Temporal variability of top-down forces and their role in host choice evolution of phytophagous arthropods

The role of top-down forces in host choice evolution of phytophagous arthropods is the subject of a vividly animated debate. Empirical evidence for the evolutionary role of top-down forces comes from studies showing that phytophagous arthropods prefer hosts that entail enemy-free space. The aim of this paper is to draw the attention of plant–arthropod researchers to the potentially, temporally variable nature of third trophic level effects. We show that this aspect is largely neglected in studies on enemy-free space, despite the fact that relative enemy impact varies seasonally among plants in at least some studies. We conclude that rigorous testing of the enemy-free space hypothesis can only be performed when within and between season variation in higher trophic level effects is taken into account.     

Interspecific Introgression in Cetaceans: DNA Markers Reveal Post-F1 Status of a Pilot Whale

Visual species identification of cetacean strandings is difficult, especially when dead specimens are degraded and/or species are morphologically similar. The two recognised pilot whale species (Globicephala melas and Globicephala macrorhynchus) are sympatric in the North Atlantic Ocean. These species are very similar in external appearance and their morphometric characteristics partially overlap; thus visual identification is not always reliable. Genetic species identification ensures correct identification of specimens. Here we have employed one mitochondrial (D-Loop region) and eight nuclear loci (microsatellites) as genetic markers to identify six stranded pilot whales found in Galicia (Northwest Spain), one of them of ambiguous phenotype. DNA analyses yielded positive amplification of all loci and enabled species identification. Nuclear microsatellite DNA genotypes revealed mixed ancestry for one individual, identified as a post-F1 interspecific hybrid employing two different Bayesian methods. From the mitochondrial sequence the maternal species was Globicephala melas. This is the first hybrid documented between Globicephala melas and G. macrorhynchus, and the first post-F1 hybrid genetically identified between cetaceans, revealing interspecific genetic introgression in marine mammals. We propose to add nuclear loci to genetic databases for cetacean species identification in order to detect hybrid individuals.     

Ontogeny of hormone-secreting cells of the rat pituitary gland: An immunocytochemical study on dissociated cells

Summary An immunocytochemical study was undertaken in foetal, prepubertal and mature rats to determine the time of differentiation of various types of adenohypophyseal cells during development. Freshly dissociated pituitary cells from foetal (18–21 days postconception), neonatal (from birth up to 30 days) and adult rats (more than 8 weeks) were characterized using immunocytochemical methods. All types of hormone-producing cells were present at day 18 postconception, although only 20% of the cells were immunolabelled. Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)-secreting cells accounted for the highest number of hormone-positive cells. Growth hormone-secreting cells increased remarkably from day 18 postconception onwards. Prolactin-secreting cells were not seen in the foetal adenohypophysis and did not start to increase until 10 days after birth, whereas by that time the number of ACTH, thyrotropin, follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormone-secreting cells had stopped increasing. By day 30 after birth, 80–95% of the cells were immunoreactive.     

Accumulation of mansonones E and F in seedlings of Ulmus americana in response to inoculation with Ophiostoma ulmi

Summary The accumulation of mansonones E and F was investigated in Ulmus americana L. seedlings 5 weeks after inoculation with three aggressive and three non-aggressive isolates of Ophiostoma ulmi (Buism.) Nannf. The three non-aggressive isolates stimulated significantly more mansonone E and F accumulation than the three aggressive isolates of O. ulmi. Mansonone induction also varied within both the aggressive and the non-aggressive groups. Aggressive and non-aggressive isolates were recovered in equal frequencies from the inoculation wounds, whereas the aggressive isolates were recovered more frequently than the non-aggressive isolates 15 cm and 25 cm up the seedlings' stem. Vascular browning in the outer xylem of the seedlings correlated with mansonone E and F accumulation. Mansonone accumulation in U. americana seedlings is therefore associated with vascular browning and a reduction in fungal spread.     

