Comparison of Buprestidae collected by Cerceris fumipennis (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) with those collected by purple prism traps

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The symbiotic shrimp Ascidonia flavomaculata lives solitarily in the tunicate Ascidia mentula: implications for its mating system

Symbiotic crustaceans are expected to live solitarily with their hosts when members of their host species are small (relative to symbiont body size) and structurally simple. We tested the hypothesis of a solitary lifestyle in Ascidonia flavomaculata, a symbiotic shrimp that inhabits the branchial chamber of the relatively small and structurally simple tunicate Ascidia mentula in the subtidal zone of the Islas Baleares, Spain. We found that members of A. flavomaculata dwell as solitary individuals in the branchial chamber of ascidians at a higher frequency than expected by chance alone. Given this host use pattern of A. flavomaculata, we hypothesized that males actively move among host individuals in search of receptive females. We provide several lines of evidence consistent with that hypothesis. First, a positive correlation between shrimp and host body size was detected for females, but not for males, during one of the sampling seasons. If males as well as females spend long periods of time within their host individuals, a positive correlation between shrimp and host body size should have been found for both males and females. Second, the body sizes of individuals in the few male‐female pairs observed during this study were poorly correlated. If males of A. flavomaculata shared their host individuals with females for long periods of time, a positive correlation between the sizes of males and females in a pair should have been found. Lastly, the body sizes of paired males were larger than those of solitary males during summer, when reproduction was more intense. This difference in body size between paired and solitary males additionally suggests competition among putatively roaming males for receptive females. Manipulative experiments and behavioral observations are necessary to reveal the details of the mating system of A. flavomaculata and other symbiotic crustaceans with a solitary lifestyle.     

Region- and cell type-selective expression of the evolutionarily conserved Nolz-1/zfp503 gene in the developing mouse hindbrain

Nolz-1/Zfp503, a zinc finger-containing gene, is a mammalian member of the SP1-related nocA/elb/tlp-1 gene family. Previous studies have shown that Nolz-1 homologs are important for patterning the rhombomeres in zebrafish hindbrain. We therefore studied the expression pattern of Nolz-1 in the developing mouse hindbrain. Nolz-1 mRNA expression was detected in the prospective rhombomere 3, 5 and caudal regions as early as E8.75. After E11.5, Nolz-1-positive cells were organized as distinct cell clusters, and they were largely non-overlapped with either Pax2-positive or Phox2b-positive domains. Most interestingly, we found that Nolz-1 was specifically expressed by Phox2b-negative/Isl1/2-positive somatic motor neurons, but not by Phox2b-positive/Isl1/2-positive branchial and visceral motor neurons, suggesting that Nolz-1 may regulate development of somatic motor neurons in the hindbrain. In addition to be expressed in differentiating post-mitotic neurons, Nolz-1 was also expressed by progenitor cells in the ventricular zone located in the dorsal part of aqueduct and the alar plates of hindbrain, which suggests a regulatory role of Nolz-1 in the germinal zone. Taken together, based on its domain- and cell type-selective pattern, Nolz-1 may involve in regulation of various developmental processes, including regional patterning and cell-type specification and differentiation in the developing mouse hindbrain.     

First pollen record for Ancyloscelis apiformes (Apidae: Emphorini) in Central Amazon

Abstract

The first pollen study for the solitary bee Ancyloscelis apiformes (Emphorini) in a nest aggregation in the Central Amazon was made in October 2012 at the Sucupira apiary in east Manaus, Amazonas, at 03° 00? 05″ S, 59° 51? 05″ W. A total of 15 samples/nests (N1–N15) were analysed, including intact pollen loads (stored inside the nest) and post-emergence residues, which were acetolysed and mounted in glycerine gelatin. From each sample, 500 pollen grains were counted to determine the pollen frequencies and diversity (H′) and evenness (J′) indices. The most representative pollen types were Bonamia ferruginea (N1 = 95.6% and N2 = 96.00%) and the Ipomoea (N3 = 96.40%), both of which belong to the Convolvulaceae. In addition, Byrsonima crispa (N10 = 93.40%) and Malpighia glabra (N7 = 90.20% and N9 = 97.60%), representatives of the Malpighiaceae, were classified as temporary specialisation events with frequencies above 90%. In this study, A. apiformes, which is considered an oligolectic bee species, presented a polylectic tendency since it collected large percentages of pollen types from plants in distinct families that were not phylogenetically related.     

Complex genetic patterns in closely related colonizing invasive species

Anthropogenic activities frequently result in both rapidly changing environments and translocation of species from their native ranges (i.e., biological invasions). Empirical studies suggest that many factors associated with these changes can lead to complex genetic patterns, particularly among invasive populations. However, genetic complexities and factors responsible for them remain uncharacterized in many cases. Here, we explore these issues in the vase tunicate Ciona intestinalis (Ascidiacea: Enterogona: Cionidae), a model species complex, of which spA and spB are rapidly spreading worldwide. We intensively sampled 26 sites (N = 873) from both coasts of North America, and performed phylogenetic and population genetics analyses based on one mitochondrial fragment (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 3-NADH dehydrogenase subunit I, COX3-ND1) and eight nuclear microsatellites. Our analyses revealed extremely complex genetic patterns in both species on both coasts. We detected a contrasting pattern based on the mitochondrial marker: two major genetic groups in C. intestinalis spA on the west coast versus no significant geographic structure in C. intestinalis spB on the east coast. For both species, geo-graphically distant populations often showed high microsatellite-based genetic affinities whereas neighboring ones often did not. In addition, mitochondrial and nuclear markers provided largely inconsistent genetic patterns. Multiple factors, including random genetic drift associated with demographic changes, rapid selection due to strong local adaptation, and varying propensity for human-mediated propagule dispersal could be responsible for the observed genetic complexities.     

