Molecular and chemical characters to evaluate species status of two cuckoo bumblebees: Bombus barbutellus and Bombus maxillosus (Hymenoptera,Apidae, Bombini)

Many methods, based on morphological, molecular or chemical characters, have been used to address the question of species taxonomic status. Integrative taxonomy aims to define stronger supported taxonomic hypotheses by considering complementary datasets from different characters. By following an integrative approach, the present study includes molecular, chemical and morphological criteria to establish the taxonomic status of two rare and doubtful cuckoo bumblebee taxa: Bombus (Psithyrus) barbutellus and Bombus (Psithyrus) maxillosus. These two sympatric taxa are discriminated by few morphological criteria (mainly wing darkness and hair length). We used these morphological character diagnoses to establish an a priori status of our samples (23 specimens). We developed a combined molecular dataset from one nuclear gene, elongation factor 1α (EF‐1α), and one mitochondrial gene, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), spanning 1623 bp, and a chemical dataset of sexual marking pheromones (73 compounds). The molecular data were subjected to maximum‐likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic inference under partitioned model and maximum parsimony. The chemical data were analysed by clustering and the two‐group k‐means method to test divergences between the two species. The resulting phylogenetic trees show no consistent divergence between the two taxa. Moreover, we found no divergence in the sexual marking pheromones in the clustering and two‐group k‐means analyses. These converging results support the conspecificity of both taxa. Nonetheless, our determinations using the traditional morphological criteria separated our samples into two taxa. We conclude that the morphological criteria seem to relate to intraspecific variations: B. maxillosus is regarded as a syn.n. of B. barbutellus.     

Climate and agricultural context shape reproductive mode variation in an aphid crop pest

In aphids, reproductive mode is generally assumed to be selected for by winter climate. Sexual lineages produce frost-resistant eggs, conferring an advantage in regions with cold winters, while asexual lineages predominate in regions with mild winters. However, habitat and resource heterogeneities are known to exert a strong influence on sex maintenance and might modulate the effect of climate on aphid reproductive strategies. We carried out a hierarchical sampling in northern France to investigate whether reproductive mode variation of the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi is driven by winter climate conditions, by habitat and resource heterogeneities represented by a range of host plants or by both factors. We confirmed the coexistence in R. padi populations of two genetic clusters associated with distinct reproductive strategies. Asexual lineages predominated, whatever the surveyed year and location. However, we detected a between-year variation in the local contribution of both clusters, presumably associated with preceding winter severity. No evidence for host-driven niche differentiation was found in the field on six Poaceae among sexual and asexual lineages. Two dominant multilocus genotypes (∼70% of the sample), having persisted over a 10-year period, were equally abundant on different plant species and locations, indicating their large ecological tolerance. Our results fit theoretical predictions of the influence of winter climate on the balance between sexual and asexual lineages. They also highlight the importance of current agricultural practices which seem to favour a small number of asexual generalist genotypes and their migration across large areas of monotonous environments.     

Increased sensitivity in the measurement of ATP in freshwater samples with a comment on the adverse effect of membrane filtration

SUMMARY. Increased sensitivity in the determination of ATP in fresh water and sediment samples was achieved by incorporating protein, EDTA and extra luciferin in the reconstruction of the firefly lantern preparation. Maximum recovery was only obtained when samples were extracted in actively boiling Tris buffer. The method was sufficiently sensitive for the determination of ATP in 1 ml water samples injected directly into the boiling buffer. Concentration of water samples on membrane filters, even volumes as small as 1 ml, caused a significant drop in the ATP recovered. This was thought to be due, at least in part, to cell lysis and the concentration of interfering detrital material on the membrane. Further interference was observed when sediment samples were analysed. This was only partly overcome by dilution of the sample and the importance of the inclusion of internal standards (bacterial cultures) is emphasized.     

Peroxidase and Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase Levels in Cotyledons of Cucumis sativus (L.)

Peroxidase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase become increasinglyactive in cucumber cotyledons excised from the plant althoughthere is a fall in total protein content. The increases areinhibited by dinitrophenol, D, and L-threo-chloramphenicol,cycloheximide, puromycinj and actinomycin D, and it is concludedthat the enzymes are synthesized de novo. Disc electrophoresisof cotyledon extracts revealed three bands of peroxidase, oneof which becomes much enhanced in excised cotyledons. Citrullineaccumulates markedly in excised cotyledons. If the shoot ofcucumber plants is cut away above the cotyledons, very largeincreases in peroxidase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenaseare observed although yellowing and protein loss are delayed.     

