The impact of tick parasites on the behaviour of the lizard Tiliqua rugosa

Populations of the Australian sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugosa, near Mt. Mary, South Australia carry natural infestations of two tick species Aponomma hydrosauri and Amblyomma limbatum. In field experiments at two sites, 18 km apart, lizards with experimentally increased tick loads had smaller home ranges, moved shorter distances in a day, and were found basking more but moving less often than lizards from which ticks were experimentally removed. The results were consistent for adult lizards in two years, and for sub-adults in a third year. Laboratory trials showed that juvenile lizards that had tick infestations had lower sprint speeds than uninfested siblings, and that adults with tick infestations had less endurance than those that were uninfested. The results contrast with those of a previous survey that showed that lizards with high tick loads had greater body size and remained longer at a site, but indicate that there may be a balance, for lizards, between the fitness advantages in occupying habitats with high-quality resources, and the costs from parasites that also prefer those habitats. Received: 02 March 1999 / Accepted: 07 October 1999     

Developmental delays in exploration and locomotor activity in male rats exposed to low level lead

Delays in the development of exploratory and locomotor behavior in neonatal male rats (up to 21 days of age) are shown to accrue as a consequence of low level lead exposure. Cross fostering experiments indicate that these delays are primarily due to prenatal exposure. These Pb induced behavioral modifications appear to be associated with the delays in synaptogenesis and biochemical development of the cerebral cortex reported previously (4, 18). A new behavioral bioassay for detecting delays in brain development is described.     

Effect of tween 80 on exploratory behavior and locomotor activity in rats

Exploratory behavior and locomotor activity is enhanced in male rat pups (aged 10 to 20 days) whose dams received a chronic dose (1.25 ml/l) of Tween 80 via their drinking water. This enhancement manifests itself during the diurnal period of the day. These data suggest that Tween 80 has an effect on the CNS which could lead to misinterpretation of results in toxicology studies that use this compound as a dosage vehicle.     

A Study in Neo‐conservative Populism: Richard Trudgen's Why Warriors Lie Down and Die

First appearing in 2000, and with 20,000 copies sold as it entered its sixth printing in 2004, Richard Trudgen's Why Warriors Lie down and Die is a minor publishing phenomenon. Although scholarly forums have generally ignored the book, Christian media outlets, the popular press and neo‐conservative political activists have enthusiastically received and promoted it. An examination of the merits of Why Warriors Lie down and Die suggests that its popularity is only partly explained by original observations or insights on the part of the author. The most important explanation, and implication, of the book's remarkable take‐up lies in the opportune way in which it corresponds with now ascendant neo‐conservative political perspectives on indigenous policy.     

The Redox Biochemistry of Protein Sulfenylation and Sulfinylation

Controlled generation of reactive oxygen species orchestrates numerous physiological signaling events (Finkel, T. (2011) Signal transduction by reactive oxygen species. J. Cell Biol. 194, 7–15). A major cellular target of reactive oxygen species is the thiol side chain (RSH) of Cys, which may assume a wide range of oxidation states (i.e. −2 to +4). Within this context, Cys sulfenic (Cys-SOH) and sulfinic (Cys-SO₂H) acids have emerged as important mechanisms for regulation of protein function. Although this area has been under investigation for over a decade, the scope and biological role of sulfenic/sulfinic acid modifications have been recently expanded with the introduction of new tools for monitoring cysteine oxidation in vitro and directly in cells. This minireview discusses selected recent examples of protein sulfenylation and sulfinylation from the literature, highlighting the role of these post-translational modifications in cell signaling.     

