Ecological Consequences of Altering the Timing Mechanism for Metamorphosis in Anural Ascidians

SYNOPSIS. In the present study the timing of metamorphosis inan anural ascidian, Molgula pacifica, was compared to metamorphosisin a urodele species Boltenia villosa. Metamorphosis in M. pacificawas triggered at a fixed time in development (32–36 hoursafter fertilization), just prior to hatching. In contrast, metamorphosiswas triggered in B. villosa after the hatched larvae respondedto substrate cues. The timing of metamorphosisin B. villosawas often delayed for up to four days, whereas delays in M.pacifica were not observed. An antibody, termed Epi-3, was foundto cross-react exclusively with epidermal cells in both species.The binding of FITC-labelled Epi-3 was very low prior to metamorphosisand then it increased dramatically after metamorphosis was triggered.The cytoplasm of ampulla tip cells and the tunic immediatelysurrounding each ampulla showed the highest levels of Epi-3fluorescence. The histological and ultrastructural featuresof the ampulla cells suggest that Epi-3 antibody recognizesgranules localized in the apical cytoplasm. How the evolution of an internal "clock" mechanism responsiblefor initiating metamorphosis may be beneficial to anural speciesis discussed. One possibility is that the anural type of timingmechanism reduces mortality rates during this critical phaseof its life cycle.     

Variation in Outcrossing Rates in Eichhornia paniculata: Temporal Changes in Populations of Contrasting Style Morph Structure

Abstract Surveys of mating-system parameters in populations of the annual, self-compatible, tristylous, emergent aquatic, Eichhornia paniculata (Pontederiaceae) from N.E. Brazil and Jamaica have indicated that the species exhibits a wide range of outcrossing rates. To investigate whether temporal variation in outcrossing rate was also a feature of populations, open-pollinated families were sampled from five populations of contrasting style morph structure from N.E. Brazil over three consecutive years (1987–1989). Multilocus estimates of outcrossing rate ( t ) were obtained from assays of isozyme polymorphisms using starch gel electrophoresis. There was significant variation both among populations and between years in the frequency of outcrossing. Outcrossing in three tristylous populations was high ( t > 0.80), with relatively small fluctuations occurring over the three-year sampling period. In contrast, in a dimorphic and monomorphic population considerable self-fertilization occurred and the frequency of outcrossing declined significantly from 1987 to 1989 in both populations. In the dimorphic population, increased selfing was associated with a marked reduction in population size and an increase in the frequency of selfing variants of the mid-styled morph. The significance of temporal variation in outcrossing frequency in plant populations is discussed in relation to its effect on population genetic structure and recent models of mating-system evolution.     

Treatment of alcoholism; problems arising from the substitution of other drugs in therapy

Of the 139 patients admitted to hospital for chronic alcoholism, 32 had been taking other drugs also, and 17 were addicted to the drugs. Of the 32 patients, 16 used barbiturates, and 8 were addicted. Five took large amounts in suicidal attempt. Ten patients combined still other drugs with alcohol and barbiturates; and seven of them were addicted to barbiturates. Of the six patients combining alcohol with drugs other than barbiturates, two were addicted to the use. Of the 16 patients who used drugs other than barbiturates, eight used one or more opiates such as meperidine, morphine, codeine or dihydromorphinone. Four used stimulants such as benzedrine or dexedrine, alone or in combination. Still other drugs were used in some combination by 32 patients.     

Influence of ultraviolet-B radiation on the drift response of stream invertebrates

1. Recent studies have shown that ultraviolet (UV) radiation (280–400 nm) has increased by ≈ 8% in temperate regions over the past decade, but little effort has been devoted to understanding the ecological effects on temperate ecosystems. This research examined the effects of artificial ultraviolet-B (UVB; 280–320 nm) radiation on the drift response of immature stream insects in laboratory microcosms.
2. Two experiments involved natural populations of stream invertebrates, collected from the Cache la Poudre River (September 1994) and the Arkansas River (October 1995) in Colorado. UVB lamps were turned on from 10.00 to 14.00 h each day, and drifting animals were collected on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 during the exposure period. Levels of artificial UVB used in these experiments were similar to levels that stream organisms experience during clear, mid-day conditions at Fort Collins, Colorado (longitude 105°30'; latitude 40°35').
3. Drift was significantly higher in microcosms exposed to UVB than in controls and was dominated by Baetis sp. (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae), Trichoptera (caddisflies) and Simulium sp. (Diptera: Simuliidae). The increased drift of some stream invertebrates in UVB-exposed streams may be a behavioural response and/or a result of injury.
4. Stream organisms may be particularly sensitive to predicted increases in UV radiation, because streams are generally shallow with clear water. As a result of this potential sensitivity, we recommend that research be directed to understanding the ecological effects of UV radiation on these habitats.     

