Energetic and time costs of foraging in harvester ants,Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Summary Western harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, preferentially utilize low vegetational cover pathways. Energetic costs for foraging ants were less than 0.1% of caloric rewards of harvested seeds, suggesting that reduction of energetic cost is not a major benefit of this preference. Walking speed was significantly faster on lower cover routes, increasing net return rates from equidistant artificial food sources. Undisturbed foragers on low cover routes traveled farther, increasing their total foraging area without increasing foraging time. These results suggest that in animals with low costs of locomotion relative to energetic rewards, time costs are more important than direct energetic costs in influencing foraging decisions. In baited experiments with equidistant food sources, preferential use of low cover routes resulted in a large increase in net energetic gain rate, but only a slight increase in energetic efficiency. Under natural conditions, net energetic gain rates were constant for foragers using low and high vegetational cover routes, but foragers using low cover paths had lower efficiencies. This suggests that net energetic gain rate is a more important currency than energetic efficiency for foraging harvester ants.     

(S)-2-Methyl-1-hexanol,characteristic mandibular gland substance of ants of theCataglyphis bicolor group

Summary In all the species of theCataglyphis bicolor group examined yet, i.e.C. bicolor, C. diehli, C. isis, C. nodus, andC. viaticus, 2-methyl-1-hexanol is the characteristic substance and almost the only substance found in the mandibular glands. Its chirality has been determined inC. bicolor and shown to be exclusively (S)-2-methyl-1-hexanol.     

Hepatoprotective activity of 1-(4-(Dimethylamino)Benzylidene)-5-(2-Oxoindolin-3-ylidene) Thiocarbohydrazone in rats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of 1-(4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene)-5-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene) thiocarbohydrazone, a novel isatin derivative against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Hepatic damage was induced by administration of CCl₄ (1 ml/kg, b.w., p.o.) in combination with liquid paraffin (1:1) as a single dose. The hepatotoxic rats were treated with test compound at doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg for three days and liver damage biomarkers, including activities of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and levels of total serum bilirubin (TB) measured in blood samples. Results demonstrated that treatment with test compound at doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg to hepatotoxic rats produced a significant dose-dependent reduction of elevated SGOT, SGPT, ALP activities and TB levels indicating a hepatoprotective effect that was confirmed by histopathological examination of liver tissues. The study results confirmed the hepatoprotective activity of 1-(4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene)-5-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene) thiocarbohydrazone in rats.     

Demography, demand, death, and the seasonal allocation of labor in the Florida harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex badius)

As a self-organizing entity, an ant colony must divide a limited number of workers among numerous competing functions. Adaptive patterns of labor allocation should vary with colony need across each annual cycle, but remain almost entirely undescribed in ants. Allocation to foraging in 55 field colonies of the Florida harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex badius) followed a consistent annual pattern over 4 years. Foragers preceded larvae in spring and peaked during maximal larval production in summer (0.37). In spring, proportion foraging increased due to an increase in forager number and reduction in colony size, and in late summer, it decreased as colony size increased through new worker birth and a loss of ～3 % of foragers per day. The removal of 50 % of the forager population revealed that, at the expense of larval survival, colonies did not draw workers from other castes to fill labor gaps. To determine if labor allocation was age specific, whole colonies were marked with cuticle color-specific wire belts and released, and each cohort's time to first foraging was noted. Workers that eclosed in summer alongside sexual alates darkened quickly and became foragers at ～43 days of age, whereas autumn-born workers required 200 or more days to do so. Following colony reproduction, these long-lived individuals foraged alongside short-lived, summer-born sisters during the next calendar year. Therefore, the large-scale, predictable patterns of labor allocation in P. badius appear to be driven by bimodal worker development rate and age structure, rather than worker responsiveness to changes in colony demand.     

Characterization of enzymes responsible for 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) detoxification pathway in lungs of Chinese population: Carbonyl reduction and glucuronidation

4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is one of the most potent carcinogens found in mainstream and sidestream smoke and considered to be a causative agent for lung cancer in active and passive smokers. Carbonyl reduction followed by glucuronidation is considered to be the main detoxification pathway of NNK. Microsomal 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD 1) and cytosolic carbonyl reductase (CR) are responsible for NNK carbonyl reduction, and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A4 (UGT1A4) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B7 (UGT2B7) catalyze 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) glucuronidation. To better characterize this pathway, the expression and kinetics of 11β-HSD 1 and CR, as well as the expression of UGT1A4 and UGT2B7, was investigated in lungs of Chinese people. Kinetic studies for 11β-HSD 1 and CR showed that there was large inter-individual variability in the capacity for NNK carbonyl reduction. Compared with cytosol, there was increased catalytic efficiency for NNAL formation in microsomes. The higher activities of both 11β-HSD 1 and CR were observed in lung tissues of males than females. UGT1A4 and UGT2B7 mRNA were detected in lungs from a variety of different patients and wide inter-individual variations were observed. These observations should be useful in improving the risk estimates and prevention of lung cancer for the Chinese population exposed to tobacco smoke.     

