The aggressive behaviour of individual male polecats (Mustela putorius, M. furo and hybrids) towards familiar and unfamiliar opponents

Experiments are described which were designed to investigate the significance of individual differences in aggressiveness between polecats and the relation between the familiarity of the opponent and the pattern and outcome of fighting.
The behaviour of Mustela putorius, M. furo and hybrids between the two species was investigated in an indoor arena of 16 m².
Two kinds of fighting between male polecats were recorded, "companion fighting" between cage mates, in which biting was inhibited and neither of the opponents became intimidated and "uninhibited fighting" between unfamiliar individuals from which a winner and loser generally emerged and a rank order formed.
Individual differences in aggressiveness were assessed by means of a scoring system which statistical analysis showed, generally, to be consistent for any one individual. The rank of an animal, however, was found not to be invariably related to its aggression score.
A number of other factors influencing fighting were investigated, the earlier introduction of one individual into the arena increases its chances of winning a fight; when offered a choice, male polecats fight strangers in preference to cage mates; and the separation of a group of cage mates for as little as 48 hours induces them to behave towards one another like strangers with the result that a rank order is formed. Factors which had no apparent effect on fighting between males were the weight of the individual or the presence of females.
The attributes of familiar and unfamiliar opponents are discussed in the light of these findings.     

f-Ratio and its relationship to ambient nitrate concentration in coastal waters

The relationship between thef-ratio [NO₃^– uptake/(NO₃^–+ NH₄⁺) uptake] and ambient nitrate concentration was evaluatedfor eight data sets from coastal waters. The f-ratio increasedasymptotically with increase in nitrate concentration in mostdata sets. However, the rate at which f-ratio increased at lownitrate concentration (slope = m) and the maximum attained f-ratio(f_max) varied among regions; the initial slope varied most withvalues ranging in excess of an order of magnitude. The datawere analyzed in relation to environmental factors and methodologicalconsiderations known to influence the f-ratio. Ambient ammoniumconcentration was important in accounting for regional differencesin the f versus NO₃^– relationship. A further analysisof the data, relating f-ratio to the ratio of NO₃^–/(NO₃^–+ NH₄⁺) concentrations yielded a much more regionally consistentand approximately linear relationship; slopes varied by lessthan a factor of two in the extreme cases. Inclusion of knownalternative (aside from NH₄⁺) sources of reduced-N (e.g. urea)and correction for methodological/computational errors (isotopedilution) systematically reduce f-ratio estimates. Other factors,e.g. reduced-N uptake by microheterotrophs, may systematicallyincrease the f-ratio.     

[14C]-Glucose Metabolism during Shoot Bud Development in Cultured Cotyledon Explants of Pinus radiata

Excised cotyledons of Pinus radiata D. Don cultured under shoot-forming(plus benzyladenine) and non shoot-forming (minus benzyladenine)conditions for 10 and 21 days were fed U-[¹⁴C]-glucose for 3h in the light followed by a 3 h chase period. The labellingof individual metabolites as well as ¹⁴C incorporation intoprotein was assessed. It was found that the general metabolicpatterns were qualitatively the same in shoot-forming and nonshoot-forming conditions, however, metabolism leading to respirationas well as to the synthesis of some amino acids and proteinsynthesis was enhanced in the shoot-forming cultures. (Received February 16, 1987; Accepted July 8, 1987)     

Post-testicular change in the reptile sperm surface with particular reference to the snake, Natrix fasciata

Sperm surface changes occurring in the reptile Wolffian duct have been explored with particular references to the snake, Natrix fasciata. In the snake Wolffian duct there are several proteins not present in serum, the pattern of which changes in concert with the seasonal testicular cycle. Whereas testicular spermatozoa did not bind antibody to duct secretions, all Wolffian duct spermatozoa did so over both head and tail, according to immunofluorescence patterns. Thus, on entering the Wolffian duct, the entire surface of N. fasciata spermatozoa acquires one of more of the duct's secretory components. As indicated by immunofluorescence, immunoelectrophoresis, and immunodiffusion, epitopes on at least some molecules that bind to spermatozoa or that remain free in the duct fluid are shared with those in other Natrix species, but not in more distant reptiles (turtle, anole lizard), nor chicken, rat, or rabbit. In regard to glycoproteins, one prominent con A-reactive band was present in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of snake fluid and more were evident in fluid collected from the turtle duct. However, such lectin-reactive elements did not bind to spermatozoa as judged by an absence of any change in snake, turtle and lizard sperm lectin-binding patterns in passing from the testis into and through the Wolffian duct. In all, evidence from these and other species studied begins to suggest that the nature of the post-testicular sperm surface modification displayed in most vertebrates that fertilize internally may differ in sub-therian and therian groups, respectively. There appears to be a relative emphasis on glycosyl-rich surface elements in the latter. The possible significance of these changes for sperm function in the different groups is discussed briefly in terms of sperm survival/storage, as well as capacitation and sperm binding to the zona.