A preliminary note on Incurvarioidea in New Zealand

Abstract

The Monotrysian superfamily Incurvarioidea (Lepidoptera) is now known to be present inNew Zealand. A mummified partly decayed male, parasitised pupae, larval head capsules, and characteristic cocoons are associated with long (1500–2000 mm) meandering cortical scribble-like mines in sapling Weinmannia, Nothofagus and Myrsine. The fragments and larval biology display features of Prodoxidae, but cannot be assigned to a genus.

Wing pattern, some forewing venation, pupal structure, male genitalia and some female ovipositor structures, larval head capsule and pronotum, and details of the pupal cell and larval mine are described and illustrated.     

A new generic name for the New Zealand species previously assigned to Simaethis auctorum (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae), with description of a new species

Abstract

The 20 described species of diurnal moths previously in Simaethis auct. (not Leach, 1815) in New Zealand are transferred to Asterivora n.gen. The genus is described and distinguished from other genera in Choreutidae; genitalia of the type-species are figured. Asterivora oleariae, a new species associated with Olearia lyalli Hook.f. (Asteraceae: Compositae) from The Snares and Stewart Island, is described.     

Adhesion and motility of fouling diatoms on a silicone elastomer

Recent demands for non-toxic antifouling technologies have led to increased interest in coatings based on silicone elastomers that ‘release’ macrofouling organisms when hydrodynamic conditions are sufficiently robust. However, these types of coatings accumulate diatom slimes, which are not released even from vessels operating at high speeds ( > 30 knots). In this study, adhesion strength and motility of three common fouling diatoms (Amphora coffeaeformis var. perpusilla (Grunow) Cleve, Craspedostauros australis Cox and Navicula perminuta Grunow) were measured on a polydimethylsiloxane elastomer (PDMSE) and acid-washed glass. Adhesion of the three species was stronger to PDMSE than to glass but the adhesion strengths varied. The wall shear stress required to remove 50% of cells from PDMSE was 17 Pa for Craspedostauros, 24 Pa for Amphora and >> 53 Pa for Navicula; the corresponding values for glass were 3, 10 and 25 Pa. In contrast, the motility of the three species showed little or no correlation between the two surfaces. Craspedostauros moved equally well on glass and PDMSE, Amphora moved more on glass initially before movement ceased and Navicula moved more on PDMSE before movement ceased. The results show that fouling diatoms adhere more strongly to a hydrophobic PDMSE surface, and this feature may contribute to their successful colonization of low surface energy, foul-release coatings. The results also indicate that diatom motility is not related to adhesion strength, and motility does not appear to be a useful indicator of surface preference by diatoms.     

Individual variation in early‐life telomere length and survival in a wild mammal

Individual variation in survival probability due to differential responses to early‐life environmental conditions is important in the evolution of life histories and senescence. A biomarker allowing quantification of such individual variation, and which links early‐life environmental conditions with survival by providing a measure of conditions experienced, is telomere length. Here, we examined telomere dynamics among 24 cohorts of European badgers (Meles meles). We found a complex cross‐sectional relationship between telomere length and age, with no apparent loss over the first 29 months, but with both decreases and increases in telomere length at older ages. Overall, we found low within‐individual consistency in telomere length across individual lifetimes. Importantly, we also observed increases in telomere length within individuals, which could not be explained by measurement error alone. We found no significant sex differences in telomere length, and provide evidence that early‐life telomere length predicts lifespan. However, while early‐life telomere length predicted survival to adulthood (≥1 year old), early‐life telomere length did not predict adult survival probability. Furthermore, adult telomere length did not predict survival to the subsequent year. These results show that the relationship between early‐life telomere length and lifespan was driven by conditions in early‐life, where early‐life telomere length varied strongly among cohorts. Our data provide evidence for associations between early‐life telomere length and individual life history, and highlight the dynamics of telomere length across individual lifetimes due to individuals experiencing different early‐life environments.     

