Growth rate differences between resident native brook trout and non-native brown trout

Between species and across season variation in growth was examined by tagging and recapturing individual brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis and brown trout Salmo trutta across seasons in a small stream (West Brook, Massachusetts, U.S.A.). Detailed information on body size and growth are presented to (1) test whether the two species differed in growth within seasons and (2) characterize the seasonal growth patterns for two age classes of each species. Growth differed between species in nearly half of the season- and age-specific comparisons. When growth differed, non-native brown trout grew faster than native brook trout in all but one comparison. Moreover, species differences were most pronounced when overall growth was high during the spring and early summer. These growth differences resulted in size asymmetries that were sustained over the duration of the study. A literature survey also indicated that non-native salmonids typically grow faster than native salmonids when the two occur in sympatry. Taken together, these results suggest that differences in growth are not uncommon for coexisting native and non-native salmonids.     

Insulin-like growth factor-I expression during early conceptus development in the pig

Porcine conceptuses (embryo and associated membranes) in utero undergo developmental morphological transformations coincident with structural and biochemical changes in the uterine endometrium during early gestation. To elucidate a possible role for insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in these events, porcine endometrial (Days 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 30) and conceptus (Days 12, 14, and 16) tissues were characterized for the presence of IGF-I peptide and mRNAs. The corresponding uterine luminal fluids (ULF) at these stages of pregnancy were also analyzed for immunoreactive IGF-I concentration. ULF IGF-I was lowest on Day 8, highest on Day 12, and declined by Day 14. In contrast, endometrial tissue IGF-I content remained constant during this period. Conceptus tissues contained less IGF-I than endometrial tissues; however, conceptus IGF-I values were maximum on Day 12 coincident with peak values for ULF IGF-I. Dot-blot hybridization analyses revealed temporal variation in steady-state levels of IGF-I mRNAs in endometrium. Highest levels of endometrial IGF-I mRNA were detected on Day 12 and were about 4-fold greater than on Day 30 of pregnancy. IGF-I mRNA expression in conceptus tissues on Days 12, 14, and 16 was the same and was significantly less than that in endometrium on Day 12. These results demonstrate the temporal variation of IGF-I mRNA abundance in uterine endometrium and of immunoreactive IGF-I in ULF and in conceptus tissues, with the developmental processes occurring in the conceptuses at early pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Purification and kinetic properties of a membrane-bound phosphatidylinositol kinase of the bovine adrenal medulla

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) kinase (EC 2.7.1.67), an integral membrane protein of chromaffin granule ghosts of the bovine adrenal medulla, was found to phosphorylate PI in the 4-position of the inositol ring. The PI kinase was purified about 200-fold from a membrane fraction containing chromaffin granules and microsomes by extraction with Triton X-114, followed by phase partition (clouding) and heparin Sepharose chromatography. The PI kinase preparation (specific activity of 5.1 nmol PIP/mg protein per min) was free from other enzymatic activities that metabolize polyphosphoinositides. Km values of 55 microM and 40 microM for ATP and PI, respectively, were estimated for the purified enzyme. Concentrations of Triton X-100 above the critical micellar concentration (0.01%, w/v) were necessary to support significant enzyme activity, which was optimal at about 0.1% (w/v). Its dependence of pH was similar to that of the membrane-bound enzyme, with a broad optimum around pH 7. Mes in the millimolar concentration range was found to strongly inhibit the activity of the purified PI kinase (I50 at about 4 mM). The enzyme was almost totally inhibited by low micromolar concentrations of free calcium, and stimulated by hydrophilic cations, e.g., Mg2+ and poly(L-lysine), with the same potencies as for the membrane-bound enzyme. The amphiphilic cation trifluoperazine, however, stimulated the activity of purified PI kinase less effectively than the membrane-bound enzyme (Husebye, E.S. and Flatmark, T. (1988) Biochem. Pharmacol. 37, 449-456), whereas the inhibitory effect of near millimolar concentrations of trifluoperazine was the same for the two forms of the enzyme. It is concluded that the membrane-bound PI kinase of this tissue is of type II according to the classification of Cantley and co-workers (Whitman et al. (1987) Biochem. J. 247, 165-174).     

Tree functional traits as predictors of microburst-associated treefalls in tropical wet forests

On 19 May 2018, a microburst caused 600 isolated forest gaps in a Costa Rican tropical forest. We surveyed fallen and standing trees within gaps to determine whether certain variables are associated with treefalls. Our results highlight considerations for future research to understand the impacts of microbursts in tropical forests.     

