Clocks for sex: loss of circadian rhythms in ants after mating?

This paper describes experiments on the locomotor activity rhythm of queens of the ant species Camponotus compressus, which were performed to investigate the consequences of mating on circadian clocks. Locomotor activity rhythm of virgin and mated queens was monitored individually under constant conditions of the laboratory. The locomotor activity rhythm of virgin queens entrained to a 24 h (12:12 h) laboratory light/dark (LD) cycle and free-ran under constant dim red light (RR) with a free-running period () of approximately 24 h. The locomotor activity of the mated queens on the other hand was arrhythmic during the period when they were laying eggs, and robust rhythmicity appeared soon after the egg-laying phase was over. The of the locomotor activity rhythm of mated queens was significantly greater than that of virgin queens. These results are contrary to the commonly held belief that the role of circadian clocks in ant queens ceases after mating flights, thus suggesting that circadian clocks of ant queens are adaptively plastic and display activity patterns, perhaps depending on their physiological state and tasks in the colony.     

Circadian consequences of social organization in the ant species<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Camponotus compressus</Emphasis>

The locomotor activity rhythm of different castes of the ant species Camponotus compressus was monitored individually under laboratory light/dark (LD) cycles, and under continuous darkness (DD). The colony of this ant species comprises two sexual castes, the queens and the males, and three worker castes, namely the major, media, and minor workers. The virgin males and virgin queens display rhythmic activity patterns, but the mated queens were arrhythmic while laying eggs, with the rhythmicity resuming soon after egg-laying. Under the LD regime, major workers showed nocturnal patterns, while about 75% of the media workers displayed nocturnal patterns and about 25% showed diurnal patterns. Under the DD regime, most major workers exhibited circadian rhythm of activity with a single steady state, whereas media workers displayed two types of activity patterns, with activity patterns changing after 6–9 days in DD (turn-arounds). The pre-turn-around of the ants that showed nocturnal activity patterns during LD entrainment was <24 h after release into DD, which then became >24 h, after 6–9 days. On the other hand, the pre-turn-around of those ants that exhibited diurnal patterns during LD entrainment was first >24 h after release into DD, and then became <24 h, after 6–9 days. The activity of the minor workers neither entrained to LD cycles nor showed any sign of free-run in DD. It appears that the circadian clocks of the ant species C. compressus are flexible, and may perhaps depend upon the tasks assigned to them in the colony.     

Locomotor activity rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster after 600 generations in an aperiodic environment

The locomotor activity rhythm of flies from four populations of Drosophila melanogaster, maintained under constant light for more than 600 generations, was recorded in continuous light (LL) and continuous darkness (DD) using four different protocols. The main objective behind these experiments was to estimate the proportion of flies exhibiting circadian rhythm of locomotor activity in LL, and to investigate whether this could be increased by subjecting the flies to various light regimes. About 26% of the flies exhibited a circadian rhythm of locomotor activity in LL, and the proportion increased to about 48% after an exposure to 12 h of darkness. About 77% of the flies exhibited a circadian locomotor activity rhythm in DD. Persistence of circadian locomotor activity rhythm in a considerable proportion of these flies suggests an intrinsic adaptive value to possessing circadian rhythmicity, derived, perhaps, from the need to synchronise various processes within the organism.     

Adult eclosion timing of the onion fly,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Delia antiqua</Emphasis>, in response to daily cycles of temperature at different soil depths

For insects pupating in the soil, the day/night temperature cycle may provide a primary time cue (Zeitgeber) for adult eclosion to occur at an appropriate time of the day. In the soil, however, the phase of temperature cycle is delayed with depth because of the low heat conductivity of the soil. Therefore pupae located deeper in the soil may compensate for the depth-dependent phase delay of Zeitgeber to avoid mistimed emergence. We examined the adult eclosion timing of the onion fly, Delia antiqua, pupating at different depths in soil and under various thermoperiods in the laboratory to determine if such compensation indeed occurs. We found that D. antiqua is able to compensate for the depth-dependent phase delay of the Zeitgeber by advancing the eclosion timing in response to the amplitude of the temperature cycle decreasing with depth.     

