Bruterfolg, Siedlungsdichte und Raumnutzung der Elster (Pica pica) in unterschiedlichen Habitaten

Zusammenfassung Auf einer Fläche von 128 km² im Raum Rayreuth (Oberfranken) wurde der Einfluß verschiedener Faktoren auf Bruterfolg, Nestbau, Siedlungsdichte und Nistplatzwahl der Elster durch multivariable statistische Methoden geprüft. Größte Bedeutung kam der Lage zur Siedlung zu: Elstern innerhalb von Siedlungen hatten einen vergleichsweise höheren Bruterfolg und eine höhere Siedlungsdichte. Das Habitat (Stadt, Stadtrand, Land) spielte demgegenüber eine geringere Rolle. Ein Einfluß potentieller Feinde (Rabenkrähe, Habicht) war (vermutlich wegen zu geringer Dichte) nicht erkennbar. Die mögliche Beziehung zur Wacholderdrossel wird als gemeinsame Nutzung von Grünland als wichtigste Nahrungsquelle diskutiert. Waldrandnahe Standorte wurden gemieden. Die Höhenlage hatte nur einen geringen Einfluß auf Bruterfolg und Nestbauverhalten. Von verschiedenen das Nest betreffenden Parametern (Baumtyp, Baumhöhe, Exposition, Blattaustrieb, Nestausbau, Nestalter) hatte nur das Nestalter einen deutlichen positiven Effekt auf den Bruterfolg. Bei der Wahl eines Nistplatzes war die Baumhöhe die einzig erkennbare wichtige Größe: Elstern nutzten höhere Bäume als dem durchschnittlichen Angebot entsprach. Die Bedeutung anderer Faktoren (Nistplatzangebot, Jagd) und die Beziehung zwischen den verschiedenen Parametern wird diskutiert.

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Breeding success, density and dispersion of the Magpie (Pica pica) in different habitats

Summary The influence of several factors on breeding success, nesting behaviour, density and selection of nesting sites was investigated on a study plot of 128 km² in northeastern Bavaria (Bayreuth, Oberfranken). The position to human settlement is the most important factor: Magpies within settlements showed a higher breeding success and density than outside (Tab. 5); the habitat (rural, urban, outskirts) was less important. Potential predators (GoshawkAccipiter gentilis, Carrion CrowCorvus corone corone) had no effect, Probably because of its low densities. The relation to colonies of the Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) is interpreted as a common use of grassland as feeding site during the breeding season (Tab. 5). Magpies seem to avoid the vicinity of forests (Tab. 4). The altitude had only a slight effect on breeding success and nesting behaviour. Among several factors which refer to the nesting site (tree type, height, exposition, period of leaf break, nest type) only the nest age had a clear (positive) effect on breeding success. Magpies preferred higher trees for nest-building (Tab. 4). The influence of other factors (density of nest sites, hunting, character of trees) and the relation between the different factors are discussed.

     

Direct neural effect of lateral hypothalamic stimulation on insulin secretion by pancreases of normal and obese rats

Perfusion of CNS intact pancreases with 200 mg/dl glucose with concomitant lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) stimulation significantly inhibited insulin secretion both in normal and obese rats. Sprague-Dawley, Zucker lean (FaFa) and Zucker obese (fafa) rats all responded in a similar manner, suggesting a general effect unrelated to metabolic state. Insulin secretion during mins 25-40 of perfusion was inhibited in Sprague Dawley, lean Zucker and obese Zucker rats by 31%, 42% and 33%, even though LHA stimulation took place from mins 20-25. Thus, the duration of inhibition was greater than the period of LHA stimulation, indicating that this pathway can induce prolonged changes in the responsiveness of the pancreas. The data presented in this study demonstrate that LHA stimulation, in the absence of humoral factors, results in a direct CNS-mediated suppression of insulin secretion which is relatively long lasting. This effect may illustrate a basic control mechanism by the CNS to regulate the endocrine pancreas.     

A normally attractive cell interaction is repulsive in two C. elegans mesodermal cell migration mutants.

In wild-type Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodites, two bilaterally symmetric sex myoblasts (SMs) migrate anteriorly to flank the precise center of the gonad, where they divide to generate the muscles required for egg laying (J. E. Sulston and H. R. Horvitz (1977) Devl Biol. 56, 110-156). Although this migration is largely independent of the gonad, a signal from the gonad attracts the SMs to their precise final positions (J. H. Thomas, M. J. Stern and H. R. Horvitz (1990) Cell 62, 1041-1052). Here we show that mutations in either of two genes, egl-15 and egl-17, cause the premature termination of the migrations of the SMs. This incomplete migration is caused by the repulsion of the SMs by the same cells in the somatic gonad that are the source of the attractive signal in wild-type animals.     

Effect of positive-pressure breathing on aADN2 in hyaline membrane disease.

In seven subjects with hyaline membrane disease and breathing 40-70% oxygen in nitrogen, the effect of continuous positive-pressure breathing (CPPB) was examined by application of a continuous negative pressure (10 cm water) about the thorax and assessment of the alveolar-arterial tension differences for nitrogen (aADn2) and oxygen (AaDo2). On CPPB, there was a decrease in the aADn2 by a mean 9 mmHg and a decrease in the AaDo2 by a mean 44 mmHg. This corresponded to a decrease in the total venous admixture (Qva/Qt) of 0.20 and to a decrease in the venous admixture due to a true right-to-left shunt (Qs/Qt) of 0.19. These data were interpreted to mean a significant improvement in Va/Qc imbalance within open ventilated parts of the lung, which could be responsible, particularly by relief of local alveolar hypoxia, for reduction of the pulmonary vascular resistance and the true right-to-left shunt.     

Citrate uptake in membrane vesicles of Klebsiella aerogenes.

In whole cells of Klebsiella aerogenes grown anaerobically on citrate as sole carbon source, citrate uptake is followed by rapid catabolism of the substrate via the inducible citrate fermentation pathway. Membrane vesicles prepared from such cells take up citrate but do not catabolize it. Vesicles process d-lactate dehydrogenase and the Na+-requiring oxalacetate decarboxylase. Citrate is taken up in the presence of Na+, and other monovalent cations, such as NH4+, Rb+, Cs+, or K+, do not substitute for Na+. Li+ appears to act synergistically with Na+. Citrate uptake is inhibited by N-2, cyanide, azide, sulfhydryl reagents, dinitrophenol, fluorcitrate, and hydroxycitrate.     

Use of amine buffers for in vitro studies of bone resorption

Summary Responses of cultured fetal rat bones to parathyroid hormone (PTH) were compared in media gassed with 5% CO₂ and buffered with bicarbonate or in media buffered with the amine buffers HEPES (N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N′-2-ethanesulfonic acid), TES (N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid), PIPES (piperazine-N,N′-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid)), Tris (tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane), or glycylglycine. PTH-induced bone resorption was markedly reduced in media buffered with the amine buffers and cultured in air in the absence of added bicarbonate. When the amine buffers were added to bicarbonate-buffered media, they decreased the responses of the bones to submaximal concentrations of PTH. But the response to supramaximal concentrations of PTH was usually not impaired. The results confirm our earlier studies indicating a CO₂ and/or bicarbonate requirement for optimal bone resorption. They also demonstrate that the amine buffers can inhibit the responses of bone to PTH even in the presence of CO₂ and bicarbonate. Supported by NIH research Grant #AM 11262. Supported by NIH Research Career Development Award #AM 70210.