Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the Hawaiian flycatcher,the elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis)

Thirteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from two clades of an endemic Hawaiian flycatcher, the elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis). Seven dinucleotide repeats and one trinucleotide repeat were cloned from Kauai elepaio; five dinucleotide repeats were cloned from Oahu elepaio. Polymorphism was assessed in a sample of Oahu elepaio (n = 22) revealing two to 16 alleles per locus. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.14 to 0.91. However, linkage analysis exposed highly significant linkage disequilibrium between two of the most polymorphic loci. Twelve loci are therefore expected to be useful for investigations of population structure.     

Competitive saprophytic colonization of wheat straw

Using the ‘Cambridge method’, the effect of temperature on the colonization of wheat straw by Fusarium culmorum, Gibberella zeae, Cochliobolus sativus and C. spicifer was studied. Within the range 10–30 °C, saprophytic colonization by the four fungi was favoured by lower temperatures. This could not be attributed to the effect of temperature on the growth of the fungi in pure culture, but was probably caused by increased antagonism at higher temperatures from the general soil microflora. Contrary to previous indications, C. sativus strongly colonized straw under suitable environmental conditions.     

The contribution of fog to the water relations of Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don): foliar uptake and prevention of dehydration

Fog is a defining feature of the coastal California redwood forest and fog inputs via canopy drip in summer can constitute 30% or more of the total water input each year. A great deal of occult precipitation (fog and light rain) is retained in redwood canopies, which have some of the largest leaf area indices known (Westman & Whittaker, Journal of Ecology 63, 493–520, 1975). An investigation was carried out to determine whether some fraction of intercepted fog water might be directly absorbed through leaf surfaces and if so, the importance of this to the water relations physiology of coast redwood, Sequoia sempervirens. An array of complimentary techniques were adopted to demonstrate that fog is absorbed directly by S. sempervirens foliage. Xylem sap transport reversed direction during heavy fog, with instantaneous flow rates in the direction of the soil peaking at approximately 5–7% of maximum transpiration rate. Isotopic analyses showed that up to 6% of a leaf's water content could be traced to a previous night's fog deposition, but this amount varied considerably depending on the age and water status of the leaves. Old leaves, which appear most able to absorb fog water were able to absorb distilled water when fully submersed at an average rate of 0.90 mmol m² s^?1, or about 80% of transpiration rates measured at the leaf level in the field. Sequoia sempervirens has poor stomatal control in response to a drying atmosphere, with rates of water loss on very dry nights up to 40% of midday summer values and rates above 10% being extremely common. Owing to this profligate water use behaviour of S. sempervirens, it appears that fog has a greater role in suppressing water loss from leaves, and thereby ameliorating daily water stress, than in providing supplemental water to foliar tissues per se. Although direct foliar absorption from fog inputs represents only a small fraction of the water used each day, fog's in reducing transpiration and rehydrating leaf tissues during the most active growth periods in summer may allow for greater seasonal carbon fixation and thus contribute to the very fast growth rates and great size of this species.     

The Development of Protein Bodies in the Storage Tissues1

Homogenates of the developing endosperms of maize, wheat, andbarley and of developing cotyledons of peas have been separatedon sucrose density gradients. Protein bodies have been recognizedby their content of storage proteins, their density, and theirappearance under the electron microscope. The distribution ofthe endoplasmic reticulum was followed by measuring NADH-cytochromec reductase. Glutamate dehydrogenase, catalase, and triose phosphatedehydrogenase—respectively marker enzymes for mitochondria,microbodies, and plastids—were also present in the gradients.Differences were found between the different species with respectto the association between the endoplasmic reticulum and thestorage proteins. There was no evidence for any vacuolar markerenzymes associated with the cereal protein bodies. The proteinbodies of wheat and barley appear to be similar to each otherbut differ from maize in that the latter have much more endoplasmicreticulum associated with them. In contrast the protein bodiesof peas co-sediment with vacuolar marker enzymes.     

