Coming to America: Acclimation in macaque body structures and Bergmann’s rule

I analyzed somatometric measurements from subsets of the Texas and Oregon transplanted troops of Japanese macaques(Macaca fuscata) to reveal secular changes in body size and shape. Body weights of the Texas population (N = 59) are lower than those of the Oregon population(N = 49) and the founding population from Arashiyama. The adult weights of the Oregon population are significantly higher than the founding population from Mihara. There are significant differences in adult circumferential measures and in skinfolds, which are correlated with the increased weight of the Oregon macaques. The adult Texas macaques have longer limb segments in comparison with the adult Oregon troop members, while the latter have significantly longer heads and trunks. Examination of the developing morphological trends through regression analyses on the complete sample suggests distinctive growth patterns for each population. Members of the Texas population start with smaller initial measurements but hold a steeper growth pattern for limb segments, while the Oregon macaques start larger in most measures and show lower growth rates. I argue that these differences in both somatometry and growth patterns are related to the differing climatic conditions under which the translocated macaques have lived. This set of analyses supports the basic arguments for Bergmann’s rule and Allen’s rule.     

Seasonal variability in mercury inputs into the Ria de Aveiro,Portugal

Water, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediments were collected from the Esteiro de Estarreja (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal), which receives considerable quantities of waste mercury from a chlor-alkali plant. Dissolved and particulate Hg concentrations in the effluent ranged between 4 –167 g I^–1 and 141–3144 g g^–1, respectively, at pH values of >10. The effluent plume undergoes significant chemical changes during advection downestuary. The evidence suggested that adsorption of dissolved Hg onto organic-rich SPM was an important process. A maximum sediment Hg concentration of 500 g g^–1 was found about 1.5 km from the discharge, as a result of the settling of Hg-rich SPM. Downestuary Hg concentrations in sediments decline to about 100 g g^–1 at the mouth of the Esteiro. The particle-water interactions are discussed in terms of the transport of dissolved and particulate Hg into the Ria de Aveiro.     

PEAK SHIFTS AND POLYMORPHISM DURING PHASE THREE OF WRIGHT'S SHIFTING-BALANCE PROCESS

The third phase of Wright's shifting-balance theory involves the export of adaptive gene combinations from one subpopulation to another. Previous results have demonstrated that this can occur at very low migration rates, but it has been argued that this simply reflects the ability of migration to overcome selection and fix any (even deleterious) alleles. Here, previous analyses are extended by concentrating on the critical balance between forward and reverse migration rates that still allows phase III to proceed. It is shown that selective advantage, dominance, recombination rate, and the number of loci all affect the ability of a genotype to invade and become fixed in a new subpopulation, but it is unlikely that phase III will occur in the absence of differential migration unless the invading genotype consists of a few dominant loci with a large selection advantage, spreading into a few populations of lower fitness. Therefore, as was envisioned by Wright, differential migration from more to less fit populations will be necessary for phase III to occur under most circumstances.     

Geographic differences in Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) echolocation clicks

Aim

Understanding cetacean species' distributions and population structure over space and time is necessary for effective conservation and management. Geographic differences in acoustic signals may provide a line of evidence for population-level discrimination in some cetacean species. We use acoustic recordings collected over broad spatial and temporal scales to investigate whether global variability in echolocation click peak frequency could elucidate population structure in Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris), a cryptic species well-studied acoustically.

Location

North Pacific, Western North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

Time period

2004–2021.

Major taxa studied

Blainville's beaked whale.

Methods

Passive acoustic data were collected at 76 sites and 150 cumulative years of data were analysed to extract beaked whale echolocation clicks. Using an automated detector and subsequent weighted network clustering on spectral content and interclick interval of clicks, we determined the properties of a primary cluster of clicks with similar characteristics per site. These were compared within regions and across ocean basins and evaluated for suitability as population-level indicators.

Results

Spectral averages obtained from primary clusters of echolocation clicks identified at each site were similar in overall shape but varied in peak frequency by up to 8 kHz. We identified a latitudinal cline, with higher peak frequencies occurring in lower latitudes.