Latitudinal variation in population structure of wintering Pacific Black Brant

ABSTRACT.   Latitudinal variation in population structure during the winter has been reported in many migratory birds, but has been documented in few species of waterfowl. Variation in environmental and social conditions at wintering sites can potentially influence the population dynamics of differential migrants. We examined latitudinal variation in sex and age classes of wintering Pacific Black Brant ( Branta bernicla nigricans ). Brant are distributed along a wide latitudinal gradient from Alaska to Mexico during the winter. Accordingly, migration distances for brant using different wintering locations are highly variable and winter settlement patterns are likely associated with a spatially variable food resource. We used resightings of brant banded in southwestern Alaska to examine sex and age ratios of birds wintering at Boundary Bay in British Columbia, and at San Quintin Bay, Ojo de Liebre Lagoon, and San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja California from 1998 to 2000. Sex ratios were similar among wintering locations for adults and were consistent with the mating strategy of geese. The distribution of juveniles varied among wintering areas, with greater proportions of juveniles observed at northern (San Quintin Bay and Ojo de Liebre Lagoon) than at southern (San Ignacio Lagoon) locations in Baja California. We suggest that age-related variation in the winter distribution of Pacific Black Brant is mediated by variation in productivity among individuals at different wintering locations and by social interactions among wintering family groups.     

Microbial transformation of 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-β,D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-α,D-galactopyranoside (TGS) by soil populations

Summary Soil microorganisms from one site were shown to be consistently capable of the transformation of 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-,d-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-,d-galactopyranoside (TGS) in laboratory batch cultures. With fresh soils, all of the available chloride ions were released from the molecule. Subcultures of a TGS-dehalogenating bacterial community produced a progressive decline in the dehalogenating capabilities towards the substrate. The soil organisms did not utilise TGS as a carbon source. The transformation was achieved by co-metabolism and was probably supported by an unknown component in the soil. Four bacterial species were isolated from the TGS-dehalogenating soil community: twoBacillus species, anAcinetobacter group isolate and aMicrococcus group isolate. Thin-layer chromatography confirmed the disappearance of the chlorosugar and high-performance liquid chromatography demonstrated that neither of the constituent monosaccharides—1,6-dichlorofructose nor 4-chlorogalactosucrose was accumulated as an intermediate.

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Resumen Microorganismos de suelo de cierto lugar demostraron consistemente ser capaces de realizar la transformación de 1,6-dicloro-1,6 dideoxi--D-fructofuranosil-4-cloro-4-deoxi-,D-alactopiranosa (TGS) in culturas de laboratorio de tipo discontinuo. Con muestras frescas de suelo, todos los iones cloruro fueron liberados de la molecula. Subculturas de una comunidad bacterial capaz de dehalogenizar TGS produjeron una declinación progresiva de la capacidad de dehalogenizar el substrato. Los microorganismos no utilizaron el TGS como fuente de carbono. La transformación se realiza por co-metabolismo y probablemente se base en un componente del suelo, no determinado. Cuatro especies bacteriales fueron aisladas de la comunidad de bacterias de suelo con capacidad de dehalogenar el TGS: dos especies deBacilo, unaAcinelobacteria y unMicrococo. Estudios de cromatografía de capa delgada confirmaron la desaparición del clorosacárido, y estadios de cromatografía liquida demostraron que ninguno de los componentes monoscáridos — 1,6-diclorofructuosa y 4-clorogalactosucrosa — eran acumulados como productors intermedios.

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Résumé Les microorganismes du sol d'un certain endroit ont été démontrés être capable, sans exception, de la transformation de 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-,D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-,D-galactopyranoside (TGS) en cultures de laboratoire du type discontinu. Avec des prélèvements frais du sol, tous les ions disponibles de chlorure ont été libérés de la molécule. Des souscultures d'une communauté bactérienne capable de déhalogeniser le TGS ont produit un déclin progressif de la capacité de déhalogeniser le substrat. Les microorganismes du sol n'ont pas utilisé le TGS comme source de carbone. La transformation s'est accomplie par cometabolisme et, probablement, s'est basée sur un component indéterminé du sol. Quatre espèces bactériennes ont été isolées de la communauté de bactéries du sol capable de déhalogeniser le TGS: deux espèces deBacillus, unAcinetobacter et unMicrococcus. Des études de chromatographie de couches fines ont confirmées la disparition du chlorosaccharide, tandis que des études de chromatographie liquide de haut rendement ont démontrées que, des monosaccharides constituants, ni 1,6-dichlorofructose ni 4-chlorogalactosucrose, n'ont été accumulés comme produits intermédiaires.