The use of agricultural, open and forest habitats by juvenile Mauritius Kestrels Falco punctatus

Knowledge of tropical raptor habitat use is limited and yet a thorough understanding is vital when trying to conserve endangered species. We used a well studied, reintroduced population of the vulnerable Mauritius Kestrel Falco punctatus to investigate habitat preferences in a modified landscape. We constructed a high resolution digital habitat map and radiotracked 13 juvenile Kestrels to quantify habitat preferences. We distinguished seven habitat types in our study area and tracked Kestrels from 71 to 130 days old during which they dispersed from their natal territory and settled within a home‐range after reaching independence. Mean home‐range size was 0.95 km² characterized by a bimodal pattern of intensity around the natal site and post‐independence home‐range. Compositional analysis showed that home‐ranges were located non‐randomly with respect to habitat but there was no evidence to suggest differential use of habitats within home‐ranges. Native and semi‐invaded forest and grassland were consistently preferred, whereas agriculture was used significantly less than other habitats. No difference was found between the available length of edge dividing native forest and grassland within a home‐range when compared to that available within a 2.35‐km buffer around their nest‐site, based on the maximum distance a juvenile was found to disperse. Repeating the analysis in three dimensions gave very similar results. Our results suggest that Mauritius Kestrels are not obligate forest dwellers as was once thought but can also exploit open habitats such as grassland. Kestrels may be using isolated mature trees within grassland as vantage points for hunting in the same way as they use the natural stratified forest structure. We suggest that the avoidance of agriculture is partly due to a lack of such vantage points. The conservation importance of forest degradation and agricultural encroachment is highlighted and comparisons with the habitat preferences of other tropical falcons are discussed.     

Inferring past zooplanktivorous fish and macrophyte density in a shallow lake: application of a new regression tree model

1. Eutrophication has a profound effect on the biological structure and function of shallow lakes, altering the composition and abundance of submerged macrophyte and fish assemblages. Relatively little is known, however, about decadal to centennial‐scale change in these important aspects of shallow lake ecology. 2. Established palaeolimnological inference models are limited to reconstructing a single variable. As macrophyte and zooplanktivorous fish abundance exert dual and interacting controls on cladoceran assemblages a single variable inference model may contain significant error. To obviate this problem, we applied a new cladoceran‐based multivariate regression tree (MRT) model to cladoceran subfossil assemblages from dated cores from a small shallow lake (Felbrigg Lake, U.K.) to assess long‐term change in fish and submerged macrophyte abundance. Plant macrofossil, chironomid and mollusc subfossil assemblages were also analysed to track changes in biological structure and function and to evaluate the inferences of the MRT model. 3. Over the 200+ year period covered by the sediment cores, there was good agreement in the timing and nature of ecological change reflected by the plant macrofossil, mollusc, chironomid and cladoceran data. The sediment sequence was divided into three dated zones: c. 1797–1890, c. 1890–1954 and c. 1954–present. Prior to 1890 plant‐associated mollusc, cladoceran and chironomid assemblages indicated a species‐rich macrophyte community; a scenario confirmed by the plant macrofossil data. From c. 1890 to 1954 macrophyte‐associated species of all three invertebrate groups remained abundant but the proportion of pelagic cladocerans rose. Post‐1954 mollusc and chironomid assemblages changed to sediment associated detrital feeders and the proportion of pelagic cladoceran taxa increased further. 4. The cladoceran‐based MRT model indicated a long period of stability, c. 1790–1927, characterised by abundant submerged macrophytes and zooplanktivorous fish. From c. 1927 to 1980, the MRT model inferred a decline in zooplanktivorous fish density (ZF) but relative stability in August macrophyte abundance. From 1980 to 2000, an increase in zooplanktivorous fish was inferred tallying well with available data on the fish population (since the 1970s), which indicated extirpation of perch in the 1970s and a subsequent increase in the rudd population. The model inferred little change in August macrophyte abundance until post‐c. 1980 at which point it indicated a decline. The surface sediment assemblage was placed in MRT group A, where submerged plants are absent or very rare in late summer in good agreement with current conditions at the site. 5. The MRT model, applied here for the first time, appears to have successfully tracked changes in macrophyte abundance and ZF over the last 200 years at Felbrigg Lake. The inferences agreed with historical observations on the fish community and the supporting palaeolimnological data. Given that multiple structuring forces shape most biological communities, the application of a model capable of allowing for this represents a significant advance in palaeolimnology.