Where have all the blue flowers gone: pollinator responses and selection on flower colour in New Zealand Wahlenbergia albomarginata

Although pollinators are thought to select on flower colour, few studies have experimentally decoupled effects of colour from correlated traits on pollinator visitation and pollen transfer. We combined selection analysis and phenotypic manipulations to measure the effect of petal colour on visitation and pollen export at two spatial scales in Wahlenbergia albomarginata. This species is representative of many New Zealand alpine herbs that have secondarily evolved white or pale flowers. The major pollinators, solitary bees, exerted phenotypic selection on flower size but not colour, quantified by bee vision. When presented with manipulated flowers, bees visited flowers painted blue to resemble a congener over white flowers in large, but not small, experimental arrays. Pollen export was higher for blue flowers in large arrays. Pollinator preference does not explain the pale colouration of W. albomarginata, as commonly hypothesized. Absence of bright blue could be driven instead by indirect selection of correlated characters.     

Forever in the dark: the cave-dwelling?azooxanthellate reef coral Leptoseris troglodyta sp. n. (Scleractinia,?Agariciidae)

The coral species Leptoseris troglodyta sp. n. (Scleractinia, Agariciidae) is described as new to science. It is the first known azooxanthellate shallow-water agariciid and is recorded from the ceilings of caves at 5-35 m depth in West Pacific coral reefs. The corals have monocentric cup-shaped calices. They may become colonial through extramural budding from the basal coenosteum, which may cause adjacent calices to fuse. The size, shape and habitat of Leptoseris troglodyta are unique compared to other Leptoseris species, many of which have been recorded from mesophotic depths. The absence of zooxanthellae indicates that it may survive well in darkness, but endolithic algae in some corals indicate that they may be able to get some light. The presence of menianes on the septal sides, which may help to absorb light at greater depths in zooxanthellate corals, have no obvious adaptive relevance in the new species and could have been inherited from ancestral species that perhaps were zooxanthellate. The new species may be azooxanthellate as derived through the loss of zooxanthellae, which would be a reversal in Leptoseris phylogeny.     

Size-dependent reproductive dominance in foundresses of Ropalidia plebeiana, an Australian paper wasp forming nest aggregations (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

The relationship between reproductive status and body size in foundresses of Ropalidia plebeiana, an Australian endemic paper wasp forming huge aggregations of nests, was examined. Foundresses with developed ovaries (laying foundresses) in multifoundress colonies tended to be larger than foundresses in single‐foundress colonies and foundresses with undeveloped ovaries (non‐laying foundresses). However, the laying foundress was not always the largest of the foundresses in a colony. Body shape in foundresses varied according to simple allometric growth, while foundresses and first brood females diverged in their growth parameters in the preimaginal stage.     

The Consequences of Predation Risk on the Male Territorial Behavior in a Solitary Bee

Territorial males may adopt a mating tactic that yields greater reproductive success but that at the same time increases the risk of predation. Plasticity in reproductive behavior can reflect a balance between sexual selection and natural selection. In this study, we sought to verify the effect of predation risk on territorial behavior of males of the solitary bee Ptilothrix fructifera (Apidae). Males of the species employ alternative mating tactics and can be territorial in defense of larval food sources. By manipulating predator models in the field, we tested whether (1) males avoid perch flowers containing predator models; (2) males alternate between mating tactics when their territory is associated with a predation risk; and (3) female foraging on flowers in a territory is altered in the presence of a predator model. We measured the responses of males and females in flowers containing and not containing a model of a spider or a stuffed bird. The results show that territorial males of P. fructifera alter their territorial behavior when faced with a high risk of predation. They do not abandon their territory or change to a non‐territorial mating tactic, but instead change the use of their territory, avoiding flowers containing predator models or perching on other flowers when the previous flower presented a potential predation risk. Female P. fructifera decreases the frequency of their visits to flowers and the length of time spent there in the presence of a spider model. In short, in the face of predation risk, females and males alter their behaviors at the cost of less efficient foraging and searching for partners, respectively.     

Single- or Pair-Housed: Which Is Better for Captive Southern Tamanduas?

The captive environment can limit some important behavioral options for nonhuman animals, which often results in decreased welfare. The companion of a conspecific can be a source of complexity in captivity, but this aspect has received little attention for solitary species. This study investigated the effects of two different housing conditions on the behavior of a solitary species, the Southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla). Six individuals housed singly and four housed in pairs in two Brazilian zoological institutions were observed for 10 days from 09:00h to 17:00h during the rainy season. Each individual was observed for 26:40 hours. Compared with singly housed tamanduas, paired animals were less inactive (single = 74.62 ± 5.2%, paired = 28.51 ± 0.04% of the records), foraged and explored more (single = 11.07 ± 3.0%, paired 31.48 ± 0.01% of the records), and exhibited a diversity of behaviors 102.56% greater than single tamanduas. These results suggest that interactions with conspecifics in captivity, even for solitary animals, can promote the performance of desirable behaviors, which in several species has been correlated with improved welfare.