Seed morphology in some European aconites (Aconitum,Ranunculaceae)

The seed coat morphology, investigated in taxa representative of the main European groups ofAconitum, are in good agreement with the current taxonomy of the genus. The seed coat microcharacteristics (warty epidermal cells) are very constant. There is a trend for the reduction of longitudinal wings on the edges concomitant with the development of ridges and transverse wings on the faces. Another morphological progression leads from smooth to rugulose and eventually to transverse wing-bearing seed faces. A working hypothesis suggests an ecological adaptative significance to these changes.     

Species richness and endemism in the Usambara mountain forests,Tanzania

The East Usambara Mountain forests constitute what is probably one of the richest biological communities in Africa in terms of plant and animal species numbers and endemic taxa. This review presents brief accounts of the flora and of three invertebrate and four vertebrate groups and shows the percentage endemic taxa to vary from 2% (mammals) to 95% (millipedes) as a proportion of the true forest species. Notes are given on the geology, soils, climate and present land use of the Usambaras. Biological richness is considered to be due to long periods of isolation and geological stability coupled with periods of species immigration during times of re-establishment of a continuous forest cover. The nature of the endemic elements is briefly discussed. Evidence is given to show that the forests are subject to increasing pressure from legal and illegal encroachment due to agriculture (tea, cardamon, subsistence) and forestry timber operations. Air photograph analysis shows a forest decrease of some 50% in the vicinity of Amani from 1954 to 1976. The low conservation status of most forest reserves and the lack of detailed knowledge on the distribution, status and biology of the endemic species means present conservation efforts are poor and haphazard. This review calls for greatly increased research inputs and a complete halt to all exploitation of natural forest areas until a long term conservation land use plan can be implemented.     

Social behavior of captive,group-living Orangutans

The behavior of orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus)was observed in two captive groups (one adult group, one juvenile group). Activity profiles,animal interactions, and compartmental spatial use for both adult-group and juvenile-group individuals were recorded over a 9-month period. Behavioral repertoires for both groups included large amounts of social activity. Equivalent amounts of social activity were found for each group. The social behavior of juvenile animals involved more active behavior such as play. The social behavior of the adult animals was more subtle, involving social monitoring and allogrooming. These results indicate that orangutans, at least when group-living in captivity, exhibit the potential to display social behavior which is apparently of greater frequency and complexity than that which has been observed in the wild. These findings suggest that the solitary behavior of wild orangutans is not a necessary characteristic of orangutan behavior. Under different environmental conditions orangutans appear to readily adapt socially, and, like other nonhuman primates,they have the capacity to exhibit complex and subtle social behavior. This report is based on part of a senior thesis submitted by Sara D. Edwards     

Mitochondrial mutagenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. III. Nitrous acid.

Nitrous acid (NA) induced mutations efficiently in mitDNA, conferring resistance to erythromycin and weakly induces mit- mutations. In some strains of yeast it also enhanced rho- mutations. The frequencies of nuclear and mitochondrial mutations induced with NA are compared.     

Size-hierarchy in a year-class and "condition" of common minnow Esomus danricus (Ham.) in relation to various ecological factors operating in the pond environment

Investigations were made on the existence of size-hierarchy in specimens of Esomus danricus (Ham.) belonging to the same year-class, and the variations in condition factor of the different size-groups. Divergence in the growth rates of individual fish resulted in the development of size-hierarchy in the population. Marked changes seemed to occur in condition factor of the different size-groups. A multitude of factors operating simultaneously in the pond environment appeared to govern the condition factor of fish.     

Novel shuttle plasmid vehicles for Escherichia-Streptococcus transgeneric cloning

A novel plasmid vector that is able to replicate both in Escherichia coli and in Streptococcus sanguis is described. This 9.2-kb plasmid, designated pVA856, carries Cm^r, Tc^r and Em^r determinants that are expressed in E. coli. Only the Em^r determinant is expressed in S. sanguis. Both the Cm^r and the Tc^r of pVA856 may be insertionally inactivated. This plasmid affords several different cleavage-ligation strategies for cloning in E. coli followed by subsequent introduction of chimeras in to S. sanguis. In addition, we have modified a previously described E. coli-S. sanguis shuttle plasmid [pVA838; Macrina et al., Gene 19 (1982) 345–353], so that it is unable to replicate in S. sanguis. The utility of such a plasmid for cloning and selecting sequences enabling autonomous replication in S. sanguis is demonstrated.     

单纯形加速法拟合生态学中的非线性模型

本文以Logistic模型,Taylor幂法则模型,Holling功能反应模型,以及种群内禀增长力Rm等模型的拟合和参数估计为例,探讨单纯形加速法在生态模型优化拟合和参数估计中的应用.结果表明,单纯形加速法拟合生态学中的非线性模型不仅适用广泛,而且拟合过程是直接求原来非线性模型的最优拟合,因而优于生态学中通常使用的将原模型“线性化后再拟合”的方法,而与其它一些最优化方法,如:麦夸方法、枚举选优法等比较,由于单纯形法不需计算目标函数的偏导数,因而计算不受目标函数及其偏导函数复杂程度的限制,而且对于各种模型其求优计算过程十分相似,可以编制统一的计算程序.本研究所编制的计算机程序对于本文未提到的其它一些模型也是完全适用的,在应用时仅需修改定义目标函数的自定义函数语句即可.研究也发现,在求优过程中,只要搜索系数选择适当和实际数据合理,是可以保证寻优成功的.     

生物群落的生态稳定性

1.生物群落生态稳定的概念从生态学意义看,生物群落是稳定的,就是指它在相当长的一段时间内保持其中各种群数目不变,意即一方面,任何一个种群的数量不会少到能繁衍后代,乃致绝灭,另一     

Resistance in tomato to the greenhouse whitefly: analysis of population dynamics

Life history parameters including longevity, developmental time, and reproduction were determined for whiteflies, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood), kept in clip-on cages on susceptible parent, Lycopersicon esculentum, resistant parent, L. hirsutum glabratum, and intermediate breeding lines of tomato. Using the Lewontin triangular reproductive function, the intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) was calculated for each genotype. This is an elegant tool for detecting resistance, as it incorporates all salient factors of life history. Comparing r_m to the other parameters measured, selection criteria were chosen. Developmental time is not a suitable selection criterion as it varies very little even between the most susceptible and the most resistant genotypes. Additionally, developmental time of T. vaporariorum offspring was found to be highly significantly correlated to parental age on all tomato genotypes except L. hirsutum glabratum. Total reproduction, truncated population counts, and longevity appear good criteria for selection. This test, focusing on antibiotic factors, shows large differences between the resistant and susceptible parent genotypes, but much smaller differences between the breeding lines and the susceptible parent. Earlier screenings relying on a variety of tests appear to have maintained antixenotic rather than antibiotic properties in the breeding lines.