Main conclusions

It may be possible to acoustically delineate populations of Blainville's beaked whales. The documented negative correlation between signal peak frequency and latitude could relate to body size. Body size has been shown to influence signal frequency, with lower frequencies produced by larger animals, which are subsequently more common in higher latitudes for some species, although data are lacking to adequately investigate this for beaked whales. Prey size and depth may shape frequency content of echolocation signals, and larger prey items may occur in higher latitudes, resulting in lower signal frequencies of their predators.     

Proportional processing of a visual mate choice signal in the green swordtail,Xiphophorus hellerii

During mate choice, receivers often assess the magnitude (duration, size, etc.) of signals that vary along a continuum and reflect variation in signaller quality. It is generally assumed that receivers assess this variation linearly, meaning each difference in signalling trait between signallers results in a commensurate change in receiver response. However, increasing evidence shows receivers can respond to signals non-linearly, for example through Weber's Law of proportional processing, where discrimination between stimuli is based on proportional, rather than absolute, differences in magnitude. We quantified mate preferences of female green swordtail fish, Xiphophorus hellerii, for pairs of males differing in body size. Preferences for larger males were better predicted by the proportional difference between males (proportional processing) than the absolute difference (linear processing). This demonstration of proportional processing of a visual signal implies that receiver perception may be an important mechanism selecting against the evolution of ever-larger signalling traits.     

Anthropic modifications on megafauna bones in the paleontological collections of the Museum national d’Histoire naturelle de Paris: Historical aspects and implications for the Pampean Pleistocene peopling

The most abundant evidence of Pampean Pleistocene human presence are modified bones, as lithic procurement sites located farther than 300 km away. Therefore, we focused on the study of bone modifications, in particular cut and percussion marks. We studied Pampean paleontological collections of Argentine and European museums as an alternative resource of previously unnoticed human modification evidences. We compared marks characteristics with those of archaeological collections from diverse climatic and cultural adaptations, from middle Pleistocene sites (Vallonet, Atapuerca, Lazaret, Arago and Terra Amata) to terminal Pleistocene ones (Abri Pataud, Isturiz and La Vache). Marks typologies were defined, leading to the identification of a particular cutmark that we named double parallel considered as highly diagnostic of anthropic use of lithic artifacts. We also propose that hafted artifacts were used on carcass processing. Perimortem bone modifications are classified in relation with mark morphology (e.g., percussion striae), inferred gesture or action (e.g., breakage of diaphysis), and inferred objective of that action (e.g., marrow extraction). The megafauna specimens analyzed from the historical collections (d’Angelis-Vilardebó, 1847, Muñiz-Dupotet, 1842 and Breton-Bonnement, 1881) present modifications compatible with dismemberment, defleshing, tongue and masseter extraction, and utilization as anvils. The lack of contextual data (location, stratigraphy) and the loss due to museum selection/collecting of accompanying material prevent paleoenvironmental and paleoecological inferences. Regional geology indicates that most of the historical collections were exhumed in riverbank cuts with ages between 70 and 13 ky BP. Preliminary direct dating presents evidence of a Pampean human occupation, at least, since OIS 2.     

A case of congenital syphilis during the colonial period in Mexico City

Congenital syphilis has been diagnosed very seldom in ancient populations. The case that we examined comes from San Jeronimo's Church (17th and 18th centuries AD; Mexico City). Coffin 43 contained an incomplete skeleton of an approximately 2-year-old infant. The pathological lesions of this skeleton include bilateral osteochondritis, diaphyseal osteomyelitis, and osteitis and/or periostitis on the long bones. The radiographic appearance depicts symmetrical osteomyelitic foci, particularly at the proximal extremity of both tibiae (Wimberger's sign). The skull exhibits hydroceph-aly and periosteal changes on the vault, and the unerupted upper incisors evince dental hypoplasia and other pathological alterations reminiscent of Hutchinson's incisors. All these features strongly suggest a case of early Congenital syphilis. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The dental awareness and needs of a Parkinson's disease population

