Predator response to the coloured eyespots and defensive posture of Colombian four-eyed frogs

Deimatic displays, where sudden changes in prey appearance elicit aversive predator reactions, have been suggested to occur in many taxa. These (often only putative) displays frequently involve different components that may also serve antipredator functions via other mechanisms (e.g., mimicry, warning signalling, body inflation). The Colombian four-eyed frog, Pleurodema brachyops, has been suggested to gain protection against predation through putative deimatic displays where they inflate and elevate the posterior part of their body revealing eye-like colour markings. We exposed stationary artificial frogs to wild predators to test whether the two components (eyespot/colour markings, defensive posture) of their putative deimatic display, and their combination, provide protection from predation without the sudden change in appearance. We did not detect any obvious additive effect of defensive posture and eyespots/colour markings on predation risk, but found a marginally significant trend for model frogs in the resting posture to be less attacked when displaying eyespots/colour markings than when they were not, suggesting that the presence of colour markings/eyespots may provide some protection on its own. Additionally, we found that models in a resting posture were overall more frequently attacked on the head than models in a defensive posture, indicating that a defensive posture alone could help redirect predator attacks to non-vital parts of the body. The trends found in our study suggest that the different components of P. brachyops' coloration may serve different functions during a deimatic display, but further research is needed to elucidate the role of each component when accompanied by sudden prey movement.     

Chemical composition and larvicidal activity of essential oils of three Artemisia species

Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) is a vector for serious diseases in tropical regions. This pest is mainly controlled by commercial larvicides but the application of such products has led to environmental problems. Essential oils (EO) have been consistently reported as molecules with insecticidal activity and can be used to produce more environmentally friendly larvicides in the control of A. aegypti. In this study, the larvicidal effect of essential oils (EO) from the leaves of three Artemisia species was evaluated against A. aegypti. The oils were obtained from steam distillation and their chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The EO of Artemisia camphorata was the most active in the screening bioassay and presented LC₅₀ and LC₉₅ of 64.95 and 74.18 μg ml⁻¹, respectively. In addition, we found that germacrene D-4-ol was the constituent responsible for the toxicity of this EO. Artemisia camphorata EO and its major constituent, germacrene D-4-ol, are promising for the development of natural larvicides against A. aegypti.     

Short communication: Effect of water activity on cell growth and phenol oxidase production by Streptomyces cyaneus var. viridochromogenes in surface culture

In surface cultures of Streptomyces cyaneus var. viridochromogenes, NaCl depressed water activity (a _w) without supporting growth. Reducing a _w from 0.987 to 0.951 led to 3- and 4-fold increases in intracellular and extracellular phenol oxidase activities, respectively.     

Limits to Catalysis by Ribonuclease A

Bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) catalyzes the cleavage of the P-O(5') bond in RNA. Although this enzyme has been the object of much landmark work in bioorganic chemistry, the nature of its rate-limiting transition state and its catalytic rate enhancement had been unknown. Here, the value of k(cat)/K(m) for the cleavage of UpA by wild-type RNase A was found to be inversely related to the concentration of added glycerol. In contrast, the values of k(cat)/K(m) for the cleavage of UpA by a sluggish mutant of RNase A and the cleavage of the poor substrate UpOC(6)H(4)-p-NO(2) by wild-type RNase A were found to be independent of glycerol concentration. Yet, UpA cleavage by the wild-type and mutant enzymes was found to have the same dependence on sucrose concentration, indicating that catalysis of UpA cleavage by RNase A is limited by desolvation. The rate of UpA cleavage by RNase A is maximal at pH 6.0, where k(cat) = 1.4 × 10(3) s(-1) and k(cat)/K(m) = 2.3 × 10(6) M(-1)s(-1) at 25°C. At pH 6.0 and 25°C, the uncatalyzed rate of [5,6-(3)H]Up[3,5,8-(3)H]A cleavage was found to be k(uncat) = 5 × 10(-9) s(-1) (t(1/2) = 4 years). Thus, RNase A enhances the rate of UpA cleavage by 3 × 10(11)-fold by binding to the transition state for P-O(5') bond cleavage with a dissociation constant of <2 × 10(-15) M.     