When a year takes 18 months: evidence for a strong circannual clock in a shorebird

During the last three of 20 years kept as a pet, a red knot (Calidris canutus) went through two complete 'circannual' cycles of body mass and plumage. With a record cycle length of 18 months, this individual shorebird provides evidence for an exceptionally strong circannual clock system. The absence of synchronisation to outdoor but visible periodic cues suggests that the constant, socially-induced, day-night environment was of overriding importance. So far, only for songbirds is there firm experimental evidence that annual cycles are orchestrated by an endogenous circannual clock system. In constant environments the circannual cycles of these passerines tend to have periods that are shorter, rather than longer, than a year.     

The onion fly modulates the adult eclosion time in response to amplitude of temperature cycle

To confirm whether the amplitude of diel temperature cycles causes a phase shift of adult eclosion rhythm of the onion fly, Delia antiqua, the peak time (Ø _E) of adult eclosion was determined under various thermoperiods with a fixed temperature either in the warm or cool phase and temperature differences ranging from 1°C to 4°C between the two phases. Irrespective of the temperature level during the warm or cool phase, Ø _E occurred earlier with decreasing amplitude of the temperature cycle. The results strongly support the previous conclusion of Tanaka and Watari (Naturwissenschaften 90:76–79, 2003) that D. antiqua responds to the amplitude of temperature cycle as a cue for the circadian adult eclosion timing. The phase advance was larger in thermoperiods with a fixed warm-phase temperature than in those with a fixed cool-phase temperature. This might be ascribed to the interaction between the amplitude and level of temperature in the thermoperiodic regimes.     

Bright photophase accelerates re-entrainment after experimental jetlag in Drosophila

The efficacy of bright photophase (BP) in accelerating the re-entrainment of Drosophila biarmipes rhythm following 8?h phase advance and delay of light–dark (LD) cycle was examined by subjecting the flies to 24?h LD cycles with dim photophase (DP) at 30?lx and BP at 300?lx. Re-entrainment was analysed by using the activity onset, activity offset and the duration of activity. Following LD advance or delay, the BP flies re-entrained faster than the DP flies which was attributed to the enhanced zeitgeber strength of BP. Nevertheless, the re-entrainment was a protracted process even in the BP flies since the activity offsets underwent more transients than the activity onsets. Thus, this study demonstrates that the BP accelerates the re-entrainment in D. biarmipes. It, however, also reveals that the re-entrainment is a prolonged process when the activity onset and offset are regarded as the rhythm markers.     

Precision of a Mammalian Circadian Clock

 This paper reports study of day-to-day instability in the locomotor activity rhythm of the nocturnal field mouse Mus booduga. The free-running period (τ) of this rhythm was estimated in constant darkness in n=347 adult male mice. The "onset" and "offset" of locomotor activity rhythm were used as phase markers of the circadian clock. The precision of the onset of locomotor activity was observed to be a non-linear function of τ, with maximal precision at τ close to 24 h. The precision of the offset of locomotor activity was found to increase with increasing τ. These results suggest that the homeostasis of τ is tighter when τ is close to 24 h. Received: 5 May 1998 / Accepted: 11 February 1999     

The flavo-enzyme xanthine oxidase is under circadian control in the marine alga Gonyaulax

The activity of xanthine oxidoreductases (xanthine oxidase, XO, EC 1.2.3.2 and xanthine dehydrogenase, XDH, EC 1.1.1.204) in partially purified extracts of Gonyaulax polyedra was measured over 24 h both in a light:dark cycle and in constant light. This is the first demonstration of xanthine oxidoreductase in a unicellular alga. The activity of the O₂-dependent form (XO) was found to be 15 times higher in light than in darkness. The same time-of-day specific differences persisted in constant light, demonstrating a control of XO by the circadian clock. In contrast, the activity of the NAD-dependent form (XDH) is not under circadian control. Because pharmacological inhibition of XO also blocks the effect of blue light on the Gonyaulax circadian clock, the possible relationship between XO and light reception in this unicellular alga will be discussed.     

