Effects of variable water motion on regeneration of Hemipholis elongata (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea)

Abstract. To determine whether increased water motion affects patterns of regeneration in the subtidal burrowing brittlestar Hemipholis elongata (phylum Echinodermata), individuals were subjected to laboratory-controlled turbulence conditions. Half of each replicate aquarium experienced oscillatory (wave-like) turbulence while the other half had no turbulence. Individual brittlestars from which arm-tips had been removed were allowed to burrow and to regenerate. Regenerated arm-tip length and weight were tested for differences between organisms in calm and turbulent conditions. Regenerated arm-tip length differed significantly between control and treatment, but arm-tip dry weight and skeleton/tissue ratio of regenerated arm-tips did not. To quantify plasticity in the skeleton, 15 morphological measurements made on the proximal face of vertebral ossicles (using scanning electron microscopy) were integrated as an index of overall ossicle size. We found a significant difference in the overall size index of the vertebral ossicles between treatments, but could not determine which of the measurements contributed most to the difference. The results indicate that regeneration in H. elongata is a complex process that can be modified by environmental conditions.     

Reproductive morphology of the male Tuatara,Sphenodon punctatus

Over the past decade, studies on reproductive morphology in the Squamata (snakes and lizards) have expanded tremendously. With the accumulation of these studies and revisions of the terminology based on structural similarities and differences, it is imperative to review the work on tuataras to determine whether the structural organization fits the revised terminology of vertebrates. We investigated the morphology of the male reproductive system in the Tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus (Rhynchocephalia), the sister taxon to the Squamata. Previous studies on the Tuatara used a nomenclature for the testicular ducts different from the current terminology for amniotes. The reproductive system in the Tuatara is consistent with reports in the Squamata. Two rete testis tubules exit the testis within a connective tissue sheath similar to that shown in other squamate species and the protherian Echidna. Each rete testis divides into multiple ductuli efferentes that fuse with the epididymis. The epididymis transitions into the ductus deferens where the sperm become more concentrated into spherical bundles. The ductus deferens enters the cloacal urodeum separately from the ureter. An ampulla ureter or ampulla urogenital papilla was not observed, which differs from previous studies of lepidosaurians. Furthermore, a sexual segment of the kidney (SSK) was not observed, consistent with previous studies on the Tuatara.     

Species co‐occurrence patterns and dietary resource competition in primates

Diamond (Assembly of species communities. In: Cody ML, Diamond JM, editors. Ecology and evolution of communities. Cambridge: Belknap. p 342–444 ( 1975 )) argued that interspecific competition between species occupying similar niches results in a nonrandom pattern of species distributions. In particular, some species pairs may never be found in the same community due to competitive exclusion. Rigorous analytical methods have been developed to investigate the possible role that interspecific competition has on the evolution of communities. Many studies that have implemented these methods have shown support for Diamond's assembly rules, yet there are numerous exceptions. We build on this previous research by examining the co‐occurrence patterns of primate species in 109 communities from across the world. We used EcoSim to calculate a checkerboard (C) score for each region. The C score provides a measure of the proportion of species pairs that do not co‐occur in a set of communities. High C scores indicate that species are nonrandomly distributed throughout a region, and interspecific competition may be driving patterns of competitive exclusion. We conducted two sets of analyses. One included all primate species per region, and the second analysis assigned each species to one of four dietary guilds: frugivores, folivores, insectivores, and frugivore‐insectivores. Using all species per region, we found significantly high C scores in 9 of 10 regions examined. For frugivores, we found significantly high‐C scores in more than 50% of regions. In contrast, only 23% of regions exhibited significantly high‐C scores for folivores. Our results suggest that communities are nonrandomly structured and may be the result of greater levels of interspecific competition between frugivores compared to folivores. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Enzymic activity of salivary amylase when bound to the surface of oral streptococci

The enzymatic activity of salivary amylase bound to the surface of several species of oral streptococci was determined by the production of acid from starch and by the degradation of maltotetraose to glucose in a coupled, spectrophotometric assay. Most strains able to bind amylase exhibited functional enzyme on their surface and produced acid from the products of amylolytic degradation. These strains were unable to utilise starch in the absence of salivary amylase. Two strains failed to produce acid from starch, despite the presence of functional salivary amylase, because they could not utilise maltose. Strains that could not bind salivary amylase failed to produce acid from starch. In no case was all the bound salivary amylase active, and two strains of Streptococcus mitis which bound amylase did not exhibit any enzyme activity on their cell surface. The ability to bind amylase may confer a survival advantage on oral bacteria which inhabit hosts that consume diets containing starch.     

