Evaluation of a timed and repeated perianal tape test for the detection of pinworms (Trypanoxyuris microon) in owl monkeys (Aotus nancymae)

The purpose of this project was to determine if the detection of pinworm infections in owl monkeys (Aotus nancymae) could be improved by performing perianal tape testing at specific times of the day and/or by performing repeated sampling. Eight Aotus known to be infected with pinworms were sampled at four selected time points (06:00, 12:00, 18:00 and 24:00 hours) over the course of a 3-week period. Samples were examined microscopically and oxyurid eggs were quantified. Results revealed no significant differences in time points, but did indicate that repeated sampling significantly improved pinworm egg detection. Results also determined that Aotus housed with an infected cage mate are at an approximately 14-times greater risk of being infected than animals housed without an infected cage mate. Lastly, results indicated no significant difference between peripheral eosinophil and basophil numbers from infected and clean animals.     

Primate spermatogenesis: new insights into comparative testicular organisation, spermatogenic efficiency and endocrine control

Owing to the close phylogenetic relationship of Platyrrhini (New World monkeys) and Catarrhini (Old World monkeys) to man, nonhuman primates are often used as models for the study of male reproductive physiology and endocrinology. This review aims at providing new data and insights into comparative primate spermatogenesis, dealing specifically with quantitative aspects of germinal epithelial organisation and germ cell production, and with the roles of gonadotrophic hormones in this process. Typically, the seminiferous epithelium is composed of specific germ cell associations (spermatogenic stages). In rodents, prosimians and most Catarrhini, tubular cross sections contain a single spermatogenic stage whereas in Platyrrhini, great apes and man multi-stage tubules are present. Since Platyrrhini represent a more basal type of primate, this spermatogenic feature must have developed convergently. The primate multi-stage tubular arrangement was previously believed to be associated with low spermatogenic efficiency. However, recent studies using new methodological approaches and comparing primate species from all taxa have revealed that multistage organisation is compatible with highly efficient spermatogenesis. In fact, meta-analysis demonstrated that the efficiency of spermatogenesis in several nonhuman primate species is comparable to that of rodents which are considered as species with highly efficient germ cell production. The duration of the spermatogenic process was not related to organisation or efficiency of spermatogenesis. Sertoli cell work load was species-specific but had no impact on germ cell numbers and on the efficiency of spermatogenesis. The gonadotrophic hormones, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) are the primary regulators of primate testicular function. Recent studies revealed that in New World monkeys chorionic gonadotrophin (CG)--the primate pregnancy hormone--regulates testosterone production instead of LH. Receptor studies demonstrated a dual action of the closely related hormones LH and CG in primates. It is hypothesised that following the divergence of the Platyrrhini lineage from Catarrhini, the LH/CG system evolved independently with ancestral functions of the LH/CG system retained in the neotropical taxa. In summary, key spermatogenic features are preserved across all primate taxa whereas male reproductive endocrinology features appear substantially different in the neotropical primates compared to other primate lineages.     

Error in Estimation of Rate and Time Inferred from the Early Amniote Fossil Record and Avian Molecular Clocks

The best reconstructions of the history of life will use both molecular time estimates and fossil data. Errors in molecular rate estimation typically are unaccounted for and no attempts have been made to quantify this uncertainty comprehensively. Here, focus is primarily on fossil calibration error because this error is least well understood and nearly universally disregarded. Our quantification of errors in the synapsid–diapsid calibration illustrates that although some error can derive from geological dating of sedimentary rocks, the absence of good stem fossils makes phylogenetic error the most critical. We therefore propose the use of calibration ages that are based on the first undisputed synapsid and diapsid. This approach yields minimum age estimates and standard errors of 306.1±8.5 MYR for the divergence leading to birds and mammals. Because this upper bound overlaps with the recent use of 310 MYR, we do not support the notion that several metazoan divergence times are significantly overestimated because of serious miscalibration (sensu Lee 1999). However, the propagation of relevant errors reduces the statistical significance of the pre-K–T boundary diversification of many bird lineages despite retaining similar point time estimates. Our results demand renewed investigation into suitable loci and fossil calibrations for constructing evolutionary timescales.[Reviewing Editor: Martin Kreitman]     

Resource partitioning and interspecific interactions among sympatric rain forest arboreal mammals of the Western Ghats, India

Resource partitioning in a community of diurnal arboreal mammalsconsisting of the lion-tailed macaque Macaca silenus, bonnetmacaque (BM) Macaca radiata, Nilgiri langur Semnopithecus johnii,and the Indian giant squirrel Ratufa indica of the Western Ghats,southern India, was studied. Differences in their diet, verticalstratification, food resource niche breadth, niche overlap,and behavioral interactions were examined. Resource partitioningwas through differential habitat use, resource use, and verticalstratification. Of the four species, the BM was not a residentspecies and made frequent forays into evergreen forest fromthe adjacent deciduous forest during the flowering season ofCullenia exarillata and fruiting season of Ficus microcarpa.The macaques had narrower niches, and the langur and the squirrelhad wider niches. Niche overlap was highest between the twomacaques. Overlap among the study species was particularly pronouncedduring the flowering of C. exarillata. There was significantcorrelation between niche overlap and intolerance among thestudy species. Certain species pairs showed little or no mutualintolerance despite high overlap. Cooperative interactions suchas alarm calls occurred more frequently among the resident species.Interaction matrices revealed an underlying pattern of interspecificdominance hierarchy, with the BM dominating over the other threespecies. Our study suggests that the BM do not coexist withthe other three because of high overlap with its congener andlow occurrence of cooperative interactions.     

