Variation in Cepaea populations over 42 years: climate fluctuations destroy a topographical relationship of morph‐frequencies

Cepaea hortensis (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) populations in Hertfordshire, England, originally sampled in 1964–66, and sampled again in 1990, were sampled in 2007. Although the general pattern of shell colour and banding polymorphism remained stable, a significant trend for a reduction in the frequency of yellow shells in sites from valley bottoms, as observed in 1990, continued through to 2007. In both 1964–66 and 1990, populations in valley bottoms had higher frequencies of yellow shells than those on the sides, but this topographical relationship had effectively disappeared by 2007. The relationship had been explained in terms of low temperature extremes in valley bottoms in cold, anticyclonic conditions. Its decay is associated with much warmer winter conditions prevailing in the 3 years previous to both resurveys, compared with those before the original survey. The frequency of unbanded shells also increased over the period, but this change showed no topographical variation, and thus it is not possible to assign it to a particular cause. The low levels of variation between samples from the same habitat and the absence of present topographical relationships conceal the occurrence of powerful climatic selection, which is revealed only by repeated surveys. The conditions in which such changes might be detected are discussed. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 95 , 53–61.     

Effect of Water Loss on Germination Ability of Maize (Zea mays L.) Pollen

The correlation between water content and viability of maizepollen grains was studied on the basis of the germination abilityof pollen from a single cross hybrid. There was found to beclose correlation between viability of the grains and theirtolerance to desiccation. Most of the pollen grains in the hybridexamined survived a reduction by almost 50 per cent of the originalwater content without loss of normal function. With water lossgreater than this, less vigorous pollen grains died or losttheir ability to form pollen tubes. Consequently, when pollinationwas carried out using pollen with a water content reduced bymore than 50 per cent, only the most tolerant pollen grainssurvived to take part in the competition which precedes fertilization.Dry pollen grains required a longer period to establish adhesionto the stigma surface and to initiate pollen tubes than pollengrains with higher water content, but otherwise their behaviourwas normal. If more than 80 per cent of the original water contentwas lost, disturbances occurred in the physiology of the grainssurviving the treatment. This was exhibited as death or a reductionin rate of pollen tube growth. Drying of pollen by an amount which does not irreversibly damagethe more tolerant grains could possibly be used as a means ofpollen selection. Zea mays L., maize, pollen viability, pollen treatment, dehydration, pollen tube     

A Two-Dimensional Separation of Proteins from Chloroplast Thylakoids and Other Membranes

• 1 A two-dimensional, highly reproducible, analytical separation procedure for Triton/urea extractable proteins, using isoelectric focusing in the first dimension and gelelectrophoresis with sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) in the second, is described. The separation of erythrocyte membrane proteins compares the reliability with that of published procedures.
• 2 From the thylakoid membranes of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardii and of spinach, two-dimensional maps of the Triton/urea extractable proteins were established, containing 58 and 33 peptide spots, respectively, which were characterized by their molecular weights and apparent isoelectric points. In Chlamydomonas some of the spots could be attributed to the photosystem I and II particles. A few major spots in the maps of the thylakoid proteins from the two non-related plants were found at the same relative positions.
• 3 A one-dimensional electrophoretic comparison of the SDS and the Triton/urea-extractable proteins showed that in the Triton/urea extract of thylakoid membranes some proteins of the photosystem II region, and in that of erythrocyte membranes, some components of the band 3 and 5 region are reduced or missing.

     

Strong growth limitation of a floating plant (Lemna gibba) by the submerged macrophyte (Elodea nuttallii) under laboratory conditions

1. The asymmetric competition for light and nutrients between floating and submerged aquatic plants is thought to be key in explaining why dominance by either of these groups can be stable and difficult to change. 2. Although the shading effect of floating plants on submerged plants has been well documented, the impact of submerged plants on floating plants has been poorly explored hitherto. 3. Here, we used laboratory experiments to examine how submerged plant (Elodea nuttallii) alter nutrient conditions in the water column and how this affects the growth of floating plants (Lemna gibba). 4. We demonstrate that, at higher nutrient concentrations, Lemna is increasingly likely to outcompete Elodea. 5. Under low nutrient concentrations (0.1–2 mg N L^?1) Elodea can strongly reduce the growth of Lemna. Growth of floating plants virtually stopped in some of the experiments with Elodea. 6. Extremely reduced tissue N, Mn, chlorophyll and elongated roots indicated that the growth inhibition of Lemna by Elodea was predominantly caused by the latter’s impact on the nutrient conditions for floating plants. 7. These results strengthen the hypothesis that submerged plants can prevent colonization of a lake by floating plants.     

