Extra-pair paternity in the strongly monogamous Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans has no apparent benefits for females

Although 92% of avian species are socially monogamous, extra-pair copulation (EPC), resulting in extra-pair paternity (EPP), is a common reproductive strategy in birds. Among seabirds, in which the rate of social monogamy reaches 100%, Procellariiformes (albatrosses and petrels) show low EPP rates, with the noticeable exception of the only albatross investigated in this regard, the Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata . This species, in which forced copulations are known to occur, showed a surprisingly high rate of EPP (25% of chicks). We investigate here EPP rates in another albatross species, the Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans , subject to a demographic survey conducted for 38 years. We combined data on pair bonds with analysis of ten microsatellite loci and found that 10.7% of 75 chicks had an extra-pair sire. Although there was some evidence for inbreeding avoidance, within-pair and extra-pair chicks showed similar levels of heterozygosity, and the incidence of EPP was independent of age, experience or past reproductive success. Hence, we found no evidence that females benefit from EPCs. Owing to the male-biased sex ratio in adults, widowed and divorced males required more time to find a new mate (+28 and +72%, respectively) than did females. Combined with high sexual size dimorphism, this phenomenon might promote the forced copulations observed in this species. Our data therefore suggest that EPC is beneficial to unpaired males but occurs at random in females, consistent with the hypothesis that EPP results solely from forced EPCs. However, the importance of the latter for EPP and the part played by solitary males require further investigation.     

RICIN-BINDING PROTEINS ALONG THE ENDOCYTIC PATHWAY: THE MAJOR ENDOSOMAL RICIN-BINDING PROTEIN IS ENDOSOME-SPECIFIC

Ricin is internalized after binding at the cell surface via lectin activity of the B-chain recognizing terminal galactose residues. Ricin-A chain is then translocated to the cytosol from various endocytic structures. Cell death is the result of catalytic inactivation of protein synthesis. Using ¹²⁵I-ricin overlays, we examined the distribution of ricin binding-proteins within highly purified preparations of plasma membrane vesicles, endosomes and lysosomes from lymphocytes. All compartments of the endocytic pathway had distinct profiles; some ricin-binding proteins were present throughout the pathway; others were restricted to the plasma membrane and endosomes. The major endosomal protein recognized by ¹²⁵I-ricin, a 166kDa glycoprotein, was endosome-specific. When endosomal proteins were solubilized before chromatography onto ricin-agarose this protein was also by far the major specifically-bound glycoprotein. This 166 kDa glycoprotein might be involved in ricin translocation from this compartment.     

Molecular phylogeny of the genus Philodendron (Araceae): delimitation and infrageneric classification

The genus Philodendron (Araceae) is a large neotropical group whose classification remains unclear. Previous classifications are based on morphological characters, mainly from the inflorescence, flower and leaf shape. The classification by Krause, with few modifications, is still the most commonly used system. To examine phylogenetic relationships in the genus, two ribosomal DNA nuclear markers, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and external transcribed spacer (ETS), and the chloroplast intron rpl 16, were sequenced and analysed for more than 80 species of Philodendron and its close relative Homalomena . According to the resulting phylogeny, the genus Homalomena may be paraphyletic to the genus Philodendron . The inclusion of the American Homalomena species within the genus Philodendron might resolve this taxonomic problem. All three subgenera of Philodendron were revealed as monophyletic. Below the subgeneric level, the groups obtained in our phylogeny globally correspond to sections recognized in previous classifications. Among the morphological characters used by previous taxonomists to build their classifications, and which we optimized onto one of the most parsimonious trees, most characters were found to be homoplasious. However, leaf shape, characteristics of the sterile zone on the spadix and venation patterns are useful for delimiting subgenera and sections within the genus.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 13–27.     

