A mimetic nesting association between a timid social wasp and an aggressive arboreal ant

In French Guiana, the arboreal nests of the swarm-founding social wasp Protopolybia emortualis (Polistinae) are generally found near those of the arboreal dolichoderine ant Dolichoderus bidens. These wasp nests are typically protected by an envelope, which in turn is covered by an additional carton ‘shelter’ with structure resembling the D. bidens nests. A few wasps constantly guard their nest to keep D. bidens workers from approaching. When alarmed by a strong disturbance, the ants invade the host tree foliage whereas the wasps retreat into their nest. Notably, there is no chemical convergence in the cuticular profiles of the wasps and ants sharing a tree. The aggressiveness of D. bidens likely protects the wasps from army ant raids, but the ants do not benefit from the presence of the wasps; therefore, this relationship corresponds to a kind of commensalism.     

Proteome Profile of American Hybrid Grape cv. Blanc du Bois during Ripening Reveals Proteins Associated with Flavor Volatiles and Ethylene Production

The study of key control points in ripening is essential to improve grape wine quality. Molecular basis of ripening is still far from being understood from the Pierce's disease (PD)‐tolerant grapes predominantly grown in the southeastern United States. To identify proteins expressed during Blanc du Bois grape berry green and ripening stages, proteome analysis from five different stages revealed 1091, 1131, 1078, 1042, and 1066 proteins. Differential expression analysis revealed 551 common proteins across different stages of maturity that are involved in various biochemical and metabolic pathways. The proteins identified were associated with phenylpropanoids, isoquinoline alkaloids, fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and furanones. Our data provide the first step to understand the complex biochemical changes during ripening of PD‐tolerant American hybrid grapes that are popular for their aroma and flavor profile in the southeastern United States. Proteomics data are deposited to the ProteomeXchange PXD004157.     

A review of theropod dinosaurs from the Late Jurassic to mid-Cretaceous of Southeast Asia

Several non-avian theropod dinosaurs, as well as some Mesozoic birds, have been reported from Southeast Asia. The fossils are dominantly found in northeastern Thailand, however, one bizarre theropod has been described from Laos, one theropod has been reported from Malaysia, and some avian and non-avian theropods have been recently reported from Myanmar. The temporal distribution of Southeast Asian theropods ranges from the Late Jurassic to the mid-Cretaceous. All non-avian theropod faunas from Southeast Asia consist of non-maniraptoran tetanurans. They show similarity to Chinese plus Japanese theropods during the Early Cretaceous in broad systematic terms. During this time, megaraptorans can be found only in Japan, Australia, Brazil, and possibly Thailand, whereas tyrannosauroids can be found in China, Europe, possibly Brazil and Australia. Spinosaurids, carcharodontosaurians, and some coelurosaurs such as ornithomimosaurs were almost cosmopolitan. Metriacanthosaurids, on the other hand, were endemic to Europe and Asia including China and Thailand during the Middle to Late Jurassic.     

Découverte de nouveaux rongeurs dans la formation Miocène de Bou Hanifia (Algérie occidentale)

A new rodent level has been discovered in the Bou Hanifia formation, well known for its Hipparion and Progonomys levels. The importance of this new locality lies in the presence of a new rodent, Senoussimys hanifiae nov. gen., nov. sp., Dendromuridae, the oldest representative of this group in North West Africa and of a new species of Zramys, Zramys gueltae probable descent of Zramys dubiusJaeger, from the oldest BH.II level.     

The proton-pumps at the plasmalemma of Catharanthus roseus cells

Cultured Catharanthus roseus cells exhibit transmembrane ferricyanide (FIC) reduction which is associated with a proton translocation and a decrease in the ATP content of the cells. The H+ efflux and the ATP consumption may be counteracted by vanadate, a specific inhibitor of the ATPase activity, and by Na2WO4 which prevents FIC reduction. From these data it is concluded that the redox chain could be coupled with ATP hydrolysis for electrogenic proton extrusion which may involve a redox control mechanism for the plasmamembrane ATPase.     

Étude de la capacité d'accroissement chezhyperaspis raynevali [Col.: Coccinellidae] prédateur introduit au congo pour la régulation des populations dePhenacoccus manihoti [Hom.: Pseudococcidae]

Résumé Hyperaspis raynevali Mulsant est une coccinelle prédatrice dePhenacoccus herreni Cox & Williams en Guyane. Elle a été introduite au Congo pour particier à la régulation des populations de la cochenille du maniocPhenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero. Avant les lachers de plein champ, une étude a été conduite au laboratoire pour tenter de quantifier son pouvoir de multiplication et comparer ce dernier à celui des coccinelles locales précédemment étudiées. La capacité d'accroissement d'une population deP. raynevali est de 0,081 (r_c deLaughlin) dans les conditions du laboratoire avec un taux net de reproduction de 271,7 et une durée de génération de 69 jours. La durée du développement préimaginal est sensiblement allongée aux températures inférieures à 25°C et la mortalité embryonnaire reste élevée aux différentes conditions thermohygrométriques testées.