89 research outputs found
Leukemia induction by Friend virus in normally leukemia virus resistant mice after treatment with methyl methane sulfonate
F1 offspring of virus-resistant C57B1/10 females and virus-sensitive SJL/J males are normally resistant to Friend leukemia virus. However, after treatment of these hybrids with methyl methane sulfonate (MMS), Friend leukemia virus given within 5 hrs of the treatment caused many individuals to succumb to erythroleukemia with characteristic elevated white counts, hepatometaly, splenomegaly, and high hematocrit. Although MMS was found immunosuppressive in these mice when given alone, it was found to enhance humoral immune function measured by a plaque forming assay against sheep red blood cells, when given in combination with the virus. These results suggest that MMS enhances viral leukemogenesis by some mechanism other than immunosuppression
Tail myology and flight behaviour: Differences between caracaras, falcons and forest falcons (Aves, Falconiformes)
Caracaras, falcons and forest falcons, which are representative of the three subfamilies of the family Falconidae, have different flight behaviour. Since, during flight, the tail works in coordination with the wings, the tail muscles could be indicative of the type of flight behaviour. The aim of this work was to describe in detail the little-known tail muscles of the Falconidae and to explore their possible association with this different behaviour, by using the muscle mass as an indicator. To this end, the tail muscles of 18 specimens representing the three subfamilies of Falconidae were dissected, weighed and their percentage to the body mass calculated. The possible differences in tail muscle mass between Falconinae and Polyborinae were explored with a Bayesian statistical approach. In all species, the muscles depressor caudae and levator caudae had the highest mass values (0.028%â0.329% and 0.120%â0.274%, respectively), in accordance with the key movements performed during flight, that is, the tail depression and elevation. The total muscle masses of Falconinae and those of Polyborinae were significantly different (p < 0.05). This difference can be related with the different flight behaviour of falcons and caracaras, that is, fast and erratic flight, respectively.Fil: Mosto, MarĂa Clelia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. DivisiĂłn PaleontologĂa Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂŠcnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Picasso, Mariana Beatriz Julieta. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. DivisiĂłn PaleontologĂa Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂŠcnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Montes, Martin Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂŠcnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios ParasitolĂłgicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios ParasitolĂłgicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Krone, Oliver. Leibniz Institute For Zoo And Wildlife Research.; Alemani
Temporal and spatial variability in stable isotope ratios of SPM link to local hydrography and longer term SPM averages suggest heavy dependence of mussels on nearshore production
Temporal changes in hydrography affect suspended particulate matter (SPM) composition and distribution in coastal systems, potentially influencing the diets of suspension feeders. Temporal variation in SPM and in the diet of the mussel Perna perna, were investigated using stable isotope analysis. The δ13C and δ15 N ratios of SPM, mussels and macroalgae were determined monthly, with SPM samples collected along a 10 km onshoreâoffshore transect, over 14 months at Kenton-on-Sea, on the south coast of South Africa. Clear nearshore (0 km) to offshore (10 km) carbon depletion gradients were seen in SPM during all months and extended for 50 km offshore on one occasion. Carbon enrichment of coastal SPM in winter (JuneâAugust 2004 and May 2005) indicated temporal changes in the nearshore detrital pool, presumably reflecting changes in macroalgal detritus, linked to local changes in coastal hydrography and algal seasonality. Nitrogen patterns were less clear, with SPM enrichment seen between July and October 2004 from 0 to 10 km. Nearshore SPM demonstrated cyclical patterns in carbon over 24-h periods that correlated closely with tidal cycles and mussel carbon signatures, sampled monthly, demonstrated fluctuations that could not be correlated to seasonal or monthly changes in SPM. Macroalgae showed extreme variability in isotopic signatures, with no discernable patterns. IsoSource mixing models indicated over 50% reliance of mussel tissue on nearshore carbon, highlighting the importance of nearshore SPM in mussel diet. Overall, carbon variation in SPM at both large and small temporal scales can be related to hydrographic processes, but is masked in mussels by long-term isotope integration
Impact of Dreissena fouling on the physiological condition of native and invasive bivalves : interspecific and temporal variations
The impact of Dreissena fouling on unionids
has hardly been studied in Europe, despite the fact
that in some ecosystems (e.g. Lake Balaton, Hungary)
infestations of several hundreds to a thousand individuals
per unionid have been observed. At present,
the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha is a dominant
species in Lake Balaton and in the last decade three
other invasive bivalves were introduced, potentially
increasing the pressure on native unionid survival. We
examined whether the fouling of dreissenids (zebra
and quagga (D. rostriformis bugensis) mussels) has a
negative impact on native (Anodonta anatina, Unio
pictorum and U. tumidus) and invasive (Corbicula
fluminea and Sinanodonta woodiana) bivalves and
whether there are any interspecific and temporal
variations in fouling intensity and physiological
condition measured by standard condition index and
glycogen content. A significant negative impact was detected on native unionids only in July and September
(no impact was detected in May), when the fouling
rate was high. For invasive species, a significant
negative impact was detected on S. woodiana with a
high level of dressenid infestation; whereas no significant
impact was detected on C. fluminea. Overall, this
study confirms that Dreissena may threaten unionid
species including the invasive S. woodiana, although
high interspecific and temporal variations were
observed. This situation should be taken into account
in future ecological and conservational assessments
because species respond differently to Dreissena
fouling and effects seem to be more pronounced in
late summer/early autumn. In addition, this study
provides the first evidence that the invasive C.
fluminea appear to be less vulnerable to dressenid
fouling.The study was supported by the Hungarian Scientific Fund (KTIA-OTKA) under the contract No. CNK80140
The Predatory Ecology of Deinonychus and the Origin of Flapping in Birds
Most non-avian theropod dinosaurs are characterized by fearsome serrated teeth and sharp recurved claws. Interpretation of theropod predatory ecology is typically based on functional morphological analysis of these and other physical features. The notorious hypertrophied âkilling clawâ on pedal digit (D) II of the maniraptoran theropod Deinonychus (Paraves: Dromaeosauridae) is hypothesized to have been a predatory adaptation for slashing or climbing, leading to the suggestion that Deinonychus and other dromaeosaurids were cursorial predators specialized for actively attacking and killing prey several times larger than themselves. However, this hypothesis is problematic as extant animals that possess similarly hypertrophied claws do not use them to slash or climb up prey. Here we offer an alternative interpretation: that the hypertrophied D-II claw of dromaeosaurids was functionally analogous to the enlarged talon also found on D-II of extant Accipitridae (hawks and eagles; one family of the birds commonly known as âraptorsâ). Here, the talon is used to maintain grip on prey of subequal body size to the predator, while the victim is pinned down by the body weight of the raptor and dismembered by the beak. The foot of Deinonychus exhibits morphology consistent with a grasping function, supportive of the prey immobilisation behavior model. Opposite morphological trends within Deinonychosauria (Dromaeosauridae + Troodontidae) are indicative of ecological separation. Placed in context of avian evolution, the grasping foot of Deinonychus and other terrestrial predatory paravians is hypothesized to have been an exaptation for the grasping foot of arboreal perching birds. Here we also describe âstability flappingâ, a novel behaviour executed for positioning and stability during the initial stages of prey immobilisation, which may have been pivotal to the evolution of the flapping stroke. These findings overhaul our perception of predatory dinosaurs and highlight the role of exaptation in the evolution of novel structures and behaviours
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