The energetic importance of terrestrial arthropod inputs to three warm-water streams

1. Inputs of terrestrial arthropods (number and mass m^–2 d^–1) from riparian corridors to three streams representing different orders were highly variable among seasons and sites, with significantly greater ( P < 0.05) inputs at the headwater stream during summer months, compared with other sites and seasons.
2. No significant differences in estimates of stream retention of terrestrial arthropods (number and mass m^–2 d^–1) were observed among sites; however, retention of terrestrial arthropods at all sites was significantly greater during summer months, compared with other periods.
3. The gravimetric proportion of terrestrial arthropods present in the stomachs of redbreast sunfish ( Lepomis auritus ) and bluegill ( L. macrochirus ) was equivalent among sites. However, estimates of the dietary importance of terrestrial arthropods at all study sites were significantly greater in the summer, compared with other seasons.
4. Estimates of the potential annual energetic contribution (kJ m^–2 d^–1) of terrestrial arthropod inputs to the stream system were comparable with published rates of total annual production of aquatic macroinvertebrates in other Virginia headwater streams.
5. Results of this study supported the hypothesis that terrestrial arthropods represented an important energetic subsidy to stream fish during periods of low aquatic macroinvertebrate availability, and suggest that this component of allochthonous input is a potentially significant, but poorly understood energetic linkage between riparian landscapes and stream ecosystems.     

Microsporidian Spore Discharge and the Transfer of Polaroplast Organelle Membrane into Plasma Membrane

Electron microscopic examinations of Glugea hertwigi and Spraguea lophii spores indicated the presence of a single plasma membrane; however, this membrane remained in the spore during the discharge of the sporoplasm from the spore. Although discharged spores retained the old plasma membrane, the extruded sporoplasms acquired a new plasma membrane. In order to determine where the new plasma membrane came from, we used two fluorescent probes with membrane affinities. The markers were tested on unfired and discharged spores. The probe, N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine (NPN), labeled the polaroplast membrane in addition to the apolar groups in the posterior vacuoles of unfired spores. After spore discharge, NPN label disappeared from the spore ghosts except for a slight fluorescence on residual plasma membranes. Much of the NPN-labeled membrane reappeared after spore discharge on the outer envelope of discharged sporoplasms. The probe chlorotetracycline (CTC) labeled calcium-associated membranes of spore polaroplasts. During spore discharge, the CTC fluorescence shifted from the polaroplast organelle of unfired spores to the outer envelope of discharged sporoplasms. These results indicate that the polaroplast organelle may provide the new plasma membrane for discharged microsporidian sporoplasms.     

Inter-organ Synergism and the Control of Chlorophyll Accumulation in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Cotyledons

Prior to illumination, the embryonic axis of sunflower seedlingsmakes a contribution to the cotyledons which enables them togreen more rapidly when subsequently irradiated with white light.The contributions made to this stimulation by the hypocotylhook, hypocotyl, and roots have been investigated. Greeningin sunflower cotyledons reaches an optimum rate when they are6 d old. The developing embryonic axis not only promotes theattainment of this optimum rate but also aids in the maintenanceof this optimum rate as the cotyledons continue to age. Thisstimulatory effect appears to arise primarily from the rootsand can be duplicated by the exogenous application of benzyladenine. In contrast to previous reports we find that the hypocotyl hookplays no role in the control of greening when present duringillumination.     

Territorial behaviour in an Australian nectar-feeding bird

The red wattlebird, a large Australian honey eater, defends feeding territories from other nectar-feeding birds. One such territory decreased in size and experienced fewer intruders as the density of flowers increased. Daily energy production from the nectar in the territory closely approximated the energy requirements of the territory holder. The bird was probably minimizing energetic costs rather than maximizing energy intake.     

Electrical Polarity and Cellular Differentiation in Meroistic Ovaries

SYNOPSIS. In the oocyte-nurse cell syncytium of meroistic insectovaries a gradient in electrical potential is shown to drivea micro-injected basic protein (fluorescein-labeled lysozyme)and its methylcarboxylated, acidic derivative in opposite directions.In the polytrophic Cecropia ovary the electrophoretic effectis greatest in the intercellular bridges, while in the telotrophicRhodnius ovary it is greatest within the nurse chamber. We speculatethat in both systems the potential gradient prevents the freediffusion of cell cycle and differentiative control proteins,while at the same time reinforcing the transport of acidic precursorstoward the ooplasm. Because of its apparent ability to affectthe distribution of polyions that govern nuclear function, electricalpolarity can also be envisioned to have a more general rolein the control of differentiation. The possibility is consideredthat it serves as a relay mechanism for the non-diffusing determinantthat is already known to govern the differentiation of oocytesfrom nurse cells.