Biodeterioration of Mayan buildings at uxmal and tulum,Mexico

Uxmal and Tulum are two important Mayan sites in the Yucatan peninsula. The buildings are mainly composed of limestone and grey/black discoloration is seen on exposed walls and copious greenish biofilms on inner walls. The principal microorganisms detected on interior walls at both Uxmal and Tulum were cyanobacteria; heterotrophic bacteria and filamentous fungi were also present. A dark‐pigmented mitosporic fungus and Bacillus cereus, both isolated from Uxmal, were shown to be acidogenic in laboratory cultures. Cyanobacteria belonging to rock‐degrading genera Synechocystis and Gloeocapsa were identified at both sites. Surface analysis previously showed that calcium ions were present in the biofilms on buildings at Uxmal and Tulum, suggesting the deposition of biosolubilized stone. Apart from their potential to degrade the substrate, the coccoid cyanobacteria supply organic nutrients for bacteria and fungi, which can produce organic acids, further increasing stone degradation.     

Seasonal temperature and precipitation regulate brook trout young‐of‐the‐year abundance and population dynamics

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PiUS (Pi uptake stimulator) is an inositol hexakisphosphate kinase

A cDNA cloned from its ability to stimulate inorganic phosphate uptake in Xenopus oocytes (phosphate uptake stimulator (PiUS)) shows significant similarity with inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase. However, the expressed PiUS protein showed no detectable activity against inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, nor the 1,3,4,5- or 3,4,5, 6-isomers of inositol tetrakisphosphate, whereas it was very active in converting inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP(6)) to inositol heptakisphosphate (InsP(7)). PiUS is a member of a family of enzymes found in many eukaryotes and we discuss the implications of this for the functions of InsP(7) and for the evolution of inositol phosphate kinases.     

Frequency and distribution patterns of zoosporic fungi from moss-covered and exposed forest soils

Uniflagellate zoosporic "fungi" (=Chytridiomycota and the zoosporic protista Hyphochytriomycota) are common inhabitants of soil. However, at what scale differences in their spatial distribution can be detected is poorly known. The first objective of this study was to assess the association of organismal distribution and frequency with two microhabitats: moss-covered and exposed forest soils, at four macroscopically similar but spatially separate sites in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains of Virginia. The second objective was to provide statistically either acceptance or denial of inferences derived from sampling regimes involving a more limited number of samples. To evaluate the scale where distributional differences may occur within a site, protocols involved four collection regimes and random point and linear transect sampling. Chytrid frequency on thalli of two moss genera was greatest in the soil surrounding and under the moss rhizoids. Random point sampling methods suggested differences in zoosporic fungal frequency between moss-covered soil and the exposed soil adjacent to mosses, as well as between two moss taxa. Linear transect sampling methods also suggested differences in zoosporic fungal frequencies between moss-covered soil and soil proximal to mosses. However, statistical analysis of random point samples using a goodness-of-fit test demonstrated that there was no significant difference in frequency of zoosporic fungi from moss-covered soil and exposed soil proximal to mosses. More importantly, there was a significant difference in the frequency of ubiquitous and common zoosporic fungal species between different moss/soil complexes. This study demonstrates that differences in chytrid distribution can be detected at a microscale while at a larger scale, similarity in frequency and distribution was found.     

Variations and Trade‐offs in Functional Traits of Tree Seedlings during Secondary Succession in a Tropical Lowland Rain Forest

The seedling stage is generally the most important bottleneck for the successful regeneration of trees in forests. The traits of seedlings, particularly biomass allocation and root traits, are more easily quantified than the traits of adults. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that seedling traits vary and trade‐off tracking the changing environment during secondary succession. We measured the major morphological traits of 27 dominant species and the major environmental factors in a chronosequence (30‐yr‐old fallow, 60‐yr‐old fallow, and old growth forest) after shifting cultivation in a tropical lowland rain forest on Hainan Island, China. The 30‐yr‐old fallow had higher light and nutrient availability, and the older forests had higher soil water content. Redundancy analysis based on species abundance and environmental factors revealed groups of seedlings that dominate in different stages of succession. Seedlings in different stages of succession had different strategies of biomass allocation for harvesting resources that varied in availability. Species characteristic of younger forest had higher allocation to roots and higher specific leaf area, while species characteristic of older forest had higher allocation to leaves. Our study suggests that the variations and trade‐offs in the major functional traits of tree seedlings among successional classes may reflect changes in environmental conditions during succession.