Genetic divergence and echolocation call frequency in cryptic species of Hipposideros larvatus s.l. (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae) from the Indo-Malayan region

The intermediate leaf-nosed bat ( Hipposideros larvatus ) is a medium-sized bat distributed throughout the Indo-Malay region. In north-east India, bats identified as H. larvatus captured at a single cave emitted echolocation calls with a bimodal distribution of peak frequencies, around either 85 kHz or 98 kHz. Individuals echolocating at 85 kHz had larger ears and longer forearms than those echolocating at 98 kHz, although no differences were detected in either wing morphology or diet, suggesting limited resource partitioning. A comparison of mitochondrial control region haplotypes of the two phonic types with individuals sampled from across the Indo-Malay range supports the hypothesis that, in India, two cryptic species are present. The Indian 98-kHz phonic bats formed a monophyletic clade with bats from all other regional populations sampled, to the exclusion of the Indian 85-kHz bats. In India, the two forms showed 12–13% sequence divergence and we propose that the name Hipposideros khasiana for bats of the 85-kHz phonic type. Bats of the 98-kHz phonic type formed a monophyletic group with bats from Myanmar, and corresponded to Hipposideros grandis , which is suggested to be a species distinct from Hipposideros larvatus . Differences in echolocation call frequency among populations did not reflect phylogenetic relationships, indicating that call frequency is a poor indicator of evolutionary history. Instead, divergence in call frequency probably occurs in allopatry, possibly augmented by character displacement on secondary contact to facilitate intraspecific communication.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 88 , 119–130.     

Role of Cytokinin in Vessel Regeneration in Wounded Coleus Internodes

Cytokinin was found to be a controlling or limiting factor invessel regeneration around a wound in internodes of Coleus blumeiBenth. in which the endogenous cytokinin level was minimized.The cytokinin was applied in aqueous solution to the base ofexcised, mature internodes that had an active vascular cambium.Each internode also received IAA in lanolin at its apical end.Under low (0.1 %, w/w) or high (10%, w/w) auxin concentrations,the control internodes (without exogenous cytokinin) exhibitedsmall amounts of vessel regeneration. At appropriate concentrationszeatin, kinetin and 6-benzylamino-purine (BAP) induced a significantincrease in vessel regeneration around the wound. The threecytokinins also induced novel patterns of supplementary regenerationfurther from the wound surface. Kinetin and BAP showed the strongestpromoting effect at 5 and 10 µg ml^–1, while zeatinwas most effective at 20 µg ml^–1. At a low (0.1%) auxin level zeatin was the most effective cytokinin, whereaskinetin was the most effective one at high (1 %) auxin. An inhibitoryeffect on vessel regeneration was observed at the highest kinetinconcentration tested (50 µg ml^–1). The regenerationof vessels induced by cytokinin was very polar. Many more regeneratedvessel members differentiated below the wound than above it,and the regeneration process proceeded acropetally from thebase of the internode to its upper parts. Our results implya basipetal polar increase in cambium responsiveness along thestem axis from internode 5 to 7. The possible significance ofsuch a basipetal increase in cambium sensitivity in wood formationin trees is discussed. Auxin, Coleus blumei, cytokinin, vascular differentiation, vessel regeneration, wound xylem     

New Silurian cooksonias from dolostones of north-eastern North America

New specimens of Cooksonia and Hostinella are described from the Bertie Group of Ontario and New York State, which is dated by faunas as latest Silurian (Přídolí). The rare plant fossils are unusual in that they are preserved in fine-grained, slightly argillaceous dolostones ('waterlime') rather than clastic rocks. At least two species of Cooksonia are present, one with ± globular sporangial morphology close to C. hemisphaerica Lang. Those with ellipsoidal/discoidal sporangia are compared with C. pertoni Lang, C .  paranensis Gerrienne et al . and C. bohemica Schweitzer, the latter represented by a single specimen from the Přídolí of the Czech Republic. However, the paucity of specimens, which prevents assessment of taphonomic influences on shape, combined with the absence of any anatomical features and the gross morphological simplicity of the fossils, precludes specific assignment. Specimens of Hostinella include one in which apices and a lateral basal structure resembling a root are preserved. It is concluded that the Laurentian assemblage of Ontario and New York State is less diverse and disparate than coeval assemblages, which are also preserved in marine rocks. Its preservation in limestones may have been facilitated by the hypersalinity inferred from various sedimentary features, which would restrict the activity of many decomposers.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 146 , 399–413.     