Further resolution of the low density lipoprotein spectrum in normal human plasma: physicochemical characteristics of discrete subspecies separated by density gradient ultracentrifugation

The molecular basis of the heterogeneity of plasma low density lipoproteins (LDL, d 1.024-1.050 g/ml) was evaluated in 40 normolipidemic male subjects following fractionation by isopycnic density gradient ultracentrifugation into eight major subspecies. The mass profile of our subjects' LDL uniformly displayed single symmetric or asymmetric peaks as a function of density; the peak occurred most frequently (20 subjects) in subfraction 7 (d 1.0297-1.0327 g/ml). Several physicochemical properties (hydrodynamic behavior, electrophoretic mobility, chemical composition, size and particle heterogeneity, and apolipoprotein heterogeneity) of the LDL subfractions were examined. Hydrodynamic analyses revealed unimodal distributions and distinct peak Sf degree rates in individual subfractions. Such behavior correlated well with particle size and heterogeneity data, in which LDL subspecies were typically resolved as unique narrow bands by gradient gel electrophoresis. Subspecies with average densities of 1.024 to 1.0409 g/ml ranged from 229 to 214 A in particle diameter. LDL protein content increased in parallel with density while the proportion of triglyceride diminished; cholesteryl esters predominated, accounting for approximately 40% or more by weight. Distinct differences in net electric charge were demonstrated by electrophoresis in agarose gel, the subspecies with average density of 1.0314 g/ml displaying the lowest net negative charge. ApoB-100 was the major apoprotein in all subspecies, and constituted the unique protein component over the density interval 1.0271-1.0393 g/ml. ApoE and apo[a] were detected at densities less than 1.0271 and greater than 1.0393 g/ml. While apoE was evenly distributed within these two regions, representing up to 2% of apoLDL, the distribution of apo[a] was skewed towards the denser region, in which it amounted to 3-7% of apoLDL. ApoC-III was detectable as a trace component at densities greater than 1.0358 g/ml. Calculation of the number of molecules of each chemical component per LDL subspecies showed the presence of one copy of apoB-100 per particle, in association with decreasing amounts of cholesteryl ester, free cholesterol, and phospholipid. These data indicate that a similar overall molecular organization and structure is maintained in a unimodal distribution of LDL particle subspecies over the density range approximately 1.02 to 1.05 g/ml. In sum, our data may be interpreted to suggest that microheterogeneity in the physicochemical properties of human LDL subspecies reflects dissimilarities in their origins, intravascular metabolism, tissular fate, and possibly in their atherogenicity.     

Sugars fermented byBifidobacterium infantis ATCC 27920 in relation to growth and α-galactosidase activity

Summary The ability of Bifidobacterium infantis ATCC 27 920 to ferment glucose, galactose, lactose, melibiose and raffinose was investigated with respect to -galactosidase (-d-galactoside galactohydrolase, E.C. 3.2.1.22). The sugars were tested at three concentrations: 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%. The growth of B. infantis was slower on glucose compared with the other sugars. The highest specific growth rate was observed on melibiose followed by lactose. High cell numbers could be rapidly obtained on galactose-containing sugars. For each carbohydrate, enzyme activity was maximal at the end of the exponential phase and the highest specific -galactosidase activities were recorded on the two -1,6 galactosaccharides (melibiose and raffinose: 3.0 and 4.5 nkat · 10⁹ colony-forming units, respectively).Contribution no. 186 from the Food Research and Development Centre Offprint requests to: D. Roy     

A revised polytomous key for the identification of species of the genus Xiphinema Cobb, 1913 (Nematoda: Longidoridae) with exclusion of the X. americanum-group

The species of the genus Xiphinema Cobb, 1913 are listed and their current status is indicated. A revised polytomous key to the 172 valid species (excluding the X. americanum-group) is presented. Because of the very large number of species the key is split into eight groups on the basis of development of the anterior female genital branch, uterine differentiation and tail shape. In accordance with the opinion of Cohn & Sher (1972) X. vulgare Tarjan, 1964 is considered a synonym of X. setariae Luc, 1968. X. cubense Razzhivin, 1973 is placed in species inquirendae. Longidorella chappuisi (Schneider, 1935) is transferred to Xiphinema and its possible identity with X. hygrophilum Southey & Luc, 1974 is discussed.