Individual-based approaches have been developed and applied to predict the impact of environmental changes on wintering and staging coastal bird populations. How many birds make use of staging sites is mostly determined by food availability and accessibility, which in the case of many waterbirds in turn is affected by water level. Many water systems are regulated and water levels are maintained at target levels, set by management authorities. We used an individual-based modelling framework (MORPH) to analyse how different target water levels affect the number of migratory Bewick’s swans Cygnus columbianus bewickii staging at a shallow freshwater lake (Lauwersmeer, the Netherlands) in autumn. As an emerging property of the model, we found strong non-linear responses of swan usage to changes in water level, with a sudden drop in peak numbers as well as bird-days with a 0.20 m rise above the current target water level. Such strong non-linear responses are probably common and should be taken into account in environmental impact assessments.