No Association between Personality and Candidate Gene Polymorphisms in a Wild Bird Population

Consistency of between-individual differences in behaviour or personality is a phenomenon in populations that can have ecological consequences and evolutionary potential. One way that behaviour can evolve is to have a genetic basis. Identifying the molecular genetic basis of personality could therefore provide insight into how and why such variation is maintained, particularly in natural populations. Previously identified candidate genes for personality in birds include the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4), and serotonin transporter (SERT). Studies of wild bird populations have shown that exploratory and bold behaviours are associated with polymorphisms in both DRD4 and SERT. Here we tested for polymorphisms in DRD4 and SERT in the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis) population on Cousin Island, Seychelles, and then investigated correlations between personality and polymorphisms in these genes. We found no genetic variation in DRD4, but identified four polymorphisms in SERT that clustered into five haplotypes. There was no correlation between bold or exploratory behaviours and SERT polymorphisms/haplotypes. The null result was not due to lack of power, and indicates that there was no association between these behaviours and variation in the candidate genes tested in this population. These null findings provide important data to facilitate representative future meta-analyses on candidate personality genes.     

Is red blood cell survival limited by the activity of a critical enzyme?

Erythrocyte glutathione reductase is responsible for generating reduced glutathione, which has been implicated in maintaining the integrity of the red blood cell.Erythrocytes from peripheral blood were separated into fractions of increasing age and the activity of glutathione reductase and aspartate amino transferase determined in each fraction.The age-related decline in activity of both enzymes was confirmed, but with detailed resolution of the cells by age a significant secondary rise in only glutathione reductase activity was found in very old cells. As red blood cells from the same cohort survive in the circulation for varying periods they must vary in some way from one another. It is postulated that glutathione reductase is a critical enzyme which limits erythrocyte survival and that the rate of decline in activity varies from cell to cell. A simple mathematical model based on this postulate accounted quantitatively for both the pattern of glutathione reductase activity and the erythrocyte survival curve. In addition, a simplified model of the passage of erythrocytes through the circulation was designed and run. The predicted erythrocyte survival curve and pattern of glutathione reductase activity were very similar to observed patterns. This model may be useful in other situations where a finite resource is degraded at different rates by random passages through different pathways.     

The insecticidal activity of foliage from New Zealand conifers

When incorporated into artificial diets, the milled foliages of many New Zealand conifers are toxic to larvae of housefly (Musca domestica), codling moth (Laspeyresia pomonella) and light-brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana). The most toxic foliages are those of Podocarpus nivalis which contains diterpene lactones, and Dacrydium laxifolium, which has a high concentration (1%) of phytoecdysones. The insecticidal activities of the plants are discussed in relation to their insect associations, chemistry and taxonomy.     

Telomere length reveals cumulative individual and transgenerational inbreeding effects in a passerine bird

Inbreeding results in more homozygous offspring that should suffer reduced fitness, but it can be difficult to quantify these costs for several reasons. First, inbreeding depression may vary with ecological or physiological stress and only be detectable over long time periods. Second, parental homozygosity may indirectly affect offspring fitness, thus confounding analyses that consider offspring homozygosity alone. Finally, measurement of inbreeding coefficients, survival and reproductive success may often be too crude to detect inbreeding costs in wild populations. Telomere length provides a more precise measure of somatic costs, predicts survival in many species and should reflect differences in somatic condition that result from varying ability to cope with environmental stressors. We studied relative telomere length in a wild population of Seychelles warblers (Acrocephalus sechellensis) to assess the lifelong relationship between individual homozygosity, which reflects genome‐wide inbreeding in this species, and telomere length. In juveniles, individual homozygosity was negatively associated with telomere length in poor seasons. In adults, individual homozygosity was consistently negatively related to telomere length, suggesting the accumulation of inbreeding depression during life. Maternal homozygosity also negatively predicted offspring telomere length. Our results show that somatic inbreeding costs are environmentally dependent at certain life stages but may accumulate throughout life.     

Green-fluorescent protein facilitates rapid in vivo detection of genetically transformed plant cells

Early detection of plant transformation events is necessary for the rapid establishment and optimization of plant transformation protocols. We have assessed modified versions of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) from Aequorea victoria as early reporters of plant transformation using a dissecting fluorescence microscope with appropriate filters. Gfp-expressing cells from four different plant species (sugarcane, maize, lettuce, and tobacco) were readily distinguished, following either Agrobacterium-mediated or particle bombardment-mediated transformation. The identification of gfp-expressing sugarcane cells allowed for the elimination of a high proportion of non-expressing explants and also enabled visual selection of dividing transgenic cells, an early step in the generation of transgenic organisms. The recovery of transgenic cell clusters was streamlined by the ability to visualize gfp-expressing tissues in vitro. Received: 17 May 1998 / Revision received: 2 September 1998 / Accepted: 23 November 1998