Physiological Insights from Cellular and Network Models of the Stomatogastric Nervous System of Lobsters and Crabs

SYNOPSIS. The stomatogastric nervous system of decapod crustaceansis an ideal system for the study of the processes underlyingthe generation of rhythmic movements by the nervous system.In this chapter we review recent work that uses mathematicalanalyses and computer simulations to understand: 1) the roleof individual currents in controlling the activity of neurons,and 2) the effects of electrical coupling on the activity ofneuronal oscillators. The aim of this review is to highlight,for the physiologist, what these studies have taught us aboutthe organization and function of single cell and multicellularneuronal oscillators.     

Weather and fireblight in England

A method for assessing potential fireblight activity in the field in southeast England is described. It is based on potential doublings (PD), derived from in vitro growth rates of Erwinia amylovora at different temperatures, combined with a rain score (R) derived from daily precipitation values. Where the incubation period (I) was known, the coefficient of correlation between I/R and PD was 085 (P < 0–001). When I was regressed on PD and R, the multiple correlation coefficient was 0–97. The low level of fireblight in England precluded direct testing of the predictive value of the relationship between PD, I and R but its application to growing season weather of 1955-74 highlighted those years when fireblight activity was high in a particular host. Whilst within the range 65–86 ^oF (18–30 ^oC) there is good agreement between accumulated potential doubling values and accumulated degree days, the rain score would probably require modification in other climates.     

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci for the study of paternity and population structure in the little penguin Eudyptula minor

We isolated and characterized eight novel microsatellite loci in the little penguin Eudyptula minor, using nonradioactive polymerase chain reaction‐based techniques to screen GA and GAAA repeats from enriched genomic DNA libraries. All eight loci were polymorphic and seven were variable in our main study population (mean H_E = 0.613, mean N_A = 7.14). Cross‐amplification using a microsatellite primer developed in Spheniscus demersus (African penguin) yielded one additional polymorphic locus. This locus combined with six of the little penguin loci is suitable for paternity assignment in little penguins (exclusion probability for seven unlinked loci = 0.993).     

Effects of larval energetic resources on life history and adult allocation patterns in a caddisfly (Trichoptera: Phryganeidae)

Abstract 1. How populations respond to environmental change depends, in part, on the connection between environmental variance during early life stages and its effect on subsequent life‐history traits. For example, environmental variation during the larval stage can influence the life histories of organisms with complex life cycles by altering the amount of time spent in each stage of the life cycle as well as by altering allocation to life‐history traits during metamorphosis. 2. The effects of larval energetic resources on developmental timing, adult mass, fecundity, mating success, and allocation to adult body structures (thorax, abdomen, wings) were examined in an aquatic caddisfly (Agrypnia deflata Milne, Trichoptera: Phryganeidae). Larval energetic reserves were manipulated by removing larval cases just prior to pupation. In the first experiment, cases of all individuals were removed just prior to pupation; experimental individuals were required to build a new case whereas control individuals were allowed to re‐enter their case without building. In the second experiment, energy differences were maximised between the two treatments by supplementing the larval diet of the control group and removing cases and not supplementing the diet of the experimental group. 3. Male and female development time, adult mass, and female fecundity were not influenced by case removal or diet supplementation. In contrast, allocation to adult body parts indicated a trade‐off between abdominal and thoracic mass among case‐removal females, suggesting that, under larval resource stress, females adjust resource allocation during metamorphosis to alleviate potential negative impacts on clutch size. In addition, latency to copulation increased when cases were removed, indicating larval resource stress could influence male mating success. 4. This study suggests that, under larval energetic stress, the negative impacts on female reproduction might be mitigated by re‐allocating resources during metamorphosis, whereas male allocation strategies might not be as flexible as female strategies.     

Development and Properties of Streptomycin Resistant Cultures of Erwinia amylovora Derived from English Isolates

Resistance to 1000 p/m, streptomycin was developed in 3 out of 16 virulent strains of Erwinia amylovora by continuous subculturing on increasing concentrations of the drug. Resistance to various antibiotics, including streptomycin, was more readily developed in strains of Erwinia herbicola . Streptomycin resistance carried on an R factor was transferred by conjugation from Escherichia coli to E. amylovora and to E. herbicola . Resistance to streptomycin was associated with attenuation or, in one case, complete loss of virulence. Doubling times of resistant cultures were greater than those of the parent culture both in shaken broth culture and (with the two attenuated cultures) in apple seedlings. The avirulent culture appeared to persist longer in vivo in the presence of the virulent culture than alone.     

A SIMPLIFIED METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF EGG YOLK MEDIA

SUMMARY: Difficulties with filtration in the preparation of egg yolk media were overcome by preparing the yolk emulsion with distilled water instead of saline. The turbidity of the final medium was related to its sodium chloride content.     

FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE BACTERIAL CONTENT OF WATER IN WATERCRESS BEDS

SUMMARY: Observations on two watercress beds in Kent have confirmed previous findings (Jones & Baker, 1955) that even in comparatively well-protected beds the coli-aerogenes content of the water may be high in summer. They have also shown that in spite of circumstances which would lead one to expect pollution, as in the case of one bed, the coli-aerogenes content can be low in winter. The season appears to influence the content in the water of coli-aerogenes bacteria, pectate liquefying bacteria and those capable of growing at 37°, but in the case of those growing at 22° other factors can play a more important part, as higher counts were not uncommon in winter. Seasonal effects were less marked with inlet samples; they were less influenced by atmospheric temperature, and little extraneous contamination occurred. Numbers increased as the sampling point moved from inlet to outlet.