Northern Goshawk Habitat: an Intersection of Science,Management, and Conservation

Abstract: We responded to the claim by Greenwald et al. (2005) that the management recommendations for the northern goshawk in the Southwestern United States (MRNG; Reynolds et al. 1992), a food web-based conservation plan that incorporated both northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and multiple prey habitats, may be inadequate to protect goshawks. Greenwald et al. (2005) based this claim on their review of 12 telemetry studies of goshawk habitat selection and 5 nontelemetry studies of the effects of vegetation structure at the home range scale on goshawk nest occupancy and reproduction that appeared after the 1992 publication of the MRNG. Greenwald et al. (2005) summarized their review as showing that 1) goshawks were habitat specialists limited to forests with mature and old-growth structures including large trees, high canopy cover, multiple canopy layering, and abundant woody debris; 2) habitats were not selected on the basis of prey abundance and, therefore, managing for prey habitats diluted goshawk habitats; and 3) selection for openings, edges, and habitat diversity was inconclusive. Our review found that when the studies' respective authors pooled their radiotagged goshawks there were weak to strong selections for old forest structures. However, the studies also documented extensive variation in use of vegetation types and structures by individual goshawks; some avoided openings, edges, young forests, and old forests, whereas others selected for these characteristics. Additionally, by virtue of their wide geographic distribution, the studies showed that the focal populations themselves occurred in a variety of forest types, some with large structural differences. We found no evidence in Greenwald's et al. (2005) review that the MRNG are inadequate to protect goshawks. Rather, the studies reviewed by Greenwald et al. (2005), as well as many studies they missed, supported the MRNG. The suggestion of inadequacy by Greenwald et al. (2005) appeared rooted in misunderstandings of goshawk habitats described in the MRNG, a discounting of the extent of variation in vegetation structural and seral stages used by goshawks, a limited understanding of the extent to which prey limits goshawks, a failure to recognize the dynamic nature of forests, and an incomplete review of the literature. We believe the MRNG are adequate because they maximize the sustainable amount of mature and old forests in goshawk home ranges and specify the kinds and intermixtures of prey habitats within home ranges. Implementation of MRNG should reduce the likelihood that the availability of vegetation structures suited to goshawk nesting and foraging, as well as abundance and availability of prey, will limit goshawk nest occupancy and reproduction.     

Osmoregulation in Larvae of the Land-Crab, Cardisoma guanhumi Latreille

Daily studies were made of the osmoregulatory abilities of Cardisomaguanhumi from hatching to the end of larval development. Theseresults were compared to those of similar research on osmoregulationby larvae and megalopa of four species of estuarine, littoral,and sub-littoral crabs. The comparison shows that larvae ofC. guanhumi possess the same kinds of adaptations for waterintake at the time of molt that were found in Rhithropanopeusharrisii. Land-crab larvae hyperregulated in 10 p.p.t. sea waterand hyporegulated in water of 40 p.p.t. for experimental periodsfor 2 hr during the first one-third of their development. Duringthe remainder of larval life, they hyporegulated against 15p.p.t. in intermolt periods and became isosmotic with, or hyporegulatedagainst, 10 p.p.t. at the time of molting. From the time ofhatching, the osmoregulatory pattern of developing C. guanhumifits them for deep penetration of estuaries and for crossingsteep saline gradients. This pattern is evidence for a strongerand more enduring control of water balance, especially at thetime of molting, than we have found in non-terrestrial species.