Genetic differentiation in Scottish populations of the pine beauty moth Panolis flammea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Pine beauty moth, Panolis flammea (Denis & Schiffermüller), is a recent but persistent pest of lodgepole pine plantations in Scotland, but exists naturally at low levels within remnants and plantations of Scots pine. To test whether separate host races occur in lodgepole and Scots pine stands and to examine colonization dynamics, allozyme, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and mitochondrial variation were screened within a range of Scottish samples. RAPD analysis indicated limited long distance dispersal (FST = 0.099), and significant isolation by distance (P < 0.05); but that colonization between more proximate populations was often variable, from extensive to limited exchange. When compared with material from Germany, Scottish samples were found to be more diverse and significantly differentiated for all markers. For mtDNA, two highly divergent groups of haplotypes were evident, one group contained both German and Scottish samples and the other was predominantly Scottish. No genetic differentiation was evident between P. flammea populations sampled from different hosts, and no diversity bottleneck was observed in the lodgepole group. Indeed, lodgepole stands appear to have been colonized on multiple occasions from Scots pine sources and neighbouring populations on different hosts are close to panmixia.A.J. Lowe, B.J. Hicks, K. Worley, R.A. Ennos, J.D. Morman, G. Stone and A.D. Wat

Detection probabilities for sessile organisms

Estimation of population sizes and species ranges are central to population and conservation biology. It is widely appreciated that imperfect detection of mobile animals must be accounted for when estimating population size from presence-absence data. Sessile organisms also are imperfectly detected, but correction for detection probability in estimating their population sizes is rare. We illustrate challenges of detection probability and population estimation of sessile organisms using censuses of red wood ant (Formica rufa-group) nests as a case study. These ants, widespread in the northern hemisphere, can make large (up to 2-m tall), highly visible nests. Using data from a mapping campaign by eight observers with varying experience of sixteen 3600-m2 plots in the Black Forest region of southwest Germany, we compared three different statistical approaches (a nest-level data-augmentation patch-occupancy model with event-specific covariates; a plot-level Bayesian and maximum likelihood model; non-parametric Chao-type estimators) for quantifying detection probability of sessile organisms. Detection probabilities by individual observers of red wood ant nests ranged from 0.31 – 0.64 for small nests, depending on observer experience and nest size (detection rates were approximately 0.17 higher for large nests), but not on habitat characteristics (forest type, local vegetation). Robust estimation of population density of sessile organisms – even highly apparent ones such as red wood ant nests – thus requires estimation of detection probability, just as it does when estimating population density of rare or cryptic species. Our models additionally provide approaches to calculate the number of observers needed for a required level of accuracy. Estimating detection probability is vital not only when censuses are conducted by experts, but also when citizenscientists are engaged in mapping and monitoring of both common and rare species.Organismic and Evolutionary Biolog

Connective tissue activating peptide III induction of synthesis and secretion of plasminogen activator by synovial fibroblasts

Connective tissue activating peptide III (CTAP-III) is a platelet factor that induces, in cultured connective tissue cells, activities observed in chronic inflammation. In this study we measured plasminogen activator secretion by synovial fibroblasts after stimulation by CTAP-III. Increased plasminogen activator secretion was observed 24—48 hours after stimulation. Induction was prevented by dexamethasone (10 -9 —10 -7 M ), cycloheximide (1 Μg/ml) and, variably, by actinomycin D (0.3 Μg/ml), but not by cytosine arabinoside (10 -4 M ). This is the first evidence that CTAP-III induces degradative as well as proliferative activity by connective tissue cells.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/37768/1/1780270609_ftp.pd

Abordando borderlands. La representación literaria de la frontera en la novela Their dogs came with them de Helena María Viramontes

Using three mutually interwoven theoretical approaches, the article analyses the complexity of the borderlands space in the literary representation of Los Angeles in the novel Their dogs came with them by Helena Maria Viramontes.Valiéndose de tres aproximaciones teóricas mutuamente entrelazadas, el artículo analiza la complejidad del espacio fronterizo en la representación literaria de Los Ángeles en la novela Their dogs came with them de Helena María Viramontes

Macrophages in Breast Cancer: Do Involution Macrophages Account for the Poor Prognosis of Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer?

Macrophage influx is associated with negative outcomes for women with breast cancer and has been demonstrated to be required for metastasis of mammary tumors in mouse models. Pregnancy-associated breast cancer is characterized by particularly poor outcomes, however the reasons remain obscure. Recently, post-pregnancy mammary involution has been characterized as having a wound healing signature. We have proposed the involution-hypothesis, which states that the wound healing microenvironment of the involuting gland is tumor promotional. Macrophage influx is one of the prominent features of the involuting gland, identifying the macrophage a potential instigator of tumor progression and a novel target for breast cancer treatment and prevention

A longitudinal study of nest occupancy, trail networks and foraging in a polydomous wood ant population

Most ant colonies live in a single nest (monodomy) or a group of nests (polydomy). However, the length of time for which nests are inhabited varies significantly between different species. Although colonies of some species frequently move nest sites, in others, colonies inhabit the same nest or group of nests for many years. Similarly, in some species foraging and resource-sharing trails are highly dynamic, while in other species trails are used for years. Wood ants are a group of keystone species that inhabit many northern hemisphere woodlands, where they are important predators of invertebrates and indirectly act as herbivores through the farming of aphids. Wood ant colonies exhibit both monodomy and polydomy, and can inhabit nests for many years. Trails in wood ant colonies are also thought to be relatively stable. However, information about colony dynamics is mostly anecdotal as, until now, no longitudinal datasets have been collected. In this study, we collected data from ten polydomous wood ant colonies annually for 8 years and a subset of four colonies 16 times over 2 years. We found that most polydomous wood ant nests are abandoned in the first 2 years after being constructed and are more likely to be abandoned in the latter part of the active season. However, the rate of nest abandonment decreases after 2 years and is lower in larger nests. We also found that wood ant trails are relatively static within an active season and become more static later in the season as trails become established

Die Verbreitung nadelfressender Kiefernraupen in der Pfalz : mit einer tabellarischen Übersicht über das Auftreten schädlicher Forstinsekten seit 1810 : aus dem Forstzoologischen Institut der Universität Freiburg/Br.

D. Klimetze