Monogamy in a new species of wild guinea pigs (Galea sp.)

A new species of wild guinea pigs from Bolivia was recently discovered: Galea sp. So far no data are available concerning its social and mating systems. We therefore investigated behavioural compatibility, sexual dimorphism, paternity in a male-competing situation, testicular and epididymal size, and sperm morphology and motility. The results showed a complete intrasexual and moderate intersexual behavioural incompatibility between unfamiliar animals, a reversed sexual dimorphism with females larger than males, and litters always fathered by single males. Furthermore, both the reproductive organ weights and the percentage of motile sperm and sperm with intact acrosomes were significantly lower compared with the promiscuous congeneric Galea musteloides. In summary, these data strongly suggest a monogamous social and mating system for the recently discovered Galea sp.     

The use of olfaction in the foraging behaviour of the golden-mantled flying fox,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Pteropus pumilus</Emphasis>, and the greater musky fruit bat,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Ptenochirus jagori</Emphasis> (Megachiroptera: Pteropodidae)

Double-choice experiments with three adult males of the little golden-mantled flying fox, Pteropus pumilus, and ten adult greater musky fruit bats, Ptenochirus jagori (both Megachiroptera: Pteropodidae), demonstrate that they are able to discriminate accurately between an empty dish and a dish containing fruits of one of several species by odour alone. Tests were run using fruits of six fruit species for Pteropus pumilus and five fruit species for Ptenochirus jagori. The fruit species used are known to be consumed in the wild by Ptenochirus jagori and are, with two exceptions, species of the natural rain-forest habitat. This is the first study to show that fruit bats are also able to assess the ripeness of a fruit exclusively by its odour. The bats preferred ripe over unripe fruits of the same species. Thus, both Pteropus pumilus and Ptenochirus jagori can not only locate fruits by their odour but can also discriminate between ripe and unripe fruits of the same species by olfaction. The results confirm and expand earlier findings on the role of olfactory cues in the orientation of foraging pteropodids.     

Is the contribution of bacteria to terrestrial carbon budget greatly underestimated?

Some commonly found species of soil bacteria use low molecular weight organic acids as their sole source of carbon and energy. This study shows that acids such as citrate and oxalate (produced in large amounts by fungi and plants) can rapidly be consumed by these bacteria. Two strains, Ralstonia eutropha and Xanthobacter autotrophicus, were cultured on acetate- and citrate-rich media. The resulting CO₂ and/or HCO₃^- reacted with calcium ions to precipitate two polymorphs of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), calcite and vaterite, depending on the quantity of slime produced by the strains. This production of primary calcium carbonate crystals by oxalate- and citrate-degrading bacteria from soil organic carbon sources highlights the existence of an important and underestimated potential carbon sink.     

Tracing the diet of the monitor lizard Varanus mabitang by stable isotope analyses (delta(15)N,delta(13)C)

In this study, we used analyses of stable isotopes of nitrogen ('¹⁵N) and carbon ('¹³C) to determine the trophic ecology of the monitor lizard Varanus mabitang. Stable isotopes from claws, gut contents, and soft tissues were measured from the type specimen. Samples from Varanus olivaceus, Varanus prasinus, Varanus salvator, the herbivorous agamid lizard Hydrosaurus pustulatus, and some plant matter were included for comparison. Our data show a rapid decrease in '¹³C (about10‰) from food plants towards gut contents and soft tissues of herbivorous species. For the varanids, we found a significant linear correlation of decreasing '¹³C and increasing '¹⁵N from herbivorous towards carnivorous species. In terms of trophic isotope ecology, the type specimen of V. mabitang is a strict herbivore. Thus it differs significantly in its isotopic composition from the morphologically next closest related species V. olivaceus. The most highly carnivorous species is V. salvator, while '¹⁵N values for V. prasinus and V. olivaceus are intermediate. Claws provide very valuable samples for such measurements, because they can be sampled from living animals without harm. Additionally, their range of variability is relatively small in comparison with measurements from soft tissues.     

