Orientation and Shape Discrimination in Juveniles and Adults of the Mangrove Crab Aratus pisonii (H. Milne Edwards, 1837): Effect of Predator and Chemical Cues

Behavioral responses of juveniles and adults of the mangrove crab Aratus pisonii (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) to black geometric shapes of equal surface area was measured. Crabs were tested either in presence or absence of chemicals generated from two common predator species, the portunid crab Callinectes ornatus Ordway, and the soapfish Haemulon aurolineatum Cuvier, 1830. The present study tested the hypothesis that A. pisonii (1) has the capacity to orient to visual cues; (2) it discriminates between different visual objects based on a combination of chemical and visual information and (3) this behavior changes with age. When presented with single black targets in background water, juveniles oriented toward all shapes. This behavioral response was interpreted as visual orientation toward potential shelter. Among shapes, juveniles showed preference for the vertical rectangle, probably due to the recognition of natural visual elements like mangrove roots. In predator conditioned water, juveniles exhibited a stronger response than in background water. Thus, juveniles were able to detect by odor the potential presence of predators. Change in responsiveness between adults and juveniles was also demonstrated.     

Essential oil of Ayapana triplinervis from Reunion Island: A good natural source of thymohydroquinone dimethyl ether

Three specimens of Ayapana triplinervis (Vahl) R.M. King & H. Rob from Reunion Island (Indian Ocean) collected at two distant locations (North of the island; samples 1 and 2, South of the island; sample 3), in different growth phases (flowering; samples 1 and 3, vegetative; sample 2) were investigated for their leaf essential oil composition. This study reports the chemical character of this species on the island and investigates the relationship between essential oil composition, developmental stage and geographic location. Analysis by GC–FID and GC–MS enabled us to identify and quantify a total of 39 constituents accounting for 97.1–98.0% of the oils. The three essential oil samples, all obtained by hydrodistillation, showed a high percentage of the aromatic compound thymohydroquinone dimethyl ether (89.9–92.8%). All other minor components remained more or less unchanged both qualitatively and quantitatively with respect to the stage of growth. On the contrary, variations were observed with geographic distribution. The geographical variation of the chemical composition of the volatile oil of A. triplinervis from several sites in the world is also briefly discussed.     

Physical and chemical variability in sugarcane fields infested with the red-striped soft scale insect,Pulvinaria Tenuivalvata (Newstead)

The red-striped soft scale insect Pulvinaria tenuivalvata (Newstead) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) started to infest sugarcane plants (Saccharum officinarum L.) in different districts in Egypt during the last decade. The percentage of infestation was recorded in El-Wakf area, Qena Governorate (Naghhamadi mill zone) Upper Egypt in some fields. There are three levels of infestation, low, intermediate and high. From these fields, samples were selected for physical and chemical studies. The results obtained show that the stalks of infested plants decreased in weight, the sugar content (glucose and sucrose) drastically reduced and as the percentage of infestation increased the percentage of glucose and sucrose content significantly decreased. The primary and secondary humidity and the cellulose content also increased in the healthy plants compared to the infested ones. All the physical character of the infested plants was significantly affected in comparison with the healthy ones.     

Foraging Efficacy of a Larval Parasitoid in a Cotton Patch: Influence of Chemical Cues and Learning

Plant-herbivore chemical signals and behavioral plasticity may enhance parasitoid host-foraging efficacy in the field; however, no studies have quantified the potential benefits from these factors under field-type conditions. The effect of plant-herbivore signals and learning on the foraging efficacy of Microplitis croceipes was quantified by directly observing and recording total and sequential duration of various foraging behaviors relative to 5 randomly placed herbivore-damaged and host-infested cotton plants and 20 undamaged and non-host-infested plants. Microplitis croceipes spent significantly more time searching (flying and antennation) on host infested versus uninfested plants. Antennation time was significantly and negatively correlated with successive host stings. Contrary to expectations of increased duration, flight time remained constant throughout the foraging bout, which may indicate that there was some learning associated with flight. These results suggest that plant-herbivore chemical signals and learning enhances the foraging efficacy of M. croceipes.     

Synthesis of ABO histo-blood group type I and II antigens

The ABO histo-blood group system is one of the most clinically important antigen families. As part of our overall goal to prepare the entire set of the A, B and H type I-VI antigens for a range of biochemical investigations, we report herein the synthesis of the type I and II antigens with a 7-octen-1-yl aglycone. This linker was chosen to facilitate not only the future conjugation of the antigens to a protein or solid support but also the synthesis of the H type I and II octyl glycosides for enzyme kinetic studies.     

Somatic and Dendritic Encoding of Spatial Variables in Retrosplenial Cortex Differs during 2D Navigation

1. Download : Download high-res image (214KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Chemical and physical methods in dating human skeletal remains

Chemical and physical methods for dating skeletal remains were examined. Benzidine reaction, ultra-violet fluorescence, specific gravity and supersonic conductivity were carried out on 71 dated skeletal findings distributed over the span of the last 3,500 years. Results given by benzidine reaction and ultra-violet fluorescence basically coincide, and positive readings were obtained up to about 200–350 years. Values measured in specific gravity and supersonic conductivity testing show a parallel trend, pointing out a clear difference between samples of the three first centuries and the ones belonging to more ancient periods examined.     

Nucleic acid-like structures III. Oligomerization of 3′-deoxyadenosine 2′,5′-diphosphoimidazolide

Summary The activated dimonophosphate of 3-deoxyadenosine (cordycepin) undergoes oligomerization to produce a new family of pyrophosphate-linked oligomers in which the average repeating unit involves a nine-atom structural group. The presence of a poly(U) template increase the relative yields of higher oligomers, although the template-free reaction is itself extremely efficient.For the previous paper in this series see Schwartz et al. (1987)     

Stonefly nymphs use hydrodynamic cues to discriminate between prey

Summary Playback experiments conducted in a Rocky Mountain, USA, stream determined whether predatory stonefly nymphs (Kogotus modestus; Plecoptera: PerlodiMae) used hydrodynamic cues to discriminate prey species from nonprey species. In the laboratory we recorded pressure wave patterns associated with swimming escape behavior of Baetis bicaudatus (Baetidae), the favored mayfly prey species, and those of a nonprey mayfly, Ephemerella infrequens (Ephemerellidae). We video taped the responses of 24-h starved Kogotus to Baetis playbacks, Ephemerella playbacks or no playbacks made by oscillating (or not) live mayflies (Ephemerella) or clear plastic models placed within in situ flow-through observation boxes. The probability of attacks per encounter with Baetis playbacks was highest and independent of the model type used, but Kogotus also showed an unexpected high probability of attacks per encounter when Ephemerella playbacks were made through live Ephemerella. Thus, Kogotus discriminated between Baetis and Ephemerella swimming patterns but only when playbacks were made through the plastic model. Kogotus never attacked motionless mayflies or motionless plastic models. We allowed some Kogotus to successfully capture one small Baetis immediately before playbacks, which resulted in a much higher probability of attacks per encounter with Baetis playbacks on either model and a heightened discrimination of prey versus nonprey playbacks. The probability of attacks per encounter by Kogotus with live Baetis swimming under similar experimental conditions was strikingly similar to its response to Baetis playbacks made by oscillating the plastic model after a successful capture. Order of playback presentation (Baetis first or Ephemerella first) did not influence predatory responses to mayfly swimming patterns. This study is the first to document the use of hydrodynamic cues by stream-dwelling predators for discrimination of prey from nonprey and provides a mechanism to explain selective predation by stoneflies on Baetis in nature.