Sexual selection when the female directly benefits

Why do females of many species mate with males on the basis of traits apparently detrimental to male survival? The answer may lie in the fact that these male traits are correlated with male condition. We consider the argument that high male condition directly benefits female fecundity and/or viability (e.g. through lower transmission of parasites, improved control of resources, or better paternal care). Using a quantitative genetic model we show how female preferences for male traits that indicate condition can evolve, even if the male traits themselves have deleterious effects on both the male and the female's fecundity. So-called ‘arbitrary preferences’ can spread in this way because male traits subject to sexual selection are often under additional selection to become correlated with condition. At equilibrium the positive effects of male condition on a female's fecundity and the negative effects of the male trait on her fecundity are balanced and the female preference is under stabilizing selection. The male trait will often be correlated with viability, but not with fecundity, even though the preference evolved as a result of differences in male fecundity. The mean fecundity of females is not maximized, and can steadily decline as the male trait and female preference evolve. If the male trait has no direct deleterious effects on female fecundity, as may happen in species with no paternal care, female preferences are under continuous directional selection to increase.     

Ecology and Translocation-Aided Recovery of an Endangered Badger Population

Abstract Southern British Columbia, Canada, is the northwestern range limit of the American badger (Taxidea taxus) and supports a nationally endangered subspecies. We initially investigated space-use, diet, and demography in southeastern British Columbia to characterize range-limit ecology. Resident badgers in the northern part (NP) of our study area were extirpated or nearly so during our study (λ = 0.7), whereas the southern (SP) badger population remained viable (λ = 1.2). This apparent difference in viability between NP and SP may have been confounded by timing because research occurred later in SP; litter size, number of Columbian ground squirrels (Spermophilus columbianus) consumed, and home range size were each correlated nearly equally to latitude and date of research, and survivorship was greater later in the study for both the NP and SP. Collectively, these factors indicated temporal, not just spatial, variability. Therefore, we translocated badgers into the NP to 1) determine whether the NP had lost its capacity to support badgers or had merely experienced the variability expected at a range limit and, if the latter, 2) initiate recovery. Translocated animals and their offspring had kit production equivalent to that of SP residents, adult survivorship intermediate between the NP and SP residents, and no confirmed kit mortality, with population growth projected (λ = 1.3). Diet of translocated individuals was similar to that of residents. Home ranges of translocated females were intermediate between the 2 resident groups, and home ranges of translocated males were not different than either resident group. Juvenile dispersal dates and distances were similar to those of residents for each sex. Our results were consistent with the extirpation of the NP being driven by temporally variable conditions or the effect of random events expected at range limits. The extirpation of NP did not appear to have been primarily due to any permanent loss of the NP's capacity to support badgers. At 3.5 years after starting translocations, badgers remained in the NP within an apparently growing population. We found translocation to be a useful diagnostic and conservation tool for badgers at their northern limit. Its utility may extend to countering the fluctuations typical of other rare, range-limit species.     

Descriptions and phylogenetic relationships of a new genus and two new species of Oligo‐Miocene cormorants (Aves: Phalacrocoracidae) from Australia

Tertiary cormorant fossils (Aves: Phalacrocoracidae) from Late Oligocene deposits in Australia are described. They derive from the Late Oligocene – Early Miocene (26–24 Mya) Etadunna and Namba Formations in the Lake Eyre and Lake Frome Basins, South Australia, respectively. A new genus, Nambashag gen. nov. , with two new species ( Nambashag billerooensis sp. nov. , 30 specimens; Nambashag microglaucus sp. nov. , 14 specimens), has been established. Phylogenetic analyses based on 113 morphological and two integumentary characters indicated that Nambashag is the sister taxon to the Early Miocene Nectornis miocaenus of Europe and all extant phalacrocoracids. As Nambashag, Nectornis, and extant phalacrocoracids constitute a strongly supported clade sister to Anhinga species, the fossil taxa have been referred to Phalacrocoracidae. Sulids and Fregata were successive sister taxa to the Phalacrocoracoidea, i.e. phalacrocoracids + Anhinga. As phalacrocoracids lived in both Europe and Australia during the Late Oligocene and no older phalacrocoracid taxa are known, the biogeographical origin of cormorants remains unanswered. The phylogenetic relationships of extant taxa were not wholly resolved, but contrary to previous morphological analyses, considerable concordance was found with relationships recovered by recent molecular analyses. Microcarbo is sister to all other extant phalacrocoracids, and all Leucocarbo species form a well‐supported clade. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163 , 277–314.     

