A new species in the intermedia-group and a new synonymy in the genus Pollenia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Abstract. An intermedia species-group is defined within Pollenia Robineau-Desvoidy. P.pseudintermedia sp.n. is described from Greece, Yugoslavia and Spain and compared with its closest relative P. intermedia Macquart. P.alajensis Rodendorf, stat.rev. is established as a new senior synonym of P.sytshevskajae Grunin, syn.n.     

Identification and characterization of 17 microsatellite primers for the tick,Ixodes ricinus,using enriched genomic libraries

Ixodes ricinus is the main vector for important infectious diseases in both humans and in animals. Microsatellite loci were isolated from a dinucleotide‐enriched library made from I. ricinus sampled in Norway. Seventeen polymorphic microsatellites were further characterized among 24 individuals sampled from an island in the Oslofjord region. The number of observed alleles ranged from two to 17 and the observed heterozygosities between 0.10 and 0.83. Analysis of family materials gives evidence of non‐Mendelian inheritance of several of the characterized loci, among which most could be explained by presence of null alleles.     

Dynamic micro-geographic and temporal genetic diversity in vertebrates: the case of lake-spawning populations of brown trout (Salmo trutta)

Conservation of species should be based on knowledge of effective population sizes and understanding of how breeding tactics and selection of recruitment habitats lead to genetic structuring. In the stream‐spawning and genetically diverse brown trout, spawning and rearing areas may be restricted source habitats. Spatio–temporal genetic variability patterns were studied in brown trout occupying three lakes characterized by restricted stream habitat but high recruitment levels. This suggested non‐typical lake‐spawning, potentially representing additional spatio–temporal genetic variation in continuous habitats. Three years of sampling documented presence of young‐of‐the‐year cohorts in littoral lake areas with groundwater inflow, confirming lake‐spawning trout in all three lakes. Nine microsatellite markers assayed across 901 young‐of‐the‐year individuals indicated overall substantial genetic differentiation in space and time. Nested gene diversity analyses revealed highly significant (≤P = 0.002) differentiation on all hierarchical levels, represented by regional lakes (F_LT = 0.281), stream vs. lake habitat within regional lakes (F_HL = 0.045), sample site within habitats (F_SH = 0.010), and cohorts within sample sites (F_CS = 0.016). Genetic structuring was, however, different among lakes. It was more pronounced in a natural lake, which exhibited temporally stable structuring both between two lake‐spawning populations and between lake‐ and stream spawners. Hence, it is demonstrated that lake‐spawning brown trout form genetically distinct populations and may significantly contribute to genetic diversity. In another lake, differentiation was substantial between stream‐ and lake‐spawning populations but not within habitat. In the third lake, there was less apparent spatial or temporal genetic structuring. Calculation of effective population sizes suggested small spawning populations in general, both within streams and lakes, and indicates that the presence of lake‐spawning populations tended to reduce genetic drift in the total (meta‐) population of the lake.     

Colonization of novel White Sands habitat is associated with changes in lizard anti‐predator behaviour

Colonization of novel habitats is often associated with differences in ecological community composition. For small diurnal animals, differences in predator diversity and abundance can lead to behavioural shifts in the novel habitat. The eastern fence lizard Sceloporus undulatus (Bosc and Daudin, 1801) recently colonized the gypsum dunes of White Sands, a predator‐poor community relative to the predator‐rich community of the surrounding Chihuahuan dark‐soil habitat. We used field experiments to assess S. undulatus anti‐predator behaviour in white‐sand versus dark‐soil habitats, and used laboratory assays to determine whether behavioural differences could be mediated by hormonal regulation. Overall, we found that white‐sand lizards were less vigilant but more wary than their dark‐soil counterparts; it took them longer to detect a simulated predator, but once detected they were more likely to retreat from their perches than dark‐soil lizards. At the proximate level, differences in anti‐predator behaviour could not be explained by differences in plasma hormone levels (corticosterone and testosterone); we detected elevated corticosterone for lizards in our stress treatment relative to control treatment, but found no differences between habitats in baseline or acute corticosterone levels. At the evolutionary level, we suggest that differences in anti‐predator behaviour may be explained by differences across habitats in predation environment, habituation, and/or the cost of retreating. Our study implicates changes in predator community composition in mediating ecological divergence in behaviour. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 103 , 657–667.     

The taxonomy of the Pollenia rudis species-group in the Holarctic Region (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Abstract. A rudis species-group is defined within Pollenia Robineau-Desvoidy, and new characters found useful in the taxonomy of this genus are presented. P.rudis (Fabricius), P.angustigena Wainwright, stat.rev. and P.pseudorudis Rognes are redescribed. P.hungarica sp.n., P.longitheca sp.n. and P.luteovillosa sp.n. are described as new to science. A key is provided, and the terminalia of both sexes are illustrated for all the species. Some features of the puparia are figured for the species where these are known. A neotype is designated for Musca rudis , and a lectotype for P.angustigena. P.angustigena, P.pseudorudis and P.rudis are Holarctic species, and the latter two have also been found in New Zealand. The remaining species are confined to the western Palaearctic. P.hungarica is known from central Europe, including southern parts of Scandinavia, P.longitheca from the eastern Mediterranean, and P.luteovillosa from Algeria and Morocco in North Africa. In the larval stages P. rudis group members are parasites of or predators on earthworms. The species have several generations each year, and normally overwinter as adults. Eisenia rosea (Savigny) serves as a host for P.hungarica, P.pseudorudis and P.rudis according to the reared material available. A previous detailed account of the immature stages and life-cycle of lsquo;rudis' from North America is tentatively assigned to pseudorudis. Keilin's (1909,1915) often cited accounts of the immature stages and life-cycle of a species called 'rudis' are rejected as a source of information for any member of the rudis group.     

