Vegetation of pastoralist campsites within the coastal grassland of central Somalia

Seasonal occupancy of pastoralist campsites where livestock are bedded down at night has created islands of soil fertility within the coastal grassland of central Somalia. Soil organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium concentrations were greatest at the centre of the campsites and decreased towards the perimeter. The vegetation on the campsites differed from the surrounding grassland, presumably in response to soil fertility and intense grazing. The fast-growing, grazing-tolerant, stoloniferous grass, Cynodon dactylon , and the non-palatable, annual forbs, Cleome tenella and Gisekia pharnaceoides , occupied the centre of the campsites. The campsite perimeters were dominated by the slow-growing, grazing-sensitive, perennial plants Cencrhus ciliaris and Indigofera intricata .

Résumé

L'occupation saisonnière des lieux de campement où le bétail est rentré pendant la nuit a créé des ilots au sol fertile dans la partie côtière de la Somalie centrale. La matière organique du sol, les concentrations en azote, phosphore et potassium, étaient plus élevées au centre du campement et diminuaient vers la périphérie. La végétation à l'intérieur des campements différait de la prairie environnante, résultat sans doute de la fertilité du sol et du pâturage intense. L'herbe à la croissance rapide, résistante au pâturage et stolonifèhe, Cynodon dactylon , et les désagréables et annuelles Cleome tenella et Gisekia pharnaceoides , occupaient le centre des campements. Le périmètre des campements était dominé par les plantes à croissance lente, sensibles au pâturage et perennes, Cenchrus ciliaris et Indigofera intricata .     

Species-specific growth responses of favositid corals to soft-bottom substrates

Gibson, Michael A. & Broadhead, Thomas W. 1989 07 15: Species-specific growth responses of favositid corals to soft-bottom substrates. Lethaia , Vol. 22, pp. 287–299. Oslo. ISSN 0024–1164.
Species of favositid corals from the Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian of Tennessee, USA, exhibit structural modifications related to corallum geometry, interfacial skeletal material, and biotic associations that enabled them to survive in terrigenous mud rich environments. Favosites conicus Hall (Lower Devonian) had a flat, holotheca-covered base and a radial pattern of colony growth, but apparently had a short life span and may not have survived beyond the first reproductive cycle (monocarpous). It was adapted for living between major episodes of terrigenous mud influx. F. foerstei (Lower Devonian) had a convex, pseudoholotheca-covered base and a modified axial pattern of colony growth. Its large size, in comparison to that of F. conicus , suggests a longer lived colony (polycarpous), in which continued upward and outward growth enabled it to survive episodic sediment influx. F. forbesi (Upper Silurian) exhibited radial growth to form either (1) a globose corallum that was symbiotic with the stalks of living crinoids permitting the colony to live entirely above the substrate, or (2) a Gorallum with a steeply convex, holotheca-covered base that represents a bottom-dwelling colony in which the rate of growth probably only slightly exceeded the rate of sediment accumulation. * Functional morphology, astogeny, paleoecology, Tabulata .     

Some population consequences of variation in preference among individual predators

A number of foraging studies have demonstrated that populations of predators rarely consist of individuals with identical preferences for particular types of prey. Variation among predators can lead to frequency-dependent changes in population preference, because those predators mat prefer the rarer type of prey generally have the greatest influence on population preference. In this study we develop a series of theoretical models which demonstrate how anti-apostatic selection (i.e. selection against the rare form) can arise out of (a) bimodal and (b) normal variation in preference among individuals of the same species. We show that population level anti-apostatic selection can occur even when individual predators show pro-apostatic selection (i.e. selection against the common form). Furthermore, patterns of population prey selection that arise out of variation in preference can potentially be pro-apostatic over one range of relative densities and anti-apostatic over another range of relative densities. Finally, we examine a case study involving predation by female waterboatmen Notonecta glauca and show that the variation in preference in this species is large enough to generate higher anti-apostatic selection than would be expected from the diet selected by the average individual.     