1株转座子插入突变菌株TB34的筛选及产氢分析

以分离自红树林污泥的厌氧发酵产氢细菌Pantoea agglomerans BH18为出发菌株,利用转座子Tn7构建突变体文库.通过卡那霉素抗性筛选与PCR扩增,鉴定转座子插入突变菌株.通过初筛和复筛,获得1株突变菌TB34,其产氢量较野生菌株明显提高.在初始pH为7.0和葡萄糖浓度10 g.L-1的海水培养条件下,产氢量(H2/葡萄糖)为(2.04±0.04)mol.mol-1,相比野生菌株产氢量提高43%.经过5次连续传代培养,突变菌株TB34表现出稳定的产氢特性.测定突变菌株TB34在不同碳源培养条件下的产氢量.结果表明,突变菌株TB34和野生菌株BH18都能利用蔗糖、葡萄糖和果糖发酵产氢.与野生菌株BH18不同,突变菌株TB34在以木糖为底物培养条件下仍能够发酵产氢,产氢量(H2/木糖)为(1.34±0.09)mol.mol-1,扩大了底物利用范围.     

Persistence of Eclosion Rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster After 600 Generations in an Aperiodic Environment

 The ubiquity of circadian rhythms suggests that they have an intrinsic adaptive value (Ouyang et al. 1998; Ronneberg and Foster 1997). Some experiments have shown that organisms have enhanced longevity, development time or growth rates when maintained in environments whose periodicity closely matches their endogenous period (Aschoff et al. 1971; Highkin and Hanson 1954; Hillman 1956; Pittendrigh and Minis 1972; Went 1960). So far there has been no experimental evidence to show that circadian rhythms per se (i.e. periodicity itself, as opposed to phasing properties of a rhythm) confer a fitness advantage. We show that the circadian eclosion rhythm persists in a population of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster maintained in constant conditions of light, temperature, and humidity for over 600 generations. The results suggest that even in the absence of any environmental cycle there exists some intrinsic fitness value of circadian rhythms. Received: 2 November 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 22 April 1999     

铜绿假单胞菌NY3及其突变株好氧降解四溴双酚A特性研究

为明确铜绿假单胞菌NY3 2个烷羟化酶基因alk B1和alk B2基因在该菌代谢四溴双酚A中的作用,研究了野生NY3菌及其突变菌株(NB1D、NB2D及NB12DD)对四溴双酚A好氧降解特性.研究表明,NY3、NB1D、NB2D及NB12DD菌株均能以四溴双酚A为单一碳源和能源进行生长,并对四溴双酚A进行一定程度上的降解.NY3菌中alk B1基因和alk B2基因的缺失对NY3菌株在四溴双酚A中的生长有抑制作用,而且alk B1基因和alk B2基因在NY3菌降解四溴双酚A中起一定的作用,但不完全,说明NY3菌中还存在其他影响四溴双酚A降解的基因.缺失alk B2基因的突变株NB2D在高浓度的四溴双酚A溶液中降解转化率最少,说明alk B2基因的缺失,对NY3菌降解高浓度四溴双酚A碳源更重要.加入同一易降解共代谢碳源,野生株NY3菌及其各突变株生长特性无明显差异,然而,因共存碳源种类不同,同一菌株细胞生长量、对四溴双酚A降解及其脱溴效率等特性差别明显.加最佳共代谢碳源乳酸钠的体系内,突变株NB2D存在下易积累中间产物3,3',5-三溴双酚A和2-溴-4(异丙基-溴苯)-苯酚等直接脱溴产物,说明alk B1基因可能为NY3菌株代谢四溴双酚A脱溴时的关键基因.     

