Characterization of energy flow in ecosystems is one of the primary goals of ecology, and the analysis of trophic interactions and food web dynamics is key to quantifying energy flow. Predator‐prey interactions define the majority of trophic interactions and food web dynamics, and visual analysis of stomach, gut or fecal content composition is the technique traditionally used to quantify predator‐prey interactions. Unfortunately such techniques may be biased and inaccurate due to variation in digestion rates ( Sheppard & Hardwood 2005 ); however, those limitations can be largely overcome with new technology. In the last 20 years, the use of molecular genetic techniques in ecology has exploded ( King et al. 2008 ). The growing availability of molecular genetic methods and data has fostered the use of PCR‐based techniques to accurately distinguish and identify prey items in stomach, gut and fecal samples. In this month’s issue of Molecular Ecology Resources, Corse et al. (2010) describe and apply a new approach to quantifying predator‐prey relationships using an ecosystem‐level genetic characterization of available and consumed prey in European freshwater habitats ( Fig. 1a ). In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Hardy et al. (2010) marry the molecular genetic analysis of prey with a stable isotope (SI) analysis of trophic interactions in an Australian reservoir community ( Fig. 1b ). Both papers demonstrate novel and innovative approaches to an old problem – how do we effectively explore food webs and energy movement in ecosystems? Figure 1 Open in figure viewer PowerPoint The aquatic habitats used for two studies of diet and trophic interactions that employed molecular genetic and stable isotope analyses. Panel a: Example of Rhone basin habitat (France) where fish diet was determined using PCR to classify prey to a series of ecological clades (photo by Emmanuel Corse). Panel b: A weir pool on the lower Murray River (Australia) where food web and prey use was evaluated using a combination of advanced molecular genetic and stable isotope analyses (photo credit: CSIRO). 相似文献
ABSTRACT. The ciliate Trichodina was recorded on the calanoid Notodiaptomus deitersi in a shallow, eutrophic reservoir, located in the centre‐west of Brazil. The species was confirmed as Trichodina diaptomi, a species widely distributed in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. It was observed moving freely over the carapace of the copepod, and using its adhesive disc. This is the first record for the species in the Americas. 相似文献
Aquatic pedestrian locomotion represents an important mode oflocomotion for many aquatic and amphibious animals, both extantand extinct. Unlike terrestrial locomotion where weight is thedefining force, in aquatic locomotion buoyancy and hydrodynamicforces may be as important as weight. Aquatic pedestrian locomotiondiffers fundamentally from swimming because pedestrians mustmaintain contact with the substratum in order to locomote. Ambientwater motion may constrain or prevent locomotion of aquaticpedestrians by requiring that they actively grip the substratum.A comprehensive biomechanical analysis of aquatic pedestrianlocomotion will require an integration of hydrodynamics withterrestrial locomotor dynamics. 相似文献
The influence of autolysis upon the cell walls of Neurosporacrassa has been studied. This fungus was grown at 24 °Cin agitated and aerated cultures in a synthetic medium during60 days. At convenient intervals samples of culture were taken,mycelium separated, and dried to constant weight. From aliquotsof these mycelia cell walls were prepared, dried, weighed, andanalysed for total nitrogen, phosphorus, amino acids, lipids,and protein. No changes in the chemical composition of the wallscould be detected. The percentage of walls continuously increasedduring autolysis. These results strongly suggest that cell wallsof N. crassa are unaffected by autolysis. Examination of thefine structure of the whole mycelium at different ages duringautolysis seemed to confirm these findings. 相似文献
This study of the bed bug, Cimex lectularius, examines tolerance of adult females to extremes in temperature and loss of body water. Although the supercooling point (SCP) of the bed bugs was approximately −20°C, all were killed by a direct 1 h exposure to −16°C. Thus, this species cannot tolerate freezing and is killed at temperatures well above its SCP. Neither cold acclimation at 4°C for 2 weeks nor dehydration (15% loss of water content) enhanced cold tolerance. However, bed bugs have the capacity for rapid cold hardening, i.e. a 1‐h exposure to 0°C improved their subsequent tolerance of −14 and −16°C. In response to heat stress, fewer than 20% of the bugs survived a 1‐h exposure to 46°C, and nearly all were killed at 48°C. Dehydration, heat acclimation at 30°C for 2 weeks and rapid heat hardening at 37°C for 1 h all failed to improve heat tolerance. Expression of the mRNAs encoding two heat shock proteins (Hsps), Hsp70 and Hsp90, was elevated in response to heat stress, cold stress and during dehydration and rehydration. The response of Hsp90 was more pronounced than that of Hsp70 during dehydration and rehydration. Our results define the tolerance limits for bed bugs to these commonly encountered stresses of temperature and low humidity and indicate a role for Hsps in responding to these stresses. 相似文献
The crypt cells lining the Aplysia punctata digestive tubulescomprise of three types of
cell; calcium, excretory, and thincells. The calcium cells play a role in osmoregulation, mineral
storage,exocrine secretion, iron detoxification, and excretion processes.They possess well-
developed microvilli and a basal labyrinth,suggesting a role in absorption. The Golgi apparatus
is involvedin the production of two main components of calcium spherules;the fibrillar material
and mineralized granules. Golgi complex,rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), ribosomes, and
altered mitochondriaare involved in the formation of calcium spherules. Secretoryactivity is
indicated by the formation of dense granules containingiron and calcium salts. Lipofuscin
pigment has been found inlarge concretions which may arise from cytoplasmic areas surrounded
byendoplasmic reticulum, RER and Golgi tubules. There are threestages of excretory cells,
called early, mature, and post-excretorycells. This study traces the development of
granulofibrillarvacuoles up to the formation of the lipofuscin concretions andshows that
excretory cells are in fact degenerating calciumcells. The fine structure of thin cells suggests that
they areyoung calcium cells. (Received 29 December 1997; accepted 15 November 1998) 相似文献
A large euchromatic supernumerary segment (ss) occurs at a high frequency in a natural population of Scilla autumnalis from the west of the Iberian Peninsula. Mother-offspring analyses have shown random pollination of all bulbs lacking the extra segment but non-random pollination of some bulbs carrying it. With a single exception, ss transmission appeared to be Mendelian through the eggs of heterozygous bulbs, which was consistent with results of controlled crosses. An analysis of the effects of this ss on some female fitness components demonstrated significant differences between genotypes for mean seed weight. Heterozygous bulbs yielded significantly heavier seeds than standard homozygous bulbs, and slightly (but not significantly) heavier seeds than segment homozygotes. No trade-off was observed between seed number and seed size in this population. In heterozygotes there was a surprising positive correlation between fruit fertility (number of seeds per fruit) and seed weight. These results are discussed in relation to the maintenance of the segment in natural populations. 相似文献