A molecular phylogeny of the genus Apis suggests that the Giant Honey Bee of the Philippines,A. breviligula Maa,and the Plains Honey Bee of southern India,A. indica Fabricius,are valid species

Two new taxa have been added to the existing molecular phylogenies of the genus Apis. The new phylogeny supports the accepted phylogenetic relationships of {dwarf honey bees [giant honey bees (cavity‐nesting honey bees)]}. Based on Bayesian and maximum parsimony trees, our analysis supports recognition of Apis indica, the Plains Honey Bee of south India, as a separate species from A. cerana. Our analysis also supports recognition of the Giant Philippines Honey Bee, A. breviligula, as a separate species from A. dorsata.     

Colonization of the Aeolian Islands by Pimelia rugulosa rugulosa Germar, 1824 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) inferred from the genetic structure of populations: geological and environmental relations

The darkling beetle Pimelia rugulosa rugulosa Germar, 1824 was selected to investigate the process of colonization in a volcanic archipelago and the role of volcanism in determining spatial patterns of genetic variability. Analyses were conducted in the Aeolian Islands, located in the central Mediterranean directly off the Sicilian coast. Genetic variability and geographic structure were studied in individuals from each island of the archipelago based on sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 mitochondrial gene; a network approach was employed to identify haplotype lineages. A strong genetic structure, with no haplotype sharing among islands, was observed. Six separate lineages were identified that independently colonized different islands of the archipelago from the mainland and differentiated locally to form small haplogroups. Variability of observed haplogroups is correlated with island age and a positive correlation between tenebrionid diversity and mitotype diversity is reported. Some, yet undescribed, catastrophic event is hypothesized to explain the depletion of a substantial part of the genetic, as well as biological diversity in the island of Filicudi. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 104 , 29–37.     

A method for inducing xylem emboli in situ: experiments with a field-grown tree

A pressure collar, assembled around 25cm sections of 4-year-old willow twigs, was used to examine cavitation events under field conditions. When the air pressure inside the collar was raised to between 1–8 and 2–8MPa, ultrasound acoustic emission signals were triggered which indicated the breaking of water columns in the xylem. The hydraulic conductivity of the twig portion inside the chamber decreased markedly. As a result, water potentials and conductances in leaves at the end of the twig decreased. Similar changes were induced at comparable pressures in detached twigs. The equipment used is described in detail, and evidence is presented that the mechanism of this artificial production of emboli follows the air-seeding principle hypothesized for natural cavitation events.     

The Water Relations of Young Olive Trees in a Mediterranean Winter: Measurements of Evaporation from Leaves and Water Conduction in Wood

We report measurements of evaporation rate, leaf resistanceto evaporation and water conduction in the stems of young olivetrees (Olea europea L.) growing in Messina, Italy, during thewinter and early spring. We have measured what Zimmermann calls‘leaf specific conductivity’ (LSC) of stem segmentsexcised from olive trees. The LSC is a measure of the specifichydraulic conductivity of stem segments normalized per unitarea of leaves supplied by the stem segment rather than perunit area of sapwood cross-sectional area. We find that theLSC's of primary stems were the largest followed in magnitudeby the LSC's of secondary stems and tertiary stems. Under winterand early spring conditions the maximum evaporative flux fromCoratina and Nocellara varieties of olive trees is about 2.6x 10^–5 kg 8^–1 m^–2. From this and the LSC measurementswe calculate that the pressure gradients needed to maintainthis rate of evaporation in the steady state is 65 kPa m^–1in primary stems, 170 kPa m^–1 in secondary stems and 560kPa m^–1 in tertiary stems. Olive, Olea europea L, evaporation, leaf specific conductivity, hydraulic conductivity, leaf resistance     

Geographical variation in macrohabitat use and preferences of the Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina

Geographical variation in wildlife–habitat relationships has seldom been studied. We explored macrohabitat use and geographically distinct responses to habitat availability in the Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina near the centre (Lithuania) and on the edge (Estonia) of its European distribution range, and in different zones within Estonia. Land cover types and distances to landscape elements, as well as landscape diversity, were measured around 198 Eagle nests and random forest points. Out of six macrohabitat characteristics, two (landscape diversity, area of optimal foraging habitat) showed no geographical variation in use, or preferences by the Eagle. Whereas variation in the use of suboptimal foraging habitats and forests could be attributed to regional differences in their availability, there were geographically distinct preferences for distances between nests and landscape elements. The species avoided anthropogenic edges in Lithuania but tended even to prefer their proximity in Estonia; Eagles selected nest-sites near remote waterbodies throughout Estonia but there was no such preference in Lithuania. The results did not support the hypothesis that latitudinal or range centre-to-periphery gradients existed in habitat relationships of the species; the main factor behind the geographical variation was probably land-use history. In general, the diversity of geographical effects indicated that extrapolating local habitat relationships to other areas may give erroneous results, and large-scale conservation planning regarding species' habitat may be ineffective.     

易卒中型自发性高血压大鼠中枢和血管中血管紧张素Ⅱ与血压变化关系

工作分析了不同年龄易卒中型自发性高血压大鼠（SHRSP）主动脉中血管紧张素Ⅱ（AⅡ）含量与收缩压（SBP）间的关系。SHRSP的SBP在12及16周龄时均持续上升,20周龄时不再继续上升但维持在高水平;三个年龄组的SHRSP的主动脉AⅡ含量均明显高于同年龄WKY对照鼠,向SHRSP侧脑室灌注巯甲丙脯氨酸四周不仅降低脑区中AⅡ含量,而且具有明显降压效应,同时显著降低主动脉AⅡ含量及血浆、主动脉中去甲肾上腺素和肾上腺素水平,上述结果证实了SHRSP血管中肾素-血管紧张素系统活动的异常与高血压发病学间的密切关系,提示中枢AⅡ可能通过易化外周交感-肾上腺系统活动调节血管中AⅡ水平。