Isozymes and DNA markers in gene conservation of forest trees

For long-lived plants that have to cope with high temporal and spatial environmental heterogeneity, genetic diversity is of prime importance for species persistence. Detrimental anthropogenic impact on the gene pool of forest trees calls for conservation of genetic resources. Potentials and limitations of isozymes and DNA markers in forest genetic conservation are reviewed. These markers can contribute to conservation with respect to the delimitations of species and hybrid zones, as well as the assessment of genetic diversity within and among populations. Markers are valuable to identify resource populations, since today‘s genetic diversity in forest trees is predominantly the result of plant history (e.g. glacial refuges, migration). Several suggestions have been put forward to optimize sampling of in situ or ex situ populations on the grounds of marker data. Restraint in this area is recommended. Different types of genetic markers (terpenes, isozymes, nuclear and extrachromosomal DNA polymorphisms) and quantitative traits yield different information about genetic diversity and population differentiation. Hence identification of resource populations should not solely be based upon a certain marker type or on quantitative traits alone. The capability of available markers to predict or assess adaptive potentials in forest tree populations is still very limited. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of Acetate on Esterase C Activity During the Growth Cycle of Paramecium*

SYNOPSIS Enhanced esterase C activity could be demonstrated by starch gel electrophoresis in various stocks of Paramecium spp. (P. primaurelia stocks 90 and 540, P. biaurelia stock 93, P. tetraurelia stock 29. P. pentaurelia stock 87, P. octaurelia stocks 31 and 300, and P. multimicronucleatum species 3, stock 8 MO) grown in Adaptation Medium. This esterase, however, was barely detectable when they were cultivated in Axenic Medium. Addition of trypticase to Adaptation Medium resulted in reduction of esterase C in the ciliates. This effect is ascribable to Na acetate present in trypticase. Since esterase C increased with the decrease in acetate concentration (as estimated by gas-liquid chromatography) during growth of Paramecium, acetate appears to be utilized by the cells. Sensitivity of esterase C to acetate occurs in all 6 species of Paramecium examined. Different stocks within a species may have different levels of sensitivity; in one case this is genetically determined. The results emphasize the importance of controlling and manipulating growth conditions for the assessment of inter- and intraspecies variations in the isozymes of Paramecium.     

Effects of earthworms, nematodes, cultivations and host plants on Verticillium wilt of peach and cherry

Verticillium dahliae but not V. albo-atrum Berth was isolated from eight out of twenty-one stone fruit orchards surveyed for Verticillium wilt disease in western New York. Wilt incidence was related to the cultivation of tomato or legumes as previous or inter-crop with stone fruit trees. A limited cross species inoculation using isolates of V. albo-atrum and V. dahliae from woody and herbaceous plants showed that peach and cherry were susceptible to both species. The effect of V. dahliae on growth of cherry seedlings in the presence of Tylenchorynchus claytoni, Pratylenchus penetrans and Meloidogyne hapla was compared. P. penetrans and M. hapla produced more severe growth reduction than T. claytoni. The adverse effect of Verticillium on the growth of cherry seedlings was greater acting together with any one of the three nematodes than acting alone. V. dahliae was shown to be capable of passage through earthworms without loss of infectivity.     

Comparative physiology of field-grown tomatoes during ripening on the plant or retarded ripening in controlled atmospheres

Tomato fruits of six cultivars were harvested at three different stages of maturity or were harvested when mature-green and then stored in a modified gas atmosphere (2·5-4% O₂; 4% CO₂) for 2 months. The fresh and stored fruits were analysed for their contents of sugars, organic acids and free amino acids, while proteins were separated by discontinuous electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. In general, the low molecular weight components decreased during storage. A comparison of mature-green fruits before and after storage showed that although total protein was not decreased, a different electrophoretic pattern was obtained following controlled atmosphere (CA) storage. Thus, although controlled atmosphere storage repressed the loss of chlorophyll and synthesis of lycopene, carotenoids and xanthophylls, the biochemical parameters measured showed a controlled change towards the conditions exemplified by ripe fruits. This was not so marked in some cultivars as it was in others.