To lek or not to lek: mating strategies of male fallow deer

We studied the mating system of fallow deer (Dama dama) for6 years in central Italy. Males in this population could defendterritories that were either single, clumped in leks, or satelliteto leks. The most highly successful males in our study werein leks. When we considered all males, there were no significantdifferences in average copulatory success according to territorytype because many lek males did not achieve any copulations,which were seen in only a few lek territories. The variancein copulatory success, however, was much greater for leks thanelsewhere. Single territories were occupied for shorter timesduring the rut than lek territories. Fighting among males wasmore frequent in the lek, even when we excluded highly successfullek males from the analysis. Chases of nonterritorial malesand harem size were correlated with the number of copulationsachieved by individual males, but did not vary according toterritory type. Copulatory success of some individuals increasedwith age, but there were no age differences among males holdingdifferent types of territories. Satellite males switched tolek territoriality in the course of one rut, but switches fromsingle territory to lek territory were rare. We suggest thatmales in single territories are inferior competitors that selecta low-risk, lowbenefit strategy, whereas those in lek territorieswhere no copulations were seen may be attempting to establishthemselves on the lek to increase their copulatory success infuture years.     

Comparative aspects of opioid-dopamine interaction

1. Opiate receptors are found in invertebrate as well as mammalian systems, often in proximity to dopamergic systems. This review summarizes the interrelationships between these two transmitter systems in invertebrates. 2. The comparative data discussed here are of considerable significance. They recall that the opioid-dopamine relationships first demonstrated in the mammalian nervous system also apply to invertebrates and are therefore of more general importance. The results obtained in the mollusk Mytilus strengthen the concept that the activity of dopaminergic neurons may be modulated by afferent opioid signals and that, even in "more primitive" animals, interneuronal transfer of information is more complex than formerly visualized. Furthermore, the data indicate that endogenous opioids may exert tonic control over dopamine metabolism, thus implying interdependence of the two systems.     

A laboratory study on the short-term zonal oscillations of the trochid Monodonta turbinata (Born) (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

Zonal oscillations of Monodonta turbinata (Born) were monitored with an actographic device which precluded clustering behaviour. Unfed snails maintained their cyclic pattern of behaviour for up to 8 days under a light-dark cycle which simulated the natural one. Under constant conditions of light or dark, however, the snails ceased migration and occupied a zonal position typical of day and night, respectively. Experiments in diffuse light and with light from below the floor of the experimental tank showed that the downward migration of M. turbinata in the daytime depends on positive geotaxis combined with negative phototaxis whilst the upward migration at night depends on a negative geotaxis. This mechanism is similar to that described in other littoral molluscs. There was no evidence of an endogenous control of rhythmic zonal activity.     

Influence of Initial Population Densities of Meloidogyne incognita on Three Chile Cultivars

The effects of Meloidogyne incognita on the Big Jim, Jalapeno, and New Mexico No. 6 chile (Capsicum annuum) cultivars were investigated in microplots for two growing seasons. All three cultivars were susceptible to M. incognita and reacted similarly to different initial populations of this nematode. Severe stunting and yield suppressions occurred at all initial M. incognita densities tested ranging from 385 to 4,230 eggs and larvae/500 cm³ soil. Regression analysis of the microplot data from a sandy loam soil showed yield losses of 31% for the 1978 season and 25% for the 1979 season for the three cultivars for each 10-fold increase in the initial population of M. incognita.     

Efficient colonization of the endophytes Herbaspirillum huttiense RCA24 and Enterobacter cloacae RCA25 influences the physiological parameters of Oryza sativa L. cv. Baldo rice

Several important bacterial characteristics, such as biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity and production of siderophores and phytohormones, can be assessed as plant growth promotion traits. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of nitrogen fixing and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) producing endophytes in two Oryza sativa cultivars (Baldo and Vialone Nano). Three bacteria, Herbaspirillum huttiense RCA24, Enterobacter asburiae RCA23 and Staphylococcus sp. 377, producing different IAA levels, were tested for their ability to enhance nifH gene expression and nitrogenase activity in Enterobacter cloacae RCA25. Results showed that H. huttiense RCA24 performed best. Improvement in nitrogen fixation and changes in physiological parameters such as chlorophyll, nitrogen content and shoot dry weight were observed for plants co-inoculated with strains RCA25 and RCA24 in a 10:1 ratio. Based on confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis, strain RCA24 was the best colonizer of the root interior and the only IAA producer located in the same root niche occupied by RCA25 cells. This work shows that the choice of a bio-inoculum having the right composition is one of the key aspects to be considered for the inoculation of a specific host plant cultivar with microbial consortia.     

First data on the nuclear DNA content (Feulgen-positive material) of Perodicticus potto

The nuclear DNA content (Feulgen-positive material) of Perodicticus potto, measured on lymphocytes from six animals of the subspecies edwarsi (Gabon) and potto (Dahomey and Liberia) is quite homogeneous around a mean value of 6·87 ± 0·15 pg. A difference of 1·5% has been found between sexes in each subspecies; the possible relation of this fact to the characteristics of the karyotype is discussed.     

Effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields on mouse spermatogenesis monitored by flow cytometric analysis

Flow cytometry (FCM) was performed to monitor the cellular effects of extremely-low-frequency magnetic field on mouse spermatogenesis. Groups of five male hybrid F1 mice aged 8–10 weeks were exposed to 50 Hz magnetic field. The strength of the magnetic field was 1.7 mT. Exposure times of 2 and 4 h were chosen. FCM measurements were performed 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days after treatment. For each experimental point, a sham-treated group was used as a control. The possible effects were studied by analyzing the DNA content distribution of the different cell types involved in spermatogenesis and using the elongated spermatids as the reference population. The relative frequencies of the various testicular cell types were calculated using specific software. In groups exposed for 2 h, no effects were observed. In groups exposed for 4 h, a statistically significant (P < 0.001) decrease in elongated spermatids was observed at 28 days after treatment. This change suggests a possible cytotoxic and/or cytostatic effect on differentiating spermatogonia. However, further studies are being carried out to investigate the effects of longer exposure times. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.