Multiple KIR gene polymorphisms are associated with plasma viral loads in SIV-infected rhesus macaques

Innate immune mechanisms play a deterministic role in the rate of disease progression during acute infection in HIV infected humans and SIV infection of non-human primates. The role NK cells play in mediating such an effect has thus gained importance. One of the major sets of molecules that regulate NK cell function are the killer cell immunoglobulin-like molecules (KIR’s). Our laboratory has previously shown an association of KIR3DL alleles 13 and 14 with high plasma viral loads in a cohort of SIV-infected rhesus macaques. To gain a more detailed understanding of the role of KIR polymorphisms, our laboratory herein conducted studies of three additional KIR loci and show that select KIR3DH alleles appear to be more strongly associated with high plasma viral loads than KIR3DL alleles 13 and 14. In addition, we herein document the existence of additional new alleles for the KIR1D, KIR2DL4, and the KIR3DH loci.     

Primate and Dung Beetle Communities in Secondary Growth Rain Forests: Implications for Conservation of Seed Dispersal Systems

Conservation efforts are often aimed at one or a few species. However, habitat sustainability relies on ecological interactions among species, such as seed dispersal. Thus, a community-scale conservation strategy may be more valuable in some settings. We describe communities of primary (primates) and secondary (dung beetles) seed dispersers from 5 sites in the Brazilian Amazon. We estimate community biomass of these taxa and, using multivariate ordination, examine the potential for natural reforestation at each site, given the communities of seed dispersers present. Since disturbed habitat is increasingly common and increasingly the focus of conservation efforts, we also examine differences among seed disperser communities between primary forest and secondary growth at each site. Analyses of faunal biomass in different localities and habitats indicate that secondary growth receives nearly as much use by primates as primary forest; given the dominant groups of dung beetles in secondary growth, disturbed habitat should show a pattern of seed burial that is clumped and deep. Areas with high biomass of Alouatta spp. and the large nocturnal dung beetle species may have the greatest potential for natural reforestation of secondary growth particularly for large seeded species. The data suggest that knowledge of the biomass of primary and secondary dispersing fauna facilitates predictions for the likelihood of disturbed habitat to regenerate and comparisons of sites in broader geographical areas e.g., Neotropical vs. Paleotropical forests.     

Atmospheric Phosphorus Deposition in Ashiu, Central Japan – Source Apportionment for the Estimation of True Input to a Terrestrial Ecosystem

Atmospheric bulk depositions of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), soluble unreactive phosphorus (SUP), particulate inorganic phosphorus (PIP), particulate organic phosphorus (POP), total phosphorus (TP) and some other dissolved and particulate components were monitored for 3 years in Ashiu, Central Japan. The mean bulk depositions of SRP, SUP, PIP, POP, TP, dissolved components (Na, Mg, nss-Ca, K, V, Mo, nss-SO₄) and particulate components (Al, Fe, Ti, Ca, Mg, Mn, Ba, Sr, Zn) were 175, 76, 136, 397, 783, 156,000, 10,900, 7450, 5470, 10.3, 1.52, 40,100, 13,200, 3590, 2630, 576, 624, 42.3, 30.2, 17.4, 8.2 μmol m⁻² year⁻¹, respectively. The value for TP deposition was in the lower range of previous literature. The low P deposition probably reflected the method applied to reduce the contribution of local particles, including (1) placement of samplers off the ground surface, (2) installation of multiple samplers, and (3) rejection of contaminated samples. Al data suggested that 15 ± 5% of TP was brought by lithogenic dust from East Eurasia. Nss-SO₄ and Mo data and air-mass backward trajectories suggested that 39 ± 4% of TP was derived from coal combustion in China. It was speculated that the rest (47 ± 6%) of the TP deposition might be predominantly attributed to the contribution of local biogenic particles. Net atmospheric TP input (lithogenic dust and fossil fuel combustion) was almost equal to the TP outflow from Japanese forests on granitic soils.     

松科冷杉属植物的化石历史和现代分布

冷杉是北半球阴暗针叶林的优势种和建群种,现全世界共有52种1亚种12变种,在北半球形成南欧、北美和东亚三个分布中心,这三个地区也是冷杉属化石最丰富的地区。在垂直分布上,冷杉集中分布于1000～2000m（15种）和2500～4000m（13种）两个海拔地段。在中国,冷杉植物呈南北间断分布,集中分布在横断山地区。冷杉属的特有现象和孑遗分布现象都十分突出,有7个种呈孑遗分布。根据冷杉属的地史分布和现代分布的研究并结合最新的系统演化资料,本文推测冷杉属于白垩世中期起源于北半球的中高纬度地区,始新世以后,随着全球气候的变冷,逐步向南迁移,由于喜马拉雅山脉、阿尔卑斯山、落基山脉抬升及东亚季风气候的出现以及第四纪冰期的影响而形成了现代间断的分布格局。冷杉与银杉、金钱松等其它松科植物的形成模式十分相似。