Iophenoxic Acid as a Long-Term Marker for Wild Boar

ABSTRACT Chemical markers are increasingly used to investigate consumption of baits used to deliver vaccines, toxicants, and contraceptives. We evaluated whether ethyl-iophenoxic acid (Et-IPA) and propyl-iophenoxic acid (Pr-IPA) can be used as long-lasting systemic bait markers for wild boar (Sus scrofa). We presented captive wild boar with baits treated with either Et-IPA or Pr-IPA at 5 mg/kg (low dose), 10 mg/kg (medium dose), and 20 mg/kg (high dose) of body weight. We collected serum from each boar at 5 time points: 5 days, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 11 weeks, and 39 weeks following ingestion of iophenoxic acid-treated baits. We detected both Et-IPA and Pr-IPA for ≥39 weeks after ingestion. Throughout the trial, the Et-IPA we found in serum was proportional to the amount eaten. At each time point, animals in the high-dose group had significantly more Et-IPA than animals in the low-dose group. We concluded that both compounds can be used as long-lasting markers in wild boar and that Et-IPA can also be employed as quantitative marker to indicate multiple bait uptake. Both compounds have potential applications in the context of vaccination, fertility, and population control campaigns, where baits are used to deliver pharmaceuticals, and in behavioral studies to establish spatial and temporal patterns of bait uptake.     

The Physiology of a Wilty Pea: Abscisic Acid Production under Water Stress

‘Wilty’ (JI 1069), a mutant of Pisum sativum, hasbeen examined for its ability to produce abscisic acid (ABA)under water stress. ABA was measured using combined gas chromatography-massspectrometry and multiple-ion-monitoring employing a deuteratedinternal standard. In intact droughted plants, ‘Wilty’produced less ABA than a non-wilty line (JI 1194) and maximumproduction was delayed. Detached leaves of the wilty mutantlost significantly more water than control leaves but did notshow an increase in ABA content. Non-stressed mutant materialfrom both intact plants and isolated leaves contained less ABAthan control tissue. Key words: Pea, Wilty mutant, Abscisic acid     

Ethylene Production by Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) Callus

Tobacco callus cultures grown on defined agar-solidified media produced ethylene in differing amounts, which were related to cultural treatment and age of the callus. There was a close correlation between the rate of ethylene production and growth. In darkness, maximal rates occurred in the third week of growth with ethylene production in the range of 750 nl (callus piece)^?1 d^?1 (fr. wt. = 1.5 g), and in the light, maximal rates occurred in the first week of growth, 200 nl (callus piece)^?1 d^?1 (fr. wt. = 200 mg). Growth was also correlated with ethylene production when the latter was altered by exposure of the callus to inhibitors of ethylene synthesis, L-canaline, benzyl isothiocyanate, and 3,5-diiodo-4-hydroxy-benzoic acid. No correlation was found following treatment with AgNO₃, a presumptive inhibitor of ethylene action. The inhibition of growth and ethylene production by L-canaline was partially reversed by gassing the cultures with ethylene (1 μl/1). A mercuric perchlorate sink had no significant effect on growth. A possible relationship between ethylene evolution and growth is discussed.     

Leaf Senescence: Correlated with Increased Levels of Membrane Permeability and Lipid Peroxidation, and Decreased Levels of Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase

The changes in membrane permeability (soluble leakage), lipidperoxidation, and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) andcatalase have been studied during in situ senescence of leavesof Nicotiana tabacum L., cv. Wisconsin 38. After full leaf expansionwas reached there was a rapid, almost linear increase in therate of ⁸⁶Rb leakage from the preloaded leaf discs, with leafage. Parallel with this increase in membrane permeability wasa cumulative increase in the level of lipid peroxidation. Atthe same leaf age there were changes in the activities of SODand catalase. SOD activity decreased on the basis of fresh weightbut did not change when measured on the basis of protein contentprobably due to relative stability of SOD during the senescence-associatedgeneral decline in protein content. Catalase activity firstincreased parallel with the chlorophyll content of the leafand then, after full leaf expansion, declined on the basis ofboth fresh weight and protein content. These changes in membranepermeability, lipid peroxidation, and the enzyme activitiescoincide in leaf age with the decline in protein and chlorophyllcontents and in chlorophyll a: b ratio. When the senescenceof the bottom-most leaves was reversed by removing the stemfrom immediately above them, the senescence-associated changesin protein and chlorophyll contents, lipid peroxidation, andthe enzyme activities were also reversed. It is suggested thatleaf senescence may be a consequence of cumulative membranedeterioration due to increasing level of lipid peroxidationprobably controlled by, among other factors, the activitiesof SOD and catalase.     

Elevated concentrations of CO2 may double methane emissions from mires

The potential impact of an increase in methane emissions from natural wetlands on climate change models could be very large. We report a profound increase in methane emissions from cores of mire peat and vegetation as a direct result of increasing the CO₂ concentration from 355 to 550 μol mol^?1 (a 60% increase). Increased CH₄ fluxes were observed throughout the four month period of study. Seasonal variation in CH₄ flux, consistent with that seen in the field, was observed under both ambient and elevated CO₂. Under ambient CO₂, methane fluxes rose from 0.02 μol m_-2 s^?1 in May to 0.11 μol m^?2 s^?3 in July before declining again in August. Under elevated CO₂ methane fluxes were at least 100% greater throughout the experiment, rising from 0.05 μol m_-2 s^?1 in May to a peak of 0.27 μol m^?2 s^?1 in July. The stimulation of CO₄ emissions was accompanied by a 100% increase in rates of photosynthesis from 4.6 (± 0.3) under ambient CO₂ to 9.3 (± 0.7) μol m^?2 s^?1. Root and shoot biomass were unaffected.