High Connectivity in Rastrelliger kanagurta: Influence of Historical Signatures and Migratory Behaviour Inferred from mtDNA Cytochrome b

Phylogeographic patterns and population structure of the pelagic Indian mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurta were examined in 23 populations collected from the Indonesian-Malaysian Archipelago (IMA) and the West Indian Ocean (WIO). Despite the vast expanse of the IMA and neighbouring seas, no evidence for geographical structure was evident. An indication that R. kanagurta populations across this region are essentially panmictic. This study also revealed that historical isolation was insufficient for R. kanagurta to attain migration drift equilibrium. Two distinct subpopulations were detected between the WIO and the IMA (and adjacent populations); interpopulation genetic variation was high. A plausible explanation for the genetic differentiation observed between the IMA and WIO regions suggest historical isolation as a result of fluctuations in sea levels during the late Pleistocene. This occurrence resulted in the evolution of a phylogeographic break for this species to the north of the Andaman Sea.     

Decaploidy in Fragaria iturupensis (Rosaceae)

The strawberry genus, Fragaria (Rosaceae), has a base chromosome number of x = 7. Cultivated strawberries (F. ×ananassa nothosubsp. ananassa) are octoploid (2n = 8x = 56) and first hybridized from F. chiloensis subsp. chiloensis forma chiloensis × F. virginiana subsp. virginiana. Europe has no known native octoploid species, and only one Asian octoploid species has been reported: F. iturupensis, from Iturup Island. Our objective was to examine the chromosomes of F. iturupensis. Ploidy levels of wild strawberry species, include diploid (2n = 2x = 14), tetraploid (2n = 4x = 28), pentaploid (2n = 5x = 35), hexaploid (2n = 6x = 42), octoploid (2n = 8x = 56), and nonaploid (2n = 9x = 63). Artificial triploid (2n = 3x = 21), tetraploid, pentaploid, octoploid, decaploid (2n = 10x = 70), 16-ploid, and 32-ploid plants have been constructed and cultivated. Surprisingly, chromosome counts and flow cytometry revealed that F. iturupensis includes natural decaploid genotypes with 2n = 10x = 70 chromosomes. This report is the first of a naturally occurring decaploid strawberry species. Further research on F. iturupensis and exploration on northern Pacific islands is warranted to ascertain the phylogeny and development of American octoploid species.     

Nonlinear dynamical model and response of avian cranial kinesis

All modern birds have kinetic skulls in which the upper bill can move relative to the braincase, but the biomechanics and motion dynamics of cranial kinesis in birds are poorly understood. In this paper, we model the dynamics of avian cranial kinesis, such as prokinesis and proximal rhynchokinesis in which the upper jaw pivots around the nasal-frontal (N-F) hinge. The purpose of this paper is to present to the biological community an approach that demonstrates the application of sophisticated predictive mathematical modeling tools to avian kinesis. The generality of the method, however, is applicable to the advanced study of the biomechanics of other skeletal systems. The paper begins with a review of the relevant biological literature as well as the essential morphology of avian kinesis, especially the mechanical coupling of the upper and lower jaw by the postorbital ligament. A planar model of the described bird jaw morphology is then developed that maintains the closed kinematic topology of the avian jaw mechanism. We then develop the full nonlinear equations of motion with the assumption that the M. protractor pterygoideus and M. depressor mandibulae act on the quadrate as a pure torque, and the nasal frontal hinge is elastic with damping. The mechanism is shown to be a single degree of freedom device due to the holonomic constraints present in the quadrate-jugal bar-upper jaw-braincase-quadrate kinematic chain as well as the quadrate-lower jaw-postorbital ligament-braincase-quadrate kinematic chain. The full equations are verified via simulation and animation using the parameters of a Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea). Next we develop a simplified analytical model of the equations by power series expansion. We demonstrate that this model reproduces the dynamics of the full model to a high degree of fidelity. We proceed to use the harmonic balance technique to develop the frequency response characteristics of the jaw mechanism. It is shown that this avian cranial kinesis model exhibits the characteristics of a hardening Duffing oscillator. Beyond the identification of the characteristics of the underlying dynamics, which provides insight into the behavior of the system, the model and methodology presented here provides other potential benefits. A framework has been developed that could be utilized to study the biomechanics of feeding and bite force as well the effects of cranial kinesis on the frequency and modulation of bird songs.     

Degradation of 2-deoxyaldoses by alkaline hydrogen peroxide

Reaction of 2-deoxy-D-arabino-hexose, 2-deoxy-D-lyxo-hexose, and 2-deoxy-D-erythro-pentose with alkaline hydrogen peroxide in the presence of magnesium hydroxide afforded the corresponding 2-deoxyaldonic acid, the 1,4-lactone, and the 1-O-formyl derivative of the next lower alditol. The 2-deoxyaldonic acids were separated in 60–80% yields, as new, crystalline lithium salts. The 1,4-lactones were obtained under conditions that precluded intermidiate formation of the free acids: presumably, the reaction proceeded by way of an intermediate, furanosyl hydroperoxide, which was converted into the lactone by elimination of water. With an excess of alkaline hydrogen peroxide, in the absence of magnesium hydroxide, the substrates were degraded to formic acid, with concurrent decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. It is shown that decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is catalyzed by hydroperoxide anion, and that it takes place by both a chain, and a non-chain, process. The decomposition reactions afford an abundant source of hydroxyl radical capable of oxidizing a wide variety of compounds.