单柱离子色谱法测定酸雨中F~-、Cl~-、NO_3~-、SO_4~(2-)离子

本文介绍了单醉离子色谱法测定酸雨中的氟、氯、硝酸根，硫酸根离子的方法．采用Shim－PackIC-Al分离柱．用25mmol邻苯二甲酸和2.4mmol三（羟甲基）甲胺溶液作流动相（pH＝4.0），流速为1.5ml/min．各离子的流分用电导检测，进样量为20μl时．F－、Cl－、的最低检出限（2倍噪音比）分别为0.009，0.016，0.020．0.042μg／ml．     

The evolution of eusociality in molerats (Bathyergidae): a question of risks,numbers, and costs

Summary This paper addresses risk and energetic considerations fundamentaly causative in the evolution of eusociality in the bathyergid molerats. Three simple mathematical models are presented which predict the probability of successful outbreeding in terms of dispersal risks and the energetic costs of foraging. The predictions of the models are compared with data from the literature, which mostly provide excellent empirical and theoretical support.Inter-habitat dispersal risks are influenced most importantly by group size and resource characteristics, but also by body size, metabolic rate, thermoregulation, soil conditions, and caste structure. Intea-habitat foraging risks are temporaly dependent on rainfall — a factor critical for appropriate dispersal timing. High dispersal and foraging risks necessitate large group sizes and preclude a solitary existence. Outbreeding or inbreeding options are strongly influenced by dispersal risks, with high genetic relatedness in high risk habitats the likely consequence. Offspring should attain inclusive fitness values equal, if not more, than those possible by outbreeding by staying and helping with the colony reproductive effort.Offprint requests to: B.G. Love grove at the German address     

Photosynthetic utilization of CO2(aq) and HCO 3 - in Thalassia testudinum (Hydrocharitaceae)

The effects of total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), free carbon dioxide [CO_2(aq)], and bicarbonate (HCO ₃ ^- ) concentrations on net photosynthetic oxygen evolution of the marine angiosperm Thalassia testudinum Banks ex König collected from Biscayne Bay (1988) and from Tampa Bay (1990), Florida, USA, were examined. Rates of photosynthesis declined by 85% from pH 7.25 to 8.75 in buffered seawater media with constant DIC concentration (2.20 mM), suggesting a strong influence of CO_2(aq) concentration. A plateau in the pH-response curve between pH 7.75 and 8.50 indicated possible utilization of HCO ₃ ^- . Responses of photosynthesis measured in buffered seawater media of varying DIC concentrations (0.75 to 13.17 mM) and pH (7.8 to 8.61) demonstrated that photosynthesis is rate-limited at ambient DIC levels. Photosynthesis increased in media with increasing HCO ₃ ^- concentrations but near-constant CO_2(aq) levels, confirming HCO ₃ ^- assimilation. Calculated half-saturation constants (K _s )for CO_2(aq) and HCO ₃ ^- indicated a high affinity for the former [K _s (CO₂)=3 to 18 M] and a much lower affinity for the latter [K _s (HCO ₃ ^- )=1.22 to 8.88 mM]. Calculated V _max values for HCO ₃ ^- were generally higher than those for CO_2(aq), suggesting relatively efficient HCO ₃ ^- utilization, despite the apparent low affinity for this carbon form.     

Trend,seasonal variation and sources of suspended particulated matter (SPM) in Spain

In this study we analyze the temporal evolution of the suspended particulated matter (SPM) in the air of the six Spanish remote stations belonging to the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme network. A negative trend is observed in three of them and a positive trend in one. Another objective of this work was to know the geographical sources of SPM in Spain. To do this we used the conditional probability functions (cf. Ashbaugh et al. (1985), Atmos. Environ., 19, 1263–1270) and information about air masses trajectories. The North of Africa and regions inside Spain are the main sources while Continental Europe and the British Islands are less important.     

