Sex pheromone blend discrimination in two races and hybrids of the European corn borer moth, Ostrinia nubilalis

Abstract. The response specificity of males of two races, and hybrids, of the European corn borer moth, to a large series of doses/ratios of E- and Z11-14:OAc, was determined in a sustained-flight tunnel. For both races an area of peak response was determined, which included the natural ratio eliciting peak levels of source contact, and other treatments eliciting response profiles over the behavioural sequence not significantly different from the peak. Consistent with studies on other moth species response specificity was controlled by two threshold effects, one affecting locking-on to odour plumes of lower doses and off-ratios containing lower proportions of the E or Z isomer than the natural blend, and the other resulting in arrestment of upwind flight to higher doses and off-ratios containing higher proportions of the E or Z isomer man the natural blend. A comparison of the size of the areas of peak response showed that males of the univoltine Z race (UZ) using a 3:97 E:Z mix displayed greater specificity and sensitivity than did males of the bivoltine E race (BE) responding to a 99:1 E:Z pheromone mix. At doses higher than those eliciting peak response (<100 μg) response specificity was lower for both races, but especially for the BE race, with increased levels of upwind flight and source contact occurring to off-ratios. Finally, consistent with a previous behaviour/genetic study on this species, F₁ hybrid males displayed peak levels of source contact not only to their natural isomer ratio (65:35 E:Z), but also to an expanded range of doses of ratios ranging from 2% to 98% E.     

Role of rib cage elastance in the coupling between the abdominal muscles and the lung.

The abdominal muscles expand the rib cage when they contract alone. This expansion opposes the deflation of the lung and may be viewed as pressure dissipation. The hypothesis was raised, therefore, that alterations in rib cage elastance should affect the lung deflating action of these muscles. To test this hypothesis and evaluate the quantitative importance of this effect, we measured the changes in airway opening pressure (Pao), abdominal pressure (Pab), and rib cage transverse diameter during isolated stimulation of the transversus abdominis muscle in anesthetized dogs, first with the rib cage intact and then after rib cage elastance was increased by clamping the ribs and the sternum. Stimulation produced increases in Pao, Pab, and rib cage diameter in both conditions. With the ribs and sternum clamped, however, the change in Pab was unchanged but the change in Pao was increased by 77% (P < 0.001). In a second experiment, the transversus abdominis was stimulated before and after rib cage elastance was reduced by removing the bony ribs 3-8. Although the change in Pab after removal of the the ribs was still unchanged, the change in Pao was reduced by 62% (P < 0.001). These observations, supported by a model analysis, indicate that rib cage elastance is a major determinant of the mechanical coupling between the abdominal muscles and the lung. In fact, in the dog, the effects of rib cage elastance and Pab on the lung-deflating action of the abdominal muscles are of the same order of magnitude.     

Atomic absorption spectrophotometry applied to photographic densitometry.

For this study of photographic densitometry, sections of cartilage stained with Alcian Blue, safranin O and high iron diamine were photographed at x40 with Nikon photomicrography equipment on Kodak Panatomic X film with appropriate filters to enhance contrast. Portions of the developed negative films were selected from intercellular matrix regions, and circles of film equivalent in diameter to a 30-mu circle of tissue were obtained with a hand-held paper punch. Silver was eluted from the circles of film with 35% nitric acid, and the quantity of silver deposited on the film was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry as a measure of stain intensity. The intensity determined by this analytic procedure compared favorably with results obtained previously from the same tissue with microspectrophotometry. This method of silver analysis has advantages over earlier studies which used silver elution to determine photographic densitometry in its technical ease, accuracy and sensitivity. Furthermore, this method compares well with microspectrophotometry in its results and has the advantages of relative inexpensiveness and availability of equipment.     

The Species Problem: Nineteenth-Century Concepts of Racial Inferiority in the Origin of Man Controversy

The species problem and its implications in the origin of man controversy had grown in importance in prewar America owing largely to the question of slavery. Implicit in the problem was the position of the so-called inferior races in society. The monogenists, despite their emphasis on environmentalism, were no more favorable to the Negro, except in their remote theoretical stance. The Civil War—not Darwin—brought the controversy to an end in America, but it continued to rage in Europe. The apparent synthesis of the schools during the 1870s did not disturb the stereotyped ideas of racial inferiority. The "inferior races" remained the basis of evolutionary discussion, leaving them as remote outcasts of the evolutionary struggle.     

Ecology and Evolution of Social Organization in Arctic Sandpipers

A comparative analysis of sandpiper social systems on arcticand subarctic breeding grounds (24 species in the family Scolopacidae,subfamily Calidridinae) shows four major patterns. In a majorityof the species (15), populations are dispersed through a stronglydeveloped territorial system, with strong monogamous pair bondsand only minor yearly fluctuations in numbers. The second patternis seen in three species in which the female of a pair may laytwo sets of eggs in quick succession, one for each member ofthe pair to incubate. This opens opportunities for facultativepolygyny or polyandry (‘serial polygamy’) and forthe evolutionary weakening of the strong pair bond seen in thefirst pattern. The third and fourth patterns are those of polygyny(three species) and promiscuity (three species). These six speciesshow clumped dispersions; their year-to-year fluctuations tendto be strong; the males defend compressible, often small, territories;and high densities can occur locally. It is suggested that thepattern of overdispersion and monogamy represents a conservativemode of adapting to high-latitude environments, while the patternof clumped dispersion with polygyny or promiscuity representsan opportunistic mode in that the birds are concentrated intobreeding areas where and when weather, food, and/or some otherenvironmental factors are particularly favorable. Apparentlyfalling evolutionarily between these two basic patterns areseveral species conservative in their life-styles, but polygamousat least occasionally and showing some features of opportunism.There is thus a striking diversity of social systems in calidridinesandpipers, that is, in the styles of habitat exploitation theyhave evolved in the arctic and subarctic habitats to which theirbreeding is confined. A graphic model suggesting paths of evolutionarydevelopment and of interplay among factors considered criticalin the evolution of these systems is proposed.