Crypsis in a heterogeneous environment: relationships between changeable polymorphic colour patterns and behaviour in a galaxiid fish

1. The ability to achieve optimal camouflage varies between microhabitats in heterogeneous environments, potentially restricting individuals to a single habitat or imposing a compromise on crypsis to match several habitats. However, animals may exhibit morphological and behavioural attributes that enhance crypsis in different habitats. 2. We used an undescribed fish species, Galaxias‘nebula’, to investigate two objectives. First, we examined two potential methods of enhancing crypsis: change in colour pattern and selection of a suitable background. Second, we characterised the colour pattern of this unstudied fish and assessed its capacity for crypsis. 3. No background selection was apparent but the area of dark pigment expressed varied between backgrounds, which may negate the requirement to be choosy about habitats. The capacity to change colour and selection of a background that maximises crypsis are most likely separate, non‐mutually exclusive strategies. 4. Galaxias‘nebula’ exhibits polymorphic, non‐interchangeable colour patterns that have elements of both background pattern matching and disruptive colouration. This, coupled with habitat characteristics, suggests a combination of generalist and specialist strategies of habitat use. The fish’s camouflage strategy and air‐breathing ability may be key to survival under increasing pressure from habitat degradation and invasive predators.     

Leveraging whole genome sequencing data for demographic inference with approximate Bayesian computation

Accounting for historical demographic features, such as the strength and timing of gene flow and divergence times between closely related lineages, is vital for many inferences in evolutionary biology. Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) is one method commonly used to estimate demographic parameters. However, the DNA sequences used as input for this method, often microsatellites or RADseq loci, usually represent a small fraction of the genome. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) data, on the other hand, have been used less often with ABC, and questions remain about the potential benefit of, and how to best implement, this type of data; we used pseudo‐observed data sets to explore such questions. Specifically, we addressed the potential improvements in parameter estimation accuracy that could be associated with WGS data in multiple contexts; namely, we quantified the effects of (a) more data, (b) haplotype‐based summary statistics, and (c) locus length. Compared with a hypothetical RADseq data set with 2.5 Mbp of data, using a 1 Gbp data set consisting of 100 Kbp sequences led to substantial gains in the accuracy of parameter estimates, which was mostly due to haplotype statistics and increased data. We also quantified the effects of including (a) locus‐specific recombination rates, and (b) background selection information in ABC analyses. Importantly, assuming uniform recombination or ignoring background selection had a negative effect on accuracy in many cases. Software and results from this method validation study should be useful for future demographic history analyses.     

Restriction analysis of lambda EMBL3 background recombinants: occurrence of lambda phages carrying a head to tail oriented left arm DNA sequence

Summary Eight representative recombinant background clones of λEMBL3 were analysed usingKpnI,BamHI,SalI,EcoRI andHindIII digestion. We found that λEMBL3 carries its own left arm in theBamHI cloning site. In this way, recombinant molecules were found to be generated which can grow onEscherichia coli strain NM539. In all cases analysed, the left arm DNA was inserted in a head to tail orientation. Seven clones carried a restoredBamHI site at thecos site-BamHI site connection. In the region where the inserted left arm and the right arm were ligated,BamHI cloning produces a large palindromic sequence consisting of two polylinkers. ThisBamHI site was incompletely cleaved in all cases analysed. We assume that a part of the λ DNA molecule in this region shows a cruciform structure prohibiting recognition or cleavage of this site by restriction endonucleaseBamHI.     

受白粉菌诱导大麦抗感等基因系蛋白质变化的双向电泳分析

分别对接种与否的大麦抗—感白粉病等基因系—叶期幼苗取材进行蛋白质双向电泳分析。结果表明,病原的侵入使抗—感两系在30Kd以下的低分子量区域的蛋白质发生了明显变化。接种48小时之后,抗病系在pH5.5、6.0、6.8及8.8附近出现了对照中所没有的蛋白质,而在pH6.0和8.8附近的蛋白质则较对照有减小的趋势;感病系在pH6.0附近蛋白质明显增多,在pH8.8处不仅在量上有大幅度提高,而且种类也有增加。结果还表明,抗—感系间在未接种的情况下双向电泳图谱也有差异,接种之后由于感病系在pH8.8处蛋白质的特异性合成,使抗—感两系间的差异缩小。     

Barium- and calcium-permeable channels open at negative membrane potentials in rat ventricular myocytes

Summary Ca²⁺- and Ba²⁺-permeable channel activity from adult rat ventricular myocytes, spontaneously appeared in the three single-channel recording configurations: cell-attached, and excised inside-out or outside-out membrane patches. Single-channel activity was recorded at steady-state applied membrane potentials including the entire range of physiologic values, and displayed no rundown in excised patches. This activity occurred in irregular bursts separated by quiescent periods of 5 to 20 min in cell-attached membrane patches, whereas in excised patch experiments, this period was reduced to 2 to 10 min. During activity, a variety of kinetic behaviors could be observed with more or less complex gating patterns. Three conductance levels: 22, 45 and 78 pS were routinely observed in the same excised membrane patch, sometimes combining to give a larger level. These channels were significantly permeable to divalent cations and showed little or no permeability to potassium or sodium ions. The inorganic blockers of voltage-gated Ca channels, cobalt (2mm), cadmium (0.5mm) or nickel (3mm), had no apparent effect on these spontaneous unitary currents carried by barium ions. Under 10^–5 m bay K 8644 or nitrendipine, the activity was clearly increased in about half of the tested excised inside-out membrane patches. Both dihydropyridines enhanced openings of the larger conductance level, which was only very occasionally seen under control conditions. When the single-channel activity became sustained under 5×10^–6 m Bay K 8644, it was possible to calculate the mean unitary current at different membrane potentials and show that the mean current value increased with membrane potential.     