Inter-annual variability of ecosystem production in boreal jack pine forests (1975-2004) estimated from tree-ring data using CBM-CFS3

We describe and apply a method of using tree-ring data and an ecosystem model to reconstruct past annual rates of ecosystem production. Annual data on merchantable wood volume increment and mortality obtained by dendrochronological stand reconstruction were used as input to the Carbon Budget Model of the Canadian Forest Sector (CBM-CFS3) to estimate net ecosystem production (NEP), net primary production (NPP), and heterotrophic respiration (Rh) annually from 1975 to 2004 at 10 boreal jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) stands in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada. From 1975 (when sites aged 41-60 years) to 2004 (when they aged 70-89 years), all sites were moderate C sinks except during some warmer than average years where estimated Rh increased. Across all sites and years, estimated annual NEP averaged 57 g Cm⁻² yr⁻¹ (range −31 to 176 g Cm⁻² yr⁻¹), NPP 244 g Cm⁻² yr⁻¹ (147-376 g Cm⁻² yr⁻¹), and Rh 187 g Cm⁻² yr⁻¹ (124-270 g Cm⁻² yr⁻¹). Across all sites, NPP was related to stand age and density, which are proxies for successional changes in leaf area. Regionally, warm spring temperature increased NPP and defoliation by jack pine budworm 1 year previously reduced NPP. Our estimates of NPP, Rh, and NEP were plausible when compared to regional eddy covariance and carbon stock measurements. Inter-annual variability in ecosystem productivity contributes uncertainty to inventory-based assessments of regional forest C budgets that use yield curves predicting averaged growth over time. Our method could expand the spatial and temporal coverage of annual forest productivity estimates, providing additional data for the development of empirical models accounting for factors not presently considered by these models.     

大气CO2浓度升高对水稻和稗草根系生长的影响

在两种N水平下(低N 10 mg.L-1和常N 30 mg.L-1),采用水培方法比较了分蘖盛期C3植物水稻(O ryzasativa)和C4植物稗草(Echinochloa crusgalli)在CO2浓度升高(550μmol.mol-1)和CO2浓度未升高(350μmol.mol-1)条件下的根系生长变化。结果表明,常N水平下高浓度CO2显著增加水稻和稗草的根干重、根体积、根总长和根直径,水稻对CO2浓度升高的响应强于稗草;低N胁迫时,高浓度CO2显著增加稗草的根干重、根体积和根总长,而对水稻生长无明显促进作用。在两种N水平下,高浓度CO2均显著降低水稻和稗草根系N含量,而C含量上升不明显,导致C/N比值显著增加。高浓度CO2显著降低水稻和稗草单位根重根毛数,这可能是CO2浓度升高条件下根系活力显著降低的形态学原因之一。     

Leaf variation in iridoid glycoside content ofPlantago lanceolata (Plantaginaceae) and oviposition of the buckeye,Junonia coenia (Nymphalidae)

Summary Chemical analysis of each individual leaf of fivePlantago lanceolata (Plantaginaceae) plants showed that iridoid glycoside content increased from undetectable in the oldest photosynthetic leaves to over 9% dry weight in the youngest leaves. The relative proportion of the two iridoid glycosides inP. lanceolata also changed with leaf age: older leaves had significantly more aucubin, whereas the youngest leaves had primarily or solely catalpol. Oviposition tests with femaleJunonia coenia (Nymphalidae) butterflies, showed that they laid most of their eggs on new leaves.     

Growth and production of Sterechinus neumayeri (Echinoidea: Echinodermata) in McMurdo Sound,Antarctica

Population dynamics of Sterechinus neumayeri were investigated at four sites in McMurdo Sound: Cape Evans, McMurdo Station, East Cape Armitage and New Harbor. The annual formation of natural growth bands in the jaws of the Aristotle's lantern was verified by a tagging-recapture experiment. Growth functions based on natural growth bands indicated differences among stations but showed S. neumayeri to be a slow growing species, reaching its maximum diameter of 70 mm at an age of about 40 yr. Annual production ranged between 2.4 (C. Evans) and 0.65 g ash free dry mass m^-2 (New Harbor) and was related to differences in food conditions. More than 95% of total production was invested in reproduction, and less than 5% was invested in somatic growth. Consumption estimates for S. neumayeri showed this species to play a significant role in the benthic trophic web of McMurdo Sound.     

