Seed survival and periodicity of seedling emergence in twelve weedy species of Compositae

Achenes of 12 species of Compositae were collected in each of 3 years and mixed with the top 7.5 cm of sterilised soil which was confined in cylinders sunk in the ground outdoors and cultivated three times yearly. Seedling emergence was recorded for 5 yr and the numbers of viable seeds remaining then determined. Emergence of Arctium lappa, A. minus, Picris hieracioides, Taraxacum officinale, Sonchus arvensis and S. asper was mainly in spring. Seedlings of Chrysanthemum segetum, Lapsana communis, Anthemis cotula and Sonchus oleraceus were often most numerous in spring but also emerged at other times, while Matricaria matricarioides and M. recutita showed no consistent seasonal pattern of emergence. Except for C. segetum and A. cotula, in which there was evidence of innate dormancy imposed by the seed coat, the numbers of seedlings were greatest in the first year and thereafter decreased approximately exponentially from year to year. Few viable seeds of A. lappa or A. minus remained after 5 yr and those of T. officinale, P. hieracioides and S. arvensis accounted for less than 1.5% of the seeds sown. Seed survival was greatest in the annual weeds and ranged from 2.1% (S. asper) to 8.6% (M. matricarioides) after 5 yr.     

Filamentous organisms in benign and malignant gastric cytology brushings

Review of 143 gastric brushing specimens from two centres in patients with a subsequent histological diagnosis on biopsy or gastrectomy specimens revealed filamentous organisms (FOs) in a large number of benign and malignant gastric brushings. The presence of FOs in significant numbers of brushings of benign gastric lesions contradicts the previously reported strong association of FOs with only gastric carcinoma, and questions the importance of finding these organisms in gastric brushing and biopsy material.     

Fiber Ultrastructure and Contraction Kinetics in Insect Fast Muscles

SYNOPSIS. Isometric contraction kinetics were measured and fiberstructure was quantified in tymbal muscles from different cicadaspecies. Twitch duration is directly correlated with the sizeof the myofibrils and with the ratio of the fraction of fibervolume which is myofibril to that which is sarcoplasmic reticulum(SR) and T-tubules (fast muscles have small myofibrils and arelatively large volume of SR and T-tubules). Twitch durationis not significantly correlated with fiber size, with sarcomerelength, nor with the fractional volume of the fibers which ismitochondria, indicating that these structural features arenot strongly involved in the determination of isometric contractionkinetics. In the tettigoniid Neoconocephalus robustus, twitchesfrom forewing muscles of male animals become progressively shorterover the first five days following the adult molt. This changein contraction kinetics is associated with an increase in therelative volume of SR and T-tubules. Denervation blocks theacquisition of rapid kinetics, indicating that neural inputis necessary for this transformation.     

Longitudinal patterns of organic matter transport and turnover along a New Zealand grassland river

1. We determined the longitudinal pattern of organic matter concentration, quality, size composition and spiralling length along a 310-km grassland river system (Taieri River, New Zealand). 2. Organic seston concentration (0.24–4.05 mg ash-free dry mass (AFDM) l^–1) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration (2.3–5.7 mg C l^–1) showed no obvious longitudinal patterns. In contrast, there was a significant downstream increase in inorganic seston concentration (0.13–13.73 mg ash l^–1), presumably because of a downstream increase in the proportion of the catchment developed for agriculture. 3. Although there was a trend toward increasing particle size in the first 25 km of the river continuum, organic seston was primarily composed of ultrafine particles (0.6–30 μm) at all study sites. The ratio of coarse (> 250 μm) to ultrafine organic seston decreased logarithmically down the continuum. Organic content generally decreased with particle size. Ultrafine particles, however, had significantly higher organic fractions than fine (60–100 μm) and very fine (30–60 μm) particles. 4. Daily organic carbon turnover length ranged from 10 to 98 km and increased downstream. This is consistent with other studies along river continua and suggests that organic carbon turnover length is largely controlled by the relationship between channel dimensions and discharge, rather than the presence of specific retention devices. 5. Concentrations and nutritional quality of organic seston and concentrations of DOC were highest in an unconstrained floodplain reach in the upper river. These data suggest that new material enters the river channel in this reach, potentially providing an important energy source for the river community downstream. The effect of this reach on the longitudinal pattern of organic matter concentration and quality emphasizes how changes in channel form can alter river ecosystem structure and function.     

A Previously Undescribed Method of Song Matching in a Species with a Single Song “Type”, the Kentucky Warbler (Oporornis formosus)

The song of male Kentucky warblers consists of several repetitions of syllables containing 2 to 7 elements within a frequency range from 1.8 to 6.0 kHz. Each male has a single, individually distinctive song type that spans part or all of this frequency range. Song responses to playbacks of songs artificially elevated or lowered in frequency by 200 Hz show that a bird is able to alter its song in two ways. It may lower or raise the frequency range of the song or put more energy into the lower or higher frequencies within the song's elements to more closely match the energy distribution of the playback song. The syllable or element structure of the song is kept constant with only the song's energy distribution among frequencies changing. Thus, Kentucky warblers are able to alter their single song type to “match countersing” in a way similar to that of species with song repertoires who switch song types to match those of rivals. The Kentucky warbler may have a single songtype because of its ability to change its song's energy distribution. This ability may perform the same functions as song matching does in species with larger repertoires. This finding is discussed in relation to ideas on the evolution of song repertoires in intrasexual competition.