Physiological adaptations of an under-ice population of Pseudocalanus in Barrow Strait (N.W.T) to increasing food supply in spring

Summary Zooplankton and water samples were collected at weekly intervals between April 25 and May 30, 1986 in Barrow Strait, N.W.T. (Canadian Arctic Archipelago). In tows from 0–30 m, the zooplankton community (>202 m) was dominated by Pseudocalanus. The population was apparently growing and developing as shown by an increase in the proportion of adults (stage VI) and decreases in the proportion of stages III, IV, and V as the season progressed. Respiration and excretion rates of the Pseudocalanus populations were probably linked, there being an immediate increase in excretion rate, accompanying an increase in feeding rate when chlorophyll concentrations increased, which was followed by a smaller increase in respiration rate after a time lag. Hence, there was a large decrease in the ON ratio. Increased metabolism coincided with changes in the population structure, as did protease and bodily protein, but could not be clearly linked to dietary acclimation. Only laminarinase activity could be statistically related to an identifiable fraction of potential nutritional value in the water, particulate soluble carbohydrate, but neither showed overall seasonal change.     

Properties of the sex chromosomes of Lucilia cuprina deduced from radiation studies

From a study of radiation-induced X-chromosome deletions the locus of black body (b) has been localized to the proximal portion of C-band defined euchromatin. Radiation produced mostly X-chromosome deletions rather than point mutations, total X or Y chromosome loss through breakage, or increased frequency of non-disjunction. Aberrant sex ratios obtained indicate that the X chromosome carries vital loci that were deleted with b ⁺ in many cases. The X/O karyotype produces fertile adult females with a characteristic phenotype which is also produced by X deletions. Sex chromosome non-disjunction to give X/O females and X/X/Y males is normally rare but is enhanced by the presence of chromosome rearrangements even when the X and Y are not involved.     

The Surface Exclusion System of RP1: Investigation of the Roles of trbJ and trbK in the Surface Exclusion, Transfer, and Slow-Growth Phenotypes

The contiguous trbJ and trbK genes of RP1 were cloned individually to study their effects. Surface exclusion was conferred only by trbK and only when gene dosage was high or when trbJ was also present in cis or in trans. This suggests that in the low-copy-number RP1, surface exclusion is due to a two-gene interaction in which trbK is the dominant partner. Among surface exclusion genes, trbJ is novel in yielding a periplasmic product that is also essential for conjugal transfer. This cellular location and the disturbed membrane function that accompanies TrbJ-processing probably accounts for the retarded growth caused by trbJ⁺ clones in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO.     

Genetics and biochemistry of phenol degradation byPseudomonas sp. CF600

Pseudomonas sp. strain CF600 is an efficient degrader of phenol and methylsubstituted phenols. These compounds are degraded by the set of enzymes encoded by the plasmid locateddmpoperon. The sequences of all the fifteen structural genes required to encode the nine enzymes of the catabolic pathway have been determined and the corresponding proteins have been purified. In this review the interplay between the genetic analysis and biochemical characterisation of the catabolic pathway is emphasised. The first step in the pathway, the conversion of phenol to catechol, is catalysed by a novel multicomponent phenol hydroxylase. Here we summarise similarities of this enzyme with other multicomponent oxygenases, particularly methane monooxygenase (EC 1.14.13.25). The other enzymes encoded by the operon are those of the well-knownmeta-cleavage pathway for catechol, and include the recently discoveredmeta-pathway enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (acylating) (EC 1.2.1.10). The known properties of thesemeta-pathway enzymes, and isofunctional enzymes from other aromatic degraders, are summarised. Analysis of the sequences of the pathway proteins, many of which are unique to themeta-pathway, suggests new approaches to the study of these generally little-characterised enzymes. Furthermore, biochemical studies of some of these enzymes suggest that physical associations betweenmeta-pathway enzymes play an important role. In addition to the pathway enzymes, the specific regulator of phenol catabolism, DmpR, and its relationship to the XylR regulator of toluene and xylene catabolism is discussed.