Interspecific Interactions between Primates,Birds, Bats,and Squirrels May Affect Community Composition on Borneo

For several decades, primatologists have been interested in understanding how sympatric primate species are able to coexist. Most of our understanding of primate community ecology derives from the assumption that these animals interact predominantly with other primates. In this study, we investigate to what extent multiple community assembly hypotheses consistent with this assumption are supported when tested with communities of primates in isolation versus with communities of primates, birds, bats, and squirrels together. We focus on vertebrate communities on the island of Borneo, where we examine the determinants of presence or absence of species, and how these communities are structured. We test for checkerboard distributions, guild proportionality, and Fox's assembly rule for favored states, and predict that statistical signals reflecting interactions between ecologically similar species will be stronger when nonprimate taxa are included in analyses. We found strong support for checkerboard distributions in several communities, particularly when taxonomic groups were combined, and after controlling for habitat effects. We found evidence of guild proportionality in some communities, but did not find significant support for Fox's assembly rule in any of the communities examined. These results demonstrate the presence of vertebrate community structure that is ecologically determined rather than randomly generated, which is a finding consistent with the interpretation that interactions within and between these taxonomic groups may have shaped species composition in these communities. This research highlights the importance of considering the broader vertebrate communities with which primates co‐occur, and so we urge primatologists to explicitly consider nonprimate taxa in the study of primate ecology. Am. J. Primatol. 75:170‐185, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Factors influencing the distribution of medium‐sized ground‐dwelling mammals in southeastern mainland Australia

Abstract The forage diggings of medium‐sized ground‐dwelling mammals (bandicoots and potoroos) were recorded over two seasons across 136 forested study sites, representing a stratified sample of the climatic, geological and topographic features of far south‐eastern mainland Australia. Diggings, presumably left by bandicoots, were recorded at a total of 42 sites, and those of potoroos at 27 sites. Statistical models were developed for the occurrence of these diggings, based on environmental attributes measured for each site. At a landscape scale, mean minimum temperature of the coldest month was an important explanatory variable for both groups of animals, with likelihood of their occurrence increasing with increasing temperature during that period. More locally, soil fertility and time since last fire also influenced the occurrence of bandicoot and potoroo diggings, while density of ground cover was additionally important in explaining the occurrence of bandicoot diggings. Bandicoot and potoroo diggings were more likely to occur with decreasing soil fertility and increasing time since fire, while occurrence of bandicoot diggings also increased with increasing density of ground cover. The possible management implications of our findings for conservation of medium‐sized ground‐dwelling mammals in multiple‐use forests are discussed.     

The historv of introductions of Bufo mariuk (Amphibia: Anura); a natural experiment in evolution

The Central American toad, Bufo marinus , has been extensively introduced throughout the Caribbean and Pacific regions and is now one of the most widespread of terrestrial vertebrates. Details, such as the sources and dates of introductions, the number of individuals introduced and the fates of the introduced populations have been documented and are described. The availability of this historical information makes the introductions of great potential value as a series of evolutionary experiments. They can be used to study the way in which allopatric populations diverge genetically and the effects of population bottlenecks of known size on the genetic characteristics of populations, and to examine theories of rapid speciation caused by genetic revolutions associated with founder events.     

Differences in thermal properties of NAD malate dehydrogenase in genotypes of Lathyrus japonicus Willd (Leguminosae) from maritime and continental sites

Abstract The response of the kinetic properties of NAD malate dehydrogenase (MDH) was compared for two clones of Lathy rus japonicus Willd. collected in two contrasting climatic sites in Eastern North America. MDH from the cold adapted maritime genotype (Hudson Bay, Québec) had lower thermostability, reduced apparent (E_a) and free (ΔG^?) energy of activation and lower specific activity when compared to MDH of plants from the warm summer continental site (Lake Michigan). Electrophoretic analyses show little differentiation in the isozyme profiles of the two genotypes. Thermostability differences were primarily associated with the mitochondrial isozymes which, however, were not differentiated electrophoretically Substrate binding ability of MDH, as measured by apparent Km, was more sensitive to high assay temperature in the cold adapted maritime genotype.     

Male advertisement call characters as phylogeographical indicators in European water frogs

Anuran vocalizations are valuable in the determination of species identity and have the potential to discriminate intraspecific variation. We developed novel bioacoustic sampling techniques, based on Fast Fourier Transforms, to increase the precision and sensitivity of male advertisement call analysis and applied the method to European water frogs. This approach robustly separated the three types of north European water frogs (Rana ridibunda, R. lessonae and their viable, fertile hybrid R. esculenta) by their call subunit characteristics. The hybrid frog exhibited a high frequency call component absent from both the parental species. Furthermore, call analysis demonstrated significant intraspecific differences among populations of all three frog types. Call characters of R. ridibunda changed systematically as a function of longitude. This trend may reflect either clinal variation in selection pressures across Europe, or the consequences of drift following postglacial colonization from eastern refugia. High resolution vocalization analysis therefore provides a potentially useful method for investigating intraspecific differentiation and the phylogeographical origins of anuran distributions. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2002, 77 , 355?365.