Contrasting patterns of variation in urban populations of Cepaea (Gastropoda: Pulmonata): a tale of two cities

The shell colour and banding polymorphisms in urban populations of Cepaea snails were studied in Sheffield (England) and Wrocław (Poland), which are two cities of similar size. Both Cepaea nemoralis and Cepaea hortensis were found in Sheffield, but only C. nemoralis was found in Wrocław. In neither city was variation with habitat apparent, nor was there evidence of large-scale geographical patterns. Spatial autocorrelation analyses revealed only vaguely defined local clusters. There was a greater degree of among-population variation in Sheffield, and more cases of extreme frequencies and low levels of polymorphism. Wrocław populations were more uniform and highly polymorphic. These differences can be related to the history of these snails in each city. Sheffield has been colonized mainly in the last 20 years, and some parts of the city with apparently suitable habitat remain unoccupied. Leptokurtic dispersal of small propagules followed by local spread appears likely. Values of F _ST resemble those seen in districts elsewhere with 'Area Effects'. Although there are ancient woodlands within the city, they have been colonized too recently for selection to achieve a new balance. Wrocław has held Cepaea populations for at least 100 years, and they are denser and more continuous. Shaded habitats are recent and temporary; the overall pattern of variation matches that seen in open habitats in districts elsewhere in which variation with habitat is apparent, and values of F _ST also correspond. Population history and the character of dispersal clearly affect the patterns of variation observed.  © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 97 , 27–39.     

Stress magnitude matters: different intensities of pulsed water stress produce non‐monotonic resistance responses of host plants to insect herbivores

Abstract 1. Water stress may increase or reduce the suitability of plants for herbivores. The recently proposed ‘pulsed stress hypothesis’ suggests consideration of stress phenology (pulsed vs. continuous stress) to explain these conflicting effects of plant water stress on herbivore performance. 2. This hypothesis was tested for the effect of differing stress intensity on performance and preference of insect herbivores belonging to different feeding guilds, namely leaf‐chewing insects (Spodoptera littoralis caterpillars) and phloem‐feeding insects (Aphis pomi aphids), on apple plants (Malus domestica). The plants were non‐stressed or exposed to a low or high intensity of pulsed water stress. 3. Plant responses to the different stress levels were generally monotonic. Growth, stomatal conductance (g_s), leaf water, and old‐leaf nitrogen concentration decreased, whereas young‐leaf nitrogen concentration and leaf mass per area (LMA) increased with increasing stress intensity. The stable isotope composition of foliar carbon (δ¹³C) responded non‐monotonically to the drought treatments. The δ¹³C values were highest in low‐stress plants, intermediate in high‐stress plants, and lowest in non‐stressed plants. 4. The preference and performance responses of the caterpillars were also non‐monotonic. Non‐stressed plants were intermediately, low‐stress plants least, and high‐stress plants most attractive or suitable. Aphid population growth was highest on non‐stressed plants and lowest on low‐stress plants. 5. The results highlight the importance of water stress intensity for the outcome of interactions between herbivores and drought‐affected plants. They show that pulsed water stress may enhance or reduce insect herbivore performance and plant resistance, depending on stress intensity.     

Performance of Myrmica ant colonies is correlated with the presence of social parasites

1. The performance of ant colonies depends on different factors such as nest site, colony structure or the presence of pathogens and social parasites. Myrmica ants host various types of social parasites, including the larvae of Maculinea butterflies and Microdonmyrmicae (Schönrogge) hoverfly. How these social parasites affect host colony performance is still unexplored. 2. It was examined how the presence of Maculinea teleius Bergsträsser, Maculinea alcon (Denis & Schiffermüller), and M. myrmicae larvae, representing different feeding and growth strategies inside host colonies, is associated with worker survival, the number of foragers, and colony productivity parameters such as growth and reproduction. 3. It was found that the presence of social parasites is negatively associated with total colony production and the production of ant larvae and gynes. Male production was lower only in nests infested by M. teleius, whereas the number of worker pupae was significantly higher in all types of infested colonies than in uninfested colonies. Laboratory observations indicated that nests infested by Maculinea larvae are characterised by a higher number of foragers compared to uninfested nests but we did not find differences in worker survival among nest types. 4. The observed pattern of social parasite influence on colony productivity can be explained by the feeding strategies of parasitic larvae. The most negative effect was found for M. teleius, which feeds on the largest host brood and eliminates a high number of sexual forms. The strong, adverse influence of all studied parasite species on gyne production may result in low queen production in Myrmica populations exposed to these social parasites.