Anal gland secretion codes for family membership in the beaver

We investigated how information about family membership is coded by the individually specific anal gland secretion (AGS) in the beaver, Castor canadensis. Because beavers live in strict family units and relatives share more features in the AGS profile than non-relatives, family members share more AGS features than non-family members. Therefore, family recognition seems to be a natural consequence of the more specific kin recognition. Multivariate statistical analyses revealed two possibilities in coding for family membership using the multi-component AGS: either two (female) to three (male) AGS compounds or many compounds were used, but we were not able to determine which possibility is more likely. Compounds were not equally important in coding family membership information, and the interactions among compounds were complex. We attempted to reconstruct a lineage tree for the relationship among different families using two–three or many compounds. We found there was no significant difference for trees constructed by using few or many compounds in either males or females. However, the trees derived from male compounds and female compounds lacked good congruence. Received: 10 December 1998 / Accepted after revision: 13 July 1998     

无指盘臭蛙皮肤抗菌肽的分离纯化与氨基酸序列测定

在抗菌活性跟踪下对四川冕宁产无指盘臭蛙(Odorrana grahami)皮肤分泌物进行一系列层析分离,最终纯化得到4种抗菌肽,分别命名为Odorgrin A、Odorgrin B、Odorgrin C和Odorgrin D.质谱测得单一同位素分子量Mr分别为3364.8、3817.9、4859.4和3287.9.Edman降解法测得OdorgrinA的氨基酸序列为GLLDTFKNLALNAAKSAGVSV-LNSLSCKLSKTC.将以上结果与国内外对该物种抗菌肽研究的已有结果进行了比较分析,证明本研究分离到的4种抗菌肽与前人分离到的部分抗菌肽间具有一致性.     

Mimicry: imitative depiction of discharged defensive secretion on carapace of an opilionid

Summary. The opilionid, Parampheres ronae, has a pair of orange markings on its carapace at a location where some other opilionids discharge yellowish, quinone-containing defensive fluid. P. ronae itself produces a defensive secretion, but the fluid is quinone-free and nearly translucent. We suggest that the orange markings in P. ronae are aposematic in the sense that they are imitative of the glandular emissions of quinone-producing opilionids.     

Effects of protein-constrained brood food on honey bee (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Apis mellifera</Emphasis> L.) pollen foraging and colony growth

Pollen is the sole source of protein for honey bees, most importantly used to rear young. Honey bees are adept at regulating pollen stores in the colonies based on the needs of the colony. Mechanisms for regulation of pollen foraging in honey bee are complex and remain controversial. In this study, we used a novel approach to test the two competing hypothesis of pollen foraging regulation. We manipulated nurse bee biosynthesis of brood food using a protease inhibitor that interferes with midgut protein digestion, significantly decreasing the amount of protein extractable from hypopharyngeal glands. Experimental colonies were given equal amounts of protease inhibitor-treated and untreated pollen. Colonies receiving protease inhibitor treatment had significantly lower hypopharyngeal gland protein content than controls. There was no significant difference in the ratio of pollen to nonpollen foragers between the treatments. Pollen load weights were also not significantly different between treatments. Our results supported the pollen foraging effort predictions generated from the direct independent effects of pollen on the regulation of pollen foraging and did not support the prediction that nurse bees regulate pollen foraging through amount of hypopharyngeal gland protein biosynthesis.     

Chemical defense of a primitive Australian bombardier beetle (Carabidae):Mystropomus regularis

Summary The Australian bombardier beetle,Mystropomus regularis, sprays a mixture of quinones (1,4-benzoquinone, 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, 2-ethyl-1,4-benzoquinone) and hydrocarbons (principallyn-pentadecane). The defensive fluid ist generated explosively in two-chambered glands, and is ejected audibly and hot (maximal recorded temperature = 59°C).Mystropomus is a member of the paussoid lineage of bombardiers. In common with other members of the group, it has a pair of elytral flanges (flanges of Coanda), associated with the gland openings, that serve as launching guides for anteriorly-aimed ejections of spray. It is argued thatMystropomus may be the least derived of flanged paussoids, and the closest living relative of the most primitive of extant bombardiers (Metriini).Paper no. 101 of the series Defense Mechanisms of Arthropods; no. 100 is Attygalleet al. J Chem Ecol 17: 805 (1991)     

无指盘臭蛙皮肤抗茵肽的分离纯化与氨基酸序列测定

在抗菌活性跟踪下对四川冕宁产无指盘臭蛙（Odorranagrahami）皮肤分泌物进行一系列层析分离，最终纯化得到4种抗菌肽，分别命名为Odorgrin A、Odorgrin B、OdorgrinC和OdorgrinD．质谱测得单一同位素分子量恤分别为3364．8、3817．9、4859．4和3287．9．Edman降解法测得OdorgrinA的氨基酸序列为GLLDTFKNLALNAAKSAGVSV—LNSLSCKLSKTC．将以上结果与国内外对该物种抗菌肽研究的已有结果进行了比较分析，证明本研究分离到的4种抗菌肽与前人分离到的部分抗菌肽间具有一致性．     

Sperm competition and ejaculate investment in red squirrels (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tamiasciurus hudsonicus</Emphasis>)

Sperm competition is widespread in mammals and occurs when ejaculates from two or more males compete within the female’s reproductive tract to fertilize the ova. Enlarged testes are associated with sperm competition because they produce sperm, but the accessory glands produce fluids and proteins that are also important for fertilization success. Sperm morphology can also have consequences for fertilization success because of its influence on sperm motility. Red squirrels engage in multiple mating, and thus sperm competition is likely. Here, we assess levels of multiple paternity in a natural population of red squirrels, test the prediction that testis size is correlated with size of the accessory glands and sperm morphometry, and test the prediction that ejaculate investment is condition-dependent. Five of six litters (83%) showed evidence of multiple paternity, indicating that sperm competition is likely to have occurred. Testis size was correlated with the size of all three accessory glands (prostate, seminal vesicle, epididymides), and there was a generally positive relationship between the size of the accessory glands and sperm length. Sperm morphology showed significant variation in size and shape among individual male squirrels. There was no evidence of condition dependence of testis size or the size of the accessory glands, but sperm midpiece length was negatively related to body condition. Further work should include determining the fitness consequence of variation in sperm morphometry, testis size, and accessory gland size, and determining the effects of variation in ejaculate investment on sperm motility.