Cnemidophorus neomexicanus

Number of Pages: 3Integrative BiologyGeological Science

Genetic Variation in Resistance of Scotch Pine to Zimmerman Pine Moth

(excerpt) Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), a forest tree introduced from Eurasia, is commonly planted for Christmas tree and timber use in northeastern United States. In this country it has numerous insect enemies. Among the most important are European pine shoot moth, Rhyacionia buoliana (Schiffermiieller); pine root collar weevil, Hylobius radicis Buchanan;,European pine sawfly, Neodiprion sertifer (Geoffroy); and eastern white-pine shoot borer, Eucosma gloriola Heinrich. Previous studies (Wright et al., 1967; Wright and Wilson, 1972; Steiner, 1974) have revealed large genetic differences in resistance to some of these pests. Another destructive pest is the Zimmerman pine moth, Dioryctria zimmermani (Grote). In 1968 this insect, native to the United States, was found attacking trees in a Scotch pine provenance test in southwestern Michigan. The attack rate was heavy and by 1973 it was obvious that some rams or varieties were attacked more heavily than others. This is a report on those differences

Some Aspects of the Relationship Between Two North American Whiptail Lizards

The present investigation was undertaken in an attempt to clarify further the taxonomic relationship between Cnemidophorus octolineatus (=C. inornatus) Baird and C. Velox Springer. At various times these two have been treated as species, subspecies, or synonyms, and have been re-described at one time or another as new species or subspecies

Application of Radar and Microwave Scattering to Ocean Wave Research

The high data rate and advanced technology of modern radar systems make them attractive instruments for measuring the properties of random wave fields. When the objective is wave research, it is particularly important that the relation between wave field properties and radar output be clear and unequivocal. This is generally the case in the measurement of radar range (altimetry), the measurement of line-of-sight speeds (Doppler shift) and under those conditions where the scattered electromagnetic field is proportional to the surface displacement. The latter situation is that of first order Bragg scattering, in which case the influence of all waves outside a narrow window at the Bragg resonance condition is strongly filtered out. In this case, it has proved possible to measure such wave properties as temporal growth and approach to equilibrium in wind-wave tanks and spectral energy transport in wave tanks or at sea. Furthermore, the Doppler shift is accurately the frequency of the Bragg wave in first order scattering. Thus phase speeds may be determined not only for their intrinsic interest but as a means of measuring surface currents and probing the profile of the mean flow on both sides of the air-water interface. Results of all these techniques are now available in the case of wind-wave tanks and numerous examples are presented. The techniques have so far been less fully exploited at sea, but some examples from HF groundwave scatter and dual frequency microwave radar returns from wind-generated seas are available. Finally, opportunities for exploiting second order Bragg and two-scale scattering results for wave research are also discussed

A Third Planet Orbiting HIP 14810

We present new precision radial velocities and a three-planet Keplerian orbit fit for the V = 8.5, G5 V star HIP 14810. We began observing this star at Keck Observatory as part of the N2K Planet Search Project. Wright et al. (2007) announced the inner two planets to this system, and subsequent observations have revealed the outer planet planet and the proper orbital solution for the middle planet. The planets have minimum masses of 3.9, 1.3, and 0.6 M_Jup and orbital periods of 6.67, 147.7, and 952 d, respectively. We have numerically integrated the family of orbital solutions consistent with the data and find that they are stable for at least 10^6 yr. Our photometric search shows that the inner planet does not transit.Comment: ApJL, accepte

Contributions of Matrix Metalloproteinases to Neural Plasticity, Habituation, Associative Learning and Drug Addiction

The premise of this paper is that increased expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) permits the reconfiguration of synaptic connections (i.e., neural plasticity) by degrading cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) designed to provide stability to those extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that form scaffolding supporting neurons and glia. It is presumed that while these ECM proteins are weakened, and/or detached, synaptic connections can form resulting in new neural pathways. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are designed to deactivate MMPs permitting the reestablishment of CAMs, thus returning the system to a reasonably fixed state. This review considers available findings concerning the roles of MMPs and TIMPs in reorganizing ECM proteins thus facilitating the neural plasticity underlying long-term potentiation (LTP), habituation, and associative learning. We conclude with a consideration of the influence of these phenomena on drug addiction, given that these same processes may be instrumental in the formation of addiction and subsequent relapse. However, our knowledge concerning the precise spatial and temporal relationships among the mechanisms of neural plasticity, habituation, associative learning, and memory consolidation is far from complete and the possibility that these phenomena mediate drug addiction is a new direction of research