Reductions in genetic variation inDrosophila andE. coli caused by selection at linked sites

Selection at linked sites has important consequences for the properties of neutral variation and for tests of the predictions of the neutral theory of molecular evolution. We review the theory of the effect of adaptive gene substitutions on neutral variability at linked sites (hitchhiking or selective sweeps) and discuss theoretical results on the effect of selection against deleterious alleles on variation at linked sites (background selection). InDrosophila melanogaster there is a clear relation between the frequency of recombination in a given region of the chromosome and the amount of natural variability in that region. Attempts to predict this relation have given rise to models of selective sweeps and background selection. We describe possible methods of discriminating between these models, and also discuss the probable strong influence of selective sweeps on variation in largely nonrecombining genomes, with particular reference toEscherichia coll. Finally we present some unresolved questions and possible directions for future research.     

Selection by wild birds on artificial dimorphic prey on varied backgrounds

Our aim was to test the effects of prey frequency and background composition on selection by free-ranging birds. We did three series of experiments with populations of grey and orange pastry prey scattered among coloured stones that made the prey either conspicuous or inconspicuous. Series 1 tested whether the predicted equilibrium frequency of the two prey types was influenced by the frequency of matching grey and orange stones. Birds at a single site were given a random sequence of combinations of prey frequency and stone frequency. Selection was dependent on background and the effect of prey frequency also varied with background. In series 2, we explored the frequency-independent effect of background: birds at five sites were given equal numbers of the two prey in three frequencies of matching stones and two of non-matching. There was a higher risk of predation for prey that matched rarer stones. In series 3 we attempted to measure, at a single site, the actual equilibrium prey frequencies in three different backgrounds: two extreme stone frequencies and one intermediate. Each experiment started with a population of equal numbers of grey and orange prey. After half the prey had been eaten we calculated the frequencies of the survivors and presented a new population of the original size but with the new prey frequencies; each experiment ran for 25 such 'generations'. The results suggested that at equilibrium the commoner 'morph' was the one that resembled the commoner colour of stone. Overall, our findings support the idea that visual selection can result in morph frequencies becoming related to the proportions of their matching background components and that this equilibrium will 'track' temporal or spatial changes in the background.     

西藏高原植物元素背景值的初步研究

根据西藏植物样品中化学元素的测定结果,提出了西藏高原植物中３６种元素的背景值并与全球平均值作了比较。初步研究了西藏高原植物化学元素的特点,认为本区植物有营养元素亏缺现象,营养水平较低;Ａｌ,Ｔｉ,Ｃｒ,Ｂａ的含量偏高;大多数元素含量高低与其生长地的土壤环境有关;植物地上部分元素含量较根系丰富,不同种之间的差异主要表现在营养元素上。     

运动结构背景对视觉系统神经元反应的调制作用

对蟾蜍的５６个视顶盖神经元的视觉反应进行了定量考察和分析,发现它们不仅对黑目标起反应,也对结构目标起反应．同相运动的结构背景使５３．５％的神经元的反应完全抑制,而异相运动则只有１０％的神经元完全被抑制,却有２１．６％的神经元反应增强．遮盖感受野（ＲＦ）中心区,则同相运动使某些细胞脱抑制,而异相运动使其抑制强度稍有增强．遮盖ＲＦ的外周区,几乎全部研究过的神经元对结构背景运动本身也起反应。本研究还发现,如果预先将一目标放在兴奋性感受野（ＥＲＦ）中央静止不动,并使结构背景在水平方向匀速移动较长时间后突然停止运动,则被研究过的６６个视盖神经元中有２９个发放一串脉冲,即神经元的运动后放电．各个神经细胞放电的脉冲多寡不一。若在ＥＲＦ中央不放置静止目标,仅是结构背景的水平运动不能诱发放电．此效应的出现,既与目标背景间反差符号（即目标为白色或黑色）无关,也与背景的运动方向无关。为诱发这一效应,不仅要求背景运动时间较长（至少在２０秒以上）,而且目标的面积要有足够大。     

利用荧光SSR标记鉴定茶树自然杂交后代遗传背景

为研究茶树自然杂交后代遗传背景,分析不同茶树自然杂交后代遗传差异,本研究利用24对EST-SSR标记对82个茶树自然杂交后代和34个福建主要栽培品种进行分子标记,分析了茶树自然杂交后代的亲缘关系、群体遗传多样性、亲本模拟分析。结果表明：(1)24对SSR标记共检测到157个多态性位点,平均等位位点数为6.542个,Nei’s多样性指数平均为0.588,Shannon’s 信息指数平均为1.182,平均观测杂合度和期望杂合度分别为0.577和 0.591。(2)遗传距离聚类将个供试样品划分为4类,群体1主要为‘丹桂’及其自然杂交后代;群体2主要为‘丹桂’、‘黄观音’自然杂交后代与福建省乌龙茶品种;群体3主要为‘白鸡冠’及其自然杂交后代;群体4主要为福建省绿茶品种。(3)‘丹桂’、‘白鸡冠’、‘黄观音’自然杂交后代群体与福建主要栽培品种的遗传距离分别为0.079、0.117、0.107。(4)群体1亚群b内‘丹桂’自然杂交后代模拟亲本准确率为77.8%,模拟父本主要为福建乌龙茶品种,与群体2(亚群a)的遗传相似度、遗传分化系数、基因流分别为0.899、0.043、5.480。(5)AMOVA分析结果显示,有88.52%的遗传变异来自群体内部的个体间,表明遗传变异主要发生在群体内。