The dental awareness and needs of a population with Parkinson's disease were assessed by means of postal questionnaires sent to members of Parkinson's disease societies of Belfast and London. A total of 228 valid replies were received representing a response rate of 31%. Results showed that dental problems were reported often, xerostomia and burning sensation being at least twice that of the general population. Satisfaction with dental care was high although it was significantly reduced in those with loose dentures and burning sensation. The results of this study support a greater participation by dentists in the planning and provision of healthcare for sufferer of Parkinson's disease.     

Etude olfactométrique de l'action de diverses substances allélochimiques végétales dans la recherche de l'hote par Diadromus pulchellus (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae)

Résumé La recherche de l'habitat d'un hôte potentiel par D. pulchellus, endoparasite considéré comme spécialiste des nymphes d'A. assectella, est abordée chez les adultes femelles et mâles, en olfactométrie, par l'étude de leur comportement locomoteur. L'activité locomotrice et l'attraction sont ainsi analysées en présence de substances allélochimiques issues ou non de végétaux pouvant abriter un hôte. Que les composés soufrés testés soient stables ou non, ils ne déclenchent pas d'attraction chez les hyménoptères quel que soit leur sexe et le type d'olfactomètre utilisé, contrairement aux imagos du phytophage-hôte, A. assectella, attirés par les composés soufrés instables spécifiques du poireau. L'activité locomotrice des hyménoptères des deux sexes est stimulée par divers composés volatils soufrés de synthèse ou émis naturellement par les Crucifères et par les Allium consommés par les larves d'A. assectella. Les substances efficaces sont généralément stables et sont caractérisées par le groupement actif R-S-, à condition que R ne soit pas un allyle. Par ailleurs, des composés volatils non soufrés contenus dans des végétaux autres que les Allium et les Crucifères ne stimulent pas le comportement locomoteur des hyménoptères. Ces différentes observations permettent d'envisager que D. pulchellus est un spécialiste inféodé à des microlépidoptères s'alimentant sur des végétaux soufrés et non sur les seuls Allium.

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Summary Searching the host habitat by the endoparasite wasp Diadromus pulchellus, considered to be a specialist of Acrolepiopsis assectella nymphs, is studied in females and males by analysis of locomotory behaviour in olfactometers. Thus, locomotor activity and attraction are studied in the presence or absence of air-borne volatiles emitted by plants able to shelter a potential host-moth. Stable and unstable sulphur compounds used do not release attraction in female and male ichneumonids whatever the type of olfactometer used. By contrast, phytophagous host adults are attracted by unstable specific sulphur compounds of the leek. Locomotor activities of D. pulchellus females and males are stimulated by various volatile sulphur compounds of synthetic origin or naturally occurring in Allium eaten by A. assectella larvae and in Crucifera. The effective compounds generally are stable and characterized by the active group R-S — in which the alkyl moiety must not be an allyl one. On the other hand, volatiles without sulphur, emitted by plants which do not belong to Cruciferae or Allium, do not stimulate the hymenopteran locomotor activity. These observations suggest that D. pulchellus is oligophagous, attracted to microlepidoptera developing on plants containing sulphur compounds and not only on Allium.

     

Effects of forskolin and cholera toxin on cyclic AMP release in a neurotensin-secreting rat C-cell line

The effects of forskolin and cholera toxin on the regulation of cAMP release were studied in a neurotensin-secreting rat C-cell line. The interaction of these agents with norepinephrine, a potent neurotensin secretagogue, was also investigated. Forskolin stimulated cAMP release 10(2)-10(3) fold while it increased neurotensin release 2-3 fold. Cholera toxin caused a 10(2)-10(3) fold increase in cAMP release and had no effect on neurotensin release. We conclude that the 44-2 C-cells provide a new model for studying the regulation of the concomitant (via forskolin) or independent (via cholera toxin) secretion of cyclic AMP and/or neurotensin.