Distribution and production ofChironomus salinarius (Diptera: Chironomidae) in a shallow coastal lagoon in the Bay of Cádiz

The abundance, generation time and production ofChironomus salinarius larvae in a lagoon fish-pond system in the Bay of Cádiz were studied by taking monthly samples at 3 sites during 1991 and 1992. Numerical abundance and biomass of larvae showed considerable spatial, seasonal and interannual variation (ANCOVAs,P<0.001). The maximum mean annual density was 7048 larvae m^–2, and corresponded to a biomass of 3.08 g dry weight (DW) m^–2. It was recorded at the site with the lowest rate of water renewal. Seasonal patterns were similar at all sites, with main annual peaks of abundance and biomass in autumn-early winter. Chironomid density was positively related to the biomass of benthic macroalgae (P<0.001). The population studied was multivoltine with a probable average of five generations per year, with overlapping cohorts and a predominance of third- and fourth-instar larvae. Estimates of annual production ranged between 72.2 g DW m^–2 yr^–1 at the site with the lowest rate of water renewal in 1991 and 0.1 g DW m^–2 yr^–1 at the site with the highest rate of water renewal in 1992. Mean annual production and the production/biomass ratio for the system was estimated to be 16.8 g DW m^–2 yr^–1 and 12.7, respectively. Possible factors leading to the observed density fluctuations are discussed, as well as possible sources of error in production estimates.     

Biosorption of uranium by Myxococcus xanthus

This paper deals with uranium biosorption by Myxococcus xanthus biomass in which dry biomass, accumulating up to 2.4 mM of uranium g⁻¹, is demonstrated to be a more efficient biosorbent than wet biomass. For uranium concentrations of 0.1–0.3 mM, between 95.79% and 95.99% of the uranium was taken up from the solution. Dry biomass biosorption was found to be relatively rapid, reaching equilibrium after 5–10 min. In addition, the pH influenced biosorption, pH 4.5 promoting maximum uptake. It was also established that the biosorbed uranium is located on the cellular wall and within the extracellular mucopolysaccharide of this microorganism. Furthermore, using sodium carbonate as a desorbent agent, 80.82% of the biosorbed uranium could be recovered. The results obtained indicate the possible utilization of M. xanthus biomass to solve some problems of the water contaminated by uranium.     

Sensitivity to stress in the bivalve Macoma balthica from the most northern (Arctic) to the most southern (French) populations: low sensitivity in Arctic populations because of genetic adaptations?

The stress sensitivity, determined in copper exposureexperiments and in survival in air tests, and thegenetic structure, measured by means of isoenzymeelectrophoresis, were assessed in populations of theBaltic clam Macoma balthica (L.) from itssouthern to its northern distribution limit, in orderto test the hypotheses that near the distributionlimit the clams would be more stress sensitive andwould have a lower genetic variability. Thepopulations in west and north Europe show a stronggenetic resemblance. The populations in the sub-ArcticWhite Sea are genetically slightly different, and showa low stress sensitivity. The populations in theArctic Pechora Sea are genetically very distant fromthe other populations, and show the lowest stresssensitivity. Near the southern distribution limit, inagreement with the hypotheses, genetic variability islow and stress sensitivity high. On the other hand, incontrast to expectation, near the northerndistribution limit, in the populations of the PechoraSea, the genetic variability was higher, thus notreduced, and the stress sensitivity was low comparedto all other populations. Yet, it remains a questionif such is due to gradual physiologicalacclimatization (and ongoing differential selection)or to genetic adaptation.     

Ultrastructure of gill epithelial cells of Diopatra neapolitana (Annelida,Polychaeta)

Summary The ultrastructure of gill epidermal cells of Diopatra neapolitana and their relationship with blood spaces are described. The existence of a basal infolding complex, related to the blood spaces, is also reported. A possible involvement of these cells in osmoregulation and ion interchange, apart from their well-known role in respiration, is suggested.Abbreviations bc Blood cell - bi Basal infolding - bl Basal lamina - bs Blood space - ci Cilia - cu Cuticle - db Dense body - EC Epidermal cell - Gc Golgi complex - id Interdigitation - j Junction - m Mitochondria - mv Microvilli - n Nucleus - pv Pinocytotic vesicle - rer Rough endoplasmic reticulum