The importance of coastal sand dunes for terrestrial invertebrates in Wales and the UK,with particular reference to aculeate Hymenoptera (bees,wasps &; ants)

Although most UK sand dune systems are now fossilized, with little mobility and reducing amounts of bare sand, they support important populations and assemblages of terrestrial invertebrates. Offering open conditions, warm substrates and a range of habitats and habitat structures, they have become increasingly significant as other coastal habitats have been lost. In Wales, 680 Red Data Book and Nationally Scarce species have been recorded from dunes. 109 species in the UK are restricted to dunes, and in Wales there are an additional 145 species confined to dunes and 208 species strongly associated with dunes. Of these, 172 species are dependent upon bare and sparsely-vegetated sand, in grey dunes and early-successional dune grassland, at some stage of their life cycle, rising to 292 species if those associated with the strandline, foredunes, yellow dunes and pioneer dune slacks are included, equating to 63% of the 462 dune species. Bees and wasps are particularly well represented, with 278 species (68% of the Welsh fauna) recorded on Welsh dunes, including 17 obligates and 44 species with a strong dependence, 52 of which are associated with bare and sparsely-vegetated sand. Key to maintaining invertebrate populations on UK dunes is the provision of bare sand but in Wales, bare sand accounts for only 1.7% of the total sand dune resource. As a more appropriate bare sand threshold is likely to range between 10 and 30%, radical action is required to re-mobilize at least the key sand dune systems.     

Dynamics of pheromone production and communication in the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, and the pine engraver, Ips pini (Say) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Summary. The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, and the pine engraver, Ips pini (Say), often co-exist in lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelmann. Intra- and interspecific semiochemical communication occurs in both species and their complete semiochemical repertoire and precise dynamics of pheromone production have not been elucidated. Porapak-Q extracts of captured volatiles from beetles of each species aerated at different attack phases (freshly emerged, pioneer sex alone in the log and both sexes paired in new galleries), followed by gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and GC-mass spectroscopic analyses identified 17 compounds (seven compounds common to both species, six present in D. ponderosae and four present in I. pini) that excited the antennae of either or both species. Seven compounds for D. ponderosae and nine for I. pini had not been assessed for behavioural activity. In field trapping experiments, 2-phenylethanol produced by both species inhibited the response of D. ponderosae to its aggregation pheromones. exo- and endo-Brevicomin produced by D. ponderosae significantly decreased the response of I. pini to its aggregation pheromone ipsdienol. Nonanal, a ubiquitous compound found in the volatiles of lodgepole pine, various nonhosts and in both beetle species deterred the response of I. pini to ipsdienol. The occurrence of cis-verbenol, trans-verbenol and verbenone in emergent I. pini, and verbenone and 2-phenylethanol in emergent D. ponderosae suggests that these compounds may inhibit aggregation and induce dispersal following emergence. Termination of aggregation in D. ponderosae appears to depend on the production of frontalin in combination with changes in the relative ratios of verbenone, exo-brevicomin, trans-verbenol and 2-phenylethanol. In I. pini, the cessation of ipsdienol production by males is probably the main factor in terminating aggregation. Received 16 November 1999; accepted 7 August 2000     

Simultaneous analysis of tissue- and genotype-specific variation in Solidago altissima (Asteraceae) rhizome terpenoids, and the polyacetylene dehydromatricaria ester

Solidago altissima is a dominant perennial of old field succession in North America with the ability to form dense, almost monospecific stands; the plant is also considered an aggressive invasive throughout Europe and Japan. S. altissima’s success is facilitated by large belowground rhizome systems that allow clonal spread and possible allelopathic suppression of competitors. A diversity of polar and nonpolar terpenes and polyacetylenes have been described from S. altissima rhizomes; however, there is little information documenting the concentration or distribution of these allelochemicals and how they relate to plant defense hypotheses. We thus developed a GC–MS method to simultaneously quantify rhizome terpenes and polyacetylenes that spanned a range of polarities and confirmed the presence of 19 terpenoids in addition to the polyacetylene dehydromatricaria ester (DME). We, (1) determined relative concentrations and variability of mono-, sesqui-, neutral diterpenes, diterpene acids and DME within a central NY population; (2) compared accumulation of these compounds in differently developed rhizome tissue; and (3) tested the alleopathic effect of DME at naturally occurring concentrations on germination and seedling growth of Asclepias syriaca, a common competitor of S. altissima. Overall, diterpene acids dominated the phytochemical profile of most genotypes (averaging 0.75% of fresh mass) with kolavenic acid being the single most abundant component. Monoterpene, sesquiterpene and acidic diterpene concentrations were all significantly greater in the actively elongating (current-year) rhizomes compared to established rhizomes and followed optimal defense theory predictions. Conversely, DME levels were lower in the current-year rhizomes than in established rhizomes. DME inhibited seed germination of A. syriaca in a dose-dependent manner. The tissue-specific accumulation of the different compounds may represent a biosynthetic and/or allocational strategy that limits the exposure of young-tissue to high concentrations of DME possibly limiting the cytotoxic effects of DME.     