Effect of Irradiance on Chlorophyll Estimation with the Minolta SPAD-502 Leaf Chlorophyll Meter

Leaf chlorophyll content may be used as an indirect indicatorof crop nitrogen status. Chlorophyll meter values (SPAD values)taken with the Minolta SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter in the shadeplantOxalis acetosellaL. and in winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.)varied by 15 and 8%, respectively, with variation in irradiance.The lowest SPAD-values were measured at high irradiance. Duringa natural night-day-night cycle SPAD values for winter wheatwere lowest in the middle of the day, highest at low irradianceat dusk and dawn and intermediate in darkness before dawn andafter dusk. The results indicate that irradiance during measurementshould be considered when using the Minolta SPAD-502 chlorophyllmeter for the estimation of crop N-status.Copyright 1998 Annalsof Botany Company Chlorophyll meter, nitrogen, irradiance,Oxalis acetosellaL.,Triticum aestivumL., winter wheat.     

Histological changes during maturation in male and female cones of the cycad Zamia furfuracea and their significance in relation to pollination biology

The cycad Zamia furfuracea L.Fil. Is pollinated by a curculionid beetle, Rhopalotria mollis Sharp which completes its life cycle in male cones of the cycad, and effectively pollinates female coneS. Idioblasts within parenchyma in both male and female cones appear to contain toxic compounds, including at least one neurotoxin, 2-amino-3-(methylamino) propanoic acid (BMAA), and a toxic glycoside, methylazoxymethanol-/!-primeveroside (macrozamin). Idioblasts appear structurally unmodified in male cones throughout the period of pollen maturation, and feeding weevils consume much of the starch-rich microsporophyll parenchyma tissue, including idioblastS. During this activity no appreciable change in morphology or staining reactions of male-cone idioblasts is detectable. Prior to pollen receptivity, female-cone idioblasts resemble those of male cones. Thereafter, many female-cone idioblasts show marked changes in morphology and content not caused by the weevils themselveS. Idioblast changes in female cones are probably associated with the defence of female-cone resources against predation by animals, including pollinating weevils, and may relate to mobilization of toxinS. Absence of similar morphological changes in male-cone idioblasts is correlated with toxin sequestration, enabling the pollinator to breed and feed without intoxication.     

The Geotropic Curvature in Roots of Norway Spruce (Picea abies) Containing Anthocyanins

Seedlings of Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) have been found to synthesize anthocyanins in the root tips as well as in the hypocotyls upon irradiation with white light when kept at 4°C for 6–8 days. In addition, it has also been found that the elongation and the geotropic curvature of spruce roots are dependent on the light conditions. The course of the geotropic curvature in spruce roots containing anthocyanins has been followed during a period of 5 h, in which the seedlings were geotropically stimulated continuously in the horizontal position. When the stimulation was performed in white light and in darkness at 21°C, significantly larger curvatures were observed in the roots pretreated at 4°C in darkness than in the roots containing anthocyanins. The specific curvature (curvature in degrees per mm elongation), however, was approximately the same in both types of roots stimulated in white light. This was due to a retarded elongation of the roots pretreated with light at 4°C and containing anthocyanins. A smaller difference in elongation rate between roots with and without anthocyanins was observed in the dark than in the light, but even in the dark the anthocyanin-containing roots grew more slowly than roots without anthocyanins. In order to find out if it is the anthocyanin content or the illumination which affects the elongation and geotropic curvature in the roots, a series of similar experiments was performed using cress seedlings grown at 4°C in light or darkness. Roots of cress seedlings cultivated under conditions which would induce anthocyanin formation in spruce roots exhibited the highest geotropic responses both in light and darkness as compared to cress seedlings grown at 4°C in darkness. As in the case of spruce roots an increase in elongation was observed in cress roots illuminated during the geotropic stimulation. These similarities in the behaviour made it relevant to compare the development of the geotropic curvature in cress and spruce roots.     

Transport and Degradation of Auxin in Relation to Geotropism in Roots of Phaseolus vulgaris

The movement of auxin in Phaseolus vulgaris roots has been examined after injection of IAA^?3H into the basal root/hypocotyl region of intact, dark-grown seedlings. Only a portion of the applied IAA^?3H was transported unchanged to the root tip. The major part of the chromatographed, labelled compounds translocated to the roots was indole-3-acetylaspartic acid (IAAsp) and an unidentified compound running near the front in isopropanol, ammonia, water. The velocity of the auxin transport (7.2 mm per hour) was calculated from scintillation countings of methanol extracts from serial sections of the root. An accumulation of radioactive compounds in the extreme root tip, was observed 5 h after the injection of IAA. The influence of exogenous IAA on the geotropical behaviour of the bean seedling roots was examined. Pretreated roots were stimulated for 5 min in the horizontal position and then rotated parallel to the horizontal axis of the klinostat for 60 or 90 min. The resulting geotropic curvature of IAA-injected and control roots showed significantly different patterns of development. When the stimulation was started 5 h after application of the auxin, the geotropic curvature became larger in roots of the injected plants than in the controls. If, however, the translocation period was extended to 20 h the geotropic curvature was significantly smaller in the roots of the injected plants. The auxin injection did not significally affect the rate of root elongation. The change in geotropical behaviour of the roots is interpreted as a result of the influence of the conversion products of the applied IAA on the geotropical responsiveness.