Outbreaks, gene flow and effective population size in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria: a regional-scale comparative survey

The potential effect of population outbreaks on within and between genetic variation of populations in pest species has rarely been assessed. In this study, we compare patterns of genetic variation in different sets of historically frequently outbreaking and rarely outbreaking populations of an agricultural pest of major importance, the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria . We analyse genetic variation within and between 24 populations at 14 microsatellites in Western Europe, where only ancient and low-intensity outbreaks have been reported (non-outbreaking populations), and in Madagascar and Northern China, where frequent and intense outbreak events have been recorded over the last century (outbreaking populations). Our comparative survey shows that (i) the long-term effective population size is similar in outbreaking and non-outbreaking populations, as evidenced by similar estimates of genetic diversity, and (ii) gene flow is substantially larger among outbreaking populations than among non-outbreaking populations, as evidenced by a fourfold to 30-fold difference in F _ST values. We discuss the implications for population dynamics and the consequences for management strategies of the observed patterns of genetic variation in L. migratoria populations with contrasting historical outbreak frequency and extent.     

Life history and phenology of the eucalyptus psyllid, Ctenarytaina eucalypti in Ireland

During the early 1990s, the eucalyptus psyllid, Ctenarytaina eucalypti Maskell, was accidentally introduced into Ireland and began to threaten economically a newly developing ornamental foliage production industry based in the south west. The life cycle of the psyllid was studied at three field sites in Co. Kerry. The psyllid exhibited a complex seasonal population dynamic suggesting that two, largely overlapping population cohorts over‐winter as eggs and nymphs, respectively, in a state of reduced development or temporary dormancy. The duration of this dormancy is short. Evidence of a resumption of activity was monitored at all sites in early February with increasing adult numbers and renewed egg laying being seen before any significant rise in temperatures. This strongly suggests that retarded development, and resumption of psyllid activity in early spring, are at least partially consequences of the changing nutritional quality of the food plant, probably mediated by changing day length. As a consequence of seasonally inhibited development, individual egg and nymphal over‐wintering cohorts probably alternate in the completion of two or three generations per growing season. Analysis of psyllid numbers on shoot samples showed that greater population densities were found on shoots at the top of the food plant compared with lower‐placed shoots. Evidence was also found that the distribution of nymphal instars changed seasonally, probably in response to population density and increased competition for preferred feeding sites. Overall psyllid abundance, and the finer details of seasonal population dynamics, varied between plantations. In the absence of effective predation or parasitism by indigenous natural enemies, these differences were also likely to be due to variation in nutritional quality of the host plant and may be influenced by crop husbandry factors such as the timing and severity of crop pruning.     

Release and establishment of a biological control agent, Psyllaephagus pilosus for eucalyptus psyllid (Ctenarytaina eucalypti) in Ireland

An Australian parasitoid wasp, Psyllaephagus pilosus, was collected from a previous release site in France and introduced into a commercial eucalyptus foliage plantation in Co. Kerry in the south west of Ireland to control the eucalyptus (blue gum) psyllid Ctenarytaina eucalypti. The first parasitised psyllid nymphs were observed 26 days after the release was made in late May 1998, and 49 days elapsed before a new generation of adult parasitoids was seen. Visually assessed indices of psyllid parasitism and adult wasp incidence were used to quantify the pattern of adult dispersion and establishment. A second generation of adult wasps emerged in late August, initiating a rapid spread of parasitism throughout the release site during September that culminated in a peak rate of almost 100% parasitism by late October. Subsequently by the end of 1998, an apparently random process of dispersion and successful natural colonisation occurred at eight out of ten monitored plantations at distances up to 70 km from the release point. The first colonisers of the other two sites arrived very late in 1998, and consequently failed to establish viable populations by the following summer. Probably this failure was because the small numbers of colonisers had arrived too late in the growing season to effect population establishment before the onset of winter. Assisted introductions were, therefore, made at these sites in June and August 1999, respectively. Once fully established, the parasitoid had no difficulty in surviving winter conditions at all monitored sites and demonstrated excellent potential as a biological control agent.