Temporal variation of Tubularia indivisa (Cnidaria, Tubulariidae) and associated epizoites on artificial habitat communities in the North Sea

We have analyzed the composition, diversity, density and biomass of a temporal series of samples taken in a Tubularia indivisa community, which dominates a shipwreck in the North Sea waters (N 51°23′,730–E 02°29′,790, 17 nautical miles from the coast, 30 m depth). This shipwreck has structures emerging up to 8 m above the seabed. Water temperature ranged from 4.2°C in March to 20.3°C in August. Salinity showed few variations around 33.9 psu. Bottom tidal currents followed a semi-diurnal cycle and were preferentially NE oriented with 84% of them in the range 0.25–0.75 m s⁻¹. The mean value for total suspended matter was 6.2 mg l⁻¹ with large variations on a monthly scale. The species richness of samples varied from 15 in October to 42 in August with a mean value of 33 species. Diversity indices were higher during autumn and winter because of the strong dominance of a few crustacean species during the warmer months. The total density of individuals ranged from 6,500 ind m⁻² in October to 445,800 ind m⁻² in July, most of these individuals belonging to the amphipod species Jassa herdmani. The biomass of the T. indivisa community varied from 9 g AFDW m⁻² in October to 1,106 g AFDW m⁻² in July, with T. indivisa itself constituting between 59 and 82% of the total biomass. The biomass of T. indivisa was positively correlated with species richness and with the density of 23% of the species identified on this community, suggesting that T. indivisa plays an important structural role in this habitat. This was further confirmed by the number of species associated with T. indivisa which was generally superior to 55% of the sorted species. Multivariate analysis indicated strong differences between spring/summer−autumn/winter assemblages mostly but not solely due to the abundance patterns of species. These findings support the conclusion that shipwrecks in Belgian waters allow the development of assemblages dominated by a high biomass of T. indivisa which in turn provides shelter for high densities and biomass of epizoites. These assemblages will further show large monthly variations in densities and composition due to large variation in T. indivisa biomass under an apparent repetitive annual cycle. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Anaerobic heat production of bivalves (Polymesoda caroliniana andModiolus demissus) in relation to temperature,body size,and duration of anoxia

Anaerobic heat-production rates of two co-occurring species of estuarine bivalves (a clam and a mussel) were measured with double-twin heat-flow calorimeters, one at 20°C, the other at 30°C. There is no significant difference between the two species in metabolic rates. There is evidence of initial aerobic metabolism in some individuals, as shown by high initial rates exponentially decreasing with time, while others had fluctuating but stable average metabolic activity from the beginning. During aerobic as well as anaerobic metabolism, the bivalves showed rhythmic periods of activity and quiescence. The two species differed in their rhythmic pattern of active and resting metabolism. In the case ofPolymesoda caroliniana, periods of resting metabolism tend to be longer and periods of active metabolism shorter at 30°C than at 20°C. There is a similarity between thermograms ofModiolus demissus at 20° and 30°C. Following acute temperature changes from 5° to 20° and 30°C, the bivalves showed stable metabolic rates in a matter of hours. The stabilized average rates [pooled averages for both species of 1.34×10^-4 (standard error of the mean=0.17×10^-4) W g^-1 dry weight of tissue at 20°C and 2.10×10^-4 (SE=0.20×10^-4) W g^-1 at 30°C] signify a temperature coefficient (Q₁₀) of 1.56 between 20° and 30°C, or partial temperature acclimation. Subtracting heat production as a result of physical activity, i.e., considering only resting metabolism, the corresponding means and standard errors of the means are 1.24×10^-4 and 0.14×10^-4 W g^-1 at 20°C and 1.91×10^-4 and 0.077×10^-4 W g^-1 at 30°C. Anaerobic heat production rate at 20°C is proportional to body size (r=0.84, 9 degrees of freedom, DF). ForM. demissus, measured anaerobic heat production is on the order of 7.5% of the level of aerobic respiration reported in the literature.