Intersexual dominance,masculinized genitals and prenatal steroids: comparative data from lemurid primates

Masculinization of female genitalia and female intersexual dominance distinguish spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) and Malagasy primates (Lemuriformes) from most other mammals. An unusual prenatal endocrine environment has been proposed to proximately underlie the development of these traits in hyenas. To examine whether female dominance and genital masculinization are similarly enhanced by the prenatal environment in lemurid primates, we measured androgen and estrogen excretion in pregnant wild redfronted lemurs (Eulemur fulvus rufus). Our results showed that estrogen levels during the second phase of gestation were much higher in females carrying a male fetus than in female-carrying mothers. This may indicate the onset of testicular activity in male fetuses, because androgens of fetal origin are aromatized to maternal estrogens. Levels of androgen excretion were similar in all mothers regardless of the fetus' sex, which may suggest that androgen-independent mechanisms also contribute to female masculinization. The much higher androgen/estrogen ratio in female-carrying mothers indicates that relative, rather than absolute, prenatal steroid concentrations may play a role in female masculinization.     

多聚磷酸盐激酶基因在污水生物除磷中的功能

为验证多聚磷酸盐激酶基因(ppk)在污水生物除磷中的功能.采用Red敲除系统,以p KD4质粒为模板,设计同源短臂,扩增外源线性DNA片段,将外源线性DNA片段电转化整合入已导入p KD46的大肠杆菌ATCC25922野生型菌株.获得重组菌E.coli/ppk~-Kan~+.将p CP20导入大肠杆菌E.coli/ppk~-Kan~+以消除卡那霉素抗性基因,通过负抗性筛选及正反向引物验证,构建无抗生素抗性的ppk基因缺失工程菌株E.coli/ppk~-Kan~-.比较工程菌株和野生型菌株的生长特性,并比较两者在缺磷诱导/富磷及多次厌氧/好氧诱导条件下的除磷性能.结果表明采用Red重组系统,通过无痕敲除,成功构建了大肠杆菌ppk基因缺失菌株E.coli/ppk~-Kan~-.敲除后的工程菌株和野生型菌株生长整体没有差异,但是4 h前对数期工程菌株生长快于野生型菌株,8 h后稳定期工程菌株生长慢于野生型菌株,表明ppk影响菌体的生长;缺磷诱导/富磷条件下,工程菌株并未表现出因ppk缺失而影响其除磷能力;经过5次厌氧/好氧诱导,两菌菌体含磷量保持在1%~2%,没有因诱导次数的增加而表现出菌体含磷量增加的趋势,也未发现厌氧有PHB好氧有聚磷颗粒生成,表明ppk基因的缺失并没有引起菌体除磷能力的下降.ppk并未表现出明显的与污水生物除磷相关的功能.     

Ancient specimens and DNA contamination: a case study from the 12S rRNA gene sequence of the "Linh Duong" bovid (Pseudonovibos spiralis)

In 1993, several unusual horn sheaths, collected in the South of Vietnam, were regarded as evidence for a new mammal species, Pseudonovibos spiralis. However, the taxonomic status of P. spiralis remains a highly controversial subject: firstly, it has been related to three different groups of the family Bovidae: Antilopini (gazelles), Bovini (oxen, bisons, and buffaloes), and Caprini sensu lato (goats, sheep and allies). Secondly, certain horns have been shown to be faked. Most recently, it has been suggested, on the basis of 12S rRNA gene sequences, that P. spiralis was a new species of buffalo. I demonstrate here that this conclusion was inaccurate, and base this on the grounds that: (1) the putative sequence of P. spiralis is shown to be a chimera obtained from three different species: Bos taurus, Bubalus bubalis and Saiga tatarica, and (2) several factors indicate that the specimen used was not authentic. This new study confirms earlier suggestions that the horns used to formally describe P. spiralis were bogus and were in fact derived from the horns of domesticated cattle (Bos taurus). The data suggest that P. spiralis never existed.     

Fungal bioturbation paths in a compact disk

We report here on bioturbation traces, with micro-dendrite textures, composed of a mixture of altered aluminum and polycarbonate, which have been developed in a common compact disk (CD), destroying information pits. Fungal hyphae proliferated in these deteriorated zones, and Geotrichum-type fungus was isolated from surface-sterilized CD fragments. The severe biodeterioration described is attributed to the slow growth of this arthroconidial fungus on the CD material in the tropical indoor environment of Belize, Central America (~30°C, ~90% humidity).